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

JOIN US FOR BMW PERFORMANCE ON A GRANDER LEVEL WITH THE ALPINA B6 GRAN COUPE... PAT GOSS HAS SOME QUICK FIXES FOR TWO ANNOYING TROUBLES... ROBINSON CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE HONDA GOLD WING... THEN WE'LL STAGE OUR OWN VERSION OF A FAMILY FEUD, WITH TODAY'S LATEST MINIVANS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ANNOUNCER: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF 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.

John: WE ALL KNOW WHAT BMW'S IN-HOUSE M DIVISION IS ALL ABOUT, PUSHING THE PERFORMANCE ASPECTS OF THEIR CARS TO THE MAX.

BUT, FOR THE REAL BMW GOURMET, IT'S THE CARS THAT WEAR THE ALPINA BADGE THAT STAND ABOVE THE REST BY DELIVERING BOTH TOTAL PERFORMANCE AND TOTAL REFINEMENT.

CARS LIKE THIS BMW ALPINA B6.

THE 2016 BMW ALPINA B6 XDRIVE GRAN COUPE MAY OF COURSE BE BASED ON BMW'S NOT EXACTLY HUMBLE 650I GRAN COUPE, BUT THIS IS STILL ONE TRULY UNIQUE ANIMAL.

IN FACT IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO PURCHASE ONE OF THESE RARE BEASTS, YOUR CAR WILL HAVE A VIN NUMBER LISTING ALPINA AS THE MANUFACTURER, NOT BMW.

THIS IS ALSO ONE ANIMAL THAT HAS EVOLVED FOR ROADS THAT DON'T EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY AND BRED TO PERFORM ACTS THAT SIMPLY AREN'T PERMISSIBLE ON OUR VERY LIMITED SPEED HIGHWAYS.

MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO TRULY ENJOY THIS UNCOMMON CREATURE, IS THE BLISSFULLY SERENE NATURE THAT REMOVES ALL SENSE OF SPEED, AND YOU'VE GOT A RECIPE FOR PROBLEMS DOWN AT THE DMV.

UNLIKE M PRODUCTS, ALPINA IS NOT OWNED BY BMW, HOWEVER THE BRAND HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM FOR 50 YEARS; DIVERTING BMW CARS TO BE HAND FINISHED IN ALPINA'S OWN BAVARIAN FACTORY.

TO WHAT END?

WELL, MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR MORE MOTOR UNDER THE HOOD, AS ALPINA TAKES BMW'S 4.4 LITER BI-TURBO V8 AND WHIPS IT UP TO 600 HORSEPOWER AND 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S 40 MORE HORSES AND 90 POUND-FEET OVER AN M6 GRAN COUPE.

THE ATTACHED 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS BEEFED UP ACCORDINGLY, AND STANDARD XDRIVE REPROGRAMMED FOR MORE REAR BIAS.

NO MATTER THE WEIGHT, 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WILL GET ANYTHING UP TO SPEED IN A HURRY.

IN THIS CASE, THE SPEED IS 60 AND THE HURRY IS 4.1 SECONDS.

FLAWLESS LAUNCH CONTROL HAD US GETTING AWAY WITH NECK SNAPPING EASE EVERY TIME, EVEN AT OUR OLD WORN DOWN TRACK.

THE MUSCLE KEPT POURING ON THE WHOLE WAY DOWN THE STRIP, AS SHIFTS HIT HARD AND FAST THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE, UNTIL IT ENDED IN 12.2 SECONDS AT 116 MILES PER HOUR.

THE BLUE PAINTED BINDERS CLAMPING DOWN ON 14.5 INCH DISCS ARE UP TO THE TASK AS WELL; AS 107 FEET WAS ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THIS 4,780 POUNDS OF AWESOMENESS FROM 60.

STIFFER SPRINGS AND MORE FRONT-WHEEL CAMBER ARE JUST THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SUSPENSION UPDATES.

ALPINA ALSO DOES A FULL RECALIBRATION OF BMW'S DYNAMIC DAMPER CONTROL AND ACTIVE ROLL STABILIZATION SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS BOLTS ON A SET OF WIDER 20 INCH WHEELS.

THE RESULTS ARE AMAZING, AS THIS BULK-SIZED BRUTE, STICKS AND GETS THROUGH THE CONES WITH EASE AND GRIP USUALLY RESERVED FOR COMPACT SPORT SEDANS.

VERY TIGHT STEERING AND MINIMAL WEIGHT TRANSFER ARE THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

AND SPEAKING OF MEASURING, THE LEATHER CRAFTSMEN AT ALPINA DID THEIR SHARE, AS THEY WRAPPED AND HAND STITCHED VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE INTERIOR FOR BOTH EXTREME APPEAL AND MAX COMFORT.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS THING DOES COMFORT EVERY BIT AS WELL AS IT DOES PERFORMANCE.

FOR SUCH A LARGE CAR, THERE'S A VERY INTIMATE FEEL INSIDE, AS YOU'RE NESTLED COMFORTABLY BETWEEN CONSOLE AND DOOR; GIVING IT A REAL OLD SPORTS CAR FEELING.

MATERIALS ARE SIMPLY GORGEOUS, AND THE FABULOUS SEATS DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT EJECT.

SET THE DRIVER DYNAMICS CONTROL TO COMFORT+ WITH THE FULL EFFECT; SPORT AND SPORT+ ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, AND INSTANTLY MAKE THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE A WHOLE LOT MORE ENGAGING.

THIS PARTICULAR ALPINA MAY NOT BE AS RECOGNIZABLE AT FIRST, DUE TO THE MOONSTONE METALLIC PAINT JOB IN PLACE OF THE MORE TRADITIONAL ALPINA BLUE.

BUT THE MORE AGGRESSIVE STANCE, REWORKED FRONT FASCIA WITH FRONT SPLITTER, ALPINA CLASSIC WHEELS, AND REAR DIFFUSER, AND SPOILER ARE DEAD GIVEAWAYS.

IT ALL MAKES FOR ONE MENACING LOOKING 4-DOOR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED, AND WE MANAGED A GOOD AVERAGE OF 20.1 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

SO, NO GAS GUZZLER TAX, BUT STILL A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 18.3 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 8.0 TONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, JUST AS FAST AS THIS VEHICLE CAN GET YOU MOVING, IT CAN ALSO MAKE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DISAPPEAR, WITH A STARTING PRICE OF $122,195.

AHHH, BUT WHAT'S THE PRICE OF EXCLUSIVITY?

YET AFTER SPENDING A FEW DAYS WITH THIS CAR, IT SOMEHOW SEEMS WORTH IT.

AS THIS IS TRULY THE MOST IMPRESSED WE'VE BEEN WITH A BMW IN SOME TIME.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE IN BMW POSHNESS AND REFINED PERFORMANCE, AS WELL OWNING SOMETHING RARE; THE 2016 BMW ALPINA B6 GRAN COUPE IS ONE EXTRAVAGANT WAY TO DRIVE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND AMERICA'S LARGEST HOME.

THE BILTMORE WAS BUILT WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND, AN IDEA THAT STILL HOLDS TRUE 120 YEARS LATER.

IN 2012 ABOUT 50 ACRES OF CANOLA WERE PLANTED ON THE ESTATE.

THE TINY CANOLA SEED IS ABOUT 43 PERCENT OIL.

IT IS SQUEEZED OUT IN THE BILTMORE'S OWN BIO-BARN, AND ALONG WITH THEIR RESTAURANT WASTE COOKING OIL, IS THEN PROCESSED INTO B20 BIODIESEL FUEL.

Trip Hudgins: WE TRY TO PROCESS AROUND 200 GALLONS A WEEK.

SO, OUR MARK IS ABOUT 10,000 GALLONS A YEAR IS WHAT WE DO.

John: THE HOME GROWN B20 POWERS OVER 90 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ON THE ESTATE.

AND YOU WON'T JUST FIND BIODIESEL AT THE PUMP, BUT PROPANE TOO!

WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE LAND OF SKY CLEAN VEHICLES COALITION AND ALLIANCE AUTOGAS, THE BILTMORE HAS EIGHT PROPANE POWERED BUSES TO SHUTTLE GUESTS, WITH MORE BUSES ON THE WAY.

MOVING THE BILTMORE TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ENVISIONED SO LONG AGO.

ALTHOUGH HONDA DIDN'T INVENT THE CONCEPT OF THE TOURING MOTORCYCLE WHEN THEY INTRODUCED THE GOLD WING FOR 1975, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS THEY HAVE PERFECTED IT.

AND AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, HONDA IS CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR KING OF THE ROAD.

Brian Robinson: THOUGH NO LONGER BUILT HERE IN THE U.S., IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE BUILT MORE FOR HERE THAN THE HONDA GL, OR GOLD WING.

IT'S BEEN THE LONG DISTANCE RIDE OF CHOICE FOR MANY A RIDER; LET'S FIND OUT WHY.

FROM ITS BEGINNING, THE HONDA GL WAS DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY AND COMFORT; FULLY ENCAPSULATING WHAT LONG DISTANCE MOTORCYCLING IS ALL ABOUT.

ALL WITH A FRIENDLINESS TO IT THAT MADE YOU NEVER WANT TO STOP EATING LARGE QUANTITIES OF MILES.

WELL, AFTER 40 YEARS, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

BUT IT'S NO LONGER ALONE IN THAT MISSION, AS A HOST OF AMERICAN AND IMPORT BRANDS HAVE TAKEN THAT SAME FORMULA AND BECOME QUITE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT AS WELL.

LIKE MOST 40 YEAR OLDS, THE GOLD WING HAS PUT ON SOME WEIGHT, NOW OVER 900 POUNDS OF WINNEBAGO ON 2-WHEELS.

1,832CCs OF FLAT-6 ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GET IT MOVING, HOWEVER, POWER IS DELIVERED ULTRA SMOOTHLY THROUGH SHAFT DRIVE, WHILE TWIN MUFFLERS CHANNEL THE EXHAUST OUT THE BACK ALMOST SILENTLY.

OVER FIVE GENERATIONS, THE GL HAS CERTAINLY EVOLVED, AND WHILE 2015s ARE NOT ALL-NEW, RATHER A CONTINUATION OF THE GEN LAUNCHED IN 2001, THEY ALL DO COME WITH SOME TRIM UPDATES AND SPECIAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY BADGING.

IF YOU'VE NEVER RIDDEN A GOLD WING, THERE ARE SOME PECULIARITIES THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE.

FOR ONE, THERE ARE JUST FOOT PEGS FOR THE RIDER, NOT FLOOR BOARDS LIKE MOST CRUISER BASED TOURERS.

HERE, IT'S THE PASSENGER THAT GETS THE PREMIUM FOOT ACCOMMODATIONS.

AND IF YOU GLANCE DOWN WHILE RIDING, YOU'LL SEE ENOUGH BUTTONS AND SWITCHES TO RESEMBLE AND AN AIRPLANE COCKPIT, BUT THE OPTIONAL NAVIGATION UNIT IS INTEGRATED VERY NICELY IN AN ALMOST AUTOMOTIVE MANNER.

STILL, IT'S NOT THE EASIEST NAV TO PROGRAM, AND GRAPHICS ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN A HONDA ACCORD 10 YEARS AGO.

THE WINDSCREEN IS MANUALLY ADJUSTED, BUT EVEN AT ITS LOWEST SETTING IT CREATES QUITE A LARGE POCKET OF AIR AROUND YOU.

THERE'S LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE OF COURSE, WITH A REMOTE LOCKING TRUNK, AND ON SCREEN REMINDERS IF ONE OF YOUR CASES ISN'T SHUT COMPLETELY.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE SEAT OTHER THAN ITS HUGE, PLUSH, AND BY FAR THE BEST PERCH FOR YOUR POSTERIOR IN THE 2-WHEELED WORLD?

THE GOLD WING MAY BE A HARD MOTORCYCLE FOR MANY TO UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT LIKE TO LEAVE THEIR BAGGAGE BEHIND, BUT THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND RELAXING IN THE SEAT, THE MORE APPEALING IT BECOMES.

THERE ARE FOUR AUTOMOTIVE STYLE TRIM LEVELS OF GOLD WING TO CHOOSE FROM, STARTING AT $23,999.

IT MAY NOT HAVE THE CHARACTER SOME RIDERS DEMAND, BUT POUND FOR POUND THE 2015 HONDA GOLD WING IS STILL THE BENCHMARK OF THE TOURING SEGMENT.

AND BY THE TIME THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY MODEL ROLLS AROUND, IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT WILL CHANGE.

* John: POWER IS SO ABUNDANT THAT THE PROPER PLACE TO UNLEASH IT WAS ON A RACING CIRCUIT, SPECIFICALLY GEORGIA'S ROEBLING RACEWAY, WHERE THE 850 CSI DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.

A MARVELOUS, FABULOUS CAR TO DRIVE WITH GUSTO RATES ONE OF OUR TEST DRIVERS.

WHETHER BLASTING DOWN A STRAIGHTAWAY TO NEGOTIATING A HAIRPIN TURN OR EXITING A CORNER AT TRIPLE DIGIT SPEEDS THIS BADDEST OF ALL BIMMERS DID IT WITH EASE.

THE 4-WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION IS SUPERBLY TUNED AND LOWERED AND DID A SUPERB JOB OF MASKING THE 4200 POUND BULK OF THIS CAR.

NOT ALL CAR REPAIR ISSUES ARE GLOOM AND DOOM!

PAT GOSS IS HERE NOW WITH QUICK FIXES FOR A PAIR OF SMALL THORNS.

Pat Goss: IF, LIKE ME, YOU HAPPEN TO BE THE PROUD OWNER OF A 2010 FORD F-150, WELL YOU'LL KNOW IT'S A GREAT TRUCK, BUT THAT IT HAS ONE MAJOR FAILING... AND THAT'S THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

YOU SEE, THERE'S NO WAY TO TURN THE BACK LIGHTING ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DURING THE DAYLIGHT.

YES, YOU COULD COVER THE SENSOR UP THERE ON THE DASH, BUT THAT'LL TURN ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT IT PUTS ALL OF THE OTHER LED'S AND SO ON, ON THE DASH, INTO NIGHT MODE AND YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.

SO, IT'S A MATTER OF ONE OR THE OTHER.

WELL, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT ARRANGEMENT.

SO, WHAT I DID IS, I WENT TO THE LOCAL PARTS STORE, AND I BOUGHT SOME OF THESE.

THESE ARE SMALL LED DASH LIGHTS.

THEY'RE ADHESIVE ON THE BACK.

THEY HAVE VERY SMALL WIRES.

AND WE FOUND STRATEGIC SPOTS IN BETWEEN EACH ONE OF THE GAUGES, AND APPLIED THESE TO THE SURFACE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

RAN THE WIRES UP BEHIND IT, AND THEN MADE A CONNECTION ON THE BACK SO THAT WHENEVER I TURN THE KEY ON, WHAT I GET IS, THIS.

YOU CAN SEE VERY PLAINLY NOW THE INSTRUMENTS.

YOU CAN READ THEM.

BECAUSE BEFORE YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING, YOU COULDN'T TELL IF SOMETHING WAS OVERHEATING, OR ANYTHING AT ALL.

SO THIS IS AN EASY, INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM.

NOW, ANOTHER THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH: THEY BUY A CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE GPS.

JUST LIKE THIS ONE, I BOUGHT IT USED, AND, NO GPS.

WELL, I NEED GPS FOR A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT I GO.

SO I BOUGHT AN AFTERMARKET UNIT, WHICH HAS SOME ADVANTAGES IN THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT IT CAN GIVE YOU INFORMATION WISE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET WITH A FACTORY UNIT.

NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LOCATION OF SPEED CAMERAS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THOSE LOCATIONS ARE UPDATED VERY FREQUENTLY.

BUT, NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

WELL, YOU COULD USE ONE OF THEIR SAND BAG MOUNTS, AND PUT IT UP ON THE DASH.

BUT THEN IT BLOCKS VISION.

YOU COULD USE SUCTION CUPS, BUT AGAIN, WELL YOU'RE ADVERTISING THAT YOU'VE GOT A GPS, AND THAT SETS IT UP FOR BEINGSTOLEN.

WHAT I FOUND, AND THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR MOST POPULAR VEHICLES, IS A CUSTOM MADE MOUNT, THAT'S DESIGNED FOR THIS ONE TO FIT INTO THIS BLANK OPENING IN THE DASH.

THESE DO A GOOD JOB OF MOUNTING THE GPS, KEEPS IT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT, AND THEY'RE MUCH LESS APT TO BE STOLEN.

EXPECT TO PAY 20 TO 60 BUCKS, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE.

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

John: MY HOW TIME FLIES.

IT'S BEEN ONE WHOLE YEAR SINCE WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS 2015 MAZDA CX-9, AND WE'VE TACKED 25,690 MILES ONTO THIS GREAT WHITE LAND SHARK.

IT'S ALSO THE LAST OF ITS BREED, WITH A 273 HORSEPOWER 3.7 LITER V6 THAT IS, AS THE NEXT-GEN 2017 CX-9 WILL COME WITH TURBO-4 POWER ONLY.

WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE MOVE, AS OUR FUEL ECONOMY SETTLED IN AT A MEDIOCRE 19.6 MILES PER GALLON.

OUR STAFFERS DO LOVE THE SPORTY CAR-LIKE HANDLING, SMOOTH RIDE, AND EASY GOING NATURE OF THIS CX-9, THOUGH.

THE OUT OF DATE TECH AND STYLING CAN BE FORGIVEN, AS ADVANCEMENTS ARE EVER CHANGING.

STILL, WITH THE ALL-NEW "9" SOON ARRIVING, A CURRENT INVENTORY CX-9 LIKE OURS REMAINS A VERY APPEALING, AND AFFORDABLE FAMILY OPTION.

WE'RE FIVE MONTHS AND A QUICK 10,000 MILES INTO OUR YEARLONG LOOK AT KIA'S SORENTO FAMILY CROSSOVER.

AND LIKE FAMILIES THEMSELVES, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE GOOD ALONG WITH THE BAD.

THE GOOD... EVERYONE LOVES THE MULTIPLE CAMERAS STATIONED AROUND THE VEHICLE, AND WE'VE USED THEM FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE TYPICAL PARKING SITUATIONS, TO GETTING A PEAK AT THE TRAIL AHEAD WHEN DOING SOME LIGHT OFF-ROADING.

THERE'S ALSO PLENTY OF POWER FROM THE TURBO-4 AND THE SUNROOF LETS A LOT OF THE OUTSIDE IN, WHEN YOU WANT IT.

NOW, AS FOR THE BAD...

MOST HAVE FOUND THE SEATS NOT UP TO THE LONG HAUL TASK, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS THAT STILL FIND PAYING WELL OVER $40,000 FOR A KIA, A STRETCH NO MATTER HOW NICE IT IS.

FUEL ECONOMY IS TRENDING UP, WITH OUR AVERAGE NOW AT 23.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

AND IT WILL BE TIME FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED UPDATES ON THE CHRYSLER 200, AND NISSAN MURANO ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

NOW LET'S, CLIMB BEHIND THE WHEEL OF SOMETHING NEW, AND GRAB A QUICK SPIN!

WE'RE CERTAINLY NO STRANGERS TO RAM TRUCKS, BUT WITH EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE MOVING FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE, WE GRABBED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT'S NEW WITH FCAs FULL-SIZE HAULERS.

STARTING OFF WITH A STAFF FAVORITE, THE LIGHT DUTY 1500.

JUST RELEASED, AND CARRYING OVER INTO THE '16 MODEL YEAR, THIS RAM 1500 REBEL IS MORE OF A STREET TOUGH GUY THAN A TRUE OFF-ROAD RAPTOR RIVAL...

STILL IT DIDN'T STOP US FROM HEADING FOR THE HILLS IN THIS FLAME RED REBEL.

STYLING IS A MAIN ATTRACTION HERE AS REBEL ADDS UNIQUE GRILLE WORK, BUMPERS, SKID PLATES, TOW HOOKS, AND WHEELS.

INSIDE SEES A SIMILAR OVERHAUL, BUT MOSTLY THE COLOR SCHEMES AND DESIGN ELEMENTS.

NO MECHANICAL CHANGES TAKE PLACE, AS THE 5.7 LITER HEMI V8, 8-SPEED AUTO, AIR SUSPENSION, AND EVERYTHING ELSE WERE ALREADY AVAILABLE.

AN INCREASED RIDE HEIGHT, AND 33 INCH ALL TERRAIN TIRES ARE NEW AND WELCOMED.

ALSO NEW, BUT NOT REALLY, IS THIS 1500 LARAMIE LIMITED?

LIKE THE REBEL, IT'S A NEW TRIM MORE THAN A NEW TRUCK.

IT TOO GETS A UNIQUE GRILLE AND WHEELS, AND MORE PREMIUM INTERIOR TREATMENTS.

BOTH ARE ON SALE NOW, THE REBEL STICKERS JUST UNDER 44,000, WHILE THE LARAMIE LIMITED TOPS OFF THE 1500 RANGE, STARTING AT JUST UNDER $52,000.

WHEN THERE'S SERIOUS WORK TO DO, IT'S TIME TO STEP UP TO THE RAM HEAVY DUTY.

AND HEAVY IS THE OPERATIVE WORD, AS, FOR NOW, RAM CAN CLAIM BEST IN CLASS TOWING AT 31,210 POUNDS, BY SAEJ2807 STANDARDS.

BUT HOW DOES IT FEEL TOWING THAT MUCH BEHIND THE WHEEL?

Zack Maskell: IF YOU'RE EVEN IN THE MARKET FOR A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK, YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXPECTING A LOT.

THE CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL DEFINITELY DELIVERS.

IT'S GOT BEST IN CLASS TORQUE AT 900 POUND-FEET, IT'S GOT BEST IN CLASS TOWING AT OVER 31,000 POUNDS.

YES, I KNOW I'M TOWING, BUT IT JUST DOES IT WITH SUCH EASE... John: YES, YOU HEARD RIGHT, UP TO 900 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FROM THE 6.7 LITER CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL INLINE 6.

THE LOOK, TOO, GETS ADDRESSED.

THE LARAMIE LIMITED GRILLE FROM THE 1500 ALSO FINDS ITS WAY HERE, AND THE INTERIOR GETS A FRESHENING AND FUNCTIONALITY REDESIGN.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS START AROUND $32,000.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

LIKE RODNEY DANGERFIELD, THEY GET LITTLE RESPECT, AND ARE OFTEN DITCHED AT THE FIRST SIGHT OF A SHINY NEW CROSSOVER UTILITY ACROSS THE LOT.

STILL, WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY CHORES, NOTHING IS MORE PRACTICAL AND VERSATILE THAN A MINIVAN.

LOVE 'EM OR HATE 'EM, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER MOST FAMILY'S NEED ONE.

AND OF THE FIVE LATEST MINIVANS, HERE'S OUR SEARCH FOR NUMBER ONE.

ONCE AGAIN WE TEAMED UP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM FOR THIS ALL'S SQUARE IN LOVE AND WAR FACT FINDING MISSION.

AS OUR COLLECTIVE AUTOMOTIVE ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THAT HUMBLE FAMILY STAPLE, THE MINIVAN.

LAST TIME AROUND, IN 2011, THE HONDA ODYSSEY TOOK THE TOP HONORS, BUT WILL IT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES THIS TIME?

WELL, THE LIST OF CONTENDERS CHALLENGING THE ODYSSEY IS A PREDICTABLE ONE.

THE WELL ADORNED AND WELL-AGED CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY.

ALONG WITH ITS STABLEMATE AND THE ORIGINAL MINIVAN, THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN.

A LONE KOREAN CONTENDER, THE KIA SEDONA.

AND OF COURSE, THE TOYOTA SIENNA.

ALL CANDIDATES ARE AUTOMATIC V6-POWERED 2015 MODELS, AND ALL ARE FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE, EXCEPT FOR THE TOYOTA SIENNA WHICH IS THE ONLY MINIVAN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

PRICING VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY WITH A SPREAD FROM UNDER $34,000 TO OVER $47,000.

THE ONLY GLARING OMISSION HERE IS THE QUEST, AS NISSAN CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE.

OUR SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN LOCATION PROVED TO BE A GOOD ONE; PROVIDING PLENTY OF URBAN SPRAWL TO NAVIGATE THROUGH WITHOUT A LOT OF BIG CITY TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

AND AS USUAL, WE WERE AIDED BY A GROWING FAMILY ON THE HUNT FOR SOME PRACTICAL NEW TRANSPORTATION.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE BOTTOM TWO PLACES WERE OCCUPIED BY THE AGING CHRYSLER PAIR.

AND THE DODGE CARAVAN ACTUALLY CAME OUT AHEAD OF ITS PRICIER COUNTERPART DUE MOSTLY TO A HUGE PRICE ADVANTAGE AND ODDLY ENOUGH, A SMOOTHER RIDE QUALITY.

BUT PERHAPS OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE JUST A LITTLE TOO HIGH FOR THE TOWN & COUNTRY.

Jennifer Geiger: SO, THE TOWN & COUNTRY IS PROBABLY MY LEAST FAVORITE VAN.

ON THE PLUS SIDE, IT'S GOT A REALLY NICE INTERIOR, LUXURY FINISHES, LEATHER SEATS.

IT ALSO HAS REALLY GREAT FLEXIBILITY WITH THE STOW 'N GO SEATING AND THE 3RD ROW TAILGATE SEAT.

Kelsey Mays: THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OFFERS SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN THIS TEST VERSUS ITS FAIRLY LOADED CHRYSLER TWIN, THE TOWN & COUNTRY, AND IT CHECKS A LOT OF BOXES FOR MINIVANS.

PRETTY GOOD VISIBILITY, LOTS AND LOTS OF STORAGE, AND THE AVAILABLE STOW 'N GO SEATS, WHICH OUR TEST CAR HAD...

ALLOW YOU TO MAXIMIZE THAT CARGO ROOM AND TAKE THOSE 2ND ROW SEATS WITH YOU INSTEAD OF HAVING TO FIT THEM IN THE GARAGE.

John: FROM THERE IT WAS OUR REIGNING CHAMP, THE HONDA ODYSSEY.

IT'S STILL A GREAT CHOICE FOR FAMILIES, AND OF COURSE REMAINS A BIG SELLER, BUT FACING THE HEAVILY UPGRADED COMPETITION HERE, HAS SEEN IT FALL DOWN THE RANKINGS.

Brian Robinson: THE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THIS SEGMENT FOR A LONG TIME NOW FOR GOOD REASONS; IT HAS A LOT OF NICE FEATURES, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, COMFORTABLE RIDE, BUT IT'S NO LONGER LEAPS AND BOUNDS AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION AS IT USED TO BE.

Jennifer Geiger: THE HONDA ODYSSEY REALLY DELIVERS IN THE FEATURES CATEGORY; IT'S GOT THE AWESOME HONDA VAC, IT'S GOT THIS REALLY COOL, COOL BOX YOU CAN CHILL JUICE BOXES OR POP IN; IT ALSO HAS A REALLY EASY 3RD ROW THAT FOLDS, THEY CALL IT THE MAGIC SEAT; IT FOLDS SUPER QUICKLY INTO THE FLOOR FOR LOADS OF STORAGE SPACE.

John: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOP SPOT WAS A VERY CLOSE ONE, WITH THE TOYOTA SIENNA FALLING JUST SHORT.

RECENT UPDATES HAVE MADE THE SIENNA A PRIME CHOICE, AND OF COURSE IF YOU WANT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IT'S YOUR ONLY CHOICE.

Jennifer Newman: THE SIENNA SHOULD WIN THE MOST IMPROVED AWARD AT THIS CHALLENGE.

ITS REFRESHED DESIGN HELPS IT KEEP UP WITH THE ODYSSEY AND THE SEDONA; HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Brian: THE SIENNA IS VERY QUIET, HAS A SMOOTH RIDE, AND I LOVE THE INTERIOR CONTROL LAYOUT THERE IN THE CENTER STACK; EVERYTHING IS GROUPED TOGETHER, LOTS OF NICE, BIG BUTTONS AND KNOBS.

John: AND SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THE KIA SEDONA IS THE ULTIMATE MINIVAN.

THOUGH IT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2002, IT'S TAKEN THE TOTAL REDESIGN OF ITS NEW 3RD GENERATION TO ROCKET IT TO THE TOP.

Andrea Thueme: WE REALLY LIKED THE ,UM, THE WHOLE SORT OF STEERING AREA UP FRONT WITH ALL THE DIALS AND EVERYTHING; IT WAS VERY CLEAN AND SLEEK THERE; AND WE REALLY LIKED THE SIDE AND BACK CAMERAS... Andrew Thueme: ALL THE CAMERAS ON IT.

WE LIVE IN A SUBDIVISION, LOTS OF KIDS RUNNING AROUND, AND BEING ABLE TO SEE, MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN AN AREA THAT'S GOING TO BE A NATURAL BLIND SPOT, AND IT JUST FELT A LITTLE MORE SAFER.

Newman: FOR ME, THE KIA SEDONA BLENDS JUST ENOUGH FAMILY FRIENDLY FEATURES WITH A QUIET RIDE AND A POWERFUL ENGINE TO MAKE IT LAND ON TOP.

John: WHILE CROSSOVER UTILITIES CONTINUE TO EAT AWAY AT MINIVAN SALES, THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT MINIVAN RESURGENCE OF LATE, LED BY NEW EFFORTS LIKE THE KIA SEDONA AND REVAMPED TOYOTA SIENNA.

THAT MAY GET A FURTHER BOOST WHEN A NEW CHRYSLER DESIGN ARRIVES NEXT YEAR.

AFTER ALL, A MINIVAN IS STILL THE MOST PRACTICAL VEHICLE ON THE ROAD FOR FAMILY DUTIES, NO MATTER WHICH LOGO IS ON THE GRILLE.

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR A LOOK BACK AT 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK .

WE'LL DIG INTO THE ARCHIVES, AND SEE JUST HOW FAR WE, AND THE MODERN CAR HAVE COME... 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."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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

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