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

JOIN US AS WE SEE IF THE NEW HONDA RIDGELINE TRULY IS A SPECIAL DELIVERY... PAT GOSS HAS A FLOOD OF NEW TIPS FOR US IN GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WITH SOME WELL SEASON WAR VETS... AND WE'LL HIT A HIGHER GEAR IN THE AUDI R8...

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... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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John: THE 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE WAS A TRUE CROSSOVER.

AN SUT OR SPORT UTILITY TRUCK, THAT PROVIDED CAR-LIKE HANDLING AND COMFORT, IN A PICKUP STYLE PACKAGE.

BUT WHILE, CAPABLE OF PERFORMING JUST ABOUT ANY LIGHT-DUTY FAMILY TASK, THAT RIDGELINE DIDN'T SELL AS WELL AS HONDA HOPED.

SO NOW, AFTER A 2-YEAR HIATUS FOR RETHINKING, AN EVEN MORE TRUCK LIKE RIDGELINE IS BACK ON THE SCENE.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT HOW IT DELIVERS.

* IT'S FITTING THAT WE DROVE THIS ALL-NEW, MORE TRUCK LIKE 2017 HONDA RIDGELINE IN TEXAS, THE TRUCKIEST OF ALL STATES; NEAR SAN ANTONIO.

BUT NOT TO WORRY, AS DESPITE A MORE TRADITIONAL CREW-CAB LOOK, ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT SET RIDGELINE APART FROM OTHER LIGHT-DUTY TRUCKS ARE STILL HERE; LIKE A DUAL-ACTION TAILGATE, A LARGER WATER TIGHT IN-BED TRUNK, AND OF COURSE, THE VERY CAR LIKE DRIVING DEMEANOR.

NEW, IN CASE YOU MISSED THE SUPER BOWL AD, IS AN IN-BED AUDIO SYSTEM FOR CRANKING TAILGATE TUNES.

* NOW, WE STILL THINK THE RIDGELINE IS AN ULTIMATE CROSSOVER, HONDA INSISTS IT'S A TRUE MIDSIZE PICKUP.

AND IT DOES MEASURE UP WELL, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT BED IS LARGER; OVER 5-INCHES WIDER AND 4-INCHES LONGER.

IT IS THE ONLY SMALLER TRUCK THAT CAN CARRY 4X8 BUILDING MATERIALS BETWEEN THE WHEEL WELLS.

GRANTED, THE FLOOR IS RAISED AND THE BOX SIDES ARE SHALLOW, BUT THAT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER TO REACH IN TO GRAB SMALLER CARGO.

THERE'S AC BED POWER AVAILABLE TOO AND PAYLOAD CAPACITY IS OVER 1,500 POUNDS.

THE PILOT'S 3.5 LITER V6 RATES THE SAME 280 HORSEPOWER AND 262 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE HERE; WORKING WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC FOR UP TO 5,000 POUNDS OF TOWING CAPACITY.

WE CAME CLOSE TO MAXING THAT OUT, AND WHILE WE CLEARLY KNEW THERE WAS A TRAILER BEHIND US, THE RIDGELINE NEVER FELT OVERWORKED.

THE I-VTM4 TORQUE VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM ALSO COMES FROM THE PILOT, BUT IT, AS WELL AS MOST OF THE SUSPENSION AND SUB-FRAME, HAVE BEEN BEEFED UP FOR MORE SEVERE DUTY.

WE PUT IT THROUGH ITS PACES, AND ONLY WISHED FOR A BIT MORE GROUND CLEARANCE.

IT PERFORMED GREAT IN TIGHT SITUATIONS, WITHOUT THE TRADITIONAL 4X4 BINDING ISSUES WHEN THE WHEELS ARE CRANKED ALL THE WAY.

AND AT THE RISK OF BEING REPORTED TO THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE, A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY RIDGELINE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THERE'S LOADS OF PEOPLE SPACE, COMPARED TO TOYOTA TACOMA, AND NISSAN FRONTIER, AND EVEN TO THE GM PAIR OF COLORADO, AND CANYON.

THAT HOLDS TRUE WITH CROSSOVER UTILITY SPACE IN REAR SEAT AS WELL, BUT ALTHOUGH THE SEATS FOLD UP, THE DOORS DON'T OPEN QUITE WIDE ENOUGH TO MAKE BULKY CARGO LOADING EASY.

THE CABIN IS CERTAINLY MUCH MORE INVITING THAN BEFORE AND LESS UTILITARIAN IN ALL TRIMS.

DASH AND CONSOLE LAYOUT ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT PILOT, BUT NOT AN EXACT COPY, WITH PLENTY OF SMALL ITEM STORAGE.

TOP INFOTAINMENT USES HONDA'S 8-INCH DISPLAY AUDIO WITH NAV, AND APPLE CAR PLAY, AND ANDROID AUTO.

HONDA SENSING SAFETY WITH AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

UNI-BODY MEANS NO FULL-FRAME UNDERNEATH, AND A RIDE THAT CONTINUES CAR LIKE.

BUT IT DOES HAVE A LITTLE MORE BIG TRUCK SOFTNESS, WITH SOME NOSE DIVE UNDER HARD BRAKING AND NOSE-UP POSTURE WHEN YOU NAIL THE GAS WITH A LOADED BED.

THE DRIVING POSITION IS THE MOST CAR LIKE OF ANY RIVAL, AND STEERING FEEL IS VERY TIGHT.

HONDA HAS COME TO PLAY FOR REAL THIS TIME!

WE'RE BIG FANS OF THE NEW RIDGELINE'S MORE TRADITIONAL PICKUP STYLING.

UNLIKE BEFORE WITH THE SINGLE SIDE PANEL, THERE'S NOW A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHERE THE CAB ENDS AND THE BED BEGINS.

IT LOOKS BETTER, AND BODY SIDE REPAIR BILLS WILL BE MUCH CHEAPER.

WHILE, THE RIDGELINE BEARS SOME RESEMBLANCE TO THE PILOT UP FRONT, THE SHARP LINES DOWN THE SIDES REMIND US MORE OF A VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT.

THERE IS A MUCH TOUGHER PRESENCE.

EVEN A TOW HITCH IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT!

FUEL ECONOMY IS BETTER THAN ANY COMPETING V6, WITH GOVERNMENT RATINGS FOR 4-WHEEL-DRIVE OF 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

PRICING STARTS AT A FAIRLY HIGH $30,375 FOR A 2-WHEEL DRIVE RT, AND RISES THROUGH A HOST OF TRIM LEVELS TO THE BLACK EDITION ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, STARTING AT $43,770.

WHILE, NOT AN ENDURING SALES WINNER FIRST TIME AROUND, WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THE 2017 HONDA RIDGELINE BACK IN THE FOLD.

AND NOW, THAT IT LOOKS A LOT MORE LIKE THE REST OF THE PICKUP TRUCKS ON THE ROAD, WE THINK A LOT MORE TRUCKIN' FAMILIES WILL DO MORE THAN JUST LOOK.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK BRINGS US TO BRIDGEPORT, WEST VIRGINIA WHERE A COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS REFUELING CORRIDOR IS NOW ONLINE.

THE I-79 CNG CORRIDOR STARTED TAKING SHAPE THREE YEARS AGO, AND ALSO INCLUDES STATIONS IN JANE LEW AND CHARLESTON WITH MORE PIT STOPS PLANNED.

NATURAL GAS, SOURCED FROM THE AREA'S MASSIVE MARCELLUS SHALE DEPOSITS, IS A PERFECT FIT FOR THE REGION, SO, THIS CLEAN ALTERNATIVE FUEL HELPS BOTH THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

TJ Meadowns: THIRTY PERCENT LESS CO2, 90% LESS EMISSIONS OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TAILPIPE.

AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S A DOMESTIC WEST VIRGINIA FUEL THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE THAT WE WORK EVERY DAY TO BRING OUT OF THE GROUND.

John: AS OF NOW, A DOZEN COMPANIES FUEL UP AT THE BRIDGEPORT STATION, INCLUDING LOCAL OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMPANY ANTERO RESOURCES.

THE CNG CORRIDOR IS A FORWARD LOOKING INITIATIVE THAT IS ALREADY PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN THE MOUNTAIN STATE.

* THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR IS BEING COMMEMORATED BY NUMEROUS EVENTS ACROSS THE LAND.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST MILITARY RALLIES IS HIGHLIGHTING VEHICLES FROM THAT ERA THAT MOST AMERICANS WILL STILL RECOGNIZE.

SO, LET'S HEAD BACK IN TIME WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE GOES OVER THE EDGE, WITH SOME OF OUR NATION'S BRAVEST.

Zach Maskell: OH, I LIKE THIS ALREADY.

BESIDES THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, THESE CAMO MACHINES WERE VITAL TO THE ENTIRE VIETNAM OPERATION.

THIS MARYLAND GATHERING GIVES YOU A FEEL FOR THE IMPORTANCE THEY SERVED.

WE ARE AT THE 43RD ANNUAL EAST COAST MILITARY RALLY, NOT FAR FROM ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND.

AND SOME OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE HERE ARE SO RARE, THAT ONLY A HANDFUL EXIST.

ANDY HERE WON LAST YEAR'S BEST IN SHOW.

THAT'S WHY HIS 4X4 MADE IT ON LAST YEAR'S SHIRTS.

NOT ONLY IS THIS A PLACE TO SHOW OFF YOUR PRIDE AND JOY, BUT IT'S ALSO A SELLOUT FLEA MARKET.

Andy Tally: IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO FIND PARTS FOR YOUR VEHICLE THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

SOMETIMES YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR, FOR YEARS.

ESPECIALLY, IF YOU'RE WORKING ON SOME ODDBALL VEHICLE LIKE SOME OF MY OTHER ONES ARE WHERE THEY ONLY MADE 50 OF THEM.

Zach: ONE YOU'LL RECOGNIZE, THEY MADE THOUSANDS OF.

THIS IS A 1969 FORD M-151A1 AND THESE WERE NOTORIOUS FOR TIPPING OVER ON TURNS.

IT WAS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE WILLY'S.

AND IT DROVE MUCH BETTER.

I COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE, IMMEDIATELY.

A-ARM COIL SPRINGS WERE ADDED TO THE M1515-A2, AND IT CORRECTED THE ROLL OVER PROBLEM.

THESE ARE MOTOR POOL VEHICLES.

THEY ARE NOT STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY.

WHAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR ON HERE IS ADDITIONS THAT THE SOLDIERS WOULD'VE DONE OUT IN THE FIELD.

WHAT TYPE OF CLIMATE ARE THEY DEALING WITH, WHAT TYPE OF TERRAIN?

ON AND ON.

SO, FOR INSTANCE THIS ANTENNA WOULD'VE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE FIELD.

ALONG WITH RADIOS, SEAT COVERS, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF THAT YOU SEE ON HERE.

JUDGES ARE NOT ONLY MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WORKS, BUT MOTOR POOL VEHICLES MUST APPEAR LIKE THEY JUST LEFT THE BATTLEFIELD.

Ralph Bennett: THIS IS CALLED A "CONTACT MAINTENANCE TRUCK."

IT'S BASICALLY A MECHANICS SERVICE TRUCK.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A AAA TRUCK FOR THE ARMY.

Zach: RALPH HAD A TRUCK IDENTICAL TO THIS IN HIS UNIT.

HIS IS 100% FULLY FUNCTIONAL, WITH A GENERATOR, WELDER AND ANY TOOLS HE'D NEED IN THE FIELD.

USING IT IN CONJUNCTION TO HIS AIRCRAFT RECOVERY JOB, HE'D OFTEN BE FLYING IN A HELICOPTER.

Ralph: NEXT THING I KNEW, I WAS HANGING UNDER THE HUEY AT 800 FEET.

Zach: THIS TIME, THE MACHINE GUN BROKE OFF ITS MOUNT, WHICH RALPH WAS HOLDING ON TO, AND HE FELL OUT WITH IT.

LUCKILY, HIS GUNNER HAD STRAPPED HIM INTO THE AIRCRAFT.

Ralph: THE OLD SAYING ABOUT CHANGING YOUR UNDIES, IT'S TRUE.

[LAUGHS] Zach: NOT ONLY DID HE ENJOY SHARING SOME HILARIOUS STORIES, BUT WE QUICKLY FOUND HIS ENJOYMENT OF THE TRUCK REACHES DEEPER THAN WE IMAGINED.

INSIDE HIS TOOL BOXES, ARE SIGNATURES OF LIVING VETS.

Ralph: LAST YEAR AT THE SHOW, A GUY AFTER TALKING TO ME FOR AWHILE, SIGNED THE TRUCK.

HIS WIFE WAS STANDING BEHIND HIM.

SHE STARTED CRYING.

I SAID, "WHAT'S THE MATTER?"

[RALPH TEARS UP] "THAT'S THE FIRST TIME HE ADMITTED THAT HE WAS IN VIETNAM, IN 50 YEARS."

SHE THANKED ME BECAUSE NOW, MAYBE HE CAN OPEN UP AND START LIVING AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

IT'S KIND OF BEEN MY WAY TO ENJOY LIFE NOW.

ESPECIALLY, TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND TELLING THEM ABOUT THE TRUCK, AND WHAT WE DID OVER IN 'NAM, AND THE GOOD PARTS TO IT.

Zach: KIDS LOVE ASKING RALPH ABOUT HIS TRUCK.

AND HE SAYS, "THEY HAVE GOOD QUESTIONS TOO."

BUT HE'LL AGREE WITH AN EVENT OFFICER, THAT THE ATTENDANCE IS SHRINKING.

Scott Johnson: SOME OF THE OLDER MEMBERS ARE DYING OFF AND WERE NOT REPLACING THE PEOPLE WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THE INTEREST ISN'T THERE.

Zach: THE NEXT TIME THERE'S A SHOW LIKE THIS NEAR YOU, GO CHECK OUT HOW THINGS USED TO BE, AND LIVE THROUGH THE MEN, AND WOMEN WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES SO YOU COULD BE HERE TODAY.

* John: CHRYSLER TOOK THE POINTY FRONT OF THE SUBCOMPACT DODGE 024 SPORTS COUPE, STRETCHED THE WHEELBASE 7.5 INCHES, AND GRAFTED ON A SIZEABLE PICKUP BED.

DESPITE ITS COSMOPOLITAN STYLE, THE RAMPAGE CAN DO A FAIR DAY'S WORK IF REQUIRED.

PAYLOAD IS RATED AT OVER 1,100 POUNDS.

THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE SINCE THE TOTAL VEHICLE WEIGHT IS LESS THAN 2,500.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE LIMITS.

WHILE, THE 4X5 FOOT CARGO BOX SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD, A STANDARD SHEET OF PLYWOOD WILL FIT ONLY ON TOP OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, AND OUT OVER THE TAILGATE... John: PAT GOSS KNOWS WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR, AND THIS WEEK HE'S GOT A FLOOD OF TIPS FOR US.

Pat Goss: OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT'S SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN ONE INTENSE STORM AFTER ANOTHER.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FLOOD CARS.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE CHRIS BASSO FROM CARFAX.

CHRIS, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Chris Basso: THANK YOU, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW WHAT KIND OF NUMBERS ARE WE LOOKING AT, AS FAR AS FLOOD CARS ARE CONCERNED.

Chris: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION CARS FROM PREVIOUS STORMS THAT ARE BACK ON THE ROAD.

AND THOSE ARE SPREAD OUT ACROSS EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THERE IS NO PLACE THAT IS IMMUNE TO THESE FLOOD CARS ENDING UP.

AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT BUYING A USED CAR, FLOOD DAMAGE IS A BIG CONCERN.

SO THERE'S TWO PLACES THAT YOU WANT TO LOOK TO SPOT A FLOODED CAR: THAT'S A CARFAX REPORT, AND ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW WHAT'RE YOU LOOKING AT ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR?

Chris: SPECIFICALLY, THE METAL THAT'S ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.

THE SEAT RAILS, NUTS AND BOLTS, THE SEATBELTS.

WATER GETS IN THERE, THOSE METAL PARTS CAN RUST PREMATURELY, WHICH COULD BE A SIGN THAT, THAT CAR WAS ONCE UNDER WATER IN A FLOOD.

SECOND PLACE IS UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD.

THE WIRES UNDER THERE, WHEN THEY GET WET, AND DRY OUT, CAN GET BRITTLE AND CRACK.

AND IF YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING TO THE WIRES, ANOTHER SIGN THAT, THAT CAR COULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WATER IN A FLOOD.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW AS A FAILSAFE, ONE OF THE THING'S I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA IS TO TAKE IT TO A PRO AND HAVE IN THOROUGHLY CHECKED UP ON A LIFT.

Chris: YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO CONSULT THE EXPERTS LIKE CARFAX AND A MECHANIC BEFORE YOU BUY ANY USED CAR.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT FLOOD DAMAGE.

A CARFAX REPORT CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT FLOOD DAMAGE REPORTED BY STATE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND THE TRAINED EYE OF A MECHANIC CAN SPOT THOSE HIDDEN SIGNS OF DAMAGE THAT... MAY NOT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ANYBODY.

Pat: YEAH, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE FIGURE OUT WAYS TO CIRCUMVENT THINGS.

IT'S CROOKED, BUT THEY DO IT.

Chris: YEAH, AND THESE FLOODED CARS CAN BE EASILY CLEANED UP, COSMETICALLY, TO LOOK LIKE ANY USED CAR THAT'S ON THE ROAD.

AND IT'S INEVITABLE THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL GET DUPED INTO BUYING A FLOODED CAR, WITH SO MANY FLOOD CARS THAT ARE BACK ON THE ROAD.

Pat: OKAY.

CHRIS, THANK YOU.

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

John: WE'RE 4-MONTHS INTO THE YEARLONG ODYSSEY WITH OUR HONDA PILOT 3-ROW CROSSOVER.

AND WE TOOK THE OLD ADAGE, "IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, DO IT RIGHT" TO HEART, CHOOSING TOP ELITE TRIM.

EVEN AFTER 8,000 MILES, WE'RE STILL DISCOVERING NEW FEATURES, LIKE BRILLIANT FULL LED HEADLIGHTS, BOOMING SOUND SYSTEM, AND REMOTE START.

WE CERTAINLY HAVEN'T FELT A NEED FOR MORE POWER FROM THE 3.5 LITER V6 AND TRUE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; THOUGH FUEL ECONOMY HAS SLIPPED A TAD THIS GO-AROUND TO 22.1 MILES PER GALLON.

OUR COMPACT MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT IS STILL CRUISING ALONG, AFTER 14,600 MILES AND 10 MONTHS WITH US.

WHILE, IT DOESN'T OFFER THE SPACE OF OTHER UTILITIES ON OUR LONG TERM LOT, THE OUTLANDER SPORT CAN STILL SWALLOW UP A DECENT AMOUNT OF CARGO.

MAKING IT A VERY USEFUL VEHICLE TO HAVE AROUND.

A REFRESHER ON THE ENGINE: IT'S A 2.4 LITER I4 RATING 168 HORSEPOWER.

OUR GRIPES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION REMAIN, BUT IT'S NOT A DEAL BREAKER.

AND FUEL ECONOMY OF 26.9 MILES PER GALLON REALLY SCORES WELL WITH US.

IT DOES INDEED LIVE UP TO THE SPORT IN ITS NAME...

THE RIDE IS A LITTLE STIFF, MATERIALS CONSIST MOSTLY OF HARD PLASTICS, AND SEATS ARE FIRM.

BUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN IS HAVING A VEHICLE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO FUSS OVER.

IF THINGS GET DIRTIED UP, IT'S JUST PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

AND FROM WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED SO FAR, NO MECHANICAL ISSUES MEANS THE OUTLANDER SPORT CAN KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON, FOR MANY MORE MILES.

WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY THINK OF A BETTER CAR TO WELCOME INTO OUR TEST FLEET FOR A SUMMER FLING, THAN THIS 2016 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA.

NO DOUBT, WE'LL BE PUTTING IN MANY TOP DOWN MILES OVER THE COMING MONTHS, KEEPING YOU UPDATED ALONG THE WAY.

WE'LL GET YOU UPDATED ON OUR NISSAN MURANO AND KIA SORENTO CROSSOVERS ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS SHOW, CHANCES ARE YOU'VE SPENT SOME TIME WRENCHING ON A CAR, AND HAVE HAD VARIOUS LEVELS OF SUCCESS FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

ROB SIEGEL IS ONE SUCH SHADE TREE MECHANIC, AND HE TELLS HIS STORY IN MEMOIRS OF A HACK MECHANIC: HOW FIXING BROKEN BMW'S HELPED MAKE ME WHOLE.

IT'S A GOOD READ, AS SIEGEL TAKES A LOOK BACK AT HIS LIFE THROUGH THE MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES THAT HE HAS OWNED AND WORKED ON, ATTEMPTING TO EXPLAIN MAN'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE AUTOMOBILE ALONG THE WAY.

MORE THAN JUST A SERIES OF ENTERTAINING STORIES, YOU'LL ACTUALLY LEARN A FEW THINGS AS WELL, FROM THE NECESSARY TOOLS YOU'LL NEED IN YOUR GARAGE, TO THE NECESSARY ATTITUDE YOU'LL NEED IN YOUR HEAD TO HELP MAKE YOUR CAR WRENCHING HOBBY A FOREVER REWARDING ONE.

LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ, AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS!

Yolanda Vazquez: OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE "BEST CAR OF THE YEAR," THE VOLVO XC90, IS THE SUM TOTAL OF RECENT CHANGES AT THE BRAND... WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENCY, ALONG WITH THE TRADITIONAL MAINSTAYS OF SAFETY, LUXURY, AND COMFORT.

NOW COMES THE UNVEILING OF A PAIR OF "40 SERIES" CONCEPT VEHICLES WHICH LEND SOME INSIGHT AS TO WHAT VOLVO SEES AS FUTURE OFFERINGS.

THE 40.1 AND 40.2, SHOWCASE NOT ONLY NEW STYLING AND DESIGN CUES, BUT ALSO A SHIFT IN MARKET FOCUS FOR VOLVO.

BOTH VEHICLES, A COMPACT SEDAN AND COMPACT CROSSOVER, WILL UTILIZE A NEW PLATFORM CALLED "THE COMPACT MODULAR ARCHITECTURE."

CITING A GROWING MARKET FOR PREMIUM SMALL VEHICLES, VOLVO SEES A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR SMALLER CAR SALES.

THE CMA PLATFORM CAN HOUSE PLUG-IN HYBRID OR FULLY ELECTRIFIED, AS WELL AS CONVENTIONAL POWERTRAINS.

THIS ALLOWS THE 40 SERIES TO HAVE A BROADER APPEAL.

VOLVO'S GOAL IS TO SELL 1-MILLION ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES WORLDWIDE BY 2025, AND THEY'RE COUNTING ON THE 40 SERIES TO CONTINUE AN UPTICK IN SALES... ALL STARTED BY THE REVIVAL OF THE CURRENT XC90.

PRODUCTION OF THEIR FIRST VEHICLE TO USE THE NEW PLATFORM IS SET FOR SOME TIME IN 2017.

NO WORD YET, AS TO WHICH VEHICLE WILL HIT SHOWROOMS FIRST, THE SEDAN OR THE CROSSOVER... AND IT'S STILL TBD IF THE 40 SERIES MONIKER WILL BE THE PRODUCTION BADGE.

BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN: VOLVO IS BACK AND READY FOR THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THE AUDI R8, SINCE ITS INCEPTION FOR 2008, HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY MOST AUTOMOTIVE REVIEWERS, INCLUDING US, AS THE MOST DRIVABLE OF ALL SUPERCARS.

OR AT LEAST IT USED TO BE, UNTIL EVERYONE ELSE STARTED MAKING THEIR SUPERCARS DAILY DRIVER FRIENDLY AS WELL.

SO, WHAT'S THE NEXT TRICK FOR THE SECOND GEN R8?

WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

* THE 2017 AUDI R8 HAS MORE THAN A FEW TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE, BUT BY FAR OUR FAVORITE, IS THE AWESOME MID-MOUNTED V10 ENGINE, THAT FOR STARTERS LOOKS FANTASTIC UNDER THE GLASS REAR HATCH.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] WAY BEYOND LOOKS IS THE 610 HORSEPOWER THIS 5.2 LITER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED V10-PLUS DELIVERS, ALONG WITH 413 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

SO OF COURSE, IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION AUDI TO THIS POINT; 60 MORE HORSEPOWER THAN PREVIOUS, BUT IT FEELS LIKE EVEN MORE.

A DE-TUNED 540 HORSEPOWER VERSION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

THE 7-SPEED S TRONIC TRANSMISSION WORKS JUST AS FINE AS EVER; IT'S EASILY ONE OF THE BEST AROUND, WITH FAST, SHARP, YET SMOOTH SHIFTS REGARDLESS OF DRIVE MODE OR DRIVING STYLE.

THE SHIFTER IS ALSO IMPROVED, JUST DON'T FORGET TO PUSH THE PARK BUTTON WHEN YOU DO.

STILL REAR-BIASED QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OF COURSE, BUT FULL POWER CAN ACTUALLY BE SENT TO THE FRONT AS WELL, SHOULD THERE EVER BE AN OCCASION WHEN THE COMPUTER FEELS IT'S WISE TO DO SO.

THE LOOK IS SO FAMILIAR, YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE IT AS ALL-NEW, WHICH IS NOT ENTIRELY A BAD THING, AS ITS PURPOSEFUL DESIGN HAS AGED AMAZINGLY WELL.

IT APPEARS MOST EVOLUTIONARY UP FRONT WITH A TALLER NOSE.

THE SIDE IS PERHAPS A LITTLE SLICKER WITH MORE PRONOUNCED SIDE SCOOPS.

AND IT STILL LOOKS TOUGH AS NAILS FROM THE REAR.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT MAINTAINS THE ABILITY TO FEEL LIKE A GARDEN VARIETY SPORT SEDAN WHEN TOOLING AROUND.

THERE'S PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE ITALIAN INFLUENCE TO THE INTERIOR NOW, WITH LOTS OF CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND A TFT PANEL, SIMILAR TO THE HURACAN'S, BEHIND IT.

WE LOVE THE LOOK, AND ALL OF THE DATA THAT IT PROVIDES RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.

THE REST OF THE CABIN, WITH ITS MINIMAL CONTROLS, REMINDS US MORE OF THE TT; REACHING A NEW LEVEL OF DRIVER CENTRIC, AS WITH EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF DRIVER, NOT MUCH IS LEFT FOR THE PASSENGER TO DO OTHER THAN HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

* OF MUCH MORE IMPORTANCE IS ON-TRACK PERFORMANCE, AND HERE IT STILL FEELS LIKE ONE OF THE EASIEST CARS YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN FAST, YET THERE'S A SERIOUS NASTY STREAK LURKING NOT TOO FAR ABOVE THE TRACK SURFACE.

IT STAYS BILLIARD TABLE FLAT THROUGH CORNERS, AND MOSTLY NEUTRAL.

THERE'S INSTANTANEOUS POWER FOR PULLING OUT OF THEM, WITH ONLY THROTTLE-ON OVERSTEER TO DEAL WITH, NONE OF THE HURACAN'S UNDERSTEER SEEMS TO BE PRESENT.

THE V10-PLUS IS EVERYTHING IT PROMISES, AND THE EXHAUST SOUNDS AMAZING NO MATTER WHAT MODE YOU'RE IN.

AROUND SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK'S SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT, WE FOUND THE GEARING WAS SPOT ON, AND MANUAL SHIFTS CAME CRAZY FAST.

BUT WITH THE PADDLES ON THE WHEEL ITSELF, THEY ARE EASY TO LOSE TRACK OF WHEN SHUFFLING THE WHEEL.

NO SUCH PROBLEM WHEN YOU KEEP THE WHEEL STRAIGHT, THE THROTTLE PINNED, AND TRANS IN AUTO.

NO TURBO'S TO WAIT FOR, NO E-MOTORS, JUST IMMEDIATE LAUNCHING WITH NO WHEEL SPIN, NO LAG; HITTING 60 ON THIS DAY IN 3.0 SECONDS FLAT.

THE QUARTER MILE THRILL RIDE ENDS 11.0 SECONDS LATER AT 128 MILES PER HOUR.

IF THERE'S ANY BAD NEWS, IT'S THAT THE R8 IS NO LONGER THE BARGAIN THAT THE ORIGINAL V8 POWERED R8 WAS, STARTING AT $165,450; THE V10-PLUS AT $192,450.

CERTAINLY NOT CHEAP, BUT FOR A SUPERCAR, IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY.

PERHAPS THE BEST NEWS OF ALL WITH THIS 2017 AUDI R8, IS THAT NOTHING CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL R8 FORMULA; EXOTIC LEVEL PERFORMANCE, WRAPPED IN COUTURE SHEET METAL, WITH A DAILY DRIVER NATURE.

IT MAY NOT BE AT THE TOP OF ANYONE'S ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE CAR WISH LIST, BUT NO SANE PERSON WILL EVER BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS PIECE OF GERMAN ENGINEERING AT ITS FINEST.

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, AND SEE WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR DOES TO THE REVAMPED PORSCHE 911.

THEN LEARN ALL ABOUT A NEW NAME IN THE CADILLAC XT5.

PAT GOSS KEEPS OUR EYES ON THE ROAD.

LAUREN MORRISON CHECKS INTO THE GEARHEAD MOTEL.

THEN MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

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... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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

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