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

JOIN US FOR THE ACTIVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT IS THE NEW BMW X3... PAT GOSS HAS HIS EYE ON KEEPING STOPS STRONG... JOE LIGO LOOKS BACK ON A MUSCLE CAR THAT ALMOST FADED FROM MEMORY... AND IT'S OUR TURN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF A CAMARO THAT'S AN ALL-OUT PERFORMER...

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: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: OH, COME ON.

HOT, HOT, HOT.

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Woman: JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

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.

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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: BACK IN THE '60s, YOU HAD TO BE "IN THE KNOW" TO GET A ZL1 CAMARO, FROM A DEALER WHO KNEW HOW TO EXPLOIT GMs COPO SPECIAL VEHICLE ORDERING SYSTEM.

NOW, ALL IT TAKES IS A HEALTHY CHECKBOOK.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT SPECIAL, QUITE THE OPPOSITE, ACTUALLY.

AND YOU CAN GET YOURSELF THIS VERY SPECIAL ZL1 1LE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO ASK FOR.

[ENGINE REVVING SOUND] * WHILE, NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO GERMANY'S NURBURGRING, THERE ARE PLENTY OF GREAT RACE TRACKS IN OUR COUNTRY, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE MORE THAN A FEW CAMARO OWNERS WHO REGULARLY PARTAKE IN TRACK DAYS AT MANY OF THOSE FINE FACILITIES.

WELL, THIS 2018 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 1LE IS FOR THEM.

IT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, "WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE THE ZL1 EVEN MORE POTENT ON A ROAD COURSE?"

WELL, MORE POWER WAS NOT REALLY A NECESSITY; THE 650 HORSEPOWER AND 650 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE COMING OUT OF THE SUPERCHARGED 6.2 LITER LT4 V8 IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO GET YOU AROUND ANY RACE TRACK.

AND WITH ALL OF THE PLASTIC COVERS, WE SEE UNDER HOODS THESE DAYS, IT WAS REFRESHING TO FEAST OUR EYES ON LOTS OF HARD-WORKING MECHANICAL BITS IN PLAIN VIEW.

NO, THE REAL KEY TO THE 1LE EXTREME TRACK PERFORMANCE PACKAGE IS MORE DOWNFORCE, ALONG WITH MORE GRIP TO HANDLE IT AND UPGRADED SUSPENSION TO CONTROL IT; AS WELL AS LESS WEIGHT FOR ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS TO DEAL WITH.

NOW, WE REALLY DIDN'T NOTICE MUCH IN THE WAY OF BODY ROLL IN THE ZL1 WE TESTED AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY LAST YEAR, BUT AFTER PUTTING THIS ONE THROUGH ITS PACES THIS YEAR, IF THERE WAS ANY AT ALL, IT HAS NOW BEEN ELIMINATED.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE, THIS CAR FEELS AWESOME ON TRACK; HIGHLY RIGID WITH GRIP APLENTY.

IT WILL BASICALLY, DO WHATEVER YOU TELL IT TO DO.

IT HAS NO PROBLEM WITH LATE BRAKING, AND ON/OFF THROTTLE HIJINKS DON'T SEEM TO UPSET IT IN ANY WAY.

EVEN STEERING FEEL IS QUITE GOOD.

IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT YOU CAN TRULY FEEL THE ADDITIONAL DOWNFORCE IN CORNERS, BUT THERE'S UNDENIABLY MORE GRIP FOR GETTING THROUGH THEM, AND YOU DEFINITELY ARE MAKING FASTER LAP TIMES.

ALTHOUGH, SOME OF OUR DRIVER'S DID NOTE THEY COULD SENSE SOME ADDITIONAL DRAG GOING DOWN ROEBLING'S LONG FRONT STRAIGHT.

WE'RE WELL-DOCUMENTED FANS OF GMs PERFORMANCE TRACTION MANAGEMENT; BETWEEN THAT AND THE NEW MULTIMATIC DYNAMIC SUSPENSION SPOOL VALVE DAMPERS; IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL PIT CREW TO GIVE YOU THE ULTIMATE SETUP, EVERY TIME YOU HEAD OUT ON TRACK.

YOU HAVE TO GET TO SPORT 2 OR RACE MODE IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE REAL FUN.

ANYWHERE ELSE, IT DOES WANT TO CUT POWER FROM YOU.

IF YOU PREFER A CUSTOM SETUP, YOU CAN NOW, MANUALLY ADJUST FRONT RIDE HEIGHT, CAMBER PLATES, AND THE REAR STABILIZER BAR AS WELL.

BOTTOM LINE, IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY WELL-BALANCED AND NAILED DOWN IF YOU WANT IT TO BE, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE SMOKED AND SLID AT WILL.

NOW, GOING 1LE REQUIRES STICKING WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

IT WORKED JUST FINE ON TRACK, WITH NO COMPLAINTS FROM OUR DRIVERS, AND ACTIVE REV MATCHING IS AS FUN AS IT IS USEFUL.

[ENGINE REVVING SOUND] BUT HAVING FOUR FEWER GEARS THAN THE AUTOMATIC, AND OF COURSE, A THIRD PEDAL TO PUSH, WE COULDN'T MATCH THE 3.5 SECOND 0-60 RUN OF THE AUTOMATIC EQUIPPED ZL1 THAT WE HAD HERE LAST YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S ALWAYS FUN RIPPING THROUGH THE GEARS YOURSELF, BUT KEEPING THINGS POINTED STRAIGHT IS A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING WITH THE MANUAL TOO.

SO, IF PINK SLIPS ARE YOUR GOAL, STICK WITH THE AUTOMATIC ZL1.

[ENGINE REVVING SOUND] EITHER, FLYING LOW OR STANDING STILL, THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE BAD LOOKING CAMARO.

THE BLACKED-OUT ZL1 HOOD PROVIDES A TRUE MENACING ELEMENT.

WHAT'S NEW FOR THE 1LE ARE THE ADDED WINGLETS ON THE FRONT FASCIA; TECHNICALLY CALLED "DIVE PLANES," WHICH SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU'D FIND ON A SUBMARINE.

AND OF COURSE, THE IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS CARBON FIBER WING AT THE REAR.

BUT ALL THIS PERFORMANCE DOES COME WITH COSTS.

LIKE, GAS GUZZLER GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 14-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.

BUT THE BIGGEST COST IS THE MSRP.

ZL1s START AT $63,795; ADDING THE 1LE EXTREME TRACK PERFORMANCE PACKAGE TAKES IT TO $71,295.

THAT MAKES IT ONE PRICEY CAMARO.

STILL, YOU'D PAY WELL OVER SIX FIGURES FOR ANYTHING ELSE CLOSE TO IT PERFORMANCE-WISE, SO WE'LL CALL IT MONEY WELL SPENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO TOP DOG CAMARO PERFORMANCE, THE 2018 ZL1 1LE, IS WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE ONE YOU WANT, EVEN IF YOU NEVER PLAN ON TAKING IT TO A RACE TRACK.

IT'S SIMPLY, THE BEST CHEVROLET CAMARO, YET.

MOST ENTHUSIASTS SEE THE 1970s AS THE "DARK AGES" OF AMERICAN PERFORMANCE, BLAMING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS FOR TAKING ALL THE FUN OUT OF CARS.

WELL, OUR JOE LIGO VENTURES INTO THAT DARKNESS AND DISCOVERS A CHEVROLET HOLDOUT YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.

Joe Ligo: CITIES CHOKING ON SMOG... TRAFFIC FATALITIES ON THE RISE...

ALTHOUGH, PEOPLE LOVED THEIR MUSCLE CARS, THE CASUALTIES OF DETROIT'S HORSEPOWER WAR, MADE WASHINGTON PUT THE BRAKES ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY... BY THE EARLY '70s, THE MUSCLE CAR MARKET WAS DYING.

THE CAUSE?

INCREASED PRICES FOR FUEL AND INSURANCE COMBINED WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS FOR SAFETY AND EMISSIONS.

BY 1975, ALL THAT REMAINED WERE A FEW LAST GASPS.

* WHILE, IT MAY NOT INDUCE HEAVY BREATHING, THIS 1975 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE LAGUNA TYPE S3, TRIES TO CARRY THE TORCH OF ITS MUSCLE CAR ANCESTORS.

THE DOWNSIZED 3RD GENERATION CHEVELLE DEBUTED IN 1973, AND THE LAGUNA TYPE S3 MODEL FOLLOWED A YEAR LATER, REPLACING THE CHEVELLE SS AT LEAST IN SPIRIT.

THE UNUSUAL PLASTIC SHOVEL-NOSE CAME IN 1975.

AND ALTHOUGH, CHEVY DIDN'T OFFICIALLY SUPPORT RACING, THE LAGUNA WAS CLEARLY DESIGNED FOR NASCAR.

THAT ODD AERODYNAMIC NOSE HELPED IT DOMINATE THE TRACK, WINNING TWO WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEFORE THE LEAGUE CAUGHT ON, AND BANNED THIS LIMITED-PRODUCTION MODEL FROM COMPETITION.

THIS STREET-LEGAL VERSION HAS WINDOW LOUVERS, RALLY WHEELS, AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT LOOK FAST, BUT DON'T ACTUALLY IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.

ZERO TO 60 TAKES WELL OVER 10 SECONDS.

SO, IT'S NO SUPER SPORT.

AND THIS CAR'S 3-SPEED AUTOMATIC DOESN'T HELP.

THERE'S THIS DEAD SPOT ABOVE 30 MILES PER HOUR, WHERE YOU STOMP THE PEDAL AND THE CAR GETS LOUDER, BUT YOU DON'T GO ANY FASTER.

FINALLY, IT TRIGGERS A DOWNSHIFT INTO SECOND AND THINGS PICK UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S STILL NOT A WHITE KNUCKLE, EDGE OF YOUR SEAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] BLAME IT ON THIS 350 CUBIC INCH V8 THAT ONLY MAKES 145 HORSEPOWER.

IT'S A GOOD ENGINE, JUST STRANGLED BY EARLY POLLUTION-CONTROL EQUIPMENT.

AN OPTIONAL 400 CUBIC INCH V8 ADDED 30 MORE HORSES.

YOU COULD GET A 454 BIG BLOCK IN OTHER CHEVELLE MODELS, BUT SADLY...IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON LAGUNA.

COMPARED TO OLDER MUSCLE CARS, THE LAGUNA DEFINITELY FEELS QUIETER AND MORE REFINED.

PERHAPS, GM COMPENSATED THE LOSS IN PERFORMANCE WITH AN INCREASE IN LUXURY.

EITHER WAY, THE LAGUNA'S SLOW SALES CAUSED CHEVY TO DROP THE MODEL AFTER 1976.

A 3-YEAR LIFESPAN AND ONLY 32,680 COPIES, MAKES THE CHEVROLET CHEVELLE LAGUNA TYPE S3 A RARE CAR.

HOWEVER, MODERN-DAY PRICES BETWEEN $2,500 AND $8,500 DON'T REFLECT THAT.

THE LAGUNA TYPE S3 WILL ALWAYS STAND IN THE SHADOW OF OLDER, AND MORE POPULAR CHEVELLE'S, BUT IT'S STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICAN MUSCLE HISTORY.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE SOME PERFORMANCE FOR EXTRA COMFORT AND A NASCAR PEDIGREE, CHANCES ARE YOU'LL HAVE THE ONLY ONE AT YOUR LOCAL SHOW.

PEOPLE STILL WORRY ABOUT REGULATIONS KILLING OFF PERFORMANCE CARS, BUT IF THE PAST PROVES ANYTHING, MANUFACTURES WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO PASS THE RULES AND MAKES CARS EVEN FASTER.

AND THAT'S A GOOD REASON FOR ALL OF US TO BREATHE EASY.

John: WE TALK A LOT ABOUT GOING AROUND HERE, BUT STOPPING IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

PAT GOSS SHARES HIS BRAKING KNOW HOW, DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: CARS KEEP EVOLVING, AND AS THEY EVOLVE THERE ARE NEW PROCEDURES AND PROBLEMS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT EVOLUTION.

NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH ARE MODERN BREAKS, NOW...HERE, WE HAVE A 4-PISTON CALIPER, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, BUT THEY TYPICALLY WERE NOT USED ON GARDEN-VARIETY CARS AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE TODAY.

NOW, THE BIG THING WITH A 4-PISTON CALIPER IS, IT'S MOUNTED RIGIDLY, IT DOESN'T MOVE.

IT HAS THE FOUR PISTONS, THE 4-PISTONS HAVE TO WORK IN UNISON WHICH MEANS THAT PERIODICALLY, YOU HAVE TO CLEAN AROUND THE PISTONS BECAUSE DIRT CAN ACTUALLY MIGRATE THROUGH THE SEALS AND CAUSE THE PISTONS BIND.

THE OTHER THING IS, IF THE PISTONS OR THE CALIPER DOESN'T MOVE AND THE PISTONS DO, THAT MEANS THAT THE PADS MOVE ON THESE PINS.

SO, THOSE PINS HAVE TO BE LUBRICATED IN ORDER FOR THE PADS TO MOVE SMOOTHLY, AND IF THEY DON'T, IF ONE OF THESE PISTONS IS OUT OF SYNC OR IF YOU DON'T MOVE THE PAD PROPERLY, YOU CAN WIND UP WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

ONE END IS LIKE NEW THE OTHER END IS ALMOST WORN OUT.

SO, PERIODIC CLEANING AND LUBRICATION, VERY GOOD IDEA.

NOW OVER HERE, WE HAVE A TWO PISTON CALIPER, NOW THE PISTONS ARE SIDE BY SIDE AND THE CALIPER SLIDES BACK AND FORTH, NOW THE THING WITH THAT IS BECAUSE IT SLIDES, THESE SLIDE PINS RIGHT HERE, HAVE TO BE LUBRICATED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CALIPER MOVING SMOOTHLY AND NOT ROCKING ON ITS SLIDES.

AGAIN, YOU WANT TO CLEAN AROUND THE PISTONS AND SO ON DURING A NORMAL BRAKE INSPECTION.

AND FINALLY, WE HAVE OUR OLD TRIED AND TRUE SINGLE PISTON CALIPER THAT AGAIN SLIDES BACK AND FORTH ON SOME TYPE OF MECHANISM.

IT, LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, NEEDS TO BE LUBRICATED SO THAT IT SLIDES FREELY.

IF YOU HAVE UNEVEN WEAR ON A PAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SUSPECT THAT THERE'S PROBABLY AN ISSUE WITH THE CALIPER OR THE SLIDING MECHANISM OF THE CALIPER.

NOW, THE THING HERE, IS THAT YOU SHOULD BE CHECKING YOUR BRAKES AND LUBRICATING ALL THIS STUFF ABOUT EVERY 12,000 TO 15,000 MILES OR ONCE A YEAR.

BUT, THE PRODUCT YOU USE HAS TO BE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY, FOR BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT, YOU CAN'T USE NORMAL GREASE BECAUSE NORMAL GREASE WILL MELT AND GO AWAY.

IT ALSO, COLLECTS DIRT AND THE DIRT MAKES THINGS BIND UP.

SO, PROPER MAINTENANCE, PADS WILL LAST LONGER, BRAKES WILL WORK BETTER.

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

John: WE DO LIKE MOVING.

AND GREG CARLOSS DOES JUST THAT IN A PAIR OF VERY SPECIAL PORSCHES IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

* Greg Carloss: I'M BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE PORSCHE 918 SPYDER SUPERCAR, OR HYPERCAR, OR SUPER-DUPER-HYPERCAR; WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

THIS THING IS REALLY, REALLY FAST.

REALLY, REALLY EXPENSIVE.

AND, I'M DRIVING IT AROUND A RACETRACK.

[ENGINE REVVING SOUND] I AM A VERY LUCKY GUY, AS PORSCHE INVITED ME AND A SMALL GROUP OF JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE, PLUG-IN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY IN THE LEGENDARY 918 AND THE NEWLY INTRODUCED PANAMERA TURBO S E-HYBRID SPORT TURISMO.

* NOW, THE 918 SPYDER ISN'T REALLY NEWS AT THIS POINT.

IT'S BEEN OUT FOR A FEW YEARS, IN FACT, WE EVEN TESTED IT.

BUT, THIS IS OUR FIRST GO AT IT ON AN ACTUAL RACETRACK.

WE'RE HERE IN PORTUGAL AT THE ALGARVE CIRCUIT AND AS MUCH FUN AS I HAD ON THE STREET, IT'S 10 TIMES MORE FUN ON THE TRACK.

THIS IS WHERE A SUPER CAR BELONGS.

THE 918 USES A 4.6 LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED V8, WHEREAS...THE PANAMERA USES A 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8.

STILL, THE PANAMERA PUTS OUT 680 HORSEPOWER COMBINED WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND IT ALSO USES ONLY ONE ELECTRIC MOTOR, WHEREAS...THIS 918 USES TWO.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PORSCHE HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON SINCE THE INTRODUCTIONS OF THE FIRST PANAMERA PLUG-IN AND THE 918; TO TWEAK AND IMPROVE THEIR EV TECHNOLOGY WHEREVER THEY CAN TO MAKE IT MORE MAINSTREAM.

WHEN THE FIRST 918 ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE, IT WAS AN $850,000 SUPERCAR THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY ATTAINABLE BY ONLY A FEW.

NOW, IN 2018 WE'RE SEEING EV TECH THAT THE 918 PIONEERED, TRICKLE DOWN INTO MORE OF THE PORSCHE LINEUP.

GRANTED, IT'S STILL 6-FIGURES FOR THIS SPORT TURISMO, BUT IT'S GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO WHAT THE TYPICAL PORSCHE OWNER IS WILLING TO PAY.

EVENTUALLY, THEY TURNED US LOOSE FOR HOT LAPS IN BOTH CARS TO SEE AND FEEL THE EVOLUTION IN ACTION.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE 918 IS WHILE IT'S THIS CRAZY ADVANCED SUPERCAR WITH ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S A BIT OF RAWNESS TO IT, WITH THE ENGINE SOUND COMING IN THROUGH THE BACK.

YOU'RE STILL REALLY CONNECTED TO THE ROAD.

THERE'S JUST SO MUCH ABOUT THIS CAR THAT BLURS THE LINE BETWEEN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, AND JUST OLD SCHOOL FUN.

AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE 918, AGAINST MY WILL...I MIGHT ADD, I HOPPED INTO THE RELATIVELY COMMON PANAMERA, NEGLECTING THE FACT THAT IT'S STILL THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL PORSCHE MODEL IN THEIR CURRENT LINEUP.

NOW, THIS IS OUR SECOND GO AROUND IN THE PANAMERA TURBO S E-HYBRID SPORT TURISMO AND IT LIVES UP TO THE HYPE.

THERE'S SO MUCH TORQUE, SO MUCH POWER COMING OFF OF THESE CORNERS.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

SO STABLE.

NOW, THE ONE THING THAT THE PANAMERA IS NOT IS LIGHTWEIGHT.

THIS THING IS STILL VERY, VERY HEAVY.

THE CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES DO A NICE JOB OF STOPPING IT, BUT AGAIN, YOU STILL KNOW THAT THE WEIGHT'S THERE.

OF COURSE, 680 HORSEPOWER AND ALL THAT ELECTRIC BOOST, CERTAINLY MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BETTER.

SO WHERE DOES THAT PUT THE PANAMERA?

I MEAN IT HAS, HONESTLY, SUPERCAR NUMBERS.

BUT, IT'S A PANAMERA.

AND MOST PEOPLE JUST DAILY DRIVE IT TO WORK.

COULD YOU REALLY DRIVE A SUPERCAR TO WORK?

I PROBABLY COULD.

SADLY, MY CHANCES OF ACTUALLY, DAILY DRIVING EVEN A MORE OBTAINABLE SUPERCAR LIKE THE PANAMERA TURBO S E-HYBRID SPORT TURISMO ARE STILL SLIM CONSIDERING THE $188,000 PRICE TAG.

BUT, WITH AUTOMAKERS LIKE PORSCHE PUSHING PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY BOUNDARIES OF PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY, THE ODDS ARE GOING UP AS FAST AS THE PRICES ARE COMING DOWN.

John: WE TESTED THE ORIGINAL BMW X3 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE BACK IN 2003.

WE MARVELED AT HOW THE BRAND'S SECOND UTILITY MANAGED TO ADD BOAT-LOADS OF EVERYDAY COMFORT AND VERSATILITY WHILE MAINTAINING SO MUCH OF ITS NAMESAKE 3-SERIES SPORT SEDAN'S CONCISE DRIVING CHARACTER.

WELL...NOW, AS THE 3RD GENERATION X3 HAS ARRIVED, IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF BMW'S COMPACT UTE ONCE AGAIN, AND SEE JUST HOW IT'S EVOLVED.

* BMW JUMPED INTO THE PREMIUM UTILITY MARKET BEFORE MOST.

THEY WERE A TRUE EARLY ADOPTER IN EMBRACING THE NEW "UTILITARIAN" NORM FOR LUXURY CARMAKERS.

BUT, THE 2018 X3 DRIVES INTO A MUCH MORE CROWED AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE THAN THE ORIGINAL DID, WITH RIVAL LUXURY UTEs AT EVERY TURN.

STILL, BMW DIDN'T WANT TO MESS TOO MUCH WITH SUCCESS.

SO, THEY KEPT THE NEW X3s EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS ALMOST THE SAME AS THE OUTGOING MODEL.

YET, THEY STRETCHED THE WHEELBASE BY OVER TWO INCHES FOR ADDITIONAL INTERIOR SPACE.

THAT'S BECAUSE ITS LESSER SIBLING THE X1, WHICH HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE BASED, HAD ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT OF ROOM INSIDE AS THE OUT-GOING REAR-DRIVE BASED X3.

BUT BEHIND THE WHEEL, THERE'S NO COMPARISON.

WHILE, THE X1 IS INDEED VERY FUN TO DRIVE, IT'S MORE LIKE A LIGHTWEIGHT, NIMBLE PLAYTHING, WHEREAS...THE X3 FEELS SOLID AND NAILED DOWN; YES...STILL VERY MUCH LIKE A 3-SERIES SEDAN.

AND, SINCE BMW DOES PLACE SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY ON THAT DRIVING EXPERIENCE, IT'S NOTABLE THAT AN M PERFORMANCE MODEL IS NEWLY AVAILABLE IN THE X3.

* THE M40I, WHICH REPLACES THE XDRIVE35I, FEATURES BMW'S 3.0 LITER TURBO INLINE-6, OUTPUTTING 355 HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND MORE REAR-BIAS FOR THE STANDARD XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

IT DOES INDEED FEEL POWERFUL, BUT LIKE ANY PERFORMANCE MACHINE, THINGS CAN BE LOUD AND A BIT ABRASIVE AT TIMES.

M40Is GET SPORTIER-LOOKING TRIM INSIDE TOO, AS WELL AS AN AERO KIT FOR THE EXTERIOR; WHERE YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE BLACK CHROME TIPS FOR THE PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM, M SPORT BRAKES, AND 19...20...OR 21-INCH WHEELS.

BUT, WE ALSO SPENT TIME IN THE MUCH HIGHER VOLUME XDRIVE30I, WHICH REPLACES THE XDRIVE28I BASE MODEL.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] UNDER ITS HOOD, IS A SLIGHTLY UPDATED 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO; NOW...WITH 248 HORSEPOWER, 8-MORE THAN BEFORE, AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT RAMPED UP TO 60 IN 6.5 SECONDS.

REALLY GOOD FOR ANY "BASE MODEL" UTILITY.

THE M40I DOES THE SAME DEED ABOUT TWO SECONDS QUICKER.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP, AND EASY TO USE LAUNCH CONTROL, GET YOU OFF THE LINE EFFICIENTLY; WHILE THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT COMES WITH ALL X3s, SNAPS OFF SHIFTS WITH AN ALMOST BRUTAL IMMEDIACY THAT KEEPS THE TURBO-4 IN ITS SWEET SPOT FOR THE WHOLE QUARTER MILE TRIP, WHICH TAKES 15.0 SECONDS AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

IT MAY NOT BE THE ABSOLUTE FASTEST SUV OUT THERE, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT.

WEIGHT IS ALSO, VIRTUALLY THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN SHIFTED AROUND, WITH A LITTLE MORE NOW SUPPORTED BY THE REAR WHEELS FOR IMPROVED HANDLING.

EVEN MORE SO HERE IN THE 30I WHERE TURN-INS ARE DEADLY QUICK, AND BODY ROLL COMFORTABLY MINIMAL.

YOU DO HAVE TO KEEP INPUTS SMOOTH HOWEVER, AS STABILITY CONTROL IS QUICK TO TRIGGER.

TWO THUMBS UP FOR BRAKING, AS STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED JUST 102 FEET.

A FIRM PEDAL WITH SHORT TRAVEL LEADS TO A COMFORTABLE AND REASSURING FEELING.

ALL-IN-ALL A VERY WELL-BALANCED PACKAGE.

WITH X1, NOW TAKING UP ENTRY-LEVEL SAV DUTIES, EVEN THE BASE X3 GETS MUCH NICER MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE CABIN, PART OF A PLEASANT OVERALL EVOLUTION TO THE FAMILIAR LAYOUT INSIDE.

THE DASH-TOP TOUCHSCREEN NOW STRETCHES OVER 10-INCHES, AND THE AVAILABLE HEAD UP DISPLAY IS 75% LARGER THAN BEFORE.

VERY MINOR CHANGES TO CARGO CAPACITY, WITH REAR SPACE UP SLIGHTLY TO 28.7 CUBIC-FEET, WHILE...OVERALL VOLUME WITH REAR SEATS FOLDED, FALLS JUST A TAD TO 62.7 CUBIC-FEET.

THIS X3 IS ALSO, THE FIRST BMW UTILITY TO OFFER A FACTORY-INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH.

TOWING CAPACITY IS GOOD FOR A COMPACT, AT 4,400 POUNDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 30I ARE 22-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE WAS A DISAPPOINTING 23.3 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

STILL, THERE'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 13.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 5.9 TONS.

X3 PRICING STARTS ABOUT THE SAME AS BEFORE, WITH AN XDRIVE30I AT $43,645.

M40Is BEGIN AT $55,495.

KEEPING PERFORMANCE HIGH ON THE PRIORITY LIST, WHILE BRINGING MORE UTILITY AND LUXURY ALONG FOR THE THRILL RIDE, WILL SURELY KEEP THE 2018 BMW X3, A POPULAR CHOICE, WE ALSO THINK, THE X3 HAS EVOLVED ENOUGH FOR MANY OF THEM TO CONTINUE TO LOOK ON WITH ENVY.

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 WE GO BACK TO THE FUTURE IN AMERICA'S NEW SUPERCAR, THE FORD GT, THEN IT'S TRACK CAPABLE BUT ROAD COMFORTABLE, THE SUBARU WRX.

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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: OH, COME ON.

HOT, HOT, HOT.

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR KIND OF VEHICLE.

Woman: JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

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] *