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

JOIN US AS WE FIND OUT IF A NEW MAZDA CX-9 HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST FAMILY CROSSOVERS... WE'LL CHECK OUT SOME NEW TREADS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ON AUTOWORLD, WE REVIEW ALT FUEL'S ALL-TIME HIT PARADE... THEN WE'LL TEST A GERMAN SUPER SPORT SEDAN LIKE NONE OTHER, THE AUDI RS 7...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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John: THE MAZDA CX-9 HAD QUITE A RUN, 10 YEARS FROM ITS EARLY FORD ORIGINS UP TO THE 2015 MODEL YEAR.

AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE WEREN'T SURE IF IT WOULD HAVE A SUCCESSOR OR NOT, AS 3-ROW UTILITIES ARE NOT REALLY MAZDA'S THING.

BUT, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO BE COMPETITIVE THESE DAYS, SO FOR 2016 AN ALL-NEW CX-9 HAS ARRIVED.

LET'S SEE IF THE MAZDA TOUCH MAKES IT STANDOUT IN A SEGMENT FULL OF ABLE RIVALS.

* YES, MANY IMPRESSIVE 3-ROW CROSSOVER UTILITIES HAVE EMERGED OVER THE DECADE SINCE THE MAZDA CX-9 FIRST CAME ON LINE, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE EVEN ZOOM-ZOOMED AS MUCH AS, IF NOT MORE THAN, IT HAS OVER THE YEARS.

SO, THE REDESIGNED 2016 MAZDA CX-9 HAS A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

AND MAZDA ENGINEERS STARTED WITH THE BASICS, WORKING THEIR MAGIC WITH AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM; MAKING THE CX-9 SMALLER OUTSIDE, YET, CREATING A ROOMIER FEEL INSIDE.

[ENGINE STARTS] EVEN MORE SLEIGHT OF HAND WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE HOOD, WHERE A 3.7 LITER V6 WAS SWAPPED FOR A 2.5 LITER SKYACTIV-G TURBO-4; THE FIRST TURBO ENGINE TO GAIN THE SKYACTIV MONIKER.

HORSEPOWER IS DOWN 23 TO 250, BUT TORQUE IS UP 40 POUND-FEET TO 310.

SO, THANKS TO THAT EXTRA TORQUE, IT DOESN'T FEEL ANY LESS POWERFUL THAN BEFORE.

IN FACT, TORQUE COMES ON WITH AN ALMOST DIESEL-LIKE RUSH.

DROPPING OVER 250 POUNDS OF WEIGHT HELPS TOO.

IN FACT, AT THE TRACK, THE CX-9 LAID DOWN ITS BIG TORQUE WITH AN EXPLOSIVE LAUNCH.

HOWEVER, THE FUN STOPS ALMOST AS QUICKLY.

STILL, 7.4 SECONDS TO HIT 60 IS PRETTY QUICK FOR A BIG UTE.

THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

WE EXPERIENCED SOME LAG WITH IT, AND WITH EACH NEW GEAR, RPM SEEMED TO DROP FURTHER, TAKING LONGER EACH TIME TO BUILD SOME STEAM.

THE QUARTER MILE WAS COMPLETED IN A MORE LEISURELY 15.8 SECONDS AT 87 MILES PER HOUR.

AS FOR BOLSTERING THE "ZOOM-ZOOM" MANTRA; WE FOUND A HUGE AMOUNT OF GRIP THROUGH THE CONES, EVEN WHEN BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH BOTH THROTTLE, AND STEERING INPUTS.

THERE WAS ALSO PLENTY OF SOFT ROLL; THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AFTER ALL, ALONG WITH NUMB STEERING.

THE CX-9 IS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE UNDER NORMAL OPERATION.

FOR OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DUTY, IT USES THE CX-5s I-ACTIV ARRANGEMENT, WHICH SENDS AS MUCH AS 50% OF VEHICLE POWER TO THE REAR WHEN NEEDED.

A GOOD 129 FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 WAS DELIVERED WITH CONFIDENT, ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE.

AWAY FROM THE TRACK, IN NORMAL COMMUTING; THE CX-9 HANDLES EFFORTLESSLY, AND FEELS LIKE A VEHICLE HALF ITS SIZE.

MAZDA EXPLORED EVERY AVENUE POSSIBLE TO QUIET THINGS DOWN INSIDE, AND THEIR WORK SUCCEEDED.

RIDE QUALITY IS SMOOTHED OUT AS WELL, YET IT'S FAR FROM FLOATY.

BUT STYLE AND SUBSTANCE ARE MORE CRITICAL TO CROSSOVER SUCCESS.

AS FOR THE FIRST, THE CX-9 IS A LOOKER, APPEARING VERY SLEEK AND SPORTY; WAY BEYOND THE PREVIOUS GEN'S CLUNKY APPEARANCE.

LIKEWISE, THE INTERIOR IS FASHIONABLE, BUT STILL ON THE FAMILY SIDE OF THINGS, AND WITH SIGNATURE TRIM ITS QUITE LUXURIOUS.

CRIMSON TIDE FANS MAY BALK AT THE OPTIONAL AUBURN INTERIOR THEME, BUT WE HAVE NO SUCH MISGIVINGS.

SEVEN-PASSENGER SEATING IS STANDARD, AND PRIORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO 2ND ROW PASSENGERS WHO GET MORE SPACE, AS WELL AS SLIDING, AND RECLINING SEATS.

ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW IS BETTER, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE LESS ROOM THERE ONCE YOU GET SETTLED IN.

AND THERE IS ALSO, LESS CARGO SPACE; 14.4 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE 3RD ROW, 38.2 BEHIND THE 2ND ROW, AND 71.2 WITH ALL SEATBACKS FOLDED.

AVAILABLE TECH FEATURES INCLUDE, A HEAD UP ACTIVE DRIVING DISPLAY, AN 8-INCH MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SCREEN FOR BACK-UP CAMERA AND NAVIGATION, AND LED ACCENT LIGHTING.

AVAILABLE SAFETY SYSTEMS RUN THE GAMUT, FROM BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, TO FORWARD COLLISION WARNING AND FULL-ON SMART BRAKE SUPPORT AUTOMATIC BRAKING.

TOWING CAPACITY REMAINS AT 3,500 POUNDS, AND TRAILER STABILITY ASSIST COMES STANDARD.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE AS GOOD AS YOU'D EXPECT; 21-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THOUGH WE AVERAGED JUST 22.0 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE FOR ALL VEHICLES; 14.3 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.3 TONS.

COMPETITIVE PRICING IS A GIVEN IN THIS ULTRA-HOT SEGMENT.

THAT MEANS A BASE OF $32,420.

EXPECT CLOSER TO $45,000 FOR SIGNATURE TRIM WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THE MAZDA TOUCH IS VERY APPARENT IN THIS VASTLY IMPROVED 2016 CX-9.

ITS UNIQUE LOOK AND WELL ABOVE AVERAGE DRIVING FEEL ARE SIGNATURE MAZDA ZOOM-ZOOM.

BUT IT ALSO, COMPARES QUITE WELL TO ITS MANY RIVALS IN CROSSOVER BASICS WITH USEFUL SPACE, PLENTY OF FEATURES, AND REASONABLE FUEL ECONOMY.

YES, THE 3-ROW CROSSOVER SEGMENT IS VERY CROWDED, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE CX-9 IS PRIMED TO ZOOM-ZOOM, ITS WAY TOWARDS THE FRONT.

* FOR OVER 100 YEARS, AMERICANS HAVE ENJOYED THE FREEDOM OF THE OPEN ROAD, FUELED PREDOMINANTLY BY PETROLEUM-BASED FUELS.

DESPITE THE CONVENIENCE OF GAS AND DIESEL HOWEVER, FOSSIL FUELS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM AVAILABILITY AND THE DAMAGE THEY ARE DOING TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

NOW, IN OUR 35 YEARS ON THE AIR, WE'VE WATCHED WITH GREAT INTEREST AND APPLAUDED THE MANY EFFORTS TO DEVELOP VIABLE SOLUTIONS TO BREAK OUR DEPENDENCE ON PETROLEUM FUEL.

SO WE'VE DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK BACK AND FORWARD AT SOME ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE INNOVATORS.

IN THE INFANCY OF THE AUTOMOBILE, IT WAS MORE COMMON TO SEE CARS RUNNING ON STEAM THAN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

ELECTRIC CARS WERE POPULAR AS WELL, AND TOUTED FOR THEIR SILENT OPERATION.

BUT AS INTER-CITY ROADS WERE DEVELOPED, GASOLINE QUICKLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS THE MOST CONVENIENT POWER SOURCE FOR LONG-RANGE TRAVEL.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 1970s OIL CRISIS THAT THE UNCERTAINTY OF OUR FUEL SUPPLY REACHED OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS, AND EVEN LATER BEFORE ITS NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS BECAME A GENERAL CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

EARLY ALTERNATIVE FUEL EFFORTS FOCUSED ON CONVERTING BIG SEDANS, PICKUPS, AND VANS TO RUN ON COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS OR PROPANE, A SOLUTION THAT STILL WORKS TODAY.

COMMERCIAL FLEETS, TRANSIT BUSES, AND MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EMBRACING NATURAL GAS PROPANE, AND ELECTRIC FOR THEIR COST BENEFITS, LOWER MAINTENANCE, AND CLEAN OPERATION.

AT&T HAS ADDED MORE THAN 8000 CNG SERVICE VEHICLES NATIONWIDE, AND THEIR TOTAL GREEN FLEET NOW NUMBERS OVER 11,000 VEHICLES.

COMPANIES LIKE COCA-COLA, FEDEX, UPS, AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS CONTINUE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN EXPANDING THEIR CLEAN FLEET PROFILES AS WELL.

THE HONDA CIVIC CNG SHOWED THAT NATURAL GAS COULD WORK IN A COMPACT CHASSIS AND THE ADVENT OF SAFE, CONVENIENT HOME REFUELING SYSTEMS TOOK THE FEAR OUT OF HANDLING THESE FUELS.

LIKEWISE, THE ACCEPTANCE OF USER-OPERATED HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC CHARGING SYSTEMS TOOK TIME AND STEEP LEARNING TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT NOW, FOR MANY, CHARGING THEIR EV IS AS ORDINARY AS STOPPING BY A GAS STATION USED TO BE.

GMs GROUND-BREAKING 1996 EV1 DESPITE USING OLD-SCHOOL LEAD-ACID BATTERIES AT FIRST, WAS REALLY THE FIRST MODERN PRODUCTION CAR TO SHOWCASE THE VIABILITY OF GASOLINE-FREE DRIVING.

NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE, LITHIUM-ION, AND OTHER ADVANCED BATTERY TYPES PAVED THE WAY FOR MODERN EVs AND THE HYBRID GASOLINE-ELECTRIC VEHICLE, COMBINING BOTH GAS, AND BATTERY POWER.

TOYOTA WAS FIRST TO MARKET WITH THE PRIUS HYBRID IN 1997, FOLLOWED BY THE HONDA INSIGHT IN 1999.

THERE'S NO DENYING THE FUEL ECONOMY ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC POWER, BUT EVs AND HYBRIDS WERE SLOW TO GAIN RESPECT BY A DRIVING PUBLIC AFRAID THEY'D HAVE TO GIVE UP COMFORT OR UTILITY TO DRIVE GREEN.

NO LONGER LIMITED TO SUBCOMPACT COMMUTER CARS, HYBRID DRIVETRAINS ARE NOW OFFERED IN NEARLY EVERY BODY STYLE AND BY NEARLY EVERY CARMAKER.

TESLA, AND EVEN THE SHORT-LIVED FRISKER KARMA, HAVE SHOWN THAT ELECTRIC DRIVE CARS CAN NOT ONLY BE VIABLE, BUT ASPIRATIONAL, WITH LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE TO RIVAL ANY CONVENTIONAL CARMAKER.

AND NOW, THE MOST DESIRABLE SUPERCARS ON THE ROAD, FROM THE LIKES OF FERRARI, PORSCHE, AND MCLAREN, USE HYBRID-ELECTRIC POWERTRAINS TO JUICE UP THEIR JAW-DROPPING LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE.

GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AMERICA ABOUT CLEAN FUEL CHOICES HAVE INTRIGUED US AS WELL.

WHETHER, IT'S A CNG-POWERED BATMOBILE OR THE BIO-DIESEL BURNING PLANTER'S PEANUT MOBILE.

CALL THEM PUBLICITY STUNTS IF YOU MUST, BUT THEY HAVE MADE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF ALT FUELS.

AND THE TERRIFIC WORK DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS, BANDING TOGETHER LOCAL CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS INTO A NATIONAL POWERHOUSE, HAS DISPLACED MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF PETROLEUM, AND REDUCED MEGATONS OF HARMFUL EMISSIONS BY ENABLING INDIVIDUALS, AND FLEETS TO ADOPT CLEAN, AND RENEWABLE ALTERNATIVES TO PETROLEUM.

TODAY'S FUEL MIX IS MORE DIVERSE THAN EVER AND WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THE CLEAN ENERGY BOUNDARIES WITH FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS, BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES LIKE ETHANOL AND BIOMASS.

WHILE, AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES MAY BE GRABBING ALL OF THE HEADLINES THESE DAYS, WE'RE BETTING THAT ALTERNATIVE FUELS, AND ADVANCED POWER TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE FUELING THE CARS OF THE FUTURE, AND THE KEY TO ENJOYING THE FREEDOM OF DRIVING THE OPEN ROAD, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE, PAT IS LACING UP AND GETTING READY TO BRING US SOME GREAT ADVICE ON TIRES.

Pat Goss: MOST DRIVERS THINK OF TIRES AS BEING NOTHING MORE THAN ROUND BLACK RUBBER BLOBS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THEM THAN THAT, AND TO GIVE US A PRIMER ON IT, WE HAVE OUR TIRE EXPERT MATT EDMONDS.

MATT WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: PLEASURE TO BE HERE PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SIZES OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRES YOU HAVE SET UP HERE.

Matt: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU PAT.

WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE TODAY IS FROM MICHELIN.

WE'VE GOT FOUR DIFFERENT TIRES AND THESE ARE ALL REALLY PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES.

AND WE'RE EQUATING THEM TO SHOES REALLY, AN EASY WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GRASP THE CONCEPT OF GETTING THE RIGHT TIRE FOR THEIR VEHICLE DEPENDING ON THE CONDITIONS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE, THE SECOND TIRE IN IS ACTUALLY, AN ALL SEASON TIRE, GOOD IN EVERYTHING NOT GREAT IN ANYTHING.

KIND OF THAT PAIRS OF SHOES YOU WOULD WEAR NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE.

AND ON EITHER SIDE OF IT, WE REALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND GO FOR SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY SPECIFIC TO THE CONDITIONS.

HERE, WE HAVE THE MICHELIN X-ICE 3; A DEDICATED WINTER TIRE, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE THE MICHELIN PILOT SPORT.

WHICH REALLY THAT PILOT SPORT IS A TIRE THAT'S INTENDED FOR SUMMER, EARLY OR LATE SPRING... FALL THAT 3-SEASON TIRE SO WET AND DRY.

DOWN ON THE FAR END THE REAL RACY ONE SIGNIFIED BY THE RACING SHOES THE MICHELIN PILOT SPORT CUP 2.

Pat: MOSTLY FOR THE TRACK.

Matt: MOSTLY FOR THE TRACK, BUT A TIRE THAT WILL WORK ON THE STREET IN THOSE WARM CONDITIONS.

Pat: OKAY NOW, YOU'RE USING THE TERM WINTER TIRE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF THEM AS SNOW TIRES WHICH THEY REALLY AREN'T ANYMORE.

Matt: WELL THEY'VE REALLY EVOLVED.

I MEAN STARTING IN THE MID '90s A WINTER TIRE IS NOW A TIRE THAT NOT ONLY DIGS DOWN THROUGH THE SNOW HAS THAT CAPABILITY TO GET DOWN TO THE PAVEMENT, BUT ALSO, HAS COMPOUNDING NOW THAT REALLY STAYS SOFT AND PLIABLE IN THOSE COLD CONDITIONS.

WHEREAS, A DEDICATED SUMMER TIRE WILL GET VERY HARD AND PLASTIC LIKE.

THIS ALLOWS THE TIRE TO REALLY WORK WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS COLD AND DRY.

Pat: OKAY, SO THEN THE SUMMER TIRE, I GUESS THE IDEAL SITUATION HERE WOULD BE TO HAVE A DEDICATED SET OF WINTER TIRES AND A DEDICATED SET OF SUMMER TIRES.

Matt: WELL, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PAIRS OF SHOES TO GIVE YOURSELF THE ULTIMATE IN CONTROL, AND THUS SAFETY PERSONALLY, IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE TIRES, SO YOU HAVE THE WINTER TIRES THAT YOU RUN TYPICALLY FROM NOVEMBER TO APRIL, REALLY WHEN THE WINTER CONDITIONS ARE OUT THERE.

AND THEN, THE SUMMER TIRES ARE YOUR 3-SEASONS TIRES, THE REST OF THE YEAR.

Pat: MATT, THANK YOU.

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

John: IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR SOME QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SO LET'S GET ROLLIN'.

WHILE, THIS MIGHT BE OUR FIRST QUICK SPIN IN THE JAGUAR XE COMPACT SPORT SEDAN, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ON SALE IN THE U.K. FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND IT'S OFF TO QUITE A PROMISING START.

WE EXPECT THE SAME TO HAPPEN HERE ON OUR SHORES, AS IT CERTAINLY LOOKS THE EURO SPORT SEDAN PART.

WITH THE LONG HOOD, SHORT REAR DECK, ALMOST SQUATTY STANCE THAT WILL FIT RIGHT IN WITH COMPETITORS LIKE THE BMW 3-SERIES.

UNDER HOOD, IS YOUR CHOICE OF SOMETHING OLD OR SOMETHING NEW?

THIS 340 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6 IS OLD, NEWER IS A 240 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO I4, WHILE NEWEST IS A 180 HORSEPOWER I4 TURBO-DIESEL, ALSO DISPLACING 2.0 LITERS.

THE XE IS REAR-DRIVE OF COURSE, WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AVAILABLE, IF YOU OPT FOR THE V6 OR DIESEL.

MUCH LIKE THE REST OF THE JAG FLEET, THE STRUCTURE IS HIGHLY ALUMINIZED.

INSIDE, IS AN EQUAL TREATMENT OF FAMILIAR AND FRESH?

WITH TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS LIKE THE ROTARY SHIFTER FOR THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AS WELL AS HOODED TWIN DIAL GAUGES; MEETING A NEW OVERALL LAYOUT, AND JAGUAR'S NEW INCONTROL TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE, WHICH FEATURES MUCH BETTER INTUITIVE ACTION THAN ANY JAG BEFORE.

SOME INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE A BIT DISAPPOINTING; ESPECIALLY THE EXPANSIVE, PEBBLED PLASTIC DASH COVER.

LOOKING MORE TOYOTA COROLLA THAN JAG.

ERGONOMICS ARE GOOD EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF EXPECTED BRITISH ECCENTRICITIES.

BUT, WHEN KEEPING YOUR EYES AND MIND FOCUSED ON THE ROAD AHEAD, THERE'S A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT THIS COMPACT CAT.

THE SUPERCHARGED V6 DELIVERS A WEALTH OF MID-RANGE TORQUE THAT HAD US LOOKING FOR REASONS TO TAP INTO IT.

AND VERY RESPONSIVE STEERING GAVE US PLENTY OF CONFIDENCE WHEN CURVES WERE QUICKLY APPROACHING.

AND IT DOES ALL OF THIS WHILE FEELING VERY SERENE INSIDE, THE WAY ONLY A JAGUAR CAN.

PRICING FOR THIS COMPACT CAT STARTS AT JUST OVER $35,000 FOR THE I4 TURBO.

QUICK CERTAINLY DESCRIBES ANOTHER JAGUAR, THIS 2017 F-TYPE SVR.

OR WE COULD SAY, "JAG'S MUSCLE CAR ADDS MORE MUSCLE," AS IT'S THE FIRST JAGUAR TO COME FROM JAGUAR/LAND ROVER'S SVO DIVISION, FOLLOWING RANGE ROVER LAST YEAR.

AND WHILE, WE LOVE HIGH PERFORMING SUVS AS MUCH AS THE NEXT RICH GUY, THE F-TYPE MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE TO US.

THE FORMULA: LESS WEIGHT, BETTER AERO, STIFFER SUSPENSION, AND OF COURSE MORE POWER; COURTESY OF SIMPLY WINDING UP THE SUPERCHARGER A LITTLE MORE, SO THAT IT BLOWS MORE AIR INTO THE 5.0 LITER V8.

THE RESULTS ARE 575 HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WHILE, UNLEASHING IT ON A TRACK WOULD HAVE BEEN IDEAL, OUR FIRST DRIVE IMPRESSIONS TOOK PLACE IN THE CANYONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA... Dave Scrivener: WITH THE F-TYPE SVR, JAGUAR'S SPECIAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS TEAM, HAS TAKEN THE BEST PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES OF THE F-TYPE AND AMPLIFIED THEM.

IT'S LIGHTER, MORE NIMBLE, AND MORE RESPONSIVE; EVERYTHING YOU WANT IN A PURE SPORTS CAR.

John: WEIGHT IS STILL OVER 3,700 POUNDS.

SO IT FEELS MORE LIKE AN AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR THAN EURO SPORT COUPE, BUT THAT'S JUST FINE BY US.

THINK OFT AS MORE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT SACRIFICING ANY JAGNESS.

IT'S STILL PLAYFUL, STILL VERY COMFORTABLE AND ULTRA-LUXURIOUS; YET, THE EXHAUST ROAR ON START-UP GIVES AWAY THIS CARS TRUE INTENTIONS, WHICH IS LOW 3.0 SECONDS 0-60s.

EVEN WITH THE INCREASE IN POWER, THIS CHASSIS EASILY HANDLES WHATEVER YOU THROW AT IT, WITH NICE DIRECT STEERING THAT MEANS BUSINESS.

TORQUE VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS IN PLAY AS WELL.

AVAILABLE IN BOTH COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE FORMS, THE F-TYPE SVR IS ROLLING INTO JAGUAR SHOWROOMS NOW; PRICED FROM AROUND $126,000 FOR THE COUPE, AND $129,000 FOR THE CONVERTIBLE.

BUT DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL NOT ONLY GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF UNIQUE ELEMENTS BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE TO MAKE THIS JAG TRULY SPECIAL.

STAY TUNED, AS WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT AUDI HAS BUILT SOME BEASTLY BEAUTIES OVER THE YEARS.

AND TRUTH BE TOLD, WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM.

SO OF COURSE, WE GOT A LITTLE GIDDY WHEN AUDI DELIVERED A LONG, DARK, AND HANDSOME RS 7 FOR US TO TRY OUT.

WHAT'S GOTTEN OUR AUTOMOTIVE HEARTS ALL AFLUTTER?

WELL, LET'S FIND OUT.

* AUDI HAS LONG HAD THEIR OWN UNIQUE TAKE ON THE GERMAN SPORT SEDAN THEME; BASING IT ON FRONT RATHER THAN REAR-WHEEL DRIVE CHASSIS, AND WHILE SEEING IT MATURE, WE HAVE GROWN TO REALLY ENJOY THEIR APPROACH.

WHILE, THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM, IT'S THIS 5-DOOR SUPERCAR RS 7 THAT WE'VE TAKEN A PARTICULAR SHINE TO.

WHEN UNLEASHED FOR 2014, IT WAS THE MOST POWERFUL AUDI YOU COULD GET; ECLIPSING EVEN THE R8.

OF COURSE, SINCE THEN, A NEW R8 HAS UPPED THE ANTE, SO THIS 2016 RS 7 GETS A HOST OF UPDATES TO STAY IN THE GAME, AND PLACATE THOSE ENTHUSIASTS THAT ALWAYS EXPECT MORE PERFORMANCE.

THE RS 7 IS OF COURSE, A HIGH OUTPUT VERSION OF THE A7, AND ALONG WITH THE MIDDLE-CHILD S7, ALL GET NEW FRONT FASCIA'S FOR '16 WITH FULL LED HEADLIGHTS.

IN KIND, THE REAR IS UPDATED WITH NEW TAILLIGHTS ABOVE, AND TRAPEZOIDAL EXHAUST TIPS BELOW.

FUNCTIONAL EYE CANDY INCLUDES FRONT, AND REAR SPLITTERS, AND A DEPLOYING REAR SPOILER.

INSIDE, ADDING TO ONE OF THE NICEST INTERIORS IN THE BIZ ARE COLOR, TRIM, AND TECH UPDATES.

VALCONA LEATHER SEATS, CARBON FIBER TRIM, AND A 3-SPOKE STEERING WHEEL WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS ARE ALL PART OF THE PACKAGE.

TO WHICH YOU CAN ADD AN ALMOST $5,000 BANG AND OLUFSEN ADVANCED SOUND SYSTEM AS WELL AS AN ALCANTARA HEADLINER.

OLD SCHOOL GAUGES ARE STILL THE NORM, NOT THE FULL TFT VIRTUAL PANEL OF NEWER AUDI'S, AND WE'RE FINE WITH THAT.

AN OPTIONAL DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE GETS YOU ACTIVE LANE KEEP AND AUDI'S ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH FULL STOP AND GO.

BUT, IT IS THE NEW PERFORMANCE PACKAGE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS TO US AND OTHER RS 7 FANS.

IT REALLY NOTCHES UPS THE PROWESS OF THIS ALREADY SUPER SEDAN.

STARTING WITH THE ENGINE, THE RS 7s 4.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED V8 GETS A BIG BOOST IN OUTPUT, UP 45 HORSEPOWER TO 605.

TORQUE, WITH FULL OVER BOOST ENGAGED, CLIMBS 37 TO 553 POUND-FEET, THE ONLY TRANSMISSION REMAINS AN 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC.

PERFORMANCE TRIM ALSO ADDS SUCH GOODIES AS 21-INCH WHEELS WITH 275/30 SUMMER TIRES, SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM, DYNAMIC RIDE CONTROL SUSPENSION, AND EVEN CERAMIC BRAKES.

TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FULLY READY FOR WHAT THIS CAR HAS TO OFFER, YOU HAVE TO DIAL UP DYNAMIC MODE IN AUDI DRIVE SELECT TO GET THE FULL POWER OUT OF IT.

SO ENGAGED, AT OUR TEST TRACK, WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.

THERE WAS A BRUTAL AMOUNT OF TRACTION OFF THE LINE DEALT BY STANDARD QUATTRO, AND FROM THERE ON OUT IT WAS FULL BEAST MODE, WITH SAVAGE AMOUNTS OF ACCELERATION POURING ON SEEMINGLY NONSTOP.

THE ADDED POWER WAS ENOUGH TO SHAVE A TENTH OFF THE 0-60 WE ACHIEVED IN OUR LAST RS 7 TEST TO 3.5 SECONDS.

CLIPPING A TENTH OFF THE QUARTER MILE TIME AS WELL, PUTS US AT 11.6 SECONDS AT 123 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE'S PLENTY OF SHIFTING GOING ON, BUT THAT HAPPENS LIGHTNING QUICK WITH NO LAPSE IN POWER.

IF YOU NEED MORE OF A RUSH THAN THIS, YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING WITH FEWER DOORS, AND A MUCH HIGHER PRICE TAG.

THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF GRIP FOR GETTING THROUGH THE CONES AS WELL, WITH NEUTRAL HANDLING, AND A WELL-PLANTED REAR.

AND EVEN WHEN PUSHING AT WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE EXTREME LEVELS, THE RS 7 SEEMED TO BE BEGGING US FOR MORE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH ON-CENTER FEEL THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT IS ULTRA-QUICK AND NIMBLE.

AND IF ALL THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, 105 FEET WAS ALL IT TOOK TO BRING THIS 4,500 POUND LAND SHARK TO A HALT FROM 60 MILES PER HOUR, WITH GREAT SUPERCAR-LIKE FEEL THROUGH THE PEDAL.

SO, NOT ONLY DOES THE RS 7 IN PERFORMANCE TRIM DELIVER A SUPERCAR EXPERIENCE IN A LUXURY SEDAN PACKAGE, IT DOES SO AT A PRICE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN YOUR TYPICAL EXOTIC; STARTING AT $129,925.

THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 20 GRAND ADDED TO A RS 7 PRESTIGE, SO IN THE RARIFIED WORLD OF EXTREME PERFORMANCE, THAT'S A BARGAIN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU COULD LOOK AT THE 2016 AUDI RS 7 WITH PERFORMANCE PACK AS YET ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE PLAYTHING FOR THE RICH GUY WHO ALREADY HAS EVERYTHING.

BUT WE PREFER TO LOOK AT IT AS A MILD-MANNERED SUPER SEDAN; CAPABLE OF PERFORMING SUPERHERO-LIKE FEATS WHEN CALLED UPON BY A PERFORMANCE-HUNGRY CITIZEN OF "MOTOROPOLIS."

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR A TRIP DOWN THE ULTRA-FAST LANE IN THE CALLAWAY SC757 Z06 CORVETTE.

THEN WE'LL SEE THE GENESIS OF HYUNDAI'S NEW TAKE ON THE LUXURY THEME WITH THE G90.

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.

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