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

JOIN US AS WE TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, AND TURN THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE LOOSE ON THE TRACK... PAT GOSS HAS SLICK TIPS TO KEEP PARTS MOVING FREELY... ZACH MASKELL GETS A BIG JOLT FROM TWO WHEELS ON DIRT... AND A PAIR OF STYLISH BUICK'S WITH A HEALTHY DOSE OF VERSATILITY.

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: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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

Man: OOPS.

Announcer: 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.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: EVER SINCE LAMBORGHINI LAUNCHED A WHOLE NEW ERA WITH THE HURACAN, THEY'VE BEEN HITTING US VIRTUALLY NON-STOP WITH NEW VERSIONS OF IT.

THE LATEST IS THE PERFORMANTE, AND IF YOU'RE A TRACK DAY ENTHUSIAST, AND CAN AFFORD THE PRICE OF ADMISSION, IT'S JUST WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!

* [ENGINE REVS] YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A WHILE WHEN YOU HEAR "WHY ARE WE TESTING ANOTHER LAMBORGHINI HURACAN," COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH...

BUT WE ARE, AND IT'S A SPECIAL ONE, THE 2018 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE.

* THE PERFORMANTE TAKES THE HURACAN'S TIMELESS DESIGN AND ADDS SOME ACTIVE AERODYNAMICS, ADDITIONAL CARBON FIBER FOR WEIGHT REDUCTION, A BIT MORE POWER, UNIQUE SUSPENSION TUNING, EXCLUSIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CALIBRATION, REPROGRAMMED STABILITY CONTROL, AND A NEW TIRE-AND-WHEEL PACKAGE.

NOT TO MENTION, TWEAKED FRONT STYLING, AS WELL AS A HUGE WING AND HIGH-MOUNTED EXHAUST TIPS ADDED TO THE REAR, AND OF COURSE, "TRICOLORE" STRIPING DOWN THE SIDES.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN NOT ALL LAMBORGHINI'S LIVED UP TO THEIR HYPE, BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT TO BE THE CASE WITH THE HURACAN.

AND THERE'S NOTHING ALONG THOSE LINES HERE...EITHER, AS THE PERFORMANTE WAS DESIGNED WITH ONE THING IN MIND ONLY, LOWERING LAP TIMES.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] WEIGHT HAS BEEN SHAVED BY 88 POUNDS.

WITH FORGED COMPOSITES USED FOR BOTH STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE REAR HATCH.

POWER HAS BEEN ADDED, WITH THE 5.2 LITER V10 NOW CRANKING OUT 630 HORSEPOWER, WHILE WHIPPING UP 443 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE ADDITIONAL POWER COMES COURTESY OF NEW TITANIUM INTERNALS, AS WELL AS A RECONFIGURED EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

IT LOOKS GORGEOUS, PULSATING BELOW THE REAR HATCH; THOUGH NOT EVERYONE HERE WAS ENAMORED BY THE CLASSICALLY-INSPIRED BRONZE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

DOWNFORCE HAS BEEN IMPROVED UPON, BUT THE AERO TREATMENTS HERE ARE MORE THAN JUST THE BIGGER REAR WING.

ACTIVE ELEMENTS INCLUDE MULTIPURPOSE REAR VENT FLAPS THAT CAN EITHER CHANNEL AIR INTO THE ENGINE BAY FOR ADDITIONAL COOLING, OR DIRECTLY TO THAT REAR WING FOR TIRE-SHREDDING GRIP.

IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HURACAN, HELLACIOUSLY FASTER, IN FACT IT WAS A RECORD HOLDER ON THE NURBURGRING FOR A BRIEF TIME.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE GET A PRESS RELEASE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY OF THAT HAPPENING, SO IT DIDN'T LAST FOR LONG.

[ENGINE REVS] HERE AT SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, IT STILL FEELS MORE AT HOME IN HIGH SPEED CORNERS THAN SUPER TIGHT ONES, BUT THERE'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF GRIP AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF THE RADIUS YOU'RE NAVIGATING.

CORSA MODE MAKES ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS, KEEPING IT A SIMPLE OPERATION TO PREP FOR TRACK WORK.

STEERING IS VERY DIRECT, WITH AN ALMOST MANUAL EFFORT FEEL, AND THAT POWERFUL ENGINE IS FULL OF NATURALLY-ASPIRATED GOODNESS THAT MAKES YOU NEVER WANT TO DRIVE A TURBO AGAIN.

LAMBO'S STABILITY CONTROL WILL STILL INTERVENE IF IT SENSES YOU'VE GOTTEN TOO OUT OF SHAPE, BUT IT DOES SO ALMOST BEHIND THE SCENES, NOT TAKING TOTAL CONTROL OF THINGS.

THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE GOING FULL THROTTLE IN AN ITALIAN EXOTIC, AND THE PERFORMANTE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

NO ACTIVE AERO NEEDED HERE.

JUST PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THIS LAMBO STREAKS TO 60 IN 2.9 SECONDS.

THE SYMPHONIC WAIL THAT POURS OUT OF THE EXHAUST IS ABOUT AS EPIC AS IT GETS.

WHILE YOU'RE ENJOYING THAT, YOUR GRIP NATURALLY TIGHTENS ON THE WHEEL, THE SCENERY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BLURS, THE 7-SPEED DCT CRACKS OFF LIGHTNING QUICK SHIFTS, AND IN 10.7 SECONDS YOU'RE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE TRAVELLING 132 MILES PER HOUR, FEELING LIKE YOU'VE JUST WENT THROUGH SOME CRAZY TIME WARP.

AND JUST LIKE A KID IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK, YOU CAN'T WAIT TO LINE UP AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF ITALIAN PERFORMANCE ART WILL SET YOU BACK $279,185, "ONLY" ABOUT $36,000 MORE THAN A BASE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HURACAN.

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE?

YES.

ASPIRATIONAL DESIGN?

OF COURSE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT CHECKS ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL LAMBO BOXES.

BUT THIS 2018 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE IS MORE THAN JUST POSTER MATERIAL.

IT'S THE CONVERGENCE OF ALL THAT LAMBORGHINI DOES BEST, INTO THEIR MOST CAPABLE V10 PRODUCTION CAR TO DATE.

THE ONLY PERFORMANCE ENVY HERE, IS COMING FROM OTHER SUPERCAR MAKERS LOOKING UP AT THE PERFORMANTE.

* WE'VE SEEN SOME INCREDIBLE ENGINEERING MILESTONES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS...

PARTICULARLY, ON THE ELECTRIC SIDE OF THINGS.

INSTANTANEOUS POWER AND LONGER LASTING BATTERIES ARE MAKING SOME 4-WHEEL EV NEWCOMERS IRRESISTIBLE.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT IN THE "2-WHEEL" WORLD?

WELL, LET'S "SHRED" OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE HEADS WEST ON WHAT JUST MIGHT BE "THE FUTURE OF FAST."

Zach Maskell: PICTURE THIS.

NO MORE GASOLINE, CLUTCH, AIR FILTER, OIL CHANGES, OR TOP END REBUILDS.

"I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS SAN FRANCISCO BASED COMPANY, AND TODAY...WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO THROW A LEG OVER THIS ALTA DIRT BIKE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT THE INNER WORKINGS AS WELL."

Laurence Lea: IT STARTED IN A GARAGE IN 2007, AND IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE GOT THE FIRST WORKING PROTOTYPE.

Zach: INSIDE THE BRISBANE, CALIFORNIA FACTORY, THEY ASSEMBLE...YOU GUESSED IT, ALL ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES.

THEY OFFER A SUPER MOTO, GOOD FOR 60 MILES OF ASPHALT CRUISING, AN EX ENDURO BIKE FOR OFF-ROAD PLUS URBAN ASSAULT, AND FOR 2018, THIS, THE NEW FLAGSHIP OF THEIR ARSENAL, AND THE FIRST TRACK FOCUSED ELECTRIC DIRT BIKE WE'VE DRIVEN YET, THE REDSHIFT MX-R. Laurence: THIS BIKE IS BUILT FOR THE TRACK.

IT IS BUILT TO RACE; IT IS BUILT TO COMPETE.

IT IS BUILT TO WIN.

Zach: THEY'VE ALREADY PROVED THEIR ABLE, ZAPPING INTO THE FINAL FOUR OF A SUPER CROSS RACE FULL OF GAS COMPETITORS, THE 2016 RED BULL RHYTHM.

Derek Dorresteyn: THE 2018 MXR IS A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST YEAR'S MX BASE MODEL.

WE'VE INCREASED POWER DRAMATICALLY, FROM 40 HORSEPOWER TO 50 HORSEPOWER TO THE REAR WHEEL.

Laurence: TWIST THE THROTTLE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE MOTOR CONTROLLER HERE.

THE MOTOR CONTROLLER, BASICALLY THINK OF IT AS A SET OF VALVES ON A TRADITIONAL BIKE AND WHAT IT DOES, IS THE MORE YOU TWIST IT, THE MORE IT DISTRIBUTES THE POWER FROM THE BATTERY.

Zach: FROM THE BATTERY, POWER GOES TO THE MOTOR, WHICH GOES DOWN TO A GEAR REDUCTION, AND THAT TURNS THE CHAIN.

AND WAALAA, THE WHEEL IS SPINNING.

WE CHARGED UP AND HEADED TO DIABLO MX RANCH, FOR A PRACTICE SESSION ALONGSIDE ALTA'S IN HOUSE RIDER.

Blake Nicholas: I DIDN'T THINK SO AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT BUT LOOKING AT THE DATA, I AM FASTER ON THIS BIKE.

Zach: I KNOW THERE'S 147 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO THE COUNTER-SHAFT AVAILABLE IN A SPLIT SECOND.

I PICTURED MYSELF TWISTING THE THROTTLE AND THE BIKE LOOPING OUT FROM UNDER ME, SENDING IT TO THE MOON.

BUT I STARTED OFF SLOW, AND JUST LIKE THAT, A GRIN WAS GLUED TO MY FACE.

Laurence: THE SMOOTH CONTROL AND THE PRECISENESS THAT'S DELIVERED FROM AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CAN HAVE YOU IN THE PERFECT POWER BAND ALL THE TIME.

Zach: IT'S GOT FOUR PREPROGRAMMED MAPS, WHICH YOU CAN ADJUST ON THE FLY WITH THE TOUCH OF YOUR FINGER.

IT CHANGES TRACTION, ENGINE BRAKING, AND POWER DELIVERY FOR THE SINGLE SPEED TRANSMISSION.

THINK OF MAP 1 AS A GOOD TECHNICAL BACK WOODS CHOICE, AND MAP 4 FOR A MAX POWER TRACK ATTACK.

BREMBO BRAKES, WARP 9 WHEELS, WP SUSPENSION, AND DUNLOP TIRES FROM THE FACTORY.

WHILE, THIS DOES WEIGH ABOUT 30 POUNDS MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL BIKE, IT DOESN'T RIDE MUCH DIFFERENT.

Laurence: THE BIKE IS IP67 CERTIFIED.

WHICH MEANS BASICALLY, IT CAN BE SUBMERGED UP TO A METER OF WATER PER PRESSURE, UP TO A HALF HOUR.

Zach: AT FULL OPEN THROTTLE, A PRO RIDER WOULD GET ABOUT 30 MINUTES' BATTERY TIME.

MY BIKE, HAD A QUARTER OF BATTERY LIFE LEFT, WHEN MY TANK WAS ON EMPTY AND I HAD TO CALL IT A DAY.

THE MXR COSTS $11,995, AND THE $799 FAST CHARGER HAS YOU BACK TO FULL JUICE, IN ONE AND A HALF HOURS.

THOSE GAS BIKES ALSO, COST AROUND $9,000.

BUT CONSIDERING THE FREQUENT MAINTENANCE, AND PERFORMANCE UPGRADES MOST RIDERS OPT FOR, THIS ELECTRIC BIKE'S PRICING ISN'T THAT FAR OFF.

AND LIKE OTHER ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES WE'VE DRIVEN, NO MORE NOISE COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS.

SEEING THAT IT TOOK ALL OF A COUPLE LAPS TO GET COMFORTABLE ON THIS ALIEN OBJECT, I'M NOW, A BELIEVER THIS WAY OF USING ELECTRONS COULD VERY WELL BE THE "FUTURE OF FAST."

John: WE SEARCH THE GLOBE FOR THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE GOINGS ON.

AND YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS WHAT'S NEW WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW IS KNOWN FOR ITS COOL CONCEPTS AND PREMIUM PRICED CARS.

AND THIS YEAR BOTH MADE FOR A LOT OF "ELECTRICITY."

THE PRODUCTION VERSION OF THE ALL-ELECTRIC JAGUAR I-PACE MADE ITS SHOW DEBUT.

THIS TESLA-FIGHTING SUV ARRIVES HERE, LATER THIS YEAR.

BENTLEY'S FIRST STEP TOWARDS ELECTRIFICATION IS THE BENTAYGA PLUG-IN HYBRID.

VOLKSWAGEN'S I.D.

VIZZION ELECTRIC SEDAN CONCEPT IS ALSO FULLY AUTONOMOUS.

AUDI'S CAMOUFLAGED ALL-ELECTRIC E-TRON PROTOTYPE SUV COULD LAUNCH IN EUROPE THIS YEAR.

THEY ALSO SHOWED THEIR NEW A6 MIDSIZE SEDAN.

HYUNDAI BROUGHT THE NEW KONA ELECTRIC, AND HINTED AT FUTURE DESIGNS WITH THE "LE FIL ROUGE" CONCEPT.

PORSCHE'S VISION FOR EVs IS THE 600 HORSEPOWER MISSION E CROSS TURISMO CONCEPT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TRADITIONALLY POWERED, NON-TURBO PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS RATES 520 HP.

MERCEDES-BENZ IS ADDING THE 4-DOOR MERCEDES-AMG GT COUPE TO THE LINE-UP.

ALONG WITH A MORE OUTRAGEOUS 585 HP MERCEDES-AMG G 63.

THE LIGHTER AND LONGER BMW X4 BOWED IN GENEVA, ALONG WITH THE BMW CONCEPT M8 GRAN COUPE.

557 HORSES HAUL THIS 2-DOOR RANGE ROVER SV COUPE.

VOLVO ADDS THEIR LATEST FAMILY CUES AND TECH TO A NEW V60 MID-SIZE WAGON.

ROOM TO ROAM INSPIRED THE SUBARU VIZIV TOURER CONCEPT.

THE TINY LEXUS UX IS THE BRAND'S SMALLEST LUXURY CROSSOVER YET.

WHILE, PARENT TOYOTA CONFIRMED THE SUPRA'S RETURN WITH THIS GR SUPRA RACING CONCEPT.

THE TRACK-ONLY MCLAREN SENNA GTR CONCEPT JOINED THE NEW 800 HORSEPOWER MCLAREN SENNA.

THE TRACK FOCUSED ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE AMR PRO HYPERCAR MADE ITS WORLD DEBUT, ALONG WITH THE LAGONDA VISION CONCEPT AND THE NEW ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE.

BUGATTI MADE THE CHIRON SPORT LIGHTER AND FASTER.

ITALIAN FLAIR CAME WITH THE FERRARI 488 PISTA, WHILE RIVAL LAMBORGHINI DROPPED THE TOP ON THE HURAC�N PERFORMANTE SPYDER.

AND THOSE ARE GENEVA'S AUTOMOTIVE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: GOOD CAR CARE NEVER RESTS, SO WE WELCOME ANY HELP.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: IF YOU HAVE EVER WONDERED WHY THERE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF GREASES AND LUBRICANTS FOR AUTOMOBILES, WELL...YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED, YOU SEE...THEY'RE NOT UNIVERSAL.

NOW, IF WE LOOK AT GREASES IN PARTICULAR, A GREASE IS PRIMARILY, A VEHICLE TO HOLD OIL AND IT RELEASES THAT OIL TO LUBRICATE THE PART THAT IT'S ON, BASED ON TEMPERATURE, OR PRESSURE, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

SO, WHAT YOU HAVE ARE HIGH PRESSURE GREASES, AND SO ON THAT ARE USED ON WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR LOW PRESSURE GREASES THAT ARE USED ON OTHER PARTS IN THE CAR.

SO THE BIG THING HERE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE GREASE THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE IN MIND.

NOW, THAT ALSO APPLIES TO A LOT OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

LIKE HERE, WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LUBRICANTS, AND PENETRATING LUBRICANTS, OR PENETRATING OIL.

THIS PENETRATING OIL COULD BE USED TO FREE UP THIS JACK THAT'S BADLY RUSTED.

OIL BY ITSELF MIGHT NOT DO THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE PENETRATING QUALITIES.

NOW, IN SOME CASES YOU'LL FIND GREASES SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

THESE ARE UNIVERSAL AND THEY CAN BE USED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT RARELY ANYTHING THAT IS HIGH PRESSURE LIKE A BEARING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEN OF COURSE, HERE...WE HAVE SILICONE.

SILICONE IS WHAT WE USE ON THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON CARS OR ANYTHING THAT IS MADE OF RUBBER BECAUSE RUBBER DOESN'T LIKE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CAN CAUSE RUBBER TO SWELL UP AND BECOME REAL SLIMY AND JUST DISINTEGRATE.

SO WE ALWAYS USE THE SILICONE ON THINGS THAT ARE RUBBER.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HERE IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITES HERE IN THE SHOP.

THIS IS WHITE LITHIUM GREASE.

THIS IS A LIGHT DUTY GREASE.

WE USE IT ON HOOD HINGES, DOOR HINGES, DOOR LATCHES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

SO THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LUBRICATE, WHAT LUBRICANT WORKS BEST FOR THAT APPLICATION AND YOU DO IT CORRECTLY, YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS PROTECTED AND WEARS A LOT LONGER.

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

* John: TIME MARCHES ON AND THE MILES ARE PILING UP ON OUR 2017 BMW X1 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE.

MAKE THAT, 11 MONTHS IN, AND 23,000 MILES OF ACTIVITY.

WINTER WEATHER HAS BEEN ALMOST SNOWLESS AROUND HERE, SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY PUT THE NEW WINTER TIRES TO A PROPER TEST.

BUT ONE RECENT LOGBOOK ENTRY JUST ABOUT PERFECTLY SUMMED UP THE DIMINUTIVE X1; "JUST A GREAT CAR, USEFUL, FUN TO DRIVE, PERFECT SIZE."

ADD A GOOD 29.1 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE INTO THE MIX, FROM THE VERY RESPONSIVE 228 HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO-4, AND YOU'VE GOT A GREAT OVERALL PACKAGE.

A FEW FIND THE RIDE OVERLY STIFF, AND THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENTRY-LEVEL INTERIOR MATERIALS, BUT WE'RE A HARD CREW TO PLEASE.

MOST HOWEVER, ARE ALSO AT A LOSS AT PICKING ANYTHING IN THE X1'S CLASS THEY ENJOY DRIVING MORE.

THIS 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T R-LINE IS A REAL AUTOBAHN CRUISER.

DURING OUR THREE MONTHS AT THE WHEEL, THE TIRES ROLLED ALONG 6200 WELL CONNECTED MILES; 174 HORSES OUTPUT FROM OUR TESTER'S NEW 2.0 LITER TSI TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, GENERATING NICE LOW END TORQUE AND EXCEPTIONAL POWER FOR PASSING FOR A 4-CYLINDER.

THE 6-SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC NEVER SEEMS TO MISS A BEAT AS THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBS.

THE BRAKES ARE VERY SECURE AT HIGH SPEED, BUT THEY CAN BE GRABBY AT LOW ONES.

THIS MID-SIZE 4-DOOR IS VERY COMFORTABLE ON LONG TRIPS, EVEN THOUGH THE SEATS ARE VERY FIRM.

THE PASSAT'S HUGE TRUNK, HAD US BARELY MISSING IT NOT BEING AN SUV.

AND IT'S VERY FRUGAL ON GAS.

WE SKIPPED TWO NORMAL GAS STOPS ON A 1500-MILE TRIP.

OVERALL, WE AVERAGED 30.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE CHATTANOOGA BUILT PASSAT'S COMPLIANT RIDE, NIMBLE HANDLING, AND EAGER POWERTRAIN, MADE IT A REAL HIT WITH US.

BUT, AS THIS PASSAT LEAVES, JUST IN TIME FOR WARMER WEATHER, WE'RE BEING INFESTED WITH THIS VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE COAST CONVERTIBLE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT IT ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THE BUICK REGAL HAS BEEN A MID-SIZE SEDAN AND COUPE FLAG BEARER FOR THE BRAND SINCE THE EARLY '70s.

BUT, THOSE TRADITIONAL BODY STYLES HAVE FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR.

SO, BUICK IS REDEFINING THEIR BRAND FOR A NEW GENERATION OF BUYERS BY TRYING SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT WITH A NEW GENERATION OF REGAL.

SAY GOODBYE TO THE TWO AND 4-DOORS, AND HELLO TO THE 5-DOOR REGAL SPORTBACK AND TOURX.

* IN A FAIRLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, GENERAL MOTORS HAS TRANSFORMED BUICK INTO TRULY A BRAND APART FROM THE REST OF THEIR FOLD.

IT STARTED WITH THE SUBCOMPACT ENCLAVE CROSSOVER AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE CHINESE-BUILT ENVISION MIDSIZE CROSSOVER.

AND NOW, THEY'RE DOING THE MOST EUROPEAN OF ALL THINGS, UNLEASHING AN ALL-NEW 2018 REGAL 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, THE SPORTBACK...ALONG WITH A TOURX STATION WAGON.

THE BUICK REGAL SPORTBACK LOOKS RIGHT AT HOME AMONG OTHER SLEEK EUROPEAN HATCHBACKS LIKE THE AUDI A7.

IT'S COUPISH ROOFLINE ALMOST COMPLETELY HIDES THE FACT IT WEARS A REAR LIFTBACK RATHER THAN A TRADITIONAL TRUNK LID.

THE REGAL TOUR-X, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS CLEARLY A STATION WAGON, ALBEIT ONE WITH PLENTY OF SMOOTH EUROPEAN FLAVOR.

BUT, IT IS BIG, SO IT'S ONE BUILT MORE FOR THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE THAN OLD-WORLD CITIES.

THE TOURX IS ACTUALLY 6.7 INCHES LONGER THAN A SUBARU OUTBACK, ITS MOST LOGICAL COMPETITOR, ON A 111.4 INCH WHEELBASE.

THOUGH, BUICK'S ATTAINABLE LUXURY THEME CERTAINLY BRINGS VOLVO AND OTHER EUROPEAN BRANDS INTO THE EQUATION AS WELL.

AND WITH NEW WAGONS COMING FROM JAGUAR AND OTHERS, MIGHT WE BE SEEING A WAGON RENAISSANCE?

GOOD CALL ON GM'S PART TO MAKE IT A PSEUDO-SUV; BY PUTTING X IN THE NAME, GIVING IT A LUXO-RUGGED STYLING THEME OPPOSED TO THE WEDGE FORMS SO COMMON TODAY, AND EQUIPPING IT WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT.

