
2019 BMW M2 Competition & 2019 Volvo S60
Season 38 Episode 28 | 26m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
2019 BMW M2 Competition & 2019 Volvo S60
This week we send the speedometer spinning in the BMW M2 Competition. Pat Goss has the ins and outs of stop and go. Zach Maskell heads Over the Edge to polish his track day skills. Finally, it's Swedish ingenuity made in America, the Volvo S60.
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2019 BMW M2 Competition & 2019 Volvo S60
Season 38 Episode 28 | 26m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
This week we send the speedometer spinning in the BMW M2 Competition. Pat Goss has the ins and outs of stop and go. Zach Maskell heads Over the Edge to polish his track day skills. Finally, it's Swedish ingenuity made in America, the Volvo S60.
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JOIN US AS WE SEND THE SPEEDOMETER SPINNING IN THE BMW M2 COMPETITION... PAT GOSS HAS THE INS AND OUTS OF STOP AND GO... ZACH MASKELL HEADS OVER THE EDGE TO POLISH HIS TRACK DAY SKILL... AND SWEDISH INGENUITY NOW AMERICAN MADE, THE ALL-NEW VOLVO S60...
SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.
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WEATHERTECH MADE IN AMERICA.
John: THESE DAYS EVERYTHING IS A COMPETITION.
YOU CAN'T JUST BE GOOD AT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO BE THE BEST AT IT, OR AT LEAST CLAIM TO BE, TO GET ANYONE TO PAY ATTENTION.
WELL, BMW HAS BEEN THE BEST AT QUITE A FEW THINGS OVER THE YEARS, AND FANS KNOW BMW DELIVERS THEIR BEST IN THEIR M COMPETITION MODELS.
SO, LET'S HIT THE TRACK IN THEIR HOTTEST 2-SERIES AND SEE IF ITS A WIN-WIN FOR ONE AND ALL.
* WHEN WE TESTED THE NEW FOR '16 BMW M2, WE CALLED IT A "MINI BEAST" OF A PERFORMANCE CAR THAT WAS THE CLOSEST THING, WE'VE DRIVEN TO A PROPER M3 IN SOME TIME.
THREE YEARS LATER, AND WE'RE HERE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY WITH A 2019 M2 COMPETITION, THAT SAME CAR, ONLY CRANKED UP TO 11.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, COMP.
SPEC STARTS WITH MORE POWER FROM ITS INLINE-6 ENGINE, BUT IT'S NOT A SOUPED-UP VERSION OF THE M2s TURBO-6 MOTOR, RATHER A SLIGHTLY DETUNED VERSION OF THE M4s TWIN-TURBO UNIT.
OUTPUT IS 405 HORSEPOWER, UP 40 FROM THE STANDARD M2, WITH 406 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
MORE POWER ALWAYS REQUIRES ADDITIONAL COOLING, SO THE COMPETITION GETS MORE AIRFLOW THROUGH ITS KIDNEY GRILLES, SO A REVISED FRONT FASCIA WITH LARGER INTAKES.
BLACK TRIM IS ALSO PART OF THE PACKAGE, AS IS A QUARTET OF BLACK CHROME EXHAUST TIPS.
MORE WHOA-POWER IS NEXT, LARGER BRAKES FRONT AND REAR, SPORTING A GRAY FINISH ON THE CALIPERS.
SUSPENSION TWEAKS INCLUDE MORE PARTS FROM THE M4, AND THE STEERING SYSTEM, REAR DIFFERENTIAL, AND ELECTRONICS HAVE ALL BEEN UPGRADED.
19-INCH WHEELS COMPLETE THE SET, WEARING 245/35 MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORTS UP FRONT, 265/35s IN THE REAR.
YOU GET MORE CONTROL OVER EVERYTHING AS WELL, WITH EXTRA ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CONSOLE, AND A PAIR OF M BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FOR SAVING TWO SEPARATE SETUPS.
NEW SPORT SEATS ARE IN PLACE, BUT OTHERWISE, NOT MUCH CHANGES INSIDE, SAVE FOR SOME NEW M2 COMPETITION LOGOS AND COLORED STITCHING.
YOU CAN STILL SEND POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MOST WILL COME EQUIPPED WITH THIS 7-SPEED M-DCT, WHICH INCLUDES STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED PADDLE SHIFTERS.
GAUGES REMAIN VIRTUAL, BUT ARE SHARP AND VERY EASY TO MONITOR AT SPEED.
[ENGINE REVS] ON THIS FRIGID DAY, WE STRUGGLED A LITTLE FOR TRACTION TO PUT ALL OF THAT GO-FAST HARDWARE TO USE, GETTING OFF THE LINE, A TENTH SLOWER THAN OUR LAST M2; HITTING 60 IN 4.3 SECONDS.
BUT, WE MADE UP FOR IT ONCE WE GOT ROLLING, AS OUR 12.6 SECOND QUARTER MILE TIME WAS TWO-TENTHS QUICKER THAN BEFORE; FINISHING AT 115 MILES PER HOUR.
REDLINE IS AT 7,600 RPM, AND IT GETS THERE IN A HURRY; SHIFTS ARE HARD AND FAST, MAKING FOR AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE.
* HITTING THE FULL TRACK, WE DID HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
AND EVEN WITH THAT, THIS M2 WAS STILL ABLE TO IMPRESS.
IT'S A DECEPTIVELY QUICK, TIGHT-FEELING, COMPETENT, AND TOSSABLE CAR.
DRIVING DEEP INTO THE CORNERS, NOT A PROBLEM.
IT'S WELL PLANTED, WITH PLENTY OF GRIP TO PUT THE POWER DOWN, TOO; EXITING WITH JUST THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF WHEELS SLIP TO ROTATE THE CAR WITHOUT LOSING MOMENTUM.
NOT MUCH LEARNING CURVE, JUST HOP IN AND START HAMMERING AROUND THE TRACK; THERE'S ENOUGH FEEL AND FEEDBACK HERE TO GET A GOOD SENSE OF THINGS FAIRLY QUICKLY.
THE UPGRADED BRAKES WORKED VERY WELL; NO MATTER HOW LATE WE BRAKED, OR HOW HARD WE GOT ON THEM, WE CAME AWAY THINKING, WE COULD HAVE WAITED A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
FOR SUCH A HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE, IT IS VERY CONFIDENCE INSPIRING, AND SO WELL BALANCED IT COULD EASILY HANDLE EVEN MORE HORSEPOWER.
BUT, THEN OF COURSE, YOU'D BE IN M4 TERRITORY.
TOP SPEED IS 174 MILES PER HOUR, IF YOU ADD THE OPTIONAL M DRIVER'S PACKAGE, WHICH ALSO GETS YOU A ONE DAY BMW DRIVING SCHOOL, TO LEARN HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR NEW M. GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE REASONABLE, AT 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.
GETTING COMPETITIVE WITH AN M2 WILL COST YOU $59,895 FOR STARTERS.
AND, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK THIS IS WHAT THE M2 SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE GET-GO; BMW AGREES, AS THIS IS THE ONLY M2 AVAILABLE FOR 2019.
SO ESSENTIALLY, BMW APPLIED A MID-CYCLE REFRESH TO THE M2, TACKING A SORT OF SUFFIX ONTO IT, WITH ENOUGH MECHANICAL CHANGE TO QUICKLY GET OUR ATTENTION.
AND THE STRATEGY WORKED.
WE ENJOYED THE HECK OUT OF TESTING THIS 2019 BMW M2 COMPETITION.
MAKING A GREAT CAR EVEN GREATER.
IN FACT, THE ONLY COMPETITION THIS M2 IS IN, IS WITH ITSELF.
* SEAT TIME.
NOTHING IN THIS WORLD WILL HELP YOU HONE YOUR DRIVING SKILLS MORE THAN A DAY AT THE TRACK.
SURE, WE DROOL OVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A 600 HORSEPOWER ASSAULT CAR TO THE LIMITS...
BUT ZACH MASKELL IS HERE TO PROVE NOT EVEN HALF OF THAT WILL DO.
SO, LET'S GO OVER THE EDGE AND SMILE LIKE THE GRINCH, AS WE LEARN FROM SOME OF THE BEST.
* Terry Earwood: WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS LITERALLY, GO PLAY WITH SOME CARS.
Zach Maskell: NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK IN MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY IS OUR GIGANTIC CUBICLE FOR THE DAY.
DOES SKIP BARBER RACING SCHOOL RING A BELL?
Dan Demonte: SKIP BARBER WAS STARTED IN 1975 BY ACTUALLY, SKIP BARBER, WHO IS STILL VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE RACING BUSINESS.
HE'S 81 YEARS OLD.
THEY HAVE CREATED THE PREEMINENT, DOMINANT ICONIC BRAND IN DRIVING AND RACING SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES.
I THINK, THIS YEAR IN THE INDY 500, SOMETHING ABOVE 45% OF ALL PARTICIPATING DRIVERS HAD COME THROUGH OR BEEN INSTRUCTED WITHIN THE SKIP BARBER RACING SCHOOL.
Zach: JERRY SEINFELD, AL PACINO, AND DANICA PATRICK AS WELL.
EITHER FOR KICKS, OR TO EARN YOUR COMPETITION RACING LICENSE...
THIS IS STEP ONE...ON DAY ONE.
Terry: MARK BROUGHT THIS EQUATION TO MOTORSPORTS TO TELL US HOW HARD WE CAN RUN A CAR.
Zach: MARK DONOHUE.
NOT ONLY DID HE RACE, BUT HE SET UP HIS OWN CARS AS WELL.
MARK'S FORMULA?
FIFTEEN TIMES GRIP TIMES RADIUS EQUALS SPEED SQUARED.
FOR THE MATH CHALLENGED.
COME INTO A TURN TOO HOT AND THE CAR WILL FORCE AN EVEN BIGGER TURN.
Terry: I USED TO BE TALL AND HANDSOME.
NOW, I'M JUST HANDSOME.
BUT FOR YEARS, WE GOT TO RIDE WITH PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE DO.
WHAT THEIR NATURAL REACTION IS.
AND WE COME OFF THE BRAKE, AND GO TO POWER, AND WE ASK THE CAR TO GO THROUGH THE CORNER, AND WONDER WHY IT PUSHES OR UNDERSTEERS.
AND THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THE WEIGHTS ON THE WRONG END OF THE CAR.
IT SHOULD REALLY BE CALLED "UNDER RESPOND."
Zach: THE FIRST STEP IN APPLYING THIS TO THE REAL WORLD.
FEELING IT ON THE SKID PAD.
WE'RE EQUIPPED WITH FIAT 124s.
Erich Heuschele: THAT 1.4 TURBO IS AN ITALIAN ENGINE AND IT'S A SMALL DISPLACEMENT ENGINE THAT'S GOT A LOT OF BOOST AND ITS GOT...YOU'VE GOT TO SPOOL IT UP, YOU GOT TO HAVE A REALLY ACTIVE AND INVOLVED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
Zach: FIAT'S GO-FAST NOMENCLATURE, ABARTH.
WE TAKE THIS REAR DRIVE CAR PAST ITS LIMIT, AND THEN TRY TO REEL IN BACK IN.
COUNTER STEER AND FEATHER OFF THE GAS...
THIS SKILL IS INVALUABLE.
THE PRO'S REMINDED US TO KEEP OUR EYES UP... AND LOOK AHEAD.
A PERFECT WARM UP FOR THE AUTO CROSS COURSE... AND YOU BETTER BE READY FOR SURPRISES.
[SOUND OF ENGINE REVVING] Terry: OR, OR HAVE YOU ANYBODY HELP YOU... Zach: AS HE PULLS THE E-BRAKE ON ME!
Terry: YOU HAVE VIDEO OF THAT?
OH, YOU PROBABLY DO.
[LAUGHS] I WOULDN'T DO THAT TO YOU UNLESS I JUST THOUGHT WE NEEDED IT... NO THAT'S FUN.
AND AS A TEACHER, I'M GLAD THEY STILL RETAIN THE HAND BRAKE, AS SO MANY CARS DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.
Zach: ABSOLUTELY.
Terry: IT HELPS YOU WITH A LITTLE ROTATION, THAT WAY IT HELPS YOUR CAR CONTROL, NICE JOB.
[LAUGHS] GOOD, FAST HANDS.
Zach: IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT LEARNING, THEY'LL TEACH.
Terry: SWEET, SWEET.
Zach: AND NEXT UP, A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.
THE FRONT DRIVE FIAT 500 ABARTH.
YOU DEFINITELY FEEL ITS 60% WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION UP FRONT HERE.
Mike Stillwagon: YES, THERE'S A LOT MORE WEIGHT OVER THE FRONT OF THIS CAR.
SMALLER TIRE TOO.
ALMOST THE SAME HORSEPOWER.
Zach: VARYING INSTRUCTION, ON TRACK EXPLANATIONS, AND PLENTY OF HYPE.
WE WORKED ON FUNDAMENTALS, AND MAKING EACH MOVE SMOOTH.
I'M NOT SOLD ON THE HORSEPOWER WARS MANUFACTURERS SEEM TO BE SO KEEN ON THESE DAYS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO SHELL OUT ALL THAT CASH TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, SIGN UP FOR A TRACK DAY ALREADY!
John: WE TALK A LOT ABOUT GOING FAST, BUT PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON MAKING FAST STOPS A SURE THING.
Pat Goss: BRAKES.
OH, SO IMPORTANT, BUT THEY SEEM SO SIMPLE.
BUT THERE'S SO MUCH TO KNOW ABOUT THEM.
NUMBER ONE, THEY WEAR.
AND THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM PERIODICALLY.
AND IF THERE'S EVER A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE BRAKES FEEL, OR THAT THEY MAKE NOISE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT YOU GET THEM CHECKED IMMEDIATELY.
NOW, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT.
EVERYTHING IS DESTROYED.
RIGHT DOWN TO THE CALIPER AND THE PADS THE ROTORS, THE WHOLE THING.
THE DRIVER OF THIS VAN SAID HE DIDN'T HEAR A THING.
MAYBE HIS RADIO WAS JUST TOO LOUD.
ARIGHT NOW...ADDITIONALLY, BRAKES NEED SERVICE.
PRIMARILY THEY NEED TO BE BLED PERIODICALLY.
THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO FLUSH ALL THE OLD FLUID OUT OF THEM.
AND THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH BLEEDER VALVES.
NOW, BLEEDER VALVES HAVE A NASTY HABIT OF SEIZING INTO THE CALIPER.
SO IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO SPRAY THEM DOWN WITH A RUST PENETRANT OR COAT THEM LIBERALLY WITH GREASE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.
THAT WILL PREVENT THEM FROM SEIZING.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO LOOSEN THESE VALVES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE RIGHT TYPE OF WRENCH.
CERTAINLY, YOU WOULDN'T USE ANYTHING THIS BIG, BUT THE DIFFERENCE HERE, THIS IS A 12 POINT, THIS IS A 6 POINT.
12 POINTS TEND TO ROUND THESE THINGS OFF.
6 POINTS GRAB THEM FIRMLY.
NOW, THERE IS A PROBLEM THOUGH.
BIGGER BLEEDER VALVES, WELL, THEY TEND TO ROUND OFF.
SMALLER ONES TEND TO BREAK OFF.
AND IF YOU MANAGE TO BREAK ONE OFF, WELL, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.
WE CAN SEE OVER HERE, THAT WE BROKE THIS ONE OFF.
AND HERE, WE HAVE A SET OF TOOLS THAT MIGHT WORK TO GET THAT OUT AND SAVE THE CALIPER.
THESE ARE LEFT HANDED DRILL BITS.
THEY TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
THEY TURN DOWN IN THERE AND AS THEY'RE DRILLING, THEY'RE TRYING TO TURN IT OUT.
AND SOMETIMES THAT WORKS.
IF IT DOESN'T, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT WITH THE EXTRACTOR WHICH FITS THE DRILL BIT WHERE YOU HAVE DRILLED DOWN IN THERE.
IT ALSO WORKS IN THE REVERSE.
OH, AND WHEN IT COMES TO BLEEDING, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU USE THE PROPER TYPE OF FLUID.
AND HERE, WE HAVE A NEAT KIT FROM EASTWOOD TOOLS.
THIS IS A SET OF WRENCHES.
THEY HAVE THESE SOCKETS, 6 POINT, TO FIT DOWN OVER THE BLEEDER VALVE.
AND YOU CAN PUT THIS HOSE ON IT.
THE HOSE HAS A CHECK VALVE, SO THAT AS YOU PUSH THE AIR OUT, DURING THE BLEEDING PROCESS, IT DOESN'T SUCK AIR BACK IN.
REALLY CLEVER IDEA.
ALSO, REMEMBER THAT PADS, AND CALIPERS, THEY MOVE IN THERE, AND THEY NEED TO BE LUBRICATED.
THAT'S USUALLY, ABOUT ONCE A YEAR.
MAKE SURE YOU USE THE PROPER BRAKE LUBRICANT.
NOT SOME GENERAL PURPOSE LUBRICANT.
BECAUSE BRAKES GET HOT.
AND BRAKE LUBRICANTS WITHSTAND HEAT.
THAT WILL MAKE YOUR BRAKES WORK BETTER.
AND LAST LONGER.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
* Greg Carloss: ANOTHER 2400 MILES HAVE PASSED IN OUR 2018 MAZDA6 MID-SIZE SEDAN, WHICH BRINGS OUR TOTAL UP TO ALMOST 17,000.
THAT'S NOT SURPRISING CONSIDERING HOW POPULAR IT IS AROUND HERE.
THE 227 HORSEPOWER TURBO CHARGED SKYACTIV-G I4 AND QUICK SHIFTING 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE A GOOD TEAM...
WHETHER ON LONG ROAD TRIPS OR THE DAILY COMMUTE.
THE SPORTY SUSPENSION AND PRECISE STEERING MAKE EVEN MUNDANE ERRANDS THE KIND OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE WE LOOK FOR.
SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND IF WE COULD DRIVE THERE WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO SO IN THE MAZDA6.
THE WINTER COLD TEMPERATURES AND SLUSHY ROADS DID NOT KEEP US FROM DRIVING AND IT ACTUALLY HANDLED ITSELF PRETTY WELL, CONSIDERING ITS LOW PROFILE ALL-SEASON TIRES.
ENGINE OUTPUT CONTINUES TO BE A HIGH POINT AND MECHANICALLY SPEAKING, WE'VE HAVE NO PROBLEMS.
SO, WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR?
WE'RE NOW AVERAGING 27.8 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR, WHICH IS STILL BETTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED RATING.
EVEN AFTER 9-MONTHS OF DRIVING, THE MAZDA6 REMINDS US A PRACTICAL FAMILY SEDAN CAN STILL BE A LOT OF FUN.
WE'RE 3-MONTHS INTO OUR TIME WITH THIS 2019 RAM 1500, OUR RECENT DRIVERS' CHOICE PICK FOR BEST PICKUP TRUCK.
AND WE'VE ALREADY RACKED UP OVER 6,000 MILES; A LARGE CHUNK OF THAT FROM HAULING GEAR DOWN TO OUR WINTER TESTING GROUNDS IN GEORGIA.
ALL OF THOSE HIGHWAY MILES DIDN'T HELP OUR FUEL MILEAGE AS WE EXPECTED.
IT'S ACTUALLY, DOWN A BIT TO AN EVEN 16.0 MILES PER GALLON, WHICH IS STILL ACCEPTABLE, GIVEN THIS HEMI-POWERED HAULER HAS SPENT THE BULK OF ITS TIME DOING JUST THAT...HAULING, IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
AND NO MATTER WHETHER WE'VE BEEN LOADING OR UNLOADING, WE'RE ENJOYING THE FULLY DAMPENED TAILGATE; SUPER-EASY TO CLOSE, AND IT DROPS SMOOTHLY, WITHOUT A BIG THUD.
IT'LL BE TIME FOR AN UPDATE ON OUR HONDA INSIGHT, AND VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!
John: TWISTS AND TURNS ALWAYS GET OUR ATTENTION, SO HERE WE GO ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.
NO BIG TRUCK LOOKS MORE AT HOME IN THE WILD THAN THE FORD F-150 RAPTOR.
AND, FOR 2019 THIS EXTREME OFF-ROADER IS EVEN MORE CAPABLE.
UNDER THE HOOD THE HIGH-OUTPUT TWIN-TURBO 3.5 LITER ECOBOOST V6 STIRS UP THE SAME 450 HORSEPOWER WITH A BRAWNY 510 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC EXPERTLY SELECTS THE GEARS.
BUT RAPTOR IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST BRUTE FORCE.
THE RUGGED SUSPENSION NOW GOES EVEN FURTHER TO CUSHION THE BLOWS OF ROUGH TERRAIN.
FORD WORKED WITH FOX ON NEW, ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED LIVE VALVE SHOCKS THAT ADJUST DAMPING ON THE FLY.... AND RESIST BOTTOMING OUT EVEN AFTER ALL FOUR TIRES LEAVE THE GROUND.
SO, THE SETUP ABSORBS IMPACTS WITH EASE, WITH A HUGE 13 INCHES OF WHEEL TRAVEL UP FRONT AND 13.9 INCHES IN THE REAR.
THE NEW TRAIL CONTROL ACTS LIKE A LOW-SPEED CRUISE CONTROL FOR OFF-ROADING SO THE DRIVER CAN FOCUS ON STEERING.
CLIMB UP INTO THE CAB, AND THERE'S A COMMANDING VIEW FROM THE NEW RECARO SPORT SEATS WITH HOLD-ON-TIGHT BOLSTERING.
THE TECH YOU'D EXPECT IS HERE, BUT THERE ARE ALSO PLENTY OF BIG KNOBS AND SWITCHES.
ON ROAD, THE FIRM YET COMPLIANT RIDE IS STILL SMOOTH ENOUGH FOR DAILY DRIVING.
IN THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE WORLD OF TRAIL RUNNING...
THE 2019 FORD F-150 RAPTOR PREYS UPON WHAT EVER GETS IN ITS WAY... REWARDING THRILL SEEKERS WITH A RIDE THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE FACTORY BENCH MARK.
ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT UNDER $53,000.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!
* Stephanie Hart: FAST CARS ALWAYS GET OUR ATTENTION... DROP THE TOP...AND WE'RE IN.
OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTTED THIS PORSCHE 911 SPEEDSTER IN GERMANY.
THE CONCEPT FEATURED MORE THAN 500 HORSEPOWER FROM A NATURALLY ASPIRATED FLAT SIX MATCHED WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL.
THIS OPEN AIR TWO-SEATER IS BASED ON THE 911 CARRERA 4 CABRIOLET, AND THE CHASSIS COMES FROM THE 911 GT3.
SHORTER WINDOWS AND A CARBON-FIBER DOUBLE-BUBBLE COVER BEHIND THE SEATS ADD TO THE SLEEKNESS.
THIS SPEEDSTER IS INSPIRED BY THE PORSCHE 356 WHICH DEBUTED IN 1948.
SO ONLY, 1,948 OF THESE WILL BE BUILT.
PRODUCTION SHOULD BEGIN ANY TIME NOW.
John: BY NOW, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THE VOLVO S60 IS THE FIRST VOLVO MADE HERE IN THE U.S.A., BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO VOLVO'S NEW MIDSIZE SEDAN THAN JUST WHERE IT'S BUILT.
ACCORDING TO VOLVO, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING CARS THEY'VE EVERY MADE.
SO, LET'S SEE IF THE S60 GIVES US THE THRILLS!
* THE 2019 VOLVO S60 MARKS THE 3RD TOTAL REDESIGN OF VOLVO'S MIDSIZE SEDAN.
LAST GEN MADE HEADLINES, WITH A STRETCHED VERSION THAT WAS THE FIRST STREETABLE CAR SOLD HERE, THAT WAS "MADE IN CHINA."
FITTING SINCE VOLVO IS NOW OWNED BY CHINESE CARMAKER GEELY.
BUT GUESS WHAT, NOW...THE NEW S60 IS BEING ASSEMBLED HERE, IN RIDGEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.
TALK ABOUT A TURN OF FATE!
AND SINCE IT'S NOW ON THE SPA PLATFORM THAT ARRIVED WITH THE XC90, WE EXPECT SOME OTHER VOLVO MODELS TO ROLL OUT OF THAT PLANT AS WELL.
INDEED, THE S60s POWERTRAINS ARE NOT UNIQUE FROM OTHER VEHICLES ON THAT PLATFORM.
BY NOW, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE 250 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 THAT COMES IN BASE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE T5 MODELS.
T6 ADDS A SUPERCHARGER INTO MIX, BOOSTING OUTPUT TO 316 HORSEPOWER AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AS WELL AS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.
AND FINALLY, A TWIN-ENGINE PHEV T8 WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
REGARDLESS OF POWER ADDERS, ALL S60s FEATURE AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
EXPECT 0-60 TIMES TO RANGE FROM 6.2 SECONDS FOR THE T5 TO A PRETTY THRILLING 4.4 SECONDS IN THE T8.
WHILE, MOMENTUM AND INSCRIPTION TRIMS HOLD DOWN THE LUXURY SIDE OF THINGS QUITE WELL; VOLVO IS LOOKING TO PUSH THINGS DEEPER INTO THE SPORT SEDAN CATEGORY WITH THE R-DESIGN, WHICH WE FIRST SAMPLED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
NOW R-DESIGN IN ITSELF, IS MORE OF A SPORTY TRIM THAN A PURE PERFORMANCE MODEL.
IT CAN BE ADDED TO EITHER THE T5 OR T6 AND INCLUDES UNIQUE 21-INCH WHEELS, LED FOG LIGHTS, AND INTEGRATED DUAL EXHAUST TIPS.
INSIDE, THERE'S ALSO A SPORT STEERING WHEEL WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS, AND UPGRADED LEATHER AND CLOTH UPHOLSTERY.
IT'S A FABULOUS LOOKING CAR, AND WE ENJOY VOLVO'S MODERN TAKE ON THEIR CLASSIC HEAD AND TAIL LIGHT SHAPES; NOT TO MENTION THOR'S HAMMER IS STILL THE COOLEST SIGNATURE LIGHTING OUT THERE.
THEY'LL ALSO GET A CAR THAT'S SMOOTH, QUIET, AND IF YOU GO FOR THE TURBO-SUPERCHARGED T6, POWERFUL AS WELL.
IT'S ACTUALLY, THRILLING JUST MERGING ONTO INTERSTATES IN THE T6, AND BACKROAD CURVES FLOW TOGETHER LIKE CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL BALLROOM DANCERS.
PLENTY OF GRIP THROUGH THOSE CORNERS, THE TRANSMISSION MATCHES OUTPUT QUITE WELL, SO THE S60 CAN BE A LOAD OF FUN.
STILL, IT DOESN'T OFFER MUCH IN THE HYPER-RESPONSIVE FEEDBACK DEPARTMENT, THOUGH VOLVO PROMISES AN UPCOMING LIMITED EDITION POLESTAR ENGINEERED VERSION WILL INDEED PROVIDE JUST THAT.
THOSE LOOKING FOR EVEN LESS ENGAGEMENT, WILL APPRECIATE THE SECOND GENERATION OF VOLVO'S PILOT ASSIST SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM WHICH WORKS QUITE WELL, IF YOU GET YOUR THRILLS THAT WAY.
THE BORGWARNER ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM LAUNCHES IN FULL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE FOR ULTIMATE TRACTION, BUT QUICKLY SHIFTS TO MOSTLY FRONT DRIVE ONCE MOVING.
THIS S60 IS SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, AND MOST OF THAT ADDED LENGTH BENEFITS REAR SEAT PASSENGERS.
NOT THAT FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS DON'T PROFIT AS WELL.
YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF SPACE HERE TOO, NESTLED IN THE EXTREME PLUSHNESS OF VOLVO'S COMFORT SEATS.
THE 9-INCH SENSUS TOUCHSCREEN MOSTLY DOMINATES THE DASH.
AN UPDATED PROCESSOR FOR ALL 2019 VOLVO MODELS, MEANS FASTER START-UP AND SPEEDIER RESPONSE.
STILL, IT'S EASY TO GET SIDETRACKED WITH ALL OF THE SCROLL, SCROLL, HUNT, HUNTING.
TRUNK SPACE IS MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE AT 11.6 CUBIC-FEET.
A 12.3 INCH DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMES STOCK WITH R-DESIGN, WITH NUMEROUS MODES, INCLUDING BRINGING UP THE NAVIGATION MAP.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 21-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED FOR T6s; 24-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED FOR THE T5s.
FOLLOWING FORM, WITH VERY SENSIBLE PRICING; T5 S60s START AT JUST $36,795, T6s AT $41,295, AND T8s AT $55,395.
ALL PRICES THRILLINGLY COMPETITIVE FOR ITS CLASS.
SERIOUSLY, WE AGREE THAT THE 2019 VOLVO S60 IS AN EXCITING EFFORT FOR VOLVO; BOTH IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR TEST T6 R-DESIGN, AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE MADE A SERIOUS AMERICAN COMMITMENT IN THE NEW PLANT.
WITH THE BRAND'S SALES HERE, UP SIGNIFICANTLY OVER WHAT EVEN THEY PROJECTED, TOGETHER THEY ARE BOLD MOVES FOR A BRAND THAT IS CLEARLY ON THE RISE.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
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