
2020 Genesis G90 & Mustang BULLITT v Mustang GT
Season 39 Episode 44 | 26m 47sVideo has Closed Captions
2020 Genesis G90 & Mustang BULLITT v Mustang GT
Join us this week as we go luxurious on a budget with a new Genesis G90. Then, Pat Goss has some advice on how to spot bad grounding. And Stephanie Hart takes us to the Peterson Automotive Museum that’s all about memories of motion. And then it’s Mustang versus Mustang to find out if the Bullitt really is a better GT.
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National corporate funding for MotorWeek is provided by Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper (Auto Value & Bumper to Bumper are two brands owned by the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc.), Tire Rack, and Hagerty Insurance, LLC.

2020 Genesis G90 & Mustang BULLITT v Mustang GT
Season 39 Episode 44 | 26m 47sVideo has Closed Captions
Join us this week as we go luxurious on a budget with a new Genesis G90. Then, Pat Goss has some advice on how to spot bad grounding. And Stephanie Hart takes us to the Peterson Automotive Museum that’s all about memories of motion. And then it’s Mustang versus Mustang to find out if the Bullitt really is a better GT.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE GO LUXURIOUS ON A BUDGET WITH A NEW GENESIS G90... PAT GOSS STAYS GROUNDED DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... STEPHANIE HART TAKES US TO A LEFT COAST MUSEUM THAT'S ALL ABOUT MEMORIES OF MOTION... AND THEN, IT'S MUSTANG VERSUS MUSTANG TO FIND OUT IF THE BULLITT REALLY IS A BETTER GT...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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.
Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...
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.
John: WE ALL KNOW THAT A GENESIS SUV IS COMING, BUT BEFORE THE UTILITY ERA OF HYUNDAI'S LUXURY BRAND BEGINS, THEY'RE MAKING ONE MORE STATEMENT THAT ELEGANT SEDANS REMAIN THE DEFINITION OF TRADITIONAL LUXURY TRANSPORTATION.
SO, DESPITE BEING ON THE MARKET ONLY THREE YEARS, THEIR FLAGSHIP G90 IS GETTING A THOROUGH MAKEOVER.
NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
* DISTINGUISHED AND ELEGANT ARE WORDS USED QUITE OFTEN WHEN DESCRIBING A LUXURY BRAND'S FLAGSHIP SEDAN.
AND WHILE THOSE DESCRIPTORS DID INDEED APPLY TO THE ORIGINAL 2017 GENESIS G90, THEY FELT THEY COULD DO BETTER.
SO, THEY'VE GIVEN THE 2020 G90 A COMPREHENSIVE MAKEOVER TO WIN OVER THE MASSES, OR AT LEAST A FEW MORE PEOPLE THAN BEFORE.
NOT THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN OFF TO A BAD START; SALES CONTINUE TO CLIMB QUITE WELL FOR AN UPSTART MARQUE.
BUT, THIS G90 IS BARELY RECOGNIZABLE AS THE CAR THAT LAUNCHED THE BRAND JUST THREE YEARS AGO.
EVERYTHING, EXCEPT FOR THE ROOF AND DOORS, IS INDEED NEW.
GENESIS BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF FOUR, AS NEW SPLIT QUAD LAMPS HANDLE ILLUMINATION BOTH FRONT AND REAR, WHILE EVERY BODY PANEL HAS BEEN RESHAPED TO PROJECT A LOWER AND WIDER STANCE.
BUT THE REAL PIECE DE RESISTANCE IS THE CREST GRILLE THAT WILL BE A SIGNATURE THROUGHOUT THEIR LINEUP GOING FORWARD; IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIG AND BRAGGADOCIOS FOR US, AS WE TEND TO PREFER THE MORE UNDERSTATED ELEMENTS OF LUXURY.
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT IS THE G-MATRIX DIAMOND PATTERN APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE EXTERIOR, INCLUDING THE 19.0 INCH WHEELS.
WHILE, THERE ARE SOME MECHANICAL UPGRADES IN PLACE, THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE POWERTRAIN OPTIONS.
