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

JOIN US AS WE DROP THE TOP ON ONE SPECIAL MID ENGINE PORSCHE... PAT GOSS GIVES US THE 411 ON TSBS DOWN AT GOSS'S GARAGE... ZACK MASKELL GOES LOW AND FAST FOR AN OPEN WHEELED OVER THE EDGE... AND LINCOLN'S NEW HIGH FLYING LUXURY UTE, THE AVIATOR...

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...

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John: WHEN THE PORSCHE BOXSTER ARRIVED FOR 1997, IT NOT ONLY BROUGHT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO THE LINEUP, BUT SOMETHING THAT PORSCHE FANS HADN'T SEEN IN SOME TIME, A MID-ENGINE ROADSTER.

SO, IT ONLY MADE SENSE THAT THEY ADDED THE LEGENDARY 718 NAME NOT LONG AGO; AND FOR 2020, THE NEWS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

* NOW, IN THE THIRD YEAR OF ITS FOURTH GENERATION, THE PORSCHE BOXSTER HAS BECOME TODAY'S PREEMINENT MID-ENGINE ROADSTER.

WELL, PORSCHE, BEING PORSCHE, CONTINUES TO REFINE THE HECK OUT OF IT, AND FOR 2020, WE GET THE MOST CAPABLE BOXSTER EVER, IN THE FORM OF THIS 718 SPYDER.

THE SPYDER NAME IS NOT NEW TO THE BOXSTER FAMILY OF COURSE, WITH EXAMPLES RELEASED IN 2011 AND 2016; NOT TO MENTION, OTHER LEGENDARY PORSCHE EXAMPLES, SUCH AS THE 550 SPYDER, WHICH INSPIRED THE BOXSTER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THIS ONE FOLLOWS MUCH THE SAME FORMULA: LESS WEIGHT; PLUS, MORE POWER; TIMES A FULL CHASSIS REVISION; EQUALS A BOXSTER THAT CAN'T BE BEAT!

THE FIRST THING WE NOTICED INSIDE IS A STEERING WHEEL THAT IS GLORIOUSLY DEVOID OF CONTROLS, POSSIBLY FROM THE BAUHAUS SCHOOL OF FUNCTIONALITY AND SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN.

THERE AREN'T EVEN PADDLE SHIFTERS.

WHY?

THAT'S BECAUSE NO PDK IS AVAILABLE, ALL SPYDERS COME WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL WITH SHORT THROW SHIFTER FROM OVER IN THE GT RACE SHOP.

SO OBVIOUSLY, THIS ONE'S FOR THE DRIVERS.

THUS, IT SHARES THE CAYMAN GT4s CHASSIS WITH SUB-FRAMES STRAIGHT OFF OF THE 911 GT3.

THAT MEANS...LIGHTWEIGHT TRACK-WORTHY STRUTS, SPRINGS, AND BALL JOINTS; AS WELL AS PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT WITH RIDE HEIGHT LOWERED BY OVER AN INCH COMPARED TO THE STANDARD 718.

WHEELS ARE LIGHTWEIGHT 20s, WITH ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE MICHELIN PILOT SPORT CUP 2 TIRES.

BRAKES ARE UPGRADED TOO, BUT YOU CAN OPT TO GO THE FULL CERAMIC COMPOSITE ROUTE AS WELL.

UPDATES TO THE FRONT BODYWORK ARE ALL ABOUT AIRFLOW, CHANNELING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR COOLING, AS WELL AS USING IT TO PUSH THE FRONT WHEELS INTO THE PAVEMENT.

IN THE INTEREST OF WEIGHT SAVINGS, THE TOP IS MANUALLY OPERATED.

IT'S A MULTI-STEP PROCESS THAT STARTS BY RELEASING THE HEADER LATCH WITH THE PRESS OF A BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE OR THE KEY FOB, FOLLOWED BY DETACHING EACH SIDE WING.

THEN, IT'S A MATTER OF LIFTING UP THE LARGE ONE-PIECE REAR DECK AND FOLDING THE TOP UNDER IT, AND CLOSING EVERYTHING UP.

THE DECK ITSELF IS SURPRISINGLY LIGHT, AND OF COURSE, FEATURES A TWIN HUMP DESIGN THAT IS AS SEXY-LOOKING AS IT IS FUNCTIONAL.

THE ACTIVE REAR SPOILER BEHIND IT, IS LARGER THAN ON THE STANDARD 718, DEPLOYING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR TO ADD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DOWNFORCE.

AND UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT, IS A NEW SINGLE-MUFFLER EXHAUST SYSTEM OPTIMIZED FOR BOTH PERFORMANCE AND AERODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY, PACKAGED IN A NEW REAR DIFFUSER.

PUSHING NOISE THROUGH THOSE PIPES IS A BEEFED-UP, NATURALLY-ASPIRATED VERSION OF THE 911 CARRERA Ss 4.0 LITER FLAT-6 WITH 414 HORSEPOWER AND 309 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

MAX TORQUE ARRIVES AT 5,000 RPM, BUT YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND YOURSELF RUNNING IT UP TO ITS 8,000 RPM MAX AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S A TRUE TREAT FOR ALL OF YOUR SENSES, AND MAKES THE ESTIMATED 4.2 SECONDS THAT PORSCHE CLAIMS FOR 0-60 A CERTAINTY.

FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE DRIVE TIME IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA, WE QUICKLY HEADED FOR THE CANYONS, AND THE TWISTIER THE ROAD GOT, THE MORE THE SPYDER FELT IN ITS ELEMENT.

IT WAS LIKE A MAGICAL FIRST DATE WHERE YOU'RE INSTANTLY IN SYNC, SKIPPING RIGHT THROUGH SMALL TALK AND GOING DIRECTLY TO MORE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION.

RIDE QUALITY IS QUITE FIRM, BUT AFTER A FULL DAY OF CANYON CARVING AND NAVIGATING L.A. FREEWAYS, WE WERE NONE THE WORSE FOR WEAR, AND WOULD SIGN UP TO DO IT AGAIN INSTANTLY.

SO, ROAD TRIPS ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION WITH BOTH FRONT AND REAR CARGO AREAS FOR A COMBINED 9.4 CUBIC-FEET; YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO ACCESS THE REAR ONE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

THESE OPTIONAL CARBON FIBER SEATS TAKE SOME EFFORT TO GET INTO, BUT ARE WAY MORE COMFORTABLE THAN YOU'D THINK.

THERE IS A HINT OF MINIMALISM INSIDE, MAINLY JUST THE PRESENCE OF THE FABRIC PULL-STRAPS FOR DOOR HANDLES.

OTHERWISE, IT'S ALL THE CREATURE COMFORTS OF A LUXURY CAR, WITH THE FEEL OF A RACE CAR.

AND PORSCHE'S CHRONO PACKAGE IS STANDARD.

YOU CAN STILL GET A 718 BOXSTER FOR AS LITTLE AS $60,950, BUT THE EXCLUSIVITY AND PERFORMANCE THAT COMES WITH THE SPYDER WILL COST YOU JUST UNDER 40 GRAND MORE, AT $97,650.

AND THE TRUTH IS, THAT BASE BOXSTER IS SO FANTASTIC, IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT UPGRADING TO THIS 2020 718 SPYDER IS A NECESSITY.

BUT IF YOU'RE SEEKING THE TYPE OF DEEP AND MEANINGFUL AUTOMOTIVE CONVERSATION THAT ONLY PORSCHE'S FINEST CAN DELIVER, THEN THIS IS THE BOXSTER FOR YOU.

* RESEARCHERS SAY, "THAT WE DO A LOT OF OUR BEST THINKING WHEN WE'RE ASLEEP."

BUT IF YOU DON'T TAKE ANY ACTION WHEN YOU WAKE UP, WELL...YOU'RE NOT REALLY CHASING YOUR DREAMS.

OUR ZACH MASKELL TENDS TO GO OVER THE EDGE WHEN HE'S CATCHING HIS Zs...LIKE DRIVING AN OPEN WHEELED RACE CAR?

WELL, ITS TIME TO WITNESS THAT DREAM COME TRUE.

* Zach Maskell: IN THE USA, MANY KNOW RACING AS NASCAR, OR THE INDIANAPOLIS 500.

FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD, IT'S MAINLY ONE LETTER.

ONE NUMBER... F1... NO FENDERS... NO WINDSHIELD... ONE SEAT... TO DRIVE AN OPEN-WHEELED F1 CAR COMPETITIVELY IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF RACING, THE WINNERS SEEN AS ROYALTY.

A TRIP TO SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA IS WHERE WE FOUND ONE DRIVER PRACTICING, DETERMINED TO STAND IN THE NUMBER ONE SPOT.

IN 2016 THE PILOT OF THIS CAR WON THE FIRST EVER F4 CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN THE U.S. TODAY, WE'RE HANGING OUT WITH 18-YEAR-OLD, CAMERON DAS.

THE ROAD TO F1 IS LONG, EXPENSIVE, AND CONTAINS PLENTY OF OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY, WITH NO GUARANTEE OF EVER SECURING A SEAT.

A TYPICAL ROUTE STARTS WITH KARTING, MOVING TO F4, FOLLOWED BY F3, THEN 2 AND FINALLY F1, WITH EACH PROGRESSION ADDING RACE INTENSITY.

AND FRESH OFF A FLIGHT FROM THE U.K., CAMERON WHERE ARE YOU RACING NOW?

Cameron Das: I'M RACING IN EURO FORMULA OPEN F3 IN EUROPE.

IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING SEASON AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

Zach: MANY YOUNG RACERS GET THEIR START IN KARTS AROUND AGE 8.

CAMERON DIDN'T START UNTIL 15.

TWO YEARS LATER HE FINISHED TOP 5 IN BRITISH F3.

STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, PLANNING TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY AFTER GRADUATION... CAMERON SAYS, "PROFESSIONAL RACE DRIVERS NEED TO DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS."

ON THE SIDE, HE'S ALSO DEVELOPING A WEB SERIES WHERE HE PREDICTS FUTURE CLASSIC CARS.

Zach: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TAKE THIS THING AROUND TURNS?

Cameron: WELL, THIS CAR'S OBVIOUSLY, A LOT LIGHTER THAN A STREET CAR.

AND WE'RE RUNNING ON SLICK TIRES, SO EVERYTHING HAPPENS, SO MUCH FASTER.

WHEN THE CAR BREAKS LOOSE, IT BREAKS LOOSE ALL AT ONCE.

AND VERY QUICKLY.

REACTION TIMES HAVE TO BE SO MUCH HIGHER.

YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITY HAS TO BE A LOT HIGHER.

Zach: POWERED BY HONDA, 2018 IS THE FIRST F3 AMERICAS SERIES.

THESE CIVIC TYPE R ENGINES ARE SHELLING OUT 270 HORSEPOWER, THE CAR WEIGHING 1400 POUNDS.

NO POWER STEERING, NO ABS, NO TRACTION CONTROL.

THE MOOD WAS TENSE.

AN OUTSIDER, HOPPING INTO A FULL-FLEDGED RACE TEAM'S BABY.

MY EXTREMITIES...SHAKING, BRAIN...ON OVERDRIVE.

ALRIGHT, I'VE GOT USE THE CLUTCH HERE TO GET ME OUT OF FIRST GEAR, FROM THEN ON, I'M ONLY USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS.

AND, [LAUGHS] LET'S GO BABY!!!

I DID NOT STALL IT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE... WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START!!

THIS CAR COSTS OVER $120,000 AND IT'S ONE OF ONLY A FEW OF F3 AMERICAS PRACTICE CARS...

IF I WRECK THIS THING TODAY, I'M GOING INTO HIDING AND WILL I NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

IT IS JUST WARP SPEED INSTANTLY.

OH, I'M GOING TO GET USED TO THIS QUICKLY.

I MEAN, I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS REAL LIFE.

I FEEL LIKE, I AM IN A DRIVING SIMULATOR.

I NOTICED VERY QUICKLY ON TURN ONE, I'M USING MY WRISTS TO STEER HERE, I'M NOT USING MY WHOLE ARMS, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR THAT TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.

AAAHHH...HA...HA, ABSOLUTELY BONKERS.

UNBELIEVABLE.

BY FAR THE CRAZIEST THING I'VE EVER DRIVEN.

PROBABLY, THE CRAZIEST THING, I EVER WILL DRIVE.

IT'S RAW, IT'S WILD, AND IT'S CONFUSING, BECAUSE IT DOES EVERYTHING YOU WANT IT TO DO.

YOU ARE SO CONNECTED TO THE GROUND.

NO TRACTION CONTROL.

YOU FEEL THE AIR COMING ACROSS THE HILLS, AND MOVING YOU LEFT AND RIGHT.

NUTS.

BUT, I'M JUST STARTING.

SO PLEASE, DON'T EVER WAKE ME UP.

John: NEW CARS ARRIVE ALMOST DAILY AROUND HERE, SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S HEADED OUR WAY NEXT.

* WHILE, IT MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE, THE FULL-SIZE TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 20 YEARS NOW.

AND WHILE, SALES ARE STILL A FAR CRY FROM THE BIG-THREE, IT IS BUILT IN AMERICA.

AND, THE TUNDRA HAS CERTAINLY GAINED FANS OVER THE YEARS, AS TOYOTA CONTINUES TO MAKE UPGRADES TO INCREASE ITS APPEAL, AS IN THIS 2020 TOYOTA TUNDRA TRD PRO.

GRANTED, MOST OF THE UPGRADES HERE ARE TECH RELATED, AS ALL TUNDRA'S GET IMPROVED INFOTAINMENT, WITH APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO CAPABILITY, ON EITHER A 7.0 OR 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN, DEPENDING ON TRIM.

BUYERS THAT LIKE THE LOOK AND INCREASED CAPABILITY OF THIS TRD PROCREWMAX, BUT WANT TO TAKE UP LESS REAL ESTATE, WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOW AVAILABLE ON DOUBLE CAB MODELS AS WELL.

THAT'S PART OF A SLIGHT TRIM RESTRUCTURING THAT ALSO SEES EXPANDED AVAILABILITY OF THE SX PACKAGE.

AND FINALLY, THE BASE 4.6 LITER V8 ENGINE IS NO MORE; ALL TUNDRA'S WILL NOW COME STANDARD WITH THE 5.7 LITER V8, TO THE TUNE OF 381 HORSEPOWER, ENOUGH TO PULL UP TO 10,200 POUNDS WITH THE STANDARD TOW HITCH.

TOYOTA TUNDRA PRICING STARTS AT AROUND $35,000, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT MORE LIKE $55,000 FOR A TRD PRO CREWMAX.

Greg Carloss: WHILE, MUCH ADO WAS MADE ABOUT THE REDESIGNED 8TH GENERATION HYUNDAI SONATA'S ABILITY TO SMART PARK ITSELF WHEN IT WAS RELEASED LAST YEAR, THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY ENJOY DRIVING, WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HYBRID VERSION.

THE 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID NOT ONLY OFFERS BEST-IN-CLASS HIGHWAY FUEL ECONOMY OF UP TO 54 MPGs, BUT CAN GET AS MANY AS 686 MILES ON A TANK OF GAS.

A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.0 LITER I4 COMBINES WITH A 39-KW ELECTRIC MOTOR TO PROVIDE 192 TOTAL HORSEPOWER.

A BIT LESS THAN THE TOYOTA CAMRY AND HONDA ACCORD HYBRIDS, BUT BEATING THEM AT FUEL ECONOMY WAS HYUNDAI'S PRIORITY.

AS BEFORE, IT WORKS THROUGH A TRUE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NOT A CVT; AND NEW ACTIVE SHIFT CONTROL TECHNOLOGY WORKS WITH THE HYBRID CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE FASTER SHIFTS, AS WELL AS UTILIZE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR'S POWER BETTER, TO CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF SHIFTS IT MAKES.

Brian Robinson: THE FACT THAT IT HAS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL BUT FOR ME IT JUST PROVIDES A MUCH BETTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND MAKES UP FOR ANY LACK OF HORSEPOWER IT MAY HAVE COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.

Greg: AERO TREATMENTS APPLIED TO THE FRONT BUMPER, AROUND THE WHEELS, AND ON THE DECK-LID SPOILER; HELP THE SONATA HYBRID GLIDE THROUGH THE AIR MORE EFFICIENTLY.

WHILE, THE SOLAR-PANEL ROOF SERVES DUAL PURPOSES, ADDING ABOUT TWO MILES OF CHARGE PER DAY, AND GIVING YOU SOMETHING TO SHOW OFF TO YOUR NEIGHBOR.

NOT MUCH CHANGES INSIDE THE CABIN EXCEPT FOR THE TYPICAL HYBRID DISPLAYS; THOUGH INCREASED SOUND DEADENING HAS BEEN APPLIED TO KEEP NOISE LEVELS DOWN.

John: I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE 2020 SONATA HYBRID DIDN'T SACRIFICE STYLING AND LOOKS FOR EFFICIENCY.

IF ANYTHING, I THINK, THE ADDITION OF THE ACTIVE LOUVER EGG CRATE GRILL GIVES IT A MORE FORMAL AND I THINK A BETTER APPEARANCE.

I ALSO LIKE, THE FACT THAT THE FRONT FASCIA IS A LITTLE LESS AGGRESSIVE.

AND THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB OF INTEGRATING THE CHARCOAL CHARGER SOLAR PANELS INTO THE ROOF.

BUT DON'T ASK FOR A SUNROOF AS WELL.

Greg: WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID WHEN WE RETURN TO OUR NORMAL SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES INSIDE CARS.

UNTIL THEN, STAY SAFE, AND KEEP IT LOCKED ON MOTORWEEK .

John: TIME TO MINE FOR SOME CAR CARE GOLD DOWN AT GOSS'S GARAGE.

LET'S SEE WHAT NUGGETS OF WISDOM PAT HAS FOR US THIS WEEK.

* Pat Goss: YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT SAID THAT IT'S A CHANGING WORLD.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO AUTOMOBILES.

NOW, IN THE PAST I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT FOR EMERGENCIES AND SO ON YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A FULLY CHARGED CELL PHONE IN THE CAR.

BUT NOW, WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU SHOULD BE USING YOUR CELL PHONE FOR.

THAT IS TO RECORD VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CAR.

SPECIFICALLY, THE VIN; VEHICLE INFORMATION NUMBER WHICH IS RIGHT HERE IN THE WINDSHIELD.

TAKE A PICTURE OF IT, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A LEGIBLE PICTURE.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO TELL YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE OR IF YOU HAVE TO BUY PARTS FOR IT.

NOW, AGAIN WITH THE CELL PHONE.

GO INSIDE THE DRIVER'S DOOR OR THE FUEL FILLER CAP, YOU WILL FIND A DECAL THAT GIVES YOU PRODUCTION DATE, AND TIRE PRESSURE, AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHTS, AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT.

SO THAT YOU HAVE IT RECORDED IN YOUR PHONE, AGAIN, FOR SERVICE AND PARTS PURCHASING.

SO, IT CAN REALLY SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME.

NOW, ANOTHER THING THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS THE CAR'S GOT PROBLEMS.

AND THAT MEANS THERE MIGHT BE RECALLS AND THERE MAY BE TSBs.

TSBs; TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN.

THEY'RE NOT THE SAME THING.

A RECALL IS WHERE THE MANUFACTURER OR SOMEBODY HAS FOUND A SAFETY DEFECT AND THEY ARE GOING TO RECALL THE CAR, THEY'RE GOING TO FIX IT FOR YOU.

IT'S TYPICALLY, GOING TO BE FREE OF CHARGE.

TSB IS WHERE THE MANUFACTURER OR A COLLECTION OF TECHNICIANS HAVE FOUND THE ANSWER TO A COMMON PROBLEM.

AND THEY PUBLISH THAT ANSWER.

NOW, SAY THAT YOU HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT MIGHT TAKE FIVE HOURS TO DIAGNOSE, YET, THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT TAKES FIVE MINUTES TO LOOK UP.

WELL, THAT FIVE MINUTES COULD SAVE FIVE HOURS WORTH OF DIAGNOSTIC TIME.

SO, HERE'S THE RULE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE ARE AND BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR CAR IN FOR REPAIRS, MAKE SURE THE SHOP IS GOING TO LOOK ON SITES LIKE THE SAFER CARS SITE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO GET THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND THE RECALLS FOR YOUR CAR.

COULD SAVE YOU AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

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

* Greg: IT MAY BE THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR LONG-TERM FLEET, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE THIS 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON LONG TO MAKE SOME GOOD IMPRESSIONS.

EARLY COMMENTS FROM BYSTANDERS, MOSTLY REVOLVE AROUND THE SPORTY COUPE-LIKE STYLING, WHILE DRIVERS ARE RAVING ABOUT THE 268 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO.

THOUGH, ONLY HERE A FEW WEEKS, WE'VE RACKED UP A QUICK 1,500 MILES, AND HAVE FOUND THE ARTEON A WILLING DANCE PARTNER, BOTH FOR ROCKIN' DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR TWIRLING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC.

RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX IN THE NORMAL DRIVE MODE, THE ARTEON IS COMFORTABLE AND RESPONSIVE.

BUT AS WE SPEND MORE TIME WITH IT, SPORT MODE SEEMS TO BE OUR DEFAULT SETTING.

IT'S SHARP AND THROTTLE RESPONSE AND IT'S JUST MORE ENGAGING TO DRIVE.

PLUS, WE LOVE THE FACT THAT ONCE YOU'VE SET A DRIVE MODE, IT STAYS IN THAT SETTING EVEN AFTER YOU START IT UP.

WHILE, THINGS ARE NOT QUITE TO AUDI LEVELS INSIDE, IT'S CLEARLY THE BEST OF WHAT VW HAS TO OFFER; INCLUDING NICE MATERIALS AND EASY TO USE TECH.

LOOKS LIKE, IT'S GOING TO BE ONE SMOOTH AND STYLISH SUMMER.

WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT OUR 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT WE HAVEN'T SAID ALREADY?

WELL...ONE THING, WE'VE NEGLECTED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS TO THIS POINT IS THE ALTIMA'S HANDLING PROWESS.

NISSAN MADE BIG CHANGES FOR THIS 6TH GENERATION ALTIMA; RE-ENGINEERING SUSPENSION GEOMETRY TO IMPROVE STEERING FEEDBACK, ADDING MONOTUBE SHOCKS TO DELIVER A MUCH MORE COMPOSED RIDE, AND STIFFENING EVERYTHING UP TO HEIGHTEN OVERALL RESPONSE.

THAT'S ALL IN ADDITION TO MAKING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE MOST DYNAMIC ALTIMA YET, AND THE KIND OF SEDAN THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO SEEK OUT THE BACK ROADS INSTEAD OF JUST HITTING THE HIGHWAY.

MILEAGE FROM THE 2.5 LITER I4 HAS DIPPED A LITTLE FROM OUR LAST REPORT, TO A STILL GOOD 29.1 MILES PER GALLON.

WE ARE NINE MONTHS INTO THIS YEAR-LONG TEST DRIVE, AND HAVE TRAVELED 14,000 MILES SO FAR.

WHETHER, YOU'RE TALKING THIS ALTIMA, OR THE RECENTLY REVITALIZED SENTRA, NISSAN HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SEDANS GREAT AGAIN, AND THEY'VE CERTAINLY EARNED OUR VOTE.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR PORSCHE MACAN AND HYUNDAI PALISADE CROSSOVERS, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

John: DESPITE OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF UTILITIES OVER THE YEARS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FULL-SIZE NAVIGATOR, RECENT LINCOLN'S HAVE LARGELY FLOWN UNDER THE RADAR FOR LUXURY SUV BUYERS.

SO NOW, LINCOLN IS MAKING A BIG PUSH TO CHANGE THAT.

FOLLOWING THE JUST REVAMPED TWO-ROW NAUTILIS, IS AN ALL-NEW THREE-ROW AVIATOR.

CAN IT BECOME A LEADER IN ITS SEGMENT?

OR DOES LINCOLN JUST HAVE THEIR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS?

* WHILE, THE 2020 LINCOLN AVIATOR IS ALL-NEW, THE CONCEPT ISN'T.

MUCH LIKE, THE PREVIOUS 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR THAT LASTED FOR JUST THREE SHORT YEARS, IT IS BASICALLY, A LINCOLN VERSION OF THE FORD EXPLORER.

NOW, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

FOR STARTERS, THE EXPLORER HAS JUST GONE THROUGH A WHEELS-UP REDESIGN, BUILT ON COMPLETELY NEW ARCHITECTURE THAT RETURNS TO REAR-WHEEL DRIVE.

SECONDLY, LINCOLN HAS TAKEN MAJOR STRIDES TO ENSURE THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU SEE, FEEL, AND TOUCH; IS AN UPGRADE OVER WHAT YOU'LL FIND OVER ON THE FORD SIDE.

THAT STARTS UNDER THE HOOD, WHERE THE BASE ENGINE PICKS UP WITH THE EXPLORER LEAVES OFF, THE 400 HORSEPOWER TWIN-TURBO 3.0 LITER V6.

IT COMES WITH A 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION AND OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THEN, THINGS GET REALLY INTERESTING WITH A COMBO PLATTER NOT FOUND ON ANY OTHER FORD MENU; A PLUG-IN HYBRID THAT'S BASED ON THE SAME TWIN-TURBO 6.

AND, WITH THE HELP OF A 75KW ELECTRIC MOTOR, CRANKS OUT 494 HORSEPOWER WITH A WHOPPING 630 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'LL GET THIS AVIATOR AIRBORNE IN A REAL HURRY!

IT'S IN THE APPLY NAMED GRAND TOURING VERSION OF THE AVIATOR AND ALSO COMES WITH A 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, BUT HAS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE STANDARD.

THREE ROWS OF SEATING ARE INCLUDED IN EVERY AVIATOR, WITH ALL EXCEPT THE BASE MODEL SPORTING STANDARD CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS FOR 6-PASSENGER CAPACITY.

IF YOU PREFER A BENCH SEAT FOR YOUR BROOD, IT'S A NO COST OPTION.

UP FRONT, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BLENDING OF TECHNOLOGY WITH USEFULNESS, WITH A STANDARD 10-INCH TOUCH SCREEN BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

YOU CAN EVEN USE YOUR PHONE AS THE KEY TO PUT THINGS IN MOTION.

MATERIALS, AS WELL AS FIT-AND-FINISH, ARE TOP NOTCH.

AS IS AVAILABLE ADVANCED SAFETY WITH BLIND SPOT DETECTION, CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, AND EMERGENCY BRAKING STANDARD.

LINCOLN PAID EXTRA ATTENTION TO THE TWO THINGS YOU'LL TOUCH MOST; THE BEAUTIFUL AND HIGHLY-FUNCTIONAL STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PIANO KEY-LIKE TOGGLES FOR GEAR SELECTION.

THE FRONT SEATS HUG YOU A LITTLE TIGHTER THAN EXPECTED, BUT THEY FELT JUST RIGHT AFTER A FEW HOURS.

THERE IS SOME FAMILIARITY TO THE EXPLORER ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT MUCH LIKE THE EDGE-BASED NAUTILUS, YOU KNOW THEY'RE IN THE SAME FAMILY, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

DRIVING IN WHERE ELSE NAPA VALLEY, WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME ABOARD THE GRAND TOURING PHEV.

WITH ALL OF THAT POWER ON TAP, WE WERE EXPECTING A MORE BRUTISH DELIVERY, BUT CLEARLY LINCOLN HAS DESIGNED IT TO FEEL MORE EFFORTLESS THAN AGGRESSIVE.

IT'S ALMOST REMINISCENT OF A BENTLEY, WITH BIG SMOOTH POWER THAT NEVER SEEMS TO RUN OUT OR OVERWHELM.

AS FOR MORE UTILITARIAN MATTERS, CARGO ROOM BEHIND THE THIRD ROW IS A GOOD 18.3 CUBIC-FEET, FOLDING IT, EXPANDS THE SPACE TO 41.8 CUBIC-FEET, MAXING OUT AT 77.7 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME IN THE HYBRID, BUT, THERE IS LESS FUEL CAPACITY, DUE TO THE BATTERIES TAKING UP SOME OF THE FUEL TANK'S REAL ESTATE.

THAT ALSO KEEPS MAXIMUM RANGE TO AROUND 400 MILES.

AVIATOR PRICING STARTS REASONABLY AT $52,195; GRAND TOURING, AT $69,895.

IT'S A SAFE BET THAT THIS NEW-GEN, 2020 LINCOLN AVIATOR WILL BE IN SERVICE A LOT LONGER THAN THREE-YEARS.

NOT ONLY ARE LARGE SUVs IN HIGH DEMAND ONCE AGAIN, BUT LINCOLN IS FINALLY DELIVERING WHAT BUYERS IN ITS PREMIUM THREE-ROW SEGMENT WANT; AN HONEST LUXURY EXPERIENCE, COMBINED WITH LOADS OF POWER, AND AN UNDENIABLE PRESENCE.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, AND COMPLETE EPISODES, HEAD ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME... FOR A SMALL MAZDA CROSSOVER THAT DELIVERS LARGE, THE CX30.

AND DAILY DRIVING GETS MORE INTERESTING IN THE ALL NEW TOYOTA COROLLA.

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

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