HI I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK .

JOIN US FOR A MUSCLE CAR SHOWDOWN, TO SEE WHO'S REALLY GREAT AMONG THE V8s... PAT GOSS PROVES HE'S THE MAN WITH A PERFORMANCE PLAN... AUTO WORLD PLUGS INTO LONG HAUL EV ROAD TRIPPIN'... THEN IT'S MORE MUSCLE CAR MADNESS, THIS TIME A BATTLE BETWEEN THE DAILY DRIVERS...

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...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

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

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

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: PERFORMANCE CARS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES THESE DAYS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TYPICAL AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE FORD MUSTANG, CHEVROLET CAMARO, AND DODGE CHALLENGER.

AND THEY'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH MAJOR UPDATING OF LATE, SO LET'S GATHER THEM UP, PUT THEM HEAD TO HEAD, AND SEE WHICH ONE LAYS RUBBER TO THE TOP!

* THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT, SOME COMPARISONS WE DO WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM ARE JUST MORE FUN THAN OTHERS.

AND THIS LOOK AT AMERICAN MUSCLE SURE BEATS MINIVANS AND CROSSOVERS!

WE'VE GOT A CHEVROLET CAMARO SS, COMPLETELY REDESIGNED FOR 2016.

GOING UP AGAINST A DODGE CHALLENGER 392 HEMI SCAT PACK SHAKER... AND A FORD MUSTANG GT, WHICH OF COURSE WERE BOTH ALL-NEW FOR '15... TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN BETTER, WE'RE IN SUNNY ARIZONA FOR PLENTY OF BOTH STREET AND TRACK TIME TO PUT THESE CARS THROUGH THEIR PACES AND PICK A WINNER.

AND HELPING US IN THAT MISSION IS A LOCAL GEARHEAD, AND FORMER MUSTANG OWNER.

NO PRICE CAP OR FUEL ECONOMY REQUIREMENTS HERE, BUT ALL OF THESE RIDES ARE EQUALLY EQUIPPED WITH V8 POWER AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.

THE MUSTANG'S 5.0 LITER V8 PUTS OUT 435 HORSEPOWER AND 400 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE CHEVROLET CAMARO UPS THE ANTE WITH A 6.2 LITER V8 AND 455 HORSEPOWER WITH 455 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WHILE, THE DODGE CHALLENGER IS FLEXING THE MOST MUSCLE HERE, WITH A 6.4 LITER V8 OUTPUTTING 485 HORSEPOWER AND 475 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

OUR FIRST STEP WAS GETTING TO KNOW OUR CONTESTANTS; CHECKING OUT THE STYLING AND FEATURES, AS WELL AS PUTTING IN SOME STREET TIME.

Jason Kadah: IT SOUNDS AMAZING, IT'S FANTASTIC, IT HANDLES GREAT, IT FEELS SOLID, THE VISIBILITY INSIDE THE CHALLENGER I'D SAY "IS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS, BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT IT REALLY LOOKS THE PART MORE SO THAN ANY OF THE THREE MUSCLE CARS THAT I TESTED."

Aaron Bragman: THE CAMARO SS, I THINK, WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE CAR OUT OF THE ENTIRE TEST; IT DOES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING EXTREMELY WELL, IT BRAKES, IT ACCELERATES, IT HANDLES REALLY WELL, IT'S COMFORTABLE EVEN FOR SOMEBODY MY SIZE.

John: THEN IT WAS OFF TO WILD HORSE PASS MOTORSPORTS PARK FOR A QUARTER MILE SHOWDOWN.

YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, WORST TO FIRST.

STARTING OFF, IS THE MUSTANG WITH A 0-60 OF 4.7 SECONDS AND A QUARTER MILE TIME OF 13.2 SECONDS AT 111 MILES PER HOUR.

THE CHALLENGER MAY HAVE HAD THE MOST MUSCLE UNDER THE HOOD, BUT IT GOT OFF THE LINE THE SLOWEST AT 4.8 SECONDS.

THAT BIG ENGINE MAKES UP FOR IT SOMEWHAT DOWN THE QUARTER MILE, AS ITS 12.9 SECOND RUN, AT 112 MILES PER HOUR WAS THE SECOND QUICKEST.

SO, THAT LEAVES THE CHEVROLET CAMARO AS THE KING OF THE STRIP WITH 4.3 SECONDS TO 60 AND 12.3 IN THE QUARTER MILE AT 114 MILES PER HOUR.

Joe Bruzek: IT'S JUST EFFORTLESS TO GO FAST IN THIS THING; IN THE QUARTER MILE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, NEARLY A FULL SECOND FASTER THAN THE MUSTANG...

IT'S LIGHT IT HAS THAT BIG THROATY V8, THE OPTIONAL DUAL MODE EXHAUST LETS YOU KNOW YOU'RE DRIVING THIS POWERFUL COUPE...

THE EASIEST TO DRIVE FAST AND MAN IS IT FAST.

John: NEXT, IT WAS TIME FOR THROWING IN A FEW CURVES, HITTING THE ROAD COARSE TO SEE WHICH OF THESE CARS CHASSIS' MAKES THE BEST USE OF ALL OF THAT POWER.

HERE, THINGS WERE MORE SUBJECTIVE, BUT ALL COULD AGREE THAT THE AMOUNT OF CAPABILITY PACKED IN THESE REAR DRIVE MONSTERS FOR THE MONEY THEY COST, IS SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PREDICTED 20 YEARS AGO.

BUT AGAIN, IT WAS THE CAMARO THAT PROVED THE MOST CAPABLE, WHILE THE CHALLENGER'S BIG MOTOR/SOFT CHASSIS PROVED TO BE A REAL HANDFUL, AND THE MUSTANG'S NIMBLE NATURE DID IT'S BEST TO MAKE A CASE FOR BEING THE MOST ENJOYABLE.

Brian Robinson: ON THE TRACK, THE MUSTANG GT FEELS GREAT, DESPITE HAVING THE LEAST HORSEPOWER.

WHAT POWER IT DOES HAVE, IT LETS YOU USE ALL OF IT.

IT COMES OUT OF CORNERS IN A HURRY, THE SHIFTER IS GREAT, TRANSITIONS IN CORNERS ARE GREAT, IT REALLY HAS A LIGHT FEEL TO IT.

John: SO AFTER ALL OF THAT, TIME TO PUT SOME HARD NUMBERS IN PLACE AND DECLARE AN OVERALL WINNER.

THAT FULL SCORING BREAKDOWN CAN BE FOUND ON THE CARS.COM WEBSITE, BUT HERE'S OUR WRAP UP.

IN A BIT OF A SURPRISE, IT'S THE MUSTANG GT COMING IN THIRD PLACE.

WHILE IT'S CLEARLY A FUN TO DRIVE CAR WITH PLENTY OF POTENTIAL, IN STOCK GT FORM IT'S ALSO RELATIVELY MILD COMPARED TO THE REST OF THIS GROUP.

Aaron: THE MUSTANG GT WAS A LOT OF FUN ON THE TRACK, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY CAN'T STAND ABOUT IT ARE THOSE RECARO SEATS...

ABSOLUTELY, HATE THE RECARO SEATS.

IT'S A MATTER OF ADJUSTABILITY, THEY DON'T ADJUST ON THE SEAT BOTTOM ENOUGH FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON THIS TEST, AND IT WAS JUST UNCOMFORTABLE.

John: SECOND PLACE GOES TO THE MOST MUSCULAR LOOKING OF THE PACK, THE DODGE CHALLENGER.

IT CLEARLY FITS EVERYONE'S DEFINITION OF A MUSCLE CAR, BUT IT'S TOO TOUGH TO TAME TRACK NATURE KEPT IT FROM EARNING THE TOP SPOT.

Brian: THE CHALLENGER IS EVERYTHING YOU WANT A MUSCLE CAR TO BE...

IT'S BIG, IT'S LOUD, IT LOOKS AGGRESSIVE, IT'S KIND OF A HANDFUL AT TIMES, IT CAN EVEN BE SCARY.

BUT EVERY TIME YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND FIRE IT UP, IT PUTS A BIG SMILE ON YOUR FACE.

John: SO, IT'S THE CAMARO THAT WALKS AWAY THE WINNER IN THIS CHALLENGE, AND IT WAS CERTAINLY THE MOST CAPABLE ON THE TRACK.

Joe Wisenfelder: I THINK THE CAMARO SS IS PROBABLY THE STAR ATHLETE OF THIS GROUP; I MEAN, WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING, STEERING, BALANCE...

IT TECHNICALLY IS PROBABLY THE QUICKEST VEHICLE.

Brian: THE CAMARO SS FEELS FANTASTIC ON THE TRACK, IT SOUNDS GREAT, IT FEELS REALLY NIMBLE FOR SUCH A HEAVY CAR, THE SHIFTER WORKS GREAT; ALL IN ALL IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST ON TRACK.

John: CAMARO, CHALLENGER, MUSTANG; ALL OF THESE MUSCLE BOUND BRUTES ARE FAR MORE THAN JUST THROWBACK MECHANICAL MEATHEADS.

TRADITIONAL AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS ARE NO LONGER TRADITIONAL.

THEY'RE ALL MOVING FORWARD, TOWARDS BECOMING SOPHISTICATED, WORLD CLASS, ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE COUPES.

AND THAT MAKES US ALL WINNERS!

* THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES HAS DEVELOPED TO THE POINT WHERE EVs ARE NOW A PRACTICAL OPTION IN MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND INCREASINGLY, THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS, AND FAMILY VACATIONS TOO.

THE ROUTINE OF CHARGING UP AT HOME OR WORK, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TIMES WHEN THEIR VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, IS COMMONPLACE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS.

BUT AS MORE, AND MORE CHARGING STATIONS ARE INSTALLED AT LEISURE, AND RECREATION DESTINATIONS, THE CONCEPT OF EV TOURISM HAS NOW TAKEN HOLD.

IN ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS PHONE APP'S ALREADY AVAILABLE, MANY STATES ARE INCLUDING CHARGE STATION LOCATORS, AND SUGGESTED TOURING ROUTES ON THEIR OFFICIAL TOURISM WEBSITES, ENCOURAGING EV DRIVERS TO GET OUT, AND EXPLORE.

YOU'LL FIND PLACES TO PLUG IN AT WINERIES, HISTORIC LANDMARKS, THEME PARKS, AND SPORTING VENUES, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PLACES WHERE DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO PARK FOR AN HOUR OR MORE WHILE VISITING.

JUST IN TIME FOR THEIR CENTENNIAL IN 2016, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS RAMPING UP THEIR INITIATIVE TO INSTALL PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS AT PARKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ALONG WITH THE INCREASED USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES BY THE PARKS THEMSELVES, ENCOURAGING LOW EMISSION TOURISM AMONG THE NATIONAL PARKS 292 MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS WILL REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY OVER ONE MILLION POUNDS EACH YEAR AND HELP TO PRESERVE OUR PRISTINE WILDERNESS AREAS.

ANOTHER SIDE BENEFIT WE FOUND RECENTLY, WHEN CHARGING UP AT MUIR WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT, WAS THE PRIMO PARKING LOCATIONS OFTEN RESERVED FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IN THIS CASE, JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE TOWERING REDWOOD FOREST TRAILS, AND AT SAN FRANCISCO'S CRISSY FIELD, EV DRIVERS CAN RECHARGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE BEACH WHILE THEY REFRESH THEMSELVES IN THE COOL BAY BREEZE.

Geoff Quinn: EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN HERE, IT'S, IT'S AH, EMPTY, UM, AND I THINK THIS IS CHARGING AT SOMETHING LIKE, AH, 15 MILES AN HOUR, WHICH IS AH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT GREAT, BUT IT'S AH, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

SO YEAH, THIS IS A DEAL.

John: DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OF YOUR OWN?

SEVERAL NATIONAL CAR RENTAL AGENCIES OFFER EV RENTALS, AND TAKING A ZERO-EMISSION VACATION IS A GREAT WAY TO TRY ONE OUT BEFORE BUYING.

THROUGH AN INITIATIVE CALLED "DRIVE ELECTRIC ORLANDO," VISITORS TO THIS VACATION CAPITOL, THE LARGEST CAR RENTAL MARKET IN THE COUNTRY, CAN CONVENIENTLY RENT EVs AT THE AIRPORT, THEN RECHARGE WHILE THE FAMILY ENJOYS THE RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS AT MANY LOCAL THEME PARKS.

SEVERAL ORLANDO HOTELS HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE PROJECT AS WELL, OFFERING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS FOR THEIR GUESTS.

THIS TREND IS POPPING UP ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AS HOTELS COMPETE FOR ECO-TOURISM BOOKINGS.

IF YOU PREFER TO GET UP CLOSE WITH MOTHER NATURE, MOST RV CAMPGROUNDS HAVE HIGH AMPERAGE ELECTRIC OUTLETS AVAILABLE THAT CAN EASILY HANDLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING.

WITH SOME RESEARCH, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING, AND A LITTLE IMAGINATION, IT'S EASY TO TURN RANGE ANXIETY INTO EV ENJOYMENT, NEARLY ANYWHERE THE ROAD LEADS.

JUST ASK BRIAN KENT.

IN AUGUST OF 2015, HE SET OUT ON A 100 DAY ALL-ELECTRIC JAUNT ACROSS THE USA IN HIS STOCK NISSAN LEAF, WITH PLANS TO PLANT A TREE IN EVERY STATE TO OFFSET HIS CARBON FOOTPRINT.

Brian Kent: ALSO, I WANTED TO GO TO ALL THE CAPITALS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, AND ALL THE MOST POPULOUS CITIES AND THE REASON WHY THAT WAS, WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF I DRIVE WITHIN 20, 25 MILES WHERE VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATE LIVES, THEN I'M PROVING THE POINT THAT, IF THEY OWN ONE OF THESE CARS, IN THEIR AREA, THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY TAKE IT ANY PLACE I TOOK IT.

John: WHILE, WE MAY NOT GO TO THE EXTREMES OF THAT CHARGED UP ROAD TRIP, BRIAN'S EXPERIENCE AND OUR OWN EV ADVENTURES PROVE THAT NOT ONLY IS LONG DISTANCE ELECTRIC CAR TRAVEL POSSIBLE, IT CAN BE DOWNRIGHT FUN TOO!

* Retro Review: OH YEAH, ISN'T THAT MUSTANG AN F-O-R-D AS IN FOUND ON ROAD DEAD?

HEY!

THAT'S FIRST ON RACE DAY!

WHAT A CROCK!

THIS NEW CAMARO WILL BLOW YOU BOTH INTO THE WEEDS.

BOLD TALK.

LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS PONTIAC.

THIS IS YOUR BASIC HIGH OUTPUT 305 CUBIC INCH, 190 HORSEPOWER, AND BIG FULLBACK SCREAMER.

BIG DEAL.

MY MUSTANG HAS A LOCOS 302 CUBIC INCH, 210 HORSEPOWER WITH ALL THE GOODIES.

CARBURETORS MERELY CARBURETORS.

HEY, IT'S THE '80s.

HAVEN'T YOU GUYS EVER HEARD OF FUEL INJECTION?

THIS IS 5-LITERS OF TWO SMALL POINT INJECTIONS THAT PUT OUT 215 FEET OF HORSEPOWER.

John: PAT GOSS HAS A PLAN FOR EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HOW TO IMPROVE A CAR'S PERFORMANCE.

SO LET'S STOP BY HIS GARAGE AND SEE FOR OURSELVES!

Pat Goss: MOST OF US WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FAST, GOOD LOOKING CAR, AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE RICK ROBINSON OF AMERICAN HIGH PERFORMANCE IN LORTON, VIRGINIA.

RICK, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Rick Robinson: HELLO PAT, GREAT TO BE HERE.

Pat: OKAY, NOW MY TAKE ON ALL THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE A PLAN.

Rick: ABSOLUTELY, AND WE TRY TO SIT DOWN WITH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT OUT OF THE CAR.

HOW THEY PLAN TO USE IT, WHAT'S THEIR END GOAL, SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A PLAN BASED ON THEIR NEEDS.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND BUDGET?

Rick: AND BUDGET IS ALWAYS A BIG FACTOR.

WE ALWAYS WANT MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD, SO WE GO THROUGH THAT WITH THEM AS WELL.

Pat: OKAY, NOW I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS WITH MY CAMARO HERE, AND I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING RADICAL, I JUST DID A COLD AIR INTAKE, AND AXEL BACK EXHAUST, AND A FEW ODDS AND ENDS LIKE THAT, AND I LIKE THE RESULT BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

Rick: IT'S ALL ABOUT ENJOYING THE CAR AND THAT'S WHY MUSCLE CAR OWNERS BUY THE CARS THAT WE DO, SO THAT WE CAN ENJOYING DRIVING THEM.

Pat: OKAY, NOW YOU BROUGHT A MUSTANG.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

Rick: I DID.

THIS IS A 2008 BULLET CAR.

IT'S A TRIBUTE FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOVIE WITH STEVE MCQUEEN.

IT'S A BASIC, SIMPLE CAR LIKE THE ORIGINAL WAS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WE WANTED MORE HORSEPOWER OUT OF IT TO GET MORE SPEED, SO WE PUT THE SUPERCHARGER ON IT, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP THERE BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE A CAR THAT'S UNBALANCED.

SO WE'VE UPGRADED THE SUSPENSION, WE'VE UPGRADED THE BRAKES, WE'VE UPGRADED THE EXHAUST TO MAKE IT ALL WORK TOGETHER LIKE IT SHOULD.

Pat: SO, IT'S A PACKAGE DEAL INSTEAD OF ADDING A PIECE HERE AND THERE?

Rick: ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE, TOO.

Pat: NOW, SUPPOSE YOU WANT SOMETHING LIKE THE RADICAL MUSTANG IN THE BACKGROUND THERE.

FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE MONEY TO BURN.

Rick: BRING A SUITCASE FULL, BECAUSE THAT PAINT JOB ALONE WILL COST YOU A BUNCH.

Pat: OKAY.

RICK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

* John: OUR 2016 HONDA PILOT'S FIRST MONTH IN OUR LONG-TERM FLEET WAS A BUSY ONE.

IT INCLUDED OUR ANNUAL TRIP SOUTH FOR WINTER TESTING, AS WELL AS GETTING US THROUGH OUR FIRST MAJOR MID-ATLANTIC SNOW EVENT, RACKING UP A QUICK 2,600 MILES.

ON OUR HIGHWAY TREK SOUTH; OTHER THAN FINDING THE SEATS A LITTLE HARD FOR OUR LIKING, THE PILOT PROVED TO BE A GOOD CRUISER WITH MORE THAN ADEQUATE PASSING POWER AND SMOOTH TRANSMISSION OPERATION.

THOUGH WE COULD DO WITHOUT THE 9-SPEED'S ELECTRONIC SHIFTER LAYOUT NONSENSE, AND SINCE CARGO WAS PRIORITY, WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A TRADITIONAL BENCH OVER THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS FOR A MORE EXPANSIVE LOAD FLOOR.

SO FAR WE'VE AVERAGED A FINE 24.4 MILES PER GALLON WITH ITS 3.5 LITER V6.

AS FOR BEHAVIOR IN THE BLIZZARD, WITH SNOW MODE ENGAGED IT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PROVIDING TRACTION AND STABILITY ON SNOW COVERED ROADS.

BUT IT MAY NOT BE A TRUE COLD WEATHER FAN, AS ON A RECENT SINGLE DIGIT MORNING, OUR COMMUTE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY CONSTANT WARNINGS OF SYSTEMS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS; THOUGH IT SEEMED TO DRIVE JUST FINE.

THE LOVE AFFAIR WITH OUR 2015 NISSAN MURANO SPEEDS RIGHT ALONG, AS IT IS A REAL LONG HAUL CHAMP.

AFTER 10 MONTHS AND 20,000 MILES, IT CONTINUES TO GARNER PRAISE FOR GREAT STYLE, POWERTRAIN SMOOTHNESS, AND A REASONABLE 23.4 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE.

BUT WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT IS HOW FUNCTIONAL MURANO'S INTERIOR IS.

IT'S A GREAT LOOKING DESIGN, YES, BUT IT ALSO FEATURES CONTROLS THAT ARE ADEQUATELY SIZED AND LOGICALLY PLACE.

WHAT'S MORE, THE REAR SEATS WHEN FOLDED; DO SO WITHOUT ANY GAPS IN THE FLOOR FOR THINGS TO GET LOST IN.

IT'S THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT AND KIA SORENTO ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST!

Yolanda Vazquez: DESPITE LOWER GAS PRICES, FUEL ECONOMY AND SAFETY ARE STILL TOP PRIORITIES FOR CONSUMERS LOOKING TO BUY A NEW OR USED VEHICLE.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S FUEL ECONOMY WEBSITE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR "GO TO" RESEARCH TOOL.

WELL NOW, THEY'VE MADE GAINING ACCESS TO IT, EVEN EASIER.

THEIR POPULAR "FIND A CAR" FEATURE NOW HAS ITS OWN APP, AVAILABLE ON BOTH ANDROID AND APPLE DEVICES.

USERS CAN TAKE TO THEIR SMARTPHONES TO SEARCH ANY MAKE OR MODEL DATING BACK TO 1984, AND SEE RELEVANT INFORMATION SUCH AS GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, ENERGY IMPACT SCORES, AND EVEN CRASH TEST RATINGS.

THEY CAN ALSO STORE MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN THE APP FOR QUICK REFERENCE TO EASILY COMPARE SEVERAL VEHICLES ALL AT ONCE.

ANOTHER FEATURE IS A QR CODE SCANNER.

USERS ARE ABLE TO SCAN CODES FOUND ON NEW CAR MONRONEY LABELS.

ONCE SCANNED, THE VEHICLE IS STORED IN THE APP, AND CAN BE RECALLED WITH THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON.

THE APP ALSO STAYS UP TO DATE, REFRESHING DATA FOR A SPECIFIC MODEL, SO YOU'LL KNOW IF THINGS LIKE FUEL ECONOMY OR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS RATINGS QUICKLY CHANGE.

BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO THIS KIND OF INFORMATION RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS HELPING USER'S RESEARCH CARS IN A FAST AND EASY WAY.

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

* John: THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK WOMEN IN AUTO RACING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH DANICA PATRICK NEED TO GET AN EDUCATION!

AND A GOOD PLACE TO START WOULD BE BY TURNING THE PAGES OF "DRIVEN BY DESIRE, THE DESIRE WILSON STORY."

WRITTEN BY HER HUSBAND, RACE TRACK DEVELOPER ALAN WILSON, IT CHRONICLES THIS SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN'S RISE FROM BEATING THE BOYS AT THE GO-KART TRACK AT AGE FIVE THROUGH THE RANKS OF EUROPEAN SPORTS CAR RACING, AND BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING OF FORMULA 1.

IT'S A GENUINE TRUE UNDERDOG STORY AND A MUST READ FOR TRUE FANS OF AUTO RACING HISTORY.

NOW, AS MUCH AS WE LOVE V8 MUSCLE IN OUR MUSCLE CARS; THE TRUTH IS, THE MAJORITY OF THESE PONIES RIDE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP RUNNING ON ENTRY-LEVEL POWER WITH FEWER CYLINDERS.

RATHER THAN ON TRACK PERFORMANCE, THEY'RE ALL ABOUT LOOKING THE BAD BOY PART WHILE KEEPING THINGS ON THE DAILY DRIVER DOWN LOW.

HERE'S HOW ENTRY-LEVEL POWER FROM THE BIG THREE STACKS UP.

* SO NOW, THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN HOW THE V8s FARE, TIME FOR OUR CREW, AND THE CARS.COM FOLKS TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THESE MACHINES MATCH UP WITH FEWER CYLINDERS UNDER THE HOOD.

THERE IS A $38,000 PRICE CAP THIS TIME, SO ANY NON V8 ENGINE WAS UP FOR GRABS.

WHICH MEANS THAT WE'VE GOT A CHEVROLET CAMARO, AND DODGE CHALLENGER WITH V6s, GOING UP AGAINST AN ECOBOOST-4, FORD MUSTANG.

IN A REVERSAL FROM THE V8s, IT'S THE CHALLENGER THAT COMES IN WITH THE LEAST POWER HERE.

THEIR 3.6 LITER V6 RATES 305 HORSEPOWER, AND 268 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE CAMARO'S 3.6 LITER V6 OUTDOES IT WITH 335 HORSEPOWER, AND 284 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WHILE THE MUSTANG'S 2.3 LITER TURBOCHARGED I-4 SLIDES IN BETWEEN AT 310 HORSEPOWER, YET IS TOPS IN TORQUE AT 320 POUND-FEET.

WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL, IT'S OFF TO THE DRAG STRIP TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ONCE WE START PUTTING THE TORQUE DOWN TO THE PAVEMENT.

THE CHALLENGER HIT 60 IN 6.3 SECONDS AND CLEARED THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.5 SECONDS AT 97 MILES PER HOUR.

FOR THE ECOBOOST MUSTANG, IT WAS A 5.6 BOLT TO 60 AND A TIME OF 14.0 SECONDS FLAT IN THE QUARTER, ALSO AT 97 MILES PER HOUR.

SO, NOT TO REPEAT OURSELVES, BUT JUST LIKE THE V8s, CAMARO WAS THE FASTEST WITH A 5.4, 0-60 AND A 13.6 QUARTER MILE AT A PRETTY HOT 103 MILES PER HOUR.

Joe: IT EMBARRASSED THE REST OF THE CARS ON THE DRAG STRIP, AND THAT 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JUST WORKS FANTASTIC WITH THE POWERFUL V6 ENGINE.

John: WHILE, NOT AS TURNED FOR FAST CORNERS AS THE V8s, WE STILL WANTED TO SORT OUT THIS TRIO'S TRACK WORTHINESS ON A ROAD COURSE.

Aaron: I THINK THE ECOBOOST MUSTANG IS ONE OF THE MOST FUN VEHICLES IN THIS TEST; IT FEELS SO VERY COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER MUSCLE CARS HERE; IT'S LIGHT, IT'S TOSSABLE, IT HAS PLENTY OF POWER FROM THAT TURBO-CHARGED 4-CYLINDER.

John: WITH NUMBERS, AND PLENTY OF STREET, AND TRACK IMPRESSIONS IN THE BAG, IT WAS TIME TO DECLARE A WINNER.

FOR A FULL BREAKDOWN OF SCORES, HEAD TO CARS.COM; BUT HERE'S HOW THINGS SHOOK OUT.

COMING IN THIRD WAS THE DODGE CHALLENGER.

MUCH LIKE ITS V8 COUNTERPART, THOUGH A VERY COMFORTABLE CAR; IT'S JUST TOO OLD SCHOOL MUSCLE WHILE THE REST OF THIS CLASS HAS MOVED ON.

AND IT DOESN'T REALLY BRING THAT MUCH MUSCLE TO BEGIN WITH.

Joe Wisenfelder: WITH THE V6, THE CHALLENGER IS BY NO MEANS SLOW, BUT IT'S NOT THE QUICKEST OF THE GROUP.

AH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FAMILY CAR THAT LOOKS GREAT AND ACTUALLY TURNS A CORNER REASONABLY WELL FOR WHAT IT IS.

John: THIS TIME SECOND PLACE WENT TO THE CHEVROLET CAMARO.

WHILE IT HAD TONS OF TRACK PERFORMANCE, IT FELL SHORT IN THE MOST IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENT FOR NON V8 MUSCLE CARS.

Brian: THE MORE TIME I SPEND IN THE CAMARO ON THE STREET, THE LESS I LIKE IT.

DON'T GET ME WRONG ITS WAY BETTER THAN IT USED TO BE, BUT THE INSIDE IS STILL CRAMPED AND THE VISIBILITY IS STILL ATROCIOUS.

John: THAT LEAVES THE ECOBOOSTED FORD MUSTANG FOR THE TOP SPOT HERE IN THIS, "I COULD HAVE HAD A V8 CHALLENGE."

IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE MOST CAPABLE AT THE TRACK, BUT IT CLEARLY WAS THE MOST FUN, AND ITS STREET MANNERS WERE THE TOP OF THE CLASS.

Joe: SO WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THE ECOBOOST MUSTANG IS JUST ITS BIG MIDRANGE POWER, YOU KNOW ONCE THAT TURBO STARTS KICKING, AND YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT GEAR IT PULLS REALLY HARD, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE TRACK; I WAS VERY SURPRISED BY HOW CRISP, AND HOW SHARP THE THROTTLE WAS ON THE TRACK FOR A TURBOCHARGED ENGINE.

Brian: SO THE ECOBOOST MUSTANG REALLY DOES HAVE THAT MORE OF A EUROPEAN SPORTS CAR FEEL THAN OUTRIGHT MUSCLE CAR; AND THAT'S JUST FINE AS IT OPENS IT UP TO A WHOLE NEW CLASS OF BUYER.

John: WHILE IT'S EASY TO VIEW ALL THESE PONY CARS AS FINISHING WELL BEHIND THEIR MACHO V8 KIN, EACH STILL DELIVERS PERFORMANCE ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR V8 ANCESTORS OF EVEN A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO.

PLUS, ALL ARE MUCH EASIER TO LIVE WITH, AND INSURE, ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO YEAH, YOU COULD HAVE HAD A V8, BUT THESE DAYS, TO SHOW YOUR MUSCLE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

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 DO SOME RACING ON A BUDGET, TACKLING OUR FAVORITE ROAD COURSE IN A MAZDA MX5, THEN WE ENTER A WHOLE NEW TAX BRACKET IN THE ROLLS ROYCE WRAITH.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

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

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

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