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

JOIN US AND SEE IF AN ALL-TURBO FUTURE WILL BE KIND TO THE PORSCHE 911... PAT GOSS HELPS US KEEP OUR EYES ON THE ROAD... FYI'S LAUREN MORRISON GOES FOR A LITTLE CRUISIN' R&R AT THE GEARHEAD MOTEL... AND THEN, WE'LL PLAY THE LUXURY NAME GAME WITH THE CADILLAC XT5...

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... "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

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John: THE PORSCHE 911 CARRERA HAS BEEN MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS.

BUT UP TO THIS POINT WHEN YOU TOLD SOMEONE YOU HAD A 911 TURBO, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEANT, THE TOP DOG, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, PERFORMANCE MACHINE THAT WAS THE ULTIMATE 911.

WELL, PREPARE FOR CONFUSION AND POSSIBLY MASS HYSTERIA, AS ALL 911'S ARE TURBO'S NOW!

* EVERYONE HATES A KNOW-IT-ALL, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO MIND HAVING A DO-IT-ALL LIKE THE PORSCHE 911 CARRERA AROUND.

IT'S NOT ALL-NEW FOR '17; STILL THE 991 CHASSIS THAT DEBUTED FOR 2012, AND IN PORSCHE FASHION HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY REFINED SINCE.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN COMPREHENSIVELY GONE OVER.

OF COURSE THE BIG NEWS IS TURBO POWER ONLY FROM HERE ON OUT.

AND IF THINGS KEEP GOING THIS WAY, IT WON'T BE LONG UNTIL NON-TURBO ENGINES ARE A THING OF THE PAST FOR MOST BRANDS.

THE ENGINE IS STILL A FLAT-6, NOW JUST 3.0 LITERS, BUT WITH A PAIR OF TURBO'S.

NO WORRIES, OUTPUT IS UP TO 370 HORSEPOWER.

THAT'S 20 MORE THAN LAST YEAR, AND 90 MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL 911 TURBO.

AND IT STILL REVS WAY PAST 7,000 RPM USING 13 PSI OF BOOST TO WHIP UP 331 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE CARRERA S NO LONGER GETS ITS OWN ENGINE, RATHER BIGGER TURBO'S ON THE SAME 3.0, AND AN INCREASE OF BOOST TO 16 PSI.

HORSEPOWER IN IT, IS 420.

AND THERE'S NO LACK OF TORQUE DOWN LOW IN EITHER; PORSCHE CLAIMS A 3.7 SECOND 0-60 TIME FOR THE S, 4.0 FLAT FOR THE BASE CARRERA, BUT THE FUN REALLY STARTS HAPPENING UP HIGHER IN THE BAND.

NONE OF THIS IS REALLY A STRETCH, SINCE FEW BRANDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TURBO'S MORE THAN PORSCHE.

AND THIS ENGINE SINGS A FAMILIAR TEUTONIC TUNE, IT'S INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE, YET STILL SMOOTH AS SILK WITH THE POWER DELIVERY; AND WE'RE SURE TUNERS ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO EASILY DIAL UP EVEN MORE POWER.

NOT ONLY ARE ALL 911s TURBO'S NOW, BUT THEY'RE ALL DUAL CLUTCHES, AS EVEN THE 7-SPEED MANUAL, WHICH THANKFULLY REMAINS STANDARD, GETS A NEW TWIN-DISC CLUTCH THAT FEELS GREAT, THOUGH TAKE-UP IS STILL RATHER HIGH.

THE SHIFTER IS LIGHT, BUT WORKS WITH THE PRECISION THAT YOU EXPECT.

A REFINED 7-SPEED PDK IS STILL AN OPTION.

THE EXTERIOR SEES PERHAPS THE SMALLEST CHANGES, JUST NEW BUMPERS AND LED LIGHTING FRONT AND REAR.

THERE'S A NEW FRONT SPLITTER, AND EVERYTHING IS DESIGNED TO CHANNEL MORE AIRFLOW FOR COOLING THE TURBO'S; INCLUDING ACTIVE COOLING FLAPS, AND AN ADAPTIVE REAR SPOILER THAT FUNNELS AIR INTO THE ENGINE BAY AS WELL AS CREATES DOWNFORCE.

REAR WHEELS ARE WIDER AT 11.5 INCHES; 19s FOR THE CARRERA, 20s FOR THE S. THERE ARE PLENTY OF TRICKLE DOWN GOODIES FROM HIGHER 911s, LIKE THE REAR-STEER AVAILABLE IN THE S. BUT THE TRICKEST FEATURE MAY JUST BE THE SPORT RESPONSE BUTTON ON PDK MODELS, WHICH GETS MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE OUT OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE CAR FOR 20 SECONDS WHEN PRESSED.

THE SOUND IS INDEED A BIT DIFFERENT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER; STILL GUTTURAL, AND AMAZING TO US.

YOU WON'T NOTICE IT'S A TURBO UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT TO LISTEN FOR, AND IF YOU DO, THEN YOU'LL APPRECIATE ALL OF THE UNIQUE SOUNDS AS MUCH AS WE DO.

OF COURSE, THE PURPOSE FOR THE WHOLE TURBO EXERCISE IS FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS; NOW 20-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED, THAT'S UP ONE, FOR THE MANUAL; 22-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED, A GAIN OF TWO, FOR THE PDK.

THE STANDARD 991 CHASSIS IS UPDATED WITH NEW DAMPERS, SPRINGS, AND ANTI-ROLL BARS, AND WITH PASM NOW STANDARD, RIDE HEIGHT IS LOWER BY HALF AN INCH.

THROUGHOUT OUR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DRIVE TIME, WE FOUND THE STEERING FEEL THE SAME AS BEFORE, WHICH IS GOOD.

WE'VE NEVER FOUND FAULT WITH IT UNLIKE ON SOME OTHER SPORTY GERMANS.

STILL, NICE AND DIRECT, WITH SEAMLESS ON THE FLY ADJUSTMENTS.

RIDE QUALITY ALSO IS THE SAME; FIRM, BUT STILL VERY COMPLIANT OVER BUMPS.

ACTING JUST LIKE A 911 SHOULD, WELL BALANCED AND ATHLETIC.

POWER REMAINS ATHLETIC AS WELL, BUT THE TURBO-STYLE TORQUE DELIVERY MAKES GEAR SELECTION LESS CRITICAL, AND ALMOST UNNECESSARY ONCE AT SPEED.

PRE-LOADING THE TURBO'S AS YOU COAST THROUGH CORNERS, MEANS THERE'S NO BIG HITS OF POWER TO UPSET ANYTHING.

SEATS ARE BEYOND COMFORTABLE, WITH LOTS OF ADJUSTMENTS, FITTING THE 911'S MORE GT MISSION OF LATE; ONE OF THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GREAT LOOKING INTERIOR.

AND AS WE EXPECTED, THERE'S A PRICE BUMP TOO, ABOUT A FIVE GRAND TO $90,450 FOR A BASE CARRERA, WITH THESE UPDATES ALSO HEADED TO THE REST OF THE 911 LINEUP.

SO, THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM OUR FIRST DRIVE OF THE 2017 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA, IS THAT AS MUCH AS IT HAS CHANGED, IT HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL.

IT'S STILL A DO-IT-ALL THAT REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT'S RIGHT ABOUT GERMAN SPORTS CARS.

SO, FEAR NOT PORSCHE-PHILES, GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND YOU'LL FIND OUT LIKE WE DID, THE PROOF IS IN THE DRIVING.

* YOU'LL FIND SOME OF THE BEST DRIVING ROADS ANYWHERE ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU STILL WANT A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PULL IN AND KICK BACK.

WELL, OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON FOUND THE SPOT WHERE GEARHEAD'S GO TO RELAX.

Lauren Morrison: NESTLED IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS... Mary Fox: ...FIVE MILES FROM THE BLUE RIDGE... Lauren: IN BETWEEN SOME OF THE BEST CRUISING ROADS IN THE COUNTRY... Mary: ...FEW MINUTES, TO THE TAIL OF THE DRAGON... FEW MINUTES FROM CHEROHALA SKYWAY... Lauren: SITS THE GEARHEAD INN.

Mary: THEY DRIVE BY AND OUR NAME CATCHES THEIR EYE.

IF THEY'RE GEARHEAD'S, THEY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

Lauren: AND WHAT'S THE GEARHEAD INN WITHOUT A COUPLE OF GEARHEAD'S HANGING AROUND WITH THEIR CARS, LIKE THIS 1939 CHEVY.

IT WAS RIDING THESE ROADS THAT MARY FOX AND JIM SEARS CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT.

Mary: WE WERE UP HERE ON VACATION, RIDING THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, WHICH I LOVE, AND SAW THESE BEAUTIFUL OLD MUSCLE CARS, AND IN TALKING, WHILE WE WERE RIDING, WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, WHICH DEVELOPED OVER THE COURSE OF THE EVENING INTO THE GEARHEAD INN... NINE MONTHS FROM THE DAY, FROM THE TIME WE HAD THE IDEA, WE WERE HERE.

Lauren: THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL THEY TYPICALLY PAY TO THEIR CARS... Jim Sears: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE, WE HAVE PRIORITIES OUT THERE.

Lauren: NOW, GOES TO TRANSFORMING EACH ONE OF THE INN'S 23 ROOMS INTO A MOMENT IN THE MUSCLE CAR ERA.

Jim: I MAKE THE EMBLEMS, MAKE THINGS FOR THE ROOMS.

Mary: WE ENDED UP BUYING OLD POSTER OF ADS FROM MAGAZINES FROM THAT ERA, PICTURES OF CARS FROM THAT ERA.

WHATEVER WE COULD FIND.

WE HAD NOTHING.

Lauren: ROADRUNNER, MUSTANG, GTO, AND OF COURSE THE EVER POPULAR CORVETTE... EACH ROOM SHOWCASES SOME AMERICAN MUSCLE, OR MOTORCYCLE.

Mary: AFTER WE GOT HERE, WE DISCOVERED THAT NOT ONLY DO THE MUSCLE CARS LOVE THESE ROADS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF MOTORCYCLES.

Lauren: YOU'LL FIND A SPACE TO PARK YOUR INDIAN OR YOU'RE HARLEY, WHICH COMES IN TOP SPOT.

Mary: HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS SINGLE MOST REQUESTED.

Lauren: MUCH LIKE THE OLDER CARS YOU'LL SEE IN THE PARKING LOT, WHEN YOU STEP INTO A ROOM, IT'S LIKE STEPPING BACK IN TIME.

YOU'LL NOTICE A LOT OF THIS FURNITURE IS FROM THE '60s, AND THAT'S NO MISTAKE.

Mary: WE FOUND AN OLD PLACE IN ATLANTA THAT HAD '60s FURNITURE FROM MOTELS, AND WENT DOWN WITH OUR TRUCK, AND TRAILER, AND PURCHASED A BUNCH OF THE COOL STUFF IN THE BACK OF THE WAREHOUSE.

Lauren: EACH ROOM WILL HAVE YOU DREAMING OF YEARS GONE BY... OR THAT DREAM CAR... FOR ME?

BUT BACK TO REALITY, WHICH SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF PLACE ENCOURAGES BURNOUTS?

YES, THAT WAS ME WHIPPING AROUND IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE 65 COBRA REPLICA THAT JIM IS WORKING ON... Jim: WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH IT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

Lauren: BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE ROOMS THEY'RE SELLING, BUT THE GEARHEAD LIFESTYLE.

Mary: PEOPLE HAVE MADE FRIENDS HERE WITH OTHER PEOPLE OF A LIKE MIND, WHICH WE FIND HEARTWARMING.

Lauren: WITH CRUISING AND CAR SHOWS LIKE THIS ONE THAT WAS HAPPENING WHILE WE WERE IN TOWN, CUSTOMERS AREN'T HARD TO COME BY.

WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE A GEARHEAD, LOVE CARS?

Man: [LAUGHS] OH YEAH!

Owner: I'M A REAL GEARHEAD.

HAVE BEEN SINCE I WAS A YOUNG BOY.

Lauren: WHETHER YOU'RE ALL ABOUT THE AMX, OR CRAZY FOR THE 'CUDA, PUMP THOSE BRAKES AND PULL ON IN, BECAUSE GEARHEAD'S GATHER HERE.

* John: ...WHICH HOUSES THE TRADITIONAL PORSCHE 3.6 LITER AIR-COOLED FLAT SIX.

A MODIFIED INDUCTION SYSTEM, LARGER VALVES, AND REVISED VALVE TIMING HAVE BOOSTED HORSEPOWER TO 282, AND TORQUE TO 250 POUND-FEET.

BUT AS OUR CREW BLASTED AROUND GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, WE FOUND THAT THE REAL POWER INCREASE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REV BAND.

PERFECT FOR ROEBLING'S MANY THIRD GEAR CORNERS, WHICH DEMAND A CAR WITH A STRONG, FLAT POWER BAND... YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD.

BUT AFTER ALL, WE ARE ONLY HUMAN.

SO, PAT GOSS HAS FOUND A HIGH TECH SOLUTION TO HELP US ALL BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

Pat Goss: MANY NEWER CARS HAVE CRASH AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS.

NOW, SUPPOSE YOU WANT ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMS, BUT YOUR CAR DOESN'T HAVE IT.

DO YOU HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR IN ORDER TO GET IT?

WELL MAYBE NOT... WE HAVE MARK MEDAWAR, FROM MOBILEYE, TO EXPLAIN THEIR SYSTEM TO US.

MARK, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Mark: THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHADDA GOT HERE?

Mark: WELL, LET ME TELL YOU LITTLE BIT ABOUT MOBILEYE.

MOBILEYE IS THE LEADER IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS.

WE MAKE A PRODUCT FOR THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY; IN FACT ABOUT 90% OF AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS USE OUR PRODUCT.

AND THEN, WE ALSO MAKE AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT THAT CAN BE RETROFITTED INTO ANY VEHICLE.

Pat: OKAY, NOW WHEN YOU SAY ANY VEHICLE, OLD, NEW, DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

Mark: OLD, NEW, DOESN'T MAKE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE.

Pat: OKAY NOW, WHAT DOES THIS OFFER US?

Mark: IT INSTALLS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ATTACHES TO THE WINDSHIELD UP NEAR THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

AND IT ACTUALLY LOOKS OUT USING ITS VISION SENSOR UNIT TO DO ROAD SCENE INTERPRETATION.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE IDENTIFY BICYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS THAT MIGHT BE CROSSING THE STREET.

WE CAN DO COOL THINGS LIKE IDENTIFY LANE MARKINGS.

WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE YOU AN ALERT FOR AN IMPENDING FORWARD COLLISION.

AND ALSO, LET YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE APPROACHING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF YOU TOO CLOSELY.

WE'VE TOLD, AND TAUGHT THE SYSTEM HOW TO RECOGNIZE HUMAN BODY PARTS, AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE BICYCLISTS.

Pat: MARK, NOW YOU MENTIONED THAT MOBILEYE READS LANE MARKINGS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

Mark: THAT'S CORRECT.

SO, WHAT WE DO IS WE IDENTIFY ROAD EDGES.

WE IDENTIFY LANE MARKINGS.

THEY CAN BE YELLOW LINES, WHITE LINES, BOT'S, DOTS... YOU NAME IT, AND WE IDENTIFY IT.

AND THEN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, 15 TIMES A SECOND, WE'RE MEASURING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE TIRE AND THAT LANE MARKING OR ROAD EDGE, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU CAN ALERT IF YOU'RE STARTING TO DRIFT OUT OF YOUR DRIVING LANE, AND YOU'RE NOT USING YOUR TURN SIGNAL.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, THE CAR AHEAD OF ME HAS STOPPED.

WHAT GOES ON HERE?

Mark: WELL, THE MOBILEYE SYSTEM IDENTIFIES THE VEHICLE FIRST, AND THEN, WHAT IT DOES AND THINK ABOUT HOW THE HUMAN EYE, AND THE HUMAN BRAIN WORKS AS WE APPROACH SOMETHING, THAT VEHICLE OR THAT PERSON STARTS TO GET LARGER.

WE USE THAT SAME TYPE OF VISION SYSTEM TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CAR IS GETTING CLOSER, THE OBJECT IS GETTING LARGER, AND WE GIVE YOU AN ALERT AT A CERTAIN POINT, TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP BEFORE AN IMPENDING COLLISION.

Pat: I LIKE THAT.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT DOESN'T DO: IT DOESN'T STOP THE CAR.

Mark: IT WILL NOT STOP THE CAR.

THE SYSTEM WILL GIVE YOU WHAT WE CALL PASSIVE ALERTS.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, AUDIBLE, VISUAL, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE HARD OF HEARING, AND CAN EVEN DO A NICE LITTLE SEAT VIBRATOR, AND VIBRATE THE SEAT FOR YOU, TO ALERT YOU TO AN IMPENDING CRASH.

Pat: DO IT YOURSELF INSTALLATION, OR NOT RECOMMENDED?

Mark: IT'S NOT RECOMMENDED.

WE PREFER THAT YOU HAVE IT PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED.

THE MOBILEYE SYSTEM IS BASICALLY A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SYSTEM ON ALL SIZE VEHICLES.

AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, WE NEED TO TELL THE SYSTEM HOW BIG THE VEHICLE IS THAT IT'S BEING INSTALLED IN.

AND WE DO THAT USING A SETUP WIZARD USING A COMPUTER THAT CONNECTS THROUGH A CONNECTION HERE ON THE MOBILEYE SYSTEM.

Pat: I SEE, OKAY.

MARK THANK YOU.

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

* CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING Lauren Morrison: WITH THE TESLA MODEL 3 AND CHEVROLET BOLT SET TO PROPEL ELECTRIC VEHICLES EVEN MORE INTO THE SPOTLIGHT, THE TIME SEEMS RIGHT FOR OTHERS TO GET INTO THE EV MIX, OR BACK INTO THE MIX THAT IS.

AN UPDATED FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC WAS CAUGHT RUNNING AROUND DEARBORN, MICHIGAN RECENTLY.

WHILE THE CURRENT MODEL GETS SOMEWHERE AROUND 75 MILES, THIS CAMO'D MULE SUPPOSEDLY APPROACHES, OR POSSIBLY EVEN TOPS 100.

THAT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE 200 MILE MARKER OF THE MODEL 3 AND BOLT THAT HAS BECOME THE NEW EV BENCHMARK, BUT A RENEWED AND ONGOING INVESTMENT IN THEIR ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY IS A POSITIVE SIGN FOR FORD MOVING FORWARD.

John: NOW, IT'S BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

IF YOU NEED TO GET AWAY, AWAY, THE COMPACT FORD ESCAPE CROSSOVER IS CERTAINLY UP TO THE JOB.

AND FOR 2017, IT'S BEEN UPDATED TO HELP DO THAT JOB EVEN BETTER.

YOU CAN'T MISS THE NEW FRONT END.

GONE IS THE SLATTED AND DROP-JAW FACE WE'VE KNOWN SINCE THE 2013 MODEL YEAR, AND IN ITS PLACE THE SINGLE BIG MOUTH OPENING FROM THE FORD EDGE.

THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR GETS A PRETTY MILD REWORK.

A NEW SPORT APPEARANCE PACKAGE ADDS BLACKED-OUT WHEELS AND TRIM ACCENTS.

BUT UNDER THE SKIN CHANGES ARE A LOT MORE MEANINGFUL.

Patrick Lucas: THE INTERIOR IS WHERE YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE.

A COMPLETELY REDESIGNED CABIN.

ALTHOUGH, IT LOOKS FAMILIAR, THE ERGONOMICS ARE MUCH BETTER... LOTS MORE SMALL ITEM STORAGE, SYNC3 DEBUTS, ROAD NOISE, NVH, STUFF LIKE THAT HAS BEEN CUT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO, IT'S JUST A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE TO SPEND SOME TIME.

John: APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE SUPPORTED, TOO.

NEW ENGINE CHOICES GIVE THE ESCAPE MORE WAYS TO GO, AS THE 1.5 LITER AND 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST I4S ARE NOW BOTH AVAILABLE.

HORSEPOWER RATES 179, AND 245.

THE 2.5 LITER, NATURALLY ASPIRATED I4, WITH 168 HORSEPOWER, IS ALSO STILL OFFERED.

SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES NOW INCLUDE LANE-KEEPING ASSIST, ACTIVE PARK ASSIST, AND ENGINE AUTO STOP/START.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 FORD ESCAPE STARTS JUST OVER $24,000.

AFTER HAULING UP OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PICKUP, THE NISSAN TITAN XD LOOKS TO WOW US AGAIN.

THIS TIME, RUNNING ON TRIED AND TRUE V8 GASOLINE POWER.

THE ORIGINAL 5.0 LITER CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL V8 WAS A TORQUEY AND STOUT MOVER THAT IMPRESSED US MIGHTILY.

A TOW RATING OF 12,300 POUNDS IMPRESSED US, TOO.

THIS TIME, WE'RE CRUISIN' IN THE 5.6 LITER "ENDURANCE" V8, A NATURALLY ASPIRATED GASOLINE ENGINE CARRIED OVER FROM THE CURRENT GEN, AND ALSO SMALLER, TITAN.

ALTHOUGH, SOME REENGINEERING BUMPS HORSEPOWER WAY UP TO 390, AND TORQUE TO 401 POUND-FEET.

COMPARED TO THE DIESEL, THERE'S A PENALTY ON TOW RATING, OF COURSE.

BUT AT AROUND 1100 POUNDS LESS WEIGHT, IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS WE EXPECTED.

MAX PAYLOAD ON THE OTHER HAND, IS ACTUALLY UP ABOUT 500 POUNDS.

THE LIGHTER GAS ENGINE ALSO MAKES IT FEEL A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE ON ITS FEET.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 NISSAN TITAN XD, WITH V8 GASOLINE POWER, STARTS AROUND $36,000.

AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

CADILLAC IS AS GUILTY AS ANYBODY FOR KICKING OFF THE LARGE LUXURY SUV CRAZE.

REMEMBER THE FIRST 1999 ESCALADE?

YET, CADILLAC WAS SLOW TO FOLLOW THE MARKET SHIFT TO LUXURY CROSSOVERS.

SO, EVEN THOUGH THEIR MID-SIZE SRX IS TOP SELLER FOR THE BRAND, IT LACKS THE WIDE SPREAD CRITICAL PRAISE OF THEIR CARS.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THAT CHANGES AS CADDY'S REBOOTS THEIR CROSSOVER STRATEGY WITH THE ALL-NEW XT5.

* ALTHOUGH, ON AN ALL-NEW CHASSIS, DON'T THINK OF THE 2017 CADILLAC XT5 AS AN ALL-NEW CONCEPT.

RATHER, IT'S A CONTINUATION OF WHAT THE SRX STARTED; LUXURIOUS, TECH-SAVVY TRANSPORTATION FOR FIVE, BUT THIS TIME WITH DRIVING DYNAMICS THAT MORE CLOSELY MATCH THEIR KEY GERMAN AND ASIAN RIVALS.

WHETHER, YOU'RE A FAN OF THE CROSSOVER TOURING RE-NAMING STRATEGY OR NOT, HOPEFULLY CADILLAC WILL STAY CONSISTENT WITH IT, AS THEY EXPAND FROM THIS MIDSIZE XT5 TO PERHAPS, A 3-ROW XT7, AND COMPACT XT3.

AS FOR THE XT5, IT WEARS A FACE THAT'S A TALLER VERSION OF CADDY'S NEW FLAGSHIP CT6 SEDAN.

BOTH HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTING HAVE VERTICAL ORIENTATION.

THERE'S LESS DEPARTURE ALONG THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR, WHERE SOME SHADES OF SRX AND EVEN CHEVROLET EQUINOX REMAIN IN PROFILE AND IN THE REAR.

OUR RED PASSION TINT COATED LUXURY MODEL HAD EXCELLENT PAINT QUALITY.

COMPARED TO THE SRX, THERE ARE 2-INCHES OF ADDED WHEELBASE; YET OVERALL LENGTH IS ALMOST AN INCH SHORTER.

IT IS ALSO SLIGHTLY TALLER AND NARROWER.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 18s; 20s ARE OPTIONAL.

BUT DRIVING IS WHERE YOU NOTICE THE BIGGEST XT TO SRX CHANGES.

STREET, AND HIGHWAY RIDE, AND HANDLING ARE CLEARLY NOT OLD-SCHOOL CADDY.

IT'S DECIDEDLY EUROPEAN, EVEN BORDERLINE STIFF; YET, COMPLIANT ENOUGH TO EAGERLY SOAK UP BUMPS SOFTLY.

FOLLOWING A RECENT AND WELCOMED GM TREND, CLOSE TO 300 POUNDS.

HAS BEEN SHAVED AND YOU FEEL THE ADDED RESPONSIVENESS AT EVERY TURN OF THE NICELY WEIGHTED ELECTRIC STEERING.

THERE'S NO EURO-STYLE TURBO-4 POWER UNDER THE HOOD HOWEVER, AT LEAST HERE IN THE U.S., AS CADDY'S LGX VERSION OF GM'S 3.6 LITER V6 IS THE ONLY CHOICE.

AND IT'S A VERY DECENT ONE, DELIVERING 310 HORSEPOWER AND 271 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE SEAMLESSLY; WORKING WELL WITH THE STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THEY MAKE A GOOD COMBO AS LONG YOU'RE NOT LOOKING FOR AN ALL-OUT PERFORMANCE UTE.

FRONT-DRIVE IS STANDARD, WITH A NEW TWIN-CLUTCH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM OPTIONAL.

IT CAN SEND FULL POWER FRONT OR REAR, AS WELL AS LEFT OR RIGHT AT THE REAR AXLE.

SLIPPERY ROADS ARE ITS FORTE, BUT WE FOUND THIS FLEXIBLE SETUP TO BE A WELCOMED AID IN DRY HANDLING AS WELL.

OR, SWITCH IT OFF FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY.

INSIDE, IS A CLEAN, SIMPLE, ATTRACTIVE DESIGN VERY SIMILAR TO FLAGSHIP CT6, WITH NO SHORTAGE OF TECH AND LUXURY TOUCHES!

TRIM, WHETHER TRADITIONAL WOOD OR SPORTIER BRIGHT-WORK, IS EXCEPTIONAL.

YOU CAN CHOSE FROM QUITE A FEW LIGHT OR DARK THEMES, OUR FAVORITE BEING THE CLASSY JET BLACK.

AND THERE'S MUCH SMALL ITEM STORAGE SPACE AROUND.

BUT WE HAVE TO SUBTRACT A FEW POINTS AFTER DEALING WITH THE LATEST CUE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

IT IS FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO AND WE LOVE THAT.

BUT AFTER A LONG DAY OF GETTING FRUSTRATED WITH THE GESTURE CONTROLS, WE COULD THINK OF ONLY ONE FINAL GESTURE TO GIVE IT.

CADDY PLEASE GIVE US A KNOB OR TWO?

THE GAUGE PANEL IS NOT QUITE AS TECH-HEAVY AS CT6, BUT STILL A NICE INFO-HEAVY ARRAY, WITH THE NOW-EXPECTED RECONFIGURABLE SETUP.

THE FRONT SEATS LOOK GREAT BUT NEED WORK.

WE FOUND THEM HARD, YET STILL LACKING IN ALL-DAY SUPPORT.

THANKS TO THE EXTRA WHEELBASE, THE REAR SEAT PROVIDES GREAT LEG ROOM; NOT ALWAYS A HIGH POINT OF THIS CLASS.

IT SLIDES AND RECLINES TOO.

STILL, HEAD ROOM CAN BE TIGHT THANKS TO AN INTRUSIVE PANORAMIC GLASS ROOF.

E-SHIFTERS ARE EN VOGUE THESE DAYS, AND CADDY'S HAS LOGICAL AND PRECISE MOVEMENT.

A BACKUP CAMERA IS STANDARD, THE CT6s REAR CAMERA MIRROR, AND A FULL SUITE OF ACTIVE SAFETY FEATURES ARE OPTIONAL.

REAR SEAT UP CARGO CAPACITY IS GOOD AT 30.0 CUBIC-FEET.

FOLD THE 40/20/40 SEATBACKS TO EXPAND IT TO 63.0 CUBIC-FEET.

A CARGO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE.

MAXIMUM TRAILER TOW IS THE EXPECTED 3,500 POUNDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 19-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION AND 6.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

XT5 BASE PRICING IS $39,990 FOR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAN BE ADDED TO MID-LEVEL TRIMS FOR $2,495 MORE, BUT IT COMES STANDARD WITH THE $63,495 TOP-LEVEL PLATINUM.

THE 2017 CADILLAC XT5 WILL HAVE A HARD TIME STANDING OUT IN THE CROWDED LUXURY CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, THE RETIRING SRX ACTUALLY DID QUITE WELL WITH WHAT IT HAD, AND WE THINK THE XT5 WILL DO EVEN BETTER.

IT PROVIDES MORE LUXURY, MORE TECH, AND YES, A MUCH MORE SATISFYING DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

IT SHOULD APPEAL EQUALLY TO BOTH LONG-TIME AND FIRST-TIME LUXURY BUYERS, AND BODES WELL FOR A FUTURE FULL LINEUP OF CROSSOVER CADILLACS.

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, FOR A MID-SIZE SEDAN SHOWDOWN, AND SEE WHICH 4-DOOR GRABS TOP HONORS.

THEN WE'LL POUND THE PAVEMENT WITH THE DODGE VIPER ACR.

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... "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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

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

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