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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE LONG EXPECTED BMW M2 WAS REALLY WORTH THE WAIT... PAT GOSS OFFERS UP SOME WHEELY GOOD ADVICE FOR ALL OF US... AUTO WORLD HAS TIPS TO KEEP US GOING THE DISTANCE... THEN, WE SEEK OUT THE SUN IN BUICK'S DROP TOP CASCADA...

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... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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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.

John: WHEN BMW LAUNCHED THE 1-SERIES COUPE, IT WAS A HIGH PERFORMANCE HIT.

THEN, THEY WENT AND RENAMED IT THE 2-SERIES.

AND EVER SINCE, A MORE POTENT PROJECTILE HAS BEEN LONGED FOR BY THE BMW FAITHFUL.

THE M235 WAS GREAT, BUT STILL PEOPLE WANTED MORE, A FULL-ON M VERSION.

AND NOW, BMW HAS FINALLY DELIVERED!

* SO, NOW THAT WE HAVE A FIRST EVER 2016 BMW M2, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN TO A SPORT COUPE BUYING PUBLIC?

AND SHOULD YOU WANT ONE OF THESE INSTEAD OF AN M4?

WELL, IN ORDER TO SORT THAT OUT, LET'S GET STARTED WHERE ALL MEMORABLE VEHICLES START, THE ENGINE.

NO SURPRISE HERE, AS IT'S OF THE FAMILIAR 3.0 LITER STRAIGHT-6 VARIETY OF COURSE, WITH TURBO AIDED OUTPUT OF 365 HORSEPOWER AND 343 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

SAME BASIC ENGINE AS FOUND IN THE M235I, JUST MORE BOOST AND SOME BEEFED UP COMPONENTS TO HANDLE IT.

THOSE NUMBERS MAY FALL SHORT OF WHAT MANY WERE HOPING FOR IN A TRUE M, BUT SURELY BMW HAS TO GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO BUY THE M4 WITH ITS 425 HORSEPOWER, AND OF COURSE IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCE.

WEIGHT HERE IN THE DEUCE IS 3,450 POUNDS WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

THAT'S 80 POUNDS LESS THAN AN M4.

BUT EVEN WITHOUT EXTENSIVE USE OF CARBON-FIBER HERE, THE M2 REMAINS SUPER SOLID FEELING FOR SUCH A SMALL CAR.

* THE MANUAL GEAR CHANGE FEATURES ACTIVE REV-MATCHING, WHILE THE OPTIONAL SELF-SHIFTER IS BMW'S 7-SPEED M DCT.

WITH EITHER, YOU GET AN ACTIVE M DIFFERENTIAL.

SELECTING THE GEARS YOURSELF IS NOT THE FASTEST OPTION ACCORDING TO BMW, BUT IT'S THE PREFERRED ONE AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.

WE'RE CLEARLY PART OF THE SAVE THE MANUALS BRIGADE.

AND WE WERE QUITE SATISFIED WITH A 4.2 SECOND 0-60 TIME.

POWER IS NOT OVERWHELMING, BUT YOU STILL MOVE ALONG IN A HURRY, CLEARING THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.8 SECONDS AT 110 MILES PER HOUR.

PERHAPS THE BEST NEWS OF ALL ABOUT THIS M2, AT LEAST FOR TRADITIONALLY MINDED ENTHUSIASTS, IS THERE'S NO ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SUSPENSION.

BMW ENGINEERS DECIDED JUST TO DESIGN THIS ONE PROPERLY FROM THE GET-GO.

IT'S LARGELY THE M3/M4'S MOSTLY ALUMINUM, RIGID-MOUNTED SETUP.

THAT MEANS A DOUBLE JOINT SPRING STRUT ARRANGEMENT UP FRONT, AND A 5-LINK REAR.

THROUGH THE CORNERS OF SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK'S TIGHT SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT, IT FELT SUPREMELY NAILED DOWN WITH ALL KINDS OF TRACTION FOR GETTING THROUGH SHARP CORNERS, AND FOR HOLDING ITS OWN THROUGH SWEEPERS.

PUSHING HARDER TO FIND ITS LIMITS, OVERSTEER DOES PRESENT ITSELF; BUT REMEMBER, HERE, IT'S YOUR FRIEND.

THERE IS M DYNAMIC MODE STABILITY CONTROL AND EVEN IN SPORT-PLUS MODE THE NANNIES WILL STEP IN IF YOU GET TOO OUT OF SHAPE.

BRAKES ARE FULL-ON M SPEC, 4-PISTON CALIPERS WITH 15-INCH DISCS UP FRONT AND 2-PISTON CLAMPERS WITH 14.5 INCH DISHES IN THE REAR.

THEY WORKED PHENOMENALLY.

WITH SUCH FINE HARDWARE, THE M2 NEVER FELT OUT OF CONTROL OR GNARLY; JUST VERY COMPETENT, WELL-BALANCED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, EPICALLY FUN!

RIDE QUALITY AWAY FROM THE TRACK IS NOT EVEN THAT HARSH THOUGH, THAT'S RELATIVE OF COURSE, WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT A TRACK-WORTHY SPORT COUPE.

SO ULTIMATELY, WE SAY SKIP THE M4.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WHAT AN M3 USED TO FEEL LIKE; THIS IS IT.

WE'LL EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY, "IT LOOKS BETTER AS WELL."

THERE'S AN AGGRESSIVELY SCOOPED NEW NOSE, NATURALLY, AND THE FENDERS HAVE BEEN WIDENED SIGNIFICANTLY TO HOUSE THE STANDARD 19 INCH WHEELS.

THERE'S EXACTLY 106.0 INCHES BETWEEN THE CENTER OF THOSE WHEELS, AND WITH ITS LONG HOOD AND HACKED-OFF REAR, PROPORTIONS OF THIS MICRO-MARAUDER LOOK JUST RIGHT.

THE QUARTET OF EXHAUST TIPS HIGHLIGHT A MOSTLY FLAT HIND END, WITH A VERY MILD-MANNERED DECK LID SPOILER.

THE M2 PACKAGES ALL OF THAT PERFORMANCE AND MACHO BODYWORK, WITH A WELL DONE INTERIOR THAT IS SPORTY WITHOUT SACRIFICING ALL THE AMENITIES THAT BMW FOLLOWERS REQUIRE THESE DAYS; COMING VERY WELL EQUIPPED.

AN OPTIONAL EXECUTIVE PACKAGE GOES FURTHER WITH HEATED STEERING WHEEL AND REAR VIEW CAMERA.

UNLIKE BIG BROTHER M4, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN ADD; OTHER THAN THE DCT TRANSMISSION.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 22.1 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

SO THERE'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.1 TONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $52,695, OR ABOUT 80% OF WHAT A BASE M4 COSTS.

SO WHILE, WE WON'T GO SO FAR AS TO SAY IT WAS JUST WHAT WAS NEEDED; BECAUSE TRUTH BE TOLD, THE M235I IS A PRETTY FINE MACHINE.

BUT THIS 2016 BMW M2 SURE IS A HIGHLY DESIRABLE MINI BEAST OF A CAR.

DON'T LOOK AT IT AS A SCALED DOWN M4, RATHER A PROPER M3 THAT WE ALL REMEMBER.

SO, WELCOME BACK BMW; WE SURE DID MISS YOU.

AND THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK THAT LOVIN' M FEELING.

* NO MATTER THE PRICE OF GAS, MAXIMIZING YOUR VEHICLE'S FUEL ECONOMY JUST MAKES GOOD SENSE FOR REDUCING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND CONSERVING A NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE.

TODAY'S CARS ARE PACKED WITH FUEL-SAVING TECHNOLOGY, BUT THERE'S PLENTY YOU CAN DO TO GET THE MOST MPG FROM WHATEVER YOU DRIVE.

ACHIEVING GOOD FUEL ECONOMY DEPENDS ON A LOT OF FACTORS.

SOME LIKE WEATHER, TERRAIN, AND TEMPERATURE, ARE BEYOND THE DRIVER'S CONTROL.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND DRIVING HABITS CAN BOTH HAVE A NOTICEABLE IMPACT ON FUEL ECONOMY, BUT TO REALLY FLEX YOUR MPG MUSCLES, YOU'VE GOT TO GET TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE, AND HOW IT PERFORMS BEST.

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THIS BETTER THAN BRIAN WEST.

AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FUELS, ENGINES, AND EMISSIONS RESEARCH CENTER AT OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY, BRIAN KNOWS WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING EVERY POSSIBLE MPG.

Brian West: YOU'LL SEE FOR A LOT OF CONVENTIONAL VEHICLES, THE HIGHWAY ECONOMY IS 30, 40, MAYBE EVEN 50% BETTER THAN THE CITY FUEL ECONOMY.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE...

IN TYPICAL HIGHWAY DRIVING WHERE THE SPEED IS NICE AND STEADY, THE ENGINE'S AT AN EFFICIENT OPERATING POINT, YOU'RE NOT BRAKING VERY MUCH, SO YOU GET THE BEST FUEL ECONOMY.

John: FOR HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CITY AND HIGHWAY NUMBERS CAN BE MUCH CLOSER.

MANY OPERATE IN EV-ONLY MODE AT LEAST PART OF THE TIME, AND REGENERATIVE BRAKING PUTS ENERGY BACK INTO THE BATTERIES TO EXTEND EV RANGE.

BUT DON'T OVERUSE THE BRAKES.

Brian: WHEN YOU BRAKE REALLY HARD IN A HYBRID VEHICLE, THE CURRENT FLOW TO THE BATTERY IS LIMITED BASED ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE BATTERY, THE STATE OF CHARGE OF THE BATTERY, SO WHEN YOU BRAKE REALLY HARD, MORE OF THAT ENERGY IS DISSIPATED THROUGH THE FRICTION BRAKES AND LOST, WHEREAS IF YOU BRAKE GENTLY, MORE OF THAT ENERGY CAN BE RECAPTURED.

John: IT'S BEST TO BRAKE GENTLY IN ALL CARS, AND AVOID UNNECESSARY STOPS ALTOGETHER.

ANTICIPATE STOPLIGHTS, OR TRAFFIC SLOWDOWNS, AND COAST FOR A BIT TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM, RATHER THAN STAY ON THE GAS TIL THE LAST SECOND.

USING ACCESSORIES LIKE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS WILL AFFECT FUEL ECONOMY ON ALL VEHICLES, BUT ESPECIALLY ON HYBRIDS AND ELECTRICS: SO PRE-HEATING OR PRE-COOLING THE CABIN OF A PLUG-IN HYBRID OR EV WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL PLUGGED IN, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN EXTEND ITS ELECTRIC RANGE.

MANY OF TODAY'S CARS HAVE AN ECONOMY MODE THAT MAY LIMIT ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE TO SAVE FUEL.

Brian: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS REALLY JUST ACTUATING A SENSOR, AND YOU'RE REALLY JUST MAKING A REQUEST OR A RECOMMENDATION OF THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

SO WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TODAY, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS DECIDING HOW MUCH POWER, HOW MUCH TRACTIVE EFFORT TO GIVE YOU, AND SO IN AN ECO-MODE, IT'S GOING TO LIMIT THAT, SO THAT AT PART-THROTTLE SETTINGS, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GET LESS POWER, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP YOU DRIVE MORE EFFICIENTLY.

THE ECO MODE ALSO, IN A LOT OF CARS, WILL LIMIT THINGS LIKE THE HEATED SEATS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE PARASITIC LOSSES.

John: SOME FUEL ECONOMY BASICS APPLY TO ALL VEHICLES: ON AVERAGE, LOW TIRE PRESSURE COSTS YOU ABOUT THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN FUEL ECONOMY PER PSI.

KEEP AN AIR GAUGE HANDY AND CHECK YOUR TIRES WEEKLY.

EXCESS WEIGHT REDUCES FUEL ECONOMY ABOUT 1% PER HUNDRED POUNDS ON AVERAGE, SO GET THAT JUNK OUT OF THE TRUNK!

SKI RACKS, CAR TOPPERS, AND THE LIKE, ADD TREMENDOUS AERODYNAMIC DRAG TO A VEHICLE, AND CAN PENALIZE FUEL ECONOMY UP TO 25% ON THE HIGHWAY.

AND REMEMBER, AN IDLING CAR GETS ZERO MILES PER GALLON, SO REMEMBER TO SHUT IT DOWN WHEN WAITING FOR EVEN A FEW MINUTES.

DRIVING SMOOTHLY, TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGIES, AND EVEN USING A LITTLE COMMON SENSE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER YOUR CAR IS A GAS HOG OR A MILEAGE MAXIMIZER!

* THE REATTA MAY BE A LUXURY COUPE, BUT ITS SPORTING LUXURY.

PUSH THE CAR HARD INTO A CORNER, AND IT RESPONDS WITH MILD FRONT PLOW, AND SPORTS CAR LIKE GRIP.

BUT LUXURY COUPES SOMETIMES LACK FEEL.

AND THAT IS BORN OUT BY THE REATTA'S OVER-BOOSTED POWER STEERING.

MOST DRIVER INFORMATION COMES BY "THE SEAT OF THE PANTS" ROUTE.

THE REATTA CONVERTIBLE IS FULL OF POSITIVE SIGNS THAT BUICK HAS A HEALTHY FUTURE IN THE INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE LUXURY CAR MARKET.

AND WHILE, ITS VOLUME MAY BE SMALL, THE OPEN AIR REATTA SUCCEEDS IN PROJECTING A HIGHLY DESIRABLE IMAGE FOR BUICK.

ONE THAT MARKETING MONEY ALONE, WILL NEVER BUY.

LET'S WHEEL IT ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT SPINS UP MORE HELPFUL ADVICE.

Pat Goss: THERE ARE TWO VERY POPULAR TYPES OF WHEELS THAT YOUR CAR OR TRUCK MIGHT HAVE.

FIRST IS WHAT'S CALLED "A CHROME CLAD WHEEL," WHICH IS A TYPICAL ALLOY WHEEL WITH A PLASTIC INSERT APPLIED TO IT.

IT'S BONDED RIGHT TO THE ALLOY WHEEL.

AND OF COURSE THE PLASTIC IS CHROME PLATED.

IT HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING MORE DURABLE THAN A TRADITIONAL CHROME WHEEL.

NOW, THE SECOND TYPE OF WHEEL IS WHAT'S CALLED "A HIGH SPOKE WHEEL."

AND THAT'S WHERE THE SPOKES, WELL OUT HERE AT THE VERY EDGE, THEY ARE TALLER OR HIGHER THAN THE EDGE OF THE WHEEL ITSELF.

SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO WORK WITH EITHER ONE OF THESE.

NOW, WITH CHROME CLAD WHEELS, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR IS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE BACK OF THE WHEEL, YOU MAY SEE THAT THE PLASTIC IS WRAPPED AROUND AND INTO THE CENTER HOLE.

WELL, BECAUSE FOR MANY OPERATIONS LIKE BALANCING AND SO ON, YOU HAVE TO USE COLLETS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COLLET THAT IS USED ON YOUR WHEELS IS A SHALLOW ONE LIKE THIS.

NOW, HERE'S A TRADITIONAL ONE.

THIS IS A TALL ONE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

THIS GOES INTO THE WHEEL TOO FAR, HITS THE PLASTIC, AND CRACKS THE PLASTIC FROM THE INSIDE.

NOT A DESIRABLE SITUATION.

NOW, ON THE MACHINE TO MOUNT THE WHEELS, WELL YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY TO HOLD THE WHEEL IN PLACE.

NOW, AN ADAPTER LIKE THIS IS USED ON VIRTUALLY ALL WHEELS.

AND IT DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING ON THOSE, BUT ON CERTAIN CHROME CLAD WHEELS, YOU MAY HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE CHROME PLASTIC PARTS EXTENDS INTO A CERTAIN POINT WHERE THE TAPER ON THIS, WHEN IT CLAMPS DOWN, CAN CRACK THE PLASTIC.

THAT'S WHY YOUR SHOP HAS TO HAVE A FLANGE PLATE, LIKE WHAT WE SEE HERE.

NOW, THESE FINGERS ACTUALLY GO DOWN INTO WHERE THEUG NUTS FIT, AND IT CLAMPS THE WHEEL IN PLACE THAT WAY.

SO THERE'S NO POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THE PLASTIC.

ALRIGHT.

NOW, THE SECOND THING IS, WITH THE HIGH SPOKE WHEELS.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SHOP HAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS HUNTER MACHINE, WHERE IT HAS A TALL UNIT THAT GOES INTO THE BEAD OF THE TIRE, TO REMOVE OR INSTALL THE TIRE.

BECAME IF IT'S TOO SHALLOW, IT'LL ACTUALLY HIT THOSE TALL SPOKES AND IT MAY DAMAGE THEM.

SO, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT, SO ASK YOU SHOP IF THEY HAVE THESE THINGS, IF YOU HAVE EITHER HIGH SPOKE OR CHROME CLAD WHEELS.

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

John: THE FUTURE IS NOW, AND WE'VE GOT MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, TO PROVE IT!

WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT.

AND JAGUAR IS KEEPING UP THEIR SCORCHING PACE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THEIR FIRST EVER UTILITY VEHICLE: THE F-PACE.

ADAPTING THE STRIKING DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THE F-TYPE SPORTS CAR, AND THE ALUMINUM-INTENSIVE CHASSIS OF THE XE SEDAN, THIS 5-PASSENGER JAG SUV ENTERS THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE CROSSOVER MARKET WITH A STRONG FIRST ATTEMPT.

THE F-PACE, FROM STYLING TO DRIVING, FLEXES ITS ANIMAL MUSCLE; SHOWCASING A SPORTY BUT NOT TOO AGGRESSIVE RIDE, AND A LOOK THAT IS SLEEK, AND SOPHISTICATED, BUT NOT TOO EURO-PRETENTIOUS.

AND CARGO CAPACITY OF 33.5 CUBIC FEET SEATS UP IS QUITE GOOD.

OUR TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL CAME ON THE ABSURDLY SCENIC MOUNTAIN ROADS OF MONTENEGRO, WITH THE 380 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6 ENGINE.

THIS IS THE BOOSTED, TOP OF THE LINE MODEL; A DETUNED 340 HORSEPOWER F-PACE IS AVAILABLE, AS IS A 2.0 LITER TURBO-DIESEL I4.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD FOR ALL.

Greg Carloss: NOW, HAVING DRIVEN THE F-PACE FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON THESE TIGHT, WINDING, UP AND DOWN MONTENEGRIN ROADS, IT IS LUXURY QUIET.

IT HANDLES BETTER THAN IT HAS ANY RIGHT TO.

BUT IT STILL OFFERS A COMFORTABLE RIDE.

IT'S RIGHT IN THAT SWEET SPOT OF BETWEEN TOO SOFT, AND TOO FIRM... John: TO MARK THE DEBUT OF THEIR FIRST UTILITY, JAG ALSO DEBUTS THEIR NEW INCONTROL INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM ON THE F-PACE, AND IT'S A MASSIVE STEP UP, AND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, OVER THEIR OTHER CURRENT OFFERINGS.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 JAGUAR F-PACE STARTS JUST OVER $43,000 FOR THE 340 HORSEPOWER V6.

THE DIESEL ARRIVES LATER, AT AROUND $42,000.

THE CHEVROLET CRUZE IS A HUMBLE COMPACT SEDAN THAT NEVERTHELESS ACCOUNTS FOR SOME SOLID SALES NUMBERS...

IN FACT ITS CHEVY'S BEST-SELLING CAR WORLDWIDE.

SO, A REDESIGN IS A HUGE DEAL FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

IF THE CRUZE HAS EVER STOOD FOR ANYTHING, IT'S SIMPLICITY.

AND HOW'S THIS FOR SIMPLE: ONLY ONE ENGINE!

A 1.4 LITER, 153 HORSEPOWER TURBO I4.

TWO TRANSMISSIONS CAN LINK UP TO IT, THOUGH: A 6-SPEED MANUAL OR A 6-SPEED AUTO.

POWER ISN'T TERRIBLY IMPRESSIVE, BUT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING IT TO BE.

FUEL ECONOMY IS THOUGH, RATED AT 42 HIGHWAY MILES PER GALLON WITH THE AUTOMATIC.

ALL IN ALL, ABOUT 250 POUNDS ARE SHED FROM THE LAST GENERATION, LEAVING THIS CRUZE A BIT MORE FIGHTING FIT.

Lauren Morrison: IT'S ALMOST LIKE, I CAN FEEL THE WEIGHT LOSS IN THE 2016 CHEVY CRUZE.

THE CAR IS VERY NIMBLE ON THE ROADWAYS, AND WHEN IT COMES TO ACCELERATION, EVERYTHING'S NICE AND SMOOTH.

John: OF COURSE VISUALLY, THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

THE CRUZE IS DIMENSIONALLY LARGER, RESULTING IN A MORE ATHLETIC EXTERIOR SLANT, AND INTERIOR SPACE.

GAUGES GET SOME TWEAKED STYLING, AND THE ERGONOMICS ARE IMPROVED FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE, FUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE BOTH FULLY SUPPORTED.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE SEDAN STARTS JUST OVER $17,000.

AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON!

BUICK IS ONE DOMESTIC BRAND THAT AMERICANS MAY HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT.

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THEY ENJOY HIGHER SALES IN ASIA THAN HERE.

OR BECAUSE THE ROADMASTER SEDAN MARQUE IS BEST KNOWN TODAY FOR ITS LUXURY SUVs.

BUT ONE NEW BUICK THAT NEEDS LITTLE DECODING FOR THE HOME TEAM IS THE CASCADA.

THAT'S WATERFALL IN SPANISH, IT'S A DROP TOP BEAUTY DESIGNED FOR LUXURY FUN IN THE SUN MOTORING.

* THIS 2016 BUICK CASCADA DOES INDEED LOOK READY AND WILLING TO DELIVER SOME HIGH STYLE MOTORING FUN IN THE TRADITIONAL EUROPEAN GRAND TOURING VIBE.

THAT MAKES SENSE AS IT'S A SLIGHTLY BUICK-IZED VERSION OF THE OPEL CASCADA THAT'S ASSEMBLED IN POLAND AND AVAILABLE ON THAT CONTINENT SINCE 2013.

AS OTHER RECENT BUICK'S ALSO SHARE A LOT WITH OPEL, MANY THINGS WILL BE FAMILIAR TO THOSE ALREADY IN THE BUICK FOLD.

IT'S SMOOTH FROM ALL ANGLES, WITH WRAPAROUND HEADLIGHTS, BUT LESS GRILL WORK THAN OTHER CURRENT BUICK'S.

IT LOOKS LIKE ONLY THE LOGO CHANGES FROM OPEL TO BUICK.

WING SHAPED LED DRLs AND STEEPLY RAKED A-PILLARS ADD SIGNATURE FLAIR.

WITH A CHASSIS DERIVED FROM THE COMPACT VERANO SEDAN, THE CASCADA HAS A TIDY 184.9 INCH OVERALL LENGTH.

THE REAR IS EQUALLY SMOOTH AND CURVY WITH A SUBTLE DECK LID SPOILER, AND LARGE 1-PIECE TAIL LIGHTS.

AND SINCE THOSE TAILLIGHTS LIFT WITH THE TRUNK LID, THERE'S A 2ND SET INSIDE FOR FLASHING IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

AND WITH THAT TRUNK LID OPEN, YOU'LL ALSO FIND A GREAT 13.4 CUBIC-FEET OF STORAGE SPACE.

EVEN WHEN THE TOP IS STOWED IN THE WELL DESIGNED HOLDING AREA, 9.8 CUBIC-FEET REMAINS.

YOU ALSO GET FOLDING SEAT BACKS FOR EVEN MORE UTILITY.

THE PASSENGER SPACE IS A MIXED BAG.

ON ONE HAND THERE'S LOTS OF HARD PLASTIC.

ON THE OTHER, THERE ARE FEATURES LIKE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT PRESENTERS FOUND ON MUCH PRICIER DROPTOPS.

THE OVERALL APPEARANCE IS CLASSY, WITH GOOD ROOM UP FRONT, YET ONLY SO-SO SEAT COMFORT.

ACCESS TO THE REAR SEAT IS ALSO QUITE GOOD, BUT ROOM IS TIGHT FOR ADULTS.

WE REALLY LIKE THE SHAPE OF THE DASH AND THE GAUGES ARE SHARP.

BUT ANOTHER OPEL CARRYOVER ARE LOTS OF SIMILAR SHAPED BUTTONS ON THE CENTER STACK AND CONSOLE THAT MAY LEAD TO CONTROL CONFUSION UNTIL YOU GET MORE ACQUAINTED.

CASCADA HAS LITTLE DIRECT 4-SEAT DROPTOP COMPETITION HERE.

THE BEETLE AND MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLES ARE WAY TOO SMALL, WHERE MUSTANG AND CAMARO CONVERTIBLES HAVE TOO MUCH MUSCLE CARRY.

THE VOLKSWAGEN EOS IS PERHAPS ITS CLOSEST RIVAL.

WE THINK THOSE DESIRING AN AUDI, BMW, OR MERCEDES DROPTOP WILL LOOK PAST CASCADA.

CASCADA POWER IS GMs ECOTEC 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO.

IT PROVIDED AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF MOTIVATION AROUND TOWN WITH 200 HORSEPOWER AND 221 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A 6-SPEED AUTO IS STANDARD.

SOFT TOP OPERATION IS ONE OF THE BEST DESIGNS WE'VE EVER SEEN, WITH QUIET, SMOOTH, AND QUICK OPERATION BY A SINGLE SWITCH.

WE FOUND RIDE AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS VERY DEPENDENT ON WHETHER THAT TOP WAS UP OR DOWN, AND THE STATE OF THE ROAD SURFACE.

TOP DOWN ON SMOOTH ROADS; IT'S ALL GREAT.

DRIVE MORE AGGRESSIVELY, AND DESPITE A EURO STIFF RIDE, IT CAN START TO FEEL A LITTLE FLABBY.

PUTTING THE TOP UP SEEMS TO BOLSTER SOLIDITY, AND EVEN PUSHED HARD AT OUR TEST TRACK WE WERE FAIRLY IMPRESSED WITH ITS SPEEDY RESPONSE, MINIMAL WEIGHT TRANSFER, AND OVERALL FIRM, NEUTRAL FEEL.

ACCELERATION TESTS ARE NOT ITS FORTE.

THE ENGINE WORKS HARD BUT STILL RATES GUTLESS, TAKING 8.9 SECONDS TO REACH 60, AND 16.9 TO CLEAR THE QUARTER AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

COUNTERING IS A QUITE RESPECTABLE BRAKING AVERAGE OF 124 FEET FROM 60.

A VERY FIRM PEDAL WAS ALSO A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED, SO OUR AVERAGE OF 26.3 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR WAS ALSO BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE RATES AVERAGE USING 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 6.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PERHAPS THE BEST NEWS ABOUT CASCADA IS VERY REASONABLE PRICING.

IT ONLY COMES TWO WAYS, BASE AT $33,990, OR LOADED AT $36,990.

CONVERTIBLES ARE NOT VERY POPULAR IN ASIA.

SO, GM WISELY TAILORED CASCADA MOSTLY FOR EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN CONSUMPTION.

AND WE DEFINITELY THINK IT WILL HELP BUICK'S BRAND IMAGE HERE, EVEN IF MORE DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO TEST A CASCADA IN FLORIDA RENTAL FLEETS THAN AT DEALERS.

WE LIKE CASCADA.

IT'S NOT PERFECT BY ANY STRETCH, BUT WITH DOMESTIC BRAND PREMIUM 4-SEAT CONVERTIBLES IN EXTREMELY SHORT SUPPLY AS OF LATE, WE THINK THIS WATERFALL DELIVERS A REFRESHING TURN AT THE WHEEL.

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, AS WE DO SOME NEW AGE HAULING IN THE REDESIGNED HONDA RIDGELINE.

THEN BLAST INTO A HIGHER GEAR IN THE AUDI R8.

PAT GOSS HAS A FLOOD OF NEW ADVICE.

ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WITH SOME WELL SEASONED WAR VETS.

THEN A LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

TILL 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... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

"YO DANNY, MY MAN!"

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVE THEM SHIPPED TO A LOCAL INSTALLER.

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.

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

*