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

JOIN US FOR A BOXY BRUTE UPDATED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, THE NEW MERCEDES-AMG G63... PAT GOSS WITH FACTS TO KEEP THE FUEL FLOWING... ROGER MECCA SWOOPS IN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD... AND TOYOTA RAISES THE SMALL CAR STAKES WITH AN ALL-NEW COROLLA...

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...

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CLASSIC MERCEDES-BENZ GELANDEWAGENS HAVE BEEN BUILT FOR MILITARY USE OVER THE DECADES, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OVER 300,000 OF THEM HAVE HIT CIVILIAN STREETS, WITH A SMALL PERCENTAGE IN THE U.S.

SUCH RARITY PLUS, MACHO MASCULINITY HAS MADE IT A HIGHLY DESIRABLE RIDE INDEED.

WILL AN ALL-NEW, AND POSSIBLY MORE GENTRIFIED, G-CLASS CHANGE THAT?

OR, IS A MODERN "G" ALL THE BETTER.

* WHILE IT HAS GONE BY MANY DIFFERENT NAMES OVER THE YEARS, AND BEEN OFFERED IN SOMETIMES DIVERSE FORMS; THE G WAGON HAS SOLDIERED ON WITH THE SAME BASIC ARCHITECTURE SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED IN THE 1970s.

THAT MAKES THIS 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS THE FIRST TRULY ALL-NEW EDITION.

FROM A DISTANCE, IT DOESN'T REALLY LOOK THAT NEW.

UP CLOSE, YOU WILL NOTICE THE STILL ROUND HEADLIGHTS ARE NOW LEDS.

OTHERWISE, STILL A FULL FRAME UNDERNEATH, WITH ALL SUSPENSION BITS BOLTED DIRECTLY TO IT.

BUT UNDER ITS BOXY BODY, THERE'S A NEW DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT SUSPENSION.

BETTER ROAD MANNERS WERE THE PRIORITY, OF COURSE, BUT THEY ACTUALLY INCREASED GROUND CLEARANCE TOO.

A SOLID AXLE REMAINS IN PLACE AT THE REAR.

BUT, FOUR TRAILING ARMS ON EACH SIDE, AS WELL AS A NEW PANHARD ROD, SMOOTH THINGS OUT ON THE PAVEMENT.

WE FOUND THE MOST NOTICEABLE CHANGES ARE INSIDE, INCLUDING A FULL DIGITAL COCKPIT WITH TWIN 12.3 INCH DISPLAYS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER BIG ELECTRONIC UPDATES FOR THE SAKE CONNECTIVITY, CONVENIENCE, AND SAFETY.

THAT INCLUDES A NEW ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STEERING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR PARKING ASSIST, AS WELL AS SUPER-AGGRESSIVE LANE KEEP ASSIST.

THIS G IS OVER 2.0 INCHES LONGER THAN BEFORE, BUT MORE RELEVANT, IS THAT IT'S ALMOST 5.0 INCHES WIDER, WHICH MEANS YOU NO LONGER FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A TANK.

MOST OF THE BASE POWERTRAIN ELEMENTS ARE CARRYOVER; PRIMARILY THE 416 HORSEPOWER 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 ENGINE, THOUGH...IT GETS A NEW 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] OUR AMG G63 VERSION UPGRADES TO A HAND-ASSEMBLED MONSTER VERSION OF THAT SAME 4.0 LITER, REPLACING THE PREVIOUS 5.5 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8.

OUTPUT CLIMBS TO 577 HORSEPOWER AND 627 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, SHE'S IS A THIRSTY ONE HOWEVER.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 13-CITY, 15-HIGHWAY, AND 14-COMBINED, AND OUR AVERAGE ON PREMIUM FUEL WAS INDEED 14.1 MILES PER GALLON.

THE BIG UPGRADE IN SOFTWARE ALLOWS FOR DYNAMIC SELECT DRIVE MODES, WITH UP TO FIVE TO CHOOSE FROM, AND DESPITE A MUCH FRIENDLIER NATURE ON THE STREET, THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO INCREASE OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY AS WELL.

YOU CAN LOCK BOTH AXLES, AS WELL AS THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL OF COURSE, AND KNOWING YOU CAN GO OVER OR THROUGH JUST ABOUT EVERY TERRAIN OR OBSTACLE YOU CAN IMAGINE, PERHAPS EVEN SURVIVE THE EVER-IMMINENT ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, IS REASON ENOUGH FOR SOME TO GO G-CLASS.

BUT BEFORE DOING ANY OF THAT, YOU MAY WANT TO SWAP OUT THE SUMMER TIRES ON OUR TESTER'S 22-INCH FORGED AMG WHEELS.

IT STILL UNDERSTEERS LIKE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, BUT OTHERWISE IT HAS A MUCH BETTER ON ROAD PRESENCE.

A TAD QUIETER AS WELL, BUT THEY COULD HAVE GONE FARTHER IN THIS AREA; THOUGH I GUESS THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT WIND NOISE WHEN YOU'RE FORCING THIS MUCH SQUARE THROUGH THE AIR.

IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO DRIVE, AND QUITE MANEUVERABLE, THOUGH SLOW AND STEADY IS THE BETTER NAME OF THIS GAME.

AND NOT TO WORRY, STABILITY SYSTEMS WILL KICK IN EARLY AND OFTEN TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

OUR STAR ENGINE ENABLES THE G63 TO LEAVE ANYTHING SHORT OF HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS IN THE DUST WITH A 0-60 OF JUST 3.9 SECONDS.

EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW GOING IN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FAST, THIS 4.0 LITER STILL IMPRESSES WITH THE WAY IT'S ABLE TO GET 5,700 POUNDS PLUS, UP TO SPEED AND IN A HURRY.

POWER NEVER TAPERS OFF, AND EVEN SOUNDS LIKE A MUCH BIGGER V8, AS YOU STREAK DOWN THE TRACK; CLEARING THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.5 SECONDS AT 109 MILES PER HOUR.

AND WHILE BASE G-CLASS PRICING CLIMBS JUST A BIT TO $125,495; THIS G63, IS ACTUALLY $700 CHEAPER THAN LAST YEAR, AT $148,495.

THE TWO THINGS THAT THE G-CLASS DOES BEST ARE; CLIMBING OVER EVERY OBSTACLE IN ITS PATH, AND DRAWING A CROWD WHEREVER IT GOES.

NOW, YOU CAN GUESS WHICH OF THOSE HAS MADE IT THE STATUS SYMBOL THAT IT IS TODAY.

THE COMMENT WE HEARD MOST FROM PEOPLE SEEMED TO BE "IF I HAD THE MONEY, I'D OWN ONE FOR SURE."

STILL, MOSTLY HAND BUILT, STILL THE ULTIMATE EGO-MACHINE, THIS 2019 MERCEDES-AMG G63 HAS NO RIVAL.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US UNDERGROUND, NEAR ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, WHERE AGGREGATE AND ASPHALT PROVIDER, "FRED WEBER INCORPORATED" IS USING BIODIESEL TO POWER MINING EQUIPMENT.

THE B50 BIO DIESEL IS PRODUCED FROM VEGETABLE OIL, ANIMAL FATS, AND WASTE COOKING OIL; MIXED 50/50 WITH PETROLEUM DIESEL, MAKING THE AIR CLEANER AND SAFER FOR MINERS.

Joe Hass: WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE ST. LOUIS CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM.

UM, WE USE BIODIESEL HERE AT ONE OF OUR UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS IN ST. LOUIS.

ITS HELP REDUCE THE CARBON MONOXIDE AND PARTICULAR MATTER THAT COMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST OF ALL OF OUR UNDERGROUND EQUIPMENT.

John: FRED WEBER USES MORE THAN 500,000 GALLONS OF B50 BIODIESEL ANNUALLY, DISPLACING A LIKE AMOUNT OF TRADITIONAL DIESEL, WITH A NEAR NEUTRAL EFFECT ON THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

ANOTHER FACET THAT MAKES THE-SHOW-ME-STATE AN ALT-FUEL GEM.

* FROM THE FORD GT40 AND PORSCHE 911, TO THE LEGENDARY FERRARI 250 GTO, RACE TRACKS HAVE HELPED PRODUCE SOME OF THE MOST COVETED PERFORMANCE CARS OF ALL TIME.

AND OUR OWN ROGER MECCA EXPLORES ONE MODEL, IN PARTICULAR, THAT TURNED THE RACING WORLD ON ITS SPOILERS WITH SPEEDS, AND LOOKS THAT ARE STILL IMPRESSIVE NEARLY 50 YEARS LATER.

* Roger Mecca: THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IN MOTOR-RACING THAT SAYS, "WIN ON SUNDAY, SELL ON MONDAY," MEANING THAT WHEN A CAR DOMINATES ON THE TRACK, IT USUALLY DOES THE SAME IN THE SHOWROOM.

AND IN TERMS OF DOMINATING THE COMPETITION, FEW CARS DID IT SO COMPLETELY, AND SO QUICKLY, THAN THE PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD IN 1970 WITH NASCAR LEGEND RICHARD PETTY BEHIND THE WHEEL.

BUT UNLIKE OTHER NASCAR MODELS LIKE THE FORD GRAN TORINO, THE SUPERBIRD WAS NOT A HIT WITH THE PUBLIC IN FACT A LOT OF THEM SAT ON CAR LOTS COLLECTING DUST.

BUT 50 YEARS LATER, IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC MUSCLE CARS OF ALL TIME.

LARRY CATE IS THE PROUD OWNER OF THIS 1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD, WHICH WAS ONCE OWNED BY THE KING, RICHARD PETTY HIMSELF.

IN LARRY'S OPINION, THE CAR'S ICONIC STATUS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BUILDING OVER THE YEARS.

AND ITS POLARIZING LOOKS ARE A BIG REASON WHY.

Larry Cate: BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU'RE LIKE, WHO WOULD BUILD THIS, WHY WOULD YOU... WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

PARTICULARLY, MY WIFE SAYS, "WHO WOULD DRIVE THAT TO THE STORE?"

IT'S JUST SO UN-FUNCTIONAL.

IT'S SUCH AN UGLY CAR, THAT IT'S GOOD LOOKING.

Roger: LIKE, SO MANY LEGENDARY CARS, THE SUPERBIRD'S STORY STARTS ON THE RACETRACK.

IN 1968, FORD WAS DOMINATING CHRYSLER'S NASCAR TEAMS, WHO DESPERATELY WANTED TO GET TO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE.

DODGE GENERAL MANAGER BOB MCCURRY DEMANDED THAT HIS DESIGNERS DO WHATEVER IT WOULD TAKE TO BEAT FORD.

LUCKILY, CHRYSLER WAS ALSO IN THE ROCKET BUILDING BUSINESS AT THE TIME, WORKING WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ON A PROJECT CALLED "OPERATION PAPERCLIP."

MEANING, CHRYSLER HAD ACTUAL ROCKET SCIENTISTS ON THE PAYROLL.

WHO BETTER TO DESIGN A RACE CAR?

THE RESULT WAS THE DODGE DAYTONA.

AFTER THE DAYTONA TOOK NASCAR BY STORM IN 1969, DODGE'S SISTER DIVISION, PLYMOUTH, INTRODUCED THE SUPERBIRD FOR 1970.

IT WAS BASICALLY, A ROADRUNNER, WITH A NEARLY 20-INCH CONE THAT CUT THROUGH THE AIR UP FRONT, AND A MASSIVE WING IN THE BACK TO PROVIDE DOWNFORCE AND STABILITY.

AND ALONG THE WAY IT WELCOMED AN OLD FRIEND BACK INTO THE FOLD.

ONCE, THE CHARGER WAS UNVEILED, RICHARD PETTY ASKED PLYMOUTH TO BUILD A SIMILAR DESIGN FOR HIM, BUT THEY DECLINED.

FED UP, PETTY LEFT AND JOINED FORD'S NASCAR TEAM INSTEAD, SIGNING ON FOR ONE SEASON.

PLYMOUTH PANICKED AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THEY WERE READY TO DELIVER WHAT THE KING WANTED.

Larry: THE STORY THAT RICHARD SAID, IS THAT ONE DAY, HE WAS IN LEVEL CROSS AND HE SAID, SOMEBODY FROM PLYMOUTH'S COMING, AND IT WAS THE PRESIDENT OF PLYMOUTH OR PRESIDENT OF R AND D PLYMOUTH... AND THEY SAID, "RICHARD, WE GOT YOUR WING CAR, WE'RE GONNA CALL IT THE "SUPERBIRD," HERE'S WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE."

AND HE SAID, ALRIGHT BOYS, I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR."

Roger: PETTY WENT ON TO WIN 18 RACES IN THE SUPERBIRD.

BUT DESPITE THE SUCCESS, VERY FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANTED ONE.

IN FACT, IT'S RUMORED THAT DEALERS ACTUALLY HAD THE NOSES AND TAILS REMOVED TO TURN THE CARS BACK INTO REGULAR ROAD RUNNERS, JUST SO THEY WOULD SELL.

UNDER THE HOOD IS A 440 CUBIC-INCH V8 PRODUCING 375 HORSEPOWER.

AND THE HEMI VERSION TOPPED OUT AT 425 HORSEPOWER.

WITH THE SUPERBIRD'S SLEEK NOSE AND HUGE WING, PETTY WAS ONE OF THE FEW DRIVERS ABLE TO BREAK NASCAR'S ELUSIVE 200 MILE PER HOUR BARRIER.

WHICH QUITE FRANKLY, SEEMS INSANE.

EVEN TODAY, WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, A CAR HITTING 200 MILES PER HOUR IS AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT.

THE FACT THAT RICHARD PETTY WAS ABLE TO DO IT CONSISTENTLY, AND CONFIDENTLY 50 YEARS AGO, PROVES JUST HOW REVOLUTIONARY THIS DESIGN REALLY WAS.

BUT, THE GOOD TIMES DIDN'T LAST.

IN 1971, NASCAR CHANGED THE RULES, STATING THAT ANY CAR WITH AN AERODYNAMIC SHAPE LIKE THE SUPERBIRD HAD TO HAVE ITS ENGINE DISPLACEMENT CAPPED AT JUST 305 CUBIC INCHES.

THE REASON?

THEY WERE TOO FAST.

AND AS QUICKLY AS IT FLEW ONTO THE SCENE, THE SUPERBIRD WAS GONE.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY, NOT FORGOTTEN.

EVEN WITHOUT RICHARD PETTY'S SIGNATURE, AN EXAMPLE LIKE THIS CAN EASILY GO FOR A QUARTER-MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE.

WHICH PROVES WHILE IT MAY HAVE STARTED OUT AS AN UGLY DUCKLING, THE SUPERBIRD DEFINITELY TURNED INTO A SWAN, WITH A V8.

* [CAR DOOR CLOSES] John: JUST WHAT ARE THE TRENDS DRIVING OUR AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE?

HERE'S LAUREN MORRISION WITH ONE MAJOR GAUGE IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: ELECTRIC CARS HAVE QUICKLY GONE FROM A DISTANT FUTURE IDEA TO DOMINATING TODAY'S HEADLINES.

AS SEEN AT THE 2019 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW.

WITH ITS FIRST PUBLIC SHOWING, THE ALL-ELECTRIC PORSCHE TAYCAN SEDAN TOOK A STARRING ROLE AT FRANKFURT.

IT AN EV ROCKET WITH UP TO 750 HORSEPOWER.

PORSCHE HELD ON TO THE SPOTLIGHT WITH THE 911 CARRERA 4 COUPE AND 911 CARRERA 4 CABRIOLET.

AS FOR THEIR SUVs, THREE NEW HYBRID MODELS JOIN THE CAYENNE SERIES, AND THE MACAN TURBO TOOK A BOW.

MERCEDES-BENZ GOT OUR ATTENTION WITH THE DRAMATIC VISION EQS CONCEPT, SHOWING HOW THE ELECTRIFIED EQ SUB-BRAND MIGHT EVOLVE.

ALONG WITH EXPANDING THEIR SMALL PLUG-IN HYBRID OFFERINGS, THE BRAND SHOWED EXTRA FASTBACK STYLE IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLE COUPE, AND MORE POTENT 435 HORSEPOWER MERCEDES-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ COUPE.

THE AMG TREATMENT IS ALSO DUE FOR THEIR NEWEST SMALL SUV... AS THE MERCEDES-AMG GLB35 4MATIC.

WE'RE TOLD THIS SLEEK BUT POLARIZING BMW CONCEPT 4 COUPE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE NEXT 4 SERIES DESIGN.

AN UPDATED BMW X6 ALSO HAD ITS FIRST PUBLIC OUTING, 12 YEARS AFTER BEING INTRODUCED IN FRANKFURT.

VOLKSWAGEN UNVEILED THEIR FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC PRODUCTION MODEL ON THE MEB ARCHITECTURE...

THIS COMPACT ID.3 SEDAN.

DESTINED FOR EUROPE, THE U.S. WILL SEE A SIMILAR SIZED ID.4 CROSSOVER.

THIS WILD AND WACKY AUDI AI: TRAIL QUATTRO CONCEPT TAKES EV DRIVING OFF-ROAD, WITH UP TO LEVEL 4 AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY ON-ROAD.

MEANWHILE, THE ALLURING AUDI RS 7 SPORTBACK ARRIVES WITH A 591 HORSEPOWER MILD-HYBRID V8.

LAMBORGHINI REVEALED THEIR FIRST HYBRID SUPER SPORTS CAR, THE 819 HORSEPOWER SI N FKP 37.

USING A SUPERCAPACITOR IT CLAIMS 0-60 TAKES LESS THAN 3.0 SECONDS.

THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER MADE A DRAMATIC ENTRANCE DESCENDING A 42 DEGREE INCLINE.

AND, IT'S DUE TO DESCEND BACK TO AMERICA TOO.

ASIAN BRANDS ALSO MADE EV NEWS AT FRANKFURT.

THE PRODUCTION HONDA E CONCEPT ARRIVED.

LOOKING MUCH LIKE THE CUTE CONCEPT OF TWO YEARS AGO, WITH AN ESTIMATED 136 MILE RANGE.

HYUNDAI'S VIEW INCLUDES PLUGGING IN WITH THE EV CONCEPT 45, AND THEIR FIRST ELECTRIC RACING CAR, THE VELOSTER N ETCR.

CHINESE UPSTART BYTON BROUGHT THEIR FIRST PRODUCTION MODEL...

THE M-BYTE ELECTRIC SUV.

INSIDE IS A 48 INCH VIDEO DISPLAY.

AT FRANKFURT 2019, OUR ELECTRIC FUTURE WAS CLEARLY ON THE FAST TRACK.

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

John: SOME SAY, "MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND," FOR US...IT'S MORE ABOUT FUEL.

PAT GOSS TELLS US HOW TO GET THE MOST PER GALLON.

Pat Goss: HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT EVEN THE MOST BASIC THINGS THAT BECOMING COMPLICATED THESE DAYS?

TAKE FUEL CANS, YOU KNOW FROM TIME TO TIME, YOU NEED TO BUY GASOLINE OR DIESEL FUEL OR KEROSENE FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE.

WELL, THEY NOW HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE RED IS FOR GASOLINE, THE YELLOW IS FOR DIESEL, AND BLUE IS FOR KEROSONE.

NOW, ONE THING ALL OF THESE HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF CONTROL DEVICE THAT... WELL, IT'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE THEM EASIER USE BUT MOST OF THEM ARE A PAIN IN THE TAIL.

THE BIG THING HERE THESE WERE DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT SPILLS, AND FIRES, AND OF COURSE, VAPORS.

AND SPEAKING OF VAPORS, HERE WE HAVE VAPORS FOR A CAR.

THE GAS TANK IS FULL OF GAS THAT PRODUCES FUMES OR VAPORS AS THE GAS SITS THERE, SO WE HAVE TO CONTROL THAT WE CAN'T EMIT IT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

THAT'S DONE THROUGH THIS SYSTEM RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS A VAPOR STORAGE CANISTER AND IT HAS ALL KINDS OF CONTROL DEVICES AND SO ON TO GO WITH IT.

NOW, THE THING THAT THIS DOES IT STORES THE VAPORS THAT COME OUT OF THE FUEL TANK ONCE THE ENGINE IS STARTED THE COMPUTER TRIPS A VALVE HERE.

THIS IS THE PURGE VALVE THAT ALLOWS THOSE FUMES TO GO INTO THE ENGINE AND BE BURNED WITH THE GASOLINE.

NOW, THIS PURGE VALVE HAS DIFFERENT NAMES FOR DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS BUT GENERICALLY IT'S A PURGE VALVE AND THEY FAIL THEY FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WELL APPARENTLY, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS GOT WIND OF THIS REALIZE THAT THEY'RE MISSING THE BOAT, SO NOW, MANY MANUFACTURERS MAKE IT A COMPONENT PART OF THIS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY.

NO LONGER, YOU BUY AN INEXPENSIVE PURGE VALVE AND PUT IT ON, YOU HAVE BUY THE EXPENSE ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL THAT WITH A LOT MORE LABOR.

SO BIG THING, IF YOU HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR WARNING THAT SAYS, CHECK GAS CAP BEGIN BY CHECKING THE GAS CAP MAKE SURE IT'S TIGHT MAKE SURE IT'S GOOD THEN PROCEEDS ON TO THE TEST PROCEDURE FOR THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM ON YOUR CAR AND YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE TO BUY ONE OF THESE VAPOR STORAGE CANISTERS.

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

John: WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING, WE'LL GO ANYWHERE.

SO, OFF WE GO ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.

* THE ALL-NEW 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK "SPORT UTILITY WAGON" CONTINUES TO EVOLVE...GRADUALLY, JUST THE WAY ITS FANS PREFER.

NO RADICAL CHANGES IN STYLING FOR THE 6TH GENERATION, SAVE THE EXPECTED LARGER GRILLE AND FRESH LED LIGHTING.

ON OUR FIRST DRIVE IN CALIFORNIA, THE NEW OUTBACK PROVED PLENTY CAPABLE WITH 8.7 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE; MORE THAN SOME GENUINE SUVs.

OUR TIME IN THE BASE 182 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER 4-CYLINDER BOXER ENGINE INCLUDED ABOUT 10 MILES OF PRETTY GNARLY TRAILS WITH STEEP CLIMBS, AND TIGHT PASSAGES.

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE NATURALLY STANDARD, WE FOUND HILL DECENT CONTROL WORKED GREAT AND TORQUE VECTORING TRACTION AS SOLID AS EVER.

WITH XT TRIM COMES A 2.4 LITER FLAT TURBO-4.

IT KICKS OUT 260 HORSEPOWER AND 277 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AT A BASEMENT LEVEL 2000 RPM.

REPLACING LAST GEN'S LARGER 6-CYLINDER, THE TURBO-4 HAS PLENTY OF POWER.

STILL, THE BASE ENGINE IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR MOST BUYERS.

INSIDE, LIKE ITS LEGACY SEDAN KIN, A NEW 11.6 INCH TABLET-LIKE TOUCHSCREEN IS STANDARD ON ALL BUT BASE TRIM.

IT HANDLES CLIMATE CONTROL, VEHICLE DYNAMICS, APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO.

EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST IS STANDARD WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND EMERGENCY BRAKING.

ON SALE NOW, PRICING FOR THE 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK STARTS AT UNDER $27,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

John: THE ARRIVAL OF AN ALL-NEW TOYOTA COROLLA MAY NOT PIN THE EXCITEMENT METER AROUND HERE, BUT WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE OF ITS IMPORTANCE, BOTH TO TOYOTA AND TO THE SMALL CAR MARKET AS A WHOLE.

AFTER ALL, IT IS THE BEST-SELLING CAR OF ALL TIME; AND CONTINUES TO WRITE NEW CHAPTERS IN THE BOOK OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY.

WELL, THIS LATEST CHAPTER MAYBE ITS MOST INTERESTING YET.

* THE 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA BEGINS THE 12TH GENERATION OF A CAR THAT'S NUMERO UNO IN GLOBAL POPULARITY.

IT CONTINUES WITH THE RELIABILITY AND COMFORT THAT THE COROLLA IS HISTORICALLY KNOWN FOR, BUT ADDS AN EXPRESSIVE NEW DESIGN, IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY, AND A POWERTRAIN OPTION NOT PREVIOUSLY AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. NOW, RIDING ON TOYOTA'S NO LONGER NEW, NEW GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE, MEANS IT SHARES MANY HARDWARE BITS WITH BOTH THE PRIUS AND CAMRY.

YET, DESPITE THE NEW PLATFORM, WHEELBASE IS ACTUALLY THE SAME AS BEFORE.

BUT SHORTER OVERHANGS AND A WIDER TRACK GIVE THE LITTLE COROLLA A LOT MORE PRESENCE.

THE ENGINE IS MOUNTED LOWER IN THE NEW CHASSIS, WHICH MEANS A LOWER HOOD COVERING IT, IMPROVING DRIVER VISIBILITY.

UNDER THAT HOOD, THERE'S EITHER AN UPDATED 139 HORSEPOWER 1.8 LITER I4 WITH 126 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, ONTO WHICH IS ATTACHED THE EXPECTED CVT... OR OPTIONALLY, A NEW 169 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4, AND HERE, YOU CAN REPLACE THE CVT WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL IF YOU WISH.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN GO HYBRID.

YES, THE COROLLA IS NOW AVAILABLE AS A HYBRID HERE.

USING THE PRIUS' HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE, ITS GOOD FOR 121-COMBINED HORSEPOWER.

BOTH THE CHASSIS TRANSFORMATION AND INCREASED QUIETNESS, HAVE MADE THINGS MUCH MORE PLEASANT DRIVING THE COROLLA.

EVEN AT HIGHER INTERSTATE SPEEDS, OUR HYBRID HAD AMPLE POWER READILY AVAILABLE, YET REMAINED HIGHLY EFFICIENT AS WELL; AND SOMEHOW SEEMS TO PUT YOU IN A GOOD MOOD WHENEVER YOU'RE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

[TIRES SCREECH] NOW, THE COROLLA HYBRID IS NOT EXACTLY A REAL GO-GETTER OFF THE LINE, BUT IT'S NOT OVERLY POKEY EITHER.

WE HIT 60 IN 10.3 SECONDS, BUT IT TOOK A LENGTHY 17.7 TO FINISH THE QUARTER AT 79 MILES PER HOUR.

STILL, DESPITE A CVT, THE ENGINE NEVER SOUNDED BUZZY OR TINNY, AND THE COROLLA CHASSIS IS VERY SETTLED AND SOLID AT HIGH SPEEDS.

LIKEWISE, SHARING A SUSPENSION DESIGN WITH A PRIUS WON'T GET ANYONE TOO EXCITED; AND THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE, WE FOUND ABUNDANT UNDERSTEER, ALONG WITH SLOW OVER-BOOSTED STEERING.

AS FOR THE INTERIOR, OKAY...THERE ARE STILL SOME HARD SURFACES TO BE FOUND AROUND THE CABIN, BUT ALSO SPACE GALORE, AS THIS IS NOW CONSIDERED A MIDSIZE CAR BY THE EPA.

SEATS ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE, WITH THE COROLLA NO LONGER FEELING ENTRY-LEVEL.

THERE'S LESS OF A PENNED IN COCKPIT STYLE OF BEFORE, AND ALL BUT BASE L GRADE GET AN 8.0 INCH HIGH RES.

TOUCHSCREEN FOR MULTIMEDIA.

GAUGES ARE A MODERN TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL COROLLA SETUP; WITH AN AVAILABLE 7.0 INCH MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY THAT ALLOWS SWITCHING BETWEEN DIGITAL OR ANALOG SPEEDOMETERS.

A LOWER ROOFLINE, MAKES GETTING IN THE BACK SEAT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT THAN BEFORE, BUT ONCE INSIDE, SPACE IS GENEROUS AS WELL.

IN ADDITION TO THE HYBRID, WE GOT SOME SEAT TIME IN A 1.8 LITER-POWERED XLE.

THIS ENGINE HAS BEEN IN THE TOYOTA LINEUP FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT UPDATES HAVE KEPT IT RELEVANT; AND DESPITE THE LOW OUTPUT NUMBERS, IT NEVER FEELS UNDERPOWERED.

KNOWING THAT MANY COROLLAS ARE PILOTED BY NEW OR LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS, TOYOTA HAS MADE SAFETY SENSE 2.0 STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND IT'S QUITE COMPREHENSIVE, WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FULL-SPEED DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL, AND EVEN LANE TRACING ASSIST ALL INCLUDED.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 1.8 LITER ARE 30-CITY, 38-HIGHWAY, AND 33-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED 35.7 MILES PER GALLON.

THE HYBRID RATES 53-CITY, 52-HIGHWAY, AND 52-COMBINED; WITH OUR AVERAGE A SOLID 52.4 MILES PER GALLON, ALL ON REGULAR GRADE.

BASE PRICING, AT $20,555, IS CLEARLY A LOT MORE THAN WHEN THE 3RD GEN COROLLA FIRST WENT ON SALE HERE IN THE STATES BACK IN 1975, BUT STILL A GREAT VALUE ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THE ENTRY-LEVEL UTILITIES THAT ATTRACT MOST SHOPPERS THESE DAYS.

THE HYBRID, IN A SINGLE LE TRIM FOR NOW, STARTS AT JUST $24,055.

TOYOTA CERTAINLY HAS A WAY WITH HYBRIDS, AND IT'S SAFE TO SAY, THE COROLLA'S ROLE IN OUR AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE IS A SECURE ONE.

THE EFFICIENCY OF A PRIUS IN A MORE FAMILIAR PACKAGE THAT, DARE WE SAY, IS A LOT EASIER ON THE EYES, IS A MATCH MADE IN CAR HEAVEN.

THAT SHOULD HELP MAKE THE 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA MORE APPEALING, AND YES, MORE EXCITING THAN EVER.

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 SLEEK AND ENTERTAINING AUDI A7.

AND THEN, ITS AMERICAN LUXURY WITH SUBURBAN UTILITY, THE LINCOLN NAUTILUS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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...

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] *