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

JOIN US AS WE DROP THE TOP ON THE ALL-NEW FIAT 124 SPIDER... PAT GOSS ENLIGHTENS US WITH MORE GOOD CAR CARE ADVICE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WITH A TRUE FIAT AFICIONADO... AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE RE-BORN BUICK LACROSSE STACKS UP...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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John: WHILE, FIAT IS WELL KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR DIMINUTIVE 500, OR CINQUECENTO; IT'S THE 124 COUPE AND SPIDER THAT FIRST INTRODUCED MOST AMERICANS TO THE BRAND BACK IN THE LATE 1960s.

AND AFTER USING THE 500 TO RE-INTRODUCE THEMSELVES HERE IN THE STATES, FIAT HAS NOW LAUNCHED AN ALL-NEW 124 SPIDER FOR US TO ENJOY.

BUT THIS IS NO THROW-BACK ITALIAN 2-SEAT SPORTS CAR!

* UP TO NOW, THE CARS MAKING UP FIAT'S U.S. RETURN HAVE INDEED BEEN DIMINUTIVE, MOSTLY ECONOMY-MINDED AFFAIRS.

BUT THE OVERALL EFFECT OF FIAT'S RETURN HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT SMALL, MERGING WITH CHRYSLER IN 2014 TO CREATE FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES.

AND NOW, THINGS GET A WHOLE LOT MORE EXCITING WITH THE 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER.

NOW, THIS IS WHERE WE TELL YOU THAT THIS 124 IS ACTUALLY BUILT ON THE SAME CHASSIS AS THE MAZDA MX-5, AND FURTHER, COMES OUT OF THE SAME JAPANESE PLANT.

BUT THIS IS FAR FROM A STORY ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BADGE ENGINEERING.

THEY REALLY DO LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT, AT LEAST OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

WHERE THE MX-5 HAS GOTTEN MEANER LOOKING OVER THE YEARS, THE 124 LOOKS CLASSY, WITH A NICELY MODERN UPDATE OF '60s ITALIAN-STYLE.

THE 124 SPIDER CERTAINLY HAS A SPORTY CHARACTER, BUT INSTEAD OF BEGGING YOU TO SEEK APEXES, IT YEARNS FOR MOUNTAIN PASSES, AND A MORE RELAXED GRAND TOURING PACE.

IT'S LESS EDGY AND MORE COMPLIANT; A KINDER, GENTLER, AND SOFTER MX-5 IF YOU WILL.

VERY REMINISCENT OF THE FIRST MIATA.

THE ENGINE IS ANOTHER CLEAR DEPARTURE.

IN PLACE OF THE MIATA'S NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.0 LITER IS THE SAME 1.4 LITER MULTIAIR TURBO-4 FOUND IN OTHER CURRENT FIATS, INCLUDING THE RAUCOUS 500 ABARTH.

HERE IT SPINS UP 160 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT WINDS UP QUICKLY.

BUT, DESPITE MORE HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE, AN INCREASE IN SIZE AND WEIGHT MAKES THE 124, A TAD LESS SPIRITED OFF THE LINE THAN THE MX-5, THOUGH THE EXHAUST NOTE ADDS TO ITS MUCH ENJOYED ITALIAN FLAIR.

AND IT SURELY FITS IN WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE ORIGINAL 124 SPIDER, WHICH WAS AN EVERYMAN'S TAKE ON A FERRARI.

WE HIT 60 IN 7.6 SECONDS, AND CLEARED THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.8 SECONDS AT 91 MILES PER HOUR.

REFRESHING!

OUR TESTER CAME WITH THE OPTIONAL 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IN PLACE OF THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL.

IT WORKED WELL ENOUGH, WITH SMOOTH SHIFTS, BUT REALLY COULD USE SOME PADDLE SHIFTERS FOR TRULY LIVING OUT THE ITALIAN DREAM.

YES, YOU CAN SHIFT MANUALLY WITH THE SHIFTER ITSELF, BUT IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME.

AFTER TAKING A FEW TRIPS THROUGH THE CONES, OUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS WERE CONFIRMED; THE 124 SPIDER DOES RESPOND SOFTER THAN A MIATA.

STEERING IS NUMB FEELING, BUT ACCURATE, AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF SNAPPING THE REAR LOOSE; AS EVEN WITH THE CUSHIER FEEL, THE CAR REMAINS PLENTY RESPONSIVE.

BUT WHILE UNIQUE OUTSIDE AND UNDER THE HOOD, THE INTERIOR IS ANOTHER STORY.

IT'S ALMOST A DIRECT MX-5 COPY, INCLUDING DASH-TOP INFOTAINMENT SCREEN THAT RESPONDS TO TOUCH AND A CONSOLE-MOUNTED CONTROLLER.

TO GET NAVIGATION, YOU HAVE TO OPT FOR LUSSO TRIM AND THEN ADD THE PREMIUM COLLECTION PACKAGE.

THE 124s GAUGES LOOK GREAT AND STEERING WHEEL PLACEMENT IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT.

ALSO, THERE'S STILL NO DASH-MOUNTED GLOVE BOX, RATHER A STORAGE BIN IN BETWEEN THE SEATS, BUT YOU DO GET AN OUTSIDE TRUNK RELEASE.

AND WITH 5.5 INCHES MORE LENGTH, THERE'S MORE ROOM IN THE 124'S TRUNK, 4.9 CUBIC-FEET VERSUS THE MX-5s 4.6.

AND WE LOVE THE FACT THAT TOP OPERATION IS STILL ONE HAND FOLD DOWN SIMPLE; THANK YOU FIAT FOR NOT COMPLICATING THAT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 25-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED JUST 27.1 MILES PER GALLON, AND THIS TINY TURBO DOES REQUIRE PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS STILL GOOD HOWEVER, AT 11.4 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.0 TONS.

THERE ARE THREE MODELS OF 124 TO CHOOSE FROM, STARTING WITH CLASSICA AT $25,990.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THAT MAKES IT THE LOWEST-PRICED TURBOCHARGED CONVERTIBLE IN AMERICA, BUT ALSO $240 MORE THAN A BASE MX-5.

SO OVERALL, IF YOU LIKE THE MX-5, YOU'LL LIKE THE 124.

THOUGH, WHILE CLEARLY NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT, WE DO THINK THE 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER WILL EASILY APPEAL MORE TO FEMALE BUYERS; THOUGH IT WILL CERTAINLY ATTRACT FANS OF THE ORIGINAL 124 AS WELL.

MAZDA SAYS, "THAT WITHOUT THE FIAT PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 124, A NEW MX-5 MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED."

NOW, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CALAMITY.

SO, WE'RE ECSTATIC THAT FIAT DECIDED TO BRING BACK THE 124 SPIDER, FOR A GLOBAL TIE-UP THAT EVERYONE WHO LOVES TO DRIVE SHOULD GO OUT AND CELEBRATE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO TALLADEGA, ALABAMA, WHERE ONE COMPANY IS HAULING CLEAN WITH CNG.

VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION MOVES NEW VEHICLES FROM RAILROADS, PORTS, AND PLANTS.

THIS 100% CNG DEDICATED FLEET, TRAILERS 1200 SUVs, PICKUPS, AND MINIVANS PER DAY FROM THE NEARBY HONDA ASSEMBLY PLANT, TO THE RAILHEAD RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR BRAND NEW CNG STATION.

Wendy Ferguson: WE DESIGNED, WE BUILT, WE OWN, WE OPERATE, WE MAINTAIN THIS STATION, SO WE ARE COMPLETELY SELF-SUSTAINABLE, AND THAT'S A GREAT FEELING.

John: BY USING CNG, THIS FLEET WILL DISPLACE ABOUT 475,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL PER YEAR, REDUCING CO2 EMISSIONS.

WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE ALABAMA CLEAN FUELS COALITION, VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION IS COMMITTED TO CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE LONG HAUL.

* John: FOR OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, WE KNEW, THAT THE NEW FIAT 124 SPIDER PROBABLY WOULDN'T SUFFICE.

TIME NOW, TO CRUISE WITH ZACH MASKELL, AND A COLLECTOR WITH ENOUGH OF THE ORIGINAL 124 SPIDERS, TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR AN ITALIAN WEDDING PARTY.

Zach Maskell: POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, SITTING ABOUT 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF PHILADELPHIA, IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND SHAUN FOLKERTS AND HIS FAMILY.

AND THEY HAVE MORE FIAT SPIDERS, AND OTHER CLASSIC ITALIAN HARDWARE, THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE ELSE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC.

Shaun Folkerts: I MAINLY SPECIALIZE IN FIAT, LANCIA, PININFARINA, BERTONE, AND SOME OF THE OTHER OFF-BRANDS.

BITTERS, CITROEN, ALFA ROMEO.

Zach: HE WAS A SCIENTIST... BEFORE HE MOVED FULL-TIME TO "AUTOMOBIL-OLOGY."

THIS BUILDING HOLDS MOST OF THE 200 (MOSTLY FIATS) CARS HE OWNS.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR, THEN WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND?

Shaun: MY FIRST CAR WAS A 1981 FIAT SPIDER, RED, THAT I BOUGHT, WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND THREE DAYS.

AND THE SECOND ONE WAS A PARTS CAR THAT I NEEDED TO FIX THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THAT VERY FIRST FIAT SPIDER.

Zach: SO, IT WAS CHEAPER FOR YOU TO GET A PARTS CAR, THEN IT WOULD'VE BEEN FOR YOU TO FIX THE REAR DIFF.

Shaun: THAT'S CORRECT AND I ENDED UP WITH A LOT OF SPARE PARTS IN THE PROCESS.

Zach: SHAUN HAS A FAVORITE CAR FOR EACH PURPOSE.

WHETHER, THAT'S OUT TO DINNER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, OR TAKING HIS SHOP HELP TO SOCCER PRACTICE.

Shaun: MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE GREAT HELP, AND THEY SHARE MY PASSION FOR ALL THE CARS, AND WE HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THEM.

Zach: FRIENDS GET TO HAVE FUN, TOO.

HE AND HIS WIFE KNEW THEY HAD THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR GETTING THEIR WEDDING PARTY FROM POINT A TO B. Shaun: THERE WAS NEVER A CHANCE OF HIRING A LIMOUSINE.

WE HAVE ALL THESE GREAT CARS TO USE, SO BASICALLY, EACH OF OUR GROOMSMEN GOT A SET OF KEYS, AND A BRIDESMAID, AND WE USED ALL OF OUR CARS IN THE WEDDING PARTY.

Zach: AND FAMILY VACATIONS?

WELL, THEY'LL OFTEN INCLUDE A PIT STOP.

YOU SEE, SHAUN CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING HE LIKES, BUT HE CAN ACCEPT SOME.

REGARDLESS OF THE REASON, IF THE OWNERS CAN'T KEEP THEM ANYMORE, THEY'RE LOADED ON A TRAILER AND ADDED TO HIS COLLECTION.

SHAUN WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LET US CRUISE IN HIS PRIDE AND JOY, A FIAT 124, SPIDER.

AH, YEAH!

IT'S SUPER EASY TO DRIVE.

COMFORTABLE SEATS, I LIKE THE GEAR SHIFTER.

CLUTCH IS SIMPLE.

WHAT ARE WE IN RIGHT NOW?

Shaun: THIS IS AN 82' SPIDER WHICH THE MODEL WENT FROM ABOUT 1966 UP TO 1985 AND A HALF.

UM, THE 85 AND A HALF WAS ITS OWN MODEL, AND THE 83 TO 85 WAS ITS OWN MODEL.

SO, THIS IS SORT OF THE LAST OF THE FIAT BUILT SPIDERS.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE CAR EVER.

IT'S A TWIN-CAM LAMPREDI DESIGNED ENGINE.

FOUR-WHEEL DISK BRAKES.

FIVE-SPEED SYNCHRONIZED TRANSMISSION.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING, I DON'T LIKE.

THERE'S A VERY SHORT LINKAGE ON THIS TRANSMISSION, IT'S MAYBE 6 OR 8 INCHES, OTHER THAN THAT YOU'RE BASICALLY GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE TRANSMISSION HERE.

SO YOU GET A REAL NICE DIRECT FEEL.

Zach: AAAH!

Shaun: NOTHING TO GET IN YOUR WAY.

Zach: OKAY!

NOT FIVE MINUTES INTO OUR DRIVE... WE WERE BEING POINTED OUT OF THE CROWD.

Crowd: LOOK AT THAT CAR!

Shaun: (LAUGHS) YOU HEAR EVERYBODY YELLING, "LOOK AT THAT CAR."

(LAUGHS) I LOVE THAT.

Zach: IN FACT, VISITORS FROM EUROPE, CANADA, AND THE WEST COAST, FREQUENT THE WAREHOUSE.

IF YOU NEED A REFERENCE POINT OR A TIP...

THIS GUY IS HAPPY TO HELP.

Shaun: THESE CARS CAME WITH POWER WINDOWS, BUT IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF TO GET THEM UP.

Zach: OH, MY GOD!

THAT'S ONE WEAK MOTOR.

Shaun: YEAH, ANYONE CONSIDERING BUYING ONE OF THESE, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE MANUAL WINDOWS.

Zach: WHY ALL THESE CLASSIC ITALIAN CARS?

SHAUN FEELS THEY EMBODY THE SAME PASSION THAT MAKES OLDER FERRARI'S AND LAMBORGHINI'S SO DESIRABLE, BUT WERE MUCH EASIER TO BUY, AND LIVE WITH.

John: IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE, LET'S SEE WHAT PAT HAS TO ENLIGHTEN US WITH THIS WEEK.

Pat Goss: WELL, MOST OF YOU CALL THEM "IDIOT LIGHTS."

NOW WHY, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE A VALUABLE PART OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND OTHER PARTS OF YOUR CAR.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE ONLY IDIOT INVOLVED HERE IS THE PERSON WHO IGNORES THEIR SO-CALLED IDIOT LIGHTS.

BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

AND NO, THEY DON'T LIE ALL THE TIME.

THESE LIGHTS ARE VERY, AND I DO MEAN VERY, RELIABLE.

NOW, THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE GRADES OF WARNING LIGHTS.

THERE IS THE GREEN LIGHT.

THE GREEN LIGHTS MEANS THAT SOMETHING IS WORKING AND IT'S WORKING PROPERLY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

GREEN MEANS GO.

BUT THEN, YOU HAVE YELLOW LIGHTS.

WELL, YELLOW LIGHTS MEAN; JUST LIKE THEY DO AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THEY MEAN CAUTION.

SOMETHING IS OR IS ABOUT TO GO WRONG, AND YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION.

AND YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT EVASIVE MANEUVERS YOU NEED TO PERFORM.

BUT THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL, AND THAT IS THE RED WARNING LIGHT.

NOW, IF YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU COME UP AGAINST A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT'S RED, IT DOESN'T MEAN STOP ANOTHER BLOCK DOWN THE ROAD; ANOTHER MILE, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT MEANS STOP RIGHT NOW.

AND THE RED WARNING LIGHT ON YOUR DASH?

THAT MEANS EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

BECAUSE A RED WARNING LIGHT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE OIL PRESSURE, OR YOUR ENGINE IS SERIOUSLY OVERHEATED, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, THAT EXTRA MILE, OR THAT EXTRA BLOCK COULD COST YOU AN ENGINE.

SO THE KEY HERE IS... PAY ATTENTION TO WARNING LIGHTS.

NUMBER ONE: LOOK AT YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND SEE WHAT EACH ONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON YOUR DASH MEANS, SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN ONE OF THEM COMES UP.

AND REMEMBER THAT GREEN MEANS GO, YELLOW MEANS CAUTION, AND RED MEANS STOP RIGHT NOW.

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

John: THERE'S CERTAINLY NO SHORTAGE OF NEW 2016 HONDA PILOTS ON THE ROAD, AND NO SHORTAGE OF MILES BEING RACKED UP ON OUR LONG-TERM EXAMPLE EITHER; HAVING PUT OVER 17,000 ON THE DIAL OVER THESE LAST 8-MONTHS.

EVERY WEEKEND IT SEEMS OUR THREE-ROW, 6-PASSENGER PILOT IS OFF ON ANOTHER GETAWAY.

AND THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEAT COMFORT OR USEFULNESS.

IN FACT, MOST RECENTLY THE LOG BOOK WAS FULL OF PRAISE FOR THE MULTITUDE OF STORAGE BINS, AND SHELVES UP FRONT, FOR STASHING ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND NO DOUBT SNACKS AS WELL.

THE 280 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6 CONTINUES TO DELIVER GOOD POWER, WITH FUEL ECONOMY BACK ON THE UPTICK TO 23.1 MILES PER GALLON.

SURELY, THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HELPS, YET SOME OF OUR CREW FIND ITS OPERATION IS NOT ALWAYS THE SMOOTHEST.

DITTO FOR THE AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM, WHICH IS A NECESSARY MPG EVIL WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH.

JUST ONE MONTH AND 2,500 MILES INTO OUR TIME WITH THIS 2016 KIA OPTIMA MIDSIZE SEDAN AND IT HAS ALREADY REVEALED ITSELF TO BE A REALLY NICE, COMFORTABLE, HIGH SPEED CRUISING MACHINE.

EXTENDED SEAT TIME IS A BREEZE IN THIS COZY CAR, WITH ONLY A LITTLE MORE THAN EXPECTED WIND NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO DAMPEN OUR ENTHUSIASM.

AND SPEAKING OF NOISES, THERE'S AN ODD ONE COMING FROM OUR CAR'S DASH THAT'S CLEARLY LINKED TO THE HVAC SYSTEM.

IT COMES AND GOES SPORADICALLY, SO HOPEFULLY, IT WILL REVEAL ITSELF WHEN WE MAKE A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT.

AUDITORY ODDITIES ASIDE, WE'RE CURRENTLY AVERAGING A GREAT 28.9 MILES PER GALLON FROM THE 2.0 LITER TURBO-4, AND HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER THAT IT DELIVERS.

THE INTERIOR OF THIS SX LIMITED EXAMPLE IS QUITE POSH, AND THOUGH SOME INITIALLY THOUGHT IT A BIT SHOWY; IT GETS COMPLIMENTS FROM MOST WHO SEE IT.

FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER, WE'LL CHECK IN OUR MAZDA MX-5 MIATA, AND WINNEBAGO VIEW 24J RV, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

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

Yolanda Vazquez: LAST YEAR, NISSAN MADE IT CLEAR, THEY HAVE NO PLANS OF TAPPING OUT OF THE FULL-SIZE TRUCK GAME, AS THEY LAUNCHED AN ALL-NEW TITAN XD.

ITS AVAILABLE CUMMINS TURBO-DIESEL V8 HAS BROUGHT THE TITAN'S CAPABILITIES CLOSER TO DETROIT'S HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS.

AND NOW, IN ADDITION TO REVEALING THE FULL TITAN LINEUP, THEY'VE ANNOUNCED "AMERICA'S BEST TRUCK WARRANTY," WITH BUMPER-TO-BUMPER COVERAGE OF 5-YEARS OR 100,000 MILES FOR ALL 2017 TITAN FULL-SIZE TRUCKS.

THAT'S A BIG STEP UP OVER THE TYPICAL 3-YEAR/36,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER PROTECTION WARRANTY ON MOST PICKUPS; THOUGH SOME DO HAVE AS MUCH AS A 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN-ONLY WARRANTY FOR DIESEL MODELS.

THAT PEACE OF MIND STRATEGY HAS SURE WORKED FOR HYUNDAI, AND KIA OVER THE YEARS, AND NO DOUBT DEALERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING AN ADDITIONAL BARGAINING CHIP TO ENTICE CUSTOMERS, TO JUMP OVER TO THE TITAN WAY OF THINKING.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS IF YOU'VE ALREADY PURCHASED A 2016 TITAN XD; YOU'RE NOT INVITED TO THE BEST TRUCK WARRANTY PARTY.

IN OTHER ENGINE NEWS, NISSAN WILL UNVEIL THE WORLD'S FIRST PRODUCTION-READY "VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIO ENGINE" AT THE UPCOMING PARIS MOTOR SHOW.

IT'S CALLED THE "VC-T" FOR VARIABLE COMPRESSION TURBOCHARGED, AND THIS 2.0 LITER ENGINE WILL ARRIVE SOON, IN A YET-TO-BE-NAMED INFINITI PRODUCT.

IN THE WORKS FOR OVER 20 YEARS; IT'S PROOF THAT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF WAYS TO SKIN THI INTERNAL COMBUSTION CAT.

THE GOAL IS TO OPTIMIZE EFFICIENCY, TO IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY, WITHOUT SACRIFICING PERFORMANCE.

IT DOES THIS BY MECHANICALLY CONTROLLING HOW FAR THE PISTONS TRAVEL UP THE CYLINDERS, VARYING THE COMPRESSION RATIO FROM 8:1 TO 14:1.

BUT THE HARDWARE IS THE EASY PART; DEVELOPING THE SOFTWARE TO CONTINUOUSLY, AND RELIABLY DO THIS, HAS TAKEN UP THE BULK OF MAN HOURS.

AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW TO GET THE FULL DETAILS.

SO FOR NOW, THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: IN A WORLD WHERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OFTEN SEVERELY LACKING, JOSEPH A. MICHELLI MAKES A CASE IN HIS BOOK "DRIVEN TO DELIGHT: DELIVERING WORLD-CLASS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THE MERCEDES-BENZ WAY."

MERCEDES-BENZ'S DEDICATION TO PROVIDING THE ULTIMATE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A MAJOR KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS HERE IN AMERICA.

OF COURSE, THEY MAKE A GREAT PRODUCT, AS DO MANY OTHER CAR COMPANIES.

BUT IT WAS THE DRIVEN TO DELIGHT PROGRAM, PUT INTO PLACE MBUSA, CEO STEPHEN CANNON THAT HAS MADE THE MERCEDES-BENZ OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE AN UNRIVALLED ONE.

AND A PATTERN FOR THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY, AND ALL BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW.

THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER AT BUICK SHOWROOMS.

WITH A LINEUP THAT NOT ONLY BOASTS UNIQUE STYLE, SETTING THEM APART FROM THEIR GENERAL MOTORS BRETHREN, BUT ALSO SOME HONEST-TO-GOODNESS DRIVING DYNAMICS THAT ARE FINALLY HELPING BRING IN THOSE ELUSIVE YOUNGER BUYERS.

AND NOW, THERE'S AN ALL-NEW LACROSSE THAT LOOKS TO KEEP THAT TREND, TRENDING.

* WHILE, THE 2017 BUICK LACROSSE IS NOT A MAKE-OR-BREAK MODEL FOR THIS GLOBAL BRAND; IF IT WERE TO BE A BIG SUCCESS HERE, THAT WOULD SURELY GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS KEEPING THE BRAND VIABLE FOR YEARS TO COME.

REGRETTABLY, IT WILL NOT ONLY HAVE TO GO UP AGAINST ITS USUAL NEAR-LUXURY COMPETITORS, BUT IT'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR ATTENTION IN ITS OWN SHOWROOM.

TRYING TO LURE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE SUVS AND CROSSOVERS THEY ARE NO DOUBT THERE TO CHECK OUT IS A CHALLENGE FOR ALL BRANDS.

STILL, AFTER HITTING THE ROADS AROUND PORTLAND, OREGON, WE IMMEDIATELY FOUND THAT THIS NEW LACROSSE WAS VERY PLEASANT TO DRIVE; NOTICEABLY LIGHTER AND MORE AGILE THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, ESPECIALLY ON INTERESTING ROADS.

NOT SOMETHING WE'VE EVER SAID ABOUT ANY BUICK UTILITY.

THIS LACROSSE ADVANTAGE IS DUE TO A FRESH STRUCTURE, WITH A NEW 5-LINK REAR SUSPENSION AND AN OPTIONAL HIPER STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION.

THAT MISSION IS FURTHERED, IF YOU CONTINUE OPTING, AND GO FOR THE 20 INCH WHEELS, AND CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL ACTIVE SUSPENSION.

YET, TRUE TO A BUICK; IT REMAINS EXTREMELY QUIET INSIDE, DESPITE THE USE OF LIGHTER SOUND ABSORBING MATERIALS.

AND GOOD SEAT COMFORT MEANS YOU CAN SPEND PLENTY OF TIME INSIDE, BEFORE HAVING TO STEP OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD'S HARSH REALITY.

ENGINE DUTIES ARE CARRIED OUT BY A 3.6 LITER V6 WITH 310 HORSEPOWER, AND 282 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT FEATURES AN ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT CYLINDER CUTOFF SYSTEM THAT LETS IT ACT LIKE A 4-CYLINDER WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

THERE'S AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND THE COMBO PROVIDES ADEQUATE POWER.

BUT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE THE WEAK LINK; IT'S PLENTY SMOOTH ON THE UPSHIFTS, BUT HESITANT WITH THE DOWNSHIFTS WHEN YOU'RE SEEKING A QUICK PASS.

AUTOMATIC STOP/START IS ALSO PART OF THE PICTURE, AND WHILE IT'S UNABLE TO BE SWITCHED OFF, AT LEAST IT'S A SMOOTH SYSTEM, BARELY NOTICEABLE ON STARTUP.

A NEW DUAL-CLUTCH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARRANGEMENT CAN BE HAD AS WELL, BUT ONLY WITH PREMIUM TRIM.

VISIBILITY IMPROVES SOMEWHAT, BUT WE STILL FOUND THE THICK A-PILLARS OBTRUSIVE.

IN THE BACKSEAT, THERE'S PLENTY LEGROOM FOR ADULTS, BUT HEAD ROOM SEEMS TIGHT.

BUICK'S MUCH-IMPROVED 8-INCH INTELLILINK DISPLAY BLENDS IN NICELY WITH THE DASH, AND THERE'S A SMALL NUMBER OF MANUAL CONTROLS JUST BELOW.

NOTABLY, APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE STANDARD.

EVERYTHING INSIDE APPEARS QUITE LUXURIOUS, AS MATERIALS ARE CERTAINLY IMPROVED, LOOKING MORE UPSCALE AND FEELING SOFTER; SOME TRIM LEVELS EVEN FEATURE REAL WOOD.

FINALLY, THE TRUNK AREA IS MORE NICELY FINISHED, AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL SPACE TO BE FOUND IN IT, CLIMBING TO 15.0 CUBIC-FEET.

THE SPLIT FOLDING REAR SEATS WITH PASS-THROUGH ADD EVEN MORE.

LACROSSE EXTERIOR STYLING IS VERY PLEASING; FEATURING THE NEW FACE OF BUICK, FIRST FOUND ON THEIR AVENIR CONCEPT.

THOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD FACE, SAVE FOR A MORE OPEN APPEARING GRILLE, WITH THE RETURN OF THE 3-COLOR TRI-SHIELD BADGE, NOW, WITH CHROME SPEARS ATTACHED.

THE BODY TICKS ALL OF THE NEW DESIGN BOXES; BEING LONGER, LOWER, WIDER, AND ABOUT 300 POUNDS LIGHTER.

AND OF COURSE THERE'S LED SIGNATURE LIGHTING.

WHEELBASE IS CLOSE TO 3.0 INCHES LONGER THAN BEFORE, AT 114.4, STANDARD WHEELS ARE 18s.

A WIDE VARIETY OF SAFETY FEATURES ARE EITHER STANDARD OR AVAILABLE DEPENDING ON TRIM, BUT FULL FRONT AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS ONLY AVAILABLE WITH PREMIUM, AND REQUIRES ADDING THE DRIVER CONFIDENCE PACKAGE NUMBER TWO.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 21-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

EVEN WITH A $1,000 INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR, PRICES START VERY REASONABLY AT $32,990.

BUT THINGS ESCALATE RAPIDLY FROM THERE, ON THE WAY UP TO PREMIUM TRIM WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AT CLOSER TO 45 GRAND.

THERE'S NO DENYING THAT PRODUCTS FROM BUICK, AND GM IN GENERAL, ARE THEIR BEST EVER.

STILL, EVERYONE ELSE'S PRODUCTS HAVE IMPROVED AS WELL.

SO THE 2017 BUICK LACROSSE IS FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE.

FORTUNATELY, LACROSSE HAS SHOWN UP WELL-EQUIPPED FOR THE FIGHT, WITH A MUCH-IMPROVED RIDE-AND-HANDLING BALANCE, AS WELL AS THE BEST INTERIOR WE'VE EVER SEEN FROM BUICK.

LET'S JUST HOPE THIS BEAUTY OF A BUICK DOESN'T FLY UNDER THE RADAR.

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 HOP BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE SURPRISING MAZDA CX-9.

THEN, THE GOOD TIMES GET SERIOUSLY ROLLING WITH AN AUDI RS 7.

'TIL 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.

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