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

JOIN US FOR HOT LAPS INSPIRED BY A LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD CAR CHASE, THE FORD MUSTANG BULLITT... PAT GOSS SAYS, YOUR NOSE KNOWS HOW TO SPOT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS... BRIAN ROBINSON HITS THE ROAD IN CAREFREE COMFORT ON TWO WHEELS... AND THE PLUSH, POSH, AND POTENT BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT...

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...

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.

WEATHERTECH MADE IN AMERICA.

John: ON THE LIST OF MOST NOTEWORTHY MUSTANGS OF ALL TIME, THE BULLITT SURELY OCCUPIES A SPOT NEAR THE TOP.

NEVER ONE TO MISS OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY, FORD HAS TWICE CAPITALIZED ON THAT, WITH LIMITED EDITION RUNS.

WELL, THAT ORIGINAL BULLITT IS STILL MAKING HEADLINES AND ATTRACTING CROWDS, SO FORD IS BACK FOR A THIRD TIME.

AND BELIEVE ME, THIS ONE IS A REAL CHARMER!

* NOT SURPRISINGLY, AS NUMBER THREE IN A SERIES, THE 2019 FORD MUSTANG BULLITT FOLLOWS THE SAME BASIC FORMULA AS THE 2001 AND 2008 EDITIONS.

THAT IS, EMULATING THAT 1968 MUSTANG GT FASTBACK THAT LT. FRANK BULLITT USED TO CHASE EVILDOERS AROUND SAN FRANCISCO WITH, IN THE 1968 MOVIE "BULLITT."

COVERED IN DARK HIGHLAND GREEN OF COURSE, THOUGH YOU CAN ALSO OPT FOR SHADOW BLACK, BUT WHY WOULD YOU?

WELL, MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE RARER BLACK ONES THAT WILL BE MORE COLLECTIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

JUST A PRO TIP FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT MOTORWEEK .

[ENGINE STARTS UP] A FEW ADDED HORSEPOWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE BULLITT FORMULA; SO THANKS TO A LARGER THROTTLE BODY, THE SHELBY GT350s INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE, YOU GET 480 HORSEPOWER, UP 20 FROM A STANDARD GT 5.0 LITER V8, FRESH OFF OF UPGRADES IT RECEIVED JUST LAST YEAR.

TORQUE OUTPUT REMAINS AT 420 POUND-FEET.

COMPLETING THE TRANSFORMATION, IS A BULLITT-THEMED SIMULATED GAS CAP ON THE TRUNK LID, ABOVE QUAD EXHAUST TIPS WITH UNIQUE SOUND.

WHEELS ARE INSPIRED BY THE TORQ THRUST MAGS OF THE ORIGINAL, IN FRONT OF RED BRAKE CALIPERS.

ADD THE GT PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AND OF COURSE, A CUE BALL SHIFTER FOR THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANS, AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, A TOTALLY UPDATED MUSTANG BULLITT.

GAUGES ARE THE 12-INCH LCD CLUSTER WITH A BIG TACH RUNNING THE FULL WIDTH OF TOP; YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE SPEEDOMETERS DID BACK IN THE DAY.

BUT, SINCE THE BULLITT IS ESSENTIALLY A GT PREMIUM WITH THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AND A FEW EXTRA HORSES, HOW DIFFERENT CAN IT REALLY BE?

WELL, LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT.

OUR TRACK OF CHOICE IS, OF COURSE, ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

* THE BULLITT IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY, AND WE LOVE ITS CUE BALL SHIFTER, BUT THE CLUTCH IS STILL A LITTLE ON THE SOFT SIDE.

AND WORKING THEM BOTH GOT A LOT EASIER...AS FOR '19, ALL MUSTANG GTS GET REV MATCHING.

AND IT WORKED GREAT AROUND ROEBLING'S NINE HIGH-SPEED TURNS.

THE GT IS TRULY A NICELY COMPETENT PERFORMER, WITH ITS BREMBO BRAKES A REAL HIGHLIGHT.

IT TURNS IN QUICKLY, EVEN WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF BODY ROLL, AND THERE'S AN OVERALL SOFTNESS TO THE CHASSIS THAT KEEPS IT FROM BEING A TRUE TRACK STAR, BUT PLENTY ENOUGH PERFORMANCE TO HAVE SOME REAL TWISTY FUN.

POWER NUMBERS MAY SEEM SMALL COMPARED TO THE DEMONS OF THIS DAY, BUT ON TRACK, IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER GOES ON FOR DAYS.

DELIVERY IS SMOOTH AND STEADY, WITH A NICE MID-RANGE PUNCH, AND EVERYONE COMMENTS ON JUST HOW LOUD IT CAN GET WITH THE ACTIVE EXHAUST IN SPORT OR RACE MODES.

[ENGINE REVVING] COLD TEMPS AND A DAMP TRACK DIDN'T HELP US CHANNEL THOSE ADDITIONAL 20 PONIES TO THE PAVEMENT; OUR BEST 0-60 RUN WAS 4.7 SECONDS.

BUT HERE, ONE YEAR AGO UNDER MUCH BETTER CONDITIONS, WE CONSISTENTLY RIPPED OFF 4.5S IN A MUSTANG GT.

LIKEWISE, OUR QUARTER MILE WAS ABOUT HALF A SECOND OFF AT 12.9 AND 113 MILES PER HOUR.

AWAY FROM THE TRACK, OUR MUSTANG BULLITT CONTINUED TO SHINE.

SEAT COMFORT WAS QUITE GOOD, WITH THE BEST VISIBILITY IN THE MUSCLE CAR CLASS.

IT'S A POWERFUL BUT WELL-BALANCED MACHINE, THAT'S NOT TOO HYPER FOR RELAXED CRUISING.

THE LOOK MAY BE CLASSIC, BUT IT'S MODERN-CAR DRIVABLE.

QUIET MODE ALLOWS YOU TO BRING THIS BEAST TO LIFE WITHOUT ANNOYING THE NEIGHBORS, AND THERE'S NO HARSH RIDE PENALTY TO BE PAID HERE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GREAT 25.0 MILES PER GALLON ON THE DRIVE DOWN FROM MARYLAND.

WE THINK, PRICING IS RIGHT ON TARGET AT $47,690; ONLY ABOUT A GRAND OVER WHAT YOU'D PAY FOR A GT PREMIUM WITH THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE.

YOU CAN'T POINT TO ANY ONE THING THAT MAKES THIS 2019 FORD MUSTANG BULLITT SO INCREDIBLY DESIRABLE.

BUT, IT IS.

A SOMEWHAT MAGICAL PACKAGE THAT DELIVERS A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE AND SINISTER LOOKS, ALONG WITH A HEALTHY DOSE OF "KING OF COOL" NOSTALGIA.

IT JUST FEELS SO RIGHT, WITH EVERY PART AND SPEC INLINE WITH ALL THE OTHERS.

SO, EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BULLITT, OR GOD FORBID, DON'T REMEMBER STEVE MCQUEEN, THIS IS ONE BULLITT THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE.

* WE'VE PUT A LOT OF MILES ON THIS HONDA.

AND WHEN IN COMES TO LONG DISTANCE TOURING, IT REALLY CAN'T BE BEAT.

THERE'S ALL THE SPACE FOR LUGGAGE, THE LEGENDARY COMFORT, EVERY TECHNOLOGY DOO-DAD YOU COULD WANT, AND EVEN A SMOOTH RUNNING 6-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HELPS IT EAT UP MILES LIKE NO OTHER MOTORCYCLE ON THE ROAD...

WAIT, JUST WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

* Brian Robinson: AS THE MOST POPULAR NON-CRUISER HEAVYWEIGHT TOURING MOTORCYCLE OF ALL TIME, THE HONDA GOLD WING WAS AT A CROSSROADS.

SATISFY THEIR AGING POPULATION OF RIDERS WHO DEPEND ON THEM, OR GO AFTER YOUNGER BUYERS LOOKING FOR MORE TECHNOLOGY AND ATHLETICISM.

TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT LEANER AND MEANER GOLD WING.

* AS MUCH AS WE ALL SEE THE HONDA GOLD WING AS A MOTORBAGO TWO-WHEELED RV, THE FIRST GOLD WING WASN'T REALLY DESIGNED WITH THAT IN MIND AT ALL.

RATHER, THE ORIGINAL GL1000 WAS MEANT TO BE A HIGH PERFORMANCE DO-IT-ALL MOTORCYCLE WITH GREAT COMFORT.

REALLY, THE GOLD WING AS WE KNOW IT, WAS HONDA'S RESPONSE TO ALL OF THE AFTERMARKET COMPANIES THAT OFFERED TOURING ACCESSORIES FOR IT.

AND OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS EVOLVED INTO THE ULTIMATE TOURING MACHINE THAT IT IS TODAY, WITH REFINEMENT, COMFORT, AND LUGGAGE CAPACITY FOUND NOWHERE ELSE.

CHIEF PRIORITY FOR THE 6TH GENERATION WING SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVING WEIGHT, AND MISSION ACCOMPLISHED BY ALMOST 100 POUNDS.

YOU NOTICE IT AS SOON AS YOU FLICK UP THE KICKSTAND, AND EVEN MORE SO IN SLOW SPEED EXERCISES.

ON THE TECHNOLOGY FRONT, THERE'S A CLEAR, AND COMPREHENSIVE INFO SCREEN, AND INTUITIVE CONTROLS; HONDA'S 4-WHEELED SIDE COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO IN FUNCTIONALITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTERFACE.

AS BEFORE, MOST MECHANICAL BITS ARE WELL-HIDDEN, WHICH IS A SHAME AS YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF UPDATES; INCLUDING A NEW DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT SUSPENSION, NOT UNLIKE BMW'S DUOLEVER DESIGN.

IT ALL WORKS TO PROVIDE A MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE RIDING EXPERIENCE.

NOT EXACTLY A SLOUCH IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT BEFORE, BUT NOW IT BORDERS ON SPORT-TOURING TERRITORY; FEELING MORE THAN COMPETENT IN JUST ABOUT ANY SITUATION YOU EXPOSE IT TO.

STILL, A FLAT-6 PROVIDING THE POWER; IT HAS SHRUNK A LITTLE IN PHYSICAL SIZE AND WEIGHT, AND OUTPUT REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME; BUT THE TORQUE CURVE HAS BEEN BROADENED, AND THE EXHAUST ITSELF IS OVER SEVEN POUNDS LIGHTER THAN BEFORE.

TRANSMISSION IS A 6-SPEED MANUAL, OR A NEW 7-SPEED DCT.

NATURALLY, WE WANTED TO TRYOUT THE DCT, AND IT WORKS VERY WELL.

BOTH SPORT AND TOUR MODES HAVE DISTINCT PERSONALITIES; PLUS, IN ADDITION TO REVERSE, THERE'S A WALKING MODE FOR SLOW SPEED MANEUVERING, SINCE YOU NO LONGER HAVE A CLUTCH TO MODULATE.

AN ELECTRONICALLY ADJUSTED WINDSCREEN IS STANDARD AND LOWERS AUTOMATICALLY UPON SHUTDOWN, BUT HAS A MEMORY, RETURNING TO WHERE YOU HAD IT BEFORE YOU TURNED EVERYTHING OFF, ONCE YOU GET ROLLING.

NOW, NEWS IS NOT ALL GREAT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT FULLY LOAD THEIR CURRENT GOLD WING TO CAPACITY, AS THERE IS NOW MUCH LESS OF IT, DOWN FROM 150 TO 110 TOTAL LITERS.

MY ADVICE, TAKE LESS OR GET SOME MODERN CLOTHING THAT PACKS UP SMALLER, OR JUST WEAR THE SAME CLOTHES EVERY DAY AND GET ON WITH IT, THERE ARE ROADS TO CONQUER.

THE GOLD WING AS WE ALL THINK OF IT, IS NOW THIS GOLD WING TOUR; THE STANDARD GOLD WING, NOW COMES WITHOUT THE TOP CASE AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND REPLACES THE PREVIOUS F6B.

THAT BASE GOLD WING STARTS AT $23,950, THE GOLD WING TOUR AT $27,150; ADD ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS TO EITHER, IF YOU WANT THE DCT.

MY APOLOGIES IF ALL OF THE WEIGHT LOSS TALK HAD YOU THINKING YOU GOT SUCKED INTO A JENNY CRAIG INFOMERCIAL.

BUT, IT IS WHAT IT IS; MUCH LIKE THE 2018 HONDA GL1800 IS WHAT IT WAS, THERE'S JUST LESS OF IT TO HAUL AROUND.

AND IN A WAY, IT'S GONE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL ROOTS AS A COMFORTABLE DO-IT ALL MOTORCYCLE THAT YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO STOP RIDING.

John: KNOWING WHAT TO LOOK FOR HELPS IN ANY SITUATION.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CAR CARE PAT GOSS NOSE THAT OTHER SENSES CAN SERVE YOU WELL.

Pat Goss: AH, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT NEW CAR SMELL.

BUT IN MANY CASES THAT NEW CAR SMELL GIVES WAY TO SOME RATHER PUNGENT ODORS.

NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE ONE WHICH SMELLS LIKE DIRTY SWEAT SOCKS.

WELL, THAT COULD INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE A LEAKY SUNROOF IF YOUR CAR HAS ONE.

SO, YOU WANT TO START OUT BY LOOKING AT THE DRAINS IN THE SUNROOF.

NO, THEY'RE NOT WATERPROOF.

SO WATER GETS INTO THEM AND HAS TO DRAIN OUT AND NOT INTO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.

ANOTHER THING THERE IS THAT YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE WET CARPETING DUE TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE ON THAT, YOU TAKE A DRY PAPER TOWEL, PUT IT DOWN INTO THE CARPET AND PUSH DOWN INTO IT LIKE SO.

WHOA.

WE HAVE WET CARPETING WHICH STINKS.

YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THE SOURCE.

ANOTHER THING THAT CAN CREATE THAT KIND OF ODOR IS AIR CONDITIONING.

IT'S MOIST.

MOLD...MILDEW AND ALL KINDS OF NASTY STUFF GROWS IN THE DUCT WORK AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONING.

SO YOU MAY NEED PRODUCTS LIKE THESE TO ELIMINATE THE MOLD AND DEODORIZE THE SYSTEM.

NEXT IS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL.

THAT USUALLY MEANS SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

WELL...NOT NECESSARILY, THE CONVERTER ITSELF IT MAYBE A TUNE UP ISSUE, OR A LEAKY FUEL INJECTOR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU WANT TO LOOK.

AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO LEAKY FUEL INJECTORS FOR THAT ONE.

NOW, THE NEXT ONE THAT WE HAVE IS SOMETHING THAT SMELLS LIKE BURNT TOAST.

AND GUESS WHAT SMELLS LIKE BURNT TOAST.

BURNING WIRES.

SO YOU NEED TO CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR PROBLEMS.

NEXT IS SOMETHING YOU MAY FIND KIND OF PLEASANT.

AND THAT IS THE SWEET SMELL OF LEAKING ANTIFREEZE.

IT SMELLS LIKE CANDY SOMETIMES.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN MANY CASES TO FIND THESE LEAKS IS TO US A DYE THAT GOES INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM, OR IT CAN BE USED IN OIL AND SO ON.

BUT THE DYE GOES IN, IT'S RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES.

THEN YOU USE SPECIAL GLASSES, AND A BLACK LIGHT, AND YOU CAN SEE TRACES OF THE DYE BECAUSE IT GLOWS.

AND THAT TELLS YOU WHERE YOUR LEAK IS.

NEXT IS BURNING RUBBER SMELL.

AND THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IS THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE BELT OR THE SERPENTINE BELT.

SOMETHING HAS SEIZED UP; THE BELT IS SLIPPING AND THAT SLIPPING IS HEATING THE RUBBER UP.

AND YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, AND YOU HAVE A BURNING RUBBER SMELL.

OH, BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVE A TEENAGER, IT MAY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR AT ALL.

BECAUSE STUFF LIKE THIS...WELL, THE TEENAGER COULD BE DOING BURNOUTS, SO YOU WANT TO CHECK THAT OUT.

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

* Greg Carloss: OUR 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A 1200 MILE JOURNEY TO OUR WINTER TESTING GROUND IN GEORGIA, SO WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF QUALITY TIME IN THE BIGGEST VW SUV.

THE 276 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER VR6 AND SMOOTH 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE AMONG THE REASONS OUR CREW LIKES THIS BIG DRIVER ON LONG ROAD TRIPS.

IT'S A COMFORTABLE CRUISER, EVEN THOUGH WE CONTINUE TO LOG COMMENTS ABOUT THE FIRM SEATS.

BUT THE ROOMY REAR SEATS AND CAVERNOUS CARGO SPACE ARE WELCOME ON ALL TRIPS.

7500 MILES HAVE PASSED BY WITH AN OVERALL AVERAGE OF 20.4 MILES PER GALLON, WHICH IS OUR BEST YET, AND BETTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED RATING.

WE'LL SEE IF VW'S 4MOTION ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST DURING WHAT'S LEFT OF WINTER.

SAYING GOODBYE TO ONE OF OUR LONG-TERMS IS NEVER EASY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE MUST DO THIS WEEK WITH OUR 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDAN.

IT'S BEEN A RELATIVELY SHORT RUN IN THIS CAMRY XSE, BUT A GOOD ONE FOR US.

WE LOVE THE STYLING AND THE SPORTY-ER SUSPENSION REALLY BACKS UP THE LOOK.

QUICKER TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WOULD BE A NICE UPGRADE, BUT AS FAR AS A DAILY DRIVER, THE CAMRY IS AS SOLID AS IT GETS, AND IT'S PRETTY ENTERTAINING TOO.

JUST ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED DURING THE CAMRY'S SEVEN MONTH STAY WITH US.

AND, OVER 12,500 MILES, THE 206 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER 4-CYLINDER DELIVERED A VERY GOOD 33.4 MILES PER GALLON.

BEST PART OF ALL, THE IMPROVED RIDE-AND-HANDLING CAME WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THE COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY WE'VE COME TO EXPECT IN CAMRY.

WE'LL MISS IT FOR SURE...

...BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER 4-DOOR TO CHECK-IN ON, THE MAZDA6, PLUS...OUR RAM 1500 PICKUP, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: WE HEAR A LOT OF HYPE THESE DAYS, SO WHAT'S THE REAL STORY?

WELL, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS IT IN THIS WEEKS MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: MANY FACTORS GO INTO BUYING A CAR, INCLUDING LONG TERM RELIABILITY.

TO HELP IN THAT DECISION, J.D.

POWER HAS RELEASED THEIR 2019 VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY.

FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW LEXUS TOPS THE LIST.

THE POLL STATES THAT PORSCHE AND TOYOTA TIED FOR SECOND, WHILE CHEVROLET AND BUICK ROUND OUT THE TOP FIVE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 30 YEARS J.D.

POWER HAS CONDUCTED THE STUDY, ALL GERMAN BRANDS ARE BETTER THAN THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE.

AND THEY RANK THE PORSCHE 911 AS THE MOST DEPENDABLE MODEL.

IT'S THE FIRST YEAR FOR THAT AWARD.

THE STUDY IS BASED ON RESPONSES FROM ALMOST 33,000 ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE 2016 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE, AFTER THREE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.

DESPITE THE WELL-KNOWN DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING...

MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE...

PROMPTING THEM TO FIDDLE WITH THEIR PHONES.

THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY FOUND DRIVERS WERE 57% MORE LIKELY TO BE OPERATING A CELL PHONE BY HAND IN 2018 THAN THEY WERE FOUR YEARS AGO.

THAT INCLUDES DIALING, SENDING TEXT MESSAGES AND BROWSING THE WEB.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS A SLIGHT DROP IN THE NUMBER OF DRIVERS SEEN "TALKING" ON A HAND-HELD CELL PHONE.

THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT ABOUT 23% OF DRIVERS WERE INVOLVED IN AT LEAST ONE DISTRACTION ACTIVITY WHICH CAN INCLUDE TALKING, EATING AND GROOMING.

THE IIHS SAYS, "MORE THAN 800 CRASH DEATHS IN 2017 COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE PHYSICALLY OPERATING THEIR PHONES."

AND, THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: WITH THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TAKING OFF IN EARNEST DURING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING A LOT OF 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARIES LATELY.

YOU CAN JOIN IN THAT CELEBRATION WITH THIS MUST READ...

THE BMW CENTURY: THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE MACHINES BY TONY LEWIN.

IT'S A THOROUGH LOOK AT BMW'S EARLY AIRCRAFT ENGINE DAYS, RIGHT UP THROUGH THEIR CURRENT OFFERINGS.

AS WELL AS A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO MADE 100 YEARS OF THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE MACHINE HAPPEN.

John: WHILE, IT WILL PROBABLY BE OVERSHADOWED BY THIS BENTAYGA CROSSOVER IN DUE TIME, IT'S THE CONTINENTAL GT COUPE THAT HAS CHAMPIONED THE REBORN BENTLEY BRAND, SO FAR THIS 21ST CENTURY.

AND NOW, IT'S TIME FOR A 3RD GENERATION OF THE CAR THAT PUT THE "FLYING B" BACK ON THE MAP.

* OWNING A CAR LIKE THIS 2019 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT, IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DO.

BUT, JUST SEEING THESE BEAUTIFUL BEASTS ROAMING THEIR NATURAL HABITAT, IS A REWARDING AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE ALL ON ITS OWN.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, WE GET TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST LOOK.

SINCE IT ARRIVED FOR 2004, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS UPDATES OVER THE TWO PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF THE CONTINENTAL GT LUXURY COUPE.

BUT, UP UNTIL NOW, IT RODE ON VOLKSWAGEN'S D1 CHASSIS.

AND WHILE THOSE UNDERPINNINGS WERE TRULY FANTASTIC; IT WAS TIME FOR SOME "OUT WITH THE OLD, AND IN WITH THE NEW."

NOW, IT'S THE MSB CHASSIS, THAT HAS MUCH IN COMMON WITH THE PORSCHE PANAMERA.

ALSO, WHILE IT'S STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WAS 60/40 REAR-BIASED BEFORE, THE CONTINENTAL'S NEW ACTIVE SYSTEM OPERATES MOSTLY IN REAR-WHEEL DRIVE FASHION, CALLING ON THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY WHEN NEEDED.

LIKEWISE, THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS A TRUE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC BEFORE; IS NOW A DUAL-CLUTCH DESIGN.

ENGINEERS WERE HESITANT TO GO THAT ROUTE PRIOR TO NOW, DUE TO WHAT THEY FELT WAS A LACK OF OVERALL SMOOTHNESS.

THEY THINK THAT TIME HAS ARRIVED AND WE HAVE TO AGREE, SHIFTS ARE LOTION-LIKE; YET, CAN BE AGGRESSIVE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

AND REST ASSURED, THE INTERIOR IS JUST AS EXQUISITE AS EVERY BENTLEY BEFORE IT.

MAKING YOU NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF IT WHEN YOU ARRIVE; OR EVEN PONDERING TAKING THE LONG-LONG WAY AROUND TO PUT OFF GETTING THERE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT TODAY'S LUXURY BUYERS INSIST UPON; YET, THE GT STILL HAS A DRIVER'S CAR FEEL TO IT, EVEN TO THE POINT OF INCLUDING A DISAPPEARING INFOTAINMENT SCREEN, THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BRING UP A ROW OF ANALOG DIALS IN ITS PLACE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THAT SILKY POLISHED SLEDGEHAMMER OF AN ENGINE, BENTLEY'S TWIN-TURBO W12, IS FORTUNATELY STILL HERE; DELIVERING TRULY MIND-BENDING LEVELS OF ACCELERATION, WITH OTHERWORLDLY-LIKE SMOOTHNESS, HORSEPOWER NOW SITS AT 626, WITH 664 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

[TIRES SCREECH/ENGINE REVS] SWINGING THIS SLEDGEHAMMER AT OUR TEST TRACK, WE SMASHED THE 0-60 IN 3.7 SECONDS.

POWER POURS OUT OF THIS THING LIKE WATER OVER NIAGARA FALLS, SMOOTH AT THE TOP END, DOWNRIGHT VIOLENT AT THE BOTTOM.

STILL, IT'S AN EASY LAUNCH, WITH A RATIONAL AMOUNT OF TRACTION.

SHIFTS ARE HARD AND FAST, WITH MINIMAL POWER LOSS.

YET, THE 11.9 SECOND QUARTER MILE TRIP AS A WHOLE, IS STILL THE SMOOTHEST WAY TO GET TO 119 MILES PER HOUR THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.

THE W12 STILL CAUSES THE GT TO BE OVERLY FRONT HEAVY.

SO, IF A LIVELIER EXPERIENCE IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT FOR THE ANTICIPATED V8 TO ARRIVE.

THE STANDARD AIR SUSPENSION DOES ALLOW FOR SOME ROLL IN CORNERS, TO KEEP THE SENSATION NATURAL, INSTEAD OF FEELING ARTIFICIALLY FLAT.

BUT THERE'S CLOSE TO 5,000 POUNDS TO DEAL WITH HERE, SO THE BENTAYGA'S 48 VOLT ACTIVE ANTI-ROLL BAR SYSTEM IS THERE TO HELP AS WELL.

STYLISTICALLY, IT'S NOT A BIG DEPARTURE FROM BEFORE IN ANY WAY.

IT'S PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE ATHLETIC LOOKING, AND THOSE EXAGGERATED HIPS OF THE ORIGINAL HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED.

IT LOOKS FANTASTIC SITTING STILL FROM ANY ANGLE, BUT APPEARS EVEN BETTER IN MOTION, GOING DOWN THE ROAD LIKE IT OWNS IT.

AS FOR PRICING, WELL...IT IS A BENTLEY, AND A FANTASTIC ONE AT THAT, AND THE SMOOTHEST RIDING, MOST LUXURIOUS GRAND TOURER YOU CAN BUY.

SO, PUTTING IT THAT WAY, $219,925 SHOULDN'T CAUSE ANYONE TO FAINT.

ACCORDING TO NOVELIST GEORGE ORWELL, ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

NOW, YOU MAY NEVER GET TO DRIVE YOUR 2019 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT OVER AN ALPINE PASS ON THE WAY TO YOUR CHALET, BUT IT HAS A WAY OF TURNING EVERY DRIVING OCCASION INTO AN EVENT THAT'S JUST AS REWARDING.

AND FOR DISCERNING WELL-HEALED LUXURY COUPE FANCIERS, THERE'S REALLY NO EQUAL.

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 SEE IF HYUNDAI'S HOTTEST HATCH IS TRULY BORN FOR THE TRACK, AND JAGUAR TURNS ON THE JUICE IN THE ALL NEW I-PACE.

PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON SURVIVING WINTER WEATHER.

PLUS, THE LATEST ON GREEN MOTORING, AND A BRAND NEW QUICKSPIN.

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.

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] *