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

JOIN US FOR AN SUV THAT'S AS CHARGED UP AS A RAGING BULL, THE LAMBORGHINI URUS... PAT GOSS WITH A CLEARER VIEW OF THE NASTIEST OF WEATHER... STEPHANIE HART ON A PLAN THAT COULD MAKE YOUR AUTOMOTIVE DREAM COME TRUE... AND A STRETCHED LUXURY SEDAN WITH A DARING DEMEANOR, THE ALL-NEW AUDI A8L...

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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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 OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: THE DAYS OF BEMOANING THE FACT THAT SPORTY CAR BUILDERS NOW SELL MORE SUVs THAN CARS ARE COMING TO AN END.

IT'S TIME TO FACE THE REALITY OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

SUVS ARE WIN-WINS.

PEOPLE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM, AND THEY ARE HIGHLY PROFITABLE TO BUILD.

SO, IT'S NO SHOCKER THAT EVEN LAMBORGHINI NOW HAS AN SUV, THE URUS.

* STUDIOUS VIEWERS WILL OF COURSE POINT OUT THAT THIS 2019 LAMBORGHINI URUS IS NOT THE FIRST UTILITY VEHICLE FROM THE BRAND, THAT WOULD BE THE LM002, WHICH WE TESTED WAY BACK IN 1988.

WELL, THAT RUGGED, MILITARY-SPEC 4X4 WAS NOTHING AT ALL LIKE THE URUS, HAVING MORE IN COMMON WITH A TRACTOR THAN A HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE.

THE URUS ON THE OTHER HAND, MANAGES TO LOOK, FEEL, AND YES, DRIVE MUCH LIKE WHAT ONE EXPECTS FROM A MODERN LAMBORGHINI SUPERCAR.

LAMBORGHINI WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DROP OFF A BLINDINGLY YELLOW URUS TEST VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE AT OUR WINTER PROVING GROUNDS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND WHILE, THERE IS A CLEAR PRIORITY ON HIGH-PERFORMANCE, THE INTERIOR SPACE IS VERY LIVABLE AS WELL, WITH GREAT COMFORT, AND LEGIT ROOM FOR FOUR ADULTS.

AND NOW, HERE'S THE PART WHERE WE TELL YOU, THAT BEING PART OF THE VOLKSWAGEN GROUP, THE URUS IS BASED ON THE AUDI Q7.

TECHNICALLY, THAT IS CORRECT, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY, YOU WON'T BE DOING A LOT OF PARTS SWAPPING BETWEEN THE TWO; AS LAMBO STARTED WITH JUST THE BASIC ARCHITECTURE, AND BOLTED THEIR OWN STUFF ONTO IT...INCLUDING STYLING THAT IS FAR FASTER THAN OTHER SUV IN THE VW CORPORATE STABLE.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] LIKEWISE, THEY TOOK JUST THE 4.0 LITER V8 TWIN-TURBO ENGINE'S BLOCK, AND BUILT THEIR OWN VERSION THAT WHIPS UP 641 HORSEPOWER AND 627 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THEN OF COURSE, LAMBORGHINI ENGINEERS HAD THEIR WAY WITH THE ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES TORQUE VECTORING, AS WELL AS 4-WHEEL STEERING.

BOTTOM LINE, IT'S A 4,800 POUND SPORT UTILITY THAT CAN STREAK TO 60 IN 3.6 SECONDS, WITH A FACTORY CLAIMED, WORLD'S BEST 190 MILE PER HOUR TOP END, AND OUT-HANDLE, AND OUT-BRAKE NUMEROUS EXOTIC SPORTS CARS, AND EVEN GET YOU THROUGH SOME LIGHT OFF-ROADING SITUATIONS AS WELL; THANKS TO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRACTION AND DRIVE MODES THAT CAN PUMP UP THE RIDE HEIGHT AS FAR AS 9.8 INCHES.

BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE MAKES YOU WANT TO DIRECT THE URUS TO THE RUBICON; RATHER, WE TOOK ITS TALENTS TO ROEBLING'S NINE HIGH SPEED TURNS.

IT FEELS TIGHT AND FAST, NO MATTER HOW YOU'RE DRIVING IT OR WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING IT TO.

AND ALL OF THAT'S WITHOUT EVEN CLICKING OVER TO CORSA MODE, WHERE THINGS GET POSITIVELY INTENSE.

URUS GETS DECEPTIVELY FAST VERY QUICKLY; ALMOST MAKING YOU FORGET YOU'RE IN AN SUV.

BUT, IT CAN'T QUITE OVERCOME THE FACT THAT YOUR POSTERIOR IS QUITE AWAYS OFF OF THE PAVEMENT.

BRAKING IS BY WAY OF 10-PISTON CALIPERS, CLAMPING DOWN ON STANDARD CERAMIC DISCS; PERFORMANCE WAS BORDERLINE EPIC.

IT CERTAINLY, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT ORIGINAL RAMBO LAMBO, NOR DOES IT REALLY EVEN LOOK LIKE AN SUV IN THE TRUE SENSE.

MORE OF A SLEEK HATCHBACK THAT SITS WAY OFF THE GROUND, HAS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND RIDES ON 21-INCH WHEELS; OR THESE MATTE FINISH 22s IF YOU PREFER.

HONESTLY, FEW EXOTIC CAR OWNERS EVER DRIVE THEIR CAR ON A RACE TRACK, OR EVEN SNIFF ITS PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL; THUS, THE URUS ACTUALLY MAKES WAY MORE SENSE AS A DAILY DRIVER, AND IT CAN STILL HANDLE ITSELF QUITE WELL, IF YOU DO GET TALKED INTO A TRACK DAY.

THINGS INSIDE ARE ALL LAMBORGHINI, WITH NO TRACE OF AUDI ANYTHING.

YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF THE TRADITIONAL HEXAGON AND Y-SHAPES, AS WELL AS THE SAME TFT GAUGE PANEL USED IN THE HURACAN.

THE CENTER CONSOLE FEATURES AN IDENTICAL START BUTTON WITH FLIP UP COVER, AS WELL, BUT THE DRIVE MODE AND CHASSIS SELECTORS THAT BOOKEND IT, ARE MORE EXTENSIVE.

ABOVE, ARE TWO TOUCH SCREENS; ONE FOR INFOTAINMENT, AND ONE FOR CABIN COMFORT.

FOR HAULING STUFF, THERE'S 21.8 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE IN BACK, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS LOWER THE AIR SUSPENSION TO MAKE LOADING EASIER.

NOW, FOR THE REALITY CHECK.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 12-CITY, 17-HIGHWAY, AND 14-COMBINED.

AND PRICING STARTS AT $203,995.

IF YA GOT IT, WHY NOT FLAUNT IT IN A URUS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF LAMBORGHINI FANS THAT LOATH THE IDEA OF THIS 2019 URUS.

BUT...TRUST US, ONCE YOU DRIVE IT, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HATE ABOUT IT.

IT'S A FANTASTIC, MODERN PERFORMANCE CAR IN AN SUVISH BODY.

AND HERE'S WHERE WE'D LOVE TO END THIS TEST WITH A BAD PUN ABOUT LAMBORGHINI FOLLOWING THE SUV HERD WITH THE URUS; BUT ACTUALLY, THEY'RE NOW IN THE LEAD.

* IT'S A CAR ENTHUSIAST'S DREAM!

AN APP THAT LETS YOU DRIVE THE LATEST SUPER PREMIUM VEHICLES.

LIKE AN ASTON MARTIN DB9, FOR THAT...THAT TRIP TO A POSH SKI RESORT, A RANGE ROVER SPORT SVR.

NOW, IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE JUST ANOTHER CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE, YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT, WHILE OTHERS ARE STRUGGLING, THIS START UP THINKS SUCCESS "REVOLVES" AROUND EXCLUSIVITY.

OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART TRIES IT OUT.

* Stephanie Hart: START WITH ULTRA LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE CARS... ADD IN CUTTING EDGE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY... AND YOU HAVE A UNIQUE CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE CALLED "REVOLVE."

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TIRED OF WHAT'S IN YOUR GARAGE... YOU CAN HAVE A STRIKING AMG GT LIKE THIS ONE, ONE MONTH... [ENGINE REVS WITH TAKE OFF] AND YOU CAN HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS INCREDIBLE BMW I8, WATCH OUT SOUTH FLORIDA.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS, YOU DOWNLOAD THE REVOLVE APP, YOU SIGN UP, YOU GET APPROVED, AND THEN YOU SCROLL THROUGH THEIR AMAZING COLLECTION OF CARS, YOU CHOOSE SEVEN OF YOUR DREAM CARS TO ADD TO YOUR VIRTUAL GARAGE.

Asoka Veeravagu: OUR OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHMS ARE RUNNING BEHIND THE SCENES AND THEY'RE PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE IDEAL CARS AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

FROM THERE, THROUGH THE APP, THEY GET NOTIFIED OF THEIR FIRST VEHICLE DELIVERY AND THEN A MEMBER OF OUR CONCIERGE TEAM BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO THEIR HOME OR THEIR OFFICE, WALKS THEM THROUGH EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VEHICLE, REALLY GIVES THEM A FULL ORIENTATION OF THE VEHICLE.

THEN, THEY DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS THEIR OWN FOR THE NEXT 1-3 MONTHS AND THEN AFTER THAT TIME THEY'LL REVOLVE TO THEIR NEXT PREMIERE RIDE.

Stephanie: ASOKA VEERAVAGU FOUNDED "REVOLVE" A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, MANY LUXURY AUTO MAKERS BEGAN OFFERING CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND THE RIGHT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS.

BUT VEERAVAGU IS CONFIDENT HIS MODEL WILL SUCCEED BECAUSE IT OFFERS BRAND VARIETY.

Asoka: REAL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES ARE VERY POPULAR TODAY, BUT YOU WOULDN'T SUBSCRIBE TO ONE AND EXPECT TO EAT JUST ITALIAN FOOD EVERYDAY SIMILARLY WITH AUTOMOTIVE SUBSCRIPTION INSTEAD OF SINGLE BRAND WE LOOK AT IT AS A SAMPLING OF ALL THE BEST VEHICLES IN THE TOP BRANDS THAT'S WHAT CONSUMERS REALLY WANT.

Stephanie: CONSUMERS LIKE, AWARD-WINNING CHEF MICHAEL SCHWARTZ.

Michael Schwartz: I WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AFTER I GOT A NEW CAR, I WAS LIKE...NAH, I'M STARTING TO GET SICK OF MY CAR.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THE REVOLVE SORT OF MODEL IS BRILLIANT IN THAT YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE NEW CARS OFTEN.

IT'S SORT OF HARD TO GO LIKE, LOW PROFILE IN SOME OF THE CARS, BUT I LOVE THEM.

Stephanie: A PASSION FOR CARS FUELED THE IDEA BEHIND REVOLVE.

AT THE TIME, VEERAVAGU WAS WORKING AS A GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEER.

Asoka: AT GENERAL MOTORS THEY HAD A LARGE FLEET OF ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND YOUR BADGE WOULD GIVE YOU ACCESS TO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES ON A PERIODIC BASIS, SO SORT OF LIKE HAVING A LIBRARY CARD FOR CARS.

SO THAT'S WHEN THE IDEA SPARKED FOR ME, LIKE, WHY DOESN'T THIS EXIST IN THE CONSUMER SPACE.

[SOUND OF ENGINE REVVING] Stephanie: ADAM LIPMAN HAS BEEN A REVOLVE MEMBER FOR 16 MONTHS.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CARS SO MUCH?

Adam Lipman: I TRULY, ENJOY THE SOUNDS THAT CARS MAKE.

I LIKE THE FREEDOM THAT THEY REPRESENT AND WHO DOESN'T LIKE GOING FAST.

Stephanie: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE CARS SO FAR?

Adam: I HAD AN ACURA NSX, A TRUE SUPER CAR AND THAT WAS REALLY GREAT TO DRIVE.

RIGHT NOW, I HAVE AN AMG GT CONVERTIBLE WITH THE FLORIDA WEATHER IT'S PERFECT, AND THEN IT WAS GREAT HAVING AN M5 WHICH IS PERFORMANCE, AND LUXURY.

Asoka: WE LIKE TO SAY, WE ARE ALL INCLUSIVE FOR AUTOMOTIVE ACCESS...

SO...ALL INSURANCE, MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND FEES ARE ROLLED INTO ONE MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GAS UP AND DRIVE OR CHARGE UP IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF OUR TESLAs.

Stephanie: BUT THIS PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE DOESN'T COME CHEAP...

