MotorWeek

HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US AS WE SLIDE INTO A SUPERCAR WITH RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ROOTS, THE FORD GT... PAT GOSS WITH A NEW TWIST ON TRIED AND TRUE CAR CARE... STEPHANIE HART TAKES US TO A LEFT COAST MUSEUM THAT'S ALL ABOUT MEMORIES OF MOTION... AND WE SEARCH FOR THE MOST SPEED FOR THE MONEY IN THE SUBARU WRX...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: OH, COME ON.

HOT, HOT, HOT.

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR KIND OF VEHICLE.

Woman: JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM, WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

LASER MEASURED THEY OFFER PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: IT'S AN AWFULLY BOLD DECISION TO SIMPLY NAME YOUR CAR GT.

BUT OF COURSE.

IT'S NOT NEW TO FORD, HAVING BEEN AROUND THIS TRACK ONCE BEFORE.

BUT WHILE, THIS '05 WAS BUILT AS AN HOMAGE TO THE ORIGINAL GT40 RACE CAR, THERE'S A NEW GT THAT'S BUILT WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE IN MIND.

* THIS LATEST FORD GT, WAS DEVELOPED NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL GT40s 1966 TRIUMPH OF LE MANS, BUT TO RETURN TO THE SCENE AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

AND SINCE ENGINEERS DIDN'T GET THE GO-AHEAD UNTIL VERY LATE IN THE GAME, THERE WASN'T TIME FOR DEVELOPING SEPARATE RACE AND STREET CARS.

SO ESSENTIALLY, WHAT YOU AND I CAN BUY TODAY, IS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT CLAIMED VICTORY IN THE GTE PRO CLASS AT LE MANS IN THE SUMMER OF 2016.

IT APPEARS THAT MAKING THE MUSTANG MORE "EURO" AND BRINGING EUROPEAN-TUNED RS MODELS TO THE U.S., WERE JUST THE FIRST STEPS IN A WHOLE NEW PERFORMANCE ERA FOR FORD.

THIS CARBON-FIBER TUBBED, REAR-DRIVE, ACTIVE-AERO ENHANCED, MID-ENGINE, TWIN-TURBO POWERED MISSILE IS A TRUE GLOBAL SUPERCAR IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

AND WHILE, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD SINCE THE 1960s, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE 1,000 GTs THAT FORD PLANS ON BUILDING, WILL BE CHERISHED EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS THE ORIGINAL GT40s, SHOULD THEY MAKE IT TO 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT'S NOT QUITE AS DAILY DRIVER FRIENDLY AS SAY, A LAMBORGHINI HURACAN, AUDI R8, OR EVEN MCLAREN'S LATEST, AND WE'RE FINE WITH THAT.

THIS THING SCREAMS ALL-OUT PERFORMANCE FROM THE MOMENT YOU LAY EYES ON IT.

EXPERIENCING THE GT ON PUBLIC ROADS, IS TRULY A TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

IT FEELS FAST, FLAT, AND SMOOTH; QUICKLY MAKING A BLUR OF THE SCENERY, WHILE ENCOURAGING YOU TO KEEP PUSHING.

WE PICKED OUR TEST CAR UP IN L.A., AND QUICKLY HEADED WAY OUT OF TOWN.

Dave Scrivener: FROM INTERSTATE CRUISING, TO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TO CARVING UP MOUNTAIN ROADS LIKE I AM NOW, I'VE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE FORD GT, AND I CAN'T FIND A WEAK SPOT IN ITS GAME ANYWHERE.

John: THE TRACK-READY SUSPENSION SETUP FEATURES A SHORT-LONG ARM DESIGN WITH INBOARD SPRINGS AND DAMPERS.

IT HELPS THE GT REMAIN SERENE AND FOCUSED AT HIGH SPEEDS.

TOP SPEED IS LISTED AT 216 MILES PER HOUR BY THE WAY; THE FIRST 60 OF WHICH, IT COVERS IN 3.0 SECONDS.

25 INDIVIDUAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM 50 DIFFERENT SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE, TO DELIVER THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE DRIVE MODE SYSTEM WE'VE SEEN YET.

