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

JOIN US AS NISSAN FIGHTS BACK AGAINST THE CROSSOVER WAVE WITH THE ALL NEW ALTIMA... PAT GOSS USES COMMON SENSE TO KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE... STEPHANIE HART FINDS A POSH PLACE, FIT FOR EXCLUSIVE CARS... AND IT'S A NEW LEVEL OF STYLE AND EFFICIENCY FOR THE HONDA INSIGHT...

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...

FROM THE COLD OF WINTER, TO THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTAGE WIPER BLADES ARE ENGINEERED FOR USE ACROSS ALL SEASONS.

MORE INFORMATION AT RAINX.COM.

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.

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: WE'VE GONE ON ENOUGH ABOUT DWINDLING MIDSIZE SEDAN SALES HERE IN THE U.S., SO WE'LL SKIP THAT HERE, AND JUST SAY THAT SOME CARMAKERS ARE STILL FORGING AHEAD WITH NEW FAMILY-SIZED 4-DOOR ENTRIES, INCLUDING NISSAN.

INDEED, NISSAN'S 6TH GENERATION 2019 ALTIMA IS NOW READY FOR THE ROAD.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THE ALL-NEW ALTIMA CAN HAVE IN A SUV CRAZY WORLD.

* THE NISSAN ALTIMA HAS HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS OVER THE YEARS; LOOKING UP AT HONDA ACCORD AND TOYOTA CAMRY JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE MIDSIZE SEDAN SEGMENT.

BUT, IT HAS ALSO GATHERED QUITE A FOLLOWING OVER ITS PREVIOUS FIVE GENERATIONS THANKS TO ITS HIGH RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABLE PRICING.

2019 LAUNCHES A NEW CHAPTER, AND WITH IT COMES A HOST OF MEANINGFUL CHANGES.

THERE'S A FULL-FRONTAL MAXIMA ATTACK FOR STARTERS, WITH AN EVEN LARGER VERSION OF WHAT NISSAN CALLS THEIR "V-MOTION GRILLE."

THE NEW ALTIMA EVEN SHARES THE MAXIMA'S FLOATING ROOF LOOK; THOUGH THE BLACK PLASTIC TRIM PIECES THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN, JUST BLENDS IN WITH THE SUPER BLACK PAINT OF THIS EDITION ONE.

IT'S A LIMITED RELEASE TRIM PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES 19-INCH DARK ALLOY WHEELS, REAR SPOILER, UNIQUE LIGHTING AND BADGING OUTSIDE, WHILE THE INTERIOR GETS SPECIAL FLOOR MATS, ILLUMINATED SILL PLATES, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE NISSAN CONCIERGE SERVICE.

THE SPACE INSIDE HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE MORE OPEN FEELING, AND DESIGNERS SEEM TO HAVE COME FROM THE SAME SCHOOL AS KIA AND HYUNDAI, AS THERE'S A VERY SIMILAR INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN SHAPE, AND PLACEMENT ON TOP OF THE DASH.

THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT, AS IT IS IN EASY LINE OF SIGHT AND WORKS VERY WELL.

WE'RE BIG BELIEVERS IN NISSAN'S ZERO GRAVITY SEATS, PROVIDING SOME OF THE BEST COMFORT YOU'LL FIND IN THE MIDSIZE FAMILY CAR FIELD.

TRUNK SPACE IS ALSO QUITE GOOD AT 15.4 CUBIC-FEET.

BASE ENGINE IS A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER AS BEFORE, BUT IT HAS BEEN HIGHLY UPDATED; GAINING 9-HORSEPOWER TO 188.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN MORE SPECIAL AVAILABLE, INFINITI'S VC-TURBO.

THIS VARIABLE COMPRESSION 2.0 LITER I4 OUTPUTS 248 HORSEPOWER AND 280 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND REPLACES THE V6 IN THE LINEUP.

BOTH ENGINES ARE SADDLED WITH NISSAN'S LATEST XTRONIC CVT, BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE IN AN ALTIMA.

YOU CAN ADD IT FOR $1,350 MORE, THOUGH RIGHT NOW, ONLY TO THE BASE 2.5 LITER.

