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

JOIN US AS JAGUAR TAKES THEIR PERFORMANCE TO A NEW LEVEL WITH THE F-TYPE SVR... PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO CHOOSE WISELY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE TO FIND A FAST RIDE... AND AUDI ADVANCES WITH THE SMART AND SOPHISTICATED A4 SEDAN...

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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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: THE JAGUAR F-TYPE REALLY KICKED OFF THE RECENT JAGUAR RENAISSANCE IN STYLE, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN SITTING IDLE SINCE, AS JAGUAR HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY ADDING MORE AND MORE PERFORMANCE INTO THE MIX.

THIS F-TYPE SVR IS JUST THE LATEST.

SO WE DECIDED WE'D BETTER HURRY UP AND TRY IT BEFORE JAGUAR UPS THE ANTE EVEN MORE.

* THE JAGUAR F-TYPE, THE BEST MUSCLE CAR BUILT OUTSIDE OF AMERICA, GETS THE SPECIAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS TREATMENT FOR 2017, CREATING THE EVEN MORE MUSCULAR F-TYPE SVR.

SO, THERE'S A LOT MORE HERE THAN JUST THE TYPICAL SPORT PACKAGE UPGRADE.

YES, MORE POWER, BUT ALSO, LESS WEIGHT; AERO ADD-ONS TO INCREASE DOWNFORCE, AND NATURALLY A REVISED SUSPENSION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE ABOVE.

VENTURING ONTO SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY IN THIS ANIMAL IS LIKE CUDDLING WITH A PIT-BULL; THINGS ARE WARM AND FUZZY AT FIRST, BUT YOU NEVER SHOULD LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, AS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GO REALLY WRONG REALLY QUICK.

IT ALSO SOUNDS TRULY BEASTLY, ONE OF THE BEST AUTOMOTIVE SOUNDS TO EMERGE IN RECENT YEARS; IT'S POPPING, AND CRACKLING SEEMINGLY ECHOING ALL AROUND THE TRACK, AND DEEP WITHIN OUR SOULS.

AND BOY IS IT FAST, THOUGH ALSO SOMEWHAT SKETCHY; WITH AN UNDENIABLE PUCKER FACTOR, WHICH MAKES IT AS FUN AS YOU'RE WILLING TO PUSH IT.

IT'S INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE AS WELL, WHETHER YOU'RE READY FOR IT OR NOT.

THIS COUPE DOES FEEL MORE SOLID THAN THE LAST F-TYPE ROADSTER WE TESTED, AND YOU CAN EASILY FEEL THE EXTRA GRIP AND POWER PROVIDED BY THE SVR UPGRADES.

BUT AS GNARLY AS IT CAN GET, IT'S ALSO VERY EASY TO CATCH WHEN THINGS START TO GET AWAY FROM YOU, THANKS TO STEERING THAT IS SUPER LIGHT, DIRECT, AND PREDICTABLE.

TORQUE-VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AIDS AS WELL.

IT MAY BE A JAGUAR, BUT IT FEELS NOTHING LIKE YOUR TYPICAL EURO SPORT COUPE.

AROUND THE TRACK, ITS TRUE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T HAMPER IT A BIT.

THOUGH AS GREAT AS THINGS SOUND OUTSIDE, THE COCKPIT REMAINS MOSTLY JAGUAR SOLEMN, KEEPING US FROM EASILY HEARING OUR SHIFT POINTS.

THE AUTO CERTAINLY HELPS WITH ACCELERATION.

JUST START FEEDING IN THE POWER, AND THE JAG SQUATS DOWN AND LEAPS OFF THE LINE; HITTING 60 IN 3.3 SECONDS.

IT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST TO LAUNCH BIG HORSEPOWER CARS WE'VE DRIVEN.

WE KEPT THE THROTTLE OPEN, LETTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT WHEN IT PLEASED, AND THE QUARTER MILE WAS OVER IN 11.6 SECONDS AT 123 MILES PER HOUR.

AND OF COURSE, WE'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T GET INTO WHAT MAKES ALL OF THAT HAPPEN.

THE F-TYPE'S SUPERCHARGED 5.0 LITER V8 IS STILL HERE, BUT ITS MANAGING SOFTWARE HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED; RESULTING IN A 25 HORSEPOWER BOOST TO 575.

TORQUE CLIMBS 14 TO 516.

THE SVRs EXTERIOR DOES INDEED LOOK MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN BEFORE, THOUGH IT REMAINS VERY ELEGANT, A GENTLEMEN RACER IF YOU WILL.

THOSE ADDED AERO TREATMENTS INCLUDE A TWEAKED FRONT FASCIA, DIVERTERS IN THE WHEEL ARCHES TO CHANNEL ADDITIONAL AIR OUT OF THE FENDER VENTS, AND A BIG ACTIVE REAR WING.

MANY OF THOSE PERFORMANCE EXTRAS ARE CARBON-FIBER; TO HELP YOUR SVR STAND OUT FROM COMMON F-TYPE AFFAIR.

YOU'LL SEE IT ON THE ROOF, FRONT CHIN SPOILER, HOOD, SIDE VENTS, AND REAR DIFFUSER.

AND OF COURSE, THE F-TYPE'S POP-OUT DOOR HANDLES STILL EXUDE COOL.

OH, AND THAT TITANIUM EXHAUST THAT SOUNDS SO GREAT, IT ALSO SHAVES 35 POUNDS OF WEIGHT.

MOST NOTABLY, AS GREAT AS THIS SVR FEELS ON THE TRACK, IT STILL FEELS EVEN MORE FUN IN "RELAXED AND PROFILE" MODE.

NO HARSH SUSPENSION HERE; YOU'LL ENJOY EVERY MINUTE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

JAGUAR HAS ALSO LEFT PLENTY OF LUXURY TOUCHES INSIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR LUCKY PASSENGERS TO ENJOY AND BE CODDLED BY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

SO THERE'S A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE THANKS TO USE OF 18.3 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY AND C02 EMISSIONS OF 8.3 TONS.

THIS IS A BIG BOY TOY, SO OF COURSE IT COMES WITH A BIG BOY PRICE, $126,945.

IF THAT'S TOO MUCH, THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF LESSER F-TYPES AVAILABLE STARTING AT $62,395.

NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, IT LOOKED LIKE MOTORIZED JAGUARS WERE INDEED AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.

BUT THANKS TO JAG RE-INTRODUCING CARS LIKE THE F-TYPE BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, THEIR POPULATION IS RESURGING.

THE F-TYPE HAS BEEN A TRUE WORK IN PROGRESS SINCE IT ARRIVED, AND NOT IN A BAD WAY.

RATHER, IN A WAY THAT KEEPS US ENJOYING EVERY ONE WE DRIVE, LIKE THIS 2017 F-TYPE SVR; YET ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THEY'LL COME UP WITH NEXT.

* OWNING AND MAINTAINING A BONA FIDE RACECAR USUALLY COMES WITH A PRICE TAG THAT MOST OF US MORTALS CAN ILL AFFORD.

HOWEVER, OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND A WAY AROUND THIS FINANCIAL CONUNDRUM, AND INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF HIS VERY OWN 10 SECOND DRAGSTER, FOR ONLY PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.

Zach Maskell: RACE CAMAROS SIDE BY SIDE, RIDE ALONG IN AN 800 HORSEPOWER DRAGSTER, OR BRING YOUR OWN CAR.

ALL SORTS OF COMPETITION, THIS TIME, AT NEW JERSEY'S ENGLISHTOWN RACEWAY PARK.

AS FOR ME, AND A FEW DOZEN DRIVERS, WE'LL BE TEARING DOWN THE TRACK IN THESE.

THE DRAGSTERS THAT I'LL BE PILOTING TODAY, HAVE A 180 INCH WHEEL BASE.

THEY'RE POWERED BY 400 CUBIC INCH SMALL BLOCK CHEVY'S, PUTTING OUT OVER 500 HORSEPOWER.

THE CARS WEIGH 1,500 POUNDS WITH THE DRIVER INSIDE, SO YOU DO THE MATH THERE.

THAT'S CONNECTED TO A 2-SPEED TRANSMISSION, THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST GETTING OUT OF TODAY'S EVENT?

John Grocke: JUST GETTING MY FEET WET AND JUST GETTING USED TO GOING FASTER THAN NORMAL.

