>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE SEE HOW SMOOTHLY HYBRID POWER AND LUXURY COME TOGETHER IN THE LEXUS NX 300H... PAT GOSS HAS A FEW QUICK AND SMART TOUCH UP TIPS... ZACH MASKELL TAKES AN OVER THE EDGE LOOK AT WHERE OUR MODERN CARS GOT THEIR START... AND WE'LL CRUISE WAY OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE IN THE BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.
OH MAN.
OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.
THIS IS AWESOME!"
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> JOHN: WITHOUT QUESTION THE HOTTEST VEHICLE TREND SMALL UTILITY VEHICLES.
THE VARIETY OF NEW COMPACT AND SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVERS AVAILABLE TODAY IS AMAZING, WITH MORE AND MORE RIDING THE LUXURY WAVE AS WELL.
BUT ONLY ONE SMALL UTE MIXES A SMALLER FOOTPRINT, WITH SERIOUS UPSCALE APPOINTMENTS, AND THE LATEST IN HYBRID POWERTRAINS.
THAT WOULD BE THIS LEXUS NX 300H.
SO, LET'S SEE IF THIS FORMULA WORKS.
IN OUR EARLIER DRIVES OF THE 2015 LEXUS NX WE SPENT MOST 200T F SPORT.
WE FOUND IT VERY DYNAMIC AND NIMBLE, IF A LITTLE HARSH TO DRIVE.
SO, WE THOUGHT WE'D SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME IN THE HYBRID 300H TO SEE IF THE KINDER AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PROFILE MAKES FOR A BETTER OR WORSE EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT'S OBVIOUS SEPARATING THE 300H FROM THE MORE AGGRESSIVE 200T, BUT THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND WITH IT, THE MORE YOU SEE THE VARIANCES SHINE THROUGH.
THE BIGGEST THING WE NOTICE IS THAT THE 300H DOES NOT HAVE NEARLY AS ROUGH OF A RIDE QUALITY; DESPITE ALSO WEARING 18-INCH WHEELS JUST LIKE THE F SPORT.
YET, IT'S STILL FAR FROM BEING AS SMOOTH AND COMFORTABLE AS SOME OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT LIKE THE BMW X1 AND AUDI Q3.
THE NUMBERS INDICATE THAT SPACE INSIDE COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH THE REST OF THE SEGMENT.
BUT TO US, IT JUST FEELS TINY, EVEN TIGHTER THAN ITS KIN: THE RAV 4, PARTICULARLY WHEN SITTING IN THE NARROW, HIGHLY BOLSTERED DRIVER'S SEAT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, IT JUST DOESN'T PROVIDE THE USUAL ULTRA LUXURIOUS EXPERIENCE THAT LEXUS IS KNOWN FOR.
BUT LEXUS HAS MADE IT LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING AFTER A DIFFERENT BUYER NOW.
THE NX IS PERHAPS THE GREATEST PROOF YET OF THAT MORE PERFORMANCE ORIENTED MISSION.
ON THAT SCORE, THINGS WERE BLISSFUL AT OUR TEST TRACK.
WE FOUND THIS HYBRID'S ACCELERATION TO BE NICELY STRONG.
THE ENGINE REVS FREELY, AS DOES THE CVT INDUCED NOISE, WHICH ALSO DETRACTS FROM ANY LUXURIOUS FEEL.
IT TOOK 8.4 SECOND TO DASH TO 60, AND 16.5 TO THE END OF THE QUARTER AT 84 MILES PER HOUR.
THE CVT HAS A NEW KICK DOWN FEATURE THAT SIMULATES DROPPING A GEAR WHEN YOU MASH THE GAS.
THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS DRAWN FROM THE CAMRY AND CONSISTS OF A 154 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4, TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS, AND OF COURSE THE CVT.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE UNITS ADD A 3RD ELECTRIC MOTOR TO DRIVE THE REAR WHEELS, SO IT'S AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT POWERTRAIN THAN THE 200T.
BRAKING RESULTS OF 117 FEET FROM 60 WERE ALSO GOOD.
STOPS WERE VERY STABLE, UNSATISFYING REGENERATIVE FEEL TO THE PEDAL.
DESPITE THE SOFTENED RIDE AND OBVIOUS EMPHASIS ON FUEL ECONOMY, THIS CHASSIS STILL FELT VERY COMPETENT THROUGH THE CONES, WITH MANAGEABLE AMOUNTS OF UNDERSTEER.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME WE SPEND WITH THE NX, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO CHANGE OUR OPINIONS OF LEXUS' NEW ULTRA AGGRESSIVE STYLING.
HERE, IT'S TOO MUCH ON SOMETHING SO LITTLE.
THE SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER MARKET IS GETTING CROWDED, AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND HIT A HOME RUN.
THE NX COULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO DO IT, PARTICULARLY GIVEN ITS SIZE ADVANTAGE OVER MOST NEW ENTRIES THAT ARE MORE IN THE SUBCOMPACT REALM, BUT WE JUST DON'T THINK SO.
SIZE AND STYLING ASIDE, THE INTERIOR STILL HAS THE OVERALL LOOK AND MATERIAL QUALITY OF A TRUE LEXUS.
AND THERE'S EVEN A CD PLAYER THAT'S EASY TO USE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR THE ACTUAL RADIO CONTROLS.
BUT THE OPTIONAL NAVIGATION WORKS GREAT, AND WE'RE MOSTLY GETTING USED TO THE LEXUS REMOTE TOUCH CONTROLLER, THOUGH WE USED THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FIRST WHEN WE COULD.
ALL OF THE LEXUS SAFETY, AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES YOU EXPECT ARE HERE INCLUDING HEATED SEATS, BLIND SPOT MONITORING, AND WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING.
WHILE THE FRONT SEATING AREA SEEMED CRAMPED, WE RATE SECOND ROW COMFORT AS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR SMALL UTE'S.
AND DESPITE HAVING TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE HYBRID'S BATTERY, THERE'S DECENT CARGO ROOM AS WELL.
16.8 CUBIC-FEET SEATS UP, AND 53.7 CUBIC-FEET SEATS DOWN.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR ALL WHEEL DRIVE HYBRID ARE 33-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.
WE FEEL OUR AVERAGE OF 35.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR IS STELLAR FOR ANY UTILITY.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ALSO QUITE GOOD AT 10.3 BARRELS OF OIL USED AND EMISSIONS OF 4.6 TONS OF CO2 YEARLY.
PRICING FOR A FRONT DRIVE NX 300H STARTS AT $39,720.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE ADDS $1,590 MORE.
A BASE 200T MODEL STARTS LOWER TO US, LEXUS' ONGOING ATTEMPT TO MIRROR GERMAN BRANDS WITH A PERFORMANCE BENT TO VIRTUALLY EVERY PRODUCT IS DELIVERING MIXED RESULTS.
ON ONE SCORE THEIR NEWEST OFFERINGS DELIVER VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE.
BUT THE IN-YOUR-FACE STYLING, AND COMPROMISES ON LEXUS GIVENS LIKE RIDE CONTROL ARE DISCONCERTING; COMPROMISES THAT THEIR RIVALS HAVE OVERCOME.
STILL, AS THE ONLY SMALL, LUXURY, HYBRID UTE OUT THERE, THE 2015 LEXUS NX 300H STILL HAS A LOT OF APPEAL.
WE JUST WISH IT HAD EVEN MORE.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK AND TO THE STATE'S LARGEST COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FILLING STATION.
BUILT IN 2013 BY TULSA GAS TECHNOLOGIES, THE FACILITY DISPLACES UP TO 3,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL A DAY.
A COMBINATION OF FAST-FILL AND TIME-FILL OVERNIGHT CNG DISPENSERS ARE ALREADY FUELING ALMOST 200 TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES AND NEW SOLUTIONS' REFUSE TRUCKS.
MOST EVERYTHING AT THIS FACILITY WAS PROCESSED OR BUILT WITHIN A 200 MILE RADIUS, BOOSTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
>> TOM SEWELL: THIS FUEL THAT'S IN THESE TRUCKS IS COMING RIGHT FROM UNDERNEATH OUR FEET.
ALL OF THEIR JOBS, THE DRILLING CONTRACTORS, EVERYTHING KEEPS FEEDING MONEY BACK INTO OUR TAX BASE AND OUR ECONOMY.
>> JOHN: THE TULSA AREA CLEAN CITIES COALITION HELPED THE CITY MAKE THE CNG SWITCH IN 2012.
TODAY OKLAHOMA HAS 87 CNG STATIONS, WITH ONE EVERY 100 MILES ALONG THEIR INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.
SO, CLEARLY CNG IS LAYING CLAIM TO A BIGGER STAKE IN THE "SOONER" STATE.
WHILE WE'VE COME A VERY LONG WAY FROM WHAT CARS ONCE WERE, THE FOUNDATION OF TODAY'S MOST SOPHISTICATED RIDES ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS.
INDEED, OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, ZACH MASKELL, TAKES US TIME TRAVELING FOR A REMINDER THAT NOT ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY IS AS GROUND BREAKING AS WE MIGHT THINK.
>> ZACH MASKELL: THEY CALL IT THE SWEETEST PLACE ON EARTH.
I'D SAY THE NAME SURELY FITS WHERE WE FOUND OURSELVES.
IT IS THE HOME OF THAT MARVELOUS CHOCOLATE THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT AUTOMOBILES THE SAME AGE BUT THEY'VE GOT STUFF INSIDE OF THEM, THAT WE SEE EVEN IN TODAY'S CARS.
I TEND TO BE A VISUAL LEARNER, SO THE FOLKS AT THE ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA AGREED TO LET US SEE THE ENGINEERING IN PERSON.
>> MARK LIZEWSKI: BY COMING HERE YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW MUCH CARS HAVE EVOLVED.
I MEAN THE OLDER CARS WERE "AH PEOPLE DON'T BUILD THEM LIKE THEY USED TO."
AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RUN LIKE THEY DO NOW.
THEY DIDN'T OPERATE THE WAY THEY DO NOW AND THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T AS SAFE AS THEY ARE NOW.
>> ZACH: I LOOK AT THIS... AND I THINK 101 DALMATIANS, AND GREAT GATSBY.
NOW, I'LL THINK HOW IT PAVED THE WAY FOR MOST CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY.
AVAILABLE IN THE AMERICAN AUTO MARKET, THIS WAS THE FIRST FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR.
ALRIGHT MARK, A 1929 CORD, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH FORD.
AH, THIS ONE HOWEVER A LITTLE MORE PRICEY, DEFINITELY FOR THE WEALTHY.
>> MARK: ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW WHEN THE L29 CAME OUT IN 1929, IT WAS ABOUT $3000 WHICH WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE FORD.
THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY IS A VERY HIGH END CAR FOR THE WEALTHY.
>> ZACH: IT WAS ALSO LOWER, AND LONGER, WITH A STRAIGHT 8 CAST IRON ENGINE.
I SURE WOULDN'T MIND THIS SITTING IN MY STABLE.
SPEAKING OF THAT, HERE'S THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE HORSES TO POWER IT.
>> MARK: IT IS AN 1895 BENTON-HARBOR, BUILT IN MICHIGAN.
IT IS PROBABLY THE OLDEST OPERATING AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE AND LIKELY ONE OF THE VERY FIRST AUTOMOBILES THAT WERE BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY THAT STARTED LIFE AS AN AUTOMOBILE AS OPPOSED TO A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE.
>> ZACH: THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE FIRST AUTO RACE EVER HELD IN THE STATES, BUT PRODUCTION DELAYS KEPT IT AWAY.
WITH A TOP SPEED OF 23 MILES PER HOUR, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A CONTENDER FOR SURE.
A PIECE CARRIED OVER TO THIS, STILL LIVES ON TODAY.
>> MARK: WHEN THE OPERATOR TOOK OFF FROM A DASH, THE HORSES WOULD KICK UP STONES AND GRAVEL.
SO, THEY PUT THIS PIECE ON HERE TO PROTECT THE OPERATOR, TO KEEP THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEATS FROM GETTING STONES WHIPPED AT THEM, HENCE THE TERM, "DASH BOARD."
>> ZACH: SOMETHING THIS DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF, SAFETY.
MOVING AHEAD A FEW DECADES WE HAVE A CAR THAT DIDN'T NEED SEAT BELTS BECAUSE THAT WOULD'VE DAMAGED THE REPUTATION.
NORMALLY, WHEN I THINK ABOUT AN AUTOMOBILE AND I THINK SAFETY, I THINK VOLVO.
BUT AFTER WORLD WAR II, IT WAS MR. TUCKER AND HIS CAR.
>> MARK: RIGHT, THE TUCKER 48.
YOU KNOW, TUCKER WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND AN INNOVATOR, AND REALLY A MAN OF VISION.
YOU KNOW HE KNEW THAT THE CARS FROM THE LATE '30s, AND '40s, AND BEFORE WW II; THERE REALLY WASN'T A LOT GOING ON THERE.
>> ZACH: WHILE GM AND FORD HAD TO REFOCUS WERE ON CARS AFTER THE WAR, TUCKER HAD ALREADY BEEN BRAINSTORMING AND SET OUT TO MAKE A SAFE, HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW RIDING CAR WITH A TOP SPEED OF AROUND 120 MILES PER HOUR.
HE ALSO HAD A CENTER MOUNTED SWIVELING HEADLIGHT THAT TURNED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.
YES, IT WAS THE FIRST ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT.
HE HAD ALSO TALKED ABOUT 4-WHEEL HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES, LIKE ALL OF OUR CARS TODAY, WHICH WAS UNHEARD OF AT THAT TIME.
ALRIGHT.
SO, ONE OF THE SAME TRAITS AS THE TUCKER, BUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAR.
THIS IS AN EARLIER LOTUS; LOW AND FAST WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME, YES?
>> MARK: ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS WAS YOU KNOW THE BRAIN CHILD OF COLIN CHAPMAN WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF LOTUS.
>> ZACH: CHAPMAN'S MANTRA: "TO LIGHTEN EVERYTHING, AND MAKE IT FASTER."
AND WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE WAY EVEN THESE WHEELS ARE DESIGNED.
THAT, THAT IDEA KIND OF CARRIES OVER INTO TODAY'S RACING?
>> MARK: ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
THIS IS A LOTUS MAGNESIUM WOBBLY WEB WHEEL.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S CAST ALL IN ONE PIECE, YOU HAVE THESE SPOKES BUILT IN, WHERE THERE REALLY ISN'T A SPOKE.
WHICH GIVES IT A VERY LIGHT WEIGHT WHEEL BUT ALSO VERY, VERY STRONG.
>> ZACH: WHILE FEW OF THESE CLASSIC COMPANIES ARE AROUND TODAY.
THEY DEFINITELY LEFT A TIRE PRINT, FOR ALL THAT FOLLOWED.
>> JOHN: THEY SAY THAT PAT GOSS HAS THE MAGIC TOUCH.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT THE MASTER HAS FOR US THIS WEEK.
* >> PAT GOSS: MAINTAINING A FLAWLESS PAINT JOB LIKE THAT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE ON A DAILY DRIVER BECAUSE SOONER, OR LATER SOMEBODY, OR SOMETHING WILL SCRATCH, OR DING THE PAINT ON YOUR CAR.
AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR TOUCH UP PAINT.
WELL, TOUCH UP COMES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS.
YOU CAN BUY IT FROM THE DEALER WHERE YOU BOUGHT YOUR CAR.
AH, AUTO TOUCH UP HAS PRODUCTS SUCH AS YOU SEE OVER HERE, IN SPRAY CANS, IN BOTTLES AND IN PENS.
THE BIG THING IS, THAT NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE PAINT CODE ON YOUR CAR.
JUST LIKE BLACK FOR INSTANCE, EVERYBODY THINKS BLACK IS BLACK BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE METALLIC BLACKS, THERE ARE METALLIC TINT COAT BLACKS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND ALL THOUGH THEY MAY LOOK VERY SIMILAR, PUT THE WRONG PAINT ON IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MAY LOOK WORSE THAN THE SCRATCH DID.
