MotorWeek

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MotorWeek
MotorWeek Logo
Genre	Automotive
Created by	John Davis
Starring	John Davis Pat Goss Zach Maskell Yolanda Vazquez (past) Joyce Braga (past) Elizabeth A. Nardone (past) Charlotte Nichols (past) (past) (past) (past) Anquionette Crosby (past) (past) Henry Kopacz (past)
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	41
No. of episodes	1,820
Production
Executive producer	John Davis
Production location	Owings Mills, Maryland
Running time	30 minutes
Release
Original network	PBS
Picture format	NTSC (1981–2009; seasons 1-28) HDTV 1080i (2009-present; seasons 29-present)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	October 15, 1981 (1981-10-15) – present
External links
Website

MotorWeek is an American news and information program centered around automobiles. The subject matter presented includes tests of cars currently on the market, along with tips on maintenance and previews of cars to come. The program is produced by Maryland Public Television for PBS and also airs on the commercial station MAVTV, which is owned by show underwriter Lucas Oil. As of 2021, MotorWeek is also sponsored by Tire Rack and Rock Auto, two businesses dealing with selling motor parts and accessories over the Internet.

MotorWeek is hosted by John Davis, who has presided over the program since it premiered on October 15, 1981. Davis created the show for what was originally the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting (now Maryland Public Television) and serves as its executive producer.^[1] From its inception until 1987, the program’s main segments emanated from Studio A at Maryland Public Television in Owings Mills, Maryland. Since 1987, all taping of the main segments are done outdoors in various locales. The change coincided with the program adding the year to its title, which became MotorWeek ‘88 (as each new season, starting in September, also coincides with the beginning a new car model year in North America); MotorWeek continued to do this until 1993 when they simply began referring to the show by its normal title again.

Originally airing new, thirty-minute episodes for twenty-six weeks a year, MotorWeek airs new episodes year-round on both PBS and MAVTV. The show is also syndicated internationally through the American Forces Network.

Syndication[]

On September 11, 1993, at the start of Season 13 (1993–1994), MotorWeek began syndicating to commercial TV stations, and was first syndicated by ITC Entertainment from 1993 to 1998. It has also aired on Speedvision, Speed Channel, Velocity, Velocity by Discovery, the Spanish-language network V-me, and Motor Trend.

Synopsis[]

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Each year, MotorWeek puts more than 150 new cars, trucks, and SUVs to the test, providing consumer-oriented vehicle reviews. Its video Road Test segments focus on performance, technology, practicality and dollar value, and feature MotorWeek's exclusive energy efficient rating system which compares each vehicle’s fuel economy to the best-rated vehicle in its class. The MotorWeek team includes master technician Pat Goss who brings viewers practical advice for keeping cars on the road and out of the shop. Reporters present timely reports on consumer trends, safety issues and the environment, along with innovative, offbeat stories on the automotive world gone extreme. Beginning in 1983, MotorWeek launched its Drivers’ Choice Awards which are among the auto industry’s most prestigious honors. The Drivers’ Choice Awards are unique for their consumer focus and represent the definitive list of best automotive picks in the most popular vehicle categories, including the coveted “Best of the Year” award. They are presented annually during the Chicago Auto Show. Beginning in season 29 (2009–2010), MotorWeek began broadcasting in widescreen 1080i HDTV.

Episodes[]

MotorWeek started on October 15, 1981 and has run for 41 seasons. The show has produced 1,820 episodes with road tests, comparison tests, first impressions, and more. They post older episodes and clips onto YouTube with the Retro Review name. In the first six seasons, they produced 26 episodes each season. Since the seventh season, the show runs year-round for 52 episodes a year. Complete episodes are available on PBS by donations.

Podcasts[]

MotorWeek started its podcast on September 3, 2008. The podcast is an extension of the show in which the show's crew expresses opinions, and discusses new and upcoming vehicles.

Active segments[]

Road Test[]

One of the staples of MotorWeek is the Road Test, where the team of testers puts a new car through various conditions to see how it operates.

Over the years, MotorWeek has conducted its basic tests at various venues. In the show’s early years, it used a tarmac at Martin State Airport outside Baltimore that was used for seaplanes, and a then-unfinished stretch of highway at an unknown location. Beginning a few weeks into its run, the 75-80 Dragway (or Dragaway) in Frederick, Maryland became its main test track, and continued to use the facility long after closing to competition twice (and re-opening once). For the show’s fortieth season in 2020-21, they abandoned use of the 75-80 Dragway (as they were the only ones with access to it) and moved the tests to Boonsboro, Maryland’s Mason Dixon Dragway.

In the winter months, the show relocates the testing to Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Georgia. MotorWeek has also done tests at the Ford and General Motors proving grounds in the past as well as at several famous racetracks such as Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Lexington, Ohio, and Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.

Each test starts with an overview of the car’s engine and features, as well as other options that are available. This portion is comprehensive, ranging from how much power the engine has to how the interior of the car is set up.

The car is then taken out onto the drag strip. Here, tests are done to measure its zero-to-sixty time, how long it takes to traverse the quarter-mile drag strip, how the car handles a slalom course, how it handles quick turns, and how much distance it takes for the car to come to a complete stop from 60 miles per hour. A test is also done to determine fuel economy ratings against the ones provided by the Environmental Protection Agency; to perform this, the testers use a 100-mile loop that combines city and highway driving and averages their figures. In recent years, the environmental impacts of vehicles (specifically their carbon footprints and their oil usage) are also included in the discussion.

Older episodes also tested a car’s speed at 500 feet to simulate entering a highway as well as its turning diameter.

Once the road test is complete, the car’s hits and misses are revealed as are the reasons why the testers felt a certain way about various issues. The car’s costs to the consumer are revealed at the very end of the segment, including what the vehicle would cost with various option packages.

Comparison Test[]

For many years, MotorWeek has conducted periodic competitive tests to determine what cars, in their opinion, are the top in a certain classification. In recent years these tests have been done in conjunction with cars.com.

For these instances, the team will choose a series of vehicles, usually six, that fit into the category (for example, compact sport utility vehicles). The vehicles, like every other tested by MotorWeek, are supplied by the manufacturers themselves and each must adhere to the set of criteria selected for the competition (for example, transmission type or maximum cost).

After the cars are put through a battery of tests, their performances are graded and the top four performing vehicles in the category are revealed in order from lowest to highest, with specific highlights such as price or fuel mileage noted.

Other segments[]

• Goss' Garage: Pat Goss would teach viewers on how to keep automobiles in good working order.
• Quick Spin: Take a quick spin on new vehicles.
• Two Wheelin': A two wheel review on motorcycles.
• First Drive: A first look at new vehicles.
• Muscle Car Memories: A wide variety of vintage, classic, and memorable muscle cars.
• Car of the Week: Featuring a photo album of automobiles sent in by viewers.
• Long Term Test Update: News on cars loaned to MotorWeek for tests, usually for one year.
• MotorNews: An in-depth report on new vehicles.
• Over The Edge: An automotive industry on overdrive.
• FYI: Featuring an in-depth report on consumer trending.
• Retro Review: A look back at MotorWeek reviews from past seasons.
• Eye Spy: Featuring photographic closeups of automobiles.

Discontinued/Renamed Segments[]

• The Exotics Spot: Reviewing older vehicles.
• Motorshop: Renamed to Goss' Garage. First seen on the unaired pilot. Hosted by Craig Singhaus.
• What's New on Wheels: A close look at new products on the automotive scene. Renamed to MotorNews
• Taking the High Road: Featuring automobiles from the past and present. Renamed to Over the Edge
• Stomp, Stay, and Steer: John Davis teaches viewers on how to stomp, stay, and steer.
• A Quick Look: Featuring a quick look at new vehicles.
• Behind The Wall: The MotorWeek staff takes behind the wall for their high speed driving skills.

Theme music[]

From the show's premiere in 1981 until 1987, MotorWeek's original theme music was composed by Don Barto. In Season 7 (1987–88), Mark Roumelis took over as music composer. The unaired pilot also featured music from Mark Roumelis, but it is different from the piece he made for the 1987–88 season; this piece has undergone a few updates since.

Sets[]

When MotorWeek premiered in 1981, the show emanated from Studio A at MPT on a set which featured various car related decorations and also had room for a featured automobile to be displayed; the set was changed in 1985. Beginning in 1987, the show stopped using the studio and began filming all of the car display segments outdoors.

Track[]

As mentioned above, from late 1981 to early 2021, MotorWeek conducted most of its testing on a drag strip that was known as the 75-80 Dragway (also Dragaway) in Frederick, Maryland. While the track itself closed for competition in 2005 (only to reopen in 2009) and again in the 2013, MotorWeek continued to have access to the drag strip. By 2020, the 40th season of the program, only the strip and a portion of the starter’s stand remained; the grandstands were removed sometime in 2019. In 2021, the show moved their roadtests to Mason Dixon Dragway in Boonsboro.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• MotorWeek at IMDb