HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR AN ALL-ACCESS TOUR OF WHAT'S NEW AT THE 2017 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE TO MAKE SURE THE MILEAGE MATCHES THE JOURNEY... ZACK MASKELL FINDS A GROUP CARING FOR CARS THAT STRETCH THROUGH LIFE... AND WE'LL EXPLORE THE NEW PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE JAGUAR PEDIGREE...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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John: THERE MAY BE FRIGID TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE, BUT INSIDE DETROIT'S COBO HALL, THINGS COULDN'T BE HOTTER.
THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, FOR YOU TO COME ALONG WITH US TO DETROIT, FOR A MOTORWEEK TOUR OF ALL THAT IS SHINY AND NEW AT THE 2017 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.
EARLY IN THE AM OF THE FIRST PRESS DAY ALWAYS KICKS OFF WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME OF THE INDUSTRY'S MOST COVETED AWARDS OF THE NEW YEAR.
Lauren Fix: AND THE WINNER IS THE CHEVROLET BOLT EV.
John: A RUNAWAY WINNER, THE CHEVROLET BOLT EV IS THE FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC CAR UNDER $30,000, WITH OVER 200 MILES OF RANGE, AND ROOM ENOUGH FOR A GROWING FAMILY AND ALL THEIR GEAR.
KUDOS TO GM FOR REACHING THAT MILESTONE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE!
NORTH AMERICAN TRUCK OF THE YEAR GOES TO THE HONDA RIDGELINE.
IT STILL MAY NOT FIT EVERYONE'S DEFINITION OF A REAL TRUCK, BUT THIS 2ND GEN RIDGELINE IS A LOT MORE TRUCK-LIKE THAN IT WAS BEFORE; AND MORE "TRUCK" THAN MOST PERSONAL-USE BUYERS WILL EVER NEED.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, A NORTH AMERICAN UTILITY VEHICLE OF THE YEAR WAS CROWNED, AND IT'S NOT A SUV AT ALL; RATHER THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA, AMERICA'S FIRST MINIVAN REIMAGINED FOR A NEW MILLENNIUM OF BUYERS.
AS FOR DEBUTS FROM THE HOMETOWN TEAMS, CHEVROLET GOT THE BALL ROLLING WITH AN ALL-NEW TRAVERSE 3-ROW CROSSOVER.
UNDOUBTEDLY, MORE BRAWNY AND UPSCALE IN APPEARANCE, LOOKING MUCH MORE LIKE A TAHOE/SUBURBAN THAN THE PREVIOUS BULBOUS CUV.
IT WILL HAVE FIRST TIME TURBO-4 AS WELL AS V6 POWER ALONG WITH GM'S NEW 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
HIGHWAY MPG JUMPS FROM 22 TO 25.
A MUCH NEEDED AND TIMELY ARRIVAL, WITH 2.0 INCHES MORE WHEELBASE, IT'S THUS OVERALL LONGER THAN ITS KIN THE GMC ACADIA.
WITH THAT, CHEVY CLAIMS CARGO SPACE AND 3RD ROW ADULT-SIZE LEGROOM WILL BE BEST-IN-CLASS.
SPEAKING OF GMC, THEY UNVEILED AN ALL-NEW TERRAIN 2-ROW CROSSOVER.
WHILE, STILL A PLATFORM MATE OF THE CHEVROLET EQUINOX, THE NEW TERRAIN LOOKS TOTALLY DIFFERENT INSIDE, AND OUT WHILE BEING LITTLE TIDIER IN BOTH SIZE, AND WEIGHT.
IT ALSO, GETS NEW TURBO ENGINES AND THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC, BUT GOES ONE FURTHER WITH A 1.6 LITER TURBO-DIESEL OPTION.
IT'S NEW LOOK IS SLEEKER YET STILL QUITE RUGGED, AND THERE'S EVEN A FLOATING REAR ROOF DESIGN THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO WANT THESE DAYS.
AND DON'T WORRY HIGH ROLLERS, A DENALI VERSION WILL BE AVAILABLE AS WELL.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE F-150 OVER AT FORD, AND FOR '18 IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR ALUMINIZED BEST-SELLER WILL BE GETTING A REVISED FACE AS WELL AS SOME OPTIONAL DIESEL POWER OF ITS OWN, AN ALL-NEW FORD DESIGNED 3.0 LITER POWER STROKE V6.
BASE ENGINE GOES FROM 3.5 LITER V6 GAS TO A NEW 3.3 LITER, THERE'S A NEW 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST V6, AND EVEN THE 5.0 LITER V8 GETS REVISED.
IT ALSO, SPORTS FORD'S NEW 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
FORD ALSO CONFIRMED A MID-SIZE RANGER PICKUP WILL RETURN IN '19, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY A NEW BRONCO IN '20.
BOTH VEHICLES WILL BE ASSEMBLED IN MICHIGAN.
THEN, IN A SURPRISE TWIST, AFTER MOST OF THE GLOBAL PRESS WENT HOME, FORD ANNOUNCED A REFRESHED 2018 MUSTANG WITH A LOWER MORE AGGRESSIVE NOSE THE NEW 10-SPEED AUTO, BUT WITHOUT A V-6 OPTION.
FIAT CHRYSLER AMERICA SHOWED THEIR BIGGEST NEWS AT THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW EARLIER IN THE MONTH, BUT MADE SURE THE DETROIT PRESS ALSO GOT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THIS CONCEPT PORTAL.
IT'S A WAY-OUT, CONNECTED VISION OF WHAT A MINIVANISH SELF-DRIVING EV PEOPLE MOVER MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
ON THE PRODUCTION FRONT, A FEW EXTRA TOUCHES OF DARKNESS ARE BEING ADDED TO THE RAM 1500, WITH THE REBEL BLACK.
WHILE, THE FOLKS AT JEEP ANNOUNCED THAT A WAGONEER SUV AND WRANGLER-BASED PICKUP ARE FINALLY ON THEIR WAY.
AND THAT SURPRISINGLY WRAPS UP OUR COVERAGE OF BIG-3 DEBUTS FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT EUROPEAN AND ASIAN IMPORT BRANDS EASILY TOOK UP THE SLACK, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE FROM THE 2017 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.
* WHILE, MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL CARS," YOU ALWAYS KNOW ONE, WHEN THEY SEE ONE, AND THEY ALL SERVE GREAT PURPOSES, AND ALWAYS COME WITH THEIR OWN, PERSONALIZED MYSTIQUE.
WELL, ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND THESE ORIGINAL CARS THAT ARE VITAL TO KEEPING US ALIVE... AND THE ONES WHO TRANSPORT US, WHEN OUR ENGINE, FINALLY STOPS CRANKING.
Zach Maskell: THERE AREN'T MANY PLACES WE HAVEN'T BEEN, SNIFFING OUT THAT BEAUTIFUL GASOLINE FRAGRANCE.
THIS TIME WE'RE IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WE'RE CHECKING OUT OVER 100 FIRST RESPONDERS, TO THE LAST RESPONDERS.
THE PROFESSIONAL CAR SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO KEEPING ALL THESE VINTAGE AMBULANCES AND HEARSES JUST THE WAY THEY WERE.
THIS IS THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME COOL STORIES FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THESE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
Tony Karsnia: THE PROFESSIONAL CAR SOCIETY STARTED BACK IN 1976 WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO FOCUS ON HAVING THESE CARS EARN THEIR SPOT IN THE COLLECTOR CAR HOBBY.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN CARS LIKE THIS WEREN'T ALLOWED AT CAR SHOWS AND WERE SHUNNED ELSEWHERE AS WELL.
Zach: THIS IS THE LARGEST CLUB OF ITS KIND.
THE REASON THE FOLKS HERE HAVE THEIR OWN STORY, IS BECAUSE NO TWO CARS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.
Steve Lichtman: AND ALL OF THE VEHICLES I OWN, I ACTUALLY KNOW THE HISTORY.
WHERE IT SERVED, AND IN SOME CASES, I'VE ACTUALLY MET THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THAT PARTICULAR AMBULANCE.
AND EVEN IN ONE OR TWO CASES MET PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY PATIENTS WHO WERE INJURED OR ILL WHO WERE TRANSPORTED IN THOSE AMBULANCES.
Zach: YOU'LL SEE MANY CADILLACS, LINCOLN'S, BUICK'S, AND OLDSMOBILE'S.
BUT THEY NEVER BUILT HEARSES OR AMBOS.
THERE WERE BODY BUILDERS SUCH AS SUPERIOR, MILLER-METEOR, AND FLXIBLE WHO CUSTOM BUILT THE REQUIRED BODY ON A MASS PRODUCED CHASSIS.
THIS AMBULANCE, WAS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD.
"A 1940 BUICK CENTURY, FLXIBLE."
"NOW HAVE YOU HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO IT?"
Owner: "OH NO, IT WAS A JUNKYARD CAR.
IT WAS PRETTY BADLY ROTTED OUT.
IT'S SHOWING ITS AGE WITH THE PAINT WORK, IT'S THE ONLY CAR I'VE EVER PAINTED IN 40 YEARS."
Zach: UNTIL WELL INTO THE '60s, MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ACTUALLY DID DOUBLE DUTY...AS BOTH AN AMBULANCE AND A HEARSE.
YOU NOTICE THERE'S LIKE NO ROOM FOR EQUIPMENT.
SO, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT "WHAT CAN YOU CARRY?
A BOX OF BAND AIDS, THAT WAS ABOUT IT."
THEY WOULDN'T EVEN RIDE IN THE BACK WITH THE PATIENT.
IT WAS A RIDE TO THE HOSPITAL, THAT'S ALL IT WAS.
Zach: THIS MAN DROVE FURTHER THAN A HOSPITAL RIDE.
MAKING A 500 MILE TREK FROM CANADA, HIS HEARSE WAS RIDICULOUSLY STUNNING.
John McCulloch: AND IT WAS A FREDDY FLINTSTONE SPECIAL.
IT'S ALL WOOD FRAMED UNDERNEATH.
AND THE WOOD WAS ALL ROTTED OUT OF IT.
THE WINDSHIELDS WERE ALL SMASHED OUT.
IT TOOK US ALMOST 10 YEARS TO RESTORE IT TO THIS CONDITION.
INSIDE, THAT'S A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL.
THERE WAS ENOUGH OF THE ORIGINALS, THAT I REDID THOSE MYSELF.
THEY'RE ALL ONE SHEET OF WALNUT VENEER.
AND THEN, YOU HAD TO ROUTER OUT THE PATTERN AND THEN YOU TOOK A Q-TIP, AND WOOD BLEACH, AND BLEACH THE LIGHTER COLORS OUT.
AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, IT'S ALL CAST ALUMINUM PANELS THAT LOOK LIKE CARVED DRAPES.
WE PUT IT BACK, 99%, AS WE KNOW IT, AS ORIGINAL.
WE CAN'T FIND ANOTHER ONE IN A 3-WAY LIKE THIS.
SO WE'RE NOT 100% SURE EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY, BUT AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IT IS.
Zach: ONCE HORSE DRAWN HEARSE'S WERE BEING PHASED OUT, HENRY FORD'S MODEL T WAS TRANSFORMED.
THIS ONE IS DOCUMENTED, 100% AUTHENTIC.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE MANY OF THESE.
John Morehead: I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR HEARSE SINCE I WAS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND JUST ALWAYS LIKED IT FROM THE TIME THAT I SAW IT.
A FELLA THAT OWNED IT PASSED AWAY, AND A COUPLE YEARS AFTER HE PASSED AWAY, THE FAMILY CONTACTED ME.
AND SO, IT'S KIND OF FULFILLED A LIFE-LONG DREAM TO OWN THIS HEARSE.
Zach: PERHAPS, IT'S THE ADRENALINE FROM SIRENS SCREAMING DOWN THE ROAD... [SOUND OF SIREN] OR THE HAND CRAFTED DETAIL PUT INTO THESE VEHICLES.
THEY'RE ALL ABOUT SAVING AND CELEBRATING A LIFE, I COULDN'T DEFINE BEAUTIFUL ANY BETTER.
SO, IF YOU'RE ALIVE OUT THERE IT'S EASY TO SEE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR HOBBY.
NOW, IF THE HEARSES STILL GIVE YOU THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, THAT ONE DAY, WE'RE ALL GOING FOR A RIDE IN THE BACK OF ONE OF THESE.
John: THE MILES CAN REALLY ADD UP QUICKLY, JUST LOOK AT YOUR OWN ODOMETER.
NOW, PAT GOSS HAS SOME ADVICE ON MAKING SURE THOSE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT.
Pat Goss: SINCE THE ADVENT OF DIGITAL ODOMETERS ON CARS, MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY CAN'T BE TAMPERED WITH, BUT THAT IS A PURE MYTH, AND TO EXPLAIN WE HAVE CHRIS VASSO FROM CARFAX.
CHRIS, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.
Chris Vasso: ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE PAT.
Pat: ALRIGHT, TELL US ABOUT TODAY'S ODOMETER FRAUD.
Chris: WELL, ODOMETER FRAUD IS ALIVE AND WELL AND IT'S ENTERED THE DIGITAL AGE.
THE COMMON MISCONCEPTION IS DIGITAL ODOMETERS ELIMINATED THE ABILITY TO ROLL THEM BACK, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE.
IN FACT, OUR DATA SUGGESTS THERE'S ONE AND A HALF MILLION VEHICLES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WITH AN ODOMETER ROLLBACK AND ITS COSTING PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
Pat: ALRIGHT, WHEN WE SAY, "COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS," I GUESS BECAUSE WE BUY CARS BASED ON LOW MILES.
Chris: THE MILEAGE IS A HUGE FACTOR IN THE PRICE OF THE CAR.
AND WHEN YOU ROLL THE MILES BACK 50 OR 100,000 MILES YOU'RE ARTIFICIALLY INFLATING THE VALUE OF THAT CAR, WHILE ALMOST ANY CAR CAN BE ROLLED BACK, WE SEE IT HAPPENING IN TWO TYPES OF VEHICLES.
ONES THAT ARE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD, AND HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON THEM OR OFF LEASE VEHICLES, LEASE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED IN.
WITH THE 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLES YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPORT THE ODOMETER READINGS ANYMORE AND YOU CAN MAKE THOSE CARS LOOK PRETTY GOOD BY TAKING MAYBE 100,000 MILES OFF.
THE OFF LEASE VEHICLES PEOPLE ARE AVOIDING THE PENALTIES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY WHEN THEY GO THOUSANDS MORE MILES OVER WHAT THEY'RE ALLOWED.
THE AVERAGE LOSS PEOPLE ARE TAKING BY BUYING THOSE CARS IS ABOUT $4,000 WHICH IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IF THAT CAR'S GOT A LOT MORE MILES THAN YOU THINK IT DOES.
Pat: AND THERE'S TONS OF THESE OUT THERE.
Chris: ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION, AND THEY'RE IN EVERY STATE, SO IT REALLY PAYS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CONSULTING THE EXPERTS LIKE CARFAX, AND YOUR MECHANIC TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT PUTTING YOU, AND YOUR FAMILY IN ONE OF THOSE CARS.
Pat: ALRIGHT, NEXT THING IS THAT WE HAVE TONS OF FLOOD CARS THESE DAYS.
Chris: HUGE INTENSE STORMS, HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND IT'S FLOODING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS ABOUT HALF OF THOSE TYPICALLY MAKE THEIR WAY BACK ONTO THE MARKET THOSE CARS LITERALLY ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
THE WATER AFFECTS THE SAFETY, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS OF THE CAR, AND THAT CAN REALLY CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR YOU, AND YOUR FAMILY IF YOU BUY ONE OF THOSE CARS UNKNOWINGLY.
Pat: ALRIGHT, AND A CARFAX VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT IS GOING TO DISCLOSE THESE SORTS OF THINGS.
Chris: A CARFAX REPORT WILL TELL YOU ANY FLOOD DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO US.
IT'LL TELL YOU IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK ON THE CAR YOU WANT TO BUY.
AND IT WILL ALSO, TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT RECALLS THAT ARE ON MILLIONS OF CARS THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING RIGHT NOW.
Pat: CHRIS, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: WELL, AS PROMISED, THERE IS PLENTY MORE TO SEE AT THE 2017 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.
SO, LET'S HEAD BACK TO MOTOWN.
CROWDS OF OUT-OF-TOWNERS ALWAYS MOTOR THEIR WAY TO THE MOTOR CITY IN JANUARY, AND THIS YEAR THERE WERE EXCITING DEBUTS FROM A LONG LIST OF EUROPEAN, AND ASIAN BRANDS.
STARTING ACTUALLY, THE NIGHT BEFORE PRESS DAYS FOR MERCEDES-BENZ, WITH A COMING-OUT PARTY FOR THE REFRESHED GLA LINEUP.
BOTH THE GLA250 AND HIGH PERFORMANCE AMG GLA45 WERE ON DISPLAY, WITH THE LATTER SPORTING A 375 HORSEPOWER TURBO-4.
THIS SHOW WAS OUR FIRST CHANCE TO SEE THE ALL-NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS COUPE IN PERSON.
A WALL FLOWER NO MORE, IT DELIVERS A LOT OF THE S-CLASS COUPE'S LOOKS AND APPEAL.
AND, TO CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF AMG, BOTH A REFRESHED MERCEDES-AMG GT C COUPE AND GT S ARRIVED DETROIT-SIDE.
PREVIEWING AN ALMOST BRUTISH NEW FACE FOR AUDI, THIS Q8 FULL-SIZE CROSSOVER IS JUST A CONCEPT FOR NOW, BUT WE'LL LIKELY BE DRIVING SOMETHING THAT LOOKS A LOT LIKE IT WITHIN A YEAR.
BUT, EVEN SOONER WE'LL GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE 2ND GENERATION SQ5 MIDSIZE CROSSOVER.
AND AUDI ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAVE SOMETHING NEW FOR SUN SEEKERS, AND THIS YEAR IT IS THE ALL-NEW A5 AND S5 CABRIOLETS.
BMW MAY HAVE JUST TAKEN THE WRAPS OFF THIS ALL-NEW 5-SERIES, BUT WE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG TO DRIVE IT, AS IT WILL BE IN DEALERSHIPS NEXT MONTH.
WEIGHT IS DOWN, PERFORMANCE IS UP, AND THERE'S EVEN A PLUG-IN IPERFORMANCE VERSION.
FOR MORE TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCE THIS BMW M760 IS THE FIRST 7-SERIES TO GET THE M PERFORMANCE TREATMENT.
DETROIT WAS THE PLACE FOR ALL-NEW DEBUTS OF TWO BEST-SELLING MODELS, STARTING WITH AMERICA'S BESTSELLING CAR, THE TOYOTA CAMRY.
TOYOTA IS OUT TO COUNTER A SEDAN SALES DECLINE WITH THE EDGIEST CAMRY'S EVER.
HIGHLY SCULPTED, FRONT FACIAS THAT GO FROM MILDLY AGGRESSIVE ON THE CAMRY HYBRID, TO SHARPLY IN YOUR FACE FOR THIS SPORTIEST XSE.
THE AVAILABLE TWO-TONE ROOF WORKS WELL IN VISUALLY LOWERING THE PROFILE.
BUT, POWER REMAINS TOTALLY TRADITIONAL WITH A 2.5 LITER I4 AND A 3.5 LITER V6.
AMERICA'S BESTSELLING MINIVAN DOESN'T LOOK ALL-THAT NEW, YET, THE 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY IS LOADED WITH LOTS OF ADVANCED SAFETY, CONVENIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY.
YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT'S ACTUALLY IMPORTANT TO PARENTS, LIKE IN-CABIN CAMERAS TO MONITOR REAR GOINGS-ON, AN INTERCOM THAT WORKS WITH OR WITHOUT HEADSETS, AS WELL AS HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE MAGIC SLIDE SEATING.
BY THE WAY, FUEL-SAVING 9 AND 10-SPEED AUTOMATICS ARE ADDED TO A MORE POWERFUL 3.5 LITER V6 AS WELL.
NISSAN ALSO, WANTS TO BOLSTER SEDAN SALES AND IS LOOKING AT THIS STUNNING VMOTION 2.0 CONCEPT AS A POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD FOR ALTIMA.
PRE-SHOW RUMORS THAT NISSAN WOULD FINALLY BRING THEIR QASHQAI SMALL CROSSOVER STATESIDE WERE RIGHT.
ONLY IT WILL BE KNOWN AS THE ROGUE SPORT HERE IN THE U.S.
IT SLOTS BETWEEN THE JUST-NEW ROGUE AND AGING JUKE.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXCITING SUBARU'S, WELL IT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING, THE WRX.
AND FOR 2018 THERE IS A MID-CYCLE MOSTLY VISUAL REFRESH FOR BOTH REGULAR-STRENGTH WRX, AND EXTRA-STRENGTH WRX STI.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A CONCEPT, BUT THIS 5-GENERATION LEXUS LS500 IS FOR REAL.
WITH SENSUOUS COUPE-LIKE LINES FLOWING FROM A MASSIVE SPINDLE GRILLE, THE CAR THAT STARTED IT ALL FOR LEXUS SHOOTS INTO THE FUTURE WITH REAR, AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND A 415 HORSEPOWER TWIN-TURBO V6, PLUS, ALL THE TECH AND LUXURY EXPECTED IN A TOP DRAWER FLAGSHIP.
THIS MID-SIZE INFINITI QX50 CONCEPT IS A THINLY VEILED LOOK AT THE LAST OF THE BRAND'S UTILITIES TO GET UPDATED STYLING.
BUT, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADD INFINITI'S VARIABLE COMPRESSION TURBOCHARGED ENGINE TECHNOLOGY.
KIA CONTINUES TO RAISE EXPECTATIONS AND IMAGE OF THEIR BRAND, THIS TIME WITH A REAR-DRIVE SPORT SEDAN, THE STINGER.
NOT JUST A CONCEPT ANYMORE, THIS BABY WILL GO ON SALE THIS FALL.
WHILE, OTHER BRAND'S CROSSOVER OFFERINGS MAY BE SLIMMING DOWN, VOLKSWAGEN GAVE THEIR NEW COMPACT TIGUAN THE OPPOSITE TREATMENT; ADDING 10-INCHES OF LENGTH AND AN OPTIONAL 3RD-ROW.
WE'VE SEEN VOLKSWAGEN'S EVEN LARGER 3-ROW CROSSOVER, THE ATLAS, ALREADY, BUT HAVEN'T SEEN THIS UPSCALE R-LINE VERSION UNTIL NOW.
BUT IT'S THIS MICROBUS-INSPIRED I.D.
BUZZ CONCEPT THAT DID INDEED CREATE QUITE A BUZZ.
WITH A 270 MILE RANGE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, IT EMBODIES VW'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO FUTURE EVs.
AND FINALLY, IT WOULDN'T BE THE DETROIT SHOW WITHOUT A CHINESE AUTOMAKER SAYING THEY WILL SOON ENTER THE U.S. MARKET.
THIS YEAR IT'S GAC, WITH A TRIO OF CARS TO SHOW, INCLUDING THE ALL-ELECTRIC GE3.
SO, WITH SIGNS OF EVEN MORE PRESSURE FROM IMPORTED BRANDS, WE'LL WRAP UP OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2017 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.
John: THE JAGUAR BRAND ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE IN SOME TYPE OF TURMOIL, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO ITS '60s HEYDAYS.
BOY HAS THAT CHANGED, THESE DAYS IT APPEARS TO HAVE A VERY SOLID FOOTING UNDER TATA OWNERSHIP, PRODUCING A STRING OF VERY IMPRESSIVE VEHICLES.
NOTICE WE DIDN'T SAY, "CARS."
FOR BEHOLD, THE F-PACE, JAGUAR'S FIRST CROSSOVER UTILITY, A CAT DESIGNED TO REALLY STIR UP THE MARKET.
* LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX; A JAGUAR UTILITY VEHICLE, AS IMPLAUSIBLE AS IT MAY SOUND, IS NOT REALLY A STRETCH.
AFTER ALL, JAG'S BEEN PARTNERED WITH LAND ROVER SINCE FORD BOUGHT THE PAIR IN 2000.
AND DURING THAT TIME, SUVs FROM LUXURY BRANDS HAVE GONE FROM A RARITY TO A NECESSITY.
SO, THIS 2017 JAGUAR F-PACE SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE.
AND TRUTH BE TOLD, IT WOULD HAVE MADE A FANTASTIC LAND ROVER.
BE THAT AS IT MAY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUV AND CROSSOVER SALES TO GO AROUND, AND SOMEHOW JAGUAR RESISTED THE URGE TO JUST REBADGE A RANGE ROVER, BY BASING THE F-PACE ON THEIR OWN XE/XF SEDAN CHASSIS.
GOOD CALL ON THEIR PART, AS IT MAKES IT TRULY UNIQUE.
BOTH THE STRUCTURE, AND MOST BODY PANELS ARE ALUMINUM OF COURSE, AND IT LOOKS FANTASTIC, DRAWING A CROWD WHEREVER WE PARKED IT.
THE FAMILIAR GRILLE TELLS EVERYONE WHAT IT IS, WHILE THE 20 INCH WHEELS, WITH BIG BRAKES BEHIND, ON THIS F-PACE S, CLUE EVERYONE IN ON ITS PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL.
UP TO 22 INCH WHEELS ARE AVAILABLE.
THE REAR CONTINUES THE THEME ESTABLISHED BY THE F-TYPE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LED TAIL LIGHTS.
BUT ALL-IN-ALL, IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE YOU MIGHT EXPECT A JAGUAR CROSSOVER TO LOOK LIKE.
POWERTRAIN OPTIONS INCLUDE TWO DIFFERENT SUPERCHARGED 3.0 LITER V6s, A 340 HORSEPOWER VERSION, AND THE 380 HORSEPOWER UNIT IN OUR S, BOTH RATED AT 332 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
PLUS, A 180 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO-DIESEL.
ALL F-PACE'S GET AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.
BEHIND THE WHEEL, THERE'S A VERY FAMILIAR JAGUAR FEEL, WHICH IS AWESOME.
SMOOTH AND WILLING.
IN SIMILAR FASHION TO BMW, JAGUAR HAS ESTABLISHED A TREMENDOUS BRAND CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THEIR LINEUP.
THE F-PACE IS ALSO, ONE OF THOSE RIDES THAT FEELS FASTER THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE FAST.
F-PACE OPERATES ON REAR-WHEEL DRIVE UNTIL TRACTION IS LOST, AT WHICH TIME IN CAN SEND 50% OF THE POWER FORWARD.
ADAPTIVE SURFACE PROGRESS CONTROL IS AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FOR OFF-ROAD, DESIGNED FOR KEEPING YOU FROM HURTING YOUR JAG ON STEEP HILLS OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.
THAT'S TECHNOLOGY WE CAN GET BEHIND, AS NO DOUBT IT COMES FROM LAND ROVER.
GROUND CLEARANCE IS A FINE 8.4 INCHES.
TAKING FULL CONTROL OURSELVES, FOR STRAIGHT LINE SPRINTS, THIS F-PACE S PUT PLENTY OF POWER DOWN; LEAPING OFF THE LINE TO 60 IN JUST 5.2 SECONDS.
GEAR CHANGES WERE BRISK, THE EXHAUST SOUNDS EXOTICALLY LOUD, AND IN 13.6 SECONDS WE WERE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE TRAVELLING AT 103 MILES PER HOUR.
STEERING WAS LIGHT, TIGHT, AND NIMBLE, AND OVERALL IT HANDLED EXTREMELY WELL.
THERE WAS BIT OF EXPECTED UNDERSTEER, BUT IT REMAINED VERY FLAT THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.
ON THE INSIDE, THE F-PACE LAYOUT IS SIMILAR TO THE XE SEDAN, BUT MATERIALS ARE A WELCOMED STEP ABOVE.
AND WE'RE GLAD TO FINALLY SEE AN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WORTHY OF THE BRAND, JAG'S NEW INTOUCH PRO, FEATURES A 10 INCH TABLET-LIKE INTERFACE.
FRONT SEATS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL BOLSTERING, BUT ALSO VERY GOOD COMFORT AND TONS OF ADJUSTMENTS.
THE EXPECTED JAG ELEMENTS, LIKE THE POP-UP ROTARY SHIFTER AND TFT GAUGES ARE PRESENT, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF UTILITY AS WELL, WITH DECENT REAR SEAT PEOPLE SPACE, AND 33.5 CUBIC-FEET OF SEAT-UP CARGO ROOM.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.
WE AVERAGED A GOOD 21.7 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ABOUT AVERAGE, WITH 16.5 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 7.4 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.
GET THE DIESEL IF YOU WANT BETTER RESULTS, IT RATES 29-MPG COMBINED.
WITH THE F-PACE, JAGUAR NOW HAS THE BROADEST PRODUCT LINE IN THEIR HISTORY.
AND THERE IS MUCH TO LIKE ABOUT THEIR FIRST LUXURY-UTE EFFORT, INCLUDING A BASE PRICING THAT IS QUITE LOW AT $41,985.
AND THAT'S FOR THE DIESEL.
THIS F-PACE S STARTS AT $57,695; CERTAINLY NOT AWFUL FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS CALIBER.
SO, NOT ONLY IS THE F-PACE, A GREAT MID-SIZE LUXURY CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE, IT'S A GREAT JAGUAR!
IT HANDLES ON PAR WITH ANYTHING SIMILAR FROM PORSCHE OR BMW, FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF A TAHOE.
SO, GET USED TO SEEING PLENTY OF THESE CATS PROWLING AROUND STIRRING UP THE LUXURY UTILITY MARKET.
THE 2017 JAGUAR F-PACE IS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING VEHICLES WE'VE DRIVEN THIS YEAR.
WELL THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE HIT THE TRACK IN PORSCHE'S REBORN 718 CAYMAN S. THEN SLOW THE PACE DOWN FOR AN INFUSION OF LUXURY FROM THE VOLVO S90.
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... TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.
THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE FOR EVERY SEASON.
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.
* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
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