MotorWeek

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

JOIN US AS WE FIND OUT IF A BIGGER VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN IS REALLY A BETTER TIGUAN... PAT GOSS SAYS, PAY ATTENTION AND KEEP THE WHEELS BETWEEN THE LINES... A HIGH OCTANE RIDE IN A ONE OF A KIND CLASSIC, THE CALLAWAY SLEDGEHAMMER... AND THE FORD ECOSPORT FITS THE HUGE SUV CRAZE INTO A TINY PARKING SPACE...

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.

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John: VOLKSWAGEN HAS CERTAINLY HAD THEIR UPS AND DOWNS IN RECENT YEARS.

BUT THEIR CURRENT APPROACH OF MAKING LARGER, MORE COMFORTABLE VEHICLES, AND THEN SELLING THEM TO AMERICANS AT ATTRACTIVE PRICES, IS A REAL CROWD PLEASER.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW THAT TACTIC WORKS FOR THEIR ALL-NEW COMPACT UTILITY, THE TIGUAN.

* THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE ALL-NEW, SECOND GENERATION, 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN IS HOW MEGA ROOMY IT IS INSIDE.

IT MAY STILL BE CONSIDERED A COMPACT CROSSOVER, BUT THE FEEL IS FAR MORE MIDSIZE, BEING CLEARLY AIMED AT AMERICAN BUYERS.

IN FACT, IT IS EVEN BUILT JUST SOUTH OF OUR BORDER IN MEXICO.

NOW, THE FIRST GEN TIGUAN WAS IMPORTED FROM EUROPE.

AND WHILE ON SALE HERE FOR 10 YEARS, IT WAS NEVER VERY POPULAR.

THE NEW TIGUAN STILL LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE THE ORIGINAL, BUT VW'S MODERN, ANGULAR THEME IS MUCH MORE IN PLAY NOW.

THE VERY LONG REAR DOORS, NOT ONLY SPEAK TO ALL THE SPACE INSIDE, BUT INDICATE THE TIGUAN NOW RIDES ON A STRETCHED WHEELBASE VERSION OF VW'S FLEXIBLE MQB PLATFORM.

IT'S MORE THAN 10-INCHES LONGER OVERALL THAN BEFORE.

INSIDE, THE FRONT SEATS MAY APPEAR FLAT AND PAINFUL, BUT ACTUALLY, IT'S THE OPPOSITE THAT IS TRUE.

THEY ARE FIRM, BUT COMFORT IS EXCELLENT; PLUS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF ADJUSTMENTS, AND GETTING IN AND OUT IS VERY EASY.

OUR SE TESTER IS JUST ONE STEP UP FROM BASE TRIM, YET...FEATURES AN 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, PUSH BUTTON START, DUAL AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL, A HOST OF SAFETY FEATURES, AND LEATHERETTE SEAT COVERS.

IT'S IN THE 2ND ROW THAT YOU EXPERIENCE ALL THAT EXTRA SPACE THE MOST.

LEGROOM IS EQUAL TO MANY MIDSIZE ENTRIES, AND SEATS BACK HERE ARE VERY COZY AS WELL.

NEED MORE SEATS?

A 3RD ROW IS STANDARD IN FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE TIGUAN'S, OPTIONAL WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

BUT ALAS, THIS MAY BE ONE ROOMY COMPACT, BUT IT IS STILL A COMPACT.

THE 3RD ROW'S TWO SEATS ARE ONLY USABLE FOR SMALL CHILDREN.

BUT, AT LEAST THEY DO OFFER IT.

WITH THOSE SEATS FOLDED, THE CARGO BAY IS ALSO SPACIOUS OF COURSE, BUT THERE'S AN UNEVENNESS TO THE SPACE DUE TO THE FOLDING 3RD ROW, THAT KEEPS IT FROM BEING AS EFFICIENTLY PACKAGED AS IT COULD BE.

STILL, 33.0 CUBIC-FEET IS QUITE GOOD, MAXING OUT AT 65.7 WITH THE STANDARD 40/20/40 2ND ROW SEATS FOLDED.

NO POWER LIFT-GATE ON OUR SE TRIM, SEL AND ABOVE ONLY, BUT THE VERY LIGHT HATCH VIRTUALLY LIFTS ON ITS OWN ANYWAY.

THE TIGUAN IS NOT EXACTLY STIMULATING OR HIGH-TECH LOOKING INSIDE, BUT IS HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL AND INTUITIVE.

THE LARGER TOUCH SCREEN FOUND IN ALL BUT BASE S TRIM IS MUCH EASIER TO USE, THE RADIO SOUNDS VERY GOOD, AND GAUGES ARE CLEAR AND SIMPLISTIC AS ALWAYS WITH VW.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] POWER COMES FROM A REVISED 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 WITH STANDARD AUTO STOP/START.

HORSEPOWER IS DOWN FROM 200 TO 184, BUT TORQUE IS UP FROM 207 TO 221 POUND-FEET.

IT HAS ADEQUATE GUTS TO MOVE THE TIGUAN'S...3,800 POUNDS, BUT SOME MAY WISH FOR MORE.

[TIRES SCREECHING] WE SURELY DID AT OUR TEST TRACK, WHERE THE TIGUAN JOGGED TO 60 IN 8.8 SECONDS.

IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T HELP, THAT IT IMMEDIATELY CUTS POWER AT EVEN A HINT OF WHEEL SPIN.

POWER BUILDS SLOWLY DOWN THE TRACK, AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS PRETTY DECENT, BUT OTHERWISE...IT'S AN UNREMARKABLE 16.8 SECOND QUARTER MILE TRIP THAT FINISHES AT 84 MILES PER HOUR.

TIGUAN REDEEMS ITSELF THROUGH THE CONES...HOWEVER, WITH QUICK STEERING AND A NIMBLE CHASSIS, LIKE A SLIGHTLY HEAVIER GOLF WAGON, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IT IS.

NO SURPRISE, BRAKES PERFORMED WELL.

118 FEET FROM 60 TO 0 WITH A SHORT TRAVEL...FIRM, CONFIDENCE INSPIRING PEDAL.

2-WHEEL DRIVE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED.

PRICING STARTS AT A REASONABLE $25,495; ADD $1,300 FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WITH THE NEW TIGUAN, AND THE LARGER ATLAS, VOLKSWAGEN IS CLEARLY PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS TO GAIN U.S. MARKET SHARE.

LAUNCHING TWO 3-ROW SUVS IN SHORT ORDER IS VERY BOLD.

AND, BACKING THEM WITH A 6 YEAR/72,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY IS VERY SMART.

THE COSMETICS MAY BE UNREMARKABLE, BUT THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN IS A COMFY, HIGHLY USEFUL, COMPETENT HANDLING, WELL THOUGHT OUT, AND YES...AMERICAN-STYLE CROSSOVER.

TO US IT SURE LOOKS LIKE VW IS FAST BECOMING THE HONDA OF GERMAN CARS.

* FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY NEW SUPERCAR TO COME ALONG, LEAPFROGS ITS HYPER-HORSEPOWER RIVALS, TRYING TO LAY CLAIM TO THE FASTEST TOP SPEED.

BUT WAY BACK IN 1988, ONE CAR SET A MARK OF 254 MILES PER HOUR THAT STOOD FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

THAT CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE EVER SINCE, BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY RECENTLY AROSE, WE COULDN'T RESIST TAKING A SWING... WITH THE ONE AND ONLY, CALLAWAY SLEDGEHAMMER.

* Reeves Callaway: EVERY CAR COMPANY WANTS A SUPERLATIVE, RIGHT?

FASTEST, COSTLIEST, QUICKEST, WHATEVER...

THE SUPERLATIVE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTS CARS IS TOP SPEED.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY ABOUT A CAR, AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS "WHAT'LL SHE DO?"

RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHAT THE SLEDGEHAMMER IS.

John: THE SLEDGEHAMMER PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED AS A ROLLING LABORATORY FOR CALLAWAY TO PUSH THE UPPER LIMITS OF MAKING POWER THAT WAS BOTH STREETABLE AND RELIABLE.

[ENGINE REVS] GIVING THIS HAMMER ITS MIGHTY SWING IS CHEVY'S TRIED AND TRUE 350 SMALL-BLOCK V8, CUSTOM ASSEMBLED BY CALLAWAY FROM HAND-PICKED COMPONENTS, AND GIVEN AN ADRENALINE SHOT OF TWIN TURBO'S SPOOLING UP TO 22 POUNDS OF BOOST.

THE POWER NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING EVEN BY TODAY'S STANDARDS: 898 HORSEPOWER AT 6200 RPM, AND 772 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A CUSTOM ROLL CAGE WAS INSTALLED FOR SAFETY, BUT REEVES CALLAWAY INSISTED THE CAR RETAIN ITS OTHERWISE STOCK INTERIOR, WITH AIR CONDITIONING, STEREO, AND POWER SEATS.

THE SLEDGEHAMMER WAS DRIVEN 700 MILES FROM CONNECTICUT TO OHIO FOR ITS FAMOUS RECORD RUN, AND THEN DRIVEN BACK HOME, IN THE RAIN, JUST TO PROVE IT WAS NO ONE-TRICK PONY.

THE SLEDGEHAMMER'S WIND-CHEATING BODYWORK WAS PENNED BY CANADIAN DESIGNER PAUL DEUTSCHMAN, AND BECAME THE BASIS FOR THE AERO-BODY USED ON FUTURE CALLAWAY MODELS.

Reeves: THE CALCULATION WAS SO AND SO MUCH FRONTAL AREA, SO AND SO MUCH DRAG, SO AND SO MUCH HORSEPOWER NECESSARY TO PUSH IT THROUGH THE AIR AT THAT SPEED, AND WE DID THAT.

AND WE WENT AND TESTED IT, AND WE SCREWED UP, IT WENT 254.76 INSTEAD OF 250.

John: OUR BRIEF TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL WAS AN ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME THRILL, THOUGH...NOT A HIGH-SPEED ONE.

THE CAR NOW RESIDES IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND IS RARELY DRIVEN.

WE WERE SPEED-LIMITED, NOT BY THE OWNER, BUT BY THE AGE OF THE SLEDGEHAMMER'S MUSEUM-READY TIRES!

IN FACT, CALLAWAY FACED A TIRE ISSUE IN THEIR 1988 SPEED QUEST AS WELL.

Reeves: AND THE REQUEST CAME FROM GM TO GOODYEAR, TO SAY, "CAN YOU MAKE A SET OF TIRES THAT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE ROAD CAR TIRE, THE GOODYEAR EAGLES, BUT WILL BE SAFE AT 300 MILES AN HOUR," AND GOODYEAR SAID, "OKAY."

THEY DID IT, AND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE TEST TRACK, THEY PULL OFF THE STREET TIRES, PUT ON THE SPECIAL TIRES, THEY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME.

GO OUT AND RUN UP TO TOP SPEED, AND THE MINUTE THAT WE WERE DONE, PULL THE TIRES OFF, PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, COVER THEM UP AND GO AWAY.

John: THOSE TIRES REPORTEDLY, COST GOODYEAR A MILLION BUCKS TO MAKE.

BUT THE REAL-WORLD R&D, COUPLED WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS OF HELPING TO CREATE AN ICONIC PERFORMANCE LEGEND, WAS MORE THAN WORTH IT.

YES, IT'S A PITY THIS OLD WARHORSE WAS PUT OUT TO PASTURE, BUT EVEN 30 YEARS AFTER ITS INCREDIBLE RUN TO TOP SPEED GLORY, THE SLEDGE STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO OUTRUN MOST MODERN MACHINES, AND WILL NEVER LOSE THE RACE TO BRING A SMILE TO OUR FACES!

KEEPING YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD CAN GET EXPENSIVE.

BUT PAT GOSS SAYS, "KNOWING WHAT YOU NEED CAN SAVE YOU SOME REAL CASH."

Pat Goss: A PHRASE THAT I HEAR FROM LOTS OF DRIVERS ALL THE TIME, "I THINK, MY CAR NEEDS A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT."

ALRIGHT...WELL, DOES IT REALLY?

SEE THERE'S MORE TO A MODERN CAR THAN JUST A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE THIS LITTLE IMITATION CAR WE'VE GOT THE WHEELS PROPERLY ALIGNED ON IT, WE PUSH IT DOWN THE ROAD AND IT GOES STRAIGHT.

BUT LET'S MISALIGN, THE REAR WHEELS.

LET'S GET THIS HERE, SO NOW, WE CAN SEE THAT THE REAR WHEELS ARE OFF ON AN ANGLE LIKE THAT, THE FRONT WHEELS THEY'RE STILL STRAIGHT AHEAD.

SO...WE PUSH IT DOWN THE ROAD NOW AND WHAT HAPPENS?

WELL, THE REAR WHEELS STEER THE CAR RIGHT OFF OF THE ROAD.

OR IT MIGHT STEER IT INTO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD DEPENDING ON HOW THE CAR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THAT MEANS THAT AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS, WE HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SO WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL IS NO LONGER PROPERLY CENTERED.

SO THAT'S SOMETIMES AN INDICATION OF THE REAR WHEELS BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

WELL, WE TAKE THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND THE SHOP HAS TO PUT IT ON AN ALIGNMENT MACHINE AND CHECK THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE REAR WHEELS IN ORDER TO KNOW IF THEY ARE IN ALIGNMENT OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

IF THEY ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, WE ALIGN THE REAR WHEELS FIRST.

THEN, WE USE THOSE AS A REFERENCE TO ALIGN THE FRONT WHEELS.

NOW, WE HAVE ALIGNED ALL FOUR WHEELS AND IT IS A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

AND WHEN WE GET DONE THE STEERING WHEEL, WELL, IT SHOULD BE JUST NICE AND CENTERED NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE DOING OTHER THAN STEERING THE WHEEL.

THE BIG THING, REMEMBER, YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT TIL AFTER IT HAS BEEN CHECKED.

AND KEEP IN MIND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL MODERN CARS HAVE ARMS AND ADJUSTERS AND STUFF HERE IN THE BACK THAT CAN BE TURNED TO ADJUST THE REAR WHEEL SO ALL OF THIS WORKS PROPERLY.

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

John: FORD RECENTLY MADE HEALINES WITH A NEW STRATEGY THAT WILL EVENTULLY, ELIMINATE ALL OF THEIR FAMILIAR SEDANS.

A BIG REASON FOR THAT, ARE VEHICLES LIKE THIS NEW ECOSPORT CROSSOVER.

YES, UTILITIES ARE NOT ONLY THE NEW FAMILY CAR; THEY'RE THE NEW EVERYTHING CAR.

SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT FORD'S BOLD VISION WITH THEIR SMALLEST CROSSOVER YET.

* USUALLY, FORD IS RIGHT ON TOP OF AUTOMOTIVE TRENDS.

BUT, IT HAS TAKEN UNTIL NOW, FOR THIS 2018 ECOSPORT TO GIVE THEM A SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVER.

AT LEAST HERE IN THE U.S., AS THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN DRIVING ECOSPORTS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS NOW.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL TO KNOW THAT THIS ECOSPORT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO PLEASE AMERICAN TASTES.

THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT, THE RIDE IS ROUGH, BUT THERE IS ALSO, A EUROPEAN SPORTINESS TO IT.

WE ENJOYED DRIVING IT AS MUCH AS SPIRITED HANDLERS LIKE THE MAZDA CX-3.

AND THAT'S WITH A RELATIVELY HIGH GROUND CLEARANCE OF 7.8 INCHES.

IT ALSO FEELS NARROW INSIDE; ALMOST LIKE A SMART CAR, WHERE YOU'RE JUST ABOUT RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH YOUR FRONT PASSENGER.

THE UPSIDE OF THAT, IS THAT ALL CONTROLS, INCLUDING THE TABLET-LIKE SCREEN AT THE TOP OF THE DASH, ARE WITHIN EASY REACH.

FRONT SEATS ARE ALSO, NARROW AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT BOLSTERING, EVEN IN THE BOTTOM CUSHION.

ELSEWHERE INSIDE, IT'S A NICELY MODERN SPACE, AND THERE ARE VERY GOOD MATERIALS FOR AN ENTRY UTE, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF STORAGE OPTIONS.

REAR SEAT ROOM IS JUST ADEQUATE FOR EVEN SMALL ADULTS, AND ENTRY IS A LITTLE TIGHT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN A WHILE.

ACCESSING THE CARGO BAY REQUIRES SWINGING THE DOOR TO THE SIDE, AND WE DON'T REALLY MIND IT, AT LEAST IT OPENS TO THE LEFT, SO YOU CAN LOAD FROM THE CURB SIDE.

A LOW FLOOR MAKES LOADING EASY, AND THERE'S MORE SPACE THAN YOU'D EXPECT; 20.9 CUBIC-FEET.

REAR SEATS REQUIRE AN OLD-SCHOOL FLIPPING UP OF THE SEAT BOTTOMS TO GET EVERYTHING FLAT; NOT QUITE THE FLEXIBILITY YOU'D FIND IN THE HONDA HR-V, BUT A GOOD 50.0 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE IS THE RESULT.

AS FAR AS SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVERS GO, THE ECOSPORT IS A VERY STYLISH ONE, WITH A BOTTOM-HEAVY, ROUNDED SHAPE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH ITS PLAYFUL PERSONA.

AT OUR TEST TRACK THE "SPORT" PART OF OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ECOSPORT DOES SHINE THROUGH; IT'S A FUN LITTLE UTE, PROVIDING YOU DON'T PUSH IT TOO HARD.

IT DOESN'T FEEL TOP HEAVY AT ALL, AND YOU CAN GET BOTH UNDER AND OVERSTEER OUT OF IT.

BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS ONLY REASONABLE; 120 FEET FROM 60 TO 0 WAS OUR AVERAGE.

NOW, WE'VE MADE IT THIS FAR WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE ENGINE.

THE BASE UNIT IS A SMALL 1.0 LITER 3-CYLINDER TURBO, AND WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WELL IT MOVED THIS LITTLE UTE AROUND.

BUT, FORD SENT US AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVER WHICH REQUIRED AN UPGRADE TO THE 2.0 LITER I4, WHICH WE LIKED JUST FINE, BUT AT 166 HORSEPOWER AND 149 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, IT'S NO ECOBOOST.

AFTER A QUICK TIRE CHIRP OFF THE LINE, THERE'S A DISAPPOINTING DELAY FOR REAL POWER, WHICH HAPPENS AT ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME TIME THAT A SHIFT IS TRIGGERED IN THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

IT TOOK A LONG 10.0 SECONDS TO HIT 60, AND 17.4 TO COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE AT 76 MILES PER HOUR.

YAWN!

AS FOR THE ECO PART OF THE 2.0 LITER ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ECOSPORT, IT'S UNREMARKABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 23-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

YET, WE DID AVERAGE A DECENT 27.3 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS 13.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH 5.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING IS VERY RATIONAL, STARTING AT $20,990 FOR A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE S. OUR TOP TRIM SES WITH THE 2.0 LITER AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOES FOR $27,875.

WHILE, THE 2018 FORD ECOSPORT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY DESIGNED WITH US IN MIND, WE STILL THINK IT'S A REASONABLE FIRST ENTRY INTO AMERICA'S GROWING TINY-UTE MARKET.

IT'S VERY MODERN, HANDLES GREAT, AND HAS LOADS OF CARGO SPACE FOR ITS SMALL FOOTPRINT.

PLUS, IF THIS IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT FORD HAS IN STORE AS THEIR SMALL SEDANS GO AWAY, THEY JUST MIGHT HAVE A BETTER IDEA AFTER ALL.

FOR US, DRIVING IS MORE THAN A NECESSITY, IT'S REALLY OUR PASSION.

SO LET'S DO IT, IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

* SEVERAL GLOBAL CITIES ARE PLANNING TO BAN FOSSIL FUELED CARS.

SO, THE EUROPEAN APPROACH TO GAS-ELECTRIC HYBRIDS HAS BEEN TO ADD LIMITED EV RANGE...WHILE ALSO USING THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO BOOST PERFORMANCE.

PORSCHE'S LATEST V6 HYBRID SYSTEM FOR THE PANAMERA, IS PROVING THE VIABILITY OF THIS APPROACH, WHICH NOW...EVOLVES TO A REENGINEERED, 2019 CAYENNE E-HYBRID SUV.

WHILE, OUTPUT OF THE HERE, SINGLE-TURBO 3.0 LITER V6, REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME AS BEFORE, THE ELECTRIC MOTOR GETS A 43% BOOST...UP TO 100 KW.

THE DENSER, 14.1 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY HAS ABOUT 30% MORE CAPACITY...EXTENDING ELECTRIC RANGE TO 27 MILES, ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH AS THE PREVIOUS CAYENNE S E-HYBRID.

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT CLIMBS TO 455 HORSEPOWER.

AN 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC S TRANSMISSION SENDS ALL THAT POWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

Garick Zikan: IT WOULD BE EASY TO SEE THIS AS JUST A MORE EFFICIENT VERSION OF A LUXURY UTILITY, AND THE TRANSITION BETWEEN POWER SOURCES IS SEAMLESS.

BUT PORSCHE'S SPORTY DNA IS STILL VERY MUCH PART OF THE PACKAGE HERE, AND NOW MORE THAN EVER.

YOU GET A STRONG SHOT OF TORQUE RIGHT OFF THE LINE, IT'S FASTER THAN BEFORE, AND THE SHIFTS ARE QUICK, SMOOTH, AND FORCEFUL.

John: FOR THE FIRST TIME A HEAD-UP DISPLAY IS OFFERED, SO WILL PORSCHE INNODRIVE.

THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN SEE ABOUT 2.0 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, CALCULATING GEARS AND POWER SOURCES.

SO PORSCHE TAKES ANOTHER STEP IN ELECTRIFIED DRIVING, WITH A CLEAR PRIORITY ON TOTAL PERFORMANCE.

THE 2019 PORSCHE CAYENNE E-HYBRID GOES ON SALE EARLY NEXT YEAR STARTING AT JUST UNDER $80,000.

THE ROAD LEADS TO AUSTIN, TEXAS AND THE ALL-NEW 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER.

THE QUIRKY 2+1 DOOR BODY STYLE REMAINS, AS THIS SECOND GENERATION GETS A LITTLE LONGER AND WIDER.

A 147 HP 2.0 LITER 4-CYLINDER IS THE STANDARD POWER.

NATURALLY, WE OPTED FOR THE 1.6L TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER GOOD FOR 201 HORSEPOWER.

Greg Carloss: THERE'S A BIT OF TURBO LAG.

ESPECIALLY, WHEN COMING OUT OF A TIGHT CORNER.

BUT REALLY I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE TORQUE, ONCE THAT TURBO DOES SPOOL UP.

THIS NEW VELOSTER IS ALSO MORE COMPOSED ON THE ROAD.

THERE'S A NEW MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION AND I THINK THAT DOES A LOT OVER THE PREVIOUS TORSION BEAM.

John: THE VELOSTER TURBO IS MATCHED WITH A QUICK THROW 6-SPEED MANUAL OR A QUICK 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION.

OF COURSE, WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT HIGH PERFORMANCE VELOSTER IN DUE LATER THIS YEAR.

THE 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER REMAINS A FUN, SPORTY, PRACTICAL, LITTLE CAR...WITH ROOM FOR FRIENDS IN A PINCH.

IN DEALERSHIPS NOW, THE PRICE STARTS AT ABOUT $18,500.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON.

WE DRIVE A LOT OF CARS AROUND HERE, BUT EVERY YEAR THERE'S ONE THAT'S UNFORGETTABLE.

SO HERE'S OUR 2018 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE, BEST OF THE YEAR.

OUR BEST OF THE YEAR AWARD IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT; SO NATURALLY, IT IS OFTEN THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR US TO DECIDE.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE THIS YEAR, WITH MANY GREAT VEHICLES MAKING THE LIST.

BUT NOTHING HAS HAD AS BIG AN IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE THIS YEAR, AS THE KIA STINGER.

JUST ABOUT EVERY SERIOUS AUTOMAKER HAS TRIED AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER TO TAKE ON THE EUROPEANS WITH THEIR TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL REAR-DRIVE SPORT SEDAN.

WELL, THIS LATEST SALVO FROM KIA, HAS CERTAINLY SHOCKED AND AWED THE SEGMENT.

THE STINGER GT PACKS A 3.3 LITER TWIN-TURBO V6, A QUICK AND PRECISE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND EVEN AN AVAILABLE PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

POWER DELIVERY IS SMOOTH AS SILK, EVEN WHEN MAKING 4.5 SECOND 0-60 RUNS.

AND IT FEELS EXTREMELY, STABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS.

ON A ROAD COURSE, THE WELL BALANCED CHASSIS PROVED VERY RESPONSIVE, WITH TENACIOUS GRIP IN CORNERS.

EVEN THE BRAKES FEEL OUTSTANDING.

A FEW OVERDONE TRIM BITS ASIDE, STRINGER'S WELL-DISGUISED 5-DOOR HATCHBACK DESIGN, NOT ONLY LOOKS FANTASTIC, BUT KEEPS A HEALTHY DOSE OF PRACTICALITY, AS DOES IT'S NOT QUITE COMPACT, NOT QUITE MIDSIZE, "JUST RIGHT" SIZE.

INSIDE, THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH COMFORT FOR LONG STINTS BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND THE STINGER REACTS CALM, AND SERENE IN DAILY DRIVING, ONLY BETRAYING ITS PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL WHEN YOU ASK FOR IT.

ALL OF THIS COMES WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY BUYERS EXPECT AT THIS PRICE POINT AND MORE.

THAT PRICE POINT?

WELL, THE STINGER GT STARTS AT JUST UNDER $40,000.

AND WHILE, THAT GT IS TRULY THE ONE GRABBING ALL OF THE HEADLINES AND AWARDS, AS IN EUROPEAN-BRANDED SPORT SEDANS, THERE'S AN ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL THAT WILL SUIT MANY BUYERS.

AND EVEN THE UNDER $33,000 BASE PRICE STINGER WON'T DISAPPOINT, WITH A 255 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 AND THE SAME 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

REGARDLESS OF THE STICKER, THE STINGER HAS DETONATED A WHOLE NEW ADRENALINE-PACKED ERA FOR KIA.

SO, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING STRIDES TOWARDS MORE DYNAMIC CARS FOR YEARS NOW, WE WERE STILL, HIGHLY SKEPTICAL THAT KIA COULD PULL THIS LEAP OUT OF THEIR HAT.

WELL, WE ARE NOW TRUE BELIEVERS.

IT'S A NO-COMPROMISE EURO-STYLE SPORT SEDAN FROM KOREA THAT ALSO COMES WITH NO "YEAH BUTS" EXCUSES.

THAT IS THE KIA STINGER, OUR 2018 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

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 GMC ADDS TURBO-DIESEL GUTS TO THE COMPACT TERRAIN AND MERCEDES BENZ BRINGS LUXURY TRACKSIDE WITH THE AMG GT R. 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: 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.

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