BIG THING THOUGH, IS TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS EASTWOOD PREP SOLVENT BECAUSE THAT IS A VITAL PART OF DOING ANY TYPE OF TOUCH UP.
WE'RE GOING TO SPRAY THIS ONTO THE SCRATCHED AREA AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO GET ALL OF THE WAX AND DIRT OUT OF THE SCRATCHES.
NOW IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, WHEN YOU APPLY THE PAINT, THE PAINT WILL JUST MIGRATE AWAY FROM THE SCRATCH.
ALRIGHT.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO USE IN THIS CASE A DUPLI-COLOR PEN AND IT HAS MULTIPLE FEATURES ALL IN ONE HOUSING.
FIRST HERE ON THE END, THIS IS A TIP THAT IS DESIGNED TO GET DOWN INTO THE SCRATCHES AND IF THERE'S ANY LOOSE PAINT LEFT AROUND THE SCRATCH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THIS IS GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY SO IT DOESN'T CHIP AFTER THE PAINTING.
ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT, THEN WE HAVE A FINE TIP RIGHT HERE THAT CAN BE USED FOR LITTLE SCRATCHES SUCH AS WE SEE ON THIS PARTICULAR DOOR.
AND THAT FITS RIGHT DOWN INTO THE SCRATCH LIKE SO.
IF YOU HAVE A BIGGER SCRATCH, THIS UNSCREWS AND THEN WE HAVE A BRUSH IN THERE.
AND FINALLY ONCE EVERYTHING IS DONE, IN THE DUPLI-COLOR IN THE OTHER END YOU HAVE A RESERVOIR WITH CLEAR IN IT, AND AN APPLICATOR FOR THE CLEAR THAT'S GOING TO SEAL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO ALL IN ALL YOU COULD WIND UP, IF YOU TAKE THE TIME AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, WITH AN ALMOST INVISIBLE REPAIR TO THE PAINT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SOMETHING THAT WON'T DETERIORATE FURTHER.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.
>> JOHN: SUMMERTIME USUALLY MEANS ONE THING AROUND OUR SHOP, SUMMER VACATIONS!
AND FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS THIS YEAR OUR 2015 ACURA TLX HAS BEEN A GREAT, SURE THERE'S NOT QUITE AS MUCH ROOM AS A FULL-SIZE RIDE, OR EVEN THE TL THAT IT REPLACED, BUT ALL EXCEPT OUR TALLEST STAFFERS HAD NO PROBLEM GETTING COMFORTABLE, OR PACKING PLENTY OF STUFF INTO THE TLX.
ON A 2,000 MILE ROUND TRIP TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN, THE TLX PROVED PLENTY HOSPITABLE WITH MINIMAL COMPLAINTS FROM THOSE ONBOARD.
THE RIDE IS FIRM YET SILKY, AND LANE KEEPING ASSIST HELPED US COLOR BETWEEN THE LINES.
WITH THE THRIFTY 2.4 LITER AVERAGING 30.2 MILES PER GALLON STOPS WERE MORE FOR EMPTYING BLADDERS AND FILLING STOMACHS THAN GETTING GASSED.
AS THE MILES HAVE RACKED UP, NOW OVER 16,000, WE'RE NOTICING MORE UNDECIDEDNESS FROM THE TLX'S 8-SPEED DCT.
BUT IT BEHAVES BEST WHEN THE INTEGRATED DYNAMICS SYSTEM IS SET TO SPORT.
SO AS FALL NEARS, WE MOTOR ON IN THE TLX.
WE'LL SEE HOW WELL THE KIA SORENTO AND VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF HAVE INTEGRATED INTO OUR FLEET ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!
NOW, LET'S GRAB A MOTORNEWS UPDATE WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: THE OBDII PORT IS A HANDY WAY TO DIAGNOSE CAR TROUBLE.
THROUGH IT, MECHANICS CAN GATHER DATA AND SEND COMMANDS BACK INTO THE VEHICLE'S SYSTEM.
ON BOARD DIAGNOSTICS HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MODERN WHEN IT WAS MANDATED BY FEDERAL LAW.
BUT WITH MORE ELECTRONICS, CONTROL OF EVERYTHING FROM WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BRAKING AND ACCELERATION HAS BECOME FAR MORE OF A DIGITAL PROCESS.
AND AS RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED IN THE NEWS, IS VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION.
MOST OF THE CURRENT CONVERSATION CENTERS ON THE PUSH TOWARDS WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY.
HACKERS ARE FINDING IT EASY TO ACCESS A VEHICLE'S INNER WORKINGS THROUGH THE INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL OFTEN HAVE AN OPEN BLUETOOTH OR WI-FI CONNECTION.
BUT A FAR MORE BASIC, AND FRANKLY EASIER, METHOD IS THROUGH THE OBDII PORT.
WIRED MAGAZINE RECENTLY REPORTED THAT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO RESEARCHERS FOUND A WAY TO REMOTELY CONTROL VARIOUS FUNCTIONS IN A LATE MODEL CORVETTE THROUGH A SMALL DEVICE THAT PLUGS INTO THE OBDII PORT.
SUCH DEVICES, KNOWN AS DONGLES, PROVIDE REAL TIME FEEDBACK ON FUEL EFFICIENCY, AVERAGE SPEED, AND OTHER DRIVER BEHAVIOR.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY USED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES OR COMMERCIAL FLEETS.
AND ARE OFTEN SYNCED TO A SMARTPHONE FOR EASE OF USE.
BUT, LIKE THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS, THESE DEVICES MAY PROVIDE A BACKDOOR INTO THE VEHICLE'S CORE COMPONENTS.
ALLOWING THOSE WHO WISH TO DO HARM, EASIER ACCESS.
TODAY'S VEHICLES CERTAINLY ARE SMARTER, BUT SO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO EXPLOIT THEM.
AND WHILE THAT MAY BE TROUBLING TO HEAR.
REST ASSURED THE PEOPLE WHO DISCOVER THESE FLAWS CAN ALSO HELP BETTER PROTECT US ALL IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> JOHN: IF YOU'RE AN AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIAST, I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF SPEED.
IF YOU'RE A FAN OF SPORTING BRITISH CARS, YOU MAY EVEN BE FAMILIAR WITH BENTLEY'S ULTRA LUXURIOUS VERSION OF SPEED.
WELL, THAT CLASH OF POSH AND PERFORMANCE HAPPENS IN A WAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE IN THIS BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED.
YOU MIGHT THINK THAT BEING A STAID BRITISH BRAND WITH OODLES OF HISTORY, BENTLEY WOULD REFUSE TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES, AND YOU'D BE VERY WRONG.
THIS 2016 BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED THE BRAND FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE, YET WITHOUT LEAVING TRADITIONS BEHIND.
FOR THIS SPEED VERSION OF THE MULSANNE, THE CHASSIS' AIR SUSPENSION GETS A STIFFER SETTING, AS WELL AS QUICKER STEERING.
A CUSTOM MODE ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUAL TAILORING OF ALL SETTINGS, AS MOST BENTLEY CUSTOMERS ARE USED TO, I'M SURE.
AS FOR UNDER THE BONNET, THE 530 HORSEPOWER COMING FROM ITS 6.8 LITER TWIN TURBO V8 IS INDEED IMPRESSIVE, BUT HOW ABOUT A COMMONER KICKING 811 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE?
OUTPUT IS BUMPED 22 HORSEPOWER AND 59 POUND-FEET DUE TO REWORKING OF THE HEADS AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH WHEEL MOUNTED SHIFT PADDLES IS STANDARD, BUT UNLIKE CONTINENTAL BASED BENTLEYS THIS ONE IS REAR DRIVE ONLY.
THE NOSTALGIA THEME PLAYS A LITTLE HEAVIER INSIDE, WHERE YOU CAN FEEL BENTLEY HISTORY OOZING OUT OF ITS HECTARES OF WELL TREATED CALF SKIN AND FINE WOODWORK.
THERE REMAINS PLENTY OF TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS LIKE THE ORGAN STOPS FOR THE VENTS AND AN ANALOG CLOCK, BUT THE OVERALL AMBIENCE IS MORE MODERN.
AND THERE'S CERTAINLY ALL OF THE LATEST TECH GADGETS LIKE HIDEAWAY NAV.
SCREEN, NAIM FOR BENTLEY 2,200-WATT AUDIO, AND A SOMEWHAT CUMBERSOME CENTRAL CONTROLLER.
AND IN THE BACK THERE'S EVEN DUAL IPADS WITH KEYBOARDS, TELEVISION SCREENS, AND A REFRIGERATED BOTTLE COOLER WITH FROSTED GLASS POWER DOOR AND YES, EVEN CRYSTAL CHAMPAGNE FLUTES.
THE FRONT CENTER CONSOLE IS A BIT CONTROL HEAVY, AND THE START BUTTON BLENDS IN A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
BUT IT GIVES THINGS A WORKMAN LIKE FEEL FOR THAT CHAUFFEUR SO HE CAN DO HIS BUSINESS.
SOME OF THE CONTROLS AND GAUGES ARE NOT OBVIOUS, BUT IT HELPS IF YOU ENJOY BANGERS AND MASH OR FOLLOW THE GOINGS ON IN PARLIAMENT.
FRONT SEATS HAVE GREAT COMFORT, BUT EXTREME COMFORT IS JUST THE TIP OF THE CRYSTAL PLATED ICEBERG OF WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THE REAR.
BUT AS NICE AS IT IS BACK THERE, THIS IS STILL A CAR YOU SHOULD WANT TO DRIVE, AND WILL VERY MUCH ENJOY DOING SO, AS IT HAS A SPORTING FEEL THAT YOU WON'T FIND IN A ROLLS-ROYCE.
THERE'S EFFORTLESS STREAMS OF ENGINE POWER, WITH SHIFTS THAT ARE AS SMOOTH AS THE SILK OF A BURBERRY SCARF.
THOUGH THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTER CARRIES ON THE BRITISH TRADITION OF DAWDLING BETWEEN SHIFTS AS IT'S IN NO PARTICULAR HURRY TO DELIVER A GEAR WHEN SHUFFLING BETWEEN DRIVE AND REVERSE.
THINGS ARE QUIET INSIDE, BUT NOT WITH BANK VAULT LEVELS OF ISOLATION, AS SOME NICE IF RASPY EXHAUST NOTE SEEPS IN OCCASIONALLY.
AS FOR STANDING OUT FROM THE COMMON MULSANNE'S SEAMLESS METAL WORK AND EXQUISITE TOUCHES OUTSIDE; THE SPORT BRINGS DARK FINISHES TO THE GRILLES, HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS.
AS WELL AS UNIQUE 21-INCH WHEELS AND RIFLED EXHAUST TIPS SIMILAR TO THE REST OF BENTLEY'S SPEED LINEUP.
SCREECHING TIRES * HOW THE SPEED TRANSLATES AT THE TRACK, THOSE BIG TURBO'S, HAUL THIS HULK TO 60 IN UNDER THROUGH THE CONES, INITIALLY IT FEELS ALMOST ATHLETIC.
BUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS YOU GET THROUGH THE FIRST FEW GATES, THE WEIGHT AND HEAVY STEERING CATCH UP WITH YOU, REMINDING YOU HOW BIG THIS CAR REALLY IS.
CLEARLY MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO DEMAND THE BEST, AND ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.
THE MULSANNE SPEED STARTS AT $341,325.
PRICEY OPTIONS PUSHED OUR CAR LET'S GIVE BENTLEY A LOT OF CREDIT, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO INJECT MODERN ELEMENTS INTO THE 2016 MULSANNE SPEED WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THEIR BRAND'S CHARACTER.
IN FACT, WE THINK RECENT BENTLEY'S ARE MORE IN LINE WITH THEIR SPORTING TRADITION THAN EVER.
THE FEW WHO GET TO EXPERIENCE IT DAILY ARE THE LUCKY ONES INDEED.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, AS SEASON 35 OF MOTORWEEK STARTS OFF WITH A BANG IN THE MERCEDES-AMG GT S. THEN WE'LL STAY ON THE THROTTLE IN THE EDGY NEW NISSAN MAXIMA.
UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS; WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK.
>> ANNOUNCER: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE, VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.
THIS IS AWESOME!"
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
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