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

JOIN US FOR A RIP-ROARING RIDE IN THE MERCEDES-AMG GT R... PAT GOSS FINDS THE RIGHT FIT TO LAST MILE AFTER MILE... STEPHANIE HART EXPLORES THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CAR BUYING... AND IT'S A HERCULEAN EFFORT FOR WORK AND PLAY, THE NEW RAM 2500 DIESEL...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MERCEDES-BENZ HAS AGGRESSIVELY EXPANDED THEIR LINEUP HERE IN THE U.S.

ADDING NEW LEVELS OF UTILITIES AND ENTRY-LEVEL MODELS.

BUT WITH THAT THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE HIGH PERFORMANCE SIDE OF MOTORING HASN'T WAVERED ONE BIT, EVIDENCED BY AN UPDATED AMG GT R. SO, LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT IF AMG'S 2-DOOR TERROR IS A TRICK OR A TREAT.

* IT WAS JUST TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE MERCEDES-AMG GT R ARRIVED TO TAKE THEIR GT COUPE TO HIGHER LEVELS OF ROAD PROWESS THAN EVER BEFORE.

WELL, AFTER RECENTLY LAUNCHING AN ALL-NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE 4-DOOR COUPE, AMG ENGINEERS APPARENTLY HAD SOME TIME LEFT ON THEIR HANDS TO MAKE SOME UPDATES TO THE 2020 GT R. NOW, IT WILL TAKE A KEEN EYE TO PICK UP ON THE VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS, AS THEY'RE VERY MINOR; JUST NEW HEADLIGHTS AND REVISED TAIL LIGHTS.

INSIDE, THE CENTER STACK HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH A NEW TOUCHSCREEN ON TOP OF THE DASH; WHILE CONTROL PANELS ON THE CONSOLE GET UPGRADED FROM BACKLIT BUTTONS TO INDIVIDUAL TOUCH-SENSITIVE TFT DISPLAY BUTTONS.

THE BIGGEST UPDATE, AND WHY WE'VE COME TO DOMINION RACEWAY IN THORNBURG, VIRGINIA IS NEW AMG DYNAMICS.

BASICALLY, A NEW LEVEL FOR DYNAMIC SELECT DRIVE MODES; AMG DYNAMICS CAN FURTHER ENHANCE THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THROUGH STABILITY CONTROL, POWER ALLOCATION, AND STEERING CHARACTERISTICS OVER FOUR NEW SETTINGS, BASED ON WHICH DRIVE MODE IS SELECTED.

BASIC IS FOR SLIPPERY AND COMFORT MODES, WITH INTERVENTION ARRIVING EARLY AND OFTEN, AND DRIVER SAFETY PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

ADVANCED IS AVAILABLE IN SPORT MODE, AND HEIGHTENS CHASSIS, AND STEERING RESPONSE; A PERFECT SETUP FOR WINDING BACK ROADS.

PRO IS FOUND IN SPORT+ MODE; HERE, THE CAR ANTICIPATES CORNERING LOADS AND AVAILABLE TRACTION, AND DIVERTS MAXIMUM POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL THAT CAN USE IT MOST.

MASTER IS AVAILABLE IN RACE MODE; AMG NOW GIVES YOU AS NEUTRAL A SETUP AS POSSIBLE FOR A STREET CAR, WITH EXTREMELY HEIGHTENED STEERING RESPONSE.

SO...CAREFUL, YOU MIGHT GET SPOOKED!

GETTING THE EASY STUFF OUT OF THE WAY FIRST; REGARDLESS OF SETTINGS, THIS CAR IS VERY FAST AND SOUNDS VERY AWESOME.

THE GT R COUPE MAY FEEL TIGHT AND A TAD HYPER ON THE STREET; BUT ON A TRACK, IT FEELS PERFECTLY AT HOME.

SUSPENSION TRAVEL IS MINIMAL, SO YOU DO GET BOUNCED AROUND, BUT LIKE A TRUE RACE CAR, THE FASTER YOU GO, THE MORE THINGS SMOOTH OUT.

AS BEFORE, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF HOOD IN FRONT OF YOU, AND IT TAKES A FEW LAPS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE, BUT ONCE YOU'VE GOT A FEEL FOR IT, EVERYTHING IS POINT-AND-SHOOT SIMPLE.

