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

JOIN US AS CHEVROLET FILLS A CORVETTE GAP WITH SOMETHING NEW THAT IS OLD AGAIN... PAT GOSS ON HOW TO AVOID BEING LEFT STRANDED BY THE ROADSIDE... LAUREN MORRISON LOOKS AT WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO GET FRUSTRATED ON THE ROAD... AND A LITTLE CAR WITH A BIG AMOUNT OF FUN, NOW OPEN WIDE...

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: IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIG GAP IN BOTH PERFORMANCE AND PRICE, BETWEEN A STANDARD STINGRAY, AND THE HIGH STRUNG Z06.

WELL, YOU PROBABLY ALSO KNOW THAT, THAT SPOT HAS NOW BEEN FILLED BY THIS GRAND SPORT.

BUT WHILE, THE ORIGINAL 1960s ERA GRAND SPORT WAS A PURE TRACK CAR, THE 2017 VERSION WILL SPEND MOST IF IT'S LIFE ON THE STREET.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHICH SIDE OF THE PAVEMENT PENDULUM THIS GRAND SPORT SWINGS TOWARDS THE MOST.

* EVEN MORE TO THE POINT, DOES THIS 2017 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT REALLY OFFER BUYERS SOMETHING NEW, OR IS IT JUST THE RETURN OF SOMETHING OLD?

OF COURSE, WE'RE REFERRING TO THOSE ABORTED HOMOLOGATION 'VETTES OF THE '60s, BUT THERE WAS ALSO, THE LIMITED RELEASE C4 GRAND SPORTS THAT WE ALL REMEMBER, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHERS OVER THE YEARS.

OF COURSE, WE COULD JUST AS MUCH BE TALKING ABOUT THE RETURN OF THE Z06, AS THIS GRAND SPORT IS MORE IN LINE WITH Z06 ETHOS THAN THE ELEVATED, CURRENT GEN Z06.

AS FOR ALL OF ITS HANDLING POTENTIAL, THIS 'VETTE IS A VERY CIVILIZED CAR.

YES, THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL THAT HAS VASTLY DIFFERENT MANNERS DEPENDING ON SETTING.

BUT NO MATTER THE MODE; THE GRAND SPORT IS NOT HIGH STRUNG AT ALL, OR AS BEASTLY FEELING AS THE CURRENT Z06.

OF COURSE, THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING HERE, THE Z06s SUPERCHARGED LT4.

RATHER, THE GS STICKS WITH THE BASE STINGRAY'S LT1 6.2 LITER V8; THOUGH IT DOES GET THE Z51s DRY SUMP OILING SYSTEM AND PERFORMANCE EXHAUST, SO THE NUMBERS ARE HEALTHY, 460 HORSEPOWER AND 465 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH THE 7-SPEED MANUAL AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE AVAILABLE.

AND, IT FEELS PLENTY POWERFUL.

EVEN WHEN CRUISING AROUND IN ECO MODE, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO RESTRAIN IT.

YOU WON'T REALLY MISS WHAT YOU'RE MISSING, OTHER THAN FOR Z06 BRAGGING RIGHTS OR STOPLIGHT HIJINKS.

[ENGINE REVVING; TIRES SCREECHING] STILL, AT OUR TEST TRACK, EVEN THOUGH WE STRUGGLED FOR TRACTION, THE GRAND SPORT IS STILL CAPABLE OF SHAVING A TENTH OF THE STINGRAY'S 0-60 TIME TO 3.9 SECONDS.

COMPLETING THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.3 SECONDS AT 116 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST TRACK TIME WITH STINGRAY'S 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND IT PERFORMED QUITE WELL.

SHIFTS WERE BOTH FIRM AND QUICK, BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT WE PREFER CLICKING ITS PADDLE SHIFTERS OVER WORKING A CLUTCH AND MANUAL SHIFTER.

SO WHILE, IT MAY NOT HAVE FELT LIKE A HUGE STEP UP FROM THE STINGRAY HERE ON THIS TRACK; OUR NEXT VENUE REVEALED JUST HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.

THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY POINTS HERE AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK'S SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT, WHERE YOU CAN HOLD THIS THING WIDE OPEN, BUT WHEN YOU DO IT SOUNDS AMAZINGLY VISCOUS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN TRACK MODE WITH ALL THE BAFFLES WIDE OPEN.

AND WHILE, YOU'LL HAVE TO LIFT WHEN YOU REACH ONE OF ITS MANY CORNERS; THERE'S SO MUCH GRIP HERE YOU WON'T HAVE TO LET OFF NEARLY AS MUCH AS YOU THINK.

THAT'S THANKS MOSTLY TO THE MICHELIN PILOT SPORT CUP 2s THAT COME WITH THE SAME Z07 PACKAGE AVAILABLE ON THE Z06, WHICH ALSO ADDS ADDITIONAL DOWNFORCE AND THE LIKE.

BUT BY FAR THE BEST UPGRADE IS THE CARBON CERAMIC-MATRIX BRAKES WHICH ARE TRULY SPECTACULAR, OFFERING SERIOUS LATE BRAKING, WITH NO SIGNS OF THE WANTING YOU TO STOP DOING IT.

STEERING HAS GREAT WEIGHT, AND A TIGHT RADIUS LEADS TO IMMEDIATE RESULTS.

NOW, THE EXTERIOR LOOKS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE Z06, WHICH IS TO SAY TOUGH AS NAILS; THOUGH WE'D PREFER A LESS FLASHY COLOR THAN THIS RED AND WHITE COMBO, PERHAPS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF THE TRADITIONAL BLUE.

THE AVAILABLE HERITAGE PACKAGE FEATURES SIGNATURE GRAND SPORT HASH MARKS THAT ARE ECHOED BOTH OUTSIDE AND IN.

NOTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT INSIDE, WHICH MEANS EVERYTHING WE LIKE ABOUT THE NEW STINGRAY IS STILL HERE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH AN AUTOMATIC ARE 15-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

BUT WE AVERAGED ONLY 17.9 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE AT 17.3 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, ALONG WITH 7.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

SO, WHETHER WE EVER GET THAT MID-ENGINE CORVETTE THAT IS ONCE AGAIN IN THE RUMOR MILL; WE'VE GOT NO COMPLAINTS.

AS THIS STINGRAY'S IMPRESSIVE CHASSIS HAS PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT IN IT.

AND CERTAINLY NO EQUAL WHEN IT COMES TO PRICE.

THOUGH STARTING JUST $10,000 OVER A BASE STINGRAY AT $66,445, YOU'D BE NUTS NOT TO ADD THE Z07 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE WHICH TACKS ON ANOTHER $7,000.

NOW, YOU'RE ONLY $6,000 CHEAPER THAN A Z06, BUT THAT'S 6-GRAND YOU COULD SPEND ON TRACK DAYS, JUST SAYIN'.

SO, YOU COULD THINK OF THE 2017 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT AS A LESSER Z06, OR YOU COULD THINK OF IT AS MORE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL Z06; PRIORITIZING HANDLING AND BRAKING PERFORMANCE ABOVE ALL ELSE.

THAT'S BOTH SOMETHING NEW AND OLD!

INDEED, IN A WORLD OVER POPULATED WITH SPECIAL CORVETTES; THIS ONE DESERVES ITS OWN COUNTRY.

LET'S CALL IT GRANDSPORTISTAN, AND LEAVE IT AT THAT...FAST!

* BE IT HOLIDAYS, VACATIONS, OR JUST COMMUTING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL TOO FAR AND WIDE TO KNOW THERE ARE MORE CARS ON THE ROADS THAN EVER!

AND WITH THAT COMES AN INCREASED RISK OF ROAD RAGE!

WELL, OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON BREAKS DOWN ONE NEW STUDY THAT SHOWS JUST HOW PREVALENT THE PROBLEM IS, AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO AVOID IT.

Lauren Morrison: WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.

ANOTHER CAR CUTS IN FRONT OF YOU, CAUSING YOU TO LAY ON YOUR HORN.

OR, THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU SLAMS ON ITS BRAKES, CAUSING YOU TO USE A FEW NOT SAFE FOR TV WORDS.

ROAD RAGE.

IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US, AND ACCORDING TO ONE STUDY, MOST OF US.

Jurek Grabowski: WE'RE ALL HUMANS, IT'S NORMAL TO BE ANGRY, BUT THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU REACT TO THAT ANGER?

Lauren: NEARLY 80% OF DRIVERS EXPRESSED ANGER, AGGRESSION, OR ROAD RAGE AT LEAST ONCE IN THE LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STUDY BY THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Jurek: YOU HAVE SOME VERY MILD TYPE OF ACTIONS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF YELLING, TAILGATING, AND SO FORTH, AND THEN YOU GO INTO SOME THE MORE ROAD RAGE TYPE OF ACTIONS WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY JUMP OUT OF THEIR CARS AND CONFRONT OTHER DRIVERS.

Lauren: ROAD RAGE AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING COMES IN MANY FORMS.

PURPOSEFULLY TAILGATING SEEMS TO BE THE MOST COMMON.

THE STUDY ESTIMATES THAT OVER 100 MILLION DRIVERS DO IT EVERY YEAR.

THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT ABOUT 91 MILLION DRIVERS HAVE HONKED THEIR HORN TO SHOW ANNOYANCE OR ANGER.

ANOTHER 49 MILLION HAVE TRIED TO BLOCK ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM CHANGING LANES.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALMOST 6 MILLION DRIVERS HAVE USED THEIR VEHICLE TO BUMP OR RAM ANOTHER ON PURPOSE!

Jurek: WELL, I THINK PEOPLE USE THEIR CARS AS AN EXTENSION OF THEMSELVES, AND THEIR DAY, AND THEIR MOTIONS, AND THAT CAN BECOME DANGEROUS IF THEY'RE ANGRY, AND THEY'RE CONFRONTED WITH OTHER ANGRY DRIVERS.

Lauren: WHO'S BEHIND THE WHEEL PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN AGGRESSIVE DRIVING?

THE STUDY FOUND THAT YOUNG MEN ARE 3-TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN WOMEN TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR AND CONFRONT ANOTHER DRIVER.

AND IT'S NOT JUST WHO'S BEHIND THE WHEEL, BUT WHERE THEY'RE DRIVING.

Jurek: WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DRIVERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE DRIVERS IN THE NORTHEAST REPORTED A LOT MORE ANGRY ACTIONS.

AND THIS COULD BE BECAUSE THEY'RE BIGGER CITIES, THEY'RE MORE CONGESTED, IT TAKES MORE TIME TO GET TO WORK OR WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

Lauren: THE STUDY FOUND THAT DRIVERS IN THE NORTHEAST WERE 30% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE MADE AN ANGRY GESTURE THAN DRIVERS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S SOMETHING DRIVER'S, I TALKED WITH AT A REST STOP IN MARYLAND HAVE NOTICED IN THEIR TRAVELS.

Becky Gohn: IT SEEMS INTERESTING THAT SOME STATES ARE MORE WELL REPRESENTED THAN OTHERS IN THE ROAD RAGE, BUT I WON'T MENTION NAMES.

Carl Beal: I'M NOT GONNA PICK WHAT SIDE OF THE COUNTRY I'M FROM, BUT OUT HERE ON THE EAST COAST...YEAH, IT'S PRETTY BAD.

Lauren: NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING, ROAD RAGE TYPICALLY TAKES TWO, SO YOUR BEST BET IS SHRUG IT OFF.

Jurek: DON'T RETURN ANGRY, YOU KNOW, ANGRY FINGER GESTURES, DON'T YELL AT THEM, DON'T USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS, OR YOUR HORNS, OR DON'T BREAK CHECK JUST TO PUNISH THE OTHER DRIVERS.

IT'S NOT WORTH BEING IN THAT SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY JUMPS OUT OF THEIR CAR.

YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A WEAPON, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE POTENTIALLY GOING TO DO.

Lauren: IN THE END, THE HONK OF A HORN, OR THE FLIP OF A FINGER, JUST ISN'T WORTH IT.

John: THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF YOUR CAR YOU WILL LIKELY NEVER SEE.

BUT YOU'LL SURE KNOW IT WHEN THEY STOP WORKING.

SO, WE ASKED PAT GOSS FOR SOME TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP ON ROLLING.

Pat Goss: IN ANY ENGINE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO OPERATE THE VALVES IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, AND THAT'S DONE BY MEANS OF CONNECTING THE CRANK SHAFT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE TO THE CAM SHAFT OR CAM SHAFTS IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE.

NOW BACK IN THE DAY, FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS THIS WAS THE METHOD THEY DID THAT WITH.

IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE TIMING CHAIN WITH SPROCKETS SUCH AS WE SEE HERE.

BUT THAT LATER WENT AWAY.

AND WHAT WE SAW AS A REPLACEMENT FIRST WAS A TIMING BELT SUCH AS WE SEE HERE.

NOW, TIMING BELTS ARE MADE OF RUBBER SO THEREFORE THEY'RE REPLACEABLE PARTS JUST LIKE THE TIRES ON THE CAR.

THEY GO BAD WITH TIME OR MILEAGE WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

NOW, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL TELLS YOU, YOU DON'T EXCEED EITHER THE TIME OR THE MILEAGE BECAUSE IF ONE OF THESE GOES BAD, WELL IT COULD DESTROY THE ENGINE.

NOW, THE THING THAT WE SEE MOST FREQUENTLY, IT'S NOT THAT THE BELT ACTUALLY BREAKS.

YOU SEE DOWN HERE AT THIS BOTTOM SPROCKET THERE'S A LOT MORE TENSION ON THE TEETH BECAUSE THE SPROCKET IS SMALLER.

WELL, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, WHAT HAPPENS IS AS THE BELT AGES IT STRIPS OFF SOME OF THE TEETH.

WE CAN SEE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, IT IS TRYING TO COME OFF.

IT IS BROKEN AND READY TO COME OFF.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WELL THE CRANK SHAFT CONTINUES TO TURN, THE PISTONS, MOVE UP AND DOWN, AND THE VALVES ARE STATIC, SO THE PISTONS HIT THE VALVES YOU'VE GOT MAJOR DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE.

ALRIGHT, BUT TIMING BELTS HAVE PRETTY MUCH GONE AWAY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND NOW, WE'RE BACK AT TIMING CHAINS, BUT TIMING CHAINS NOW ARE NOTHING LIKE THE OLD ONES.

YOU SEE, NOW BECAUSE THE CAMS ARE UP ON THE TOPS OF THE HEADS, YOU'VE GOT BIG LONG CHAINS.

YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE CHAINS, AND WE CAN'T HAVE THEM JUST ROLLING AROUND IN THERE, SO NOW WE HAVE CHAIN GUIDES, AND CHAIN TENSIONERS, AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT PARTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAINS.

NOW, THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS IS, THAT WE DON'T WANT THESE PARTS TO WEAR, AND SOME OF THEM LIKE THESE GUIDES, AND TENSIONERS HERE, THESE ARE MADE OF PLASTIC, AND THEY REQUIRE A THIN FILM OF OIL TO PREVENT THE PLASTIC FROM WEARING OUT.

SO, YOU GOTTA HAVE GOOD CLEAN OIL ALL THE TIME.

THE SECOND THING IS, THAT YOU HAVE HYDRAULIC TENSIONERS LIKE THESE.

NOW, AS YOU START THE CAR THIS PISTON COMES OUT AND IT MAINTAINS PRESSURE AGAINST THE TIMING CHAINS.

WELL, THESE HAVE LITTLE FINE OIL PASSAGES IN THEM.

FAILURE TO CHANGE THE OIL, WELL THOSE OIL PASSAGES GET CLOGGED, AND THEN WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE ENGINE RATTLES, AND THAT RATTLING IS THE CHAIN BOUNCING AGAINST THESE PLASTIC PARTS, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THESE PLASTIC PARTS BREAK, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MAJOR, AND I DO MEAN MAJOR REPAIR ON MOST ENGINES.

SO CLEAN OIL, THE PROPER VISCOSITY, AND THESE PARTS WILL LAST ALMOST FOREVER.

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

John: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A SPORTS CAR FOR PURE DRIVING ENTERTAINMENT.

LUCKY FOR US WE'VE GOT TWO OF THEM FOR THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

EVER SINCE THEY HIT THE ROAD 20 YEARS AGO, WE'VE LOVED SLIPPING INTO THE TWO-SEATS ONLY OF A PORSCHE BOXSTER.

AND THE 2017, PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER STIRS THOSE EMOTIONS EVEN MORE.

WITH A NEW GENERATION COMES A NEW NAME...

WHICH IS A TRIBUTE TO THE FLAT-4 CYLINDER MID-ENGINE PORSCHE 718 SPORTS CAR KNOWN FOR WINNING RACES BACK IN THE LATE '50s AND EARLY 1960s.

AND EVERYTHING HAS IMPROVED OVER TIME...MORE POWER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENCY, AND FAR BETTER HANDLING FOR THIS 718.

HOW MUCH MORE POWER?

OUTPUT IS BOOSTED BY 35, GENERATING A ROUND 300 HORSEPOWER.

STEPPING UP TO THE BOXSTER S UNLEASHES 50 MORE, THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT MADE THIS A DREAM DRIVE...

WHEN WE TESTED ITS HARD TOP TWIN THE 718 CAYMAN... Greg Carloss: SO, ONE ADVANTAGE OF TURBO CHARGING THE ENGINE IS YOU GET THE POWER THAT TORQUE A LOT EARLIER, AND THE 0-60 TIMES DROP.

YOU'RE NOW IN THE LOW 4s IF YOU GO FOR AN S VERSION.

SOME OTHER NEWNESS THAT COMES WITH THE 2017, 718 CAYMAN OR BOXSTER IS THE STEERING RACK.

THEY PULLED THIS DIRECTLY OUT OF THE 911 TURBO.

IT'S 10% QUICKER.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I CAN'T REALLY DISCERN 10% FROM THE OLDER VERSION, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD, QUICK, DIRECT, EXACTLY WHAT I REMEMBER FROM THE PREVIOUS CAYMAN.

EXPECTEDLY, THE 718 BOXSTER, AND CAYMAN ALSO BOAST UPSIZED BRAKES, AND A COMPLETELY RE-WORKED SUSPENSION.

BUT FOR ALL THAT BRAWN, THIS IS ALSO A BEAUTY, AND PURE PORSCHE STYLE FROM END TO END WITH ENGAGING REFINEMENTS.

DESIGNERS RESCULPTED THE FRONT FASCIA, AND INCLUDED LARGER AIR INTAKES.

LED'S LIGHT THE WAY DURING THE DAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME FULL LED'S AT NIGHT ARE AVAILABLE.

THE REDESIGNED TAILLIGHTS ALSO GLOW FROM LED'S.

ONE THING YOU MIGHT MISS, EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE NOW SMOOTHLY INTEGRATED INTO THE SHEET METAL.

THE 2017, PORSCHE BOXSTER 718, AND 718 CAYMEN ARE AVAILABLE NOW.

PRICES START AT $56,000 FOR THE BOXSTER, AND ABOUT $2,000 LESS IF YOU GO FOR THE CAYMAN.

WHEN WE FIRST TESTED THE 2009 AUDI TTS, WE WERE NICELY SURPRISED AT WHAT A TOTAL PERFORMANCE PACKAGE IT TURNED OUT TO BE.

WELL, OUR RECENT RIDE IN THIS 2016 AUDI TTS COUPE PROVED EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE.

OF COURSE, THE TT AND THE TTS WENT THROUGH A REDESIGN FOR THE 2016 MODEL YEAR IN THE U.S.

THE DISTINCTIVE BELL-CURVISH SHAPE REMAINS, BUT IT'S MORE MUSCULAR AND CHISELED.

THE GRILLE HAS GROWN, AND THE AUDI RINGS RISE ABOVE THE GRILLE, AND NOW REST ACROSS THE HOOD.

THE STANDARD FULL LED HEADLIGHTS WITH LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS LEND TO THE FORCEFUL LOOK OF THE FRONT FASCIA.

AND DRIVERS YOU PASS WILL GET A GLIMPSE OF THE LED TAILLIGHTS WITH THEIR DYNAMIC TURN SIGNALS.

THIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE LUXURY COUPE IS A MODERN POWERHOUSE.

THE TURBOCHARGED 2.0 LITER 4-CYLINDER ENGINE IS PACKED WITH 292 STALLIONS, PROVIDING RAPID GET-UP-AND-GO FROM ALMOST ANY GEAR OR SPEED.

WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING, WE'VE GROWN TO LOVE THE CONCEPT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE IN A SPORTS COUPE, AND THIS NEW GEN DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

THE TTS HELD ITS EDGE AROUND THE CORNERS, WITH PLENTY OF SPIRIT TO EXIT THEM WITH AUTHORITY.

INSIDE, THE NEARLY VIRTUAL COCKPIT COMBINES A TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH THE FUNCTIONS OF A CENTRAL MMI SYSTEM IN ONE 12-POINT-3-INCH DISPLAY.

THE HVAC CONTROLS PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE AIR DUCTS IS A GREAT USE OF SPACE WITH A FUTURISTIC FEEL.

THE AUDI TTS STOOD OUT FROM THE GET-GO.

AND, THE MULTIPLE REFINEMENTS TO THIS THIRD GENERATION MAKE IT EVEN MORE APPEALING IN PERFORMANCE, LOOKS, AND FUNCTION.

THE 2016 AUDI TTS IS IN DEALERSHIPS NOW STARTING AROUND $52,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT SOME CARS ARE WORKS OF ART.

AND WE CAN ALSO AGREE THAT SOME WORKS OF ART ARE ABOUT CARS.

THIS COLLISION OF ART AND THE AUTOMOBILE IS NEVER MORE APPARENT THAN IN THE ART OF THE CAR PHOTO BOOK, WITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB PAULDING.

YOU WON'T SEE ANY BEAUTY SHOTS OF COMPLETE CARS HERE, JUST PAGES, AND PAGES OF ARTFUL COMPOSITIONS OF THE LOUVRE'S, AND LOGOS, TRIMS, AND TAILFINS, WHEELS, AND WIRE... AND EVEN, THE INEVITABLE RUST, THAT MAKE CARS WHAT THEY ARE, AND KEEP US STARING IN WONDER.

SO, WHETHER YOU APPRECIATE FINE PHOTOGRAPHY OR FINE AUTOMOBILES, THIS BOOK IS A MUST SEE, MUST READ.

BY NOW, THE REBORN MINI COOPER HAS PROVEN TO BE FAR MORE THAN JUST A ONE TRICK PONY.

SINCE IT RETURNED FOR 2001, IT HAS ENCOMPASSED EVERYTHING FROM 2-SEAT ROADSTERS TO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CROSSOVERS.

THE TOPPER THROUGHOUT HOWEVER, IS THE BRAND'S UNIQUE TAKE ON DRIVING FUN.

AND THE PURIST FORM OF THAT IS WHEN YOU LOSE THAT TOP ALL TOGETHER.

* WHILE, THERE ARE MORE GREAT OPTIONS THAN EVER FOR AFFORDABLE, SMALL, SPORTY CARS, AND EVEN QUITE A FEW REASONABLY PRICED CONVERTIBLES AROUND THESE DAYS.

NONE ARE QUITE AS ALL-INCLUSIVE OF THOSE ATTRIBUTES AS THIS 2016 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE.

A NICE SLICE OF ITS CHARM IS OF COURSE THE COOPER'S 1-TOUCH POWER OPERATED CLOTH TOP.

PLUS, IT FOLDS IN STAGES SO YOU CAN SLIDE BACK JUST THE TOP PORTION AS A SUNROOF.

AS IT FULLY FOLDS, IT COMES TO REST JUST BEHIND THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER'S HEADRESTS, SO THERE REMAINS A USEFUL AMOUNT OF LUGGAGE SPACE, 5.7 CUBIC-FEET TO BE EXACT.

THE BOOT OPENING IS SMALL, BUT MINI HAS A WORKAROUND FOR THAT, EASY LOAD LEVERS THAT HOLD THE CONVERTIBLE TOP UP OUT OF THE WAY WHILE YOU LOAD YOUR GEAR.

[ENGINE STARTS] UNDER THE BONNET, IT'S THE SAME ENGINE CHOICES AS THE HARDTOP, STANDARD COOPERS COME WITH ITS WELL REGARDED 134 HORSEPOWER 1.5 LITER I3-TURBO, WHILE COOPER S' GET A VERSION OF BMW'S TWINPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO, WITH 189 HORSEPOWER AND 207 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH WITH YOUR CHOICE OF 6-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS, MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC.

WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE, THAT THE ADDED POWER OF THE S IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE EXPERIENCE, BUT WE ACTUALLY DO PREFER IT HERE.

IT FEELS SMOOTHER THAN EVER, AND THE ADDITIONAL BOOST HELPS OFFSET THE CONVERTIBLE'S WEIGHT GAIN.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY HELPFUL FOR ENABLING YOUR DAILY DODGE AROUND THE CELL PHONE WIELDING NITWITS WE ALL SEEM TO BE ENCOUNTERING THESE DAYS.

THIS COOPER IS STILL THE SAME "SQUARE WITH FLAIR" SPORTS CAR WE'VE ALWAYS LOVED, BUT WITH THE TOP DOWN, THE FUN BECOMES EVER MORE VISCERAL.

THERE IS A LITTLE WIND BUFFETING AT SPEED, BUT IT'S NOT AN OBJECTIONABLE AMOUNT.

BUT REMEMBER, THE RIDE REMAINS ON THE STIFF SIDE.

THAT ALSO MEANS, THERE'S NOT MUCH FLEX OR SHAKE TO BE FOUND, AND NO DEGRADING IN OVERALL DYNAMICS.

IT'S STILL SOME OF THE MOST FUN ON 4-WHEELS FOR THE MONEY.

ROLL OVER HOOPS ARE NOW FULLY RECESSED BEHIND THE REAR HEADRESTS, THOUGH THOSE HEADRESTS ARE VERY LARGE AND BLOCK WHAT LITTLE REAR VISIBILITY THERE IS WITH THE TOP UP.

THOUGH, VISIBILITY IS RARELY A CONVERTIBLE STRONGPOINT, EXTRA CAUTION IS NEEDED HERE WHEN BACKING UP; EVEN WITH THE OPTIONAL BACK UP CAMERA.

AND ONE FINAL COMPLAINT, THE REACH BACK TO A SEATBELT FOR THOSE UP FRONT, IS A LONG ONE.

THOUGH, THIS 3RD GENERATION MINI IS BIGGER BY EVERY MEASURE, IT STILL NAVIGATES CONES LIKE A GNAT ZOOMING AROUND YOUR HEAD.

BOTH THE SINGLE JOINT FRONT STRUT SUSPENSION AND THE REAR MULTI-LINK ARE UPGRADED FOR THE CONVERTIBLE'S HEAVIER WEIGHT.

IT REALLY IS AN EXCEPTIONAL HANDLER, IMMENSELY FUN, AND CAPABLE; MAINTAINING SPEED THROUGH HIGH SPEED MANEUVERS WITHOUT LOSING COMPOSURE, AND ONLY DEMONSTRATING A SLIGHT BIT OF UNDERSTEER.

WHILE, NOT A ROCKET OFF THE LINE, IT DOES GET OFF TO A LOW EARTH ORBIT 0-60 TIME OF 6.3 SECONDS.

POWER DELIVERY IS VERY SMOOTH, WITH DECENT TORQUE THROUGHOUT THE REV BAND.

THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FUN OF COURSE, BUT WITH THE AUTOMATIC, SHIFTING WAS QUICK AND FIRM, AS THIS COOPER S BURBLED AND POPPED ITS WAY TO A QUARTER MILE TIME OF 14.8 SECONDS AT 97 MILES PER HOUR.

EVERYTHING INSIDE, REMAINS THE SAME AS HARDTOP, SO WE STILL LOVE THE FACT THAT THE MOOD-RINGED CENTRAL DISPLAY THAT USED TO HOUSE THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW DEDICATED TO INFOTAINMENT DUTIES, WITH AN IDRIVE DERIVED CONTROLLER FOR INPUTS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A COOPER S AUTOMATIC ARE 25-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 32.0 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

ENTRY INTO THE WORLD OF THE MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE IS PRICED AT $26,800, ABOUT 5-GRAND OVER A BASE COOPER HARDTOP.

THE COOPER S CONVERTIBLE STARTS AT $30,450.

GETTING IT FULLY LOADED IS ACTUALLY AN OPTION, ADDING EVERY PACKAGE AVAILABLE FOR A TOTAL OF $35,200.

ALAS, ITS FALSE ADVERTISING THOUGH, AS THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF OTHER A LA CARTE OPTIONS THAT CAN TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY UP TO 40 G'S.

WE REALLY LIKE IT, BUT PERHAPS NOT AT THAT HIGH OF A STICKER.

SINCE, THIS 2016 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE IS OLD SCHOOL FUN AT ITS PUREST, OUR ADVICE IS TO GO AS MINIMAL AS YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH, AND SAVE SOME MONEY FOR GOING ON SOME ADVENTURES.

BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'LL FEEL LIKE DOING WHEN YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND DROP THE TOP OF THIS CAPTIVATING MICRO-MACHINE.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE TEST TWO FUN-TO-DRIVE 4-DOOR SEDANS...

THE REDESIGNED AUDI A4... AND THE NEW FORD FUSION SPORT... 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.

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.

*