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

JOIN US AS THE NISSAN LEAF
GETS BOTH A NEW LOOK

AND MORE EV MILES...

PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHERE RUST
CAN HIDE AND RUIN YOUR RIDE...

TWO WHEELIN BRIAN ROBINSON
GOES FULL THROTTLE

INTO MOTORCYCLE MANIA...

AND THE BMW X2 ADDS
SOMETHING SMALL AND STYLISH

TO AN ALREADY SPORTY LINE-UP...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

*

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Man 2:
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Announcer:
FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

HUM IS THE CONNECTED
CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS

AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS
TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED

FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN
GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM
HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS,

OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS,
PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM,

ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR
WILL EVER NEED.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT
MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH
DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS

ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT
YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

LASER MEASURED,
THEY OFFER PROTECTION

IN THE FRONT, BACK,
AND UP THE SIDES.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WHILE TESLA SEEMS TO MAKE
HEADLINES JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY,

LET'S NOT FORGET
THAT THE NISSAN LEAF

WAS THE FIRST MASS-PRODUCED EV
TO HIT THE STREETS

HERE IN AMERICA.

AND...TO THIS DAY,
IS THE BEST-SELLING

ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN THE WORLD.

WELL...NOW, THERE'S A SECOND
GENERATION LEAF ON THE ROAD,

SO LET'S TURN IT OVER
AND GO FOR A DRIVE.

*

THE SPROUTING OF NEW LEAVES,
ALWAYS SIGNALS THE ARRIVAL

OF SPRING, AND WITH IT,
COMES WARMER WEATHER,

AND OPTIMISM ON WHAT
A NEW SEASON WILL BRING.

WELL, WE CAN'T PROMISE
WARM WEATHER YET,

BUT SURELY, NISSAN IS HOPING
THIS SECOND GENERATION

NISSAN LEAF WILL BRING
EV-DRIVING TO MORE PEOPLE,

IN AN AMERICAN CAR MARKET
THAT IS STILL SLOW

TO BUY INTO THE EV-LIFESTYLE.

RANGE CONTINUES TO BE THE NUMBER
ONE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO

COMMITMENT TO EVs,
AND FOR THIS REDESIGNED LEAF,

THAT NUMBER INCREASES TO
151 MILES.

MANY...INCLUDING US,
WERE HOPING FOR MORE,

BUT NISSAN CHOSE TO INSTEAD
FOCUS ON IMPROVING

THE LEAF'S PRACTICALITY,
AND LOWERING ITS PRICE,

IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A BETTER
VEHICLE OPTION FOR MORE PEOPLE.

MORE ON THAT LATER.

BATTERY SIZE HAS GROWN FROM
30 TO 40 KWH,

SO CHARGE TIME FOR A COMPLETE
FILL DOES INCREASE TO

7.5 HOURS WITH 220,
WITH THE LARGER

6.6 KW ONBOARD CHARGER
THAT WAS OPTIONAL BEFORE,

IS NOW STANDARD.

THE BATTERY'S JUICE IS USED BY
A LARGER 110 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR.

HORSEPOWER IS UP 40, TO 147,
WHILE TORQUE GAINS 49 POUND-FEET

TO A VERY RESPECTABLE 236.

THE NEW LEAF SPORTS THE SAME
BASIC 5-DOOR SHAPE AS BEFORE,

BUT WITH MUCH SHARPER LINES
TO DOWNPLAY THE OBVIOUS EV LOOK.

LESS LIKE AN EGG, AND MORE LIKE
A SPORTY HATCHBACK.

THOUGH, IT STILL LOOKS "TECHY,"
AND CURRENT NISSAN SIGNATURE

ELEMENTS SUCH AS A FLOATING
ROOF, V-MOTION GRILLE,

AND BOOMERANG LIGHTS
ARE HERE AS WELL.

TECH UPGRADES ARE QUITE
COMPREHENSIVE.

IN ADDITION TO NISSAN'S
PROPILOT ASSIST INTELLIGENT

DRIVING SYSTEM;
THERE'S A NEW E-PEDAL,

THAT DIALS UP
THE REGEN BRAKING

TO ALLOW FOR ONE-PEDAL DRIVING
IN MOST SITUATIONS.

GOING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS,
YOU INSTANTLY FEEL

THE ADDITIONAL POWER;
WE'RE NOT TALKING TESLA-LEVELS

OF ACCELERATION OFF THE LINE
HERE,

BUT THE INCREASED TORQUE DOES
WONDERS FOR HIGHWAY MERGING.

NISSAN HAS ALSO ADDRESSED
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING,

GIVING IT A MORE NATURAL FEEL;
AS WELL AS SOFTENED UP

THE SUSPENSION A BIT,
TO PROVIDE A SMOOTHER RIDE.

JUST AS ANY NEW TECH DEVICE
SHOULD BE BUT OFTEN ISN'T,

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE LEAF IS
EASY TO OPERATE,

AND IN MOST WAYS IT BEHAVES JUST
LIKE ANY OTHER CAR.

NO LEARNING CURVE TO EMBRACE
THE EV-LIFESTYLE HERE,

OTHER THAN THE BRAKE PEDAL FEEL,
AND OF COURSE,

REMEMBERING TO PLUG IT IN.

LIKEWISE,
THINGS AROUND THE CABIN,

ARE FAIRLY TRADITIONAL IN BOTH
APPEARANCE AND OPERATION.

THERE IS SOME BLUE TRIM GIVING
OFF THAT EV VIBE,

BUT ALL THE USUAL CONTROLS ARE
IN ALL THE USUAL PLACES;

INCLUDING MANY ON THE NEW
FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL.

GAUGES GET AN UPGRADE,
NOW A 7-INCH TFT-BASED DISPLAY

THAT CAN BE CONFIGURED IN
A MULTITUDE OF WAYS;

THOUGH AN ANALOG SPEEDOMETER
DOES REMAIN.

TO MAKE THINGS MORE PLEASANT
FOR OCCUPANTS,

CABIN NOISE IS REDUCED,
AND MATERIAL QUALITY

STEPPED UP A BIT.

THEY COULD HAVE GONE FURTHER,
ADDING ADDITIONAL

SMALL ITEM STORAGE,
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT TIME.

AS FOR THE BIG STUFF IN BACK,
CARGO SPACE ACTUALLY

STAYS THE SAME 23.6 CUBIC-FEET,
BUT THE SPACE HAS BEEN

RE-WORKED FOR MORE UTILIZATION,

SO IT DOES HANDLE BULKY ITEMS
BETTER.

MAX CAPACITY WITH REAR SEATBACKS
FOLDED IS 30.0 CUBIC-FEET.

THE NEW LEAF BOASTS GOVERNMENT
MPGE RATINGS OF 125-CITY,

100-HIGHWAY, AND 112-COMBINED.

FOR A NEAR PERFECT
ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST

0.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE,
WITH 0.0 CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL,
IS THAT IN ORDER TO

BETTER COMPETE WITH THE
CHEVROLET BOLT EV,

AS WELL AS THE MULTITUDE OF NEW
RIVALS JUST OVER THE HORIZON;

THE LEAF NOW GETS A MUCH
LOWER PRICE,

STARTING AT $30,885.

THAT'S ABOUT 3-GRAND LESS THAN
THE ORIGINAL,

AND AS OF RIGHT NOW,
GOVERNMENT REBATES OF AT LEAST

$7,500 ARE STILL IN PLAY.

SO WHILE, THE FULLY
ELECTRIC VEHICLE'S FLOW

INTO OUR AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE
HAS BEEN MORE OF A SLOW DRIZZLE

THAN AN ALL-OUT DOWNPOUR;
IT HAS BEEN STEADY ENOUGH

TO ENABLE CARS LIKE THE
NISSAN LEAF TO MAKE A SPLASH.

UNLIKE THE ORIGINAL, IT DOESN'T
BREAK MUCH NEW GROUND.

BUT WITH A LOWER PRICE,
LONGER RANGE,

INCREASED PRACTICALITY,

AND MORE MAINSTREAM STYLING;
WE FEEL THE LEAF'S RIPPLE

WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND FURTHER
AND FASTER.

*

WHEN BRIAN ROBINSON IS NOT
SITTING AT HIS COMPUTER

RESEARCHING SOME 4-WHEELED
VEHICLE OR ANOTHER;

CHANCES ARE,
HE'S OUT TWO WHEELIN'

ON THE LATEST MOTORCYCLE
TO COME HIS WAY.

WELL, HE'S BEEN AWAY FROM HIS
DESK FOR A FEW DAYS NOW,

I WONDER WHAT HE'S UP TO?

*

Brian Robinson: WELL JOHN,
I'M OFF TO STURGIS!

MORE SPECIFICALLY,
THE 2018 EDITION OF

THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY,
WHICH TAKES PLACE IN

AND AROUND THE TOWN OF STURGIS
SOUTH DAKOTA,

ABOARD THIS 2018
INDIAN ROADMASTER.

HAVING ENVISIONED TAKING
THE LONG,

HARD ROAD TO STURGIS FROM
MARYLAND,

AND BASKING IN ALL OF THE BIKER
CRED I WOULD SURELY RECEIVE

UPON DOING SO,
AFTER THREE DAYS ON THE ROAD,

I REALLY JUST FEEL LIKE,
I CHEATED ON THE TEST.

AS, I'VE DRIVEN PLENTY OF CARS
THAT DON'T HAVE AS MUCH

LONG DISTANCE COMFORT
AS THIS ROADMASTER.

OH WELL, MAYBE NEXT YEAR,
I CAN FIND A RIGID-FRAME CHOPPER

TO RIDE UP HERE.

WELL, AFTER 2,000 MILES,
ME AND THE INDIAN ROADMASTER

HERE HAVE FINALLY MADE IT TO
THE BACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT
THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY

IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WHO KNOWS,
MAYBE WE'LL EVEN SEE

SOME WILD LIFE ALONG THE WAY.

SO WHY EXACTLY,
DO HALF A MILLION

MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS GATHER
IN THE BLACK HILLS OF

SOUTH DAKOTA EVERY AUGUST?

WELL, THE REASONS ARE AS VARIED
AS THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE

THE TRIP AND THE BIKES
THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO

IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF
STURGIS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE

BIKINI CONTESTS OR WRESTLING
IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS.

THERE ARE LITERALLY,
HUNDREDS OF BANDS PLAYING,

AND JUST ABOUT EVERY MOTORCYCLE
MANUFACTURER IS ON HAND

WITH DEMO RIDES OF THEIR LATEST
MODELS.

NOT TO MENTION,
EVERY AFTERMARKET VENDOR

YOU CAN THINK OF, AND YES,

THEY DO HAVE THAT IN
LEATHER.

BUT REALLY,
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIKES...

*

...AND SOME ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC
ROADS TO RIDE THEM ON,

THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING
SCENERY YOU'LL FIND,

IN WHAT HAS UNFORTUNATELY
BEEN DUBBED FLY-OVER COUNTRY.

OF COURSE, THIS ALL STARTED
BACK IN THE 1930s WITH

A MOTORCYCLE RACE PUT ON BY
A LOCAL INDIAN DEALER,

WHO WANTED TO DRUM UP
SOME PUBLICITY

FOR HIS NEW DEALERSHIP.

AND YES, THERE IS STILL
PLENTY OF RACING GOING ON,

INCLUDING AN AMERICAN FLAT TRACK
TT RACE THAT TAKES PLACE

RIGHT ON THE GROUNDS
OF THE RENOWNED

"BUFFALO CHIP CAMPGROUND."

FYI, THE CHIP IS WHERE YOU WANT
TO BE TO SEE THE REAL WILDLIFE,

BUT WE'LL SAVE THAT FOR
ANOTHER TIME.

LET'S JUST SAY, THE AMOUNT
OF LITE BEERS CONSUMED HERE

EVERY NIGHT WOULD PUT
THE TALLADEGA INFIELD CROWD

TO SHAME.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S
THE LEGENDARY STREET SCENE.

THE TOWN OF STURGIS ITSELF,
HAS LESS THAN 7,000

FULL TIME RESIDENTS, YET,
THEY ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

EVERY AUGUST FOR A FEW
HUNDRED THOUSAND VISITORS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'S A HAVEN
FOR PEOPLE WATCHERS AS WELL,

WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN THE SEVERAL
FAMILIES WE SAW WALKING

AROUND TOWN LIKE THEY WERE
ON SOME ANTHROPOLOGICAL

LEARNING VACATION.

ONE THING YOU WON'T SEE
A WHOLE LOT OF, ARE HELMETS.

APPARENTLY, IT'S HARD TO ROAM
FREE IN A PACK,

UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS OF SAFETY
OR COMMON SENSE.

BUT REALLY, THE RALLY IS MUCH
BIGGER THAN STURGIS ITSELF;

EVERYWHERE YOU GO WITHIN'
A 50 MILE RADIUS OF TOWN

IS PACKED WITH BIKES.

NEARBY TOWNS DEADWOOD, CUSTER,
HILL CITY, SPEARFISH,

RAPID CITY,
AND KEYSTONE AMONG OTHERS,

ARE JAMMED WITH BIKES AND HAVE
THEIR OWN STREET SCENES

THROUGHOUT THE TEN DAYS OF
THE RALLY,

NOT MENTION EVERY CAMPGROUND
IN THE AREA.

SO WHATEVER REASON YOU NEED, AND
WHATEVER MOTORCYCLE YOU RIDE;

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING,
AND HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY

NEXT AUGUST TO THE STURGIS
MOTORCYCLE RALLY.

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT!

John: MOST OF US HOLD ONTO
OUR CARS FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

AND THAT REQUIRES A WHOLE
DIFFERENT KIND OF CAR CARE.

SO LET'S GET THE WHOLE STORY
DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss:
ALL CARS HAVE AN ENEMY.

AND THAT ENEMY IS RUST.

YES, I KNOW A LOT OF CARS ARE
MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND PLASTICS,

AND VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT
BUT THEY STILL HAVE STEEL PARTS.

NOW, A LOT OF CARS USE STEEL
LINES OR STEEL TUBING FOR BRAKES

AND FUEL LINES,
AND STEERING, AND SO ON.

NOW, IF THOSE LINES AREN'T
COATED, THEY RUST.

WE SEE A LOT OF VEHICLES WITH
BAD BRAKE LINES FOR INSTANCE.

AND IT CAN BE A MAJOR JOB
TO REPLACE THEM.

NOW, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS ARE
CURRENTLY COATING BRAKE LINES

AND VARIOUS OTHER STEEL
COMPONENTS UNDER THE VEHICLE

WITH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE
THIS GREEN COLOR HERE,

OR SOMETIMES IT'S BLACK.

THAT IS AN ANTI-RUST COATING.

NOW,
IF YOUR CAR DOESN'T HAVE THAT,

IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BUY
ONE OF THE COMMERCIAL COATINGS.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT
ONES ON THE MARKET.

MARINE ANTI-CORROSION CHEMICALS
ARE GOOD.

SOME TYPES OF RUST PROOFING
AND UNDERCOATING.

SPRAY THESE LINES,
AND ANY MILD STEEL PARTS

AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR,
AND THAT'LL HELP KEEP THEM

WORKING PROPERLY, AND IT'LL
PREVENT A BIG REPAIR BILL.

NONE OF THIS STUFF IS CHEAP.

ALRIGHT, ANOTHER THING THAT
WE SEE ON A LOT OF CARS IS

WHERE THE BOTTOMS OF THE DOORS
RUST OUT.

WELL, THAT'S TYPICALLY BECAUSE
THERE'RE TWO PIECES OF METAL

DOWN THERE THAT ARE BONDED
TOGETHER AND THEY'RE VERY,

VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

THAT SPACE IN THERE COLLECTS
DIRT.

YOU MAY THINK THE DOOR IS SEALED
BUT THE DOOR ISN'T SEALED.

DIRT, WATER, AND EVERYTHING
GO DOWN THROUGH THE DOOR

AND WHEN THIS BUILDS UP
IN THE BOTTOM,

THE DIRT HOLDS MOISTURE
AND IT EATS THE METAL

FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

SO,
WHEN YOU'RE WASHING YOUR CAR,

MAKE SURE THAT YOU RUN THE HOSE
ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE

OF THE WINDOW,
SO THAT YOU GET SOME WATER FLOW

THROUGH THE DOOR TO RINSE AS
MUCH OF THAT MUD OUT OF THERE

AS IS POSSIBLE.

ALRIGHT NOW, ANOTHER THING.

HERE,
WE HAVE A PARKING BRAKE CABLE.

YES, SOME OF YOU WILL CALL IT
AN "EMERGENCY BRAKE,"

AND SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE
QUALIFIED TO USE IT

IN AN EMERGENCY BUT REALLY
IT IS FOR PARKING.

AND THAT MEANS,
YOU SHOULD BE USING IT

EVERY TIME YOU PARK THE CAR.

YOU SEE, THIS INNER CABLE MOVES
THROUGH A HOUSING AND EVERY TIME

YOU PULL UP ON THE LEVER
OR PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN,

THIS CABLE MOVES IN THE HOUSING,
HELPS KEEP IT CLEAN,

HELPS PREVENT RUST,
AND HELPS PREVENT SOMETIMES,

PRETTY MAJOR REPAIR BILLS.

SO, GET IN THE HABIT OF
USING THE PARKING BRAKE

ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT
CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY

OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE,

RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

*

Greg Carloss: A NEW YEAR,
BRINGS A NEW LONG-TERM MODEL

INTO OUR FLEET,
THIS 2019 RAM 1500.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY,
RIDE AND HANDLING WAS PROBABLY

PRETTY LOW ON THE LIST OF
CONCERNS FOR A TRUCK BUYER.

NOW, WE'RE IN THE AGE OF LUXURY
TRUCKS AND THAT'S ALL CHANGED.

THE RAM 1500 STILL OFFERS
THE BEST BIG PICKUP RIDE

IN THE FULL-SIZE HALF-TON
SEGMENT.

AND BACK TO THE WHOLE LUXURY
THING,

THIS HUGE TABLET-STYLE SCREEN
LOOKS A BIT OUT OF PLACE,

BUT IT'S ALSO PRETTY COOL."

OUR LONG TERM RAM 1500 IS
A CREW CAB 4X4,

SPORTING A PATRIOT BLUE PAINT
JOB, IN LIMITED TRIM.

LEVEL 1 EQUIPMENT GROUP
ADDS 19 SPEAKER'S WORTH

OF HARMON KARDON PREMIUM AUDIO,
SURROUND VIEW CAMERA,

AND A HOST OF ADVANCED
SAFETY FEATURES.

OFF-ROAD GROUP ADDS
A LOCKING REAR AXLE,

A BUNCH OF SKID PLATES,
AND OF COURSE, DECALS.

WE'LL GET TO KNOW THIS
RAM 1500 EVEN BETTER

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

OUR YEAR IS ALMOST UP WITH THIS
2018 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN,

THE MOST USEFUL VEHICLE
TYPE OF ALL TIMES.

WITH A FEW SMALL EXCEPTIONS,
THE ODYSSEY'S STAY WITH US

HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL!

JUST LIKE WE ARE USED
TO FROM HONDA.

IT CERTAINLY "RAN LIKE A DEER"
OVER THESE LAST 26,000 MILES OF

VERY HARD USE.

THROUGH ALL THE ROAD TRIPS
BOTH LONG AND SHORT,

SEAT COMFORT REMAINS
A TRUE HIGH POINT,

AND NOT JUST FOR THE DRIVER.

SECOND ROW SEATS ARE EQUALLY
COMFORTABLE,

AND THAT MEANS LESS COMPLAINING
FROM THE BROOD IN BACK.

THERE WERE A FEW NITS TO PICK
WHEN THE ODYSSEY FIRST ARRIVED,

AND WE RECENTLY HAD A LOOSE
FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY REPLACED

UNDER WARRANTY.

BUT, IT'S BEEN NOTHING,
BUT PRAISE OVER

THE LAST FEW MONTHS,
AND AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY

HAS REMAINED STEADY AT
25.8 MILES PER GALLON

OF REGULAR, WITH OVER 30
DURING HIGHWAY CRUISING.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR MAZDA6
AND KIA NIRO PHEV

ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK
LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: AS MUCH AS WE LOVE
TESTING CARS,

THERE'S ALSO A LOT GOING ON
BEHIND THE SCENES.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST
IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: SELF-DRIVING
CARS WITH LITTLE

OR NO HUMAN INPUT ARE MOVING
CLOSER TO REALITY...

AND THEY'RE BEING DEVELOPED
IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

WAYMO'S PILOT PROGRAM IN
THE PHOENIX AREA,

HAS BEEN TESTING THE TECHNOLOGY
DURING DAILY COMMUTES

WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE.

NOW, THEY'VE LAUNCHED A RIDE
HAILING SERVICE CALLED

"WAYMO ONE."

IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PHOENIX
PUBLIC AT LARGE.

RIDERS USE AN APP TO REQUEST
A RIDE.

WHILE, THEY CALL IT A COMMERCIAL
"SELF-DRIVING" SERVICE...

TRAINED DRIVERS WILL BE IN
THE VEHICLES FOR THE TIME BEING.

BUT, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE
FULLY AUTONOMOUS TAXIS.

WAYMO'S FLEET INCLUDES
CHRYSLER PACIFICA MINIVANS.

THEY'RE ALSO WORKING WITH JAGUAR
TO OFFER PREMIUM RIDES

WITHOUT A DRIVER.

THE DEAL INVOLVES ADDING
THE ALL-NEW ELECTRIC I-PACE SUV

TO THE SELF-DRIVING FLEET
NEXT YEAR.

BUT, SELF-DRIVING IS NOT JUST
FOR "DELIVERING" PASSENGERS.

WHAT ABOUT MAKING SHOPPING
MORE CONVENIENT?

FORD, WALMART, AND POSTMATES ARE
WORKING ON BRINGING SELF-DRIVING

DELIVERIES TO YOUR DOOR.

WALMART FILLS THE ORDER,
FORD PROVIDES THE VEHICLES,

AND POSTMATES HANDLES
THE DELIVERY LOGISTICS.

THEY'VE STARTED TESTING IN
MIAMI, FLORIDA,

BUT EXPANSION IS EXPECTED.

NOW, BACK TO THE CURRENT WAY OF
DOING THINGS---IN THE YOU KNOW,

"DRIVE IT YOURSELF WORLD..."

WELL, ASTON MARTIN IS JOINING
THE RANKS OF LUXURY CAR MAKERS

BY ADDING AN SUV.

THEY'RE CURRENTLY TESTING
A PROTOTYPE ASTON MARTIN DBX

IN REAL WORLD SITUATIONS,
RANGING FROM

FRIGID ARCTIC TEMPERATURES
TO SCORCHING JUNGLE HEAT.

THEIR SPORTS CAR LINEAGE MEANS
THE SUVs TESTING WILL INCLUDE

GERMANY'S DEMANDING
NY�RBURGRING RACING CIRCUIT.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS

WELL-BRED UTE EVER SINCE
THE CONCEPT APPEARED IN GENEVA

A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE EXPECT THE ASTON MARTIN DBX

TO GO ON SALE BY THE END OF
2019.

AND THAT'S THE LATEST
AUTOMOTIVE UPDATE

FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: WE WERE SKEPTICAL WHEN
WE HEARD THAT BMW'S

SMALLEST UTILITY YET, THE X1,
WOULD BE BASED ON

MINI'S FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE
CHASSIS.

BUT, NOT ONLY WERE WE PLEASANTLY
SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS,

IT QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF OUR
FAVORITE SMALL UTILITIES.

WELL, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT,
BMW COULDN'T STOP THERE,

AND THEY'VE NOW ADDED A MORE
STYLISH ALTERNATIVE, THE X2.

*

BMW HAS AN ESTABLISHED PATTERN
OF INTRODUCING COUPE-LIKE

VARIANTS TO MANY OF THEIR
POPULAR SEDANS AND UTILITIES.

SO, THIS 2018 BMW X2,
A MORE DYNAMIC-LOOKING VERSION

OF THE X1, WAS NOT REALLY
A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY,
A WELCOMED ADDITION,

AS WE'RE NOT BREAKING ANY NEWS
BY SAYING,

THE X1 IS NOT EXACTLY
A STELLAR STYLING EFFORT.

X2 WHEELBASE IS UNCHANGED,
YET, OVERALL IT IS MORE THAN

3.0 INCHES SHORTER THAN THE X1,
AND ALSO SITS 2.8 INCHES LOWER;

GIVING IT A MUCH BRAWNIER,
YET, SPORTIER LOOK.

BMW HAS ALSO PLAYED WITH
TRADITION A BIT,

BY SQUASHING THE TWIN KIDNEY
GRILLE,

AND ADDING A ROUNDEL TO
THE C-PILLAR.

[ENGINE STARTS UP]

NO CHANGES UNDER THE HOOD
THOUGH,

AS POWER IS THE SAME 2.0 LITER
I4 TURBO,

RATING 228 HORSEPOWER
AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE,

WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
SENDING IT TO THE FRONT WHEELS,

OR TO ALL FOUR WITH
AVAILABLE XDRIVE.

WITH XDRIVE, GOVERNMENT
FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE

21-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY,
AND 25-COMBINED,

AND OUR AVERAGE WAS A GOOD ONE
AT 26.9 MILES PER GALLON

OF PREMIUM.

WELL, DESPITE THE SLIGHTLY
SMALLER SIZE,

WEIGHT REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME AS
THE X1.

SO AS EXPECTED,
OUR 0-60 TIME WAS IDENTICAL,

AT A QUITE RESPECTABLE
6.3 SECONDS.

DESPITE SPINNING UP A GOOD
AMOUNT OF TORQUE AT LAUNCH,

ANY THRILL FACTOR IS MUTED BY
THE SMOOTHNESS OF

THE POWER DELIVERY THAT IS WELL
ABOVE AVERAGE FOR ITS CLASS.

SHIFTS ARE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE,
AS THE X2 LURCHES FORWARD

WITH EACH SNAPPY SHIFT.

AND THERE'S A GOOD SENSE
OF POWER THROUGHOUT

THE 14.8 SECONDS THAT IT TAKES
TO COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE

AT 94 MILES PER HOUR.

WE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS BEFORE
TACKLING OUR CONE COURSE,

AND WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED.

THE X2 FEELS LIGHT ON ITS
19-INCH FEET,

AND WELL-COMPOSED,
WITH JUST A HINT OF UNDERSTEER.

NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE HARDWARE
THAT UNDERPINS THE X2,

BUT THERE IS UNIQUE TUNING
OF COURSE,

AND IF YOU OPT FOR THE M SPORT
SUSPENSION,

YOU'LL GET A HALF INCH LOWER
RIDE HEIGHT,

STIFFER ANTI-ROLL BAR BEARINGS,
AND DYNAMIC DAMPER CONTROL.

SO, RIDE QUALITY CERTAINLY FALLS
ON THE SPORTIER SIDE

OF THE LUXURY-UTE SPECTRUM, EVEN
WHEN ROLLING IN COMFORT MODE.

PRACTICALITY DOES TAKE A HIT,
BUT NOT NEARLY AS BAD

AS YOU'D THINK;
THERE'S STILL 21.6 CUBIC-FEET

OF CARGO SPACE IN THE BACK.

MAX CAPACITY, WITH THE 40/20/40
SPLIT SEATBACKS FOLDED

IS A BIT LESS HOWEVER,
AT 50.1 CUBIC-FEET.

AS FOR THE PASSENGER SPACE,
WELL UP FRONT

THERE'S THE TYPICAL SPORTY
BMW FEEL,

AS WELL AS FIRM,
YET, COMFORTABLE SEATS,

WITH GOOD BOLSTERING
AND SEAT-BOTTOM EXTENSIONS.

REAR SEAT PASSENGERS
DON'T FARE QUITE AS WELL

AS THE X2 COMES UP SHORT,
WITH NOT QUITE ADEQUATE ENOUGH

FOR ADULT SPACE,
BOTH UP TOP AND FOR THE LEGS.

ALSO PRESENT,
ARE THE PREDICTABLE

IDRIVE CONTROLLER,
CLEAR AND PRECISE

BLACK PANEL VIRTUAL GAUGES,
AND PADDLE SHIFTERS.

AVAILABLE NICETIES INCLUDE
A PANORAMIC ROOF,

WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING,
HEAD-UP DISPLAY,

HARMON KARDON PREMIUM AUDIO,
AND AN M SPORTX PACKAGE

THAT INCLUDES ALUMINUM TRIM
AND AN M-BRANDED STEERING WHEEL

AMONG OTHER THINGS.

M SPORTX ALSO ADDS BLACK TRIM,
M-LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS,

AND A LARGER REAR SPOILER.

A REASONABLY-PRICED
DRIVING ASSISTANCE PACKAGE

INCLUDES FRONTAL COLLISION
WARNING WITH AUTOMATIC BRAKING,

WHICH WORKED QUITE WELL IN OUR
BARRIER TEST.

BRINGING US TO GENTLE
AND GRADUAL COMPLETE STOPS

FROM SPEEDS UP TO 20 MILES
PER HOUR.

XDRIVE28I PRICING STARTS AT
$39,395.

IF YOU DON'T NEED ALL-WHEEL
DRIVE,

YOU CAN GET AWAY TWO GRAND
CHEAPER AT $37,395

FOR THE SDRIVE28I.

NOBODY GETS MORE USE OUT OF
THEIR CHASSIS DESIGNS THAN BMW.

AND WHILE THE CURRENT X1,
BMW'S FIRST FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE

BASED SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE,
WAS A DARING LEAP FOR THE BRAND;

IT'S ALSO ONE THEY SEEM TO HAVE
LANDED JUST RIGHT.

JUST CONSIDER THIS 2018 X2,
A MUCH MORE STYLISH

AND ENTERTAINING ALTERNATIVE,
THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY

BRING A FEW NEW CONVERTS
INTO THE BMW FAMILY.

John: 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 THE STYLISH BMW X4 GRABS
THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE

WHO LOVES TO DRIVE.

AND WE'LL PUT A PACK OF
SMALL UTEs TO THE TEST.

PAT GOSS TALKS REALITY
ABOUT THE CONNECTED CAR.

THE LATEST ON ALTERNATIVE
FUELS FOR THE LONG HAUL.

PLUS, A BRAND NEW QUICKSPIN.

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

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TO YOU BY...

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TIRES ONLINE

AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

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AND WE HAVE ANSWERS

AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2:
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IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

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

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT
FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS

OFFER LASER MEASURED,
DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION

FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED
CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS

AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS
TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED

FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY
CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM
HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS,

OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS,
PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM,

ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR
WILL EVER NEED.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT
MOTORWEEK .

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PRODUCED BY

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WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE

FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING]

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