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

JOIN US, AS KIA AMPS UP THE NIRO HYBRID'S SUCCESS BY PLUGGING IN... PAT GOSS HAS SLICK ADVICE ON HOW TO KEEP ALL THE PARTS MOVING... ZACH MASKELL TURNS ON THE TWO-WHEEL JUICE AND HEADS OVER THE EDGE... AND ITS LIGHTNING FAST LAPS IN THE LIVELIER LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE.

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...

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.

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 AT THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WE'VE GROWN QUITE ATTACHED TO THE KIA NIRO HYBRID DURING THE 11 MONTHS IT'S BEEN IN OUR LONG TERM TEST FLEET.

WE'RE AVERAGING ALMOST 43 MILES PER GALLON IN THIS ROOMY 5-DOOR URBAN UTE.

SO, WE WERE GLAD TO SEE WHEN IT'S BIGGER BATTERIED PLUG-IN BROTHER FINALLY ARRIVED.

SO TIME NOW TO SEE IF MORE EV RANGE JOLTS OUR OPINION OF THE KIA NIRO.

John: THE KIA NIRO HYBRID ARRIVED FOR 2017, ON THE BRAND'S FIRST DEDICATED HYBRID PLATFORM.

SO, THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP WAS OF COURSE, THIS 2018 NIRO HYBRID PHEV VERSION.

ADDING A BIGGER 8.9-KWH BATTERY PACK TO KIA'S URBAN CROSSOVER HYBRID PROVIDES A 26-MILE EV-ONLY RANGE; PRETTY TYPICAL FOR RECENT PLUG-IN HYBRIDS.

SO, IF YOU HAVE A SHORT COMMUTE, YOU MAY ONLY HAVE TO BURN GAS ON WEEKEND ADVENTURES.

AND LIKE MOST OF THE PHEV BREED, IT FEELS QUICK AND SMOOTH OFF THE LINE.

LIKE OUR LONG TERM NIRO, IT DOES FUMBLE A BIT AS IT SEARCHES FOR THE APPROPRIATE POWER SOURCE, AS WELL AS THE PROPER GEAR FROM THE 6-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC.

AT LEAST IT'S NOT A CVT.

THE GAS ENGINE IS THE STANDARD NIRO HYBRID'S 1.6-LITER I4.

RATED AT ONLY 104-HORSEPOWER AND 109 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ON ITS OWN, BOOST FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IS VERY WELCOME.

THAT ELECTRIC MOTOR IS LARGER FOR THE PLUG-IN, YET THE COMBINED OUTPUT REMAINS THE SAME, 139-HORSEPOWER AND 195 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

EVER SINCE THE TOYOTA PRIUS ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE HYBRID HEAP, MULTIPLE BRANDS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CHIP AWAY AT THEIR DOMINANCE.

GRANTED, LOWER FUEL PRICES HAVE HELD THEM BACK; BUT SINCE THE NIRO HYBRID BECAME AVAILABLE LAST YEAR, SALES HAVE BEEN QUITE GOOD.

AT ABOUT 3,400-LBS., SOME 200 MORE FOR THE EXTRA HARDWARE; THE NIRO PHEV DOES LOSE SOME OF THE BASE HYBRID'S NIMBLENESS.

STILL, STEERING IS QUITE NICE; WITH TURN-INS THAT ARE QUICK, WITHOUT THE OVER-BOOSTED FEEL OF MANY SMALL CROSSOVERS.

THAT HEAVINESS ALSO GIVES IT A VERY SOLID FEEL.

AGAIN LIKE OUR NIRO HYBRID LONG TERMER, BRAKE PEDAL FEEL IS VERY NATURAL FOR A REGEN SYSTEM; BUT YOU DO HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT INTO IT SOMETIMES.

THERE'S A HIGH QUALITY LOOK AND INVITING NATURE TO THE INTERIOR, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF SOFT MATERIALS AND ABOVE AVERAGE SEAT COMFORT; PUTTING IT PERHAPS A SMALL STEP UP FROM THE TOYOTA PRIUS.

ROOM INSIDE IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SMALL CROSSOVERS THAT THE NIRO COMPETES WITH; NOT PLENTIFUL, BUT ADEQUATE.

YET THE WAGON-LIKE SHAPE OF THE NIRO, MAKES GETTING IN AND OUT, AS WELL LOADING THE CARGO AREA, VERY EASY.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PACK 19.4 CUBIC-FT. WORTH OF STUFF BACK THERE, AND IF YOU NEED MORE SPACE, FOLDING THE REAR SEATS WILL GET YOU 54.5 CUBIC-FT.

BOTH NUMBERS UNCHANGED FROM THE REGULAR NIRO, AS UNDERFLOOR SPACE FOR THE LARGER BATTERY WAS PLANNED FOR IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.

OF COURSE GETTING FUEL ECONOMY IN THE MID-40'S IS CERTAINLY NOT COMMON IN THE CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

AND GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS HERE ARE 46-COMBINED, OR 105-COMBINED MPGE.

OUR AVERAGE FOR THIS PHEV IS RIGHT ON AT 46.0 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR, AND BETTER THAN THE 42.9 MILES-PER-GALLON WE'RE CURRENTLY AVERAGING IN OUR LONG-TERM, NON-PLUG IN NIRO.

THERE'S A GREAT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH USE OF JUST 3.4-BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 1.5-TONS.

WHILE ALREADY HAVING THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A BETTER LOOKING VEHICLE THAN THE PRIUS, WE LOVE THE SUBTLE BLUE CUES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO SEPARATE THIS PLUG-IN FROM THE ORIGINAL NIRO HYBRID.

THEY SEEM TO BE JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, YET THEY'RE NOT IN YOUR FACE SCREAMING THAT IT IS A PHEV.

IN ADDITION, THE GRILLE IS SLIGHTLY MODIFIED, AND OF COURSE THERE'S NOW A CHARGE PORT IN THE FRONT FENDER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

CHARGING TIME ON 240-VOLTS IS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS; CLOSER TO 9 WITH THE STANDARD OUTLET 120.

THE PLUG-IN STICKS WITH MID-LEVEL NIRO TRIMS, SO NO BASE FE OR TOURING PLUG-INS ARE AVAILABLE.

THUS, PRICING STARTS WITH THE LX AT $28,840; ABOUT $4200 MORE THAN THE NON-PLUG IN, AND TOPS OUT WITH EX PREMIUM AT $35,440.

FOR SOME, TAX INCENTIVES MAY MORE THAN COVER THE UPGRADE.

AS WITH MOST PLUG-INS, THE MORE TIME YOU ARE ABLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EV POWER, THE MORE THEY MAKE SENSE.

IF YOU HAVE A FAIRLY SHORT COMMUTE OR CAN PLUG IN OFTEN, THEN THE 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV IS WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY.

BUT, IF YOU MAINLY DRIVE LONGER DISTANCES OR DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FREQUENTLY CHARGE THE BATTERY, THEN YOU'RE BETTER OFF STICKING WITH THE TRADITIONAL NIRO HYBRID, WHICH ITSELF IS QUITE A FINE VEHICLE.

PLUS, THERE'S A FULL EV NIRO WITH OVER 200-MILES OF RANGE COMING VERY SOON.

BOTTOM LINE, KIA CONTINUES TO EXPAND THEIR PORTFOLIO TO INCLUDE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT OPTIONS.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A WIN FOR US, AND KIA.

John: WELL, LET'S "SHRED" OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE HEADS WEST ON JUST WHAT MIGHT BE "THE FUTURE OF FAST."

Zach Maskell: PICTURE THIS.

NO MORE GASOLINE, CLUTCH, AIR FILTER, OIL CHANGES, OR TOP END REBUILDS.

"I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS SAN FRANCISCO BASED COMPANY, AND TODAY...WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO THROW A LEG OVER THIS ALTA DIRT BIKE, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT THE INNER WORKINGS AS WELL."

Laurence Lea: IT STARTED JUST IN A... GARAGE IN 2007, AND IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GOT THE FIRST WORKING PROTOTYPE.

Zach: INSIDE THE BRISBANE, CALIFORNIA FACTORY, THEY ASSEMBLE...YOU GUESSED IT, ALL ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES.

THEY OFFER A SUPER MOTO, GOOD FOR 60 MILES OF ASPHALT CRUISING, AN EX ENDURO BIKE FOR OFF-ROAD PLUS URBAN ASSAULT, AND FOR 2018, THIS, THE NEW FLAGSHIP OF THEIR ARSENAL, AND THE FIRST TRACK FOCUSED ELECTRIC BIKE WE'VE DRIVEN YET, THE REDSHIFT MX-R. Laurence: THIS BIKE IS BUILT FOR THE TRACK.

IT IS BUILT TO RACE; IT IS BUILT TO COMPETE.

IT IS BUILT TO WIN.

Zach: THEY'VE ALREADY PROVED THEIR ABLE, ZAPPING INTO THE FINAL FOUR OF A SUPER CROSS RACE FULL OF GAS COMPETITORS, THE 2016 RED BULL RHYTHM.

Derek Dorresteyn: THE 2018 MXR IS A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST YEAR'S MX BASE MODEL.

WE'VE INCREASED POWER DRAMATICALLY, FROM 40 HORSEPOWER TO 50 HORSEPOWER AT THE REAR WHEEL.

Laurence: TWIST THE THROTTLE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE MOTOR CONTROLLER HERE.

THE MOTOR CONTROLLER, BASICALLY THINK OF IT AS A SET OF VALVES ON A TRADITIONAL BIKE AND WHAT IT DOES, IS THE MORE YOU TWIST IT, THE MORE IT DISTRIBUTES THE POWER FROM THE BATTERY.

Zach: FROM THE BATTERY, POWER GOES TO THE MOTOR, WHICH GOES DOWN TO A GEAR REDUCTION, AND THAT TURNS THE CHAIN.

AND WAALAA, THE WHEEL IS SPINNING.

WE CHARGED UP AND HEADED TO DIABLO MX RANCH, FOR A PRACTICE SESSION ALONGSIDE ALTA'S IN HOUSE RIDER.

Blake Nicholas: I DIDN'T THINK SO AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT BUT LOOKING AT THE DATA, I AM FASTER ON THIS BIKE.

Zach: I KNOW THERE'S 147 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO THE COUNTER-SHAFT AVAILABLE IN A SPLIT SECOND.

I PICTURED MYSELF TWISTING THE THROTTLE AND THE BIKE LOOPING OUT FROM UNDER ME, SENDING IT TO THE MOON.

BUT I STARTED OFF SLOW, AND JUST LIKE THAT, A GRIN WAS GLUED TO MY FACE.

Laurence: THE SMOOTH CONTROL AND THE PRECISENESS THAT'S DELIVERED FROM AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CAN HAVE YOU IN THE PERFECT POWER BAND ALL THE TIME.

Zach: IT'S GOT FOUR PREPROGRAMMED MAPS, WHICH YOU CAN ADJUST ON THE FLY WITH THE TOUCH OF YOUR FINGER.

IT CHANGES TRACTION, ENGINE BRAKING, AND POWER DELIVERY FOR THE SINGLE SPEED TRANSMISSION.

THINK OF MAP 1 AS A GOOD TECHNICAL BACK WOODS CHOICE, AND MAP 4 FOR A MAX POWER TRACK ATTACK.

BREMBO BRAKES, WARP 9 WHEELS, WP SUSPENSION, AND DUNLOP TIRES FROM THE FACTORY.

WHILE, THIS DOES WEIGH ABOUT 30 POUNDS MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL BIKE, IT DOESN'T RIDE MUCH DIFFERENT.

Laurence: THE BIKE IS IP67 CERTIFIED.

WHICH MEANS BASICALLY, IT CAN BE SUBMERGED UP TO A METER OF WATER PER PRESSURE, UP TO A HALF HOUR.

Zach: AT FULL OPEN THROTTLE, A PRO RIDER WOULD GET ABOUT 30 MINUTES' BATTERY TIME.

MY BIKE, HAD A QUARTER OF BATTERY LIFE LEFT, WHEN MY TANK WAS ON EMPTY AND I HAD TO CALL IT A DAY.

THE MXR COSTS $11,995, AND THE $799 FAST CHARGER HAS YOU BACK TO FULL JUICE, IN ONE AND A HALF HOURS.

THOSE GAS BIKES ALSO, COST AROUND $9,000.

BUT CONSIDERING THE FREQUENT MAINTENANCE, AND PERFORMANCE UPGRADES MOST RIDERS OPT FOR, THIS ELECTRIC BIKE'S PRICING ISN'T THAT FAR OFF.

AND LIKE OTHER ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES WE'VE DRIVEN, NO MORE NOISE COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS.

SEEING THAT IT TOOK ALL OF A COUPLE LAPS TO GET COMFORTABLE ON THIS ALIEN OBJECT, I'M NOW, A BELIEVER THIS WAY OF USING ELECTRONS COULD VERY WELL BE THE "FUTURE OF FAST."

John: WE SEARCH THE GLOBE FOR THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE GOINGS ON.

AND YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS WHAT'S NEW WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: PART OF THE APPEAL OF SPORT-UTILITIES IS THE PERCEPTION THAT THEY'RE SAFER BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE AND HEIGHT.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION VARIES DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE SEATED.

RECENTLY THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY CONDUCTED CRASH TESTS ON MIDSIZE SUVS.

BUT THIS TIME, THEY FOCUSED ON FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE PROTECTION.

IN THEIR SMALL OVERLAP TEST, A-QUARTER OF THE FRONT END ON THE RIGHT SIDE HITS A BARRIER AT 40-MILES PER HOUR.

SIX OF THE EIGHT MIDSIZE SUV'S TESTED EARNED A GOOD OR ACCEPTABLE RATING FOR PASSENGER-SIDE PROTECTION.

THE 2019 KIA SORENTO, 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS, AND 2018 GMC ACADIA, TOOK THE TOP THREE SPOTS WITH GOOD RATINGS.

THE POPULAR FORD EXPLORER AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WERE AT THE BOTTOM WITH POOR RATINGS.

I.I.H.S.

HAS BEEN RATING VEHICLES FOR SMALL-OVERLAP "DRIVER-SIDE" PROTECTION SINCE 2012, AND ADDED THE PASSENGER SIDE TEST LAST YEAR.

EARNING A GOOD OR ACCEPTABLE RATING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS PART OF ITS TOP SAFETY PICK PLUS REQUIREMENT.

ELECTRIC CARS DON'T DOMINATE THE PASSING LANES YET, BUT THERE ARE CLEARLY MORE OF THEM.

THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY COUNTED OVER 3-MILLION EVS ON THE ROAD GLOBALLY IN 2017.

THAT'S UP 54-PERCENT OVER 2016.

THE LARGEST MARKET FOR EVS IS CHINA, BUT NORWAY HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION.

THE I.E.A.

PROJECTS THERE WILL BE AT LEAST 125-MILLION ELECTRIC CARS BY 2030.

CHINESE BACKED STARTUP SF MOTORS WANTS TO HELP FUEL THE TREND.

THEY PLAN ON BUILDING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT A NEW PLANT IN INDIANA BY 2020.

AND CHECK THIS OUT HI-TECH IS COMING TO A LOW TECH PART OF YOUR CAR...

THE LICENSE PLATE.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA IS TESTING DIGITAL LICENSE PLATES ON THE CITY'S FLEET.

REVIVER AUTO MAKES THEM AND SAYS THE NEW PLATES CAN TRACK THE VEHICLES, ISSUE ALERTS IF THEY'RE STOLEN, AND DISPLAY MESSAGES.

BUT NEW TECHNOLOGY ISN'T CHEAP.

THEY COST $699... PLUS A $7.75 MONTHLY FEE.

IF CALIFORNIA'S PILOT PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL, THEY WOULD BE SOLD THROUGH CAR DEALERSHIPS.

REVIVER AUTO SAYS OTHER STATES ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO THE TECHNOLOGY.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

John: GOOD CAR CARE NEVER RESTS, SO WE WELCOME ANY HELP.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME, DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHY THERE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF GREASES AND LUBRICANTS FOR AUTOMOBILES, WELL YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED, YOU SEE THEY'RE NOT UNIVERSAL.

NOW, IF WE LOOK AT GREASES IN PARTICULAR, A GREASE IS PRIMARILY, A VEHICLE TO HOLD OIL AND IT RELEASES THAT OIL TO LUBRICATE THE PART THAT IT'S ON, BASED ON TEMPERATURE, OR PRESSURE, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

SO, WHAT YOU HAVE ARE HIGH PRESSURE GREASES, AND SO ON THAT ARE USED ON WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR LOW PRESSURE GREASES THAT ARE USED ON OTHER PARTS IN THE CAR.

SO THE BIG THING HERE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE GREASE THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE IN MIND.

NOW, THAT ALSO APPLIES TO A LOT OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

LIKE HERE, WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LUBRICANTS, AND PENETRATING LUBRICANTS, OR PENETRATING OIL.

SEE THIS PENETRATING OIL COULD BE USED TO FREE UP THIS JACK THAT'S BADLY RUSTED.

OIL BY ITSELF MIGHT NOT DO THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE PENETRATING QUALITIES.

NOW, IN SOME CASES YOU'LL FIND GREASES SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

THESE ARE UNIVERSAL AND THEY CAN BE USED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT RARELY ANYTHING THAT IS HIGH PRESSURE LIKE A BEARING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEN OF COURSE, HERE WE HAVE SILICONE.

SILICONE IS WHAT WE USE ON THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON CARS OR ANYTHING THAT IS MADE OF RUBBER BECAUSE RUBBER DOESN'T LIKE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CAN CAUSE RUBBER TO SWELL UP AND BECOME REAL SLIMY AND JUST DISINTEGRATE.

SO WE ALWAYS USE THE SILICONE ON THINGS THAT ARE RUBBER.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HERE IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITES IN THE SHOP.

THIS IS WHITE LITHIUM GREASE.

THIS IS A LIGHT DUTY GREASE.

WE USE IT ON HOOD HINGES, DOOR HINGES, DOOR LATCHES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

SO THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LUBRICATE, WHAT LUBRICANT WORKS BEST FOR THAT APPLICATION AND YOU DO IT CORRECTLY, YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS PROTECTED AND WEARS A LOT LONGER.

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

John: ANOTHER LONG TERM TEST VEHICLE IS DRIVING OFF OUR LOT.

THIS TIME IT'S THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2.0T COAST.

COOL, RAINY WEATHER LIMITED OUR OPEN AIR DRIVING, BUT WHEN WE DID GET TO GO TOP DOWN, IT WAS TOTAL FUN.

PLUS, THIS SOLID, CONFIDENCE INSPIRING RAG TOP MADE THOSE TIMES EXTRA ENJOYABLE.

ENJOYABLE ENOUGH TO TRAVEL 4300 MILES IN 3-MONTHS, AVERAGING A VERY FINE 32.6 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT'S WELL ABOVE THE FED'S COMBINED RATING OF 29.

AIDING THE DRIVING FUN IS A SPIRITED 174-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO IN-LINE 4, MATCHED WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

OUR BUG BUZZED THROUGH A VARIETY OF DRIVING DEMANDS WITH EASE.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER EARLY BEETLES, IT WAS NICE TO BE ONCE AGAIN FACED WITH SIMPLE GAUGES AND LOGICAL CLIMATE AND RADIO CONTROLS.

HAVING EVEN TIGHT REAR SEATS ALSO PROVIDED WELCOMED PRACTICALITY.

WHILE EVERYONE FOUND HAVING A SOFT TOP ON OUR LOT INTRIGUING, IT ALSO TRIGGERED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SMALLISH REAR WINDOW AND THE BLIND SPOTS SO TYPICAL WITH CONVERTIBLES.

WAITING FOR THE WINDOW TO DROP DOWN TO CLEAR THE TOP WHEN YOU PULL THE DOOR HANDLE WAS A GRUMBLE TOO.

BUT THESE MINOR ISSUES QUICKLY DISAPPEARED AS THE WIND WHIPPED PAST US.

DRIVING A CONVERTIBLE IS INDEED REFRESHING, AND THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE DELIVERS THAT EXPERIENCE WITH A UNIQUE STYLE, AND AT A MID-TWENTIES STARTING PRICE, WITH A TERRIFIC WARRANTY, IT MAKES CAREFREE DRIVING ALMOST COMMON SENSE.

SPEAKING OF COMMON SENSE, JOINING OUR LONG TERM GARAGE IS THIS 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY.

IT DID SO WELL IN OUR REGULAR ROAD TEST, THAT WE WANTED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE LATEST GEN OF THIS BENCHMARK SEDAN.

BUT, THERE'S MORE.

THIS 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN IS ACTUALLY TAKING THE BEETLE'S SPOT.

TURBO POWER AND ROOM FOR CARGO MEANS A LOT OF TRAVELING DURING THE WARM SUMMER MONTHS AHEAD.

AND THAT SPORTWAGEN IS UP FIRST, ALONG WITH OUR MAZDA 6, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: EVER SINCE LAMBORGHINI LAUNCHED A WHOLE NEW ERA WITH THE HURACAN, THEY'VE BEEN HITTING US VIRTUALLY NON-STOP WITH NEW VERSIONS OF IT.

THE LATEST IS THE PERFORMANTE, AND IF YOU'RE A TRACK DAY ENTHUSIAST, AND CAN AFFORD THE PRICE OF ADMISSION, IT'S JUST WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!

* * AW MAN WE GET MONEY ALL DAY * * ALL I DO IS WORK ALL I DO IS GET PAID, YEAH * * ALL I DO IS WORK ALL I DO IS... LET ME WORK * [ENGINE REVS] YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A WHILE WHEN YOU HEAR "WHY ARE WE TESTING ANOTHER LAMBORGHINI HURACAN," COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH...

BUT WE ARE, AND IT'S A SPECIAL ONE, THE 2018 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE.

* THE PERFORMANTE TAKES THE HURACAN'S TIMELESS DESIGN AND ADDS SOME ACTIVE AERODYNAMICS, ADDITIONAL CARBON FIBER FOR WEIGHT REDUCTION, A BIT MORE POWER, UNIQUE SUSPENSION TUNING, EXCLUSIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CALIBRATION, REPROGRAMMED STABILITY CONTROL, AND A NEW TIRE-AND-WHEEL PACKAGE.

NOT TO MENTION, TWEAKED FRONT STYLING, AS WELL AS A HUGE WING AND HIGH-MOUNTED EXHAUST TIPS ADDED TO THE REAR, AND OF COURSE, "TRICOLORE" STRIPING DOWN THE SIDES.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN NOT ALL LAMBORGHINI'S LIVED UP TO THEIR HYPE, BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT TO BE THE CASE WITH THE HURACAN.

AND THERE'S NOTHING ALONG THOSE LINES HERE EITHER, AS THE PERFORMANTE WAS DESIGNED WITH ONE THING IN MIND ONLY, LOWERING LAP TIMES.

[ENGINE ROARS] [ENGINE STARTS UP] WEIGHT HAS BEEN SHAVED BY 88 POUNDS.

WITH FORGED COMPOSITES USED FOR BOTH STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE REAR HATCH.

POWER HAS BEEN ADDED, WITH THE 5.2 LITER V10 NOW CRANKING OUT 630 HORSEPOWER, WHILE WHIPPING UP 443 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE ADDITIONAL POWER COMES COURTESY OF NEW TITANIUM INTERNALS, AS WELL AS A RECONFIGURED EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

IT LOOKS GORGEOUS, PULSATING BELOW THE REAR HATCH; THOUGH NOT EVERYONE HERE WAS ENAMORED BY THE CLASSICALLY-INSPIRED BRONZE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

DOWNFORCE HAS BEEN IMPROVED UPON, BUT THE AERO TREATMENTS HERE ARE MORE THAN JUST THE BIGGER REAR WING.

ACTIVE ELEMENTS INCLUDE MULTIPURPOSE REAR VENT FLAPS THAT CAN EITHER CHANNEL AIR INTO THE ENGINE BAY FOR ADDITIONAL COOLING, OR DIRECTLY TO THAT REAR WING FOR TIRE-SHREDDING GRIP.

IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HURACAN, HELLACIOUSLY FASTER, IN FACT IT WAS A RECORD HOLDER ON THE NURBURGRING FOR A BRIEF TIME.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE GET A PRESS RELEASE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY OF THAT HAPPENING, SO IT DIDN'T LAST FOR LONG.

[ENGINE REVS] HERE AT SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, IT STILL FEELS MORE AT HOME IN HIGH SPEED CORNERS THAN SUPER TIGHT ONES, BUT THERE'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF GRIP AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF THE RADIUS YOU'RE NAVIGATING.

CORSA MODE MAKES ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS, KEEPING IT A SIMPLE OPERATION TO PREP FOR TRACK WORK.

STEERING IS VERY DIRECT, WITH AN ALMOST MANUAL EFFORT FEEL, AND THAT POWERFUL ENGINE IS FULL OF NATURALLY-ASPIRATED GOODNESS THAT MAKES YOU NEVER WANT TO DRIVE A TURBO AGAIN.

LAMBO'S STABILITY CONTROL WILL STILL INTERVENE IF IT SENSES YOU'VE GOTTEN TOO OUT OF SHAPE, BUT IT DOES SO ALMOST BEHIND THE SCENES, NOT TAKING TOTAL CONTROL OF THINGS.

THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE GOING FULL THROTTLE IN AN ITALIAN EXOTIC, AND THE PERFORMANTE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

NO ACTIVE AERO NEEDED HERE.

JUST PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THIS LAMBO STREAKS TO 60 IN 2.9 SECONDS.

THE SYMPHONIC WAIL THAT POURS OUT OF THE EXHAUST IS ABOUT AS EPIC AS IT GETS.

WHILE YOU'RE ENJOYING THAT, YOUR GRIP NATURALLY TIGHTENS ON THE WHEEL, THE SCENERY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BLURS, THE 7-SPEED DCT CRACKS OFF LIGHTNING QUICK SHIFTS, AND IN 10.7 SECONDS YOU'RE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE TRAVELING 132 MILES PER HOUR, FEELING LIKE YOU'VE JUST WENT THROUGH SOME CRAZY TIME WARP.

AND JUST LIKE A KID IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK, YOU CAN'T WAIT TO LINE UP AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF ITALIAN PERFORMANCE ART WILL SET YOU BACK $279,185, "ONLY" ABOUT $36,000 MORE THAN A BASE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HURACAN.

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE?

YES.

ASPIRATIONAL DESIGN?

OF COURSE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT CHECKS ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL LAMBO BOXES.

BUT THIS 2018 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE IS MORE THAN JUST POSTER MATERIAL.

IT'S THE CONVERGENCE OF ALL THAT LAMBORGHINI DOES BEST, INTO THEIR MOST CAPABLE V10 PRODUCTION CAR TO DATE.

THE ONLY PERFORMANCE ENVY HERE, IS COMING FROM OTHER SUPERCAR MAKERS LOOKING UP AT THE PERFORMANTE.

* YOU THINK THAT YOU WORKING MAN THATS WHAT THEY ALL SAY * * LET ME WORK!

John: 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... FOR OPEN-AIR HIGH PERFORMANCE IN THE PORSCHE 911 TURBO S CABRIOLET... AND MORE LUXURY IN AN ALREADY SPORTY UTE, THE BMW X3... PAT GOSS WITH ADVICE ON BRAKES BEHAVING BADLY... AND A BRAND NEW QUICK SPIN.

'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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

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.

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.

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] *