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

JOIN US AS LEXUS DROPS A DIFFERENT KIND OF F BOMB ON OUR FAVORITE ROAD COURSE, WITH THE RC F COUPE... PAT GOSS HELPS US KEEP THINGS HUMMIN' DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... WE'LL CATCH UP WITH A GROUP OF RIDERS WHO FIND MUD AND ICE SNOW PROBLEM AT ALL... AND THEN WE'LL CASH IN OUR STREET CRED WITH THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR!

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 INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

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MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> JOHN: NOW STOP US IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE.

LEXUS, KNOWN FOR PURVEYING ULTRA PLUSH LUXURY, IS NOW STEPPING INTO THE PERFORMANCE RING.

OKAY, SO IT'S NOT THEIR FIRST, OR EVEN SECOND ATTEMPT TO SHED THE SOFT IMAGE FOR A HARDER CORE ONE.

BUT WILL THE RESULTS THIS TIME BE DIFFERENT?

WELL, LET'S HIT THE TRACK IN THE NEW LEXUS RC F AND FIND OUT.

SO UP UNTIL NOW, LEXUS PERFORMANCE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LIMITED PRODUCTION AND VERY EXOTIC LFA, HAS BEEN MORE LIKE A KARATE CHOP AT A GUN FIGHT.

BUT THIS 2015 LEXUS RC F COUPE JUST MIGHT EVEN THE ODDS.

INDEED, AFTER THREE DAYS OF RELENTLESS ROUND-DA-ROUNDS AT THE HANDS OF OUR TEST TEAM, WE CAN SAY THE RC F DEFINITELY HAS THE GOODS TO TAKE ON A ROAD COURSE; IMPRESSING ALL OF OUR DRIVERS WITH A GREAT V8 BARK, AND NIMBLE CHASSIS BITE TO BACK IT UP.

THAT V8 IS A 5.0 LITER WITH ROOTS THAT GO BACK TO THE IS F SEDAN.

MUCH TWEAKING HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THEN HOWEVER, AND OUTPUT IS NOW 467 HORSEPOWER AND 389 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AS A REAR DRIVER ONLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS A BEEFED UP, 8 SPEED DIRECT SHIFT AUTOMATIC THAT WORKED VERY WELL THROUGH ROEBLING ROAD'S NINE TURNS, EVEN WHEN LEFT IN STRAIGHT UP AUTO MODE.

WHILE CLEARLY BASED ON THE RC 350, LEXUS CLAIMS THAT 70 PERCENT OF THE RC F'S SUSPENSION COMPONENTRY IS NEW OR UPDATED.

ANOTHER VALUE ADDED FEATURE IS THE AVAILABLE TORQUE VECTORING REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT MAKES A HUGE IMPACT ON BOTH THE RC F'S PERFORMANCE AND PERSONALITY, HELPING PUT MAXIMUM POWER TO THE PAVEMENT IN CORNERS WHEN IN TRACK MODE.

LEFT IN STANDARD MODE, IT FEELS LIKE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT VEHICLE THAT LIKES TO POWER ON OVERSTEER MORE THAN CLING TO AN APEX.

AT AROUND 4,000 POUNDS, THE RC F IS CERTAINLY NO LIGHTWEIGHT.

BUT IT FEELS AND RESPONDS MUCH LIGHTER.

THROUGH THE CORNERS, THE BOLSTERED RC F SPORT SEATS KEPT OUR DRIVERS SQUARELY IN PLACE.

YET, THEY STILL DELIVERED THE COMFORT THAT LEXUS OWNERS DEMAND.

THOUGH OVERALL HIGHLY CAPABLE, WE COULD DO WITH LESS INITIAL UNDERSTEER AT TURN-INS.

AND THE QUIETNESS OF THE RC F' PROFICIENCY MAKES IT LESS EXCITING TO DRIVE THAN WE'D HOPED.

BUT THOSE ARE NITPICKS.

IF THERE'S ONE SIGNIFICANT WEAK POINT, IT'S THE BRAKES.

INITIALLY THEY FELT GREAT.

BUT AFTER ONLY A FEW LAPS, THEY GREW SOFT AND UNINSPIRING.

OFF THE TURNS, AND ON THE STRAIGHT, THIS RAUCOUS V8 ALSO PROVED ITS METAL.

IT LOVES TO REV.

THERE'S NOT AS BIG A HIT OF TORQUE RIGHT OFF THE LINE AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, BUT RATHER A NICE BUILD THAT GETS YOU FAST RATHER QUICKLY.

0 TO 60 TAKES JUST 4.4 SECONDS.

DESPITE RELYING ON A TRUE AUTOMATIC FOR TRANSMISSION DUTIES AND NOT A SEQUENTIAL MANUAL; SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND SMOOTH, WITH POWER MOSTLY UNINTERRUPTED.

HELPING US CLEAR THE QUARTER IN 12.8 SECONDS AT 114 MILES PER HOUR.

BODY ENHANCEMENTS GALORE CERTAINLY MAKE THE RC F A STAND OUT.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF BOTH AIR INLETS AND OUTLETS, AN ACTIVE REAR WING, OPTIONAL CARBON FIBER ROOF, AND STACKED EXHAUST TIPS THAT GIVE THE HIND QUARTERS A TRULY MANIACAL LOOK.

ITS STANCE IS BOTH WIDER AND LOWER THAN THE RC 350, AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE AMONG 3 DIFFERENT 19-INCH WHEEL PATTERNS.

TIRE WIDTH IS STAGGERED, WITH 255/35S UP FRONT AND 275/35S IN BACK.

DESPITE THE COMFY SEATS, THE OVERALL INTERIOR COMES OFF TIGHTER THAN A TYPICAL LEXUS BUYER WOULD BE ACCUSTOMED TO.

BUT THEN, THIS IS EVERYTHING BUT A TYPICAL LEXUS.

STILL, THE USUAL LEATHER COVERINGS, HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS, AND HIGH TECH NICETIES ARE MOSTLY INCLUDED.

AN F-SPECIFIC GAUGE SET ALTERS SCREENS DEPENDING ON DRIVING MODE, AND THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY HOSTS A WEALTH OF INFO INCLUDING LAP TIMES AND EVEN REAR WING POSITION.

NOW, THE REAL BONUS.

EVEN WITH ALL OF ITS TRACK PROWESS, THE RC F IS ALSO A PLEASANT STREET CAR.

THE RIDE IS NEVER HARSH, AND GREAT CHASSIS RESPONSE MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DRIVING SUPER FAST TO ENJOY YOURSELF.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

RC F PRICING STARTS AT $63,325.

THAT UNDERCUTS THE BENCHMARK BMW M4 BY ABOUT 2 GRAND.

AND THE F STORY CERTAINLY WON'T END HERE, AS LEXUS RECENTLY DEBUTED A BIGGER AND BADDER GS F SEDAN AT THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

BUT BACK TO THE M4.

THE 2015 LEXUS RC F MAY BE A BIT CHEAPER, BUT IS IT ALSO A CLOSE CONTENDER?

WELL, WE THINK IT IS SURPRISINGLY CLOSE ON THE STREET, AND YES, ON THE TRACK AS WELL.

WHO EVER THOUGHT WE WOULD SAY THAT!

AND THAT IS JUST HOW FAR LEXUS PERFORMANCE HAS COME.

NOW FOR MOST, WINTER IS THE TIME TO PUT AWAY THE TWO-WHEELIN' TOYS, AND GRAB A LITTLE MORE SHELTER FOR THE DAILY GRIND.

WELL, WE RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH A GROUP OF ROKON RIDERS WHO, WHEN THE SNOW PILES UP, THEY DEFY CONVENTIONS AND HIT THE TRAILS FOR SOME MUDDY GOOD FUN!

>> MARK SPREADBOROUGH: WE'RE IN SANFORD MAINE AT MY FRIEND CHIP'S HOUSE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WHERE HE'S GOT A HORSE FARM, AND A LOT OF PROPERTY WITH CREEKS, AND DRAINAGE'S, AND WOODS TO RIDE THROUGH.

>> CHIP AUSTIN: OUR FARM HERE IS A 128 ACRES.

ITS TYPICAL MAINE WOODLANDS.

ROLLING HILLS, SOME ELEVATION CHANGE.

AND WE HAVE ROCKS.

MAINE IS REALLY GOOD AT GROWING ROCKS.

THE DEAL BREAKER, THOUGH, IS THE SNOW.

>> BOB GALLAGHER: THIS IS CHIP'S PLACE.

UH, HE'S THE HOST, UH, WE'RE IN HIS MACHINE SHOP AN ACTIVE MACHINE SHOP THAT HE USES FOR BUSINESS.

HE'S BEEN HAVING THESE RIDES UP HERE FOR, UH, 43 YEARS I THINK.

>> DAVID FILLMAN: I DON'T USE BRAKES NORMALLY BECAUSE I DON'T GET GOING FAST ENOUGH (GUYS LAUGHING) >> CHIP: IT'S BEEN A LONG WINTER AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS AN EXTRA DOSE OF CABIN FEVER.

SO IT'S LIKE, JUST GIVE US A GOOD DAY.

WE WANT TO GET OUT AND GO DO SOMETHING.

>> CHIP: WHEN I SAW THE WEATHER REPORT, I WAS LIKE, OH BOY, HERE WE GO.

WE'VE DONE ALL THIS WORK AND NOBODY'S GONNA SHOW UP.

>> CHIP: IT'S A ROLL OF THE DICE WHENEVER YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.

ON A NORMAL RIDE WE LUCKY IF WE HAVE 15 BIKES.

>> CHIP: HEY TOM.

>> TOM BLAIS: HEY, CHIP.

HOW YOU DOIN'?

>> CHIP: GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

THANKS FOR COMING OVER >> CHIP: OH, THAT'S THE GUYS FROM NEW JERSEY.

HOOO.

HOW YOU GUYS DOIN?

>> MARK: CHIP'S RIDE ATTRACTED, UH, ACTUALLY MORE RIDERS THAN WE HAD AT THE BEHIND THE BARN RIDE.

>> CHIP: HEY SPIKE.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> MARK: THERE WAS A LOT OF THE LOCAL GUYS THAT I NEVER KNEW OR COMMUNICATED WITH.

AND THEY ALL BROUGHT PLENTY OF BIKES FOR GUYS THAT FLEW IN AND EVERYONE HAD A BIKE TO RIDE.

>> CHIP: WOW!

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT IS VERY NICE.

>> CHIP: PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THE TURNOUT.

ALL OF THE BIKES THAT WERE HERE, FORTY ODD BIKES, NO TWO OF 'EM WERE THE SAME.

IT WAS MORE THAN I EXPECTED, HONESTLY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS HUGE REALLY.

>> CHIP: SATURDAY WILL BE INTERESTING.

I THINK IT WILL BE BIGGER THAN EVER.

THE GUYS FROM RHODE ISLAND IS BRINGING 6 OR 7 BIKES, HE SAYS.

IF YOU HAVE 6 OR 7 BIKES, THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE YOU CAN RIDE ONE.

(GUYS LAUGHING).

>> DAVE: SO, WHERE WE GONNA RIDE?

>> CHIP: WE HAVE A BUNCH OF TRAILS AS AN ESTABLISHED TRAIL LOOP.

WE'RE GONNA WORK A STREAM CROSSING INTO THE LOOP.

RIDE DOWN THE STREAM FOR A SHORT WAYS.

>> CHIP: WHEN THE CONDITIONS PRESENT ITSELF, THE SNOW RIDING IS THE BEST RIDE.

IT'S LOOSE ON TOP, SLUSHY ON THE BOTTOM.

WE CALL IT "CORN SNOW."

THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO FORWARD BITE AT ALL.

IT'S LIKE RIDING ON BB'S.

WE RIDE MORE ROKON'S IN THE WINTER TIME HERE THAN WE DO IN THE SUMMER TIME.

IT'S NOT A FAIR WEATHER SPORT.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY RIDES THESE THINGS IN ALL KINDS OF CONDITIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THE BIKES ARE FOR.

>> MARK: A BUNCH OF OUR RIDING HAS BEEN TO THIS CREEK THAT IS BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW.

AS CHIP WOULD SAY, "IT'S WICKED BONEY."

I LEARNED THAT, THAT'S THE LINGO.

IT MEANS IT HAS A LOT OF ROCKS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM AND THEY'RE VERY HARD.

>> CHIP: BOB SHOWS UP.

OF COURSE, THESE GUYS ALL ARRIVED ON PLANES, SO THEY'RE DEPENDING ON BIKES TO RIDE.

SO, BOB GRABS MY TWO STROKE BIKE.

>> BOB: CHIP SAID RIDE IT LIKE IT'S MY OWN.

I DON'T KNOW, HE'S SEEN HOW I TREAT MY OWN STUFF, SO HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I START OUT SLOW AND TRY TO BE KIND TO HIS BIKE.

BUT AFTER WHILE IT JUST GETS A LITTLE MORE ROUGH.

WE GOT TO A CREEK CROSSING AND IT'S KINDA STEEP ON THE FAR SIDE AND I WAS TRYING NOT TO GET MY FEET WET.

AND UH, STARTED THROUGH THE CREEK AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING ALRIGHT AND GOT TO THE FAR SIDE.

AND THE FRONT WHEEL CAME UP AND KEPT COMING UP AND UP AND I KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO HOLD ON TO IT.

AH, I JUST TOSSED IT TO THE SIDE.

"SORRY CHIP!"

>> BOB: AH, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT TREAT THE RENTAL LIKE YOU TREAT YOUR OWN STUFF.

>> CHIP: RIDE OVER HIM KEVIN.

>> MARK: (LAUGHING) RIDE OVER HIM.

>> CHIP: OH, I EXPECTED THAT.

THAT WAS... YEAH.

I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS KINDA MILD.

I THIN...

I THOUGHT HE KINDA "SALLIED OUT" BECAUSE IT CAME BACK IN ONE PIECE.

(GUYS LAUGHING) >> MARK: WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF BIG TALL HILLS TO CLIMB HERE.

BUT WE DID HAVE A LOT OF FUN IN THE, IN THE CREEK.

BLACK LABS, AND ROKON'S, AND RIDERS ARE ALL ATTRACTED TO CREEKS.

>> KEVIN "STONEY" STONE: YES, WE DO COME ACROSS BROOKS WHERE WE DO HAVE TO GET ACROSS AND THAT.

AND SOMETIMES WE DO FIND DEEP SPOTS.

I DO HAVE A SNORKEL SETUP.

SO LOT OF TIMES, I'M USUALLY THE FIRST ONE THAT THEY SEND ACROSS TO FIND OUT HOW DEEP IT IS.

YOU JUST KNOW IF YOU GET IN THE WATER LIKE THAT, DON'T LOOK TO YOUR LEFT.

KEEP YOU HEAD TURNED THE OTHER WAY CAUSE IF YOU LOOK TO THE LEFT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DIRTY EYES.

>> KEVIN: I HAVE TRIED SOME PRETTY DUMB STUFF OUT THERE AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T DO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I DO WITH THEM.

>> MARK: YOU KNOW ROKON ROMPS, AND ROKON RIDING, AND ROKON RIDERS ARE KINDA UNIQUE IN THAT THERE IS A LEMMING EFFECT THAT IF ONE PERSON TRIES SOMETHING AND FAILS, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT TRIGGERS IN A RIDER'S MIND AND THEY DECIDE THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY DO IT BETTER.

CAUSE THE FIRST GUY WAS OBVIOUSLY STUPID.

SO, THEY'RE GONNA GO IN THERE.

AND, UH, USUALLY THAT WILL ATTRACT LIKE 5 OR 6 OF THEM IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT AND THAT'S ALWAYS ENTERTAINING FOR THE 8 OR 10 OR THE OTHER ONES THAT OBSERVED THAT.

>> CHIP: IT WAS FUNNY.

YEAH, I ENJOYED IT THOROUGHLY.

AND KNOWING THAT I WAS WARM AND DRY D THEY WERE FLAILING AROUND DOWN THERE.

I'VE DONE THAT ENOUGH THAT IF I MISS A DAY OF PUNISHMENT, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

>> MARK: THE COOL THING ABOUT THE BIKES IS, IS IT ATTRACTS A CERTAIN TYPE OF CHARACTER.

>> BRAD RICHELSON: WHEN WE STARTED HAVING THE ROMPS, I STARTED TO MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS.

LIKE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT.

YOU'RE BY YOURSELF.

(PEOPLE YELLING AROUND FIRE) THERE'S A BUNCH OF OTHER CRAZY PEOPLE LIKE ME OUT THERE WHO LIKE TO SHOW UP AT THESE ROMPS.

AND WATCH EACH OTHER FALL OVER, AND LAUGH, AND DRINK BEER, AND EAT, AND THEN GO RIDING AGAIN.

IT'S A GREAT TIME.

I CAN'T EVEN SAY IT'S REALLY A HOBBY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY PART OF MY LIFE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT HAVING A ROKON AROUND.

I REALLY CAN'T.

(IN BACKGROUND) ("WE NEED ANOTHER TREE").

>> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS HERE TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

LET'S SWING BY GOSS' GARAGE FOR A CHECKUP.

>> PAT GOSS: FOR ANY ENGINE TO RUN, HE HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO OPEN THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES.

AND THAT'S DONE WITH A CAM SHAFT, OR MULTIPLE CAM SHAFTS.

NOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO MAKE THOSE CAM SHAFTS TURN.

WELL, THAT'S DONE BY CONNECTING THE CRANK SHAFT OF THE ENGINE TO THE CAM SHAFTS BY A CHAIN OR A BELT.

USED TO BE CHAINS, THEN IT WENT TO BELTS FOR 30 OR 40 YEARS, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK THE CHAINS.

BUT THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE TENS OF MILLIONS OF CARS ON THE ROAD WITH TIMING BELTS.

NOW, THERE'S A RULE WITH TIMING BELTS: DO NOT CHEAT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REPLACE THEM.

YOU SEE, A LOT OF ENGINES, IF THE TIMING BELT SLIPS OR FAILS, IT CAN DAMAGE OR DESTROY THE ENTIRE ENGINE.

SO, YOU GOTTA PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS.

MOST MANUA HAVE TIME OR MILEAGE; WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

NOT WHICH COMES LAST.

SO, I IT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT 90,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS, WHICHEVER ONE COMES UP, DO IT.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT WHEN IT DOES COME TIME TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PARTS THAT WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BELT.

SUCH AS THE WATER PUMP; THERE ARE IDLERS, TENSIONERS, VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S ALSO OIL SEALS AND SO ON.

YOU'D BE MONEY AHEAD IF YOU HAVE YOUR SHOP INSTALL A TIMING BELT KIT.

IT COMES WITH ALL OF THE WEAR PARTS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK FOR DUPLICATE LABOR.

GOOD WAY TO SAVE MONEY.

ALRIGHT, NOW WE HAVE A SECOND BELT ON THE ENGINE.

THAT IS THE SERPENTINE BELT.

IT RUNS THE POWER STEERING, THE WATER PUMP IN SOME CARS, THE ALTERNATOR.

DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOW IN THIS CASE, IT'S DRIVEN OFF OF A CRANK SHAFT PULLEY THAT IS USUALLY LARGER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER PULLEYS, SO ALL OF THESE PULLEYS ARE OVER DRIVEN.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAVE MORE USE ON THEM THAN THE ENGINE DOES.

SO, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, CHECK ALL OF THESE ACCESSORIES, AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU FIND THAT YOU NEED A NEW TENSIONER AND A NEW IDLER AT THE SAME TIME.

AGAIN, IT'LL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

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

>> JOHN: WELL, ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DRIVE!

WELL, DRIVES.

LET'S SEE WHAT QUICKSPINS WE HAVE THIS WEEK!

A LOT OF HEAD SCRATCHING,ED IN BUT IT WAS HARD TO ARGUE WITH THE 555 HORSEPOWER RESULT.

AND NOW, 5 YEARS LATER, THERE'S A NEW GENERATION OF THIS POTENT COUPE STYLE UTE: THE 2015 X6 M. THE VITALS ARE THE SAME YET DIFFERENT.

STILL A 4.4 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8.

BUT IT'S TECHNICALLY, AND MECHANICALLY, A NEW ENGINE, NOW PUTTING OUT 567 HP.

TORQUE IS WAY UP, TO 553 POUND-FEET.

YET, FUEL ECONOMY IS 2 MILES PER GALLON BETTER.

AN 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC NOW SORTS OUT THE POWER, WITH XDRIVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE STILL STANDARD.

SO, WITH ALL THE PIECES IN PLACE, WE TOOK THE X6 M TO THE ONE PLACE AN SUV SHOULD NEVER GO: THE TRACK.

>> ZACH MASKELL: YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO MAKE A HEAVIER SUV PERFORM UP TO TRACK STANDARDS.

SO, WHAT THEY DID WITH THIS M VERSION, WAS THEY LOWERED IT ALMOST HALF AN INCH.

AND THEN THEY HAVE THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, ALONG WITH THE TORQUE VECTORING; IT REALLY PUTS ALL THAT POWER RIGHT TO THE GROUND, RIGHT WHEN YOU WANT IT.

>> JOHN: INSIDE IT'S UNIQUELY BMW, OF COURSE, AND DOWNRIGHT GORGEOUS.

MATERIALS, COMFORT, AND DESIGN ARE ALL TOP NOTCH.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 BMW X6 M STICKERS AROUND $103,000.

EVERY SMALL CAR FILLS A NICHE, WHETHER IT'S IN STYLING, FUNCTIONALITY, OR ITS FUN FACTOR.

WE SET OUT ON A RECENT QUICKSPIN IN THIS 2015 TOYOTA YARIS TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE REVISED ROLE IT NOW PLAYS ON THE SUBCOMPACT STAGE.

ON THE LOOKS SIDE OF THINGS, THE YARIS IS ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING SMALL CARS OUT THERE.

AFTER ALL, IT WAS STYLED IN FRANCE.

ITS LARGE WIDE OPEN FRONT END, ANGLED LIGHTS, WITH SCULPTED FENDERS, AND HOOD, GRAB YOUR ATTENTION.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING STARTLING UNDER THE HOOD, AS ITS 106 HORSEPOWER 1.5 LITER 4, WITH EITHER 5 SPEED MANUAL OR 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, ARE ALL BEHIND THE TIMES.

STILL, THE NEW YARIS EQUATES ITSELF WELL ON TWO LANE ROADS, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM ANY EUROPEAN SOURCED MODEL.

RIDE IS QUITE SMOOTH AND WELL ISOLATED COMPARED TO RIVALS.

FUEL ECONOMY, A BIG POINT FOR SUBCOMPACTS, RATES WELL AT 32 COMBINED.

WE DID EVEN BETTER THAN THAT.

INSIDE, THINGS ARE BASIC, THOUGH NUMEROUS COSMETIC CHANGES KEEP IT FRESH.

IN BOTH 3 AND 5 DOOR MODELS, WE FOUND AMPLEOMMUTER ROOM, AND WITH A STANDARD SPLIT REAR BENCH, A VERSATILE CARGO BAY.

PRICE, IN THIS SEGMENT, IS ALSO A BIG FACTOR, AND A STARTING POINT OF $15,000 FOR THE YARIS, WILL HELP.

IT'S ON SALE NOW AND NO PASSPORT IS REQUIRED.

AND WE'LL BE BACK OUT ON THE ROAD FOR MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

THOUGH THE CADILLAC ESCALADE MAY GET MOST OF THE REPS IN RAP VIDEOS AND COP SHOWS ON TV, THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR IS STILL VERY MUCH A PRESENCE IN THE BIG BUCK, BIG TRUCK, LUXURY SUV MARKET.

AND JUST TO PROVE THE POINT, IT GETS SOME UPDATES FOR '15 THAT SHOULD KEEP IT RIDIN' HIGH.

ONCE YOU GET PAST THE 60 G'S PLUS STICKER OF THE 2015 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND SPEND QUALITY TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE WITH FULL-SIZE LUXURY SUV'S.

RIDIN' HIGH AND LOOKIN' HANDSOME, IS A TREMENDOUS WAY TO GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY BUSINESS, AND AN EVEN BETTER MEANS TO HIT THE HIGHWAY FOR A FIRST CLASS ROAD TRIP.

WITH THE RISE OF MORE EFFICIENT CROSSOVERS, THESE BODY ON FRAME DINOSAURS, WHILE NOT YET A DYING BREED, CERTAINLY HAVE MORE LIMITED APPEAL.

BUT THAT INCLUDES THOSE THAT WANT TO TOW UP TO 9,000 POUNDS, WHICH NO THREE ROW CROSSOVER CAN APPROACH.

LAST UPDATED FOR 2007, THE NAVIGATOR WAS INDEED IN NEED OF SOME TENDING TO.

WITH AN ALL NEW ESCALADE, AND BOTH INFINITI AND MERCEDES-BENZ UPDATING THEIR BIG UTE, THE NAVIGATOR WAS CLEARLY IN JEOPARDY OF FALLING BEHIND FOREVER.

SO, WHILE IT'S NOT A TOTALLY NEW LOOK, THE EXTERIOR IS FRESHENED, MOST NOTABLY WITH A MODERNIZED SPLIT WING GRILLE.

AND ALTHOUGH HEADLIGHTS REMAIN HID'S AND NOT LED'S, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 222 LED LIGHTS SCATTERED AROUND THE EXTERIOR.

IT'S AN OVERALL IMPROVEMENT FOR SURE.

YET, IS ALSO TRIES A LITTLE TOO HARD WITH ITEMS LIKE 22-INCH WHEELS, AND THE RESERVE PACKAGE'S NOT THAT NICELY INTEGRATED POWER RUNNING BOARDS.

AS BEFORE, 2-WHEELBASES ARE AVAILABLE, STANDARD AT 119.0 INCHES AND EXTENDED AT 131.0 INCHES.

LIKEWISE THE 8 PASSENGER INTERIOR SEES MUCH REFINEMENT, AND PERHAPS WITH BETTER RESULTS.

THE FEEL IS NOW MORE HIGH TECH, AND WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO MYLINCOLN TOUCH, BY BRINGING BACK SOME MANUAL CONTROLS.

AND THE SYNC SYSTEM STILL HAS ONE OF THE BEST VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE OUT THERE.

THE MINIMAL APPEARANCE TO THE GAUGES APPEARS ODD AT FIRST, BUT ALL THE USUAL INFO AND MORE IS THERE, IT JUST MIGHT TAKE YOU A CLICK OR TWO TO GET TO IT.

THE AFOREMENTIONED RESERVE PACKAGE ADDS UPGRADED LEATHER WRAPPING TO MOST INTERIOR ELEMENTS, PLUS NEW ZIRICOTE WOOD TRIM.

THE SEAT FOLDING PROCESS IS NOT AS GOOD AS RIVALS, AND THE FIT AND FINISH IN THE CARGO AREA IS NOT BEFITTING OF SUCH A PRICEY RIDE.

YOU ALSO STILL HAVE TO REACH INTO THE CARGO AREA TO TRIGGER THE POWER REAR HATCH.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO GET INTO A BIG TRUCK BASED SUV AND GET AN OLD SCHOOL FEEL, BUT IT'S PRIMARILY NOTICEABLE HERE AFTER HAVING SPENT SOME RECENT TIME IN THE LATEST GM BIG BOYS.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THE NAVIGATOR IS SURPRISINGLY AGILE.

IT GREATLY BENEFITS FROM NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND FROM THE AVAILABLE LINCOLN DRIVE CONTROL CONTINUOUS DAMPING, THAT, DESPITE THOSE 22-INCH HOOPS, KEPT THE RIDE VERY PLUSH.

OVERALL, LINCOLN HAS DONE A GOOD JOB REFRESHING THIS OLD CHASSIS, EVEN IF IT'S NOT AS MODERN FEELING AS OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT.

AND WITH THE REST OF THE LINCOLN LINEUP MOVING AWAY FROM REMINDING YOU OF THE FORD VEHICLES THEY'RE BASED ON; NAVIGATOR IS NOW CLEARLY AN OUTSIDER.

PERHAPS THE BEST PART OF THE WHOLE VEHICLE, AND CERTAINLY THE MOST MODERN, IS THE POWERTRAIN.

IT ALL STARTS WITH A 3.5 LITER ECOBOOST V6 THAT PUTS OUT V8 LEVELS OF POWER: 380 HORSEPOWER AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO BE PRECISE.

IT'S ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY SMOOTH 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

WHILE REAR DRIVE IS ANDARD, AVAILABLE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE INCLUDES BOTH HILL DECENT CONTROL, AND HILL START ASSIST.

DESPITE BEING SOFT ON INITIAL THROTTLE TIP IN, WE SPRINTED TO 60 IN JUST 6.2 SECONDS AND RAN OUT THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.8 SECONDS AT 94 MILES PER HOUR.

WHILE PRICEY TO US, THE NAVIGATOR ACTUALLY COMPARES WELL TO ITS CADDY COMPETITOR.

STARTING AT $62,475, IT'S ABOUT 10-GRAND LESS THAN ESCALADE.

IN A WORLD WHERE THE NEXT LATEST AND GREATEST COMES AT YOU FASTER AND FASTER, THE NAVIGATOR COULD USE A FULL ON REDESIGN.

BUT THESE UPDATES, ALONG WITH A PRICE ADVANTAGE, KEEP IT A LEGIT PLAYER.

SO, IF YOU'RE AN UPSCALE FAMILY LOOKING FOR AN UPSCALE UPSIZED RIDE, THE 2015 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SHOULD CERTAINLY BE ON YOUR LIST.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.

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, AND SEE IF MORE DOORS MEANS MORE FUN IN A MINI COOPER.

THEN WE'LL PICKUP ON THE RETURN OF THE CHEVY COLORADO AND GMC CANYON.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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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.

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