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

JOIN US FOR A G-FORCE FILLED ROAD COURSE DRIVE IN A PERFORMANCE PACKED FORD MUSTANG GT... PAT GOSS HAS A RUST REPAIR THAT WILL LEAVE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET... A SMILING ZACH MASKELL HEADS OVER THE EDGE, SIDEWAYS ON SNOW AND ICE... AND AN ADRENALINE RUSH WRAPPED IN EUROPEAN STYLE, THE AUDI SQ5...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... [SOUND OF TIRES SLIDING IN SNOW] TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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

TIRERACK.COM.

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.

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT VEHICLE'S FLOOR PROTECTION, IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE CARS AND MUSCLE CARS, AS THEY SAY, "IF YOU'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD, YOU'RE PROBABLY FALLING BEHIND."

WELL, FORD IS DEFINITELY MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR MUSTANG.

IT GETS A HOST OF UPDATES FOR '18, MANY OF THEM OUR FAVORITE KIND, ONES THAT MAKE IT GALLOP FASTER!

[ENGINE REVS] * THE 6TH GEN MUSTANG HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE STREET FOR 3-YEARS, BUT FORD FELT IT WAS ALREADY IN NEED OF TWEAKING.

SO, HOW DO YOU MAKE A GREAT PONY CAR GREATER?

WELL, WE'VE COME TO ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA IN THIS 2018 FORD MUSTANG GT TO FIND OUT.

MECHANICAL CHANGES START WITH MORE BEEF FROM THE 5.0 LITER.

NOW PUSHING 460 PONIES OUT OF ITS SLIGHTLY ENLARGED 8-CYLINDERS, AND REVVING HIGHER THAN EVER, TO WHIP UP 420 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND THERE'S A NEW 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO HANDLE THE EXTRA FORCE, AIDED BY A NEW TWIN DISC CLUTCH.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT INTO SELECTING THEIR OWN GEARS, A 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOW AVAILABLE AS WELL.

BUT, NO THANKS, IT'S THE MANUAL FOR US.

WORKING IT AND THE PEDALS, WILL GET YOU A 0-60 RUN OF 4.5 SECONDS.

A NEW DRAG MODE HELPS YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO OPT FOR THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, WHICH FORD CLAIMS IS EVEN QUICKER.

OH WELL, LINE-LOCK IS NOW STANDARD ON ALL 'STANGS NOT JUST THE GT, IF YOU'RE MORE INTO MAKING SMOKE THAN HASTE.

RIPPING THROUGH THE GEARS IS A PURE DELIGHT.

THE NEW TRANS COMBINED WITH GREAT PEDAL PLACEMENT, MAKES FOR QUICK WORK OF IT.

AND ONCE A QUARTER MILE'S WORTH OF GEORGIA ASPHALT HAD PASSED, WE WERE AT 115 MILES PER HOUR; AFTER 12.4 SECONDS.

THE EXHAUST NOTE POURING OUT IS BETTER THAN EVER, THANKS TO AN OPTIONAL ACTIVE VALVE PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO OUR EARS, BUT IF YOU THINK YOUR NEIGHBORS MIGHT COMPLAIN, YOU CAN ENGAGE A NEW QUIET START MODE.

GT PERFORMANCE PACKS ARE BACK.

OUR CAR HAD LEVEL ONE.

BUT, ALSO ADDED THE NEW LEVEL'S TWO'S GAME-CHANGING MAGNARIDE SHOCKS.

SIMILAR TO WHAT'S FITTED ON THE CHEVY CAMARO SS 1LE, THIS ACTIVE SYSTEM TAKES A MULTITUDE OF THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING EVEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, AND ADJUSTS ACCORDINGLY.

THERE'S ALSO, A NEW CROSS-AXIS JOINT REAR SUSPENSION, AND JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE, FOUR MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 4 Ss ON 19-INCH WHEELS.

WHETHER, IT'S THOSE TIRES, THE SHOCKS, OR THE SUSPENSION SETUP, THIS 5.0 TRULY DOES FEEL NIMBLER AROUND A ROAD COURSE, AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THERE IS MORE GRIP TO EXPLOIT.

TRANSMISSION GEARING HAS BEEN CHANGED AND SEEMS PERFECT FOR THIS TRACK, WHILE THE PERFORMANCE PACK'S BREMBO BRAKES WERE PHENOMENAL, FAR ABOVE WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN A BASIC GT MUSTANG.

THIS CAR FEELS GREAT, FITTING RIGHT IN WITH JUST ABOUT ANY TRACK WORTHY CAR YOU CAN THINK OF.

AND IT COULD EVEN RAISE A FEW RIVAL FANS OPINIONS ON THE MUSTANG.

THIS GT IS PRECISION BALANCED; MUCH LIKE THE 2008 MUSTANG BULLITT WE LOVED; THOUGH HERE THERE IS ENOUGH POWER TO INDUCE SOME OVERSTEER IF YOU WANT, AND THOSE MICHELIN'S DID TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO GET HEATED UP.

BUT FOR ALL OF ITS ON-TRACK PROWESS, THIS GT LEVEL 1 REMAINS A VERY APPROACHABLE, EASY TO LIVE WITH CAR, THAT'S A BREEZE TO OPERATE WHETHER CRUISING AROUND TOWN OR ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY.

OTHER NEWNESS COMES IN THE WAY OF A 12-INCH DIGITAL LCD CUSTOMIZABLE DIGITAL DASH DISPLAY.

ELSEWHERE INSIDE, THERE'S MORE STITCHING THROUGHOUT, A NEW PULSING START BUTTON READY TO SET EVERYTHING OFF, AND EVEN A FIRST TIME HEATED STEERING WHEEL.

FINALLY, THERE'S UPDATED SYNC CONNECT FOR THE HEIGHT OF CONNECTIVITY.

SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE UPDATED AS WELL, WITH MUSTANG NOW GETTING AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A GT MANUAL ARE 15-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

BASE GT PRICING DOES SNEAK UP A BIT, TO $35,995; TACK ON ANOTHER 4-GRAND FOR THE LEVEL 1 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AND $1600 MORE FOR THE MAGNARIDE SHOCKS.

OR, GO FULL BOARD WITH LEVEL 2 FOR $6500.

BUT JUST A REMINDER, BASE "STANG," USING A BASE ECOBOOST I4; THE V6 IS HISTORY; GETS A LOT OF THE SAME IMPROVEMENTS AND IS ACTUALLY, CHEAPER THAN LAST YEAR AT $26,485.

AS PONY CARS CONTINUE TO BATTLE IT OUT, STREAKING DOWN THE FRONT STRETCH TOWARDS A FINISH LINE THAT MAY NEVER BE REACHED, MORE TECHNOLOGY AND MORE PERFORMANCE ARE BEING ADDED CONTINUOUSLY.

REGARDLESS, THE 2018 FORD MUSTANG WILL SUCCEED BY DOING WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE MUSTANG FAITHFUL FIRST.

BEING, UNMISTAKABLY, A MUSTANG.

IT MAY NOT BE THE FASTEST MUSCLE CAR OUT THERE, BUT IT HAS NO GLARING FLAWS, AND IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST TOTAL PACKAGE.

* OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY ZACH MASKELL IS USUALLY HAPPY AS A CLAM, BE IT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, OR WOULD YOU BELIEVE, WHEN HE'S SKATING ON ICE, THICK OR THIN.

WELL, IT JUST SO HAPPENS, HE RECENTLY GOT A CHANCE TO COMBINE HIS TWO PASSIONS; TRADING IN HIS HOCKEY STICK AND SKATES FOR A STEERING WHEEL AND STUDDED TIRES, AND GO SLIDING AROUND IN SOME OF GERMANY'S FINEST AS CLOSE TO A SNOW BANK AS HE COULD GET.

Zach Maskell: THESE FOOLS ARE BECOMING A SPORT FOR MANUFACTURERS.

ONE I CAN, GET BEHIND.

Lorne Banks: ACCELERATE... OFF GAS... ADD SOME STEERING...

BRAKE... LOOK THERE... STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL... GO TO POWER... WELL DONE... Zach: I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS WINTER INDOORS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ABNORMALLY COLD, IN FACT, I JUST FOUND OUT, I HAVE A VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY, SO WE INSTINCTIVELY FLOCKED TO NORTHERN QUEBEC AT PORSCHE'S CAMP 4.

WHILE, WE WILL BE OUTSIDE TRYING TO GET SOME SUNLIGHT, WE'LL ALSO BE SPENDING THE DAY INSIDE SOME PORSCHES.

Jonathan Urlin: BACK ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A MEDIA EVENT TO LAUNCH THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, THE C4S, WHICH BECAME A MEDIA EVENT CALLED "CAMP 4 S OVER IN FINLAND," IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TIME EVERYONE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DECIDED TO BRING IT BACK AS A RETAIL PROGRAM, 15 YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE IN OUR FIFTH VENUE ACROSS THE WORLD AND IN CANADA, THE SECOND LARGEST INTERNATIONALLY.

Zach: WE'RE ARMED WITH REAR AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE 420 HORSEPOWER 911s, AND SOME 718 CAYMANS... WITH 1.5 MILLIMETER STUDDED TIRES WITH THE HEATED SEATS ON MAX.

Lorne: THE FIRST THING THAT WE CHECK WHEN WE GET IN A CAR IS OUR DISTANCE FROM OUR BOTTOM TO THE PEDALS.

Zach: WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FLOORED, YOU WANT A SLIGHT BEND IN THE KNEE.

THEN, YOU PUT YOUR SHOULDERS BACK AGAINST THE SEAT, AND MAKE IT SO YOUR WRISTS TOUCH THE WHEEL.

THIS ALLOWS HAND SPEED, ONCE THE YOU'RE REALLY PUSHING THE CAR.

"PORSCHES TRACTION MANAGEMENT WORKS CLOSEST WITH PORSCHE STABILITY CONTROL AKA PSM...

I LIKE TO CALL IT PLEASE SAVE ME.

BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU NUMEROUS TIMES ON A RACETRACK, IT HAS DONE JUST THAT.

OUT HERE, WE ARE TURNING THAT OFF, THAT WAY WE GET US SOME OVERSTEER.

Lorne: SO THE BEAUTY ABOUT AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AS WE'RE SEEING, IS AS SOON AS WE STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL, WE CAN ADD POWER TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR BACK OUT.

Zach: AS OPPOSED TO REAR-WHEEL DRIVE?

Lorne: REAR WHEEL DRIVE, WE HAVE TO BASICALLY SIT THERE WITH A LOT OF COUNTER STEER AND WAIT.

Zach: LIKE ANY SCHOOL, WE START SIMPLE.

SO FIRST WE PRACTICE DONUTS ON THE SKIDPAD, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAY OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

THE DREADED UNDERSTEER, WHEN THE CAR PLOWS FORWARD AND YOU DON'T WANT IT TO.

THEN, WE MOVE ON TO THE SLALOM.

WE'RE INSTRUCTED TO TAP THE BRAKES TO GET TRACTION TO THE FRONT WHEELS, THEN STEER THE CAR WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE LEARN TODAY.

LEFT FOOT BRAKING.

EVEN WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WE COME INTO THE TURN.

FLICK.

ADD SOME BRAKE THAT WAY WE GET MORE TRACTION UP FRONT.

STRAIGHTEN OUT.

AND THEN, WE POWER OUT.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE CAR TO ROTATE.

WHILE, IT MAY LOOK HECTIC OUTSIDE, EVERYTHING INSIDE IS TIMING, AND PATIENCE.

Jonathan: THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS HERE AT THE ICE EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE CAMP 4, CAMP 4 S, AND OUR ADVANCED LEVEL PROGRAM ICE FORCE.

Zach: WORK YOUR WAY TO ICE FORCE AND EXPERIENCE TURBO Ss AND GT3s ON THE ICE.

BUT FIRST, START AT CAMP 4, FOR A LITTLE OVER $4,000, WHICH GIVES YOU THE BASIC TWO-DAY COURSE, DELICIOUS MEALS AND A ROOM WITH A MUCH NEEDED FIREPLACE.

ONE THING THAT SETS THIS SCHOOL APART FROM OTHERS, WAS SEAT TIME.

I WAS EXHAUSTED AT THE END OF THE DAY.

WHILE, THIS IS AN AMUSEMENT PARK FOR THE SPORT CAR FIEND, COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ALWAYS FELT THE NEED TO BECOME A BETTER WINTER DRIVER, I PROMISE YOU'D LEAVE FEELING THE SAME WAY AS WELL.

Lorne: THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE SCHOOL, RIGHT.

IS TO BE COMFORTABLE DRIVING A CAR SIDEWAYS IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.

Voice On Radio: GOOD JOB GUYS.

EXCELLENT DAY.

John: THE LONGER YOU OWN A CAR, THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL NEED SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT ADVICE PAT HAS DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: SINCE, THE VERY INCEPTION OF STEEL BODIES ON AUTOMOBILES, THERE HAS BEEN ONE MORTAL ENEMY.

AND THAT IS RUST, ESPECIALLY RUST THROUGH, STRUCTURAL RUST AND SO ON.

LIKE ON THIS CLASSIC JEEP, WE CAN SEE THAT THE ROCKER PANEL IS RUSTED, THE DOG LEG IS RUSTED.

WE NEED TO REPLACE THESE PARTS AND OF COURSE, FOR CLASSICS AND COLLECTIBLES, THESE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, LIKE THIS DOGLEG WHICH WOULD GO IN HERE.

NOW, WE WANTED TO DO THIS CAR UPRIGHT.

WE TOOK IT TO "TREASURED MOTORCARS" HERE IN MARYLAND.

AND LET'S SEE WHAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

OKAY NOW, WHEN TREASURED MOTORCARS GOT A HOLD OF THIS, WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY GAINED ACCESS TO THE PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NOW, TO GET TO THE ROCKER PANEL, THE FRONT FENDER HAD TO COME OFF IT, THE DOORS HAD TO COME OFF BECAUSE THERE ARE SEAMS, AND EVERYTHING INSIDE THAT NEED TO BE CUT AWAY, AND RE-WELDED.

SO, THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP OF THIS OPERATION.

THE NEXT THING WAS THAT THEY HAD TO CUT THE OLD PANELS OFF IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT DIDN'T DAMAGE ANY OF THE GOOD METAL.

PATCH OR REPAIR PANELS AS WE SEE HERE ARE AVAILABLE FOR MOST COLLECTABLE CARS.

CHANCES ARE IF IT WAS POPULAR BACK IN THE DAY YOU COULD GET REPAIR PANELS FOR IT.

NOW, THE THING IS YOU MIGHT, AND I SAY, MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THIS YOURSELF, IF YOU HAVE THE TALENT AND IF YOU HAVE THE TOOLS, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.

AND WE FOUND THAT OUT HERE BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF RUST THAT WAS HIDDEN UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THAT'S WHEN A GOOD BODY SHOP COMES INTO PLAY.

THESE INNER PIECES WEREN'T AVAILABLE FOR THIS JEEP, SO TREASURED MOTORCARS HAD TO FABRICATE THEM FROM SCRATCH.

NOW THIS INVOLVES CUTTING, BENDING, AND SHAPING NEW METAL TO MATCH THE CONTOURS OF THE ORIGINAL BODY WORK.

AND THIS TAKES THE PROPER TOOLS, A LARGE DEGREE OF SKILL, AND LOTS OF PATIENCE.

AND THAT'S THE ONE AREA MOST DO-IT-YOURSELFERS FALL SHORT.

THIS PARTICULAR JOB INVOLVED 50 HOURS OF LABOR JUST IN FABRICATION.

MAKING THESE NEW PIECES AND MAKING THEM FIT PROPERLY IS CRITICAL.

RUSTY PARTS WILL CONTINUE TO RUST SO THEY MUST BE REPLACED.

AND IF YOU ALLOW WATER, DEBRIS, AND SALT TO GET INTO NEWLY REPAIRED AREAS, WELL...THE REPAIR ISN'T GOING TO LAST, AND YOU'RE WASTED YOUR TIME, AND MONEY.

DO THE JOB RIGHT OR HAVE IT DONE RIGHT, AND YOU'LL HAVE A QUALITY REPAIR THAT EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, AND LOOKS GREAT IN THE PROCESS.

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

John: WE LOVE THE SOUND OF A HIGH REVVING ENGINE.

SO OFF WE GO IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

* A RISING ECONOMY WITH LOW GAS PRICES IS FUELING A RESURGENCE OF FULL-SIZE, FULL-FRAME SUVS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LUXURY MARKET.

NOW, ADD IN A HEAD TURNING NEW LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND IT'S A PERFECT TIME TO FRESHEN THE 2018 INFINITI QX80.

MOST OF THE CHANGES ARE ON THE LONGER FRONT END, WITH A TALLER, LESS IN-YOUR-FACE GRILLE; HEADLIGHTS ARE SQUARER, AND THE UGLY FENDER PORTHOLES REPLACED WITH GILLS.

WHEELS ARE REDESIGNED, WITH WIDER RUNNING BOARDS, AND THE REAR END IS RESKINNED WITH THINNER TAILLIGHTS.

SO, DESPITE ITS ICONIC NISSAN PATROL PROFILE, IT'S ENOUGH, SO THAT THE QX80 DOES INDEED NOW LOOK...WELL...FRESH AND MUCH BETTER.

DRIVING THE LATEST INFINITI QX80 IS MOSTLY UNCHANGED.

IT'S A MASSIVE VEHICLE AND IT STILL DRIVES THAT WAY.

THE RIDE HAS IMPROVED, BUT OVERALL, I THINK IT FEELS LARGER THAN THE CADILLAC ESCALADE, YET, SMALLER THAN LINCOLN'S NEW NAVIGATOR.

THERE'S NO MISTAKING THE 5.6 LITER V8 FOR ANYTHING BUT MASSIVE.

ITS 400 HORSEPOWER IS DELIVERED THROUGH A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH NEAR SEAMLESS SHIFTS.

INSIDE EVEN LESS HAS CHANGED.

THERE'S NEW STITCH PATTERNS ON THE SEATS, THE NEW TRIM ON THE DASH, LARGER CUP HOLDERS, MORE CENTER STORAGE.

THERE IS A NEW DIGITAL REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND IN THE BACK, LARGER VIDEO SCREENS.

SO, IT'S EVEN MORE OVERSTUFFED AND WELCOMING.

HIGHWAY RIDE IS BETTER, THANKS IN PART TO MORE BODY SOUND INSULATION.

ARRIVING IN DEALERSHIPS NOW, THE 2018 INFINITI QX80 STARTS AT UNDER $65,000.

BUICK IS TAKING MORE STEPS IN STEPPING BACK FROM BEING A SEDAN BRAND, AND STEPPING UP TO 5-DOOR VERSATILITY.

BUT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MORE CROSSOVERS.

RATHER, IT'S ABOUT THE LEGENDARY REGAL NAMEPLATE.

OUT IS THE 4-DOOR REGAL SEDAN WE KNEW, AND IN IS THIS 2018 BUICK REGAL SPORTBACK.

YES, IT IS A WELL DISGUISED HATCHBACK, THAT GIVES UP NOTHING IS STYLE BUT GAINS LOADS OF VERSATILITY.

WITH ABOUT THREE INCHES OF ADDED WHEELBASE, BUT 200 FEWER POUNDS TO HAUL AROUND, THE OPEL-INSPIRED SPORTBACK'S NICELY INTEGRATED HATCH YIELDS A FLOWING COUPE-LIKE PROFILE THAT IS ALL THE RAGE THESE DAYS.

WHEN OPEN, THAT HATCH ALLOWS UP TO 60.7 CUBIC-FEET OF STORAGE SPACE.

THE COCKPIT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A VERY DRIVER-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT WITH THE ATTAINABLE LUXURY FEEL OF ALL CURRENT BUICK'S.

250 HORSEPOWER COMES FROM A 2.0 LITER TURBO I4, WITH FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AVAILABLE.

Brian Robinson: I'D STOP SHORT OF CALLING THE REGAL SPORTBACK A TRUE SPORT SEDAN, BUT IT'S GOT MORE THAN ENOUGH CAPABILITY FOR A SPIRITED RUN DOWN YOUR FAVORITE BACK ROAD, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF COMFORT FOR SPENDING ALL DAY TRYING TO FIND SOME NEW ONES.

John: ON SALE NOW, THE 2018 BUICK REGAL SPORTBACK STARTS AROUND $26,000.

IN ADDITION, A NEW ALL-WHEEL DRIVE BUICK WAGON, THE REGAL TOURX, WILL BE ARRIVING SHORTLY.

2018 MARKS TWO MILESTONES FOR MERCEDES-BENZ'S SMART BRAND.

THESE FUNKY MICRO CARS HAVE BEEN ON SALE IN THE U.S. FOR 10-YEARS, AND THIS IS ALSO THE YEAR SMART GOES ALL-ELECTRIC.

SO IN SAN DIEGO, WE DROPPED THE TOP OF THIS 2018 SMART FORTWO ELECTRIC CABRIO.

THE REAR MOUNTED ELECTRIC MOTOR GENERATES 80 HORSEPOWER, WHICH MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT THAT'S PLENTY OF PUSH FOR CITY DRIVING.

LIKE OTHER EVs, THERE'S NO CHANGING GEARS, SO FORGET THE HERKY-JERKY SHIFTS OF EARLY GAS VERSIONS.

THE 17.6 KWH BATTERY SITS UNDER THE FRONT FLOOR, ADDING THE EXTRA-STABLE FEELING OF A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY.

SMART SAYS, "THIS NIMBLE CABRIO CAN GO 57 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE, WHICH TAKES ABOUT 3-HOURS ON 240 VOLTS."

BESIDES TESLA, SMART IS THE ONLY ESTABLISHED BRAND THAT SELLS "HIGHWAY CAPABLE ELECTRIC VEHICLES" EXCLUSIVELY.

THE 2018 SMART FORTWO ELECTRIC CABRIO IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT ABOUT $28,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

MUCH LIKE BASIC SEDANS HAVE SPAWNED EVER SPORTIER 4-DOORS OVER THE YEARS, THE WORLD OF SUVS THAT WE NOW LIVE IN, CONTINUES TO EXPAND WITH VARIATIONS ON THE THEME.

LIKE THE AUDI SQ5.

ONE UTE WHERE PERFORMANCE IS AS IMPORTANT AS PRACTICALITY.

* REGULAR VIEWERS OF MOTORWEEK KNOW THAT WE'RE BIG FANS OF WHAT AUDI HAS BEEN DOING LATELY, EVEN CLAIMING THE MOST RECENT Q7 AS A NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE LUXURY 3-ROW CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

WELL, 2018 SEES THE LAUNCH OF A 2ND GENERATION OF THE MIDDLE-WEIGHT Q5, AND IT'S THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE SQ5 VARIANT THAT WE HAVE HERE.

ANOTHER ITEM GETTING ATTENTION IN THE REWORK IN INTERIOR SPACE, MOSTLY FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS, WHO GAIN MORE LEG AND SHOULDER ROOM.

SOMETIMES, MORE ROOM FOR PEOPLE MEANS LESS ROOM FOR CARGO, AND THAT IS THE CASE HERE, AT LEAST BEHIND THE REAR SEATS WHERE CUBIC-FOOTAGE IS REDUCED FROM 29.1 TO 26.8.

STILL, WITH THAT ADDITIONAL SPACE OF THE 2ND ROW, MAX CARGO CLIMBS FROM 57.3 TO 60.4.

THIS CROSSOVER'S DESIGN IS APPRECIABLY MORE ATTRACTIVE, WITH ADDED COUPE-LIKE LANGUAGE AND PROMINENT WHEEL ARCHES.

SQ5S MOUNT ALUMINUM TRIM AND OF COURSE, A REAR SPOILER.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT BURNING YOUR LEGS ON THOSE TWIN DOUBLE-BARREL EXHAUST TIPS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REAL, SIMPLY STYLING ELEMENTS?

[ENGINE STARTS UP] STANDARD Q5s RELY ON 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO POWER, BUT TURBO-BOOSTED PERFORMANCE HERE IN THE SQ5, COMES FROM A 3.0 LITER V6 WITH 354 HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT WHILE THAT 2.0 LITER COMES WITH A 7-SPEED DCT, HERE YOU'LL GET A TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC WITH 8-GEARS.

THE SUSPENSION GRABS THE USUAL STIFFENING AND STRAIGHTENING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN ADAPTIVE AIR SUSPENSION CAN BE ADDED FOR FIRST TIME, AS PART OF THE S SPORT PACKAGE.

SPEND ANY TIME AT ALL BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE SQ5, AND YOU QUICKLY GET WHY LUXURY CROSSOVERS ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD.

IT TRULY DOES FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING AN A4 SEDAN, YET, YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR STUFF.

ALONG FOR THE RIDE ARE CODDLING SEATS, A QUIET CABIN, AND OF COURSE, A TON OF STREET POTENTIAL, AS WELL AS A GREAT EXHAUST NOTE THAT'S NEVER TOO LOUD.

PUSH A LITTLE HARDER ON THE TRACK THOUGH, AND IT'S INDEED A4 YOU'RE REMINDED OF, NOT S4, UNFORTUNATELY.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE MOST "CONNECTED" FEELING, WE'VE EVER HAD WITH A SPORTY SUV EITHER, BUT UTTERLY PROFICIENT, WITH ONLY MILD UNDERSTEER.

FIRM, STABLE, AND COMFORTABLE REGARDLESS OF SPEED.

[ENGINE REVS/TIRES SCREECH] THE SQ5 BOLTS OFF THE LINE LIKE A SPRINTER OUT OF THE BLOCKS, STANDARD QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DELIVERING PLENTY OF GRIP.

WE HIT 60 IN JUST 5.3 SECONDS.

NO TURBO-LAG OR NOTICEABLE HITS OF POWER, THOUGH...THE TRANS WILL GIVE YOU QUITE A JOLT AT FULL THROTTLE SHIFTS, AT LEAST IN SPORT MODE, LEFT IN NORMAL MODE, IT WANTS TO FIND HIGH GEAR AND STAY THERE FOR FUEL ECONOMY'S SAKE.

FULL THROTTLE FOR THE FULL QUARTER RESULTED IN A TIME OF 13.8 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T FEEL THAT FAST, PERHAPS BECAUSE YOU'RE WRAPPED IN LUXURY BANK VAULT SOLITUDE THE WHOLE WAY.

YOU'D THINK THAT AIR SUSPENSION MIGHT GIVE IT A FLOATIER RIDE ON THE STREET, BUT THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

IT FEELS NAILED DOWN AND FLAT IN CORNERS, ACTUALLY A BIT HARSHER THAN SOME, BUT WITH A SOLID NATURE THAT NEVER GIVES YOU THE IMPRESSION YOU HAVE TO TIPTOE AT ALL, NO MATTER THE ROAD CONDITIONS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

SO OUR 22.4 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON PREMIUM WAS NOT BAD AT ALL.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ABOUT AVERAGE AT 15.7 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 7.2 TONS.

A BASE Q5 WILL SET YOU BACK JUST $42,475.

BUT STEPPING UP TO THIS SQ5, WILL REQUIRE 55,275 OF YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS.

THE 2018 AUDI SQ5 ARRIVED JUST AFTER A REFRESHED MERCEDES-BENZ GLC AND JUST BEFORE THE ALL-NEW BMW X3.

IT'S MORE LUXURIOUS THAN THE FORMER, AND MORE ATHLETIC THAN THE LATTER.

IT SEEMS TO BE THE SUM OF ALL THAT HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT RECENT AUDI'S, ENGINEERED INTO ONE IMPRESSIVE SUV.

NO WONDER AUDI IS QUICKLY BECOMING OUR GO-TO GERMAN BRAND, AND THIS SQ5 IS CERTAINLY WORTH YOUR CONSIDERATION TOO.

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 SPREAD OUT IN THE DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT WIDEBODY, AND THEN ITS PDK PERFORMANCE IN THE PORSCHE 911 GT3.

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... [SOUND OF TIRES SLIDING IN SNOW] TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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

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.

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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