MotorWeek | 2018 BMW 640i Gran Turismo & 2018 Tesla Model 3 | Season 37 | Episode 50
HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR A BMW WITH SPORT SEDAN HERITAGE AND SPORT UTE SPACE, THE 640I GRAN TURISMO... PAT GOSS ON HOW CAR CARE MISTAKES CAN COST BIG BUCKS... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WHERE BRITISH BONES GET AMERICAN MUSCLE... AND WE TAKE THE TESLA MODEL 3 OUT FOR A FEW TWISTS AND TURNS...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
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LASER MEASURED, THEY OFFER PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.
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John: BMW SEEMS TO ON A MISSION TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE, OR AT ALL LEAST TO ALL LUXURY CAR BUYERS.
SO, IN ADDITION TO BEING EARLY ADOPTERS TO THE LUXURY SUV GAME, THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO FILL EVERY NICHE POSSIBLE, INCLUDING ONES THAT ONLY THEY SEEM TO BE COMPETING IN.
AND MAYBE THAT EXPLAINS THE 6-SERIES GRAN TURISMO; SO LET'S SEE IF THERE IS A METHOD TO THEIR MARKETING MADNESS.
* IT'S HARD TO CLASSIFY THE 2018 BMW 640I XDRIVE GRAN TURISMO.
IT'S CERTAINLY, NOT YOUR TYPICAL SEDAN OR HATCHBACK, AND DON'T CONFUSE IT WITH THE 6-SERIES GRAN COUPE EITHER.
BUT, IF YOU REMEMBER THE 5-SERIES GT FROM 2010, THINK OF THIS 640 GT AS ITS REPLACEMENT; OR PERHAPS THE CLOSEST THING TO A 5-SERIES WAGON THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO GET HERE IN THE STATES.
AND LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, THERE'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SPACE INSIDE, THANKS TO A 120.9 INCH WHEELBASE THAT'S ALMOST 4-INCHES LONGER THAN A 5-SERIES SEDAN.
IT'S STILL A FAR CRY FROM BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE DESIGN APPEARS MUCH MORE COHESIVE THAN BEFORE.
THE REAR REMAINS TALL, BUT IN PROFILE, IT NOW LOOKS MORE LIKE A TRADITIONAL 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, AND LESS LIKE A TRUNCATED WAGON.
THE AGGRESSIVE NOSE, AND LOTS OF TAUT BODY LINES, ARE ALL BMW HALLMARKS, AND BMW CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME OF THE COOLEST HEADLIGHTS OUT THERE.
STANDARD WHEELS ARE 19s.
YOU'LL ENJOY ALL OF THAT ROOMINESS, NO MATTER WHICH SEAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN.
THOSE UP FRONT WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE THE TYPICAL BMW SPORTY COCKPIT FEEL; WHILE THOSE IN BACK, WILL GET FULL-SIZE SEDAN AMOUNTS OF LEGROOM AND HEADROOM.
INTERIOR DESIGN IS SIMILAR TO THE 5-SERIES AND JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER BMW FOR THAT MATTER; HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS, LARGE DASH-TOP MOUNTED INFOTAINMENT SCREEN, IDRIVE CONTROLLER, ELECTRONIC SHIFTER, SHIFT PADDLES ON THE WHEEL, RUDIMENTARY MANUAL CONTROLS, AND GREAT LOOKING WOOD TRIM.
AND OF COURSE, AVAILABLE NICETIES INCLUDE A HEAD-UP DISPLAY, SOFT CLOSE DOORS, 3D SURROUND VIEW, HEATED SEATS, AND STEERING WHEEL, PANORAMIC MOONROOF, AND EVEN REMOTE CONTROL PARKING.
UNDER THE POWER-OPERATED REAR HATCH IS A VERY WIDE OPENING, AND 31.0 CUBIC-FEET OF NICELY FINISHED SPACE.
FOLDING THE SEATBACKS, UPS IT TO 65.0 CUBIC-FEET.
EVEN THOUGH THE SWOOPY ROOF WILL CUT INTO CARGO HEIGHT, CAPACITY IS DIRECTLY IN BETWEEN BMW'S X3, AND X5 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLES, AND MORE THAN THE BULBOUS LOOKING X6.
MUCH LIKE THE 5-SERIES, IT HAS THE PERFECT BALANCE OF LUXURY AND SPORTINESS.
WANT TO RELAX AND CRUISE ON THE HIGHWAY?
IT DOES THAT WITH TRUE TRANQUILITY AND SILKINESS.
WANT TO WHIP IT AROUND YOUR FAVORITE BACK ROAD?
NO PROBLEMS THERE EITHER; IT STAYS VERY FLAT AND RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY TO EVERY INPUT.
THOUGH, OUR CAR WAS AIDED BY THE AVAILABLE DYNAMIC HANDLING PACKAGE, WHICH ADDS ACTIVE ROLL STABILIZATION AND INTEGRAL ACTIVE STEERING TO THE DYNAMIC DAMPER CONTROL AIR SUSPENSION.
IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE GRAN TURISMO'S 4,400 POUNDS, ALL BUT DISAPPEAR THROUGH HIGH SPEED SWEEPERS.
THE EXPERIENCE HOWEVER WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THROUGH OUR TIGHT CONE COURSE.
HERE, THE STEERING FEELS OVER-BOOSTED, AND WE WISHED FOR MORE FEEDBACK FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CAR.
YET, GRIP REMAINED FANTASTIC THROUGHOUT.
THERE WAS TRACTION A-PLENTY FOR LAUNCHING AS WELL, AND A LAUNCH MODE THAT WORKED FLAWLESSLY, GETTING US TO 60 IN JUST 4.8 SECONDS.
POWER POURS ON STRONG, AND NEVER LETS UP; DESPITE A BIT OF A SEE-SAW WEIGHT-TRANSFER EFFECT WHEN THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TRIGGERS A SHIFT.
AND A HEALTHY BELLOW FROM THE EXHAUST ACCOMPANIED US FOR THE ENTIRE 13.3 SECOND TRIP THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE, AT WHICH TIME WE WERE TRAVELLING AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.
[ENGINE STARTS UP] MAKING ALL OF THIS HAPPEN, IS BMW'S 3.0 LITER INLINE-6 TURBO ENGINE; RATED AT 335 HORSEPOWER AND 332 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD.
AND THERE'S PLENTY OF WHOA TO GO ALONG WITH THE GO, 99 FEET WAS OUR AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60.
WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME FADE AS THE RUNS ADDED UP, BUT THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF WEIGHT TO BRING TO A STOP THAT QUICKLY.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.
OUR AVERAGE ON PREMIUM WAS JUST ABOUT RIGHT ON, AT 23.2 MILES PER GALLON.
MAKING FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH YEARLY USE OF 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL, AND C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.4 TONS.
THINGS ARE AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING; JUST ONE VERSION OF THE GRAN TURISMO, STARTING AT $71,195, TO WHICH YOU CAN ADD A HOST OF OPTIONS, EITHER IN PACKAGE FORM OR A LA CARTE.
WELL, IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A VERY LUXURIOUS RIDE WITH PLENTY OF COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE, THERE WERE ALREADY PLENTY OF BMW'S TO CHOOSE FROM.
NOW, YOU CAN ADD ONE MORE TO THE LIST, THE 2018 BMW 640I XDRIVE GRAN TURISMO.
IT IS THE BEST OF BMW SEDANS, SUVS, AND HATCHBACKS, ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.
WE AGREE THAT THE BRAND MAY INDEED BE SLICING THE MARKETING ONION SUPER THIN, BUT IF THAT MEANS COMPETING IN A CLASS OF ONE, NO ONE DOES IT BETTER THAN BMW.
* A BOXY SUV FROM BRITAIN WAS THE FIRST CAR OVER HALF OF THE WORLD EVER LAID EYES ON.
THE ICONIC LAND ROVER IS LOVED BY MANY, INCLUDING FARMERS AND EVEN THE QUEEN.
WELL, ONE COMPANY STATE SIDE IS KEEPING THOSE TRUCKS ALIVE, AND BEYOND TODAY'S STANDARDS.
TIME TO GO OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE TAKES COMMAND OF A CHEVY POWERED, DEFENDER!
* Zach Maskell: THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER'S ROOTS DATE BACK TO 1948 WITH THE SERIES ONE.
INTRODUCED IN 1983, UNDER THE DEFENDER NAME, THE LIGHT UTE IS USED FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS, FIGHTING FIRES, CAMPING, AND MUCH MORE.
IT WAS ONLY OFFERED IN THE U.S. OF A.
FOR FOUR YEARS.
PRODUCTION ENDED IN 1997, BUT E.C.D.
AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA IS REFUSING TO LET THEM DIE.
Scott Wallace: ALTHOUGH, WE DIDN'T MEET UNTIL QUITE, 5-YEARS AGO, OUR UPBRINGING WAS VERY SIMILAR.
WE WERE FROM PRETTY POOR BACKGROUNDS IN WORKING TOWNS IN THE U.K. [LAUGHTER] Zach: AFTER MOVING TO THE U.S. AND QUICKLY SELLING THE TWO ROVERS TOM IMPORTED, A LIGHT BULB WENT OFF.
THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE SHOW, A DEFENDER 90, AND 110.
Elliot Humble: JUST LIKE, RESTORING ANY OLD CORVETTE, ANY OLD TOYOTA FJ.
YOU WANT TO START WITH THAT ACTUAL VEHICLE.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD KIT CARS.
WE WANT TO RESTORE LAND ROVERS.
Zach: SALT, SUN, AND RAIN, WORK TOGETHER TO BREAKDOWN THE ALUMINUM BODY AND STEEL CHASSIS PARTS ON THESE U.K. IMPORTS.
RUSTY AND CORRODED, POINT OF NO RETURN PARTS ARE SCRAPPED HERE AT THE ACCLAIMED "ROVER DOME," DURING STEP ONE.
THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR THE BUYER'S DOOR HINGE TO BE REMOVED AND FRAMED FOR MEMORABILIA.
Elliot: IT'S LIKE GRAHM'S TRUCK.
I MEAN, THAT'S GOT 30 YEARS OF HISTORY.
LIKE, WE HAVE A FOLDER THIS BIG AND THE GUY KEPT EVERY SINGLE MOT TEST FROM ENGLAND, EVERY SERVICE, EVERY LITTLE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE.
HE KEPT EVERY ONE OF THEM.
Zach: UNLIKE, A MERCEDES-BENZ G-WAGON OR CADILLAC ESCALADE, THESE TRUCKS ARE NOT GENERICS OFF OF AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
Scott: THE BASE TRUCK HAS STILL GOT THAT STORY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SELLING.
I DON'T THINK, WE'RE SELLING JUST THE VEHICLE.
WE'RE SELLING A JOURNEY OF HOW YOU CUSTOM BUILD YOUR OWN VEHICLE.
Nicholas Yearicks: THESE ARE OUR MOOD BOARDS.
THESE BASICALLY, LAY OUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CUSTOMER'S EXACT PREFERENCES ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUILD.
WHAT MAKES THEIR TRUCK CUSTOM IS ALL ON THIS SHEET.
IT'S CUSTOM TAILORED TO THEIR SPECIFICATIONS.
Zach: APART OF ECD, EAST COAST OVERHAUL.
LET'S SAY, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT A DEFENDER AND YOU WANT TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN.
COME IN HERE, YOU CAN DO A LS3 CORVETTE ENGINE, YOU CAN DO THE SAME 5.3 LITER THAT YOU CAN FIND IN MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK AND YOU CAN PROBABLY DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO.
Ryan Leaverton: WELL, THE ORIGINAL ENGINES IN THESE WERE ANEMIC AT BEST.
YOU HAD A 4 CYLINDER TURBO DIESEL, WHICH MADE LIKE 80 HORSEPOWER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR YOU HAD A 3.5 LITER V8 WHICH STILL MADE ABOUT, NOTHING.
SO, IT DOESN'T REALLY SUIT PEOPLE'S NEEDS ON AMERICAN ROADS AND TRYING TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SO WHAT WE DO IS, WE SWAP OUT TO RELIABLE CHEVROLET PRODUCTS.
Zach: ECD DID $200,000 IN SALES THEIR FIRST YEAR, NOW, THEY'RE AT EIGHT MILLION.
SO HERE IT IS FRESH OUT OF THE FACTORY, THIS 110 IS AN NBA PLAYERS, KENT BAZEMORE, AND WE'RE DRIVING IT BEFORE HE EVEN TAKES DELIVERY.
HE WANTED CARBON FIBER TRIM, WITH A VERY MODERN TWO TONE, AND OF COURSE, THERE IS THE HONEY COMB STITCHING ON THE SEATS.
EVERYTHING IS UP TO DATE, LIKE THIS TOUCHSCREEN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, A BACKUP CAMERA AND WIRELESS CHARGING FOR YOUR CELLPHONE.
UNDER THE HOOD IT IS THE HEART OF A CORVETTE, 565 HORSEPOWER LS3.
[ENGINE REVVING] FOR 180 UP TO $300,000, YOU GET RID OF THE COLD, METAL INTERIOR, AND INTO SOMETHING BESPOKE.
BUT YOU WON'T FORGET WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING, WITH HEAVY STEERING AND OFF-ROAD READY SUSPENSION.
CONSIDERING WHAT THESE THREE BRITISH BEST-FRIENDS SET OUT TO BUILD, THESE DEFENDERS DELIVER.
John: MODERN CARS REQUIRE MODERN CAR CARE.
PAT HAS ADVICE ON KEEPING ALL THE PARTS MOVING FREELY DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
Pat Goss: ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS THAT I GET IS THAT, WELL, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT INSTEAD OF THAT THIN, WATERY, 0-20, OR 5-20 OR 5-30 THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS, WELL, YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY SERIOUSLY, GOING TO PROTECT YOUR ENGINE.
YOU NEED 20-50, 10-40, SOME ONE OF THESE REALLY THICK OILS.
WELL, DON'T BELIEVE IT.
YOU SEE, MODERN ENGINES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OLDER ENGINES AND GOING TO A THICKER OIL, WELL...IT CAN LEAD TO ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.
NUMBER ONE, IT CAN LEAD TO POOR CIRCULATION IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT'S TOO THICK.
THAT POOR CIRCULATION CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE HERE.
WE CUT A VALVE COVER APART.
NOW, THIS AREA IN HERE THAT'S ALL CLOGGED UP, THAT IS PART OF THE BREATHER SYSTEM FOR THE CRANK CASE.
WE HAD TO PUT NEW VALVE COVERS ON THAT ENGINE BECAUSE OF THIS CRUD.
WE CAN SEE OVER HERE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER VALVE COVER ALL GUNKED UP WITH SLUDGE AND SO ON.
NOW, WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
WELL, BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN THESE OILS WERE REALLY POPULAR, ENGINES WERE MADE VERY DIFFERENTLY.
THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BEARINGS AND SO ON INSIDE THE ENGINE, LIKE BETWEEN THE CAM SHAFT AND CAM BEARING, OR THE CRANK SHAFT AND CONNECTING RODS BEARINGS, AND SO ON... WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE MEASURED THEM USING AN OLD FASHIONED FEELER GAUGE.
BUT TODAY, ENGINES ARE BUILT USING MODERN TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTER CONTROLLED MACHINING, LASERS TO MEASURE THINGS AND SO ON.
SO THE NET RESULT IS THAT THESE MODERN ENGINES ARE MUCH MORE PRECISE.
THEY FIT BETTER.
AND THE OBJECT OF OIL, THE NUMBER ONE THING IS TO MOVE BETWEEN MOVING PARTS AND KEEP THOSE PARTS FROM TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER.
WELL, WHEN WE HAVE SMALLER SPACES, WE NEED THINNER OIL TO FIT THROUGH THOSE SMALLER SPACES.
NOW, SUPPOSE YOU PUT A THICKER OIL IN ON A MODERN ENGINE.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO DO IS INCREASE OIL PRESSURE.
NOW, THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WORKS OFF OIL PRESSURE, SO YOU MIGHT WIND UP WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A CODE FOR THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME EXPENSIVE REPAIRS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT OIL IS THE ONLY THING THAT COOLS BEARINGS INSIDE THE ENGINE.
ANYTHING THAT'S LUBRICATED IS COOLED BY THE OIL.
AND WHEN WE INCREASE OIL VISCOSITY, WHAT WE DO IS SLOW DOWN THE MOVEMENT OF THE OIL AND THAT MEANS THAT THE PARTS INSIDE THE ENGINE ARE GOING TO RUN HOTTER AND BECAUSE THERE'S LESS OIL FLOW AND THAT MEANS MORE WEAR.
MY RECOMMENDATION, STICK WITH WHAT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS.
THEY SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FIGURING OUT WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR YOUR ENGINE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: EVER SINCE THE 2018 MAZDA6 ARRIVED ON OUR LOT, IT'S BEEN HARD TO GET THE KEYS.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE IS ALWAYS DRIVING IT.
IN FACT, WE'VE ALREADY PUT 3100 MILES ON IT DURING ITS FIRST MONTH.
[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE NEW TURBOCHARGED SKYACTIV-G 2.5T I4 PRODUCES 227 HORSEPOWER ON REGULAR... AND FITS RIGHT IN WITH OUR ENTHUSIASTIC DRIVING PREFERENCES.
THE 6-SPEED AUTO IS QUICK.
STEERING IS PRECISE WITH GOOD FEEDBACK.
THE SUSPENSION IS SPORTY TIGHT WHILE COMFORTABLE ON LONG TRIPS.
HEADROOM IS A LITTLE SNUG FOR ONE OF OUR TALLER DRIVERS, BUT THAT'S OFTEN A SACRIFICE WITH A POWER MOONROOF.
SO FAR WE'RE AVERAGING 31.2 MILES PER GALLON.
THAT'S ALREADY BETTER THAN THE EPA COMBINED OF 29 AND WE THINK IT'LL GO UP FROM HERE.
WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE HONDA ODYSSEY AND VOLKSWAGEN SPORTWAGEN ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
* RANGE ROVER HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH POSH OFF-ROADING FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.
NOW, THAT BRITISH BREEDING CONTINUES WITH THE 2018 RANGE ROVER SUPERCHARGED.
LAND ROVER INTRODUCED THE FLAGSHIP RANGE ROVER IN 1970, AND IT BECAME THE FIRST ALL-ALUMINUM UNIBODY SUV IN 2013.
THIS YEAR, THE 5.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V8, BUMPS UP HORSEPOWER BY 8 TO 518.
IT CONNECTS TO AN INCREDIBLY SMOOTH ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND AMAZINGLY ADAPTABLE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.
THIS POLISHED BRUTE BOLTS OFF THE LINE AND KEEPS CHARGING.
THANKFULLY, IT STILL FEELS LIKE A CAPABLE OFF-ROADER, ALTHOUGH THE AIR SUSPENSION RIDE IS FIT FOR ROYALTY REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S UNDER THE TIRES.
LUXURY ASCENDS TO NEW LEVELS INSIDE WITH WIDER, SOFTER MASSAGING SEATS, AND GESTURE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY OPERATING THE SUNROOF SHADE.
THE NEW TOUCH PRO DUO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS MORE INTUITIVE TOO.
WE LIKE THE TOP SCREEN, IT TILTS TO CUT GLARE.
ALL THESE CREATURE COMFORTS ARE BACKED UP BY LEGENDARY GO-ANYWHERE PROWESS, INCLUDING LAND ROVER'S TERRAIN RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THE 2018 RANGE ROVER SUPERCHARGED IS ON SALE NOW STARTING AT JUST UNDER $105,000.
LUXURY SUV COMPETITION IS FIERCE, BUT WITH THE LATEST RANGE ROVER, LAND ROVER CONTINUES TO ADVANCE THE SPECIES THEY INVENTED IN WAYS THAT ARE STILL UNIQUELY THEIR OWN.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!
* WHILE, 1ST GEN CHEVROLET CAMAROS DRAW MOST OF THE COLLECTOR CAR ATTENTION, IT'S A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE ORIGINAL CAMARO WAS A HASTILY ASSEMBLED COMPROMISE BASED ON THE CHEVY II, SO THAT GM WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO COUNTER THE WILDLY POPULAR FORD MUSTANG.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THE GROUND-UP DESIGN OF THE 2ND GENERATION THAT GM REALLY HAD SOMETHING ON THEIR HANDS.
AND INDEED, IT WAS THE MOST POPULAR GENERATION TO DATE, WITH ALMOST TWO MILLION SOLD.
IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE AMERICAN CLASSICS, PICK UP A COPY OF "THE DEFINITIVE CAMARO GUIDE: 1970 1/2 - 1981."
IN THIS MUST READ, JASON SCOTT TELLS THE STORY BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS GIVES YOU A COMPLETE RUN THROUGH OF MODEL YEAR CHANGES; ALONG WITH PLENTY OF PICTURES, SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR ONE OF THESE HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE, HIGHLY FUN HOT RODS.
TESLA IS A CAR COMPANY UNLIKE ANY OTHER; DOING BUSINESS MORE LIKE A TECH STARTUP THAN AN AUTOMOTIVE BRAND.
AND THAT SERVED THEM WELL, FOR THEIR HIGH PRICED S SEDAN AND X UTILITY.
BUT, THINGS HAVE NOT GONE QUITE SO SMOOTHLY FOR THE ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL 3.
STILL, THEY ARE COMING OUT OF THE FACTORY IN DECENT NUMBERS NOW, SO ITS HIGH TIME TO FIND OUT IF IT'S A MUST HAVE GADGET, OR TRULY THE CAR OF TOMORROW...TODAY.
* IT'S FITTING THAT TESLA CHOSE MODEL 3 AS THE NAME FOR THEIR ENTRY-LEVEL EV, AS THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC SEDANS WHAT THE BMW 3-SERIES HAS DONE FOR SPORT SEDANS, BECOME THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
OTHER THAN LACKING AN UPPER GRILLE SLOT, THE COMPACT MODEL 3 BARES A STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO THE LARGER MODEL S. ITS SLICK FRONT END LEADS TO A VERY BIG WINDSHIELD; WHERE THE ARCHING ROOFLINE FLOWS HATCHBACK-LIKE TO A VERY SHORT REAR DECK AND TALL BACK END.
THE INTERIOR IS SURPRISINGLY PLEASANT; NEW ERA MINIMALISM AT ITS FINEST.
JUST A LONG LINEAR DASH WITH AIR VENTS, A STEERING WHEEL WITH TWO STALKS, AND A HORIZONTAL TOUCH SCREEN JUTTING OUT OF THAT IP.
NO BUTTONS, DIALS, KNOBS, TO BE FOUND, SAVE FOR SOME PROGRAMMABLE SCROLL WHEELS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
ALL INFO IS DISPLAYED ON THAT 15-INCH CENTER VIDEO PANEL, AND THERE'S A WEALTH OF IT; HOWEVER, IT IS FIXED AND CANNOT BE TILTED TOWARDS THE DRIVER, REQUIRING YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD A LOT.
MAKING THINGS WORSE, THERE'S QUITE OFTEN A GLARE ON THE SCREEN THAT KEEPS YOU FROM SEEING IT CLEARLY.
ALL SEATING POSITIONS ARE RATHER COMFORTABLE, AND BOTH REAR AND FRONT TRUNKS OFFER PLENTY OF SPACE FOR STORAGE.
ON THE ROAD, THE RIDE IS WELL COMPOSED, WITH A SOLIDLY TIGHT, BUT NOT JARRING RIDE.
IT INDEED DRIVES MUCH LIKE A EUROPEAN SPORT SEDAN.
OUR TEST CAR CAME COURTESY OF LOCAL OWNER BILL CLARKE, AND THE EXCELLENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS HIS FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE CAR.
Bill Clarke: THE MODEL 3 IS A GREAT VEHICLE AS A DRIVING VEHICLE; IT FEELS TIGHT, IT IS RESPONSIVE, AND VERY POWERFUL.
THE HANDLING IS VERY SIMILAR TO A BMW IN MY OPINION, AND I LIKE THAT NICE, TIGHT GERMAN FEEL TO A CAR.
THE POWER IS ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE MODEL S THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY, SO IT'S A NICE, QUICK, RESPONSIVE CAR.
John: THERE IS A SOMEWHAT NOISY REAR SUSPENSION, MOSTLY NOTICEABLE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ENGINE NOISE.
BUT, BILL'S RIGHT ON, WITH AN OUTPUT OF 271 HORSEPOWER, THE MODEL 3 IS QUITE FAST.
A TYPICAL 0-60 RUN TAKES ABOUT 5.0 SECONDS.
THERE'S ALSO, LOTS OF WINDSHIELD TO LOOK THROUGH, GIVING YOU A WIDE ANGLE VIEW OF ALL THAT LIES AHEAD.
AND, WITH OUR CAR'S PREMIUM PACKAGE, THE FULL LENGTH GLASS ROOF MEANS EVERYONE ON BOARD CAN SIGHTSEE.
THIS REAR-DRIVER ALSO HAD THE LONG RANGE BATTERY PACK, WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
TESLA DOESN'T PROVIDE EXACT SPECS, BUT IT IS RATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 70 KWH.
BASE 50 KWH MODELS, AS WELL AS TWIN-MOTOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VERSIONS, WILL BE ADDED INTO THE PRODUCTION MIX LATER THIS YEAR.
THERE'S 310 MILES OF RANGE WITH THE BIGGER BATTERY, SO WE'D GO WITH THAT.
RANGE FOR THE BASE MODEL IS 220 MILES.
JUST AS IN ITS LARGER KIN, THE MODEL 3s CHARGING PORT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT CLUSTER.
STILL COOL, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE SEE IT.
WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT SOLD HOWEVER, ON THE NO KEY ASPECT.
WE ACTUALLY, HAD AN APP SNAFU WITH OUR TEST CAR, AND EVEN THE BACKUP PROXIMITY CARD WOULDN'T LET US GET THE CAR STARTED QUICKLY.
THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THE MODEL 3...MPGE RATINGS OF 136-CITY, 123-HIGHWAY, AND 130-COMBINED.
FOR A NEAR PERFECT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST 2/10 OF A BARREL OF OIL USED ANNUALLY AND ZERO CO2 EMISSIONS.
THE $35,000 MASS MARKET MODEL 3 THAT GARNERED ALL OF THE ORIGINAL HYPE AND DOWN PAYMENTS HAS YET, TO EMERGE.
ONLY THE BIGGER BATTERY MODEL IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
THAT MEANS WITH OTHER EXTRAS LIKE THE PREMIUM PACKAGE AND AUTO PILOT, THIS "3" CAN EASILY TOP $50,000.
SO, IT'S STILL MOSTLY AN EARLY ADOPTER PROPOSITION.
STILL, THE 2018 TESLA MODEL 3 IS THE BEST CONVERGENCE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND THE PRACTICAL AUTOMOBILE THAT WE'VE YET SEEN.
AND, IT DOES DRIVE GREAT!
YET, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF IT TRULY IS THE GAME CHANGING CAR OF THE FUTURE.
BUT, ONE THING IS FOR SURE; IT IS HERE RIGHT NOW, AND WILL BE THE POPULOUS EV BENCHMARK FOR YEARS TO COME.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR PLUG IN POWER IN A CAPABLE CROSSOVER.
THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV.
AND THE LEADER OF THE PICK-UP TRUCK PACK, THE FORD F-150.
'TIL 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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
Man 1: I DO.
Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS AND TOOLS TO HELP.
Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.
IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.
Man 1: OH.
FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...
WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.
WEATHERTECH.
MADE IN AMERICA.
HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
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.
STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .
* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *
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