
2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 & 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Season 36 Episode 49 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 & 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
In this episode, we dig into the dirt with Chevrolet’s tough new Colorado ZR2. Pat Goss has advice on cleaning something you’ll never see, but will always notice. Our two wheelin’ guy Brian Robinson takes on all-terrain…side by side. And at last, Volkswagen goes 3-rows big time with the all-new Atlas.
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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.) and Tire Rack.

2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 & 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Season 36 Episode 49 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
In this episode, we dig into the dirt with Chevrolet’s tough new Colorado ZR2. Pat Goss has advice on cleaning something you’ll never see, but will always notice. Our two wheelin’ guy Brian Robinson takes on all-terrain…side by side. And at last, Volkswagen goes 3-rows big time with the all-new Atlas.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHI, I'M JOHN DAVIS JOIN US AS WE DIG INTO TOUGH NEW COLORADO ZR2... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON CLEANING BUT WILL ALWAYS NOTICE... BRIAN ROBINSON TAKES ON AND AT LAST, WITH THE ALL-NEW ATLAS...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY * Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE Man: "OOPS."
Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.
Announcer: FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT LASER MEASURED, CUSTOMED FIT IN THE FRONT, BACK, WEATHERTECH.
MADE IN AMERICA.
STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT John: EVER SINCE FORD'S RAPTOR WE, AS WELL AS THE CHEVY TRUCK HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A BOW TIE WELL, WE'VE FINALLY GOT ONE, SILVERADO THAT WE EXPECTED.
SO, LET'S FIND OUT IF IS ABLE TO DO MORE WITH * FOR 2017, CHEVROLET DOES INDEED INSATIABLE OFF ROADERS, WE'VE SEEN THE ZR2 BADGE BEFORE ON S-10 PICKUPS AND BLAZERS, CHEVROLET TRACKER IN THE 1990s.
BUT IT NOW SEEMS TO HAVE MUCH PURPOSE-BUILT RIG.
STANDARD POWERTRAIN IS 3.6 LITER V6 WITH COUPLED TO AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC THE COLORADO'S BASE 2.5 LITER I4 BUT THE 2.8 LITER DURAMAX I4 OUTPUTTING 186 HORSEPOWER, AND A STOUT 369 POUND-FEET OF IT COMES WITH A 6-SPEED 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS, OF COURSE, WE SPENT SOME TIME BURNING, AND DIESEL FUMES OUT IN THE DIRT WE HAD PLENTY OF FUN WITH BOTH, IF GM SNUCK SOME MORE POWER INTO ALONG WITH QUICKER RESPONSIVE THE LIST OF INCLUDED OFF-ROAD INCLUDING ELECTRONIC LOCKING ROCKER PROTECTION, AUTOTRAC TRANSFER CASE, OFF-ROAD PROGRAMMING FOR AND 17.0 INCH ALUMINUM WHEELS WRANGLER DURATRAC ALL-TERRAINS.
THE SUSPENSION GETS A MODEST BUT THE BIGGEST DEAL HERE, SUSPENSIONS SPOOL VALVE DAMPERS, ON THE CAMARO Z-28.
CHEVROLET SAYS, "THIS IS IN AN OFF ROAD TRUCK."
AND WE CAN ATTEST IT ALLOWS OBSTACLES BOTH BIG AND SMALL, GETTING BIG AIR LIKE ALL WHILE YOU FEEL TOTALLY THERE'S NOTHING ELSE SURE YOU COULD THROW TOYOTA'S A TACOMA AND GET CLOSE, AND THE RIDE QUALITY WOULD BE CHEVROLET WENT THE SEDATE ROUTE NO FLASHY BOMBASTIC GRAPHICS JUST MINIMAL ZR2 LETTERING BUT IT'S CERTAINLY MORE THAN THERE'S THE DISTINCTIVE AND BOTH FRONT AND REAR ARE THE STANCE IS NOTICEABLY WITH PLENTY OF SKID PLATE BOTH CREW AND EXTENDED CABS ARE AS ARE BOTH SHORT A SPRAY-IN BED LINER IS A TRAILERING PACKAGE WITH IS ALSO INCLUDED, THE OFF-ROAD UPGRADES, TO 5,000 POUNDS.
NOT MUCH VISUAL CHANGE INSIDE, IF LIKE US, YOU APPRECIATE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL AND QUIET A BAD THING IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO SHOW OFF TO YOUR FRIENDS.
MUCH LIKE THE LATEST RAPTOR, SURPRISINGLY PLEASANT.
THE ZR2 IS NOT FLOATY AT ALL, ALLOW FOR QUICK TURN-INS AND ROAD NOISE FROM THE TIRES WHILE NOT EXACTLY, A DIRECT AS FAR AS THE TOTAL PACKAGE THE ZR2s JUST RIGHT SIZE MAKES OPTION FOR DAILY USE, IN TIGHT TRAILS, THE RAPTOR'S MONSTER MOTOR GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS 17-COMBINED FOR GAS, 20-COMBINED FOR THE DIESEL...
...WHICH HAS THE BETTER ENERGY ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, PRICING STARTS AT $40,995 FOR CREW CAB; ADD ANOTHER YOU COULD SPEND MUCH LESS BUT WHY WOULD YOU?
THIS BEAST OF A BARGAIN IS NOW AT LEAST UNTIL THE PRICE THE 2017 CHEVROLET COLORADO ZR2 FROM ROCK CRAWLING, TO BOMBING TO HAULING YOUR TOYS, AND EVEN GETTING YOU TO WORK ALL WHILE FEELING LIKE SOME WELL, DONE GM.
* THOUGH OUR TWO WHEELIN' LIKES TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME ON HE'S ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HOW MANY WHEELS ARE INVOLVED.
SO LET'S FIND OUT IS UP TO THIS WEEK.
* Brian: WHETHER YOU CALL THEM THEY'RE ONE OF THE FASTEST THE POWERSPORTS INDUSTRY.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW THE NUMBER OF THESE 4X4s THAT HAVE ENTERED FEW YEARS IS TRULY ASTOUNDING.
AND HERE AT MOTORWEEK , WE'VE BEEN MOSTLY MISSING OUT TO MAKE UP FOR THAT, TO TRYOUT FOUR OF THESE OUT IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT.
KAWASAKI HAS BEEN IN VEHICLE GAME FOR QUITE PROGRESSING FROM TO THE TERRAIN-TACKLING TERYX.
THIS TERYX4, A GOOD-SIZE BED FOR HAULING AND A 783CC V-TWIN ENGINE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE HIGHEST PERFORMING ROVS THIS RZR 4900 IS BY NO MEANS BUT IT HAS OFF-ROADING OR TWO AGO FOR ANYTHING IT COMES WITH AN 875CC ENGINE, AND OVER 12 INCHES OF SUSPENSION EVEN HONDA HAS JOINED THE MINI 700-4 AMONG OTHERS.
IT WAS THE SMALLEST OF BUT IT STILL FEATURES AND ITS COMPACT CHASSIS LIKE A RABBIT NAVIGATING ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM WITH 6-SEATS FOR HAULING AROUND PROVIDED YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH BEING SOMEWHAT UNIQUE AMONG WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TRAIL TIME NAVIGATING ITS CAR-LIKE THROUGH NARROW TRAILS IS NOT AND ITS 686CC ENGINE HAS ALL THIS RANCH EDITION MODEL, UPGRADED SADDLE BROWN INTERIOR, EVEN WITH ROOM FOR SIX, BED FOR CARGO AS WELL AS FOR PROTECTING IT.
ALL FOUR OF THESE RIGS OUT ON THE TRAIL.
* THOUGH, THEY MAY OPERATE MUCH EVERY DAY, THEY RESPOND QUITE DIFFERENTLY SO IF YOU DO WISH TO JOIN IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET SOME THE RECREATIONAL OFF-HIGHWAY CAN HELP WITH THAT, AND ON-TRAIL INSTRUCTION.
WITH SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF ROV PRICES VARY SIGNIFICANTLY, RANGING FROM JUST UNDER $12,000 SO WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
BUT WITH THE AMOUNT OF BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ONE, AND THE AMAZING PLACES YOU CAN IT'S ONE INVESTMENT THAT WILL IMMEDIATELY.
John: IF YOU LOVE THEN YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO, TO BE A STICKLER FOR PREVENTIVE LET'S LET PAT CLEAR THE AIR DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE.
Pat Goss: EVERY TIME WE DRIVE SOMETHING LIKE WE SEE HERE, WELL, BEHIND THAT INSTRUMENT THE MOST NOTABLY THE HEATING THE HVAC.
NOW, INSIDE THIS HVAC SYSTEM THERE ARE DOORS THAT AND THERE'S A BLOWER MOTOR BUT WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH SUCH AS WE SEE HERE.
NOW, ONE OF THEM IS HOT COOLANT FLOWS THROUGH IT THROUGH THAT AND WE GET HOT AIR THE OTHER IS THE EVAPORATOR.
THE EVAPORATOR IS PART OF AND WE PUT REFRIGERANT THROUGH NOW, WE CAN SEE WITH REALLY FINE PASSAGES IN THE NOW, OVER TIME DIRT FROM FUMES FROM EXHAUST FROM AND OILS FROM THE ROAD, AS THE AIR PASSES THROUGH VERY FINE PARTICLES AND OVER IN HERE GET CLOGGED UP.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE AIR MOVING THROUGH IT, BLOCKAGE OF THESE PARTS IS AND THAT COMES FROM OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR IS WORKING.
SO IF YOU HAVE AN AIR LAST MONTH'S DIRTY SWEAT SOCKS, YOU PROBABLY NEED THIS NEXT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THIS.
WE START OUT USING AN WE USE A QUARTER INCH BIT IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A PIECE AND WE DRILL AT THE SPOT THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS TELL US AND WE DON'T DRILL IN ANY MORE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THEN WHAT WE DO, IS WE INSTALL ONCE WE HAVE THE BRASS ADAPTOR WE THEN CONNECT ONE OF THESE NOW, THIS HOSE GETS CONNECTED NOW, THIS PRODUCT IS DESIGNED AND WE DISPENSE IT INTO THIS TURNS INTO A FOAM FILLS THE WHOLE INSIDE OF AND EVERYTHING WITH THIS FOAM, NOW, WHAT THE DOES IS IT CLEANS THE EVAPORATOR, AND ALL OF THAT STUFF AND MAKES NOW, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH IT, GIVE IT TO THE CUSTOMER, AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
MANY TIMES IT HAS TO BE DONE AND IN BETWEEN, THE SYSTEM SMELLING BETTER.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE John: IF YOU'VE A FREQUENT YOU LIKELY KNOW, THE CROSSTREK FOR 2013, A RUGGEDIZED IMPREZA HATCHBACK, WELL, AFTER SPENDING SIX MONTHS AND WITH AN ALL NEW CROSSTREK THAT CANDLE STILL BURNS BRIGHT, STILL, AFTER 9,700 MILES, YOU DO NOTICE LITTLE THINGS YOU LIKE A LACK OF STRETCH-OUT LEG AND NEVER QUITE ENOUGH POWER FOR STRESS FREE HIGHWAY MERGING.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IT PRETTY FROM LAST REPORT TO A STILL BUT WHERE THE CROSSTREK TRULY AS AN ALL-WEATHER COMMUTER WITH AND PRACTICAL UTILITY TO SPARE.
OUR 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA SURE WE'VE PUT OVER 13,000 MILES SEVEN MONTHS.
THE 287 HORSEPOWER V6 9-SPEED PLENTY OF POWER WITH FRONT ROW SEAT COMFORT IS GREAT, WITH A GOOD RATING FOR SECOND CHRYSLER'S UNIQUE SECOND, SEATING FEATURE TURNS OUT TO WITH NUMEROUS CUBBY HOLES THAT ACCUMULATE ON EVERY AND WITH OUR MERCURY HITTING THE A/C HANDLES THE HEAT IN JUST FUEL ECONOMY TOUCH 28 MILES PER WITH OUR OVERALL AVERAGE OF THERE'S A NEW KID ON THIS 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI LIFE AROUND HERE IS GOING TO GET ITS SPORT SUSPENSION AND WE'LL CHECK IN WITH ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK John: THERE'S PLENTY BEYOND THE SHEET METAL.
NOW, FOR THE LATEST, WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
Yolanda Vasquez: AT A TIME AN INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR TRUCK MERCEDES HAS ITS EYE ON VEHICLES THAT MOVE MORE THAN THE COMPANY SAYS, "IT WILL BUILD THE X-CLASS WE FIRST SAW THE CONCEPT MERCEDES IS WORKING WITH TO PRODUCE THE PREMIUM TRUCK.
THE X-CLASS IS ABOUT MID-SIZE COMPETITORS, WITH A 1.1 TON PAYLOAD.
THE X-CLASS WILL GET ITS FOUR ENGINES.
THREE DIESELS, ONE GAS.
MERCEDES SAYS, IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE."
THEY EXPECT GLOBAL DEMAND IN DURING THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
THE 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ X-CLASS IN NOVEMBER.
SALES IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND SOUTH AMERICA WILL SOON THE PRICE STARTS AROUND $43,000.
AS FOR THE U.S., "THERE ARE NO PLANS TO BRING FORD'S PLANS FOR THE MID-SIZE SHIFTING THEIR FOCUS TO THE BLUE OVAL COMPANY SAYS, "THE NEXT GENERATION FOCUS WILL THEY ALREADY PRODUCE A VERSION FOR THAT MARKET.
THE NORTH AMERICAN FOCUS IS MADE AT FORD'S MICHIGAN ASSEMBLY THERE WERE PLANS TO MOVE BUT THOSE PLANS HAVE BEEN FORD SAYS, WILL SAVE ONE BILLION DOLLARS."
THE MICHIGAN ASSEMBLY PLANT WILL THE RANGER MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK AND THE BRONCO MID-SIZE SUV AND THAT'S THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE UPDATE FOR THIS John: WHEN VOLKSWAGEN IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE; EVERYONE ASSUMED THAT CAR WAS WELL, THAT WAS 6 YEARS AGO!
NOW FINALLY, FROM THE "DYNAMO OF DIXIE," THE BRAND HAS EVER MADE, THE AMERICAN FAMILY; THE ATLAS!
* BACK WHEN THE 2018 THROUGH ITS EARLY DESIGN STAGES, WHERE THE SUV MARKET WAS HEADED.
IT TURNS OUT, AS UTILITY SALES CONTINUE TO ALL OVER AGAIN.
THIS 3-ROW, 7-PASSENGER, IS LONGER OUTSIDE AND ROOMIER OR THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.
IN FACT, AT 198.3 INCHES, IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS VW WENT FOR A SOMEWHAT YET, BOXY LOOK HERE, UNABASHEDLY RESEMBLES THE REST THERE'S 8.0 INCHES OF AND 18 INCH WHEELS ARE TOP TRIM SEL PREMIUM, FAMILIARITY, LIES UNDER WITH A STANDARD 2.0 LITER I4 AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
[ENGINE STARTS UP] YOU'LL HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE 3.6 LITER VR6 IF YOU WANT IT DELIVERS 276 HORSEPOWER THROUGH THE 5TH GENERATION OF VWs 4MOTION PERMANENT AWD WHICH OPERATES IN FRONT-WHEEL BUT SENDS AS MUCH AS 50% OF IS DETECTED.
TWO OFF ROAD MODES ARE PART PUTTING AN ALL-NEW VEHICLE OUT IN SAFETY TECH, SO THE ATLAS HAS MOST GOODIES FROM FULL STOP AND GO, TO AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING.
INSIDE, THE DASH DESIGN IS BUT LESS DRAB AND A LITTLE MORE MATERIALS AND TRIM ARE QUITE THOUGH NOTHING QUITE TO UP LEVEL SIGNATURE.
ALL BUT BASE TRIM GET AN WITH VARYING LEVELS OF FEATURES.
OPERATION IS INTUITIVE, THAT PREVIOUS VW SYSTEMS.
APPLE CAR PLAY AN ANDROID NO DOUBT HELPED ALONG BY THE INTERIOR CERTAINLY DOES YET, ATLAS DRIVES LIKE A MUCH CRISP STEERING.
THREE ADULTS WILL FIND AND A PAIR OF GROWNUPS CAN EVEN FURTHERMORE, ACCESS TO THAT AS FOR CARGO, YOU'LL FIND ALMOST RAISE THE AVAILABLE POWER BEHIND THE THIRD ROW, LESS THAN EXPLORER.
THERE'S 55.5 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND AND ITS 96.8 CUBIC-FEET MAX WITH THAT BETTERS BOTH THE PILOT AND EVEN THE CHEVROLET TAHOE.
TOWING CAPACITY IS 5,000 POUNDS THE NIMBLE NATURE THAT WE FELT EVIDENT THROUGH OUR OUR 2-WHEEL DRIVE ATLAS IT HAS AN EAGER TO THOUGH, THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE THE VR6 ENGINE HAS BEEN AROUND AND POWER DELIVERY DOES INDEED ON A NEAR 100 DEGREE TRACK DAY TO HIT 60; TAKING 16.0 SECONDS AT COOLER WEATHER SHOULD IMPROVE NEVER THE LESS, SHIFTS FROM ARE VERY SMOOTH, AND ENGINE WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, ARE 17-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, LIKE MOST LARGER 3-ROW UTEs, FOR JUST OVER $30,000, 50 FOR THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.
BUT OUR WELL OUTFITTED V6 MET ALL OF OUR FAMILY NEEDS A GENUINE BARGAIN TO BOOT.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS $1800 MORE.
IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET HERE, THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS IT'S THE AMERICAN-SIZED 3-ROW HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
IT'S PACKED FULL WITH COMFORT, AND CAPABILITY THAT TO JUST ABOUT ANYBODY IN THE VW IS CLEARLY "IN IT TO WIN IT."
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; PODCASTS, CRUISE ON OVER TO AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AS KIA ADDS A SPORTIER SPIN TO AND MERCEDES PUTS THE PEDAL DOWN UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE Man: OOPS!
Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.
WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT OFFER LASER MEASURED, FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.
WEATHERTECH.
MADE IN AMERICA.
ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT * Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, FOR ITS CONTENT.
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