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

JOIN US AS CHEVROLET UPS THE HEAVY HAULING ANTE WITH THE ALL-NEW SILVERADO HD... PAT GOSS HAS FUEL FACTS TO KEEP YOU ON THE GO... ROGER MECCA RE-DISCOVERS A CAR WITH HIGH FLYING HOPES, BUT A SHORT LIFE... AND SWEEPING CHANGES COME TO THE COMMUTER FRIENDLY TOYOTA 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...

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: IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER THE BRAND OF TRUCK.

WHENEVER GUYS ARE STANDING AROUND TALKING ABOUT HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS, IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD.

HEMI... POWERSTROKE... DURAMAX... CUMMINS... YOU KNOW THE NAMES, AND PROBABLY HAVE A FAVORITE TOO.

WELL, WE DON'T PLAY FAVORITES HERE.

WE JUST DELIVER THE FACTS.

AND HERE ARE SOME GUTSY ONES ABOUT THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD.

* IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THE 2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD WOULD BE THE MOST CAPABLE HEAVY DUTY SILVERADO EVER; THAT'S JUST HOW THINGS WORK IN THE PICKUP TRUCK WORLD.

THIS CONSTANT ESCALATION OF HORSEPOWER, TORQUE, CARGO, AND TOWING CAPABILITIES MAY END AT SOME POINT, BUT THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY.

OUR TEST TRUCK IS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE 2500 CREW CAB, OUTFITTED IN LTZ TRIM WITH A Z71 OFF ROAD PACKAGE.

STANDARD HEAVY DUTY ENGINE IS A NEW 6.6 LITER GASOLINE, DIRECT INJECTION V8, MAKING 401 HORSEPOWER AND 464 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND MATED TO A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THE AVAILABLE DURAMAX 6.6 LITER V8 DIESEL RETURNS UNCHANGED, CRANKING OUT 445 HORSEPOWER AND 910 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, BUT IT DOES MATE TO A NEW ALLISON 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

MAX TOWING, WITH THE DIESEL OF COURSE, IS A STOUT 35,500 POUNDS; YES, THAT'S 400 MORE THAN RAM.

BUT, FOLLOWING THE SAME PHILOSOPHY AS THEY HAVE WITH THE STANDARD DUTY SILVERADO; CHEVROLET FEELS THAT THE HEAVY DUTY GAME IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT CHASING NUMBERS, BUT ABOUT DELIVERING A TRUCK THAT MAKES PERFORMING YOUR DAILY TASKS AS EFFICIENT AND EASY AS POSSIBLE.

WORKING SMARTER, NOT NECESSARILY HARDER, IF YOU WILL.

SO, THEY'VE FOCUSED MORE EFFORTS ON ELEMENTS SUCH AS THEIR ADVANCED TRAILERING SYSTEM WITH UP TO 15-CAMERA VIEWS, EASY ACCESS ENGINE BLOCK HEATER OUTLET, INTEGRATING MULTIPLE STEPS INTO THE BED, GIVING IT A POWER TAILGATE, AND VASTLY IMPROVING THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT.

BIGGER IN EVERY DIMENSION, A 5.2 INCH WHEELBASE STRETCH ON CREW CAB MODELS, ALLOWS FOR A LOT MORE REAR SEAT SPACE; NOW YOUR CREW CAN BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE BACK THERE, WHETHER ON THE WAY TO THE JOB SITE OR CAMPING SITE.

BETWEEN A STIFFER FRAME, AND THE SIGNIFICANT UPDATES MADE TO THE INDEPENDENT TORSION BAR FRONT, AND LEAF SPRING REAR SUSPENSION, RIDE QUALITY IS ALSO IMPROVED GREATLY.

STEERING ALSO FEELS LESS LIKE A BUS AND MORE LIKE THE STANDARD DUTY SILVERADO; WITH AN AVAILABLE ENHANCED DIGITAL VARIABLE STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM THAT ACTIVELY KEEPS YOU TRACKING STRAIGHT AND TRUE REGARDLESS OF THE ROAD SURFACE, OR HOW MUCH WIND IS BLOWING YOUR TRAILER AROUND BEHIND YOU.

DRIVE SHAFT AND REAR AXLES ARE BEEFED UP TO HANDLE HEAVIER LOADS, AND POSSIBLY OUR HEAVY FOOTS AS WELL.

LEAVING OUR DURAMAX DIESEL'S TRANSFER CASE IN AUTO IS PRETTY MUCH A NECESSITY IF YOU WANT TO GET OFF THE LINE WITHOUT BOAT LOADS OF WHEEL SPIN.

IN AUTO, IT GETS THE FRONT TIRES INVOLVED, HOOKS UP RIGHT AWAY, AND TAKES OFF, HITTING 60 IN A PRETTY AMAZING 6.6 SECONDS.

NOW, DIRECT COMPARISONS ARE DIFFICULT, WITH THE ALMOST INFINITE NUMBER OF HD PICKUP CONFIGURATIONS, BUT WE DID RECENTLY HAVE A HEAVY DUTY RAM DIESEL HERE AT THE TRACK, AND THIS SILVERADO IS ALMOST A FULL 2.0 SECONDS QUICKER TO 60.

THE SMOOTH ALLISON 10-SPEED WAS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, AND THE SILVERADO FELT PLENTY STABLE AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

WE FINISHED OUT THE QUARTER IN 15.1 SECONDS AT 91 MILES PER HOUR.

BRAKES, QUITE IMPRESSIVE AS WELL, JUST 122 FEET TO STOP FROM 60, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH PEDAL TRAVEL, YOUR FOOT MAY NEED A PASSPORT.

"TRUCK-TALK" EVENTUALLY TURNS TO STYLING, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE SILVERADO HD GETS ITS OWN RUGGED, AND MAY WE SAY POLARIZING LOOK.

ALL SHEET METAL, EXCEPT FOR THE ROOF, IS NOW UNIQUE FROM THE SILVERADO HALF-TON.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS AREN'T REQUIRED FOR HD TRUCKS, BUT WE CLATTERED OUR WAY TO 16.6 MILES PER DIESEL GALLON.

HERE, THE RAM DIESEL WAS BETTER WITH AN AVERAGE OF 19.7 MILES PER GALLON.

EVEN WITH COUNTLESS CONFIGURATIONS; ALL PROGRESS FROM FIVE TRIM LEVELS, STARTING AT $35,695 FOR A BASIC WORK TRUCK.

TOP SHELF HIGH COUNTRY BEGINS AT $62,695, WITH OUR HEAVILY OPTIONED LTZ CREW CAB GOING FOR $72,770.

MORE THAN ANY OTHER SEGMENT, THE HEAVY DUTY TRUCK ARENA IS A NUMBERS GAME.

AND, DEPENDING ON WHICH NUMBERS YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THE 2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD MAY EITHER FALL SHORT OF ITS RIVALS, OR BE FAR SUPERIOR TO THEM.

BUT, NUMBERS ALONE DON'T GET THE JOBS DONE, NOR DO THEY GET YOU HOME TO SEE YOUR FAMILY AT THE END OF A LONG WORKDAY.

MUCH LIKE ANY OTHER PURSUIT, IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.

WE'VE ALL BOUGHT TOOLS THAT HAD ALL THE RIGHT NUMBERS, ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED WHEN PUT TO USE.

NO BUYER'S REMORSE WITH THIS SILVERADO HD, AND THAT'S A FACT!

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, WE USE BIODIESEL HERE AT ONE OF OUR UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS IN ST. LOUIS TO HELP REDUCE THE CARBON MONOXIDE AND PARTICULATE 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 INTO 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 THAT WHILE IT MAY HAVE STARTED OUT AS AN UGLY DUCKLING, THE SUPERBIRD DEFINITELY TURNED INTO A SWAN, WITH A V8.

* John: NEXT UP, LAUREN MORRISION, WITH THE STORIES TO WATCH IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: THE CAR BUYING PROCESS MAY GET A BAD WRAP, BUT SOME BRANDS DO IT BETTER THAN OTHERS.

AND, IT USUALLY COMES DOWN TO THEIR DEALERS.

J.D.

POWER HAS RELEASED THEIR ANNUAL U.S.

SALES SATISFACTION INDEX STUDY.

AND FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, AND FOR FOUR OUT OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, FOLKS BUYING PORSCHES ARE THE MOST SATISFIED WITH THE SALES PROCESS AMONG PREMIUM BRANDS.

MERCEDES-BENZ ALSO SCORED WELL IN DOING DEALS, FOLLOWED BY INFINITI.

AMONG MASS MARKET BRANDS, BUICK RANKED HIGHEST FOR HOW HAPPY CUSTOMERS WERE WITH THE BUYING PROCESS, FOLLOWED BY GMC AND MINI.

BUICK HAS EARNED THE TOP SPOT THREE TIMES IN FOUR YEARS.

RESEARCHERS ASKED MORE THAN 28,000 NEW VEHICLE BUYERS ABOUT THEIR PURCHASE AND LEASE EXPERIENCES.

THE STUDY LOOKED AT THE USUAL FACTORS... LIKE, DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL AND THE DELIVERY PROCESS.

BUT THEY FOUND HOW EFFECTIVELY DEALERSHIPS USE TECHNOLOGY ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO HIGH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

SHOWING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONCEPTS IS ONE THING, BUILDING THE PLANTS TO MAKE THEM IS ANOTHER.

VOLKSWAGEN HAS CONFIRMED IT WILL BUILD EVs AT THEIR TENNESSEE PLANT.

THE CHATTANOOGA SITE WILL BE VW'S NORTH-AMERICAN HUB FOR EV MANUFACTURING BEGINNING IN 2022, INCLUDING THE ALL-ELECTRIC ID.

CROZZ COMPACT UTILITY.

VW WILL CONTINUE BUILDING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VEHICLES IN TENNESSEE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

THE COMPANY IS ALSO ADDING AN ON-SITE PLANT TO ASSEMBLE BATTERY PACKS FOR THE EVs.

THIS FOLLOWS OUR STORY A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT BMW'S PLANS TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF BATTERIES THEY CAN PRODUCE AT THEIR SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA PLANT.

SO, EVEN IF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ISN'T YET CONVINCED, MORE AND MORE BRANDS ARE EXPANDING THEIR COMMITMENTS TO ELECTRIFY AMERICA'S ROADS.

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, YELLOW IS FOR DIESEL, AND BLUE IS FOR KEROSENE.

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 IS HERE, THAT 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, PROCEED 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.

* WHEN THE BMW X6 ARRIVED ON AMERICAN ROADS MORE THAN 10-YEARS AGO, MANY REVIEWERS, INCLUDING US, WONDERED IF THE SLOPING ROOFLINE WOULD PROVE IMPRACTICAL.

WELL, THE STYLE CAUGHT FIRE AND IT'S BEEN COPIED BY MANY RIVALS.

NOW, IN ITS THIRD GENERATION, THE 2020 BMW X6 BENEFITS FROM THE UPGRADES OF ITS X5 SIBLING, GROWING A LITTLE LONGER AND WIDER, WITH ADDED WHEELBASE.

WE HEADED TO SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE MANY OF THE BAVARIAN BRAND'S SUVs ROLL OFF THEIR LARGEST ASSEMBLY LINE.

THE STANDARD X6 GETS A BIGGER BOOST FROM ITS 335 HORSEPOWER TURBOCHARGED 3.0 LITER INLINE-SIX.

BUT WE CHOSE THE X6 M50I WITH ITS EVEN MORE POTENT TWIN-TURBO 4.4 LITER V8 RATING 523 HORSEPOWER.

FEW MIDSIZE VEHICLES HAVE 8-PISTONS AT WORK THESE DAYS, SO THE X6 STANDS OUT IN WAYS BEYOND ITS FAST PROFILE.

ALL THAT POWER IS MATED WITH A QUICK SHIFTING 8-SPEED STEPTRONIC SPORT TRANSMISSION.

Kyle Scanlon: SO, IN TRUE BMW FASHION THEY'VE COMBINED BOTH COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE WITH THIS NEW X6 MODEL.

THIS THING CAN PUT YOU BACK IN YOUR SEAT AND WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE SURPRISING IS HOW BIG IT IS.

THIS CAR FEELS SO MUCH SMALLER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS AND THAT REALLY HELPS WITH THE PERFORMANCE SIDE.

John: THE DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT, AND FIVE LINK REAR SUSPENSION COUPLED WITH ADAPTIVE DAMPERS, KEEP THIS LUXURY UTE STURDY AND NIMBLE.

THE REFINED INTERIOR IS ILLUMINATED BY A MORE EXPANSIVE PANORAMIC ROOF, AND BACKED UP BY A FULL SUITE OF SAFETY, AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE TECH.

SO, THE 2020 BMW X6 CONTINUES AS A MORE SOPHISTICATED SUV OPTION.

IT FITS THOSE WILLING TO PICK STYLE OVER PURE UTILITY, BUT WITHOUT ANY LOSS OF BMW DRIVING DYNAMICS.

ON SALE NOW, THE X6 STARTS AT JUST OVER $64,000, WITH THE M50I BEGINNING UNDER $86,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

THE ARRIVAL OF AN ALL-NEW TOYOTA COROLLA MAY NOT PIN THE EXCITEMENT METER AROUND OUR OFFICE, 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.

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 THAN 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.

TRUNK TOO, WITH A GOOD 13.1 CUBIC-FEET OF CAPACITY; IN BOTH STANDARD AND HYBRID FORMS.

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, THAT 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 VOLVO'S POLESTAR 1 PUSHES THE LIMITS OF HYBRID DRIVING.

AND THE LONG AND LUXURIOUS AUDI A7.

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