
2019 Hyundai Veloster N & 2019 Jaguar I-PACE
Season 38 Episode 27 | 26m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
2019 Hyundai Veloster N & 2019 Jaguar I-PACE
This week Hyundai pumps a big dose of track cred into their hot hatch, the Veloster N. Pat Goss tackles treads for winter weather. Then, we head to D.C. where they're using EV busses. Finally, Jaguar gives the SUV market a big jolt with the all-new I-PACE.
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2019 Hyundai Veloster N & 2019 Jaguar I-PACE
Season 38 Episode 27 | 26m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
This week Hyundai pumps a big dose of track cred into their hot hatch, the Veloster N. Pat Goss tackles treads for winter weather. Then, we head to D.C. where they're using EV busses. Finally, Jaguar gives the SUV market a big jolt with the all-new I-PACE.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS HYUNDAI PUMPS A BIG DOSE OF TRACK CRED INTO A NEW HOT HATCH, THE VELOSTER N... PAT GOSS TACKLES TREADS FOR WINTER WEATHER...
THE LATEST ON FLIPPING THE SWITCH TO MOVE THE MASSES... AND JAGUAR GIVES THE SUV MARKET A BIG JOLT WITH THE ALL-NEW I-PACE...
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 OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.
WEATHERTECH.
MADE IN AMERICA.
John: MUCH HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE FORMER HEAD OF BMW'S M DIVISION DEFECTING TO THE HYUNDAI-KIA GROUP.
AND WHILE HE HAD AN IMMEDIATE AFFECT ON KIA'S RIDE AND HANDLING AS WELL AS THE INTRODUCTION OF THEIR REAR-DRIVE STINGER PERFORMANCE SEDAN; IT'S ONLY NOW THAT WE GET TO SEE THE FULL RESULTS, WITH THE LAUNCH OF HYUNDAI'S N PERFORMANCE DIVISION.
SO IT"S TIME FOR SOME FAST LAPS IN THEIR FIRST EFFORT, THE VELOSTER N. * NO NEED HERE, TO RECAP HYUNDAI'S JOURNEY FROM CHEAP DISPOSABLE TRANSPORTATION TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY; ALL OF THAT IS WELL-DOCUMENTED.
WE'RE HERE TO PUSH SOME LIMITS OF OUR OWN, WITH THEIR LATEST STRIDE, THE NEW 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER N. WHILE, VARIOUS ASPECTS OF RECENT HYUNDAI EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR TREATMENTS ARE NOW AMONG THE MOST COPIED, NO ONE AS OF YET IS REPLICATING THE VELOSTER'S 3-DOOR APPROACH.
WHILE THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING, WE THINK THE UPDATED DESIGN THAT ARRIVED FOR '19 WORKS PRETTY WELL.
THE N OF COURSE, COMES WITH A HIGHER AGGRESSION LEVEL.
THERE'S A UNIQUE FRONT FASCIA WITH LARGER AIR INTAKES, ROCKER EXTENSIONS, BIGGER REAR SPOILER WITH TRIANGLE-SHAPED BRAKE LIGHT, DIFFUSER WITH INTEGRATED DUAL EXHAUST TIPS, LOTS OF RED TRIM, AND EITHER 18 OR OUR TEST CAR'S 19-INCH LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS.
AS PART OF AN OPTIONAL PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, THOSE WHEELS COME WRAPPED IN PIRELLI P ZERO PERFORMANCE TIRES; YOU ALSO GET LARGER BRAKES AND A VARIABLE EXHAUST VALVE SYSTEM THAT POPS AND CRACKLES UP AN ADDITIONAL 25 HORSEPOWER.
[ENGINE STARTS] THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 275, FROM THIS NEW 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO.
BASE N'S COME WITH 250 HORSEPOWER, AND BOTH SHARE THE SAME TORQUE OUTPUT OF 260 POUND-FEET.
NO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE, JUST A 6-SPEED MANUAL THAT COMES WITH REV-MATCHING.
BUT ON TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF.
ALBERT BIERMANN IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY GERMAN ENGINEERS THAT THE HYUNDAI-KIA GROUP HAS POACHED OVER THE YEARS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR MISSION PLAN HAS COME TO FRUITION.
AND YES, EXTENSIVE TIME WAS PUT ON THE NURBURGRING DIALING THIS THING ALL IN.
WE HIT OUR WINTER TEST GROUNDS, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY WITH AN OPEN MIND; TRYING NOT TO HAVE TOO LOW OR HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
EARLY IMPRESSIONS, THE VELOSTER N IS LESS OF A FAST AND FURIOUS HATCH, AND MORE OF A TOTAL PACKAGE PERFORMANCE CAR; AND WAY MORE FUN THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
IT'S EXTREMELY NIMBLE, AND HAS THAT WAY OF FEELING BETTER AND BETTER THE HARDER YOU PUSH IT.
REMEMBER, IT'S STILL FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE!
BUT, IT DOES GET AN N POWER SENSE AXLE WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED TORQUE VECTORING LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.
KEEPING THE PRICE LOW WAS A PRIORITY, SO A LOT OF ITS UPGRADES ACTUALLY COME OFF OF THE HYUNDAI-KIA PARTS SHELVES FROM LARGER CARS LIKE THE OPTIMA.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL BRACING; AS WELL AS UNIQUE SUSPENSION TUNING, WHICH HELPS THIS LITTLE POWERHOUSE CARRY QUITE A LOT OF CORNER SPEED.
THE MANUAL SHIFTER ITSELF, AS WELL AS THE REV-MATCHING FEATURE, WORKS GREAT; AND EVEN THE BRAKES DID A FANTASTIC JOB AT THIS HIGH SPEED TRACK.
ABOUT THE ONLY THING WE COULD WISH FOR IS A LITTLE MORE FEEDBACK THROUGH THE CHASSIS.
BUT AT THE END OF OUR TRACK DAYS, THE VELOSTER N IS JUST A FUN CAR, WITH PLENTY OF PERSONALITY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, CAPABILITY; THAT MAKES IT MORE THAN COMPETITIVE WITH JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER HOT HATCHBACK REGARDLESS OF PRICE.
AS FOR THE STRAIGHT-LINE, THE N IS EASY ENOUGH TO LAUNCH, THOUGH YOU CAN SPIN UP SOME ALWAYS-FUN FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE BURNOUTS IF YOU WANT.
GET OFF THE LINE CLEANLY, AND YOU CAN HIT 60 IN 5.2 SECONDS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF POWER ALL OVER THE TACH; BUT STAY ALERT, THIS LITTLE TURBO-4 REVS FREELY, AND YOU'LL BE WORKING THE SHORT-THROW SHIFTER A LOT.
13.9 SECONDS WAS OUR QUARTER MILE TIME AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.
WITH ALL OF THAT, THE VELOSTER N IS STILL PLENTY PRACTICAL FOR A COMPACT HATCHBACK.
AND A GOOD ENOUGH DAILY DRIVER, AS HYUNDAI DIDN'T JUST WANT TO MAKE IT APPEALING TO A WIDE AUDIENCE, THEY WANTED THEM TO ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, NOT JUST ON TRACK DAYS.
SO, WHILE THE RIDE IS FIRM, IT IS NOWHERE NEAR EXTREME; RATHER, WELL-COMPOSED AND SURPRISINGLY REFINED.
AGAIN, THINK GERMAN MORE THAN ASIAN.
THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL TOUCHES INSIDE OF COURSE, UNIQUE WELL-BOLSTERED CLOTH SEATS, BLUE ACCENTS, AND LOTS OF N LOGOS THROUGHOUT.
PLENTY OF WAYS TO CONFIGURE YOUR OWN SETUP AS WELL; WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE DRIVE MODES, OR INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO EXHAUST, SUSPENSION, OR TRACTION SETTINGS.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.
WITH AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 13.2 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH CO2 EMISSIONS AT 6.0 TONS.
MOST IMPRESSIVE OF ALL, PRICING STARTS AT JUST $27,820.
AND EVEN WITH THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, IT STILL COMES IN AT UNDER 30-GRAND.
HYUNDAI'S CURRENT CHALLENGE IS MAKING CARS THAT ARE NOT JUST CHEAPER OR EVEN BETTER THAN THE COMPETITION, BUT MAKING ONES THAT ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE.
THE 2019 VELOSTER N IS A GREAT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT N-BRAND OFFERING TO COME FROM HYUNDAI!
WE FOCUS A LOT ON THE ONGOING ELECTRIFICATION OF THE AUTOMOBILE, AND THEIR ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
BUT MANY TRUCK, AND TRANSIT BUS FLEETS ARE FLIPPING THE SWITCH TO EV POWER TOO, AND WE THINK THAT'S A CAPITOL IDEA!
* AS THE EPICENTER OF OUR NATION'S GOVERNMENT AND A TOP TOURIST DESTINATION, WASHINGTON D.C. HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING AROUND TOWN.
AND JUST AS MORE AND MORE OF THEM ARE CHOOSING EFFICIENT ZERO-EMISSION PERSONAL TRANSPORT, CITY OFFICIALS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR TRANSIT FLEET AS WELL.
IN THE SPRING OF 2018, THE D.C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, OR D-DOT, TOOK DELIVERY OF 14 AMERICAN-MADE PROTERRA BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES, MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST ELECTRIC BUS FLEETS IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS PURCHASE RAISES THE BAR AGAIN IN D.C.'S "LEAD BY EXAMPLE" PRACTICE WHEN IT COMES TO MASS TRANSIT.
THE D-DOT EV BUS FLEET ADDS TO THE MIX OF CLEAN FUELS LIKE CNG AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ELECTRIC HYBRID BUSES THAT ARE ALREADY SERVING RIDERS IN THE NEIGHBORING BUS FLEETS ACROSS THE DC-MARYLAND-VIRGINIA REGION.
THE D.C. CIRCULATOR BUSES TRANSPORT MORE THAN 4.8 MILLION PASSENGERS EACH YEAR, AND TRAVEL SIX ROUTES AROUND D.C. AND INTO VIRGINIA, STOPPING AT POPULAR MONUMENTS, MUSEUMS, ATTRACTIONS AND TRANSPORTATION HUBS ALONG THE WAY.
Natressa Jackson: GOOD MORNING, I'M GOOD.
GOOD MORNING, ALRIGHT...I LIKE THOSE GLASSES.
WELCOME TO THE CIRCULATOR.
YOU MUST RING THE BELL WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR STOP.
John: FOR DRIVER NATRESSA JACKSON, SWITCHING FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC WAS SEAMLESS.
Natressa: IT'S A VERY SMOOTH RIDE, IT'S A VERY QUIET RIDE.
John: IN ADDITION TO BEING QUIETER, THESE ELECTRIC BUSES PROVIDE RIDERS WITH THE BENEFITS OF FREE PUBLIC WI-FI, AND USB CHARGING FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AS WELL AS INFORMATIONAL DISPLAYS FOR COMMUTERS, AND MORE POWERFUL AIR-CONDITIONING.
THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE NEW ELECTRIC BUS FLEET ARE IMPRESSIVE, DISPLACING NEARLY 89,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL PER YEAR, AND REDUCING CO2 EMISSIONS BY A QUARTER MILLION POUNDS.
THE PROTERRA BUSES ARE POWERED BY FOUR LARGE BATTERY PACKS UNDER THE FLOOR.
AFTER CHARGING OVERNIGHT, THE BUSES CAN OPERATE FOR A FULL 10-HOUR SHIFT.
Jeffrey Bennett: IT IS MORE UPFRONT, BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S UM, NEWER TECHNOLOGY, TYPICALLY NEWER TECHNOLOGY COSTS MORE, BUT OVER TIME WE'LL NOTICE, OR WE'RE HOPING TO NOTICE, REDUCED MAINTENANCE COSTS WHICH WILL HELP US ON THE BACK END.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 14 ELECTRIC BUSES.
OVER THE COMING FISCAL YEAR, WE HOPE TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL 18, AND LONG-TERM, WE HOPE TO HAVE AN ENTIRE ELECTRIC FLEET.
John: DOZENS OF OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION, AND ARE INVESTING IN ENERGY EFFICIENT ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC BUSES AND SERVICE VEHICLES.
AND EVERYWHERE THEY HIT THE STREETS, THESE HIGHLY VISIBLE EV AMBASSADORS ARE MAKING AN IMPACT BY RAISING AWARENESS AS WELL.
Ira Dorfman: WE'RE HAVING AN EV REVOLUTION IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PURCHASING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO SEE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY REALLY WORKS.
John: CHANGE IS CONSTANT.
AND THAT CERTAINLY INCLUDES THE WEATHER.
PAT GOSS SAYS, PLANNING AHEAD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH.
Pat Goss: IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU GET ANY AMOUNT OF SNOW WHATSOEVER, THERE IS THE ETERNAL QUESTION: DO I NEED WINTER TIRES?
AND TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON IT, WE HAVE OUR TIRE EXPERT, MATT EDMONDS.
MATT, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.
Matt Edmonds: PLEASURE TO BE HERE, PAT.
Pat: ALRIGHT, WE HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF TIRES HERE.
GIVE US A PRIMER.
Matt: WELL, WE'VE GOT THE MICHELIN X-ICE-3 WHICH IS A DEDICATED WINTER TIRE.
AND THEN, WE HAVE THE LATITUDE WHICH IS A NON-DEDICATED WINTER TIRE, REALLY AN ALL-SEASON TIRE.
Pat: ALRIGHT, SO WHAT ARE WE LOSING AND GAINING BETWEEN THE TWO?
Matt: WELL, YOU KNOW, AN ALL-SEASON TIRE IS AS WE SAY IS GOOD IN EVERYTHING, NOT GREAT IN ANYTHING.
IF YOU GO TO A DEDICATED WINTER TIRE, IT'S LIKE PUTTING ON THOSE BOOTS WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE IN WINTER'S WORST CONDITIONS, SO THAT YOU HAVE THE MAXIMUM CONTROL AND PERFORMANCE.
AND PERFORMANCE EQUALS SAFETY.
Pat: OKAY, SO SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES WHEN THE SNOW IS ON THE GROUND WITH DEDICATED SNOW TIRES.
Matt: ALSO, WHEN THERE IS NO SNOW ON THE GROUND BECAUSE WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THIS TIRE HAS BEEN REALLY BUILT TO WORK IN THOSE COLD TEMPERATURES.
SO THE RUBBER STAYS NICE AND PLIABLE AND SOFT.
SO WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS DRY, YOU STILL HAVE THAT GRIP.
AND ALL-SEASON TIRE MIGHT GET A LITTLE HARDER.
IF YOU HAD A PERFORMANCE SUMMER TIRE ON, IT'D BE LIKE ROCK-HARD AND LIKE PLASTIC ON THAT PAVEMENT.
Pat: OKAY, SO...
BUT THEN WHY DO WE WANT TO HAVE THE SNOW TIRES AND CHANGE THEM.
WHY NOT RUN THEM ALL YEAR ROUND?
Matt: THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MANUFACTURERS ARE STARTING TO ADDRESS, WITH THIS THREE PEAK MOUNTAIN SNOWFLAKE WHICH IS A SYMBOL THAT WE'VE SEEN ONLY ON DEDICATED WINTER TIRES.
IT'S NOW, STARTING TO SHOW UP ON SOME ALL-SEASON TIRES THAT WE SAY, HAVE "ENHANCED WINTER TRACTION."
SO THESE HAVE BEEN TIRES THAT NOW ARE JUST NOT BASED ON THEIR GEOMETRY, GOOD IN THE WINTER CONDITIONS BUT ALSO WITH SOME OF THE ENGINEERING IN THE COMPOUNDING, ETC.
HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO REALLY WORK BETTER IN WINTER.
THEY'RE AN ALL-SEASON TIRE THAT HAS BEEN STEPPED UP A LITTLE BIT SHALL WE SAY IN ITS WINTER PERFORMANCE.
Pat: SO, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE FOR LOTS OF FOLKS.
Matt: LOTS OF FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT MARGINAL AREA WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE WINTER CONDITIONS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
YOU MAY HAVE MILD WINTERS, OR A DUSTING OF SNOW OR SOME REALLY COLD WEATHER DAYS.
BUT, NOT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
Pat: AND THAT WOULD ALSO DO AWAY WITH THE CHANGEOVER.
Matt: THAT WOULD SIMPLIFY THINGS A LITTLE BIT FOR SOME PEOPLE BUT SOME PEOPLE, AGAIN STILL LIKE THAT ABILITY AND AS MUCH AS THEY SAY, "WELL GOSH, I'VE GOT A SECOND SET OR TIRES."
WELL, THEY'RE RESTING WHILE THE OTHERS ARE WORKING.
Pat: GOTCHA, MATT, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: WE NEVER KNOW WHAT WE'LL END UP DRIVING, SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S READY TO ROLL FOR THIS WEEKS QUICKSPIN.
* PORSCHE IS CONTINUING TO BLAST AHEAD WITH ITS SPORTY SUVs, THE LATEST BEING THEIR LARGEST, THIS 2019 PORSCHE CAYENNE.
NOW WE'VE ALREADY DRIVEN THE TURBO AND E-HYBRID VERSIONS, SO THIS IS THE BASE MODEL, BUT IT'S HARDLY A COMPROMISE FOR THOSE WHO NEED LOTS OF ROOM AND WANT THAT PORSCHE EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE WHEEL.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY DELIVERED ON OUR FIRST DRIVE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
FOR THIS 3RD GENERATION, THE NEW 3.0-LITER TURBOCHARGED V6 CREATES A HEALTHY 335 HORSEPOWER MATCHED WITH A NEW SMOOTH SHIFTING 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC S TRANSMISSION.
STEERING IS SPORTS-CAR PRECISE AND EVEN MORE AGILE WITH ITS REAR AXLE STEERING.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, STAGGERED "TIRES" ADD EVEN MORE OF PORSCHE'S SPORTY HERITAGE.
THE CAYENNE IS STEADY AND STABLE THROUGH THE CURVES WITH GREAT GRIP FRONT AND REAR.
ADDING THE UPDATED AIR SUSPENSION OFFERS THE BEST COMBINATION OF RIDE AND HANDLING.
PLENTY OF PANAMERA INFLUENCES INSIDE LIKE THE 12.3 INCH TOUCH SCREEN.
PORSCHE CONNECT PLUS BRINGS MORE TECH TO THE DRIVER ORIENTED CABIN.
AND ALL THESE UPDATES TO THE 2019 PORSCHE CAYENNE ROLL ON A NEW LIGHTER CHASSIS.
HELPING THIS NIMBLE SPORTY UTE DRIVE LIKE A PORSCHE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
DEALERS HAVE THEM NOW, STARTING AT UNDER $66,000.
FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEEN THE LEADER IN HYBRID DRIVING.
WHILE STILL IN ITS 4TH GENERATION FOR 2019 THE PRIUS RECEIVES MINOR COSMETIC ADJUSTMENTS AND, MUCH MORE NOTABLE, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AS AN OPTION.
HERE, AS TRACTION DEMANDS, A 7 HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC MOTOR CAN ROLL THE REAR WHEELS WITH 40 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
FROM A STOP, ON DRY ROADS, ALL 4 WHEELS PULL-PUSH UP TO 6 MILES PER HOUR AND UP TO 43 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS SLICK.
WHILE LESS CAPABLE THAN THE RAV4 HYBRID AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID'S ELECTRIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS, THIS PRIUS AWD-E EXPANDS PRIUS APPEAL, ESPECIALLY FOR NORTHERN STATES.
SO, WE HEADED TO WISCONSIN WHERE TOYOTA SET UP A WINTERY ROAD COURSE.
Garick Zikan: WHEN TOYOTA ADDED AN INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION TO THE PRIUS A FEW YEARS AGO IT REALLY IMPROVED THE COMFORT AND CORNERING.
THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FURTHER IMPROVES THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
IT REALLY SEEMS TO HAVE GOOD GRIP ON THE SNOWY COURSE THEY BROUGHT US OUT TO.
ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER THERE'S A DISPLAY SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SHUFFLING AMONG THE WHEELS, BUT THE TRANSITION IS SO SMOOTH YOU REALLY DON'T NOTICE IT HERE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
THE FRONT-WHEEL POWERTRAIN REMAINS A 1.8-LITER 4-CYLINDER GAS ENGINE WITH TWO MOTOR/GENERATORS AND A CVT.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS SWAP OUT THE LITHIUM ION BATTERY FOR A CLASSIC NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY; WE'RE TOLD IT BETTER HANDLES COLD WEATHER.
TOYOTA'S SAFETY SENSE P IS STANDARD ON ALL PRIUS MODELS.
SO, THE 2019 TOYOTA PRIUS AWD-E CONTINUES TO OFFER GREAT MILEAGE ALONG WITH BETTER TRACTION WHEN THE ROAD TURNS TREACHEROUS.
ON SALE NOW THE PRICE STARTS AT JUST UNDER $27,000.
MOAB, UTAH WAS OUR DESTINATION TO DRIVE THE 2019 HONDA PASSPORT.
REVIVING THE PASSPORT NAME, THIS ALL-NEW MID-SIZE 5-SEAT CROSSOVER SLIPS INTO HONDA'S LINEUP BETWEEN THE COMPACT CR-V AND THREE-ROW PILOT.
THE PASSPORT ACTUALLY SHARES THE PILOT'S ENGINE, A PLENTIFUL 280 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6.
A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC SENDS POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS OR ALL FOUR.
THIS TWO ROW SUV HAS A SMOOTH HIGHWAY RIDE, WITH QUICK STEERING, AND IT WAS EVEN PRETTY IMPRESSIVE OFF-ROAD.
Stephanie Hart: OFF-ROADING HERE IN MOAB IS AN ADVENTURE.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
WE'VE TAKEN THE PASSPORT OVER ROCKS, OVER MUD, THROUGH SNOW, WE'VE EVEN HAD A WHEEL OR TWO OFF THE GROUND AND IT'S PRETTY CAPABLE.
AND WE'VE HAD THE VEHICLE IN NORMAL MODE THIS WHOLE TIME.
John: THE ROOMY INTERIOR HAS A SPORTY, MODERN FLAIR.
MATERIAL QUALITY IS GOOD AND SHOULD WEAR WELL.
HONDA SENSING IS STANDARD INCLUDING AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.
IT'S ALSO ANDROID AUTO AND APPLE CAR PLAY COMPATIBLE.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT 15 YEARS SINCE HONDA HAS OFFERED AN OPTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FAMILY SUV MARKET.
AND BY CHECKING OFF MANY OF THE BOXES CUSTOMERS LOOK FOR, THE 2019 HONDA PASSPORT WILL LIKELY BECOME A BIG PLAYER IN THIS SEGMENT.
APPEARING IN SHOWROOMS NOW; THE PRICE STARTS AT JUST UNDER $32,000.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON.
HAVE WE FINALLY REACHED THE POINT WHERE EVs ARE THE PRESENT, AND NO LONGER JUST OUR AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE?
WELL, BY THE SALES NUMBERS, WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET!
BUT AS MORE AND MORE EVs EMERGE FROM FAMILIAR BRANDS, LIKE THE JAGUAR I-PACE FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL SOON BE FULLY LIVING IN THE EV NOW!
SO HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT THAT REALITY WILL DRIVE LIKE.
* WE'VE DRIVEN THE FUTURE MORE TIMES THAN WE CAN REMEMBER.
WELL, ADD ANOTHER ONE TO THAT LIST, THIS 2019 JAGUAR I-PACE CROSSOVER UTILITY.
YES, THE FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC SUV FROM A TRADITIONAL CAR BRAND HAS COME FROM JAGUAR.
BUT, THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL LUXURY UTE.
YES, IT DOES HAVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THANKS TO A TWIN-MOTOR ARRANGEMENT, WITH BOTH FRONT AND REAR MOTORS GETTING EQUAL AMOUNT OF POWER FROM THE 90 KWH BATTERY PACK THAT IS MOUNTED LOW IN THE I-PACE'S ALL-NEW CHASSIS.
THE TWO MOTORS COMBINE FOR A TOTAL OUTPUT OF 394 HORSEPOWER AND 512 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
AND WHILE, ITS SHAPE DOESN'T REALLY RESEMBLE A BOXY SUV EITHER, ITS EXTRA-LONG 117.7 INCH WHEELBASE ALLOWS FOR A BIG CABIN IN A SMALL PACKAGE; ONE OF THE MANY BENEFITS OF NOT HAVING TO BUILD A VEHICLE AROUND AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.
SPEAKING OF LOOKS, JAGUAR WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO KEEP THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE STRONG; EVEN TO THE POINT OF INCLUDING A TRADITIONAL GRILLE, ALTHOUGH IT ISN'T NEEDED.
AND, WHAT KIND OF A RANGE DOES IT HAVE?"
WELL, 234 MILES IS THE GOVERNMENT TALLY, OR ABOUT THE SAME AS THE LARGER TESLA MODEL X 75D.
THAT'S PLENTY OF DISTANCE FOR GOING ABOUT ROUTINE TASKS AND EVEN MOST DAY TRIPS.
I-PACE RATES MPGEs OF 80-CITY, 72-HIGHWAY, AND 76-COMBINED.
REGEN BRAKING, HELPS EXTEND BATTERY LIFE OF COURSE, BUT UNLIKE SOME EVs WITH MULTIPLE MODES, HERE YOU HAVE JUST HIGH OR LOW TO CHOOSE FROM.
USING YOUR FOOT, PANIC STOPS WILL TAKE ONLY 112 FEET FROM 60.
NOTHING ABOUT THE INTERIOR SCREAMS EV, FORTUNATELY, AS IT'S NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE E-PACE.
THE LUXURY QUOTIENT IS HIGH; SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE, AND THERE'S 25.3 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE; EXPANDING TO 51 WITH THE REAR SEATS FOLDED.
NATURALLY, IT KEEPS YOU FULLY UPDATED ON BATTERY STATUS, AND DEPENDING ON WHAT DRIVE MODE YOU'RE IN, IT WILL HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BATTERY.
[TIRES SCREECH] IT'S NOT LUDICROUSLY FAST, BUT IT WILL HIT 60 IN JUST 4.2 SECONDS, ENGAGING ALL OF ITS 512 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE RIGHT FROM THE GET GO.
AND ONCE YOU GET USED TO ALL OF THE POWER THAT'S EASILY ON TAP WHENEVER YOU WANT IT, DRIVING A GAS-BURNING CAR JUST DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME.
NO SHIFTING, JUST 12.9 SECONDS OF UNRELENTING POWER AS YOU HIT 106 MILES PER HOUR IN THE QUARTER MILE.
THANKS TO LOW MASS, GOOD SUSPENSION SETUP, AND QUICK STEERING, THE I-PACE IS QUITE A GOOD HANDLER.
WELL BALANCED, EASY TO WHIP IN AND OUT OF CONES, AS WELL AS MANEUVER AROUND CITY STREETS.
IN OTHER WORDS, JUST LIKE A JAGUAR!
INDEED, THE BEST COMPLEMENT WE COULD GIVE THE I-PACE IS THAT AT NO TIME DOES IT FEEL LIKE JUST AN EV.
IN FACT, IT DOESN'T BEHAVE VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER LUXURY CROSSOVER WE'VE DRIVEN LATELY.
AS WITH ANY RISING TECHNOLOGY, PRICING IS STILL A MAJOR HURDLE.
AND, IT'S NOT THAT $70,495 IS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A WELL-DESIGNED LUXURY VEHICLE; IT'S JUST THERE ARE PLENTY MORE CHOICES OUT THERE THAT STILL BURN GAS, AND COST LESS.
THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE'S DAYS ARE MOSTLY LIKELY NUMBERED.
SURE THAT DAY WON'T ARRIVE ANYTIME SOON, BUT IT DID JUST GET A LOT CLOSER WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE 2019 JAGUAR I-PACE.
CHANCES ARE, TESLA BUYERS WON'T COME RUNNING, THEY'VE CONSUMED FAR TOO MUCH KOOL-AID FOR THAT.
BUT LUXURY BUYERS ELSEWHERE, WHO SAMPLE THE I-PACE, WILL BE AS IMPRESSED AS WE ARE.
AS WE MOVE FROM EARLY ADOPTERS TO THE MAINSTREAM; IT'S A GENUINELY ENTICING LUXURY CROSSOVER, THAT'S WHOOSHING IN A NEW ERA OF EVs.
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.
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