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

JOIN US AS HYUNDAI TAKES ON MID-SIZE RIVALS WITH A BOLDER SANTA FE... PAT GOSS HAS HIS EYE ON WHAT WE OFTEN OVERLOOK... JOE LIGO HEADS INTO THE VAULT FOR A V6 TURBO MUSCLE CAR MEMORY... AND IT'S A SUPERCAR TRACK DAY IN THE FEROCIOUSLY FAST MCLAREN 720S...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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John: ONCE UPON A TIME IN CROSSOVER LAND THERE WAS A 5-PASSENGER HYUNDAI SANTA FE, WHICH THEN BECAME A 7-PASSENGER SANTA FE, REPLACING THE SHORT-LIVED VERACRUZ, WITH THE 5-PASSENGER CARRYING OVER AS THE SANTA FE SPORT.

WELL, ITS 4TH GEN TIME, AND THE NEW SANTA FE IS BACK TO BEING 5-PASSENGER.

BUT, ENOUGH OF THE NUMBERS GAME.

LET'S GO DRIVE IT!

* THE 2019 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS RETURNED TO ITS ROOTS AS A 2-ROW, 5-PASSENGER MIDSIZE, CROSSOVER UTILITY.

WHAT WAS THE 3-ROW, 7-PASSENGER SANTA FE, IS CARRIED OVER MOSTLY UNCHANGED AS THE SANTA FE XL.

THOUGH, DON'T BLINK, AS IT WILL PROBABLY SOON DISAPPEAR AFTER HYUNDAI'S 8-SEAT PALISADE ARRIVES.

REGARDLESS OF NAME, THE SANTA FE REMAINS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE BASED, WITH A 185 HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER I4 FOR STANDARD POWER.

OR YOU CAN UPGRADE TO A SMALLER BUT MIGHTIER 2.0 LITER I4, AIDED BY A TURBO TO OUTPUT 235 HORSEPOWER AND 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH ENGINES ADD A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND OF COURSE, OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

HYUNDAI WANTED A MORE RUGGED LOOK THIS TIME AROUND, AND THEY MOSTLY SUCCEEDED.

IT CERTAINLY LOOKS BIGGER THAN THE SPORT, AND THE GRILLE IS MUCH BOLDER.

BUT, THE WIDE STANCE AND HIGH WHEEL ARCHES SPEAK MORE ATHLETIC THAN ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE TO US.

THOUGH, IT IS QUITE CAPABLE OFF ROAD.

STILL, HYUNDAI VIEWS ITS HTRAC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM AS MORE FOR ALL-WEATHER THAN ALL-TERRAIN.

OUR TEST TRACK WAS SNOW COVERED, SO NO INSTRUMENTED NUMBERS TO REPORT.

BUT HAVING THE CHANCE TO SAMPLE THIS SANTA FE IN BAD WEATHER WAS A BIG PLUS.

THROUGH THE SNOW, THE SANTA FE PROVED QUITE CAPABLE, AND WHEN THINGS REALLY GOT SLIPPERY WE COULD FEEL THE REAR TIRES KICK IN TO HELP OUT.

STILL, THE 19 INCH TIRE AND WHEEL PACKAGE ON OUR ULTIMATE-TRIMMED TEST CAR IS PROBABLY NOT YOUR BEST OPTION IF LOTS OF SNOWY DRIVING IS IN YOUR PLANS.

ON DRY PAVEMENT, POWER FEELS BETTER THAN MOST RIVALS, BOTH TO PASS AND OFF THE LINE.

WE ESTIMATE A 0-60 OF UNDER 8.0 SECONDS.

AND THINGS ARE CERTAINLY QUIETER IN THE POWERTRAIN DEPARTMENT THAN BEFORE.

INDEED, HYUNDAI MADE A BIG ATTEMPT TO QUIET THINGS DOWN EVERYWHERE, WITH ADDITIONAL CABIN SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS, AND MORE FOAM FILLERS AND INSULATORS IN BODY PANELS.

ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO DATE TOO, AND IN OUR AUTOMATIC BRAKING TEST, THE SANTA FE PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY AT SPEEDS UP TO 20 MILES PER HOUR.

MOST CABIN MEASUREMENTS ARE UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE PREVIOUS SANTA FE SPORT.

FRONT SEATS ARE WELL PADDED AND COMFY, SO FURTHER IMPROVEMENT HERE TOO.

BUT THE ADDED ROOM IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE REAR, WHERE PASSENGERS GET ADDED HIP AND LEG ROOM.

THERE ARE TWO NEW REAR SEAT SAFETY FEATURES.

SAFE EXIT ASSIST PREVENTS REAR DOOR OPENING IF TRAFFIC IS DETECTED.

AND, ON MOST TRIMS, HYUNDAI'S REAR OCCUPANT ALERT HELPS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

CARGO SPACE IS ALSO UP A TICK, TO 35.9 CUBIC-FEET, MAXING OUT AT A HEALTHY 71.3 WITH THE REAR SEATS FOLDED.

INDEED, LIKE THE FORD EDGE, THE NEW SANTA FE STRADDLES THE COMPACT/MIDSIZE LINE; LOOKING LIKE A COMPACT OUTSIDE, YET, OFFERING MIDSIZE-LIKE ROOM INSIDE.

ULTIMATE TRIM PUSHES THINGS INTO WHAT WE CONSIDERED LUXURY TERRITORY NOT TOO LONG AGO, WITH HEATED AND VENTILATED LEATHER SEATS, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, HEAD UP DISPLAY, WIRELESS CHARGING, QUANTUM LOGIC SURROUND SOUND, AND NAVIGATION.

THE 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN FOR NAVIGATION AND THE LIKE, IS MOUNTED UP ON THE DASH.

IT MAY NOT BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, BUT YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH ITS FUNCTIONALITY.

FINALLY, A-PILLARS ARE SLIMMER, AND THERE'S MORE GLASS TO SEE THROUGH, TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY ALL AROUND.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE 2.0 LITER TURBO ARE 19-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

SANTA FE... SANTA FE SPORT..., DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT, HYUNDAI'S MIDSIZE CROSSOVER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED THE GOODS WITH TREMENDOUS VALUE.

AND WHILE PRICES MAY NOT BE AS DRASTICALLY LOW AS THEY WERE WHEN THE ORIGINAL SANTA FE ARRIVED FOR 2001, THIS FAR MORE SOPHISTICATED 2019 EDITION IS STILL A CHECK-BOOK FRIENDLY FAMILY DELIGHT.

* 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 TURBOCHARGED 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 330 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 1 OF THE 547 BUICK 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: TWO-THOUSAND MILES HAVE ROLLED BY IN OUR 2019 HONDA INSIGHT SEDAN.

THE TWO MOTOR HYBRID SYSTEM WITH 1.5 LITER I4 AND CVT RATES A MORE THAN ADEQUATE 151 HORSEPOWER.

TRANSITIONS ARE SEAMLESS, WITH A NICE DOSE OF TORQUE FOR PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP.

SO FAR, WE'RE AVERAGING 41.2 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

THAT'S WITH OVER A THOUSAND MILES OF INTERSTATE TRAVEL.

WE EXPECT THAT TO JUMP AS IT SETTLES IN TO NORMAL COMMUTING DUTIES.

ON THAT LONG ROAD TRIP THIS INSIGHT PROVED TO BE A VERY COMFORTABLE DRIVER, WITH THE ONLY NOTABLE ENGINE NOISE COMING THROUGH DURING PASSING SITUATIONS.

THIS TOURING TRIM'S SUSPENSION DELIVERS AN AGILE RIDE, WHICH IS USEFUL FOR JOCKEYING AROUND SEMIS.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT HIGHWAY AGILITY LENDS ITSELF TO COMFORTABLE CITY DRIVING IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

IT'S TAKEN US THREE MONTHS AND 5,200 MILES, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A DIP IN THE FUEL ECONOMY OF OUR 2019 KIA NIRO PHEV.

OUR AVERAGE NOW SITS AT 57.5 MILES PER GALLON, DOWN FROM 62 EVEN.

WE'LL ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES THAT WE EXPERIENCED AS WINTER WORKED ITS WAY OUT OF THE MID-ATLANTIC.

SOMETHING ANY BUYER OF AN ELECTRIFIED CAR SHOULD CONSIDER.

STILL, FUEL ECONOMY REMAINS IMPRESSIVE.

PLUS, ALL OUR STAFF AGREES THAT EVEN THOUGH IT SHARES THE SAME 1.6 LITER I4 ENGINE AND 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THE REGULAR NIRO, THIS PLUG-IN HYBRID FEELS MORE REFINED IN EVERY WAY.

SEATS ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATELY COMFORTABLE, AND THE RIDE IS SPORTY ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY BE ENTERTAINING.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE 4-CYLINDER IS RUNNING OR NOT, THAT DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS VERY MUCH THE SAME.

IN FACT, MOST OF OUR LOG BOOK COMMENTS REVOLVE AROUND THIS NIRO PHEV BEING "JUST SO NORMAL," AND INDEED PLUGGING-IN WILL BE THE NEW NORMAL FOR MOST CARS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

WE JUST HOPE THEY ARE ALL DRIVE LIKE THE KIA NIRO PHEV.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR SUBARU CROSSTREK, AND RAM 1500, ON THE 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 THOUGHT.

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 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: THE MOTORS ARE HUMMING AND WE'RE READY TO GO... TIME NOW FOR A QUICKSPIN.

* WITH THE GLOBAL AUTO INDUSTRY MOVING TOWARDS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FUTURE...

THE 2019 NISSAN LEAF PLUS IS BOOSTING POWER AND RANGE FOR THE WORLD'S BEST-SELLING ELECTRIC CAR.

"PLUS" ADDS 76 MILES, EXTENDING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN CHARGES TO A VERY MARKET COMPETITIVE 226 MILES.

THE BATTERY GROWS FROM 40 KWH TO 62 KWH.

IT'S STILL UNDER THE FLOOR, BUT HAS BEEN REPACKAGED...

TAKING UP SLIGHTLY MORE SPACE, WHILE CREATING A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY, AND ADDING TO STABILITY.

THE BATTERY'S JUICE IS USED BY A STRONGER RETUNED 160 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR...

SO, HORSEPOWER GROWS BY 67 TO 214, WHILE TORQUE GAINS 14, NOW UP TO 250 POUND-FEET.

Garick Zikan: WITH EVs THERE'S A LOT OF TORQUE, IT'S WHAT I LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THEM.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE HERE.

THE TORQUE IS STRONG RIGHT OFF THE LINE.

THE ACCELERATION IS SWIFT, SMOOTH AND IT'S VERY QUIET.

THERE'S ALMOST A SENSE OF GLIDING AS YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

John: THE LEAF PLUS DOES PACK ON AN EXTRA 286 POUNDS OF WEIGHT FROM THE LARGER BATTERY.

YET, THE STRONGER MOTOR MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR IT WITH A PEPPIER RESPONSE.

THE CARRYOVER SUSPENSION OF MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT AND A REAR TORSION BEAM KEEPS THE COMMUTE COMFORTABLE.

COMPARED TO THE STANDARD LEAF, THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL... SAVE FOR A LARGER 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN AND UPDATED NAVIGATION.

THE QUIET CABIN OFFERS A MODERN TECHY SPACE WITH LOGICALLY LAID OUT CONTROLS.

THE 2019 NISSAN LEAF PLUS GROWS WITH THE TIMES...

BECOMING EVEN MORE ENERGIZED FOR A FUTURE WHERE ELECTRICITY WILL PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN HOW WE DRIVE.

ON SALE NOW, PRICES START UNDER $37,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER QUICKSPIN SOON!

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.

WE PROMISED MCLAREN THAT WE'D TAKE IT EASY WITH THEIR BRITISH BORNE BABY, AND WE DID.

REALIZING WHAT A RARE OPPORTUNITY WE HAD BEFORE US, IT WAS REALLY HARD NOT TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT.

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 SUPER CARS 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.

PROACTIVE CHASSIS CONTROL II WILL DELIVER AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AID AS YOU WISH, AND THERE'S EVEN A VARIABLE DRIFT CONTROL SYSTEM THAT HELPS YOU GET SOME SIDEWISE FUN TUNED IN TOO.

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 THE CHEVROLET ADDS CAMARO APPEAL TO THE NEW BLAZER, AND SUBARU BRINGS PLUG-IN POWER TO THE CROSSTREK HYBRID.

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.

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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *