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

JOIN US AS WE WADE INTO A SEA OF SUB COMPACT UTE'S TO SEE WHICH ONE RULES THE WAVES... PAT GOSS PLUGS US IN FOR HIS LATEST CAR CARE TIPS... BRIAN ROBINSON DOES SOME TWO WHEELIN' CRUISIN' ON THE KAWASAKI VULCAN S... AND THEN WE'LL PLAY PRETEND LIKE WE'RE RICH AND FAMOUS IN THE ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH...

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 HEADED 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...

"UHHH...I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

JOHN: ONE OF THE HOTTEST SEGMENTS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD RIGHT NOW IS THE SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVER UTILITY.

AND THERE HABEEN A SEA OF NEW COMPETITORS ROLLING IN OVER THE LAST YEAR.

SO OF COURSE, WE DECIDED TO PIT ALL OF THESE NEW RIDES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND SEE WHICH MINI-UTE DELIVERS TO THE MAX.

AS IS OUR TRADITION, THE EDITORIAL STAFFS AT CARS.COM AND USA TODAY JOINED US IN THIS SUBCOMPACT SUV CHALLENGE.

AND WE ALL FOUND OURSELVES SIFTING THROUGH THE ENTRIES IN THE SHADOW OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AT HOME BASE BOULDER, COLORADO.

OUR ROUNDUP OF DIMINUTIVE NEW UTILITIES STARTS WITH THE CHEVROLET TRAX...

FOLLOWED BY THE STYLE CONSCIOUS FIAT 500X...

THE FIT-BASED HONDA HR-V...

THE PLAYFULLY RUGGED JEEP RENEGADE...

THE FUN AND FASHIONABLE MAZDA CX3...

THE ORIGINAL SUBCOMPACT SUV, THE NISSAN JUKE... AND THE WAGON IN UTE'S CLOTHING SUBARU XV CROSSTREK... MANUFACTURERS COULD EQUIP THEM AS THEY SAW FIT, AS LONG AS THEY STAYED UNDER OUR $27,000 PRICE CAP.

SO, SOME ENTRIES ARE FRONT, AND SOME ARE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

BUT ALL COME WITH 4-CYLINDER POWER AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

WE ALSO ASKED THE KRUPPA'S, AN SUV SEEKING LOCAL FAMILY, TO HELP US IN RATING THESE MINI UTE'S.

AS IS SOMETIMES THE CASE, SCORING WAS VERY TIGHT AND IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE WITH OUR ENTUAL WINNER ON TOP BY LESS THAN 30-POINTS.

FOR A FULL SCORING RUNDOWN, GO TO THE CARS.COM WEBSITE.

BUT FOR NOW, HERE'S A QUICK RUN THROUGH THE TOP FOUR FINISHERS.

THERE WAS NO DEBATE THAT THE MAZDA CX-3, OUR 4TH PLACE FINISHER, WAS THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE AND WAS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST STYLISH AMONG THE GROUP, BUT INTERIOR SPACE WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY AND IT CAME WITH THE 2ND HIGHEST PRICE TAG OF THE GROUP AT $26,795.

Aaron Bragman: THE CX-3 WAS ACTUALLY QUITE A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE.

THE BIG PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT IT'S VERY SMALL, BOTH IN FRONT AND IN BACK, IT FEELS VERY NARROW AND THERE ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF CARGO ROOM IN IT AS WELL.

Joe Bruzek: SO, THE CX-3 IS THE CAR THAT I WOULD WANT TO DRIVE OUT OF ALL OF THESE; IT'S THE MOST FUN, IT'S THE MOST REFINED, THE STEERING IS GREAT, THERE'S MINIMAL BODY ROLL.

BUT YOU'RE GETTING A FUN TO DRIVE CAR, YOU'RE NOT GETTING A VERY PRACTICAL ONE.

John: THE HONDA HR-V DOMINATES THIS SEGMENT WHEN IT COMES TO CARGO SPACE, WITH ONLY THE SUBARU COMING IN EVEN CLOSE; BUT AS MUCH AS ITS PRACTICALITY HELPED IT, ITS NOISY POWERTRAIN HELD IT BACK.

AND MUCH LIKE THE CX-3, PRICING WAS VERY CLOSE TO OUR CEILING AT $26,720.

Jennifer Geiger: I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF THE HR-V.

I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT ON PAPER WITH EXCELLENT CARGO ROOM, STELLAR FUEL ECONOMY; BUT IT'S REALLY SLOW, REALLY LOUD, AND THE INTERIOR IS JUST BORING COMPARED TO THE REST OF THIS CLASS.

Brian Robinson: THE HR-V IS TYPICAL HONDA, VERY NICE INTERIOR, A LOT OF NICE FEATURES, A TON OF SPACE INSIDE, WAY MORE THAN MOST OF THESE VEHICLES HERE.

BUT IT'S ALSO A LITTLE NOISY AND NOT AS MUCH FUN TO DRIVE AS SOME OF THE OTHER CARS HERE.

John: THE FIAT 500X IS BASED ON THE JEEP RENEGADE, AND WHILE ITS DESIGN IS PERHAPS COOLER, ITS PRACTICALITY FALLS SHORT.

STILL THOSE COOL LOOKS, A SMOOTH RIDING CHASSIS, AND LOW PRICE OF $25,895 HELPED IT TO 2ND PLACE IN THIS CONTEST.

Chris Woodyard: THE FIAT 500X WAS A BIG SURPRISE.

I WASN'T SURE THAT THE FIAT COULD REALLY MATCH UP IN A COMPETITION WITH THESE KINDS OF OTHER VEHICLES; BUT IN CATEGORY AFTER CATEGORY, IT TURNED OUT TO HAVE BEEN A SOUND, NICE DRIVING, NICELY APPOINTED VEHICLE.

Jennifer: I THINK THE STYLING IS REALLY CUTE, THE INTERIOR IS REALLY SHARP, AND ITS MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM IS NO-NONSENSE; IT'S VERY EASY TO USE.

John: GOING IN, THE SUBARU XV CROSSTREK MIGHT NOT HAVE FIT ANYONE'S DEFINITION OF A PROPER SUV; BUT HERE ITS COMBINATION OF SPACE, COMFORT, FEATURES, AS WELL AS OFF-ROAD CRED, PUSHED IT TO THE TOP.

THE LOWEST PRICE TAG OF THE BUNCH SURELY HELPED AS WELL, COMING IN AT $25,440, AND THAT'S WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OF COURSE.

Brian: YOU MAY NOT THINK THE XV CROSSTREK REALLY BELONGS HERE, AS IT'S MORE OF A WAGON THAN CROSSOVER, BUT PRICING'S VERY SIMILAR AND IT'S GOT WAY MORE SPACE INSIDE THAN A LOT OF THESE, AND IT'S MORE OF AN SUV THAN ANY OF THESE.

SO, I THINK IT'S GOING TO DO REALLY WELL HERE.

Christine Kruppa: IT DIDN'T HAVE TOO MANY FEATURES, WHICH I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER CARS DID, IT WAS HARD TO TRY AND DO ALL THE CONTROLS WHILE DRIVING; IT HAS A LOT OF SAFETY FEATURES, AND IT WAS JUST COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE...

I THINK THE SPACE INSIDE, FOR A SMALL CAR, WAS VERY GOOD; THE BACK SEAT FOLDING DOWN GAVE A LOT OF SPACE, THE REAR SEATS HAVE A LOT OF ROOM; FRONT SEATS ALSO HAVE A LOT OF ROOM.

John: REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE PINT SIZE UTILITIES, THEY'RE NOT GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON AS THEY ARE TREMENDOUS MONEYMAKERS FOR AUTOMAKERS; HAVING MUCH HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS THAN TYPICAL SUBCOMPACT CAR OFFERINGS.

SO WHILE, ALL OF THESE CUTE UTE'S GET THE JOB DONE IN ADEQUATE FASHION; HERE IN THIS CHALLENGE, THE SUBARU XV CROSSTREK IS IN A COMFORTABLE, SPACIOUS, CAPABLE CLASS ALL ITS OWN.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE A VARIED MIX OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS, FROM E85 TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, TO BIO-DIESEL, AND EVEN ALL-ELECTRIC, ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT'S FLEET.

EVEN PARKING ENFORCEMENT RUNS ON ELECTRIC-POWER.

NEARLY 60% OF THEIR FLEET RUNS ON CLEANER BURNING FUELS LIKE B20, AND THEY BEGAN USING CNG BACK IN THE LATE '90s.

WITH SAVINGS OF CLOSE TO 350,000 GALLONS OF GASOLINE A YEAR, THE BIGGER INCENTIVE IS A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

William Howland, Jr.: THE MAIN BENEFIT IS THAT WE HAVE CLEANER AIR.

THE ENTIRE REGION IS BENEFITING BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE PUTTING CLEANER VEHICLES OUT ON THE STREET... John: RECENTLY SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 GREENEST FLEETS IN AMERICA, THE DISTRICT, AN EARLY MEMBER OF THE CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM, PLANS TO EXPANDS THE USE OF CNG TO ALL OF ITS 90 REFUSE TRUCKS.

A CLEAR SIGNAL OF D.C.'S DEDICATION TO ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

Greg Carloss: NEW TECHNOLOGY CONSTANTLY CHANGES THE WAY WE INTERACT WITH OUR CARS.

SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR CELLPHONES AND OUR COMPUTERS.

NOW, MOST OF THIS TECH AIMS FOR CONVENIENCE, BUT THE CARLOCK CONNECTED DRIVE APP AIMS FOR SECURITY AND SAFETY.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR CAR IS AS SIMPLE AS PLUGGING THE DEVICE INTO YOUR VEHICLES OBD CONNECTOR AND DOWNLOADING THE FREE CAR LOCK APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE.

ONCE SET UP, USERS CAN CUSTOMIZE THEIR CARLOCK APP TO THEIR SCHEDULE AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE ALERTS FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE IS STARTED, OR EVEN IF A STRANGE VIBRATION IS DETECTED.

WITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY, YOU CAN FIND YOUR CAR'S LOCATION ON YOUR PHONE OR COMPUTER, AND IN THE EVENT THE VEHICLE IS STOLEN, THE APP WILL TRACK THE THIEF EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, MAKING RECOVERY A MUCH SIMPLER TASK.

CAR LOCK ALSO PROMOTES SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND BY GIVING BATTERY CHARGE, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE APP WILL NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACTS VIA SMS NOTIFICATIONS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO GET HEADACHES THESE DAYS.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR RIDE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM WITH THE CARLOCK CONNECTED DRIVE.

John: DESPITE ALL THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF MOTORCYCLES THAT HAVE TAKEN SHAPE OVER THE YEARS, ITS STILL CRUISERS THAT EAT UP THE MOST MILES ON AMERICA'S BYWAYS.

BUT NOT ALL CRUISERS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL AS WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

Brian: WHEN THE ORIGINAL KAWASAKI VULCAN HIT THE STREETS IN THE '80s, IT MAY HAVE LOOKED THE PART OF A CRUISER, BUT THOSE THAT OWNED ONE KNEW IT WAS MORE LIKE A SPORT BIKE.

WELL SINCE THEN, SPORT BIKES HAVE GOTTEN A LOT SPORTIER AND THE VULCAN HAS BECOME A MORE OF A TRADITIONAL CRUISER.

THIS VULCAN S LOOKS TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK.

NOT IN A RETRO WAY, BUT BY BRINGING THE PERFORMANCE ASPECT OF THE VULCAN BACK TO THE FOREFRONT.

ITS WATER COOLED 649CC PARALLEL TWIN ENGINE COMES STRAIGHT FROM KAWASAKI'S 650 NINJA.

WELL NOT STRAIGHT, AS IT TOOK A DETOUR THROUGH MID-RANGE TORQUEVILLE.

YES, IT'S A PARALLEL TWIN AND NOT A V, BUT THAT'S FITTING FOR THIS DIFFERENT TYPE OF CRUISER.

AND THE FIRST TIME YOU REV IT TO 9,500 YOU'LL FORGET ALL ABOUT HOW THE CYLINDERS ARE ARRANGED DOWN BELOW AND CONCENTRATE ON HOLDING ON TO THE BARS UP TOP.

AND BEFORE YOU START SCOFFING AT THE SMALL SIZE, THIS TORQUEY TWIN HAS GOT PLENTY OF POWER TO PLAY WITH, AND UNLEASHES ALL OF IT RIGHT UP TO REDLINE.

YET SOMEHOW, IT REMAINS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH WHILE DOING SO.

KAWASAKI LIKES TO THINK THAT THIS BIKE'S BIGGEST APPEAL WILL BE ITS ERGO-FIT ADJUSTABILITY; AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE SEATS, HANDLEBARS, AND FOOT PEG MOUNTING POINTS TO CHOOSE FROM, ENABLING A CUSTOM FIT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE SHOW ROOM.

THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT I THINK THIS BIKE'S BEST ASSET IS THAT IT HANDLES LIKE AN ENTRY-LEVEL SPORT BIKE, YET HAS THE STYLE AND COMFORT OF A CRUISER.

EVEN THE BRAKES, DESPITE JUST A SINGLE DISC FRONT AND REAR, ARE GREAT, WHETHER YOU GO WITH THE OPTIONAL ABS OR NOT.

THE MIRRORS ARE LITTLE ODDLY SHAPED, BUT THEY ARE VIBRATION FREE AND PROVIDE A GREAT VIEW OF YOUR 6.

AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF RIDE TIME, THE ONLY ANNOYANCE I COULD REALLY FIND, IS THAT IF YOU LET IT DROP TO IDLE, WHEN GETTING BACK ON THE THROTTLE THERE IS A DEFINITE HESITATION THERE.

NO WORRIES, JUST KEEP THE RPM UP LIKE YOU WOULD IN A SPORT BIKE, INSTEAD OF LUGGING ALONG LIKE YOU NORMALLY WOULD IN A CRUISER.

NOW, AS FOR THOSE LOOKS; WELL THE CRUISER SHAPE IS THERE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A UNIQUE TAKE ON THE THEME.

THE WRAP AROUND PERIMETER FRAME, ALMOST HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED SINGLE REAR SHOCK, AND UNDER-MOUNTED MUFFLER ARE INDEED NOT THE NORM.

IT IS A SLICK LOOKING BIKE, BUT THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS LIKE THE MULTIPLE PLASTIC PIECES AND A REAR FENDER THAT OVER PROMISES ON THE UNDER DELIVERED 160 REAR TIRE THAT KEEP IT FROM TRULY ACHIEVING CUSTOM CRUISER-LIKE CRED.

CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTATION ARE ALL STRAIGHTFORWARD, WITH THE SMALL DIGITAL DISPLAY GIVING ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFO AND THEN SOME.

THERE'S JUST A SINGLE, SURPRISINGLY COMFORTABLE SEAT, YOU'LL HAVE TO PONY UP SOME EXTRA COIN FOR A REAR PERCH AND PEGS IF YOU PLAN ON PICKING UP HITCHHIKERS OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD.

6-SPEED TRANSMISSION, CHAIN DIVE, AND DOUBLE-SIDED SWING ARM ARE ALL PAR FOR THE MIDDLEWEIGHT SPORT BIKE COURSE.

PRICING IS JUST $7,399.

SKIP THE ABS AND KEEP 400 BUCKS IN YOUR POCKET.

THE 2015 KAWASAKI VULCAN S IS CERTAINLY NOT ALONE IN PROVIDING SPORTING PERFORMANCE WITH A CRUISER PLATFORM, BUT YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT THE ORIGINAL VULCAN STARTED THAT WHOLE THEME.

AND WE'RE GLAD IT HAS RETURNED TO IT.

* John: AS COMPARED TO THE FULL SIZED BLAZER, THE LOSS OF SOME 6 INCHES IN WHEEL BASE, 15 INCHES IN LENGTH, AND WIDTH, AND HALF TON IN BULK MADE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION ALMOST PERMANENT.

IT REALLY WASN'T UNTIL CHEVY TALKED PRICE THAT I LOST SOME ENTHUSIASM.

THE BASE TWO WHEEL DRIVE MODEL PUTS AN 83 HORSE POWER 2 LITER 4 BEGINS AT $8,249.

TACK ON THE ESSENTIAL ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE AND THE PRICE LEAPS TO $9,433.

AND A FULLY DECKED OUT BLAZER?

NEARLY 15 GRAND.

PAT GOSS IS ALWAYS PLUGGED INTO THE LATEST ON CAR CARE, SO LET'S CHARGE ON DOWN TO HIS GARAGE AND GET CURRENT.

Pat Goss: IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING A PLUG IN VEHICLE, WELL THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT THAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER AS WELL.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY IN YOUR PLUG IN.

THAT MEANS YOU NEED ONE OF THESE CHARGERS.

NOW, THERE ARE 3-LEVELS OF CHARGERS AVAILABLE FOR MOST OF THESE VEHICLES.

LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2, AND LEVEL 3.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT 1 AND 2 BECAUSE 3, WELL THAT'S COMMERCIAL AND IT'S USUALLY COST PROHIBITIVE FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.

ALRIGHT, NOW WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A LEVEL 1.

IT PLUGS INTO A REGULAR 110 VOLT OUTLET IN THE WALL.

YOU DON'T NEED ANY WIRING OR ANYTHING.

IT CHARGES AT 10 AMPS.

WELL, THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO RECHARGE A DEAD BATTERY, DEPENDING ON THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE AND HOW DISCHARGED IT IS.

THAT COULD BE 15 TO 20 HOURS TO RECHARGE IT.

SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STEP UP TO SOMETHING A LITTLE HIGHER.

HERE WE HAVE A TURBO CORD.

NOW, THIS IS UNIQUE IN THAT, WELL IT'S LIKE A CLASS ONE AND A HALF.

YOU SEE, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT PLUGGED IN TO A STANDARD 110 OUTLET AND WE CAN TAKE IT OUT, WE CAN PUT THIS ADAPTER INTO A 0 VOLT OUTLET, AND WE CAN PLUG THIS IN AND NOW, WE'RE CHARGING AT A HIGHER RATE.

ACTUALLY, ABOUT 16 AMPS.

THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE CHARGING TIME CONSIDERABLY.

BUT, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT CHARGES FASTER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO A LEVEL 2.

LEVEL 2, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE LEVEL 220 VOLTS.

AND THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THEM, IN THE TYPES OF PLUGS THAT THEY HAVE, SO THE WALL OUTLET HAS TO BE DIFFERENT, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY CHARGE AT 30 AMPS.

SO THERE'S, A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN CHARGE TIME.

NOW, THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK FOR?

WELL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE IT?

IS IT GOING TO BE INSIDE THE GARAGE, OR IS IT GOING TO BE OUTSIDE?

WELL, IF YOU HAVE AN OUTSIDE LOCATION, YOU NEED ONE THAT'S WEATHER PROOF.

SOME OF THESE ARE PORTABLE, SO YOU CAN TAKE THEM FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER AND YOU CAN PLUG IT IN AND CHARGE YOUR VEHICLE.

SO, THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO, YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE LOCATION THAT THE CHARGERS GOING TO BE IN, HOW MUCH TIME YOU CAN ALLOW THE CAR TO SIT, TO CHARGE IT, AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT FACTORS.

NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH INCLUDED IN THAT SHOULD BE YOUR BUDGET.

WELL, IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, YOU'LL HAVE A LOT MORE ENJOYMENT OUT OF YOUR PLUG-IN VEHICLE.

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

John: SO FAR, OUR 2015 ACURA TLX HAS TAKEN US 21,000 MILES, AND THROUGH 10 MONTHS ON THE CALENDAR, AND BY FAR, THE POSITIVE COMMENTS IN OUR LOG BOOK CLEARLY OUTWEIGH THE NEGATIVES ONES.

CHIEF AMONG THOSE POSITIVES ARE THE TLX'S FUN TO DRIVE NATURE AND ITS INTEGRATED DYNAMICS SYSTEM THAT DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GIVING YOU EXACTLY THE TYPE OF FEEL YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU DIAL IN SPORT OR ECO.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN SPENDING MORE TIME IN SPORT AS THE 2.4 LITER I4 CONTINUES TO DELIVER IMPRESSIVE ZIP, BUT MILEAGE HAS DROPPED A LITTLE THIS GO AROUND, STILL RESPECTABLE AT 29.9 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

EVERYTHING INSIDE IS HOLDING UP VERY WELL, AND ACURA'S DUAL SCREEN DISPLAY HAS GROWN ON MOST OF US.

IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST INTUITIVE SYSTEM AROUND, BUT ONCE YOU GET FAMILIAR WITH IT, THINGS DO WORK VERY WELL.

AS DOES THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING, THOUGH WE FIND THE COLLISION WARNINGS TO STILL BE A LITTLE ON THE SENSITIVE SIDE.

BUT AS THEY SAY, BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

THERE'S NOW 7,689 MILES TO OUR CREDIT ON THIS 2015 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT, AND IT'S CHARGING ON WITH LITTLE FUSS.

THE 168 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 CERTAINLY DOESN'T BLOW US AWAY WHEN IT'S ACCELERATING...

IN FACT THE CVT MAKES IT EVEN DULLER...

BUT THERE'S PLENTY TO GET AROUND TOWN, AND IT RARELY DRAWS COMPLAINTS.

IN FACT, ANY UTILITY THAT SEES FUEL ECONOMY RISING TO 27.1 MILES PER GALLON DESERVES A LOT OF PRAISE.

AND WE'RE THANKFUL THAT IT'S GOT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, OR AS MITSUBISHI SPINS IT, ALL-WHEEL CONTROL, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF AUTUMN, AND A POSSIBLE NASTY WINTER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AND WE FEEL THE NO-NONSENSE OUTLANDER SPORT WILL EASILY HOLD ITS OWN WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.

IT'S THE MAZDA CX-9 AND KIA SORENTO ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

THE TIMES, THERE WERE A CHANGING IN 1967 AND SO WAS THE INTERNATIONAL RACING SCENE.

THANKS TO JOHN FRANKENHEIMER'S MOVIE "GRAND PRIX" RELEASED THE YEAR BEFORE, CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS WERE NOW A COMMON THING IN FORMULA ONE PADDOCKS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DEATH WAS BECOMING AN EVER MORE COMMON ONE AS WELL.

IT'S THIS CLASH WITH CELEBRITY AND FATALITY THAT IS THE BACK DROP TO JOHN JULIAN'S BOOK "1967, CHRIS AMON, SCUDERIA FERRARI, AND A YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY."

CHRIS AMON IS A NAME OFTEN OVERSHADOWED BY HIS CONTEMPORARIES SUCH AS JACKIE STEWART, JIM CLARK, AND JOHN SERCHEIES.

BUT AT THE TIME, HE WAS KNOWN AS A DRIVER'S, DRIVER.

THIS MUST READ MASTERFULLY CHRONICLES AMON'S FIRST YEAR AS A FACTORY FERRARI DRIVER.

AND HOW 1967 WAS A MAJOR TURNING POINT FOR BOTH MOTOR RACING AND THE WORLD AT LARGE.

MOTORWEEK WASN'T AROUND IN 1938 TO DRIVE THE LAST ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH, BUT THE ADVANCED NATURE OF THAT CHASSIS; ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS, WELDED, RATHER THAN RIVETED FRAME; MADE WRAITH CARS HIGHLY DISTINCTIVE.

NOW, ROLLS IS REVIVING THE WRAITH NAME IN HOPES OF BRINGING NEW PROSPECTS TO THE BRAND, WITH A DESIGN THAT IS ONCE AGAIN DIFFERENT, AND WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

EVEN IN THE STRATOSPHERE OF ULTRA EXCLUSIVE VEHICLES, THE 2-DOOR 2015 ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH STANDS OUT AS A VERY UNIQUE VEHICLE.

OH, AND IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL ROLLS-ROYCE EVER.

EITHER ONE OF THESE WOULD BE A GREAT REASON FOR PURCHASING THIS ROLLING PIECE OF PROMINENCE, BUT OUR REASONING WOULD BE THE WRAITH'S ACTUAL BEHIND THE WHEEL EXPERIENCE.

YES, THIS ROLLS IS INTENDED TO ACTUALLY BE DRIVEN BY THE OWNER.

BASED ON THE GHOST SEDAN, IT OFFERS EXTREME ISOLATION FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND LESS FORTUNATE WORLD, BUT WHERE IT DIFFERS IS, IT IS RELATIVELY MORE FUN TO DRIVE, AT LEAST AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, WHEN IT COMES TO A ROLLS-ROYCE.

THE EXPERIENCE IS A BIT OF A THROWBACK, TO A TIME WHEN HIGH-END CARS WERE MADE TO RIDE SMOOTH, AND BE MECHANICAL WONDERS; NOT THE SENSOR-INTENSIVE, COMPUTER CONTROLLED, LUXURY STANDARDS OF TODAY.

SO IT'S NOT AS SPORTING AS A CONTINENTAL GT, BUT ROLLING ON A WHEELBASE THAT'S MORE THAN A FOOT LONGER, STRETCHING OVER 10-FEET, IT RIDES LIKE A WHOLE OTHER CLASS UP OF VEHICLE.

THE POWER IT DELIVERS, ALL 624 HORSEPOWER, AND 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE MAY ALSO SEEM EXTREME.

BUT IT'S THE EFFORTLESS DELIVERY THAT IS TRULY REMARKABLE.

AS IS ITS VERY STRIKING FASTBACK DESIGN, WHICH SURELY WOULD LOOK MORE AT HOME ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA THAN AROUND OUR OFFICES IN OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND.

BUT WHETHER ON THE MOVE OR STANDING STILL, IT IS QUITE A PRESENCE, AND THAT'S BEFORE YOU SWING THE HUGE DOORS OPEN TO THE REAR.

AND SINCE THEY OPEN SO WIDE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT REACHING OUT TO CLOSE THEM, JUST SUMMON THE INVISIBLE BUTLER WITH THE PUSH OF A BUTTON AND STAY PUT.

A MAJORITY OF THE BEHIND THE DASH TECHNOLOGY COMES FROM BMW, BUT THERE ARE A FEW SPECIAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS GPS BASED SHIFT LOGIC FOR THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

AND THE 10-INCH INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY CAN STAY HIDDEN FOR A MORE TRADITIONAL LOOK.

PLUS, THE AMAZINGLY EXTRAVAGANT STARLIGHT HEADLINER IS ROLLS ALONE.

EVEN UNDER THOSE FIBER OPTIC STARS, THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER ASPECTS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IN THE BACK SEAT.

AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY PUT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SHEER LUXURY AND AMENITIES YOU'RE WRAPPED IN, BUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE EASIEST SPACE TO CLIMB OUT OF.

CLIMBING OUT OF THE HOLE AT OUR TEST TRACK TOOK SOME RESTRAINT TO KEEP FROM LUXURIOUSLY MELTING THE REAR TIRES, SO WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE A 0-60 TIME OF 6.8 SECONDS IN LESS THAN IDEAL TRACK CONDITIONS.

DISAPPOINTING, SINCE IT SHOULD EASILY BE UNDER 5.0 SECONDS.

ITS GREAT ROAD PRESENCE DOESN'T QUITE TRANSLATE TO TRACK WORK, AS MUSCLING THE WRAITHS 5,200 PLUS POUNDS OF BULK THROUGH TIGHT TURNS ALSO CALLS FOR SOME RESTRAINT, AND IF YOU DON'T, BETTER TRY A "HAIL MARY" OR TWO.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE NOT AS OUT OF WHACK AS YOU'D EXPECT, 13-CITY, A MOST RESPECTABLE 21-HIGHWAY, AND 15-COMBINED.

BUT THAT STILL EARNS A GAS GUZZLER TAX AND A VERY POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, BURNING THROUGH 22.0 BARRELS OF OIL PER YEAR WITH ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF 9.5 TONS.

ROLLS THINKS THE U.S. WILL BE THE BIGGEST MARKET FOR THE WRAITH, SO I GUESS THERE WILL BE MORE THAN A FEW 1-PERCENTERS SHELLING OUT THE CLOSE TO $300,000 REQUIRED.

PLAN ON SPENDING MUCH MORE TO MAKE YOURS UNIQUE HOWEVER, AS OURS HAD ALMOST $100,000 IN OPTIONS.

SO UNLESS YOU PLAN ON LIVING IN IT, WHICH ONE OF OUR STAFFERS BRIEFLY CONTEMPLATED, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE MOST PRACTICAL OF PURCHASES.

AND COMPARED TO A CONTINENTAL GT, IT'S A MUCH PRICIER ONE.

BUT YOU DO GET AMAZING EXCLUSIVITY, WHICH IS WHAT THIS PRICE BRACKET IS ALL ABOUT.

AS THIS APPARITION WILL INDEED BE RARE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF, AND WE'RE MOST GLAD WE DID.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

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 PUT IN A WORK ORDER FOR THE CHEVY SILVERADO 2500 DIESEL... THEN DROP THE TOP ON A BRITISH BEAUTY: THE ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER GT... PAT GOSS GIVES US A JUMP DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE... AUTO WORLD SHOWS US HOW BIG TRUCKS ARE STAYING ON THE CHARGING EDGE... UNTIL THEN, 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 HEADED 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...

"UHHH...I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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