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

JOIN US AS ACURA GIVES THE ALL-NEW RDX BETTER BONES, BRAWN AND BEAUTY... PAT GOSS DECODES THE SIGNS OF WHAT YOUR TIRES ARE TELLING YOU... STEPHANIE HART WITH THE LATEST ON AUTONOMOUS DRIVING BEING READIED FOR THE ROAD... AND PORSCHE RAISES THE BAR ON RARE AND FAST, WITH THE 911 GT2 RS...

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.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: EVER SINCE THE NSX MADE ITS RETURN TO THE ACURA LINEUP FOR 2017, ACURA HAS BEEN TRYING TO SPRINKLE A LITTLE BIT OF ITS EXOTIC MAGIC THROUGHOUT THEIR LINEUP.

SO NEXT UP ON THAT CHECKLIST, IS THE 3RD GENERATION OF THEIR COMPACT CROSSOVER RDX.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT PRECISION CRAFTED PERFORMANCE ADDS TO THIS ALREADY POPULAR CHOICE.

* THE FIRST ACURA RDX WAS A BIT AHEAD OF ITS TIME, WHEN IT ARRIVED FOR 2007.

NOT ONLY WAS IT ONE OF THE FIRST LUXURY COMPACT CROSSOVERS, BUT IT ARRIVED WITH A 4-CYLINDER TURBO ENGINE AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF PERFORMANCE.

WHEN THE 2ND GENERATION ARRIVED, IT SEEMED TO REVERSE COURSE, SHOWING UP SOMEWHAT BLOATED, BLAND, AND PACKING A V6.

TODAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT TURBO-4s, AND SPORT UTILITIES THAT HANDLE BETTER THAN SPORT SEDANS DID A DECADE AGO.

SO, THE 2019 ACURA RDX GOES BACK TO ITS ROOTS, TO NOW JOIN THE PACK.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] SPORTING A REQUISITE 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO WITH 272 HORSEPOWER, THE NEW RDX GETS A BIG BOOST IN TORQUE, 280 POUND-FEET; THAT'S 28 MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S V6, FEELING JUST AS ENERGETIC FROM A STANDING START.

THERE'S ALSO, A NEW PADDLE SHIFT 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANS, AND OF COURSE, OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH IS THE LATEST VERSION OF ACURA'S SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THIS NEW RDX BOASTS A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT LOOK, THOUGH NOT SO DIFFERENT THAT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE CURRENT ACURA SIGNATURES, SUCH AS THEIR DIAMOND PENTAGON GRILL AND JEWEL EYE HEADLIGHTS.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS HAVE INCREASED, INCLUDING 2.6 ADDITIONAL, INCHES TO THE WHEELBASE, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP UP, AND ALLOWS FOR A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE, YET, TRIMMER LOOK OUTSIDE, WHILE STILL GIVING THE INTERIOR DESIGNERS A LOT MORE ROOM TO PLAY WITH.

A-SPEC TRIM TAKES THE AGGRESSIVE NEW NATURE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WITH 20-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, GLOSS BLACK TRIM, LED FOG LIGHTS, AND LARGER DUAL EXHAUST TIPS.

RIDING ON AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM WITH AS YET, NO HONDA BRAND COUNTERPART, THE SUSPENSION SETUP IS MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT AND A 5-LINK INDEPENDENT REAR.

THE FOUR AVAILABLE DRIVE MODES, INCLUDE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION, WITH SPORT+ MAKING THINGS, THE MOST RESPONSIVE.

THE RIDE CERTAINLY FIRMS UP AS WELL, TO THE POINT, THAT WE'D PUT SPORT+ IN THE "OCCASIONAL USE ONLY" CATEGORY.

BUT REALLY, IT'S THE SH-AWD THAT'S STILL THE STAR OF THIS HANDLING SHOW.

TURN-INS ARE VERY QUICK, AND YOU REALLY HAVE PUSH HARD TO APPROACH THIS UTEs LIMITS.

TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS A KEY ACURA ATTRIBUTE, AND THERE'S PLENTY TO SHOWCASE HERE.

GAUGES ARE CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE, AND A 10.2 INCH DASH-TOP HD LCD DISPLAY SCREEN, IS THE CENTERPIECE OF A NEW USER INTERFACE.

BUT IT'S STRICTLY HANDS OFF, AS YOU MUST USE A CONSOLE TOUCHPAD FOR INPUTS.

IT SEEMS OVERLY COMPLICATED AND THERE'S A DEFINITE LEARNING CURVE.

FORTUNATELY, THEY HAVEN'T GONE OVERBOARD, AS THERE ARE STILL MANUAL CONTROLS FOR THE BASICS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF STORAGE EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE NSX-FLAVORED CABIN, THANKS TO THAT ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE, AND THE SPORTY ADORNED SEATS ARE AS, IF NOT MORE, COMFORTABLE THAN BEFORE.

A PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS STANDARD.

AT 31.1 CUBIC-FEET, CARGO CAPACITY IS QUITE GOOD COMPARED TO RIVALS; 5.0 CUBIC-FEET MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

MAX, IS UP TOO, AT 79.8 CUBIC-FEET.

PACKING IN PLENTY OF SAFETY FEATURES AS WELL, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH FRONT DRIVE ARE 22-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED; ALL NUMBERS ONE LESS WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AT 21-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

SO, IT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, BURNING 13.7 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.1 TONS.

RDX PRICING STARTS AT $38,295, WITH SH-AWD ADDING TWO GRAND MORE.

AND, ON UP THE LADDER YOU GO, UNTIL THINGS TOP OUT AT ADVANCE TRIM FOR $46,395.

THE SPIRIT OF THE NSX DOES INDEED EXIST IN THE 2019 ACURA RDX, AS IT HAS RETURNED TO WHERE IT STARTED ONLY BETTER; BRINGING EQUAL PARTS HIGH-PERFORMANCE AND HIGH-TECHNOLOGY, PLUS HONDA-DESIGN RELIABILITY, TO THE LUXURY COMPACT UTILITY SCENE, WITHOUT LEAVING THE PRACTICALITY OR COMFORT BEHIND.

THAT FORMULA WAS CENTRAL TO THE ORIGINAL RDX.

AND WHILE, TIMING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PERFECT THEN, IT COULDN'T BE MORE PERFECT NOW.

* WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE AUTOMOBILE IS FASCINATING, BUT AT TIMES BAFFLING.

SCORES OF AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ARE WORKING HARD AT TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CARS WE KNOW AND LOVE TODAY, AND THE AUTOMATED, AND DRIVERLESS CARS PLANNED FOR TOMORROW.

OUR STEPHANIE HART HAD A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE GROUNDS OF THEIR MCITY TESTING FACILITY FOR A LOOK AT HOW THE NEXT GENERATION WILL RIDE.

* Stephanie Hart: MCITY IS UNIQUE.

IT'S DESIGNED TO TEST CONNECTED AND AUTOMATED VEHICLES.

IT'S THE ONLY FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A SCENE OUT OF A MOVIE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO REPLICATE A REAL CITY COMPLETE WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STREET SIGNS.

IT'S TUCKED AWAY ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CAMPUS IN ANN ARBOR.

BEHIND IT'S CHARMING LOOK, SERIOUS TESTING AND RESEARCH.

CARRIE MORTON IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MCITY.

Carrie Morton: LOOKING AT LEGAL LIABILITY AND INSURANCE QUESTIONS, PRIVACY, CYBER SECURITY, UNDERSTANDING HOW TO TEST AND MAKE SURE TECHNOLOGIES ARE SAFE.

Stephanie: NOT MANY PEOPLE GET TO VISIT THIS FACILITY, SO WE'RE GLAD WE HAD THE CHANCE!

THE FUTURE OF LEVEL 4 AUTONOMOUS DRIVING IS PRETTY AMAZING.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH MCITY AND SHOW YOU A TEST SCENARIO.

OUR VEHICLE SHOWS UP AS THIS GREEN SQUARE ON THIS IPAD.

THE YELLOW SQUARES ALL AROUND US ARE VIRTUAL VEHICLES.

ESSENTIALLY, THE CARS ARE CONNECTED AND ACTUALLY TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER, ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THEM.

Stephanie: AND YOU MENTIONED THERE'S $300,000 WORTH OF SENSORS ON THIS CAR?

Greg McGuire: THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH, THESE SENSORS AREN'T CHEAP.

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY STATE OF THE ART, AND NOT MADE IN HIGH VOLUME YET, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE DVD PLAYERS USED TO COST 1,000, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET THEM FOR 10 BUCKS.

Stephanie: AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES HAVE CERTAINLY COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEY FIRST BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN 2013.

Greg: SO, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LEFT AND GO DOWN TO OUR RAIL CROSSING, AND WE SHOULD HAVE A COMMUTER TRAIN THAT'S SCHEDULED TO COME THROUGH RIGHT ABOUT NOW, HERE IT COMES.

WE'RE GONNA STOP FOR THAT AND YOU NOTICE, WE'RE STOPPED BACK A LITTLE BIT THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US, A VIRTUAL VEHICLE.

Stephanie: IN REALITY, TRANSPORTATION THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS STILL A LONG WAY OFF.

HOWEVER, SELF-DRIVING SHUTTLES, LIKE THIS ONE, COULD BE ON OUR STREETS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS ONE, AND OTHERS, ARE ALREADY MOVING STUDENTS AROUND CAMPUS.

WE STEPPED ON TO TRY IT OUT.

IT OPERATES SIMILAR TO THE LEVEL 4 AUTONOMOUS CAR, WE TESTED OUT EARLIER.

Carrie: WHEN WE FIRST SEE THESE SHARED LEVEL 4 VEHICLES, LIKELY, THEY MAY BE OPERATING IN A SMALL, URBAN ENVIRONMENT, OR EVEN AS WHAT WE CALL "FIRST MILE LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION."

SO, MOVING ME FROM A COMMUTER LOT TO MY HOME, AT THE END OF MY BUS RIDE HOME FROM WORK FOR EXAMPLE OR A TRAIN RIDE...

SO PROVIDING A CONNECTION INTO A MORE ESTABLISHED TRANSIT SYSTEM.

Stephanie: THE BIG QUESTION?

WILL WE EVER BE ABLE TO TRUST THESE SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES.

RECENT STUDIES SHOW 70% OF AMERICANS ARE SCARED TO SHARE THE ROAD WITH AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE.

AND ONLY 21% SAY, "THEY'D RIDE IN ONE."

NOT SURPRISING, CONSIDERING THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FOUR DEATHS BLAMED ON DRIVERLESS VEHICLES.

THAT'S WHY TESTING AND RESEARCH GOING ON AT MCITY IS VITAL.

AS ENGINEERS, ALL OVER THE WORLD, CONTINUE TO TWEAK TECHNOLOGY.

Carrie: THE INDUSTRY IS MOVING ALL IN THE SAME DIRECTION WHICH IS PROVIDING A FAIL SAFE PATH, WHETHER, IT'S PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR PUTTING THE HAZARDS ON FOR EXAMPLE, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS IN A SITUATION THAT IT CAN'T CONTROL, IF THERE WERE NO HUMAN TO TAKE IT OVER, THAT IT MOVES INTO A FAIL SAFE POSITION AUTOMATICALLY.

SO WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER, AND ALSO WITH THE TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE...THEY CAN ACT AS A COLLABORATIVE ECOSYSTEM, AND OPERATE ON THE WHOLE MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY, REDUCING EMISSIONS, FUEL CONSUMPTION, AS WELL AS CONGESTION.

John: AS CARS BECOME MORE AND MORE SOPHISTICATED...

THERE ARE STILL SOME LOW TECH WAYS TO SPOT TROUBLE EARLY.

PAT HAS MORE DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: TIRES ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY ASPECTS OF ANY CAR AND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE OUR TIRE EXPERT, MISTER MATT EDMONDS.

MATT, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS'S GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT...NOW, I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I GOT A DEAL ON THIS TIRE.

I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND BOUGHT THAT BRAND NEW SUCKER FOR 25 BUCKS.

Matt: WELL, IT LOOKS BRAND-NEW, BUT WE CHEATED A LITTLE BIT.

WE LOOKED AT THE BORN ON DATE ON THAT TIRE.

HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT THOSE ARE 18 YEAR OLD TIRES.

Pat: EHHH, OKAY.

SO THAT MEANS THAT TIRE WOULDN'T BE A GOOD BET TO PUT ON A CAR.

Matt: WELL, THIS TIRE'S EXCEEDED ITS LIFE NOT THROUGH WEAR BUT THROUGH AGING AND THOSE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THAT DOT NUMBER TOLD US, IT WAS BUILT IN THE 43RD WEEK OF 2000.

SO ALMOST 18 YEARS OLD.

Pat: WOW, OKAY.

ALRIGHT, CENTER TIRE.

Matt: CENTER TIRE.

THIS IS A TIRE THAT SOMEONE HAS REALLY GOTTEN THE FULL LIFE THROUGH WEAR ON THE TIRE BY REALLY MAINTAINING THIS TIRE PROPERLY.

WATCHING THEIR AIR PRESSURE, ROTATING THE TIRE, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE GOOD ALIGNMENT.

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF JUST EVEN WEAR ACROSS THE TIRE.

Pat: OKAY, THIS ONE.

Matt: NOW, THIS ONE HERE, A LITTLE UNEVEN WEAR.

I MEAN, LOOKS LIKE HAS A LOT OF USABLE TREAD DEPTH.

BUT CERTAINLY ON THE SHOULDER, THAT INSIDE SHOULDER, ALIGNMENT WEAR.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF YOU STAY ON TOP OF, YOU CAN ROTATE YOUR TIRES AND WEAR IT OUT EVENLY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, I MEAN, IT BECOMES AN ISSUE AND YOU END UP REPLACING A TIRE BEFORE IT'S WORN OUT.

Pat: OKAY...NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THIS AGING PROCESS IS THAT AS THE RUBBER AGES, IT LOSES SOME OF ITS GRIP.

Matt: WELL, AND THE RUBBER LOSES SOME OF ITS CAPACITY TO GRIP.

THE COMPOUNDS TEND TO GET HARD AS SOME OF THE CHEMICALS COME OUT OF THEM.

THIS IS WHY WE SAY, TIRES REALLY SHOULD BE USED WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THEIR BORN-ON DATE.

OR, SIX YEARS MAXIMUM IN SERVICE.

SO, ONCE YOU PUT THE TIRES ON YOUR VEHICLE, YOU KNOW IT MAY BE TWO YEARS OLD WHEN YOU PUT THE TIRES ON, AT EIGHT YEARS, THAT TIRE HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS LIFE.

BUT, YOU SHOULD AT THAT POINT HAVE WORN THROUGH ITS USE AS WELL.

Pat: OKAY...NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRACTION, COLLECTOR CARS, THINGS LIKE THIS FORD GT.

THAT CAN BE AN ISSUE.

Matt: WELL, AND THE FORD GT HERE THAT WE HAVE ONLY HAS 2400 MILES ON IT.

BUT THE TIRES ARE 12 YEARS OLD.

SO YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE PUSHING THESE TIRES REALLY TO THE LIMIT, EXPLORING THE PERFORMANCE LIMITS OF THIS CAR AND CERTAINLY THE LIMITS OF THIS TIRE BECAUSE THAT TIRE NOW HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED.

Pat: OKAY NOW, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I THINK HERE, COME AWAY FROM THIS IS TO LEARN HOW TO READ THAT DOT CODE AND PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

Matt: ABSOLUTELY, THOSE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THAT DOT CODE GIVE YOU THAT, AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE WEEK AND THE YEAR THAT, THAT TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED.

AND, WHEN GO TO BUY TIRES, I MEAN, CHECK WHAT THE DOT CODE IS ON THE TIRES.

I MEAN, YOUR REPUTABLE TIRE DEALERS ARE GONNA HAVE YOU TAKEN CARE OF AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING TIRES THAT WILL SERVE YOU WELL.

Pat: OKAY MATT, THANK YOU.

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

John: FOR MOST, DRIVING IS A NECESSITY.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, IT'S ALSO ONE OF OUR SIMPLE JOYS OF LIFE.

SO LET'S GO FOR A QUICKSPIN.

* OF THE THREE REMAINING PONY CARS, THE DODGE CHALLENGER IS THE CLOSEST YOU CAN FIND TO THE DRIVING FEEL OF A 1960s ERA 2-DOOR HARDTOP MUSCLE CAR.

AND DODGE IS CERTAINLY FLEXING, BY ADDING TWO NEW VARIATIONS OF THE CHALLENGER FOR 2019.

LET'S START WITH THE SRT HELLCAT REDEYE.

IT TAKES MOST OF THE GO-FAST ENGINE GOODIES AND EXTENDED WHEEL FLARES FROM THE LIMITED-PRODUCTION DEMON, AND MIXES IN SOME SERIOUS STICK-HARD SUSPENSION AND TIRES, TO MAKE AN ULTIMATE TRACK-DAY CHALLENGER.

HORSEPOWER STANDS AT 797, AND TORQUE AT 707 POUND-FEET FROM THE SUPERCHARGED 6.2 LITER HEMI HIGH-OUTPUT V8 ENGINE MATED TO A TORQUEFLITE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

STOMP THE PEDDLE AND YOU HIT 60 IN 3.4 SECONDS.

MOREOVER, THE 300 FOOT ELEVATION CHANGES PER LAP AT CLUB MOTORSPORTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WERE LITERALLY FLATTENED.

CONTROLLED FURY IS HOW WE'D BEST DESCRIBE THIS TRACK EXPERIENCE.

WITH ALL SYSTEMS SET IN TRACK MODE, THIS CHALLENGER WIDEBODY'S SERIOUSLY BROAD TIRES, ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION, AND HUGE BRAKES WERE CERTAINLY UP TO THE TASK OF CHANNELING THAT MASSIVE POWER TO THE PAVEMENT.

BUT FULL-ON DRIFTS ARE JUST A THROTTLE-FLICK AWAY AT ANY TIME.

THE 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT REDEYE STICKERS AT A BIT LESS THAN $71,000.

FOR THOSE WITH LESS MONSTROUS AMBITIONS AND MORE MODEST BUDGETS, THE 2019 CHALLENGER R/T SCAT PACK WIDEBODY OFFERS THE SAME BASIC SUSPENSION WITH A LITTLE STIFFER SETUP.

DODGE STARTED USING THE SCAT PACK NAME BACK IN 1968 FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE MODELS BUILT FOR SPEED.

A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 392 HEMI V8 IS PAIRED WITH A STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL OR 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX.

485 HORSEPOWER AND 475 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE MAKES IT PLENTY QUICK, TRY 0-60 IN ONLY 3.8 SECONDS, YET, VERY MANAGEABLE TO DRIVE, AND NO LESS ENTERTAINING THAN THE HELLCAT.

THE 2019 CHALLENGER R/T SCAT PACK WIDEBODY STARTS AT AROUND 45 GRAND.

BOTH RACE INTO DEALERS' LOTS LATER THIS YEAR.

EVER SINCE ARRIVING IN 2001, THE SANTA FE UTILITY HAS BEEN A HIT FOR HYUNDAI, BUT NOW THERE'S MORE SHUFFLING IN THE LINE-UP.

WHAT WAS THE 5-PASSENGER SANTA FE SPORT, IS NOW THE 2019 SANTA FE.

THE CARRYOVER 7-SEATER BECOMES THE SANTA FE XL, THAT IS UNTIL A NEW AND EVEN LARGER 8-SEAT CROSSOVER ARRIVES FOR 2020.

THE 4TH GEN SANTA FE ALSO GROWS.

MORE MID-SIZE THAN COMPACT, ITS LONGER AND WIDER OVERALL, WITH A LONGER WHEELBASE THAN THE "SPORT."

LOW SLUNG STACKED LED HEADLIGHTS NOW BOOKEND HYUNDAI'S BOLD NEW UTILITY FACE.

WE HEADED TO PARK CITY, UTAH, TO DRIVE BOTH THE 185 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 AND THE 235 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO-4.

BOTH ARE AVAILABLE IN FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

AND ALL TEAM UP WITH A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

WITH TWO EXTRA GEARS BOTH UP AND DOWN SHIFTS WERE QUICKER AND SMOOTHER.

STEERING HAS A NICE HEFT AS THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR CREATES A COMFORTABLE RIDE.

SUSPENSION CHANGES INCLUDE POSITIONING THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MORE UPRIGHT.

Garick Zikan: THE ENGINEERS HAVE MADE THE SANTA FE MORE RIGID THEIR USING MORE HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL AND MORE STRUCTURAL ADHESIVES.

THEY'VE ALSO INCREASED THE STIFFNESS IN THE TORSION BAR IN THE STEERING.

THE RESULT IS A MORE REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE, BETTER HANDLING, AND A VERY SOLID FEEL.

John: INSIDE, THEY'VE GONE FURTHER TO REDUCE NOISE, ADD NATURAL LIGHT, AND MAKE MORE ROOM, ESPECIALLY FOR SECOND ROW PASSENGERS.

THE LIST OF STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDES WHAT THEY CALL "SAFE EXIT ASSIST."

IT KEEPS AN EYE ON WHAT'S COMING FROM BEHIND WHEN YOU GET OUT.

THE 2019 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT UNDER $26,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

WE CONSTANTLY RAVE ABOUT PORSCHES AND PARTICULARLY THE 911, AS BEING THE VERY DEFINITION OF EFFORTLESS PERFORMANCE WITH PRECISION.

BUT THERE IS A MORE SINISTER SIDE TO PORSCHE, AND THE 911, AND IT'S THE GT2 RS.

NOW LIKE, MOST CABLE NEWS TALKING HEADS, IT'S BOLD, BRASH, BORDERLINE OFFENSIVE, BUT ALSO VERY FAST, AND WE JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!

[ENGINE REVVING] THE CURRENT GENERATION 991 PORSCHE 911, IN ANY OF ITS ENDLESS VARIANTS, IS FAR FROM ORDINARY.

BUT, THERE'S ALWAYS THE CHANCE TO TAKE THINGS TO THE EXTREME, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT PORSCHE DID BY CREATING THIS 911 GT2 RS.

NOW, SOME MAY JUST SEE A GUSSIED-UP REAR-DRIVE 911 TURBO.

BUT, IT'S LIGHT YEARS MORE THAN THAT.

[ENGINE REVVING] IT DOES FEATURE THE TURBO Ss 3.8 LITER FLAT-6, BUT PORSCHE ENGINEERS BOOSTED THE HECK OUT OF IT, TO THE TUNE OF 700 HORSEPOWER AND 553 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S 120 MORE HORSEPOWER THAN THE TURBO S, AND 330 MORE THAN YOU'LL FIND IN A BASE 911.

AND SURE, THAT MIGHT BE 140 HORSEPOWER LESS THAN A DODGE DEMON, BUT HEY, WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH ABOUT 1,000 FEWER POUNDS HERE.

PDK ONLY, FOR THE TRANSMISSION, WITH THE REQUISITE UPGRADING TO HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL POWER, AS WELL AS SHUTTLE YOU TO 60 IN 2.7 SECONDS.

YOU HEARD ME!

BUT RATHER THAN JUST CRAMMING BIGGER TURBO'S ON IT, AND CALLING IT A DAY; PORSCHE ENGINEERS MOVED ON TO THE SUSPENSION, GETTING RID OF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT FLEXES EVEN A BIT.

NEXT ON THE CHECKLIST, WAS ELIMINATING WEIGHT.

FRONT FENDERS AND THE CARGO COMPARTMENT LID ARE CARBON-FIBER, WHILE THE ROOF PANEL IS MAGNESIUM, AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS TITANIUM, ACCOUNTING FOR 15 POUNDS ALL ON ITS OWN, AND SOUNDING AWESOME AS WELL.

IF WEIGHT IS REALLY AN ISSUE FOR YOU, THE RADIO AND A/C CAN BE ELIMINATED, AND EVEN MORE POUNDS CAN BE SHAVED WITH AN OPTIONAL WEISSACH PACKAGE, WHICH INCLUDES MAGNESIUM WHEELS AND A LOT MORE CARBON-FIBER.

OF COURSE, AERO HAS BEEN ENHANCED TO CREATE MORE DOWNFORCE, AND THEY MANAGED TO SQUEEZE IN 325 RUBBER ON THE 21-INCH REAR WHEELS, 265 ON THE FRONT 20s.

CLIMB IN, AND YOU QUICKLY NOTICE THE CARBON-FIBER FULL-BUCKET SEATS THAT GIVE NEW MEANING TO "HIGHLY-BOLSTERED."

START DRIVING, AND YOU EXPERIENCE THE KIND OF RESPONSE YOU COULD ONLY WISH FOR OUT OF YOUR TEENAGER.

TELL IT TO DO SOMETHING AND IT JUST DOES IT IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT QUESTION.

SO, IT'S ON YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT PROPER COMMANDS.

WE DID OUR BEST AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA.

THIS IS NOT A CAR FOR INEXPERIENCED OR TIMID DRIVERS.

IT DEMANDS DECISIVE ACTION AND FULL COMMITMENT ONCE YOU CRANK THE WHEEL AND PIN THE GAS PEDAL.

GET IT RIGHT, AND THE REWARD IS HEROIC LEVELS OF GRIP WITH ROCKET-SHIP ACCELERATION OUT OF THE CORNERS AND DOWN THE STRAIGHTS, HAVING YOU FEELING LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER HUNDRED HORSEPOWER THAN THEY CLAIM.

AT THE SPEEDS THIS CAR IS CAPABLE OF, THINGS HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY, SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE NOT TO TURN IN TOO EARLY OR TOO FAST, OR SQUEEZE THE THROTTLE TOO SOON, AS ANY OF THOSE SCENARIOS WILL TRIGGER SOME PRETTY DRAMATIC OVERSTEER.

AND, AT THIS POINT AND TIME, WE SHOULD PROBABLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT YOU WON'T HEAR THAT FROM US.

THE PDK IS UNBEATABLE FOR TRACK WORK; EVEN LEAVING IT IN AUTO/SPORT, WE NEVER WISHED FOR A BETTER DOWNSHIFT, OR FOR A GEAR TO BE HELD LONGER.

AFTER BURNING THROUGH THREE TANKS OF FUEL ON A LONG, HOT TRACK DAY, AND STOMPING ON THE CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES REPEATEDLY, FROM SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 175 MILES PER HOUR, THE GT2 RS NEVER COMPLAINED OR SHOWED ANY ILL EFFECTS.

WE CAN EASILY SAY, IT'S THE MOST CAPABLE STREET CAR WE'VE EVER DRIVEN ON THE TRACK.

NOW, IF YOU'RE WONDERING, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

A SUPERCAR?

YES, AND IT IS PRICED ACCORDINGLY AT $294,250 JUST FOR STARTERS.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, FOR US WORKING STIFFS, THE GT2 RS IS MORE FOR THE "MONEY IS NO OBJECT" TYPES, THAN YOUR TYPICAL TRACK DAY ENTHUSIASTS.

TOO BAD, AS THIS IS ONE 911 THAT EVERY REAL PORSCHE ENTHUSIAST SHOULD EXPERIENCE.

IT'S CAPABLE OF INSANE SPEEDS, HAVING BRIEFLY HELD THE NURBURGRING RECORD AS FASTEST PRODUCTION CAR EVER TO PROVE IT.

BUT, MUCH LIKE EVERY RECENT 911 WE'VE DRIVEN, THE 2018 PORSCHE 911 GT2 RS IS MORE THAN JUST THE SUM OF ITS PARTS; IT'S A WONDERFULLY ENGINEERED PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE EXCELLENCE, WITH A NIRVANA-LIKE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT NOTHING ELSE CAN MATCH.

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 BMW X2 BRINGS THE SLICKEST LOOK YET TO SMALL UTEs, AND THE BIG CHEVY TAHOE IS INFUSED WITH EVEN BIGGER CALLAWAY MUSCLE.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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