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This time on Motor Week the m vs. the EMG a sharper focus and fine arts on wheels. So go drive with us. Next model TV's original automotive magazine brought to you by Pep Boys. No matter what you drive get Boyce's over 27000 items in stock. Virtually any part for any car with all the name brands you know plus service space staff with a a c certified technicians Pep Boys parts tires accessories service and a bike. There's your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well and welcome again to motor week we're glad to have you with us. You know rivalries

are nothing new in the car business and one of the most enduring rivalries between German car makers is between Mercedes Benz and BMW and two of the most exciting competitors in their respective lines are this Mercedes-Benz SLK 32. And this BMW M roadster. Now both of these cars offer wind in their hair or motoring with a kick of a serious sports car. Plus plenty of both luxury and style to boot. Sounds like it could be quite a contest with me. Indeed any contest that pits BMW is high performance and division 2002 and roadster against the AMC division of Mercedes-Benz in their 2002 has now paid thirty two AMG is a guaranteed humdinger where the SLK wear sleek semi retro lines. GM roadster is all fat tires and bulging fenders.

But what we find this muscular body more enticing than that of the SLK 32. We were surprised and disappointed with our test cars and even think quality but not with what we found under its bulging hood. The three point two leader dual overhead cam inline 6 gives the M roadster a big power boost maybe 350 horsepower and 250 1 pound feet of torque. Here heads will revel in a spec sheet that includes BMW as high pressure double Benno variable valve timing electronic throttle control and the M driving dynamics control system which offers both normal or sports Ronnell response setting transmission choices. There is one and it should be accurate if slightly rubbery 5 speed manual is the only available gearbox. The suspension system is classic BMW makers and struts up front and a semi trailing design in the rear all wrapped up in a package their weight or rather chunky Thirty one hundred thirty one pounds. That's. Seven hundred pounds more than a Mazda Miata its Mercedes competitor the SLK 32

mpg is no light weight either pushing the scales to an even BP or thirty two hundred twenty pounds. But like the M the SLK 32 looks tossed in its own way aggressive looking motivating the SLK 30 to EMG is a three point two leader super charged intercooler B6 That makes three hundred forty nine horsepower and three hundred thirty two pound feet of torque based on the standard SLK 30 to use normally aspirated B6 the AMG version adds in addition to the Super Charger new throttle body cams valves and valve springs and pumps its power to the rear wheels through a typically AMG sharp 5 speed automatic transmission with speed shift or manual mode suspension as a double wishbone prod and fiber link rear both look like seriously sporty packages still reject them. Seriously sporty driving location to Santa George's Roebling road Raceway. First off the line was the BMW which ran a best 0 to 60 time a four point eight seconds the quarter mile took

thirteen point three seconds had 107 mph. Very impressive but not to beat the band which hit 60 in 4.6 seconds and finished the quarter in thirteen point one seconds at 110 mph. From there they hit the corners where the BMW exhibits very neutral handling behavior. There's very little understeer or body roll in the chassis feel super stiff steering feedback is very good though not quite as sharp as the new in 3. The inline 6 cylinder pulls like a train out of slow corners but would allow the wind out on the front straight feels a little soft. Towards the top of the rap band breaks are twelve point four inch fraud and twelve point three inch rear disc with standard abs. They stop the M from 60 in an average of one hundred twenty four feet and coupled with a solid chassis provide secure stable braking from high speeds on the track. Overall it's a very well-balanced exciting to drive package. A true all around sports car the Mercedes-Benz SLK 30 to a n g on the other hand

immediately shows itself to be more grand tour than straight up sports car. The SLK 32 platform feel stiff like the BMW but drop it into a turn and the front end pushes hard it also rolls more than the BMW and gives less feel back to the steering but hit the front straight and the mighty blow six leaves the BMW in its wake. It's like going to work speed with a kind of topping that you expected a hardcore super car like the M the SLK 32 gets big disk massive 13 inches in the front with eleven point eight inch platters in the rear and standard abs stop from 60 or longer than the AM at 130 feet. It's also not quite as stable from triple digit speeds at the street however and the roles are reversed a bit. The end Roadster has a firmer right on off clutch action and higher levels of road. Noise that easily gets through the power operated convertible top. It's a traditional wind clock designed with a flexible plastic rear window.

The Mercedes on the other hand offers a folding steel hard top. It keeps the interior very quiet and gives the SLK 30 to true. All year all weather capability. As for interior accommodations the BMW offers a cockpit that's quite roomy for a two seat roadster. It's a little more utilitarian than the Mercedes. The dash in control layouts are clean and BMW sensible. The SLK 32 on the other hand looks a bit more upscale with all its wooden leather collar drivers asked for more headroom. But all praise the dash layout as to Tunnicliffe correct. And as for prices of 2002 BMW M roadster will set you back forty six thousand six hundred thirty five dollars. The 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK 32 a n g at fifty five thousand five hundred forty five dollars is almost nine grand more. It's been an amazing contest. GM roadster the pure sports car versus the SLK 32 MPG the Autobahn fast grand tour.

Both are fast fancy and there we are. And so clearly the BMW M roadster is the muscular champion on the twisties for the SLK 32 AMG is fastest on the straightaways and a cobbler on the street. Still if it was our money the less pricey more serious m roadster gets our nod as providing the most top down driving fun. We doubt this will be the last tool for this duo. Wait for next time. The best kind of car accident is the one you will avoid active handling and stability programs are often called EFP or electronic stability programs are designed to help you do just that. He s p works by monitoring a car speed and direction as well as the drivers actions and then automatically applies the brake to one or more wheels to correct unstable cornering conditions. It's high tech hands off. Keep it on the road peace of mind and it's as easy as e s p. Coming up the Rembrandts of the auto world.

You know there's a lot more to maintaining a fine automobile than just changing the oil and keeping it waxed and no one's more qualified to give advice on the subject than our own Pat Goss. John the fronts of automobiles are considerably different than they used to be. Everything is painted and that means there's a lot more painted surface to be exposed to stone chips and so on. Plus if you look at the headlights on modern cars they're very aerodynamic they blend into the design of the vehicle and many times they are religiously expensive so the whole front of the car really needs to be protected if you want it to look good for a long period of time. Here's what a lot of people do bug Ross who they can do a lot of damage because they buff it with the wind and that kind of Sainz the paint away. They get moisture under him and it causes milky looking spots in the clear coat and the paint fades at a different rate underneath them so you've always got that line after they've been on there for a while.

Now there are Do It Yourself products out there. The do it yourself products you've got to well check them out you gotta make sure that you know how to use them. And if you're going to put one of these products on a headlamp you have to make sure that it's Deo t approved. Now there is a commercial product that I like a lot. And to explain that to us we have ROB FREEMAN from Maryland performance works on Rob that I know you did some film on the front of this Lexus for us correct. We use the 3M Scotch Cal film on the paint and on the headlights. OK now this is a proof for the headlight was OK. Now the advantages to it the advantage of the headlight is the fact that his deity approved and it will take a one inch round rock and speeds of excess of 100 20 miles an hour. OK. On the paint the paint protection is as you had mentioned as UAV compatible and again it's going to protect the paint from the road debris. OK is this a do it yourself. I don't recommend it.

No. Why it's takes a skilled hand to be able to lay the product out there are certain areas that you're going to have to train with a razor blade and if you're not profession at it don't cut your paint with a razor blade. That's for sure. Razor blades and paint definitely don't mix. Any real downsides to it. I know the line that you had mentioned there is a line where the product stops that's the only drawback that we've ever had but the alternatives to that would be the bra which is going to destroy the paint or the rock chips themselves. OK sounds like a good deal to me. Thank you my pleasure. If you have a comment or a question write to me if I use your letter. I'll send you a motor week T-shirt The address is Motor Week. Always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. The weeks of 1956 Porsche 356 Speedster. It belongs to add to them I know parked in Maryland rebuilt from the ground up and powered by a 64 model engine ABS car is a hit with members of the Chesapeake region Porsche Club

and the Porsche loving Motor Week staff as well. If you have a special sports car submit at least three good color photos and a description of the car to Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7 0 0 0 over the years many a classic car has been referred to as a work of automotive art and manufacturers are quick to use the A-word as well. Witness Cadillacs current art and science design. But our cars really art. Well according to Craig Singh Haas they certainly can be. And this week he introduces us to some talented individuals for whom art and automobiles are one and the same. Pebble Beach California the annual Pebble Beach Concord Della Gall is a celebration of love for all things automotive. It is truly a gathering of some of the greatest rolling works of art ever assembled.

But the love of automobiles here at Pebble Beach is expressed in more than just the restoration of steel When Chrome and rubber. It is also found expression in the works of the automotive fine art society. It was the automotive finance society was form the 1903. The group of six artists there was no field of automotive art in that era there were artists that did automotive art. It evolved from that very very quickly to to use the clout that we had as established artists to promote automotive art and to make it a credible artform in the eyes of critics and collectors automotive or always had a stigma is that because it was associated with advertising. Automobiles for sale. So the art critics did not accept that as as fine art. And we wanted to prove to them that it didn't matter that it was a car it was still fine art.

You could you could do a painting of anything. Doesn't matter what the subject it's still art. And just because it's a card doesn't mean it's a commercial illustration to that. So so we've expanded on that theme. So what we're trying to do is educate the public on the virtues of automotive art and in the process maybe sell some work to the acceptance of the automobile appropriate subject matter for fine art really parallels the broadening definition of what is a beautiful automobile. Just like the pebble beach crowd has come to accept classic custom street rods as important automotive icons the fine arts community has come to embrace the artistry and romance behind automotive fine art. My idea for doing a painting generally starts with a story situation and a certain era that I enjoy painting and that might be pre

1940 pre 1930. But generally I go for a romantic notion of what a painting could be and where the story and mine work up all the other props for it. Much as a movie director might do one single scene if there's not a hook that gives the story a little bit nostalgic look at our past then the painting doesn't quite work. And not all artists who depict automobiles consider themselves automotive artists. I'm not a knows I'm an artist as such but I'm really interested in and beauty I'm interested in beautiful colors. I'm interested in things that make you think and enjoy UN and can like it can make you part of the picture. I'm not interested in car crashes and I'm really painting California and painting

California cars which I found on the streets to begin with and I'm living that kind of dream. And maybe that's the key to automotive fine arts. A recent success. It allows all of us artists and aficionados alike to fulfill our hidden aspirations desires and dreams. 13 months ago when we took delivery of our long term 2001 Suzuki Xcel 7 we were more than a little doubtful if a grand but Tara stretched to accommodate seven riders would really be viable and desirable. But as we prepared to return our long and small SUV we had no doubts at this bug. Once broken in we found a 2.7 lieder 170 horsepower V-6 automatic transmission combo in our unit. More than adequate power is boosted

13 or so. More power to thousand two and works better still with the standard manual gearbox. The truck style frame and part time for transfer case may make the Excel 7 seem like an SUV throwback but its inherent toughness and no nonsense operations appeal to us. Mistress dearest. Indeed this is not the most refined SUV on the block. The ride is a little bouncy high cross winds push you around easily. The downside from being narrow enough for city life is at the Xcel sevens rear seats are none too wide and leg room is at a premium. Yet the power train is quiet until really pushed and cornering stability is well stable after eighteen thousand six hundred forty seven miles we average to find twenty one point three mpg. That's at least 20 percent better than we expect from an SUV with three rows of seats. And like every Suzuki we've previously tested the actual 7 was completely troublefree Xhosa viable and desirable will add affordable to both

own and operate. Indeed the seven passenger Suzuki Excel seven takes the urban jungle in strong. Next time will stride over to the school size Ford Excursion and this compact Mazda Tribute on motor weeks long term road test update. Now here's Jennifer because novice with all the latest modern news tech stocks may still be on the decline but there was no shortage of tech heavy vehicles at this year's didn't even notice show. Yes the all new 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offers plenty of high tech gadgets as well as a root beer safer interior. The look is also decidedly more S-Class and that's certainly not a bad thing. We also got our first look at the new CEO pay it's grown a bit with a sleek new colorless profile the interior has a more classic look while the rear seats pulled into a flat cargo floor.

This European designed toyou to Yugi is a concept of a future urban utility vehicle. Another sport you concept comes from Nissan. This Janya was designed for urban practicality with the styling of an SUV. Practicality comes with this risk presto. With the push of a button the wheel base extends to allow room for a few more sun worshippers in the back. Offering even more practicality into this beyond Ulysse it goes on sale in Europe later this year. Sharing the same platform is the Citroen NCAA looking more like a conventional minivan. It's a trail in the latest high end people who are looking a little more far out is Renault's new concept for the space. It's true to Reno's philosophy of designing cars as works of art. If we had to choose from the Renault stand though it would be this clear kit car super 16:00 it's an FIA approved rally car for the street for those of you out there that felt the 550 was just not enough. Ferrari debuted the 575 and Marin yellow the outside hasn't changed

much but under the hood lies five hundred and fifteen horsepower from a newbie 12 engine. Those looking for a little more luxury with their performance should find what they need in a Bentley are not sharp. It replaces the red label as the small performance model in the Bentley lineup. If it's extreme you're looking for how about this Volkswagen says this is the production version of the WW 12 powered air front $60000 mussel sedan decidedly less overboard but no less fun is the all new Audi or Essex styling maybe a tad understated but there's 150 horses waiting under the hood. Or so finally show the production version of the much anticipated by an SUV or at least some pictures anyway. Mazda debuted the wagon version of its Mazda 6 which hopefully will come to the states with the 60 day and schedule to replace the six to six. Here's one concept we would love to see make it into production. The BMW C S one its a for C convertible that reviews a new

less driving design direction for small BMW use without a doubt the biggest hit of the show was the Alfa Romeo Brera design but we had a hard time even getting to see it. But with 400 horsepower all wheel drive and almost sinful sheetmetal it was well worth the effort. Hope you enjoyed the trip to Geneva and that's it for this week's Motor News. And the two short years since it was entered in the Ford Focus has become very popular especially with younger buyers. But like most small cars high performance takes a back seat to interior room and economy but the fact is many owners are willing to spend thousands to suit up these economy stalwarts. That's why Ford special vehicle team decided to inject their own healthy dose of testosterone and to the focus. So let's see how much sharper the focus can get. To get the 2002 board focus SVT precise clarity for its

special vehicle team made substantial changes to this particular three Dori. Not all but the most significant of which are in the 2 liter dual overhead cam four cylinder engine starting with the standard seat SBT added new just about everything including head Pistons rods fly wheel two headers Plus a dual stage intake manifold and variable cam timing for the intake valves to really boost Lohengrin the revamped engine now makes 170 or tower and 145 down Peter Tork. That's a big jump over the standard 130 horses. The transmission is a good track six speed manual tied in positive it's a huge improvement over the standard car's nice but rubbery 5 speed suspension changes consist of stiffer springs a thicker front anti-roll bar and rebound shocks to control roll and impact. Archness while the brakes are larger intercooler will guess the only all disc pokus sold here with four channel abs the wheels are 17 inch alloys clearing C R rated 250

by the little tire. What does it on me. It means a 0 to 60 time of six point nine seconds and a best quarter mile run of fifteen point four seconds had 92 mph over two seconds quicker than the standard focus. Power is still concentrated in the upper rev band but the bottom end is much stronger much room however is very real improvement is in the handling as we found out on George's challenging Roebling road Raceway with its new underpinnings the SBT feels much lighter was substantially less run in push there's also less body roll and wall steering feel is not quite up to Cobra our standards that two is much improved. Keep the revs up in the focus SVT pull strongly off the corners and powers down the straights with the sweet muscular exhaust note. And when you get to a corner the breaks are strong and fade. Three down from 60 average one hundred one thousand feet with an excellent control even from triple digit speeds. Andy this is one very sharp focus to drop and sharp to look

at as well. The focus SBT has received a number of subtle cosmetic tweaks both inside and out exterior changes include a deep front bay ship with honeycomb grille and smoke headlight lenses racier side rocker panels and a sharp little spoiler on the rear hatch. Inside the SBT gets black leather trim seats which each side bolsters that really keep you in place. The pedals are more tightly space than standard and where racing metal covers while the instrument cluster features electroluminescent gauges with oil temperature and pressure are fitted to the right of the main cluster it's sleek and stylish yet retains all the room comfort and efficiency of the standard focus. And what does all the style and performance cost. Well the base price for the Focus SVT is only seventeen thousand nine hundred ninety five dollars. Add the optional audio system our sun roof and winter package which includes traction control and heated seats and the price maxes out at a still bargain one thousand six hundred sixty dollars. So the

2002 Ford Focus SBT offers Ford buyers all the high performers they want in a compact car without having to build it in themselves. It's a leaner meaner sharper focus one that allows you to focus on serious driving fun. I hope you'll join us next week for more motorways. Well task of all those all wheel drive s 60 sedan and that tire smoking Kenny Brown panther. I'm John Davis. Well CNN to learn more about Motor Week TV's original automotive magazine visit PBS online at PBS dot org or America Online keyword PBS to order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 for Motor Week has been brought to you by Pep Boys. No matter what you drive Pep Boys has over twenty seven thousand items in stock virtually any part for any car with all the name brands you know plus service space staffed with ANSI certified technicians at voice parts tires accessories

service and to buy what are you looking for. E-bay Motors. This is PBS.