
2021 Volvo V60 T8 Polestar Engineered & 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4
Season 41 Episode 12 | 26m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
2021 Volvo V60 T8 Polestar Engineered & 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4
Join us this week for the practical but exhilarating plug-in Volvo V60 wagon. Then for Pat Goss, it’s a reunion with a long-lost MotorWeek project car. And Greg Carloss relives his heavy-metal glory days at the drag strip. Finally we fire up a test of Jeep’s electrified Wrangler 4xe.
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National corporate funding for MotorWeek is provided by Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper (Auto Value & Bumper to Bumper are two brands owned by the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc.), Tire Rack, and Hagerty Insurance, LLC.

2021 Volvo V60 T8 Polestar Engineered & 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4
Season 41 Episode 12 | 26m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Join us this week for the practical but exhilarating plug-in Volvo V60 wagon. Then for Pat Goss, it’s a reunion with a long-lost MotorWeek project car. And Greg Carloss relives his heavy-metal glory days at the drag strip. Finally we fire up a test of Jeep’s electrified Wrangler 4xe.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR A PRACTICAL VOLVO WAGON THAT'S ALSO EXHILARATING... FOR PAT GOSS, IT'S A REUNION WITH A LONG-LOST MOTORWEEK PROJECT CAR... GREG CARLOSS RELIVES HIS HEAVY-METAL GLORY DAYS AT THE DRAG STRIP... THEN, WE FIRE UP A TEST OF JEEP'S ELECTRIFIED WRANGLER 4XE...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.
FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.
TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.
LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.
YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
"I DO."
WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS.
AND, TOOLS TO HELP.
"LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.
IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."
"OH!"
FIND, DELIVER, INSTALL.
John: GETTING FOLKS TO BUY STATION WAGONS THESE DAYS, OR EVEN ADD THEM TO THEIR SHOPPING LIST, IS GETTING INCREDIBLY HARD.
BUT, IT HELPS IF LIKE VOLVO, YOU'RE OFFERING SOMETHING A LITTLE EXTRA.
* IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BUYING A WAGON, CHANCES ARE, PRACTICALITY IS NEAR THE TOP OF YOUR LIST OF REASONS WHY; TRADITION AND CAR-LIKE DRIVABILITY MAY ALSO BE FACTORS KEEPING YOU FROM GOING OVER TO THE SUV DARK SIDE.
WELL, THE 2021 VOLVO V60 T8 POLESTAR ENGINEERED OFFERS ALL OF THAT; ALONG WITH SOME SERIOUS PERFORMANCE, AND IT EVEN FLEXES SOME EFFICIENCY MUSCLES WITH AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, PLUG-IN HYBRID POWERTRAIN.
THIS 2ND-GENERATION V60 ARRIVED FOR 2019, WITH A DESIGN THAT WAS DRAMATICALLY SLEEKER THAN ANY VOLVO WAGON BEFORE; MUCH LONGER AND LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS GEN.
IT STILL LOOKS LIKE A VOLVO WAGON, BUT ONE THAT'S DRIVING OUT OF THE PAGES OF A NEIMAN MARCUS CATALOG AFTER WORKING OUT ON ONE OF THOSE HIGH-END VIRTUAL GYMS.
POLESTAR MAY NOW BE VOLVO'S ALL-ELECTRIC SISTER-BRAND, BUT IT ORIGINATED AS VOLVO'S RACING ARM; AND THEY'VE WORKED THEIR RACE-INSPIRED MAGIC ALL OVER THIS V60.
FOR STARTERS, THEY UPGRADED THE DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT AND INTEGRAL-LINK REAR SUSPENSION WITH ADJUSTABLE OHLINS DAMPERS WITH DUAL FLOW VALVE TECHNOLOGY.
THEN, THEY ADD A FRONT STRUT TOWER BRACE TO STIFFEN UP THE FRONT END.
BRAKES ARE UPGRADED WITH GOLD-FINISHED BREMBO 6-PISTON CALIPERS FOR THE FRONT AXLE BEHIND 19 INCH FORGED ALLOYS.
THE PHEV POWER-TRAIN STARTS WITH THEIR TWICE BOOSTED 2.0 LITER I4 ENGINE THAT IS BOTH TURBOCHARGED AND SUPERCHARGED.
IT'S PAIRED WITH A 34 KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR AND ACCOMPANIED BY A REAR-MOUNTED 64 KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.
TOTAL OUTPUT IS 415 HORSEPOWER AND 494 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
USING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR REAR TRACTION MEANS NO AWD DRIVESHAFT.
SO OCCUPYING THAT SPACE IS AN 11.6 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY PACK, GOOD FOR UP TO 22 MILES OF EV DRIVING.
PERFORMANCE WAGONS ARE A GUILTY PLEASURE OF OURS, SO WE COULD HARDLY WAIT TO LET THIS THING RUN FREE AT THE DRAG STRIP.
AND THE EXPLOSION OF POWER OFF THE LINE WAS EVERYTHING WE'D HOPED FOR.
NO LAG, NO HESITATION; JUST A BIG HIT OF TORQUE FUNNELED THROUGH BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS PROVIDING A LEAP TO 60 OF ONLY 4.7 SECONDS.
FROM THERE, GEAR CHANGES IN THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAPPEN WITH LITTLE TO NO INTERRUPTION, WITH THE T8 STAYING AT PEAK POWER THROUGH THE WHOLE 13.2 SECOND QUARTER-MILE, FINISHING AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.
DESPITE STEERING THAT WAS A BIT LIGHT AND VAGUE; THIS V60 REALLY HUSTLED THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.
THE LONG WHEELBASE GIVES IT A VERY STABLE AND PREDICTABLE FEEL; WHILE THE RESPONSIVE THROTTLE ALLOWS FOR QUICKLY FINDING BOTH OVERSTEER AND UNDERSTEER WITH A TIMELY STAB OR LIFT.
BODY ROLL WAS MINIMAL, AS THIS WAGON FELT NAILED DOWN AND READY TO ROCK.
THE BREMBO BRAKES ARE CONNECTED TO A VERY STIFF PEDAL; WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING THE V60 TO CONSISTENT STOPS FROM 60 IN JUST 110 FEET, WITH ONLY A SLIGHT BIT OF WANDERING AT THE BACK END.
SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT VOLVO'S CHINESE OWNERSHIP, THE SCANDINAVIAN INFLUENCE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP ARE WELL REPRESENTED INSIDE THE V60, AND GORGEOUSLY EXECUTED.
THE SEATS HOLD YOU IN THAT OH-SO-PERFECT WAY THAT ONLY VOLVO SEATS CAN, THERE'S A CRYSTAL CLEAR 12 INCH DIGITAL DRIVE DISPLAY BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, AND IN THE DASH, VOLVO'S 9.0 INCH SENSUS CONNECT TOUCHSCREEN WHICH RESPONDS MORE QUICKLY TO INPUTS THAN WHEN IT FIRST ARRIVED.
ON THE PRACTICALITY FRONT, 22.9 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE IN BACK, EXPANDING TO 50.5 WHEN REAR SEATBACKS ARE FOLDED.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 30-COMBINED; WITH 69-COMBINED FOR THE MPGE; OUR AVERAGE WAS 31.6 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.
THAT MAKES FOR A MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST 5.7 BARRELS OF OIL USE ANNUALLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 2.6 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.
CONSIDERING THIS IS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE WAGON, WITH A VERY LIMITED CLIENTELE; A STARTING PRICE OF $68,395 WHILE LOFTY, SEEMS APPROPRIATE.
THE PHEV 2021 VOLVO V60 T8 POLESTAR ENGINEERED IS A SOUPED-UP SUPER-WAGON THAT DELIVERS ON ALL FRONTS; POWERFUL, PRACTICAL, LUXURIOUS, AND YES...EVEN QUITE STYLISH.
ALL WITH A SWEDISH NO-NONSENSE LOW-KEY ATTITUDE THAT'S MORE SATISFYING THAN SHOWY.
IT'S A NEW BREED OF VOLVO, AND ONE THAT WE'RE BIG FANS OF!
* OUR NEW PERFORMANCE TESTING VENUE, MASON-DIXON DRAGWAY IN BOONSBORO HAS BEEN A SPEED DEMON HOTSPOT FOR THE MARYLAND AND THE ENTIRE MID-ATLANTIC FOR LONGER THAN WE'VE BEEN ON THE AIR.
AND, THIS WEEK OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, GREG CARLOSS MAKES HIS WAY OUT THERE, NOT FOR NUMBERS, BUT FOR NOSTALGIA.
