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

JOIN US AS WE SLITHER INTO THE SEAT FOR THE FINAL LAP OF A RACY AMERICAN... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON SUITING UP FOR TWO WHEELS... ZACH MASKELL TRIES ON SOME TINY WHEELS THAT ARE STILL BUILT FOR SPEED... AND A ROOMY ACURA TAKES PREMIUM UTE'S TO A HIGHER LEVEL...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: NOW, I REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT VOODOO, OTHER THAN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A BIT SCARY AND POTENTIALLY EVIL.

YOU KNOW, MUCH LIKE THE DODGE VIPER!

SO, IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT AS THE VIPER EXITS THE NEW CAR STAGE, ONCE AGAIN, IT DOES SO WITH A VOODOO II SPECIAL EDITION ACR.

SO LET THE SPIRITS BE WITH US, AS WE TEMPT FATE ONE FINAL TIME IN DODGE'S VENOMOUS VIPER!

* IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN A CAR CELEBRATES ITS 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, WHILE ALSO COMMEMORATING ITS FINAL YEAR OF PRODUCTION.

THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION OF THE 2017 DODGE VIPER AND OUR VOODOO II EDITION ACR.

CONSULTING GOOGLE WILL TELL YOU THAT THE ORIGINAL VIPER VOODOO EDITION ACR WAS A SPECIAL MODEL LIMITED TO JUST 31 EXAMPLES FOR THE 2010 MODEL YEAR, RIGHT BEFORE THE VIPER WENT ON ITS 3-YEAR HIATUS.

THIS VOODOO II EDITION ACR CELEBRATES THAT ORIGINAL, AND LIKEWISE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO JUST 31 COPIES.

AND FCA DELIVERED THE VERY FIRST ONE OFF THE LINE TO US, AT A RACE TRACK NO LESS.

[ENGINE REVS] SO, WE WASTED NO TIME GETTING OUT AND ON WITH IT, AT NATURALLY, OUR WINTER PROVING GROUNDS; ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY OUTSIDE SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND YES, THIS VIPER IS STILL A LITTLE INTIMIDATING, YET, OH SO CAPABLE.

AS WE NOTED IN OUR LAST VIPER ACR TEST, THE AMERICAN CLUB RACER COMES WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE CONSIDERED A TRUE TRACK CAR EXCEPT FOR A ROLL-CAGE.

THERE ARE MULTI-ADJUSTABLE BILSTEIN SHOCKS, A MORE AGGRESSIVE SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT, HUGE CARBON CERAMIC MATRIX BRAKES, BESPOKE KUMHO RACE COMPOUND TIRES, AND THE MOST AERO TREATMENTS YOU'LL FIND OUTSIDE OF AN AIRPORT.

VENTS RESIDE ON TOP OF THE FRONT FENDERS TO ALLOW SOME AIR TO ESCAPE, OR THEY CAN BE REMOVED ENTIRELY FOR MAXIMUM AIRFLOW.

ALL OF IT WORKS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE AMAZING GRIP.

AND THIS LATEST ACR WENT AFTER TRACK DOMINANCE WITH A VENGEANCE, MAKING A CASE THAT THE VIPER NO LONGER HAD TO BE A HANDFUL JUST TO PROVE ITS MERITS.

IT'S A LOCKED-DOWN, PROPERLY SET UP, SINGLE-PURPOSE CAR; THAT IS ABLE TO PUT ITS MONSTROUS POWER AND DIRECT STEERING TO GOOD USE, PROVIDING A NEAR PERFECT TRACK EXPERIENCE.

AS THE HARDER YOU PUSH IT, THE BETTER IT RESPONDS.

LIKEWISE, THE BRAKES SHOWED NO SIGNS OF FADING OR WAVERING; NO MATTER HOW HARD WE WORKED THEM.

ESSENTIALLY, THE VOODOO II ACR IS SIMPLY A BLACKED-OUT VERSION OF THE ACR WITH METALLIC RED-TRIMMED STRIPES PLUS ABOUT EVERY AVAILABLE ACR OPTION.

ALL THE VIPER TRADEMARKS ARE STILL HERE AS WELL; CROSSHAIR GRILLE, LONG BULGING HOOD, AND OF COURSE, SIDE PIPES EXPELLING EXHAUST FROM THAT OLD-SCHOOL PUSHROD V10.

AND THAT UNIQUE SOUND!

IT'S MORE LIKE A MONSTER TRUCK THAN A HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAR, BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING.

HORSEPOWER IS 645, AND THERE ARE 600 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ATTEMPTING TO DEPLOY TO THE PAVEMENT.

THE VIPER MAY HAVE ALLOWED TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS TO SLIP IN OVER THE YEARS, BUT THERE'S STILL A TREMEC TR6060 MANUAL TRANSMISSION AHEAD OF THE DRIVE SHAFT, AND A BIG 'OL BALL SHIFTER FOR MANHANDLING IT.

INSIDE THE CABIN, THERE ARE THE USUAL METAL PEDALS, THOUGH FOOT ROOM IS STILL AT A PREMIUM DOWN THERE.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND THE CHECKERED-FLAG ALCANTARA MATERIAL, BRONZE-LIKE PLASTIC TRIM, AND THE UNIQUE VOODOO II SILVER STITCHING.

IT MAY NOT BE THE GREATEST DESIGN THEME WE'VE EXPERIENCED, BUT IT IS SPECIAL.

ELSEWHERE INSIDE, YOU'LL FIND SRT PERFORMANCE PAGES ON THE TOUCHSCREEN, AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN A MODERN CAR.

THERE'S A LAUNCH CONTROL BUTTON RIGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

HIT IT, MASH THE GAS, SAY A QUICK PRAYER, AND YOU'RE OFF TO A SKATING 0-60 TIME OF 3.6 SECONDS.

THE SEARCH FOR TRUE TRACTION SEEMS TO CONTINUE THE WHOLE QUARTER MILE, AND IF ALL GOES RIGHT AND YOU'RE ABLE TO STAY ON THE GAS, YOU'LL ARRIVE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER IN ONE PIECE, IN 11.7 SECONDS AT 128 MILES PER HOUR.

THE SHIFTER WORKS THE SAME WAY IT ALWAYS HAS, NO NEED TO BE GENTLE WITH IT, AS IT WORKS BETTER THE MORE YOU MISTREAT IT.

BUT YES, THE VIPER STILL MISTREATS THE ENVIRONMENT WITH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 12-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 14-COMBINED.

IRONICALLY, THE LAST VIPER IS BY FAR THE GREATEST VIPER.

AS AFTER YEARS OF BEING THE "BARELY CONTROLLABLE BEAST FROM THE MIDWEST," IT HAS MATURED INTO A FANTASTIC TRACK CAR THAT GETS BY PRETTY WELL AS A STREET CAR WHEN YOU NEED IT TO.

SO, "GET 'EM WHILE YOU CAN" IS THE MANTRA HERE, AS VOODOO IIs STICKER FOR $135,290, AND ONCE THEY'RE GONE, THEY'RE GONE.

AS WILL ALL CURRENT VIPER MODELS.

ALTHOUGH, FIAT-CHRYSLER HAS NOT RULED OUT A MUCH MORE MODERN VIPER SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE.

STILL, AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY OF V10 VIPER-MADNESS, WITH THIS 2017 DODGE VIPER VOODOO II EDITION ACR, WE'RE SAYING GOODBYE TO THE VIPER ONCE AGAIN.

BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY SAYING IS... COME BACK SOON!

* AS THE STORY GOES, THE FIRST RACING "GO-KART" WAS BUILT WITH SCRAP, FROM SCRATCH IN CALIFORNIA IN THE MID 1950s.

AND IT WAS QUICKLY CLONED AROUND THE WORLD, AND TODAY REMAINS THE FOUNDATION OF MODERN MOTORSPORTS.

SO RECENTLY, OUR MOTORWEEK TEAM DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO FRESHEN OUR COMPETITIVE SKILLS, AND GO OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL, IN THE MOST UP TO DATE KARTS WE COULD PLUG INTO.

Zach Maskell: WHILE, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS, OR AN OFFICE FULL OF SUITS MAY SEE THIS AS AN EXERCISE IN TEAM BUILDING, OUR CREW, IS OUT FOR BLOOD.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT WHEN I SEE AN EMPTY WAREHOUSE, I THINK, "MAN, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS."

NOW, YOU SLAP AN AUTOBAHN SIGN UP THERE.

WELL, THAT JUST SOUNDS LIKE AN INVITE TO ME.

IT'S A SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY.

NO SPEED LIMIT!

NAMED AFTER THE FAMOUS SPEED-NO-ISSUE MOTORWAYS IN GERMANY... WE'VE COME TO WHITE MARSH, MARYLAND TO SEE HOW WE FARE ON THE AUTOBAHN SPEEDWAY.

WELL, JUST YOUR AVERAGE DAY AT MOTORWEEK .

INSTEAD OF SEEING WHO HAS THE FASTEST TIME ON ASPHALT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHO CAN THROW DOWN THE FASTEST TIME ON CONCRETE.

SAFETY DOMINATES ALL FORMS OF RACING.

THIS GRAND PRIX STYLE TRACK HAS SOME OF THE SAFEST REFLEXIVE BARRIERS MADE.

AND, THESE ITALIAN-MADE KARTS HAVE 4-POINT SAFETY HARNESSES, DUAL DISC BRAKES, AND STEERING THAT REALLY GIVES YOU A FEEL FOR WHAT RAW MOTORSPORTS IS ALL ABOUT.

Brian Roberts: THE TORQUE ON THESE ELECTRIC GO-KARTS ARE JUST AMAZING, VERY RESPONSIVE.

Zach: SIMILAR TO TODAY'S ELECTRIC CARS...

THESE DELIVER NEAR INSTANT POWER.

MANY BIG NAMES IN RACING GOT THEIR CAREER STARTED IN KARTING.

JEFF GORDON AND LEWIS HAMILTON JUST TO NAME A COUPLE.

SO, PARENTS OUT THERE, IF YOU THINK YOUR KIDS MIGHT HAVE A TASTE FOR MOTORSPORTS, THESE KARTS CAN GO UP TO 50 MPH.

SO, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD START.

NOT WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING, HUH?

WELL, THE YOUTH KARTS DON'T GO QUITE AS FAST.

THEY CAN STILL HIT 30 MPH...

POTENTIALLY MOLDING YOUR CHILD, INTO THE NEXT MARIO ANDRETTI.

William Roby: IT JUST SHOWS ME THE EARLIER THAT THEY START OUT, IT'S CRAZY TO SEE WHERE THEY WOULD BE IF THEY KEPT RACING AT MY AGE.

Zach: NOT ONLY CAN KIDS EXPERIENCE THE THRILLS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE KARTS...

THEY ALSO LEARN, THEY MUST OBEY THE RULES OF THE SPORT.

THESE SIGNAL FLAGS ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF THE ONES USED IN PROFESSIONAL MOTORSPORTS, SO THEY'LL TAKE IN A LOT MORE THAN THEY REALIZE.

Greg Carloss: THE THING THAT I WAS MOST SHOCKED ABOUT IS THAT YOU STILL NEED TO GET SOME HEAT IN THE TIRES.

AND BY YOUR 3RD OR 4TH LAP AND EVERYTHING IS THE TEMPERATURE YOU WANTED.

YOU GET THE MOST GRIP, REALLY.

IT HANDLES A LOT LIKE AN ACTUAL CAR.

Dave Scrivener: A LOTUS ELISE MAYBE FOR CARS.

IT'S PRETTY DARTY, FAST BRAKES, REALLY RESPONSIVE.

STEERING IS AWESOME.

I WISH, I STARTED MY DIET A LITTLE EARLIER.

THERE'S DEFINITELY, A WEIGHT ADVANTAGE FOR THE THIN GUYS.

Zach: THAT I'LL CALL AN EXCUSE FOR POOR LAP TIMES.

WHILE, ONE OF US USED "RACING" AS AN EXCUSE TO GET EVEN.

Ben Davis: DUDE, I LOVE RUNNING FENDER TO FENDER WITH MY BOSS.

AND I LOOK OVER AT HIM, HE'S LIKE... AND I MAYBE JUST GIVE HIM A LEGAL TAP HERE AND THERE.

AND THE WIND RUSHING IN MY FACE AND I'M RIGHT ON THE GROUND.

Brian: THESE BOYS HAVE SKILLS.

BUT, I WAS A LITTLE FASTER, I THINK.

Patrick Lucas: IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS FOR ME.

IT'S JUST ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH MY CO-WORKERS.

Zach: EVEN IF YOU WERE FORCED TO DRIVE, YOU'D COME OUT PLEASED.

Ben Konechne: A VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT FROM MY WIFE.

SHE SURPRISED ME.

MY FRIEND'S KIDNAPPED ME AND BROUGHT ME HERE.

I HAD NO IDEA.

I LIKE THESE HIGH SPEED KARTS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO MUCH MORE FUN THAN, IF YOU GO TO SOME AMUSEMENT PARK.

Zach: WELL, OUR LAP TIMES WERE IN, AND A WINNER WAS TO BE CROWNED.

BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT STAFFER WOULD PREFER TO STAY OUT THE SPOTLIGHT, AND AVOID ALL THOSE NAGGY SPONSORS AND INTERVIEWS.

I'M A PRETTY BUSY GUY AS IT IS.

Eric Earhardt: EVERY KID OR ADULT THAT COMES THROUGH HERE THAT GETS IN THE CAR YOU KNOW, ENJOYS THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT THIS PLACE DOES FOR PEOPLE.

MAKES THEM SMILE.

MAKES THEM LAUGH.

John: IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE.

LET'S SEE WHAT ADVICE PAT HAS TO ENLIGHTEN US WITH THIS WEEK.

Pat Goss: THE TERM "DRESS FOR SUCCESS" MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT APPLIES TO MOTORCYCLES, BUT IT ACTUALLY DOES.

AND TO EXPLAIN THAT TERM, WE HAVE LYNDON ABEL FROM ROMMEL HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN ANNAPOLIS.

LYNDON, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Lyndon: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, EXPLAIN THE TERM, PLEASE.

Lyndon: SO DRESSING FOR SUCCESS ON A MOTORCYCLE RIDE, YOU REALLY WANNA BE PROTECTED OF COURSE, BUT ALSO COMFORTABLE AND VISIBLE.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A JACKET THAT WILL REALLY ALLOW YOU TO DO ALL THREE.

PROTECTION IS THE ULTIMATE.

THIS IS A HEAVY-WEIGHT LEATHER JACKET, THAT INCLUDES BODY ARMOR.

SO, IN CASE OF AN UNINTENDED DISMOUNT, YOU HAVE BOTH THE TOP OF THE LINE PROTECTION OF LEATHER, AS WELL AS SOME IMPACT PROTECTION THAT THE BODY ARMOR PROVIDES.

ON TOP OF THAT, SOME ADDITIONAL VISIBILITY IS PROVIDED BY THESE REFLECTIVE STRIPES THAT BOUNCE LIGHT BACK TO THE LIGHT SOURCE.

SO WHEN A CAR DRIVER POINTS THEIR LIGHTS AT YOU, YOU'LL REALLY LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.

HOWEVER, WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE, THIS JACKET CAN STILL KEEP YOU COMFORTABLE, WITH A REMOVABLE INSIDE LINER, AND A TRIPLE VENT SYSTEM.

IT ALLOWS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF AIR FLOW THAT MAKES YOU FEEL AIR CONDITIONED OUT ON A WARM RIDE.

AND IF IT STARTS TO RAIN, THIS LEATHER IS SPECIALLY TREATED TO BE WATERPROOF.

AND THE ZIPPERS ARE WATERPROOF AS WELL.

SO REALLY, THE ULTIMATE IN PROTECTION.

Pat: VERY CLEVER DESIGN.

Lyndon: NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A JACKET THAT CAN KEEP YOU COMFORTABLE AND PROTECTED.

IT GIVES YOU THE PROTECTION OF LEATHER, BUT HAS PERFORATED PANELS TO ALLOW FLOW THROUGH... AIR FLOWING THROUGH IT AT ALL TIMES.

SO IN THE SUMMER TIME, THIS WOULD BE A VERY COMFORTABLE JACKET.

NOT AS WARM IN THE WINTER, BUT A GREAT SUMMER JACKET.

THERE ARE SOME NEW TEXTILE JACKETS OUT THAT GIVE YOU A LOT OF FEATURES, AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE.

IT'S A TEXTILE MATERIAL THAT HAS POCKETS FOR BODY ARMOR.

AND MESH PANELS THAT ALLOW THE AIR TO FLOW RIGHT THROUGH IT.

HOWEVER, IT ALSO HAS A REMOVABLE LINER FOR WARMTH, AND ONE FOR WATER.

Pat: OH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

Lyndon: SO IT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU ACCEPTABLY DRY IF IT'S NOT RAINING TOO HARD, AND ACCEPTABLY WARM IF IT'S NOT TOO COLD.

NOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE WATERPROOF LEATHER, YOU REALLY WANT A RAIN SUIT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR IN A GREAT RAIN SUIT AS WELL AS KEEPING THE WATER AWAY FROM YOU, IS VISIBILITY.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A JACKET THAT GIVES YOU CONSPICUITY, BY THE BRIGHT COLORS, AS WELL AS THIS REFLECTIVE MATERIAL.

SO IT REALLY IS POSSIBLE TO BE BOTH PROTECTED AND COMFORTABLE, WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON A RIDE.

Pat: OKAY, AND SOMETHING LIKE A RAIN SUIT IS EASY TO STORE ON THE BIKE.

Lyndon: YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A RAIN SUIT ON YOUR BIKE.

THAT WAY IT DOESN'T RAIN!

Pat: LYNDON, THANK YOU.

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

John: WE'VE PUT ANOTHER 2300 MILES ON OUR 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA MINIVAN, OVER 5000 TOTAL.

AND IT'S A COMFY RIDE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU SIT.

SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEAT SUPPORT ARE GREATLY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST TOWN & COUNTRY WE DROVE.

JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PACIFICA WORKS LIKE A PREMIUM VEHICLE; THE STOW-N-GO SEATS, THE POWER SLIDING DOORS AND HATCH, THE UCONNECT SYSTEM, AND RADAR CRUISE CONTROL.

IT'S PRETTY QUIET INSIDE TOO, UNTIL YOU DRIVE ON COARSE ASPHALT.

THEN IT'S LIKE A BOOM BOX.

WE WISH THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL WARMED UP ALL OF THE RIM'S SURFACES.

THE OUTER FABRIC GETS TOASTY, BUT THE HARD INNER RING STAYS ICE COLD.

A 3RD ROW POWER SEAT DID GET STUCK.

AN ERRANT FLOOR MAT IN THE STORAGE WELL TRIGGERED A SENSOR.

AS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD, THIS SAFETY FEATURE WORKED GREAT.

MILEAGE FROM THE 287 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6 STANDS AT 22.9 MILES PER GALLON, ALTHOUGH WE SAW OVER 28 DURING INTERSTATE CRUISING.

WE'RE ALSO UP FOR A YEAR'S WORTH OF QUALITY DRIVE TIME IN THIS 2017 MAZDA CX-9, MOTORWEEK'S DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST LARGE UTILITY WINNER.

OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVER HAS A 227 HORSEPOWER TURBO-4, AND SO FAR WE'RE NOT MISSING A V6 ONE BIT.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE SUBARU CROSSTREK AND KIA OPTIMA ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

NOW, LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO THE MOTORNEWS DESK, AND YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW HAS BEEN CALLED THE "CAT WALK OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY."

THE TITLE IS QUITE APROPOS CONSIDERING EUROPEAN CAR MAKERS CERTAINLY STRUTTED THEIR STUFF THIS YEAR.

STARTING WITH THE GERMANS, AS MERCEDES-BENZ PREMIERED THE AMG GT CONCEPT, A HYBRID 4-DOOR PERFORMANCE COUPE.

WHILE, THIS NEW CABRIOLET COMPLETES THE E-CLASS... BMW ADDS A TOURING WAGON TO THE 5 SERIES.

PORSCHE SHOWED THIS WAGON-LIKE PANAMERA TURBO SPORT TURISMO.

ACTIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD, ALONG WITH A VERY LARGE TAILGATE.

THEY ALSO REVEALED THE 500 HORSEPOWER PORSCHE 911 GT 3.

THE ITALIANS ADDED MUSCLE TO GENEVA WITH THE 640 HORSEPOWER V-10 LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN PERFORMANTE.

FERRARI DEBUTED ITS MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION CAR EVER...

THE 788 HORSEPOWER V-12 FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST.

THIS MCLAREN 720S STARTS THE SECOND-GENERATION OF THEIR SUPER SERIES.

WHILE AUDI'S CONTRIBUTION TO SPEED IS THE 3RD-GENERATION AUDI RS 5 DTM.

THIS RACE VERSION IS PACKED WITH A 500 HORSEPOWER V-8.

THE 400 HORSEPOWER AUDI RS 3 SPORTBACK ALSO SHARED THE SPOTLIGHT.

VOLKSWAGEN PRESENTED THE NEW ARTEON.

REPLACING THE SLEEK CC, THIS SHARPER LINED 4-DOOR SLIDES INTO THE LINE-UP ABOVE THE PASSAT.

VW ALSO INTRODUCED SEDRIC... THEIR FIRST AUTONOMOUS CONCEPT.

AN EVEN MORE FUTURISTIC IDEA CAME FROM ITALDESIGN AND AIRCRAFT BUILDER AIRBUS.

THEIR POPUP POD CAN TRAVEL BY GROUND OR AIR.

THIS BENTLEY EXP 12-SPEED 6E CONCEPT IS THE PRESTIGE BRAND'S FIRST EV.

JAGUAR'S I-PACE CONCEPT MADE ITS EUROPEAN MOTOR SHOW DEBUT IN A NEW COLOR, PHOTON RED.

AND THE MID-SIZE, ULTRA-MODERN RANGE ROVER VELAR ARRIVED IN GENEVA FRESH OFF ITS LONDON PREMIERE.

AND AMERICAN BUYERS WILL BE MOST INTERESTED IN VOLVO'S ALL-NEW XC60 MIDDLE-WEIGHT CROSSOVER.

NOT TO BE LEFT OUT, ASIAN CARMAKERS WERE REPRESENTED WITH THE LONG RUMORED, 306 HORSEPOWER HONDA CIVIC TYPE R... AND AN ALL-NEW SUBARU XV, OUR CROSSTREK.

AND THAT'S ALL THE AUTOMOTIVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SWISS CITY OF GENEVA, AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: YOU MIGHT THINK ACURA'S COMPACT RDX CROSSOVER WOULD BE THEIR TOP SELLING MODEL, OR EVEN ONE OF THEIR SEDANS, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE MIDSIZE MDX THAT CARRIES THAT BADGE FOR THE BRAND.

NOW, HALFWAY THROUGH ITS LIFE CYCLE, IT GETS SOME UPDATES TO KEEP SALES UP, AND GIVE LESSEES A REASON TO RE-UP FOR ANOTHER GO 'ROUND.

* AT THE RISK OF GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE'LL SAY THAT THE ACURA MDX IS ONE OF THE BEST CROSSOVER UTILITIES AT ANY PRICE POINT.

AND WHY THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE, IS WITH WELL THOUGHT OUT CONSTANT REFINEMENTS, LIKE WHAT THE 2017 MDX HAS TO OFFER.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WE ALWAYS CELEBRATE THE LITTLE THINGS AROUND HERE.

SO, HAVING A REAL VOLUME KNOB FOR THE RADIO AND GENUINE WOOD TRIM THAT COMES WITH THE MDX ADVANCE MAKES US ALMOST GIDDY.

AND IT IS IN UP-LEVEL ADVANCE TRIM WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE MOST UPDATES.

3-ROW SEATING IS STANDARD IN ALL MDX TRIMS, BUT ADVANCE NOW COMES WITH NEW 2ND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS.

ALSO NEW ARE A HEATED STEERING WHEEL, 6-USB PORTS, AND A SURROUND-VIEW CAMERA.

ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW IS PUSH-BUTTON SIMPLE, AND THERE'S A WIDE-OPEN ENTRYWAY, BUT JUST CHILD SIZE SPACE FOR ACTUALLY SITTING.

STILL, PLENTY OF ROOM FOR HAULING CARGO HOWEVER; 15.0 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE 3RD ROW, 38.4 BEHIND THE SECOND, AND MAXING OUT AT 68.4 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

AS FOR THE DRIVER'S PERCH, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO OPERATE, AND GREAT COMFORT IN THE SEAT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THEY'RE LOGICAL AND EASY TO MASTER.

GAUGES ARE VERY TRADITIONAL WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL INFO DISPLAY; WHILE THE CENTER STACK STILL FEATURES HONDA'S ODD DUAL SCREEN SETUP.

THE MDX HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD LOOKING, WITH ENOUGH PRESENCE TO WEAR ACURA'S LARGE PENTAGONAL-SHIELD GRILLE WITHOUT LOOKING AWKWARD.

WELL, UPGRADES FOR '17 INCLUDE A NEW VERSION THAT DOES AWAY WITH THE CHROME BAND, AND IT LOOKS MILES BETTER.

THE REST OF THE FRONT FASCIA, FENDERS, AND HOOD ARE FINELY TWEAKED AS WELL.

AND, THERE IS NEW BRIGHTWORK ON THE ROCKERS, BETWEEN THIS ADVANCE'S 20-INCH WHEELS, AS WELL AS A NEW REAR BUMPER AND UPDATED TAILPIPES.

ALL MDX'S NOW, ADD THE FULL ACURAWATCH SUITE OF SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDING COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING.

NO CHANGES TO SUSPENSION OR POWERTRAIN; SO THE RIDE CONTINUES TO BE COMPOSED BUT ATHLETIC, AND POWER FROM THE 3.5 LITER V6 REMAINS MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

NO TURBO-4 HERE, YET THE FULLY-MODERN 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL KEEP YOU FROM HAVING RATIO ENVY.

THE V6s OUTPUT IS A STOUT 290 HORSEPOWER AND 267 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS OPTIONAL ON ALL TRIM LEVELS.

VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT AND IDLE STOP HELP GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, WHICH ARE 19-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

OUR 22.3 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON PREMIUM MATCHED THAT ALMOST PERFECTLY.

FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.7 TONS.

PERFORMANCE NUMBERS ARE ALSO QUITE GOOD.

AT THE TEST TRACK, OUR MDX EXHIBITED A SLIGHT HESITATION OFF THE LINE, BUT THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, POWER CAME ON FAST AND HARD, TAKING US TO 60 IN 6.3 SECONDS.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A FAIR AMOUNT OF ENGINE NOISE CREEPING INTO THE CABIN, BUT IT SOUNDS STRONG AND PLEASING AS IT REVS FAIRLY QUICKLY; WHILE THE 9-SPEED ATTEMPTS TO KEEP UP, SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS WITH A SMOOTH HASTINESS.

THE QUARTER-MILE RESULTS WERE 14.9 SECONDS AT 94 MILES PER HOUR.

ON OUR SLALOM COURSE, THE MDX GOT THROUGH WITH TYPICAL HONDA/ACURA EFFICIENCY; FULLY COMPETENT, YET NOTHING TO GET OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT.

THERE IS A VERY SLIGHT AMOUNT OF UNDERSTEER AND BODY ROLL, BUT BOTH ARE KEPT WELL IN CHECK WITH SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DIVERTING POWER TO WHERE IT CAN BE USED BEST.

STEERING FEEL IS A LITTLE NUMB, THOUGH IT TIGHTENS UP CONSIDERABLY IN SPORT MODE.

OUR 120-FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 WAS QUITE GOOD FOR A 3-ROW CROSSOVER, BUT SOME FADE DID SEEP IN AS THE BRAKES GOT HOTTER, AND PEDAL FEEL WAS INCONSISTENT.

HOWEVER, IT STAYED VERY STABLE THROUGHOUT.

THE MUCH BIGGER MDX NEWS FOR '17 IS A NEW SPORT HYBRID VERSION THAT ARRIVES THIS SUMMER.

AND WE'LL BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THAT ONE VERY SHORTLY, SO STAY TUNED FOR A FULL REVIEW.

MDX PRICING STARTS VERY REASONABLY AT $45,025; ADD $2,000 MORE FOR SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

TO GET THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY, AND TO EXPERIENCE THE '17 UPDATES TO THE FULLEST; ADVANCE TRIM STARTS AT $55,475.

AS IS THE CASE WITH MOST HONDA AND ACURA PRODUCTS, THE 2017 MDX IS A FULLY COMPETENT, DEPENDABLE VEHICLE, THAT LIKE A TRUE FRIEND WILL BE WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE ARE MORE LUXURIOUS ENTRIES OUT THERE AND CERTAINLY ONES THAT HAVE A LOT MORE FLASH.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER, THE U.S.

BUILT MDX CONTINUES TO BE A WINNER FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES ON ALL LEVELS.

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 NISSAN PUTS SOMETHING NEW TO SEE AND FEEL INTO THEIR GT-R SUPER CAR... HONDA BRINGS EVEN MORE TO THE TABLE IN THEIR NEW CR-V... PAT GOSS HAS TIPS ON TACKLING THE TRACK... AND LAUREN MORRISON ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AUTOMAT MEETS AUTOMOBILE... PLUS, WE GO FOR A BRAND SPANKING NEW QUICKSPIN... 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.

Man: "YO DANNY, MY MAN!

HA, HA, HA."

Announcer: 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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

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