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

JOIN US, AS JEEP RE-ENTERS THE PICKUP ARENA WITH THE ALL-NEW GLADIATOR... PAT GOSS DOES A DEEP DIVE INTO SOME TRICKY PROBLEMS... STEPHANIE HART SHOWS US HOW A LABOR OF LOVE CAN BECOME A CAREER... AND KIA TOPS OFF ITS CITY SLICKER WITH ELECTRIC POWER, THE NIRO EV.

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: WELL, IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.

AFTER YEARS OF SPY SHOTS, CONCEPTS, AND TEST MULES; THE JEEP GLADIATOR PICKUP TRUCK IS FINALLY A LIVING, BREATHING, ALL-TERRAIN THING.

AND BEST NEWS OF ALL, FCA DIDN'T FOOL AROUND BY SIMPLY SLAPPING A BED ON A FOUR-DOOR WRANGLER.

THEY'VE BUILT THE MOST CAPABLE MIDSIZE TRUCK EVER!

* John: WE OFTEN HEAR FOLKS LAMENTING HOW LITTLE THE JEEP WRANGLER HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

WELL, WE WOULD STRONGLY DISAGREE.

SURE, IT STILL MOSTLY LOOKS THE SAME, BUT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT THE ONLY WRANGLER YOU COULD GET WAS A 2-DOOR.

NOW THE 4-DOOR UNLIMITED MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF WRANGLER SALES.

AND THIS 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR MID-SIZE PICKUP CLEARLY SIGNALS THAT BUSINESS AS USUAL HAS COME TO AN END FOR GOOD.

DON'T THINK OF THE GLADIATOR SO MUCH AS A WRANGLER UNLIMITED WITH AN OPEN BED TACKED ONTO THE BACK; THINK OF IT MORE AS A JEEP VERSION OF THE RAM 1500.

FCA DID START WITH THE WRANGLER FRAME, AND CAB; WITH MOSTLY THE SAME FRONT SUSPENSION FASTENED TO IT.

BUT THEN THEY LENGTHENED THAT FRAME, WHEELBASE IS UP 19.4 INCHES, AND BOLTED MUCH OF THE RAM 1500'S SUSPENSION UNDER ITS 5-FOOT BED.

THE RESULT IS A SMOOTH RIDING TRUCK THAT CAN TOW 7,650 POUNDS.

OR HAUL 1,600 POUNDS OF PAYLOAD.

THAT'S TOPS FOR A MIDSIZE TRUCK.

AND ONCE YOU'RE DONE BLOWING THE DOORS OFF OF THE COMPETITION; DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN ACTUALLY REMOVE THE DOORS ON THIS ONE.

NO OTHER TRUCK, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OFFERS THAT.

MUCH LIKE THE JEEP GLADIATOR AUTO SHOW CONCEPT THAT WAS SHOWN WAY BACK IN 2005, THE FRONT END OF THE 20-20 EDITION CLEARLY SAYS WRANGLER.

BUT THE GRILLE SLOTS ARE WIDER TO ALLOW FOR BETTER ENGINE COOLING.

BED DEPTH IS SHALLOW ENOUGH THAT, UNLIKE MOST TRUCKS THESE DAYS, YOU CAN ACTUALLY REACH OVER THE SIDE TO GRAB STUFF.

[ENGINE STARTS] UNDER THE HOOD IS THE SAME 3.6-LITER PENTASTAR V6 FOUND IN THE WRANGLER, WITH THE IDENTICAL 285-HORSEPOWER AND 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRUE TO FORM, A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANS IS STANDARD.

YOU'LL PAY 2-GRAND MORE FOR THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE IS STANDARD, WITH THREE TRIM LEVELS AT LAUNCH: BASE SPORT, THE OVERLAND, AND OF COURSE A RUBICON.

THE RUBICON GETS THE UPGRADED ROCK-TRAC 4X4 SYSTEM WITH DISCONNECTING FRONT SWAY BAR, LOCKING DIFFS, AND 4:1 LOW GEAR RATIO.

STANDARD TIRES ARE 33's, AND YOU CAN GET EITHER ALL-TERRAINS OR MUD TERRAINS.

35's WILL FIT WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS, AND JEEP EVEN ALLOWED ROOM FOR A 35-INCH SPARE TIRE.

OUR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DRIVE TIME, COINCIDED WITH THE HIGH AMOUNTS OF RAIN THE AREA HAS BEEN GETTING THIS SPRING.