YOUR OPTIONS ARE NORMAL, SPORT, WET, AND OF COURSE TRACK, WHICH WILL EASILY HAVE YOU CHASING DOWN FERRARIS AT THAT EXCLUSIVE HIGH-DOLLAR TRACK DAY WE ALL DREAM ABOUT.

ERGONOMICS INSIDE ARE MORE RACE CAR THAN STREET CAR.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS FIXED, BUT A SLIDING PEDAL BOX, AS WELL AS FULLY ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN HELP GET YOU SITUATED.

CONTROLS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ARE ON THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF, WHILE JUST BEHIND IT, IS A COMPREHENSIVE ALL-DIGITAL GAUGE DISPLAY.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] HITTING THE START BUTTON, RESULTS IN QUITE A COMMOTION OF ECO BOOSTED CLAMOR BEHIND YOU.

IT'S FROM A TWIN-TURBO 3.5 LITER V6, VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT NOW POWERS THE FORD RAPTOR PICKUP.

ONLY HERE, IT WHIPS UPS 647 HORSEPOWER AND 550 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ATTACHED, TO A 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, CONTROLLED BY A SIMPLE KNOB ON THE CONSOLE AND PADDLE SHIFTERS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

THAT'S RIGHT...NO V8, BUT IN ADDITION TO THE WEIGHT SAVINGS THAT COMES FROM A SMALLER ENGINE, THE V6 ALLOWED FORD ENGINEERS TO TAPER THE FUSELAGE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPROVE AERODYNAMICS.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, LIKE ANY SUPERCAR, IT'S ALL ABOUT USING THE WIND TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

FRONT AIR DUCTS, AS WELL AS THE LARGE REAR WING, ARE ALL ACTIVE; CREATING MAX DOWNFORCE IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

GT PRICING ESCALATES RAPIDLY FROM ITS $450,000 START.

AND, DESPITE NOT BEING THAT RARE; FORD PLANS ON BUILDING 250 A YEAR FOR A FOUR YEAR RUN; THE FIRST ONE ALLOWED AT AUCTION SOLD FOR FIVE TIMES ITS MSRP.

BUILT FOR THE TRACK, BUT READY FOR THE STREET AND A VERY NICE GARAGE, THE 2018 FORD GT IS A MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE MACHINE.

IT HAD NO PROBLEM RETURNING THE BLUE OVAL BOYS TO VICTORY LANE AT LE MANS, ITS FIRST TIME OUT, AND WON OVER OUR HEARTS, AND MINDS JUST AS QUICKLY.

* * John: WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE "CALIFORNIA CAR CULTURE."

FROM HOT RODS TO EVs, IT'S THE STATE WHERE AMERICA'S MOTORIZE TRENDS USUALLY GET THEIR START.

AND, THANKS TO PUBLISHING MAGNET ROBERT E. "PETE" PETERSEN, THEY ARE PRESERVED FOREVER.

NOW, WE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING OF THE PETERSON AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM SOME 20 YEARS AGO.

SO, IT'S HIGH TIME WE WENT BACK!

OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART TAKES THE LEAD.

* Stephanie Hart: I'M IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA INSIDE THE FAMOUS PETERSEN MUSEUM.

I'M GOING TO BE SHOWING YOU AROUND THREE DIFFERENT EYE-CATCHING EXHIBITS, ALL WITH A RICH HISTORY.

I'M GOING TO START HERE WITH THE PORSCHE EFFECT.

THIS IS A 1939 TYPE 64.

THERE ARE "ONLY TWO" IN EXISTENCE!

Michael Bodell: THIS ONE WAS CREATED FOR THE ROME TO PARIS RACE AND IT'S A RACE THAT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT THEY STILL MANUFACTURED THE CARS, AND A LOT OF THE INSPIRATION ON THE...

THE PORSCHE 356 CAME FROM THIS CAR, AND WERE INSPIRED BY THIS DESIGN.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE COMPETITION SECTION OF THE EXHIBIT, AND THIS SECTION GOES THROUGH THE KIND OF VAST RACING HISTORY AND IN A COMPETITIVE NATURE OF PORSCHE.

BRANDS USED TO HAVE TO WIN RACES IN ORDER TO SELL CARS ON THE LOT AND SO...PORSCHE DID THAT EXTREMELY WELL.

Stephanie: BEATING ALL EXPECTATIONS.

HOLDING 30,000 POLE POSITIONS OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.

Michael: AND THEN OVER HERE, THIS IS WHAT REALLY STARTED IT ALL, A 550 SPYDER...

THE 550 WAS WHERE PORSCHE BUILT THEIR FIRST PURPOSEFUL RACE CAR AND THIS CAR IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THE CELEBRITY DRIVER JAMES DEAN.

PORSCHE WAS NOT AS BIG OF A BRAND AS IT IS TODAY, UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAD KIND OF THE REBELS OF HOLLYWOOD, MADE PORSCHE A REALLY BIG DEAL.

JAMES DEAN, STEVE MCQUEEN DROVE PORSCHES AND PEOPLE REALLY LATCHED ONTO THAT ESPECIALLY ABROAD WHERE THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED.

GERMANS WANTED TO SEE CELEBRITIES IN THEIR CARS AND THE CELEBRITIES DROVE THEIR CARS AND MADE THE BRAND REALLY TREMENDOUS.

Stephanie: THE HOLLYWOOD EFFECT TAKES CENTER STAGE UPSTAIRS.

ITS LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

SOME OF MY FAVORITES, THE BATMOBILE.

DRIVEN BY MICHAEL KEATON IN "BATMAN" AND "BATMAN RETURNS."

AND "GREAT SCOTT!!"

THE DELOREAN FROM "BACK TO THE FUTURE."

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS CAR?

IT'S FROM THE HIT MOVIE "THELMA AND LOUISE."

AND IT MAY LOOK CAMERA READY ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THE INSIDE...

IT'S CLEARLY WELL-WORN, THAT'S BECAUSE HOLLYWOOD IS NOTORIOUSLY ROUGH ON CARS AS LONG AS IT LOOKS GOOD IN THE SHOT MAINTENANCE IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

SO WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE CARS FROM THEIR FAVORITE MOVIES HERE IN PERSON?

Leslie Kendall: MAYBE, YOU HAVE SEEN EVERY "BACK TO THE FUTURE" MOVIE AND YOU'VE KIND OF BEEN LONGING TO LOOK AT THE DELOREAN AND WONDER JUST EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT THING LOOK LIKE UP CLOSE, AND YOU COME HERE, AND YOU SEE IT, AND GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH IT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY, PRETTY COOL!

IT'S SOMETHING TO TELL THE KIDS, AND THE GRANDKIDS, YOU NAME IT.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

Stephanie: AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S EPIC!

IN 2015, THE PETERSEN MUSEUM WENT THROUGH A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.

IT COST 90 MILLION DOLLARS.

INTERIOR SPACES WERE RE-DESIGNED TO MAKE ROOM FOR CHANGING EXHIBITS, LIKE SEEING RED: 70 YEARS OF FERRARI.

Man: THE WAY THEY LOOK, THE WAY THEY SOUND, IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

Stephanie: THE BEST OF THE BEST FERRARI'S ARE ALL HERE.

Leslie: WELL, ITS A 250 GTO, PROBABLY...ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE CAR CERTAINLY, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FERRARI'S BECAUSE IT EMBODIES EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE VALUE IN A FERRARI, IT LOOKS GREAT, IT HANDLES GREAT, IT PERFORMS BEAUTIFULLY.

Stephanie: BEING AROUND SO MANY INCREDIBLE CARS REALLY DOES PUT YOU IN THE MOOD TO DRIVE.

AND EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T TAKE THESE CARS OUT FOR A SPIN, JUST BEING SO CLOSE TO THEM REALLY DOES GIVES YOU THAT SENSE OF FREEDOM AND ADVENTURE.

John: PAT GOSS KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF CAR CARE.

AND THIS WEEK HE HAS TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT.

Pat Goss: OLD HABITS DIE HARD, OR SO THEY SAY.

AND ONE THING I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE GO AWAY AND THAT IS THE TERM, TUNE-UP.

SEE, BACK 40 YEAR AGO WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS NEW, WELL...TUNE-UPS WERE A VIABLE REPAIR ON A CAR.

THEY CONSISTED OF WHAT WE CALLED "POINTS, PLUGS, AND CONDENSERS."

POINTS CONTROLLED THE IGNITION SYSTEM.

THE CONDENSER WAS PART OF THAT.

THAT WAS ALL TO PRODUCE THE HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK FOR THE SPARK PLUGS.

SO WE'D PUT NEW PLUGS IN IT, WE'D PUT NEW POINTS IN IT, WE'D PUT A NEW CONDENSER IN IT.

THEN, WE'D ADJUST THE IGNITION TIMING, WE'D ADJUST THE IDLE SPEED, AND WE'D ADJUST THE FUEL MIXTURE.

ALRIGHT, THAT WAS A TUNE-UP.

IT WAS PRETTY MUCH STANDARD THERE.

BUT...YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMMON ON TODAY'S CARS?

WE NO LONGER HAVE POINTS.

WE NO LONGER HAVE CONDENSERS OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

HERE IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR.

A SPARK PLUG.

THAT IS ALL THAT HAS REALLY CARRIED OVER.

YES, WE DO HAVE COILS, BUT THE COILS, WELL THEY MOUNT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU HAVE NO PLUG WIRES OR ANYTHING.

TAKE A PEEK UNDER THE HOOD HERE, WE DON'T SEE A CARBURETOR BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A CARBURETOR.

ACTUALLY, NOTHING UNDER HERE IS ADJUSTABLE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE AREN'T ANY SCREWS TO TURN OR ANYTHING AT ALL.

IT'S ALL CONTROLLED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER USING A BUNCH OF SENSORS.

SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A TUNE-UP, WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

WELL, TAKE YOUR CAR IN WHEN IT HAS A PROBLEM, AND DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM, AND ASK FOR A DIAGNOSES OF THAT PROBLEM.

THEN, GET AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO FIX IT, AND FINALLY, ASK IF THEY'LL GUARANTEE IF THEY WILL FIX YOUR PROBLEM.

DON'T ASK FOR A TUNE-UP.

ASK TO HAVE A PROBLEM REPAIRED.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES FOR CAR COMPANIES DEVELOPING WHAT COMES NEXT.

FOR MORE ON THAT HERE'S YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: THIS TIME WE HEAD TO THE BIG APPLE, WHERE WE PICK THE BEST AT THE 2018 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

THE COLD WINTER HUNG ON OUTSIDE THE JAVITS CENTER, BUT INSIDE, THE AIR WAS HOT WITH NEWS.

SOME OF THE HOTTEST HEADLINES COMING FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND ITS ATLAS TANOAK PICKUP CONCEPT.

THIS MID-SIZER SHARES ITS CHASSIS WITH THE CHATTANOOGA-MADE ATLAS SUV, BUT IT'S LONGER AND SITS HIGHER.

AS FOR SUVs, THIS NEAR PRODUCTION-READY ATLAS CROSS SPORT CONCEPT HAS THE SAME WHEELBASE AS THE 3-ROW ATLAS, BUT IS 7.5 INCHES SHORTER.

ON THE CAR SIDE, VW IS GIVING THE ARTEON THE SPORTY R-LINE TREATMENT.

WANT MORE SPORT?

WELL, PORSCHE IS ADDING MORE TO THE 911 GT3 RS BY REDUCING WEIGHT WITH CARBON FIBER IN A TRACK-READY WEISSACH PACKAGE.

MERCEDES-BENZ IS BRINGING MORE POWER AND STYLE TO THE FACELIFT C-CLASS WITH THE MERCEDES-AMG C 63.

ENGINEERS ALSO ENHANCED THE MERCEDES-AMG C 43 COUPE AND CABRIOLET, WRINGING OUT 385 HORSEPOWER FROM ITS BI-TURBO V6.

NISSAN'S STUNNING ALL-NEW ALTIMA INJECTS NEW LIFE INTO MID-SIZE SEDANS BY BORROWING INFINITI'S VARIABLE COMPRESSION TURBO ENGINE, AND OFFERING FIRST-TIME, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

ON THE DOMESTIC BRAND SCENE, LINCOLN'S AVIATOR RETURNS.

LOOKING VERY CONTINENTAL, THE THREE-ROW, REAR-WHEEL DRIVE-BASED AVIATOR WILL ALSO BE THEIR FIRST PLUG-IN HYBRID.

RIVAL CADILLAC IS ADDING A DOSE OF RICHNESS TO THE COMPACT SUV MARKET WITH THE ALL-NEW XT4.

ALL WHILE MUSCLING UP THEIR FLAGSHIP SEDAN WITH A TWIN TURBO V8 IN THE CT6 V-SPORT.

TOTAL PRACTICALITY IS SUBARU'S ALL-NEW FORESTER SUV.

FAMILIAR AND FRIENDLY, IT GROWS INSIDE WHILE ADDING TECH TO SPOT DISTRACTED DRIVERS.

IT WILL BATTLE TOYOTA'S ALL-NEW RAV4.

WITH A NEW CHASSIS AND LOOK, THIS TOP SELLER IS LOWER AND WIDER.

MEANWHILE, THE LEFTOVER SCION IM IS BEING REPLACED BY THE NEW TOYOTA COROLLA HATCHBACK.

AT THE OTHER END OF THE CAR SCALE IS THIS WILD ESSENTIA EV CONCEPT FROM HYUNDAI'S GENESIS BRAND.

THE KOREAN CAR COMPANY ALSO MADE OFFICIAL THE MID-SIZE G70 SEDAN.

IT SHARES ITS PLATFORM WITH THE KIA STINGER.

AS FOR KIA, THEIR REDONE FLAGSHIP K900 SEDAN GROWS A LITTLE LONGER AND WIDER, AND ADDS THE STINGER GTs 365 HORSEPOWER 3.3 LITER TWIN TURBO V6.

THE AUDI RS 5 SPORTBACK TOOK A MIGHTY BOW.

THE 5-DOOR COUPE ROARED INTO NEW YORK WITH A 444 HORSEPOWER BI-TURBO V6.

NEW SUVs WERE EVERYWHERE AT NEW YORK.

MAKING SCENERY PASS BY QUICKER IS THIS JAGUAR F-PACE SVR.

THEIR FASTEST AND MOST POWERFUL SUV GETS A 550 HORSEPOWER 5.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V8.

ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ENGINES EVER FITTED IN A MASERATI GOES TO THE LEVANTE TROFEO.

590 HORSES CHARGE FROM THE 3.8 LITER TWIN TURBO V8.

THE ACURA RDX GETS THE MOST EXTENSIVE REDESIGN IN MORE THAN A DECADE, ALONG WITH A FIRST TIME A-SPEC SPORT APPEARANCE PACKAGE.

HYUNDAI'S MID-SIZE SANTA FE WEARS A NEW FRONT END, AND NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT ALERT.

WHILE, A MORE EFFICIENT MAZDA CX-3 ARRIVED COMPLETE WITH A NEW FACE.

WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY?

IT WAS ANOTHER AUTO SHOW EXTRAVAGANZA IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS!

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: A LOT OF MILES ARE IN OUR REARVIEW MIRROR, AND THERE ARE MANY MORE TO COME, LIKE...THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

BMWs VISION OF STYLISH HIGH RIDERS HAS TRICKLED DOWN TO THEIR SMALLEST UTILITY AS THE ALL-NEW 2018 BMW X2.

INSTEAD OF A SLICK COUPISH DESIGN, LIKE THE X4 AND X6, THE X2 SHOWS ITS SPORTINESS IN ITS PROPORTIONS.

WHILE, ONLY SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN THE X1, THE ROOFLINE IS ABOUT 2-AND-A-HALF INCHES LOWER, SO THE X2 APPEARS BROADER THAN ITS BOXY BROTHER.

THEY SHARE THE SAME CHASSIS, XDRIVE AND 2.0 LITER TWIN POWER TURBO I4.

IT PUMPS OUT 228 HORSEPOWER AND IS WELL PAIRED WITH AN 8-SPEED STEPTRONIC TRANSMISSION THAT CHANGED GEARS QUICKLY AND FIRMLY DURING OUR DRIVE NEAR THERMAL, CALIFORNIA.

Ben Davis: BMWs ALWAYS DONE UTILITIES THE RIGHT WAY AND THE X2s NO DIFFERENT.

NO MATTER, IF YOU'RE IN COMFORT OR SPORT MODE THERE'S ALWAYS THE SPORTIER SIDE OF EACH.

PLENTY OF ROAD FEEL.

TURN INS ARE CANYON CRISP, WHEN YOU PUSH IT HARD, THROTTLE RESPONSE IS PRETTY GENEROUS AND POWER IS ALWAYS UNDERFOOT.

John: SO ONCE AGAIN, BMW HAS EXPANDED THEIR OFFERINGS OFF THE SAME CHASSIS, BUT THIS TIME THEY'VE BASED IT ON ONE THAT ALREADY HAD A LOT OF FUN GOING FOR IT.

THE 2018 BMW X2 IS IN DEALERS NOW STARTING AT A LITTLE OVER $36,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON.

THE SUBARU WRX HAS BEEN MANY THINGS OVER THE YEARS FROM WILD TO MILD.

BUT ALL HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINING AND HIGH ON THE "BANG FOR THE BUCK" SPECTRUM.

WELL, 2018 SEES A HOST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO STYLE, COMFORT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, PERFORMANCE!

SO, TIME TO HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT WHAT THE NEW WRX IS ALL ABOUT.

* THE 2018 SUBARU WRX SEDAN MAY NOT LOOK ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE, BUT FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

IT DOES STILL RIDE ON THE SAME CHASSIS AS BEFORE, NOT THE NEW SUBARU GLOBAL PLATFORM THAT UNDERPINS THE CURRENT IMPREZA SEDAN AND HATCHBACK.

BUT THE SUSPENSION BOLTED TO IT, HAS BEEN REWORKED WITH PROMISES OF BOTH BETTER HANDLING AND IMPROVED RIDE COMFORT.

THERE ARE ALSO, NEW MATERIALS INSIDE, AND SUBARU CLAIMS, A QUIETER CABIN THANKS TO THICKER DOOR GLASS AND REVISED DOOR SEALS; THOUGH WE SURE COULDN'T TELL A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

WE DO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE RECARO FRONT SEATS, HOWEVER.

THEY'RE PART OF A NEW PERFORMANCE PACKAGE THAT CAN BE ADDED TO WRX PREMIUMS BUT ONLY WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

THE REST OF THE PACKAGE IS COMPRISED OF NEW JURID BRAND BRAKE PADS INSTALLED IN RED-PAINTED CALIPERS, AND DELETION OF THE MOONROOF THAT USUALLY ACCOMPANIES PREMIUM TRIM.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, NOTHING CHANGES UNDER THE HOOD, THE SAME 2.0 LITER BOXER-4 TURBO WORKS LOUDLY AND PROUDLY; OVERACHIEVING ITS WAY TO 268 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS OF COURSE STANDARD, AND FOR SOME REASON, SUBARU DOES STILL OFFER A CVT, BUT AS WE NOTED, NOT WITH THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE.

IN REGARDS TO THE 6-SPEED MANUAL, SHIFTER FEEL HAS BEEN IMPROVED, THANKS TO A NEW SYNCHRO DESIGN.

LIKEWISE, CLUTCH OPERATION HAS BEEN SMOOTHED OUT, THOUGH WE DON'T REALLY REMEMBER THAT BEING A PROBLEM IN THE PREVIOUS WRX.

THE WRX HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ADEQUATE ON-TRACK PERFORMER WITH RALLY RACING AT ITS HEART; WHILE CURRENT COMPETITORS SUCH AS FORD FOCUS RS AND HONDA CIVIC TYPE R SEEM BRED STRICTLY FOR STICKING THROUGH PAVED CORNERS, RATHER THAN SLIDING AROUND DIRT ONES.

STILL, IT EQUATED ITSELF QUITE WELL ON THE HARD STUFF HERE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

NOTHING REALLY SURPRISES YOU ABOUT THE OVERALL DRIVING EXPERIENCE; COMPETITORS MAY HAVE MORE POWER, BUT IT'S HARD TO ARGUE ANY OF THEM ARE MORE FUN TO DRIVE.

WHAT POWER THE WRX DOES HAVE, IT LAYS ON YOU WITH AN IMMEDIACY THAT OCCASIONALLY COMES ON A LITTLE STRONG.

SOMETIMES, YOU JUST WANT TO BREATHE ON THE THROTTLE A LITTLE BIT TO GET YOU THROUGH A CORNER, BUT THE HYPERACTIVE REACTION FROM THE GAS PEDAL, DOESN'T ALWAYS ALLOW FOR THAT.

THE WRXs ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN REVISED TO PROVIDE MORE FEEL, BUT PERHAPS THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON OUR TRACK TIME CAME FROM THOSE NEW BRAKE PADS.

WE FELT MUCH MORE CONFIDENT BRAKING HARD INTO CORNERS THAN WE EVER HAVE IN A WRX, AND THEY HELD UP MUCH BETTER THROUGHOUT OUR TRACK DAYS.

SO WHILE, WE CAN'T NECESSARILY SAY THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE MAKES FOR DRASTIC IMPROVEMENTS ON THE TRACK, SUBARU HAS ADDRESSED OUR TWO BIGGEST GRIPES FROM OUR LAST WRX TEST; BETTER SEATS AND IMPROVED BRAKES.

AND RIDE QUALITY AWAY FROM THE TRACK, HAS SURELY TAKEN A TURN FOR THE BETTER; IT'S NOT THAT IT WAS OVERLY STIFF BEFORE, THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE MUCH MORE COMPOSURE TO THE WAY IT HANDLES PAVEMENT IMPERFECTIONS NOW.

THE WRX LOOKS AS AGGRESSIVE AS EVER, IN FACT SUBARU CLAIMS IT'S EVEN MORE SO, THANKS TO A NEW FRONT END WITH LARGER AND LOWER GRILLE OPENINGS.

AS BEFORE, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP MAKES FOR A SPEEDY LURCH OFF THE LINE, EVEN ON ROEBLING ROAD'S SLIPPERY FRONT STRAIGHT, WHERE WE HIT 60 IN 5.6 SECONDS, 2/10THS OFF OUR QUICKEST TIME EVER WITH THIS GEN. WRX.

THE QUARTER MILE PASSED IN 14.1 SECONDS AT 98 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH THE MANUAL ARE 21-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

BASE WRX PRICING SNEAKS UP A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS TO $27,855.

THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE ADDS A LITTLE OVER 2-GRAND ONTO PREMIUM'S BASE PRICE OF $30,155, FOR A TOTAL OF $32,205.

THIS 2018 SUBARU WRX WITH PERFORMANCE PACKAGE IS SURELY JUST A STOP GAP MEASURE, UNTIL THE ALL-NEW WRX, STILL JUST OVER THE HORIZON.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE SUBARU HEADS WITH THE NEXT ONE, NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE BRZ IN THE FOLD.

BUT AS FOR RIGHT NOW, THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL WRX REMAINS INTACT; AS A VERY ATTAINABLE, HIGHLY FUN PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THAT YOU CAN DRIVE TO WORK EVERY DAY.

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, WHEN FULL SIZE SUVs GO HEAD-TO-HEAD, AND MINI ADDS PLUG-IN POWER TO THE COUNTRYMAN.

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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: OH, COME ON.

HOT, HOT, HOT.

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR KIND OF VEHICLE.

Woman: JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM, WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *