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

JOIN US AS VOLVO TRY'S TO BROADEN THEIR WINNING UTE WAYS BY ADDING THE COMPACT XC40... PAT GOSS WITH ADVICE ON MAKING REPAIRS THAT WILL OUT LAST RUST... ZACH MASKELL SLIPS AND SLIDES OVER THE COLD EDGE PORSCHE STYLE... AND MORE FORCE, FUN AND FINESSE FROM THE MIGHTY MUSTANG GT...

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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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.

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ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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John: IT'S HARD TO THINK OF A MORE EXCITING TIME AT VOLVO THAN RIGHT NOW.

AFTER TRADING PARENT FORD FOR TATA, IT'S BEEN ONE HIT AFTER ANOTHER.

IN SHORT ORDER THEY HAVE TRANSFORMED THEIR ENTIRE SUV AND SEDAN LINEUP.

INCLUDING, WHAT IS, GLOBALLY, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT SEGMENT OF THEM ALL, WITH AN ALL-NEW XC40 COMPACT CROSSOVER.

* IF YOU'RE VOLVO, HOW DO YOU FOLLOW UP THE FANTASTIC XC90 FULL-SIZE AND XC60 MID-SIZE CROSSOVERS?

WELL, AUTOMOTIVE LOGIC WOULD DICTATE THINGS WOULD CONTINUE TO TRICKLE DOWN, AND INDEED THEY HAVE, WITH AN ALL-NEW, COMPACT SIZED, 2019 VOLVO XC40.

IT MAY BE VOLVO'S SMALLEST CROSSOVER YET, BUT IT FEELS BIG FOR THE CLASS.

AND, IT IS THE FIRST MODERN VOLVO NOT BUILT ON THE SPA PLATFORM, BUT A NEW COMPACT MODULAR ARCHITECTURE.

LOOKING TALLER AND STUBBIER THAN ITS BIGGER KIN, THE XC40s EXTERIOR IS BOTH BOLD AND CARTOONISH.

WE ALSO SEE TRACES OF LAND ROVER AND JEEP IN ITS LUXO-RUGGED DESIGN.

THERE'S PLENTY TO DRAW THE EYES HERE; FROM THE SCOOPED OUT GRILLE, DEEP BODY CUTS, AN AVAILABLE CONTRASTING ROOF, AND EVEN A LITTLE SWEDISH FLAG STICKING OUT FROM UNDER THE CLAMSHELL HOOD.

JUST DON'T TELL ANYONE IT'S ACTUALLY MADE IN BELGIUM.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] OUR TESTER IS A T5, WHICH IN CURRENT VOLVO-SPEAK MEANS, THE 2.0 LITER I4 UNDERNEATH THE HOOD IS TURBO-CHARGED.

SUMS OF 248 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE PUT IT WELL ABOVE CLASS AVERAGE.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE STANDARD WITH THE T5.

VOLVO IS OF COURSE, NO STRANGER TO THE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE BASED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GAME; HAVING FIELDED EXAMPLES FOR SOME 20 YEARS, SINCE THE 850 ESTATE, BECOMING V70XC HERE IN THE STATES.

A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED, 2.0 LITER, FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY, XC 40 T4 WILL ARRIVE HERE LATER THIS YEAR, WITH A PLUG-IN HYBRID AND PURE EV FOLLOWING THAT.

THE SUSPENSION DESIGN, AND OUR T5s RIDE ITSELF, FAVORS THAT OF ITS BIGGER KIN; YET...NEEDLESS TO SAY, ITS DIMINUTIVE SIZE MAKES IT A BREEZE TO WHIP AROUND CITY STREETS, AS WELL AS IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC.

WHICH YOU CAN DO QUITE EASILY, WITH INCREDIBLY POWERFUL RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE.

SO, THE XC40 SQUIRTS OFF THE LINE QUITE EFFICIENTLY AS WELL, CAPABLE OF HITTING 60 IN JUST 6.3 SECONDS.

POWER ARRIVES EARLY AND STAYS, SHIFTS CLICK THROUGH QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY, FOR A QUARTER MILE ENDING IN 14.8 SECONDS AT 95 MILES PER HOUR.

THE XC40 FELT NIMBLE AND EAGER THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

STEERING IS VERY LIGHT, YET...WE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD SENSE OF WHERE OUR WHEELS WERE POINTING.

THERE'S LASER-LIKE ATTENTION TO INTERIOR DETAILS, WITH A WEALTH OF SENSIBLE STORAGE OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CABIN.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE SHORTAGE OF PHYSICAL CONTROLS, AND OVER RELIANCE ON A BIG TOUCH SCREEN, DIDN'T IMPRESS US.

WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIALS AND THEME, IT'S TOTALLY SWEDISH; WITH PLEASANT-LOOKING ALUMINUM ON THE DASH, NICELY CARPETED DOOR PANELS, AND FIT-AND-FINISH COMMENSURATE WITH RIVAL LUXURY BRAND.

SIZE HAS NOT IMPACTED THE VOLVO COMFORT WE'VE COME TO EXPECT, WITH A FAIRLY HIGH SEATING POSITION; AGAIN, GIVING YOU THE IMPRESSION IT'S A LARGER VEHICLE.

REAR SEAT LEGROOM IS QUITE GOOD AS WELL, WITH ADEQUATE HEADROOM FOR MOST ADULTS.

IN BACK, THERE'S 20.7 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE, MAXING OUT AT 47.2 WITH THE REAR SEATS FOLDED; NOT AS ROOMY AS SOME, BUT THE SPACE IS FLEXIBLE AND VERY NICELY FINISHED.

WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY SYSTEMS, IF VOLVO HAS IT...IT'S HERE, AND NOT JUST AVAILABLE, BUT STANDARD.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 23-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

WE SAW A GOOD 27.8 MILES PER GALLON WITH THE REQUIRED PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AN AVERAGE ONE, AT 12.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY PETROLEUM USE, ALONG WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.6 TONS.

IF ALL OF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, YOU CAN BUY ONE FOR A MORE THAN REASONABLE $34,195.

THE T5 WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, STARTS AT JUST $36,195.

AND WITH THIS VEHICLE, VOLVO IS ALSO LAUNCHING A NEW SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE, THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET A VEHICLE INCLUDING INSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE FOR ONE MONTHLY PAYMENT, WITH NO MONEY DOWN.

AND, MUCH LIKE THE MILLENNIAL'S THEY ARE GOING AFTER PROBABLY ALREADY DO WITH THEIR SMARTPHONES, YOU CAN UPGRADE YOUR VEHICLE AFTER AS LITTLE AS ONE YEAR.

BUT, WHAT REALLY MATTERS, IS THAT THE 2019 VOLVO XC40 DELIVERS ON ALL POINTS, WITH A REFINED INTERIOR AND RIDE QUALITY FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COMPACT SEGMENT.

NOW THAT VOLVO HAS REVAMPED THEIR ENTIRE SUV LINEUP IN JUST 3-YEARS, IT'S HARD NOT SEEING THE XC40 FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF XC90, AND 60, WHICH IS TO SAY, BEING ANOTHER BIG SUCCESS.

* OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY ZACH MASKELL IS USUALLY HAPPY AS A CLAM, BE IT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, OR WOULD YOU BELIEVE, WHEN HE'S SKATING ON ICE, THICK OR THIN.

WELL, IT JUST SO HAPPENS, HE RECENTLY GOT A CHANCE TO COMBINE HIS TWO PASSIONS; TRADING IN HIS HOCKEY STICK AND SKATES FOR A STEERING WHEEL AND STUDDED TIRES, AND GO SLIDING AROUND IN SOME OF GERMANY'S FINEST AS CLOSE TO A SNOW BANK AS HE COULD GET.

* Zach Maskell: THESE FOOLS ARE BECOMING A SPORT FOR MANUFACTURERS.

ONE I CAN, GET BEHIND.

Lorne Banks: ACCELERATE... OFF GAS... ADD SOME STEERING...

BRAKE... LOOK THERE... STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL... GO TO POWER... WELL DONE... Zach: I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS WINTER INDOORS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ABNORMALLY COLD, IN FACT, I JUST FOUND OUT, I HAVE A VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY, SO WE INSTINCTIVELY FLOCKED TO NORTHERN QUEBEC AT PORSCHE'S CAMP 4.

WHILE, WE WILL BE OUTSIDE TRYING TO GET SOME SUNLIGHT, WE'LL ALSO BE SPENDING THE DAY INSIDE SOME PORSCHES.

Jonathan Urlin: BACK ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A MEDIA EVENT TO LAUNCH THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, THE C4S, WHICH BECAME A MEDIA EVENT CALLED "CAMP 4 S OVER IN FINLAND," IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TIME EVERYONE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DECIDED TO BRING IT BACK AS A RETAIL PROGRAM, 15 YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE IN OUR FIFTH VENUE ACROSS THE WORLD AND IN CANADA, THE SECOND LARGEST INTERNATIONALLY.

Zach: WE'RE ARMED WITH REAR AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE 420 HORSEPOWER 911s, AND SOME 718 CAYMANS... WITH 1.5 MILLIMETER STUDDED TIRES WITH THE HEATED SEATS ON MAX.

Lorne: THE FIRST THING THAT WE CHECK WHEN WE GET IN A CAR IS OUR DISTANCE FROM OUR BOTTOM TO THE PEDALS.

Zach: WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FLOORED, YOU WANT A SLIGHT BEND IN THE KNEE.

THEN, YOU PUT YOUR SHOULDERS BACK AGAINST THE SEAT, AND MAKE IT SO YOUR WRISTS TOUCH THE WHEEL.

THIS ALLOWS HAND SPEED, ONCE THE YOU'RE REALLY PUSHING THE CAR.

"PORSCHES TRACTION MANAGEMENT WORKS CLOSEST WITH PORSCHE STABILITY CONTROL AKA PSM...

I LIKE TO CALL IT PLEASE SAVE ME.

BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU NUMEROUS TIMES ON A RACETRACK, IT HAS DONE JUST THAT.

OUT HERE, WE ARE TURNING THAT OFF, THAT WAY WE GET US SOME OVERSTEER.

Lorne: SO THE BEAUTY ABOUT AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AS WE'RE SEEING, IS AS SOON AS WE STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL, WE CAN ADD POWER TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR BACK OUT.

Zach: AS OPPOSED TO REAR-WHEEL DRIVE?

Lorne: REAR WHEEL DRIVE, WE HAVE TO BASICALLY SIT THERE WITH A LOT OF COUNTER STEER AND WAIT.

Zach: LIKE ANY SCHOOL, WE START SIMPLE.

SO FIRST WE PRACTICE DONUTS ON THE SKIDPAD, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAY OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

THE DREADED UNDERSTEER, WHEN THE CAR PLOWS FORWARD AND YOU DON'T WANT IT TO.

THEN, WE MOVE ON TO THE SLALOM.

WE'RE INSTRUCTED TO TAP THE BRAKES TO GET TRACTION TO THE FRONT WHEELS, THEN STEER THE CAR WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE LEARN TODAY.

LEFT FOOT BRAKING.

EVEN WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WE COME INTO THE TURN.

FLICK.

ADD SOME BRAKE THAT WAY WE GET MORE TRACTION UP FRONT.

STRAIGHTEN OUT.

AND THEN, WE POWER OUT.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE CAR TO ROTATE.

WHILE, IT MAY LOOK HECTIC OUTSIDE, EVERYTHING INSIDE IS TIMING, AND PATIENCE.

Jonathan: THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS HERE AT THE ICE EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE CAMP 4, CAMP 4 S, AND OUR ADVANCED LEVEL PROGRAM ICE FORCE.

Zach: WORK YOUR WAY TO ICE FORCE AND EXPERIENCE TURBO Ss AND GT3s ON THE ICE.

BUT FIRST, START AT CAMP 4, FOR A LITTLE OVER $4,000, WHICH GIVES YOU THE BASIC TWO-DAY COURSE, DELICIOUS MEALS AND A ROOM WITH A MUCH NEEDED FIREPLACE.

ONE THING THAT SETS THIS SCHOOL APART FROM OTHERS, WAS SEAT TIME.

I WAS EXHAUSTED AT THE END OF THE DAY.

WHILE, THIS IS AN AMUSEMENT PARK FOR THE SPORT CAR FIEND, COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ALWAYS FELT THE NEED TO BECOME A BETTER WINTER DRIVER, I PROMISE YOU'D LEAVE FEELING THE SAME WAY AS WELL.

Lorne: THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE SCHOOL, RIGHT.

IS TO BE COMFORTABLE DRIVING A CAR SIDEWAYS IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.

Voice On Radio: GOOD JOB GUYS.

EXCELLENT DAY.

John: THE LONGER YOU OWN A CAR, THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL NEED SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT ADVICE PAT HAS DOWN IN GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: SINCE, THE VERY INCEPTION OF STEEL BODIES ON AUTOMOBILES, THERE HAS BEEN ONE MORTAL ENEMY.

AND THAT IS RUST, ESPECIALLY RUST THROUGH, STRUCTURAL RUST AND SO ON.

LIKE ON THIS CLASSIC JEEP, WE CAN SEE THAT THE ROCKER PANEL IS RUSTED, THE DOG LEG IS RUSTED.

WE NEED TO REPLACE THESE PARTS AND OF COURSE, FOR CLASSICS AND COLLECTIBLES, THESE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, LIKE THIS DOGLEG WHICH WOULD GO IN HERE.

NOW, WE WANTED TO DO THIS CAR UPRIGHT.

WE TOOK IT TO "TREASURED MOTORCARS" HERE IN MARYLAND.

AND LET'S SEE WHAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

OKAY NOW, WHEN TREASURED MOTORCARS GOT A HOLD OF THIS, WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY GAINED ACCESS TO THE PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NOW, TO GET TO THE ROCKER PANEL, THE FRONT FENDER HAD TO COME OFF IT, THE DOORS HAD TO COME OFF BECAUSE THERE ARE SEAMS, AND EVERYTHING INSIDE THAT NEED TO BE CUT AWAY, AND RE-WELDED.

SO, THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP OF THIS OPERATION.

THE NEXT THING WAS THAT THEY HAD TO CUT THE OLD PANELS OFF IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT DIDN'T DAMAGE ANY OF THE GOOD METAL.

PATCH OR REPAIR PANELS AS WE SEE HERE ARE AVAILABLE FOR MOST COLLECTABLE CARS.

CHANCES ARE IF IT WAS POPULAR BACK IN THE DAY YOU COULD GET REPAIR PANELS FOR IT.

NOW, THE THING IS YOU MIGHT, AND I SAY, MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THIS YOURSELF, IF YOU HAVE THE TALENT AND IF YOU HAVE THE TOOLS, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.

AND WE FOUND THAT OUT HERE BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF RUST THAT WAS HIDDEN UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THAT'S WHEN A GOOD BODY SHOP COMES INTO PLAY.

THESE INNER PIECES WEREN'T AVAILABLE FOR THIS JEEP, SO TREASURED MOTORCARS HAD TO FABRICATE THEM FROM SCRATCH.

NOW THIS INVOLVES CUTTING, BENDING, AND SHAPING NEW METAL TO MATCH THE CONTOURS OF THE ORIGINAL BODY WORK.

AND THIS TAKES THE PROPER TOOLS, A LARGE DEGREE OF SKILL, AND LOTS OF PATIENCE.

AND THAT'S THE ONE AREA MOST DO-IT-YOURSELFERS FALL SHORT.

THIS PARTICULAR JOB INVOLVED 50 HOURS OF LABOR JUST IN FABRICATION.

MAKING THESE NEW PIECES AND MAKING THEM FIT PROPERLY IS CRITICAL.

RUSTY PARTS WILL CONTINUE TO RUST SO THEY MUST BE REPLACED.

AND IF YOU ALLOW WATER, DEBRIS, AND SALT TO GET INTO NEWLY REPAIRED AREAS, WELL...THE REPAIR ISN'T GOING TO LAST, AND YOU'RE WASTED YOUR TIME, AND MONEY.

DO THE JOB RIGHT OR HAVE IT DONE RIGHT, AND YOU'LL HAVE A QUALITY REPAIR THAT EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, AND LOOKS GREAT IN THE PROCESS.

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

John: WE LOVE THE SOUND OF A HIGH REVVING ENGINE.

SO, OFF WE GO IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

THE GPS GUIDED US TO WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA IN THE 2019 ACURA RDX.

WHEN IT ARRIVED FOR 2007, WE ALL RAVED ABOUT ACURA'S SMALL LUXO UTILITY WITH TURBO POWER THAT WAS ALSO, A BLAST TO DRIVE.

BUT IT DIDN'T SELL VERY WELL.

BY THE SECOND GENERATION, IT BECAME EVEN MORE LUXURIOUS, BUT ALSO MORE BLAND.

NOW IN ITS THIRD TRY, THE RDX IS LONGER, WIDER AND TALLER, PLUS, HAPPILY, REGAINS SOME OF ITS ORIGINAL SPUNK.

ITS WEARS ACURA'S DISTINCTIVE DIAMOND PENTAGON GRILLE, AND JEWEL EYE HEADLIGHTS NOW CROWNED WITH SEVEN LED'S.

LAST YEAR'S V6 IS REPLACED WITH A TORQUIER DIRECT-INJECTION AND TURBO CHARGED 2.0 LITER INLINE-4 THAT PRODUCES 272 HORSEPOWER.

ENGINEERS ADDED MORE GEARS TOO, NOW WITH A SMOOTH 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

A STIFF NEW PLATFORM UNDERPINS THE RDX, WITH A LONGER WHEELBASE.

STEERING IS LIGHT AND REACTIVE.

SUPER HANDLING-ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS FIRMLY IN CONTROL THROUGH THE CURVES.

THE COMPLIANT RIDE ALSO HAS A SPORTY SIDE WE LIKE.

Ben Davis: I'VE BEEN POUNDING THIS 2019 ACURA RDX UP AND DOWN THESE MOUNTAINS OUTSIDE WHISTLER FOR A FEW HOURS NOW, AND IT'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK IT TO.

IT'LL COMFORTABLY BOUNCE ALONG OR YOU CAN REALLY EXPLOIT ITS RIGIDITY WITH THE "SPORT PLUS MODE."

John: INSIDE, THE RDX'S INVITING ERGONOMICS FAVOR THE NSX.

COMBINING BUTTONS WITH A NEW TRUE TOUCHPAD INTERFACE, MADE OPERATION MORE INTUITIVE THAN EXPECTED, AND THE HEAD-UP DISPLAY IS ONE OF THE MOST LEGIBLE WE'VE SEEN.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE ACURA HAS RECAPTURED SOME OF ITS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SPORTINESS, WITHOUT TURNING OFF WELL-HEELED BUYERS.

THE 2019 ACURA RDX IS AT DEALERS NOW, STARTING AT JUST OVER $37,000.

THE 2019 SUBARU ASCENT MID-SIZE CROSSOVER IS THE BIGGEST SUBARU YET, AND THE BRAND'S SECOND ATTEMPT IN THE 3-ROW UTILITY MARKET.

REMEMBER THE 2006 B9 TRIBECA?

IT'S POLARIZING FRONT END INSPIRED BY SUBARU'S AVIATION HISTORY WITH A BIG TURN-OFF.

A REFRESH IN 2008 BROUGHT TONED-DOWN LOOKS, BUT NOT MUCH TRACTION IN THE MARKET, SO SUBARU PULLED THAT PLUG IN 2014.

THEIR STRATEGY THIS TIME AROUND IS THE MORE CONSERVATIVELY DESIGNED ASCENT.

UNDERNEATH THIS SENSIBLE SHEET METAL IS SUBARU'S NEW 260 HORSEPOWER 2.4L TURBO BOXER 4-CYLINDER ENGINE.

NOW, IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE THE IDEAL ENGINE FOR A LARGER CROSSOVER, BUT SUBARU KNOW-HOW, TURBO POWER, AND A BROAD TORQUE CURVE DELIVERS MORE THAN ADEQUATE THROTTLE RESPONSE.

IT NATURALLY, CONNECTS TO A CVT AND SUBARU'S STANDARD SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

ENGINEERS EXTENDED THE SUBARU GLOBAL PLATFORM, PROVIDING A SOLID BASE FOR THE ASCENT, EMPHASIZING A RIGID CHASSIS, LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY, AND SUPPLE SUSPENSION.

HANDLING IS SURPRISINGLY NIMBLE, STEERING IS LIGHT AND DIRECT, AND THE RIDE IS COMPLIANT EVEN WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH.

INSIDE, SUBARU HAS TAKEN BIG STEPS TO REDUCE NOISE.

WITH SEATING FOR 7 OR 8, WHEN IT COMES TO INTERIOR PASSENGER AND CARGO SPACE, THE ASCENT SLIPS INTO A CROWDED FIELD, BETWEEN THE HONDA PILOT AND VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS.

MANY OF THE FEATURES, OF EYESIGHT SAFETY DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY ARE STANDARD... LIKE, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, AND AUTOMATIC PRE-COLLISION BRAKING, OTHER SAFETY TOOLS CAN BE ADDED.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE INCLUDED TOO.

THANKS TO THEIR COMPACT UTILITIES, SUBARU SALES HAVE BEEN SOARING.

NOW, WITH FAMILY-FRIENDLY SIZE SEATING, GREAT VISIBILITY, AND A LONG LIST OF SAFETY FEATURES, FOR THE 2019 SUBARU ASCENT, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

ON SALE THIS SUMMER, PRICE STARTS AT $32,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON.

WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE CARS AND MUSCLE CARS, AS THEY SAY, "IF YOU'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD, YOU'RE PROBABLY FALLING BEHIND."

WELL, FORD IS DEFINITELY MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR MUSTANG.

IT GETS A HOST OF UPDATES FOR '18, MANY OF THEM OUR FAVORITE KIND, ONES THAT MAKE IT GALLOP FASTER!

[ENGINE REVS] * THE 6TH GEN MUSTANG HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE STREET FOR 3-YEARS, BUT FORD FELT IT WAS ALREADY IN NEED OF TWEAKING.

SO, HOW DO YOU MAKE A GREAT PONY CAR GREATER?

WELL, WE'VE COME TO ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA IN THIS 2018 FORD MUSTANG GT TO FIND OUT.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] MECHANICAL CHANGES START WITH MORE BEEF FROM THE 5.0 LITER.

NOW PUSHING 460 PONIES OUT OF ITS SLIGHTLY ENLARGED 8-CYLINDERS, AND REVVING HIGHER THAN EVER, TO WHIP UP 420 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND THERE'S A NEW 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO HANDLE THE EXTRA FORCE, AIDED BY A NEW TWIN DISC CLUTCH.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT INTO SELECTING THEIR OWN GEARS, A 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOW AVAILABLE AS WELL.

BUT, NO THANKS, IT'S THE MANUAL FOR US.

WORKING IT AND THE PEDALS, WILL GET YOU A 0-60 RUN OF 4.5 SECONDS.

A NEW DRAG MODE HELPS YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO OPT FOR THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, WHICH FORD CLAIMS IS EVEN QUICKER.

OH WELL, LINE-LOCK IS NOW STANDARD ON ALL 'STANGS NOT JUST THE GT, IF YOU'RE MORE INTO MAKING SMOKE THAN HASTE.

RIPPING THROUGH THE GEARS IS A PURE DELIGHT.

THE NEW TRANS COMBINED WITH GREAT PEDAL PLACEMENT, MAKES FOR QUICK WORK OF IT.

AND ONCE A QUARTER MILE'S WORTH OF GEORGIA ASPHALT HAD PASSED, WE WERE AT 115 MILES PER HOUR; AFTER 12.4 SECONDS.

THE EXHAUST NOTE POURING OUT IS BETTER THAN EVER, THANKS TO AN OPTIONAL ACTIVE VALVE PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO OUR EARS, BUT IF YOU THINK YOUR NEIGHBORS MIGHT COMPLAIN, YOU CAN ENGAGE A NEW QUIET START MODE.

GT PERFORMANCE PACKS ARE BACK.

OUR CAR HAD LEVEL ONE.

BUT, ALSO ADDED THE NEW LEVEL'S TWO'S GAME-CHANGING MAGNARIDE SHOCKS.

SIMILAR TO WHAT'S FITTED ON THE CHEVY CAMARO SS 1LE, THIS ACTIVE SYSTEM TAKES A MULTITUDE OF THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING EVEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, AND ADJUSTS ACCORDINGLY.

THERE'S ALSO, A NEW CROSS-AXIS JOINT REAR SUSPENSION, AND JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE, FOUR MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 4 Ss ON 19-INCH WHEELS.

WHETHER, IT'S THOSE TIRES, THE SHOCKS, OR THE SUSPENSION SETUP, THIS 5.0 TRULY DOES FEEL NIMBLER AROUND A ROAD COURSE, AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THERE IS MORE GRIP TO EXPLOIT.

TRANSMISSION GEARING HAS BEEN CHANGED AND SEEMS PERFECT FOR THIS TRACK, WHILE THE PERFORMANCE PACK'S BREMBO BRAKES WERE PHENOMENAL, FAR ABOVE WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN A BASIC GT MUSTANG.

BUT FOR ALL OF ITS ON-TRACK PROWESS, THIS GT LEVEL 1 REMAINS A VERY APPROACHABLE, EASY TO LIVE WITH CAR, THAT'S A BREEZE TO OPERATE WHETHER CRUISING AROUND TOWN OR ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY.

NOW, JUST TO MAKE THIS UPDATE AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE, OUR BELOVED STANG GETS OPTIMIZE AERODYNAMICS COURTESY OF RECONFIGURED FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS, ALONG WITH A LOWER HOOD, WITH NEW VENTS.

A FRONT SPLITTER AND TWEAKED REAR LED TAIL LIGHTS.

IN FACT ALL LED LIGHTING GETS UPDATED.

OTHER NEWNESS COMES IN THE WAY OF A 12-INCH DIGITAL LCD CUSTOMIZABLE DIGITAL DASH DISPLAY.

ELSEWHERE INSIDE, THERE'S MORE STITCHING THROUGHOUT, A NEW PULSING START BUTTON READY TO SET EVERYTHING OFF, AND EVEN A FIRST TIME HEATED STEERING WHEEL.

FINALLY, THERE'S UPDATED SYNC CONNECT FOR THE HEIGHT OF CONNECTIVITY.

SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE UPDATED AS WELL, WITH MUSTANG NOW GETTING AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A GT MANUAL ARE 15-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

BASE GT PRICING DOES SNEAK UP A BIT, TO $35,995; TACK ON ANOTHER 4-GRAND FOR THE LEVEL 1 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AND $1600 MORE FOR THE MAGNARIDE SHOCKS.

OR, GO FULL BOARD WITH LEVEL 2 FOR $6500.

BUT JUST A REMINDER, BASE "STANGS," USING A BASE ECOBOOST I4; THE V6 IS HISTORY; GETS A LOT OF THE SAME IMPROVEMENTS AND IS ACTUALLY, CHEAPER THAN LAST YEAR AT $26,485.

AS PONY CARS CONTINUE TO BATTLE IT OUT, STREAKING DOWN THE FRONT STRETCH TOWARDS A FINISH LINE THAT MAY NEVER BE REACHED, MORE TECHNOLOGY AND MORE PERFORMANCE ARE BEING ADDED CONTINUOUSLY.

REGARDLESS, THE 2018 FORD MUSTANG WILL SUCCEED BY DOING WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE MUSTANG FAITHFUL FIRST.

BEING, UNMISTAKABLY, A MUSTANG.

IT MAY NOT BE THE FASTEST MUSCLE CAR OUT THERE, BUT IT HAS NO GLARING FLAWS, AND IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST TOTAL PACKAGE.

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 KIA PLUGS-IN THEIR NIRO CUTE-UTE FOR EVEN MORE ELECTRIFIED MILES.

AND, WE HIT THE TRACK IN THE POTENT LAMBORGHINI HURACAN PERFORMANTE.

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.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

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] *