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

JOIN US FOR AN EXHILARATING LAUNCH INTO THE WIND WITH THE MCLAREN 570S SPIDER... PAT GOSS HAS A LESSON ON ENSURING SMOOTH SHIFTS FOR MANY MILES... STEPHANIE HART HAS AN INTERIOR MAKE-OVER THAT WILL ADD YEARS TO YOUR CAR... AND COMFORTABLE CRUISING FROM A HEFTY HAULER, THE ALL-NEW RAM 1500...

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 UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: MCLAREN HAS BEEN GROWING THEIR PORTFOLIO FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND APPARENTLY...YOU CAN'T BE A FULL-LINE DEALER IN EXOTICS, IF YOU DON'T OFFER A CONVERTIBLE, OR SPIDER IN SUPERCAR PARLANCE.

SO NOW, THEY'VE ADDED THE OPEN AIR EXPERIENCE TO THEIR SPORTS SERIES WITH THE 570S SPIDER.

* DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THE 2018 MCLAREN 570S SPIDER IS JUST A SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT CHOPPED ROOF VERSION OF WHAT WAS ALREADY AVAILABLE.

RATHER, IT IS A CAREFULLY CALCULATED, INTEGRAL PART OF THE PLAN THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 570 BEGAN.

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL SPORTS SERIES COUPE AND GT.

AND THIS SPIDER'S OPEN-AIR EXPERIENCE IS TRULY FANTASTIC, AS WE ALL KNOW, WIND IN YOUR HAIR HEIGHTENS THE SENSE OF SPEED, AND GETS MORE OF YOUR SENSES INVOLVED IN THE SUPERCAR EXPERIENCE.

THINGS ABOUT THE MINIMALIST CABIN ARE VERY FAMILIAR, INCLUDING THE CENTRAL TOUCHSCREEN THAT'S FULL OF INFO.

GRANTED IT'S RATHER SMALL BY LATEST STANDARDS, BUT WORKS QUITE WELL.

MIRRORING THE GT MORE THAN THE COUPE, MEANS THERE'S ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE, INCLUDING WHERE THE ROOF PANEL STORES.

NOW, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE 650S OR 675LT SPIDERS, THE TOP'S OPERATION IS QUITE SIMILAR.

JUST HIT THE BUTTON, AND WATCH THE TONNEAU RAISE AS THE TOP NEATLY FOLDS UNDERNEATH OF IT.

NO FLIMSY CLOTH SETUP WITH THIS SPIDER; THERE'S A REAL-DEAL FOLDING HARD TOP.

IN ADDITION, THERE'S A POWER REAR GLASS PANEL THAT CAN BE LEFT UP TO COMBAT WIND BUFFETING.

HARDWARE IS MOSTLY ALL THE SAME AS WELL, WITH EVERYTHING BEING BUILT AROUND MCLAREN'S CARBON-FIBER MONOCELL II CHASSIS, BUT THE FOLDING TOP AND ACCOMPANYING MECHANISMS DO ADD ABOUT 100 POUNDS.

HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENTS WERE NEEDED.

[ENGINE REVS] THE 562 HORSEPOWER AND 443 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AVAILABLE IN THE 3.8 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8, IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF COMPENSATING FOR THAT; AIDED BY A 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION.

0-60 IS THE SAME AS THE COUPE AT 3.1 SECONDS.

THE SUSPENSION KEEPS RIDE QUALITY BORDERLINE PLUSH, AND SPEED SNEAKS UP ON YOU IN A REAL HURRY.

ONLY SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ADAPTIVE DAMPERS; NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT WAS NEEDED, BUT BECAUSE THEY COULD.

LIKE THE REST OF THE MCLAREN BREED, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A CAR FOR BLENDING IN.

IT HAS THE PRESENCE ONLY TRUE EXOTICS CAN PULL OFF; FROM ALL OF THE AIR INTAKES AND VENTS, TO ALL OF THE SWOOPS AND SWAYS OF THE SLEEK BODY PANELS.

NOT TO MENTION WHEN YOU FLIP UP ONE OF THE DIHEDRAL DOORS.

APART FROM THE FOLDING ROOF, THE OVERALL LOOK IS NOT SO DIFFERENT FROM THE COUPE, AND ONLY TRUE AFICIONADOS WILL NOTICE THAT THE REAR SPOILER HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY HALF AN INCH TO COMPENSATE FOR THE NEW ROOF SHAPE.

MUCH LIKE THE GT, THE SPIDER IS A MCLAREN THAT YOU DON'T NEED A RACETRACK TO APPRECIATE; IT FEELS MUCH SMALLER THAN IT IS, WITH A DIRECT STEERING FEEL THAT ONLY A FULLY HYDRAULIC SYSTEM CAN PROVIDE.

BUT MORE LIKE THE COUPE, THE STANDARD CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES FEEL MORE TRACK-WORTHY THAN STREET SUBTLE.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT INTO THEM, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH GRAY AREA; THEY'RE EITHER FULL ON OR FULL OFF.

AND THERE ARE VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TURBO LAG, DEPENDING ON WHICH DRIVE MODE YOU'RE IN AND HOW AGGRESSIVELY YOUR THROTTLE INPUTS ARE.

ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS, YOU MIGHT CALL CHARACTER RATHER THAN FLAWS.

WE DON'T OFTEN SAY, OPTIONS ARE MUST-HAVES, BUT THE AVAILABLE SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM CLEARLY FITS THAT CATEGORY.

IT NOT ONLY OPENS THINGS UP OUT THE BACK, BUT PIPES ADDITIONAL NOISE FORWARD INTO THE CABIN.

THE SHIFTER PADDLES ARE PLASTICY IN FEEL, BUT THEY WORK WELL, AND GIVE YOU FULL MANUAL CONTROL NO MATTER HOW POOR YOUR DECISION MAKING IS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS AREN'T FINAL, BUT WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO DIFFER FROM THE COUPE'S 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

NOW, HOPEFULLY YOU HAVEN'T MADE TOO MANY POOR DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FINANCES, AS YOU'LL NEED $211,300 IN RESERVE TO PURCHASE THIS SPIDER.

THAT'S ABOUT A 20-GRAND PREMIUM, OR JUST A 10% MARK-UP FOR 50% MORE COOLNESS.

BE IT A SPIDER OR A CONVERTIBLE, THEY AREN'T FOR EVERYONE, AND OF COURSE, NEITHER ARE MCLAREN'S.

BUT THE APPEAL OF THIS 2018 MCLAREN 570S SPIDER IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.

THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL BE OUT-COOLED AT YOUR NEXT TRIP TO CARS AND COFFEE, IS IF A P1 ROLLS UP NEXT TO YOU.

THIS SPIDER IS MCLAREN'S BEST OFFERING YET, AND WE BET THAT IT'LL QUICKLY BECOME THEIR BEST-SELLING MODEL TOO.

* AN AUTOMOBILE THAT MATCHES YOUR UNIQUE PERSONALITY IS A MUST.

AND THAT SENTIMENT HELPS FUEL THE GLOBAL CAR ACCESSORIES MARKET.

A 360 BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY!

CUSTOM AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS ARE A BIG CHUNK OF THAT.

MILLIONS WHICH ARE CRAFTED BY A COMPANY YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF, KATZKIN AUTOMOTIVE LEATHERS.

AS FYI REPORTER, STEPHANIE HART SHOWS US MAKING THEIR ONE-OF-A-KIND SEAT COVERS AND INSTALLING THEM IS A THOROUGH PROCESS THAT'S PRETTY COOL TO WATCH.

* Stephanie Hart: WE ARE BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE KATZKIN AUTOMOTIVE LEATHER FACTORY IN MONTEBELLO, CALIFORNIA.

THE COMPANY HAS TRANSFORMED MORE THAN TWO MILLION VEHICLES OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS.

HERE, OLD WORLD TECHNIQUES MEET THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY.

CRAFTING CUSTOMER LEATHER INTERIORS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.

SO, WHAT IS THE APPEAL OF CUSTOM LEATHER INTERIOR?

Miles Hubbard: WE FIND 80% OF CUSTOMERS OUT THERE PREFER LEATHER, IF THEY CAN GET LEATHER, THEY WILL GET IT.

IT CLEANS EASILY, IT'S EASY TO MAINTAIN, IT SMELLS GOOD, AS EVERYONE KNOWS.

THERE'S A FEELING OF SITTING IN LEATHER THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM SITTING IN CLOTH.

Stephanie: ON THE FLIP SIDE, LEATHER UPHOLSTERY CAN STAIN EASILY.

AND IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX THAN FABRIC.

OVER TIME, LEATHER CAN ALSO FADE AND CRACK.

STILL, NOTHING GIVES A CAR INTERIOR A PREMIUM LOOK LIKE LEATHER.

THE TYPE OF LEATHER KATZKIN USES COMES FROM BRAZIL.

WORKERS INSPECT EACH HYDE FOR ANY IMPERFECTION BECAUSE NOTHING CAN REPLACE THE HUMAN EYE, THEY TAKE A PEN, LIKE THIS, AND LOOK FOR FLAWS... AND, HERE'S ONE RIGHT HERE...

THEY MARK IT.

NEXT, THEY HEAD OVER HERE, THEY PUT THE HYDE'S ON THESE HORSES.

AND THIS ACTUALLY, STRETCHES OUT THE LEATHER AND GETS RID OF ANY WRINKLES.

FINALLY, THE HIDES ARE PUT HERE ON THIS HIGH TECH SOPHISTICATED CUTTING MACHINE FROM FRANCE.

ITS WORKS LIKE A SCANNER, CUTTING OUT THOSE FLAWS, WE CIRCLED, SO THE SEATS COME OUT FLAWLESS.

THE FINISHED PRODUCTS ARE BOXED AND SHIPPED READY TO BE INSTALLED.

FROM CALIFORNIA TO MARYLAND... WE ARE BEHIND THE SCENES IN THIS GARAGE AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THE KATZKIN LEATHER INTERIORS ARE INSTALLED IN THIS SUBARU.

THAT'S FRANKIE THOMAS.

HE'S DOING THE INSTALL.

WHEN THE SEATS HIT HIS WORKBENCH, IT'S GO TIME, REWARDING WORK?

Frankie Thomas: YES, THIS IS REWARDING WORK, IT'S VERY REWARDING WORK.

* Stephanie: THIS TIME AROUND, FRANKIE IS INSTALLING TWO TONE SEAT COVERS.

WITH LEATHER PANELS AND VINYL SIDES.

A REALLY POPULAR LOOK RIGHT NOW!

WE TURN UP THE HEAT.

Frankie: MAKES YOUR STITCHES LINE UP PERFECT.

Stephanie: AND A LITTLE T-L-C, GOES A LONG WAY.

Frankie: IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN GIVE IT A TRY... Stephanie: MUSCLE COMES IN HANDY TOO.

Frankie: THE SEAT REST ITSELF WILL GO INTO THE HOLE.

AND THEN, YOU KIND OF JUST FEEL WHERE IT IS, THE OUTSIDE EDGE.

YOU KNOW, WITH CARS CHANGING EVERY YEAR, IT'S LIKE, A NEW PROCESS EVERY TIME YOU DO IT.

Stephanie: ALL INSTALLATIONS GO THROUGH A SERIES OF SAFETY TESTS.

Peter Daly: THEY GO THROUGH CRASH TESTING, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTING, AND SO ON...

SO THAT IT IS AS SAFE AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT LEATHER INTERIORS.

Stephanie: AND IT'S TIME TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE JUST YET.

THIS IS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED "THE HEADSHRINKER MACHINE."

AND RIGHTFULLY SO!

Frankie: WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO A GOOD POINT, YOU PUT THIS ON TOP OF IT AND SLIDE IT RIGHT DOWN.

Stephanie: AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!

ONE SEAT DOWN, THREE MORE TO GO.

WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M LOVING THIS NEW CAR SMELL.

I'M IMPRESSED.

A JOB WELL DONE!

FROM THE FACTORY IN CALIFORNIA, TO THE INSTALL IN MARYLAND, TO THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

FROM START TO FINISH THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK 24 HOURS.

A KATZKIN LEATHER INTERIOR, INCLUDING INSTALLATION, STARTS AT $1,500.

THE RESULT MADE THIS CAR, AND ITS OWNER, FOREVER UNIQUE.

John: WHEN IT COMES TO CAR REPAIRS, THERE'S A RIGHT WAY, AND THERE'S A WRONG WAY.

FOR THE RIGHT WAY, LET'S CHECK IN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: BY NOW, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ANY FLUID ON AN AUTOMOBILE THAT LASTS FOREVER.

ALSO, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SEALED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NOW, WHAT AM I GETTING AT HERE?

WELL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID DOESN'T LAST FOREVER.

TRANSMISSIONS NEED TO BE FLUSHED AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE EVERY 2-3 YEARS OR 24-36,000 MILES.

BUT HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN GET INTO TROUBLE, BECAUSE SOME SHOPS SELL YOU A FLUSH BUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO IS A FLUID EXCHANGE AND THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

NOW, A FLUID EXCHANGE IS FOR CARS THAT HAVE A DIPSTICK SUCH AS THIS ONE DOES.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE A MACHINE THAT IS ATTACHED TO TUBES LIKE THIS.

THESE TUBES GO DOWN INTO THE DIPSTICK TUBE AND THE LONGER ONE PULLS FLUID FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.

THE SHORTER ONE PUTS FRESH FLUID IN.

IT'S JUST EXCHANGING FLUID.

IT'S NOT CLEANING ANYTHING, IT'S NOT REALLY DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING, AND IT MAY ACTUALLY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE TRANSMISSION.

NOW, LET'S RAISE THIS CAR UP AND TAKE A PEEK AT WHAT A REAL TRANSMISSION FLUSH LOOKS LIKE.

FIRST THING, UP HERE WE HAVE COOLING LINES THAT COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO A COOLER THAT IS IN A RADIATOR OR AHEAD OF THE RADIATOR.

NOW, WHAT WE DO IS DISCONNECT ONE OF THOSE COOLING LINES AND WE TAKE THESE TWO LINES FROM THE FLUSH MACHINE, ONE OF THEM GETS HOOKED ONTO THE LINE THAT WE JUST DISCONNECTED, THE OTHER GETS HOOKED INTO THE RADIATOR.

NOW, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, WE ARE DIVERGING THE FLUID THAT NORMALLY CIRCULATES THROUGH, THOSE LINES IN THE COOLER, WE'VE DIVERTED IT THROUGH OUR FLUSH MACHINE.

NOW, THERE IS NO PUMPS, OR PRESSURE, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT ALL RELIES ON THIS NORMAL CIRCULATION INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.

ALRIGHT...NOW, WE PUT CHEMICALS IN IT.

WE RUN THE ENGINE.

THE CHEMICALS CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, INCLUDING THE TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

THOSE ARE THINGS YOU DON'T GET WITH THE FLUID EXCHANGE.

NOW, WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING, WE CONTROL WHERE THE FLUID GOES IN THE MACHINE AND SO ON, AND WE CAN WATCH THE COLOR OF IT AND SEE IT GET CLEAN.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE TRAP ALL OF THE DIRT THAT COMES OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION, INSIDE OF THE FLUSH MACHINE AND WE ADD BRAND NEW FLUID.

AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT SHOP DOING THIS JOB FOR YOU THAT THEY USE A FLUID THAT IS APPROVED FOR YOUR CAR.

DO THIS, YOU CAN DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF YOUR TRANSMISSION.

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

John: WE'LL START THIS LONG-TERM UPDATE BY GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEW 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY A BIT.

BUILT ON TOYOTA'S NEW GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE IT SHARES WITH THE PRIUS, WE CHOSE TO STICK WITH STANDARD 4-CYLINDER POWER, PRIORITIZING FUEL ECONOMY OVER THE V6s GRUNT.

THE I4 RATES 28-CITY, 39-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED; YET, SO FAR WE'RE AVERAGING JUST 28.6.

BUT, WE DO EXPECT THAT TO CLIMB, AS WE'VE ONLY BURNED THROUGH A FEW TANKS OF REGULAR AT THIS POINT, AT JUST 920 MILES.

SO WE'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, IF ITS 206 HORSEPOWER IS ENOUGH TO SATISFY OUR POWER-HUNGRY STAFF.

206 IS ACTUALLY, THREE MORE THAN THE BASE CAMRY, THANKS TO OUR XSEs DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM.

THE XSE IS THE SPORTIEST CAMRY YET, WITH VERY AGGRESSIVE BODYWORK, SMOKE TINTED LENSES, AND GLOSS TRIM.

AND IT'S QUICKLY BECOMING A VERY POPULAR ITEM AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS.

HMM... MAYBE, CAMRY BUYERS AREN'T JUST APPLIANCE SHOPPING AFTER ALL.

SUMMER'S IN FULL SWING AND WE'RE LOADING UP FOR ROAD TRIPS IN THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN.

WE'RE FANS OF THE ENTIRE GOLF LINE-UP, AND THE ODOMETER IS PROOF.

WE PUT ALMOST 2000 MILES ON THIS WEE WAGON DURING ITS FIRST MONTH.

EVEN WITH EXTRA CARGO SPACE IT'S TONS OF FUN TO DRIVE.

THE 1.8 LITER TURBO I4 ENGINE CRANKS 170 HORSEPOWER, BUT FEELS LIVELIER WITH ITS 199 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

INSIDE, THE SEATS ARE COMFORTABLY SUPPORTIVE.

SURE, THERE'S A TOUCHSCREEN, BUT VW ALSO LOGICALLY LAID OUT MANUAL CONTROLS FOR AUDIO AND CLIMATE CONTROL.

SO FAR WE'RE AVERAGING 28 MILES PER GALLON.

AND THERE ARE MANY MORE MILES AHEAD.

RECENTLY, WE PUT THE 2018 MAZDA 6 SEDAN THROUGH A FULL ROAD TEST.

NOW, WE'RE KEEPING IT FOR A YEAR TO GET BETTER ACQUAINTED.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL NAVIGATE OUR WAY TO UPDATES ON THE HONDA ODYSSEY AND SUBARU CROSSTREK ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THESE DAYS, THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS ALWAYS IN THE NEWS.

AND OUR YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE AUTO INDUSTRY WILL BE TRADING WINTER COATS FOR SUNSCREEN AT FUTURE EDITIONS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

BEGINNING IN 2020, THE SHOW WILL BE HELD IN JUNE INSTEAD OF JANUARY.

DETROIT'S COBO CENTER WILL REMAIN THE HUB, BUT A WARMER MONTH ALLOWS FOR EVENTS TO ALSO BE HELD AT OUTDOOR LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THAT CREATES MORE OPTIONS BEYOND THE TYPICAL AUTO SHOW REVEALS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS BEHIND THE DECISION, INCLUDING SOME AUTOMAKERS PULLING OUT OF THE JANUARY SHOW, AND TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY OVERALL.

THE 2019 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IS STILL SLATED FOR JANUARY.

PORSCHE'S PURSUIT OF IMPROVING PERFORMANCE, IS MAKING ITS WAY TO THEIR COMPACT SUV, THE 2019 PORSCHE MACAN WAS UNVEILED IN SHANGHAI, BUT BEFORE THAT... MOTORWEEK GOT A CLOSE UP LOOK AT THE VEHICLE DESIGNED FOR THE CHINESE MARKET.

THIS MID-CYCLE REFRESH, FEATURES SPORTIER FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS.

CHANGES TO THE V6 ENGINE INCLUDE MORE HORSEPOWER, MOVING THE FUEL INJECTORS NEXT TO THE SPARK PLUGS FOR A BETTER FUEL-AIR MIXTURE, AND PLACING THE TURBOCHARGERS INSIDE THE V TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.

PROJECT MANAGERS TOLD MOTORWEEK ABOUT THEIR GOALS... Antoon Janssen: SO YES, WE INCREASED THE POWER OUTPUT OF THE ENGINE, BUT I HAVE TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THE MAIN ITEMS IS ALSO THE EFFICIENCY AND THE REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS.

Sebastian Staiger: WE DEVELOPED A NEW CHASSIS ESPECIALLY, THE AIR SUSPENSION.

THE AIR SUSPENSION COMES WITH MORE DYNAMICS AND MORE COMFORT.

Yolanda: A PANAMERA INFLUENCE IS CLEAR IN THE NEW TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY.

AN OPTIONAL SPORT STEERING WHEEL IS FROM THE 911.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD OFFICIAL SPECIFICATIONS ON A U.S. MODEL OF THE NEW MACAN, BUT WE EXPECT THE CHINESE MODEL TO BE A GOOD INDICATION OF WHAT AMERICANS MIGHT SEE.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THINGS HAVE SELDOM BEEN EASY FOR RAM.

YOU KNOW, DETROIT'S OTHER TRUCK BRAND THAT'S NOT FORD OR CHEVY.

BUT THINGS HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN LOOKING UP LATELY, AS RAM'S FULL-SIZE PICKUP SALES HAVE BEEN STEADILY INCREASING, EVEN OUTSELLING THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO, A FEW MONTHS ALONG THE WAY.

SO, LET'S SEE IF AN ALL-NEW 1500 IS "RAM TOUGH" ENOUGH TO MUSCLE ITS WAY PERMANENTLY UP THE RANKS.

* IT WAS THE 3RD GEN DODGE RAM THAT REALLY GOT THE BALL ROLLING FOR THE BRAND WHEN IT ARRIVED FOR 2002.

USHERING IN FIRSTS LIKE MEGA CAB AND THE RETURN OF HEMI POWER.

2009 SAW A 4TH GEN.

DEBUT WITH ALL-COIL SPRING SUSPENSION AND SIDE-SADDLE RAM BOX STORAGE.

NOW, 2019 SEES THE MOST ALL-NEW RAM 1500 IN DECADES, ONE THAT FCA HOPES WILL USHER IN A WHOLE NEW ERA OF POWER, COMFORT, AND UTILITY FOR TODAY'S TRUCK BUYERS.

MUCH LIKE FORD, THE 1500 WENT ON A WEIGHT LOSS PLAN, THOUGH NOT AS DRASTIC, SHAVING ONLY ABOUT 225 POUNDS; MOSTLY DUE TO MORE HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL IN THE FRAME, WITH ALUMINUM FOR THE TAILGATE AND SOME SUSPENSION PARTS.

THE FRAME IS STILL STRONGER, HOWEVER, BOOSTING PAYLOAD TO 2,300 POUNDS, AND MAX TOWING CAPACITY TO 12,750.

THE EXTERIOR LOOK IS SMOOTHER, YET, STILL HAS A HINT OF THE BIG RIG LOOK OF THE '90s.

NO MORE CROSSHAIRS, JUST LOTS OF BIG RAM LETTERS AND A NEW SEEMINGLY TRANSFORMERS-INSPIRED RAM HEAD LOGO.

NOW, WE MUCH PREFER THE REBEL'S, BLACKED-OUT MALICE.

AND SPENT SOME TIME DOING SOME NASTINESS OF OUR OWN IN THE ARIZONA DESERT.

THE REBEL'S OFF-ROAD CAPABILITIES TAKE A SMALL STEP UP; ITS 1-INCH OF LIFT, NOW COMES FROM HARDWARE, NOT SIMPLY PUMPING UP THE AIR SPRING SUSPENSION AS BEFORE.

YOU ALSO GET A LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL, UNIQUE BILSTEIN SHOCKS, SKID PLATES, AND UPDATED ELECTRONICS.

IT'S STILL NOT ON THE SAME FLIGHT PLAN AS FORD'S RAPTOR, BUT NOW AT LEAST ON THE RADAR SCREEN.

THE RAM 1500 WAS ALREADY THE BEST RIDING RIG IN THE FULL-SIZE PICKUP RANKS DUE TO THE ONLY 4-CORNER AIR SUSPENSION OUT THERE; NEW FREQUENCY RESPONSE DAMPING FOR THIS YEAR, TAKES IT UP ONE STEP FURTHER.

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE NOW 14.9 INCHES, BIGGEST IN THE SEGMENT.

FOR NOW, ONLY THE TWO GAS ENGINE OPTIONS RETURN AND THEIR OUTPUT STAYS THE SAME, WHICH MEANS 305 HORSEPOWER AND 269 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FOR THE 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR V6, AND 395 HORSEPOWER AND 410 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FROM THE 5.7 LITER HEMI V8.

BOTH GET AN ETORQUE MILD HYBRID SYSTEM WITH A 48 VOLT BATTERY PACK THAT ENABLES AUTO STOP/START, BOOSTS OVERALL EFFICIENCY, AND EVEN PROVIDES A LITTLE EXTRA TORQUE.

IT'S STANDARD WITH THE V6, OPTIONAL ON THE HEMI.

NO WORD YET, IF OR WHEN A DIESEL WILL RETURN.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A HEMI 4X4 ARE 15-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

NO OFFICIAL RATINGS FOR THE 3.6 LITER JUST YET.

WE SPENT MOST OF OUR ARIZONA-BASED EARLY DRIVE TIME WITH THE HEMI, AND IT FELT JUST AS POWERFUL AS ALWAYS, THOUGH, WE DON'T REMEMBER THE GAS PEDAL BEING THIS SENSITIVE, WHICH SEEMS A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE IN A BIG TRUCK.

TRANSMISSION REMAINS AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND EVERYTHING IS STILL PUT IN MOTION WITH A DASH-MOUNTED ROTARY SHIFTER, BUT OPERATION HAS GOTTEN MUCH QUICKER, MAKING 3-POINT TURNS LESS STRESSFUL.

OTHERWISE, IN NORMAL DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION BEHAVES FAIRLY WELL.

ACTIVE NOISE CANCELING SEEMED TO KEEP ROAD NOISE TO A MINIMUM, THOUGH, WE DID HEAR SOME WIND NOISE IN OUR PRE-PRODUCTION TEST VEHICLE.

THE UPGRADED INTERIOR OF THE 1500 IS OTHERWISE, MOST IMPRESSIVE.

WE LOVED THE AVAILABLE 4TH GENERATION OF FCA'S UCONNECT TOUCHSCREEN, NOW 12-INCHES IN SIZE.

IT REMAINS LOGICAL AND RESPONSIVE AS ALWAYS.

FRONT SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE AND TOP-LINE LIMITED TRIM IS SIMPLY EXQUISITE.

BOTH CREW AND QUAD CABS ARE AVAILABLE, WITH THE MOST INTERIOR SPACE IN THE SEGMENT.

BASE PRICING IS $33,340 FOR A 2-WHEEL DRIVE TRADESMAN, WHICH YOU PROBABLY WON'T BUY UNLESS YOU ARE INDEED A TRADESMAN.

MOST WILL FIND A RAM 1500 THAT SLOTS BETWEEN THERE AND THE LIMITED 4X4s $59,035.

WELL, JUST WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE SET TO REALLY TAKE OFF FOR THE 2019 RAM 1500, THERE'S AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, THAT AN ALL-NEW CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS ARRIVING AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME.

SO, FCA HAD BETTER MAKE SOME HAY WHILE THE SUN'S SHINING.

IT'S STILL THE BEST CRUISER WITH A BED OUT THERE, BUT IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE THAN THAT TO PERMANENTLY TAKE SILVER HOME.

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 CHANGES TO THE LATEST JEEP CHEROKEE RUN MORE THAN SKIN DEEP, AND A LITTLE AUDI THAT'S BIG ON PERFORMANCE, THE TT RS.

'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.

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] *