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

JOIN US, AS WE TRACK THE VOLVO REVIVAL WITH A PAIR OF S60 SEDANS... PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THAT CLASSIC CAR BARGAIN... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ CATCHES UP WITH COLLECTORS IN LOVE WITH THE HUMBLE LICENSE PLATE... THEN WE'LL DOUBLE DOWN AGAIN WITH A PAIR OF BMW GRAN COUPES...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ANNOUNCER: 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ANNOUNCER: THIS IS PETE.

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JOHN: VOLVO IS BACK, AND IN A BIG WAY, AS THEIR ALL-NEW XC90 CROSSOVER IS ALREADY SELLING LIKE MAD, WITH MEDIA AWARDS LIKELY TO FILL A TROPHY CASE.

BUT VOLVO IS ALSO ON COURSE TO RAPIDLY MODERNIZE EVERY CARRYOVER VEHICLE IN THEIR LINEUP.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE VOLVO S60 MIDSIZE SEDAN.

AND ALONG WITH EXPECTED UPDATES, COMES A STRETCH FOR SOMETHING NEW.

SOMEWHAT LOST IN THE MIDSIZE LUXURY SEDAN SEGMENT SHUFFLE IS THE 2016 VOLVO S60.

BUT IF VOLVO CONTINUES DOWN IT'S CURRENT REVOLUTIONARY PATH, IT SHOULDN'T REMAIN LOST FOR LONG.

THE S60 IS FAR FROM ALL-NEW FOR '16, BUT WELL-PLACED UPDATES SHOULD QUICKLY BRING ABOUT THE BEST OF TIMES FROM THE WORST OF TIMES.

THIS "TALE OF TWO SIXTIES", BEGINS WITH THE S60 CROSS COUNTRY.

AND WHILE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS HARDLY NEW TO THE PLATFORM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE CROSS COUNTRY BADGE HAS ADORNED THE S60 SEDAN RANKS.

IT'S FULL-TIME HALDEX ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IS OF COURSE DESIGNED MORE FOR ALL-WEATHER CAPABILITIES, THAN FULL-ON OFF-ROADING; BUT WE FOUND PLENTY OF TRACTION REGARDLESS.

MORE LOW-END TORQUE WOULD HAVE GIVEN US EVEN MORE CONFIDENCE FOR WHEN THE GOING GETS STEEP AND SLIPPERY.

ON PAVEMENT, IN TYPICAL VOLVO FASHION, THE S60 CROSS COUNTRY FEELS VERY SOLID AND SAFE; EUROPEAN BUT NOT GERMAN.

WHICH IS TO SAY, THERE'S BANK VAULT-LIKE SOLITUDE BUT NOT AN OVERLY FIRM RIDE QUALITY.

MOST THINGS INSIDE ARE FAMILIAR, AS YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME NESTLED IN THE WONDERFUL SEATS THAT ARE JUST AS COMFORTABLE AS EVER.

OVERALL MATERIAL QUALITY IS QUITE GOOD, WOOD TRIM IS BEAUTIFUL, AND VOLVO'S PICTOGRAPH CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE STILL ONE OF OUR FAVORITE INTERFACES.

THE S60 CROSS COUNTRY IS EQUIPPED WITH VOLVO'S 2.5-LITER I5 TURBO ENGINE.

IT'S AN OLDIE BUT STILL A GOODIE; VERY QUIET WITH ONLY A HINT OF CRUDENESS TO IT.

OUTPUT IS NOW 250-HORSEPOWER AND 266 LB-FT. OF TORQUE.

BIGGER NEWS, IN EVERY SENSE, IS THE NEW S60 INSCRIPTION MODEL.

IT RIDES ON A WHEELBASE THAT'S 3.0-INCHES LONGER THAN THE CROSS COUNTRY; WITH ALL OF THAT EXTRA LENGTH DEDICATED TO REAR SEAT LEGROOM.

