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

JOIN US AS BMW BOOKEND'S PERFORMANCE, AND EFFICIENCY, WITH THE I8 ROADSTER AND I3S... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE THAT SHOULD KEEP THOSE JUICES FLOWING... STEPHANIE HART WITH A MILESTONE FOR TINY WHEELS... AND KIA PACKS MORE STYLE AND SUBSTANCE INTO THE ALL-NEW FORTE...

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...

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: THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT, BMW JUST DOES THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE WHEN IT COMES TO PLUG-INS, WITH OFFERINGS THAT RANGE FROM THE HUMBLE I3, TO THIS SUPERCAR I8.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THE "I'S" HAVE IT.

* THE I8 COUPE STREAKED ITS WAY ONTO THE AUTOMOTIVE SCENE FOR 2015; NOT ONLY HELPING TO LAUNCH BMW'S I ELECTRIC-BASED SUB-BRAND, BUT USHERING IN A WHOLE NEW ERA OF PLUG-IN PERFORMANCE CARS.

FOR 2019, THE I8 ADVANCED HYBRID GETS SOME UPDATES, AS WELL AS THIS EVEN FLASHIER ROADSTER VERSION.

BUT A POWERTRAIN REFRESHER IS IN ORDER FIRST.

CENTRALLY CHASSIS LOCATED IS AN 11.6 KWH LITHIUM-ION PLUG-IN BATTERY PACK.

IT ALLOWS 141 HORSEPOWER, UP 12 FOR '19, DUE TO MORE EFFICIENT BATTERY CELLS, FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVING THE FRONT WHEELS.

AS BEFORE, THE REAR WHEELS ARE DRIVEN BY A 1.5 LITER I3 TURBO GASOLINE ENGINE.

TOTAL OUTPUT IS NOW 369 HORSEPOWER.

YOU CAN EXPECT ABOUT 18 MILES OF EV-ONLY DRIVING, AND THE TYPICAL DRIVE MODES ALLOW YOU TO CHOOSE WHEN TO DEPLOY IT, OR YOU CAN LET THE CAR DECIDE.

THE MOST NOTABLE NEW ADDITION IS OF COURSE THIS ROADSTER BODY, WITH ITS POWER-OPERATED CLOTH TOP.

IT TAKES JUST 16 SECONDS TO NEATLY FOLD INTO A NEW STORAGE WELL ALMOST DIRECTLY BEHIND THE SEATS.

OCCUPYING ROUGHLY THE SPACE WHERE THE REAR SEATS ARE IN THE COUPE.

NOT TO WORRY, DOORS STILL SWING UP AND AWAY EASILY; ALLOWING GOOD ACCESS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING THE WOW FACTOR FOR THAT GRAND ENTRANCE WHEN YOU ARRIVE.

NO OTHER MAJOR CHANGES INSIDE, SAVE FOR SOME NEW STORAGE AREAS WHERE THE REAR SEATS WERE, AND NEW CARBON-FIBER TRIM, WHICH ODDLY ENOUGH, WASN'T AN OPTION BEFORE.

WITH AN ADDED 170 POUNDS OF WEIGHT, THE ROADSTER DOES GET SOME UNIQUE SUSPENSION TUNING, BUT NOT THAT YOU'D NOTICE, AS IT CUTS THROUGH CONES JUST AS CAPABLY AS THE COUPE, WITH ESSENTIALLY ZERO BODY ROLL.

THANKS TO AN ULTRA-RIGID CARBON-FIBER AND ALUMINUM STRUCTURE.

WHILE, WE'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE FEEDBACK, THE STEERING HAS A GOOD WEIGHT TO IT.

THE I8'S TIRES ARE RELATIVELY NARROW FOR SUCH A HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR, BUT WE STILL FOUND PLENTY OF GRIP, AND GRINS AS WELL.

WITH LAUNCH CONTROL ENGAGED, THE I8 LEAPS OFF THE LINE WITH REFINED AGGRESSION; HITTING 60 IN JUST 4.1 SECONDS.

THAT'S 3/10THS QUICKER THAN WE ACHIEVED IN THE COUPE.

LIKEWISE, THE QUARTER MILE WAS ALSO FASTER BY 3/10THS AT 12.6 AND 111 MILES PER HOUR.

DESPITE THE SUPERCAR LOOKS, AND NEAR SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE; AWAY FROM THE TRACK, THE I8 BEHAVES MORE LIKE A GRACEFUL GRAND TOURER.

IT'S NOT INTIMIDATING, AS IT'S EASY TO DRIVE AND EVEN EASIER TO LOVE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 27-COMBINED MPG, AND 69-COMBINED FOR MPGE.

WE PLUGGED IN WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND GOT AN IMPRESSIVE AVERAGE OF 73.5 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THAT'S A GREAT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 7.1 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE AND 3.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $164,295; $15,800 OVER THE COUPE.

TOO RICH FOR YOUR BLOOD?

WELL, BMW HAS ANOTHER OPTION FOR YOU, THE I3, AND THERE'S MUCH TO TALK ABOUT HERE AS WELL.

2018 ADDED A SPORTIER I3S VARIANT THAT INCLUDES WIDE-BODY EXTERIOR UPGRADES WITH WIDER TIRES, MORE AGGRESSIVE SUSPENSION TUNING, AND A MORE POWERFUL MOTOR.

S-TRIM OUTPUT CLIMBS FROM 170 TO 184 HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE FROM 184 TO 199 POUND-FEET, IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE FUN TO ZIP THIS LITTLE EV IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC.

AS BEFORE, A 647CC TWIN GASOLINE-FUELED RANGE EXTENDER GENERATOR IS AVAILABLE.

THE I3S' EXTRA OOMPH WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED AT OUR TEST TRACK.

AFTER, A SOMEWHAT TENTATIVE LAUNCH, THE POWER FLOODGATES OPENED AND WE HIT 60 IN JUST 6.9 SECONDS; A FULL SECOND QUICKER THAN WE ACHIEVED BACK IN 2015.

FOR SUCH A TINY CAR, THERE'S GREAT STABILITY THROUGHOUT THE ULTRA-QUIET QUARTER MILE; WRAPPING IT UP IN 15.5 SECONDS TIME, AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW, AS FOR ITS RANGE, THERE'S EVEN BETTER NEWS.

FOR 2019, THERE'S A LARGER 42.2 KWH BATTERY PACK THAT BOOSTS EV DISTANCE FROM 115 MILES TO A CLAIMED 153.

WITH THE RANGE EXTENDER, ONE SHOULD EASILY MANAGE OVER 200 MILES PER CHARGE AND FILL-UP.

I3 PRICING, CURRENTLY STARTS AT $45,445; RANGING TO $52,495 FOR AN I3S WITH THE RANGE EXTENDER.

SO, WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GRAND TOURING LUXURY, WRAPPED IN THE EXOTIC EXPERIENCE OF THE BMW I8 ROADSTER AND COUPE; OR A SPORTY CITY CAR, NOW WITH THE I3S' EXTRA PERFORMANCE KICK, BMW HAS YOU COVERED.

PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY, DELIVERED THE WAY ONLY BMW CAN DO IT; THE I'S HAVE IT INDEED.

* John: THIS YEAR MARKS A BIG MILESTONE FOR A MINIATURE CAR BRAND THAT'S LOVED BY KIDS OF ALL AGES, AS WELL AS COVETED BY COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT HOT WHEELS, AS IT TURNS 50 YEARS OLD!

SO, WHAT BETTER TIME TO EXAMINE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THIS ICONIC NAMEPLATE.

OUR STEPHANIE HART HAD THE RARE CHANCE TO GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT MATTEL, WHERE HOT WHEELS GOT THEIR START.

* Stephanie Hart: HOT WHEELS WAS BORN IN 1968.

MATTEL'S CO-FOUNDER ELLIOT HANDLER DREAMED OF A BETTER TOY CAR FOR BOYS, A CAR THAT LOOKED COOLER AND PERFORMED BETTER.

HE GOT HIS WISH!

A GENERAL MOTORS CAR DESIGNER AND A ROCKET SCIENTIST CAME UP WITH THE FIRST EVER TRACKABLE TOY CAR.

Commercial Announcer: NEW HOT WHEELS ONLY FROM MATTEL!

TWENTY-THOUSAND DIFFERENT DESIGNS WOULD FOLLOW.

A WHOPPING SIX BILLION HOT WHEELS PRODUCED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

Commercial Announcer: IT'S HOT WHEELS BIGGEST GARAGE EVER WITH SPACE FOR OVER 140 CARS... Stephanie: THE MINIATURE TOY CARS ARE CREATED HERE AT MATTEL HEADQUARTERS IN EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA.

Bryan Benedict: OKAY, LET'S GET ANOTHER LAYER GOING IN HERE.

Stephanie: BRYAN BENEDICT IS ONE OF 50 HOT WHEELS DESIGNERS.

THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF EXPERTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

LIKE, MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURERS, ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS, AND THE TOY INDUSTRY.

Bryan: WHAT I'M WORKING ON HERE IS KIND OF LIKE MY IDEA FOR A NEW SUPERCAR, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT EXISTS IT'S JUST SOMETHING OUT OF MY CRAZY MIND.

Stephanie: HALF THE CARS DESIGNED HERE ARE IMAGINARY.

THE OTHER HALF ARE BASED ON EXISTING VEHICLES.

Ted Wu: HERE AT THE HOT WHEELS HEADQUARTERS WE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE 3-D VERSIONS OF WHAT THE GUYS ARE THINKING AND THEN WE WORK WITH OUR MANUFACTURERS IN ASIA TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE FINAL PRODUCT YOU SEE IN STORES.

Stephanie: THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES 12 TO 18 MONTHS.

Commercial Announcer: EACH TRACK PACK THAT YOU GET MAKES A WHOLE NEW SET...

THE ICONIC ORANGE TRACK SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE HOT WHEELS BRAND.

MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND MILES OF ORANGE TRACK ARE PRODUCED EACH YEAR.

WHY ORANGE YOU MAY BE WONDERING?

WELL, HOT WHEELS SAYS, "IT'S BECAUSE KIDS ARE ATTRACTED TO BRIGHT COLORS."

IT'S REALLY EASY TO FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BIG ORANGE TRACK.

[SOUND OF A RACING CAR REVVING] ALRIGHT LET'S GIVE IT A GO.

[SOUND OF HOT WHEELS GOING DOWN THE TRACK] NOT BAD.

Chris Down: ACTUALLY, EVERYBODY THAT HAS PLAYED WITH HOT WHEELS IN THEIR HEAD, IS IMAGINING WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO DRIVE IT ON THE ROAD, OR TO SEE IT IN REAL LIFE.

Stephanie: HE READ OUR MIND.

ENTER THE HOT WHEELS GARAGE.

IT'S PRETTY TOP SECRET AND SECURITY IS TIGHT.

NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED INSIDE, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED!

FROM THE 1:64 SCALE DIE CAST, TO THE REAL THING... LET'S TAKE THIS CAR OUT FOR A SPIN.

THIS 2018 LIMITED EDITION HOT WHEELS CAMARO IS COMMEMORATING HOT WHEELS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

TWENTY VEHICLES MAKE UP THE HOT WHEELS FLEET.

Bryan: THIS IS THE WAY TO GO IN CALIFORNIA.

TOP DOWN.

Stephanie: AND THESE LIFE-SIZE HOT WHEELS ARE ANOTHER LEVEL, LITERALLY.

THREE, BROKE WORLD RECORDS.

AND GET A GOOD LOOK AT THIS ONE!

"MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU," THIS STAR WARS HOT WHEELS PUMPS OUT 175 HORSEPOWER AND HITS 180 MILES PER HOUR.

CHECK OUT THIS 1969 VOLKSWAGEN BEACH BOMB.

