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

JOIN US AS THE NISSAN LEAF GETS BOTH A NEW LOOK AND MORE EV MILES... PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHERE RUST CAN HIDE AND RUIN YOUR RIDE... TWO WHEELIN BRIAN ROBINSON GOES FULL THROTTLE INTO MOTORCYCLE MANIA... AND THE BMW X2 ADDS SOMETHING SMALL AND STYLISH TO AN ALREADY SPORTY LINE-UP...

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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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.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WHILE TESLA SEEMS TO MAKE HEADLINES JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY, LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE NISSAN LEAF WAS THE FIRST MASS-PRODUCED EV TO HIT THE STREETS HERE IN AMERICA.

AND...TO THIS DAY, IS THE BEST-SELLING ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN THE WORLD.

WELL...NOW, THERE'S A SECOND GENERATION LEAF ON THE ROAD, SO LET'S TURN IT OVER AND GO FOR A DRIVE.

* THE SPROUTING OF NEW LEAVES, ALWAYS SIGNALS THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING, AND WITH IT, COMES WARMER WEATHER, AND OPTIMISM ON WHAT A NEW SEASON WILL BRING.

WELL, WE CAN'T PROMISE WARM WEATHER YET, BUT SURELY, NISSAN IS HOPING THIS SECOND GENERATION NISSAN LEAF WILL BRING EV-DRIVING TO MORE PEOPLE, IN AN AMERICAN CAR MARKET THAT IS STILL SLOW TO BUY INTO THE EV-LIFESTYLE.

RANGE CONTINUES TO BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMITMENT TO EVs, AND FOR THIS REDESIGNED LEAF, THAT NUMBER INCREASES TO 151 MILES.

MANY...INCLUDING US, WERE HOPING FOR MORE, BUT NISSAN CHOSE TO INSTEAD FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE LEAF'S PRACTICALITY, AND LOWERING ITS PRICE, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A BETTER VEHICLE OPTION FOR MORE PEOPLE.

MORE ON THAT LATER.

BATTERY SIZE HAS GROWN FROM 30 TO 40 KWH, SO CHARGE TIME FOR A COMPLETE FILL DOES INCREASE TO 7.5 HOURS WITH 220, WITH THE LARGER 6.6 KW ONBOARD CHARGER THAT WAS OPTIONAL BEFORE, IS NOW STANDARD.

THE BATTERY'S JUICE IS USED BY A LARGER 110 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR.

HORSEPOWER IS UP 40, TO 147, WHILE TORQUE GAINS 49 POUND-FEET TO A VERY RESPECTABLE 236.

THE NEW LEAF SPORTS THE SAME BASIC 5-DOOR SHAPE AS BEFORE, BUT WITH MUCH SHARPER LINES TO DOWNPLAY THE OBVIOUS EV LOOK.

LESS LIKE AN EGG, AND MORE LIKE A SPORTY HATCHBACK.

THOUGH, IT STILL LOOKS "TECHY," AND CURRENT NISSAN SIGNATURE ELEMENTS SUCH AS A FLOATING ROOF, V-MOTION GRILLE, AND BOOMERANG LIGHTS ARE HERE AS WELL.

TECH UPGRADES ARE QUITE COMPREHENSIVE.

IN ADDITION TO NISSAN'S PROPILOT ASSIST INTELLIGENT DRIVING SYSTEM; THERE'S A NEW E-PEDAL, THAT DIALS UP THE REGEN BRAKING TO ALLOW FOR ONE-PEDAL DRIVING IN MOST SITUATIONS.

GOING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, YOU INSTANTLY FEEL THE ADDITIONAL POWER; WE'RE NOT TALKING TESLA-LEVELS OF ACCELERATION OFF THE LINE HERE, BUT THE INCREASED TORQUE DOES WONDERS FOR HIGHWAY MERGING.

NISSAN HAS ALSO ADDRESSED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, GIVING IT A MORE NATURAL FEEL; AS WELL AS SOFTENED UP THE SUSPENSION A BIT, TO PROVIDE A SMOOTHER RIDE.

JUST AS ANY NEW TECH DEVICE SHOULD BE BUT OFTEN ISN'T, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE LEAF IS EASY TO OPERATE, AND IN MOST WAYS IT BEHAVES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CAR.

NO LEARNING CURVE TO EMBRACE THE EV-LIFESTYLE HERE, OTHER THAN THE BRAKE PEDAL FEEL, AND OF COURSE, REMEMBERING TO PLUG IT IN.

LIKEWISE, THINGS AROUND THE CABIN, ARE FAIRLY TRADITIONAL IN BOTH APPEARANCE AND OPERATION.

THERE IS SOME BLUE TRIM GIVING OFF THAT EV VIBE, BUT ALL THE USUAL CONTROLS ARE IN ALL THE USUAL PLACES; INCLUDING MANY ON THE NEW FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL.

GAUGES GET AN UPGRADE, NOW A 7-INCH TFT-BASED DISPLAY THAT CAN BE CONFIGURED IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS; THOUGH AN ANALOG SPEEDOMETER DOES REMAIN.

TO MAKE THINGS MORE PLEASANT FOR OCCUPANTS, CABIN NOISE IS REDUCED, AND MATERIAL QUALITY STEPPED UP A BIT.

THEY COULD HAVE GONE FURTHER, ADDING ADDITIONAL SMALL ITEM STORAGE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT TIME.

AS FOR THE BIG STUFF IN BACK, CARGO SPACE ACTUALLY STAYS THE SAME 23.6 CUBIC-FEET, BUT THE SPACE HAS BEEN RE-WORKED FOR MORE UTILIZATION, SO IT DOES HANDLE BULKY ITEMS BETTER.

MAX CAPACITY WITH REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED IS 30.0 CUBIC-FEET.

THE NEW LEAF BOASTS GOVERNMENT MPGE RATINGS OF 125-CITY, 100-HIGHWAY, AND 112-COMBINED.

FOR A NEAR PERFECT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST 0.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, WITH 0.0 CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL, IS THAT IN ORDER TO BETTER COMPETE WITH THE CHEVROLET BOLT EV, AS WELL AS THE MULTITUDE OF NEW RIVALS JUST OVER THE HORIZON; THE LEAF NOW GETS A MUCH LOWER PRICE, STARTING AT $30,885.

THAT'S ABOUT 3-GRAND LESS THAN THE ORIGINAL, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, GOVERNMENT REBATES OF AT LEAST $7,500 ARE STILL IN PLAY.

SO WHILE, THE FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLE'S FLOW INTO OUR AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN MORE OF A SLOW DRIZZLE THAN AN ALL-OUT DOWNPOUR; IT HAS BEEN STEADY ENOUGH TO ENABLE CARS LIKE THE NISSAN LEAF TO MAKE A SPLASH.

UNLIKE THE ORIGINAL, IT DOESN'T BREAK MUCH NEW GROUND.

BUT WITH A LOWER PRICE, LONGER RANGE, INCREASED PRACTICALITY, AND MORE MAINSTREAM STYLING; WE FEEL THE LEAF'S RIPPLE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND FURTHER AND FASTER.

* WHEN BRIAN ROBINSON IS NOT SITTING AT HIS COMPUTER RESEARCHING SOME 4-WHEELED VEHICLE OR ANOTHER; CHANCES ARE, HE'S OUT TWO WHEELIN' ON THE LATEST MOTORCYCLE TO COME HIS WAY.

WELL, HE'S BEEN AWAY FROM HIS DESK FOR A FEW DAYS NOW, I WONDER WHAT HE'S UP TO?

* Brian Robinson: WELL JOHN, I'M OFF TO STURGIS!

MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE 2018 EDITION OF THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY, WHICH TAKES PLACE IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF STURGIS SOUTH DAKOTA, ABOARD THIS 2018 INDIAN ROADMASTER.

HAVING ENVISIONED TAKING THE LONG, HARD ROAD TO STURGIS FROM MARYLAND, AND BASKING IN ALL OF THE BIKER CRED I WOULD SURELY RECEIVE UPON DOING SO, AFTER THREE DAYS ON THE ROAD, I REALLY JUST FEEL LIKE, I CHEATED ON THE TEST.

AS, I'VE DRIVEN PLENTY OF CARS THAT DON'T HAVE AS MUCH LONG DISTANCE COMFORT AS THIS ROADMASTER.

OH WELL, MAYBE NEXT YEAR, I CAN FIND A RIGID-FRAME CHOPPER TO RIDE UP HERE.

WELL, AFTER 2,000 MILES, ME AND THE INDIAN ROADMASTER HERE HAVE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE BACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE'LL EVEN SEE SOME WILD LIFE ALONG THE WAY.

SO WHY EXACTLY, DO HALF A MILLION MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS GATHER IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA EVERY AUGUST?

WELL, THE REASONS ARE AS VARIED AS THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE TRIP AND THE BIKES THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF STURGIS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE BIKINI CONTESTS OR WRESTLING IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS.

THERE ARE LITERALLY, HUNDREDS OF BANDS PLAYING, AND JUST ABOUT EVERY MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER IS ON HAND WITH DEMO RIDES OF THEIR LATEST MODELS.

NOT TO MENTION, EVERY AFTERMARKET VENDOR YOU CAN THINK OF, AND YES, THEY DO HAVE THAT IN LEATHER.

BUT REALLY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIKES... * ...AND SOME ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC ROADS TO RIDE THEM ON, THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING SCENERY YOU'LL FIND, IN WHAT HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN DUBBED FLY-OVER COUNTRY.

OF COURSE, THIS ALL STARTED BACK IN THE 1930s WITH A MOTORCYCLE RACE PUT ON BY A LOCAL INDIAN DEALER, WHO WANTED TO DRUM UP SOME PUBLICITY FOR HIS NEW DEALERSHIP.

AND YES, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF RACING GOING ON, INCLUDING AN AMERICAN FLAT TRACK TT RACE THAT TAKES PLACE RIGHT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE RENOWNED "BUFFALO CHIP CAMPGROUND."

FYI, THE CHIP IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE TO SEE THE REAL WILDLIFE, BUT WE'LL SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME.

LET'S JUST SAY, THE AMOUNT OF LITE BEERS CONSUMED HERE EVERY NIGHT WOULD PUT THE TALLADEGA INFIELD CROWD TO SHAME.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S THE LEGENDARY STREET SCENE.

THE TOWN OF STURGIS ITSELF, HAS LESS THAN 7,000 FULL TIME RESIDENTS, YET, THEY ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET EVERY AUGUST FOR A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND VISITORS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'S A HAVEN FOR PEOPLE WATCHERS AS WELL, WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN THE SEVERAL FAMILIES WE SAW WALKING AROUND TOWN LIKE THEY WERE ON SOME ANTHROPOLOGICAL LEARNING VACATION.

ONE THING YOU WON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF, ARE HELMETS.

APPARENTLY, IT'S HARD TO ROAM FREE IN A PACK, UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS OF SAFETY OR COMMON SENSE.

BUT REALLY, THE RALLY IS MUCH BIGGER THAN STURGIS ITSELF; EVERYWHERE YOU GO WITHIN' A 50 MILE RADIUS OF TOWN IS PACKED WITH BIKES.

NEARBY TOWNS DEADWOOD, CUSTER, HILL CITY, SPEARFISH, RAPID CITY, AND KEYSTONE AMONG OTHERS, ARE JAMMED WITH BIKES AND HAVE THEIR OWN STREET SCENES THROUGHOUT THE TEN DAYS OF THE RALLY, NOT MENTION EVERY CAMPGROUND IN THE AREA.

SO WHATEVER REASON YOU NEED, AND WHATEVER MOTORCYCLE YOU RIDE; GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING, AND HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY NEXT AUGUST TO THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY.

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT!

John: MOST OF US HOLD ONTO OUR CARS FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

AND THAT REQUIRES A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF CAR CARE.

SO LET'S GET THE WHOLE STORY DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: ALL CARS HAVE AN ENEMY.

AND THAT ENEMY IS RUST.

YES, I KNOW A LOT OF CARS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND PLASTICS, AND VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT BUT THEY STILL HAVE STEEL PARTS.

NOW, A LOT OF CARS USE STEEL LINES OR STEEL TUBING FOR BRAKES AND FUEL LINES, AND STEERING, AND SO ON.

NOW, IF THOSE LINES AREN'T COATED, THEY RUST.

WE SEE A LOT OF VEHICLES WITH BAD BRAKE LINES FOR INSTANCE.

AND IT CAN BE A MAJOR JOB TO REPLACE THEM.

NOW, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS ARE CURRENTLY COATING BRAKE LINES AND VARIOUS OTHER STEEL COMPONENTS UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS GREEN COLOR HERE, OR SOMETIMES IT'S BLACK.

THAT IS AN ANTI-RUST COATING.

NOW, IF YOUR CAR DOESN'T HAVE THAT, IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BUY ONE OF THE COMMERCIAL COATINGS.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ONES ON THE MARKET.

MARINE ANTI-CORROSION CHEMICALS ARE GOOD.

SOME TYPES OF RUST PROOFING AND UNDERCOATING.

SPRAY THESE LINES, AND ANY MILD STEEL PARTS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, AND THAT'LL HELP KEEP THEM WORKING PROPERLY, AND IT'LL PREVENT A BIG REPAIR BILL.

NONE OF THIS STUFF IS CHEAP.

ALRIGHT, ANOTHER THING THAT WE SEE ON A LOT OF CARS IS WHERE THE BOTTOMS OF THE DOORS RUST OUT.

WELL, THAT'S TYPICALLY BECAUSE THERE'RE TWO PIECES OF METAL DOWN THERE THAT ARE BONDED TOGETHER AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

THAT SPACE IN THERE COLLECTS DIRT.

YOU MAY THINK THE DOOR IS SEALED BUT THE DOOR ISN'T SEALED.

DIRT, WATER, AND EVERYTHING GO DOWN THROUGH THE DOOR AND WHEN THIS BUILDS UP IN THE BOTTOM, THE DIRT HOLDS MOISTURE AND IT EATS THE METAL FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

SO, WHEN YOU'RE WASHING YOUR CAR, MAKE SURE THAT YOU RUN THE HOSE ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE WINDOW, SO THAT YOU GET SOME WATER FLOW THROUGH THE DOOR TO RINSE AS MUCH OF THAT MUD OUT OF THERE AS IS POSSIBLE.

ALRIGHT NOW, ANOTHER THING.

HERE, WE HAVE A PARKING BRAKE CABLE.

YES, SOME OF YOU WILL CALL IT AN "EMERGENCY BRAKE," AND SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE QUALIFIED TO USE IT IN AN EMERGENCY BUT REALLY IT IS FOR PARKING.

AND THAT MEANS, YOU SHOULD BE USING IT EVERY TIME YOU PARK THE CAR.

YOU SEE, THIS INNER CABLE MOVES THROUGH A HOUSING AND EVERY TIME YOU PULL UP ON THE LEVER OR PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN, THIS CABLE MOVES IN THE HOUSING, HELPS KEEP IT CLEAN, HELPS PREVENT RUST, AND HELPS PREVENT SOMETIMES, PRETTY MAJOR REPAIR BILLS.

SO, GET IN THE HABIT OF USING THE PARKING BRAKE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

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

* Greg Carloss: A NEW YEAR, BRINGS A NEW LONG-TERM MODEL INTO OUR FLEET, THIS 2019 RAM 1500.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, RIDE AND HANDLING WAS PROBABLY PRETTY LOW ON THE LIST OF CONCERNS FOR A TRUCK BUYER.

NOW, WE'RE IN THE AGE OF LUXURY TRUCKS AND THAT'S ALL CHANGED.

THE RAM 1500 STILL OFFERS THE BEST BIG PICKUP RIDE IN THE FULL-SIZE HALF-TON SEGMENT.

AND BACK TO THE WHOLE LUXURY THING, THIS HUGE TABLET-STYLE SCREEN LOOKS A BIT OUT OF PLACE, BUT IT'S ALSO PRETTY COOL."

OUR LONG TERM RAM 1500 IS A CREW CAB 4X4, SPORTING A PATRIOT BLUE PAINT JOB, IN LIMITED TRIM.

LEVEL 1 EQUIPMENT GROUP ADDS 19 SPEAKER'S WORTH OF HARMON KARDON PREMIUM AUDIO, SURROUND VIEW CAMERA, AND A HOST OF ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES.

OFF-ROAD GROUP ADDS A LOCKING REAR AXLE, A BUNCH OF SKID PLATES, AND OF COURSE, DECALS.

WE'LL GET TO KNOW THIS RAM 1500 EVEN BETTER OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

OUR YEAR IS ALMOST UP WITH THIS 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN, THE MOST USEFUL VEHICLE TYPE OF ALL TIMES.

WITH A FEW SMALL EXCEPTIONS, THE ODYSSEY'S STAY WITH US HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL!

JUST LIKE WE ARE USED TO FROM HONDA.

IT CERTAINLY "RAN LIKE A DEER" OVER THESE LAST 26,000 MILES OF VERY HARD USE.

THROUGH ALL THE ROAD TRIPS BOTH LONG AND SHORT, SEAT COMFORT REMAINS A TRUE HIGH POINT, AND NOT JUST FOR THE DRIVER.

SECOND ROW SEATS ARE EQUALLY COMFORTABLE, AND THAT MEANS LESS COMPLAINING FROM THE BROOD IN BACK.

THERE WERE A FEW NITS TO PICK WHEN THE ODYSSEY FIRST ARRIVED, AND WE RECENTLY HAD A LOOSE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.

BUT, IT'S BEEN NOTHING, BUT PRAISE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY HAS REMAINED STEADY AT 25.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR, WITH OVER 30 DURING HIGHWAY CRUISING.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR MAZDA6 AND KIA NIRO PHEV ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: AS MUCH AS WE LOVE TESTING CARS, THERE'S ALSO A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: SELF-DRIVING CARS WITH LITTLE OR NO HUMAN INPUT ARE MOVING CLOSER TO REALITY... AND THEY'RE BEING DEVELOPED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

WAYMO'S PILOT PROGRAM IN THE PHOENIX AREA, HAS BEEN TESTING THE TECHNOLOGY DURING DAILY COMMUTES WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE.

NOW, THEY'VE LAUNCHED A RIDE HAILING SERVICE CALLED "WAYMO ONE."

IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PHOENIX PUBLIC AT LARGE.

RIDERS USE AN APP TO REQUEST A RIDE.

WHILE, THEY CALL IT A COMMERCIAL "SELF-DRIVING" SERVICE...

TRAINED DRIVERS WILL BE IN THE VEHICLES FOR THE TIME BEING.

BUT, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE FULLY AUTONOMOUS TAXIS.

WAYMO'S FLEET INCLUDES CHRYSLER PACIFICA MINIVANS.

THEY'RE ALSO WORKING WITH JAGUAR TO OFFER PREMIUM RIDES WITHOUT A DRIVER.

THE DEAL INVOLVES ADDING THE ALL-NEW ELECTRIC I-PACE SUV TO THE SELF-DRIVING FLEET NEXT YEAR.

BUT, SELF-DRIVING IS NOT JUST FOR "DELIVERING" PASSENGERS.

WHAT ABOUT MAKING SHOPPING MORE CONVENIENT?

FORD, WALMART, AND POSTMATES ARE WORKING ON BRINGING SELF-DRIVING DELIVERIES TO YOUR DOOR.

WALMART FILLS THE ORDER, FORD PROVIDES THE VEHICLES, AND POSTMATES HANDLES THE DELIVERY LOGISTICS.

THEY'VE STARTED TESTING IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, BUT EXPANSION IS EXPECTED.

NOW, BACK TO THE CURRENT WAY OF DOING THINGS---IN THE YOU KNOW, "DRIVE IT YOURSELF WORLD..." WELL, ASTON MARTIN IS JOINING THE RANKS OF LUXURY CAR MAKERS BY ADDING AN SUV.

THEY'RE CURRENTLY TESTING A PROTOTYPE ASTON MARTIN DBX IN REAL WORLD SITUATIONS, RANGING FROM FRIGID ARCTIC TEMPERATURES TO SCORCHING JUNGLE HEAT.

THEIR SPORTS CAR LINEAGE MEANS THE SUVs TESTING WILL INCLUDE GERMANY'S DEMANDING NY�RBURGRING RACING CIRCUIT.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WELL-BRED UTE EVER SINCE THE CONCEPT APPEARED IN GENEVA A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE EXPECT THE ASTON MARTIN DBX TO GO ON SALE BY THE END OF 2019.

AND THAT'S THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE UPDATE FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: WE WERE SKEPTICAL WHEN WE HEARD THAT BMW'S SMALLEST UTILITY YET, THE X1, WOULD BE BASED ON MINI'S FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CHASSIS.

BUT, NOT ONLY WERE WE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS, IT QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SMALL UTILITIES.

WELL, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, BMW COULDN'T STOP THERE, AND THEY'VE NOW ADDED A MORE STYLISH ALTERNATIVE, THE X2.

* BMW HAS AN ESTABLISHED PATTERN OF INTRODUCING COUPE-LIKE VARIANTS TO MANY OF THEIR POPULAR SEDANS AND UTILITIES.

SO, THIS 2018 BMW X2, A MORE DYNAMIC-LOOKING VERSION OF THE X1, WAS NOT REALLY A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY, A WELCOMED ADDITION, AS WE'RE NOT BREAKING ANY NEWS BY SAYING, THE X1 IS NOT EXACTLY A STELLAR STYLING EFFORT.

X2 WHEELBASE IS UNCHANGED, YET, OVERALL IT IS MORE THAN 3.0 INCHES SHORTER THAN THE X1, AND ALSO SITS 2.8 INCHES LOWER; GIVING IT A MUCH BRAWNIER, YET, SPORTIER LOOK.

BMW HAS ALSO PLAYED WITH TRADITION A BIT, BY SQUASHING THE TWIN KIDNEY GRILLE, AND ADDING A ROUNDEL TO THE C-PILLAR.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] NO CHANGES UNDER THE HOOD THOUGH, AS POWER IS THE SAME 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO, RATING 228 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC SENDING IT TO THE FRONT WHEELS, OR TO ALL FOUR WITH AVAILABLE XDRIVE.

WITH XDRIVE, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 21-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED, AND OUR AVERAGE WAS A GOOD ONE AT 26.9 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

WELL, DESPITE THE SLIGHTLY SMALLER SIZE, WEIGHT REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE X1.

SO AS EXPECTED, OUR 0-60 TIME WAS IDENTICAL, AT A QUITE RESPECTABLE 6.3 SECONDS.

DESPITE SPINNING UP A GOOD AMOUNT OF TORQUE AT LAUNCH, ANY THRILL FACTOR IS MUTED BY THE SMOOTHNESS OF THE POWER DELIVERY THAT IS WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FOR ITS CLASS.

SHIFTS ARE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE, AS THE X2 LURCHES FORWARD WITH EACH SNAPPY SHIFT.

AND THERE'S A GOOD SENSE OF POWER THROUGHOUT THE 14.8 SECONDS THAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE AT 94 MILES PER HOUR.

WE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS BEFORE TACKLING OUR CONE COURSE, AND WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED.

THE X2 FEELS LIGHT ON ITS 19-INCH FEET, AND WELL-COMPOSED, WITH JUST A HINT OF UNDERSTEER.

NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE HARDWARE THAT UNDERPINS THE X2, BUT THERE IS UNIQUE TUNING OF COURSE, AND IF YOU OPT FOR THE M SPORT SUSPENSION, YOU'LL GET A HALF INCH LOWER RIDE HEIGHT, STIFFER ANTI-ROLL BAR BEARINGS, AND DYNAMIC DAMPER CONTROL.

SO, RIDE QUALITY CERTAINLY FALLS ON THE SPORTIER SIDE OF THE LUXURY-UTE SPECTRUM, EVEN WHEN ROLLING IN COMFORT MODE.

PRACTICALITY DOES TAKE A HIT, BUT NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS YOU'D THINK; THERE'S STILL 21.6 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE IN THE BACK.

MAX CAPACITY, WITH THE 40/20/40 SPLIT SEATBACKS FOLDED IS A BIT LESS HOWEVER, AT 50.1 CUBIC-FEET.

AS FOR THE PASSENGER SPACE, WELL UP FRONT THERE'S THE TYPICAL SPORTY BMW FEEL, AS WELL AS FIRM, YET, COMFORTABLE SEATS, WITH GOOD BOLSTERING AND SEAT-BOTTOM EXTENSIONS.

REAR SEAT PASSENGERS DON'T FARE QUITE AS WELL AS THE X2 COMES UP SHORT, WITH NOT QUITE ADEQUATE ENOUGH FOR ADULT SPACE, BOTH UP TOP AND FOR THE LEGS.

ALSO PRESENT, ARE THE PREDICTABLE IDRIVE CONTROLLER, CLEAR AND PRECISE BLACK PANEL VIRTUAL GAUGES, AND PADDLE SHIFTERS.

AVAILABLE NICETIES INCLUDE A PANORAMIC ROOF, WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING, HEAD-UP DISPLAY, HARMON KARDON PREMIUM AUDIO, AND AN M SPORTX PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES ALUMINUM TRIM AND AN M-BRANDED STEERING WHEEL AMONG OTHER THINGS.

M SPORTX ALSO ADDS BLACK TRIM, M-LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS, AND A LARGER REAR SPOILER.

A REASONABLY-PRICED DRIVING ASSISTANCE PACKAGE INCLUDES FRONTAL COLLISION WARNING WITH AUTOMATIC BRAKING, WHICH WORKED QUITE WELL IN OUR BARRIER TEST.

BRINGING US TO GENTLE AND GRADUAL COMPLETE STOPS FROM SPEEDS UP TO 20 MILES PER HOUR.

XDRIVE28I PRICING STARTS AT $39,395.

IF YOU DON'T NEED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, YOU CAN GET AWAY TWO GRAND CHEAPER AT $37,395 FOR THE SDRIVE28I.

NOBODY GETS MORE USE OUT OF THEIR CHASSIS DESIGNS THAN BMW.

AND WHILE THE CURRENT X1, BMW'S FIRST FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE BASED SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE, WAS A DARING LEAP FOR THE BRAND; IT'S ALSO ONE THEY SEEM TO HAVE LANDED JUST RIGHT.

JUST CONSIDER THIS 2018 X2, A MUCH MORE STYLISH AND ENTERTAINING ALTERNATIVE, THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BRING A FEW NEW CONVERTS INTO THE BMW FAMILY.

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, WHEN THE STYLISH BMW X4 GRABS THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE WHO LOVES TO DRIVE.

AND WE'LL PUT A PACK OF SMALL UTEs TO THE TEST.

PAT GOSS TALKS REALITY ABOUT THE CONNECTED CAR.

THE LATEST ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR THE LONG HAUL.

PLUS, A BRAND NEW QUICKSPIN.

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.

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.

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