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

Join us on the road and trail in the updated Jeep Wrangler.

Then we'll get a visit from the Girl Scouts for a "Your Drive" demo in car care.

We're hitching a ride with an innovative EV rideshare program.

Then we'll hit the start button on the new BMW 3-Series.

So, come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

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Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

JOHN: The Jeep Wrangler has been an affordable rugged launching pad for backroad exploring for almost four decades.

And while constant updates have made the current Wrangler more modern and capable than ever, a lot has changed since the JL model first arrived for 2018.

So, Jeep engineers did their thing again, handing us yet another, better Wrangler for 2024.

♪♪ To most people, the Jeep Wrangler is all about tradition, a craggy aging dinosaur among the smooth fleet-footed crossovers of the modern era.

But the Wrangler has come a long way with modernization in recent years, and takes another big step for 2024.

Side curtain airbags for the first and second rows are now included in all but the base Wrangler Sport, and Uconnect 5 with 12.3 inch touchscreen is now standard across the board.

And since the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain has proven so popular, Jeep has made it available in more trims, including all the way down to Sport S, which means an even lower entry price point for what has quickly become the best-selling PHEV in America.

So, the 4xe has truly brought the Wrangler into the modern era in more ways than one, and it was also what we chose to spend the bulk of our Southern Utah drive time in.

It still delivers the same impressive, combined output of 375-horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the added bonus of 21-miles of EV time.

The 4xe is just one of many engine options however, including a 270-horsepower 2.0-liter I4 turbo and the monster 470-horsepower 6.4-liter V8 exclusive to the Rubicon 392.

Standard engine remains the 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, which is the only way to go if you want to shift your own gears, as the rest are all 8-speed automatics.

Speaking of the Rubicon, they've made it even more capable for '24, with a new Dana 44 HD full-floating solid rear axle which should hold up better when you stuff bigger tires in there, plus boosts towing capacity from 3,500 to 5,000 pounds.

And a factory-installed 8,000 pound Warn winch is now available as an option.

Off Road+ drive mode makes its way into 4xe models for '24 too, optimizing throttle, traction control, and transmission parameters to maximize off-road performance whether rock crawling or doing high-speed desert runs.

And since people really can't get enough of Rubicon, Jeep has added a new Rubicon X model with 35-inch tires on beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels, integrated off-road camera, steel bumpers, and full-time Rock-Trac 4:1 transfer case.

Back on our home turf, it was a trip to Mason Dixon Dragway with this 4xe plug-in performer.

Provided you've still got some battery power for additional boost, the 4xe will jump off the line with surprising authority on its way to a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds.

Power deliver stays strong once you get rolling, with things really coming alive as the tach needle climbs.

Automatic shifts were both quick and smooth, resulting in quarter-mile runs of 15.0 seconds flat at 97 miles-per-hour.

There's nothing about the Wrangler that wants to be pushed hard through a cone course, but we did it so you won't have to.

And truth be told, it wasn't that bad, but when you're sitting this far off the ground, it's a natural tendency to keep inputs smooth and steady and not tempt tipsy fate by being overly aggressive with steering inputs.

But rest assured, even if you are heavy handed, there are plenty of safety systems in place to help keep bad things from happening.

There was a lot of weight transfer on hard braking, which is to be expected, but 145 foot stops from 60 were still longer than we like.

The only real change to the new Wrangler look-wise is an updated 7-slot grille with shorter openings; though there are also the usual new color and wheel choices.

Multiple soft and hardtop options remain available.

And inside, the dash has been reshaped a bit to house that new touchscreen, 12-way adjustable power seats are now available, and additional sound deadening has been added to higher trim levels.

But, just about every trim level also comes with additional content for '24, and thankfully they haven't eliminated the 2-door yet.

Which starts things off with Sport trim at $33,690, 4-grand more for the 4-door.

4xe's remain 4-door only, but now start at just over $50,000, with the exclusive High Altitude trim at $68,790.

Love 'em or hate 'em, Jeep sells an incredible number of Wranglers every year, and it was really what kept the former Chrysler Corporation afloat for many years.

Stellantis has big plans for EVs going forward, but the 2024 Jeep Wrangler is not only more capable and modern than ever, it's proof that electrification and old-school off roaders can coexist; and it's a pretty good bet that the Jeep Wrangler will always remain a major part of their portfolio.

♪♪ Increasing access to electric cars and charging is a crucial step for fostering the adoption of EVs nationwide, especially among lower income and the elderly.

Now, a new ride-share program is making electric vehicles available at locations across the country, and delivering a greener way to get around town.

♪♪ The affordable mobility platform, or AMP, is a national initiative funded by the US Department of Energy that will establish EV carsharing fleets around the country at convenient parking lots, affordable housing developments, transit hubs and tourist areas.

AMP is an extension of several successful pilot programs managed by non-profits Forth and Mobility Access Group that have proven the concept in Oregon and California over the past few years.

Goforth is an app and web-based program that offers affordable, local short-term electric vehicle rentals to use for errands, shopping and appointments, or just to test drive an EV without the pressure of a salesperson coming along for the ride!

Goforth uses the established miocar networks app.

Members can use the app, website or phone to locate available vehicles and make a reservation, unlock it remotely or with an RFID card, then use the vehicle and return it to the pickup location on their own schedule.

CONNOR HERMAN: So with EV carsharing, it's a way to spread out the cost, so for one, uh fee of around five dollars per hour, uh folks get to use a car, which comes with insurance, roadside assistance, the electric uh fuel, the charging for that, to really bring down a lot of those upfront barriers that come to owning any vehicle, but also especially with EVs.

JOHN: Better yet, the first four-hour rental is free.

Users must pre-qualify for membership to ensure they have a valid license and maintain a clean driving record.

Now active in Oregon and Washington state, AMP programs are also rolling out in Nevada, North Carolina, New Mexico, Idaho, Michigan and Missouri.

Also riding under the AMP umbrella, St. Louis' Silvers program follows a different car-sharing path, with a fleet of Chevy Bolt EVs based at two downtown community centers, providing free on-request rides and delivering meals to elderly city residents.

LARRY KING: My biggest route, like today, will be around 40, 45 to 50.

When I get through with the Meals on Wheels, I help out on the side doing transport, medical transportation.

It helps me out, compared to the van.

I can get into tight spaces, I can maneuver a lot faster.

It makes the job a lot easier.

JOHN: Through June of 2023, the silvers program has delivered more than 100,000 meals to homebound residents and provided over 2000 free rides.

All while saving 45000 pounds of co2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.

DRIVER: I love the EVs.

They kinda grew on me.

KEVIN HERDLER: They actually ask for these vehicles over the other ones.

They enjoy driving in the electric vehicles.

Something new for them and they thoroughly enjoy driving in them.

And we only have three here, so not all of them get (laughs) get the opportunity to be in the electric vehicles.

They do fight for it, though.

JOHN: The AMP program is delivering on-demand, affordable, emissions-free drive time and community services to those areas of the country that need it the most.

And giving back environmental benefits to all of us.

JOHN: The Girl Scouts are so much more than the great tasting cookies most of us know them for.

These young ladies are inspired, hands-on and eager to use the skills they learn with their troops.

Well, our Audra Fordin invited one local scout troop to sharpen their automotive knowledge in MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

♪♪ AUDRA FORDIN: Here at MotorWeek, we like to encourage young people to become involved in their family's automotive maintenance, repair and safety.

The Girl Scouts are all about working together to make our world a better place.

So, it is with great pleasure that we welcome Troop 2370, joining us to today, working on their automotive maintenance and their automotive engineering badges.

And this kind of basic information can be understood by most pre-teenagers.

Girls, when you're driving in the car and you look at the stoplight, what color are they?

GIRLS: Red... AUDRA: And?

GIRLS: Yellow... AUDRA: And?

GIRLS: Green.

Audra: So, the stop light is red, yellow and green.

Those are the same colors that are on the dashboard when you start up the car.

The red lights mean stop, something needs attention.

The yellow lights on the dashboard, they mean maintenance.

Your car needs something but not emergency right away.

And those green lights mean everything is good to...

GIRLS: Go!

AUDRA: Yes, that's right!

When you're opening up the hood, there are a few things that are really important for you to take a look at.

We're gonna look at motor oil, and we're gonna look at your battery, and we're going to look at windshield washer fluid.

When you need to fill up your washer fluid, you're going to take a look, there's an icon here, it looks like this, and you're going to take some washer fluid, using a funnel, that way you don't spill... You could do that?

GIRLS: Yeah.

AUDRA FORDIN: Absolutely.

That's good.

Now, when we're taking a look at the motor oil, the motor oil has a dipstick.

We're going to take a look on the dipstick, and I want you to see... see those two dots there?

GIRLS: Yes.

AUDRA FORDIN: Those represent the minimum and the maximum lines.

So, as long as the motor oil does not go past that maximum line, everything is good.

And then, if it's in between these two lines, that means its time to add oil.

The windshield wipers need to be working because you need to see, right?

All the decisions that are made on the road are based on you being able to see.

So, it's very important that you keep your eyes on the road.

No cell phones, no distractibility...

So, with a little bit of window spray, you're cleaning the windshield wiper directly, in case there's dirt on it.

Sometimes you don't really need to replace it, you just need to clean it.

Now, we're going to finish up and talk about tires and tire pressure.

If you take a look, yup, at the shoes on your feet, you can see how your tires... how your shoes are wearing, which is the same like the alignment on your car's tires.

Make sense?

GIRLS: Yeah.

AUDRA FORDIN: Great!

Now, let's take a look at tire pressure.

The tire pressure, you're going to find, is written on a sticker, on the driver side door jamb.

When you check tire pressure, you're going to use the tire pressure gauge.

See that big open mouth on there?

You're going to put that onto the mouth on the valve stem.

And we're going to apply some pressure, and then be able to read how much pressure is actually inside of that tire.

Can you see that?

You think you could do that?

GIRLS: Yeah.

AUDRA FORDIN: I think you can too.

Let's give it a try.

But for now, you have a great foundation to understanding automotive maintenance, repair and safety that's needed for your family vehicle.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us, right here at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Time now to hop into the express lane for another Quick Spin!

♪♪ JESSICA RAY: If the days of the internal-combustion Boxster really are ending, Porsche did right by going out with a proper bang, the 2024 718 Spyder RS, which we took for a stroll through the hills of southern Germany.

The most impressive thing here is the 911 GT3-derived engine, a 4.0-liter boxer six-cylinder mounted midship.

It makes 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, screaming as you get it up to its 9,000 RPM redline.

[engine revs] ALEXANDER KELLUM: And you get it up there through a seven-speed PDK.

That's an automatic, and I know some purists would like to see a six- or seven-speed manual in this car which... uh, you know, I-I kind of agree with.

Uh- you know, if you're gonna take this out on a Sunday afternoon it's nice to have, uh, something, you know, "row it yourself."

Uh, but Porsche's seven-speed PDK is a phenomenal transmission.

It's a lot of fun; and with that RPM, with that power in mind, it's still just as easy to 'drop a gear and disappear,' or, I suppose with this transmission, uh, 'flap a paddle and skedaddle.'

JESSICA RAY: Even with that impressive powertrain, the Spyder RS isn't just a GT4 RS turned convertible.

This two-seater is built more for the road than the track, using reduced spring and damper rates to more comfortably absorb the road.

Still, the standard Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Torque Vectoring mechanical limited slip differential give it plenty of cornering potential.

Weight savings and aerodynamic efficiency are near the top of any Porsche "RS" resume, and that's very much the case here.

And the defining feature is the manually operated soft top, lightweight and simple to operate.

The interior comes standard with full bucket seats and plenty of physical controls, further characterizing the Spyder RS as a premium, yet connected sports car delight.

The 2024 Porsche Spyder RS is no cheap thrill, starting around $160,000.

But it is an excellent companion to the GT4 RS and a worthwhile sendoff to the internal-combustion Boxster.

And we'll have more Quick Spins soon!

♪♪ GREG CARLOSS: It's been a busy summer for our 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.

We've already logged another 4,000, mostly long-distance highway miles on the odometer.

With a comfortable, quiet ride and a suite of amenities, we've all wanted it as our Road Trip companion.

But those high speed runs up and down I-95 have taken a toll on PHEV gas use.

With highway trips quickly depleting the 38 electric-only miles, overall fuel economy has dropped about 10% to 30.2 mpg.

Still, that's just fine, thanks to this 2.4-liter inline-4's efficient hybrid powertrain.

But, there is more to our Outlander PHEV experience than just saving at the pump.

We've raved about the Outlander's looks both inside and out, but we all know looks only go so far.

There needs to be substance behind the appearance.

Well now that we've put in the road trip miles, we're happy to report the Outlander holds up as a long-haul vehicle.

On vacation my favorite feature was the massaging seats and granted, they're not as advanced as we've seen in some of the high-end luxury vehicles, but they get the job done when back fatigue sets in.

With daily recharging, and shorter fall drives, we expect to see this Mitsubishi's fuel economy tick up in the weeks ahead.

But first, we'll have an update on our 2022 Kia EV6 in the next MotorWeek Long Term Road Test Update.

JOHN: The BMW 3-Series has been a luxury sport sedan standard bearer for most of its 7 generations.

Well, it's not time for an all-new 8th gen just yet, but BMW has done some significant updating to this current sedan.

So, let's see how they're staying ahead of the curve.

♪♪ While it's easy to see the slow decline in sedan sales continuing as SUVs take up more and more market share, it's also easy for us to always see a place for the European style sport sedan.

If not in dealer showrooms, certainly in our motor oil pumping hearts.

2023 sees an updated BMW 3 Series sedan with better looks, better tech, and better performance.

Never satisfied to leave well enough alone, BMW has again tweaked the 3's face, with slimmer headlights, ever more prominent air intakes, and yet another take on their classic twin kidney grille.

There are multiple M Sport packages available, adding 19-inch M Sport wheels to replace the standard 18s, adaptive suspension, variable sport steering, M Sport brakes with blue calipers, and black trim.

Ever since they crammed a 2.0-liter M10 into 1968's 2002, BMW has seemingly been on a mission to maximize 4-cylinder power delivery and reliability.

Their latest 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the 330i outputs 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The 382-horsepower 6-cylinder remains available in the M340i, and there's a 288-horsepower 330e PHEV as well.

This 2.0-liter is paired with the familiar 8-speed automatic transmission; the entire package is smooth and punches above its weight, delivering big hits of torque off the line with barely a hint of turbo lag.

We hit 60 in 5.1-seconds with the help of launch control.

The 1/4-mile passed in 13.7-seconds at 102 miles-per-hour.

The engine sounded powerful and aggressive as it eagerly revved to redline, where each shift of the automatic transmission gave a nice little surge of additional power.

xDrive all-wheel-drive is optional and not only does it provide extra grip for launching, but additional traction when it comes to handling as well.

With the M Sport package, the suspension feels tight and the ride is quite firm; perhaps a bit much for our aging bodies, but you won't be complaining when scooting down your favorite driving road, or shuffling through a handling course.

It felt ever more athletic when whipping in and out of the cones of our slalom, with just a hint of understeer showing up at its limits.

Steering is incredibly quick, but still has an artificial feel that takes some getting used to.

There is very little body roll to contend with.

In our braking runs, a nice firm pedal and great overall stability made for quick 103 foot stops from 60, rock steady all the way.

BMW has truly upped their interior comfort game in recent years, and everything inside this updated 3 looks great and feels nicely finished.

Twin screens, 12.3-inches behind the steering wheel for instruments, and 14.9-inch for infotainment, now flow into one another as part of BMW's curved dash display.

While it works well enough, this latest iDrive 8 may be a step back, as very few manual controls remain, and you seemingly have to do more menu diving than before for anything other than basic climate and audio controls.

Dash vents are now slimmer, and the console gets a redesign with, for better or worse, a new toggle lever instead of an actual shifter for controlling the transmission.

Steering wheel-mounted shifters are also standard; M Sport adds a unique wheel and aluminum trim, with Harmon Kardon sound optional.

Front seats are firm but adequately comfortable, there's a good amount of room for rear seat passengers, and a great 16.9 cubic-feet of trunk space.

Pricing starts at $45,495 for the 330i, 2-grand more for all-wheel drive; the 330e plug-in is just above that at $46,595, with the top 340i coming in at $58,595.

BMW essentially created the sport sedan as we know it back in the 1960's.

And while you don't have to spend this kind of money to get a great driving experience these days, the 2023 BMW 3 Series still delivers perhaps the best mix of performance, luxury, tech, and even comfort, in a 4-door sedan package that an awful lot of people, including us, still adore.

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!

We're testing a luxury ute favorite, now battery-powered, the Genesis Electrified GV70.

Then see just how much toughness the midsize GMC Canyon can deliver.

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... To order a DVD of this program, call... MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper To Bumper, a nationwide network of stores and shops providing major brand auto and truck parts and service from coast to coast, and in your local community.

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 Tire Rack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

♪ ♪ This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(car engine revving) ♪ ♪ You're watching PBS.