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

JOIN US AS WE SPLIT OUR DRIVE TIME BETWEEN TWO REGAL ROVERS... PAT GOSS MAKES SURE THAT WE DON'T BLOW A GASKET... LAUREN MORRISON WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS NOT AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN... AND WE HIT THE TRACK WITH A NEW FLAVOR OF LEXUS PERFORMANCE, THE GS F...

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... "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE...

"OOPS."

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'S NO DOUBT THAT THE LAND ROVER BRAND BUILDS A VARIETY OF LUXURY SUVs IN THE PURIST OF EUROPEAN EXECUTIONS.

SO, IT ONLY SEEMS FITTING TO HAVE A PURELY EUROPEAN STYLE MOTOR, CLATTERING AWAY UNDER THE BONNETS.

AND NOW, WE CAN GET TWO VERSIONS OF THAT FULL EMERSION ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND AS WELL.

* WITH ULTRA-LUXURY SUVs NOW COMING FROM THE LIKES OF BENTLEY, MASERATI, AND EVEN SISTER-BRAND JAGUAR; LAND ROVER'S RANGE ROVER, AND RANGE ROVER SPORT, HAVE CERTAINLY GOT THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM, IF THIS PIONEERING BRAND EXPECTS TO REMAIN A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE SEGMENT.

AND WHILE, COMPLETE REDESIGNS OF BOTH MODELS ARE A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, AS THEY ALREADY RIDE ON NEW ALL-ALUMINUM CHASSIS' THAT DEBUTED IN '13 FOR THE RANGE ROVER, AND IN '14 FOR THE RANGE ROVER SPORT; BRINGING THIS TD6 DIESEL OPTION TO THE U.S. IS A GOOD PROACTIVE STEP UP.

EVEN, IF IT'S ABOUT THREE DECADES AFTER EVERYONE ELSE GOT IT.

A TURBO DIESEL IS MUCH ABOUT TORQUE OF COURSE, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF IT WHEN YOU NAIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

AND THAT HEALTHY PUNCH IS REALLY YOUR ONLY INDICATION THERE'S A DIESEL UNDER THE HOOD, AS IT'S EASILY ONE OF THE QUIETEST, SMOOTHEST DIESELS WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.

THAT INCLUDES THE AUTOMATIC START/STOP SYSTEM, WHICH ALSO WORKS ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLY.

EVEN AT IDLE WITH THE HOOD UP APPRECIATING THE VIEW OF THIS 3.0 LITER V6 TURBO-DIESEL, THERE'S VERY LITTLE INDICATION IT'S NOT GAS FED.

HORSEPOWER IS 254; WITH TORQUE COMING IN AT 443 POUND-FEET.

PRETTY STOUT FOR A DIESEL THAT TRACES ITS ROOTS BACK TO THE LATE '90s FORD PEUGEOT-CITROEN JOINT VENTURE.

BROUGHT TOTALLY UP-TO-DATE FOR US, INCLUDING UREA INJECTION, THE OTHER RATIONAL FOR ENTRY HERE NOW, IS NEAR-TERM FUEL USE MANDATES.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE ACHIEVED 26.1 MILES PER GALLON OF DIESEL IN THE RANGE ROVER AND 26.3 IN THE 3-ROW SPORT.

THE BEST TEST MPG WE'VE EVER SEEN FROM THE BRAND.

THAT MAKES FOR AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.3 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED YEARLY WITH 6.8 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR ROAD TRIPPING; RANGE IS CLOSE TO A BLADDER-BUSTING 600 MILES.

TOWING CAPACITY REMAINS AT A HEFTY 7,700 POUNDS, THE SAME AS THE V8.

ALSO THE SAME AS THE V8, THE TD6 GETS A WONDERFUL 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ATTACHED TO FINICKY ESHIFTERS; ROTARY-STYLE IN THE RANGE ROVER, A HANDLE IN THE SPORT.

THE REST OF THE EXPERIENCE, IN BOTH VERSIONS, IS STRAIGHTFORWARD RANGE ROVER; CHECKING OFF ALL OF THE LUXURY, UTILITY, AND OFF-ROAD BOXES, AND THEN SOME.

FIVE PASSENGER INTERIORS ARE VERY WELL APPOINTED AND ALL SEATS IMMENSELY COMFORTABLE; OF COURSE YOU CAN ADD A 3RD ROW IN THE SPORT IF YOU NEED SEATING FOR TWO MORE.

CARGO CAPACITY IN THE RANGE ROVER IS 32.1 CUBIC-FEET, EXPANDING TO 71.7 WITH THE SEATS FOLDED.

IN THE SPORT, NUMBERS GO FROM 27.7 CUBIC-FEET TO 62.2.

THE TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE FOR NAVIGATION AND THE LIKE, HAS BEEN IMPROVED, BUT IT REMAINS MORE COMPLICATED THAN RIVALS.

ONE THING THAT'S NOT COMPLICATED, IS ENGAGING FULL-THROTTLE FOR A QUARTER MILE AT A TIME.

THAT TRIP TOOK 15.5 SECONDS IN THE RANGE ROVER, WITH A SPEED OF 88 MILES PER HOUR; AFTER A 7.2 SECOND LEAP TO 60.

THERE'S MUCHO USABLE TORQUE ALL ACROSS THE DIAL.

AND IT NEVER SEEMS TO FIZZLE OUT, THANKS TO THE RAPID FIRE SHIFTS FROM THE 8-SPEED.

THERE'S NOT MUCH CLATTER HERE EITHER, MORE OF A JET LIKE WHOOSH AS YOU TAKE OFF BRISKLY.

THE SUSPENSION FEELS VERY SOFT, SO WE EXPECTED A LOT OF BODY ROLL.

BUT AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE WHEEL, IT MAGICALLY FIRMS UP AND SCOOTS THROUGH WITH PLENTY OF GRIP.

IT'S NOT A SPORTS CAR, BUT A VERY PREDICTABLE AND EASY-HANDLING UTE.

AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 WAS A GREAT 114 FEET.

THE PEDAL FELT VERY SOFT, AND NOSE DIVE WAS SLOW, AND EASY, BUT DOWN THE LINE, THE CALIPERS WERE CERTAINLY CLAMPING DOWN WITH AUTHORITY.

NOW, TO COST.

THE TD6 RANGE ROVER WILL RUN YOU $87,945, OR $2,000 MORE THAN A GAS V6, AND YES THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT 15 GRAND LESS THAN A V8 RANGE ROVER.

THE RANGE ROVER SPORT TD6 IS A LITTLE EASIER AT $67,945.

MUCH LIKE THE LAND ROVER BRAND ITSELF, YOU EITHER GET IT, OR YOU WON'T.

AND ANY DIESEL WILL HAVE LIMITED AMERICAN APPEAL.

STILL, NOW THAT DIESEL POWER HAS JOINED THE 2016 RANGE ROVER LINEUP HERE, WE'VE JOINED A PARTY THAT GOT STARTED ACROSS THE POND OVER A GENERATION AGO.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO MOTOR IN TRUE BRITISH STYLE, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO BURN DIESEL, NOT PETROL.

IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE OUR TEA AND CRUMPETS.

* 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, 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 SAFER CAR WEBSITE AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, HELPING TO ENSURE A SMOOTH DRIVE DOWN A RECALL FREE ROADWAY.

John: IF YOU'VE GOT A TEENAGER READY TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW HOW STRESSFUL IT CAN BE FOR BOTH OF YOU.

AND HAVING RAISED THAT TEENAGER, YOU'LL ALSO KNOW THAT MANY TIMES THEY TAKE ADVICE FROM OTHERS BETTER THAN FROM THEIR SEEMINGLY UNWISE PARENTS.

SO, BEFORE THEY TURN THE KEY FOR THE FIRST TIME, GIVE THEM A COPY OF NEVER TAILGATE ON A RAINY DAY: TIPS AND ADVICE FOR THE NEW DRIVER, BY BETH A. SCHMIDT.

IT'S A QUICK READ WITH LOTS OF VINTAGE, AND OFTEN HUMOROUS PHOTOS, TO HELP DRIVE HOME THE MANY NUGGETS OF WISDOM.

EVEN IF THEY ONLY REMEMBER ONE OR TWO THINGS FROM ITS PAGES, THIS MUST READ COULD BE A LIFESAVER.

PAT GOSS ALWAYS LIKE TO KEEP A TIGHT SEAL ON THINGS, TO MAKE SURE THAT 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'LL SOFTEN THE GASKET, AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET OFF, WITH LESS CHANCE OF 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 .

ROLL FOR RECORD...

SNEAK IN MUSIC...

IN 3-2-1... CLEAR ON 3... * John: "...DESIGNERS AT TOYOTA'S CALTY RESEARCH CENTER IN CALIFORNIA, SHAPE WET PLASTER INSIDE BALLOONS TO CREATE THE INITIAL CONCEPT OF WHAT IS NOW THE SC 400.

AS A RESULT, THE SC 400 COUPE IS ANYTHING BUT SIMPLY THE SEDAN SANS 2-DOORS.

FLOWING CURVES CULMINATE IN A SERIES OF FLUSH HEAD AND DRIVING LAMPS THAT REMIND US A BIT OF A PORSCHE 928.

BUT ONLY A BIT..." THE FUN IS ON WITH OUR 2016 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA, AS WE QUICKLY HIT THE ROAD FOR A LONG WEEKEND GETAWAY TO GETTYSBURG.

IT IS THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR CHECKING OUT THE MANY BATTLEFIELDS, AND MONUMENTS SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE; SOAKING IN AS MUCH HISTORY, AND SUN AS POSSIBLE BEFORE HEADING BACK HOME, AND SURRENDERING TO THE DAILY GRIND.

WE LOVE ITS SIMPLISTIC, AND ENTERTAINING NATURE; FEELING FULLY ENGAGED WHEN WORKING BOTH ITS GREAT CLUTCH, AND 6-SPEED SHIFTER.

IT'S NOT THE ROOMIEST CABIN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NORTH OF 6-FEET.

BUT, ISN'T A REAL SPORTS CAR ABOUT INTIMACY?

ON THAT SCORE THE NEWEST MIATA IS PERFECT.

MILEAGE FROM THE SKYACTIV 2.0 LITER I4 IS OFF TO A GOOD START AT 34.3 MILES PER GALLON OVER OUR INITIAL 2,100 MILES.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN PUT A THOUSAND ON OUR NEW 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 YET, BUT ALREADY THIS MIDSIZE BRUTE HAS COME IN HANDY; HELPING STAFFERS GET CHORES DONE AROUND THEIR HOUSE, AND EVEN PACKING THINGS UP FOR MOVING TO ANOTHER ONE.

THINGS INSIDE HAVE CERTAINLY GONE UP MARKET IN THE LATEST TACOMA, ESPECIALLY IN THIS LIMITED EXAMPLE WE'RE PAMPERING OURSELVES WITH.

BUT TRUE COMFORT IS STILL IN SHORT SUPPLY, AND ONE OF OUR STAFFERS WISHED FOR MORE SEAT ADJUSTMENT.

THE JURY'S STILL OUT ON THIS NEW 3.5 LITER V6 AS WELL, WITH SOME FINDING TORQUE DELIVERY NOT AS IMMEDIATE AS EXPECTED.

BUT OUR 21.5 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE IS A WORTHY TRADEOFF.

NOW, IF YOUR IDEA OF ROAD TRIPPING MEANS BRINGING THE KITCHEN SINK ALONG WITH YOU; JOIN US THIS SUMMER AS WE HIT THE ROAD IN THIS 25 FOOT WINNEBAGO VIEW 24J RV.

BUT FIRST, WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE HONDA PILOT AND KIA SORENTO ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

NOW, LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR AN UPDATE ON THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: COINCIDING WITH THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DODGE VIPER COMES THE UNFORTUNATE NEWS THAT IT WILL BE DISCONTINUED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

AND WITH THESE TWO SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES COMES LOTS OF FANFARE, AND SPECIAL ATTENTION.

FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES INVITED JOURNALISTS OUT TO THEIR CHELSEA PROVING GROUNDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT VIPERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT CAR SHOWN IN 1989.

ELSEWHERE ON THE PROPERTY, AND MUCH MORE IN THE FOREFRONT, WERE FOUR SPECIAL-EDITION 2017 MODELS.

EACH ONE GETTING AN ATTITUDE ALL ITS OWN.

FIRST WAS THE SNAKESKIN EDITION GTC, FEATURING A SNAKESKIN GREEN PAINT JOB, AND A SNAKESKIN-PATTERNED RACING STRIPE.

A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS IN NATURE WAS THE VIPER GTS-R, FEATURING AN ICONIC WHITE WITH BLUE RACING STRIPES EXTERIOR, AND FITTED WITH THE ACR PERFORMANCE, AND AERO PACKAGE.

ON THE SINISTER SIDE WAS THIS VOOODOOII EDITION, ALSO FITTED WITH THE ACR PACKAGE, BUT DRESSED IN A BLACK AND RED COLOR SCHEME.

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WAS THE VIPER 1:28 EDITION ACR, COMMEMORATING THE 1-MINUTE, 28 SECOND LAP TIME SET AT LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY IN 2015.

THOUGH WE HAVEN'T BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ANY OF THESE SPEED DEMONS YET, MOTORWEEK KNOWS FIRSTHAND THE INCREDIBLE POWER THAT THE VIPER HAS BROUGHT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

AND ONE LAST HURRAH AT OUR "ROADE COURSE DU JOUR" IS SURELY IN THE WORKS.

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

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.

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 SEE WHAT'S NEW WITH THE WALLET FRIENDLY WONDER, THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA.

THEN WELCOME BACK A SUPERCAR SUPERHERO, THE ACURA NSX.

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... "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE...

"OOPS."

TIRERACK.COM.

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