SO, WHAT WAS A WELL-PREPARED OFF-ROAD COURSE, TURNED INTO A SLOPPY MESS OF MUD AND ROCKS; BUT ALL THE BETTER AS FAR AS THE RUBICON WAS CONCERNED.

NO MATTER WHAT WE ENCOUNTERED, PLANNED OR OTHERWISE, WAS A MATCH FOR THE RUBICON'S 11.1-INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, 84.2:1 CRAWL RATIO, AND ROCK RAILS WHICH THEY'VE EXTENDED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE END OF THE BED.

FURTHER PROOF THAT THEY THOUGHT OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING; SINCE YOU CAN REMOVE ALL OF THE THREE AVAILABLE ROOFS AS WELL AS THE DOORS, THERE'S A PLACE TO STORE ALL OF THE BOLTS WHEN YOU REMOVE BODYWORK, A LOCKABLE UNDERFLOOR STORAGE BIN WITH MULTIPLE DIVIDERS, AND THE SEATBACKS THEMSELVES LOCK INTO PLACE SO YOU CAN EVEN PROTECT VALUABLES THAT YOU STASH BEHIND THEM.

REAR SEAT SPACE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE WRANGLER UNLIMITED, WHICH IS TO SAY BETTER THAN MOST MIDSIZE CREW CABS, BUT IT'S STILL NOT THE EASIEST TO GET INTO.

UP FRONT, SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS A MIX OF NEW WRANGLER WITH OLD CJ FLAIR.

ALL MATERIALS ARE AUTHENTIC, MEANING IF IT LOOKS LIKE METAL WITH REAL BOLTS, IT IS, NOT MOLDED PLASTIC.

ALL GLADIATORS ARE 4-DOORS WITH ONLY ONE BED LENGTH; PRICING STARTS AT $35,040, THE OVERLAND FOR $41,890, AND RUBICON FOR $45,040.

BIG SPENDING EARLY ADOPTERS CAN ORDER ONE OF 4,190 LAUNCH EDITIONS, WHICH ARE FULLY LOADED RUBICONS WITH SOME UNIQUE EXTRAS FOR $62,310.

SO, WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE IT TOOK FOREVER FOR THE 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR TO BECOME A REALITY; FCA DIDN'T WANT TO JUST SHOW UP AT THE RESURGING MIDSIZE TRUCK PARTY WITH A HASTILY-ASSEMBLED WRANGLER PICKUP.

THEY WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE MOST CAPABLE MIDSIZE PICKUP TRUCK THAT MONEY CAN BUY.

AND THAT'S HOW THE GLADIATOR ROLLS.

* John: IN THE SPECIALIZED WORK OF AUTOMOTIVE CAREERS, ONE MIDWEST COLLEGE IS DOING SOMETHING UNIQUE.

THEY'RE EDUCATING AND PROMOTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUTOMOTIVE RESTORERS.

THAT'S RIGHT, MCPHERSON COLLEGE IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AMERICA THAT OFFERS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN RESTORATION TECHNOLOGY.

AND AS OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART EXPLAINS, GRADUATES ARE SCHOOLED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CAR COLLECTING WORLD.

* Stephanie Hart: AN HOUR NORTH OF WICHITA, KANSAS NESTLED NOT FAR FROM A WORKING FARM AND A WINDSWEPT LAVENDER FIELD, SITS MCPHERSON COLLEGE, WHERE STUDENTS CAN MAJOR IN RESTORATION TECHNOLOGY.

Amanda Gutierrez: WE COMBINE THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS WITH THE LIBERAL ARTS.

AND SO OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT ONLY IN THE SHOP LEARNING HISTORICAL RESTORATION SKILLS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO INVOLVED ACROSS CAMPUS SO THEY'RE TAKING COURSES IN ENGLISH, IN BUSINESS, IN ART.

Stephanie: COURSES FOCUS ON THE TECHNIQUES REQUIRED TO WORK ON CARS BUILT BEFORE 1970.

Stephanie: COMEDIAN JAY LENO WAS AN EARLY SUPPORTER OF THE PROGRAM AND STILL IS.

800 STUDENTS ATTEND MCPHERSON COLLEGE.

160 ARE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE RESTORATION PROGRAM.

Sean Robinson: I LOVE CARS SO MUCH BECAUSE I WAS DOING WOODWORKING ALL MY LIFE AND JUST BEING ABLE TO PUT WOODWORKING AND MY LOVE FOR CARS TOGETHER IS JUST LIKE THE GREATEST THING I CAN DO HERE.

Stephanie: SEAN ROBINSON IS RESTORING A 1959 AUSTIN HEALEY BUGEYE SPRITE TO GIVE TO HIS MOM.

Sean: I'M PLANNING MY CLASSES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE ASPECTS OF THE BUILD.

SO I'M TAKING TRIM CLASSES, I'M GOING TO WORK ON THE TRIM OF THE CAR, THE METAL WORK CLASSES ARE GONNA HELP ME WITH A COUPLE BODY SPOTS AND THEN ULTIMATELY PAINT IT AND DO A FULLY RESTORATION ON IT.

Stephanie: ENTHUSIASM THAT'S FUELED BY FACULTY MEMBERS.

MOST ARE ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM.

Garrick Green: WE REALLY STRIVE FOR MAYBE NOT PERFECTION AT FIRST, BUT ALWAYS CARING AND SHOWING CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THE WORK THAT IS DONE KNOWING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO FOLLOW AND SAY YOU KNOW EITHER, 'WOW GREAT JOB ON WHOEVER MADE THIS PART' OR 'WOW WHO MADE THIS PART?

Stephanie: SKILLS THEY'RE LEARNING HERE ARE BECOMING A LOST ART, SO THEY'RE IN HIGH DEMAND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CRAFTING METAL.

Ed Barr: THIS IS A 1954 JAGUAR D TYPE.

ORIGINAL D TYPES ARE WORTH TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND SHOPS REALIZE THAT STUDENTS WHO CAN DO THIS KIND OF WORK ARE READY TO WORK ON THE REAL CAR AND SO I BUILT A SKELETON FOR THEM TO WORK ON CALLED A BUCK AND THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SHAPING THE SHEET METAL TO GO OVER THAT.

Stephanie: FROM THE SHOP HERE, TO THE STREET, IT'S A CAMPUS TRADITION AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

SENIORS HOP IN CARS JUST LIKE THIS ONE AND DRIVE THROUGH THE GAZEBO TO CELEBRATE.

LET'S DO IT!

[ENGINE MOANS] Nathaniel McLaughlin: I LOVE OLD CARS AND MY PASSION IS IN PAINTING.

SO I WANT TO BE AN AUTOMOTIVE PAINTER DOING CONCOURSE LEVEL RESTORATION.

Nick Navarro: MY GOAL, ONCE I GRADUATE, IS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT VEHICLES WITH PEOPLE.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VEHICLES AND HOW- ESPECIALLY CLASSIC VEHICLES AND HOW THEY HAVE TO BE PRESERVED AND RESTORED SO THEY CAN CONTINUE ON... TO BRING JOY TO THE NEXT GENERATIONS.

Stephanie: WHAT'S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU BEING A PROFESSOR HERE AT THE COLLEGE?

Ed Barr: WHEN I GET A CALL ON SATURDAY NIGHT FROM A STUDENT WHO'S NOW RESTORING PRICELESS JAGUARS AND FERRARIS AND THEY SEND ME PICTURES OF THE BEAUTIFUL WORK THEY'RE DOING, THAT'S THE BEST REWARD.

Stephanie: THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

Stephanie: THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUTO ARTISANS ARE RESTORING THIS 1953 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 S CABRIOLET.

IT WILL LOOK LIKE THIS WHEN IT'S COMPLETE.

THE AUTOMOTIVE RESTORATION PROGRAM SET A BOLD GOAL: BY 2023 IT WILL COMPETE AND WIN THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS.

GOOD LUCK!

John: MOST CAR REPAIRS ARE ROUTINE, BUT UNUSUAL PROBLEMS CAN COME UP.

AND THAT'S WHERE PAT GOSS COMES TO THE RESCUE.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME I GOT A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS THAT WELL THEY'LL DRIVE YA NUTS TRYING TO FIND 'EM.

FIRST IS, CERTAIN FORD VEHICLES USE THIS LITTLE CRITTER RIGHT HERE IT'S CALLED A FUEL CONTROL MODULE AND IT CONTROLS THE FUEL PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.

NOW ON THE PICKUP TRUCKS THIS THING IS MOUNTED ON A CROSS MEMBER BACK BY THE SPARE TIRE, SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ALMOST ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE.

SO YOU MAY NOT EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF A BAD FUEL PUMP, WHERE THE CAR DOESN'T START OR IT INTERMITTENTLY STALLS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

MAKE SURE YOU FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE FUEL CONTROL MODULES AND IF THE VEHICLE DOES THEN PULL IT OFF, CHECK THE BACKSIDE OF IT FOR CORROSION SUCH AS WE SEE HERE.

THESE THINGS ARE MOUNTED DIRECTLY AGAINST THE CROSS MEMBER OR PARTS OF THE BODY AND DIRT AND SALT GET IN THERE, THEY HOLD MOISTURE, THEY CORRODE THE BACK OF IT AND EVENTUALLY IT FALLS APART, THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RUN.

ALRIGHT NOW HERE'S A TRICK: YEARS AGO I FIGURED OUT THAT WE COULD PUT WASHERS ON THE BOLT, LONGER BOLTS IN THERE, SPACE IT OUT AWAY AND THEN THE DIRT DOESN'T BUILD UP BEHIND IT, THIS ONE IS FROM DORMAN PRODUCTS AND IT COMES WITH RUBBER SPACERS WITH IT.

SO IF YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IT MAKE SURE YOU BUY ONE THAT HAS SPACERS OR SPACE IT OUT YOURSELF SO THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

ALRIGHT NEXT, LOTS OF CARS COME INTO MY SHOPS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND ONE OF THE CODES THAT WE PULL IS IF THE ENGINE IS TOO COLD.

WELL EVERYBODY SEEMS TO THINK OF THERMOSTATS AS BEING RELATIVE TO ENGINES RUNNING TOO HOT, WELL THERE ARE LOTS THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE A THERMOSTAT TO GO BAD AND THE ENGINE RUN TOO COOL.

THINGS LIKE HERE WE HAVE A SEAL OR GASKET THAT WENT BAD AND IT GOT TRAPPED BETWEEN THE MOVING PART OF THE THERMOSTAT AND THE SEAT ON THE THERMOSTAT HELD IT OPEN, ENGINE TOO COLD.

OVER HERE WE HAVE ONE WHERE THE DO-IT- YOURSELFER-- WAS TIGHT SPACES IN THERE, THERE'S A LITTLE TRICK TO IT.

WELL WHAT HE DID WAS BULL IT INTO PLACE AND WHEN HE DID THAT HE BENT IT AND IT COULDN'T CLOSE.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: TOO COLD.

ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND A LOT OF THESE AUTOMOBILES TODAY HAVE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE THESE WORM DRIVE CLAMPS ON ANYTHING THAT'S PLASTIC BECAUSE THEY CAN CAUSE PRESSURE POINTS OVER TIME AND THAT CAN CAUSE HAIRLINE CRACKS AND YOU LOSE COOLANT VERY SLOWLY.

USE THE SPRING TYPE THAT COMES WITH THE CAR, THERE'S A REASON THE MANUFACTURES USE THOSE.

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

Greg Carloss: OUR REVOLVING DOOR OF LONG-TERM VOLKSWAGENS TURNS TO THIS 2019 JETTA WHICH HAS BEEN IN OUR FLEET FOR 2-MONTHS, WITH 2,000-MILES ADDED TO THE ODOMETER.

THE BIG THING WITH THIS JETTA WHEN IT CAME OUT WAS THAT IT SUPPOSEDLY CATERED SPECIFICALLY TO AMERICANS.

AND SINCE WE'RE ALL AMERICANS HERE AT MOTORWEEK WE CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE EXTRA SPACE INSIDE AND THE BANG FOR THE BUCK WHEN IT COMES TO TECH FEATURES.

DESPITE THE FABULOUS MQB ARCHITECTURE, THE RIDE AND HANDLING ISN'T AS SPORTY AS IT ONCE WAS, BUT IT'S STILL VERY COMPETENT COMPARED TO RIVALS AND REALLY COMFORTABLE.

WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE OUR JETTA WAS OUTFITTED IN R-LINE TRIM; WHICH MEANS BLACKED-OUT APPEARANCE, 17-INCH WHEELS, AND UPGRADED INTERIOR.

ADDING TO THE SPORTY PLATFORM, IS A TINY 1.4-LITER I4 TURBO THAT IS PLENTY CAPABLE, WORKING HAND AND COG WITH THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TO DELIVER 32.2 MILES-PER-GALLON.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE FROM OUR SPORTY SPRING WITH THIS VOLKSWAGEN JETTA.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE MAZDA6 AND SUBARU CROSSTREK ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS ALWAYS IN FAST FORWARD.

TO HELP US KEEP UP HERE'S LAUREN MORRISON WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

Lauren Morrison: IT'S SPRING AND THE 2019 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW WAS IN FULL BLOOM.

THE FOURTH GENERATION TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 3-ROW CROSSOVER ARRIVED WITH MORE DYNAMIC STYLING.

IT RIDES ON A NEW PLATFORM WITH V6 AND REVAMPED HYBRID POWERTRAINS.

NEW TOO, THE TOYOTA YARIS BECOMES A MORE USEFUL 5-DOOR.

NEW YORK IS THE FIRST PUBLIC SHOWING FOR THE REDESIGNED FORD ESCAPE.

LOOKING MORE CIVILIZED, POWER INCLUDES THE FIRST I3 WITH CYLINDER DEACTIVATION, AND A HYBRID.

MUCH MORE DYNAMIC IS ITS STABLE MATE THE NEW LINCOLN CORSAIR.

REPLACING THE MKC, WHILE COMPACT, IT INCLUDES MOST OF THE INTERIOR REFINEMENT OF THE FULL-SIZE NAVIGATOR.

SPEAKING OF BIG SUV'S, VOLKSWAGEN'S ATLAS BASE CAMP CONCEPT LOOKS READY FOR ANY WILDERNESS WALKABOUT.

THERE WILL ONLY BE 1,948 "PRODUCTION" PORSCHE 911 SPEEDSTERS.

THIS LATEST OPEN TOP ICON SPORTS 502-HORSEPOWER FROM A NATURALLY ASPIRATED 4.0-LITER FLAT-SIX.

THE ALL-NEW SUBARU OUTBACK COMBINES RUGGEDNESS, A MORE PREMIUM INTERIOR, AND A NEW GLOBAL PLATFORM.

A TURBO FLAT-4 RETURNS, REPLACING LAST YEAR'S OPTIONAL SIX.

THE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI VENUE WILL BE THE BRAND'S SMALLEST CROSSOVER.

IT'S UPRIGHT SHAPE AND SIMPLE INTERIOR DELIVER A LITTLE "BRONCO-STYLE" VIBE.

NEW YORK'S BEST-LOOKING NEW CAR WAS THE EIGHTH-GENERATION HYUNDAI SONATA.

ITS "SENSUOUS SPORTINESS" DESIGN COULD BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO MID-SIZE SEDANS.

MEANWHILE, DODGE PAID TRIBUTE TO U.S. ARMED FORCES WITH STARS & STRIPES EDITIONS OF THE CHALLENGER AND CHARGER.

NEW YORK CITY HAS A LUX FACTOR ALL ITS OWN, AND AUTO MAKERS EXHIBITED PLENTY OF PRESTIGE.

ALFA ROMEO DISPLAYED GIULIA AND STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO NRING LIMITED EDITIONS, RECOGNIZING THE BRAND'S PERFORMANCE AT THE WORLD-RENOWNED N�RBURGRING.

CADILLAC BROUGHT THE NEW CT5 LUXURY-SPORT SEDAN, REPLACING BOTH THE ATS AND CTS.

AN UPDATED JAGUAR XE SEDAN MADE ITS NEW YORK DEBUT AS WELL.

JUST LIKE THE NSX SUPERCAR, THE VERY LIMITED RUN ACURA TLX AND MDX PMC EDITIONS WILL BE HAND ASSEMBLED AT HONDA'S PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURING CENTER IN OHIO.

MERCEDES-BENZ MADE MULTIPLE GLOBAL DEBUTS AT NEW YORK.

THE ALL-NEW GLS THREE-ROW UTILITY ARRIVES WITH TOP DRAWER LUXURY, THE LATEST MBUX PERSONAL ASSISTANT, AND NEW MIRROR FOLDING "CAR WASH" MODE.

OTHER WORLD DEBUTS INCLUDED AN UPDATED MERCEDES-BENZ GLC COUPE.

ALONG WITH THE MERCEDES-AMG GLC 63 4MATIC+ IN BOTH SUV AND COUPE FORMS.

ITS 302 AMG HORSEPOWER FOR THE CLA AND A-CLASS FOUR-DOORS.

AND THE LIMITED EDITION MERCEDES-BENZ EQC EDITION 1886 TO MARK THE EV SUB-BRAND'S FIRST SUV.

A NEW EV CONTENDER IS THE QIANTU K50 BY MULLEN.

THIS ELECTRIC SPORTS CAR LOOKS PRODUCTION READY WITH 402-HORSEPOWER AND 230-MILE RANGE.

THE ALL-ELECTRIC TWO-PASSENGER GENESIS MINT CONCEPT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CITIES JUST LIKE NEW YORK.

KIA SPICED THINGS UP WITH THE HABANIRO CONCEPT, AN ALL-ELECTRIC, AUTONOMOUS, 4-SEATER WITH BUTTERFLY-WING DOORS.

WHILE THE KOREAN BRAND HOPES TO ENTICE MORE DRIVING ENTHUSIASTS WITH THE STINGER GTS.

AUDI CELEBRATED TEN YEARS OF ITS R8 V-10 SUPERCAR WITH A HOST OF 20-20 UPDATES.

THE 2020 NISSAN 370Z, AND GT-R 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS CELEBRATE A HALF CENTURY SINCE THE DATSUN 240Z MADE ITS U.S.

DEBUT IN NEW YORK.

WHILE THE 2020 NISSAN GT-R NISMO WILL BE THEIR MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION GT-R EVER.

FOR TAME DRIVERS IT'S THE LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER THIRD-GEN NISSAN VERSA.

THE MAZDA CX-5 WILL FINALLY BE AVAILABLE HERE WITH A SKYACTIV-D DIESEL OPTION.

WHILE GMC'S THREE-ROW ACADIA ARRIVED WITH ADDED HIGH TECH AND NEW TURBO ENGINE.

AND THAT'S IT FROM THE BIG APPLE AND THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

John: DESPITE OUR MISGIVINGS OF CONSIDERING THE FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE ONLY KIA NIRO A TRUE CROSSOVER UTILITY; THERE'S NO DENYING ITS PRACTICALITY, OR ITS COMFORTING NATURE, WHETHER IN STANDARD HYBRID GUISE OR AS A PLUG-IN PHEV.

WELL, THE NIRO FAMILY IS EXPANDING WITH A FULL EV.

SO NOT ONLY IS THEIR FAMILY GETTING BIGGER, BUT A LOT MORE EFFICIENT, TOO.

* John: EVERYBODY KNOWS THE REVOLUTION WILL BE BATTERY POWERED, OR AT LEAST THE AUTOMOTIVE ONE ANYWAY.

AND KIA CONTINUES TO CHANGE THE SOCIAL ORDER OF THEIR LINEUP WITH THIS 2019 KIA NIRO EV, A FULLY-ELECTRIC VERSION OF THEIR NIRO HYBRID.

THE NIRO EV RUNS SILENT AND RUNS DEEP; BOASTING 239-MILES OF RANGE FROM ITS 64-KWH LIQUID-COOLED BATTERY PACK.

PROVIDING THE POWER TO DO SO, IS A LARGE 170-KW ELECTRIC MOTOR, SHARED WITH THE HYUNDAI KONA EV.

OUTPUT RATES 201 HP AND 291 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WITH NO GAS ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION TO ACCOUNT FOR, KIA WAS ABLE TO MIX THINGS UP INSIDE.

THE CENTER CONSOLE IS UNIQUE, WITH A ROTARY SHIFT DIAL AND SOME ADDITIONAL STORAGE OPTIONS.

LIKEWISE, THE SUPERVISION GAUGE PANEL, WITH 7-INCH TFT, GETS UPDATED TO PROVIDE RELEVANT EV INFORMATION.

SAME UVO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS GREAT; JUST ADDITIONAL EV SCREENS, AND UNIQUE NAVIGATION TO ROUTE YOU TO CHARGING POINTS.

GOOD COMFORT CONTINUES UP FRONT, WITH THE SEATS SPORTING EV-SPECIFIC MATERIALS; AND THERE'S MORE THAN AMPLE ROOM FOR PASSENGERS IN BACK.

STEERING WHEEL PADDLES ALLOW YOU TO SELECT ONE OF FOUR REGEN BRAKING MODES, AND EVEN BRING THE CAR TO A STOP FOR ONE PEDDLE DRIVING.

AMAZINGLY, EVEN THOUGH IT SHARES A CHASSIS WITH THE GAS-HYBRID VERSIONS, INCLUDING THE SAME 106.3-INCH WHEELBASE; KIA WAS ABLE TO PACKAGE BATTERIES LOW IN THE CHASSIS LIKE A DEDICATED EV, FOR A MOSTLY UNCOMPROMISED CARGO AREA, LOSING ONLY ABOUT ONE CUBIC-FEET, 18.5 CUBIC-FEET, EXPANDING TO 53.0 WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

John: ALSO LIKE MOST OTHER EVS, THE NEAR SOUNDLESS DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS ALMOST SURREAL; AND THERE'S TORQUE-A-PLENTY THAT MAKES IT QUITE ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE.

SO YES, IF YOU NEED ANOTHER REASON TO CHECK OUT THE NIRO EV, IT'S ALSO A HECK OF A LOT QUICKER THAN ANY OTHER NIRO.

AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE TOOK OUR LONG TERM NIRO PHEV ALONG ON THE EV'S TRACK DAY FOR SOME HEAD-TO-HEAD ACTION.

AND THE EV BEAT IT RIGHT FROM THE HOLE SHOT, AT LEAST WHEN WE COULD FIND DECENT TRACTION.

AND WE SURE DIDN'T HAVE TO BATTLE BURNOUTS IN THE PHEV.

ONCE THE EV'S TIRES WERE WARMED UP AND GRIPPING A LITTLE BETTER, WE WERE ABLE TO LEAP OFF THE LINE TO 60 IN 7.0-SECONDS FLAT.

THAT'S OVER TWO SECONDS FASTER!

EVEN BETTER, NO SHIFTING, NO CVT-INDUCED ENGINE SCREAMING, JUST SILENT JET-LIKE POWER THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE FOR 15.5 SECONDS, ENDING AT 91 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AND THAT'S WITH SOME 400 POUNDS OF EXTRA MOTOR AND BATTERY WEIGHT COMPARED TO THE PHEV.

THROUGH THE CONES, THAT DOES ALLOW A LITTLE MORE OVERSTEER THAN WE REMEMBER, AS WELL AS SOME ADDITIONAL BODY ROLL.

BUT, KUDOS TO KIA FOR KEEPING THE FUN-FACTOR HIGH WITH WELL-WEIGHTED STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL THAT ALLOWS FOR PLENTY OF AGGRESSION BEFORE STEPPING IN.

BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS ALSO VERY GOOD.

STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED 115-FEET, JUST 3-FEET MORE THAN WE SAW IN THE ORIGINAL NIRO.

IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL ECO-BLUE ACCENTS; SETTING THE EV APART FROM OTHER NIROS OUTSIDE, IS A WHOLE NEW FRONT END THAT'S BEEN SMOOTHED OUT; WITH NO NEED FOR A GRILLE TO ALLOW IN AIR FOR ENGINE COOLING.

IT ALSO HARBORS A NEW CHARGING PORT; MOVING TO THE FRONT COMPARED TO THE PHEV, TO ALLOW FOR A DC FAST CHARGE PLUG, IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD LEVEL 1&2 PLUG.

IN REGARDS TO CHARGING, THE NIRO EV CAN BE QUICK CHARGED TO 80% IN AS LITTLE AS 60-MINUTES.

REGULAR LEVEL 2 CHARGING WILL TAKE WILL TAKE ABOUT 9.5 HOURS IF FULLY DRAINED; AND IF YOU'RE STUCK WITH 110, PLAN ON A LENGTHY 59-HOURS.

KIA HAS DELIVERED A FANTASTIC EV; AND WHILE OFFICIAL PRICING HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN TWO TRIMS.

WE FIGURE THE BASE EX WILL FALL WELL UNDER 40-GRAND, IN ORDER TO GET IT UNDER 30, WITH THE USUAL GOVERNMENT TAX CREDITS.

KIA ALREADY SEEMED TO HAVE JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE CAR AND CROSSOVER BASES COVERED.

BUT NOW THAT THIS "PLAYER TO BE NAMED LATER", THE 2019 KIA NIRO EV HAS ARRIVED, IT JUST MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE THE MVP OF THE TEAM.

John: 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 MORE TECH COMES TO THE SLICK RANGE ROVER EVOQUE.

AND WE BREEZE ALONG IN THE FINAL VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE.

John: 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: 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 .

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