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

JOIN US FOR HIGH RIDING 3-ROW LUXURY IN THE ALL-NEW BMW X7... PAT GOSS HAS CAR CARE ADVICE OTHERS MIGHT MISS... JOE LIGO REMEMBERS REGAL SHEET METAL FROM THE PAST, WITH HIDDEN MUSCLE... AND WE FEEL THE RUSH OF ADRENALINE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE MCLAREN 720S...

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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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 .

John: LIKE, MOST LUXURY BRANDS, BMW STARTED THEIR SUV JOURNEY IN THE LATE 1990s, WITH THE MIDSIZE X5 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE.

SINCE THEN, THEY'VE FOCUSED THEIR EXPANSION EFFORTS DOWNWARD WITH THE COMPACT X3 AND EVEN SMALLER X1, NOT TO MENTION COUPE VERSIONS OF ALL THREE.

NOW, THEY'RE FINALLY EXPANDING UPWARDS, JOINING THE LARGE UTE RANKS WITH THE ALL-NEW X7.

* SURE, THIS LARGE, 3-ROW 2019 BMW X7 UTILITY SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER TO YOU AND ME, BUT BMW ALWAYS SEEMS TO GO ABOUT THINGS THEIR OWN WAY; LIKE INSISTING ON CALLING THEIR SUVS...SAVS FOR SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE.

AND WHILE, THAT NAME PROBABLY IS MORE APPROPRIATE THAN WE CARE TO ADMIT, WORDS WE FIND EVEN MORE FITTING ARE ACTIVE COMFORT DRIVE.

IT'S THIS TECH MARVEL X7s STANDARD AIR SUSPENSION, AND IT KEEPS THINGS CONTROLLED AND VIRTUALLY FLAT IN TURNS; YET, EVEN IN ITS FIRMEST SETTING, IS NOT HARSH ENOUGH TO UPSET YOUR DAY.

RIDE QUALITY IS CLEARLY A HIGHLIGHT HERE, SOMETHING WE'VE RARELY EVER SAID ABOUT A BMW.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT SEEMS TO FLOAT ON TOP OF THE ROAD IS BMW'S HEAD-UP DISPLAY; INSTEAD OF JUST LOOKING LIKE A WINDSHIELD REFLECTION AS MOST DO.

IT'S VERY QUIET INSIDE AS WELL; THOUGH YOU CAN BREAK THE SERENITY, WITH A "JUST RIGHT" AMOUNT OF EXHAUST NOTE SHOULD YOU SLIP IT OVER INTO SPORT MODE.

THE SOUNDS BEFIT EITHER THE 3.0 LITER STRAIGHT-6 TURBO, OR A 4.4 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8.

AND WHILE, WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE 456 HORSEPOWER AND 479 POUND-FEET OF THRUST FROM THIS REVISED V8, THE 335 HORSEPOWER 6 IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR MOST.

THE SAME 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WORKS WITH BOTH, AND XDRIVE IS STANDARD.

LONG DISTANCE SEAT COMFORT DOESN'T QUITE LIVE UP TO COMFORT DRIVE SUSPENSION STANDARDS, BUT WE'D CALL IT COZY ENOUGH.

OTHER AVAILABLE TECH INCLUDES DRIVING ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL.

IT'S FOR HANDS OFF DRIVING AT SPEEDS UP TO 37 MILES PER HOUR, AND IT WILL EVEN CHANGE LANES; THOUGH IT'S NOT THE BEST SYSTEM, WE'VE TRIED BY ANY MEANS.

BUT WE DID FIND IT QUITE HELPFUL IN STOP AND GO, WHERE EXTENDED TRAFFIC JAM ASSIST WILL KEEP YOUR SPOT IN LINE FOR YOU.

BMW'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT IS ALONG FOR THE RIDE OF COURSE, AND IT EVEN SEEMS TO KNOW WHETHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER IS TALKING TO IT.

IT IS ALSO, QUITE LUXURIOUS INSIDE, WITH WOOD TRIM, NICELY FINISHED LEATHER DASH, AND A CRYSTAL-LIKE SHIFTER.

IDRIVE IS IN ITS 7TH GENERATION BELIEVE IT NOT, AND NOW COMES WITH A 12-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, AS WELL AS GESTURE CONTROL.

THE GAUGE PANEL IS A LIVE COCKPIT PROFESSIONAL HIGH-RES DISPLAY, WHICH PUSHES THE VIRTUAL TACH AND SPEEDOMETER TO THE EDGES, ALLOWING FOR MORE CENTRAL INFO.

SECOND ROW TRAVELERS WILL FIND LOTS OF SPACE, WITH A STANDARD BENCH MAKING FOR 7-PASSENGER CAPACITY.

CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

WIDE DOOR OPENINGS, AND POWER SEAT OPERATION ALLOWS FOR EASY, IF A BIT SLOW, ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW.

HEADROOM THERE IS PLENTIFUL FOR ANYONE 6-FOOT AND UNDER, AND THERE'S DECENT ENOUGH COMFORT; BUT GETTING ADEQUATE LEG ROOM REQUIRES 2ND ROW PASSENGERS SACRIFICING SOME OF THEIRS.

NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT LEAVING ANYTHING BEHIND, 48.6 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE BEHIND THE 2ND ROW, MAXING OUT AT 90.4 WITH ALL THE SEATS FOLDED.

FOR A NON-TRADITIONAL SUV BRAND, THE X7 LOOKS FAIRLY TRADITIONAL.

BIG WITH SHARP ANGLES; STOPPING JUST SHORT OF FULL-BOXY.

ASSEMBLED IN SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE X5, THE X7 IS ABOUT 10-INCHES LONGER, BUT ONLY OUTWEIGHS IT BY ABOUT 500 POUNDS.

IT WOULD TAKE MUCH MORE WEIGHT THAN THAT TO SLOW DOWN OUR V8 TESTER.

A COSTCO-SIZED PACKAGE OF TORQUE PUSHES THIS THING OFF THE LINE IN A HURRY.

NO SLIP, ALL GRIP.

XDRIVE AND CONSISTENTLY-WORKING LAUNCH CONTROL, HAD US HITTING 60 IN JUST 4.8 SECONDS.

TIRES CHIRP AS YOU HIT 2ND GEAR, WITH THE 8-SPEED DELIVERING SHIFTS THAT ARE EQUALLY FAST AND SMOOTH.

IT'S A QUICK 13.3 SECOND TRIP THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE; COMPLETED AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.

LIKE, A 1ST ROUND D-LINE DRAFT PICK, THE BIG X7 WAS SNEAKY FAST THROUGH OUR CONE DRILL.

WE'D STOP SHORT OF CALLING THE EXPERIENCE SPORTY, AS YOU'RE DEALING WITH SO MUCH MASS HERE...

BUT IT CLEARLY EXUDES BMW COMPOSURE THROUGHOUT, REGARDLESS OF SPEED, WITH THE ABILITY TO FIND HINTS OF BOTH OVERSTEER AND UNDERSTEER.

M SPORT BRAKES ARE A "NO JOKE" OPTION; CONSISTENTLY BRINGING THIS BEAST TO A HALT IN JUST 110 FEET.

V8 GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED 18.4 MILES PER GALLON WITH PREMIUM FUEL.

THE BIGGEST BMW UTILITY YET, COMES WITH A FAIRLY SIZABLE PRICE TAG AS WELL; $74,895 IF YOU CAN MAKE DO WITH THE 6-CYLINDER XDRIVE40I.

IF YOU NEED V8 POWER, THE XDRIVE50I WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $93,595.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE 2019 X7, BMW NOW HAS A FULL UTILITY LINEUP THAT STACKS UP VERY WELL AGAINST ANY GLOBAL RIVAL, AND THERE'S NO TELLING WHERE THEY'LL GO NEXT, BUT AT LEAST NOW, MORE PEOPLE CAN COMFORTABLY GO ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

* THE 1980s WERE DEFINITELY NOT PRIME TIME FOR MUSCLE CARS.

STILL, COLLECTORS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO APPRECIATE ALL THOSE IROC CAMAROS AND FOX-BODY MUSTANGS, AND PRICES ARE TICKING UP.

HOWEVER, OUR JOE LIGO HAS FOUND A BUICK THAT HE'D REALLY RATHER HAVE.

* Joe Ligo: BORN FROM THE HIGH BANKED OVALS, THEY REIGNED TERROR ON DRAGSTRIPS ACROSS AMERICA.

EVERYONE KNEW THAT MENACING GRILL, ANGULAR ROOFLINE, AND FAMILIAR BLACK PAINT... AH-HAH!

YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS A GRAND NATIONAL.

WELL, NOT QUITE.

THIS IS A 1987 BUICK REGAL LIMITED WITH THE LC2 ENGINE, T-PACKAGE, AND W02 EXTERIOR SPORT PACKAGE; A COMBINATION KNOWN AS THE "REGAL LIMITED TURBO-T." FOR THOSE WHO DON'T REMEMBER, THE GRAND NATIONAL WAS A PERFORMANCE EDITION OF THE 2ND GENERATION BUICK REGAL, CAPITALIZING ON THE BRAND'S NASCAR BIG OVAL SUCCESS.

IT DOMINATED THE TRACK AND STREET, POWERED NOT BY A V8, BUT BY BUICK'S OWN TURBO CHARGED V6.

FOR 1987, THE FINAL YEAR FOR THIS BODY STYLE, BUICK ALLOWED BUYERS TO MIX, AND MATCH A VARIETY OF TRIM, AND POWERTRAIN OPTIONS.

THUS, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GET A LUXURIOUS REGAL LIMITED WITH BLACKOUT TRIM; SPORT WHEELS AND TIRES, PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION, AND EVEN THE LEGENDARY 3.8 LITER V6 TURBO.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] WHILE, OTHER CARS HAD TURBOCHARGERS, THIS ONE COMBINED IT WITH ELECTRONIC MULTIPORT FUEL INJECTION, DISTRIBUTOR-LESS IGNITION, AND AN AIR-TO-AIR INTERCOOLER.

ALL THIS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY MADE 245 HORSEPOWER AND 355 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BACK IN THE DAY, MOTORWEEK TESTED THE SAME ENGINE IN A GRAND NATIONAL AND SAW 0-60 TIMES UNDER 6.0 SECONDS.

BUT WITHOUT THE DARTH-VADER PAINT JOB, THIS REGAL LIMITED DRAWS FAR LESS ATTENTION.

IT'S A TRUE SLEEPER CAR.

THE INTERIOR MAKES YOU THINK, YOU SHOULD BE DRIVING THIS CAR TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, NOT THE DRAG STRIP.

ONLY THE SPORT STEERING WHEEL AND THE LITTLE TURBO BOOST GAUGE WOULD GIVE AWAY THE BEAST THAT LIES WITHIN.

WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE, THERE'S NO LETTING OFF THE GAS TO SHIFT, KEEPING THE TURBO WORKING THE WHOLE TIME.

IT'S THE KIND OF CAR THAT MAKES YOU EXCITED FOR STOP SIGNS, BECAUSE EACH ONE IS AN EXCUSE TO ACCELERATE AGAIN.

JUST BE SURE TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE THE CURVES.

FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE, YOU COULD OF COURSE, BUY ONE OF THE 547 REGAL GNXs MADE THAT YEAR...

BUT THE REGAL LIMITED OFFERED MORE OF THE LUXURY FEATURES THAT BUICK BUYERS EXPECTED.

THIS WOULD NORMALLY WOULD DETRACT FROM A CAR'S "MUSCLE" CREDIBILITY.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE BUTTON-TUFTED VELOUR SEATS JUST ADD TO THE SLEEPER IMAGE.

WITH ONLY 1,035 BUILT, THE BUICK REGAL LIMITED TURBO-T IS SECOND IN RARITY ONLY TO THE GNX, AND FAR LESS COMMON THAN THE GRAND NATIONAL.

WHICH MAKES IT ODD THAT LIMITED TURBO VALUES ARE ABOUT 30% LOWER THAN THE GRAND NATIONAL'S, REGARDLESS OF NUMBERS, THIS CAR REMAINS A BLAST TO DRIVE.

UNLIKE, MANY VEHICLES FROM THE '80s, ITS PERFORMANCE REMAINS IMPRESSIVE EVEN TODAY.

IT MAKES YOU WANT TO FIND A LONG STRETCH OF ROAD, LAY INTO THE THROTTLE, AND FEEL THE TURBO V6 THROW YOU BACK INTO THAT VELOUR SEAT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

* Greg Carloss: TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR LONG TERM 2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA R-LINE SEDAN.

YES...WE AGREE, OUR DRIVE TIME WITH IT WENT BY QUICKLY.

IN THREE-MONTHS WE MANAGED A LITTLE OVER 5,000 MILES; WHILE THE PINT SIZE 1.4 LITER TURBO-4 DELIVERED 36.4 MILES PER GALLON, AND MORE THAN A FEW SMILES ALONG THE WAY.

THE R-LINE IS NOT THE SPORTIEST JETTA, NOR IS IT THE MOST LUXURIOUS, BUT IT'S A GREAT MIDDLE GROUND OFFERING ENOUGH OF BOTH TO KEEP US COMFORTABLE AND ENTERTAINED.

SAFE TOO, WITH A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDING BLIND SPOT MONITORING.

WE LOVED THE INTERIOR LAYOUT, AS WELL AS THE TASTY R-LINE TOUCHES THROUGHOUT THE CABIN; AND FOUND USING THE COMPOSITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE QUITE INTUITIVE.

THE PICKY AUDIOPHILES AMONG OUR STAFF HOWEVER, WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AN UPGRADE OF ITS BASIC 4-SPEAKER AUDIO SYSTEM.

A SMALL COMPLAINT, FOR THIS VERY ENJOYABLE AND AFFORDABLE SPORT SEDAN.

MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER OUR 2018 MAZDA6 ARRIVED, ITS APPEAL TO OUR STAFF IS STILL GOING STRONG.

THE PROOF IS IN THE SOME 24,000 ENJOYABLE MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

THE 227 HORSEPOWER TURBOCHARGED I4 AND 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE A GREAT PAIR... AND THEY CONTINUE TO SATISFY OUR DRIVERS WHO PREFER A LITTLE EXTRA BOOST FOR PASSING.

MAZDA ALSO ADDED SUSPENSION TUNING THAT DELIVERS EVERYDAY SPORTINESS; SETTING THIS "6" APART FROM ITS MID-SIZE RIVALS.

NORMALLY, AFTER A YEAR OF TESTING A CAR, WE CAN POINT TO AT LEAST A FEW AREAS OF DEGRADATION IN A POWERTRAIN OR SUSPENSION.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH THIS MAZDA6.

THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE YET TO SKIP A BEAT AND THE SUSPENSION IS STILL TAUGHT IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS.

WHETHER, IT'S RUNNING ERRANDS OR GOING ON LONG OVERNIGHTERS, THE SIGNATURE TRIM MAKES THIS A COMFORTABLE AND STYLISH PLACE TO SPEND OUR TIME.

OVERALL FUEL ECONOMY IS NOW 28.4 MILES PER GALLON, SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF MILES BETWEEN FILL UPS.

IT'S THE TOYOTA RAV4 AND HONDA INSIGHT, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: WITH SO MANY PARTS IN A MODERN CAR, IT'S EASY TO MISS SOMETHING.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT, DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS THAT TECHNICIANS OFTEN OVERLOOK.

NOW...RIGHT HERE, WE HAVE A HUB OR AXLE BEARING THAT IS A SEALED UNIT AND THIS IS WHAT'S BECOME COMMONPLACE ON VIRTUALLY ALL MODERN VEHICLES.

WELL, NOT ALL OF THEM THOUGH.

SEE, THIS ONE NO SERVICE...

IF IT WEARS YOU, YOU REPLACE IT THAT'S IT, BUT THERE'S STILL LOTS AND LOTS OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THE OLDER STYLE TAPERED ROLLERED BEARINGS IN THEM.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TRUCKS AND VANS AND SO ON... AND THOSE NEED PERIODIC SERVICING.

YOU HAVE TO REFER TO YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL FOR WHAT THE FREQUENCY OF SERVICE IS OR ASK YOUR TECHNICIAN, BUT THE BIG THING IS WE'RE DEALING WITH A BEARING LIKE THIS THAT IS REPLACEABLE THAT IS SERVICEABLE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ROTOR OFF, YOU HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE EVERYTHING...

PUT SPECIAL WHEEL BEARING GREASE INTO THAT BEARING... AND THEN REASSEMBLE IT AND ADJUST IT, AND SO ON.

IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS.

THIS ONE HAS GONE DRY ON GREASE...

THE BEARING SEIZED UP...

IT CAME APART...

IT DESTROYED THE SPINDLE THAT IT RIDES ON...

IT DESTROYED THE ROTOR... A MASSIVE REPAIR JOB FOR LACK OF A FEW CENTS WORTH OF GREASE.

SO, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND IF YOUR CAR HAS SERVICEABLE AXLE OR WHEEL BEARINGS IN IT AND IF IT DOES MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TECHNICIAN CHECKS THEM SERVICES THEM AS NEEDED.

ALRIGHT NOW, HERE'S SOMETHING...

VIRTUALLY ALL CARS HAVE SOME KIND OF A STEERING SHAFT BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY TO CONNECT THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE STEERING RACK OR STEERING BOX.

NOW, THESE THINGS ARE MADE UP OF USUALLY TWO UNIVERSAL JOINTS, SOMETIMES ONLY ONE...

BUT THEY HAVE IN MANY CASES THIS SLIDE JOINT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM.

SO THAT AS THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE FLEXES, THIS THING CAN GROW OR COMPRESS.

ALRIGHT, PICK-UP TRUCKS IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE ONE LIKE THIS AND IN MANY CASES WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS THAT THIS CENTER...

THIS SLIDING SECTION IN HERE IT WEARS AND YOU GET THIS HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS OVER VERY SMALL BUMPS.

WE'VE SEEN CARS INTO THE SHOP WITH ALL KINDS OF NEW PARTS AND THIS IS STILL BAD BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET RID OF THE RATTLE BY REPLACING OTHER PARTS AND THE TECH FORGOT TO CHECK THIS.

NOW, THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS ON THE END OF IT.

HERE WE HAVE THE NEW ONE...

THE U JOINT WILL MOVE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS REALLY NICE AND SMOOTHLY.

OVER HERE WE HAVE A USED ONE.

THIS ONE MOVES NOT TOO BAD IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT WE TRY TO MOVE IT IN THIS DIRECTION AND WE CAN'T DO IT.

THAT MEANT AS WE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS VEHICLE IT WENT THUNK... THUNK... THUNK...

IT BOUND UP AND THEN RELEASED.

WELL AGAIN, ALL KINDS OF PARTS REPLACED AND SO ON...

THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN FORGOT TO CHECK THESE U JOINTS.

SO, THESE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU WANT TO BE AWARE OF AND MAKE SURE IF YOU TAKE YOUR CAR IN FOR REPAIR THAT THEY GET CHECKED.

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

John: WE USUALLY, FOCUS ON WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, BUT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE HARDWARE.

SO, HERE'S LAUREN MORRISON WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: THE COSTLY PATH TOWARDS A WIDE RANGE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS CAUSING MORE AND MORE RIVALS TO LINK UP TO SHARE THE LOAD.

TOYOTA AND SUBARU ARE THE LATEST.

THEY PLAN TO JOINTLY DEVELOP A SINGLE, VERSATILE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PLATFORM.

INITIALLY, THEY WILL USE IT TO SHARE A NEW SMALL ELECTRIC SUV, WHICH WILL BE SOLD UNDER EACH COMPANY'S OWN BRAND.

THIS NEW PLATFORM WILL NOT JUST BE FOR SMALL UTILITIES, HOWEVER.

IT WILL BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR A VARIETY OF LARGER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEDANS.

THIS PARTNERSHIP BRINGS TOGETHER THE STRENGTHS OF EACH AUTOMAKERS.

SUBARU CONTRIBUTES THEIR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE EXPERTISE, WHILE TOYOTA DELIVERS THE ELECTRIFICATION KNOW HOW.

THE TWO COMPANIES FIRST AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER IN 2005.

PREVIOUS JOINT EFFORTS INCLUDE THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE SCION FR-S/TOYOTA 86, AND SUBARU BRZ SPORT COUPES IN 2012, AND THE 2019 SUBARU CROSSTREK HYBRID.

TOYOTA SAYS, "OTHER EV PARTNERSHIPS COULD FOLLOW."

ANOTHER COLLABORATION COULD KEEP THE RUBBER ROLLING...

WHILE ELIMINATING A COMMON ROADSIDE BREAK DOWN.

GENERAL MOTORS AND MICHELIN ARE TESTING AN AIRLESS TIRE.

IT'S CALLED "UPTIS," WHICH STANDS FOR "UNIQUE PUNCTURE-PROOF TIRE SYSTEM."

INSTEAD OF TIRES INFLATED WITH AIR, THESE TIRES USE FLEXIBLE RUBBERIZED COMPOSITE RIBS TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLE.

SIMILAR TIRES ARE ALREADY USED ON SOME JOHN DEER RIDING LAWNMOWERS.

MICHELIN, A PIONEER IN PNEUMATIC RUN-FLAT TIRES, SAYS, "AIRLESS TIRES MEANS NO MORE WORRYING ABOUT BLOWOUTS OR BEING STRANDED BY A FLAT TIRE."

AIRLESS TIES WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR REGULAR TIRE MAINTENANCE LIKE KEEPING THEM PROPERLY INFLATED.

AIRLESS TIRES MIGHT ALSO REDUCE CONSUMER CAR CARE COSTS BY PREVENTING UNEVEN WEAR CAUSED BY TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE AIR PRESSURE.

GM WILL START TESTING THE UPTIS PROTOTYPE IN REAL WORLD SITUATIONS USING A FLEET OF CHEVROLET BOLT EVs LATER THIS YEAR.

THEY HOPE TO HAVE THESE AIRLESS TIRES ON PRODUCTION VEHICLES BY 2024.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: AFTER YEARS OF SURVIVING WITH JUST RACE CARS, AND HYPE FROM THE LEGENDARY F1, MCLAREN GOT SERIOUS ABOUT BEING A FULL-LINE EXOTIC CARMAKER.

AND SINCE THEN, IT SEEMS THEY'VE DROPPED OFF A NEW ONE IN OUR INBOX EVERY YEAR.

WELL, THIS TIME OUR GOOD FORTUNE IS THIS 720S TRACK PACK.

SO, LET'S SEEK OUT SOME APEXES AND UNLOCK THE DETAILS.

* WE'VE BEEN THROUGH JUST ABOUT THE WHOLE SUITE OF RECENT MCLAREN SPORTS SERIES ENTRIES, BUT IT'S BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE WE'VE BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ONE OF THEIR MID-LEVEL SUPER SERIES MODELS.

THE PERFECT PLACE TO REMEDY THAT IS OUR 2.0 MILE WINTER TESTING WONDERLAND THAT IS ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND WE'LL BE DOING IT IN THIS FABULOUS 2019 MCLAREN 720S COUPE.

THE 720S OF COURSE, ARRIVED FOR 2018; REPLACING THE 650S IN THEIR SUPER SERIES LINEUP.

LIKE...MOST SUPERCARS, IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS; AS LOW, WIDE, AND AERODYNAMIC ARE COMMON THEMES OF THE BREED, AND PROPORTIONS ALL TEND TO BE ABOUT THE SAME.

BUT, MCLAREN HAS TAKEN GREAT STRIDES TO CHANNEL AIR THROUGH THE BODY, RATHER THAN JUST KEEP ADDING THINGS ON TO MANAGE IT.

THE RESULTS ARE POSTER-WORTHY MATERIAL FOR SURE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] ALL SUPERCARS MUST HAVE A SUPER ENGINE, OF COURSE; HERE, IT'S A TWIN-TURBO 4.0 LITER V8 THAT PUTS OUT 710 HORSEPOWER AND WHIPS UP 568 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WORKING THROUGH A 7-SPEED DCT.

THAT AMOUNT OF POWER IS DOWNRIGHT SINFUL, SO APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH, THE ENGINE LIES IN ITS OWN MID-SHIP RED LIGHT DISTRICT.

MANAGING THAT AMOUNT OF HORSEPOWER, IN A STRICTLY REAR-WHEEL DRIVE CAR WITH IMMEDIATE THROTTLE RESPONSE, CAN SOMETIMES BE A CAUTIONARY TALE, BUT IF THERE'S ANY WIDE OPEN TRACK IN FRONT OF YOU, THE 720S WILL EAT UP ALL OF IT IN SHORT ORDER, ALL WHILE SHRIEKING LIKE A BANSHEE.

[ENGINE REVVING] SPORT MODE OFFERS MORE THAN ENOUGH PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL, BUT TRACK MODE IS THERE IF YOU FEEL FULLY UP TO MANAGING EVERYTHING FOR YOURSELF.

AND ITS WORTH CHECKING IT OUT, JUST TO SEE THE INTERIOR TRANSFORM FROM DAILY DRIVER MODE INTO ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE.

FEW CARS WE'VE EVER DRIVEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WITH THIS KIND OF FEROCITY.

POWER COMES ON IN SUCH A RUSH, THAT IT CAN QUICKLY TAKE YOU BY SURPRISE, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S COMING.

IN THE HANDS OF A SKILLED DRIVER THIS CAR IS A VIRTUAL WEAPON.

IT'S ALSO BOTH FASTER AND LIGHTER THAN THE 650S, STREAKING TO 60 IN ONLY 2.8 SECONDS.

BRAKES ARE AS AMAZING AS ALL OF THE OTHER PERFORMANCE ASPECTS OF THE CAR, NEVER BREAKING A SWEAT, OR CAUSING US TO EITHER, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED.

SO, OTHER THAN A VERY FORWARD SEATING POSITION THAT TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO, THE 720S IS NOT INTIMIDATING AT ALL; JUST A VERY FUN CAR THAT HAPPENS TO HAVE MIND-BLOWING PERFORMANCE.

SO, YOU CERTAINLY COULD DRIVE IT EVERY DAY, AND THE INTERIOR IS MUCH MORE INVITING THAT THE 650S; BUT IT CAN STILL BE A HARSH ENVIRONMENT AT TIMES.

ON ANYTHING LESS THAT PERFECTLY SMOOTH ROADS, YOU REALLY NEED TO BE IN COMFORT MODE.

DOORS OPEN UP AND FORWARD, TAKING HALF OF THE ROOF WITH THEM, TO ALLOW FOR EASY ACCESS.

MCLAREN CONSIDERS THIS THEIR MOST SOPHISTICATED AND LUXURIOUS CABIN TO DATE.

WE FOUND IT QUITE SPACIOUS, AND VISIBILITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED ALL AROUND.

THERE'S MORE AVAILABLE SPACE INSIDE FOR STORAGE THAN BEFORE, AS WELL AS A SURPRISINGLY ACCOMMODATING FRONT TRUNK.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

PRICING STARTS AT $297,100.

SURE, YOU COULD BUY SOMETHING ITALIAN FOR THAT, AND GET MOSTLY THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'LL GET HERE, BUT PEOPLE THAT BUY MCLARENS, ARE GENERALLY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THE 720S IS WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MOST UNIFIED, TOTAL PACKAGE FROM MCLAREN YET.

THAT INCLUDES BEING TOTALLY EASY AND FUN TO DRIVE.

IT'S ALL EVEN MORE AMAZING WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THAT MCLAREN HAS REALLY ONLY BEEN FOCUSING ON ROAD CARS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.

GRANTED, THE 720S IS NOT A GOOD CHOICE FOR AN ALWAYS PRACTICAL MEGA-BUCK CAR BUYER.

BUT, IN THE WORLD OF TRUE SUPERCARS, IT REALLY STANDS OUT, AND IT'S WORTH EVERY PENCE.

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 WE SLIP INSIDE THE MOST EXHILARATING SUV TO EVER WEAR THE PORSCHE BADGE, THE CAYENNE TURBO.

AND SPORTS CAR CUES MEET FAMILY HAULING, THE CHEVROLET BLAZER.

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...

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 .

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *