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

JOIN US AS NISSAN CREATES A BOLDER PATHFINDER, THE ROCK CREEK EDITION... PAT GOSS UNRAVELS MOTOR MYTHS THAT CAN CAUSE REAL WORLD TROUBLE... ROGER MECCA HAS A MID ENGINE TALE FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS... AND THE END OF AN ERA, DETROIT'S LAST WINTER TIME NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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* 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...

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 .

John: NOTHING SPICES UP A VEHICLE LINEUP MORE THAN A "SPECIAL EDITION."

IT USUALLY APPEARS WELL INTO A VEHICLE'S LIFECYCLE, TO BREATHE A LITTLE NEW EXCITEMENT, AND GIVE FOLKS A REASON TO STOP BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FRESH LOOK-SEE.

WELL, NISSAN IS NO STRANGER TO THE CONCEPT, AND THIS TIME IT'S THEIR 3-ROW PATHFINDER UTILITY THAT'S ROCKING A NEW DO.

* IT'S CALLED "THE ROCK CREEK EDITION," AND IT'S BASICALLY, A MORE RUGGED-APPEARING 2019 NISSAN PATHFINDER.

WITH IT NISSAN IS PAYING HOMAGE TO THEIR PATHFINDER HERITAGE, WHILE GIVING BUYERS A NEW, BEEFIER-LOOKING OPTION.

AVAILABLE IN BOTH SV AND SL TRIMS, THE ROCK CREEK EDITION CAN BE HAD IN FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, IN ONE OF SEVEN COLORS.

ROCK CREEK ADDS A LOTS OF BLACK TRIM TO THE EXTERIOR, ALONG WITH UNIQUE 18.0 INCH WHEELS.

FENDER MOLDINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE INDUSTRIAL LOOKING, THERE ARE ADDED SPLASH GUARDS, AND A TOW HITCH IS ALSO INCLUDED; WITH WHICH YOU CAN PULL A HEFTY 6,000 POUNDS OF TRAILER.

INTERIOR CHANGES FALL ALONG THE SAME LINES; TWO-TONE SEATS, CONTRAST STITCHING THROUGHOUT THE CABIN, AND WHAT NISSAN CALLS "PREMIUM METALLIC TRIM."

NOW, YOU CAN CRANK THIS SV UP A NOTCH, AS THEY SAY; WITH A TECH PACKAGE THAT GETS YOU NISSAN CONNECT WITH NAVIGATION, AND HEATING ELEMENTS APPLIED TO THE FRONT SEATS, STEERING WHEEL, AND EXTERIOR MIRRORS.

OTHERWISE, IT'S THE SAME PATHFINDER THAT WE'VE COME TO KNOW AND MOSTLY LOVE.

THREE ROWS OF SEATING ARE STANDARD OF COURSE, WITH 7-PASSENGER CAPACITY, AND NISSAN'S EZ FLEX SEATING SYSTEM ALLOWS WIDE ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW.

A GOOD 16.2 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE LIES BEHIND THE 3RD ROW; FOLDING IT INTO THE FLOOR EXPANDS THE SPACE TO 47.4 CUBIC-FEET, AND THERE'S A MAX OF 79.5 CUBIC-FEET WITH ALL THE SEATS FOLDED.

FAMILIAR 3.5 LITER V6 STILL CRANKING OUT THE POWER, CURRENTLY RATED AT 284 HORSEPOWER AND 259 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; WORKING THROUGH THE UBIQUITOUS XTRONIC CVT.

OFF THE LINE, IT'S NOT EXACTLY A TREE SLUG STUCK IN SAP, BUT THERE'S NO REAL SENSE OF URGENCY FROM THIS PATHFINDER, EITHER.

POWER BUILDS SLOWLY BUT SURELY; TAKING US TO 60 IN 7.9 SECONDS.

LIKEWISE, THROUGH THE CONES, A RELAXED PACE IS PREFERRED; KEEPING THINGS AS SMOOTH AND STEADY AS POSSIBLE, AS VIRTUALLY ANY FORCEFUL MANEUVERING AT ALL, TRIGGERS SOME AGGRESSIVE BRAKING ACTION FROM THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM.

BUT, ONLY MODERATE BODY ROLL TO DEAL WITH, DESPITE A VERY PLUSH AND SOFT NATURE.

STEERING FELT SURPRISINGLY HEAVY, AND NOT SO QUICK THAT IT WOULD GET YOU INTO FAMILY TROUBLE.

AN AVERAGE BRAKING DISTANCE OF 118-FEET IS QUITE GOOD FOR A LARGE, LUXURY-MINDED CROSSOVER.

WE EXPERIENCED VERY MINIMAL FADE AND GOOD STABILITY, JUST AN OCCASIONAL PULL TO THE LEFT TO DEAL WITH.

OF COURSE, IT'S AWAY FROM THE TRACK WHERE YOU EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF WHAT THE PATHFINDER HAS TO OFFER, AND THAT'S GREAT COMFORT, AND A PLUSH RIDE TYPICALLY FOUND ONLY IN MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE UTILITIES.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE?

RIGHT ON, AT 22.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THE ROCK CREEK PACKAGE IS ONLY A $995 OPTION, PUTTING THE SV A $36,410 AND THE SL AT $40,060.

BUT YOU WILL STILL NEED TO ADD $1,690 MORE IF YOU WANT TO BACK UP THE RUGGED LOOK WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, SINCE THE PATHFINDER WENT THE CROSSOVER ROUTE FOR 2013, IT HAS NEVER BEEN A BIG HIT WITH THE OFF-ROAD CROWD, AND THE JELLY BEAN STYLE HASN'T HELPED MATTERS EITHER.

BUT FOR FAMILIES LOOKING FOR A SUPER-COMFORTABLE AND ROOMY UTILITY HOWEVER, THE NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS BEEN A PERFECT VEHICLE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

THE 2019 ROCK CREEK EDITION DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF THAT, IT JUST ADDS A MORE ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE LOOK TO WHAT IS ALREADY A GREAT SUV.

* IN 1966, LAMBORGHINI'S STRIKING MIURA PROVED THERE WAS NO BETTER PLACE FOR A SPORTS CAR TO HAVE A ENGINE, THAN OVER THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER.

MANY MID-ENGINE DESIGNS LIKE THE COUNTACH, TESTAROSSA, ESPRIT, AND GT-40.

HAVE BECOME POPULAR ICONS.

BUT OTHERS THOUGH JUST AS SPECTACULAR, HAVE SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS OF HISTORY INTO RELATIVE OBSCURITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE OUR OWN ROGER MECCA COMES IN, WITH A MID-ENGINE CLASSIC THAT DESERVES AND RESPECTFULLY DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION.

* Roger Mecca: IN THE 1960s AND '70s, THE ITALIANS RULED THE MID-ENGINE SUPERCAR UNIVERSE.

BUT IN 1978, AN UNLIKELY NAME THREW THEIR HAT INTO THE RING, WITH A CAR THAT HAS SINCE BECOME AS EXOTIC AND LEGENDARY AS ANYTHING WITH A HORSE OR BULL ON THE HOOD.

THE COMPANY WAS BMW AND THE CAR WAS THE M1, THE FIRST AND ONLY MID-ENGINE SUPERCAR BMW WOULD MAKE UNTIL THE I8, MORE THAN 30 YEARS LATER.

BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER EVERYTHING THAT WENT WRONG TRYING TO CREATE THE M1, IT'S A MIRACLE IT WAS EVER MADE.

IN THE 1970s, THE BMW CSL DOMINATED TOURING CAR RACING.

BUT AFTER PORSCHE DEBUTED THE 935, BMW SAW FEWER PODIUMS AND DECIDED A NEW WEAPON WAS NEEDED FOR THE RACETRACK.

THEY CONCEIVED A MID-ENGINE BULLET THAT WOULD BE BOTH FAST AND AGILE ENOUGH TO BLITZ THE PORSCHE.

BUT BMW WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO BUILD SUCH A BEAST.

LUCKILY, THEY KNEW WHO COULD.

BMW TURNED TO THE KINGS OF MID-ENGINE SPORTS CARS, THE ITALIANS, AND AGREED TO HAVE LAMBORGHINI BUILD THE CARS.

BMW WOULD PROVIDE THE ENGINE, A 3.5 LITER STRAIGHT SIX THAT WOULD LATER GO ON TO POWER THE FIRST M5.

AND TO DESIGN THIS BEAUTIFUL BODY, BMW ENLISTED THE MAN MANY CONSIDER TO BE, THE GREATEST CAR DESIGNER IN HISTORY.

THAT MAN WAS GIORGETO GIUGIARO, A NAME ATTACHED TO SOME OF THE MOST LAUDED BRANDS IN AUTOMATING, INCLUDING FERRARI, ALFA ROMEO, AND MASERATI.

AFRAID PEOPLE WOULD MISTAKE IT FOR AN ITALIAN IMPORT, ITS RUMORED BMW PUT TWO BADGES ON THE BACK TO ELIMINATE ANY SPECULATION OF WHO MADE THE CAR, AS IT WENT SCREAMING BY DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, OR THE TRACK.

SO, WITH A BRILLIANT DESIGNER IN PLACE, AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MASTERMINDS AT LAMBORGHINI, AND PORSCHE FIRMLY IN THEIR CROSSHAIRS, THE M1 WAS POISED FOR SUCCESS.

BUT THEN REALITY SET IN, AND TO SAY THE PROJECT BECAME A DISASTER WOULD BE, AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR RACING, BMW HAD TO PRODUCE 400 CARS FOR PUBLIC SALE IN 24 MONTHS.

LAMBORGHINI PROMISED TO DELIVER AT LEAST TWO A WEEK, EVEN BUILDING SEVEN PROTOTYPES.

BUT THEN LAMBORGHINI HIT A ROUGH FINANCIAL PATCH, CREATING MASSIVE DELAYS.

BMW PANICKED.

AS THE STORY GOES, SEVERAL BOARDROOM SQUABBLES RESULTED IN BMW LITERALLY BREAKING INTO THE LAMBORGHINI FACTORY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO TAKE BACK THE PROTOTYPE M1s, FEARING THEY WOULD GO INTO RECEIVERSHIP AND BE SOLD FOR SCRAP.

SO, WITH THE CLOCK TICKING, BMW HAD TO SCRAMBLE, AND FIND VENDORS WHO COULD BUILD THE PARTS, AND THE BODY, AND ANOTHER VENDOR WHO COULD PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER.

BUT BY THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE.

THE RACING RULES HAD CHANGED AND THE M1 NO LONGER QUALIFIED.

SO SUDDENLY, BMW WAS LEFT WITH A RACE CAR, AND NO RACE.

EVENTUALLY, 453 M1s WERE BUILT, 399 FOR PUBLIC SALE AND 54 SPECIFICALLY FOR RACING.

AFTER SO MUCH EXPENSE AND EFFORT, BMW WAS DETERMINED TO GET THEM ON THE TRACK.

SO, THEY CAME UP WITH THE PERFECT SOLUTION: INVENT THEIR OWN RACE, THE BMW PROCAR CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT LASTED FOR ONLY ONE SEASON IN 1979, AS A SUPPORT SERIES FOR FORMULA 1, WITH MANY DRIVERS ACTUALLY DOING BOTH RACES.

IN FACT, THE LEGENDARY NIKKI LAUDA WON THE PROCAR CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND THEN, THE FIA RACING RULES CHANGED AGAIN AND THE M1 DID QUALIFY.

BUT BY THEN, BMW WAS FIRMLY FOCUSED ON OPEN WHEEL RACING AND THE M1 FADED INTO HISTORY.

WHICH IS A SHAME, BECAUSE UNLIKE SO MANY OTHER MID-ENGINE SUPERCARS OF THE PERIOD, THE M1 IS AS WONDERFUL TO DRIVE AS IT IS TO LOOK AT.

IN FACT, THE M1 IS ARGUABLY THE WORLD'S FIRST TRULY SENSIBLE, USEABLE, EUROPEAN MID-ENGINE EXOTIC.

ZERO TO SIXTY TAKES ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF SECONDS, WHICH ISN'T FAST BY TODAY'S STANDARDS, BUT IT WAS BACK THEN.

AND THE 273 HORSES FROM THAT STRAIGHT SIX GIVE ME JUST ENOUGH OOMPH TO LET ME KNOW, I'M IN A SERIOUS SPORTS CAR.

I'VE GOT POWER AT ANY POINT IN THE RPM BAND.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND, ITS ACTUALLY VERY CIVILIZED.

I CAN SEE OUT CLEARLY, THE SHIFTERS NICE AND EASY, THE CLUTCH ISN'T TOO HEAVY, I CAN REACH ALL THE DIALS.

IT'S THE KIND OF CAR YOU TAKE ON A LAZY ROAD TRIP UP TO THE ALPS.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT LAZY IN THE CORNERS!

THE M1 HANDLES BEAUTIFULLY, WITH OUTSTANDING FEEDBACK, AND LOADS OF GRIP THAT GIVES YOU MORE AND MORE CONFIDENCE, THE FASTER YOU GO.

YOU SETTLE IN QUICKLY AND AFTER ONLY A FEW MINUTES, YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR YEARS.

SIMPLY GET IN, TURN THE KEY AND DRIVE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH FEWER THAN 400 MADE AND LESS THAN THAT ON THE ROAD TODAY, THE CHANCES OF ACTUALLY GETTING TO EXPERIENCING AN M1 LIKE THIS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

SO, IF YOU EVER DO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ONE, LET ALONE DRIVE ONE, JUST REMEMBER HOW CLOSE WE CAME, TO NEVER HAVING IT AT ALL.

John: THERE ARE A LOT OF DO-IT-YOURSELFERS OUT THERE.

BUT DOING IT RIGHT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

THAT'S OUR CUE TO THROW IT TO PAT AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: NOW I KNOW, NONE OF YOU WOULD DO THESE THINGS...

BUT, WE SEE SOME PRETTY CRAZY STUFF COMING INTO THE REPAIR SHOPS.

ONE OF THE MORE TYPICAL ONES IS WHERE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS A LEAK, AND THE DRIVER GOES OUT AND BUYS DUCK-TAPE OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF TAPE, AND WRAPS IT AROUND THE LEAKING PART, AND EXPECTS IT TO STOP THE LEAK.

WELL...IT MAY MOMENTARILY, BUT THEN REMEMBER EXHAUST SYSTEMS ARE HOT, THESE THINGS MELT, SOMETIMES THEY CATCH ON FIRE.

YOU'D BE LUCKY IF YOU DON'T BURN YOUR CAR TO THE GROUND.

WHAT YOU COULD DO FOR A LEAK IS TO GO TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BUY ONE OF THESE TEMPORARY REPAIR KITS.

THEY ACTUALLY WORK TEMPORARILY.

ANOTHER THING WE SEE ON EXHAUST SYSTEMS IS THE HANGERS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IN PLACE, THEY BREAK.

AND PEOPLE TRY ALL KINDS OF THINGS FROM COATED WIRES, TO TIE WRAPS, TO LAMP CORDS, AND COMPUTER CABLES, ELECTRICAL TAPE, YOU NAME IT, ALL THESE THINGS.

WELL, THEY ALL HAVE COATINGS THAT CAN CATCH FIRE.

THEY ALL MAKE A HORRIBLE STINK INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THEY DO CATCH FIRE AND AGAIN YOU'D BE LUCKY, IF YOU DON'T BURN YOUR CAR TO THE GROUND.

WHAT COULD YOU DO?

WELL, YOU COULD USE A COAT HANGER OR MECHANICS WIRE TEMPORARILY TO GET TO A REPAIR SHOP.

ALRIGHT, ONE WE SAW RECENTLY WAS WHERE THIS GUY HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, GAUGED A GREAT BIG CHUNK OF RUBBER OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS TIRE WAS JUST HANGING THERE BY A THREAD, HE ASKED US IF WE COULD FIX IT.

WE TOLD HIM NO, HE NEEDED A NEW TIRE.

WELL, HE HAD APPARENTLY SEEN SOME COMMERCIAL THAT SAID, "THERE WAS SOME GLUE OUT THERE THAT WOULD HOLD ANYTHING INCLUDING SUPPORT AN ELEPHANT FOR SIX MONTHS" OR SOME SUCH THING, ANYWAY...HE GOES AND BUYS SOME OF THIS STUFF, HE COMES BACK, HE PUTS IT DOWN INTO THIS GASH IN THE SIDE OF THE TIRE, HOLDS THIS FLAP OF RUBBER IN PLACE UNTIL IT DRIED AND SAID, "AH...I FIXED IT."

HE PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, HEADED OFF, MADE IT ABOUT A BLOCK AND THE TIRE SELF-DESTRUCTED.

YOU DON'T GLUE TIRES BACK TOGETHER FOLKS.

IT DOESN'T WORK.

HERE'S ONE, WE SEE ON THE INTERNET.

IT TELLS YOU KEEP A PAIR OF PANTY HOSE IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR.

AND IF YOUR FAN BELT OR AS WE CALL THEM "DRIVE BELT" FAILS, YOU CAN TWIST THE PANTY HOSE, YOU CAN WRAP IT AROUND THE PULLEYS AND SO ON, AND YOU HAVE A TEMPORARY BELT.

WELL, DON'T BET ON IT.

DON'T FEEL SECURE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PAIR OF PANTY HOSE IN THE TRUNK.

WELL, THEY DON'T WORK.

THIS IS BOGUS 100%.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY?

WELL, THE BEST THING TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY IS TO HAVE A FULLY CHARGED CELL PHONE IN THE CAR AND CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.

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

John: AROUND HERE, WHAT WE LIKE IS PRETTY SIMPLE, A SET OF KEYS, AND A FAST CAR.

AND WE'RE OFF ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN!

* THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON TAKES THE VW DNA TO A STYLISH NEW LEVEL.

FIRST REVEALED AT THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW TWO YEARS AGO, THE NEW TO THE U.S. ARTEON SUPPLANTS THE CC AS VOLKSWAGEN'S FLAGSHIP AND IS UNDERPINNED BY THE LATEST MQB ARCHITECTURE.

THIS SLEEK 5-DOOR CRUISER SITS LOW AND WIDE AS ARTEON SHARES THE CCs COUPE-LIKE PROFILE.

BENEATH THE FULL WIDTH CLAMSHELL HOOD IS A 268 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 WITH 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THROTTLE RESPONSE IS QUITE GOOD, THERE'S PLENTY OF POWER AND LOW END TORQUE.

A SLICK SHIFTING 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC SENDS POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS OR ALL 4.

LIGHT STEERING PRECISELY MANEUVERED US THROUGH THE CURVES DURING OUR DRIVE AROUND SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT AND A 4-LINK INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION IN THE REAR EASILY SOAK UP THE BUMPS.

THE ADAPTIVE DAMPING QUICKLY REACTS TO THE ROAD SURFACE...

WORKING WITH 5-DIFFERENT DRIVE MODES.

THE INTERIOR IS MORE UPSCALE THAN THE ARTEON'S STABLEMATES, WITH A WIDE DASH, FAMILIAR CONTROLS, AND PLENTY OF SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS.

THE DIGITAL COCKPIT BRINGS MORE TECHNOLOGY TO THE ROOMY CABIN, WITH AN AUDI-STYLE NAVIGATION SCREEN INSIDE THE GAUGE CLUSTER.

THE WHEEL BASE IS 5.0 INCHES LONGER THEN THE CC AND MORE THAN AN INCH LONGER THAN THE PASSAT.

SPACE HAS BEEN SCOOPED OUT OF THE HEADLINER TOO...

SO THERE'S A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF HEAD AND LEGROOM IN THE BACK DESPITE THE SLOPING ROOFLINE.

THE BIG HATCH MAKES IT A SNAP TO LOAD THE TRUNK.

DESPITE CARS IN GENERAL BEING OUT OF FAVOR THESE DAYS, ARTEON HOLDS ON TO VW'S DRIVER ORIENTED TRADITION, BUT NOW WITH TRUE GRAND TOURING STYLE AND COMFORT.

THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON IS ON SALE, STARTING AT UNDER $36,000.

WE THOUGHT PORSCHE WAS JUST BEING NOSTALGIC WHEN THEY SHOWED TWO DIFFERENT 911 SPEEDSTER CONCEPTS AT RECENT AUTO SHOWS.

TURNS OUT THEIR PLANS WERE MUCH BIGGER, AS 1,948 PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BUY ONE.

BASED ON THE OUTGOING 991 CHASSIS, THE 2019 PORSCHE 911 SPEEDSTER GETS A 502 HORSEPOWER VERSION OF THE GT3s NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 4.0 LITER FLAT-6.

HOPEFULLY, YOU'RE OKAY WITH MANUALLY SHIFTING GEARS, AS NO PDK IS AVAILABLE HERE.

OH, AND IT'S THE 6-SPEED FROM THE RACE SHOP, NOT THE BASE 911'S 7-SPEED.

FROM A CAR COMPANY THAT BOASTS OF BUILDING CARS FOR PURISTS, THIS MAY JUST BE THEIR PURIST OFFERING YET.

NO AIR-CONDITIONING, AND IF YOU INSIST ON COVERING UP THE BEAUTIFUL TWIN HUMPS THAT IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY IT AS A SPEEDSTER, YOU'LL HAVE TO DO IT WITH A MANUALLY OPERATED FABRIC TOP.

BUT, PURIST DOESN'T MEAN DE-CONTENTED; BEING BASED ON THE GT3 MEANS THERE'S CARBON FIBER EVERYWHERE, REAR AXLE STEERING, AND STANDARD PORSCHE CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES.

NOW, IF YOU HAD TO COMPILE A LIST OF THE PERFECT PLACES TO EXPERIENCE SUCH A CAR, THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.

Brian Robinson: I THOUGHT, IT WOULD BE A REAL CHALLENGE AVOIDING LOOKING AT ALL OF THE SCENERY AROUND HERE AND ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO DRIVING THIS THING, BUT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SPEEDSTER IS SO PRECISE, SO RESPONSIVE; IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLY ENGAGING DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND ALL THE SCENERY JUST QUICKLY BECOMES A BLUR.

John: THAT VISCERAL EXPERIENCE IS OF COURSE INTENSIFIED BY THE CUT DOWN WINDSHIELD; THOUGH IT'S NOT VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT 911s, JUST A LITTLE BREEZIER.

WEIGHT HERE IS 3,230 POUNDS.

PORSCHE DEALERS ARE TAKING ORDERS FOR THE 2019 911 SPEEDSTER NOW, WITH DELIVERIES SLATED TO BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR.

OH, AND YOU'LL NEED AT LEAST $275,000 TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

John: THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL EVENT FOR US HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

BUT THIS YEAR'S DETROIT FESTIVITIES, ARE EVEN MORE NOTEWORTHY, AND THIS IS THE LAST TIME THE SHOW WILL BE HELD IN USUALLY FRIGID JANUARY.

IT MIGRATES TO A WARMER JUNE TIME FRAME, NEXT YEAR.

BUT, BEFORE WE GET ALL NOSTALGIC, LET'S SEE ALL OF 2019s BIG REVEALS!

* WHILE, MOST EUROPEAN AUTOMAKERS DIDN'T MAKE THE DETROIT STOP THIS YEAR.

THE MAJORITY OF DOMESTIC AND IMPORT BRANDS ARRIVED AT THE 2019 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW WITH AN EXTENSIVE STREAM OF ALL-NEW MODELS THAT WE JUST CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE.

IT WAS THE FORD STAND THAT REALLY GET OUR ADRENALINE PUMPING.

AS IF DESCENDING FROM PERFORMANCE-CAR HEAVEN, THE ALL-NEW MUSTANG SHELBY GT500.

700+ HORSEPOWER FROM A 5.2 LITER SUPERCHARGED V8 MATED TO A 7-SPEED DCT; NO MANUAL FOR NOW!

WHILE, THAT MAY BE HERESY, WITH A 0-60 IN THE LOW 3s, THIS SHELBY IS GOING TO KICK SOME SERIOUS BUTT ON THE DRAG STRIP, ALONG WITH ROAD COURSE DOMINANCE THANKS TO A MAGNETIC SUSPENSION, LOADS OF RUBBER CRAMMED INTO THE WHEEL WELLS, AND BREMBO BRAKES.

CARROLL SHELBY WOULD DEFINITELY APPROVE!

FORD HAD ONE FOR THE FAMILY STREET SCENE AS WELL, THE ALL-NEW, 3-ROW, 2020 EXPLORER SUV.

SHARING THE LINCOLN AVIATOR'S CHASSIS, IT RETURNS TO A REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR BETTER TOWING, WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AN OPTION.

TARGETING A WIDE SWATH OF BUYERS, THE ALL-NEW EXPLORER WILL BE AVAILABLE AS A HYBRID, AS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE 400 HORSEPOWER ST, AND EVEN AS A POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY.

CROSSTOWN RIVAL GENERAL MOTORS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH THREE ROW CROSSOVER LUXURY IN THE NEW CADILLAC XT6.

IT'S A MORE CAR-LIKE OPTION TO THE STILL TRUCK FRAMED ESCALADE.

SHARING BASICS WITH THE GMC ACADIA, A 310 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6 AND 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAKE UP THE XT6 POWERTRAIN.

THE BIG NEWS AT FIAT-CHRYSLER, WAS BIG TRUCKS, WITH AN ALL-NEW RAM HEAVY DUTY.

YES, IT DOES HAVE 1,000 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WITH ITS AVAILABLE HIGH OUTPUT 6.7 LITER I6 CUMMINS DIESEL, AND DOUBLE-YES, IT WILL OUT-POWER, OUT-TOW, 35,000 POUNDS WORTH, AND OUT-HAUL ALL OTHER PICKUPS.

THE RAM POWER WAGON RETURNS TOO, HERE WITH AN UPDATED 6.4 LITER HEMI GAS V8.

DEBUTS FROM IMPORTS START WITH A CAR, THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.

MOST OF ITS TENNESSEE-BUILT UNDERPINNINGS AND DRIVE GEAR REMAIN THE SAME, BUT THE SLEEK NEW SHEET-METAL IS A MAJOR DEPARTURE, AND WE LIKE WHERE IT'S HEADED.

PERHAPS EVEN BIGGER NEWS, WAS VOLKSWAGEN'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE CHATTANOOGA PLANT FOR UPCOMING EV MODELS.

WITH VWs NEW FORD TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE, WE MIGHT EVEN SEE SOME FUTURE BLUE OVAL EVs MADE THERE.

TOYOTA OFFICIALLY UNVEILED THE WORST KEPT SECRET IN CAR-DOM, THE ALL-NEW SUPRA, THE FIRST PRODUCTION CAR DEVELOPED BY TOYOTA'S GAZOO RACING TEAM.

THERE'S STILL AN INLINE-6 UNDER THE HOOD, ONLY NOW IT COMES FROM BAVARIA, AS SUPRA SHARES A LOT OF ITS ENGINEERING WITH THE BMW Z4.

THAT TURBO CHARGED MILL CRANKS 335 HORSEPOWER, AND WILL SHUTTLE LUCKY OWNERS TO 60 IN JUST OVER 4.0 SECONDS.

TOYOTA SPRINKLED SOME OF THEIR PERFORMANCE DUST ON THE LEXUS RC F AS WELL, WITH A NEW TRACK EDITION; BOASTING 472 HORSEPOWER FROM ITS 5.0 LITER V8 PLUS, SPEED FOCUSED AERO TRICKS AND WEIGHT REMOVAL GALORE.

SUBARU'S STI TUNER ARM REWARDED THEIR MOST ARDENT FANS WITH THE SPECIAL EDITION STI S209, THE FIRST S-LINE PERFORMANCE CAR SOLD IN AMERICA.

ITS SPORTS ROAD-RALLY STYLE CHASSIS UPDATES, A WIDE-BODY DESIGN, AND A 341 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER TURBO BOXER ENGINE.

YES, THE BIGGEST KIA EVER, THE 3-ROW TELLURIDE CROSSOVER UTILITY IS FINALLY A REALITY.

SHARING CHASSIS WITH THE HYUNDAI PALISADE, ITS BRAWNY BODY HAS ROOM FOR 8, WITH PLENTY OF V6 POWER TO HAUL THEM, AND THEIR GEAR, TO WHATEVER ACTIVE LIFESTYLE STUFF THEY GET INTO.

SPEAKING OF COUSIN HYUNDAI, THEY DEBUTED THE ELANTRA GT N LINE.

IT LAUNCHES A NEW SERIES THAT FITS BETWEEN THEIR FULL N BRAND PERFORMANCE CARS, AND EVERYDAY MODELS.

CONFUSION TO FOLLOW.

THIS YEAR'S DETROIT SHOW INCLUDED MORE EYE-POPPING CONCEPTS THAN USUAL.

AFTER SHOWING A LONGER RANGE LEAF E+ AT CES, THIS NISSAN IMS EV CONCEPT MAY PREDICT A SLEEK ELECTRIC SPORT SEDAN JOINING THE MIX.

NISSAN'S INFINITI COULD BE THE NEXT BRAND TO UNLEASH A FULL-EV SUV, AND THAT COULD BE JUST THE BEGINNING.

THIS CONCEPT, THE QX INSPIRATION, RIDES ON AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM THAT WILL BE THE BASIS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF ELECTRIFIED OFFERINGS.

TECHNICALLY, THIS LEXUS LC CONVERTIBLE IS A CONCEPT, BUT IT LOOKS READY FOR PRIME TIME TO US.

IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE A NO-BRAINER, AND WOULD EASILY BE THE CAR TO BE SEEN IN ON THE STREETS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTH FLORIDA.

WE'RE TOLD THIS CROSSOVER CONCEPT IS A CLEAR SIGN OF WHAT'S COMING AS GM TRANSITIONS CADILLAC TO THEIR LEAD ELECTRIC VEHICLE BRAND.

NOW, WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE THE VEHICLE, JUST THESE PICTURES, WITH NO SPECIFIC DETAILS, BUT CADILLAC SAYS, "STAY TUNED!"

AND THAT'S IT FOR THE 2019 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

WE'LL BE BACK IN SUMMER OF 2020 FOR MORE FROM MOTOWN!

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

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

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

WHEN WE DECIDE WHICH CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUVs LEAVE THE COMPETITION BEHIND, AND THE SUSPENSE IS OVER... WE DRIVE THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA SUPRA.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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