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

JOIN US FOR A FIRST HAND LOOK AT ALL THAT'S NEW FROM THE MOTOR CITY AND THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW... PAT GOSS HAS AN IN YOUR FACE LOOK AT WHEN AIRBAGS ATTACK... ZACK MASKELL SHOWS US A SLICK WAY TO TEST WINTER TIRES... AND WE CHARGE UP, AND MOVE AHEAD, IN THE NEW CHEVROLET VOLT...

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... 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.

John: THE TEMPERATURE IS HEADING LOW, LOW, LOW...

SO, YOU KNOW IT MUST BE JANUARY!

BUT, THAT ACTUALLY PUSHES OUR SPIRITS HIGH, FOR IT'S ALSO TIME FOR DETROIT'S 2016 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

SO LET'S GRAB A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT ALL OF THIS YEAR'S HEADLINERS FROM THE MOTOR CITY!

2015 WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR AUTOMAKERS WITH AN ALL TIME U.S.

SALES RECORD, AND THEY CAME PREPARED FOR MORE HEYDAYS AHEAD.

STARTING WITH PLENTY OF NEW TOYS AND TOOLS FROM THE DETROIT-3 TO KEEP THE GOOD TIMES ROLLING.

A NEW MINIVAN MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE EARTH SHAKING NEWS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY TOOLS IT CAN'T BE BEAT.

AND FCA HAS THOROUGHLY RETOOLED ITS MINIVAN, FROM PLATFORM TO NAME.

SO, IT'S OUT WITH THE TOWN AND COUNTRY AND IN WITH THE 2017 PACIFICA.

SHAPELY, WITH A 200 LIKE FRONT END, UPDATED PENTASTAR V6 POWER, 360 DEGREE CAMERAS, BETTER STOW-N-GO SEATING, AS WELL AS HANDS FREE OPENING FOR REAR HATCH AND SIDE SLIDERS.

PLUS, A FULL-HYBRID WITH 30 MILE EV RANGE IS NOW PART OF THE LINEUP.

CHRYSLER HOPES YOU'LL BE SAYING "GOODBYE CROSSOVER, HELLO MINIVAN!"

WITH ALL OF THE "SINCE 1941" LOGOS ON JEEPS IN RECENT YEARS, WE SAW THIS ONE COMING, AS FCA CELEBRATES THE BRAND'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL EDITIONS ACROSS THE LINEUP.

LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER IT DEBUTED AS A CONCEPT, THE PRODUCTION LINCOLN CONTINENTAL ARRIVES FOR REAL.

WELL EXECUTED OUTSIDE AND IN, WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AND A NEW ECOBOOST V6, IT COULD BE JUST WHAT THE LONG STRUGGLING BRAND NEEDS TO GET BACK IN THE LUXURY CAR GAME.

CAR THINGS WERE QUIETER OVER AT THE BLUE OVAL BRAND WHERE FORD UNVEILED A FACE-LIFT FOR THEIR MID-SIZE FUSION SEDAN...

SAVING THE FLASH FOR ITS UPCOMING RAPTOR PICKUP, NOW IN NEW CREW-CAB AS WELL AS EXTENDED CAB FORM.

BOTH BOAST TWIN-TURBO V6, 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION, AND MORE OFF ROAD ATTITUDE THAN EVER.

OVER AT THE BOW-TIE BOOTH, CHEVROLET'S BIG NEWS WAS SMALL.

A EURO-STYLED HATCHBACK VERSION OF THEIR 2017 CRUZE COMPACT...

ALONG WITH THE PRODUCTION VERSION OF THE CHEVY BOLT EV, AFTER ITS OFFICIAL UNVEIL THE WEEK PRIOR AT THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW.

SO FAR, GM IS HOLDING STEADY ON THE $30,000 PRICE POINT; NOW ALL THAT REMAINS, IS TO SEE IF IT LIVES UP TO THE 200 MILE PLUS RANGE CLAIMS.

THE BIGGEST GM DELIGHT AT DETROIT WAS, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, FROM THE ONCE OVER-THE-HILL BUICK BRAND.

THE BOLD AND GORGEOUS AVISTA CONCEPT COUPE MAY SHARE THE CAMARO'S PROPORTIONS, BUT IF IT EVER REACHES SHOWROOMS IT WOULD BE THE PERFORMANCE LUXURY HALO MODEL THE BRAND NEEDS FOR A FULL COMEBACK.

DEFINITELY DESTINED TO FILL OUT THEIR LINEUP IS THIS 2-ROW BUICK ENVISION CROSSOVER.

THIS MID-SIZER WILL BE THE FIRST "MADE IN CHINA" MODEL FOR A DETROIT AUTOMAKER, AND THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER.

SPEAKING OF TIMING, THE LONG OVERDUE 2ND GENERATION GMC ACADIA 3-ROW CROSSOVER IS HERE.

SURPRISINGLY, IN A BIGGER IS BETTER WORLD, THE STILL PRESSION GRADE LOOKING ACADIA ACTUALLY LOSES BOTH SIZE, AND WEIGHT, TO BETTER COMPETE WITH THE LIKES THE HONDA PILOT, AND TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.

HENRIK FISKER IS STILL AROUND, AND HE'S NOW ENLISTED FORMER DETROIT EXECUTIVE BOB LUTZ TO HELP HIM LAUNCH VLF AUTOMOTIVE'S FORCE 1, A CARBON FIBER BODIED BEAUTY ROLLING ON A VIPER CHASSIS.

BUT, THAT JUST CAP'S OFF THE "DOMESTIC" BRAND SIDE OF THINGS AS WE'LL WIDEN TO A GLOBAL VIEW WHEN WE RETURN LATER IN THIS SHOW WITH MORE FROM THE 2016 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WHERE A FAMILY-OWNED TRUCKING COMPANY IS MAKING THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL SWITCH!

IN 2012, M&M CARTAGE BOUGHT ONE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TRUCK TO SEE IF IT COULD HANDLE OVER 400 INTERSTATE MILES OF HAULING EVERY DAY.

BASED ON THE RESULTS, THE COMPANY DECIDED TO EXPAND THEIR CNG FLEET WITH 30 MORE CUMMINS POWERED TRUCKS.

THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO ADD ANOTHER 100 BY 2018.

M&M SAYS BENEFITS RANGE FROM A HEFTY FUEL COST SAVINGS TO A REDUCTION IN CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS.

Don Hayden: SINCE WE'VE HAD THESE TRUCKS, WE'VE RAN APPROX 2.4 MILLION MILES.

AND AH, IF IT'S 11 GRAMS PER MILE CLEANER THAN DIESEL.

DO THE MATH, THOSE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.

John: A $300,000 JEFFERSON COUNTY GRANT HELPED PURCHASE FIVE NEW CNG TRUCK CABS, AND THE FLEET FUELS UP AT THIS NEW PUBLIC ACCESS CNG STATION RUN BY KENTUCKIANA CLEAN FUELS.

A SMART, GREEN COLLABORATION THAT'S SHOWING THE WAY TO SUSTAINABLE FREIGHT HAULING.

YEARS AGO, THE RUBBER THAT GOT YOU FROM A TO B WAS, SHADY AT BEST.

FROM SUMMER TO SNOW TIRES, WE JUST HADN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.

BUT NOWADAYS TIRES ARE ONE OF THE MAIN INGREDIENTS TO THE ENTIRE RECIPE.

, TIME NOW TO CHILL WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE DANCES OVER THE EDGE, IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

Zach Maskell: WHILE WE HUMANS LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR, WE REACT DIFFERENTLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

JUST...LIKE...TIRES.

TO SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN, IT'S OFF TO INDIANA, ON CAMPUS OF NOTRE DAME'S FIGHTING IRISH.

"THIS IS A HOCKEY PUCK.

IT'S MADE OF RUBBER.

I'VE BEEN AROUND IT ALL MY LIFE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO ON THE ICE.

CAR TIRES, I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH EXPERIENCE.

AFTER TODAY, I'LL TELL YOU... YOU MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT YOUR ALL-SEASON TIRES.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH SNOW IN A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

FRONT, REAR, AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES.

ALL EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT TIRES.

IT'S STUNNING HOW THEY'VE GOT DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

Justin Hayes: WE LIKE TO SAY, "IF IT'S COLD ENOUGH TO SEE YOUR BREATH, IT'S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT PUTTING WINTER TIRES ON."

Zach: I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO WHEN IT COMES TO ICE.

WELL, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN WRONG.

Man: WHEN I SAY GO, YOU'RE GOING TO MAT IT, HOLD YOUR FOOT TO THE FLOOR, UNTIL I SAY "BRAKE."

WHEN I SAY "BRAKE," GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE BRAKE PEDAL.

MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Zach: ISN'T THIS COOL.

A DRAG RACE, WHERE HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE NORMALLY RIPPING EACH OTHER'S HEADS OFF.

ONE CAR EQUIPPED WITH OEM ALL-SEASON TIRES.

THE OTHER IS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK, WINTER TIRES.

THIS MAY BE THE MOST BORING RACE IN HISTORY.

BUT THE RESULTS WILL BE PRETTY INTERESTING.

ONE CAN BARELY GET MOVING.

THEN WHEN IT FINALLY DOES, IT'S TOUGHER TO STOP.

BUT WHY WAS THE OTHER ONE DOING SO WELL?

BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME TIRES THAT THIS TRICYCLE HAS.

YOU MAY NOT REALIZE NATURE IS THE WORLD'S FOREMOST ENGINEER.

SO WHAT THE FOLKS AT BRIDGESTONE DID WAS ACTUALLY STUDIED POLAR BEAR PAWS TO SEE HOW IT GRIPS THE ICE.

THEN THEY DISCOVERED HOW TO PUT THEIR MULTI-CELL TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR BLIZZAK TIRES.

THERE'S THREE BASIC COMPONENTS IN A BLIZZAK.

DEEPER TREAD DEPTH, A BIG BLOCKY PATTERN, AND THE COMPOUND.

THE MULTI-CELLS ACT AS A SPONGE TO DISPERSE WATER; WORKING ALONG WITH BITE PARTICLES TO GRIP THE ICE.

OKAY... TIME NOW TO GET IN TWO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SUVs AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

LET'S SEE HOW THESE ALL-SEASON OEM TIRES DO.

WE'RE MASHING DOWN THE GAS...

THE TRACTION CONTROL IS TRYING TO HELP US.

DOWN ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS WE CAN... AND WE STILL SLID PRETTY GOOD.

EH, I GAVE THAT RUN THE COLD SHOULDER.

NOW, FOR THE PROPERLY EQUIPPED RIDE.

ALREADY THE BLIZZAK'S ARE GETTING A LOT MORE TRACTION.

HARD ON THE BRAKES... HOPEFULLY WE'RE CONSISTENT THERE.

12.4 MILES PER HOUR, 24 FEET STOPPING DISTANCE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

THAT MEANS WE STOPPED ABOUT HALF A CAR LENGTH QUICKER THAN THE ALL-SEASON TIRES.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOWER SPEEDS LIKE THAT, THAT IS VERY GOOD.

SO OBVIOUSLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS...

THIS COULD BE A PRICELESS SAFETY INVESTMENT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

Woody Rogers: WE FIND THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT BUY, AND TRY WINTER TIRES FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S A REVELATION.

THEY DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH CONTROL AND CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL.

Zach: WINTER TIRES ARE NOT ONLY GOOD FOR SNOW AND ICE...

BUT THE RUBBER COMPOUND WILL STAY SOFTER THAN ALL-SEASON TIRES BELOW 45 DEGREES...

MEANING YOU ACCELERATE, HANDLE, AND BRAKE EASIER.

THIS IS KIND OF A NO-BRAINER AT THIS POINT ISN'T IT?

Woody: A LOT OF CONSUMER'S THINK ABOUT THE COST OF A SET OF WINTER TIRES.

BUT TYPICALLY IT'S NOT MUCH MORE OR OFTEN LESS THAN THE COST OF THEIR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE.

IF IN ONE WINTER SEASON YOU AVOID ONE SMALL FENDER BENDER IN TRAFFIC, YOU'VE PAID FOR THE WINTER TIRES.

Zach: AROUND THANKSGIVING MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO MOUNT THEM UP... AND TAX SEASON IS ABOUT THE TIME THEY NEED TO COME BACK OFF.

REMEMBER, WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER.

* Lauren Morrison: WHILE ALL-ALUMINUM BODIES AND GAS FED TURBO ENGINES ARE NICE, THE ONE THING THAT FORD'S F-150 LACKS, THAT TRUCK BUYERS WANT, IS A DIESEL ENGINE.

WELL, NOT ANYMORE.

SPY PHOTOS REVEAL THIS F-150 MULE SPORTING A CAMO'D BED, AND A UNIQUE EXHAUST TIP NOT YET SEEN ON THE NEW GENERATION.

OUR SOURCE HINTS THAT UNDER THE HOOD IS A 3.0 LITER TURBODIESEL V6, DEVELOPED AND CURRENTLY USED BY JAGUAR LAND ROVER.

JLR RATES IT AT 254 HORSEPOWER AND 443 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT MAY BE PAIRED WITH FORD'S NEW 10 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIMING FOR TOWING CAPACITY AND FUEL ECONOMY ON PAR, AND MOST LIKELY SURPASSING, FCA'S RAM 1500 ECODIESEL.

WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH, AS A MID-2016 LAUNCH IS IN PLACE FOR THE F-150 DIESEL.

John: PAT GOSS IS HERE WITH SOME IN YOUR FACE CAR CARE TIPS.

SO LET'S HEAD ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECALLS OF ALL TIME INVOLVES THE TAKATA AIRBAGS.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE CHRIS BASSO, FROM CARFAX.

CHRIS, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Chris: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, THE TAKATA AIRBAG... WELL, HERE WE HAVE AN INFLATOR OF ANOTHER BRAND OF AIRBAG.

IT'S SIMILAR; NOT THE SAME THING AS THE TAKATA, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE OF IT WHEN IT GOES OFF, AND THIS METAL IS BREAKING INTO PIECES AND FLYING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR.

SO, IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.

Chris: IT IS, AND IT'S CREATING LIFE THREATENING INJURIES, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT YOU KNOW, AS HIGH PROFILE AS THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL HAS BEEN, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE NEVER BEEN FIXED THAT POSE JUST AS GREAT A RISK FOR PEOPLE TO BE INJURED OR WORSE.

IN FACT OUR DATA SHOWS THAT THERE'S 46 MILLION CARS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD WITH AN UNFIXED RECALL FOR THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE FIRES, CRASHES; OTHER ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE PASSENGERS OF THOSE VEHICLES AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, THAT PUT THEM IN DANGER.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO GET THOSE CARS FIXED.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE TRACK THIS, RIGHT?

Chris: YEAH, IT USED TO BE THAT YOU HAD TO WAIT FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S LETTER.

IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET RECALL INFORMATION, TO FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR WAS RECALLED.

BUT NOW, THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING RECALL INFORMATION FOR FREE.

AND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR IS CARFAX.

WE'VE CREATED A FREE APP, CALLED "MYCARFAX" THAT ONLY USES YOUR LICENSE PLATE TO SEE IF YOUR CAR HAS A RECALL NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE.

SO IT'S AS SIMPLE AS PLUGGING IN YOUR LICENSE PLATE ONCE, AND YOU'LL GET RECALL NOTICES ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE IF THERE'S A RECALL ON IT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

AND IN FACT, FOR THIS HONDA, WE HAVE A RECALL FOR A TAKATA AIRBAG ON IT RIGHT NOW.

Pat: OKAY.

SO, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

I WONDER WHY SO MANY PEOPLE DISREGARD THE RECALLS, BECAUSE IT CAN BE DEADLY.

Chris: IT CAN BE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO, EITHER THEY'VE DISCARDED THE NOTICE OR THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET IT FIXED.

BUT IN MOST CASES RECALLS CAN BE FIXED IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

SO IT'S A SIMPLE WAY...

IT'S SIMPLE TO GET THEM FIXED.

AND IF YOU DISCARDED THE NOTICE, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET RECALL INFORMATION; LIKE THE FREE MYCARFAX APP.

Pat: OKAY, PLUS THE RECALLS ARE FREE.

Chris: THE RECALLS ARE FREE.

IT'S FREE TO FIND IT; IT'S FREE TO GET IT FIXED.

THERE REALLY IS NO REASON NOT TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE OF US HAS NOW.

Pat: OKAY CHRIS, THANK YOU.

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

John: IT'S PEDAL TO THE METAL FOR THE BIG NAMES AND BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

SO LET'S HEAD BACK TO DETROIT FOR MORE!

A 23 YEAR TRADITION, MOTOWN PRESS DAYS KICK OFF WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN CAR AND TRUCK/UTILITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

FOR 2016, HONDA TAKES HOME THE CAR AWARD FOR ITS REBORN CIVIC.

WHILE IN A BIT OF A STUNNER TO MATCH ITS LOOKS, THE VOLVO XC90 EARNS TOP HONORS AS TRUCK/UTILITY OF THE YEAR.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR VOLVO'S FIRST PUBLIC SHOWING OF THE EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE S90 RANGE-TOPPING SEDAN.

WHILE CLEARLY SHARING MUCH WITH THE XC90, IT NOT ONLY LOOKS ASTONISHING, BUT IT DRIVES EVEN FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE WITH SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED SELF-DRIVING AIDS YET.

TOYOTA TURNED THEIR DETROIT STAGE OVER TO LUXURY DIVISION LEXUS AND BOY DID THEY PRODUCE A SHOW STOPPER.

THIS IS THE LEXUS LC500, A PERFORMANCE SERIOUS, FULL-SIZE, AND ALSO FULL-LUXURY, 5.0 LITER V8 GT COUPE, THAT IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER LFA SUPERCAR LEVEL PERFORMANCE AT A LOWER, BUT PERHAPS STILL SIX FIGURE PRICE.

INDEED, PERFORMANCE COUPES WERE BACK IN VOGUE AT DETROIT AS RIVAL INFINITI UNLEASHED ITS NEW Q60.

LOOKING EVEN SHARPER THAN LAST YEAR'S CONCEPT, THIS 2-DOOR DERIVATIVE OF THE Q50 SPORT SEDAN BOASTS BOTH 300 AND 400 HORSEPOWER VERSIONS OF A NEW TWIN-TURBO V6, AS WELL AS A MERCEDES-BUILT 2.0 LITER TURBO.

LIKEWISE, THE FRESHENED Q50 SEDAN ADDS THE NEW ENGINES WHILE RETRAINING ITS V6 HYBRID MODEL.

WHILE, A LITTLE SHEET METAL SURGERY IS ALSO APPLIED TO INFINITI'S QX60 MID-SIZE CROSSOVER.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PICKUPS OVER AT NISSAN WITH THIS TITAN WARRIOR OFF-ROAD CONCEPT.

THIS JACKED UP DIESEL RIG RIDES ON 37s, LOOKING READY NOW TO DUKE IT OUT WITH RAPTOR FOR KING OF THE DIRT.

ALTHOUGH, HONDA DITCHED ITS ODDLY STYLED RIDGELINE PICKUP AFTER 2014, IT DIDN'T STAY GONE FOR LONG.

THIS 2017 RIDGELINE IS ALL-NEW, AND DRESSED IN MORE TRADITIONAL CREWCAB PICKUP CLOTHES.

TWO WAY TAILGATE AND LOCKABLE UNDERFLOOR STORAGE RETURN, BUT IT IS NOW THE ONLY MID-SIZE PICKUP WITH 48-INCHES BETWEEN THE WHEELS WELL ARCHES.

ACROSS THE AISLE, ACURA UNWRAPPED THIS PRECISION CONCEPT SEDAN.

BOLDER AND STRIKING FROM EVERY ANGLE, LOOK FOR THIS DYNAMIC NEW STYLING TO ADORN SHOWROOM MODELS SOON.

THOUGH BMW HAD ALREADY RELEASED PLENTY OF PHOTOS, THIS WAS OUR FIRST CHANCE TO SEE THE NEW M2 IN PERSON.

THE M4s LITTLE BROTHER WILL DELIVER 365 HORSEPOWER AND EASIER ENTRY INTO M-SANITY...

WHICH YOU CAN ALSO GET A TASTE OF IN THIS X4 M40I.

MERCEDES-BENZ TAKES THEIR MID-SIZE E-CLASS SEDAN TO NEW LEVELS OF BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND LUXURY, WHILE RE-LAUNCHING THE SLK DROP TOP AS THE SLC... AND EXPANDING THE AMG PROFILE WITH THIS V12 MERCEDES-AMG S65 CABRIOLET... ...AND EVEN SPECIAL-ER S63 EDITION 130 V8 CONVERTIBLE.

BUT THE HIGH PERFORMANCE RIDE THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST, COMES FROM PORSCHE; WITH THE NEW 911 TURBO.

YES, WE KNOW ALL 911s ARE NOW TURBO'S, BUT THE ONE WITH TURBO IN THE NAME IS AN EXTRA 540 HORSEPOWER WORTH OF SPECIAL.

WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO SEE THIS ALL-NEW A4 ALLROAD AT THE SHOW; BUT HERE IT IS!

AS THE ONLY WAY WE'LL SEE THE WAGON MODEL OF THEIR 9TH GENERATION A4 COMPACT SEDAN, THIS ALLROAD PACKS MORE OF EVERYTHING YOU BUY AN AUDI FOR.

AUDI ALSO GAVE US A HINT AT BOTH FUTURE CROSSOVERS FOR THE BRAND AND PERHAPS FUTURE FUELS AS WELL, WITH THIS HYDROGEN EV H-TRON QUATTRO CONCEPT.

MEANWHILE, VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES THEIR RECENT TREND OF OFF-ROAD STYLED CONCEPTS WITH THIS ROUGH-AND-READY TIGUAN GTE ACTIVE CONCEPT.

JUST BEFORE THE SHOW, HYUNDAI ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR GENESIS NAMEPLATE WOULD FINALLY BE SPUN OFF INTO A STANDALONE LUXURY BRAND, AND THIS ALL-NEW G90 LOOKS LIKE A GREAT CHOICE TO GET THINGS ROLLING.

MORE OR LESS REPLACING THE EQUUS, THE S-CLASS SIZED G90 WILL GO ON SALE BEFORE YEAR'S END.

WHILE KIA IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE REST OF US, WITH FRESHENED 4 AND 5-DOOR FORTE COMPACTS...

...IT WAS THIS SORENTO-ECLIPSING TELLURIDE LARGE SUV CONCEPT THAT GOT OUR ATTENTION.

THIS 3-ROW, FULL-SIZE DESIGN STUDY IS LIKELY TO MORPH INTO A TRUE BORREGO SUCCESSOR VERY SOON.

AND FINALLY, AT THE OTHER END OF THE TAPE MEASURE, SMART'S NEW GENERATION OF ITS TINY, SLIDING ROOF FOUR TWO CABRIOLET.

AND WITH THAT, WE WRAP UP OUR COVERAGE, LARGE AND SMALL, FROM DETROIT AND THE 2016 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

WHILE SALES OF THE CHEVROLET VOLT MAY NOT HAVE LIVED UP TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN, IT DID FIND LEGIONS OF FANS WHO LOVED THE IDEA OF A PLUG-IN ELECTRIC CAR FOR COMMUTES, WITH A RELIABLE GAS ENGINE AS BACKUP AND FOR LONGER TRIPS.

INDEED VOLT OWNERS ARE AMONG THE MOST SATISFIED OUT THERE.

WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 5-YEARS HAVE PASSED, AND A 2ND GENERATION VOLT HAS ARRIVED, AND IT LOOKS TO UP THE AMPERAGE IN EVERY RESPECT.

THE 2016 CHEVROLET VOLT MAY BE ALL-NEW, BUT IT'S MISSION IS STILL THE SAME.

GET AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE TO EMBRACE THE PLUG-IN LIFESTYLE BY MAKING IT AS EASY AND STRESS FREE AS POSSIBLE, BY INCLUDING A GAS ENGINE AND GENERATOR TO ELIMINATE ALL ASPECTS OF RANGE ANXIETY.

AND TO THAT POINT, CHIEF AMONG IT'S NEWNESS IS ADDITIONAL RANGE; BOTH IN EV, NOW 53 MILES ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT; AND IN TOTAL, WITH 420 MILES NOW POSSIBLE BEFORE A FILL-UP.

MAKING THIS HAPPEN IS A NEW DUAL-MOTOR DRIVE UNIT THAT IS 12 PERCENT MORE EFFICIENT THAN BEFORE.

THERE'S MORE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY ONBOARD AS WELL, NOW 18.4KWHs WORTH, THOUGH IT WEIGHS 20 POUNDS LESS.

ELECTRIC MOTOR OUTPUT STAYS THE SAME AT 111 KW, BUT THE ENGINE, OR RANGE EXTENDER IN PLUG-IN PARLANCE, GROWS TO 1.5 LITERS.

HORSEPOWER JUMPS 17 TO 101.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY; NOW 42-COMBINED, WITH AN MPGE RATING OF 106.

ALSO SAVING YOU A FEW DOLLARS, PREMIUM FUEL IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.

SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST 2.0 BARRELS OF OIL USED YEARLY WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 0.8 TONS IS CLOSE TO NIRVANA.

A HIGHLY AERODYNAMIC SHAPE REMAINS OF COURSE, BUT NO MORE THAN MANY OTHER MAINSTREAM OFFERINGS.

EVERY EXTERIOR DIMENSION IS UP SLIGHTLY EXCEPT FOR HEIGHT.

BOTTOM LINE, THIS VOLT WILL DO A LOT MORE BLENDING IN THAN BROADCASTING YOUR ECO-MINDED CREDENTIALS.

SIGNATURE TOUCHES LIKE THE FLASHY SPLIT GRILLES GET A MAJOR RETHINK.

LOW ENERGY LED HEADLIGHTS ARE STANDARD; AS ARE 17 INCH WHEELS, KEYLESS IGNITION, AND REMOTE START.

RETAINING IT'S HATCHBACK DESIGN MEANS IT'S STILL A VERY PRACTICAL VEHICLE AS WELL, PERHAPS MORE SO NOW THAT YOU CAN GET A 3RD PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT, IF THEY ARE VERY SMALL IN GIRTH THAT IS!

MORE MAINSTREAM ALSO DESCRIBES THE CHANGES UP FRONT.

THE SEATS HAVE IMPROVED COMFORT, AND CONTROLS ARE MORE TRADITIONAL WITH ADMITTEDLY LESS WOW FACTOR THAN BEFORE.

BUT WHILE IT MAY NOT BE AS FUTURISTIC, IT STILL HAS A HIGH TECH FEEL WITH AN 8-INCH RE-CONFIGURABLE LCD SCREEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL FOR INSTRUMENTATION, AND ONE ON THE CENTER STACK FOR INFOTAINMENT.

NORMAL, SPORT, MOUNTAIN, AND HOLD DRIVE MODES ARE HERE AGAIN, BUT THE CADILLAC ELR'S REGEN-ON-DEMAND BRAKE STEERING WHEEL PADDLES ARE A NEW ADDITION.

A NEW PREMIER TRIM EXPANDS ON THE PREVIOUS VOLT'S PREMIUM PACKAGE, ADDING HEATED SEATS FRONT AND REAR, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING, AND AUTOMATIC PARK ASSIST.

REGARDLESS OF TRIM, ALL SEAT CONTROLS ARE MANUAL, AS NO POWER SEATS ARE AVAILABLE.

STILL RIDING ON THE CRUZE CHASSIS MEANS RIDE QUALITY IS GOOD, BUT NOT EXCEPTIONAL.

AND IT FEELS SMALL AND FAIRLY COMPETENT IN THE CORNERS, PROVIDED YOU DON'T ASK TOO MUCH OF IT.

STEERING IS DIRECT WITH A NICE WEIGHT TO IT.

WE WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE GOOD SENSATION OF POWER COMING OFF THE LINE, BUT PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO IN PASSING SITUATIONS.

GM CLAIMS AN 8.4 SECOND 0-60, BUT OUR SEAT OF THE PANTS FEEL PUTS IT EVEN QUICKER THAN THAT.

A REVISED BRAKING SYSTEM ELIMINATES SOME OF THE REGENERATIVE FEEL, AND WITH GOOD SUCCESS; THOUGH THE HARDER YOU WORK THEM, THE MORE IT COMES TO THE FOREGROUND.

BASE VOLT PRICING IS ACTUALLY DOWN A GRAND OVER LAST YEAR, WITH AN LT NOW GOING FOR $33,995.

THE NEW MORE LUXURIOUS PREMIER TRIM COMES IN AT $38,345.

EVEN WITH TAX INCENTIVES, IT IS STILL AN EXPENSIVE COMPACT CAR, WITH CURRENT LOW GAS PRICES PUSHING PAYBACK BEYOND THE HORIZON.

STILL, THE ORIGINAL CHEVROLET VOLT WAS A LANDMARK VEHICLE IN OUR TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUEL POWER TO ELECTRIC PROPULSION.

SO WITH THAT GROUND ALREADY BROKEN, THE 2016 VERSION IS NOT SO MUCH AN AUTOMOTIVE REVOLUTION, AS IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON A HIGHLY PRACTICAL IDEA.

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 SOME CIVILIZED CRUISING IN THE CHEVROLET MALIBU.

THEN IT'S A WILD RIDE IN THE RAM 1500 REBEL.

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.

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

*