* Greg Carloss: WHO DOESN'T LOVE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE?
WELL...TODAY, AT MASON-DIXON DRAGWAY, MEMORY LANE IS A PREPPED DRAGSTRIP AND NOT EVERYONE'S WALKING.
[ENGINES REVVING] Elmer Wachter, Track Operator: THIS IS THE 8TH ANNUAL NOSTALGIA MEET AND IT'S A...PRETTY WELL ATTENDED... Greg: PRETTY WELL ATTENDED MAY BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
THE PLACE IS PACKED WITH PEOPLE WHO CAME FOR CARS, SPEED, AND MEMORIES.
Elmer: WE HAVE SOME DRIVERS HERE THAT ARE PROBABLY, 40 AND 50 YEARS AGO THEY WERE RACERS.
SO, IT'S ALL ABOUT THEM.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE OLDER CARS, AND WE ALSO HAVE A NOSTALGIA CLASS FOR THE OLDER CARS.
SO, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING FOR SOMEBODY HERE TODAY.
Greg: MASON-DIXON DRAGWAY OFFICIALLY OPENED IN 1961, SO THE TRACK ITSELF IS A PIECE OF DRAG RACING HISTORY.
AND AS THE MORNING CLOUD COVER MOVES EAST OVER THE MOUNTAINS, RACERS ROLL IN WHILE THE SUN SHINES ON THE CAR SHOW.
THE SHOW IS OPEN TO ALL MAKES ALL MODELS AND ALL ERAS, BUT AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, VINTAGE CARS STILL DOMINATE THE FIELD.
Judge #1: I MEAN, YOU'LL SEE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MAYBE OUT OF THE MOVIES OR SOMETHING YOU GREW UP TO.
Judge #2: AND IT TAKES YOU BACK TO THE PAST.
AND A LOT OF THE GUYS, THEY ACTUALLY FEEL YOUNGER.
I THINK WHEN YOU SEE THEM, THEY'RE SMILING AT YOU WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR CARS.
Greg: MEANWHILE, THERE'S PLENTY OF SMILES JUST OFF THE TRACK WITH A GROUP OF LEAD-FOOTED LEGENDS.
Elmer: WELL, THEY'RE CALLING IT A FUNNY CAR REUNION, SO THE CAR IS FROM THE 1970s THAT WERE FUNNY CAR DRIVERS AND CREW MEMBERS.
THEY'RE UP IN THE AGE FROM ANYWHERE FROM 84 YEARS OLD, UP INTO THEIR EARLY '90s AND TO GET TOGETHER TO GET 50 OF THEM TOGETHER AT ONE TIME WILL BE A PRETTY DIFFICULT TASK IN THE FUTURE...
SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO SEE EACH OTHER ONE LAST TIME.
Greg: AND MARYLAND-NATIVE, TOM SNEDEN IS A DRIVER MANY OF THE FANS CAME TO SEE.
TOM SNEDEN, DRAG RACER: I STARTED RACING IN 1952, I'VE RACED QUITE A FEW.
ANYTHING FROM SUPER STOCKERS TO FUNNY CARS, FUEL FUNNY CARS.
I WAS WELL KNOWN THROUGH THE COUNTRY.
Elmer: I THINK, IT'S EVERYBODY'S PERSONAL FAVORITE BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS GET TO SEE SOMEBODY THEY HAVEN'T SEEN FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS.
AND, THEY DO A LOT OF WHAT THEY CALL "BENCH RACING" WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING; WHEN JOHN GOT BEAT BY PHIL OR, YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYTHING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEM IN THE LINE OF DRAG RACING.
Greg: WHILE, SOME MAY BE HERE FOR THE BENCH RACING, TOM BROUGHT HIS DODGE CORONET SUPERSTOCK FOR THE REAL RACING.
AND WITH 274 CARS REGISTERED, THERE'S PLENTY OF IT.
Elmer: I BELIEVE THAT DRAG RACING BEGAN WHEN THE SECOND CAR WAS MADE AND THAT'S A BILL WILCOM STATEMENT.
THE HUMAN NATURE IS TO BE COMPETITIVE.
Greg: EVEN AS THE SUN STARTS TO SET ON THE CARS AND THE DRIVERS FROM DRAG RACING'S HAY DAYS, ELMER IS KEEPING THE PEDAL DOWN TOWARD THE FUTURE.
Elmer: WE HAVE A JUNIOR DRAGSTER RACE WHICH IS KIDS FROM 6-YEARS-OLD TO 18-YEARS-OLD BEFORE THEY GET THEIR LICENSE, WE WILL FIND SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED BY AND WE'VE CHANGED UP WITH OUR STREET RACING.
WE'VE ADDED SOME INDEX CLASSES BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HEADS-UP RACING, SIDE-BY-SIDE RACING, SO WE'RE DOING WELL.
Greg: AND THAT MEANS, THE GOOD TIMES WILL KEEP ON ROLLING AT MASON-DIXON DRAGWAY.
John: EVERYONE ENJOYS A SURPRISE ONCE IN AWHILE AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN UNEXPECTED CAR PROBLEM AND OUR PAT GOSS IS NO DIFFERENT.
SO THIS WEEK WE REUNITE PAT WITH A BLAST FROM HIS PAST.
* WELL, HELLO PAT GOSS!
Pat Goss: WELL, HI JOHN.
John: WELCOME TO ANOTHER EXCITING DAY AT GOSS' GARAGE!
Pat: OKAYY.
John: AND WE'VE GOT A LITTLE SURPRISE FOR YOU PAT, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
Pat: OHH, LORD.
John: LOOK THIS WAY.
Pat: OH, MY GOD!
John: REMEMBER THE MAXTON?
Pat: YES, I DO!
John: COME ON, WE'VE GOT IT ALL PLANNED OUT.
YOU AND THE MAXTON ARE UP FOR A HUGE REUNION!
AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET THIS BABY GOING AGAIN.
Pat: OH REALLY?
John: OH, REALLY.
[LAUGHS] Pat: JOHN, I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE ACTUALLY BUILT THIS CAR, WE DID A 5-PART SERIES ON PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND MAKING IT WHAT IT IS.
John: THAT WAS REALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ESSENTIALLY BUILDING A CAR...
THIS WAS A COMPONENT CAR AT THE TIME.
YOU GOT THE BODY, YOU GOT THE CHASSIS, BUT YOU BASICALLY PUT IT TOGETHER YOURSELF.
Pat: OH...YEAH, I REMEMBER THE WIRING IN THIS, IT WAS A NIGHTMARE, ACTUALLY!
John: HAD YOU EVER BUILT A CAR BEFORE?
Pat: WELL, I HAD BUILT CARS, BUT I STARTED FROM THE GROUND UP MYSELF, AND DOING THE WHOLE THING, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN BUYING PARTS AND PUTTING THEM TOGETHER.
John: WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THIS, I KNOW IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO, BUT I REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.
Pat: WELL, I REMEMBER A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WEREN'T QUITE RIGHT, THAT WE HAD TO ADJUST AND TWEAK AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO BUILD A CAR SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR.
John: NOW, THIS CAR ACTUALLY BECAME PART OF A CONTEST THAT MOTORWEEK HAD, AND THE WINNER OF THAT CONTEST WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, REMEMBER WE TOOK IT DOWN THERE.
Pat: I SURE DO.
John: AND A LADY HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST FOR HER HUSBAND, AND HE WAS SURPRISED WASN'T HE?
Pat: HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE HAD ENTERED OR WON.
John: AND THE FACT THAT IT HAD HOW MANY PEDALS?
Pat: HA!
HE LOOKED INSIDE IT, AND HE SAID, "OH MY GOSH, IT HAS THREE PEDALS!"
AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH THREE PEDALS AND A GEARSHIFT.
John: OH, MY!
AND THEN, A FRIEND OF OURS, MICHAEL WHITFIELD, BACK HERE IN OWINGS MILLS, NOT TOO FAR FROM OUR STUDIOS, HE BOUGHT THE MAXTON, BROUGHT IT BACK UP, HE RACED IT VERY SUCCESSFULLY, BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING SHELTERED INSIDE A GARAGE FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.
Pat: WELL, IT STILL LOOKS GOOD... John: WELL, WADDAYA THINK, PAT... ARE YOU UP TO GETTING THE MAXTON BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN?
Pat: ABSOLUTELY, AND I'D LOVE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN!
John: I CAN'T WAIT.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT STAY TUNED FOR THE REBIRTH OF THE MAXTON!
Jessica Ray: PEOPLE LOVE SUBARU'S FOR THEIR ALL-WEATHER CAPABILITY, AS WELL AS FOR THEIR PRACTICALITY AND USABILITY.
OUR 2021 SUBARU CROSSTREK SPORT HAS EXCELLED IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS, AS WELL AS A FEW WE DIDN'T EXPECT.
ADDING A LITTLE OVER 2,000 MILES SINCE OUR LAST REPORT INDICATES WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN SOME HIGHWAY TIME, AND DESPITE ITS SIZE, THE CROSSTREK HAS PROVED TO BE NICE AND COMFY FOR LONG TRIPS.
OUR SPORT'S 182 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER ENGINE CAN BE A LITTLE LOUD AT EXTENDED HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AT TIMES FEELS LIKE IT'S WORKING HARD TO KEEP UP WITH INTERSTATE TRAFFIC.
BUT THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR 29.4 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE OVER 8,000 MILES, WHICH ALLOWS FOR WELL OVER 400 MILES BEFORE NEEDING A FILL UP.
SOME SMALL UTILITIES BARELY GET 300 MILES TO A TANK.
OUR 2021 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI HAS BEEN A BREATH OF 4-DOOR FRESH AIR, GIVING US A RENEWED APPRECIATION FOR THE SIMPLE JOY OF DRIVING; SOMETHING THAT'S GETTING A BIT LOST IN OUR SPORT UTILITY OBSESSED WORLD.
Greg: THIS GLI IS A FUN, LITTLE CAR TO DRIVE AND NOT JUST BECAUSE IT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
THE CHASSIS IS DIALED IN AND THERE'S JUST ENOUGH POWER FROM THE TURBO-4 TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
I LIKE THAT THERE'S A COMFORT DRIVE MODE BECAUSE IT QUIETS DOWN SOME OF THE EXHAUST NOISE THAT'S PUMPED IN AND MAKES IT MORE... WELL, COMFORTABLE ON THE HIGHWAY.
Jessica: AND NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS...
THIS IS OUR FINAL REPORT ON THE GLI, AS IT'S ROLLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY FOR THE LAST TIME.
WITH US FOR A TOTAL OF 3-MONTHS; WE RACKED UP 3,573 MILES, AND AVERAGED A FINE 31.2 MILES PER GALLON FROM THE SPIRITED 228 HORSEPOWER TURBO-4.
THERE'S ONLY ONE CAR THAT CAN CALL ITSELF THE GTI OF SPORT SEDANS, AND THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI IS IT!
TIME FOR THE LATEST ON OUR TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!
John: FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SO ARE FIRST DRIVES.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME FOR A QUICKSPIN!
* Jessica: THE SECOND-GENERATION OF SUBARU'S BRZ BREEZES INTO THE LINEUP FOR 2022 WITH MORE OF EVERYTHING WE'VE ALWAYS LOVED ABOUT THIS SMALL REAR-DRIVE 2+2 SPORTS CAR.
THE BASIC CHASSIS IS STILL SHARED WITH TOYOTA'S GR 86, ALSO NEW FOR '22, BUT SUBARU HAS TUNED ITS VERSION FOR STABILITY AND PRECISION, WITH UNIQUE SPRING RATES, ALUMINUM FRONT KNUCKLES, AND A REAR STABILIZER BAR MOUNTED DIRECTLY TO THE BODY.
ROAD RIDE IS FIRM, BUT COMPLIANT...WITH A NIMBLE, BALANCED NATURE AND PREDICTABLE HANDLING.
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROVIDES EXCELLENT FEEDBACK AND A 60% STIFFER FRONT SECTION SHARPENS INITIAL TURN-IN.
THE BRZ SEEMS TAILOR-MADE FOR SPIRITED BACKROAD DRIVING, AND SHOWED ITSELF TO BE QUITE CAPABLE AND ENTERTAINING.
POWER INCREASES TO 228 HORSEPOWER FROM A LARGER 2.4 LITER FLAT-FOUR, WHILE TORQUE BUMPS UP BY 15% TO 184 POUND-FEET.
WHILE, STILL NOT A POWERHOUSE, ENGINE RESPONSIVENESS AND ACCELERATION TIMES ARE NOTICEABLY IMPROVED.
A SIX SPEED MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ARE AVAILABLE.
Dave Scrivener: A DAY ON THE ROAD COURSE AND AUTOCROSS HERE AT LIME ROCK PARK JUST CONFIRMS THE IMPROVEMENTS SUBARU HAS MADE TO THE 2022 BRZ.
A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY, LIGHTER WEIGHT, MORE POWER, AND A MORE FINELY TUNED SUSPENSION; IT'S A FUN, FUNCTIONAL, EVERYDAY SPORTS CAR.
Jessica: INSIDE, THE SPORTY CABIN OFFERS EXCELLENT VISIBILITY DESPITE A LOW SEATING POSITION, WHILE A NEW 7.0 INCH DIGITAL DASHBOARD WITH CUSTOMIZABLE DISPLAY KEEPS THE DRIVER INFORMED.
WITH REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED, THE CARGO AREA CAN EVEN ACCOMMODATE A SPARE SET OF TIRES AND TOOLS FOR A DAY AT THE TRACK.
BRZ WILL BE OFFERED IN PREMIUM OR LIMITED TRIM LEVELS: BOTH COME STANDARD WITH A LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFF AND TRACTION CONTROL WITH TRACK MODE, BUT THE LIMITED RIDES ON LARGER, STICKIER 18 INCH TIRES AND SPORTS A RED-ACCENTED ULTRASUEDE INTERIOR.
PRICING WILL START AT $28,955 FOR THE MANUAL PREMIUM AND TOPS OUT AT $33,255 FOR THE AUTOMATIC LIMITED.
WE'LL SPEND SOME MORE TIME IN THE 2022 SUBARU BRZ SOON, SO KEEP IT LOCKED ON MOTORWEEK !
John: WHEN IT COMES TO OLD-SCHOOL VEHICLES THAT HAVE CHANGED LITTLE OVER TIME...THE FIRST CLASSIC THAT PROBABLY COMES TO MIND IS THE JEEP WRANGLER.
SO, IT'S PERHAPS THE LAST ONE YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE AN ELECTRIC CHARGE PORT.
BUT, WE ALL KNOW THINGS ARE CHANGING MORE RAPIDLY THESE DAYS, AND JEEP IS FULLY ON BOARD WITH WHAT BATTERY POWER CAN BRING TO THE TABLE, AND YES, EVEN TO THE TRAIL!
* IF THERE'S ONE MODEL, WE THOUGHT MIGHT NEVER MAKE THE TRANSITION TO BATTERY POWER IT WAS THE JEEP WRANGLER.
WELL, THE JOKE'S ON ALL OF US, AS JEEP IS WASTING NO TIME EMBRACING THE ELECTRIFIED FUTURE WITH THIS 2021 WRANGLER 4XE, THE FIRST OF THREE PLUG-INS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.
THE MAIN THING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PLUG-IN HYBRID IS THAT IT STILL DRIVES JUST LIKE A WRANGLER.
THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS IT CAN RUN ALMOST SILENTLY ON BATTERY POWER, NOT SOMETHING WE'RE USED TO IN A RUGGED UTILITY LIKE THIS.
NOW, IT'S NOT AS POWERFUL FEELING AS MOST FULL EVs OR EVEN SOME OTHER PHEVs, AS THE GAS ENGINE SEEMS TO KICK IN TO HELP OUT WHENEVER YOU GO FULL THROTTLE.
THE 4XE IS RATED FOR 22 MILES OF EV ONLY DRIVING AND YOU CAN SELECT WHEN TO USE IT.
WE SAW AS MANY AS 26 MILES AVAILABLE ON THE GAUGE AND GOT FAIRLY CLOSE TO ACHIEVING THAT.
ONCE YOU'VE EXHAUSTED THOSE EV MILES, HYBRID MODE TRANSITIONS FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS ARE MOSTLY SEAMLESS, ONLY REALLY HEARING THE ENGINE UNDER HARD ACCELERATION.
THE 4XE'S 17 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY IS LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, PACKAGED BENEATH THE REAR SEAT, LEAVING CARGO SPACE INTACT, AS WELL AS KEEPING IT OUT OF THE ELEMENTS.
IT FEEDS ENERGY TO A PAIR OF ELECTRIC MOTORS; ONE REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, AND ONE INTEGRATED INTO THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
NO MANUAL AVAILABLE WITH THIS PLUG-IN POWERTRAIN.
THE GAS ENGINE IS JEEP'S 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO; WHICH WHEN COMBINED WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTORS, SEES THE TOTAL OUTPUT JUMP TO A HEALTHY 375 HORSEPOWER, WITH A STOUT 470 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
SO, IT WAS OFF TO MASON DIXON DRAGWAY TO SEE WHAT THE 4XE IS CAPABLE OF.
EVEN THOUGH THE 2.0 TURBO FELT A BIT LAGGY OFF THE LINE, WITH BATTERY BOOST, THE 4XE IS CAPABLE OF 0-60 IN 6.0 SECONDS.
INDEED, THAT'S ABOUT A SECOND FASTER THAN A WRANGLER WITH A GAS V6.
THE TURBO-4 COMES INTO ITS OWN AT THE HIGHER END OF THE TACH, AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND SMOOTH, AND LIKE ALL WRANGLERS, IT TENDS TO WANDER A BIT AT HIGH SPEEDS.
THE QUARTER-MILE; 15.0 SECONDS AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.
NOW, NO VEHICLE DESIGNED WITH OFF PAVEMENT USE AS A PRIORITY, IS GOING TO TEAR UP A SLALOM COURSE; AND THE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF BODY ROLL AND NUMB STEERING FELT HERE, HAD US FEELING LIKE WE WERE ONE BAD MOVE AWAY FROM TROUBLE.
BUT, HAVING DRIVEN PLENTY OF WRANGLERS OVER THE YEARS, WE KNEW TO BACK OFF WAY BEFORE APPROACHING THAT DANGER ZONE, AND ALSO KNOW THERE ARE PLENTY OF SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE THESE DAYS TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING AS WELL.
IN THE TRANSITION TO PHEV STATUS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPROMISES OF THE WRANGLER'S TRAIL RATED CAPABILITIES; 4-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH 2-SPEED TRANSFER CASE IS STILL STANDARD.
NOW, JEEP CLAIMS THE INTEGRATION OF ELECTRIC POWER ONLY ENHANCES THE WRANGLER'S OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE.
TO FIND OUT FOR OURSELVES, WE MADE USE OF THE ESAVE MODE WHILE ON THE PAVEMENT, TO HIT THE TRAIL UNDER STRICTLY BATTERY POWER; ALLOWING US TO TREAD MORE LIGHTLY THAN EVER.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MUDDY MID-ATLANTIC, LOCAL TRAIL HOUNDS WILL TELL YOU, YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR TIRES; AND OUR SAHARA-TRIMMED TESTER STRUGGLED TO FIND GRIP AT TIMES, BUT WAS MOSTLY UNSTOPPABLE THANKS TO ITS SELEC-TRAC 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM.
SO, ON WE WENT!
IN ADDITION TO A CHARGE PORT AT THE BASE OF THE LEFT A-PILLAR, 4XE WRANGLER'S GET SPECIAL ELECTRIC BLUE TRIM; BUT NOT MUCH ELSE TO SET IT APART FROM EVERY OTHER MODERN WRANGLER.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 20-COMBINED; 49-COMBINED FOR THE MPGE.
STARTING OFF WITH A FULL CHARGE, WE AVERAGED 31.0 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR, WHICH BEATS WHAT WE GOT IN THE WRANGLER ECODIESEL BY 2.5 MILES PER GALLON.
AND DELIVERS A MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 8.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH 3.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.
4XEs ARE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AS UNLIMITED 4-DOORS IN THREE TRIMS; SAHARA, HIGH ALTITUDE, AND EVEN RUBICON, STARTING AT $51,300 BEFORE ANY GOVERNMENT TAX INCENTIVES.
IT ONLY SEEMS FITTING FOR A BRAND THAT RELIES ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS DESIGNED IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY, WOULD USE THAT VEHICLE TO FULLY PUSH THE BRAND INTO THE 21ST.
IS IT A FULL EV?
NO!
IS IT A HUGE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION?
YES!
THE 2021 JEEP WRANGLER 4XE IS THE MOST TECHNICALLY ADVANCED JEEP YET, AND A WHOLE NEW WAY TO BE A PIONEERING OFF-ROAD LEADER.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
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UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS.
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