Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We're punching off the line in the adrenaline-pumping Audi RS6 Avant... Then, pulling back the reins for a brake upgrade... We'll visit a super fleet that's all about choosing the right clean fuel for the job... Then, wrap up with the return of the Toyota Crown...

So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: For most people, wagons are so not cool.

But the enlightened among us appreciate them for their non-pretentious practicality, and quite often their driving dynamics too.

But every once in a while, a wagon comes along that everyone can agree is bad to the bone.

♪ ♪ Over the years, Audi has certainly been stingy when it comes to selling their high-performance RS models here in the US.

Only allowing us a 3 here or a 5 there, briefly a 6, but only for one year in 2003, and certainly not a wagon.

Well, in case you've been sleeping on it, the RS 6 actually returned to the US for 2021 and did so exclusively as a square back wagon.

Most of us were still enduring pandemic hysteria, so you're forgiven, if you had other things on your mind at the time.

But it's never too late to appreciate something special, and that is this 2023 Audi RS6 Avant.

This wagon truly is, packing a no joke twin-turbo 4.0 liter V8 under its hood, cranking out 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.

At our Mason Dixon Dragway testing grounds, it seemed a little hesitant to unleash its full fury right from the get-go, but that just allowed for drama free launches with plenty of grip.

As soon as we got rolling, we could really feel the power pour on, fulfilling the 60 miles per hour mission in a scant 3.3 seconds.

Not enough for you?

An upgraded performance model will arrive for '24 with bigger turbos producing 30 more horsepower that Audi claims will help shave another two/tenths off of that.

We're certainly not complaining about this one, as it was truly refreshing to feel that amount of sensational power coming from an actual fuel burning powerplant pulling you down that track, rather than a host of electric motors whizzing you up to speed.

It was the perfect throwback to when explosive thrust was created with hardware, mechanical ingenuity, and actual explosions, rather than computer software.

Part of that experience is what you hear of course, and this V8 sounds fantastic both inside the car and out.

There are 8-gears inside the Tiptronic automatic transmission, and very little pause in power when a new one is engaged, despite a very smooth overall feel.

Our best quarter-mile run was 11.6 seconds at 120 miles per hour.

This wagon weighs close to 5,000 pounds but it sure didn't perform like it in our handling course.

It felt much nimbler and lighter on its feet especially compared to many of the equally-heavy performance-oriented SUVs that we've driven lately.

Torque vectoring, a rear sport differential, and 4-wheel steering enable some serious agility, with near instantaneous turn ins, and elimination of almost all understeer.

Steering is quick but with enough feedback to keep it from feeling over boosted.

It felt super stable in braking runs too, digging its way into the pavement.

Just 113 feet to rapidly stop from 60.

The RS 6 definitely looks the part as well, featuring a lowered stance of course, plus, exaggerated wheel flares that push out over 2.0 inches more than the A6 sedan on which this high-performance wagon is based on.

And this is not the only way to get an A6-based wagon as an All Road remains available as well.

Inside, you'll find Audi's great mix of high-tech features and premium materials, but with a decidedly sportier feel.

We're still not fans of all the touch panel controls, but the actual infotainment system with its in-dash 10 inch touchscreen is fairly intuitive.

And of course, Audi's 12.3 inch virtual cockpit looks and works as great as always, plus, gets unique RS programming and displays.

Alcantara and microfiber materials are joined by color stitching and sport seats covered in quilted Valcona leather to drive the RS point home.

There's plenty of room in the back seat for kids or golf buddies, along with a great 30.0 cubic-feet of cargo space in back.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 14-City, 21-Highway, and 17-Combined; we averaged a more than acceptable 19 miles per gallon of Premium.

But that puts the Energy Impact Score well below average at 17.5 barrels of annual oil use with 8.8 tons of CO2 emissions.

Believe it or not, this is not the only 600 horsepower wagon currently prowling our streets as Mercedes-AMG and Porsche are in the Draggin' Wagon game as well.

And, they'll all cost you six figures, the RS 6 Avant's base price is $123,995.

With all of the performance of a sport sedan, plus, the functionality of an SUV, the 2023 Audi RS 6 Avant put a smile on our face like few other vehicles on the road right now.

Not to mention it looks absolutely gorgeous.

To most, it may be more ridiculous than practical, but that's exactly why we love it so much.

♪ ♪ JOHN: The term "green" is often used in reference to vehicles, fuels, technologies, and practices that are good for the environment.

Well, we recently visited one Georgia fleet manager who is leading the way in all of these areas, while proving that "going green" also saves green dollars, and just makes good sense.

♪ ♪ ROBERT LEE GORDON: The size of our fleet, we're over 3600 vehicles in our fleet, and we have every kind of vehicle.

From a dozer all the way to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances.

We have everything except school buses.

JOHN: More than 400 of DeKalb county's vehicles, or 12 percent of the total, run on CNG, propane, or battery-electric power.

And not just for their environmental benefits.

ROBERT: You need to have lofty goals, but I'm all about realistic too.

I want to put something in an application that's going to be the best performing vehicle for that job.

For me, that's what it's all about... um...

I don't like to say I'm not a green person, but when I first started, Diesel flowed through my veins, and when I first got started, it was all about a business case: where is the return on the investment, how long is it going to take to get this money back, and how's the truck going to perform?

Because I'm a fleet guy, I gotta fix them.

So, our pilot program, we got some money from the DoE, we got a processing plant, we got a fuel station, and then we got $50,000 per truck, so our kickoff was 46 trucks.

And that was about six different types of trucks.

I wrote the specs on those trucks.

And from that point on, we've just never stopped.

But nobody has still come to us and said we had to do it, because we're way ahead of the curve.

So, in these trucks, we've done our whole entire sanitation fleet, heavy duty fleet, is natural gas.

So, that's-- that's kinda how we got started, and we've just continued doing it, up to the point today, I have 16 different types of vehicles running on natural gas.

JOHN: DeKalb county now uses twice as much CNG as diesel fuel, and that green gap will only continue to widen.

The advantages of natural gas over diesel start with reduced greenhouse emissions and quieter operation, but they don't end there.

ROBERT: Several advantages: one of the biggies most people like to think about-- talk about is the cost.

Uh, we're paying $2.12 a gallon for, uh, natural gas, and we've been doing that for seven years.

It don't never change.

Of course, diesel, we all know how diesel price goes up and down, and that can really affect your budget, so that's one of the biggest things when you're looking at a business case.

Um, the operating expense, for our experience, has been much cheaper on natural gas.

JOHN: The DeKalb county fleet also has 37 light-duty electric vehicles on hand, and over 80 more on the way.

ROBERT: In my opinion, EVs is absolutely perfect for light duty, in a government agency.

I can't tell you for everybody's personal use, it depends on what you gotta do, but my vehicles don't leave DeKalb county.

So, for a county vehicle that's not going to run more than 50 miles a day, a lot of them don't run 20 miles a day, and I've got 250 mile range electric vehicles.

You can't beat it.

JOHN: Robert's savvy analysis and relentless effort has certainly paid off: Every year since 2013, DeKalb county has ranked among the top 25 green fleets in the US.

Robert willingly shares his 36 years' experience with fleet managers around the country who are looking to go green, but his best advice is to experience these clean-fuel vehicles firsthand.

ROBERT: The biggest tip I can give to a fleet operator, is go educate those end users, and it will save you a lot of headaches in the end, because people don't like change.

But, it really did work.

When we got our first truck, I called it our firstborn, I took it out and I let people touch it, and feel it, and drive it, and see how it operated.

If you check around, one of us fleet guys will help you.

We got it, come on down here and drive it, we'll let you, we'll help you.

JOHN: Upgrading your ride to make big power may be where all the fun is, but making sure you can stop safely is just as important.

So, we brought in Dan Maffett to upgrade our stopping power on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ DAN MAFFETT: Let's talk about brakes, one of the most overlooked upgrades on any kind of vehicle.

Whether, you're doing a restomod like this MGB, which now has over double the horsepower, those factory brakes are not going to up keep with that new power add and that moving mass.

So, you're going to need to take a look at what kind of power you're putting down, what kind of stopping power you're going to need.

There's a lot of options when you get to the aftermarket world, but don't be overwhelmed.

You have something like this, which is really made for a performance vehicle.

In my shop, we do mostly American muscle.

So, what we do is we gut all the original brakes; the drums gotta go.

And once those are out, we do something like this, which is a vented, drilled, and slotted performance rotor.

This is going to disperse heat, it's going to keep your pads cool, it's going to keep the calipers from locking up.

It's just going to give you really good stopping power without a lot of headache.

Now, this might be overkill for a daily driver or a tow vehicle.

So, when you get something like this, this is just a standard flat rotor that's got some vents and just a nice brushed finish that's going to give a good bite.

Now, it's very specific to your build and the power output of your vehicle.

Because this is good for a Honda, but this is from a trackhawk.

You can see the size difference there.

This is a beefy, beefy brake for something with a lot of power and a lot of mass that it needs to stop.

So, your brakes need to be tailored to your project.

Now, this-- this is your clamping force.

This is the caliper that's going to lock down onto the rotor and stop you if you're moving.

These come standard 2-piston like this.

Some of your retro vehicles will have a single large piston, but you can get these all the way up to an 8-piston setup.

The more pistons, the more stop.

And they take these pads here, and they clamp down on the rotors, and that's your stopping force.

Now, pads are another customizable piece.

You can get ceramics, you can get carbons, you can get all kinds of different materials for different styles of driving.

The ones you use on a track might not be the ones you use on your daily driver.

And when you get into outfitting your vehicle for your use, whether it's track, daily or towing, you want to pick the right setup that matches your style of driving.

The more power you add, the more stopping power you're going to need.

If you add a whole lot of go, you need a whole lot of whoa.

So, take this time, do some research, buy it once.

And for around two, three thousand dollars in a classic muscle car, you can have a full disc brake conversion.

If you have any questions or comments, hit us up right here, at MotorWeek .

JOHN: The automotive beat never sleeps, and neither do we.

Here's Stephanie Hart with this week's MotorNews!

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: We're back from Detroit with the latest reveals from the North American International Auto Show... Ford debuted their latest F-150 pickup, refreshed for 2024.

New features include an available Pro Access Tailgate that swings to the side, various trailer assists for easier towing, and a standard 12 inch infotainment screen.

Powertrain options are mostly familiar, with more emphasis being put on the PowerBoost hybrid V6.

The 5.0 liter V8 is still available.

Raptor models see available FOX Dual Live Valve Shocks among other enhancements.

Jeep spearheaded their presentation with a refreshed Gladiator.

Changes mirror those given to the 2024 Wrangler, including a standard 12 inch infotainment screen, an updated 7-slot grille and windshield-integrated antenna.

All models now use the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6, with either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission.

Two new trims, the Mojave X and Rubicon X, join the fray.

The General Motors family hit the show room floor with an all-new Acadia utility.

It's now 10 inches longer, adding more passenger and cargo volume.

A 15 inch infotainment screen is standard, joined by an 11 inch digital gauge unit.

All trims are powered by a turbocharged 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, paired to an 8-speed automatic.

All-wheel-drive is available.

Expect an off-road-minded AT4 trim with a special suspension and all-terrain tires; as well as a luxury-appointed Denali trim.

Finally, Cadillac flaunted the 2025 CT5 sedan.

The front wears a wider grille and updated lighting.

Inside, the cabin sports a new 33 inch display with built-in Google services.

Additional driver-assistance features are also standard.

And that's it for this week's MotorNews.

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: The leaves are beginning to change here in the Mid-Atlantic and temperatures cooling down, but our fondness for this 2023 Acura Integra is still heating up, and some last-minute summer getaways helped tack another 5,000 miles on our tally since the last report.

We've reached the 5-month mark, having driven 12,000 miles, and this 200 horsepower turbo-4 really is a dream to operate even if the revs hang a little high on the freeway.

Monitoring those revs is easy with the clear and precise digital gauge display, which ironically enough, is actually called Acura's Precision Cockpit.

And it's worth noting the 6-speed manual transmission, not just for its novelty, but for the fact that it works so well.

A lot of the charm and even credibility for the Integra being a sporty compact comes from the manual transmission option.

Shifter throws are short and precise while the brake pedal and gas pedal are spaced perfectly for heel-toe downshift action... that is assuming you turn off the automatic rev matching feature.

And, uh...don't tell any purists...

I'm starting to leave that function on.

Some additional highway miles have helped the fuel economy average climb slightly to 34.5 miles per gallon; and so far, the only downtime for the Integra has been for regularly scheduled maintenance.

Everything inside is holding up quite well, including the Sport Seats with Microsuede Inserts that come with the Tech Package, which also gets you a nice head-up display and nicer 16-speaker ELS Studio Premium Audio which brings the noise with clarity.

And there's even plenty of room in the back seat for bringing some friends along.

We'll see what our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been up to lately, on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

♪ ♪ JOHN: With SUVs taking over the automotive world, it only makes sense that classic utilities would become a lot hotter in the collector car market.

That has certainly been the case with Ford's Bronco.

Not to mention with Ford brining their original Jeep fighter back to market, Bronco Mania has never been higher.

Having been around them most of his life, author Todd Zuercher knows a thing or two about original Broncos; and his book "Ford Bronco: A History of Ford's Legendary 4X4," is a Must Read that will insure that you do too.

Toyota hasn't abandoned the sedan segment by any means, but they are tackling things from a different angle, leaving the baby boomers behind and replacing their beloved Avalon full-size 4-door with a car portraying a more rugged, youthful vibe.

So, let's find out, if Toyota's crowning achievement will give buyers the royal treatment.

♪ ♪ The name, Toyota Crown, may be new to you, but it has a very long and storied history going back to 1955; and it was actually the first Toyota sold here in the US, remaining in our market up until 1972.

The Lexus GS also shared its platform for many years.

This 2023 Toyota Crown is actually the replacement for the brand's flagship Avalon sedan.

A much bolder attempt to draw younger buyers to the fold.

And since everyone is mostly into SUVs these days, Toyota has given it a bit of an adventure-minded flare along with a seating position that's much higher than the typical sedan, yet, not quite into SUV territory.

The Crown also comes with standard all-wheel-drive and is available exclusively as a hybrid, though there are two options to choose from.

XLE and Limited grades get the standard 2.5 liter I4 Toyota Hybrid System with 236 horsepower.

Top Platinum rolls with a turbocharged 2.4 liter Hybrid Max setup that produces a combined 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

With our Hybrid Max test car in Sport+ mode, it felt really torquey off the line at our test track; good grip meant just a slight chirp of the tires and then a quick scoot of 5.9 second to 60.

The Max also comes with a wet-clutch 6-speed automatic transmission that incorporates a 61 kilowatt electric motor providing constant power to minimize lag between shifts.

It all works to help the Crown feel plenty powerful through its 14.6 second quarter-mile at 97 miles per hour.

The standard hybrid works with Toyota's typical eCVT.

But, noticeable understeer and body roll did give the Crown an SUV-like feel through our handling course.

Still, keeping speeds sensible, the light, responsive steering, and good feedback through the wheel, allowed us to easily keep on top of it.

The Max comes with additional drive modes and its all-wheel drive setup is unique as well.

Rather than the standard Hybrid's on-demand arrangement, the Max's 58.6 kilowatt water-cooled rear eAxle motor is always feeding in some level of power.

In panic braking runs, there was a nice firm pedal, very little ABS pulse, and only moderate nosedive accompanying short stops of 115 feet from 60.

Questionable TRD treatments aside, the Avalon was never really about performance; much more important was how you were treated inside.

The Crown certainly appears more modern, and both the look and feel of materials do a fine job of bridging the gap between Toyota and luxury-minded Lexus.

There are great looking 12.3 inch screens for both driver info and infotainment, and the seats feel straight out of Lexus, with plenty of adjustments and good comfort.

Like the Avalon before it, there's technically not enough interior space to be considered full-size, but rear seat legroom is plentiful.

Outside, it certainly has a jacked-up look to it, and its sloping roof is about 4.0 inches taller than the Camry's, but ground clearance is almost exactly the same as Camry, just a tenth of an inch higher.

And it is a true sedan, with a big 15.2 cubic-feet trunk.

If you don't like the added black painted hood and body panels of Toyota's Bi-tone, not to worry-- it's only available with Platinum trim, and optional on top of that.

The 21 inch wheels are standard with Platinum and keep the ride from being quite Lexus-like, but that situation can be somewhat cured with the Adaptive Variable Suspension from Lexus set to comfort mode.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the Max are 29-City, 32-Highway, and 30-Combined; we averaged a good 30.5 miles per gallon of Regular.

Pricing starts with XLE at $41,045; top Platinum comes in at $53,445 with Limited in between.

While, we agree that the Avalon needed a major reboot, we're not quite ready to pledge total allegiance to this Crown just yet.

Still, we do applaud the new approach of adding both some performance and utility-like flair, as well as the technology behind it.

Moreover, we'll standup and cheer that Toyota remains committed to building 4-door sedans.

The 2023 Toyota Crown... long may you reign.

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 test one little adventure seeker you can still use daily, the latest Subaru Crosstrek, followed by a new premium compact Ute, the 3rd gen BMW X1.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek !

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

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