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

JOIN US FOR A LIGHTNING FAST 4-DOOR, THE MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 S... PAT GOSS WITH WAYS TO KEEP A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD... STEPHANIE HART DISCOVERS OVERLANDING WHERE THE JOURNEY IS WHERE IT'S AT... AND A DIESEL INFUSION ADDS MORE PUNCH TO THE RUGGED JEEP WRANGLER.

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.

John: WHILE, THE AMG LABEL SEEMS TO BE APPLIED TO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING MERCEDES THESE DAYS, THE MERCEDES-AMG BRAND ITSELF STANDS APART, WITH UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT BASED ANY OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ PRODUCTS.

NOW, TO THIS POINT, THEY'VE FOCUSED THOSE EFFORTS ON 2-DOOR PERFORMANCE CARS, BUT THAT ALL CHANGES WITH THIS CAR, THE MERCEDES-AMG GT 4-DOOR COUPE.

* THIS REALLY IS A BRAVE NEW WORLD.

PERFORMANCE SUVs ARE ALL THE RAGE IN THE LUXURY REALM, WHILE MERCEDES "TUNER" AMG NOW MAKES THEIR OWN DISTINCT VEHICLES.

AND IT'S INTO THIS WORLD THAT WE SEE SOMETHING ELSE NEW EMERGE, THE 2020 MERCEDES-AMG GT 4-DOOR COUPE.

A CAR THAT BUCKS ALL THE TRENDS, PACKING SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE INTO A 4-DOOR CAR BODY.

GETTING RIGHT TO THE GOOD STUFF; LIKE ANY HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE THESE DAYS, EVERYTHING FROM CHASSIS-TUNING TO POWER DELIVERY IS COMPUTER-CONTROLLED AND HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE.

IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL AMG DYNAMICS TERMS OF SPORT+ AND RACE, THERE ARE ALSO PRO AND MASTER, BUT ALAS, NO PROMASTER...SORRY!

SO, RATHER THAN SPENDING ALL DAY FIGURING OUT AN OPTIMAL SETUP, WE JUST HOPPED IN, FIRED IT UP, DIALED EVERYTHING TO THE MAX, AND HEADED FOR TURN-1 AT SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

AND BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THAT TURN, WE NOTED THAT DESPITE THIS 4-DOOR COUPE BEING A PHYSICALLY BIG CAR, IT SURE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT FROM WHERE WE WERE SITTING.

IT'S VERY EASY TO PLACE ON TRACK, TURNS IN QUICKLY, HOLDS ITS LINE WELL, AND ALLOWS YOU TO FEED IN HEALTHY AMOUNTS OF POWER COMING OUT OF CORNERS WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF SHAPE.

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP, YOU REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET IT TO OVERSTEER, THOUGH THERE IS A "DRIFT MODE" TO AID IN SUCH HIJINKS.

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS DECENT WEIGHT TO IT, AND SETS ALL 4-WHEELS INTO THE ACTION, BUT THAT DOES ROB SOME OF THE FEEL WE'D LIKE.

CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES ARE OPTIONAL, NOTED BY BRONZE 6-PISTON FRONT CALIPERS; AND THEY ARE PLENTY TRACK-WORTHY, CONSISTENTLY SLOWING US WITHOUT COMPLAINT FROM 160+ AT THE END OF ROEBLING'S LONG FRONT STRAIGHT.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY, THREE VERSIONS OF AMG'S FIRST 4-DOOR; THE GT 53 WITH 429 HORSEPOWER TURBOCHARGED 3.0 LITER I6, THE GT 63 WITH 577 HORSEPOWER FROM ITS 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8, AND THIS GT 63 S THAT CRANKS THAT V8 UP TO 630 HORSEPOWER AND 664 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

OBVIOUSLY, OUR CHOICE FOR TRACK WORK.

[ENGINE REVS] AND TRUST US, THIS V8 IS NOT AFRAID OF A LITTLE HARD LABOR; PICKING UP THIS CAR, AND HURLING IT DOWN THE TRACK LIKE IT HAS A SCHEDULE TO KEEP.

LAUNCH CONTROL IS SIMPLE TO ENGAGE AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE; 60 MILES PER HOUR ARRIVES IN JUST 3.0 SECONDS FLAT.

THE AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC DELIVERS SHIFTS THAT ARE AS QUICK AS THEY ARE BRUTAL, AND WHEN WE CLEARED THE QUARTER IN JUST 11.0 SECONDS AT 128 MILES PER HOUR, THIS CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS JUST GETTING STARTED.

THERE MAY BE A BOAT-LOAD OF SENSORS COLLECTING DATA ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND THIS CAR GET INTO, BUT THERE'S NOTHING SENSITIVE LOOKING ABOUT IT.

EVEN WITH OVERALL SMOOTHNESS TO MOST BODY PANELS, IT HAS A VERY AGGRESSIVE MACHINE-LIKE APPEARANCE.

FROM THE REAR, THE HIPS LOOK ALMOST 911-ISH, AND IT'S ALSO WAY BIGGER IN PERSON THAN IT LOOKS IN PHOTOS; IT DEFINITELY STICKS OUT IN ANY CROWD.

SIDEBAR: HOW AWESOME IS THIS PEARLY MATTE BLUE PAINT JOB?

TECHNICALLY CALLED "BRILLIANT BLUE MAGNO," IT BLENDS PERFECTLY WITH THE TASTEFUL CARBON-FIBER TRIM.

THANKS TO THE HIGHLY-BOLSTERED SEATS, AND SUEDE COVERED, ON-CENTER INDICATING STEERING WHEEL; THE INTERIOR FEELS VERY RACY, BUT WITH A PRECISION LUXURY APPEARANCE THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY A HIGH-END WATCHMAKER.

IT SHARES MORE WITH THE GT COUPE THAN IT DOES ANY SEDAN OVER ON THE BENZ SIDE.

MOST CONTROLS HAVE A VERY PRECISE FEEL TO THEM, EXCEPT FOR THE MANY TOUCH SENSITIVE BUTTONS WHICH ARE ALL OVER THE CABIN, INCLUDING ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

THEY DO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET USED TO.

THINGS ARE SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS IN THE REAR SEAT FOR TWO, WITH PLENTY OF EASY ACCESS, AND EVEN DECENT HEADROOM DESPITE THE SLOPING ROOFLINE.

AND, THERE'S EVEN 12.7 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE, WITH OPTIONAL FOLDING SEATBACK FLEXIBILITY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED FOR A LESS THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 19.4 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION WITH 8.6 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

AND YES, THERE IS A GAS GUZZLER TAX.

SO, BASE PRICE FOR THIS GT 63 S IS A TAXING $162,200.

THE BASE GT 53 COMES IN JUST OVER $100,000, WITH THE GT 63 OCCUPYING THE MIDDLE GROUND AT $141,250.

WHILE, WHAT MAKES A GREAT PERFORMANCE SEDAN MAY BE SUBJECTIVE; ANYONE WHO TAKES A TURN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE 2020 MERCEDES-AMG GT 4-DOOR COUPE WILL AGREE THAT IT IS UTTERLY FANTASTIC.

WE WERE PROBABLY SUPPOSED TO POINT OUT SOME SERIOUS NEGATIVES TO KEEP THE INTERNET TROLLS HAPPY, BUT WE COULDN'T FIND ANY.

SOOO...MAYBE WE SHOULD GO TAKE IN A FEW MORE LAPS, JUST FOR RESEARCH SAKE, OF COURSE.

* THE SPORT OF OVERLANDING IS QUICKLY GAINING TRACTION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY, HALF CAMPING AND HALF OFF-ROADING DONE IN REMOTE DESTINATIONS.

WELL, NEVER ONE TO TURN DOWN A CHALLENGE, OUR STEPHANIE HART HEADED TO THE WILDS OF OREGON WITH SPECIALTY VEHICLE MAKER EARTHCRUISER TO GIVE US A GLIMPSE INTO THIS ADVENTUROUS NEW LIFESTYLE.

* Stephanie Hart: SIX PEOPLE, ONE DOG, AND THREE EARTHCRUISER'S.

THE STARTING POINT: CASCADE LAKES RECREATION AREA THE END: SOMEWHERE NEAR THE BASE OF MOUNT BACHELOR.

LANCE GILLIS IS OUR EXPERT NAVIGATOR AND THE FOUNDER EARTHCRUISER.

Lance Gillis: SO, YOU KIND OF GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS... YOU GET THE RV LIFESTYLE, IF YOU LIKE, WHERE YOU CAN STOP WHERE YOU WANT TO STOP AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT WE GET MORE CHOICES WHERE YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

Stephanie: LIKE THIS DIRT TRAIL WHICH WAS VERY ROUGH AND ROCKY AT TIMES.

AND AS WE HEADED DEEPER INTO THE FOREST, THE TRAIL BECAME MORE SNOW PACKED.

EARTHCRUISER COULD HANDLE ALL OF IT.

THE SPECIALTY VEHICLE MAKER WAS FOUNDED IN 2008 IN AUSTRALIA.

IT MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2013... AT A TIME WHEN THE LINES BETWEEN OFF-ROADING AND CAMPING WERE BEGINNING TO BLUR.

Brent Baker: TRADITIONALLY, CAMPING HAS ALWAYS BEEN GO TO THE NATIONAL PARKS YOU KNOW, SEE THE WILDLIFE, AND EVERYTHING, AND AS ITS GOTTEN MORE POPULAR OVER THE YEARS, AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN INTO IT.

CAMP SITES HAVE GOTTEN MORE DEVELOPED, AND THEY'VE BEEN A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE WHICH IS GREAT TO PEOPLE SO EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM, BUT WHAT IT HAS TAKEN AWAY IS ITS REMOTENESS OF GETTING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS.

THE WILDLIFE HAS MOVED ON AND THINGS HAVE KIND OF MIGRATED, AND NOW YOU CAN'T GO TO A CAMPSITE, AND GET THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT YOU COULD BACK IN THE DAY Stephanie: PERHAPS WHY OVERLANDING HAS GROWN RAPIDLY IN RECENT YEARS, TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND.

EARTHCRUISER MAKES A VARIETY OF VEHICLES.

Lance: WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A "MOD" THAT GOES ON THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK.

IT STARTS PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT AGAIN IT GIVES YOU WHAT YOU NEED, BUT NOT TOO MUCH.

Stephanie: THEN THERE'S THE "EXD."

TYPICALLY, SETTING UP CAMP REQUIRES A LOT OF MUSCLE, BUT WITH EARTHCRUISER ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS THIS... NICE!

Lance: MUCH MORE LIVEABLE, VERY COMFORTABLE, IT HAS GOT EVERYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE IN THERE TO KEEP YOU GOING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND MONTHS AT A TIME.

Stephanie: THE PRICE TAG?

$185,000 FOR ABOUT 100-GRAND MORE YOU CAN HAVE THE EXP WHICH IS BIGGER AND BUILT ON A DIFFERENT PLATFORM.

Lance: SO, WITH OUR EXP, WHICH WAS OUR ORIGINAL, WE CHOSE A CAB OVER PLATFORM - INCOMPLETE VEHICLE - SO WE COULD START FROM THE GROUND UP BUILDING IT PERFECTLY WHAT WE WANTED.

Stephanie: INSIDE, THERE'S VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING YOU NEED, A WORKING FAUCET AND RIGHT OVER HERE A REFRIGERATOR THAT'S STOCKED WITH ALL THE GOOD STUFF, NOT TO MENTION THERE'S A COMPLETE BATHROOM.

WITH THE PUSH OF A BUTTON, A TOILET MOVES OUT FROM THE WALL AND THERE'S EVEN A SHOWER.

* TRAVELING TO THIS REMOTE SPOT, WE WORKED UP AN APPETITE.

WE GOT THE CAMPFIRE GOING, PUT SOME STEAKS ON THE GRILL - ALONG WITH HEALTHY SIDES - AND MICHELLE SHARED HER STORIES OF OVERLANDING.

Michelle Boltz: AS WE GET OLDER THINGS AREN'T AS EASY, I WANT AN INSIDE SHOWER...

I WANT AN INSIDE TOILET...

IF THE WEATHER IS CRAPPY, I WANT TO BE INSIDE AND I DON'T WANT TO BE LIVING ON TOP OF SOMEONE ELSE.

I WANT TO HAVE SOME SPACE.

AND SO, AN EARTHCRUISER MEETS ALL OF THOSE NEEDS AND IT'S COMPLETELY COMPETENT, AND CAPABLE OFF ROAD.

SO, I NEVER FEEL SCARED THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET STUCK AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOREVER... AND IT'S COMFORTABLE WHEN WE GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

Stephanie: AND THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE... BY ORANGE LAKE...OUTSIDE OF BEND, OREGON.

AS DAY TURNED INTO NIGHT, WE SOAKED UP THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AND THE TRANQUILITY GOT THE BEST OF US...

SOME OF US NODDED OFF PRETTY EARLY.

Brent: GETTING OUT HERE AND YOU KNOW, CAMPING UNDER THE STARS AND JUST NOT BEING BY SOMEBODY WHO'S YOU KNOW, GOT A GENERATOR RUNNING, AND EVERYTHING ELSE...

THE PEACE, THE QUIET... YOU KNOW, WE ALL PUT IN HARD WORK WEEKS AND BEING ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL AND DISCONNECT, AND CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE YOU CAMP WITH, AND NATURE, IT IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST STRESS RELIEFS, AND RECHARGES THAT YOU CAN HAVE.

* John: WE ALL WANT A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ROAD.

PAT GOSS SAYS THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

* Pat Goss: WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE EASIER THAN CLEANING THE WINDOWS IN YOUR CAR?

WELL, MAYBE A LOT OF THINGS.

FIRST, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS.

USE A GLASS CLEANER THAT'S DESIGNED FOR AUTOMOBILES NOT FOR HOUSEHOLD USE.

THE REASON IS SOME OF THE HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS, THEY CAN LEAVE A FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT CAUSES THE WIPERS TO STREAK AND SMEAR.

THAT'S NOT SAFE.

ALL RIGHT, SECOND THING, IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE TINTED WINDOWS... NOW, A LOT OF US LIKE TINTED WINDOWS EITHER TO KEEP THE SUN OFF OR JUST FOR THE LOOK.

WELL, TINTED WINDOWS HAVE A PLASTIC FILM ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS.

THAT PLASTIC FILM HAS TO BE TREATED PROPERLY.

YOU DON'T USE ANY KIND OF GLASS CLEANER THAT HAS AMMONIA OR ANY OTHER HARSH CHEMICALS IN IT.

YOU USE A TINT SAFE WINDOW CLEANER.

ANYTHING ELSE COULD DAMAGE THAT FILM, AND IT LOOKS REALLY NASTY WHEN IT HAPPENS.

ALRIGHT...ALSO USE MICROFIBER CLOTHS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO SCRATCH IT, AND THESE THINGS YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT CLEANING EVERYTHING WITH WADDED UP NEWSPAPER AND SO ON...THAT WILL REALLY DO A NUMBER ON YOUR WINDOW TINT.

ALRIGHT, LOTS OF US HAVE TO HAVE PARKING STICKERS OR INSPECTION STICKERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE COME OFF, YOU TAKE THEM OFF, REPLACE THEM, BUT THEY LEAVE A RESIDUE OF ADHESIVE BEHIND THEM.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU TO DO?

WELL, YOU USE A STICKER REMOVER OR SOME TYPE OF SOLVENT TO DISSOLVE THE GLUE.

THEN YOU CAREFULLY USE A RAZOR BLADE, OR IF YOU CAN FIND IT, A PLASTIC RAZOR BLADE, TO SCRAPE THE RESIDUE OFF AND THAT WAY, YOU WON'T DAMAGE THE GLASS.

ANOTHER THING, AND THIS IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF FOR MOST PEOPLE.

THE WINDOWS AND THE DOORS RIDE UP AND DOWN IN CHANNELS.

THOSE CHANNELS GET DIRTY.

THEY CAUSE THE WINDOW TO BIND AND CHATTER AS IT GOES UP AND DOWN.

WELL, YOU CAN PREVENT ALL OF THAT, AND SOMETIMES CURE IT, BY USING SILICONE SPRAY.

YES, IT'S THE SAME AS SILICONE SPRAY THAT YOU USE ON YOUR WEATHER STRIPPING.

YOU SPRAY IT INTO THE CHANNEL... LET IT RUN DOWN PAST THE GLASS, MOVE THE GLASS UP AND DOWN TWO OR THREE TIMES TO DISTRIBUTE THE SILICONE... AND THAT WILL CURE LOT OF PROBLEMS AND PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO, SILICONE SPRAY IN THE WINDOW CHANNELS.

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

John: IT'S AN EXCITING TIME IN THE AUTO WORLD.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO SHOW YOU.

AND LAUREN MORRISION DOES JUST THAT IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: IN RECENT YEARS THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW HAS BEEN A SHOWCASE MOSTLY FOR NEW TRUCKS.

AND THAT SENSE OF RUGGEDNESS WAS CERTAINLY EVIDENT AT ITS 112TH EDITION.

JEEP'S NEW GLADIATOR PICKUP ARRIVES IN MOJAVE TRIM AS THE BRAND'S FIRST DESERT RATED VEHICLE.

IT GOES BEYOND THE LEGENDARY OFF-ROAD REPUTATION, AS A HIGH-SPEED DESERT RUNNER BUILT TO POWER THROUGH SAND.

WHILE, THE JEEP WRANGLER JPP 20 GETS THE MOPAR TREATMENT WITH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR AN ELEVATED OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.

THE 2020 NISSAN FRONTIER EMBODIES THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.

THE CURRENT LONG SERVICING ADDS THE NEW 310 HORSEPOWER 3.8 LITER V6 AND 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT GENERATION FRONTIER DUE A YEAR FROM NOW.

TOYOTA SHOWED TRAIL SPECIAL EDITIONS OF THE TACOMA, TUNDRA, AND 4RUNNER... WITH THE LOOKS AND WHEELS DESIGNED FOR GOING OFF THE PAVEMENT.

WHILE, THE TWO PICKUPS PLUS SEQUOIA JOIN THE LIST OF MODELS OFFERING THE DARK HUES OF NIGHTSHADE SPECIAL EDITIONS.

THE FIRST TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XSE DEBUTED WITH BOLDER NEW LOOKS AND STEERING AND SUSPENSION, TUNED FOR A SPORTIER EXPERIENCE.

ANOTHER FAMILY STAR IS THE REVAMPED 2021 CHRYSLER PACIFICA.

I WILL OFFER A SEGMENT FIRST ELECTRIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OPTION WHILE RETAINING ITS POPULAR STOW'N-GO FOLDING SEATS.

A LARGER 10.1 INCH TOUCHSCREEN AND UCONNECT 5 WITH AMAZON ALEXA ARE ALSO ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

A FACELIFTED 2021 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS TOOK A BOW.

IT BORROWS THE BOLDER LOOK OF THE ATLAS CROSS SPORT WHILE ALSO ADDING 3.0 INCHES IN LENGTH.

THE 2021 CHEVROLET EQUINOX GETS A FRESHER LOOK.

THE SPORTY RS TRIM ALSO COMES TO CHEVROLET'S COMPACT UTILITY.

FORD'S GT SUPER CAR ARRIVED WITH A NEW UNPAINTED CARBON FIBER FINISH AND AN UPRATED TWIN-TURBO V6 NOW BOASTING 660 HORSEPOWER.

A TITANIUM EXHAUST IS ALSO STANDARD TO COMPLIMENT THE EXTRA MUSCLE.

ON THE CAR SIDE, A REFRESHED 2020 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R RIDES ON A REVISED SUSPENSION WITH UPGRADED BRAKES, AND NOW COMES STANDARD WITH HONDA SENSING SAFETY AND DRIVER-ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

FRESH FROM ITS SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL, THE ALL-NEW 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA IS BECOMING MORE ECO-FRIENDLY WITH A HYBRID MODEL.

A SOLAR-PANEL ROOF CHARGES THE 12-VOLT AND HYBRID BATTERIES, KEEPING THE ELECTRONICS GOING WHILE ADDING A FEW EXTRA MILES.

AND, KIA'S LARGEST AND MOST UPSCALE SEDAN, THE CADENZA EVOLVES FOR 2020.

IT'S SLEEKER INSIDE AND OUT WITH MORE TECHNOLOGY.

AND THAT'S OUR WHIRLWIND TOUR OF THE WINDY CITY AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Greg Carloss: WE ARE JUST BACK FROM OUR ANNUAL TREK SOUTH FOR WINTER TESTING IN OUR 2020 HYUNDAI PALISADE.

THAT ROUND TRIP PUT OUR 6-WEEK DRIVING TOTAL AT JUST OVER 3,000 MILES...

SO, WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO GET TO KNOW THIS 3-ROW UTILITY ALONG I-95.

WHILE, THE 3.8 LITER V6 IS ONLY RATED AT 291 HORSEPOWER, THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH GET UP AND GO FOR EFFORTLESS PASSING.

FULL THROTTLE IS THE ONLY TIME YOU HEAR THE POWERTRAIN, WHICH INCLUDES AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

SHIFTS ARE NEARLY INVISIBLE TOO, BUT IT DOES GET CONFUSED ONCE IN A WHILE DURING DOWNSHIFTS, IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.

THE PALISADE HAS A REALLY NICE, LUXURY-TYPE RIDE, NOT TOO HARD NOT TOO SOFT.

AND, IT DRIVES MUCH SMALLER THAN IT IS.

SO, YOU ACTUALLY DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET OVERLY CONFIDENT WHEN SWITCHING LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

OUR PALISADE ALSO SAW A DOSE OF NORTHEAST WINTER WHILE CROSSING A 2700-FOOT RIDGE IN PENNSYLVANIA DURING A SNOW STORM.

AWD TRACTION WAS GOOD ON THE STEEPEST GRADES EVEN WITH ALL-SEASON TIRES.

OUR CURRENT 21.5 MILES PER GALLON FUEL ECONOMY IS JUST UNDER THE EPA'S COMBINED RATING OF 22.

WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON OUR HONDA INSIGHT AND THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: THE ICONIC JEEP WRANGLER HAS BEEN MANY THINGS TO ITS AMERICAN FAITHFUL OVER THE YEARS.

BUT ONE THING, IT GENERALLY HASN'T BEEN IS DIESEL-POWERED.

WELL, THAT ALL CHANGES, AS FCA IS NOW MAKING THE RAM 1500'S ECODIESEL V6 WIDELY AVAILABLE IN THE 4-DOOR WRANGLER.

SO, IS IT A BETTER CHOICE FOR SERIOUS OFF ROADERS, OR JUST A BUNCH OF CLATTER?

* IT SEEMED THE JEEP WRANGLER'S GO ANYWHERE REPUTATION AND THE LONG HAUL ABILITIES OF A DIESEL ENGINE WOULD GO HAND IN HAND.

BUT, AS WE KNOW, THINGS CAN HAPPEN SLOWLY IN JEEP LAND, WHERE CHANGE MOVE WITH AN 84:1 CRAWL RATIO.

WELL, THAT MARRIAGE HAS FINALLY COME TO AMERICA WITH THE 2020 JEEP WRANGLER ECODIESEL.

THE RAM 1500'S ITALIAN-BUILT 3.0 LITER V6 TURBO-DIESEL HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TO FIT THE WRANGLER'S ENGINE BAY, BUT OUTPUTS THE SAME 260 HORSEPOWER.

THOUGH, TOQUE IS DOWN SLIGHTLY TO 442 POUND-FEET, COMPARED TO THE RAM'S 480.

BUT THAT'S STILL ALMOST 150 POUND-FEET MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS WRANGLER TOP TORQUE RATING OF 295 FROM THE 2.0 LITER GAS TURBO.

EVERYONE IN THE PARKING LOT WILL HEAR YOU FIRE IT UP, BUT SITTING INSIDE, IT'S ACTUALLY FAIRLY QUIET, WELL AT LEAST AS FAR AS JEEPS GO.

TO HANDLE ALL OF THAT ADDITIONAL TORQUE, THE RAM'S HEAVIER DUTY TORQUEFLITE 8HP75 8-SPEED AUTO COMES OVER AS WELL; YOU CAN'T GET A MANUAL WITH THE DIESEL.

ALSO, IT'S 4-DOOR UNLIMITED MODELS ONLY; SO AS OF NOW, THE ULTIMATE IN MACHO SETUPS... 2-DOOR, DIESEL, MANUAL TRANS, REMAINS A DREAM.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE DOWNSIDE, ABOUT THE ONLY ONE YOU'D FIND IS THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT THAT COMES WITH THE IRON-BLOCK OIL BURNER; OTHERWISE, IT'S ALL THUMBS UP.

ALL DIESELS GET THE DANA 44 AXLES FRONT AND REAR, WITH 3.73 GEARING.

AND YES, YOU CAN GET IT IN THE RUBICON AS WELL, WHICH OF COURSE, COMES WITH THE ROCK-TRAC 2-SPEED TRANSFER CASE, WHILE SPORT AND SAHARA MODELS GET THE COMMAND-TRAC 2-SPEED UNIT.

TRAIL RATED REGARDLESS, AND AS CAPABLE AS EVER.

NOTHING CHANGES WITH GROUND CLEARANCE, DEPARTURE ANGLES, OR ANY OF THAT IMPORTANT OFF-ROADY STUFF.

BUT DUE TO SOME SLIGHT REPACKAGING UNDERNEATH, SKID PLATES ARE UNIQUE.

INSTANT TORQUE FOR CLIMBING ANYTHING IN THE WRANGLER'S PATH IS MUCH APPRECIATED, BUT SOME ADDITIONAL DRIVER SMOOTHNESS WITH THE THROTTLE IS NOW REQUIRED.

TOW RATING IS THE SAME 3,500 POUNDS OF OTHER UNLIMITED'S, BUT THE DIESEL SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO STRETCH YOUR TIME BETWEEN FILL UPS CLOSE TO 500 MILES, PROVIDED YOU KEEP IT ON THE HIGHWAY.

FUEL CAPACITY IS ACTUALLY SCALED DOWN FROM THE 21.5 GALLONS OF OTHER 4-DOORS TO 18.3; AND INSIDE, THERE'S A NEW DEF GAUGE TO MONITOR THE ADDED 5.1 GALLON DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID TANK; WHICH SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ABOUT 10,000 MILES.

THE REST OF THE CABIN IS ALL TYPICAL CURRENT JL FARE.

FLAT DASH WITH CONTROLS CLOSE AT HAND, FRONT SEATS THAT ARE JUST COMFORTABLE ENOUGH, AND UBIQUITOUS LOGOS.

DRIVING AROUND, YOU IMMEDIATELY REALIZE THIS DIESEL IS A BIG STEP UP FROM THE GAS V6, FEELING MUCH PEPPIER IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS; AND THE COOLNESS FACTOR IS UNDENIABLE.

IT'S HARD NOT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.

RIDE IS AS ROUGH-AND-READY AS ALWAYS, AND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDITIONAL 400 POUNDS OR SO OF WEIGHT, THE SUSPENSION IS UPGRADED FRONT AND REAR.

ALL THE NORMAL UNLIMITED CONFIGURATIONS ARE AVAILABLE; SOFT TOPS, HARD TOPS.

OUR SAHARA-TRIMMED TESTER SPORTING A BLACK 3-PIECE HARD TOP.

ADDING THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE WILL GET YOU ALL-TERRAIN TIRES MOUNTED ON THE STOCK SAHARA 18-INCH WHEELS, THOUGH THERE ARE OTHER WHEEL DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GREAT 28.5 MILES PER GALLON.

STILL, THAT'S A SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.3 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, WITH 6.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

AS FOR PRICING, NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE; AND YES, THOSE RULES STILL APPLY IN JEEP LAND.

TECHNICALLY, THE DIESEL IS A $4,000 OPTION, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO PAY TWO-GRAND FOR THE UPGRADED 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, BRINGING A BASE SPORT TO $39,290.

THAT PUTS A SAHARA AT $46,140, AND TOP LINE RUBICON AT A FAIRLY STIFF $49,815.

BOTTOM LINE, THE WRANGLER FAITHFUL HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR A DIESEL OPTION FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND JUST AS WITH THE RECENT GLADIATOR PICKUP; ALL OF SUDDEN JEEP SEEMS TO BE IN A GIVING MOOD, FINALLY DELIVERING WHAT THEIR PEOPLE WANT.

SO, TO OUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, IS IT A BETTER OPTION?

WELL, THE 2020 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED ECODIESEL IS NOT FOR EVERYONE; IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SAVE YOU MUCH MONEY IN THE SHORT TERM.

BUT, IF YOU'RE AS BIG A FAN OF TORQUE AS WE ARE, ALWAYS UP FOR SOME LONG DISTANCE ADVENTURE, OR JUST ENJOY THE SOOTHING CLATTER OF A DIESEL ENGINE IN THE MORNING, IT'S CERTAINLY THE PROPER TOOL FOR THE JOB.

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 WE HIT THE TRACK IN THE DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT WIDEBODY DAYTONA 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.

AND THEN, A NEW LOOK AND MORE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.

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.

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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *