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

JOIN US AS WE ROCKET TO THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD IN THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON HOW TO KEEP CAR CARE ORGANIZED... WE'LL LOOK AT THE NEAR FUTURE OF FILLING UP... THEN HAVE SOME FUNKY, FRUGAL FUN IN THE JEEP RENEGADE!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

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

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.

OH MAN.

OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.

THIS IS AWESOME!"

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.

>> JOHN: THE MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SMALL CAR FOR 2015 WAS AWARDED TO THE NEW PRIMARILY BECAUSE WITH THE TSI, TDI, GTI, SPORTWAGEN, AND EVEN AN E-GOLF, THEY COVER ALL OF THE BASES LIKE NO OTHER SMALL CAR SERIES.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THEY'RE NOT DONE YET, AS THEY'VE NOW UNLEASHED WOLFSBURG'S LATEST POCKET ROCKET ON THE U.S., THE GOLF R. REGULAR VIEWERS OF MOTORWEEK ARE NO DOUBT A LITTLE WEARY OF OUR INCESSANT PRAISE OF THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND GTI.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL FOR ABOUT THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES, AS WE'RE ABOUT TO GO ALL "FAN-BOY" ONCE AGAIN ABOUT THIS 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R. THE GOLF R'S PLATFORM OF COURSE, A HALDEX SYSTEM THAT STAYS FRONT BIASED, BUT CAN SEND UP TO 50% OF CORNER CARVING GRIP TO THE BACK TIRES.

BUT, THAT EXTRA HARDWARE DOES PUSH WEIGHT TO A HEFTY 3,340 POUNDS.

UNDER HOOD, IS A FAMILIAR VW AND AUDI MECHANICAL, A 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO.

AND WHILE THAT'S NOT A LOT OF A SIZABLE 292 HORSEPOWER.

PLUS, A SEEMINGLY CONTINUOUS DELIVERY OF 280 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THROUGHOUT THE REV BAND, MAKES IT FEEL LIKE EVEN MORE.

THIS TIME AROUND, JUST THE DSG AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE AT LAUNCH, AND A 6-SPEED MANUAL WON'T ARRIVE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

BUT AS YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, WE'RE VERY FOND OF THE DSG.

DRIVING MODE SELECTION GETS A NEW RACE MODE, AND YOU CAN FURTHER UPGRADE TO OPTIONAL DYNAMIC CHASSIS CONTROL THAT LETS YOU DIAL IN AN ULTRA STIFF RIDE, SHOULD YOU SO CHOOSE.

REGARDLESS, THE GOLF R IS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST TO DRIVE.

AND REALLY, IT DOESN'T FEEL MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE GTI THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH UNTIL YOU GO HEAVY ON THE THROTTLE AND LET IT SPIN UP TO GLORY.

THE INTERIOR FINISH IS GREAT!

THIS CAR LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY YOU SPEND ON IT; THINK MORE AUDI THAN BASE VW.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM, A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE LAYOUT, WITH LOGICALLY PLACED CONTROLS.

THE UPGRADED SPORT SEATS ARE AWESOME AT HOLDING YOU TIGHT, BUT COMFORTABLY SO, IN A TEUTONIC SNUGGLE SORT OF WAY.

THE GTI IS CERTAINLY NO SLOUCH WHEN IT COMES TO THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT, BUT HERE ON THE SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK NEAR CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, THE GOLF R HUNKERS DOWN AND SCOOTS THROUGH CORNERS EVEN BETTER THAN YOUR WILDEST EXPECTATIONS.

DESPITE A SOFT OVERALL FEEL, THERE'S PLENTY OF GRIP TO BE HAD, AS NO MATTER HOW MUCH THROTTLE YOU'RE CARRYING, THIS CHASSIS, CAN PUT POWER IN ITS PLACE, AND OF COURSE THAT'S ON THE PAVEMENT.

ESC CAN NOW BE FULLY TURNED OFF, BUT SPORT MODE IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT, LETTING YOU HAVE QUITE A BIT OF FUN, BEFORE THE ELECTRONICS STEP IN TO KEEP YOU POINTED WHERE YOU SHOULD BE.

AS FOR COMPLAINTS, THIS COURSE'S TIGHTER TURNS AND MANY SHIFTING OPPORTUNITIES HAD US WISHING FOR BIGGER SHIFT PADDLES, AS WITH ALL OF THE CONSTANT SHUFFLING THEY WERE SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND.

BUT OF COURSE IN A STRAIGHT LINE, LEAVING THE DSG IN FULL AUTO IS REALLY WHERE IT'S AT.

MASH THE GAS, HOLD ON, AND 4.9 SECONDS LATER, WE'RE AT 60 MILES PER HOUR.

THE GOLF R LAUNCHES OFF THE LINE GRIP, WITH A SNAPPY AND RASPY EXHAUST NOTE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE TRACK FOR A QUICK QUARTER AT 13.7 SECONDS AT 103 MILES PER HOUR.

WHILE A SHORT 115 FEET IS ALL IT TOOK TO STOP FROM 60 MPH.

IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE.

IT FEELS VERY SUBSTANTIAL FOR ITS SIZE, WITH A DIALED IN SOLIDITY LIKE NO OTHER SMALL CAR.

IT'S AGILE AND WANTING TO BE THROWN AROUND, AND IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF CONFIDENCE INSPIRING.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 23-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 28.3 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS 12.7 BARRELS OF OIL USED AND 5.7 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED YEARLY.

ALAS, PERFECTION NEVER COMES CHEAP.

IN THIS CASE IT STARTS AT $37,415, AND IS AVAILABLE IN 4-DOOR ONLY.

THOSE NUMBERS MAY SCARE AWAY A FEW, BUT IN THIS WORLD, IT'S THE UNAFRAID THAT ARE TRULY REWARDED.

THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R AS JUST A SPORTIER GTI, THINK OF IT AS EVERYTHING YOU'D EVER WANT A GOLF TO BE AND A BIT MORE.

AND REALLY EVERYTHING YOU'D WANT IN A SENSIBLE SPORT HATCH AS WELL.

IF YOU'RE PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH YOUR GTI, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T TEST DRIVE THE R, SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO CLEVELAND, OHIO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

ONCE A GM FISHER BODY PLANT, QUASAR ENERGY GROUP'S COLLINWOOD FACILITY USES TWO DIGESTER TANKS TO BREAK DOWN 75,000 WET TONS OF ORGANIC WASTE YEARLY.

RELEASED METHANE GAS IS USED TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FOR CLEVELAND PUBLIC POWER, AND ALSO TRANSFORMED INTO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLE FUEL.

OVER 90% OF QUASAR'S 50 VEHICLE FLEET RUNS ON CNG.

>> COREY ALLEN: IT MIGHT JUST BE A FOOD SCRAP BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THOSE FOOD SCRAPS AND MULTIPLY IT EXPONENTIALLY, UM, YOU KIND OF SEE LIGHT BULB PEOPLE SEE IT AND THEY'RE PROUD OF IT AND I THINK SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

>> JOHN: WORKING WITH THE NORTHEAST OHIO CLEAN CITIES COALITION, QUASAR PARTNERS WITH EMERSON TO CAPTURE FOOD WASTE FROM SPORTS STADIUMS USING INSINKERATOR'S GRIND2ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.

GROUND ONSITE, IT THEN HEADS TO QUASAR'S DIGESTERS FOR A CLOSED LOOP SOLUTION.

AN OHIO SUSTAINABILITY ROCK STAR WORTHY OF ITS OWN HALL OF FAME.

WHEN IT COMES TIME TO FILL 'ER UP, THE DAYS OF SIMPLY CHOOSING BETWEEN REGULAR AND HIGH TEST ARE LONG GONE.

TODAY'S FAMILY CARS ARE MORE AND MORE LIKELY TO RUN, NOT JUST ON GASOLINE OR DIESEL, BUT ALSO ON NON-PETROLEUM BASED FUELS LIKE ETHANOL, BIODIESEL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS, OR PURE ELECTRIC POWER.

THESE OFTEN CALLED "ALTERNATIVE FUELS" ARE RAPIDLY GAINING GROUND WITH MAINSTREAM BUYERS.

SO, THIS WIDER ARRAY OF FUEL CHOICES IS NATURALLY CHANGING THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE TRADITIONAL FILLING STATION.

AS WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

* THE FAMILIAR ROADSIDE FUEL ISLAND HAS NOT GONE THE WAY OF THE DINOSAURS YET BUT TODAY'S MEGAPLEX GAS STATIONS WITH ROW UPON ROW OF GLEAMING PUMPS ARE NOW OFFERING MORE FUEL CHOICES THAN EVER BEFORE AND FACING COMPETITION FROM NON-TRADITIONAL FUELING OUTLETS AS WELL.

>> REUBEN SARKAR: WHETHER IT'S FILLING UP YOUR CAR WITH ELECTRICITY, BIOFUELS, NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, HYDROGEN, HAVING MORE AVAILABLE HELPS INCREASE OUR ENERGY SECURITY AND IMPROVES OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL AS OFFERS MORE CONSUMERS A CHOICE AT THE PUMP.

WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE HELPING BRING TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE LABORATORY TO THE STREETS, BRINGING YOU BETTER CARS AND BETTER FUELS, SOONER.

>> JOHN: NATIONWIDE THE GROWTH AND FLEET USE OF NATURAL GAS HAS SPURRED DEVELOPMENT OF A WHOLE NEW NETWORK OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NATURAL GAS STATIONS.

AT&T FOR INSTANCE, NOW OPERATES MORE THAN 8,000 CNG VEHICLES AND HAVE COMMITTED TO HAVING 15,000 ALT.

FUEL VEHICLES THAN ITS FLEET BY 2018.

RYDER TRUCKS HAS SURPASSED 30 MILLION MILES OF CNG USAGE IN THEIR MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS.

AND NATURAL GAS FUELS 1 IN 5 TRANSIT BUSSES IN OUR MAJOR CITIES.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DELIVERING NATURAL GAS TO INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS IS ARGUABLY BETTER DEVELOPED AND MORE EFFICIENT THAN FOR TRADITIONAL GAS STATIONS, WHERE FUEL SUPPLIES ARE STILL DELIVERED BY TRUCK.

IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, GAS PIPELINES ALREADY RUN TO MILLIONS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE HEATING FUEL.

SO, TAPPING INTO THAT SUPPLY IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MATTER OF ADDING COMPRESSOR EQUIPMENT AND DISPENSERS AT THE POINT OF SALE.

CLEAN ENERGY CORPORATION HAS MADE A BIG SPLASH IN NATURAL GAS IN RECENT YEARS, FOCUSING ON FLEETS, AND LONG HAUL TRUCKING.

AND OVER 500 OF THEIR FAMILIAR LIME GREEN STATION CANOPIES HAVE CROPPED UP AT AIRPORTS, AND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS NATIONWIDE.

MIDWEST REGIONAL CONVENIENCE STORE CHAIN, KWIK TRIP, OFFERS NATURAL GAS IN MORE THAN 30 OF ITS STORES IN WISCONSIN, IOWA, AND MINNESOTA.

AND AT THEIR HOME LOCATION IN LACROSSE, WISCONSIN, THEY OFFER CNG, LNG, AND PROPANE FUEL IN ADDITION TO A FULL SLATE OF BIODIESEL BLENDS, AND TRADITIONAL PETROLEUM FUELS.

TALK ABOUT ONE STOP SHOPPING.

>> JOEL HIRSCHBOECK: NATURAL GAS IS PROBABLY OUR PREMIER ALTERNATIVE FUEL THAT WE'RE BUT WE WANTED TO BE RELEVANT IN ALL OF THE FUELS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TODAY SO THAT WE HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THOSE FUELS MAY OR MAY NOT FIT INTO THE DIFFERENT MARKETPLACE SO THAT WE WERE READY TO REACT IF NEED BE, GIVEN A CHANGE IN CUSTOMER DEMAND.

>> JOHN: MIRRORING THE RAPID GROWTH OF NATURAL GAS OUTLETS IS AMERICA'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IN THIS CASE, THE FUEL COMES TO WHERE THE CARS ARE: WITH EV'S, DRIVERS ARE JUST AS LIKELY TO CHARGE AT HOME AS AT WORK, OR EVEN THE GROCERY STORE, OR AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE.

ESSENTIALLY, ANY POWER OUTLET IS A POTENTIAL PLACE TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

BUT UNLIKE TRADITIONAL GAS STATIONS, PROFIT IS NOT THE PRIME FOCUS.

WHILE THERE ARE FEE BASED CHARGING NETWORKS, MANY LOCATIONS STILL OFFER FREE CHARGING AS PERKS TO ENTICE CUSTOMERS OR SIMPLY ENGENDER GOODWILL.

EV CAR MAKER TESLA HAS SPENT MILLIONS SETTING UP A NETWORK OF FREE SUPERCHARGERS WITH LOCATIONS FROM COAST TO COAST, THAT ALLOWS ITS CUSTOMERS TO GAIN UP TO 175 MILES OF DRIVING RANGE IN AS LITTLE AS 30 MINUTES.

THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT THE FUELING STATION OF THE FUTURE WILL FINALLY LOOK LIKE.

BUT AS AMERICA'S PUSH FOR CLEAN DRIVING SOLUTIONS CONTINUES TO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FUELS AND POWER TECHNOLOGIES, THE ACT OF REFUELING, AND WHERE WE DO IT, WILL SURELY EVOLVE AS WELL.

LET'S CHECK IN NOW WITH PAT GOSS WHO HAS A FEW TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR NEXT CAR CARE PROJECT ORGANIZED.

>> PAT GOSS: NO MATTER HOW COMPLICATED A CAR MIGHT BE, PRETTY EASY.

BUT GETTING IT BACK TOGETHER SO THAT IT WORKS RIGHT?

WELL, THAT CAN BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.

AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF TIPS AS HOW WE DO IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP.

SEE, ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IS RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS A PAINT PEN.

WE BUY THEM IN LITTLE PACKAGES LIKE THIS, AND WE USE THEM ALL DAY LONG, EVERYDAY.

NOW, WE USE THEM FOR THINGS LIKE THE MARKS THAT WE'VE PUT HERE ON THE SPROCKETS AND THE TIMING BELT SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE THEY ALIGN.

NOW, THE REALITY OF THIS IS, WE TAKE SOMETHING APART, AND SAY, WELL, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISTURB THE TIMING BELT."

WELL, WE'RE WORKING AROUND THE TIMING BELT.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, STUFF HAPPENS.

STUFF THAT YOU WOULDN'T IMAGINE HAPPENS.

AND THAT MEANS YOU MIGHT WIND UP WITH A TIMING BELT THAT HAS SLIPPED AND UNLESS YOU HAVE MARKS, YOU'VE GOT A REAL TOUGH JOB GETTING IN ALIGNED AGAIN.

ONCE IT'S BEEN MARKED LIKE THIS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REALIGN THE MARKS.

NOW, IN SOME CASES BOLTS WILL BE SPECIFIC TO A CERTAIN POSITION.

SO, WE MAKE LITTLE DEIGNS ON THE BOLTS AND MATCHING DESIGNS ON THE SPROCKETS OR PART THAT THE BOLT HOLDS IN PLACE.

SO, THAT SAVES A LOT OF TIME.

THE OTHER THING IS WHEN WE'RE TAKING WIRING APART, ON NEWER CARS, THERE MAY BE 100 WIRE CONNECTORS UNDER THE HOOD.

AND MANY OF THOSE WIRE CONNECTORS MAY BE INTERCHANGEABLE AS FAR AS THEIR POSITION IS CONCERNED.

SO HERE AGAIN, WE PUT A NUMBER ON BOTH HALVES OF THE CONNECTOR SO WE KNOW WHICH CONNECTOR GOES IN WHAT POSITION.

AND WE DO THAT TO THINGS UNDERNEATH THE CAR LIKE THIS AXEL WE MARKED IT AS "RIGHT FRONT."

MAYBE WE HAVE AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, AND WE GOT ALL FOUR AXEL'S OUT OF IT, AND THEY ALL LOOK VERY SIMILAR BUT THEY ACTUALLY ARE NOT.

SAVE A LOT OF TIME BY MARKING THEM AS TO THEIR POSITION SO THAT WE CAN PUT THEM BACK IN PROPERLY.

WELL, THE OTHER THING IS THAT BRAKES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THIS WORK WELL AS FAR AS MARKING THEM WITH THESE PAINT PENS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE OVERALL LAYOUT OF THE PARTICULAR SYSTEM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

SO, THAT'S WHERE OUR CAMERA COMES INTO PLAY.

SEE, WE TAKE A PICTURE OF THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

AND MAYBE ON BREAKS WE TAKE A CLOSE UP SO WE KNOW WHERE ALL THE LITTLE SPRINGS AND CLIPS AND EVERYTHING GO.

THAT WAY WE HAVE A DIAGRAM TO WORK FROM WHEN WE PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

THAT WAY WE GET IT BACK TOGETHER AND IT WORKS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

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

>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO HEAD OUT FOR A FEW QUICKSPINS, AND GET SOME FEEDBACK.

WE STILL CAN'T QUITE WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND THESE 4-DOOR, COUPE STYLED CROSSOVER UTILITIES, AND WHY THEY EVEN EXIST.

BUT WE'RE GIVING IT ONE MORE SHOT WITH THE 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE COUPE.

FOR NOW, TOO, AS THE GLE COUPE IS, IN FACT, A VERY FINE VEHICLE TO DRIVE.

THIS 450 AMG MODEL IS THE LESSER OF TWO FOR SALE, BUT ITS 362 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO V6, 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND 4MATIC ALL WHEEL DRIVE STILL SHOWCASE A HIGH LEVEL OF PRECISION ENGINEERING.

>> GREG CARLOSS: THIS THING OFFERS A LOT OF PERFORMANCE FOR WHAT IT IS.

IT'S MORE LIKE DRIVING A BIG RATHER THAN AN SUV.

WHAT YOU SACRIFICE FOR THAT PERFORMANCE, THOUGH, IS ITS DAILY DRIVING ABILITIES.

IT'S NOT QUITE AS PLUSH AND SMOOTH AS WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN AN SUV.

>> JOHN: INSIDE, IT'S CLASSIC MERCEDES-BENZ.

OR MAKE THAT, CLASSIC NEW MERCEDES-BENZ.

THE SMARTPHONE STYLED GESTURE CONTROLLED CENTRAL TOUCHPAD HANDLES INFOTAINMENT, AND OF COURSE, MATERIAL QUALITY IS SUPERB.

SOME OVERLY AGGRESSIVE SEAT BOLSTERING LACKED THE LONG HAUL COMFORT WE EXPECT THOUGH.

EXTERIOR STYLING IS, PERHAPS, THE MOST POLARIZING ASPECT OF THE GLE COUPE.

WITH NEARLY IDENTICAL PROPORTIONS TO THE BMW X6, WE FOUND THE LOOK SURPRISINGLY SIMILAR, TOO.

BOTH ARE VERY COMPETENT, SO IT REALLY ONLY COMES DOWN TO WHERE YOUR LOYALTIES LIE.

IF YOU'RE TEAM MERCEDES-BENZ, A GLE450 AMG COUPE WILL COST YOU $66,000.

THE INSANELY POWERED MERCEDES-AMG GLE63 S COUPE WILL COST YOU A TOUCH MORE, AT $110,000.

AND THEY'RE BOTH ON SALE NOW.

A CAR WITH NO POWER STEERING, A BRUTALLY ROUGH RIDE, AND A MEASLY 1.7 LITER TURBO I4 DOESN'T EXACTLY SCREAM FUN, ON PAPER.

BUT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE 2015 ALFA ROMEO 4C, IT'S A WHOLLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

ONE WORTHY OF OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR.

NOW, PRY OFF THE ROOF, AND YOU'D HAVE THE 4C SPIDER.

AMAZINGLY, THIS TOPLESS TO THE 4C'S CARBON FIBER MONOCOQUE CHASSIS.

A CARBON FIBER WINDSHIELD FRAME AND STEEL CROSSBEAM IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT KEEP THINGS SOLID, WITH MINIMAL WEIGHT PENALTIES.

WHICH MEANS ALL 237 HORSEPOWER CAN STILL BE PUT TO EFFICIENT USE, ROCKETING THE 4C OFF OF CORNERS, OFF THE LINE, AND WHEREVER ELSE YOU POINT THE FRONT WHEELS.

STYLING, TOO, IS NO WORSE, AND WE THINK IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER.

THE STANDARD ROLL UP SOFTOP CAN BE UPGRADED FOR $3,500, MIND YOU, TO A CARBON FIBER REMOVABLE HARDTOP.

WE SAY SKIP IT.

A CENTER MOUNTED, DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE AS AN UPGRADE, TOO.

BUT WHY?

IT ACTUALLY SOUNDS DARN GOOD AS IT IS.

A NOTABLE SPIDER UPGRADE, IS ALSO A STANDARD ONE: LEATHER INTERIOR.

IT MAKES THE JARRING RIDE A BIT MORE BEARABLE.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER STARTS AROUND $66,000.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

WHILE WE AS AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIASTS TEND TO BE WARY OF RETURNING NAMEPLATES, AS THEY RARELY LIVE UP TO THE CARS THAT ORIGINALLY USED THEM, IT CAN BE DONE WITH SUCCESS, AS JEEP PROVED WITH THE NEW CHEROKEE.

WELL, WITH THAT SUCCESS IN HAND, JEEP IS NOW FOCUSED ON THE RAPIDLY GROWING SMALL CROSSOVER SEGMENT, AND HAS PLACED THE VENERABLE RENEGADE NAME ON A NEW MODEL, WITH A NEW DNA.

* RENEGADE IS DEFINED AS "ONE WHO DESERTS OR BETRAYS AN ORGANIZATION."

FOR THE 2015 JEEP RENEGADE, AS IT ENTERS INTO A NEW SEGMENT FOR BRAND, AND IS CLEARLY UNLIKE ANY OTHER JEEP IN THE STABLE, OR IS IT?

JEEP FANS KNOW THAT RENEGADE NOT AS A MODEL NAME, BUT RATHER A TRIM PACKAGE FOUND MOSTLY ON CJ'S AND WRANGLERS.

AND WHILE EARLY PHOTOS, WITH ITS BORDERLINE CARTOONISH APPEARANCE, MADE IT HARD TO TAKE SERIOUSLY, IN PERSON, THE SUBCOMPACT RENEGADE SPORTS MUCH BETTER PROPORTIONS WHILE STILL SAYING CLASSIC JEEP UP FRONT.

BUT LESS SO IN THE REAR 3 VIEW WITH THE UPWARDLY ARCHED QUARTER WINDOWS.

BUT THE X-MOTIF IN THE TAILLIGHTS AND ELSEWHERE, PLAYING OFF A WWII STYLE FUEL CAN, IS PRETTY COOL.

ONE FEATURE WE HAVEN'T SEEN ON OTHER NEW SMALLISH UTE'S IS REMOVABLE ROOF PANELS.

RENEGADE'S BASIC MYSKY SYSTEM HAS TWO SEPARATE PIECES THAT, WHEN TAKEN OFF, DELIVER SOME OF THAT OPEN AIR EXPERIENCE JEEPS ARE KNOWN FOR.

MYSKY WITH A POWER SLIDING FRONT PANEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

THERE'S NOT AN ABUNDANCE OF ROOM IN THE COMFORTABLE FRONT SEATS, BUT MORE THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING, AND THAT JUST MEANS ALL OF THE CONTROLS FALL CLOSE TO HAND.

SEAT CONTROLS WERE MANUAL IN OUR LATITUDE TRIMMED TESTER, BUT THEY'RE VERY BEEFY FELLING, NOT COMPACT CAR FLIMSY.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LOOKS NICE, IF A BIT GIMMICKY.

THERE'S JEEP LOGOS AND "SINCE 1941" SCRIPT EVERYWHERE.

IT CAN GET A BIT CHEESY AND SOME MATERIALS ARE MORE ECONOMY THAN RUGGED.

THE UCONNECT SCREEN IS ON THE SMALL SIDE, BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE, AND THE OVERALL LOOK OF THE INTERIOR WILL UNDOUBTEDLY APPEAL TO THE YOUNGER SET.

REAR SEAT ROOM IS GOOD, BUT THE SEATBACKS DON'T QUITE FOLD FLAT FOR CARGO.

AND WHILE TOTAL CARGO SPACE IS DECENT AT 50.8 CUBIC-FEET; 18.5 BEHIND THE REAR SEATS; IT FALLS WELL SHORT OF THE HONDA HR-V. NOW, JEEP WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN STILL DO JEEP TYPE THINGS IN THE RENEGADE, AND THE TRAILHAWK MODEL FEATURES A STANDARD ACTIVE DRIVE LOW 4X4 SYSTEM WITH TERRAIN SELECT MODES FOR SNOW, SAND, MUD, AND ROCK.

IT'S CLEARLY THE ONLY SUBCOMPACT UTE DESIGNED FOR TRUE OFF ROAD USE.

AND YOU CAN STILL GET JEEP'S REGULAR STRENGTH ACTIVE DRIVE FULL TIME 4X4 SYSTEM IN ALL OTHER TRIMS, WHICH WORKED FINE FOR US.

ON ROAD, THE RENEGADE FEELS VERY CAR LIKE, WITH MINIMAL ROLL IN CORNERS AND HEAVY STEERING.

IT'S A SOLID PACKAGE OVERALL, WITH NO SQUEAKS OR RATTLES FROM THE ROOF PANELS, THOUGH WIND NOISE CAN RING OUT AT SPEED.

AS FOR POWERTRAINS, THERE ARE TWO.

THE LARGER, 2.4 LITER TIGERSHARK I4 BOASTS 180 HORSEPOWER, AND 175 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THERE'S AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF POWER FOR A SEGMENT THAT MOSTLY CONSISTS OF SUB 2.0 LITER ENGINES.

AND OF COURSE THERE IS ONE OF THOSE AVAILABLE HERE AS WELL, FIAT'S 160 HORSEPOWER 1.4 LITER MULTIAIR TURBO-4 WHICH COMES WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL.

AUTOMATIC WHICH WORKED OKAY.

THERE'S STILL SOME OCCASIONAL STUMBLING, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPROVEMENT OVER EARLY CHEROKEES.

* AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE 2.4 RENEGADE SNAPS OFF THE LINE LIKE A SPRINTER, BUT QUICKLY SETTLES DOWN INTO A MARATHON PACE; REACHING 60 IN 8.6 SECONDS.

LEISURELY SHIFTS COMPOUND THE QUARTER MILE SITUATION, WHICH TOOK 16.5 SECONDS TO CLIMB TO 83 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE TOO; AS ANYTHING MORE, TURNS MANAGEABLE UNDERSTEER INTO FULL ON PLOW.

WE THINK JEEP'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT A TRULY GLOBAL SMALL CROSSOVER WILL REPRESENT THE BRAND WELL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AS IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES.

PRICING HERE IN THE GOOD OLD U.S. OF A.

STARTS AT $18,990 FOR A SPORT, AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS 2-GRAND MORE.

OFF-SHORE, THE 2015 RENEGADE STILL EMBODIES MUCH OF WHAT HAS MADE THE JEEP BRAND AN AMERICAN ICON.

COMBINED WITH A LOW PRICE, IT'S THE PERFECT JEEP FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY WANT A JEEP, BUT REALLY WANT A RUGGED LOOKING SMALL CROSSOVER WITH ALL OF THE MODERN COMFORTS THEY'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.

SO, RENEGADE IS ONE TRAITOR WITH A GOOD CAUSE.

WELL, THAT'S OUT 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 LOOK AT FIAT'S CROSSOVER TO THE MAINSTREAM: THE 500X.

THEN PEAK OUT ON ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE IN THE PORSCHE 918 SPYDER.

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... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

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

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.

THIS IS AWESOME!"

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.

*