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

JOIN US AND FANS OF
OPEN-AIR DRIVING WITH

A TWIN-KIDNEY GRILLE
FOR THE ALL-NEW BMW Z4...

PAT GOSS WITH QUICK
AND EASY WAYS TO KEEP

YOUR ELECTRONICS HUMMING...

SEE HOW BIG PEOPLE MOVERS ARE
BECOMING VERY ECO-FRIENDLY...

AND THE RADICAL AND READY
TO RUN LEXUS RC F COUPE...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

*

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John:
AN ALL-NEW BMW Z4 ROADSTER

HAS HIT THE STREETS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE,
THE ONLY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT IT

IS WHEN PEOPLE REFER TO IT
AS SHARING ITS BASIC CHASSIS

WITH THE REBORN TOYOTA SUPRA.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN Z4 FANS
SINCE IT FIRST ARRIVED FOR 2004.

AND, DESPITE A DWELL IN
PRODUCTION,

WE THINK THIS 2020 Z4 DESERVED
ITS OWN TIME IN THE SUN.

*

A NEW BMW Z4 MAY NOT INCITE
THE KIND OF HYSTERIA

BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE ORIGINAL
Z3 ROADSTER THAT JAMES BOND

DROVE ONTO THE SCENE
BACK IN 1996,

BUT LET'S NOT FORGET,
THIS IS ONE ROADSTER THAT BEATS

WITH THE HEART OF BMW.

AND THE 2020 Z4 M40I CERTAINLY
GOT OUR BLOOD PUMPING.

NOW, THREE GENERATIONS REMOVED
FROM THAT ORIGINAL Z3,

AND NO LONGER BUILT HERE
IN IN AMERICA,

THE LOOK OF THIS Z4 IS NOT THAT
MUCH DIFFERENT FROM LAST GEN.

BUT THERE IS AN ALL-NEW CHASSIS
BENEATH,

AND WHEELBASE ACTUALLY
SHRINKS ALMOST AN INCH,

WHILE OVERALL LENGTH
GROWS BY ALMOST 4.

NOT TO WORRY, THAT INCREASED
OVERHANG SPACE IS WELL USED,

AS PROPORTIONS NOW HAVE AN
ALMOST CLASSIC SPORTS CAR VIBE

COMPARED TO THE EXTREME LACK OF
OVERHANGS IN MOST

MODERN PERFORMANCE MACHINES,
AND BODY PANELS ARE NOW

MUCH MORE EXPRESSIVE.

LIKE, THE FIRST GENERATION Z4,
THE FOLDING TOP IS NOW CLOTH;

NO HARDTOP LIKE LAST GEN.

BUT, YOU WON'T REALLY MISS IT.

PLUS, IT WEIGHS LESS,
ALLOWS FOR QUICKER OPERATION,

AND STORES MUCH MORE COMPACTLY;
PROVIDING 9.9 CUBIC-FEET

OF TRUNK SPACE; THAT'S UP 50%.

THE BASE 30I,
WITH ITS 255 HORSEPOWER

2.0 LITER TURBO I4 ACTUALLY
ARRIVED FOR '19,

BUT YOU HAD WAIT UNTIL
MODEL YEAR '20 TO GET THIS

3.0 LITER INLINE-6 TURBO
WHICH IS SHARED

WITH THE TOYOTA SUPRA.

REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY,
OF COURSE,

WITH 382 HORSEPOWER
AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ROADSTER APPROPRIATE,
THERE'S SEATING FOR JUST 2,

BUT YOU AND YOUR LUCKY PASSENGER
WILL GET A SLIGHTLY UPDATED

TAKE ON THE TYPICAL BMW
DRIVER-CENTRIC ENVIRONMENT.

PLENTY OF ROOM INSIDE
FOR ALL BODY TYPES,

AND SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH
FOR WHATEVER EXTENDED GETAWAYS

YOU MAY HAVE PLANNED.

TECH FEATURES INCLUDE
THE LIVE COCKPIT PRO HIGH-RES.

DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER,
10 INCH TOUCHSCREEN

WITH IDRIVE 7.0,
AND AVAILABLE HEAD-UP DISPLAY.

