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

JOIN US AND SEE HOW CHRYSLER KEEPS THE MINIVAN ON THE PINNACLE OF LUXURY... PAT GOSS PULLS INTO THE PITS FOR A TIRE CHANGE... WE'LL HEAD OVER THE EDGE FOR ALL ELECTRIC TRACK DAY FUN... THEN, SEE THE LATEST ACURA HAS DEVISED FOR THEIR POPULAR MDX UTILITY...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , 40 YEARS, STEERING YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS.

AND, TOOLS TO HELP.

"LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

"OH!"

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: IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, MINIVANS AREN'T REALLY MINI ANYMORE.

AND WHILE THEY'RE NOT SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EITHER, ALL OF THEM CAN "OUT-UTILITY" MOST OF THE CURRENT CROP OF CROSSOVERS WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY HAULING.

SO LET'S CHECK IN WITH CHRYSLER, AND SEE HOW THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE PINNACLE OF MINIVAN POSHNESS AND PERFORMANCE.

* WE'RE NOT SURE THE MINIVAN WILL EVER AGAIN GET THE PROPS IT DESERVES, BUT THOSE THAT AREN'T AFRAID TO LIVE THE "VAN LIFE" KNOW HOW USEFUL THEY CAN BE.

THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION GAVE BIRTH TO THE MODERN FRONT DRIVE MINIVAN, AND FOR 2021 THE CHRYSLER BRAND HAS A WEALTH OF UPDATES TO KEEP THEIR PACIFICA RELEVANT, AND MAYBE EVEN SWAY A FEW PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CROSSOVER THEY THINK THEY NEED.

IT WAS 1984s PLYMOUTH VOYAGER THAT INTRODUCED THE MINIVAN TO AMERICANS.

IN OUR TEST, WE FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT FAULTS WITH CHRYSLER'S NEW T-WAGON, AND CALLED IT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW CONCEPTS IN AMERICAN FAMILY MOTORING TO COME ALONG IN DECADES.

OTHER MANUFACTURERS OF COURSE, QUICKLY JOINED THE TREND, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO STATION WAGONS ALMOST COMPLETELY BEING ELIMINATED HERE IN THE U.S. NOW, MINIVANS ARE TRYING TO AVOID BEING DEALT THE SAME HAND BY CROSSOVERS.

HELPING THAT CAUSE, ARE SOME NEW PACIFICA FEATURES LIKE FAMCAM.

THIS CEILING MOUNTED CAMERA ALLOWS YOU KEEP TABS ON THE GOINGS ON IN THE REAR SEATS, VIA THE 10 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN.

AND IF YOU SEE ANY POTENTIAL SHENANIGANS, JUST TAP ON THE SEAT FOR A CLOSE UP.

TO SATISFY THOSE WHO INSIST ON THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE, IS NEW PINNACLE TRIM.

IT COMES WITH QUILTED NAPPA LEATHER SEATS IN ALL ROWS, WITH MATCHING PILLOWS FOR THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, A HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL ULTRA CONSOLE, EXCLUSIVE CARAMEL AND PIANO BLACK THEME, TIMBER HYDRO TRIM, SATIN CHROME ACCENTS, AND SUEDE HEADLINER.

SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS ARE TOO BIG TO FOLD INTO THE FLOOR, SO NO STOW-N-GO FEATURE, BUT THEY DO SLIDE AROUND TO GET INTO THE BEST POSITION.

BUT, YOU CAN STILL ACCESS THE HUGE STORAGE WELLS IN THE FLOOR, WHICH COMBINES WITH THAT CONSOLE TO PROVIDE BEST IN CLASS MINIVAN INTERIOR STORAGE.

THIRD ROW SEATS FOLD INTO THE FLOOR AS BEFORE; REQUIRING JUST A PUSH OF A BUTTON HERE IN THE PINNACLE.

PERHAPS, THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN ATTRACTING BUYERS FROM THE CROSSOVER CROWD, IS THE PACIFICA'S NEW ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM.

WITH ONLY THE TOYOTA SIENNA AS A RIVAL, IT GIVES BOTH AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE REST.

THE PACIFICA'S FULLY-AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL SYSTEM, COMPLETELY DISCONNECTS THE REAR DRIVE MODULE WHEN NOT NEEDED.

THEY CLAIM IT'S THE MOST ADVANCED SYSTEM IN THE CLASS, AND ARE SO CONFIDENT YOU'LL WANT IT, THAT THEY'VE MADE IT STANDARD ON TOP LIMITED AND PINNACLE TRIMS.

NO CHANGES TO THE POWER PROVIDING END; SAME EXCELLENT 3.6 LITER V6, DELIVERING 287 HORSEPOWER AND 262 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THROUGH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

AT MASON DIXON DRAGWAY, EQUIPPED WITH GRIP, OUR PINNACLE A-W-D EASED ITS WAY OFF THE LINE WITH NO DRAMA, BUT NOT A LOT OF URGENCY EITHER, TAKING A LEISURELY 8.0 SECONDS TO HIT 60.

NO REAL SENSE OF IMMEDIACY DOWN THE REST OF THE TRACK, BUT AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE SMOOTH AND TIMELY; RESULTING IN A 16.2 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 86 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF BODY ROLL THROUGH THE CONES, ALONG WITH SOFT STEERING FEEL; BUT LOTS OF ADHESION FOR BALANCE.

WE COULD CARRY A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF SPEED THROUGH HERE, PROVIDED WE KEPT INPUTS SMOOTH TO AVOID STRONG STABILITY CONTROL MITIGATION.

ALL '21 PACIFICA'S GET A FRESHENED LOOK OUTSIDE.

EVERYTHING UP FRONT IS NEW, INCLUDING BUMPER, GRILLE, HEADLIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS.

PLUS, SIX FRESH WHEEL DESIGNS AND REVISED TAILLIGHTS.

AT 17-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED, THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM CERTAINLY TAKES A TOLL ON GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS; AND OUR 21.8 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON REGULAR WAS INDEED LOWER THAN THE 23.7 MPGs WE AVERAGED WITH A PACIFICA LONG-TERM, A FEW YEARS BACK.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE; WITH 16.5 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED YEARLY, WITH 7.4 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

A BASE PACIFICA STICKERS FOR $37,315; SO IT'S QUITE A CLIMB TO REACH THE PINNACLE AT $55,590.

IF ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS YOUR PRIORITY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SCALE NEARLY AS FAR, AS YOU CAN ADD IT TO EITHER TOURING TRIMS FOR $2,995.

HYBRID PACIFICA'S ALSO REMAIN AVAILABLE, BUT STAY FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE ONLY.

THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA DEBUTED IN MINIVAN FORM FOR 2017; AND WE'RE GUESSING THERE ARE STILL QUITE A FEW MORE YEARS LEFT IN ITS CURRENT LIFECYCLE.

BUT, THE 2021 PACIFICA PINNACLE A-W-D PROVES THAT MINIVANS REMAIN A PRIORITY AT STELLANTIS, AND THERE ARE STILL A WHOLE LOT OF AMERICAN FAMILIES THAT WILL BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

* ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS, BUT SIMPLY SAY THE WORDS "LUDICROUS MODE" OR SEE CARS LIKE THIS PORSCHE TAYCAN AND YOU'LL QUICKLY LEARN THAT PERFORMANCE IS A BIG PART OF THE EV EQUATION TOO.

WELL RECENTLY, OUR OVER THE EDGE REPORTER, GREG CARLOSS GOT A CHANCE TO SAMPLE AN EV THAT TAKES HIGH PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE COMMUTER LANE AND ONTO THE FAST TRACK.

* Greg Carloss: MANY RACING FANS COME OUT TO THE TRACK SIMPLY FOR THE SOUND OF THE CARS.

BUT THIS RACE TEAM GENERATES A BUZZ BY MAKING HARDLY ANY NOISE AT ALL.

I'M CHARLIE GREENHAUS AND I'M THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF ENTROPY RACING.

WE'VE BEEN FIELDING, RENTING, SERVICING, AND SUPPORTING RACE CARS SINCE THE LATE 1980s.

Greg: CHARLIE'S CARS WERE, LIKE MOST, POWERED BY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES, THAT IS UNTIL THE IDEA OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SPORTS RACER OR E-V-S-R PROGRAM CAME ABOUT.

Charlie: IN 2013, WE HAD A CUSTOMER WHO WAS INTERESTED IN SEEING A PROJECT LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO, WE DECIDED TO TAKE HIM UP ON HIS OFFER, AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS, WE HAD A CAR ON TRACK.

Greg: THE FIRST GENERATION WAS BASED ON A POPULAR SPORTS RACING CAR; HEAVILY MODIFIED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE POWER PLANT AND BATTERY PACKS.

BUT IN 2020, ENTROPY INTRODUCED THIS SECOND GEN CAR WITH A COMPLETE REDESIGN OF THE SAFETY CAGE AND BATTERY CONTAINER AS WELL A BRAND NEW, SINGLE PIECE BODY DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED IN-HOUSE AT THEIR PENNSYLVANIA HEADQUARTERS.

Charlie: RIGHT NOW IT CAN, IN QUALIFYING TRIM, RUN ABOUT 220/225 HORSEPOWER.

IT WEIGHS 1,850 POUNDS WITHOUT A DRIVER, LONGITUDINAL MOTOR, AND WE'RE RUNNING A 27/28 KILOWATT HOUR PACK WITH LITHIUM FERROUS PHOSPHATE... Greg: HERE ON SUMMIT POINT'S MAIN CIRCUIT, THERE'S ENOUGH JUICE FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF RACING, WHICH THEY PULL FROM THESE LEVEL-2 CHARGERS.

Bob Crawford: THEY CAN RUN WITH ANYBODY.

SO THEY RUN WITH A RULE SET THAT WE CREATED FOR THEM TO RUN WITH THE SRFS, THE SPEC RACER FORD, TRADITIONAL SCCA CLASS, BUT ALSO IN BRACKET WHERE YOU GET A MIXTURE OF BIG BORE CARS, BIG V8, GROUND POUNDER CARS, MIATAS, AND YOU NAME IT, IT'S ALL OUT THERE AND THEY CAN RUN EQUALLY WITH ANY OF THEM.

Mike Wilson: WELL, IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE, BUT IF I HAD TO COMPARE IT TO SOMETHING...

I COMPARE IT TO SOMETHING THAT'S SLOWER THAN US, BUT KIND OF LIKE A SPEC MIATA, IT'S A MOMENTUM CAR.

HOLDS A LOT OF G'S.

CORNER SPEEDS ARE GOOD, IN QUALIFYING TODAY, I HAVE A V8, YOU KNOW, NASCAR TRUCK BEHIND ME AND THERE'S A MODERN GT MUSTANG.

YOU KNOW...BOTH OF THEM SOUND GREAT, BUT I'M WILLING TO BET THAT AT THE END OF THE RACE TODAY, WE WILL FINISH AHEAD OF THEM.

Charlie: ONE OF THE SURPRISES EARLY ON WAS THAT WE COULD HEAR OUR COMPETITORS SO WELL THAT WE COULD MAKE DECISIONS AND HEAR THEIR INTENT IN THE CAR, AS SOON AS HE LIFTS, WE KNOW, WE CAN TAKE THE CORNER AND WE CAN OWN IT.

Greg: WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO BUILDING RACE CARS FROM THE GROUND UP, THEY BECOME YOUR CHILDREN, WHICH MEANS YOU GET TO NAME THEM.

BEHIND ME IS "OHM" AND I'LL BE DRIVING "BLINKY."

IRONICALLY, PUTTING ON ALL THE SAFETY GEAR ALWAYS MAKES ME UNEASY, BUT BEHIND THE WHEEL, I'M CHARGED WITH EXCITEMENT.

FEELING GOOD.

CONFIDENT.

BUT NOT TOO CONFIDENT.

JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CONFIDENT.

AND OUT ON THE TRACK THAT CONFIDENCE GROWS AS CHARLIE AND I CARVE UP THE COURSE.

CHARLIE WAS NOT KIDDING.

IT'S VERY EASY TO DRIVE, AND THERE'S JUST NO ROLL.

I MEAN, THIS THING IS A RACE CAR, THAT'S JUST FLAT OUT THROUGH THERE.

DON'T GET TO DO THAT VERY OFTEN.

AND THERE GOES CHARLIE, SO CLEARLY THESE CARS HAVE A LITTLE MORE POWER THAN I'M GETTING RIGHT NOW.

STILL, THESE AREN'T 0-60 SPRINTERS, THEY'RE BONAFIDE ROAD COURSE RACERS.

AND, AFTER A QUICK VICTORY LAP, WOOHOOHOO!

YEAH!

IT WAS TIME TO CLIMB OUT AND PLUG-IN.

Charlie: WHAT'S THAT?

YOU WANT ONE?

Greg: I WANT ONE!

Charlie: WE CAN ARRANGE THAT!

[LAUGHTER] PULL OFF THAT HELMET AND LET'S SIGN THE CONTRACT.

Greg: WITH THREE MORE CURRENTLY BEING BUILT, CHARLIE PLANS TO RENT AND EVEN SELL HIS CARS; ALL WHILE PROMOTING E-V-S-Rs CORE MISSION.

Charlie: PLUG IT IN, KICK GAS.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY.

EARLY ON, WE WEREN'T VERY WELL ACCEPTED AND AS TIME HAS GONE ON AND WE FINISHED RACE AFTER RACE, PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE JUST PART OF THE RACING COMMUNITY AND WE'RE AN IMPORTANT PART, BUT IT'S GOING TO GROW.

AND IT'S GOING TO KEEP GROWING.

John: FOR MOST CARS ROTATING YOUR TIRES IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM.

FOR THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT, LET'S ROTATE OVER TO PAT AT GOSS' GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO DO THEIR OWN TIRE ROTATION.

CAN THEY?

YES, CERTAINLY YOU CAN.

BUT I THINK, IT'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER TO HAVE A SHOP DO IT WHILE IT'S UP IN THE AIR GETTING SOME OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED.

GETTING AN OIL CHANGE?

LOTS OF TIME THEY'LL THROW IN THE TIRE ROTATION FREE OF CHARGE.

BUT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT YOURSELF?

OKAY, WHAT DO YOU NEED?

WELL FIRST YOU NEED AN OWNER'S MANUAL THAT TELLS YOU THE TORQUE ON THE LUG NUTS AND WHERE THE JACKING POINTS ARE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO JACK THE CAR UP.

MORE ON THAT IN A SECOND.

NOW, YOU NEED SOMETHING TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WRENCH OR THIS BREAKER BAR HERE.

YOU DO NOT USE YOUR TORQUE WRENCH ALTHOUGH YOU DO NEED ONE TO DO THE ROTATION.

THE TORQUE WRENCH CAN BE KNOCKED OUT OF CALIBRATION IF YOU USE IT TO REMOVE LUG NUTS.

ALRIGHT SO WE GOT THAT OUT OF THE WAY, NOW WE NEED A DECENT JACK.

NOT ONE OF THESE SCISSOR JACKS, WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO USE FOR JOBS LIKE THIS, YOU NEED A FLOOR JACK.

AND REMEMBER THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE JACKING POINTS, MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THAT WHEN YOU JACK THE CAR UP, SO YOU DON'T CRUSH A BRAKE LINE OR A WIRE HARNESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

ALRIGHT...NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO JACK IT UP, YOU HAVE TO GET ALL FOUR WHEELS UP OFF THE GROUND AND MAINTAIN IT THERE SO THAT MEANS YOU NEED FOUR JACK STANDS.

SO YOU RAISE IT UP, YOU'VE GOT YOUR FOUR JACK STANDS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO POSITION THOSE JACK STANDS ON.

IF YOUR DRIVEWAY ISN'T CONCRETE, IF IT'S BLACK TOP, GRAVEL, DIRT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PIECE OF PLYWOOD UNDER EACH ONE OF THE JACK STANDS TO MAKE IT STABLE AND SAFE.

ALRIGHT, WE GOT ALL THAT DONE, AND OH, AND SPEAKING OF JACK STANDS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BUY THINGS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO WORK ON YOUR CAR MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER EVERY ONE OF THEM.

WE HAVE FOUR PIECES RIGHT HERE, FOUR JACK STANDS, AND TWO OF THEM ARE RECALLED, IF WE HADN'T REGISTERED THEM, WE WOULD NEVER KNOW THEY WERE RECALLED.

ALRIGHT, YOU GET THE CAR UP IN THE AIR, THE NEXT THING YOU DO IS TAKE THE WHEELS OFF; USE A MODIFIED X ROTATION PATTERN, THAT MEANS THAT THE TIRES THAT ARE GOING ON THE DRIVE WHEELS GET X'ED.

THE TIRES THAT ARE GOING ON THE NON-DRIVE WHEELS STAY ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE CAR AND MOVE TO THE OTHER END.

GET ALL OF THAT DONE, THEN USE YOUR TORQUE WRENCH TO PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE WHEELS.

AND YOU HAVE SPENT A COUPLE THREE HOURS DOING A TIRE ROTATION.

OKAY, YOUR DECISION.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS 1974 PORSCHE 914 IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

BRYANT JACKSON OF LA MESA, CALIFORNIA IS ONLY THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS MID-ENGINE TARGA TOPPED TWO-SEATER.

HE MADE THE 2.5 YEAR RESTORATION A FATHER/SON PROJECT THAT INCLUDED RETURNING IT TO ITS ORIGINAL GREEN HUE.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR PRIDE AND JOY FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... 2021 IS ALREADY SHAPING UP TO BE A BOUNTIFUL YEAR THAT IS LOTS OF EXCITING NEW CARS AND TRUCKS HEADED OUR WAY.

SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST.

* Jessica Ray: THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E HAS ALREADY BEEN A GALLOPING HIT.

BUT, THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET EVEN MORE "UNBRIDLED" WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE 2021 MUSTANG MACH-E GT PERFORMANCE EDITION.

YES, THIS IS THE ONE, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

THE STANDARD MACH-E GT GETS DUAL MOTOR, ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SETUP WITH 480 HORSEPOWER AND 600 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

JUST FOR COMPARISON SAKE, THE CURRENT MUSTANG GT V8 COUPE HAS SIMILAR HORSEPOWER, BUT 180 LESS POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WE'RE ALSO TOLD TO EXPECT ABOUT A 250 MILE RANGE.

PERFORMANCE EDITIONS GET RECALIBRATED MOTORS THAT DELIVER AN EXTRA 34 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AS WELL AS A TRACK-ORIENTED SETUP FOR THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM FOR BETTER GRIP AND 3.5 SECOND 0-60s.

ADD TO THAT, RED BREMBO BRAKE CALIPERS, UNIQUE 20-INCH WHEELS WITH PIRELLI PERFORMANCE TIRES, AND MAGNERIDE DAMPING.

BOTH ALSO ADD AN UNBRIDLED EXTEND DRIVE MODE FOR...UHUM...TRACK USE ONLY, WHICH DIALS BACK TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL SIGNIFICANTLY, AND PUMPS A LITTLE MORE SIMULATED ENGINE NOISE INTO THE CABIN.

John: IN CASE YOU'RE KEEPING SCORE, THOUGH STILL SLOWER THAN THE ULTIMATE TESLA'S, THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E GT PERFORMANCE EDITION IS NOT ONLY FASTER THAN A PETROL-POWERED MUSTANG GT, IT'S ON PAR WITH THE MUSTANG SHELBY GT500.

Jessica: OTHER ADDED ELEMENTS TO THE GT INCLUDE SPECIAL PAINT COLORS, ILLUMINATED PONY BADGE, AND CARBONIZED-GRAY TRIM FOR THE OUTSIDE; FORD PERFORMANCE SEATS, METALLIC STITCHING, AND UNIQUE MIKO TRIM FOR THE INSIDE.

Greg: WHILE, THERE ARE SOME COOL DETAILS THAT INDICATE ITS SPORTY SOUL, THE MACH-E GT DOESN'T REALLY SCREAM PERFORMANCE, IN FACT IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST SUBTLE MUSTANG TO EVER WEAR A GT BADGE... AND WHILE I'VE GOT YOU TRIGGERED, WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, IT WILL BE THE SAFEST MUSTANG TO EVER SPEED AWAY FROM A CARS AND COFFEE.

Jessica: FORD DEALERS ARE TAKING ORDERS NOW, WITH FALL DELIVERIES EXPECTED FOR THE 2021 MUSTANG MACH-E GT WHICH STARTS AROUND $60,000; ADD ANOTHER FIVE GRAND FOR THE PERFORMANCE EDITION.

John: HONDA HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE MAP WITH HYBRIDS; HELPING INTRODUCE THEM TO THE WORLD WITH THE HYPERMILING HONDA INSIGHT, TO EXPLORING THEIR PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL IN THE FIRST ACCORD HYBRID.

NOW, THEY SEEM TO BE SETTLING INTO INCORPORATING THEM INTO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY DO, LIKE THIS REVISED 2021 HONDA ACCORD.

ALL '21 ACCORDS GET A FRESHENED LOOK WITH A NEW GRILLE, REVISED LIGHTING, AND DIFFERENT WHEEL DESIGNS.

DISPLAY AUDIO WITH 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN IS NOW STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD, AND THERE ARE SAFETY UPGRADES THROUGHOUT THE LINEUP.

BUT THEY'VE PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE HYBRID, REVAMPING THE 212 HORSEPOWER TWO-MOTOR SYSTEM'S SOFTWARE TO PROVIDE BETTER THROTTLE RESPONSE, AND DELIVER A MORE NATURAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

Brian Robinson: WHETHER, IT'S PICKUP TRUCKS, SUVS, OR SEDANS; HONDAS ALL HAVE THAT VERY FAMILIAR FEEL TO THEM.

AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN AN ACCORD HYBRID, BUT THE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME THE MOST WAS NOT HOW MUCH SMOOTHER IT IS, WHICH INDEED THAT HAS GOTTEN BETTER, BUT HOW MUCH TIME YOU ACTUALLY SPEND DRIVING ON BATTERY POWER FOR A VEHICLE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLUG IN.

John: 2021 HONDA ACCORD PRICING STARTS AROUND $25,000; AND YOU WON'T NEED MUCH MORE THAN THAT TO GET INTO A HYBRID, AS THEY START AT JUST OVER $26,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

John: QUICK, WHAT IS THE BEST-SELLING LUXURY 3-ROW UTILITY VEHICLE OF ALL TIME?

TIME'S UP.

IT'S THE ACURA MDX, WITH OVER A MILLION ON THE ROAD SINCE IT ARRIVED FOR 2001.

SO LET'S FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THE MDX SO POPULAR, AND WHAT ACURA HAS DONE TO MAKE IT EVER MORE SO FOR 2022.

* THESE DAYS, SUVs HAVE A LOT ON THEIR WELL-SCULPTED SHOULDERS; ESPECIALLY IN THE LUXURY RANKS, WHERE THEY NEED TO NOT ONLY OFFER LOTS OF ACTUAL UTILITY, BUT INCREASINGLY TEND TO BE THE FLAGSHIPS FOR THEIR BRANDS.

WHICH MEANS, BRINGING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, AND RATCHETING UP BOTH FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE.

THIS ALL-NEW 2022 ACURA MDX LOOKS TO BE UP FOR THE TASK.

THE MDX STORY STARTED IN 2001, ARRIVING AT A TIME WHEN THE UNSTOPPABLE POPULARITY OF SUVs WAS FILTERING ITS WAY UP TO LUXURY BRANDS, AIDED BY A ROBUST ECONOMY.

SO QUICKLY WAS THIS HAPPENING, THAT MANY WERE TAKING THE "BADGE-ENGINEERING" APPROACH.

NOT ACURA, THEY ENVISIONED SOMETHING TRULY DIFFERENT FOR THE SEGMENT; A "NEAR PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN A SOPHISTICATED SEDAN AND CAPABLE SPORT UTILITY."

IN OUR 20TH SEASON ROAD TEST, WE CALLED IT "ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST RUNNING AND HANDLING SUVs ON THE PLANET."

FLASH FORWARD TO 2022, AND THIS 4TH GENERATION MDX SEES PERHAPS ITS BIGGEST TRANSFORMATION EVER; YET, AS WE'LL SEE, NOT MUCH HAS TRULY CHANGED.

THIS ALL-NEW PLATFORM IS MORE RIGID, AND STRETCHES THE WHEELBASE BY ALMOST 3.0 INCHES.

VIRTUALLY EVERY EXTERIOR MEASUREMENT HAS INCREASED, AND THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE BEEN PUSHED FARTHER FORWARD, LENGTHENING THE HOOD TO GIVE A MUCH MORE ATHLETIC PROFILE.

AS FOR TECH, YOU'RE GREETED WITH LOTS OF IT AS SOON AS YOU HIT THE SILVER START BUTTON, WITH ACURA'S PRECISION COCKPIT COMING TO LIFE.

IT'S THE FIRST FULLY DIGITAL DISPLAY FOR THE BRAND, AND IT'S STANDARD ON THE MDX.

FOR INFOTAINMENT, THERE'S A 12 INCH DASH-TOP SCREEN; NOT ONLY WITH FULL APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO INTEGRATION, BUT ALEXA IS ALONG FOR THE RIDE TOO.

THE CENTER CONSOLE AND MOST CONTROLS ARE ALL VERY SIMILAR WITH THE TLX SEDAN; WHICH MEANS, A TOUCHPAD CONTROLLER FOR ACURALINK.

IT'S FINE WHEN YOU'RE PARKED AND SITTING STILL IN THE CAR, BUT TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD WHILE CONCENTRATING ON THE TOUCHPAD AND LOOKING AT THE SCREEN CAN BE DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY ON BUMPY ROADS.

USE DOES IMPROVE WITH FAMILIARITY, BUT WE TEND TO ONLY USE IT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

ON TO MORE PRACTICAL MATTERS; THERE'S MORE SPACE INSIDE FOR ALL THREE ROWS AND SEVEN PASSENGERS.

COMFORT IS AS GOOD AS IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, WHILE FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.

THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT CAN EITHER FOLD DOWN INTO A CONSOLE, OR BE REMOVED ENTIRELY.

SO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BENCH OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, ACURA GIVES YOU BOTH.

NOT ONLY IS THERE 2.4 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL LEGROOM IN THE THIRD ROW, BUT SEAT BOTTOMS ARE HIGHER FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE SEATING POSITION.

A 3.5 LITER V6 HAS BEEN PART OF THE MDX PICTURE FOR MOST OF ITS EXISTENCE, AND THAT CONTINUES HERE; OUTPUT REMAINS 290 HORSEPOWER AND 267 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, BUT THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT REVISIONS, MAINLY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS ALONG WITH NOISE, VIBRATION, AND HARSHNESS.

THE MDX WILL SOON JOIN THE TURBO RANKS WHEN A NEW TYPE S ARRIVES THIS SUMMER WITH A 355 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER V6 TURBO.

ONE MORE GEAR HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS NOW A 10-SPEED.

GOING FULL-SPEED AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE MDX DELIVERED CONSISTENT POWER WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF THROATY EXHAUST NOISE.

ZERO TO 60 WAS A GOOD 6.4 SECONDS; WITH THE QUARTER-MILE TAKING 15.2 AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

WITH THIS NEW PLATFORM, COMES A NEW SUSPENSION SETUP; THE REAR REMAINS A MULTI-LINK, BUT THE WHOLE SUB-FRAME HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO BE MORE COMPACT AND PROVIDE BETTER ISOLATION FROM THE CABIN.

WHILE UP FRONT, IS AN ALL-NEW DOUBLE WISHBONE DESIGN REPLACING THE MACPHERSON STRUTS OF THE PREVIOUS GEN. YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO UPGRADE TO SUPER-HANDLING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, BUT YOU WON'T REGRET DOING IT; AS IT HELPS THE MDX HANDLE BETTER THAN SOME SPORT SEDANS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 19-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.5 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE MDX, PROBABLY THE BIGGEST REASON FOR ITS CONTINUED POPULARITY COMES DOWN TO VALUE.

POINT OF ENTRY UNDERCUTS MOST RIVALS AT $47,925.

SUPER-HANDLING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS A $2,000 OPTION FOR THE BASE MODEL, AND COMES STANDARD WITH A-SPEC AND ADVANCE TRIMS.

THOSE QUICKLY DRAWN TO THE LATEST ATTENTION-GRABBING SHINY WHEELED OBJECT OF DESIRE MAY BE DISAPPOINTED.

CLEARLY, THE 2022 ACURA MDX IS NOT THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE.

IT'S MUCH MORE ABOUT SUBSTANCE, AND THERE'S LOADS OF THAT ON TAP HERE.

CURRENT MDX FANS WILL LOVE THE UPGRADES, AND ALL ACURA OWNERS WILL SOON BENEFIT FROM THE HALO EFFECT THE NEW MDX BRINGS TO THE BRAND.

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, TO SEE HOW CHEVROLET IS BLAZING A NEW TRAIL THROUGH THE SMALL CROSSOVER LANDSCAPE, THEN IT'S A SPEEDY GOOD TIME IN BMWs LATEST 4-SERIES.

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... YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

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