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

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER, FOR OUR FORD PERFORMANCE ADDICTS, AS WE TEST THE FOCUS RS... WE LET THE SPARKS FLY DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... BRIAN ROBINSON WHEELS A SMALLER KAWASAKI Z TOWARDS A BIGGER SUCCESS... AND WE FIND OUT IF LESS CROSSOVER IS REALLY MORE IN THE ALL NEW GMC ACADIA...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

John: IF WE TOLD YOU THAT A FORD FOCUS WAS ONE OF A FEW LEGENDARY VEHICLES THAT WE'VE PINED FOR OVER THE YEARS, YOU'D PROBABLY THINK WE'RE CRAZY.

UNLESS OF COURSE, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FOCUS RS.

RS IS FORD EUROPE'S RALLY SPORT RACING DIVISION THAT CAMPAIGNS IN RALLYCROSS AND ROAD RALLIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO, THIS FOCUS RS IS SORT OF LIKE WHAT A SHELBY MUSTANG WAS IN THE '60s.

GET THE PICTURE?

WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR.

* THE 2016 FORD FOCUS RS IS THE FIRST GLOBAL RS PERFORMANCE VEHICLE, WHICH MEANS IT'S ALSO THE FIRST ONE WE'VE GOTTEN HERE IN THE STATES.

AND TO SOME, THE FACT THAT IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL FOCUS EVER, MAY BE AKIN TO SAYING, "IT'S THE BEST TASTING LIMA BEANS THEY'VE EVER EATEN."

BUT, NOT SO FAST.

THERE'S PLENTY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT HERE.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS A BIG PART OF THE PICTURE, SO IT OBVIOUSLY, APPEALS TO BOTH RALLY RACER WANNABE'S AS WELL AS THE "FAST AND FURIOUS" SET, AND THERE'S EVEN A DRIFT MODE FOR THE HOOLIGANS.

IT'S NOT THE TYPICAL HALDEX SYSTEM, BUT A UNIQUE DESIGN, WITH CLUTCH PACKS ON EACH REAR HALF-SHAFT; DESIGNED WITH HANDLING AND GRIP IN MIND, FOR PUTTING THE POWER DOWN WITHOUT UNDERSTEERING LIKE MAD.

IT CAN SEND AS MUCH AS 100% OF REAR AXLE POWER TO A SINGLE WHEEL.

THE FRONT REMAINS OPEN, USING SELECTIVE BRAKING TO HELP PIVOT THE CAR AROUND CORNERS.

AND THE FOCUS RS STILL OPERATES AS A FRONT DRIVER MOST OF THE TIME.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THERE'S DECENT POWER TO BE HAD HERE AS WELL.

IT'S FROM THE MUSTANG'S 2.3 LITER I4-TURBO, ONLY WITH A HOST OF UPGRADES; THE CHIEF ONES BEING A BIGGER TURBO AND INTERCOOLER.

IT CRANKS OUT 40 MORE HORSEPOWER THAN THE MUSTANG AT 350, AS WELL AS 30 ADDITIONAL POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AT 350.

BOTH THE CLUTCH AND 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION GET BEEFED UP INTERNALS AS WELL.

SO AT THE TRACK, THANKS TO THE RS' ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THERE'S NO DANGER OF THE TYPICAL FOCUS ONE-WHEEL-PEEL HERE, AS THE RS GRIPS AND GETS OFF THE LINE IN A HURRY.

LAUNCHING IS COMPLICATED SOMEWHAT BY A HAIR-TRIGGER CLUTCH THAT ENGAGES WITH YOUR FOOT BARELY OFF THE FLOOR, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HIT 60 IN 5.0 SECONDS FLAT.

THE ENGINE REVS QUICKLY, AND THERE'S A DEEP EXHAUST BARK, AS THE RS STREAKS DOWN THE QUARTER MILE IN 13.6 SECONDS, FINISHING AT 104 MILES PER HOUR.

OFTEN, WHEN WE'VE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR A CAR, IT'S EASY TO BE DISAPPOINTED.

NOT THE CASE HERE AT SUMMIT POINT MOTOR SPORTS PARK'S SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT; IT IS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS.

JUST ENGAGE SPORT OR TRACK MODE, WHICH STIFFENS THE SHOCKS, ADJUSTS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, STEERING, AND STABILITY CONTROL CONFIGURATIONS, AS WELL AS EXHAUST NOTE, AND THROTTLE RESPONSE, AND LET THE FUN BEGIN.

IT'S A REAL HOOT ON THE TRACK, BUT ALSO, NEVER FEELS OUT OF CONTROL, SO ITS LIMITS ARE EASILY ATTAINABLE FOR EVEN NOVICE HOT SHOES.

CONVERSE LOGIC IS IN PLAY HERE.

WHEN YOU START TO FEEL UNDERSTEER, DON'T BACK OFF; RATHER, FEED IN THROTTLE AND THE CAR SENDS MORE POWER TO THE REAR, AND THROUGH THE CORNER YOU GO.

VASTLY DIFFERENT IN FEEL AND PERFORMANCE THAN THE FOCUS ST. LIKE OTHER RS TRACK TEST, WE EXPERIENCED SOME REAR DIFF.

OVERHEATING WHICH RESULTS IN A TEMPORARY AWD SHUTDOWN, WITH THE ACCOMPANYING WARNINGS IN THE GAUGES.

BUT ALL RETURNS BACK TO NORMAL AFTER A RESTART.

AND JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, DRIFT MODE WON'T TURN YOU INTO VAUGHN GITTIN JR.; YOU STILL HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

IT JUST DIVERTS EVEN MORE POWER THAN USUAL TO THE REAR TO HELP YOU OUT.

WITH VIRTUALLY ALL CARS THESE DAYS TAKING ON AN AGGRESSIVE NATURE, THE FOCUS RS DOESN'T LOOK OVER THE TOP AT ALL, EVEN WITH THE NECESSARY HUGE REAR WING UP TOP.

BOTH THE FRONT AND REARS ARE RE-SHAPED TO OPTIMIZE AERODYNAMICS, AND EVEN THE UNDERBODY HAS BEEN TWEAKED TO ELIMINATE HIGH SPEED LIFT.

INSIDE, THERE ARE RECARO SEATS, SPECIAL TRIM, AND A SHORTENED SHIFTER, BUT ALL-IN-ALL IT'S THE LEAST THRILLING ASPECT OF THE CAR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 22.6 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS 15.0 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH 6.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING, AT $36,775, OR LESS THAN THE AVERAGE MINIVAN TRANSACTS FOR, IS A RELATIVE PERFORMANCE CAR BARGAIN.

AS MICK JAGGER SAYS, "YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU JUST MIGHT FIND, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED."

WELL, IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR WORLD CLASS SPEED, BUT A DOWN-TO-EARTH BUDGET; THE 2016 FORD FOCUS RS OFFERS A NEAR-PERFECT MIX OF PERFORMANCE INSANITY AND DAILY DRIVER NECESSITY.

THAT MAKES IT REALLY SPECIAL, AND WORTH THE WAIT.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE ALL-ELECTRIC IS ALL THE RAGE!

THE WORCESTER REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY STARTED INCORPORATING HYBRIDS INTO THEIR FLEET IN 2008, BEFORE INTRODUCING SIX ALL-ELECTRIC TRANSIT BUSES IN 2013.

EACH PROTERRA ELECTRIC BUS ELIMINATES 130 MORE TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE PER YEAR THAN A DIESEL BUS.

AND POWERING UP ONLY TAKES A MATTER OF MINUTES WITH AN OVERHEAD QUICK CHARGE AT THE CENTRAL STATION.

Jonathan Church: IT'S CERTAINLY A CHARGER THAT'S TIED TO A MUCH HIGHER POWER SOURCE.

IT ALLOWS US TO CHARGE THE BUS WITHIN 5-MINUTES, FROM AS LOW AS 10% ALL THE WAY UP TO 95%.

John: WITH HELP FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN CITIES COALITION, THESE ALL-ELECTRIC BUSES HAVE DRIVEN OVER 250,000 EMISSION FREE MILES, MAKING EVERY DAY, EARTH DAY ON THE STREETS OF WORCESTER!

* OVER THE YEARS KAWASAKI HAS PROVIDED A LOT OF INTERESTING RIDES.

BUT, FEW ARE MORE NOTABLE THAN THE Z1, WHICH IN THE '70s WAS THE MOST POWERFUL JAPANESE 4-CYLINDER BIKE YET.

WELL, HOPING TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT HERITAGE, KAWASAKI GAVE US THE Z1000 IN 2010, AND IS NOW, FOLLOWING UP WITH THE Z800.

YES, IT'S SMALLER, BUT AS OUR TWO-WHEELIN' GURU BRIAN ROBINSON OBSERVES, IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT.

Brian Robinson: IN THE HIGHLY SEGMENTED MOTORCYCLE WORLD THESE DAYS WE GOT CRUISERS, ADVENTURE BIKES, SPORT BIKES, TOURING BIKES, EVEN SPORT TOURING BIKES.

WELL, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THERE ARE STILL SOME BIKES THAT DON'T NEED A LABEL, THEY'RE JUST PLAIN FUN.

WHILE, MANY PEOPLE RIDE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS; LET'S FACE IT, WE ALL GOT INTO IT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST PLAIN FUN, AND MAYBE BECAUSE IT OFFERED A KIND OF FREEDOM THAT WAS HARD TO FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

THROW A LEG OVER THIS 2016 KAWASAKI Z800, AND IT'S HARD NOT TO FLASH BACK TO WHEN YOU FIRST STARTING RIDING.

BEFORE YOU NEEDED TOUR PACKS, HEATED SEATS, A RADIO, 10 POUNDS OF CHROME, OR NEON LIGHTS ON YOUR BIKE.

IT MAY BE HARD TO DESCRIBE THE OVERALL DESIGN THEME OF THIS BABY-Z, WITH ITS MISHMASH OF SURFACES, COLORS, AND LINES; THERE'S EVEN A MIX OF DULL AND SPARKLY BLACKS, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF Z REFERENCES.

BUT REALLY, SIMPLICITY SAYS IT ALL, IN A GOOD WAY.

THERE IS NO WINDSCREEN, SO YOU'RE FULLY IN THE ELEMENTS.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH THE GAUGES, AND THEY CAN BE HARD TO READ AT TIMES, JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THE RAPIDLY ESCALATING NUMBERS IN THE UPPER RIGHT.

THE SEAT DOESN'T APPEAR DESIGNED FOR LONG DISTANCE COMFORT OR ANY COMFORT AT ALL REALLY, BUT IT SURPRISES YOU WITH JUST ENOUGH COZINESS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS' WORTH OF TWISTIES.

PUTTING THE FUN IN THIS FUN MACHINE, IS AN 806CC WATER-COOLED INLINE-4.

IT HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH PERFORMANCE FOR POTENTIALLY RUNNING AFOUL WITH JOHNNY LAW, BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT YOU'D BE NERVOUS ABOUT LETTING YOUR CRUISER-RIDING BROTHER-IN-LAW TAKE IT OUT FOR A SPIN.

IN OTHER WORDS, JUST ABOUT PERFECT.

LOW RPM LUGGING THROUGH TRAFFIC WILL RESULT IN SOME VIBRATIONS COMING THROUGH THE SEAT, BUT OPEN IT UP AND THINGS SMOOTH OUT NICELY.

CLUTCH IS VERY LIGHT, AND THE TRANSMISSION FINDS THE NEXT GEAR AS SOON AS YOU START PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SHIFTER.

WEIGHT IS A TOUCH OVER 500 POUNDS, DUE TO THE STEEL FRAME, SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE A LIGHTWEIGHT.

STILL, IT'S PLENTY NIMBLE, AND THE 41MM INVERTED FORK ALONG WITH THE UNI-TRAK REAR SHOCK ARE ADJUSTABLE FOR REBOUND.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING, IT'S THE BRAKES.

THEY GET THE JOB DONE, BUT THE FRONTS FEEL A LITTLE WOODEN, AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO SQUEEZE THE LEVER.

BUT, FOR THE BEST NEWS OF ALL, THE Z800 KEEPS THE FUN WELL IN THE 4-FIGURES, STARTING AT JUST $8,399, AND THAT'S WITH STANDARD ABS.

SO IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A BIKE THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY DO IT ALL, BUT PUTS THE PRIORITY ON KEEPING IT SIMPLE FUN, THEN THE 2016 KAWASAKI Z800 MAY BE THE BIKE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

John: IF YOU'VE READ ROAD AND TRACK MAGAZINE, OR FOLLOW FORMULA ONE RACING ON TELEVISION, YOU'VE NO DOUBT READ, HEARD, AND SEEN THE WORK OF SAM POSEY.

"WHERE THE WRITER MEETS THE ROAD" IS A MUST READ OF A COLLECTION OF HIS WORKS FROM THOSE OUTLETS AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS FROM THE LAST 40 YEARS.

NO STRANGER TO THE TRACK HIMSELF, SAM'S 20 YEAR RACING CAREER INCLUDED STARTS IN BOTH THE INDY 500 AND 24 HOURS OF LE MANS.

WHETHER, IT'S FROM THAT EXPERIENCE OR JUST HIS WAY WITH WORDS, FEW PEOPLE DO A BETTER JOB OF ACTUALLY PUTTING YOU IN A RACE CAR AND REALLY GIVING YOU A SENSE OF WHAT TOP DRIVERS GO THROUGH WHEN THEY STRAP IN, AND LAY IT ALL ON THE LINE WEEK IN, AND WEEK OUT ON A RACE TRACK.

HAVING THE RIGHT TOOL MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN WORKING ON YOUR CAR OR TRUCK.

AND THIS WEEK, PAT HAS FOUND ONE THAT MAKES A RED HOT JOB A LITTLE EASIER DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE... Pat Goss: IF YOU'RE INTO DO-IT-YOURSELF AT ALL AND YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT DOING RESTORATION WORK, WELL AT SOME POINT YOU WILL NEED A WELDER.

NOW, WELDING LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND AUTOMOBILES HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

HERE, WE HAVE A BASIC WIRE FEED WELDER.

AND WHEN, WE SAY WIRE FEED, WHAT WE MEAN IS THAT THERE'S A SPOOL OF SPECIAL WELDING WIRE INSIDE OF THAT, THAT IS PROPELLED OUT THROUGH THE END OF THE TIP AND YOU ACTUALLY WELD WITH THE WIRE INSTEAD OF THE WELDING ROD.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S PRETTY BASIC AND YOU'RE PRETTY LIMITED AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO.

THE NEXT STEP UP FROM THIS IS A MIG WELDER, AND THAT ADDS GAS THAT COMES THROUGH THAT TIP AS WELL AND THAT ENHANCES THE ABILITY OF THE WELDER TO ACTUALLY WELD METALS, BUT YOU'RE STILL LIMITED AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO.

SUPPOSE, YOU WANT TO WELD ALUMINUM, WELL, THAT MEANS YOU NEED A SECOND PIECE OF EQUIPMENT YOU NEED A TIG WELDER, OR MAYBE YOU WANT TO DO SOME BRAZING ON MILD STEEL.

WELL THEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A GAS WELDER OR A WELDER THAT IS SPECIFIC FOR BRAZING.

SO YOU MIGHT NEED THREE MAYBE EVEN FOUR DIFFERENT UNITS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU COULD WITH THIS NEWER STYLE WELDER.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW.

NOW, WITH THIS ONE YOU CAN DO MILD STEEL SUCH AS WE'VE DONE HERE WITH THIS SAMPLE, YOU CAN ALSO WELD ALUMINUM AND YOU CAN BRAZE WITH IT.

SO IT'S THREE UNITS IN ONE.

OKAY, WELL THAT MAKES THINGS REALLY EASY, BUT EVEN EASIER YET, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT A GREAT WELDER.

YOU HAVE TO USE CHARTS, OR GO ON THE INTERNET AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE WIRE SPEED SHOULD BE FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, OR WHAT TYPE OF GAS TO USE, OR ANY OF THESE THINGS.

WELL, WITH THIS ONE, BY PROGRAMMING IN CERTAIN BASIC INFORMATION, IT'LL MAKE THOSE CALCULATIONS FOR YOU AND IT'LL MAKE YOU A MUCH BETTER WELDER.

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

John: THIS 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE HAS BEEN IN OUR FLEET FOR 2-MONTHS; MOSTLY PERFORMING COMMUTING DUTY, AS WE'VE TACKED ON JUST OVER 3,000 MILES.

ITS UNIQUE LOOK IS TURNING HEADS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE WE GO; WHILE PROVIDING US WITH PLENTY OF FUN ALONG THE WAY.

NOW, SOME MIGHT NOT FIND THE SANDSTONE YELLOW COLOR ATTRACTIVE, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ATTRACT OTHER BEETLES; AS A DUNE CONVERTIBLE WAS SPOTTED AROUND OUR OFFICE RECENTLY AS WELL.

WE CONTINUE TO FIND THIS BUG'S INTERIOR VERY COMFORTABLE FOR A SMALL CAR, AND MATERIALS FEEL ABOVE PRICE POINT FOR SURE.

AND DESPITE SPORTING THE SMALLER OF THE TWO BEETLE ENGINES AVAILABLE, THE 1.8 LITER TURBO-4 HAS PLENTY OF POWER, AS WELL AS A GOOD 31.5 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE.

SO, IN THIS BEETLE, IT'S "TO THE DUNES AND BEYOND!"

NOW, A PICKUP TRUCK IS ALWAYS HANDY TO HAVE AROUND, SO, WE'LL SURE MISS HAVING THIS 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 TO RELY ON.

WHILE ONLY WITH US 4-MONTHS, WE PACKED IN A YEARS' WORTH OF MOVING, HAULING, AND VACATIONS, AND THE TACO HELD UP FINE.

AND WHILE, A LONGER BED WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE, THE FLEXIBLE REAR SEATING AREA MAKES UP FOR A LOT OF THE DIFFERENCE.

OVER 6,600 MILES; WE AVERAGED A PRETTY GOOD 21.1 MILES PER GALLON WITH ITS 3.5 LITER V6.

ONE MORE REASON MIDSIZE TRUCKS ARE HAVING A RESURGENCE, AND THIS TOYOTA TACOMA IS AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK.

IT'S THE WINNEBAGO VIEW 24J AND THE HONDA PILOT ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THE BI-ANNUAL PARIS MOTOR SHOW IS ALWAYS A PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE EVENT.

AND YOLANDA VAZQUEZ ILLUMINATES US ON ALL THAT'S NEW FROM THE CITY OF LIGHT.

Yolanda Vazquez: WHILE, INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOWS MAY NOT HAVE THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR THEY ONCE DID, THERE WAS PLENTY OF ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR... AND ON THE STAGES... OF THE 2016 PARIS MOTOR SHOW.

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED DEBUTS WAS THE VOLKSWAGEN I.D.

ELECTRIC CAR CONCEPT, BUILT ON A NEW MODULAR ELECTRIC DRIVE PLATFORM.

VW CLAIMS A RANGE OF 373 MILES PER CHARGE.

MERCEDES BENZ ALSO PLUGGED IN WITH GENERATION EQ.

THIS CROSSOVER CONCEPT LAUNCHES THEIR UPCOMING EV-ONLY SUB-BRAND... MUCH CLOSER TO REALITY IS THIS MERCEDES-AMG GT ROADSTER, AVAILABLE IN BOTH 469 AND 550 HORSEPOWER VERSIONS.

BMW WAS ALSO THINKING ELECTRIC, WITH A NEW I3, PACKING AN UPGRADED BATTERY THAT INCREASES RANGE TO 186 MILES...

BUT LOOKS TO MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT IN THE SPORT-LUXURY SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVER MARKET WITH RIDES LIKE THIS CONCEPT X2.

AUDI CONTINUED THE CROSSOVER THEME WITH A NEW 2ND GENERATION Q5... AND ALSO, SHOWED NEW A5 AND S5 SPORTBACKS THAT WE'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET STATESIDE, THOUGH WE'D MUCH RATHER UNLEASH THE 400 PONIES UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS FIRST-EVER RS 3.

THE INFINITI QX SPORT INSPIRATION SHOWCASES THEIR CONCEPT OF FUTURE ENGINE TECHNOLOGY, A 2.0 LITER TURBO WITH VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIOS.

LUXURY-RIVAL LEXUS IS PREPARING TO BOLDLY TAKE PREMIUM CROSSOVERS WHERE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE WITH THIS UX CONCEPT.

HONDA HAD SPEED IN ITS SIGHTS WITH THIS CIVIC TYPE R PROTOTYPE.

OVER AT HYUNDAI, IT WAS ALL ABOUT SPEED, WITH THIS RN30 CONCEPT...

...THOUGH THEY DIDN'T FORGET PRACTICALITY, SHOWING A NEW I30 HATCHBACK.

BRITISH-CARMAKER LAND ROVER HOPES TO CAPITALIZE ON THEIR RECENT SUCCESS, WITH THIS ALL-NEW 5TH GENERATION DISCOVERY.

FERRARI IS CERTAINLY NO STRANGER TO POWER, AND IN THIS NEW GTC4 LUSSO T, IT COMES FROM A 3.9 LITER TURBOCHARGED V8... AND YOU'LL BE LUCKY INDEED TO CATCH SIGHT OF ONE OF ONLY 200 LAFERRARI APERTAS, SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY SOLD OUT.

AND THAT'S IT'S FROM THE CITY OF LIGHTS FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: ONE CONSTANT YOU CAN PUT UP THERE WITH DEATH AND TAXES, IS PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT MORE.

SO, IT'S USUALLY THE CASE FOR EACH NEW GENERATION OF VEHICLE TO GET BIGGER AND BIGGER.

WELL, GM HAS PROVED BEFORE THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE FROM LESS, AND THAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THIS NEW GMC ACADIA, SO LET'S HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.

* TRIVIA QUESTION: WHAT WAS THE FIRST MODERN 3-ROW CROSSOVER?

IF YOU SAID, "THE 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK," CONGRATULATE YOURSELF.

IF YOU SAID, "THE 07' GMC ACADIA;" WELL, YOU'RE HALF RIGHT AS IT DID SHARE ITS CHASSIS WITH THE OUTLOOK.

AND IF YOU'RE SAYING, "WHAT IS A SATURN?"

WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO GOOGLE IT, AS WE MUST MOVE ON AND START TALKING ABOUT THIS 2017 GMC ACADIA.

TRIM IS IN, AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ON MORE OF A WEIGHT-LOSS KICK THAN GENERAL MOTORS.

NOW, SHARING A CHASSIS WITH THE CADILLAC XT5, ITS 700 POUNDS LIGHTER THAN THE OUTGOING ACADIA.

THAT'S DUE TO A SHRUNKEN EXTERIOR SIZE, MORE HIGH STRENGTH STEEL, AND A SMALLER 193 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4 ENGINE THAT IS NOW STANDARD.

BUT, EVEN WITH THE V6, ITS SOME 600 POUNDS LIGHTER.

THAT 3.6 LITER V6 IS NOW OPTIONAL AND IT'S ALSO A NEW ONE, PUTTING OUT BOTH MORE HORSEPOWER AT 310, AND MORE TORQUE AT 271 POUND-FEET.

YET, DESPITE THE BIGGER NUMBERS, TOWING CAPACITY FALLS FROM 5,200 POUNDS TO 4,000, MOSTLY DUE TO THE TIDIER DIMENSIONS.

WITH OVERALL LENGTH CUT 7.0 INCHES, AND WHEELBASE SHAVED BY OVER 6-INCHES, THE NEW ACADIA IS FAR MORE GARAGE-ABLE.

SO, IT'S NOW MORE MIDSIZE THAN FULL-SIZE, LOOKING VERY DODGE DURANGO-ISH, AND DIRECTLY COMPETITIVE WITH THE HONDA PILOT AND TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.

TRIMMER ALSO HELPS THE EXTERIOR APPEARANCE, NOW MORE MODERN AND STYLISH, AND THANKFULLY, FAR FROM A MINI-ME YUKON.

SIGNATURE LED'S ARE STANDARD ON ALL MODELS.

DENALI TRIM STILL FEATURES AN OVERDOSE OF CHROME, AND A BIG GRILLE FOR FULLY FLAUNTING IT.

BOTH ENGINES COME WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH A CHOICE OF FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

OUR V6 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TESTER SHOWED A NOTICEABLE LACK OF TORQUE DOWN LOW, BUT ONCE YOU REACH 4,000 ON THE DIAL, A SURPRISING SURGE OF POWER GETS DELIVERED RATHER ABRUPTLY.

WE HIT 60 IN 6.8 SECONDS; PRETTY QUICK FOR A 3-ROW FAMILY UTE, AND OVER A SECOND QUICKER THAN BEFORE.

WE FINISHED OUT THE QUARTER IN 15.4 SECONDS AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS VERY SLOW, WITH A NOTICEABLE LACK OF MOMENTUM EACH TIME A NEW GEAR WAS SELECTED.

WITH A SHORT 119 FOOT STOPPING AVERAGE FROM 60, AND ONLY MINIMAL FADE; THE BRAKES WERE VERY CONFIDENCE INSPIRING.

AND IF YOU ZONE OUT AND NEED THE ACADIA TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR YOU, IT CAN DO THAT AS WELL, ABRUPTLY AND CONSISTENTLY; PROVIDED YOU OPT TO ADD THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE.

THE OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM OPERATES AS FRONT ONLY IF YOU CHOSE, OR LEAVE IT IN AUTO.

YOU CAN ALSO SELECT SPORT, OFF ROAD, AND TRAILER TOW MODES.

OF COURSE, THE SMALLER SIZE HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON INTERIOR SPACE.

BUT, YOU WON'T REALLY NOTICE IT MUCH IN FIRST OR SECOND ROW SEATING.

THE 2ND ROW SPLIT BENCH, OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, ALL SLIDE FORE AND AFT, AS WELL AS FOLD EASILY.

THE THIRD ROW IS ACTUALLY EASIER TO GET TO, BUT NOTICEABLY TIGHTER WHEN YOU DO.

AND SEATBELTS ARE DOWN FROM THREE TO TWO.

SO, ACADIA'S MAX BODY COUNT DROPS FROM 8 TO 7.

MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY FALLS MOST OF ALL, FROM 116.1 CUBIC-FEET TO 79.0.

STILL, ALL THESE ASPECTS ARE COMPETITIVE WITH PILOT AND HIGHLANDER.

AS FOR HOW IT DRIVES, WELL LIGHTER IS ALWAYS RIGHTER, SO IT CERTAINLY FEELS MORE AGILE.

BUT WE'D AVOID THE I4 UNLESS YOU'RE A LONE WOLF.

V6 GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE RESPECTABLE, AT 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.1 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

FOR A REASONABLE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 16.5 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED YEARLY, WHILE EMITTING 7.2 TONS OF CO2.

BASE PRICING IS $1,905 LOWER THAN BEFORE, STARTING AT $29,995.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S FOR THE I4 AND YOU'RE GOING TO WANT THE V6 THAT WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $37,090.

AWD ADDS 2-GRAND MORE; ACADIA DENALI STARTS AT $45,845.

THE 2017 GMC ACADIA IS CLEARLY BETTER IN EVERY ASPECT INCLUDING SIZE.

WHILE, NOTHING ABOUT THE ACADIA BLEW US AWAY WITH EXCITEMENT, THERE'S A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT IT.

YES, THE SMALLER SIZE MEANS ACADIA HAS GIVEN UP ITS NICHE OF BEING A TRUE FULL-SIZE TRUCKIN' SUV ALTERNATIVE.

AND, ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THE "GOING ALONG TO GET ALONG" STRATEGY WILL WORK.

BUT, FOR NOW, WE THINK THE ACADIA WILL DELIVER MORE, FROM LESS, FOR MORE OF YOU.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES GO TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE SPEND DRIVE TIME IN THE ALL-NEW MERCEDES BENZ E300, AND SEE IF IT'S READY FOR A SELF-DRIVING FUTURE.

THEN, NISSAN HOPES TO BOOST THEIR FULL-SIZE PICKUP SALES WITH THE REDESIGNED TITAN.

WE'LL SHOP FOR CLASSIC CARS WITH PAT GOSS, WHILE, LAUREN MORRISON FILLS UP WITH A FUTURE FUEL RIGHT NOW.

PLUS, WE'LL TAKE A PAIR OF AUDI'S OUT FOR A QUICK SPIN.

John: 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.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: "OH, COME ON..." Woman: "HOT, HOT, HOT..." Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Woman: "JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER."

Announcer: 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.

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