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

JOIN US FOR A BIG BUICK WITH EVEN BIGGER LUXURY, THE ENCLAVE AVENIR... PAT GOSS WITH ADVICE ON KEEPING CRITTERS OUT OF YOUR CAR... ROGER MECCA TAKES THE WHEEL OF A LEGENDARY CHANGER FOR JAPANESE CARS... AND THE FORD F-150 POWERS FORWARD WITH MORE OF ITS WINNING WAYS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

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FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM, WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT, VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: NOT ONLY IS THERE AN ALL-NEW BUICK ENCLAVE 3-ROW CROSSOVER ON THE STREETS, BUT THERE'S A NEW LUXURY SUB-BRAND FROM BUICK AS WELL, CALLED "AVENIR."

SO, CONSIDER THIS A TWO-FER, AS WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER IN THE 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE AVENIR.

* THE 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE IS THE THIRD VEHICLE TO ARRIVE BASED ON GMs LATEST FULL-SIZE CI CHASSIS; FOLLOWING THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE AND GMC ACADIA.

AND WITH IT, COMES BUICK'S NEW UP-LEVEL SUB-BRAND AVENIR.

FIRST USED ON A 2015 CONCEPT FLAGSHIP SEDAN, AVENIR ADDS TO THIS 3-ROW UTILITY HIGH QUALITY INTERIOR MATERIALS THAT LOOK AND FEEL WORTHY OF THE NAME.

THE LEATHER-COVERED FRONT SEATS ARE ESPECIALLY NICE, SOME OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE WE'VE SEEN FROM GM MOST THINGS INSIDE THE CABIN, INCLUDING BUICK'S LATEST INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, WORK REALLY WELL; THE EXCEPTION BEING THE CLUMSY SHIFTER, SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOUND IN THE CADILLAC XT5.

THOUGH, NOT TOO MANY COMPLAINTS WERE LODGED ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE NEW 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT IT CONTROLS.

WE FOUND IT BOTH SMOOTH AND DECISIVE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] UNLIKE AT GMC AND CHEVROLET, THERE'S NO CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINE; ONLY A REVISED 3.6 LITER V6.

HORSEPOWER IS NOW 310, WITH 266 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AUTO STOP/START IS INCLUDED, AND FORTUNATELY, IT'S VERY SMOOTH IN OPERATION, AS IT CAN'T BE SWITCHED OFF.

YOU CAN STICK WITH FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE OR ADD ONE OF TWO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS.

THE BASIC FULL-TIME ARRANGEMENT IS AVAILABLE WITH ESSENCE TRIM; WHILE PREMIUM AND AVENIR MODELS GET BUICK'S INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WITH ACTIVE TWIN-CLUTCH REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

THANKS TO WEIGHT LOSS OF ABOUT 300 POUNDS, MORE POWER COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THREE ADDITIONAL GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION; THE NEW ENCLAVE FEELS MUCH QUICKER THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND INDEED WE DID GET TO 60 A FULL TWO SECONDS SOONER THAN WE DID IN THE ORIGINAL, AT 7.2 SECONDS.

IT DOESN'T FEEL, EXCEPTIONALLY POWERFUL, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY DUE THE GOOD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP AT LAUNCH, AND ITS OVERALL SMOOTHNESS AS WE MOVED DOWN THE TRACK.

THE ENCLAVE COMPLETED THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.6 SECONDS AT 91 MILES PER HOUR.

WE QUICKLY FORGOT HOW BIG THE ENCLAVE IS, AFTER A FEW RUNS THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

IT TURNS IN VERY QUICKLY AND WEIGHT TRANSFER IS HELD WELL IN CHECK.

THE TOP TIER ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, WITH ITS REAR TORQUE VECTORING, DEFINITELY HELPS IT ROTATE INTO TURNS, AS WELL AS KEEP UNDERSTEER MINIMAL.

BUT THE ENCLAVE IS CLEARLY NOT A TRACK ANIMAL, AND IN ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, RIDE AND HANDLING QUALITY, TRULY IS EXCEPTIONAL.

BETWEEN BUICK'S QUIET TUNING KEEPING INTERIOR NOISE LEVELS LIBRARY QUIET, AND THE WELL SORTED OUT SUSPENSION, THERE'S GREAT COMFORT BEHIND THE WHEEL; MAKING IT AN OUTSTANDING INTERSTATE CRUISER.

THE NEW CHASSIS ALLOWS FOR A LONGER WHEELBASE, GIVING THE ENCLAVE MORE PRESENCE; WHILE A STEEPER RAKE TO THE WINDSHIELD PROVIDES A SLEEKER PROFILE.

AVENIR ADDS A UNIQUE MESH GRILLE, NICKEL-FINISH TRIM, AND 20-INCH WHEELS TO A PACKAGE THAT LOOKS MUCH TIDIER THAN BEFORE, DESPITE GROWING BY OVER 2.0 INCHES IN LENGTH FROM LAST YEAR.

THAT CARRIES OVER INSIDE, WHERE YOU'LL FIND MORE SPACE AND A NOTICEABLY ROOMIER FEEL THROUGHOUT THE CABIN.

CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS ONLY FOR THE 2ND ROW, WITH A REAR BENCH FOR THREE, STANDARD.

WITH THE 2ND ROW SMARTSLIDE SEAT, ACCESS TO THAT 3RD ROW IS QUITE GOOD FOR THE LARGE CROSSOVER CLASS, AND THERE'S ADULT SIZE ROOM FOR SETTLING IN; THOUGH WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

CARGO CAPACITY BEHIND THE 3RD ROW IS UP SLIGHTLY, TO 23.6 CUBIC-FEET.

FOLDING THOSE SEATS EXPANDS THE SPACE TO 58.0 CUBIC-FEET; MAXING OUT AT 97.6 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

IF YOU CAN'T FIT IT INSIDE, YOU CAN TOW UP TO 5,000 POUNDS.

OF IT ON A TRAILER BEHIND YOU, THAT'S 500 POUNDS MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS IMPROVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL, GOING FROM 15-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED TO 17-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE IS BETTER STILL, AT 18-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

BASE PRICING DOES SNEAK UP A LITTLE OVER LAST YEAR TO $40,990.

PASSING THROUGH ESSENCE AND PREMIUM TRIMS, YOU'LL ARRIVE AT THE AVENIR AT $54,410.

ADDING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VARIES WITH TRIM LEVEL, BUT PLAN ON AT LEAST 2-GRAND.

WITH ALL OF THE LEATHER-CLAD SUVs OUT THERE, YOU'D THINK THE 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME OF IT.

BUT, THE 3-ROW NEAR-LUXURY CROSSOVER SEGMENT IS ACTUALLY PRETTY WIDE OPEN, WITH PLENTY OF SPACE FOR A FAMILY HAULER THAT'S NOT TOO PRETENTIOUS AND DOESN'T COME WITH A HIGH-BUCK BADGE.

ATTAINABLE LUXURY IS BUICK'S NEW THEME AND YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF IT IN THE ENCLAVE AVENIR.

* IN THE LATE 1960s, IMPORTED JAPANESE CARS WERE STILL A PRETTY RARE SIGHT ON AMERICAN ROADS.

AND WHEN YOU DID SEE ONE, IT WAS SMALL AND BOXY.

WELL, THAT ALL CHANGED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE 1970 "Z-CAR," A FASTBACK TWO SEATER THAT WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS CARS EVER.

WELL, OUR OWN ROGER MECCA WANTED TO FIND OUT FOR HIMSELF WHY THE ORIGINAL 240 Z ACHIEVED SUCH LEGENDARY STATUS, AND CHANGED AMERICA'S OPINION OF JAPANESE CARS, FOREVER.

* Roger Mecca: EVEN 50 YEARS AGO, IMPORTED JAPANESE CARS WERE ALREADY MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES AS FUEL EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE.

BUT, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, THEY WERE ALSO SNOOZERS, WITH LITTLE TO ATTRACT U.S.

PERFORMANCE FANS.

BUT THAT ALL CHANGED AT THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW ON OCTOBER 22, 1969.

NOW, ON THAT FATEFUL DAY AT THE GRAND BALLROOM OF THE PIERRE HOTEL, THE AUTOMOTIVE PRESS GOT THEIR FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW DATSUN 240Z, A CAR THAT WOULD HELP CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF JAPANESE AUTOMOBILES, AND OF WHAT A SPORTS CAR COULD BE.

NISSAN ACTUALLY, ALREADY SOLD A SMALL SPORTY CONVERTIBLE ALREADY IN THE U.S., THE DATSUN 2000 ROADSTER, BUT IT WAS UNDERPOWERED AND OVERSHADOWED BY THE IMPORTS FROM EUROPE.

TOYOTA MADE A PLAY WITH THE BEAUTIFUL 2000GT, BUT AT A COST OF OVER $7000; MUCH MORE THAN A JAG E-TYPE; 2000 GT SALES WERE FEW, LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR ANOTHER BRAND TO MAKE A MOVE.

AND WITH THE HELP OF NISSAN'S PRESIDENT OF U.S. OPERATIONS, YUTAKA KATAYAMA, THE STAGE WAS SET.

MR. KATAYAMA, OR MISTER K., AS HE WAS LATER KNOWN, HAD STUDIED THE U.S. AUTO MARKET FOR YEARS AND HE KNEW THERE WAS A NEED FOR A PRACTICAL, AND RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE GT.

BUT HIS SKEPTICAL BOSSES IN TOKYO WEREN'T SO SURE.

BUT HE CONVINCED THEM THAT IF NISSAN MADE THE 240Z, IT WOULD BE A MASSIVE SUCCESS.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT HE EVEN REALIZE JUST HOW BIG A HIT IT WOULD BECOME.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE RECIPE FOR THE Z, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY AMERICA FELL IN LOVE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL AND SLEEK DESIGN EMULATES BITS FROM THE JAG E-TYPE, C-3 CORVETTE, FASTBACK MUSTANG, AND YES, EVEN THE FERRARI DAYTONA.

THE LONG HOOD AND FLARED FENDERS WERE AN IMMEDIATE HIT FOR CAR-CRAZY AMERICANS.

UNDER THAT HOOD WAS A TWIN CAM 2.4 LITER STRAIGHT SIX DELIVERING 150 HORSEPOWER; REAL GRUNT FOR THE TIME.

AND THE $3500 PRICE TAG MADE IT THE AFFORDABLE CHOICE, WE'D BEEN WAITING FOR.

AT THE TIME, THE CARS THAT COST THE SAME AS THE Z, INCLUDED THINGS LIKE, THE TRIUMPH SPITFIRE, THE OPEL GT OR THE FIAT 124.

BUT THEY COULD NEVER KEEP UP WITH THE 240 ON THE ROAD.

AND THE CARS THAT COULD, LIKE THE 911, OR A CORVETTE, OR A JAG E-TYPE, WELL...THEY COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE.

SO WHAT NISSAN HAD DONE IS CREATED A CAR THAT WAS AS MUCH FUN TO DRIVE AS A 911, LOOKED ALMOST AS GOOD AS A JAG, AND COST ABOUT THE SAME AS A FIAT.

BY 1972, NISSAN HAD SOLD MORE THAN 50,000 Zs IN THE UNITED STATES.

FOR PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THE NUMBER OF CORVETTES THAT WERE SOLD THE SAME YEAR.

NISSAN HAD BUILT A PRETTY, SPORTY GT FOR THE MASSES, NOT JUST MILLIONAIRE PLAYBOYS; A SPORTSCAR THAT ANYONE COULD ENJOY EVERY DAY.

THE LOW CURB WEIGHT OF JUST 2300 POUNDS AND PRECISE HANDLING MADE IT A HOOT TO DRIVE.

BEFORE LONG, THE WAITING LIST TO OWN ONE WAS 6-MONTHS OR MORE ZERO TO 60 TOOK ABOUT 8.0 SECONDS AND TOP SPEED OF AROUND 125, SO IT WAS NEVER BLISTERINGLY FAST.

BUT IT'S NOT SLOW EITHER.

YOU GET THIS STRAIGHT SIX, UP AROUND 3000 RPM, AND THERE IS SOME REAL PULL.

IT HANDLES BEAUTIFULLY, THE SHIFTER IS NICE AND SMOOTH.

AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO HAVE A SMILE ON YOUR FACE ONCE THE ROAD GETS CURVY.

SOMETHING ELSE, THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU SMILE IS REALIZING HOW EASY IT IS TO OWN ONE OF THESE GEMS.

BECAUSE NISSAN MADE MORE THAN 160,000 OF THEM, FINDING A 240 Z IN GOOD CONDITION IS FAIRLY EASY AND EVEN ONE AS NICE AS THIS EXAMPLE WILL ONLY SET YOU BACK ABOUT 20 OR 30 GRAND.

PARTS ARE EASY TO FIND, THE REPAIRS AREN'T PARTICULARLY, COMPLICATED AND BEST OF ALL BECAUSE IT'S SO COMFORTABLE AND RELIABLE, YOU CAN ENJOY THIS ICON EVERY DAY, NOT JUST ON THOSE PERFECT WEEKENDS WHEN IT'S 73 AND SUNNY, AS WITH SO MANY VINTAGE SPORTS CARS.

TODAY, JAPANESE BRANDS ARE BEHIND MANY OF THE WORLD'S BEST VALUES IN SPORTY CARS; THE MIATA, THE WRX, AND EVEN THE GT-R.

BUT IT ALL STARTED WITH THE 240Z.

A CAR THE WORLD NEVER SAW COMING, NEVER KNEW IT NEEDED, BUT AFTER THAT FATEFUL DAY IN NEW YORK, IT WAS A CAR WE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT.

John: THIS WEEK PAT GOSS IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SMALL INTRUDERS THAT CAN CAUSE BIG PROBLEMS.

Pat Goss: THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH CARS THAT HAS BECOME ALMOST EPIDEMIC LATELY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NEVER, EVER, THINK ABOUT.

THAT'S RODENTS THAT EAT THE WIRE HARNESSES IN OUR CARS.

IT DISABLES THE CAR, DOES ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE.

WE'VE SEEN SOME WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY TOTALED THE CAR IT WAS THAT BAD.

NOW, ONE OF THE REASONS BEHIND THIS IS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN USING WIRE WHERE THE INSULATION IN IT IS MADE OUT OF A SOY BASED PRODUCT.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE FOOD TO THE RODENTS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT THESE SORTS OF PROBLEMS?

WELL, NUMBER ONE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO FOOD SOURCES AROUND THE CAR.

NOW, WHAT YOU HAVE IN MANY CASES, YOU MAY HAVE STRAY DOG FOOD, YOU MAY HAVE A BAG OF DOG FOOD, YOU MAY HAVE GRASS SEED, OR ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE AROUND YOUR GARAGE OR SOME PLACE NEAR THE CAR AND THESE ARE FOOD SOURCES FOR THE RODENTS.

THEY COME TOWARD THE CAR.

ONCE THEY GET IN THE GENERAL VICINITY THEN THEY DISCOVER THIS SOY BASED MATERIAL ON THE WIRES AND THEY HAVE A FEAST.

NOW...SO, WE WANT THE FOOD SOURCE DONE AWAY WITH.

ALSO, YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE TO PLUG VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CAR AND SO ON, TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING INSIDE, AND SO ON.

ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS STEEL WOOL.

BUT A BETTER WAY IS BRONZE WOOL.

THE STEEL WOOL GETS WET AND IT RUSTS.

THE BRONZE WOOL WILL NOT RUST.

YOU BUY THAT TYPICALLY AT A MARINE SUPPLY STORE BECAUSE IT'S USED ON BOATS.

THERE ARE VARIOUS CHEMICALS THAT YOU CAN BUY AND VARIOUS DEVICES THAT YOU CAN BUY.

NOT ALL OF THESE WORK, NOT ALL OF THEM FAIL, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION.

NOW, HERE'S SOMETHING THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW, AND IT SEEMS TO WORK.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WORK ON YOUR PART.

AND THAT IS...TAPE THAT YOU CAN WRAP THE WIRE HARNESS WITH THAT IS IMPREGNATED WITH CAPSAICIN.

NOW, THE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER HERE IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH THIS STUFF YOU'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO WANT TO WEAR RUBBER GLOVES IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

AND AFTER YOU'VE DONE IT, DO NOT WIPE YOUR EYES UNTIL YOU'VE THOROUGHLY WASHED YOUR HANDS.

ANOTHER PART OF THAT IS THAT IF YOU TAKE YOUR CAR IN FOR SERVICE, MAKE SURE YOU TELL THE TECHNICIAN THAT YOU HAVE THIS COATING ON THE WIRE HARNESS.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, WELL, THEY MAY GET INVOLVED WITH IT, AND RUB THEIR EYES OR SOMETHING, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FUN FOR THEM.

SO, THERE'S NO ONE FOOL PROOF SOLUTION TO THIS, BUT IF YOU EXPLORE THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS, YOU PROBABLY CAN GET IT UNDER CONTROL.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE.

RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: THE ROAD NEVER ENDS FOR US, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

SO HERE WE GO ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.

* THE BAVARIANS HAVE OUR ATTENTION WITH THE NEW 2018 BMW M5, TRANSFORMING AN ALREADY TOP DRAWER LUXURY-SPORT SEDAN, INTO AN ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE ONE AS WELL.

NOW, THE M5 SERIES HAS BEEN SENDING OUR HEARTS RACING SINCE 1984.

OVER THE YEARS, THE CYLINDER COUNT GREW FROM 6 TO 10 AND BACK TO 8, BUT BMW KEPT ADDING POWER.

NOW, IN ITS 6TH GENERATION, IT'S 600 HP FROM THE 4.4 LITER M TWINPOWER TURBO V8, FOR INSTANT THROTTLE RESPONSE AT ANY SPEED.

A NEW 8-SPEED M STEPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH DRIVELOGIC UPSHIFTS, SO QUICKLY LIGHTNING WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING UP.

FIRST TIME M XDRIVE SENDS THAT POWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

THE SPECIALLY TUNED CHASSIS AND M-SPECIFIC VARIABLE DAMPER CONTROL KEEPS THE M5 FEELING ATHLETIC, EVEN IN THE MOST COMPLIANT SETTING.

ON THE ROAD AND TRACK IT'S NIMBLE, COMPELLING AND ALWAYS FIRMLY PLANTED.

THE IMPRESSIVE 2018 BMW M5 IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT JUST OVER $100,000.

IT'S BEEN 3-YEARS SINCE WE TESTED BMW'S SMALLEST BATTERY-ELECTRIC, THE I3.

NOW, THIS QUIRKY CITY DWELLER ADDS AN "S" TO ITS NAME, AND WITH IT 14 MORE HORSEPOWER, FOR A TOTAL OF 184.

THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK HAD ALREADY GROWN TO 33.2 KWH.

AND THAT PUSHES THE TYPICAL RANGE FROM 80 TO 100 MILES.

BUT...AS BEFORE, AN OPTIONAL 647CC 2-CYCLE GAS ENGINE GENERATOR, AND IT EXTENDS THAT RANGE TO ABOUT 180.

THIS QUIRKY COMMUTER IS ALSO, A BIT QUICKER OFF THE LINE.

THE NEW WIDER TRACK SPORTS SUSPENSION, WITH TALLER BUT STILL NARROW TIRES, IS FIRMER THROUGH THE CORNERS, YET, RIDE QUALITY REMAINS ACCEPTABLE FOR BROKEN PAVEMENT.

SPORT MODE MAKES THE ACCELERATOR MORE RESPONSIVE AND STEERING TIGHTER.

THE 2018 BMW I3S IS IN DEALERS NOW, STARTING AT UNDER $48,000.

THE 2018 HONDA FIT SPORT BRINGS A LIVELIER FLARE TO AN ALREADY FUN TO DRIVE, YET, IMMENSELY PRACTICAL SUB-COMPACT HATCHBACK.

AFTER A TOTAL OVERHAUL 3-YEARS AGO, THE NEW SPORT TRIM ADDS AERO TREATMENTS LIKE FRONT SPLITTER AND REAR DIFFUSER.

THE 1.5 LITER 4-CYLINDER IS STILL GOOD FOR 130 HORSEPOWER.

RETUNED SUSPENSION DAMPERS AND MORE RIGID STEERING AMPLIFY THE STEADY RIDE AND ATHLETIC ATTITUDE.

Garick Zikan: BY NOW, YOU PROBABLY REALIZE WE LIKE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS, WHEN IT COMES TO SHIFTING.

SO WE'RE DRIVING THE 6-SPEED MANUAL.

THERE'S A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN THE WEIGHT OF THE CLUTCH AND THE THROW OF THE SHIFTS.

John: A CVT IS THE OTHER TRANSMISSION CHOICE.

HONDA'S ADVANCED SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOW EITHER OPTIONAL OR STANDARD ON ALL FITS.

THE 2018 HONDA FIT SPORT IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT JUST OVER $16,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

YOU'D THINK THAT AFTER BRINGING AN ALUMINUM BODY TO THE FULL-SIZE PICKUP RANKS JUST 3-YEARS AGO, FORD WOULD BE DONE FOR AWHILE WITH THE F-150.

BUT THE LIGHT DUTY F-SERIES DIDN'T BECOME AMERICA'S LONG TIME NUMBER ONE SELLING VEHICLE BY STAYING THE SAME YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO, IT'S NO REAL SURPRISE THAT FORD HAS UNLEASHED AN UPDATED F-150 FOR 2018.

* TO BE FAIR, AS FAR AS UPDATES GO, THE 2018 FORD F-150 IS FAR FROM COMPREHENSIVE; BUT FORD IS OUT TO GIVE YOU MANY MORE CHOICES WHEN YOU GO IN TO BUY ONE.

HAVING ALREADY BROUGHT A LOT NEW TO THE FULL-SIZE TRUCK SEGMENT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WITH A CHOICE OF ECOBOOST ENGINES AND FEATURES SUCH AS TRAILER BACK-UP ASSIST, THIS YEAR, FORD BRINGS A NEW 3.3 LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED V6 ENGINE TO REPLACE THE 3.5 LITER, AS WELL AS A NEW 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST V6, AND AN UPDATED 5.0 LITER V8; ALONG WITH WIDER AVAILABILITY OF THEIR 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND MAKING AUTO STOP/START STANDARD WITH ALL ENGINES.

BUT BIGGER THAN ALL OF THAT IS A FIRST-TIME 3.0 LITER V6 POWER STROKE DIESEL OPTION THAT WILL BE ARRIVING SOON, WITH 250 HORSEPOWER AND 440 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT WILL ALSO ACHIEVE 30 MPGs ON THE HIGHWAY, ACCORDING TO FORD, AND WILL PULL 11,400 POUNDS OF TRAILER.

WE JUST GOT BACK FROM SAMPLING THE NEW POWER STROKE IN COLORADO.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

IT'S A QUIET OIL BURNER FOR SURE, BOTH OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND INSIDE.

WITH TOW MODE ENGAGED, IT HAD NO PROBLEMS TOWING A 3-TON HORSE TRAILER.

UPHILL GRADES STILL REQUIRE A DOWNSHIFT OR TWO FROM THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, BUT WE WERE STEADILY INCREASING OUR SPEED AS WE WERE CLIMBING.

IT FELT EVEN BETTER AROUND TOWN WITHOUT THE TRAILER, INSTANT TORQUE IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, AND THIS LITTLE POWER STROKE DELIVERS PLENTY OF IT, IN A VERY REFINED FASHION.

REGARDLESS OF POWERTRAIN, ALL '18s GET AN UPDATED EXTERIOR WITH A NEW BILLET-LOOK GRILLE, REVISED FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS, NEW TAILGATE, AND UPGRADED LIGHTING, AS WELL AS FRESH TRIM AND WHEEL OPTIONS.

ALL KEEPING IT ARGUABLY, THE TOUGHEST LOOKING RIG AMONG THE BIG THREE.

FOR TESTING HERE AT HOME, OUR LARIAT SPORT SUPERCREW WAS SPORTING THE 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST V6, AND IT PACKS A SERIOUS PERFORMANCE PUNCH.

HORSEPOWER STAYS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AT 325, BUT TORQUE TAKES A HEALTHY LEAP FROM 375 POUND-FEET TO 400, WITH ALL OF IT DELIVERED WELL BELOW 3,000 RPM, [TIRES SCREECHING] AND DELIVERING US TO 60 IN JUST 5.7 SECONDS.

THERE'S EXPLOSIVE POWER OFF THE LINE...SO MUCH, THAT WE HAD MUCH BETTER SUCCESS LAUNCHING IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE TO GET TRACTION.

SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND TIDY, WITH POWER DELIVERY STAYING CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE 14.3 SECONDS IT TOOK US TO COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE AT 99 MILES PER HOUR.

THOSE TIMES ARE JUST A FEW TENTHS OFF THE LAST SVT LIGHTENING WE TESTED BACK IN 2001.

SUCH NUMBERS WERE CRAZY FOR A PICKUP TRUCK AT THAT TIME, NOW THEY'RE JUST COMMONPLACE.

HANDLING HAS CHANGED A LOT IN A LITTLE TIME AS WELL.

THE CLUNKY DISCONNECTED FEEL YOU EXPECT IN A PICKUP HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH BLAZINGLY FAST STEERING, CONFIDENCE INSPIRING GRIP, AND MINIMAL BODY ROLL.

BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS EXCELLENT AS WELL; JUST 108 FEET IS ALL IT TOOK TO BRING THIS HEAVYWEIGHT HAULER TO A STOP FROM 60.

AWAY FROM THE TRACK, THE RIDE HAS GOTTEN SMOOTHER, BUT NOT QUITE TO RAM-LEVEL OF PLUSHNESS.

HERE, THE F-150 STILL FEELS LIKE A TRUCK, JUST A VERY COMFORTABLE ONE.

CAPABILITIES CONTINUE TO ESCALATE IN THE ONGOING BATTLE FOR PICKUP SUPREMACY.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE F-150 IS TOPS IN TOWING AT 13,200 POUNDS, THOUGH THAT'S WITH THE 3.5 LITER ECOBOOST ENGINE AND 2-WHEEL DRIVE.

CHANGES INSIDE FOR '18 ARE RELATIVELY MINOR, JUST SOME NEW SEAT AND TRIM MATERIALS FOR MOST TRIMS INCLUDING OUR LARIAT.

BIGGER UPDATES FOR AVAILABLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, NOW INCLUDING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH FULL STOP-AND-GO FUNCTIONALITY AND PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WITH PEDESTRIAN DETECTION.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE NEW 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST ARE 19-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

AS FOR PRICING, YOU CAN SPEND AS LITTLE AS $29,100 FOR A BASE REGULAR CAB XL, THOUGH, MOST PEOPLE WILL SPEND SOMEWHERE IN THE 40s FOR THEIR F-150.

OUR 4X4 SUPERCREW LARIAT SPORT STICKERED FOR JUST OVER $50,000, AND FOR THE REALLY BIG SPENDERS, KING RANCH AND PLATINUM TRIMS ARE HIGHER STILL.

WHILE, THE FORD F-150 HAS MAINTAINED ITS PLACE AS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING VEHICLE IN THE U.S. FOR 35 YEARS, 2018 LOOKS TO BE A YEAR WHERE THEY'LL FACE THEIR TOUGHEST COMPETITION EVER.

ALL-NEW TRUCKS FROM CHEVROLET, GMC, AND RAM ARE CLEARLY DESIGNED WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF CHALLENGING FORD'S SUPREMACY.

NOT TO MENTION, THE INCREASING PRESENCE FROM IMPORT BRANDED RIGS TOYOTA TUNDRA AND NISSAN TITAN.

IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SALES YEAR FOR SURE...BUT ULTIMATELY, ONE THAT WE THINK WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE FORD F-150 RIDING HIGH.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN TOYOTA TARGETS YOUNGER BUYERS WITH THE REDESIGNED AVALON.

AND VOLKSWAGEN BUILDS ANOTHER ONE FOR AMERICANS, THE ALL NEW JETTA.

'TIL 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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM, WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *