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

JOIN US FOR OUR 2020 MOTORWEEK DRIVER'S CHOICE AWARDS, THE CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUVS THAT MAKE DRIVING SPECIAL... PLUS, ONE THAT'S THE BRIGHTEST STAR... PAT GOSS ON HOW A LITTLE CAR CARE CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF CASH... AND STEPHANIE HART SEES WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP CLASSIC DETROIT MUSCLE ON THE ROAD...

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.

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IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

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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: THE ANNUAL SEASON OF GIVING AND RECEIVING MAY BE IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS IN THE GIVING MOOD AROUND HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

PARTICULARLY, WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OF THE VEHICLES THAT WE TESTED LAST YEAR.

SO, ITS TIME TO RECOGNIZE OUR FAVORITES WITH THE 2020 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS WHERE THE CARS ARE THE STARS!

* THE MAZDA3 IS NO STRANGER TO WINNING AWARDS.

AND IT EARNS YET ANOTHER BEST SMALL CAR HONOR FROM US.

IF YOU'VE DRIVEN ONE, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A FUN RIDE, BUT THIS YEAR, MAZDA GOT SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING THE INTERIOR, AND EVEN ADDED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TO INCREASE APPEAL.

PLUS, IT'S STILL AVAILABLE AS A 4-DOOR SEDAN, OR OUR PREFERRED METHOD, A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.

UNLESS, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED THAT SMALL CROSSOVER, YOU HAVE IN MIND, FOR MOST PEOPLE, THE MAZDA3 IS A MUCH BETTER CHOICE.

OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN FOR 2020 IS THE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI SONATA.

IN JUST 20-YEARS, THE SONATA EVOLVED FROM AN AWKWARD NEW ENTRY INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF ALL SEGMENTS; TO GIVING CAMRY AND ACCORD A SERIOUS RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.

UP TO NOW, IT MANAGED THAT MOSTLY WITH "HEAD TURNING" LOOKS, AND BARGAIN PRICING.

BUT NOW THE SONATA GOES TOE-TO-TOE WITH HI-TECH SUBSTANCE AS WELL.

ADD IN AMERICA'S BEST WARRANTY, AND YOU HAVE OUR HANDS DOWN BEST FAMILY SEDAN OF THE YEAR.

FOR BEST CONVERTIBLE, THE BMW Z4 WAS OUR EASY CHOICE FROM A SEA OF GERMAN-DESIGNED CANDIDATES.

THE Z4 HAS GONE FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS THE ALMOST CARTOONISH Z3, TO A SERIOUS PERFORMANCE MACHINE THAT TOYOTA LOOKED TO FOR THE BASE OF THEIR NEW SUPRA COUPE.

SURE, YOU COULD SPEND A LITTLE LESS FOR A CONVERTIBLE, AND CERTAINLY A LOT MORE, BUT THE BMW Z4 IS THE TOTAL PACKAGE THAT TRULY DELIVERS JUST ABOUT ANY AUTOMOTIVE THRILL YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

EVERYONE MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF LUXURY, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE AUDI A6 SO SPECTACULAR, AND OUR CHOICE FOR BEST LUXURY SEDAN.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT EXPECTATIONS YOU HAVE FOR A CAR, THE A6 FULFILLS THEM.

CLASSY WITHOUT BEING OVER THE TOP, SPORTY WITHOUT FEELING LIKE A PURE SPORTS CAR, POWERFUL WITHOUT BEING A HANDFUL, EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE WITHOUT PUTTING YOU TO SLEEP, AND TECH-SAVVY WITHOUT REQUIRING AN I.T.

DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT.

AND SPEAKING OF EXPECTATIONS; IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOUR IDOLS LIVE UP TO THEM.

THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE WITH THE BMW 3 SERIES OF LATE.

BUT THIS YEAR, BMW GOT BACK TO BASICS WITH THE 3, MAKING IT A PURE JOY TO DRIVE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TURN IT INTO AN ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY CAR.

DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE TRACK HANDLING PACKAGE FOR BEST RESULTS.

AND FOR BEST SPORT COUPE, WE INDEED CHOSE THE Z4'S PLATFORM-MATE, THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA GR SUPRA.

SAY, WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT TOYOTA CHOOSING TO PAIR WITH BMW TO RELAUNCH THIS ICONIC 2-DOOR FUN MACHINE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, TOYOTA NEEDED A PARTNER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND WHO BETTER TO ALIGN YOURSELF WITH THAN BMW?

WE DID HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND THE SUPRA DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

AND, IF YOU HAPPENED TO CATCH IT IN ONE OF TOYOTA'S MANY SUPRA PRESS RELEASES, THEY CLAIM IT'S THE FIRST GLOBAL TOYOTA GAZOO RACING MODEL.

HMM... WONDER WHAT THE SECOND ONE WILL BE... OUR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR WAS THE BIGGEST NO-BRAINER ON OUR LIST THIS YEAR, THE REBORN, AND TOTALLY REIMAGINED CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.

IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS CAR TO LIVE UP TO ALL OF THE HYPE IT HAS RECEIVED, YET, THAT IS JUST WHAT THE MID-ENGINE 'VETTE HAS DONE.

THE CORVETTE HAS ALWAYS OFFERED SUPERCAR-LIKE PERFORMANCE ON A MUSCLE-CAR BUDGET, DESPITE CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF ITS POWER-PLANT DIRECTLY OVER THE FRONT WHEELS.

SO, THERE'S NO TELLING WHERE THINGS CAN GO FROM HERE, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT!

WHICH ONE?

MAY BE YOUR QUESTION WHEN WE TELL YOU THAT THE KIA NIRO IS OUR CHOICE FOR BEST ECO-FRIENDLY.

AND THE ANSWER IS ALL OF THEM.

IN HYBRID, PHEV, AND FULL EV FORM MUCH LIKE THE HONDA CLARITY THAT WON THIS HONOR LAST YEAR; CHOICE IS KEY WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE BEST NIRO LIFESTYLE BANG FOR YOUR ECO-BUCK, ALL WHILE DOING YOUR PART FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU LIVING THE "MONEY IS NO OBJECT" LIFESTYLE, WE HAVE OUR BEST DREAM MACHINES; CARS THAT WE'D BUY, IF WE HAD UNLIMITED FUNDS TO DO SO.

STARTING AT THE ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT ATTAINABLE END OF THE SPECTRUM IS THE FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500.

YES, IT'S BACK, AND BRINGING 760 TRACK-BRED HORSES WITH IT.

IT'S TRULY, A DREAM COME TRUE FOR MUSTANG FANS.

NEXT UP, IS THE MERCEDES-AMG GT R. THE GT WAS THE 2ND CAR TO ARRIVE FROM MERCEDES-AMG BACK IN 2015, BUT OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS BECOME MUCH MORE THAN THE 911-FIGHTER THAT IT STARTED AS, THANKS PRIMARILY TO THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE R VERSION.

AND FINALLY, WHAT WAS A DREAM OF OURS, HAS ACTUALLY BECOME A REALITY, THE PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S. PORSCHE COULD ONLY SIT BACK AND WATCH TESLA FOR SO LONG.

TIME FOR THE ENGINEERS AT PORSCHE TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT A REAL FULLY-ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE SEDAN LOOKS LIKE.

AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR LOOK AT THE CARS THAT EARNED OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS FOR 2020.

STAY TUNED FOR A RUNDOWN OF THE TRUCKS AND SUVS THAT ALSO STARRED FOR US THIS YEAR.

* John: AUTHOR TOM COTTER IS NO STRANGER TO AUTOMOTIVE PROSPECTING.

THIS MUST READ TITLED "TOM COTTER'S BEST BARN FIND COLLECTOR CAR TALES," IS HIS 10TH BOOK ON BARN FINDS.

THIS TIME AROUND CONNOR HAS CURATED A WIDE SELECTION OF STORIES FROM OTHER TREASURE HUNTERS RANGING FROM A PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD FOUND IN A YARD IN ALABAMA, TO A DUESENBERG IN MANHATTAN.

WELL, NOT EVERY STORY FEATURES A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR CAR RUSTING AWAY IN A SHED.

EACH STORY IS JUST AS EXCITING.

THIS COLLECTION WILL GIVE READERS, A TASTE OF WHAT FORGOTTEN AUTOMOTIVE GEMS ARE JUST WAITING TO BE UNCOVERED.

DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, IT'S BEEN BETWEEN 50 AND 60 YEARS SINCE THE HEY-DAY OF AMERICAN-MADE CARS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MOSTLY V8 POWERED HUNKS OF MID-CENTURY DETROIT IRON.

WELL...REMARKABLY, MANY OF THE BEST EXAMPLES ARE ALIVE AND WELL.

BUT, IT'S NOT EASY KEEPING SUCH ICONS IN TIP TOP SHAPE.

OUR STEPHANIE HART HAS A LOOK AT HOW ONE CLASSIC COLLECTION WORKS ITS MAGIC.

* Stephanie Hart: THIS IS A 1959 FORD COUNTRY SEDAN.

AND YOU JUST DON'T SEE CARS LIKE THIS ONE ANYMORE.

BACK THEN, PEOPLE WOULD JUST DRIVE THESES THINGS INTO THE GROUND AND GET RID OF THEM.

SO, TO SEE ONE HERE IN THIS CONDITION, FULLY RESTORED, IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

IT'S ONE OF HUNDREDS OF CARS, OF ALL TYPES, RESTORED AND ON DISPLAY AT THE AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM IN MELBOURNE, FLORIDA.

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITY EVENTS...

SO GETTING A GLIMPSE OF GEMS LIKE THIS ONE, IS A PRIVILEGE.

WOW...NICE!

Mark Pieloch: AND THEY ONLY MADE 4,318 KING COBRAS EVER AND IT'S A VERY RARE CAR TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN THIS COLOR COMBINATION AND BEING ALL ORIGINAL.

Stephanie: THESE CARS LIVE A PRETTY PAMPERED LIFE HERE IN THE MUSEUM, BUT THEY STILL NEED T-L-C... THAT'S WHERE THE RESTORATION TECHNICIANS COME IN.

IT'S THEIR JOB TO MAKE SURE THE AUTOMOBILES ARE ALWAYS IN RUNNING AND DRIVING CONDITION.

THERE ARE 320 CARS HERE, BUT A VERY SMALL STAFF.

Ed Dedick: THERE'S A VERY SMALL STAFF HERE, BUT WE ARE AN EFFICIENT STAFF.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NINE PAGE CHECKLIST WHICH IS BROKEN DOWN INTO FOUR SECTIONS.

WE HAVE PRESTART, PERFORMANCE FOR DRIVING, POST CHECK, THEN WE HAVE A DETAIL SO WE CAN KEEP A LOG ON EACH CAR.

Stephanie: ONCE THE CARS RECEIVE THEIR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE THEY'RE TAKEN OUTSIDE HERE AND DRIVEN AROUND TO MAKE SURE THEY RUN PROPERLY, AND THIS IS THE FUN PART.

LET'S GO... [ENGINE STARTS] [ENGINE REVS] RESTORATION 101 HAS STAYED THE SAME FOR ABOUT THREE DECADES, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOB HAS CHANGED.

Jerry Frye: ITS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND THESE PARTS, AND WHEN WE DO FIND THEM, IF WE GO WITH...

WHICH IS ORIGINAL PARTS, THEY'RE REALLY EXPENSIVE AND YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL OF HOW YOU BUY THEM TOO BECAUSE SOME OF THEM SAY, THEY'RE ORIGINAL PARTS AND WHEN YOU GET THEM, THEY'RE NOT SO ORIGINAL, Ed: WE HAVE A 1967 CAMARO PACE CAR, IT'S STILL CONTINUOUS LEARNING ON HOW WE TAKE CARE OF IT.

IT STILL MAY BE THE BASE MOTOR AND THE CARBURETOR IN IT, BUT STILL HOW CAN WE EVOLVE, HOW CAN WE GET BETTER AT IT.

WE TALK TO OTHER MUSEUMS, WE TALK TO OTHER TECHS AND YOU KNOW, WE EVEN TRY TO ENCORPORATE SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES THEY HAVE IN THERE IN THE MECHANIC PROGRAMS.

Stephanie: THIS IS A REALLY NICE CAR.

Todd McCarty: IT IS.

A 1968 FORD SHELBY GT 500 MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, ONE OF THREE, BUT IT WAS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF ONE OF ONE BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE CARS MADE IN THIS COLOR IN 1986 - TWO COUPES, ONE CONVERTIBLE.

THE CONVERTIBLE WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR CAROL SHELBY'S WIFE.

SHE WANTED A CONVERTIBLE, SHE CAN HAVE A CONVERTIBLE.

Stephanie: ANOTHER RARE FORD, SPOTTED HERE, A 1965 SHELBY GT 350 PROTOTYPE.

Mark: FORD MOTOR COMPANY ACTUALLY BUILT 10 PRODUCTION PROTOTYPES BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY WENT TO NORMAL PRODUCTION.

THIS IS THE LAST OF THE 10 PRODUCTION PROTOTYPES AND IT'S THE ONLY PRODUCTION PROTOTYPE TO SURVIVE.

IT ACTUALLY HAS 27 FEATURES ON THIS CAR, THAT'S A COMBINATION OF THE GT 350 R OR THE GT 350 S. S WOULD BE THE STREET VERSION.

R WOULD BE THE RACING VERSION SPECIFICATIONS.

AS YOU CAN SEE IT HAS THE RACING SPECIFICATION FRONT APRON AREA.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN SHOWN NATIONALLY ON 2007, IT WAS A SHELBY AMERICAN CONCOURS GOLD.

VERY UNIQUE CAR, VERY UNIQUE HISTORY.

JUST A REALLY STUNNING RARE VEHICLE.

* Stephanie: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

Ed: THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB BUT ONE OF THE SMALL PARTS THAT I REALLY ENJOY IS BEING ABLE TO PRESERVE THIS PART OF HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Stephanie: AND ISN'T THAT WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT...?

COMMEMORATING THE PAST WHILE KEEPING IT ALIVE TO INSPIRE THE FUTURE.

* John: LETS GET BACK TO OUR MOTORWEEK 2020 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS, WITH A LOOK AT THE TRUCKS AND SUVS THAT HAULED AWAY OUR HIGHEST PRAISE THIS YEAR.

* THERE ARE MORE TRUCKS AND UTILITIES ON THE ROAD THAN EVER, AS THEY ARE THE FAMILY CAR OF CHOICE FOR MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES.

AND FOR FAMILIES JUST STARTING OUT, A SMALL UTILITY MAKES AN IDEAL CHOICE; AND WHILE THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW ENTRIES INTO THE SEGMENT THIS YEAR, NONE WERE ABLE TO UPSTAGE LAST YEAR'S WINNER, THE TOYOTA RAV4.

SO, IT RETURNS AS OUR BEST SMALL UTILITY.

IT ESSENTIALLY CREATED THE SMALL CAR-BASED SUV CATEGORY IN 1996, AND SINCE THEN, IT CONTINUES TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE SEGMENT IS ALL ABOUT; CAR-LIKE COMFORT, AND DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WITH PLENTY OF UTILITY AND CAPABILITY.

AND, IT'S EVEN AVAILABLE AS A HYBRID, AND SOON A PRIME PLUG-IN HYBRID.

WE'RE HUGE FANS OF THE CURRENT HYBRID, AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT ALONE, AS TOYOTA JUST ANNOUNCED THAT TO MEET DEMAND, THEY WILL BEGIN ASSEMBLING THE RAV4 HYBRID AT THEIR KENTUCKY PLANT.

AS FOR OUR BEST MIDSIZE UTILITY, IT GOES TO THE HONDA PASSPORT; RETURNING TO THE HONDA LINEUP AFTER AN 18-YEAR HIATUS.

THAT ORIGINAL PASSPORT WAS A REBADGED ISUZU RODEO, AND WAS ACTUALLY HONDA'S FIRST SUV, ARRIVING ABOUT 3-YEARS BEFORE THE CR-V. FOR ITS RETURN, HONDA TOOK ANOTHER EASY ROUTE, BY TAKING THEIR HIGHLY-REGARDED PILOT 3-ROW CROSSOVER, DITCHING THE 3RD ROW, SLICING OFF SOME LENGTH, GIVING IT ADDITIONAL GROUND CLEARANCE, AND ADDING UNIQUE TRIM.

SOMETIMES, THE EASY WAY REALLY IS THE BEST WAY, AS THE RESULTS ARE ONE IMPRESSIVE MIDSIZE UTILITY, THAT HANDLES THE WEEKDAY GRIND JUST AS WELL AS IT TACKLES WEEKEND ADVENTURES.

OUR BEST LARGE CROSSOVER AWARDS GO TO CORPORATE COUSINS, THE HYUNDAI PALISADE AND KIA TELLURIDE.

UP TO NOW, NEITHER HYUNDAI NOR KIA HAS HAD A TRULY COMPETITIVE BIG 3-ROW CROSSOVER.

WELL, THEY NOW HAVE GOTTEN VERY SERIOUS WITH THE KOREAN IMPORT PALISADE, AND THE GEORGIA MADE TELLURIDE.

THOUGH, THEY SHARE THE SAME ARCHITECTURE AND POWERTRAIN, THEY DEPART CONSIDERABLY WHEN IT COMES TO SHEET-METAL, INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT, AND TUNING OF RIDE-AND HANDLING.

TOGETHER THEY SET A NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE REST OF THE LARGE CROSSOVER CROWD, AS BOTH CLEARLY ARE BIG WINNERS.

FOR THE ULTIMATE IN POSH SUV MOTIVATION, OUR CHOICE FOR BEST LUXURY UTILITY IS THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLE.

USER EXPERIENCE IS AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT PART OF LUXURY, AND THE MERCEDES-BENZ USER EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE-FRIENDLY TECH FEATURES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

COMBINE THAT WITH THE HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS YOU EXPECT, A SUMPTUOUS BUT CONTROLLED RIDE YOU MAY NOT HAVE EXPECTED, SEAMLESS POWER, AND ELEGANT STYLE, AND YOU'VE GOT AN AWARD WINNING UTILITY PACKAGE.

WE ADMIT IT; WE'RE SOFTIES AROUND HERE, WE LIKE OUR COMFORT.

THAT'S WHY THE ENTIRE RAM LINEUP OF PICKUP TRUCKS, 1500, HEAVY DUTY, AND CLASSIC, COMPRISE OUR WINNER FOR BEST PICKUP TRUCK, A REPEAT FOR THE RAM BRAND.

WITH RAM YOU CAN HAVE ALL OF THE COMFORT AND AMENITIES YOU CAN HANDLE, WITHOUT SACRIFICING COMPETENCY.

AND AS FOR OVER-THE-TOP CAPABILITY, HEAVY DUTY RAM MODELS WERE ALL NEW THIS YEAR AND WITH IT CAME AN AVAILABLE HIGH-OUTPUT CUMMINS DIESEL WITH 1,000 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE MOST EVER FOR A PICKUP TRUCK, AND ENOUGH TO PULL 35,100 POUNDS OF TRAILER.

NOW, THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO US.

AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR WINNERS FOR TRUCKS AND SUVS, BUT WE'LL BE BACK WITH THE BIGGEST AWARD OF ALL, OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

John: THERE ARE A LOT OF DO-IT-YOURSELFERS OUT THERE.

BUT DOING IT RIGHT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

THAT'S OUR CUE TO THROW IT TO PAT AT GOSS' GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: AS CARS HAVE EVOLVED, SO HAVE THE WAYS THAT WE REPAIR THEM.

NOW, WE LOOK OVER HERE AT THIS CAR, WE SEE THAT IT HAS A FUSE BLOCK.

WELL, EVERY CAR'S HAD THAT FOR YEARS, BUT WE MAY NOT SEE ON MANY CARS IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS UNDER THAT FUSE BLOCK, WHICH IS A SMART TERMINAL BLOCK.

NOW, THIS HAS A MINI COMPUTER IN IT.

AND ON THE TRUCK THAT THIS CAME OUT OF...

THIS CONTROLS THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOMEBODY CROSSED A WIRE, IT BLEW THIS ASSEMBLY.

YOU CAN'T BUY JUST THE LITTLE CONTROLLER IN HERE.

YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE THING.

BY THE TIME IT'S INSTALLED, ROUGHLY A THOUSAND BUCKS.

NOW OVER HERE, WE HAVE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD.

AND IN THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD IS AN ORIFICE, AN ORIFICE FOR THE CRANKCASE BREATHER SYSTEM.

NOW, I TELL YOU ALL THE TIME TO MAINTAIN THE CRANKCASE BREATHER SYSTEM.

WELL, THIS PERSON DIDN'T, AND THAT MEANT THAT THE ORIFICE INSIDE GOT SO CLOGGED UP THAT IT COULDN'T BE CLEANED.

WELL, YOU CAN'T BUY THE ORIFICE AND EVEN IF YOU COULD, YOU CAN'T REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT'S MOLDED INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

SO, WHAT WINDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT INSTEAD OF A PCV VALVE, WE BUY AN ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH SENSORS, WITH FUEL INJECTORS, WITH FUEL RAIL, AND WITH THE THROTTLE BODY.

HMM, MUCH CHEAPER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THEY HAD A PCV VALVE.

ALRIGHT, COOLING SYSTEMS, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PLASTIC HERE.

THE PLASTIC OVERTIME IT WARPS AND LOSES ITS SHAPE, AND SO ON, AND WE CAN SEE LINES HERE WHERE THIS ONE WAS LEAKING.

NOW, WHAT YOU DO IN MANY CASES INSTEAD OF REPLACING A THERMOSTAT, YOU REPLACE ONE OF THESE GREAT BIG ASSEMBLIES.

THAT MAY HAVE VALVES AND ONE OR TWO OR THREE THERMOSTATS IN IT AND ALL THESE HOUSING, AND EVERYTHING WHICH JACKS THE PRICE WAY UP.

SO, IF YOU GET A HIGH ESTIMATE ON A REPAIR, WELL...YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THE WAY THE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIES PARTS THESE DAYS, MAY BE AS AN ASSEMBLY AND THAT COSTS MORE MONEY.

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

* Greg Carloss: DESPITE WINTER BEING IN FULL SWING HERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC; CHANCES TO PUT OUR 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA'S NEW ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM TO THE TEST HAVE BEEN FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, LIKE NISSAN'S PROPILOT ASSIST, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST USER-FRIENDLY, DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEMS OUT THERE; USING CAMERAS AND RADAR TO KEEP YOU CENTERED IN YOUR LANE, AS WELL AS HELPING YOU MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU, EVEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.

AND IT COMES STANDARD ON SV TRIMMED ALTIMA'S AND ABOVE, INCLUDING OUR PLATINUM GRADE TESTER.

AS FOR THE MORE MUNDANE DETAILS, WE'RE 5-MONTHS INTO OUR TEST, ADDING 9,500 MILES TO THE ODOMETER, AND THE 2.5 LITER I4 WITH CVT SETUP IS AVERAGING A GOOD 30.3 MILES PER GALLON.

IN TRUE NISSAN FASHION, THE SEATS CONTINUE TO GET HIGH PRAISE FOR THEIR COMFORT AND THE HEAT THEY PROVIDE ON FRIGID MORNING COMMUTES.

WHO KNOWS WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS MID-ATLANTIC WINTER, BUT CHANCES ARE, THIS ALTIMA CAN HANDLE IT, AND WE'LL BE VERY COMFORTABLE INSIDE WHILE IT'S DOING SO.

SINCE, THE LAST REPORT ON THIS 2019 PORSCHE MACAN S, WE'VE TACKED ON ANOTHER 1,000 MILES OR SO, AND THIS GERMAN TIGER CONTINUES TO THRILL.

NOT ONLY WITH ITS ATHLETICISM, BUT ALSO WITH ITS SMOOTH AND COMFORTABLE RIDE, AND EASY TO USE TECH.

WINTER IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE DAILY COMMUTE JUST REALLY BECOMES A SLOG BUT THIS MACAN HAS DONE WONDERS FOR OUR MORALE.

THE EFFORTLESS POWER AND DYNAMIC HANDLING MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A CURE FOR SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER.

FUEL MILEAGE IS SITTING AT 21.3 MILES PER GALLON, THAT MAY NOT BE SO GREAT FOR A FAMILY CAR, BUT WE FEEL THAT IT'S MORE THAN RESPECTABLE FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE ORIENTED SUV, WITH 348 HORSEPOWER OF TURBOCHARGED V6.

AND MAKING SURE WE CAN USE AS MUCH OF THAT POWER AS POSSIBLE, REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITIONS; WE RECENTLY FITTED THE MACAN WITH A NEW SET OF WINTER TIRES.

NOT ONLY HAVE THEY HELPED KEEP TRACTION IN WHAT LITTLE SNOW, WE HAVE HAD, BUT THE SOFTER COMPOUND MAKES CASUAL DRIVES EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE HYUNDAI PALISADE, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO EAT THEIR DESERT FIRST INSTEAD OF WAITING AROUND.

BUT WE ALWAYS SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.

SO, HERE'S OUR 2020 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE, BEST OF THE YEAR.

* THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY!

NOW, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING, CLEARLY YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

ITS NEW MID-ENGINE DESIGN IS OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO COME TO CORVETTE OVER ITS 6-DECADE LIFESPAN, BUT THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE ICEBERG.

ARRIVING WITH THIS 'VETTE IS AN ALL-NEW LT2 NATURALLY-ASPIRATED V8, WITH OUTPUT OF 495 HORSEPOWER AND 470 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

SOME MAY HAVE WISHED FOR MORE HP, OR SOME POWER ADDERS, AND WE'RE SURE THEY'RE COMING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

BUT, UNTIL THEN, YOU'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH TAKING A FULL 2.9 SECONDS TO GET TO 60, THE FASTEST EVER FOR AN ENTRY-LEVEL CORVETTE.

WITH THAT NATURALLY-ASPIRATED V8, COMES AN ALL-NEW, AND IMPRESSIVELY SMOOTH AND QUICK, 8-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, A FIRST FOR THE BRAND.

THE MAIN REASON FOR MOVING THE ENGINE BEHIND THE CABIN, IS OF COURSE, BETTER HANDLING.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS MOVE WEIGHT TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE CHASSIS WHERE IT CAN AID TRACTION, BUT IT GETS THAT WEIGHT OFF OF THE FRONT TIRES; SHARPENING STEERING, AND IMPROVING OVERALL RESPONSE.

SPEAKING OF THE CHASSIS, IT'S A MOSTLY ALUMINUM DESIGN BUILT AROUND A CENTRAL TUNNEL BACKBONE, WITH AN ALL-NEW SUSPENSION SCHEME BOLTED TO IT.

NOW, ALL OF THAT MEANS NOTHING, IF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE DOESN'T IMPROVE AS WELL, AND TRUST US, IT HAS.

YOU NOW SIT MUCH CLOSER TO THE FRONT WHEELS, AND FORWARD VISIBILITY IS UNPARALLELED; GIVING YOU A GREAT VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD, AS WELL AS EVERYTHING AROUND IT RUSHING BY YOU.

YET, IT ALSO ATTAINS A VERY INVITING NEW LEVEL OF COMFORT FOR CORVETTE, AS IT IS AN IMPRESSIVELY QUIET CAR TO SPEND TIME IN.

GREAT NEWS FOR THE MANY CORVETTE OWNERS THAT DO EXTENSIVE ROAD TRIPPING.

AND FOR THEM, CHEVROLET WENT TO GREAT STRIDES TO ENSURE THAT PLENTY OF LUGGAGE SPACE STAYED A PART OF THE PACKAGE.

ADD IN AN EXTERIOR DESIGN, THAT DESPITE NEW PROPORTIONS, LOOKS FAMILIAR YET, FAST FORWARD-THINKING.

AND AT LONG LAST, A TECH-SAVVY COCKPIT THAT IS TRULY SUPERCAR-WORTHY.

BUT THE BIGGEST WIN FOR ALL OF US, IS THAT WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES, GM WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ATTAINABILITY, WITH BASE PRICING JUST UNDER $60,000.

SO, TAKE NOTE ALSO RANS, THAT'S HOW YOU EARN OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

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 SUPER FAST IN THE PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S. AND THEN, A PAIR OF TOYOTAS WITH UNEXPECTED SPORT.

PAT GOSS ON HOW KEEP YOUR ENGINE PURRING.

GREG CARLOSS FINDS THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL.

PLUS, A BRAND NEW QUICKSPIN.

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.

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