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This time on motorways a more agile a for a more athletic Xterra and anger on the road. So come drive with us next. Little TV's original automotive magazines. Brought to you by mistake. Make yourself especially great since the move to Stanley proper support public talk. Standing next to the International WW don't stand to lose to. Your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. Since it replaced the Model 90 in 1997. The Audi A4 has reigned as one of Europe's best sports sedan. But in all autos of an agile nature a little more performance is always welcome. So with the redesign of the A4 for 2005 Audi has pumped up the power and the pro-US. So let's see

if that means an even more desirable A4. More potential is a time honored recipe to make a car more desirable. And the 2005 ality A4 definitely has the added power and handling hardware to make it so. That power comes from potent new engines utilizing direct injection technology. And now these new demand controlled fuel supply will. Be a force top engine is a three point two liter dual overhead cam V-6 that pumps out 200 55 horsepower 35 more than the previous 3 liter and two hundred forty three pound feet of torque. In addition to direct injection there's a variable intake manifold and continuous camshaft adjustment. It's backed up by a larger two liter turbo charged for that makes two hundred horsepower thirty more than last year and 207 pound feet of torque. The two liter is the first use of direct injection and turbo charging in a gas engine.

A combination previously reserved for diesels power runs through either a six speed manual gearbox or a 6 speed tiptronic automatic. Unfortunately the V-6 is automatic only power hits the pavement through either the front wheels or out these latest Quatro all wheel drive system which is included on RB 6 automatic. That combo clocked him best 0 to 60 time of seven point two seconds. Eight tenths quicker than its predecessor a quarter mile wound up at fifteen point four seconds at 92 mph. Almost a full second faster as expected the all wheel drive. Want drone launches cleanly with no drama. There's a lot more bottom in gold and the earlier three metre engine the three point two also revs faster and smoother two and sixty eight hundred RPM redline on a more practical level. The three point to both improve the EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 city and 26 highway test car delivered a good average of 23 mpg in mixed driving of course the engineers at Audi know there is more to improve potential than

just power train. So the chassis has a similar leap in upgrades for 2005 the A4 platform loses weight but gain strength thanks to extensive use of aluminum and magnesium lighter aluminum components also feature prominently in the multi link suspension which gives the A4 superb balance and very quick reactions to driver input front plow is very mild for an all wheel drive car. There is more. I'm on a roll and we expect it will be optional sport package and steering feel is on the light side but neither detracts from the a for sure footed and sporting character. It's hard to induce drama here thanks to a standard electronic stability program. The A4 is all disc ABS brakes are also quite capable with stop from 60 averaging 125 feet. The car tracks straight in through with just a touch of nose die a unique wiping program helps keep the distraught eye in the wind for sure braking on road performance compliments the a force track ability with a typically Audi

rock the car feels very soft soaking up all kinds of road surfaces without difficulty and it's quiet inside thanks to excellent control of noise and vibration. It's also very luxury as inside with all of the equipment and comfort that one expects in a top level euro sedan save to thanks to a standard side impact airbags for the driver and front passenger. New active head restraints and side guard head curtain airbags front and rear. The wrap around dash is clean and well organized in a typically Teutonic fashion. It's optional wood trim adding a touch of warm leather is also standard in the 3.2 Quatro along with 12 weight power adjustments and heat for the supported front buckets. Our car came a clip with upgraded electronics in the form of a DVD based navigation system plus a Bose premium sound system with a 6 to CD changer an XM Satellite Radio rear seating is also high end with leather heat and a 60 40 split seat back. But we trade the leather for a

bit more leg room a ski sack and a back brass allows you to carry both passengers and sports gear while a healthy thirteen point four cubic feet of trunk space will swallow plenty of baggage and a four perches can swallow a few dollars as well. Prices for the four cylinder 2.0 tea started twenty eight thousand seventy dollars for a front drive manual gearbox car though the Quatro route and the price is thirty thousand one hundred seventy dollars. If you want a 3.2 B6 Quatro the price jumps to thirty six thousand one hundred twenty dollars. Car fully loaded example carries a hefty tag of forty three thousand eight hundred twenty dollars. Of course you get what you pay. Before and with refined direct injection power a dynamic chassis and premium accommodations in the 2005 ality a poor you'd definitely get one of Europe's finest sports sedans now made more desirable than ever. Coming up dealing with the angry driver.

Now let's swing by Goss's garage and see what customized advice our top tech has for us this week. John this time we have some interesting new products for pickups and sport utilities. Our first is from London and it's a new sidestep makes it easier to get into the vehicle. Now I know you've seen hundreds of different styles of sidesteps over the years. So what could somebody do that would be different. Well in this case they started out with an aluminum step which makes it lightweight and easy to work with. Then they had these plastic covers in the in the plastic covers rubber stamp pads so that you get good grip. Now the big advantage to this is once it's completely assembled you have finished look to it looks almost like it was custom made for the vehicle. It's a pretty clever idea right now along with all of the basics there. They have covers that cover

the brackets again too for that custom look just like it was made for the vehicle and they come with all of the hardware and instructions on how to install them next. This is again from Lund and this is a set of catchall floor mats. OK now if we look at this from the back we can see that there's a big recess to it and that gives the man the ability to trap water sand slop from snow and so on. All of that. And it stays right in the map doesn't get into your carpeting. Now the big difference here as opposed to the rubber ones that you see all the time is that this has a carpet surface on it so it doesn't make the the vehicle look clunky inside it maintains a luxury look. So pretty clever again. All right our next product here you know if you tow anything one of the big issues with towing

is being able to know that you have proper tongue weight the amount of weight being placed downward on the trailer hitch. Well this is a Senza bar in a sense a bar is a device that sits in here has this unit that plugs into it and it can measure the amount of tongue weight and it does it very very accurately. Now that's important because if you have the wrong tongue weight the whole rig can be unsafe and unstable. So if you do a lot of towing this would be a good idea to look into. And if you have a question or comment write to me. The address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. You know driving is not without its dangers. Bad weather road debris and even stray animals can turn your daily commute into a serious accident. But what

happens if the hazard that you encounter is one of your fellow drivers. Wong Crosbie reports on what you can do to deal with it. Maryland state trooper Gary Shaw predicted it wouldn't take long for me to see firsthand the driving dangers he witnesses every day in my house of aggressive driving here. And he was dead right. Moments later we were racing to the scene of a potentially fatal car collision. And when we got there this is what we saw. Mengal cars emergency crews injured motorists. It's an all too familiar scene that's being played out every day on U.S. roads. It's what law enforcement calls a deadly driving. And many of us are guilty of it. Aggressive driving is a deadly phenomenon that needs to be taken more seriously. This is a. Frightening example of what can happen when you take the question out behind the wheel. Were this car from the far right. To the far left. And next thing I know he was sideways right in front of me right in front of me and

18 years he's never been in an accident until today. He's lucky he only suffered minor injuries. Unfortunately that's not always the case. People will give her a lot of property damage. Just. When you speed bad things going to happen with urban sprawl congestion and long delays are everywhere. You can't get around it but impatient drivers who use their vehicles as deadly weapons because they're mad at another driver for a traffic condition need to be aware state laws are being. After a crackdown on this dangerous driving trend in the state of Maryland where if you're stopped for your more continuous Well Asians you can be cited for recip driving but carries a fine of $355. For assessment on your license if you convicted in court. That's how serious it is. Police agencies around the country are participating in various programs to curb speeding tailgating lane hopping and other types of aggressive driving.

Which Federal officials say caused close to 70 percent of the country's highway fatalities. Since January of 2002. Troopers have issued over 11000. While Asians were arrested driving infractions why and they mean business. You will feel the heat if caught doing any of the following and excuses won't help. Aggressive lane changes tailgating speeding flashing headlights or passing on the shoulder and when it comes to sharing the road with big rigs. Here's some advice that could save your life. Realize that they can stop in 0 9 and the last proper distance from you making a lane changes. Stay out of the blind spots and so forth so they can see you. If they're going to make a lane change and really no reason for you to speed up. To hold your ground. Allow them to move over and make the lane change safely and poled Lincoln who survived this crash pleads with those who are driving recklessly. Be a little more careful. Keep your eyes always keep your eyes focused.

In front of you. Always have. Both hands on the steering wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration supports programs like smooth operator which help to educate all drivers about the dangers of road rage and it appears to be working. Motorists are hesitating to use their cell phones to call 9 1 1 to help steer troopers in the right direction when they see bad behavior on the road. Because in the end. No one wins in a highway crash. River route towards industrial Colossus is a look into both a bygone era and the future of the American auto industry. But what author Joseph P. coming to us has written is not just the simple story of an auto plant. The book starts with the creation of the Ford Motor Company and traces a social and industrial development that reflects not only the history of Ford but the history of America

itself. It's much more than just another book about cars and a worthy read for any student of our nation's history. Your. New keys mean new wheels from entry level to high and there's always something new to drive. So let's see what's on our garage this week. Our latest selection of new turn keys starts with the 2006 BMW 7 Series. This rescan of BMW is biggest four door answers the demands of a chorus of buyers for a more conservative yet also more aggressive look. The front end wears larger kidney shaped grills standard adaptive headlights a deeper lower facia and a smoother hood line while the tail gets a new rounder deck lid that better flows into the fenders. Larger lights and more were up to the bumpers under the hood looks a new 360 horsepower 4.8

leader V8 engine to move the 750 II and stretch 750 i o the power plant for the 760 II and 760 remains the 438 horsepower 6 leader V 12. Both engines drive power to a wider rear track which is suspended on a retune for Link suspension wheel sizes now range from 18 inches for the 750 to 20 inches for the 760 inside the latest 7 Series boasts new titanium look trim and a choice of woods. While the controversial I drive multisystem controller has been further simplified along the lines of the five series the integrated communication system also offers both Bluetooth cell phone interface and voice commands. The new seven series is more civilized more elegant and more fun to drive than ever before. It's an exceptional example of a top level luxury sedan.

And is priced accordingly. Seven Series prices range from about seventy one thousand dollars for the 750 I to an eye popping one hundred eighteen thousand dollars for the 760. Now if you're looking for an even higher level of performance and luxury may we suggest this English import the 2006 a Bentley Continental Flying Spur the Flying Spur as the four door companion to the delicious Continental coupe designed alongside the coupe. Even with a couple more doors the Flying Spur remains breathtakingly inviting styling clearly builds on the gee it's not quite as sexy as it trades some of the coops curvy lines for graceful elegance and just a bit of maturity. And speaking of elegance the refinement and hand craftsmanship that goes into the latest Bentley interiors are second to none. It makes you wonder how any manufacturer can slap on simulated wood grain and call it a luxury car wear seat accommodations are both impeccable and exceptionally roomy.

But given a choice we will pick the driver seat every time. With five hundred fifty two horsepower coming from a turbo charged version of Volkswagen six leader w 12 and a chassis that's built to handle at the spur of post performance to match the British Posh the continental Flying Spur will be available this spring with pricing on par with that of the $150000 GTI coupe. If your preference is for performance and prestige in an SUV you may lean towards the all new 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. It's slightly smaller and sleeker than the standard range rover. Like all Land Rovers it's totally capable in the dirt utilizing the LR 3s terrain response off road system. But what really separates the sport from its range rover kin are its abilities on pavement. Operated Jaguar based ph provides the go to standard engine kicks out 300 horsepower while an available 394 super

charged V-8 makes it the most powerful Land Rover yet. This most quarter conscious Range Rover rides on a sport tune double wishbone air suspension with electronic dynamic response and the roll control wheels are 19 or 20 inches fitted with a low profile performance rubber. Our first drive in the Range Rover Sport was on the mountain switchbacks near Catalonia Spain and it immediately showed itself to be much more than just another high end people mover. This truck is awesome on road. I mean you take it down some twisty asphalt and you can feel the dynamic response suspension just keep it planted you know very little roll and the great thing is that I mean it's a land rover it's just as good off road as it is on the road. If this sounds like your idea of a sport you grab 57 grand and head towards your Land Rover dealer though if you want the super charged model $70000 is what you'll need. There are plenty of cool new cars trucks in SUV use to try out. So joining us for more first impressions and

just a few weeks. Coming soon to a Porsche dealer near you as they came in us based on the drop top Boxster this new two seat coupe will be priced above the Boxster roadster. The Cayman name is derived from that of a small yet powerful crocodile renowned for its speed and agility for appropriate performance. The Cayman S is powered by a larger three point four leader flat 6 engine making two hundred ninety five horsepower. That's more power than a box teres. They came in last so where more aggressive body work including a power operated rear wing that came in S makes its public debut at the Frankfurt never show in September and arrives here before year's end. Nissan designed the compact Xterra utility for the extreme sports money. It's so far a home body durable interior and capable off road hardware are

perfect for the rugged lifestyle. Well now the second generation Xterra has climbed into view. It's more powerful and more user friendly but has Nissan taken a good thing to the extreme. Nissan certainly doesn't think it has gone overboard. To them the all new 2005 Nissan Xterra is just more of exactly what this compact SUV sometimes fanatical customers want since its introduction for the 2000 model year. The American Made It has been a strong seller with sales above 10000 units most months its off road character appeals to the young and young at heart. They want an SUV as athletic as they are. So for 2005 Nissan designers opted for more of the same four door tool box approach. And then some. The original compact pickup frame has been replaced by a beefier design derived from the full

size Titan pick up. This gives the new X 2 inches more wheel base for a total of one hundred six point three. But to maintain Off-Road nimbleness overall link this up only two tenths of an inch suspension and power train hardware are shared with the new midsize frontier pickup that includes the new double wishbone front suspension and rear long travel solid axle with dual rate leaf springs. Which are in turn supported by standard 16 wheels on the S and off road models and 17 inches on the SE. This gives a minimum ground clearance of eight point three inches on the two will drive s and a maximum of nine point five inches on the four wheel drive off road. Power comes from Nissan's new a Space X a double overhead cam for leader design derived from that in the 350 Z sports car shared with the front tier in Pathfinder it delivers a hefty 265 horsepower and 280 four pound feet of torque. Thanks to variable induction and variable valve timing

Xterra transmissions are six speed manual also based on the Z car or the tightness 5 speed automatic the Xterra part time for will drive system uses an electronically controlled transfer case with both high and low range at the low range featuring dedicated Prado mapping. The off road model also gets Hill Descent control hill start assist a locking rear differential. Still shocked and B.F. Goodridge off road tires with this over-the-top hardware the Xterra delivers serious traction in all kinds of driving conditions. We were impressed with its ability to slog through harsh winter weather as well as mud sand and over rocks. We love this new V-6 in the Pathfinder in front and the Xterra is no different. More refined yet with a stronger mid-range punch. This not only gives it more pull through the tough stuff but better passing ability on the highway. The new chassis and suspension also give the Xterra a ride that's more civil law but

still a lot closer to work truck than looks so huge and the Xterra handles like a truck. It feels tall and turns slowly. Oh the revamped power steering is much improved feel stability control is optional but what will abs dispraise or stay under the truck like character is also reflected in the new models year yet familiar short overhang bodywork pickup in the Roof remains. But there's a more aerodynamic front facia and new rear bumper with Enter graded steps which allows easier access to the standard roof rack with its new cargo box. Inside the Xterra is also fresh sharing dash design with Frontier. It's clean and utilitarian with a straightforward layout that should appeal to the no nonsense active lifestyle crowd. Those status hungry audio files will appreciate a 300 watt Rockford Foskett sound system safety features include standard dual stage front air bags and an optional side impact and head curtain airbag.

Seating is firm with manual adjustments and rugged upholstery. No leather in this hard working machine. And there's now an available fold flat passenger seat for really long loads and a two tiered glove box for all your small stuff. The rear seat offers plenty of space for tall passengers and folds easily into a wide flat load floor. Maximum cargo space is sixty five point seven cubic feet. They easy to clean hard floor features adjustable tie downs plus additional hooks on the cabin sides and roof. And yes there's still a first aid kit mounted on the drop window rear hatch. The price for Nissan is number one off roader starts at twenty one thousand three hundred eighty dollars for the basic two wheel drive s model. The four wheel drive s starts at twenty three thousand three hundred fifty dollars. Se great machine started twenty three thousand seven hundred eighty dollars while off road models started twenty five thousand eight hundred eighty dollars. Bargain prices in today's expensive SUV market but it's not just price that

will put the 2005 Nissan Xterra over the top with its fans. There's also stump jumping off road ability hard hauling cargo capability and no nonsense rugged good looks. Extreme performance and value for the extreme sportsman good make for another extremely successful nice song. Join us next week for more motorway. New full size Avalon sedan and a stylish Mercedes-Benz luxury four door. I'm John Terry. To learn more about Motor Week TV's original automotive magazine visit PBS dot org. Motorola has been brought to you by makers a professional grade out of the Stanley Cup to support public television information. WW.

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