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

JOIN US AS WE STRETCH OUT IN AN AMERICAN LUXURY SEDAN REVIVAL, THE ALL-NEW LINCOLN CONTINENTAL... PAT GOSS WITH TIPS ON SPENDING MORE TIME THINKING ABOUT YOUR TREADS... WE FIND A NEW LIFE FOR OLD EV BATTERIES... AND THEN, IT'S ONTO A STYLISH NEW MEMBER OF THE CUTE-UTE CROWD, THE INFINITI QX30...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Man: "OOPS."

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

Announcer: 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.

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

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IS TRULY AN ICONIC LUXURY CAR NAME.

SO THE BRAND MADE QUITE A SPLASH, WHEN THEY UNVEILED A NEW CONTINENTAL CONCEPT AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW BACK IN 2015, BUT THAT EXCITEMENT QUICKLY ESCALATED WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BUILD IT.

WELL, WE'VE FINALLY GOTTEN OUR HANDS ON ONE TO SEE IF THE HYPE AND WAIT WERE WORTH IT.

* FOR 2017, LINCOLN UNLEASHES AN ALL-NEW, FLAGSHIP, CONTINENTAL SEDAN.

AN IMPOSING 4-DOOR UNLIKE ANYTHING FROM THE BRAND SINCE THE 1990s.

BUT REALLY, YOU'D HAVE TO GO BACK MUCH FURTHER TO FIND A LINCOLN TRULY WORTHY OF THE CONTINENTAL NAME.

THERE'S A TRIO OF V6 ENGINES TO CHOOSE FROM, STARTING WITH A 305 HORSEPOWER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 3.7 LITER.

NEXT STEP UP IS A 380 HORSEPOWER 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST; BOTH OF THOSE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AVAILABLE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] TOP TIER, IS A 3.0 LITER ECOBOOST; WHICH COMES WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY.

OUTPUT HERE IS 400 HORSEPOWER AND 400 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; ALL WORKING THROUGH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THE CONTINENTAL IS BY NO MEANS A SPORT SEDAN, BUT IT'S SPORTIER THAN IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE FOR TARGET BUYERS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE RIDE QUALITY IS EXQUISITE, WITH CONTINUOUSLY CONTROLLED DAMPING IT LEVITATES DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE A MODERN LUXURY SEDAN SHOULD.

THE ADAPTIVE STEERING TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO GET USED TO, FEELING OVERLY HEAVY AT TIMES, TOUCHY-LIGHT AT OTHERS; WHILE THE PEDALS ALSO SEEM OVERLY SENSITIVE, REQUIRING SMOOTH INPUTS.

THERE IS LINCOLN DRIVE CONTROL WITH MULTIPLE DRIVING MODES, BUT IF YOU CHOSE ANYTHING OTHER THAN COMFORT, YOU'RE KIND OF MISSING THE POINT OF THE CAR.

THERE'S A WIDE OPEN SPACE INSIDE, WITH NOT MUCH OF A COCKPIT FEEL.

THE FRONT SEATS OFFER A WEALTH OF ADJUSTMENTS AND ARE SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE.

IN THE REAR, SEATS FEEL MORE COZY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS OF THEIR OWN.

THERE'S STILL LOTS OF ROOM, THOUGH IF YOU ADD THE REAR SEAT PACKAGE, YOU CAN GO WITH MORE OF A 2+2 MOTIF AFTER FOLDING DOWN THE HUGE CENTER CONSOLE.

THE INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT IS DONE VERY WELL, WITH PLENTY OF REAL CONTROLS REMAINING; THOUGH SOME OF THE BUTTONS ARE QUITE SMALL.

LINCOLN HAS DONE A MASTERFUL JOB OF DISGUISING THE FORD FUSION BONES THAT LIE BELOW THE SURFACE.

THE INTERIOR IS LEAPS AND BOUNDS ABOVE ANY LINCOLN IN RECENT MEMORY.

IP AND DOOR TREATMENTS ARE QUITE NICE TO THE EYES AND TOUCH.

OUR ONLY "BUT" IS THE UNINSPIRED PEBBLE GRAINED DASH TOP PAD.

SO, GREAT ENVIRONMENT, IF STILL A LITTLE SHORT OF WHAT SOME OTHER PREMIUM BRANDS SUCH AS VOLVO ARE ACHIEVING.

A SIZABLE TRUNK, HOLDING 16.7 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO, FEATURES A VERY EASY TO FIND RELEASE.

THE CONTINENTAL DISPLAYS A VERY STYLISH GRILLE; IT IS VERY SLEEK AND POSH, WITH JUST ENOUGH OF THE '60s LINCOLN VIBE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MODERN BENTLEYISH PRESENTATION.

NINETEEN INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD HERE IN RESERVE TRIM, AND ADD A SPORTY FLAIR; BASE MODELS RIDE ON 18s WITH 20s OPTIONAL.

ON THE STREET, IT'S EASY TO FORGET IT'S SUCH A BIG CAR, BUT AT THE TEST TRACK IT SURELY REMINDS YOU THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH THE CONES.

THERE'S A LITTLE GIVE AS YOU ENTER THE CORNER, BUT THE CAR SETS UP QUICKLY, ALMOST FULLY ELIMINATING THE BODY ROLL YOU THINK IS SURELY COMING.

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THERE WAS ALSO, A COMMENDABLE LEVEL OF GRIP, WHILE STEERING WAS QUICK WITH GOOD ON-CENTER FEEL.

THERE WAS TOP-NOTCH TRACTION FOR A FIRM HOLE SHOT AS WELL, SPRINGING TO 60 IN JUST 5.4 SECONDS.

THE ENGINE GETS A NICE GROWL TO IT, IT PULLS QUICKLY THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEARS, THEN THINGS TAPER OFF ONCE YOU HIT 3RD, BUT WE STILL MADE IT TO THE END OF THE QUARTER IN JUST 13.7 SECONDS AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE 3.0 LITER ARE 16-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

OUR MIXED-DRIVING AVERAGE WAS QUITE GOOD, AT 23.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 17.3 BARRELS OF OIL USE PER YEAR WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.7 TONS.

LINCOLN SEEMS TO HAVE A CONTINENTAL FOR EVERYONE, PRICED AT JUST $45,645 TO START; BUT WANTS TO BE SURE PEOPLE KNOW IT IS A TRUE LUXURY SEDAN AND HAVE PRICED TOP BLACK LABEL TRIM ACCORDINGLY AT $64,000.

LOOK AT SPENDING AROUND $75,000 FOR A HIGHLY OPTIONED RESERVE MODEL SUCH AS OUR TEST CAR.

LIKE THE 2015 MKC CROSSOVER, THE 2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL SEDAN IS VERY WELL-CONCEIVED AND EXECUTED.

IT IS ALSO, POSSIBLY THE BEST LINCOLN EVER.

BUT DESPITE STRONG SALES AT THE OUTSET, IT STILL FACES AN UPHILL CLIMB TOWARDS REKINDLING LASTING INTEREST IN THE BRAND.

THAT SAID, THE NEW CONTINENTAL IS UNMISTAKABLY A REVIVAL OF CLASSIC LINCOLN VALUES, BUT WITH A MAJOR DOSE OF MODERN DRIVING ATTRIBUTES.

A CAR THAT CEMENTS THE SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE BRAND TO BUILD UPON.

* THERE ARE NOW MILLIONS OF HYBRID AND FULL ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON U.S.

ROADS, BUT THE ELECTRIFIED FLEET IS NOW OLD ENOUGH THAT FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THOSE AGING BATTERY PACKS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

LITHIUM ION AND NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE BATTERIES CAN'T JUST BE PUT IN A LANDFILL, AND THE COST FOR RECYCLING THEM JUST FOR THEIR RAW MATERIALS MAY NOT BE WORTH IT.

BUT WE'VE FOUND AN ENTREPRENEUR THAT'S COME UP WITH A WAY TO GIVE AGING EV BATTERIES A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

WHEN HYBRIDS AND EV'S WERE A NEW PHENOMENON 20 YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WAS: "HOW LONG WILL THE BATTERY LAST?"

WELL, WE NOW KNOW THAT IT TYPICALLY TAKES 10 YEARS OR MORE AND WELL OVER 100,000 MILES BEFORE A BATTERY PACK STARTS LOSING SERIOUS MUSCLE.

BUT THEN, WHAT HAPPENS?

FOR MOST HYBRID VEHICLES, AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT BATTERY PACKS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE OR THROUGH YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE.

PRICES FOR A FULLY TESTED, RECONDITIONED PACK RANGE FROM $1400 TO $3000.

AND PLEASE, DON'T THINK ABOUT BUYING A BATTERY PACK FROM YOUR LOCAL SALVAGE YARD JUST TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS... YOU MIGHT FIND OUT THE HARD WAY IF THAT BATTERY IS COMPROMISED.

REMEMBER, THESE ARE HIGH VOLTAGE UNITS THAT CAN WEIGH HUNDREDS OF POUNDS, AND SHOULD ONLY BE HANDLED BY QUALIFIED, AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED TECHNICIANS.

OKLAHOMA ENTREPRENEUR DIRK SPIERS, IS DETERMINED TO FIND A WAY TO SYSTEMATICALLY MANAGE THOSE MILLIONS OF ELECTRIC CAR BATTERIES WHEN THEY REACH THE END OF THE ROAD.

Dirk Spiers: EVENTUALLY, ALL THOSE BATTERY PACKS COME BACK, AND THEY MIGHT STILL HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY IN THEM, AND ECONOMIC LIFE TO REUSE THEM TO REPURPOSE THEM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE'RE TRYING TO REPURPOSE BATTERY PACKS OR GET THEM BACK IN THE VEHICLE, SO YOU GET THE MOST RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

John: SPIERS TAKES IN NEARLY 10,000 OF THESE INDIVIDUAL BATTERY CELL MODULES EACH WEEK, WHICH ARE BARCODED, CLEANED, TESTED, AND CHARGED BEFORE UNDERGOING A RIGOROUS CYCLE OF LOADS, AND DISCHARGES.

CELL MODULES ARE THEN SORTED ACCORDING TO THEIR MEASURED CAPACITY, SO THAT NEW BATTERY PACKS CAN BE CREATED WITH EVENLY BALANCED UNITS.

THOSE CELL MODULES DEEMED SUITABLE FOR RE-INSTALLATION INTO A CAR ARE SHIPPED OFF TO AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS FOR REASSEMBLY AS PLUG AND PLAY UNITS.

BUT WHERE SPIERS SEES HUGE GROWTH POTENTIAL IS IN REPURPOSING BATTERIES AS STATIONARY POWER STORAGE UNITS FOR HOMES AND ESPECIALLY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A USEFUL LIFE FOR DECADES INTO THE FUTURE.

THE POWER DRAW FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE IS MANY TIMES THAT OF A TYPICAL HOUSE, SO A 24 KILOWATT LITHIUM ION PACK, THAT MIGHT POWER SAY, AN EARLY NISSAN LEAF, FOR 80 MILES, COULD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ENERGY TO RUN YOUR HOME FOR A DAY OR TWO!

BUT IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS BOLTING AN OLD PRIUS BATTERY TO THE GARAGE WALL.

IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF ENGINEERING TO TRANSLATE THE WIRING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS FROM AN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION TO MEET STRUCTURAL GROUNDING AND SAFETY CODES.

THIS PROTOTYPE STORAGE UNIT IS BEING DESIGNED, SO THAT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CAN PROVIDE BACKUP POWER TO THEIR PROJECT HOMES.

OTHER APPLICATIONS INCLUDE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, BUFFERING POWER FOR THE GRID, BACKUP POWER SUPPLY FOR SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT AND ON, AND ON.

BUT THIS CONCEPT ISN'T COMPLETELY NEW, AND ALREADY HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

IN 2015, TOYOTA DONATED 208 CAMRY HYBRID BATTERY PACKS, USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SOLAR ARRAY, TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE, ZERO EMISSION POWER TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK'S LAMAR BUFFALO RANCH RANGER STATION AND EDUCATION CENTER...

THE FIRST RELIABLE POWER SOURCE THIS REMOTE FACILITY HAS HAD SINCE OPENING IN 1908.

SO, WHEN YOU SEE AN EV ZIPPING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, AND YOU TAKE THAT SECOND LOOK, REMIND YOURSELF THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A DRIVING FUTURE THAT IS HERE NOW, AND IT'S ONE THAT COULD KEEP THE POWER ON...SOMEWHERE, FOR DECADES TO COME.

ROUTINE CAR CARE MAY NOT BE VERY GLAMOROUS, BUT IT SURE IS A NECESSITY.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME ADVICE TO KEEP US SMOOTHLY ROLLING ALONG.

Pat Goss: FREQUENTLY SOME OF THE MOST OVERLOOKED PARTS OF A CAR ARE ITS TIRES.

AND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ON TIRE MAINTENANCE, WE HAVE OUR TIRE EXPERT MATT EDMONDS.

MATT, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: PLEASURE TO BE HERE PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR US?

Matt: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF YOUR TIRES AND GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THEM, THE TIRE PRESSURE, MEASURING THE PRESSURE INSIDE THAT TIRE THE AIR CHAMBER IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

NOW, HAVE A GOOD TIRE GAUGE, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THAT TIRE PRESSURE ONCE A MONTH.

THAT PRESSURE IS WHAT REALLY CARRIES THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE BUT ALSO, GIVES THE TIRE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ITS RIGHT SHAPE TO PERFORM PROPERLY.

Pat: OKAY, BUT I TELL MY CUSTOMERS THAT.

AND THE FIRST THING I HEAR IS, "OH, I DON'T NEED TO CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE, I'VE GOT TPMS AND THE LIGHT WILL COME ON."

Matt: AND THAT LIGHT WILL COME ON IF ONE OF YOUR TIRES GOES DOWN, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN INDIRECT SYSTEM WHICH REALLY IS JUST USING WHEEL SENSORS, ALL FOUR OF YOUR TIRES WILL GO DOWN AT THE SAME RATE 1-2 POUNDS A MONTH AND YOU'LL NEVER GET A WARNING.

AND WHEN THAT PRESSURES DOES GO DOWN DAMAGE CAN HAPPEN.

Pat: OKAY, SO TPMS IS JUST FOR EXTREME SITUATIONS.

Matt: IT IS, ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: OKAY, WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?

Matt: WELL, WHEN THAT PRESSURE GOES DOWN AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH A TPMS SYSTEM, YOU MAY GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE TIRES HAVE GOTTEN LOW ENOUGH, DAMAGE HAS HAPPENED.

AND THIS IS NOT THE WAY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE SIDEWALL OF YOUR TIRE.

THIS HAS BEEN DAMAGED.

YOU KNOW REALLY, THE TIRES HAS COME APART.

AND WHEN WE SEE TIRES LIKE THIS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S CATASTROPHIC.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN RUN A TIRE LOW, SEE SOME DAMAGE ON... NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE ACTUALLY, ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE AND INSIDE YOU'VE GOT THIS.

AND THAT CRUMB RUBBER, AND WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THIS JAR CAME OUT OF ONE TIRE THAT HAD BEEN RUN LOW, LOOKED PERFECTLY FINE ON THE OUTSIDE SOMEONE RE-INFLATED THAT TIRE, DROVE ON IT AND ENDED UP WITH THIS.

Pat: OKAY.

SO IF IT'S RUN LOW, CHECK THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE.

Matt: ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NEXT THING.

Matt: WELL, THERE'S LOTS OF NUMBERS AND DATA ON THE SIDEWALL OF THAT TIRE.

THE DATE AND AGE OF THE TIRE THAT WE SEE AS A DOT NUMBER, THE LAST FOUR DIGITS GIVE YOU THE WEEK AND THE YEAR THAT TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED.

VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE A VEHICLE THAT'S OLDER, MAYBE YOU PURCHASED AN OLDER VEHICLE THE TIRES LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE LOTS OF LIFE IN THEM STILL, CHECK THOSE TIRES BECAUSE IF IT'S BEEN A WEEKEND DRIVER IT HASN'T HAD A LOT OF MILES PUT ON IT THOSE TIRES COULD BE 6 TO 10 YEARS OLD AND REALLY WORTH CONSIDERING CHANGING THOSE TIRES.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE, WE HAVE A PRESSURE READING ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE.

Matt: WE DO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE MISCONSTRUE AS THE PROPER PRESSURE THEY SHOULD BE SETTING THOSE TIRES AT.

THAT PRESSURE IS THE MAX PRESSURE THIS TIRE CAN OPERATE UNDER, AND THAT REALLY IS A LOAD ISSUE.

YOU WANT TO CHECK THE PLACARD ON THE DOOR SILL OF YOUR CAR OR YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL FOR REALLY THE PROPER PRESSURE FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

BECAUSE IF YOU RUN AT THIS MAX PRESSURE IT WON'T NECESSARILY HURT THE TIRE, BUT YOU'LL HAVE A VERY HARSH RIDE.

Pat: OKAY, MATT THANK YOU!

Matt: PLEASURE!

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

John: SO, LETS HEAD ON DOWN THE ROAD FOR THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN AND SOME POSSIBLE FUTURE CLASSICS.

THE FUTURE IS NOW, FOR THE 2017 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL SEDAN, AS IT JOINS THE TOYOTA MIRAI AND HYUNDAI TUCSON FUEL CELL AS STATE-OF-THE-ART MASS PRODUCED HYDROGEN POWERED FUEL-CELL VEHICLES.

HONDA'S FUEL CELL RESEARCH STRETCHES BACK TO THE LATE 1980s AND INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL CLARITY FCX.

IT HAS EVOLVED AND PROGRESSED, WITH THE FUEL CELL NOW SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT UNDER THE HOOD.

THAT, ALONG WITH USING TWO FUEL TANKS, ALLOWS FOR A SPACIOUS 5-SEAT INTERIOR.

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT IS 174 HORSEPOWER, AND 221 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WITH AN EPA CERTIFIED RANGE OF 366 MILES.

THAT'S 50% MORE THAN A BATTERY POWERED BOLT EV.

Greg Carloss: THE DRIVE EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR TO AN EV.

THERE IS GOOD TORQUE FROM A STOP.

IT'S NOT AS BRUTAL OR AS SUDDEN AS IN AN EV, BUT IT'S MORE LINEAR, AND THAT'S SIMILAR TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE USED TO.

John: OUTSIDE, IT'S CLEARLY A FORWARD THINKING HONDA, WITH LINEAR LED HEADLIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS, AND "L" SHAPED DRLs.

AIR CURTAIN DUCTS BELOW THE REAR DOORS AND REAR TIRE SPATS WORK WITH THE LARGE SPOILER TO KEEP THE AIR FLOWING SMOOTHLY.

INSIDE, AN 8-INCH TOUCH PANEL ACCOMMODATES BOTH APPLE AND ANDROID USERS.

WHAT HONDA CALLS A "GRAPHICAL LCD METER PANEL" SITS BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL.

THE 2017 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL IS THE FIRST OF THREE MODELS.

BATTERY ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSIONS WILL FOLLOW.

PRICES STARTS UNDER $59,000, BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS CLARITY IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR LEASE IN CALIFORNIA NEAR HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS.

THE 2017 TOYOTA COROLLA MARKS A 50 YEAR MILESTONE ON THE ROAD.

WE APPLAUDED THE MORE DYNAMIC STYLING OF THE 11TH GENERATION IN 2014.

THIS YEAR, THAT'S BEEN FINE TUNED.

THE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE NARROWER, WHILE A MORE PROMINENT GRILLE FAVORS THE ALL-NEW CAMRY.

CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE REWORKED, A BACK-UP CAMERA WITH PROJECTED PATH IS NOW STANDARD, AS ARE ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES LIKE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING.

UNDER THE HOOD, MOST COROLLAS STILL USE A 132 HORSEPOWER 1.8 LITER I-4, BUT THE BASE LE DROPS ITS MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FAVOR OF A CVT.

THE STICK NOW RESIDES IN THE SPORTIER SE, THE MODEL WE PREFER TO DRIVE THE MOST.

THERE'S A COROLLA SE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION MODEL TOO, AND JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, THE FORMER SCION IM HATCHBACK JOINS THE LINEUP AS THE COROLLA IM.

COROLLA PRICES STARTS UNDER $19.000.

THE 2017 BMW X4 M40I SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE PROVIDES MORE MUSCLE TO A RELATIVELY NEW FACE IN THE BAVARIAN AUTOMAKER'S LINE UP.

THE COUPISH 4-DOOR X4 HATCHBACK DEBUTED AT THE 2014 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW, SHARING ITS CHASSIS WITH THE BOXIER X3.

A SHARED 240 HORSEPOWER 4-CYLINDER REMAINS IN THE XDRIVE28I, BUT BMW HAS REPLACED THE 300 HORSEPOWER, 3.0 LITER TURBO I-6 XDRIVE35I, WITH A NOT-QUITE-FULL "M," 355 HORSEPOWER M40I.

YOU REALLY NOTICE THE EXTRA POWER, AND IT COMPLIMENTS RIDE, AND HANDLING UPGRADES TO THE REST OF THE CHASSIS PERFECTLY.

INTERIOR TECHNOLOGY ALSO IMPROVES.

THE NAVIGATION IS UPDATED, WITH WIRELESS CHARGING AND WI-FI HOTSPOT NOW OPTIONS.

THE 2017 BMW X4 M40I IS ON SALE NOW STARTING AT ABOUT $58,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

IT LOOKS LIKE THE LINES BETWEEN HATCHBACK CAR AND CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE HAVE FINALLY BEEN OBLITERATED ENTIRELY.

AS PROOF WE PRESENT THE INFINITI QX30, THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE GROWING COMPACT LUXURY CUV MARKET HERE IN THE U.S., BUT BASICALLY, THE SAME VEHICLE IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE Q30 HATCHBACK IN EUROPE.

AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BLURRED LINES FOR THIS DYNAMIC LITTLE 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, SORRY...CROSSOVER!

* YES, THIS 2017 INFINITI QX30 IS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE.

BUT WHAT REALLY MATTERS HERE, IS THAT IT ARRIVES AT A PERFECT TIME; WHEN AMERICANS CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH OF SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVERS.

OH, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN BEMOANING THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T BUY A MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK HERE; WELL, NOW YOU CAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S UNDER THE QX30s WAY MORE DYNAMIC BODYWORK.

YES, THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE TO EMERGE FROM THE RENAULT/NISSAN/DAIMLER PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR.

AND THOUGH, THE OVERALL STANCE AND SILHOUETTE ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLA CROSSOVER; IT'S MUCH BETTER LOOKING, SO IF YOU SPEAK INFINITI'S DESIGN LANGUAGE LIKE WE DO, WE'D PICK THIS ONE OVER THE GLA.

THERE'S A DECENT 8.0 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, SAME AS THE GLA.

INFINITI ENGINEERS HAD THEIR WAY WITH THE SUSPENSION OF COURSE, SO IT RIDES NOTHING LIKE THE GLA.

IT FELT STIFFER INITIALLY, BUT BETTER THE MORE TIME WE SPENT WITH IT; NO SUSPENSION ALTERING DRIVE MODES TO BE FOUND HERE.

IT DRIVES LIVELY, NOT ECONOMY CAR-LIKE AT ALL; STRADDLING THE COMFORT/CAPABILITY LINE ALMOST PERFECTLY.

LEANING SLIGHTLY MORE TOWARDS THE TOUGHER END THAN SOME OTHER SPORTY CROSSOVERS, WHICH IS NO LONGER A WEIRD THING TO SAY.

YET, IT REMAINS EXCEPTIONALLY QUIET.

THERE'S GOOD PICK-UP FROM THE STANDARD 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 AND 7-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION, BOTH OF WHICH COME FROM MERCEDES, AS DOES THE KEY TO GET THINGS STARTED.

SOFTWARE FOR MANAGING ALL OF IT, HOWEVER, COMES FROM NISSAN, STILL THE OVERALL FEEL IS VERY BEN AND RATINGS ARE THE SAME AT 208 HORSEPOWER, AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IS ALSO, A VERSION OF BENZ'S 4MATIC, WHICH CAN SEND AS MUCH AS 50% OF TORQUE TO THE REAR WHEELS WHEN SLIP IS DETECTED.

THERE WAS NOTICEABLE TURBO-LAG, AND AN OVERALL SOFTER LAUNCH THAN WHEN WE HAD THE GLA, BUT THE RESULTING 0-60 TIME WAS STILL NOT BAD AT 6.8 SECONDS.

AS IS USUALLY THE CASE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE BEST OUTCOME, JUST LEAVE IT IN AUTO, AS MANUAL SHIFTING WAS SLOW TO RESPOND.

STILL, THERE WAS A NICE WHOOSH OF SOUND COMING FROM THE TURBO-4 AS IT POWERED US TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.1 SECONDS AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGH THE CONES, THERE'S A PLAYFUL NATURE, WITH MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF BOTH UNDER AND OVERSTEER.

SUSPENSION FEELS TAUT, AND IT REMAINED VERY FLAT.

A 110 FOOT STOPPING AVERAGE FROM 60 IS VERY GOOD, AND STOPS WERE BOTH SMOOTH AND STABLE.

BUT AFTER ABOUT 4-RUNS, FATIGUE SET IN AND BRAKES STARTED TO FADE.

INSIDE THE QX30s CABIN IS WHERE THINGS DEPART MOST FROM ITS MERCEDES-BENZ ROOTS.

THERE ARE STILL SOME GLA CONTROLS ON THE DASH, BUT THINGS APPEAR MUCH MORE INVITING.

MATERIAL QUALITY IS QUITE GOOD.

INFINITI OWNERS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE GLA WILL ENJOY THE REFRESHING NEW TAKE ON LAYOUT, AS WELL AS FIND THE FIT AND FINISH THEY ARE USED TO.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 21-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

SO, OUR 30.7 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM AVERAGE WAS EXCELLENT.

STILL, THERE'S ONLY AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 13.2 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.0 TONS.

WITH MANY DIFFERENT QX30S TO CHOOSE FROM, $30,945 TO START SEEMS REASONABLE, CONSIDERING IT'S ABOUT 2-GRAND CHEAPER THAN A GLA.

SO, WHILE THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLA CAME TO MARKET EARLIER, DON'T THINK OF THIS 2017 INFINITI QX30 AS A RE-BADGED BENZ, BUT A COOPERATIVE EFFORT ALONG THE LINES OF TOYOTA AND SUBARU WITH THE 86 AND BRZ.

IT IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WITH THE CURRENT INFLUX OF CUTE UTEs, AS WELL AS A PERFECT STEP UP FOR OPEN-MINDED HATCHBACK BUYERS.

WE PREDICT THIS INTERNATIONAL COALITION WILL BE QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

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 A NISMO'D UP NISSAN SENTRA GRABS OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

PLUS, THE MASERATI GHIBLI'S UNIQUE TAKE ON A TOP-TIER SPORTY 4-DOOR.

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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST.

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

Man: OOPS.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

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

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

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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