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

JOIN US AS WE CRUISE AROUND IN A COMPACT SEDAN PACKED WITH STYLE... PAT GOSS EXPLAINS WHY ASKING FOR SUPER CAN BECOME A REGULAR MISTAKE... THEN, IN SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING NEW, IT'S THE BEST OF PORSCHE PERFORMANCE...

FOLLOWED BY A VERY PERSONAL PORSCHE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'LL WANT AS YOUR OWN...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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

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

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

John: YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT THE DECLINE OF MIDSIZE SEDAN SALES IN THE FACE OF RISING SUV AND CROSSOVER POPULARITY.

WELL, AN ALTERNATIVE THEORY IS THAT WITH ALL SEDANS GROWING LARGER, THAT 4-DOOR PEOPLE ARE FINDING COMPACT MODELS ARE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THE RIGHT PRICE.

INDEED, SALES IN THAT SEGMENT ARE DOING OKAY, INCLUDING THIS CLASS STALWART, THE NISSAN SENTRA.

IT'S NEW FOR 2016, SO LET'S SEE IF IT'S STILL A BARGAIN.

* THE NISSAN SENTRA IS ONE SEDAN THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO BUCK THE SLUMPING 4-DOOR SALES TREND, AS SALES ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY OVER LAST YEAR.

AND NISSAN PERFORMED A MULTITUDE OF UPDATES FOR THE 2016 MODEL YEAR TO KEEP THINGS HEADING UP.

BUT WE'LL ACTUALLY START WITH ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT HASN'T CHANGED, AND THAT'S THE 1.8 LITER I4 ENGINE, AND CVT TRANSMISSION COMBO.

HORSEPOWER IS 130, WITH TORQUE AT 128 POUND-FEET.

NOW, WE TRY TO TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION, AND NOT BE TOO POWER HUNGRY AROUND HERE, BUT THIS CAR'S ACCELERATION DOES FEEL NEEDY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE IMPRESSIVE AT 29-CITY, 37-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GREAT 33.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

FOR A PRETTY DECENT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH JUST 10.3 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 4.6 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS STILL AVAILABLE, BUT ONLY IN BASE S TRIM.

AND WHILE, THERE MAY NOT BE MUCH POWER COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THERE'S NOT MUCH NOISE EITHER; THANKS TO ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS.

SAFETY FEATURES ARE UPDATED FOR '16, WITH FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING NOW AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE.

IN OUR TESTING, WE FOUND IT TO CHIME A WARNING EARLY AND BRAKE LATE, WITH GOOD IF NOT PERFECT CONSISTENCY.

THE UPDATED EXTERIOR EASILY FAVORS BIG BROTHERS ALTIMA AND MAXIMA.

EVERYTHING FROM A-PILLARS FORWARD IS FRESHENED, ALONG WITH NEW 17-INCH WHEEL DESIGNS FOR SR AND SL TRIMS.

IN BACK, THE REVISED FASCIA ADDS NISSAN'S BOOMERANG SHAPED TAIL LIGHTS.

NOW, THE SUSPENSION GETS A TOTAL REWORK WITH BOTH STIFFER SPRINGS AND DAMPERS; AS WELL AS THE ALTIMA'S ACTIVE UNDERSTEER CONTROL SYSTEM.

AND WE DID INDEED FIND THE SENTRA TO BE AT THE SPIRITED END OF THE COMPACT SEDAN SEGMENT.

WITH ONLY A MILD BIT OF UNDERSTEER, IT WAS EASY TO POINT AND EAGER TO BE DRIVEN FAST.

ADMITTEDLY, OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE LOW, BUT WE DID COME AWAY IMPRESSED WITH HOW ABLY IT PERFORMED.

AS FOR CLOCKING ACCELERATION, IT TOOK US 10.2 SECONDS TO REACH 60, AND 18.2 TO CLEAR THE QUARTER AT 78 MILES PER HOUR.

