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

JOIN US FOR THE LUXURIOUS AND TECH SAVVY MERCEDES-BENZ GLE... PAT GOSS WITH TIMELY TIPS TO KEEP THE JUICE FLOWING... STEPHANIE HART LOOKS BACK AT THE TINY WHEELS THAT SPARKED BIG DRIVING DREAMS... AND SIPPING FUEL WITH A SPORTY STYLE IN THE KIA FORTE...

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'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS JUST OVER 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD RELEASE A LUXURY MINDED CONSUMER ORIENTED SUV.

WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NOW THERE ARE SEVEN SUVs TO CHOOSE FROM IN THEIR LINE-UP.

BUT IT WAS THE ML THAT STARTED IT ALL, AND THE LATEST VERSION OF IT, IS NOW KNOWN AS THE G-L-E. * MY, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

LUXURY SUVs LIKE THIS 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 450 ARE NOW THE NORM AT THE COUNTRY CLUB, NOT THE EXCEPTION.

AND AS WITH MOST IN THE SEGMENT, THERE'S PLENTY OF EXCITING TECHNOLOGY.

THIS GLE HAS MB'S NEW USER EXPERIENCE.

Voice: HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

John: THE MBUX PERSONAL ASSISTANT IS CLAIMED TO BE THE MOST ADVANCED VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM OUT THERE, ABLE TO UNDERSTAND MOST NATURAL SPEAKING, SO LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.

HEY MERCEDES.

[BEEPING SOUND] TUNE TO REAL JAZZ RADIO.

Voice: PLEASE REPEAT.

John: TUNE TO REAL JAZZ RADIO.

[BEEPING SOUND] IT'S THINKING ABOUT IT AND THERE IT IS.

[MUSIC STARTS PLAYING] HEY MERCEDES, [BEEPING SOUND] FIND ME THE NEAREST GAS STATION.

Voice: PLEASE SELECT AN ENTRY.

John: NUMBER 1.

[BEEPING SOUND] Voice: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO NOW?

John: TAKE ME THERE.

[BEEPING SOUND] Voice: THE ROUTE IS BEING CALCULATED.

John: AND OFF WE GO.

AND IT'S GIVING ME THE ROUTE.

ONE MORE THING.

HEY MERCEDES.

Voice: HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

John: WHAT IS MOTORWEEK ?

[BEEPING SOUND] Voice: MOTORWEEK IS A HALF HOUR AMERICAN TELEVISION SERIES.

John: SO, YOU CAN SEE IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT GOT IT RIGHT, TWO OUT OF THREE TIMES AND THAT'S A REAL STEP FORWARD" AS TO THE MORE ROUTINE DETAILS, BASE POWER FOR THE REAR-DRIVE GLE 350 IS A 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 WITH 255 HORSEPOWER AND OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THIS GLE 450, HAS 4MATIC STANDARD, AS WELL AS A 3.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED I6, WITH 362 HORSEPOWER, 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND MERCEDES' EQ BOOST 48 VOLT STARTER/GENERATOR.

THE 450 FEELS VERY POWERFUL, AND AT OUR TEST TRACK, A STRONG HOLE SHOT FROM LOTS OF LOW-END GRUNT, HAD US DOING THE 0-60 HUSTLE IN A QUICK 5.3 SECONDS.

A MEAN-SOUNDING CRACK OF THE EXHAUST HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TRIGGERS A SNAPPY SHIFT.

PLENTY OF TRACTION, AND A SUPER SOLID PRESENCE, HAD US FEELING LARGE AND IN CHARGE THROUGHOUT THE 13.9 SECOND QUARTER MILE, WHICH ENDED WITH US TRAVELLING 99 MILES PER HOUR.

IT ALSO, HANDLES QUITE WELL FOR A BIGGISH MIDSIZE UTE, FEELING MORE COMPACT THAN IT IS, WEAVING THROUGH THE CONES WITH CONCRETE-LIKE COMPOSURE.

LOTS OF GRIP, AND VERY LITTLE BODY ROLL TO SPEAK OF; IT'S A VERY WELL-BALANCED CHASSIS.

YOU CAN FEEL THAT MERCEDES DIDN'T CHEAP OUT ON SUSPENSION DESIGN AND JUST RELY ON ELECTRONICS TO DO THE HARD WORK.

THE SHEET METAL LOOKS MORE LIKE THE ORIGINAL ML THAN LAST GEN GLE; BOXY IS IN, BULBOUS IS OUT.

WE WOULDN'T CALL IT RUGGED, BUT IT DOES HAVE THAT GENTLEMANLY CRAGGINESS TO IT, LIKE A TWEEDY SPORTSMAN READY TO TAKE TO THE HIGHLANDS FOR GAME.

THE NUMBERS SAY, IT'S NOT MUCH BIGGER INSIDE THAN BEFORE, BUT IT SURE FEELS LIKE IT WHEN YOU SETTLE INTO EITHER THE PLUSH FRONT SEATS, OR SPACIOUS BACK ONES.

EVERYTHING FROM SWITCHGEAR TO MATERIALS, EXUDES UPSCALE LUXURY.

WE LOVE THE WIDE, TWIN-SCREEN INSTRUMENT PANEL; BEAUTIFULLY INTEGRATED, FULL OF INFORMATION, AND EASY TO USE.

WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

ADD THE LATEST GENERATION OF BENZ'S ADVANCED DRIVER'S ASSISTANCE SYSTEM WITH ACTIVE EMERGENCY STOP ASSIST TO THE LIST AS WELL.

IN OUR CRASH BARRIER TEST, EVERY RUN SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS FAR AS WHEN AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD BRAKE, BUT IT WAS 100% EFFECTIVE AT BRINGING US TO A STOP.

WITH 5 PASSENGERS, CARGO CAPACITY IS A FINE 38.2 CUBIC FEET.

DROP THE SPLIT REAR SEATS AND IT'S A GENEROUS 80.3.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

WE OVERACHIEVED WITH A 26.9 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON PREMIUM.

STILL, IT RATES A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 15.7 BARRELS OF PETROLEUM CONSUMED AND 7.0 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

BASE PRICING IS ACTUALLY DOWN OVER LAST YEAR, WITH THE TWO WHEEL-DRIVE 350 STARTING AT $54,695; THE 450 4MATIC AT $62,145.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THE HIGH-DOLLAR SUVs WE DRIVE THESE DAYS, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE.

IT MAY NOT OFFER THE OFF-ROAD PROWESS OF A RANGE ROVER, OR THE SHEER PERFORMANCE OF A PORSCHE CAYENNE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO COMFORT, TECHNOLOGY, AND LUXURY IN THE MIDSIZE SUV FIELD, THE GLE NOW SETS THE STANDARD.

* OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA WHERE AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL IS HELPING THE MARITIME INDUSTRY BECOME ECO-FRIENDLY.

CLEAN BURNING LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, LNG, IS NOW MAKING INROADS IN THIS "SUPER-SIZED" FUEL HUNGRY TRANSPORTATION SECTOR.

AT THE JACKSONVILLE PORT AUTHORITY, THE CROWLEY MARITIME LNG FACILITY CAN FUEL GIANT CONTAINER SHIPS LIKE THE "TIANO" WITH LNG AT THE RATE OF 2700 GALLONS PER MINUTE.

Chris Deschenen: SHIPS HAVE BURNED VERY DIRTY FUEL.

AND OVER TIME, THOSE FUELS HAVE BECOME CLEANER AND CLEANER.

SO, IN THE EVOLUTION OF MARINE FUELS, USING LIQUIFY NATURAL GAS, IS KIND OF THE NEXT PROGRESSION IN MARINE FUELS WHEN IT COMES TO BURNING A CLEANER FUEL.

John: THE NORTH FLORIDA CLEAN FUELS COALITION AIDED PARTNER PIVOTAL LNG IN OPENING THE PROCESSING PLANT ONLY 15 MILES FROM THE PORT.

IT'S THE FIRST SMALL SCALE MARITIME PLANT IN THE UNITED STATES.

ALL TO HELP MAKE THE SUNSHINE STATE'S COASTAL WATERS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

* THIS YEAR MARKS A BIG MILESTONE FOR A MINIATURE CAR BRAND THAT'S LOVED BY KIDS OF ALL AGES, AS WELL AS COVETED BY COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT HOT WHEELS, AS IT TURNS 50 YEARS OLD!

SO, WHAT BETTER TIME TO EXAMINE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THIS ICONIC NAMEPLATE.

OUR STEPHANIE HART HAD THE RARE CHANCE TO GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT MATTEL, WHERE HOT WHEELS GOT THEIR START.

* Stephanie Hart: HOT WHEELS WAS BORN IN 1968.

MATTEL'S CO-FOUNDER ELLIOT HANDLER DREAMED OF A BETTER TOY CAR FOR BOYS, A CAR THAT LOOKED COOLER AND PERFORMED BETTER.

HE GOT HIS WISH!

A GENERAL MOTORS CAR DESIGNER AND A ROCKET SCIENTIST CAME UP WITH THE FIRST EVER TRACKABLE TOY CAR.

Commercial Announcer: NEW HOT WHEELS ONLY FROM MATTEL!

TWENTY-THOUSAND DIFFERENT DESIGNS WOULD FOLLOW.

A WHOPPING SIX BILLION HOT WHEELS PRODUCED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

Commercial Announcer: IT'S HOT WHEELS BIGGEST GARAGE EVER WITH SPACE FOR OVER 140 CARS... Stephanie: THE MINIATURE TOY CARS ARE CREATED HERE AT MATTEL HEADQUARTERS IN EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA.

Bryan Benedict: OKAY, LET'S GET ANOTHER LAYER GOING IN HERE.

Stephanie: BRYAN BENEDICT IS ONE OF 50 HOT WHEELS DESIGNERS.

THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF EXPERTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

LIKE, MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURERS, ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS, AND THE TOY INDUSTRY.

Bryan: WHAT I'M WORKING ON HERE IS KIND OF LIKE MY IDEA FOR A NEW SUPERCAR, SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT EXISTS IT'S JUST SOMETHING OUT OF MY CRAZY MIND.

Stephanie: HALF THE CARS DESIGNED HERE ARE IMAGINARY.

THE OTHER HALF ARE BASED ON EXISTING VEHICLES.

Ted Wu: HERE AT THE HOT WHEELS HEADQUARTERS WE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE 3-D VERSIONS OF WHAT THE GUYS ARE THINKING AND THEN WE WORK WITH OUR MANUFACTURERS IN ASIA TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE FINAL PRODUCT YOU SEE IN STORES.

Stephanie: THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES 12 TO 18 MONTHS.

Commercial Announcer: EACH TRACK PACK THAT YOU GET MAKES A WHOLE NEW SET...

THE ICONIC ORANGE TRACK SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE HOT WHEELS BRAND.

MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND MILES OF ORANGE TRACK ARE PRODUCED EACH YEAR.

WHY ORANGE YOU MAY BE WONDERING?

WELL, HOT WHEELS SAYS, "IT'S BECAUSE KIDS ARE ATTRACTED TO BRIGHT COLORS."

IT'S REALLY EASY TO FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BIG ORANGE TRACK.

[SOUND OF A RACING CAR REVVING] ALRIGHT LET'S GIVE IT A GO.

[SOUND OF HOT WHEELS GOING DOWN THE TRACK] NOT BAD.

Chris Down: ACTUALLY, EVERYBODY THAT HAS PLAYED WITH HOT WHEELS IN THEIR HEAD, IS IMAGINING WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO DRIVE IT ON THE ROAD, OR TO SEE IT IN REAL LIFE.

Stephanie: HE READ OUR MIND.

ENTER THE HOT WHEELS GARAGE.

IT'S PRETTY TOP SECRET AND SECURITY IS TIGHT.

NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED INSIDE, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED!

FROM THE 1:64 SCALE DIE CAST, TO THE REAL THING... LET'S TAKE THIS CAR OUT FOR A SPIN.

THIS 2018 LIMITED EDITION HOT WHEELS CAMARO IS COMMEMORATING HOT WHEELS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

TWENTY VEHICLES MAKE UP THE HOT WHEELS FLEET.

Bryan: THIS IS THE WAY TO GO IN CALIFORNIA.

TOP DOWN.

Stephanie: AND THESE LIFE-SIZE HOT WHEELS ARE ANOTHER LEVEL, LITERALLY.

THREE, BROKE WORLD RECORDS.

AND GET A GOOD LOOK AT THIS ONE!

"MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU," THIS STAR WARS HOT WHEELS PUMPS OUT 175 HORSEPOWER AND HITS 180 MILES PER HOUR.

CHECK OUT THIS 1969 VOLKSWAGEN BEACH BOMB.

IT'S CREATING A LOT OF WAVES.

IT'S KILLER.

AND IT'S DIE-CAST PROTOTYPE IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE.

WE'RE TALKING CLOSE TO $150,000.

DIE-HARD COLLECTOR BRUCE PASCAL OWNS IT.

Bruce Pascal: AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THOUGH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HOW MANY OTHER TOYS, THE GRANDFATHER PLAYED WITH, THEIR SON PLAYED, AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

IT'S MULTIGENERATIONAL, THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MANY TOYS THAT ARE SUCH AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY.

Stephanie: CAPTURING THE HEARTS OF COLLECTORS AND KIDS FOR HALF A CENTURY.

WHILE, REFLECTING THE CAR CULTURE, THAT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

THE HOT WHEELS DIE-CAST CAR IS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING TOY IN THE WORLD, 16.5 ARE PRODUCED EVERY SECOND.

AND IT'S PRICE REMAINS THE SAME, 50 YEARS LATER, AND JUST A COOL ONE DOLLAR DRIVE!

John: CARS HAVE NEEDS THAT DEMAND OUR ATTENTION.

PAT GOSS REMINDS US OF ONE, WE SHOULDN'T FORGET.

Pat Goss: FEW THINGS ON MODERN CARS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ITS BATTERY AND THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYTHING WORKS WITH ELECTRICITY ON TODAY'S CARS.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO HAVE A REALLY CLEAN BATTERY ALL THE TIME.

ALL THIS GREASE, AND DIRT, AND EVERYTHING LAYING ON TOP OF IT.

WE CLEAN IT AWAY USING SOME TYPE OF GREASE CUTTING DETERGENT AND CLEAR WATER TO RINSE IT.

BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE THE CABLES CONNECT TO THE POST.

THAT'S WHERE THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY GETS FROM THE BATTERY TO THE CAR.

THEY HAVE TO BE CLEAN, AND TIGHT AT ALL TIMES, SO WE HAVE TO REMOVE THEM, AND CLEAN THEM.

NO, YOU DO NOT USE BAKING SODA AND JUST POUR IT WITH SOME WATER OVER THE CONNECTION BECAUSE ALL THAT DOES IS CLEAN THE OUTSIDE, IT DOESN'T CLEAN THE ELECTRICAL INSIDE.

SO, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE CABLES, YOU USE A BATTERY TERMINAL BRUSH OR SOME BRUSH LIKE WE HAVE HERE AND YOU CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CABLE, THE OUTSIDE OF THE POST.

BOTH SHOULD BE SHINY METAL.

THEN, WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

I KNOW, AGAIN YOU'VE HEARD "USE PETROLEUM JELLY."

WELL, DON'T.

BECAUSE PETROLEUM JELLY HAS A VERY LOW MELTING POINT.

THE UNDER HOOD OF A CAR HOOD THESE DAYS IS VERY HOT.

THIS STUFF MELTS, IT GETS DOWN BETWEEN THE CABLE, AND CONNECTION, AND YOU HAVE A POOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

ALRIGHT, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL, HERE ON THIS BATTERY, WE USE FELT PADS.

YOU CAN BUY SPRAYS.

GELS AND SO ON TO GO ON THEIR SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THEY DON'T MELT, THEY DON'T CREATE PROBLEMS.

OH, AND WHILE THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED, YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOU DON'T LOSE ALL THE MEMORIES ON THE CAR?

WELL, IF YOU HAVE A BOOSTER PACK LIKE THIS YOU CAN BUY, THIS ADAPTER.

IT PLUGS INTO THE COMPUTER INTERFACE UNDER THE DASH, SAVES ALL THE MEMORY.

NOW, ANOTHER THING, IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW, ON THE CAR ITSELF WHEN II'S RUNNING, THE ALTERNATOR RECHARGES THE BATTERY.

IT KEEPS IT FULLY CHARGED.

YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME THING WHEN THE CAR IS NOT BEING USED.

THAT MEANS YOU NEED A BATTERY MAINTAINER.

NOT A CHARGER.

CHARGERS CAN DAMAGE BATTERIES.

MAINTAINERS WORK JUST LIKE THE ALTERNATOR TO KEEP THE BATTERY FULLY CHARGED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT DAMAGING THEM.

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

John: WE HAVE THE KEY FOB AND TIME TO SPARE.

SOUNDS LIKE THE MAKINGS OF A QUICKSPIN.

* WHEN WE GET A PRESS RELEASE FROM PORSCHE THAT STARTS WITH "LESS WEIGHT, MORE PERFORMANCE," IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR US TO CLICK OPEN AND START READING.

MUCH LIKE IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THIS 911 CARRERA T TO GET AROUND A TWO MILE ROAD COURSE LIKE, ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

NOW, WE'VE ALREADY DRIVEN THE ALL-NEW 2020 911 992, BUT PORSCHE SNUCK THIS ONE IN AT THE END OF THE 991 LIFECYCLES, SO WE FELT A QUICK SPIN WAS IN ORDER.

PORSCHE HAS BEEN GETTING MORE AND MORE NOSTALGIC LATELY, BRINGING BACK NAMES AND NUMBERS FROM THE PAST, LIKE THE 1968 911T.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER THAT ONE, THIS ONE FOLLOWS MUCH OF THE SAME PURIST FORMULA.

THINNER GLASS, FABRIC DOOR PULLS, AND REMOVAL OF SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS, TO BRING WEIGHT DOWN 11 POUNDS TO 3,142.

TRUE MINIMALISTS CAN GO ONE STEP [AND 5-GRAND] FURTHER, WITH THE FULL BUCKET SEAT AND REAR SEAT DELETE OPTION, TO BRING THE WEIGHTS SAVINGS TO A TOTAL OF 44 POUNDS.

NO ADDED POWER, THE BASE CARRERA'S 3.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO FLAT-6 STAYS AT 370 HORSEPOWER, BUT THERE ARE TIGHTER RATIOS FOR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

PORSCHE CLAIMS IT'S ENOUGH TO SHAVE A TENTH OFF THE 0-60.

OR, YOU CAN OPT FOR THE PDK IN OUR TEST CAR.

WE BLASTED TO 60 IN JUST 3.5 SECONDS, THEN HELD ON TIGHT THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE, WHICH FINISHED IN 11.9 SECONDS AT 117 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW, IF IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PORSCHE 911 CARRERA WOULD FIT YOU TO A TEE, PRICING STARTS AROUND $102,000.

IF YOU'RE INTO HEAVY DUTY HAULING, THIS IS YOUR YEAR.

ALL THREE DOMESTIC TRUCK MAKERS ARE ROLLING OUT NEW HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS.

RAM IS STAKING ITS CLAIM FOR HD SUPERIORITY BY BEING THE FIRST STOCK PICKUP TO DELIVER 1000 POUND-FEET OF MOUNTAIN MOVING TORQUE FROM ITS NEW 400 HORSEPOWER 6.7 LITER CUMMINS HIGH OUTPUT I6 TURBO DIESEL.

IT'S THE BRAWNIEST OF THE THREE ENGINE CHOICES.

HANDLING ALL THE GRUNT IS THE SMOOTH SHIFTING 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

MAX TOWING CAPACITY IS A STAGGERING 35,100 POUNDS.

BUT, LIKE NURBURGRING LAP TIMES, THAT GLORY WAS SHORT-LIVED, AS CHEVY IS ALREADY CLAIMING THEY'VE BESTED IT.

OUR DRIVE IN THE RAM HEAVY DUTY TOOK US THROUGH RED ROCK CANYON AND THE NEARBY HILLS AROUND LAS VEGAS, NEVADA...

TOWING A VARIETY OF TRAILER LOADS.

WHETHER, OR NOT IT WEARS THE TOW RATING CHAMPIONSHIP BELT, THE RAM HEAVY DUTY IS UNDOUBTEDLY A CONTENDER FOR BEST TOWING RIDE, STABILITY, AND BRAKING.

THE AVAILABLE REAR AIR SUSPENSION MAKES RAM'S COMPLIANT RIDE EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE.

IN ADDITION TO THE HUGE ENGINE OUTPUT, MAX HAULING CAPABILITY IS ALSO TIED TO THE WEIGHT OF THE RIG ITSELF, AND RAM SHEDS 143 POUNDS.

WITH THE RAM 1500s BIG SCREEN INTERIOR, THERE'S AN HD CAB STYLE, AND TRIM LEVEL FOR EVERY TASTE, INCLUDING A HUSKY POWER WAGON, WITH ITS BEEFED-UP OFF-ROAD ABILITIES.

AND SEVERAL INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF HOOKING UP A TRAILER.

WE ALREADY KNEW RAM IS SERIOUS ABOUT HEAVY-DUTY TOWING AND HAULING.

THE 2019 RAM 2500 AND 3500 HEAVY DUTIES GO EVEN FURTHER IN ALL THE WAYS THAT MATTER WHEN THERE'S SERIOUS WORK TO BE DONE.

ON SALE NOW STARTING AT ABOUT $33,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF GREAT SMALL CARS RIGHT NOW.

AND WE CAN ADD YET ANOTHER ONE TO THE LIST.

THE ALL NEW KIA FORTE.

SURE IT HAS SOME WORK TO DO, TO CATCH UP TO THE LIKES OF CIVIC AND COROLLA BUT THE FOLKS AT KIA HAVE BEEN BUSY.

SO LET'S SEE HOW WELL THEIR EFFORTS WILL BE REWARDED.

* THIS 2019 KIA FORTE IS THE 3RD GENERATION OF KIA'S COMPACT SEDAN.

AND WE CAN EASILY SAY, IT'S THE FIRST ONE THAT HAD US WANTING TO DRIVE IT, THE MOMENT WE LAID EYES ON IT.

INCREASED REFINEMENT WAS ONE OF THEIR KEY TARGETS FOR THIS GO AROUND, AS WELL AS AN OBVIOUSLY SPORTIER DESIGN, WHICH TAKES CUES FROM THEIR SPORT SEDAN KNOCKOUT STINGER.

AND IT DOES SHARE MANY OF THE STINGER'S HIGHLIGHTS; SUCH AS ITS HEADLIGHT DESIGN, AND SPORT BACK-LIKE PROFILE, WITH LONG HOOD AND SHORT REAR DECK, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY TO MASK THE FRONT-DRIVER PROPORTIONS.

MOST MEASUREMENTS HAVE INCREASED.

WHEELBASE DOES REMAIN THE SAME, BUT OVERALL LENGTH IS UP BY MORE THAN THREE INCHES.

BOTH WIDTH AND HEIGHT HAVE ALSO GROWN SLIGHTLY.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE 2.0 LITER I4 ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD HAS NOT CHANGED AS FAR AS OUTPUT, REMAINING AT 147 HORSEPOWER AND 132 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT, SOME UPDATES HAVE BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.

AND WHAT'S ATTACHED TO IT IS DEFINITELY NEW.

IT'S A CVT, BUT NOT JUST ANY CVT.

THIS ONE IS KIA'S OWN DESIGN THEY'VE DUBBED IVT, OR INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION.

THE HARDWARE IS ALL TYPICAL CVT, BUT THE SOFTWARE ATTEMPTS TO MIMIC A TRUE AUTOMATIC, WITH SIMULATED GEARS PROVIDING PRE-PROGRAMMED UPSHIFTS UNDER FULL THROTTLE, AND CLEAR DOWNSHIFTS WHEN YOU CALL FOR MORE POWER.

YOU CAN ALSO GET A 6-SPEED MANUAL, BUT ONLY IN BASE FE TRIM.

AS DONALD RUMSFELD MASTERFULLY ITERATED, "SOMETIMES, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW."

WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW, IS THAT WITH THE SAME POWER AS BEFORE, AND THE SAME WHEELBASE; COULD THE NEW FORTE REALLY PERFORM ALL THAT DIFFERENTLY AT OUR TEST TRACK.

WELL, FOR STARTERS, THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN STIFFENED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER LAST YEAR, WITH MORE HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL; AND THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SUSPENSION BOLTED TO IT.

NOW, YOU COULD SAY THAT HANDLING HAS NEVER BEEN THE FORTE'S FORTE, BUT WE DIGRESS.

WHAT WE WILL SAY, IS THAT THE REVISED GEOMETRY OF THE MCPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND TORSION BEAM REAR SUSPENSION, HAS CERTAINLY MADE THE FORTE MORE RESPONSIVE.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A SPORT SEDAN HERE, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT DRIVEN AT THE SEDATE PACE WE EXPECT MOST FORTE DRIVERS TO EMPLOY, IT TURNS IN ADEQUATELY QUICK AND FEELS RELATIVELY SOLID.

[TIRES SCREECH/ENGINE REVS] THINGS ARE MORE OF A LETDOWN IN THE ACCELERATION DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S JUST NO SENSE OF URGENCY FROM THIS 2.0 LITER.

[ENGINE REVS] IT WAS A LENGTHY, 8.1 SECOND TRIP TO 60 FOR US, THOUGH THAT IS OVER HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN OUR LAST FORTE SEDAN TEST IN 2014.

UNDER FULL ACCELERATION, THE NEW CVT CERTAINLY BEHAVES LIKE A TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC; RAMPING UP TO REDLINE AND THEN FALLING BACK DOWN TO AROUND 2,500 RPM.

LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT.

TRUE, IT DOESN'T FEEL OR SOUND LIKE A CVT, BUT NOW IT JUST FEELS LIKE A REALLY LAZY AUTOMATIC.

THE QUARTER MILE ENDED IN 16.4 SECONDS AT 87 MILES PER HOUR.

NOT THRILLING, BUT THERE ARE RUMORS OF AT LEAST ONE SPORTIER VERSION OF THE FORTE ON THE NEAR HORIZON.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT IS VERY FAMILIAR TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM KIA AND EVEN HYUNDAI OF LATE.

AN 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN IS STANDARD ON ALL FORTE'S AS IS AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL; PART OF A SIMPLE AND UNCLUTTERED INTERIOR THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY AERONAUTICALLY INSPIRED.

ACCOMMODATIONS ARE SPACIOUS WITH INTERIOR VOLUME THAT IS VERY GENEROUS FOR ITS CLASS.

SO, IT'S NICELY COMFORTABLE FOR THE DRIVER, THEIR CO-PILOT, AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE REAR.

THE TRUNK IS WELL FINISHED FOR THE COMPACT CLASS, AND BOASTS A WHOPPING 15.3 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE.

DUE TO THE CVT AND ENGINE UPDATES, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY HAS IMPROVED; NOW SITTING AT 30-CITY, 40-HIGHWAY, AND 34-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A QUITE IMPRESSIVE 37.0 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

THAT'S MAKES FOR A VERY GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 9.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, ACCOMPANIED BY 4.4 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $18,585 FOR FE TRIM, BUT OUR TOP OF THE LINE EX TESTER GOES FOR ONLY ABOUT 4-GRAND MORE AT $22,885.

WHILE, THE HONDA CIVIC AND TOYOTA COROLLA WILL LIKELY, ALWAYS BE THE GIANTS IN THIS SEGMENT, THE 2019 KIA FORTE HAS BECOME MORE APPEALING THAN EVER; BOTH VISUALLY, AND WITH A MORE REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, COMPACT SEDANS ARE THE NEW MIDSIZE FAMILY CARS, AND THE NEW FORTE IS CLEARLY IN THE GAME.

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 WE SEARCH FOR SERIOUS PERFORMANCE IN THE LUXURIOUS GENESIS G70.

AND ITS UPDATE TIME FOR THE ALWAYS STYLISH NISSAN MURANO.

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.

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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] *