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

JOIN US AS WE GET CROSSED UP WITH A REFORMED VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS... PAT GOSS PINS THE THROTTLE FOR GREAT CAR CARE ADVICE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AND BACK IN TIME TO A UNIQUE CAR CULTURE... AND THEN, A NEW TURN FOR AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT, THE REDESIGNED NISSAN VERSA...

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...

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: VOLKSWAGEN ENTERED THE FAMILY-SIZE 3-ROW CROSSOVER ARENA JUST TWO YEARS AGO READY TO PLAY, WITH THE FANTASTIC ATLAS.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE MID-SIZE ATLAS WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THINGS TO COME.

NOW, WE FIND THAT THIS NEW 2-ROW ATLAS CROSS SPORT HAS JOINED THE TEAM.

NOW IS THE CROSS SPORT GOING TO BE ANOTHER GAME CHANGER FOR VOLKSWAGEN OR JUST A SUPPORTING PLAYER?

* THE FIRST THING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO THIS 5-PASSENGER 2020 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT, IS THAT "SPORT" HERE APPLIES TO THIS ATLAS' RE-FORMED SHAPE, PLUS, PERHAPS TO A BIT OF A LIFESTYLE CHANGE.

SO, FORGET ABOUT ANY HOT ROD UPGRADES.

THERE ARE NO PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS COMPARED TO ITS 3-ROW BROTHER.

STILL, IT DITCHES THAT YOUNG-RIDER THIRD ROW IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE STYLE AND MORE FEATURES.

BUT, HOLD ON.

IT'S ALSO NOT REALLY A COUPE-LIKE REDO, AS THE GERMAN LUXURY BRANDS ARE WONT TO DO; MORE OF JUST A SLIGHTLY MORE STYLISH 2-ROW VERSION OF AN EXISTING 3-ROW SUV.

THINK, HONDA PASSPORT.

AND IN PROFILE IT IS INDEED VERY SIMILAR TO THE REST OF THE MID-SIZE 2-ROW CROSSOVER CROWD.

OVERALL LENGTH IS ABOUT 5.0 INCHES LESS THAN THE ATLAS, ON THE SAME 117.3 INCH WHEELBASE.

AND IT SITS 2.2 INCHES LOWER, FEASIBLY LENDING SOME CREDENCE TO THE SPORT MONIKER.

THE THREE-BAR CHROME GRILLE, FRONT BUMPER, AND LIGHTING ARE ALL SLIGHTLY ALTERED, WITH FULL LED LIGHTS ACROSS THE BOARD.

SILVER ROOF RAILS AND 18 INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, WITH UP TO 21s AVAILABLE, AS IS A HUGE PANORAMIC ROOF.

STILL, VERY SPACIOUS INSIDE, WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR GROWING FAMILIES, AND REMAINS HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL.

FRONT SEATS ARE WIDE AND ROOMY, WHILE THE BACK SEAT HAS ADDITIONAL LEGROOM, AND RECLINES FARTHER THAN IN THE ATLAS; THREE-ACROSS IS NOT A PROBLEM HERE.

AND IN ANOTHER SLIGHT NOD TO SPORT, THERE'S A UNIQUE STEERING WHEEL, AS WELL AS AN AVAILABLE TWO-TONE INTERIOR THEME.

EVERYTHING IS VERY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD INSIDE.

BASE S GETS A 6.5 INCH TOUCHSCREEN FOR INFOTAINMENT; WHICH GOES TO 8.0 INCHES FOR EVERY OTHER TRIM.

STANDARD GAUGES ARE CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE, BUT WE REALLY DO LOVE VOLKSWAGEN'S AUDI-INSPIRED DIGITAL COCKPIT.

IT ALONE IS WORTH THE UPGRADE TO SEL TRIM.

THERE'S 40.3 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE; EXPANDING TO 77.8, WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED, WHICH IS 19.0 CUBIC-FEET LESS THAN THE ATLAS.

IT'S NOT OVERLY POWERFUL, REGARDLESS OF WHICH OF THE TWO ENGINES YOU CHOOSE.

STANDARD WITH ALL TRIMS IS A 235 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO.

SE AND SEL TRIMS CAN UPGRADE TO THIS 276 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6 WITH 266 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES OF THE 6-CYLINDER BEING SMOOTHNESS AND OVERALL QUIETER OPERATION, PLUS, THE ABILITY TO TOW UP TO 5,000 POUNDS.

BOTH ARE AVAILABLE WITH 4MOTION ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, WITH PROGRAMMED DRIVE MODES FOR OFF-ROAD AND SNOW.

LIKE THE ATLAS, RIDE QUALITY IS SMOOTH; THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EQUALLY ON BOARD WITH THAT MISSION, AS WELL.

THE ATLAS CROSS SPORT IS THE FIRST VOLKSWAGEN TO OFFER TRAFFIC JAM ASSIST AND DYNAMIC ROAD SIGN DISPLAY; THERE'S ALSO MANEUVER BRAKING WHICH INTENDS TO KEEP YOU FROM HITTING ANYTHING WHEN PARKING.

BUT AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD.

PUT THE "SPORT" IN SPORT MODE, AND OFF THE LINE THE V6 FEELS, WELL, VERY SPORTY.

THROTTLE TIP-IN IS AGGRESSIVE.

BUT AS REVS CLIMB AND SHIFTS LAG, SO DID OUR 0-60 AT 8.4 SECONDS.

STILL, THAT'S FAST ENOUGH TO GET HOME BEFORE THE ICE CREAM MELTS.

AND, THE QUARTER MILES IS COMPETITIVE AT 16.3 SECONDS AND 94 MILES PER HOUR.

WE'D STOP SHORT OF CALLING IT NIMBLE THROUGH THE CONES, BUT IT FEELS PRETTY DARN AGILE FOR A FAIRLY LARGE SUV, AND THAT CAN OF COURSE, BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS MQB-BONES, THE SAME ARCHITECTURE, YOU'LL FIND UNDER A VW GOLF.

IDENTICAL 4-WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION AS THE REGULAR ATLAS, JUST SLIGHTLY RE-TUNED.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE 3.6 LITER ARE 16-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A RESPECTABLE 20.4 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

STILL, THAT'S A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 17.3 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WHILE EMITTING 7.9 TONS OF CO2.

LIKE, THE 3-ROW ATLAS, PRICING IS VERY REASONABLE, STARTING AT JUST $31,565; TOP SEL TRIM, AT $40,565.

ADDING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, ANOTHER $1,900.

SO, THE 2020 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT IS NOT ANOTHER GAME CHANGER.

BUT...WITH IT, VW NOT ONLY WEDGES ANOTHER ALL-IMPORTANT SUV PLAYER INTO THEIR LINEUP, BUT GIVES PEOPLE THAT DON'T NEED A THIRD ROW A SLIGHTLY MORE STYLISH, COMFORTABLE, AND PERHAPS BETTER LIFESTYLE OPTION.

LOOKS LIKE, VOLKSWAGEN FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE ROLE FOR SUCCESS FOR THE ATLAS.

* THERE WAS A TIME WHEN RIGHTEOUS CARS, WERE PARKED OUTSIDE BLOCKBUSTER.

BACK WHEN NEON SUNGLASSES AND ANALOG DASHBOARDS WERE TOTALLY HAPPEN'EN.

OUR ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND A WAY TO GO OVER THE EDGE AND BACK IN TIME, WHERE ONE CAN SURROUND THEMSELVES IN WICKED NOSTALGIA.

* Zach Maskell: TENTS BLOCKING THE SUN FROM HITTING THE INFIELD GRASS.

DRIVERS PROTECTING THEM ON THE TWO AND A HALF MILE TRACK LIKE CROCODILES IN A MOAT.

VISITORS, CALLING THIS CASTLE HOME FOR THREE DAYS.

WE'RE ESCAPING REALITY AT GRIDLIFE SOUTH, HOSTED AT ROAD ATLANTA.

HIGH SPEED, MUSIC, DRIFTING, AND ECSTATIC ENERGY IN THE AIR.

ON TOP OF THAT, A CAR SHOW THAT VOWS TO KEEP IT WEIRD.

WE HAVE FOUND RADWOOD.

CELEBRATING BRIGHT COLORS, BIG HAIR, AND THE WEDGE SHAPED LOOKS OF THE 1980s, AND 1990s, LET'S GO...BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Zach: WHILE, CARS OF THIS ERA LIKE A PORSCHE 944 OR OLDSMOBILE 98 DIESEL MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE BY THE GENERAL POPULATION, A LOT OF US ODDBALLS STILL LUST AFTER THESE GNARLY RIDES.

