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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE AUDI R8 STILL RANKS HIGH AMONG TODAY'S SUPER CAR ELITE... PAT GOSS REMINDS US WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO COOL YOUR JETS... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ GOES BEHIND THE MASK WITH THE CAPED CRUSADER... AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE LATEST HONDA CR-V CAN STAY ON TOP.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

MORE INFORMATI IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> JOHN: WHEN THE 2008 AUDI R8 HIT THE STREETS, IT WAS MORE EXOTIC FROM THE BRAND.

IT SET THE TONE FOR ALL SUPERCARS TO FOLLOW, THAT RIDE, COMFORT, AND EVERYDAY LIVABILITY WERE NOW JUST AS IMPORTANT AS 0-60'S AND LAP TIMES.

WELL, THERE'S AN ALL NEW R8 RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE WANTED JUST ONE MORE TASTE OF THE ORIGINAL.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE AUDI R8 HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AS LONG AS IT HAS, AS MUCH LIKE IT NEVER SEEMS TO AGE.

THIS 2015 EDITION IS NO DIFFERENT, AS IT STILL LOOKS FIRST ROLLED INTO AND QUICKLY OUT OF AUDI SHOWROOMS.

THE LOW SLUNG SHAPE, WITH LARGE, PROTRUDING, SIDE BLADES, CERTAINLY STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION WHEREVER IT GOES, AND THE AVAILABLE V10 STILL HAS THE POWER TO GET IT JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE IN A HURRY.

THE FINAL MODEL YEAR OF THE FIRST GENERATION CAR SEES SOME MINOR UPDATES, INCLUDING A NEW SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR THE V10 PLUS MODEL, AVAILABLE DIAMOND STITCHING IN THE ALCANTARA HEADLINER, AND A FEW OTHER STANDARD FEATURES.

WHILE THE UPCOMING 2ND GEN CAR, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN MARVEL'S LATEST AVENGERS MOVIE, WILL BE BASED ON THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN CARBON-FIBER AND ALUMINUM CHASSIS; THIS ONE OF COURSE, IS STILL ALL ALUMINUM.

WITH THAT V10 MOUNTED MID-SHIP, WEIGHT COMES IN AT 3,792 POUNDS.

OR YOU CAN DROP 130 POUNDS MORE BY STEPPING UP TO OUR V10 PLUS, WHICH SHAVES WEIGHT WITH MORE CARBON FIBER, A SMALLER FUEL TANK, REDUCED SOUND INSULATION, AND STANDARD CERAMIC BRAKES.

AFTER PUTTING OUR FULL WEIGHT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT OUR TEST TRACK, THIS R8 V10 PLUS SHOT TO 60 IN 4.0 SECONDS.

NOW THAT'S A LITTLE SLOW, POWER TO ALL 4 WHEELS IN EARNEST, AND WORLD-CLASS LAUNCH CONTROL, WE HAD TROUBLE HOOKING UP ON OUR AGING TRACK SURFACE.

HIGH REVVING, FULL THRUST THRILLS CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE, ALONG WITH HARD AND FAST SHIFTS FROM THE OPTIONAL S TRONIC DUAL CLUTCH 7-SPEED TRANSMISSION.

OUR QUARTER MILE OF 12.2 SECONDS AT 123 MILES PER HOUR ALSO TOOK YET STILL ENDED UP SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN OUR 2010 R8 V10 TEST.

OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE FULLY MET THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSES, WHERE EPIC AMOUNTS OF STEERING FEEL AND CHASSIS COMPOSURE MAKE THE TRIP THROUGH THE CONES ALMOST BORING.

IT WOULD TAKE MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS THAN ACHIEVED HERE, AND A CHALLENGING ROAD COURSE, BEFORE YOU COULD EVEN SNIFF THIS CAR'S LIMITS.

THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT BRAKING, WITH STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING JUST 102 FEET, THEY ARE TRULY THE REAL DEAL.

OF COURSE THEY ARE OVERKILL, AND QUITE GRABBY, FOR STREET WORK.

STILL OVERALL, THE R8 FEELS AMAZINGLY AT HOME THERE TOO.

THERE MAY BE SEATING FOR JUST TWO, BUT BOTH OF THE LUCKY ONES HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE TO GET COMFORTABLE.

ALL TRIM WORK AND MATERIALS ARE HIGH CLASS IN FEEL AND MECHANICAL IN NATURE, ALTHOUGH THE LOOK COULD USE A LITTLE UPDATING.

WE STILL LOVE THE BEEFY KNURLED ALUMINUM SHIFTER EVEN IF WE'RE JUST SLIDING IT OVER TO AUTO, INSTEAD OF WORKING THE MANUAL'S GATED PATHS.

THE GAUGE PANEL FEATURES REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS GAUGES; NOT VIRTUAL FACSIMILES THEREOF, WITH A SMALL LAP TIMER IN THE CENTER.

AUDIOPHILES CAN UPGRADE TO A 465 WATT 12-SPEAKER BANG & OLUFSEN PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM THAT TRULY BRINGS THE NOISE.

BUT IF MECHANICAL NOISES ARE MORE YOUR THING, ENGAGE SPORT MODE ON THE CONSOLE AND THE V10 MOUNTED DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU WILL DELIVER EVEN MORE GLORIOUS SOUNDS.

AH, THAT V10.

ALL 5.2 LITERS WORTH OF POWER PRODUCING ALUMINUM, MAKING 550 HORSEPOWER AND 398 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YOU'LL ENJOY IT JUST AS MUCH AS IT DOES.

QUATTRO ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD OF COURSE AND THE V10 PLUS RIDES ON 19-INCH WHEELS THAT DO THEIR BEST TO MAINTAIN TRACTION.

WHILE THIS R8 IS NOT EXACTLY FEELING OLD, AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME IN THE HURACAN, WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW AWESOME THE NEW R8 WILL BE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS COME IN AT 13-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY AND 16-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE OF 14.3 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM WON'T ENDEAR IT TO THE HEARTS OF SIERRA CLUB MEMBERS, BUT IS NOT BAD FOR A SUPERCAR.

AND PRICING IS ALSO NOT BAD FOR A MODERN EXOTIC, THE R8 V8 COUPES STARTS AT $120,150.

STEPPING THROUGH TO THIS V10 PLUS HOWEVER WILL COST YOU $177,750.

V8 AND V10 SPYDER CONVERTIBLES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

OUR ADVICE, THE STREET, THE BASE V8 COUPE WILL ENTERTAIN YOU JUST FINE.

HAVING WON OVER OUR HEARTS A LONG TIME AGO, THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING THAT AUDI COULD'VE DONE TO THE 2015 R8 THAT COULD POSSIBLE MAKE OUR DESIRE FADE.

NOTHING TASTES LIKE AN ORIGINAL.

SO, HERE'S HOPING THAT THE SOON TO ARRIVE ALL NEW R8 WILL BE THE SAME FLAVOR, BUT WITH SPRINKLES.

WE'D LIKE TO PAUSE THIS WEEK'S SHOW TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PASSING OF ONE OF THE TRUE PIONEERS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALISM WORLD, DENISE MCCLUGGAGE.

MOST ENTHUSIASTS KNOW DENISE AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO AUTOWEEK MAGAZINE, AND ITS PREDECESSOR COMPETITION PRESS FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

BUT DENISE WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A "CAR WRITER."

DENISE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO COMPETE GLOBALLY IN THE "MAN'S" WORLD OF AUTO RACING, AND EVEN AT THE GRAND AGE OF 88, COULD DRIVE CIRCLES AROUND HER COMPATRIOTS.

SHE LOVED SPORTS OF ALL KINDS, AND AS A PROLIFIC AUTHOR SHE ALSO HELPED POPULARIZE DOWNHILL SKIING IN AMERICA.

SHE WAS A GIVING MENTOR TO THE GENERATION OF AUTOMOTIVE AND RACING JOURNALISTS THAT FOLLOWED HER, INCLUDING THOSE OF US AT MOTORWEEK THAT WERE HONORED TO KNOW AND DRIVE WITH HER.

DENISE WAS TRULY ONE OF A KIND.

WE'LL MISS HER WORDS.

BUT WE'LL MISS HER SMILE MOST OF ALL.

WHETHER IT'S SPEEDRACERS MACH 5, OR 007'S FAMOUS ASTON MARTIN, SUPERHEROES ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE THE COOLEST RIDES AROUND.

ONE MORE OBVIOUSLY ON THE LIST, THE BATMOBILE.

WELL, OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ CAUGHT UP WITH A REAL LIFE CAPED CRUSADER WHO BUILT HIS OWN, TO BRING GOOD TO GOTHAM CITY AND BEYOND.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: REMEMBER THE FAMOUS BATMOBILE FROM THE 1960s TV SERIES?

WELL, IT'S BEEN RESURRECTED IN THE FORM OF THIS CUSTOM BUILT REPLA, DRIVEN BY THE ONE AND ONLY... >> I'M BATMAN... >> YOLANDA: IT'S HARD TO GET LENNY ROBINSON TO BREAK CHARACTER ESPECIALLY WHEN HE'S IN HIS "SUPERHERO" GLORY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD POSING FOR PICTURES... >> THANK YOU!

>> MY PLEASURE... >> YOLANDA: AND CHATTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT'S FINEST.

BUT THE REAL REASON WHY HE DONS A 35 POUND CUSTOM MADE COSTUME IS TO BRIGHTEN PEOPLE'S DAY.

>> FATHER: "SAY THANK YOU BATMAN."

>> THANK YOU BATMAN.

>> BATMAN: "BATMAN IS ALSO A VERY BIG ORIOLES FAN."

>> YOLANDA: ROBINSON HAS BEEN TAKING HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE; VISITING CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS, AND AT CHARITY EVENTS.

>> DEVON ADAMS: I THINK IT'S PRETTY COOL... UM, I LIKE THE FLASHING LIGHT ON TOP...

IT'S PRETTY FAST >> SUSANNE BRAVERMAN: LOVE BATMAN, LOVE HIS CAR...

I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO TAKE ME FOR A RIDE IN IT, BUT HE HASN'T DONE THAT YET.

>> ARTHUR SANCHEZ: IT JUST TAKES YOU BACK TO THAT TIME WHEN YOU WERE A KID, AND I'M AN AVID COMIC BOOK COLLECTOR, SO, IT'S JUST EVEN BETTER FOR ME TO SEE THIS.

>> ROBINSON: IT'S THE MOST REWARDING THIS EVER.

VISITING THE KIDS AND MAKING IT'S THE BEST MOST FULFILLING THING ANYONE CAN EVER DO.

>> YOLANDA: TO MAKE HIS BATMAN PERSONA COMPLETE, ROBINSON KNEW HE NEEDED AN AUTHENTIC RIDE.

HE SAYS IT TOOK THREE YEARS TO BUILD HIS BLINGED OUT BATMOBILE.

>> ROBINSON: LITTLE TOUCHES HERE AND THERE NOT TOO MUCH.

>> YOLANDA: THE BATMAN LOGO IS EVERYWHERE, STITCHED INTO THE SEATS EMBEDDED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND YIKES!

IS THAT A BATMAN BRAKE PEDAL?

>> ROBINSON: I'VE KINDA DONE THE CAR ITSELF MY OWN WAY...

I'VE DETAILED IT THE WAY I LIKE TO DETAIL IT, UM, JUST TO ADD MY PERSONAL TOUCHES TO IT, THERE IS NO OTHER CAR OUT THERE LIKE THIS.

>> YOLANDA: MEASURING NEARLY 20 FEET IN LENGTH WITH DISTINCTIVE WING SHAPED TAILFINS, THE CAR IS BUILT A BIT DIFFERENTLY FROM THE ONE FEATURED IN THE TV SERIES.

>> ROBINSON: INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT ON AN OLD LINCOLN, OR AN OLD CADILLAC, WE ACTUALLY HAD A CUSTOM FRAME DONE.

>> YOLANDA: A QUICK LOOK UNDER THE HOOD REVEALS MORE FANCY FEATURES, THE ENGINE IS A 5.0 LITER MUSTANG COBRA WITH A 4 BARREL EDELBROCK CARBURETOR.

>> ROBINSON: I WENT OLD SCHOOL WITH THE ENGINE, OLD SCHOOL WITH CAR, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE BEST BATMOBILE THAT THERE WAS.

>> YOLANDA: OTHER DISTINCT DETAILS INCLUDE WILWOOD BRAKES AND A 9-INCH CURRIE REAR END AND POSI TRACTION.

OF COURSE NO BATMOBILE WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A FLASHING SIREN, BATRAY PROJECTOR, BAT BEAM, AND BATRAY HEADLIGHTS, REMEMBER THOSE FROM THE TV SHOW?

AND WHAT ABOUT THE FIERY AFTERBURNER?

IT'S IN THE BACK OF HIS CAR AS WELL.

>>OBINSON: COOLEST THING IN THE WORLD IS TO TURN ON THE ENGINE AND THEN THE FIRE CAME OUT THE BACK... THAT'S ONE THING I HAD TO HAVE.

>> YOLANDA: AND THERE'S ALSO A NAV SYSTEM A MODERN DAY MUST HAVE FOR A 21ST CENTURY BATMOBILE.

WHO NEEDS ROBIN WHEN YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS?

THAT'S RIGHT, I DECIDED TO GET AFTER ALL, IT TAKES A SPECIAL OUTFIT TO RIDE IN THE BATMOBILE.

THIS DARING DUO IS READY TO FIGHT CRIME AND SO OFF WE WENT TO SAVE THE WORLD.

RIDING SHOTGUN IN THIS TRICKED OUT CAR WAS A BAT GIRL'S DREAM.

IT HANDLED THE ROADS WELL AND HAD PLENTY OF POWER...

BUT THE REAL FUN IS WATCHING ROBINSON TAKE ON THE ROLE OF "SUPERHERO" STIRRING UP EXCITEMENT WHERE EVER HE GOES AND AS HE CRUISES ALONG IN ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC CARS IN TELEVISION HISTORY.

>> ROBINSON: "BATMAN SPEAKING, MOTORWEEK ROCKS."

>> JOHN: "COOL YOUR JETS."

IT'S WHAT YOU'D TELL YOUR BUDDY WHEN THEY GET A LITTLE TOO HEATED.

WELL PAT GOSS HAS SOME WISE WORDS FOR WHEN YOUR ENGINE DOES THE SAME.

>> PAT GOSS: ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO IGNORE THE GAUGES ON THE DASH OF YOUR CAR.

YOU SEE, THOSE GAUGES ARE PRETTY DARN RELIABLE.

AND IF THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING'S WRONG, YOU HAD BETTER DO WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL TELLS YOU TO DO TO AVOID SERIOUS DAMAGE AND A LOT OF MONEY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.

NOW, HERE WE HAVE A CYLINDER HEAD OFF OF A LATE MODEL AUTOMOBILE.

AND THIS HEAD IS MADE OF ALUMINUM.

NOW, ON AN ALUMINUM HEAD, WE HAVE STEEL VALVES.

THEY'RE REALLY HARDENED VALVES, AND THEY ALLOW THE AIR TO COME INTO THE CYLINDERS, AND THE EXHAUST TO GET OUT, AND THEY FIT BACK INTO THESE HOLES HERE.

NOW, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THESE, THIS HAS TO BE AN AIRTIGHT SEAL.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF HEAT HERE.

SO, HOW DO THEY MAKE THIS WORK?

WELL, THEY TAKE A HARDENED STEEL VALVE SEAT SUCH AS WE SEE HERE, AND THEY PRESS IT INTO THE ALUMINUM OF THE HEAD.

THAT GIVES THE ENGINE DURABILITY AND THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND THE TREMENDOUS HEAT THAT'S GENERATED HERE.

OKAY.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATS?

WELL IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE DRIVER HAD A WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS HOT.

WELL, THEY FIGURED THAT THEY COULD GO JUST ANOTHER COUPLE MILES TO GET IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY'D GET IT TAKEN CARE OF.

WELL, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT THAT EXTRA COUPLE OF MILES.

ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WENT FROM THE ENGINE RUNNING FINE TO THE ENGINE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND THEN TEN SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING REALLY, REALLY ROUGH AND MAKING HUGE AMOUNTS OF NOISE.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS, THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS GOT SO HOT THAT THIS PRESSED IN VALVE SEAT CAME LOOSE.

AND WITH A VALVE HAMMERING UP AND DOWN AGAINST IT, IT CRACKED, BROKE UP INTO PIECES, THEN THE PIECES ARE BEING GRENADED UP AND DOWN INSIDE THE CYLINDERS BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE PISTONS.

AND WE CAN SEE THE DAMAGE HERE ON THE CYLINDER HEAD.

WELL, IF THAT'S ALL THAT HAPPENED IT WOULD BE A NEW CYLINDER HEAD.

IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, BUT NOT LIKE THIS.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE ENGINE.

THOSE PIECES OF THE BROKEN VALVE SEAT HAMMERING AGAINST THE PISTON DESTROYED THE PISTON, AND SCORED THE CYLINDER WALLS.

SO, THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED.

DON'T TRY TO GO THE EXTRA MILE WHEN A MODERN ENGINE IS HOT.

BECAUSE THIS COULD HAPPEN.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT WAS GOODBYE ENGINE AND HELLO ABOUT $9,000.

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

>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO SLIP BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MY QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

WELL, WELL.

ANOTHER QUICKSPIN, ANOTHER 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

YES, THE RADICALLY STYLED 2015 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE WE'RE JUST HOPING INTO IS YET ANOTHER WITHOUT FOCUS ON THE 3-DOOR EVOQUE, AND OUR 2012 ROAD TEST, THIS TIME AROUND WE SAMPLE THE 5-DOOR.

POWER STILL COMES FROM A 240 HP TURBO 4, MATED TO THE AFOREMENTIONED 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

AN OPTION ON MORE AND MORE NEW CARS, IT'S STANDARD ON THE EVOQUE.

WHEN HANDLING FUEL ECONOMY, IT'S A FINE WAY TO TRAVEL.

WHEN YOU WANT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE EVOQUE'S SPORT CAR ATTITUDE THOUGH, THE 9 GEARS DON'T PLAY AS NICE WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND SOME CONFUSION CAN BE FELT DURING SHIFTS.

A MORE THAN CAPABLE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM COMBINED WITH LAND ROVER'S TERRAIN RESPONSE SYSTEM KEEPS THE EVOQUE VERY SURE FOOTED.

INSIDE, ROOM REMAINS UNCHANGED, THAT IS TO SAY, PLENTY FOR FRONT OCCUPANTS.

THOUGH REAR SEAT HEADROOM SUFFERS BY DESIGN.

VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR ALSO REMAINS CRAMPED.

BUT FOR ALL OF IT ODDITIES AND SACRIFICES, THE EVOQUE SURE IS FUN ON BACK ROADS.

A WILLING CHASSIS WITH SPORTY STEERING AND SUSPENSION MAKE DAILY DRIVING A BLAST.

FIVE DOORS OR THREE, IT'S HARD NOT TO HAVE FUN.

ON SALE NOW THE 2015 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE STARTS AROUND $42,000.

WITH EVERY NEW GENERATION, VEHICLES TEND TO GET BETTER.

AND SPOILER ALERT!

THE THIRD GENERATION, 2016 HONDA PILOT DOES JUST THAT.

A RECENT QUICKSPIN SHOWED US HOW.

STYLING, FOR ONE, DOES AWAY WITH THE FORMER "BOX", AND ADAPTS A "BLEND IN WITH RIVALS TO STAND OUT" APPROACH.

THE NEW DESIGN COULD EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR OTHERS.

NICE UP CLOSE DETAILS INCLUDE LED LIGHTING, SLICK 20 INCH WHEELS, AND A FIRST TIME PANORAMIC SUNROOF.

INSIDE IS WHERE THE 7 OR 8 PASSENGER PILOT REALLY TAKES OFF FROM OTHER 3-ROW MASS MARKET SUV'S.

OUTSIDE NOISE IS BROUGHT DOWN TO LUXURY CAR LEVELS, AND THINGS ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY TO THE MAX.

THE PUSH BUTTON SLIDING SECOND ROW CAN BE OPTIONED UP TO INCLUDE SEAT HEATERS, WHILE THE FRONT SEATS CAN ALSO GET VENTILATED COOLING.

THERE ARE USB PORTS ALL OVER FOR CHARGING DEVICES.

SAFETY TAKES TOP PRIORITY WITH A HOST OF ADVANCE SYSTEMS INCLUDING HONDA'S LANEWATCH, LAND KEEPING ASSIST, COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING, AND WITH NEW ELITE TRIM, BLIND SPOT AND REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT.

POWER COMES FROM THE FAMILIAR, BUT NOW DIRECT INJECTED 3.5 LITER V6 WITH VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT AND 280 HORSEPOWER.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS STANDARD, THOUGH THE HERE ALSO A 9-SPEED AUTO IS AVAILABLE, AND IT'S THE SMOOTHEST ONE WE'VE TRIED YET.

CAPABILITIES IMPROVE THANKS TO AN ALL NEW TORQUE VECTORING ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

LAST YEAR'S LOCK BUTTON GIVES WAY TO SELECTABLE TRACTION SETTINGS INCLUDING ONE FOR MUD.

IT'S ROVER, BUT IT CAN PILOT THROUGH SOME STICKY AND SLICK, SITUATIONS.

ON SALE IN JUNE, THE 2016 HONDA PILOT WILL START AROUND $32,000.

AND WE'LL HIT THE ROAD FOR MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

WITH HONDA IN THE MIDST OF LAUNCHING THE SUBCOMPACT HR-V CROSSOVER, AND YOU JUST SAW OUR REPORT ON THE NEW 3-ROW PILOT, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT'S BECOME OF THE MIDDLE CHILD, THE CR-V. WELL, IT'S DOING FINE THANK YOU, AND AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COMPACT UTES, IT'S JUST GOTTEN A REFRESHER COURSE TO KEEP IT COMPETITIVE AGAINST A TIDAL WAVE OF RIVALS.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THE CR-V CAN STILL HOLD ITS OWN.

BETTER SELLING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY IS WHAT THE 2015 AS HONDA HAS THROWN MOST OF THEIR LATEST AT IT, IN ORDER TO RETAIN ITS SPOT AS THE VOLUME LEADER AMONG SMALL UTILITIES.

THE EXTERIOR HAS BEEN TWEAKED, MOST NOTICEABLY WITH HI-TECH LOOKING LED RUNNING LIGHTS, AND WITH A SLIGHTLY MORE AGGRESSIVE LOOK TO BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR FASCIA'S.

THERE ARE MINOR CHANGES TO THE PROFILE, AS OVERALL LENGTH GROWS AN INCH AND GROUND CLEARANCE GETS A TINY BOOST, BUT WHEELBASE REMAINS THE SAME AT 103.1 INCHES.

ADVANCE ON THE INTERIOR IS THE NEW 7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN FOR AUDIO AND NAVIGATION.

IT IS VERY TABLET LIKE IN OPERATION, AND IS A BIG CHANGE FOR THE BETTER; THOUGH AT THE SACRIFICE OF ALL THE KNOBS WHICH WE MISS.

A MULTI-ANGLE REARVIEW CAMERA IS STILL STANDARD.

THE CENTER CONSOLE HAS BEEN REDESIGNED FOR MORE FUNCTIONALITY, AND NOW INCLUDES LOW-TECH, BUT VERY APPRECIATED AIR VENTS FOR THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS.

ALL SEATS REMAIN VERY COMFORTABLE, AND EVEN WHEN SHELTERED IN BULKY WINTER GEAR, THINGS ARE PLENTY ROOMY BOTH FRONT AND IN THE REAR, WHERE THERE'S A VIRTUALLY FLAT FLOOR.

DESPITE SOME INEXPENSIVE FEELING MATERIALS, BUILD QUALITY IS VERY GOOD, AS IS FIT AND FINISH THROUGHOUT, EVEN IN THE CARGO AREA WHICH HAS LOST A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM; NOW CAPABLE OF STORING 35.2 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO.

THAT SPACE EXPANDS TO 70.9 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE 60/40 SPLIT SEATBACKS FOLDED.

EVEN WITH A 2-PIECE DESIGN, FOLDING THOSE REAR SEATS IS STILL AMONG THE EASIEST IN THE BUSINESS, WHETHER INITIATED FROM THE SIDE OR FROM THE REAR.

AND THE RESULTING ALMOST FLAT, VERY LOW FLOOR MAKES LOADING EQUALLY STRESS FREE.

FOR MOST OF THE CR-V'S ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY YOU HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE NEW TOURING TRIM LEVEL.

ALONG WITH A POWER LIFT GATE, 18-INCH WHEELS, TURN SIGNAL MIRRORS, UPGRADED HEADLIGHTS, AND 2-POSITION SEAT MEMORY, COMES A WEALTH OF ADDED SAFETY TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS COLLISION MITIGATION, LANE KEEP ASSIST, AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL.

HONDA'S RIGHT BLIND SPOT ELIMINATING LANEWATCH CAMERA IS STANDARD ON EX MODELS AND ABOVE.

TECHNOLOGY UNDER THE HOOD STARTS WITH A REVISED 2.4 LITER I4 THAT NOW WEARS HONDA'S "EARTH DREAMS" MONIKOR AS IT ADDS DIRECT FUEL INJECTION.

HORSEPOWER STAYS THE SAME AT 185, BUT TORQUE JUMPS 18 STILL, TOWING CAPACITY REMAINS AT 1500 POUNDS.

THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A CVT, WHICH WE HAD FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT.

IT OPERATES SMOOTHLY, AND ENGINE NOISE IS MORE SUBDUED THAN MOST, THOUGH THAT COULD ALSO BE BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL SOUNDPROOFING MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR '15.

SUPPORTING IT ALL, THE SUSPENSION TUNING HAS BEEN TWEAKED, AND THE BRAKES IMPROVED, FOR SPORTIER RIDE AND HANDLING.

AND WITH OPTIONAL ALL WHEEL DRIVE, EVEN ON OUR WINTER ROADS, THIS CR-V FELT NOTICEABLY MORE SOLID AND SUREFOOTED, AND READY FOR WINTER'S WORST.

ALL IN ALL, WE'D SAY IT FEELS A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE EVEN IF IT ISN'T.

IT DEFINITELY FEELS MORE SECURE, WITH A RIDE QUALITY THAT'S A TINY BIT HARSHER.

A LATE SNOW KEPT US FROM GETTING INSTRUMENTED 0-60 RUNS, THOUGH WE ESTIMATE A REASONABLE 8.5 SECONDS.

AMPLE SPIRIT FOR BOTH LAUNCHING AND PASSING MANEUVERS.

AND EVEN WITH THAT ADDITIONAL POWER, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY TO 26-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

BUT OUR 26.2 MILEAGE LOOP WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

AND PILOT, HONDA'S CROSSOVER LINEUP WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REVISED IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.

AND WHILE THEY CERTAINLY HAD NO PROBLEMS SELLING CR-V'S IN ITS FORMER STATE, ALL OF THE CHANGES HERE SHOULD BRING EVEN MORE INTO THE FOLD.

THOUGH, THERE IS A SLIGHT PRICE INCREASE, WITH A BASE LX NOW STARTING AT $24,325.

ALL WHEEL DRIVE ADDS $1,250 TO ANY TRIM LEVEL, WITH TOP TIER TOURING TRIMS IN THE 2015 HONDA CR-V IS THE SAME SMOOTH, COMPETENT VEHICLE IT WAS LAST YEAR, ONLY NOW A LITTLE BETTER.

SO, IT REMAINS A NO BRAINER CHOICE AMONG COMPACT UTILITIES.

YET, EVEN WITH ITS TECHNOLOGY BOOST, THERE ARE BETTER VALUES.

STILL, NONE WILL VALIDATE YOUR BUYING DECISION MORE.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR A COMPACT SUV SHOW DOWN.

WATCH US HAUL IN A WINNER.

THEN WE'LL GO FAST WITH CLASS IN THE BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED.

PAT GOSS HAS A MODERN TIP TO GET US STARTED.

ZACH MASKELL TAKES AN OVER THE EDGE TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

THEN MOTORNEWS AND A LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

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

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