2015 Dodge Challenger & 2014 BMW X3d

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

JOIN US AND SEE IF OLD SCHOOL APPEAL AND NEW SCHOOL TECH WORKS FOR THE DODGE CHALLENGER!

PAT GOSS HELPS US FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GET THE JOB DONE.

BRIAN ROBINSON GETS BACK TO BASICS WITH THE KAWASAKI KLX 250S.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT A TURBO- DIESEL DOES FOR THE BMW X3.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

John Davis: THE DODGE CHALLENGER MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF AN ALSO RAN IN THE MUSTANG/CAMARO BATTLE.

BUT SPEND ANY TIME IN THIS BIG, COMFY BRUISER AND IT QUICKLY GROWS ON YOU.

PLUS, IN A COUPE SEGMENT THAT THRIVES ON NOSTALGIA, IT MAY BE THE MOST BACKWARD-LOOKING OF THEM ALL.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS EYE ON WHERE THE PONY CARS ARE HEADED, AND CHALLENGER INTENDS ON GETTING THERE FIRST.

AMERICAN PERFORMANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MOST ABOUT "MUSCLE"!

SO TO BECOME EVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGER IN THE PONY CAR ARENA, THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER GETS AN UPGRADED ARSENAL THAT INCLUDES TWEAKED STYLING, INTERIOR REFINEMENT, AND BEST OF ALL, TRUE "MUSCLE CAR" POWER!

THREE ENGINES ARE OFFERED: A 3.6-LITER V6 FOR SECRETARY-TYPES, A 5.7-LITER HEMI V8 FOR MID-LEVEL MANAGEMENT, AND A 6.4-LITER HEMI V8 FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO BE THE BOSS.

IT'S THE BIG HEMI THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS CHALLENGER SRT 392 AND IT KEEPS THE CAM IN BLOCK WHERE IT BELONGS, HELPING THE ENGINE FEED OUT 485-HORSEPOWER AND 475 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH NUMBERS UP SLIGHTLY OVER LAST YEAR.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STILL STANDARD, BUT BUYERS CAN OPT FOR THE SEGMENT'S ONLY 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC; A TORQUEFLIGHT ZF UNIT WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS AND STREET, SPORT, AND TRACK MODES.

NOW, EVEN BOSSES HAVE BIGGER BOSSES, AND IN THE CHALLENGER'S CASE, THAT'S THE NEW 707-HORSEPOWER CHALLENGER SRT WITH HEMI HELLCAT.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS ONE AT A LATER DATE, SO STAY TUNED.

FOR NOW, LET'S LOOK AT THE ONE AREA THAT THE CHALLENGER CLEARLY HAS AN ADVANTAGE OVER BOTH MUSTANG AND CAMARO... AND THAT IS INSIDE THE CABIN, WHERE THERE'S AN IRRATIONAL AMOUNT OF COMFORT AND SPACE, EVEN FOR THOSE WELL OVER 6-FOOT.

THE DASH LAYOUT IS GREAT, TICKING ALL THE RIGHT BOXES OF BEING NOSTALGIC, HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL, AND NICE LOOKING.

BEING AN SRT MODEL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SPECIALTY ITEMS ADDED INTO THE MIX.

INCLUDED: NEWLY IMPROVED SPORT SEATS, RE-DESIGNED STEERING WHEEL, AND OUR FAVORITE...

PERFORMANCE PAGES ON THE 8.4-INCH UCONNECT SCREEN.

LIKE THE REST OF THE CAR, THE GAUGES LOOK BOTH RETRO AND HIGH-TECH; WITH BIG DIALS AND PROGRAMMABLE INFO SCREEN.

OPT FOR THE PREMIUM AUDIO GROUP AND YOU'LL GET A FULL ON AURAL ASSAULT FROM THE 900-WATT HARMON KARDON 19-SPEAKER SYSTEM, INCLUDING DUAL SUBS IN THE TRUNK.

THERE'S STILL NOT A LOT OF ROOM IN THE BACK SEATS, BUT THERE'S JUST ENOUGH COMFORT IN THEM TO IMPLY THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST AFTERTHOUGHTS.

ALL OF THAT INTERIOR COMFORT ALSO TRANSFERS OVER TO THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WHERE THE RIDE IS "PARADE FLOAT" SOFT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER ENGAGING THE SPORT DRIVE MODE AS PART OF THE STARTUP PROCEDURE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A STIFF PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED RIDE.

GO ONE STEP FURTHER FOR TRACK MODE AND THINGS GET SERIOUS.

GRIP THROUGH CORNERS BECOMES VELCRO-LIKE AND THINGS STAY FIRM AND FLAT AS A BRICK THROUGHOUT THE SLALOM.

NOT TOO MANY VEHICLES HAVE SUCH AN OBVIOUS DISCREPANCY BETWEEN DRIVING MODES, BUT CHALLENGER SRT HAS THE ABILITY TO TRULY DRIVE LIKE THREE DIFFERENT CARS.

NO MATTER WHICH MODE YOU'VE GOT DIALED IN, PUTTING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WILL RESULT IN SOME IMMEDIATE WHEEL SPINNING AS YOU TRY TO GET OFF THE LINE.

PROGRAMMABLE LAUNCH CONTROL IS AVAILABLE TO HELP, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ELECTRONICS CAN DO.

EVENTUALLY, AFTER FINDING SOME TRACTION, WE WERE ABLE TO HIT 60 IN 4.7-SECONDS.

OUR AUTOMATIC SHIFTS WERE NOT NEARLY AS HARSH AS WE WERE EXPECTING, YET THEY ARE INCREDIBLY QUICK, AS WE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.8-SECONDS AT 106 MILES-PER-HOUR, ALL THE WHILE ACCOMPANIED BY A MACHO '70s SOUNDTRACK THAT WOULD MAKE MR. T PROUD.

THANKS TO THE BIGGEST BRAKES EVER STANDARD ON A DODGE, STOPS FROM 60 TOOK PLACE IN A SHORT 109-FEET.

STYLING UPDATES FOR '15 ARE MOSTLY CONSTRAINED TO NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS.

BUT DESPITE A DESIGN THAT DRAWS HEAVILY ON NOSTALGIA, THE RESULT STILL LOOKS FAIRLY FRESH AND MENACING.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THE "MADE-TO-FADE" PLASTIC EXTERIOR TRIM WAS A NO-GO FOR SOME OF OUR STAFF, FEARING THAT THE HOOD SCOOP, LIP SPOILER, LIGHT SURROUNDS, BUMPERS, AND WINDOW MOLDINGS WOULD ALL EVENTUALLY TURN TO JEEP WRANGLER FENDER GRAY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED, AND OUR AVERAGE OF 18.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM IS CERTAINLY NOT GREAT, BUT ACCEPTABLE FOR A MUSCLE CAR.

BUT THAT DOES RESULT IN A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 18.3 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 8.0 TONS.

THIS MUCHO MACHO SRT 392 STARTS AT $45,990, BUT YOU CAN GET INTO A V6 CHALLENGER FOR AS LITTLE AS $27,990.

SO AS THE PONY CAR WARS RAGE ON WITH EVER BUILDING INTENSITY, IT'S CERTAINLY TOO EARLY TO DECLARE A WINNER.

BUT IF THERE'S ONE COMBATANT THAT MAKES A GOOD CASE THAT MODERN MUSCLE AND FAMILY COMFORT CAN COEXIST IN A SINGLE BAD-TO-THE-BONE COUPE, IT'S THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT 392.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK FOLLOWS A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY WITH A STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS.

IN 2008, AUSTIN, TEXAS-BASED R & R LIMOUSINE AND BUS FIRST BEGAN USING BIODIESEL IN ITS FLEET.

THEN LAST YEAR THEY PURCHASED 12 COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SHUTTLE BUSES ORIGINALLY USED TO FERRY ATTENDEES TO BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

LONE STAR CLEAN FUELS ALLIANCE STAKEHOLDERS WORKED WITH R & R TO HELP THEM FIND THE NEARLY NEW CNG CONVENTION DEMO BUSES THAT WERE SITTING IDLE.

THE COMPANY SAYS THE CLEANER-BURNING FUEL WILL YIELD A SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM COST SAVINGS.

Paul Arcediano: IT'S NOT ONLY CLEANER, BUT ALSO A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE.

IT'S OVER A DOLLAR GALLON CHEAPER THAN DIESEL.

OUR COMPANY IS GOING TO USE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN FUEL THIS YEAR, SO THAT AMOUNTS TO HUGE SAVINGS FOR US.

John: R & R IS ALSO ADDING CNG POWERED SUVs TO THEIR FLEET, WITH STATE REBATES PARTIALLY OFFSETTING CONVERSION COSTS.

AND THEY HOPE TO CONTINUE TO "GREEN UP" THEIR FLEET FOR EVERYONE TRAVELING IN AND OUT OF THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.

IN THIS WORLD OF RAPIDLY PROGRESSING TECHNOLOGY AND MUST-HAVE DO-DADS, IT'S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE NEED TO ACQUIRE THE LATEST AND GREATEST -- WHETHER IT'S FOR YOUR PHONE, IN YOUR CAR, OR ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE.

BUT THEN SOMETHING COMES ALONG TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED ANY OF THAT STUFF.

SO MAYBE SIMPLER REALLY IS BETTER.

Brian Robinson: AS KIDS, GROWING UP RIDING DIRT BIKES, WE USED TO THINK DUAL SPORTS MUST BE THE COOLEST BIKES IN THE WORLD, NOT ONLY COULD YOU RIDE THE TRAIL ALL DAY, BUT YOU COULD TAKE TO THE STREET, OPENING UP UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES FOR ADVENTURE.

WELL, ONCE WE ACTUALLY GOT OLD ENOUGH TO RIDE ON THE STREET, OUR ATTENTIONS QUICKLY TURNED TO SPORT BIKES AND GOING FAST.

WELL, NOW THAT I'M OLD AND SLOW, AND ADVENTURE BIKES ARE ALL THE RAGE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT AN ORIGINAL ADVENTURE BIKE.

IF LIKE MANY OF US YOU GREW UP RIDING DIRT BIKES, AS SOON AS YOU THROW A LEG OVER THE 2014 KAWASAKI KLX250S, YOU'LL FEEL INSTANTLY AT HOME.

AND IF YOUR ADVENTURES ENTAIL MORE THAN JUST A GRAVEL ROAD, YOU'LL NEED AN ORIGINAL ADVENTURE BIKE, ALSO-KNOWN AS A DUAL-SPORT.

IT'S GOT ALL OF THE NECESSARY HARDWARE TO TAKE YOU WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO, PROVIDED THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO PACK A LOT OF GEAR TO GET THERE.

WHEELS ARE DIRT-BIKE SPEC.

18-INCHES IN REAR, 21 IN FRONT.

TIRES ARE NOT QUITE FULL KNOBBIES, BUT THE BIG BLOCK TREAD DOES ADEQUATE DUTY IN DIRT WITHOUT GIVING THAT SQUIRMY FEEL ON PAVEMENT THAT YOU'D GET WITH FULL ON KNOBBIES.

SUSPENSION ENTAILS 43MM INVERTED CARTRIDGE FORKS UP FRONT, AND UNI-TRAK REAR WITH 9-INCHES OF TRAVEL AND REMOTE RESERVOIR SHOCK WITH COMPRESSION AND REBOUND DAMPING ADJUSTMENTS.

THERE'S A SINGLE DISC BRAKE FOR UP FRONT AND IN BACK, PROVIDING MORE THAN ADEQUATE POWER FOR THIS 300-POUND MACHINE.

THE SEAT IS LONG AND NARROW IN TRUE OFF-ROAD STYLE AND HAS JUST ENOUGH COMFORT TO RUN OUT THE RANGE OF THE TWO GALLON TANK.

A SINGLE PISTON ENGINE PROVIDES THE POWER.

THERE'S 249CC'S OF DISPLACEMENT WITH WATER COOLING AND SOME ODD LOOKING THING BEHIND IT... OH, THAT'S A CARBURETOR WITH A CHOKE KNOB.

YOU YOUNG FOLKS CAN ASK AN UNCLE WHAT THAT IS.

THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT, AS IT WORKS JUST FINE.

THOUGH IN TRUE KAWASAKI FASHION, THIS KLX IS A LITTLE COLD-BLOODED.

AND NOT THAT IT'S ALL STONE AGE, THERE IS A DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH EASY TO READ SPEEDOMETER AND BAR TACHOMETER TUCKED BEHIND THE MINIMAL COWLING.

IT APPEARS TO HAVE SOME INTERNAL SWITCH THAT SETS THE MIRRORS TO VIBRATE AT 7,000 RPM, VIBES THROUGH THE SEAT FOLLOW SHORTLY AT AROUND 8,000.

THE EXHAUST WITH SPARK ARRESTOR IS MOUNTED HIGH ON THE RIGHT SIDE BEHIND A FAUX NUMBER PLATE, AND THE COOLANT TANK TUCKS IN BEHIND ON THE LEFT SIDE.

HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE POSSIBLE ON THIS 250, BUT FOR THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED, BEST TO KEEP IT ON SECONDARY ROADS AND AROUND 60 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE TYPICAL 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION PROVIDES SHIFTS SO SMOOTH SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT SURE IT ACTUALLY WENT INTO GEAR.

THE LOOK IS ALL DIRT-BIKE, WITH A TALL SEAT, MINIMAL STEEL FRAME, AND BIG PLASTIC FRONT FENDER.

AND FOR THE BEST NEWS YET, YOU CAN BE ON THE ROAD OR THE TRAIL FOR JUST OVER FIVE GRAND.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT IN A HURRY, AND YOU WANT TRUE GO ANYWHERE CAPABILITY AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF MOST ADVENTURE BIKES, GO DUAL-SPORT.

BETTER YET, GO GREEN IN THE 2014 KAWASAKI KLX250S.

John: PAT GOSS IS OUR CERTIFIED CAR CARE EXPERT.

NOW HE HAS ADVICE ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT TECHNICIAN FOR YOU!

Pat Goss: IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A BIG MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHAT BEING AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN IS REALLY ABOUT.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE TRISH SERRATORE FROM ASE, NATAF.

TRISH, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Trish: IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS FIRST.

Trish: ASE IS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE, AND IT IS THE CREDENTIALING AGENCY FOR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR TECHNICIANS.

THEY MUST HAVE TWO YEARS OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AS A TECHNICIAN, AND PASS OUR FAIRLY DIFFICULT WRITTEN EXAM.

THEN WE MAKE THEM COME BACK EVERY FIVE YEARS AND RETEST TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW.

Pat: OKAY.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THAT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT IN MY SHOP FOR MY TECHNICIANS.

Trish: YES, ASE IS ACTUALLY A VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF ASE, AND THE TESTAMENT TO THE SKILL OF THE INDIVIDUAL BEING CERTIFIED, MOST EMPLOYERS EITHER REQUIRE IT UPON HIRING, OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER IN THEIR EMPLOY.

Pat: OKAY, NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT IT'S NOTHING BUT DIRT AND GRIME, AND THERE'S NOTHING CHALLENGING ABOUT IT, AND ANYBODY COULD DO IT, AND IT'S PAYLESS, AND ALL THE REST.

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE.

Trish: NOT AT ALL.

WELL, THE DIRT PART'S TRUE.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OIL AND GREASE AND ALL THAT.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY COMPUTERS IN CARS TODAY THAT YOU COULD BE SITTING IN A WHITE LAB COAT AND NOT GET A SINGLE SPECK OF DIRT ON YOU AS YOU'RE DIAGNOSING THOSE VEHICLES.

AND YOU CAN WORK ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY FUN ABOUT IT.

IF YOU LIKE THE SOUTH OR THE NORTH, OR THE SNOW OR THE HEAT, YOU CAN GET A JOB.

IT WON'T BE OUTSOURCED, AND THE PAY IS SIGNIFICANT.

Pat: YEAH, IT CAN BE -- THERE CAN BE A LOT OF BENEFITS.

THE BUSINESSES THAT HIRE TECHNICIANS ARE MOSTLY PROFESSIONALS, SO YOU HAVE THE SAME BENEFITS YOU WOULD OTHER PLACES.

Trish: SURE.

MOST INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS OR DEALERSHIPS WILL OFFER SOME KIND OF BENEFIT PACKAGE TO REPAIR TECHNICIANS.

AND THERE'S LOTS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THOSE BUSINESSES.

YOU CAN BE A TECHNICIAN.

YOU CAN BE A PARTS PERSON.

YOU CAN BE A SERVICE WRITER OR CONSULTANT.

YOU CAN WORK ON THE WEBSITES OF THE BUSINESSES.

YOU CAN OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

THE SPECTRUM IS HUGE OF WHAT YOU CAN DO.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

SO, IN MY WAY OF THINKING, IT'S A GREAT ALTERNATIVE, AT LEAST TO LOOK INTO AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR FIELDS.

Trish: WELL, IF YOU LIKE TO FIX THINGS AND YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, AND YOU DON'T MIND A LITTLE DIRT, BUT YOU REALLY ENJOY THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THEN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY REALLY OFFERS AN AMAZING CATEGORY OF DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.

Pat: TRISH, THANK YOU.

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

John: THE MILES ARE QUICKLY MOUNTING UP ON OUR LONG-TERM ACURA RLX ADVANCE, WITH THE ODOMETER NOW SHOWING 25,000 MILES.

CLEARLY, A LONG-HAUL FAVORITE THIS SUMMER, THE RLX HAS TAKEN US ALL OVER THE EAST COAST, AND EVEN WELL INTO THE MID-WEST.

MOST OF OUR STAFF HAVE GROWN TO LIKE THE DUAL-SCREEN MULTI-USE DISPLAY WITH LOWER TOUCHSCREEN, THOUGH IT WILL TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD A BIT TOO MUCH UNTIL YOU GET USED TO IT.

AS A TWEENER, THE RLX'S NOT QUITE FULL, NOT QUITE MID-SIZE SIZE HAS BEEN GOLDILOCKS.

PARTICULARLY AS THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE CLEARLY SKEWS MORE TO THE MID-WEIGHT END OF THINGS.

FUEL ECONOMY HAS RISEN SLIGHTLY SINCE OUR LAST REPORT TO 25.2 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM FOR THE 3.5-LITER V6 AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC PACKAGE.

AFTER NINE MONTHS OF TROUBLE-FREE DRIVING, WE DID HAVE A SLIGHT HICCUP THIS PAST SUMMER, AS SOME FRONT-END PULSING UNDER BRAKING NECESSITATED HAVING THE FRONT ROTORS TURNED.

IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

THE RLX CERTAINLY LOOKS HIGH-TECH BOTH INSIDE AND OUT, INCLUDING THE STANDARD JEWEL-EYE HEADLIGHTS.

EVEN WITH LOW BEAMS, THERE'S ENOUGH BRIGHTNESS TO LIGHT UP A FOOTBALL FIELD.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS CAUSED SOME ONCOMING MOTORISTS TO FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT US FOR BLINDING THEM.

AND WE'LL SHINE SOME LIGHT ON OUR SUBARU FORESTER ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS OUR MOTOR NEWS UPDATE.

HERE SHE IS WITH THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: SINCE RETURNING TO THE U.S. MARKET BACK IN 1986, LAND ROVER HAS SET THE BAR FOR SHOWCASING THE "LUXURIOUS, GO ANYWHERE" NATURE OF THEIR VEHICLES BY STAGING GRAND ADVENTURES, BOTH FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THE MEDIA.

BACK IN 1989, MOTORWEEK TOOK PART IN THEIR AMBITIOUS GREAT DIVIDE EXPEDITION - AS WE TRAVELED BORDER TO BORDER THROUGH COLORADO, ENTIRELY OFF-ROAD.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, WE RELIVED THAT ICONIC JOURNEY WITH LAND ROVER, AND ONCE AGAIN TRAVERSED THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO IN THEIR LATEST RANGE ROVER MODEL, ALONG WITH A 1990 SURVIVOR FROM THE ORIGINAL TREK.

SADLY, MANY OF THE ORIGINAL TRAILS HAVE SINCE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO EROSION AND RECREATIONAL MISUSE.

EXPERIENCING THIS PRISTINE WILDERNESS AGAIN NOT ONLY SHOWCASED THE LAND ROVER'S EXCEPTIONAL OFF-ROAD ABILITY, BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO PRESERVE THESE PUBLIC-ACCESS LANDS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY.

THERE TRULY IS NO BETTER WAY TO SEE AMERICA'S BOUNDLESS BEAUTY AND GREAT HISTORIC SITES THAN GETTING OUT THERE AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAYS.

OUR KUDOS TO LAND ROVER FOR NEVER COMPROMISING THEIR VEHICLES' ABILITIES, FOR LEADING THE WAY IN RESPONSIBLE OFF-ROADING, AND BEST OF ALL, FOR REKINDLING SOME GREAT MEMORIES.

MAPS OF MANY PUBLIC-ACCESS OFF-ROADING TRAILS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND YOUR LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

SO GET THAT SUV OFF THE ASPHALT AND GO OUT THERE AND EXPLORE!

BUT REMEMBER TO TRAVEL WITH A BUDDY IN WILDERNESS AREAS, AND PLEASE ALWAYS RESPECT THE LAND.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: IF YOU TEND TO REFER TO AUTOMOBILES AS "MOTOR CARS," AND OFTEN CHECK UNDER THE "BONNET," OR STORE THINGS IN THE "BOOT," YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY A FAN OF BRITISH CARS.

WELL, HERE'S A MUST-READ FOR YOU, Austin-Healey: THE BULLDOG BREED BY JON PRESSNELL.

IT'S A FULL HISTORY OF THE FAMED BRITISH MARQUE; WITH DETAILS ON EVERY MODEL PRODUCED, AND EVEN SOME BEHIND THE SCENES STORIES ABOUT SOME THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT TO THE SALES FLOOR.

THERE ARE LOTS OF HISTORICAL PHOTOS TO GO ALONG WITH THOSE STORIES, AND EVEN SOME ADVICE ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR SIGHTS ON PURCHASING ONE OF THESE BRITISH BEAUTIES.

A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE TESTED THE LATEST DIESEL-POWERED BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN.

AND WHILE WE FELT THE NEW TURBO-DIESEL 4 HAD A LOT TO OFFER THE RIGHT BUYER, WE ALSO SAID BMW'S FABLED FOUR-DOOR WOULD NOT BE OUR CHOICE FOR IT.

WELL, THAT ENGINE HAS NOW FOUND ITS WAY INTO A MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE PLATFORM, THE X3 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE SHOE FITS NOW.

THE 2015 BMW X3 XDRIVE28D WILL NOT TEACH DIEHARD DIESEL FANS ANYTHING NEW.

BUT ITS SUBSTANTIAL LOW END POWER, COMBINED WITH NOTABLE FUEL ECONOMY GAINS, WILL BE A REVELATION FOR FIRST TIME U.S. DIESEL BUYERS.

EVEN THOUGH MORE DIESEL UTES AND TRUCKS ARE COMING FROM ASIAN, AND EVEN AMERICAN BRANDS, IT'S STILL EUROPEAN MARQUES THAT HAVE THE MOST OPTIONS RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S DUE TO THE HUGE POPULARITY DIESELS HAVE LONG ENJOYED IN THEIR HOME MARKETS.

THE X3D'S OBVIOUS UTILITY RIVALS ARE THE AUDI Q5 TDI AND THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLK250 BLUETEC.

AND HAVING SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME IN ALL OF THEM, THE X3 28D SEEMS SOMEWHAT OLD SCHOOL IN ITS DELIVERY.

THERE'S MORE OF THE TRADITIONAL, CLATTERY DIESEL NOISE, AND DESPITE A TURBOCHARGER, IT SEEMS A BIT LAGGY-ER IN POWER DELIVERY.

STILL A FINE ENGINE, AND A WAY DIFFERENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAN A GASOLINE POWERED X3, BUT JUST NOT QUITE UP TO AUDI AND MERCEDES' HIGHER LEVEL OF REFINEMENT.

ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT RATINGS ARE 27-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 30-COMBINED.

THAT'S 25% BETTER OVERALL THAN THE TURBO-GAS I4 X3 XDRIVE28I.

WE FELT OUR AVERAGE OF 33.0 TO BE STELLAR FOR ANY UTILITY.

STILL, IT ONLY RESULTS IN AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 12.7 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED ON A YEARLY BASIS WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.6 TONS.

THIS 4-CYLINDER TWINPOWER TURBO DIESEL ENGINE IS MODEST IN SIZE WITH ONLY 2.0-LITERS OF DISPLACEMENT.

PER USUAL WITH DIESELS, TORQUE RATING OUTWEIGHS HORSEPOWER NUMBER; HERE BY A HEFTY MARGIN WITH 280 POUND-FEET AND JUST 180 H.P.

DESPITE SLOW-ISH STARTS, AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION KEEPS THE REVS LOW AND THE POWER COMING.

HITTING ECO PRO ON THE DRIVER EXPERIENCE CONTROL SWITCH, DOES JUST LIKE IT SOUNDS, AND IS CLEARLY DESIGNED FOR THOSE MORE INTERESTED IN HYPERMILING THAN HYPERSMILING.

THE ACCELERATOR GETS ULTRA-STIFF, REQUIRING YOU TO REALLY PUT YOUR FOOT INTO IT TO AFFECT ACCELERATION.

HELPING IN THAT MISSION IS A FULL RANGE OF BMW EFFICIENT DYNAMICS HARDWARE THAT INCLUDES AUTOMATIC STOP/START, REGEN BRAKING ENERGY RECOVERY, AND A COASTING FUNCTION FOR THE TRANSMISSION AMONG OTHER THINGS.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE SLOW AND STEADY ROUTINE ALSO PROVED TO BE INCREDIBLY SMOOTH SAILING.

IT TOOK US 7.7 SECONDS TO HIT 60, AND 16.0 SECONDS TO FINISH THE QUARTER MILE AT 84 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THERE'S A REASON BMW CONSIDERS THE X3 A SAV AND NOT AN SUV AS IT OFFERS HANDLING PERFORMANCE THAT FEW UTES CAN HANG WITH, THOUGH WE ALREADY KNOW THE PORSCHE MACAN OFFERS A FRESH BENCHMARK IN THAT AREA.

BETWEEN THE WILLING CHASSIS AND THE MORE THAN AMPLE DIESEL TORQUE, IT MAKES FOR GREAT FUN WHETHER DARTING AROUND TOWN OR THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

BMW'S INTELLIGENT XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM IS NICELY REAR BIASED.

BRAKES WERE EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE WITH A FIRM PEDAL AND LIGHT-CYCLE STRAIGHT STOPS FROM 60 OF ONLY 113-FEET.

THE REST OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS TYPICAL BMW X3, WHICH IS TO SAY FINE, STRAIGHT FORWARD, AND NORMAL FOR A BMW.

THE TRANSMISSION IS ULTRA-SMOOTH IN OPERATION, THOUGH THERE'S NO MISTAKING WHEN THE AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM KICKS IN.

THERE'S A GOOD QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR, AND A COMPLIANT, GENERALLY RELAXED HIGHWAY RIDE.

THE iDRIVE CONTROL INTERFACE IS STANDARD, AND WHILE IT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE, IF YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT YET, THERE'S STILL A LEARNING CURVE TO OVERCOME.

THOUGH WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE WERE STARING AT THE SCREEN SO MUCH BECAUSE OF THAT OR BECAUSE OF THE GREAT RESOLUTION.

THERE ARE SOME SYSTEM WIDE UPDATES FOR THE 2015 X3, INCLUDING FRESHENED FRONT-END STYLING WITH NEW HEADLIGHTS; BUT IT'S NOT QUITE ENOUGH TO FULLY SET IT FREE FROM AN OVERALL SLIGHTLY DUMPY LOOK.

BASE PRICE OF THE X3 XDRIVE28D IS $42,850.

THAT'S A FAIR PRICE THAT'S LESS THAN TWO GRAND MORE THAN THE 4-CYLINDER GAS XDRIVE28I, AND WAY LESS THAN THE 6-CYLINDER XDRIVE35I.

STILL, ADD IN A FEW PRICEY BMW OPTIONS AND YOU'LL BE FLIRTING WITH $50 GRAND IN NO TIME.

BMW CONTINUES TO OFFER THEIR OWN UNIQUE, AND VERY POPULAR TAKE ON THE PREMIUM SPORT UTILITY MARKET.

AND WHILE DIESEL-UTES ARE STILL NOT FOR EVERYONE, WE'LL ALWAYS LIKE THEM MUCH MORE IN SUVs AND TRUCKS THAN IN SPORT SEDANS.

SO WE THINK THE 2015 BMW XDRIVE28D IS A "D"-LIGHTFULLY FRUGAL FAMILY TRUCKSTER.

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 WHEN WE'LL SEE IF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE CAN COEXIST IN THE JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE.

THEN WE'LL HIT SOME URBAN TRAILS IN THE SUBARU OUTBACK.

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...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.