SOME OF THOSE BEING "CARS OF FUTURE," TRACES OF WHICH CAN STILL BE SEEN TODAY.

Brandley Brownell: IN REALLY EARLY COMPUTER DRAFTING...

IT'S A LOT OF WEDGES, A LOT OF STRAIGHT EDGES.

A LOT OF SHARP ANGLES.

YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY, A COMMON THEME AMONG A LOT OF THE CARS HERE, THAT THEY'RE VERY WEDGY.

Zach: ARMED MAINLY WITH PENCILS AND CLAY, DESIGNERS CREATED AN ENTIRELY NEW STAGE IN THE PROGRESSION OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

Bradley: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THESE CARS THAT DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

YOU KNOW, WHERE WOULD YOU SEE A TWO TONE ACCORD?

AT A HOT ROD SHOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'D BE LIKE, "GET OUT OF HERE."

BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO HAVE A SHOW WHERE PEOPLE COULD BRING THAT OUT, AND BE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

Zach: WITH THE RAD CLOTHING, AND WICKED SCHWEET INTERIORS, IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THIS SHOW FROM SPREADING ALL THE WAY FROM ITS ROOTS IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Super Dave: I SAW THIS ON FACEBOOK WITH THE CALIFORNIA GROUP AND I'M SO GLAD THEY BROUGHT IT.

I DROVE UP FROM FLORIDA TO GET HERE AND CAMPED LAST NIGHT NEXT TO MY MIATA.

THAT WAS A FIRST.

Zach: THE '70s BEING THE PINNACLE OF THE WEDGE SHAPES, MANY OF THESE BECAME A BIT SOFTER AND MORE ROUNDED.

WITH FUEL INJECTION INTRODUCED, THESE CHOICE RIDES COULD BE DRIVEN FAR WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ADJUSTING THE CARBURETOR.

THIS ONE, BEING DAILY DRIVEN TO THIS DAY.

Macho Man: THE '80s AND '90s CARS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DEFINITELY DIFFERENT STYLES THAN MOST CARS.

I LIKE THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT'S BOXY, HAS NICE SHARP EDGES ON IT.

YOU KNOW, THE FRONT HAS YOU KNOW, THE FOUR HEADLIGHTS IN THE FRONT, YOU KNOW, NO CARS HAVE THAT NOW.

Zach: I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE.

A MID-ENGINE, REAR DRIVE, 1992 HONDA BEAT, IMPORTED FROM JAPAN.

OKAY...SO, HOW DO WE ACCESS THE ENGINE?

Car Owner: TAKE THIS OFF.

YOU'VE GOT PANELING.

THAT'S HOW YOU PULL ALL OF YOUR INTAKE OFF.

THEN, YOU'VE GOT TO COME AROUND.

SO RIGHT DOWN IN HERE IS YOUR ENGINE COVER.

IT'S JUST FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THIS THING DOWN.

PULL IT OFF AND YOUR ENGINE IS SITTING RIGHT IN THERE.

AND IT'S TRANSVERSELY MOUNTED AND IT'S ACTUALLY, NOT AS HARD TO WORK ON IN THERE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY 3-CYLINDERS.

Zach: THIS RAD 63 HORSEPOWER KEI CAR WAS THE LAST ONE EVER APPROVED TO BE ROAD WORTHY, BY SOICHIRO HONDA.

Car Owner: I'VE DRIVEN MODERN CARS, I DON'T GET THE SAME FEEL.

IT'S JUST YOU'RE SO CONNECTED TO THE ROAD.

IT'S JUST HISTORY.

Zach: HAMMER IS PRONOUNCED THE SAME IN BOTH ENGLISH AND GERMAN.

THIS 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ SURELY SPEAKS TO ALL.

TAKING HOME "BEST IN SHOW," THE ONLY 6.0 LITER AMG HAMMER WAGON EVER PRODUCED.

IT'S TOUGH TO APPRECIATE EVERY CAR WHEN IT'S NEW, BUT AS TIME MARCHES ON, YOU FIND THAT YOU MISS, THAT FEW THOUSAND DOLLAR SUBARU, JUST AS MUCH AS THAT TUNED SIX-FIGURE PORSCHE.

John: FOR AN ENGINE TO RUN PROPERLY, IT NEEDS PRECISELY, THE RIGHT AMOUNTS OF FUEL, DELIVERED AT PRECISELY, THE RIGHT TIME.

JUST LIKE ADVICE DOWN AT GOSS'S GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: THIS TIME, LET'S START OUT BY DISPELLING A MYTH.

YOU HAVE A DIRTY AIR FILTER AND A LOT OF TECHNICIANS WILL TELL YOU THAT, THAT DIRTY AIR FILTER IS GONNA COST YOU A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE IT DECREASES FUEL ECONOMY.

WELL, BACK IN THE DAY THAT WAS TRUE.

BACK WHEN WE HAD CARBURETORS.

TODAY, NOT SO MUCH.

SEE, THE REASON IS THE AIR FILTER SITS UP HERE.

AIR COMES THROUGH THE FILTER INTO THIS TUBE, THROUGH THE TUBE AND DOWN HERE TO THE THROTTLE BODY.

NOW, THE THROTTLE BODY TYPICALLY ALSO HAS WHAT IS CALLED A "MASS AIR SENSOR" IN IT.

AND THAT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF AIR COMING INTO THE ENGINE.

NOW, THE WAY ALL OF THIS WORKS, WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR INSIDE THE CAR, THIS BUTTERFLY OR FLAP INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY OPENS UP.

IT ALLOWS MORE AIR TO COME IN.

THE COMPUTER SENSES THE AMOUNT OF AIR COMING IN THE ENGINE AND IT MIXES THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL WITH THAT AIR.

SO, IF WE HAVE A DIRTY AIR FILTER AND IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF AIR COMING INTO THE ENGINE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

WELL, THE COMPUTER IS GOING TO SENSE THAT THERE'S LESS AIR COMING INTO THE ENGINE.

IT'S GOING TO MIX THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL WITH IT, SO THAT THE RATIO OF FUEL TO AIR REMAINS THE SAME.

AND THEREFORE, THE FUEL ECONOMY DOESN'T DECREASE.

NOW GRANTED, IF THE FILTER IS COMPLETELY CLOGGED UP, YEAH...IT MIGHT, BUT THE CAR WILL PROBABLY RUN AT THE SAME TIME.

ALRIGHT NOW, HERE'S THE THING WITH THROTTLE BODIES.

NUMBER ONE, THEY GET DIRTY OVER TIME.

WE CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THESE.

AND WHEN THEY GET DIRTY, DIFFERENT THINGS WILL HAPPEN.

NUMBER ONE, YOU MAY HAVE A THROTTLE THAT WHEN YOU STEP ON IT, THE CAR LURCHES OR IT DOESN'T IDLE RIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO KEEP THROTTLE BODIES CLEAN.

AND TO DO THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE THE PROPER CHEMICAL.

YOU CAN'T USE THE OLD CARBURETOR CLEANER BECAUSE THAT COULD DAMAGE PARTS IN HERE.

ALSO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A DEDICATED THROTTLE BODY CLEANER, AND MASS AIR FLOW CLEANER.

NOW, THE BIG THING HERE IS TO LEARN THE PROCEDURE.

DON'T JUST GO PRYING ON THIS THROTTLE BODY TO OPEN IT UP, SO THAT YOU CAN SPRAY THE CLEANER IN THERE.

THERE ARE SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR VARIOUS CARS AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT RIGHT, YOU COULD BE BUYING A NEW THROTTLE BODY.

SO, THIS COULD SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY AT THE REPAIR SHOP, IF YOU LEARN HOW TO DO IT AND IF YOU DO IT RIGHT.

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

John: WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR YEARS AND WE STILL HAVEN'T DRIVEN THEM ALL, SO TIME FOR ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.

* Greg Carloss: LOOK, WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T ALL SIT BACK AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT IS THE 2020 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR.

WITH THE RECENTLY REVISED CONTINENTAL GT COUPE NOW RIDING ON THE PORSCHE PANAMERA'S CHASSIS, IT WAS TIME FOR THE FLYING SPUR TO MAKE THE SWITCH AS WELL, AND BRING AN EVEN MORE REGAL EXTERIOR DESIGN WITH IT, INCLUDING A NEW RETRACTABLE FLYING B.

THE MOVING PICTURES, YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, REALLY DON'T DO THIS INTERIOR JUSTICE.

IT IS IMMACULATE AND LUXURIOUS; ENSCONCED IN MUSEUM QUALITY MATERIALS.

John: WITH SO MANY REASONS TO DESIRE A FLYING SPUR, I'M DRAWN TO HOW BENTLEY DESIGNS THEIR INTERIORS.

OPULENT WITHOUT BEING OSTENTATIOUS, CLASSIC WHILE BEING TOTALLY MODERN.

YOU HAVE EXQUISITE METAL, WOOD, AND LEATHER TRIM COMBINED WITH THE LATEST IN TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGIES AND ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES.

REALLY, FEATURES THAT ALMOST ALL CARS TODAY SHOULD HAVE.

BUT HERE, IT'S DONE THE WAY ONLY BENTLEY CAN DO IT.

Greg: SHARING THE BENTAYGA'S 48 VOLT ELECTRICAL ANTI-ROLL BARS, VIRTUALLY ELIMINATES BODY ROLL, AND SHOWS PHYSICS WHO'S THE BOSS.

NEW REAR-WHEEL-STEERING HELPS TO INCREASE AGILITY AS WELL.

Brian Robinson: IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVER SINCE THE FLYING SPUR RELAUNCHED 14 YEARS AGO HAS BEEN BASED ON THE VOLKSWAGEN FAYETTETON CHASSIS, SO IT'S A TESTAMENT TO BENTLEY ENGINEERS, THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT AS FAR AS THEY HAVE.

BUT NOW, WITH THE PORSCHE PANAMERA CHASSIS THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

IT'S NO LONGER A MATTER OF THE ENGINEERING AROUND SOMETHING BUT TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU HAVE AND IT SHOULD BE EXCITING TO SEE WHERE IT GOES.

Greg: THE BEST PART HOWEVER, IS THE LIVING, BREATHING 6.0 LITER'S WORTH OF ALUMINUM W12 ENGINE UNDER THE ELEGANT HOOD.

BENTLEY CALLS IT THE MOST ADVANCED 12-CYLINDER ENGINE IN THE WORLD.

WE JUST CALL IT A VELVET HAMMER OF AWESOMENESS.

AND TALK ABOUT FLATTENING A CURVE, THERE'S 664 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AVAILABLE AT JUST ABOUT ANY RPM; ALONG WITH 626 HORSEPOWER TO MOVE THIS 5,500 POUNDS TO 60 IN 3.7 SECONDS.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE OF IT ALL, IS EVERYONE ASSUMING YOU'RE A SPORTS AGENT, OR POSSIBLY A KARDASHIAN.

GOOD LUCK AVOIDING ATTENTION.

WE MAY NEVER LIVE THE HIGH LIFE, BUT WE'LL SHARE WHATEVER TASTE OF IT WE CAN GET, WITH MORE INFO ON THE 2020 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR SOON.

John: IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT GTS MEANS IN THE PORSCHE LINEUP, YOU'LL KNOW THAT THEY'RE BASICALLY, A STEP UP FROM S LABELED ENTRIES.

AND WHILE THAT MOSTLY HOLDS TRUE FOR THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPINS, THE 2021 718 CAYMAN GTS 4.0 AND 718 BOXSTER GTS 4.0; WE'D SAY THEY'RE MORE OF A LEAP THAN A STEP.

FOR STARTERS, THAT 4.0 IN THE NAME COMES FROM THE 4.0 LITER FLAT-6 THAT PROVIDES THE POWER.

IT, AS WELL AS THE CHASSIS ITSELF, ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE CAYMAN GT4.

SLIGHTLY DE-TUNED HERE, AT 394 HORSEPOWER, BUT THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR MAJOR FUN, THANKS TO THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND SPORT SUSPENSION.

WE FOUND THAT OUT DURING OUR FIRST DRIVE IN SOUTHERN PORTUGAL.

Brian: DON'T THINK OF THE GTS AS A SOUPED UP VERSION OF THE BOXSTER S, RATHER A SLIGHTLY DE-TUNED VERSION OF THE 718 SPYDER, WHICH MEANS YOU GET ALMOST ALL OF THE PERFORMANCE, BUT IN A PACKAGE THAT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO LIVE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

John: TRACK TIME IN THE 718 CAYMAN GTS 4.0 WAS EVEN MORE REWARDING; HIGHLIGHTING THE MINIMAL BODY ROLL, INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE CHASSIS, UPGRADED BRAKES, AND TORQUE VECTORING LIMITED-SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

OTHER THINGS YOU'LL GET WITH THIS GTS PAIR INCLUDE THE SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE, 20 INCH WHEELS, UNIQUE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS, GT STEERING WHEEL, AND SPECIAL CABIN TRIM, INCLUDING LOTS OF ALCANTARA LEATHER.

PRICING STARTS AT AROUND $88,000, WITH DELIVERIES TO BEGIN THIS FALL.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

* Greg: IT'S BEEN IN OUR LONG TERM FLEET FOR 10 MONTHS NOW, AND THIS 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV KEEPS "PLUGGING" RIGHT ALONG.

AND YOU CAN'T ASK FOR A BETTER VIEW OF OUR AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE THAN A PLUG-IN, ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CROSSOVER.

THE OUTLANDER PLUG-IN HYBRID CONTINUES TO BE A SMOOTH OPERATOR.

FROM THE COMFORTABLE RIDE TO THE NEAR FLAWLESS HYBRID SYSTEM, THE WHOLE PACKAGE HAS REALLY EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE QUICKNESS OFF THE LINE IS A NICE BONUS.

WE ARE 13,000 MILES IN, AND AFTER FLUCTUATING EARLY, FUEL ECONOMY SEEMS TO HAVE SETTLED IN AT 33.6 MILES PER GALLON.

SURE, WE'D LIKE TO SEE A BIT MORE, BUT THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE FOR AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SUV THAT STRADDLES THE COMPACT AND MID-SIZE SEGMENTS.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON AND NISSAN ALTIMA ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: AT ONE POINT IN TIME, THE NISSAN VERSA WAS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE CAR YOU COULD BUY IN AMERICA.

WELL, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

INDEED, AS IT STARTS A THIRD GENERATION, ITS APPARENT MISSION IS TO BRING A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF REFINEMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND EXCITEMENT TO THE ECONOMY CAR CLASS.

NOW, IF IT SUCCEEDS, THAT COULD MAKE THIS VERSA AN EVEN BIGGER BARGAIN THAN BEFORE.

* WHILE FOR THE MOST PART, NISSAN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MATCH HONDA OR TOYOTA WHEN IT COMES TO COMPACT AND MIDSIZE 4-DOORS; THEIR VERSA SUBCOMPACT SEDAN HAS BEEN A LEADER IN ITS SEGMENT FOR SOME TIME.

AND AN ALL-NEW VERSION FOR 2020, AIMS TO KEEP THAT IN PLACE.

ALWAYS A LITTLE BULBOUS AND CHUNKY-LOOKING; THIS THIRD GENERATION VERSA LOSES THE JELLYBEAN CURVES.

IN THEIR PLACE, ARE SHARPER LINES AND EXAGGERATED FENDERS THAT GIVE IT A SLIMMED-DOWN LOOK, DESPITE HITTING THE NEW-GEN TRIFECTA OF BEING LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER.

YES, THEY INSISTED ON APPLYING NISSAN'S RECENT HALLMARKS OF A V-MOTION GRILLE AND FLOATING ROOF.

THE FRONT END LOOKS GOOD; THE FLOATING ROOF HOWEVER, APPEARS A LITTLE FORCED.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT PREVIOUS VERSA'S HAVE PUT A HIGHER PRIORITY ON PRICE POINT THAN DRIVING ENJOYMENT; AND WHILE WE'RE NOT TALKING SPORT SEDAN HERE, RESPONSE HAS VASTLY IMPROVED.

THOUGH, THE VERSA REMAINS THE SMALLEST CAR IN THEIR LINEUP HERE, IT'S STATISTICALLY A COMPACT, AND INSIDE IT EVEN FEELS MORE LIKE A MIDSIZE; REAFFIRMING YET AGAIN TO US, WHY MIDSIZE FAMILY CARS ARE IN A SLUMP.

YES, PEOPLE ARE DEFECTING TO SUVs THERE'S NO DENYING THAT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO FINDING THE AMOUNT OF SPACE AND EVEN COMFORT FEATURES THEY'RE USED TO IN SMALLER CARS.

IT DOESN'T EXACTLY FEEL ALL GROWN UP IN HERE, BUT CERTAINLY LESS ENTRY-LEVEL THAN BEFORE.

MATERIALS ARE MUCH NICER AND THE COPIOUS AMOUNT OF REAL CONTROLS FEEL MORE SUBSTANTIAL TO THE TOUCH.

PLUS, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS WHERE YOU EXPECT IT TO BE.

FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS DO GET MORE SPACE THAN BEFORE, BUT REAR SEAT PASSENGERS ACTUALLY LOOSE A LITTLE, WHICH IS A SHAME AS THAT WAS A REAL HIGHLIGHT OF PAST VERSA'S.

CARGO SPACE REMAINS QUITE GOOD, 15.0 CUBIC-FEET IN THE TRUNK.

THE STANDARD NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 1.6 LITER I4 THAT POWERS THE VERSA IS NOT NEW.

BUT IT HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR 2020; CRANKING OUT THIRTEEN MORE HORSEPOWER AND SEVEN MORE POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THAN BEFORE, FOR TOTALS OF 122 HORSEPOWER AND 114 POUND-FEET.

HERE IN OUR TEST CAR, IT'S CONNECTED TO A CVT, BUT A 5-SPEED MANUAL IS STILL AVAILABLE IF YOU STICK WITH BASE TRIM.

THE CVT HAS RECEIVED SOME UPDATES AS WELL.

WE ACTUALLY CAN'T SAY, WE'RE IN LOVE WITH IT, BUT ITS QUICKER RESPONSE AND INCREASED SMOOTHNESS ARE CERTAINLY APPRECIATED.

DESPITE THE ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER, OUR VERSA SR-TRIMMED TEST CAR WAS ACTUALLY SLOWER TO 60 THAN LAST GEN, TAKING A LENGTHY 11.3 SECONDS TO GET THE JOB DONE.

BUT IT WAS NOTICEABLY SMOOTHER.

THERE ARE SIMULATED SHIFTS IN THE CVT WHICH DON'T REALLY ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING OTHER THAN IMPEDING YOUR MOMENTUM, AND PERHAPS GIVING YOU THE SOUND OF A TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC.

BEST QUARTER MILE TIME WAS 18.6 SECONDS AT 75 MILES PER HOUR.

THE FRONT SUSPENSION, IS YOUR TYPICAL INDEPENDENT STRUT SETUP WITH TWIN-TUBE SHOCK ABSORBERS AND A 21MM STABILIZER BAR.

IN BACK, IS AN ECONOMY-MINDED TORSION BEAM, ALSO WITH TWIN-TUBE SHOCK ABSORBERS.

STEERING WEIGHT AND RESPONSE ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, SAFETY-FOCUSED, SUBCOMPACT COMMUTER.

ON THAT SAFETY FRONT, BASE S TRIM DOES INCLUDE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, BUT ALL OTHER TRIMS GET THE FULL NISSAN SAFETY SHIELD 360, WHICH ADDS LANE DEPARTURE AND BLIND SPOT WARNINGS.

NOW, EFFICIENCY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERSA STRONG POINT; THAT CONTINUES HERE WITH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 32-CITY, 40-HIGHWAY, AND 35-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 34.5 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

THE BASE S TRIM MANUAL STARTS AT JUST $15,625, MID-LEVEL SV AT $18,535; TOP SR AT $19,135, AND IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, NO MORE NOTE HATCHBACK FOR NOW.

IN SOME CIRCLES, "VERY NICE" MAY NOT SOUND LIKE HIGH PRAISE.

BUT THE 2020 NISSAN VERSA IS INDEED VERY NICE WHETHER YOU'RE COMPARING IT TO SUBCOMPACTS, COMPACTS, OR EVEN MIDSIZE SEDANS.

IT MAY NOT BE THE CHEAPEST CAR YOU CAN BUY ANYMORE, BUT IT'S A MORE THAN COMPETENT COMMUTER, AND FOR US, A FAR GREATER VALUE THAN EVER BEFORE.

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'LL CHECK OUT A SMALL SUV FROM MERCEDES-BENZ THAT PACKS A BIG PUNCH.

AND IT'S A NEW DESIGN FOR THE ONE WAGON AMERICANS LOVE, THE SUBARU OUTBACK.

TIL 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.

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *