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

JOIN US AS THE JEEP CHEROKEE GOES WITH THE FLOW WITH A FRESH LOOK AND A LOT MORE... PAT GOSS HAS BRIGHT IDEAS FOR SEEING DOWN THE ROAD... TWO WHEELIN BRIAN ROBINSON FINDS POWER AND COMFORT FOR A LONG JOURNEY... AND BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES, THE AUDI TT RS...

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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Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

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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.

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: TO SAY THAT THE STYLING OF THE REBORN 2014 JEEP CHEROKEE WAS POLARIZING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

WELL, FOR 2019 JEEP HAS TRIED TO BRING THE "LOVE IT" AND "HATE IT" FOLKS A LITTLE CLOSER TOGETHER, ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY, THE LATEST CHEROKEE IS JUST A MID-CYCLE REFRESHER.

STILL, THERE'S MUCH MORE GOING ON HERE, THAN JUST A STYLING MEA CULPA.

* AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, WHILE MANY REVIEWERS AND BLOGGERS GAVE THE CAR-BASED SQUINT-EYED JEEP CHEROKEE A HARD TIME, IT IS ACTUALLY DONE VERY WELL FOR THE BRAND.

EVEN OUTLASTING THE DODGE DART THAT IT WAS BASED ON, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BRINGING MANY NEW PEOPLE INTO THE BRAND AS FIRST-TIME JEEP OWNERS.

THE 2019 EDITION LOOKS TO BROADEN THAT APPEAL EVEN MORE, WHILE ALSO ATTEMPTING TO MORE ENDEAR ITSELF TO THE JEEP FAITHFUL.

WHILE, THERE ALREADY WAS A CHOICE WHEN IT CAME TO THE ENGINE, EITHER A 2.4 LITER I4 OR A 3.2 LITER V6; JEEP HAS ADDED ANOTHER OPTION INTO THE MIX... [ENGINE STARTS UP] ...A 2.0 LITER TURBO THAT OUTPUTS 270 HORSEPOWER, JUST ONE LESS THAN THE V6, AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, 56 MORE THAN THE 6.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT EXTRA TORQUE, IT'S STILL THE V6 THAT RATES THE HIGHEST TOWING CAPACITY, AT 4,500 POUNDS; VERY GOOD FOR THE SEGMENT.

THE 2.0 LITER HOWEVER, DOES FEEL INCREDIBLY POWERFUL FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS SIZE, AND INDEED IT HAS 80 MORE HORSEPOWER THAN YOU CAN GET IN A HONDA CR-V. LIKE, THE REST OF THE ENGINES, IT WORKS WITH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

BUT, UNLIKE IN EARLIER VERSIONS OF CHEROKEE, THE 9-SPEED IS MUCH SMOOTHER AND MORE DETERMINED IN SHIFT POINTS.

IT MAKES THIS CHEROKEE DRIVE ALMOST LIKE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT VEHICLE.

AND NO OTHER CUTE UTE IN ITS PRICE CLASS CAN HANG WITH CHEROKEE WHEN THE PAVEMENT ENDS.

THERE ARE EVEN THREE DIFFERENT ACTIVE DRIVE 4X4 SYSTEMS TO CHOOSE FROM.

NOW, SOME MAY QUESTION THE NEED FOR ALL OF THAT, SINCE MOST CHEROKEES WILL NEVER SET RUBBER ON ANYTHING BUT ASPHALT, BUT IT'S A JEEP THING, AND JEEP WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IS INDEED STILL A THING.

OPT FOR THE TRAILHAWK, AND ITS 1-INCH OF LIFT, IF THAT IS TRULY YOUR THING AS WELL.

CHIEF AMONG THE UPDATED STYLING ELEMENTS IS A NEW FRONT END THAT FALLS MORE IN LINE WITH JEEP'S UPRIGHT AND CONSERVATIVE PAST.

A NEW HOOD AS WELL, AND OF COURSE, UPDATED LIGHTING.

THERE ARE ALSO, SOME NEW WHEEL OPTIONS, AND EVEN BETTER, A LIGHTER LIFTGATE WITH HANDS FREE OPERATION.

THE CARGO AREA HAS BEEN RECONFIGURED A BIT.

SPACE IS UP TO 27.6 CUBIC-FEET FROM 24.6; MAX CAPACITY WITH SEATBACKS FOLDED STAYS ABOUT THE SAME, AT 54.7.

THERE'S SOME UPGRADED INTERIOR TRIM UP FRONT, AS WELL AS SOME NEW COLOR CHOICES, AND THE LATEST VERSION OF UCONNECT.

AS FOR WHAT THE NEW 2.0 LITER ADDS TO YOUR GET-UP-AND-GO, WELL, IT GETS TO 60 IN 6.7 SECONDS.

NOT SCREAMING FAST, BUT QUICK FOR A UTILITY; AND ABOUT HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN WHAT YOU'D EXPECT TO GET FROM THE V6.

GOOD SNAP OFF THE LINE, GREAT TRACTION, AND SPIRITED PUNCH FROM THE BOOSTED 4-BANGER, WHICH LIKES TO REV UP QUICKLY.

IT SOUNDS EAGER AND SPORTY AS WELL, WHILE THE 9-SPEED CLICKS THROUGH GEARS COMFORTABLY BUT DIRECTLY.

THE QUARTER MILE ENDS IN 15.2 SECONDS AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE SUSPENSION, BUT WE HAD HIGH HOPES THAT A LITTLE LESS ENGINE WEIGHT OVER THE FRONT WHEELS, WOULD WORK SOME MAGIC ON THE HANDLING SIDE.

WELL, NO MAGIC; STEERING IS STILL SLOW AND UNDERSTEER PRESENT.

BUT, GRIP IS VERY SOLID AND BODY SWAY MINIMAL FOR ITS CLASS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 2.0 LITER WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 21-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED; THOUGH PREMIUM IS RECOMMENDED.

THAT MAKES FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; USING 13.7 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.1 TONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $26,935 FOR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH IS A CONSIDERABLE STEP UP FROM OUR '14s BASE PRICE OF AROUND $24,000; THOUGH THAT ENTRY LEVEL SPORT MODEL IS NO MORE; LEAVING THE MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED LATITUDE AS THE NEW BASE MODEL.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS ANOTHER $1,500, AND THINGS TOP OUT WITH OVERLAND TRIM, AND $37,470.

OLD STYLE...NEW STYLE, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER; THE 2019 JEEP CHEROKEE IS A WILDLY POPULAR UTILITY THAT SEEMS TO BE ATTRACTING BOTH COMPACT AS WELL AS MIDSIZE BUYERS DUE TO ALL OF ITS CAPABILITIES.

THE SKIN MAY NOW BE A BIT LESS CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THE CHEROKEE IS ONE ADVENTURE VEHICLE THAT HARKENS BACK TO WHAT SUVS WERE ALL ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING; GO ANYWHERE VEHICLES THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

BMW HAS BEEN MAKING MOTORCYCLES FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IF THERE'S ONE THING THEY KNOW HOW TO DO, IT'S CREATE BIKES THAT MAKES ANYONE WHO RIDES THEM WANT TO HIT THE BACK ROADS AND NEVER LOOK BACK.

AT LEAST THAT'S THE EXCUSE OUR RESIDENT TWO WHEELER BRIAN ROBINSON HAD, AFTER A RECENT DISAPPEARING ACT ON ONE OF BMW'S LATEST.

* Brian Robinson: AT THEIR ESSENCE, MOTORCYCLES ARE ESSENTIALLY AN ENGINE, WITH A FRAME AND WHEELS ATTACHED, TO GET IT AND YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT, IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY FAR DOWN THAT ROAD, AND MINIMALISM IS NOT YOUR THING, THEN BMW HAS A BIKE FOR YOU.

TO CREATE THE K 1600 B, BMW ESSENTIALLY TOOK THEIR K 1600 GT SPORT-TOURER AND SPRINKLED SOME "CRUISER DUST" ON IT, TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO AMERICAN RIDERS.

NOW, BEFORE YOU R1200C FANS THAT ARE OUT THERE GET ALL EXCITED, THIS IS NOT A CRUISER CLONE; HERE, BMW IS MORE LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE CURRENT CUSTOM BAGGER TREND.

BASICALLY, BMW HAS GRAFTED A NEW BACK END ONTO THE K 1600 THAT NOT ONLY LOOKS A LOT MORE STYLISH, BUT BRINGS THE REAR SEAT AND PASSENGER SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER; MORE LIKE A TRADITIONAL CRUISER.

EXHAUST PIPES ARE REROUTED, STAYING LOW TO THE GROUND; AND EXPELLING EXHAUST THROUGH A PAIR OF HUGE MUFFLERS.

UP FRONT, THE ADJUSTABLE WINDSCREEN IS ALSO LOWER AND THERE'S A TRADITIONAL-APPEARING, THOUGH FAR FROM NORMAL TUBULAR HANDLEBAR.

THE 1649CC INLINE-6 IS BEYOND SMOOTH, MAKING 160-HORSEPOWER AND 129 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AS IS THE REST OF THE BIKE WRAPPED AROUND IT.

YET...IT'S ALSO, FAST AND SOLID FEELING; ALL LEADING UP TO A RIDING EXPERIENCE THAT'S MORE SPORT-TOURER THAN CRUISER.

CRACKING OPEN THIS 6-PACK CAN INDEED BE EXHILARATING.

MOST THINGS WILL BE FAMILIAR IF YOU'VE SPENT ANY TIME ON ONE OF BMW'S OTHER K BIKES; INCLUDING THE GENERALLY INTUITIVE MULTI-CONTROLLER ON THE LEFT HANDGRIP THAT CONTROLS A MULTITUDE OF FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING RIDING MODES, ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION, HEATED GRIPS AND SEAT, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE USUAL TRIP METER DISPLAYS.

WITH BMW'S OPTIONAL KEYLESS RIDE, NO NEED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET, JUST HIT THE IGNITION BUTTON, THUMB THE STARTER; AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

SIDE-OPENING SADDLEBAGS ARE LONGER AND LOWER THAN THE GTs, YET, HOLD A DECENT 37 LITERS WORTH OF GEAR EACH.

BIG GRAB HANDLES INBOARD, MAKE STRAPPING ON A DUFFEL, A SIMPLE AFFAIR.

SEVEN GALLONS IN THE TANK, EASILY GIVES YOU MORE THAN 250 MILES OF RIDE TIME BEFORE A REFUEL, AND THE SEAT IS JUST COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO MAKE AN EASY CHORE OF IT.

THE ONLY TIME YOU REALLY FEEL ITS 740 POUNDS OF WEIGHT IS IN REALLY SLOW MANEUVERS; OTHERWISE AT SPEED, THE K1600 B TENDS TO SHED WEIGHT AS QUICKLY AS IT EATS UP MILES.

IF YOU DO FIND THE WEIGHT TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH, THE GTLs REVERSE ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE.

MID-MOUNTED PEGS ARE STANDARD FOR A RELAXED RIDING POSITION, WITH THE LEFT-SIDE SHIFTER WORKING THE 6-SPEED GEARBOX SEAMLESSLY.

FRONT MOUNTED FLOORBOARDS ARE AN OPTION IF YOU LIKE TO STRETCH YOUR LEGS WHILE STILL IN THE SADDLE.

PRICING STARTS RIGHT AT 20-GRAND, AND YOU CAN GET CLOSER TO 25 WITH AVAILABLE PREMIUM AND TOURING PACKAGES.

AS FOR WHO THE 2018 BMW K 1600 B IS MOST LIKELY TO APPEAL TO; WELL, UNLIKE THE R1200C, IT'S NOT REALLY MEANT TO WIN OVER THE V-TWIN CROWD.

MORE REALISTICALLY, IT GIVES SPORT TOURING RIDERS AND PARTICULARLY BMW BUYERS A HIGHLY STYLISH OPTION TO SATISFY THEIR WANDERLUST TOURING NEEDS.

John: IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER CAR AND YOU WANT TO MAKE IT MORE UP TO DATE, WE HAVE JUST THE PERSON TO TALK TO.

PAT GOSS.

AND HE SAYS, THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER.

Pat Goss: FOR DECADES, HEADLIGHTS ON CARS AND TRUCKS HAVE BEEN LIKE THESE: INCANDESCENT LIGHTS.

WELL, AS TIME HAS GONE ON, THEY HAVE MOVED FROM INCANDESCENT TO H.I.D.

AND NOW WE'RE SEEING MOST CARS WITH L.E.D.S.

ALRIGHT NOW, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE HERE?

WELL, THE DIFFERENCE PRIMARILY IS GOING TO BE THAT THE COLOR OF THESE NEW LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER AND THE DURABILITY MAY BE BETTER.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WELL, YOU CAN MAKE CONVERSIONS TO THESE THINGS.

LIKE...HERE WE HAVE AN H.I.D.

CONVERSION.

TAKE THIS COVER OFF OF HERE AND WE CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE H.I.D.

BULBS IN THERE.

IT COMES WITH THE VARIOUS UH, TRANSFORMERS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE GONNA DO ONE OF THESE CONVERSIONS, THAT YOU GET QUALITY PARTS, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE PARTS ARE EXPENSIVE IF THEY'RE GOING TO LAST AND BE RELIABLE.

OVER HERE WE HAVE AN L.E.D.

CONVERSION AND WE LOOK IN THE BOTTOM OF THIS ONE AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE A TEENY LITTLE FAN IN THERE THAT KEEPS THE BULB COOL.

SO SOME OF 'EM WILL HAVE HEAT SINKS, SOME WILL HAVE FANS AND SO ON.

YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH THESE THINGS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PROPER COOLING AND THAT THEY HAVE THE PROPER ATTACHMENTS FOR YOUR CAR.

ALRIGHT NOW, HERE'S THE RUB WITH ALL OF THIS, YOU SEE CHANGING TO ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS, WELL IT MAY MAKE THE LIGHT WHITER OR MORE BLUE, BUT IT MAY NOT GIVE YOU MORE LIGHT ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE THAT IS CONTROLLED BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

NUMBER ONE IS THE DESIGN OF THE REFLECTOR, WHICH MATCHES THE WAY THE LIGHT COMES OUT OF THE BULB.

THE OTHER THING IS...ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A PICKUP TRUCK OR AN SUV OR SOMETHING THAT SITS TALLER, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE LIGHT FROM BLINDING ONCOMING PASSENGERS, THEY'RE DESIGNED SO THAT THEY'RE TILTED DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND THAT MEANS THE LIGHT DOESN'T GO OUT AS FAR.

SO, JUST CHANGING THE BULBS, YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE THE SAME ADJUSTMENT, THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A MORE WHITISH OR BLUISH COLORED LIGHT.

SO, DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU SPEND MONEY ON AN UPGRADE KIT BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

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

* John: THE 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK SEEMS TO BE THE RIGHT VEHICLE FOR ANY SEASON; 6500 MILES HAVE PASSED BY IN THIS RUGGED RAISED HATCHBACK.

NOW, WE DROVE THE 2017 MODEL FOR A YEAR, AND WE ARE NOTICING THE DIFFERENCES.

THIS '18 IS MORE REFINED, THE RIDE IS TAUTER, AND OVERALL HAS A MORE SOLID FEEL.

THE 152 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER 4-CYLINDER WORKS WITH AN UPDATED CVT.

THEY'RE A CAPABLE TEAM, BUT WE'D LIKE MORE THRILL FROM THE THROTTLE.

OUR LONG TERM FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE IS 32.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

WHILE, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT AS CRITICAL DURING SUMMER MONTHS, THE CROSSTREK'S USEFULNESS, HAS US FORECASTING A LONG AND ENJOYABLE ROAD AHEAD.

AS FOR OUR 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN, THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN A BUSY ONE.

WE MANAGED TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 4,500 MILES SINCE OUR LAST REPORT, BRINGING ITS 7-MONTH TOTAL TO 13,900 MILES.

AND WE ALSO, MADE OUR FIRST UNSCHEDULED TRIP TO THE DEALER.

WE WERE GETTING SOME PULSING THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WAS QUICKLY REMEDIED BY A RESURFACING OF THE ROTORS; NO CHARGE TO US.

NOTHING ELSE HAS GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF OUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS QUIET AND A QUITE LUXURIOUS CRUISER.

THE 3.5 LITER V6 ENGINE CONTINUES TO DELIVER GUTSY PERFORMANCE, MAKING UPHILL CHORES NOT SO CHORISH.

ALL WHILE DELIVERING 25.7 MILES PER GALLON.

VISIBILITY IS GREAT; AND ALL OF THE TECH.

FEATURES ARE WORKING JUST FINE, INCLUDING THE MUCH EASIER TO USE GARMIN-BASED NAVIGATION SYSTEM.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE 2018 MAZDA6 ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH BETTER THAN A NEW CAR, AND A WIDE OPEN ROAD.

AND WE'VE GOT BOTH FOR THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

WE'RE CLEARLY HEADING INTO A FUTURE OF CARS POWERED BY ELECTRICITY IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

THIS 2018 BUICK LACROSSE E-ASSIST IS PART OF THAT PROGRESSION.

GM CALLS IT "LIGHT ELECTRIFICATION" A SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR, A 24-CELL LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK, AND A 194 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER 4-CYLINDER GAS ENGINE.

E-ASSIST BUILDS ON THE BELT-DRIVE MILD HYBRID SYSTEM THAT WAS FIRST USED IN THE 2007 SATURN AURA GREEN LINE.

INTRODUCED ON THE LACROSSE IN 2012, IT WAS AMONG TWO ENGINE CHOICES UNTIL 2017.

NOW, E-ASSIST IS BACK AS THE STANDARD POWERTRAIN PAIRED WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ADDS 9% MORE TORQUE TO THE POWERTRAIN, PROVIDING AN EV BOOST DURING ACCELERATION.

AND HELPS THE AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM WORK ALMOST INVISIBLY.

WITH E-ASSIST, THE LACROSSE WEIGHS 100 POUNDS LESS THAN WITH THE V6 OPTION.

BUT BOTH FEEL NOTICEABLY LIGHTER AND MORE AGILE THAN BEFORE.

THE FIVE-LINK REAR SUSPENSION SOAKS UP ROUGH SPOTS...

WHILE THE CABIN IS BUICK QUIET AND ULTRA-COMFORTABLE.

YES, THE FUTURE WILL BE FULL OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES...

BUT IN REALITY... A LOT OF THEM WILL PROBABLY BE MILD HYBRIDS LIKE THIS ONE.

SO THE 2018 BUICK LACROSSE E-ASSIST IS RIGHT WITH THE TIMES.

ON SALE NOW, IT STARTS JUST UNDER $30,000.

AT MERCEDES-AMG, PERFORMANCE RULES, EVEN WHEN HAULING FAMILIES.

WHAT STARTED IN 1967 WITH TWO ENGINEERS TURNING MERCEDES-BENZ CARS INTO POTENT RACERS, HAS GROWN INTO A LINE-UP OF RIPPED RIDES THAT RUN THE GAMUT FROM CONVERTIBLES AND ROADSTERS, TO WAGONS AND SUVS.

FIRST UP DURING OUR RECENT DRIVE IN NASHVILLE, THIS 2018 MERCEDES-AMG E63 S SEDAN.

THE HANDMADE 4.0L V8 BITURBO PUMPS OUT 603 HORSEPOWER.

IT'S PAIRED WITH AN AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-SPEED SPORT TRANSMISSION.

POWER IS QUICKLY CHANNELED TO ALL 4-WHEELS WITH A CLEAR HANDLING BIAS TO THE REAR, THE WAGON VERSION SHARES KEY COMPONENTS...

BUT IT'S A LITTLE LONGER AND TALLER, AND WEIGHS AN EXTRA 150 POUNDS, ALTHOUGH...YOU BARELY NOTICE.

BOTH ARE NIMBLE AND PRECISE ON THE ROAD OR TRACK.

Garick Zikan: OUT HERE, THE FOCUS IS ON PERFORMANCE, BUT LUXURY IS STILL VERY MUCH PART OF THE EQUATION.

John: THIS MERCEDES-AMG GLC 63 CROSSOVER PACKS A 4.0L V8 BITURBO WITH 469 HORSES PULLING SUPER STRONG RIGHT FROM THE START.

AN AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT-9 TRANSMISSION ADVANCES ACTION ALSO THROUGH ALL 4-WHEELS.

FOR MORE STYLE, AND 503 HORSEPOWER AT FULL THROTTLE... WE NEXT SLIPPED INTO THE GLC 63 "S" COUPE.

NOW, BOTH CROSSOVERS OFFER UTILITY ROOMINESS, WITH THE SPORTY DRIVING STYLE, WE SEEK.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2018 MERCEDES-AMG GLC 63 BEGINS AT JUST UNDER $70,000.

THE "S" COUPE COMMENCES JUST UNDER $81,000.

THE 2018 MERCEDES-AMG E63 S SEDAN STARTS AT ABOUT $104,000.

ADD ANOTHER 2500 FOR THE WAGON.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

IT SEEMS THAT EVER SINCE THE AUDI TT DEBUTED, IT'S BEEN TRYING TO BREAK FREE FROM A CUTE AND CUDDLY STEREOTYPE IMAGE.

INDEED, AUDI HAS PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO MAKING THE TT A LEGITIMATE SPORTS CAR, ADDING SUPERCAR ELEMENTS FROM THE R8 ALONG THE WAY.

SO WE MIGHT EVEN CALL THE LATEST TT AN R4!

BUT AUDI WENT WITH TT RS.

REGARDLESS, IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION TT...YET.

** [TIRES SCREECH] * THE 3RD GENERATION AUDI TT ARRIVED FOR 2016, ON VOLKSWAGEN'S THEN NEW MQB ARCHITECTURE.

IT WAS UNDENIABLY MORE FUN THAN EVER, YET, STILL MORE OF A GOLF COUPE WITH ALL OF THE TRIMMINGS THAN AN OUTRIGHT PERFORMANCE CAR.

AND WHILE, WE CAN STILL SEE SHADES OF BEETLE CUTENESS, THERE IS EVER MORE HIGH-PERFORMANCE MENACE LURKING BENEATH ALL OF THE RSs STILL ADORABLE CURVES.

EXTERIOR RS ADD-ONS ARE RELATIVELY MINOR, BUT VERY NOTICEABLE; INCLUDING OVAL EXHAUST OUTLETS, A BIG FIXED REAR WING, RED BRAKE CALIPERS, AND MATTE ALUMINUM OPTIC TRIM; UNLESS OF COURSE, YOU CHOOSE TO REPLACE IT WITH OUR CAR'S GLOSS BLACK TRIM.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE SMOOTH-RUNNING 2.5 LITER TURBO UNDER THE HOOD IS TECHNICALLY NOT A NEW DESIGN, BUT IT DOES FEATURE AN ALUMINUM BLOCK NOW.

THUS, THE 5-CYLINDER WEIGHS LESS AND OUTPUTS MORE; 400 HORSEPOWER AND 354 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WE'LL STOP SHORT OF SAYING, IT SOUNDS AWESOME, BUT WITH THE AVAILABLE SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM, IT TRULY HAS A UNIQUE ROAR THAT IS MOSTLY PLEASING TO THE EARS.

[ENGINE REVS] NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE, BUT THE 7-SPEED S TRONIC DCT COMES WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS ON THE WHEEL, AND WORKS WELL ENOUGH TO KEEP US FROM COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH.

THE TT RS' HALDEX ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOUND IN VOLKSWAGEN'S GOLF R, WHICH MEANS, LESS FRONT BIAS AND LESS TENDENCY TO UNDERSTEER.

IN SOMEWHAT OF A REVERSAL OF THE NORM, IT'S THE MAGNETIC RIDE DAMPERS THAT ARE STANDARD; THE DYNAMIC PLUS UPGRADE DOES AWAY WITH THEM, GOING BACK TO CONVENTIONAL SHOCKS WITH FIXED-RATE SPRINGS.

I GUESS, AUDI WANTS TO MAKE SURE, YOU'RE UP FOR THE LOWER RIDE HEIGHT AND STIFFER RIDE THAT COMES WITH THE IMPROVED HANDLING ASPECTS.

NINETEEN OR 20-INCH WHEELS DON'T REALLY HELP THE COMFORT CAUSE EITHER.

EVEN CERAMIC BRAKES ARE AVAILABLE.

OUR CAR WASN'T SO EQUIPPED, BUT STILL BROUGHT US TO A HALT FROM 60 IN 112 FEET, WITH LASER-LIKE STABILITY.

WE COULD HAVE USED A LITTLE MORE FEEDBACK THROUGH THE PEDAL, AS WELL AS FROM THE FRONT END WHEN WE TOOK TO OUR CONE COURSE.

HERE, IT STAYS NOTICEABLY FLATTER THAN THE TTS, AND IS PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE EAGER TO TURN IN; UNDERSTEER HAS BEEN ELIMINATED, BUT OTHERWISE, NOT A VASTLY DIFFERENT TT EXPERIENCE.

[ENGINE PURRS / TIRES SCREECH] WHAT DOES SET IT APART, IS THE ADDITIONAL POWER.

A FLAWLESS PORSCHE-LIKE LAUNCH MODE, HAD US EFFORTLESSLY HITTING LOW THREE SECOND 0-60s ALL DAY WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT; INCLUDING A BEST RUN OF 3.2.

FIRM, ALL-BUSINESS GEAR TRANSACTIONS RESULT IN NON-STOP TORQUE DELIVERY UNTIL YOU FINISH THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.7 SECONDS AT 118 MILES PER HOUR.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GUNS-A-BLAZIN' FOR IT TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, ANY QUICK BREAK IN TRAFFIC CAN DO THAT, AND WHILE FIRM, THE RIDE IS CERTAINLY NOT A TEETH JARRING ONE.

THERE IS PLENTY OF AUDI AWESOMENESS INSIDE TO APPRECIATE.

BESIDES, THE USUAL VIRTUAL COCKPIT, CLIMATE CONTROLS INTEGRATED INTO THE CIRCULAR VENTS, AND QUILTED SEATS; YOU'LL FIND A NEW FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL WITH THE START BUTTON AND DRIVE SELECT MOUNTED RIGHT ON IT, CARBON-FIBER TRIM, AND RED ACCENTS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED; SO OUR 25.9 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON PREMIUM WAS NOT BAD AT ALL.

THOUGH, THERE'S A SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL PETROLEUM CONSUMPTION, WITH 6.5 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

THE TT RS COUPE IS TOTAL FUN, UNTIL YOU REALIZE THAT YOU CAN GET A MID-ENGINE PORSCHE CAYMAN S FOR ABOUT THE SAME BASE STICKER OF $65,875.

SO SORRY AUDI, WE THINK THE CAYMAN'S EVEN MORE FUN.

AND THAT MAY NOT BE A COINCIDENCE, AS BOTH COMPANIES DO COME UNDER THE SAME CORPORATE UMBRELLA, AND PERHAPS THEY DON'T WANT AN AUDI OVERSHADOWING A PORSCHE.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY THE CAYMAN THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AS THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER PERFORMANCE CARS NEAR ITS PRICE POINT.

BUT, NO DOUBT THE 2018 TT RS IS A MORE SERIOUS CAR THAN BEFORE, AND CLEARLY BELONGS IN ANY SPORTS CAR CONVERSATION.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, WHY NOT CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME...

WHEN DYNAMIC DRIVING AND ROOMINESS MERGE IN THE BMW 640I GRAN TOURISMO.

AND WE TEST THE MASS APPEAL OF THE TESLA MODEL 3.

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.

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.

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.

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] *