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

JOIN US AS WE TOP OFF THE TESTOSTERONE TANK WITH THE ROCKY RIDGE CALLAWAY SPECIAL EDITION SILVERADO... PAT GOSS REMINDS US WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO COOL YOUR JETS... ZACH MASKELL CELEBRATES BY GOING OVER THE EDGE AT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE RACE TRACKS... THEN WE'LL SEE HOW THE AUDI R8 RANKS AMONG TODAY'S SUPERCAR ELITE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.

OH MAN.

OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.

THIS IS AWESOME!"

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 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.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> JOHN: TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE GREAT TOGETHER.

NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WE'RE TALKING THE PERFORMANCE MAGICIANS AT CALLAWAY CARS, AND BIG BAD TRUCK BUILDER ROCKY RIDGE.

THE RESULT OF THEIR TEAMWORK IS THIS SUPER BEAST FROM THE EAST COAST, THE ROCKY RIDGE CALLAWAY SPECIAL EDITION SILVERADO.

AT FIRST GLANCE, YOU MIGHT THINK THIS 2015 ROCKY RIDGE CALLAWAY SPECIAL EDITION CHEVROLET SILVERADO BUT, NOT SO FAST.

SURE IT'S BRASH, BOLD, A LITTLE BIT LOUD, AND A LOT IN YOUR FACE; BUT AS WITH MOST MACHINES ASSOCIATED WITH CALLAWAY CARS, IT'S ALSO ONE WELL ENGINEERED HUNK OF PERFORMANCE EQUIPMENT.

STARTING WITH GM'S 6.2 LITER DIRECT INJECTION V8, CALLAWAY ADDS THE SAME 2.3 LITER TVS THRICE INTERCOOLED SUPERCHARGER FROM THEIR CORVETTE ON TOP.

THE RESULT IS 560 HORSEPOWER EXTREME?

WELL MAYBE, BUT CONSIDERING WE'RE NOW DRIVING 700 HORSEPOWER DETROIT SEDANS ON THE STREET, IT'S NOT THAT OUT OF LINE.

WHILE CALLAWAY TAKES CARE OF THE POWER, IT'S OFF ROAD SPECIALISTS ROCKY RIDGE THAT TAKES CARE OF THE SUSPENSION.

THERE'S A 4-INCH LIFT, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE USE OF 35-INCH TIRES, NOW MOUNTED ON ROCKY RIDGE BRANDED 20-INCH WHEELS.

NEW SHOCKS ARE INCLUDED ALL AROUND OF COURSE, WITH FULL COIL-OVERS IN FRONT.

AND MUCH LIKE WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD, YOU GET A FACTORY STYLE 3-YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN YOU PURCHASE THIS BEAST FROM YOUR CHEVROLET DEALER.

YOU ALSO GET A SPRAY IN LINER FOR THE BED; BUT WITH THE TAILGATE THIS FAR OFF THE GROUND, LOADING WILL TAKE SOME MUSCLE.

NOW, DESPITE THE SKY HIGH STANCE, THIS SILVERADO IS ACTUALLY REMARKABLY BENIGN TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC, AND NOT THAT UNLIKE A STOCK SILVERADO UNTIL THE ROAD OPENS UP AND YOU GET ON IT.

INSIDE, CHANGES ARE FAR MORE MINIMAL.

JUST THE USUAL BUILDER PLAQUES AND LOGOED FLOOR MATS, BUT THE SILVERADO'S INTERIOR IS ALREADY A BORDERLINE BEAUTIFUL ONE, SO THAT'S JUST FINE.

SEATS ARE STILL VERY COMFORTABLE, AND CREW CAB CONFIGURATION MEANS THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM AND COMFORT IN THE BACK SEATS AS WELL.

BEING SUCH A TALL VEHICLE, IT'S ONE TIME WHERE WE ACTUALLY FOUND THE DEPLOYABLE RUNNING BOARDS USEFUL AND ALMOST A NECESSITY.

THE SIDE EXITING EXHAUST IS A CALLAWAY DESIGN.

IT HAS A STIMULATING RUMBLE TO IT, AND NEVER SEEMED TO GET TOO LOUD UNLESS YOU STAY ON THE THROTTLE FOR A LONG TIME.

OVERALL, IT'S VERY WELL EXECUTED, WITH LOTS OF FINESSE, AND NOTHING TO EVEN NITPICK ABOUT.

IT'S A PREMIUM ALL OUT EFFORT FOR THE PREMIUM TRUCK BUYER.

AT OUR TEST TRACK THE ROCKY RIDGE CALLAWAY SPECIAL EDITION ROMPED TO 60 IN JUST 5.5 SECONDS.

POWER IS IMMEDIATE, AND NEVER LET UP THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER, FINISHING IN 13.5 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

AND THE GNARLY EXHAUST BLEND TOGETHER TO MAKE A COCKTAIL OF SYMPHONIC AWESOMENESS.

WHILE CARVING THROUGH CONES IS NOT THE KIND OF PERFORMANCE THIS TRUCK IS NECESSARILY DESIGNED FOR, IT WASN'T AS CHALLENGING AS EXPECTED; THERE'S JUST LOTS OF BODY ROLL.

OF COURSE, WE HAD MORE FUN JUST DRIVING OVER THEM.

TURNS OUT THIS TRUCK'S PRETTY GOOD AT THAT, TOO.

STOPPING IN 125 FEET FROM 60 WAS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FEAT FOR THIS TRUCK'S TRACK DAY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A 6.2 LITER SILVERADO ARE 15-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED, AND WE'RE QUITE SURE WE WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT UP WITH OUR 13.7 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON A DAILY BASIS.

WITH A PRICE OF $86,000, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT SEEMS LIKE A FORTUNE FOR A PICKUP.

BUT, HAVE YOU TAKEN A CRUISE THROUGH A NEW CAR DEALER'S TRUCK LOT LATELY?

STOCK HALF TONS WITH STICKERS WELL OVER 60 G'S ARE ALL TOO SO WHILE ON FIRST GLANCE, WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE HOW TO TAKE THIS 2015 ROCKY RIDGE CALLAWAY SPECIAL EDITION CHEVROLET SILVERADO.

"DOES ANYONE REALLY NEED A VEHICLE LIKE THIS?"

WELL, AFTER SPENDING SOME HIGH TIMES UP IN THE SADDLE, WE FOUND THIS SKY SCRAPER OF A RIG MUCH MORE THAN JUST A WAY TO STAND ABOVE THE CROWD.

IT'S A WELL BUILT, AND YES, VERY TASTY HIGH PERFORMANCE TRUCK THAT LACKS ONLY ONE THING.

A COUNTRY SONG WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO VERO BEACH, FLORIDA.

SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAME THE STATE'S FIRST TO ADOPT PROPANE POWERED SCHOOL BUSES.

TODAY, 33 BLUEBIRD PROPANE BUSES COMPRISE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEIR FLEET.

INDIAN RIVER PLANS TO STAY WITH PROPANE FOR FUTURE PURCHASES SITING NUMEROUS BENEFITS INCLUDING LOWER NOISE, REPAIR, FUEL COSTS, AND GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS COMPARED TO DIESEL.

>> GEORGE MILLAR: OUR BUSES PULL INTO THE LOADING ZONES, THEY'RE IDLING THERE WHILE THE STUDENTS ARE BOARDING.

YOU HAVE WITH A DIESEL BUS, OR, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER TYPE OF FUEL.

>> JOHN: WITH AN HONORABLE MENTION BY THE "100 BEST FLEETS IN AMERICA", AND WITH MORE PROPANE BUSES ORDERED, INDIAN RIVER CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CLEAN CITIES COALITION AS A "TEXT BOOK" PROPANE LEADER ON FLORIDA'S "TREASURE COAST."

THE COMPUTER "FLOPPY DISK" WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1970.

THE SAME YEAR, MOTORWEEK'S HOME ROAD COURSE WAVED THE GREEN FLAG FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

NOW, THE WAY WE STORE DATA IS STILL SHRINKING, WHILE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE VENUES KEEPS GROWING.

SO, BUCKLE UP AS ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR A 45TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT SUMMIT POINT!

>> ZACH MASKELL: TAKE ME HOME... COUNTRY ROADS... TO A PLACE CALLED "SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK."

NESTLED IN THE HILLS OF WEST VIRGINIA, THIS IS MY KIND OF THEME PARK.

"GET READY FOR AN OVERLOAD OF FUN."

I COULD'VE ASKED FOR IN ONE DAY.

>> MARTY KOOSE: YOU KNOW THE VARIETY ADDS TO THEIR LEARNING, >> ZACH: WE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLEX, THAN TO CHECK OUT THE THREE SEPARATE ROAD COURSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'VE GOT ON TAP.

OUR FIRST STOP: LAPS AROUND SUMMIT POINT MAIN WITH CHRIS WHITE.

>> CHRIS WHITE: "IT STARTED OUT AS JUST A SMALL LITTLE STYLE ROAD RACING."

>> ZACH: ONE DECADE LATER, AN SCCA CLUB RACER AND 1970 FORMULA V WORLD CHAMPION BOUGHT THE COMPLEX.

BILL SCOTT LEFT YALE WITH A PHD.

BUT DECIDED TO RACE CARS, INSTEAD OF MESSING AROUND WITH GEO-PHYSICS.

>> BARBARA SCOTT: HE DID HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE NURBURGRING.

BUT HE STILL WANTED TO STAY IN RACING.

RACEWAY AND CONTINUED TO DEVELOP IT UNTIL THE VERY DAY.

>> ZACH: A RACER'S CAREER IS SHORT LIVED.

BUT BILL SCOTT COULDN'T JUST THROW IN THE TOWEL; HE FOCUSED ON TRAINING THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SUMMIT'S FOOTPRINT WENT FROM 360 ACRES, TO A MASSIVE 800.

THE MOTORWEEK CREW HAS BEEN TESTING HERE SINCE THE '80s, AND WE'RE NOTHING BUT THRILLED.

OPERATING WITHIN THE COMPLEX IS BSR INC.

THEY TRAIN PRIVATE SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

THE CIA AND U.S. AIR FORCE ARE AMONG THE LONG LIST TO USE THE TRACKS IN ADDITION TO THE BOMB AND SEVEN GUN RANGES.

>> LARRY CONNOLLY: WE DO COMBINE VEHICLE WORK WITH SHOOTING HERE ON THE RANGE.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'LL PUT THEY WERE IN AN ATTACK, THEIR VEHICLE GOES DOWN AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BAIL OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

>> ZACH: SINCE I OFTEN FIND MYSELF IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THE GUYS GAVE ME SOME TIPS.

THEN I MOVED ON TO A LESS STRESSFUL, BUT SERIOUS TRAINING.

>> JENS SCOTT: THIS ISN'T SCALED UP AMUSEMENT PARK GO-KARTS.

CARS.

>> ZACH: BILL'S SON, JENS, STARTED SUMMIT POINT KART IN 2009.

HE NOW HELPS 20,000 PEOPLE A YEAR DEVELOP THEIR TRACK SKILLS.

THIS IS THE REAL DEAL, AS EVIDENT BY THEIR 24 HOUR ENDURANCE RACES, WITH TEAMS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE U.S... >> JENS SCOTT: IF YOU BEAT SOMEBODY OUT HERE, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A BETTER DRIVER.

>> ZACH: THIRTEEN HORSEPOWER KARTS, 20 TURNS, AND 1300 TOTAL FEET OF TRACK, WILL HAVE YOU GRINNING BIGGER THAN THE GRINCH.

I WAS TRYING TO GET THE TAIL END TO KICK OUT, BUT INSTEAD HEADED OVER TO JEFFERSON FOR SOME REAL SIDEWAYS ACTION.

HOME OF "DRIFT NIRVANA," SUMMIT HAS WELCOMED THE DRIFTERS OF THE EAST COAST.

2014'S FORMULA DRIFT PRO 2 CHAMP DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE IS ALWAYS GRABBING SOME SEAT TIME.

>> DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE: "DRIFT NIRVANA" EVENTS PULL PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

SO WE'VE HAD SOUTH CAROLINA, A PERSON FROM PHILLY HERE TODAY.

SO, I MEAN FROM 40 MILES TO DOWN THE STREET, TO 1,000 MILES AWAY.

IT'S PRETTY COOL WHAT KIND OF CROWD WE BRING.

>> ZACH: RAPPER'S SUPERCHARGED V8 SWAPPED RX8 WAS STILL EN ROUTE FROM CALIFORNIA, BUT WE STILL HAD A BLAST IN HIS PRACTICE CAR THAT HAS AN 8TH OF THE HORSEPOWER.

JUST PAST THE TREE LINES, THE RALLY AND OFF-ROADING GUYS WERE SLINGING SOME DIRT AROUND.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE TOM CRUISE AND PAUL NEWMAN PRACTICED FOR "DAYS OF THUNDER."

A PLACE THAT HAS A REPLICA OF THE NURBURGRING'S FAMOUS CAROUSEL TURN.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S PASSED AWAY, ONE RACER'S DREAM CONTINUES TO LIVE ON.

>> ROGER LYLE: THE MAN WAS A GREAT GENTLEMEN AND A GREAT RACER AND I'M SO THANKFUL >> ZACH: HERE'S TO THE MAN WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON HIS LEGACY.

>> JOHN: "COOL YOUR JETS."

IT'S WHAT YOU'D TELL YOUR BUDDY WHEN THEY GET A LITTLE TOO HEATED.

WELL, PAT GOSS HAS SOME WISE WORDS FOR WHEN YOUR ENGINE DOES THE SAME.

* >> PAT GOSS: ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO IGNORE THE GAUGES ON THE DASH OF YOUR CAR.

YOU SEE, THOSE GAUGES ARE PRETTY DARN RELIABLE.

AND IF THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING'S WRONG, YOU HAD BETTER DO WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL TELLS YOU TO DO TO AVOID SERIOUS DAMAGE AND A LOT OF MONEY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.

NOW, HERE WE HAVE A CYLINDER HEAD OFF OF A LATE MODEL AUTOMOBILE.

AND THIS HEAD IS MADE OF ALUMINUM.

NOW, ON AN ALUMINUM HEAD, WE HAVE STEEL VALVES.

THEY'RE REALLY HARDENED VALVES, AND THEY ALLOW THE AIR TO COME INTO THE CYLINDERS, AND THE EXHAUST TO GET OUT, AND THEY FIT BACK INTO THESE HOLES HERE.

NOW, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THESE, THIS HAS TO BE AN AIRTIGHT SEAL.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF HEAT HERE.

SO, HOW DO THEY MAKE THIS WORK?

WELL, THEY TAKE A HARDENED STEEL VALVE SEAT SUCH AS WE SEE HERE, AND THEY PRESS IT INTO THE ALUMINUM OF THE HEAD.

THAT GIVES THE ENGINE DURABILITY AND THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND THE TREMENDOUS HEAT THAT'S GENERATED HERE.

OKAY.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATS?

WELL IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE DRIVER HAD A WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS HOT.

WELL, THEY FIGURED THAT THEY COULD GO JUST ANOTHER COUPLE MILES TO GET IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY'D GET IT TAKEN CARE OF.

WELL, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT THAT EXTRA COUPLE OF MILES.

ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WENT FROM THE ENGINE RUNNING FINE TO THE ENGINE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND THEN TEN SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING REALLY, REALLY ROUGH AND MAKING HUGE AMOUNTS OF NOISE.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS, THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS GOT SO HOT THAT THIS PRESSED IN VALVE SEAT CAME LOOSE.

AND WITH A VALVE HAMMERING UP AND DOWN AGAINST IT, IT CRACKED, BROKE UP INTO PIECES, THEN THE PIECES ARE BEING GRENADED UP AND DOWN INSIDE THE CYLINDERS BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE PISTONS.

AND WE CAN SEE THE DAMAGE HERE ON THE CYLINDER HEAD.

WELL, IF THAT'S ALL THAT HAPPENED IT WOULD BE A NEW CYLINDER HEAD.

IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, BUT NOT LIKE THIS.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE ENGINE.

THOSE PIECES OF THE BROKEN VALVE SEAT HAMMERING AGAINST THE PISTON DESTROYED THE PISTON, AND SCORED THE CYLINDER WALLS.

SO, THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED.

DON'T TRY TO GO THE EXTRA MILE WHEN A MODERN ENGINE IS HOT.

BECAUSE THIS COULD HAPPEN.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WELL IT WAS GOODBYE ENGINE AND HELLO ABOUT $9,000.

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

>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO SLIP BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MY QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

YOU MIGHT THINK TUCSON, ARIZONA WOULD BE THE NATURAL PLACE FOR A QUICK SPIN IN THE 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON... AND WE HOPPED ON A JET TO MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, FOR SOME DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT DRIVING SCENERY.

NEVERTHELESS, THIS ALL NEW, 3RD GENERATION COMPACT CROSSOVER WAS ABLE TO SHOW OFF ITS STRENGTHS AS IT VIES FOR A BIGGER SHARE OF ITS GROWING SEGMENT.

THE LOOK FALLS NICELY IN LINE WITH THE REST OF HYUNDAI'S NEWEST OFFERINGS, AND NOW SITS AS ONE OF THE MORE STYLISH CUV'S COMPARED TO SEGMENT STALWARTS CR-V AND RAV4.

THERE ARE TWO SHADES OF POWER: A 2.0 LITER I4 WITH 164 HORSEPOWER AND A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, OR A 1.6 LITER TURBO I4, WITH 175 HORSEPOWER AND AN ECO-MINDED 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION.

ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAN BE OPTIONED TO EITHER.

LONGER, WIDER, AND ROOMIER, THE INTERIOR ALSO BRINGS ALL THE BEST FROM RECENT HYUNDAI'S, MIXING PREMIUM FEATURES WITH NO NONSENSE FUNCTIONALITY.

>> ZACH: HYUNDAI DID A REALLY GOOD JOB REDUCING BOTH THE ROAD AND WIND NOISE IN HERE.

IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE AND EVEN THE FOLKS IN THE BACK SEAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY.

>> JOHN: ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON STICKERS AROUND $24,000.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

>> JOHN: YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: WE ALL KNOW THAT ALFA ROMEO HAS MUCH BIGGER PLANS FOR THE U.S. MARKET THAN JUST THE PINT SIZED 4C SPORTS CAR.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PLANS WERE, UNTIL NOW.

AS WE WERE ON THE SCENE IN ARESE, ITALY, NEAR MILAN, TO CATCH THE UNVEILING OF THE NEW GIULIA SPORT SEDAN, THAT WILL GO ON SALE IN THE U.S.

SHOWN HERE IN ITS TOP QUADRIFOGLIO CONFIGURATION THAT INCLUDES A 510 HORSEPOWER V6 ENGINE.

IT'S REAR WHEEL DRIVE OF COURSE WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE AVAILABLE, AND IS BASED ON AN ALL NEW PLATFORM FOR THE BRAND THAT WILL ALSO CARRY A CROSSOVER SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

LOW WEIGHT, DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE AXLES; ACTIVE AERO ELEMENTS, AND A 0-60 TIME OF UNDER 4 SECONDS ARE JUST A FEW THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS ALFA.

MARKING THE BRAND'S 105TH ANNIVERSARY, THE DEBUT TOOK PLACE IN ALFA ROMEO'S NEW MUSEUM, WHERE THEIR CENTURY PLUS HISTORY IS ON FULL DISPLAY.

AND WE'LL HAVE PLENTY MORE INFO ON THE GIULIA AFTER WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR A LITTLE HANDS-ON RESEARCH.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

KEEPING OUR ITALIAN FOCUS, WE'LL STEAL A FEW GLANCES AT FIAT'S UPCOMING 124 SPIDER.

THOUGH CAMOUFLAGED, FAMILIAR, IT'S BASED ON THE ALL NEW MAZDA MX-5.

BUT, WHILE THIS TOP DOWN FIAT SHARES THE MX-5'S BASIC REAR DRIVE ARCHITECTURE, WE EXPECT THE 124 SPIDER TO BE POWERED BY FCA'S OWN 1.4 LITER MULTIAIR TURBO I4 DRAWN FROM THE 500 ABARTH.

AND SPEAKING OF ABARTH, OUR CAMERAMAN SENT ALONG SOME INTRIGUING PHOTOS OF A 124 SPIDER WITH QUAD EXHAUST LOUDER GROWL.

WE'RE HEARING THAT IT MAY BE FROM THE 1.7 LITER TURBO I4 FROM ALFA ROMEO'S 4C, WHICH WOULD PUSH AT LEAST 200 HORSEPOWER.

HERE'S HOPING THIS RUMOR HAS WHEELS!

>> JOHN: WHEN THE 2008 AUDI R8 HIT THE STREETS, IT WAS MORE EXOTIC FROM THE BRAND.

IT SET THE TONE FOR ALL SUPERCAR'S TO FOLLOW, THAT RIDE, COMFORT, AND EVERYDAY LIVABILITY WERE NOW JUST AS IMPORTANT AS 0-60'S AND LAP TIMES.

WELL, THERE'S AN ALL NEW R8 RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE WANTED JUST ONE MORE TASTE OF THE ORIGINAL.

* IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE AUDI R8 HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AS LONG AS IT HAS, AS MUCH LIKE IT NEVER SEEMS TO AGE.

THIS 2015 EDITION IS NO DIFFERENT, AS IT STILL LOOKS AS GREAT NOW AS IT DID WHEN IT OUT OF AUDI SHOWROOMS.

THE LOW SLUNG SHAPE, WITH LARGE, PROTRUDING, SIDE BLADES, CERTAINLY STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION WHEREVER IT GOES, AND THE AVAILABLE V10 STILL HAS THE POWER TO GET IT JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE IN A HURRY.

THE FINAL MODEL YEAR OF THE 1ST GENERATION CAR SEES SOME MINOR UPDATES, INCLUDING A NEW SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR THE V10 PLUS MODEL, AVAILABLE DIAMOND STITCHING IN THE ALCANTARA HEADLINER, AND A FEW OTHER STANDARD FEATURES.

WHILE THE UPCOMING 2ND GEN CAR, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN MARVEL'S LATEST AVENGERS MOVIE, WILL BE BASED ON THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN CARBON-FIBER AND ALUMINUM CHASSIS; THIS ONE OF COURSE, IS STILL ALL ALUMINUM.

WITH THAT V10 MOUNTED MID-SHIP, WEIGHT COMES IN AT 3,792 POUNDS.

OR YOU CAN DROP 130 POUNDS MORE BY STEPPING UP TO OUR V10 PLUS, WHICH SHAVES WEIGHT WITH MORE CARBON FIBER, A SMALLER FUEL TANK, REDUCED SOUND INSULATION, AND STANDARD CERAMIC BRAKES.

AFTER PUTTING OUR FULL WEIGHT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT OUR TEST TRACK, THIS R8 V10 PLUS SHOT TO 60 IN 4.0 SECONDS.

NOW THAT'S A LITTLE SLOW, POWER TO ALL 4 WHEELS IN EARNEST, AND WORLD-CLASS LAUNCH CONTROL, WE HAD TROUBLE HOOKING UP ON OUR AGING TRACK SURFACE.

HIGH REVVING, FULL THRUST THRILLS CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE, ALONG WITH HARD AND FAST SHIFTS FROM THE OPTIONAL S TRONIC DUAL CLUTCH 7-SPEED TRANSMISSION.

OUR QUARTER MILE OF 12.2 SECONDS AT 123 MILES PER HOUR ALSO TOOK YET STILL ENDED UP SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN OUR 2010 R8 V10 TEST.

OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE FULLY MET THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSES, WHERE EPIC AMOUNTS OF STEERING FEEL AND CHASSIS COMPOSURE MAKE THE TRIP THROUGH THE CONES ALMOST BORING.

IT WOULD TAKE MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS THAN ACHIEVED HERE, AND A CHALLENGING ROAD COURSE, BEFORE YOU COULD EVEN SNIFF THIS CAR'S LIMITS.

THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT BRAKING, WITH STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING JUST 102 FEET, THEY ARE TRULY THE REAL DEAL.

OF COURSE THEY ARE OVERKILL, AND QUITE GRABBY, FOR STREET WORK.

STILL OVERALL, THE R8 FEELS AMAZINGLY AT HOME THERE TOO.

THERE MAY BE SEATING FOR JUST TWO, BUT BOTH OF THE LUCKY ONES HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE TO GET COMFORTABLE.

ALL TRIM WORK AND MATERIALS ARE HIGH CLASS IN FEEL AND MECHANICAL IN NATURE, ALTHOUGH THE LOOK COULD USE A LITTLE UPDATING.

WE STILL LOVE THE BEEFY KNURLED ALUMINUM SHIFTER EVEN IF WE'RE JUST SLIDING IT OVER TO AUTO, INSTEAD OF WORKING THE MANUAL'S GATED PATHS.

THE GAUGE PANEL FEATURES REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS GAUGES; NOT VIRTUAL FACSIMILES THEREOF, WITH A SMALL LAP TIMER IN THE CENTER.

AUDIOPHILES CAN UPGRADE TO A 465 WATT 12-SPEAKER BANG & OLUFSEN PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM THAT TRULY BRINGS THE NOISE.

BUT IF MECHANICAL NOISES ARE MORE YOUR THING, ENGAGE SPORT MODE ON THE CONSOLE AND THE V10 MOUNTED DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU WILL DELIVER EVEN MORE GLORIOUS SOUNDS.

AH, THAT V10.

ALL 5.2 LITERS WORTH OF POWER PRODUCING ALUMINUM, MAKING 550 HORSEPOWER AND 398 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YOU'LL ENJOY IT JUST AS MUCH AS IT DOES.

QUATTRO ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD OF COURSE AND THE V10 PLUS RIDES ON 19-INCH WHEELS THAT DO THEIR BEST TO MAINTAIN TRACTION.

WHILE THIS R8 IS NOT EXACTLY FEELING OLD, AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME IN THE HURACAN, WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW AWESOME THE NEW R8 WILL BE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS COME IN AT 13-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY AND 16-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE OF 14.3 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM WON'T ENDEAR IT TO THE HEARTS OF SIERRA CLUB MEMBERS, BUT IS NOT BAD FOR A SUPERCAR.

AND PRICING IS ALSO NOT BAD FOR A MODERN EXOTIC, THE R8 V8 COUPES STARTS AT $120,150.

STEPPING THROUGH TO THIS V10 PLUS HOWEVER WILL COST YOU $177,750.

V8 AND V10 SPYDER CONVERTIBLES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

OUR ADVICE, THE STREET, THE BASE V8 COUPE WILL ENTERTAIN YOU JUST FINE.

HAVING WON OVER OUR HEARTS A LONG TIME AGO, THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING THAT AUDI COULD'VE DONE TO THE 2015 R8 THAT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE OUR DESIRE FADE.

NOTHING TASTES LIKE AN ORIGINAL.

SO, HERE'S HOPING THAT THE SOON THE SAME FLAVOR, BUT WITH SPRINKLES.

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 SOAK UP SUMMER SUN IN THE FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE.

THEN STAGE A SHOWDOWN OF TODAY'S TOP SUV'S.

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... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.

THIS IS AWESOME!"

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 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.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

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

*