MotorWeek

Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We're stretching out the miles in the Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase... Then, we'll prop open our hoods for some often overlooked car care... We'll camp out for an RVing adventure way down south... Then, sail back north in Mazda's new family flagship, the CX-90...

So, come drive with us, next!

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First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

JOHN: These days we're all looking to get a little more for our money.

However, when you're talking Bentley, you're not exactly bargain hunting.

But the folks at Bentley are now offering their Bentayga utility with something extra.

So, let's see exactly what this Bentayga EWB can add to our desire for the brand's already over the top SUV.

Botanists will tell you that the fastest growing plant in the world is Bamboo; and if you've ever dealt with it, you probably know that already.

Growing seemingly as fast, is the ultra-luxury SUV market, of which Bentley is a major player.

A big part of their recent record-breaking sales numbers has been the Bentayga SUV, which itself is also growing with an Extended Wheelbase version.

The EWB stretches the Bentayga platform by 180mm, or 7.1 inches for us non-metric system folks.

That added length helps the Bentayga look even more like a super sleek wagon rather than a traditional boxy utility vehicle, in other words, silky and sweet yet just as classy as ever.

And it's not just about more space, rather creating the ultimate rear cabin experience according to Bentley; and while we'd normally opt for the front seat for road trips, this is a place we'd definitely love to fly cross country in, just remember to stow your footrests and tray tables as you make your final approach into the rest stop.

Seats are first class accommodations for sure, with 22-way adjustment, auto climate sensing system, and postural adjustment technology that Bentley claims makes them the most advanced seats ever installed in a vehicle, all controlled through a touchscreen remote.

There are actually three configurations available, 4-passenger, 5-passenger, and one that Bentley calls 4+1, with an "occasional" center seat.

Material quality is, as expected, exquisite, with new Diamond Illumination projecting light through tiny perforations in many of the fabrics.

Dynamic Ride active roll control is standard on the EWB as is new rear wheel steering, which actually gives it a tighter turning circle than the standard Bentayga.

Same 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood, outputting 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, but a quieter exhaust system has been fitted to better soothe rear seat passengers.

Rear cargo capacity varies with interior configurations but maxes out at the same 17.1 cubic-feet.

Supposedly there are 2,500 updated or new parts in the EWB Bentayga, yet, it only weighs about 200 pounds more.

So, acceleration runs were sure to be a blast at Mason Dixon Dragway.

There was indeed big torque off the line, and lots of weight transfer to the rear which seemed to stay there the whole way down the track, giving a very light feel to the front end.

A bracket racers dream, as no matter what we did, every run ended at 3.5 seconds from 0 to 60, with the quarter-mile at 12.0 seconds flat and 114 miles per hour.

Shifts from the 8-speed automatic transmission were lightning quick, accompanied by a pleasant subtle bark of exhaust note.

All-wheel-drive is standard, giving us plenty of grip and stability in our handling course, but it was the new rear-wheel steering that enabled cutting through the cones much quicker than we would have imagined.

Only minor understeer at its limits, easily managed with the very light steering; body roll impressively held well in check.

Even more remarkable, huge brakes behind the 22 inch wheels of our Azure-labeled tester brought this hefty luxo-liner to a halt from 60 in just 95 feet.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 14-City, 21-Highway, and 17-Combined, we averaged a good 19.2 miles per gallon of Premium.

But that's a much worse than average Energy Impact Score with consumption of 17.5 barrels of oil yearly and 8.7 tons of CO2 emissions.

Bentley expects this extended wheelbase version to quickly make up almost half of Bentayga sales, despite prices starting about $30,000 more at $229,625.

But after spending time in the 2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB, we totally get it.

It's not just more space, it's more of everything, making it not a matter of whether we would want one or not, just wishing we could actually afford it.

Those that can will get one of the most luxurious SUVs ever imagined, let alone already on the road, with oodles of room to spare.

The pandemic changed how we live, work, and play.

One byproduct of that has been an explosion in the popularity of RVing!

This year some 67 million of us will take an RV road trip, and that includes our own Stephanie Hart.

She recently headed south to Louisiana to find out how RV camping is evolving to meet the demands of today's road warriors.

STEPHANIE HART: I'm about an hour outside New Orleans and I'm going RVing at Sun Outdoors, a luxury RV resort.

I am all in!

Some of my goals: Escape the daily grind, connect with friends, and explore nature.

Sun Outdoors is loaded with resort-style amenities that propel the RV experience to the next level.

I didn't know RV camping could be this luxurious.

There's also a lazy River!

Consider my "out of office" message officially activated.

RV camping has certainly evolved over the last few years to satisfy all types of wanderlust.

And new, emerging RV technology is fueling our desire to explore farther.

Couple that with the pandemic forever changing our daily routines and it's no wonder RVing is the in-thing these days.

An RV Industry study shows 40 percent of people who bought RVs in 2022 purchased them to work from the road.

MONIKA GERACI: Even if you are still going to an office-- maybe you have that flexibility that you are working remotely on Mondays-- and Fridays-- and you can take that long weekend and do your Zoom from a camp ground such as this one that has great Wi-Fi, beautiful views and you can still be working while also spending time with family or friends.

STEPHANIE: And thanks to advances in solar technology, the workday can easily be spent off the grid.

Solar panels can power some, if not all of your RV's electrical needs, like air conditioning.

This IBEX Little Horn Garage by Forest River earned its reputation for accessing remote places.

And its new independent suspension enhances the adventure.

BRANDON ROGERS: It gives you a better tow, it gives you less bucking, it keeps all-- both tires on the ground.

STEPHANIE: A larger RV, like this luxury 5th wheel Eagle by Jayco, also works for boondocking since it's prepped for solar.

An overlanding package is also available.

As you can see, it's elegant and modern inside.

This pro tablet controls all of the basic functions of the RV.

And the best part is, it pairs to an app on your cell phone.

So, if you're at the beach all day you can adjust whatever you want, when you want; things like leveling, the temperature, and the slide outs.

RVing is all about exploring, so we drove out of the resort to experience some nearby Creole charm.

Louisiana is well-known for its gator's.

Turns out these bigger guys are always hungry.

Yikes!

The smaller gator's on the other hand, actually crave some TLC and like to pose for photos.

Go figure!

After all of that excitement, we headed back to the resort and I test drove an all-electric RV.

As part of my RVing adventure, I'm behind the wheel of the Winnebago ERV2.

It's really smooth on the road, it has great visibility, and it's easy to maneuver.

It felt a lot like an Expedition.

This Ford E Transit prototype is designed for people who work from the road.

Winnebago hopes to improve its range in the next generation, but the house battery is already substantial.

DUANE CYRUS: The ion blade technology is a battery developed by Lithionics, a company that Winnebago actually just purchased.

What's great about that is: 15,000 watt hours, so extended run time... 7 days of boondocking without a problem.

STEPHANIE: Whether, you satisfy your adventurous spirit or just wind down at a posh resort like this one, RVing equals freedom.

And one of the best things about being here is doing absolutely nothing, unplugging from the world, and relaxing.

And it certainly helps being in a heated pool at a swim-up bar overlooking a beautiful lake.

JOHN: With so many important parts under the hood, it's easy for the average DIY-ER to gloss over some of the simplest ones.

So, we asked out Audra Fordin to highlight some of those overlooked maintenance calls in MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

AUDRA FORDIN: Maintaining your car is a task, and if you own a car, well then it is such a priority to make sure that you do take real good care of it.

You know, putting a good coat of wax on your car is going to help the finish, to prolong its life, and that's certainly an overlooked maintenance.

In addition to that, take a look at your headlights.

Headlights used to be glass, now headlights are plastic.

Because they are plastic, they oxidize from the sun.

You can see here, there's a haze coming over this headlight.

I call that cataracts because there's actually-- uh, light that's being limited, that you can't see through.

Something as simple as using a headlight polish, with a chamois and some elbow grease, is going to help you to clear the headlight and restore it back so that you can get great visibility on the road.

Another overlooked maintenance is your engine air filter.

Think about the air filter like your lungs, taking in air so that your body can breathe.

Your car breathes also, and it needs fresh air in order to breathe.

Take a look at this air filter.

It's filthy, it's got oil and debris and all kinds of blowby.

This restricts the amount of air that can actually be pulled into the engine while your car is trying to breathe, which limits how much fuel you're going to burn, and this costs you-- a 10 percent fuel economy.

Another very important overlooked maintenance is your tires.

To make sure that your tires are rotated every other oil change makes a difference.

You know, if you think about the tires on your car, they are your car's shoes on its feet, just like you have shoes on your feet.

You can tell how you're walking, if your car is in alignment, just by looking at the tire tread.

Most important here-- about tires-- is to check your tire pressure.

You'll find the sticker on the driver's side door jam, it has the correct pressure for your car, and to check your tire pressure every month, especially when you have seasons change, to make sure you have the correct tire pressure in your car.

That will make sure that your tires last the most life.

If you have any questions or comments, you can reach us right here, at MotorWeek !

JOHN: Back with us once again is Stephanie Hart with all the latest MotorNews!

STEPHANIE HART: Big waves were made at this year's Monterey Car Week...

The Rolls-Royce Spectre made its North American debut as the brand's first fully-electric offering.

This ultra-luxury electric coupe is the first step towards their goal of full electrification by 2030.

Another British icon, Bentley launched the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Mulliner.

Serving as their new luxury flagship, the Mulliner features a Double Diamond front grille, unique 22 inch wheels and nearly 4,000 possible interior color combinations.

Also making appearances were some new rides from the other side of the Pacific... Acura revived the ZDX nameplate, now their first all-electric model.

Built on GM's Ultium platform, it uses the same 102 kilowatt-hour battery from the Cadillac LYRIQ.

There will be single-motor and dual-motor A-Spec trims, plus a 500 horsepower Type S variant, making it Acura's most powerful SUV ever.

INFINITI pulled the curtains back on their QX Monograph Concept, which flaunts their evolving design language and new 3D-emblem.

The QX Monograph is relatively minimalist, inspired by the brand's Japanese heritage.

And in American auto news at Monterey... Ford surprised everyone with the 2025 Mustang GTD.

This street-legal performance car uses a supercharged 5.2 liter V8 for an estimated 800 horsepower, paired to a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Suspension changes and aero elements are extensive, key to Ford's targeted sub-7-minute Nurburgring lap times.

Finally, Cadillac showed the Escalade IQ, bringing this iconic nameplate into the electric age.

Its 200 kilowatt-hour battery pack powers the dual-motor all-wheel system for an estimated 450 miles of range and up to 750 horsepower.

And that's it for this week's MotorNews.

GREG CARLOSS: We are 4-months into our extended drive time with this 2023 Acura Integra sport luxury sedan.

But after a host of early road trips it mostly seems to have settled into commuter duty, adding only about 700 miles since we last checked in.

On that score, the 200 horsepower turbo-4 and 6-speed manual makes for one highly entertaining commute, and most logbook comments agree the Integra feels more fun than luxury.

And that's just fine by us.

Since our last update, we have driven the high-performance Integra Type S, and while we really like that car, it doesn't feel like we're giving up all that much in this Integra.

Sure, it doesn't have as much power as the Type S, but it still feels quick and the suspension is more than capable of keeping momentum in tight corners.

We probably haven't talked enough about how aggressively sporty it appears outside; our tester's Liquid Carbon paint job looks fantastic, without being too flashy.

Despite a heavy foot or two, economy is very consistent, with our average hovering at 33.9 miles per gallon.

And while the summer sun may be setting in the rear view, we've still got many miles to cover in this Acura Integra.

We'll see what our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been up to on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: If you've been following Mazda lately, you'll know-- they've been fielding some serious new designs; you could even say, they're latest efforts are 10-times better than before.

After all, the CX-3 became the CX-30, then CX-5 became the CX-50, and now it's the CX-9's turn.

So, let's find out, if this all-new CX-90, their largest SUV yet, is a real multiplier or if it's all just a numbers game.

Don't think of this 2024 Mazda CX-90, so much as an updated version of the CX-9, as it's more of a complete rethink of their 3-row crossover, the first built on an all-new, large vehicle platform for the brand.

And this platform carries a host of surprises.

Not only does it make the CX-90 bigger by every dimension, but it's a rear-drive architecture, and features all-new powertrains, including the brand's first plug-in hybrid, and even an inline-6 engine.

Why an inline-6 to replace the CX-9's turbo-4?

Well, in general terms, I6s are better balanced, run smoother, and can deliver more torque at lower RPM.

Just ask the BMW faithful, or any of the truckers you see going down the road hauling more than 20 tons of cargo with their inline-6s.

There are two versions of the longitudinally mounted 6, both assisted by turbocharging and a 48 volt mild hybrid system.

Output for the base Turbo is 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque; this Turbo S cranks it up to 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet.

The PHEV, on the other hand, is based on a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter I4, working with a 100 kilowatt electric motor to deliver 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

A 17.8 kilowatt hour battery delivers 26 miles of EV driving.

It's not the prettiest SUV, but it does have very smooth body work; plus, the longer hood and 7.5 inches of wheelbase stretch over the CX-9, give it more stately proportions.

All CX-90s come with i-Activ all-wheel-drive and the brand's first 8-speed automatic transmission; the longer wheelbase allows tow ratings to step up from 3,500 pounds to 5,000.

At the test track, our Turbo S launched effortlessly with good grip on the way to a 6.4 second 0-60.

The smooth vibes continued throughout the quarter-mile, with refined power delivery, seamless shifts, and a noticeably more solid and stable feel at speed than the CX-9.

Our best time was 14.7 seconds at 98 miles per hour.

Through the cones, it still behaves like a Mazda, with very good steering feel and a solid presence in corners at low to moderate speeds.

Some understeer and body roll will show up when pushed hard, but Mazda's Kinematic Posture Control uses subtle selective braking to help the vehicle rotate, and safety systems will step in well-before it gets out of sorts.

Another unique element the CX-90 brings is seating arrangements for 6, 7, or 8.

It's the 8-seater that's standard with 3-across bench seating for 2nd and 3rd rows.

Seven seaters get either captain's chairs in the 2nd row, or more contoured seats for the 3rd; 6-seaters sport 2nd row captains and the contoured 3rd row.

Cargo capacity varies with seating, but is at best 15.9 cubic-feet behind the 3rd row, 40.1 behind the 2nd, and 75.2 with all seats folded.

As far as what it's like to actually live with, the CX-90's cabin is a clear step up, including on some trims suede-like materials, intricate stitching, and real wood, all consistent with what we've seen from the brand lately.

A 10 inch dashtop touchscreen is standard for infotainment, with upper trims getting a larger 12.3 incher.

We applaud Mazda's inclusion of plenty of old-school manual controls for radio and climate, which keeps menu diving limited to secondary functions.

Pricing begins with the base Turbo at Select trim for $40,970, PHEVs are available in Preferred trim and above starting at $48,820, and the Turbo S starts at $53,125.

Force multiplier is a military term for when strategic elements come together to produce results greater than would have been possible without them.

Well, no high-level math skills are necessary here to see that the 2024 Mazda CX-90 is clearly more than just a much better CX-9; it's now a force to be reckoned with in the 3-row family crossover segment.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

And I hope you'll join us next time!

We're galloping right into our 43rd season with full-bore Road Test of the new Ford Mustang, then easing off a tad in the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

ANNOUNCER: To learn more about MotorWeek ... Television's original automotive magazine, visit... To order a DVD of this program, call... MotorWeek has been brought to you by... ANNOUNCER: 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!

MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper To Bumper, featuring major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast.

Learn more at AutoValue.com and BumperToBumper.com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek .

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it Tire Rack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(car engine revving) You're watching PBS.