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

JOIN US AS WE GO FOR A ROMP IN THE UPDATED AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT TOYOTA RAV4... PAT GOSS IS CHARGED UP DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL GETS DOWN AND DIRTY IN HIS NEXT TRIP OVER THE EDGE... THEN, WE FIND OUT IF THE MERCEDES-BENZ C450 AMG HITS THE PROVERBIAL SWEET SPOT...

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: WHILE, THE TOYOTA BRAND IS CERTAINLY SYNONYMOUS WITH HYBRIDS, IT HAS TAKEN ALMOST 20 YEARS FOR THAT FUEL STINGY TECHNOLOGY TO TRICKLE DOWN TO THEIR HIGHLY POPULAR RAV4 COMPACT CROSSOVER.

FINALLY FOR 2016, IT HAS ARRIVED, AND IT JOINS A REVAMPED LINEUP THAT INCLUDES UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE RAV4 ROSTER.

SO LET'S SEE ALL THIS FUSS IS WORTH GETTING CHARGED UP ABOUT.

* SO WHILE, THE 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID IS NOT A VEHICLE WE GET OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT DRIVING; ITS PRESENCE WILL NONE THE LESS HAVE QUITE AN IMPACT IN THE COMPACT CROSSOVER SEGMENT WHERE IMPRESSIVE MPG RATINGS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

THERE'S NOT MUCH OUTSIDE TO DISCERN THE NEW HYBRIDNESS, WHICH IS A GOOD CALL WE THINK.

OVER 300,000 BUYERS LAST YEAR ALONE OBVIOUSLY AGREE.

SO, THE HYBRID GETS YOU JUST A FEW ADDITIONAL BADGES AND THE TRADITIONAL BLUE TOYOTA HYBRID LOGO TREATMENT.

BUT ALL RAVs GET AN UPDATED EXTERIOR FOR '16, INCLUDING A NEW FRONT FASCIA WITH SIMULATED SKID PLATES, AVAILABLE LED HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS, A SMOOTHER REAR BUMPER, AND SHARPER ROCKER PANELS.

HARDWARE IS THE NOW VERY FAMILIAR 2.5 LITER I4-BASED HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE SETUP, WITH TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS UP FRONT FOR A TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT OF 194 HORSEPOWER.

A CVT TRANSMISSION IS MANDATORY.

AND MUCH LIKE THE LARGER HIGHLANDER HYBRID, A 3RD REAR-MOUNTED ELECTRIC MOTOR SUPPLIES THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 34-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 33-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 32.1 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT'S 6 MPGs BETTER THAN WE RECENTLY AVERAGED IN A NON-HYBRID RAV4.

SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS MUCH IMPROVED; NOW BURNING JUST 10.0 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 4.5 TONS.

THAT MAKES IT BOTH THE MOST POWERFUL, AND MOST FUEL EFFICIENT RAV4 YOU CAN GET, SO, NO NEED SETTLE FOR ONE OR THE OTHER.

* TOYOTA MAKES NO CLAIMS OF IT BEING QUIETER, BUT WE FOUND THAT'S THE CASE.

AND THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE HELPED WITH A MORE SUBSTANTIAL OVERALL FEEL.

YET, THROUGH THE CONES IT WAS PLENTY LIGHT ON ITS FEET, BUT AMPLE AMOUNTS OF UNDERSTEER AND ECO-MINDED TIRES KEPT IT FROM REACHING ITS TRUE POTENTIAL.

THE ADDED ELECTRIC ASSIST WAS VERY NOTICEABLE OFF THE LINE, AS WE SPRINTED TO A QUICK 7.4 SECOND 0-60 TIME.

A SOLID SECOND FASTER THAN THE NON-HYBRID.

THERE WAS MUCH LESS CVT BUZZINESS THAN EXPECTED, AND WE COMPLETED THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.8 SECONDS AT 85 MILES PER HOUR.

BRAKING IMPRESSED AS WELL.

124 FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 WAS ACCOMPANIED BY EXCELLENT STABILITY, AND A NICELY FIRM PEDAL.

ALL '16 RAVs HAVE TOYOTA'S STAR SAFETY SYSTEM AVAILABLE; INCLUDING LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, BLIND SPOT MONITORING, FORWARD COLLISION WARNING, AND SMART STOP TECHNOLOGY.

INSIDE, THERE'S AN UPDATED GAUGE CLUSTER WITH THE USUAL HYBRID MONITORING DISPLAYS.

AND ALL RAVs HAVE MINOR EQUIPMENT UPGRADES THIS YEAR.

FRONT SEATS REMAIN VERY COMFORTABLE.

REAR SEATS LESS SO, BUT THERE IS STILL A GOOD AMOUNT OF ROOM FOR A SMALL CUV.

HYBRID HARDWARE PACKAGING RESULTS IN A SLIGHT DECREASE IN CARGO CAPACITY, BUT THE 35.6 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE SEATS IS STILL AMONG BEST IN CLASS.

IT GROWS TO 70.6 WITH THE SEATS FOLDED.

NOW, IF THE HYBRID THING IS NOT YOUR SCENE, TOYOTA HAS ALSO UNLEASHED A NEW SE TRIM; SWINGING THE RAV4 PENDULUM OVER TO THE ENTHUSIAST'S SIDE OF THINGS.

THERE'S A FLASHIER EXTERIOR INCLUDING 18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, LED HEADLIGHTS, AND HOT NEW COLORS.

ALSO INCLUDED, ARE A SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION, UNIQUE INTERIOR TRIM, AND PADDLE SHIFTERS FOR THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

RAV4 PRICING STARTS AT $25,250.

TACK ON ABOUT 4-GRAND MORE FOR A HYBRID WHICH STARTS WITH XLE TRIM.

AND THE NEW SE STARTS AT $30,165.

THE TOYOTA RAV4 WAS THE PIONEER IN ADAPTING A CAR LIKE UNITIZE CHASSIS TO A SMALL UTILITY.

SO, WE REMAIN PUZZLED WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO PIONEER THIS RAV4 HYBRID.

BUT THE RESULTS SURE SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES; CLOSE TO 200 HORSEPOWER AND OVER 30 MILES PER GALLON.

AND WHILE, THAT IS PROBABLY PLENTY ENOUGH TO KEEP THE RAV4 A LEADING PLAYER IN THE COMPACT CROSSOVER SEGMENT, TOYOTA'S IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD MAKE THAT A CERTAINTY.

* IF IT'S GOT AN ENGINE OR WHEELS... YOU'VE ALREADY CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION.

ADD A BUNCH OF UNEVEN TURF INTO THE EQUATION... AND THE EYEBROWS ON OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY'S FACE, LIFT TO THE SKIES.

SO, TOSS ON YOUR BOOTS, AND LET'S RIDE WITH ZACH MASKELL ON SOME PRE-MIX PONIES.

Zach Maskell: THIS IS NOT A STORE.

IT'S A PRIVATE COLLECTION, SITTING ON THE CUFF OF 300 ACRES IN WHITEFORD, MARYLAND.

SOME WOULD QUESTION, WHY... OTHERS, ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER.

Jeff Phipps: IT'S A FEELING OF FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO START YOUR BIKE AND TAKE OFF AND JUST GO.

Zach: JEFF PHIPPS STARTING RIDING WHEN HE WAS 11 YEARS OLD.

THIS COLLECTION OF OVER 100 DIRT BIKES, BEGAN JUST FOUR YEARS AGO.

BOTH JEFF, ALONG WITH HIS SON RYAN, HAD PLENTY TO SHARE.

THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

THESE GUYS ARE SELF-TAUGHT EXPERTS.

THEY ACQUAINTED ME WITH A FAMOUS BIKE... A 2-STROKE WHOSE BRAND YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH.

SOICHIRO HONDA SAID, " THAT HIS COMPANY WAS NEVER GOING TO PRODUCE A 2-STROKE MOTOCROSS BIKE."

WELL, NOT A COUPLE YEARS LATER, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID, WITH THIS RIGHT HERE, "THE ELSINORE."

IT COMPLETELY CHANGED THE MOTORCYCLE GAME FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

WHILE, HONDA WAS DOING WELL WITH 4-STROKES...

THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

A SECRET TEAM DESIGNED THE 2-STROKE AND PRESENTED IT TO THEIR LEADER.

HE APPROVED THE IDEA, BUT ONLY IF HIS TEAM GUARANTEED A WINNER.

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE JAPANESE BRAND TAKE OVER.

THE ELSINORE WAS FAVORED BY MANY, AND THIS LEAD TO A 34 YEAR RUN OF 125 AND 250s.

WHAT WAS IT THAT HONDA DID DIFFERENTLY WITH THIS 2-STROKE?

WHY DID SO MANY PEOPLE BUY IT?

Jeff: RAW POWER.

AND IT WAS DEPENDABLE THAT YEAR.

THE EARLIER ONES WEREN'T SO DEPENDABLE.

BUT, I DRAG RACE THIS BIKE, AND I'M 220 POUNDS, AND THIS THING RIPS, AND IT'S ALL STOCK.

Zach: YES, JEFF AND PLENTY OF OTHERS ARE STILL BEATING ON THIS BEAUTY CREATED IN THE '70s.

Zach: IT'S JUST GOT SO MUCH POWER... [ENGINE REVS] AND IT DELIVERS... [LAUGHS] RIGHT WHEN YOU WANT IT!

I HAD TO PUT THE RED ROCKET DOWN, AND MOVE ON TO A COUPLE OTHER POPULAR CHOICES WHEN DIRT BIKES WERE BECOMING MAINSTREAM.

IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS ONE, THEN YOU NEVER LOOKED IN ANY MAGAZINES GROWING UP.

THE KAWASAKI KDX 200 IS A DO-IT-ALLER.

AND EVEN NOW, YOU CAN RIDE IT ALL DAY LONG AND STILL HAVE ENERGY LEFT.

I WOULD BELIEVE YOU IF YOU TOLD ME THIS BIKE WAS JUST MADE A FEW YEARS AGO.

Jeff: YES, IT RIDES THAT GOOD AND HANDLES THAT GOOD.

Zach: THIS THING... NOT BAD AT ALL... THAT ONE IS PREHISTORIC, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

Jeff: IT HAD GOOD POWER, BUT RODE ROUGH, COMPARED TO AN '82.

* SO THE SUZUKI TM400... RALPH NADER WOULD PROBABLY WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THIS, UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED.

BUT THIS ISN'T THE YEAR, THIS IS A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE PRIOR YEARS... Jeff: TOP TEN WORST DIRT BIKES EVER MADE.

Zach: AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE IGNITION?

Jeff: YES, THE IGNITION AND SOME POOR TIMING BUT THIS BIKE WAS FIXED IN '74.

Zach: SO, WE'RE GOING FROM WHAT YEAR TO WHAT YEAR?

Jeff: '74 TO '82.

Zach: AND THAT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN BIKES... Jeff: YEAH, THIS WILL BEAT YOU TO DEATH.

* Jeff: THE ROKON 340MX, '76.

THEY ONLY MADE A FEW.

AND THE MX1 NEXT TO IT, IS AN MX.

THEY'RE MOTORCROSSER'S.

Zach: LESSON LEARNED TODAY...

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS OR... [ENGINE REVS] OR GET ROOSTED... [LAUGHS] John: PAT GOSS IS ALWAYS CHARGED UP ABOUT CAR CARE, BUT THIS WEEK IT'S ABOUT A BATTERY OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE.

Pat Goss: EVERY YEAR, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS OFFER MORE VARIATIONS ON HYBRID TECHNOLOGY AND ON ELECTRIC CARS.

WELL WE'RE GOING TO BE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH HYBRIDS.

YOU SEE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO BE BELIEVE IS THAT A HYBRID DOESN'T REALLY NEED ANY SERVICE.

WELL, IT DOES.

THE GASOLINE ENGINE NEEDS ALL THE SAME SERVICE AS A CONVENTIONAL CAR DOES, PLUS THERE'S ADDED SERVICE IN THE FORM OF A COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE HYBRID AND OFTEN COOLING FANS.

SO, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON ALL OF THESE THINGS.

NOW, THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU'RE A DO-IT-YOURSELF-ER, YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THOSE BIG ORANGE WIRES, BECAUSE THEY CAN HURT YOU.

SO READ AND FOLLOW ALL THE DIRECTIONS ON ALL THOSE LABELS UNDER THE HOOD.

NOW, HOW LONG DO HYBRID BATTERIES LAST?

WELL, THAT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS.

IT VARIES WITH THE WAY YOU DRIVE AND HOW YOU MAINTAIN THE CAR AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

BUT, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOUR BATTERY IS GOING BAD?

WELL, CERTAINLY IF THAT LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON, WELL THAT IS PROBABLY A GOOD INDICATOR THAT YOU NEED TO GET THE BATTERY TESTED.

BUT YOU MAY HAVE A WEAK BATTERY AND NOT HAVE A LIGHT.

SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INDICATIONS?

WELL, POOR PERFORMANCE IS ONE.

YOU SEE, DURING ACCELERATION AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, WELL IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE GAS ENGINE, AND THE ELECTRIC MOTORS.

WELL, THAT MEANS THAT, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THAT IF THE BATTERY GETS WEAK, THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DOESN'T PRODUCE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF ASSIST TO THE GAS ENGINE, AND PERFORMANCE DROPS OFF.

ANOTHER THING IS IT MAY NOT SHOW THE SAME INDICATION OF CHARGE LEVEL ON THE DASH THAT IT HAS FOR YEARS.

AND YOU MAY HAVE A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CAR BRAKES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, ONCE YOU HAVE DETERMINED THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR BATTERY TESTED, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL, WHAT YOU DON'T DO IS GO ON THE INTERNET AND FIND ONE OF THESE BOGUS "TEST IT YOURSELF" PROCEDURES, BECAUSE YOU COULD GET HURT DOING IT, AND YOU COULD DAMAGE THE BATTERY.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO ONE OF THOSE, THE RESULTS ARE MOSTLY MEANINGLESS.

YOU NEED A SHOP THAT HAS THE PROPER TEST EQUIPMENT, AND KNOWS HOW TO PROPERLY USE THAT TEST EQUIPMENT.

NOW, SUPPOSE THE BATTERY IS BAD, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL HISTORICALLY, YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AND GET A NEW BATTERY.

WELL HERE WE HAVE SOMETHING FROM DORMAN PRODUCTS.

THIS IS A RE-MANUFACTURED HYBRID BATTERY.

NOW, HYBRIDS ARE MADE UP OF MULTIPLE CELLS, USUALLY OVER A HUNDRED OF THESE LITTLE CELLS, SMALL BATTERIES, THAT ARE WIRED SO THAT THEY PRODUCE THE CURRENT AND THE VOLTAGE TO OPERATE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR.

WELL, ONE OF THESE GOES BAD, YOU LOSE SOME OF YOUR PERFORMANCE.

WELL, THEY HAVE ATTEST PROCEDURE WHERE THEY TEST IT, THEY REBUILD IT, AND THEY ALSO INCLUDE THE ECM, THE COMPUTER FOR IT.

SO THIS IS A PLUG AND PLAY ASSEMBLY THAT COULD SAVE YOU QUITE A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS IN MOST CASES.

TAKE CARE OF THE HYBRID.

DO THE MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING, AND YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

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

John: AFTER A RAINY SPRING, OUR MID-ATLANTIC SUMMER HAS BEEN FILLED WITH SUNSHINE.

SO WE'VE HAVING PLENTY OF TOP DOWN TIME IN OUR 2016 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA, ALMOST 3,000 MILE'S WORTH SINCE OUR LAST REPORT.

AND WE'RE STILL LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

THOUGH WE HAVE NOTICED A NEW RATTLE FROM THE REAR AFTER HARD BUMPS.

WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED THE CAUSE YET, AND NOTHING APPEARS TO BE LOOSE, BUT A TRIP TO THE DEALER MAY BE IN OUR FUTURE.

ANOTHER SURPRISE, FUEL ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY UP, NOW SITTING AT 36.0 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

MAYBE, THAT'S NOT SO SURPRISING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THIS FANTASTICALLY NIMBLE MACHINE'S 2.0 LITER I4 ONLY REQUIRES A MODERATE THROTTLE; SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO REV IT SKY HIGH TO GET SOME DECENT POWER OUT OF IT.

BUT WE REALLY DON'T EXPECT THAT TO LAST, EVENTUALLY THE ENTHUSIASTS AMONG US WILL WIN THE DAY.

OUR LATEST LONG-TERM VEHICLE, THIS 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE, IS ALSO BENEFITING FROM A WARM SUMMER AND LOTS OF LONG WEEKEND GETAWAYS, MAINLY TO OUR LOCAL SAND PILES.

IN CASE YOU MISSED OUR ROAD TEST, THE DUNE IS JUST THE LATEST IN A LINE OF SPECIAL EDITION BEETLES LIKE THE CLASSIC, DENIM CONVERTIBLE, AND THE JUST ANNOUNCED UPCOMING #PINKBEETLE.

ALL DESIGNED TO ATTRACT ATTENTION AND HELP KEEP THIS NOSTALGIC ENTRY FROM GOING STALE.

THE BAJA BUG INSPIRED DUNE CERTAINLY ATTRACTS ATTENTION, AND IT'S OFF TO A GOOD START WITH US.

AND WHY NOT?

THE DUNE TAKES ALL THE FUN ATTRIBUTES OF THE BEETLE AND ADDS A LITTLE BIT MORE GROUND CLEARANCE, A THROWBACK PAINT JOB, AND A BIG REAR SPOILER.

PLUS, UNIQUE TRIM INSIDE, TO GO ALONG WITH THE BEETLE'S GOOD COUPE LAYOUT AND GREAT MATERIAL QUALITY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS SUMMER WE'LL BE PARTYING LIKE IT'S THE SUMMER OF '69.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR ROLLING VACATION, THE WINNEBAGO VIEW 24J ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS OUR MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST!

Yolanda Vazquez: WITH SMALL SUV SALES CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE, THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY IS HOPING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT BUYERS CAN EXPECT WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR NEW SUV OUT FOR ITS FIRST NIGHTTIME SPIN.

AND THE NEWS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT GOOD.

OUT OF THE 21 MODELS TESTED, WITH 47 DIFFERENT HEADLIGHT COMBINATIONS, ONLY FOUR SMALL SUVs EARNED AN ACCEPTABLE RATING.

THEY ARE THE HONDA CR-V... MAZDA CX-3 GRAND TOURING WITH CURVE ADAPTIVE LEDs... MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD WINNER HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED... AND THE NEW 2017 FORD ESCAPE... A HANDFUL OF THE VEHICLES CAME BACK WITH A MARGINAL RATING; BUT THE MAJORITY, ABOUT A DOZEN IN TOTAL, WAS RATED POOR BY THE IIHS.

SO AS A GROUP, THE SMALL SUVs PERFORMED MUCH WORSE THAN THE MIDSIZE SEDANS THAT WERE TESTED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

ALSO WORTH NOTING...

VEHICLE PRICE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR, NOR DID ANY PARTICULAR STYLE OF LIGHT; WHETHER IT BE HID, LED, OR HALOGEN.

IT MOSTLY CAME DOWN TO THE VOLUME OF LIGHT BEING BROADCAST, WHILE DRIVING BOTH IN A STRAIGHT LINE AS WELL AS THROUGH TIGHT AND SWEEPING CURVES, AND THE AMOUNT OF GLARE ONCOMING DRIVERS HAVE TO ENCOUNTER.

BUT, IIHS ALSO NOTED THAT SOME OF THE LOW SCORES WERE DUE TO POOR HEADLIGHT ALIGNMENT AT THE FACTORY.

STILL, TEST RESULTS SUGGEST THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HEADLIGHTS, MANY MANUFACTURERS TEND TO FAVOR STYLE OVER FUNCTIONALITY.

THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT BECAUSE APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL TRAFFIC DEATHS OCCUR EITHER AT NIGHT OR IN THE DAWN/DUSK HOURS, WHERE THERE'S LIMITED LIGHT.

SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A SMALL SUV OR ANY NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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

John: WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY BRAND'S EVER EXPANDING LINEUPS AND THE MULTITUDE OF VEHICLE CATEGORIES EMERGING, THESE DAYS, IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING A NICHE TO EXPLOIT.

THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THIS CAR, THE MERCEDES-BENZ C450 AMG SPORT.

SO, IS THIS TWEENER WORTH A LOOK, OR IS IT JUST MARKETING GONE OVERBOARD?

* SO WHERE DOES THIS 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C450 AMG 4MATIC SEDAN FIT IN THE C-CLASS HIERARCHY?

WELL, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS FROM THE ELONGATED NAME; IT ATTEMPTS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN A LUXURY MINDED C300 AND THE ALL OUT PERFORMANCE INSANITY OF AN AMG C63.

IT'S ONE OF WHAT BENZ NOW CALLS THE AMG SPORTS MODELS.

YOU KNOW IT'S A SPORTS MODEL IF THE AMG COMES AFTER THE MODEL DESIGNATION, NOT BEFORE IT.

GOT IT?

ACCORDING TO MB, IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING AMG MORE ATTAINABLE TO MORE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THE CONFUSION.

BUT MUCH LIKE THAT AMG C63, THE 450 AMG ALSO BOASTS TWIN-TURBO POWER, ONLY WITH TWO FEWER CYLINDERS IN PLAY, AND A WHOLE LOT LESS BARK.

HERE, IT'S A 3.0 LITER V6 THAT OUTPUTS 362 HORSEPOWER AND 384 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

NOT BAD, CONSIDERING THAT'S 33 HORSEPOWER AND 30 POUND-FEET MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S C400.

EVEN BETTER, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE BMW 340I, WITH ITS INLINE TURBO-6, RATES A DISTANT SECOND.

THE 450 AMGs TRANSMISSION IS A TRUE 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND THERE'S STANDARD 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE THAT HAS A 2/3s REAR BIAS.

THE LETTERS AMG USUALLY ALSO MEAN DISTINCTIVE STYLING, AND HERE THE 450 GETS AN AGGRESSIVE LOOK, BUT ONE THAT'S NOT OVERDONE.

VERY SIMILAR IN FASHION TO FULL-ON AMG EDITIONS OF A GENERATION OR TWO AGO.

OPENINGS IN THE UNIQUE FRONT FASCIA ARE ENLARGED, AND FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THE GRILLE GETS 'BENZ'S FLOATING DIAMONDS TREATMENT.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE AMG LOGOS TO GO ALONG WITH THE BLACK TRIM, DUAL CHROME EXHAUST TIPS, 18 OR 19-INCH AMG LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS, AND A DISTINCTIVE SPOILER LIP TACKED ON TO THE REAR DECK.

DRIVING DYNAMICS ARE OF MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANCE OF COURSE.

AND FOR THAT, THE 450s SUSPENSION IS A VARIATION OF THE TOP SHELF C63s, WITH ADAPTIVE 3-STAGE DAMPERS, STIFFENED 4-LINK IN FRONT, AND MULTI-LINK IN REAR.

IN ECO MODE, THERE'S ENGINE STOP/START AND A SAILING FUNCTION THAT DISENGAGES THE TRANSMISSION WHEN YOU LET OF THE GAS.

IN COMFORT MODE, THE RIDE QUALITY IS QUITE GOOD, WITH REALLY NO HINT OF THE PERFORMANCE NASTINESS THAT'S AVAILABLE.

BUT THINGS REALLY WAKE UP IN SPORT PLUS MODE, AS STEERING, AND THROTTLE BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE, AND THE SUSPENSION STIFFENS UP DRAMATICALLY; BECOMING BORDERLINE TOO HARSH FOR THE STREET.

SO, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF A NICE SMOOTH RACE TRACK LIKE WE DID, OUR WINTER HAUNT OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH.

AND AROUND ITS FAST TURNS, THE 450 FEELS COMPETENT AND WELL SETTLED, WITH NICE AND DIRECT STEERING; ACCOMPANIED BY MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE BRAKES.

IT'S NO LIGHTWEIGHT AT 3,693 POUNDS, BUT LIKE A TRADITIONAL GERMAN SPORTS SEDAN IT WEARS IT WELL; FEELING QUITE CAPABLE IN BOTH TRANSITIONS AND POWERING THROUGH SWEEPERS.

ALL IN ALL, HIGHLY PROFICIENT FOR A CAR THAT WE STILL FEEL IS MORE AT HOME BACKROAD JOY RIDING.

ACCELERATION NUMBERS FALL RIGHT AROUND WHERE YOU'D EXPECT, WITH A 4.5 SECOND TRIP TO 60 AND A 12.9 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 109 MILES PER HOUR.

IT FEELS PLENTY POWERFUL OFF THE LINE, AND THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP MAKES GOOD USE OF ALL THAT'S AVAILABLE.

THERE'S JUST A HINT OF TURBO LAG BEFORE POWER COMES ON IN FULL, AND IT SOUNDS PRETTY SWEET FOR NOT BEING AN ALL-OUT PERFORMANCE SEDAN.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND GET THAT NEAT V8 LIKE CRACKLE FROM THE EXHAUST.

SHIFTS FROM THE 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE FIRM AND QUITE PROMPT, WITH BARELY ANY DROP-OFF IN POWER BETWEEN THEM.

AND IN MANUAL MODE, SURPRISE!

THE SHIFTER ONLY SHIFTS WHEN YOU TELL IT TO.

NOT WHEN A COMPUTER THINKS IT'S PRUDENT.

INSIDE, THE MIX OF DURABLE MB-TEX VINYL, COLOR STITCHING, AND ALUMINUM ACCENTS SPORTIFY THE SPACE WITHOUT LOOKING FAST OR FURIOUS.

OF COURSE YOU CAN UPGRADE TO REAL LEATHER AND ADD SOME CARBON FIBER IF YOU CHOOSE.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING, THE C450 PENDULUM SWINGS CLOSER TO A BASE C300 SEDAN, STARTING AT $51,725.

YET, WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE, THAT PENDULUM EASILY SWINGS CLOSER TO THE FULL-ON AMG C63.

IN TRUTH, THIS VERY EASY TO LOOK AT 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C450 AMG 4MATIC IS IN MANY WAYS SIMPLY A RENAMING OF LAST YEAR'S C400 WITH SOME AMG TRICKLE DOWN GOODIES THROWN IN FOR SPORT.

AND A GOOD SPORT IT IS AS YOU GET MOST OF THE AMG C63 PERFORMANCE QUOTIENT FOR A FRACTION OF THE ADDED PRICE.

AND IT'S ONE LUXURY SPORT SEDAN THAT STILL EMBRACES THE LUXURY ASPECTS OF THE EQUATION AS WELL.

ALL OF THAT, MAKES THIS MEANER TWEENER MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CLEVER MARKETING MANEUVER; RATHER, A RIDE MORE THAN WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION.

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, WHEN WE'LL FLY IN CADILLAC'S NEW FLAGSHIP CT6, AND BRING IN THE FUNK WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE... 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.

*