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

JOIN US FOR A LUXURY SUV EMERSION WITH THE QUANTUM SIZED AUDI Q7... DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE, PAT COVERS A FEW ODDS & ENDS... ON THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY, WE MARVEL AT THE CLEANER DRIVES THROUGH OUR NATIONAL PARKS... AND WE'LL VET OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST SPORT COUPE, THE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS...

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: EVEN AUDI WAS NOT IMMUNE TO THE 21ST CENTURY BIG LUXURY SUV CRAZE, AS THEIR FIRST FULL-SIZED VESSEL, THE Q7, ARRIVED FOR '07.

WELL, THAT WAS THEN, AND THIS IS NOW, AND THE Q7 DIDN'T CHANGE MUCH ALONG THE WAY.

BUT, NOW IT'S GATHER AROUND A SECOND GENERATION Q7.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT AUDI HAS LEARNED ABOUT CODDLING YOUR MASSES.

* LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THE 2017 AUDI Q7 IS QUITE POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY INTENSIVE VEHICLES TO EVER SET RUBBER ON OUR SHORES.

IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING THE FUTURE; MOSTLY IN A GOOD WAY.

THAT FEEL MOSTLY COMES FROM THE MULTITUDE OF AUTONOMOUS SAFETY FEATURES THAT AIM TO KEEP YOU SAFE AT ALL COSTS, SOMETIMES TO YOUR DETRIMENT.

DRIVING BRISKLY ON BACK ROADS WILL REQUIRE OCCASIONAL FIGHTING WITH LANE KEEP, BUT FORTUNATELY MOST DRIVER AIDS CAN BE SWITCHED OFF.

AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS INCLUDED AS WELL, AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY EVERY TIME IN OUR BARRIER TEST.

THIS NEW-GEN Q7 COMES WITH AN UPDATED 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6, NOW OUTPUTTING 333 HORSEPOWER AND 325 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT CONNECTS WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DELIVER 7,700 POUNDS OF TOWING CAPACITY.

THAT'S OVER 1,000 POUNDS.

MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY.

BUT, THERE'S NO FIRM TIMETABLE AS TO WHEN A TDI DIESEL WILL RETURN TO THE U.S.

LINEUP.

THE Q7 IS CERTAINLY UP FOR ANY KIND OF ROAD CONDITIONS YOU SUBJECT IT TO, AS STANDARD QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CONSTANTLY AND SMOOTHLY DISTRIBUTES POWER WHEREVER IT WILL DO THE MOST GOOD.

THE FRONT END IS EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS A MODERN AUDI, BUT THE OVERALL JACKED-UP WAGON PROFILE CARRIES OVER FROM BEFORE.

7-PASSENGER SEATING IS STANDARD, WITH THE 2ND ROW PLEASANTLY ROOMY, BUT 3RD ROW SPACE IS STILL MORE ADEQUATE FOR KIDS OR SHORT DISTANCES.

EVERYTHING IS HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE OF COURSE, TO PRIORITIZE SEAT OR CARGO SPACE.

THERE'S 14.8 CUBIC-FEET OF ROOM BEHIND THE POWER-FOLDING 3RD ROW, EXPANDING TO 37.5 BEHIND THE 2ND ROW, AND MAXING OUT AT 71.6 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

THE CARE TAKEN TO ADDRESS ELEMENTS LIKE THE COVERS FOR THE LATCH SYSTEM, SPEAK TO THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AUDI BRINGS TO THIS SEGMENT.

FRONT SEATS ARE BEYOND COMFORTABLE, AND THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT IS EVERYTHING WE'VE COME TO LOVE AND NOW EXPECT FROM AUDI.

SELECTING PRESTIGE TRIM OR ADDING THE VISION PACKAGE TO LESSER TRIMS, WILL GET YOU AUDI'S VIRTUAL COCKPIT WITH THE ABILITY TO BRING ANY IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING NAVIGATION MAPS, UP FULL IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER.

WHICH MEANS, YOU CAN TUCK THE CENTRAL SCREEN AWAY FOR THE MOST PART, KEEP YOUR EYES FORWARD, AND CONTROL EVERYTHING RIGHT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.

WE WEREN'T SURE THERE WAS EVEN A NEED FOR 1,920 WATTS OF SOUND OR 23 SPEAKERS IN A VEHICLE, BUT AFTER EXPERIENCING IT, WE'RE NOW WONDERING HOW WE EVER EXISTED WITHOUT IT.

DEPENDING ON YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT, YOU'LL EITHER HAVE TRADITIONAL 5-LINK FULLY INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION OR THE UPGRADED ADAPTIVE AIR SYSTEM.

REGARDLESS, THE RIDE IS VERY SMOOTH AND COMPLIANT, WITH GOOD STEERING WEIGHT AND BODY POSTURE THROUGH CORNERS.

WITH ABOUT 250 POUNDS LESS WEIGHT TO TOSS AROUND, THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE MORE ENTERTAINING OPTIONS IN THE LUXURY UTE SEGMENT RIGHT NOW, ALMOST SPORTS SEDAN NIMBLE.

THE BIGGEST BENEFIT OF THE AIR SETUP IS YOU CAN PUMP UP SOME MORE GROUND CLEARANCE FOR OFF ROAD EXCURSIONS.

OUR EXCURSIONS WERE MORE PAVEMENT FOCUSED, INCLUDING A BRISK ROMP TO 60 IN 5.9 SECONDS.

IT'S PLENTY TORQUEY OFF THE LINE, AND QUATTRO ENSURES A SLIP-FREE TAKE OFF.

SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND ABRUPT IN A GOOD WAY; GEARS ARE WELL SPACED, AS THERE WAS NEVER ANY HUGE DROP OFFS IN POWER AS WE MADE OUR WAY TO A QUARTER MILE TIME OF 14.4 SECONDS AT 100 MILES PER HOUR.

ON OUR CONE COURSE WE DID FIND THE VERY QUICK STEERING TOOK SOME TIME TO GET USED TO.

THERE WAS SOME MILD UNDERSTEER TO DEAL WITH AS WELL, BUT VERY MINIMAL BODY ROLL.

BUT, AFTER A FEW TURNS, WE WERE DELIGHTED TO FINE THAT THE Q7 RESPONDED BETTER THE HARDER WE PUSHED IT.

SOMETHING WE DON'T OFTEN SAY ABOUT SUVs.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE WAS A BARELY ACCEPTABLE 20.0 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

BASE PRICING, WHILE HIGH, IS PAR FOR THE SEGMENT AT $55,750.

THE 2017 AUDI Q7 MAKES A GREAT CASE FOR BEING THE DEFINITIVE FAMILY LUXURY VEHICLE.

IT'S MADE FOR TAKING LONG TRIPS IN EXTREME COMFORT; WHILE KEEPING YOU SAFE AND CONNECTED WITH THE ULTIMATE IN CURRENT DEPENDABLE TECHNOLOGY.

A NEW BENCHMARK HAS INDEED ARRIVED IN THE LUXURY 3-ROW CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE THEY'RE DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE ON COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS.

THIS GARBAGE TRUCK AND STREET SWEEPER ARE JUST TWO OF THE CNG FUELED VEHICLES THAT ARE IN THIS MOUNTAIN CITY'S FLEET.

HENDERSONVILLE WORKED WITH THE LAND OF SKY CLEAN VEHICLES COALITION TO GET GRANT MONEY TO CONVERT A TOTAL OF FIVE VEHICLES TO CNG.

THE FLEET HAS ALREADY DISPLACED OVER SEVEN TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND IS SAVING MONEY AT MORE THAN JUST THE PUMP.

Tom Wooten: YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL AS MUCH IN THESE VEHICLES AS YOU DO IN A STANDARD TRUCK, SO THERE'S SOME COST SAVINGS ON THE MAINTENANCE SIDE.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

John: HENDERSONVILLE IS GETTING CHARGED UP ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES TOO.

IN FACT, WE CAUGHT HENDERSONVILLE'S MAYOR PLUGGING-IN AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THIS CLEAN CITY HAS TO OFFER!

* 2016 MARKS THE CENTENNIAL OF THE FOUNDING OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

AND AS IT LOOKS TOWARD THE NEXT 100 YEARS OF STEWARDSHIP OVER OUR GREATEST NATIONAL TREASURES, THE PARK SERVICE IS USING NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE PARK VISITORS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH ECO-MINDED RECREATION, CONSERVATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAMS.

THIS INCLUDES DEMONSTRATING SMART WAYS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE PARKS CLEAN, AND SERENE, AND TO INSPIRE VISITORS TO DO THE SAME IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY RETURN HOME.

THE TIME HONORED TRADITION OF ROAD TRIPPING TO A DISTANT NATIONAL PARK IS STILL A VACATION FAVORITE FOR MANY FAMILIES.

AND AN ONGOING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INITIATIVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM, WILL ALLOW BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO REACH THESE DESTINATIONS AS EASILY AS THE FAMILY TRUCKSTER.

CONVERTING PARK VEHICLE FLEETS TO USE CLEANER FUELS, AND USING SHUTTLE BUSES TO MOVE VISITORS THROUGH GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AND MANY OTHER POPULAR DESTINATIONS HAS EFFECTIVELY REDUCED THE AMOUNT, AND IMPACT OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC IN THOSE PARKS.

ADDING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS INSIDE THE PARKS IS A LONG OVERDUE ELEMENT IN THE MASTER PLAN TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN OUR PARKS, WHEREVER THEY ARE.

TWENTY-SEVEN PARKS HAVE EV CHARGERS INSTALLED ALREADY, AND MANY MORE ARE IN THE WORKS.

IN ADDITION TO OPENING UP NEW TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES, ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS WILL NO DOUBT APPRECIATE THE EXTRA PERK OF GETTING A PRIME PARKING SPACE, STEPS AWAY FROM THE TOWERING REDWOOD FOREST OR THAT FAVORITE BENCH ALONG THE RIVER.

Adam McCormick: I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, 'CAUSE WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE PARK, THEN THEY CAN PLUG IN FOR A WHILE AND JUST ENJOY THE PARK.

Jeff Riegle: SO, AS FAR AS HAVING SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CONNECTS THE NATIONAL PARKS TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

UP AND DOWN THE RIVER, I'VE USED MANY OF THE DIFFERENT PARKING STATIONS NOT ONLY FROM A STANDPOINT OF ECO-TOURISM WHERE I'M GOING AND VISITING THE DIFFERENT PARKS, BUT ALSO TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE FOR WHEN I MIGHT NEED TO CHARGE FOR OTHER REASONS... John: MOST PARKS WILL HAVE ONE OR TWO STATIONS TO START, BUT THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL RIVER AND RECREATION AREA IN MINNESOTA HAS ALREADY BEEN CHARGED UP BY THIS INITIATIVE.

WHILE, 72 MILES OF THE RIVER ITSELF FALLS UNDER NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROTECTION, THE LAND AROUND IT IS A PATCHWORK OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES, STRETCHING ALONG THE MIGHTY MISSISSIP IN THE AREA AROUND MINNEAPOLIS AND ST PAUL.

John Anfinson: IN THAT NEXT 100 YEARS, WE NEED TO CLEAN THINGS UP A BIT.

WE NEED CLEANER SKIES, AND CLEANER AIR, AND BY BRINGING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES HERE, IN A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA, WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE OUT TO WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIVE.

OVER 80% OF AMERICANS LIVE IN URBAN AREAS, THIS IS WHERE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS TO GET TO PEOPLE.

John: THESE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES HAVE PARTNERED TO INSTALL 11 EV CHARGING SITES, ALONG 54 MILES OF RIVERFRONT, AND OPENING UP THIS URBAN GEM TO MINNESOTA'S BURGEONING PLUG-IN VEHICLE POPULATION.

Tyler Sahnow: SO, USING CHARGERS WHEREVER YOU GO, CHARGERS IN NATIONAL PARKS, CHARGERS AT THE GROCERY STORE, VERY CONVENIENT.

IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO JUST PLUG IN ANYWHERE YOU NEED TO, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, GORGE ON POWER OVERNIGHT AND HAVE THE WHOLE THING.

YOU CAN DO THESE LITTLE CHARGES HERE AND THERE, HERE AND THERE, AND CONTINUE YOUR DAY ON.

John: PART OF THE FUN OF EXPLORING OUR NATIONAL PARKS IS DISCOVERING THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, AND A VISIT TO THE THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN NEW JERSEY, HELD PARTICULAR INTEREST TO US FOR THIS STORY.

HOUSED IN THE GARAGE AT EDISON'S GLENMONT ESTATE IS THE GRANDDADDY OF ALL EV CHARGERS, DESIGNED BY EDISON HIMSELF TO POWER UP HIS PERSONAL FLEET OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, INCLUDING THIS EARLY 1900s LOCOMOBILE, WHICH EDISON CONVERTED FROM STEAM TO BATTERY POWER.

THIS CAR WAS REPORTEDLY A FAVORITE OF MRS. EDISON, AS IT WAS EASIER TO START AND OPERATE THAN THE GAS POWERED CARS OF THE DAY.

THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: IF NOT FOR THE INVENTION OF THE SELF-CRANKING STARTER MOTOR, WE MIGHT ALL BE DRIVING ELECTRIC CARS TODAY.

ONE MORE REASON TO GET OUT THERE AND VISIT ONE OF OUR GREAT NATIONAL PARKS THIS YEAR, AND WISH IT A HAPPY HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY WHILE YOU'RE THERE... PAT GOSS KNOWS THAT WHILE NOT ALL CAR CARE PROBLEMS ARE BIG ONES, YOU NEVER WANT TO FORGET THE ODDS AND ENDS.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE HAVE TONS OF TOOLS.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE REALLY LOVE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IS THIS EXTENSION FOR A RATCHET.

YOU PUT THE RATCHET... JUST PLUG IT IN TO ONE END OF IT, THE SOCKET ON THE OTHER END.

AND THE TWO ENDS ARE CONNECTED BY A CHAIN INSIDE.

SO, THIS TURNS THIS, AND YOU CAN PUT IT AT WHATEVER ANGLE YOU WANT, REALLY CLEVER.

ALRIGHT HERE, LOTS OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE WORKING IN CLOSE QUARTERS, YOU MAY NEED SOMETHING TO GET YOU AWAY FROM THE SCREW OR THE BOLT; THIS UNIT HAS TWO ENDS... UP HERE, WE CAN PUT IN A SCREWDRIVER BIT, DOWN HERE WE CAN PUT ON A QUARTER INCH SOCKET, OR ANYTHING THAT FITS A QUARTER INCH.

AND BOTH ENDS OF THIS ARE FLEXIBLE.

BUT THE BIG THING IS THAT IT GIVES YOU A LONG REACH, SO THAT YOU CAN GET DOWN INTO CLOSE QUARTERS.

ALRIGHT NOW, IF YOU DO ANY ELECTRICAL WORK AT ALL, YOU'LL LOVE THIS...

THIS IS A TOOL THAT, WELL, IT HOLDS THE WIRES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SOLDER.

SEE THESE ARE SPRING LOADED, YOU JUST PUSH UP ON THEM, PUT THE WIRE IN THERE, LET IT CLAMP DOWN, AND IT HOLDS THEM TOGETHER SO THAT YOU CAN SOLDER WITHOUT THINGS FALLING APART.

NOW, SPEAKING OF WIRES, YOU KNOW IF YOU DO ANY ELECTRICAL WORK, YOU'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO WANT SOMETHING TO STRIP WIRES.

THIS TOOL GOES ONTO THE WIRE LIKE THAT... YOU SQUEEZE IT, AND IT STRIPS THE WIRE.

YOU SIMPLY PULL THE END OFF USING YOUR THUMB NAIL AFTER IT'S REMOVED IT.

ALRIGHT NOW, WIRING... YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE USING TIE WRAPS.

YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES THINGS LOOK NEAT, BUT HERE'S SOMETHING THAT, WELL, IT'LL MAKE YOUR JOB LOOK A LOT NEATER... YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PULL THEM TIGHT, YOU CAN NEVER GET THEM TIGHT ENOUGH.

WELL THIS TOOL, WHAT IT DOES IS IT SLIDES OVER THE TIE WRAP, AND YOU PULL ON IT LIKE SO, AND IT TIGHTENS THE TIE WRAP AROUND WHATEVER YOU'RE WORKING ON.

MAKES IT A LOT NEATER.

AND FINALLY, OVER HERE...

IF YOU'VE EVER DONE ANY WORK ON A LATE MODEL CAR, WELL, ONE THING YOU'VE CERTAINLY ENCOUNTERED ARE THESE MISERABLE CLIPS THAT HOLD THINGS TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE A PLUNGER IN THE CENTER, THAT GETS PUSHED DOWN TO EXPAND THE BOTTOM OF IT TO HOLD THINGS IN PLACE.

BUT TRYING TO GET THOSE OUT?

WELL, THAT CAN BE A NIGHTMARE.

SO, HERE WE HAVE A SET OF THREE TOOLS.

THESE COME FROM KD.

AND THEY'RE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLIPS LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE SPECIAL ENDS ON THEM, DIFFERENT ONES FOR DIFFERENT CLIPS, THAT FIT DOWN UNDER THAT CENTER PIECE SO YOU CAN PULL IT UP.

YOU KNOW, TOOLS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR EFFICIENCY, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO THESE IF THEY APPLY TO THE THINGS YOU DO.

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

John: FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT!

SO LET'S SEE WHAT OURS ARE WITH QUICKSPIN'S IN TODAY'S LATEST... AFTER MAKING A HUGE SPLASH WITH THE XC90 CROSSOVER JUST LAST YEAR, VOLVO HOPES TO KEEP THAT RIPPLE GOING WITH AN ALL NEW S90 LARGE SEDAN.

WE GRABBED A QUICK SPIN RECENTLY IN MALAGA, SPAIN.

AND AFTER GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL, WE WERE GLAD TO SEE THAT MANY OF THE XC90s TOP NOTCH INTERIOR ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OVER.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE ISN'T BAD EITHER; FALLING ON THE LUXURY SIDE OF THE SPORT/LUXURY EQUATION.

FEELING SUPER SOLID, QUIET, AND STABLE IN TURNS.

AND HOW ABOUT THAT EXTERIOR DESIGN... Zach Maskell: WHEN YOU SEE THIS FROM THE SIDE, THE UNTRAINED EYE MIGHT SAY, "THAT'S DEFINITELY AN AUDI OR A BMW," WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT SUCH A BAD THING.

IN FACT, VOLVO CALLS IT RELAXED CONFIDENCE AND I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY A CAR THAT SCREAMS, "HEY EVERYBODY LOOK AT ME," SO IT BLENDS IN WHILE STILL REMAINING ELEGANT.

John: INITIAL T6 CARS WILL FEATURE THE XC90s 316 HORSEPOWER TURBO AND SUPERCHARGED 2.0 LITER I4.

LOOK FOR A TURBO-ONLY T5 TO ARRIVE LATER, AS WELL AS A T8 PLUG-IN HYBRID.

AND YES, WAGON FANS; A V90 WAGON WILL ARRIVE NEXT YEAR.

FOR NOW, THE 2017 S90 T6 IS ON SALE, STARTING AT ABOUT $54,000.

HAVING LIVED IN THE SHADOW OF THE LATEST S-CLASS, ARGUABLY THE MOST LUXURIOUS AND TECH SAVVY VEHICLE OF ITS TIME, THE ALL NEW 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS PROVES IT'S NO SLOUCH ITSELF.

AND OUR RECENT QUICKSPIN IN CARMEL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA REALLY DROVE THAT POINT HOME.

WHEN IT COMES TO SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING, THE E-CLASS MAY BE THE NEW KING ON THE BLOCK.

DRIVE PILOT WITH ACTIVE LANE ASSIST CAN HANDLE MOST DRIVING DUTIES, FROM CRAWLING COMMUTES ON UP TO 130 MILES PER HOUR, ALTHOUGH IT DOES REQUIRE THE DRIVER TO KEEP THEIR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

THE "E" WILL ALSO BE AMONG THE FIRST TO HAVE VEHICLE TO EVERYTHING COMMUNICATIONS.

A MORE MINOR EVOLUTION IN STYLING ACCOMPANIES THE ARRIVAL OF THE 10TH GENERATION E-CLASS.

LOOKS ALSO FOLLOW IN THE WAKE OF THE FLAGSHIP S-CLASS, ALTHOUGH IT REMAINS INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE.

INTERIOR COMFORT IS INCREDIBLY REFINED, WITH A NEW CONTROL SCHEME TO BOOT.

AVAILABLE IS A LARGE, HI-RES, 12.3 INCH CENTER SCREEN FOR INFOTAINMENT DUTIES, FLANKED BY ANOTHER 12.3 INCH DRIVER ORIENTED ONE WITH DIGITAL GAUGES AND VEHICLE INFO.

POWER COMES FROM A NOW FAMILIAR 2.0 LITER TURBO I4, WITH 241 HORSEPOWER, AND LINKED TO A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

ITS DELIVERY HERE WON'T REALLY BLOW YOU AWAY, BUT IT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 SEDAN STARTS AROUND $53,000, 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS $2,500 MORE.

AFTER TAKING A QUICK SPIN IN THIS 2016 TOYOTA AVALON, YOU'LL BE ASKING, "HEY, WHAT'S THE BIG HURRY?"

AFTER ALL, SPENDING TIME IN TOYOTA BRAND'S TOP SEDAN LEAVES YOU FEELING PAMPERED AND RELAXED, ALMOST LIKE A LEXUS.

FOR '16, THE AVALON'S COUPE LIKE PROFILE CARRIES OVER, BUT THE FRONT END IS UPDATED WITH A NEW GRILLE AND TURN SIGNALS.

THERE'S ALSO MORE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN TRIM LEVELS NOW, WITH EACH ADDING DISTINCTIVE WHEELS AND EXTERIOR DETAILS; AS WELL AS A NEW XLE PLUS TRIM.

TOURING GRADE NOW SPORTS UNIQUE SUSPENSION TUNING FOR A MORE DYNAMIC DRIVING EXPERIENCE; WHILE MODELS LIKE OUR XLE PREMIUM TESTER KEEP COMFORT AND QUIET FULLY INTACT.

WHICH YOU CAN TOTALLY DESTROY BY CRANKING UP ALL 11 SPEAKERS OF THE AVAILABLE ENTUNE PREMIUM JBL SOUND SYSTEM.

NO CHANGES UNDER THE HOOD, TO THE SMOOTH RUNNING 268 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6; OR TO THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC ATTACHED TO IT.

A 2.5 LITER I4 BASED HYBRID CONTINUES AS WELL.

TRULY BRINGING A BARGAIN ELEMENT TO THE LUXURY SEDAN SEGMENT, '16 AVALON PRICING STARTS AROUND $33,000.

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

WE LIKE CELEBRATING THINGS AROUND HERE, THOUGH OUR CELEBRATIONS TEND TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN MOST.

TAKE THIS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FOR INSTANCE.

IT RECENTLY WON OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SPORT COUPE.

HOW DO WE CELEBRATE THAT?

WELL, WE TAKE IT TO OUR FAVORITE RACE TRACK AND WRING THE HECK OUT OF IT!

* TAKING THE 2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS, OUR FAVORITE SPORT COUPE OF THE YEAR, TO OUR WINTER STOMPING GROUNDS, ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, IS INDEED ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS OF HARD WORK.

THE SS MIGHT BE ALL NEW FOR '16, BUT IT'S A BIT OF A GMs GREATEST HITS COLLECTION; COMBINING THE ATS CHASSIS AND CORVETTE POWERTRAIN, WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH THEM, LIKE ACTIVE REV MATCHING AND EVEN AVAILABLE MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL.

PUNCHING THE TIME CLOCK AND GETTING TO WORK ON ROEBLING'S TWISTY ASPHALT, WE QUICKLY TUNED INTO THE TRACK, AND FOUND SHIFT POINTS; AS THE SS FELT WELL-BALANCED AND INCREDIBLY HARD TO UPSET.

THERE'S A VERY RESPONSIVE THROTTLE, AND PLENTY OF GRIP; SO YOU CAN MAKE GOOD USE OF ALL THE POWER THAT'S AVAILABLE.

AND THERE IS JUST ABOUT THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF POWER FOR THIS CHASSIS SETUP.

BUT DON'T WORRY; JUST WHEN YOU THINK STEAM IS RUNNING OUT, THERE'S STILL A LITTLE MORE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE HIGH END.

OF COURSE IT'S ALL COMING FROM THE CORVETTE'S 6.2 LITER LT1 V8, HERE WITH 455 HORSEPOWER AND 455 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, OR A 6-SPEED MANUAL ARE THE TRANSMISSION CHOICES.

THE SUSPENSION IS WELL DIALED IN, WITH VERY MINIMAL BODY ROLL.

IT'S A MACPHERSON TYPE UP FRONT AND 5-LINK IN THE REAR, AND YOU DON'T REALLY NEED MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT.

STANDARD BREMBO BRAKES WORKED WELL ENOUGH TO NOT DRAW TOO MANY COMPLAINTS, BUT THERE WAS A MUSHY FEELING PEDAL.

THERE ARE SELECTABLE DRIVE MODES OF COURSE, WITH THE SS GETTING AN ADDITIONAL TRACK MODE.

IT'S ALSO MORE REFINED AND TRACK READY THAN A MUSTANG GT; IF NOT QUITE AS MUCH FUN TO SLING AROUND, BUT OVERALL THE SS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A STOCK SS.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE 1LE AND ZL1s THAT WILL BE HERE SOON.

KEEPING THINGS ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW, THE SS POUNCES OFF THE LINE WITH A FAIRYTALE ESCAPE OF TRACTION BEAUTY AND TORQUE BEAST; HITTING 60 IN 4.0 SECONDS FLAT.

THE MANUAL SHIFTER PERFORMED FINE; DIRECT FEEL, NO MISS SHIFTS.

THOUGH IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ULTRA MECHANICAL PRECISION OF SOME.

THERE'S GOOD WEIGHT TO THE CLUTCH AS WELL; ALL HELPING US TO CLEAR THE QUARTER IN 12.4 SECONDS AT 115 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S ONLY ROCK N' ROLL WITH SHOULDER BELTS, BUT WE LIKE IT.

AND AS MUCH AS WE ALSO LIKE ALL OF THE CHANGES INSIDE THE NEW CAMARO, NICER MATERIALS...

BETTER MYLINK INFOTAINMENT...

IMPROVED LAYOUT... AND THE CUSHY SEATS... THAT WHILE NOT GREAT FOR TRACK WORK, WERE APPRECIATED ON THE STREET... VISIBILITY FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS STILL EXTREMELY POOR IN JUST ABOUT EVERY DIRECTION.

WHILE, THE CAMARO SS IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPETENT VEHICLE, THERE'S A PRICE TO PAY FOR THAT COMPETENCY, AT LEAST $37,295.

THAT'S 4-GRAND OVER A MUSTANG GT.

BUT OF COURSE, YOU CAN STILL GET INTO A BASE LT TURBO 4 CAMARO FOR AS LITTLE AS $26,695.

BY TAKING THE LESS IS MORE APPROACH; SHRINKING THE CAMARO IN BOTH SIZE AND WEIGHT, WHILE ALSO CRAMMING IN PLENTY OF POWER, GM HAS TURNED THE 2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS INTO AN ALL-AROUND WINNER.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MATCH THE MUSTANG'S EURO SPORT COUPE FEEL, STRIDE FOR STRIDE; YET STILL RETAIN A MUSCLE CAR EDGE THAT NOSES IT AHEAD AT THE FINISH, TO CLEARLY DEMANDS AND GET OUR RESPECT.

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, FOR OUR LOOK AT THE LATEST TOYOTA RAV4 COMPACT CUV, AND FOR SOME MID-LEVEL MADNESS IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ C450 AMG 4MATIC SEDAN.

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.

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.

*