MotorWeek

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

JOIN US AS WE TEST THE HYPE AND SLIDE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE TESLA MODEL 3... PAT GOSS WITH SLICK ADVICE ON KEEPING YOUR ENGINE MOVING FREELY... ZACH MASKELL FINDS BRITISH BRUTES WITH A DECIDEDLY AMERICAN FLARE... AND VOLVO DOWNSIZES THEIR CROSSOVER FORMULA WITH THE NEW XC60...

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: TIRERACK.COM.

FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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: TESLA IS A CAR COMPANY UNLIKE ANY OTHER; DOING BUSINESS MORE LIKE A TECH STARTUP THAN AN AUTOMOTIVE BRAND.

AND THAT SERVED THEM WELL, FOR THEIR HIGH PRICED S SEDAN AND X UTILITY.

BUT, THINGS HAVE NOT GONE QUITE SO SMOOTHLY FOR THE ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL 3.

STILL, THEY ARE COMING OUT OF THE FACTORY IN DECENT NUMBERS NOW, SO ITS HIGH TIME TO FIND OUT IF IT'S A MUST HAVE GADGET, OR TRULY THE CAR OF TOMORROW...TODAY.

* IT'S FITTING THAT TESLA CHOSE MODEL 3 AS THE NAME FOR THEIR ENTRY-LEVEL EV, AS THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC SEDANS WHAT THE BMW 3 SERIES HAS DONE FOR SPORT SEDANS, BECOME THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

OTHER THAN LACKING AN UPPER GRILLE SLOT, THE COMPACT MODEL 3 BARES A STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO THE LARGER MODEL S. ITS SLICK FRONT END LEADS TO A VERY BIG WINDSHIELD; WHERE THE ARCHING ROOFLINE FLOWS HATCHBACK-LIKE TO A VERY SHORT REAR DECK AND TALL BACK END.

BODY PANEL FITMENT IS NOT AS GREAT AS WHAT YOU'D FIND IN THE TYPICAL LUXURY CAR, LET ALONE A HYUNDAI ELANTRA, BUT WE HEAR IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING MADE AS PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO RAMP UP.

THE INTERIOR IS SURPRISINGLY PLEASANT; NEW ERA MINIMALISM AT ITS FINEST.

JUST A LONG LINEAR DASH WITH AIR VENTS, A STEERING WHEEL WITH TWO STALKS, AND A HORIZONTAL TOUCH SCREEN JUTTING OUT OF THAT IP.

NO BUTTONS, DIALS, KNOBS, TO BE FOUND, SAVE FOR SOME PROGRAMMABLE SCROLL WHEELS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

ALL INFO IS DISPLAYED ON THAT 15-INCH CENTER VIDEO PANEL, AND THERE'S A WEALTH OF IT; HOWEVER, IT IS FIXED AND CANNOT BE TILTED TOWARDS THE DRIVER, REQUIRING YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD A LOT.

MAKING THINGS WORSE, THERE'S QUITE OFTEN A GLARE ON THE SCREEN THAT KEEPS YOU FROM SEEING IT CLEARLY.

ALL SEATING POSITIONS ARE RATHER COMFORTABLE, AND BOTH REAR AND FRONT TRUNKS OFFER PLENTY OF SPACE FOR STORAGE.

ON THE ROAD, THE RIDE IS WELL COMPOSED, WITH A SOLIDLY TIGHT, BUT NOT JARRING RIDE.

IT INDEED DRIVES MUCH LIKE A EUROPEAN SPORT SEDAN.

OUR TEST CAR CAME COURTESY OF LOCAL OWNER BILL CLARKE, AND THE EXCELLENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS HIS FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE CAR.

Bill Clarke: THE MODEL 3 IS A GREAT VEHICLE AS A DRIVING VEHICLE; IT FEELS TIGHT, IT IS RESPONSIVE, AND VERY POWERFUL.

THE HANDLING IS VERY SIMILAR TO A BMW IN MY OPINION, AND I LIKE THAT NICE, TIGHT GERMAN FEEL TO A CAR.

