HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE KICK OFF MOTORWEEK SEASON 35 WITH A ROAR FROM THE MERCEDES-AMG GT S... PAT GOSS GIVES US A TURBOCHARGED BOOST DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS READY TO BLAST OFF ON HER NEXT FYI ADVENTURE... AND WE'LL SEE IF A STYLISH NEW NISSAN MAXIMA PACKS A PUNCH, TOO...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
Announcer: 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY... JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.
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John: MERCEDES-BENZ HAS A LONG HERITAGE OF BRINGING US HIGHLY MEMORABLE CARS.
LIKE THIS 1956 300SL GULLWING, AND LIKE THE MOST RECENT GULL WING, THE SLS AMG.
NOW, WE THOUGHT THAT CAR WAS ALSO THE ULTIMATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN AMG AND MERCEDES.
BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, THAT IT WAS JUST A TEASER FOR THE NEW MERCEDES-AMG GT S, THE FIRST CAR TO ACTUALLY WEAR AMG AS A BRAND.
AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IT'S BEAUTIFUL, UNIQUE, AND YES, MEMORABLE TO THE EXTREME.
WITH THE 2016 MERCEDES-AMG GT S, NOT ONLY IS AMG NOW A BRAND, BUT IT IS THE 2ND VEHICLE TO EMERGE WITH AN ALL AMG DESIGNED CHASSIS.
A FACT THAT TAKES AMG FROM BEING AN IN-HOUSE TUNER, TO A TRUE WORLD CLASS LUXURY ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR BUILDER.
TRUE, THE GT S IS CERTAINLY DIMENSIONALLY LESS OF A SUPERCAR THAN THE SLS, AND DOES AWAY WITH THE SEXY GULLWING DOORS.
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOW MORE OF AN ALL AROUND HIGH PERFORMER LIKE THE PORSCHE 911, ONLY WITH A MONSTER V8 UNDER THE HOOD.
STARTING WITH THE ALL ALUMINUM CHASSIS OF THE SLS, AMG ENGINEERS SHORTENED IT BY 2-INCHES FOR A 103.5 INCH WHEELBASE.
FROM THERE, THEY ADDED A NEW SMOOTH RUNNING 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8, WITH OUTPUT OF 503 HORSEPOWER AND 479 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THE 7.0 SPEED DCT FROM THE SLS ALSO COMES OVER, BUT GETS UPGRADED WITH A WIDER RATIO SPREAD OF GEARS.
BETWEEN A LIGHTER ENGINE AND SHORTENED WHEELBASE, WEIGHT IS DISTRIBUTED ABOUT THE SAME AS THE SLS; 47% FRONT, 53% REAR.
STEERING REMAINS HYDRAULIC, WITH NO ELECTRIC ASSIST, GIVING IT GREAT FEEL AND WEIGHT.
AS FOR THE REST OF THE CAR, IT'S EUROPEAN TO THE EXTREME WITH A SUPER SOLID DEMEANOR THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PUSH IT HARD.
WHICH IS WHAT RACE TRACKS ARE FOR, OF COURSE.
AND PUTTING IN TIME AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK'S SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT, WE FOUND THE GT S' CHASSIS TO BE EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE, AS WELL AS VERY FORTHCOMING WITH ITS LIMITS, HELPING YOU STAY ON TOP OF THINGS EASILY.
DESPITE LESS THAN OPTIMAL VISIBILITY, IT'S A FAIRLY EASY CAR TO DRIVE FAST.
THE SUSPENSION IS STIFF YET COMPLIANT, BRAKES WERE STRONG AND FADE FREE, AND THE CAR GOES WHEREVER YOU POINT IT.
POWER DELIVERY IS SMOOTH AND STRONG WITHOUT ANY BIG HITS OR DROP OFFS.
WE DID FIND MANUAL SHIFTING A LITTLE SLUGGISH, AND HAD BETTER RESULTS LEAVING IT IN AUTO'S RACE MODE.
ON THE STREET, THE GT S HAS IMPECCABLE ROAD MANNERS, AS MILES ARE EATEN UP IN TRUE GRAND TOURING FASHION.
AND WITH ALL SYSTEMS GO IN COMFORT MODE YOU WON'T BE IN ANY HURRY TO GET OUT OF IT.
ROOM IN THE CABIN IS ADEQUATE, SEATS ARE FIRM YET COMFORTABLE, AND THERE'S EVEN A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF STORAGE SPACE FOR GEAR.
THE AERO INSPIRED INTERIOR IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SLS, WITH MATERIALS THAT ARE EVERY BIT AS NICE, DESPITE A SIGNIFICANT PRICE DISPARITY.
IT'S NOT THE MOST ERGONOMICALLY PLEASING SPACE HOWEVER, AS YOU HAVE TO REACH ALMOST BEHIND YOU TO USE THE SHIFTER, AND THERE'S NO COMFORTABLE WAY TO REST YOUR ARM WHEN USING THE TOUCHPAD COMMAND CONTROLLER.
BUT AT LEAST THERE'S A DEDICATED PARK BUTTON UNLIKE BMW M CARS.
TRADITIONAL COUPE DOORS SURELY HELP KEEP THOSE PRICES IN CHECK, AND AID GETTING IN AND OUT.
WHILE THEY ALSO ALLOW FOR A VERY MODERN PANORAMA ROOF, BEHIND THE WHEEL YOU STILL FIND THE CLASSIC FEEL OF SL COUPES OF YORE.
WHILE NOT ALL ARE ENAMORED WITH THE LOOK OF THE GT S, A LITTLE TOO MUCH 928/911 IN THE REAR, WE ALL AGREE IT'S ELEGANTLY STUNNING AND EVERY BIT WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM A PREMIUM PRODUCT WITH A MERCEDES HERITAGE.
THERE'S DEFINITELY LOTS OF HOOD STRETCHING OUT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER, ACCOMPANIED BY A MINIMAL CABIN BUMP AND EURO STYLE HATCHBACK REAR.
AND DESPITE SOME FAMILIAR BACKEND NOTES, THERE ARE PLENTY OF ELEMENTS SUCH AS THE HIGH FASHION GRILLE, HOOD AND FENDER VENTING, AND ACTIVE REAR WING TO DRAW YOUR EYES ELSEWHERE.
IN STRAIGHT LINE WORK, THE 3,600 POUND GT S NAILS A 0-60 OF JUST 3.5 SECONDS.
LAUNCH MODE IS EASY AND RELIABLE, THE TURBO'S WIND UP INSTANTLY, TIRES HOOK UP JUST AS QUICKLY, AND OFF YOU GO SMOOTHLY.
BUT IN A REAL HURRY.
HERE SHIFTS ARE TYPICAL AMG DCT BRUTAL, AND YOU GET SNAPPED AND PULLED TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.5 SECONDS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE POINTING AT 126 MILES PER HOUR.
108 FEET STOPS FROM 60 WERE THE NORM, THOUGH THE CLUMSY FEELING, LONG TRAVEL PEDAL FELT LIKE IT BELONGS MORE IN AN SUV THAN IN A PERFORMANCE CAR.
BUT THE GT S WILL EVEN STOP ITSELF IF YOU NEGLECT TO DO SO.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.
NOT BAD AT ALL FOR A CAR WITH THIS MUCH PERFORMANCE.
OUR HEAVY FOOTED DRIVERS COULD ONLY MANAGED 15.3 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.
GT S PRICING BEGINS AT $130,825.
SOME 90 GRAND LESS THAN THE SLS AND A SUPERCAR BARGAIN.
AN EVEN LOWER PRICED GT ARRIVES NEXT SPRING WITH ABOUT 50-LESS HORSEPOWER AND FEWER GO FAST GOODIES.
SECOND ACTS ARE OFTEN WHERE PLOTS THICKEN AND THINGS START TO REALLY GET INTERESTING.
AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE HERE WITH THE 2016 MERCEDES-AMG GT S. AMG IS BRANCHING OUT, MAKING THE PERFORMANCE STORY A LOT MORE THEIR OWN.
AND WE'LL SURELY STAY TUNED FOR ACT 3, OR SHOULD WE SAY C63!
FOR MORE OF OUR ROAD TESTS AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES, BE SURE TO VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
NOW, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL, MANY OF THE VEHICLES WE DRIVE HERE AT MOTORWEEK ARE ALL ABOUT GOING RAPIDLY.
AND THAT'S HOW WE LIKE IT.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT'S LESS ABOUT SPEED, AND MORE ABOUT HISTORY.
WELL, OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH HER LATEST ADVENTURE.
AND WHILE SHE MAY NOT BE SETTING ANY LAND SPEED RECORDS, SHE'S CERTAINLY ENJOYING THIS BLAST FROM THE PAST.
IT'S THE KIND OF RIDE THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE... OR HOW OLD YOU ARE...
Passenger: IT'S A LOT OF MEMORY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO USED TO RIDE THESE CARS... Yolanda: IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD INSIDE.
Joe Tomaro: AND THE MAJOR, MAJOR RULE IS YOU GOTTA HAVE FUN.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?
[CHILDREN CHEER] OKAY!
Yolanda: FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, JOE TOMARO AND JOHN FRATO, BETTER KNOWN AS THE EUCLID BEACH BOYS, HAVE BEEN BRINGING A BIT OF AMUSEMENT PARK NOSTALGIA TO THE STREETS OF CLEVELAND, OHIO IN THE FORM OF THE ROCKET SHIP AND THRILLER CAR.
Joe: WE CALL THEM THE HAPPIEST RIDES ON EARTH.
AND THEY ARE.
THEY JUST MAKE PEOPLE SMILE WHETHER RIDING, OR SEEING IT.
Yolanda: THE ROCKET SHIP CAR IS A MOTORIZED VERSION OF THE AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE SEEN HERE AT EUCLID BEACH PARK BACK IN ITS HEYDAY.
KAREN LEWIN REMEMBERS FLYING AROUND IN THE AIR, WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
Karin Lewin: SO, AS WE RODE THE ROCKET SHIPS, THEY WENT AROUND AND AROUND ON CABLES.
AND IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE RIDES.
Yolanda: WHEN THE PARK CLOSED IN 1969, THE RIDES WERE SCATTERED ABOUT UNTIL JOE AND JOHN DISCOVERED ONE OF THE THREE REMAINING ROCKET SHIPS.
Joe: WE FOUND IT 10, 11 YEARS AGO IN A WAREHOUSE, OUT IN... ON THE EAST SIDE OF CLEVELAND.
AND WHEN I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN, I SAID, 'HOW DID YOU GET THIS?'
AND HE SAID, "IT WAS HERE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE WAREHOUSE."
Yolanda: THEY ALSO ACQUIRED THE THRILLER, WHICH WAS A WOODEN ROLLERCOASTER RIDE.
IT WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1920s... AND DID VERY WELL FOR THE HUMPHREY'S, WHO THEN OWNED THE AMUSEMENT PARK.
John Frato: REPORTEDLY RIDE COST THEM $90,000 TO BUILD IN 1923.
THEY OPENED IN MAY AND HAD IT PAID OFF BY JULY 4TH AT FIVE CENTS/TICKET.
Yolanda: IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK TO GET THESE RIDES ON THE ROAD.
THEY HAD TO RETROFIT EACH CHASSIS TO FIT THE RIDE CAR AND GIVE THEM BOTH A GOOD AMOUNT OF ENGINE POWER.
THEY ALSO PUT AN AIR RIDE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE CAR.
IT LOWERS ABOUT 6 INCHES AND GIVES THE RIDE A SUPER, SMOOTH FEEL.
HEY GUYS!
THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM IN THE ROCKET SHIP, REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE GLIDING THROUGH THE AIR.
YOU DON'T FEEL A LOT OF THE BUMPS OR HERKY-JERKY MOVEMENT; MAKING FOR A SMOOTH RIDE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
OTHER MAKESHIFT ITEMS INCLUDE THIS STEERING WHEEL THAT WAS ONCE A TURRET LATHE AND A TAILLIGHT THAT'S MOUNTED IN AN OLD BOAT PART.
BUT ORIGINAL PARTS REMAIN, LIKE THE BRACKETS THAT HELD THE SUSPENSION CABLES AND THE FRONT HANDLE THAT LOCKS EVERYONE IN.
AS FOR THE THRILLER CAR, THE BASE OF IT IS A STEEL FRAME COVERED WITH FAUX WOOD.
IT'S TITLED AS A '51 CHEVY TRUCK LIMO WITH A SMALL BLOCK 327.
John: NICE HIGH REVVING OLD SCHOOL MOTOR, FOR AN OLD SCHOOL COASTER CAR, SO WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
Yolanda: THE BOYS LOVE DRIVING THE CARS AROUND TOWN BUT NOBODY GETS A BIGGER KICK OUT OF THESE NOVELTIES THAN THEIR RIDERS.
Sam: IT WAS FUN... Yolanda: WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT IT?
Sam: THAT IT WENT REALLY FAST.
Summer: MY HAIR WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND LIKE GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
Yolanda: THESE STUDENTS FROM GRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WERE TREATED TO A RIDE IN THE CARS BECAUSE OF THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
Joy: IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN GET IN WITH THEIR FRIENDS.
THEY CAN HAVE FUN...
THEY CAN RAISE THEIR HANDS...
THEY CAN FEEL THE WIND IN THEIR HAIR...
IT'S JUST LIKE A FUN RIDE... Yolanda: MORE THAN 45 YEARS AFTER THE PARK HAS CLOSED, A SMALL SLIVER OF THOSE GLORY DAYS REMAIN...
THANKS TO THE EUCLID BEACH BOYS WHO ARE PRESERVING A PART OF CLEVELAND'S AMUSEMENT PARK HISTORY.
Karin: I LOVE TO SEE THE CARS.
I LOVE TO SEE ALL THE MEMORY OF EUCLID BEACH.
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I'LL SEE ONE OF THESE CARS GO DOWN THE STREET AND I SAY, "WOW, THAT'S FROM EUCLID BEACH."
John: PAT GOSS IS SPOOLING UP A FEW TIPS ON TURBOCHARGING, SO, LET'S HEAD ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR A BOOST.
Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE HAVE TOM TAYLOR.
HE'S AN ONLINE PARTS EXPERT.
TOM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IN THE REPAIR SHOP IS A LOT MORE CARS WITH TURBO'S.
AND I'M SURE YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF THAT, TOO.
AS FAR AS PARTS ARE CONCERNED.
Tom Taylor: ABSOLUTELY.
MORE AND MORE NEW CARS; THEY'RE TRYING TO GET MORE POWER OUT OF SMALLER ENGINES, SO WE'LL HAVE TURBO'S AND MULTIPLE TURBO'S.
Pat: AND THE WAY THEY GET THAT POWER IS KIND OF INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEY TAKE EXHAUST GAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE, AND THEY FLOW THAT ACROSS THESE IMPELLORS INSIDE THE TURBO, AND THIS SET OF IMPELLORS, ON THE EXHAUST SIDE IS CONNECTED TO INTAKE IMPELLORS ON THE OTHER END OF A SHAFT, AND THOSE IMPELLORS FORCE AIR INTO THE ENGINE UNDER PRESSURE, AND THAT PRODUCES MORE POWER.
NOW, AS A RESULT OF THAT, MAINTENANCE BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT.
Tom: RIGHT.
SIMPLY CHANGING YOUR OIL IS CRUCIAL.
BECAUSE BETWEEN THE TWO IMPELLORS YOU HAVE A BEARING THAT NEEDS TO BE COOLED AND LUBRICATED WITH OIL.
AND THE CORRECT WEIGHT OF OIL, NOT JUST ANY OIL.
IT HAS TO BE THE OIL RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
PAT: YEAH, CHANGE IT AT THE RIGHT INTERVAL, AND USE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS.
Tom: ABSOLUTELY.
Pat: CRITICAL.
BUT, EVEN WITH EVERYTHING BEING RIGHT, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE COME IN WITH PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS.
AND WE'RE SEEING AIR LEAKS.
Tom: RIGHT.
THE ORIGINAL HOSES MIGHT START LEAKING AIR OVER TIME, AND CRACKING.
THESE ARE REPLACEMENT HOSES THAT ARE DESIGNED BY THE AFTERMARKET PARTS MANUFACTURERS TO BE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS...
IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE A RADIATOR HOSE, BUT YOU DON'T JUST WANT TO USE A STRAP OR RADIATOR HOSE.
A LOT OF ENGINEERING GOES INTO THESE; SPECIAL MATERIAL TO KEEP OUT THE OIL, KEEP IN THE AIR.
THIS HOSE HERE HAS A FLUOROELASTOMER LINER TO RESIST OIL.
IT HAS SPECIAL CLAMPS TO APPLY THE PRESSURE EVENLY SO YOU DON'T GET GAPS OR SPOTS WITH TOO MUCH PRESSURE.
AND A SILICONE COVER TO PROTECT IT EVEN FURTHER.
Pat: OKAY, NOW ANOTHER ADVANTAGE TO THIS, IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE SEEN THAT HOSE BUT I'VE SEEN IT IN AN ASSEMBLY WITH A PLASTIC CANISTER ON IT.
Tom: RIGHT.
IF YOU BUY IT FROM THE DEALER, YOU'RE BUYING THIS WHOLE EXPENSIVE ASSEMBLY.
THE AFTERMARKET ASSEMBLER HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PART THAT FAILS, AND YOU JUST NEED TO REPLACE THAT ONE PART.
YOU GET A BETTER PART, IT COSTS LESS, AND IT'LL LAST LONGER.
Pat: OKAY.
WELL, THAT'S ONE ADVANTAGE TO AFTERMARKET PARTS IN GENERAL.
THEY FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, AND DESIGN IT INTO THE REPLACEMENT.
Tom: RIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT REPLACING A FAILED PART WITH THE EXACT SAME PART THAT FAILED.
Pat: OKAY.
TOM, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
* JOHN: THE IDEA BEHIND THE 16 VALVES IS SOMETHING CALLED "VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY."
THAT'S GETTING MORE MIXTURE IN AND EXHAUST OUT QUICKER.
THAT ALSO MEANS THE WHOLE CAR MOVES OUT IN A HURRY.
WE WENT THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.2 SECONDS WITH A CROSS THE FINISH LINE SPEED OF 87.
VERY FAST FOR A SPORTS SEDAN.
LIKE MOST 4 VALVE PER CYLINDER ENGINES, YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL THIS ONE BEGIN TO PULL UNTIL YOU'RE UP IN THE REVS.
TIME NOW TO GRAB OUT TAKE ON THE LATEST WITH MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.
THE HARD WORK IS DONE FOR THE MAZDA6, AS IT DEBUTED, RADICALLY RESTYLED FOR 2014.
THE DESIGN WAS A HIT, THE RIDE QUALITY SPORTY, AND THE PRICE, AFFORDABLE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE LOVED IT.
SO, WHAT'S THIS 2016 MODEL HAVE LEFT TO IMPROVE UPON?
WELL, THE LITTLE THINGS.
FOR STARTERS, FRONT AND REAR STYLING GETS UPDATED IN GRAND TOURING TRIM, AS SEEN HERE.
THAT INCLUDES LED HEADLIGHTS.
IT SERVES TO DISTINGUISH THE TOP DOLLAR "6" FROM THE LOWER TRIM LEVELS.
INSIDE, THE CENTER TOUCHSCREEN IS LARGER, NOW MEASURING 7.0 INCHES.
IT HELPS WITH VISIBILITY, AND IS EASIER TO SEE WITH QUICK GLANCES.
THE REST OF THE INTERIOR IS ALSO CLEANED UP, THANKS TO A STANDARD ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE, AND SOME UPGRADED DASH MATERIALS.
UNDER THE HOOD IS THE SAME 184 HORSEPOWER 4-CYLINDER.
BUT, A NEW SPORT MODE FOR THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC LIVENS UP THE RIDE, HOLDING GEARS LONGER AND SHARPENING THROTTLE INPUTS.
WE WOULDN'T CALL IT FASTER; JUST MORE RESPONSIVE, AND A PERFECT MATCH FOR HANDLING WHICH IS STILL TOPS AMONG MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDANS.
THE SUM OF ALL THESE THINGS IS STILL RELATIVELY MINOR, BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING AS CONSTANT POLISHING KEEPS THE MAZDA6 IN STEP WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND APPOINTMENTS.
STARTING PRICE IS STILL AROUND $22,000, THOUGH THIS GRAND TOURING MODEL JUMPS TO JUST OVER $30,000.
AND IT'S ON SALE NOW.
REINVENTING AN ICON IS NEVER EASY.
AND FOR FORD, THE NAME SHELBY IS ABOUT AS ICONIC AS YOU CAN GET.
SO, DO YOU THINK THE PRESSURE WAS ON FOR THE REVIVAL OF THE SHELBY GT350 MUSTANG?
YOU'RE DARN RIGHT IT WAS.
LUCKILY EVERYONE INVOLVED DELIVERED.
AND EVEN LUCKIER, THEY INVITED US OUT TO MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA TO TRY IT OUT.
NOW, WE'VE BEEN SEEING TRACK SPECIFIC MUSTANGS FOR ALMOST AS LONG AS THE MUSTANG HAS EXISTED.
LAST TIME AROUND, IT WAS THE SUPERCHARGED, SUPER INSANE SHELBY GT500, ALONG WITH THE SLIGHTLY TAMER BOSS 302.
BUT SINCE THEN WE'VE ENTERED A NEW GENERATION, AND THIS NEW ERA STANG NEEDS ITS FIRST PROPER PERFORMANCE VARIANT.
HOW'S 526 HORSEPOWER SOUND?
THE GT350 RIPS AND ROARS THAT MUCH FROM ITS 5.2 LITER V8.
IT'S FORD'S MOST POWERFUL NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE EVER, WITH PLENTY OF CLEVER ENGINEERING, LIKE A FLAT PLANE CRANKSHAFT TO ALLOW FOR BETTER CYLINDER BREATHING, AND THUS HIGHER REVS.
TO WEED OUT THE WANNABE'S, A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS THE ONLY TRANSMISSION.
IT'S GREAT, SO DON'T EVEN TRY COMPLAINING TO US.
THE INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION, NEW FOR THIS GEN "STANG'S", ALLOWS THIS BEAST TO REALLY COME ALIVE ON THE ROAD, AND BECOME ONE WITH IT.
THINGS STIFFEN UP THANKS TO MAGNETIC DAMPERS AND A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE MONITORING SYSTEM.
WE DON'T NEED TO MENTION MUCH ON STYLING, JUST LOOK AT IT.
CLEARLY DESIGNED FOR SPEED, THE HOOD IS RESHAPED, AND THE FRONT FASCIA UPDATED TO FURTHER AID COOLING.
A REAR DECKLID SPOILER, AND DIFFUSER BELOW HELP KEEP THINGS PLANTED AT SPEED.
KEEPING YOU PLANTED INSIDE ARE GT350 SPECIFIC RECARO SEATS.
GAUGES AND DASH CONTROLS HAVE NOW HAVE LESS BRIGHT WORK, TO REDUCE GLARE.
SO, ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE?
THE GT350 IS ALL BUSINESS.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GET EVEN MORE SERIOUS, THERE'S THE GT350 R, WHICH FEATURES CARBON FIBER WHEELS.
YES, WHEELS AND A LARGE WING OUT BACK, AND DELETES EVERYDAY NUANCES LIKE A BACK SEAT, STEREO AND EVEN A/C.
ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 FORD SHELBY GT350 MUSTANG STARTS AROUND $49,000.
THE GT350 R COMES A LITTLE LATER, AND A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, AT $62,000.
AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON!
THIS WEEK WE TEST THE 8TH GENERATION NISSAN MAXIMA.
AND ONCE AGAIN NISSAN HAS PROMISED A RETURN OF THE 4-DOOR SPORTS CAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT MADE MAXIMA'S OF THE EARLY '90s SO EXCITING.
WELL, THIS CAR CERTAINLY LOOKS EXCITING.
SO, LET'S SEE IF THIS MAXIMA'S EXCITEMENT RUNS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.
THE 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA IS ONE OF THE MOST STIMULATING TO SEE SEDANS WE'VE COME ACROSS IN YEARS.
IT'S RAKISH AND RADICAL.
THE SEXY SHEET METAL IS SUPPOSEDLY INSPIRED BY JETS.
NOW, WE HAVEN'T HEARD THAT LINE SINCE THE '50s; REGARDLESS IT IS A LOOKER FOR SURE.
NISSAN'S V-MOTION DESIGN THEME SETS THE DEEP GRILLE, AND IS ECHOED ALONG THE REST OF THE CAR AS WELL.
THIS MAXIMA ADOPTS THE FLOATING ROOF LOOK OF THE MURANO, WITH PARTIALLY BLACKED C-PILLARS, AND A FAST ROOF THAT GIVES THE SIDE GLASS A CHOPPED APPEARANCE.
STANDARD, BEEFY 18 INCH WHEELS FURTHER COMPRESS THE VISUAL HEIGHT.
BUT IF YOU THINK THIS MEANS A CLAUSTROPHOBIC INTERIOR YOU'RE WRONG.
SPACE IS PLENTIFUL, YET STILL ENGAGING, AND A LOT MORE UPSCALE.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN MAXIMA HAS GONE NEAR LUXURY.
NISSAN FEELS THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR CLASSY MATERIALS IN MASS MARKET MID-SIZE SEDANS.
THE LIST OF STANDARD FEATURES IS ALSO IMPRESSIVE, INCLUDING NISSAN CONNECT WITH 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN NAVIGATION, A 7.0 INCH DRIVE-ASSIST DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, REMOTE START, FULL POWER SEATS, AND DUAL-ZONE CLIMATE.
THOUGH ODDLY ENOUGH, ONLY A BASIC BACKUP CAMERA.
ONLY TOP LEVEL PLATINUM TRIM GETS NISSAN'S AROUND VIEW MONITOR.
A TERRIFIC FEATURE YOU'LL FIND ON A VERSA NOTE FOR LESS THAN 20 GRAND.
SL-TRIM AND ABOVE ADD FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING WHICH IN OUR LOW SPEED BARRIER TEST MITIGATED STOPPING DISTANCES WITHOUT CONSISTENCY.
ON THE PLUS SIDE THE ZERO GRAVITY FRONT SEATS WERE AS COMFY AND WELL BOLSTERED AS ADVERTISED.
REAR SEATS EQUALLY SO, AND THERE'S ALMOST FULL-SIZE CAR ROOM BACK HERE.
STORAGE SPACE?
YEP, GOT PLENTY OF THAT AS WELL, AT 14.3 CUBIC-FEET.
ANY SPORTY CAR REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY DOORS NEEDS INVIGORATING POWER.
HERE THE NEW MAXIMA COMPLIES WITH A FAMILIAR 3.5 LITER V6.
BUT WITH THE REDESIGN COMES SIGNIFICANT UPDATES INCLUDING GT-R GOODIES LIKE SODIUM FILLED VALVES.
HORSEPOWER CLIMBS TO AN EVEN 300; TORQUE REMAINS THE SAME AT 261 POUND-FEET.
THE BIG DOWNER TO STILL THE CVT TRANSMISSION.
BUT IT'S ALSO UPGRADED AND TIGHTENED UP FOR BETTER RESPONSE, AND THANKFULLY, QUIETER OPERATION.
SHIFT PADDLES ARE NICE AND BIG, AND ARE INTELLIGENTLY MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN, NOT ON THE WHEEL.
SO, THE QUESTION REMAINS.
CAN THIS FRONT DRIVER LIVE UP TO ITS 4DSC HYPE?
THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO.
WE FOUND THE NEW MAXIMA DRIVES SOLID.
AT A DECENT CLIP IT REMAINS VERY FLAT THROUGH CORNERS, AND OVERALL FEELS LIGHT ON ITS FEET.
INDEED, 82 POUNDS.
HAS BEEN SHAVED FROM THE PREVIOUS CAR.
TO GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE, OPT FOR THE SR MODEL WITH ITS UNIQUE DAMPERS AND LARGER FRONT STABILIZER BAR.
AS WELL AS AN INTEGRATED DYNAMIC CONTROL MODULE AND ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL.
WE NAVIGATED THE CONES QUICKLY, WITH SHARP TURN-INS AND A FIRM FEEL TO THE WHEEL.
BRAKING IS UNDRAMATIC, 60 TO 0 IN 125 FEET.
THAT'S FINE, IF NOT AS SHORT AS WE'D LIKE.
STILL, AT THIS POINT, ARE WE STARTING TO BE BELIEVERS?
YEP!
BUT ACCELERATION RUNS MADE US BACK OFF A BIT.
AS ONE TEST DRIVER PUT IT, "THE ENGINE IS WILLIN', BUT THE TRANS IS ILLIN'" STILL, THE MAXIMA JUMPED OFF THE LINE QUICKLY, HITTING 60 IN 6.1 SECONDS.
TWO 10THS QUICKER THAN LAST GEN.
BUT AFTER SIMULATING A SHIFT TO SECOND, THERE WERE AWKWARD POWER SURGES THAT HAD OUR CAR TORQUE STEERING DOWN THE TRACK.
STILL THE FULL QUARTER MILE WENT BY FAST AT 14.3 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.
NOW NISSAN, GIVE US A NON RUBBER BAND TRANNY AND WE'LL BUY IN COMPLETELY.
NEW TO THE MAXIMA THIS YEAR ARE SELECTABLE DRIVING MODES, WITH SPORT QUICKENING THROTTLE RESPONSE AND STEERING, AS WELL AS ADJUSTING THE TUNING OF THE CVT AND THE ACTIVE SOUND ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM.
OUT ON THE ROAD, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT IS A TRUE SPORT SEDAN OR NOT, IT SURE FEELS LIKE ONE WHEN YOU'RE BEHIND THE WHEEL.
YOU SIT VERY LOW, AND THE THICK STEERING WHEEL FEELS GREAT IN YOUR HANDS.
FEW STANDALONE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE WITH FIVE TRIM LEVELS STARTING AT $33,235.
THIS SR STARTS AT $38,495.
OKAY, IT'S TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
DOES THE 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA DESERVE THE 4-DOOR SPORTS CAR LABEL?
IT'S CERTAINLY EXCITING INSIDE AND OUT, AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CVT, AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMER FOR ITS SIZE, SITTING FAR ABOVE THE TYPICAL MID-SIZE FAMILY CAR CLASS.
SO, WE GIVE IT A QUALIFIED YES.
BUT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS, IT IS THE BEST MAXIMA, AND THE BEST NISSAN BADGED SEDAN, WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.
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, AND TAKE IN A BRITISH BEAUTY: THE ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER GT.
THEN DITCH THOSE LEFTOVER TACOS, AS WE TASTE THE ALL NEW TOYOTA TACOMA.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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... JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF SHE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HER FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
SHE'S THINKING, "IF COLT DOESN'T ASK ME TO THE PROM, MY LIFE IS TOTALLY OVER."
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.
Annoucer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
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