IT'S CREATING A LOT OF WAVES.

IT'S KILLER.

AND IT'S DIE-CAST PROTOTYPE IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE.

WE'RE TALKING CLOSE TO $150,000.

DIE-HARD COLLECTOR BRUCE PASCAL OWNS IT.

Bruce Pascal: AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THOUGH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HOW MANY OTHER TOYS, THE GRANDFATHER PLAYED WITH, THEIR SON PLAYED, AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

IT'S MULTIGENERATIONAL, THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MANY TOYS THAT ARE SUCH AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY.

Stephanie: CAPTURING THE HEARTS OF COLLECTORS AND KIDS FOR HALF A CENTURY.

WHILE, REFLECTING THE CAR CULTURE, THAT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

THE HOT WHEELS DIE-CAST CAR IS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING TOY IN THE WORLD, 16.5 ARE PRODUCED EVERY SECOND.

AND IT'S PRICE REMAINS THE SAME, 50 YEARS LATER, AND JUST A COOL ONE DOLLAR DRIVE!

John: CARS HAVE NEEDS THAT DEMAND OUR ATTENTION.

PAT GOSS REMINDS US OF ONE, WE SHOULDN'T FORGET.

Pat Goss: FEW THINGS ON MODERN CARS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ITS BATTERY AND THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYTHING WORKS WITH ELECTRICITY ON TODAY'S CARS.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO HAVE A REALLY CLEAN BATTERY ALL THE TIME.

ALL THIS GREASE, AND DIRT, AND EVERYTHING LAYING ON TOP OF IT.

WE CLEAN IT AWAY USING SOME TYPE OF GREASE CUTTING DETERGENT AND CLEAR WATER TO RINSE IT.

BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE THE CABLES CONNECT TO THE POST.

THAT'S WHERE THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY GETS FROM THE BATTERY TO THE CAR.

THEY HAVE TO BE CLEAN, AND TIGHT AT ALL TIMES, SO WE HAVE TO REMOVE THEM, AND CLEAN THEM.

NO, YOU DO NOT USE BAKING SODA AND JUST POUR IT WITH SOME WATER OVER THE CONNECTION BECAUSE ALL THAT DOES IS CLEAN THE OUTSIDE, IT DOESN'T CLEAN THE ELECTRICAL INSIDE.

SO, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE CABLES, YOU USE A BATTERY TERMINAL BRUSH OR SOME BRUSH LIKE WE HAVE HERE AND YOU CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CABLE, THE OUTSIDE OF THE POST.

BOTH SHOULD BE SHINY METAL.

THEN, WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

I KNOW, AGAIN YOU'VE HEARD "USE PETROLEUM JELLY."

WELL, DON'T.

BECAUSE PETROLEUM JELLY HAS A VERY LOW MELTING POINT.

THE UNDER HOOD OF A CAR HOOD THESE DAYS IS VERY HOT.

THIS STUFF MELTS, IT GETS DOWN BETWEEN THE CABLE, AND CONNECTION, AND YOU HAVE A POOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

ALRIGHT, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL, HERE ON THIS BATTERY, WE USE FELT PADS.

YOU CAN BUY SPRAYS.

GELS AND SO ON TO GO ON THEIR SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THEY DON'T MELT, THEY DON'T CREATE PROBLEMS.

OH, AND WHILE THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED, YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOU DON'T LOSE ALL THE MEMORIES ON THE CAR?

WELL, IF YOU HAVE A BOOSTER PACK LIKE THIS YOU CAN BUY, THIS ADAPTER.

IT PLUGS INTO THE COMPUTER INTERFACE UNDER THE DASH, SAVES ALL THE MEMORY.

NOW ANOTHER THING, IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

ON THE CAR ITSELF WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING, THE ALTERNATOR CHARGES THE BATTERY.

KEEPS IT FULLY CHARGED.

YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME THING WHEN THE CAR IS NOT BEING USED.

THAT MEANS YOU NEED A BATTERY MAINTAINER.

NOT A CHARGER.

CHARGERS CAN DAMAGE BATTERIES.

MAINTAINERS WORK JUST LIKE THE ALTERNATOR TO KEEP THE BATTERY FULLY CHARGED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT DAMAGING THEM.

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

John: A CURVY ROAD AND TIME TO SPARE.

SOUNDS LIKE THE MAKINGS OF A QUICKSPIN.

WHEN THE FORD EDGE ARRIVED FOR 2007, ITS BOLDER LOOK MARKED A BIG DEPARTURE FROM THE TRADITIONAL TRUCK-BASED UTILITIES, AND THE COMPANY'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT A FAMILY SIZE CROSSOVER.

THE 2019 FORD EDGE GOES EVEN FURTHER, OFFERING THE FIRST ST-BADGED UTE BY FORD'S PERFORMANCE TEAM.

BASE POWER FOR THE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE EDGE IS STILL A 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST I4 WITH THE HORSEPOWER RATING EDGING UP A BIT HIGHER TO 250.

THE OLD SPORT TRIM IS GONE, BUT STEPPING UP TO THE NEW ST BRINGS 20 HORSEPOWER MORE TO AN UPDATED 2.7 LITER V6 FOR A TOTAL OF 335.

A SMOOTH SHIFTING 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS STANDARD FOR BOTH.

WE PUSHED THE THROTTLE OF THE EDGE ST IN SALT LAKE CITY.

ALONG WITH BETTER RESPONSE, BIGGER WHEELS ROLL WITH THE SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION CREATING AN ATHLETIC RIDE.

THE ST'S SOMEWHAT HEFTY STEERING AND STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDED TO THE SPIRITED SPRINT FOR THIS 5-PASSENGER MID-SIZE UTILITY, THAT STILL PLEASANTLY HANDLES LONG DISTANCE DUTY.

THE WELL LAID OUT COCKPIT COMES WITH COMFORTABLE SEATS AND A SENSE OF SPACIOUSNESS.

THE NEW EDGE ALSO SHOWCASES THE BLUE OVAL'S LATEST TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S THEIR FIRST UTILITY WITH FORD CO-PILOT360 WITH FIVE DRIVER-ASSIST FEATURES INCLUDING AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

FORD IS CLEARLY COMMITTED TO CROSSOVERS AND SUV'S, AND WITH THE EDGE, THEY NOW HAVE AN ENTHUSIAST'S-ORIENTED UTE THAT IS UNIQUE IN ITS PRICE CLASS.

THE 2019 FORD EDGE IS AT DEALERS NOW STARTING AT ABOUT $30,000.

THE ST MODEL ADDS SOME 12,000 MORE.

IN A WORLD AWASH WITH UTILITIES, THE 2019 BENTLEY BENTAYGA V8 IS AMONG THE MOST EXCLUSIVE.

EVEN THE ULTRA-RICH, IT SEEM WANT SUV'S, SO AFTER THE CONCEPT EVOLVED, BENTLEY SHOWED IT AT THE 2015 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE BENTAYGA WENT ON SALE AND QUICKLY BECAME THEIR BEST-SELLING MODEL, NOW MAKING UP ABOUT HALF OF BENTLEY'S GLOBAL SALES.

NOW, THERE'S A SPORTIER CHOICE FOR UNDER THE HOOD, A NEW 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8, WITH A DEEP RUMBLE THAT DEMANDS ATTENTION.

BEFORE W12 FANS SNIFF IN DISTAIN, THE V8'S 542 HORSEPOWER HAS NO PROBLEM MOVING THIS OVER 5200 POUNDS OF PAMPERING WITH GRACE AND GREAT FORCE...

MATCHED WITH QUICK DECISIONS BY THE ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

A REAR-BIASED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM SERVES UP BOUNTIFUL TRACTION AS WELL.

THE BENTAYGA V8 STILL USES VOLKSWAGEN'S MLB PLATFORM.

BUT THE SILKY SMOOTH SAILING IS PURE BENTLEY, WITH AIR SUSPENSION AND CONTINUOUS DAMPING, FOR POISE, AND NOW WITH LESS WEIGHT, EVEN MORE CONFIDENCE IN CURVES.

Garick Zikan: POWER, LUXURY, AND COMFORT ARE THE IMMEDIATE SENSATIONS WHEN YOU SLIP INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT.

THIS TURBO V8 HAS PLENTY OF POWER AND STARTS POURING IT ON VERY QUICKLY.

THE SUSPENSION IS FIRM ENOUGH TO HAVE A SPORTY NATURE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, EASILY SOAKING UP THE BUMPS ALONG THE WAY.

AND EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND FEEL INSIDE HERE IS NOT ONLY LUXURIOUS, BUT HAS A REAL SENSE OF QUALITY.

John: INSIDE, IS BENTLEY'S RENOWNED SERENE SURROUNDINGS, CRADLING THOSE LUCKY OWNERS IN LUXURIOUS LEATHER AND STYLE THAT'S SECOND TO NONE.

BEHIND ALL THIS POSHNESS, IS A SUITE OF ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES AT THE READY.

THE 2019 BENTLEY BENTAYGA V8 IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT $165,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF GREAT SMALL CARS RIGHT NOW.

AND WE CAN ADD YET ANOTHER ONE TO THE LIST.

THE ALL NEW KIA FORTE.

SURE IT HAS SOME WORK TO DO, TO CATCH UP TO THE LIKES OF CIVIC AND COROLLA BUT THE FOLKS AT KIA HAVE BEEN BUSY.

SO LET'S SEE HOW WELL THEIR EFFORTS WILL BE REWARDED.

* THIS 2019 KIA FORTE IS THE 3RD GENERATION OF KIA'S COMPACT SEDAN.

AND WE CAN EASILY SAY, IT'S THE FIRST ONE THAT HAD US WANTING TO DRIVE IT, THE MOMENT WE LAID EYES ON IT.

INCREASED REFINEMENT WAS ONE OF THEIR KEY TARGETS FOR THIS GO AROUND; AS WELL AS AN OBVIOUSLY SPORTIER DESIGN, WHICH TAKES CUES FROM THEIR SPORT SEDAN KNOCKOUT STINGER.

AND IT DOES SHARE MANY OF THE STINGER'S HIGHLIGHTS; SUCH AS ITS HEADLIGHT DESIGN, AND SPORT BACK-LIKE PROFILE, WITH LONG HOOD AND SHORT REAR DECK, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY TO MASK THE FRONT-DRIVER PROPORTIONS.

MOST MEASUREMENTS HAVE INCREASED.

WHEELBASE DOES REMAIN THE SAME, BUT OVERALL LENGTH IS UP BY MORE THAN THREE INCHES.

BOTH WIDTH AND HEIGHT HAVE ALSO GROWN SLIGHTLY.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE 2.0 LITER I4 ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD HAS NOT CHANGED AS FAR AS OUTPUT, REMAINING AT 147 HORSEPOWER AND 132 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT, SOME UPDATES HAVE BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.

AND WHAT'S ATTACHED TO IT IS DEFINITELY NEW.

IT'S A CVT, BUT NOT JUST ANY CVT.

THIS ONE IS KIA'S OWN DESIGN THEY'VE DUBBED IVT, OR INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION.

THE HARDWARE IS ALL TYPICAL CVT, BUT THE SOFTWARE ATTEMPTS TO MIMIC A TRUE AUTOMATIC, WITH SIMULATED GEARS PROVIDING PRE-PROGRAMMED UPSHIFTS UNDER FULL THROTTLE, AND CLEAR DOWNSHIFTS WHEN YOU CALL FOR MORE POWER.

YOU CAN ALSO GET A 6-SPEED MANUAL, BUT ONLY IN BASE FE TRIM.

AS DONALD RUMSFELD MASTERFULLY ITERATED, "SOMETIMES, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW."

WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW, IS THAT WITH THE SAME POWER AS BEFORE, AND THE SAME WHEELBASE; COULD THE NEW FORTE REALLY PERFORM ALL THAT DIFFERENTLY AT OUR TEST TRACK.

WELL, FOR STARTERS, THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN STIFFENED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER LAST YEAR, WITH MORE HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL; AND THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SUSPENSION BOLTED TO IT.

NOW, YOU COULD SAY THAT HANDLING HAS NEVER BEEN THE FORTE'S FORTE, BUT WE DIGRESS.

WHAT WE WILL SAY, IS THAT THE REVISED GEOMETRY OF THE MCPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND TORSION BEAM REAR SUSPENSION, HAS CERTAINLY MADE THE FORTE MORE RESPONSIVE.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A SPORT SEDAN HERE, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT DRIVEN AT THE SEDATE PACE WE EXPECT MOST FORTE DRIVERS TO EMPLOY, IT TURNS IN ADEQUATELY QUICK AND FEELS RELATIVELY SOLID.

[TIRES SCREECH/ENGINE REVS] THINGS ARE MORE OF A LETDOWN IN THE ACCELERATION DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S JUST NO SENSE OF URGENCY FROM THIS 2.0 LITER.

[ENGINE REVS] IT WAS A LENGTHY, 8.1 SECOND TRIP TO 60 FOR US, THOUGH THAT IS OVER HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN OUR LAST FORTE SEDAN TEST IN 2014.

UNDER FULL ACCELERATION, THE NEW CVT CERTAINLY BEHAVES LIKE A TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC; RAMPING UP TO REDLINE AND THEN FALLING BACK DOWN TO AROUND 2,500 RPM.

LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT.

TRUE, IT DOESN'T FEEL OR SOUND LIKE A CVT, BUT NOW IT JUST FEELS LIKE A REALLY LAZY AUTOMATIC.

THE QUARTER MILE ENDED IN 16.4 SECONDS AT 87 MILES PER HOUR.

NOT THRILLING, BUT THERE ARE RUMORS OF AT LEAST ONE SPORTIER VERSION OF THE FORTE ON THE NEAR HORIZON.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT IS VERY FAMILIAR TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM KIA AND EVEN HYUNDAI OF LATE.

AN 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN IS STANDARD ON ALL FORTE'S AS IS AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL; PART OF A SIMPLE AND UNCLUTTERED INTERIOR THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY AERONAUTICALLY INSPIRED.

ACCOMMODATIONS ARE SPACIOUS WITH INTERIOR VOLUME THAT IS VERY GENEROUS FOR ITS CLASS.

SO, IT'S NICELY COMFORTABLE FOR THE DRIVER, THEIR CO-PILOT, AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE REAR.

THE TRUNK IS WELL FINISHED FOR THE COMPACT CLASS, AND BOASTS A WHOPPING 15.3 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE.

DUE TO THE CVT AND ENGINE UPDATES, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY HAS IMPROVED; NOW SITTING AT 30-CITY, 40-HIGHWAY, AND 34-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A QUITE IMPRESSIVE 37.0 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

THAT'S MAKES FOR A VERY GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 9.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, ACCOMPANIED BY 4.4 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $18,585 FOR FE TRIM, BUT OUR TOP OF THE LINE EX TESTER GOES FOR ONLY ABOUT 4-GRAND MORE AT $22,885.

WHILE, THE HONDA CIVIC AND TOYOTA COROLLA WILL LIKELY, ALWAYS BE THE GIANTS IN THIS SEGMENT, THE 2019 KIA FORTE HAS BECOME MORE APPEALING THAN EVER; BOTH VISUALLY, AND WITH A MORE REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, COMPACT SEDANS ARE THE NEW MIDSIZE FAMILY CARS, AND THE NEW FORTE IS CLEARLY IN THE GAME.

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 GENESIS TRIES TO STING LIKE A BEE WITH THE NEW G70 SPORT SEDAN.

AND MERCEDES ADDS MORE OF EVERYTHING TO THE COUPISH CLS.

PLUS, THE LATEST MOTOR NEWS AND A LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

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.

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] *