Zach: FOR AS LITTLE AS A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS, YOU TOO CAN POLISH YOUR SKILLS, QUALIFY FOR AN NHRA LICENSE, OR SIMPLY FEEL THE FEROCITY THAT PURE SPEED RACING'S FLEET OF MACHINES OFFER.

Ralph Steiglia: I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

FOR ONE, IT'S THE MOST FUN YOU'VE EVER HAD, WITH YOUR CLOTHES ON.

NUMBER TWO, FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIPE THE SMILE OFF YOUR FACE.

Zach: WHICH WAS EVIDENT, BEFORE WE EVEN HAD TO CHANCE TO DRIVE.

SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR HUSBAND HERE GIVING YOU SOME ENCOURAGEMENT?

Lisa Laveroni: YES I DO.

Zach: AND HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS?

Lisa: HE ACTUALLY GOT IT FOR MY 49TH BIRTHDAY.

Zach: BIRTHDAY PRESENT?

Lisa: YEAH.

Zach: YOU COULDN'T REALLY ASK FOR ANYTHING ELSE COULD YOU?

Lisa: NO, IT WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT, I COULD EVER GET.

Zach: AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN DRIVEN YET, HUH?

Lisa: I KNOW!

Zach: PURE SPEED MOST LIKELY PIT STOPS AT A TRACK NEAR YOU.

YOU GUYS GO ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THEN?

Austin Kardules: YEAH, EVERYWHERE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE TO CALIFORNIA AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

Zach: STARTING IN 1997, DOUG FOLEY REALIZED THERE WAS A NEED FOR A DRAG RACING SCHOOL.

NOW HIS TEAM, ALONG WITH THE CARS THEY PERSONALLY MAINTAIN, CAN PUT ALMOST ANYONE 16 AND OLDER, WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

NOT TO OUR SURPRISE, WE BUMPED INTO SOME FREQUENT FLYERS.

Zach: THESE THINGS DON'T HANDLE LIKE CARS, RIGHT?

Greg Dedian: NO, THEY DON'T.

THEY JUST WANT TO GO STRAIGHT.

DON'T THINK ABOUT CHANGING LANES ON THIS.

Zach: SO, YOU LEARN THAT YOU'LL KIND OF JUST WANT TO GUIDE IT ALONG RATHER THAN STEER IT?

EVER TRY TO STEER IT... Greg: EXACTLY, THE CAR WANTS TO DRIVE ITSELF.

YOU KNOW, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS, YOU'RE ALMOST GOING ALONG FOR THE RIDE, BUT YOU'RE JUST GIVING IT A LITTLE NUDGE HERE AND THERE, AND THE CAR WILL PRETTY MUCH GO STRAIGHT ON DOWN BROADWAY.

Zach: DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BEST TIME IS THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN OUT HERE?

Greg: I DO.

Zach: AND?

Greg: IT WAS A 9.72.

Zach: NOT TOO SHABBY.

Greg: NOT TOO SHABBY AT ALL.

Zach: I WAS EXPECTING TO ONLY HIT 10 SECONDS TODAY.

Greg: WELL, IF YOU'RE QUICK OFF THE LINE, YOU MAY BEAT 10 SECONDS.

Zach: BEFORE IT WAS MY CHANCE TO BEAT GREG'S TIME, WE GOT TO WATCH SOME TOUCHING MOMENTS.

SOME RIDERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, OR HEARING LOSS FOR INSTANCE, CAN ALSO LET 800 HORSEPOWER SUCK THEM INTO THEIR SEATS.

Doug Foley: WE CATER TO ALL PEOPLE, AS LONG AS WE FEEL LIKE IT'S SAFE CONDITIONS, OKAY.

WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO WAS FAIRLY SHORT TODAY, OKAY.

AND AS LONG AS I CAN GET HIM IN THE CAR AND KNOW THAT, GOD FORBID, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING THAT HIS SAFETY CONDITIONS ARE UP TO STANDARD, THEN I'M FINE WITH IT.

Zach: TIME NOW, TO KEEP MY HEAD BACK, AND PIN IT TO WIN IT.

OUR FIRST RUN WE GO TO THE 330 FOOT MARK.

THE SECOND, 660.

AND FOR THIS FINAL RUN, THE FULL QUARTER MILE.

FIRST, WE DRIVE THROUGH SOME WATER... A QUICK BURN OUT CLEANS THE TIRES... NOW, WE'RE READY FOR LAUNCH.

Doug: FOOT ON THE BRAKE...

ROLL FORWARD SLOWLY...

STAGE LIGHT ON...

FOOT ON THE BRAKE...

OKAY, THE TREE WILL COME DOWN.

YELLOW, YELLOW, YELLOW.

WHEN IT DOES, SWAP FEET, AND WIDE OPEN THROTTLE... [ENGINE REVVING] Zach: WHOOO!

ALRIGHT, TIME SLIPS ARE OUT.

FIRST TWO DON'T MATTER, .338 REACTION TIME, 9.976 QUARTER MILE AT 132 MILES PER HOUR.

ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SUB-10.

THIS DAY COULD NOT BE ANY BETTER.

SO MAYBE, A DRAG RACING CAREER IS IN MY FUTURE AFTER ALL.

John: IF YOU'VE BOUGHT TIRES RECENTLY YOU KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES OUT THERE.

BUT FOR OUR PAT GOSS, IT ALL STARTS BY PICKING YOUR PAVEMENT!

Pat Goss: WELL, YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR CAR TO THE RACE TRACK, AND YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT THE PROPER TIRES, WELL YOU MIGHT BE WRONG.

AND HERE, TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, RICK ROBINSON FROM AMERICAN HIGH PERFORMANCE IN LORTON, VIRGINIA.

RICK, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Rick Robinson: THANK YOU PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, HERE WE HAVE A TYPICAL TIRE, BIG, LOW PROFILE.

GOOD FOR THE TRACK?

Rick: ABSOLUTELY NOT, AND THESE ARE WHAT YOU AND I SEE ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE COME IN WITH THESE GREAT BIG WHEELS, LITTLE SKINNY TIRES AND THEY WANT US TO MOUNT THEM.

WE HAVE A HECK OF A TIME MOUNTING THEM TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE THIS VERY NARROW SIDEWALL ON THE TIRE IS SO STIFF, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR, THAT IT HAS NO FLEXIBILITY TO IT WHATSOEVER.

AND FLEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TIRE WHEN IT'S TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE CONTACT PATCH GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND THIS APPLIES NOT ONLY TO DRAG RACING, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A TRACK DAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN ROAD RACING AS WELL.

Rick: ABSOLUTELY, IN DRAG RACING WE'VE SEEN THE VIDEOS OF A DRAG CAR LAUNCHING.

THE SLINKS WRINKLING UP AS THE TORQUE IS APPLIED TO THE WHEEL.

THAT FLEXIBILITY IN THAT TIRE IS WHAT ALLOWS THAT CONTACT PATCH TO MAINTAIN ITS GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT UNDER THAT TREMENDOUS LOAD.

SAME THING APPLIES TO ROAD RACING EXCEPT IT'S SIDE FLEX, I'M GOING THROUGH THE CORNERS, ALL OF THIS FORCE IS BEING APPLIED TO THE SIDE OF THE TIRE.

THAT TIRE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO FLEX IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS CONTACT PATCH.

IF IT'S STIFF LIKE THIS THING AND HARD IT'S GOING TO BREAK LOOSE, YOU'RE GOING TO SKID.

Pat: OKAY.

ALRIGHT NOW, TIRE PRESSURE FOR DRAG RACING.

Rick: YOU'RE GONNA RUN THEM PRETTY LOW, LOWER THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD IMAGINE, 12, 13 POUNDS OF PRESSURE IS NOT UNUSUAL AT ALL.

AND AGAIN WE'RE TRYING TO LET THE TIRE BE FLEXIBLE AND GET A LARGER CONTACT PATCH ON THE PAVEMENT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND FINALLY THIS PARTICULAR SET-UP YOU HAVE SCREWS GOING THROUGH THE WHEEL.

Rick: YES, THEY'RE NOT THERE TO HOLD THE WHEEL TOGETHER, THEY ACTUALLY HOLD THE TIRE TO THE WHEEL, BECAUSE UNDER THAT TREMENDOUS LOAD AT LAUNCH, THAT WHEEL WILL ACTUALLY SPIN INSIDE THE TIRE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM SCREWED TOGETHER.

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

John: CHANGES IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY ARE HAPPENING FASTER AND FASTER THESE DAYS.

AND OUR YOLANDA VAZQUEZ TRACKS THEM FOR US IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: QUALITY ALWAYS MATTERS WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH NEW CAR TO BUY.

AND THE RESULTS OF A NEW SURVEY SHOW WHICH BRANDS ARE MOVING UP THE RANKS...

THE 2017 J.D.

POWER VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED... AND FOR THE 6TH YEAR IN A ROW LEXUS HAS HELD ON TO THE TOP SPOT, BUT THIS YEAR THERE'S A TWIST... PORSCHE ALSO TIES WITH LEXUS AS THE TWO MOST DEPENDABLE BRANDS.

TOYOTA MOVED UP TO 3RD AS THE HIGHEST-RANKING, NON-PREMIUM BRAND.

HYUNDAI JUMPED FROM 19TH TO 6TH JOINING MASS MARKETERS BUICK, CHEVROLET, AND HONDA IN THE TOP TEN.

MERCEDES-BENZ, BMW, AND JAGUAR ALSO RANKED IN THE TOP TIER.

RESEARCHERS SAY, "TECHNOLOGY-RELATED PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE NEW CARS."

22% OF ALL THE PROBLEMS REPORTED CENTERED ON THE INFO-TAINMENT SYSTEMS IN CARS.

THAT'S SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.

THE SURVEY COVERS 3-YEARS OF OWNERSHIP ON OVER 35,000 2014 MODEL-YEAR VEHICLES.

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RE-THINKING THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING THE U.S. PICKUP TRUCK MARKET.

THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK THAT MERCEDES, AFTER FIRST SAYING ITS NEW X-CLASS MID-SIZE TRUCK WAS TOO SMALL FOR AMERICA, NOW WANTS TO TAP INTO OUR SEEMINGLY INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR PERSONAL PICKUPS.

AND IT MIGHT EVEN BE MADE HERE IN THE U.S.

WHEN THE X-CLASS LAUNCHES LATE THIS YEAR, IT WILL ONLY BE OFFERED IN EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, AND LATIN AMERICA.

WITH LUXURY-LADEN DOMESTIC PICKUPS ALREADY FETCHING $70,000 AND MORE, THERE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A MARKET HERE FOR THE X-CLASS.

AND DODGE IS SHOWING YET MORE PROOF THAT HIGH-OUTPUT V8s ARE NOT DEAD YET.

THE STREET-LEGAL, BUT DRAG-STRIP READY, HEMI POWERED 2018 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON WILL BE UNVEILED AT THE UPCOMING NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

DODGE HAS BEEN RELEASING VIDEO TEASERS ON SOCIAL MEDIAL FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.

STILL, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL APRIL TO GET ALL THE HIGH HORSEPOWER DETAILS.

AND THAT'S THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE UPDATE FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: MILES ARE QUICKLY PILING UP ON OUR LONG-TERM 2017 SUBARU CROSS TREK; ADDING 3,000 IN ITS FIRST MONTH.

MANY OF THOSE CAME FROM OUR RECENT TREK SOUTH FOR WINTER TESTING IN GEORGIA, BUT IT ALSO HAS SEEN PLENTY OF USE HAULING OUR CREWS AROUND LOCALLY AS WELL.

SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST FULL REPORT ON OUR MOST RECENT LONG-TERM, LET'S RUN THROUGH THE SPECS.

THE CROSSTREK IS OF COURSE A SLIGHTLY "OUTBACKED" VERSION OF THE IMPREZA HATCHBACK.

POWER COMES FROM A 148 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER BOXER-4, OUR CAR'S WORKING THROUGH THE OPTIONAL CVT TRANSMISSION.

EARLY RESULTS ARE 30.7 MILES PER GALLON; AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS NATURALLY STANDARD.

ON THAT RECENT LONG HIGHWAY JOURNEY, OUR DRIVERS NOTED A NOT VERY USER-FRIENDLY CRUISE CONTROL, AND FLAT SEATS THAT CAN BE TIRING.

BUT, WE'LL PRAISE ITS CARGO FLEXIBILITY, AGILITY IN TRAFFIC, AND CONFIDENCE INSPIRING MANNER WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS SOUR.

THE YEAR MAY JUST BE GETTING STARTED WITH OUR CROSSTREK, BUT THE MILES CONTINUE TO RACK UP IN OUR 2016 KIA OPTIMA, HAVING ECLIPSED 15,000 AFTER 6 MONTHS.

NO MAJOR REVISIONS SINCE OUR LAST REPORT.

OUR SX LIMITED IS VERY POSH INSIDE, SO YOU REALLY NOTICE THAT THE FRONT SEATS COULD USE A LITTLE MORE PADDING FOR LONG TRIPS.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME SUNROOF NOISE AND HARSH DOWNSHIFTING ON DECELERATION THAT WE'VE NOTED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR TEST.

OUR OPTIMA'S TURBO-4 FUEL ECONOMY IS HOLDING STEADY AT 28.9 MILES PER GALLON.

WE RATE THAT VERY FINE FOR A LARGER SEDAN.

JUST ARRIVING FOR OUR FLEET IS THIS YEAR'S PICK FOR BEST SMALL UTILITY, THE HONDA CR-V. WE'LL DETERMINE IF THAT WAS A SMART CHOICE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT FIRST WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR CHRYSLER PACIFICA HAS BEEN HAULING AROUND ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

2017 IS THE FIRST MODEL YEAR FOR THE 5TH GENERATION OF THE AUDI A4 SPORT SEDAN.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE, IF YOU THROW IN ITS AUDI 80 ANCESTRY, IT'S ACTUALLY THE 9TH GEN B-SERIES ARCHITECTURE FOR AUDI.

REGARDLESS, OVER THE YEARS ALL THOSE CARS JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

SO LET'S FIND OUT IF ITS B-CAR BUSINESS AS USUAL AT VOLKSWAGEN'S PREMIUM BRAND.

* THE 2017 AUDI A4 MAY BE ON THE SMALLER SIDE OF 4-DOORS, BUT IT IS BOTH BIG-TIME POLISHED AND POTENT; BOASTING TECHNOLOGY ABOVE ANY FLAGSHIP LUXURY MACHINE OF 10 YEARS AGO.

THAT INCLUDES A DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE WITH THE LATEST SAFETY TECHNOLOGY; CAMERAS TO READ ROAD MARKINGS, AND EVEN ROAD SIGNS, AND OF COURSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING.

SO, YOU HAVE TO WORK PRETTY HARD TO CRASH IT.

WE TRIED, BUT IT STOPPED JUST SHY OF OUR BARRIER EVERY TIME; APPLYING THE BRAKES IN FULL, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER A WARNING CHIME.

AS FOR INTERIOR TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS STILL A LARGE MMI DISPLAY ON THE DASH; BUT IT'S LARGELY REDUNDANT IF YOU OPT FOR THE HUGE 12-INCH ALL ENCOMPASSING VIRTUAL GAUGE CLUSTER AS WELL AS A NEW FULL COLOR HEAD UP DISPLAY.

WITH ALL PERTINENT INFO RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES, AND CONTROLS RIGHT THERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL; THERE'S NO NEED TO LOOK OR REACH ELSEWHERE.

THOSE ARE JUST HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT IS A FANTASTIC INTERIOR, FULLY UPHOLDING THE LOFTY STANDARDS WE HAVE FOR AUDI.

LEATHER SEATING IS STANDARD, AND SPACE IS UP OVER LAST YEAR IN ALL SEATING POSITIONS.

TRUNK SPACE IS VERY GOOD AT 13.0 CUBIC-FEET.

[ENGINE STARTS] POWER SNEAKS UP A LITTLE, WITH A REVISED 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 WITH 252 HORSEPOWER AND 273 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FOR BOTH FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS.

NOW, THAT'S ONLY 32 ADDED PONIES, BUT IT FEELS LIKE MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

POSSIBLY, BECAUSE WEIGHT IS DOWN SLIGHTLY, BUT MORE LIKELY BECAUSE THE 7-SPEED S-TRONIC DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN TIGHTENED UP AS WELL.

NO MANUAL IS AVAILABLE.

THE EXTERIOR DESIGN IS CLEARLY AN EVOLUTION OF THE PREVIOUS A4, COMBINED WITH STYLE INDICATORS FROM THE LARGER A6, 7 AND 8.

A4 SUSPENSION IS 5-LINK INDEPENDENT ALL AROUND, WITH UPGRADED SPORT TUNING AVAILABLE, AS IS ADAPTIVE DAMPING, INTEGRATED INTO AUDI DRIVE SELECT.

OUR CAR'S OPTIONAL, REAR-BIASED QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AIDS THAT SPORTY FEEL AS WELL, WITH ITS SELF-LOCKING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL AND SELECTIVE TORQUE CONTROL.

WITH QUATTRO, UNDERSTEER IS MINIMAL, CHALLENGING THE BEST OF ITS REAR-DRIVE COMPETITION.

AND WHILE, THE A4 HAS ONCE AGAIN GOTTEN BIGGER, IT SURELY DOESN'T DRIVE LIKE IT.

THOUGH, WE WILL STOP SHORT OF SAYING ITS LOADS OF FUN TO TOSS AROUND; IT'S MORE OF A CASE OF STERILE MECHANICAL PRECISION.

STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AT LOWER SPEEDS, BUT FIRMED UP QUICKLY HERE AT OUR TRACK AS THE PACE INCREASED.

AFTER SOME SLIGHT LAG OFF THE STARTING BLOCK, THE POWER EVENTUALLY STARTED GETTING PUT DOWN IN A SMOOTH AND STEADY FASHION; USHERING US TO 60 IN A FINE 5.8 SECONDS.

THERE'S A NICE GROWL FROM THE ENGINE, BUT NOT MUCH FROM THE EXHAUST, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS THE GEARS COMING QUICKLY; CLEARING THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.3 SECONDS AT 99 MILES PER HOUR.

BRAKING WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE, A 104 FOOT AVERAGE FROM 60; WITH ROCK STEADY STABILITY AND ZERO FADE.

IN EVERYDAY DRIVING, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE A4 IS SMOOTH; AS IT ABSORBS BUMPS AND PAVEMENT IMPERFECTIONS MORE LIKE A FULL-SIZE SEDAN THAN ANY COMPACT.

THE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANNY IS MOSTLY SEAMLESS, WITH THE ONLY HICCUPS COMING DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERING.

RIDE QUALITY CAN BE DIALED TO YOUR LIKING, BUT EVEN IN FULL COMFORT MODE, BODY CONTROL IS WELL MANAGED, AND IT NEVER FEELS SOFT.

THE LOW SEATING POSITION WILL NOT ENDEAR IT TO THOSE CROSSOVER INCLINED, BUT VISIBILITY IS EXCELLENT ALL AROUND.

THOUGH, VERY WELL-EQUIPPED IN STANDARD PREMIUM TRIM, PRESTIGE IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE WITH 18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, S-LINE ALUMINUM TRIM, AND FULL LED LIGHTING OUTSIDE; ALONG WITH BANG & OLUFSEN SURROUND SOUND, AND HEATED SEATS FOR INSIDE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 25-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED, WITH OUR AVERAGE COMING IN AT A FINE 29.1 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 11.8 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED YEARLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 5.2 TONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $35,850, THAT'S JUST A BIT MORE THAN A BASE BMW 3-SERIES, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN A BASE MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS; PRESTIGE TRIM WITH QUATTRO HOWEVER, WILL HAVE YOU AT $48,950.

AND WHILE THOSE OTHER GERMAN SPORT SEDANS ARE CERTAINLY THE LOGICAL COMPETITION FOR THE 2017 AUDI A4.

TO US, IT'S MORE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CADILLAC ATS WITH LUXURY, PERFORMANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY ADDRESSED IN EQUAL BALANCE.

SO, IT IS INDEED BUSINESS AS USUAL, WITH ANOTHER SOLID SMALL-ISH SEDAN FROM AUDI.

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE'LL FEEL THE THRILL OF THE THROTTLE IN AN ESCALADE BY CALLOWAY, AND THEN IT'S A JAGUAR SEDAN MAKING A BIG IMPACT BY GOING SMALLER.

PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE TO KEEP YOUR ENGINE HUMMING.

WE'LL DRIVE A LITTLE KNOWN CAR WITH A LOT OF HISTORY, AND MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Man: "YO DANNY, MY MAN!

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

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