MotorWeek

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

JOIN US FOR A BIG TRACK TIME JOLT IN THE PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S... PAT GOSS ON GETTING THE RIGHT FIT UNDER THE HOOD... GREG CARLOSS GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR A STRIGHTLINE THRILL RIDE... AND TWO TOYOTAS WITH RACIER ATTITUDES, THE CAMRY AND AVALON TRD...

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...

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.

John: BEING THE PROUD PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED BRAND THAT THEY ARE, PORSCHE COULD ONLY SIT BACK AND WATCH TESLA PARADING AROUND AT LUDICROUS SPEED FOR SO LONG.

TIME FOR THEM TO ENTER THE FULL EV BUSINESS IN A BIG WAY, A WAY THAT ONLY PORSCHE CAN.

SO LET'S HEAD OUT ONTO THE TRACK WITH THE TAYCAN TURBO S. * THERE ARE MANY THOUGHTS THAT GO THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU ENTER A RACE TRACK PROPERTY BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR.

USUALLY, "WHERE AM I GOING TO PLUG THIS THING IN?"

IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

BUT, HERE WE ARE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA WITH THE ALL-ELECTRIC 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S. BATTERY RECHARGING ASIDE, TRACK TIME IN THE TAYCAN, QUICKLY REVEALS A VERY FAMILIAR FEEL.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, WE NEED TO BETTER INFORM YOU OF WHAT EXACTLY IT IS WE'RE DRIVING HERE.

THE PORSCHE EV JOURNEY OF COURSE, STARTED WITH THE MISSION E CONCEPT OF 2015.

AND OVER THESE LAST 5-YEARS, PORSCHE HAS ASSEMBLED THE CR ME DE LA CREME OF ELECTRIFIED AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE SEDANS.

POWERTRAIN SETUP IS NOT THAT UNIQUE FROM OTHER EVs; TWO-MOTOR ARRANGEMENT, ONE UP FRONT, ONE IN REAR, PROVIDING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WITH UP TO 670 HORSEPOWER IN THE TAYCAN TURBO.

THIS TURBO S CRANKS THINGS UP TO 750 HORSEPOWER, WITH 774 POUND-FEET OF AVAILABLE TORQUE.

THAT'S RIGHT, TURBO HAS BECOME MORE OF A MODEL NAME IN THE PORSCHE WORLD, NOT SO MUCH A DESCRIPTOR OF WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD; SO, USING THE NAME HERE IS NOT THAT MUCH OF A STRETCH.

THERE IS SOME UNIQUENESS WITH THE TAYCAN, AS IT IS THE FIRST EV TO OPERATE ON AN 800 VOLT SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO GET TO 80% CHARGE IN AS LITTLE AS 22.5 MINUTES.

AND, THERE'S A 2-SPEED TRANSMISSION ON THE REAR AXLE; PROVIDING ULTIMATE ACCELERATION WHEN LAUNCHING, AND HIGHER EFFICIENCY WHEN CRUISING.

NINETY-THREE KWH OF BATTERY CAPACITY, DELIVERS 192 MILES OF RANGE; THE STANDARD TAYCAN TURBO JUST OVER 200.

SLIGHTLY LESS, IF YOU'RE DOING QUARTER MILE RUNS LIKE THIS.

THE TURBO S LAUNCHES WITH A SHEER BRUTALITY THAT MAKES THE NISSAN GT-R SEEM TAME.

POWER DELIVERY IS JUST RELENTLESS.

IT FEELS LIKE YOU'VE JUST LEFT THE LINE, WHEN YOU GLANCE DOWN AND YOUR ALREADY APPROACHING TRIPLE DIGITS, AFTER CLEARING 60 IN 2.8 SECONDS.

NO GEARS TO CHANGE, NO TACH TO MONITOR, JUST HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE AS YOU FINISH THE QUARTER IN 10.9 SECONDS AT 129 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE IS SOME SOUND ENHANCEMENT IN THE CABIN, BUT IT'S NOT FAKE VROOM, VROOM ENGINE NOISES YOU'RE HEARING; RATHER THE ACTUAL SOUND OF THE ELECTRIC MOTORS AMPLIFIED.

WE WERE DIVIDED ON ITS MERITS; SOME THOUGHT, "IT SOUNDED COOL," OTHERS SAID, "THEY WOULD PREFER SILENCE."

REGARDLESS, METAL PUSHING THROUGH WIND IS ALL BYSTANDERS CAN HEAR.

NOW, BACK TO THAT FAMILIAR PORSCHE FEEL.

YES...AMAZINGLY, DESPITE THE LENGTH AND WEIGHT OF THE TAYCAN, SOMEHOW THE EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE WHEEL IS NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM A 911.

SURE, YOU DO FEEL THE HEFT IN TURNS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LET OFF THE THROTTLE IT STILL WANTS TO SURGE ON, BUT THE ENORMOUS, AND STANDARD CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES BEHIND THE 21 INCH WHEELS ARE PHENOMENAL, AND KEEP YOU FROM GETTING INTO ANY TROUBLE.

IT WILL PUSH A LITTLE IN CORNERS, AS ALL OF THE GRIP KEEPS THE REAR PLANTED AT ALL TIMES, BUT THE SHEER AMOUNT OF TORQUE YOU CAN APPLY COMING OUT OF TURNS IS BORDERLINE MIND-BOGGLING.

FOUR-WHEEL STEERING IS AVAILABLE IN THE TURBO, STANDARD HERE IN THE S, AND IT REALLY HELPS ON TURN-INS.

OVERALL FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL IS NOT QUITE AS SHARP AS A PANAMARA, BUT FAR FROM THE "VIDEO-GAME" CONTROLLER FEEL OF MOST OTHER PURE EVs.

MUCH LIKE THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, THE EXTERIOR DESIGN IS ALL PRETTY TYPICAL PORSCHE, BUT EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL.

AERO TREATMENTS INCLUDE AN ACTIVE REAR SPOILER, ROCKER EXTENSIONS, AND REAR DIFFUSER.

AND, THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO CHARGE PORTS, ONE ON EACH SIDE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE PLUGGING INTO.

FINALLY, THE STANDOUT 21 INCH WHEELS ON OUR TEST CAR WERE SPORTING GOOD YEAR EAGLES.

THE INTERIOR IS NOT AS FUTURISTIC AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT; AGAIN, MORE OF THE ACCUSTOMED PORSCHE VIBE.

THE BIGGEST EVOLUTION BEING THE LARGE CURVED-GLASS GAUGE PANEL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY MPGE RATINGS ARE 67-CITY, 68-HIGHWAY, AND 68-COMBINED.

FOR A NEAR PERFECT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, USING JUST THREE-TENTHS OF A BARREL OF OIL PER YEAR, WITH NO CO2 EMISSIONS.

TAYCAN TURBO PRICING STARTS AT $154,860; THIS TURBO S, AT $188,960.

SUCH THE PRICE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE EARLY ADOPTION.

TOO MUCH FOR YOU?

WELL, PORSCHE HAS JUST ANNOUNCED AN ENTRY-LEVEL TAYCAN 4S, TO START AT JUST $114,340.

TAKING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY'VE LEARNED OVER THEIR 70-YEARS AS A BRAND, PUSHING IT INTO THE FUTURE WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND CRAMMING IT ALL INTO ONE VEHICLE, IS WHAT THE 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S IS ALL ABOUT.

AND THIS IS JUST THE START OF PORSCHE E-PERFORMANCE, AS THEY'VE ALREADY CONFIRMED A CROSS TURISMO, AND HINTED AT MUCH MORE TO COME DOWN THE ROAD.

THE TIMES THEY ARE INDEED A-CHANGIN', AND NEVER HAVE THEY CHANGED, OR CHARGED, FASTER THAN WITH THE TAYCAN.

* John: WITH THE HELP OF MOVIES AND TELEVISION, STREET RACING HAS BEEN FULLY EMBRACED BY POP-CULTURE.

NOW, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT ITS GENERALLY ILLEGAL NATURE IS WHAT MAKES IT SO COMPELLING.

BUT, OUR OVER THE EDGE REPORTER, GREG CARLOSS FOUND AN EVENT WHERE THAT NOTION GOES UP IN SMOKE.

* Greg Carloss: AMERICANS LOVE STREET RACING, BUT IT'S ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT PRESENTS A PROBLEM.

WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AT DOMINION RACEWAY IN SPOTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA WHERE THEY'VE FOUND THE PERFECT SOLUTION!"

[ENGINES REVVING] IN THIS COUNTRY AT LEAST, STREET RACING IS SEEN AS A UNIQUE GENRE OF MOTOR SPORT, UNHINDERED BY OFFICIAL RULE BOOKS AND PRECISION TIMING DEVICES.

IT'S PURE, HEADS UP DRAG RACING.

IN 2018 STEVE BRITT, THE OWNER AND PROMOTER OF DOMINION RACEWAY AND ENTERTAINMENT NOTICED THE GROWING STREET RACING SCENE.

Steve Britt: STREET RACING GOT KIND OF POPULAR ON TV AND WE WERE LIKE, "WELL, WE CAN DO THAT."

AND SO, WE STARTED FRIDAY NIGHT STREET RACING HERE AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

Zac Ash: "ATMOSPHERE IS LIVELY.

THERE'S A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY OUT HERE.

EVERYONE GETS TOGETHER, JUST HAS A GOOD TIME.

Greg: AND WITH AN ECLECTIC CROWD, COMES A WIDE ARRAY OF VEHICLES.

Daniel Ultsch: I'VE SEEN DIESEL TRUCKS COME OUT HERE AND BEND THEIR FRONT AXLES.

I MEAN, I'VE SEEN MUSTANGS COME OVER THESE CURBS HERE, BUT YEAH I'D SAY, THE CRAZIEST ONE WAS PROBABLY SIDE-BY-SIDE.

Greg: DRIVERS CAN RUN ON THEIR OWN OR AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE.

JUST PICK AN OPPONENT AND GET IN LINE.

ROLLING STARTS CAN BE NEGOTIATED, BUT A TRADITIONAL STANDING START REMAINS THE FAVORITE.

NATURALLY, BURNOUTS ARE WELCOME.

[ENGINE REVS] ONCE THE CARS STAGE, A STARTER TRIGGERS THE LIGHTS AND THE ONE-EIGHTH MILE SPRINT BEGINS.

Teejay Snipes: HERE, IT'S A NEVER PREPPED SURFACE.

SO, THE SAME WAY YOUR CAR ACTS ON INTERSTATE 95, ON ROUTE 3, THAT'S HOW YOUR CAR'S GONNA' ACT HERE.

SO, WE HAVE A TRUE NO-PREP EXPERIENCE HERE.

Greg: THIS IS TEEJAY SNIPES AND FOR THOSE SEEKING TOP COMPETITION WITH MORE AT STAKE THAN JUST BRAGGING RIGHTS, HE'S THE MAN WITH A PLAN.

Teejay: I'M PRESIDENT OF MODIFIED DMV, WE'RE A LOCAL CAR CLUB HERE AND WE GOT WITH DOMINION TO HOST THESE EVENTS, TO GET EVERYONE OFF THE STREETS.

GIVE SOMEBODY SOMETHING TO DO ON A FRIDAY.

ANY QUESTIONS?

ALRIGHT, I GOT A BAG OVER HERE WE'RE GONNA DRAW NUMBERS.

BASICALLY, WHEN WE GET GUYS COME OUT HERE FOR SHOOTOUTS, THERE'S A BUY-IN WHETHER IT'S 20 BUCKS, 50 BUCKS, 100 BUCKS.

WE GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER, THEY PUT THE MONEY INTO A POT AND SOMEBODY'S GONNA TAKE IT HOME AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.

Greg: UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CASH, OR A CAR.

THAT IS UNTIL I MET STAVROS KAPLANERIS FROM ROCKING NISSAN OF STAFFORD... Stavros Kaplaneris: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

HOW ABOUT I GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO MY ZL1?

YOU CAN TAKE A COUPLE PASSES DOWN THAT WAY.

Greg: ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Stavros: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE ONLY RULE I HAVE IS IF YOU WRECK IT, YOU BUY IT.

Greg: I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

SO, OFF I WENT IN A 650 HORSEPOWER CAR OWNED BY A COMPLETE STRANGER TO ROLL RACE AGAINST A MODDED C6 CORVETTE.

Greg: WELL, THAT WASN'T AS SMOOTH AS I WANTED IT TO BE, BUT HEY WE FINISHED.

SO, I DIDN'T WIN ANY RESPECT, BUT I DID GET AN AUTHENTIC STREET RACING EXPERIENCE WITHOUT BREAKING ANY LAWS.

