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

JOIN US, AS WE GO AFTER THE CLUB RACER'S EXTREME WITH THE DODGE VIPER ACR... PAT GOSS WARNS US WHEN NOT TO BRAKE IT... FYI'S LAUREN MORRISON FIND'S THAT WHAT'S JUNK TO SOME, IS REALLY OLD CAR GOLD... AND WE'RE ON THE PROWL IN JAGUAR'S ALL-NEW MID-SIZE SEDAN, THE XF... JOHN DAVIS: SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

ANNOUNCER: 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE... BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ANNOUNCER: 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.

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 DAVIS: THE CURRENT GENERATION DODGE VIPER MAY WELL BE THE FRIENDLIEST VIPER TO DATE.

BUT LIKE MOST FRIENDS, THERE'S ALSO HAS A DARK SIDE.

IT'S CALLED THE VIPER ACR.

AND THAT STANDS FOR AMERICAN CLUB RACER, AND IT IS JUST WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE!

A CAR YOU BUY FROM FCA THAT'S READY TO GO CLUB RACING.

SO LET'S DO A LITTLE RACING AROUND ON OUR OWN.

OKAY, SO WE'RE NOT REALLY RACING COMPETITIVELY HERE.

BUT HOT LAPS IN THIS 2016 DODGE VIPER ACR STILL GOT OUR BLOOD PUMPING AND ADRENALINE FLOWING JUST AS MUCH AS FIGHTING FOR ANY CHECKERED FLAG.

GETTING RIGHT TO IT, AFTER UNCOILING THIS SNAKE AND EASING UP TO SPEED ON THE TRACK; IT DOESN'T FEEL ANY GNARLIER.

AND IT TAKES SOME DOING TO FIND IT'S LIMITS, AT WHICH POINT YOU'D BETTER BE WITHIN YOURS.

THERE ARE STILL 5-LEVELS OF STABILITY CONTROL IF YOU NEED THEM, AND AS BEFORE IN FULL-OFF MODE YOU'RE STILL ON YOUR OWN; ALL OTHER MODES HAVE BEEN RECALIBRATED TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL GRIP THIS CAR DELIVERS.

AND THE GRIP IS IMMENSE, MOSTLY THANKS TO THE MASSIVE DOWNFORCE BEING CREATED BY THE AERO PACKAGE.

FCA CLAIMS IT'S NEARLY 1-TONS WORTH.

NOW ROEBLING ROAD IS A 2-MILE HIGH SPEED TRACK, WITH ONLY ONE SLOW SECTION FOR TAXING QUICK TRANSITIONS.

SO OF COURSE THAT ADDITIONAL DOWNFORCE WAS MORE NOTICEABLE ON THE HIGH SPEED PARTS, WITH ALL OF THE AERO TREATMENTS SEEMINGLY PLANTING THE CAR INTO THE ASPHALT MORE AND MORE THE FASTER YOU GO.

THE HUGE FRONT SPLITTER AND THE REAR DIFFUSER ARE MUCH MORE THAN STYLING STATEMENTS; AND THEY'RE ALSO EASILY REPLACED IF YOU GRIND THEM DOWN PAST THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

REMOVAL ALSO AIDS IN LOADING THE CAR ONTO A TRAILER, AND LET'S FACE IT; IT WOULD LOOK PRETTY DARN COOL TO SHOW UP FOR TRACK DAY AND ATTACH YOUR FRONT SPLITTER, WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS CHECKING THE AIR IN THEIR TIRES.

THOUGH YOUR CAR PROBABLY WON'T COME WITH A FULL SRT CREW LIKE OURS DID.

THERE ARE ALSO WINGLETS ON THE FRONT CORNERS AND STRATEGICALLY PLACED VENTING IN THE FENDERS FOR LETTING LIFTING AIR OUT.

NEW CARBON CERAMIC MATRIX BRAKES PROVED BEYOND CAPABLE OF SLOWING THIS THING DOWN QUICKLY AT THE END OF THE VERY LONG STRAIGHT.

STANDING STARTS ON THAT SAME STRAIGHT GOT US TO 60 IN 3.6-SECONDS.

THERE'S STILL A MANUAL TRANS ONLY, AND WORKING BOTH IT AND THE STIFF CLUTCH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHILE MODULATING THROTTLE, WE WERE ABLE TO LAY DOWN AN 11.7-SECOND 4-MILE AT 128 MILES-PER-HOUR.

IF YOU'RE A TOP SPEED SEEKER, STICK WITH A REGULAR VIPER; AS HERE IT'S ONLY 177 MILES-PER-HOUR, DUE TO ALL OF THE AERO WIND BLOCKERS CREATING ALL OF THAT DOWNFORCE.

NO ENGINE UPGRADES, YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH THE "PALTRY" 645-HORSEPOWER AND 600 LB-FT. OF TORQUE OF THE FAMILIAR VIPER V10; RATHER, PERFORMANCE INCREASES COME FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED AERO AND BRAKING UP-FITS.

AS WELL AS A TOTALLY REVAMPED SUSPENSION WITH COIL-OVER BILSTEINS.

IT'S HIGHLY ADJUSTABLE AS WELL, FOR DISTRIBUTING WEIGHT; OR YOU CAN JUST RAISE IT BY 3 INCHES FOR SPEED BUMPS OR CURB HOPPING.

ALL OF THE ADDED AERO TREATMENTS CERTAINLY ADD TO THE "RACE CAR ON THE STREET" LOOKS, AND GENERAL "BADASSERY".

IT TRULY LOOKS LIKE THE REAL DEAL.

19-INCH WHEELS ARE WIDE WITH BORDERLINE SLICKS FOR MAX TRACTION, SPECIALLY MADE FOR THE ACR BY KUMHO.

THE INTERIOR IS STILL THANKFULLY SPORTS CAR TIGHT, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH JUST 3 SPEAKERS FOR THE STEREO IN THE INTEREST OF WEIGHT SAVINGS.

THERE'S ALSO THINNER CARPET, AND STRICTLY MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENTS.

SINCE THOSE SEATS AREN'T CAPABLE OF KEEPING YOU IN PLACE WITH ALL OF THE G'S YOU'RE PULLING AROUND THE TRACK, UPGRADED 5-POINT HARNESSES ARE IN PLACE.

WELL-PLACED AND PURPOSEFUL ALCANTARA SUEDE GOES A LONG WAY IN KEEPING THINGS FROM LOOKING OR FEELING TOO SPARTAN.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE THIS SNAKE ON THE STREET, YOU'LL FIND IT FEELS AND SOUNDS A LOT MORE LIKE THE PREVIOUS GEN VIPER, AS SOME NOISE DEADENING MATERIALS HAVE ALSO BEEN REMOVED.

IF YOU GO FULL THROTTLE AND NOTICE A TEMPERATURE CHANGE, IT'S THE VIPER TURNING THE A/C OFF FOR YOU, IN ORDER TO DIVERT ALL POSSIBLE POWER FROM THE ENGINE TO THE REAR WHEELS, WITH LITTLE CONCERN TO YOUR COMFORT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 12-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 15-COMBINED; AND SOMEWHAT LESS ON THE TRACK.

PRICING STARTS AT $123,490.

YES, THAT'S A BIT MORE THAN A CORVETTE Z06, BUT THE Z06'S DARK SIDE IS NOT THIS DARK; AND THAT PRICE IS STILL WELL SHORT OF LEGITIMATE SUPERCAR COMPETITION.

PLUS OPTIONS ARE VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED.

ALSO REMEMBER THAT VIPER PRODUCTION ENDS NEXT YEAR, SO THE LIMITED RUN ACR WILL BE A GENUINE COLLECTIBLE.

THE PHRASE "RACE CAR FOR THE STREET" GETS THROWN AROUND MORE THAN SALMON AT PIKE PLACE MARKET, BUT THE 2016 DODGE VIPER ACR IS TRULY ONE GNARLY TRACK WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAT DESERVES THE TITLE AND MORE.

IF YOU OWN AN OLDER OR CLASSIC CAR, YOU KNOW THAT AS TIME GOES BY, GOOD QUALITY, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PARTS BECOME HARDER AND HARDER TO COME BY.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO BODY AND TRIM PARTS, NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

THAT QUEST IS WHAT LEAD OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA WHERE SHE HIT THE JACKPOT IN JUNKYARDS.

LAUREN MORRISON: IF YOU'VE SEEN MOTORWEEK BEFORE, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE RESTORED CADILLAC THAT WE'VE FEATURED ON THE SHOW A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WELL, WHEN THE BOYS BACK AT THE SHOP FOUND OUT I WAS COMING HERE TO DESERT VALLEY AUTO PARTS, THEY GAVE ME A MISSION.

THEY WANT ME TO FIND A DARK RED INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE PULL HANDLE, FOR THAT CADILLAC.

LET'S SEE IF I CAN DO IT.

JASON MCCLURE: WE STARTED OUT AS A LITTLE QUARTER ACRE LOT.

WE'VE GROWN, WE'VE MOVED ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE THEN IN A SPAN OF YEARS, AND BASICALLY NOW, WE'RE SITTING ON TWO 30 ACRE LOTS AND WE'RE FULL.

LAUREN: AND WHEN JASON MCCLURE, OWNER OF DESERT VALLEY AUTO PARTS SAYS FULL, HE MEANS IT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 10 THOUSAND VEHICLES TO LOOK THROUGH!

JASON MCCLURE: I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'VE GOT THE BIGGEST ANTIQUE JUNKYARD IN THE WORLD.

LAUREN: BUT DON'T EXPECT TO FIND A PART FOR YOUR HONDA CIVIC AT THE PHOENIX, ARIZONA JUNKYARD.

JASON MCCLURE: WE DEAL MAINLY WITH 1975 AND BACK, ONLY AMERICAN VEHICLES.

WE DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

WE DON'T SPECIALIZE IN MUSTANG OR CAMARO'S.

WE DO EVERYTHING AMERICAN ACROSS THE BOARD.

EVEN, WE CALL THEM THE ORPHANS, THE AMC'S AND WHAT NOT."

LAUREN: FROM WIRES, TO WHEELS, OR EVEN A WINDSHIELD OR SEAT, IF YOU NEED IT, THIS PLACE MOST LIKELY HAS IT.

BUT BACK TO WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR... THAT PULL HANDLE!

JASON PROMISES THERE IS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS.

JASON MCCLURE: IT LOOKS A LITTLE CHAOTIC, BUT ACTUALLY, IT IS VERY ORGANIZED.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHEVY IMPALA, THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BE IN ONE SECTION, SAME THING WITH A FIREBIRD OR ANYTHING ELSE."

LAUREN: AND IT'S IN A SECTION OF PICKUP TRUCKS THAT I SPOT CLIFF LUCENTE ON A MISSION OF HIS OWN.

CLIFF LUCENTE: "I'M LOOKING FOR A SEAT ACTUATOR CLIP FOR A 1970 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK.

LAUREN: TALK ABOUT A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

CLIFF: THIS WILL MAKE THE SEAT OPERATIONAL.

I CAN PUT THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD.

LAUREN: DO YOU THINK YOU'LL FIND IT OUT HERE?

CLIFF: I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE SEAT TRACK AND I'M HOPING TO SAVE SOME MONEY.

IF I BUY IT NEW, IT'S $150.

IF I COME HERE, MAYBE I CAN SAVE A FEW BUCKS."

LAUREN: SO I PUT "MY" HUNT ON HOLD TO LEND A HAND TO CLIFF TO SEE IF WE CAN "ACTUALLY" FIND THIS ACTUATOR CLIP.

CLIFF: "WE'RE JUST GOING TO POKE THROUGH AND SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND SOMETHING."

[LAUGHS] LAUREN: AND IT WASN'T 30 MINUTES LATER... THAT CLIFF SPOTTED SOMETHING PROMISING.

CLIFF: "OOP, I THINK I'VE GOT IT!

THERE WE GO!"

LAUREN: WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK... CLIFF: "YOU'VE GOT THEM BOTH CROSSED.

LAUREN: I'VE GOT THEM BOTH CROSSED!

CLIFF: I THINK THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK WE HAVE A WINNER!

LAUREN: "I THINK SO TOO!"

CLIFF MADE A MATCH!

HOPING THAT CLIFF'S LUCK RUBBED OFF ON ME, I PICKED UP MY SEARCH AND HEADED TO THE CORRAL OF CADILLACS.

FACED WITH ROWS AND ROWS OF CADDIES, I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THE DESERT VALLEY AUTO PARTS TAG LINE.

JASON MCCLURE: OUR TAGLINE IN OUR AD IS PACK A LUNCH AND BRING PLENTY OF TIME BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT YOU TO SPEND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE HERE.

LAUREN: WHILE THERE WERE SOME GLIMMERS OF HOPE... OH BOY!

IS THIS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?

AND SOME PRETTY COOL FINDS...

I THINK I MAY HAVE FOUND THE GRISWOLD FAMILY STATION WAGON...

IN THE END THOUGH, I HAD TO PULL THE PLUG AND CALL IT QUITS.

"WELL, THE DAY IS WINDING DOWN AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T FIND THAT INSIDE DOOR PULL FOR OUR CADILLAC, HOPEFULLY THE BOYS BACK AT THE SHOP AREN'T TOO MAD ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS IS A HUGE YARD, AND TOMORROW IS ALWAYS ANOTHER DAY!"

* JOHN DAVIS: ...BUT THE DRIVING'S THE THING, AND WE DID FINALLY GET TO DRIVE THE EV1.

BUT ONLY AFTER PUNCHING IN THE CORRECT IGNITION CODE.

THERE ARE NO KEYS REQUIRED.

AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS 1800 POUND CAR IS QUICK AS WELL AS QUIET.

YOU ALMOST BOLT FROM 0-60 IN 8.9 SECONDS.

HANDLING WAS NOT QUITE AS IMPRESSIVE, BUT STILL COMPETENT.

IT'S DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT AND BEAM AXLE REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN DELIVERED A SOFT, ECONOMY CAR FEEL, DESPITE BEING BUILT OF LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM AND COMPOSITE."

JOHN DAVIS: PAT GOSS HAS SOME "BRAKING" NEWS FOR US, SO LET'S HEAD ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

PAT GOSS: IF YOU OWN AN OLDER CAR OR TRUCK, WELL, YOU MIGHT HAVE A DANGEROUS SITUATION LURKING UNDERNEATH IT.

AND THAT'S IN THE FORM OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT TRANSMIT THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE WHEELS.

SEE ON OLDER VEHICLES, THESE BRAKE LINES WERE MADE OF JUST MILD STEEL, WITHOUT ANY KIND OF COATING ON IT.

SO THEY EASILY RUSTED.

NEWER STUFF WELL IT HAS A COATING... KIND OF THIS BLACK PLASTIC COATING... THAT HELPS PREVENT IT.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS DO AWAY WITH IT, BUT IT HELPS PREVENT IT.

NOW, THE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS, A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE OLDER VEHICLES, YOU SHOULD GET UP UNDER THE VEHICLE AND EXAMINE THE BRAKE LINES FROM FRONT TO REAR.

NOW YOU'LL PROBABLY NEED A MIRROR TO DO THAT, BECAUSE LOTS OF TIMES THEY'RE GOING TO BE UP UNDER A FRAME RAIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE THEM ANYWAY BUT WITH A MIRROR.

AND DON'T THINK THAT BECAUSE PART OF THE BRAKE LINE IS GOOD, THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINE IS GOOD, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

ALRIGHT, NOW IF YOU FIND THAT YOUR BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL, HERE'S THE BEST SOLUTION THAT WE'VE FOUND: THIS IS STAINLESS STEEL REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINES.

NOW THESE ARE ALL PRE-FORMED, YOU GET ALL THE LITTLE PIECES AND SO ON, THAT WOULD TAKE YOU DAYS TO MANUFACTURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT YOURSELF.

NOW, STAINLESS STEEL.

THIS PARTICULAR KIT CAME FROM DOORMEN PRODUCTS, AND LIKE ALL OF THESE STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES, THEY HAVE MILD STEEL FLAIR NUTS ON THE ENDS.

AND ONCE YOU PUT THESE ON, WELL THESE MILD STEEL FLAIR NUTS CAN STILL RUST, SO YOU NEED AN ANTI-RUST AGENT, SUCH AS WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CAN.

YOU SPRAY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE, JUST LIBERALLY COAT IT WITH IT, SO THAT IT CAN'T RUST.

ALRIGHT, NOW, ANOTHER THING: TO SHIP THESE THINGS, SOME OF THEM ARE WAY TOO LONG.

SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY BEND THEM, THEY PUT THIS REAL GENTLE BEND IN HERE, BUT THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT.

SO DON'T JUST GRAB A HOLD OF IT, AND YANK ON IT, BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, WELL YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO KINK THE LINE DOWN HERE BELOW THE BEND.

SO YOU DO IT VERY VERY GENTLY, WORK YOUR WAY AROUND IT, TILL YOU GET IT STRAIGHT.

SO BY DOING THAT, WELL YOU CAN HAVE A BRAKE LINE SYSTEM THAT WILL PROBABLY LAST LONGER THAN THE CAR WILL.

THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU HAVE THE OLDER STYLE BRAKE LINES AND THEY AREN'T RUSTED, THAT SAME ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL SHOULD BE APPLIED TO ENTIRE LENGTH OF EVERY BRAKE LINE ON THE CARE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.

AND THAT'LL KEEP THE RUST FROM FORMING.

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

* JOHN DAVIS: IT'S NEVER EASY WHEN ONE OF OUR LONG-TERM CARS HEADS OUT FOR THE LAST TIME; AND THAT'S SURELY THE CASE WITH OUR NOW DEPARTED 2015 ACURA TLX MIDSIZE SEDAN.

SO, WHAT WILL WE MISS?

WELL IT'S SPORTY NATURE WITH ENOUGH CAPABILITY TO MAKE COMMUTE TIME FUN, A VERY COMFORTABLE TECH-LADEN INTERIOR, IT'S ADVANCED SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT SAVED OUR HIDES A TIME OR TWO, AND IT'S BULLET PROOF OPERATION.

PLUS, AFTER A YEAR AND 25,721 MILES, A 30.2 MILES-PER-PREMIUM-GALLON AVERAGE FROM THE 206-HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER I4.

NOW, AS FOR WHAT WE WON'T MISS, THERE'S THE OVERLY COMPLICATED DUAL SCREEN INFOTAINMENT SETUP, AND THE HERKY-JERKY 8-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION.

BUT OVERALL, THE TLX HAS A LOT MORE HITS THAN A MISSES, AND WE WILL MISS IT A LOT.

TAKING IT'S PLACE IN OUR PARKING LOT IS THIS 2016 HONDA PILOT IN ELITE TRIM.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR WE'LL SEE IF OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE PICK FOR BEST LARGE UTILITY IS A SMART ONE... ...AS IT GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE CURRENT FAMILY FAVE IN OUR ROSTER, THE 2016 KIA SORENTO.

THOUGH AFTER SIX MONTHS, AND AN ODO AT 21,094 MILES, SOME OF THE KIA'S SHINE IS WEARING OFF.

WE NOT THRILLED WITH THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL'S ON/OFF ABRUPTNESS; AND WHEN FULLY LOADED WITH GEAR, THE 2.0-LITER TURBO FELT A LITTLE UNDERPOWERED; WHICH SEEMED TO ALSO UPSET THE TRANSMISSION.

THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER ALSO HAS LESS THAN IDEAL KNEE/LEG ROOM.

ON THE PLUS SIDE, WE CONTINUE TO FIND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND UVO INFOTAINMENT AMONG THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.

KIA MATERIAL QUALITY CONTINUES TO MAKE BIG IMPROVEMENTS TOO, AND THE LOAD FLOOR IS SPACIOUS AND CONTINUOUS.

ALSO, IT'S HAS A GREAT, MOSTLY QUIET HIGHWAY RIDE.

AND OF COURSE, THE 23.1 MILES-PER-REGULAR-GALLON WE'RE AVERAGING IS HARD TO BEAT IN A LARGER FAMILY HAULER.

WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH WE'RE IMPRESSED WITH THE MAZDA CX-9 AND CHRYSLER 200 ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

JOHN DAVIS: TIME FOR A MOTORNEWS UPDATE WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ!

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: NEW CAR DEBUTS ALWAYS GRAB THE MOST MEDIA ATTENTION AT AUTO SHOWS.

BUT, AT THE 2016 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IN DETROIT, FORD TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE TO ANNOUNCE FUTURE PLANS FAR BEYOND JUST CARS AND TRUCKS.

AND LIKE MANY OTHER BRANDS, IT'S ALL ABOUT ADAPTING TO THE "MOBILE" LIFESTYLE, OFFERING ON-DEMAND CONTENT AND SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS THROUGH THEIR SMARTPHONES.

FORDPASS IS ONE WAY THEY'LL TRY IT OUT.

WITH A FREE MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION, USERS CAN GET REAL TIME TRAFFIC AND WEATHER UPDATES AND ROUTE GUIDANCE FROM A FORD REPRESENTATIVE...

WHETHER TRAVELING BY CAR OR ON FOOT.

THEY CAN ALSO RESEARCH AND BOOK PARKING FOR EVENTS.

THOSE WHO OWN FORD VEHICLES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR IN-CAR INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS THROUGH THEIR DEVICES, AND REMOTELY ACCESS FEATURES, START THE ENGINE, CHECK FUEL AND OIL LEVELS, AND EVEN SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENTS.

GOING FORWARD, THEY HOPE TO INCORPORATE RIDE SHARING SERVICES INTO FORDPASS, ALLOWING MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR VEHICLES WITH OTHER MEMBERS FOR AN AGREED UPON FEE.

MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION WILL BE A FOCUS, AS WELL, FACTORING IN LOCAL BUS AND TRAIN SCHEDULES INTO ROUTE GUIDANCE.

NOT LONG AGO, FORD BRIEFED JOURNALISTS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BIKE PROGRAM, OFFERING CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO TWO-WHEELED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, AIMED AT URBAN DWELLERS.

THINKING OF A FUTURE WHERE FEWER PEOPLE RELY ON THE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF GETTING AROUND, FORD IS TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME, OFFERING MANY OF THE APP SERVICES THAT ARE BEGINNING TO GAIN TRACTION, ALL IN ONE PLACE.

"IT'S NEVER EASY TO SEE WHAT THE "NEXT BIG THING" WILL BE, BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE...

THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS SEEING MORE "CHANGE" THAN EVER BEFORE.

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

JOHN DAVIS: JAGUAR HAS BEEN ON A ROLL LATELY, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SETTING THE PACE IN THE F PACE OR BUILDING OUR TYPE OF THRILL RIDE WITH THE F TYPE.

NOW THEY TURN THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS THE MORE TRADITIONAL XF MIDSIZE SEDAN.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SET THEIR TYPE OF PACE.

WHILE THE JAGUAR F-TYPE AND F-PACE HAVE CERTAINLY DRAWN LOTS OF ATTENTION TO THE BRAND, IT'S CARS LIKE THIS 2016 JAGUAR XF THAT WILL TRULY HAVE MUCH MORE OF AN IMPACT ON THE BRAND'S LONG TERM SUCCESS.

LIKE MOST RECENT JAGS AND THE TREND OF CARS IN GENERAL, THIS 2ND GENERATION XF HAS DROPPED SOME POUNDS, RIDING ON A NEW ALUMINUM STRUCTURE.

BUT IT'S THE POWERTRAIN OPTIONS THAT ARE THE BIGGEST TALKING POINTS ABOUT THIS NEW XF.

THAT BEING THE F-TYPE'S SUPERCHARGED 3.0-LITER V6 AVAILABLE IN TWO LEVELS; BASE 340-HORSEPOWER AND IN UPGRADED S VERSION WITH 380.

BOTH VARIATIONS GET AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

A DIESEL OPTION WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY.

OUR EARLY DRIVE TIME IN ARIZONA WAS MOSTLY SPENT IN THE MORE POWERFUL XF S; AND WE FOUND PLENTY OF GET UP AND GO, NO MATTER WHERE WE GOT UP AND WENT.

STILL, THAT MUSCLE IS DELIVERED IN A MORE CIVILIZED FASHION THAN WITH BRUTE FORCE.

LIKE MOST VEHICLES, THE XF HAS MADE THE SWITCH TO ELECTRIC POWER-ASSISTED STEERING; AND HERE WE LOVED IT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF FEEDBACK, ALONG WITH A NICE AND DIRECT FEEL.

BMW TAKE NOTE!

WE EXPECTED TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLING, BUT WE GOT EVEN MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

THAT LIGHTER AND STIFFER CHASSIS, ALONG WITH THE F-TYPE INSPIRED DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT AND INTEGRAL LINK REAR SUSPENSION, PROVIDES A VERY AGILE FEEL, AND SHOULD BE JUST WHAT WAS NEEDED TO MAKE THE XF MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE WITH IT'S GERMAN RIVALS.

RIDE QUALITY EQUALLY FALLS ON THE FIRM SIDE OF THINGS; NOT HARSH, BUT SURELY STIFFER THAN THE TYPICAL AMERICAN BUYER WILL ANTICIPATE.

THE ZF 8-SPEED IS STILL GOOD AS IT GETS, DELIVERING SMOOTH AND FAST SHIFTS NO MATTER YOUR DRIVING STYLE.

JAG PUTS 0-60 RIGHT AT 5.0-SECONDS.

JAGUARDRIVE CONTROL OFFERS A TYPICAL RANGE OF DRIVING MODES.

AND, DURING OUR DRIVE WE DID NOT FIND AN EXTREME LEVEL OF ISOLATION, OR DISCONNECT.

STILL IT WAS VERY QUIET INSIDE.

THE THROTTLE IS VERY AGGRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SPORT MODE.

BUT UNLIKE THE BOISTEROUS F-TYPE, A FAIRLY TAME EXHAUST NOTE REVEALS THE XF'S CLEARLY LUXURY CHARACTER.

THAT THEME IS REALLY PLAYED OUT INSIDE WHERE THE CABIN IS TOP DRAWER IN BOTH LOOK AND FEEL.

MATERIAL QUALITY HAS CLIMBED EXPONENTIALLY; AND THERE IS PLENTY OF SPACE AND COMFORT TO BE FOUND AT ALL SEATING POSITIONS.

BASE GAUGES HAVE A FAMILIAR LOOK TO THEM, BUT A CONFIGURABLE 12-INCH TFT VIRTUAL GAUGE PANEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

A NEW INCONTROL TOUCH PRO SYSTEM TAKES OVER THE DUTIES FOR INFOTAINMENT, AND WORKED WELL ENOUGH IN OUR LIMITED EXPOSURE.

THE TRUNK AREA IS WELL-FINISHED, AND HOLDS A VERY GENEROUS 19.1 CUBIC-FT. OF GOODS.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY MORE F-TYPE NOTIONS TO THE UPDATED EXTERIOR, BUT CLEARLY THE XF IS IT'S OWN CAT.

THE FRONT END DOES WEAR A MORE AGGRESSIVE LOOK, WITH LARGER INTAKES AND A MORE VERTICAL GRILLE, BUT IN PROFILE THE SAME BASIC COUPE-INSPIRED SHAPE OF THE PREVIOUS CAR REMAINS.

FROM THE REAR, THINGS HAVE BEEN TIDIED UP WITH CLEANER LINES AND SHARPER FIT TO ALL OF THE PIECES; WHICH INCLUDE LED TAILLIGHTS THAT ARE THE MOST OVERT HOMAGE TO THE F-TYPE.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 18'S, WITH THE S ROLLING ON 20'S.

ALL OF THE EXPECTED SAFETY SYSTEMS INCLUDING AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING ARE AVAILABLE.

SO WHILE THIS NEW XF HAS IMPROVED ACROSS THE BOARD AND PERHAPS GOTTEN A LITTLE MORE ACCESSIBLE, WE THINK IT'LL STILL APPEAL MOST TO THE BUYER WHO'S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A UBIQUITOUS GERMAN SPORT SEDAN.

THE LIGHTER WEIGHT AND MORE EFFICIENT POWERTRAIN HAS IMPROVED THE XF'S GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS TO 20-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED.

FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 13.7-BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED AND 6.2- TONS OF CO2 EMITTED YEARLY.

PRICING STARTS AT $52,895 FOR A 35T PREMIUM, WITH THE XF S BEGINNING AT $63,695.

THE 2016 JAGUAR XF WAS CERTAINLY DUE FOR AN UPDATE, AS THE PREVIOUS GEN HAD BEEN AROUND SINCE 2009.

BUT, THIS THOROUGH REDESIGN DOES MUCH MORE THAN JUST CARRY ON BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE MIDSIZE LUXURY SPORT SEDAN SEGMENT.

WITH HUGE GAINS IN BOTH POSH AND PERFORMANCE, MUCH LIKE THE F-TYPE, IT'S PRIMED TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON IT'S SEGMENT.

THIS CAT IS ON THE PROWL.

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 BRAVE THE ELEMENTS IN THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN SPYDER.

THEN WE TREND FAMILY STYLE IN THE KIA OPTIMA SEDAN.

PAT GOSS HONES IN ON A KEY ISSUE.

ROGER MECCA CONTINUES HIS CLASSIC CAR TIME TRAVELS IN THE ORIGINAL PONTIAC GTO.

PLUS MOTORNEWS, AND A LONG TERM ROADTEST UPDATE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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.

TO ORDER A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-873-6154.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ANNOUNCER: 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.

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ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S CONTENT.

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