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

JOIN US FOR A PERFORMANCE HYBRID WITH SCANDINAVIAN STYLE, VOLVO'S POLESTAR 1... PAT GOSS SHARES TRICKS OF THE TRADE FOR TOUGH FIXES... FROM THE TRACK TO THE ROAD, HOW RACING SHAPES WHAT WE DRIVE... AND A FAST SHAPE THAT ENDS WITH A HANDY HATCH, THE AUDI A7...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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John: NOT THAT LONG AGO, IT LOOKED LIKE THE VOLVO BRAND MIGHT NOT BE AROUND MUCH LONGER, AS AFTER HAVING PASSED THROUGH FORD'S HANDS, IT WAS PURCHASED BY CHINA'S GEELY.

THE CHANGE WAS SLOW TO COME BY, BUT SIX YEARS LATER, THEY LAUNCHED AN ALL-NEW XC90, AND SINCE THEN, VOLVO HAS CHARGED BACK IN A BIG WAY.

SO MUCH SO, THEY'RE ADDING A WHOLE NEW BRAND, AND IT GOES BY THE NAME, POLESTAR... * VOLVO HAS USED THE POLESTAR NAME IN REGARDS TO RACING, AND PERFORMANCE PROTOTYPES FOR SOME TIME NOW.

BUT, BEING ITS OWN MARQUE, AND ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR ELECTRIFIED SPORTY MODELS, IS A BIG UPGRADE.

THE FIRST VEHICLE TO EMERGE FROM THIS SUB-BRAND, THE 2021 POLESTAR 1, IS NOT A FULLY ELECTRIC CAR, BUT A PLUG-IN HYBRID.

OR, TO USE VOLVO'S TERMINOLOGY, AN ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE HYBRID.

HOWEVER, THIS HANDSOME 2+2 COUPE DOES BOAST MORE EV RANGE THAN WE'VE SEEN ON ANY PHEV TO THIS POINT, 70 MILES ACCORDING TO VOLVO; WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT FULL-EVs MANAGED NOT THAT LONG AGO.

A UNIQUE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE POWERTRAIN INCLUDES NOT ONE, BUT TWO 85 KW ELECTRIC MOTORS SET IN THE REAR; ONE PER WHEEL, AND EACH WITH ITS OWN PLANETARY GEAR SET.

IN EV MODE THEY DO ALL THE WORK.

UP FRONT, AN 52 KW STARTER-GENERATOR AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE MATED TO A FAMILIAR GASOLINE ENGINE; VOLVO'S TURBO AND SUPERCHARGED 2.0 LITER I4.

THIS COMBO SENDS POWER ONLY TO THE FRONT WHEELS.

ALL TOLD, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 619 HORSEPOWER AND 738 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

VOLVO CLAIMS A 0-60 TIME OF ONLY 4.2 SECONDS.

NOW, WE COULDN'T VERIFY THAT DURING OUR EARLY DRIVE TIME IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT WE DID FIND A DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT IS EQUALLY COMPOSED AND COMFORTABLE.

CHASSIS ENGINEERING REFLECTS THE RACING HERITAGE OF THE POLESTAR NAME WITH ADJUSTABLE OHLINS SHOCKS FOR THE DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT, AND INTEGRAL LINK REAR SUSPENSION.

HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKES WERE THEN ADDED FOR GOOD MEASURE.

BUT, DESPITE ALL OF THAT POTENTIAL; BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE VIBE IS MORE WELL-APPOINTED GT CAR.

WHICH CAN BE EITHER GOOD OR BAD, AS SOME MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A MORE VISCERAL EXPERIENCE.

AND HEARING THE 4-CYLINDER REV IN FULL, DOES COOL THE LUXURY THEME SOMEWHAT.

BUT, HAVING SAID THAT, THE "1" DOES HANDLE QUITE WELL.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE BODY ROLL, AND YOU HAVE TO PUSH RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO UPSET THE CAR'S BALANCE AND FORCE IT INTO OVERSTEER.

MUCH CREDIT FOR THAT GOES TO THE SEAMLESS TORQUE VECTORING PROVIDED BY THE DUAL REAR ELECTRIC MOTORS, HELPING THE CAR ROTATE EXPERTLY THROUGH CORNERS.

THERE'S NOT MUCH STEERING FEEDBACK, BUT RESPONSE FROM INPUTS IS DECENT.

LIKEWISE, WITH ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS, GOOD REACTION, BUT NOT MUCH DIALOG.

PERHAPS THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE WILL BE SHOWING IT OFF TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND CO-WORKERS, AS THE POLESTAR 1s ALL CARBON-FIBER BODY IS GORGEOUS FROM ALL ANGLES.

CARBON-FIBER OBVIOUSLY SAVES WEIGHT OVER STEEL; HERE SOME 500 POUNDS, BUT IT WAS USED MORE TO GIVE DESIGNERS THE ABILITY TO FURTHER SHARPEN LINES AND CREATE MORE COMPLEX SHAPES IN THE BODYWORK.

INSPIRATION WAS DRAWN BOTH FROM VOLVO'S 2013 COUPE CONCEPT, AS WELL AS HISTORICAL VEHICLES SUCH AS THE P1800.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT WILL BE FAMILIAR TO ANY OWNER OF RECENT VOLVOS; QUITE LUXURIOUS, BUT NOT OVER-THE-TOP, WITH SEEMINGLY MORE EMPHASIS PLACED ON SIMPLICITY AND FUNCTIONALITY.

BATTERIES ARE IN TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS, TO BOTH LIMIT THE INTRUSION INTO THE INTERIOR SPACE, AS WELL AS SPREAD THE WEIGHT AROUND.

THEY RESIDE ALONG THE CENTRAL TUNNEL OF THE CAR BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS, AND DIRECTLY OVER THE REAR AXLE IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUNK AREA, WHERE CLEAR PANELS PROVIDE MORE EYE CANDY FOR POLESTAR GAZERS.

THAT SEVERELY RESTRICTS TRUNK SPACE TO 4.4 CUBIC-FEET.

BUT, BEING A 2+2, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE BACK SEAT FOR TOSSING OVERNIGHT BAGS.

MULTIPLE PAINT COLORS, INTERIOR THEMES, AND WHEEL DESIGNS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT NO MATTER HOW YOU CONFIGURE IT, A POLESTAR 1 WILL COST YOU $156,500, UNLESS YOU CHOOSE MATTE FINISH PAINT, WHICH DOES COME WITH A $5,000 SURCHARGE.

SO, VOLVO IS VERY WISE TO LIMIT PRODUCTION.

ONLY 1,500 WILL BE MADE OVER A 3-YEAR LIFESPAN, AND JUST 150 PER YEAR, ARE EARMARKED FOR THE U.S.

THEY SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM SELLING THEM, AS THE FIRST YEARS' WORTH HAVE ALREADY BEEN SNATCHED UP.

SO, YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE, AND WE'LL ALL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE POLESTAR 2 ARRIVES, TO GET A FULL-EV FROM VOLVO'S NEW ELECTRIFIED SUB-BRAND.

BUT, WE CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SHOWCASE WHAT THIS NEW MARQUE WILL BE ALL ABOUT, THAN THE 2021 POLESTAR 1, A HIGH-PERFORMANCE LUXURY GT COUPE, THAT PROMISES JUST AS MUCH AS IT DELIVERS.

* John: MORE AND MORE CAR COMPANIES ARE GETTING INVOLVED WITH MOTORSPORTS THESE DAYS.

FOR SOME, IT'S A PUSH FOR NAME RECOGNITION, OR TO ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY IN THE PERFORMANCE CAR ARENA.

BUT AS OUR RECENT DRIVE IN A TRIO OF TRACK MACHINES SHOWS, FOR SOME COMPANIES, RACING IS JUST IN THEIR DNA FROM THE START!

* John: NO COMPANY HAS BEEN MORE CLOSELY TIED TO SPORTSCAR RACING SUCCESS THAN PORSCHE, HAVING WON HUNDREDS OF TITLES AT THE MOST CHALLENGING VENUES OF ENDURANCE RACING LIKE LEMANS, SEBRING, DAYTONA, AND THE NURBURGRING.

THESE SPORTS RACERS LOOK JUST LIKE THE MODELS YOU CAN BUY AND DRIVE ON THE STREET, AND THAT'S NO ACCIDENT.

FOR PORSCHE, RACING IS THE ULTIMATE PROVING GROUND.

Hurley Haywood: A LOT OF MANUFACTURERS, YOU KNOW, SAY, "RACE ON SUNDAY, SELL ON MONDAY," BUT IN PORSCHE'S CASE, THEY REALLY USE THE RACE TRACK AS A TESTING BED, SO IF IT WORKS ON A RACE CAR, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO WORK ON A PRODUCTION CAR.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN RACING PORSCHES.

Patrick Long: YOU PUT THESE CARS UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS, YOU LEARN LOTS ABOUT THE POWERTRAIN, ABOUT CHASSIS RIGIDITY.

I THINK, THAT THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TWO WAYS, A LOT OF TIMES IN RACING, WE LEARN SOMETHING THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE STREET CARS, BUT A LOT OF TIMES, THE STREET ENGINEERS DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT WILL COME TOWARD THE MOTORSPORT ANGLE.

John: ARGUABLY PORSCHE'S MOST SUCCESSFUL RACE CAR WAS THE 935.

IT RACKED UP MORE THAN 150 VICTORIES WORLDWIDE IN THE 1970s AND '80s, MANY WITH HURLEY HAYWOOD AT THE WHEEL, AND ITS OUTRAGEOUS AERO BODYWORK CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION OF RACE FANS TO THIS DAY.

TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF PORSCHE CARS, THE COMPANY CREATED A MODERN 935 CLUBSPORT RACER, BASED ON THE 700 HORSEPOWER 911 GT2RS STREET CAR, AND LIMITED TO JUST 77 UNITS WORLDWIDE, AND THEN THEY INVITED US TO DRIVE IT.

TO SAY THIS WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

Dave Scrivener: DRIVING THE STREET VERSION OF THE GT2RS IS MIND-BLOWING ENOUGH, DRIVING THE RACE CAR, THE GT2RS CLUBSPORT, IS JUST PHENOMENAL.

BUT IT REALLY TELLS HOW PORSCHE USES THEIR RACING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THE STREET CARS THAT MUCH BETTER, ALL THE TIME.

Hurley: PORSCHE CUSTOMERS WANT TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SAY, I'VE GOT THE SAME CAR, ALMOST, THAT THEY RACE ON THE RACE TRACK.

AND EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE SPEEDS CLOSE TO 200 MILES PER HOUR, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO DO THAT ON THE STREET, BUT PEOPLE LIKE TO KNOW THAT THEIR CARS ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

Patrick: THEY CAN SEE THESE CARS WRAPPED, AND RACING WITH NUMBERS AND A SLICK, SEXY PROFILE, AND THEN THEY CAN ASSOCIATE A CAR THAT THEY CAN BUY OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR, AND GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND FEEL SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW IN THE EMOTIONAL SPORT THAT IS MOTORSPORT.

John: AS PART OF THE SAME TRACK TEST AT GERMANY'S LEISITZRING, PORSCHE TROTTED OUT TWO SLIGHTLY MORE ATTAINABLE CLUBSPORT MODELS FOR US TO TRY: THE 911 GT2 RS CLUBSPORT AND THE 718 CAYMAN GT4 CLUBSPORT.

WE PUSHED ALL THREE MACHINES TO OUR LIMITS AND CAME UP WELL SHORT OF TAPPING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, BUT CAME AWAY AWESTRUCK BY THE PRECISE PERFORMANCE AND RAW-YET-REFINED NATURE OF THESE PURPOSE-BUILT RACERS.

Patrick: WITH PORSCHE, THEY'VE ALWAYS RACED, IT'S PART OF THE DNA OF THE COMPANY, AND THAT PART OF IT IS SPECIAL FOR ME AS A DRIVER BECAUSE YOU LOOK BACK AT OUR ROOTS, AND THE HERITAGE OF RUNNING AT DAYTONA, LEMANS, SEBRING, THAT PART OF IT TELLS A CONNECTION.

IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU BELONG TO, OF THIS HERITAGE AND THIS STORY THAT'S STILL BEING TOLD.

* John: CARS TODAY ARE ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE.

SO REPAIRS ARE OFTEN PRETTY TRICKY.

BUT HELPS WAITING DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM OUR ONLINE PARTS GURU, MR. TOM TAYLOR.

TOM, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tom Taylor: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

Goss: ALRIGHT, WHAT DID YOU BRING HERE?

Tom: PARTS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT I THOUGHT YOUR VIEWERS WOULD FIND INTERESTING.

THIS IS THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CARS HAVE THIS IN THE GAS TANK.

INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP THIS IS THE SENDING UNIT FOR THE GAUGE, THE FUEL GAUGE, AND PEOPLE WILL SEE THEIR GAUGE WILL BE FULL THEN IT'LL DROP TO EMPTY.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE'S ELECTRICAL CONTACTS HERE THAT WEAR OUT AS THIS ARM GOES UP AND DOWN, OR THE BUSHING ITSELF WILL WEAR OUT AND YOU'LL GET FLUCTUATION, THE GAUGE WILL BE ERRATIC.

SOME VEHICLES HAVE TWO OF THESE, BECAUSE THE GAS TANK IS LIKE THIS VEHICLE, SADDLE SHAPED, WRAPPED AROUND THE DRIVESHAFT, SO YOU'LL HAVE TWO OF THESE AND THE GAUGE MIGHT BE...

IT WON'T GO ABOVE HALF OR IT WON'T DROP BELOW A QUARTER TANK, THAT'S A SIGN THAT JUST ONE OF THESE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

I...USUALLY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE WHOLE THING VERSUS INDIVIDUAL PARTS, BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE IT OUT, THE OTHER PARTS ARE LIKELY TO FAIL SOON.

SO, GET A NEW FUEL PUMP, GET A NEW STRAINER.

THE SECOND PART IS A NEW PART THAT SHOWS SYSTEMS DON'T NECESSARILY IMPROVE OR THEY HAVE SOME BUGS TO WORK OUT.

ITS'S AN ELECTRIC WATER PUMP.

ELECTRIC PUMPS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON ON HYBRID CARS, AND THIS OUT OF A BMW, THE WATER PUMP THAT SENDS WATER THROUGH THE RADIATOR AND SUCH, BUT THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE COOLANT IS GOING THROUGH THESE PIPES AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IS RIGHT HERE...

SO.

IF THIS PLASTIC CRACKS INTERNALLY OR THIS PLASTIC IS COMPROMISED IN SOME WAY, YOU CAN GET COOLANT BEING PUMPED THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INTO THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS IS WRAPPED WITH TAPE OR CONDUIT, AND IT CAN TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO A COMPUTER, DAMAGE THE COMPUTER, IT CAN SHOW UP IN YOUR TAIL LIGHT, IT CAN SHOW UP IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, CREATE ALL SORTS OF HARD TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS, AND THIS IS THE CAUSE.

Goss: YEAH, JUST TRY EXPLAINING THAT TO YOUR CUSTOMER, THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT IS FULL OF COOLANT, AND THEY JUST DON'T GRASP IT.

Tom: I IMAGINE.

AND THIS LAST ONE IS JUST A FUN THING I THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP RESOLVE A CONFLICT SPOUSES MIGHT BE HAVING IF THEY'RE ARGUING, HEY, IS IT WASTING GAS, IF I HAVE THE FAN TURNED WAY UP, OR THE HEAT AND A.C., SHOULD I TURN THAT DOWN TO SAVE GAS.

WELL THIS IS A BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FROM AN OLDER VEHICLE, AND OLDER VEHICLES IF YOU TURN DOWN THE FAN THE EXCESS CURRENT IS JUST GOING THROUGH THESE COILS AND HEATING THEM UP, SO YOU'RE NOT SAVING ANY GAS, NOT SAVING ANY ELECTRICITY, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU HAVE THAT SWITCH, BUT ON NEWER VEHICLES, IT'S A COMPUTER CYCLING THE BLOWER MOTOR ON AND OFF VERY QUICKLY DEPENDING HOW FAST YOU HAVE THE SETTINGS SET.

SO THEORETICALLY, IF YOU TURN DOWN THE FAN, THE MOTOR IS CYCLING LESS FREQUENTLY AND YOU COULD SAVE A TINY BIT OF ELECTRICITY, MAYBE A CUP OF GAS OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

AT LEAST NOW, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT TO SETTLE THE ARGUMENT WITH YOUR SPOUSE.

Goss: [LAUGHS] RIGHT, WELL OKAY, THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

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

* Greg Carloss: TIME IS RAPIDLY PASSING US BY FOR OUR 2019 PORSCHE MACAN S. OR MAYBE THAT'S JUST US QUICKLY PASSING EVERYTHING, IN THIS 348 HORSEPOWER SPORTS CAR IN CROSSOVER CLOTHING.

IS IT THE MOST PRACTICAL UTILITY YOU CAN BUY?

NO, BUT THE LIST OF SUVs THAT DELIVER ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE MACAN'S CONNECTED DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS A REAL SHORT ONE.

WE'RE CLOSING IN ON FOUR MONTHS OF DRIVE TIME, AND MILEAGE SITS AT 5,500, AND FUEL ECONOMY HAS CLIMBED TO A VERY DECENT 22.4 MILES PER GALLON OF HIGH TEST.

AND WHILE, WE ALWAYS PRAISE THE FUN-TO-DRIVE ASPECTS, LET'S NOT OVERLOOK THE VERY COMFORTABLE AND TECH-SAVVY INTERIOR; HIGHLIGHTED BY A NEW FOR '19 10.9 INCH TOUCHSCREEN.

IN EVERYDAY USE, A COMFY ENVIRONMENT AND EASY-TO-USE TECH ARE SUPREMELY IMPORTANT WHEN TRAFFIC MOVES AT A CRAWL.

AND EASY EVERYDAY USE BRINGS US TO OUR 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA MIDSIZE SEDAN.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY MEASURABLE SNOW YET, TO TRULY TEST THE ALTIMA'S FIRST-EVER ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, BUT IT HAS RAINED QUITE A BIT AND THE EXTRA GRIP IS APPRECIATED ON WET SURFACES WHEN GETTING ON THE THROTTLE WITH ANY KIND OF URGENCY.

AND THE 2.5 LITER 4-CYLINDER HAS PROVIDED PLENTY OF POWER IN THOSE SITUATIONS AS WELL.

ONE SMOOTH ROAD TRIP AFTER ANOTHER BRINGS US CLOSE TO 7,500 MILES, IN THE SAME FOUR MONTH TIME FRAME AS THE MACAN.

FUEL ECONOMY SITS AT A FINE 30.7 MILES PER GALLON, AS THIS ALTIMA CONTINUES TO FIND NEW WAYS TO IMPRESS.

IT'S THE HYUNDAI PALISADE AND TOYOTA RAV4 ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS... YOU KNOW WHAT LET'S JUST DRIVE THEM ALL.

SO, LET'S GO FOR A QUICKSPIN.

* THE 8TH GENERATION 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA IS ALL-NEW, WITH EVOLUTIONARY STYLING, YET, A MORE COUPE-LIKE PROFILE.

IT'S LONGER, LOWER AND WIDER, WITH AN UPSCALE INTERIOR.

A DIGITAL GAUGE CLUSTER AND INFOTAINMENT SCREEN DOMINATE THE DASH WHICH IS PUSHED LOWER FOR BETTER OUTWARD VISIBILITY, WITH SOME OF THE SKINNIEST AIR VENTS WE'VE EVER SEEN.

THE STANDARD ENGINE IS AN ALL-NEW 2.5 LITER I4 RATED AT 191 HORSEPOWER.

TOP TRIMS USE AN IMPRESSIVE 180 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER TURBO WITH THE WORLD'S FIRST CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE VALVE DURATION SYSTEM.

Stephanie Hart: THIS CAR CAN ACTUALLY PARK ITSELF AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO DO IT!

ALL YOU DO IS HOLD DOWN THIS BUTTON AND THE CAR IS GOING TO BACK ITSELF INTO THIS SPOT.

ALRIGHT THERE IT GOES.

YOU JUST TAKE YOUR FINGER OFF THE BUTTON AND IT STOPS THE CAR AND THERE YOU GO THE CAR JUST PARKED ITSELF.

John: EVEN WITH A NEW CHASSIS, THERE'S NO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OPTION.

STILL THE 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA NUDGES THE BAR UPWARD IN ITS CLASS AND SHOWS THE BRAND'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MIDSIZE SEDANS.

ON SALE NOW, THE PRICES START AT JUST OVER $23,000.

WHEN IT COMES TO UTILITIES, MAZDA ALWAYS REMEMBERS THAT DRIVING MATTERS.

THE ALL-NEW 2020 MAZDA CX-30 DEBUTED IN GENEVA, AND SLIDES IN BETWEEN THE SMALLER CX-3 AND LARGER CX-5.

WHILE, THE CX-3 SHARES THE MAZDA2s SUBCOMPACT PLATFORM, THE CX-30 RELIES ON THE UNDERPINNINGS FROM THE COMPACT MAZDA 3.

THEY ALSO SHARE THE SAME 186 HORSEPOWER SKYACTIV-G 2.5 LITER I4, AND 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, WHICH MAZDA SAYS, "HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY TUNED FOR THE CX-30."

THE QUICK THROTTLE RESPONSE AND PROMPT SHIFTS, WE FOUND IN THE 3 ARE ALSO HERE... WITH ABOUT AN INCH-AND-A-HALF MORE GROUND CLEARANCE FOR THE CX-30.

INSIDE, IS MAZDA'S CLEAN DESIGN AND PREMIUM FEEL.

Kyle Scanlon: ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS CAR, IS HOW USER FRIENDLY IT IS.

ALL THE DIALS, ALL THE KNOBS, ALL THE SWITCHES YOU NEED, FOR YOUR INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR YOUR CRUISE CONTROL THEY'RE ALL RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

John: INTERIOR DIMENSIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THE "3" HATCHBACK, WITH A LITTLE MORE ROOM FOR REAR SEAT RIDERS, AND SLIGHTLY MORE CARGO ROOM.

MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT, AND A TORSION BEAM IN THE REAR THAT MAZDA DOES BETTER THAN OTHERS, MAINTAINS A SPIRITED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2020 MAZDA CX-30 STARTS AT JUST UNDER $22,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

SINCE, THE AUDI A7 DEBUTED HERE IN THE STATES IN 2012, IT'S SOUGHT TO COMBINE THE SPACIOUSNESS OF A SEDAN, WITH THE VERSATILITY OF A HATCHBACK, AND THE STYLISHNESS OF A COUPE.

THAT'S A TALL TASK FOR ANY ONE CAR; BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT SUCCEEDED, AND LOOKED GREAT WHILE DOING IT.

WELL, THERE'S A NEW A7 ON THE STREETS.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT IF IT CAN BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS.

* WHO SAYS AMERICANS DON'T BUY HATCHBACKS?

STOP BY ANY COUNTRY CLUB, AND YOU'RE BOUND TO SEE A PORSCHE PANAMERA OR TWO; NOT TO MENTION LOTS OF LUXURY CROSSOVERS, WHICH ARE AT THEIR ESSENCE, JUST ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HATCHBACKS.

IT ALSO HELPS IF YOU CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE THIS 2019 AUDI A7, WHICH AUDI CALLS A 5-DOOR COUPE.

THAT SOUNDS PRETTY SPORTY AND EXCITING; AND TRULY THE A7 IS A REAL LOOKER.

THE RISING BELTLINE AND SLOPING ROOF COME TOGETHER IN A THICK D-PILLAR TO PROVIDE THE COUPE-LIKE PROPORTIONS.

WHILE THE EXPRESSIVE FACE AND LINEAR REAR, FOLLOW RECENT AUDI THEMES.

IT'S A COHESIVE AND FANTASTIC-LOOKING DESIGN, THAT DEFINITELY SETS IT APART FROM THE TRADITIONAL LUXURY SEDAN FIELD.

AS DOES THE POWERTRAIN, A 3.0-LITER V6 TURBO THAT SENDS ITS 335 HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO ALL FOUR WHEELS THROUGH A 7-SPEED S TRONIC DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

LIKE THE A6, THAT OF COURSE SHARES THIS SAME PLATFORM, IT ALSO GETS ASSISTANCE FROM A 48 VOLT MILD HYBRID SYSTEM.

PUT TO USE AT OUR TEST TRACK, IT HELPED SHUTTLE THE A7 TO 60 IN JUST 4.8 SECONDS.

QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AS WELL AS LAUNCH CONTROL, PROVIDE A SLIP-FREE, HIGH-GRIP, NO DRAMA GETAWAY.

EXCELLENT POWER THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE; FEELING SMOOTH AND STRONG AS THE ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY PULLS, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION FIRES OFF STEADY, QUICK SHIFTS.

OUR BEST TIME, 13.4 SECONDS AT 104 MILES PER HOUR.

IF YOU'RE IN AN EVEN BIGGER HURRY, KEEP IN MIND MORE POWERFUL S AND POSSIBLY EVEN RS VERSIONS WILL LIKELY BE ADDED TO THE LINEUP.

A GREAT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF JUST 105 FEET FROM 60 WITH MINIMAL FADE, KEPT OUR TEST DRIVER'S COMMENTS EQUALLY BRIEF TO SIMPLE, "SPORTY AND SHORTY."

AT 4,300 POUNDS, THE A7 IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT, AND THERE'S ALSO OVER 115 INCHES OF WHEELBASE TO DEAL WITH, YET, GOOD OVERALL BALANCE, QUICK STEERING, AND PRODIGIOUS TRACTION ALLOWED US TO REALLY HUSTLE THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

THERE'S NOT AS MUCH FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL, OR THE KIND OF CHASSIS FEEDBACK WE EXPECT IN A TRUE SPORT SEDAN, BUT FOR A LARGE, LUXURY-MINDED CAR, IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

YOU'LL GET THE BEST IN DYNAMIC MODE NATURALLY, BUT WE FOUND IT A LITTLE HARSH ON THE STREET.

HERE, COMFORT OR AUTO ARE MUCH BETTER OPTIONS, AND AS IS TYPICAL WITH AUDI, ALL THREE MODES DRIVE VERY DISTINCTIVE, NOT JUST A SIMPLE HEIGHTENING THROTTLE RESPONSE OR INCREASED EXHAUST NOTE.

A PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS STANDARD ON THE A7, AND REALLY LIGHTENS THINGS UP IN THE CABIN, GIVING IT A MUCH DIFFERENT FEEL THAN THE A6.

A GREAT LAYOUT, IMPRESSIVE INTERIOR REFINEMENT, AND PLENTIFUL HIGH-TECH ARE ALSO HALLMARKS OF RECENT AUDIS.

THAT CONTINUES HERE, ALONG WITH GREAT COMFORT FOR THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS.

OF COURSE, THIS SPORTIER STYLED VERSION OF THE A6, DOES COME WITH SOME DOWNFALLS; MOSTLY LOSS OF HEADROOM FOR REAR SEATERS, BUT FOR US, IT WAS NOT A DEAL BREAKER.

AND ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR HAULING THINGS IS THE ADDED BENEFIT; 24.9 CUBIC-FEET IN THE CARGO AREA, COMPARED TO THE A6'S 13.7 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK SPACE.

A POWER OPERATED HATCH IS STANDARD.

WE'VE COMPLAINED ENOUGH ALREADY ABOUT AUDI'S NEW TOUCH RESPONSE CONTROL PANEL; SO WE'LL JUST SAY IT'S HERE AND WE'RE STILL NOT FANS.

BUT, THERE'S CERTAINLY NO ARGUING THAT THERE IS A WEALTH OF CUSTOMIZABLE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN BOTH THE UPPER 10-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, AS WELL AS IN THE DIGITAL COCKPIT, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER.

BEING A GERMAN LUXURY CAR, PLENTY OF SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE; INCLUDING AUDI PRE SENSE 360 WITH EMERGENCY BRAKING TO STOP YOU, AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE ASSISTANCE TO POTENTIALLY STEER YOU AROUND HAZARDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE, AN ACCEPTABLE 24.5 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

THAT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, BURNING 13.2 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.0 TONS.

DESPITE THE FULL REDESIGN WITH MORE STANDARD CONTENT, OWNING AN A7 WILL ACTUALLY COST YOU LESS THAN LAST YEAR AT $68,995 TO START, FOR ABOUT 10-GRAND OVER A SIMILAR FITTED A6 SEDAN.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN YOUR TYPICAL LUXURY 4-DOOR, BUT DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE HERDS OVER TO THE SUV PASTURE, THE 2019 AUDI A7 COMBINES GREAT STYLING, MOSTLY-TERRIFIC TECH, AND IMPRESSIVE ROAD MANNERS, INTO A SOMEWHAT UNIQUE ANIMAL THAT'S REALLY WORTH CONSIDERING.

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 THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300 ADDS UPDATES FOR ALL THE SENSES.

AND BRITISH TRADITION ADOPTS A POWERFUL NEW TREND, IN THE RANGE ROVER P400E.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

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