2016 Chevrolet Camaro & 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US AS WE HOP IN THE SADDLE OF THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET CAMARO... PAT GOSS PROVES HE'S THE MAN WITH A PERFORMANCE PLAN... AUTO WORLD PLUGS INTO LONG HAUL EV ROADTRIPPIN'... AND WE'LL WORK ON OUR LONG GAME IN THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ANNOUNCER: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... PHYLLIS IS HEADED TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE, SO SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

"UHHH...I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

John: SOME MIGHT SAY THE CHEVROLET CAMARO HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ALSO RAN; NOT ON SALE TILL OVER TWO YEARS AFTER THE FIRST MUSTANG, AND THEN BEING HUMILIATED BY A 2002 HALT TO PRODUCTION.

BUT SINCE ITS 2010 COMEBACK, CAMARO HAS OUTSOLD MUSTANG BY SUCCESSFULLY BLENDING A RETRO HEAVY DESIGN WITH SOPHISTICATED WORLD CLASS PERFORMANCE, AND THE GEN 6, 2016 CAMARO LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

WE'VE KNOWN THERE WAS A MAJOR RE-ENGINEERING COMING TO THE CAMARO FOR A WHILE NOW, AS ITS AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED CHASSIS HAD A FIRM EXPIRATION DATE.

AND INDEED THIS 6TH GENERATION 2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO IS ACTUALLY 100% ALL-NEW.

WE DON'T GET TO SAY THAT OFTEN.

NOW, RIDING ON A SLIGHTLY LONGER CADILLAC ATS ALPHA CHASSIS, IT IS LIGHTER, MORE POWERFUL, AND BATTER BALANCED, WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW IS THE ULTIMATE SPORTY CAR RECIPE.

AND BORROWING A PAGE FROM THE LATEST MUSTANG, TRADITIONAL V6 AND V8 POWER HAVE BEEN JOINED BY A NEW TURBO 4-CYLINDER, WHICH ENABLES THE BASE CAMARO TO WEIGH ALMOST 400 POUNDS LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS STANDARD V6.

AND THE I4 TURBO IS NO SLOUCH.

A 2.0 LITER, IT'S ALSO FROM THE CADILLAC CAMP, WITH 275 HORSEPOWER AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE AVAILABLE V6 IS STILL AN OVERHEAD CAMMER DISPLACING 3.6 LITERS.

BUT TECHNICALLY, IT'S A NEW 6 WITH A TINY BIT MORE DISPLACEMENT, CYLINDER DEACTIVATION, AND OF COURSE HIGHER OUTPUT, 335 HORSEPOWER AND 284 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE CORVETTE'S LT1 PERFORMS THE SS' V8 DUTIES; HERE RATED AT 455 HORSEPOWER, YES, THAT'S 20 MORE THAN THE MUSTANG 5-0, AND 455 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BEST OF ALL, THE POTENT POWERPLANT TRIO COMES WITH YOUR CHOICE OF 6-SPEED MANUAL OR 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

WE SPENT OUR EARLY DRIVE TIME IN A V6 RS, ON A PEDAL TO THE METAL LONG HAUL FROM PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA DOWN TO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

SO, WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO VERIFY GMs CLAIM OF A 0-60 OF 4.0 SECONDS IN THE V8 AUTOMATIC SS, BUT WE'LL HAVE ONE AT OUR TRACK SOON.

AND YES, WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO PUSHING THAT ESTIMATE TO ITS LIMITS.

DESPITE A FAMILIAR LONG HOOD, SHORT DECK PROFILE, GM HAS CLEARLY GONE MORE CONTEMPORARY WITH THE NEW CAMARO, AS IT'S CERTAINLY MORE COMPACT, AS EVERY EXTERIOR DIMENSION SHRINKS.

BUT IT'S NOT A RADICAL STYLING CHANGE, THINK MORE ATHLETIC AND LESS THROWBACK.

UP FRONT, THE UPPER GRILLE SLIMS DOWN, WHILE THE LOWER AIR INTAKE EXPANDS.

AND OF COURSE THE RS ADDS ITS OWN UNIQUE TOUCHES, BOTH COSMETIC AND FUNCTIONAL, TO SET IT ABOVE THE BASE LTs.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH SMALL GLASS AREA, THE PREVIOUS GENs LACK LUSTER OUTWARD VISIBILITY CARRIES OVER.

THINGS INSIDE ARE MUCH MORE DRIVER FOCUSED THAN BEFORE, THERE'S A NEW FLAT BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL, AND MATERIAL QUALITY HAS CERTAINLY IMPROVED.

THE DESIGN IS THANKFULLY MORE MODERN, AND DETAILS LIKE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL RINGS ON THE VENTS ARE A SMART TOUCH.

STILL, MANY CONTROLS AND SOME READOUTS ARE QUITE SMALL.

SO, EVEN THOUGH IT TRAILS MUSTANG A BIT FUNCTIONALLY, IT STILL LOOKS REALLY COOL.

THERE'S AN EXPECTED CENTER DASH TOUCHSCREEN; IT'S A BIG 8-INCH DISPLAY ON WHICH APPLE CARPLAY IS AVAILABLE, WHICH WORKS WELL.

ALSO ON PAR IS AN OPTIONAL HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE HIGH-DEF DISPLAY FOR THE GAUGES.

A CONVENIENCE AND LIGHTING PACKAGE ADDS HEAD-UP DISPLAY, ALUMINUM ACCENTS, AND ADDITIONAL INTERIOR LIGHTING; AS WELL AS A HOST OF ACTIVE SAFETY FEATURES.

DRIVE MODES ON ALL CAMARO'S INCLUDE SNOW/ICE, TOUR, AND SPORT, WHILE THE SS GETS AN ADDITIONAL TRACK MODE.

ADJUSTMENTS EFFECT JUST ABOUT EVERY PERFORMANCE ASPECT OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS SOUND MANAGEMENT, AND EVEN AMBIENT LIGHTING.

ON OUR ROAD TRIP, IT WAS EASY TO DETECT AND APPRECIATE THIS CAMARO BY CADILLAC'S SMALLER SIZE, LOWER WEIGHT, AND MORE POLISHED NATURE.

ALL THAT PLUS THE ATSs MACPHERSON STRUT WITH DOUBLE LOWER BALL JOINTS FRONT, AND 5-LINK REAR SUSPENSION, WITH CAMARO SPECIFIC TUNING, MAKES A QUANTUM LEAP IN ROUGH ROAD RIDE AND HANDLING MANNERS.

MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL GOES FURTHER BUT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE SS, WHILE BREMBO BRAKES CAN BE FITTED TO ALL.

IT'S A TAD QUIETER AT SPEED, BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF THROATY ENGINE RUMBLE SNEAKING INTO THE CABIN.

AND THAT'S JUST FINE BY US, AS ARE THE SPEEDIER STEERING REACTIONS.

THE MANUAL SHIFTER IS MUCH TIGHTER THAN BEFORE; CLUTCH FEEL IS FIRM, BUT NOT STIFF.

ONE FINAL NOTE OF INTEREST TO MANY, CAMARO PRODUCTION HAS RETURNED TO THE GOOD OLD U.S. OF A., IN MICHIGAN WHERE IT BELONGS; ASSEMBLED IN GMs LANSING GRAND RIVER PLANT.

BASE LT PRICING WITH THE TURBO-4 STARTS AT $26,695; THE V6 ADDS $1,495 MORE.

THEN IT'S A HEALTHY STEP UP TO V8 TERRITORY, WITH AN SS STARTING AT $37,295.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE 2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO IS A LEANER, MEANER, AND MORE SOPHISTICATED MACHINE.

AND FROM OUR INITIAL DRIVE, CLEARLY STEPS UP FURTHER ON THE WORLD PERFORMANCE CAR STAGE.

WITH SALES JUST STARTING, IT NO DOUBT WILL GIVE BACK THIS YEAR'S PONY CAR, WAR SALES CROWN TO MUSTANG.

BUT NOW, WITH BOTH CAMARO AND MUSTANG FULLY UP TO SNUFF, THE FUN IS GOING TO BE IN SEEING IF IT'S A SHORT TERM SWAP.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES HAS DEVELOPED TO THE POINT WHERE EVs ARE NOW A PRACTICAL OPTION IN MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND INCREASINGLY, THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS AND FAMILY VACATIONS TOO.

THE ROUTINE OF CHARGING UP AT HOME OR WORK, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TIMES WHEN THEIR VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, IS COMMONPLACE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS.

BUT AS MORE AND MORE CHARGING STATIONS ARE INSTALLED AT LEISURE AND RECREATION DESTINATIONS, THE CONCEPT OF EV TOURISM HAS NOW TAKEN HOLD.

IN ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS PHONE APPs ALREADY AVAILABLE, MANY STATES ARE INCLUDING CHARGE STATION LOCATORS AND SUGGESTED TOURING ROUTES ON THEIR OFFICIAL TOURISM WEBSITES, ENCOURAGING EV DRIVERS TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE.

YOU'LL FIND PLACES TO PLUG IN AT WINERIES, HISTORIC LANDMARKS, THEME PARKS, AND SPORTING VENUES, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PLACES WHERE DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO PARK FOR AN HOUR OR MORE WHILE VISITING.

JUST IN TIME FOR THEIR CENTENNIAL IN 2016, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS RAMPING UP THEIR INITIATIVE TO INSTALL PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS AT PARKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ALONG WITH THE INCREASED USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES BY THE PARKS THEMSELVES, ENCOURAGING LOW-EMISSION TOURISM AMONG THE NATIONAL PARKS 292 MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS WILL REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY OVER ONE MILLION POUNDS EACH YEAR AND HELP TO PRESERVE OUR PRISTINE WILDERNESS AREAS.

ANOTHER SIDE BENEFIT WE FOUND RECENTLY, WHEN CHARGING UP AT MUIR WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT, WAS THE PRIMO PARKING LOCATIONS OFTEN RESERVED FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IN THIS CASE, JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE TOWERING REDWOOD FOREST TRAILS.

AND AT SAN FRANCISCO'S CRISSY FIELD, EV DRIVERS CAN RECHARGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE BEACH WHILE THEY REFRESH THEMSELVES IN THE COOL BAY BREEZE.

Geoff Quinn: EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN HERE, IT'S EMPTY, AND I THINK "THIS IS CHARGING AT LIKE SOMETHING LIKE 15 MILES AN HOUR, WHICH IS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GREAT, BUT IT'S GOOD ENOUGH."

SO YEAH, THIS IS A DEAL.

John: DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OF YOUR OWN?

SEVERAL NATIONAL CAR RENTAL AGENCIES OFFER EV RENTALS, AND TAKING A ZERO EMISSION VACATION IS A GREAT WAY TO TRY ONE OUT BEFORE BUYING.

THROUGH AN INITIATIVE CALLED "DRIVE ELECTRIC ORLANDO," VISITORS TO THIS VACATION CAPITOL, THE LARGEST CAR RENTAL MARKET IN THE COUNTRY, CAN CONVENIENTLY RENT EVs AT THE AIRPORT, THEN RECHARGE WHILE THE FAMILY ENJOYS THE RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS AT MANY LOCAL THEME PARKS.

SEVERAL ORLANDO HOTELS HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE PROJECT AS WELL, OFFERING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS FOR THEIR GUESTS.

THIS TREND IS POPPING UP ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AS HOTELS COMPETE FOR ECO-TOURISM BOOKINGS.

IF YOU PREFER TO GET UP CLOSE WITH MOTHER NATURE, MOST RV CAMPGROUNDS HAVE HIGH AMPERAGE ELECTRIC OUTLETS AVAILABLE THAT CAN EASILY HANDLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING.

WITH SOME RESEARCH, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING AND A LITTLE IMAGINATION, IT'S EASY TO TURN RANGE ANXIETY INTO EV ENJOYMENT, NEARLY ANYWHERE THE ROAD LEADS.

JUST ASK BRIAN KENT.

IN AUGUST OF 2015, HE SET OUT ON A 100 DAY ALL-ELECTRIC JAUNT ACROSS THE USA IN HIS STOCK NISSAN LEAF, WITH PLANS TO PLANT A TREE IN EVERY STATE TO OFFSET HIS CARBON FOOTPRINT.

Brian Kent: ALSO, I WANTED TO GO TO ALL THE CAPITALS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, AND ALL THE MOST POPULOUS CITIES AND THE REASON WHY THAT WAS, WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF I DRIVE WITHIN 20, 25 MILES WHERE VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATE LIVES, THEN I'M PROVING THE POINT OF, IF THEY OWN ONE OF THESE CARS, IN THEIR AREA, THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY TAKE IT ANY PLACE I TOOK IT.

John: WHILE, WE MAY NOT GO TO THE EXTREMES OF THAT CHARGED-UP ROAD TRIP, BRIAN'S EXPERIENCE AND OUR OWN EV ADVENTURES PROVE THAT NOT ONLY IS LONG-DISTANCE ELECTRIC CAR TRAVEL POSSIBLE, IT CAN BE DOWNRIGHT FUN TOO!

* STAB THE ACCELERATOR, AND ANY RESERVATIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT PUTTING A BUICK ENGINE IN A TRANS AM QUICKLY DISAPPEAR, AS THE CAR ROCKETS TO 60 MILES PER HOUR IN 5.4 SECONDS.

BUT IN THIS CAR, YOU MUST TAKE CAR TO ANTICIPATE SUDDEN RUSHES OF TURBO POWER THAT CAN BREAK THE TAIL LOOSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNER.

PAT GOSS HAS A PLAN FOR EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HOW TO IMPROVE A CAR'S PERFORMANCE.

SO LET'S STOP BY HIS GARAGE AND SEE FOR OURSELVES!

Pat Goss: MOST OF US WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FAST, GOOD LOOKING CAR, AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE RICK ROBINSON OF AMERICAN HIGH PERFORMANCE IN LORTON, VIRGINIA.

RICK, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Rick Robinson: HELLO PAT, GREAT TO BE HERE.

Pat: OKAY, NOW MY TAKE ON ALL THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE A PLAN.

Rick: ABSOLUTELY, AND WE TRY TO SIT DOWN WITH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT OUT OF A CAR.

HOW THEY PLAN TO USE IT, WHAT'S THEIR END GOAL, SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A PLAN BASED ON THEIR NEEDS.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND BUDGET?

Rick: BUDGET IS ALWAYS A BIG FACTOR.

WE ALWAYS WANT MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD, SO WE GO THROUGH THAT WITH THEM AS WELL.

Pat: OKAY NOW, I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS WITH MY CAMARO HERE, AND I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING RADICAL, I JUST DID A COLD AIR INTAKE AND AXEL BACK EXHAUST AND A FEW ODDS AND ENDS LIKE THAT AND I LIKE THE RESULT BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

Rick: IT'S ALL ABOUT ENJOYING THE CAR AND THAT'S WHY MUSCLE CAR OWNERS BUY THE CARS THAT WE DO, SO THAT WE CAN ENJOYING DRIVING THEM.

Pat: OKAY, NOW YOU BROUGHT A MUSTANG.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

Rick: I DID.

THIS IS A 2008 BULLET CAR.

IT'S A TRIBUTE FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOVIE WITH STEVE MCQUEEN.

IT'S A BASIC, SIMPLE CAR LIKE THE ORIGINAL WAS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WE WANTED MORE HORSEPOWER OUT OF IT TO GET MORE SPEED, SO WE PUT THE SUPERCHARGER ON IT, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP THERE BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE A CAR THAT'S UNBALANCED.

SO WE'VE UPGRADED THE SUSPENSION, WE'VE UPGRADED THE BRAKES, WE'VE UPGRADED THE EXHAUST TO MAKE IT ALL WORK TOGETHER LIKE IT SHOULD.

Pat: SO, IT'S A PACKAGE DEAL NOT JUST ADDING A PIECE HERE AND THERE?

Rick: ABSOLUTELY, IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE, TOO.

Pat: NOW, SUPPOSE YOU WANT SOMETHING LIKE THE RADICAL MUSTANG IN THE BACKGROUND THERE.

FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE MONEY TO BURN.

Rick: BRING A SUITCASE FULL, BECAUSE THAT PAINT JOB ALONE WILL COST YOU A BUNCH.

Pat: OKAY.

RICK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: WE'VE BEEN ENJOYING THIS 2015 NISSAN MURANO FOR 7-MONTHS NOW, AND WE'RE CLEARLY NOT THE ONLY ONES, AS MURANO SALES ARE WAY UP OVER LAST YEAR.

THOUGH THEY STILL FALL SHORT OF 2006s HIGH WATER MARK WHEN OVER 80,000 MURANO'S FOUND HOMES.

THE MURANO HAS ALWAYS HAD A DISTINCTIVE LOOK, BUT NEVER MORE SO THAN NOW.

IT HAS BECOME A CONTROVERSIAL ONE AROUND OUR OFFICE AS OF LATE, WITH NOT EVERYONE SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE FLOATING ROOF DESIGN.

STILL, THERE'S NO ARGUING THAT IT'S A LOT MORE JUKE, AND MAXIMA, THAN BLAND SENTRA, OR ALTIMA.

AND WE'RE ALL FIRM BELIEVERS IN THE ZERO GRAVITY FRONT SEATS WHICH OFFER EXTREME COMFORT, HELPING ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE MURANO'S TIGHT SUSPENSION FEEL.

FUEL ECONOMY HAS IMPROVED SINCE WE LAST CHECKED IN, WITH THE 3.5 LITER V6 CVT COMBO NOW DELIVERING US 23.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THIS IS OUR 5TH CHECKUP ON THE 2015 CHRYSLER 200, AND DESPITE IT'S NOW 9-MONTH STAY, OUR COMMENT BOOK HASN'T STOPPED FILLING UP.

IT'S A MIXED BAG OF HITS AND MISSES, THIS TIME AROUND: FOR THE POSITIVE, DRIVERS STILL FIND THE UCONNECT SYSTEM ONE OF THE BEST TO USE; ESPECIALLY WITH THE WELL INTEGRATED STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS ALLOWING EASY SWITCHING BETWEEN RADIO STATIONS AND VOLUME LEVELS.

DITTO FOR THE BIG KNOBS IN THE CENTER STACK.

THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC STILL DRAWS THE IRE OF STAFFERS, HOWEVER, AND ITS HESITATION IN GEAR SELECTION CONTINUES TO MAR AN OTHERWISE SMOOTH AND PLEASANT RIDE.

PADDLE SHIFTERS DO HELP, THOUGH.

FUEL ECONOMY IS TRENDING DOWNWARD, THOUGH AT 26.1 MILES PER GALLON, IT'S STILL WELL ABOVE THE FED'S COMBINED NUMBER, AND NONE TOO SHABBY FOR A 3.6 LITER V6 WITH 295 HORSEPOWER.

HERE THE 9-SPEED DOES PAY OFF.

TIME FOR A CHECK-UP OF THE ACURA TLX AND MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS READY WITH OUR LATEST AUTO SHOW HIGHLIGHTS, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE DETAILS!

Yolanda Vazquez: THE AUTO SHOW SEASON CONTINUES IN FULL SWING.

AND WHILE IT'S NICE TO GRAB A PEEK AT NEW PRODUCTION VEHICLES, ONE OFF CONCEPTS ARE ALWAYS THE MAIN ATTRACTION.

ESPECIALLY AT THE 2015 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW.

OUT THERE STYLING USUALLY DOMINATES HERE...

BUT IT WAS THIS MORE REALISTIC THAN RADICAL MAZDA RX-VISION CONCEPT THAT STOLE THE SHOW.

LOOKS ASIDE, PEOPLE WERE BUZZING ABOUT A POSSIBLE RETURN OF THE ROTARY ENGINE, WHICH MAZDA HAS DUBBED THE "SKYACTIV-R." ANOTHER, LESS STIMULATING SIGHT OF THE FUTURE WAS THIS MERCEDES-BENZ VISION TOKYO, MEANT TO RETHINK THE AUTOMOBILE AS A SELF-DRIVING DIGITAL COMPANION.

NISSAN GAVE THEIR VISION OF A POTENTIAL GT-R REDESIGN THROUGH THE CONCEPT 2020 VISION GRAN TURISMO...

THOUGH IT'S HARD TO SAY "WHAT WOULD MAKE THE FINAL CUT."

THEY ALSO SHOWED THIS IDS CONCEPT, AN AUTONOMOUS EV THAT SHOWS A HINT OF THE NEXT GENERATION LEAF.

MUCH CLEARER WAS THIS TOYOTA S-FR CONCEPT: A SMALL, LIGHT-WEIGHT, SPORTS CAR WITH A FRONT ENGINE, REAR-DRIVE LAYOUT.

CORPORATE COUSINS LEXUS KEPT IT SIMPLE, TOO, SHOWING THIS LF-FC CONCEPT AND MOST LIKELY, THE NEXT-GEN STYLING OF THEIR FLAGSHIP LS SEDAN WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE A FUEL CELL.

ONE CAR THAT'S CONFIRMED FOR FUEL CELL POWER AND PRODUCTION IS THIS HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL, WITH A 300+ MILE RANGE AND ROOM FOR FIVE PASSENGERS.

SUBARU UNVEILED THIS IMPREZA 5-DOOR CONCEPT, LIKELY A RETURN OF THE HATCHBACK IMPREZA.

THEY ALSO SHOWED THIS VIZIV FUTURE CONCEPT, WHICH COULD SIGNAL A RETURN TO THE 3-ROW SUV MARKET.

MITSUBISHI PULLED THE CURTAIN ON THE EX CONCEPT, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A NEARLY READY COMPACT CROSSOVER.

ANOTHER ODDBALL WAS THIS SPORTS RIDE CONCEPT FROM YAMAHA.

IT'S MEANT TO HAVE A MOTORCYCLE LIKE RIDE AND PERFORMANCE FOR TRADITIONAL CAR DRIVERS.

THERE CERTAINLY WAS NO SHORTAGE OF HEADLINES, WITH DESIGNS RANGING FROM BACK TO THE BASICS TO BIZARRE.

AND AS ALWAYS, THE AUTOMOTIVE STARS IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF JAPAN DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

John: BY NOW, YOU'VE HEARD ALL ABOUT THE VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL FIASCO.

RESIDUAL VALUES, VW STOCK PRICES, AND BRAND IMAGE HAVE ALL TAKEN A BEATING OVER RECENT MONTHS.

BUT, WHAT'S BEEN LOST IN ALL OF THE HUBUB IS THAT THERE'S A NEW GOLF SPORTWAGEN.

AND DESPITE THE DIESEL DISASTER, THE SPORTWAGEN DESERVES IT'S TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

FOR THOSE FANS THAT WERE UPSET OVER THE DEMISE OF THE JETTA SPORTWAGEN, WE HAVE GREAT NEWS.

IT'S HASN'T REALLY GONE AWAY, IT'S JUST BEEN RE-DESIGNED, AND RENAMED, AS THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN.

AND THAT MEANS IT IS NOW USING VWs FANTASTIC MQB ARCHITECTURE, AND THE BENEFITS OF THAT ARE ALMOST ENDLESS.

IT WEIGHS LESS, IS MORE ECONOMICAL, AND DESPITE SHIFTING FROM JETTA TO GOLF NAMEPLATES, IT EVEN HAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE INSIDE.

WE'RE CERTAINLY OKAY WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE GOLF LINEUP, AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CARS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT FINE WITH OF COURSE, IS THE RECENT NEWS REGARDING VOLKSWAGEN'S DECEPTIVE PRACTICES WHEN IT CAME TO GETTING THEIR TDI DIESEL'S EMISSION'S CERTIFIED.

WE SPENT TIME IN A UREA INJECTED TDI EQUIPPED SPORTWAGEN BACK IN THE SUMMER, BEFORE ALL OF THIS CAME TO LIGHT.

AND AVERAGED 37.0 MILES PER GALLON, WHICH IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE COMBINED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 35, TO GO ALONG WITH 31-CITY, AND 42-HIGHWAY.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN HUGE FANS OF THE TDI AND HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN EXCEPTIONAL FUEL ECONOMY RESULTS, BUT PERHAPS IN RETROSPECT WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

IT'S NOT A TOTAL DISASTER HOWEVER, AS INDEPENDENT TESTING HAS CONCLUDED THAT WITH A SOFTWARE FIX, FUEL ECONOMY MIGHT DECLINE AS LITTLE AS 5%.

ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE THE CONSUMERS THAT WILL DECIDE THE TDI'S FATE WHEN AND IF VOLKSWAGEN GETS THINGS SORTED OUT.

WE ALSO DROVE A TSI EQUIPPED GASOLINE FUELED SPORTWAGEN; AND HERE WE ALSO BESTED EXPECTATIONS, AVERAGING 33.3 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE OFFICIAL COMBINED IS ONLY 29, WITH 25-CITY AND 35-HIGHWAY.

ITS LEGITIMATE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN AT 11.4 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED YEARLY WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.0 TONS.

THE 1.8 LITER I4 IN THE TSI IS RATED AT 170 HORSEPOWER AND 199 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND IS AVAILABLE WITH EITHER A 5-SPEED MANUAL OR 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

COMPARED WITH A GOLF 5-DOOR, THERE'S 12.0 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL LENGTH, YET IT RIDES ON A WHEELBASE THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN SHORTENED BY A BIT.

OVERALL LENGTH, HOWEVER, IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE DEPARTING JETTA SPORTWAGEN.

AS FAR AS DESIGN, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO WITH THE 2-BOX WAGON SHAPE, THE GOLF'S TAKE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT MORE PURPOSEFUL AND LESS BLOATED THAN THE JETTA'S.

THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE INTERIOR DOESN'T DEPART AT ALL FROM THE SIMPLE GOLF THEME, AND WE'RE JUST FINE WITH THAT.

MATERIAL QUALITY IS GOOD, AND SEAT COMFORT BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

CARGO CAPACITY IN THE HOLD IS DOWN SLIGHTLY TO 30.4 CUBIC-FEET, BUT AFTER DROPPING THE REAR SEAT BACKS, THE SPACE EXPANDS TO 66.5 CUBIC-FEET.

AND THAT'S MUCH MORE SPACE THAN ALL OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVERS HAVE TO OFFER.

AND IT'S MUCH MORE FUN TO DRIVE AS WELL.

HERE AT THE TRACK, IT WAS AS CAPABLE AS WE HOPED, AND HANDLES WAY BETTER THAN A CAR THIS BIG SHOULD.

THE EXTRA 100 POUNDS OR SO OF WEIGHT OVER THE HATCHBACK DID NOTHING TO COMPROMISE HANDLING HERE, OR RIDE QUALITY ON THE WAY BACK TO THE OFFICE.

ZERO TO 60 TIMES WERE QUICKER IN THE TSI, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, THOUGH NOT BY MUCH.

8.7 TSI, VERSES 9.0 FLAT FOR THE TDI.

BOTH ARE A LITTLE SLUGGISH OFF THE LINE, WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR TURBO'S TO SPIN UP THE BOOST.

SO NATURALLY, THE TSI COMPLETES THE QUARTER MILE MORE QUICKLY AS WELL; TAKING 16.2 SECONDS TO TRIP THE LIGHTS AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED A GOOD 125 FEET.

BRAKE FEEL WAS GREAT AND FADE WAS MINIMAL.

WITH ALL OF THE PRICY CARS WE TEST THESE DAYS, AT $22,215; THE GOLF SPORTWAGEN PACKS ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT IN A TIDY, HIGHLY AFFORDABLE PACKAGE.

2016 EDITIONS TACK ON ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE.

FOR THE TIME BEING, THE TDI IS NOT AVAILABLE PENDING RE-CERTIFICATION.

EXPECT ABOUT A 3-GRAND PREMIUM WHEN IT RETURNS.

SO, WHILE VWs DECEPTION HAS CERTAINLY TEMPERED OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN, AND IT'S IN FACT DIFFICULT FOR US TO RECOMMEND ANY VOLKSWAGEN AT THE CURRENT TIME, THE SPORTWAGEN IS STILL A GOOD IDEA.

BUT EVEN GOOD IDEAS NEED THE PROPER TIMING TO BE GREAT ONES.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

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 SEE IF A NEW OUTLANDER HAS MITSUBISHI HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THEN WE GET GOING, FAST, IN THE MERCEDES-AMG GTS .

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... PHYLLIS IS HEADED TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE, SO SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

"UHHH...I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

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