YOU STILL HAVE YOUR CHOICE BETWEEN A 365 HORSEPOWER TURBO V6, AND THIS NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 420 HORSEPOWER V8 WITH 383 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
BOTH AVAILABLE AS REAR OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND EACH WORKING THROUGH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH A NICE SUBSTANTIAL SHIFTER ON THE CONSOLE.
HAVING DRIVEN BOTH, THERE'S A CLEAR HORSEPOWER ADVANTAGE WITH THE V8, BUT TORQUE NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY CLOSE, AND BOTH FEEL PLENTY POWERFUL.
AT THE TRACK, OUR REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE V8 TESTER DIDN'T WANT TO UNLEASH ALL 420 HORSES AT THE GET GO, PREFERRING TO DOLE THEM OUT GRADUALLY AS WE GOT ROLLING.
BUT ONCE EVERYTHING WAS FIRING AT FULL, POWER FELT IMMENSE.
EXPECT TO ARRIVE AT 60 IN AROUND 5.0 SECONDS.
WHILE, THE G90 FEELS RIGHT AT HOME FREIGHT-TRAINING DOWN THE TRACK AT FULL-SPEED, IT'S NOT REALLY MADE FOR ZIPPING IN AND OUT OF CONES.
SO, PLAN ON DEALING WITH SOME BIG CAR BODY ROLL, AS WELL AS BOTH OVERSTEER AND UNDERSTEER, DEPENDING ON HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU ARE WITH INPUTS.
BUT IT HELD ITS OWN QUITE WELL, DESPITE A SUSPENSION DESIGNED WITH PLUSH RIDE QUALITY AS ITS NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
BRAKES WERE QUITE EFFECTIVE AT HALTING THIS CLOSE TO 5,000 POUNDS LUXURY LINER; NEEDING JUST 111 FEET TO STOP FROM 60 MILES PER HOUR.
SOME STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENTS HAVE BEEN APPLIED, PRIMARILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAFETY, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS RIDE QUALITY FOR THE BETTER AS WELL, GIVING IT A MORE SOLID FEEL THAN BEFORE.
THE LEVEL OF QUIETNESS INSIDE IS EQUAL TO ANY OTHER TRADITIONAL LUXURY BRAND, AND EVEN SOME EVs, UNLESS YOU REALLY GET ON THE GAS.
THE INTERIOR LAYOUT REMAINS THE SAME, BUT MOST SURFACES AND SWITCHGEAR HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH IMPROVED MATERIALS.
THE 12.0 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS NOW A TOUCHSCREEN, AND GETS AN UPDATED USER INTERFACE TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
THE CENTRAL CONTROLLER IS STILL IN PLACE AND IS PRETTY SIMPLE TO MASTER AS WELL.
QUILTED LEATHER SEATS ADJUST IN JUST ABOUT ANY WAY, YOU COULD IMAGINE, AND ARE AS COMFORTABLE AS THEY ARE LUXURIOUS LOOKING.
SPACE IS ABUNDANT, AND ALMOST EVERYTHING COMES STANDARD.
OPTIONS ARE MOSTLY IN REGARDS TO HOW COMPREHENSIVE YOU WANT THINGS IN THE BACK SEAT.
THIS ULTIMATE SETUP IS CLEARLY DESIGNED FOR KEEPING ADULTS COMFORTABLE AND CONNECTED, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE KIDS.
NOW, IF YOU'RE A CONTROL FREAK, BE WARNED, BACK SEAT PASSENGERS CAN CONTROL JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE CAR; 15.7 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK SPACE MEANS THOSE COMFORTABLE ADULTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO BRING PLENTY OF BAGGAGE ALONG WITH THEM.
AS EXPECTED, SAFETY SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED AND SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FEATURES WILL KEEP YOU IN YOUR LANE, BUT DO REQUIRE YOU TO KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL.
AND WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE G90 CAN NOW ADJUST YOUR SPEED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT RECOGNIZES A SPEED LIMIT CHANGE.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A REAR-DRIVE V8 ARE 16-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.
