2016 Ford Shelby GT 350R/GT 350 & 2016 Lexus RX

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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE SHELBY LEGACY IS STILL GOING STRONG IN THE 2016 GT350s... PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO GO THE EXTRA MILE... ROGER MECCA SCORES SOME SEAT TIME IN A VINTAGE SHELBY GT350, TO SEE HOW THE LEGEND BEGAN... AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF A NEW LEXUS RX IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ANNOUNCER: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF 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.

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

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 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.

John: WHILE CARROLL SHELBY MAY NO LONGER BE WITH US, HIS HIGH PERFORMANCE LEGACY WILL SURELY OUTLIVE US ALL.

HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD, CARS THAT BEAR HIS NAME WILL SERVE THAT LEGACY WELL.

AND THAT LEADS US TO THE REBIRTH OF A CORE OF HIS LEGEND, THE FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT350.

SO LET'S FIND OUT IF IT DESERVES TO BE CALLED "SHELBY."

THERE HAVE BEEN LOADS OF LEGENDARY MUSTANGS OVER THE ORIGINAL PONY CAR'S FIVE DECADES...

BUT NONE MORE SO THAN THOSE BUILT STRICTLY FOR DICING UP A RACE TRACK, LIKE THE SHELBY GT350s.

SO, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THE 2016 FORD SHELBY GT350 AND 350R MUSTANGS HAVE MIGHTY BIG WHEEL WELLS TO FILL.

WELL, AFTER OUR OWN TRACK TIME, WE CAN SAY THAT THE 19-INCH WHEELS OF BOTH OF THESE PUMPED UP PONIES SPORT THE RUBBER TO DO IT, AMPLY AIDED BY SOME SERIOUS BEEF UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL.

526 HORSEPOWER OF U.S.D.A.

PRIME IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

NATURALLY ASPIRATED, AMERICAN MADE, OVERHEAD CAM, V8 TORQUE APLENTY, AT 429 POUND-FEET.

WITH A FLAT-PLANE CRANKSHAFT IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE EVER FROM FORD, BREATHING LEFTOVERS OUT OF A QUARTET OF EXHAUST TIPS.

BUT THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE SHELBY MAGIC.

FRONT TO REAR, ALMOST EVERYTHING HAS BEEN UPGRADED, FROM SUSPENSION, TO AERODYNAMICS, TO COOLING, TO STYLE, AND EVEN IMPROVING THE INTERIOR TO MAKE THESE TRULY EXCEPTIONAL MUSTANGS.

YOU CERTAINLY KNOW YOU'RE SITTING IN SOMETHING SPECIAL.

NESTLE INTO THE RECAROS, GRAB THE FLAT BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL, AND CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE GAUGES.

AND IN CASE YOU FORGET, A DASH PLAQUE IN 350Rs REMINDS YOU.

IT ALL LOOKS BAD ENOUGH INTO STRIKE FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF LESSER MUSCLE CARS EVERYWHERE.

EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD IS NEW, WITH AN ALUMINUM HOOD, FURTHER FLARED FENDERS, AND OF COURSE A LOWER STANCE.

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, R MODELS GO NEXT LEVEL WITH EVEN MORE AERO AND SUSPENSION TWEAKS AS WELL AS THE REMOVAL OF 120 POUNDS OF UNNECESSARY WEIGHT.

MUCH OF THAT DUE TO THE ADDITION OF CARBON FIBER WHEELS.

BUT ONTO OUR TRACK DRIVE.

IT HAS TO BE EXTRAORDINARY AS WELL.

AND ON COURSE AROUND MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA, IT INDEED IS ALL ITS CRANKED UP TO BE.

GETTING TUNED IN TO THE GT350 CAUTIOUSLY, WE FOUND NO UNDERSTEER TO SPEAK OF AND ONLY MINOR PEEPS OF OVERCOMING FROM THE REAR.

BRAKES WERE EVERLASTING.

ALREADY THE STIFFEST MUSTANG CHASSIS EVER, FURTHER BRACING HAS BEEN ADDED, AND ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CONNECTED TO IT RECALIBRATED.

IN ADDITION, MAGNERIDE DAMPERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

ONCE UP TO SPEED, IT WAS TIME FOR HOPPING INTO THE GT350R TO FIND ITS LIMITS, OR PERHAPS JUST OURS.

THE SAME IMMUNITY TO UNDERSTEER IS PRESENT, BUT HERE THE REARS ARE A LITTLE MORE WILLING TO STEP OUT AND AID YOU IN TURNING, WITH VERY PROGRESSIVE AND USEFUL LEVELS OF OVERSTEER.

IF YOU THOUGHT THE BOSS 302 WAS DIALED IN, THIS 'STANG IS ON SPEED DIAL.

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A PURPOSE BUILT TRACK-READY CAR, THERE'S A MANUAL TRANS ONLY: A 6-SPEED TREMEC TR-3160.

FORD MAKES NO CLAIMS FOR 0-60 TIMES, AS THEY SEE IT AS MORE OF A TOTAL PERFORMANCE CAR AND NOT ONE BUILT JUST FOR THE DRAGSTRIP.

BUT THE STANDARD LINE LOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHIFT LIGHT INDICATOR SUGGEST AT LEAST THEY HAD THAT IN THE BACK OF THEIR MINDS.

WE ESTIMATE 0 TO 60 IN LESS THAN 4.0 SECONDS.

AND THERE IS A DRAG, DRIVE MODE, ACCOMPANYING TRACK, SPORT, AND WEATHER, WITH FULL CHASSIS DYNAMICS CONTROL.

THE ENGINE NEVER SEEMS TO RUN OUT OF POWER AROUND THE TRACK.

IT REVS TO 8,250 AND SOUNDS BRUTAL AND NASTY.

NOW, IF THERE'S ANY BAD NEWS, IT'S THAT THERE IS A GAS GUZZLER TAX WITH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 14-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.

CONSIDERING THAT HANDLING CAPABILITIES ARE MORE ON PAR WITH HIGH-END GERMAN PERFORMANCE COUPES THAN OTHER PONY CAR PRETENDERS, BASE PRICING OF $49,995 SEEMS DOWNRIGHT REASONABLE.

THE R'S LESS FOR MORE APPROACH WILL COST YOU $63,495.

SO, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THAT THE 2016 FORD SHELBY GT350 AND GT350R MUSTANGS ARE MORE THAN JUST BIG ENGINE MADNESS.

THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE, WITH MAJOR UPGRADES TO ADDRESS ALL AREAS OF TRACK READY PERFORMANCE.

AND YES, THEY ARE INDEED SHELBY'S IN EVERY SENSE OF THE ICON.

READY TO FURTHER A LEGEND BY MAKING HISTORY OF THEIR OWN.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO FENTON, MISSOURI WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT ROCKWOOD SUMMIT ARE LEARNING THE BASICS OF BIODIESEL.

FOLLOWING A STUDENT'S REQUEST, SCIENCE TEACHER DARRIN PETERS STARTED THE PROGRAM 5 1/2 YEARS AGO.

STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO CONVERT WASTE VEGETABLE OIL INTO BIODIESEL, WHILE ALSO BEING TAUGHT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

Darrin Peters: ONCE THEY'VE EXTRACTED THAT MOLECULE, THEN THEY HAVE TO TEST THAT FUEL, OR THAT MOLECULE, TO SEE HOW PURE IT IS... HOW GOOD IT'S GOING TO BURN IN THE CAR...

WHETHER OR NOT WATER IS IN IT...

WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S OTHER IMPURITIES IN IT... AND SO, THAT GIVES THEM A LOT OF THINGS TO DO AS FAR AS RESEARCH IS CONCERNED.

John: STUDENTS USE THEIR CUSTOM MADE BIODIESEL TO FUEL TWO SCHOOL OWNED VEHICLES.

AND LEAVING NOTHING TO WASTE, THEY REPACKAGE THE RESIDUAL GLYCERIN INTO SOAP.

AS A RESULT OF THEIR INNOVATIVE WORK, MONSANTO AWARDED THE SCHOOL A $100,000 GRANT FOR A NEW EDUCATION CENTER.

RECENTLY COMPLETED, IT PROVIDES HANDS ON TRAINING IN RENEWABLE FUELS FOR STUDENTS IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA NOW, AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

WE'VE JUST SEEN HOW FORD HAS BROUGHT THE GT350 NAME ROARING INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, ADDING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF HORSEPOWER, PERFORMANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT ONE OF THE FASTEST MUSTANGS EVER.

BUT TO REALLY COME FULL CIRCLE, WE SENT OUR OWN ROGER MECCA ON A MISSION, TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE CLASSIC 1960s GT350, TO SEE IF THAT ORIGINAL STALLION'S REPUTATION IS WORTH A HALF CENTURY OF ADMIRATION.

Roger Mecca: THE FIRST FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT 350 ROLLED OFF THE SHELBY ASSEMBLY LINE IN LOS ANGLES IN 1965 AND IMMEDIATELY, FANS DECLARED THE GT 350 TO BE THE SUPREME STREET RACER OF THE DAY.

AND IN 2015, THIS ICON STILL CARRIES AS MUCH PRESTIGE AS IT DID 50 YEARS AGO.

FOR A LOT OF CAR LOVERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WHEN I THINK ABOUT A CLASSIC SHELBY MUSTANG, THIS IS WHAT COMES TO MIND, THE 1967 GT350.

AND THE OWNER OF THIS PARTICULAR MUSTANG, CARL MORGAN, WELL FOR HIM IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

Carl Morgan: WHEN I WALKED INTO THE GARAGE AND I TOOK MY FIRST LOOK, ITS LIKE, "OKAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS GUY WANTS FOR THIS CAR, BUT I'M GONNA BUY THIS."

Roger: SINCE HIGH SCHOOL, CARL HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN A GT350.

HE'D LATER PURCHASE SEVERAL CLASSIC AND MODERN SHELBY MUSTANGS, BUT HIS DREAM CAR ELUDED HIM.

THEN ONE EVENING, AFTER A MUSTANG CLUB MEETING, A GUEST SPEAKER, ON HAND TO DISCUSS CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE, PRESENTED CARL WITH A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OFFER.

Carl: EVERYBODY HAD LEFT, HE STAYED AROUND AND WE CHATTED AND HE SAYS "OH BY THE WAY, MY SON HAS A SHELBY FOR SALE" AND I WAS LIKE "OH, OKAY!"

GIVE ME HIS NUMBER.

AND MY SON AND I WENT, AND LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY.

AND I WOULDN'T LEAVE THE GARAGE UNTIL HE SOLD IT TO ME.

Roger: AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS MASTERPIECE, CAN YOU BLAME HIM?

FROM THE HOOD SCOOPS AND SIDE VENTS, THE GRILL MOUNTED FLOOD LIGHTS, THE FAT STRIPES DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND AGGRESSIVE LINES EVERYWHERE, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EYE-CATCHING CARS EVER MADE.

IN A WORLD FILLED WITH JAGS, ASTONS, AND FERRARIS, FEW AMERICAN CARS GRAB YOUR ATTENTION LIKE THE CLASSIC GT 350 DOES.

BUT WHAT MANY OF THOSE PRETTY EUROPEAN RACERS DON'T HAVE IS THE PRESENCE THAT THIS DOES.

IT SIMPLY DEMANDS AND THEN GRABS HOLD OF YOUR ATTENTION.

COOL CANNOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT.

NOW, I THINK WE'VE ESTABLISHED THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CARS IN AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY AND I COULD STARE AT IT ALL DAY, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO STARE.

WE'RE HERE TO DRIVE.

FIRST THING YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU START DRIVING IS IT'S JUST SO BUSY.

I MEAN YOU'VE GOT NOISES COMING FROM THE BACK, FROM THE FRONT, THE ENGINE, THE EXHAUST, IT'S RATTLELY, IT'S SQUEAKS, IT BOUNCEY.

YOU DEFINITELY NOTICE THIS IS A 50 YEAR OLD AUTOMOBILE.

WHICH ALSO MEANS YOU DEALING WITH 50 YEAR OLD PERFORMANCE FIGURES.

IT TAKES 7.0 SECONDS TO REACH 60 MILES AN HOUR AND YOUR TOP SPEED WILL SETTLE IN AT ABOUT 140.

NOW, I KNOW BY TODAY'S STANDARDS THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY FAST, BUT THIS CAR ISN'T ABOUT STRAIGHT LINE SPEED IF YOU'RE BUYING ONE TODAY.

YOU BUYING ONE BECAUSE OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.

THE LOOKS, THE PERSONA, THE HISTORY AND YES, IT'S ABOUT AS FAST AS A MODERN DAY HONDA ACCORD SPORT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE NOT DRIVING A HONDA ACCORD.

YOU DRIVING A SHELBY MUSTANG GT350.

AND ONCE THE RPM'S CLIMB PAST 4000 RPM AND ALL 306 HORSES IN THE 4.7 LITER V8 START GALLOPING, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS MOVING!

AND WHERE MODERN SPORTS CARS SEEM TO DAMPEN THE SENSATION OF SPEED, CLASSICS LIKE THIS TEND TO AMPLIFY IT, MAKING 40 MILES PER HOUR FEEL LIKE 65 AND 65 FEEL, WELL, PRETTY AWESOME.

BUT IT'S AT THOSE SPEEDS WHERE THE NAGGING MUSCLE CAR STEREOTYPE REARS ITS HEAD: THE HANDLING.

STEERING FEEL'S ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD, THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.

IT'S THE SUSPENSION.

FOR A WINDING, TWISTY ROAD TO BE HANDLED WELL IN A SPORTS CAR, YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT'S NICE AND FIRM AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT IN THE GT 350.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT REALLY FALLS APART.

WHEN THE ROAD GETS CURVY AND THE SPEED STARTS TO CLIMB, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BACK OFF BECAUSE I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING TOO FAST ON A TWISTY ROAD.

BUT WHO CARES?

SIMPLY CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FEELS LIKE A SPECIAL OCCASION IN THIS CAR AND AFTER A WHILE, YOU FIND YOURSELF SMILING LIKE A TEENAGER!

ANTICIPATION FOR THE NEW GT350 MIGHT BE HIGH, BUT PLACED NEXT TO THIS BEAUTY; I BET THE "OLD MAN" WOULD GET A WHOLE LOT MORE ATTENTION THAN THE NEWBIE.

AND IN MY OPINION, IT WOULD BE WELL DESERVED!

* John: BUT THE AGGRESSIVE POSTURE OF THE '85 SHELBY CHARGER GOES WELL BEYOND ITS SUPERIOR QUALITY TRICK PAINT, GROUND HUGGING AIR DAM, FULL LENGTH SIDE CURTAINS, AND HIGH SPEED HATCH MOUNTED SPOILER.

THE REAL BEEF LIVES HERE: UNDER THE DISTINCTIVE BULGE AND COOLING VENTS ON THE HOOD.

THEY SERVE THE EXTRA DEMANDS OF CHRYSLER'S 2.2 LITER FUEL INJECTED TURBO MOTOR.

THE '85 ENGINE INCLUDES AN ELECTRONIC WASTE GATE THAT ALLOWS BOOST TO CLIMB TO 9-POUNDS DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION.

WITH 146 PEAK HORSEPOWER, THE TURBO MOTOR PROVIDES THIS SHELBY CHARGER WITH A THIRD MORE STRENGTH THAN LAST YEAR'S NORMALLY ASPIRATED CAR... WE'VE SEEN MANY A MILE ROLL BY IN 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK .

AND ALL OF THEM WITH OUR TOP TECH, PAT GOSS.

SO, LET'S STOP BY HIS GARAGE AND SEE WHAT'S UP TO DATE.

Pat Goss: MODERN CARS CAN CERTAINLY GO THE DISTANCE.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE CHRIS CHESNO, FROM CALLAWAY CARS.

CHRIS, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Chris Chesno: THANKS FOR HAVING US.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

THE CORVETTE THAT WE'RE BESIDE HERE, THIS IS LIVING TESTAMENT TO HIGH MILEAGE.

Chris: ABSOLUTELY, THIS CALLAWAY CORVETTE SC606 JUST TURNED 205,000 MILES.

Pat: OOOH.

ALRIGHT.

NOW, I ASSUME THAT YOU'VE BABIED IT ALL THAT TIME?

Chris: ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE DRIVEN THIS CAR RIGOROUSLY YET INTELLIGENTLY.

Pat: OKAY, I LIKE THAT.

[LAUGHS] AH, HAS IT REALLY...

I MEAN IT'S BEEN ROAD TESTED AND ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

Chris: IT HAS.

IN FACT, WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW, MOTORWEEK WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO TEST IT, AND UM, WENT, AND PUT THE CAR THROUGH ITS PACES.

ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: OKAY, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAINTAIN IT?

Chris: SO, FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT, WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE GM OWNERS' MANUAL SCHEDULE, AND JUST DONE THINGS LIKE, AH, OIL CHANGES; 28 OIL CHANGES.

Pat: OKAY.

Chris: WE'VE INSPECTED ALL OF THE FLUIDS, AND MADE SURE ALL OF THE FLUIDS WERE TO SPEC.

SO, ASIDE FROM THE 28 OIL CHANGES, 17 SETS OF TIRES, 5 SETS OF BRAKES, 2 SETS OF WIPER BLADES, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, ONE THING THAT WOULD CONCERN ME... WHAT ABOUT THE CLUTCH IN IT?

Chris: STILL THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH, IN FACT.

PAT: WOW!

THAT IS IMPRESSIVE.

Chris: IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT, WHEN WE ENGINEERED THIS PACKAGE, WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF, OR EXPLOITED THE ENGINEERING HEADROOM THAT GM LEFT ON THE TABLE.

SO, WE HAVE A 606 HORSEPOWER GRAND SPORT THAT WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF.

AND LEFT A SAFETY NET IN PLACE.

Pat: OKAY.

NOW, YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT HAND WASHING CARS.

WHICH I'M A BIG FAN OF.

Chris: ABSOLUTELY.

HAND WASHING THE CAR GETS THE OWNER IN TOUCH WITH THE VEHICLE.

WHEN YOU HAND WASH THE VEHICLE, YOU NOTICE THINGS LIKE THE BODY, THE LIGHTS, THE WHEELS, THE TIRES.

ALL OF THE EXTERIOR.

AND THEN WE ALSO TAKE THAT TO THE INSIDE, UNDER THE HOOD.

WE WASH UNDER THE HOOD, AND THEN ALSO CLEANING INSIDE THE CAR.

SO YOU'LL NOTICE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

IF YOU HAVE A PIECE OF TRIM THAT'S LOOSE, OR YOU HAVE... YOU INSPECT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT YOUR BRAKE PADS ARE RUNNING LOW, OR YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT ROTOR WEAR, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE YOU'LL PICK UP WHEN YOU SPEND THE TIME TO HAND WASH IT.

SO, WE'RE A BIG ADVOCATE OF THAT.

AND WHETHER IT'S A HIGH PERFORMANCE CORVETTE, OR YOUR DAILY DRIVEN SEDAN, HAND WASHING APPLIES.

Pat: OKAY, NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS IS, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON MY CARS TIGHTENING THINGS.

BECAUSE STUFF LOOSENS UP OVER TIME.

LIKE ON THE CAMARO HERE, THE TIE BAR BETWEEN THE STRUT TOWERS, I WAS TIGHTENING SOME STUFF UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND I PUT THE TORQUE WRENCH ON THOSE AND THOSE BOLTS WERE LOOSE.

NOW, IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE ON YOUR CAR, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S TIGHT ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE THE CHANGE IN THE HANDLING WAS AMAZING.

JUST BY TIGHTENING THOSE BOLTS.

Chris: AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE'RE BIG FANS OF NUT AND BOLT INSPECTIONS AS WELL.

THIS VEHICLE HAS GONE ON SIX DIFFERENT ROAD COURSES; AUTOCROSSED AND DRAG RACED.

AND WE DO AN INSPECTION BEFORE AND AFTER EACH TIME WE PUT IT THROUGH ITS PACES.

THIS CAR, BY THE WAY, RAN 10.8 IN THE QUARTER MILE AT 128 AFTER TURNING 118,000 MILES.

Pat: OH, MY GOODNESS.

Chris: CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

Pat: IMPRESSIVE.

CHRIS, THANK YOU.

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

John: TIME TO JUMP BEHIND THE WHEEL OF SOMETHING NEW FOR MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

WE'VE DRIVEN THE 2-SEAT FUTURE, AND IT'S THE 2016 AUDI TT.

SURE, THIS ALL-NEW ROADSTER NOW BASED ON THE MQB ARCHITECTURE OF THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GETS STYLING UPDATES, AND A BUMP IN HORSEPOWER TO 220.

BUT IT'S THE THOROUGH RE-IMAGINING OF THE INTERIOR CONTROLS THAT HAD US BUZZING.

ALL DUTIES ARE HANDLED IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER, THERE'S A 12.3 INCH TFT SCREEN DISPLAYS TRADITIONAL SPEED AND RPM READOUTS ALONGSIDE AUDIO AND PHONE SETTINGS, AND EXPANDABLE NAVIGATION WITH GOOGLE EARTH.

THIS LAYOUT IS CUSTOMIZABLE, AND EASY TO SWITCH ON THE GO.

AND THE GOING IS QUITE GOOD, AS THE TT RETAINS, AND ACTUALLY IMPROVES UPON ITS GREAT DRIVING REPUTATION.

THE BACKROADS NEAR OUR MARYLAND OFFICE PROVED TO BE THE PERFECT PLAYGROUND, AND WE SQUEEZED EVERY LAST BIT OF SUMMER FUN OUT OF THE SEASON BEFORE THE LEAVES, AND THE TEMPERATURES, DROP.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT'S TIME TO BRING THE HEAT!

AND THE TT'S CLEVER HVAC CONTROLS MAKE THAT A BREEZE, AS THEY'RE INTEGRATED INTO THE VENTS.

THIS FREES UP ROOM IN THE CENTER STACK, AND KEEPS THE INTERIOR SLEEK, CLEAN, AND REFRESHINGLY SIMPLE.

WITH QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE STANDARD, THE 2016 AUDI TT STARTS AROUND $44,000, WITH THIS ROADSTER STARTING AROUND $47,000.

BOTH ARE ON SALE NOW.

THE CUTE UTE ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES, AND ONE OF THE LATEST ENTRIES IS THIS 2016 MAZDA CX-3.

SOME MAY SEE SHADES OF CX-5, OR THE MAZDA3 HATCHBACK.

AND INDEED THE CX-3 IS A LITTLE OF BOTH OF THOSE.

BUT ITS PLATFORM IS ACTUALLY SHARED WITH THE MAZDA2.

MUCH LIKE THE HONDA HR-V DOES WITH THE FIT.

AND FROM THOSE HUMBLE ORIGINS, THE CX-3 MANAGES TO PACK ACTUAL UTILITY INTO ITS SMALL FRAME.

BACK SEAT LEGROOM ISN'T AS GREAT AS OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT, NOR IS THE REAR CARGO AREA AND ITS HIGH LOAD FLOOR.

BUT IT'S ACCEPTABLE, AND CERTAINLY OFFERS SIMILAR VERSATILITY AS RIVALS.

THE MAZDA APPEAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVING, AND THAT REMAINS THE CASE HERE.

GOOD FEEL, BOTH THROUGH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION, MAKE DARTING AROUND TOWN A MUCH SPORTIER AFFAIR THAN WE EXPECTED.

WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE HORSEPOWER, BUT 146 FROM THE 2.0 LITER I4 FELT PLENTY FOR DAILY USE.

INSIDE, THE CX-3 NAILS COMFORT, PLUS GOOD QUALITY MATERIALS AND A SIMPLE CONTROL LAYOUT.

MORE SMALL ITEM STORAGE SPACE WOULD BE USEFUL, THOUGH.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 MAZDA CX-3 STARTS AROUND $21,000, WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDING $1,250 MORE.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

NO NAMEPLATE HAS DONE MORE TO PUT LUXURY CROSSOVERS ON THE MAP THAN THE LEXUS RX.

OVER THREE GENERATIONS, THIS CAMRY BASED, MID-SIZE LUXO UTE HAS SET THE STANDARD AS TO WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN AROUND UPSCALE SUBURBIA.

NOW, 2016 SEES AN ALL-NEW RX WITH MORE STYLE, COMFORT, AND HI TECH, AND PERHAPS, MORE IMPACT.

SO LET'S SEE IF OWNERS SHOULD LEAVE THEIR GATED COMMUNITIES FOR A NEW RX?

LEXUS KNEW BETTER THAN TO MESS TOO MUCH WITH THE CORE ATTRIBUTES OF THE 2016 RX.

SO, WHILE THE BRAND IS AGGRESSIVELY EXPANDING ITS HIGH PERFORMANCE OFFERINGS; WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR BEST-SELLING MODEL SERIES, THEY SHOWED A LOT OF RESTRAINT.

ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT OBVIOUS WHEN YOU FIRST SEE IT.

NOW, WE CAN SPEND ALL DAY DEBATING THE CLEARLY RADICAL LOOKS, OR THAT IT HAS GROWN A BIT.

1.9 INCHES IN WHEELBASE AND 4.7 IN OVERALL LENGTH.

BUT, WE DON'T THINK IT WILL DETER MOST CURRENT LEXUS BUYERS SEEKING AN ULTRA COMFORTABLE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWCASE.

SO, IF IT HAPPENS TO STRIKE YOU AS AN ANGRY, DROP JAWED, SHARPLY CREASED PARENT OF THE NX, AND MORE LIKE AN ODDLY ELEGANT SCI-FI ROLLING SCULPTURE, SO BE IT.

DESIGNERS DID THROW IN A "FLOATING ROOF DESIGN" THAT IS THIS SEASON'S MUST-HAVE FASHION ACCESSORY.

BUT, BACK TO THOSE CORE VALUES.

UNLIKE THE ROUGH RIDING, TIGHTLY SPRUNG NX, THE RX REMAINS A VERY SMOOTH OPERATOR WITH A RIDE THAT IS LUXURIOUS WITHOUT BEING FLABBY.

SO GOOD CALL HERE, LEXUS.

IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY QUIET.

EVEN THE HYBRID VERSION IS VIRTUALLY SILENT.

OUR SENSES REALLY COULDN'T TELL IF THE GAS ENGINE WAS RUNNING OR NOT.

STEERING RESPONSE HAS BEEN INCREASED WITHOUT MUCH CHANGE IN OVERALL FEEL WHICH REMAINS UNREMARKABLE.

FULLY LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS DENOTES THE INTERIOR AS WELL.

MATERIALS ARE EXQUISITE, AMENITIES ARE WHAT YOU'D EXPECT, AND COMFORT IS TOP NOTCH.

NO WONDER RX BUYERS ARE SUCH A LOYAL LOT.

THE LAYOUT IS SIMILAR TO STABLEMATES IS AND RC AND THINGS SEEM A LITTLE CLUTTERED.

BUT THIS 2-ROW FAMILY HAULER PROVIDES EXCELLENT SEAT COMFORT UP FRONT, AND A SECOND ROW THAT IS FAR NICER THAN MANY KIDS MIGHT DESERVE.

THE BIGGER OUTSIDES ALSO ADDS TO SPACE HERE FOR ADULTS.

AND YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO, THANKS TO 18.4 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO ROOM.

NO KIDS ON BOARD?

WELL NOW, YOU'VE GOT 56.3 CUBIC-FEET OF BIG BOX STORAGE SPACE.

A POWER REAR HATCH IS STANDARD, TOUCH-FREE OPERATION IS OPTIONAL.

AN 8.0 INCH DASH TOP TFT INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS STANDARD.

UP LEVEL TRIMS GET A 12.3 INCH HI-RES DISPLAY WITH LEXUS' REMOTE TOUCH INTERFACE.

ANOTHER FAMILIAR ASPECT OF THE NEW RX IS UNDER HOOD.

A 3.5 LITER V6 STILL DOES DUTY.

BUT IT'S THE NEWEST DIRECT INJECTED VERSION, NOW PRODUCING 295 HORSEPOWER AND 267 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ADD HYBRID HARDWARE, AND OUTPUT GROWS TO 308 HORSEPOWER.

MAX TOWING CAPACITY IS UNCHANGED AT 3,500 POUNDS.

THE RX350 DOES ADD AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE THE 450H HYBRID INCORPORATES A CVT.

BOTH ARE AVAILABLE WITH FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE; THE HYBRID'S AWD ADDS AN ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE REAR.

THE ONLY NOD TOWARD MORE STREET PROWESS IS THAT THE F SPORT UPGRADE IS NOW AVAILABLE WITH BOTH POWERTRAINS.

IT IS DEFINITELY THE WAY TO GO FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS IN YOUR CUL-DE-SAC.

NOT ONLY WILL YOU GET EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE STYLING TONES INSIDE AND OUT... BLACKED OUT TRIM, 20-INCH WHEELS, UNIQUE GAUGES, PADDLE SHIFTERS, ALUMINUM ACCENTS, EVEN AN ACTIVE SOUND GENERATOR.

BUT YOU'LL ALSO GET AN ADAPTIVE VARIABLE SUSPENSION AS WELL.

AND WHILE IT TAKES HANDLING A BIG STEP UP, MOST SOCCER MOMS WILL PROBABLY JUST END UP LEAVING THINGS IN COMFORT MODE.

LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM + INCLUDES AUTOMATIC BRAKING, UPGRADING THE ALREADY EXTENSIVE LIST OF SAFETY FEATURES.

NOW, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS AREN'T FINALIZED YET, BUT TOYOTA CLAIMS 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED FOR A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE V6... AND 31-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, 30-COMBINED FOR THE HYBRID.

RX PRICING SHOULD START IN THE LOW 40s.

THE LEXUS MISSION OF LATE IS TO RALLY UP SOME NEW CUSTOMERS AND BECOME A MUCH MORE DYNAMIC BRAND.

AND WHILE THAT'S A NOBLE MISSION, TO US, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT MIXED.

FORTUNATELY, EXCEPT FOR LOOKS, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE 2016 LEXUS RX THAT WILL IMPACT ITS APPEAL TO CURRENT OWNERS AND PROSPECTS.

IT'S STILL PREMIUM IN COMFORT AND EXECUTION, AND REMAINS WHAT MOST OTHER LUXURY CROSSOVERS ASPIRE TO BE.

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

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, AND SEE IF THE AWESOME ALFA ROMEO 4C SURVIVES A TOPLESS CONVERSION.

THEN WE'LL PACK ALL WE CAN INTO OUR REVIEW OF THE MAZDA CX-3.

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.

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.

Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

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