2023 Toyota GR Supra MT & 2023 Chevrolet Silverado

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

We're tracking the third-pedal action of the Toyota GR Supra... Then, it's the full sidewall story on "Your Drive."

Next, how to protect your car's most desirable parts from theft... And it's a little work and a little play in Chevrolet's updated Silverado...

So, come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

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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: We were thrilled when Toyota brought the Supra sport coupe back, and even more ecstatic to find out it truly delivered the high-performance goods.

And much like the original, Toyota has been making regular enhancements to keep the good times rolling.

So, time now to hit the track in the updated Supra and update ourselves on all the fun.

♪ ♪ The Toyota Supra, in its reborn GR Supra form, has been on the scene for just 3-years, but already it has cemented its place as a leader among the current crop of sporting coupes.

For 2023, the long rumored manual transmission has arrived, along with a few other updates that are sure to make its case even more solid.

The Supra's new 6-speed comes from ZF but has been heavily modified for the Supra, and is only available with the 6-cylinder engine.

(car engine starts up) That 3.0 liter inline-6 turbo is BMW-sourced of course, though output has increased from its initial 335 horsepower, to 382 horsepower, and 368 pound-feet of torque, or almost identical to the automatic only BMW Z4.

And, as we found out at Savannah's Roebling Road Raceway, Toyota has done much more than just drop in a new manual transmission and call it a day.

The double-joint McPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspensions have been retuned for all '23 Supra's with upgraded shocks designed to further minimize roll without adversely affecting handling.

Brembo-based brake hardware is the same as before, but the control system has been recalibrated.

They had great initial bite and helped us well throughout our track days.

Drive modes are easy to dial in, and work with vehicle stability systems that have also been recalibrated.

Plenty of chassis bracing is in place to tie it all together.

The shifter itself is smooth to operate and clutch action feels just right, not too heavy or too light.

Integrated electronics not only allow for automatic rev matching, but also manipulate clutch engagement to maximize torque delivery.

All-in-all, we'd say the manual is exactly what the Supra needed, as it makes it more fun than before; and at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.

There's an active rear differential that helps the Supra put power down quite effectively out of corners; with a 3.46 ratio that's higher than the automatic's 3.15.

It not only provides a much torquier overall feel but keeps the engine in its north of 5,000 rpm sweet spot more often.

275/55 Michelin Pilot Super Sports provided plenty of grip, perfect for minor amounts of controlled oversteer for rotating through corners.

For ultra-tight low speed corners, there's new Hairpin+ programming in the traction control that allows more wheelspin than before, plus, the active rear shifts power to keep drive off strong instead of just inducing a bunch of power-on oversteer.

(car engine revs/tires screech) That upgraded rear partially helps negate the pause for shifting during straight-line acceleration runs, taking us just 2/10ths longer to hit 60 than the automatic at 4.3 seconds.

It's an easy manual car to launch consistently, as everything has plenty of feel, yet is not too abrupt or firm for daily use.

With power delivery staying consistent throughout the quarter-mile, which we finished in 12.8 seconds at 115 miles per hour.

Some changes have taken place inside, as the center console has been reconfigured to house the shifter, moving the iDrive-like controller to the right a bit.

And just because you're tasked with shifting gears doesn't mean you have to give up any amenities, as Premium trim is still available with great leather seats, Head-Up display, and 12-speaker JBL premium audio.

Nothing changes outside, with the exception of this new Stratosphere Blue paint option.

Same low-slung swooping body panels as before, draped over 19 inch forged aluminum wheels with red Brembo brake calipers behind.

We're glad they've resisted the urge to throw on a bunch of gaudy graphic tacky add-ons.

Really, the only thing to carp about is fuel economy.

The hardware tradeoff is significant.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings drops from the automatics 23-City, 31-Highway, and 26-Combined, to 19-City, 27-Highway, and 21-Combined.

That's a worse than average Energy Impact Score, using 14.2 barrels of oil yearly with CO2 emissions of 6.8 tons.

Since, the manual transmission is not available with the standard 2.0 liter engine, it's not the bargain option; but at least it won't cost you any more than the automatic, as both start at $54,095; Premium trim at $57,245.

(car engine revs) It almost seems odd to even say that such a simple thing as a step backwards in technology could have such a huge positive impact on the 2023 Toyota GR Supra.

But it only takes one drop of truffle oil to inject some huge flavor into whatever it is you're cooking, and if you plan on cooking your way through a few track days, why not show up with the best ingredients possible for having a rip-roaring good time in the Toyota GR Supra.

♪ ♪ The U.S. is seeing the highest number of car thefts since 2008.

Nearly, half a million vehicles taken in the first half of 2022 alone, for a loss of some 4.5 billion dollars!

If that's not bad enough, robbers are even sawing valuable parts right off the cars and reselling them on the black market.

Stephanie Harts show us the vehicles and the parts, thieves are targeting, and how you can keep yourself from becoming a victim.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: Let's take a look at the top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles for 2021...

These models attract thieves because they're popular and available.

In most cases, the stolen vehicles are shipped overseas and resold.

Or stripped, here in the U.S., for their used, but still valuable parts.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports a 35 percent increase in used car values, over the last two years, due to supply chain issues and inflation.

As a result, auto thefts are up substantially.

Some of the most expensive parts like catalytic converters are being stolen and resold at alarming rates.

The crime has increased 1,215 percent since 2019.

Michael Ledoux with CarFax crawls under a Ford F-150 to put it into perspective for us.

MICHAEL LEDOUX: A catalytic converter is a device on a vehicle and in this case, we have two catalytic converters that is used to reduce the harmful gases in a vehicles emissions that has been through precious metals.

They are metals such as palladium, rhodium, and platinum.

So that the emissions coming out of the vehicle through the exhaust system you see here is not as harmful to the environment and those precious metals are extremely valuable.

STEPHANIE: Driven by the idea of fast cash, watch how a thief steals this catalytic converter.

CARFAX data shows the cars most likely to have their catalytic converters stolen are the Toyota Prius model years 2001 to 2021, the Ford F-Series model years 1985-2021, and the Honda Accord model years 1989-2020.

You will easily know if your car's catalytic converter has been stolen by the extra loud exhaust sound.

STEPHANIE: Does car insurance cover this type of theft?

MICHAEL: It really depends on what type of car insurance you have.

Typically, if you don't have comprehensive insurance it's not covered and a lot of folks on older model vehicles don't have comprehensive therefore they will bear the cost which could be quite expensive.

STEPHANIE: A tailgate like this one is a popular stolen part... Michael tell me why?

MICHAEL: Stephanie, because they're universal they're easy to take off a vehicle and this will fit any ford product, so there's resale on the after-market for them sometimes these tailgates are an upward of a thousand dollars they contain valuable backup cameras and they're relatively easy to move.

STEPHANIE: And greed is driving the bad guys to steal cars in particular cities.

Especially, keep an eye out, if you live in Denver, Colorado.

There's been a 155 percent increase in car thefts.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has experienced a 106 percent increase and in Austin, Texas there's been a 64 percent increase in auto thefts.

You can take some simple steps to reduce the chances your car will be a target.

Use common sense, roll up your windows, lock your doors, and take the keys.

Park in well-lit areas and when possible, areas staffed by security.

Park personal vehicles in a garage.

If that's not possible, consider installing motion sensor security lights in your driveway.

It may make some thieves think twice about stealing your vehicle.

And make sure your auto policy is up-to-date.

♪ ♪ JESSICA RAY: Did you know not everyone wears their seatbelt?

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seat belt usage for drivers was 91 percent in 2020.

And belt usage was even lower for rear passengers.

Front seat passengers wore their seat belts 90 percent of the time, while rear seat occupants were buckled up only 80 percent of the time.

