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

JOIN UAS WE TASTE A NEW FLAVOR OF LEXUS PERFORMANCE, THE GS-F... PAT GOSS MAKES SURE THAT WE DON'T BLOW A GASKET... LAUREN MORRISON WITH WHY YOUR CAR MIGHT BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN... AND WE GO BIG OR GO HOME IN THE MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS HARDTOP...

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.

"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.

John: THERE HAVE BEEN MANY STEPS ALONG LEXUS' PATH FROM POSH TO PERFORMANCE.

THE WATERSHED ONE OF COURSE, WAS THE LFA.

BUT MORE RECENTLY, THE IS-F AND RC-F HAVE HELPED TO PICK UP THE PACE.

WELL NOW, THERE'S A NEW GS-F FOR US TO SAMPLE, AND WE'VE GOT A RACE TRACK WITH MANY TASTY TURNS ON WHICH TO DO SO.

SO LET'S SEE IF IT'S A PERFECT PAIRING FOR OUR WELL-SEASONED PALETTES.

* AHH, LEXUS... THAT PURVEYOR OF FINE LUXURY GOODS THAT MASQUERADE AS TRANSPORTATION.

LIKE ANY AUTOMOTIVE BRAND, THEY'VE HAD THEIR HITS, AND MISSES OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'RE STILL NOT SOLD ON THEIR CURRENT TREND OF PUTTING A EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE BENT TO EVERY MODEL.

BUT PERHAPS THIS 2016 LEXUS GS-F WILL CHANGE OUR OPINION.

THE POWERTRAIN IS THE SAME 5.0 LITER V8 AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND SINCE THE 2008 IS-F LAUNCHED THE F PERFORMANCE BRANDING.

BUT HORSEPOWER IS NOW UP TO 467, AND TORQUE TO 389 POUND-FEET.

AROUND ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY'S HIGH-SPEED TWISTS AND TURNS THAT ENGINE SOUNDS FANTASTIC, EVEN THOUGH THAT SOUND IS LARGELY SYNTHESIZED.

AND IT RUNS EVEN BETTER, WITH VERY LINEAR FEEL AND POWER DELIVERY THAT SEEMS TORQUIER THAN ITS SIBLING THE RC F COUPE, EVEN WITH IDENTICAL NUMBERS.

STILL, IT'S NOTHING CLOSE TO CTS-V LEVELS OF BRUTALITY.

AS FOR THE CHASSIS, WELL IT'S COMPLETELY COMPETENT AND CAPABLE, YET NOT MUCH MORE.

ROLL IS SUBDUED ENOUGH, BUT THERE'S JUST AN OVERALL SOFT FEEL THAT CONSTANTLY REMINDS YOU YOU'RE IN A LEXUS; AS DOES THE OVER 4,000 POUNDS OF CURB WEIGHT WITH 53% OF IT OVER THE FRONT WHEELS.

STILL, IT BEHAVES MOSTLY NEUTRAL WITH SOME MID-CORNER UNDERSTEER TO GO ALONG WITH THROTTLE-ON OVERSTEER.

THE TORQUE VECTORING REAR DIFFERENTIAL HELPS TO TAME THAT OVERSTEER BY TRANSFERRING POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL THAT WILL DO THE MOST GOOD WITH IT.

YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL IT WORKING, BUT YOU CLEARLY CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDARD AND TRACK MODES.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERFORMS DARN NEAR LIKE A SEQUENTIAL MANUAL WITHIN SPORT S+ MODE, WITH VERY QUICK GEAR CHANGES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL-MOUNTED SHIFTERS ARE TRIGGERED.

BRAKES WERE ALSO SOLID, RUN AFTER RUN; WITHOUT ANY OF THE MUSHY FEELING THAT USUALLY ARISES IN LEXUS PERFORMANCE CARS AFTER A FEW HARD LAPS.

BOTTOM LINE, WE'LL CALL IT A HOME RUN; BUT LEXUS, DROP SOME POUNDS AND STIFFEN THE SUSPENSION INSTEAD OF RELYING ON ELECTRONICS TO IMPROVE THE HANDLING AND WE MIGHT REALLY HAVE A GRAND SLAM.

BUT THEN, THE GS-F IS NOT INTENDED AS A TRACK CAR.

TO BE ONE, THE ULTRA COMFORTABLE HIGHWAY RIDE THAT LEXUS OWNERS EXPECT WOULD SURELY BE HISTORY.

SPEAKING OF COMFORT, THERE'S A UNIQUE INTERIOR TO ENJOY AS YOU EFFORTLESSLY EAT UP THOSE MILES, AND AN INCREDIBLE 17-SPEAKER MARK LEVINSON SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM TO HELP PASS THE TIME.

F-EXCLUSIVE GAUGES CHANGE THEMES ACCORDING TO DRIVE MODE, ARE EASY TO READ AT SPEED, AND FEATURE INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS LIKE A G METER AND LAP TIMER.

OTHER SPECIAL TOUCHES INCLUDE THE 3-SPOKE STEERING WHEEL, HEADS-UP DISPLAY, ALUMINUM-TRIMMED PEDALS, SHIFT KNOB, CARBON FIBER TRIM, METALLIC DARK SILVER PAINT, ALCANTARA LEATHER, AND SPORT SEATS.

YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE MESSING WITH THE REMOTE TOUCH CONTROLLER AT SPEED AS IT'S HARD TO BE PRECISE WITH IT EVEN AT NORMAL PACE, BUT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM THAT IT CONTROLS IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

ROOM INSIDE IS PLENTIFUL, AND SEATS ARE TOP NOTCH FRONT TO BACK.

THE GS-F EVEN RETAINS ALL OF ITS 14.0 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK SPACE.

THE EXTERIOR GAINS SOME AERO HELP BY WAY OF FLARED FRONT FENDERS WITH GROOVED LINERS AND AIR EXTRACTING VENTS, STRATEGICALLY PLACED UNDER TRAYS, LARGER OPENINGS IN THE FRONT FASCIA, SCULPTED ROCKER PANELS, UNIQUE SIDE MIRRORS, AND CARBON FIBER REAR SPOILER.

THE QUAD TIPS OF THE STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND AVAILABLE COLORS SUCH AS MOLTEN PEARL, WILL SURELY SHAKE THINGS UP IN THE LEXUS SHOWROOMS.

LIGHTWEIGHT 19-INCH WHEELS WITH 255/35 TIRES UP FRONT AND 275/35 RUBBER IN THE REAR COMPLETE THE PACKAGE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO WALK GINGERLY ON THE GAS PEDAL IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THOSE REARS FROM SPINNING UP OFF THE LINE, BUT A 4.5 SECOND 0-60 IS THE RESULT, WHEN YOU DO IT JUST RIGHT.

THROUGHOUT THE 13.0 SECONDS THAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE A QUARTER MILE AT 111 MILES PER HOUR, THE GS-F FEELS FIERCELY FAST, YET STILL SMOOTH AND COMFORTABLE LIKE A TRUE LUXURY LINER.

LIKEWISE, SHIFTS ARE ABOUT AS FAST AS THEY CAN BE WITHOUT SACRIFICING SMOOTHNESS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

THE GS-F IS NOT EXACTLY A PERFORMANCE BARGAIN EITHER, WITH BASE PRICING OF $85,390.

SO, THE 2016 LEXUS GS-F MAY NOT BE AS BIG OF A STEP UP AS OTHER PREVIOUS LEXUS PERFORMANCE CARS, BUT IT IS NO DOUBT AN IMPORTANT ONE.

IT'S WELL-SEASONED ENOUGH TO SPICE THINGS UP, WITHOUT LETTING THE PERFORMANCE FLAVOR OVERWHELM THE REST OF THE LEXUS LUXURY DISH.

WE PREDICT THE BRAND'S FANS, OLD AND NEW, WILL LAP IT UP.

* THE NUMBER OF AUTOMOTIVE RECALLS TO FIX SAFETY ISSUES HAS EXPLODED IN RECENT YEARS.

AND IT'S A GOOD BET THAT YOUR CAR IS INCLUDED.

IF YOU'VE BOUGHT YOUR CAR NEW, YOU'LL LIKELY GET A RECALL NOTICE BY MAIL.

BUT, IF YOU ARE THE SECOND OR THIRD OWNER, THAT LETTER MAY NEVER ARRIVE.

BUT, NOT TO WORRY.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS A QUICK WAY FOR YOU TO FIND OUT YOURSELF.

SO, WE DISPATCHED OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON TO THE SOURCE TO CHECK IT OUT.

Lauren Morrison: WE'VE ALL HEARD THOSE SAFETY RECALL ALERTS...

Courtesy of PBS NewsHour: THERE IS A NATIONWIDE RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS... MAJOR JAPANESE AUTOMAKERS ARE RECALLING MORE THAN THREE MILLION VEHICLES AROUND THE WORLD... GENERAL MOTORS ANNOUNCED, YET ANOTHER VEHICLE RECALL TODAY... ITS BEEN A RECORD YEAR FOR AUTO RECALLS... Lauren: YET, 25% OF VEHICLES, THAT'S ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW, STILL HAVE OPEN SAFETY RECALLS.

Frank Borris: THIS IS A RISK THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR WIPERS, YOUR LIGHTING, YOUR STEERING, YOUR BRAKING, EVEN THE SAFETY CRITICAL SYSTEMS LIKE AIR BAGS OR STABILITY CONTROL THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT A CRASH.

Lauren: IN 2015 ALONE, ALMOST 900 SAFETY RECALL NOTICES WERE ISSUED, AFFECTING 51 MILLION VEHICLES.

WHILE, AUTOMAKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING OWNERS, THE SHEER SIZE OF THE PROBLEM HAS PROMPTED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR IS AFFECTED.

Frank: YOU KNOW, VEHICLES TODAY ARE EXTREMELY COMPLEX, FINDING OUT IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS AN OPEN RECALL IS NOT, AND IT NEVER WILL BE.

Lauren: FIRST, YOU NEED YOUR CAR'S UNIQUE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OR VIN.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS YOU CAN FIND YOUR CAR'S VIN.

THE FIRST, RIGHT ON THE CAR.

FOR MOST VEHICLES, IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT ON YOUR INSURANCE CARD OR REGISTRATION.

WITH VIN IN HAND, HEAD OVER TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S SAFER CAR WEBSITE.

Frank: SO, ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR 17 DIGIT VIN FROM YOUR INSURANCE CARD, OR REGISTRATION CARD, COME TO SAFERCAR.GOV.

AND YOU NOTICE WE MAKE IT EASY TO FIND OUR VIN LOOKUP TOOL.

Lauren: ONCE YOU PLUG IN YOUR VIN, YOU'LL KNOW WITHIN SECONDS, IF YOUR CAR HAS A SAFETY RECALL ON IT.

Frank: IT SHOWS THERE'S ONE OPEN RECALL AND HERE IN THE BRIGHT RED, RECALL INCOMPLETE.

Lauren: BEING INFORMED THOUGH, IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE...

IT USED TO BE ALL ABOUT GETTING A LETTER IN YOUR MAILBOX ABOUT A RECALL ON YOUR CAR.

BUT NOW, MANUFACTURES AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ARE LOOKING INTO NEW WAYS TO KEEP YOU IN THE KNOW.

Frank: THEY'RE ALSO USING SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, EVEN YOUTUBE.

Lauren: ACTUALLY GETTING DRIVERS TO GET A SAFETY RECALL FIXED, IS WHOLE OTHER STORY.

Frank: IF YOU SEE AN OPEN RECALL, THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT JUST KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT TAKE ACTION.

PICK UP THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY, CALL THE DEALER, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND GET IT REPAIRED.

THERE'S NO COST.

YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT, OR SOMEONE ELSE'S.

Lauren: THERE ARE NO MINOR ISSUES BEHIND ANY SAFETY RECALL.

IGNORING ONE CAN HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.

Frank: I THINK SOME PEOPLE THINK, WELL IT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME.

BUT EVERY YEAR, I CAN TELL YOU, IN WORKING IN THIS AGENCY SINCE 1997, IT DOES HAPPEN.

AND WHEN PEOPLE GET HURT, OR WORSE, KILLED, IT'S TRAGIC.

IT AFFECTS SOMEBODY'S FAMILY.

IT COULD BE SOMEONE'S MOTHER, YOUR DAUGHTER, BUT IT'S VERY REAL.

Lauren: NHTSA RECOMMENDS CHECKING YOUR VIN ON THEIR SAFERCAR WEBSITE AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, HELPING TO ENSURE A SMOOTH DRIVE DOWN A RECALL FREE ROADWAY.

John: PAT GOSS ALWAYS LIKE TO KEEP A TIGHT SEAL ON THINGS, TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T BLOW A GASKET... Pat Goss: IF YOU'RE A DO IT YOURSELF-ER, YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THESE IN YOUR TOOLBOX.

STIFF WIRE BRUSH, SOME KIND OF A GASKET SCRAPER OR CHISEL LIKE THIS TO GET RID OF OLD GASKETS.

WELL, YOU BETTER THROW THEM AWAY IF YOU HAVE A LATE MODEL CAR, BECAUSE LATE MODEL CARS, THEY USE ALUMINUM, AND ALUMINUM CAN EASILY BE DAMAGED.

SO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAN A GASKET, YOU NEED ONE OF THESE: IT'S A SCRAPER WITH A PLASTIC RAZORBLADE.

IT WON'T DAMAGE THE ALUMINUM.

YOU ALSO WILL WANT THIS: THIS IS GASKET REMOVER.

IT WILL SOFTEN THE GASKET, AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET OFF, AND LESSEN THE CHANCE AT DAMAGING THE ALUMINUM IN THE HEAD OR WHATEVER PART YOU'RE WORKING ON.

NOW, GASKETS THEMSELVES HAVE CHANGED.

THIS IS A POPULAR ONE THESE DAYS.

THIN SHEET OF ALUMINUM PUNCHED OUT, WITH LITTLE DABS OF SEALANT AROUND EACH OF THE OPENINGS.

GOTTA BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T BEND IT, BECAUSE IF YOU BEND IT, IT'S SHOT, IT'S NO GOOD.

SO, HANDLE IT CAREFULLY, AND FOLLOW ANY DIRECTIONS THAT COME WITH IT.

NOW, MOST GASKETS THESE DAYS HAVE EVOLVED INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS: THIS IS A VALVE COVER OFF OF A LATE MODEL ENGINE.

AND IT HAS A GROOVE IN THE COVER ITSELF AND A MATCHING PROTRUSION ON THE BOTTOM END OF THE GASKET.

IT FITS DOWN INTO THERE, WITHOUT ANY KIND OF SEALANT OR ANYTHING, AND THAT IS THE INSTALLATION OF YOUR GASKET.

NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF CLEANING, IN MOST CASES, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES.

NOW, A LOT OF ENGINES; THEY JUST DON'T HAVE GASKETS; PERIOD.

AND THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO USE SOME FORM OF RTV SEALANT, WHICH STANDS FOR ROOM TEMPERATURE VULCANIZING.

A SOFT SUBSTANCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ON IN A PARTICULAR PATTERN.

THEY'LL USUALLY GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS IN A SERVICE MANUAL.

FOLLOW THOSE DIRECTIONS TO THE LETTER.

NOW, THE REASON THAT I'M TELLING YOU THAT, IS THAT THIS STUFF WORKS GREAT IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, BUT IF YOU DON'T, IT'S TERRIBLE.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS: TOO MUCH OF IT, AND YOU'LL GET PIECES OF THE MATERIAL THAT WILL WORK ITSELF LOOSE OVER TIME AND GET DOWN INTO THE OIL PAN.

THEN, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED, LOTS OF SUCTION HERE ON THE PICKUP SCREEN FOR THE OIL PUMP.

THIS STIFF GETS SUCKED UP INTO IT.

WE'VE SEEN CARS WITH A LOT OF IT.

WELL, THERE'LL BE ENOUGH OF IT SUCKED UP INTO THAT SCREEN THAT IT RESTRICTS OIL FLOW, AND YOU GET AN OIL WARNING LIGHT.

SO, BE REAL CAREFUL WITH THAT.

THAT COULD COST YOU AN ENGINE.

SO, ALL OF THIS STUFF: IN A LOT OF WAYS IT'S SIMPLER, AS LONG AS YOU READ THE SERVICE MANUAL, USE A TORQUE WRENCH, AND ALL OF THE THINGS THEY TELL YOU TO DO IN THAT SERVICE MANUAL.

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

* John: IT IS TIME TO BID OUR 2015 MAZDA CX-9 A FOND FAREWELL.

SO LET'S RUN THROUGH THE NUMBERS ONE LAST TIME.

AFTER 14 MONTHS WE HAVE 29,230 MILES TO OUR CREDIT ON THE CX-9, WITH FINAL FUEL ECONOMY SETTLING IN AT A SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTING 19.3 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

BUT THEN, THE 3.7 LITER V6 PUTS OUT A STOUT 273 HORSEPOWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

INDEED WE LOVED THE CX-9s FREE-FLOWING POWER, AND EASY TO USE NATURE.

GRIPES MOSTLY CENTERED AROUND THE AGING INTERIOR AND ITS HARD SURFACES.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO HAUL PEOPLE AND THINGS, IT IS A TRUE WORK HORSE.

THE NEW GEN CX-9 WILL CERTAINLY LEAVE THIS ONE IN THE DUST, BUT ON THE USED MARKET, THIS 2015 MODEL SHOULD STILL SEE MASS APPEAL.

MORE HEARTBREAK AS WE ALSO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR 2015 CHRYSLER 200 SEDAN, AFTER 21,954 MILES AND 13 MONTHS.

THERE'S A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT ITS 295 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR V6.

GOOD GET-UP, IT SOUNDS GREAT, AND AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM THAT'S BETTER THAN MOST CROSSOVERS!

FINAL FUEL ECONOMY RESTS AT 26.6 MILES PER GALLON, ANOTHER BRIGHT SPOT.

STYLING WAS HIT-OR-MISS WITH OUR STAFF, BUT ALL LOVED THE COMFY AND WELL-APPOINTED INTERIOR, WITH LOTS OF USABLE STORAGE.

WE'VE COMMENTED AD-NAUSEAM ON THE NINE SPEED AUTO, AND OUR FINAL CONCLUSION IS: IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT YOU GET USED TO IT.

AND IT CERTAINLY AIDS FUEL ECONOMY.

THOUGH THE FUTURE OF THE MIDSIZE 200 IS IN DOUBT, WITH FCA OUTSOURCING PRODUCTION, WE'LL HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THIS VERY WELL DONE IMPORT FROM DETROIT.

IT'S THE HONDA PILOT, AND NISSAN MURANO ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

NOW, LET'S GRAB A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT ALL THE HEADLINES FROM THIS YEAR'S NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW!

Lauren: SPRING HAS SPRUNG, AND THAT MEAN IT'S THE SEASON FOR THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW!

AND WE'RE HERE ON THE SHOW FLOOR TO SEE THE BIG DEBUTS FROM THE BIG APPLE.

* AND LET'S START OFF WITH SOMETHING REALLY BOLD, THIS LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CONCEPT.

WHILE, THE MASSIVE GULLWING DOORS ARE NOT LIKELY TO MAKE PRODUCTION, THEY GAVE EVERYONE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ALLURING RETRO-FUTURISTIC INTERIOR OF LINCOLN'S NEXT GEN SUPER-SIZED HAULER.

WE FINALLY SAW THE LATEST CAMARO ZL1 AND GOT SOME TECH-SPECS, TOO.

WITH AN LT4 SUPERCHARGED V8, THIS CAMARO ENTERS THE HORSEPOWER WARS WITH 640, AVAILABLE WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL, OR... AND HERE'S THE OTHER BIG NEWS; A 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC FOR COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE.

AT BUICK IT WAS A FRESHENED ENCORE.

A LESS BLOATED LOOK AND MORE TECH SHOULD KEEP THIS MINI-UTEs SALES GOING STRONG.

JEEP LOOKS TO CONTINUE ITS HOT STREAK WITH ADDITIONS TO THE GRAND CHEROKEE.

A NEW TRAILHAWK MODEL BRINGS INCREASED RIDE HEIGHT, AND MORE OFF-ROAD ESSENTIALS, WHILE THIS SNOW CAP WHITE SUMMIT MODEL ADDS MILD UPDATES OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.

THEY'RE NOT ALL HOMETOWN HEROES, THOUGH, AS THERE WAS PLENTY OF NEWS FROM IMPORT BRANDS, AS WELL.

LET'S START HERE, TOO, WITH ANOTHER CONCEPT: THE GENESIS "NEW YORK CONCEPT".

THIS HIGH STYLE SEDAN FORETELLS THE NEW BRAND'S 3-SERIES FIGHTER, AND A RUMORED 242 HORSEPOWER HYBRID POWERTRAIN.

MAZDA HAD US TALKING ABOUT THIS MX-5 RF, OR RETRACTABLE FASTBACK.

THIS TARGA ROOFED MIATA BRINGS A NEW ZING TO AFFORDABLE SPORTS CARS.

MERCEDES WENT ON A RUN, WITH THREE WORLD DEBUTS: THE GLC COUPE,...

THE C63 CABRIOLET, AND THE E43 4MATIC... HIGH PERFORMANCE TOOK THE SPOTLIGHT, WITH THE AUDI R8 SPYDER, AND NISSAN GT-R SHOWING OFF SOME FANCY NEW DUDS.

THE GT-R ALSO GETS A SLIGHT BUMP IN HORSEPOWER, TO 565.

WHILE ALFA ROMEO SHOWED THE NOT QUITE HIGH PERFORMANCE, U.S. SPEC VERSIONS OF THEIR STILL STYLISH GIULIA SPORT SEDAN.

CROSSOVER NEWS INCLUDED A REVAMPED ACURA MDX, NOW AVAILABLE WITH THE THREE MOTOR HYBRID ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM DRAWN FROM THE NSX AND RLX.

AT TOYOTA, THE PRIUS PRIME MADE ITS DEBUT.

THIS PLUG-IN HYBRID BOAST A 22 MILE EV-ONLY RANGE AND 600 MILES OVERALL.

SUBARU PULLED THE WRAPS ON THE NEXT GEN IMPREZA COMPACTS, BOTH SEDAN AND HATCHBACK.

AND FOR TRUCK FANS, NISSAN REVEALED IT'S FULL-SIZE, HALF-TON TITAN PICKUP, ADOPTING MUCH OF THE STYLING OF THE LARGER XD.

ONCE AGAIN THE NEW YORK PROVED TO BE A GREAT WAY TO WRAP UP THE EARLY 2016 AUTO SHOW SEASON, AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

John: HOT HATCHES AND BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK TEND TO GO HAND IN HAND.

MUCH LIKE MINI COOPERS AND JOHN COOPER WORKS.

A LOT MORE BANG ADDED TO AN ALREADY FUN HATCHBACK FOR JUST A FEW BUCKS MORE.

SO WITH, BOTH FUN AND FRUGALITY IN MIND, WE'LL SPEND OUR TIME WISELY BY HITTING THE TRACK WITH THIS PINT-SIZE PERFORMER.

* HOT HATCHBACKS LIKE THIS 2016 MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS HARDTOP HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR US ALL TO KNOW THE ORIGINAL FORMULA WELL; TAKE AN INNOCUOUS LOOKING ECONOMY CAR AND INJECT A BIG DOSE OF PERFORMANCE.

WELL, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER EVEN A BASE MINI COOPER HARDTOP INNOCUOUS, AS WITH ITS OVER THE TOP INTERIOR AND RACING STRIPE BEDAZZLED EXTERIOR, IT IS ONE ATTENTION SEEKING BULLDOG OF A CAR.

BUT, THE JCW TREATMENT REALLY UPS THAT PEDIGREE.

* STARTING INSIDE, THE JCW ATTEMPTS TO EQUALLY SERVE THE MASTERS OF NOSTALGIA AND MODERN CONVENIENCE.

AND IT DOES SO QUITE WELL.

THERE ARE ONLY MANUAL CONTROLS FOR THE JCW SPORT SEATS, BUT WITH COPIOUS ADJUSTMENTS, MOST EVERYONE WILL FIND THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

THE CENTRAL SPEEDO IS LONG GONE, BUT THE STYLE IS RETAINED BY AN LED-RINGED INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY, MANAGED BY AN IDRIVE DERIVED CENTRAL CONTROLLER.

IT WORKS WELL ENOUGH, BUT EVEN SIMPLE TASKS REQUIRE MULTIPLE STEPS.

THE NUMEROUS TOGGLE SWITCHES, WHICH LOOK PRETENTIOUS IN MOST CARS, AT PERFECTLY AT HOME HERE.

AS DO THE STAINLESS STEEL PEDALS, AND THE STEERING WHEEL-MOUNTED PADDLE SHIFTERS, IF YOU OPT FOR THE 6-SPEED STEPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVER THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL.

THE BACK SEAT HOWEVER, LIKE MOST OF THE HOT HATCH BREED, IS LARGELY USELESS FOR ADULTS.

* IT STILL LOOKS LIKE A MINI OUTSIDE, JUST A MUCH TOUGHER ONE.

THERE'S A NEW FRONT FASCIA WITH ADDITIONAL AIR INTAKES, AS WELL AS AERO TREATMENTS DOWN THE SIDES AND IN BACK.

THESE SWEET LOOKING 18-INCH JCW CUP SPOKE TWO-TONE WHEELS ARE UPGRADES OVER THE STANDARD 17-INCH ALLOYS.

THE RACING STRIPES ARE A PREDICTABLE AND FUN ADDITION, AS ARE THE TWIN TIPS OF THE SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM, BUT THEY'VE GONE A BIT OVERBOARD WITH ALL THE JOHN COOPER WORKS LOGOS APPLIED TO NEARLY EVERY BODY PANEL.

* NOW, HAVING DISPENSED WITH ALL OF THAT, TIME TO HIT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE EQUALLY IMPORTANT FUNCTIONAL ATTRIBUTES.

WELL RIGHT AWAY, IT'S APPARENT THAT THE JCW IS A QUITE STABLE, PROFICIENT, AND FUN TO DRIVE MICRO MACHINE.

THE SUSPENSION IS LIGHTENED, STIFFENED, AND GENERALLY RETUNED TO MAKE THIS GO-KART FEEL GO-KARTIER.

MOST IMPRESSIVE OF ALL, THE UPGRADED BREMBO BRAKES MADE FOR SOME EPIC LIVE, LOCAL, AND LATE BRAKING ADVENTURES.

SPORT MODE HEIGHTENS THE RESPONSE AND FEEL OF THE GAS PEDAL, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING, AND DYNAMIC DAMPER CONTROL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT IS WHAT IT IS; A HOPPED UP FRONT-DRIVER WITH TOO MUCH PLOW AND NOT ENOUGH HORSES UNDER THE HOOD TO DO ANY MAJOR DAMAGE.

IT'S A PERFECT RIDE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S LESS WORRIED ABOUT SEEKING LAP TIMES, AND JUST WANTS TO SCOOT AROUND THE TRACK FOR...YES...THE PURE FUN OF IT.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER FUN FACT; IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL MINI YET, WITH 228 HORSEPOWER AND 236 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE COMING FROM ITS TURBO CHARGED 4-CYLINDERS.

IT'S THE SAME 2.0 LITER FOUND IN COOPER S MODELS, BUT, NOW WITH MORE BOOST!

IT BOOSTED US TO 60 IN 5.8 SECONDS.

NOW, SOME MIGHT FIND IT UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE AN AUTOMATIC IN THIS CAR, AND FOR SURE IT TAKES SOME OF THE PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT OUT OF THE PROCESS, BUT ACCORDING TO MINI, THE AUTO IS QUICKER TO 60 BY TWO-TENTHS.

THE SHIFTS ARE PLENTY QUICK, WITH LITTLE DROP OFF IN BETWEEN GEARS, KEEPING THE BOOST UP AND POWER ON, AS WE COMPLETED THE QUARTER IN 14.2 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE BETTER WITH THE AUTOMATIC AS WELL...

IT'S 25-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

ON A MOSTLY HIGHWAY LOOP, WE AVERAGED 31.7 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

WITH A $31,450 BASE STICKER AND PLENTY OF OPTIONS TO ADD ON, THIS JCW IS NOT EXACTLY A BARGAIN BLASTER, BUT IT DOES PACK A DECENT ENOUGH AMOUNT OF SPORTS CAR-LIKE PROWESS FOR THOSE DOLLARS.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE FOR '16, MINI HAS CREATED A SUBCOMPACT HOT ROD THAT MINI OWNERS WILL TRULY LOVE.

IT MAY NOT ATTRACT A LOT OF NEW CONVERTS TO THE BRAND, AS THERE ARE A SLEW OF OTHER HOT HATCHBACKS THAT DO AS WELL FOR LESS.

STILL, FEW RIVALS CAN PEAK THE FUN METER FASTER THAN THE MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS HARDTOP.

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 WELCOME BACK A SUPERCAR SUPERHERO WITH THE ALL-NEW ACURA NSX.

THEN STAY ON TRACK WITH THE MERCEDES-AMG C63 S. 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.

*