Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We grab the bull by its hybrid horns in the Lamborghini Revuelto... Dan Maffett shakes up our skills on rattle can paint jobs... Stephanie Hart joins Audra Fordin to promote women in auto tech... And we'll plug into the long-awaited Chevrolet Equinox EV...

So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: Supercars, hypercars, thousand-horsepower pickup trucks, seemingly ordinary EVs with mind-boggling power numbers; the lines are blurring when it comes to high-performance specs these days.

But when you see any Lamborghini, you know exactly what you're in for!

♪ ♪ And just so we're all on the same page, what we're in for with the Lamborghini Revuelto is 12-cylinders worth of hot hybrid performance.

So, to those who thought the race to electrification meant the demise of the V12 supercar, Lamborghini defiantly says: "Not so fast!"

This is the successor to the Aventador, but forensic fanatics can trace its DNA back to the iconic Countach.

The Revuelto shoulders the burden of not only being the brand's latest and greatest V12 super sports car, but their first high-performance electrified vehicle.

Just when the adrenaline rush from attending the Revuelto's coming out party at Italy's Vallelunga circuit was fading, we're back on track here at Roebling Road Raceway attacking corners like-- we're getting paid to do it.

Revuelto is, of course, named after a famous fighting bull, but the word also translates to "mixed," a nod to this beast's powertrain.

(engine revs) Its mid-mounted naturally aspirated 6.5 liter V12 has flipped compared to the Aventador and now has an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated electric motor bolted to the back of it that sends power directly to the rear wheels.

Output there is 814 horsepower.

But Lamborghini's mechanical mixologists didn't stop there, putting two more 110 kilowatt electric motors up front, powering strictly the front wheels and making the total output 1,001 horsepower.

As you can imagine, the drive mode situation gets a lot more complicated as in addition to the usual chassis and drivetrain settings, you can dial in where the power comes from, and when and how much battery you're using; 13 options to choose from in all.

Set it up for max power, and the Revuelto will get to 60 in 2.5 seconds; all-wheel-drive provides plenty of traction, even on a cold winter's day, and power delivery never lets up until you ease off the throttle.

We were lucky enough to get two days of track time at Roebling Road Raceway before a rare snowstorm blew through coastal Georgia.

And the Revuelto was instantly fast around this track, the kind of push you back into your seat thrust that can throw your equilibrium off in a hurry; in fact, it was the fastest we've ever been at the end of the front straight here.

It holds onto plenty of that speed through the corners too, with Corsa mode allowing just a bit of slip before easing back power, allowing you to maintain momentum and rocket off corners with authority.

Now, it doesn't feel playful or toy-like; rather a big, fast, precise, purposeful machine that requires your full attention.

Especially when it comes to braking zones, where you really must put some foot into it-- so that it knows you're serious.

And with the front tires shouldering all that force, it did lead to a few moments of wavering, though that did improve the more laps we did.

The Revuelto's mono fuselage chassis is made entirely of carbon fiber, something they have much experience with, and it is both lighter and stiffer than the Aventador's.

There's plenty of carbon fiber in the slick bodywork too, crafted to produce the necessary downforce without a bunch of add-ons.

Superficial types will geek out over the choice of 70 trim colors to complement the 400 shades of water-based paint that are available for the outside, including this Verde Citrea.

Standard wheels are 20 inchers up front and 21 inches in back, the rears sporting 345 Bridgestone Potenza Sports.

Lamborghini claims the interior was inspired by spacecraft, and we'd be on board with blasting off to anywhere in these leather and Corsa Tex sport seats.

This is a plug-in hybrid, with the charge port slickly integrated into the front storage area.

EV-only driving range is limited to around 5.0 miles, and when that engine sitting directly behind you comes to life, it definitely gets your attention.

(engine revs) Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 10 City, 17 Highway, and 12 Combined.

If you can afford the insane $612,858 base price, you can add your name to the list and wait a year or two for Lamborghini to assemble yours exactly how you want it.

With the Revuelto, not only has Lamborghini kept the V12 supercar alive, but they've also crammed this square peg of performance right through the round hole of modern mobile electrification.

What else did we expect from Lamborghini?

♪ ♪ JOHN: MotorWeek's Your Drive host Audra Fordin doesn't just play a mechanic on TV, she's spent a lifetime spinning wrenches and giving the kind of down to earth car care advice that every car owner needs.

But along with overseeing the repair work at her family's garage, she regularly hosts workshops to inspire women to seriously consider auto mechanics as a career.

Our Stephanie Hart has more.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: I'm in Flushing, New York, at the Great Bear Auto Repair shop.

This business has been in existence for more than 90 years, and for the last 30 years a woman, Audra Fordin, has been at the helm, fixing vehicles and empowering people, especially women, with important auto knowledge.

AUDRA FORDIN: What I love most about the business is connecting with people, and helping them to be empowered and understand what they need with their cars so they can be safer on the road.

They can save time, they can save money and they feel that they can actually take care of their investment that they drive around in.

STEPHANIE: Audra is proud to share her automotive expertise with her customers and employees.

For the last 30 years, she has also been inspiring and training the next generation of female auto mechanics at her garage.

Statistics show there are less than 4.0 percent of women auto mechanics out there.

Audra has a team of nine female employees, including Carrie Horton, who all agree just watching Audra in action is inspiring.

CARRIE HORTON: Like you said, there is not a lot of women in the industry but it's empowering, you know, to be able to teach people about vehicles, especially when they think you're the underdog and they don't think you, you know, you know what you know.

STEPHANIE: Knowledge is power.

That's why in 2009 Audra founded a membership driven company, called Women Auto Know, which is primarily focused on hosting workshops to educate women about the automobile.

People, especially women, can feel intimidated when going into a repair shop to get their car fixed and Audra you help people overcome these challenges?

AUDRA: I hear a lot of stories about someone who felt they got ripped off or they were taken advantage of and they didn't get a fair deal in an auto repair shop, and not every auto repair shop is taking advantage of you.

I do believe that, with a lack of information, then you really don't know if you're being taken advantage of or not.

STEPHANIE: That's why Audra's Auto Know workshops, like this one, are a valuable resource for communities.

YAMARIS PEREZ: The big takeaway for today is to make sure to maintain your vehicle early-- so this way you can avoid any emergencies, especially when you're on the road, so having that maintenance check first...um...is key.

STEPHANIE: These Women Auto Know workshops have been so successful, Audra is now expanding her passion nationwide to reach more people.

Now called Drivers Auto Know, its core mission remains the same: provide automotive education and resources to empower people of all ages to be safe, confident, and knowledgeable drivers, passengers, and automotive consumers.

STEPHANIE: So, what was your favorite part about today?

DANIEL FUENTES: I liked changing the...uh, checking the oil...actually.

It was fun, it was engaging.

Uh...

It was something, I think, you would need to know when you, uh...need to deal with cars.

AUDRA: There's 278,000 auto repair shops and 110 million drivers.

They need to have information and the workshops provide that.

Drivers Auto Know is a review site to find an auto shop in your area that has adopted our philosophy, so that you can now vet out your auto shop and find a trusted place to go to.

STEPHANIE: Whether, Audra's mentoring a female employee, teaching a workshop or under the hood, she makes a difference daily, giving back to the automotive community that inspired her in the first place.

AUDRA: I feel like there's a- there's a reward and it's more about something inside gets fulfilled.

STEPHANIE: Yes.

AUDRA: ...by sharing this information.

It's priceless.

STEPHANIE: That's great, that's great.

AUDRA: It is, thank you.

I'm so happy to do it.

STEPHANIE: You are doing a great job.

You really are.

AUDRA: We're just getting started.

Here comes the train now...choo, choo...choo... (Stephanie laughs) JOHN: You probably imagine a booth, flashy tools, and years of experience when it comes to respraying car parts, but, our Dan Maffett is here to show us how high-quality canned spray paint can produce high quality results on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ DAN MAFFETT: If you're anything like me, you love driving your vehicles.

The only downside to driving all the time is the wear and tear on that vehicle.

Now, the paint is no exception to wear and tear.

And one of the common questions I get is... "Can I paint a vehicle at home with rattle cans?"

Now, the answer is yes.

It's a loaded answer, but yes you can.

First thing you need to know is that not all spray paint cans are the same.

And we have a hardware store one here that's a single stage that we sprayed this fender with, and got a really professional result.

Now, your environment really has to be kind of perfect for that: You want to avoid bugs, orange peel, humidity, things like this.

Now, on the other end of this table we have a 2k professional line of paint.

Now, you can get this color-matched to your vehicle, and there's actually a punch on the bottom that releases an activator in the can.

So, you get very professional results that are going to last a very long time.

But, if your budget doesn't allow for that or you're a little too intimidated for that, a hardware store paint like this is going to do just fine as long as your prep and techniques are on point.

You want something like this that you can scuff the panel down, give it a little bit of tooth so the paint can stick really well.

You want to make sure that you have good masking and masking paper that's not going to leak.

Also, you want to have some type of a tack cloth to wipe off between every coat of paint, so that you're not getting any dirt or any kind of stuff imbedded in the paint.

If you're doing a large panel, spray fatigue is real.

Your finger will get very tired, so something like this that clicks onto the can to give you a trigger instead of spraying like this is going to make it a lot easier.

Now, we're going to show you a couple of techniques on that panel.

We're going to get it hung up, show you how to avoid orange peel, tiger stripes, and just get a really nice even coat of paint on the panel.

So, let's get that set up.

So, we've got our panel hung, masked and ready to prep.

So, the first thing I'm going to do... is we're going to use this 2k paint right here, and I'm going to pop this out, turn it over, and get this activated so we're ready to spray when the panel's ready.

(spray can rattles) Now, while that activates and that chemical circulates in there, we're going to prep this panel.

And to do that, we're going to use this Scotch-Brite pad.

Now, this panel already has a black sealing primer on it, but you have to scuff it and put your top coat on it.

So, that's what we're going to do now.

This is the equivalent to about a 320.

Um...you don't want to go too aggressive, you just want enough to add a little bit of a bite.

(wiping down the panel) Whenever you wipe down the panel, you want to make sure you're using lint-free rags.

You don't want to use a microfiber or a shop rag because it will leave stuff behind on the panels that you won't see until you go to spray it.

When you spray a panel with rattle cans, the most important thing is to make sure that you have a 50 percent overlap with your spray pattern.

If you don't, you'll get these negative spots between the coats, and that's called zebra patterning.

(hissing sound of spray paint) So, as you can see, we've got a nice professional result, with rattle cans, that you can get in your own home.

You follow these simple techniques, avoid zebra striping, and a good prep on the panel, and you're golden.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, hit us up right here, at MotorWeek .

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: Giving us a break from the utilities and sedans of our long-term fleet is a new compact addition like no other, this all-electric 2024 Fiat 500e.

This first update reflects just over 1,100 miles worth of EV road thus traveled, including wintry conditions.

Even with 3.0 to 4.0 inches of Mid-Atlantic snow, this 3,000 pound, front-wheel-drive compact was rather adept at traversing subpar tarmac.

We're having no issues reaching the advertised 149 miles of range, and 150 kilowatt DC fast charging makes top offs lightning fast, 50 miles in 10 minutes.

Driving this 500e, one word comes to mind: smooth.

That's true not just of the acceleration, but the deceleration.

Going into "range" drive mode activates one-pedal drive, which normally turns off some our test drivers.

But this has such a natural feel that even our most anti-one-pedal-drive staffers have offered their compliments.

And quickly switching plugs, our 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ is still humming along.

Now resting at 10,500 miles, we're continuing to enjoy the silent symphony of luxury EV cruising, with its 300-plus miles of range better suited for those longer trips.

We'll have a more substantial update on it soon, but not before a look at our Subaru Solterra on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test update!

JOHN: There's never a dull moment in our world, especially come time for a new QuickSpin.

♪ ♪ GREG: In the market for a small, fun to drive, affordable car?

Well, one of our favorites that has withstood the test of swaying automotive trends is the 4-door Volkswagen Jetta.

And this 2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn is the perfect embodiment of compact and sensible excitement.

That starts with the powertrain, which is untouched in this mild 2025 refresh.

The GLI's 2.0 liter turbo-4 cranks out 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, delivered to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or, as we prefer it, a 6-speed manual.

The GLI is the only way to get a manual-shifting Jetta now, and it's a real shame, as Volkswagen's 6-speed box is another staff favorite!

Driving a Jetta GLI with a manual transmission just feels right.

It starts with the clutch pedal, which really hits the sweet spot when it comes to resistance and feel.

It's firm, but it doesn't wear out my left leg.

Then, there's the actual shifter itself.

While, I do miss the more circular shift ball of GLIs in the past, the operation is as smooth as it ever was, which makes every opportunity for a downshift-- well worthwhile.

(engine revs) That potent power plant and slick gearbox are encased by a newly stylized body, with updated fascias fore and aft.

New headlights are joined by a rear lightbar, a trend Volkswagen is cashing in on across their portfolio.

The motif of "classy performance" extends into the cabin, with new materials and an updated dash design.

A 10.25 inch digital gauge unit is joined by an 8.0 inch infotainment screen, the latter supporting wireless smartphone projection.

All in all, fit and finish spell premium.

Available on dealer lots now, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI starts around $34,000, the Autobahn being the only trim available.

Even with our options, pricing stays well under $40,000, a win for small car enthusiasts in our book.

And we'll have more QuickSpins, soon!

JOHN: General Motors may have slowed their EV plans a bit, but they're still committed to an all-electric future and have many full battery-powered options to choose from across multiple brands, the latest of which is this Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Now, it's nothing at all like the gas-fueled Equinox we're all familiar with.

So, let's find out, if batteries are better.

♪ ♪ General Motors has made the biggest EV push out of all the big three American carmakers, coming up with the dedicated Ultium platform that now underpins a host of trucks and SUVs throughout their brands, and even Honda has made use of it.

GM's latest Ultium-based EV uses a familiar name, the Chevrolet Equinox EV.

And not to worry, this is not a replacement for the gas-powered Equinox, just a parallel path for those more comfortable joining the EV world with a familiar name.

And like its counterpart, the Equinox EV comes standard with front-wheel-drive, rated for as many as 319 miles from its 213 horsepower motor and 85 kilowatt hour battery pack.

Adding a rear motor for all-wheel-drive boosts output to 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, but drops range to 285 miles for our '24 test vehicle, though '25s get a bump up to 307 miles.

Though, even our '24 AWD appears capable of well over 300 miles as we were on pace for 329 miles in our driving loop.

150 kilowatt max charging speed delivers some 77 miles for every 10 minutes on charge.

And using 35 kilowatt hour of electricity per 100 miles earns the Equinox EV a good efficiency rating.

Much like every other Ultium-based vehicle we've been in, Equinox EV's ride quality is quite pleasant.

But where it really stands out is in exterior design.

Available in both LT and RS families, the Equinox EV is easily the sportiest-looking Ultium vehicle we've seen yet.

Its long 116.3 inch wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than the ICE Equinox.

As with many EVs, there's lots of active LED lighting elements; plus, flush door handles and smooth body panels to help aero efficiency.

Of course, the dedicated EV platform allows for a very spacious feel inside, with plenty of room for five adults and 26.4 cubic-feet of cargo space in back; folding rear seatbacks leads to max of 57.2 cubic-feet.

An AutoSense liftgate is available for hands-free operation.

2RS comes with some very nice cloth heated seats that Chevy calls Evotex; but more impressive is the 17.7 inch widescreen infotainment setup.

In addition to looking great, it responds quickly to inputs, is Google-based, and features EV-specific route planning through the MyChevrolet App.

There are multiple settings for regen braking, including two for one-pedal driving; plus, there's a regen-on-demand paddle behind the steering wheel that works like a hand brake.

There was enough torque here in our all-wheel-drive tester to spin up the tires a bit at launch, and when it did hook up, it left the line with a decent amount of thrust.

Enough to get to 60 in 6.1 seconds, almost 3.0 seconds quicker than we got in the ICE Equinox just a few months ago.

The power flow stayed consistent the whole way down the track, with no major upticks or drop-offs throughout the 14.9 second quarter-mile, finished at 91 miles per hour.

It felt equally smooth and steady through our handling course, very little body roll and quick steering added a playfulness to the process that made the Equinox feel smaller than it is.

Results were very consistent in our 60-0 panic braking test.

A short 116 foot average, stops were smooth and straight.

'24s are still available, with prices starting at $43,295 for a 2LT, but a base 1LT that goes for just $34,995 arrives for '25; adding all-wheel-drive is a pretty steep $3,300 increase.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV is an incredibly nice SUV regardless of what's under the hood.

GM has certainly built some impressive EVs recently, but delivering a family friendly EV with this much range for this low of a price is probably their most impressive feat yet.

That's why it earned our recent MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for Best of the Year, and why you should have it on your list, if a sensible EV purchase is in your future.

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 track test the fast and fashionable Aston Martin Vantage, then take a more practical approach to motoring in the Kia Carnival Hybrid!

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

We're Tire Rack.

We test tires, then share our results.

We stock over one million tires.

We offer multiple installation options.

We do this because we believe tires matter.

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