THE TOP ENTHUSIAST TIER IS $2600 A MONTH.

UNLIKE, A TYPICAL CAR LEASE, THERE IS NO LONG TERM COMMITMENT.

MEMBERSHIP IS MONTH TO MONTH.

NEXT TIER DOWN IS THE LUXURY CAR TIER WHICH COSTS $1900 A MONTH.

DOWN THE LINE, REVOLVE WANTS TO CREATE TWO MORE TIERS THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER.

Asoka: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PASSION FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH STARTING A NEW VENTURE BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSEVERANCE AND GRIT TO BE ABLE TO STICK IT OUT.

Stephanie: EVENTUALLY, REVOLVE WILL LAUNCH IN OTHER KEY STATES TOO...LIKE, CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS... WITH THE END GOAL OF SPANNING THE COUNTRY, OFFERING CARS FOR EVERY TASTE AND BUDGET.

John: WHEN IT COMES TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF CAR PARTS TO KEEP TRACK OF.

BUT THIS WEEK, PAT GOSS HAS HIS FOCUS ON ONE WHERE YOU'LL QUICKLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

Pat Goss: NO MATTER WHAT CAR YOU DRIVE, SOME OF THE MOST BASIC ITEMS CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR DRIVING SAFETY, LIKE YOUR WIPER BLADES FOR INSTANCE.

IF YOU CAN'T SEE WELL, THEN YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T DRIVE SAFELY.

NOW FIRST, KEEP THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD... WELL, FREE FROM LEAVES AND DIRT.

SEE, EVEN A SMALL LEAF CAUGHT UNDER THE EDGE OF YOUR WIPERS, WELL...THAT COULD PREVENT THE BLADE FROM MAKING GOOD CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD, AND LEAVE BLURRY STREAKS AS THE WIPER PASSES ACROSS THE GLASS.

EXPOSURE TO RAIN, SNOW, UV RAYS, AND OZONE CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER SQUEEGEES ON YOUR WIPER BLADE, SO PERIODICALLY, YOU WANT TO CHECK THEM FOR CRACKS OR DRIED OUT RUBBER.

IN EXTREME CASES LIKE THIS, WELL...THE WIPING EDGE CAN PEEL AWAY AND YOU'RE LEFT WITH A BLACK SPAGHETTI NOODLE FLOPPING ACROSS YOUR WINDSHIELD, AND THAT WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD AT ALL.

NOW, IF YOUR WIPER BLADES APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION, YOU SHOULD STILL CLEAN THEM WITH A SOAPY SPONGE OR A RAG EVERY TIME YOU WASH YOUR CAR.

WE HAVE AN ASSORTMENT OF WIPER BLADES HERE FROM RAIN-X.

THERE ARE THREE BASIC TYPES.

FIRST, THE CONVENTIONAL WIPER BLADES, WE ALL KNOW THAT HAVE AN OPEN SKELETON AND FRAME, AND MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT POINTS WHICH HOLD THE SQUEEGEE TO THE GLASS.

NOW, THESE WORK FINE BUT THEY EXERT PRESSURE UNEVENLY, AND CAN LET SNOW, AND ICE, AND OTHER DEBRIS BUILD UP IN THE FRAME.

A STEP UP FROM THAT IS THE HYBRID BLADE THAT HAS A PLASTIC COVER OVER THE FRAME FOR PROTECTION AND A MORE MODERN LOOK.

NOW, THE BEST TYPE THESE DAYS ARE THE BEAM-TYPE BLADES.

THEIR FLEXIBLE DESIGN ALLOWS THEM TO CONTOUR TO THE CURVE OF YOUR WINDSHIELD.

THE ENTIRE BLADE HAS AN EMBEDDED SPRING TO GIVE EVEN PRESSURE ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH FOR UNIFORM CONTACT AND MORE CONSISTENT WIPING.

THE SPOILER HELPS MAINTAIN GOOD PERFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PROTECT IT FROM BUILDUP OF SNOW, ICE, AND DEBRIS.

NOW...BEYOND THAT, YOU ALSO HAVE CHOICES IN THE TYPE OF MATERIAL THE WIPER BLADE IS MADE OF.

YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RUBBER: NATURAL, SYNTHETIC, AND SILICONE.

OF THE THREE, SILICON STANDS UP TO THE HARSHEST WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND TEMPERATURE RANGES, AND CAN LAST TWICE AS LONG AS NATURAL RUBBER.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE NOW SEEING WIPERS THAT FEATURE GRAPHITE COATING TO HELP REDUCE FRICTION AND WIPERS THAT APPLY A WATER REPELLANT COATING TO YOUR WINDSHIELD.

FINALLY, BUY THE RIGHT SIZED BLADES FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR WIPER BLADES NOW, SO YOU CAN SAFELY PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD LATER.

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

John: IT'S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE CHATTER...

BUT WE WANT THE FACTS.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FOR US IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW IS KNOWN FOR BEING A SHOWCASE FOR NEW TRUCKS.

AND THIS YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION, STARTING WITH SOME HEAVY HAULERS.

* CHEVROLET ARRIVES WITH THE ALL-NEW SILVERADO HD PICKUP.

THEY SPORT AN AGGRESSIVE LOOK, MORE INTERIOR ROOM, NEW POWERTRAINS, AND MAX TOWING OF 35,500 POUNDS.

THIS GMC SIERRA HEAVY DUTY PICKUP HAS A 15 CAMERA VIEW SYSTEM INCLUDING A REAR TRANSPARENT TRAILER MODE.

FORD BROUGHT THEIR REVAMPED SUPER DUTY TO CHICAGO WITH UPDATED FRONT END, INTERIOR, AND NEW ENGINES, AND TRANSMISSIONS.

CUSTOM BUILDER TUSCANY REVIVES A LEGENDARY TIE-UP WITH ITS HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORD F-150.

RAM WAS BUSY TOO, SHOWING THIS OPTIONAL MULTIFUNCTION TAILGATE FOR THE 1500... AND, THIS NEW HD CHASSIS CAB DESTINED FOR CUSTOM OUTFITTERS.

TOYOTA'S CHICAGO HEADLINER IS THE FRESHENED TACOMA WITH NEW FRONT FASCIA, GRILLE, AND LIGHTING, UPDATED INTERIOR WITH MORE ADVANCED SAFETY.

THIS LAND CRUISER HERITAGE EDITION DONS BLACKOUT TRIM, BBS WHEELS, AND CLEANED UP LOWER SIDE BODY SO IT WON'T GET TOO SCUFFED UP HANDLING THE ROUGH STUFF.

TOYOTA ALSO UNLEASHED THIS SEQUOIA TRD PRO SPORT UTILITY READY FOR ANY OFF-ROAD FAMILY ADVENTURE.

NISSAN CAME TO CHICAGO WITH A RESTYLED ROGUE SPORT AND THE LATEST IN SAFETY, AND INFOTAINMENT.

THIS NISSAN PATHFINDER ROCK CREEK EDITION ADDS DARK TRIM, UNIQUE WHEELS AND TIRES, AND TWO-TONE SEATING FOR A CUSTOMIZED APPEARANCE.

THE KIA SPORTAGE IS REFRESHED WITH TWEAKED STYLING FRONT AND REAR.

KIA'S NEW FORTE GT LINE IS MOSTLY A TRIM PACKAGE BUT IT SURE LOOKS FAST.

SUBARU UNVEILED THEIR ALL-NEW LEGACY MID-SIZE SEDAN.

ON A NEW CHASSIS WITH SLICK FASTBACK STYLING AND OPTIONAL BIG SCREEN INFOTAINMENT.

AT LEXUS SMOOTH AND TWISTY PAVEMENT IS HANDLED WITH THE DRESSED-UP NX F SPORT BLACK LINE.

WHILE, THIS FLARE YELLOW LEXUS LC 500 INSPIRATION SERIES CONCEPT IS NOW A LIMITED PRODUCTION MODEL.

VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES TO DISPLAY ITS CONFIDENCE IN SPORT SEDANS.

THIS JETTA GLI SPORTS THE GTIs TURBO CHARGED ENGINE AND AN INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION.

CHICAGO SAW THE WORLD DEBUT OF THE MAZDA MIATA IN 1989.

FOR 2019, THE ANNIVERSARY EDITION MX-5 MIATA MARKS 30 YEARS OF THIS ROADSTER REVIVER SURVIVOR.

THE ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER IS A MORE RECENT OPEN AIR ARRIVAL, HERE IN NEW ITALIA TRIM.

AND THAT'S IT FROM THE WINDY CITY FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

* Greg Carloss: TIME TO WRAP UP OUR TIME WITH THE 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY.

THIS ELITE-TRIMMED PARTY FOR EIGHT WAS A POPULAR CHOICE FOR ROAD TRIPS; EVIDENCED BY TRAVELING 30,800 MILES OVER JUST 13 MONTHS.

IN AN AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE EVERY POSSIBLE AUTOMOTIVE NICHE FILLED, SOMETIMES...YOU JUST NEED A MINIVAN.

AND WHETHER, YOU ARE HAULING THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S BROOD, OR JUST YOUR OWN FAMILY WITH ALL OF THEIR GEAR, THE ODYSSEY NEVER DISAPPOINTED.

WE EVEN AVERAGED A GREAT 25.4 MILES PER GALLON.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS WERE THE EXCEPTIONAL RIDE, COMFORTABLE LONG HAUL SEATS, AND NEAR LUXURY-CAR REFINEMENT; NOT TO MENTION THE INTERIOR FLEXIBILITY THAT TRULY MAKES MINIVANS THE SWISS ARMY KNIVES OF THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD.

THE ODYSSEY WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

THE CURRENT FUEL MILEAGE CHAMP IN OUR FLEET IS THIS 2019 KIA NIRO PHEV.

"THE NIRO PLUG-IN REALLY SHINES AS A SHORT TRIP COMMUTER AND ERRAND RUNNER.

WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP IT PLUGGED IN AT OUR OFFICES ALL DAY, AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO HEAD TO LUNCH THERE'S USUALLY ENOUGH EV RANGE FOR A ROUND TRIP WITHOUT TOUCHING A SINGLE DROP OF GAS.

BUT EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE KICKS ON, A LOT ON OUR STAFF HAVE NOTED THE REFINED MANNER IN WHICH IT DOES SO.

EVEN WITH ALL THOSE SHORT HIKES, WE'VE COVERED OVER 3,500 MILES IN JUST TWO MONTHS.

AND, RATHER THAN DECLINING, FUEL ECONOMY ACTUALLY SNUCK UP A BIT, TO AN EVEN 62.0 MILES PER GALLON.

PROOF THAT KEEPING A PHEV'S BATTERY TOPPED OFF CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO THE SAME TO THE GAS TANK.

THE NIRO IS BEING JOINED BY ANOTHER FUEL-MISER, AS A HONDA INSIGHT HAS JUST ARRIVED ON OUR LONG-TERM LOT.

MORE ON THAT SOON.

BUT FIRST, AN UPDATE ON OUR VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS, AND TOYOTA CAMRY ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: WHILE, SUVS ARE TAKING UP AN EVER INCREASING SHARE OF LUXURY CARMAKERS' PORTFOLIOS; FOR MANY, THE TRADITIONAL LARGE EUROPEAN LUXURY SEDAN PROVIDES A DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT SIMPLY CAN'T BE MATCHED BY A HIGH-RIDING, BIG-WHEELED, HIGH-PERFORMANCE HATCHBACK.

WELL, COUNT US AMONG THE HOLDOUTS, AND CONSIDER THE AUDI A8L OUR EXHIBIT A.

* THE TRADITIONAL EUROPEAN FLAGSHIP SEDAN HAS LOST A BIT OF ITS LUSTER RECENTLY, WITH SUVS NOW SEEMINGLY THE CHROME-CLAD STANDARD BEARERS FOR ALL LUXURY BRANDS.

THIS 2019 AUDI A8L PROBABLY WON'T CHANGE THAT, BUT IT IS A GREAT REMINDER OF HOW FANTASTIC A LARGE LUXURY 4-DOOR CAN BE.

SEEMINGLY, DRIVING THAT POINT HOME, IT'S THIS LONG WHEELBASE L VERSION THAT IS THE ONLY A8 COMING TO THE U.S. FOR NOW, AND ALL WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH REAR-BIASED QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

MOST EXTERIOR MEASUREMENTS ARE UP OVER LAST YEAR, BUT JUST SLIGHTLY.

INSPECT CLOSELY, AND YOU WILL FIND SLIGHTLY MORE DEFINED WHEEL ARCHES, SHARPER LINES, AND OF COURSE, ALL-NEW LIGHTING.

IT WAS THE LAST GENERATION A8 THAT REALLY STARTED OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH AUDI INTERIORS.

THEY DID SNEAK ANOTHER TOUCH SCREEN IN WITH THIS NEW MMI SYSTEM, MAKING FOR A FEW MORE TOUCH SURFACES THAN WE GENERALLY APPRECIATE.

BUT THE TABLET-LIKE INTERFACE IS FAIRLY INTUITIVE, AND IT'S HARD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING, IN WHAT IS SUCH A CLEAN AND LUXURIOUS SPACE.

AS WITH MOST LUXURY RIDES, YOU CAN STICK WITH THE HIGH LEVEL OF STANDARD EQUIPMENT LIKE AUDI'S VIRTUAL COCKPIT, BANG & OLUFSEN 3D PREMIUM AUDIO, AND A PANORAMIC SUNROOF.

OR...OF COURSE, GO FURTHER WITH LUXURIES LIKE MASSAGING SEATS, PREMIUM LEATHER, AND EVEN A FRAGRANCE IONIZER.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, BACK SEAT PASSENGERS, WHETHER IN STANDARD 3-ACROSS CONFIGURATION OR 2-SEAT EXECUTIVE STYLE, GET SPECIAL TREATMENT.

MULTI-POSITION, HEATED AND VENTILATED, MASSAGING SEATS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM AS WELL, AS PART OF THE REAR SEAT COMFORT PACKAGE.

SEAT COMFORT FOR THE DRIVER IS SUBLIME, AND RIDE QUALITY IS SPLENDID; BUT KEEP THINGS IN COMFORT MODE AND THERE IS A LOT OF BODY ROLL.

WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING, THERE'S CERTAINLY A PLACE FOR SOME BIG OLD-SCHOOL RELAXED LUXURY FEEL, AND IF IT BOTHERS YOU, PUNCH UP DYNAMIC MODE, AND THINGS TIGHTEN UP NICELY.

REGARDLESS OF MODE, NOTHING EVER SEEMS TO UPSET THIS CHASSIS.

EVEN WITH THE POSH SOFTNESS HERE, THE A8L IS WELL COMPOSED AND FEELS SMALLER THAN IT IS; TURN-INS ARE QUICK, AND GRIP LEVEL IS HIGH, WITH ONLY A SLIGHT BIT OF UNDERSTEER WHEN YOU APPROACH THE CAR'S LIMITS.

PLENTY OF GRIP FOR MAKING A QUICK GETAWAY AS WELL.

WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT AT ALL, THIS A8L SPRINTS TO 60 IN 5.1 SECONDS.

IT'S ALL BUSINESS CLASS COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY FROM THERE.

THE ENGINE REVS FREELY, AND SHIFTS FROM THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE HARD AND FAST, THOUGH THE DRIVER STAYS ISOLATED FROM MOST OF THE EXPERIENCE.

THIS 4,750 POUND LUXURY LINER COMPLETES THE QUARTER IN 13.7 SECONDS AT 100 MILES PER HOUR.

MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN IS A 3.0 LITER V6, ONLY NOW IT GETS ADDED BOOST FROM A TURBO INSTEAD OF A SUPERCHARGER AS BEFORE.

HORSEPOWER IS UP 2, TO 335; WHILE TORQUE CLIMBS MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, UP FROM 325 TO 369 POUND-FEET.

THE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED, WHICH WE JUST ABOUT MATCHED, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 22.3 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

AFTER ALL OF THE HIGH PRAISE, YOU MIGHT EXPECT A BASE PRICE HIGHER THAN $84,795; WE SURE DID.

FOR THE MOST PART, LARGE LUXURY SEDANS LIKE THIS 2019 AUDI A8L HAVE BEEN IMMUNE TO THE DOWNTURN IN SEDAN SALES.

THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE, LIKE MOST LUXURY ITEMS, THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THEM, KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE WHEN THEY HAVE ONE, AND NOTHING ELSE WILL DO, EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS A NEW ONE.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

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

WHEN WE GET OUR CHANCE AT A HOLLYWOOD-STYLE THRILL RIDE, THE FORD MUSTANG BULLITT.

AND THEN, THE LUXURIOUS AND LIVELY BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT.

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.

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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *