Motorweek; 1726

Oh. This time on Motor Week Ford's new super trucks are new with superglue and hot new models from Tokyo. So come with us now. TV's original automotive magazine brought to you by casual super clean all wheel cleaner the cleaner that releases brake dust and grime from all types of wheels on contact no matter what age your car. Castrol super clean all wheel cleaner your host for motor week John. Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. Whatever happened to pick up trucks. Well most of us were growing up. They were work vehicles

straightforward no frills cargo haulers driven by the hard working folk. But today they're more apt to be fashion accessories too often driven by those trying to remember what Macho was like. And truck builders have been encouraging the trend by loading up their pick ups with more frills than a Rolls Royce. We were beginning to think that the day of the work truck was over at least until Ford showed up with its latest full size pickup. The F-series super duty you know there may be hope for pickup trucks after all. And then hope could mean salvation for business entrepreneurs and recreational enthusiasm to life as the 1999 Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup comes in a staggering 34 different configurations. Of matter. 50 to the new EP 550 all the Meet the widely varied needs of its customers. Whose attention ordains the graph right up front with the super duties aggressive new styling that features a bulging powered Gnome hood in a huge egg crate grill borrowed from a

medium duty cousin. As were the drop beltline side windows that offer improved visibility as specially when backing the F-250 350 Super Duty regular cab pickups exterior link now at two hundred twenty six point six inches is nearly nine inches longer than the 97 heavy duty model the wheel base is four inches longer and that creates the extra room needed to give the Super Duty the largest bed and room iest interior of any pick up on the market. Interior space is easily accessed thanks to longer doors on all models and two wide swinging rear doors that are now standard on all Ford Super Duty super cabs. Those with a larger workforce to move can try the more spacious four door crew cab on her side. But regardless of what model you choose you'll notice a distinctly different more utilitarian interior than found on the light duty F-150 250. Not lacking in comfort those in the saddle for the long haul will appreciate the bigger seat with pressure mapping design. A technique that distributes the rider's weight more evenly across the seat.

And surfaces they can be covered in vinyl cloth or leather in lariat trim the tall expansive Dash has plenty of room for mounting aftermarket equipment controls and features a compact but comprehensive gauge cluster user friendly stereo controls with oversized buttons and optional dual media ability that handles cassettes and CDs. While heating and cooling duties are easily directed with smooth F-150 style rotary switches and the optional passenger side airbag can be deactivated with just the turn of a key on all but. Storage is plentiful throughout the cabin from pockets in the doors to a larger glove box. An available center console with enough room for a personal computer and a handy clip on its lid to keep your loose paperwork from becoming airborne. Super caps like this ep 250 also offer an additional forty nine cubic feet behind the front seat with a more comfortable rear bench for people hauling that easily folded plastic create a steel low floor for cargo hauler. But it's what's underneath the Super Duty that really separates it from the rest of the

pack. And that's a purpose built chassis designed especially for the over eighty five hundred pound gross vehicle weight class. Making it the strongest frame on any full sized pickup that's matched with equally top suspension with a redesigned twin I-beam up front an F-2 50s and three fifties and a single Moto beam with leaf springs for F-150. My fifties all my floor and that's all powered by a choice of three engines beginning with the familiar 5.4 leader Triton V8 with ratings of 235 horsepower at three hundred thirty five pound feet of torque while the 6.8 liter Triton beat in the first beat tend to be offered in a Ford truck pumped out 275 horsepower and 410 pound feet of torque. But those with serious telling plans to check out a vastly improved 7.3 leader turbo charge power stroke be a diesel. The addition of the intercooler has boosted horsepower from 250 to 235 with torque increasing to a crushing 500 pound beat the diesel feeds through an all new Z at six speed manual transmission with a lower than low granny

gear and a higher than high mileage and Hansing overdrive gear. All engines can be put into an upgraded or are 100 automatic that was developed especially for the high torque these LNB 10 power plants and in an industry first the first automatic they can be ordered with an optional PTO port for powering wenches aerial lifts don't beds and such an answer to customer demand or will drive is now available on all super duties and polluting Dooley's and either on manual hub lock manual shift setup or Ford's pulse vacuum hub locks system that offers unique chip on the fly convenience and freewheeling that I mean at your fingertips. Stopping power comes. Form or will disk which are standard across the line under £10000 a year and a lot is standard with Horwill abs optional super duties over twelve thousand five hundred. You get my group fracases. Pricing is as varied as the model line but a regular cab four by two with a five point four leader V8 engine carries a base price of one thousand one hundred sixty dollars or by

4s list for twenty two thousand two hundred sixty dollars. The popular super cab or by two with the same engine is priced at twenty thousand one hundred fifteen dollars with four by four starting at twenty four thousand fifteen dollars. With the Super Duty lineup. Porn is targeted a segment that includes everyone from weekend wood haulers to the horse trailer towing set to construction contractors and commercial cargo haulers a market that is growing more than 80 percent in the last five years prompting us to say that when it comes to top truck needs Ford has a super solution. Coming up the big show in town. Time now for our weekly visit to Pat Goss's garage and a chance to see what kind of advice motor waits resident car care expert has on tap. John this time we're going to talk about some interesting new products. First consider what happens to the inside of your car over a period of time. One thing that you may not

notice is that virtually every automobile as it is used develops a rather distinct aroma inside. Sometimes they actually smell like a camel. Well you may not notice that but other people do and that means you should keep the carpeting clean because that's where most of these odors come from. So you decide you're going to clean the carpeting in the car what do you do you go down to the hardware store you rent one of these beasts. It's too big to do anything in the car when you get it home. You realize that you can only do the very center section of the carpeting. Can't get in any of the cracks or crevices or close places. So what are you to do. Well here's an alternative. This is the Bissell little green clean machine. It's designed specifically for tight areas. It's shampoos it vacuums it. It does everything and it is designed in such a manner that it will fit into all the cracks in the crevices and small places that are so hard to deal with inside your automobile or truck.

Does a great job. And it keeps your car smelling fresh it no longer smells like a candle. Well speaking of candles How about these. These pet carriers by dog loon they're called pet fur Ariz. As in I think that's a play on words. Anyway what's different about him you say. Well the difference with these is that there's provision on the top of them where you can hook the seatbelts into the pet carrier and as you're going down the road this is going to prevent the pet from getting thrown off of the seat onto the floor or worse during a panic stop. I think it's a great idea also. If you want to pick up truck you know you stop and think about a pickup you put stuff in the back of it. Anybody can walk up to the back of a pickup truck pull the handle open the tailgate take whatever they want. Well that's not the case if you install a boss lock. Now this

boss lock works through the keyless entry system on the car. The little fobbed the transmitter so that when you lock the car it also locks the tailgate. Now the person can't open the tailgate and you have great security. All of these are interesting products that serve a practical purpose. If you have a question or a comment or a suggestion write to me. If I use your letter I'll send you a motor week T-shirt The address is Motor Week. Always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. The week the lovely night 81 Rolls Royce convertible this British luxury classic belongs to William readier of New York New York. And unlike most pampered thoroughbreds gets driven and we need driven on a regular basis. Now if you have a British luxury car sports car or family car we'd love

to see it. It's a bit at least too good color photos to Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Taking you along on the annual car show circuit is all part of our job here at Motor Week. Each year we hit the big car doings in Detroit L.A. Chicago and New York to see what's ahead for your local show rooms. But it's the major bi annual international auto shows that really give us a glance into the future of the automotive world. A few weeks ago we toured the Frankfurt Motor Show and this week we had halfway around the globe in the other direction for the Tokyo Motor Show. Just think of this as a vacation for car buffs. The Tokyo Motor Show is long been the venue for carmakers to show up the latest in eco technology and this year's edition certainly helps to go for Hondas latest quartet of concepts are known as J movers and represent more proof to the theory that small is smart.

The JMJ minivan off roader and a J W J 3 door wagon make use of Honda's multi magic variable transmission and real time ball will drawn small families will use the JM wus low floor one box designed to max out people space while the J.V. acts operate as clean high performance for sports car lovers and integrated motor generator assist the three cylinder B.Tech engine with a deceleration and recovers energy when braking. Hats off to Honda too for taking the lead in low pollution technologies. This amazing sea level engine produces cleaner than breathable air exhaust emissions. Toyota will be the first to mass market a gas electric hybrid vehicle. The Prius goes on sale in Japan December 10 and it just under $18000 Toyota is taking a loss on everyone. It's still still in the Ikea stage is that. Micro electric vehicle intended as a short range commuter and as a prescription for Mercedes M-class envy. This carrier off roader will reach our shores as the Lexis are x 300

rounding out the Toyota concept parade is the new our new experimental wagon and the funky looking ass mid engine roadster which has a sequence gearbox perhaps who has made a big name for itself as a maker of tiny cars and trucks but the midget pore is in a class by itself on three or three passenger minivan while the lightweight FMR act aims to be the world's smallest car. Proving that foxy can be fun. The 70 is nicknamed the naked due to its unadorned of metal skin but a turbo engine convertible Rupe and safety features make this micro machine a stripper in name only. Over at Nissan three rows of seats graced the appropriately named hybrid style A6 billed as the wagon of the future. While the hyper Mini is a short range electric concept that's long on looks and versatility while they are not coming to the US as the altar E.B. and electric powered for the big news of Mazda was the long awaited

debut of the second generation Miata. The conservative sheet metal with exposed headlights hides a more powerful engine larger trunk and a six speed manual transmission. Mazda's MDX concept was designed in the US and should bear a strong resemblance to the next MTV mini vans. Subaru continues to push its all wheel drive technology in new directions with the exit go wagon and Elton micro sedan concept. Not everyone adhere to the green theme however leave it to the import makers in this case the Europeans and Americans to provide a welcome goes of good old fashioned access. For Sadie's fans let the bigger is better brigade. With the introduction of the Maybach a peak 12 powered ultra Lux limo style in Japan. But swagman boasting a dozen cylinders of its own now too. But in an unusual w 12 configuration made by merging to be our six engine the gorgeous Attell designed super car powers is not likely to see production though.

BMW stole our hearts with its throwback roadster design study as iOS 7 an equally stunning hardtop is easily fitted and power come from the M5 potent new V8. And finally watch your back Godzilla since the mighty Piper GTX is about to hit the streets in Tokyo. We left Tokyo amazed at the imaginative viable solutions being sought to limit the ecological impact of the world's rapidly growing car population. With the next Tokyo Motor Show scheduled for model year 2000 it really is the start of a new millennium for the automobile. Happy birthday to our Ford Expedition. This full size sport you had been with us for a year now and we must say all in all it's been a great year. We've just encountered our first ever mechanical failure. The windshield washer doesn't always work. Could be a switch we're told. Mileage while never stellar has been consistent and has actually been on the rise lately to its highest average yet 14. Even

after twenty eight thousand four hundred miles there are a lot of smaller SUV that do worse and they can't come close to the expedition in cargo hauling off road prowess and long distance companies. Like the expedition we can also see the end of our long term test of this Mitsubishi Montero Sport drawing near. After 11 months and 20 2400 miles we have no new complaints to make about this rugged yet. Time of family SUV mechanically it's been a long Montero sports truck like body on frame construction and easy suspension are largely responsible for an outstanding performance. On the highway you do pay for that prowess in the dirt with a choppy ride like a faithful steed that Montero Sport sets you high for excellent visibility as a practice horizon. Economy is also good for its midsize class at twenty point two so Clark. Now if we just had a little more powerful. Passing it would be. Perfect. Next week we'll check in with the Toyota Sienna minivan and Nissan

Altima sedan on motor weeks long term road test update. Now Lisa Barrow didn't make it to the Tokyo Motor Show this year but she still has the scoop on new models and this week's Motor News. According to Webster the letter M in its abbreviated form can denote Majesty M. or mark as in Deutsche mark but put the letters BMW in front of it and M takes on home the meaning even more so now that BMW has taken me and to new heights with the 1998 and roadster as E3 given the full muscle beach treatment. The M roadster is one inch lowered stands a new front spoiler with its larger center opening and brake cooling Dux in place of ball lands and that this isn't just another Z3 as do the chrome trim side rails bearing the M logo and the massive 17 inch Roadstar wheels that live under the wider fenders borrowed from the Z3 two point eight a unique lower apron is found in back with dual cutouts to accommodate the four tailpipes at the end of the three or breathing

exhaust system. But what really separates the end roadster from lessors eateries is the muscular 240 horsepower three point two liter BMW M straight six motors borrowed from the M3 and shoehorned into the M roadsters engine bay with dual overhead cams 24 valves and BMW panels variable valve timing system and six power plant delivers up to 200. Six down to the entire process wide powerband that can be used to fully exploit the M roadsters lightweight and delicate balance. And also makes the roadster the vast as exhilarating BMW ever sold in America with sub 6 second runs to 60 in reality if you can keep the tires from spinning heating power to the limited slip rear differential is a five speed manual transmission. The only offering in the M roadster busy three's truck type front and semi trailing arm rear suspension are still in place. They've been strengthened and retuned yet still give the M roadster a civilized ride. That's in keeping with its flashy two toned Napa leather upholstery distinctive new three

spoke BMW steering wheel groaned instrument bezels and electrically powered dropped. The M roadsters drags its way into showrooms April 1st with a price tag of forty two thousand seven hundred seventy dollars and that's it for this week's Motor News. Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be another vet book along Holmes sure that America's sports car by Randy Leffingwell. Visually it offers both historically significant black and white photos and breathtaking contemporary color shots. But it's the text packed with new behind the scenes lore that provides rare fresh insight into the birth and growth of America's best documented sports car and shows how the shifting attitudes of the American marketplace affected its development. Mercedes-Benz is best known for big logs various four door sedan but with the arrival of the smart little SLK roadster many fans are giving Germany's best known car company a second look. And that attention will soon

be rewarded with the arrival of another if larger sports luxury model. The CEO OK. Does this mean more to door success for Stuttgart. You better believe it because when you look this good success can't be far behind. And the 1998 Mercedes-Benz CEO 20 coupe has success written all over it. Not to mention plenty of performance. Imagine a competent and self-assured posture that begins at ground level with a set of lightly polished sixteen by seven inch boards alloy wheels wrapped in low profile Continental rubber had worked its way forward to a space that mirrors its larger E-Class sibling. A look originating with AC OK the real progenitor the 1993 design studio coupe concept. The car they created the mold with the striking and much copied elliptical inboard outboard headlight arrangement that graces the C Ok space which fronts a profile that brings to mind the physique of a world class athlete taut muscular and well

defined a high hatchback styled rear creates the impression of a runner crouched at the blocks waiting for the starting gun. When the fastest critter wouldn't have much of a chance against a competitor they can dash from zero to 60 in 6.7 seconds. Also impressive is the equally strong pull from 60 to 110. Not bad for an engine that fills many shoes. This one motivates its way to relatives. The M-class SUV and the E class advantage but new all aluminum 3.2 liter V-6 puts out 250 north tower and 228 pound feet of torque 85 percent of it available at a low 2000 rpm and features plenty of high tech wizardry like breathe out for cylinder when spark plug technology with a coil for each one. Then there's the flexible service system or FSS which considers various stresses acting on the engine and calculates the appropriate service intervals. Point 3 liter V8 430 will debut in late 1998.

Engine turnout is fed to the rear wheels through a driver adaptive high speed automatic transmission with standard winter driving modes combination by the lies by a constant electronic dialogue between drive train and chassis. This bit driven conversation is activated by a unique battery operated electronic key that functions much like a regular key until it's plugged in. Then the car sends out an infrared signal and passcode that when Maxwell's vehicle ignition. There's a regular key to just in case the remote door lock battery dies and the lock up valuables before you give the digital key to the valet. But trust us once you are comfortably installed behind the wheel you're not going to want to turn this car over to anybody. The leather buckets offer a dental adjustment to both driver and passenger and excellent support on all sides be it the obvious way power controls mounted on the door and a slightly cheesy looking switches that operate the three integrated air bladder. A leather wrap telescoping steering wheel is borrowed from the SLK and

cries out for tilt adjustment gauges however produce only grins and ergonomically the rest of the cabin does too. As the dual zone climate controls and switch gear that cranks up the Bose speaker equip method a set with optional six to CD changer just at your fingertips. As does he over engineered but marginal cup holder from the land of beer steins comes a cup holder that barely handles a dixie cup. The rear seats though will handle plenty for the CEO OK offers above average coupe room and above average eager S2. Thanks to a front seat that travels forward whenever the seat back is tilted there's a power sunshade to improve comfort with the rear seat is in use and retracting headrest to improve driver vision when it is at the truck like the rear seats also tenders above average capacity and general ease of use. Even more room can be had by releasing and folding the rear seat backs forward so stow your here and take to the highway confident in the way the tried and true double wishbone and boil strong suspension smoothed out

all the ugliness. Safe in the knowledge due to the standard cracking control and optional electronic stability programs are there to bail you out if the ugliness does get out of hand which it seldom will as the suspension is well balanced and the ball type C-Class steering is fastened nicely waiting to be heard saying the steering is crest the ride smooth Automobile magazine added. The balance between steering effort and feedback remains intact from lock to lock. The handling is still sufficiently sharp and bust free. And then there's brake assist. A revolutionary new enhanced. People recognize emergency rapid brake pedal movement and automatically high speed braking effort. Even if you chicken out the same kind of braking that brought RC OK down from 60 and 100 1000 feet pricing is barely revolutionary too at least for a Mercedes coupe as the si ok 320 is base priced at thirty nine thousand eight hundred fifty dollars. Sounds like another unexpected bargain from Mercedes-Benz

and that's just about what some folks spend in a year on therapy. What seems like such a waste considering the therapeutic nature of a session behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz CEO OK. The doctor is in and we can't wait for our next appointment. I hope you'll join us next week for more motorway. Well drive the 98 Dodge Intrepid said Dan and Ford's newest Ranger compact pickup truck. I'm John Davis. We'll see you then. Motor Week has been brought to you by Castro super clean all wheel cleaner. The cleaner that releases brake dust and road grime from all types of wheels on contact no matter what age your car. Castro super clean all wheel cleaner. To order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4 or Cyn 1095 plus 495 shipping and handling to Motor Week Post Office Box 5 5 7 4 2 Indianapolis Indiana 4 6 2 0 5.

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