WITH THE NEW SOFT TOP UP,
IT'S A PLEASANTLY

CALM DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

WHEN DOWN, IT REMAINS QUIET
ENOUGH FOR EASY CONVERSATION,

AND WITH THE REMOVABLE
WIND BLOCKER IN PLACE,

BUFFETING IS REALLY KEPT
TO A MINIMUM.

THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND,
WE HIT THE VENERABLE BLACKTOP

OF OUR TEST TRACK FOR SOME
QUARTER MILE RUNS AND MORE.

TENACIOUS GRIP FOR BOLTING OFF
THE LINE WAS HARD TO COME BY,

BUT WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER,
THE M40I WILL GET YOU TO 60

IN LESS THAN 4.0 SECONDS.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION DELIVERS

GEAR CHANGES LIKE ITS LIFE
DEPENDS ON IT;

YET, SOMEHOW DOES SO QUITE
SMOOTHLY.

HANDLING IS A REAL HIGHLIGHT,
WITH IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

THAT SOME MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT
BEING TWITCHY;

WE'D DESCRIBE IT MORE AS ALMOST
INTUITIVE,

AS THE CAR CARRIES OUT YOUR
REQUESTS INSTANTANEOUSLY.

COMPARED TO LAST GEN.,

THIS IS A TOTALLY NEW
SUSPENSION DESIGN;

COMBINING A DOUBLE-JOINT SPRING
STRUT FRONT, WITH A 5-LINK REAR.

THE M40I ALSO GETS THE ACTIVE M
SUSPENSION WITH COMFORT,

SPORT, AND SPORT+ MODES;
AS WELL AS M SPORT ACTIVE

LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL,
AND M SPORT BRAKES

BEHIND EITHER 18 OR 19-INCH
LIGHT-ALLOY WHEELS.

YOU CAN FIND SOME OVERSTEER,
IF YOU GO LOOKING FOR IT,

BUT YOU WON'T FIND MUCH
BODY ROLL AT ALL.

YOU DO HAVE TO PAY TO PLAY THAT
TUNE OF COURSE;

STREET RIDE CAN BE HARSH IF THE
PAVEMENT IS ANYTHING BUT NEW.

AS FOR SAFETY, COLLISION
MITIGATION BRAKING IS STANDARD,

BUT BLIND SPOT MONITORING
AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING

ARE EXTRA, AS PART OF
A DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE

THAT ALSO INCLUDES BMW'S
ACTIVE DRIVING ASSISTANT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
ARE 24-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY,

AND 26-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE,
NOT BAD,

AT 25.8 MILES PER GALLON
OF PREMIUM.

MAKING FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY
IMPACT SCORE OF 12.7 BARRELS

OF ANNUAL OIL USE,
AND 5.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE BASE BMW Z4 SDRIVE30I
STARTS AT $50,695;

THIS SDRIVE M40I, AT $64,695.

WHILE, CONVERTIBLE SALES HAVE
BEEN VERY FICKLE OVER THE YEARS,

THERE'S ALWAYS A PLACE
IN OUR AUTOMOTIVE HEARTS

FOR A 2-SEAT PERFORMANCE,
ORIENTED ROADSTER.

WITH THE 2020 BMW Z4 SDRIVE
M40I,

NOT ONLY HAS BMW KEPT THE
TRADITIONAL SPORTS CAR ALIVE,

BUT MADE THE Z4 MORE DYNAMIC
THAN EVER;

BECOMING LESS OF A CUTE CRUISER,
AND MORE OF A SERIOUS

PERFORMANCE MACHINE.

SO, DOES PORSCHE HAVE ANYTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT?

NOT REALLY.

BUT, FOR US AND BMW FANS,
THE MOST POTENT Z4 EVER,

IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.

*

MANY OF THE NEW PASSENGER
VEHICLES WE DRIVE THESE DAYS

ARE ELECTRIFIED
IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER,

EITHER AS A HYBRID OR FULL EV.

NOW, MORE AND MORE OF
THE TRANSIT VEHICLES,

WE RIDE ON ARE FOLLOWING
A GREENER PATH TOO,

WITH ELECTRIC AND HYBRID POWER
ON THE RISE,

ALONG WITH NATURAL GAS
AND OTHER CLEAN FUELS.

WELL ONE COMPANY IN PARTICULAR,
IS FLYING HIGH AS AN INNOVATOR

OF TOMORROW'S CLEAN TRANSIT
SOLUTIONS.

*

NEW FLYER IS AMERICA'S
LARGEST TRANSIT BUS

AND MOTORCOACH MANUFACTURER.

FROM THREE U.S. PLANTS,
THEY CRANK OUT 60 BUSES A WEEK.

THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH,
BUT CONSIDER THAT EVERY ONE

IS CUSTOM-SPEC,
AVAILABLE IN THREE LENGTHS

AND FIVE POWER SOURCES -
DIESEL, NATURAL GAS,

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL, HYBRID,
AND FULL BATTERY ELECTRIC,

ALL FROM THE SAME LINE,
AND THE FEAT

BECOMES NOTHING SHORT
OF AMAZING.

WE VISITED NEW FLYER'S ANNISTON,
ALABAMA ASSEMBLY PLANT,

WHERE MORE THAN 35 BUSES ARE IN
PRODUCTION AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

EACH BUS IS BUILT FROM
THE GROUND UP, LITERALLY.

RAW STEEL IS LASER CUT,
BENT AND FORMED ON-SITE,

THEN HAND-WELDED TO CREATE EACH
FRAME ASSEMBLY.

FROM THERE THE ZIGZAG PRODUCTION
LINE ADDS THE HUGE BODY PANELS,

WINDOWS, CUSTOM INTERIORS
AND MILES OF WIRING

THAT MAKE UP THESE BEHEMOTHS.

FOR ITS BATTERY-ELECTRIC
AND FUEL CELL BUSES,

NEW FLYER USES A MODULAR
BATTERY PACK TO FIT IN

THE SAME ENGINE BAY AS DIESEL
AND CNG MODELS.

AN ADDITIONAL BATTERY PACK
CAN BE LOCATED ON THE ROOF

TO MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY
AND USABILITY

FOR THE BUS INTERIOR,
WHERE SPACE AND FLOOR HEIGHT

ARE CRITICAL.

BUSES ARE EVEN PAINTED ON-SITE,
SO THEY ARE READY TO HIT

THE STREETS IN THEIR NEW CITIES,
ALREADY IN UNIFORM.

WE COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE
AN ORDER FOR OUR HOME TOWN

BWI AIRPORT BEING READIED
FOR DELIVERY.

THOUGH, WE DO WISH THEY WERE
LOW-EMISSION MODELS,

THE CHOICE OF POWER IS UP TO
THE CUSTOMER,

AND DEPENDS ON EACH BUSES
INTENDED USE AND ROUTES.

Ian Macpherson: THE INDUSTRY
IS MOVING MORE TOWARDS

ZERO EMISSIONS,
PARTICULARLY WITH CALIFORNIA

IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS WHERE
100% OF THEIR FLEETS

ARE GOING TO BE PURCHASING
ZERO-EMISSION BUSES BY 2030.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY MANDATING
THAT THE BUSES WILL BE EITHER

BATTERY ELECTRIC
OR HYDROGEN FUEL CELL,

WHICH PRODUCES
A ZERO EMISSION BUS.

John:
AS THE INDUSTRY TRANSITIONS

AWAY FROM PETROLEUM FUEL,
NEW FLYER IS GOING

THE EXTRA MILE TO HELP
FLEET CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND

THEIR CLEAN POWER CHOICES.

THE VEHICLE INNOVATION CENTER
IN ANNISTON IS THE FIRST

RESEARCH LAB IN NORTH AMERICA
DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT

OF BUS AND COACH TECHNOLOGY.

THE V.I.C. ENGAGES LEARNING
THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS,

SIMULATION AND HANDS-ON
EXPERIENCES

COMPARING THE BENEFITS OF
VARIOUS PROPULSION SYSTEMS

AND OFFERING EXPERT GUIDANCE
ON WHICH WILL BE THE BEST

TO FILL THEIR NEEDS.

THIS ELECTRIC BUS SIMULATOR
DEMONSTRATES HOW DRIVING STYLE

AFFECTS EFFICIENCY, AND RANGE,
AND TEACHES THE TECHNIQUES

THAT ALLOW MAXIMUM REGENERATIVE
BRAKING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING.

OPERATING COST SAVINGS FOR BOTH
CNG AND ELECTRIC DRIVE BUSES

CAN BE SIGNIFICANT,
IN FUEL COSTS

AND REQUIRED MAINTENANCE
VERSUS DIESEL POWER.

WHICH IS IMPORTANT SINCE
NEW TECH AND HIGH-TECH

USUALLY COST MORE TO BUY
UP-FRONT.

SO, FLEETS HAVE TO DO THE MATH
TO MAKE SURE THAT

OVER THE FEDERALLY-MANDATED
12-YEAR LIFE-CYCLE

FOR TRANSIT BUSES,
THE ONGOING COST SAVINGS

AND DESIRABLE ENERGY-ENVIRO
BENEFITS RESULT IN A WISE

LONG TERM INVESTMENT.

VARIOUS RE-CHARGING OPTIONS
MUST ALS0 BE CONSIDERED

FOR ELECTRIC BUSES.

CHOICES INCLUDE CONVENTIONAL
PLUG-IN CHARGING OVERNIGHT,

OR ON-ROUTE OVERHEAD
QUICK-CHARGING THAT CAN KEEP

BUSES IN SERVICE 24 HOURS A DAY.

Ian: A DIESEL BUS OR A CNG BUS
CAN EASILY ACHIEVE

350 MILES RANGE,
WHEREAS OUR BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

CURRENTLY LIMITS US TO
APPROXIMATELY ABOUT

200 MILES RANGE.

WE EXPECT THAT TO INCREASE
OVER TIME,

AS BATTERY TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES,
AND WE GET MORE ENERGY DENSITY

IN THE BATTERIES.

ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF
THE HYDROGEN FUEL CELL

IS IT CAN ACHIEVE THE RANGE OF
350 MILES,

AND AS WELL IT DOESN'T TAKE IT
NEARLY AS LONG TO CHARGE UP

THE BATTERIES BECAUSE
YOU JUST PLUG IT

INTO A FUEL SUPPLY STATION
AND IT RAPIDLY FILLS THE TANKS

WITH THE HYDROGEN NEEDED.

John: WITH MORE THAN
65,000 TRANSIT BUSES

SERVING COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE U.S.,

THE SHIFT TO ALTERNATIVE FUELS
IN THESE IMPORTANT PUBLIC FLEETS

CAN HAVE HUGE ENERGY SECURITY
BENEFITS,

WHILE ALSO HELPING TO PAVE
THE WAY FOR MANY OTHER

LOW/NO-EMISSION VEHICLES
BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.

*

AS CARS BECOME MORE ADVANCED,
CARING FOR THEM

BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED.

WELL, LET'S HEAD DOWN
TO GOSS' GARAGE

WHERE PAT HAS THE LATEST
KNOW-HOW.

Pat Goss: LOOK UNDER THE HOOD
OF A MODERN AUTOMOBILE

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL
KINDS OF WIRES AND SENSORS,

AND MODULES, AND COMPUTERS,
AND SO ON.

WELL, THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF
THESE THINGS ARE ELECTRICAL

OR ELECTRONIC AND THEY NEED
A GOOD ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

WHICH THAT ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
STARTS HERE AT

THE OLD FASHIONED BATTERY
AND THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE

GOOD CLEAN ELECTRICAL
CONNECTIONS ON THE BATTERY

DON'T WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE
THIS MESS.

WELL, FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES
AND CLEAN THE BATTERY.

THERE ARE BATTERY CLEANERS
YOU CAN BUY THOSE THAT HELPS,

AND THEY'RE ALSO BATTERY CABLE
PROTECTORS THAT SEAL THESE,

AND PREVENT FUTURE BUILDUP OF
CORROSION BUT ALSO,

DON'T FORGET THINGS LIKE
THESE FELT PANTS TO GO

UNDER THE CABLES ARE CHEMICALLY
TREATED AND THEY HELP PREVENT

THE CORROSION SO USE THOSE.

IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT HAS THESE
OLD-FASHIONED BULBS IN THEM

WELL, MANY OF THESE CAME
WITH A SILICON-BASED

DIELECTRIC GREASE AROUND THEM
AND LOOK PRETTY NASTY

BUT IT WAS THERE FOR A PURPOSE
AND EVERYBODY WIPED IT OFF.

WELL, THE PURPOSE WAS
TO KEEP MOISTURE OUT FROM AROUND

THE BULB AND TO KEEP THE BULB
FROM VIBRATING IN THERE,

SO REPLACE IT,
DON'T THROW IT AWAY.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE HERE
WITH BULBS

MODERN HEADLIGHT BULBS
THEY HAVE CONNECTORS

THAT GO DOWN INSIDE,
THEY OFTEN GET CORRODED

THEY MAY FLICKER,
DO CRAZY THINGS.

YOU HAVE SPECIAL
CONTACT CLEANERS

AND ELECTRONICS CLEANERS
AND SO ON THAT CAN BE USED

IN THE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

AND HERE'S SOMETHING
ALL CARS HAVE

THESE COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLIES
WHEN YOU CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS

YOU HAVE THESE RUBBER BOOTS THAT
GO DOWN INSIDE THE VALVE COVERS.

WELL, THEY SOMETIMES GET WELDED
TO THE VALVE COVER

AND WHEN YOU TRY TO TAKE IT
APART THEY PULL APART

AND PREVENT THAT
DIELECTRIC GREASE

ON THE RUBBER PART KEEPS THEM

FROM ADHERING
AND CAUSING PROBLEMS.

NOW, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF
DIFFERENT CHEMICALS

THAT CAN BE USED AROUND A CAR
THESE DAYS,

YOU HAVE TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF
WITH WHAT IS NEEDED ON YOUR CAR

THEN BUY THE RIGHT PRODUCT.

ONE PRODUCT DOESN'T FIT
EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD

FOR SURE.

RIGHT PRODUCT FOLLOW
THE DIRECTIONS

AND YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF
A LOT OF GRIEF

AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS
OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

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

RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK !

Greg Carloss:
THE ACCELERATING TREND TO

ELECTRIFY AUTOMOTIVE POWERTRAINS
IS CERTAINLY EVIDENT

WITH OUR MOTORWEEK
LONG TERM TEST FLEET.

SINCE WE GOT THE KEY FOB
A YEAR AGO,

WE'VE PUT OVER 17,000 MILES
ON OUR 2019 HONDA INSIGHT.

THE 151 HORSEPOWER,
2-MOTOR HYBRID SYSTEM

WITH A 1.5 LITER I4 AND A CVT,
CONTINUES TO PRODUCE

IMPRESSIVE EFFICIENCY NUMBERS.

WE'RE NOW AVERAGING
52.1 MILES PER GALLON,

AND THAT'S RIGHT ON
WHAT IT'S GOVERNMENT

COMBINED CITY/HIGHWAY SAYS
IT SHOULD BE.

WHETHER, IT'S HOT OR COLD
LIKE IT IS NOW,

THE INSIGHT'S HYBRID SYSTEM
SEEMS UNPHASED.

NOW THE ENGINE HAS BEEN
RUNNING A LITTLE BIT MORE

SINCE WINTER STARTED,
BUT THE TRANSITIONS

ARE STILL SMOOTH
AND IN THE BACKGROUND,

RIGHT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

WE'VE COMMENTED ON
THE LACK OF USB PORTS

IN THE BACK SEAT BEFORE.

BUT, WITH APPLE CARPLAY
AND ANDROID AUTO...

PLUS, HONDA SENSING'S SUITE
OF DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES...

THE INSIGHT IS NOT ONLY
A HIGHLY ECONOMICAL WAY

TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING,
IT'S A SMART ONE TOO.

OUR 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
PLUG-IN HYBRID IS PROVING

GOING GREEN CAN ALSO COME WITH
THE ROOMINESS OF A UTILITY

THAT'S IN DEMAND THESE DAYS.

DURING THE PAST FIVE MONTHS,
WE'VE ADDED 8,500 MILES

TO THE ODOMETER.

PROPELLING THIS QUIET PEOPLE
MOVER IS A 2.0 LITER I4

WORKING WITH TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS
TO CREATE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WE'VE SEEN MORE RAIN THAN SNOW
IN THE MIDATLANTIC,

BUT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE EXTRA
TRACTION ON WET ROADS.

AS A PLUG-IN HYBRID,
THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER

OF ELECTRIC ONLY MILES,
IN THIS CASE, IT'S ABOUT 22.

NOT SURPRISING OUR TEAM GOES
THROUGH THEM PRETTY QUICKLY.

BUT THEY HAVE A LOT TO DO
WITH THE OVERALL 35.5 MILES

PER GALLON FUEL ECONOMY,
WE'RE SEEING SO FAR.

GREAT FOR ANY UTILITY THIS SIZE.

WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON OUR
NISSAN ALTIMA MID-SIZE SEDAN

AND PORSCHE MACAN S PERFORMANCE
UTILITY ON THE NEXT

MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST
UPDATE!

John: OVER ALMOST 40 YEARS,
WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN CARS

AND THE CAR INDUSTRY EVOLVE.

AND THAT PROCESS IS
ACCELERATING.

LAUREN MORRISON HELPS
KEEP US UP TO DATE

IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison:
AS AUTOMAKERS LOOK FOR NEW WAYS

TO SHOWCASE THEIR VEHICLES,
THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

SHOW IN LAS VEGAS IS
BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY

IMPORTANT STAGE.

CHINESE AUTOMAKER BYTON MADE
SOME EYEBALLS POP

WITH THEIR 48 INCH SCREEN
THAT STRETCHES ACROSS

THE DASHBOARD OF THEIR FIRST
PRODUCTION MODEL,

THE BYTON M-BYTE ELECTRIC SUV.

CONTINENTAL'S TRANSPARENT
HOOD CAN SHOW

WHAT'S ROLLING UNDERNEATH.

BOSCH IS BRINGING THE SUN
VISOR INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

IT TRACKS THE SUN'S SHADOW,
KEEPING IT OVER

THE DRIVER'S EYES,
WHILE ALLOWING A CLEAR VIEW

OF THE ROAD.

THE HYUNDAI S-A1 IS
ELEVATING RIDESHARING.

THEY'RE TEAMING UP WITH UBER
TO PRODUCE AIR TAXIS

THAT WILL EVENTUALLY
FLY THEMSELVES.

JEEP IS OFFICIALLY BRINGING
PLUG-IN HYBRID POWER

TO THE WRANGLER, RENEGADE,
AND COMPASS.

THEIR NEW 4XE SUB-BRAND
PLANS ELECTRIFICATION

FOR ALL MODELS BY 2022.

THE FISKER OCEAN ALL-ELECTRIC
LUXURY SUV ARRIVED

WITH A STARTING PRICE
JUST UNDER $30,000

WITH FEDERAL TAX CREDITS.

THE MERCEDES-BENZ VISION
A-V-T-R CONCEPT

ELIMINATES THE STEERING WHEEL,
WITH THE DRIVER

PLACING THEIR HAND ON THE CENTER
CONSOLE TO ACTIVATE THE CAR.

THE AUDI AI:ME IS FULLY
AUTOMATED CAR THAT READS

EYE MOVEMENTS TO RECEIVE
COMMANDS.

THE 4-RING BRAND'S VISION OF
THE FUTURE ALSO INCLUDES

A 3D HEAD-UP DISPLAY.

THE BMW I3 URBAN SUITE GIVES
A PASSENGER PLENTY OF ROOM

TO STRETCH OUT,
WHILE ZEROG LOUNGER SEATS

RECLINE UP TO 60 DEGREES
IN THE BMW X7.

HONDA'S AUGMENTED DRIVING
CONCEPT FEATURES

MORE THAN EIGHT DRIVE MODES
BETWEEN SEMI-AUTONOMOUS

AND FULLY AUTONOMOUS OPERATION.

AND TOYOTA WILL BUILD
"A PROTOTYPE CITY OF THE FUTURE"

IN JAPAN,
TO RESEARCH NEW TECHNOLOGY

IN REAL LIFE SITUATIONS.

SO, FOR ADVANCE AUTOMOTIVE
TECHNOLOGY,

ITS FULL SPEED AHEAD.

AND THAT WRAPS UP
THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: IN THE WORLD OF
HIGH-PERFORMANCE LUXURY

THE STAKES KEEP RISING.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE
TO CONSIDER,

STYLE, COMFORT,
AND OF COURSE,

THAT ADRENALINE RUSH
WHEN YOU PUNCH THE THROTTLE.

IF IT'S A COUPE,
SO MUCH THE BETTER.

LIKE THIS LEXUS RC F.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THIS RARE,
"RADICAL COUPE"

IS READY TO EXCITE AND IMPRESS.

*

LEXUS SELLS ITS FAIR SHARE
OF SUVs,

NOT TO MENTION
IT WAS LUXURY SEDANS

THAT MADE THEM
WHAT THEY ARE TODAY.

BUT THEY'VE CERTAINLY HAD
A FEW MORE EXCITING OFFERINGS

ALONG THE WAY,
OF THE 2-DOOR VARIETY.

THEIR CURRENT FLAGSHIP COUPE
LC500 IS ALL ABOUT

ATTRACTING ATTENTION
FOR THE BRAND OF COURSE,

SO IT'S EASY TO FORGET ABOUT
THIS 2020 RC F COUPE,

A CAR THAT'S ALL ABOUT
PERFORMANCE.

SO, TO KEEP THIS LUXO-ROCKET
THAT DEBUTED FOR 2015,

FRESH IN PEOPLE'S MEMORY, LEXUS
PUTS FORTH A SLEW OF UPDATES.

NO MID-CYCLE REFRESH IS COMPLETE
WITHOUT A STYLING NIP/TUCK

FOR THE FRONT AND REAR.

FOR THE RC F, THAT MEANS
RE-DESIGNED AIR INTAKES

IN THE FRONT FASCIA THAT
NOT ONLY LOOK BETTER,

BUT DIRECT MORE AIR TO
THE OIL COOLERS.

ALSO, IN THE INTEREST OF
MANAGING AIRFLOW;

DOWN THE SIDES, THE ROCKER
EXTENSIONS HAVE BEEN WIDENED,

AND THE TREATMENT IN FRONT
OF THE REAR WHEELS

RESHAPED WITH A MORE
CONCAVE DESIGN.

IN ADDITION, THE REAR BUMPER
TAKES ON A NEW FORM,

WITH FRESH TAIL LIGHTS
THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

THANKFULLY, THE STACKED
TWIN EXHAUST TIPS REMAIN.

NOT MUCH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT
REALLY,

IT'S ONE WILD LOOKING LEXUS!

INSIDE, YOU CAN STILL
SEE THE BEGINNINGS

OF THE THROWBACK THEME
TO THE DASH WHICH THE LC

TOOK TO A NEW LEVEL.

WE'D STOP SHORT OF SAYING,
IT'S CLAUSTROPHOBIC IN HERE,

BUT THE CONFINES ARE CERTAINLY
INTIMATE.

THE FRONT SEATS THEMSELVES ARE
QUITE COMFORTABLE HOWEVER,

AND 10.1 CUBIC-FEET OF
TRUNK SPACE MAKES THINGS

PLENTY PRACTICAL FOR BOTH
WEEKDAY CHORES

AND WEEKEND TRAVEL.

FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO US,
LEXUS' TOUCHPAD CONTROLLER

STILL EXISTS,
AND ITS STILL HERE IN THE RC F.

FOR A CAR THAT DEMANDS YOUR FULL
ATTENTION WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL,

IT'S JUST TOO DISTRACTING.

NOTHINGS SOUNDS LIKE A V8,
AND IT HAS CERTAINLY

BECOME A RARITY IN THE SMALL
SPORT COUPE SEGMENT,

SO THIS 5.0 LITER POWERED RC F
EASILY STANDS UP AND APART.

A GROWL GRABS YOUR ATTENTION
EVERY TIME YOU FIRE IT UP;

EVEN MORE SO, WITH ITS
ROCKET-LIKE THROTTLE RESPONSE.

IN ADDITION TO A LITTLE
ADDED POWER,

NOW AT 472 HORSEPOWER
OR FIVE MORE THAN BEFORE,

AND 395 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE,
UP SIX;

THE V8 HAS GONE ON A WEIGHT LOSS
PLAN.

THERE'S A NEW INTAKE,
ALUMINUM BRACKETS REPLACE STEEL,

AND THERE'S A LIGHTER
A/C COMPRESSOR.

THAT, AS WELL AS NEW STANDARD
LAUNCH CONTROL,

SHOULD MAKE FOR QUICKER PROGRESS
TO 60.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN'T GET
THE LAUNCH CONTROL

TO WORK PROPERLY,
AND FINDING A HAPPY MEDIUM

BETWEEN TOO MUCH
TRACTION CONTROL

AND TOO MUCH SLIP WITHOUT IT,
ALSO PROVED DIFFICULT.

SO, WE WERE UNABLE TO BEST
THE QUICK 4.4 SECOND 0-60

OF THE ORIGINAL RC F
OR IT'S QUARTER MILE TIME

OF 12.8 SECONDS
AT 114 MILES PER HOUR.

IT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE,
AND THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE

IS QUITE VISCERAL,
WITH THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC

RIFLING THROUGH GEARS QUICKER
THAN SOME SEQUENTIAL MANUALS,

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT'S NOT AS QUICK

AS RIVAL'S TURBO-6s.

NEW FOR THIS REAR-DRIVE CHASSIS,
ARE REVISED BUSHINGS AND TUNING.

THE RESULTS ARE LASER BEAM
HANDLING,

QUICK NICELY-WEIGHTED TURN-INS,
BEAUTIFUL BALANCE,

AND VIRTUALLY NO BODY ROLL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
ARE 16-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY,

AND 19-COMBINED;
WE AVERAGED A GOOD

20.2 MILES PER GALLON
ON PREMIUM.

PRICING STARTS AT $65,925.

SEEMS LIKE A LOT,
BUT THAT'S A BARGAIN

COMPARED TO EUROPEAN
COMPETITORS;

NONE OF WHICH HAVE THE CHARACTER
OF THIS V8-POWERED LUXURY

MINI-BEAST.

THE IS-F SEDAN WAS ARGUABLY
LEXUS' FIRST TRUE DRIVER'S CAR.

IT WAS FOLLOWED BY THE LFA
SUPERCAR,

AND EVENTUALLY THIS RC F COUPE.

AS IT DID WHEN IT DEBUTED,
THIS 2020 VERSION DELIVERS

EXHILARATING PERFORMANCE,
YET REMAINS A BIT OF A THROWBACK

TO A SIMPLER TIME WHEN V8s
RULED THE WORLD,

BUT WITH THE ADDED BENEFIT
OF THE QUALITY

AND RELIABILITY ASIAN LUXURY
CARS ARE KNOWN FOR.

NOW, IF YOU WANT SIMILAR THRILLS
IN A MORE AFFORDABLE PACKAGE,

THERE'S THE RC300 F SPORT.

IT'S A BIT OF A TWEENER;
OCCUPYING THE MIDDLE GROUND

BETWEEN THE POTENT RC F
AND A BASE RC 300.

IT RECEIVES MOST OF THE SAME
UPDATES AS THE RC F,

BUT OPERATES WITH
A 241 HORSEPOWER

2.0 LITER TURBO-4, IF YOU
STICK WITH REAR-WHEEL DRIVE.

OPT FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND
YOU GET A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED

3.5 LITER V6 WITH
260 HORSEPOWER.

BUT IF YOUR PERFORMANCE PENDULUM
SWINGS THE OTHER WAY,

THERE'S ALSO A NEW
RC F TRACK EDITION

WHICH WE'LL HAVE A FULL
TEST ON SOON.

SO MANY COUPES WITH
SO MUCH PERFORMANCE!

THIS IS INDEED A NEW ERA
FOR LEXUS.

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 GMC GOES 3-ROW BOLD
WITH THE ACADIA AT4.

AND THEN, WE HIT THE TRACK IN
THE MIGHTY MERCEDES-AMG GT R.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS,

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON
MOTORWEEK !

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