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

JOIN US, FOR AUDI'S LATEST EXAMPLE OF SOPHISTICATED FUNCTION, THE SLEEK A7.... PAT GOSS TAKES ON SOME TRICKY CAR CARE ISSUES... A LOOK AT ONE CAR BUILDER WHERE RACING IS IN THEIR BREED... AND LINCOLN SETS SAIL WITH PRACTICAL LUXURY IN THE NAUTILUS.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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John: SINCE THE AUDI A7 DEBUTED HERE IN THE STATES IN 2012, IT'S SOUGHT TO COMBINE THE SPACIOUSNESS OF A SEDAN, WITH THE VERSATILITY OF A HATCHBACK, AND THE STYLISHNESS OF A COUPE.

THAT'S A TALL TASK FOR ANY ONE CAR; BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT SUCCEEDED, AND LOOKED GREAT WHILE DOING IT.

WELL, THERE'S A NEW A7 ON THE STREETS.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT IF IT CAN BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS.

John: WHO SAYS AMERICANS DON'T BUY HATCHBACKS?

STOP BY ANY COUNTRY CLUB, AND YOU'RE BOUND TO SEE A PORSCHE PANAMERA OR TWO; NOT TO MENTION LOTS OF LUXURY CROSSOVERS, WHICH ARE AT THEIR ESSENCE, JUST ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE HATCHBACKS.

IT ALSO HELPS IF YOU CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE THIS 2019 AUDI A7, WHICH AUDI CALLS A 5-DOOR COUPE.

THAT SOUNDS PRETTY SPORTY AND EXCITING; AND TRULY THE A7 IS A REAL LOOKER.

THE RISING BELTLINE AND SLOPING ROOF COME TOGETHER IN A THICK D-PILLAR TO PROVIDE THE COUPE-LIKE PROPORTIONS.

WHILE THE EXPRESSIVE FACE AND LINEAR REAR, FOLLOW RECENT AUDI THEMES.

IT'S A COHESIVE AND FANTASTIC-LOOKING DESIGN, THAT DEFINITELY SETS IT APART FROM THE TRADITIONAL LUXURY SEDAN FIELD.

AS DOES THE POWERTRAIN, A 3.0-LITER V6 TURBO THAT SENDS ITS 335-HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO ALL FOUR WHEELS THROUGH A 7-SPEED S TRONIC DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

LIKE THE A6, THAT OF COURSE SHARES THIS SAME PLATFORM, IT ALSO GETS ASSISTANCE FROM A 48-VOLT MILD HYBRID SYSTEM.

PUT TO USE AT OUR TEST TRACK, IT HELPED SHUTTLE THE A7 TO 60 IN JUST 4.8-SECONDS.

QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AS WELL AS LAUNCH CONTROL, PROVIDE A SLIP-FREE, HIGH-GRIP, NO DRAMA GETAWAY.

EXCELLENT POWER THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER-MILE; FEELING SMOOTH AND STRONG AS THE ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY PULLS, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION FIRES OFF STEADY, QUICK SHIFTS.

OUR BEST TIME, 13.4-SECONDS AT 104 MILES-PER-HOUR.

IF YOU'RE IN AN EVEN BIGGER HURRY, KEEP IN MIND MORE POWERFUL S AND POSSIBLY EVEN RS VERSIONS WILL LIKELY BE ADDED TO THE LINEUP.

A GREAT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF JUST 105-FEET FROM 60 WITH MINIMAL FADE, KEPT OUR TEST DRIVER'S COMMENTS EQUALLY BRIEF TO SIMPLE, "SPORTY AND SHORTY".

AT 4,300 POUNDS, THE A7 IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT, AND THERE'S ALSO OVER 115-INCHES OF WHEELBASE TO DEAL WITH; YET, GOOD OVERALL BALANCE, QUICK STEERING, AND PRODIGIOUS TRACTION ALLOWED US TO REALLY HUSTLE THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

THERE'S NOT AS MUCH FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL, OR THE KIND OF CHASSIS FEEDBACK WE EXPECT IN A TRUE SPORT SEDAN; BUT FOR A LARGE, LUXURY-MINDED CAR, IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

YOU'LL GET THE BEST IN DYNAMIC MODE NATURALLY, BUT WE FOUND IT A LITTLE HARSH ON THE STREET.

HERE, COMFORT OR AUTO ARE MUCH BETTER OPTIONS; AND AS IS TYPICAL WITH AUDI, ALL THREE MODES DRIVE VERY DISTINCTIVE, NOT JUST A SIMPLE HEIGHTENING THROTTLE RESPONSE OR INCREASED EXHAUST NOTE.

A PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS STANDARD ON THE A7, AND REALLY LIGHTENS THINGS UP IN THE CABIN, GIVING IT A MUCH DIFFERENT FEEL THAN THE A6.

A GREAT LAYOUT, IMPRESSIVE INTERIOR REFINEMENT, AND PLENTIFUL HIGH-TECH ARE ALSO HALLMARKS OF RECENT AUDIS.

THAT CONTINUES HERE, ALONG WITH GREAT COMFORT FOR THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS.

OF COURSE THIS SPORTIER STYLED VERSION OF THE A6, DOES COME WITH SOME DOWNFALLS; MOSTLY LOSS OF HEADROOM FOR REAR SEATERS, BUT FOR US IT WAS NOT A DEAL BREAKER.

AND ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR HAULING THINGS IS THE ADDED BENEFIT; 24.9 CUBIC-FEET IN THE CARGO AREA, COMPARED TO THE A6'S 13.7 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK SPACE.

A POWER OPERATED HATCH IS STANDARD.

WE'VE COMPLAINED ENOUGH ALREADY ABOUT AUDI'S NEW TOUCH RESPONSE CONTROL PANEL; SO WE'LL JUST SAY IT'S HERE AND WE'RE STILL NOT FANS.

BUT, THERE'S CERTAINLY NO ARGUING THAT THERE IS A WEALTH OF CUSTOMIZABLE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN BOTH THE UPPER 10-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, AS WELL AS IN THE DIGITAL COCKPIT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER.

BEING A GERMAN LUXURY CAR, PLENTY OF SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE; INCLUDING AUDI PRE SENSE 360 WITH EMERGENCY BRAKING TO STOP YOU, AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE ASSISTANCE TO POTENTIALLY STEER YOU AROUND HAZARDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE, AN ACCEPTABLE 24.5 MILES-PER-GALLON ON PREMIUM.

DESPITE THE FULL REDESIGN WITH MORE STANDARD CONTENT, OWNING AN A7 WILL ACTUALLY COST YOU LESS THAN LAST YEAR AT $68,995 TO START, OR ABOUT 10-GRAND OVER A SIMILAR FITTED A6 SEDAN.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN YOUR TYPICAL LUXURY FOUR-DOOR, BUT DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE HERDS OVER TO THE SUV PASTURE, THE 2019 AUDI A7 COMBINES GREAT STYLING, MOSTLY-TERRIFIC TECH, AND IMPRESSIVE ROAD MANNERS, INTO A SOMEWHAT UNIQUE ANIMAL THAT'S REALLY WORTH CONSIDERING.

* John: MORE AND MORE CAR COMPANIES ARE GETTING INVOLVED WITH MOTORSPORTS THESE DAYS.

FOR SOME, IT'S A PUSH FOR NAME RECOGNITION, OR TO ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY IN THE PERFORMANCE CAR ARENA.

BUT AS OUR RECENT DRIVE IN A TRIO OF TRACK MACHINES SHOWS, FOR SOME COMPANIES, RACING IS JUST IN THEIR DNA FROM THE START!

* John: NO COMPANY HAS BEEN MORE CLOSELY TIED TO SPORTSCAR RACING SUCCESS THAN PORSCHE, HAVING WON HUNDREDS OF TITLES AT THE MOST CHALLENGING VENUES OF ENDURANCE RACING LIKE LEMANS, SEBRING, DAYTONA, AND THE NURBURGRING.

THESE SPORTS RACERS LOOK JUST LIKE THE MODELS YOU CAN BUY AND DRIVE ON THE STREET, AND THAT'S NO ACCIDENT.

FOR PORSCHE, RACING IS THE ULTIMATE PROVING GROUND.

Hurley Haywood: A LOT OF MANUFACTURERS, YOU KNOW, SAY RACE ON SUNDAY, SELL ON MONDAY, BUT IN PORSCHE'S CASE, THEY REALLY USE THE RACE TRACK AS A TESTING BED, SO IF IT WORKS ON A RACE CAR, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO WORK ON A PRODUCTION CAR.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN RACING PORSCHES.

