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

JOIN US FOR OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS, AS WE PICK THE BEST OF THE YEAR!

PAT GOSS STOPS BY TO EASE OUR TENSION DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... WE CHECK OUT THE LATEST ADVANCES FOR A CLEAN FLEET... AND WE'LL GRAB A QUICK SPIN FOR OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF FIAT'S FIRST ALL WHEEL DRIVER, THE 500X...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.

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: DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS.

SURE, DRIVING BRAND NEW CARS WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TASKS WE HAVE AT MOTORWEEK , IS TRYING TO NARROW DOWN WHICH NEW MODELS STAND OUT THE MOST, TO EARN OUR ANNUAL DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

WELL, WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN, AND HERE ARE THE CARS THAT EARNED THE HONORS FOR 2015!

HERE AT MOTORWEEK , THE CARS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE STARS, AND THIS YEAR OUR BEST SMALL CAR AWARGOES TO VOLKSWAGEN'S LATEST STARS, WE CAN COME UP WITH MANY REASONS WHY, BUT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF POWERTRAINS AVAILABLE AND THE RESPONSIVE HANDLING NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE: TSI, TDI, GTI; OUR FAVORITE, AND EVEN THE ELECTRIC E-GOLF.

AND SPEAKING OF CHOICES, THERE ARE TWO AND 4-DOOR HATCHBACKS, AND EVEN A NEW SPORTWAGEN.

ALL DELIVERING A HUGE AMOUNT OF PRACTICALLY AND SPACE.

THEY'RE EVERYTHING A SMALL CAR SHOULD BE AND OUR "NO BRAINER" DECISION OF THE YEAR.

OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN WINNER IS THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SUBARU LEGACY.

WE CHOSE LEGACY FOR ITS BIG AND HANDLING THAT, ALONG WITH STANDARD ALL WHEEL DRIVE, MAKE IT A SOLID CHALLENGER TO SEGMENT SALES LEADERS.

SUBARU CLEARLY STUDIED LEGACY RIVALS, MATCHING OR EXCEEDING WHAT THEY DO BEST, ALL WITHOUT ELIMINATING THINGS THAT MAKE SUBARU'S UNIQUE.

SUBARU ALSO LISTENED CLOSELY TO CUSTOMERS, ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE GAUGES, SWITCHGEAR, SEAT COMFORT, AND NAVIGATION.

TOPPING IT OFF, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE FUEL ECONOMY NUMBERS COMPETITIVE EVEN WITH ALL WHEEL TRACTION.

IT'S A GREAT EFFORT.

DON'T GET OUR STAFFERS STARTED ON BMW'S NEW NAMING STRATEGY, AS YOU'LL GET AN EARFUL.

BUT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN IF YOU ASK THEM ABOUT THE 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE.

FUN TO DRIVE NATURE THAT MAKES IT THE FINEST 4-SEATER CONVERTIBLE IN WHAT IS A SHRINKING SEGMENT.

BUT, NOT ONLY IS IT AN ALL OUT HANDLING STAR, THE HARD TOP DESIGN HELPS IT RETAIN ALMOST ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF THE COUPE THAT IT'S BASED ON, INCLUDING THE SHARP LOOKING PROFILE.

YET IT FOLDS UP COMPACTLY ENOUGH TO LEAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF TRUNK SPACE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW CONTENDERS FOR OUR BEST LUXURY CAR PRIZE, BUT WHILE WE WERE ARGUING BETWEEN THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS AND THE HYUNDAI GENESIS, WE REALIZED THAT WE DIDN'T ENJOY EITHER OF THEM AS MUCH AS LAST YEAR'S WINNER THE CADILLAC CTS.

SO, IT'S A WELL DESERVED REPEAT FULL OF LUXURY, FULL OF HIGH TECH, AND EVEN FULL OF AGILITY THANKS TO THE NIMBLE ATS CHASSIS THAT IT'S BASED ON.

AND WHEN GM FINALLY GETS AROUND TO DELIVERING THE NEW CTS-V, WE'LL BE EVEN MORE ECSTATIC.

PROCLAIMING THE DODGE CHARGER OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN MAY NOT SEEM LIKE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE, A CHARGER HELLCAT, YOU'LL AGREE WITH US THAT IT WAS THE ONLY CHOICE.

707 HORSEPOWER IS TRULY MIND BOGGLING FOR ANY CAR, BUT PUT THAT ENGINE IN A SUPER COMFORTABLE DAILY DRIVER THAT CAN HAUL FIVE PEOPLE IN NEAR LUXURY COMFORT ALONG WITH A WEEK'S WORTH OF LUGGAGE, AND YOU'VE REALLY GOT SOMETHING.

AND DESPITE ITS MUSCULAR APPEARANCE, DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THIS IS SOME NOSTALGIC THROWBACK.

IT'S A TRULY MODERN SEDAN WITH A STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND AVAILABLE ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

WE'LL CONTINUE OUR BIG TIME AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR THEME WITH OUR NEXT AWARD, BEST SPORT COUPE, WHICH GOES TO THE ALL NEW BIG CHANGES ARE AHOOF FOR '15, WITH A NEW INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION THAT SERIOUSLY UPPED THE HANDLING PERFORMANCE, THE RETURN OF TURBO-4 POWER THAT BOOSTED FUEL ECONOMY WITHOUT LOSING ANY FUN FACTOR.

PLUS, A EURO-SPEC LEVEL OF REFINEMENT TO THE INTERIOR THAT HAS RAISED THE BAR FOR THE SEGMENT.

IT FULLY LIVES UP TO FORD'S CLAIM OF BEING A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR, AND IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR SURE.

WE'LL HEAD IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR OUR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR, WE HAD HIGH HOPES FOR ALFA'S RETURN TO THE STATES, AND THE 4C DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.

THIS PINT SIZE POWERHOUSE PACKS SUPERCAR LEVELS OF FUN AND FRIVOLITY INTO A GORGEOUSLY EXECUTED, TIDY ITALIAN PACKAGE.

NO FRILLS, INCLUDING NO POWER STEERING, MAKES IT AN ALL BUSINESS AFFAIR THAT REMINDS US OF THE DAYS WHEN YOU WERE MAKING A COMPROMISING DECISION IN BUYING A SPORTS CAR.

THE HIGH OUTPUT TURBO ENGINE SOUNDS GLORIOUS, AND THE WAY THE ROAD RUSHES AT YOU, HAD US FEELING LIKE WE WERE FLYING DOWN THE OPEN ROAD IN A GO-CART.

FOR OUR BEST ECO FRIENDLY CHOICE, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO AWARD IT TO AN ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE KIA SOUL EV.

THAT WE WANT TO LIVE WITH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AS A FAMILY VEHICLE.

THE SOUL'S SMALL CROSSOVER SIZE, WITH PLENTY OF SPACE FOR BOTH PASSENGERS AND CARGO, AND ITS UNIQUE FEATURES, ALL COME WRAPPED IN THE COOLEST EXTERIOR OF ANY EV ON THE ROAD.

THE LATEST SOUL'S MATURE MAKEOVER MAKES FOR A MUCH MORE PLEASANT INTERIOR EXPERIENCE TOO, WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THE YOUTHFUL FLARE OF THE ORIGINAL.

NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THE IMPRACTICAL, THIS YEAR'S BEST DREAM MACHINES.

THE RIDES WE'D BUY TO FILL OUR DREAM GARAGE.

FOR THE EVERYDAY, WE'LL TAKE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE AUDI RS7; HUGE PERFORMANCE, EXQUISITE LUXURY, AND AN OVERALL FEELING OF YOU'VE ARRIVED.

AS FOR LOOKING FORWARD, WE'D PICK THE BMW I8.

PERFORMANCE ART HAD US, AND CROWDS, GATHERING EVERY TIME THE DOORS WERE SWUNG UP AND OPEN.

AND FOR THE ULTIMATE IN TRACK DAY FUN WE'D GO WITH LAFERRARI.

WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO DRIVE WHAT EVERY DAY?

OKAY, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T EITHER, BUT WE'D SURE LIKE TO DRIVE IT WHEN WE WANT, AND JUST SIT AROUND STARING AT IT THE REST OF THE TIME.

AND THAT'S THE CARS THAT HAVE A STARRING ROLE IN THIS YEAR'S MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

BUT STAY TUNED: TRUCKS, UTILITIES, AND OUR BEST OF THE YEAR, ARE STILL TO COME.

BY NOW, WE'RE ALL USED TO SEEING MASS MARKET HYBRID, ELECTRIC, AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED PASSENGER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

BUT THERE'S STILL TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED THESE DAYS IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, AND OUR MOST RECENT STOP AT THE ACT EXPO IN DALLAS, TEXAS SHOWCASED THE LATEST AND MOST PROMISING.

THE ALTERNATIVE CLEAN TRANSPORTATION, OR ACT EXPO IS NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST CLEAN FLEET SHOW.

HERE, MANUFACTURERS, FLEET BUYERS, VEHICLE UP FITTERS, AND FUEL SUPPLIERS GATHER TO LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST IN GREEN TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AND TO TRY IT OUT FOR THEMSELVES.

REPLACING DIESEL FUEL IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IS A CRITICAL STEP IN REDUCING OUR COMMERCIAL CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND ONE PROMISING SOLUTION BY ALLIANCE AUTOGAS IS A SYSTEM THAT PIGGYBACKS A SECOND INJECTION SYSTEM ONTO A DIESEL ENGINE AND REPLACES PART OF THE VEHICLE'S DIESEL FUEL LOAD WITH CLEANER BURNING AND LESS COSTLY PROPANE.

>> ED HOFFMAN: THE GREAT PART ABOUT THIS SYSTEM IS THAT IT'S CLASSIFIED BY THE EPA AS A MIXED-FUEL SYSTEM.

COMPONENTS REMAIN IN PLACE AND CAN STILL OPERATE ON ITS OWN.

THE PROPANE ACTUALLY IS INJECTED AND IS USED TO OFFSET DIESEL AT NEARLY A 1 TO 1 RATIO.

>> JOHN: THAT ADDS UP TO ABOUT 7 CENTS PER MILE IN FUEL SAVINGS FOR THE CUSTOMER.

BUT PROPANE FUELING STATIONS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE COMMERCIAL BIG RIGS OUT ON THE ROAD ARE SCARCE, SO THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM WORKS BEST FOR REGIONAL OR HUB BASED FLEETS.

FOR TRUCKS THAT OPERATE IN URBAN AREAS WITH LOTS OF STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AN ELECTRIC POWER BOOST MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

XL HYBRIDS MAKES A SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE ADD-ON HYBRID SYSTEM FOR GM AND FORD VAN CHASSIS, INCLUDING THE NEW FORD TRANSIT.

A SHORTENED DRIVESHAFT WITH AN INLINE ELECTRIC MOTOR MODULE IS INSTALLED, ALONG WITH A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK AND CONTROL MODULES.

THE INCREASED TORQUE, ALWAYS WELCOMED IN A WORK TRUCK, COMES WITH A CLAIMED 25 PERCENT INCREASE IN MPG EFFICIENCY AND NO IMPACT ON CARGO CAPACITY.

>> DAVID BREAULT: A LOT OF SERVICE VEHICLES, FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY SEEMS TO BE A GOOD FIT FOR OUR OUR VANS LIKE MIXED USE CITY/URBAN USE.

YOU KNOW, THE MORE TIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS AND STOPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE BETTER THE RETURN IS.

>> JOHN: TAKING TRUCK ELECTRIFICATION TO THE EXTREME IS THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR WRIGHTSPEED, THE BRAINCHILD OF TESLA CO-FOUNDER IAN WRIGHT.

THEIR FULL PLUG-IN SYSTEM ADDS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND GEARBOX AT EACH DRIVE WHEEL AND REPLACES THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL ENGINE WITH AN 80KW GAS TURBINE GENERATOR TO ACT AS A RANGE EXTENDER.

>> IAN WRIGHT: SO, THE WHEELS ARE ONLY DRIVEN BY ELECTRIC MOTORS.

IN OUR CASE THEY ARE HIGH SPEED DOWN WITH A 2-SPEED GEARBOX IN THE MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND A 4-SPEED GEARBOX IN THE CLASS 8 TRUCKS... >> JOHN: AND THE WRIGHTSPEED SYSTEM IS ROBUST ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE TORTUOUS DEMANDS OF DUMP TRUCKS AND REFUSE HAULERS!

>> IAN WRIGHT: IT SAVES A LOT MORE FUEL IN A HARD STOP/GO DRIVE CYCLE, AND GARBAGE TRUCKS HAVE THE HARDEST STOP/GO CYCLE THAT THERE IS... YEAH, THEY GO FULL THROTTLE FOR 100 YARDS AND THEN FULL BRAKES, AND THEY HAVE IT PERFECTLY CALIBRATED HOW LONG THEY CAN LEAVE IT ON FULL THROTTLE BEFORE THEY GET ON TO FULL BRAKES.

>> JOHN: ALL OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES SEEM PERFECTLY SUITED TO STEMMING OUR THIRSTIEST FUEL APPETITES, AND SHOW THE PROMISE THAT ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND CLEAN POWER TECHNOLOGY HAVE FOR GREENING UP AMERICA'S HEAVY HAULERS.

>> JOHN: TENSION IS A KILLER, EVEN FOR YOUR CAR.

SO, LET'S SEE IF PAT CAN EASE OUR PAIN DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

>> PAT: NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE, THE KEY TO A LONG LIFE AND FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THAT HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT, AND STILL RUNS ALMOST LIKE NEW.

WELL, IT TOOK THIS AMOUNT OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND TO GIVE US SOME TIPS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES IN GENERAL, WE HAVE LYNDON ABEL FROM PATRIOT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.

LYNDON, WELCOME TO MOTORWEEK .

>> LYNDON ABEL: THANKS PAT.

>> PAT: ALRIGHT.

NOW, ON HARLEY'S, AH, YOU HAVE A... CHAIN TENSIONER?

>> LYNDON: YEAH!

SO, LIKE MOST VEHICLES, THIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS A CAM SUPPORT PLATE, AND THESE TWO CAMS ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN.

AND AS I SAID, MOST VEHICLES HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR, RIGHT?

AND THEY NEED TENSION PROVIDED ON THIS CHAIN.

IN THIS CASE IT'S SPRING LOADED, BUT INSTEAD OF THE TENSIONER LOOKING ABOUT LIKE THIS, WHERE THIS METAL CHAIN IS RUNNING AGAINST THIS PLASTIC TENSIONER, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TENSIONER IS WORN COMPLETELY THROUGH.

AND NOW, THIS CHAIN IS RUNNING AGAINST THIS SPRING ITSELF.

AND IT'S PULLING SHRAPNEL OFF THAT SPRING, AND SENDING IT THROUGH THE MOTOR.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S ALREADY STARTED TO DESTROY THE CAMS, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE OIL PUMP LOOKS SIMILARLY POOR.

THIS IS A VERY BAD THING.

>> PAT: OKAY.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL ENGINES THESE DAYS HAVE SOME TYPE OF CHAIN TENSIONER LIKE THIS, AND THEY ALL WEAR; THEY'RE LIKE BRAKE SHOES OR TIRES.

SO, YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM.

ALRIGHT.

UPGRADE?

>> LYNDON: SO, THIS IS AN UPGRADE.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SWITCHED TO A HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, AND THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO GO BECAUSE AT LOWER RPM'S, YOU NEED LESS PRESSURE ON THAT CHAIN, AND AT HIGHER RPM'S, YOU NEED MORE PRESSURE.

WELL, THE OIL PUMP DELIVERS GREATER PRESSURE AT HIGHER RPM'S; WHERE YOU NEED IT MOST.

BUT AT LOWER RPM'S, YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH PRESSURE ON THE CHAIN, WHICH MEANS YOU GET A LONGER LIFE OUT OF THIS CAM CHAIN TENSIONER.

>> PAT: DOUBLE, MAYBE?

>> LYNDON: AT LEAST DOUBLE IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> PAT: OKAY, AND TO GO ALONG WITH THIS I'M ASSUMING IT HAS A MATCHING OIL PUMP?

>> LYNDON: IT DOES.

THIS OIL PUMP PROVIDES NOT ONLY THE INCREASED OIL PRESSURE THAT YOU NEED TO HANDLE THOSE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER'S, BUT ALSO ANY INCREASE BEYOND THAT.

SO YOUR... YOU'LL GET BETTER FLOW, BETTER PRESSURE THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR, AS WELL AS BETTER SCAVENGING OUT OF THE CASE, WHICH IS INCREASE PERFORMANCE, AND DECREASE POTENTIAL OIL CARRYOVER.

>> PAT: OKAY.

LYNDON, THANK YOU.

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

>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO GET BACK TO THE WINNERS OF OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT TURNS TO TRUCKS AND UTILITIES, SO LET'S SEE WHICH ONES HAVE EARNED THE BRAGGING RIGHTS!

* IN THE EVER EXPLODING AND FRACTURING CROSSOVER UTILITY MARKET, IT'S GETTING HARDER THAN EVER TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.

BUT THIS DYNAMIC PIECE OF ROLLING SCULPTURE, THE ALL NEW NISSAN MURANO, EASILY SETS ITSELF APART, AWARD FOR BEST SMALL UTILITY WHILE DOING SO.

THE 5-SEAT MURANO IS HIGHLY STYLED, YET FUNCTIONAL AND PRACTICAL, WITH AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF INTERIOR SPACE.

YET, IT'S ALSO AS FOCUSED ON LUXURY CUES AS A MAINSTREAM VEHICLE CAN BE.

THE EXTERIOR'S INFLATED LINES AND FLOATING ROOF DESIGN CONTINUE MURANO'S EXTRAVAGANT WAYS OF LOOKING NOTHING LIKE A TYPICAL CROSSOVER.

WHILE THE INTERIOR'S FIRST CLASS, LOUNGE LIKE ATMOSPHERE HAD US WRAPPED IN PRETTY POSH COMFORT.

PLUS, MURANO DRIVING DYNAMICS HAVE US ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHERE CROSSOVERS, OR AT LEAST THOSE FROM NISSAN, ARE HEADING.

AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST FEAT OF ALL, NISSAN INCREASED FUEL ECONOMY OVER LAST GENERATION BY 20 PERCENT.

WHILE CROSSOVERS CONTINUE TO RISE, CHOICES AMONG FULL SIZE, TRUCK BASED SUV'S ARE DWINDLING.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, IF YOU NEED ONE, YOU NEED ONE!

AND THE NEWEST, MOST CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ON THE BLOCK, THE CHEVROLET TAHOE, AND ITS STRETCHED STABLEMATE THE SUBURBAN, ALONG WITH CORPORATE COUSINS GMC YUKON, AND YUKON XL, EASILY TAKE OUR AWARD FOR BEST LARGE UTILITY OF THE YEAR.

WITH A FULL FRAME AND REAR OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR HEAVY CHORES, WHETHER IT'S TOWING UP TO 8,300 POUNDS OR HAULING A BROOD OF NINE.

MUCH MORE THAN JUST BIG RIDES ON COP SHOWS.

TRIM CAN BORDER ON PURE LUXURY WITH THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING 4G LTE WI-FI.

QUIETER, MORE USER FRIENDLY, AND ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE THAN EVER BEFORE, THE TAHOE/BURB/YUKON ALSO BOAST FUEL ECONOMY THAT'S PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO CROSSOVERS.

WHILE NOT CHEAP RIDES, THEY WITHOUT A DOUBT DELIVER LOTS OF VEHICLE FOR THE MONEY.

THERE WAS MORE PICKUP TRUCK NEWS THIS GO AROUND THAN ANY YEAR IN RECENT MEMORY.

BUT HOW, COULD WE NOT GIVE OUR BEST PICKUP TRUCK AWARD TO THE ONE ALL NEW DESIGN THAT IS A TRUE GAME CHANGER, THE FORD F-150.

WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ITS ALUMINUM BODY, OR IT'S AVAILABILITY OF NOT ONE, BUT TWO TURBO CHARGED V6'S, WITH A RESULTING BIG JUMP IN FUEL ECONOMY, IT'S A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR FULL SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS.

ONE THAT, 50 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING BACK AND SAYING THIS IS WHEN THE AMERICAN FAMILY FAVORITE CHANGED FOREVER.

BUT BESIDES THE LOWER WEIGHT AND HIGHER TECH, IT'S STILL A TRUCK, BUILT FOR TRUCK TYPE THINGS LIKE TOWING OVER 12,000 POUNDS, HITTING THE TRAIL, AND GETTING WORK DONE.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF USEFUL FEATURES AVAILABLE TO HELP MAKE THAT WORK FEEL A LOT LESS LIKE ACTUAL WORK.

IT'S A BOLD STEP FOR FORD THAT SHOULD KEEP THE F-150 THE NUMBER ONE SELLING VEHICLE IN AMERICA FOR AS FAR DOWN THE ROAD AS WE CAN SEE.

AND WHILE WE CAN SEE THE END OF OUR AWARD'S ROAD, WE STILL HAVE OUR BEST OF THE YEAR TO REVEAL, AND IT'S COMING UP SOON.

>> BEN DAVIS: WITH THE AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS IN BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE THE WORLD OF REMOTE CONTROLLED VEHICLES HAS BECOME JUST AS FAST PACED AND POSSIBLY MORE COMPETITIVE.

AND THIS 1/10TH SCALE DUO FROM LOSI ARE TWO OF THE MOST HIGH FLYING AND FUN SHORT COURSE RC'S AVAILABLE.

ARMED WITH A SEVEN CELL NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY PACK, THESE REAR WHEEL DRIVE BRUTES ARE CAPABLE OF SPEEDS UP TO 35 MILES PER HOUR WITH A RUN TIME OF CLOSE TO 40 MINUTES.

AND IF THAT MAYHEM EVER STARTS TO FEEL TAME, AN OPTIONAL LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERY INCREASES BOTH NUMBERS TREMENDOUSLY.

MUCH LIKE THEIR FULL SIZE INSPIRATION, THEY'RE BUILT WITH EXTREME DURABILITY AND INTENSE COMPETITION IN MIND.

EVERYTHING FROM AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN FOR THE MOTOR, OIL FILLED ALUMINUM COIL OVERS, AND AGGRESSIVE TIRES MOUNTED ON REAL CHROME WHEELS.

THE JOB OF HARNESSING ALL THIS AWESOME IS MADE EASY BY A BEEFY 2.4 GIGAHERTZ CONTROLLER WITH THE CAPABILITY OF ADAPTING TO OTHER RC'S IN YOUR FLEET.

UH, OOH HOO... THAT WAS CRAZY!

FOR SOME FAST FUN, CHECK OUT LOSI.

>> JOHN: WE'RE ALWAYS UP FOR A QUICK SPIN!

HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF THE LATEST!

DON'T TELL DON DRAPER, BUT ADVERTISING CAN ONLY GET YOU SO FAR.

AND SO, TO TAKE THEIR BRAND AND SALES TO NEW LEVELS, FIAT HAS LAUNCHED THE 500X, CROSSOVER MARKET WITH A PRODUCT CAPABLE OF BIG TIME SUCCESS.

EVEN WITH LOTS OF PLAYERS, INCLUDING THE CHASSIS SHARING JEEP RENEGADE, THE 500X HAS JUST ENOUGH OF THAT "OUT THERE" STYLING TO SEE IT AS SPECIAL.

EXAGGERATED LIGHTING, SIGNATURE BADGING, AND THE FLAIR OF ITS ITALIAN ORIGINS EASILY SET IT APART.

INSIDE, BODY COLOR ACCENTS AND UNIQUE COLOR SCHEMES LEND TO A PLEASANT SPACE THAT IS ALSO SURPRISINGLY COMFORTABLE.

UCONNECT EASILY HANDLES INFOTAINMENT, AND CONTROLS ARE BASIC.

GAUGES, DASH LAYOUT, AND DETAILS LIKE THE DOOR HANDLES ADD THE "POP" FIAT IS KNOWN FOR.

FOR MASS APPEAL, THOUGH, THE 500X IS THE BRAND'S FIRST ALL WHEEL DRIVE EFFORT, ALSO SHARING SOME OF THOSE MECHANICALS THE RENEGADE.

HERE, THE REAR AXLE REMAINS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED UNTIL SLIPPING OCCURS, AND POWER IS SENT BACK.

IT'S AVAILABLE WITH THE 180 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER INLINE 4 ONLY.

POWER FELT APLENTY HERE, AND THE 9-SPEED AUTO CONTINUES TO WORK OUT THE KINKS.

BASE ENGINE IS A 160 HORSEPOWER 1.4 LITER TURBO 4 WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL.

>> PATRICK LUCAS: THE 500X TO ME SEEMS LIKE FIAT'S MOST CONSERVATIVE OFFERING.

IT'S GOT THE FUNKY STYLING OF PROPORTIONS THE 500L...

THIS 500X IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF CARGO ROOM OUT BACK.

THE LOOK IS QUIRKY ENOUGH, JUST A LITTLE MORE PRACTICAL.

>> JOHN: ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 FIAT 500X STARTS AT ABOUT $21,000.

AND WE'LL HTI THE ROAD FOR MORE QUICK SPINS SOON!

YOU'VE SEEN OUR PICKS FOR BEST CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES.

NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG ONE, AS WE SELECT THE ONE AUTOMOTIVE STAR THAT SHINES BRIGHTER THAN ALL THE OTHERS.

OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

THE FORD MUSTANG IS OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD REASONS.

THERE'S THE TOTAL CHASSIS REBOOT WITH STANDARD INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION THAT HELPS THE MUSTANG CLING TO THE ROAD LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

THERE'S THE NEW ECOBOOST TURBO I4 POWER TO NOT ONLY BOOST FUEL ECONOMY HERE, BUT TO GIVE THE NEW MUSTANG REAL GLOBAL APPEAL.

AND DON'T FORGET THE VASTLY AND SMARTLY UPGRADED INTERIOR.

THEY ALL PLAY A PART, YES.

BUT THE BIGGEST REASON FOR OUR ACCOLADE, FORD HAS MATURED THE MUSTANG FROM A PIECE OF WELL LOVED AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR INTO A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR LOOKING TO COMPETE WITH THE LIKES OF CORVETTE MORE SO THAN TRADITIONAL RIVALS LIKE CAMARO AND CHALLENGER.

OKAY, IT'S NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT FORD HAS ESSENTIALLY TAKEN WHAT WAS ALREADY OUR FAVORITE PONY CAR AND MADE IT WORLDS BETTER.

USUALLY WHEN A CAR GETS AS MUCH HYPE AS THIS 6TH GEN MUSTANG, IT RARELY LIVES UP TO IT.

NOT THE CASE HERE, AS EVERY VERSION WE'VE DRIVEN, WE'VE FOUND BETTER THAN ADVERTISED.

SURE, THE INCREDIBLE STABLE NEW CHASSIS HELPS IT HANDLE BETTER, AND THE 2.3 LITER TURBO 4 IS COOL.

BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THREE ENGINE CHOICES THAT GET OVER 300 HORSEPOWER.

THE STANDARD 3.7 LITER V6 CARRIES OVER, AND THE 5.0 LITER V8 GETS EVEN MORE POWER, NOW AT 435.

AS FOR THAT INTERIOR, WHILE THE CLASSIC LAYOUT STAYS FAMILIAR; THE SWITCHGEAR, SEATS, AND MOST MATERIALS ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE CURRENT FORD BRAND LINEUP, AND BLOWS EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS SEGMENT AWAY.

THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THE EXTERIOR.

YOU INSTANTLY KNOW ITS PURE MUSTANG, YET IT'S MODERNLY DIFFERENT.

THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG IS NOT JUST A REDESIGN, BUT A RESTART FOR THE ICON.

IT SHOWS THAT WHILE FORD HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HISTORY AND ADMIRATION FOR WHAT THE MUSTANG HAS DONE FOR THE BRAND, THEY ARE NOT STANDING STILL; RATHER LOOKING FORWARD.

WE KNOW THERE'S A NEW CAMARO JUST AROUND THE CORNER, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE PRETTY SPECIAL IF IT WANTS TO STOP FORD'S NEW 'STANG.

OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD BEST OF THE YEAR!

WELL, THAT'S OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, AS WE LIFT OFF IN THE 3RD GEN HONDA PILOT.

THEN LET A PAIR OF DODGE HELLCATS REALLY SHOW THEIR MIGHT.

PAT GOSS BRINGS THINGS TO A HALT, AND BRIAN ROBINSON GOES RETRO TWO WHEELIN'.

PLUS MOTORNEWS, AND A QUICK SPIN IN THE LONG AWAITED MAZDA MX-5.

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... PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.

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.

*