2015 BMW i8 & 2015 Lincoln MKC

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

JOIN US AS WE KICK OFF OUR 34TH SEASON WITH A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF ENTHUSIASTIC MOTORING IN THE BMW i8... PAT GOSS FILTERS OUT THE NONSENSE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE CHASING CLASSIC CARS WITH WAYNE CARINI... THEN WE'LL HEAD BACK TO THE PRESENT IN THE LINCOLN MKC!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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John Davis: IN THE MORE THAN THREE DECADES THAT MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN ON THE AIR, WE'VE SEEN ELECTRIC CARS GROW FROM HOMEMADE CURIOSITIES TO MASS PRODUCTION ICONS.

BUT THE PUBLIC APPETITE FOR PURE EVs REMAINS STYMIED OVER RANGE AND COST.

BOTH PROBLEMS THAT PLUG-IN HYBRIDS ARE BETTER ABLE TO SOLVE.

STILL, MOST PHEVs HAVEN'T BEEN VERY EXCITING TO DRIVE.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS PLUG-IN...THE BMW i8.

THIS FUTURISTIC CONCEPT CAR BROUGHT TO LIFE CERTAINLY LOOKS EXCITING.

SO LET'S SEE IF IT DRIVES THAT WAY.

LOOKING LIKE IT JUST DROVE OFF THE SET OF BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY, COMES BMW'S FIRST TAKE ON AN INTEGRATED PLUG-IN HYBRID, THE 2015 BMW i8.

IT LOOKS LIKE NOTHING YOU'VE SEEN, YET SOMEHOW APPEARS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D EXPECT AN ADVANCED HYBRID FROM BMW TO LOOK LIKE.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE YOU SEE, THE HYBRID HARDWARE IS BMW'S OWN DESIGN AND HAS BOTH FRONT AND REAR AXLE POWER SOURCES THAT WORK BOTH SEPARATE AND TOGETHER.

DRIVING THE REAR WHEELS IS A 1.5-LITER TURBO I3.

YES, FOLKS, IT HAS COME TO THAT, A 3-CYLINDER ENGINE IN A SUPERCAR.

AND, YES AGAIN, IT'S THE SAME ENGINE USED IN THE NEW MINI COOPER.

PLACED FORWARD, WITH POWER FOR THE FRONT WHEELS, IS A MORE EXPECTED 96-kWh ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT DRAWS FROM A WATER-COOLED 5.0-KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK LYING LOW IN THE CHASSIS.

WORKING IN HARMONY, THEY PRODUCE 357-HORSEPOWER AND 420 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND MUCH LIKE A TRADITIONAL HYBRID, A HIGH-VOLTAGE STARTER/GENERATOR ATTACHED TO THE GAS ENGINE DOES DOUBLE DUTY BY FEEDING POWER BACK INTO THE BATTERIES.

BMW CLAIMS THAT WHEN IN SPORT MODE, EVERY MILE YOU DRIVE ADDS ONE MILE OF EV-RANGE.

TALK ABOUT HAVING YOUR FUN AND ECONOMIZING IT TOO.

THE BATTERY CAN ALSO BE CHARGED ON 110 OR 220-VOLT CIRCUITS.

WHILE THE POWER DISTRIBUTION IS CONSTANTLY SHUFFLED BETWEEN THE AXLES, YOU CAN PLAN ON STRICTLY EV OPERATION ONLY IF YOU TAKE IT EASY ON THE THROTTLE AT SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES-PER-HOUR.

STEP INTO IT AND YOU'LL HEAR THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION PARTY START BEHIND YOU.

YOU CAN ALSO MANUALLY ENGAGE THE EV MODE, THE GOVERNMENT RATES THE RANGE AT 15-MILES.

BUT MUCH LIKE THE CHEVROLET VOLT, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT A 300 MILE RANGE ON JUST GAS AFTER THAT.

AMAZINGLY, BMW WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE i8.i LOOKING REMARKABLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT CAR, EVEN RETAINING THE SCISSOR-WING DOORS AND CARBON FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC PASSENGER CELL.

WITH THAT, AND EXTENSIVE USE OF OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS LIKE MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM, THE i8 WEIGHS IN AT 3,285 POUNDS.

BECAUSE OF THOSE DOORS, GETTING IN AND OUT CAN BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE, LIKE MANY SUPERCARS, AND YET ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THIS CAR IS MUCH COOLER THAN WE ARE.

ONCE IN, SOME FOUND THE SEATS VERY COMFY, OTHERS NOT SO MUCH.

BUT ALL AGREE THE SEATING POSITION IS VERY LOW.

SHORTER DRIVERS COULD NOT SEE OVER THE NOSE, WHICH MADE TIGHT MANEUVERS SCARY.

NAVIGATION AND MOST EXPECTED HIGH-TECH COMFORT AND SAFETY AMENITIES ARE STANDARD, AND WE APPLAUD THE USE OF FAMILIAR CONTROLS RIGHT OFF THE BMW PARTS SHELF.

AND THAT EVEN INCLUDES THE iDRIVE CENTRAL CONTROLLER.

ALSO ON THE CONSOLE ARE A SIMPLE ELECTRONIC SHIFTER, DRIVING EXPERIENCE CONTROL, AND eDRIVE SWITCH.

LOOKING COOL IS ONE THING, BUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE i8 IS VERY COOL AS WELL.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ENGINE NOISE ELECTRONICALLY PUMPED INTO THE CABIN AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A 3-CYLINDER.

ENGAGE SPORT MODE AND YOU'LL GET A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF RESPONSIVENESS, BOTH FROM THE THROTTLE AND THROUGHOUT THE CHASSIS.

TRANSITIONS BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC DRIVE ARE FAIRLY SMOOTH, THOUGH THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GETTING REAL AGGRESSIVE ON THE THROTTLE RESULTS IN THE CAR TAKING A SECOND TO PROCESS WHERE TO SEND THE POWER.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S A MOSTLY SEAMLESS AFFAIR.

BRAKES ARE VERY TOUCHY IN THE USUAL ELECTRIC-DRIVE MANNER.

AS FOR ACCELERATION, WITH LAUNCH CONTROL ENGAGED, WE HIT 60 IN 4.4-SECONDS.

THERE'S INSTANT TORQUE OFF THE LINE, AND SHIFTS FROM THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAME IN A HURRY.

THOSE SHIFTS ARE VERY FIRM AND QUICK, AND HAD US THANKING BMW FOR NOT SUCCUMBING TO A CVT AS WE WORKED OUR WAY TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.9-SECONDS AT A THRILLING 110 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE SUSPENSION IS ALSO A MIX OF SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING NEW.

THE DESIGN IS DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT AND 5-LINK REAR, BUT DYNAMIC DAMPING CONTROL AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ARE STANDARD.

COMBINED, THEY KEEP THE i8 FLATTER THAN KANSAS THROUGH THE CORNERS.

COMBINED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 28 MPG FOR GAS-ONLY DRIVING; THAT'S ABOUT 20% LOWER THAN THE VOLT, WITH 76 MPGe FOR i8 GAS-ELECTRIC OPERATION.

WE DRIVE MOSTLY IN SPORT MODE AND RECORDED 33.5.

OUR EURO-SPEC MODEL PREVENTED PROPER PLUG-IN CHARGING, SO WE THINK OWNERS WILL LIKELY DOUBLE OUR TEST FIGURES.

WE'VE CERTAINLY ENTERED A NEW ERA OF SUPERCARS; LIGHTWEIGHT, SMALL-ENGINE, ELECTRIC-ASSIST WONDERS THAT AIM FOR HIGH FUEL ECONOMY JUST AS MUCH AS LOW 0 TO 60 IN LAP TIMES.

AND WHILE THE i8 IS FAR FROM BEING THE ULTIMATE STRAIGHTLINE PERFORMER, ITS $135,700 PRICE TAG IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE PRICE OF MOST OTHER HIGH PERFORMANCE PLUG-INS.

SO AFTER DRIVING BMW'S VIEW OF THE FUTURE, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY SAY THAT THE 2015 i8 WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT PLUG-IN HYBRIDS.

AND WITH CARS LIKE THIS, IT'S CLEAR THAT GASOLINE, ELECTRIC, AND HIGH PERFORMANCE CAN SMOOTHLY LIVE TOGETHER AS ONE.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN LIFE YOU CANNOT FAKE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE ART OF FINDING, ACQUIRING, AND THEN PROPERLY RESTORING SOME OF THE MOST DESIRABLE CARS IN THE WORLD.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S LEARNED OVER NIGHT.

SO OUR ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WITH A LIFE-LONG COLLECTOR AND RESTORER WHO'S FAMILIAR WITH A HARD DAY'S WORK.

Zach: IF I HAD TO BET, I'D SAY YOU DON'T LOVE CARS AS MUCH AS THIS GUY.

IF YOU RESPECT THOSE WHO CHERISH OFTEN FORGOTTEN AUTOMOTIVE TREASURES, THERE'S A SHOP AND DEALERSHIP YOU NEED TO CRUISE BY.

ADDICTION...

THE COMPULSIVE NEED FOR OR USE OF A HABIT-FORMING SUBSTANCE.

THAT CAN EITHER BE A VERY GOOD OR A VERY BAD THING.

LUCKILY, FOR US, WE'RE AT F40 MOTORSPORTS IN PORTLAND, CONNECTICUT, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO GET A MAGNIFICENT FIX.

GROWING UP, WAYNE CARINI WAS ALWAYS WORKING, COMPLETING ANY CHORES HIS FATHER TOLD HIM TO.

AT AGE 5, HE BECAME CHIEF LABORER HELPING TO RESTORE CARS.

NOW, A LOT OF TIME IS SPENT TRAVELING THE WORLD, HOPING TO PICK UP HIS NEXT VEHICLE.

HIS SHOPS ARE A CAR NUT'S PLAYGROUND, FOCUSING ON CLASSICS.

Wayne Carini: "IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS EVERY MORNING.

YOU KNOW, I WAKE UP AND I NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO CALL ME AND WHAT I'M GOING TO FIND THAT DAY."

Zach: WAYNE WAS HOOKED AT AGE 9 WHEN HE WENT FOR A RIDE IN HIS FIRST FERRARI.

EVEN ON WEEKENDS YOU CAN FIND HIM AT A SHOW OR AUCTION.

IN 30 YEARS HE'S NEVER MISSED PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS DE ELEGANCE.

TELEVISION WAS NEVER WAYNE'S INTENTION, BUT A GROUP SIMPLY WANTED TO FOLLOW HIM AROUND, COMPLETELY UNSCRIPTED, AND MAKE A SHOW OUT OF IT.

GOING INTO ITS 7TH SEASON, HIS SHOW TAKES YOU BEHIND THE CROSSHAIRS ON THE HUNT FOR RARE AND EXOTIC CARS.

JUDGING BY HIS SHOWROOM ALONE, I'M A BIG FAN OF WAYNE'S TASTE IN CARS, LIKE THIS BMW 507.

A BMW THAT NEVER REALLY GOT MUCH RECOGNITION, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PUSHED INTO THE CORNER, AND NOW IT'S JUST BLOWING UP LIKE WILD FIRE.

Wayne: IT HAS.

I MEAN, THIS BEAUTIFUL SHAPE, DESIGN, TWO SEATER SPORTS CAR, ALUMINUM V8, A WONDERFUL CAR.

Zach: WHILE WAYNE MAY PREFER A FERRARI V12, THE RUMBLE OF A PROPER V8, JUST MIGHT TAKE SECOND PLACE.

Wayne: YOU HAD MERCEDES, THEY WERE BIG SIX CYLINDER CARS.

YOU HAD FERRARIS THAT WERE V12s.

SO THE V8 WASN'T REALLY AN ENGINE OTHER THAN WHAT THE AMERICANS WERE DOING THAT WERE REALLY SOUGHT AFTER.

Zach: IT'S A WONDER THINKING HOW DEMAND CAN CHANGE OVER TIME.

THIS 1922 MARMON SPEEDSTER CAME FROM NOT A MUSEUM, BUT THIS IS ONE OF YOUR AWESOME BARN FINDS.

WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS?"

Wayne: THIS CAME FROM NEW JERSEY.

A GENTLEMEN CONTACTED ME, SAID HE HAD A MARMON FOR SALE, SENT ME SOME PICTURES.

IT WENT BACK AND FORTH.

WE NEGOTIATED ACTUALLY FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

BUT I FINALLY WENT DOWN AND SAW IT, AND THE MINUTE I SAW IT, I KNEW I HAD TO HAVE IT.

Zach: DUST AND DIRT?

IN THIS CASE, WAYNE LOVES IT.

Wayne: WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THIS CAR.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT TO AUCTION, AND WE BELIEVE THAT SHOWING THE CAR AS WE FOUND IT WILL BRING MORE MONEY THAN ACTUALLY CLEANING IT AND PAINTING IT AGAIN AND SEMI-RESTORING IT.

Zach: WITH 40,000 MILES, AND ONLY 8 TO 10 EXPECTED TO BE ALIVE TODAY, IT CAME AS A SURPRISE WAYNE SEEMINGLY WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT.

THIS IS OFFICIALLY THE OLDEST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON THE ROAD IN.

Wayne: IS THAT RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT!

Zach: CLUTCH ON THE LEFT... GAS IN THE MIDDLE...

BRAKES ON THE RIGHT.

YEAH, IT TOOK A MINUTE FOR THAT ONE TO SINK IN.

WHAT ALSO TOOK TIME WAS REALIZING WAYNE WAS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE MILLENNIALS NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET, BECAUSE THE RESPECT FOR THE AUTOMOBILE IS SLOWLY DYING.

HE'S GOT A MESSAGE FOR US CAR GUYS... Wayne: IF YOU SEE A YOUNG PERSON WALKING PAST YOUR CAR, ASK THEM IF THEY WANT TO SIT IN IT, BECAUSE THE MINUTE THEY SIT IN IT, AND THEY SIT BEHIND THE WHEEL AND SEE ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL GAUGES, AND THAT GREAT STEERING WHEEL, AND THEN YOU'RE ABLE TO START IT UP AND THEY HEAR THE SOUND... YOU'RE SETTING THE HOOK FOR LIFE.

Zach: RIDE OF YOUR LIFE HAS NEW MEANING.

[LAUGHTER] Wayne: THANKS, MAN!

Zach: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!

"IT'S JUST A CAR," HE TOLD ME.

YET, PASSING ON THE JOY OF MACHINE IS A TIMELESS ACT WAYNE COULDN'T STAND TO SEE VANISH.

SO, REMEMBER KIDS, EVERY NEW CAR HAS A WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF IT.

LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU JUST MIGHT FIND THE ONE YOU'LL NEVER FORGET.

John: LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, PAT GOSS IS BACK WITH MORE HELPFUL HINTS.

SO LET'S SWING BY GOSS' GARAGE!

Pat Goss: FOLKS, I'M CONSTANTLY AMAZED AT HOW MANY OF YOU FAIL TO TAKE CARE OF THE VERY BASIC THINGS THAT KEEP YOUR CAR GOING AND WORKING THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FIND IN THE REPAIR SHOP ALL THE TIME IS WE GET CARS IN THAT HAVE EITHER HEATING OR AIR-CONDITIONING PROBLEMS.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE CHECK IS RIGHT HERE.

THIS AIR INTAKE AT THE BACK OF THE HOOD.

LOTS OF TIMES WE FIND THAT IT'S JUST PACKED WITH LEAVES AND DEBRIS, TWIGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WELL, THE NEXT THING THAT WE CHECK IS WE LOOK AT THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ITSELF.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF BLOCKAGE IN THERE?

LIKE HERE WE HAVE A RODENT'S NEST.

NOW, IF YOU FIND SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN YOUR CAR, YOU MAY HAVE ODORS INSIDE YOUR CAR WHEN THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AND YOU'RE BREATHING THE RESULTS OF THE RODENTS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE TO HANDLE THIS, WHERE A MASK, AND WEAR PROTECTIVE GLOVES.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH ALL OF THIS, IS WE'RE TRYING TO GET AIR FLOW FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR INTO THE CABIN TO KEEP US COMFORTABLE.

THAT AIR HAS TO MOVE THROUGH ONE OF TWO THINGS.

HERE WE HAVE THE HEATER CORE.

THIS IS WHAT HEATS THE AIR COMING INTO THE CABIN.

AND IF WE LOOK AT THIS, SEE THAT THERE ARE VERY TINY OPENINGS.

SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO BLOCK THIS UP.

NOW, OVER HERE, KIND OF BURIED DOWN IN THERE, IS THE AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR.

AND IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE HEATER CORE.

NOW, ONE OF THE MORE COMMON PROBLEMS THAT WE FIND WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS IS IT WORKS REALLY, REALLY WELL FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN IT SHUTS OFF.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, IT COMES BACK ON.

WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, THAT YOU HAVE RESTRICTED AIR FLOW AND THE EVAPORATOR IS FREEZING.

AND WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN, IT MELTS.

ONCE IT'S MELTED, THE AIR CONDITIONING COMES BACK ON.

SO, RATHER THAN BEING A GREAT, BIG, EXPENSIVE PROBLEM, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING VERY, VERY MINIMAL.

IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS: THIS IS A CABIN AIR FILTER.

AND THIS ONE IS OUT OF THIS 2014 TOYOTA.

SO JUST BECAUSE YOUR CAR IS NEW DOESN'T MEAN YOUR FILTER ISN'T DIRTY.

SO MAKE IT A POINT TO CHECK THE CABIN AIR FILTER IN YOUR CAR.

SOME ARE EASY, DO-IT-YOURSELF; OTHERS, NOT SO MUCH.

LOOK IN YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL.

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

WE NEVER SLOW DOWN HERE AT MOTORWEEK , AND WE'VE GOT MORE QUICK SPINS TO PROVE IT!

ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF "EVERYDAY" TO "OUT OF THIS WORLD," OUR MOST RECENT QUICK SPIN RANKS AS ONE OF THE MOST INSANE FIRST DRIVES WE'VE BEEN ON.

SO PACK AN EXTRA SET OF TIRES, AND MAYBE PANTS, AS WE CHECK OUT THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT HELLCAT!

WHILE NOT THE MOST EXTREME NAME, THE HELLCAT IS INDEED AN EXTREME PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING.

A 6.2 LITER SUPERCHARGED HEMI V8, SCREAMING OUT A RIDICULOUS 707 HORSEPOWER AND 650 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE SITS UNDERHOOD.

THE EXHAUST NOTE IS DEAFENING, BUT HIGHLY ADDICTING.

TRANSMISSIONS CHOICES ARE 6-SPEED MANUAL, OR BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH PADDLES.

OVER A CHALLENGER SRT, WHICH IS ALREADY EXTREME, THE HELLCAT DONS THICKER FRONT AND REAR STABILIZER BARS, DIFFERENT MANUAL TRANS GEARING, AND HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST STEERING, JUST FOR STARTERS.

20-INCH WHEELS HOUSE 15.4-INCH BRAKE ROTORS AND SIX PISTON CALIPERS UP FRONT.

THE REAR 20s HOUSE SLIGHTLY SMALL ROTORS AND FOUR PISTON CALIPERS.

YOU'LL NEED ALL THE STOPPING POWER YOU CAN GET IF YOU INTEND TO TEASE THE HELLCAT'S LIMITS.

Greg Carloss: IN ALL HONESTY, THIS THING IS RIDICULOUS.

TAKE IT TO THE DRAG STRIP, IT RIPS IT UP.

IT'S A 10-SECOND CAR WITH THE RIGHT TIRES ON IT.

YOU DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THOUGH.

THIS THING WILL STEP OUT ON YOU SO EASY.

THERE'S SO MUCH THROTTLE RESPONSE, AND THERE'S SO MUCH POWER THAT IT'S REALLY READY TO SMOKE UP THE TIRES.

BUT IF YOU'RE INTO SMOKING UP TIRES, THEN THIS IS PROBABLY THE CAR FOR YOU.

John: INSIDE, THE HELLCAT IS A LITTLE MORE DOMESTICATED; A LARGE UCONNECT SCREEN, DIGITAL READOUTS, AND COMFORTABLE SEATS TAME THE EDGE.

BUT SCROLL THROUGH THE VARIOUS DRIVE MODE SETTINGS AND OUTPUT DISPLAYS, AND YOU'LL BE REMINDED OF JUST HOW SERIOUS THIS HELLCAT REALLY IS.

LUCKILY, IT DOESN'T COME AT TOO HIGH A COST: $61,000.

NOW, THAT'S NOT A SMALL NUMBER, BUT NEITHER IS THE AMOUNT OF PERFORMANCE THIS PET BRINGS HOME.

OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW.

AND SO IT GOES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD.

AND ONE OF THE LATEST TO DO SO IS ACURA, WITH THE 2015 TLX.

PARTIALLY AN EXERCISE IN CONSOLIDATION, THE TLX ENTERS THE ACURA LINEUP AS BOTH THE TL AND TSX DEPART.

WHEELBASE MEASURES THE SAME AS THE TL -- JUST OVER 109 INCHES -- THOUGH THE CHASSIS IS DIFFERENT WITH FOUR-WHEEL STEERING ON MOST MODELS.

WHILE THE BODYWORK IS STILL CONSERVATIVE, THERE ARE CUES THAT LEND AGGRESSION: SHORT FRONT AND REAR OVERHANGS, SWEEPING PROFILE WITH A TEARDROP LIKE GREENHOUSE, AND OPTIONAL LARGER WHEELS.

ACURA'S JEWELED LED HEADLIGHTS MAKE AN APPEARANCE HERE, AS WELL.

BUT TO US, IT IS THE INTERIOR THAT REALLY SHINES.

THE TLX RIVALS SOME OF THE BEST FOR COMFORT, WITH GREAT SEATS AND MATERIALS.

TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS AN ACURA FOCUS AND THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF IT INSIDE.

THE DUAL SCREEN CENTER STACK IS AN EVOLUTION OF THE HONDA TRADEMARK SETUP.

AGAIN TRUE TO ACURA FORM, THE OVERALL LOOK IS CERTAINLY PREMIUM, BUT NOT OVER THE TOP.

POWER IS BY WAY OF A 206 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER INLINE 4 WITH AN IN-HOUSE DESIGNED 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC, OR A 290 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6 WITH A 9-SPEED ZF BOX THAT INCLUDES PUSH BUTTON GEAR SELECTION.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD, WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AN OPTION FOR THE V6.

NEITHER ENGI FELT PARTICULARLY SPORTY, BUT THE IDS DRIVE MODE SELECTOR CAN SPICE THINGS UP.

SO WITH PLENTY THAT'S NEW FOR ACURA THIS YEAR, THE TLX IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT AROUND $32,000.

AND WE'LL HEAD OUT ON MORE QUICK SPINS SOON!

THE NEWEST TARGET FOR THE CROSSOVER CRAZE IS SMALL LUXURY UTILITIES.

AUTOMAKERS CAN'T SEEM TO BRING THEM TO THE MARKET FAST ENOUGH TO SATISFY A PUBLIC HUNGRY FOR LUXURY IN A SMALL, YET VERSATILE PACKAGE.

THE MOST RECENT BRAND TO PLUNGE INTO THE MIX IS LINCOLN, WITH THE COMPACT MKC.

SO LET'S SEE IF THIS LATEST LINCOLN CAN HELP THE BRAND "ESCAPE" THEIR CURRENT ALSO-RAN STATUS AND HEAD BACK TO PROMINENCE.

WITH THEIR LAST FEW ALL-NEW VEHICLE LAUNCHES, LINCOLN HAS MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR MODEL BEING THE ONE TO REVERSE A DECLINE IN SALES AND IMAGE.

WELL, INDEED, THINGS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO LOOK UP THIS YEAR ON BOTH COUNTS, AND THEIR LATEST, THIS 2015 MKC, WILL CERTAINLY HELP FURTHER THE CAUSE.

THIS COMPACT PREMIUM UTILITY IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE RIGHT VEHICLE AT THE RIGHT TIME; AS SMALL LUXURY UTES ARE SPRINGING UP EVERYWHERE, AND PEOPLE ARE JUST AS EAGERLY SNATCHING THEM UP.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL TO DISCOVER THAT BEING INCREDIBLY QUIET AND ULTRA-COMFORTABLE WERE CLEAR PRIORITIES IN THIS DESIGN.

LONG DISTANCE CRUISING IS WHERE THE MKC'S RIDE REALLY SHINES.

LINCOLN DRIVE CONTROL INCLUDES CONTINUOUSLY CONTROLLED DAMPING AND THE USUAL COMFORT, NORMAL, AND SPORT MODES TO TAILOR YOUR DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY, HANDLING IS ON PAR WITH ITS PRIMARY EUROPEAN RIVALS, YET THE RIDE REMAINS SMOOTH AND CONTROLLED, NO MATTER THE DRIVE MODE SETTING.

IT'S ALL TURBO-4, ALL THE TIME, UNDER THE HOOD OF THE MKC.

YOU CHOOSE WHETHER YOU WANT THE BOOST COMING FROM THE ESCAPE'S 240-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER ECOBOOST OR A NEW 2.3-LITER ECOBOOST THAT OUTPUTS 285-HORSEPOWER AND 305 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WE SPENT ALL OF OUR EARLY DRIVE TIME AROUND SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA IN A 2.3 AND FOUND IT TO BE SUPER TORQUE-Y FEELING AND SPIRITED AROUND TOWN.

BUT ONCE THE ROADS GOT MORE INTERESTING, IT, AND THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, DIDN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE, AS THERE WAS OCCASIONAL HUNTING FOR GEARS AND POWER.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD WITH THE 2.3, AND AVAILABLE ON THE 2.0.

TORQUE VECTORING CONTROL IS STANDARD ON ALL.

LINCOLN DIDN'T RELEASE A 0 TO 60 TIME, BUT THE 2.3 SHOULD JUST BEST THE ESCAPE 2.0'S 7.0-SECONDS.

TOWING CAPACITY IS ACTUALLY GREATER WITH THE 2.0-LITER, BUT AT 3,000-POUNDS, IT'S STILL RATED 500-POUNDS LESS THAN IN THE ESCAPE.

LIKE THE MKZ SEDAN, THE TRANS IS CONTROLLED BY PUSH BUTTONS ON THE DASH.

IT WORKS FINE, UNLESS YOU'RE IN A HURRY DOING 3-POINT TURNS, AS THERE IS SOME LAG TIME BETWEEN DRIVE AND REVERSE.

IT'S LUX TO THE MAX INSIDE, AS MOST MATERIALS ARE BOTH GOOD TO LOOK AT AND TOUCH.

WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE CENTER STACK, WHERE FUNCTION APPEARS TO OVERCOME FORM.

BUT KUDOS TO LINCOLN FOR ACTUALLY ADDING BUTTONS AND KNOBS TO THE SYNC WITH MYLINCOLN TOUCH INTERFACE.

FRONT SEATS ARE LARGE AND COMFORTABLE AND JUST ABOUT EVERY CURRENT TECH FEATURE YOU CAN THINK OF IS AVAILABLE.

REAR SEATS ARE EQUALLY COMFORTABLE AND THE SPACE IS PRETTY ROOMY FOR A COMPACT.

AS FOR STORAGE, CARGO VOLUME IS ALSO LESS THAN THE ESCAPE AT 25.2 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, EXPANDING TO 53.1 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE STANDARD 60/40 SPLIT-FOLDING SEAT BACKS LOWERED.

WOW FACTOR FEATURES INCLUDE AN EPIC PANORAMA VISTA ROOF, AND APPROACH DETECTION WITH COOL BUT GIMMICKY WELCOME MAT LIGHTING.

THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE HIGHLY SCULPTED EXTERIOR.

IT LOOKS COOL AND VERY ATHLETIC, YET ALSO A LITTLE ATTENTION-SEEKING.

THE MKC OBVIOUSLY SHARES THE FORD ESCAPE'S CHASSIS, BUT BODY PANELS ARE MORE SMOOTH AND CLASSY THAN EDGY.

UPPER BODYLINES ARE REMINISCENT OF THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

OUT BACK, THE FULL WIDTH TAIL LIGHTS AND UNIQUE WRAPAROUND LIFTGATE GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF A ROAD-GOING, ART DECO TOASTER.

THE RETRO SPLIT WINGED GRILLE IS BACK, AND HERE LESS OBJECTIONABLE, THOUGH NONE OF OUR CREW APPRECIATED THE TIRED '90s GRAY CLADDING THAT ENCIRCLES THE MKC.

TAKING SELF-PARKING TO THE NEXT LEVEL IS PARK OUT ASSIST, WHICH HELPS GUIDE THE DRIVER OUT OF TIGHT PARALLEL PARKING SITUATIONS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 2.3 ARE 18-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED WITH REGULAR GAS.

MAKING THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE VERY MUCH AVERAGE FOR ALL VEHICLES AT 15.7-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.0-TONS.

BASE PRICING OF $33,995 IS PROBABLY THE BEST NEWS YET, AS THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN MOST RIVALS.

BUT STEPPING UP TO THE 2.3-LITER REQUIRES A MORE CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT.

TECHNICALLY, IT'S ONLY ABOUT $1,100 MORE, BUT AS FOR NOW, LINCOLN REQUIRES YOU TO ALSO STEP UP TO SELECT TRIM, WHICH BRINGS YOUR TOTAL TO $40,860.

AND THAT'S WHERE THINGS GET MUDDLED FOR THE ENTIRE SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

WHEN YOU HIT THAT $40K MARK, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW LARGER OPTIONS OUT THERE.

STILL, AMONG ITS SMALLISH PEERS, THE 2015 LINCOLN MKC STACKS UP WELL AS IT IS A VERY NIMBLE, WELL-CRAFTED PIECE.

AND IT WILL CERTAINLY DO ITS PART ON PUTTING THE LINCOLN BRAND BACK ON TRACK.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE RIP IT UP IN ONE CRAZY CAMARO, THE Z28!

THEN TEST THE NEW SMALL LUX-UTE FROM LEXUS, THE NX.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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.

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