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

JOIN US AS CADILLAC ADDS TO THEIR LUXURIOUS HIGH RIDER LINE-UP, WITH THE 3-ROW XT6... PAT GOSS WITH WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN UPSIZING YOUR TIRES... TWO WHEELIN BRIAN ROBINSON RIDES A MODERN CRUISER WITH DEEP DNA... AND WE SLIP INSIDE THE SLEEK AND SOPHISTICATED VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON...

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...

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

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: BY NOW, YOU'VE LIKELY HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT CADILLAC BECOMING GM'S PRIMARY ELECTRIC VEHICLE BRAND.

WELL, WE'LL SAVE THAT FOR TOMORROW!

TODAY, CADILLAC STILL HAS TO MAINTAIN ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE AS GENERAL MOTORS PREMIER LUXURY BRAND.

AND, THAT MEANS OFFERING THEIR BASE PLENTY OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE UTILITIES.

WELL...NOW, CADDY HAS ADDED ONE MORE, THE NEW 3-ROW, XT6.

* IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING IN THE LAST DECADE, IT'S THAT A BRAND CAN'T HAVE TOO MANY UTILITY MODELS.

EVEN WHEN THE MOTHER OF ALL LUXURY SUVs, THE CADILLAC ESCALADE, IS IN YOUR STABLE, THERE'S STILL ROOM TO ESCALATE YOUR GAME WITH ONE MORE 3-ROW FAMILY HAULER.

AT LEAST CADILLAC THINKS SO, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS 2020 XT6.

CADILLAC HAS HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS IN RECENT YEARS, BUT THINGS ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING UP WITH THEIR WELL-RECEIVED CROSSOVERS.

THIS XT6, THEIR BIGGEST CROSSOVER YET, FOCUSES JUST AS MUCH ON FEATURES FOR THE FAMILY AS IT DOES ON THE USUAL CADDY PRIORITIES OF LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY.

THAT STARTS INSIDE WITH AN INVASION OF USB PORTS.

SOMETIMES, THERE JUST NEVER SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH OF THEM, NOT THE CASE HERE; YOU'LL FIND SIX, STANDARD.

WITH SEATING FOR SEVEN, THAT ONLY LEAVES ONE PASSENGER OUT, UNLESS YOU UPGRADE TO SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, THEN YOU'RE SET.

EITHER WAY, THE SECOND ROW IS QUITE ROOMY; THIRD ROW SPACE IS ALSO VERY GOOD FOR THE SEGMENT.

ALL SEATS ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE; AND THINGS ARE SUPERBLY QUIET AND TRANQUIL INSIDE.

LOTS OF TECH HERE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, INCLUDING NIGHT VISION, SURROUND VISION CAMERA, AND AUTOMATIC PARKING ASSIST.

A BIG CHANGE TO THE USER EXPERIENCE; SAYONARA TOUCHPAD CUE!

IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THAT SYSTEM WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY GLAD TO SEE A CENTRAL CONTROLLER THROWN INTO THE MIX.

PLENTY OF TRADITIONAL CONTROLS RETURN AS WELL.

WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

AT LAUNCH, YOU CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN A PREMIUM LUXURY VERSION, OR SPORT.

WE OPTED FOR SPORT, NATURALLY; AND IT COMES WITH BLACK EXTERIOR TRIM, UNIQUE V-SERIES INSPIRED GRILLE, MORE AGGRESSIVE FASCIAS FOR THE FRONT AND THE REAR, TINTED TAIL LIGHT LENSES, UNIQUE EXHAUST OUTLETS, AND STANDARD 20 INCH WHEELS, WITH 21s AVAILABLE.

GM ALSO PUT SOME SPORT IN THE SPORT, WITH ACTIVE HANDLING CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL AND QUICKER STEERING.

PLUS, SIMILAR TO THE XT5, A TWIN-CLUTCH, TORQUE VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

IT IMPROVES HANDLING BY VARYING POWER AT EACH REAR WHEEL IN CORNERS, AND ANY TIME TRACTION IS HARD TO COME BY.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, DESPITE EXPECTED BODY ROLL, THE XT6 PROVED PRETTY LIGHT ON ITS FEET, ROTATING FAIRLY QUICKLY.

THE XT6 IS BUILT ON A CHASSIS SHARED WITH BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, AND GMC ACADIA.

IT RIDES ON THE ACADIA'S SHORT WHEELBASE VERSION.

BUT IT IS ABOUT 5.0 INCHES LONGER OVERALL, AND SHOULD STILL FIT IN MOST GARAGES.

THERE'S NO 4-CYLINDER LIKE THE GMC.

THE BASE AND THE ONLY XT6 ENGINE IS A FAMILIAR 3.6 LITER V6.

ITS 310 HORSEPOWER AND 271 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FEELS ADEQUATE, BUT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE 400 STANDARD HORSES IN RIVAL LINCOLN AVIATOR.

SO, ON A TYPICALLY HOT AND HUMID MID-ATLANTIC SUMMER TEST DAY, IT WAS A LITTLE SLOW OFF THE LINE, BUILDING POWER STEADILY FOR A 7.2 SECOND 0-60.

SHIFTS FROM THE STANDARD 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE BUTTERY SMOOTH, AS WE WORKED OUR WAY DOWN THE TRACK FOR A 15.6 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S TRULY, A QUITE CIVILIZED TRIP DOWN THE STRIP.

THE SUSPENSION SOAKS UP TRACK IMPERFECTIONS WITH APLOMB, WITH VERY LITTLE NOISE FINDING ITS WAY INTO THE CABIN.

A 120 FOOT AVERAGE BRAKING DISTANCE FROM 60 IS ON PAR FOR THE SEGMENT; GOOD PEDAL-FEEL AND STABILITY THROUGHOUT.

AS FOR HAULING CARGO, SPACE BEHIND THE THIRD ROW IS TIGHT, AT 12.6 CUBIC-FEET, BUT EXPANDS EFFECTIVELY TO A GOOD 43.1 BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, AND FURTHER TO A MAX OF 78.7, WHICH IS QUITE GOOD.

SHORTER WHEELBASE KEEPS TOWING CAPACITY TO A MAX OF 4,000 POUNDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 17-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

AND THAT MAKES FOR A SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 16.5 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE AND 7.4 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PREMIUM LUXURY TRIM COMES WITH FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE AS STANDARD, STARTING AT $53,690; ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WILL COST YOU ANOTHER TWO-GRAND.

SPORT TRIM INCLUDES AWD, AND STARTS AT $58,090.

ALL VERY REASONABLE FOR THIS SEGMENT.

NO DOUBT, CADILLAC HAS ESCALATED THEIR CROSSOVER PROFILE WITH THE 2020 XT6 WHERE EVERY SEAT IS THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

IT MAY NOT HAVE THE CACHE OF THE ESCALADE, OR ITS PRESENCE, BUT IT'S A MUCH BETTER FAMILY UTILITY.

AND FINALLY, ONE CADILLAC USER EXPERIENCE WE CAN GET BEHIND.

* BACK IN 2011 WHEN DUCATI BROUGHT THE DIAVEL TO THE U.S. MARKET, YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE ANYTHING BUT YOUR TYPICAL CRUISER.

WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS A CRUISER AS ONLY DUCATI COULD DO IT, AND IT WAS A BIG...HOT...HIT.

WELL...FOR 2019, THERE'S AN ALL-NEW DIAVEL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE BRIAN ROBINSON IS IN FOR A DEVIL OF A TIME.

* Brian Robinson: LIKE, ANY OTHER JOB, HERE AT MOTORWEEK , SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.

AND THEN, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN DUCATI DROPS OFF SOMETHING LIKE THIS!

* BACK WHEN WE TESTED THE ORIGINAL DIAVEL, IT'S HARD TO SAY, WHICH WAS MORE DIFFICULT, TRYING TO CLASSIFY IT, OR TRYING TO PRONOUNCE IT.

EITHER WAY, IT WAS A WICKED GOOD TIME, AND DUCATI'S BACK FOR MORE WITH THE 2019 DIAVEL 1260S.

NO BIG CHANGES IN STYLING DIRECTION FOR THIS SECOND GENERATION DIAVEL, AS BEFORE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT EMERGED FROM SOME CRAZY ITALIAN STYLINATOR MACHINE, WITH SPORTBIKE, AND CARTOON SUPERHERO SETTINGS CRANKED TO THE MAX.

AND OUT POPPED THIS MENACINGLY HANDSOME MOUND OF MACHISMO.

A 63 INCH WHEELBASE CERTAINLY PUTS IT IN THE POWER CRUISER CATEGORY; LINES HAVE BEEN SHARPENED ALL AROUND, AND THE OVERALL DESIGN HAS BEEN CLEANED UP A LITTLE, GIVING IT A MORE PURPOSEFUL, AND DARE WE SAY, MORE AGGRESSIVE TONE.

THE FAT 240 REAR TIRE AND MINIMAL REAR WITH UNDER-TAIL MOUNTED LED TAIL LIGHTS RETURNS SLIGHTLY UPDATED.

PERHAPS THEIR BEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS ELIMINATING THE MULTIPLE FEET OF EXHAUST PIPING THAT CLUTTERED UP THE SIDE OF THE PREVIOUS BIKE.

THE EXHAUST IS NOW NEATLY PACKAGED, WITH A HUGE AUTOMOTIVE STYLE MUFFLER DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ENGINE, AND STUBBY TWIN OUTLETS.

LOOKS GREAT; SOUNDS EVEN BETTER.

A 3.5 INCH TFT GAUGE PANEL IS SMALL AND PACKED FULL OF INFO, YET SOMEHOW, PROVES TO BE VERY READABLE AT SPEED, AND EVEN SWITCHES FROM BLACK ON WHITE TO WHITE ON BLACK AUTOMATICALLY.

RIDING POSITION IS EXCELLENT, FEELING LIKE IT WAS CUSTOM BUILT FOR MY OVERWEIGHT 6-FOOT FRAME; AND JUST ENOUGH SEAT COMFORT TO GET THROUGH A FULL DAY'S RIDE WITHOUT GETTING DISTRACTED.

LIKE, A WELL SET UP EUROPEAN SPORT SEDAN, RIDE QUALITY HERE IS FIRM, BUT NOTHING EVER SEEMS TO UPSET IT.

NESTLED IN ITS MINIMAL STEEL TRELLIS FRAME IS THE HEART OF THIS BEAST; [ENGINE RUNNING] DUCATI'S TESTASTRETTA 1,262CC TWIN BORROWED FROM ITS XDIAVEL OFFSHOOT.

HORSEPOWER IS 159, WITH A HEALTHY 95 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE OUTPUT.

POWER IS IMMEDIATE, AND FORCEFULLY DELIVERED WHETHER YOU'RE FULLY READY FOR IT OR NOT.

FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE RIDING MODES TO HELP YOU TAME THE BEAST IF YOU SO CHOOSE; SPORT, TOURING, AND URBAN ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

SPORT MODE IS THE MOST FUN, NATURALLY, BUT IT'S HYPER THROTTLE RESPONSE CAN BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.

LET'S JUST SAY, IT DOESN'T LIKE TO PUTT AROUND AND ENJOY THE SCENERY, IT LIKES TO BE RIDDEN HARD.

IT TAKES SOME EFFORT TO GET THAT FAT 240 REAR TO FALL INTO TURNS; BUT ONCE YOU'RE THERE, THE BIKE FEELS ROCK SOLID AND RESPONDS QUICKLY TO INPUTS.

THIS IS THE UPGRADED 1260S, WHICH INCLUDES A FULLY ADJUSTABLE OHLINS SUSPENSION, LIGHTER WHEELS, UPGRADED BRAKES, A QUICK-SHIFTER, FULL LED LIGHTING, AND EVEN A MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM WITH FULL SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION, FOR THE ADDITIONAL COUPLE GRAND.

THAT PUTS IT AT $22,995; THE BASE 1260, JUST UNDER THE 20-GRAND THRESHOLD AT $19,995.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE 2019 DUCATI DIAVEL 1260S THAT ARE HARD TO EXPLAIN OR ANSWER, BUT ITS PURPOSE IS CLEAR.

GIVE OLDER RIDERS MUCH LIKE MYSELF, WHO ARE EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FOLD THEMSELVES IN AND AROUND A SPORTBIKE, BUT STILL WANT THAT SAME EXPERIENCE IN A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE PACKAGE.

AS THEY SAY, THE DEVIL...IS...IN THE DETAILS.

* John: TIRES.

FOR MOST FOLKS, THEY'RE JUST AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EVERY CAR.

BUT TO OTHERS, TIRES ARE ACTUALLY A FASHION STATEMENT.

SO, HERE'S PAT GOSS WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT PLUS SIZE TREADS.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TIRES WITH OUR TIRE EXPERT MATT EDMONDS.

MATT WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: WELL, A PLEASURE TO BE HERE PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, YOU BROUGHT US AN ASSORTMENT OF TIRES.

TELL US WHAT YOU BROUGHT.

Matt: WELL, I TELL YOU.

WE'VE BROUGHT SOME PLUS SIZING WITH US TODAY.

ON THIS VOLKSWAGEN, WE HAVE A 17-INCH TIRE AND WHEEL PACKAGE.

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SIZE.

IN FRONT OF YOU, WE HAVE AN 18-INCH TIRE AND WHEEL.

IN FRONT OF ME A 19-INCH TIRE AND WHEEL.

SO, PLUS ONE AND PLUS TWO.

THE PLUS BEING THE EXTRA DIAMETER OF THE WHEEL AS WE SAY, SO AN 18-INCH AND 19-INCH WHEEL.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

BUT NOW, WE SEE SOME DRASTIC DIFFERENCES AS WE PLUS SIZE THESE.

THESE.

Matt: THERE ARE.

THEY GET A LITTLE WIDER BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE THING THAT STAYS THE SAME ON THESE, THE THING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE STAYS THE SAME IS THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE TIRE OR AS MANY PEOPLE SAY, THE HEIGHT OF THE TIRE.

THAT STAYS THE SAME.

WE NOTICE THE SIDE WALL CHANGES THOUGH, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THESE THE SIDE WALLS HAVE GOTTEN SHORTER AS WE'VE GONE UP IN SIZE.

MAINTAINING THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER, THE WHEEL HAS GOTTEN BIGGER, SO THE SIDE WALLS HAD TO SHRINK.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I KNOW, OUT IN THE FIELD, WE SEE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS ON THE CAR WHEN THIS IS NOT DONE PROPERLY.

Matt: YEAH, IF WE DON'T KEEP THAT SAME OUTSIDE DIAMETER, YOUR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, YOUR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, AND YOUR SPEEDOMETER WON'T READ PROPERLY, WHILE THOSE OTHER SYSTEMS DON'T FUNCTION.

Pat: ANOTHER ISSUE, WE SEE WHEN ITS NOT DONE RIGHT IS CLEARANCE.

Matt: [LAUGHS] ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S ARE A LOT OF COMPONENTS BEHIND THAT WHEEL.

BRAKES AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, YOU GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT YOU CLEAR THOSE, SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH A REPUTABLE WHEEL SHOP OR AN ONLINE SOURCE WHERE YOU CAN GO AND ACTUALLY PLUG IN YOUR MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF VEHICLE.

AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ARE HANDLED AND THAT YOUR TIRE, AND WHEEL PACKAGE HAS THE RIGHT LOAD BEARING CAPACITY, ET CETERA.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW YOU ALSO BROUGHT A MINUS.

Matt: [LAUGHS] WE CAN GO PLUS.

WE CAN GO MINUS.

AND TYPICALLY, WHEN WE GO MINUS, WE DO THAT FOR WINTER TIRE AND WHEEL PACKAGES.

WHERE ON SOME OF TODAY'S SUVs THAT HAVE 20 OR 22 INCH WHEELS AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A WINTER TIRE OPTION IN THAT SIZE, BUT YOU CAN GO DOWN, NOT ONLY SO THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABILITY OF WINTER TIRES BUT TYPICALLY -- WHEN YOU GO DOWN, YOU GO TO A NARROWER TIRE.

JUST AS WE'VE GONE WIDER AS WE GO PLUS, WE GO NARROWER INTO MINUS.

AND THAT MAKES SURE THAT OUR WINTER TIRES IS GONNA TO DIG DOWN THROUGH THE SNOW AND GET TO THE PAVEMENT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, SO THIS MYTH ABOUT PUTTING GREAT BIG WIDE TIRES ON FOR SNOW TRACTION IS, THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG.

Matt: WELL, IT DOESN'T WORK THE SAME AS SNOW SHOES WHERE YOU WANT TO FLOAT UP ON THE SNOW.

WE WANT TO GET DOWN THROUGH THAT SNOW BECAUSE WE WANT THAT SPECIAL COMPOUND IN THAT WINTER TIRE TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT THE PAVEMENT, AND DO IT'S MAGIC, AND HELP YOU STOP, START, AND CONTROL THAT VEHICLE IN WINTER CONDITIONS.

Pat: OKAY MATT, THANK YOU.

Matt: THANK YOU, PAT.

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

John: WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO DRIVE THE NEXT NEW MODEL.

AND WE DID, FOR THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

WE GOT A CHANCE TO GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITY IN GERMANY TO DRIVE THE ALL NEW, ALL-ELECTRIC 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN.

THIS IS A LATE STAGE PROTOTYPE, SO THERE'S STILL SOME CAMOUFLAGE INSIDE AND OUT.

PORSCHE'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC PRODUCTION CAR EVOLVED FROM THE MISSION E CONCEPT SHOWN AT THE 2015 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW.

OUTPUT IS IMPRESSIVE.

TWO PERMANENT MAGNET SYNCHRONOUS MOTORS, ONE ON EACH AXLE, SPIN UP 616 BASE HORSEPOWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

JUMPING FROM TURBO TO TURBO S MODELS, THAT NUMBER GOES HIGH AS 750 WHEN IN OVER BOOST.

ALONG WINDING GERMAN COUNTRY ROADS, THE TAYCAN MOVED LIKE ONE OF THE BRAND'S FINELY BALANCED SPORTS CARS.

THE OPTIONAL PORSCHE DYNAMIC CHASSIS CONTROL AND THREE-CHAMBER AIR SUSPENSION KEPT US ENGAGED AND COMFORTABLE.

THE 800 VOLT ARCHITECTURE IS SERVICED BY A 93 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY STORED UNDER THE FLOOR.

WE'RE STILL WAITING ON OFFICIAL U.S. EPA RANGE ESTIMATES, BUT EXPECT THEM TO BREACH 300 MILES.

MINIMUM CHARGING TIME FROM 5% TO 80% IS ONLY A CLAIMED 22.5 MINUTES.

Garick Zikan: SO, WE'VE JUST FINISHED DRIVING THE PORSCHE TAYCAN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

AND THIS IS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIKE THAT NICE PUSH BACK INTO THE SEAT FROM THAT HEALTHY DOSE OF TORQUE, THE TAYCAN DEFINITELY DELIVERS.

THE WAVE OF TORQUE IS INSTANT, IT'S STRONG AND IT JUST KEEPS COMING.

BUT IT REALLY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST SPEED, IT'S A PORSCHE AFTERALL, AND IT HANDLES SPEED WELL.

OUT ON THE ROAD IT FELT VERY STABLE, IT WAS VERY DYNAMIC, IT WAS VERY NIMBLE... AND THE LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY REALLY GAVE YOU THE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD REALLY MADE THE CAR FEEL PLANTED.

ESPECIALLY, THROUGH THE CURVES.

THE STEERING IS PRECISE WITH THE HEFT OF A SPORTS CAR.

John: ON THE TRACK, A PRODUCT ENGINEER DID THE DRIVING, BUT EVEN AS A PASSENGER YOU QUICKLY SENSE THE POWER AND ABILITIES.

THAT LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY, PLUS, REAR AXLE STEERING ALLOWS THE TAYCAN TO SWEEP THROUGH THE CORNERS WITH THE AGILITY OF AN ATHLETE AND UNBELIEVABLE BALANCE.

PORSCHE CLAIMS A TURBO S 0-60 OF JUST 2.6 SECONDS.

UP TO 774 POUND-FEET OF OVERBOOST TORQUE THROWS YOU BACK INTO THE SEAT, WHILE ROCKETING DOWN THE STRAIGHT AWAY.

TOP SPEED IS 162 MILES PER HOUR.

ENGINEERS RECORDED AND ENHANCED THE ACTUAL SOUND OF THE ELECTRIC MOTORS, SO YOU HEAR A NATURAL ACCELERATION, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE TURNED OFF.

STILL, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE TAYCAN ABSOLUTELY FEELS LIKE A PORSCHE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE TAYCAN AFTER WE SPEND MORE TIME IN IT.

TAYCAN WILL ARRIVE IN SHOWROOMS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITH PRICES EXPECTED TO START AROUND $90,000.

EVER SINCE IT ARRIVED IN 2006, THE NISSAN VERSA HAS PROVEN TO BE A POPULAR CHOICE AMONG BUYERS LOOKING FOR A PRACTICAL, FUEL EFFICIENT, YET INNOVATIVE SUBCOMPACT.

FOR THE THIRD GENERATION, THE 2020 NISSAN VERSA SEDAN IS LOWER, LONGER, WIDER, AND MORE RIGID.

WITH A BOLD V-MOTION GRILLE STYLING NOW FITS IN WITH THE REST OF THE LINE-UP.

UNDER THE HOOD, A NEW "GEN3" 1.6 LITER I4 WITH A 12% POWER BUMP, NOW UP TO 122 HORSES.

A 5-SPEED MANUAL IS AVAILABLE ON THE BASE TRIM, OTHERWISE, A REDESIGNED CVT SENDS POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS.

Stephanie Hart: THE ALL-NEW VERSA IS FUN TO DRIVE.

IT HAS A QUICKER RESPONSE THAN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION AND STABLE CORNERING.

John: THE FRESH NEW INTERIOR HAS A "GLIDING WING" INSTRUMENT PANEL.

AND ONCE AGAIN, IT CAN BE EQUIPPED WITH FEATURES FOUND AT HIGHER PRICE POINTS, LIKE NISSAN'S SAFETY SHIELD 360.

SO, THE 2020 NISSAN VERSA CONTINUES ITS TRADITION OF BEING AFFORDABLE, FUN, AND EFFICIENT, BUT WITH MORE STYLE AND AMENITIES.

DEALERS HAVE THEM STARTING UNDER $15,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

SLUMPING CAR SALES IS NO LONGER BREAKING NEWS.

BUT, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF ROOM FOR 4-DOOR AND 5-DOOR CARS, ESPECIALLY, IF THEY'RE UNIQUE AND STYLISH.

TAKE THE VOLKSWAGEN CC.

NOW, SALES WEREN'T HUGE FOR THIS COUPISH SEDAN, BUT MOST WOULD AGREE IT WAS A TERRIFIC FLAGSHIP FOR THE BRAND.

WELL, VW HAS NOW LAUNCHED A NEW FLAG WAVER, WITH A NEW NAME, AND MORE.

THE ARTEON!

* LIKE IT OR NOT, 4-DOOR COUPE HAS BECOME A REALITY IN THE AUTOMOTIVE LEXICON, AND THE VOLKSWAGEN CC PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THAT.

WELL, NOW THAT IT HAS EVOLVED INTO THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON; VW SEEMS TO HAVE MOVED ON TO ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL BODY-STYLE, AT LEAST IN AMERICA, THE 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.

TRUNK OR HATCH, THIS IS THE FLAGSHIP OF VOLKSWAGEN CARS, NOW THAT THE PHAETON IS GONE.

BIGGER THAN TO THE CC, IT CERTAINLY LOOKS BETTER AS WELL, WITH A MORE TASTEFUL OVERALL SHAPE.

IT STILL BOASTS A SPORTY COUPE-LIKE GREENHOUSE, BUT THE FACE IS MUCH MORE EXPRESSIVE THAN BEFORE.

THE LARGE CLAMSHELL-STYLE HOOD LEADS TO A SEVERELY RAKED WINDSHIELD, WHICH IN TURN, BLENDS INTO THE SLOPING ROOFLINE.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 18s, WITH UP TO 20s AVAILABLE.

BUT THAT MORE ATHLETIC SHAPE PROMISES PERFORMANCE THAT JUST ISN'T THERE, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT FEELS MORE A GRAND TOURER THAN TRUE SPORT SEDAN, BUT OF COURSE, THAT'S BETTER THAN JUST FAMILY CAR.

ALL ARTEON'S FEATURE VOLKSWAGEN'S FAMILIAR 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO, NOW WITH RATINGS OF 268 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

POWER IS SMOOTH AND ADEQUATE, ALMOST LIKE A 6, WITH RESPONSIVENESS AND QUIETNESS APPROPRIATE FOR A GT FLAGSHIP.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD, 4MOTION ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OPTIONAL; BOTH WORKING WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THAT GT FEELING WAS CONFIRMED AT OUR TEST TRACK.

IT WAS A LITTLE LETHARGIC OFF THE LINE, BUT STILL CAPABLE OF A LOW 6.0 SECOND 0-60 WHEN CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.

BEING BUILT ON VW'S MQB ARCHITECTURE, GAVE US HIGH HOPES FOR HANDLING PROWESS, BUT OUR 4MOTION-EQUIPPED TEST CAR FELT QUITE HEAVY THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

THERE WAS ALSO LOTS OF BODY ROLL, AND WE BATTLED UNDERSTEER THE WHOLE TIME.

SO VERY SAFE, BUT NO BACK ROAD SLICER.

SO, ON THOSE TWO-LANE BLACKTOPS, WE SLOWED DOWN AND SIMPLY ENJOYED THIS CAR.

IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE OVERALL, EXACTLY WHAT GT-STYLE DRIVING SHOULD BE.

NO MATTER THE SPEEDS, YOU WILL ADORE THE INTERIOR.

IT HAS THE VIBE OF AN AUDI A6, BUT LESS PRETENTIOUS, AND CERTAINLY LESS CONFUSING.

IT'S ELEGANT, BUT UNDERSTATED; WITH PLENTY OF TECH AT YOUR DISPOSAL.

BUT MOST THINGS LIKE, DRIVE MODE SELECTION REQUIRE JUST A PUSH OF A BUTTON, NO MENU SEARCHING; THOUGH YOU CAN JUMP IN THERE AND CONFIGURE MULTIPLE THINGS TO YOUR LIKING, IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

PREMIUM TRIMS GET VW'S DIGITAL COCKPIT; IT'S LIKE A HIGH-DEF VERSION OF TRADITIONAL GAUGES, DELIVERING A WEALTH OF INFO IN AN EASY TO READ MANNER.

WHILE COMFORTABLE, SEATS ARE EURO-FIRM, WITH A SPORTY NATURE MORE THAN ALL-OUT EXTRAVAGANCE.

THE REAR SEATS ARE EASIER TO ACCESS THAN THE CC, AND ROOM IS QUITE GOOD EVEN FOR 6-FOOTERS.

LIKE, MOST HATCHBACKS, REAR VISIBILITY IS SOMEWHAT COMPROMISED, BUT THE SWITCH FROM 4 TO 5-DOOR DOES MEAN MORE ROOM FOR CARGO.

THE PREVIOUS 13.2 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK SPACE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY 27.2 CUBIC-FEET, EXPANDING TO 55.0 WITH SEATBACKS FOLDED.

POWER OPERATED HATCH IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN TOP SEL PREMIUM TRIM.

ARTEON RIDE QUALITY IS CLEARLY ABOVE THE PASSAT, BUT NOT QUITE UP TO AUDI STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO NOISE AND HARSHNESS, BUT NO DOUBT THIS WAS PURPOSEFUL ON VW'S PART.

COMFORT MODE IS RECOMMENDED UNLESS YOU'RE AGGRESSIVELY ATTACKING SOME CORNERS, AS SPORT IS A LITTLE MUCH TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE, A FINE 24.1 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM FUEL.

THAT PUTS THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE RIGHT ABOUT AVERAGE, BURNING 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, WITH 6.5 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

THE ARTEON COMES IN FAMILIAR VW TRIMS; SE AND SEL, WITH SPORTY R-LINE AND PREMIUM ADD-ONS.

THE BASE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE SE STARTS THINGS OFF AT $36,840; WHILE, A TOP SEL PREMIUM 4MOTION STARTS AT JUST $45,940.

IT'S REALLY TOO BAD THAT PEOPLE ONLY SEEM INTERESTED IN SUVs THESE DAYS, AS VOLKSWAGEN HAS DELIVERED AN AMAZING CAR EXPERIENCE FOR A MODERATE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

HOPEFULLY FOR THEM, ENOUGH PEOPLE WILL BE WISE ENOUGH TO SWITCH HATS, AS THE 2019 ARTEON IS AN EXCELLENT AND PERFECTLY MODERN EUROPEAN LUXURY CAR, FOR AN ASIAN LUXURY CAR BUDGET.

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 BMW ADDS TO THEIR ALLURE WITH THE LONG AND LUXURIOUS 8-SERIES COUPE.

AND THEN, THE SMALL MAZDA3 GENERATES BIGGER GRINS.

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

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