HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR OUR VERSION OF A FAMILY FEUD, AS WE SHOP TODAY'S TOP MINIVANS... PAT GOSS WITH QUICK FIXES FOR TWO ANNOYING TROUBLES, DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... BRIAN ROBINSON TAKES FLIGHT, CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE HONDA GOLD WING... THEN WE'LL FEED OUR NEED FOR GERMANIC SPEED, WITH THE BMW X5 M!
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
Announcer: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
THIS IS PETE.
PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."
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.
John: LIKE RODNEY DANGERFIELD, THEY GET LITTLE RESPECT, AND ARE OFTEN DITCHED AT THE FIRST SIGHT OF A SHINY NEW CROSSOVER UTILITY ACROSS THE LOT.
STILL, WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY CHORES, NOTHING IS MORE PRACTICAL AND VERSATILE THAN A MINIVAN.
LOVE 'EM OR HATE 'EM, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER MOST FAMILY'S NEED ONE.
AND OF THE FIVE LATEST MINIVANS, HERE'S OUR SEARCH FOR NUMBER ONE.
ONCE AGAIN WE TEAMED UP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM FOR THIS ALL'S SQUARE IN LOVE AND WAR FACT FINDING MISSION.
AS OUR COLLECTIVE AUTOMOTIVE ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THAT HUMBLE FAMILY STAPLE, THE MINIVAN.
LAST TIME AROUND, IN 2011, THE HONDA ODYSSEY TOOK THE TOP HONORS, BUT WILL IT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES THIS TIME?
WELL, THE LIST OF CONTENDERS CHALLENGING THE ODYSSEY IS A PREDICTABLE ONE.
THE WELL ADORNED AND WELL-AGED CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY.
ALONG WITH ITS STABLEMATE AND THE ORIGINAL MINIVAN, THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN.
A LONE KOREAN CONTENDER, THE KIA SEDONA.
AND OF COURSE THE TOYOTA SIENNA.
ALL CANDIDATES ARE AUTOMATIC V6-POWERED 2015 MODELS; AND ALL ARE FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE, EXCEPT FOR THE TOYOTA SIENNA WHICH IS THE ONLY MINIVAN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.
PRICING VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY WITH A SPREAD FROM UNDER $34,000 TO OVER $47,000.
THE ONLY GLARING OMISSION HERE IS THE QUEST, AS NISSAN CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE.
OUR SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN LOCATION PROVED TO BE A GOOD ONE; PROVIDING PLENTY OF URBAN SPRAWL TO NAVIGATE THROUGH WITHOUT A LOT OF BIG CITY TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
AND AS USUAL, WE WERE AIDED BY A GROWING FAMILY ON THE HUNT FOR SOME PRACTICAL NEW TRANSPORTATION.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE BOTTOM TWO PLACES WERE OCCUPIED BY THE AGING CHRYSLER PAIR.
AND THE DODGE CARAVAN ACTUALLY CAME OUT AHEAD OF ITS PRICIER COUNTERPART DUE MOSTLY TO A HUGE PRICE ADVANTAGE AND ODDLY ENOUGH, A SMOOTHER RIDE QUALITY.
BUT PERHAPS OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE JUST A LITTLE TOO HIGH FOR THE TOWN AND COUNTRY.
Jennifer Geiger: SO, THE TOWN AND COUNTRY IS PROBABLY MY LEAST FAVORITE VAN; ON THE PLUS SIDE, IT'S GOT A REALLY NICE INTERIOR, LUXURY FINISHES, LEATHER SEATS.
IT ALSO HAS REALLY GREAT FLEXIBILITY WITH THE STOW 'N GO SEATING AND THE 3RD ROW TAILGATE SEAT.
Kelsey Mays: THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OFFERS SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN THIS TEST VERSUS ITS FAIRLY LOADED CHRYSLER TWIN, THE TOWN & COUNTRY, AND IT CHECKS A LOT OF BOXES FOR MINIVANS.
PRETTY GOOD VISIBILITY, LOTS AND LOTS OF STORAGE, AND THE AVAILABLE STOW 'N GO SEATS, WHICH OUR TEST CAR HAD...
ALLOW YOU TO MAXIMIZE THAT CARGO ROOM AND TAKE THOSE 2ND ROW SEATS WITH YOU INSTEAD OF HAVING TO FIT THEM IN THE GARAGE.
John: FROM THERE IT WAS OUR REIGNING CHAMP, THE HONDA ODYSSEY.
IT'S STILL A GREAT CHOICE FOR FAMILIES, AND OF COURSE REMAINS A BIG SELLER; BUT FACING THE HEAVILY UPGRADED COMPETITION HERE, HAS SEEN IT FALL DOWN THE RANKINGS.
Brian Robinson: THE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THIS SEGMENT FOR A LONG TIME NOW FOR GOOD REASONS; IT HAS A LOT OF NICE FEATURES, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, COMFORTABLE RIDE, BUT IT'S NO LONGER LEAPS AND BOUNDS AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION AS IT USED TO BE.
Jennifer Geiger: THE HONDA ODYSSEY REALLY DELIVERS IN THE FEATURES CATEGORY; IT'S GOT THE AWESOME HONDA VAC, IT'S GOT THIS REALLY COOL, COOL BOX YOU CAN CHILL JUICE BOXES OR POP IN; IT ALSO HAS A REALLY EASY 3RD ROW THAT FOLDS, THEY CALL IT THE MAGIC SEAT; IT FOLDS SUPER QUICKLY INTO THE FLOOR FOR LOADS OF STORAGE SPACE.
John: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOP SPOT WAS A VERY CLOSE ONE, WITH THE TOYOTA SIENNA FALLING JUST SHORT.
RECENT UPDATES HAVE MADE THE SIENNA A PRIME CHOICE, AND OF COURSE IF YOU WANT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IT'S YOUR ONLY CHOICE.
Jennifer Newman: THE SIENNA SHOULD WIN THE MOST IMPROVED AWARD AT THIS CHALLENGE; ITS REFRESHED DESIGN HELPS IT KEEP UP WITH THE ODYSSEY AND THE SEDONA; HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
Brian: THE SIENNA IS VERY QUIET, HAS A SMOOTH RIDE, AND I LOVE THE INTERIOR CONTROL LAYOUT THERE IN THE CENTER STACK; EVERYTHING IS GROUPED TOGETHER, LOTS OF NICE, BIG BUTTONS AND KNOBS.
John: AND SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THE KIA SEDONA IS THE ULTIMATE MINIVAN.
THOUGH IT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2002, IT'S TAKEN THE TOTAL REDESIGN OF ITS NEW 3RD GENERATION TO ROCKET IT TO THE TOP.
Andrea Thueme: WE REALLY LIKED THE ,UM, THE WHOLE SORT OF STEERING AREA UP FRONT WITH ALL THE DIALS AND EVERYTHING; IT WAS VERY CLEAN AND SLEEK THERE; AND WE REALLY LIKED THE SIDE AND BACK CAMERAS... Andrew Thueme: ALL THE CAMERAS ON IT.
WE LIVE IN A SUBDIVISION, LOTS OF KIDS RUNNING AROUND, AND BEING ABLE TO SEE, MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN AN AREA THAT'S GOING TO BE A NATURAL BLIND SPOT; AND IT JUST FELT A LITTLE MORE SAFER.
Newman: FOR ME, THE KIA SEDONA BLENDS JUST ENOUGH FAMILY FRIENDLY FEATURES WITH A QUIET RIDE AND A POWERFUL ENGINE TO MAKE IT LAND ON TOP.
John: WHILE CROSSOVER UTILITIES CONTINUE TO EAT AWAY AT MINIVAN SALES, THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT MINIVAN RESURGENCE OF LATE, LED BY NEW EFFORTS LIKE THE KIA SEDONA AND REVAMPED TOYOTA SIENNA.
THAT MAY GET A FURTHER BOOST WHEN A NEW CHRYSLER DESIGN ARRIVES NEXT YEAR.
AFTER ALL, A MINIVAN IS STILL THE MOST PRACTICAL VEHICLE ON THE ROAD FOR FAMILY DUTIES, NO MATTER WHICH LOGO IS ON THE GRILLE.
John: OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LAWRENCE, INDIANA WHERE A LOCAL BEVERAGE COMPANY IS ENJOYING THE BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
IN 2009, MONARCH BEVERAGE BEGAN A MOVE FROM LEASING DIESEL TRUCKS TO OWNING AND OPERATING THEIR OWN FLEET OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUELED TRACTORS.
STARTING WITH THIS FIRST TEST TRUCK, THEIR FLEET NOW TOTALS NEARLY 80 CNG HAULERS.
THE COMPANY EVEN BUILT ITS OWN REFUELING DEPOT.
WITH A FUEL COST SAVINGS OF OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, MONARCH SAYS THE INVESTMENT WAS WELL WORTH IT.
Rob Hedges: MONARCH IS A LOCAL INDIANA COMPANY, FAMILY-OWNED.
AND WE BELIEVE IN BEING GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS, AS WELL.
SO, BEING ABLE TO DO OUR PART FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL.
John: ALONG WITH SIX FORD CNG SERVICE VANS, MONARCH WILL ADD AT LEAST A DOZEN MORE CNG TRACTORS NEXT YEAR.
WORKING WITH THE GREATER INDIANA CLEAN CITIES COALITION, THIS HOOSIER COMPANY MADE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO ALT-FUELS THAT DESERVES A TOAST FROM ALL OF US.
ALTHOUGH HONDA DIDN'T INVENT THE CONCEPT OF THE TOURING MOTORCYCLE WHEN THEY INTRODUCED THE GOLD WING FOR 1975, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS THEY HAVE PERFECTED IT.
AND AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, HONDA IS CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR KING OF THE ROAD.
Brian Robinson: THOUGH NO LONGER BUILT HERE IN THE U.S., IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE BUILT MORE FOR HERE THAN THE HONDA GL, OR GOLD WING.
IT'S BEEN THE LONG DISTANCE RIDE OF CHOICE FOR MANY A RIDER; LET'S FIND OUT WHY.
FROM ITS BEGINNING, THE HONDA GL WAS DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY AND COMFORT; FULLY ENCAPSULATING WHAT LONG DISTANCE MOTORCYCLING IS ALL ABOUT.
ALL WITH A FRIENDLINESS TO IT THAT MADE YOU NEVER WANT TO STOP EATING UP LARGE QUANTITIES OF MILES.
WELL, AFTER 40 YEARS, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
BUT IT'S NO LONGER ALONE IN THAT MISSION, AS A HOST OF AMERICAN AND IMPORT BRANDS HAVE TAKEN THE SAME FORMULA AND BECOME QUITE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT AS WELL.
LIKE MOST 40 YEAR OLDS, THE GOLD WING HAS PUT ON SOME WEIGHT, NOW OVER 900 POUNDS OF WINNEBAGO ON TWO WHEELS.
1,832CCS OF FLAT-6 ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GET IT MOVING, HOWEVER.
POWER IS DELIVERED ULTRA SMOOTHLY THROUGH SHAFT DRIVE, WHILE TWIN MUFFLERS CHANNEL THE EXHAUST OUT THE BACK ALMOST SILENTLY.
OVER 5-GENERATIONS, THE GL HAS CERTAINLY EVOLVED, AND WHILE 2015s ARE NOT ALL-NEW, RATHER A CONTINUATION OF THE GEN LAUNCHED IN 2001, THEY ALL DO COME WITH SOME TRIM UPDATES AND SPECIAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY BADGING.
IF YOU'VE NEVER RIDDEN A GOLD WING, THERE ARE SOME PECULIARITIES THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE.
FOR ONE, THERE ARE JUST FOOT PEGS FOR THE RIDER, NOT FLOOR BOARDS LIKE MOST CRUISER BASED TOURERS.
HERE, IT'S THE PASSENGER THAT GETS THE PREMIUM FOOT ACCOMMODATIONS.
AND IF YOU GLANCE DOWN WHILE RIDING, YOU'LL SEE ENOUGH BUTTONS AND SWITCHES TO RESEMBLE AND AN AIRPLANE COCKPIT, BUT THE OPTIONAL NAVIGATION UNIT IS INTEGRATED VERY NICELY IN AN ALMOST AUTOMOTIVE MANNER.
STILL, IT'S NOT THE EASIEST NAV TO PROGRAM, AND GRAPHICS ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN A HONDA ACCORD 10 YEARS AGO.
THE WINDSCREEN IS MANUALLY ADJUSTED, BUT EVEN AT ITS LOWEST SETTING IT CREATES QUITE A LARGE POCKET OF AIR AROUND YOU.
THERE'S LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE OF COURSE, WITH A REMOTE LOCKING TRUNK, AND ON SCREEN REMINDERS IF ONE OF YOUR CASES ISN'T SHUT COMPLETELY.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE SEAT OTHER THAN ITS HUGE, PLUSH, AND BY FAR THE BEST PERCH FOR YOUR POSTERIOR IN THE 2-WHEELED WORLD?
THE GOLD WING MAY BE A HARD MOTORCYCLE FOR MANY TO UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT LIKE TO LEAVE THEIR BAGGAGE BEHIND, BUT THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND RELAXING IN THE SEAT, THE MORE APPEALING IT BECOMES.
PROVIDED YOU KEEP THE WEIGHT IN CONSIDERATION AND KEEP YOUR INPUTS SMOOTH, THE GOLD WING IS A FANTASTIC HANDLER.
BUT REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT, IT'S JUST AN ENJOYABLE MOTORCYCLE TO SPEND MILES ON.
THERE ARE 4 AUTOMOTIVE STYLE TRIM LEVELS OF GOLD WING TO CHOOSE FROM, STARTING AT $23,999.
IT MAY NOT HAVE THE CHARACTER THAT SOME RIDERS DEMAND, BUT POUND FOR POUND THE 2015 HONDA GOLD WING IS STILL THE BENCHMARK OF THE TOURING SEGMENT.
AND BY THE TIME THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY MODEL ROLLS AROUND, IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT WILL CHANGE.
* John: MINIVANS... YOU KNOW, THOSE NOW FAMILIAR PEOPLE HAULERS THAT ARE REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY FAMILIES, LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS, AND VAN POOLERS ARE GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE.
WE HAVE FOUR CONTESTANTS AT THE STARTING LINE.
FROM THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION, THE PLYMOUTH VOYAGER.
FROM OUR NUMBER ONE IMPORTER, THE TOYOTA VAN.
FROM GENERAL MOTORS, THE CHEVROLET ASTRO.
AND A JUST INTRODUCED FORD ENTRY, THE AEROSTAR.
BASE PRICES FOR OUR GROUP RANGE FROM A LOW OF AROUND $8,500 FOR THE ASTRO, TO JUST UNDER 10,000 FOR THE TOYOTA VAN.
NOT ALL CAR REPAIR ISSUES ARE GLOOM AND DOOM!
PAT GOSS IS HERE NOW WITH QUICK FIXES FOR A PAIR OF SMALL THORNS.
Pat Goss: IF, LIKE ME, YOU HAPPEN TO BE THE PROUD OWNER OF A 2010 FORD F-150, WELL YOU'LL KNOW IT'S A GREAT TRUCK, BUT THAT IT HAS ONE MAJOR FAILING... AND THAT'S THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
YOU SEE, THERE'S NO WAY TO TURN THE BACK LIGHTING ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DURING THE DAYLIGHT.
YES, YOU COULD COVER THE SENSOR UP THERE ON THE DASH, BUT THAT'LL TURN ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT IT PUTS ALL OF THE OTHER LED'S AND SO ON, ON THE DASH, INTO NIGHT MODE AND YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.
SO, IT'S A MATTER OF ONE OR THE OTHER.
WELL, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT ARRANGEMENT.
SO, WHAT I DID IS, I WENT TO THE LOCAL PARTS STORE, AND I BOUGHT SOME OF THESE.
THESE ARE SMALL LED DASH LIGHTS.
THEY'RE ADHESIVE ON THE BACK.
THEY HAVE VERY SMALL WIRES.
AND WE FOUND STRATEGIC SPOTS IN BETWEEN EACH ONE OF THE GAUGES, AND APPLIED THESE TO THE SURFACE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
RAN THE WIRES UP BEHIND IT, AND THEN MADE A CONNECTION ON THE BACK SO THAT WHENEVER I TURN THE KEY ON, WHAT I GET IS, THIS.
YOU CAN SEE VERY PLAINLY NOW THE INSTRUMENTS.
YOU CAN READ THEM.
BECAUSE BEFORE YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING, YOU COULDN'T TELL IF SOMETHING WAS OVERHEATING, OR ANYTHING AT ALL.
SO THIS IS AN EASY, INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM.
NOW, ANOTHER THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH: THEY BUY A CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE GPS.
JUST LIKE THIS ONE, I BOUGHT IT USED, AND, NO GPS.
WELL, I NEED GPS FOR A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT I GO.
SO I BOUGHT AN AFTERMARKET UNIT, WHICH HAS SOME ADVANTAGES IN THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT IT CAN GIVE YOU INFORMATION WISE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET WITH A FACTORY UNIT.
NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LOCATION OF SPEED CAMERAS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THOSE LOCATIONS ARE UPDATED VERY FREQUENTLY.
BUT, NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?
WELL, YOU COULD USE ONE OF THEIR SAND BAG MOUNTS, AND PUT IT UP ON THE DASH.
BUT THEN IT BLOCKS VISION.
YOU COULD USE SUCTION CUPS, BUT AGAIN YOU'RE ADVERTISING THAT YOU'VE GOT A GPS, AND THAT SETS IT UP FOR BEING STOLEN.
WHAT I FOUND, AND THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR MOST POPULAR VEHICLES, IS A CUSTOM MADE MOUNT, THAT'S DESIGNED FOR THIS ONE TO FIT INTO THIS BLANK OPENING IN THE DASH.
THESE DO A GOOD JOB OF MOUNTING THE GPS, KEEPS IT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT, AND THEY'RE MUCH LESS APT TO BE STOLEN.
EXPECT TO PAY 20 TO 60 BUCKS, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS UPDATE ON OUR 2015 NISSAN MURANO BY SAYING IT'S CLEARLY ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING MID-SIZE CROSSOVERS OUT THERE.
IT'S 2-ROW, 5-PASSENGER SIZE IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT FOR UP AND COMING FAMILIES, WITH A NEAR LUXURY LEVEL OF APPOINTMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY THAT, LIKE THE NEW MAXIMA SEDAN, BOOSTS THE IMAGE OF THE ENTIRE NISSAN BRAND.
THE SLICK STYLING CERTAINLY SETS IT APART FROM OTHER MID-SIZE MASS MARKET UTE'S.
IT'S DYNAMIC IF ALSO POLARIZING.
STILL, IT CANNOT BE IGNORED.
SURE, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY MAY NOT BE PERFECT, BUT IT'S IMPROVED OVER THE PREVIOUS GEN. TWO MORE INDICATIONS OF ITS LUXURIOUS PRETENTIONS ARE VAGUE STEERING FEEL, AND A TOWING CAPACITY OF ONLY 1,500 POUNDS.
STILL, THE LONG DISTANCE RIDE COMFORT IS EXCELLENT, COMPLIANT WITHOUT BEING SLOPPY.
MIXED USE FUEL ECONOMY IS ACCEPTABLE AT 23.0 MILES PER GALLON, AND THE 3.5 LITER V6 CVT COMBO HAS PLENTY OF RESERVE POWER WHEN YOU NEED IT.
BOY, HAVE WE RACKED UP THE MILES ON OUR 2015 CHRYSLER 200C!
MAKE THAT 15618 MILES IN 8 MONTHS.
AND THIS UPDATE COMES AFTER SOME LONG-MILEAGE TRIPS, WHERE THE 200 GOT TO SEE ALL OF I-95 FROM MARYLAND TO MAINE.
AS A RESULT, FUEL ECONOMY SHOT UP TO 26.4 MILES PER GALLON.
SOME FIRST TIME DRIVERS OF THE 200 TAKE ISSUE WITH THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC, FINDING IT STILL HESITATES WHEN HUNTING FOR GEARS.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY COMPLAINT, AS THE REST OF THE LOGBOOK IS FILLED WITH PRAISE OVER THE COMFORTABLE, QUIET RIDE AND AMPLE SPACE.
ONE NOTE, WE DID TAKE OUR 200 IN FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE TOUCH SCREEN UCONNECT SYSTEM TO ADDRESS RECENT ISSUES OVER HACKING AND REMOTE CONTROL.
BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY!
AND IT'S A SAFE BET WE'LL REVIEW THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT AND ACURA TLX ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!
ALONG WITH THE TURNING OF THE LEAVES, FALL ALSO SIGNALS THE TURN OF THE AUTO SHOW CALENDAR.
AND THIS YEAR THAT MEANS WE START WITH WHAT'S NEW AT THE 2015 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW!
Yolanda Vazquez: THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY, AND JUDGING BY ALL THE EYE CANDY AT THE 2015 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW, THERE SHOULD BE MORE GOOD TIMES ON THE WAY.
ANY TIME YOU CAN STEAL SOME THUNDER FROM THE GERMANS IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, IT WILL EARN YOU MAJOR PROPS, AND THE MUCH ANTICIPATED INFINITI Q30 DID JUST THAT.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST COMPACT CAR FROM INFINITI, BUT IT'S THE FIRST IN QUITE A WHILE, AND THE FIRST TO BE RELEASED GLOBALLY.
BUT IT WAS JAGUAR THAT GOT THE MOST BUZZ.
NOT JUST FOR THEIR FIRST CROSSOVER, THE F-PACE, BUT FOR HOW THEY INTRODUCED THE ALUMINUM BODIED UTE.
DRIVING HIGH AROUND A 63 FOOT VERTICAL LOOP TO SET A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD.
NOT TO BE OUTDONE, BENTLEY UNLEASHED ITS LONG-AWAITED SUV, THE BENTAYGA.
BUT THE SHEER SIZE OF THE GERMAN BRANDS' EPIC DISPLAYS, LEFT LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS IS THEIR HOME TURF WITH PLENTY TO BRAG ABOUT.
PORSCHE CONFIRMED THAT ALL FUTURE 911s WILL NOW BE TURBO CHARGED.
BUT THEIR BIG SURPRISE WAS PURELY ELECTRIC.
THIS IS THE MISSION E CONCEPT, A 600 HORSEPOWER EV SEDAN THAT COULD CHALLENGE THE TESLA MODEL S. AUDI MADE PRODUCTION NEWS WITH AN ALL NEW S4.
AND THEY HOPE TO MAKE THIS ALL ELECTRIC E-TRON QUATTRO CROSSOVER A REALITY SOON.
VOLKSWAGEN WILL BEGIN A 2ND GENERATION OF THE TIGUAN, WHEN THIS MQB BASED UTE GOES ON SALE HERE NEXT YEAR IN BOTH TWO AND THREE ROW FORMS.
THIS EXTENDABLE BODIED IAA CONCEPT IS MB'S DREAM OF AN INTELLIGENT AERODYNAMIC AUTOMOBILE.
BUT MERCEDES HAD US DREAMING OF ENDLESS DRIVES ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST IN THIS S-CLASS CABRIOLET.
BUT WE'D RATHER TEAR UP SOME RACETRACK ASPHALT IN THIS C63 COUPE.
AND HAVE A LITTLE MONEY LEFT OVER TO GET OUR DROP-TOP DRIVING KICKS IN THIS SMART FOR TWO CABRIOLET.
BMW HAD PLENTY TO SHOW ON THEIR OWN.
A 330E PLUG-IN HYBRID.
AS WELL AS AN ALL-NEW TAKE ON THEIR 7-SERIES FLAGSHIP SEDAN, AND X1 SMALL CROSSOVER.
MINI MADE THE BIGGEST "LITTLE" NEWS WITH THEIR FIRST 4-DOOR COMPACT, THE NEW CLUBMAN.
ONE SMALL ODDITY IT HAS CLAM SHELL CARGO DOORS INSTEAD OF A HATCH.
THERE'S ALSO A NEW DAWN ON THE HORIZON FROM ROLLS-ROYCE.
IT'S A CONVERTIBLE VERSION OF THE WRAITH COUPE.
AND IF YOU LIKE THE NEW FACE OF KIA, YOU'LL BE SEEING A LOT MORE OF IT, AS IT ADORNS AN ALL-NEW SPORTAGE ARRIVING FOR 2017.
THERE WERE A LOT OF CROSSOVER DEBUTS AT FRANKFURT, WITH MAZDA EVEN SHOWING WHERE THEIR PEOPLE MOVERS MIGHT BE HEADED WITH THE KOERU CONCEPT.
NISSAN'S NEXT CUTE UTE MAY NOT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THIS GRIPZ CONCEPT, BUT THEY MADE THE POINT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PERFORMANCE OF ALL KINDS GOING FORWARD.
THE TOYOTA PRIUS IS, OF COURSE, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL HYBRID OF ALL TIME, AND IT WILL START A NEW GENERATION NEXT YEAR.
HIGH STYLE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE WITH THE ADDED BENEFIT OF WIND IN YOUR HAIR, CAME FROM BOTH FERRARI WITH THE 488 SPIDER.
AND LAMBORGHINI WITH THEIR HURACAN SPYDER.
BUT THIS BUGATTI VISION GRAN TURISMO CONCEPT REALLY TOPS OUR WISH LIST.
DETROIT BRANDS STAYED PRETTY MUCH IN THE SHADOWS AT FRANKFURT, WITH ONLY THE FORD FOCUS RS AND SOME MILD CONCEPTS FROM JEEP.
AND THAT'S THE COMPLETE WRAP-UP FOR FRANKFURT, BUT THE AUTO SHOW SEASON IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
SO, STAY TUNED FOR LOTS OF NEW RIDES HEADING YOUR WAY.
John: EVER SINCE BMW JOINED THE CROWD IN GOING CROSSOVER WITH THE 2000 MODEL YEAR X5 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE, THEY'VE APPROACHED THE SEGMENT WITH ON-ROAD PERFORMANCE FRONT AND CENTER.
AND AS THIS X5 M IS ABOUT TO PROVE, THEY STAYED, AND IMPROVED, THE COURSE.
THE BMW X5 WAS ALL NEW FOR 2014, AND WE DECLARED IT THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS A SPORT SEDAN BUT NEEDS AN SUV.
SO, WE NATURALLY WONDERED JUST HOW MUCH BETTER THE FULL ON M VERSION OF BMW'S LARGEST, AT LEAST FOR NOW, SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE COULD BE.
WELL, IF THE AMOUNT OF ACCELERATION THAT EXPLODES OUT OF ITS ENGINE BAY IS ANY INDICATION, ITS TONS BETTER.
AND IT'S NOT A MATTER OF BEING SNEAKY FAST, THIS THING POURS ON THE POWER IN A SERIOUS MANNER.
IT CHEWS UP PAVEMENT BLOCKS AT A TIME, LEAVING PRETENDER PERFORMANCE SPORT UTE'S IN THE DUST.
MAKING THIS MAGIC IS BMW'S 4.4 LITER V8... TURBOED OF COURSE, FOR AN INCREDIBLE 567 HORSEPOWER AND 553 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THE TRANSMISSION IS AN 8-SPEED M SPORT PADDLE-SHIFT AUTOMATIC.
THE SUSPENSION IS FIRMED UP, RIDE HEIGHT LOWERED, AND 21-INCH WHEELS ADDED.
AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, OUR TEST TRACK RESULTS WERE BREATHTAKING.
OFF THE LINE, THE ONSLAUGHT OF ACCELERATION FORCES A SMILE ONTO YOUR FACE NO MATTER HOW JADED YOU ARE.
THERE'S FULL POWER ACROSS THE REV BAND THAT DOESN'T LET UP UNTIL YOU NEAR 7,000 RPM.
HITTING 60 FROM 0 TOOK JUST 4.2 SECONDS, WITH A FULL ON QUARTER MILE PASS TAKING ONLY 12.2 SECONDS AT 115 MILES PER HOUR.
HIGH SPEED STABILITY IS FIRST RATE.
REAR-BIASED XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD, BUT CAN SEND THE FULL TORQUE LOAD TO JUST THE FRONT WHEELS SHOULD A LACK OF TRACTION WARRANT IT.
THROUGH THE CONES IT FELT VERY COMPETENT, MAYBE EVEN A BIT TOO COMPETENT, AS ITS SUPER EAGER TO TURN IN, BUT IT ALSO FEELS VERY BIG, AND IT PROVED HARD TO PLACE PRECISELY WHERE WE WANTED IT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, STOPS FROM 60 TOOK A SUPER SHORT 100 FEET WITH A NICE FIRM PEDAL AND CONSISTENT RESULTS.
NOW, IF THERE'S ONE AREA THAT DISAPPOINTS, IT'S IN THE LOOKS DEPARTMENT.
SURE THERE ARE LOTS OF AGGRESSIVE TONES WITH ADDED ENLARGED AIR INTAKES, QUAD EXHAUST TIPS, AND M SIGNATURE ELEMENTS.
BUT THIS GEN X5 IS JUST NOT AN ATTRACTIVE VEHICLE, LOOKING WAY TOO WAGON LIKE FOR OUR TASTES.
INSIDE THOUGH, THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE TO KEEP THE PRACTICALITY ASPECT OF THIS UTE FIRMLY INTACT.
AND STANDARD DYNAMIC DAMPER CONTROL ALLOWS YOU TO DIAL IN A RIDE THAT IS SMOOTH ENOUGH FOR FAMILY DUTIES.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.
WE AVERAGED 16.8 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.
OBVIOUSLY VEHICLES SUCH AS THESE ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE, AS FEW CAN AFFORD TO LAY DOWN SIX FIGURES FOR THE FAMILY VEHICLE; THIS ONE WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $99,695.
SO, IF THE REGULAR X5 IS A SPORT SEDAN STUCK IN AN SUV BODY, WE CAN ONLY THEN CONCLUDE THAT THE 2015 BMW X5 M IS AN EXOTIC PERFORMANCE CAR CRAMMED INTO AN AGGRESSIVE LOOKING, BUT STILL HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL SPORT UTE FORM.
THAT MAKES IT ONE XM THAT WE'LL TUNE INTO EVERY CHANCE WE GET.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR A LOOK BACK AT 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK .
WE'LL DIG INTO THE ARCHIVES AND SEE JUST HOW FAR WE AND THE MODERN CAR HAVE COME.
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...
THIS IS PETE.
PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."
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