Patrick Long: YOU PUT THESE CARS UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS, YOU LEARN LOTS ABOUT THE POWERTRAIN, ABOUT CHASSIS RIGIDITY.

I THINK THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TWO WAYS, A LOT OF TIMES IN RACING, WE LEARN SOMETHING THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE STREET CARS, BUT A LOT OF TIMES, THE STREET ENGINEERS DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT WILL COME TOWARD THE MOTORSPORT ANGLE.

John: ARGUABLY PORSCHE'S MOST SUCCESSFUL RACE CAR WAS THE 935.

IT RACKED UP MORE THAN 150 VICTORIES WORLDWIDE IN THE 1970'S AND 80'S, MANY WITH HURLEY HAYWOOD AT THE WHEEL, AND ITS OUTRAGEOUS AERO BODYWORK CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION OF RACE FANS TO THIS DAY.

TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF PORSCHE CARS, THE COMPANY CREATED A MODERN 935 CLUBSPORT RACER, BASED ON THE 700 HORSEPOWER 911 GT2RS STREET CAR AND LIMITED TO JUST 77 UNITS WORLDWIDE AND THEN THEY INVITED US TO DRIVE IT.

TO SAY THIS WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

Dave Scrivener: DRIVING THE STREET VERSION OF THE GT2RS IS MIND-BLOWING ENOUGH, DRIVING THE RACE CAR, THE GT2RS CLUBSPORT, IS JUST PHENOMENAL.

BUT IT REALLY TELLS HOW PORSCHE USES THEIR RACING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THE STREET CARS THAT MUCH BETTER, ALL THE TIME.

Hurley Haywood: PORSCHE CUSTOMERS WANT TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SAY, I'VE GOT THE SAME CAR, ALMOST, THAT THEY RACE ON THE RACE TRACK.

AND EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE SPEEDS CLOSE TO 200 MILES PER HOUR, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO DO THAT ON THE STREET, BUT PEOPLE LIKE TO KNOW THAT THEIR CARS ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

Patrick Long: THEY CAN SEE THESE CARS WRAPPED, AND RACING WITH NUMBERS AND A SLICK, SEXY PROFILE, AND THEN THEY CAN ASSOCIATE A CAR THAT THEY CAN BUY OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR, AND GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND FEEL SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW IN THE EMOTIONAL SPORT THAT IS MOTORSPORT.

John: AS PART OF THE SAME TRACK TEST AT GERMANY'S LEISITZRING, PORSCHE TROTTED OUT TWO SLIGHTLY MORE ATTAINABLE CLUBSPORT MODELS FOR US TO TRY: THE 911 GT2 RS CLUBSPORT AND THE 718 CAYMAN GT4 CLUBSPORT.

WE PUSHED ALL THREE MACHINES TO OUR LIMITS AND CAME UP WELL SHORT OF TAPPING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, BUT CAME AWAY AWESTRUCK BY THE PRECISE PERFORMANCE AND RAW-YET-REFINED NATURE OF THESE PURPOSE-BUILT RACERS.

Patrick Long: WITH PORSCHE, THEY'VE ALWAYS RACED, IT'S PART OF THE DNA OF THE COMPANY, AND THAT PART OF IT IS SPECIAL FOR ME AS A DRIVER BECAUSE YOU LOOK BACK AT OUR ROOTS, AND THE HERITAGE OF RUNNING AT DAYTONA, LEMANS, SEBRING, THAT PART OF IT TELLS A CONNECTION.

IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU BELONG TO, OF THIS HERITAGE AND THIS STORY THAT'S STILL BEING TOLD.

* John: CARS TODAY ARE ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE.

SO REPAIRS ARE OFTEN PRETTY TRICKY.

BUT HELPS WAITING DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM OUR ONLINE PARTS GURU, MR. TOM TAYLOR.

TOM, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tom Taylor: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

Goss: ALRIGHT, WHAT DID YOU BRING HERE?

Tom: PARTS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT I THOUGHT YOUR VIEWERS WOULD FIND INTERESTING.

THIS IS THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CARS HAVE THIS IN THE GAS TANK.

INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP THIS IS THE SENDING UNIT FOR THE GAUGE, THE FUEL GAUGE, AND PEOPLE WILL SEE THEIR GAUGE WILL BE FULL THEN IT'LL DROP TO EMPTY.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE'S ELECTRICAL CONTACTS HERE THAT WEAR OUT AS THIS ARM GOES UP AND DOWN, OR THE BUSHING ITSELF WILL WEAR OUT AND YOU'LL GET FLUCTUATION, THE GAUGE WILL BE ERRATIC.

SOME VEHICLES HAVE TWO OF THESE, BECAUSE THE GAS TANK IS LIKE THIS VEHICLE, SADDLE SHAPED, WRAPPED AROUND THE DRIVESHAFT, SO YOU'LL HAVE TWO OF THESE AND THE GAUGE MIGHT BE- IT WON'T GO ABOVE HALF OR IT WON'T DROP BELOW A QUARTER TANK, THAT'S A SIGN THAT JUST ONE OF THESE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

I- USUALLY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE WHOLE THING VERSUS INDIVIDUAL PARTS, BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE IT OUT, THE OTHER PARTS ARE LIKELY TO FAIL SOON.

SO, GET A NEW FUEL PUMP, GET A NEW STRAINER.

THE SECOND PART IS A NEW PART THAT SHOWS SYSTEMS DON'T NECESSARILY IMPROVE OR THEY HAVE SOME BUGS TO WORK OUT.

ITS'S AN ELECTRIC WATER PUMP.

ELECTRIC PUMPS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON ON HYBRID CARS, AND THIS OUT OF A BMW, THE WATER PUMP THAT SENDS WATER THROUGH THE RADIATOR AND SUCH, BUT THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE COOLANT IS GOING THROUGH THESE PIPES AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IS RIGHT HERE, SO IF THIS PLASTIC CRACKS INTERNALLY OR THIS PLASTIC IS COMPROMISED IN SOME WAY YOU CAN GET COOLANT BEING PUMPED THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INTO THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS IS WRAPPED WITH TAPE OR CONDUIT, AND IT CAN TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO A COMPUTER, DAMAGE THE COMPUTER, IT CAN SHOW UP IN YOUR TAIL LIGHT, IT CAN SHOW UP IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, CREATE ALL SORTS OF HARD TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS, AND THIS IS THE CAUSE.

Goss: YEAH, JUST TRY EXPLAINING THAT TO YOUR CUSTOMER, THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT IS FULL OF COOLANT, AND THEY JUST DON'T GRASP IT.

Tom: I IMAGINE.

AND THIS LAST ONE IS JUST A FUN THING I THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP RESOLVE A CONFLICT SPOUSES MIGHT BE HAVING IF THEY'RE ARGUING, HEY, IS IT WASTING GAS IF I HAVE THE FAN TURNED WAY UP, OR THE HEAT AND A.C., SHOULD I TURN THAT DOWN TO SAVE GAS.

WELL THIS IS A BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FROM AN OLDER VEHICLE, AND OLDER VEHICLES IF YOU TURN DOWN THE FAN THE EXCESS CURRENT IS JUST GOING THROUGH THESE COILS AND HEATING THEM UP, SO YOU'RE NOT SAVING ANY GAS, NOT SAVING ANY ELECTRICITY, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU HAVE THAT SWITCH, BUT ON NEWER VEHICLES IT'S A COMPUTER CYCLING THE BLOWER MOTOR ON AND OFF VERY QUICKLY DEPENDING HOW FAST YOU HAVE THE SETTINGS SET.

SO, THEORETICALLY IF YOU TURN DOWN THE FAN, THE MOTOR IS CYCLING LESS FREQUENTLY AND YOU COULD SAVE A TINY BIT OF ELECTRICITY, MAYBE A CUP OF GAS OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

AT LEAST NOW YOU NOW THE ANSWER TO THAT TO SETTLE THE ARGUMENT WITH YOUR SPOUSE.

Goss: RIGHT, WELL OKAY, THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

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

* Greg Carloss: OUR LONG-TERM FLEET IS BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT BY THE DAY WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PLUG-IN HYBRID.

A 2.0-LITER I-4 IS TEAMED UP WITH TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS IN THIS PHEV, ONE ON EACH AXLE FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT IS 190-HORSEPOWER.

THE ELECTRIC TO GAS TRANSITION IS SMOOTH, BUT YOU'LL HEAR THE ENGINE WORKING DURING HARD ACCELERATION.

WE'RE GETTING 34.2 MILES-PER-GALLON WHICH SHOULD RISE ONCE WE DO MORE CITY DRIVING.

SO FAR IN OUR TIME WITH THE OUTLANDER PLUG-IN, WE'VE FOUND A LOT TO LIKE.

IT'S COMFORTABLE, THE VISIBILITY IS GREAT AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM OPERATES WELL.

NOW THE 22 MILES OF ALL ELECTRIC RANGE ISN'T EXACTLY EARTH SHAKING BUT IS PRETTY TYPICAL FOR A PHEV AND THOSE MILES DO MORE FOR FUEL ECONOMY THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

SINCE THIS OUR FIRST LONG TERM REPORT, WE'VE ONLY ADDED 3,000 MILES TO THE ODOMETER IN A MONTH.

BUT WITH 22-MILES OF EV-ONLY RANGE, WE EXPECT TO SPEND MORE TIME DRIVING AND LESS TIME FILLING UP.

WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON OUR PORSCHE MACAN S, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S JUST DRIVE THEM ALL.

SO LET'S GO FOR A QUICK SPIN.

John: THE FIAT 500X ARRIVED HERE FOR 2016.

BASED ON THE 500L MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE, THE SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVER SHARES ITS CHASSIS WITH THE SIMILAR SIZED JEEP RENEGADE.

FOR 2019, THE 500X RECEIVES A MIDCYCLE REFRESH THAT NATURALLY INCLUDES REVISED FRONT AND REAR FACIAS.

A NEW ENGINE ARRIVED LAST YEAR, A 1.3-LITER TURBO I-4 DELIVERING 177-HORSEPOWER, OR ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE ORIGINAL'S NON-TURBO 2.4 LITER.

A NINE-SPEED AUTOMATIC MATES TO STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH A DISCONNECTING REAR AXLE TO IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY.

Kyle Scanlon: FIAT DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE OLD 2.4-LITER ENGINE, AND REPLACE THAT WITH A 1.3-LITER, TURBO CHARGED ENGINE.

WITH THAT SWAP, COMES 35% MORE TORQUE, AND WHEN YOU WANT TO USE THAT TORQUE THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM REALLY HELPS TO KEEP THE CAR COMPOSED WHETHER YOU'RE ZIPPING AROUND CITY STREETS, OR OVERTAKING SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY.

John: DON'T BE FOOLED BY ITS SIZE.

THERE'S AMPLE ROOM FOR 5, AND NEARLY 70 SAFETY FEATURES; INCLUDING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND FRONT PARK ASSIST.

THE 2019 FIAT 500X IS ON SALE NOW STARTING AT JUST UNDER $26,000.

THE MARCH TOWARD FINDING DIESELS THROUGHOUT THE LIGHT DUTY PICKUP MARKET CONTINUES WITH THE 2020 RAM 1500 ECODIESEL.

WHILE RAM FIRST OFFERED A LIGHT DUTY DIESEL IN 2014, THIS MARK'S ITS RETURN TO THE LINEUP FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S 1500 REDESIGN.

RAM WAS APPARENTLY WAITING FOR A NEW, THIRD-GENERATION TURBOCHARGED V6, THAT AS BEFORE, IS SOURCED FROM ITALY.

THIS 3.0-LITER CRANKS OUT 260-HORSEPOWER AND 480 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

HORSEPOWER RATES BETWEEN THE 3.0-LITER SIX-CYLINDER DIESEL OFFERINGS FROM THE FORD F-150 AND CHEVROLET SILVERADO, BUT TORQUE TOPS THEM BOTH.

COMBINED WITH A "TORQUEFLITE" 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT CAN TOW UP TO 12,560 POUNDS, MORE THAN BOTH RIVALS.

WE'VE KNOWN RAM IS ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST RIDING PICK-UPS OUT THERE.

THE AVAILABLE AIR SUSPENSION MAKES IT EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE.

AMONG TRUCK BRANDS, RAM IS NOW IN THE NUMBER TWO SPOT THANKS IN PART TO THE 1500'S EXTRA FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF PERSONAL USE BUYERS.

THE 2020 RAM 1500 ECODIESEL EXPANDS THAT MARKET TO PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF WORK TO DO, WHILE UPPING THE ANTE IN THE NON-STOP PICKUP TRUCK WARS.

THEY'RE ARRIVING AT DEALERS NOW, STARTING AT ABOUT $37,000.

45-YEARS AFTER FIRST SHOWING UP IN THE U.S., THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF FURTHER EVOLVES EFFICIENT GERMAN STYLE DRIVING.

THIS 7TH GEN GOLF WAS RECENTLY REDESIGNED.

NOW MORE CHANGES COME TO THE POWERTRAIN.

THE 1.8 LITER INLINE TURBO-4 IS REPLACED WITH THE RE-ENGINEERED 1.4-LITER TURBO FOUND IN THE ALL-NEW JETTA.

HORSEPOWER DROPS BY 23 TO 147.

BUT IT'S HAULING 90 FEWER POUNDS, THANKS TO SWAPPING OUT THE CAST IRON ENGINE BLOCK WITH ALUMINUM ALLOY.

DESPITE THE DIP IN DISPLACEMENT, VOLKSWAGEN'S SPORTY HATCH STILL DELIVERS TOTAL DRIVING FUN BETTER THAN MOST.

NATURALLY WE CHOSE TO MANUALLY SHIFT THROUGH THE 6-GEARS WITH ONE MORE THAN BEFORE.

THE EIGHT-SPEED AUTOMATIC ADDS 2.

THIS LIGHTER FRONT DRIVER STILL DOES A GREAT JOB OF HANDLING THE CURVES.

THE NEW POWERTRAIN YIELDS BETTER USE OF FUEL TOO.

WRINGING OUT AS MUCH AS 32-MILES PER GALLON COMBINED.

THERE'S ALSO ADDED SAFETY.

EVEN THE BASE S TRIM NOW COMES WITH FORWARD COLLISION WARNING AND AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING WITH PEDESTRIAN MONITORING.

THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST FUN CARS YOU CAN BUY FOR THE MONEY.

FOR 2019 IT'S EVEN A BETTER DEAL.

IT'S ON SALE NOW STARTING AT UNDER $23,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICK SPINS SOON!

John: IT'S NO BIG SECRET THAT THE LINCOLN MKX CROSSOVER DIDN'T EXACTLY LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS.

WHAT TO DO?

WELL, RETHINKING AND REBRANDING ARE ALWAYS OPTIONS.

ENTER THE 2019 LINCOLN NAUTILUS.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE ADDED SUBSTANCE TO THE NAUTILUS THAN WE, AND THE COMPETITION, WERE EXPECTING.

* John: THERE ARE PLENTY OF LUXURY SUV SALES TO BE HAD THESE DAYS, AND LINCOLN IS OUT TO GET AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE.

THIS UPDATED 2019 LINCOLN NAUTILUS SHOULD HELP THAT CAUSE.

THIS 2-ROW, 5-PASSENGER CROSSOVER, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE MKX, IS MID-WAY THROUGH ITS 2ND GENERATION, AND IN ADDITION TO THE NAME CHANGE, GETS STYLING, TECHNOLOGY, AND POWERTRAIN UPDATES.

IT'S AN ALL TURBO LINEUP NOW, WITH A 250-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER I4 TURBO STANDARD; WHILE THIS FORD EDGE ST'S 2.7-LITER ECOBOOST TWIN-TURBO V6 IS OPTIONAL; OUTPUTTING 335-HORSEPOWER AND 380 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH BOTH ENGINES, SENDING POWER THROUGH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

LINCOLN CERTAINLY MADE AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE NAUTILUS INTERIOR SPEAK TO TRUE LUXURY.

AND FOR THE MOST PART THEY'VE SUCCEEDED.

MATERIALS ARE VERY NICE LOOKING.

STILL, THE FEEL OF THINGS IS NOT QUITE UP TO MOST OF THE COMPETITION, AND A LITTLE REMINISCENT OF ITS FORD BEGINNINGS.

BLACK LABEL MAKES THE BEST OF IT, WITH ONE OF THREE THEMES TO CHOOSE FROM.

THE ULTRA COMFORT MULTI-CONTOUR FRONT SEATS ARE AN OPTION WORTH CONSIDERING IF LONG ROAD TRIPS ARE IN YOUR PLANS; OR IF YOU JUST LOVE BEING COMFORTABLE.

AND REALLY, WHO DOESN'T?

MOST OF US AROUND THE OFFICE HERE, ARE NOT FANS OF THE DASH-MOUNTED PUSH BUTTON GEAR SELECTORS FOR THE TRANSMISSION; BUT WE ALSO REALIZE TRADITIONAL SHIFTERS ARE BECOMING A RARITY.

SPEED UP THE RESPONSE TIME, AND PERHAPS WE CAN GET ON BOARD TOO.

THIS MID-CYCLE STYLING UPDATE, ALLOWED LINCOLN TO INCORPORATE THEIR NEW, AND WE THINK MUCH BETTER LOOKING, STAR MESH SIGNATURE GRILLE.

AND, THAT NECESSITATED A COMPLETE REWORK OF THE ENTIRE FRONT END, INCLUDING ALL NEW LIGHTING, HOOD, AND FENDERS.

TIME AND MONEY WELL SPENT AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.

WE LIKE THE RESULTS VERY MUCH.

WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, THINGS ARE STILL ANGEL-WHISPER QUIET INSIDE.

THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN REVISED WITH NEW BUSHINGS AND DAMPERS.

WHILE WE PRAISED THE MKX'S RIDE QUALITY BEFORE; ROAD PRESENCE HERE IN THIS NAUTILUS BLACK LABEL, DIDN'T FEEL AS NICE AS WE REMEMBERED.

PERHAPS IT'S THE SUSPENSION CHANGES, OR THE BLACK LABEL'S 21-INCH WHEELS AND SELECTABLE DRIVE MODES.

IT JUST FEELS UNSETTLED AND JITTERY AT TIMES; ALONG WITH TWITCHY STEERING THAT MAKES IT BEHAVE MORE LIKE A BIG FULL-FRAME UTILITY THAN A NIMBLE CROSSOVER.

NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL ABOUT POWER DELIVERY FROM THE 2.7-LITER.

IT RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY TO ANY PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, YET DELIVERS IT'S 380 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE VERY SMOOTHLY.

AT THE TEST TRACK, THE NAUTILUS SPRINTS OUT OF THE BLOCK WITH EXCELLENT TRACTION AND QUICK POWER BUILD.

WE HIT 60 IN JUST 6.2-SECONDS.

THAT'S THREE-TENTHS QUICKER THAN WE GOT IN THE MKX, BUT THE QUARTER-MILE WAS ABOUT THE SAME AT 14.8-SECONDS AT 92 MILES-PER-HOUR.

DESPITE THE DISCONNECTED FEEL MENTIONED EARLIER, AND SOME NOTEWORTHY BODY ROLL; THERE WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF GRIP THROUGH THE CONES.

STABILITY CONTROL REIGNED US IN BEFORE WE COULD DETECT NOTICEABLE AMOUNTS OF EITHER UNDER OR OVERSTEER.

COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE NOW INTEGRATED INTO LINCOLN'S CO-PILOT 360, INCLUDING PREVIOUSLY OPTIONAL ITEMS LIKE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING AND LANE-KEEPING.

AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE V6 COMES WITH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 19-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED, BUT WE AVERAGED A GOOD 23.7 MILES-PER-GALLON ON REGULAR.

IF YOU CAN FIND A BASE MODEL ON A DEALER LOT, YOU'LL PAY JUST $41,335 TO DRIVE OFF OF IT; YOUR CHANCES ARE MUCH BETTER OF FINDING RESERVE AND SELECT TRIMS, AND OF COURSE TOP BLACK LABEL, WHICH STARTS AT $57,890.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS A $2,495 OPTION REGARDLESS OF TRIM.

MARINE BIOLOGISTS WILL TELL YOU THAT A NAUTILUS IS A CEPHALOPOD THAT LIKES TO SPEND ITS TIME DEEP IN THE OCEAN, SCAVENGING FOR FOOD; YET IS ABLE TO BE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE WITHOUT SUFFERING ANY ILL EFFECTS FROM THE DRASTIC ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE CHANGE.

WELL, LINCOLN HAS CERTAINLY RAISED THEIR BEST SELLER MKX TO A NEW LEVEL IN THE GREAT SEA OF CROSSOVERS WITH THE 2019 NAUTILUS; AND DESPITE ITS "STILL A LITTLE TOO-OBVIOUS" FORD EDGE ROOTS LYING JUST BELOW THE SURFACE, IT WILL BE A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO MIDSIZE LUXURY UTILITY BUYERS.

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 MERCEDES-BENZ STYLE IS PARED DOWN TO COMPACT SIZE IN THE ALL-NEW A-CLASS.

AND RANGE ROVER PLUGS IN TO THE HYBRID WORLD WITH THE P400E.

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

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