Motorweek; 2403

This time on motor we board for a big family. I drop top many and Henry Bill get me. So come drive with us next. What are we TV's original automotive magazines brought to you by the Stanley Works makers of professional grade mechanics and automotive tools. Stanley proud to support public television. Stanley makes something great information available a couple days w w dot Stanley Tuesday on your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week we're glad to have you with us. When the Ford Taurus debuted for 1986 its aerodynamic look and big interior quickly made it the benchmark a family sedan but in the 90s Ford lost that prize to the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. They simply gave Americans more of what they wanted in a Ford or now in an effort to win back some of that lost ground.

Ford is launching an all new sedan the 500 Ford says the 500 redefines the family sedan with the original thinking. Well here's what we think of that. See it rolling through your neighborhood and there's no danger that you'll mistake the 2005 Ford 500 for its Taurus stablemate the 500 is bigger and more modern in every way like the compact focus the 500 is a true world car. A machine that draws its style and engineering from Ford's vast empire the high strength all still unibody chassis is derived from the one Volvo uses on its prestigious X C 90 sport utility with its Volvo heritage safety is a priority of the Ford 500. There's a reinforced roof a new front cross car bein extra fuel tank protection advanced front impact crash management and the 500 already meets upcoming government rear impact standard. All around occupant protection

comes from dual stage front plus optional side and head curtain airbags with rollover sensors. There's also an adaptive steering column that collapses with less force and a severe crash. The 500 platform is designed for both front and all wheel drive. The all wheel drive system also has a Volvo genes. It's the latest holdbacks electro hydraulic coupling at the first sign of slippage it instantly shifts power to the rear wheels. Plus when combined with the standard traction control system it means the 500 can keep going even if only one rear wheel has grip to support the all wheel drive system the multi link rear suspension add self-leveling shocks and hydro formed lower control arms and power. We're both right in all wheel drive models comes from Ford's three leader Twin Cam V-6. It makes a mile two hundred three horsepower and two hundred seven pound feet of torque. That's less than the Camry B-6 or the V-6 Chrysler 300 touring front drive transmission choices are six

speed automatic or a new ZF built continuously variable transmission all wheel drive gets the CVT. Only these clever mechanical bits ride on 17 wheels for se n s e l an 18 enters for the Top Line Limited model the 500 is however a little deceiving in overall size. At two hundred point seventy it's only three inches longer than a midsize Taurus. Yet it's one hundred twelve point nine inch wheel base provides a larger interior than a full sized Crown Victoria. So it really is mid size outside full size in size and is classified by the EPA as a large car. We initially drove Ford's new family car at its press launch where the 500 exhibited a solid Volvo like feel the 3 liter V-6 combination deliver power in a seamless refined manner. The 6 speed has crisp yet barely noticeable ships.

Both the six speed cover a wider range of gear ratios than a typical 4 or 5 speed. That means a lower low and higher high in front drive with the new 500 can sprint from 0 to 60 and 7.5 seconds. The 6 speed is the fuel economy champ However with impressive EPA ratings of 21 city and 29 highway the all wheel drive system gives solid grip on pavement both good and bad. The front MacPherson strut suspension and fixed steering deliver a fairly quick turn ends with moderate levels of understeer. The ride is Euro firm but soaks up bumps quite well in typical Euro fashion there is a fair amount of body roll in hard cornering those side to side transitions are quite smooth. Ford aim for a more upscale feel from the 500 and the styling reflects that. The lines show a strong European influence with a front end resembling Ford of Europe's popular Mondeo the tail is tall and wide with very German

looking lights and greenhouse. Not surprising since Ford styling Chief Jay Mays is a veteran of Volkswagen and Audi design. Regardless the new 500 is handsome from every angle. The euro look carries over to the inside the cabin is clean spacious understated and very well equipped. Standard features include air CD player and outside keypad entry. Fit and finish on pre-production test cars we tried was very good with SPL and limited models wearing hand some wood grain trim on the dash and center console. The 500 command seating position raises the front seats up to four and a half inches higher than those of competing sedans for a better view of the road. Our driver's seat is standard in the SE 8 way in the SPL and limited the extremely spacious split rear bench also sits higher for a wider view and folds flat when combined with the folding front passenger seat standard on NCL unlimited broad

cargo up to 10 feet long can be easily handled. That is after you stop the class leaving twenty one point two cubic foot trunk. In fact it is the largest of any sedan sold in North America. The Ford 500 is a class leader and price is well the well-equipped front drive se started just twenty two thousand seven hundred ninety five dollars go all wheel drive for twenty four thousand four hundred ninety five dollars. The top of the line Ltd carries a base price of twenty six thousand seven hundred ninety five dollars in front drive form and twenty eight thousand four hundred ninety five dollars for all wheel drive. That's a lot of innovative and very capable full sized sedan for the money. In fact the 2005 Ford 500 does show a lot of impressive original thinking that anyone with a family will love. And while modest production plans may prevent Ford from winning back any family car sales crown the 500 will certainly turn the heads of a lot of folks

who haven't looked at a Ford lately. Coming up big kid building blocks. Now let's check in with Motor Week top tech Pat Goss to see what Hot Car Care topic he has for us this week. John as soon as a car is completed it starts to decay. And one place where that definitely happens is in the cooling system. You can help slow the decay process with proper maintenance. The first thing you want to do in your cooling system is to replace the radiator cap every two years because a radiator cap goes bad it allows air into the radiator. The air in turn causes corrosion. You have to change the coolant. You have to do that on a regular basis and regular may be two years or five years depending on the type of coolant that's in the vehicle. Now read your owner's manual to get all the specifications and you may

want to look to see if one of the universal coolants will meet those specifications. If they don't well you better stick with what the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. I also have to make sure that it has the proper mixture of coolant and water in order to do that most people use a high drama. Now there are two types of hydrometer. We have one here with a black bulb on the top and one with a green. The green one is for propylene glycol No it's not a real popular in a freeze but you could possibly have it the black one is for ethylene glycol. That is the one that most Ana freezes are based on. Also the way we do it professionally is with pH test strips. These measure not only the PH or the acidity of the coolant they also measure the condition of the coolant and you can buy them in for pack kits and do it yourself.

Right you need to flush the cooling system. That should be done at two year intervals for most cars. You can buy a kit where you do it yourself but there may be a little bit of difference the difference is going to be in the chemicals that you get. You see the chemicals to flush an automobile. What they do is they lower the PH in the lower the PH The more acidic the coolant is and the more acidic It is well the more it eats into and softens the scale that has built up inside the radiator in the engine. So the professional products they typically lower the PH more than the do it yourself products. So periodically you may want to have it professionally done. And don't forget the water that you mix with the coolant. Make sure that it's distilled water not spring water not tap water but distilled water so it won't have any contaminants that will increase the amount of deposits that form in the cooling system.

If you have a question or comment write to me. The address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. In the 1950s and 60s the king of high output engines was Chrysler's Hemi V-8 from family and muscle cars to race cars. The Hemi was the engine to be. Well you know what Hemi V.A. fever is making a comeback and rides like the Dodge Ram in this Chrysler 300. So that got us to wondering just what does make a Hemi. Well Hemi. So we asked our young gun Henrico past to scope it out and as usual he's gone a little bit over the edge dodges V-8 Hemi engine has been a part of Chrysler history since the 60s powering everything from everyday family cars to high powered dragsters in the stock cars. In 2003 after a lengthy hiatus from the Chrysler engine portfolio the Hemi made its return reinvented and ready to throw the hammer down and a whole new line of cars and

trucks. And me. Oh dodge graciously invited me to their North American headquarters to see firsthand what makes a hammy a Hemi. By building one myself. Ha here Adama Chryslers Technology Center in Detroit Rock City was don't build us a hand. I started at about 8 o'clock in the morning. That's not exactly when I'm on my game. But after a few cups of coffee and a thorough presentation on how the new engine does what it does I made my way over to a table full of parts determined to assemble the most kick ass Hemi of all time to assist me or perhaps control me. I get a little help with my crank air dodge assign engine technician Jeff gap Chimpsky to work with me throughout the entire engine build process. I gotta watch my kids and what a process it was. This is handy for a little background info. The new Hemi is the 5.7 liter overhead valve twin

plug or cylinder coil over plug aluminum head push rod 90 degree V8 with depending on the vehicle equipped with MVS technology. Got that good even a little more background info. What the ask you ask. Well it's just about the coolest thing about this new heavy engine MVS or multiple displacement system allows the engine to run on 4 or 8 cylinders via an oil pressure control valve solenoid. See that thing right there. Providing the driver with the best combination of power in fuel economy. If you want to quit Tammy go and get yourself a Dodge Magnum or Chrysler 300 C. It's not available in the heavy trucks. This was a race in the hand but I digress. The engine builder I had install everything from Pistons camshaft camshaft timing sprockets and chain.

Yeah the grenade pins coming out the water pump oil pan Rod you're going to got my rod her valve train ignition wires and on and on and on. Tons of parts needed to go into or be bolted onto the engine. Finally after what seemed like hours and really enjoy myself with me well not really I was having so much fun it only seemed like 15 minutes. The engine was complete after I was done I had a chance to talk to Ken Hardman one of the engineers at the building and asked him to give me a lowdown on the New Hampshire is a 426 Hemi. This is the engine that dominated the street the strip the muscle car era. Can't tell me what makes a Hemi a Hemi. Well the original Hamis were considered him because of the safer the combustion chamber the combustion chamber is spherical fake. The real advantage of the Hemi is in the cylinder head layout the valves are directly opposed from one another across the cylinder head that enables us to make a tighter combustion chamber for improved combustion. And that is really what enables the high

power output of the century. Cool right. I think so. Oh quite a time was had by all during the heavy build. And you know I learned quite a few things. Motor oil should not be used as a hair care products. Your pants are not the appropriate place to store tools. In Jeff the engine tech guy has the patience of a saint. So I bet you're wondering where the Hemi I built went. See this serial number for an x 5. The numbers don't really matter does it. 5.7 liter Hemi with MDX and I just completed good luck soccer is in your car. The 2004 Acura T.L. is an extremely well-equipped sports luxury sedan the only major factory option is our cars. Satellite navigation system. Now we're not big fans of navigation systems. They seldom seem to get it just right. But combine a nav system with the standard XM Satellite Radio and

you have anti road rage Nirvana. On a recent trip from Baltimore to Boston XM has 24 hour traffic for major metro areas. Tipped us off hours ahead of trouble giving us plenty of time to let the nav system find a clear route. It's a terrific duet and the TTL is a great drive too. Since February we've managed some 11000 full free miles all with the kind of handling and performance that was once reserved for super car. The 270 horsepower three point two liter V-6 provides instant response an excellent twenty five point four miles per gallon fuel economy. The only thing missing while folding rear seat to make cargo carrying more flexible. Still we're quite infatuated with the Acura T.L. and with both XM radio and an AB system it turns to pure love. Our emotions run strong on this 2004 BMW X3 3.0 II sports activity vehicle as well with a

versatile seating for five and more cargo capacity than the larger x 5. This luxury SUV retains the genes of a BMW 3 Series sport sedan right down to our long termers 225 horsepower 3 liter V-6 and short throws six speed manual transmission. With an updated extra system we find control effortless on the slickest roads. Plus with eight inches of ground clearance the X3 can manage light off roading as well. Except for the squeaking windows we've mentioned before our x 3 has been without fault at almost 15000 miles on the clock. The fuel economy is quite good for any people mover at twenty one point one miles per gallon. For the most sport in any sport utility it's hard to find a stronger formula than the midsize BMW X3. We'll check in on our two full sized Nissan Armada sport utility and Ford F-150 Super Krewe pick up on our next motor week long term road test update.

Time now to turn things over to Jessica choccy with all the latest Motor News. And just a few weeks we'll bring you all the latest from this fall's international auto show circuit. But until then we thought we'd take you to a place where the excitement for cars is already at its peak. We're talking about the Pebble Beach Concorde d'Elegance in northern California. This is the late summer international soiree where enthusiasts come for a celebration of the automobile the Concorde at scenic location just steps away from the Pacific Ocean. Offers enthusiasts the chance to view rarely seen examples of classic automotive style performance in history dubbed the world's foremost showcase of automotive splendor the Concorde is also often the stage for various future automotive reveals. And this year was no exception. Ford took the wraps off the Ford shell BGR one concept touting the exotic sports car as a salute to performance art with inspiration from the legendary Carol Shelby. The front engine two seat Fastback super car is based on the architecture of the MIT engine for

GTI. It combines a modern long hood profile with the power of a six hundred five horsepower v 10 with the Ford Shelby Cobra concept and the original Ford GTI prototype back to back hits at the two previous North American International Auto Shows. The four design team felt compelled to go. Everyone a sneak peek at what they have in store for Detroit's 2005 showcase. So far it seems Ford's not only created another uniquely emotional American sports car design but it also made a bold statement about a serious performance future. Now we go from performance to economy and the news that Japan's most cutting edge car company may soon bring a diesel to American shores. Honda is investigating ways to make its new diesel engine meet U.S. emission standards with the goal of introducing a diesel passenger car to the U.S. Honda already sells an accord diesel in Europe and Japan and the larger U.S. accord would likely be the first to go diesel here as the first diesel designed and built by Honda. The two point two liter

icy DTI turbo charged diesel four cylinder makes one hundred thirty eight horsepower and a stout two hundred fifty one pound feet of torque. The biggest challenge will be meeting California's stringent oxides of nitrogen standard which is point zero seven grams per mile. Most passenger car diesels produce four times that much. Honda engineers are confident that they can meet the California standard a goal that will become much more attainable when low sulfur diesel fuel becomes mandatory. Starting 2006 if Honda does release a diesel accord in the U.S. It will join already established diesel players like Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz. Both currently sell diesel versions of their bestsellers. The Honda Accord is already the second most popular car in America so when a core that gets 40 miles per gallon is sure to be a success. And that's it for this week's matter news. It's certainly no secret that we're huge fans of the Mini Cooper. From the first mini in 1959 to the BMW hone design of today the

original English econobox has amassed admirers from all walks of life and now for 2005 brings the new chapter in this saga. The return of the Mini Cooper Convertible with its German engineering and John Cooper legacy is a sun soaked many just a toy that many maniacs have been hoping for. You bet. And where better to try out the 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible than the long and winding roads along the French Riviera. Sounds too good to be true. Well there's even more to this Cooper and its carefree appeal conceived with the same devotion as the coupe the mini convertible retains the hard tops genetic makeup with amazingly few adjustments and a few cool additions for open air cruising the compact dimensions of the mini convertible are huge part of its appeal and ability. The Mini is one hundred forty three point one inches long and has a ninety seven point one inch wheel base to house it standard 15 inch

alloy wheels with run flat tires. The top system is full featured minis rear quarter windows and fabric topper power operated the backlight as glass with the defroster the top also performs a trick where it slides open 16 inches like a sunroof for a full exposure top down takes only about 15 seconds with the push of a switch on the windshield header. The roof side rails release in the top folds neatly atop the trunk but losing the roof often means less body rigidity so many swapped the B pillar for a fixed roll bar that spans the car to add stiffness and provide rollover protection added floor pan stiffeners and thicker steel for the side sills. Also help tighten the runway making this taut petite figure a great fun ride for 4. The Mini Cooper is made driving very small cars in America. Cole and the new Mini Cooper Convertible takes it to the next level. The body structure is very strong. It's a great handling car and the wind blocker makes

conversations at highway speeds up brain. In France we drove the standard Mini Cooper Convertible with a familiar 1.6 leader's single cam 16 valve four cylinder with only one hundred fifteen or so power and 111 pound feet of torque. You really felt the convertibles added two hundred twenty pounds of structure and parts back in the States we got to try the super charged Mini Cooper S convertible with 168 horsepower and 160 two pound feet of torque. Both up slightly from before acceleration was much more to our liking. The dealer installed John Cooper works package can boost things further to 200 horsepower transmissions are also familiar. A 5 speed manual are optional CVT continuously variable automatic or a six speed manual for this s chassis and make Pearson front and multi link rear suspension provide a pleasant ride and eases bumps and bangs on rough roads and three words stiff stable and safe.

Inside changes to the classic mini layout aren't drastic but it's sweeping roll bars do add to its unique look. There's a new cockpit Crow pack that moves the sitters but ometer to the steering wheel and adds oil pressure in temperature readouts. Rear passengers have easy access to more leg room than we expected and full sized seats with protective head rest encased in double roll bar aluminum pipes inside the new dropdown trunk lid the space is tiny only four point two cubic feet with the top down but heated Vance's to 21 cubic feet with top up and the split rear seats folded flat. But here's the cool mini twist the back of the top can be raised up to easily fit long items from lumber to surfboard and no matter where you surf in your mini convertible beach or business you'll go a long way. EPA mileage estimates for the Mini Cooper manual are twenty eight city and thirty seven highway twenty five and thirty two for the CVT automatic with the asset

25 and 34 mpg. For all this flash flair and fun just twenty one thousand five hundred dollars will get you seated in a Mini Cooper Convertible pitchin twenty four thousand nine hundred fifty dollars for the super charged Cooper S convertible. So the return of a legend adds another new chapter. The 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible is a dream come true for a cult followers and car lovers all over the globe. And though fall is well upon us here in the east it's with a lot of praise and a little envy that we encourage all you west coast any year round sun seekers to dive in and enjoy every last drop of the Mini Cooper Convertible. Well I hope you'll join us next week for more motorways. One more test Cadillac's capable new ask a yes and give you our take on the Mazda speed Miata. I'm John Davis. Well see that. To learn more about Motor Week television's original automotive magazine visit PBS dot org

motor week has been brought to you by the Stanley Works makers of professional grade mechanics and automotive tools. Stanley proud to support public television. Stanley make something great information available like w w w dot Stanley Tools dot com to order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 873 6 1 5 4. This program was produced by Maryland Public Television which is soley responsible for its content on PBS.