AWD IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE SPORTBACK, ALTHOUGH FRONT-DRIVE IS STANDARD.

BOTH CHASSIS MATES SHARE THE SAME ENGINE, A 250 HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO I4.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CARS GET AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT ALLOWS FOR 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

FRONT-DRIVER'S GET AN ADDITIONAL GEAR WITH A 9-SPEED, BUT LESS TORQUE; 260 POUND-FEET.

OUR TRACK TIME CAME FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A FRONT-DRIVE REGAL SPORTBACK.

NO LAG OFF THE LINE, AS THE 2.0 LITER SEEMS EAGER TO DELIVER ALL OF ITS TORQUE RIGHT AWAY.

WE HIT 60 IN A FINE 6.4 SECONDS.

STEERING IS EASY AND FAIRLY LINEAR, ENABLING NICE QUICK TURN-INS; WHILE THE CHASSIS PROVIDES SERIOUSLY GOOD GRIP.

WEIGHT TRANSFER IS NOTICEABLE, BUT NOT UNSETTLING.

IT'S NOT QUITE SPORT SEDAN TERRITORY, BUT PRETTY DARN CLOSE FOR THIS SEDATE BRAND.

BRAKES ARE EURO-STRONG WITHOUT BEING GRABBY, WITH A SHORT 104-FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60.

RIDE QUALITY HAS A HINT OF EUROPEAN SOLIDITY TO IT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STRAY TOO FAR FROM WHAT WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO IN A BUICK, AND IT CERTAINLY REMAINS AS QUIET INSIDE AS ALL OTHER CURRENT MODELS FROM THE BRAND.

BOTH CARS OFFER A WEALTH OF SPACE INSIDE, FOR ALL FIVE OCCUPANTS.

FRONT SEATS A VERY COMFORTABLE; ONCE YOU NESTLE IN THAT IS, AS EVEN THE BOTTOM CUSHIONS HAVE SIGNIFICANT BOLSTERING.

MANUAL DASH CONTROLS ARE MINIMAL, BUT WELL PLACED, AND THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS VERY WELL INTEGRATED.

THINGS GET PARTICULARLY, ROOMY IN THE TOURX'S DEEP, WIDE CARGO AREA WITH CARGO RAILS.

32.7 CUBIC-FEET SEATS UP, EXPANDING TO 73.5 SEATS DOWN.

FOR COMPARISON, THAT'S JUST SHY OF A HONDA CR-V.

THE SPORTBACK HAS ONLY A LITTLE LESS, WITH 31.5 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE BENEATH ITS EASY-OPENING HATCH.

FOLDING SEATBACKS ARE EITHER 60/40 OR 40/20/40 DEPENDING ON TRIM; FOLDED, THEY EXPAND THE SPACE TO 60.7 CUBIC-FEET.

PRICING FOR REGAL SPORTBACK STARTS AT $25,915; GETTING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE REQUIRES STEPPING UP TO PREFERRED II TRIM TOTALING $32,695.

WITH AWD STANDARD, THE TOURX STARTS AT $29,995.

THERE'S NOTHING TRADITIONAL BUICK ABOUT THE 2018 REGAL SPORTBACK AND TOURX.

AND, THERE IS A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT BOTH OF THESE OPEL-BASED RIDES.

THE SPORTBACK OFFERS NEAR-LUXURY SEDAN COMFORT WITH ADDED 5-DOOR PRACTICALITY.

WHILE, THE TOURX DELIVERS SUV VERSATILITY AND CAPABILITY, IN AN EASY TO DRIVE WELL-APPOINTED PACKAGE.

IT'S A UNIQUE APPROACH FOR AN AMERICAN BRAND, BUT ONE WE'VE ALL OF A SUDDEN COME TO EXPECT FROM THE NEW BUICK.

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 TRY THE LATEST HI-TECH FROM CADILLAC, AND HONDA RAISES THE ACCORD TO A NEW LEVEL OF REFINEMENT.

'TIL 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: TIRE RACK 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.

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.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *