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

JOIN US, FOR EVERYTHING SHINY AND NEW AT THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW... PAT GOSS KEEPS SELF-DRIVING TECH ON TRACK... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AND PUTS HIS FOOT DOWN ON AN ELECTRIFIED CURE FOR TURBO LAG... AND SUBARU BRINGS MORE STYLE AND SUBSTANCE TO A NEW CROSSTREK.

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 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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: FOR MOST PEOPLE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, WOULD BE THE LAST PLACE THEY'D WANT TO GO.

BUT, WE'RE NOT MOST PEOPLE.

WE ARE FANATICS OF ALL THINGS AUTOMOTIVE.

AND EVERYBODY KNOWS, COME JANUARY, MOTOWN IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR THE SCOOP ON THE HOTTEST OF NEW CARS HEADING OUR WAY.

DON'T WANT TO GO OUT IN THE COLD?

DON'T WORRY; SIT BACK AND RELAX, CAUSE' WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!

John: NOTHING REALLY KICKS OFF OUR AUTOMOTIVE YEAR LIKE THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW, AND THE REVEAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CAR, TRUCK, AND UTILITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

THIS YEAR THE CAR HONOR GOES TO THE HONDA ACCORD FOR GOING WELL ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT A FAMILY FOUR-DOOR SHOULD BE.

UTILITY OF THE YEAR GOES TO THE HANDSOME VOLVO XC60.

FOLLOWING IN THE TIRE TREADS OF IT'S BIGGER XC90 KIN, IT'S THE NEW DEFINITION OF THE MODERN CROSSOVER UTE.

AND, WITH ONLY ONE ACTUAL PICKUP NOMINEE, THIS YEAR'S TRUCK OF THE YEAR HONOR GOES TO THE ULTRA-LUXURIOUS, TRUCK-FRAME LIKE, LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SUV.

INDEED, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE NEWS AT DETROIT WAS ABOUT TRUCKS.

CHEVROLET TEASED THEIR NEW SILVERADO 1500 DOWN AT THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY LAST MONTH, BUT DETROIT FILLED IN ALL THE DETAILS.

THE MOST NEW CHEVY FULL-SIZE TRUCK IN DECADES, IT CLAIMS INCREASED CAPABILITIES, USER FRIENDLINESS, AND EFFICIENCY.

WEIGHT IS DOWN 450 POUNDS WITH BOTH ALUMINUM AND STEEL IN A BODY FILLED WITH AERODYNAMIC TRICKS LIKE FRONT TIRE WHEEL WELL AIR DUCTS.

AN INLINE-6 TURBO-DIESEL IS NEW, ALONG WITH A NOVEL CARGO BOX DESIGN THAT ADDS 7-INCHES OF WIDTH INSIDE WITHOUT ADDING ANY GIRTH OUTSIDE.

CAR-LIKE TECH FEATURES ABOUND, INCLUDING THE FIRST EVER POWERED TAILGATE.

NOT TO BE OUTDONE, FCA ARRIVED WITH AN ALL-NEW RAM 1500.

OF COURSE IT'S MORE POWERFUL, MORE CAPABLE, AND MORE EFFICIENT WITH OVER 200 POUNDS LESS TO HAUL AROUND.

BUT, WITH ITS COIL AND AIR SPRING SUSPENSION, THERE'S A SOFTER SIDE AS WELL, AS THE INTERIOR IS EVEN POSHER WITH A TALL TESLA STYLE NAVSCREEN OPTION.

ALSO SHOWN WAS A NEW RAM REBEL.

FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN BEFORE, IT LOOKS TO BE A LOT CLOSER TO THE FORD RAPTOR IN TERMS OF OFF ROAD PERFORMANCE.

AT JEEP, NO NEW PICKUP YET, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO RE-ESTABLISH SOME CRED FOR THE CHEROKEE UTE.

IT ADDS A MORE TRADITIONAL FACE, A NEW TURBO-4 ENGINE, ENHANCED 4X4 SYSTEMS WITH SELEC-TERRAIN TRACTION CONTROL, MORE USABLE CARGO SPACE, AND EVEN A HANDS-FREE POWER LIFT GATE.

AND, FINALLY, MAKING IT TRULY THE YEAR OF THE TRUCK, COMES THE LONG AWAITED RETURN TO AMERICA OF THE FORD RANGER PICKUP.

NOW MID-SIZE IN EXTENDED AND CREW CAB FORMS, INITIAL POWER COMES FROM AN UPDATED MUSTANG 2.3-LITER ECOBOOST I4.

STILL, FORD ASSURES US THE MICHIGAN-BUILT RANGER WILL HAVE PLENTY OF CAPABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH THE ONCE AGAIN CROWDED MIDSIZE TRUCK FIELD.

AS FOR THE RANGER BASED BRONCO?

WELL, STAY TUNED.

AND, IN ANOTHER MOVE THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING, FORD FINALLY SHOVES SOME POWER STROKE MUSCLE INTO THE F-150.

THE SCALED DOWN 3.0-LITER V6 VERSION DELIVERS 440 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ACHIEVES 30 MILES-PER-GALLON.

FITTINGLY, ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOVIE BULLITT, COMES ANOTHER FORD MUSTANG BULLITT.

THIS GT-BASED 'STANG HAS ALL THE RIGHT CUES AND WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER.

TOO BAD THE "KING OF COOL" IS NOT AROUND TO ONCE AGAIN SLIDE THIS ONE AROUND THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO.

FORD ALSO CONFIRMED THAT A NEW SHELBY GT500 IS ON THE WAY.

WITH OVER 700-HORSEPOWER IT WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION FORD YET.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL OF FORD'S FUTURE PERFORMANCE, THEY ALSO CONFIRMED A HIGH OUTPUT ELECTRIC SUV, THOUGH WE WE'RE NOT THRILLED ABOUT USING THE FABLED MACH 1 NAME.

REAL TIME SUV PERFORMANCE WILL COME FROM THE FORD EDGE ST, WHICH REPLACES THE PREVIOUS EDGE SPORT, AND JOINS AN UPDATED MIDSIZE CROSSOVER LINEUP FOR '19.

THAT WRAPS UP OUR LOOK AT THE DETROIT CROWD'S INTROS AT THE 2018 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

BUT, LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL SEE ALL THE IMPORT BRAND'S SHOW AND TELL.

John: DOWNSIZING ENGINES IN ORDER TO SAVE FUEL CAN DELIVER A DRIVE WE'RE NOT EXACTLY FOND OF.

SO, MANY SMALLER MILLS ARE ADDING A TURBOCHARGER.

BUT, THAT CAN STILL LEAVE A LACK OF TORQUE AT LOW RPM.

WELL BORG WARNER TURBO SYSTEMS SET OUT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, WITH THEIR OWN E-BOOSTER.

LET'S GO OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL TO SEE HOW AN ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR MAY FINALLY KILL-OFF DREADED TURBO LAG.

Zach Maskell: OUTSIDE OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA WE'RE DRIVING A 2015 ECO-BOOST FORD MUSTANG WITH MORE POWER THAN ITS V8 COUNTERPART.

THAT'S THANKS TO A BIGGER TURBO AND THIS SECRET WEAPON FROM BORG WARNER: THE EBOOSTER IS A SEPARATE ALL ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR THAT FORCES THE EXHAUST FED TURBO TO SPOOL FASTER WHICH GIVES YOU NEAR INSTANT POWER.

THINK OF IT AS A MECHANICAL SUPERCHARGER FOR THE LOW RPM'S OR MAYBE A TWIN TURBO SET UP WHERE ONE SMALLER TURBO SPOOLS THE BIGGER ONE.

THIS MUSTANG IS A DEMO CAR TO PROVE WHAT THIS "EBOOSTER" COULD DO IN AN AFTERMARKET APPLICATION.

BUT, DON'T WHIP OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD JUST YET.

THIS IS THE ONLY ONE RUNNING AROUND... FOR NOW.

Fred Huscher: OUR FIRST OEM LAUNCH IS GOING TO BE WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS IN THE COMING MODEL YEARS, SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT'S GOING TO UH, ALLOW US TO GIVE THE CUSTOMERS THE DRIVABILITY OF A MUCH LARGER ENGINE IN A MUCH SMALLER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PACKAGE.

"SO AS OPPOSED TO A REGULAR SUPERCHARGER...

THIS ONE IS NOT USING THE ENGINE...

THEREFORE WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY POWER?"

Austin Hoke: YEAH EXACTLY.

THIS IS A SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR.

THIS ONE'S 5 KILOWATTS.

IT SPINS TO A PEAK SPEED OF AROUND 70,000 RPM.

AND SINCE ITS ELECTRIC WE CAN MOUNT IT WHEREVER, AND WE CAN ACTIVATE IT ON DEMAND.

SO IT REALLY IS BOOST ON DEMAND.

THE EBOOSTER PUSHES 7 PSI INTO THE ENGINE.

WITH AIR ADDED INSTANTANEOUSLY MORE FUEL IS BURNING.

WHICH MEANS MORE ENERGY FOR THE BIG TURBINE TO DO ITS THING.

AND IT'S NO SECRET YOU CAN PUT A LARGER TURBOCHARGER ON A SMALL ENGINE TO MAKE BIG POWER NUMBERS.

HOT RODDERS HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR AGES.

BUT WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU LOSE THE LOW END TORQUE AND THROTTLE RESPONSE THAT MOST DRIVERS DEMAND.

THE EBOOSTER IS ACTIVE ONLY FOR A FEW SHORT SECONDS UNTIL THE TURBO CATCHES UP.

THIS 48-VOLT SYSTEM USES A BATTERY THE SIZE OF A SHOE BOX AND IT CAN RECHARGE DURING MILD BRAKE REGENERATION.

Fred: THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF GEAR HEADS THAT WORK IN BORG WARNER, DEFINITELY IN THE TURBO SYSTEM BUSINESS UNIT.

WE'D ALL LOVE TO SEE THIS COME TO THE AFTERMARKET BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL HAVE A PROJECT CAR WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT ON.

Zach: F1 CARS USE A SIMILAR SYSTEM.

HOBBYISTS HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF TURBO LAG.

[ENGINE REVVING UP] SO RIGHT THERE IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT FOR THE TURBO TO SPOOL UP AND REALLY KICK IN.

Austin: YOU GET THE CLASSIC BIG TURBO POWER BAND AS SOON AS IT TAKES OFF, YOU'RE GOING LIKE A SLINGSHOT.

BUT BEFORE THAT YOU'RE KIND OF WAITING.

Zach: TURN IT ON, AND IT PULLS AND PULLS FROM THE GET GO.

SAY YOU'RE IN A CRUISING GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY.

NORMALLY YOU'D HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT OR WAIT.

HERE, THE EBOOSTER CUTS THE TIME TO TORQUE IN HALF.

THIS CAR MAKES 410 HORSEPOWER AND 450 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YET, IT STILL EXCEEDS THE STOCK TORQUE CURVE AT ALL ENGINE SPEEDS.

LIKE THE V8, THE POWER FEELS LINEAR AND DELIVERY IS SMOOTH.

WE'LL WE'VE TAKEN A 2.3 LITER AND MADE IT HAVE THE SAME POWER AS THE V8 NOT ONLY THE SAME POWER REALLY WE'VE MADE IT HAVE 40% MORE TORQUE AND 15% MORE TOP END POWER WHILE MAINTAINING THAT 30% BETTER FUEL ECONOMY OF THE 4-CYLINDER.

LOCATED AFTER THE INTERCOOLER, THE BOOSTER RECEIVES COOLER, DENSER AIR.

AND, ONCE IT'S DONE ITS JOB, A VALVE CLOSES AND ALL THAT AIR IS FILTERED TO THE TURBO.

I'VE GOT TO ADMIT I WAS A LITTLE BIT SKEPTICAL WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS, BUT IT IS THE REAL DEAL AND WHETHER YOU'RE A CAR PERSON OR NOT, YOU WILL FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.

Austin: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY.

John: NO MATTER HOW SOPHISTICATED CARS BECOME THEY STILL NEED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

SO, LET'S HEAD TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR SOME TIMELESS TIPS.

Pat Goss: UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS YOU'VE CERTAINLY HEARD TERMS LIKE SMART MOBILITY, V TO V, OR VEHICLE TO VEHICLE COMMUNICATION, OR AUTONOMOUS AUTOMOBILES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WELL THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE BECOMING REALITY VERY QUICKLY, AND AS THEY BECOME REALITY YOU ARE GOING TO FIND THAT YOUR VEHICLE MAY NEED SOME DIFFERENT SERVICES NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS CLEANING SERVICES.

NOW HERE'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, A LOT OF MODERN CARS HAVE CAMERAS.

CAMERAS FOR LANE KEEPING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKING FUNCTIONS AND SO ON.

AND THOSE CAMERAS ARE OFTEN MOUNTED INSIDE THE CAR UP BEHIND THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, NOW WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT AS THE WINDSHIELD, THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD GETS DIRTY IT MAY BLOCK THE SIGNAL THAT THOSE CAMERAS ARE LOOKING FOR; AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A SMOKER THAT BROWN FILM THAT BUILDS UP WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE WHERE IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN THESE SYSTEMS BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO CLOUDED WITH THE TOBACCO, AND SMOKE RESIDUE AND THE SYSTEM JUST SHUTS DOWN.

ALRIGHT, NOW NOT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE INSIDE THE CAR.

A LOT OF THEM ARE OUTSIDE THE CAR LIKE ON THIS MERCEDES WE HAVE SENSORS IN THE FRONT BUMPERS TO READ THINGS AHEAD OF THE CAR.

WE HAVE SENSORS IN THAT STAR IN THE CENTER OF THE GRILL.

NOW THAT MEANS THAT THESE THINGS NEED TO BE KEPT CLEAN TOO.

NOW IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU GET SALT, AND SNOW, AND SO ON.

WELL THE SNOW, AND ICE CAN BUILD UP OVER THESE SENSORS, AND YOU GET FALSE READINGS.

AND THE OTHER THING, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE SNOW THEY STILL HAVE TO BE KEPT CLEAN BECAUSE MUD AND DIRT, AND ROAD DEBRIS AND ALL IT CAN BLOCK THESE SENSORS.

SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ALL OF THESE THINGS CLEAN IN ORDER FOR THESE SYSTEMS TO WORK.

AND THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER POINT DON'T GIVE UP YOUR GOOD DRIVING SKILLS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BLIND SPOT DOESN'T MEAN YOU STILL SHOULDN'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT BLIND SPOT.

NONE OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE INFALLIBLE SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP THE SAFE PART OF ALL OF THIS.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE.

RIGHT HERE, AT MOTORWEEK .

John: AS PROMISED, IT'S TIME TO HEAD BACK TO DETROIT FOR A LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING FROM IMPORTED BRANDS TO SWEETEN OUR CAR-LOVING LIVES!

John: STARTING OFF OUR LOOK AT IMPORT BRAND NEWS FROM COBO HALL IS THE COOLEST OF THE RUGGED COOL, AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, AN ALL-NEW MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS.

YES, IT STILL PRETTY MUCH LOOKS LIKE TWO BOXES WELDED TOGETHER, BUT IT'S BEEN SOMEWHAT MODERNIZED OUTSIDE AND TOTALLY REVAMPED INSIDE INCLUDING A WIDE SCREEN DIGITAL DASH.

BENZ ALSO BROUGHT TO MOTOWN A MAJOR EXPANSION IN THE MERCEDES-AMG LINEUP WITH A NEW 3.0-LITER INLINE-6 GAS-ENGINE THAT GETS AN EQ BOOST FROM A NEW 48-VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED HERE IN THE CLS53 SEDAN.

AS WELL AS IN THE E53 COUPE AND THE E53 CABRIOLET.

RIVAL BMW BROUGHT THEIR NEW SUBCOMPACT X2 TO DETROIT.

LOGIC MIGHT TELL YOU IT'S A COUPE-ISH VERSION OF THE X1 CROSSOVER THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH, AND YOU'D BE CLOSE.

WHILE STILL SHARING A CHASSIS WITH THE MINI, IT IS INDEED LOWER, SHORTER, AND SPORTIER THAN THE X1, WITH A 228-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO THE SOLE POWER FOR NOW.

FOR THE EV PERFORMANCE-MINDED, AN UPDATED BMW I8 COUPE AND NEW I8 ROADSTER MADE THE TRIP EAST FROM THEIR LA DEBUTS LAST FALL.

BMW ALSO SHOWCASED UPDATES TO THE MINI COOPER HARDTOP AND CONVERTIBLE, INCLUDING UNION JACK PATTERNED TAIL LIGHTS.

GIMMICKY?

SURE, BUT THAT'S MINI.

ANYTHING FOR FUN.

MAKING ITS U.S.

DEBUT, THE LAMBORGHINI URUS SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE RISING GLOBAL TIDE OF SUVS.

THEIR FIRST SUCH EFFORT SINCE THE MILITARY-STYLE LM 002 OF THE 1980'S, THE URUS BACKS ITS EXCLUSIVITY WITH TWIN-TURBO V8 POWER AND STYLING THAT TRULY IS A WORK OF ITALIAN ART.

THIS WAS ALSO OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW AUDI A7, MAKING ITS NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT IN DETROIT.

THIS 5-DOOR SPORT BACK LOOKS AS BEAUTIFUL AS ALWAYS BOTH INSIDE AND OUT.

VOLKSWAGEN MOST POPULAR AMERICAN MODEL GETS A TOTAL REMAKE IN THIS ALL-NEW JETTA COMPACT.

MORE STYLISH OUTSIDE, AS WELL AS LESS CONSERVATIVE INSIDE, THE NEW JETTA IS AVAILABLE WITH A FIRST TIME DIGITAL DASH.

A MANUAL-GEARED 1.4-LITER TURBO CONTINUES AS STANDARD, WHILE A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH AUTO STOP/START IS OPTIONAL.

VOLKSWAGEN WILL ALSO BE BRINGING A BIT MORE VISUAL AND ACTUAL PERFORMANCE TO THE PASSAT, WITH A NEW V6 POWERED PASSAT GT.

NO SECRET TO WHAT THIS GREAT LOOKING CONCEPT IS ALL ABOUT.

THE INFINITI Q INSPIRATION, COMPLETE WITH ITS NEARLY ALL GLASS ROOF AND VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE, IS AN INTRIGUING PREVIEW OF THEIR FORTHCOMING FLAGSHIP SEDAN.

ACROSS THE AISLE AT NISSAN, WAS THIS CROSSMOTION CONCEPT; WHICH TAKES STYLING CUES FROM NISSAN'S XTERRA PAST AND PUSHES THEM FORWARD TOWARDS WHAT COULD BE A NEW MORE RUGGED ROGUE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE NO LIMIT TO LEXUS DESIGN; SO FROM THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT US THE FABULOUS LC500 COUPE, COMES THE LF-1 LIMITLESS, PREDICTING A NO HOLDS BARRED ULTRA-LUXURY FLAGSHIP CROSSOVER.

OVER AT ACURA, A PRODUCTION-READY PROTOTYPE OF THE NEXT RDX CROSSOVER WAS SHOWN.

IT LOOKS WAY MORE DYNAMIC, AND ACURA PROMISES IT WILL BE; AIDED BY A NEW 2.0-LITER TURBO-4 ENGINE AND 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BIGGER NEWS FOR ACURA PERFORMANCE FAITHFUL IS THE RETURN OF THE TYPE S BADGE, AS WELL AS THE EXPANSION OF THE A-SPEC THROUGHOUT THE LINEUP, INCLUDING THE NEW RDX.

A POTENT V6 TURBO IS ALSO IN THE WORKS.

AFTER SITTING OUT FOR 5-YEARS, HONDA'S INSIGHT IS BACK IN THE HYBRID GAME.

HONDA PREDICTS AT LEAST 50 MPG RATING FOR THIS BIGGER, MORE TRADITIONAL LOOKING 2-MOTOR CIVIC-BASED COMPACT SEDAN.

IF BIG-SEDAN COMFORT IS WHAT YOU'RE AFTER, TOYOTA HAS AN ALL-NEW AVALON LINEUP, COMPLETE WITH HYBRID.

LOOK FOR THIS PIECE OF ATTAINABLE PREMIUM, AT A GATED COMMUNITY NEAR YOU.

THIS REBORN HYUNDAI VELOSTER MAY LOOK A LITTLE TAMER THAN THE ORIGINAL, BUT HYUNDAI HAS PACKED IN PLENTY ENOUGH PERFORMANCE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE; LAUNCHING A NEW N PERFORMANCE LINEUP.

AND DON'T WORRY, THE 3-DOOR TREATMENT IS STILL ITS SIGNATURE.

PARTNER KIA IS LOOKING TO FURTHER THEIR RECENT WINNING WAYS WITH AN ALL-NEW FORTE COMPACT; WITH MORE ROOM, STYLE, AND SOPHISTICATION THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND, THEN THERE IS GAC.

NEVER HEARD OF THEM?

WELL YOU WILL AS THIS HIGH END CHINESE MANUFACTURER ANNOUNCED PLANS TO START SELLING HERE NEXT YEAR WITH THIS GS8 MIDSIZE UTILITY.

BUT, THEIR DISPLAY OF THE GA4 FLAGSHIP SEDAN, AND THE BUTTERFLY DOOR, ENVERGE EV CONCEPT, MAKES IT CLEAR THEY AIM TO BE AN ASPIRATIONAL BRAND.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE 2018 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

AND, NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN ALL OF THESE RIDES, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ACTUALLY PUTTING YOUR EYES INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

John: ADMITTEDLY, IT WAS A BIT OF A STRETCH CALLING THE RUGGEDIZED SUBARU IMPREZA CROSSTREK A CROSSOVER UTILITY, BUT IT HAS SURE BEHAVED AND SOLD LIKE ONE.

AND NOW FOR '18, IT GETS AN ALL-NEW CHASSIS THAT DEBUTED LAST YEAR IN THE REDESIGNED IMPREZA.

SO LET'S FIND OUT IF THERE'S MORE FOR US TO LIKE IN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LITTLE SUBARUS.

John: EVER SINCE WE FIRST DROVE THE ALL-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL THIS ONE ARRIVED, THE ALL-NEW 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK.

IT STILL HAS THE SAME BASIC LOOK OF AN IMPREZA HATCHBACK WITH ADDED GROUND CLEARANCE AND CLADDING; BUT RIDING ON A LONGER 104.9-INCH WHEELBASE, ITS OVERALL LENGTH IS NOW HALF AN INCH LONGER.

IT IS ALSO ALMOST A FULL INCH WIDER, WHICH GIVES IT MORE PRESENCE AND STABILITY, PLUS HELPS IT FEEL MUCH ROOMIER INSIDE.

SO WE WERE A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT SOME INTERIOR MEASUREMENTS ARE ACTUALLY DOWN; BUT THE EXTRA WHEELBASE DOES ALLOW FOR MORE REAR SEAT LEGROOM WHICH IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE COME AT THE EXPENSE HOWEVER, OF CARGO SPACE, AS IT FALLS FROM 22.3 CUBIC-FEET TO 20.8.

MAX VOLUME IS WAY UP HOWEVER, FROM 51.9 TO 55.3 CUBIC-FEET; AND IT'S ALL ACCESSED VIA A WIDE OPENING HATCH THAT ALLOWS FOR SUPER EASY ACCESS.

WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE OUTGOING CROSSTREK, AS WE'RE WRAPPING UP A 12-MONTH LONG TERM TEST.

AND IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING ALONG AT HOME, YOU'D KNOW THAT SOME ADDITIONAL POWER WAS HIGH ON OUR WISH LIST.

[ENGINE STARTS] AND INDEED WE DID GET IT, BUT JUST BARELY.

IT'S THE SAME 2.0-LITER FLAT-4, BUT IT ADDS DIRECT-INJECTION AMONG OTHER TWEAKS TO RAISE OUTPUT BY ALL OF FOUR HORSEPOWER, TO A STILL MODEST 152, WITH THE IDENTICAL 145 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE RESULT IS PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE ADEQUATE, THOUGH STILL FAR FROM THRILLING; BUT HEY, WE'LL TAKE ANYTHING!

STANDARD TRANSMISSION IS NOW A 6-SPEED MANUAL; BUT MOST WILL BE CROSS TREKKING WITH AN UPDATED CVT AUTOMATIC AS IN OUR TEST CAR.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE REMAINS STANDARD.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, IT ALL TRANSLATED TO A LEISURELY 0-60 TIME OF 10 SECONDS FLAT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY TWO-TENTHS SLOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL XV CROSSTREK WE TESTED.

IT FEELS STRONG OFF THE LINE, BUT QUICKLY SETTLES INTO ITS ECO-MINDED CVT MEDIOCRITY.

EVENTUALLY, WE CLEARED THE QUARTER IN THE SAME 17.5 SECONDS AS BEFORE, AT 79 MILES-PER-HOUR.

ON THE HANDLING FRONT, ALL CROSSTREKS NOW GET ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING, AND IT CERTAINLY HELPS THINGS ON CURVES; FEELING BRISK AND GRIPPY THROUGH THE CONES.

WE HAD TO PUSH PLENTY HARD BEFORE FINDING NOTABLE UNDERSTEER; AND AS SOON AS IT ARRIVED, IT WAS SWIFTLY DEALT WITH BY STABILITY CONTROL.

STEERING IS LIGHT AND QUICK WITH JUST ENOUGH FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL.

WITH AN AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF 110-FEET, BRAKES ARE QUITE GOOD; DESPITE SOME MILD FADE AFTER REPEATED RUNS.

LIKE THE UPDATED EXTERIOR, THE INTERIOR LOOKS MUCH BETTER AS WELL; WITH THE SAME BASIC LAYOUT GETTING A REDO WITH NICER MATERIALS AND MUCH EASIER TO USE STANDARD STARLINK MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM.

OUR ONLY WISH, AND THIS IS A REPEAT, A LITTLE MORE SEAT COMFORT.

AS BEFORE, THE CROSSTREK FEELS SOLID AND CAPABLE; WHETHER EATING MILES ON THE SLAB, OR TACKLING SOME LIGHT OFF ROAD TERRAIN.

BUT LIKE MOST SUBARUS, THEY COULD HAVE GONE A LITTLE FARTHER WITH NOISE CONTROL.

THE ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING HELPS IT FEEL BETTER ON CURVY ROADS AS WELL; AND WHEN COMBINED WITH THE NOTICEABLY QUICKER STEERING, IT MAKES FOR A MUCH NIMBLER DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

AND OF COURSE, SUBARU'S COMPREHENSIVE AND HIGHLY-REGARDED EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE.

BASE PRICING IS UP ABOUT A HUNDRED BUCKS OVER LAST YEAR, STARTING AT $22,710 FOR A BASE 2.0I; WITH TOP LEVEL LIMITED STARTING AT $27,210.

CALL IT AN SUV IF YOU MUST, BUT THE 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK IS A GREAT LITTLE HATCHBACK THAT DELIVERS EXACTLY WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN A COMPACT UTILITY; GO-ANYWHERE CAPABILITY WITH ENOUGH ROOM FOR TAKING ALONG THE NECESSITIES.

IT MAY NOT BE MEASURABLY BETTER IN EVERY WAY, BUT THEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO.

NOW, IF LUXURY IS HIGH ON YOUR WISH LIST, LOOK ELSEWHERE.

BUT, IF YOU'RE A TYPICAL SMALL-CAR BUYER, WITH LOTS OF EXPLORING TO DO, AND NEED A RUGGED RUNABOUT TO DO IT IN; THE CROSSTREK SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.

John: 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 OUR DRIVERS STATE THEIR CHOICES FOR THE CARS THAT TRULY MOVED THEM, INCLUDING ONE THAT'S BEST OF THE YEAR.

PLUS, WE DRIVE THE LEGENDARY CALLAWAY SLEDGEHAMMER.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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] *