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

JOIN US, AS A FAMILIAR PORSCHE POURS ON THE POWER AND A NEW NAME.

PAT GOSS PINPOINTS COMMON PROBLEMS WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

ZACH MASKELL GOES FOR A CUSTOM PAINT JOB THAT'S ANYTHING BUT PERMANENT!

AND VOLVO'S S90 SEDAN TAKES SWEDISH STYLE AND SAFETY TO NEW LEVELS.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE FOR EVERY SEASON.

[TIRES SCREECH] 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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK.

John Davis: WHEN THE BOXSTER-BASED PORSCHE CAYMAN HARDTOP LAUNCHED FOR 2006, IT WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED FOR PORSCHE FANS WHO FELT THE 911 HAD GOTTEN TOO EXPENSIVE, AND TOO FAR AWAY FROM ITS SIMPLISTIC SPORTS CAR ROOTS.

WELL, NOW THERE IS A REFORMULATED CAYMAN FOR 2017, AND TRUTH BE TOLD, IT'S NOT A SIMPLE CONCOCTION AT ALL.

EVEN ITS NAME IS MORE COMPLEX.

BUT, IF THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE MORE FUN, SHOULD IT STILL BE THE PORSCHEPHILE'S DRUG OF CHOICE?

THE 2017 PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN AND CAYMAN S CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE THE BOXSTER ROADSTER.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE MID-ENGINE CHASSIS THEY SHARE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS AND IS NOW IN ITS 3RD GENERATION.

SO, WHY COMPLICATE THINGS BY ADDING 718 TO THE NAME?

WELL, PORSCHE FANS ARE WELL AWARE THAT THE 718 WAS A MID-ENGINE 4-CYLINDER RACECAR THAT MADE ITS DEBUT AT LE MANS IN 1957, AND RACED VERY SUCCESSFULLY INTO THE 60'S.

SO, THERE IS REAL HERITAGE THERE.

PLUS, NOW YOU'LL ALSO HAVE A COOL NUMBER TO CASUALLY DROP JUST LIKE YOUR 911 BUDDIES.

[ENGINE STARTS] [VROOM] SO YES, THE NEW CAYMAN AND BOXSTER ARE NOW POWERED ONLY BY 4-BANGERS.

BUT AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THEY ARE NOT YOUR AVERAGE 4-CYLINDERS.

HERE IN THE CAYMAN S, THERE'S A 2.5-LITER FLAT-4 TURBO WITH 350-HORSEPOWER AND 309 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S 25-HORSEPOWER AND 36 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE OVER THE PREVIOUS FLAT-6!

BASE CAYMANS SPORT A 300-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO FLAT-4.

TRANSMISSION CHOICES REMAIN 6-SPEED MANUAL OR 7-SPEED PDK AUTO.

BEYOND ENGINES, MOST OF THE CAYMAN'S BODY PANELS ARE NEW; RESULTING IN A WIDER, LESS BULBOUS LOOK; THAT DEMANDS TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY.

EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE MORE NICELY INTEGRATED, WITH THE USUAL LARGER AIR INTAKES AND LED LIGHTING UPGRADES.

CAYMAN AND CAYMAN S BOTH HAVE A FULLY RE-TUNED CHASSIS THAT PROMISES TO OFFER BOTH MORE COMFORT AND MORE CAPABILITY.

PASM SPORT SUSPENSION, WITH A LOWER RIDE HEIGHT IS AN OPTION ON THE CAYMAN S. BRAKE SIZE HAS ALSO INCREASED, NESTLED BEHIND THE 20-INCH WHEELS ON OUR CAYMAN S TEST CAR.

THANKS TO A PRIMED AND READY TURBO, RESPONSE FROM THE CAYMAN S ENGINE IS IMMEDIATE, WHETHER YOU'RE TOOLING AROUND TOWN, OR SWEEPING THROUGH SWITCHBACKS.

OF COURSE NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A 4-CYLINDER AND NOT THE WONDERFUL FLAT-6, BUT THAT'S PROGRESS, I GUESS.

DESPITE THE LOSS OF 2-CYLINDERS, WEIGHT IS JUST ABOUT THE SAME, AND THUS IT STILL EXUDES THE TREMENDOUSLY BALANCED FEEL THAT ONLY A MID-ENGINE SPORTS CAR CAN.

INSIDE, THERE'S A MIX OF OLD AND NEW; WITH THE MOST OBVIOUS UPDATE A NEW DASH DESIGN AND IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY WITH PORSCHE'S COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT INTERFACE.

AND AS BEFORE, MID-SHIP ENGINE PLACEMENT LEAVES PLENTY OF CARGO ROOM BOTH UP FRONT AND IN THE REAR.

TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT HOWEVER, REQUIRES A LOT MORE SPEED, AND A PLACE TO DO IT SAFELY.

OF COURSE FOR US, THAT MEANS SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

WHERE, JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF OUR DRIVER'S COMMENTS REVOLVED AROUND HOW BALANCED THIS CAR FEELS THROUGH ROEBLING'S 9 FAST TURNS.

STEERING IS MORE DIRECT AND ACCURATE THAN BEFORE, A FEAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

IN FACT, THE WHOLE CAR FEELS AND IS FASTER, BOTH WHEN GETTING THROUGH CORNERS AND PROPELLING OUT OF THEM.

POWER DELIVERY IS LINEAR TO THE EXTREME.

IT'S JUST ALWAYS THERE; NEVER WAVERING, NEVER PEAKING.

THE PDK TRANSMISSION WORKS AS GOOD AS EVER, AS IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAVE THE CAR IN THE PERFECT GEAR.

THE REDONE SUSPENSION KEEPS THIS CAR GLUED TO THE TRACK, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR CAR'S PASM UPGRADE.

THERE'S NO DRAMA AT ALL WHEN IT CAME TO BRAKING, AS THE BINDERS WORKED WITH QUIET PRECISION LAP AFTER LAP.

GOOD INITIAL BITE, GREAT FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT.

SURE, THE TURBO-4 FEELS GREAT ON THE TRACK WITH BETTER OUTPUT NUMBERS THAN THE PREVIOUS 6, BUT DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO STRAIGHT LINE SUPERIORITY AS WELL?

[ENGINE ROARS] WELL OF COURSE IT DOES!

WITH OUR 718 CAYMAN S SHOOTING TO 60 IN 3.8-SECONDS, WITH THE 1/4-MILE BEING ANNIHILATED IN 12.2-SECONDS AT 116 MILES-PER-HOUR.

BOTH NUMBERS ABOUT HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN THE CAYMAN GT4 WE DROVE HERE LAST YEAR.

BOTTOM LINE, THIS NEW CAYMAN OUTPERFORMS ITS PREDECESSOR BY ALMOST EVERY MEASURABLE MARK.

OF COURSE, SEEKING BETTER FUEL EFFICIENCY IS THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE SWITCH FROM 6 TO 4.

SO EVEN WITH MORE POWER THAN THE 6, THE COMBINED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING FOR THE 20-17 CAYMAN S PDK REMAINS AT 24 MPG ON PREMIUM.

BASE 718 CAYMAN PRICING IS NOT AS LOW AS IT WAS BEFORE, AT $54,950; BUT IT IS LOWER THAN THE BOXSTER NOW, WHICH WASN'T THE CASE BEFORE.

THE 718 CAYMAN S STARTS AT $67,350 AND THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FROM THERE.

SO, DO WE LOVE THE REFORMULATED 2017 PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN MORE THAN THE CAYMAN IT REPLACES?

PROBABLY NOT, BUT WE CERTAINLY LOVE IT JUST AS MUCH, DESPITE THE ENGINE SWITCH.

AND, SORRY 911, WE DO BELIEVE IT IS NOW THE BEST NEW CAR CHOICE FOR THE QUINTESSENTIAL PORSCHE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

SO OVERALL, CONSIDER THIS 718 A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION OF POWER.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA... WHERE ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTHER'S FUEL!

THE ST. LANDRY PARISH SOLID WASTE DISTRICT COLLECTS ABOUT 300 TONS OF GARBAGE A DAY.

AS THE WASTE IN THE LANDFILL DECOMPOSES, IT GIVES OFF A GAS, WHICH IS MOSTLY METHANE.

THAT GAS IS COLLECTED, CONDITIONED, AND COMPRESSED, AND THEN DISPENSED AS RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS AT A FUELING STATION JUST FEET FROM THE LANDFILL.

Katry Martin: WE HAVE THE CAPACITY HERE TO PRODUCE ABOUT 700 GASOLINE GALLON EQUIVALENTS PER DAY.

UH, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 200,000 GALLONS PER YEAR, AND WE'LL DISPENSE ALMOST EVERY BIT OF THAT.

John: ABOUT 30 VEHICLES IN THE PARISH RUN ON THIS BIO-GAS INCLUDING REFUSE TRUCKS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.

WHILE THEY'RE THE ONLY RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE FUEL SOURCE IN THE STATE, WITH HELP FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LOUISIANA CLEAN FUELS, THEY WON'T BE THE LAST!

John: NO MATTER HOW NEW YOUR RIDE IS, CHANGE CAN FEEL GOOD, AND EVEN BE ESSENTIAL.

A NEW COLOR MIGHT BE ALL YOU NEED, BUT THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT.

IT USUALLY INVOLVES LOTS OF SANDING AND SPRAYING, AND WHATEVER IT LOOKED LIKE NEW IS GONE FOREVER.

BUT, OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND ANOTHER OPTION.

ONE THAT NOT ONLY ALTERS YOUR CAR'S APPEARANCE, BUT ACTUALLY PROTECTS THE FACTORY FINISH AS WELL.

Zach Maskell: WHETHER YOUR PAINT IS STILL FRESH FROM THE MANUFACTURER, OR YOUR PROJECT CAR NEEDS NEW SKIN.

SETTLING ON A COLOR IS TOUGH.

I'VE BEEN BUILDING THIS 1992 NISSAN 240SX COUPE FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND SHE'S FINALLY PREPPED AND READY FOR PAINT.

THE ONLY PROBLEM FOR ME IS THAT I CAN NEVER SEEM TO DECIDE ON A COLOR.

I WISH I COULD JUST PUT SOMETHING ON THAT'S TEMPORARY.

WELL, LUCKY FOR ME, WE HAVE FOUND THE SUPERCAR OF PEELABLE PAINT.

WE'VE RECRUITED THE HELP OF KP PIGMENTS, IN OCEANSIDE, NEW YORK, TO SHOW US HUNDREDS OF SPEED SHAPE SAMPLES... AND NARROW IT DOWN TO THE WINNER.

AUTOFLEX IS THE COATING'S NAME AND IT APPLIES SIMILAR TO PAINT.

NOW WE ENTER THE WORLD OF COLOR SHIFTS.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE ON THE WILDER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM.

THESE HYPERSHIFT PEARLS CHANGE DEPENDING ON LIGHT, AND ANGLE YOU LOOK AT IT.

KNOWING THAT A WILD LOOK MAY HURT THE RESALE VALUE OF A PRICIER CAR THIS CAN OFFER A HIGH-END PAINT JOB, FOR THE TIME BEING.

AND, UNLIKE A VINYL WRAP JOB, NO ADHESIVES ARE NEEDED.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE GUYS TELL US THAT THIS SPRAY SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR, WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR A CHANGE, YOU WALK UP TO IT, GET A LITTLE PIECE STARTED, AND YOU LITERALLY JUST START PEELING.

IT'S SCRATCH AND FUEL RESISTANT.

YOU CAN BUFF IT, WAX IT, EVEN SAND IT, AND IT'S SAID TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE OVER TIME, UNLIKE OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO BAKED ON PAINT.

Peter Gjonlekaj: NEW YORK SUMMERS, NEW YORK WINTERS.

THEY'RE POLAR OPPOSITES.

WITH ROCK CHIPS, SALT, DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, I MEAN IT HOLDS UP WELL.

Zach: JUST LOOK AT THE TOP COAT, AFTER WE LET A SAMPLE DRY OVERNIGHT.

Shawheen Ahouraie: BECAUSE IT'S HIGH END, BECAUSE THE FINISH LOOKS A LOT BETTER, IT NEEDS TO BE SPRAYED IN A SPRAY BOOTH.

IT NEEDS TO BE SPRAYED OUT OF A HIGH END HVLP.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A COMPRESSOR.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A PRODUCT DESIGNED FOR THE DIY CROWD.

[SPRAYER HISSES] Zach: AUTOFLEX IS COMPARABLE IN COST TO A CUSTOM PAINT JOB.

Shawheen: WE HAVE OVER HERE THE SANDSTONE OEM PLUS.

NOW THIS IS A COLOR, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THAT ONCE THE LIGHT HITS IT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF SPARKLE IN IT.

THAT'S DESIGNED TO REPLICATE YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE POPULAR OEM FINISHES THAT CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE OFFERING NOWADAYS.

Zach: THE PEARL, OR SPARKLE THAT YOU SEE, CAN MAKE ANY STANDARD COLOR HAVE A FLASHIER LOOK.

OF COURSE YOU CAN GO WITH SOMETHING LIKE WATERMELON JUICE, THAT REPLICATES A TRUE CANDY PAINT JOB, BOASTING MUCH DEPTH AND COLOR.

OUR DECISION WAS MADE, AND WE MOVED ON TO INSTALL... AT A STATUS COATINGS.

Anthony Postiglione: A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT PAINT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S JUST A REGULAR PAINT JOB OR UH, YOU KNOW,SOMETIMES WE GET VINYL WRAPS BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AUTOFLEX ALL THE WAY.

Zach: FOR CARS WITH AN ALREADY EXISTING PAINT JOB, PREP IS FAIRLY SIMPLE.

Anthony: WORST CASE SCENARIO WE'RE GOING TO CLAY BAR THE CAR.

A LOT OF THE TIMES WE GET AWAY WITH JUST GIVING IT A NICE ALCOHOL BATH, GIVE IT A, GET THE SURFACE NICE AND CLEAN, AND WE'RE READY TO SPRAY.

ALRIGHT LET'S GET OUR MATERIALS... WE'RE READY TO GO.

Zach: THE FIRST TWO COATS, A HIGH BUILD PRIMER THAT KEEPS OUT THE DREADED FISH EYE EFFECT, AND MAKES IT EASIER TO PEEL.

THEN FIVE COATS OF THE BROWN TINTED SPRAY WRAP PRO.

WE THEN MOVED ON TO TWO COATS OF THE SANDSTONE OEM PLUS, WHILE ADDING A COUPLE PINCHES OF NIGHTHAWK BLACK, MAKING OUR CUSTOM COLOR A BIT DARKER.

AND OF COURSE, THE HIGH GLOSS TOP COAT BRINGS THE COLOR ALIVE.

DID I MENTION WHEELS ARE FAIR GAME, TOO?

WE LET ALL THIS CURE, AND PUT AUTOFLEX TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.

A DRIFT EVENT.

MY FRONT BUMPER WAS SACRIFICED EARLY IN THE DAY, BUT LOOK HOW WELL IT HELD UP BEING DRAGGED UNDER THE CAR.

SO FAR, IT'S THE REAL DEAL AND NOT A SINGLE PERSON GUESSED IT WAS NOT JUST PAINT, BUT PEELABLE PAINT AT THAT.

[TIRES SCREECHING] John: AS MUCH AS WE LOVE TO CONSIDER OURSELVES CONNOISSEURS OF FINE AUTOMOBILES AROUND HERE, NOTHING GETS OUR AUTOMOTIVE JUICES FLOWING MORE THAN GOOD OLD AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS.

YES, WE KNOW YOUR BOOKSHELVES ARE ALREADY CROWDED WITH MUSCLE CAR BOOKS AS MUCH AS OURS; BUT DARWIN HOLMSTROM'S AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS: A FULL THROTTLE HISTORY IS A MUST READ THAT'S A WORTHY ADDITION TO ANY OVERCROWDED COLLECTION.

IT'S LESS ABOUT GLITZ AND GLAMOUR, AND MORE ABOUT THE STORIES BEHIND HOW THESE ROVING BEASTS OF AMERICAN KNOW-HOW CAME TO BE.

AND WHY WE STILL CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM.

NO MATTER WHERE YOUR ALLEGIANCES LIE, WHETHER IT'S WITH MOPAR, THE BOWTIE, OR THE BLUE OVAL; YOU'LL FIND PLENTY HERE TO SATISFY YOUR NEED FOR SPEED.

PAT GOSS ALWAYS HAS THE SMART FIX FOR OUR CAR CARE PROBLEMS.

SO LET'S SEE THIS WEEK'S DIAGNOSIS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: SINCE 1975, VIRTUALLY ALL CARS HAVE HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

NOW, EXACTLY WHAT IS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER?

WELL IT'S A DEVICE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT REACTS WITH THE EXHAUST COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND NEUTRALIZES IT.

MAKES IT A LOT MORE FRIENDLY TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

ALRIGHT, NOW TODAY CARS HAVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS THAT LOOK, WELL, PRETTY MUCH LIKE THIS, ON AVERAGE.

AND IF WE TAKE ONE OF THEM APART WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE WE HAVE HERE.

INSIDE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THERE ARE THESE BRICKS OF CERAMIC MATERIAL.

AND HERE WE HAVE ONE THAT IS OUT.

THIS IS A ROUND ONE.

AND IN THIS ONE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE LITTLE HOLES THAT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS CERAMIC.

AND THAT "CERAMIC" IS THE KEY WORD, BECAUSE CERAMIC IF YOU BREAK IT UP, AND YOU MAKE A POWDER OUT OF IT, WELL IT IS HIGHLY ABRASIVE.

NOW HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN GET INTO TROUBLE ON A LOT OF LATE MODEL CARS: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.

YOU TAKE IT SOME PLACE, YOU GET IT CHECKED, AND YOU HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE.

WELL, THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE MAY MEAN THAT ONE OF THE CONVERTERS IS GOING BAD.

NOW, IF THAT CONVERTER HAPPENS TO BE LIKE THIS ONE, THIS IS A PRE-CAT, THAT IS MADE INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OF THE CAR.

BUILT RIGHT INTO IT.

NOW THAT MEANS THAT THIS MEDIUM MATERIAL, THIS CERAMIC, IS ONLY AN INCH OR SO AWAY FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD ON THE CAR.

NOW LET'S SAY IT STARTS TO BREAK UP, AND IT CAN ON SOME CARS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND BECAUSE SOME CARS HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A LOT OF VALVE OVERLAP, THAT MEANS THAT SOME OF THIS CAN GET DRAWN BACK INTO THE ENGINE.

SO AS THE CONVERTER GOES BAD, IT BREAKS UP INTO THIS FINE CERAMIC POWDER, GETS SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE, AND THAT MEANS PROBLEMS FOR THE PISTON RINGS, THE PISTONS, AND THE VALVES.

BOTTOM LINE COULD BE A NEW ENGINE.

SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS: IF YOU HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM, A CODE, A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SO ON, IF YOUR CAR HAS ONE OF THESE PRE-CATS, RIGHT UP AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, DON'T PUT IT OFF.

GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY.

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

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS] Lauren Morrison: IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER BIG DODGE MAY BE GETTING BIGGER MUSCLE.

OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER FOUND WHAT COULD BE THE 2018 DODGE DURANGO SRT HELLCAT PROWLING AROUND SRT HEADQUARTERS.

WHILE THE FRONT IS COVERED, THERE SEEMS TO BE A HOOD-MOUNTED AIR-INTAKE ON THIS AGGRESSIVE LOOKING DURANGO.

OUR SOURCE SAYS THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY SIMILAR TO CHALLENGERS AND CHARGERS HELLCATS.

DESPITE PERSISTENT RUMORS FOR MONTHS, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL WORD ON A DURANGO HELLCAT, OR SOMETHING JUST A BIT TAMER.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT WILL BE THE NEXT TO HAVE THE 707-HORSEPOWER HELLCAT ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD.

John: WE'VE QUICKLY TRAVELED OVER 9,000-MILES IN OUR 2016 KIA OPTIMA SEDAN.

AND DURING ITS FIRST 5-MONTHS WITH US, A COUPLE OF MINOR ANNOYANCES DID NOT DIMINISH OUR AFFINITY FOR IT.

BUT WE ARE GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF THEM.

THE FLUTTERING SUNROOF NOISE IS STILL THERE, DESPITE A TRIP TO THE DEALER.

AND THE HARSH TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING ON DECELERATION SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

ON THE PLUS SIDE, MILEAGE FROM THE 245-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO-4 IS BACK UP TO 29.0 MILES-PER-GALLON, AND WE CONTINUE TO HEAR NOTHING BUT PRAISE ABOUT OUR SX LIMITED'S INTERIOR.

SO BALANCING THE GOOD WITH THE NOT SO; WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO SEE WHICH SIDE WILL ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.

WE'LL ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF TIME OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO SAMPLE OUR NEWEST LONG-TERM, THIS 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK.

BUT FIRST, WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA AND HONDA PILOT, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: OUR INFATUATION WITH THE VOLVO XC90 LUXURY UTILITY IS WELL DOCUMENTED, HAVING NAMED IT OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE "BEST OF THE YEAR" IN 2016.

INDEED, IT WAS THE MOST AWARDED CAR OF LAST YEAR.

SO, HOW DOES VOLVO FOLLOW UP SUCH A GRAND SLAM?

WELL, WITH THIS ALL-NEW FLAGSHIP SEDAN, THE S90.

LET'S FIND OUT IF THE SWEDES HAVE NOW GONE 2-FOR-2.

THE 2017 VOLVO S90 LUXURY SEDAN IS THE SECOND ALL-NEW VEHICLE TO EMERGE FROM THE REBORN VOLVO BRAND.

WHILE THEIR CURRENT FLAGSHIP FOUR-DOOR, THE S90 IS CLOSER IN SIZE TO THE MIDSIZE MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS THAN TO THE FULL-SIZE S-CLASS; WITH ITS 115.8-INCH WHEELBASE ABOUT 2-INCHES SHORTER THAN THE XC90 CROSSOVER THAT IT SHARES ITS PLATFORM WITH.

YET OVERHANGS ARE FAIRLY LONG, GIVING IT A VERY SUBSTANTIAL APPEARANCE.

SO, WE DON'T SEE THE S90 AS A DIRECT COMPETITOR TO THE LIKES OF BMW 5-SERIES, BENZ E, AND AUDI A6.

IT'S NOT THAT IT'S MORE LUXURIOUS THAN THEM, ALTHOUGH IT IS; IT'S MORE JUST AN OVERWHELMING PAMPERED FEEL THAT YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL HERE, THAT YOU WON'T FIND IN MIDDLEWEIGHT GERMAN HARDWARE.

LIKEWISE, ITS EXTERIOR DESIGN IS BEAUTIFULLY MODERN WITHOUT BEING OVER-THE-TOP OR SHOWY.

MANY OF THE XC90'S STYLING CUES ARE HERE, INCLUDING THE THOR'S HAMMER HEADLIGHTS; BUT IT'S CLEARLY MORE TRADITIONAL IN OVERALL SHAPE.

THE CHINESE SOURCED ENGINE IS THE SAME 2.0-LITER I4 FOUND IN THE XC90, BUT THERE ARE 3 VERSIONS OF IT.

THE 250-HORSEPOWER TURBO IS THE ONLY ONE FOUND IN FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE T5's, THE 316-HORSEPOWER VERSION THAT IS BOTH SUPERCHARGED AND TURBOCHARGED FOR 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE IS FOUND IN THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE T6's.

AND FINALLY A SUPERCHARGED TURBO AND ELECTRIC-ASSISTED PLUG-IN T8 IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE LATER.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS FROM AISIN, WITH A GENTLER ASIAN-LUXURY FEEL THAN THE TYPICAL EURO-ZF SUPPLIED UNITS IN MANY GERMAN SEDANS.

HOWEVER, YOU BOOST IT, THIS IS ONE POTENT 4-BANGER.

AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE WAITING FOR OUR T6 TESTER'S POWER TO KICK IN FULL, THE S90 GOT OFF THE LINE WITH A GOOD PUSH AND KEPT THE POWER FLOWING STEADILY THROUGHOUT THE STRAIGHTS.

5.6-SECONDS FOR THE 0-60; 14.1 FOR THE QUARTER MILE AT 101 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE SUSPENSION IS A RECONFIGURED VERSION OF THE XC90'S; THOUGH ITS AIR SUSPENSION UPGRADE IS AVAILABLE ONLY FOR THE REAR AXLE.

THERE ARE DRIVING MODES OF COURSE, AND STEERING REALLY TIGHTENS UP WHEN IN SPORT.

IT FEELS HEAVIER THAN, AND NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS, MORE SPORT-ORIENTED MIDSIZE LUXURY SEDANS LIKE THE CTS; BUT ONCE THINGS SETTLE IN THE CORNER, YOU GET A TON OF GRIP FOR GETTING THROUGH THE CONES FASTER THAN WE WERE EXPECTING.

112-FEET WAS OUR AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60, WITH NOTHING BUT A SOLID, CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING FEEL ACCOMPANYING EVERY RUN.

STATE OF THE ART SAFETY IS INCLUDED, EVEN SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING.

THAT'S NOTHING NEW THESE DAYS, BUT THE S90 IS THE FIRST VEHICLE TO HAVE ITS VERSION, PILOT ASSIST, AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT.

PILOT ASSIST CAN GET A BIT AGGRESSIVE WITH CORRECTIONS, AND WORKS BEST ON SLOW COMMUTES, AND WIDE OPEN INTERSTATES.

IT'S CLEARLY NOT DESIGNED FOR YOU TO TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE WHEEL AND ZONE OUT, RATHER AS A SAFETY BACKUP TO SAVE YOU FROM AN IMPENDING DISASTER.

THE FORWARD CAMERA DOES A GREAT JOB OF RECOGNIZING ROAD SIGNS AND MARKINGS, BUT WITH NO AUTO LANE CHANGE FEATURE, WE DID NOT FEEL IT'S AS ADVANCED AS MERCEDES-BENZ'S DRIVE PILOT OR TESLA'S AUTOPILOT.

WHERE THE S90 REALLY SETS ITSELF APART FROM EVERYONE IS THE INTERIOR.

WITH SWEDISH-MODERN LUXURY AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL FULLY ON PAR WITH THE BEST BENZ HAS TO OFFER.

THERE'S SOMETHING FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY SENSE TO ENJOY HERE; SUPPLE LEATHER FOR YOUR HANDS AND TUSH TO TOUCH, WALNUT WOOD FOR YOUR EYES TO ADMIRE, 19-SPEAKERS DELIVERING BOWERS AND WILKINS PREMIUM SOUND TO YOUR EARS; AND YES IT EVEN SMELLS GREAT IN HERE, AND IT'S ALL VERY "TASTEFUL".

VOLVO'S SENSUS TOUCHSCREEN GIVES YOU EVEN MORE INTERACTION, CONTROLLING A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS AMOUNT OF VEHICLE FUNCTIONS.

REAR SEAT ROOM IS AMPLE, AND THERE'S AN EXPANSIVE TRUNK WITH 17.7 CUBIC-FT. OF STORAGE SPACE.

SO IS IT ALL ENOUGH TO ATTRACT MASS AMOUNTS OF LUXURY CAR BUYERS?

WELL, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THOSE LOOKING FOR THE TYPICAL GERMAN SPORT-LUXURY CAR EXPERIENCE BEING LURED BY IT, BUT THEY'LL SURELY TAKE NOTICE WHEN ONE PULLS UP ALONGSIDE THEM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 22-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

THAT MAKES FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, CONSUMING 13.2-BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WHILE EMITTING 5.8-TONS OF CO2.

MUCH LIKE THE XC90, PRICING SEEMS MORE THAN REASONABLE; STARTING AT $47,945, WITH EVEN THE BASE MODEL QUITE LUXURIOUS.

THE 2017 VOLVO S90 IS A BEAUTIFUL CAR.

HAPPILY, IT STOPS SHORT OF TRYING TO BE A SPORT SEDAN; BUT RATHER, EMBRACING PAMPERING AND LUXURY FOR THE SAKE OF IT.

ON THE WHOLE, A VERY WELL EXECUTED LUXURY SEDAN THAT SIGNALS MORE GOOD THINGS ON THE HORIZON FOR VOLVO.

John: 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 UNVEIL OUR BEST VEHICLES FOR THE ROAD, PLUS THE ONE AND ONLY THAT TRULY STANDS OUT WITH OUR 2017 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

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.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE FOR EVERY SEASON.

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK.

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

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