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

JOIN US AS SOME OF OUR FAVORITE TURNS TEMPT THE SUBARU STI S209... PAT GOSS SAYS, TIMING IS EVERYTHING WHEN CLEARING UP A PROBLEM YOU CAN SEE... OUR NATION'S CAPITAL IS CHARGING UP THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME... AND THE FORD EXPLORER RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS WHILE REACHING FOR NEW GROUND...

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: LIKE, MANY ASIAN CARMAKERS, SUBARU ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE HOLDING SOMETHING BACK FROM US.

FOR YEARS, WE COULDN'T GET STIs HERE IN THE STATES.

AND AFTER FINALLY RELENTING, SUBARU STILL KEPT THE UPGRADED S-LINE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE GOODIES FROM US.

UNTIL NOW, THAT IS.

AND IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH, THIS S209 IS ALSO THE MOST POWERFUL STI EVER.

SO, LET'S TASTE THIS FORBIDDEN FRUIT, AND FIND OUT IF IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

* THE STORY OF THE 2020 SUBARU STI S209 IS NOT A NEW ONE.

WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE, GOING BACK AT LEAST TO THE 22B WE TESTED 20 YEARS AGO.

SUBARU HAS SUPER SPECIAL PERFORMANCE CAR NOT AVAILABLE TO US HERE IN THE U.S.

FINALLY, THEY RELENT, WE ENJOY IT, ONLY FOR ANOTHER BETTER ONE TO POP UP, BUT NOT FOR OUR CONSUMPTION.

LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT.

SO, LET'S GET RIGHT TO WHAT MAKES THE S209 SO SPECIAL.

WELL, IT'S THE FIRST S-LINE SUBARU TO BE OFFERED HERE IN THE U.S. AND, IN AN INTERESTING TURN OF EVENTS, ALL 209 UNITS THAT WILL BE BUILT, ARE ALLOCATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR US HERE IN THE STATES.

HMMM... WE CAN HEAR THE JAPANESE ENTHUSIASTS NOW...

STARTING WITH THE ALREADY POTENT 5TH GENERATION WRX STI, SUBARU ADDS CHASSIS BRACING, WITH BOTH A FLEXIBLE STRUT TOWER BAR AND DRAW STIFFENERS.

BILSTEIN DAMPERS ARE UNIQUE, AND COIL SPRINGS ARE MORE RIGID.

ADDITIONAL POWER IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE WITH THESE SUBARU DEALS, SO WE WERE GLAD TO SEE SOME EXTRA PONIES SHOW UP UNDER THE HOOD.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] IT'S THE SAME EJ25 2.5 LITER HORIZONTALLY-OPPOSED 4-CYLINDER, BUT AN HKS TURBO WITH LARGER TURBINE AND COMPRESSOR, DIALS UP THE BOOST PRESSURE AND THE POTENCY TO 341 HORSEPOWER AND 330 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BETTER YET, THAT ADDITIONAL TORQUE IS ALL IN THE MIDRANGE, WHICH IS WHERE YOU WANT IT FOR TRACK WORK.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY WITH THE 209; THE 6-SPEED GETS A SHORT THROW SHIFTER THAT MAKES IT VERY QUICK AND EASY TO OPERATE, BUT COULD BE A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE.

DESPITE THE ADDED POWER, THE THROTTLE IS NOT TOUCHY OR OVERLY SENSITIVE, BUT THE HIGH PERFORMANCE CLUTCH DOES HAVE A HIGH TAKE UP, WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO GET A FEEL FOR.

[ENGINE REVS] AND LIKE EVERY STI BEFORE IT, SOME CLUTCH SLIPPING IS REQUIRED TO GET OFF THE LINE QUICKLY.

WE HIT 60 IN A RAPID 4.7 SECONDS.

BANGING THROUGH GEARS AND LISTENING TO THAT TURBO WHISTLE AS WE WORKED THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE IN 13.4 SECONDS AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.

AND FROM THE "YOU DON'T SEE THAT EVERYDAY DEPARTMENT," THERE'S AN INTERCOOLER WATER SPRAY SYSTEM, WHICH YOU CAN MANUALLY TRIGGER WITH STEERING WHEEL PADDLES, TO LOWER INTERCOOLER TEMPERATURE.

IN ADDITION TO THE GINORMOUS REAR WING, WHICH ROBS AS MUCH VISIBILITY AS DOWNFORCE IT CREATES; OTHER PERFORMANCE ENHANCING EYE CANDY INCLUDES WIDER FENDERS.

VENTING IN THE FRONT ALLOWS HOT ENGINE AIR TO ESCAPE, WHILE THE VENTS IN THE REAR FENDERS PERFORM THE DUAL TASK OF REDUCING DRAG AND INCREASING DOWNFORCE.

AND THERE IS OF COURSE, LOTS OF SPECIAL BADGING.

LIGHTWEIGHT 19 INCH WHEELS ARE UNIQUE AND WEAR DUNLOP SPORT MAXX TIRES.

THE S209 IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN RALLY BLUE OR THIS CRYSTAL PEARL WHITE.

AS FOR TRACK WORK, THE S209 IS LIGHT AS FEATHER, BUT STIFF AS A BOARD.

ALL THAT SUSPENSION TWEAKING DOES MAKE FOR A WRX THAT TURNS IN WITH PRECISION.

THE SI-DRIVE SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED TO HANDLE ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL GRIP, AND SUBARU ACTUALLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU AVOID SPORT SHARP FOR TRACK WORK, AS THE SOFTER THROTTLE RESPONSE OF SPORT ENABLES BETTER CONTROL.

WE TRIED BOTH, AND WHILE DIFFERENCE IN FEEL BETWEEN THE TWO IS NOTICEABLE, WE FOUND THEM BOTH EQUALLY EFFECTIVE.

THIS BEING A SUBARU, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD OF COURSE, WITH LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIALS ON BOTH ENDS.

AND, YOU CAN MANUALLY ADJUST THE CENTER DIFF TO CHOOSE WHERE TO SEND POWER.

AND UNLIKE ANY STI WE'VE HAD BEFORE, THAT POWER FELT MORE THAN PLENTIFUL THROUGHOUT MOST OF THIS TRACK, WITH A NICE FLAT MIDRANGE OBVIOUS WHEN COMING OUT OF CORNERS.

THOUGH YOU DO HAVE A LITTLE TOO MUCH DOWNTIME ON THE VERY LONG STRAIGHT HERE AT ROEBLING.

IT HELPS WITH GEARING AS WELL, NO REASON TO DOWNSHIFT AS MUCH AS YOU MAY BE ACCUSTOMED TO, AS THERE'S PLENTIFUL BOOST POWER TO KEEP UP YOUR MOMENTUM.

ALL THIS, AND YOU STILL HAVE AN INTERIOR THAT'S EASY TO LIVE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, AND EVEN A REAR SEAT TO TAKE YOUR BUDDIES ALONG.

NOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR NEGATIVES, ALL THE SUSPENSION ALTERATIONS HAVE TAKEN A TOLL ON THE TURNING RADIUS.

SO, WHILE IT "CUTS LIKE A KNIFE" ON THE RACE TRACK, IT WANTS TO GIVE IT TO YOU "STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART" ON THE STREET.

NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN PESTERING SUBARU FOR A REAL DEAL S-LINE HERE IN THE U.S., IT'S TIME TO PONY UP THE PESOS, OR $64,880 AMERICAN DOLLARS TO BE PRECISE.

MAKING IT ONE EXPENSIVE SUBI.

BUT, NOT ONLY DID SUBARU FINALLY OBLIGE US WITH AN S-LINE MODEL HERE, IT DID ONE BETTER BY MAKING ONE EXCLUSIVELY FOR US.

SO, NATURALLY IT HAD TO HAVE MORE POWER, BUT THE 2020 SUBARU STI S209 IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT, IT'S A LIMITED EDITION HIGHLY CAPABLE SPORT SEDAN THAT IS THE PINNACLE OF CURRENT SUBARU PERFORMANCE.

AND IT'S ONLY FOR US; WELL, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

* WITH EXTENDED DRIVING RANGES, DEPENDABILITY, LOW MAINTENANCE, QUIET OPERATION, AND ZERO EMISSIONS, TODAY'S ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE A NO-COMPROMISE CLEAN TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION FOR MANY HOUSEHOLDS.

AND THOSE SAME QUALITIES ARE FINDING FANS FOR EVs AMONG SOME PRETTY DEMANDING FLEETS AS WELL.

TWO IN PARTICULAR THAT WE'VE FOUND, SHOW THAT GOING ELECTRIC CAN HELP PROTECT AND SERVE OUR NATION'S MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES.

* THE UNITED STATES PARK POLICE WAS CREATED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON IN 1791, AND IS CHARGED WITH PROTECTING OUR NATION'S MONUMENTS AND LANDMARKS IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS AS WELL AS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF WASHINGTON DC, NEW YORK, AND SAN FRANCISCO.

TO HELP IN THIS MISSION, MORE THAN A DOZEN ALL-ELECTRIC CARS AND MOTORCYCLES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADDED TO THEIR WASHINGTON D.C. FLEET.

MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THESE HIGH PERFORMANCE, HIGH EFFICIENCY, AND WHISPER QUIET, ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES WILL TRANSPORT OFFICERS AND STAFF IN AND AROUND THE PROPERTIES MANAGED BY THE PARK POLICE.

Steven Booker: WELL, OUR PATROLMEN LOVE IT.

THEY LIKE THE MULTI-TERRAIN USE OF THE VEHICLES, THEY'RE VERY INTUITIVE, THEY CAN REALLY JUST ROLL INTO A SITUATION WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH LARGE CROWDS... AND THEY CAN EASILY MONITOR AND IT'S BEEN VERY WELL-RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC.

THEY ALWAYS COME UP AND ASK, THOSE ARE SOME NICE LOOKING BIKES.

John: IN ADDITION TO THE ZERO MOTORCYCLES, THE U.S. PARK POLICE ADDED FIVE CHEVROLET BOLTS TO THEIR FLEET.

THEY DON'T CURRENTLY SERVE AS PATROL CARS, BUT STILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS CRITICAL TRANSPORT FOR COURT APPEARANCES, PERSONNEL MOVEMENT, DELIVERIES AND THE LIKE.

THE CHEVY BOLTS AND ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AGENCY'S OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES, SINCE ALL REPLACED AGING, LESS EFFICIENT VEHICLES.

ALONG WITH CHARGING STATIONS INSTALLED AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, ALL ARE MADE IN THE U.S.

THIS REAL-WORLD USE OF ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY WILL SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER POLICE AND PUBLIC SERVICE FLEETS SEEKING TO DO THE SAME, AND WILL BE SEEN BY MILLIONS OF PARK VISITORS EACH YEAR.

Steven: ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC THEMES IS EFFECTIVE USE OF RELEVANT TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY NEW, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY HERE IS SOUND.

WE UNDERSTAND IT, WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND IT WILL HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AS WE PATROL AROUND THE MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS, AND WE FEEL IT'S THE BEST DIRECTION FOR US.

AND, JUST PUTTING OUR SMALL FOOTPRINT INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY IS HUGE FOR US, AS AN AGENCY.

[RADIO CHATTER & SIRENS] John: FOR THE CITY OF HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION UNFOLDED, BUT IN THIS CASE THE VEHICLE'S ROLES WERE SOMEWHAT REVERSED.

Richard Hartnett: IN 2016, THE END OF 2016, CHEVROLET ANNOUNCED THE UPCOMING BOLT, WITH A RANGE, A MINIMUM RANGE ANYWAY, OF 238 MILES, AND I KNEW THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE CAR THAT WOULD, UH, TARGET VEHICLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, I LOOKED TO GET A CAR LIKE THAT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WITH THE HELP OF A GRANT FROM THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION, WE GOT THIS 2017 CHEVROLET BOLT, OUTFITTED IT, AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN DOING GREAT.

John: THE HYATTSVILLE POLICE ALSO ACQUIRED A ZERO ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY, QUIET, GO-ANYWHERE CAPABILITY IN THE TOWN'S PARKS, BIKE PATHS, AND PUBLIC AREAS, AND HAVE ENJOYED THE SAME SUCCESS AS THE U.S. PARK POLICE, ON A MORE LIMITED SCALE.

BUT THE CHEVY BOLT HAS BEEN THE EV WORKHORSE IN THIS FLEET.

IT HAS NOW DELIVERED MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF TROUBLE-FREE, EMISSIONS-FREE SERVICE, AND SAVES OVER 75% IN OPERATING COSTS FOR ENERGY AND MAINTENANCE VERSUS A CONVENTIONAL GAS-POWERED POLICE CRUISER.

DESPITE ITS SMALL STATURE, THIS "LITTLE EV THAT COULD" IS MAKING A BIG CASE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW HYATTSVILLE'S GREEN LEAD.

Richard: THE ZERO TO 60 IS VERY GOOD THOUGH, IT'S A LITTLE OVER 6.0 SECONDS, THAT'S 6.4 SECONDS.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY, A LITTLE FASTER OFF THE LINE THAN PRETTY MUCH ALL OF OUR BIG, YOU KNOW...HEAVY, GAS-POWERED POLICE CARS.

BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE'RE IN AN URBAN AREA, THERE'S POLICE CARS YOU KNOW, PRACTICALLY ON EVERY CORNER.

SO, IF A CHASE DOES HAPPEN, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OTHER POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED VERY SOON, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S KINDA HARD TO OUTRUN THE RADIO, SO... * John: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT LIFE WILL THROW AT YOU.

BUT PAT GOSS KNOWS WHAT TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS.

* Pat Goss: THERE'S SOME THINGS ON AN AUTOMOBILES THAT ARE ALMOST INEVITABLE.

TAKE THIS ROCK CHIP.

EVERY DAY YOU GO WITHOUT ONE OF THESE CHIPS IN YOUR WINDSHIELD IS TYPICALLY, A DAY CLOSER TO WHEN YOU WILL HAVE ONE.

NOW, WE LOOK AT THIS ONE, IT IS A BULLSEYE, BUT IT HAS A BIG CRACK OUT OF IT.

NOW, IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT CRACK, THIS WOULD BE READILY REPAIRABLE, BUT WITH THE CRACK: MAYBE, MAYBE NOT, WE'LL SEE AS TIME GOES ON.

NOW, A LOT OF THESE CHIPS CAN BE REPAIRED WITH DO-IT-YOURSELF KITS.

THEY'RE AVAILABLE ALL OVER, GO TO ANY PARTS STORE AND YOU'LL FIND REPAIR KITS FOR WINDSHIELDS.

NOW, HERE WE HAVE A VERY POPULAR ONE.

THIS ONE IS FROM PERMATEX.

I'VE USED THIS ONE OVER THE YEARS, HAD GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

NOW, THE WAY THIS WORKS IS REAL SIMPLE: YOU HAVE A PATCH HERE WITH DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE THAT GOES OVER THE DAMAGED AREA IN THE WINDSHIELD, SO IT'S GLUED IN PLACE AND IT'S AIRTIGHT.

NOW, YOU HAVE THIS CHAMBER HERE, THIS PLUNGER, THAT YOU PULL UP ONCE IT'S INSTALLED.

IT FORMS A VACUUM INSIDE THE CHIP, PULLS THE MOISTURE OUT, AND THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND INJECT THE RESIN THAT WILL ACTUALLY REPAIR THE GLASS.

NOW, THEY ALL WORK PRETTY MUCH THE SAME BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF APPLYING THE RESIN TO THE GLASS.

LIKE, THIS ROCKPRO UNIT HERE, IT HAS THIS RATHER LARGE AND ELABORATE APPLICATOR, USES THESE THREE SUCTION CUPS AND IT HAS A CENTER THAT CAN BE SCREWED DOWN TO APPLY FORCE TO MAKE AN AIRTIGHT SEAL DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, AND IT HAS A CENTER SECTION THAT IS USED TO PUT PRESSURE OR VACUUM ON THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO TRY THIS ONE AND SEE HOW IT WORKS.

BUT THE BIG THING HERE: REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GET ONE OF THESE STONE CHIPS, YOU HAVE TO TREAT IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE LONGER YOU LET IT WAIT, THE WORSE THE REPAIR WILL PROBABLY BE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE DIRT GETS IN THERE AND DIRT WORKS ITS WAY INTO THE RESIN AS YOU'RE FILLING THE VOIDS IN THE GLASS, AND THAT DIRT SHOWS UP, SO THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THIS CRYSTAL CLEAR REPAIR, YOU MAY HAVE LINES IN IT AND SO ON CAUSED BY THE DIRT, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF IT SOON ENOUGH... WELL, OUR REPAIR IS NOT PERFECT, BUT IT IS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF WHAT IT WAS WHEN WE STARTED.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE AGE OF THIS DAMAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO HAD IT BEEN DONE EARLIER, THE RESULTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETTER.

BIG THING IS, DO IT AS SOON AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

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

John: WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOMETHING NEW TO DRIVE.

SO, LET'S GO FOR A QUICKSPIN.

* FEW CARS CONJURE UP EMOTIONS LIKE, THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.

FOR YEARS THE CORVETTE HAS PERFORMED WELL ABOVE ITS PRICE CLASS, BUT FOR 2020, IT ADDS THE LOOKS, ENGINEERING, AND TENACITY OF A TRUE SUPERCAR.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR THE 8TH GENERATION 'VETTE OF COURSE, IS MOVING ITS MOTIVE POWER FROM THE FRONT TO A REAR MID-ENGINE POSITION.

EVEN WITH THE NATURALLY ASPIRATED, STILL PUSH-ROD 495 HORSEPOWER 6.2 LITER V8, RIGHT BEHIND YOUR HEAD, IT'S AMAZINGLY QUIET IN MOST DRIVE MODES.

IN SPORT AND TRACK MODES, THE ENGINE, STEERING, AND EXHAUST INSTANTLY COME ALIVE.

CHANNELING ALL THAT MUSCLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IS AN ALL-NEW 8-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC... THAT SMOOTHLY HANDLES THE GEARS WITH THE FORCEFULNESS WORTHY OF THIS LEGENDARY SPORTS CAR.

CHEVROLET SAYS, 0-60 COMES AND GOES IN JUST UNDER 3.0 SECONDS WITH THE Z51 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AND FROM OUR INITIAL HIGH SPEED OUTING, WE CONCUR.

Dave Scrivener: WE'RE GETTING OUR FIRST LAP OF THE 2020 CORVETTE HERE AT SPRING MOUNTAIN RACEWAY NEAR LAS VEGAS.

THE THING IS THAT IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT THAT AS SOON AS YOU DRIVE THE CAR IS THAT THE WHOLE DYNAMIC HAS CHANGED.

THE CENTER OF GRAVITY IS NOW AT THE DRIVER'S HIP, SO THAT YOU FEEL THE CAR PIVET MORE, MOVING THE ENGINE TO THE REAR, THE WEIGHT GOES BACKWARDS, AND THE BACKHAND FEELS MORE PLANTED.

THE STEERING IS SHARP, THE HANDLING IS CRISP, IT'S EASILY THE MOST FUN, DYNAMIC CORVETTE YET.

WITH THAT V8 BEHIND YOU, THE COCKPIT SLIDES FORWARD BY 16.5 INCHES.

SITTING CLOSER TO THE FRONT WHEELS, THERE'S A MUCH BETTER VIEW DOWN TO THE ROAD WITH A LOWER HOOD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL.

THE INTIMATE BUT WELL FINISHED CABIN IS BUILT FOR TWO, BUT THE SQUARED-OFF STEERING WHEEL, 12-INCH RECONFIGURABLE GAUGE CLUSTER, AND PROMINENT TILT OF THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN MAKE IT CLEAR THE DRIVER IS THE FOCUS.

LEATHER, ALUMINUM, AND CARBON FIBER ADD A PREMIUM TOUCH TO THIS SPORTY EXPERIENCE.

THE 2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY IS EASILY THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT CAR OF THE YEAR... AND IT EARNED OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR HONOR.

SO, AFTER ALL THE ANTICIPATION, THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER.

C8'S ARE ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT JUST UNDER $59,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

* Greg Carlos: WHILE, IT'S NEVER EASY SAYING GOOD-BYE, IT'S INEVITABLE WITH OUR LONG TERM FLEET.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID.

THE 219 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4 AND TOYOTA HYBRID SYSTEM, MAKES DAILY COMMUTING BOTH PEPPIER, AND MORE ECONOMICAL.

THE REAR MOUNTED ELECTRIC MOTOR SUPPLIED QUICK AND SMOOTH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ABILITIES FOR THE ALMOST 17,000 MILES, WE TRAVELED OVER 9-MONTHS.

CVT NOISE IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS SOME... AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A REAL SHIFTER AS OPPOSED TO BUTTONS OR ROTARY DIALS.

WHILE, THERE WERE MIXED REVIEWS ON THE SEATS, FUEL ECONOMY WAS IMPRESSIVE AT 38.6 MILES PER GALLON.

WE CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES FILLING THE TANK UP COMPLETELY, WHICH DID CUT INTO DISTANCE BETWEEN FILLIPS, BUT IT BARELY TOOK AWAY FROM OUR DRIVING ENJOYMENT.

OUR TIME WITH THIS RAV4 HYBRID HAS COME TO AN END AND I REALLY DO THINK, WE'RE GOING TO MISS THIS ONE, MAYBE AS A ROAD TRIP CAR MOST OF ALL.

ITS HIGHWAY COMFORT, IT'S BRISK ACCELERATION AND ABOVE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY WILL BE TOUGH TO REPLACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES AMONG COMPACT CROSSOVERS.

BUT, WITH ITS FRESH DESIGN, ADDED CAPABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE USE OF ELECTRIFICATION, THE TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID IS THE SMALL-UTE TO BEAT, AND OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE!

SO, THERE'S NOW ROOM FOR A NEW ARRIVAL ON THE MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM LOT.

AND, WE'LL BE SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH THE 2020 FIAT 500X.

WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON OUR NISSAN ALTIMA AND PORSCHE MACAN S ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: FROM ORIGINATOR, TO FAMILY STAPLE, THROUGH CONTROVERSIES, AND VARIOUS FRAME ON/FRAME OFF DESIGNS, THE FORD EXPLORER REMAINS THE BEST-SELLING AMERICAN SUV OF ALL TIME.

BUT THE 2020 EXPLORER ARRIVES WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN QUITE A WHILE, RETURNING TO A CLASSIC REAR-WHEEL DRIVE LAYOUT, WHILE RETAINING ITS UNI-BODY FORM.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT IF THAT MAKES FOR A STEP FORWARD, BACKWARDS, OR SIDEWAYS, FOR THE ALL-NEW EXPLORER.

* NO VEHICLE BETTER SYMBOLIZES THE TRANSFORMATION OF SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FROM BACKWOODS EXPLORERS TO FAMILY CARS MORE THAN THE FORD EXPLORER.

LAST GENERATION SAW IT FULLY EMBRACE THAT ROLE, WITH A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE BASED UNI-BODY ARCHITECTURE.

AS MENTIONED, THIS 6TH GENERATION EXPLORER RETURNS TO IT'S REAR-WHEEL DRIVE BASED ROOTS, BUT ALSO DEBUTS A NEW CD6 UNI-BODY MODULAR ARCHITECTURE THAT WILL UNDERPIN MANY NEW FUTURE FORD AND LINCOLN PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, IF RUMORS ARE TRUE, THE NEXT MUSTANG.

NO "ONE ENGINE FITS ALL" STRATEGY HERE.

BUYERS CAN CHOOSE FROM THE SAME BASE 2.3 LITER ECOBOOST I4, BUT NOW UPGRADED TO 300 HORSEPOWER.

IT'S JOINED BY A NEW 3.0 LITER ECOBOOST V6 THAT'S AVAILABLE IN 365 AND 400 HORSEPOWER VERSIONS, THE LATTER BEING EXPLORER'S MOST POWERFUL ENGINE EVER.

ON TOP OF THAT, IS A FIRST-EVER HYBRID EXPLORER.

IT PAIRS A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 3.3 LITER V6 WITH A SINGLE SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

DON'T EXPECT HUGE GAINS IN FUEL ECONOMY, AS IT'S MORE ABOUT HELPING THE ENGINE DO MORE WITH LESS, AND PUSHING POTENTIAL RANGE TO 500 MILES BETWEEN FILL UPS.

OUTPUT IS A COMBINED 318 HORSEPOWER.

ALL OTHER ENGINES GET THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC AS WELL, AND TOWING CAPACITY IS UP 600 POUNDS OVER LAST YEAR TO 5,600 POUNDS.

THE OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IS FORD'S INTELLIGENT 4WD, AND THOSE INTERESTED IN OFF PAVEMENT EXCURSIONS WILL FIND UP TO SEVEN DRIVE MODES WITH THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

DESPITE BEING PHYSICALLY BIGGER, WITH THE NEW CHASSIS ADDING OVER 6.0 INCHES TO WHEELBASE; FORD HAS MAINTAINED MOSTLY THE SAME LOOK.

THE ROOFLINE DOES SLOPE A LITTLE MORE, AND OVERHANGS ARE NOTICEABLY SHORTER, BUT OTHERWISE THERE'S NO MAJOR DEPARTURE.

SEATING FOR SEVEN IS STANDARD, THOUGH IN UPPER TRIM LEVELS THAT NUMBER FALLS TO SIX WITH 2ND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS.

SPECS SAY, ALL THREE ROWS ARE ROOMIER, AND INDEED IT FELT THAT WAY TO US.

THE 2ND ROW BEING PARTICULARLY COMFORTABLE; 3RD...STILL A LITTLE TIGHT FOR ADULTS.

FORD DID THEIR BEST TO PACK EXPLORER FULL OF TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING AN AVAILABLE 10-INCH VERTICALLY-ORIENTED TABLET THAT'S THE LARGEST SCREEN IN A FORD TO DATE.

BOTH IT, AND THE MANY MANUAL CONTROLS THAT REMAIN, ARE SURPRISINGLY USER-FRIENDLY AND PLACED IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT DISTRACTING TO USE WHILE DRIVING.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD; PART OF FORD'S CO-PILOT360.

BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND ACTIVE DRIVING AIDS CAN BE ADDED AS WELL.

CARGO SPACE, UNDER A STANDARD POWER LIFT-GATE, STARTS AT A GREAT 18.2 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE 3RD ROW; FOLDING THE 3RD ROW UPS IT TO 47.9 CUBIC-FEET, WITH A MAX OF 87.8 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

WITH ALL HYBRID HARDWARE PACKAGED UNDER THE REAR SEAT, THOSE NUMBERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME IN THE EXPLORER HYBRID.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS EXPLORER REMAINS A VERY COMFORTABLE, PREDICTABLE VEHICLE TO DRIVE.

DURING OUR EARLY SEAT TIME IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, WE SPENT THE BULK OF OUR STINT IN THE NEW HYBRID, AND ACCELERATION WAS QUITE IMPRESSIVE, AS WAS OVERALL POWERTRAIN SMOOTHNESS.

WE EVEN GOT OFF THE PAVEMENT A BIT AND FOUND LOTS OF GRIP IN ALL SITUATIONS WE ENCOUNTERED, AS WELL AS A VERY SOLID OVERALL FEEL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE HYBRID AREN'T FINALIZED, BUT THE REST OF THE LINEUP RANGES FROM 18-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED FOR AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE V6, TO 21-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED FOR THE 4-CYLINDER.

WHICH, RATES THE BEST ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 13.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH 6.1 TONS OF CO2 ADMITTED.

A BASE EXPLORER IS STILL A RELATIVE BARGAIN, AT $33,860.

TOP LEVEL PLATINUM GOES FOR $59,345, AND THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS IN BETWEEN, INCLUDING THE HYBRID, WHICH AS FOR NOW, IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN LIMITED TRIM, STARTING AT $53,375.

SO, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE FRONT OR REAR WHEELS ARE PROVIDING THE BULK OF THE POWER, THIS 2020 FORD EXPLORER IS INDEED STILL AN EXPLORER.

BUT, WITH 7.5 MILLION HAVING BEEN BUILT, WE'D SAY IT'S EXPLORING DAYS ARE JUST ABOUT OVER, HAVING PASSED THROUGH COLONIZATION, AND WELL ON ITS WAY TO NATION BUILDING.

SO, EXPLORER NATION, YOUR NEW RIDE HAS ARRIVED, AND IT'S STILL LOOKING TO CLAIM MORE GROUND.

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... FOR SERIOUS TRACK TIME IN THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA SUPRA.

AND THE KIA SOUL STANDS OUT EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE.

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

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