PBS高端访谈:底特律汽车制造商推出新的高性能模式

 　　GWEN IFILL:Five years ago, two of the largest auto¹ manufacturers, GM and Chrysler, were on the brink². The Bush and Obama administrations offered them critical lifelines of cash, tens of billions of dollars, most of which has since been repaid.

　　In the wake of the crisis, carmakers said they would change the kinds of vehicles they were selling, reducing their size and increasing fuel-efficiency. And, to some extent, that is happening.

　　But, in Detroit this week, the industry also returned to some of its old high-powered old form.

　　Hari is back with that story.

　　MAN:Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the big nasty, the 2015 Corvette Z06.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN:Detroit puts its best new offerings on stage each year at the North American International Auto Show, previewing concept cars that may never be made, alongside those that car-lovers can expect to see in showrooms in the coming years.

　　Vice³ President Joe Biden was among the enthusiasts⁴ today as Chevrolet rolled out the new Corvette.

　　VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:Now, you know, that old Corvette, that rear end, it wasn't what you would call stable, right?

　　JOE BIDEN:But they tell me this new one, man, can take the Porsche. I'm counting on it.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN:And automakers seem to be counting on a new yearning⁵ for high-performance cars, after focusing more on smaller sedans and electric vehicles in recent years.

　　RAJ NAIR,Ford Group:There you have it.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN:Trucks are also moving off dealers⁶' lots. And at the auto show, manufacturers tried to spotlight⁷ redesigned models like Ford's F-150, which are lighter⁸ and more fuel-efficient.

　　RAJ NAIR:Overall, as much as 700 pounds of weight have been saved, helping⁹ the F-150 tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker, stop shorter, all with better gas mileage¹⁰.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN:Ford and its competitors are racing¹¹ to meet a surging demand for trucks, fueled partly by contractors¹² buying more as them, as the housing industry picks up.

　　The new CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, unveiled her company's new midsize pickup¹³, the GMC Canyon¹⁴, on Sunday.

　　MARY BARRA,General Motors: At today's GM, our products are the result of putting the customer at the center of everything we do.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN: Overall, the industry racked up strong sales gains in 2013, with more than 15 million vehicles sold. It's hoping to build on that performance in 2014.

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

5 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

6 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

7 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

8 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 mileage   

n.里程，英里数；好处，利润

参考例句：

• He doesn't think there's any mileage in that type of advertising.他认为做那种广告毫无效益。
• What mileage has your car done?你的汽车跑了多少英里？

11 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

12 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 pickup   

n.拾起，获得

参考例句：

• I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。

14 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。