Motorweek; 2725

We just had this vision of a cleaner driving future a fuel cell powered FCX Clarity by down the field. C-x is really a breath of fresh air. Next stop on the motorway. I'm bad off fuel line repairs this time I'm Goss's garage day tour so ride feels new feet when. We stress blacktop an orchestra vocabulary to come drive with us. Week TV's original automotive magazine. Brought to you by cars dot com. Let's say you're looking for a car. Cars dot com can help research locate even contacted dealers. Cars dot com. Find the right car for you. My idea of the symphony a Pistons playing that tune my rights to. Fully.

100. Percent with. And by Dunlop tires. The search for a true performance is part of our heritage. Dunlop is proud to present the Dunlop drivers Cup for amateurs from around the world to compete head to head in the on and off road competitions. Information at Dunlop tires dot com. Your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. Automotive Technology is constantly evolving. And one company that strives to stay at the forefront is Honda. So we weren't surprised by the release for public consumption. They're very forward thinking FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car. Now this high tech machine clearly looks ready for the Jetsons but with all its advancements is the clarity really clear thinking for today. Because of issues involving cost your ability and infrastructure the future of

hydrogen fuel cell power as a practical automotive power source hangs in the balance. But Honda seems confident of this zero emissions technology is the answer to sustainable transportation. So if you're the new 2008 FCX Clarity sedan this overtly futuristic Ford or is the highly anticipated limited production version of the new generation FCX unveiled in concept form at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. The clarity's advanced Honda V flow platform utilizes a compact in lightweight fuel cell stack that's located in the center tunnel. It's 20 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than the stack in the last FCX and it is now mounted vertically rather than horizontally. Honda says This enhances the flow of hydrogen and water for higher efficiency. We say it also allows a lower floor freeing up more passenger room. Its operation remains typical for a fuel cell containing stored hydrogen with

oxygen for a chemical reaction that produces 100 kilowatts of electricity to power the vehicles electric drive and the only emission from this process is water vapor. In addition a high capacity lithium ion battery supplements power during startup and acceleration. Both energy sources beat an AC synchronous motor that moves the clarity briskly and with just a flutter of sound. Think of a hopped up golf cart. How put is rated 130 for horsepower and an almost instantaneous 189 pound feet of torque top speed is 100 mph. The motor is combined with a new coaxial gearbox which feeds the clarity's front wheels. In terms of a fission see on the claims fuel economy equivalent to about 68 mpg. That's more than double the mileage of a Honda Civic and about 50 percent better than the hybrid Toyota Prius on full tank of compressed hydrogen gives the vehicle a cruising range of 270 miles. The clarity is

rigid chassis mirrors other Hondas sedans a double wishbone suspension up front and a multi link double wishbone at the rear. The result is a smooth and compliant ride with acceptable handling dynamics furthered by responsive electric power steering the FCX Clarity also integrates traction control and vehicle stability assist to assure a more competence during harsher driving conditions. Adaptive cruise control also comes standard and improved regenerative braking system does a better job of controlling downhill exhilaration and thus reducing the need for frequent braking. Time to learn from the Toyota Prius that public awareness of a futuristic power train benefits from futuristic styling. The flying saucer like styling of this techno Marvel speaks of nothing less than us so I find a runabout. Up Front is a snub nose banded head lamps and mouth like grill that creates a robot like persona the clarity's long sweeping lines move towards a thick set back in overall

link is mid size of one hundred ninety point three inches. Down below you'll find ultra lightweight Ford still loom 5 spoke wheels. The tail lights and we're sculpting of the campers on this deliberate spaceship design and the trunk lid includes a small glass panel to aid rearward vision inside the spacious four seater cabin. It's headlined by a deep dish shaped instrument panel controls are clean and very tomorrow. There's a digital speed readout and a prominently featured high tech fuel consumption display. This day with the green theme seats are covered with up all three made from Honda's plant based bio fabric. But there's also plenty of creature comforts such as steering wheel controls dual zone climate backup camera and navigation. There is also a plethora of storage compartments throughout the interior and safety comes from six standard airbags. The rear seating area has ample room for two full size adults with a center console and cup holders and the clarities trunk is a usable

thirteen point one cubic feet including an under floor storage compartment. Now for the downer. You won't be able to buy an FCX Clarity any time soon. Even if you could hydrogen fueling stations are few and far between but they gain real world experience. Starting this summer Honda will lease the clarity to a limited number of consumers in Southern California. The three year term will carry a price of $600 a month including maintenance and collision insurance. Hydrogen fuel cells could very well become the wave of the future. But making hydrogen readily available is still problematic. One hope is for practical home hydrogen generating stations to transform from natural gas. But until that issue is resolved the full promise of the automotive fuel cell will remain cloud it still Honda is clearly focused on being ready for that greener road with the 2008 FCX Clarity. You know.

Australia drives America. Time now for our regular pit stop at Goss's garage where Pat fuels up on the latest car care advice. John seems like everything on automobiles is getting more complicated. Take even the basic things like fuel lines. In the past a fuel line was just a simple piece of steel tubing that went from one end of the car to the other had basic fittings on the end and that's all there was to it. Well it still may be made of steel but the problem now is that they have complex fittings on the ends of the couple to fuel filters and fuel rails for the fuel injection and things like that. Well what that essentially means is that if you have a rusted steel fuel line you may have to replace the entire thing and it may come as a big complex assembly that runs from one end of the vehicle to the other

and in some cases the replacement even requires jacking the body off of the frame of the car can be horrific as far as expense is concerned. Well Dorman products Hannahs a repaired kit for steel fuel lines comes with all of these special connectors and it has tools and fittings to connect those two replacement steel lines so it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Now this isn't do it yourself but if you need a fuel line repair look for a shop that has one of these dormant kits. But another thing that has been going on is that on many cars the fuel line has moved from steel to plastic. When you say plastic isn't going to rust out and that's absolutely true because it does not. But it can be damaged by debris from the highway. They can be damaged from running over the bumpers in the parking lots all sorts of different things even jacking the car

up improperly. So what do you do. Well again it's back to Dorman products. They hand a kit that includes repair pieces pieces of the plastic tubing the tools to install these pieces and all of the specialty ends to couple the fuel line to the fuel filter in the fuel rail. Now this stuff is impossible to find in most cases but it's all included in these doormen kits. So something that you want to look for if you need a fuel line repair on your car. And if you have a question or comment write to me. The address is Motor Week Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. A high performance motorcycle is like a puzzle. The parts all have to fit together just right or the picture is never complete. Well as Dave Durst was about to show us one American motorcycle brand may finally have found its

missing piece. Since it first turned a wheel in 1993 Buell has been building sporting motorcycles with a distinctly American flavor. But while many riders have embraced these innovative machines many more of shied away from their Harley Davidson based air cooled engines that all changes for 2008 with the introduction of the eleven twenty five. Now at first glance this appears to be a standard issue deal. But look a little bit closer and you find one very significant difference and that difference isn't all that new eleven hundred twenty five CC liquid cooled fuel injected V-twin developed in collaboration with the Austrian engine wizards at BRP Rotax with overhead cams for valve heads and big 61 millimeter throttle bodies. The Austrian build engine dubbed Helicon after a sacred mountain from Greek mythology makes one hundred forty six horsepower and eighty two pound feet of torque. That's 43 horsepower more than people's Harley based thunderstorm engine and it takes just a twist of the

throttle and a few fast laps to feel the difference. Fuel engines are known for delivering huge torque and this one does too. But it also runs a lot higher and a lot faster. It really feels more like a cottage on a Harley. And yes that is a compliment because the Helicon delivers the same kind of fast free revving power that has made the Italian v twin a sportbike benchmark. There is good street friendly grunt in the low range but the real punch is from 4000 rpm to the ten thousand five hundred RPM redline three engine balance shafts minimize vibration and the throttle response is sharp with no lag or stutter in the fuel injection. AliKhan power feeds through a precise close ratio six speed gearbox and a vacuum assisted slip for action clutch which virtually eliminates harsh engine braking

and rear wheel chatter on downshifts. This new level of refinement also brings out the best in the unique Buell chassis which in the 11 25 hour is an all new aluminum frame built on Buells proprietary feel in the frame architecture. The beefy cast aluminum swing arm is controlled by a fully adjustable showa shock which is matched with a set of fully adjustable 47 millimeter front forks. Also from showing the front brake however is Bill's own unique and very powerful rim mounted single disc design with an 8 piston caliper. This combination produces typical deal handling sharp yet predictable turn in requires a bit more muscle than some sport bikes. It rewards the effort with the Rock Steady stability and tons of fun and feel the smooth power delivery allows you to really exploit the chassis. Excellent balance. Just keep it smooth and ride the engines generous toward from corner to corner which on the street is made much more comfortable by a relaxed riding position and wide wind blocker fairing.

Buying an 11 25 bar is also a more relaxed experience thanks to a very competitive price. The eleven thousand nine hundred ninety five dollars sticker is two or three grand less than a comparable BMW or to Conny. The 2008 Buell 11:25 are is clearly the best deal yet. So if you've ever considered this American V-twin sportbike brand but passed on it because you thought air cooled was old tech. It's time to stop by your local dealer and take another long hard look at your will. Now let's see what Jessica choccy has for a headline in this week's Motor News. Call it The People's Auto Show the one where most car buyers actually flock to. It's the 2008 Chicago Auto Show the 100 Dishan once again turned on practicality and Volkswagen is back in the minivan business with a 2009 route on based on a seven passenger Dodge Grand Caravan. It's unique x stair and interior. Give buyers a minivan choice with European flair. Chevrolet is

traded in their minivan for this 2009 traverse crossover utility built on the same chassis as the Saturn Outlook and other big GM grows over the front wheel and all will drive traverse shows the trend away from truck based SUV is accelerating the GMC brand unveiled two hybrid pickups one for now the 2009 Sierra two mode hybrid and one for the future of this Australian born Denali x c hybrid the 85 e a capable X days lighter unibody chassis also contributes to a 50 percent boost in fuel economy over today's. Pick ups folding rear seats and mitigate give it long low versatility. If you want a Suzuki ATV or motorcycle you can soon haul them around this new Suzuki pickup truck. The 2009 equator based on the Nissan Frontier is a midsize American made equator will be available in extended Anglo cabs with four and six cylinder power. So when it comes to power everything new mature cargo took a back seat to the 2009 challenger s r t h for. This limited production reincarnation of a 60s muscle car icon. Four to six point one

liter Warner 25 works our Hemi V8. And blacks silver and Hemi orange with carbon fiber look stripes. The Challenger is ready to rock. Luxury car fans ears get their first look at the revamped Acura RL with a larger interior Acura flagship sedan dogs the aggressive posture of the MDX utility with a larger V-6 an enhanced all wheel drive it has more electronic goodies then Best Buy. Other snapshots from Chicago include a 2009 it should be she go out midsize sedan. A boater look makes a 2009 Hyundai Sonata family Ford or even more inviting. Ford announced plans to import its fuel efficient European built Transit Connect commercial van. Finally this German made yes three point two roadster is headed to America. And you heard it at Chicago first. As usual the windy city puts on quite an auto show and that's it for this week's Motor News. Along with the just announced Genesis sedan the 2008 Hyundai Vera Cruz

luxury crossover utility shows that this Korean brand is serious about upgrading its mass market appeal to premium stature. The Vera Cruz emulates the Lexus Forex 350 and in our initial test we were impressed. Now living with the Vera Cruz for two months and 6000 miles confirms that Hyundai designers did their homework well this seven passenger crossover is extremely quiet and comfortable. The interior surrounds occupants in fine materials and an overall luxurious unbe on its time and mileage have produced a few creeks that we've never heard in a Lexus. But that's it for negatives. Otherwise the Vera Cruz is the strong and silent type with a hearty 260 horsepower V-6 and seamless six speed automatic the available all wheel drive also performs well. Fuel economy is unremarkable and eighteen point one miles per gallon on regular grade gas. Hyundai has come a long way in quality and stature and a little more than 20 years in

America. And the Vera Cruz is driving proof that they're not stopping. Mitsubishi is a Japanese car company on the rebound. One reason is the front drive Lancer g ts the bread and butter compact sedan counterpart to the High Performance Evo models we love to thrash. And the g ts you get a lot of the Evo look but with a practical price and power train the GTX has moved along well if not smartly by a 152 horsepower Twin Cam for our cars 5 speed manual is not made for speed shifting but it's still competent. After a little over a month and 55 hundred miles we're thrilled with the 27 mpg economy on a regular grade gas. The interior also has a sporty style with large gauges under Ferrari esque housings seats are well padded with good room for four adults so a small sedans go the Lancer GTX as a head turner up above the rest. Coming up we'll turn our attention to this Honda

Accord sedan and this toy of the tundra pick up on the next motor week long term road test update. The serious car enthusiast the arrival of a new 911 Turbo is a very special event. And last year we saw the debut of the sixth generation turbo coupe. But while many well-heeled Porsche files rushed to their dealers many dollars in hand a select group held back waiting for the 2008 turbo cabriolet that they knew was soon to follow. And it looks like their patience has been rewarded with the most sophisticated turbo drop top. Yet. When it comes to carefree high performance driving a Porsche 911 and the open air is an irresistible combination. And that just Oster own of a 9 11 turbo to the mix and you get a truly awesome automotive experience. With only 300 cars coming to the US.

The 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet is one very exclusive drop top super car and its top thanks to chassis reinforcements that increased If this to 9000 Newton meters in other words it's incredibly rigid. Yet the entire car weighs only 154 pounds more than the hard top turbo thanks to extensive use of aluminum in the chassis and doors. The supertype platform is wrapped in more aerodynamically efficient body of work. The lines are cleaner with less of the boy racer on steroids look of the previous car. There is still a power retractable rear wing but it's been repositioned to 60 pounds of downforce. The most critical aero component is the new power convertible top that matches the airflow patterns of the hard top. But it also folds in just 20 seconds at the touch of a button and can be operated while moving at speeds up to 31 miles per hour.

A removable aluminum hard top is also available. Propelling this new mill year three point twenty six now producing four hundred eighty horsepower maximum torque measures four hundred fifty seven pounds and 500 one pound feet when utilizing the packages over a pair of beefy gearbox either a six speed manual or our car's fire speed tiptronic automatic. As with tronics drivers can full auto or shift manually with switches on the steering wheel. Further downstream we find the ace in the traction hole course as all wheel drive tied to electronic stability control by the Porsche traction management system. The final links in the chain are 19 inch alloy wheels wearing C R rated tires. We spun them around George's road win Road Race Way and recorded a thrilling 0 to 60 time of three point seven seconds the quarter mile was an equally impressive

12 seconds flat at 120 mph. That's quicker than the manual hoop we tested two summers ago and all you do is simply activate the PTM sport mode and punch the pedal. The result is instant grip and exhilaration that feels like a freefall off a mountain top. Yet it's a very refined freefall without the violent hit up earlier generation 911 Turbo throttle response is a median in the tiptronic changes gears without the slightest stutter once into the curves the turbo Cabrio with active suspension management. Display a superb balance I'm liking quick reflexes compared to the lighter hardtop we notice little difference in corners. There is still some all wheel drive push and the tail will step down but it's all very predictable and inviting. Get it right in the huge thrust of the turbo engine. Her rules you from quarter to quarter like no other car in the world. It's incredibly addictive and it tops off every trip with flawless

braking. The optional ceramic composite brake scrub off 60 miles per hour and a mere 110 feet with the ease and precision yet for all it's mind blowing performance the 911 Turbo cabriolet is also one of the world's most genteel sports cars on the open road. Whether an auto or manual mode shifts are slick and trouble free and any legal speed. There are this firm with none of the stutterer chop that we've experienced in so many super great sports cars accommodations are top drawer as well with a turbo Cabrio offering us a perfectly appointed cabin that we expect in Porsches top models. Plenty of bells and whistles such as leather DVD navigation and high end audio are standard. But you can pile on options like adaptive sports seats with even finer leather and push the luxury of a load just as you push the performance on below. And push it you will as the 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Camry Olay

carries an almost exotic car price of one hundred thirty seven thousand three hundred sixty dollars with a full load of option. The price tops out at a stunning one hundred fifty nine thousand seventy dollars. So they are ranked tops drop tops and soft tops. But there's only one 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet. It's the most exciting and sophisticated convertible in Porsche history and the most amazing open top car that we've ever driven. But I hope you'll join us next week for more about her weight. A mole test the on target Ford Mustang bullet and Toyota's new turn on the classic Land Cruiser. One more first drives as we spend new septum Parky pad cost gives us the grease on tools. Why I-Reporter Yolanda Vaska signs up for smartly. I'm John Davis. Well see then. To learn more about Motor Week TV's original automotive magazine visit

PBS dot org. To order a DVD or VHS copy of this program call 1 800 873 6 1 5 for Motor Week has been brought to you by cars dot com. Let's say you are looking for a car. Cars dot com can help research locate or even contact a dealer. Cars dot com find the right car for you. Some guys like to relax in a leather recliner but do others. There is nothing better than cardboard on concrete Valvoline 100 years under the hood. And by Dunlop tires. The search for a true performance is part of our heritage. Dunlop is proud to present the Dunlop drivers Cup where amateurs from around the world compete head to head in the on and off road competitions. Information at Dunlop tires dot com. This program was produced by American Public Television which is soley responsible for its

content. On PBS.