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Toyota is the entity with the third generation rework of its iconic Prius. We'll see just how green Prius hybrid drivers can be done with that cost convertible care this time on Goss's garage. I'm Stephen Tomic and this week we're going to show I'm just dying to be here. Plus we get seriously sporty with horses new 911 and took a drive with us. Motor 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 contact a dealer cause your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week.

We're glad to have you with us. It's been 12 years since the Toyota Prius began its run as the most prolific mass market hybrid car in the world. And since then the Prius has defined green motoring with impressive efficiency cutting edge technology smart packaging and yes truly iconic styling. Well now it's time for an all new Prius and more of the same. Only better. Thank you. Thank you. Being the proverbial leader of the green car movement does not mean there isn't room for progress. So the third generation 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid arrives with enhancements on nearly every front starting with greater efficiency and more power. The new Prius is equipped with a one point eight leader Atkinson cycle four cylinder engine replacing its former 1.5 liter engine output is now 98 horsepower and 105 pound feet of torque.

A mere 30 percent jump on both counts. The reengineered hybrid Synergy Drive system has a smaller electric motor and a more powerful battery than before and winning gauge bumps total horsepower 22 percent to one hundred thirty four horses. This full hybrid system now utilizes an electric water pump and a smaller lighter AC DC inverter with its own direct cooling system exhaust heat is used to warm engine coolant and the cabin faster while a cool BGR system omits the need for fuel enrichment during high loads. Technologies shared with the new Lexus are x 458 hybrid crossover. Taken together they give the Prius nicely improved fuel efficiency eliminates the government fuel economy ratings are an impressive 51 city forty eight highway. The Prius is 50 mpg combined mileage is 4 miles per regular gallon better than the previous car and an increase of 9 over the first generation certified as both a super ultra low emissions

vehicle and in advanced technology partial Zero Emissions Vehicle in California. Toyota claims the Prius produces 70 percent fewer pollutants than the average new gas powered car. Furthermore the new Prius now has three driving modes. There is of course easy mode for a low speed electric only propulsion for up to one mile for slower throttle response to increase fuel economy and normal highway driving and power mode to kick out the Prius performance with more power for passing. Merging into higher speed traffic or simply getting across an intersection with greater confidence. We experience the Prius's papyri attributes on a mixture of roads north of San Francisco. Aside from the upshot of acceleration Toyota retune the existing suspension for better handling and stability. The electric steering has a quick and more weighty feel. Turn ins are fast enough but they're still quite a bit of body roll on the stopping side.

The Prius benefits from a new optimized regenerative braking system. There recaptures more energy than before. Although the just midsize Prius rides on the new platform wheel base remains the same an overall length increases just slightly. The hybrids iconic wedge shape design also remains but with more of a forward lean. The peak of the roof has been moved back almost for riches to improve aerodynamics and rear headroom. The Prius now has an 0.2 5 drag coefficient the lowest of any mass produced car front and rear corners are also more sharply designed with sportier Ltd headlamps. This high character line is bolder leading back to a rear spoiler and the newly optimal 17 inch wheels give the Prius a brony or stance. The reshape exterior results in a better configured passenger cabin with more shoulder room all around. The control layout is familiar but more stylish with a vocal point still being a center digital cluster with multi information display for a monitoring vehicle

efficiency and fuel consumption. For climate the more efficient air conditioning system has a pollen filter an ion generator. Plus you can order a moon roof with solar panels. There runs a vent fan to reduce the cabin temperature while parked. But one of the biggest improvements we noticed right off are the front seats vastly more comfortable than before and now with height adjustment. The steering wheel Now tilt sent telescopes to seven airbags come standard including one for the driver's knees while rear seat headroom is up slightly at leg room drops over two and a half inches. Odd for a commuter car as before the 60:40 bench pulls to extended already generous cargo area to a maximum of thirty nine point four cubic feet. There is also a wide under floor storage bin that's perfect for stowing the luggage cover on the tech front. The Prius boasts a roster of new goodies. There's dynamic cruise control with the front emblem disguise radar unit lane keep assist Toyota's take on lane departure

warning. Intelligent park assist for a semi automatic parallel parking and Safety Connect. Toyota's answer to On-Star. Pricing for the 2010 Prius was not released before our deadline but with a bargain Honda Insight on the horizon we expect the sticker to hold close to the current cars. So can a great thing be made better. Of course it can. And the new 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid is proof positive that it's the cleanest and most efficient mass produced vehicle on the planet. The third gen Prius has just widened the gap between itself and the rest of the greening automotive world. Spring is in the air and it's the perfect time for a convertible but convertibles can be costly to maintain. Well Pat Dawes has a few tips to make your Drop Top days sunny. John convertibles are a lot of fun but they have some extra maintenance requirements.

If your convertible happens to have a cloth or vinyl top on it follow the instructions in the owner's manual is fire is keeping it clean and if it's cloth and it loses its water proofing well go to a marine supply where they deal with canvas and they can re waterproof it for you. Now heres the trick when of the day. Retractable convertible tops their metal they give you the advantages of a coupe. Plus the open air of a convertible but things you have to be aware of. All of this weather stripping is a ton of it on these but especially right up here at the top of the windshield. This collects gritty road debris and it has to be kept absolutely clean because that road debris is abrasive and it will literally eat this weatherstrip alive. Also there are alignment pins on the front of the top there are the latches on there and so on.

They need maintenance. And if you look at the top in general you'll see that there are hundreds of different friction points there pivots where everything hinges as it moves. All of this stuff needs maintenance. Well get all the weather stripping every edge has weather stripping on it. Well let's start with the weather stripping here you'll need silicone spray and you're going to spray that silicone not on to the weather stripping but rather into a container such as this aerosol camp. Now once you have it in there you can apply the silicone to the weatherstripping with one of these foam brushes or simply take a cloth dip it into the silicone and wipe it onto the weatherstripping. Best way to do it. It saves a big mess. But what about all of these hinges and everything. Well here you need some type of lubricant and you could use white lithium but

that tends to be a little messy so I'd find a clear lubricant. And again you're going to spray it into a container and you're going to use q tips to apply it to all of the hinges and all of these moving parts latches and everything on this retractable hard top. And I'll tell you one thing. Over the years that you'll own it. This little operation could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. And if you have questions or comments write to me the address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. There is one truth about everyone who works on motorways. We all love cars and we love all kinds of cars. Now that may sound obvious but let's face it not all cars are easy to low. In fact some are downright downers. But that didn't stop our Steven Chapnick. He found the gathering of unique vehicles that despite living on the dark side

still managed to produce Miles. It's probably not the way you'd want to ride in a Cadillac but at least you'd go in style looking at an ambulance and hearse creeping were just an oversized station wagon. I want a closer look. Would you be the judge. They're creepy and they're kooky mysterious and spooky. But they were definitely a plenty at the professional car society's International meet in Mount Laurel New Jersey. The group's head caretaker and tireless promoter is auto writer great marksman. Every year he brings owners together to show off their hearses limos and ambulances from all angles. This year 65 vintage examples were on display from a flower cart to an antique police station wagon. And for the first time ever two of the remaining Studebaker ambulance were parked side to side. Jeff Beyer owns one of the very rare and the lats and has had the car since high school. It

was never intended to be a first vehicle it was to tended to use as a backup vehicle for first aid squads o industrial sites. Doctors that sort of thing even rarer than the ambulance is the horse drawn hearse back before Motors came into the picture. There was only one way to go. That was until James Brown revived the concept for his funeral in 2006. This coffin dates back to civil war time. The older they are the smaller they are. The driver sits on the coach instead of off the coach. There isn't they're not ornate they're very plain which you know that one is the PC s show has something for everyone. It's family fun that no one wants to take lying down. The guys and gals of the professional car society certainly put the fun back in funeral. I sure hope this guy is just tired because it probably isn't the best place to take a nap. Another rarity on hand this 957 Desoto fire sweep also known as the Memphian owner Dawson Black horse cars so unique it once caught some of New

York's finest completely off guard. We were in New York City working on a commercial that was being developed and actually a New York ambulance I will say the service pulled up beside me turned the lights out the guys got off walked around the car talked questions with me got back in the car turned the lights on and drove away. Sometimes this reporting gig takes it out on me. It was my 30th birthday after all. Luckily there were plenty of people willing to lend a helping hand. But after further review I was dead on arrival. You know you're in trouble when they come to pick you up in this hearse an ambulance combo. I never see this type of collection of automobiles anywhere but once a year at our national shows which some people don't know is limos are a big part of the professional car society. It's not just about hearses and the ambulances. Wayne guy's 1076 Pontiac Catalina catches a lot of attention. Well it's pretty luxurious. It's a it's a long it's the longest car that I own. So you have to be careful on corners with it.

There'd be a tendency to catch the rear wheel on a right hand turn for example on that curve. At least he wasn't heading Six Feet Under. So if you are surrounded by a hearse limo or ambulance it probably be best if you write a piece yesterday no matter what the weather or the road the BMW x 6 x drive 35 II sports activity coupe always turns heads this steroidal Fastback is truly one of a kind. And it does get around. After five months the odo has crossed 13000 miles. We are however most thankful that gas prices are way down from last summer. Since test mileage is a paltry sixteen point one on premium gas we've had no mechanical problems with our XXIX and flawless operation of a 3

liter 300 horsepower inline 6. One novelty of the xxix is a rear hatch that opens to two levels while seemingly great for low roofed garages. We find it a nuisance especially when it's raining the xxix is a curious but fine effort and it proves to us that whenever BMW discovers a new luxury niche they will fill it. We're also bumping along in our Suzuki equator midsize pickup literally since our 4 by 4 pickup is firmly sprung and well outfitted for mastering the great outdoors. Sharing all mechanicals with the Nissan Frontier our equator is fault free after three months and fifty five hundred miles fuel economy is nothing to write home about. Sixteen point seven miles per gallon of regular. But then it's four leader a V-6 is very energetic and can tell up to sixty five hundred pounds. The ride does spewed out nicely at highway speeds and our staff finds this extend the camp's visibility excellent.

If we had any wants at this stage it's for more back support in the front seats and with weather starting to warm we expect to get a lot more solid seat time. And this is Suki equator. We'll check the log books on this Mazda CX 9 and Nissan road on our next motor week long term road test update. Now let's check in with your Land of Oz and all the latest Motor News Ford's sync infotainment system has been garnering praise since its introduction in 2007. And now a new study shows the handsfree system plays a major role in keeping drivers safe on the road. Ford research shows sink significantly reduces driver distraction in comparison to handheld cell phones and media players. Researchers noticed risks were minimised when Cinque voice interfaced was used versus menu entry on handheld devices. For example participants took their eyes off the road for only two seconds in order to receive a text

message using syncs text to speech feature compared to an alarming 11 seconds spent reading the same text message on a cell phone. The advent of MP 3 players and text messaging makes it even more difficult for drivers especially teenagers and young adults to stay focused. Ford says sync allows them to get the connectivity they want while being safe on the road. Even with the current drastic decline in vehicle sales there is a bright. Spot sales of certified pre-owned vehicles Scipio's are usually less than three years old and are backed by a new car like warranty in 2008 more than 1.6 million CPO cars and trucks were sold a one percent increase from the previous year. BMW North America did exceptionally well the German car maker sold a record 100 4500 certified used vehicles in 2008. Their goal is one hundred twenty thousand for 2009 with most of them expected to be off leased vehicles on the used car side. We're seeing a lot of interest a lot of traffic there because people are looking to save a little money in and hoping to get a good deal.

But what is very interesting and very important for the industry is the fact that certified pre-owned vehicles are doing exceptionally well this is a bright spot that nobody really expected while not every car maker saw 2008 CPO sales climb. In general they dropped far less than new car sales. General Motors CPO sales dropped five point two percent compared to an 18 percent decline in overall new cars. It was a mixed bag for foreign brands. Honda dropped nine point six percent in certified sales while rival Toyota had a CPO 1.3 percent uptick with the trend continuing for 2009 consumers have discovered that in good times or bad sort of FIDE pre-owned vehicles are a smart alternative to new vehicles. And that's the latest for this week's Motor News. Through countless interation is the Porsche 911 has remained a pure driver's car and we found that to judge the full measure of each 911 redo. You have to double up with ample time on the track as well as the street. So we've

come to our Southern testing ground George's Roebling road Raceway to see what's been done to the latest 911 to make it even more memorable for every young 911 could be called the Peter Pan of sports car with a body that never appears old but with continuous changes inside it makes it grow wiser and wily or with each passing year. And for 2009 portrays introduced Holmes to refinement to help its iconic sports car stay one step ahead of the competition. As expected 9 11 engines receive a power increase our test. Her ass still carries a three point eight leader flat six. But the design is all new and shares no parts with the old engine horsepower pumps up to three hundred eighty five thirty more than before and three hundred ten pound feet.

A 5 percent increase direct fuel injection enforces Verio cam variable valve timing all things run efficiently. The standard 9 11 Corolla gets its motivation from an also new 3.6 liter flex 6 preventing 345 horsepower and 288 pound feet of torque. But more important is the debut of a new seven speed double clutch transmission option in place of the tiptronic guests. It stands for a PDK which in German means something we can barely spell much less pronounced. But after driving the car we might suggest a more familiar acronym PD Q.. Anyway like the other direction twin clutch gearbox is the PDK system as to multiplayer what plugs back to each controlling the odd or even here. So the next hero is already selected and ready to go when needed. Automatic gear changes happen up to 60 percent quicker than the tiptronic with no interruption in power delivery drivers can still choose to shift for themselves but the gearbox is so

intuitive it's really not necessary. And that's just as well since our drivers universally dislike the steering wheel mounted shift rocker switches car car came a quick with the optional sports car. Back in which a super aggressive shift profile for truck driving as well as launch code for optimum off the line performance with it and despite a freezing track day our 9 11 career Astill rocketed to 60 in four seconds flat feet unattainable with the standard six speed manual the quarter mile past in a quick twelve point four seconds at 117 mph. Keep in mind those were good numbers for a 911 Turbo not so many years ago and out lapping the 9 curbs at Roebling road Raceway. You might think you were driving that older 911 Turbo to another timeless feature of the 9 11 continued here is it superb feel for the road variable ratio steering and standard active suspension

management enhanced the operation of what is simply a well designed chassis by actually adjusting to the driver style getting firmer as speeds increase the rear end will swing out if pushed hard. But ask. Sure Bush is PSM stability control system comes on to save the day at the last moment so we gratefully left activated the front end displays little tendency to understeer unless driven very hard into a tight quarter. But overall the 911 caller ass is well balanced and I can't drive fast and slowing from fast speeds is easier now thanks to a upgraded model walk for piston brake calipers borrowed from the turbo all four rotors are now a cross drilled vented and 13 inches in diameter. Stopping distances from 60 are at short one under 12 feet. Lighter wheels carry distinctive new design standard on the career as are 19 enters wearing 235 35 tires up front and wider to 95 30s out

back. Styling is merely tweaked for the 2009 nine elevens and is always at Porsche form follows function. Larger front air intakes means better cooling for the revised brakes. A restyled headlight module clusters the lighting more efficiently and now includes ele deed daytime driving lights. Ellie these are also used in the brake lights and tail lamps. Larger side mirrors with split pose to improve the Aero interior offstage are minor too and include a redesigned center stack and console to house the larger but simplified touchscreen audio and communication system ventilated seats are now available to government fuel economy ratings for the 9/11 career as for now hire a respectable 19 city and 26 on the highway. Meaning no gas guzzler tax pricing for the 2009 Porsche 911 Karrar s started eighty seven thousand one hundred fifty dollars are for sure Racing Green tester running up to an eye opening. One hundred six

thousand seven hundred thirty dollars. That's a lot of pixie dust but if you're dreaming of a pure delightful sports car for that last boy inside you the Porsche 911 remains one of the brightest stars in the automotive galaxy. The 2009 career and career as our benchmark performance cars that defined the laws of time. While we never stop being amazed that Porsche continues to breathe new life into each new 9/11 we hope to never stop being surprised by it but I hope you'll join us here next week for more motorways. When will test Hondas freshened civic and try Chevrolet as new family size crossover. The Traverse will share our first impressions on new sets of Kharkiv Pat Goss smoked out converter problem while Yolanda Vasquez explores when driving

becomes therapeutic. Now if you still haven't gotten enough of us why not check out our latest podcast at Motor Week online until next time I'm John Davis. We'll see you here on motor week to learn more about motor week. TV's original automotive magazine music PBS dot org to order a DVD or VHS copy of this program call 1 800 873 6 1 5 4 Motorway has been brought to you by cars dot com. Let's say you're looking for a car. Cars dot com can help research locate even contact a dealer. Cars Dodge cars. This program was produced by Maryland Public Television which is soley responsible for its

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