2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider & 2016 Mazda CX-3

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

JOIN US AS WE BLOW OUR TOP IN THE ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER... PAT GOSS HELPS US FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE FOR POWERTRAINS... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE IN STYLE ON A GRAND TOURING TREK ACROSS SCOTLAND... THEN WE'LL CONTINUE THE SMALL CROSSOVER OVERLOAD WITH THE MAZDA CX-3...

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... PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING... "UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT."

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: YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT THE ALL BUSINESS 4C SPORTS CAR WAS AN ODD CHOICE FOR ALFA ROMEO TO SPEARHEAD ITS RETURN TO THE U.S.

BUT IT CLEARLY MAKES THE POINT THAT PERFORMANCE WILL BE PARAMOUNT AS ALFA GOES FORWARD HERE.

AND BEFORE THE SEDANS AND CROSSOVERS START TRICKLING IN, THEY'VE GIVEN US ONE MORE TREAT TO SAMPLE, THE 4C SPIDER.

AS WE'VE ALREADY NOTED, THE MINIMALIST ALFA ROMEO 4C IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

AND CHANCES ARE THIS 2015 4C SPIDER WILL ALSO HAVE LIMITED APPEAL.

BUT THOSE WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON EITHER, WILL BE SLIPPING INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL INDEED.

IN MID-ENGINE DROP TOP ROADSTER FASHION, THE SPIDER IN THE NAME REFERS TO THE REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL.

WHEN YOU TAKE IT OFF, THE RESULTING OPEN AIR SPACE ABOVE YOU MAY BE MINIMAL, BUT IT ONLY ADDS TO THE PURELY EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE OF THE 4C.

ACTUALLY, THE STANDARD CLOTH TOP IS THE DEFINITION OF MINIMAL AND RATHER FLIMSY.

WHILE REMOVAL IS STEP INTENSIVE, IT'S NOT DIFFICULT.

BEST OPTION, JUST KEEP IT OFF AND THE CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE ON RAINY DAYS.

OR GO FOR THE OPTIONAL CARBON FIBER HARDTOP.

TOP ON OR OFF, ONCE UNDERWAY, THE SPIDER FEELS PLENTY SOLID AND SECURE.

IT'S ALSO SURPRISINGLY QUIET WITH THE TOP ON.

AND NO MATTER WHAT IS OR ISN'T KEEPING THE RAYS OFF YOUR DOME, THIS CAR IS STILL THE ONLY NEW CAR THAT DELIVERS THE "ROAD RUSHING AT YOU SENSATION" OF '60s ERA EXOTICS.

IT FEELS FAST, BUT NOT STRUGGLING TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL FAST.

LIKE MOST LIGHTWEIGHT ROADSTERS, IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING THROUGH CORNERS QUICKLY NOT NECESSARILY MAKING IT TO THE NEXT ONE IN A HURRY.

KEEPING WITH THE THEME, THE INTERIOR IS EQUALLY UNEMBELLISHED, EVEN RESORTING TO A NON-INTUITIVE AFTERMARKET ALPINE WHICH HAD NO SATELLITE RADIO, BUT DID INCLUDE PANDORA.

SEATS OFFER JUST ENOUGH COMFORT AND THERE'S PLENTY ADEQUATE ROOM INSIDE TO OPERATE.

OUR TALLER DRIVERS HAD A HARD TIME SEEING ALL OF THE GAUGES, WHICH IS A SHAME AS THEY ARE PRETTY DARN COOL.

OH YEAH, THERE ARE THINGS TO NITPICK, BUT BARELY, AND IN DOING SO YOU'RE MOSTLY MISSING THE POINT OF THE CAR.

THERE'S LIMITED LUGGAGE SPACE, THOUGH, UNLIKE MANY CONVERTIBLES, THE TOP TAKES UP VERY LITTLE OF IT.

WHILE AT JUST 1.7 LITERS OF DISPLACEMENT, YOU MIGHT THINK THE TURBO POWER PLANT DIMINUTIVE AS WELL, BUT IT HAS SURPRISINGLY MORE GUTS THAN THE 237 HORSEPOWER NUMBER WOULD INDICATE.

AND YOU'LL ABSOLUTELY ENJOY WRINGING ALL 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE OUT OF IT.

SAME AS THE COUPE OF COURSE, AS ARE THE 6-SPEED TWIN-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION AND DNA DYNAMICS SELECTOR, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ALL-WEATHER, NATURAL, DYNAMIC, AND RACE SETTINGS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT IT GETS UP TO SPEED IN A HURRY, NOT EXACTLY IN A HIGH DOLLAR EXOTIC CAR KIND OF WAY; MORE OF A SNARLY TINY TERROR AS IT HITS 60 IN 4.3 SECONDS, JUST AS IN THE ONLY 22 POUNDS LIGHTER COUPE.

THE GEARBOX SHIFTS IMPECCABLY WHETHER IN MANUAL OR AUTO MODE, AND GEAR SPACING IS RIGHT ON, WITH 3RD GEAR BEING THE REAL WORKHORSE.

DESPITE AN IDENTICAL START, WE MANAGED TO CLEAR THE QUARTER MILE A 10TH QUICKER THAN THE HARD TOP AT 12.9 SECONDS AND 107 MILES PER HOUR.

WHEN YOU KEEP THE THROTTLE PINNED IN THIS CAR, ALL OF YOUR SENSES ARE FULLY ENGAGED; THE NOISES THAT IT MAKES ARE TRULY MAGNIFICENT.

STEERING IS STILL FULLY MANUAL, AND THE CAR STAYS FLAT AS THE PROVERBIAL PANCAKE.

BUT THAT'S JUST THE START OF THE OVERUSED CLICHÉS WE'LL APPLY HERE...

TURNS ON A DIME...

HANDLES LIKE ITS ON RAILS...

FEELS LIKE A GO-KART...

PICK YOUR FAVORITE...

BRAKES ARE PERFECT AS WELL.

STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED JUST 90 FEET, WITH SUPER SHORT PEDAL TRAVEL, GOOD FEEL, AND HARDLY ANY NOSE DIVE.

OUTSIDE OF THE ROOF, NOTHING CHANGES TO THE EXTERIOR DESIGN.

IT STILL HAS THE 3/4 SCALE "EXOTIC ITALIAN BY WAY OF LOTUS" LOOK THAT MAKES IT A VISUAL WINNER.

STANDARD STAGGERED 17/18 INCH WHEELS CAN BE UPGRADED TO 18/19s, BUT KEEP IN MIND THE PERFORMANCE TIRES CAN BE A HANDFUL ON WET ROADS, THEY ALSO FIND EVERY GROOVE IN THE PAVEMENT.

AND SINCE THERE'S A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL, YOU'LL BE CLUED IN IMMEDIATELY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE THE SAME AS IN THE HARDTOP, 24-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

WE MANAGED A VERY GOOD 32.7 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS BETTER THAN AVERAGE, WITH 11.8 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH 5.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY LOVE THE 4C ENOUGH, THE SPIDER'S BASE PRICING OF $65,495 HAD US SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING REFINANCING OUR DEBT, FINDING A DEALER, AND PUTTING SOME SERIOUS MONEY DOWN.

BACK TO ESSENCE, NOT NECESSARILY BACK TO BASICS, IS WHAT THE 2015 ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER IS ALL ABOUT.

IT IS NOT MINIMALISM FOR THE SAKE OF IT.

BUT IT IS MAXIMIZING DRIVING PLEASURE BY ENCAPSULATING THE SPIRIT OF THE '60s EXOTICS IN MODERN HARDWARE.

A WINNING FORMULA THAT MORE PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

OVERSEAS AUTOMOTIVE PRESS TRIPS ARE USUALLY RUN AND GUN AFFAIRS.

HOP ON A PLANE, DRIVE THE CAR A BIT, CATCH A FEW WINKS, AND BACK HOME AGAIN.

BUT THIS TIME THE INVITE PROMISED A MORE ELEGANT MOTORING EXPERIENCE.

SO, WE DISPATCHED OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY ZACH MASKELL ACROSS THE POND TO DO SOME GENUINE GRAND TOURING.

Zach Maskell: I KNOW A FEW GUYS AND GALS WHO HEAD TO SOME OF THE MOST GORGEOUS PLACES ON EARTH... AND ARE STUCK IN MEETINGS, ALL DAY... ERRR, NO THANKS...

IN FACT, I DON'T THINK YOU COULD PAY ME ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE YOUR CAR LINE... WITH THE WIND IN MY FACE, ON ROADS UNKNOWN TO ME, FOR THE PEANUTS THAT I FEED MYSELF WITH.

WELL, THEN YOU'D HAVE YOURSELF A DEAL... GRASS...

PLAID... BAGPIPES... AND CASTLES...

OKAY...

I'M SORRY THAT WAS TERRIBLE.

WE ARE IN SCOTLAND AND WE ARE DRIVING BRITISH MADE BENTLEYS.

WE COULD NOT BE IN A BETTER CAR RIGHT NOW TO TOUR THE COUNTRY.

THE CONTINENTAL GT.

IT'S AVAILABLE IN COUPE OR CONVERTIBLE WITH THREE DIFFERENT ENGINES PRODUCING UP TO 626 HORSEPOWER.

IT TAKES SOME TIME, YA KNOW, GETTING ACCLIMATED WITH DRIVING A RIGHT HAND DRIVE CAR, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

WITH SOME OF THEM AS SLENDER AS THEY ARE... WE STUCK OUT LIKE SORE THUMBS...

CREEPING THROUGH SMALL TOWNS AS WE MADE OUR WAY AROUND THE HIGHLANDS.

WE KICKED OFF NOT FAR FROM GLASGOW, AND WHILE NOTHING IN BETWEEN WAS BORING...

STOPPING IN GLENCOE WHERE "JAMES BOND: SKYFALL" WAS SHOT.

WAS PERHAPS MY FAVORITE LOCATION.

IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY STOPS WHERE VISITORS SEEM TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE SCENERY.

THAN WHAT WE WERE DRIVING!

Paul Jones: YOU CAN DRAW A CONTINENTAL WITH THREE LINES.

THE FLOWING ROOF LINE, THE POWER LINE OFF THE FRONT WHEEL ARCH AND THAT POWERFUL REAR HUNCH.

SO THE CARS GOT REAL PRESENCE.

WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH 16' MODEL YEAR IS WE'VE SHARPENED THE APPEARANCE OF THE CAR.

NEW FRONT BUMPER, NEW FRONT FENDERS, NEW SMALLER RAG SHELL.

SO THE CAR'S REALLY HUNKERED DOWN ON THE ROAD AND LOOKS VERY PURPOSEFUL COMING TOWARDS YOU."

Zach: THIS IS THE FIRST BENTLEY TO ENJOY LARGE VOLUME PRODUCTION.

BUYERS AROUND THE WORLD ENJOY THE BESPOKE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO EACH VEHICLE.

AROUND 55,000 GT'S HAVE BEEN PRODUCED SINCE 2003.

EACH ONE, BUILT MOSTLY BY HAND, TAKES OVER 100 HOURS TO PRODUCE.

BACK IN THE 1900'S THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WHATSOEVER.

THEY WERE IN VERY LIMITED PRODUCTION.

LUCKILY FOR US WE'RE GOING TO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE SOME OF THOSE CARS.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THE CONCOURSE OF ELEGANCE IT'S AN INVITE ONLY AFFAIR.

AHH YES, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE HOLYROOD PALACE AND FOR SOME REASON, THEY GAVE MOTORWEEK A PASS.

YOU'VE HEARD OF BIG SHOWS IN THE STATES LIKE "AMELIA ISLAND" AND "PEBBLE BEACH."

WELL, ALL THESE SHOWS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER VERY WELL.

BUT THIS TIME WE'RE WALKING IN THE GARDENS OF THE QUEEN'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE WHEN SHE VISITS SCOTLAND.

Richard Charlesworth: TO BE RANKED ALONGSIDE PEBBLE BEACH WHICH IS THE BEST OF THE LOT IS A GREAT ACCOLADE AND JUST SHOWS HOW THIS IS RAPIDLY GROWING TO BEING ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CONCOURS IN THE WORLD IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.

Zach: THIS IS ONLY THE UK'S 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONCOURS AND IT'S ALREADY RECEIVING QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION.

IT'S FOR GOOD REASON TOO, SOME OF THE RAREST CARS IN THE WORLD ARE HERE.

AND THEY'RE BEING DRIVEN TO AND FROM THE SHOW.

CHECK OUT THIS R-TYPE, THE SUPERCAR OF ITS DAY.

Richard: THIS WAS THE BUGATTI VEYRON ON THE 1950s.

IT WOULD'VE COST IN POUNDS AROUND 740,000, SO MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THIS WAS IN SUPERCAR TERRITORY AT THE TIME, AND THAT'S WHY ALL 218 OWNERS WERE EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN INDIVIDUALS.

Zach: AND I ALSO GOT TO SEE, IN PERSON, ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN BENTLEYS.

FACING THREATS OF THE MERCEDES COMPRESSOR IN THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS IN THE EARLY 1900s... BENTLEY NEEDED MORE FAST, THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING WILD, CAME ABOUT.

OH YEAH, COME CHECK THIS THING OUT.

THIS IS THE BENTLEY BLOWER TEAM CAR.

W.O.

BENTLEY HIMSELF ACTUALLY DID NOT WANT THIS THING TO BE MADE.

HE DID NOT LIKE FORCED INDUCTION.

IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD THE PHRASE "THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT," HE'S THE ONE THAT CROWNED THAT.

WHY?

BECAUSE HE SAYS FORCED INDUCTION MADE THE CAR UNRELIABLE.

WELL HE WAS RIGHT.

EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR WAS SUPER-FAST, IT DID NOT FINISH THE LE MANS RACE IN 1930.

I ASKED HOW MUCH THIS CAR'S WORTH... AND THE NUMBER I GOT AMOUNTS TO "PRICELESS."

YOU CAN BET THIS ONE WILL NEVER LEAVE BENTLEY'S HANDS.

AS FOR MANY OTHER OWNERS IN THE SHOW.

I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE SAME FEELINGS ABOUT THEIR PRIZED POSSESSIONS.

SO THIS ALL GOES TO SHOW, EVEN OVER SEA'S IT'S EASY TO FEEL AT HOME WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO WOULD RATHER DIE BY THE SWORD, THAN GIVE UP THEIR MACHINES.

John: PAT GOSS KNOWS HOW TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT BALANCE, AT LEAST IN POWERTRAINS.

SO LET'S HOP ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE AND SEE HOW IT'S DONE.

Pat Goss: ON THE FRONT OF AN ENGINE, DOWN ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT, AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, IS A PULLEY.

NOW, THOSE PULLEYS MAY BE SINGLE PURPOSE, AND MAYBE DRIVE THE BELT FOR THE ACCESSORIES AND SO ON, OR THEY MAY BE DUAL PURPOSE AND NOT ONLY DRIVE THE BELT, BUT DAMPEN VIBRATIONS FROM THE ENGINE.

NOW, TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, TOM TAYLOR WHO IS AN ONLINE PARTS EXPERT.

TOM, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tom Taylor: THANKS, PAT.

PAT: OKAY.

HERE WE HAVE SOME HARMONIC BALANCERS.

OR DAMPENERS AS YOU MAY CALL THEM.

AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, IT LITERALLY CAME APART.

Tom: RIGHT.

ON CERTAIN ENGINES, SOMETIMES THESE LAST FOREVER, LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE.

AND CERTAIN ENGINES THEY MIGHT ONLY LAST 50,000 MILES OR LESS THAN 10 YEARS.

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT'S GOT SUCH A MASSIVE PIECE OF RUBBER, YOU CAN SEE THE RUBBER LITERALLTEARS APART INTO TWO SECTIONS.

THE OTHER STYLE OF DAMPENER IS LIKE THIS: WHERE YOU STILL HAVE THAT STRIP OF RUBBER, BUT IT'S MUCH THINNER.

IT'S HARD TO SEE ON A BLACK ON BLACK PART.

Pat: NOW, ONE THING ABOUT THIS; IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THIS IS CONSTRUCTED... YOU HAVE THE CENTER HUB WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE CRANKSHAFT, AND THAT EXERTS FORCE ON THIS RUBBER, WHICH IN TURN EXERTS FORCE ON THE PART THAT DRIVES THE BELT.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION ON THAT RUBBER.

Tom: RIGHT, RIGHT.

EVERY TIME YOU TURN ON OR OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE BELT GIVES A JERK, AND IT GOES RIGHT TO THE RUBBER.

Pat: NOW, I'VE NOTICED ON SOME OF THE NEWER CARS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS CONFIGURATION: WHERE THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVES THE PULLEY DIRECTLY, THIS WEB COMES RIGHT OUT HERE TO THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN THE BALANCING PORTION OF IT, WHICH AGAIN IS MOUNTED IN RUBBER, IS INSIDE, AND IT'S JUST LIKE A WHEEL WEIGHT ON A TIRE.

Tom: RIGHT, IT'S JUST HANGING THERE.

ESSENTIALLY.

Pat: OKAY, NOW YOU FIND QUITE OF FEW OF THESE THAT FAIL.

YOU SELL A LOT OF THEM.

Tom: RIGHT, LIKE I SAID "CERTAIN MAKES AND MODELS AND YEARS, THEY GO THROUGH THEM VERY QUICKLY."

THE AFTERMARKET ONES ARE OFTEN BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS.

WHEN THEY FAIL, IT CAN BE A HORRIFIC SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE.

ALL THAT VIBRATION OR DAMPENING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT DOESN'T GET DAMPENED ANYMORE, SO IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A 1980s DIESEL THAT IS FALLING APART, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A GASOLINE ENGINE.

Pat: NOW, WHAT WE SEE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IS OIL LEAKS.

AND OIL GETS ON THIS.

AND RUBBER AND OIL ARE NOT COMPATIBLE.

SO THIS SWELLS UP, AND EVERYTHING COMES APART, AND YOU GET A HORRIFIC NOISE OUT OF IT.

Tom: RIGHT.

Pat: SO I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS, AS A DRIVER, IF YOU GET THIS OBNOXIOUS NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND SOMEBODY CONDEMNS THE ENGINE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED THE BALANCER.

Tom: RIGHT.

IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE, COMPARED TO...

ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO A NEW ENGINE.

Pat: RIGHT.

Tom: AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON THE CAR, IF SOME OTHER REASON YOU NEED TO PULL THIS OFF, MOST OF THEM REQUIRE A SPECIAL TOOL.

SO YOU PULL IT OFF EVENLY AND DON'T APPLY TOO MUCH TORQUE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND DAMAGE IT.

Pat: YEAH, BECAUSE THE WHOLE PRY BAR BUSINESS TRYING TO GET ONE OFF, IS EITHER GOING TO DAMAGE THIS, OR IT'S GOING TO DAMAGE THE FRONT COVER BEHIND IT.

Tom: RIGHT.

Pat: THANK YOU TOM.

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

John: 6,622, THAT'S OUR MILEAGE COUNT ON THIS 2015 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT.

IN THE 4 MONTHS WE'VE HAD IT, OUR LOG BOOK IS FILLING WITH DETAILED COMMENTS.

THERE'S A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT, WHILE IT LACKS THE FIT AND FINISH OF RIVALS LIKE THE HR-V AND CX-3, THE OUTLANDER SPORT IS A GREAT BACK TO BASICS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE UTILITY THAT IS UP FOR WHATEVER.

THERE'S A NICE MECHANICAL FEEL TO EVERYTHING, AND SWITCHGEAR IS EASY TO USE.

FUEL ECONOMY HAS DIPPED, TO 26.8 COMBINED MPG...

BUT STILL THAT'S ABOVE THE COMBINED RATING OF 24.

THE 168 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 DELIVERS ADEQUATE POWER, THOUGH THE CVT REALLY MAKES YOU DIG INTO THE THROTTLE TO ACCESS IT.

STILL, FOR AROUND TOWN JAUNTS, IT'S A HIGHLY CAPABLE LITTLE SUV THAT PROVES IT CAN HANG IN WITH ITS TOP DOLLAR RIVALS, DESPITE LACKING THE NAME RECOGNITION AND FLAIR.

AS FOR OUR MID-SIZE 2015 ACURA TLX SPORT SEDAN, IT HAS SEEN US THROUGH 3 SEASONS QUITE WELL HERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC, SO IT'S A GIVEN THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT TAKING US THROUGH OUR LEAF PEEPING FALL AS WELL.

SO FAR, OUR ONLY GRIPES REVOLVE AROUND AN INDECISIVE 8-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION AND THE LESS THAN INTUITIVE SPLIT SCREEN INFOTAINMENT INTERFACE.

THOSE COMPLAINTS ASIDE, THE SPACIOUS, WELL DONE INTERIOR AND EXCELLENT RIDE QUALITY CONTINUE TO IMPRESS.

AS THE TLX HAS A MOSTLY EUROPEAN ABILITY TO FEEL VERY COMPLIANT OVER BUMPS YET VERY SOLID IN CORNERS.

MILEAGE FROM THE SURPRISINGLY QUIET 2.4 LITER I4 CONTINUES TO RISE, AS HAVING JUST PUT 20,000 ON THE ODO, WE'RE AVERAGING 30.4 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

IT'S A PAIR OF FAMILY-SIZE CROSSOVERS, THE KIA SORENTO AND THE MAZDA CX-9 ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS OUR MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S CHECK IN FOR THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY IS BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR CRASH TESTS, AND HOW THEY'VE PUSHED CARMAKERS TO BUILD BETTER, SAFER AUTOMOBILES.

BUT NOW, THEIR FOCUS IS SHIFTING FROM HELPING DRIVERS SURVIVE A CRASH, TO AVOIDING ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT WAS THE MESSAGE BEHIND THE RECENT UNVEILING OF A MAJOR EXPANSION OF TESTING FACILITIES AT THE INSTITUTE'S RUCKERSVILLE, VIRGINIA CAMPUS.

BESIDES INSIDE CRASH TESTING LABS, AND AN EXISTING OUTDOOR TEST TRACK, IIHS HAS NOW ADDED A NEW COVERED TEST TRACK FOR YEAR-ROUND TESTING OF CRASH AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES.

DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND A HURRICANE, THE 115 FOOT, HIGH-FABRIC DOME IS ANCHORED BY 18 CONCRETE PIERS.

AT 700 FEET LONG AND 300 FEET WIDE, IT COVERS 5-ACRES OF CONCRETE, EASILY DWARFING THE OPENING CEREMONY AND ITS GUESTS.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WERE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, WHO, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTE, ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT BY SEVERAL AUTOMAKERS TO MAKE "AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING" STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON ALL OF THEIR CARS.

AEB AUTOMATICALLY SLOWS AND STOPS A VEHICLE TO PREVENT LOW SPEED COLLISIONS.

THE 10 MANUFACTURERS REPRESENT 57% OF THE LIGHT DUTY CARS AND TRUCKS SOLD HERE IN THE U.S... IIHS IS A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR THIS LIFE SAVING TECHNOLOGY AND WILL BE ABLE TO DO YEAR-ROUND EVALUATIONS WITH THE NEW DOMED TRACK.

IIHS ALSO SHOWED NEW AUTONOMOUS DRIVER TEST EQUIPMENT THAT WILL ALLOW COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS OF NEW ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS WITH SCIENTIFIC PRECISION.

THE IIHS ALSO TOLD US ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW AEB TEST, THAT WE ADDED TO OUR NEW CAR EVALUATIONS LAST YEAR.

SO, CONGRATS TO THE INSTITUTE AND THANKS FOR INCORPORATING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES US ALL SAFER ON THE ROADS.

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

John: AS CROSSOVER UTILITIES SHRINK EVER SMALLER, THEY'RE LOOKING LESS LIKE A BLEND OF FAMILY CAR AND A SUV, AND MORE LIKE PUMPED 5-DOOR HATCHBACKS WITH AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

CASE IN POINT, THIS MAZDA CX-3.

IT'S A GOOD LOOKING SUBCOMPACT UTE.

BUT IN ITS QUEST FOR POPULAR STYLE, IS UTILITY NO LONGER ITS STRONGEST POINT?

TO THEIR CREDIT, MAZDA CALLS THE 2016 CX-3 THEIR ULTIMATE "URBAN ESCAPE VEHICLE."

A COMBINATION OF SMALL CAR ATTRIBUTES NECESSARY FOR CITY-DWELLERS; LIKE A MAZDA3 HATCHBACK; WITH ENOUGH CROSSOVER ELEMENTS FOR WEEKEND ADVENTURES AND ALL-WEATHER SECURITY.

GOING UP AGAINST THE LIKES OF HONDA HR-V, FIAT 500X, JEEP RENEGADE, AND CHEVROLET TRAX; 4 SUBCOMPACT UTE'S THAT WEREN'T EVEN AVAILABLE HERE A YEAR AGO, GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW RAPIDLY THIS SEGMENT IS EXPANDING.

BUILT ON A NEW SKYACTIV CHASSIS TO BE SHARED WITH THE NEXT MAZDA2, THE CX-3 IS TIDY INDEED.

EVERY INTERIOR DIMENSION IS LESS THAN THE MAZDA3.

AND WHILE OUTSIDE IT IS CERTAINLY TALLER, GROUND CLEARANCE IS THE SAME AT 6.1 INCHES.

BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN'T GET ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IN THE MAZDA3.

NOW WHETHER ALL 4 OR JUST THE FRONT-2 WHEELS ARE IN PLAY, POWER COMES FROM THE MX-5s SKYACTIV-G 2.0 LITER I4.

HERE PUTTING OUT 146 HORSEPOWER AND 146 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION YOUR ONLY OPTION.

ONE THING IS CLEAR, AND THAT IS THAT THE CX-3 IS EASILY THE MOST STYLISH OF THE NEW BREED OF CUTE UTE'S.

IT LOOKS LONG, LOW, LEAN, AND MUCH MORE MUSCULAR THAN BIGGER BROTHER CX-5.

IN THE FRONT, THE FACE IS FAMILIAR MAZDA TERRITORY, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GRILLE EVER FARTHER.

AND THE SLANTED REAR ROOF, WITH TIGHT HIND QUARTERS, DOESN'T HELP MUCH WITH CONVINCING US THAT THIS IS A CROSSOVER AND NOT A HATCHBACK.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, THERE WAS A SNAPPY THROTTLE AND EAGERNESS AT LAUNCH, BUT THE CX-3 RUNS OUT OF STEAM FAIRLY QUICKLY; TAKING US 8.6 SECONDS TO HIT 60.

TO BE FAIR, THAT'S ON PAR WITH THE JEEP RENEGADE WE TESTED.

AND THE CX-3 GIVES YOU ALL IT'S GOT DOWN THE STRIP SOUNDING GOOD WHILE DOING IT.

SHIFTS ARE PROMPT AND POSITIVE, AND THERE WAS EVEN A TOUCH OF TORQUE STEER AS WE WORKED OUR WAY TO A 16.7 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 83 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGHOUT HANDLING EXERCISES, THERE WAS CERTAINLY A FUN, SPORTY MAZDA-STYLE CHARACTER.

BUT, WHILE STILL FAR FROM A SPORTS CAR, THERE'S A NICE BALANCE AND STEERING RESPONSE IS QUICK, PUTTING MOST OTHER TINY TRUCKSTERS TO SHAME.

WE WERE EXPECTING A LITTLE MORE FROM THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THAN A 133 FOOT STOPPING AVERAGE FROM 60 AND AN OVERALL SOFT FEEL.

FITTINGLY, THE INTERIOR IS DRIVER-ORIENTED, WITH AN ALMOST PREMIUM FEEL TO MATERIALS AND SURFACES THAT AGAIN PUT IT ABOVE MOST RIVALS.

THE CONTROL LAYOUT LOOKS SIMPLE ENOUGH, YET STILL MANAGED TO BEFUDDLE SOME OF OUR STAFFERS.

ERGONOMICS ARE ALSO NOT GREAT FOR FULL-SIZE ADULTS; PLUS WE FOUND CONSOLE SPACE MINIMAL AND CUP HOLDERS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS EASILY.

MOREOVER, IT CAN BE AT TIMES A VERY NOISY ENVIRONMENT.

CONTINUING OUR LIST OF GRIPES, CARGO SPACE IS MINIMAL, JUST 10.1 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE REAR SEATS IF THERE'S A BOSE SUBWOOFER IN PLACE; THAT'S ONE HALF THE SPACE OF A MAZDA3 HATCHBACK.

FOLDING THE SEATS EXPANDS THE SPACE, GETTING THE NUMBERS CLOSER TO THE MAZDA3'S AT 44.5 CUBIC-FEET.

THE LOAD FLOOR IS ALSO VERY HIGH.

IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AS NOTICEABLE HAD WE NOT HAD AN HR-V IN AT THE SAME TIME WHICH HAS A MUCH LOWER LOAD FLOOR AND DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF REAR CARGO SPACE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CX-3 ARE 27-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED, WHICH WE ALMOST REACHED AT 28.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

SO THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE, WITH OIL CONSUMPTION AT 11.4 BARRELS YEARLY AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.0 TONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $20,840; AND SINCE WE'RE DOING SO MUCH COMPARING HERE, A MAZDA3 STARTS ABOUT A GRAND LOWER, THOUGH TOP GRAND TOURING TRIMS ARE PRICED VERY SIMILAR.

IN THE END, WE KNOW WHY MAZDA COMMISSIONED THE CX-3.

EVERYTHING CROSSOVER IS SELLING LIKE MAD WHILE TRADITIONAL CAR SALES CONTINUE TO SAG.

STILL, WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL UTILITY, A WELL DONE COMPACT 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, LIKE A MAZDA3, FORD FOCUS, OR THE NEW HONDA CIVIC, BEATS THE CX-3, AND ALL OTHER TINY UTE'S, IN EVERYTHING EXCEPT TRACTION.

BUT IF YOU GOTTA HANG WITH THE CROWD, THEN THE 2016 MAZDA CX-3 IS ONE FUN, CITY SIZE UTILITY, THAT'S RARIN' TO GO.

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, FOR A LOOK AT BMW'S LATEST ATTEMPTS TO PLEASE EVERYONE; THE 4 AND 6 SERIES GRAN COUPES.

THEN SOMETHING A LOT MORE CONVENTIONAL, THE NEW HYUNDAI TUCSON.

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... PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING... "UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT."

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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