In a crash, unbelted occupants are 40 percent more likely to cause injury or death to others in the same vehicle.

So, while modern vehicles are safer than ever before, buckling up... (seatbelt snaps in) ...is still, your best bet.

JOHN: Have you ever taken a look at your tire's sidewall?

It tells an important story.

But all the numbers and codes can be confusing.

So, in this week's "Your Drive," Audra Fordin deciphers the real sidewall story.

♪ ♪ AUDRA FORDIN: Tires come in all different sizes.

Whether, you have a small ten or a big twenty, bicycle tires, motorcycle tires, if you're riding on rubber, eventually they're going to wear down, break down, and need to be replaced, as that tread gets thinner.

Take a look at the sidewall of your tire: It's like a storybook.

You think it's written in hieroglyphics, but actually there's great, important information molded into the sidewall of the tire.

The tire size is on the sidewall of the tire, and you can the tire size and pressure on the sticker on the driver side door jamb.

Also, molded into the sidewall of the tire is a DOT stamp.

It's got four digits on it, and that represents when the tire was born.

Did you know your tire has a birth date?

This tire represents 11-18, which means it is born the eleventh week of 2018.

Also, on the sidewall of the tire, you can see it's the thinnest part of the tire, which means if there's any bulges, cracks, or tears, that would mess with the tire's integrity, making it a prime candidate for a blowout.

So, be mindful when you're looking at your tires, if you see any wrinkles or crinkles in there, you want to go to the shop to have it replaced.

You also see, on the sidewall of the tire, it mentions what I call the "T's": The temperature, the treadwear, and the traction.

The higher the temperature, the higher the traction, the higher the treadwear...that all means you have a great tire that can withstand all different kind of weather changes.

In addition to that, on the sidewall it also says what model tire that is.. meaning is your tire good for mud and snow?

Is it better in the winter, or is it better in the summer?

Another thing you can do with your tires when you're all finished with them and it's time to move them on to the next life, from the cradle to the coffin you can do recycling.

There're so many upcycling things like making mats, wheel chocks, playgrounds.. they're using it for streets.

So, cement and paper companies use tires to burn for fuel because it's hotter and cleaner than coal, which means.. make sure you recycle your tires.

Questions or comments?

Reach out to us, right here at MotorWeek .

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: It's been a minute since we gave you an update on our long term 2022 Kia EV6; but believe me, we've been racking up the miles.

In fact, our digital odometer now rests at a solid 6,100 miles, reflecting the 2,000-or-so additional miles of pavement we've seen in the last two months.

We're happy to report no changes in our total range, still enjoying the full extent of 274 miles on a 100 percent charge.

It may not be as rowdy as the souped-up GT, but our Wind e-All-Wheel-Drive is still good for a few thrills.

It switches between rear, and all-wheel-drive depending on our needs, be it to save a little juice or kick performance up a notch.

One of our drivers wondered if it could use some stickier tires.

Not that the stock rubber is awful by any means, but they figured a grippier compound would elevate the EV6 even more.

That's something you can change, if you really want to-- but more importantly, the things you can't easily change about the EV6 are not only solid, but downright impressive.

For 20 years, automakers have been blurring the line between cars and SUVs.

And now, with this EV6, I'm not sure there's much line left to blur.

And honestly, that's okay because now more than ever we really do get the best of both worlds.

This EV6 can cruise with a family of four just as well as it can carve up a back road.

And that's really a side-effect of the all-electric platform which creates a low center of gravity and limited intrusion into the cabin.

Beyond that, our EV6 continues to swoon us with its handsome body and paint job.

Though, over time we've become a little annoyed by the charging door light that shines outwards instead of on the port itself, which would make low-light plug-ins a little easier.

But this is a small complaint; one we certainly aren't getting worked up over, especially with the soothing sounds of nature playing from the stereo.

We'll keep charging up and charging ahead with our 2022 Kia EV6, and we'll be back soon with an update on our Volkswagen Jetta GLI on the next MotorWeek Long Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: The world of full-size pickup trucks has always been a highly competitive one, but never more so than now.

Not only are the big-3 trying to outdo one another, but Toyota and Nissan have upped their games in order to carve out a bigger slice of the segment for themselves.

All that to say, after 3-years on the market, the 4th generation Chevrolet Silverado is arriving with some timely updates to keep the bowtie ridin' high!

♪ ♪ When it comes to pickup truck lifecycles, 3-years is certainly not a long time.

But, with the full-size truck segment as competitive as it is, it's the perfect amount of time to spice things up; keeping your brand at top of mind when your faithful feel it's time for a new truck.

So, for 2022, the Chevrolet Silverado gets a comprehensive suite of updates.

Indeed, all 1500 Silverado's add a new front fascia that drops the headlights a little lower towards the ground, while also updating the daytime running lights.

As before, regular, double, and crew cabs are available, plus long, standard, or short bed lengths.

The bed is still made of high-strength steel with 12-tie downs, and available power operating tailgate or trick multiflex tailgate.

But it's inside where the biggest changes take place.

The interior is essentially all-new, and that includes a 13.4 inch touchscreen for LT trim and above; plus, new colors to choose from and upgraded materials.

The dash itself replaces the chunky segmented vibe with a more flowing horizontal design, and the center console takes on a more functional role, including housing a new electronic shifter for the transmission.

All the changes not only look better but provide a more spacious feel; and there are more thoughtful storage spaces up front, including behind the infotainment screen, as well as in the rear seat area too.

Crew cab means, plenty of room for rear seat passengers to stretch out, as well as lots of cargo flexibility.

Also, new for '22, is a clear and info-packed 12 inch digital instrument cluster.

High Country trim adds open pore wood trim, custom-stitched and perforated leather seating, and stainless steel accents.

You can go further with an add-on premium package for a sunroof, all-weather floor liners, and 22-aluminum wheels; and technology package which adds a head-up display, rear camera mirror, and adaptive cruise control.

Silverado buyers can now even add GM's well-regarded Super Cruise semi-autonomous hands-free driving assistance.

Four-wheel-drive is available of course, as are a wide range of drive modes, and integrated trailer brake controls.

Engine choices are unchanged but updated.

A 2.7 liter turbo I4, a 3.0 liter I6 Duramax Diesel with 460 pound-feet of torque, and two V8's, the 355 horsepower 5.3 liter and 420 horsepower 6.2 liter.

The 2.7 liter got the most attention with a 20 percent boost in torque to 430 pound-feet.

But, our High Country was sporting the 6.2 liter V8 and its 460 pound-feet of torque.

Its 10-speed automatic is shared by all except for the 4-cylinder which works with an 8-speed.

At our test track, there wasn't much of a hole shot coming off the line, but once this 4X4 got rolling, you could really feel the power pour on, hitting 60 in 6.5 seconds.

That power delivery stayed smooth and consistent from there until the end of the quarter-mile; with a nice V8 rumble and smooth shifts from the transmission.

Our best time was 14.8 seconds at 96 miles per hour.

No matter which drive mode we used through our handling course, the Silverado's extremely light steering made for a disconnected feel.

It also made this big truck feel even bigger than it really is, prompting us to keep our speeds low, so that neither understeer or oversteer ever was a problem.

While, you can get in a Silverado for as little as just over $40,000, most truck buyers are spending a lot more than that these days.

Our High Country tester starts at $65,095, cruising over $70,000 with options.

Now, even with these updates, it is unlikely that Silverado will pose much of a threat to the F-150 in sales numbers.

Those days are gone.

However, they are striving to put Ram in their rearview mirror.

So, keeping current fans happy, while swaying new prospects, is clearly the priority here.

With a vastly upgraded interior, better tech, and improved style, this 2022 Chevrolet Silverado certainly should do that and more.

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 giving the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat a full-send sendoff, then quietly commuting in the new Kia Niro 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.