THE BASIC CHASSIS IS THE SAME AS BEFORE, BUT THERE'S AN ALL-NEW SUSPENSION BOLTED TO IT, INDEPENDENT STRUTS UP FRONT, MULTI-LINK IN THE REAR; AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL CHASSIS REINFORCEMENTS, AND NEW MONOTUBE REAR SHOCKS.

COMBINE ALL OF THAT WITH A NEW INTEGRATED DYNAMICS MODULE, AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER WAY THAT THE ALTIMA IS VERY CLOSE TO THE MAXIMA.

WE FOUND PLENTY OF GRIP THROUGH THE CONES; FROM A CHASSIS THAT BEHAVES LIGHT ON ITS FEET, NOT AT ALL BLOATED AS BEFORE; YET IT ALSO FEELS VERY SOLID.

NISSAN'S INTELLIGENT TRACE CONTROL USES SELECTIVE BRAKING TO AID ON TURN-INS, AND MOSTLY DOES SO WITHOUT BEING OBVIOUS OR INTRUSIVE.

JUST AS IMPRESSIVE, IS THE RESPONSE FROM THE VC-TURBO.

IT LEAPS OFF THE LINE, ROARING TO GO; DELIVERING PLENTY OF TORQUE, AND HITTING 60 IN 6.1 SECONDS.

HOWEVER, FROM THERE, THE CVT THROWS A WET BLANKET ON THE PROCESS; ENTER DRONING ENGINE NOISE, SOMEWHAT ALLEVIATED BY SIMULATED SHIFTS, AND AN OVERALL LAZY ATTITUDE TOWARDS POWER DELIVERY.

YET, NUMBERS DON'T LIE.

14.6 SECONDS AT 98 MILES PER HOUR IN THE QUARTER MILE IS QUITE NOTABLE FOR THE FAMILY CAR, AND A BIG SECOND, AND A HALF QUICKER THAN THE LAST 4-CYLINDER ALTIMA WE TESTED.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD ON ALTIMA, AND IT PERFORMED WELL IN OUR BARRIER TESTS.

IT CAN ALSO BE OUTFITTED WITH AUTOMATIC REAR BRAKING AND NISSAN'S PROPILOT ASSIST HANDS-ON-THE-WHEEL SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 2.0 LITER ARE 25-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED A QUITE GOOD 32.4 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

FOR AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE THAT'S SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE AT 11.4 BARRELS OF YEARLY PETROLEUM CONSUMPTION WITH 5.1 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

ALTIMA PRICING STARTS AT $24,645 FOR THE 2.5 LITER, $30,045 FOR VC-TURBO.

SO, IF A MUCH BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL FAMILY SEDAN DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS WHAT YOU'RE AFTER, YOU'LL GET A HEALTHY DOSE OF STYLE TO GO ALONG WITH IT, IN THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA.

* THE GREENBRIER IS A POSH 1100 ACRE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN WEST VIRGINIA.

AND IT'S HOSTED NUMEROUS PRESIDENTS, ROYALTY, AND COUNTLESS CELEBRITIES.

BUT IT HAS NEVER HOSTED A CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE, UNTIL NOW THAT IS.

AND, IT WAS WORLD CLASS, WITH EVERYTHING FROM BRASS ERA MOTORCARS, TO PRE-WAR PRODUCTION MODELS, TO THE MOST EXOTIC OF SPORTS CARS.

WELL, OUR STEPHANIE HART WAS THERE, AS SHE NOW SHOWS US THE CARS THAT IMPRESSED THE MOST.

* Stephanie Hart: THE GREENBRIER IS SURROUNDED BY WEST VIRGINIA'S MAJESTIC ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS.

THE VIEWS ARE STUNNING!

THE RESORT IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, DATING BACK MORE THAN 235 YEARS!

Pam Cunningham: THERE'S JUST THIS SENSE OF PEACE THAT'S PRESENT HERE.

Stephanie: AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE A LOT OF HISTORY.

TWENTY-SEVEN PRESIDENTS HAVE VISITED.

SO, COMMEMORATING THE PAST AND CELEBRATING THE FUTURE IS AT THE HEART OF THIS CHARMING RESORT.

AUTOMOBILE ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE CONVERGING HERE AT THE GREENBRIER TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

THIS ELEGANT VENUE WAS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR MAY 5TH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE, FEATURING 100 OF THE FINEST AUTOMOBILES IN THE WORLD.

[APPLAUSE] JUDGES SCORE THE VEHICLES BASED ON ORIGINALITY, CONDITION, AUTHENTICITY, AND APPEAL.

OVER HERE, ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC CARS OF THE '60s, A 1961 JAGUAR E TYPE.

Jeff Snyder: THESE WERE SO LOW PRODUCTION AT THE BEGINNING THAT A LOT OF THE ROOF STRUCTURE WAS ACTUALLY POP RIVETED TOGETHER TO CHECK THE FIT, AND THEN THEY CAME BACK, AND SPOT WELDED THEM.

SO, IT'S ALMOST A PRE-PRODUCTION TYPE AUTOMOBILE.

Stephanie: INSIDE THE GREENBRIER, SURROUNDED BY ALL THIS BEAUTY, IS WHERE THE RAREST AND MOST EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILES ARE BEING KEPT.

UNDER LOCK AND KEY, IN THE BUNKER ROOM.

AND THIS THING IS PRETTY HEAVY.

THE BUNKER WAS ONCE A TOP SECRET U.S. GOVERNMENT RELOCATION FACILITY FOR CONGRESS.

AND THIS IS THE CAR EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE, THE 1957 TRC FERRARI.

IT'S OWNED BY MR. MARRIOTT OF MARRIOTT HOTELS AND ITS CARETAKER IS GOING TO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE VEHICLE.

David Carte: THEY MADE 19 OF THESE CARS.

THEY'RE 4-CYLINDER AND TWO LITER CAR.

SO IT'S CONSIDERED A GENTLEMAN'S RACER FOR THAT PERIOD."

Stephanie: J.W.

MARRIOTT ACTUALLY DECIDED TO SELL THE CAR IN 1990.

HE MADE 10 TIMES HIS INVESTMENT, IN JUST SEVEN YEARS.

BUT AS THE SAYING GOES MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS.

David: AND HE REGRETTED SELLING THIS CAR BECAUSE THIS IS HIS FAVORITE CAR OUT OF THE COLLECTION AND HE HAS ABOUT 40 CARS.

Stephanie: WHAT DID HE DO?

WELL, WHEN YOU OWN THE MARRIOTT EMPIRE, YOU BUY IT BACK.

TODAY, IT'S WORTH FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OR ABOUT THE SAME AS 250 TOYOTA COROLLAS.

Stephanie: WOULD HE MIND THAT I AM SITTING IN THE CAR David: NO...NO, HE WOULD SMILE AND THINK, WELL, THIS IS FUN!

Stephanie: BUT NOT NEARLY AS FUN AS DRIVING IT!

David: IT NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN, THE CARS NEED TO BE DRIVEN OR THEY BASICALLY, WILL FAIL.

Stephanie: AND WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS, WHAT SORT OF LOOKS DO YOU GET FROM PEOPLE ON THE ROAD?

David: YOU GET AN AWFUL LOT OF THUMBS UP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE KIND OF GIVING YOU A STRANGE LOOK LIKE, "WHAT IS THAT NOISEY LITTLE RED CAR."

Stephanie: [LAUGHS] ANOTHER CAR THAT MADE MY HEART RACE, THIS 1972 MCLAREN CAN AM.

IT HAS 860 HORSEPOWER AND THANKS TO ITS ALUMINUM CHASSIS, IT WEIGHS LESS THAN A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE.

Bill Heifner: IT IS REALLY LIKE A BALLISTIC MISSILE [LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU DRIVE IT, THEY DIDN'T CORNER VERY WELL, BUT THE IDEA WAS THAT YOU ROLLED IT THROUGH A CORNER, AND KIND OF GOT IT STRAIGHTENED UP OF WHAT WE CALLED "GET IT SQUARED UP," AND THEN YOU LEAN ON IT REAL HARD AND IT JUST GOES.

IT REALLY IS A PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

ONE, IT'S A PIECE OF HISTORY AND YOU KNOW THERE IS A CERTAIN FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

Stephanie: SO, HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING?

Bill: UHHH!

Stephanie: HE WON'T TELL ME.

Bill: LETS JUST SAY, THAT IT'S WORTH... UM, IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT VALUE.

Stephanie: OKAY, WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THIS CONCOURS' HAS DOZENS OF REMARKABLE CARS, ALL OUT OF MY REACH...

SO, I HAD TO GET A FEW PICTURES.

BEST IN SHOW FOR THE INAUGURAL GREENBRIER CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE GOES TO THE BAXTER'S AND THEIR CAR PRODUCED BY THE SWALLOW SIDECAR COMPANY, WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS "JAGUAR."

IT WAS PRODUCED IN 1934.

AND IS ONE OF SIX WITH ALL ITS ORIGINAL RUNNING GEAR.

Stephanie: WELL, ALL GOOD THINGS HAVE TO COME TO AN END SOMETIME, HATS OFF TO THE WINNER AND AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

John: DOING IT YOURSELF IS VERY SATISFYING, ESPECIALLY WHERE YOUR CAR IS CONCERNED.

BUT PAS GOSS HAS SOME IMPORTANT DO'S AND DON'TS BEFORE YOU DO.

* Pat Goss: IF YOU'RE INTO DO IT YOURSELF THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR GARAGE.

NUMBER ONE, IS A FIRST AID KIT.

NUMBER TWO, IS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

THESE ARE MANDATORY.

NOW, OTHER THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

THERE ARE HIDDEN DANGERS IN ALL SORTS OF PLACES IN A GARAGE.

NUMBER ONE, AIR HOSES.

THEY DETERIORATE WITH AGE.

AND DEPENDING ON THE PRESSURE IN THE LINE AND SO ON, THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS.

SO BE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD QUALITY, GOOD CONDITION IN YOUR AIR HOSE.

BLOW GUNS LIKE THIS WHERE YOU USE TO BLOW DIRT AWAY AND SO ON, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE THE NEW STYLE.

THAT THEY HAVE THE VENTS ON THE SIDE OF THEM.

THAT IS TO PREVENT INJECTING AIR UNDER THE SKIN.

EYES?

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE EYE PROTECTION, NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD EYE PROTECTION.

SOMETHING THAT EITHER FITS OVER YOUR EXISTING EYEWEAR.

OR IF YOU DON'T WEAR GLASSES, SOMETHING LIKE WE HAVE HERE.

GLOVES.

WE USE TONS OF GLOVES IN THE REPAIR SHOPS THESE DAYS.

PRIMARILY, LIKE WE SEE HERE.

THE RUBBER TYPE.

AND WE BUY THEM BY THE CASE.

BUT WE ALSO, HAVE GLOVES FOR SPECIALTY OPERATIONS.

ONES FOR HEAT, ONES FOR SHARP THINGS AND SO ON.

SO, GOOD GLOVES.

NOW, THE TOOLS.

LIKE HERE, WE HAVE AN ASSORTMENT OF HAMMERS AS AN EXAMPLE.

THE MATERIAL THAT'S USED TO MAKE THESE HEADS ON THE HAMMERS ARE DIFFERENT.

THEREFORE, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH THE HAMMER, YOU WANT THE APPROPRIATE HAMMER TO BE HITTING THE PUNCH, OR TO BE STRAIGHTENING METAL, OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE DOING TO AVOID SHATTERING A HAMMER, OR GETTING HIT WITH SHRAPNEL FROM CHIPS FROM A HAMMER.

SO MAKE SURE YOU USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.

ALRIGHT, YOU MAY HAVE TO LIFT A CAR.

ONE REALLY GOOD WAY TO DO THAT IS IF YOU HAVE A GOOD SET OF RAMPS.

MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOOD.

OR YOU COULD HAVE A FLOOR JACK.

MAKE SURE YOU OPEN THE OWNERS MANUAL TO FIND OUT WHERE TO JACK THE CAR UP USING THE FLOOR JACK AND NEVER GET UNDER THE CAR JUST ON THE JACK.

ALWAYS LET IT DOWN ONTO JACK STANDS.

AND REMEMBER THAT JACK STANDS, IF YOU HAVE BLACK TOP OR DIRT, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THEY'LL SETTLE RIGHT INTO IT AND THE CAR COULD COME DOWN ON YOU.

SO, IF IT'S A SOFT SURFACE USE A THICK PIECE OF PLYWOOD.

ALWAYS CHOCK THE WHEELS USING WOOD OR RUBBER OR METAL.

SOME CARS HAVE WHEEL CHOCKS RIGHT IN THE TRUNK.

NOW HERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEVER DO AND THAT IS YOU NEVER PUT ANY PART OF YOUR BODY UNDER THE CAR WHEN IT'S UP ON ONE OF THESE FACTORY JACKS THAT COMES IN THE TRUNK.

THOSE THINGS ARE AN ACCIDENT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN.

FINALLY, HERE WE HAVE A BOTTLE JACK.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY VERSATILE.

YOU CAN DO MANY LOTS OF THINGS WITH THEM.

BUT LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE TOP OF IT.

THAT TOP IS SMALL AND IT CONCENTRATES THE FORCE, SO UNLESS YOU USE IT PROPERLY, YOU CAN PUNCH A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR.

NOT NICE.

BE SAFE.

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

John: THE ENGINE'S REVVING... AND WE HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD, SO IT'S TIME FOR A QUICKSPIN.

A ROCKY TRAIL IN WESTERN MARYLAND WAS OUR DESTINATION FOR THE 4-DOOR 2018 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED RUBICON.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST RUGGED VERSION OF WRANGLERS TRAIL-RATED LINE-UP.

THIS TOUGH HARDWARE INCLUDES ROCK-TRAC'S FOUR TO ONE LOW GEAR RATIO AND HEAVY DUTY AXLES.

ELECTRONIC LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS AND FRONT SWAY BAR DISCONNECT EASILY ENGAGE... FOR A FANATICAL DOSE OF TRACTION AND ARTICULATION.

IN TREACHEROUS TERRAIN A FAIRLY COMPLIANT SUSPENSION KEEPS THE CABIN COMFORTABLE RIDING ON 17-INCH WHEELS WRAPPED IN 33-INCH TIRES.

TEN POINT EIGHT INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, SKID PLATES, AND GENEROUS APPROACH, AND DEPARTURE ANGLES ALLOW THE RUBICON TO EASILY CLEAR EVERYTHING WE CRAWLED OVER.

THE 285 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR V6 HAS PLENTY OF LOW END GRUNT...

BUT THE THROTTLE IS A LITTLE TOUCHY FOR OUR OFF-ROAD TASTE FORCING US TO BACK OFF MORE THAN WE LIKE.

STILL, IT WORKS WELL WITH THE SMOOTH 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THE GO ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING ATTITUDE CONTINUES INSIDE WITH UNIQUE CONTROLS AND THE 4TH-GENERATION UCONNECT.

ALONG WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES ALREADY IN PLACE... FOR 2019 THE WRANGLER ADDS ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING.

WHILE, FAR MORE REFINED THE JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED RUBICON STILL HOLDS TIGHT TO THE RUGGED LOOKS, FEEL, AND CAPABILITY PURISTS EXPECT.

IT'S ON SALE NOW STARTING AT JUST OVER $41,445.

THE 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER N IS HYUNDAI'S FIRST IN HOUSE PERFORMANCE TUNED MODEL AND ONE HOT HATCH.

WE EXPECTED A MILD UPGRADE FROM THE STICK VELOSTER...

BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG BANG.

IT HAS BUILT IN TRACK CRED...BEING DEVELOPED BY FORMER BMW M DIVISION CHIEF ALBERT BIERMAN.

"N" SIGNIFIES DEVELOPMENT IN NAMYANG, KOREA AND TESTING AT THE NURBURGRING IN GERMANY.

WITH THE GTI AND EVEN R MODEL GOLFS, AND CIVICS CLEARLY IN ITS SIGHTS THIS NOT JUST A VELOSTER WITH BITS SLAPPED ON.

POWER POURS FROM A THETA 2.0 LITER TURBO GDI I4, DROPPED IN FROM THE SONATA, WITH A BIGGER TWIN SCROLL TURBOCHARGER.

250 HORSEPOWER RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.

ADD THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE AND YOU'RE THROWING DOWN 275.

INSIDE, THERE ARE ONLY THREE PEDALS... AND 6-SHORT THROW GEARS WITH REV-MATCHING WHILE FRONT WHEELS DO ALL THE WORK.

WE EAGERLY TOSSED IT AROUND AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY PARK IN CALIFORNIA.

Zach Maskell: THE THING THAT I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT THIS CAR IS NOT ONLY THE WAY THAT IT SOUNDS BUT IT'S JUST GOT THAT PULL THAT YOU WANT OUT OF A TURBO SPORTS CAR AND IT JUST KEEPS PULLING AND PULLING UNTIL THE RED LINE.

John: TORQUE VECTORING HELPS KEEP THE FRONT END PLANTED.

THERE'S ALSO AN ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.

UNDERSTEER ISN'T A WORRY.

THERE'S A BIT OF TORQUE STEER, BUT IT'S MANAGEABLE.

WE COULD KEEP PUSHING IT LAP AFTER LAP.

UNDER HARD BRAKING IT'S ALSO VERY STABLE, NO PULLING OR WANDERING.

IF THIS IS WHAT HYUNDAI IS CAPABLE OF...

IT'S GOING TO GET EXCITING.

THE 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER N IS ARRIVING IN DEALERSHIPS NOW, STARTING AT JUST UNDER $27,000 AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS BEING SYNONYMOUS WITH THE TERM HYBRID FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE, IT'S OFTEN FORGOTTEN THAT THE HONDA INSIGHT WENT ON SALE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME HERE IN AMERICA.

BUT WHILE PRIUS FLOURISHED, HONDAS GAS AND ELECTRIC HISTORY HAS BEEN FULL OF STOPS AND STARTS.

WELL, AFTER A 5-YEAR HIATUS, THE INSIGHT IS BACK FOR A THIRD GO.

SO, LET'S SEE IF HONDA HAS FINALLY HIT ON THE RIGHT HYBRID FORMULA.

* THE INSIGHT HAS BEEN BOTH A TRIUMPH AND A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE HONDA BRAND.

SO, THEY'RE HOPING FOR SOME "THIRD TIME'S A CHARM" MAGIC WITH THE 2019 INSIGHT.

STILL, CLASSED AS A COMPACT, HONDA GIVES THE NEW INSIGHT A MORE PREMIUM LOOK, AND FEEL, SO THEY COULD SLOT IT IN BETWEEN THE CIVIC, AND ACCORD.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE INSIGHT IS A TRADITIONAL 4-DOOR SEDAN.

EVEN BASE TRIM GETS LED HEADLIGHTS, AND 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS; WHILE TOURING SPREADS THE LED'S TO THE FOG LIGHTS, AND TURN-SIGNAL MIRRORS, AS WELL AS UPS WHEELS TO 17s.

LIKE...THE ACCORD HYBRID, THE INSIGHT ROLLS A 3RD GENERATION OF HONDA'S TWO-MOTOR HYBRID SYSTEM.

IT CAN OPERATE AS A SERIES OR PARALLEL HYBRID, AS WELL AS A FULL-EV; SWITCHING BETWEEN THE THREE MODES AS NEEDED.

THIS IMPROVES GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE BASE MODEL TO 55-CITY, 49-HIGHWAY, AND 52-COMBINED; WHILE UP-LEVEL TOURING TRIM RATES 51-CITY, 45-HIGHWAY, AND 48-COMBINED; NOW ALL MUCH CLOSER TO THE TOYOTA PRIUS.

SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS QUITE GOOD, BURNING AS FEW AS 6.3 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 2.8 TONS.

BUT WHILE, THE ENGINE PART OF THE ACCORD HYBRID IS A 2.0 LITER I4, THE INSIGHT'S HEART IS A SMALLER 1.5 LITER I4, WHICH IS STILL LARGER THAN THE PREVIOUS INSIGHT'S 1.3 LITER.

THE 1.5 DELIVERS A MODEST 107 HORSEPOWER AND 99 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ON ITS OWN, BUT THE TOTAL PACKAGE IS GOOD FOR 152 HORSEPOWER AND 197 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

NO TRADITIONAL TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED, AS THE FRONT WHEELS ARE DRIVEN DIRECTLY BY THE ELECTRIC MOTORS.

THOUGH, AT HIGHER SPEEDS, A CLUTCH ENGAGES TO DRAW POWER FROM THE ENGINE AS WELL, THROUGH AN E-CVT.

THOUGH NOW, BASED ON THE CIVIC CHASSIS, MORE ALUMINUM HAS BEEN USED TO REDUCE WEIGHT, AND ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING HAS BEEN STRATEGICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE BODY.

STEPPING UP TO TOURING TRIM WILL GET YOU A SMOOTHER RIDE DUE TO A RE-TUNED SUSPENSION THAT INCLUDES LIQUID-SEALING COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ALL AROUND.

WE FOUND THAT VERY LITTLE NOISE SEEPS INTO THE CABIN, HELPING ADD TO THE PREMIUM FEEL; UNLESS YOU ENGAGE SPORT MODE, AT WHICH TIME IT ASSUMES YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE ENGINE NOISE.

NORMAL AND ECON ARE OTHER DRIVE MODE CHOICES, AND STEERING WHEEL-MOUNTED SELECTORS ALLOW YOU TO ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF REGEN BRAKING YOU WANT.

WHILE, THE LAST GENERATION INSIGHT PROVIDED AN ENTERTAINING DRIVE MOSTLY DUE TO ITS LIGHT AND FLEXIBLE NATURE; THIS ONE DELIVERS THAT FUN WITH A VERY SOLID FEEL.

AND THE OVERALL DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS CERTAINLY SPORTIER THAN EITHER THE PRIUS OR KIA NIRO.

LIKE THE CIVIC, IT'S PRETTY ROOMY INSIDE; INCLUDING BEST IN CLASS REAR SEAT LEGROOM.

DUE TO POSITIONING, THE HYBRID BATTERY PACK UNDER THAT REAR SEAT, THERE'S A GENEROUS 15.1 CUBIC-FEET OF LUGGAGE SPACE IN THE TRUNK, AND FULL 60/40 SPLIT-FOLDING SEATBACKS.

UP FRONT, EVERYTHING IS FAMILIAR HONDA; FROM THE DISPLAY AUDIO TOUCHSCREEN, TO THE SMART LOOKING HYBRID-SPECIFIC GAUGE DISPLAY, AND THE PUSH BUTTON E-SHIFTER.

MOST SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE STANDARD, INCLUDING COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING; EX AND TOURING TRIMS ONLY ADDING LANEWATCH.

AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, INSIGHT ASSEMBLY WILL HAPPEN HERE IN THE U.S.; RIGHT ALONGSIDE CIVICS AND CR-Vs AT HONDA'S INDIANA PLANT.

PRICING STARTS WITH THE BASE LX AT $23,725, PASSING THROUGH EX ON THE WAY TO TOURING TRIM AT $28,985.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP UP FROM LAST GENERATION, BUT SO IS THIS 2019 HONDA INSIGHT; THOUGH WE WONDER ABOUT ONLY OFFERING IT ONLY AS A SEDAN, AS 4-DOOR SALES ON THE DOWN LOW.

BUT, IN MANY WAYS IT COMPLETES THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED CLARITY LINEUP WHICH INCLUDES A FUEL CELL, PLUG-IN HYBRID, AND FULL-EV SEDANS.

SO, THE NEW INSIGHT?

GREAT CAR, PERHAPS BAD TIMING, SO WE'LL SEE.

BUT, ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN, THE INSIGHT IS BACK WITH FULLY COMPETITIVE HYBRID HARDWARE.

AND, IT EVEN ADDS AN UPSCALE FLAIR GIVING HONDA FANS A BEVY OF CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO FUEL EFFICIENT RIDES.

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 HIGH EFFICIENCY IS ADDED TO ROOMINESS FOR THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID, AND CHEVROLET ADDS TECH, AND TOUGH TO THE ALL NEW SILVERADO.

TIL 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.

FROM THE COLD OF WINTER, TO THE HEAT OF SUMMER.

RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTAGE WIPER BLADES ARE ENGINEERED FOR USE ACROSS ALL SEASONS.

MORE INFORMATION AT RAINX.COM.

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.

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] *