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

JOIN US AS WE EXPLORE THE NEW PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE JAGUAR PEDIGREE... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE TO MAKE SURE THE MILEAGE MATCHES THE JOURNEY... ZACK MASKELL FINDS A GROUP CARING FOR CARS THAT STRETCH THROUGH LIFE... AND BMW PUTS NEW JUICE INTO A TOP SELLER...

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.

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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: THE JAGUAR BRAND ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE IN SOME TYPE OF TURMOIL, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO ITS '60s HEYDAYS.

BOY HAS THAT CHANGED, THESE DAYS IT APPEARS TO HAVE A VERY SOLID FOOTING UNDER TATA OWNERSHIP, PRODUCING A STRING OF VERY IMPRESSIVE VEHICLES.

NOTICE WE DIDN'T SAY, "CARS."

FOR BEHOLD, THE F-PACE, JAGUAR'S FIRST CROSSOVER UTILITY, A CAT DESIGNED TO REALLY STIR UP THE MARKET.

* LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX; A JAGUAR UTILITY VEHICLE, AS IMPLAUSIBLE AS IT MAY SOUND, IS NOT REALLY A STRETCH.

AFTER ALL, JAG'S BEEN PARTNERED WITH LAND ROVER SINCE FORD BOUGHT THE PAIR IN 2000.

AND DURING THAT TIME, SUVS FROM LUXURY BRANDS HAVE GONE FROM A RARITY TO A NECESSITY.

SO, THIS 2017 JAGUAR F-PACE SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE.

AND TRUTH BE TOLD, IT WOULD HAVE MADE A FANTASTIC LAND ROVER.

BE THAT AS IT MAY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUV AND CROSSOVER SALES TO GO AROUND, AND SOMEHOW JAGUAR RESISTED THE URGE TO JUST REBADGE A RANGE ROVER, BY BASING THE F-PACE ON THEIR OWN XE/XF SEDAN CHASSIS.

GOOD CALL ON THEIR PART, AS IT MAKES IT TRULY UNIQUE.

BOTH THE STRUCTURE, AND MOST BODY PANELS ARE ALUMINUM OF COURSE, AND IT LOOKS FANTASTIC, DRAWING A CROWD WHEREVER WE PARKED IT.

THE FAMILIAR GRILLE TELLS EVERYONE WHAT IT IS, WHILE THE 20 INCH WHEELS, WITH BIG BRAKES BEHIND, ON THIS F-PACE S, CLUE EVERYONE IN ON ITS PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL.

UP TO 22 INCH WHEELS ARE AVAILABLE.

THE REAR CONTINUES THE THEME ESTABLISHED BY THE F-TYPE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LED TAIL LIGHTS.

BUT ALL-IN-ALL, IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE YOU MIGHT EXPECT A JAGUAR CROSSOVER TO LOOK LIKE.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS INCLUDE TWO DIFFERENT SUPERCHARGED 3.0 LITER V6s, A 340 HORSEPOWER VERSION, AND THE 380 HORSEPOWER UNIT IN OUR S, BOTH RATED AT 332 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

PLUS, A 180 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO-DIESEL.

ALL F-PACE'S GET AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, THERE'S A VERY FAMILIAR JAGUAR FEEL, WHICH IS AWESOME.

SMOOTH AND WILLING.

IN SIMILAR FASHION TO BMW, JAGUAR HAS ESTABLISHED A TREMENDOUS BRAND CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THEIR LINEUP.

THE F-PACE IS ALSO, ONE OF THOSE RIDES THAT FEELS FASTER THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE FAST.

F-PACE OPERATES ON REAR-WHEEL DRIVE UNTIL TRACTION IS LOST, AT WHICH TIME IN CAN SEND 50% OF THE POWER FORWARD.

ADAPTIVE SURFACE PROGRESS CONTROL IS AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FOR OFF-ROAD, DESIGNED FOR KEEPING YOU FROM HURTING YOUR JAG ON STEEP HILLS OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.

THAT'S TECHNOLOGY WE CAN GET BEHIND, AS NO DOUBT IT COMES FROM LAND ROVER.

GROUND CLEARANCE IS A FINE 8.4 INCHES.

TAKING FULL CONTROL OURSELVES, FOR STRAIGHT LINE SPRINTS, THIS F-PACE S PUT PLENTY OF POWER DOWN; LEAPING OFF THE LINE TO 60 IN JUST 5.2 SECONDS.

GEAR CHANGES WERE BRISK, THE EXHAUST SOUNDS EXOTICALLY LOUD, AND IN 13.6 SECONDS WE WERE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE TRAVELLING AT 103 MILES PER HOUR.

STEERING WAS LIGHT, TIGHT, AND NIMBLE, AND OVERALL IT HANDLED EXTREMELY WELL.

THERE WAS BIT OF EXPECTED UNDERSTEER, BUT IT REMAINED VERY FLAT THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

ON THE INSIDE, THE F-PACE LAYOUT IS SIMILAR TO THE XE SEDAN, BUT MATERIALS ARE A WELCOMED STEP ABOVE.

AND WE'RE GLAD TO FINALLY SEE AN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WORTHY OF THE BRAND, JAG'S NEW INTOUCH PRO, FEATURES A 10 INCH TABLET-LIKE INTERFACE.

FRONT SEATS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL BOLSTERING, BUT ALSO VERY GOOD COMFORT AND TONS OF ADJUSTMENTS.

THE EXPECTED JAG ELEMENTS, LIKE THE POP-UP ROTARY SHIFTER AND TFT GAUGES ARE PRESENT, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF UTILITY AS WELL, WITH DECENT REAR SEAT PEOPLE SPACE, AND 33.5 CUBIC-FEET OF SEAT-UP CARGO ROOM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 21.7 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ABOUT AVERAGE, WITH 16.5 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 7.4 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

GET THE DIESEL IF YOU WANT BETTER RESULTS, IT RATES 29-MPG COMBINED.

WITH THE F-PACE, JAGUAR NOW HAS THE BROADEST PRODUCT LINE IN THEIR HISTORY.

AND THERE IS MUCH TO LIKE ABOUT THEIR FIRST LUXURY-UTE EFFORT, INCLUDING A BASE PRICING THAT IS QUITE LOW AT $41,985.

AND THAT'S FOR THE DIESEL.

THIS F-PACE S STARTS AT $57,695; CERTAINLY NOT AWFUL FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS CALIBER.

SO, NOT ONLY IS THE F-PACE, A GREAT MID-SIZE LUXURY CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE, IT'S A GREAT JAGUAR!

IT HANDLES ON PAR WITH ANYTHING SIMILAR FROM PORSCHE OR BMW, FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF A TAHOE.

SO, GET USED TO SEEING PLENTY OF THESE CATS PROWLING AROUND STIRRING UP THE LUXURY UTILITY MARKET.

THE 2017 JAGUAR F-PACE IS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING VEHICLES WE'VE DRIVEN THIS YEAR.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA, WHERE THE TIDE IS TURNING TOWARDS A CLEANER FUEL.

ALMOST HALF OF TUSCALOOSA CITY SCHOOL BUSES ARE NOW POWERED BY PROPANE.

EACH BUS DRIVES ABOUT 90 MILES PER DAY, PUTTING A BIG DENT IN THE REDUCTION OF HARMFUL TAILPIPE EMISSIONS.

BUT THE MOST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE FOR DRIVERS AND STUDENTS ON BOARD IS THE REDUCTION IN NOISE POLLUTION.

THESE PROPANE BUSES ARE OVER 50% QUIETER THAN A DIESEL BUS.

Cathy Staggs: WELL, I THINK THE STUDENTS NOTICE BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN NOW HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE BUS, SO THEY'RE MORE IN TUNE TO WHAT'S GOING ON, WHICH IS A REAL PLUS FOR EVERYONE.

John: WITH HELP FROM PARTNERS LIKE THE ALABAMA CLEAN FUELS COALITION, YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THIS FLEET AS IT DRIVES TO A CLEAN, GREEN FUTURE!

* WHILE, MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL CARS," YOU ALWAYS KNOW ONE, WHEN THEY SEE ONE, AND THEY ALL SERVE GREAT PURPOSES, AND ALWAYS COME WITH THEIR OWN, PERSONALIZED MYSTIQUE.

WELL, ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND THESE ORIGINAL CARS THAT ARE VITAL TO KEEPING US ALIVE... AND THE ONES WHO TRANSPORT US, WHEN OUR ENGINE, FINALLY STOPS CRANKING.

Zach Maskell: THERE AREN'T MANY PLACES WE HAVEN'T BEEN, SNIFFING OUT THAT BEAUTIFUL GASOLINE FRAGRANCE.

THIS TIME WE'RE IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WE'RE CHECKING OUT OVER 100 FIRST RESPONDERS, TO THE LAST RESPONDERS.

THE PROFESSIONAL CAR SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO KEEPING ALL THESE VINTAGE AMBULANCES AND HEARSES JUST THE WAY THEY WERE.

THIS IS THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME COOL STORIES FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THESE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

Tony Karsnia: THE PROFESSIONAL CAR SOCIETY STARTED BACK IN 1976 WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO FOCUS ON HAVING THESE CARS EARN THEIR SPOT IN THE COLLECTOR CAR HOBBY.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN CARS LIKE THIS WEREN'T ALLOWED AT CAR SHOWS AND WERE SHUNNED ELSEWHERE AS WELL.

Zach: THIS IS THE LARGEST CLUB OF ITS KIND.

THE REASON THE FOLKS HERE HAVE THEIR OWN STORY, IS BECAUSE NO TWO CARS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

Steve Lichtman: AND ALL OF THE VEHICLES I OWN, I ACTUALLY KNOW THE HISTORY.

WHERE IT SERVED, AND IN SOME CASES, I'VE ACTUALLY MET THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THAT PARTICULAR AMBULANCE.

AND EVEN IN ONE OR TWO CASES MET PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY PATIENTS WHO WERE INJURED OR ILL WHO WERE TRANSPORTED IN THOSE AMBULANCES.

Zach: YOU'LL SEE MANY CADILLACS, LINCOLN'S, BUICK'S, AND OLDSMOBILE'S.

BUT THEY NEVER BUILT HEARSES OR AMBOS.

THERE WERE BODY BUILDERS SUCH AS SUPERIOR, MILLER-METEOR, AND FLXIBLE WHO CUSTOM BUILT THE REQUIRED BODY ON A MASS PRODUCED CHASSIS.

THIS AMBULANCE, WAS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD.

"A 1940 BUICK CENTURY.

FLXIBLE."

"NOW HAVE YOU HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO IT?"

Owner: "OH NO, IT WAS A JUNKYARD CAR.

IT WAS PRETTY BADLY ROTTED OUT.

IT'S SHOWING ITS AGE WITH THE PAINT WORK, IT'S THE ONLY CAR I'VE EVER PAINTED IN 40 YEARS."

Zach: UNTIL WELL INTO THE '60s, MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ACTUALLY DID DOUBLE DUTY...AS BOTH AN AMBULANCE AND A HEARSE.

YOU NOTICE THERE'S LIKE NO ROOM FOR EQUIPMENT.

SO, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT "WHAT CAN YOU CARRY?

A BOX OF BAND AIDS, THAT WAS ABOUT IT."

THEY WOULDN'T EVEN RIDE IN THE BACK WITH THE PATIENT.

IT WAS A RIDE TO THE HOSPITAL, THAT'S ALL IT WAS.

Zach: THIS MAN DROVE FURTHER THAN A HOSPITAL RIDE.

MAKING A 500 MILE TREK FROM CANADA, HIS HEARSE WAS RIDICULOUSLY STUNNING.

John McCulloch: AND IT WAS A FREDDY FLINTSTONE SPECIAL.

IT'S ALL WOOD FRAMED UNDERNEATH.

AND THE WOOD WAS ALL ROTTED OUT OF IT.

THE WINDSHIELDS WERE ALL SMASHED OUT.

IT TOOK US ALMOST 10 YEARS TO RESTORE IT TO THIS CONDITION.

INSIDE, THAT'S A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL.

THERE WAS ENOUGH OF THE ORIGINALS, THAT I REDID THOSE MYSELF.

THEY'RE ALL ONE SHEET OF WALNUT VENEER.

AND THEN, YOU HAD TO ROUTER OUT THE PATTERN AND THEN YOU TOOK A Q-TIP, AND WOOD BLEACH, AND BLEACH THE LIGHTER COLORS OUT.

AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, IT'S ALL CAST ALUMINUM PANELS THAT LOOK LIKE CARVED DRAPES.

WE PUT IT BACK, 99%, AS WE KNOW IT, AS ORIGINAL.

WE CAN'T FIND ANOTHER ONE IN A 3-WAY LIKE THIS.

SO WE'RE NOT 100% SURE EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY, BUT AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IT IS.

Zach: ONCE HORSE DRAWN HEARSE'S WERE BEING PHASED OUT, HENRY FORD'S MODEL T WAS TRANSFORMED.

THIS ONE IS DOCUMENTED, 100% AUTHENTIC.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE MANY OF THESE.

John Morehead: I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR HEARSE SINCE I WAS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND JUST ALWAYS LIKED IT FROM THE TIME THAT I SAW IT.

A FELLA THAT OWNED IT PASSED AWAY, AND A COUPLE YEARS AFTER HE PASSED AWAY, THE FAMILY CONTACTED ME.

AND SO, IT'S KIND OF FULFILLED A LIFE-LONG DREAM TO OWN THIS HEARSE.

Zach: PERHAPS, IT'S THE ADRENALINE FROM SIRENS SCREAMING DOWN THE ROAD... [SOUND OF SIREN] OR THE HAND CRAFTED DETAIL PUT INTO THESE VEHICLES.

THEY'RE ALL ABOUT SAVING AND CELEBRATING A LIFE, I COULDN'T DEFINE BEAUTIFUL ANY BETTER.

SO, IF YOU'RE ALIVE OUT THERE IT'S EASY TO SEE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR HOBBY.

NOW, IF THE HEARSES STILL GIVE YOU THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, THAT ONE DAY, WE'RE ALL GOING FOR A RIDE IN THE BACK OF ONE OF THESE.

John: THE MILES CAN REALLY ADD UP QUICKLY, JUST LOOK AT YOUR OWN ODOMETER.

NOW, PAT GOSS HAS SOME ADVICE ON MAKING SURE THOSE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT.

Pat Goss: SINCE THE ADVENT OF DIGITAL ODOMETERS ON CARS, MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY CAN'T BE TAMPERED WITH, BUT THAT IS A PURE MYTH, AND TO EXPLAIN WE HAVE CHRIS VASSO FROM CARFAX.

CHRIS, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Chris Vasso: ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, TELL US ABOUT TODAY'S ODOMETER FRAUD.

Chris: WELL, ODOMETER FRAUD IS ALIVE AND WELL AND IT'S ENTERED THE DIGITAL AGE.

THE COMMON MISCONCEPTION IS DIGITAL ODOMETERS ELIMINATED THE ABILITY TO ROLL THEM BACK, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IN FACT, OUR DATA SUGGESTS THERE'S ONE AND A HALF MILLION VEHICLES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WITH AN ODOMETER ROLLBACK AND ITS COSTING PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHEN WE SAY, "COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS," I GUESS BECAUSE WE BUY CARS BASED ON LOW MILES.

Chris: THE MILEAGE IS A HUGE FACTOR IN THE PRICE OF THE CAR.

AND WHEN YOU ROLL THE MILES BACK 50 OR 100,000 MILES YOU'RE ARTIFICIALLY INFLATING THE VALUE OF THAT CAR, WHILE ALMOST ANY CAR CAN BE ROLLED BACK, WE SEE IT HAPPENING IN TWO TYPES OF VEHICLES.

ONES THAT ARE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD, AND HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON THEM OR OFF LEASE VEHICLES, LEASE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED IN.

WITH THE 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLES YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPORT THE ODOMETER READINGS ANYMORE AND YOU CAN MAKE THOSE CARS LOOK PRETTY GOOD BY TAKING MAYBE 100,000 MILES OFF.

THE OFF LEASE VEHICLES PEOPLE ARE AVOIDING THE PENALTIES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY WHEN THEY GO THOUSANDS MORE MILES OVER WHAT THEY'RE ALLOWED.

THE AVERAGE LOSS PEOPLE ARE TAKING BY BUYING THOSE CARS IS ABOUT $4,000 WHICH IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IF THAT CAR'S GOT A LOT MORE MILES THAN YOU THINK IT DOES.

Pat: AND THERE'S TONS OF THESE OUT THERE.

Chris: ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION, AND THEY'RE IN EVERY STATE, SO IT REALLY PAYS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CONSULTING THE EXPERTS LIKE CARFAX, AND YOUR MECHANIC TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT PUTTING YOU, AND YOUR FAMILY IN ONE OF THOSE CARS.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NEXT THING IS THAT WE HAVE TONS OF FLOOD CARS THESE DAYS.

Chris: HUGE INTENSE STORMS, AND IT'S HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND IT'S FLOODING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS ABOUT HALF OF THOSE TYPICALLY MAKE THEIR WAY BACK ONTO THE MARKET THOSE CARS LITERALLY ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

THE WATER AFFECTS THE SAFETY, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS OF THE CAR, AND THAT CAN REALLY CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR YOU, AND YOUR FAMILY IF YOU BUY ONE OF THOSE CARS UNKNOWINGLY.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND A CARFAX VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT IS GOING TO DISCLOSE THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

Chris: A CARFAX REPORT WILL TELL YOU ANY FLOOD DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO US.

IT'LL TELL YOU IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK ON THE CAR YOU WANT TO BUY.

AND IT WILL ALSO, TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT RECALLS THAT ARE ON MILLIONS OF CARS THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING RIGHT NOW.

Pat: CHRIS, THANK YOU.

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

John: SUMMER VACATION IS OVER, AND SADLY, TIME WITH OUR 2017 WINNEBAGO VIEW 24J CLASS-C RV HAS ALSO COME TO AN END.

BUT, OUR FINAL ROAD TRIP IN THIS WINNE WAS A DOOZY; NEARLY 7,000 MILES; VISITING 18 STATES; FOUR NATIONAL PARKS; IN JUST TWO WEEKS.

CRUISING FROM OUR HOME BASE IN MARYLAND TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AND BACK, WITH MANY MILES AT WIDE OPEN WESTERN SPEED LIMITS, IT'S NO SURPRISE FUEL ECONOMY DROPPED TO 13.1 MILES PER GALLON OF DIESEL.

STILL THAT'S QUITE GOOD FOR A 25 FOOT RV.

COMPLAINTS?

ONLY SOME WIND BUFFETING, AND THE USUAL RV SHAKES, AND RATTLES AT SPEED.

OTHERWISE, OUR VIEW PROVIDED AN AWESOME WAY TO VIEW THE USA UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

SLEEPING FOUR PEOPLE IS A TIGHT AFFAIR, BUT SETTING UP CAMP IS A BREEZE AND THE VIEW PROVIDED EVERY AMENITY WE COULD EXPECT IN A COMPACT, EFFICIENT LAYOUT.

WE'LL SURELY MISS THIS VIEW, AND NOW KNOW WHY SMALLER DIESEL-CHASSIS MOTOR HOMES ARE BECOMING SO POPULAR.

AN ALMOST EQUALLY PRODIGIOUS SUMMER VACATION VESSEL IS OUR 2016 HONDA PILOT.

THERE'S NO KITCHEN FACILITIES OR ANY SLEEPING QUARTERS HERE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY SMOOTHER AND A WHOLE LOT QUIETER.

WE'VE SEEN OVER 27 MILES PER GALLON IN HIGHWAY CRUISING FROM THE 3.5 LITER V6, BUT OUR OVERALL AVERAGE AFTER 19,000 MILES AND 9-MONTHS, HAS SLIPPED A LITTLE TO 22.9 THIS TERM.

WE STILL HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

IT WORKS WELL IN MOST SITUATIONS, LIKE DOWNSHIFTING ON STEEP DOWNHILL GRADES.

BUT WHILE, STEADY CRUISING; BETWEEN IT SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE, AND THE ENGINE ACTIVATING, AND DEACTIVATING CYLINDERS, IS ALL A BIT TOO BUSY FOR OUR TASTES.

THIS KIA OPTIMA AND VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE ARE ON THE MENU FOR OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THE HEAT IS REALLY ON IN MIAMI, WITH COOL NEW CARS MAKING IT EVEN HOTTER, AND HERE'S OUR YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH MORE.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE 46TH ANNUAL MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW OPENED MUCH EARLIER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS; GIVING SOUTH FLORIDIANS THE CHANCE TO FEEL THE HEAT OF THE NEWEST AND MOST TALKED ABOUT VEHICLES.

TOP HONORS WENT TO NISSAN AND THEIR 2017 ROGUE.

THIS POPULAR COMPACT CROSSOVER SHOWCASES A FRESHENED STYLE WITH MULTIPLE NEW FEATURES, LIKE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, AND A HANDS-FREE LIFT GATE.

THERE'S ALSO, A FIRST-TIME HYBRID MODEL WITH AN ESTIMATED 35 MPG HIGHWAY RATING.

MIAMI WAS ALSO, THE WORLD DEBUT OF THE 2017 NISSAN SENTRA SR TURBO.

MORE MIGHTIER THAN THE BASE MODEL; IT FEATURES A 1.6 LITER TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE PUMPING OUT 188 HORSEPOWER.

THAT'S A 50% BOOST OVER THE SENTRA SR. ANOTHER SPICY ENTRY, THE ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QUADRIFOGLIO, DROVE AWAY WITH THE STAR OF THE SHOW AWARD.

THE 2017 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID MADE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE AT AN AUTO SHOW.

WHILE, VOLKSWAGEN TAPPED INTO THE VIBRANT "FLORIDA FEELING" WITH A BRIGHT-COLORED BEETLE, DECKED OUT IN "FRESH FUCHSIA METALLIC."

WITH VEHICLES FROM MORE THAN 40 OF THE WORLD'S TOP MANUFACTURERS, MAGIC CITY TURNED UP THE HEAT FOR THE FIRST MAJOR AUTO SHOW OF THE SEASON... AND THAT'S THE LATEST FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: WE ALL KNOW THE GREAT REPUTATION THE BMW 3-SERIES HAS MADE FOR ITSELF OVER THE YEARS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THESE DAYS, THAT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY IMPRESSIVE RIVALS AROUND TO RELY SOLELY ON YOUR PAST PERFORMANCE AS A MARKETING STRATEGY.

SO, BMW KEEPS PUSHING THE LIMITS OF BOTH PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

AND THE 330E IS THE RESULT.

* WHO KNOWS WHAT TYPE OF FUEL WILL BE POWERING OUR CARS 100 YEARS FROM NOW.

BUT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THERE WILL BE MORE AND MORE VEHICLES LIKE THIS 2016 BMW 330E IPERFORMANCE, THAT RETAIN A TRADITIONAL GASOLINE ENGINE, YET COMBINE IT WITH SOME TYPE OF HYBRID ELECTRIC ASSIST.

IN THIS CASE IT'S BMW'S 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO THAT COMBINES WITH A 7.6 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY POWERED MOTOR/GENERATOR TO PRODUCE 248 HORSEPOWER AND 310 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WHILE, TAILORED JUST FOR THE 330E, THE PLUG-IN HYBRID HARD AND SOFTWARE COMES FROM BMW'S I DIVISION THAT SPAWNED THE I3 AND I8.

A TRUE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC HANDLES SHIFTING DUTIES, AND THIS 3-SERIES REMAINS REAR-DRIVE ONLY.

RECHARGING CAN HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS 2.5 HOURS, WITH A 240 VOLT CHARGER, OR AS LONG AS 7-HOURS WITH AT 120 VOLTS.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO PACK LIGHT, AS THE TRUNK-MOUNTED BATTERY PACK LOWERS CARGO SPACE FROM 17.0 TO 13.0 CUBIC-FEET.

EVERYTHING IS PACKAGED UNDER THE FLOOR, SO THE PRACTICALITY OF FULL FOLDING SEATBACKS IS RETAINED.

AS FOR DRIVING, IT BEHAVES HOW YOU'D EXPECT A BMW PHEV TO ACT; SMOOTH, EFFORTLESS, AND BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PLUG-INS.

TRANSITIONS BETWEEN POWER SOURCES ARE RELATIVELY SEAMLESS.

ON THE STREET, IT FEELS A LITTLE TORQUIER RIGHT AWAY, BUT THAT SENSATION LEVELS OFF QUICKLY.

AND JUST AS IN THE X5 XDRIVE40E, THERE'S A WEIRD STEERING BEHAVIOR THAT HAS US FEELING THAT MAYBE THE REGULAR 3-SERIES NUMB STEERING IS NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL.

BEYOND THAT, IT'S THE SAME 3-SERIES, WE KNOW AND LOVE; EXCEPT FOR WHEN YOU'RE ON EV-POWER ALONE.

LIKE THE MOST PHEV'S, ELECTRIC-ONLY RANGE IS AROUND 14 MILES, ENOUGH FOR LIMITED URBAN DRIVING.

BUT, AT SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES PER HOUR.

SO, FOR THE GOOD AND BAD, IT'S NO CHEVY VOLT.

PLUS, THE REGEN BRAKING IS ABOUT AS REFINED AS IT GETS.

DRIVE MODES PERFORM THE USUAL FUNCTIONS, AS WELL AS DETERMINE WHICH POWER SOURCE IS ON LINE.

AND JUST TO BE AS CLEVER AS POSSIBLE; IF YOU'VE SET A DESTINATION IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, BMW'S PROACTIVE DRIVING ASSISTANT WILL PLAN AHEAD AND DETERMINE WHEN TO USE BATTERY POWER MOST EFFICIENTLY.

FORTUNATELY, OUR QUARTER MILE TEST STRIP WASN'T IN THE NAV.

DIRECTORY, SO WHEN WE ASKED FOR ALL FULL, WE GOT IT; HITTING 60 IN 6.0 SECONDS FLAT.

IT DIDN'T FEEL QUITE AS TORQUEY HERE, BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH BOOST THAT WE STRUGGLED WITH WHEEL HOP AT LAUNCH.

SHIFTS ARE A BIT LAZY COMPARED TO A 340I IN SPORT+ MODE, BUT ALSO VERY SMOOTH.

14.6 SECONDS WAS OUR QUARTER MILE TIME, AT A SWIFT 97 MILES PER HOUR.

THE 330E HAS A SOFT FEEL THROUGH THE CORNERS, ALONG WITH THE SLOW AND UNENGAGING STEERING, BUT THERE'S STILL ABUNDANT BMW-TYPE REAR-DRIVE FUN TO BE HAD HERE, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF POWER TO OVERSTEER AT WILL.

AT 116 FEET; THE AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE, WHILE QUITE SHORT, WAS NOT AS SHORT AS WE EXPECTED.

NO DOUBT A RESULT OF THE EXTRA 500 POUNDS OF BATTERY WEIGHT.

THERE'S NOT MUCH OBVIOUS CHANGE TO THE FAMILIAR 3-SERIES FORM.

STYLING REMAINS AGGRESSIVE AND SPORTY.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF LUXURY TOUCHES INSIDE.

MOST PROMINENT, IS THE UNIQUE TRIM, AND AN EDRIVE BUTTON FOR SELECTING HYBRID SYSTEM DRIVE MODES.

OUR GOVERNMENT GIVES THE 330E A 72-COMBINED MPGE FUEL ECONOMY RATING.

OUR AVERAGE WAS ONLY 29.0 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM, BARELY BETTER THAN A STANDARD POWER 320I.

STILL, IT HAS A GREAT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 5.8 BARRELS OF OIL USE AND 3.0 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS ANNUALLY.

THE 330E IS PRICED AROUND 10-GRAND MORE THAN A BASE 3-SERIES AT $44,695.

SO, IT'S NOT ABOUT SAVINGS PER SE, BUT ABOUT A NEW KIND OF PERFORMANCE FROM A BRAND THAT REMAINS ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE.

BRINGING A PLUG-IN HYBRID TO MARKET MAY NOT GET YOU AS MUCH FANFARE AS IT ONCE DID, BUT MAKING IT DRIVE FAR BETTER THAN THE REST, AND PUTTING A ROUNDEL ON THE HOOD, COULD POSSIBLE BRING A FULL STOP TO THE PRESSES.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE, THE 2016 BMW 330E IPERFORMANCE IS JUST THE BEGINNING, AS BMW PUTS AS MUCH EFFORT INTO FUEL ECONOMY PERFORMANCE AS THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY PUT INTO DRIVING PERFORMANCE.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR OUR ENTHUSIASTIC ROAD AHEAD.

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE HOP IN A NEW CORVETTE REVVING UP A STORIED PAST... AND THIS MINI PROVIDES A FUN RIDE WITH THE TOP DOWN.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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.

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

*