THE POWER IS ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE MODEL S THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY, SO IT'S A NICE, QUICK, RESPONSIVE CAR.

John: THERE IS A SOMEWHAT NOISY REAR SUSPENSION, MOSTLY NOTICEABLE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ENGINE NOISE.

BUT, BILL'S RIGHT ON, WITH AN OUTPUT OF 271 HORSEPOWER, THE MODEL 3 IS QUITE FAST.

A TYPICAL 0-60 RUN TAKES ABOUT 5.0 SECONDS.

THERE'S ALSO, LOTS OF WINDSHIELD TO LOOK THROUGH, GIVING YOU A WIDE ANGLE VIEW OF ALL THAT LIES AHEAD.

AND, WITH OUR CAR'S PREMIUM PACKAGE, THE FULL LENGTH GLASS ROOF MEANS EVERYONE ON BOARD CAN SIGHTSEE.

THIS REAR-DRIVER ALSO HAD THE LONG RANGE BATTERY PACK, WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

TESLA DOESN'T PROVIDE EXACT SPECS, BUT IT IS RATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 70 KWH.

BASE 50 KWH MODELS, AS WELL AS TWIN-MOTOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VERSIONS, WILL BE ADDED INTO THE PRODUCTION MIX LATER THIS YEAR.

THERE'S 310 MILES OF RANGE WITH THE BIGGER BATTERY, SO WE'D GO WITH THAT.

RANGE FOR THE BASE MODEL IS 220 MILES.

JUST AS IN ITS LARGER KIN, THE MODEL 3s CHARGING PORT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT CLUSTER.

STILL COOL, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE SEE IT.

WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT SOLD HOWEVER, ON THE NO KEY ASPECT.

WE ACTUALLY, HAD AN APP SNAFU WITH OUR TEST CAR, AND EVEN THE BACKUP PROXIMITY CARD WOULDN'T LET US GET THE CAR STARTED QUICKLY.

THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THE MODEL 3...MPGE RATINGS OF 136-CITY, 123-HIGHWAY, AND 130-COMBINED.

FOR A NEAR PERFECT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST 2/10 OF A BARREL OF OIL USED ANNUALLY AND ZERO CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE $35,000 MASS MARKET MODEL 3 THAT GARNERED ALL OF THE ORIGINAL HYPE AND DOWN PAYMENTS HAS YET, TO EMERGE.

ONLY THE BIGGER BATTERY MODEL IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

THAT MEANS WITH OTHER EXTRAS LIKE THE PREMIUM PACKAGE AND AUTO PILOT, THIS "3" CAN EASILY TOP $50,000.

SO, IT'S STILL MOSTLY AN EARLY ADOPTER PROPOSITION.

STILL, THE 2018 TESLA MODEL 3 IS THE BEST CONVERGENCE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND THE PRACTICAL AUTOMOBILE THAT WE'VE YET SEEN.

AND, IT DOES DRIVE GREAT!

YET, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF IT TRULY IS THE GAME CHANGING CAR OF THE FUTURE.

BUT, ONE THING IS FOR SURE; IT IS HERE RIGHT NOW, AND WILL BE THE POPULOUS EV BENCHMARK FOR YEARS TO COME.

* A BOXY SUV FROM BRITAIN WAS THE FIRST CAR OVER HALF OF THE WORLD EVER LAID EYES ON.

THE ICONIC LAND ROVER IS LOVED BY MANY, INCLUDING FARMERS AND EVEN THE QUEEN.

WELL, ONE COMPANY STATE SIDE IS KEEPING THOSE TRUCKS ALIVE, AND BEYOND TODAY'S STANDARDS.

TIME TO GO OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE TAKES COMMAND OF A CHEVY POWERED, DEFENDER!

* Zach Maskell: THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER'S ROOTS DATE BACK TO 1948 WITH THE SERIES ONE.

INTRODUCED IN 1983, UNDER THE DEFENDER NAME, THE LIGHT UTE IS USED FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS, FIGHTING FIRES...CAMPING, AND MUCH MORE.

IT WAS ONLY OFFERED IN THE U.S. OF A.

FOR FOUR YEARS.

PRODUCTION ENDED IN 1997, BUT E.C.D.

AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA IS REFUSING TO LET THEM DIE.

Scott Wallace: ALTHOUGH, WE DIDN'T MEET UNTIL QUITE, 5-YEARS AGO, OUR UPBRINGING WAS VERY SIMILAR.

WE WERE FROM PRETTY POOR BACKGROUNDS IN WORKING TOWNS IN THE U.K. [LAUGHTER] Zach: AFTER MOVING TO THE U.S. AND QUICKLY SELLING THE TWO ROVERS TOM IMPORTED, A LIGHT BULB WENT OFF.

THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE SHOW, A DEFENDER 90, AND 110.

Elliot Humble: JUST LIKE, RESTORING ANY OLD CORVETTE, ANY OLD TOYOTA FJ.

YOU WANT TO START WITH THAT ACTUAL VEHICLE.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD KIT CARS.

WE WANT TO RESTORE LAND ROVERS.

Zach: SALT, SUN, AND RAIN, WORK TOGETHER TO BREAKDOWN THE ALUMINUM BODY AND STEEL CHASSIS PARTS ON THESE U.K. IMPORTS.

RUSTY AND CORRODED, POINT OF NO RETURN PARTS ARE SCRAPPED HERE AT THE ACCLAIMED "ROVER DOME," DURING STEP ONE.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR THE BUYER'S DOOR HINGE TO BE REMOVED AND FRAMED FOR MEMORABILIA.

Elliot: IT'S LIKE GRAHM'S TRUCK.

I MEAN, THAT'S GOT 30 YEARS OF HISTORY.

LIKE, WE HAVE A FOLDER THIS BIG AND THE GUY KEPT EVERY SINGLE MOT TEST FROM ENGLAND, EVERY SERVICE, EVERY LITTLE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE.

HE KEPT EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Zach: UNLIKE, A MERCEDES-BENZ G-WAGON OR CADILLAC ESCALADE, THESE TRUCKS ARE NOT GENERICS OFF OF AN ASSEMBLY LINE.

Scott: THE BASE TRUCK HAS STILL GOT THAT STORY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SELLING.

I DON'T THINK, WE'RE SELLING JUST THE VEHICLE.

WE'RE SELLING A JOURNEY OF HOW YOU CUSTOM BUILD YOUR OWN VEHICLE.

Nicholas Yearicks: THESE ARE OUR MOOD BOARDS.

THESE BASICALLY, LAY OUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CUSTOMER'S EXACT PREFERENCES ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUILD.

WHAT MAKES THEIR TRUCK CUSTOM IS ALL ON THIS SHEET.

IT'S CUSTOM TAILORED TO THEIR SPECIFICATIONS.

Zach: APART OF ECD, EAST COAST OVERHAUL.

LET'S SAY, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT A DEFENDER AND YOU WANT TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN.

COME IN HERE, YOU CAN DO A LS3 CORVETTE ENGINE, YOU CAN DO THE SAME 5.3 LITER THAT YOU CAN FIND IN MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK AND YOU CAN PROBABLY DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO.

Ryan Leaverton: WELL, THE ORIGINAL ENGINES IN THESE WERE ANEMIC AT BEST.

YOU HAD A 4 CYLINDER TURBO DIESEL, WHICH MADE LIKE 80 HORSEPOWER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR YOU HAD A 3.5 LITER V8 WHICH STILL MADE ABOUT, NOTHING.

SO, IT DOESN'T REALLY SUIT PEOPLE'S NEEDS ON AMERICAN ROADS AND TRYING TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SO WHAT WE DO IS WE SWAP OUT TO RELIABLE CHEVROLET PRODUCTS.

Zach: ECD DID $200,000 IN SALES THEIR FIRST YEAR, NOW, THEY'RE AT 8 MILLION.

SO HERE IT IS FRESH OUT OF THE FACTORY, THIS 110 IS AN NBA PLAYERS, KENT BAZEMORE, AND WE'RE DRIVING IT BEFORE HE EVEN TAKES DELIVERY.

HE WANTED CARBON FIBER TRIM, WITH A VERY MODERN TWO TONE, AND OF COURSE, THERE IS THE HONEY COMB STITCHING ON THE SEATS.

EVERYTHING IS UP TO DATE, LIKE THIS TOUCHSCREEN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, A BACKUP CAMERA AND WIRELESS CHARGING FOR YOUR CELLPHONE.

UNDER THE HOOD IS THE HEART OF A CORVETTE, 565 HORSEPOWER LS3.

[ENGINE REVVING] FOR 180 UP TO $300,000...YOU GET RID OF THE COLD, METAL INTERIOR, AND INTO SOMETHING BESPOKE.

BUT YOU WON'T FORGET WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING, WITH HEAVY STEERING AND OFF-ROAD READY SUSPENSION.

CONSIDERING WHAT THESE THREE BRITISH BEST-FRIENDS SET OUT TO BUILD, THESE DEFENDERS DELIVER.

John: MODERN CARS REQUIRE MODERN CAR CARE.

PAT HAS ADVICE ON KEEPING ALL THE PARTS MOVING FREELY DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS THAT I GET IS THAT, WELL, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT INSTEAD OF THAT THIN, WATERY, 0-20, OR 5-20 OR 5-30 THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS, WELL, YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY SERIOUSLY, GOING TO PROTECT YOUR ENGINE.

YOU NEED 20-50, 10-40, SOME ONE OF THESE REALLY THICK OILS.

WELL, DON'T BELIEVE IT.

YOU SEE, MODERN ENGINES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OLDER ENGINES AND GOING TO A THICKER OIL, WELL...IT CAN LEAD TO ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

NUMBER ONE, IT CAN LEAD TO POOR CIRCULATION IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT'S TOO THICK.

THAT POOR CIRCULATION CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE HERE.

WE CUT A VALVE COVER APART.

NOW, THIS AREA IN HERE THAT'S ALL CLOGGED UP, THAT IS PART OF THE BREATHER SYSTEM FOR THE CRANK CASE.

WE HAD TO PUT NEW VALVE COVERS ON THAT ENGINE BECAUSE OF THIS CRUD.

WE CAN SEE OVER HERE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER VALVE COVER ALL GUNKED UP WITH SLUDGE AND SO ON.

NOW, WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

WELL, BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN THESE OILS WERE REALLY POPULAR, ENGINES WERE MADE VERY DIFFERENTLY.

THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BEARINGS AND SO ON INSIDE THE ENGINE, LIKE BETWEEN THE CAM SHAFT AND CAM BEARING, OR THE CRANK SHAFT AND CONNECTING RODS BEARINGS, AND SO ON... WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE MEASURED THEM USING AN OLD FASHIONED FEELER GAUGE.

BUT TODAY, ENGINES ARE BUILT USING MODERN TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTER CONTROLLED MACHINING, LASERS TO MEASURE THINGS AND SO ON.

SO THE NET RESULT IS THAT THESE MODERN ENGINES ARE MUCH MORE PRECISE.

THEY FIT BETTER.

AND THE OBJECT OF OIL, THE NUMBER ONE THING IS TO MOVE BETWEEN MOVING PARTS AND KEEP THOSE PARTS FROM TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER.

WELL, WHEN WE HAVE SMALLER SPACES, WE NEED THINNER OIL TO FIT THROUGH THOSE SMALLER SPACES.

NOW, SUPPOSE YOU PUT A THICKER OIL IN ON A MODERN ENGINE.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO DO IS INCREASE OIL PRESSURE.

NOW, THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WORKS OFF OIL PRESSURE, SO YOU MIGHT WIND UP WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A CODE FOR THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME EXPENSIVE REPAIRS.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT OIL IS THE ONLY THING THAT COOLS BEARINGS INSIDE THE ENGINE.

ANYTHING THAT'S LUBRICATED IS COOLED BY THE OIL.

AND WHEN WE INCREASE OIL VISCOSITY, WHAT WE DO IS SLOW DOWN THE MOVEMENT OF THE OIL AND THAT MEANS THAT THE PARTS INSIDE THE ENGINE ARE GOING TO RUN HOTTER AND BECAUSE THERE'S LESS OIL FLOW AND THAT MEANS MORE WEAR.

MY RECOMMENDATION, STICK WITH WHAT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS.

THEY SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FIGURING OUT WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR YOUR ENGINE.

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

John: THE NAME PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL FOR THIS MUST READ.

IT'S THE COMPLETE BOOK OF CLASSIC VOLKSWAGENS: BEETLES, MICROBUSES, THINGS, KARMANN GHIAS, AND MORE BY JOHN GUNNELL.

IF IT'S AIR-COOLED AND BUILT BY VOLKSWAGEN IN THE '50s, '60s, '70s, OR '80s; YOU'LL READ ABOUT IT HERE.

ACCOMPANYING THE WEALTH OF FACTS AND FIGURES, ARE PLENTY OF TECHNICAL DRAWINGS AND PERIOD ADVERTISING.

IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE FOR THE VW FAITHFUL, AS WELL AS JUST AN ENJOYABLE READ FOR ANY CAR ENTHUSIAST.

THEY SAY, "PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE."

AND WE'RE CERTAINLY, LEARNING THAT LESSON WITH COLD WEATHER LINGERING IN MARYLAND AND A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2.0T COAST IN OUR FLEET.

WHILE, WE HAVEN'T DROPPED THE TOP MUCH YET, THE TIRES HAVE ROLLED OVER ANOTHER 1200 MILES.

THE 174 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO IN-LINE 4, EASILY HANDLES ITS DUTIES AND WORKS WELL WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THE SIMPLE GAUGES AND CONTROLS GENERATE COMPLIMENTS NO MATTER WHO'S BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THE FRONT SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE, BUT ROOM IN THE BACK IS TIGHT, THOUGH THAT'S NOT SURPRISING FOR A 2-DOOR COMPACT.

WE DID EXPERIENCE A GLITCH IN THE DASH ELECTRONICS, BUT THAT EVENTUALLY REBOOTED AWAY.

SO FAR WE'VE AVERAGED 29.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT'S SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN WHAT THE FEDS SAY.

WE'RE CONFIDENT OUR PATIENCE WILL PAY OFF, WHEN WARMER WEATHER FINALLY ARRIVES, AND WE CAN TURN UP THE FUN FACTOR WITH OPEN AIR DRIVING.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE SUBARU CROSSTREK AND HONDA ODYSSEY ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE, FOR US, IT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO DO BEST, SO LET'S TAKE ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.

* ADDING THE QUADRIFOGLIO DESIGNATION TO THE 2018 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO TRANSFORMS IT FROM A STUNNING LUXURY VEHICLE, TO A HIGH PERFORMANCE ONE AS WELL.

THE 505 HORSEPOWER 2.9 LITER TWIN-TURBO CHARGED V-6 ENGINE AND BREMBO BRAKES MAKE IT READY TO TACKLE ANY TRACK OR BACK ROAD.

EVEN ON THE SOFTEST SETTING, IT HAS AN ITALIAN SPORTS CAR-LIKE FEEL.

THROTTLE RESPONSE AT ANY SPEED.

IS RAPID, ACCOMPANIED BY A GREAT, RASPY EXHAUST NOTE WITH JUST ENOUGH RAT-A-TAT, WHEN THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC UPSHIFTS TO LET OTHERS KNOW THIS IS NO PRETENDER.

WE STEERED, THE STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO ONTO THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

IT BEHAVES MUCH LIKE A TALLER VERSION OF THE GIULIA, WITH A TOUCH MORE INITIAL UNDERSTEER...DUE TO THE Q4 ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, BUT JUST AS PLANTED, NIMBLE AND ENGAGING TO FLING AROUND.

SO RARIFIED BUYERS NOW HAVE A MORE POWERFUL VERSION OF ITALIAN PRACTICALITY.

THE 2018 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO GOES ON SALE THIS SPRING STARTING JUST UNDER $80,000.

($79,995) AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] * Stephanie Hart: AND IF THE ANTICIPATION OF THE 2019 FORD RANGER MID-SIZE PICKUP, WASN'T ENOUGH, IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS ALREADY INCREASING ITS IMPACT.

OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER CAUGHT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RANGER WILDTRAK PROTOTYPE IN MICHIGAN.

THIS HAS BEEN THE LUXURY, OFF-ROAD RANGER IN OTHER MARKETS.

STILL, IT'S NOT AS RAUCOUS AS THE FULL-ON RANGER RAPTOR RECENTLY UNVEILED IN ASIA.

THIS AMERICANIZED WILDTRAK INCLUDES BUTTRESSES BEHIND THE C-PILLAR, HIGHER BED SILL EXTENSIONS, AND ORANGE STITCHING INSIDE.

OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER POINTS OUT THIS RIG IS A DIESEL, ALTHOUGH...FORD HAS ONLY CONFIRMED A 2.3 LITER ECOBOOST FOR OUR RANGER SO FAR.

CLEARLY, FORD HAS EXPANDED PLANS FOR ITS SMALLER PICKUP ONCE RANGER PRODUCTION BEGINS HERE LATE THIS YEAR.

John: AFTER RE-ENERGIZING THE BRAND WITH THE 2016 XC90 CROSSOVER, AND FOLLOWING UP WITH AN ALL-NEW S90 LUXURY SEDAN AND V90 WAGON, VOLVO TURNED THEIR SIGHTS TO THE MID-SIZE ARENA WITH AN ALL-NEW XC60 UTILITY.

NOW, MOST OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE LOOKS FAMILIAR.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THAT XC90s BRILLIANCE SURVIVES A BIT OF DOWNSIZING.

* VOLVO DIDN'T THINK TOO FAR OUTSIDE OF THE BOX FOR THEIR MID-SIZE 2018 XC60 CROSSOVER.

RATHER, THEY JUST TOOK THE WONDERFUL PACKAGE THAT IS THE XC90 AND DOWNSIZED IT.

WELL, LIKE MOST THINGS, IT'S NOT QUITE THAT SIMPLE.

IT DOES RIDE ON THE SAME PLATFORM, WHICH MEANS YOU ALSO HAVE THE SAME POWERTRAINS; STARTING WITH A 2.0 LITER TURBO I4, WHICH AT 250 HORSEPOWER IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR MOST, ADD A SUPERCHARGER AND IT BUMPS UP TO 316 HORSEPOWER.

FINALLY, TACK ON SOME ELECTRIC ASSIST, AND OUTPUT FOR OUR T8, JUMPS TO 400 HORSEPOWER AND 472 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

NO MATTER WHICH VERSION YOU CHOOSE, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD, AND ALL HAVE AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NOTHING DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT UNDERNEATH, JUST A REVISED VERSION OF THE DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT AND TRANSVERSE LEAF SPRING REAR SUSPENSION.

SO, STREET HANDLING IS SOUND; MAKING THE XC60 REASONABLY ENTERTAINING AS A DAILY DRIVER.

POWER IS PLENTIFUL AT ALL TIMES AND SMOOTHLY DELIVERED; WHETHER MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY, COMING OUT OF CURVES, OR LEAVING A STOP LIGHT.

OUR ONLY DRIVELINE QUIBBLE IS SOME CLUNKY SHIFTS AT LOW SPEED, AND A VERY UNREFINED FEEL TO THIS PLUG-IN HYBRID'S REGENERATIVE BRAKING.

INSIDE, YOU'LL FIND THE HIGH-END EXPERT-LEVEL HAND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE 90, BUT WITH A MODIFIED LAYOUT AND APPROACH.

THE OVERALL FEEL IS STILL HIGH ON LUXURY, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPRESSIVE, MANY INTERIOR MEASUREMENTS ARE BARELY DIFFERENT THAN THE XC90.

IN FACT, REAR SEAT ROOM ACTUALLY FEELS MORE PLENTIFUL, SINCE THE 5-PASSENGER XC60 DOESN'T NEED TO CREATE ACCESS FOR A 3RD ROW LIKE THE XC90.

MUCH LESS CARGO SPACE THAN THE 90 OF COURSE, BUT STILL PLENTIFUL FOR A MID-SIZE; AT 29.7 CUBIC-FEET WORTH OF GEAR IN THE BACK; EXPANDING TO 63.3 WITH REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

A "LOVE IT OR HATE IT" CENTRAL CONTROL TABLET DOMINATES THE CENTER STACK.

MOUNTED IN THE DASH, GLARE WAS NOT A BIG PROBLEM.

IT'S VERY EASY TO DO BASIC THINGS TOO, BUT MORE INVOLVED DEMANDS REQUIRE A FEW MENUS TO GO THROUGH AND TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD MORE THAN WE'D LIKE.

SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE IN A WAY THAT ONLY VOLVO SEEMS TO HAVE MASTERED, AND NEAR PERFECT SEAT HEIGHT MAKES GETTING IN ALMOST LIKE SLIDING INTO YOUR FAVORITE RECLINER.

[TIRES SCREECHING] YOUR RECLINER PROBABLY CAN'T GET YOU TO 60 IN LESS THAN 6.0 SECONDS, HOWEVER, AND THIS XC60 T8 HAS NO PROBLEM DOING THAT.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH A LAUNCH OFF THE LINE, AS IT IS AN EXPLOSION OF ENERGY.

WE'RE STILL NOT SURE, HOW THIS LITTLE 4-BANGER MANAGES TO HOLD TOGETHER WITH A TURBO AND A SUPERCHARGER FEEDING IN BOOST, BUT IT'S QUICKLY BECOMING A FAVORITE OF OURS.

THE ADDED ELECTRIC ASSIST IS JUST POSITIVELY CHARGED IONIC ICING ON THIS 3-LAYER CAKE.

WE HIT 60 IN 5.4 SECONDS.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS QUICKLY AND AGGRESSIVELY, AND THIS POWER UNIT EVEN SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.

13.9 WAS OUR QUARTER MILE TIME AT 99 MILES PER HOUR.

WITH LESS WHEELBASE, WE WERE SURPRISED IT DIDN'T FEEL QUITE AS AGLE, OR FOR THAT MATTER REFINED, AS THE XC90 THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

BUT, THERE WAS DECENT FEEDBACK AND ONLY MILD UNDERSTEER.

WHERE THE XC60 MIRRORS ITS LARGER SIBLING THE MOST IS EXTERIOR DESIGN.

IT'S NOT QUITE AN EXACT COPY, BUT PRETTY DARN CLOSE.

AND THAT'S JUST FINE BY US, WHY RE-ENGINEER A GOOD THING.

THE FRONT END IS A LITTLE MORE ROUNDED, AND GREENHOUSE CHOPPED A LITTLE.

THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THE T8 A COMBINED MPGE RATING OF 59, WITH AN OVERALL COMBINED RATING OF 26, WHICH WE COULDN'T QUITE MATCH WITH OUR AVERAGE OF 24.2 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THERE'S A VERY GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE WITH YEARLY CONSUMPTION OF JUST 7.3 BARRELS OF OIL, AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 3.3 TONS.

AND LEST WE FORGET, THIS PLUG-IN ALSO HAS AN EV-ONLY RANGE OF 18 MILES.

IT MAY NOT BE QUITE THE VALUE THAT THE XC90 WAS WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT, BUT THE BASE XC60 IS STILL VERY REASONABLY, PRICED AT $43,895.

SO, THE 2018 VOLVO XC60 MAY BE JUST A SCALED DOWN XC90.

BUT THAT ALSO MEANS IT IS YET ANOTHER FANTASTIC PRODUCT FROM THE NEW VOLVO.

ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM STANDING OUT IN A CROWDED FIELD OF GREAT LUXURY UTILITIES.

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, BUICK STEPS UP THE LUXURY QUOTIENT WITH THE ENCLAVE AVENIR.

AND IT'S A LITTLE OF A LOT MORE FOR THE F-150.

WE GO FOR A SPIN IN THE LEGENDARY DOTSON Z CAR.

'TIL 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: TIRERACK.COM.

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.

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 .

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *