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

JOIN US FOR A MONSTER OF A CAR THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A SUPER-FAST RIDE, THE NISSAN GT-R... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRACK DAY... LAUREN MORRISON FINDS A VENDING MACHINE THAT SERVES UP VEHICLES... AND HONDA FINDS MORE WAYS TO MAKE THE CR-V, A CROSSOVER STAND-OUT...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Man: "OOPS."

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

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 .

John: IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE HAD THE NISSAN GT-R HERE ON AMERICAN STREETS AND TRACKS FOR 8-YEARS NOW.

BUT THE GT-R IS NOT SLOWING DOWN ANY WITH AGE.

IN FACT, FOR '17 IT ARRIVES WITH BOTH A NEW LOOK AND MORE PERFORMANCE.

AND THAT'S REASON ENOUGH FOR US TO HIT THE TRACK IN "GODZILLA" ONCE AGAIN.

* THOUGH, THE NISSAN GT-R HAS BEEN IN ALMOST A CONSTANT STATE OF IMPROVEMENT SINCE IT ARRIVED FOR 2009, FOR 2017 IT GETS ITS MOST SIGNIFICANT UPDATE YET.

THE GT-R HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF AN OUTLIER IN THIS KINDER AND GENTLER SUPERCAR REALM WE LIVE IN TODAY; EXHIBITING DRIVETRAIN CLUNKS, A HOT CABIN, AND A HOST OF UNIQUE SOUNDS AND SMELLS AS YOU'RE GOING "GODZILLA" ON THE PAVEMENT.

WHETHER, YOU LOOK AT THEM AS DESIGN FLAWS OR VALUE-ADDED CHARACTER, SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOUR LOVE FOR MECHANICAL THINGS.

BUT NOW, THE GT-R IS SOMEWHAT TRYING TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES.

STARTING OUTSIDE, THERE'S A NEW FACE, IN WHICH NISSAN INSISTED ON INJECTING MORE OF A V-MOTION THEME.

THANKFULLY, IT'S FAIRLY SUBDUED WITH THE "BIG MOUTH CARP" LOOK STILL MOSTLY INTACT.

CHANGES ARE A LITTLE MORE OVERT IN THE REAR, WITH THE TALL CHUNKY REAL ESTATE GETTING SEGMENTED MORE DRASTICALLY WITH SHARPER LINES, A FEW MORE CREASES, AND NEW AIR VENTS NESTLED NEXT TO THE EXHAUST TIPS.

BODY REINFORCEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS HAVE BEEN ADDED, WHICH OF COURSE INCREASES WEIGHT.

SO THERE'S A MODEST BOOST IN POWER TO COMPENSATE.

THE 3.8-LITER TWIN-TURBO V6, NOW PUTS OUT 565 PONIES, UP 20, AND 467 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, UP 4, AND NATURALLY TO ALL 4-WHEELS.

TRANSMISSION DUTIES ARE STILL PERFORMED BY A 6-SPEED DCT, BUT THE PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN CHANGED FOR SMOOTHER OPERATION; GREAT I GUESS, IF YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO THE GOLF COURSE.

FURTHER, DAMPING THE VICIOUSNESS, ARE COMFIER SEATS, A NEW LEATHER INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER, AND AN UPDATED DASH THAT ELIMINATES A NUMBER OF THE SWITCHES FOUND ON THE CENTER STACK; AIDED BY A LARGER 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN.

THINGS ARE STILL RELATIVELY OLD SCHOOL IN APPEARANCE, AND ABILITY, AND THE GAUGES ARE CRUDE COMPARED TO THE VIRTUAL TFT PANELS OF MOST CURRENT HIGH PERFORMANCE RIDES.

ALL HAS WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE THE NEW GT-R, A LITTLE MORE USER FRIENDLY, BUT NOT DUMBED-DOWN.

ANYTHING OVER 4,000 RPM, STILL RESULTS IN A RUSH OF POWER THAT MUST BE EXPERIENCED TO BE APPRECIATED.

WE'RE TALKING 3.0 SECOND 0-60s AND 11.2 SECOND QUARTER MILES AT 125 MILES PER HOUR.

LIKE AN EXTREME ROLLER-COASTER, IT'S A THRILL RIDE THAT'LL HAVE YOU EXHILARATED, SOMETIMES FRIGHTENED, AND WHEN IT'S ALL OVER WANTING TO DO IT AGAIN.

ONE BAD MOVE AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED IS NISSAN MOVING THE SHIFTER PADDLES FROM THE COLUMN TO THE WHEEL.

BEFORE YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHERE THEY WERE.

BUT, ALL IS FORGIVEN ONCE OUT ON THE TRACK, WHERE DESPITE THE SOFTER IMAGE, IT STILL DEALS OUT SERIOUS HANDS OF PERFORMANCE; SHORTENING STRAIGHTS AND STICKING TO CORNERS WITH THE BEST OF THEM; BLASTING OUT OF THEM LIKE NOTHING ELSE.

AND YOU CAN STILL HEAR PLENTY OF ENGINE AUDIO AND TURBO SPINNING HERE.

THIS YEAR ALSO BRINGS ABOUT, A NEW TRACK EDITION GT-R, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY NISMO SUSPENSION WITHOUT THE NISMO ENGINE UPGRADE.

SO IT HANDLES BETTER, AND STILL FEELS INCREDIBLY FAST.

HERE, THROUGH THE NINE HIGH-SPEED TURNS OF GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, IT TAKES A LAP OR TWO FOR THE TIRES TO FULLY WARM UP, BUT WHEN THEY DO, THERE IS LOTS OF GRIP FOR EXPLOITING.

THANKFULLY, ALL IN ALL, THIS GT-R TRACK EDITION STILL FEELS LIKE SOME KIND OF FRANKENSTEIN STITCHED TOGETHER OF AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR, ASIAN ECONOMY CAR, AND EUROPEAN EXOTIC.

BUT IS IT STILL, A LITTLE CLUNKY AND AWKWARD ON THE STREET?

YEP, BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, WE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

IT'S A CHARACTER THING!

SECOND QUESTION, ARE THE CHANGES ENOUGH TO DRAW IN A LOT MORE CONVERTS?

DOUBTFUL.

MORE LIKELY, THEY ARE JUST WHAT WAS NEEDED TO GIVE CURRENT OWNERS A REASON TO UPGRADE, AND PUT A FEW MORE GENTLY USED GT-Rs ON EBAY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

THE TRACK EDITION SLIDES NICELY IN BETWEEN THE BASE PREMIUM AND NISMO GT-Rs AT $129,585.

THE 2017 NISSAN GT-R HAS CERTAINLY AGED, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE GRACEFULLY NOW, THAN BEFORE.

BUT HAPPILY, WITH THIS NEW TRACK EDITION IT'S STILL THE BRUTISH TRACK STAR THAT WE REMEMBER, AND STILL, ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE EXOTIC RIDES OUT THERE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL STAY THAT WAY FOR YEARS TO COME.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO TEXAS, WHERE EVERYTHING IS BIGGER, INCLUDING THE BOOM FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

FREEDOM CNG, OPENED THEIR FIRST STATION IN 2012, AND TODAY HAS FOUR STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

WITH HELP FROM THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON CLEAN CITIES COALITION, THE COMPANY WAS ABLE TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP INSTALL THIS COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS RE-FUELER RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOUSTON DISTRIBUTING COMPANY.

THE BEVERAGE WHOLESALER'S CNG FLEET INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM LIGHT DUTY VANS TO BIG RIGS, ALL DISPLACING OVER 700,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL PER YEAR.

Kenneth Garland: IT'S A BETTER FUELING EXPERIENCE.

THEY DON'T SMELL LIKE DIESEL.

THE TRACTORS ARE QUIETER.

UM, IT'S BEEN A POSITIVE EFFECT ON OUR DRIVER'S AND RECRUITING.

John: WITH HDC'S EXTENSIVE CNG FLEET REDUCING EMISSIONS LIKE NITROGEN OXIDES, IT'S CLEARER SKIES AHEAD FOR THE LONE STAR STATE.

* THE IDEA OF INTERNET BASED, "NO-DEALERSHIP" NEW CAR BUYING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE, ALTHOUGH OFTEN, STATE LAWS MAKE IT LESS THAN A REALITY.

STILL, MOST NEW CAR DEALERS WILL NEGOTIATE PRICES ON THE WEB.

BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING USED CARS, THE LAWS ARE A LOT LOOSER.

AND ONE COMPANY HAS TAKEN THE UNUSUAL STEP OF DISPENSING CARS FROM WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GIANT VENDING MACHINE.

SO, OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON HAD SOME SPARE CHANGE IN HER POCKET, AND HEADED OFF TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE TO SEE HOW IT REALLY WORKS.

* Lauren Morrison: SURE, CHIPS ARE NICE, BUT SOMETHING MUCH BETTER, AND MUCH BIGGER, COMES OUT OF THIS VENDING MACHINE.

* Jonathan Greer: I THINK THAT WHAT CAR BUYING HAS NEVER BEEN BEFORE, ITS BEEN...

IT IS NOW IS AN EXPERIENCE.

Lauren: ONLINE USED CAR DEALER, CARVANA, HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2013.

BUT WITH THIS GLASS TOWER AUTOMATED DISPENSER IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND SEVERAL OTHERS LIKE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY; THEY'RE CHANGING THE CAR BUYING GAME ONE COIN AT A TIME.

Jonathan: AND AH, I THINK THAT CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY DRAWN TO THAT AND ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S FUN, EASY, AND FAST.

Lauren: NO TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP OR PUSHY SALES PERSON... BUSINESS BEGINS HERE ON CARVANA'S WEBSITE.

Jonathan: WE HAVE OVER 7500 VEHICLES ON THE WEBSITE AND THEY SEARCH LIKE THEY WOULD ON ANY OTHER WEBSITE.

THEY CAN TAKE A 360-DEGREE TOUR OF THE INTERIOR/EXTERIOR.

WE HIGHLIGHT THE TOP IMPERFECTIONS ON THE VEHICLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CUSTOMER HAS A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IMPERFECTIONS OUR, OUR USED CARS HAVE.

Lauren: THE COMPANY HAS FOUND CUSTOMERS IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE EMBRACED THE "DITCH THE DEALERSHIP" MENTALITY... LIKE LISA HOGAN, WHO'S FAMILY RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2014 HONDA CIVIC USING CARVANA.

Lisa Hogan: THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT WAS, WE PHYSICALLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM OUR HOUSE.

I WAS IN MY PAJAMAS.

Lauren: WELL, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE YOUR CAR DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR HOME, IF YOU DO THAT, YOU MISS OUT ON ALL THE VENDING FUN!

Jonathan: WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP AND SAY, "WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

WHAT DO YOU DO?"

AND AH, THOSE ARE FUN.

WE LOVE INTERACTING WITH THOSE CUSTOMERS, AND TELLING THEM ABOUT WHAT WE DO, AND IT GETS THEM EXCITED.

Lauren: THIS 5-STORY TALL VENDING MACHINE CAN HOLD 18 CARS AND INSIDE, YOU'LL FIND JUST ABOUT EVERY MAKE AND MODEL.

Lauren: AFTER BUYING YOUR CAR ONLINE, IT'S STORED IN THE VENDING MACHINE AND AWAITS YOUR ARRIVAL.

CARVANA WILL EVEN THROW IN A $200 FLIGHT VOUCHER TO GET YOU HERE, AND CUSTOMERS COME FROM FAR, AND WIDE FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

Jonathan: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, THERE WAS A... SOMEBODY FLEW ALL THE WAY HERE FROM SEATTLE TO GET A TOYOTA PRIUS.

Lauren: JUST LIKE DROPPING CHANGE INTO A VENDING MACHINE TO SNAG A SNICKERS... "THIS VENDING MACHINE TAKES COINS TOO!"

THE CLINK OF THE COIN STARTS THE VENDING PROCESS.

THE AUTOMATED ROBOTIC SYSTEM KICKS INTO GEAR AND RETRIEVES THE CAR FROM THE TOWER...

SENDS IT DOWN THE MACHINE, AND INTO A BAY FOR A WAITING CUSTOMER.

WHILE THE CARVANA CONCEPT IS COOL, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU'D NEVER BUY A USED CAR WITHOUT A TEST DRIVE, AND A ONCE OVER BY YOUR CAR CARE-GIVER.

WELL HERE, RATHER THAN JUST A TRIP AROUND THE BLOCK, YOU HAVE A FULL 7-DAYS TO CHECK IT OUT.

NOT HAPPY?

BACK IN THE VENDING MACHINE IT GOES FOR A FULL REFUND.

Jonathan: WE FEEL LIKE, YOU CAN'T REALLY KNOW IF YOU WANT A CAR AH, DURING A 10-MINUTE TEST DRIVE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GO PUT YOUR GROCERIES IN IT, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR CAR SEATS IN IT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN THE CAR DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

Lauren: THE COMPANY CLAIMS AN AVERAGE SAVINGS OF $1400 COMPARED TO KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICES... Jonathan: OUR BUSINESS MODEL ALLOWS US TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND WE PASS THAT ALONG IN THE STICKER PRICE OF THE VEHICLES.

Lauren: ANY WAY YOU SPIN IT, CARVANA'S VENDING MACHINE IS SHAKING UP THE USED CAR BUSINESS, BUT YOU CAN'T SHAKE A FREE CAR OUT OF IT.

TRUST ME, I TRIED.

John: GREAT PERFORMANCES ON THE TRACK BEGINS LONG BEFORE YOU GET THERE.

SO HERE'S, PAT GOSS WITH SOME SPEEDY ADVICE.

Pat Goss: LOTS OF FOLKS LIKE TO TAKE THEIR DAILY DRIVER AND EXPERIENCE A TRACK DAY, NOW AND AGAIN.

WELL, HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ON WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING TO PREP IT, WE HAVE RICK ROBINSON FROM AMERICAN HIGH PERFORMANCE IN LORTON, VIRGINIA.

RICK, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Rick Robinson: THANK YOU, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD DO IF WE WANT TO EXPERIENCE A TRACK?

Rick: WELL, THE FIRST TO THINK ABOUT IS SAFETY.

YOU DON'T WANT ALL THE KID'S TOYS FLOATING AROUND IN THE BACK SEAT WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE ON THE TRACK.

IF WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL AN OFF TRACK EXCURSION, THEY BECOME MISSILES FLYING AROUND IN THE COCKPIT.

Pat: GOOD POINT.

Rick: YOU WANT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THERE IN CASE THAT YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A FIRE.

SO THINK ABOUT SAFETY, AND THEN THE PRIMARY THING IN ROAD RACING IS SUSPENSION AND BRAKES.

POWER IS NICE TO HAVE, SUSPENSION AND BRAKES IS WHAT'S GONNA REALLY WIN THE RACE FOR YOU, AND ALLOW YOU TO GET THROUGH THOSE TURNS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

THE STOCK SUSPENSION THAT MOST CARS COME WITH, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WAS IN THIS CAR.

IT'S A COIL-OVER STYLE OF SUSPENSION, BUT IT'S FIXED GEOMETRY.

AND IT'S OPTIMIZED FOR DRIVING AROUND ON THE ROAD, NOT FOR A TRACK.

AN ADJUSTABLE COIL-OVER SUSPENSION LIKE WE PUT IN THIS CAR ALLOWS YOU TO ADJUST, NOT ONLY THE SPRING RATE BY COMPRESSING THE SPRING A LITTLE FURTHER, BUT ALSO RAISE AND LOWER THE CAR.

CENTER OF GRAVITY IS IMPORTANT TO HANDLING ON THE TRACK.

GET IT A LOW AS YOU CAN.

BUT THEN, THE COIL-OVER ALLOWS YOU TO RAISE IT BACK UP FOR DRIVING AROUND ON THE STREET.

Pat: OKAY, WHAT ABOUT SWAY BARS?

Rick: SWAY BARS HELP STIFFEN THE ROLL RATE IN A CAR.

YOU'VE SEEN CARS, OLDER CARS AS THEY GO THROUGH A TURN, THEY'RE LEANING WAY OVER.

THAT'S NOT ADVANTAGEOUS TO GRIP ON THE TIRES.

YOU WANNA KEEP THAT WEIGHT DISTRIBUTED ON ALL 4-TIRES AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND A BIG HEAVY ROLL BAR LIKE THAT IS GOING TO HELP KEEP THE CAR LEVEL.

Pat: NOW, HERE WE HAVE A TOWER BRACE ON THIS MUSTANG GT350.

BENEFICIAL?

Rick: ABSOLUTELY.

STIFFNESS IN THE BODY OF A CAR IS IMPORTANT, AS WELL.

IF THE BODY'S TWISTING, IT'S CHANGING THE GEOMETRY OF THE SUSPENSION.

SO, WE WANNA STOP THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

THIS TIES THE TWO STRUT TOWERS TOGETHER AND HELPS STIFFEN THE FRONT END UP A LOT.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, MUCH OF THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO DRAG RACING.

THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT... Rick: WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

PEOPLE LIKE TO COME ASK US IF I CAN SET UP A CAR FOR BOTH.

AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

A DRAG RACE CAR IS ALL ABOUT TRACTION ON THE REAR TIRES.

SO I NEED WEIGHT TRANSFER TO THE REAR.

SO A VERY LOW SHOCK RATE ON THE BACK TO GET IT TO SQUAT.

A VERY LOW EXTENSION RATE ON THE FRONT, SO I CAN GET THE FRONT END TO RISE AND GET THE WEIGHT BACK TO THE BACK.

WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION IN A CAR IS ALSO DIFFERENT FOR DRAG RACING AGAIN TRYING TO GET WEIGHT TO THE REAR NOT OPTIMALLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE CAR.

Pat: OKAY, RICK THANK YOU, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OF A COMMENT HOW ABOUT DROPPING ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: LET'S GET A GLIMPSE OF SOMETHING NEW ON THE ROAD, WITH MORE QUICKSPIN'S FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS... FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MERCEDES-BENZ HAS TRIED TO BRIDGE THE CAVERN BETWEEN THEIR STANDARD OFFERINGS AND THE FIRE-BREATHING MERCEDES-AMG MONSTERS, WITH A LINE OF AMG SPORT MODELS.

THIS HAS CREATED MASS CONFUSION AS TO WHAT IS A TRUE AMG VEHICLE AND WHAT ISN'T.

SO, IN AN ATTEMPT TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT MISUNDERSTANDING, THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY MERCEDES-BENZ AMG VEHICLES; RATHER MERCEDES-AMG VEHICLES IN TWO LEVELS, ULTRA-POTENT AMG 63s, AND TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE PREVIOUS SPORT MODELS, SOMEWHAT LESS BUT STILL VERY POTENT AMG 43s.

GOT IT?

NINE DIFFERENT MODELS MAKE UP THE AMG 43 LINEUP TO START WITH, FROM THE C-CLASS, E-CLASS, GLC, GLE, AND SLC LINES.

EACH IS UNIQUE, BUT THERE ARE SOME COMMON THEMES; A 3.0-LITER TWIN-TURBO V6 WITH AT LEAST 362 HORSEPOWER, 9G-TRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, DYNAMIC SELECT DRIVING MODES, RIDE CONTROL SPORT SUSPENSION, AND REAR-BIASED PERFORMANCE 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, FOR ALL EXCEPT THE SLC ROADSTER WHICH REMAINS REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY.

AFTER SAMPLING A NUMBER OF THESE MERCEDES-AMGs IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECENTLY, WE CAN SAY, THEY PERFORM THEIR MEANER TWEENER ROLL QUITE WELL.

IT IS INSIDE WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 43s; SOME HOLDING TRUER TO THEIR MERCEDES-BENZ ROOTS, WHILE OTHERS FULLY EMBRACING THE AMG STATUS.

THE FIRST NINE 2017 MERCEDES-AMG 43 MODELS ARE AVAILABLE NOW, RANGING FROM AROUND $52,000 FOR A C43 SEDAN TO OVER $70,000 FOR AN E43 SEDAN.

WHAT WAS ONCE THE SCION FR-S IS NOW THE 2017 TOYOTA 86.

AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE LONG HISTORY THIS SUBARU-TOYOTA JOINT EFFORT, REAR-DRIVE COUPE'S NAME CHANGE DRAWS ON.

TRUE FANS REMEMBER THE TOYOTA COROLLA GT-S, KNOWN AS THE AE86 AROUND THE WORLD FROM THE 1980s.

WHILE THE UNCHANGED, LOW ROOF PROFILE HINTS OF THE '60s AND '70s TOYOTA 2000 GT.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A MODERN MACHINE.

WITH THE NEW NAME COMES MID-CYCLE UPDATES INCLUDING STANDARD LED LIGHTING, A WIDER GRILLE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE FACE, AND REVISED REAR FACIA WITH BETTER INTEGRATED DIFFUSER.

A 2.0-LITER BOXER 4-CYLINDER REMAINS.

WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION OUTPUT JUMPS 5 TO 205 HORSEPOWER.

OPTING FOR THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TAKES THAT BACK DOWN.

EITHER WAY IT'S STILL A SPORTY RIDE... Greg Carloss: THE SUSPENSION HAS ALSO BEEN TWEAKED...

IT'S STIFFER UP FRONT SOFTER IN THE REAR, SO OVERSTEER IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO ATTAIN.

THAT THRESHOLD IS JUST THAT MUCH HIGHER.

I CAN FEEL THAT.

IT DOESN'T SEEM QUITE AS READY TO KICK THE REAR END LOOSE, BUT CERTAINLY ITS ATTAINABLE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

John: MINOR CHANGES TO THE COCKPIT AS WELL.

WITH THE TACHOMETER FRONT AND CENTER, A NEW STEERING WHEEL ADDS BASIC AUDIO CONTROLS.

A 7-INCH SCREEN KEEPS YOU IN TOUCH WITH ALL INFO-TAINMENT.

SIMULATED CARBON-FIBER, AND ALUMINUM SPORT PEDALS, AND SCUFF PLATES LEND TO THE CLASSIC SPORTS CAR LOOK.

WITH THE BRAND'S STAR SAFETY SYSTEM STANDARD, THE 2017 TOYOTA 86 IS READY TO RACE OFF DEALERS' LOTS NOW.

AND THE PRICE STARTS AT JUST OVER $26,000.

AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

HONDA'S BRAND OF PRACTICALITY IS CERTAINLY WELL KNOWN, AND THE COMPACT CR-V CROSSOVER HAS BEEN A CORE PART OF THAT STORY FOR 20 YEARS NOW.

STILL, LIKE THE REST OF THE THINGS ON THIS EARTH, THE CR-V MUST EVOLVE IF IT WANTS TO KEEP ROAMING OUR ROADS.

SO LET'S SEE HOW THIS 5TH GENERATION CR-V HAS CHANGED WITH THE TIMES.

* WHILE, EVOLUTION IS NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL, IT CAN STILL BE A SCARY PROPOSITION.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE 2017 HONDA CR-V. [ENGINE STARTS] WHERE CHANGES INCLUDE FIRST TIME TURBO POWER, THOUGH IT'S A SMALL 1.5 LITER WITH 190 HORSEPOWER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THE I4s 179 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE MAKES IT FEEL PLENTY ADEQUATE ON DAILY COMMUTES, A BIT LESS SO, WHEN FULLY LOADED CLIMBING HILLS.

IT'S STILL THE PEPPIER OF THE TWO AVAILABLE ENGINES, THE OTHER BEING A CARRYOVER 2.4 LITER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 184 HORSEPOWER I4 THAT'S OFFERED NOW ONLY IN BASE LX.

BOTH ARE CVT-EQUIPPED, AND THAT MEANS SOMETIMES EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE THAT WE'RE STILL GETTING USED TO IN A HONDA PRODUCT.

NO COMPLAINTS ON ITS PERFORMANCE HOWEVER, AS IT'S ONE OF THE BEST CVTs OUT THERE.

THE REVVING RACKET IS MOST NOTICEABLE, BECAUSE THE REST OF THE INTERIOR EXPERIENCE IS AN EXTREMELY QUIET ONE.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE REMAINS STANDARD, WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE A $1,300 OPTION.

ON THE ROAD, THE NEW CIVIC-BASED CHASSIS DELIVERS A GOOD DEAL OF CONFIDENCE; AS IT REMAINS FLAT UNDER HARD CORNERING, YET STILL OFFERS A SMOOTH, STABLE RIDE.

INSIDE AND OUT, EVERYTHING LOOKS, AND FEELS MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN PREVIOUS CR-Vs, AND WHILE, VISIBILITY WAS ALREADY GOOD, IT HAS IMPROVED WITH SLIMMER A-PILLARS.

OUR EXAMPLE IS OF COURSE, TOP LEVEL TOURING TRIM AND EVERYTHING INSIDE IS CLEAN, MODERN, AND UPSCALE IN APPEARANCE.

TYPICAL FOR HONDA, NO ACTUAL GAUGES IN THE CLUSTER; JUST A DIGITAL SPEED READOUT AND VIRTUAL TACK.

BUT IT PASSES OUR EYE TEST, BEING EASY TO READ AT A QUICK GLANCE.

SEAT COMFORT WASN'T AS GREAT AS WE'D LIKE, AND THE SEAT BOTTOMS REMAIN TOO SHORT, BUT NEITHER ARE DEAL-BREAKERS.

AND WE CAN'T THANK HONDA ENOUGH FOR BRINGING BACK AN HONEST TO GOODNESS RADIO VOLUME KNOB, WHILE DITCHING THEIR AWKWARD CENTER STACK DUAL SCREEN SETUP.

NEW THIS YEAR IS AN AVAILABLE HANDS FREE ACCESS POWER TAILGATE.

LIKE OTHERS, IT OPENS THE HATCH WITH A QUICK SWEEP OF THE FOOT BENEATH THE BUMPER.

ONCE OPENED, THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM BACK HERE TO EASILY INCUR EXTRA BAGGAGE FEES AT THE AIRPORT.

VOLUME IS 39.2 CUBIC-FEET IN THE CARGO AREA, AND 75.8 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

THAT'S MORE THAN ACURA'S MIDSIZE MDX.

SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE COMPREHENSIVE, WITH MUCH-APPRECIATED BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING STANDARD ON ALL BUT THE BASE LX.

PHYSICALLY LARGER THAN LAST GENERATION, WITH 1.6-ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WHEELBASE, THE CR-V CERTAINLY HAS MORE VISUAL PRESENCE THAN BEFORE.

HIGHLIGHTING THE BACK END ARE WING-SHAPED LED LIGHTS AND DUAL EXHAUST TIPS.

WHILE, THERE IS ADEQUATE POWER FOR THE STREET; FOR THE TEST TRACK, OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CR-V FELT WEAK OFF THE LINE, DELIVERING US TO 60 IN A MEDIOCRE 7.5 SECONDS.

ONCE THE TURBO'S, ENGINE RPM, AND NOISE ALL GET CRANKING; THINGS IMPROVE GREATLY, AS WE BUZZED OUR WAY THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.0 SECONDS AT 89 MILES PER HOUR.

HANDLING IS WHERE THIS LATEST CR-Vs LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST.

IT FELT ALMOST ATHLETIC THROUGH THE CONES, WITH NO TOP HEAVY FEEL, VERY LITTLE UNDERSTEER, AND QUICK STEERING.

WITH A 108-FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60, BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ANOTHER STRONG POINT, 27-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED; WITH OUR AVERAGE AT THE LOW END AT 27.0 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR GRADE.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE AT 11.4 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, COMBINED WITH 5.0 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

TYPICAL FOR THE SEGMENT, BASE PRICING STARTS IN THE MID-20s, AT $24,985 FOR THE LX; TOURING TRIM BEGINS AT $33,335.

SO OVERALL, JUST WHAT DO WE THINK OF THE 2017 HONDA CR-V?

WELL, THE FACT WE PICKED IT AS OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST SMALL UTILITY IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

SO, WE'RE NOT GOING OUT ON A LIMB BY FORECASTING THAT HONDA WILL SELL A LOT OF THE NEW CR-Vs. LIKE THE CIVIC, ITS FORMULA OF SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, PRACTICAL, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, THAT'S SUITABLE FOR BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, CONTINUES ON; ONLY NOW WITH MORE STYLE, MORE PERFORMANCE, AND THUS MORE APPEAL, TO MAKE EVEN MORE CR-V FANS.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR A SUPER CAR PACKED WITH POWER AND TECHNOLOGY, AND A DIFFERENT DESIGN LEADS TO A NEW OPTION FOR A COMPACT CHEVROLET.

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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Man: "OOPS."

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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