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

JOIN US, AND SEE IF THERE'S ENOUGH PORSCHE PROWESS TO MAKE THE MACAN UTILITY LEGIT.

PAT GOSS TAKES OUR KNOW HOW TO NEW HEIGHTS.

ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE TO CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE RACE TRACKS.

THEN WE'LL PICKUP WHERE WE LEFT OFF WITH THE CHEVY COLORADO, AND GMC CANYON!

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

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

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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: LIKE MOST, WE ARE LONG OVER THE FACT THAT PORSCHE IS NOW IN THE SUV BUSINESS TO STAY.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE ROUNDLY SUCCEEDED IN BUILDING UTILITIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE IMAGE, AND PUT A BUNCH OF THE MONEY THEY'VE MADE SELLING THEM INTO MAKING THE 911 EVER BETTER.

SO HERE'S THE SECOND, SMALLER PORSCHE SUV, THE NEW MACAN.

SPORT-ORIENTED LUXURY CROSSOVER UTILITIES ARE NOTHING NEW OF COURSE, EVEN SMALL ONES LIKE THIS 2015 PORSCHE MACAN.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PORSCHE HAS BEEN IN THE CUV BUSINESS FOR OVER 10-YEARS NOW, AND NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE PREDICTED THE PORSCHE PROFILE WOULD EXTEND THIS FAR.

THE CHASSIS COMES FROM CORPORATE PARTNER AUDI, AND THOUGH WHEELBASE IS THE SAME, THINGS ARE HIGHLY EVOLVED FROM THAT OF THE Q5 STARTER.

THE MACAN IS LONGER, WIDER, AND LOWER.

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HINT TO A VERY REWARDING DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

AS WITH MOST PORSCHE'S, YOU CAN START OUT MILDLY WILD AND GO TO BORDERLINE EXTREME WITH YOUR CHOICE OF 2 TURBO ENGINES UNDER HOOD, ONE OF WHICH IS FOUND IN THE TURBO MODEL WE HAVE HERE.

IT'S A 3.6-LITER TWIN-TURBO V6 WITH OUTPUT NUMBERS OF 400 HORSEPOWER AND 406 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

MACAN S'S ARE POWERED BY A SMALLER 3.0-LITER TURBO V6 WITH ONLY 340 HORSEPOWER AND 339 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH DIESEL, AND EVENTUALLY A HYBRID, WILL FOLLOW.

ALL CURRENT MACAN'S ARE 7-SPEED PDK EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

THIS MAY BE ENTRY-LEVEL PORSCHE CROSSOVER TERRITORY, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF HIGH END FEATURES AVAILABLE, INCLUDING PORSCHE'S AIR SUSPENSION WITH ADJUSTABLE DAMPING.

IT PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF ADJUSTMENT FROM ALMOST SLOPPY SOFT TO EXTREME HARSH.

IT DOES MAKE SOME NOISE WHILE ADJUSTING THOUGH, AND AT TIMES HAD US FEELING LIKE WE WERE DRIVING AROUND IN AN IRON MAN SUIT.

AND BEFORE YOU ASK, JACKED UP THE MACAN IS VERY CAPABLE OFF ROAD, WITH OVER 9-INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE.

CONVERSELY, SLAM IT DOWN AND IT BECOMES A TRACK READY SPORT SEDAN HUNTER, ZIPPING THROUGH CONES WITH GRIP-O-PLENTY AND CRISP RESPONSE FROM THE SMALLEST OF INPUTS.

STEERING FEEL IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT.

INPUTTING THE THROTTLE TO ITS FULLEST WILL GET YOU TO 60 IN 4.5-SECONDS AND TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 13.1 AT 105 MILES-PER-HOUR.

PDK'S LAUNCH MODE AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE TRACTION PROVIDE PLENTY OF ENCOURAGEMENT AT LAUNCH, AND THE THRILL-RIDE QUICK AUTOMATIC SHIFTS KEEP THE POWER COMING.

AS EXPECTED, BRAKES ALSO APPROACH 911 TERRITORY WITH PERFECTLY SMOOTH AND STABLE STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING A SHORT 110-FEET.

THINGS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS WHEN TRACK TIME TURNS TO COMMUTE TIME.

IT'S A SEDATE HIGHWAY CRUISER WITH A RIDE THAT'S PLENTY SMOOTH ENOUGH FOR AN EVERYDAY VEHICLE.

VISIBILITY OUT THE BACK IS NOT GREAT, AND THERE IS NO BACKUP CAMERA UNTIL YOU FORK OVER 4600 BUCKS FOR THE PREMIUM PACKAGE.

NOW THAT'S A CRIME.

BUT THERE IS MORE REAR SEAT FREEDOM THAN EXPECTED.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SLANT-BACK ROOF, CARGO SPACE SUFFERS A BIT AT 17.7 CUBIC-FEET.

WITH SEATBACKS FOLDED, IT EXPANDS TO AN ACCEPTABLE 53.0 CUBIC-FEET.

PORSCHE CERTAINLY GOT THE LOOK JUST RIGHT, AS MACAN APPEARS MORE LIKE 911 WAGON ON TIPPY TOES THAN A DEFLATED CAYENNE.

AND INDEED, THE LAID BACK HEADLIGHTS, CURVY FENDERS, SIDE GLASS, AND EVEN THE TAILLIGHTS ALL SAY CARRERA.

STANDARD WHEELS ON THE MACAN TURBO ARE 19'S, BUT YOU CAN UPGRADE TO 21-INCH WHEELS STRAIGHT OFF THE 911 TURBO.

PRICING STARTS AT A HAUGHTY $50,895.

THE TURBO, AN ALMOST RIDICULOUS $73,295.

BUT THAT'S NOT SO OUT OF LINE FOR A TOP NOTCH GERMAN PERFORMANCE CAR.

NO MATTER THE PRICE, OR HOW YOU SEE THE 2015 MACAN, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE IT NOT BEING A BIG SUCCESS.

INDEED, DEALERS TELL US THEY ARE LITERALLY FLYING OFF THE LOTS.

NO WONDER.

MACAN IS FULLY CONSISTENT WITH PORSCHE'S PERFORMANCE LEGACY.

AND, IN TIME SHOULD BECOME PORSCHE'S BIGGEST SELLER.

SO, WHILE SOME FOLKS STILL THINK 911 WHEN THEY HEAR PORSCHE, IF THEY KEEP MAKING CROSSOVERS LIKE THIS ONE, WE MAY GET TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE WILL ASK; "PORSCHE MAKES SPORTS CARS TOO?"

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK CHRONICLES WASTE MANAGEMENT'S ALTAMONT LANDFILL IN LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA.

IN THE LATE 1980s IT BECAME A "WASTE TO WHEELS" PIONEER BY USING LANDFILL METHANE GAS TO POWER TURBINES TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY; ENOUGH TO RUN 8,000 AREA HOMES AND A LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PLANT.

THAT PLANT NOW PROVIDES RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS FOR SOME 300 REFUSE VEHICLES.

AN ELABORATE NETWORK OF WELL HEADS CAPTURES THE LANDFILL GAS EMITTED FROM THE NEARLY 3,500 TONS OF WASTE RECEIVED EVERY DAY.

>> TIANNA NOUROT: IT'S AN ENGINEERED SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF CHECKS, AND BALANCES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, AND SOUND WAY.

>> JOHN: THE EAST BAY CLEAN CITIES COALITION HELPED WASTE MANAGEMENT SECURE FUNDING TO ADD A CNG FUELING STATION TO THEIR EXISTING LNG STATION.

CONVERTING LANDFILL GAS INTO CLEAN ENERGY SHOWS THAT NOTHING GOES TO WASTE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THE COMPUTER "FLOPPY DISK" WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1970.

THE SAME YEAR, MOTORWEEK'S HOME ROAD COURSE WAVED THE GREEN FLAG FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

NOW THE WAY WE STORE DATA IS STILL SHRINKING, WHILE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE VENUES KEEPS GROWING.

SO, BUCKLE UP AS ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR A 45TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT SUMMIT POINT!

>> ZACH MASKELL: TAKE ME HOME... COUNTRY ROADS... TO A PLACE CALLED SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK.

NESTLED IN THE HILLS OF WEST VIRGINIA, THIS IS MY KIND OF THEME PARK.

(SOUND OF ENGINE REVVING) GET READY FOR AN OVERLOAD OF FUN, AS WE DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I COULD'VE ASKED FOR IN ONE DAY.

>> MARTY KOOSE: YOU KNOW THE VARIETY ADDS TO THEIR LEARNING, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

>> ZACH: WE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLEX, THAN TO CHECK OUT THE 3 SEPARATE ROAD COURSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'VE GOT ON TAP.

OUR FIRST STOP: LAPS AROUND SUMMIT POINT MAIN WITH CHRIS WHITE.

>> CHRIS WHITE: IT STARTED OUT AS JUST A SMALL LITTLE RACETRACK, DESIGNED FOR EUROPEAN STYLE ROAD RACING.

>> ZACH: ONE DECADE LATER, AN SCCA CLUB RACER AND 1970 FORMULA V WORLD CHAMPION BOUGHT THE COMPLEX.

BILL SCOTT LEFT YALE WITH A PHD.

BUT DECIDED TO RACE CARS, INSTEAD OF MESSING AROUND WITH GEO-PHYSICS.

>> BARBARA SCOTT: HE DID HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE NURBURGRING.

BUT HE STILL WANTED TO STAY IN RACING SO HE BOUGHT SUMMIT POINT RACEWAY AND CONTINUED TO DEVELOP IT UNTIL THE VERY DAY.

>> ZACH: A RACER'S CAREER IS SHORT LIVED.

BUT BILL SCOTT COULDN'T JUST THROW IN THE TOWEL; HE FOCUSED ON TRAINING THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SUMMIT'S FOOTPRINT WENT FROM 360 ACRES, TO A MASSIVE 800.

THE MOTORWEEK CREW HAS BEEN TESTING HERE SINCE THE '80s, AND WE'RE NOTHING BUT THRILLED.

OPERATING WITHIN THE COMPLEX IS BSR INC.

THEY TRAIN PRIVATE SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

THE CIA AND U.S. AIR FORCE ARE AMONG THE LONG LIST TO USE THE TRACKS IN ADDITION TO THE BOMB AND 7 GUN RANGES.

>> LARRY CONNOLLY: WE DO COMBINE VEHICLE WORK WITH SHOOTING HERE ON THE RANGE.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'LL PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE MAYBE THEY WERE IN AN ATTACK, THEIR VEHICLE GOES DOWN AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BAIL OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

>> ZACH: SINCE I OFTEN FIND MYSELF IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THE GUYS GAVE ME SOME TIPS.

THEN I MOVED ON TO A LESS STRESSFUL, BUT SERIOUS TRAINING.

>> JENS SCOTT: THIS ISN'T SCALED UP AMUSEMENT PARK GO-KARTS.

THIS IS SCALED DOWN FORMULA 1 CARS.

>> ZACH: BILL'S SON, JENS, STARTED SUMMIT POINT KART IN 2009.

HE NOW HELPS 20,000 PEOPLE A YEAR DEVELOP THEIR TRACK SKILLS.

THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.

AS EVIDENT BY THEIR 24 HOUR ENDURANCE RACES.

WITH TEAMS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE U.S... >> JENS SCOTT: IF YOU BEAT SOMEBODY OUT HERE, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A BETTER DRIVER.

>> ZACH: 13 HORSEPOWER KARTS, 20 TURNS, AND 1300 TOTAL FEET OF TRACK, WILL HAVE YOU GRINNING BIGGER THAN THE GRINCH.

I WAS TRYING TO GET THE TAIL-END TO KICK OUT.

BUT INSTEAD HEADED OVER TO JEFFERSON FOR SOME REAL SIDEWAYS ACTION.

HOME OF "DRIFT NIRVANA," SUMMIT HAS WELCOMED THE DRIFTERS OF THE EAST COAST.

2014'S FORMULA DRIFT PRO 2 CHAMP DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE IS ALWAYS GRABBING SOME SEAT TIME.

>> DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE: "DRIFT NIRVANA" EVENTS PULL PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

SO, WE'VE HAD SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM RHODE ISLAND, WE'VE GOT A PERSON FROM PHILLY HERE TODAY.

SO, I MEAN FROM 40 MILES TO DOWN THE STREET, TO 1,000 MILES AWAY.

IT'S PRETTY COOL WHAT KIND OF CROWD WE BRING.

>> ZACH: RAPPER'S SUPERCHARGED V8 SWAPPED RX8 WAS STILL EN ROUTE FROM CALIFORNIA, BUT WE STILL HAD A BLAST IN HIS PRACTICE CAR THAT HAS AN 8TH OF THE HORSEPOWER.

JUST PAST THE TREE LINES, THE RALLY AND OFF-ROADING GUYS WERE SLINGING SOME DIRT AROUND.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE TOM CRUISE AND PAUL NEWMAN PRACTICED FOR "DAYS OF THUNDER."

A PLACE THAT HAS A REPLICA OF THE NURBURGRING'S FAMOUS CAROUSEL TURN.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S PASSED AWAY, ONE RACER'S DREAM CONTINUES TO LIVE ON.

>> ROGER LYLE: THE MAN WAS A GREAT GENTLEMEN AND A GREAT RACER AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR BILL SCOTT.

>> ZACH: HERE'S TO THE MAN WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON HIS LEGACY.

>> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS READY TO TAKE OUR CAR CARE KNOW HOW TO NEW HEIGHTS.

SO, LET'S GRAB IT AND GO!

>> PAT GOSS: AIR SUSPENSION REALLY ISN'T ALL THAT NEW.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, BACK IN 1957, THIS CADILLAC EL DORADO HAD IT.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION CARS TO HAVE IT.

AFTER THAT, IT WENT AWAY, CAME BACK IN THE '80s, WAS REAL POPULAR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEN KIND OF DROPPED OFF AGAIN.

NOW WE'RE SEEING A RESURGENCE OF IT, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE ON THIS RAM PICKUP.

NOW AIR SUSPENSION IS REALLY NICE, UNTIL YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE A SHOP OR A TECHNICIAN THAT REALLY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUTLANDISHLY EXPENSIVE.

ALRIGHT, HERE'S HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS: THIS IS A STRUT.

IT IS AN AIR STRUT.

THIS IS THE AIR SPRING RIGHT HERE.

IT HAS A CONTROL VALVE THAT'S MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF IT.

THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS AIR IN, TO PUMP IT UP, AND ALLOWS AIR TO GO OUT TO RAISE OR LOWER THE CAR.

THESE SOMETIMES LEAK SO THEY HAVE TO BE CHECKED.

NOW OVER HERE, WE HAVE THE COMPRESSOR FOR ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS.

NOW, IT'S AN ELECTRIC MOTOR; IT HAS A DRYER ON IT; AND IT HAS THESE PORTS, WHERE PLASTIC LINES CONNECT, AND THEY GO OUT TO EACH ONE OF THE AIR SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE.

NOW OVER TIME, WHERE THESE PLASTIC LINES GO INTO THIS DRYER, THEY WEAR AND THEY LEAK.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU NEED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF YOU LOCATE IT THERE, THERE ARE KITS MADE TO REPAIR THOSE LEAKS.

USUALLY UNDER 100 BUCKS.

NOW THE WAY YOU LOCATE LEAKS ON THESE SYSTEMS IS JUST LIKE YOU WOULD LOCATE A LEAK ON A TIRE, EXCEPT YOU USE A SOAP AND WATER SOLUTION INSTEAD OF JUST PLAIN WATER.

THE SOAP AND WATER SOLUTION IS PUT ON EACH ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS, AND WHERE IT BUBBLES: THAT'S WHERE YOUR LEAK IS.

FIX THE LEAK, AND USUALLY AFTER THAT, WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, THE CAR WILL BE SITTING LEVEL INSTEAD OF ON THE GROUND.

OKAY, BUT SUPPOSE YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS, AND IT REALLY DOES HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS.

WELL, HERE'S A SOLUTION.

THIS IS A CONVERSION KIT THAT CONVERTS FROM AIR SPRINGS TO STEEL SPRINGS.

IT COMES WITH ALL OF THE NECESSARY HARDWARE, AND THINGS TO COVERT THE COMPUTER SO YOU DON'T HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, THAT IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE AND IT CAN SAVE A TON OF MONEY.

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

>> JOHN: WHILE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT $66,000 IS A STRETCH FOR ANY KIA PRODUCT, THE MORE TIME WE SPEND WITH THIS 2015 K900, THE MORE IT STARTS TO MAKE DOLLARS AND SENSE.

IT'S CHOCKED FULL OF NICETIES YOU DON'T EXPECT FROM KIA, LIKE A HEAD-UP DISPLAY, FIRST CLASS REAR SEAT ACCOMMODATIONS, LED HEADLIGHTS, AND 12-INCH FULL-LCD INSTRUMENTATION.

BUT DESPITE TAKING HEAVY DESIGN INFLUENCE FROM BMW, THE K900 IS NOT A CORNER CARVER, BUT A COMFY CRUISER WITH A SMOOTH HIGHWAY RIDE AND LONG HAUL COMFORT THAT MAKES THE K900 OUR ROAD TRIP CAR OF CHOICE.

THE 420 HORSEPOWER V8 DELIVERS POWER IN A BEASTLY FASHION, BUT THANKS TO THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, MILEAGE IS NOT BAD FOR A BIG LUXURY LINER.

OUR AVERAGE, IN THE LOW 19'S, HAS HELD STEADY OVER THE LAST 4-MONTHS WITH OUR ODOMETER NOW SHOWING JUST OVER 11,000 MILES.

OUR ONLY HICCUP TO DATE, A QUIRKY BACK-UP CAMERA THAT INTERMITTENTLY FADES TO BLACK.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

AND WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR VOLKSWAGEN GTI, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NEXT UP, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS OUR MOTORWEEK INSIDER LOOK AT THE 2014 LA AUTO SHOW.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: IN THE LAND OF GLITZ AND GLAMOUR, THE 2014 LA AUTO SHOW CERTAINLY DID ITS PART TO SHOW OFF THE INDUSTRY'S HOTTEST NEW MODELS AND A LOOK AT WHAT WE MIGHT BE DRIVING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

STEALING EARLY HEADLINES WAS THE SHELBY GT350 MUSTANG.

REVIVING THE ICONIC FORD MUSCLE CAR NAME, ITS 5.2 LITER V8 IS PEGGED AT OVER 500 HORSEPOWER THE MOST POWERFUL NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE IN FORD HISTORY.

IT USES A HIGH REVVING FLAT-PLANE CRANKSHAFT, AND ADJUSTABLE DAMPERS BOTH FIRSTS FOR THE BLUE OVAL.

FORD ALSO PULLED THE WRAPS OFF OF THE 2016 EXPLORER, SHOWCASING REFRESHED STYLING AND A NEW ALL-IN PLATINUM TRIM.

THE EXPLORER WILL ALSO ADD THE MUSTANG'S 2.3-LITER ECOBOOST I4, IN FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

CADILLAC MADE THE ATS-V OFFICIAL, COMPLETE WITH A TWIN-TURBO 455 HORSE V6, IN BOTH SEDAN AND COUPE FORM.

AUDI PROMISED A STYLISH FUTURE WITH THIS PROLOGUE CONCEPT PROVIDING A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE UPCOMING A9 FLAGSHIP.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY ARE CLEARLY THE FOCUS OF THIS SLEEK HARDTOP.

WITH REALLY, SMALL CROSSOVERS ALL THE RAGE, MAZDA UNVEILED THE CX-3, SHARING ITS CHASSIS AND ENGINE WITH THE SUBCOMPACT MAZDA2.

WHILE THE SIMILARLY SIZED HONDA HR-V, BASED ON THE FIT, AND WAS SHOWN PRODUCTION READY AND PRIMED FOR THE SPOTLIGHT.

THE SMALL 5-DOOR TREND CONTINUED AT SCION, WHERE THEY ROLLED OUT THEIR IM CONCEPT, AND DUE AT DEALERS NEXT YEAR.

LEXUS DROPPED THE VEIL, AND THE TOP, ON THIS LF-C2 CONCEPT, SHOWING SOME STYLISH PLANS FOR THEIR NEXT, OPEN-AIR CRUISER.

JAGUAR CAME READY FOR 4 SEASON FUN WITH A NEW ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FOR F-TYPE WINTER RUNS, WHILE SUMMER DRIVING WILL BE HEIGHTENED BY A NEW MANUAL SHIFT FOR THE REAR-DRIVE SUPERCHARGED V6.

VW IS RIDING THE SUCCESS OF ITS NEW GENERATION GOLF, WITH THE R400.

AND R SPORTWAGEN VARIANTS FURTHER DISPLAYING THE FLEXIBILITY OF THEIR MODULAR CHASSIS.

BMW FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE, WITH THE X5 AND X6 M MODELS PROMISING MORE POWER, PROWESS, AND PURPOSE THAN EVER.

AND MERCEDES-BENZ LOOKS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR AMG SUB-BRAND WITH THE GT S. AND ALSO REVIVED THE MAYBACH NAME AS A NEW UBER-THE-TOP TRIM, FIRST ON THE S600.

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL POWER WAS A POPULAR TOPIC AT THIS YEAR'S SHOW, WITH ENTRIES FROM AUDI, VOLKSWAGEN, AND THE MIRAI FROM TOYOTA WHICH GOES ON SALE IN CALIFORNIA NEXT YEAR.

ALL 50 STATES WILL GET THIS NICE REFRESH OF THE CHRYSLER 300.

LIKEWISE A NEW VOLVO V60 CROSS COUNTRY WAGON.

WHILE, FACELIFTS ARE IN STORE FOR THE ALREADY STYLISH MAZDA6 AND THE POPULAR CX-5 UTILITY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY LA 2014 WAS AN AUTOMOTIVE BLOCKBUSTER.

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

>> JOHN: JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS WERE ALMOST DEAD AND GONE, GM PULLS 2 RABBITS OUT OF THE HAT BY REINTRODUCING THE CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON.

AND WHILE THE CHALLENGE OF PACKAGING AS MUCH BIG TRUCK CAPABILITY AS POSSIBLE INTO A SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE, AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PACKAGE HASN'T GOTTEN ANY EASIER, WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THAT GM IS STILL IN THE GAME!

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT ONES IF YOU WERE IN THE MARKET FOR A BRAND-NEW; AMERICAN BUILT COMPACT-TO-MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK; AS FORD, GM, AND CHRYSLER HAD ALL ABANDONED THE SEGMENT.

WELL, 2015 SEES A RETURN BY ONE OF THE BIG-3 WITH AN ALL-NEW CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON.

NOW CLEARLY A MIDDLEWEIGHT, THE NEW COLORADO GETS A FAIRLY SPORTY YET STILL RUGGED LOOK WITH LITTLE TO NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE FULL-SIZE SILVERADO.

GM PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON AERODYNAMICS, ADDING ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS, A TAILGATE SPOILER, AND A LOW HANGING FRONT AIR DAM WHICH IS REMOVABLE IF YOU ACTUALLY USE YOUR TRUCK FOR THE SERIOUS STUFF.

THE CANYON LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT AND MORE UPSCALE THAN COLORADO, WITH THE BIGGER AND BOLDER GMC GRILLE, EXCLUSIVE HEADLIGHTS WITH LED'S, AND MORE SQUARED-OFF FENDERS.

BOTH ARE EXTENDED OR CREW CABS ONLY, WITH BED LENGTHS OF 5-FEET 2-INCHES AND 6-FEET 2-INCHES WITH ABOUT 44 INCHES BETWEEN THE WHEEL WELLS.

CONVENIENCE FEATURES BORROWED FROM THE FULL-SIZERS INCLUDE A USEFUL CORNERSTEP REAR BUMPER, EZ LIFT-AND-LOWER TAILGATE, AND 2-TIER BED WITH 4 PERMANENT AND 13 MOVAB TIE-DOWN POSITIONS.

INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE MUCH NICER THAN RIVALS.

THE DASH IS A GOOD CROSS BETWEEN CAR STYLE AND TRUCK USEFULNESS WITH DEEPLY HOODED GAUGES AND BIG KNOBS AND SWITCHES.

MOST TRIMS INCLUDE AN 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN AND ALL HAVE A STANDARD BACKUP CAMERA.

WHILE THERE'S NO CD PLAYER THERE ARE MULTIPLE USB PORTS AND 4G LITE WI-FI.

NAVI AND ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE.

STANDARD POWER IS A 2.5-LITER I4 WITH 200 HORSEPOWER AND 191 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A 3.6-LITER V6 IS OPTIONAL, BOASTING 305 HORSEPOWER AND 269 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR FOR A 2.8-LITER DURAMAX DIESEL.

BOTH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL WANT THAT V6 IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE MOST BIG TRUCK CAPABILITY, AS IT WILL TOW UP TO 7,000 POUNDS.

BOTH ENGINES HAVE ADEQUATE POWER FOR LIGHT DUTY AND RECREATIONAL WORK, THOUGH; WE FOUND THE 6-SPEED AUTO A BIT OF A GEAR HUNTER, ESPECIALLY IN HILLY TERRAIN.

ON THE FLAT TERRAIN OF OUR TEST TRACK, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GMC CANYON CREW CAB SLT V6 4X4 TO 60 IN 8.0-SECONDS, AND TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.2-SECONDS AT 85 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THINGS FEEL A LITTLE MORE WORKMAN LIKE HERE.

THERE'S GOOD LOW END TORQUE AND STRONG PULLING POWER.

SUPER SMOOTH SHIFTS WERE AN UNEXPECTED BONUS.

COLORADO/CANYON SUSPENSION CONSISTS OF TRADITIONAL COIL ON SHOCK INDEPENDENT UP FRONT, AND LEAF SPRING LIVE AXLE IN BACK.

THE FRAME IS FULLY BOXED, WITH A DESIGN VERY SIMILAR TO BIG BROTHER SILVERADO/SIERRA.

TURNING RADIUS IS SURPRISINGLY TIGHT, AND THE SLOW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS A VERY NEUTRAL FEEL TO IT.

THE LONGER-LASTING DURALIFE ROTORS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS IT TOOK OUR GMC CANYON ONLY A SHORT 111-FEET TO STOP FROM 60.

NOW GM KNOWS THE CANYON AND COLORADO WILL APPEAL MORE TO THE PERSONAL USE CROWD THAN WORKAHOLICS, SO THEY MADE THEM EXTRA QUIET.

RIDE QUALITY; HOWEVER IS STILL FIRM ENOUGH TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE TRUCKS.

STILL, ON BOTH COUNTS, THEY'RE MILES AHEAD OF THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND NISSAN FRONTIER.

NOTHING TOO EXOTIC ABOUT THE 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM.

HIGH AND LOW RANGES, ELECTRONIC TRANSFER CASE; WITH AN OPTIONAL AUTOMATIC LOCKING REAR DIFF.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS RANGE FROM 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED FOR AN I4 2-WHEEL-DRIVE, TO 17-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED FOR 4-WHEEL-DRIVE V6'S.

WITH REGULAR GRADE GAS, OUR V6 4X4 MANAGED A GOOD 21.5 IN MIXED DRIVING.

STILL, AT BEST, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE AT 15.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH 6.5-TONS OF CO2 RELEASED.

PRICES FOR THE CHEVY COLORADO START AT $20,995 FOR AN EXTENDED CAB 4X2; SLIGHTLY BETTER EQUIPPED GMC CANYONS, WILL START A BIT HIGHER.

TOP OF THE LINE COLORADO LTZ'S BEGIN AT $28,505.

LIKE MOST GOOD IDEAS, A SMALLER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, EASIER TO PARK PICKUP TRUCK SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE ONE.

BUT GM IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC BUILDER THAT SEES A BUSINESS CASE FOR DOING IT.

WE SAY, IT'S ABOUT TIME!

THE 2015 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON HAVE REVIVED A SEGMENT THAT WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF NEW BLOOD.

EVEN THOUGH A NEW TACOMA AND FRONTIER ARE RUMORED, WE STILL WONDER HOW LONG FORD AND CHRYSLER WILL CONTINUE TO SIT THIS ONE OUT.

WE SHALL SEE.

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, AS WE SAMPLE BOTH THE MILD AND WILD SIDES OF THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ GLA.

THEN WE PROBE THE LIMITS OF THE CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.

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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

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

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

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DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

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

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.