ENOUGH SAID... NISSAN'S XTRONIC CVT NOW INCLUDES SIMULATED SHIFTS, AND WHILE IT'S PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE PLEASING TO THE EAR, YOU DON'T FEEL ANY ADDITIONAL POWER SURGE.

BUT, IN POWERTRAIN LAND, HELP IS ON THE WAY; AS '17 MODEL YEAR ADDS A NEW SR TURBO WITH A 188 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO ENGINE.

CHECK BACK WITH US ON THAT, SOON!

INSIDE OUR SENTRA WE FOUND THINGS NICELY DRESSED UP WITH A NEW CENTER CONSOLE AND SHIFTER KNOB, REFINED MATERIALS, AN AVAILABLE 6-WAY POWER DRIVER'S SEAT, A NEW STEERING WHEEL PATTERNED AFTER THE 370Zs, AND A TFT PANEL ADDED TO GAUGE DISPLAY.

NAVIGATION IS STANDARD WITH SL TRIM, OPTIONAL ON ALL OTHERS; EXCEPT FOR BASE S TRIM, WHICH IS ALSO THE ONLY TRIM THAT DOESN'T GET A BACKUP CAMERA STANDARD.

NO MATTER THE SEATING POSITION, IT STILL FEELS LIKE ONE OF THE ROOMIEST COMPACTS AROUND.

FRONT SEATS OFFER GOOD COMFORT, BUT COULD USE A FEW MORE ADJUSTMENTS AS THE HEADRESTS SEEM TO REALLY PUSH YOUR HEAD FORWARD.

TRUNK CAPACITY, AT 15.1 CUBIC-FEET IS INDEED COMPARABLE WITH MIDSIZE SEDANS, AND 60/40 SPLIT-FOLDING SEATBACKS ARE STANDARD.

SENTRA PRICING STARTS AT JUST $17,615, SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE FAMILY TRANSPORTATION, THE SENTRA IS ONE OF YOUR BEST OPTIONS OUT THERE.

EVEN IN TOP SL TRIM WITH BOTH LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES ADDED; WE WERE BARELY OVER $25,000.

SO, WITH BOTH THE SPACE AND PRICE OF MIDSIZE SEDANS A DECADE OR SO AGO; IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY MANY PEOPLE ARE UPGRADING THEIR RIDE BY GOING DOWN TO COMPACTS LIKE THIS 2016 NISSAN SENTRA.

WHILE, NOT THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SEDAN WE'VE DRIVEN THIS YEAR, IT DOES EVERYTHING JUST FINE, AND EVEN FEELS SPORTIER THAN IT NEEDS TO.

ALL GOOD REASONS WHY BEING "SIMPLY SENTRA" IS A GOOD THING.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO PORTLAND, MAINE, AND TO THE STATE'S ONLY BIODIESEL MANUFACTURER.

MAINE STANDARD BIOFUELS HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING FOR 10 YEARS!

TODAY, THEY COLLECT USED COOKING OIL FROM OVER A THOUSAND RESTAURANTS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND, BEFORE BRINGING IT BACK TO THEIR FACILITY TO BE PURIFIED AND PROCESSED.

A PUBLIC STATION ONSITE DISPENSES BIODIESEL, EVERY GALLON OF WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

AND IT'S CLEAR TO SEE, BUSINESSES IN THE PINE TREE STATE BELIEVE IN THE BIOFUEL TOO!

CASCO BAY LINES USES IT TO FUEL THEIR FERRIES, AND OAKHURST DAIRY USES IT IN THEIR TRUCKS TOO!

Alex Pine: MAINE CLEAN COMMUNITIES HAS REALLY HELPED US LINK WITH OTHER FLEETS IN THE REGION, AND THAT'S ALLOWED US A SMALL BUSINESS TO EXPAND OUR MARKET, WHICH IS SOMETHING I THINK WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO ON OUR OWN.

John: THE COMPANY IS ALSO LOOKING INTO OTHER WAYS TO REPLACE PETROLEUM, IN PRODUCTS LIKE CLEANERS, AND DEGREASERS, PROVING THAT GOING GREEN GOES BEYOND THE PUMP!

* WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON PAT GOSS FOR TOP NOTCH CAR CARE ADVICE.

AND THIS WEEK HE'S ALL GASSED UP AND READY TO GO!

Pat Goss: I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS CONCERNING GASOLINE.

AND WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, BRIAN WEST FROM OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

BRIAN WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Brian West: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, YOUR TEAM OVERSEES THE GOVERNMENT'S FUEL ECONOMY WEB PAGE.

Brian: THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S FUEL ECONOMY DATA THERE FOR EVERY VEHICLE SOLD IN THE U.S.

SINCE 1984.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, ARE THERE ANY TRENDS THAT YOU'RE SEEING?

Brian: YEAH, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE DATA RECENTLY.

SINCE ABOUT 2000 MORE AND MORE MANUFACTURERS ARE RECOMMENDING OR REQUIRING PREMIUM.

IF YOU LOOK AT MODEL YEAR 2016, THERE'S OVER 1200 RECORDS THERE.

ABOUT 15% OF THEM ARE PREMIUM REQUIRED CARS, AND 30% OF THEM ARE PREMIUM RECOMMENDED.

IF YOU GO BACK TO 2000, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT A FOURTH OF THE CARS WERE PREMIUM RECOMMENDED.

Pat: OKAY.

ALRIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE COMMON QUESTIONS THAT I HEAR, NUMBER 1, WHAT IS OCTANE?

Brian: OCTANE IS A CHEMICAL PROPERTY.

IT'S A MEASURE OF THE FUEL'S RESISTANCE TO AUTO IGNITION.

IN NORMAL SPARK IGNITION, COMBUSTION WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN; WE WANT THE SPARK TO IGNITE THE MIXTURE; WE WANT IT TO HAPPEN RAPIDLY, AND SMOOTHLY, AND BUILD PRESSURE, AND PUSH DOWN ON THE PISTON.

IF THE OCTANE NUMBER IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH HOWEVER, SOMETIMES SOME OF THAT UNBURNED FUEL BEFORE THE FLAME FRONT GETS ACROSS THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, IT'LL SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITE OR DETONATE CAUSING PING AND THAT'S A BAD THING, IT CAN BE ANNOYING TO LISTEN TO, BUT IN THE WORST CASE IT CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE.

Pat: ALRIGHT, BUT ON MODERN CARS WE DON'T HEAR PINGING.

Brian: THAT'S RIGHT.

A LOT OF CARS TODAY YOU WON'T HEAR THE KNOCK BECAUSE THE CAR HAS A KNOCK SENSOR, SINCE THE '80s AND '90s VEHICLES HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THESE.

IT'S BASICALLY, A MICROPHONE AND IT TELLS THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, THAT IT HEARS KNOCK, AND IT'S GENERALLY GOING TO HEAR IT WAY BEFORE THE CONSUMER, AND IT'S GOING TO MITIGATE THAT KNOCK.

BY RETARDING THE SPARK TIMING THE KNOCK WILL GO AWAY IN MOST CASES, BUT IT'S GOING TO COME AT THE COST OF EFFICIENCY AND THE COST OF POWER.

Pat: OKAY.

NOW, OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS.

IS THERE MORE ENERGY IN A GALLON OF PREMIUM?

Brian: THAT IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION AND THERE IS NOT.

ENERGY DENSITY IS NOT CORRELATED TO OCTANE NUMBER.

Pat: MORE CLEANING AGENTS?

Brian: IN SOME CASES, THAT MAY BE TRUE.

SOME MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND PREMIUM BECAUSE THE FUEL CAN SIT IN THE TANK A LONG TIME.

IN THE CASE OF A PLUG-IN HYBRID.

Pat: OKAY, THE LAST THING I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT MY FUEL FILLER DOOR DOESN'T CORRESPOND WITH THE LANGUAGE IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL.

Brian: THAT CAN BE MISLEADING.

THIS MIATA HERE SAYS, "PREMIUM RECOMMENDED;" ON A LOT OF PREMIUM RECOMMENDED CARS.

THE FUEL FILLER DOORS MIGHT ACTUALLY SAY, "PREMIUM FUEL ONLY."

IF YOU CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WHAT'S IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AGREES WITH THE FEDERAL WEBSITE.

SO, THE PREMIUM REQUIRED AND THE PREMIUM RECOMMENDED ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

IF YOU PUT 87 IN A PREMIUM REQUIRED CAR AND THIS IS AN OWNER'S MANUAL FOR A CAR THAT'S PREMIUM REQUIRED, IT TELLS YOU YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HEAR KNOCK, AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE A BIG LOSS OF PERFORMANCE.

Pat: OKAY.

WELL BRIAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, HOW ABOUT DROPPING ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: THERE ARE ALWAYS PLENTY OF NEW RIDES HEADING OUR WAY, AND HERE ARE A FEW OF THE LATEST.

ITALIANS SEEM TO HAVE A FLAIR FOR EVERYTHING... AND THE 2017, ALFA ROMEO GIULIA IS ROLLING PROOF OF THAT.

FOLLOWING THE MID-ENGINE 4C DEBUT IN 2014, GIULIA IS THE COMPANY'S SECOND SERIOUS STEP BACK INTO THE AMERICAN MARKET, AND A SERIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL ONE AT THAT.

YOU KNOW AT ONCE IT'S AN ALFA, WITH A FRONT FASCIA THEME THAT DATES BACK TO THE 1950s.

BUT, TODAY'S ALFA ARTISANS HAVE GIVEN THE CENTRAL SHIELD, WHISKERS AND LED/BI-XENON LIGHTING, A TOTALLY MODERN STANCE.

DOWN THE SIDE, A DEEPLY SCULPTED CHARACTER LINE MAINTAINS THE CAR'S SIMPLE ELEGANCE, ALONG WITH THE FENDER VENTS AND HISTORIC 4-LEAF CLOVER BADGE ON THE TOP PERFORMING QUADRIFOGLIO.

IN THE BACK, LIGHTS CLUSTERS HIGHLIGHT ITS WIDTH, WITH QUAD EXHAUSTS NESTLED IN THE REAR DIFFUSER.

IT'S ONE FAST SCULPTURE EVEN STANDING STILL.

THIS PREMIUM COMPACT SEDAN IS REAR-WHEEL DRIVE AND IT IS BUILT ON AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM.

THERE ARE THREE FLAVORS.

A 280 HORSEPOWER TURBO-4 IS STANDARD ON THE GIULIA AND GIULIA TI.

WHILE, THE QUADRIFOGLIO WE DROVE SPORTED, A 505 HORSEPOWER 2.9 LITER V6 BI-TURBO DERIVED FROM FERRARI.

TAKE THAT M3!

INDEED, ALFA SAYS, "IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION CAR ENGINE THEY'VE EVER BUILT," AND WE BELIEVE IT.

Ben Davis: IN A MARKET WHERE A LOT OF THE COMPETITION IS LOSING SIGHT OF THE TRUE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, ALFA IS LASER FOCUSED ON BRINGING IT BACK 10 FOLD AND THIS GIULIA IS DEFINITELY THAT.

John: THE CABIN IS ROOMER AND MORE COMFORTABLE THAN IT LOOKS, WITH ABUNDANT ITALIAN STYLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE LEATHER AND ACCENT STITCHING.

THE STEERING WHEEL IS INSPIRED BY FORMULA-ONE.

A RED ENGINE START BUTTON AS AN EXCLAMATION POINT.

THE 2017, ALFA ROMEO GIULIA FINALLY QUADRIFOGLIO GOES ON SALE IN THE U.S.

IN DECEMBER, STARTING AROUND $70,000.

LESSER TRIMS ARRIVE EARLY NEXT YEAR STARTING AROUND $40,000.

WHILE, NOT THE FIRST "MADE IN CHINA" CAR AVAILABLE HERE IN THE U.S., THAT METAL BELONGS TO A VOLVO, THE 2017, BUICK ENVISION CROSSOVER IS CERTAINLY THE FIRST FROM AN AMERICAN LUXURY BRAND.

AND IT'S COMPACT SIZE FITS PERFECTLY BETWEEN THE TINY ENCORE AND 3-ROW ENCLAVE AS BUICK CONTINUES TO EVOLVE FROM CAR TO LUXURY SUV ROADMASTERING.

STANDARD ENVISION POWER IS A 197 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4, WITH OPTIONAL 252 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO POWER; BOTH CONNECTED TO A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS OPTIONAL WITH THE 2.5 LITER, STANDARD WITH THE TURBO.

NEITHER ENGINE IS A POWERHOUSE, BUT BOTH GET THE JOB DONE EFFICIENTLY.

THE ALL-NEW CHASSIS IS UNIQUE TO BUICK.

Brian Robinson: SO, AS FAR AS THE RIDE GOES, IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD; IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE WITHOUT BEING TOO SOFT, SHOULD FIT IN WELL WITH THE REST OF THE SEGMENT.

I THINK, WHAT IT HAS GOING FOR IT THE MOST IS PROBABLY ITS VERY QUIET INSIDE; THE WHOLE BUICK QUIET TUNING THING SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL HERE.

John: THE EXTERIOR IS CLASSY LOOKING WITHOUT BEING OVER THE TOP WITH BLING.

LIKEWISE, INSIDE MATERIAL QUALITY IS VERY GOOD AND THE LOOK IS MORE ELEGANT THAN SHOWY.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF STANDARD FEATURES, AND CARGO CAPACITY IS QUITE GOOD AT 26.9 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE REAR SEATS.

ON SALE NOW, THE 5-PASSENGER 2017, BUICK ENVISION STARTS AT AROUND $35,000.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

9-5-9.

TO A PORSCHEPHILE, THOSE NUMBERS HAVE AN ALMOST MYTHOLOGICAL MEANING.

INTRODUCED IN 1986, THE PORSCHE 959 WAS THE MOST EXTREME EVOLUTION OF THE 911 PLATFORM, AND IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE WORLD'S FIRST MODERN SUPERCAR.

BUT 30 YEARS LATER, HOW DOES IT STACK UP AGAINST THE REIGNING KING OF THE 911s, THE 2017 TURBO S?

WELL, OUR INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!

* WITHOUT QUESTION, THE PORSCHE 959 WAS THE MOST ADVANCED ROAD CAR OF ITS TIME.

IN ADDITION TO TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND A 6-SPEED GEARBOX; THE 959 ALSO EMPLOYED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WITH DRIVER-SELECTABLE TORQUE SPLIT, ADJUSTABLE RIDE HEIGHT, HOLLOW-SPOKE MAGNESIUM WHEELS, A SUPER-AERODYNAMIC ALUMINUM AND KEVLAR COMPOSITE BODY, AND EVEN FLOORS MADE FROM FIREPROOF NOMEX.

BUT SEEING THE 959 NOW, IS LIKE STEPPING INTO A TIME WARP.

THE SLICK AERO BODY LOOKS SOFT AND SLIGHTLY BLOATED NEXT TO THIS 2017 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S; AND THE VERY '80s STRIPED LEATHER SEATS SEEM AS DATED, AS A "MEMBERS ONLY" JACKET.

THE 959s 2.9 LITER FLAT-6 WAS A DERIVATIVE OF PORSCHE'S RACING ENGINE, AND FEATURED AIR-COOLED CYLINDERS WITH WATER-COOLED HEADS.

SEQUENTIAL TWIN-TURBO'S SMOOTHED POWER DELIVERY ACROSS THE REV BAND, AND THE OUTPUT OF 444 HORSEPOWER ALLOWED A 0-60 SPRINT OF JUST 3.6 SECONDS, ENROUTE TO A TOP SPEED OF 195 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS 30 YEAR OLD MACHINE HAS COVERED BARELY 5,000 MILES SINCE NEW.

IT FIRES UP QUICKLY AND DELIVERS A FAMILIAR, BUT HARDLY MENACING, PORSCHE MELODY.

BUT TAKE A ROW THROUGH THE GEARS OUT ON A TRACK, AND YOU'D BETTER BE READY; AS THE TACH SPINS PAST 5,500, AND THE BOOST COMES ON WITH A RUSH.

AFTER ALL THIS TIME, THE 959s PERFORMANCE IS STILL IMPRESSIVE; EVEN WHEN DRIVEN AT THE MODERATE PACE, THAT WE PROMISED TO ITS OWNER.

NOW THIS 2017, PORSCHE 911 TURBO S IS AN ULTRA-MODERN TECHNOLOGY TOUR-DE-FORCE, WITH A HOST OF STABILITY AND TRACTION AIDS, THAT ARE JUST AS CUTTING-EDGE NOW, AS THE 959s WERE THEN.

IT HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR SOUNDING TOO TAME, AND WE AGREE, BUT WITH 580 HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ON TAP, THIS 911 TURBO S WOULD CRUSH THE 959 IN AN ALL OUT TRACK DASH, ALONG WITH ALL BUT THE MOST TRACK-FOCUSED OF TODAY'S SUPER SPORTS CARS.

THE 911 TURBO'S UNFLAPPABLE COMPOSURE AT RIDICULOUS SPEEDS, MAKES HEROES OUT OF MERE MORTALS, AND STILL SETS THE STANDARD BY WHICH ALL SPORTS CARS SHOULD GAUGE THEMSELVES.

THAT ANIMALISTIC, ILL-HANDLING NATURE YOU'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT, WENT AWAY YEARS AGO, ALONG WITH AIR-COOLING.

NOW, A NEW DYNAMIC BOOST SYSTEM ELECTRICALLY KEEPS THE TURBO'S SPINNING WHEN YOU EASE OFF THE THROTTLE, SO THEY'RE READY TO FEED POWER ONCE YOU GET BACK ON THE GAS, VIRTUALLY ELIMINATING TURBO-LAG.

AS ALWAYS PASM, WHICH GETS NEW CALIBRATIONS TO DIFFERENTIATE THE DRIVE MODES A BIT MORE, DOES A MASTERFUL JOB OF REIGNING IN YOUR POOR DRIVING HABITS.

MEASURED AGAINST THE CLOCK, THE 911 TURBO S WILL RIP TO 60 IN 2.8 SECONDS.

THE QUARTER MILE FLASHES BY IN 10.8 SECONDS, AT 132 MILES PER HOUR.

THE 911s BODY HAS GROWN DIMENSIONALLY, YET, RETAINS THE INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE CLASSIC SQUASHED BEETLE SHAPE.

ITS 96.5 INCH WHEELBASE IS 7.0 INCHES LONGER THAN THE 959, AND IT ALSO STANDS A FEW INCHES LONGER, WIDER, AND TALLER.

TURBO-CHARGING IS NOTHING NEW FOR PORSCHE OF COURSE, BUT NOW THAT ALL 911s ARE TURBO'S, WHAT SETS THE TURBO S APART?

WELL, AS IT HAS BEEN SINCE 1975, THE TURBO MODEL IS THE PINNACLE OF PORSCHE ENGINEERING.

NOW BASED ON THE 991.2 CHASSIS, THE TURBO GETS THE FULL WIDE-BODY TREATMENT, BIGGER AIR INTAKES, MORE PROMINENT REAR WING, AND UNIQUE HEADLIGHTS.

MECHANICALLY, THE TURBO GETS A BIGGER 3.8 LITER FLAT-6, WITH 540 HORSEPOWER AND 486 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE TURBO S IS NEXT LEVEL, NATURALLY; AT THE AFOREMENTIONED 580 HORSEPOWER.

MAX TORQUE WITH OVER BOOST IS 553 POUND-FEET.

JUST ABOUT ALL SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS GET A TOTAL RE-WORK, AS DO ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS THAT MANIPULATE THEM.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD; AS IS THE 7-SPEED PDK TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY GEARBOX AVAILABLE.

PRICING FOR THE 2017, 911 TURBO S SEEMS PRETTY HEADY AT $189,150 TO START, AND $192,735 AS TESTED.

BUT THAT FALLS WELL SHORT OF THE 959s 1988 PRICE OF $300,000.

EVEN THOUGH, THEY LOST A LOT OF MONEY ON EACH OF THE 337 THEY MADE, THE 959s VALUE AS A SHOWCASE FOR THE COMPANY'S TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING PROWESS WAS ENORMOUS.

THE MOMENTUM FROM THE 959s CRITICAL ACCLAIM, PROPELLED PORSCHE TO THE TOP OF THE SPORTS CAR MARKET, AND PAVED THE WAY FOR INCREDIBLE MACHINES LIKE THIS 2017, PORSCHE 911 TURBO S. THE PORSCHE 959s AURA HAS LOST NONE OF ITS LUSTER AFTER 30 YEARS.

IT STILL STANDS AS A PERFORMANCE BENCHMARK FOR THE AGES; FOR ALL OTHERS, AND ESPECIALLY PORSCHE ITSELF, TO MEASURE UP TO.

WHILE, WE HAD FUN PUSHING THAT 911 TURBO TO THE LIMIT AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK, PORSCHE HAS ACTUALLY BUILT THEIR VERY OWN TRACK THAT'S DESIGNED TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE CAPABILITIES OF THEIR SPORTS CARS.

SO, WE SENT OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON DOWN TO THE PORSCHE EXPERIENCE CENTER IN ATLANTA FOR A LITTLE PERSONAL TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL.

Lauren Morrison: THE EXPERIENCE CENTER IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE ATLANTA AIRPORT, AND THE ONLY THING LOUDER THAN A PLANE, ARE THE PORSCHES ON THE COURSE.

Michelle Rainey: I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS REALLY PORSCHE'S PLAYGROUND.

Lauren: WITH THIS 1.6 MILE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT TRACK AS MY PLAYGROUND, I WAS READY FOR RECESS.

Michelle: WE'VE REALLY PURPOSE BUILT A TRACK THAT'LL ALLOW YOU TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE PORSCHE VEHICLE AND LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.

Lauren: I'M IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF A 2017, 911 CARRERA S, BUT WITH A FLEET OF ALMOST 80 VEHICLES, YOU'VE GOT OPTIONS.

DEPENDING ON THE MODEL, PRICES START AT 300 BUCKS TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

Michelle: SO, WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM OUR BOXSTER, THE CAYMAN, OUR 911, PANAMARA, CAYENNE, AND REALLY SOME KIND OF BESPOKE, UNIQUE CARS THAT ARE HARD TO GET, LIKE THE GT3 RS.

Lauren: BACK TO THE TRACK, WHICH FEATURES SIX DIFFERENT DRIVE MODULES, EACH DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE WHAT A PORSCHE IS CAPABLE OF.

Kevin Clifford: ALRIGHT, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, FLOOR THE GAS.... Lauren: FLOOR THE GAS... Kevin: OFF THE BRAKE STRAIGHT AHEAD... [LAUGHTER] KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING... BIG HARD BREAK, EVERYTHING YOU GOT.

THERE YOU GO!

Lauren: IT'S AMAZING HOW QUICK WE STOP.

THE FIRST THING I NOTICED ON THE TRACK... A BRIGHT RED PORSCHE LOGO...

WHICH MARKS THE KICK PLATE.

THIS IS THE PART OF THE DAY I'VE BEEN MOST ANXIOUS ABOUT.

THIS IS THE ONLY COURSE IN NORTH AMERICA THAT OFFERS A KICK PLATE, WHICH DOES EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE THINKING...

KICKS THE CAR'S REAR END OUT FROM UNDER YOU AND SENDS YOU INTO A SPIN.

MY GOAL?

TO CORRECT THAT SPIN AND POINT THE CAR BACK STRAIGHT.

Kevin: IF YOU DELAY THAT REACTION, IT'S HARDER AND HARDER TO CATCH THE CAR.

Lauren: AFTER, A FEW HUMBLING KICK PLATE GO-AROUND'S, I SET MY SIGHTS ON THE LOW-FRICTION CIRCLE.

Kevin: WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DRIFT, SLIDE THE CAR AROUND.

THIS BEING A REAR ENGINE CAR, WE HAVE A LOT OF TRACTION, A LOT OF WEIGHT OVER THE REAR WHEELS.

WE CAN USE THAT TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

WE CAN SLIDE THE CAR WITH THE BACK END OUT THE ENTIRE CIRCLE.

I ALSO HAD A GOAL OF MY OWN FOR THIS MODULE... ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS, ZACH MASKELL IS SUPER INTO DRIFTING, SO I GOTTA LEARN FROM SKILLS TO SHOW HIM UP.

Kevin: ALRIGHT, THAT WORKS.

ALRIGHT, SO FLIP THE THROTTLE, TURN TO THE LEFT, THERE YOU GO, AND IT SLIDES TO THE RIGHT, CORRECT IT...WOOOO!

[LAUGHS] Lauren: SO ZACH, MAY HAVE ME ON THE DRIFTING FOR NOW, BUT I SHOWED SKILLS ON THE LOW-FRICTION HANDLING CIRCUIT.

Kevin: SO THE WAY THIS WORKS, WE'RE GOING TO ACCELERATE INTO THE CORNER, SO YOU'LL JUMP ON THE THROTTLE REAL QUICK TO BREAK THE REAR WHEELS LOOSE, GET THE CAR SLIDING, WE'LL CATCH IT, GO INTO THE NEXT TURN, AND DO IT OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN.

SO IT'S A BUNCH OF MINI SLIDES THAT ALL ADD UP TO MAKE ONE BIG DRIFT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TRACK.

BACK ON THE THROTTLE, AND NOW OFF, AND THEN BACK ON THE GAS, AND THEN OFF... Lauren: AFTER ALMOST 90 MINUTES IN THE CAR, I WAS FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT AS I SPED AROUND THE HANDLING CIRCUIT.

Kevin: YOU'RE GETTING THE HANG OF IT.

Lauren: YEAH!

I'M FEELING LIKE A RACE CAR DRIVER!

[LAUGHTER] BUT KEVIN, MY PATIENT INSTRUCTOR, GAVE ME A REALITY CHECK WHEN HE GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL AND TOOK ME FOR A SPIN IN THE GT3 RS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WALKED AWAY, A MUCH BETTER DRIVER... AND WITH A MUCH BIGGER SMILE ON MY FACE...

CHECKING BOTH BOXES ON THE PORSCHE EXPERIENCE CENTER'S MISSION.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE TAKE THE WHEEL OF INFINITI'S SMALLEST, SPORTIEST CROSSOVER YET, THE QX30.

AND WE'LL SEE IF TOYOTA'S LATEST PLUG-IN PRIUS IS READY FOR PRIME TIME.

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.

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

*