MotorWeek

Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We're going to the wilder side in Subaru's Crosstrek Wilderness, then slide into the garage for advice on how to avoid hydroplaning.

We'll show our license for an 'R' rated Two Wheelin', then eat up more tarmac in a sporty little ute, the third-gen BMW X1.

So come drive with us, next!

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First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

JOHN: There are no more passionate wilderness seekers than Subaru owners.

So much so, that a few years ago, the brand decided to apply the Wilderness name to their most rugged and trail-capable vehicles.

Well, the latest Subaru to earn its way into the Wilderness family is the compact Crosstrek.

So, let's get lost in the details.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness joins the Outback and Forester Wilderness.

And, having spent time in all of them, this is where the treatment might be the most appropriate.

This tiny terror was already quite adept at backwoods exploring with its tidy size, great all-wheel drive system and 8.7-inches of ground clearance.

We truly love the Wilderness way, and even asked Subaru for just such a vehicle in our original XV Crosstrek road test back in 2013.

That's when the former Impreza Outback Sport started down this more rugged path with the name change to Crosstrek.

But perhaps we've arrived at peak Wilderness as with each model they've gotten a little more heavy-handed with the add-ons.

We're fine with the thicker body cladding, rugged-looking front and rear bumpers, added metal skid plating, anti-glare hood, and even the not-so-subtle logos; but the copper-colored roof rack supports are a bit much, though the beefier rack itself will hold up to 700 pounds.

The rest of the Wilderness upgrades are much more to our liking: Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires on matte black 17-inch alloys, increased suspension travel with a smoother off-road ride, and more than half an inch of extra ground clearance; plus, revised differential gearing and a retuned CVT to improve low speed operation.

All of this boosts the Crosstrek's already impressive off-pavement fame.

You may still not want to tackle the Rubicon Trail, but with the better low end throttle response, Dual X-Mode control, extra ground clearance, plus the Geolanders, the Crosstrek Wilderness can handle some pretty serious mud, ruts, and deep snows.

Inside, front seats are still not the most comfortable, but they are covered in StarTex water-resistant material.

But we suggest not hosing out the interior, even if you do cover the large 11.6-inch multimedia screen.

The Wilderness is fitted with the Crosstrek's biggest engine, a 182-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.5-liter boxer-4 with 178 pound-feet of torque.

That's 30 horsepower more than the standard Crosstrek.

And, with the added transmission oil cooler, Subaru now sets the tow rating at 3,500 pounds There's also plenty of room inside for most adventures with 20.0 cubic-feet of cargo space, expanding to 54.9 with the rear seatbacks folded.

Even with the added power, it still has the same friendly feel behind the wheel as every Crosstrek we've driven.

And while this 2.5-liter is perfectly adequate in daily driving or backwoods exploring, we were hoping for a little more excitement at our Mason Dixon test track.

Like most Subarus, there was a spirited initial jolt off the line, but things plateau quickly with the CVT keeping RPM at max levels, and slow but steady acceleration from there.

It took 8.6-seconds to hit 60, but that is almost 2-seconds quicker than the standard Crosstrek we tested a few months ago.

And while you think about it, 182-horsepower is more than adequate for a vehicle this size.

We realize they are no longer in vogue, but a manual transmission would go a long way towards making it feel like you're getting up to speed quicker, and it would certainly add some macho factor as well.

Our best quarter-mile time was 16.6-seconds at 86 miles-per-hour.

That extra ground clearance didn't impede us in our handling course as there was minimal body roll.

The all-terrain tires were definitely searching for grip at times.

Steering was light, yet still provided decent feel.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 25-City, 29-Highway, and 27-Combined; though we averaged just 25.7 miles-per-gallon of Regular.

No doubt the knobbier tires played a part in that.

With a base Crosstrek going for $26,540 these days, $33,540 doesn't seem bad at all for this loaded up adventure-ready Wilderness version.

The new Wilderness family has truly taken the Subaru brand to an adventurous new level of capability and rugged style.

This 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness may be the smallest and newest member of the family, but to us, it's also the one that will actually connect owners with the Wilderness the best!

Motorcycle nomenclature is often very difficult to decipher, but when numbers are bookended by the letter R, chances are you're in for a really good time.

Brian Robinson takes us Two Wheelin' BMW style.

BRIAN ROBINSON: BMW seems to have a bike for just about everyone.

Whether you're into cruising around town, chasing lap times on a track, or even riding around the whole world.

And then they have some that can do it all.

We're talking, of course, about their R series lineup, based on the recently updated R 1250 which can be outfitted for high-performance riding in the RS, long-distance touring in the RT, or even outfitted for full on globetrotting adventures in the GS.

But it all starts with this R 1250 R, the all-arounder, if you will.

BMW has been building opposed twin engines since the 1920's; performance wasn't really part of the picture until the 1970's, but in this century, they've been painting that picture a lot more vividly, as this 1,254cc twin now delivers 136-horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque, and is smoother than ever, with much of its traditional quirkiness engineered out, for better or worse.

It works through a 6-speed transmission, which channels power through shaft drive to a 17-inch rear wheel with 180 tire.

With a tubular bridge-style steel frame and cast aluminum single-sided swingarm, weight comes in at 527-pounds; 4.8-gallon capacity in the fuel tank gives you a range of around 200-miles between fuel stops.

Suspension is fairly traditional for a BMW: upside down telescopic fork and single rear spring/shock combo with preload and rebound dampening adjustability.

Dynamic Traction Control, ABS Pro, and Dynamic Brake Control are all now standard.

This red, white, and blue beauty looks aggressive and sporty, but not intimidating.

Updates for '23 include full LED lighting and a rear seat cover.

The front portion of the seat is plenty comfortable, and the whole package just wants to be ridden hard for extended periods of time.

So, off we go.

Riding position is just about perfect for my 6-foot frame; a minor lean forward, with an easy reach to the bars, and foot pegs mounted slightly to the rear.

The R feels very stable in corners, and with the bulk of its weight down low, very easy to lean into them, plus there's oodles of power for getting to the next one in a hurry.

But, if you want to take it easy, the R can do that just as well; there's even a new Eco drive mode just for the occasion that will coach you into driving as efficiently as possible.

When it comes to instrumentation, it may look like they just pulled a touchscreen style tablet out of a 3 Series, popped it on here, and called it a day; but the 6.5-inch TFT display is rock solidly mounted, glare free, and pretty much as good is it gets for a non-analog gauge package.

More bike, same base price as last year starting at $14,995.

The Captain America style paint theme will cost you another $575.

While that's not inexpensive, you get an incredible amount of bike for the money here.

The R has built up a legion of passionate fans over the years, and the 2023 BMW R 1250 R is built to satisfy them.

STEPHANIE HART: If the inside of your Outback is starting to smell a little too much like down under, here are some products that may help.

The Phillips OlfaPure is a smart, portable aroma diffuser that fits in a standard cupholder.

It accepts four plug-and-play scent cartridges.

You can choose from a selection of 10 different fragrances that help you stay alert, reduce the effects of motion sickness or just refresh the air inside the vehicle.

It uses dry air diffusion technology, meaning no liquid oil droplets that can leave residue on your vehicle's glass or interior fabrics.

It's USB powered and Bluetooth connected, allowing a smartphone app to choose your desired scent, control the intensity, and schedule operation.

The Phillips OlfaPure is available at major retailers for around $100.

The Swiss-designed IQAIR Atem Car filters and captures microscopic pollutants to keep your vehicle's interior air space clean and healthy.

Equipped with a hyperHEPA Plus filter, the IQAIR Atem Car effectively screens and retains particles and gases down to .003 microns.

The device is about the size of a thick frisbee and weighs a hefty 5 pounds with all of its mounts and adapters.

It hangs from the back of the headrest; and features a three-speed fan and a filter life of one year in normal use.

The cost is about $400.

JOHN: Wet roads can mean big, unexpected trouble.

We're talking about hydroplaning.

But a good set of tires can go a long way in keeping a grip on that situation.

So, we brought in Audra Fordin to help us tread safely in the wet on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

AUDRA FORDIN: With each passing mile, little bits of your tires are left behind, it's like the treads are gradually being sanded down.

And as your tires wear down more and more, you may start to notice a slight loss of traction when you're on the gas pedal or stopping, and if your tires get bad enough, you might even experience hydroplaning.

I like to think of hydroplaning as "water skiing on the road" because hydroplaning happens when water forces your tire to lose grip to the ground, and it feels like you're sliding on ice, and have like little-to-no control over your vehicle.

It's not good, it's not fun.

Now, if this happens to you, take your foot off the gas pedal to transfer the car's weight forward, and do not slam on your brakes, because this can cause you to spin out.

Do ease onto the brake pedal and try to stay calm and not to panic.

You will be back in control in just a few seconds.

My best advice is to prevent hydroplaning in the first place.

Yes, of course this means driving safely, but it also means having good tires.

Remember how I mentioned the tire treads?

One of the main purposes of the treads on your tire is to channel water out from under the tread making the contact patch as dry as possible.

You can imagine that as these channels get shallower, they become less effective.

So, your tires wear down, and the risk of your sliding goes up.

This is why it is vitally important to routinely check your tire tread depth.

Now, you can see the tire tread depth just by looking at the treadwear indicator bar in the sipes of the tires.

Now, of course, using a proper tread depth tool, and note you should have more than 3/32nds of an inch of tread depth left, which is the minimum of an acceptable limit.

Now when it comes time to replace tires, I always recommend going new.

The benefits of new tires include a longer lifespan, no fear of underlying damage, a warranty, and that gives you overall peace of mind.

Now, this isn't to knock used tires as a whole.

But keep in mind someone used them and removed them from their vehicle for a reason.

Yes, there are reputable shops out there that will sell you quality rubber; but just remember, that while you might save some cash at the moment, this is a short-term fix and you will be heading back to the auto shop sooner for a replacement.

Now, when you're looking at used tires, be sure to check the age of the tire, which is the DOT code stamped onto the sidewall, that will tell you the month and the year that the tire was made.

This one says 4308, meaning it's the 43rd week of 2008 when it was born.

That's really old!

Look at the sidewalls for any weird or abnormalities.

You're going to look for any bulges, any tears, and any cracks.

Also, be sure to look for any scuffs in the treads, cuts in the treads, and melted ends on the tire.

Either way, be smart, play it safe, and keep your tires fresh.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us right here, at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Let's drop a gear and disappear into another quick spin!

JESSICA RAY: Rolls-Royce is the undisputed heavyweight champion of on-road opulence.

Now they're blending their pinnacle of traditional automotive luxury, with the bliss of silent electric drive.

This is the 2024 Spectre.

Under its charismatic looks is a potent dual-motor powertrain rated at 577 horsepower and 666 pound-feet of torque.

Power is pulled from a 102-kWh battery pack, providing enough energy for 290 miles of decedent range.

While it does ride on the same platform as the Phantom sedan and Cullinan SUV, the Spectre has actually emerged as a two-door coupe.

What's unsurprising is how that translates into ride quality, to which words like "comfortable" and "pleasant" do little justice.

Still, aside from the quiet demeanor, it isn't too far removed from the internal-combustion Rolls-Royce experience.

Even though it's electric, the Spectre is exactly what you expect from a Rolls-Royce.

Opulence, a striking physical presence, and an incredible driving experience.

The steering is really precise and the way it distributes power, upon acceleration, is really refined, and incredibly smooth.

Plus, it's like you're riding in a magic carpet.

Getting into this Spectre super coupe, the 100-percent aluminum Effortless Doors totally live up to their name, closing automatically when the brake is depressed.

And yes, the handcrafted interior is as suave as the outer suit; a bespoke cabin left to your imagination, topped by their trademark Starlight headliner.

Inside and out, the 2024 Spectre is a machine Rolls-Royce founder Charles Rolls would no doubt be enamored by.

And that's not just because of its striking looks; Charles Rolls imagined a world with cleaner, quieter cars over a century ago.

And here it is and with his name on it, no less.

Though, he may be equally awestruck by the sticker price of around $420,000; but perhaps he'd be eligible for an employee discount.

In either case, the Spectre is an EV for top percenters, with those lucky few picking up their orders now.

GREG CARLOSS: The second-gen Volvo XC90 has been easy on the eyes since it was introduced for 2015, and it remains a real looker in the luxury three-row utility segment.

Since we last tested the 2021 refresh, Volvo has made more significant changes.

Starting in '23, Volvo ditched their internal-combustion-only powertrains in the U.S., meaning mild-hybrid engines are now standard, and that's the case here with this XC90.

No full-electric version quite yet, but this Recharge plug-in hybrid is a great alternative.

The 2024 Recharge sees three trim levels: Core, Plus and Ultimate.

They all pack a 2.0-liter turbo-4 paired to an electric motor and an 18.8 kilowatt-hour battery.

Total system output is now up to a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque.

Electric-only range is estimated at a decent 32 miles.

All-wheel drive is standard in all XC90's, as is the eight-speed automatic transmission.

The cabin can fit seven with the standard second-row bench, but the Plus offers optional second-row captain's chairs.

The top-trim Ultimate brings in a Head-Up display and a better sound system.

But a panoramic glass roof, 12-inch digital gauge display, and 9-inch infotainment screen come standard on all trims.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge Core starts just over $70,000.

Stepping up to the Ultimate puts it just over $80K, with the Plus splitting the difference.

The XC90 is a simple and elegant entry into the luxury SUV category, and Volvo's commitment to electrification has only made them even more attractive.

And we'll have more Quick Spins, soon!

JOHN: Whether you insist on calling them sport activity vehicles or just SUVs like the rest of us, BMW truly has the bases covered when it comes to utes of all shapes and sizes.

But it's always the entry-level SUVs that are the hardest to get just right.

So, let's see how the folks from Bavaria did with the all-new, 3rd generation BMW X1.

This 2023 BMW X1 is just one of the many small luxury-minded crossovers available today, many of which even pack a healthy dose of performance into their tidy dimensions.

So, where does the X1 fit in?

Well, BMW has been very successful at transferring the feel of their highly regarded sport sedans into SUV form, including for the compact X1.

This 3rd gen X1 builds upon that by becoming more spacious inside, packing flagship levels of tech, and of course with a healthy dose of performance.

Just about everybody builds a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder these days, but few do it as well as BMW.

Their latest here in the X1 delivers 241-horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 13-horsepower and 37 pound-feet over last year.

We're fans of the switch overall, but the DCT does get a little stumbly off the line at times.

The X1 remains front-wheel drive based, which means very little to most buyers, as xDrive all-wheel-drive is actually now standard.

With the optional 19-inch wheels, the ride can be a little stiff at times; but as you can imagine, handling is impressive, feeling more like an all-wheel-drive 3 series through our handling course than a typical utility.

It was nimble, stable, and steady through the cones with surprisingly great steering feel to manage it all.

In straight-line testing, there was a little turbo lag, but once rolling it builds speed quickly, with 60 miles-per-hour achieved in 5.7-seconds.

Best quarter-mile time was 14.4-seconds at 98 miles-per-hour.

It certainly looks part of the BMW family outside.

Every exterior dimension has increased over last year.

And that certainly delivers an airier feel inside.

Its more modern too as it's strictly touchscreen now, with no central controller for iDrive 8, and some other physical controls lost in the exchange.

They've truly maximized the space inside the X1, and there are great materials for this price point.

Front seat cushions are also much more comfortable now, with a surprising amount of room for adults both front and rear.

Cargo capacity is good; 25.7 cubic-feet, and with the 40/20/40 split seatbacks folded down, a max of 57.2 cubic-feet.

Currently available in a single xDrive28i model, pricing starts reasonably low for a German luxury brand SUV at $40,095, but you can easily add a lot more to your bottom line, with our tester coming in over $47,000.

A 313-horsepower M35i will arrive for '24.

We love the additional power and space, along with the plentiful new features that BMW has packed into the 2023 X1, even if progress makes it a tad less user-friendly.

But there's no denying, the X1 still manages to deliver a sizable dose of the BMW experience in a spacious and comfortable package at an entry-level price.

BMW has embraced SUVs just like everyone else but continues to build them in the superior way that only they can.

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 we get to work in the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, then handle our daily chores in the Kia Seltos.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek !

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

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