THERE'S ALSO A DIFFERENT ENGINE UNDER HOOD, THE XC90'S 2.0-LITER I4, THOUGH HERE JUST TURBO-CHARGED.

OUTPUT IS 240-HORSEPOWER AND 258 LB-FT. OF TORQUE.

IT HAS A MUCH MORE MODERN FEEL TO IT, MORE 4G TO THE 2.5'S 3G.

EVEN MORE NOTABLE, IS THAT THE ENGINE, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THIS S60, IS ASSEMBLED IN CHINA; MAKING IT THE FIRST STREETABLE CAR WE CAN BUY HERE THAT'S "MADE IN CHINA".

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE EXTRA REAR SEAT SPACE, YOU'LL ALSO GET PLENTY OF ROOM FOR LUGGAGE, AS THE CROSS COUNTRY'S AWD HARDWARE ROBS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REAL ESTATE.

CONSTRAINED TO THE PAVEMENT AND OUR TEST TRACK FOR THIS S60, WE FOUND IT TO BE QUITE SPIRITED.

IT LEAPT OFF THE LINE WITH ZERO TORQUE STEER AND SHUTTLED US TO 60 IN 6.6-SECONDS.

SHIFTS WERE BOTH QUICK AND STRONG FROM THE STANDARD 8-SPEED GEARTONIC TRANSMISSION; AND WE CLEARED THE 4-MILE IN 15.0-SECONDS AT 96 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AS FOR HANDLING, THIS LENGTHENED S60 WAS WELL BALANCED WITH PLENTY OF GRIP.

QUICK RESPONSE WITH ONLY MINOR UNDERSTEER MADE FOR A FUN DASH THROUGH THE CONES.

THOUGH WITH A VERY SOFT, SPONGY PEDAL, AND MEDIOCRE 127-FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60; BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTING.

AS FOR ADVANCED SAFETY SYSTEMS, ALL WORK AS ADVERTISED; INCLUDING CITY SAFE WITH FULL AUTO BRAKE.

WE FOUND THE SCI-FI SOUNDING WARNINGS CHIMES VERY UNOBTRUSIVE.

AND THE BACKUP CAMERA, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY STILL OPTIONAL, WAS TUCKED AWAY NICELY TO PROVIDE A CLEAR IMAGE EVEN IN NASTY WEATHER.

BOTH TEST SAMPLES, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE REVAMPED S60 LINEUP, FEATURE THE TYPICAL EXTERIOR UPGRADES OF NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIA'S AND NEW WHEEL CHOICES.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 2.0-LITER EQUIPPED INSCRIPTION ARE 25-CITY, 37-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED, WHICH WE ALMOST NAILED PERFECTLY WITH A 28.9 MILES-PER-GALLON AVERAGE ON REGULAR.

IT'S ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS 11.4-BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED, AND 5.1-TONS OF CO2 EXPELLED, YEARLY.

THE CROSS COUNTY NUMBERS ARE MORE OLD SCHOOL, AT 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

WHICH WE DID MANAGE TO HIT EXACTLY.

S60 PRICING STARTS AT A REASONABLE $34,890.

THE LONG WHEELBASE INSCRIPTION GOES FOR $39,640.

FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT $44,400.

IT WILL TAKE A FULL OVERHAUL, ALONG THE LINES OF THE XC90 AND JUST REVEALED S90, TO REALLY GET US SHOUTING THE VOLVO S60'S PRAISES.

SO WHILE IT MAY NOT BE A FAR BETTER THING THEY'VE DONE FOR '16; IT IS CERTAINLY ENOUGH TO HOLD OUR INTEREST, AS WE EAGERLY LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN THAT ALL-NEW S60 ARRIVES.

JOHN: YOU SEE THEM EVERY DAY, AND DON'T GIVE THEM MUCH THOUGHT!

BUT LICENSE PLATES ARE JUST AS MUCH A PART OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY AS THE VEHICLES THEY'RE ON.

AFTER ALL, THEY HAVE EVOLVED TOGETHER.

AND, EACH YEAR, COLLECTORS GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE LOWLY LICENSE PLATE.

SO WE ASKED OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ TO LOOK INTO WHY SO MANY ARE SO FASCINATED BY SOMETHING SO SIMPLE.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: THE WIDE VARIETY OF LICENSE PLATES IN THIS PARKING LOT OUTSIDE... SHOULD GIVE YOU A CLUE AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE OF THIS CONVENTION CENTER.

MICHAEL MORGAN: " TOM, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?"

YOLANDA : FROM NORTH KOREA, TO NEW MEXICO TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL... TOM LINDENBERG: "...LIKE I SAID... LITTLE BIT EVERYTHING IN HERE YOU CAN..." YOLANDA : LICENSE PLATES ARE THE NAME OF THE GAME AT THE ANNUAL ALPCA CONVENTION IN ROGERS, ARKANSAS.

JOHNNY MCKINLEY: "...BOUT ANYTHING YOU'D WANT TO FIND FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD... YOLANDA: YOU'D FIND HERE... JOHNNY MCKINLEY: I'D SAY SO..." YOLANDA : FOR THE PAST 61 YEARS THE AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION HAS GIVEN THESE MOSTLY METAL TAGS A RENEWED PURPOSE FOR THEIR NEARLY 12,000 MEMBERS.

NED FLYNN: "WE ARE ALL ASSIGNED NUMBERS, APPROPRIATE FOR A LICENSE PLATE COLLECTORS."

YOLANDA : NED FLYNN BEGAN HIS ALPCA CAREER IN THE MID-70'S AFTER SEEING AN AD IN A MAGAZINE.

NED: "I SAID THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DO THIS SORT OF THING?

AND I SAID WELL SIGN ME UP..." YOLANDA : FLYNN'S SPECIALTY ARE 1915 PORCELAIN PLATES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

HIS DISPLAY HIGHLIGHTS SMALL DESIGN DIFFERENCES...

THERE'S A PERIOD AFTER "PENNA" ON THIS PLATE BUT IT'S ABSENT ON ANOTHER.

TED: "I THINK IT'S FASCINATING TO GET INTO THAT MINUTIAE."

YOLANDA : MANY OF THE MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC.

A SPORT, A SUPERHERO, MAYBE EVEN A PEARL HARBOR PLATE... AND THEY'LL EVEN TRAVEL FROM DOWN UNDER... "WESTERN AUSTRALIA, NORTHERN TERRITORY... VICTORIA..." YOLANDA : TO TRADE THEIR WARES WITH OTHERS.

MICHAEL MORGAN: YEA, I'VE GOT THIS IS ALL DELAWARE HERE... WHAT ARE YA LOOKING FOR... MINNESOTA RESIDENT MICHAEL MORGAN FINDS HIS PLATES IN JUNKYARDS AND ANTIQUE SHOPS.

HE SAYS THEY'RE EXTREMELY RELATABLE WITH UNIVERSAL APPEAL.

MICHAEL MORGAN: "...WHETHER IT'S THEIR BIRTH YEAR, OR THE STATE THEY WERE BORN IN... OR THEIR FIRST BOY OR GIRLFRIEND CAME FROM THAT STATE, OR WHATEVER, THERE'S A LOT OF CONNECTION TO IT BESIDES JUST A PIECE OF STAMPED METAL."

YOLANDA : "FROM THE VERY BEGINNING LICENSE PLATES HAVE HAD MULTIPLE USES.

THEY'VE PROMOTED PRODUCTS LIKE POTATOES IN IDAHO TO EXPERIENCES LIKE VACATIONLAND IN MAINE.

BUT WHAT WE'VE COME TO KNOW THEM BEST FOR ARE THEIR SAVVY SLOGANS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FLORIDA IS KNOWN AS SUNSHINE STATE...

BUT NEW MEXICO HAD IT FIRST, BACK IN 1932.

JOHNNY MCKINLEY DROVE HOURS TO BUY THESE RARE LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS PLATES.

THIS IS HIS VERY FIRST ALPCA CONVENTION.

JOHNNY MCKINLEY: "THIS HAS BEEN AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE FOR ME... KIND OF A LIFELONG DREAM...

I'VE WANTED TO COME TO A LICENSE PLATE SHOW LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME."

TOM LINDENBERG: I WENT TO ASHVILLE AND SPRINGFIELD... YOLANDA : UNLIKE MCKINLEY, TOM LINDENBERG IS A REGULAR WITH AN EXTENSIVE CANADIAN PLATE COLLECTION.

HE SAYS NO ONE IS GETTING RICH OFF THIS HOBBY.

THEY MOSTLY DO IT FOR THE CAMARADERIE.

TOM LINDENBERG: "...HANGING OUT WITH THE GUYS, WHAT'S NEW, WHAT'S GOING ON... WE'VE LOST A FEW MEMBERS BEEN WITH US FOR YEARS AND YEARS..." JEFF MINARD: "I'VE KNOWN SOME GUYS IN THIS ROOM FOR 50 YEARS...

I MEAN THAT'S...

PRETTY AMAZING."

YOLANDA : ALPCA PAST PRESIDENT JEFF MINARD, SAYS THERE MOST PEOPLE ALREADY "UNOFFICIALLY" COLLECT LICENSE PLATES.

JEFF: "I THINK PROBABLY HALF THE GARAGES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE GOT A BUNCH OF OLD LICENSE PLATES ON THE WALL... BECAUSE GUYS DO THAT...

YA KNOW... YOLANDA : AND WHILE WE DON'T THINK OF IT, THEY ARE TIED TO OUR COUNTRY'S AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY; CHANGING IN SIZE AND SHAPE OVER THE YEARS.

JEFF: "...BUT THEN AFTER 1956, THEY ALL GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, 'THIS IS CRAZY FOR THE CAR BUMPERS WE NEED THEM STANDARDIZED', AND ALL THAT STUFF..." YOLANDA : SO NO MATTER THE STATE OR STATEMENT; THESE PLATES HAVE BECOME A PART OF POP CULTURE... LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY... THAT MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING SOMEDAY.

NORMAN RATCLIFFE: " I TELL MY WIFE... YOU SEEM TO COLLECT SHOES BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR SHOES WORTH... [LAUGHS] ...IN THE END.

YOU'VE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE MONEY OFF THIS IF I...

IF I KICK BUCKET ANY SOONER THAN I NEED TO..." [LAUGHS] * JOHN: "...THE 780 IS AGILE IN THE BEST EUROPEAN TRADITION.

IT ISN'T MADE TO SLING AROUND, BUT IT TAKES TWISTY MOUNTAIN ROADS AT WHAT AMERICANS WOULD CONSIDER SUICIDAL SPEEDS.

THE STEERING IS PROPERLY BOOSTED WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK.

THE PRECISION OF THE 780 DESIGN IS APPARENT IN EVERY CORNER, WITH CRISP REACTIONS AND A REAR END THAT STAYS PLANTED.

PRECISION ALSO IS THE WORD FOR THE 780'S BRAKES.

VOLVO HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.

ALL MODELS FEATURE TRIANGULAR FAILSAFE CIRCUITS, AND FOUR WHEEL DISCS..." PAT GOSS IS IN HIS GARAGE, READY WITH A FEW MODERN TIPS ABOUT BUYING CLASSIC CARS.

PAT GOSS: THIS TIME WE HAVE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB BUYING THAT COLLECTOR CAR.

AND TO GIVE US SOME HELP, WE HAVE TONY FLEMING, WHO HAS BOUGHT THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS OVER THE YEARS.

TONY, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

TONY FLEMING : THANKS, PAT.

PAT : ALRIGHT, NOW HERE WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS BRONCO THAT WE'RE STANDING BESIDE.

THAT PICTURE WAS IN AN AD.

IS THAT THE ULTIMATE?

I MEAN IS THAT THE WAY WE BUY THE CAR?

FROM THAT PICTURE?

TONY : WELL I DON'T THINK THAT THE PICTURE IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

FIRST OFF, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A CAR FROM PICTURES, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO ADDITIONALLY.

FIRST OFF, THE QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS, "WHEN WERE THE PICTURES TAKEN?"

A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WILL SEND YOU PICTURES OF WHEN THEY PURCHASED THE CAR, MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO.

PAT : OK. ALRIGHT, NOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE... OR NOT SEE THERE... ARE ITEMS LIKE WE HAVE HERE ON THIS FENDER, WHERE THERE'S A BUFF THROUGH.

THE FENDER LOOKS FINE IN THE PICTURE.

NOW HOW WOULD YOU DISCOVER THIS SORT OF THING, IF YOU BUYING THE CAR OUT OF STATE?

TONY : WELL YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF CHOICES AT THIS POINT.

YOU CAN GET ON A PLANE, FLY OUT THERE, LOOK AT THE CAR YOURSELF, CHECK IT OVER; AND IF YOU'RE AN EXPERT, OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PURCHASE DECISION THEN.

OR IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT LAYER, YOU WOULD HIRE A THIRD PARTY INSPECTION.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK THE BUYER, I MEAN THE SELLER BEFORE YOU EVEN GET THERE, "DO YOU MIND IF WE ENGAGE A THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE; JUST FOR...

CHECK IT OVER FIRST?"

PAT : OK. AND IF THEY SAY, "NO" ABOUT THE THIRD PARTY, JUST WALK AWAY?

TONY : I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH RIGHT THERE.

PAT : ALRIGHT...OK, NOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF...

I MEAN YOU CAN LOOK AT VARIOUS THINGS... A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE USED OVER THE YEARS IS A SIMPLE MIRROR, LIKE SO, AND YOU TAKE A LIGHT AND SHINE IT INTO THE MIRROR AND HOLD IT UP UNDERNEATH THE FENDER AND SO ON... YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT STILL IN ALL, AHH, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE END ALL BE ALL.

NOW THIS IS STEP FROM THAT...

HERE WE HAVE A GOPRO ON THE END OF A SELFIE STICK.

WELL THAT CAN GET UP UNDERNEATH THE CAR, AND YOU'D HAVE A PERMANENT RECORD THAT WAY.

BUT STILL IN ALL, THE ONE THING IS THE THIRD PARTY.

TONY : THE THIRD PARTY IS ALWAYS GREAT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

PAT : NOW TONY WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT TO PAY FOR THIS THIRD PARTY EXAM?

TONY : YOU KNOW, THAT DEPENDS.

PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THAT.

BUT IN BETWEEN 3 AND 500 DOLLARS IS TYPICAL.

WHAT THAT WILL GIVE YOU IS, SAY, 50 DIGITAL PICTURES, IT'LL GIVE YOU A NICE WRITE UP ON THE CAR, OF THINGS THAT WORK.

TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, THINGS THAT YOU FORGET TO ASK ABOUT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE ITEMS TO FIX LATER ON.

AND IT SHOULD GIVE YOU A TEST DRIVE.

PAT : OH OK.

SO THAT'S MONEY WELL SPENT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP YOU AVOID COMMON PITFALLS... TONY : FOR SURE, AND IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'VE DONE WAY MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT BUY CARS.

PAT : AH, OKAY.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PRO AT THAT POINT?

TONY : WELL... PAT : WELL, YOU'RE DOING IT LIKE THE PROS... [LAUGHS] TONY : FOR SURE.

EXACTLY.

PAT : OK TONY, THANK YOU.

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

JOHN: WE'RE ALWAYS UP FOR A QUICKSPIN, SO HERE ARE MORE OF OUR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

THE TOYOTA RAV4'S CLAIM TO FAME STARTING THE COMPACT CROSSOVER TREND, HAS SERVED TOYOTA WELL, EVEN AS COMPETITORS ROSE AND SURPASSED IT.

BUT THEN THIS SEGMENT CAN QUICKLY SWING BACK AND FORTH, SO LET'S SEE IF THE FRESHENED 2016 RAV4 REGAINS GROUND.

STYLING FOR THIS MID-CYCLE REDO IS NATURALLY ADDRESSED, WITH A LITTLE SHARPER EDGE TO THE FRONT END.

THE LINES ARE REFINED EVEN MORE WITH A NEW SE TRIM PACKAGE, ADDING BLACK ACCENTS AND WHEELS PLUS A SPORTIER, STIFFER SUSPENSION.

BUT, THE BIG NEWS IS THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAV4 HYBRID.

HERE, THE CORPORATE 2.5 LITER ATKINSON-CYCLE I4 COMBINES WITH FRONT AND REAR ELECTRIC MOTORS FOR 194 HORSEPOWER.

THE NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY PACK HELPS THE SYSTEM TO A RATING OF 33 COMBINED MILES PER GALLON.

THE FRONT AND REAR ELECTRIC MOTORS ALSO GIVE THE HYBRID AN INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES POWER TO EITHER AXLE, OR BOTH, DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS.

TOYOTA CALLS IT, NOT SURPRISINGLY, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WITH INTELLIGENCE.

A TRIP TO ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA HELPED US GET A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE RAV4 HYBRID.

GREG CARLOSS: "SO HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

WELL, IT IS A HYBRID; IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, IT RIDES PRETTY WELL.

WE HAD A LONG TERM RAV4 THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN.

AND WITH THAT, IT WAS A LITTLE NOISY AND IT DIDN'T RIDE GREAT.

WELL TOYOTA HAS FIXED BOTH OF THOSE CONCERNS.

IT IS MUCH QUIETER ON THE INSIDE, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH WIND NOISE COMING IN... AND IT DOES RIDE A LITTLE BETTER.

SO OVERALL, IT'S JUST A MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE IN."

JOHN DAVIS: DEBUTING ON ALL '16 RAV4'S IS A NEW SUITE OF SAFETY TECH, WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, AUTO HIGH BEAMS, AND RADAR ASSISTED CRUISE CONTROL.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID GOES FOR AROUND $29,000.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO COME UP WITH ANY EXCUSE TO RE-TEST THE JAGUAR F-TYPE.

WE LOVE DRIVING IT, LOOKING AT IT, AND JUST BEING NEAR IT.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ACTUALLY NEW ON THIS F-TYPE WORTHY OF OUR JOURNALISTIC FOCUS.

AND IT JUST MIGHT BE THE ANSWERED PRAYER OF AUTOMOTIVE PURISTS EVERYWHERE: A MANUAL TRANSMISSION!

YES, THIS F-TYPE PAIRS THE 340 OR 380 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6 WITH A SIX SPEED "CLUTCH PEDAL AND SHIFT" GEARBOX.

THROWS ARE SHORT AND CRISP, YET IMPRESSIVELY SMOOTH AND ISSUE FREE.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S 99.9% A SPORTS CAR KINDA THING, THIS MANUAL TRANS CAN BE DAILY DRIVEN WITH EASE.

AND DON'T THINK YOU'RE COMPROMISING BY GETTING THE V6 ONLY.

THE EXHAUST NOTE, AND ONSLAUGHT OF POWER ARE STILL PLENTY PLEASING, AND EVEN HAD MOST OF OUR STAFFERS FAVORING IT OVER THE BIGGER AND BULKIER V8.

AFTER ALL, AROUND TURNS, YOU WANT AS LITTLE FRONT WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S THE NEW, COOL CAT OF THE KINGDOM WITH ALL THE FLASH AND SIZZLE THAT F-TYPES ARE KNOWN FOR, PLUS THE ADDED STREET CRED OF ROWING YOUR OWN GEARS.

ALSO IN LINE WITH THIS PURIST THEME IS THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY RESTRICTION, AIMING THIS F-TYPE AT A VERY SPECIFIC BUYER: THOSE TRULY INTERESTED IN DRIVING DYNAMICS AND ENJOYMENT.

IF THAT'S YOU, REJOICE THAT IT'S ALSO THE LEAST EXPENSIVE F-TYPE!

A BASE COUPE WITH MANUAL STARTS AT $66,000.

OUR COUPE S, WITH THE 40 EXTRA HORSEPOWER, STARTS AT $78,000.

AND, WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

FROM THE BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO FULLY INFILTRATE EVERY POSSIBLE AUTOMOTIVE SEGMENT, INCLUDING A FEW ONLY THEY INHABIT DEPARTMENT; COMES A NEW PAIR OF FOUR-DOOR SEDANS TRYING TO MIMIC SPORTY COUPES.

WHILE IT'S NO LONGER AN ORIGINAL IDEA, BMW WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOT ALL THE STYLISH BASES COVERED.

SO ENTER THE 4 AND 6 SERIES GRAN COUPES.

JOHN: WHILE THIS PAIR OF 4-DOORS, THE 2015 BMW 435I GRAN COUPE AND THE 2016 BMW 640I GRAN COUPE ARE NOT EXACTLY UNIQUE ANIMALS IN THE MARKET PLACE, THEY DO RUN WITH A PRETTY SMALL PACK.

STARTING WITH THE SMALLER AND NEWER 435I GC, WHERE IT SLIDES IN IS COMPLICATED.

IF YOU NEED MORE PRACTICALITY THAN A 3 SERIES SEDAN, BUT DON'T WANT TO STEP UP TO A 5 SERIES, AND A 3 SERIES WAGON IS A NO-GO, THAN THE 4 GRAN COUPE IS FOR YOU.

OUR REASONING?

THOUGH IT'S COUPISH STYLING INCLUDES FOUR DOORS, WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TRUNK LID IS REALLY A HATCHBACK.

SO, ONCE YOU GET OVER THE INITIAL CONFUSION, THE 435I GRAN COUPE IS ACTUALLY A VERY VERSATILE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO DELIVER A LOT FOR THE MONEY.

IT'S ALSO MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN SIMILAR-SIZED 5-DOOR COUPE/HATCH OFFERINGS, HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHY PREMIUM HATCHBACKS ARE SO POPULAR IN EUROPE.

ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, WE EXPECTED THE LOW ROOF DESIGN TO IMPEDE REAR SEAT ACCESS AND IT DID, BUT IT ALSO SEEMED TO IMPEDE IN THE FRONT AS WELL.

REAR SEAT LEG AND HEADROOM ROOM ARE ALSO NOT EXACTLY PLENTIFUL, BUT NOT AS BAD AS WE EXPECTED EITHER.

OF COURSE, IT'S DRIVING THAT REVEALS THE TRUE STORY ABOUT THIS CAR; AS IT DELIVERS THE SOLID, "ALL YOU COULD EVER WANT IN A CAR" FEEL YOU EXPECT FROM A BMW.

EXCEPT FOR THE STEERING OF COURSE, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO FIND TOO NUMB.

BMW'S M SPORT PACKAGE IS A GREAT ADDITION AS IT GIVES YOU THE LOOK ALONG WITH SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE OF A TRUE M, WITHOUT THE HARSH RIDE PENALTY AND KILLER STICKER PRICE.

POWERTRAIN IS A 300-HORSEPOWER 3.0-LITER INLINE-6 TURBO WITH 300 LB-FT. OF TORQUE AND A REAR DRIVE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A 240-HORSEPOWER TURBO-4 IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

NOW AS FOR BIG BROTHER 640I, DESPITE SHARING THE GRAN COUPE DESIGNATION, IT'S ACTUALLY A TRADITIONAL 4-DOOR SEDAN WITH A PROPER TRUNK.

AND REGARDLESS OF HAVING 40 IN THE NOMENCLATURE INSTEAD OF 35, IT SHARES THE SAME 3.0-LITER ENGINE, THOUGH THE TURBO WORKS A LITTLE HARDER HERE FOR 315-HORSEPOWER.

A BIGGER 445-HORSEPOWER V8 IS ALSO AVAILABLE; AND, AS IN THE 4-SERIES, ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH EITHER ENGINE.

SO, NOW THAT WE'VE FULLY COMPLICATED EVERYTHING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE'LL SAY THAT THIS RECENTLY REFRESHED 640 IS EVEN BETTER LOOKING THAN THE 435.

AND, TO OUR SURPRISE, BMW SAYS GRAN COUPES NOW MAKE UP ½ OF ALL 6-SERIES SALES.

ONCE INSIDE, THOUGH THE OVERALL THEME IS SIMILAR TO THE 4, IT'S EXECUTION IS BOTH FURTHER UPSCALE, AND WITH MORE ROOM, MUCH MORE INVITING.

AS FOR TRACK WORK, IT'S THE LIGHTER 435I THAT DISPATCHES 0-60 THE QUICKEST, TAKING 5.1-SECONDS, COMPARED TO 5.3 FOR THE 640I.

THAT ADVANTAGE COMPOUNDS THROUGHOUT THE 4-MILE, DELIVERING ALMOST A FULL SECOND DIVIDEND AT THE END, AS THE 435I TRIPS THE LIGHTS IN 12.9-SECONDS AT 105 MILES-PER-HOUR; WHILE THE 640I FINISHES IN 13.8-SECONDS AT 102 MILES-PER-HOUR.

IT ALSO FOLLOWS THAT THE 4 IS MORE NIMBLE THROUGH THE CONES, WITH COMMENTS OF EXTREMELY AGILE, QUICK AND DIRECT COMING FROM OUR TEST DRIVERS.

WHILE IN THE 6, BOTH OVER AND UNDERSTEER WERE MORE PRESENT, AND THERE IS AN OVERALL FEEL OF MORE WEIGHTINESS.

STILL, THE BMW SOLIDITY COMES THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS IN THE REAR-DRIVE 435I ARE 21-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE MANAGED 28.6 MILES-PER-GALLON.

IN THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE 640I, THEY ARE 20-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED, BUT WE ONLY AVERAGED 19.5.

BOTH REQUIRE PREMIUM FUEL.

AS FOR PRICING, A BASE 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE GOES FOR $41,295; THE 6 SERIES GC STARTS AT $79,795.

PRICEY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YOU DO GET A LOT MORE THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING.

NOT ENOUGH PERFORMANCE FOR YOU?

WELL, AN M6 GRAN COUPE IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

BUT FOR ONE FINAL PUZZLER, 4 SERIES M CARS ARE, FOR NOW, LIMITED TO COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE.

SO WHILE WE'RE STRUGGLING TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT PRECISELY A GRAN COUPE IS AND WHY EXACTLY WE NEED ONE, THE 2015 BMW 435I AND 2016 BMW 640I ARE TOP-NOTCH VEHICLES THAT CAN OFFER A LITTLE MORE PRACTICALITY WITH A LOT MORE STYLE THAN SEDAN COUNTERPARTS.

MAKING THEM A CONFOUNDING CONUNDRUM WE NOT ONLY APPRECIATE, BUT LOVE TO DRIVE.

JOHN: 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 REVEAL ALL THE HEADLINERS FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IN DETROIT.

THEN WE'LL PLUG IN TO THE NEW CHEVROLET VOLT.

UNTIL 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.

TO ORDER A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-873-6154.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ANNOUNCER: THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 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 IT'S CONTENT.

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