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

JOIN US FOR PEPPIER PERFORMANCE FROM SUBARU'S RUGGED LITTLE CROSSTREK... PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO GET THAT OLD CLUNKER SAFELY BACK ON THE ROAD... ROGER MECCA SPEEDS DOWN MEMORY LANE IN AN AMERICAN SPORTS CAR CLASSIC... AND WE'LL DROP THE TOP FOR SOME OPEN AIR LUXURY IN THE LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

John: SUBARU HAS A LONG HISTORY OF DELIVERING RUGGED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CONVEYANCE FOR THE MASSES, LONG BEFORE THE SUVs BECAME THE MUST HAVE ACCESSORY FOR SUBURBIA.

BUT, THEY ALSO HAVE A MORE RECENT HISTORY OF BEING A LITTLE FRUGAL WHEN IT COMES TO HORSEPOWER.

SO LET'S SEE IF AN UPDATED CROSSTREK IS MORE HISTORY IN THE MAKING.

* THE SUBARU CROSSTREK ROLLS INTO THE 2021 MODEL YEAR, THREE YEARS INTO ITS SECOND GENERATION.

NOW, THIS IMPREZA-BASED CROSSOVER HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE SUBARU LINEUP SINCE 2013 WHEN IT DEBUTED AS THE XV CROSSTREK, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY TRACE ITS ROOTS BACK TO THIS 1983 SUBARU TRACTION WAGON.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS, AS BACK THEN, SUBARU WASN'T ASHAMED TO CALL A WAGON...A WAGON.

BUT EVEN THEN, UNDERHOOD, WAS WHAT WE CALLED AN "ARCHAIC" 1.8 LITER FLAT 4-CYLINDER.

IT PRODUCED JUST 95 HORSEPOWER, LEADING TO A LENGTHY 13.5 SECONDS JUST TO REACH 60 MILES PER HOUR, AND THAT WAS WITH A TURBO!

BUT, THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM IN THE ENGINE BAY FOR THE SPARE TIRE.

HOW COOL WAS THAT?

TO THE PRESENT, AND THE BIG NEWS FOR 2021 ADDRESSES THAT COMMON COMPLAINT OF NOT ENOUGH JUICE UNDER THE HOOD.

IT'S NOT A NEW ENGINE, RATHER THE FORESTER'S NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER FLAT-4.

OUTPUT IS THE SAME HERE AS IN THE FORESTER, 182 HORSEPOWER AND 176 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND THIS ENGINE IS NOW STANDARD IN SPORT AND LIMITED TRIMS; ALONG WITH A CVT TRANSMISSION.

BASE AND PREMIUM TRIMMED CROSSTREK'S STICK WITH THE 152 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A 6-SPEED MANUAL; A CVT IS OPTIONAL, BUT OF COURSE, ALL COME WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

THAT 30 EXTRA HORSEPOWER IN OUR LIMITED TESTER DID NOT DISAPPOINT AT THE TEST TRACK, SHAVING MORE THAN 2.0 SECONDS OFF OUR LAST CROSSTREK TEST'S 0-60 TIME TO A MUCH MORE RESPECTABLE 7.8 SECONDS.

NOW, WE'RE TALKIN', SUBARU!

IT'S STILL, BY NO MEANS A BURNER, BUT IT FELT NOTICEABLY FASTER FROM THE GET-GO.

THE TYPICAL CVT-INDUCED ENGINE MOANING AND DELAY TO GET TO FULL POWER ARE STILL HERE, BUT WE'RE MUCH HAPPIER WITH THE OVERALL RESULTS AND A QUARTER-MILE TIME OF 15.9 SECONDS AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

YOU CAN SHIFT MANUALLY THROUGH EIGHT SIMULATED GEARS THAT SUBARU HAS ENGINEERED INTO THE CVT, BUT THE ONLY BENEFITS ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL.

SUBARU MAKES NO MENTION OF ANY SUSPENSION CHANGES; AND WHILE THERE WAS A LOT OF ROLL THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL 8.7 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, THE CROSSTREK HAS ALWAYS EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING.

LIGHT STEERING, AND GENTLE TRACTION CONTROL INTERVENTION, ALLOWED US TO GET THROUGH HERE QUICKLY AND CLEANLY, WITH NO DRAMA, AND EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF FUN.

BRAKES FELT VERY SOLID FOR A COUPLE RUNS, DELIVERING RESPECTABLE STOPPING DISTANCES OF 117 FEET FROM 60, BUT THEN THEY BEGAN TO FADE, AND PEDAL FEEL GOT PROGRESSIVELY MUSHIER.

BUT, ALL-IN-ALL A VERY STABLE AND SOLID PERFORMER.

THIS GEN CROSSTREK MADE BIG STRIDES ON IMPROVING THE INTERIOR, SO NO MAJOR CHANGES THIS YEAR.

LIMITED COMES WITH THINGS, YOU MIGHT EXPECT LIKE, LEATHER SURFACES WITH ORANGE STITCHING, A 6-WAY POWER DRIVER'S SEAT, ALL-WEATHER PACKAGE, AND AN 8.0 INCH TOUCH SCREEN FOR SUBARU'S STARLINK MULTIMEDIA PLUS SYSTEM.

A 6.5 INCH TOUCHSCREEN IS STANDARD.

AND, THERE'S ALSO SOME THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT ANTICIPATE LIKE STEERING RESPONSIVE HEADLIGHTS, HIGH-GRADE DASH-TOP MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY, AND EVEN AN UPGRADED SOUND INSULATING WINDSHIELD.

IF YOU WANT TOMTOM NAVIGATION ON THAT TOUCHSCREEN INSTEAD OF RELYING ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, YOU'LL HAVE TO ADD A PACKAGE THAT ALSO INCLUDES A MOONROOF AND UPGRADED HARMON KARDON STEREO.

STILL, ADEQUATE COMFORT IN ALL SEATING POSITIONS, AND WIDE OPEN ACCESS TO THE GREAT 20.8 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE, MAXING OUT AT 55.3 WITH THE 60/40 SPLIT SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

AND IF YOU CAN'T FIT IT INSIDE, STANDARD ROOF RAILS ENABLE MULTIPLE WAYS FOR YOU TO STORE IT UP TOP.

STANDARD EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY NOW FEATURES ADVANCED ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH LANE CENTERING.

IN ORDER TO SHOWCASE THE UPDATED STATUS; ALL CROSSTREK'S GET A NEW GRILLE AND FASCIA UP FRONT, COMPLEMENTED BY NEW WHEEL DESIGNS.

HERE, LIMITED TRIM ADDS 18 INCH BLACK MACHINE-FINISH ALLOY WHEELS AND BODY-COLORED MIRRORS WITH TURN SIGNALS.

TWO POINT FIVE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN THE 2.0 LITER AT 27-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A QUITE GOOD 31.1 MILES PER GALLON.

THAT RATES A BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, 11.4 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 5.0 TONS.

BASE PRICING STARTS AT $23,295; OUR TOP TIER LIMITED AT $29,045; WITH PREMIUM AND SPORT TRIMS IN BETWEEN.

THE SPORT VERSION IS ACTUALLY NEW FOR '21 AND FEATURES GUN METAL FINISHES FOR THE GRILLE AND SIDE MIRRORS, AS WELL AS 17 INCH ALLOY WHEELS WITH MORE RUGGED-LOOKING FENDER FLARES.

IT ALSO, GETS UNIQUE INTERIOR TRIM, AS WELL AS SUBARU'S UPGRADED DUAL FUNCTION X-MODE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, WITH HILL DESCENT CONTROL, FOR ENHANCED PERFORMANCE OFF ROAD.

WHICHEVER ROUTE YOU CHOOSE, YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE; MAKING THE CROSSTREK AS GOOD A VALUE AS EVER.

WE'RE NEVER ONE TO TURN AWAY FROM MORE HORSEPOWER, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL OOMPH SUBARU HAS MADE AVAILABLE IN THE 2021 SUBARU CROSSTREK.

ONCE AGAIN, THEY'VE MADE A FAVORITE OF OURS, JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND GIVEN IT THE MEANS TO POWER TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CROWDED SMALL CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

* * Flashback THE NEW C8 MID-ENGINE CHEVROLET CORVETTE MADE A HUGE IMPRESSION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD WHEN IT ARRIVED LAST YEAR.

SO MUCH SO WE EVEN NAMED IT MOTORWEEK'S DRIVER'S CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR.

BUT, OF COURSE, IT WAS NOT THE FIRST STINGRAY.

THAT CAR MADE AN EVEN BIGGER SPLASH WHEN IT ROLLED OUT OF DETROIT IN 1963.

AND OUR OWN ROGER MECCA HAS HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS LEGENDARY AMERICAN MUSCLE AND FIND OUT WHY AFTER NEARLY SIX DECADES IT'S STILL THE BIGGEST FISH IN THE POND.

* Roger Mecca: IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, FEW CARS ARE AS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE COUNTRY THEY HAIL FROM AS THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE.

SINCE, THE FIRST "PLASTIC FANTASTIC" ARRIVED FOR 1953, IT'S BEEN THE EPITOME OF THE AMERICAN SPORTS CAR, AND NUMERO UNO POSTER CHILD FOR OUR CAR-CRAZY CULTURE.

BUT, EVEN WITH THAT, IT TOOK 10 YEARS BEFORE CHEVY GOT SERIOUS ABOUT THE CORVETTE...

IN 1963, GM UNLEASHED THE SECOND INCARNATION OF THE CORVETTE, THE C2.

THE FIRST ONE TO HAVE THE STINGRAY NAME.

IT CARRIED OVER MANY OF THE SAME BEAUTIFUL DESIGN TRAITS FROM THE ORIGINAL MAKO CONCEPT CAR DESIGNED BY LARRY SHINODA AND BILL MITCHELL.

AND TODAY, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING THINGS ON FOUR WHEELS.

Greg Connelly: THIS CAR WAS LIKE...IF, I USED THE TERM FROM THE '50s AND EARLY '60s, IT WAS LIKE A SPACESHIP.

Roger: GREG CONNELLY IS THE OWNER OF THIS STUNNING 1963 STING RAY COUPE, THE FIRST NON-CONVERTIBLE CORVETTE AVAILABLE FOR BUYERS.

AND THOUGH, HE'S OWNED MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OVER THE YEARS, HE'S LOVED THE C2 HARDTOP EVER SINCE, FIRST LAYING HIS EYES ON ONE.

Connelly: WHEN YOU SAT IN THAT CAR AND LOOKED AT THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THEN EVEN FROM THE EXTERIOR, IF YOU STOOD AT THE BACK OF THE CAR AND YOU LOOKED DOWN AT THAT CAR, AGAIN, IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING FROM OUTER SPACE.

AND THE CAR PERFORMED THAT WAY ALSO, SO THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF IT.

Roger: IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THEN, THAT BOTH BUZZ ALDRIN AND NEIL ARMSTRONG OWNED A C2.

AND PART OF THAT FAR OUT LOOK IS DUE TO THE SPLIT REAR WINDOW IN THE TAPERED REAR DECK, A FEATURE ONLY FOUND ON THE '63.

LEAD CORVETTE DESIGNER BILL MITCHELL WAS A FAN OF BIOMIMICRY, AND WITH THE STINGRAY, HE WAS ABLE TO BRING HIS VISION OF A ROAD-GOING AQUATIC SEA CREATURE TO LIFE.

HE INSISTED THAT THE CAR'S CENTRAL WIND SPLIT RUN THE FULL LENGTH OF THE CAR, MUCH LIKE THE SPINE OF A FISH, AND THE ONLY ANSWER WAS THE SPLIT WINDOW.

G-M BRASS HATED THE IDEA, BUT IN THE END, MITCHELL GOT HIS WAY.

Roger: BUT THERE WERE ISSUES, CHIEF OF WHICH IS THAT THE REAR VISIBILITY.

BECAUSE OF THAT CENTER STRIP, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE OUT OF THE BACK IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY.

AND THEN, IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION, DOUBLE THE WINDOWS MEANT DOUBLE THE ASSEMBLY TIME.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS A YEAR, IT QUICKLY BECAME A DEAL BREAKER, SO GM KILLED THE FEATURE FOR 1964 AND BEYOND.

BUT MANY THINGS DID STICK AROUND, INCLUDING POP-UP HEADLIGHTS, INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION, ELECTRONIC IGNITION, AND THAT SHAPELY LONG HOOD AND POINTED FRONT END THAT EVOKED SPEED, EVEN WHEN STANDING STILL.

BUT ASIDE FROM THE REAR WINDOW, ANOTHER DESIGN ELEMENT THAT GM LEADERSHIP SHOULD NOT HAVE KILLED WERE THE FUNCTIONING HOOD VENTS THAT WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.

THE ENGINEERS WANTED REAL VENTS UNDER THE HOOD TO RELIEVE PRESSURE AS THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP BUT THE BEAN COUNTERS AT GM DECIDED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE TOO MUCH OF A HASSLE, SO THEY PUT FAKE ONES IN THERE INSTEAD.

IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ENGINEERS WERE RIGHT, BECAUSE AS YOU APPROACH 100 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR STARTS TO LIFT, WHICH CAN BE TERRIFYING.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T REALLY WANT TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR 100 ANYWAY.

THIS IS A 57 YEAR OLD CAR WITH DRUM BRAKES AND NARROW TIRES, SO TEARING AROUND AT BREAKNECK SPEEDS COULD END BADLY.

THAT SAID, IT'S AN EASY CAR TO HAVE FUN WITH.

THE C2 HAS NEAR 50/50 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, AND COMBINED WITH TIGHT STEERING AND A RACE INSPIRED CHASSIS YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF FUN ON TWISTY STRETCHES OF ASPHALT.

ALL 63'S FEATURED A 327 CUBIC INCH V8 WITH ANYWHERE FROM 250 STANDARD HORSES UP TO 360 HORSEPOWER WITH FUEL INJECTION, A RARE FEATURE AT THE TIME.

BUT NOT ALWAYS A POPULAR ONE.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT SO FEW MECHANICS ACTUALLY KNEW HOW TO WORK ON FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS, THEY WOULD TELL CORVETTE OWNERS TO TAKE THEM OUT AND PUT IN A CARBURETOR, WHICH A LOT OF OWNERS ACTUALLY DID.

AND IN THE PROCESS, TOOK AWAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE THIS CAR SO SPECIAL.

GM KEPT THE NEW C2 DESIGN FOR ONLY FIVE YEARS, UNTIL THE C3, FASHIONED AFTER THE MAKO SHARK II CONCEPT CAR, DEBUTED IN 1968.

BUT NO OTHER YEAR WOULD EVER BE AS DESIRABLE AS THE '63.

AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE TO PARK IN YOUR GARAGE, WELL, GET READY TO SHELL OUT AT LEAST $100,000 FOR A BASE COUPE, AND FAR MORE IF YOU WANT ONE WITH THE OPTIONAL PACKAGES, LIKE THE RACE READY Z06 FEWER THAN 200 OF THOSE WERE EVER MADE.

BUT HONESTLY?

YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING FANCY TO ENJOY THE INCREDIBLE DRIVING SPIRIT AND HISTORY THIS CAR OFFERS.

THERE'S ONE SURE-FIRE WAY TO BE ABLE TO TELL JUST HOW ICONIC A CAR REALLY IS AND THAT IS BY THE IMPRESSION IT LEAVES ON PEOPLE AS YOU DRIVE BY.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY, I HAVE HAD PEOPLE SMILE, WAVE, STOP, AND TAKE PICTURES.

AND THAT TELLS ME THAT EVEN AFTER ALMOST 60 YEARS, THIS CAR IS JUST AS IMPRESSIVE AS IT WAS IN 1963.

John: LOOKING TO GET THAT OLD CLUNKER IN YOUR GARAGE BACK ON THE ROAD BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START?

WELL, PAT GOSS HAS THE INFO YOU NEED DOWN AT GOSS'S GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: WELL, YOU'VE BEEN WANTING THIS CAR FOR A LONG TIME.

SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN WANTING SINCE YOU WERE A TEENAGER.

AND FINALLY, YOU FIND ONE.

MAYBE SITTING OUT IN THE WEEDS, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

THEN, COME THOSE FATEFUL WORDS, "RAN WHEN PARKED."

OKAY WELL, MAYBE IT DID.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE IT'S WAS PARKED.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU REALLY WANT THE CAR, SO YOU BUY IT, YOU GET IT HOME, AND THE VERY FIRST THING YOU DO IS WHAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DO, AND THAT IS YOU PUT A FRESH BATTERY IN IT AND YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND YOU TRY TO START IT.

WELL, DON'T DO IT.

YOU SEE, AFTER A CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT CAN GO ON INSIDE THE ENGINE.

YOU CAN HAVE RUST RINGS IN THE CYLINDERS WHERE THE STARTER CAN SLAM THE PISTON RINGS AGAINST THAT RUST RING AND BREAK THE PISTON RINGS.

VALVES CAN BE STUCK OPEN.

WE FORCED ONE OPEN AND WEDGED IT DOWN HERE, IT CAN BE STUCK OPEN.

THE STARTER WILL JUST KEEP GOING AND WHAM IT HITS THE VALVE, THE VALVE BENDS, OR IT CRACKS THE HEAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, WHAT DO YOU DO TO PREVENT THINGS LIKE THAT?

WELL, THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS TO REMOVE THE SPARK PLUGS.

THEN, YOU PUT OIL OR PENETRATING OIL, SOME TYPE OF LUBRICANT IN EACH ONE OF THE CYLINDERS.

AND YOU LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT, AT LEAST.

COUPLE THREE DAYS, FINE THAT WORKS GOOD TOO.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS YOU WANT TO GET THE INSIDES OF THE CYLINDERS COATED WITH SOME KIND OF OIL THAT WILL HELP DISSIPATE ANY RUST THAT'S IN THERE.

THEN, YOU STILL DON'T HOOK UP THE STARTER.

AND THE REASON IS, IS THAT THE STARTER HAS NO FEELING WHATSOEVER.

BUT YOU DO.

SO, YOU TAKE A WRENCH, YOU PUT IT ON A BOLT ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND YOU TURN IT VERY GENTLY.

TURN IT, AND IF ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DOESN'T WANT TO TURN, WELL, YOU GO BACKWARDS, FORWARDS, BACKWARDS, FORWARDS, AND LOOSEN UP WHATEVER THE PISTON OR WHATEVER IS IN THERE IS HITTING, AND YOU GET PAST IT WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE.

SO, IT'S A REAL SIMPLE WAY TO FREE UP AN ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT DAMAGING IT.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS 1979 PONTIAC GRAND AM IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

HARVEY SPANGLER FROM DALLAS, GEORGIA BOUGHT THIS V8 TWO-DOOR NEW, THINKING IT MIGHT JUST BE THE LAST OF THE CLASSIC DETROIT MUSCLE CARS.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR CLASSIC FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... John: TIME NOW TO HEAD INSIDE TO LAUREN MORRISON AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: WITH WINTER KICKING INTO HIGH GEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLE IS READY FOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS THAT COME WITH IT.

THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT "MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF THE NATION'S ROADS ARE IN REGIONS THAT RECEIVE AT LEAST 5.0 INCHES OF SNOW A YEAR."

NATIONWIDE, THERE WERE 3,760 SNOW-RELATED DRIVING FATALITIES BETWEEN 2014 AND 2018.

RESEARCHERS AT COPILOT LOOKED AT DATA AND FOUND THAT, NOT SURPRISINGLY, STATES WITH LOWER AVERAGE WINTER TEMPERATURES TEND TO HAVE HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF FATAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO SNOW AND ICE.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS GOING TO A MECHANIC TO GET YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BEFORE THE WINTER WEATHER SETTLES IN.

AND IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, VOLVO WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, SO THEY DID THIS, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME CRASH TESTS WE'VE SEEN.

TEN NEW VOLVO VEHICLES WERE DROPPED SEVERAL TIMES FROM A CRANE, FROM ALMOST 100 FEET IN THE AIR.

THE AUTOMAKER DIDN'T JUST DO THIS BECAUSE THE VIDEO LOOKS COOL, BUT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST RESPONDERS IN SWEDEN TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO BETTER EXTRACT PEOPLE FROM A TOTALLY DAMAGED VEHICLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

VOLVO SAYS, "MOST OF THE TIME, FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE TO PRACTICE ON OLDER VEHICLES FROM SCRAP YARDS, WHICH DON'T REFLECT THE NEWER CARS THEY MAY COME ACROSS DURING AN ACCIDENT, WHICH IS WHY THEY DROPPED NEW CARS.

ALL OF THE DATA COLLECTED WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO OTHER RESCUE WORKERS SO THEY CAN LEARN FROM THIS EXTREME CRASH TEST TOO.

CARS TODAY ARE GETTING SMARTER AND SMARTER, AND NOW LICENSE PLATES ARE TOO!

A COMPANY CALLED "REVIVER" HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE IDEA OF DIGITAL LICENSE PLATES FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

RIGHT NOW, ONLY CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA ALLOW THE DIGITAL PLATES, BUT THE COMPANY JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE "R-PLATE," AS IT'S KNOWN, WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE IN MICHIGAN TOO.

THE PLATES DISPLAY MORE THAN JUST LETTERS AND NUMBERS, BUT ALSO LET DRIVER'S SHOW OFF APPROVED PERSONAL MESSAGES.

IT COULD EVEN WARN PEOPLE THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN STOLEN, OR SHOW AN AMBER ALERT.

THE BIGGEST BONUS IS THAT USERS CAN PAY THEIR REGISTRATION FEES THROUGH REVIVER, MAKING THOSE ANNUAL RENEWALS A SEAMLESS AFFAIR.

BUT THE TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T COME CHEAP.

THE BASIC R-PLATE WITH A FIVE YEAR BATTERY IS $499, PLUS, $55 A YEAR FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION CONNECTION.

COOL IDEA, BUT WILL IT CATCH ON?

ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

* Greg Carloss: TWO MONTHS IN, AND WE'RE NEARING THE 5,000 MILE MARK IN OUR 2021 KIA SELTOS.

THIS LITTLE UTILITY IS PROVING TO BE QUITE FUN TO DRIVE; NIMBLE IN THE CORNERS, WITHOUT TOO MUCH BODY ROLL.

AND, IT CERTAINLY HAS THE LOOKS TO BACK UP THAT SPORTY PERSONALITY.

THERE IS SOME KINSHIP TO THE LARGER TELLURIDE, BUT IT'S FAR FROM A DIRECT COPY; THE TALL FRONT END, AND 7.2 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE ADDING A VERY SUV STANCE, UNLIKE MANY OF ITS CAR-LIKE COMPETITORS IN THE SUBCOMPACT UTILITY SEGMENT.

THE OPTIONAL 175 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER TURBO ENGINE IS QUITE PEPPY, AND HAS DELIVERED US 27.6 MILES PER GALLON SO FAR; THOUGH IT DOESN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE AS THE 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION IT'S MATED TO.

THAT'S MOST NOTICEABLE AROUND TOWN IN CONSTANT OFF/ON THROTTLE SITUATIONS.

BUT WE'RE KEEPING THE SELTOS' METAPHORICAL THROTTLE PINNED, AS WE RACE INTO THE HEART OF WINTER.

IT'LL BE OUR 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV'S SECOND GO-AROUND WITH OUR WINTERS; HAVING BEEN IN THE FLEET FOR 15-MONTHS NOW.

AND WHILE, IT'S HARD TO THINK OF THINGS, WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED ALREADY IN THAT TIME; WE PROBABLY HAVEN'T DONE THE INTERIOR JUSTICE.

YES, IT LOOKS A LITTLE DATED, AND IT'S NOT THE MOST INVITING OF PLACES, BUT IT HAS PROVED EXTREMELY DURABLE, AND OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY IS QUITE GOOD.

FOR THE MOST PART IT'S EASY TO FORGET THIS OUTLANDER IS ELECTRIFIED BECAUSE OF HOW SMOOTHLY THE HYBRID SYSTEM OPERATES.

IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY THAT YOU FEEL THE TORQUE OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR.

AND, EVEN WHEN IT'S PACKED FULL OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND GEAR, IT MAKES PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY A BREEZE.

OVER 21,000 MILES SO FAR, THE OUTLANDER PHEV'S 190 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 HYBRID POWERTRAIN HAS AVERAGED 32.5 MILES PER GALLON.

IT'S STILL 2020, AND AS WE'VE LEARNED, EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT IN 2020.

SO, WE DECIDED TO ADD SOMETHING UNIQUE TO OUR LONG-TERM TEST FLEET.

A SET OF WINTER TIRES.

YOU'VE HEARD US SAY BEFORE THAT, WHILE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS NICE; OFTEN A GOOD SET OF WINTER TIRES IS ALL YOU NEED TO GET THROUGH WINTER.

GOODYEAR DECIDED TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT CLAIM, AND SENT US A SET OF THEIR LATEST WINTER TIRE, THE WINTERCOMMAND ULTRA.

A TIRE DESIGNED TO BE EXTRA PLIABLE IN EXTREME COLD, WITH V-TREAD TECHNOLOGY FOR MAXIMUM SNOW AND SLUSH EVACUATION.

THEY ARE NOW INSTALLED ON OUR ASSISTANT PRODUCER RACHEL'S HYUNDAI ACCENT.

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.

BUT FIRST, IT'S THE FIAT 500X AND HYUNDAI PALISADE ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: STYLE, PERFORMANCE, EXTRAVAGANCE, THE LEXUS LC 500 DELIVERED EVERYTHING WE EXPECTED IN A LUXURY FLAGSHIP COUPE WHEN WE FIRST TESTED IT, THREE YEARS AGO.

HOW TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER?

WELL, OPEN THE TOP TO ENHANCE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF NATURE, WHILE STILL BEING PAMPERED BEHIND THE WHEEL.

* IF, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A LUXURIOUS WAY TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE, AND MAKE AN ESCAPE FROM ALL OF TODAY'S PROBLEMS FOR A FEW HOURS OR FOR A FEW DAYS, THE 2021 LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE IS THE PERFECT GETAWAY VEHICLE.

ALL OF THE THINGS YOU EXPECT IN A LUXURY GRAND TOURER ARE HERE, AS WELL AS A FEW THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T.

STARTING WITH THE GORGEOUS TRUE COUPE SHAPE.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON HERE, WITH THE NEW CONVERTIBLE TOP NEARLY PERFECTLY INTEGRATED WITH THE WELL-SCULPTED BODY, FLUSH DOOR HANDLES AND OF COURSE, LEXUS' WIDE-MOUTH SPINDLE GRILLE.

IN BACK, THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT IS SMOOTHLY AFFIXED TO THE DECK LID.

TWENTY INCH ALLOYS ARE STANDARD, WITH FORGED 21s, AN OPTION.

THE FOUR-LAYER SOFT TOP ITSELF IS HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED; DOWN IN 15 SECONDS, WITH EVERYTHING NESTLING UNDER A TONNEAU-STYLE LID, WHERE ACTIVE ROLL-BARS ARE ON STAND-BY TO DEPLOY IF NEEDED.

UNLESS YOU'RE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE COUPE, IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO FIND A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 5.0 LITER V8 UNDER THE HOOD; NO TURBO, NO ELECTRIC MOTORS; JUST PURE MUSCLE-CAR STYLE MOTIVATION TO THE TUNE OF 471 HORSEPOWER AND 398 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

MASH THE GAS, AND IT'S EASY TO FORGET YOU'RE IN A LEXUS WITH ALL THE NOISE AND RAUCOUS POWER THAT SHOOTS YOU TO 60 IN 4.9 SECONDS, ACTUALLY A TENTH QUICKER THAN IN OUR COUPE TEST.

BUT, THE FAST AND SILKY SMOOTH SHIFTS FROM THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE A VERY FAST REMINDER.

QUARTER-MILE COMPLETED IN 13.3 SECONDS AT 110 MILES PER HOUR.

WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING, IT'S MORE THAN CAPABLE, STAYING EXTREMELY FLAT WHILE DARTING IN AND OUT OF CONES WITH ONLY MINOR UNDERSTEER; YET...IT NEVER LOSES THAT ULTRA-SMOOTH LUXURY FEEL.

A COMPLETE OVERHAUL FOR THE SUSPENSION HARDWARE, AND THE ADAPTIVE VARIABLE SUSPENSION HAS ALSO BEEN RECALIBRATED TO HANDLE THE EXTRA 200 POUNDS OF WEIGHT FOR THE SOFT TOP AND ITS MECHANICS; BUT SOMEHOW, THE CONVERTIBLE STILL FEELS EVEN SPORTIER THAN THE COUPE TO US.

AND THERE IS INDEED PLENTY OF THAT LUXURY FEEL ALL OVER THE CONVERTIBLE'S INTERIOR, YET WITH THE SAME RETRO FLAVOR OF THE COUPE; ALONG WITH THINGS LIKE THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT ARE FULLY IN THE MODERN.

YOU DEFINITELY, SIT LOW IN THE CAR, AND WHEN SWEEPING THROUGH THE CURVES OF YOUR FAVORITE BACK ROAD, IT FEELS PLENTY SOLID, THANKS TO ADDED STRUCTURAL BRACING IN FRONT AND A WHOLE NEW TORSION BOX IN THE REAR.

AND WITH THE TOP UP, THINGS ARE JUST AS QUIET AND CALM AS IN THE COUPE.

AND, YOU'LL ALSO SACRIFICE A LITTLE TRUNK SPACE; FALLING FROM THE COUPE'S 5.4 CUBIC-FEET TO 3.4.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 20.6 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

STILL, THAT'S A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE CONSUMING 18.3 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WITH 8.1 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $102,025, ABOUT $8,000 OVER THE COUPE.

THIS CAR'S V8 CERTAINLY HAS THE POWER TO WAKE A FEW PEOPLE UP, AND OVERALL THE 2021 LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE SHOULD WAKE SOME OTHER CAR MAKERS UP AS WELL.

LUXURY, STYLE, PERFORMANCE; YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL, AND DRIVE THE HECK OUT OF IT TOO!

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 TEST THE STYLISH YET, SPORTY MERCEDES-AMG GLE 53 COUPE.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *