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

JOIN US AS CHRYSLER PLUGS IN FOR ELECTRIFIED HAULING IN THE PACIFICA HYBRID... PAT GOSS TAKES US ON A DEEP DIVE FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AND BACK DECADES FOR SOME UNFORGETTABLE DRIVES... AND CHEVROLET BRINGS NEW TECH AND NEW TOUGH TO THE REDESIGNED SILVERADO...

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.

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

FROM THE COLD OF WINTER, TO THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTAGE WIPER BLADES ARE ENGINEERED FOR USE ACROSS ALL SEASONS.

MORE INFORMATION AT RAINX.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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

LASER MEASURED, THEY OFFER PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: NOW, YOU MAY HAVE NEVER CAUGHT YOURSELF THINKING, "WOULDN'T A PLUG-IN MINIVAN BE COOL?"

YET, IT ONLY SEEMS LOGICAL THAT THE BRAND THAT CREATED THE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE MINIVAN, WOULD ALSO BE THE FIRST TO PRODUCE A PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSION.

THAT WOULD BE THE CHRYSLER PACIFIC HYBRID.

NOW, WE KNOW IT'S A GREENER PACIFICA, BUT DOES IT TAKE THE ULTRA-FAMILY FRIENDLY MINIVAN CONCEPT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

* THE 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID IS A PLUG-IN HYBRID.

ALTHOUGH, IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY LABELED AS A PHEV SINCE THERE'S CURRENTLY NO NON-PLUG-IN HYBRID MODEL.

ADDED TO A REVISED VERSION OF THE STANDARD PACIFICA'S 3.6 LITER V6, IS A DUAL-MOTOR EFLITE ELECTRICAL VARIABLE TRANSMISSION.

TOTAL OUTPUT IS 260 HORSEPOWER; FAR FROM ASTRONOMICAL, BUT SOME ADDITIONAL EV GRUNT DOWN LOW, MAKES UP FOR ANY SHORTCOMINGS.

SIXTEEN KWH OF BATTERY STORAGE, ENABLES A QUITE GOOD 33 MILES OF EV-RANGE BEFORE THE PACIFICA BEGINS OPERATING AS A CONVENTIONAL HYBRID.

ALTHOUGH, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHEN THAT EV POWER IS USED.

ALSO, DUE TO THAT BATTERY'S LOCATION, YOU WILL HAVE TO SACRIFICE ONE OF THE PACIFICA'S BEST FEATURES, THE 2ND ROW STOW 'N GO SEATING.

AND, WE REALLY MISSED IT!

OTHERWISE, EVERY OTHER FAMILY FRIENDLY FEATURE YOU BUY A MINIVAN FOR IS STILL HERE, INCLUDING LOADS OF PRACTICAL AND EASY TO ACCESS STORAGE FOR PEOPLE OR CARGO.

THAT MEANS A MAXIMUM OF 140.5 CUBIC-FEET; 87.5, BEHIND THE 2ND ROW, AND 32.3 BEHIND THE 3RD.

STARTING, MIDWAY UP THE TRIM TREE MEANS THE HYBRID GETS THE LARGER 8.4 INCH UCONNECT TOUCHSCREEN.

IT REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST USER FRIENDLY SYSTEMS OUT THERE, AND ADDS SOME UNIQUE SCREENS FOR MONITORING THIS HYBRID'S POWERTRAIN.

ON THE ROAD, THE PACIFICA HYBRID REMAINS VERY CARLIKE TO DRIVE, AND IS ALSO EXCEPTIONALLY QUIET AND SERENE.

YOU CAN SENSE THE ADDITIONAL BATTERY WEIGHT, BUT WITH IT PLACED DOWN LOW, THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO TOP HEAVINESS.

WE ACTUALLY FOUND, THE 33 MILE EV-RANGE ESTIMATE FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE, AS DRIVEN KINDLY, YOU CAN EASILY DO MUCH MORE.

CHARGE TIME IS AS LITTLE AS TWO-HOURS, WITH 240 VOLTS, AND YOU CAN MONITOR PROGRESS WITH AN APP, OF COURSE.

ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER, THE PACIFICA HYBRID HAS A SCULPTED EXTERIOR WITH ATHLETIC PROPORTIONS.

OKAY, BUT IT'S STILL YOUR BASIC TWO-BOX MINIVAN, ALTHOUGH, A QUITE HANDSOMELY STYLED ONE.

UNIQUE HYBRID FEATURES INCLUDE A DIFFERENT GRILLE, SPECIAL WHEELS, UNIQUE BADGING, AND SOME EXCLUSIVE EXTERIOR COLORS.

INSIDE, THERE'S NEW "ANODIZED ICE CAVE" ACCENTS, AS WELL AS ICE BLUE STITCHING; BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT ICE ANYTHING SCREAMS HYBRID.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 32-COMBINED FOR THE MPG, 84-COMBINED FOR THE MPGE.

OUR LOOP CAME IN JUST UNDER THE COMBINED AT 31.0 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

STILL, THAT'S A SOLID 30% BETTER THAN WE MANAGED WITH A LONG TERM PACIFICA.

THE PACIFICA HYBRID ALSO HAS AN EXCELLENT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH CONSUMPTION OF 4.0 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, AND CO2 EMISSION OF 1.8 TONS.

THIS HYBRID STARTS AT TOURING PLUS TRIM, SO AT $41,090, IT WILL COST YOU $7,400 ABOVE A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED NON-HYBRID.

BUT, THE BEST NEWS OF ALL, BEING A PLUG-IN OPENS UP GOVERNMENT REBATES OF AT LEAST $7,500; MAKING IT PRETTY MUCH A WASH. WAS ANYONE REALLY ASKING FOR A PLUG-IN MINIVAN?

DON'T KNOW.

BOTTOM LINE, PLUGGING IN WHENEVER YOU CAN, IS STILL MORE EFFICIENT THAN TOPPING OFF THE TANK, SO MONEY SAVED.

PLUS, THE 2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID STILL HAS MOST OF ITS FAMILY AND HAULING FEATURES INTACT, ALONG WITH NEW EFFICIENCY, FEW CROSSOVER UTILITIES CAN APPROACH.

SO, THE MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL FRONT-DRIVE MINIVAN HAVE INDEED USHERED IN THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE SAME... ALL ABOARD!

* THERE WAS A TIME WHEN RIGHTEOUS CARS, WERE PARKED OUTSIDE BLOCKBUSTER.

BACK WHEN NEON SUNGLASSES AND ANALOG DASHBOARDS WERE TOTALLY HAPPEN'EN.

OUR ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND A WAY TO GO OVER THE EDGE AND BACK IN TIME, WHERE ONE CAN SURROUND THEMSELVES IN WICKED NOSTALGIA.

* Zach Maskell: TENTS BLOCKING THE SUN FROM HITTING THE INFIELD GRASS.

DRIVERS PROTECTING THEM ON THE TWO AND A HALF MILE TRACK LIKE CROCODILES IN A MOAT.

VISITORS, CALLING THIS CASTLE HOME FOR THREE DAYS.

WE'RE ESCAPING REALITY AT GRIDLIFE SOUTH, HOSTED AT ROAD ATLANTA.

HIGH SPEED, MUSIC, DRIFTING, AND ECSTATIC ENERGY IN THE AIR.

ON TOP OF THAT, A CAR SHOW THAT VOWS TO KEEP IT WEIRD.

WE HAVE FOUND RADWOOD.

CELEBRATING BRIGHT COLORS, BIG HAIR, AND THE WEDGE SHAPED LOOKS OF THE 1980s, AND 1990s, LET'S GO...BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Zach: WHILE, CARS OF THIS ERA LIKE A PORSCHE 944 OR OLDSMOBILE 98 DIESEL MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE BY THE GENERAL POPULATION, A LOT OF US ODDBALLS STILL LUST AFTER THESE GNARLY RIDES.

SOME OF THOSE BEING "CARS OF FUTURE," TRACES OF WHICH CAN STILL BE SEEN TODAY.

Brandley Brownell: REALLY EARLY COMPUTER DRAFTING.

IT'S A LOT OF WEDGES, A LOT OF STRAIGHT EDGES.

A LOT OF SHARP ANGLES.

YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY, A COMMON THEME AMONG A LOT OF THE CARS HERE, THAT THEY'RE VERY WEDGY.

Zach: ARMED MAINLY WITH PENCILS AND CLAY, DESIGNERS CREATED AN ENTIRELY NEW STAGE IN THE PROGRESSION OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

Bradley: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THESE CARS THAT DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

YOU KNOW, WHERE WOULD YOU SEE A TWO TONE ACCORD?

AT A HOT ROD SHOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'D BE LIKE, "GET OUT OF HERE."

BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO HAVE A SHOW WHERE PEOPLE COULD BRING THAT OUT, AND BE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

Zach: WITH THE RAD CLOTHING, AND WICKED SCHWEET INTERIORS, IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THIS SHOW FROM SPREADING ALL THE WAY FROM ITS ROOTS IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Super Dave: I SAW THIS ON FACEBOOK WITH THE CALIFORNIA GROUP AND I'M SO GLAD THEY BROUGHT IT.

I DROVE UP FROM FLORIDA TO GET HERE AND CAMPED LAST NIGHT NEXT TO MY MIATA.

THAT WAS A FIRST.

Zach: THE '70s BEING THE PINNACLE OF THE WEDGE SHAPES, MANY OF THESE BECAME A BIT SOFTER AND MORE ROUNDED.

WITH FUEL INJECTION INTRODUCED, THESE CHOICE RIDES COULD BE DRIVEN FAR WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ADJUSTING THE CARBURETOR.

THIS ONE, BEING DAILY DRIVEN TO THIS DAY.

Macho Man: THE '80s AND '90s CARS, THEY'RE DEFINITELY DIFFERENT STYLES THAN MOST CARS.

I LIKE THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT'S BOXY, HAS NICE SHARP EDGES ON IT.

YOU KNOW, THE FRONT HAS THE FOUR HEADLIGHTS, NO CARS HAVE THAT NOW.

Zach: I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE.

A MID-ENGINE, REAR DRIVE, 1992 HONDA BEAT, IMPORTED FROM JAPAN.

OKAY...SO, HOW DO WE ACCESS THE ENGINE?

Car Owner: TAKE THIS OFF.

YOU'VE GOT PANELING.

THAT'S HOW YOU PULL ALL OF YOUR INTAKE OFF.

THEN, YOU'VE GOT TO COME AROUND.

SO RIGHT DOWN IN HERE IS YOUR ENGINE COVER.

IT'S JUST FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THIS THING DOWN.

PULL IT OFF AND YOUR ENGINE IS SITTING RIGHT IN THERE.

AND IT'S TRANSVERSELY MOUNTED AND IT'S ACTUALLY, NOT AS HARD TO WORK ON IN THERE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY 3-CYLINDERS.

Zach: THIS RAD 63 HORSEPOWER KEI CAR WAS THE LAST ONE EVER APPROVED TO BE ROAD WORTHY, BY SOICHIRO HONDA.

Car Owner: I'VE DRIVEN MODERN CARS, I DON'T GET THE SAME FEEL.

IT'S JUST YOU'RE SO CONNECTED TO THE ROAD.

IT'S JUST HISTORY.

Zach: HAMMER IS PRONOUNCED THE SAME IN BOTH ENGLISH AND GERMAN.

THIS 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ SURELY SPEAKS TO ALL.

TAKING HOME "BEST IN SHOW," THE ONLY 6.0 LITER AMG HAMMER WAGON EVER PRODUCED.

IT'S TOUGH TO APPRECIATE EVERY CAR WHEN IT'S NEW, BUT AS TIME MARCHES ON, YOU FIND THAT YOU MISS, THAT FEW THOUSAND DOLLAR SUBARU, JUST AS MUCH AS THAT TUNED SIX-FIGURE PORSCHE.

John: CAR REPAIR HAS REALLY CHANGED.

IN MANY CASES YOU CAN'T EVEN BUY A SINGLE PART ANYMORE.

PAT GOSS PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: AS CARS HAVE EVOLVED SO HAVE THE PARTS THAT WE USE TO REPAIR THEM.

AND WE HAVE OUR PARTS GURU MR. TOM TAYLOR TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ABOUT SUSPENSION PARTS.

TOM, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tom Taylor: THANKS PAT, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF SUSPENSION PARTS.

WHAT ARE WE SEEING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

Tom: NEWER CARS HAVE A LOT MORE BUSHINGS THAN OLDER CARS DID.

IT'S A WAY TO MAKE THE RIDE BETTER, THE CONTROL STEERING BETTER, THE BRAKING BETTER.

Pat: OKAY, NOW.

HISTORICALLY, BUSHINGS IN THE SUSPENSION AND SO ON...

THEY'VE BEEN MADE OUT OF RUBBER AND WE CAN SEE DETERIORATION OVER HERE AND SO ON.

THAT'S CHANGING.

Tom: YES, THE RUBBER, THE OZONE IN THE AIR, GET A LITTLE OIL ON IT, FUEL, AND JUST THE MILES PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THEIR CARS BEYOND 100,000.

300,000 MILES.

SO, THERE'S BEEN NEW MATERIALS OUT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

POLYURETHANE ISN'T JUST BEAUTIFUL RED.

YET, RESISTS THAT OIL, RESISTS THE OZONE, AND IS A BETTER FIRMNESS RIGHT FROM THE START BEING BETTER THAN THE RUBBER FOR CONTROL AND CUSHIONING THE RIDE.

Pat: OKAY, NOW.

YOU ACTUALLY, HAVE A KIT THERE WHICH IS SOMETHING WE PREFER IN THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE INVARIABLY IF WE DON'T BUY THE KIT WE'RE GOING TO BE MINUS SOMETHING, AND THE CAR'S GOING TO BE TIED UP FOR TWO DAYS, AND WE'RE IN A MESS.

Tom: WHETHER, YOU'RE REPLACING A TIMING BELT, BRAKES OR SUSPENSION KITS ARE HANDY, SO YOU DON'T GET HALFWAY THROUGH IT AND DISCOVER YOU NEED A BOLT OR A FITTING YOU HAVE TO SPEND TIME HUNTING FOR.

Pat: NOW, MOST OF THESE KITS ARE DESIGNED FOR DO IT YOURSELF?

Tom: DO IT YOURSELF AND PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MANY CARS YOU WORK ON, YOU MAY FORGET THAT BOLT OR SOME LITTLE PIECE.

Pat: OKAY.

AND OF COURSE, OTHER PARTS LIKE THIS STEERING DAMPER.

Tom: SOMETHING YOU SEE ON NEWER CARS, IT'LL BE LIKE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE WHERE YOU HAVE THE BUSHING PERMANENTLY PRESSED IN THERE.

A LOT OF NEWER PARTS ARE THE SAME WAY.

YOU'LL BUY THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WITH THE BUSHINGS ALREADY INSTALLED WHICH CAN MAKE INSTALLATION EASIER.

AND THEN, YOU MAY HAVE OTHER BUSHINGS THAT ARE SEPARATE LIKE ON AN OLDER CAR WHERE YOU JUST INSTALL THOSE.

Pat: OKAY.

WELL, TOM THANK YOU.

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

* Greg Carloss: THIS 2018 MAZDA6 MID-SIZE SEDAN REMAINS A POPULAR CHOICE AMONG OUR DRIVERS, EVEN AFTER 7-MONTHS AND 13,000 MILES.

THE 227 HORSEPOWER FROM THE SKYACTIV-G 2.5 LITER TURBO-4, AND RESPONSIVE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC STILL GENERATE PRAISE.

THE MAZDA6 CONTINUES TO OFFER THE MOST ENGAGING DRIVE IN ITS SEGMENT; THERE'S NO DENYING THAT.

THE NEW TURBO CHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE IS A BIG REASON WHY WE THINK THIS IS THE DRIVERS MID-SIZE SEDAN.

PLUS, OUR INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM JUST RECEIVED AN UPDATE TO INCLUDE APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO, WHICH ARE QUICKLY BECOMING A MUST-HAVE FEATURES.

SHORT TRIPS OR LONG, FAST OR SLOW, THE NEW SUSPENSION REMAINS ATHLETIC AND COMFORTABLE.

SO FAR, WE'RE AVERAGING 28.1 MILES PER GALLON.

BUT THE MOST RECENT PERIOD REACHED 33.3, OUR BEST TALLY YET.

NO WONDER THIS "6" RATES A "10" WITH US.

ONLY 3-WEEKS WITH THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS AND WE'VE ALREADY TACKED ON 1700 MILES.

THAT INCLUDED, A 3-DAY TRIP TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE FALL COLORS.

EIGHTEEN HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL GAVE US PLENTY OF QUALITY TIME IN VWs LARGEST U.S.

VEHICLE.

THE 276 HORSEPOWER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 3.6 LITER VR6 PULLED STRONG EVEN UP MOUNTAINS.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC CHANGED GEARS WITH EASE EVEN ON DOWN SHIFTS.

PERHAPS MOST IMPRESSIVE WAS THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL...

WHICH ADJUSTED THE SPEED WITH STEALTH-LIKE PRECISION.

STEERING IS LIGHT BUT SOLID.

VWs 4MOTION PERMANENT AWD EASILY HANDLED A STEEP GRAVEL DRIVE-WAY AND 9-STRAIGHT HOURS OF RAIN SOAKED ROADS.

THE SEATS ARE VOLKSWAGEN FIRM AND FINE FOR DAILY COMMUTES...

BUT COULD BE MORE PLIABLE FOR LONG JOURNEYS.

WE'RE AVERAGING 19.5 MILES PER GALLON...

WHICH IS IN-LINE WITH THE EPA'S COMBINED RATING... AND THERE ARE MANY MORE LONG TRIPS AHEAD.

THE MOTORWEEK LOT IS FILLING UP WITH TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO FACE WINTER.

THE 2019 KIA NIRO PHEV AND THE 2019 RAM 1500.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE RAM AND THE HONDA ODYSSEY ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM TEST UPDATE!

John: AUTOS ARE ALWAYS IN THE HEADLINES, SO HERE'S YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH THIS WEEKS MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: FOR CAR COMPANIES, IT WAS ALL LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, AT THE 2018 LA AUTO SHOW.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT, THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ GLE LITERALLY DANCED ONTO STAGE USING ITS E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SUSPENSION.

FOLLOWED BY A WORLD DEBUT TWIN-TURBO V8 RUSH FROM THE 469 HORSEPOWER MERCEDES-AMG GT COUPE...

THE 550 HORSEPOWER MERCEDES-AMG GT C ROADSTER... AND THE LIMITED EDITION 577 HORSEPOWER, MERCEDES-AMG GT R PRO.

BUT NO HEADLINER WAS BRIGHTER IN LA THAN THE ALL-NEW 2020 PORSCHE 911.

WHILE, THE LOOK REMAINS CLASSIC, THIS 9-9-2 CARRERA S TOUTS 443 HORSEPOWER FROM ITS TWIN-TURBO FLAT-SIX.

NISSAN DROVE INTO FRAME WITH AN UPDATE OF THEIR FLAGSHIP MAXIMA SEDAN, AND LUXURIOUS MURANO CROSSOVER.

BOTH WITH MORE TECH AND EYE APPEAL THAN EVER.

APPEALING TO LARGE FAMILIES IS THE BMW X7 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE, COMPLETE WITH STANDARD THREE ROW SEATING.

FOR MORE INTIMATE DRIVING THERE'S THE 382 HORSEPOWER M340I DRIVE SEDAN.

THE BMW 8-SERIES CONVERTIBLE JOINS THE COUPE.

AND, THE Z4 ROADSTER AND FUTURISTIC VISION INEXT CONCEPT.

A HUGE CROWD GATHERED FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED NEW JEEP IN DECADES.

THE GLADIATOR MIDSIZE PICKUP JOINS THE RUGGED LINE-UP WITH V6 AND DIESEL POWER.

HONDA'S STARING ROLL WAS TAKEN BY THE RETURN OF THE PASSPORT.

THIS 5-PASSENGER UTILITY SLIPS IN BETWEEN THE COMPACT CR-V AND THREE-ROW PILOT.

THE HYUNDAI PALISADE IS THE KOREAN BRAND'S NEW FLAGSHIP UTILITY.

AN ALL-NEW CHASSIS PROVIDES ROOM FOR EIGHT.

USING YOUR PHONE AS THE KEY ADDS TO THE LUXURY OF THE REDESIGNED MID-SIZE LINCOLN AVIATOR.

ITS OFFICIAL, AN EVEN MORE SPORTY MAZDA3 WILL BE AVAILABLE WITH A NEW SKYACTIVE-X GASOLINE-COMPRESSION ENGINE, AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

AUDI DEBUTED THE E-TRON GT CONCEPT TO EV HUNGRY CALIFORNIANS.

THE ALL-ELECTRIC 4-DOOR COUPE PROMISES 590 HORSEPOWER AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

TOYOTA IS ADDING MORE ELECTRIFIED MODELS WITH THE COROLLA HYBRID.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THE HYBRID PRIUS WILL SEND POWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

KIA'S BIG STAR WAS A COOLER THAN EVER, 3RD GENERATION SOUL COMPACT URBAN UTILITY.

GAS POWER NOW, EV TO COME.

SUBARU ALSO PLUGGED IN WITH ITS CROSSTREK HYBRID.

THREE ELECTRIC MOTORS POWER THE RUGGED LOOKING MITSUBISHI E-EVOLUTION CONCEPT.

AND, VOLKSWAGEN'S ELECTRIC AMBITIONS INCLUDE THE I.D.

BUZZ CARGO CONCEPT.

ALL THREE 2019 GREEN CAR JOURNAL AWARD WINNERS CAN TURN THEIR WHEELS WITH ELECTRICITY.

THE HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID IS GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR.

THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV IS GREEN SUV OF THE YEAR.

AND, GREEN LUXURY CAR OF THE YEAR GOES TO THE JAGUAR I-PACE.

FINALLY, TWO POSSIBLE FUTURE GREEN WINNERS ARRIVED, THE RIVIAN R1T PICKUP, AND R1S SUV CONCEPTS.

U.S. BASED RIVIAN SAYS, "THEIR ELECTRIC ADVENTURE VEHICLES WILL HAVE A RANGE OF UP TO 400 MILES WHEN SALES START IN 2020."

AS YOU CAN SEE, LA WAS A REALLY BIG AUTO SHOW!

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

John: IN CASE YOU HAD ANY DOUBT, AMERICANS LOVE THEIR PICKUP TRUCKS MORE THAN EVER.

AND, THE EVER-ESCALATING TRUCK WARS ARE NOW RISING TO A NEW LEVEL BECAUSE THE RECENTLY UPDATED BEST-SELLING FORD F-150'S BIGGEST RIVALS, RAM 1500, AND CHEVROLET SILVERADO ARE ALL NEW FOR 2019.

BUT WE'VE ALREADY TESTED THE RAM, A FEW MONTHS BACK, SO NOW, LET'S CHECK OUT THE NEW SILVERADO, AND SEE IF FORD SHOULD BE WORRIED!

* IT SAYS, A LOT ABOUT CHEVROLET'S TRUE PRIORITIES, WHEN THE FIRST HIGHLIGHT OF THE TOTALLY REDESIGNED 2019 SILVERADO'S PRESS RELEASE DECLARES IT HAS THE MOST FUNCTIONAL BED OF ANY FULL-SIZE TRUCK.

SURE, THE TRUCK ITSELF IS BIGGER BUT LIGHTER, MORE POWERFUL, AND FUEL EFFICIENT, SHINIER, AND MORE COMFORTABLE; ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.

BUT, CHEVROLET WANTS TO MAKE SURE WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THAT TRUCKS ARE MADE TO DO WORK, AND THE EASIER THEY MAKE THAT WORK FOR US, THE MORE WE TEND TO LIKE THEM.

FOLLOWING IN FORD'S FOOTSTEPS, THEY'VE USED ALUMINUM AND OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS TO LOWER MASS, BUT NOT QUITE AS EXTENSIVELY.

ONLY THE DOORS, TAILGATE, AND HOOD ARE ALUMINUM HERE; THE REST OF BODY PANELS REMAIN STEEL.

THE FRAME ITSELF IS DOWN A WHOPPING 88 POUNDS.

ALL TOLD, THE NEW SILVERADO WEIGHS AROUND 400 POUNDS LESS THAN ITS PREDECESSOR.

STYLING IS BOLDER, YET, CLEARLY EVOLUTIONARY, AND THE FRONT END INCLUDES THE FIRST AERODYNAMIC FENDER VENTS ON ANY TRUCK.

A WIDE RANGE OF POWERTRAIN OPTIONS INCLUDE 5.3 LITER AND 6.2 LITER V8s, A 4.3 LITER V6, AND EVEN A NEW 2.7 LITER TURBO-4, AND 3.0 LITER DURAMAX I6 DIESEL.

BOTH V8s FEATURE A NEW DYNAMIC FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT CAN SHUT OFF ANY NUMBER OF CYLINDERS TO OPTIMIZE FUEL ECONOMY.

THE NUMBERS FOR THE 6.2 LITER ARE 420 HORSEPOWER, AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND IT'S WHERE YOU GET THE MAX TOWING RATING OF 12,200 POUNDS.

CHEVROLET HAS DIVIDED UP YOUR CHOICES INTO THREE CATEGORIES; HIGH VALUE, WHICH INCLUDES WORK TRUCK, CUSTOM, AND CUSTOM TRAIL BOSS TRIMS; HIGH VOLUME, COMPRISING LT, RST, AND LT TRAIL BOSS TRIMS; WHILE LTZ AND HIGH COUNTRY MAKE UP THE HIGH FEATURE SEGMENT.

RST AND TRAIL BOSS TRIMS ARE NEW FOR THIS YEAR, AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT WAS THE LT TRAIL BOSS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE.

IT INCLUDES THE EXPECTED Z71 OFF-ROAD GOODIES SUCH AS RANCHO SHOCKS, SKID PLATES, LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL, 18-INCH WHEELS WITH GOOD YEAR WRANGLER DURATRAC A/Ts, AS WELL AS 2.0 INCHES OF SUSPENSION LIFT.

NOW, AS FOR THAT ULTRA-FUNCTIONAL BED, IT REALLY IS.

CARGO VOLUME IS BEST IN CLASS, THE FLOOR IS MADE OF HIGHER-STRENGTH STEEL, TIE DOWNS ARE STRONGER THAN BEFORE AND THERE ARE MORE OF THEM; THERE'S EVEN AVAILABLE RAMBOX-LIKE BED STORAGE AND A POWER TAILGATE.

WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SAMPLE THE V8s AT THE NATIONAL PRESS LAUNCH IN JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING.

BOTH PROVIDED MORE THAN AMPLE POWER TO QUICKLY EAT UP THE VAST SPACES WE TRAVERSED.

UNLIKE BEFORE, WHEN YOU COULD CLEARLY TELL WHEN THINGS SHIFTED TO V4 MODE, THE DYNAMIC FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS VIRTUALLY UNDETECTABLE.

THE 10-SPEED AUTO IS SMOOTH AND QUICK ON THE UPSHIFTS; ONLY FUMBLING OCCASIONALLY, WHEN FIGURING OUT WHERE TO LAND ON THE DOWNSHIFT.

BEING THE BIGGEST HALF-TON SILVERADO YET, GM WAS ABLE TO PACK PLENTY OF ROOM INSIDE; MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE BACK SEAT OF CREW CAB MODELS, WHERE THERE IS NOW VERY GENEROUS LEGROOM.

VISUALLY, THE DASH ALSO FAVORS PAST SILVERADO'S.

MORE MODERN, SURE, BUT NOTHING TO MATCH THE GIANT IPAD-LIKE SCREEN AVAILABLE ON RAM.

YET, LOOKS ARE DECEIVING, AS WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TIME TO GET INTO ALL OF THE HIGH TECH AND PRAGMATIC FEATURES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE EIGHT TRIM LEVELS OF SILVERADO TO CHOOSE FROM, WITH A BASIC CAB WORK TRUCK STARTING AT $29,795.

DOUBLE CABS START AT $33,695; AND EVENTUALLY, YOU'LL WIND UP IN THE HIGH COUNTRY AT $54,495.

SO, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO PLAY.

BUT, FULL-SIZE TRUCKS LIKE THIS 2019 CHEVROLET SILVERADO BOAST CAPABILITIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

NOW, WE DOUBT THE NEW SILVERADO WILL TAKE MANY SALES FROM THE F-150, BUT WE PREDICT THERE WILL BE A DUAL FOR NUMBER TWO SPOT WITH RAM.

AS FOR SILVERADO, WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT FAMILY VEHICLE, OR THE PROPER TOOL FOR YOUR JOB, CHEVY HAS ONE FOR YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT.

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 ASKED FOR IT AND GOT IT, THE SUBARU WRX STI TYPE RA, AND ACURA ADDS MORE OF EVERYTHING WE WANT TO THE COMFORTABLE RDX.

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: 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: 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.

FROM THE COLD OF WINTER, TO THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTAGE WIPER BLADES ARE ENGINEERED FOR USE ACROSS ALL SEASONS.

MORE INFORMATION AT RAINX.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.

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] *