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

JOIN US FOR A BENZ BUILT FOR SPEED EVERYWHERE...

THE MERCEDES-AMG GT R... PAT GOSS POINTS OUT THE PITFALLS OF UPGRADING YOUR STEREO... TWO WHEELIN BRIAN ROBINSON RIDES A MODERN CRUISER WITH A LONG HISTORY... AND RANGE ROVER ADDS A SPORTIER UTE TO THEIR REGAL LINEUP, THE VELAR...

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.

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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.

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

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: EVER SINCE MERCEDES-AMG FOLLOWED UP THE SLS, WITH THE GT COUPE; THEY'VE BEEN CONSTANTLY UPGRADING IT AND ADDING VARIANTS.

BUT OF COURSE, IT'S THE ONES THAT ARE FASTER THAT INTEREST US MOST.

SO, WE'RE HEADED OVER TO OUR WINTER PROVING GROUNDS, WITH THIS GT-R COUPE, FRESH OFF A RECORD-SETTING RUN AT THE NURBURGRING.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL BE SETTING ANY RECORDS, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FUN TRYING!

* AMG'S GT ARRIVED FOR 2016, FOLLOWING THE HIGHLY-REGARDED SLS SUPERCAR.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, THE HIGHER PERFORMING S VERSION THAT WE GOT OUR HANDS ON FIRST, AND SINCE THEN, IT WAS FOLLOWED BY A ROADSTER AS WELL AS AN EVEN HIGHER-PERFORMANCE GT C. THIS 2018 GT-R IS THEIR MOST SERIOUS EFFORT YET, AIMED AT ENTHUSIASTS WHO PLAN ON SPENDING MORE DAYS AT THE TRACK THAN TOURING THE COUNTRYSIDE.

AND DON'T THINK OF IT SO MUCH AS A CRANKED UP S OR C, IT'S MORE LIKE GT 2.0, WITH A FULL SYSTEMS REBOOT.

THE R-GMENTATION STARTS WITH AN EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED SUSPENSION, WEIGHT REDUCTION, ENHANCED AERODYNAMICS, AND AVAILABLE CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES.

WRAPPED AROUND THOSE BRAKES ARE LIGHTWEIGHT FORGED WHEELS; 19-INCH IN FRONT, 20 IN THE REAR WITH 325-SERIES MICHELIN PILOT SPORT CUP 2 TIRES.

AND FROM THERE, THE ENGINEERS HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY STEP OUT.

CARBON-FIBER FENDERS COVER THOSE WHEEL-AND-TIRE PACKAGES, AND ARE 1.8-INCHES WIDER IN FRONT, 2.3 IN BACK.

THE FRONT-MID-ENGINE LAYOUT KEEPS THE PROFILE LONG AND LOW, WITH THE PROPORTIONS JUST RIGHT.

A NEW GRILLE UP FRONT IS INFLUENCED BY AMG'S GT3 RACE CAR, WHILE THE ENTIRE NOSE IS MORE V-SHAPED.

A BROADER FRONT SPLITTER, AIR CURTAINS, COOLING SLITS IN THE WHEEL LINERS, REDESIGNED REAR FASCIA, AND LARGE FIXED WING ARE AMONG THE AERODYNAMIC ENHANCEMENTS.

THAT WING AS WELL, THE SIDE MIRRORS CAN BE CONSTRUCTED IN CARBON FIBER IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

IN ADDITION, ACTIVE AERO ELEMENTS BEHIND THE FRONT FASCIA AND UNDERBODY, FUNNEL AIR FOR EITHER MAX COOLING OR MAX DOWNFORCE DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION.

ALL TO MAKE A SUPREMELY TRACK-WORTHY BENZ IF THERE EVER WAS ONE!

SO, IT'S OFF TO THE NINE TURNS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY TO GET THE FULL SCOOP.

[ENGINE REVS] * MUCH LIKE MUSIC IS MORE ABOUT FLOW THAN PRECISION OR TECHNIQUE, STITCHING CORNERS TOGETHER AT A RACE TRACK IS MORE ABOUT RHYTHM THAN ULTIMATE POWER DELIVERY OR SPEC SHEETS.

AND IN THE SAME WAY YOU CAN'T ALWAYS DESCRIBE WHY YOU LIKE A PARTICULAR SONG, THE GT-R JUST FEELS RIGHT ON THE TRACK.

AS MENTIONED, THE ALUMINUM FRONT AND REAR DOUBLE-WISHBONE COIL-OVER SUSPENSION HAS BEEN TOTALLY REVAMPED, ALLOWING FOR MORE ADJUSTMENTS; BESIDES THE NORMAL AMG DYNAMIC SELECT DRIVE MODES.

IN KEEPING UP WITH THE PORSCHES AND LAMBORGHINIS, AMG HAS ALSO ADDED REAR-WHEEL STEERING FOR EVEN QUICKER TURN-INS.

BUT ALSO HELPS, THE REAR TO WORK WITH YOU MORE THAN AGAINST YOU WHEN IT COMES TIME TO POWERING OUT OF CORNERS.

AMG TRACTION CONTROL HAS A WHOPPING NINE LEVELS OF INTERVENTION, FOR FINDING THE SWEET SPOT FOR YOUR ABILITIES AS WELL AS CURRENT TRACK CONDITIONS.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] AND DID WE MENTION THERE'S MORE POWER?

AMG HAS CRANKED UP THE BOOST IN BOTH OF THE TURBO'S THAT ARE NESTLED IN BETWEEN THIS HAND-ASSEMBLED 4.0 LITER V8s CYLINDER BANKS, ADDING 74 MORE HORSEPOWER TO 577.

PEAK TORQUE IS 516 POUND-FEET, AND NEW DRY SUMP LUBRICATION KEEPS THE OIL PUMPING THROUGH ITS VEINS, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU'RE CORNERING.

THE REAR-MOUNTED 7-SPEED DCT GETS REVISED GEARING AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR QUICKER SHIFTS, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL COOLING.

AS FOR GETTING THINGS DONE ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW; ENGAGE RACE START, RELEASE THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR TAKES CARE OF THE REST; PUSHING A LUCKY OWNER TO 60 IN 3.6 SECONDS.

KEEP THE THROTTLE BURIED, AND AMIDST A SYMPHONY OF V8 SNORTS, TURBO-WHINE, AND DIVINE EXHAUST TRUMPETING; YOU'LL CLEAR THE QUARTER IN 11.5 SECONDS AT 129 MILES PER HOUR.

ONE FINDS THEMSELVES, PUSHED FIRMLY INTO THE AMG PERFORMANCE SEATS THE WHOLE TIME, WHICH ALSO HOLD YOU JUST RIGHT WHEN WORKING YOUR WAY AROUND THE WHOLE TRACK.

BY THE WAY, COLORED SEATBELTS ARE AN OPTION.

THERE'S PLENTY OF CARBON FIBER AROUND THE INTERIOR, AND MOST CONTROLS MIMIC OTHER GTs EXCEPT FOR THE NEW TRACTION CONTROL KNOB.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

BASE PRICING FOR THE GT-R IS $157,995.

THAT'S A POTENTIALLY, PRICELESS AMOUNT OF PERFORMANCE FOR $44,600 OVER A BASE AMG GT.

NURBURGRING RECORDS NEVER LAST FOR LONG.

AND ENTHUSIAST INFATUATION WITH PERFORMANCE CARS IS USUALLY JUST AS FICKLE.

STILL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL FESTIVAL OF SPEED HAPPEN ANYTIME OR ANYWHERE, THE 2018 MERCEDES-AMG GT-R IS ALREADY THERE.

MERCEDES CLAIMS IT HAS THE MOST MOTORSPORTS TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY'VE EVER PACKED INTO A PRODUCTION STREET CAR.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT IS THE ULTIMATE AMG GT COUPE, AND ONE HECK OF A THRILL RIDE!

* WHILE, ADVENTURE BIKES AND SCRAMBLERS HAVE BEEN ALL THE RAGE OF LATE, ANOTHER RETRO THEME HAS STARTED TO EMERGE, THE BOBBER.

DON'T KNOW WHAT A BOBBER IS?

WELL THAT'S OKAY, OUR TWO WHEELIN' GURU BRIAN ROBINSON IS HERE TO ACTIVELY EXPLAIN!

* Brian Robinson: WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ATTEMPTS AT REVIVING THE INDIAN BRAND OVER THE YEARS, SINCE TAKING UP THE CAUSE IN 2011, POLARIS SEEMS INTENT ON DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN, INCLUDING, SHUTTING DOWN THEIR OWN VICTORY BRAND TO PUT ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES INTO BUILDING BIKES LIKE THIS, THIS IS THE 2018 INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER.

THOSE KEEPING UP WITH CRUISERS, WILL KNOW THAT THE SCOUT IS THE ENTRY-LEVEL INTO INDIAN, BUT ENTRY-LEVEL DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN BORING, TRULY THE CASE WITH THIS MIDSIZE CRUISER.

IF YOU EVER WANTED TO LOOK LIKE YOU JUST RODE OUT OF A 1950s BIKER MOVIE, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

THE SIMPLISTIC ANSWER TO WHAT MAKES A BOBBER, IS THE BOBBED OR CHOPPED FENDER LOOK THAT GAINED POPULARITY IN THE '50s WHEN A SURPLUS OF MILITARY MOTORCYCLES BEGAN MAKING THEIR WAY ON TO THE STREETS, PARALLELING THE HOT ROD CRAZE ON THE CAR SIDE OF THINGS.

FURTHERING THE LOOK, USUALLY ENTAILED CHOPPING OFF EVERYTHING SHINY OR NOT NECESSARY, PUTTING ON SOME CHEAP FAT TIRES, AND GETTING EVERYTHING AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

BAR-END MIRRORS ARE STANDARD.

AND THEY CAN BE SWAPPED AND ORIENTED DOWNWARD AS SEEN HERE, THE WAY INDIAN DELIVERED IT TO ME.

ALSO INCLUDED, IS A SIDE-MOUNT FOR YOUR LICENSE PLATE THE REQUISITE V-TWIN ENGINE IS THE 69 CUBIC-INCH VERSION OF THE SCOUT ENGINE; 1,133CCS AND WATER-COOLED, IT PUTS OUT 100 HORSEPOWER AND 72 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

INDIAN HAS DONE, A FAIRLY GOOD JOB OF MINIMIZING THE RADIATOR, TO KEEP THE CLASSIC CRUISER LOOK INTACT.

THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF TORQUE, BUT EVERY BIT OF IT SEEMS AVAILABLE AT THE FIRST HINT OF THROTTLE APPLICATION.

KEEP RIPPING THROUGH THE GEARS, AND YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THE BARS AS YOU SLIDE OFF THE BACK OF THE SEAT.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE NEXT POINT, LIKE MOST BIKES DESIGNED AROUND A STYLING THEME, THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY.

THAT COOL-LOOKING SOLO SEAT IS NOT COMFORTABLE BY ANY MEANS.

AND WHEN COMBINED WITH THE STRETCHED OUT RIDING POSITION TO REACH THE FORWARD CONTROLS AND HANDLEBAR, AS WELL AS THE MINIMAL TRAVEL TO THE REAR SHOCKS, MY TAILBONE WAS ASKING FOR A BREAK WAY EARLIER THAN AS USUAL.

VERY LIMITED GROUND CLEARANCE IS ALSO PART OF THE PICTURE, MAKING IT MUCH MORE FUN GRABBING ATTENTION AROUND THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE, THAN SCRAPING HARD PARTS AROUND CORNERS.

BUT THE ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT PRICE IS NOT BAD AT ALL, STARTING AT JUST $11,499.

YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA 500 BUCKS FOR THE CLASSIC INDIAN RED PAINT SCHEME, BUT WELL WORTH IT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

WHILE, THE 2018 INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER MAY BE MORE FORM THAN FUNCTION.

IT IS INDEED ONE HECK OF A FORM, ONE THAT EVERYONE, I CAME IN CONTACT WITH THOUGHT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

AND IN CASE YOU FORGET WHAT IT IS YOU'RE RIDING, INDIAN WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PLACE PLENTY OF CLUES ALL OVER THIS BEASTLY BEAUTY.

THANKS FOR ALL OF THE REMINDERS, INDIAN.

AND THANKS FOR BRINGING THE BRAND BACK, POLARIS.

WE LOVE SEEING INDIANS ON THE STREET AGAIN, AND YOU'LL FIND IT HARD TO STOP LOOKING AT THIS ONE.

John: AS CARS GET BETTER, THEY BECOME MORE COMPLICATED.

AND AS PAT GOSS EXPLAINS THAT CAN MAKE FURTHER UPGRADES EVEN HARDER.

Pat Goss: THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS IN MODERN CARS ARE PRETTY AMAZING.

NOW, WHY DO WE CALL THEM INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS?

WELL, INFO FOR INFORMATION, TAINMENT FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT THEY GIVE US.

BUT THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.

SEE, IN THE PAST WE HAD A RADIO, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

MAY HAVE SOME FEATURES BUILT INTO IT, MAY HAVE SOME AUXILIARY THINGS AND SO ON.

BUT IT WAS SELF-CONTAINED.

YOU PULLED IT OUT AND PUT A NEW ONE IN THAT HAD THE FEATURES THAT YOU WANTED AND THAT WAS IT.

WELL, THAT MAY NOT WORK THESE DAYS.

YOU SEE, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE HERE, THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE UNIT, BUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS, IS A SCREEN.

IT'S LIKE A MONITOR THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOR YOUR COMPUTER OR ANYTHING ELSE.

CONTROLS ARE DOWN HERE IN A SEPARATE MODULE AND THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHER MODULES LOCATED AROUND THE CAR THAT WORK INTO THIS AND SUPPLY INFORMATION TO IT AND GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO CONTROL VARIOUS THINGS.

SO, IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, WHAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD SOME INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO IT, MAYBE YOU WANT TO ADD A BACKUP CAMERA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT CAN USUALLY BE DONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS, IF YOU DO HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN CHANGE IT OVER, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, IF YOUR CAR HAS STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS.

AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO ON JUST ABOUT ANY CAR, AND THAT IS UPGRADE THE SPEAKERS, WHICH ON A LOT OF THESE BASIC SYSTEMS, THAT OF AND BY ITSELF WILL BE LIKE AN UPGRADE TO THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

SO YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

YOU PROBABLY CAN DO SOMETHING, BUT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO ALL THAT YOU WANT WITHOUT SPENDING A TON OF MONEY.

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

* John: WE'VE BEEN AT THE WHEEL OF THE 2017 MAZDA CX-9 3-ROW CROSSOVER FOR A YEAR NOW...

RACKING UP SOME 21,000 MILES.

THE MOST RECENT PERIOD COVERED OVER 2,000 MILES OF MOSTLY OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL.

THROUGH IT ALL, THE CX-9 LIVED UP TO MAZDA'S MORE-FUN-TO-DRIVE MISSION.

WITH GREAT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP, AND A GUTSY 227 HORSEPOWER TURBO-4 ENGINE.

INDEED, THE CX-9 MAKES A GREAT CASE FOR SMALLER TURBO 4s WHERE V6s USED TO DWELL.

THERE IS SOME SLIGHT TURBO LAG AND LAG FOR TRANSMISSION KICK-DOWN, BUT NOT MUCH.

THE BIT STIFFER THAN NORMAL RIDE OF THE CX-9 INSPIRES CONFIDENCE WHEN INTERSTATE DRIVING BECOMES SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

AND THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM GIVES PROMPT WARNING WITHOUT BEING INTRUSIVE.

THIS TIME AROUND REGULAR GRADE FUEL ECONOMY REMAINED CONSISTENT WITH OUR OVERALL AVERAGE AT 23.9.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE OUR TIME IS UP WITH OUR STYLISH 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA.

IT'S A FANTASTIC MINIVAN, DELIVERING ALL THE PRACTICALITY WE HOPED IT WOULD, ALONG WITH PREMIUM COMFORT.

WITH OUR TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED'S ODOMETER AT 26,677 MILES, WE AVERAGED 23.7 MILES PER GALLON FROM ITS 287 HORSEPOWER V6, AND SMOOTH 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC POWERTRAIN.

ISSUES WERE FEW; THE U-CONNECT SCREEN LOCKED UP A FEW TIMES, AND SEATS FOLDED IT CAN BE LIKE, A BOOM BOX INSIDE.

BUT NO OTHER MINIVAN COMES CLOSE TO THE CONVENIENCE OF THE SECOND ROW STOW-AND-GO SEATING.

IN A WORLD AWASH WITH SUV'S AND CROSSOVERS, THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA IS AN ENJOYABLE, RELIABLE, AND HIGHLY VERSATILE CHOICE.

AS FOR PACIFICA'S MAIN RIVAL, THIS 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS JUST ARRIVED ON OUR LONG TERM LOT AND WILL CERTAINLY SEE LOTS OF TRAVELING AS THE WEATHER GETS WARMER.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE KIA NIRO ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

TRENDS COME AND GO, SOME STICK, SOME DON'T.

SO HERE'S, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH WHAT'S TRENDING NOW IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT A FUTURE WHERE CARS WILL DRIVE THEMSELVES.

BUT, EVEN BEFORE THAT, RESEARCHERS HAVE ENVISION AUTOMOBILES DOING MORE OF THE THINKING THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NISSAN IS WORKING ON B-TO-V, OR "BRAIN-TO-VEHICLE" TECHNOLOGY.

HERE, A DRIVER WEARS A DEVICE THAT MONITORS BRAIN WAVES.

BY TAPPING INTO THE BRAIN'S SIGNALS, THEIR SYSTEM CAN PREDICT WHAT THE DRIVER IS GOING TO DO, AND DO IT QUICKER, LIKE EMERGENCY STEERING OR BRAKING.

MEANWHILE, VOLKSWAGEN IS TEAMING UP WITH TECH COMPANY NVIDIA TO DEVELOP "INTELLIGENT CO-PILOT" FOR THEIR FORTHCOMING I.D.

BUZZ ELECTRIC MINIVAN.

HERE, SENSORS MONITOR BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.

VW BELIEVES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN LEARN HOW TO ASSESS SITUATIONS, ANALYZE THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD, AND THEN MAKE DRIVING DECISIONS.

NEARER TERM, FACE RECOGNITION MAY SOON REPLACE A KEYFOB FOR UNLOCKING YOUR CAR.

AND EVEN SOONER, AMAZON'S ALEXA IS COMING ALONG FOR THE RIDE IN TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES.

STARTING IN SOME MODELS THIS YEAR, DRIVERS WILL BE ABLE TO TALK CASUALLY TO AMAZON'S CLOUD BASED SERVICE RATHER THAN USING THE PRECISE WORDS AND PHRASES MOST OTHER VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM DEMAND.

CALIFORNIA BASED FISKER INCORPORATED IS AMONG THE LATEST TO ENTER THE ELECTRIC CAR ARENA.

BUT, IT'S HOW THEY WILL POWER THEIR FUTURE EVS THAT COULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.

FISKER PLANS TO LAUNCH THIS WILD EMOTION ELECTRIC SEDAN IN 2019.

THEY CLAIM IT WILL HAVE A RANGE OF 400 MILES BETWEEN CHARGES BY USING A DENSER LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK.

BEYOND THAT, THE COMPANY HAS FILED PATENTS FOR THEIR RESEARCH WITH SOLID STATE BATTERIES.

FISKER THINKS THIS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY COULD ULTIMATELY INCREASE ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE BEYOND 500-MILES, WHILE DECREASING THE CHARGING TIME TO A MINUTE OR LESS.

OF COURSE, TIME WILL ALSO TELL IF THESE INNOVATIVE IDEAS BECOME EVERYDAY REALITIES.

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

EVER SINCE MERCEDES POPULARIZE THE MODERN LUXURY CROSSOVER WITH THE ML, RIVALS HAVE BEEN COMING FAST AND FURIOUS.

EITHER, TRADITIONAL POSH SUV BRANDS LIKE RANGE ROVER HAVE TAKEN NOTE AND JUMPED INTO THE FRAY; FIRST WITH THE COMPACT EVOQUE AND NOW WITH THE MIDSIZE VELAR.

* IF YOU'RE NOT A LAND ROVER ENTHUSIAST, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHERE THIS 2018 RANGE ROVER VELAR FITS IN.

WELL, IT'S A TRUE MIDSIZE ENTRY, SLOTTING IN BETWEEN THE LARGER RANGE ROVER SPORT AND COMPACT EVOQUE.

ENGINE CHOICES ARE IN STEP WITH THE JAGUAR F-PACE; 2.0 LITER TURBO-4s, ONE DIESEL, ONE PETROL, AND A 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6 THAT RATES 380 HORSEPOWER AND 332 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ALL WORK WITH A ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BUT LEST YOU THINK THIS IS SIMPLY OLD-SCHOOL BADGE ENGINEERING, KNOW THAT LAND ROVER ENGINEERS DID INDEED START WITH THE BARE BONES OF THE F-PACE, INCLUDING, MAINTAINING ITS 113-INCH WHEELBASE.

BUT FROM THERE, THEY CREATED AN ALL-NEW RANGE ROVER.

AND CERTAINLY A HIGH-FASHION ONE.

WITH NO OBVIOUS RESEMBLANCE TO THE F-PACE; JUST PLENTY OF STYLING CUES FROM OTHER LAND ROVERS, WITH A FLOATING ROOF DESIGN, SOME SNAZZY FENDER TRIM, AND POP OUT DOOR HANDLES THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

ALL STANDING ON UP TO 22-INCH WHEELS.

MORE EMPHASIS WAS PUT ON OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE AS WELL.

SO, IN ADDITION TO STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THE VELAR IS AVAILABLE WITH TERRAIN RESPONSE 2, AND GETS AN ELECTRONIC AIR SUSPENSION SETUP NOT OBTAINABLE ON THE F-PACE, AT LEAST FOR NOW ANYWAY.

AND, IT'S NOT JUST PRETTY, WITH A TOWING CAPACITY OF 5,500 POUNDS.

ADMITTEDLY, HANDLING PROWESS HAS BEEN LOST IN THE PROCESS, AS THE VELAR DOESN'T FEEL QUITE AS LIGHT ON ITS FEET AS THE F-PACE, BUT RIDE QUALITY IS TRULY SUBLIME.

DIALING UP DYNAMIC MODE HELPS IT FEEL IT'S SPORTIEST, AND OWNERS CAN DIAL IN THEIR OWN CUSTOMIZED SETUP.

MAINTAINING THEIR SUPERIOR OFF-ROAD IMAGE IS VITAL TO LAND ROVER, AND THE VELAR IS TRULY MORE CAPABLE THAN MOST WILL EVER EXPERIENCE.

IT ALSO FEELS ROCK SOLID WITH ITS ALUMINUM MONOCOQUE CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S NO ABILITY TO ENGAGE A LOW RANGE; BUT THE FULL SUITE OF ELECTRONIC AIDS SPECIFIC FOR THE TRAIL, HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND FULL POWER TO WHICHEVER WHEEL IS GETTING THE MOST TRACTION, GETTING YOU THROUGH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER.

OF COURSE, YOU'RE WELL-SWADDLED IN RANGE ROVER LUXURY WHILE DOING THAT, INCLUDING NUMEROUS LEATHER PACKAGES, AND SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE SEATS.

THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT YOUR FATHER'S LAND ROVER, UNLESS HE HAD HIS OWN PROPRIETARY TOUCH PANEL CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLED.

HERE, IT'S LAND ROVER'S NEW INCONTROL TOUCH PRO DUO WITH TWIN 10-INCH CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREENS.

WITH FEW TRADITIONAL PHYSICAL CONTROLS, IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING WHEN YOU FIRST HOP IN, BUT IT'S A MOSTLY-LOGICAL SETUP THAT DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH.

REAR SEAT PASSENGERS DON'T MISS OUT ON THE LUXURY TREATMENT EITHER, AND SPACE IS AMONG BEST IN CLASS.

AS IS CARGO ROOM, 34.4 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE 2ND ROW, 70.1 WITH THE 40/20/40 SPLIT SEATBACKS FOLDED FLAT.

AS FOR TRACK WORK, OUR SUPERCHARGED V6 VELAR HOPPED OFF THE LINE EAGERLY WITH GOOD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP.

THE REAR REALLY SQUATS DOWN AS YOU TAKE OFF, HITTING 60 IN 5.5 SECONDS.

AND RIGHT AWAY, YOU REALIZE JAGUAR KEPT ALL OF THE COOL EXHAUST NOTES FOR THEMSELVES, AS HERE YOU JUST GET SOME DRONING ENGINE NOISE.

SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND SMOOTH HOWEVER, TAKING YOU THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.0 SECONDS FLAT AT A NICE EVEN 100 MILES PER HOUR.

IT WAS A DIFFICULT TASK DETERMINING WHAT EXACTLY ITS CAPABILITIES ARE IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT.

THE CHASSIS FEELS PROFICIENT ENOUGH, BUT AS SOON AS THERE'S EVEN A HINT OF UNDERSTEER, THE "SAFETY AT ALL COSTS" COMPUTER INITIATES "PRIORITY SLOW DOWN PROCEDURES" AND STARTS TRIGGERING THE BRAKES.

IT DOES EXHIBIT ONLY MINOR BODY ROLL THROUGHOUT THE CORNERS HOWEVER, WITH MEDIUM TO LIGHT STEERING.

AND JUST 102-FEET IS ALL IT TOOK TO BRING THIS THING TO A HALT FROM 60.

SOME NOSE DIVE IS TO BE EXPECTED BRINGING 4,471 POUNDS TO A COMPLETE STOP THAT QUICKLY, BUT EVEN THAT WAS RELATIVELY MINOR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE V6 ARE 18-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A FINE 21.7 MILES PER GALLON ON THE REQUIRED PREMIUM.

THAT MAKES FOR AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE SLIGHTLY BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR ALL CARS, WITH ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION OF 16.5 BARRELS AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.3 TONS.

A WIDE RANGE FOR THIS ROVER HAS PRICES STARTING AT JUST $50,895, AND STRETCHING TO AT LEAST $78,095 FOR AN R-DYNAMIC HSE V6; OUR TESTER WAS CLOSER TO $90,000.

YIKES!

SO, IF YOU'RE LIKE US, YOUR FIRST RESPONSE TO THE MIDDLE-WEIGHT 2018 RANGE ROVER VELAR MAY BE "JUST WHAT WE NEEDED, ANOTHER LUXURY SUV."

BUT, LAND ROVER HAS BEEN BUILDING POSH OFF-ROADERS FOR LONGER THAN ANYBODY, SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE UP TO NEXT.

NOW, IT'S UP TO THE REST OF THE SEGMENT TO SEE IF THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH THE VELAR.

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 PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL IN A PERFORMANCE PACKED MUSTANG GT, AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER DOSE OF ADRENALIN WITH THE AUDI SQ5.

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.

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] *