IT WOULD BE VERY REMISS OF US TO NEGLECT WHAT'S UNDER THAT LONG HOOD, A 4.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE BRILLIANCE.

NO CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR, AND NONE WERE REALLY NECESSARY; AS THIS V8 POURS OUT 577 HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT POWER GOES STRICTLY TO THE REAR WHEELS OF COURSE, AND BACK THERE, FOR BALANCE, YOU'LL FIND A REAR-MOUNTED 7-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION AS WELL.

THERE ARE THE USUAL TRICK PADDLE SHIFTERS, BUT WE FOUND THEM A LITTLE SLOW TO RESPOND.

THE CAR DOES SO WELL ALL ON ITS OWN HOWEVER; WE GOT THE BEST RESULTS BY JUST LEAVING IT IN AUTO.

DON'T KNOCK IT 'TIL YOU'VE TRIED IT.

YOU CAN FIND SOME OVERSTEER, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THIS CAR JUST WANTS TO GRIP AND RIP.

THE WHOLE TIME THAT YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THIS, YOU'LL BE GRIPPING A NEW STEERING WHEEL THAT'S HEAVILY CONTOURED AND FEELS GREAT TO THE HANDS.

IT ALSO, NOW HOUSES A DRIVE MODE SELECTOR; GREAT IDEA, BUT IT'S ALSO EASILY BUMPED WHEN YOU'RE SHUFFLING THE WHEEL THROUGH TIGHT CORNERS.

KEEPING A FIRM GRIP ON THAT WHEEL AT THE DRAG STRIP, AFTER ENGAGING LAUNCH CONTROL, THE GT R SHOOTS OFF THE LINE WITH ZERO WHEEL SPIN.

IT'S AN EASY AND REPEATABLE PROCESS, EVIDENCED BY OUR 3.6 SECONDS TO 60 BEING EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE LAST GT R WE TESTED DOWN AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY TWO YEARS AGO.

SHIFTS WERE FIRM, WITH A NICE DEEP BARK FROM THE ENGINE, AS WE COMPLETED THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.5 SECONDS AT 129 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE, 18.1 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM... PRICING IS STILL SPOOKY TOO, STARTING AT $163,895, OR ABOUT 2500 BUCKS MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

THE ORIGINAL MERCEDES-AMG GT WAS CONCEIVED WITH THE PORSCHE 911 SQUARELY IN ITS 3-POINTED SIGHTS; THE 2020 MERCEDES-AMG GT R HAS BECOME MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S AN ENTICING CAR, THAT DESPITE THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE PEDIGREE AND ON-TRACK CAPABILITIES; REMAINS A VERY LUXURIOUS AND COMFORTABLE CAR TO GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY BUSINESS.

IT'S AN ENVIOUS MARRIAGE OF MERCEDES-BENZ INDULGENCE WITH AMG PERFORMANCE, AND A PERFECT TREAT INDEED!

* SOCIAL MEDIA'S INFLUENCE ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ENORMOUS.

AUTO MAKERS ARE USING A WIDE VARIETY OF SITES TO INFLUENCE CUSTOMERS.

AS A RESPONSE, WE'RE PURCHASING CARS MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN SAY, A DECADE AGO...

THANKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA'S INSTANT CONNECTIVITY.

OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART EXPLAINS.

* Stephanie Hart: AUTO MAKERS ARE INCREASINGLY USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO DIRECTLY REACH THEIR TARGET BUYERS.

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, SNAPCHAT, IT'S ALL GAME ON.

IN FACT, IT'S TOUGH TO SELL A VEHICLE TODAY WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA'S INFLUENCE, JUST ASK AMERICAN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR SCOTT TALAN.

HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGED THE NEW CAR BUYING PROCESS?

Scott Talan: I THINK, IT DEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE BUYER, INSTAGRAM IS SORT OF THE NIRVANA FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE, BUT SO FAR, CAR SELLERS HAVEN'T CRACKED THAT.

THEY'RE MOSTLY USING FACEBOOK, THEY'RE USING SOME TWITTER.

VIDEOS OBVIOUSLY, HAVE APPEAL BECAUSE THE CARS MOVE AND THAT FITS THE MEDIUM OF A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE.

SO I THINK, WHETHER ITS HOSTED ON YOUTUBE OR NOT, THE IDEA OF A VIDEO AND CARS JUST FITS TOGETHER SO, SO VERY WELL.

AND IF A CAR SELLER IS NOT THERE, THEY'RE ALMOST BEING NEGLIGENT AND CERTAINLY MISSING OPPORTUNITIES BY NOT USING VIDEO WHETHER ITS ON YOUTUBE OR SOME OTHER VIDEO SHARING PLATFORM.

Stephanie: ON SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE IS EVERYTHING.

FROM THE CAMERA ANGLE TO THE COLOR TO THE LOCATION.

ALL OF THE DETAILS MATTER.

SOCIAL MEDIA'S INFLUENCE HAS EVEN CHANGED HOW NEW CARS ARE BEING DESIGNED, ESPECIALLY THE INTERIORS.

THAT'S EVIDENT IN THE GIGANTIC, TESLA-INSPIRED INFOTAINMENT SCREENS, WE'RE SEEING IN MORE AND MORE CARS.

IN OUR FAST PACED WORLD, PEOPLE WANT TO BE CONNECTED 24/7 WHILE THEY'RE ON THE GO.

Sunny Prasad: THE VOLVO X90 SHOWED UP AND YOU KNOW IT'S JUST THE DESIGNS AND FEATURES ARE SO GOOD.

I LOVE AUDI'S AND YOU KNOW, I USED TO HAVE ONE, SO I GET A LOT OF THOSE, YOU KNOW.

[LAUGHS] SO, IT JUST SHOWS GOOD FEATURES, AND ITS JUST NICE TO SEE THE DESIGNS AND ALWAYS TEMPTING, YOU KNOW.

[LAUGHS] Stephanie: ARE SOCIAL MEDIA CONSCIOUS PEOPLE MORE PRONE TO BELIEVE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT CARS THAN FROM OTHER SOURCES?

Scott: YES, WITHOUT QUESTION.

IF THEY VIEW THE SOURCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS BEING A PEER OR SOMEONE WHO IS JUST INTERESTED THEN THE ANSWER IS YES.

IT IS MORE BELIEVABLE AND MORE TRUSTWORTHY, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S SUCH A BIG APPEAL, AND STRENGTH TO SOCIAL MEDIA ITS BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THAT THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS NOT MAKING A COMMISSION OR MAKING A BUCK OFF THE SALE.

Stephanie: AND IT WORKS BOTH WAYS, SAVVY SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE PRETTY PHOTOS AND CLEVER CAPTIONS.

Arielle Small: I'M MORE AWARE OF THE ADS I SEE ONLINE AND HOW, IF I'M TALKING ABOUT HALO TOP ICE CREAM FOR EXAMPLE WITH A FRIEND, I'LL FIND THAT AN AD WILL POP UP FOR HALO TOP ON FACEBOOK.

AND IT SORT OF AFFECTS WHAT I BUY IN THE SENSE OF, I USUALLY DON'T BUY THE THINGS, THAT I SEE IN THE ADS BECAUSE I THINK, THE MORE ADS THAT I SEE FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC, THE LESS COMPELLED I'M ACTUALLY TO BUY THEM BECAUSE OF JUST THE AWARENESS I HAVE.

Stephanie: WHETHER, YOU LOVE OR HATE SOCIAL MEDIA, BOTTOM LINE...IT'S A TOOL TO RESEARCH CARS AND SEE WHAT YOUR PEERS THINK OF A CAR AND THAT'S WHY IT'S INCREASINGLY SO VITAL IN THE CAR BUYING ECO-SYSTEM.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE: RON PHILLIPS, SEEN HERE IN THIS PHOTO, WENT TO FLORIDA, HE RENTED A CONVERTIBLE.

HE SNAPPED THIS PHOTO OF HIMSELF BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH A CIGAR IN HIS MOUTH, GIVING THE THUMBS UP.

WELL, HE GOT SO MANY LIKES, THE EXPERIENCE STUCK WITH HIM AND WHEN HE GOT BACK HOME, HE ENDED UP BUYING A SIMILAR CONVERTIBLE.

AND IN A PERFECT WORLD THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA SHOULD WORK.

* John: LIKE, MANY THINGS IN LIFE YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR... THAT'S TOTALLY TRUE WITH TIRES.

AND HERE'S PAT GOSS WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT TREADS.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE PROFESSIONALS FIGURE OUT WHICH TIRES AND WHEELS WILL FIT ON YOUR CAR.

AND FOR THAT INFORMATION WE HAVE MATT EDMONDS OUR TIRE EXPERT.

MATT, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS'S GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: PLEASURE TO BE HERE PAT.

Pat: ALL RIGHT...NOW, AFTERMARKET TIRES AND WHEELS AND SO ON, VERY POPULAR.

Matt: THEY ARE...THEY ARE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO YOU CAN UPGRADE YOUR VEHICLE MAKE YOUR VEHICLE LOOK NICE, MAKE IT PERSONAL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, MANY TIMES WILL SAY, "WHEELS ARE LIKE JEWELRY FOR YOUR CAR."

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY ARE THERE'S SOMETHING, SOMETHING THAT REALLY MAKES IT YOURS AND MAKES IT STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.

Pat: OKAY...BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WHEELS OUT THERE.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO FIT?

Matt: WELL, THAT BEING SAID, THEY'RE JEWELRY THEY'RE VERY TECHNICAL AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE TIRE AND WHEEL OFF, WE SEE ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS THAT ARE BEHIND IT THE BRAKES, THE SUSPENSION.

YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLEAR PROPERLY.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IS, YOU CAN GO IN AND USE WHAT'S CALLED A "FARO-ARM" TO REALLY DIGITIZE THIS AREA AND ONCE IT'S BEEN DIGITIZED YOU CAN THEN VIRTUALLY FIT WHEELS ON IT.

THAT MAKES SURE THAT WE CLEAR EVERYTHING BUT BEFORE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WHEELS HAVE THE RIGHT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT BOLT CIRCLE, THE CENTER BORE, THE PROPER OFFSET VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE TECHNICAL ASPECTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

Pat: NOW, THIS IS FARO ARM THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR CERTAIN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE THINGS AND SO ON... USE A UNIT THAT HAS A LITTLE POINTER... YOU TOUCH ALL THESE DIFFERENT SPOTS AND IT GIVES YOU THE READINGS.

IS IT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

Matt: WELL, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL FARO ARM, THE NEW VERSION OF THE FARO ARM THAT WE NOW USE HAS A SONAR ON IT SO IT'S ACTUALLY TAKING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POINTS OF INFORMATION AND GIVES YOU A MODEL THAT REALLY LOOKS 3D AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE IT, AND SPIN IT...ROTATE IT AND VIRTUALLY PLACE THESE TIRES AND WHEELS ONTO THIS AREA OF THE VEHICLE SHALL WE SAY.

Pat: OKAY, NOW DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE MAY BE THE SAME DIMENSION AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS ARE CONCERNED, THE ACTUAL DIMENSIONS ARE DIFFERENT.

Matt: THEY DO.

THE PROFILE CHANGES, SO WHAT WE DO IS WITHIN A SIZE OF TIRE, WE'LL TAKE THE EXTREME.

WHATEVER IS THE LARGEST A VARIANT OF THAT AND WE WILL THEN VIRTUALLY PLACE THAT ON THE WHEEL SECTION, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE TIRE CLEARS FOR INSTANCE, A SUSPENSION POINT UP HIGH THAT MIGHT GIVE IT AN ISSUE ON TURN IN AND THEN PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE SUSPENSION POINT TO SEE IF IT MOVES SO THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE THOSE CLEARANCES.

Pat: OKAY, SO IT'S SCIENCE NOT GUESSWORK.

Matt: ABSOLUTELY, IT'S JUST NOT A BUNCH OF NUMBERS AND LOOKING AT PRETTY WHEELS ALTHOUGH THAT'S REALLY THE BEST WAY AS A CONSUMER TO SHOP FOR IT, SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT HAS DONE THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

Pat: MATT, THANK YOU.

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

Stephanie: THEY SAY BETTER LATE THAN NEVER... AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE FOR KOREAN LUXURY BRAND GENESIS WHEN IT COMES TO SUVs.

OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTTED THE UPCOMING GENESIS GV60 TESTING AT THE N RBURGRING IN GERMANY.

RIGHT NOW, THE GENESIS LINE IS CARS ONLY.

BUT THEY PLAN TO SOON BRING A MID-SIZE, 3-ROW GV80 SUV TO MARKET.

THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THIS SMALLER GV60.

WHILE, STILL HEAVILY CAMOUFLAGED... WE CAN GET A SENSE OF WHAT THIS COMPACT LUXURY UTE WILL LOOK LIKE.

THE AGGRESSIVE SLOPE IN THE ROOFLINE SEEMS TO FAVOR THE "COUPISH" DESIGN THEME.

EXPECT THE GENESIS GV60 TO ARRIVE SOMETIME NEXT YEAR AS A 2021 MODEL.

John: TIME IS SHORT, BUT THE ROAD IS LONG.

SO, LET'S GO FOR A QUICKSPIN.

* WE'RE AT THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOR OUR FIRST DRIVES OF THE 2020 TOYOTA CAMRY TRD AND AVALON TRD.

IT'S BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE TOYOTA RACING DEVELOPMENT BEGAN PUSHING THE LIMITS OF PRACTICAL SPEED AND HANDLING.

AND THE CAMRY AND AVALON ARE THEIR FIRST DAILY DRIVER SEDANS TO WEAR THE TRD BADGE.

MUCH OF TRD'S TALENT WENT INTO THE MODIFIED CHASSIS, AND A SPORTIER STANCE FROM THE NEARLY HALF-INCH LOWER RIDE HEIGHT.

THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSIONS, ARE FITTED WITH TRD TRACK-TUNED FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS, SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND STABILIZER BARS FOR AN OVERALL STIFFER, FLATTER, MORE RESPONSIVE FEEL... Kyle Scanlon: THEY TIGHTENED UP THE SUSPENSION, THE STEERING IS CRISP, ACCELERATION IS SMOOTH BOTH CARS MOVED THROUGH THE GEARS SEAMLESSLY AND REALLY FUN TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY IN A CONTROLLED SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE YOU CAN REALLY CUT LOOSE.

THE ONLY THING IS SOME UNDERSTEER, BUT THAT'S REALLY TO BE EXPECTED WITH A CAR LIKE THIS.

John: BRAKES GOT THE TRD TREATMENT TOO WITH TWO-PISTONS, RATHER THAN ONE, CLAMPING THE CALIPERS ONTO THE 9-TENTHS OF AN INCH LARGER ROTORS BEHIND MATTE BLACK 19-INCH WHEELS.

NO REAL CHANGES UNDER THE HOOD.

BOTH USE THE SAME 301 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6 AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC FOUND IN TAMER FRONT DRIVE VARIANTS.

OUTSIDE, MORE TRD TOUCHES BRING A NEW FRONT SPLITTER... SIDE AERO-SHIRTS... TRUNK LID SPOILER... REAR DIFFUSER AND THROATIER EXHAUST.

INSIDE, RED STITCHING, SEAT BELTS AND TRD BADGING INDICATE THERE'S MORE HERE THAN EXPECTED.

BUT LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY, THESE ARE STILL TOYOTA BREAD-AND-BUTTER FAMILY CARS, SO SAFETY SENSE-P IS STANDARD ON BOTH MODELS.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2020 TOYOTA CAMRY TRD STARTS AT ABOUT $31,000, WHILE THE AVALON TRD BEGINS AT JUST OVER $42,000.

MUCH HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT FORD GETTING OUT OF THE 4-DOOR CAR BUSINESS HERE IN THE U.S. AND FOCUSING ON SUVS AND TRUCKS.

WELL, IF THAT SEDANLESS FORD FUTURE INDICATES MORE UTILITIES LIKE THIS 2020 FORD ESCAPE, WE'RE TOTALLY ON BOARD.

FOR STARTERS, IT DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM A TYPICAL 5-DOOR HATCHBACK; TALLER...YES...BUT STILL SLEEK, MODERN, AND IMMENSELY USEFUL.

THIS IS THE START OF THE 4TH GENERATION OF THE ESCAPE, AND LIKE THE PREVIOUS GEN, IT WILL SHARE A PLATFORM WITH THE FORD KUGA IN THE REST OF THE WORLD, AS WELL AS NEWCOMER LINCOLN CORSAIR.

THERE ARE THREE ENGINES... A BASE 181 HORSEPOWER 1.5 LITER ECOBOOST I3, A 250 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST I4, AND A 2.5 LITER I4 BASED HYBRID WITH A COMBINED OUTPUT OF 200 HORSEPOWER.

TURBOS PAIR WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WHILE THE HYBRID GETS A CVT.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AVAILABLE WITH ALL.

THERE'S EVEN A PHEV ARRIVING SHORTLY AFTER LAUNCH.

DEPENDING ON EQUIPMENT, THE NEW ESCAPE WEIGHS ABOUT 200 POUNDS LESS THAN LAST YEAR, AND PERFORMS MORE LIKE A SLIGHTLY FIRMER RIDING CAR THAN EVER, WHICH IS PART OF FORD'S SEDAN ELIMINATION PLAN; PROVIDING THE PRACTICALITY OF A UTILITY, WITH THE FAMILIAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF A GOOD 4-DOOR.

Brian Robinson: THE PREVIOUS GEN ESCAPE WAS QUIETLY ONE OF THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE OF ALL THE COMPACT CROSSOVERS; THIS TIME AROUND, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT BUT ALSO GIVE IT A MUCH MORE REFINED RIDE QUALITY OVERALL.

John: SPACE INSIDE GROWS, PARTICULARLY FOR BACK SEAT PASSENGERS, WITH MORE LEGROOM THAN MANY LARGER UTILITIES.

STILL BUILT IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, WITH BASE PRICES STARTING RIGHT AROUND $25,000; THE 2020 FORD ESCAPE IS ARRIVING IN DEALERSHIPS NOW.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

* John: ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOOKS TO COME ACROSS OUR DESK RECENTLY IS THIS ONE, IMSA 1969-1989.

BUT IT TAKES A BOOK THAT BIG TO TELL THE INSIDE STORY OF HOW JOHN BISHOP BUILT THE WORLD'S GREATEST SPORT CAR RACING SERIES.

AUTHORS MITCH BISHOP AND MARK RAFFAUF LOOK BACK AT HOW THE INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SPORTS ASSOCIATION CAME TO BE.

BISHOP'S VISION OF A TRUE WORLD CLASS RACING SERIES CAME TO LIFE JUST WHEN MANY AMATEUR SCCA RACERS WERE LOOKING TO TURN PRO, RACE TRACKS WERE BEING BUILT ALL ACROSS AMERICA, AND MAJOR COMPANIES HAD ADVERTISING DOLLARS TO SPEND.

IT WAS A PERFECT STORM THAT GAVE BIRTH TO SPORTS CAR RACING AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

IT'S A COLORFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE MUST READ FOR ANY RACING ENTHUSIAST.

SOMETIMES, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS DRIVING A PICKUP TRUCK NO WONDER TRUCKS ARE THE FAMILY CAR OF CHOICE FOR INCREASING NUMBERS OF HOUSEHOLDS.

BUT THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT RELY ON TRUCKS TO DO REAL WORK NOT TO MENTION THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG TOYS OUT THERE THAT NEED TOWING AROUND.

SO, FOR THAT YOU NEED A HEAVY DUTY RIG LIKE THIS ONE FROM RAM.

* IN THE WORLD OF PICKUP TRUCKS, PARTICULARLY THE HEAVY DUTY REALM WHERE THIS 2019 RAM 2500 DWELLS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

SO, GETTING RIGHT TO THEM; THERE'S A NEW 6.7 LITER CUMMINS DIESEL IN TOWN, AND THE AVAILABLE HIGH-OUTPUT VERSION OF IT, PUTS OUT A MAGICAL 1,000 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT ALLOWS FOR A CLASS BEST 35,100 POUNDS OF TOWING AND 7,680 POUNDS OF PAYLOAD.

BUT, YOU HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE 3500 TO GET IT.

OUR 2500, HAS THE REGULAR OUTPUT VERSION OF THE AVAILABLE 6.7 LITER INLINE-6 WHICH PUTS OUT ONLY 850 POUND-FEET, ALONG WITH 370 HORSEPOWER.

IF YOU SELECT THE CUMMINS OPTION, YOU GET MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE ENGINE ITSELF; ALSO INCLUDED ARE AN EXHAUST BRAKE, TWIN 730 AMP BATTERIES, UNIQUE FRONT BUMPER TREATMENT WITH TOW HOOKS AND ACTIVE AIR COOLING, SUPPLEMENTAL HEATER, AND EVEN AN ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

SEEKING SOME NUMBERS OF OUR OWN, WE TOOK OUR LARAMIE EQUIPPED 4X4 CREW CAB TO THE TEST TRACK.

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE RIGHT AWAY, WAS THAT ALL OF THAT TORQUE IS NOT OVERWHELMING IN THE UNLIMITED TIRE SMOKING SORT OF WAY.

RATHER, THE TRUCK IS SET UP TO EASILY HANDLE IT.

IT LAUNCHES IN A SMOOTH TRACTION-MINDED WAY THAT SEEMS VERY PRACTICAL FOR STUFF LIKE PULLING A BIG BOAT OUT OF THE WATER ON A WET RAMP.

WE HIT 60 IN 8.5 SECONDS.

PRETTY GOOD FOR ANY TRUCK.

POWER STAYED VERY LINEAR THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE; WITH NO LAPSE IN PULLING, EVEN WHEN A NICELY-MAPPED SHIFT WAS TRIGGERED.

SIXTEEN POINT FIVE SECONDS WAS OUR BEST TIME, AT 86 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S HARD TO MAKE DIRECT COMPARISONS, WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS, BUT BOTH NUMBERS ARE HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN WE'VE EVER GOTTEN WITH A CHEVY DURAMAX OR FORD POWERSTROKE.

YOU CERTAINLY, WON'T BE WHIPPING IN AND OUT OF CONES THROUGH A SLALOM COURSE AT THE JOB SITE; BUT DOING SO HERE, ENABLED US TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW THE RAM WOULD BEHAVE IN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS, OR WHEN PULLING A BIG LOAD UP A CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD.

TURN-INS ARE SLOW, AND THE TIRES FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO ROLL OVER, BUT THE RAM REMAINS VERY STABLE, WITH SEEMINGLY ZERO BODY ROLL.

STEERING IS LIGHT, AND AT TIMES YOU FEEL LIKE A SEAFARING CAPTAIN BATTLING A STORM WITH HOW MUCH INPUT IT TAKES, BUT ULTIMATELY, IT GETS THE JOB DONE.

YOU CERTAINLY RIDE HIGH, AND THE PAVEMENT APPEARS A LONG WAY DOWN.

THINK, TAXING A 747.

NOW, THIS NEW RAM 2500 IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST BIG NUMBERS FROM A DIESEL ENGINE.

THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDESIGNED.

AND MUCH LIKE THE RAM 1500 THAT INSPIRED IT, WHICH IS THE GREATEST INTERIOR IN ALL OF TRUCKDOM; IT TAKES INTERIOR COMFORT, TECHNOLOGY, AND FLEXIBILITY TO NEW LEVELS FOR THE HD RANKS.

ALL RIDING ON A NEW FRAME AND SUSPENSION AS WELL.

BUT, NOT EVERYONE NEEDS A TANK-TOWING DIESEL, SO WE ALSO SPENT SOME TIME IN A BASE TRADESMAN 2500 WITH THE STANDARD 410 HORSEPOWER 6.4 LITER HEMI V8 WITH 429 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT COMES WITH A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

MAX TOWING HERE, IS A MERE 17,580 POUNDS.

NO GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES, BUT WE AVERAGED 13.1 IN OUR GAS FUELED 4X2 TRADESMAN REGULAR CAB, AND 19.7 MILES PER GALLON OF DIESEL IN OUR 4X4 CREW CAB.

THAT'S A 50% IMPROVEMENT.

A BASE HEMI-POWERED 2500 TRADESMAN STARTS AT JUST $35,090.

THE CUMMINS DIESEL CAN BE ADDED TO JUST ABOUT ANY 2500 FOR AN ADDITIONAL $9,100.

WITH ALL HDS, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT FROM THERE.

OUR LARAMIE CREW CAB 4X4 CAME IN AT $77,990.

TO GET A 3500 WITH THE HIGH OUTPUT CUMMINS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AT LEAST $48,335.

IF YOU'VE GOT WORK TO DO, THE 2019 RAM LINEUP OF HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS IS WILLING AND PLENTY CAPABLE TO HELP.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, RAM IS AT THE TOP OF THE HEAVY DUTY HEAP.

BUT, IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING IN OUR 39-PLUS YEARS OF TESTING PICKUP TRUCKS, NOBODY STAYS THERE FOR LONG.

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 LINCOLN SAILS INTO SMALL LUXURY UTILITIES WITH THE CORSAIR.

AND A BIG CHANGE FOR NISSAN'S LITTLE ECONO BOX, THE ALL-NEW VERSA.

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

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