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

JOIN US FOR A ROUND OF LUXO SUV FUN IN THE MERCEDES BENZ GLA... CAN'T FIT IT INSIDE, PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO STORE IT UP TOP...

BRAIN ROBINSON HEADS TO THE CAFE IN TIME IN A SPEEDY TRIUMPH... THEN, IT'S A NEW BLAST FROM THE PAST, THE NISSAN G-T-R NISMO...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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John: IT'S EASY TO DELIVER A GREAT LUXURY VEHICLE WHEN MONEY IS NO OBJECT.

IT'S MUCH HARDER TO DELIVER ONE FOR THE ENTRY-LEVEL BUYER.

HARDER STILL IS THE HIGHLY-COMPETITIVE SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THIS ALL-NEW MERCEDES-BENZ G-L-A IS UP TO THE TASK.

♪ ♪ WE OFTEN SUGGEST THAT MANY SMALL CROSSOVERS ARE SIMPLY HATCHBACKS WITH ADDED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

INDEED, THE FIRST GEN MERCEDES-BENZ G-L-A WAS EXACTLY THAT, A JACKED-UP VERSION OF THE A-CLASS HATCHBACK THAT WE DIDN'T GET HERE IN THE U.S.

IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THE PROCESS, AS IT PROVED TO BE QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

STILL, FOR THE 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ G-L-A 250, MERCEDES WANTED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT, MORE TRUE-TO-FORM SUV DIRECTION.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A CROSSOVER UTILITY FROM THE GET-GO, AND IT TRULY LOOKS THE PART NOW.

IT'S OVER 3.0 INCHES TALLER, HAS A MORE UPRIGHT FACE, AND GROWS IN EVERY DIMENSION EXCEPT FOR OVERALL LENGTH; THOUGH THERE IS MORE WHEELBASE; 107.4 INCHES.

ADD A TASTEFUL AMOUNT OF CHROME TRIM, AND YOU'VE GOT A PROGRESSIVE LOOKING SUV.

SO, YEAH IT LOOKS MORE LIKE WHAT WE EXPECT IN A UTILITY, BUT THE REAL TRANSFORMATION HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE DRIVING ASPECTS OF THE CAR...UHH...SUV.

IT'S ALL BUILT ON A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT UNI-BODY STRUCTURE; AND LIKE THE G-L-B, THE DOORS CLOSE WITH A RESOUNDING BIG-TRUCK THUD.

THEY DIDN'T GO QUITE AS FAR AS THE G-L-Bs MINI G-WAGON VIBE, AS THERE'S STILL A SHARPLY DESCENDING ROOFLINE, BUT IT IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

SEATING POSITION IS ALSO MUCH HIGHER THAN BEFORE.

POWER HERE IN THE 250 IS MERCEDES' 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO WITH OUTPUT OF 221 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; DRIVING THE FRONT WHEELS THROUGH AN 8-SPEED D-C-T AUTOMATIC, WITH 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AVAILABLE.

THAT'S 13-MORE HORSEPOWER THAN LAST YEAR.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, LET'S LOOK BACK AT WHEN THE MERCEDES-BENZ LUXURY UTILITY THING BEGAN IN EARNEST.

SURE, THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF MILITARY UTILITIES, AND THE CIVILIAN GELANDEWAGON.

BUT, IT WAS THE 1998s ML320 THAT REALLY GOT THE BALL ROLLING.

DESIGNED TO SATISFY AMERICA'S INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR LUXURY SUVs, IT WAS EVEN BUILT IN A BRAND NEW U.S.

ASSEMBLY PLANT IN ALABAMA.

WE APPLAUDED THE VERY COMPETITIVE PRICE, SUPERIOR RIDE-AND-HANDLING, WELL-DESIGNED INTERIOR, STRONG OFF-ROAD CAPABILITIES, AND THE FACT THAT IT LIVED UP TO THE LOFTY MERCEDES REPUTATION.

MUCH THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT THIS G-L-A.

INTERIOR AMENITIES ARE FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE IN BASE TRIM, BUT ADDING THE PREMIUM PACKAGE IS WELL WORTH IT; AS IT UPS THE DUAL DASH SCREENS FROM 7.0 TO 10 INCHES WITH CUSTOMIZABLE SETUPS, MBUX CONNECTIVITY, AND AUGMENTED NAVIGATION.

THEY REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK, AS FIRST TIME BUYERS WILL FIND THE GENUINE MERCEDES EXPERIENCE THEY WERE EXPECTING.

FRONT SEATS ARE WIDE AND QUITE COMFORTABLE, AND THE LONGER WHEELBASE ALONG WITH THE HEIGHT INCREASE, REALLY OPENS UP THE BACK SEAT.

THERE'S A GOOD 15.4 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE ON BOARD; EXPANDING TO 50.5, WITH REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

RIDE QUALITY IS STILL FAIRLY FIRM, AND AS SPEEDS INCREASE, WIND NOISE BECOMES APPARENT, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS ONLY MERCEDES-BENZ VETERANS WOULD PICK UP.

AT THE TEST TRACK, POWER FROM OUR FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE ONLY TESTER DOESN'T COME ON AGGRESSIVELY, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF IT THERE AT ALL TIMES.

ZERO TO 60 SPRINTS TAKE 6.8 SECONDS, WITH QUARTER-MILE PASSES IN THE LOW 15s.

GEAR CHANGES IN THE D-C-T TRANSMISSION; TIMELY AND QUITE SMOOTH.

THROUGH THE CONES, STEERING WAS DIRECT, WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TO THE WHEEL.

SPORT MODE REALLY TIGHTENS THINGS UP, BUT YOU'LL STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF BODY ROLL AND UNDERSTEER, BOTH OF WHICH ENCOURAGE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM INTRUSION.

WE COULD HAVE USED A LITTLE MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE BRAKES; 120 FEET STOPPING DISTANCES FROM 60 ARE NOT TERRIBLE, BUT THE BRAKES THEMSELVES JUST DIDN'T FEEL VERY STRONG.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 25-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED FOR FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE; WE AVERAGED 26.1 MILES PER GALLON WITH PREMIUM FUEL.

BASE PRICING IS EXTREMELY REASONABLE FOR AN ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY UTILITY, JUST $37,280 TO START, WITH 4MATIC ANOTHER TWO-GRAND.

BUT OUR FAIRLY WELL-OPTIONED TESTER WAS MUCH CLOSER TO $50,000.

WHETHER, YOU CALL THEM ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY OR NEAR-LUXURY, THERE ARE SMALL UPSCALE CROSSOVER UTILITY OPTIONS A-PLENTY THESE DAYS.

BUT IT'S HARD TO BEAT THE 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ G-L-A 250s MIX OF LUXURY AND VALUE; IT'S THE PERFECT WAY FOR BENZ TO EARN CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE.

♪ ♪ SINCE, THE REBIRTH OF TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES, NOW MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO; THE FIRM HAS PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF PERFORMANCE, WHILE KEEPING A FIRM GRASP ON THEIR HISTORY.

NOW, OUR BRIAN ROBINSON SHOWS US HOW THEY'RE BRINGING THE TWO TOGETHER LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

♪ ♪ Brian Robinson: WHEN IT COMES TO CAFÉ RACER STYLE BIKES, GENERALLY, YOU EITHER LOVE THEM OR YOU HATE THEM, BUT THERE'S PLENTY FOR EVERYONE TO LIKE IN THIS THRUXTON R-S. MUCH LIKE, WE HAVE A FASCINATION WITH CUSTOM CRUISERS AND CHOPPERS HERE IN THE U.S., FOR THE BRIT'S, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CAFÉ RACERS.

RIDERS THERE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ADDING PERFORMANCE HARDWARE, STRIPPING OFF UNNECESSARIES, AND HAULING TAIL AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE TO A DESTINATION CAFÉ TO SHOW OFF THEIR RIDE.

IN THAT SPIRIT COMES THE 2020 TRIUMPH THRUXTON R-S.

THE THRUXTON ITSELF IS BASED ON TRIUMPH'S BONNEVILLE MODERN CLASSIC, WITH ALL THE USUAL CAFÉ-TYPE UPGRADES, SCULPTED TANK, BAR-END MIRRORS, SEAT COWL ETC.

THIS RS GOES FURTHER WITH AN EVEN MORE RACE-INSPIRED THEME.

NOT MANY SHINY BITS REMAIN, REPLACED BY MATTE, POWDER COATED, AND ALUMINUM FINISHES.

AND IT REALLY IS A CLEAN AND COOL-LOOKING DESIGN; FROM THE LONG 3.8 GALLON CUTOUT TANK WITH FLIP-TOP MONZA CAP AND STAINLESS TRIM, TO THE WIRING AND VARIOUS TOKENS OF MODERN MOTORCYCLES HIDDEN AWAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND EVEN THE FUEL INJECTION IS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A SET OF CARBURETORS.

IT MAY BE CLASSIC IN LOOKS, BUT THIS IN ONE MODERN PERFORMANCE MACHINE.

STARTING WITH THE THRUXTON-SPEC 1200CC BONNEVILLE TWIN ENGINE, THE RS GETS NEW PISTONS, UPGRADED CAM, AS WELL AS A PORT AND POLISH, AND LIGHTER COMPONENTS TO BOOST HORSEPOWER TO 104, SEVEN MORE THAN THE BASE THRUXTON.

THE EXHAUST HAS THE TRADITIONAL BRITISH PUTT-PUTT AT IDLE, BUT SOUNDS MORE CONTEMPORARY WHEN SPENT GASES BEGIN TO FLOW THROUGH IN EARNEST.

THE 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION WORKS WITH AN ASSIST CLUTCH THAT MAKES CLUTCH-PULL ABOUT AS EASY AS CAN BE, YET, PROVIDES PLENTY OF FEEL.

TO THE TUBULAR STEEL CRADLE FRAME, THE R-S GETS A FULL SUSPENSION UPGRADE; ADJUSTABLE SHOWA BIG PISTON FORK, AND A PAIR OF OHLINS SHOCKS WITH EXTERNAL RESERVOIRS.

ALSO, STICKIER METZELER TIRES FOR THE 17 INCH WHEELS.

UPGRADED BREMBO BRAKES AS WELL, AND THERE'S EVEN ABS; PLUS, ROAD, RAIN, AND SPORT RIDE MODES, AND TRACTION CONTROL ENABLED BY RIDE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE, IF YOU'RE INTO SUCH THINGS.

SEATING FOR JUST ONE ON THIS RIDE, AND IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE THAN IT LOOKS.

SPENDING TIME IN THAT SEAT, THE ENGINE HAS A TON OF CHARACTER AND FEELS WAY MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING.

IT MAY ONLY BE A FEW MORE HORSEPOWER, BUT THE ENGINE IS MUCH FREER WITH THE POWER DELIVERY.

THE ENGINE UPGRADES AND A LIGHTER BATTERY RESULT IN A 20 POUNDS WEIGHT REDUCTION COMPARED TO THE BASE THRUXTON.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE A LIGHTWEIGHT, BUT FALLS INTO CORNERS WITH EASE, AND FEELS WELL-SETTLED AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THEM.

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE BIKE INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND EASY TO READ GAUGE PACKAGE, FULL LED LIGHTING, AND A USB CHARGE PORT AND STORAGE AREA UNDER THE SEAT.

THRUXTON RS PRICING STARTS AT $16,200.

NOT BAD CONSIDERING A BASE THRUXTON GOES FOR $13,000; THERE'S ALSO - A MIDDLE GROUND THRUXTON R AVAILABLE FOR $15,400.

STARTING WITH WHAT IS ARGUABLY THE BEST CAFÉ RACER AVAILABLE TODAY, ADDING MORE POWER, REFINING HANDLING, AND IMPROVING THE VISUALS IS AN EASY RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.

EVEN IF YOU NEVER ACTUALLY GO TO A CAFÉ, OR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNION JACK; THE 2020 TRIUMPH THRUXTON R-S IS ONE HIGH-PERFORMANCE BRITISH CLASSIC THAT IS SURE TO APPEAL TO THE MODERN RACER IN ALL OF US.

John: NOW, LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR SOME TIP TOP ADVICE ON ROOF RACKS.

♪ ♪ Pat Goss: SUVs, CUVs, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

SEEMS LIKE...WELL, THEY'RE LIKE ELBOWS, EVERY DRIVEWAYS GOT A COUPLE OF THEM.

BUT THE BIG THING IS SUV OR CUV, THE U STANDS FOR UTILITY.

NOW THAT'S A GOOD THING BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM UTILITARIAN IS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A ROOF RACK ON THEM.

BECAUSE OFTEN YOU HAVE TO CARRY THINGS ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE.

NOW, YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE VEHICLES, YOU LOOK AT THEM NEW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO ASK IS, DOES THAT ROOF RACK COME WITH THE CROSSBARS?

BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THEM, WELL...THE RAILS ARE THERE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CROSSBARS AND YOU CAN'T PUT ANYTHING ON THE ROOF.

YOU HAVE TO BUY THE CROSSBARS AS AN ACCESSORY AND IT IS OPTIONAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, ASK QUESTIONS, FIND OUT.

NOW...A LOT OF THEM, WELL...YOU WILL FIND, LIKE THIS CAR, IT DOES HAVE THE CROSSBARS ON THEM AND YOU CAN PUT THE VARIOUS ATTACHMENTS AND EVERYTHING ON THERE FOR WHATEVER YOU MIGHT WANT TO CARRY.

AND ONE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT ANY OF THESE, ONCE YOU START PUTTING THINGS ON THE ROOF, REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A WEIGHT LIMIT AS FAR AS HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU CAN PUT UP THERE SAFELY.

ALRIGHT...NOW, THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON THAT, EVEN SEDANS, SOME OF THEM, AND CARS LIKE THIS KIA SOUL, THEY HAVE THESE BLACK STRIPS THAT RUN DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE ROOF.

NOW, THE THING YOU WANT TO DO THERE, IS YOU WANT TO LOOK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS LITTLE BLACK PLASTIC CAP OR A LITTLE HINGED THING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS THAT YOU CAN LIFT UP.

BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT YOU CAN ADD A ROOF RACK TO THAT VEHICLE.

NOW, THE MAJORITY OF THEM, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU TAKE THIS AND YOU PULL THIS OUT, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADAPTER WITH THE ROOF RACK THAT YOU PURCHASE, AND THERE WILL BE A SCREW SEPTICAL DOWN IN THERE, IT USUALLY COMES WITH A TOOL TO INSTALL IT.

YOU TIGHTEN IT DOWN IN THERE AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A ROOF RACK ON A CAR THAT DIDN'T COME FROM THE FACTORY WITH IT.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO USE A CAR LIKE THAT, THEN BY ALL MEANS, DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY THE CAR.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS GORGEOUS RED 1980 FERRARI 308 G-T-S-I IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

DAVE MEREDITH FROM POWELL, OHIO HAS MAINTAINED HIS MID-ENGINE V8 TWO-SEAT EXOTIC SPORTS CAR HIMSELF EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT IT IN 2003.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR RARE RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO MOTORWEEK@PBS.ORG.

TIME NOW FOR A QUICKSPIN OF SOME NEW AUTOMOTIVE HARDWARE HEADED OUR WAY.

♪ ♪ Greg Carloss: JEEP COULD ONLY HOLD OUT FOR SO LONG.

AFTER YEARS OF CRIES FROM THE JEEP FAITHFUL, THE WAGONEER AND GRAND WAGONEER ARE SET TO RETURN TO THE BRAND.

BUT, NOT QUITE YET; AS THIS GRAND WAGONEER CONCEPT IS JUST THAT, A CONCEPT.

THOUGH, IT DOES GIVE US A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT'S TO COME, A LOT OF LUXURY AND LOTS OF 3-ROW SPACE.

ULTRA-PREMIUM MATERIALS INCLUDING PLENTY OF LEATHER AND REAL WOOD TRIM ARE JUST THE BEGINNING; THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE INFOTAINMENT SCREENS, INCLUDING ONE FOR THE PASSENGER, AS WELL AS ALUMINUM AND EVEN GLASS SURFACES.

ALL CONCEIVED WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND.

Jessica Ray: LUXURY REALLY IS IN THE DETAILS OF THE CONCEPT GRAND WAGONEER WITH BACKLIT BADGING, OBSIDIAN FINISHED WHEELS AND A FULL LENGTH GLASS PANEL ROOF.

SO, THE RETURN OF THE WAGONEER IS DEFINITELY A LITTLE MORE GRAND THAN IT IS WAGON, BUT THAT'S NOT SURPRISING CONSIDERING JUST HOW MUCH LARGE PEOPLE-HAULERS HAVE EVOLVED IN THE PAST FEW DECADES.

Greg: POWERTRAIN DETAILS HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED, BUT BEING BASED ON THE RAM'S FULL-FRAME TRUCK CHASSIS MEANS POWERFUL CHOICES.

WE ALSO ANTICIPATE A PLUG-IN HYBRID AT SOME POINT.

FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEMS HOWEVER, WILL BE TYPICAL...CAPABLE JEEP.

John: I THINK, WE CAN SAFELY SPECULATE THAT THE WAGONEER WILL COME STANDARD WITH A 300 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6, WITH AN OPTIONAL 5.7 LITER V8, BOTH WITH FCA'S 48 VOLT ETORQUE MILD-HYBRID SYSTEM.

I THINK, THE RAM'S WELL-REGARDED 3.0 LITER TURBO-DIESEL V6 WILL BE IN THE MIX TOO.

ALL WITH THEIR LATEST 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

Greg: WHILE, WAGONEER WILL BE AIMED AT TAHOE AND EXPEDITION; GRAND WAGONEER HAS NAVIGATOR, ESCALADE, AND EVEN RANGE ROVER IN ITS SIGHTS.

BOTH WILL ARRIVE AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

SO, WHILE THEY MAY LOOK TO THE PAST FOR INSPIRATION, THIS JEEP DUO LOOKS TO DELIVER MODERN LUXURY AND OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE LIKE ONLY JEEP CAN.

AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE COMING UP SOON ON MOTORWEEK .

Jessica: VOLVO'S FIRST FULL-EV IS FINALLY HERE, AND NO IT'S NOT A WAGON, BUT FITTINGLY AN SUV, THE 2021 XC40 RECHARGE.

IT JOINS A PLUG-IN GAS-ELECTRIC HYBRID VERSION ALREADY ON SALE OVERSEAS.

AND LEST YOU THINK THIS EV CROSSOVER IS DESIGNED TO BE ONLY A FAMILY GROCERY GETTER, THE XC40 RECHARGE SHARES ITS DRIVELINE WITH THE SLICK POLESTAR 2 HATCHBACK.

THE RECHARGE BOASTS AN EPA RANGE OF 208 MILES, HAS THE EQUIVALENT OF 402 HORSEPOWER, GETS TO 60 IN 4.7 SECONDS, AND WILL EVEN TOW 2,000 POUNDS.

John: TO ME THERE ARE THREE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS VOLVO XC40 RECHARGE EV AND THE GAS POWERED XC40 THAT WE TESTED 2.5 YEARS AGO.

THE RECHARGE IS FASTER.

THAT 0-60 OF UNDER 5.0 SECONDS, THAT'S ABOUT A SECOND AND HALF FASTER.

ALSO, THE RECHARGE HANDLES BETTER.

NO HEAVY GASOLINE ENGINE UP FRONT, JUST A CENTRALLY LOCATED BATTERY PACK.

SO...MORE STABLE, BETTER BALANCE.

AND THEN, THERE IS THE NOISE.

YOU DON'T HEAR THE ENGINE AS THE SPEEDS CLIMB, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WIND AND ROAD NOISE.

SO FAST, STABLE, AND SERINE, AND YOU CAN FILL UP AT HOME.

THAT'S THE VOLVO XC40 RECHARGE.

Jessica: LIKE...MOST EVs, THE BATTERIES, 78 KWHS WORTH... ARE MOUNTED LOW IN THE CHASSIS, AND IN THE VOLVO TRADITION, ARE PROTECTED BY THEIR OWN SAFETY CAGE.

♪ ♪ AN 80% CHARGE CAN BE ACHIEVED IN AS LITTLE AS 40 MINUTES, AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS STANDARD WITH A SINGLE 150 KILOWATT MOTOR FOR EACH AXLE.

AND WITH ALL POWERTRAIN ELEMENTS UNDERNEATH, IT ALLOWS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO BE USED FOR CARGO.

ADDITIONAL SMALL ITEM STORAGE SPACE HAS BEEN ADDED INSIDE AS WELL; OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE THE EXTENSIVE USE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS, AND A NEW ANDROID BASED INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

♪ ♪ THE 2021 VOLVO XC40 RECHARGE IS AVAILABLE NOW; PRICING STARTS AT AROUND $54,000 BEFORE TAX INCENTIVES.

AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE XC40 RECHARGE COMING UP SOON ON MOTORWEEK !

♪ ♪ Greg: WE ARE RAPIDLY DRIVING TOWARDS THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND THOUGH THIS 2021 KIA SELTOS HAS BEEN IN OUR FLEET FOR ONLY A MONTH, WE'VE RACKED UP A QUICK 3,500 MILES.

ITS 175 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO ENGINE IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING; FEELING BOTH PUNCHY AND RESPONSIVE, AND DELIVERING 28.0 MILES PER GALLON SO FAR.

IN THE SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVER SEGMENT, IT TURNS OUT THERE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT; TURBOCHARGERS.

AND THE TURBO IN THIS SELTOS SPINS UP AMPLE TORQUE TO GET IT GOING IN A HURRY.

THE 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION CAN BE A BIT HESITANT TO ENGAGE WHEN THERE'S A SUDDEN NEED TO ACCELERATE, BUT FLIPPING IT UP TO SPORT MODE REALLY SHARPENS THAT RESPONSE.

LIKE, MOST VEHICLES THESE DAYS, IT'S VERY AERO-DEPENDENT, AND DRIVING WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN CAN CAUSE SOME WIND BUFFETING UNLESS YOU HAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN FULLY.

SOMETHING, WE'LL BE DOING LESS OF IN THE COLDER MONTHS THAT LIE AHEAD.

WE ALREADY KNOW OUR MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV IS UP FOR WINTER TASKS, AS IT KEEPS TRUCKING RIGHT ALONG OVER THE 20,000 MILES AND 14-MONTHS THAT IT HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION.

PLUG-IN HYBRIDS REALLY ARE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, AS YOU CAN RELY ON STRICTLY BATTERY POWER FOR AROUND TOWN ERRANDS, YET, ARE NOT LIMITED TO HOW FAR YOU CAN ROAM WITH A GAS ENGINE ALWAYS AT THE READY.

AND, WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND A 32.7 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE IN A UTILITY VEHICLE.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE OTHER SMALL UTILITY IN OUR FLEET, THE FIAT 500X, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

♪ Flashback ♪ Zach Maskell: TODAY, WE ARE SPENDING TIME IN THE LEGENDARY JAPANESE SUPERCAR, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO CROSS THE SEAS.

John: THERE ARE PERFORMANCE CARS THAT WOW YOU WITH THEIR MODERN PRECISION, SMOOTHNESS, AND HIGH-TECH WIZARDRY.

AND THEN, THERE ARE PERFORMANCE MACHINES LIKE THIS NISSAN G-T-R, THAT COME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL, BLUDGEONING THE TRACK, AND YOU AT TIMES, TO GET THE JOB DONE.

NOW, WE'RE NOT JUDGING, WE'RE JUST ENJOYING THE HECK OUT OF THE LATEST NISSAN G-T-R. ♪ ♪ WHEN THE LONG-AWAITED NISSAN G-T-R FINALLY ARRIVED HERE IN THE STATES FOR 2009, IT WAS EVERYTHING WE'D HOPED IT WOULD BE.

BUT AS GREAT AS IT WAS, NISSAN HAS BEEN TWEAKING AND IMPROVING IT EVER SINCE; ARRIVING AT THIS 2020 NISSAN G-T-R NISMO.

A QUICK RECAP ON HOW WE GOT HERE.

THE G-T-R ARRIVED WITH 480 HORSEPOWER FROM A 3.8 LITER TWIN-TURBO V6.

THAT SAME ENGINE NOW PUTS OUT 600 HORSEPOWER HERE IN NISMO VERSION, ALONG WITH 481 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; THANKS TO UPGRADED TURBO'S, THE SAME ONES FOUND ON THE GT3 FULL-RACE VERSION.

EXTERIOR FACELIFTS ARRIVED IN BOTH 2011 AND 2017, AND THROUGH IT ALL, THE G-T-R STILL LOOKS MENACING, BUT IN AN ANIME GRAPHIC NOVEL SORT OF WAY.

ADDITIONAL UPGRADES TO THE NISMO, OR NISSAN MOTORSPORTS VERSION, ARE STRICTLY PERFORMANCE ORIENTED; INCLUDING INCREASING AIRFLOW TO THE ENGINE AND BRAKES; ALONG WITH COMPREHENSIVE WEIGHT SAVING MEASURES LIKE CARBON FIBER FOR MOST BODY PANELS, REAR SPOILER, AND EVEN THE ROOF.

BREMBO BRAKES ARE UPGRADED TO CERAMIC DISC WITH LARGER CALIPERS, AND THEY'RE NESTLED BEHIND LIGHTER 20 INCH FORGED ALUMINUM WHEELS.

HOP IN, AND IT'S IMMEDIATELY INVIGORATING TO DRIVE SOMETHING SO FAST WITH SUCH ANTIQUE DRIVING AID ELECTRONICS.

IT'S PURE FUN, AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ALWAYS THE ONE IN CONTROL.

THE SEATS HOLD YOU IN TIGHT WHEN CORNERING, BUT ARE STILL VERY COMFY.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU SIGN UP FOR WITH A G-T-R LIKE NOISE COMING FROM THE TURBO'S EXHAUST, AND SEEMINGLY EVERY MECHANICAL MESH POINT, AND EVEN IN COMFORT MODE, IT'S A ROUGH RIDE.

BUT, IN THE WORDS OF CLARK W. GRISWOLD, "IT'S ALL PART OF THE EXPERIENCE, HONEY."

AND, ALL IS FORGIVEN WHEN YOU LAUNCH THIS THING AT A RACE TRACK.

BETWEEN THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SETUP AND STICKY TIRES, THERE'S SO MUCH GRIP AT LAUNCH; IT JUST HUNKERS DOWN FOR A SECOND AND THEN LITERALLY EXPLODES OFF THE LINE TO 60 IN 3.3 SECONDS.

ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN, AS THE SHEER BRUTALITY OF LAUNCHES ARE SUCH A STRESS ON THE MECHANICAL BITS, YOU ONLY GET A COUPLE FULL-ON ATTEMPTS BEFORE YOU ARE WARNED TO LET IT COOL DOWN.

BUT WHAT BEAUTIFUL TAKEOFFS THEY ARE.

TRANSMISSION REMAINS A DUAL-CLUTCH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, WHICH FORCE-FEEDS GEAR CHANGES WITH HAMMER-LIKE PRECISION, AND IT'S ALL ACCOMPANIED BY SO MUCH GLORIOUS MECHANICAL NOISE THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TWICE AS FAST AS WHAT YOU ARE.

OUR BEST QUARTER-MILE TIME WAS AN 11.4 AT 125 MILES PER HOUR.

ORIGINALLY, DESIGNED WITH SETTING NURBURGRING LAP RECORDS IN MIND; A SLOW SPEED SLALOM COURSE DOES NOT GIVE YOU A TRUE SENSE OF THE NISMO'S CAPABILITIES, BUT DOES REVEAL A TENDENCY TO UNDERSTEER EVER SO SLIGHTLY WHEN ADJUSTED TO ITS HARSHEST SETTINGS.

THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO BODY ROLL, AND STEERING IS VERY QUICK, WITH GREAT FEEDBACK THROUGH THE WHEEL.

THE BILSTEIN DAMPTRONIC SHOCKS HAVE BEEN RE-TUNED, MOSTLY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WEIGHT LOSS; AND NEW DUNLOP TIRES OFFER EVEN MORE GRIP THAN BEFORE.

EXPECTEDLY, EVERYTHING INSIDE LOOKS AND FEELS A BIT DATED, BUT THAT'S JUST ADDED CHARM FOR THIS UNIQUE MACHINE.

NISMO HIGHLIGHTS ARE RED TRIM AND STITCHING THROUGHOUT THE CABIN, AND A NEAR-PERFECT 3-SPOKE STEERING WHEEL.

PRICING FOR THE G-T-R NISMO IS $212,535; FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING TRACK, THAT'S ABOUT $140,000 MORE THAN WHEN THIS CAR ARRIVED.

G-T-R AND NISMO ARE ALMOST SYNONYMOUS.

BOTH SPEAK TO THE BEST THROUGH 50 YEARS OF NISSAN PERFORMANCE.

PUT THEM TOGETHER, AND THE 2020 NISSAN G-T-R NISMO IS ONE SPECIAL VEHICLE.

IT'S A FUN AND IMMENSELY CAPABLE TRACK CAR THAT MANAGES JUST FINE ON THE STREET.

IT MAY BE AN ANALOG DINOSAUR IN A 5G BROADBAND WORLD OF SUPERCOMPUTERS MASQUERADING AS EXOTIC SUPERCAR'S, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MAKES THE G-T-R NISMO EXCEPTIONAL.

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 A FRESH AIR ROAD TEST OF THE PORSCHE 911 TARGA.

THEN, BUICK RETURNS TO THE STAGE WITH THE NEW ENCORE G-X CROSSOVER.

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

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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] ♪ ♪