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

JOIN US AND SEE IF A NEW GENERATION CAN ELEVATE THE STALWART HYUNDAI ELANTRA... PAT GOSS HELPS US PEEL IT ALL OFF... ZACH MASKELL COOLS HIS EDGINESS ON AN UNLIKELY RIDE AND DRIVE... AND WE'LL GO FOR A HOT DRIVE IN A SUPERCAR SUPER HERO, THE ALL-NEW ACURA NSX...

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.

"YO DANNY, MY MAN!"

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.

John: WHEN WE LAST LEFT THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA, ITS STYLING MAY HAVE IMPRESSED US, BUT, WHEN IT CAME TO ROAD MANNERS, WE THOUGHT IT WAS MORE OF A STEP BACK IN TIME FOR THIS FASTLY PROGRESSING BRAND.

WELL, HYUNDAI CERTAINLY HASN'T GOTTEN TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY BY ENDING WITH A CLIFF HANGER.

SO, NOW THERE'S A NEW GEN ELANTRA FOR '17.

LET'S TUNE IN, AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

* THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEDAN HAS HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS SINCE GOING ON SALE HERE IN THE EARLY '90s.

AND DESPITE OUR MISGIVINGS OVER THE LAST GENERATION, SALES HAVE SKYROCKETED OF LATE TO WELL OVER 200,000 UNITS PER YEAR.

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT THAT'S ABOUT 100,000 LESS THAN EITHER THE HONDA CIVIC OR TOYOTA COROLLA.

SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY, HYUNDAI IS EAGER TO BOOST THEIR SALES FURTHER WITH THIS 6TH GENERATION 2017 4-DOOR.

* STYLING IS PERHAPS NOT AS DARING AS LAST GEN, BUT IT'S STILL A COMPACT LOOKER, AND FULLY IN LINE WITH LARGER 4-DOOR STABLEMATES, SONATA, AND GENESIS.

ESPECIALLY UP FRONT, WHERE IT NOW SHARES THEIR LARGER GRILLE, AND AVAILABLE SIGNATURE DRLs.

SAME BASIC PLATFORM AS BEFORE, BUT IT'S HAD A COMPLETE ONCE OVER, WITH A STIFFER STRUCTURE, PROGRESSIVELY MORE ISOLATED SUSPENSION, AND A MODEST INCREASE IN OVERALL SIZE.

ITS 1.0 INCH WIDER, AND JUST SHY OF AN INCH LONGER, THOUGH WHEELBASE REMAINS THE SAME.

17 INCH ALLOY WHEELS COME WITH LIMITED TRIM, BASE SEs ARE EQUIPPED WITH 15 INCH STEELIES.

MOST APPRECIABLY, THINGS ARE A LOT QUIETER INSIDE, THANKS TO THICKER GLASS AND ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS.

HELPING TOO IS A NEW, STANDARD 2.0 LITER I4 THAT'S A BIT MORE POWERFUL THAN THE PREVIOUS GEN'S 1.8 LITER, AT 147 HORSEPOWER AND 132 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT'S SMOOTHER, QUIETER OPERATION IS READILY APPARENT AT CRUISING SPEEDS.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE, BUT ONLY IN BASE SE TRIM.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS FITTED TO OUR LIMITED TESTER.

A 128 HORSEPOWER 1.4 LITER I4 POWERED ECO MODEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY, UP TO 40-HIGHWAY; THOUGH TRUTH BE TOLD, THE 2.0 LITER IS NOT BAD IN THAT REGARD EITHER.

2.0 GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 28-CITY, 37-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 35.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THUS, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS A GOOD ONE AT 10.3 BARRELS OF OIL USED ANNUALLY WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 4.7 TONS.

FRONT SEATS ARE PLENTY WIDE AND OFFER ABOVE AVERAGE FOR ITS CLASS COMFORT.

LIKEWISE IN THE REAR, THERE'S ADULT-SIZE ROOM AND ADEQUATE COZINESS.

TRUNK SPACE IS FINE AT 14.4 CUBIC-FEET, BUT IT'S CHEAPLY FINISHED AND THE DECK LID FEELS VERY FLIMSY.

HOWEVER, WE LIKED THE HANDS-FREE OPENING SMART TRUNK.

LIMITED TRIM DELIVERS A DISPLAY AUDIO SYSTEM WITH 7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, AND APPLE CARPLAY, AND ANDROID AUTO.

ADDING THE TECH PACKAGE UPS IT TO 8.0 INCHES, AND ADDS NAVIGATION, AND INFINITY PREMIUM AUDIO, AS WELL AS HEATED SEATS.

GAUGES ARE CLEAN AND SIMPLE WITH A 4.0 INCH COLOR TFT INFO DISPLAY.

THE INTERIOR HAS DEFINITELY MOVED UPSCALE IN APPEARANCE, WITH THE ULTIMATE PACKAGE ADDING SEAT MEMORY, PLUS THE LATEST IN SAFETY INCLUDING BLIND SPOT DETECTION, CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, AND EVEN EMERGENCY BRAKING.

USEFUL ROOM IS UP TOO, SO LIKE CIVIC AND COROLLA, THE ELANTRA IS NOW CLASSIFIED AS MIDSIZE BY THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT MIDDLING IS HOW WE FOUND FULL-THROTTLE ACCELERATION, TAKING 9.3 SECONDS TO HIT 60 MILES PER HOUR WITH LOTS OF 4-CYLINDER WAIL.

BUT, ACCELERATION DOES REMAIN STEADY; THANKS TO MINIMAL LAG BETWEEN SHIFTS.

SO, THE ELANTRA FEELS FASTER THAN THE NUMBERS, WHICH WERE 17.3 IN THE QUARTER AT 83 MILES PER HOUR.

THINGS CERTAINLY HAVE IMPROVED IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT.

THERE IS PLENTY OF GRIP AT A MODERATE PACE, AND A PLAYFUL AMOUNT OF UNDERSTEER WHEN PUSHED HARDER.

THE CAR REACTS QUICKLY TO STEERING INPUTS, AND A NICELY RESPONSIVE THROTTLE ENABLED US TO EASILY KEEP IT RIGHT ON THE EDGE, INSPIRING CONFIDENCE AS SPEEDS INCREASED.

BRAKES WERE ANOTHER PLEASANT SURPRISE.

PANIC STOPS FROM 60 TOOK A GOOD 123 FEET WITH MINIMAL FADE; ALONG WITH A NICELY FIRM, SHORT TRAVEL PEDAL.

SO, WITH ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE ELANTRA'S VALUE PROPOSITION IS ALSO STRONGER THAN EVER, AS BASE SE PRICING IS ACTUALLY REDUCED BY 90 BUCKS TO $17,985.

LIMITED TRIM STARTS AT $23,185.

FAR MORE COMPETENT, MORE REFINED, AND MORE CONSISTENT WITH HYUNDAI'S INCREASINGLY UPSCALE AMBITIONS; PLUS AN OUTSTANDING WARRANTY; ALL THINGS THAT HELP MAKE THE 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, A VEHICLE WORTHY OF YOUR COMPACT CONSIDERATION.

ONE THAT MIGHT FINALLY BE READY TO GIVE COROLLA AND CIVIC A REAL RUN FOR YOUR MONEY.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA WHERE TRASH IS TRANSFORMED INTO A VALUABLE RESOURCE.

THE LANCASTER COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAS TWO WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITIES THAT CAN POWER UP TO 45,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

PLUS THEIR TRANSFER STATION USES 2,000 SOLAR PANELS TO HELP POWER THE COMPLEX.

IN 2014 THEY ADDED 14 NEW COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TRANSFER TRUCKS AND TWO CNG ASH TRUCKS THAT USE TIME-FILL POSTS TO FUEL UP OVERNIGHT.

FUEL SAVINGS WERE MORE THAN $200,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR ALONE.

Robert Zorbaugh: IT'S MUCH LESS COSTLY THAN DIESEL FUEL AND WORKED WELL.

WE'RE HERE IN PA WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION OCCURRING SO IT'S A GREAT FIT FOR OUR OPERATION.

John: LANCASTER ALSO HAS A FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC AND HONDA CIVIC NGV IN THEIR ALT-FUEL FLEET.

THE TRANSFER TRUCKS ALSO SERVE AS ROLLING BILLBOARDS; REMINDING PENNSYLVANIANS THAT CLEANER TECHNOLOGIES ARE THE KEYSTONE TO CLEANER COMMUNITIES.

* MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS PILOTING A SUPERCAR WORTH MORE THAN THEIR HOUSE... WELL, OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, ZACH MASKELL IS CERTAINLY NOT MOST PEOPLE...

SO HERE'S WHAT HE DID WITH SOME OF LAMBORGHINI'S LATEST... Zach Maskell: AND THIS ISN'T EVEN THE INTENSE DAY?

THIS IS INSANE!

* BELIEVE IT OR NOT, LAMBORGHINI IS ACTUALLY HOSTING THIS RARE EVENT!

WHERE, WITH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AS A BACKGROUND, OWNERS SPEND TWO DAYS LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE THEIR INVESTMENTS ON A SNOW AND ICE COVERED RACETRACK.

ASPEN, COLORADO IS THE ONLY LOCATION IN THE STATES WHERE THIS TRANSPIRES.

WINTER ACCADEMIA IS THE SUPER RARE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE HIGH HORSEPOWER CARS ON SNOW AND ICE.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT?

WELL, WE'VE GOT SOME STUDDED PIRELLI TIRES.

AND NOT TO MENTION, LAMBORGHINI'S FABULOUS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

700 HORSEPOWER AVENTADOR, 610 HORSEPOWER HURACAN.

LET'S GET TO IT.

BEFORE WE'RE SET FREE WE LEARN THE BASICS OF DRIVING DYNAMICS.

Dean Digiacomo: SO, THERE'S A FEW WAYS TO MAKE A CAR SORT OF DO WHAT YOU WANT IN THE SNOW.

THE WORSE WAY IS TO OVERUSE THE CAR, YOU KNOW.

LET THE DYNAMICS OF YOUR CAR WORK IN YOUR FAVOR, AND THEN IT'S A LOT EASIER TO KIND OF CATCH THE CAR AS IT SLIDES BECAUSE YOU'RE MORE IN CONTROL THAT WAY.

Zach: FIRST UP, WE HAVE THE SUCCESSOR TO THE GALLARDO: THE HURACAN, 50% STIFFER CHASSIS; ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEES GO-KART LIKE HANDLING.

THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH MAGNETIC SHOCKS AND ADAPTIVE STEERING THAT ADJUST ON THE FLY, ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD.

THIS EQUIPS YOU WITH PRECISE HANDLING... ON WHAT SEEMS LIKE ANY TERRAIN.

Kevin Conway: IT'S ONE THING TO EXPERIENCE THOSE ON ASPHALT, IT'S ANOTHER ENTIRELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE TO SEE THOSE SYSTEMS AT WORK ON SNOW AND ICE.

Zach: FIRST, A COUPLE DOZEN CURRENT OR PROSPECT LAMBONI OWNERS AND I ARE INSTRUCTED TO KEEP THE BULL TAME.

THEN, IT WAS TIME TO START PUSHING HARDER.

WITH A SIMPLE FLICK OF A BUTTON, THE MACHINE CHANGES ITS ATTITUDE.

Kevin: IN SPORT MODE YOU HAVE MORE TO THE REAR AND LESS TO THE FRONT.

SO, IT'S GOING TO DRIVE MORE LIKE A REAR WHEEL DRIVE CAR, BUT STILL HAVE THE DRIVE OF THE FRONT WHEELS TO HELP YOU RECOVER AND POWER THROUGH THAT.

THEN, AT THE END YOU HAVE CORSA, WHICH IS OPTIMIZED FOR PERFORMANCE AND ACCELERATION OUT OF THE CORNER.

Zach: NO MATTER YOUR EXPERIENCE, THIS WILL HAVE YOU CONTEMPLATING WHAT YOU'VE GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO.

Edorado Piscopo: WELL, EVERYBODY IS VERY SCARED IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THE CAR IS INTIMIDATING, BUT AFTER THEY DRIVE A FEW LAPS, THEY UNDERSTAND IT'S VERY DRIVABLE.

Zach: AT FIRST, IT WAS JUST THE SCARIEST THING IN THE WORLD.

AND NOW, I'M ACTUALLY GETTING COMFORTABLE DRIFTING A LAMBORGHINI...

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS DO IT, MAN.

I COULD NEVER SIT IN YOUR SEAT.

ESPECIALLY WITH ME BEHIND THE WHEEL.

[LAUGHS] Instructor: "HE SAYS THAT, WHILE HE'S LOOKING AT ME."

[LAUGHS] Zach: UP NEXT, LEARNING A VERY DIFFERENT BEAST.

Dean: WE CAN EVEN GET A LITTLE MORE SOUND FOR YOU IF YOU WANT.

GET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT SOUND.

[ENGINE REV NOISE] Zach: SO NOW, WE ARE IN THE AVENTADOR.

IT DOES 0-60 IN 2.9 SECONDS.

COMPARED TO THE HURACAN WHICH DOES IT IN 3.2.

THIS IS A V12, AND THE HURACAN SPORTING A V10.

WHILE THEY'RE BOTH MID-ENGINE, THE AVENTADOR WANTED TO PLOW ITS WAY AROUND.

THE HURACAN HAS SCALPEL SHARP HANDLING, THE AVENTADOR, FEELS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND IT'S GOT A LOT MORE TOP END POWER, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY JUST RIP THROUGH THE GEARS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN THIS THING.

SO, FOR ABOUT $7000 DOLLARS YOU TOO CAN EXPERIENCE THE WINTER LIFESTYLE OF A LAMBORGHINI OWNER FOR THE WEEKEND.

THAT INCLUDES LODGING, DINNER, AND A SNOWMOBILE TOUR TOO.

WELL, THE ITALIANS MADE ICE HERE IN THE STATES... AND I CROSSED OFF A BUCKET LIST ITEM THAT, I DID NOT EVEN KNOW, I HAD.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] Lauren Morrison: AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATION, WE MIGHT FINALLY BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO A MID-ENGINE CORVETTE REALITY.

OUR MOST RECENT SPY PHOTOS SHOWS US GRAINY BUT GRATIFYING VIEWS OF A MULE TESTING AT GM'S MILFORD, MICHIGAN PROVING GROUNDS."

AND DESPITE ITS APPARENT SIMILARITY TO THE CURRENT CORVETTE, OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER NOTES THAT THIS C8 MULE LOOKED, DROVE, AND SOUNDED DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT.

CAUGHT DURING SOME RARE DAYLIGHT TESTING, THE CAMO'D CORVETTE APPEARS TO HAVE A SECTION CUT OUT BEHIND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THAT HOUSES THE ENGINE, WITH UNIQUE C-PILLARS AROUND IT.

NO WORD ON WHAT TYPE OF ENGINE POWERS IT, OR WHAT THE OUTPUT WILL BE, BUT IT'S PRESUMED TO BE A NEW-LIGHTWEIGHT V8.

FOR MORE SOLID NEWS WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL DETROIT'S 2018 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

John: PAT GOSS IS ALWAYS HERE TO HELP, AND THIS WEEK HE'S GOING TO HELP US PEEL IT OFF... Pat Goss: THERE'S SOME EXCITING NEW AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS AVAILABLE TODAY, THAT YOU CAN DO SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS WITH.

AND WE HAVE MARK FROM RAIL PERFORMANCE COATINGS TO GIVE US SOME OF THE IDEAS ABOUT IT.

FIRST, I HAVE YOU TO TELL YOU MARK, I USED ONE OF THE DO-IT-YOURSELF RATTLE CANS TO BLACK OUT THE UGLY GOLD EMBLEMS ON MY CAMARO HERE.

BUT THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

Mark: YES, THERE'S MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A COATING: AH, ANYTHING FROM YOUR GRILLE, YOUR FRONT BUMPER, YOUR ENTIRE CAR, WHEELS, INTERIOR TRIM... Pat: ALRIGHT, ENTIRE CAR?

AH, WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE ADVANTAGES THERE?

Mark: IF YOU PURCHASED A BLACK CAR, AND JUST DECIDED TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND PAINT IT WHATEVER YOU WANT.

WHEN YOU GO TO SELL IT, PEEL IT OFF.

Pat: OKAY, JUST PEELS OFF AS A SHEET...?

Mark: YEAH, SIMILAR TO, LIKE A VINYL WRAP, OR A UM TYPICAL...

ALMOST LIKE A STICKER.

Pat: OKAY.

NOW, I KNOW THAT THE DO-IT-YOURSELF PRODUCTS ARE VERY, VERY LIMITED IN WHAT YOU CAN DO.

AH, BUT THE PROFESSIONAL GRADE PRODUCTS, YOU CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS.

BUT YOU REALLY, UNLESS YOU'RE A PAINTER, YOU SHOULD HAVE A PROFESSIONAL DO IT FOR YOU.

Mark: CORRECT, YEAH.

THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND MEASURES, LIKE HAVING A PROPER SPRAY BOOTH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Pat: IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T GO OUT AND BUY A $29 SPRAY GUN, AND TRY TO DO THIS IN YOUR HOME GARAGE.

Mark: YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO PAINT YOUR CAR WITH AN AEROSOL CAN.

Pat: [LAUGHS] RIGHT, OKAY.

NOW EARLIER, YOU DID THIS WHEEL THAT WE HAVE OVER HERE, AND IT WAS A REGULAR... Mark: ...SILVER WHEEL, YEAH.

Pat: SILVER WHEEL... AND CONVERTED IT TO BLACK.

AND YOU PURPOSELY ALLOWED SOME OF THE OVERSPRAY TO GET ON THE TIRE, AND YOU CAN SHOW US HOW THAT PEELS OFF?

Mark: YEAH, WE USED LIKE A SILICONE TIRE DRESSING, AND THE PAINT WILL NOT STICK TO THAT.

SO, IT WILL ALLOW US TO EASILY PEEL AROUND THE OUTSIDE, ON THE TIRE ITSELF.

Pat: OKAY... MARK, I SEE YOU PEELED PART OF THE WHEEL AS WELL, TO SHOW US HOW THIS STUFF WORKS.

Mark: Yeah.

Pat: WHAT AMAZES ME IS THAT IT'S SO THIN AND IT'S SO TOUGH.

IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

ALRIGHT, NOW WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COULD USE IT FOR ON THE CAR?

Mark: YOU COULD ALSO USE IT AS A CLEAR BRA TO PROTECT AGAINST ROCK CHIPS AND DEBRIS, UM, AS YOU DRIVE.

WHETHER IT'S ON THE WHOLE CAR OR JUST THE BUMPER.

Pat: OKAY.

AH, ANY PROTECTION OFFERED FOR BRAKE DUST AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

Mark: YEAH.

ANYTHING.

IT GIVES A BARRIER IN BETWEEN... UM, IF THIS COATING DOES GET DAMAGED IT'S JUST AS EASY TO PEEL IT OFF AND REPLACE.

Pat: OKAY MARK, THANK YOU.

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

John: NOW LET'S HOP BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

IT WOULD BE EASY TO CALL THE FIAT 124 SPIDER A BADGE-ENGINEERED MAZDA MX-5 MIATA AND CALL IT A DAY.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, THAT WOULD ALSO BE UNFAIR.

AND WE GRABBED OUR QUICKSPIN IN SUNNY SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA TO DETAIL THE DIFFERENCES.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY QUITE APPARENT WHEN YOU SEE IT ON THE STREET.

DESPITE SHARING A TRADITIONAL SPORTS CAR LONG HOOD, SHORT DECK PROFILE WITH THE MX5, AND SITTING ON THE SAME WHEELBASE, THE 124 IS SOME 5.0 INCHES LONGER, WITH MUCH OF THAT GOING INTO A BIGGER TRUNK.

THE 124 ALSO SPORTS OVERSIZED HEADLIGHTS FOR A CLASSIC '60s, SLICK ITALIAN ROADSTER LOOK.

THE INTERIOR, HOWEVER, CARRIES OVER ALMOST DIRECTLY FROM THE MX5, WITH FIAT ADDING UNIQUE TRIM TO SPICE THINGS UP.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE ON THE MECHANICAL SIDE IS WHERE IT COUNTS.

UNDER THE HOOD IS FIAT'S OWN TURBO CHARGED ENGINE!

GRABBING 160 HORSEPOWER FROM A 1.4 LITER TURBO 4, THE SAME ONE FOUND IN THE 500 ABARTH.

BUT, DESPITE A BIT MORE POWER THAN THE MIATA, WITH THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE 124, WE FOUND THE DIFFERENCES IN ACCELERATION TO BE MINIMAL.

TRANSMISSION CHOICES ARE THE SAME, A 6-SPEED MANUAL OR AUTO.

Greg Carloss: SO, WHAT ARE THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FIAT 124 AND MIATA?

WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOUNDS IN HERE BECAUSE OF THE TURBO CHARGED ENGINE.

YOU GET THAT TURBO WHISTLE.

YEAH, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF TURBO LAG, BUT YOU ALSO GET A RASPIER EXHAUST NOTE, WHICH I ALWAYS FELT WAS MISSING FROM THE MIATA... John: MOST OTHER MECHANICAL BITS ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF THE MX-5.

FIAT DID RETUNE THE DAMPERS, AND SPRING RATES, AND THE RESULT IS A TAMER ALBEIT STILL SENSORIAL RIDE.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER STARTS AROUND $26,000.

THE FORD FUSION TURNED LOTS OF HEADS WHEN IT DEBUTED ITS CLASSY NEW LOOK FOR 2013.

NOW, IN KEEPING WITH THE PASSING OF TIME, THE 2017 FUSION HAS UNDERGONE SOME FINE TUNING.

THE TWEAKED LOOK HAS A NEW GRILLE, AND HEADLIGHTS; ADDING A FEW MORE SHARP EDGES, AND CREASES.

USEABLE INTERIOR SPACE GROWS THANKS TO A NEW ROTARY GEAR SHIFT, WHICH DESPITE SOME INITIAL DISAPPOINTMENT ON OUR PART, WORKS BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

AS TO THE COMFORT IMPROVEMENTS, THE FUSION PLATINUM TOPS OUT THE RANGE WITH EVERY OPTION BOX CHECKED.

THERE IS A NEW SPORT MODEL, GAINING FORD'S 2.7 LITER TWIN TURBO V6 WITH 325 HORSEPOWER, AND THE SEGMENT'S FIRST MAGNETIC ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION, FOR SOME NEEDED WOW FACTOR IN AN OTHERWISE STAID SEGMENT.

Zach Maskell: THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST HANDLING CARS IN THE SEGMENT, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

IT'S JUST SO SMOOTH AND FLAT AROUND CORNERS.

YET, THE CAR'S ALSO PLUSH AND ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE.

John: ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 FORD FUSION STARTS AROUND $23,000.

AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON!

THE ORIGINAL ACURA NSX MADE QUITE AN IMPRESSION ON PEOPLE WHEN IT BROUGHT A UNIQUELY JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE TO THE SUPERCAR WARS.

WELL, AFTER MANY YEARS OF HOPING AND MUCH DELAY FROM HONDA, THERE IS FINALLY A NEW ONE TO DRIVE.

DOES IT CARRY ON THAT SAME PERSPECTIVE, OR IS IT A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL?

* IN ORDER TO PROPERLY INTRODUCE THIS 2017 ACURA NSX, A BIT OF A HISTORY LESSON IS PRUDENT.

WHEN THIS NEW SPORTSCAR EXPERIMENTAL ARRIVED 25 YEARS AGO, IT WAS MORE THAN JUST A JAPANESE FERRARI KNOCKOFF.

IT WAS A HIGH TECH, MODERN TAKE ON THE EUROPEAN SUPERCAR THEME.

FEATURING A TRANSVERSE MID-MOUNTED VTEC V6 IN AN ALUMINUM BODIED CHASSIS, WITH HONDA LEVEL REFINEMENT AND DAILY DRIVER COMFORT, AT PRICING THAT NO EXOTIC COULD TOUCH.

FAST FORWARD TO 2016, AND AFTER MUCH DELAY, CAUSED BY CALLING AN AUDIBLE HALFWAY THROUGH DEVELOPMENT TO CHANGE THE STILL MID-MOUNTED ENGINE FROM TRANSVERSE TO LONGITUDINAL PLACEMENT; IT HAS FINALLY HIT THE STREETS.

AND IT SURE LOOKS AWESOME ON THEM, NOT IN ANY EXTREME OR FLAMBOYANT WAY.

BUT WITH A HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL DESIGN THAT MANAGES AIRFLOW FOR COOLING ELECTRIC, AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION PARTS, WITH VENTS, AND SCOOPS STRATEGICALLY PLACED ALL AROUND.

IT SURELY HAS SOME BIG EXPECTATIONS TO LIVE UP TO.

BUT GOING IN, ACURA ENGINEERS KNEW IT WOULD BE A TALL TASK TO PROPERLY REPRESENT THE NSXs HISTORY WHILE PUSHING IT INTO THE FUTURE.

ONE THING THEY HELD ONTO WAS A COZY AND LOW RIDING COCKPIT, WITH GREAT SEATS, AND ALL-AROUND OUTWARD VISIBILITY THAT PUTS MOST CARS OF ALL STRIPES TO SHAME.

AS FOR THE GO-FAST HARDWARE, ACURA TOOK A CURRENTLY POPULAR SUPERCAR ROUTE; A HYBRID ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM THAT USES THE NOW TWIN TURBO CHARGED V6 TO POWER THE REAR WHEELS, AND TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS FORWARD FOR POWERING THE FRONTS.

PLUS, AN ADDITIONAL E-MOTOR MATED TO THE ENGINE.

IT'S SIMILAR TO THE RLX SPORT HYBRID, BUT IN REVERSE.

THE V6 NOW DISPLACES 3.5 LITERS, AND USES THAT ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE MOSTLY AT LAUNCH TO BRIDGE THE GAP OF TURBO LAG UNTIL ITS TWIN BOOSTERS SPIN UP TO FULL FORCE.

THE RESULTS?

A TOTAL OF 573 HORSEPOWER AND 476 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ITS 9-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION IS HONDA'S OWN DESIGN.

WE FOUND IT, ALONG WITH ITS PADDLE SHIFTERS, TO WORK WELL IN ALL SITUATIONS.

SUSPENSION IS SUPERCAR SPEC ALUMINUM DOUBLE WISHBONE IN FRONT, WITH A MULTILINK IN THE REAR; MAGNETIC COILOVERS ALL AROUND.

GETTING TO THAT ON-TRACK PERFORMANCE; THERE WERE PLENTY OF EARLY NEGATIVE REVIEWS OF THE NSX, AND COMPOUNDING THE ISSUE ARE THE THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES AVAILABLE.

STANDARD CONTINENTALS FOR THE STREET, PIRELLIS AND MICHELINS OPTIONAL FOR TRACK WORK.

WE DROVE WITH THE PIRELLIS ON THE TRACK AND CONTIS ON STREET.

FOR US, THIS NSX WENT ABOUT TRACK WORK WITH THE QUIET PROFICIENCY YOU EXPECT IN A HONDA PRODUCT, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OFFENSIVE OR VICIOUS ABOUT IT.

POWER IS COMING FROM THREE DIFFERENT ANGLES AND BEING APPLIED IN VARIOUS AMOUNTS SIMULTANEOUSLY, YET IT ALL WORKS WITH MOSTLY SEAMLESS PRECISION.

IT DOESN'T SO MUCH HAMMER AROUND CORNERS AS THINK ITS WAY THROUGH THEM.

EVEN IN STRAIGHT LINE ACCELERATION, IT TAKES OFF DIRECTLY AND WITH A SMOOTHNESS THAT SEEMS TO MASK THE MAGIC THAT'S HAPPENING, AS IT PROPELS YOU TO 60 IN UNDER 3.0 SECONDS.

AGAIN, UP THERE WITH SUPERCAR'S WITH MUCH HIGHER PRICE TAGS.

LAUNCH CONTROL ENGAGES EASILY AND PERFECTLY EVERY TIME, CONSISTENTLY DELIVERING SIMPLY INCREDIBLE, ROCKET LIKE POWER.

SO, IT ALMOST GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT AS BEFORE, THE NOW U.S.

BUILT NSX DELIVERS SUPERCAR STYLE PERFORMANCE FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST OF ITS CLOSEST COMPETITION.

THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE QUITE AS ATTAINABLE AS BEFORE, WITH BASE PRICING OF $157,800 ONLY ABOUT 800 WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE THIS YEAR.

UPGRADING IT TO TRACK SPEC WILL PUSH IT CLOSER TO $200,000, WHERE A LOT OF HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS RESIDE.

BUT ON THE GLOBAL ROADMAP OF SUPERCAR'S, THE 2017 ACURA NSX SURELY LIES AT THE INTERSECTION OF PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

SO, WE'LL GO AGAINST THOSE EARLY REVIEWS AND SAY, "THAT IT STAYS 100% TRUE TO ITS HERITAGE, AND EASILY WORTH THE WAIT."

AN INCREDIBLY REFINED, HIGHLY CAPABLE, TECH HEAVY, RELIABLE DAILY DRIVER THAT WILL APPEAL TO EQUALLY SOPHISTICATED, PERFORMANCE MINDED DRIVERS LOOKING FOR A RARIFIED SHOWCASE.

IF YOU LIKED THE NSX BEFORE, YOU'LL LOVE IT NOW!

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, AS WE HIT THE TRACK FOR TRUE R-RATED PERFORMANCE IN THE SHELBY GT350R MUSTANG.

THEN, ON TO SOME COMPACT CRUISING IN THE BMW X1... 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.

"YO DANNY, MY MAN!"

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVE THEM SHIPPED TO A LOCAL INSTALLER.

TIRERACK.COM.

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

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