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

JOIN US FOR MAZDA'S MAKEOVER OF THE SLEEK SIX THAT GOES FAR BEYOND THE SHEET METAL... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON WHAT TO ASK TO GET THE RIGHT REPAIR... STEPHANIE HART SHOWS US WHERE HOLLYWOOD AND HORSEPOWER ARE CELEBRATED TOGETHER... AND AMERICAN KNOW-HOW CREATES A CONQUERING GLOBAL SUPERCAR, THE FORD GT...

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...

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

LASER MEASURED, THEY OFFER PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WITH SUVS OF ALL STRIPES DOMINATING THE FAMILY "CAR" MARKET THESE DAYS, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY MAZDA WOULD GO TO THE EFFORT OF REVAMPING THEIR MIDSIZE MAZDA6 SEDAN.

INDEED, SOME BRANDS ARE ACTUALLY ELIMINATING SEDANS FROM THEIR LINEUPS.

WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE THE "6" IS VERY SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE TO MAZDA.

IT'S SLICK, SPORTY STYLING WAS AN INSTANT INTERNATIONAL HIT.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT IF THE 2018 MAZDA6 HAS ANYTHING NEW TO ADD.

* MAZDA THINKS THEY HAVE A STRATEGY TO KEEP PEOPLE BUYING SEDANS LIKE THE 2018 MAZDA6, AND IT'S NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE TACTIC THEY'VE TAKEN WITH THEIR RECENT CROSSOVERS.

KEEP ALL OF THE HANDLING PROWESS AND ZOOM-ZOOM SPIRIT THAT THE MAZDA6 IS KNOWN FOR, BUT SMOOTH OUT THE RIDE, ADD A SPLASH OF COMFORT, AND TAKE THE INTERIOR TO BORDERLINE LUXURY-CAR TERRITORY.

BUT THAT'S NOT EXACTLY AN EASY TASK, CONSIDERING THIS 6 IS NOT ACTUALLY ALL NEW; STILL RIDING ON SAME CHASSIS THAT ARRIVED FOR 2014.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THERE IS A NEW ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD, OR AT LEAST YOU CAN CHOOSE TO ADD A TURBO TO THE STANDARD SKYACTIV-G 2.5 LITER I4.

IT BOOSTS HORSEPOWER FROM 187 TO 227, AND TORQUE FROM 187 TO 310 POUND-FEET.

PREMIUM FUEL IS NOT REQUIRED, BUT IF YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT ROUTE, THE HORSEPOWER RATING JUMPS TO 250.

GETTING THE TURBO REQUIRES AT LEAST GRAND TOURING TRIM, AND COMES EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STILL AVAILABLE, BUT ONLY IN BASE SPORT TRIM.

AND THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

PROBABLY, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE '18s NEWNESS IS A PAIR OF ADDED UP-LEVEL TRIM OPTIONS, RESERVE AND THIS SIGNATURE MODEL.

SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE HERE, MEANS DEEP CHESTNUT NAPPA LEATHER, ULTRA SUEDE TRIM, AND JAPANESE SEN WOOD ACCENTS.

IT'S A FIRST-CLASS UPGRADE TO WHAT WAS ALREADY A HANDSOME AND ORDERLY DRIVER-ORIENTED COCKPIT.

THE NEW TRIMS ALSO GET A 7-INCH TFT VIRTUAL GAUGE SCREEN TO REPLACE THE STANDARD 3-POD ARRANGEMENT.

SEATING POSITION REMAINS LOW, BUT THE SEATS THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED, NOW USING HIGHER DENSITY FOAM.

AND THEY CAN BE VENTILATED AS WELL AS HEATED.

ALSO HELPING THE LONG DISTANCE COMFORT CAUSE IS A REVAMPED SUSPENSION.

NO SIMPLE RETUNE HERE; ALL GEOMETRY HAS BEEN REVISED, BRACING HAS BEEN REINFORCED, AND THE FLOOR PAN THAT IT'S ALL BOLTED TO IS NOW THICKER.

ALL OF THIS, MAZDA CLAIMS, WITHOUT LOSING THE NIMBLE NATURE WE ALL LOOK FOR IN A MAZDA.

IN FACT, ANOTHER CHANGE IS THE STEERING RACK IS NOW RIGIDLY MOUNTED TO THE CHASSIS, SHARPENING UP BOTH STEERING RESPONSE AND FEEL.

A QUICK TRIP THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE HAD US CONFIRMING THAT THE 6 HAS LOST NOTHING IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT.

REMARKABLE BALANCE, SHARP TURN-INS, AND HYDRAULIC-LIKE FEEDBACK THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL; ALL INDICATES THAT THIS CAR IS BUILT TO BE DRIVEN SPIRITEDLY, AND WILL REWARD THOSE THAT DO.

WE COULD CERTAINLY FEEL THE ADDED TURBO TORQUE OFF THE LINE, AS WELL.

IT'S STILL NOT BLINDINGLY FAST, BUT THE 7.2 SECOND TRIP TO 60 IS A FULL SECOND QUICKER THAN WE ACHIEVED BACK IN 2014... ...AS IS THE QUARTER MILE, AT 15.4 SECONDS AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND CLEAN, WITH MAPPING AS WELL EXECUTED AS THE REST OF THE CAR.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL OF THIS NEWNESS WRAPPED IN THE SAME OLD PACKAGING, SO THERE ARE SOME CHANGES TO THE EXTERIOR AS WELL, THOUGH HERE NOT NEARLY AS COMPREHENSIVE.

JUST AN UPGRADE TO THE GRILLE THAT HAS IT FALLING IN LINE WITH OTHER RECENT VEHICLES FROM THE BRAND, NEW WHEELS, LED HEADLIGHTS, AND FULL LED TURN SIGNALS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 23-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

NOW, STAY TUNED FOR OUR RESULTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AS THIS MAZDA6 WILL BE STICKING AROUND FOR A WHILE AS PART OF OUR LONG-TERM FLEET.

ITS ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AN AVERAGE ONE, CONSUMING 12.7 BARRELS OF PETROLEUM ANNUALLY, WHILE EMITTING 5.5 TONS OF CO2.

THE BASE MAZDA6 SPORT STARTS REASONABLY AT $22,840.

BUT, THE NEW TRIM LEVELS RATCHET THAT UP SIGNIFICANTLY; OUR TOP-LEVEL SIGNATURE SERIES STARTS AT $35,640.

A PRICEY FAMILY CAR PROPOSITION FOR SURE; YET, CERTAINLY NOT OUTRAGEOUS COMPARED TO MANY SMALLER, LESS WELL EQUIPPED CROSSOVER UTEs, LET ALONE PREMIUM-TRIMMED DIRECT RIVALS LIKE CAMRY AND ACCORD.

SO, WHILE THE 2018 MAZDA6 IS NOT A TOTALLY NEW CAR, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT; A MAZDA6 PACKED FULL OF LUXURY; YET, IT REMAINS A TRUE TREAT TO DRIVE.

SURE, MAZDA WOULD LOVE TO SELL YOU A CROSSOVER, BUT THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP THE MIDSIZE SEDAN ANYTIME SOON.

AND WE'RE SURE GLAD ABOUT THAT!

* WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE "CALIFORNIA CAR CULTURE."

FROM HOT RODS TO EVs, IT'S THE STATE WHERE AMERICA'S MOTORIZE TRENDS USUALLY GET THEIR START.

AND THANKS TO PUBLISHING MAGNET ROBERT E. "PETE" PETERSEN, THEY'RE PRESERVED FOREVER.

NOW, WE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING OF THE PETERSON AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM SOME 20 YEARS AGO.

SO, IT'S HIGH TIME WE WENT BACK!

AND OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART TAKES THE LEAD.

* Stephanie Hart: I'M HERE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA INSIDE THE FAMOUS PETERSEN MUSEUM.

I'M GOING TO BE SHOWING YOU AROUND THREE DIFFERENT EYE-CATCHING EXHIBITS, ALL WITH A RICH HISTORY.

I'M GOING TO START HERE WITH THE PORSCHE EFFECT.

THIS IS A 1939 TYPE 64.

THERE ARE "ONLY TWO" IN EXISTENCE!

Michael Bodell: THIS ONE WAS CREATED FOR THE ROME TO PARIS RACE AND IT'S A RACE THAT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT THEY STILL MANUFACTURED THE CARS, AND A LOT OF THE INSPIRATION ON THE...

THE PORSCHE 356 CAME FROM THIS CAR, AND WERE INSPIRED BY THIS DESIGN.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE COMPETITION SECTION OF THE EXHIBIT, AND THIS SECTION GOES THROUGH THE KIND OF VAST RACING HISTORY AND IN A COMPETITIVE NATURE OF PORSCHE.

BRANDS USED TO HAVE TO WIN RACES IN ORDER TO SELL CARS ON THE LOT AND SO...PORSCHE DID THAT EXTREMELY WELL.

Stephanie: BEATING ALL EXPECTATIONS.

HOLDING 30,000 POLE POSITIONS OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.

Michael: AND THEN OVER HERE, THIS IS WHAT REALLY STARTED IT ALL, A 550 SPYDER...

SO, THE 550 WAS WHERE PORSCHE KIND OF BUILT THEIR FIRST PURPOSEFUL RACE CAR AND THIS CAR IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THE CELEBRITY DRIVER, JAMES DEAN.

PORSCHE WAS NOT AS BIG OF A BRAND AS IT IS TODAY, UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAD KIND OF THE REBELS OF HOLLYWOOD, MADE PORSCHE A REALLY BIG DEAL.

JAMES DEAN, STEVE MCQUEEN DROVE PORSCHES AND PEOPLE REALLY LATCHED ONTO THAT ESPECIALLY ABROAD WHERE THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED.

GERMANS WANTED TO SEE CELEBRITIES IN THEIR CARS AND THE CELEBRITIES DROVE THEIR CARS AND MADE THE BRAND REALLY TREMENDOUS.

Stephanie: THE HOLLYWOOD EFFECT TAKES CENTER STAGE UPSTAIRS.

ITS LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

SOME OF MY FAVORITES, THE BATMOBILE.

DRIVEN BY MICHAEL KEATON IN "BATMAN" AND "BATMAN RETURNS."

AND "GREAT SCOTT!!"

THE DELOREAN FROM "BACK TO THE FUTURE."

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS CAR?

IT'S FROM THE HIT MOVIE "THELMA AND LOUISE."

AND IT MAY LOOK CAMERA READY ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THE INSIDE...

IT'S CLEARLY WELL-WORN, THAT'S BECAUSE HOLLYWOOD IS NOTORIOUSLY ROUGH ON CARS AS LONG AS IT LOOKS GOOD IN THE SHOT MAINTENANCE IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

SO WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE CARS FROM THEIR FAVORITE MOVIES HERE IN PERSON?

Leslie Kendall: MAYBE, YOU HAVE SEEN EVERY "BACK TO THE FUTURE" MOVIE AND YOU'VE KIND OF BEEN LONGING TO LOOK AT THE DELOREAN AND WONDER JUST EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT THING LOOK LIKE UP CLOSE, AND YOU COME HERE, AND YOU SEE IT, AND GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH IT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY, PRETTY COOL!

IT'S SOMETHING TO TELL THE KIDS, AND THE GRAND KIDS, YOU NAME IT.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

Stephanie: AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S EPIC!

IN 2015, THE PETERSEN MUSEUM WENT THROUGH A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.

IT COST 90 MILLION DOLLARS.

INTERIOR SPACES WERE RE-DESIGNED TO MAKE ROOM FOR CHANGING EXHIBITS, LIKE SEEING RED: 70 YEARS OF FERRARI.

Man: THE WAY THEY LOOK, THE WAY THEY SOUND, IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

Stephanie: THE BEST OF THE BEST FERRARI'S ARE ALL HERE.

Leslie: WELL, ITS A 250 GTO, PROBABLY...ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE CAR CERTAINLY, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FERRARI'S BECAUSE IT EMBODIES EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE VALUE IN A FERRARI, IT LOOKS GREAT, IT HANDLES GREAT, IT PERFORMS BEAUTIFULLY.

Stephanie: BEING AROUND SO MANY INCREDIBLE CARS REALLY DOES PUT YOU IN THE MOOD TO DRIVE.

AND EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T TAKE THESE CARS OUT FOR A SPIN, JUST BEING SO CLOSE TO THEM REALLY DOES GIVES YOU THAT SENSE OF FREEDOM AND ADVENTURE.

John: PAT GOSS KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF CAR CARE.

AND THIS WEEK HE HAS TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT.

Pat Goss: OLD HABITS DIE HARD, OR SO THEY SAY.

AND ONE THING I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE GO AWAY AND THAT IS THE TERM, TUNE-UP.

SEE, BACK 40 YEAR AGO WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS NEW, WELL...TUNE-UPS WERE A VIABLE REPAIR ON A CAR.

THEY CONSISTED OF WHAT WE CALLED "POINTS, PLUGS, AND CONDENSERS."

POINTS CONTROLLED THE IGNITION SYSTEM.

THE CONDENSER WAS PART OF THAT.

THAT WAS ALL TO PRODUCE THE HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK FOR THE SPARK PLUGS.

SO WE'D PUT NEW PLUGS IN IT, WE'D PUT NEW POINTS IN IT, WE'D PUT A NEW CONDENSER IN IT.

THEN, WE'D ADJUST THE IGNITION TIMING, WE'D ADJUST THE IDLE SPEED, AND WE'D ADJUST THE FUEL MIXTURE.

ALRIGHT, THAT WAS A TUNE-UP.

IT WAS PRETTY MUCH STANDARD THERE.

BUT...YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMMON ON TODAY'S CARS?

WE NO LONGER HAVE POINTS.

WE NO LONGER HAVE CONDENSERS OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

HERE IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR.

A SPARK PLUG.

THAT IS ALL THAT HAS REALLY CARRIED OVER.

YES, WE DO HAVE COILS, BUT THE COILS, WELL...THEY MOUNT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU HAVE NO PLUG WIRES OR ANYTHING.

TAKE A PEEK UNDER THE HOOD HERE, WE DON'T SEE A CARBURETOR BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A CARBURETOR.

ACTUALLY, NOTHING UNDER HERE IS ADJUSTABLE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE AREN'T ANY SCREWS TO TURN OR ANYTHING AT ALL.

IT'S ALL CONTROLLED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER USING A BUNCH OF SENSORS.

SO, IF WE DON'T HAVE A TUNE-UP, WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

WELL, TAKE YOUR CAR IN WHEN IT HAS A PROBLEM, AND DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM, AND ASK FOR A DIAGNOSES OF THAT PROBLEM.

THEN, GET AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO FIX IT, AND FINALLY, ASK IF THEY'LL GUARANTEE IF THEY WILL FIX YOUR PROBLEM.

DON'T ASK FOR A TUNE-UP.

ASK TO HAVE A PROBLEM REPAIRED.

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

John: THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES FOR CAR COMPANIES DEVELOPING WHAT COMES NEXT.

FOR MORE ON THAT HERE'S YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: VOLVO HAS BEEN SELLING CARS IN THE U.S. FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, AND NOW THEY MAKE THEM HERE.

THE CHINESE OWNED SWEDISH CAR COMPANY RECENTLY OPENED ITS FIRST U.S. PLANT NEAR CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IT'S TAKEN 3-YEARS AND 1.1 BILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THE 2.3 MILLION SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.

THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL MAKE THE NEW VOLVO S60 PREMIUM MID-SIZE SPORTS SEDAN BEGINNING IN THE FALL.

THEY'RE ALSO RAMPING UP TO ASSEMBLE THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEIR FLAGSHIP SUV, THE XC90 IN 2021.

VOLVO'S PHILOSOPHY IS "BUILD WHERE YOU SELL."

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS QUOTES THE COMPANY'S CEO AS SAYING, "THE U.S. IS THE BIGGEST MARKET FOR THE XC90."

BUT THIS IS NOT JUST A DOMESTIC PLANT, SOME OF THE VEHICLES BUILT IN CHARLESTON WILL BE EXPORTED.

VOLVO SAYS, "THE CHARLESTON PLANT WILL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE 150,000 CARS A YEAR AT FULL CAPACITY."

THE COMPANY CAN NOW BUILD VEHICLES IN THE THREE MAJOR SALES REGIONS...

THE U.S., EUROPE, AND CHINA.

MORE AND MORE COMPANIES ARE JOINING FORCES TO DEVELOP ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY... NOT ONLY TO SAVE COSTS, BUT ALSO TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS.

HONDA AND GENERAL MOTORS ARE TEAMING UP TO BUILD NEXT GENERATION OF BATTERIES.

THEY'RE WORKING ON SMALLER BATTERIES THAT PRODUCE MORE ENERGY AND CAN BE CHARGED FASTER.

THE BATTERIES WILL BE USED IN ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLES MADE BY BOTH COMPANIES.

MEANTIME, VOLKSWAGEN IS PART OF A NEW ALLIANCE FOCUSING ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL DEMANDS OF AUTONOMOUS CARS.

SELF-DRIVING CARS WILL NEED TO PROCESS AND QUICKLY ANALYZE A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, LIKE CAMERAS AND SENSORS.

THE ALLIANCE IS WORKING ON THE NEXT-GENERATION COMPUTER NETWORK WITH THE POWER TO HANDLE HIGH TECH DRIVING DEMANDS.

THE GROUP INCLUDES MANUFACTURERS, NETWORKING COMPANIES, AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIERS.

SO THE RACE IS ON TO BUILD ELECTRIC CARS THAT CAN HANDLE THE DRIVING, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE COMPETITORS WILL HAVE TO BECOME PARTNERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: A LOT OF MILES ARE IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THERE ARE MANY MORE TO COME, LIKE THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

* WE'VE LONG APPRECIATED THE COMFORT AND SOPHISTICATION OF THE LEXUS ES MID-SIZE LUXURY SEDAN, BUT WISHED THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE SPORT IN THE EQUATION.

WELL...LEXUS LISTENED, AND NOW OFFERS THE ALL-NEW 2019 LEXUS ES 350 IN ITS PERFORMANCE-CUED F SPORT TRIM.

THAT MEANS A UNIQUE GRILLE, 19-INCH WHEELS, AND TRUNK LID SPOILER.

ALL ES 350s GETS AN UPGRADE OF 34 HORSES, FOR THE NOW 302 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6.

AN ALL-NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC BRINGS TWO MORE GEARS TO THE MIX.

AND STEERING IS MORE PRECISE, WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR NOW MOUNTED ON THE RACK ITSELF.

UNDERNEATH IS THE NEW GA-K CHASSIS, SAME AS THE CAMRY AND AVALON.

THE STIFFER STRUCTURE UNDERPINS A LONGER, LOWER AND WIDER ES.

IT'S STILL TUNED FOR A LUXURY RIDE, BUT F SPORT MODELS BETTER SOAK UP IMPERFECTIONS WITH AN ADAPTIVE VARIABLE SUSPENSION AND ITS ADDED DRIVE MODES.

Stephanie: IT HAS A SPORTIER DRIVING DYNAMIC AND AN AGGRESSIVE LOOK.

THE CABIN IS COMFORTABLE AND IT REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD BEING BEHIND THE WHEEL.

IT INSPIRES CONFIDENCE.

John: MORE INSULATION MEANS THE WHISPER QUIET CABIN IS EVEN MORE HUSHED.

APPLE CARPLAY AND AMAZON ALEXA ARE HERE TOO.

LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM+ 2.0 IS STANDARD.

NOW, MOST ES BUYERS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN LUXURY TREATMENT THAN A SPORTY STYLE RIDE, BUT FOR THOSE ONES THAT ARE, THE F SPORT IS QUITE A TEMPTATION.

THE 2019 LEXUS ES 350 STARTS AROUND $39,000, AND SHOULD HIT SHOWROOMS IN SEPTEMBER.

THE 2018 NISSAN KICKS IS AIMED AT YOUTHFUL AMERICANS.

WE WITNESSED THE CONCEPT AT THE 2014 S�O PAULO MOTOR SHOW.

NOW IN PRODUCTION, NISSAN'S SMALLEST CROSSOVER CLEARLY HAS THE FAMILY'S FEATURES.

REPLACING THE QUIRKY JUKE IN NISSAN'S U.S. UTE LINEUP, THE ALL-NEW KICKS IS UNDERPINNED BY NISSAN'S GLOBAL V-PLATFORM, WHICH IT SHARES WITH THE VERSA NOTE AND SEDAN.

BEHIND THE V-MOTION GRILLE IS A 125 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER INLINE-4.

Garick Zikan: PART OF THE ENGINEERING PROCESS FOCUSED ON THE WEIGHT TO HORSEPOWER RATIO.

THE KICKS HAS A CURB WEIGHT OF LESS THAN 2700 POUNDS.

AT THAT WEIGHT, THIS ENGINE HAS ENOUGH POWER TO KEEP THE RIDE INTERESTING.

John: THE ENGINE WORKS WITH A CVT, SENDING POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS.

THE STEERING IS ON THE LIGHT SIDE, BUT STILL HAS A DECENT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT, AND IS WELL MATCHED WITH THE REST OF THIS URBAN VEHICLE.

THE CABIN IS MORE SPACIOUS THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT, WITH PLENTY OF HEADROOM IN BOTH ROWS.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE STANDARD, AND QUICKLY CONNECTED TO OUR SMARTPHONE.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING COMES WITH EVERY ONE THEY MAKE.

SO, THE 2018 NISSAN KICKS BRINGS QUITE A "KICK" TO THE MINI-UTE COMPETITION.

ON SALE NOW, THE PRICE STARTS AT ABOUT $18,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

IT'S AN AWFULLY BOLD DECISION TO SIMPLY NAME YOUR CAR GT.

BUT OF COURSE.

IT'S NOT NEW TO FORD, HAVING BEEN AROUND THIS TRACK ONCE BEFORE.

BUT WHILE, THIS 2005 GT WAS BUILT AS AN HOMAGE TO THE ORIGINAL GT40 RACE CAR, THERE'S A NEW GT THAT'S BUILT WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE IN MIND.

* THIS LATEST FORD GT, WAS DEVELOPED NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL GT40s 1966 TRIUMPH OF LE MANS, BUT TO RETURN TO THE SCENE AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

AND SINCE ENGINEERS DIDN'T GET THE GO-AHEAD UNTIL VERY LATE IN THE GAME, THERE WASN'T TIME FOR DEVELOPING SEPARATE RACE AND STREET CARS.

IT APPEARS THAT MAKING THE MUSTANG MORE "EURO" AND BRINGING EUROPEAN-TUNED RS MODELS TO THE U.S., WERE JUST THE FIRST STEPS IN A WHOLE NEW PERFORMANCE ERA FOR FORD.

THIS CARBON-FIBER TUBBED, REAR-DRIVE, ACTIVE-AERO ENHANCED, MID-ENGINE, TWIN-TURBO POWERED MISSILE IS A TRUE GLOBAL SUPERCAR IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

AND WHILE, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD SINCE THE 1960s, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE 1,000 GTs THAT FORD PLANS ON BUILDING, WILL BE CHERISHED EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS THE ORIGINAL GT40s, SHOULD THEY MAKE IT TO 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT'S NOT QUITE AS DAILY DRIVER FRIENDLY AS SAY, A LAMBORGHINI HURACAN, AUDI R8, OR EVEN MCLAREN'S LATEST, AND WE'RE FINE WITH THAT.

THIS THING SCREAMS ALL-OUT PERFORMANCE FROM THE MOMENT YOU LAY EYES ON IT.

EXPERIENCING THE GT ON PUBLIC ROADS, IS TRULY A TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

IT FEELS FAST, FLAT, AND SMOOTH; QUICKLY MAKING A BLUR OF THE SCENERY, WHILE ENCOURAGING YOU TO KEEP PUSHING.

WE PICKED OUR TEST CAR UP IN L.A., AND QUICKLY HEADED WAY OUT OF TOWN.

Dave Scrivener: FROM INTERSTATE CRUISING, TO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TO CARVING UP MOUNTAIN ROADS LIKE I AM NOW, I'VE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE FORD GT, AND I CAN'T FIND A WEAK SPOT IN ITS GAME ANYWHERE.

John: THE TRACK-READY SUSPENSION SETUP FEATURES A SHORT-LONG ARM DESIGN WITH INBOARD SPRINGS AND DAMPERS.

IT HELPS THE GT REMAIN SERENE AND FOCUSED AT HIGH SPEEDS.

TOP SPEED IS LISTED AT 216 MILES PER HOUR BY THE WAY; THE FIRST 60 OF WHICH, IT COVERS IN 3.0 SECONDS.

25 INDIVIDUAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM 50 DIFFERENT SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE, TO DELIVER THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE DRIVE MODE SYSTEM WE'VE SEEN YET.

YOUR OPTIONS ARE NORMAL, SPORT, WET, AND OF COURSE TRACK, WHICH WILL EASILY HAVE YOU CHASING DOWN FERRARIS AT THAT EXCLUSIVE HIGH-DOLLAR TRACK DAY WE ALL DREAM ABOUT.

ERGONOMICS INSIDE ARE MORE RACE CAR THAN STREET CAR.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS FIXED, BUT A SLIDING PEDAL BOX, AS WELL AS FULLY ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN HELP GET YOU SITUATED.

CONTROLS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ARE ON THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF, WHILE JUST BEHIND IT, IS A COMPREHENSIVE ALL-DIGITAL GAUGE DISPLAY.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] HITTING THE START BUTTON, RESULTS IN QUITE A COMMOTION OF ECO BOOSTED CLAMOR BEHIND YOU.

IT'S FROM A TWIN-TURBO 3.5 LITER V6, VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT NOW POWERS THE FORD RAPTOR PICKUP.

ONLY HERE, IT WHIPS UPS 647 HORSEPOWER AND 550 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ATTACHED, TO A 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, CONTROLLED BY A SIMPLE KNOB ON THE CONSOLE AND PADDLE SHIFTERS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

THAT'S RIGHT...NO V8, BUT IN ADDITION TO THE WEIGHT SAVINGS THAT COMES FROM A SMALLER ENGINE, THE V6 ALLOWED FORD ENGINEERS TO TAPER THE FUSELAGE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPROVE AERODYNAMICS.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, LIKE ANY SUPERCAR, IT'S ALL ABOUT USING THE WIND TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

FRONT AIR DUCTS, AS WELL AS THE LARGE REAR WING, ARE ALL ACTIVE; CREATING MAX DOWNFORCE IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

GT PRICING ESCALATES RAPIDLY FROM ITS $450,000 START.

AND, DESPITE NOT BEING THAT RARE; FORD PLANS ON BUILDING 250 A YEAR FOR A FOUR YEAR RUN; THE FIRST ONE ALLOWED AT AUCTION SOLD FOR FIVE TIMES ITS MSRP.

BUILT FOR THE TRACK, BUT READY FOR THE STREET AND A VERY NICE GARAGE, THE 2018 FORD GT IS A MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE MACHINE.

IT HAD NO PROBLEM RETURNING THE BLUE OVAL BOYS TO VICTORY LANE AT LE MANS, ITS FIRST TIME OUT, AND WON OVER OUR HEARTS, AND MINDS JUST AS QUICKLY.

* 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... A POWERFUL VERSION OF FAMILY HAULING, THE DODGE DURANGO SRT, AND THEN FULL SIZE SUVs FACE-OFF TO TAKE HOME THE PRIZE.

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... 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.

FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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.

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] *