Motorweek; 1504 PTV

This time on Motor Week. What's new from the general for 90 seconds. The latest on labor gaining and a new baby BMW set up dry with up. Next. TV's automotive magazine. Your host for Miller with John Davis. Alone welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. Every fall we start a new season of motor week and every fall we also bring you a preview of everything that America's big three automakers have in store for the coming year. As always we start with the biggest U.S. car company General Motors 95 been a very profitable year for the general thanks to strong sales of products like Saturn as well as their always

popular trucks. But is there enough coming in 96 to maintain that momentum. General Motors biggest booster in 1996 will come from upstart Saturn the Saturn sedan and wagon gets their first major redesign the new shape is very contemporary especially from the windshield back where there is a new roundness in the roof and in the door. I think that carries over to the wagon for a most striking profile like more and more GM cars. Canadian style daytime running lights are now a standard. Not something better known or have complained about headroom. There's more now while the official cool air bag dash was carried over unchanged you know power train with extra insulation means there is less poor cylinder buzz helping give 96 Saturn import level for now. Meanwhile modell is rebuilding its image as an upscale counterpart to Saturn. What for All right. Certainly it's helping that effort. Most changes like a new air we circulations which

were suggested by owner holds as older car lines get bigger tweeks achieve as dual airbags and a larger poor cylinder engine. Excellent LS asked now has a lower like wheels in tram and 240 horsepower from the optional super charged 30 800 series to be sick. After a year's absence the Oldsmobile bravado sport utility is back. Mechanically it's a Democrat with a Chevy Blazer and GMC Jimmy including the 3.4 leader be sacked but provide a new sport exclusive bridge to body cladding and wood frame poor ship console one for more track automatic all wheel drive system. Pontiac built itself as GM performance powerhouse. So it's no surprise that more power is there 96. More of the Firebird 5.7 leader of the eight on the new That's helping develop the ram air induction option for 305 horsepower. Yeoman grandam garners a mild restyling cool air bag and in large displacement.

The former quad core is now up sized to 2.4 leaders and renamed when can. That same 150 horse engine makes the Sunfire GTi as well as the Chevy Cavaliers the twenty four even smarter performance to forego. Over a Buick Skylark can also be ordered with the new 2.4. Thankfully that how catcher grill is gone however it Skylark adds a new instrument panel complete with dual airbag there are few changes to Buicks larger cars for Saber it does have a 205 horsepower 30 800 series two basic standards. While the popular Riviera has a supercharged version of the 240 volt power. Really big Roadmaster sedan and wagon are mostly unchanged for their final year. The same goes for the biggest Chevrolet Caprice along with a wonderful empowered asset. Also gone after 96. Engine enhancements are also the high. I point to Chevy needing new obedience to a mission diagnostic requirement. Also David Eun is the excuse to boost power and economy. The

moment a minivan along with the Oldsmobile silhouette and Pontiac transport again a 180 horsepower thirty four hundred eighty six. This will also be the standard engine in GM for all new front wheel drive minivans due out next year. That's also when a new Corvette are wrong but the last of the current generation was not neglected before that grand sports race bred paint scheme covers the new LP board V8 with 330 horsepower on tap. Only a thousand brand sports will be made. Even the most affordable Camaro that have to do this horsepower but standard power is now a 200 horse 30 886 for true and still is. The acceleration. It showcased in a newsy 28 lookalike Arias model the real Camaro Z 28 B 8 and 15 horsepower for two hundred eighty five while a limited edition Z 28 SS also developed by SLB engineering will boast 305 for. Big news for Chevy CEO lineup is the addition of a Ford or Suzuki made tractors

sport utility. Now with fuel air back while the general readies a new front drive minivan it's updating its rear drive GMC Safari and Chevy Astro minivan with a new dash into airbag. But the really big band news is a really big new band called The Chevrolet Express and Savannah over a GMC. This is the first new cool sized GM van in 25 years. Novel rear doors open all the way into the side for unmatched loading ease the airbags and abs are standard. Most of the rest of Chevy and GMC use both sides. Trucks and for you. Including the new Taco and Yukon get an engine overhaul adding the forecheck air fuel induction system that greatly boosted the 5.0 5.7 in 7.4 leader be a power. Short. And smooth. Take a extended cab pickup to also be the first to offer a rear passenger side door or access panel. Now the family ties products have versatility that's easy to use compact pick ups

get us similar rare access panel but on the drivers side that makes them especially attractive to the physically challenging but sharp looking GMC Sonoma and Chevrolet has 10 sports side cargo boxes will arrive in the spring spring will also bring us the first driving Cadillacs new European made sports luxury car the kero. But until then we'll have to be satisfied with minor updates to their domestic lineup. Would you like to revise the interior of the Seville touring sedan and Eldorado touring through the new analog gauges and center stack controls are more user friendly and mimic Lexis in execution. Mechanically both cars also gain magnetic variable assist power steering and faster reacting road sensing suspension. With the build contour at both new features as well. While Cadillac biggest car the Fleetwood is barely altered for its last year. So while GM has major product changes are still a year away. There is plenty of news that our buyer interest for 96.

Whether it's one of the latest models or real antique Pat Goss knows how to get the most out of a car. Here he is with more handy car care tips. John everybody knows about the problems with our environment and most people try to protect the environment. But many of us have problems when it comes to repairs on the car whether we do it ourselves or somebody else does it. See most people don't have any idea how hazardous many of these chemicals are. So if you're a do it yourself or always read the label on the container to make sure that it is the best for the environment that you can get. Don't just look for a green label because that may not indicate what's inside the container. Now for those of you who take your car in to have somebody else do the repairs. Remember that the repair shop has to be responsible on your behalf so ask them if they recycle the oil that's going to come out of your car. Remember that one

gallon of used oil can contaminate a quarter of a million gallons of ground water. It also has a natural life of over 100 years. It's got to be recycled. Oil filters need to be crushed or properly drained before they can be disposed of. Ask them if they do that in a freeze. Well it can be hazardous or non hazardous when it goes into the car. But when it comes out it is almost always hazardous. So ask the repair shop if they recycle the coolant that's going to come out of your car. A good responsible shop will have a recycling machine on the premises that will actually recycle it right then and there. Batteries are an interesting study. The batteries are full of all sorts of harmful materials they have when they have acid they have plastic but the battery industry has been very responsible. See it's estimated that about 95 percent of all of the used batteries are recycled and that something approaching 90 percent of each

recycled battery is re-used. It's a very good record. Well something else that you want to remember is if you're having air conditioning work done on the car everything that comes out of the air conditioning system whether it's the old 12 the freon that we called it or the new are 134 it must be recycled. That's mandatory it's required by federal law. Also tires tires are a big big problem. So ask your repair shop if they're involved in a responsible program to dispose of used tires. If you have a question or a comment write to me. If I use your letter I'll send you a motor week T-shirt that addresses Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Our goal of the week is one of the most delectable American luxury cars. It's a 1947 Cadillac convertible owned by Jack Nowell of Spring Grove Pennsylvania.

Bill if you have a price like this one exhibit good color photos to Butterwick Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Our staff of car enthusiasts really enjoys testing all kinds of automobiles but we must confess as experiencing the megabuck exotic sports cars that really makes our job something special. That's certainly how F1 I Reporter Lisa Barrow feels when she gets a chance to spend time with some serious sports cars. You don't have to ask her twice. The game was the moment you hit the autostrada you know there's something special about Italy. There's an excitement in the air and it's no wonder that some of the world's most exciting cars like this Diablo AC are built here. After a successful career building tractors for Lamborghini got into the car business in 1063 in the sleepy town of Sendai going to Italy today Lamborghinis exotic lineup includes the rare old John Diablo to Diablo Beatty with its

variable for real tracks. System five hundred twenty five which is a special one hundred fifty car run celebrating Lamborghinis 30th anniversary and the Yoda version of the producing of basically 600 horsepower it takes a back of the 10 week to go to China because the amount of time crafting the body would kill. A lot of the investment here within the factory. Going into the high technology along with all the handcrafting technology is a test driver with a passion for driving. Valentino has had the privilege for the last 22 years that they were first in your car and you know I was approaching a very. Bad thing. For the world. Suddenly I felt very grateful. To you and I was bored bored of my.

Life. And made a mark. For the last circle of the poor or the little one or the funniest boarder. This from a man. Translated means go slowly. But never again is not just about cars. The company is making quite a splash on the road scenes. We started a short activity back in 1984 and since then we have won several national international championship titles as most of the week. We were the first to Cerberus your title holders today who want to see the company grow.

And growing it will grow through the addition of new models which will when you've had a baby. That's one possibility that. One of them for example. We were very proud of it standing amidst the Lamborghinis at the sand factory from the present to the past. It's a car lover's paradise and a company that shows no signs of going slowly. Libre gaining is but one of many brands that Lisa follows. There she is with all the latest motor to the long running pony car war between Ford and GM continues and the latest weapon is Ford's thirty two ballad 96 Mustang Cobra. Ford is heavily revised the suspension and given the car new steering braking systems and a beefier board Warner five speed manual transmission. The iron lock 5 leader pushrod engine has been dropped in favor of an 0 room 4.6

leader twin can be eight from the Lincoln Mark 8 in Cobra trim it produces three hundred five Camaro fighting horses. The exterior receives more subtle changes with the most notable being vertical rear taillights reminiscent of the original pony car and a Y hood bold with air intakes prices for the cobra started twenty five thousand three hundred ten dollars an additional eight hundred fifteen dollars with it you poured some mystic paint a multi here finish that changes color in varying light. Only 10000 Cobras will be built and there it selects for dealerships now. So if you want one you better hurry. In other news Chrysler gears up for Indy 1906 Dodge Viper GTA as Coop will be the official pace car of the 88 running of the Indy 500. The announcement was made at this year's Pebble Beach Concours by Chrysler president Bob Lutz and Speedway president Tony George. The 96 Viper GTA is Coop will have the honor of being the 12 Chrysler and the second viper to pace at Indy and that's the motor news for this week.

As much as many viewers of motor week like BMW there's usually one big complaint they cost too much. Well BMW must be listening. So it's for the past few years they've been working hard to produce more affordable cars that still retain the market distinctive driving qualities. The best example of that approach today is right here the new 318 T.I.. Now compared to other three series models it may look like something is missing but trust us it's all here. And it's all BMW developed as the ultimate entry level better. The three 18 three door coupe is one BMW that even we can afford. That's because in an attempt to bring in new owners BMW has built into a price a very reasonable nineteen thousand nine hundred dollars. Twenty two thousand three hundred dollars for our well equipped test car and in a sense you do get less cars. Eight point eight inches less to be exact. That's how much shorter the 318 T.I.

is than the standard three series today and wheel base though remains one hundred six point three inches. The link comes off the tail where a handy Hatch replaces the standard three series trunk and a simpler semi trailing arm suspension replaces the familiar multi link setup. Run is however is all current. Series including chassis suspension sheet metal and engine and as the 380 designation tells you that engine is the same one point eight leader four cylinder unit that powers the 318 II sedan. It drives the rear wheels with 138 horsepower and one hundred twenty nine pound feet of torque which is good for zero to 60 and nine point two seconds and quarter mile runs of 17 seconds ending at 83 mph. As with many German engines there's little real power below 3000 RPM but then build strongly to redline and requires regular steering of the light positive speed manual shifter to keep it spinning a four speed auto is

optional. On our Test Track the three door coupe displayed flawless handling. Thanks to short power steering minimal front plow and grip the Michelin tires mounted on optional 15 inch alloy wheels performance on a flat smooth racetrack is only half the story. Out in the real world bumps and potholes the suspension mix tells a different tale driven briskly over bumpy road to the right and we're seeing that. With each other. And while handling is not compromised it gives the tiara a somewhat vague feeling in corners. Likely last time we've come to expect from BMW. But still better than many competitors. The price one might say of building to a price. BMW didn't skimp on the brakes However the 4 wheel disc with standard abs delivered average stuff from 60 of 115 feet safe solid and strong. Solid also describes the interior styling. A new dash and more liberal use of plastic gives the cockpit a more here tell us Terry and look at the other three series cars but room cumbered and ease of use all live up to the standard set by its larger siblings

rear seat room is also respectable for a compact and a standard good molding seat back provides easy access to the large fifteen point one cubic foot cargo space. Some of that space comes from the novel but overly complicated spare tire storage. It's located under the car so after driving the 318 T.I. For weeks we've come to the conclusion that BMW has new contact is a real gym albeit one with a few minor flaws but for the performance and prestige of a BMW not a working man or woman fungicides there are ones that will gladly accept. One of our favorite sports coupes is the subject of this week's road test by request the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Now a few other affordable sporty hoops offer drivers a high level of performance value and everyday versatility of the eclipse. No wonder we picked it as a driver's choice winner for 1095. Now if you haven't tried an eclipse here's what you're missing.

In fact we sampled the top two models of the mostly all new Mitsubishi Eclipse. The front drive GST and the all wheel drive GSX the entry level RSA mid-scale G.S. completely American made eclipse lineup the first generation eclipse earned our drivers Choice Award for Best Short dupa 1990 and 91 along with numerous. Our industry award. So we're glad to say that Mitsubishi didn't rest on its past laurels with this new eclipse they have produced a true second generation car one that overshadows its predecessor in every way. Styling is more aggressive than before and though it has its share of critics on our staff the eclipse is new look which came from Mitsubishi's California design studio has more youth appeal which is important and a very competitive sport coupe market powering this aerodynamic bodywork are two different two liter dual overhead cam 16 valve engines.

R S and G S great cars get Chrysler's normally aspirated four cylinder from the neon spork to good here for 140 horsepower and 130 pound feet of torque. But the real muscle comes in GST. CSX eclipses which receive a revised Mitsubishi turbo cure for 95 a higher compression ratio a liter turbo charger blades up its output to 210 horsepower and 214 pound feet of torque on manual transmission car for speed. Fuzzy logic automatic brings the figures down slightly to 205 horses and 220 pound feet. The GSX is a viscous all wheel drive system is little changed. Fully automatic under normal conditions. It splits power 50/50 front and rear. All roads all weather are no problem. We figured out it's an implicit. Test Track numbers too and we were disappointed. Our all wheel drive GSX differ from 0 to 60 in seven seconds flat a quarter mile took an equally brief fifteen point five seconds ending at 89

mph. Although power flows only to its front. And despite some initial torque steer higher GST is 200. 83 pound weight advantage was evident during its six point seven seconds zero to 60 Sprint strong power throughout the rev band also helped the GST better its siblings quarter mile time clocking in at fifteen point two seconds at 94 mph. Each car achieves its performance here by way of this smooth positive shifting five speed manual throws are quite short though the tight ship pattern takes some getting used to. Both are eclipses. Breeze through the switchbacks with ease thanks to new multi leaf suspension designs front and rear and speed sensitive power rack and pinion steering. With a chassis that's 50 percent stepper and flex and 60 percent stepper and torsional stability high speed maneuvers presented a little challenge body roll was back. Nonexistent. Auto Week shared our performance enthusiasm saying that the GSX is smooth

stable and never seems to lack power or grip while Automobile magazine noted wrong and a ruckus no more the all new eclipse GSX is still a great car for fast driving. Our test car's brakes were also exemplary four wheel display optional and you walk system. It's not the three thousand one hundred twenty pound GSX integrated 105 but average distance from 68 R S cars have rear drums but ABS is available on all the goods in like the first eclipse. The 95 interior was designed around the driver but with a lower Cal elevated seats a lowered console and relocated parking brake plus priority switch here is now even more centrally located turbo powered cars and oil pressure and boost gauges to the normal complement of analog units. Safety is expected Li will serve with the drivers and passengers airbag soft leather is standard on the bucket seats in the GSX which are very supportive and comfortable. The driver's is height adjustable and there's also seat back memory and manual lumbar

adjustment as well as height adjustable seat belts. Go on style rotary knobs easily control the CFC free air conditioning system the controls for the Infinity premium sound system look more intimidating but actually are easy to use. Eight speakers and 210 watts of power produce great sound. The rear seat may look inviting but it's best used for extra storage of the of the split fold down seat backs. The all wheel drive GSX has almost double the trunk space of last year's car eclipse enjoyment begins at fourteen thousand three hundred fifty nine dollars for the r s r turbo GST starts a dollar less than 20000 while the all wheel drive GSX begins at twenty two thousand nine hundred twenty nine dollars. ABS brakes add $716 real performance from a sharp looking sport coupe series if not bargain very understandable prices. Regardless of the fitness trail what else can we say that Mitsubishi Eclipse even the second time around as a serious drivers 3.

Be sure to join us next week for more motorways and all that's new from Ford for 1996 as well as the pest the Pontiac Firebird convertible. Greg thanks for the highroad to me the Batman a funny car racing that God brings us more valuable Parker to have all the latest Motor News. I'm John Davis CNN to order a video cassette of this program. Call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4 4 send twenty nine ninety five plus $4 shipping and handling to this address. Water from the Motor Week home video collection or cover the best episodes of the motor week

television series 1 800 4 2 2 0 6 4 0 to order a catalog send a self-addressed stamped envelope to this address. Oh I'm John taped. On the next edition of motorway almost all that's new from Ford for 1996 and drive Pontiac Firebird convertible gracing our thanks to the high road made the fast man a funny car racing problem right here at home. Pat Goss brings us more valuable MASON It's advice most will have

all the latest motor news that go to miss the next motorway.