MotorWeek

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

JOIN US FOR THRILLS A PLENTY IN THE SUBARU WRX STI TYPE RA... PAT GOSS DECIPHERS THE NUMBERS THAT TELL ON YOUR TIRES... HOW ALTERNATIVE FUELS PUT A NEW FOCUS ON SAFELY FILLING UP... AND ACURA ADDS MORE OF EVERYTHING WE DESIRE TO THE LUXURIOUS RDX...

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: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

FROM THE COLD OF WINTER, TO THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTAGE WIPER BLADES ARE ENGINEERED FOR USE ACROSS ALL SEASONS.

MORE INFORMATION AT RAINX.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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT, VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE, SUBARU HAS AN AWESOME CAR AVAILABLE IN JAPAN, BUT NOT HERE IN THE STATES.

EVENTUALLY, SUBARU DOES BRING IT HERE, BUT EITHER IT'S A DUMBED DOWN VERSION, OR IT SIMPLY DOESN'T LIVE UP TO THE HYPE.

SO WE NATURALLY WONDER, IS THAT THE CASE FOR THE WRX STI TYPE RA?

OR IS IT A NEW ERA FOR SUBARU PERFORMANCE IN AMERICA.

* THIS 2018 SUBARU WRX STI TYPE RA IS THE HIGHEST PERFORMANCE WRX WE'VE SEEN YET; USING THE TRIED AND TRUE 2-PRONG APPROACH OF MORE POWER AND LESS WEIGHT.

THE NEWS FROM UNDER THE HOOD, UNFORTUNATELY, DOES NOT INCLUDE A NEW ENGINE.

BUT RATHER, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STI'S 2.5 LITER TURBO CHARGED BOXER-4.

STARTING WITH A RELATIVELY SIMPLE NEW COLD AIR INTAKE AND HIGH FLOW-EXHAUST SYSTEM TO IMPROVE AIR FLOW IN AND OUT, TO THE MORE INVOLVED ADDITION OF STRONGER PISTONS AND REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECU.

STILL, BEFORE YOU GET YOUR HOPES UP TOO HIGH, THE RESULT IS JUST 5-ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER FOR A TOTAL OF 310, WITH THE SAME 290 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN THE WEIGHT LOSS DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A NEW CARBON-FIBER ROOF PANEL AND REAR WING, ALONG WITH 19-INCH FORGED BBS ALLOY WHEELS.

AND JUST TO FULLY PICK ALL OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, SUBARU ALSO REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE.

IT MAKES FOR ONE AGGRESSIVE LOOKING SEDAN, APPEARING BOTH FAST AND YES, FURIOUS.

CHERRY BLOSSOM RED TRIM ON BOTH THE GRILLE, AND REAR BUMPER HELP SET IT APART, AS DO AN STI UNDERSPOILER, AND GOLD WHEELS, WHICH ARE OF COURSE A SUBARU THING.

A THOROUGH REVAMPING OF THE SUSPENSION, INCLUDES ADDING BILSTEIN DAMPERS, AS WELL AS SOME UPDATES TO THE VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL.

ALL STIs GET A BRAKE UPGRADE FOR 18, THE RAs CALIPERS FEATURE A SILVER FINISH.

THERE'S ALSO, A NEW DRIVER CONTROLLED CENTER DIFFERENTIAL, FOR CUSTOMIZED POWER DELIVERY.

SOUNDS LIKE THE KIND OF STUFF, WE NEED A TRACK TO EVALUATE, AND FORTUNATELY, SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK IS WITHIN AN EASY REACH OF OUR OFFICE.

AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE TYPE RA FEELS LIKE THE REAL DEAL ON A TRACK; LESS LIKE A DIRT-SPITTING RALLY CAR AND MORE LIKE A TRUE PAVEMENT STAR.

BEFITTING, AS THE RA NOMENCLATURE STANDS FOR RECORD ATTEMPT.

THE FIRST THINGS WE NOTICED OUT OF THE GATE, IS IT'S AN EASY CAR TO DRIVE FAST, AND STEERING FEEL HAS VASTLY INCREASED; TURN-IN IS RAPID-QUICK.

LIKE, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING QUICK.

ALL TYPE RAS GET A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH REVISED GEAR RATIOS; CONTROLLED BY A SHORT-THROW SHIFTER.

THE GEARING SEEMED PERFECT FOR THIS TRACK, WITH STEADY POWER WHENEVER WE NEEDED IT, AND NO SHIFTING SOONER THAN WE'D LIKE, COMING OUT OF THE CORNERS.

WE STILL BATTLED SOME UNDERSTEER, BUT CORNER GRIP WAS QUITE GOOD; AND DESPITE JUST THE 5-ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER, WE FOUND PLENTY OF OOMPH OUT OF THE TURNS.

SO, THE RA REALLY SHINES ON A ROAD COURSE, BUT NOT SO MUCH ON A DRAG STRIP EVEN WITH LESS WEIGHT AND A BIT MORE POWER, IT TOOK US 5.4 SECONDS TO HIT 60.

WHILE PLENTY QUICK, IT WAS ACTUALLY A HALF SECOND SLOWER THAN WE GOT IN AN STI BACK IN 2015.

LIKEWISE, THE QUARTER MILE WAS SLOWER; 13.9 SECONDS AT 101 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE REVISED TRANSMISSION GEARING, AS THE REDLINE ARRIVES IN A HURRY; BUT THE ENGINE ITSELF SEEMS TO REV FREER AS WELL, HAVING US GRABBING 5TH GEAR AT THE END OF THE QUARTER.

AGAIN, ITS PLENTY FAST AND THE STRAIGHT LINE IS REALLY NOT WHAT THIS CAR IS BUILT FOR, SO WE'RE HAPPY.

INSIDE, THE TYPE RA COMES WITH RECARO FRONT SEATS, ULTRASUEDE-COVERED STEERING WHEEL, AND A PLETHORA OF RED TRIM, AND STITCHING; AS WELL AS A NUMBER PLAQUE ON THE CENTER CONSOLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

THAT'S A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 18.3 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH 7.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

ADDING $12,900 ON TOP OF A MANUAL-EQUIPPED STI PUTS THE RA AT A PRICEY $49,855.

WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE WILLING TO SPEND CLOSE TO 50-GRAND FOR A SUBARU SEDAN.

BUT, THEY WILL BE GETTING SOMETHING PRETTY SPECIAL, WITH ONLY 500 SLATED TO HIT THE MARKET.

IN A LONG LINE OF SPECIAL SUBARU'S, THE 2018 WRX STI TYPE RA IS A STANDOUT... AND HOPEFULLY, A RELIABLE PREDICTOR OF THE FUTURE OF SUBARU PERFORMANCE HERE.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE FACTORY FRESH WRX, THE RA HAS YOUR NAME ON IT.

* FOR MANY TRANSIT BUS, REFUSE, DELIVERY, AND LONG-HAUL TRUCK FLEETS, MAKING THE SWITCH FROM DIESEL OR GASOLINE TO CLEAN GASEOUS FUELS LIKE CNG, PROPANE, AND HYDROGEN, THE BENEFITS ARE FAR-REACHING.

BUT STEPPING UP TO THESE ALTERNATIVE FUELS ALSO REQUIRE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT REFUELING AND MAINTENANCE FACILITIES CAN HANDLE THEM SAFELY.

WELL, THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

* THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS TEAMED UP WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS, THE GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, AND MARATHON TECHNICAL SERVICES, TO ADDRESS THAT VERY NEED.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE AT NEARLY 20 LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO EDUCATE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, FLEETS OPERATORS, CAR & TRUCK DEALERS, AND REPAIR GARAGES WHO WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GASEOUS FUELS.

A SERIES OF TEN TECHNICAL MANUALS AND BEST-PRACTICE GUIDES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED.

BUT THE TRAINING ISN'T LIMITED TO BOOK-LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM.

SITE VISITS AND TOURS OF FACILITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN UPGRADED ARE INCLUDED SO THAT STUDENTS CAN GAIN REAL WORLD PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.

THE GRTC TRANSIT SYSTEM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, RECENTLY HOSTED ONE OF THESE EVENTS.

Carrie Page: WHEN GRTC RELOCATED OVER TO THIS FACILITY ON SOUTHSIDE RICHMOND, IT WAS ALREADY IN THE VISION THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME KIND OF FUELING RELOCATION.

AND HOPEFULLY ALTERNATIVE FUEL.

SO GRTC WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND TO START THE PROCESS OF MOVING TOWARDS COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS.

John: GRTC'S CNG FUEL STATION AND BUS MAINTENANCE SHOP, LIKE MANY AROUND THE COUNTRY, WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT TO SERVICE DIESEL-POWERED VEHICLES.

AND IN ORDER TO SAFELY HANDLE THE FLEET'S CONVERSION TO CNG, THE BUILDINGS NEEDED TO BE RETROFITTED WITH SYSTEMS TO SAFELY ACCOMMODATE THE GASEOUS FUEL.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT STORING AND DISPENSING GASEOUS FUELS IS SAFE.

BUT PERSONNEL NEED TO BE TRAINED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL FUELS AND GASEOUS FUELS, AND HOW TO HANDLE ANY LEAKS OR OTHER EMERGENCIES THAT MIGHT COME UP.

TO BEGIN WITH, GASEOUS FUELS CAN'T BE SEEN, AND DON'T PUDDLE ON THE GROUND LIKE LIQUID FUELS.

SO THESE MODERN GARAGES HAVE ELECTRONIC DETECTORS THAT CONSTANTLY MONITOR FOR ANY GAS IN THE AIR, AND AUTOMATICALLY SET OFF ALARMS, OPEN DOORS, AND TURN ON VENTILATION FANS IF A LEAK IS SUSPECTED.

THE TRAINING ALSO PROVIDES PRACTICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO DESIGN AND OPERATE A SAFE FACILITY AND TEACHES IMPORTANT GASEOUS FUEL SKILLS-SETS, LIKE WHAT KIND OF SOUNDS OR SMELLS MIGHT INDICATE EVEN TINY TRACE LEAKS, THE LOCATION OF EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF VALVES AND SWITCHES, AND HOW TO CALMLY RESPOND WHEN ALARMS GO OFF OR OTHER SITUATIONS OCCUR.

AS MORE FLEETS, MAINTENANCE GARAGES, AND CAR DEALERSHIPS TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES AND UPGRADE THEIR FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE ALTERNATIVE FUELS LIKE NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, AND HYDROGEN, THEY ARE MAKING IT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW SUITE.

THESE EFFORTS HELP INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND ALSO, MAKES SWITCHING TO THEM MORE PRACTICAL AND AFFORDABLE THAN EVER BEFORE.

AS CARS BECOME MORE AND MORE SOPHISTICATED, THERE ARE STILL SOME LOW TECH WAYS TO SPOT TROUBLE EARLY.

PAT GOSS HAS MORE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: TIRES ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY ASPECTS OF ANY CAR AND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE OUR TIRE EXPERT, MISTER MATT EDMONDS.

MATT, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS'S GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT...NOW, I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I GOT A DEAL ON THIS TIRE.

I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND BOUGHT THAT BRAND NEW SUCKER FOR 25 BUCKS.

Matt: WELL, IT LOOKS BRAND-NEW, BUT WE CHEATED A LITTLE BIT.

WE LOOKED AT THE BORN ON DATE ON THAT TIRE.

HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT THOSE ARE 18 YEAR OLD TIRES.

Pat: EHHH, OKAY.

SO THAT MEANS THAT TIRE WOULDN'T BE A GOOD BET TO PUT ON A CAR.

Matt: WELL, THIS TIRE'S EXCEEDED ITS LIFE NOT THROUGH WEAR BUT THROUGH AGING AND THOSE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THAT DOT NUMBER TOLD US, IT WAS BUILT IN THE 43RD WEEK OF 2000.

SO ALMOST 18 YEARS OLD.

Pat: WOW, OKAY.

ALRIGHT, CENTER TIRE.

Matt: CENTER TIRE.

THIS IS A TIRE THAT SOMEONE HAS REALLY GOTTEN THE FULL LIFE THROUGH WEAR ON THE TIRE BY REALLY MAINTAINING THIS TIRE PROPERLY.

WATCHING THEIR AIR PRESSURE, ROTATING THE TIRE, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE GOOD ALIGNMENT.

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF JUST EVEN WEAR ACROSS THE TIRE.

Pat: OKAY, THIS ONE.

Matt: NOW, THIS ONE HERE, A LITTLE UNEVEN WEAR.

I MEAN, LOOKS LIKE HAS A LOT OF USABLE TREAD DEPTH.

BUT CERTAINLY ON THE SHOULDER, THAT INSIDE SHOULDER, ALIGNMENT WEAR.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF YOU STAY ON TOP OF, YOU CAN ROTATE YOUR TIRES AND WEAR IT OUT EVENLY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, I MEAN, IT BECOMES AN ISSUE AND YOU END UP REPLACING A TIRE BEFORE IT'S WORN OUT.

Pat: OKAY...NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THIS AGING PROCESS IS THAT AS THE RUBBER AGES, IT LOSES SOME OF ITS GRIP.

Matt: WELL, AND THE RUBBER LOSES SOME OF ITS CAPACITY TO GRIP.

THE COMPOUNDS TEND TO GET HARD AS SOME OF THE CHEMICALS COME OUT OF THEM.

THIS IS WHY WE SAY, TIRES REALLY SHOULD BE USED WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THEIR BORN-ON DATE.

OR, SIX YEARS MAXIMUM IN SERVICE.

SO, ONCE YOU PUT THE TIRES ON YOUR VEHICLE, YOU KNOW IT MAY BE TWO YEARS OLD WHEN YOU PUT THE TIRES ON, AT EIGHT YEARS, THAT TIRE HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS LIFE.

BUT, YOU SHOULD AT THAT POINT HAVE WORN THROUGH ITS USE AS WELL.

Pat: OKAY...NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRACTION, COLLECTOR CARS, THINGS LIKE THIS FORD GT.

THAT CAN BE AN ISSUE.

Matt: WELL, AND THE FORD GT HERE THAT WE HAVE ONLY HAS 2400 MILES ON IT.

BUT THE TIRES ARE 12 YEARS OLD.

SO YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE PUSHING THESE TIRES REALLY TO THE LIMIT, EXPLORING THE PERFORMANCE LIMITS OF THIS CAR AND CERTAINLY THE LIMITS OF THIS TIRE BECAUSE THAT TIRE NOW HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED.

Pat: OKAY NOW, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I THINK HERE, COME AWAY FROM THIS IS TO LEARN HOW TO READ THAT DOT CODE AND PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

Matt: ABSOLUTELY, THOSE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THAT DOT CODE GIVE YOU THAT, AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE WEEK AND THE YEAR THAT, THAT TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED.

AND, WHEN GO TO BUY TIRES, I MEAN, CHECK WHAT THE DOT CODE IS ON THE TIRES.

I MEAN, YOUR REPUTABLE TIRE DEALERS ARE GONNA HAVE YOU TAKEN CARE OF AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING TIRES THAT WILL SERVE YOU WELL.

Pat: OKAY MATT, THANK YOU.

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

John: FOR MOST, DRIVING IS A NECESSITY.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, IT'S ALSO ONE OF OUR SIMPLE JOYS OF LIFE.

SO LET'S GO FOR A QUICKSPIN.

AMONG RUGGED SUVs, THE MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS, OR G-WAGON, HAS ALWAYS BEEN AMONG THE MOST HIGHLY PRIZED.

THE REVAMPED 2ND GENERATION OF THIS BOXY BRUTE IS CLEARLY MORE MODERN, WITHOUT TAMPERING WITH THE TOUGHNESS REVERED SINCE 1979.

OUTSIDE, CHANGES TO THE 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ G550 SEEM SUBTLE.

IN REALITY, ONLY A HANDFUL OF PARTS ARE CARRIED OVER.

IT'S ALSO, BIGGER IN EVERY DIRECTION.

WHILE STILL BODY-ON-LADDER-TYPE-FRAME...

IT'S MORE RIGID, YET, 375 POUNDS LIGHTER.

LESS WEIGHT, MAKES THE 416 HORSEPOWER 4.0 LITER BITURBO V8 FEEL EVEN MORE ROBUST WITH A NEW 9G-TRONIC AUTOMATIC MODIFIED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE G-CLASS.

NOW, MOST G-WAGON OWNERS WILL STAY ON THE TARMAC, BUT IT EXCELS OFF-ROAD.

SO, WE HEADED FOR THE DIRT IN CALIFORNIA.

MODERN TOUCHES INCLUDE REPLACING THE RIGID FRONT AXLE WITH A DOUBLE-WISHBONE INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION, MOUNTED HIGH ENOUGH SO THE FRONT AXLE HAS 10.6 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE.

Garick Zikan: ALL THE WORK ENGINEERS DID UNDERNEATH REALLY PAYS OFF WHEN YOU'RE HERE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THE ROUGH TERRAIN OUT THERE...

BUT IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE, IT FEELS VERY FIRM AND IT ALL GOES ALONG WITH THE GO ANYWHERE ATTITUDE, AND ABILITY IT HAS.

John: THE RIGID "REAR" AXLE REMAINS, SO DO 3-LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS THAT QUICKLY DIVIDE THE TORQUE FRONT TO BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE.

DYNAMIC SELECT OFFERS FIVE DISTINCT DRIVING MODES, INCLUDING THE NEW "G-MODE," WHICH PRECISELY ADJUSTS SPEED, SHIFTS, STEERING, AND DAMPING FOR OFF-ROADING.

MERCEDES SWAPPED THE HYDRAULICS FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL RACK-AND-PINION STEERING...

HELPING THIS BIG SUV FEEL MORE NIMBLE.

FOR POWER HUNGRY DRIVERS...

THE 2019 MERCEDES-AMG G63 GETS A 577 HORSEPOWER HANDCRAFTED AMG 4.0 LITER BITURBO V8.

TEAMED UP WITH A LIGHTNING FAST AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G-TRONIC AUTOMATIC AND AMG TWEAKED SUSPENSION...

THIS BEHEMOTH BARRELS DOWN THE ROAD LIKE A TANK ON STEROIDS.

THE CLASSIC EXTERIOR SHAPE SHELTERS A NOW MORE CONTEMPORARY CABIN.

THE PASSENGER GRAB HANDLE, DIFFERENTIAL LOCK SWITCHES, AND ANALOGUE ROUND DIALS REMAIN...

BUT THERE'S MORE ROOM, AND MERCEDES LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY... LIKE THE OPTIONAL WIDESCREEN DIGITAL COCKPIT.

SO THE MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS GOES THROUGH THE GREATEST CHANGE IN ITS HISTORY...

FACING THE FUTURE MORE POLISHED BUT STILL ICONIC.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ G550 STARTS AT ABOUT $125,000.

AND ADD ANOTHER 23,000 FOR THE AMG G63.

THE KIA SORENTO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAVORITE AROUND HERE.

HAVING GONE THROUGH A REDESIGN 3-YEARS AGO FOR THE 3RD GENERATION, KIA'S BIGGEST CROSSOVER FRESHENS UP FOR 2019.

THERE ARE THE USUAL FRONT AND REAR FASCIA UPDATES.

AND THE TURBO IS GONE BUT KIA DOES SAY, "A DIESEL IS IN THE WORKS."

FOR NOW THOUGH, THE CHOICES UNDER THE HOOD ARE A PEPPY 185 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 MATED WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC OR A 290 HORSEPOWER 3.3 LITER V6 MATED WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC SHARED WITH THE CADENZA.

WE CHOSE THE 6-CYLINDER, WITH ITS RESPONSIVE THROTTLE, AMIABLE SHIFTS, AND SMOOTH, COMPLIANT RIDE.

OVERALL, IT FEELS INCREDIBLY WELL-BUILT.

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND TORQUE VECTORING CURVE CONTROL IT HELD TIGHT THROUGH THE CORNERS.

INSIDE, IS AN UPDATED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AIR VENTS AND CENTER CONSOLE, TO WHAT HAD ALREADY BECOME A MUCH MORE PREMIUM FEELING INTERIOR.

EURO-FIRM FRONT SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE EVEN ON LONG TRIPS.

THE SORENTO HAS BEEN AHEAD OF THE 3RD ROW TREND FOR A LONG TIME, AND NOW 7-SEATS ARE STANDARD ON ALL TRIMS.

THE SUITE OF AVAILABLE SAFETY FEATURES GROWS TO INCLUDE LANE KEEPING ASSIST AND DRIVER ATTENTION WARNING.

SO KIA IMPROVES THEIR RANGE OF LARGER VEHICLES, WHILE OFFERING CUSTOMERS A SPORTY, CAPABLE 3-ROW UTILITY THAT EASILY FITS IN THE GARAGE.

THE 2019 KIA SORENTO IS AT DEALERS NOW, STARTING AT JUST UNDER $26,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

EVER SINCE THE NSX ITS RETURN TO THE ACURA LINEUP FOR 2017, ACURA HAS BEEN TRYING TO SPRINKLE A LITTLE BIT OF ITS EXOTIC MAGIC THROUGHOUT THEIR LINEUP.

SO NEXT UP ON THAT CHECKLIST, IS THE 3RD GENERATION OF THEIR COMPACT CROSSOVER RDX.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT PRECISION CRAFTED PERFORMANCE ADDS TO THIS ALREADY POPULAR CHOICE.

* THE FIRST ACURA RDX WAS A BIT AHEAD OF ITS TIME, WHEN IT ARRIVED FOR 2007.

NOT ONLY WAS IT ONE OF THE FIRST LUXURY COMPACT CROSSOVERS, BUT IT ARRIVED WITH A 4-CYLINDER TURBO ENGINE AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF PERFORMANCE.

WHEN THE 2ND GENERATION ARRIVED, IT SEEMED TO REVERSE COURSE, SHOWING UP SOMEWHAT BLOATED, BLAND, AND PACKING A V6.

TODAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT TURBO-4s, AND SPORT UTILITIES THAT HANDLE BETTER THAN SPORT SEDANS DID A DECADE AGO.

SO, THE 2019 ACURA RDX GOES BACK TO ITS ROOTS, TO NOW JOIN THE PACK.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] SPORTING A REQUISITE 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO WITH 272 HORSEPOWER, THE NEW RDX GETS A BIG BOOST IN TORQUE, 280 POUND-FEET; THAT'S 28 MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S V6, FEELING JUST AS ENERGETIC FROM A STANDING START.

THERE'S ALSO, A NEW PADDLE SHIFT 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANS, AND OF COURSE, OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH IS THE LATEST VERSION OF ACURA'S SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THIS NEW RDX BOASTS A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT LOOK, THOUGH NOT SO DIFFERENT THAT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE CURRENT ACURA SIGNATURES, SUCH AS THEIR DIAMOND PENTAGON GRILL AND JEWEL EYE HEADLIGHTS.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS HAVE INCREASED, INCLUDING 2.6 ADDITIONAL, INCHES TO THE WHEELBASE, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP UP, AND ALLOWS FOR A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE, YET, TRIMMER LOOK OUTSIDE, WHILE STILL GIVING THE INTERIOR DESIGNERS A LOT MORE ROOM TO PLAY WITH.

A-SPEC TRIM TAKES THE AGGRESSIVE NEW NATURE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WITH 20-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, GLOSS BLACK TRIM, LED FOG LIGHTS, AND LARGER DUAL EXHAUST TIPS.

RIDING ON AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM WITH AS YET, NO HONDA BRAND COUNTERPART, THE SUSPENSION SETUP IS MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT AND A 5-LINK INDEPENDENT REAR.

THE FOUR AVAILABLE DRIVE MODES, INCLUDE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION, WITH SPORT+ MAKING THINGS, THE MOST RESPONSIVE.

THE RIDE CERTAINLY FIRMS UP AS WELL, TO THE POINT, THAT WE'D PUT SPORT+ IN THE "OCCASIONAL USE ONLY" CATEGORY.

BUT REALLY, IT'S THE SH-AWD THAT'S STILL THE STAR OF THIS HANDLING SHOW.

TURN-INS ARE VERY QUICK, AND YOU REALLY HAVE PUSH HARD TO APPROACH THIS UTEs LIMITS.

TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS A KEY ACURA ATTRIBUTE, AND THERE'S PLENTY TO SHOWCASE HERE.

GAUGES ARE CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE, AND A 10.2 INCH DASH-TOP HD LCD DISPLAY SCREEN, IS THE CENTERPIECE OF A NEW USER INTERFACE.

BUT IT'S STRICTLY HANDS OFF, AS YOU MUST USE A CONSOLE TOUCHPAD FOR INPUTS.

IT SEEMS OVERLY COMPLICATED AND THERE'S A DEFINITE LEARNING CURVE.

FORTUNATELY, THEY HAVEN'T GONE OVERBOARD, AS THERE ARE STILL MANUAL CONTROLS FOR THE BASICS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF STORAGE EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE NSX-FLAVORED CABIN, THANKS TO THAT ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE, AND THE SPORTY ADORNED SEATS ARE AS, IF NOT MORE, COMFORTABLE THAN BEFORE.

A PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS STANDARD.

AT 31.1 CUBIC-FEET, CARGO CAPACITY IS QUITE GOOD COMPARED TO RIVALS; 5.0 CUBIC-FEET MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

MAX, IS UP TOO, AT 79.8 CUBIC-FEET.

PACKING IN PLENTY OF SAFETY FEATURES AS WELL, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH FRONT DRIVE ARE 22-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED; ALL NUMBERS ONE LESS WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AT 21-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

SO, IT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, BURNING 13.7 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.1 TONS.

RDX PRICING STARTS AT $38,295, WITH SH-AWD ADDING TWO GRAND MORE.

AND, ON UP THE LADDER YOU GO, UNTIL THINGS TOP OUT AT ADVANCE TRIM FOR $46,395.

THE SPIRIT OF THE NSX DOES INDEED EXIST IN THE 2019 ACURA RDX, AS IT HAS RETURNED TO WHERE IT STARTED ONLY BETTER; BRINGING EQUAL PARTS HIGH-PERFORMANCE AND HIGH-TECHNOLOGY, PLUS...HONDA-DESIGN RELIABILITY, TO THE LUXURY COMPACT UTILITY SCENE, WITHOUT LEAVING THE PRACTICALITY OR COMFORT BEHIND.

THAT FORMULA WAS CENTRAL TO THE ORIGINAL RDX.

AND WHILE, TIMING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PERFECT THEN, IT COULDN'T BE MORE PERFECT NOW.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, HEAD ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN THE NISSAN LEAF GETS BOTH A FRESH LOOK AND MORE EV MILES.

AND A SMALL UTE SURE TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT, THE BMW X2.

PAT GOSS ON THE SMART WAY TO TACKLE RUST.

BRIAN ROBINSON GOES ON A 2-WHEELIN CROSS COUNTRY TOUR.

PLUS, THE LATEST MOTORNEWS AND A LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

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: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

FROM THE COLD OF WINTER, TO THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTAGE WIPER BLADES ARE ENGINEERED FOR USE ACROSS ALL SEASONS.

MORE INFORMATION AT RAINX.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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *