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

JOIN US AS WE TEST A TRIO OF GERMAN SPORTS CARS ON A TRIO OF OUR FAVORITE TRACKS, FROM SUMMIT POINT, TO DOMINION, TO ROEBLING ROAD... THEN, IT'S PAT GOSS WITH THE LOWDOWN ON REMOVING RUST THE RIGHT WAY... AND STEPHANIE HART HEADS TO DAYTONA FOR A TOUR OF RACING LEGENDS...

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.

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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: NOW, HERE'S A QUESTION: HOW NEW IS NEW?

IT'S ACTUALLY A CONSTANT DEBATE AROUND THE CAR BIZ, AND OUR SHOP, WHEN IT COMES TO PORSCHE'S ICONIC 911.

OVER 55 YEARS AND SEVEN GENERATIONS, EACH NEW 911 ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE REFINED, MORE THAN REBORN.

AND HERE WE ARE WITH THE EIGHTH GEN 911 READY FOR THE ROAD.

SO, IS IT JUST ANOTHER NOTCH UPWARD, OR HAS THE WORLD'S QUINTESSENTIAL SPORTS CAR ACHIEVED A NEW LEVEL OF NEW.

* WHILE, THE "HOW NEW IS NEW" DEBATE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS THERE'S A 911, OR AT LEAST UNTIL AN ALL-ELECTRIC ONE SHOWS UP.

PORSCHE...AT LEAST, THINKS THIS 2020 911 IS "NEW" ENOUGH TO DEPLOY A NEW 992 NOMENCLATURE, EVEN THOUGH THE BASIC PLATFORM IS LARGELY CARRYOVER FROM THE 991.

THERE IS NOTHING DRASTIC ABOUT THIS 911 CHANGE; NO SWITCHING FROM AIR-COOLED TO WATER-COOLED.

BUT, THERE IS A LOT NEW ABOUT THE REAR MOUNTED FLAT-6 POWERTRAIN INCLUDING NEW TWIN-TURBOS, INTERCOOLERS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS.

TURBOS ARE LARGER, SO COMPRESSION IS HIGHER.

TWENTY-THREE ADDED HORSEPOWER UPS THE TOTAL TO 443, WITH 390 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A PDK WITH EIGHT TIGHTLY SPACED GEARS IS NEW TO THE 911; TAKEN FROM THE PANAMERA, WITH A NEW SHIFTER THAT REMINDS US OF AN OLD-STYLE MICROPHONE.

NO MANUAL AT LAUNCH, BUT A 7-SPEED GEARBOX WILL COME.

LIKEWISE, A HYBRID VERSION ARRIVES NOT TOO FAR INTO THE 992 LIFECYCLE.

FOR NOW, JUST 2-MODELS, OUR CARRERA S, AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CARRERA 4S.

BUT CONVERTIBLE AND BASE CARRERA MODELS ARE IN THE WINGS.

YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION IS THAT STYLING HAS EVOLVED LITTLE.

MAYBE, BUT IT HAS CHANGED ENOUGH FOR US TO USE THE WORLD "BEAUTIFUL" FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A 911 ROAD TEST IN LIKE, FOREVER.

LIKE, EVERY PREVIOUS 911 GEN, THE NEW CAR DOES GROW IN SIZE, WITH WIDER FRONT AND REAR TRACKS.

STANDARD WHEEL SETS ARE NOW 20s UP FRONT, 21s IN REAR.

REAR TIRES ARE THE WIDEST EVER ON A STANDARD 911, 305s; YIKES, THAT'S A LOT OF RUBBER HITTING THE PAVEMENT.

ENSURING THEY'RE PLANTED INTO THE PAVEMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, A LARGER REAR SPOILER IS IN PLACE.

BUT, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THIS ACTIVE SPOILER'S TRICKS; IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING DOWNFORCE, IT ALSO CHANNELS AIR INTO THE UPDATED ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, AS WELL AS HAVING AN ECO-POSITION TO REDUCE DRAG.

WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING, MANY PORSCHEPHILES MIGHT CLAIM THAT THEIR 19-WHATEVER IS BETTER, AND THEY'D BE WRONG.

THIS 992 IS SUPERIOR BY EVERY MEASURABLE CATEGORY, AND A FEW THAT AREN'T MEASURABLE.

STEERING HAS BEEN QUICKENED TO RAZOR SHARP LEVELS, AND YOU CAN ENGAGE THE REARS IN THE PROCESS OPTIONALLY, AS WELL.

FAMILIAR MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT, WITH A MULTI-LINK REAR, BUT DAMPERS ARE NEW, AND OF COURSE, THE PASM ACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THEM HAS BEEN UPGRADED.

YOU CAN TALK SPECS AND DIFFERENCES ALL DAY LONG, BUT THE FACT THAT THIS 911 IS JUST PURE BLISS ON A WINDING ROAD IS WHAT MATTERS MOST TO US.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL ALSO APPRECIATE THE NEW AND FAR MORE MODERN 2+2 INTERIOR.

BESIDES THE BIG DASH TOUCHSCREEN, ALSO LIFTED FROM THE PANAMERA, WE WERE SURPRISINGLY QUITE FOND OF THE MOSTLY DIGITAL GAUGE PACKAGE.

MOSTLY, AS PORSCHE PROPERLY KEPT A REAL NEEDLE AND DIAL FOR THE CENTER TACH.

CLASSIC 911 TOUCHES LIKE A LEFT HAND STARTER SWITCH, AND MANUAL FORE-AFT SEAT ADJUSTMENTS REMAIN.

WE FOUND THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE WAS MORE FUN, AND NOTICEABLY IMPROVED, ON THE SUMMIT POINT CIRCUIT AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK.

WE SPENT A FULL DAY THERE TRYING TO FIND LIMITS OF GRIP.

WITH DRIVE MODE IN SPORT PLUS, STEERING RESPONSE IS IMMEDIATE, WITH EXCELLENT FEEDBACK.

PLENTIFUL TORQUE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES TO PUSH YOU THROUGH CORNERS, WITH NO NOTICEABLE TURBO LAG.

PLENTY OF BRAKING POWER AS WELL, WHETHER YOU UPGRADE TO CARBON CERAMICS OR NOT.

OUR REAR-DRIVE CARRERA S DID NOT HAVE THEM, BUT WE DID HAVE THE UPGRADED SPORT SUSPENSION WHICH LOWERS THINGS ABOUT 10MM.

THE NEW PDK WORKS GREAT AS ALWAYS, PROVIDING RAPID SHIFTS RIGHT AT RED-LINE.

AND JUST LIKE THAT, THIS JOY RIDE'S COME TO AN END.

LITTLE TIME LEFT TO TELL YOU ABOUT 3.0 SECOND 0-60s, THANKS TO BRUTAL PDK LAUNCHES, OR 11.3 SECOND QUARTER MILES AT 124 MILES PER HOUR.

THE BASE CARRERA, WHEN IT ARRIVES, WILL START AT $98,750; YES, A BASE 911 IS NOW PUSHING SIX-FIGURES.

THIS CARRERA S BEGINS AT $114,650, AND THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE C4S GOES FOR $121,950.

SO, JUST HOW NEW?

WE SAY, NEW ENOUGH TO BE NEW!

BOTH IN HARDWARE AND IN SPIRIT.

THINK OF THE 992 AS A MODERN MASTERPIECE WHERE ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN CHIPPING AWAY THE 911 STONE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

PORSCHE, BEING PORSCHE, WILL STEADILY UNVEIL A VIRTUALLY LIMITLESS NUMBER OF VARIATIONS ON THIS THEME OVER THE NEXT 6-7 YEARS, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT; AS THIS 2020 CARRERA S, IS PURE PERFECTION.

* ON THE BUCKET LIST FOR MANY CAR ENTHUSIASTS IS TO DRIVE THEIR FAVORITE MUSCLE CAR ON HALLOWED SANDS OF DAYTONA BEACH.

AFTER ALL, IT'S WHERE STOCK CAR RACING GOT ITS START OVER A CENTURY AGO.

WELL TODAY, THAT LOVE OF SPEED CONTINUES, JUST OFF THE BEACH, AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY'S MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA.

OUR STEPHANIE HART TAKES US INSIDE THIS FAST PACED MUSEUM THAT HONORS THE GREATS IN MOTORSPORTS OF ALL TYPES.

* Stephanie Hart: WE'RE HERE IN DAYTONA BEACH CRUISING THE STRIP IN OUR CANDY APPLE RED FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE.

I MEAN, WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THIS?

* BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, YOU GOT TO DO IT RIGHT, THAT MEANS TURNING OFF A1A AND HEADING TOWARDS THE BEACH WITH OUR CONVERTIBLE.

* TWENTY-THREE MILES OF WHITE SAND BEACH TO EXPLORE.

YOU CAN SMELL THE OCEAN BREEZE, THE WIND IN YOUR HAIR, THIS IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

* TODAY, YOU CAN'T GO OVER 10 MPH ON THE BEACH OR LIFEGUARDS WILL ACTUALLY PULL YOU OVER, BUT BACK IN THE 1920s THERE WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY PEOPLE RACED ON THIS BEACH, THEY RACED STOCK CARS.

IT WAS REALLY POPULAR, IT WAS THE IN THING TO DO BACK THEN.

HISTORICAL MARKERS TELL THE STORY...

WHEN THERE WERE FEW PAVED ROADS AND DAYTONA'S HARD SAND WAS USED AS A RACECOURSE.

SPEED AND SUNSHINE COLLIDED HERE.

AND LEGENDS WERE BORN.

THOSE HEROES OF HORSEPOWER ARE HONORED TODAY AT THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY.

THIS 1935 VINTAGE BLUE BIRD LAND SPEED RECORD CAR IS A MAIN ATTRACTION.

BUILT BY BRITISH RACER, JOURNALIST, AND HALL OF FAME MEMBER SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL, IT TOOK TO DAYTONA BEACH WITH AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE UNDER ITS HOOD.

Ron Watson: IT'S A ROLLS ROYCE MERLIN ENGINE FROM A SPITFIRE AIRPLANE.

Stephanie: IT LITERALLY FLEW NEARLY 277 MILES PER HOUR.

AND LATER THAT SAME YEAR AT THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS IT WAS THE FIRST CAR TO GO OVER 300 MILES PER HOUR.

WHEN DAYTONA-BREED STOCK CAR RACING AND NASCAR WERE STILL IN THEIR INFANCY, MOST OF THE BRAGGING RIGHTS WENT TO THE HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY.

THEIR HORNETS DOMINATED THE SPORT, THANKS IN PART TO ITS LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY.

Ron: SOMEBODY ALWAYS HAS AN ADVANTAGE BY HAVING ONE LITTLE THING BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT THEIR TIME LASTED ABOUT THREE YEARS IN THE EARLY '50s, BUT THEY WERE TOTALLY DOMINANT.

AND REINCARNATED LATER IN THE MOVIE "CARS" IN THE CHARACTER "DOC HUDSON" THAT WAS VOICED BY PAUL NEWMAN.

Stephanie: THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA WAS FOUNDED IN 1989.

IT MOVED FROM MICHIGAN TO ITS NOW PERMANENT FLORIDA HOME AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY IN 2017.

UPWARDS OF 110,000 FANS OF SPEED VISIT EACH YEAR.

THE HALL OF FAME HAS MORE THAN 200 INDUCTEES, COVERING ALL STYLES OF MOTORSPORTS.

Ron: I THINK RACING IS IN THE BLOOD, ESPECIALLY OF AMERICANS.

AND SO, THIS HALL OF FAME WAS FOUNDED TO CELEBRATE THAT SPIRIT OF COMPETITION IN ALL OF US.

Stephanie: THERE ARE ALSO, TWO DALE EARNHARDT STOCK CARS HERE, ONE FROM EARLY IN HIS CAREER THE WRANGLER #2 AND THEN THE FAMOUS GOODWRENCH #3 CHEVROLET.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FAST CARS, ANYTHING WITH A MOTOR IN IT THAT COMPETES IS WELCOME.

THAT INCLUDES MOTORCYCLES, POWERBOATING AND AVIATION.

Ron: GENERAL JIMMY DOLITTLE WHO LATER BECAME A WAR HERO WAS AN AIR RACER, ROSCOE TURNER, AND AMELIA EARHART.

THESE PEOPLE WERE OBVIOUSLY HOUSEHOLD NAMES.

YOU WOULD SEE ROSCOE TURNER'S NAME ON THE SPORTS PAGE NEXT TO BABE RUTH WHEN AVIATION WAS IN ITS HEY-DAY, AND SO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF HISTORY THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REMEMBER.

THERE'S SOME KIND OF AIR RACING GOING ON NOW BUT NOT LIKE IT WAS IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF AVIATION, SO I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY UNIQUE.

Stephanie: THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE, CAPTURING THAT TIMELESS SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.

THE CAR CULTURE IS RICH HERE, WHETHER YOU THE VISIT THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA OR CRUISE DOWN THE BEACH WITH THE TOP DOWN.

THERE'S NO DENYING THE AUTOMOBILE PUT DAYTONA BEACH ON THE MAP.

John: OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MERCEDES-BENZ HAS AGGRESSIVELY EXPANDED THEIR LINEUP HERE IN THE U.S.

ADDING NEW LEVELS OF UTILITIES AND ENTRY-LEVEL MODELS.

BUT WITH THAT THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE HIGH PERFORMANCE SIDE OF MOTORING THINGS HASN'T WAVERED ONE BIT, EVIDENCED BY AN UPDATED AMG GT R. SO, LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT IF AMG'S 2-DOOR TERROR IS A TRICK OR A TREAT.

* IT WAS JUST TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE MERCEDES-AMG GT R ARRIVED TO TAKE THEIR GT COUPE TO HIGHER LEVELS OF ROAD PROWESS THAN EVER BEFORE.

WELL, AFTER RECENTLY LAUNCHING AN ALL-NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE 4-DOOR COUPE, AMG ENGINEERS APPARENTLY HAD SOME TIME LEFT ON THEIR HANDS TO MAKE SOME UPDATES TO THE 2020 GT R. NOW, IT WILL TAKE A KEEN EYE TO PICK UP ON THE VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS, AS THEY'RE VERY MINOR; JUST NEW HEADLIGHTS AND REVISED TAIL LIGHTS.

INSIDE, THE CENTER STACK HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH A NEW TOUCHSCREEN ON TOP OF THE DASH; WHILE CONTROL PANELS ON THE CONSOLE GET UPGRADED FROM BACKLIT BUTTONS TO INDIVIDUAL TOUCH-SENSITIVE TFT DISPLAY BUTTONS.

THE BIGGEST UPDATE, AND WHY WE'VE COME TO DOMINION RACEWAY IN THORNBURG, VIRGINIA IS NEW AMG DYNAMICS.

BASICALLY, A NEW LEVEL FOR DYNAMIC SELECT DRIVE MODES; AMG DYNAMICS CAN FURTHER ENHANCE THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THROUGH STABILITY CONTROL, POWER ALLOCATION, AND STEERING CHARACTERISTICS OVER FOUR NEW SETTINGS, BASED ON WHICH DRIVE MODE IS SELECTED.

BASIC IS FOR SLIPPERY AND COMFORT MODES, WITH INTERVENTION ARRIVING EARLY AND OFTEN, AND DRIVER SAFETY PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

ADVANCED IS AVAILABLE IN SPORT MODE, AND HEIGHTENS CHASSIS AND STEERING RESPONSE; A PERFECT SETUP FOR WINDING BACK ROADS.

PRO IS FOUND IN SPORT+ MODE; HERE, THE CAR ANTICIPATES CORNERING LOADS AND AVAILABLE TRACTION, AND DIVERTS MAXIMUM POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL THAT CAN USE IT MOST.

MASTER IS AVAILABLE IN RACE MODE; AMG NOW GIVES YOU AS NEUTRAL A SETUP AS POSSIBLE FOR A STREET CAR, WITH EXTREMELY HEIGHTENED STEERING RESPONSE.

SO, CAREFUL, YOU MIGHT GET SPOOKED!

GETTING THE EASY STUFF OUT OF THE WAY FIRST; REGARDLESS OF SETTINGS, THIS CAR IS VERY FAST AND SOUNDS VERY AWESOME.

THE GT R COUPE MAY FEEL TIGHT AND A TAD HYPER ON THE STREET; BUT ON A TRACK, IT FEELS PERFECTLY AT HOME.

SUSPENSION TRAVEL IS MINIMAL, SO YOU DO GET BOUNCED AROUND; BUT LIKE A TRUE RACE CAR, THE FASTER YOU GO, THE MORE THINGS SMOOTH OUT.

AS BEFORE, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF HOOD IN FRONT OF YOU, AND IT TAKES A FEW LAPS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE, BUT ONCE YOU'VE GOT THE FEEL OF IT, EVERYTHING IS POINT-AND-SHOOT SIMPLE.

IT WOULD BE VERY REMISS OF US TO NEGLECT WHAT'S UNDER THAT LONG HOOD, A 4.0 LITER TURBO CHARGED PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE BRILLIANCE.

NO CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR, AND NONE WERE REALLY NECESSARY; AS THIS V8 POURS OUT 577 HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT POWER GOES STRICTLY TO THE REAR WHEELS OF COURSE, AND BACK THERE, FOR BALANCE, YOU'LL FIND A REAR-MOUNTED 7-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION AS WELL.

THERE ARE THE USUAL TRICK PADDLE SHIFTERS, BUT WE FOUND THEM A LITTLE SLOW TO RESPOND.

THE CAR DOES SO WELL ALL ON ITS OWN HOWEVER; WE GOT THE BEST RESULTS BY JUST LEAVING IT IN AUTO.

DON'T KNOCK IT 'TIL YOU'VE TRIED IT.

YOU CAN FIND SOME OVERSTEER, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THIS CAR JUST WANTS TO GRIP AND RIP.

THE WHOLE TIME THAT YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THIS, YOU'LL BE GRIPPING A NEW STEERING WHEEL THAT'S HEAVILY CONTOURED AND FEELS GREAT TO THE HANDS.

IT ALSO, NOW HOUSES A DRIVE MODE SELECTOR; GREAT IDEA, BUT IT'S ALSO EASILY BUMPED WHEN YOU'RE SHUFFLING THE WHEEL THROUGH TIGHT CORNERS.

KEEPING A FIRM GRIP ON THAT WHEEL AT THE DRAG STRIP, AFTER ENGAGING LAUNCH CONTROL, THE GT R SHOOTS OFF THE LINE WITH ZERO WHEEL SPIN.

IT'S AN EASY AND REPEATABLE PROCESS, EVIDENCED BY OUR 3.6 SECONDS TO 60 BEING EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE LAST GT R WE TESTED DOWN AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, TWO YEARS AGO.

SHIFTS WERE FIRM, WITH A NICE DEEP BARK FROM THE ENGINE; AS WE COMPLETED THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.5 SECONDS AT 129 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE, 18.1 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM... PRICING IS STILL SPOOKY TOO, STARTING AT $163,895, OR ABOUT 2500 BUCKS MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

THE ORIGINAL MERCEDES-AMG GT WAS CONCEIVED WITH THE PORSCHE 911 SQUARELY IN ITS 3-POINTED SIGHTS; THE 2020 MERCEDES-AMG GT R HAS BECOME MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S AN ENTICING CAR, THAT DESPITE THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE PEDIGREE AND ON-TRACK CAPABILITIES; REMAINS A VERY LUXURIOUS AND COMFORTABLE CAR TO GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY BUSINESS.

IT'S AN ENVIOUS MARRIAGE OF MERCEDES-BENZ INDULGENCE WITH AMG PERFORMANCE, AND A PERFECT TREAT INDEED!

WEATHER SURE TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR CAR.

PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE NOW ON HOW TO BUST RUST.

Pat Goss: ALTHOUGH, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS HAVE MADE HUGE IMPROVEMENTS IN PREVENTING BODY RUST ON VEHICLES, WE STILL HAVE SOME OUT THERE THAT ARE LIKE THIS.

AND THAT IS RUST.

ALRIGHT.

WHAT CAUSES RUST IS WHERE DIRT AND MOISTURE CAN COMBINE INSIDE OR BETWEEN TWO PIECES OF METAL, THE DIRT HOLDS THE MOISTURE, IT EATS ITSELF FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

NOW, IN THIS CASE YOU MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THIS BECAUSE OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR BECAUSE LOCAL LAWS AND INSPECTIONS AND SO ON REQUIRE THAT YOU DO THAT.

BUT NOW, IS THIS A DO IT YOURSELF JOB?

WELL...MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

SEE NOW...DOWN HERE, WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE TYPES OF ROCKER PANELS.

THIS IS A COMPLETE ONE HERE, AND OVER HERE, WE HAVE A SLIP ON.

OR ONE THAT LAYS OVER THE EXISTING ONE.

ALRIGHT...THE SLIP ON, PRETTY EASY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE MODERATE SKILLS WITH BODY WORK AND SO ON.

THE OTHER ONE NOT SO MUCH.

BECAUSE THE COMPLETE ROCKER, WELL, YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE BOTH DOORS OFF, YOU HAVE TO STRIP THE INSIDE, TAKE THE CARPETING UP, AND TAKE THE SEATS OUT, POSSIBLY THE FRONT FENDERS.

ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO.

SO, YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE YOUR SKILL LEVEL, YOU TOOL SET, AND SO ON, AND MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON THAT.

Zach Maskell: WELL PAT, THIS WHITE BEAUTY IS MY WORKHORSE.

YOU WOULD THINK, I PARK IT IN THE OCEAN OR SOMETHING.

WELL, THE ROCKER RUST DIDN'T REALLY BOTHER ME AT FIRST BUT THEN IT STARTED RAINING, RUST WOULD DRIP DOWN ONTO MY DRIVEWAY, LEAVING RUST STAINS.

I GOT UNDERNEATH TO TAKE A LOOK, TO SEE IF I COULD TACKLE THIS ISSUE MYSELF BUT QUICKLY REALIZED, I NEED SOME HELP.

RON'S RODS WAS MY GO TO SHOP WHERE ANYBODY TOOL IMAGINABLE CAN BE FOUND.

ONCE WE REMOVED THE TRIM, WE LOCATED THE SPOT WELDS AND PRIED THEM OFF.

WE THEN CUT OFF THE EXISTING ROCKER, THIS REVEALED THE INNER ROCKER.

RON HAD TO CUSTOM MAKE HIS OWN INNER SINCE WE NEEDED SOMETHING TO ATTACH THE OUTER ONE TO.

WHILE, THE RUST WAS TERRIBLE, WE DIDN'T NEED FULL ROCKERS AND WERE ABLE TO LEAVE THE DOORS ATTACHED DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

WE ALSO TOOK A SHORT CUT AND INSTALLED THE CAB CORNERS WITHOUT TAKING THE BED OFF.

TO DO IT CORRECTLY THAT WOULD NEED TO COME OFF, SO YOU CAN SMOOTH YOUR WELDS DOWN.

Zach: SORRY, I'M STEALING YOUR LINE PAT, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS.

IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP US A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: THESE DAYS EVERYTHING IS A COMPETITION.

YOU CAN'T JUST BE GOOD AT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO BE THE BEST AT IT, OR AT LEAST CLAIM TO BE, TO GET ANYONE TO PAY ATTENTION.

WELL, BMW HAS BEEN THE BEST AT QUITE A FEW THINGS OVER THE YEARS, AND FANS KNOW BMW DELIVERS THEIR BEST IN THEIR M COMPETITION MODELS.

SO, LET'S HIT THE TRACK IN THEIR HOTTEST 2-SERIES AND SEE IF ITS A WIN-WIN FOR ONE AND ALL.

* WHEN WE TESTED THE NEW FOR '16 BMW M2, WE CALLED IT A "MINI BEAST" OF A PERFORMANCE CAR THAT WAS THE CLOSEST THING, WE'VE DRIVEN TO A PROPER M3 IN SOME TIME.

THREE YEARS LATER, AND WE'RE HERE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY WITH A 2019 M2 COMPETITION, THAT SAME CAR, ONLY CRANKED UP TO 11.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, COMP.

SPEC STARTS WITH MORE POWER FROM ITS INLINE-6 ENGINE, BUT IT'S NOT A SOUPED-UP VERSION OF THE M2s TURBO-6 MOTOR, RATHER A SLIGHTLY DETUNED VERSION OF THE M4s TWIN-TURBO UNIT.

OUTPUT IS 405 HORSEPOWER, UP 40 FROM THE STANDARD M2, WITH 406 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

MORE POWER ALWAYS REQUIRES ADDITIONAL COOLING, SO THE COMPETITION GETS MORE AIRFLOW THROUGH ITS KIDNEY GRILLES, SO A REVISED FRONT FASCIA WITH LARGER INTAKES.

BLACK TRIM IS ALSO PART OF THE PACKAGE, AS IS A QUARTET OF BLACK CHROME EXHAUST TIPS.

MORE WHOA-POWER IS NEXT, LARGER BRAKES FRONT AND REAR, SPORTING A GRAY FINISH ON THE CALIPERS.

SUSPENSION TWEAKS INCLUDE MORE PARTS FROM THE M4, AND THE STEERING SYSTEM, REAR DIFFERENTIAL, AND ELECTRONICS HAVE ALL BEEN UPGRADED.

19-INCH WHEELS COMPLETE THE SET, WEARING 245/35 MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORTS UP FRONT, 265/35s IN THE REAR.

YOU GET MORE CONTROL OVER EVERYTHING AS WELL, WITH EXTRA ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CONSOLE, AND A PAIR OF M BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FOR SAVING TWO SEPARATE SETUPS.

NEW SPORT SEATS ARE IN PLACE, BUT OTHERWISE, NOT MUCH CHANGES INSIDE, SAVE FOR SOME NEW M2 COMPETITION LOGOS AND COLORED STITCHING.

YOU CAN STILL SEND POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MOST WILL COME EQUIPPED WITH THIS 7-SPEED M-DCT, WHICH INCLUDES STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED PADDLE SHIFTERS.

GAUGES REMAIN VIRTUAL, BUT ARE SHARP AND VERY EASY TO MONITOR AT SPEED.

[ENGINE REVS] ON THIS FRIGID DAY, WE STRUGGLED A LITTLE FOR TRACTION TO PUT ALL OF THAT GO-FAST HARDWARE TO USE, GETTING OFF THE LINE, A TENTH SLOWER THAN OUR LAST M2; HITTING 60 IN 4.3 SECONDS.

BUT, WE MADE UP FOR IT ONCE WE GOT ROLLING, AS OUR 12.6 SECOND QUARTER MILE TIME WAS TWO-TENTHS QUICKER THAN BEFORE; FINISHING AT 115 MILES PER HOUR.

REDLINE IS AT 7,600 RPM, AND IT GETS THERE IN A HURRY; SHIFTS ARE HARD AND FAST, MAKING FOR AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE.

* HITTING THE FULL TRACK, WE DID HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

AND EVEN WITH THAT, THIS M2 WAS STILL ABLE TO IMPRESS.

IT'S A DECEPTIVELY QUICK, TIGHT-FEELING, COMPETENT, AND TOSSABLE CAR.

DRIVING DEEP INTO THE CORNERS, NOT A PROBLEM.

IT'S WELL PLANTED, WITH PLENTY OF GRIP TO PUT THE POWER DOWN, TOO; EXITING WITH JUST THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF WHEELS SLIP TO ROTATE THE CAR WITHOUT LOSING MOMENTUM.

NOT MUCH LEARNING CURVE, JUST HOP IN AND START HAMMERING AROUND THE TRACK; THERE'S ENOUGH FEEL AND FEEDBACK HERE TO GET A GOOD SENSE OF THINGS FAIRLY QUICKLY.

THE UPGRADED BRAKES WORKED VERY WELL; NO MATTER HOW LATE WE BRAKED, OR HOW HARD WE GOT ON THEM, WE CAME AWAY THINKING, WE COULD HAVE WAITED A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

FOR SUCH A HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE, IT IS VERY CONFIDENCE INSPIRING, AND SO WELL BALANCED IT COULD EASILY HANDLE EVEN MORE HORSEPOWER.

BUT, THEN OF COURSE, YOU'D BE IN M4 TERRITORY.

TOP SPEED IS 174 MILES PER HOUR, IF YOU ADD THE OPTIONAL M DRIVER'S PACKAGE, WHICH ALSO GETS YOU A ONE DAY BMW DRIVING SCHOOL, TO LEARN HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR NEW M. GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE REASONABLE, AT 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

GETTING COMPETITIVE WITH AN M2 WILL COST YOU $59,895 FOR STARTERS.

AND, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK THIS IS WHAT THE M2 SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE GET-GO; BMW AGREES, AS THIS IS THE ONLY M2 AVAILABLE FOR 2019.

SO ESSENTIALLY, BMW APPLIED A MID-CYCLE REFRESH TO THE M2, TACKING A SORT OF SUFFIX ONTO IT, WITH ENOUGH MECHANICAL CHANGE TO QUICKLY GET OUR ATTENTION.

AND THE STRATEGY WORKED.

WE ENJOYED THE HECK OUT OF TESTING THIS 2019 BMW M2 COMPETITION.

MAKING A GREAT CAR EVEN GREATER.

IN FACT, THE ONLY COMPETITION THIS M2 IS IN, IS WITH ITSELF.

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.

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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