WE AVERAGED 18.2 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.
THAT'S A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 17.3 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED AND 8.0 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED YEARLY.
PRICING STARTS AT $73,195 FOR THE V6; $76,695 FOR THE V8.
ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ADDS ANOTHER $2,500 ONTO EITHER.
CLEARLY, THE 2020 GENESIS G90 IS MUCH MORE DISTINCTIVE LOOKING THAN BEFORE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT TO US, IT ALSO HAS THE CONFIDENT ROAD MANNERS THAT PUTS IT ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE ULTRA-LUXURY SEGMENT.
THIS CAR MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE TRULY ARRIVED.
AND THE GENESIS BRAND SURELY HAS AS WELL.
* [CAR DOOR CLOSES] WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE "CALIFORNIA CAR CULTURE."
FROM HOT RODS TO EVs, IT'S THE STATE WHERE AMERICA'S MOTORIZE TRENDS USUALLY GET THEIR START.
AND, THANKS TO PUBLISHING MAGNET ROBERT E. "PETE" PETERSEN, THEY'RE PRESERVED FOREVER.
NOW, WE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING OF THE PETERSON AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM SOME 20 YEARS AGO.
SO, IT'S HIGH TIME WE WENT BACK!
OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART TAKES THE LEAD.
* Stephanie Hart: I'M HERE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA INSIDE THE FAMOUS PETERSEN MUSEUM.
I'M GOING TO BE SHOWING YOU AROUND THREE DIFFERENT EYE-CATCHING EXHIBITS, ALL WITH A RICH HISTORY.
I'M GOING TO START HERE WITH THE PORSCHE EFFECT.
THIS IS A 1939 TYPE 64.
THERE ARE "ONLY TWO" IN EXISTENCE!
Michael Bodell: THIS ONE WAS CREATED FOR THE ROME TO PARIS RACE AND IT'S A RACE THAT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT THEY STILL MANUFACTURED THE CARS, AND A LOT OF THE INSPIRATION ON THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE PORSCHE, THE 356 CAME FROM THIS CAR, AND WERE INSPIRED BY THIS DESIGN.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE COMPETITION SECTION OF THE EXHIBIT, AND THIS SECTION GOES THROUGH THE KIND OF VAST RACING HISTORY AND IN A COMPETITIVE NATURE OF PORSCHE.
BRANDS USED TO HAVE TO WIN RACES IN ORDER TO SELL CARS ON THE LOT AND SO...PORSCHE DID THAT EXTREMELY WELL.
Stephanie: BEATING ALL EXPECTATIONS.
HOLDING 30,000 POLE POSITIONS OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.
Michael: AND THEN OVER HERE, THIS IS WHAT REALLY STARTED IT ALL, A 550 SPYDER...
THE 550 WAS WHERE PORSCHE BUILT THEIR FIRST PURPOSEFUL RACE CAR AND THIS CAR IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THE CELEBRITY DRIVER JAMES DEAN.
PORSCHE WAS NOT AS BIG OF A BRAND AS IT IS TODAY, UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAD KIND OF THE REBELS OF HOLLYWOOD, MADE PORSCHE A REALLY BIG DEAL.
JAMES DEAN, STEVE MCQUEEN DROVE PORSCHES AND PEOPLE REALLY LATCHED ONTO THAT ESPECIALLY ABROAD WHERE THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED.
GERMANS WANTED TO SEE CELEBRITIES IN THEIR CARS AND THE CELEBRITIES DROVE THEIR CARS AND MADE THE BRAND REALLY TREMENDOUS.
Stephanie: THE HOLLYWOOD EFFECT TAKES CENTER STAGE UPSTAIRS.
ITS LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
SOME OF MY FAVORITES, THE BATMOBILE.
DRIVEN BY MICHAEL KEATON IN "BATMAN" AND "BATMAN RETURNS."
AND "GREAT SCOTT!"
THE DELOREAN FROM "BACK TO THE FUTURE."
DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS CAR?
IT'S FROM THE HIT MOVIE "THELMA AND LOUISE."
AND IT MAY LOOK CAMERA READY ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THE INSIDE...
IT'S CLEARLY WELL-WORN, THAT'S BECAUSE HOLLYWOOD IS NOTORIOUSLY ROUGH ON CARS AS LONG AS IT LOOKS GOOD IN THE SHOT MAINTENANCE IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
SO WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE CARS FROM THEIR FAVORITE MOVIES HERE IN PERSON?
Leslie Kendall: MAYBE, YOU HAVE SEEN EVERY "BACK TO THE FUTURE" MOVIE AND YOU'VE KIND OF BEEN LONGING TO LOOK AT THE DELOREAN AND WONDER JUST EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT THING LOOK LIKE UP CLOSE, AND YOU COME HERE, AND YOU SEE IT, AND GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH IT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY, PRETTY COOL!
IT'S SOMETHING TO TELL THE KIDS, AND THE GRANDKIDS, YOU NAME IT.
IT IS AN EXPERIENCE YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
Stephanie: AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S EPIC!
IN 2015, THE PETERSEN MUSEUM WENT THROUGH A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.
IT COST 90 MILLION DOLLARS.
INTERIOR SPACES WERE RE-DESIGNED TO MAKE ROOM FOR CHANGING EXHIBITS, LIKE, SEEING RED: 70 YEARS OF FERRARI.
Man: THE WAY THEY LOOK, THE WAY THEY SOUND, IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
Stephanie: THE BEST OF THE BEST FERRARI'S ARE ALL HERE.
Leslie: WELL, ITS A 250 GTO, PROBABLY...ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE CAR CERTAINLY, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FERRARI'S BECAUSE IT EMBODIES EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE VALUE IN A FERRARI, IT LOOKS GREAT, IT HANDLES GREAT, IT PERFORMS BEAUTIFULLY.
Stephanie: BEING AROUND SO MANY INCREDIBLE CARS REALLY DOES PUT YOU IN THE MOOD TO DRIVE.
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T TAKE THESE CARS OUT FOR A SPIN, JUST BEING SO CLOSE TO THEM REALLY DOES GIVES YOU THAT SENSE OF FREEDOM AND ADVENTURE.
John: WELL SOMETIMES, WE HAVE OUR HEADS IN THE CLOUDS AROUND HERE, PAT GOSS ALWAYS KEEPS US GROUNDED, DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
* Pat GOSS: ON TODAY'S CARS AND TRUCKS, A LITTLE PIECE OF WIRE LIKE THIS AND A SCREW CAN CAUSE MONUMENTAL ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS PROBLEMS.
YOU SEE, MODERN CARS HAVE ALL SORTS OF COMPUTERS, SO THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY CLEAN GOOD ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS.
NOW, EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH CHECKING THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POWER IS GETTING THERE BUT I CAN TELL YOU, IN A REPAIR SHOP, WE FIND ALMOST AS MANY PROBLEMS IN THE GROUND OR NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE CIRCUITS AS WE DO THE POSITIVE.
AND A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH POOR GROUNDS...WELL, THEY CAN BE VERY CONFUSING.
THE OTHER DAY, WE HAD ONE IN WHERE YOU TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND ONE HEADLIGHT WAS DIM, THE TURN SIGNAL BELOW THE HEADLIGHT VERY SLOWLY AND VERY DIMLY FLASHED, AND THERE WERE WARNING LIGHTS THAT LIT UP AND FLASHED VERY SLOWLY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
WELL, WE GOT TO CHECKING THIS, AND OF COURSE, THE POWER SUPPLY WAS GOOD TO ALL OF THESE THINGS AND WE FOUND THAT IT HAD A POOR GROUND.
NOW, IN MANY CASES THE GROUND FOR THE HEADLIGHT AND SO ON IS GOING TO BE UP HERE IN THE FRONT RIGHT BESIDE THE RADIATOR AND IT'S EXPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF SLOP AND EVERYTHING FROM THE ROAD, SO THESE ARE PRONE TO CORROSION.
SAME WITH A LOT OF THEM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE.
SO, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY STRANGE PROBLEM, START CHECKING THE GROUNDS.
NOW, IF YOU FIND A BAD GROUND, DO WHAT WE'VE DONE ON THIS TRUCK.
WE TOOK THE GROUND WIRE OFF AND WE GROUND THE PAINT OFF, SO THAT WE HAVE A GOOD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THERE.
WE CLEANED THE BOLT AND WE CLEANED THE WIRE.
NOW, WE'LL PAINT THAT WITH LIQUID ELECTRICAL TAPE WHICH WILL KEEP MOISTURE AWAY FROM IT, SEAL IT UP, AND IT'LL HELP PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS.
LIKE WITH WHAT WE SEE OVER HERE.
THIS IS ON THE COMPUTER ON THIS TRUCK AND WE CAN SEE THAT IT'S COATED WITH CORROSION.
SO BEFORE WE'RE DONE, WE'RE GONNA FIX THAT ONE TOO.
SO, STRANGE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, ALWAYS CHECK FOR POOR GROUNDS ON A MODERN VEHICLE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
[CAR DOOR CLOSES] John: TIME TO SEE WHAT NEW CARS ARE HEADED OUR WAY, WITH A FRESH ROUND OF QUICKSPINS.
Greg Carloss: THE TOYOTA SUPRA HASN'T EVEN BEEN BACK IN BUSINESS FOR A YEAR YET; AND ALREADY -- THEY'RE TALKING EXPANSION.
THAT'S RIGHT, THE 2021 TOYOTA GR SUPRA WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE WITH MORE AND LESS OF EVERYTHING WE LOVE.
THE MORE, IS A BOOST OF HORSEPOWER FOR THE 3.0 LITER I6, CLIMBING FROM 335 TO 382; THAT'S A 14% INCREASE FOR THOSE KEEPING SCORE AT HOME.
AND WHILE, THEY WERE AT IT, TOYOTA ENGINEERS HAVE REVISED THE CHASSIS A BIT AS WELL; NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD TOO, NECESSARILY, BUT BECAUSE THEY COULD.
THE CHIEF GOALS WERE TO TONE DOWN BODY ROLL AND INCREASE STABILITY IN CORNERS.
ACCOMPLISHED WITH SOME ADDITIONAL BRACING UP FRONT, AS WELL AS NEW BUMP STOPS ALL AROUND, AND OF COURSE, UPGRADED SOFTWARE TO MANAGE IT ALL.
Stephanie: WITH ALL THAT EXTRA POWER THE NEW SUPRA AND THE Z4 ARE NOW PRETTY MUCH ON LEVEL PLAYING GROUND.
THE SUPRA ALREADY HANDLED BETTER, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING AND EXCITING TO SEE HOW THE SUPRA'S NEW UPDATED CHASSIS HANDLES ALL OF THAT POWER.
THE AFOREMENTIONED LESS IS A NEW ENGINE OPTION, ORIGINALLY OFFERED IN JAPAN.
Kyle Scanlon: THIS SUPRA COMES WITH A NEW 2.0 LITER I4 TURBOCHARGED ENGINE THAT PUSHES OUT 255 HORSEPOWER AND ALSO REDUCES THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR BY 200 POUNDS.
AND WITH THAT REDUCTION OF WEIGHT, IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN TO TOSS AROUND IN THE CORNERS.
ROUNDING OUT THE DIVERSITY, IS A NEW A91 EDITION WITH EXCLUSIVE REFRACTION PAINT, MATTE BLACK WHEELS, CARBON-FIBER TRIM, AND SPECIAL GRAPHICS; LIMITED TO 1,000 EXAMPLES.
AND A FINAL BONUS FOR ALL SUPRA BUYERS, THE UPGRADED 8.8 INCH INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN IS NOW STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE 2021 TOYOTA GR SUPRA WHEN WE FINALLY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.
Jessica Ray: IF YOU'RE A MCLAREN FAN, YOU'LL KNOW THAT LONGTAILS ARE SPECIAL AERO-ENHANCED LIMITED EDITIONS OF CURRENT MCLAREN'S.
BUT, IF YOU'RE A TRUE MCLAREN AFICIONADO, YOU'LL KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THE LONGTAIL FORMULA THAN JUST PLASTIC SURGERY.
THEY ARE LIGHTENED AND AMPED UP VERSIONS FOR THE TRUE TRACK DAY FANATICS, OR THOSE THAT JUST WANT TO PAY MORE MONEY TO PORTRAY THAT IMAGE.
THE LATEST LONGTAIL MODEL IS THIS 2021 MCLAREN 765LT.
BASED ON THE SUPER SERIES 720S, THE ROAD TO LONGTAIL INVOLVES MANY CURVES AND STRAIGHTAWAYS ALONG THE CARBON-FIBER BODYWORK.
AND DESPITE THE NAME, IT'S ACTUALLY THE NOSE OF THE CAR THAT'S PUSHED FORWARD ALMOST 2.0 INCHES, TO INCREASE DOWNFORCE ON THE FRONT WHEELS, WHILE THE RESHAPED LONGTAIL ACTIVE REAR WING DOES THE SAME FOR THE REAR, AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING DRAG.
ALL TOLD, WITH ALL AERO ELEMENTS DEPLOYED, IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN 2.0 INCHES LONGER THAN THE 720S.
POWER FROM THE 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 JUMPS FROM 710 TO 754; NOT BY CRANKING UP THE TURBO'S, BUT BY INSTALLING LIGHTER ALUMINUM PISTONS, THE MCLAREN SENNA'S THREE-LAYER HEAD GASKET, AND VALVE-TRAIN UPDATES.
THE 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION IS OPTIMIZED TO DEPLOY THE ADDITIONAL POWER, AND DELIVER THE LT TO 60 IN 2.7 SECONDS.
Greg: THE BOOST AND POWER COMES IN A VERY MCLAREN WAY WHICH IS TO SAY, METICULOUS AND TECHNICAL.
AND I REALIZE THAT GOING FROM 710 TO 754 HORSEPOWER IS SORT OF LIKE, LIKE ADDING A SQUIRT OF TABASCO TO A GHOST PEPPER, BUT WE SPEED JUNKIES WILL ALWAYS TAKE MORE.
Jessica: IN TOTAL, 176 POUNDS OF WEIGHT HAS BEEN SHAVED; VIA THE USE OF MORE CARBON-FIBER OF COURSE, AS WELL AS LIGHTER CHASSIS PARTS, TITANIUM EXHAUST, THINNER GLASS, F1-SPEC.
MATERIALS IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND REMOVAL OF COMFORT, AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES.
ACCORDING TO MCLAREN, THAT PUTS IT 110 POUNDS UNDER ANY EQUALLY EQUIPPED COMPETITOR.
TO PUSH THE PERFORMANCE ENVELOPE EVEN FURTHER, THE SUSPENSION GETS A FULL RECALIBRATION, INCLUDING UNIQUE SPRINGS AND DAMPERS, AND THE CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES ARE UPGRADED WITH SENNA CALIPERS AND F1 COOLING DUCTS.
Dave Scrivener: I'M AMAZED AT HOW MCLAREN KEEPS SHARPENING THE RAZORBLADE.
THE 765 LT IS NOT JUST A PERFORMANCE PACKAGE AND NOT JUST A BODY KIT.
IT'S A COMPLETE TECHNICAL UPGRADE.
LIGHTER WEIGHT... MORE POWER...
THEY KEEP GIVING THEIR BUYERS MORE AND BETTER PERFORMANCE.
Jessica: ONLY 765 OF THESE HIGHLY-DESIRABLE 2021 MCLAREN 765LTs WILL BE BUILT, WITH PRICING THAT WE EXPECT TO STAY CLOSE TO $400,000.
SO STAY SAFE, AND KEEP IT LOCKED ON MOTORWEEK .
* Greg: WHILE, THINGS ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY GETTING BACK TO NORMAL IN OUR COUNTRY, THE PORSCHE MACAN SOLDIERS ON DOING WHAT IT'S BEEN DOING SINCE IT ARRIVED IN OUR LONG-TERM FLEET 8-MONTHS AGO, DELIVERING THE GOODS WITH SPORTS CAR THRILLS, ALL WITH ROOM TO SPARE FOR A GROWING FAMILY AND THEIR TREASURES.
THIS MACAN HAS A TENDENCY TO TAKE US THE LONG WAY AROUND WHEN RUNNING ERRANDS.
IT JUST GRIPS AND RIPS ON THESE MARYLAND BACK ROADS LIKE A SPORT COUPE, NOT A CROSSOVER, WHICH IS GREAT UNTIL YOU REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A WEEK'S WORTH OF GROCERIES IN THE BACK THAT DO NOT SHARE THE SAME LEVELS OF LATERAL GRIP.
THE MACAN WAS BUSIER THAN MOST OF OUR FLEET DURING THE PANDEMIC, TAKING VIEWERS ON A VIRTUAL SCENIC DRIVE TO MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE.
SO FAR, THE 348 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER TURBO-6 HAS DELIVERED 21.5 MILES PER GALLON, AND CAN DELIVER US TO 60 IN AS LITTLE AS 4.6 SECONDS, IF WE'RE IN A REAL HURRY.
BUT, WE'RE DEFINITELY, NOT IN A RUSH TO SEE THIS MACAN LEAVE THE FLEET.
IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER SINCE WE'VE UPDATED YOU ON OUR HYUNDAI PALISADE 3-ROW CROSSOVER.
IT'S NOT THE PALISADE'S FAULT; THINGS JUST CAME TO A NOT SO VIRTUAL HALT HERE FOR A WHILE.
BUT, IF YOU'VE GOT TO SHELTER IN PLACE AUTOMOTIVE-STYLE; THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO DO IT THAN IN A PALISADE, AS FRONT SEAT COMFORT IS HERE IN SPADES.
WE'VE DRIVEN 6,800 SMOOTH AND RELAXED MILES SO FAR, AND THE 291 HORSEPOWER 3.8 LITER V6 HAS POWERED US THROUGH WINTER'S WORST, SPRING'S SHOWERS, AND ON TO SUMMER'S HEAT; RETURNING 22.7 MILES PER GALLON ALONG THE WAY, QUITE GOOD FOR ANY LARGE UTILITY.
LOTS OF TECH HERE TO ENJOY WITH LIMITED TRIM; FROM THE 10 INCH TOUCHSCREEN, TO THE HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT TEMPORARILY BRINGS UP THE SIDE BLIND SPOT CAMERA WHEN A TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED.
AND WE'LL ACTIVATE UPDATES ON THE SMALLEST UTILITY IN OUR FLEET, THE FIAT 500X, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!
John: YOU KNOW, YOU WANT A FORD MUSTANG.
WHO WOULDN'T?
A MUCH HARDER DECISION IS WHICH MUSTANG TO BUY RIGHT NOW, AS THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT ONES TO CHOOSE FROM.
NOW, EVEN IF YOU'VE SETTLED ON A V8 GT, THERE'S THIS HOT LITTLE NUMBER FOR 2020 CALLED "THE BULLITT."
DECISIONS, DECISIONS... * SO, YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A 2020 FORD MUSTANG, WITH A V8 OF COURSE, AND ARE ATTRACTED TO THIS FORD MUSTANG BULLITT.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
BUT, YOU WONDER, "WHAT EXACTLY IS A BULLITT MUSTANG, AND HOW IS IT ANY DIFFERENT FROM A MUSTANG GT?"
WELL, WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
THE BULLITT OF COURSE, WAS INSPIRED BY THE 1968 MUSTANG GT FASTBACK IN THE MOVIE "BULLITT" STARRING STEVE MCQUEEN, WHICH FEATURES ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CAR CHASE SCENES OF ALL TIME.
SORT OF A PRECURSOR TO "FAST AND FURIOUS;" ONLY WITH OLD SCHOOL MUSCLE CARS, LESS HOKEY EFFECTS, AND MORE FLYING HUBCAPS.
SO, STEP 1...
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE "BULLITT," AND/OR JUST ASKED SOMEONE "WHO'S STEVE MCQUEEN?"
WELL, HIT PAUSE ON THIS VIDEO, GO TO WHATEVER STREAMING SERVICE, YOU BELONG TO AND WATCH BULLITT IF YOU CAN, WE'LL STILL BE HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU GET DONE...
...WELCOME BACK.
NOW, YOU'RE EVEN MORE INTRIGUED AREN'T YOU?
WELL, THAT'S A GOOD CALL.
SO, LET'S GET TO THE DETAILS.
THE 2020 FORD MUSTANG BULLITT IS ACTUALLY THE THIRD IN A SERIES WITH EXAMPLES RELEASED IN 2001 AND 2008, AND AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, IT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST MUSTANGS YOU CAN BUY.
TECHNICALLY, IT DOES START OUT AS A MUSTANG GT, A GT PREMIUM WITH ADDED GT PERFORMANCE PACKAGE AND PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AS WELL AS MOST OF THE PREMIUM PLUS PACKAGE...
WHICH MEANS THE FAMILIAR 5.0 LITER V8 THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE IS UNDER THE HOOD.
BUT, WHAT YOU DON'T GET WITH THE GT, IS THE BULLITT'S 20 EXTRA HORSEPOWER, THANKS TO A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE SHELBY GT350s INTAKE MANIFOLD; MAKING 480 HORSEPOWER, VERSUS THE GTs 460.
NOW FOR THE EXTERIOR, THERE ARE THOSE TORQ THRUST-INSPIRED FIVE-SPOKE HERITAGE WHEELS, AS WELL AS UNIQUE RED-PAINTED BRAKE CALIPERS BEHIND THEM.
BUT, THERE'S ALSO, BLACK TRIM ALL AROUND, INCLUDING SPECIAL UPPER AND LOWER GRILLES WITH NO GALLOPING HORSE, DARK EXHAUST TIP, A BULLITT-LOGOED FAUX GAS CAP, AND SPOILER DELETE FOR THE ULTIMATE IN SLEEPER STATUS.
INSIDE, THERE'S PLENTY OF BESPOKE ALUMINUM TRIM AND GREEN HAND-STITCHING, AS WELL AS THE PREMIUM PLUS PACKAGE'S DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND HEATED STEERING WHEEL, BUT NOT NAVIGATION.
AND, THE COOLEST PIECE OF ALL, A REALLY RETRO CUE BALL SHIFT KNOB.
AT WHICH TIME WE SHOULD MENTION, HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN MANAGE THREE PEDALS, AS ALL BULLITT'S ARE 6-SPEED MANUAL EQUIPPED; IT'S THE WAY FRANK WOULD HAVE WANTED IT.
SO, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?
WELL, A GT PREMIUM, WITH PERFORMANCE PACKAGE AND ADDED PERFORMANCE EXHAUST, STICKERS AT $47,310.
A MUSTANG BULLITT?
$48,900.
FACTOR IN THE PARTIAL PREMIUM PLUS PACKAGE, AND THE 20 EXTRA HORSEPOWER YOU GET FOR THAT $1,590; NOT TO MENTION THE SHEER COOLNESS FACTOR AND FUTURE COLLECTABILITY OF THE BULLITT, AND WE'D CALL IT A BARGAIN, AND EASILY OUR FAVORITE MUSTANG GT.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
NOW FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES AND COMPLETE EPISODES, HEAD ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME... AS WE SEARCH FOR SPEED IN A VERY SPECIAL PORSCHE 911.
AND WE'LL CHECK OUT A NEW CHOICE IN DOMESTIC LUXURY UTEs, THE THREE-ROW CADILLAC XT6.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK !
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