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

JOIN US FOR A RUN IN ONE GREAT DRIVING UTE, THE ACURA RDX... WE'LL EAVESDROP ON EFFORTS TO ELECTRIFY THE STREETS OF THE WINDY CITY... WE'LL SEE WHAT'S NEW AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW... AND WE'LL TRY OUT SUBARU'S LATEST WEEKEND ADVENTURER, THE FORESTER WILDERNESS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.

LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.

TIRERACK.COM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

AND NOW, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF TIRERACK.COM.

FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.

THEN, THE TIRE.

"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."

FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.

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: THE THIRD GENERATION OF ACURA'S RDX COMPACT UTILITY ARRIVED JUST THREE YEARS AGO WITH BIG GAINS IN PERFORMANCE, ROOMINESS, AND TECHNOLOGY.

BIG SALES NUMBERS SINCE SUGGEST THAT ACURA GOT EVERYTHING RIGHT.

WELL, THEY DIDN'T THINK SO; GIVING THE RDX A MAJOR REFRESH FOR 2022.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHERE THE FOCUS IS THIS TIME.

* THE ACURA RDX HAS BEEN THE BEST-SELLING SMALL LUXURY SUV FOR THE MOST OF THIS CENTURY, AND IT DIDN'T GET THAT WAY BY SITTING BACK AND RESTING ON ITS LAURELS.

SO, IT MAKES SENSE THAT JUST THREE YEARS INTO ITS CURRENT LIFECYCLE, ACURA WOULD DROP A BUNCH OF UPDATES ONTO THIS 2022 RDX; UPDATES THAT TOUCH UPON JUST ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF THE VEHICLE.

THINGS OF NOTE YOU'LL SEE IMMEDIATELY INCLUDE THE RESHAPED FACE, WHICH HAS BEEN WIDENED TO INCLUDE LARGER AIR INTAKES AND NEW LED FOG LIGHTS.

THE GRILLE TAKES UP THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE AS BEFORE, BUT ITS BORDER IS MUCH SLIMMER, MAKING IT APPEAR LARGER.

JUST NEW EXHAUST TIPS IN BACK, AND THE REST OF THE SPORTY-LOOKING BODY PANELS STAY THE SAME; WITH SOME NEW COLORS AND WHEEL DESIGNS THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

THE RDX'S INTERIOR WAS ALREADY VERY WELL LAID OUT AND SPACIOUS FELLING; SO HERE, UPDATES JUST CONSIST OF NEW MATERIALS LIKE EITHER BRONZE-FINISHED ALUMINUM OR OPEN-PORE WOOD TRIM, AND THE ULTRA-SUEDE LEATHER WITH CONTRAST STITCHING IS MORE LIBERALLY APPLIED.

MODERNIZED INFOTAINMENT NOW FEATURES WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY FOR BOTH APPLE AND ANDROID DEVICES; PLUS, THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE GETS NEW ICONIC DRIVE WITH AMBIENT LIGHTING INSPIRED BY, YOU GUESSED IT, ICONIC DRIVING DESTINATIONS.

AND SPEAKING OF DRIVING, THE INTEGRATED DYNAMICS SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPDATED TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE IN SPORT MODE, AND MORE RELAXED IN COMFORT MODE; ESSENTIALLY MAKING EACH MODE MORE DISTINCTIVE.

THINGS UNDERNEATH ARE ADDRESSED AS WELL; THE SUSPENSION RETUNED, ALSO TO INCREASE COMFORT WITHOUT SACRIFICING HANDLING.

IN OUR ORIGINAL ROAD TEST IN 2019 WHEN THIS GEN DEBUTED, WE MADE NOTE OF THE VERY FIRM RIDE; AND WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THE IMPROVED DAMPING IS NOTICEABLE HERE WITH THE UPDATE.

VERY COMFORTABLE ON THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT SURRENDERING THE FUN AND NIMBLE FEEL YOU STILL GET ON THE BACK ROADS.

THE ONLY AVAILABLE ENGINE REMAINS A 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO WITH 272 HORSEPOWER AND 280 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT REALLY BRINGS THE RDX TO LIFE, HELPING IT FEEL LIKE SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL THAN THE TYPICAL LEATHER CLAD SOFT-ROADER, YET, DOESN'T OVERPOWER IT.

BUT, WE'LL LET THE NUMBERS BE THE JUDGE, AT OUR USUAL PLACE FOR DETERMINING SUCH THINGS: MASON DIXON DRAGWAY.

GOOD TORQUE DELIVERY AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE GRIP MAKE FOR A SPEEDY TAKEOFF, AND 0-60 RUNS OF 6.8 SECONDS.

THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORKING MEMBER OF THIS POWERTRAIN ASSEMBLY LINE, FIRING OFF SMOOTH SHIFTS WITH SEEMINGLY CONSTANT PRECISION; THOUGH OFTEN THEY SEEM TO COME RIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE IS MAKING GOOD POWER.

QUARTER-MILE COMPLETED IN 15.3 SECONDS AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

THE RDX FELT VERY CAR-LIKE DARTING IN AND OUT OF THE CONES IN OUR HANDLING COURSE.

SUPER-HANDLING-ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE DOING WHAT IT ALWAYS DOES, PROVIDING A HEAVY-HANDED TECHNICAL APPROACH TO DELIVER PRECISION AND AGILITY.

STEERING WAS ALSO VERY PRECISE, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BODY ROLL TO CONTEND WITH.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH A-SPEC TRIM ARE 21-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

ACURA, MORE THAN ANY OTHER BRAND, IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS SEAMLESS MERGING OF TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE, YET, FOR SOME REASON, YOU COULDN'T GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS SCENARIO HAVING TO DECIDE BETWEEN ADVANCE TECH OR A-SPEC SPORTY.

THAT'S NOW BEEN RECTIFIED WITH THE RDX SH-AWD WITH A-SPEC AND ADVANCE PACKAGES; AT $53,145 IT'S SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE LINEUP, BUT YOU CAN STILL GET A VERY WELL-EQUIPPED BASE FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE RDX FOR JUST $41,145.

THE 2022 ACURA RDX IMPROVES ON AN ALREADY GREAT LUXURY CROSSOVER.

IT'S A FANTASTIC LITTLE SUV THAT JUST MAKES SENSE, REGARDLESS OF WHICH ANGLE YOU LOOK AT IT FROM; WHETHER ITS STYLE, VALUE, OR PERFORMANCE.

BY FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST, ACURA HAS ENSURED THAT THE RDX WILL BE A LEADER IN ITS SEGMENT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

* THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE IS GROWING NATIONWIDE.

BUT MEETING THAT DEMAND WILL REQUIRE MORE THAN JUST EQUIPMENT TO DEPLOY AND FUNDING TO INSTALL IT.

WE'LL NEED QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS AND ELECTRICIANS TO DO THE ACTUAL WORK.

WE MET UP WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS POWERING CHICAGO'S EV CHARGING FUTURE AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

* ILLINOIS IS GOING ALL-IN ON PROMOTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WITH A GOAL TO INCREASE EV REGISTRATIONS FROM 37,000 CURRENTLY, TO OVER A MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IN ILLINOIS BY 2030.

TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE STATE IS PROVIDING A $4000 REBATE FOR SELECT EVs ON TOP OF EXISTING FEDERAL INCENTIVES, ALONG WITH A REBATE OF UP TO 80 PERCENT FOR THE COST OF INSTALLING A CHARGING STATION.

FEDERAL FUNDING IS EXPECTED TO ADD 500,000 NEW CHARGERS NATIONWIDE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

IN ADDITION, A 2020 CHICAGO CITY ORDINANCE REQUIRES ALL NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WITH FIVE OR MORE UNITS, AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WITH 30 OR MORE PARKING SPACES, TO HAVE 20 PERCENT OF ONSITE PARKING BE ELECTRIC VEHICLE READY.

WITH THOUSANDS OF CHARGING OUTLETS TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE NEXT DECADE, WHERE NOW YOU TYPICALLY SEE CLUSTERS OF 2-4 CHARGERS IN A STORE PARKING LOT, THERE MIGHT BE DOZENS OF UNITS LINED UP IN THE NOT-SO-DISTANT FUTURE.

THAT CREATES A DAUNTING TASK FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, WHO WILL NEED A LARGER SKILLED WORKFORCE TO INSTALL THEM ALL.

POWERING CHICAGO IS THE ENTITY THAT BRIDGES THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 134, WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, THROUGH CLASSROOM AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Elbert Walters III: THE CONTRACTORS SERVE AS MANAGEMENT, SO, THEY DO THE HIRING OF ELECTRICIANS AND MANAGING ELECTRICIANS ON THE JOBSITES.

THE RELATIONSHIP IS THAT POWERING CHICAGO AND THE IBEW LOCAL 134, THE LABOR PORTION, ACTUALLY PROVIDES THE MANPOWER-- THE QUALIFIED WORKFORCE.

John: THE IBEW/NECA TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, IN THE CHICAGO SUBURB OF ALSIP, IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST FORWARD-THINKING AND WELL-REGARDED ELECTRICAL TRAINING CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY, WITH A HISTORY GOING BACK MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF APPLICANTS TESTING FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNION'S 5-YEAR PAID APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM.

Gene Kent: OUR CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF APPRENTICES IN THE ENTIRE APPRENTICESHIP IS ABOUT 1300.

RIGHT NOW, IN SCHOOL, WE HAVE ABOUT 200 APPRENTICES EVERY QUARTER, COME THROUGH FOR THEIR QUARTERLY EDUCATION.

John: IN 2015, IN-TECH DEBUTED THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY TRAINING FIELD: A FULLY-FUNCTIONAL MICROGRID WITH A WIND TURBINE, SOLAR ARRAYS, A BI-DIRECTIONAL 100-KILOWATT POWER INVERTER AND A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM.

THESE ARE ACTIVE TRAINING AIDS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ALSO HARNESS AND USE RENEWABLE ENERGY WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

Gene: WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT OUR APPRENTICES ARE TAUGHT FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

AND THEN, WE BUILD KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE APPRENTICESHIP, SO THAT WHEN THOSE NEW CUTTING-EDGE THINGS COME INTO PLAY, THEY ONLY HAVE TO LEARN THE VERY END-USER COMPONENT.

John: REACHING BEYOND THE IN-TECH CAMPUS, THIS DEMONSTRATION TRAILER TRAVELS TO AREA SCHOOLS AND EVENTS, SERVING AS A MOBILE CLASSROOM AND EV AMBASSADOR.

AT THE RECENT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW, THOUSANDS OF SHOW VISITORS STEPPED UP TO ASK THE EXPERTS ABOUT ADDING EV CHARGING EQUIPMENT TO THEIR OWN HOMES OR BUSINESSES.

POWERING CHICAGO HAS ALSO PRODUCED THIS DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOK, FULL OF INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLAN, INSTALL, AND MAINTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLE SERVICE EQUIPMENT.

CAR DEALERSHIPS ARE AMONG THE MANY TYPES OF BUSINESSES EXPANDING THEIR EV CHARGER INVENTORIES, ANTICIPATING THE INFLUX OF NEW ELECTRIFIED MODELS SOON TO BE HITTING THEIR SHOWROOMS AND SERVICE AREAS.

Gina Dolley: THE TYPICAL LAYOUT IS THAT THERE'S SEVERAL IN SERVICE, 3-4, IN SERVICE.

UM, ONE IN THE BACK FOR DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLES, AND THEN EVENTUALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM COMING OUT FRONT FOR CUSTOMER-FACING, CUSTOMER USE.

I ONLY SEE IT GROWING FROM THIS POINT ON.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S-- I'M DOING 1-2 A MONTH.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP AN EV DIVISION, AND I JUST HAVE GUYS DEDICATED TO THE INSTALLATION FOR THESE UNITS.

John: THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE A' COMING, AND FORWARD THINKING, LIKE THAT SHOWN HERE IN THE WINDY CITY, IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO KEEP US ALL CHARGED UP FOR THE ROAD AHEAD.

WE SNAGGED SOME KEYS, SO COME JOIN US FOR MORE QUICKSPINS!

* OUR QUICK SPINS ARE QUICKLY BECOMING ELECTRIC VEHICLE SPINS, AS MORE AND MORE EVs ARE BEING LAUNCHED.

MANY OF THEM, LIKE THIS 2022 GMC HUMMER EV PICKUP, ARE ONES WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT FOR YEARS; WHICH HAS A WAY OF BUILDING UP HIGH EXPECTATIONS BY THE TIME WE FINALLY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

MOST OF THE DETAILS HAVE BEEN OUT FOR SEEMINGLY FOREVER; BUT TO RECAP, THE HUMMER EV PICKUP RIDES ON GM'S NEW ULTIUM PLATFORM, FEATURING A 3-MOTOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SETUP THAT OUTPUTS 1,000 HORSEPOWER AND 11,500 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, IS RATED TO TOW 7,500 POUNDS, AND HAS A RANGE OF 329 MILES.

OUR FIRST EXTENDED DRIVE OPPORTUNITY CAME IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA; AND WE CAN REPORT THE HUMMER PICKUP LIVES UP TO THE HYPE.

Brian Robinson: SO, THIS IS CLEARLY A DIFFERENT HUMMER AND IT'S A REALLY UNIQUE PICKUP TRUCK AS WELL.

THE RIDE IS AMAZINGLY SMOOTH, THE POWERTRAIN IS SEAMLESS, AND YOU THROW IN ALL THE CRAZY OFF-ROAD TECH AND ALL THE COOL FEATURES, AND, UH, IT'S REALLY UNLIKE ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER DRIVEN BEFORE.

John: THOSE TRICK FEATURES INCLUDE WATTS TO FREEDOM, WHICH DELIVERS MAX ACCELERATION FOR 3.0 SECOND 0-60s, CRABWALK 4-WHEEL STEERING THAT ALLOWS YOU TO STEER ALL-4 WHEELS IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO SIDESTEP HAZARDS ON THE TRAIL, AND EXTRACT MODE WHICH LIFTS THE SUSPENSION BY 6.0 INCHES.

STYLING-WISE, IT PICKS UP WHERE THE OLD HUMMERS LEFT OFF, WITH A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THAT WIDE, BEEFY STANCE WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, WHILE INTEGRATING NEW ELEMENTS SUCH AS UNDER-HOOD CARGO SPACE, AND THE INFINITY ROOF WITH TRANSPARENT REMOVABLE PANELS.

INITIAL EDITION 1 2022 GMC HUMMER EV PICKUPS ARE ALREADY SOLD OUT; BUT, YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR ORDER FOR ANY OF THE THREE ADDITIONAL VERSIONS COMING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS; PRICES STARTING AT $80,000.

THE EASIEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE 2022 CADILLAC CT4-V BLACKWING IS AS THE LITTLE SIBLING OF THE CT5-V BLACKWING.

BUT WE FOUND IT TO BE TOTALLY DESERVING OF A LIFE NOT HIDDEN IN ITS BIG BROTHER'S SHADOW.

AS ITS NAME IMPLIES, IT'S BASED OFF CADILLAC'S CT4 COMPACT SEDAN.

A SMALLER PLATFORM MEANS A SMALLER ENGINE: A 3.6 LITER TWIN TURBO V6 DISPLACING 472 HORSEPOWER AND 445 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A ZERO-TO-SIXTY TIME OF 3.9 SECONDS SHOULD BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE AVAILABLE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

BUT, WE OPTED FOR THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL.

AND JUST LIKE THE CT5-V, THIS THREE-PEDAL OPTION TRULY LETS THE BLACKWING TAKE FLIGHT.

Alexander Kellum: ALRIGHT SO, THE CT4-V... YEAH, IT DOESN'T OFFER THE SAME SUPERCHARGED DELIGHT OF THE CT5-V, BUT DARE I SAY THIS TWIN-TURBO V6 IS REALLY ALL YOU NEED.

IT CERTAINLY HAS ENOUGH MUSCLE TO PUNCH IN ITS OWN WEIGHT CLASS.

John: ALONG WITH POWER, THE SPECIAL "V-MODE" GRANTS OTHER PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS, LIKE STEERING, SUSPENSION, AND BRAKING RESPONSE.

"TOUR MODE" GIVES YOU A BIT MORE OF THAT TRADITIONAL CADDY-FEELING: A SMOOTHER RIDE AND LIGHTER CONTROLS.

THERE ARE OTHER PRESETS, AND IN "MY MODE," YOU CAN TAILOR IT TO WHATEVER MIX YOU PREFER.

FEW THINGS RIVAL THE THRILLS OF A SUPERCHARGED V8.

BUT THE 2022 CADILLAC CT4-V BLACKWING IS CERTAINLY MORE FINANCIALLY SENSIBLE FOR MOST, STARTING AT AROUND $60,000.

THIS DUO TOOK HOME OUR 2022 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SPORT SEDAN.

SO, NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU GO, YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

AUTO SHOWS ARE BACK IN FULL SWING, AND OUT LAUREN MORRISON HAS THE LATEST NEWS OUT OF THE BIG APPLE.

Lauren Morrison: AFTER A TWO-YEAR PANDEMIC HIATUS, THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW WAS BACK IN THE BIG APPLE, AND THE REVEALS WERE BIGGER THAN EVER.

JEEP REVEALING STRETCHED SUBURBAN-SIZED VERSIONS OF THE FULL-SIZE WAGONEER, THE 2023 JEEP WAGONEER L AND 2023 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER L GAIN ABOUT A FOOT OF ADDITIONAL LENGTH.

AND EVEN BIGGER NEWS UNDER THE HOOD, A TWIN-TURBO INLINE-6.

JEEP ALSO SHOWING OFF THEIR NEW CARBIDE TRIM PACKAGE, FEATURING PLENTY OF GLOSS BLACK TRIM ON THE OUTSIDE.

AND GRAND CHEROKEE 4XE BUYERS WILL BE ABLE TO UPGRADE TO A NEW HIGH ALTITUDE TRIM PACKAGE.

CHRYSLER GIVING US A LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD WITH THIS AIRFLOW GRAPHITE CONCEPT.

THE LATEST FORD G-T HERITAGE EDITION MAKING ITS DEBUT, THE 2022 FORD GT HOLMAN MOODY HERITAGE EDITION.

THIS ULTRA-LIMITED GT PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORD'S 1966 SWEEP AT LE MANS.

THE 2023 HYUNDAI PALISADES GETTING A FACELIFT AND BIG TECH UPGRADES INSIDE.

VARIETY IN THE FORM OF THE 2023 KIA NIRO, MAKING ITS U.S.

DEBUT IN HYBRID, PLUG-IN HYBRID, AND FULLY ELECTRIC FORMS.

WITH A FEW TWEAKS AND NEW OFF-ROAD TRIMS, THE 2023 KIA TELLURIDE IS READY FOR THE OUTDOORS.

KIA ALSO ANNOUNCING THEIR EV-9 ELECTRIC SUV CONCEPT WILL BE COMING TO THE U.S.

IN 2023.

NISSAN ADDING A LITTLE MORE GO-ANYWHERE BY BRINGING BACK THE ROCK CREEK PACKAGE TO THE PATHFINDER.

AND THE NISSAN LEAF GETTING A REFRESH, ALONG WITH A SIMPLIFIED TRIM LINEUP, COMING IN JUST TWO TRIM LEVELS FOR 2023: THE S AND SV-PLUS.

WITH UPDATED FRONT FASCIA AND REVISED BODY-CLADDING, SUBARU GIVING A MORE DISTINCTIVE LOOK TO THE OUTBACK, ALONG WITH SAFETY AND TECH UPGRADES.

TOYOTA BRINGING THEIR FIRST-EVER GR COROLLA TO THE BIG APPLE FOR ITS BIG DEBUT.

THE ALL-NEW BMW X-7 SHOWCASES THE "LOVE IT OR HATE IT" KIDNEY-GRILLE DESIGN, ALONG WITH UPDATED POWERTRAIN OPTIONS.

VOLKSWAGEN CREATING SOME "BUZZ" OF ITS OWN, SHOWING OFF THE FIRST PRODUCTION MODEL OF THEIR I.D.

BUZZ ELECTRIC BUS.

ALFA ROMEO DOUBLING THEIR SUV LINEUP TO TWO WITH THE DEBUT OF THE ALL-NEW TONALE, THE BRAND'S FIRST FORAY INTO ELECTRIFICATION.

VIETNAM AUTOMAKER VINFAST SHOWING OFF THEIR VF-8 AND VF-9 ELECTRIC SUVs, WHILE BREAKING DOWN THEIR "BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED" PRICING PACKAGE.

AND IF YOU BROUGHT YOUR WALLET, CALIFORNIA STARTUP INDI EV OPENING UP FOR PRE-ORDERS AT THE SHOW.

THE INDI ONE, A NEW CROSSOVER SUV, WILL BEGIN PRODUCTION IN MID-2023.

WORTH THE WAIT FOR THOSE BIG DEBUTS-- AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

John: SUBARU OWNERS ARE ALL ABOUT GETTING OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS, OR AT LEAST THEIR MARKETING DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK SO.

SO MUCH SO THAT LAST YEAR THEY LAUNCHED A NEW OFF-ROAD READY WILDERNESS VERSION OF THEIR OUTBACK.

WELL, IT WAS SUCH A BIG HIT, THAT A SEQUEL WAS IN ORDER.

SO, STAY TUNED FOR WILDERNESS PART 2: INTO THE FOREST...ER!

* THE SUBARU FORESTER IS THE BRAND'S BEST SELLER, ALMOST SINGLE HANDEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBARU'S MULTI-YEAR STRETCH OF MONTH OVER-MONTH SALES INCREASES.

FOR 2022, THIS 5TH GEN FORESTER GETS SOME UPGRADES, AS WELL AS JOINS THE OUTBACK WITH NEW ADVENTURE-READY WILDERNESS TRIM.

ALL FORESTERS SPORT NEW FACES FOR 2022, BUT WITH DISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS FOR EACH TRIM LEVEL.

THE FRESH OUT OF THE BOX WILDERNESS DISTINGUISHES ITSELF WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE GRILLE AND SKID PLATE DOWN LOW; AS WELL AS UNIQUE FENDER FLARES, SPECIAL FOG LIGHTS, AND AN ANTI-GLARE TREATMENT FOR THE HOOD.

THERE ARE BEEFED-UP ROOF RAILS TOO, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY APPLIED TO ALL FORESTERS FOR '22.

EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY IS STANDARD ON ALL FORESTERS TOO, BUT BUYERS CAN NOW ADD A NEW AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY STEERING SYSTEM TO IT.

SIMILAR TO THE OUTBACK WILDERNESS, THE FORESTER GETS UPGRADED X-MODE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND LIFTED SUSPENSION WITH LONGER COIL SPRINGS AND TALLER SHOCKS, PROVIDING 9.2 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, A HALF-INCH MORE THAN STANDARD.

SEVENTEEN INCH MATTE BLACK WHEELS WEAR YOKOHAMA ALL-TERRAIN TIRES.

AND IT ALL PROVED PLENTY CAPABLE OFF-PAVEMENT; THE TIRES GRIPPING GRASS AND GRAVEL WITH EASE; AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE TORQUE-DISTRIBUTING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM TO GET US UP SOME STEEP MUDDY TRAILS.

HILL DESCENT CONTROL MADE DOWNHILL SECTIONS EQUALLY STRESS FREE.

FORESTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A "RIGHT-SIZED" VEHICLE; PLENTY OF ROOM FOR PEOPLE AND CARGO.

BUT, NOT SO BIG THAT IT'S A CHORE TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC OR IN THE CITY.

THE ADDITIONAL SUSPENSION TRAVEL ONLY HELPS THE CAUSE, AS IT SEEMS TO SMOOTH THINGS OUT A BIT MORE.

WE WILL SAY THE SEATS ARE STILL NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE FOR THE LONG HAUL, BUT THEY HANDLE COMMUTING DUTY JUST FINE.

WE'LL ALSO SAY THAT BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER SUBARU'S, WE KNOW THAT THE STANDARD STARTEX SEAT MATERIAL IS AS DURABLE AS IT IS GREAT LOOKING.

SAME GREAT 26.9 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE, EXPANDING TO 69.1 WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED, BUT THERE ARE MORE TIE-DOWNS, AS WELL AS BRIGHTER LED LIGHTING TO INCREASE USABILITY.

ALL FORESTERS FEATURE A 2.5 LITER BOXER-4 WITH 182 HORSEPOWER AND 176 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, SO NO TURBO UPGRADE AS FOUND IN THE OUTBACK WILDERNESS.

BUT IT DOES GET AN ADDITIONAL SIMULATED GEAR INTEGRATED INTO ITS LINEARTRONIC CVT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL GRUNT FOR GETTING OVER OBSTACLES... AND POTENTIALLY OFF THE LINE A LITTLE QUICKER AS WELL.

AND INDEED, THAT WAS THE CASE, HITTING 60 IN JUST 8.2 SECONDS; ALMOST HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN THE LAST FORESTER WE TESTED, BUT STILL WELL SHY OF THE SMALLER AND MIGHTIER FORESTER TURBO'S OF THE EARLY 2000s.

POWER IS STILL DELIVERED IN A MANNER THAT'S MORE LEISURELY THAN EXCITING, AND THIS IS A LOT OF VEHICLE TO MOVE FOR A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 4-BANGER.

EVEN WITH THE SIMULATED GEARS PROVIDING PSEUDO SHIFTS IN THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE NOISE REMAINS HIGH THROUGHOUT THE 16.5 SECOND QUARTER-MILE ENDING AT 85 MILES PER HOUR.

LOTS OF BODY ROLL, BUT PLENTY OF GRIP HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH FORESTERS PAST; AND NOT MUCH IS DIFFERENT HERE.

THE HALF INCH OF ADDITIONAL GROUND CLEARANCE ISN'T ENOUGH TO DRASTICALLY ALTER THE EXPERIENCE, BUT THE TIRE'S ADDED SIDEWALL FLEX AND BLOCKIER TREAD PATTERN WERE MORE NOTICEABLE.

THAT ALSO ADDED A LITTLE LENGTH TO THE STOPPING DISTANCES AS WELL; 112 FEET FROM 60 IS A BIT LONGER THAN BEFORE, BUT BRAKES WERE STILL STRONG AND CONSISTENT.

WITH THE TALLER TIRES AND REVISED GEARING, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS DO SUFFER A BIT TOO, DOWN TO 25-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

AS IN THE OUTBACK, WE APPLAUD SUBARU FOR SLOTTING THE WILDERNESS BENEATH TOP TOURING TRIM, STARTING AT $34,195, AND NOT FORCING A BUNCH OF LUXURY FEATURES ONTO THE RUGGED TYPES WHO PROBABLY DON'T WANT THEM.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A HARD-CORE OFF-ROADER TO APPRECIATE THAT THE 2022 SUBARU FORESTER WILDERNESS IS THE MOST OFF-ROAD CAPABLE FORESTER EVER, AS IT'S ALSO THE BEST FORESTER EVER!

NO WILDERNESS REQUIRED.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE GET DOWN THE ROAD IN AUDI'S S3 SPORT SEDAN.

THEN RIDE UP IN THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS.

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... MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.

LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.

TIRERACK.COM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

AND NOW, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF TIRERACK.COM.

FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.

THEN, THE TIRE.

"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."

FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.

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.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] CHING PBS.