Teejay: DOMINION, THEY'RE GIVING US A PLACE TO RACE.

A SAFE PLACE TO RACE, SO IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD THING AND WE'RE HELPING THE COMMUNITY KEEPING RACERS OFF THE STREETS.

Greg: SO NEXT TIME, YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A CAR WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE, JUST KNOW THAT STREET RACING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DONE ON THE STREET.

* John: THE ENGINE IS EASILY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY CAR.

PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE TO KEEP IT RUNNING TIGHT.

* Pat Goss: ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PLACES FOR AN OIL LEAK ON AN ENGINE IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE VALVE COVER UP ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE.

BACK IN THE DAY THE VALVE COVERS USED TO BE MADE OUT OF TIN AND THEY WERE KINDA FRAGILE.

THESE TIN VALVE COVERS USED FLAT GASKETS MADE OUT OF CORK OR SOMETIMES RUBBER.

WELL, THAT EVOLVED INTO ALUMINUM VALVE COVERS WHICH WERE MACHINE FLAT ON THE BOTTOM, STILL USED A FLAT GASKET, AND IN MOST CASES THAT WAS RUBBER.

WELL, NOWADAYS WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE USING THESE O-RING TYPE GASKETS, AND THESE ARE DESIGNED SO THERE'S A NOTCH.

IT IS CAST INTO THE VALVE COVER.

THE O-RING GASKET FITS DOWN INTO THAT NOTCH AND IT MAKES A BETTER SEAL.

NOW, ON EITHER ONE OF THESE YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TIGHTEN THEM PROPERLY.

BEST WAYS TO DO IT WITH AN INCH POUND TORQUE WRENCH.

YOU COULD USE A FOOT POUND WRENCH SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE, BUT THE BIG THING IS MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AND THEY'RE TORQUED IN THE PROPER SEQUENCE.

THAT IS A BIG FACTOR IN THESE THINGS.

SO, MAKE SURE YOU READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, NOW ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE HAVE GASKET MAKERS, GASKET SEALERS AND SO ON.

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE A PURPOSE, BUT ONLY USE THEM WHERE THE MANUFACTURERS SAYS TO USE THEM.

AND ONLY USE THEM IN THE WAY THE MANUFACTURER SAYS TO USE THEM.

JUST DON'T BLANKETLY PUT SOME OF HIS STUFF ON ANY AND EVERY GASKET YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH, BECAUSE IT COULD ACTUALLY CAUSE LEAKS.

NOW, SPEAKING OF TIGHTENING THINGS, ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WAS ON THE ROAD HAD A LEAK.

STOPPED BY A SHOP AND THE SHOP PUT A NEW VALVE COVER GASKET ON IT.

NOW, THE GUY TOLD ME, HE WATCHED THE TECHNICIAN USE AN AIR IMPACT WRENCH SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AFTER HE GOT THE VALVE COVER BACK ON.

WELL, HE SHOULD NEVER DO THAT AND HERE'S WHY.

IT BROKE A VERY EXPENSIVE VALVE COVER, AND HE STILL HAD A LEAK.

SO, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU TIGHTEN VALVE COVERS PROPERLY, SEQUENCE AND AMOUNT OF TORQUE.

ALWAYS USE THE PROPER TYPE OF GASKET.

NEVER USE GASKET SEALERS EXCEPT WHERE THEY ARE RECOMMENDED, AND ALWAYS USE THEM IN THE RECOMMENDED MANNER, SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE A VALVE COVER JOB SUCCESSFUL.

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

John: [CLOSES DOOR] SO MANY CARS SO LITTLE TIME.

SO, LET'S GO FOR ANOTHER QUICKSPIN!

* IN THE HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK WARS, FORD MAY BE THE LAST ONE TO THE LATEST SKIRMISH WITH ITS REFRESHED 2020 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY TRUCK LINEUP, BUT IT ARRIVES WITH A FULL ARSENAL OF WEAPONS TO WORK HARDER AND SMARTER.

WE GOT OUR FIRST TASTES ON AND OFF-ROAD IN ARIZONA.

A VERY LONG LIST OF OWNER CHOICES INCLUDES ENGINES.

THE 385 HORSEPOWER 6.2 LITER V8 REMAINS BASE, MATCHED WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THIS POWERTRAIN IN AN F-350 IS CAPABLE OF THE LINE-UPS MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY OF 7,850 POUNDS.

AN ALL-NEW 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION QUICKLY AND EFFORTLESSLY BACKS UP THE NEXT TWO ENGINE OPTIONS.

THE ALL-NEW 7.3 LITER V8 IS RATED AT 430 HORSEPOWER AND 475 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE...

ENOUGH TO HAUL A 7,660 POUND PAYLOAD.

THE THIRD-GEN 6.7 LITER POWERSTROKE DIESEL V8 BECOMES EVEN MORE STOUT, HITTING 475 HORSEPOWER AND CROSSING THE THOUSAND-POUND TORQUE THRESHOLD, AT 1,050 POUND-FEET.

DIESEL TOW RATINGS ARE 24,200 POUNDS WITH A CONVENTIONAL HITCH, 32,500 WITH A 5TH WHEEL, AND MAX GOOSENECK TOWING OF UP TO 37,000 POUNDS.

HIGHWAY RIDE IS SMOOTH AND QUIET NO MATTER WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE CABIN IS ALL-DAY COMFORTABLE.

BUT WORK HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, SO SUPER DUTY TRUCKS NOW GET A TRUE OFF-ROADING OPTION.

Dave Scrivener: FOR SERIOUS OFF-ROADING, FORD'S TREMOR PACKAGE IS TOUGH TO BEAT.

IT'S AVAILABLE WITH BOTH GAS OR DIESEL POWER IN FOUR DIFFERENT TRIM LEVELS.

IT HAS 35 INCH TIRES, 33.0 INCH WATER FORDING, HILL DESCENT CONTROL, ALL THE HARDWARE AND THE SOFTWARE, TO GO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

John: ON THE SMART SIDE, AN EMBEDDED MODEM WITH WI-FI ACCESS IS STANDARD, ALONG WITH WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING AND BOTH USB A AND C PORTS FOR POWERING THAT OFFICE ON THE ROAD.

PRO-TRAILER BACKUP ASSIST, COMBINED WITH TRAILER REVERSE GUIDANCE TECHNOLOGY, WORKS WITH ALL TRAILER AND HITCH TYPES.

AUTO EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE-KEEPING ALERT AND BLIND SPOT MONITORING WITH TRAILER COVERAGE KEEPS YOU GOING AND SLOWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO, THE 2020 FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY LINEUP SETS THE BAR EVEN HIGHER AMONG HEAVY HAULERS.

DEALERS HAVE THEM STARTING AT JUST UNDER $34,000.

INTO THE RAPIDLY GROWING SUBCOMPACT UTILITIES SEGMENT COMES THE 2020 HYUNDAI VENUE.

THE BRAND FAMILY RESEMBLANCE IS CLEAR, BUT WITH SLIGHTLY MORE COMPACT DIMENSIONS THAN THE KONA, AND MORE RUGGED LOOKING THAN RIVALS LIKE THE NISSAN KICKS.

HYUNDAI'S ALL-NEW ENTRY-LEVEL SUV IS CLEARLY A 5-DOOR URBAN RUNABOUT, SO FRONT-DRIVE ONLY.

POWERING THIS TINY HYUNDAI, IS A TINY 1.6 LITER I4, RATED AT ONLY 121 HORSEPOWER.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STANDARD ON THE BASE MODEL... HIGHER TRIMS USE A CVT.

THE COMBINATION PROVED UP TO THE TASK DURING OUR DRIVE FROM MIAMI TO KEY WEST.

THE SUSPENSION SET UP IS WHAT YOU'D EXPECT AT THIS PRICE LEVEL... MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT AND A TORSION BEAM IN THE REAR.

THE RIDE NATURALLY ISN'T AS PLUSH AS MORE WELL-EQUIPPED MODELS...

BUT COMFORTABLE FOR A DAILY COMMUTER.

Stephanie Hart: THE VENUE MANEUVERS REALLY WELL AND IT'S EASY TO PARK.

SO, THE VENUE DOESN'T HAVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE BUT DOES HAVE A 3-MODE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH OFFERS NORMAL, SPORT, AND SNOW MODE.

ONCE IN SNOW MODE GETTING THE VENUE TO MOVE FROM A STOP TO A START IS PRETTY EASY.

John: AS WITH MOST DIRECT RIVALS, INTERIOR SPACE SEEMS NARROW, AND VENUE CARGO SPACE IS LESS THAN THE KICKS.

MOST CONTROLS AND 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, HOWEVER, ARE EASY TO USE.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE STANDARD.

THE VENUE INCLUDES FEATURES GRANDER THAN ITS SIZE SUGGEST, LIKE EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE KEEPING ASSIST, AND BLIND-SPOT COLLISION WARNING.

WITH CAR'S DISAPPEARING AND SUV PRICES CLIMBING, THE 2020 HYUNDAI VENUE IS PROOF AFFORDABLE, EFFICIENT, AND CAPABLE DAILY TRANSPORTATION IS STILL AVAILABLE.

ON SALE NOW, THE PRICE STARTS AT JUST OVER $17,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH TOYOTA RACING DEVELOPMENT, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU'RE A FAN OF OFF-ROAD TRUCKS, OR MAYBE YOU FOLLOW TOYOTA'S CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING NASCAR TEAMS.

WELL...NOW, TOYOTA IS SPREADING A LITTLE OF THAT HIGH PERFORMANCE LOVE AROUND TO SOME VERY UNEXPECTED PLACES.

* TOYOTA HAS BEEN RACING CARS AND TRUCKS IN NASCAR FOR 15-YEARS NOW.

NOW, BUT OTHER THAN MARKETING, THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE MUCH BENEFIT TRICKLING DOWN TO THE AVERAGE TOYOTA CUSTOMER.

NOW, THIS 2020 TOYOTA CAMRY TRD IS NOT EXACTLY KYLE BUSCH'S CHAMPIONSHIP CAMRY, BUT IT IS A FAR CRY FROM YOUR NEIGHBOR'S.

OKAY, MAYBE NOT SO FAR, BUT LET'S FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES AT LEAST A FEW DEGREES OF SEPARATION.

AND, THAT'S BECAUSE THE UPDATES ARE THANKFULLY MORE THAN JUST SUPERFICIAL.

MECHANICAL UPGRADES START WITH UNDERBODY BRACING, AND ALSO INCLUDE FIRMER SPRINGS AND SHOCKS THAT REDUCE RIDE HEIGHT BY ABOUT A HALF INCH.

WIDER 19 INCH WHEELS ARE ADDED; AND BEHIND THE FRONT PAIR, ARE LARGER BRAKES WITH NEW DUAL-PISTON CALIPERS.

FURTHERMORE, AN ACTIVE CORNERING ASSIST SYSTEM USES SELECTIVE BRAKING TO HELP REDUCE UNDERSTEER.

NOTHING NEW TO REPORT FROM UNDER THE HOOD HOWEVER; THE CAMRY'S OPTIONAL 3.5 LITER V6 COMES STANDARD HERE, OUTPUTTING THE SAME 301 HORSEPOWER AND 267 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT, IT DOES GET A CAT-BACK DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT GIVES IS A LITTLE MORE BARK.

AND THERE WAS PLENTY ENOUGH BITE AS WELL, MAKING US DEAL WITH LOTS OF WHEEL SPIN OFF THE LINE.

PATIENCE IS KEY, GETTING THINGS ROLLING A LITTLE BEFORE YOU GO FULL THROTTLE.

ZERO TO 60 WAS A MOST ACCEPTABLE 6.5 SECONDS.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC MANAGES POWER FLOW TO THE FRONT WHEELS, AND SHIFTS ARE QUITE SMOOTH.

POWER STAYED STRONG THROUGHOUT THE 15.0 SECOND QUARTER MILE, WHICH WE FINISHED AT 98 MILES PER HOUR, WITH A NICE AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE.

WE WERE MUCH MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE TRD IN OUR SLALOM COURSE.

THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO UNDERSTEER OR OVERSTEER; A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THE STANDARD CAMRY, AND BOTH CHASSIS, AND STEERING RESPONSE WERE QUICKER THAN ANY CAMRY WE'VE DRIVEN.

A NICE TIGHT FEEL THROUGHOUT, WITH ONLY A LITTLE BODY ROLL.

FRANKLY, NOTHING ELSE IN THE MASS MARKET FAMILY SEDAN SEGMENT COMES CLOSE.

YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK TO TRADITIONAL SPORT/LUXURY BRANDS TO FIND A COMPARISON.

AS FOR THE NEW BRAKES?

YEAH, THEY'RE THE REAL DEAL TOO; BRINGING US TO A HALT IN A VERY SHORT 94 FEET FROM 60, STAYING STRAIGHT AND TRUE, STOP AFTER STOP.

NOW, IF ALL OF THIS SOUNDS GOOD TO YOU, BUT YOU NEED MORE COMFORT AND SPACE, HERE'S AN EVEN BIGGER SURPRISE, IT'S THIS TOYOTA AVALON TRD.

IT SEEM'S TOYOTA'S "LEXUS LITE" BOOMER CRUISER TOOK A WRONG TURN THROUGH THE TRD PARTS DEPARTMENT, AND WE LOVE IT!

SOMETHING ABOUT IT JUST SEEMS SO WRONG, IT'S RIGHT.

THE AVALON OF COURSE, SHARES THE CAMRY'S CHASSIS, JUST STRETCHES THE WHEELBASE A BIT; SO IT GETS ALL OF THE SAME UPDATES UNDERNEATH.

AND SOMEHOW, ITS EXHAUST SOUNDS EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN THE CAMRY'S.

AND SPEAKING OF AGGRESSION, IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THESE TRDS, WHEN WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING AROUND TO TALKING ABOUT THE STYLING.

YES, BOTH THE CAMRY AND AVALON GET THE FULL AERO TREATMENT; WITH ENOUGH ADD-ONS TO MAKE YOUR TEENAGER LOOK TWICE, AND PERHAPS GET A LITTLE ENVIOUS.

"COOL CAMRY, BRO!"

THAT MEANS FRONT SPLITTERS, SILL EXTENSIONS, AND EVEN A FULL WING ON THE CAMRY'S DECK LID; WHILE THE AVALON KEEPS IT CLASSY WITH A SUBTLER REAR SPOILER.

INTERIOR CHANGES ARE LESS COMPREHENSIVE, BUT STILL GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS.

RED STITCHING RESIDES THROUGHOUT; AS DO TRD LOGOS, AND EVEN THE SEATBELTS ARE RED.

UP FRONT, BOTH CAMRY AND AVALON GET BLACK SOFTEX SPORT SEATS, BUT AGAIN, AVALON TAKES IT UP A NOTCH WITH ULTRA-SUEDE INSERTS AND ADDED HEAT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH TRDS, 22-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 23.7 MILES PER GALLON IN THE AVALON; A BETTER 25.5 IN THE CAMRY; BOTH ON REGULAR GRADE.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE FOR ALL VEHICLES; 13.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, AND 5.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE BEST PART OF THE CAMRY TRD STORY, WE'VE SAVED FOR LAST.

PRICING IS JUST $32,125.

THAT UNDERCUTS THE XLE V6 BY OVER 3,400 BUCKS; MAKING THE TRD THE CHEAPEST AND BY FAR, THE MOST ENTERTAINING V6 CAMRY YOU CAN BUY.

NOT SO WITH THE AVALON, AS IT IS PRICED BETWEEN LIMITED AND TOURING TRIMS, AT $43,330.

IT'S HARD TO SAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BOMBARDING TOYOTA WITH PLEAS FOR SPORTIER CAMRY'S AND AVALON'S.

BUT, SALES OF THE SPORTY-LOOKING SE AND XSE TRIMS CONTINUE TO RISE, AND MAKING THINGS EVEN MORE EXCITING BY BACKING UP THOSE LOOKS WITH BETTER PERFORMANCE, IS A NO-BRAINER KIND OF THING THAT TOYOTA ALWAYS SEEMS TO GET AROUND TO EVENTUALLY.

THE 2020 TOYOTA CAMRY TRD AND AVALON TRD MAY NOT BE SHOWING UP AT TRACK DAYS ANYTIME SOON, BUT IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DAILY GRIND A LITTLE MORE THRILLING WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY MORE TO DO IT, WHY WOULDN'T YOU?

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 4-DOORS GO AS FAST AS TWO CAN IN THE MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 S. AND THEN, A BIGGER DOSE OF RUGGED POWER FOR THE JEEP WRANGLER ECODIESEL.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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.

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