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

JOIN US FOR A TOP DOWN RIDE PACKED WITH PORSCHE PROWESS IN THE BOXSTER GTS... PAT GOSS EYES A BETTER VIEW WHERE IT'S TOUGH TO SEE... ZACH MASKELL GETS LOW AND WIDE FOR AN OPEN WHEELED OVER THE EDGE DRIVE... AND NISSAN SHAKES UP THE MINI-UTE MARKET, WITH THE ALL-NEW KICKS...

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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IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

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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 OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT, VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: ONE CERTAINTY IN LIFE IS THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT MORE.

PORSCHE BUYERS INCLUDED.

SO WHILE, MANY PEOPLE DREAM OF OWNING A 718 BOXSTER, SOME HAVE NO INTEREST IN PORSCHE'S ENTRY-LEVEL ROADSTER.

WELL, THAT MIGHT CHANGE, AS PORSCHE HAS NOW SPREAD THEIR GTS TREATMENT TO THE 718 FAMILY.

SO LET US NOW EXPERIENCE THAT PORSCHE "MORENESS."

* IF YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN TO A PORSCHE DEALER AND ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME CHOOSING BETWEEN A BASE 718 BOXSTER AND THE BOXSTER S, WELL...THINGS JUST GOT EVEN HARDER.

NOW, THERE IS A NEW FOR 2018, 718 BOXSTER GTS IN THE MIX AS WELL.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER MONTH OR SO WE'RE DRIVING SOME FANTASTIC NEW PORSCHE, AND SOMETIMES EVEN WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES TO STOP SOUNDING LIKE TOTAL FAN BOYS.

BUT, THEN COMES ALONG THIS BOXSTER GTS.

MUCH LIKE THE 911 GTS, IT LARGELY TAKES A HOST OF PERFORMANCE OPTIONS ALREADY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, AND PUTS THEM TOGETHER UNDER ONE LABEL.

[ENGINE STARTS UP AND REVS] BUT, YOU DO GET ADDED POWER AS WELL.

MORE BOOST FROM THE TURBO AND A REDESIGNED INTAKE ADD 15 HORSEPOWER OVER THE S FOR A TOTAL OF 365, ALONG WITH 309 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 317 POUND-FEET IF YOU OPT FOR THE 7-SPEED PDK LIKE OUR TEST CAR.

INCLUDED, IS THE SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM; BLACK TIPS OF COURSE, AS GTS ADDS BLACK TRIM THROUGHOUT BOTH THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR.

ALCANTARA LEATHER COVERS THE CENTER OF THE SPORTS SEATS, GT SPORTS STEERING WHEEL, DOOR ARMRESTS, AND GEAR SELECTOR.

NOW, IT'S NO FUN SITTING STILL IN A PORSCHE, SO OFF TO THE TRACK.

[TIRES SCREECHING & ENGINE REVVING] IN TYPICAL PDK FASHION, LAUNCHING IS EASY AS PIE.

TAKE OFF IS NOT AS BRUTAL AS SOME OF THE 911s, WE'VE BEEN IN LATELY, BUT IT'S ENOUGH OF A THRILL RIDE TO SCARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T DO THIS FOR A LIVING.

THERE IS A SLIGHT BIT OF TURBO LAG EARLY ON, BUT POWER ARRIVES SOON ENOUGH, AS DOES THE REV LIMITER, AT LEAST THROUGH THE FIRST TWO GEARS.

WE HIT 60 IN 3.7 SECONDS, A TENTH QUICKER THAN WE GOT IN THE LIGHTER CAYMAN S LAST YEAR.

PDK SHIFTS ARE JUST AS QUICK AND DELIBERATE AS ALWAYS, TAKING US TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.2 SECONDS AT 116 MILES PER HOUR.

FOR THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT, GTS INCLUDES A SUSPENSION LOWERED BY 10-MILLIMETERS, WITH PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT, A MECHANICAL TORQUE-VECTORING LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL, AND THE SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE.

FOR THESE, IT WAS OFF TO THE CHALLENGING ROAD COURSE AT DOMINION RACEWAY NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA.

THIS BOXSTER MAY STILL BE REAR-DRIVE ONLY, BUT ITS MID-ENGINE NEUTRALITY, MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST BALANCED CARS WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.

EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL POWER, GRIP REMAINS SPECTACULAR, SEEMINGLY NEVER-ENDING; UNLESS YOU REALLY GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO INDUCE SOME OVERSTEER WITH A QUICK STAB OF THE THROTTLE.

WE NOTICED THAT TURBO-LAG EVEN MORE HERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING OUT OF SLOW SPEED CORNERS.

BUT, NO MATTER THE CORNER, THE GTS STAYS VERY FLAT, AND HAS THAT DIVINE FEEL THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO WANT, YET, NO OTHER MANUFACTURER SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER WITH SUCH CONSISTENCY AS PORSCHE.

WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH MORE POWER THIS CHASSIS COULD HANDLE, BUT IT FEELS JUST ABOUT PERFECT RIGHT NOW.

THE GTS DOES NOT COME STANDARD WITH CERAMIC BRAKES, BUT THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT A NECESSITY FOR GOOD STOPS, BUT A WORTHY CONSIDERATION IF TRACK DAYS ARE ON THE AGENDA, AS OUR STANDARD BRAKES-EQUIPPED GTSs PEDAL DID GET A LITTLE SOFT TOWARDS THE END OF OUR LONG TEST DAY.

WITH PERFORMANCE STOPPING JUST SHORT OF A 911; IT MAKES SENSE THAT PRICING WINDS UP ALMOST AS LOFTY.

$82,950 TO START, AND OF COURSE YOU CAN GET THE GTS TREATMENT FOR THE HARDTOP COUSIN CAYMAN AS WELL, FOR ABOUT TWO GRAND LESS.

SO WHILE, THE 2018 PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER GTS DOES NOT INCLUDE A MAJOR ENGINE UPGRADE OVER THE BOXSTER S; ITS VALUE-ADDED, PRE-ASSEMBLED PACKAGE OF ALREADY AVAILABLE UPGRADES, TOUCH EVERY PART OF THE CAR THAT MATTERS.

ALL TO MAKE A DRIVING EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE SO.

IT FEELS FANTASTIC NO MATTER WHAT ROAD OR TRACK YOU'RE ON.

AND ALL-IN-ALL, IT'S MORE PROOF THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PORSCHE, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

* RESEARCHERS SAY, "THAT WE DO A LOT OF OUR BEST THINKING WHEN WE'RE ASLEEP."

BUT IF YOU DON'T TAKE ANY ACTION WHEN YOU WAKE UP, WELL...YOU'RE NOT REALLY CHASING YOUR DREAMS.

OUR ZACH MASKELL TENDS TO GO OVER THE EDGE WHEN HE'S CATCHING HIS Zs...LIKE DRIVING AN OPEN WHEELED RACE CAR?

WELL, ITS TIME TO WITNESS THAT DREAM COME TRUE.

* Zach Maskell: IN THE USA, MANY KNOW RACING AS NASCAR, OR THE INDIANAPOLIS 500.

FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD, IT'S MAINLY ONE LETTER.

ONE NUMBER... F1... NO FENDERS... NO WINDSHIELD... ONE SEAT... TO DRIVE AN OPEN-WHEELED F1 CAR COMPETITIVELY IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF RACING, THE WINNERS SEEN AS ROYALTY.

A TRIP TO SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA IS WHERE WE FOUND ONE DRIVER PRACTICING, DETERMINED TO STAND IN THE NUMBER ONE SPOT.

IN 2016 THE PILOT OF THIS CAR WON THE FIRST EVER F4 CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN THE U.S. TODAY, WE'RE HANGING OUT WITH 18 YEAR OLD CAMERON DAS.

THE ROAD TO F1 IS LONG, EXPENSIVE, AND CONTAINS PLENTY OF OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY, WITH NO GUARANTEE OF EVER SECURING A SEAT.

A TYPICAL ROUTE STARTS WITH KARTING, MOVING TO F4, FOLLOWED BY F3, THEN 2 AND FINALLY F1, WITH EACH PROGRESSION ADDING RACE INTENSITY.

AND FRESH OFF A FLIGHT FROM THE U.K., CAMERON WHERE ARE YOU RACING NOW?

Cameron Das: I'M RACING IN EURO FORMULA OPEN F3 IN EUROPE.

IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING SEASON AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

Zach: MANY YOUNG RACERS GET THEIR START IN KARTS AROUND AGE 8.

CAMERON DIDN'T START UNTIL 15.

TWO YEARS LATER HE FINISHED TOP 5 IN BRITISH F3.

STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, PLANNING TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY AFTER GRADUATION... CAMERON SAYS, PROFESSIONAL RACE DRIVERS NEED TO DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.

ON THE SIDE, HE'S ALSO DEVELOPING A WEB SERIES WHERE HE PREDICTS FUTURE CLASSIC CARS.

Zach: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TAKE THIS THING AROUND TURNS?

Cameron: WELL, THIS CAR'S OBVIOUSLY, A LOT LIGHTER THAN A STREET CAR.

AND WE'RE RUNNING ON SLICK TIRES, SO EVERYTHING HAPPENS, SO MUCH FASTER.

WHEN THE CAR BREAKS LOOSE, IT BREAKS LOOSE ALL AT ONCE.

AND VERY QUICKLY.

REACTION TIMES HAVE TO BE SO MUCH HIGHER.

PHYSICAL ABILITY HAS TO BE HIGHER.

Zach: POWERED BY HONDA, 2018 IS THE INAUGURAL F3 AMERICAS SERIES.

THESE CIVIC TYPE R ENGINES ARE SHELLING OUT 270 HORSEPOWER, THE CAR WEIGHING 1400 POUNDS.

NO POWER STEERING, NO ABS, NO TRACTION CONTROL.

THE MOOD WAS TENSE.

AN OUTSIDER, HOPPING INTO A FULL-FLEDGED RACE TEAM'S BABY.

MY EXTREMITIES...SHAKING, BRAIN...ON OVERDRIVE.

ALRIGHT, I'VE GOT USE THE CLUTCH HERE TO GET ME OUT OF FIRST GEAR, FROM THEN ON, I'M ONLY USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS.

AND, [LAUGHS] LET'S GO BABY!!!

I DID NOT STALL IT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE... WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START!!

THIS CAR COSTS OVER 120,000 AND IT'S ONE OF ONLY A FEW OF F3 AMERICAS PRACTICE CARS...

IF I WRECK THIS THING TODAY, I'M GOING INTO HIDING AND WILL I NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

IT IS JUST WARP SPEED INSTANTLY.

OH, I'M GOING TO GET USED TO THIS QUICKLY.

I MEAN, I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS REAL LIFE.

I FEEL LIKE, I AM IN A DRIVING SIMULATOR.

I NOTICED VERY QUICKLY ON TURN ONE, I'M USING MY WRISTS TO STEER HERE, I'M NOT USING MY WHOLE ARMS, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR THAT TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.

AAAHHH...HA...HA, ABSOLUTELY BONKERS.

UNBELIEVABLE.

BY FAR THE CRAZIEST THING I'VE EVER DRIVEN.

PROBABLY, THE CRAZIEST THING, I EVER WILL DRIVE.

IT'S RAW, IT'S WILD, AND IT'S CONFUSING, BECAUSE IT DOES EVERYTHING YOU WANT IT TO DO.

YOU ARE SO CONNECTED TO THE GROUND.

NO TRACTION CONTROL.

YOU FEEL THE AIR COMING ACROSS THE HILLS, AND MOVING YOU LEFT AND RIGHT.

NUTS.

BUT, I'M JUST STARTING.

SO PLEASE, DON'T EVER WAKE ME UP.

John: TIME TO CHECK IN WITH PAT GOSS.

HE SHOWS US HOW TO GET A CLEAR VIEW, IN A TOUGH SPOT.

Pat Goss: NEW CARS HAVE AN AMAZING ARRAY OF HIGH TECH FEATURES.

BUT WHAT IF YOUR CAR DOESN'T HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT?

WELL, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND IT IN THE AFTERMARKET.

NOW, ONE OF THOSE THINGS OF COURSE, IS THAT NEW CARS COME WITH BACKUP CAMERAS.

WELL, WE HAVE MARK MILLER FROM WESTMINSTER SPEED AND SOUND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS.

MARK, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Mark Miller: THANKS PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

Mark: SO, WE'VE GOT SOME DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF PRODUCTS.

SO, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LICENSE PLATE FRAME CAMERA THAT MOUNTS AT THE TOP OF THE LICENSE PLATE AND THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEE THE CAMERA.

OVER THE ON THE GOLF, IS AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETE LICENSE PLATE FRAME STYLE SYSTEM.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND HERE?

Mark: THAT IS A MODULE MADE BY NAV-TV THAT ACTUALLY TALKS ON THE VEHICLES CANBUS NETWORK AND ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE A BACKUP CAMERA IMAGE DISPLAYED IN A COLOR SCREEN JUST LIKE WE DID IN THIS MERCEDES.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND THIS ONE?

Mark: THAT IS A LIP MOUNT STYLE CAMERA THAT'S DESIGNED TO VERY MUCH MIMIC THE COSMETICS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF A FACTORY CAMERA.

Pat: ALRIGHT...NOW, NOT ALL CARS HAVE THE CENTER SCREEN OR ANY TYPE OF SCREEN, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?

Mark: SO THEN, YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING ALTERNATE.

SO, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A REPLACEMENT REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT HAS AN EMBEDDED LCD MONITOR IN IT THAT COMES TO LIFE WHENEVER YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND SHOWS THE BACKUP CAMERA IMAGE.

Pat: OKAY AND THE BIG CAMERA?

Mark: THAT IS A COMMERCIAL CAMERA.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT'S GOT TO TAKE A LOT MORE USE BEING IN A COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT.

IT HAS TO WORK REALLY WELL AT NIGHT.

THERE'S EVEN A MICROPHONE IN IT, SO THE DRIVER CAN ACTUALLY HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND HIM WHEN HE'S BACKING UP.

Pat: ALRIGHT...NOW, WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FRONT MOUNT CAMERAS.

DO YOU DO THOSE?

Mark: WE DO.

NORMALLY, WE'LL INSTALL A LITTLE MICROSWTICH AND WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO A CURB YOU JUST TAP THAT BUTTON AND NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT TWO FEET RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

Pat: AH, PRETTY NEAT.

NOW, OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN THE TOYOTA.

Mark: YES, SO THIS IS A 2010 MODEL.

SO, IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF CARPLAY OR ANDROID AUTO WHEN IT WAS NEW.

SO WE RETROFITTED AN ALPINE 9.0 INCH SYSTEM TO GIVE THAT FEATURE SET AND THEN THAT BIG BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY NOW ALSO HAS A BACKUP CAMERA.

Pat: WE HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS WHO ARE REALLY SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN BLIND SPOT MONITORING.

DO YOU DO THOSE?

Mark: WE DO, AND IT'S TYPICALLY DONE ONE OF TWO WAYS.

IT'S EITHER A CAMERA SYSTEM THAT'S MOUNTS ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND DISPLAYS IN YOUR COLOR SCREEN, IN THE DASH OR IT'S A MONITORING SYSTEM THAT USES LITTLE LED'S AND AN AUDIBLE ALERT TO LET YOU KNOW IF THERE'S SOMEBODY IN YOUR BLIND SPOT.

Pat: MARK THANK YOU.

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

* Greg Carloss: WELL, WE ALL KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER.

IT'S THE DAY WE SAY GOOD-BYE TO OUR 2017 KIA NIRO.

DURING ITS YEARLONG STAY WITH US, WE RACKED UP A TOTAL OF 24,236 MILES.

SURE, IT MAY NOT MATCH THE FUEL ECONOMY OF A TOYOTA PRIUS, BUT OUR AVERAGE OF 43.7 MILES PER GALLON IS QUITE GOOD FOR THIS PSEUDO CROSSOVER.

AND WE'LL TAKE ITS 1.6 LITER I4 BASED POWERTRAIN AND ACCOMPANYING TRUE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVER A PRIUS CVT ANY DAY.

IT HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT HAULING, WAS AMPLY COMFORTABLE FOR TRIPS BOTH SHORT AND LONG, AND ITS PLAIN-LOOKING BUT FULL-FEATURED CABIN HELD UP QUITE WELL.

WE'LL MISS IT FOR SURE, BUT RUMOR HAS IT, WE MIGHT BE PLUGGING INTO A NEW NIRO IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO, STAY TUNED FOR THAT.

TIME WITH OUR 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY IS ALSO WINDING DOWN.

WE'RE 9-MONTHS IN, AND THE ODOMETER HAS MEASURED A HEALTHY 21,500 MILES.

MORE THAN HEALTHY, IS OUR UPTICK IN FUEL ECONOMY, NOW SITTING AT 26.2 MILES PER GALLON.

IT SUCCEEDS MIGHTILY AT DOING WHAT MINIVANS ARE DESIGNED TO DO, HAUL A BIG FAMILY AROUND WITH GREAT COMFORT, AND ONCE YOU REMOVE AND FOLD THE REAR SEATS, LOAD LOTS OF COSTCO SIZED CARGO.

DO WE MISS THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND GROUND CLEARANCE OF A CROSSOVER WHEN THE WEATHER AND ROADS TURN BAD?

SURE, BUT IT HASN'T STOPPED US FROM RACKING UP THE ALL KINDS OF MILES IN THE ODYSSEY.

MOST PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED WHEN WE MENTION A MINIVAN IN OUR LIST OF FAVORITE VEHICLES, BUT THE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS ABSOLUTELY EARNED ITS SPOT.

MOST OF THE MILES WE PUT ON IT THIS SUMMER CAME FROM VACATION ROAD TRIPS; A NUMBER OF THOSE ON FLAT HIGHWAYS TO MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE, HENCE,THE INCREASED FUEL ECONOMY.

IT'S COMFORTABLE FOR THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS, PLUS, THERE'S SO MUCH USABLE SPACE, WE FOUND OURSELVES BRINGING ALONG COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY ITEMS.

Greg: IT'S THE SUBARU CROSSTREK AND TOYOTA CAMRY ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS CONSTANTLY INNOVATING AND RENEWING.

AND NOW, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ KEEPS US UP TO DATE WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: WHILE, MORE THAN A FEW BRANDS SKIPPED THE BI-ANNUAL PARIS MOTOR SHOW THIS YEAR, THERE WAS STILL PLENTY OF HIGH FASHION TO STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT.

CLEARLY, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CAR MAKING ITS FORMAL DEBUT AT THE 2018 PARIS MOTOR SHOW IS THE ALL-NEW BMW 3-SERIES THE SEVENTH GENERATION OF THE ICONIC SPORT SEDAN IS MORE POWERFUL, BUT LIKELY WITHOUT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HERE, ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND.

MEANWHILE, BMW'S NEW Z4 ROADSTER ARRIVED IN EUROPE WITH A STIFFER CHASSIS, WHILE THE RANGE TOPPING BMW 8-SERIES COUPE RETURNED WITH A NEW 530 HORSEPOWER V8.

MERCEDES-BENZ MADE BIG NEWS WITH THE SMALL A-CLASS SEDAN.

ALL NEW AND DUE HERE SHORTLY, THE DEBUT INCLUDED A 306 HORSEPOWER MERCEDES-AMG A 35 4MATIC.

THE THREE-POINTED STAR ALSO SHOWED THE ROOMIER AND MORE SOPHISTICATED GLE SUV.

AND THE ALL-ELECTRIC EQC, THE FIRST MODEL UNDER THEIR NEW ELECTRIC BRAND, PROMISING A 279 MILE RANGE.

FINALLY, A SO CALLED "ENTRY LEVEL" 367 HORSEPOWER, MERCEDES-AMG GT 43 4MATIC+ 4-DOOR COUPE.

AUDI SHOWING THEIR FIRST PRODUCTION FULL EV, THE E-TRON.

THIS MID-SIZE SUV HAS TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS, ONE ON EACH AXLE.

THE REFRESHED PORSCHE MACAN MADE ITS EUROPEAN DEBUT.

AND TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF PORSCHE, A LIMITED NUMBER OF THE 911 SPEEDSTER WILL BE BUILT STARTING NEXT YEAR.

ITALIAN FLARE ARRIVED IN THE LIMITED PRODUCTION FERRARI MONZA SP1 AND SP2.

BOTH WITH FERRARI'S MOST POWERFUL NATURALLY-ASPIRATED V12 AT 800 HORSEPOWER.

BUT, ITS BUYER'S CHOICE, ONE SEAT OR TWO.

THE KIA E-NIRO MADE ITS EUROPEAN DEBUT.

THE KOREAN COMPANY'S FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC UTILITY CAN TRAVEL TO 301 MILES ON A SINGLE CHARGE.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST ANTICIPATED REVEALS CAME FROM VINFAST, THE FIRST VIETNAMESE CAR BRAND.

EVEN MORE NOVEL IS THAT BOTH THEIR LUX A2.0 SEDAN, AND LUX SA2.0 SUV ARE BASED ON LAST GENERATION BMW CHASSIS AND POWERTRAIN'S.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THE NEWEST IN AUTOMOTIVE FASHION FROM THE CITY OF LIGHT, AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: OVER THE YEARS NISSAN'S UTILITY LINEUP HAS STEADILY GROWN, TO BECOME QUITE COMPREHENSIVE.

RANGING FROM THE FULL SIZE AND RUGGED ARMADA TO THE TINY AND QUARKY JUKE AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN.

BUT THEY'VE ALSO, BECOME MORE AND MORE MAINSTREAM.

SO NOW, IT'S OUT WITH THAT FUNKY JUNK AND IN WITH A WHOLE NEW KICKS.

* WE'VE DRIVEN ALL MANNER OF NISSAN UTILITIES OVER THE YEARS, FROM RUGGED TO REFINED.

AND TRUTH BE TOLD, WE WERE NEVER HUGE FANS OF THE FUNKY JUKE.

BUT, IT CERTAINLY HAD PRESENCE, AND WAS PRETTY FUN TO DRIVE TO BOOT.

SO, WHAT DO WE GET WITH ITS TAMER LOOKING REPLACEMENT, THIS 2018 NISSAN KICKS?

CLEARLY, ITS STYLING IS MORE SEDATE THAN THE JUKE'S BUG-EYED PERSONA, BUT IT'S STILL MORE ADVENTUROUS LOOKING THAN MOST RIVAL SUBCOMPACT UTILITIES.

AT ITS ESSENCE, THE KICKS IS A JACKED UP, RESKINNED VERSA NOTE.

BUT, EXAGGERATED FENDERS AND LOWER-BODY CLADDING ADD A RUGGED ELEMENT; WHILE UP SWEEPING BODY LINES AND BLACKED-OUT GREENHOUSE SET AN AGGRESSIVE AND SPORTY TONE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] POWERING THIS TINY RUNABOUT, IS A NATURALLY ASPIRATED 1.6 LITER I4, RATED AT ONLY 125 HORSEPOWER AND 115 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRANSMISSION IS A CVT.

LIKE, THE TOYOTA CH-R AND KIA SOUL, IT'S PART OF THE URBAN CROSSOVER BREED THAT IS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS A HATCHBACK; THOUGH KICKS IS A TALL ONE, WITH A STOUT 7.0 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE.

INSIDE, THE LEVEL OF STANDARD FEATURES IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE; 6-SPEAKER STEREO, 7.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN, AND THREE USB PORTS.

SV TRIM RATCHETS IT UP WITH APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO, AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL, AND A 7.0 INCH DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

LUGGAGE SPACE IS AMONG BEST-IN-CLASS AT 25.3 CUBIC-FEET; EXPANDING TO 53.1 WITH THE SEATBACKS FOLDED.

ROOM FOR PASSENGERS IS GENEROUS TOO, AND FOR AN ENTRY-LEVEL RIDE, IT'S REASONABLY QUIET INSIDE, AND SEAT COMFORT IS QUITE GOOD.

LITTLE THINGS THAT OFTEN FALL SHORT IN ECONOMY-BASED RIDES, LIKE THE ARMRESTS AND USER INTERFACE, ARE ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTS HERE.

YES, THE BULK OF INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE PLASTIC, BUT THEY ARE NICELY-TEXTURED AND HAVE A GOOD FEEL.

SO, ALL IS GOOD UP UNTIL THIS POINT, BUT 125 HORSEPOWER AND CVT DIDN'T EXACTLY DRUM UP EXCITEMENT ON TRACK DAY.

AND AS EXPECTED, THERE'S NOT MUCH KICK TO THE KICKS OFF THE LINE.

BUT, ONCE IT'S MOVIN', IT'S IMPROVIN'.

AFTER GETTING OVER THE HOLE-SHOT SLUMP, THE ENGINE REVS FREELY AND SOUNDS EAGER.

STILL, EXPECT A LONG 9.7 SECOND TRIP TO 60.

THAT'S ALMOST TWO SECONDS LONGER THAN A TURBO CHARGED JUKE, BUT A HAIR FASTER THAN A COMPARABLE FORD ECOSPORT.

AS FOR THE CVT, IT WAS A LITTLE BETTER THAN EXPECTED; NISSAN'S LATEST XTRONIC DOES HAVE SIMULATED SHIFTS, FEELING ABOUT AS REAL AS IT GETS.

THINGS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY WHEN WE ADDED SOME BACK-AND-FORTH INTO THE MIX.

WE FOUND NICE GENTLE UNDERSTEER; PAIRED WITH QUICK, WELL-WEIGHTED STEERING, GOOD GRIP, AND A COMPLIANT CHASSIS.

A SHORT 115 FEET WAS OUR AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60.

PEDAL TRAVEL IS ON THE LONG SIDE, BUT STOPS WERE STRAIGHT, TRUE, AND FADE FREE.

EVEN BETTER, AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WITH FORWARD COLLISION WARNING COMES STANDARD.

IN OUR BARRIER TEST IT PERFORMED SIMILAR TO OTHER RECENT NISSANS.

IT WORKED EVERY TIME AT SPEEDS UP TO 10 MILES PER HOUR, BUT STOPS ARE VERY ABRUPT AND JOLTING.

KICKS GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE QUITE GOOD AT 31-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY, AND 33-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A FINE 34.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THERE'S A GREAT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE TOO, CONSIDERING THIS IS NOT A HYBRID OF ANY KIND, USING JUST 10.0 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WITH 4.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

AFTER ALL OF THAT, WE WERE EXPECTING THE MEXICAN ASSEMBLED KICKS TO COST MORE THAN ITS $18,985 BASE PRICE.

TOP TRIM SR IS JUST $2300 MORE AT $21,285.

THAT MAKES IT AMONG THE BETTER BARGAINS IN THIS BARGAIN CLASS.

WHETHER, IT'S THE LOW PRICE, OR JUST BEING OVERSATURATED WITH TINY CROSSOVERS, WE HAD MODEST EXPECTATIONS GOING IN.

BUT WE CAME AWAY QUITE IMPRESSED WITH THE 2018 NISSAN KICKS.

MORE IMPRESSED THAN WE'VE BEEN WITH ANY OTHER ENTRY-LEVEL NISSAN IN QUITE SOME TIME.

IT'S QUIET, FEATURE-PACKED, EFFICIENT, AND GOOD-LOOKING.

AND, ALONG WITH THE SLIGHTLY LARGER ROGUE SPORT, IT APPEARS NISSAN IS FINALLY BACK IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING GREAT SMALL CARS.

ONLY NOW, THEY JUST HAPPEN TO BE CROSSOVERS.

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 SUBARU GOES LARGE WITH THE FAMILY SIZE ASCENT.

AND BMW POURS A LOT OF STEAM INTO A GREAT SEDAN, THE M5.

'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.

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] *