MotorWeek | 2017 Callaway Escalade SC560 & 2017 Jaguar XE | Season 36 | Episode 28

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

JOIN US FOR CALLAWAY MUSCLE ADDED TO A BIG CADILLAC RIDE... PAT GOSS SAYS, PAYING A LITTLE MORE NOW WILL SAVE YOU A LOT LATER... WE'LL TAKE THE WHEEL OF A CAR YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT WILL WISH YOU OWNED... AND A NEW COMPACT CAT FROM EUROPE IS PROWLING AMERICAN ROADS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Man: "YO DANNY, MY MAN!

HA, HA, HA!"

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVE THEM SHIPPED TO A LOCAL INSTALLER.

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: WHILE, THE CADILLAC ESCALADE MAY NOT GET AS MANY RAP VIDEO CAMEOS AS IT ONCE DID, IT STILL HAS AN UNDENIABLE BLING FACTOR, AS WELL AS, A HUGE PRESENCE AROUND COUNTRY CLUBS AND GATED COMMUNITIES.

IT ALSO HAS ENOUGH PERFORMANCE FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT ROLL IN THOSE CIRCLES.

BUT, THERE ARE ALWAYS FOLKS THAT WANT TO SET THEMSELVES APART FROM THE CROWD.

AND OUR FRIENDS AT CALLAWAY CARS HAVE AN APP FOR THAT.

* WE LIKE DRIVING ANYTHING HIGH PERFORMANCE AROUND HERE, SO WHEN, THE MAD MECHANICAL SCIENTISTS AT CALLAWAY CARS OFFERED UP THIS 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE SC560, WE WASTED NO TIME ACCEPTING.

AND THIS BIG RIG IS OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED EXACTLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WITH NO TIME TO WASTE.

PLANTING THEIR GEN THREE TVS2300 SUPERCHARGER ON THE CADDY'S 6.2-LITER V8, RESULTS IN A BOOST OF 140 HORSEPOWER, TO 560.

TORQUE CLIMBS ALMOST A HUNDRED TO 553 POUND-FEET.

ALL WITH CALLAWAY'S TRIPLECOOLED INTERCOOLER TO KEEP TEMPS IN CHECK; CARBON-FIBER ENGINE COVERS SHIELD A HIGH FLOW INTAKE, AND A FREER FLOWING EXHAUST FOR EXHALING AFTER THE COMBUSTION MAGIC HAPPENS.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, IT'S HARD TO THINK OF A MORE AMERICAN VEHICLE THAN THE CADILLAC ESCALADE, AND THIS SC560 SEEMS TO EVEN FURTHER MOCK LESSER UTILITIES WITH EVERY GALLON OF GAS IT BLOWS THROUGH ITS TAIL PIPES AND EVERY PIECE OF PAVEMENT IT DOMINATES.

IT'S ALSO HARD TO THINK OF A MORE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS MADE IT AND WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS IT.

WITH ITS LATEST UPDATE FOR '15, THE ESCALADE GREW MARGINALLY LARGER, BUT ITS MORE BLOCKY DESIGN MAKES IT APPEAR MUCH BIGGER.

YET, IT STILL SOMEHOW MANAGES TO LOOK CLASSY.

OTHER THAN SOME SUBTLE BADGING, CALLAWAY LEAVES THE EXTERIOR ALONE.

THOUGH YOU CAN ADD THESE 22-INCH BLACK-CHROME WHEELS IF YOU MUST.

AND IF YOU CAN AVOID SPINNING THEM UP TOO MUCH OFF THE LINE, THEY'LL CARRY THIS SUPERCHARGED, SUPER-LUXURY 'BURB TO 60 IN 6.0 SECONDS FLAT.

DESPITE ALL THAT CADILLAC HAS DONE TO KEEP THINGS QUIET INSIDE THE CABIN, THE LOW RESTRICTION EXHAUST SYSTEM OVERWHELMS IT AS YOU STREAK DOWN THE TRACK.

THERE'S NOT MUCH CALLAWAY CAN DO ABOUT THE SLOW SHIFTING TRANS; BUT HIGH-ROLLING HOT-RODDERS SHOULD BE MORE THAN OKAY WITH 14.0 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

WHILE, IT STILL GLIDES OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT WITH A LACK OF CONCERN, THIS LATEST GEN ESCALADE DOES FEEL A LITTLE MORE BOLTED DOWN THAN BEFORE.

AND NOW, THANKS TO CALLAWAY, IT HAS SOME SERIOUS MUSCLE TO FULLY EXPLOIT ITS MORE PURPOSEFUL RIDE.

THE INTERIOR IS PURE LUXURY, FULLY UP TO THE STANDARDS OF COMPARABLY-PRICED EUROPEAN UTEs.

OUR ESCALADE ESV TESTER, BEING SUBURBAN SIZE, HAS A MINIVAN'S WORTH OF CARGO SPACE, AND POWER ELEMENTS TO THE LIFT GATE, AND FOLDING SEATS, MEANS YOU WON'T HAVE TO BREAK A SWEAT IN ANY WAY BEFORE YOU SETTLE YOURSELF DOWN IN SOME OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE SEATS THIS SIDE OF VOLVO.

CALLAWAY UPGRADES IN HERE ARE LIMITED TO A BUILD PLAQUE AND KEY FOBS, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

IF ONLY CALLAWAY COULD HAVE FOUND A WAY TO SUPERCHARGE THE CUE TOUCH PANEL CONTROLS OUT OF EXISTENCE, THEN WE'D REALLY HAVE SOMETHING.

OVERALL, IT DOES FEEL LIKE A NICELY EXECUTED REAL TRUCK, AS THE CALLAWAY UPGRADES TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM THE RECENT STRIDES GM HAS TAKEN WITH THEIR FULL-SIZE PLATFORM.

RATHER, THE SUPERCHARGER JUST ADDS SERIOUS MUSCLE TO A FRAME MORE THAN CAPABLE OF HANDLING IT.

AS MUCH OF A WONDERFULLY POWERFUL AND LUXURIOUS EXPERIENCE AS THIS IS, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THIS VEHICLE APPEALING TO MERCEDES-BENZ GL BUYERS.

THOUGH, CADILLAC CLEARLY THINKS THE ESCALADE HAS ESCALATED TO THAT LEVEL WITH A BASE PRICE OF $74,390.

THE BASE SC560 PACKAGE FROM CALLAWAY TACKS ON $17,995 ON TO ANY GM FULL-SIZE SUV.

SO ADDING ALL OF THE CALLAWAY GOODIES TO THIS $96,000 ESV, WHICH WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND, YOU'RE LOOKING AT AROUND $115,000.

THE POWERFULLY SOPHISTICATED 2017 CALLAWAY ESCALADE SC560 IS CLEARLY A HIGH-PERFORMANCE HIGH LUXURY ITEM.

AND LIKE MANY SUCH THINGS, LOTS OF PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL, YET, VERY FEW WILL EVER GET TO EXPERIENCE IT.

AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME WHO JUST WON'T GET IT AT ALL.

FOR THEM, LAST TIME WE CHECKED, TOYOTA IS STILL BUILDING LOTS OF PRIUS' EVERY DAY.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, WHERE THEY'RE CHARGING TOWARDS THE FUTURE WITH ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST ALL-ELECTRIC BUS FLEETS.

WITH HELP FROM THE KENTUCKY CLEAN FUELS COALITION AND OTHER PARTNERS, THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF RIVER CITY STARTED ADDING ALL-ELECTRIC BUSES TO THEIR FLEET 3-YEARS AGO.

TODAY, THEY HAVE 15 PROTERRA BUSES TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THEIR DOWNTOWN.

THE T-A-R-C SAYS, "THEIR ELECTRIC BUSES REDUCE HARMFUL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY SOME 45,000 POUNDS EACH YEAR."

Barry Barker: WHAT'S PARTICULARLY USEFUL ABOUT IT IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE TAKING THAT OUT OF DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE DIRTIEST PLACE, RIGHT, IN TERMS OF AUTO EMISSIONS.

John: POWERING UP TAKES LESS THAN 10 MINUTES AT EITHER ONE OF TWO QUICK OVERHEAD CHARGE STATIONS...

SO WHEN IT COMES TO FAST, AND ECO-FRIENDLY, THIS FLEET HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK!

* THE HISTORY OF THE AUTOMOBILE IS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.

BUT FOR ALL OF THE JAGUARS, ASTON MARTINS, AND FERRARIS THAT HAVE GRACED OUR ROADWAYS OVER THE YEARS, THERE ARE DOZENS OF LESSER KNOWN, BUT EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY EVEN THE MOST SWOONING CAR LOVERS.

WELL, OUR OWN ROGER MECCA HAS DISCOVERED ONE SUCH CAR AND SET OUT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ITALIAN SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Roger Mecca: THIS IS A 1972 ALFA ROMEO MONTREAL.

EVER HEARD OF IT?

WELL, DON'T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF IF THE ANSWER'S NO.

MOST CASUAL CAR FANS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF, LET ALONE SEEN THIS ITALIAN BEAUTY.

I FIRST SAW THE MONTREAL, A FEW YEARS AGO AT A CAR MUSEUM AND WHEN I DID, IT STOPPED ME DEAD IN MY TRACKS.

AND I THOUGHT, HOW CAN A CAR THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1967 AND LOOK THIS BEAUTIFUL, FLY UNDER THE RADAR FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

BUT AS IT TURNS OUT IF YOU LOOK A LITTLE BIT, YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO LOVE IT JUST AS MUCH AS I DO.

Jack Rugh: IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ALFA'S VERSION OF A MUSCLE CAR, AND I GREW UP AROUND MUSCLE CARS, AND THIS HAS A CERTAIN RESONANCE WITH THAT, THAT I JUST ENJOYED.

WHILE I WAS VISITING MY BROTHER ON THE WEST COAST, AND WE WENT TO THE ALFA CONVENTION IN PORTLAND OREGON, AND ON THE DISPLAY FIELD, THERE WERE ABOUT SIX MONTREAL'S LINED UP, AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'D REALLY SEEN THEM, AND THEY JUST MADE QUITE AN IMPRESSION.

Roger: ALREADY A DEDICATED ALFA ROMEO FAN, JACK RUGH PURCHASED HIS MONTREAL IN 2000 AND IT REMAINS ONE OF LESS THAN 100 HERE IN THE U.S. BECAUSE EACH ONE WAS HANDMADE, FEWER THAN 4000 WERE EVER BUILT IN ITS SEVEN-YEAR PRODUCTION RUN AND DESPITE THE NAME, NONE WERE EVER FORMALLY SOLD ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS STANDARDS.

SO HOW DID AN ITALIAN SPORTS CAR, NEVER EVEN SOLD IN CANADA, BECOME KNOWN AS THE MONTREAL?

Jack: WELL, IT WAS THE MONTREAL WORLD'S FAIR IN MONTREAL CANADA IN 1967.

THE WORLD'S FAIR COMMISSIONED ALFA ROMEO TO DESIGN A CAR THAT REPRESENTED THE FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

BUT THE CARS WERE A BIG HIT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR AND ALFA DECIDED TO PUT THEM INTO PRODUCTION.

Roger: IT'S NO SURPRISE IT WAS SUCH A BIG HIT WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHO DESIGNED IT: MARCELLO GANDINI.

THE SAME ITALIAN GENIUS WHO GAVE US THE LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH AND MUIRA, THE LANCIA STRATOS, FERRARI 308, AND TWO EDITIONS OF THE MASERATI QUOTTROPORTTE TO NAME JUST A FEW.

THOUGH, JUST 28 AT THE TIME OF THE MONTREAL'S COMMISSION, IT ONLY TOOK HIM NINE MONTHS TO CREATE IT FROM SCRATCH.

TODAY, IT TAKES AT LEAST TWO YEARS FOR AN AUTOMAKER TO EVEN PRODUCE A PROTOTYPE.

BUT, AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS CAR IS, AND IT IS GORGEOUS, SPORTS CARS ARE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN.

AND IN THAT REGARD, THE MONTREAL DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

WHEN NEW, IT PUSHED OUT AROUND 230 HORSEPOWER FROM A 2.6 LITER V8 AND COULD REACH 60 IN A LITTLE OVER 7.0 SECONDS, ALL THE WAY TO A TOP SPEED OF ABOUT 140 MPH.

I KNOW, I KNOW, NOT EXACTLY JAW DROPPING AND COMPARED TO A MODERN SPORTS CAR, IT'S ANYTHING BUT A ROAD RIPPING RACER.

BUT WHEN STACKED UP AGAINST THE CLASSICS OF THE '70s, THE MONTREAL IS AS FUN TO DRIVE AS IT IS STUNNING TO LOOK AT.

IT'S GOT A HUGE TORQUE BAND AND I'VE GOT POWER ANYTIME I WANT, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE 6500 RPM WHERE IT REDLINES.

AND THE HANDLING!

I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW GREAT THIS CAR HANDLES, I AM SO BLOWN AWAY AT HOW NICE IT IS.

AND REGARDLESS OF THE MONTREAL'S BIRTH DATE, THE SOUND COMING FROM THAT ITALIAN BRED V8 IS JUST AS MAGNIFICENT AS ANYTHING ON THE ROAD TODAY.

[ENGINE REVVING] IT ALL ADDS UP TO AN EXPERIENCE THAT GOES SO FAR BEYOND THE USUAL MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS THAT A SPORTS CAR NEEDS TO BE CALLED GREAT.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO AN IMPORTANT POINT.

WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THINGS LIKE HORSEPOWER, ZERO TO 60 TIMES, OR HOW FAST A CAR GOES AROUND SOME OLD GERMAN RACE TRACK.

BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS STYLE, AND PERSONA.

AND THAT PRESENCE TO MAKE SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T EVEN LIKE CARS TO TAKE ONE LOOK AND JUST GO, WOW!

AND WITH A NEW SUPER CAR COMING OUT SEEMINGLY EVERY MONTH, IMPRESSING CAR AFICIONADOS GETS HARDER AND HARDER.

SO, INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO THE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT BIG THING THAT'LL KNOCK US OFF OUR FEET, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS TAKE A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF CLASSIC TREASURE YOU MIGHT FIND!

John: MAINTAINING YOUR CAR CAN GET EXPENSIVE.

AND IT'S TEMPTING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO TRIM THE BILL.

WELL, THIS WEEK PAT GOSS TELLS US ABOUT ONE MONEY SAVING OPTION THAT COULD END UP COSTING YOU MUCH MORE IN THE LONG RUN.

Pat Goss: THE SINGLE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF ANY AUTOMOBILE IS TYPICALLY GOING TO BE THE ENGINE.

YET, WITH ALL OF THAT EXPENSE INVOLVED, PEOPLE STILL TRY TO GET AWAY WITH THE CHEAPEST THAT THEY CAN AS FAR AS MAINTAINING IT.

OIL FILTERS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

WHY WOULD YOU BUY AN EXPENSIVE OIL FILTER TO PROTECT THAT EXPENSIVE ENGINE?

OR AT LEAST THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MENTAL ATTITUDE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WELL, YOU SHOULD.

YOU SHOULD BUY A GOOD QUALITY FILTER.

IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS BUY THE FILTER FROM THE DEALER USE THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR.

NOW, THAT $2.00 FILTER THAT YOU BUY, IT MAY NOT HAVE ALL OF THE PROTECTION YOUR ENGINE NEEDS.

IT MAY NOT HAVE THE RIGHT FILTER, THE PAPER INSIDE IT.

IT MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH OF IT.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT MAY BE INEXPENSIVE.

AND HERE IS THE BIG THING.

MOST FILTERS THESE DAYS HAVE CHECK VALVES IN THEM, AND THE PRIMARY ONE IS AN ANTI-DRAIN BACK VALVE.

THAT ANTI-DRAIN BACK VALVE PREVENTS THE OIL FROM BEING SIPHONED OUT OF THE FILTER WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF.

NOW, WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE CAR, THE ENGINE STARTS WITH NO OIL, BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP HAS TO FILL THE FILTER, THEN THE OIL CIRCULATES TO THE MOVING PARTS OF THE ENGINE AND THAT CAN ADD YEARS OF DAMAGE IN JUST A SINGLE START.

SO, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FILTER YOU USE IS QUALITY.

PAY A COUPLE BUCKS MORE.

AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION, BUY IT FROM THE DEALER.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE IF YOU DO YOUR OWN WORK, OUR OLD TRIED AND TRUE FILTER LIKE THIS IS GOING AWAY IN FAVOR OF THESE.

THIS IS THE NEW TYPE FILTER.

ALL THAT YOU REPLACE IS THE INTERNALS OF IT.

AND THE THING THAT YOU'LL FIND REALLY QUICKLY, IS THAT, THIS RIGHT HERE, THE NUT, OR WHATEVER TYPE DEVICE IS USED TO UNSCREW THIS CAP, YOU'D BETTER HAVE THE RIGHT TOOL OR YOU WILL SCREW UP THE CAP.

ALSO, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR REPLACEMENT FILTER COMES WITH ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE O-RINGS, SEALS, AND GASKETS.

ALRIGHT NOW, OVER HERE WE CAN SEE A TYPICAL ENGINE, OIL FILTER, OIL PUMP.

OIL PUMP PUMPS THE OIL UP THROUGH THE OIL FILTER AND THEN OUT TO THE ENGINE, THAT'S THE WAY THIS SYSTEM WORKS.

BUT NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO YOUR OWN OIL CHANGE, YOU MAY HAVE TO REMOVE A PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR, SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

TWO THINGS WITH THAT, DON'T THROW IT AWAY, IT'S THERE FOR A REASON.

IT CAN AFFECT THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE, AND IT CAN HAVE A HUGE EFFECT ON FUEL ECONOMY ON SOME CARS, SO BE CAREFUL ABOUT DOING THAT.

ALSO, WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK ON DON'T OVER TIGHTEN IT.

DON'T USE AN IMPACT TOOL ON IT BECAUSE YOU'LL DAMAGE THE FASTENERS AND IT WILL FALL OFF.

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

John: THE ROAD OF LIFE HAS MANY TWISTS AND TURNS.

AND WE HAVE JUST THE RIGHT RIDE IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

JEEP'S SECOND GENERATION 2017 COMPASS COMPACT UTILITY, NOW SOLDIERS ALONG WITHOUT ITS PATRIOT NEAR TWIN.

BUT IT FOLLOWS ITS SMALLER CHASSIS-MATE RENEGADE IN SPREADING THE OFF-ROAD GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JEEP TO A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE.

TO THAT END, THE NEW COMPASS WILL BE BUILT IN FOUR COUNTRIES, AND SOLD IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES, WITH A DIZZYING 17 POWERTRAIN COMBINATIONS.

STYLING CLEARLY FAVORS THE RANGE-TOPPING GRAND CHEROKEE.

SLIM DOWNED HEADLIGHTS FLANK A FAIRLY TRADITIONAL 7-SLOT GRILLE.

WHILE MUSCULAR FENDERS, SHOULDERS, AND SHORT REAR OVERHAND ALSO ADD TO A PURPOSEFUL LOOK.

OF THE FIVE ENGINES OFFERED GLOBALLY, NORTH AMERICA GETS ONLY THE RENEGADE'S 180 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER TIGERSHARK 4-CYLINDER.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STANDARD WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC AVAILABLE ON 4X2s.

4X4s ADDS A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC, WHICH WE FIRST DROVE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

Greg Carloss: IF YOU WANT TO GET ON THE POWER QUICKLY AND YOU WANT TO PASS SOMEBODY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE PATIENT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THAT TRANSMISSION, AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO KICK DOWN ALL THOSE GEARS TO GET INTO THE RIGHT ONE.

AND EVEN THEN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BLOW YOU AWAY, BUT THIS CAR IS AIMED AT FUEL ECONOMY AND AS A GLOBAL CAR THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS.

John: INSIDE, THE CENTER STACK COMES WITH A 5, 7, OR 8-POINT 4-INCH TOUCH SCREEN.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE ALSO ONBOARD.

ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING-PLUS, LANESENSE DEPARTURE WARNING-PLUS, AND BLIND-SPOT MONITORING.

WHILE, THE ORIGINAL 2006 COMPASS ARRIVED WITHOUT JEEP'S TRAIL RATED PEDIGREE, THE NEW COMPASS IS READY FOR THE ROUGH STUFF WITH TWO 4X4 SYSTEMS.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 JEEP COMPASS STARTS AT $21,000.

FOR MORE THAN 46-YEARS RANGE ROVERS HAVE BEEN PROWLING THE PLANET, INCLUDING THE REALMS OF ROYALTY, AND IN THE PROCESS INVENTING THE CONCEPT OF A LUXURY SUV.

AND THIS LATEST LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER LONG WHEEL BASE CERTAINLY ELONGATES THAT HERITAGE.

ITS 8-INCHES OF ADDED WHEELBASE GOES ALMOST ENTIRELY INTO PROVIDING MORE LIMO-LIKE LEGROOM FOR THE SECOND ROW.

IT'S ALSO EASIER TO CLIMB INTO THIS LARGER LAP OF LUXURY AS IT AUTOMATICALLY LOWERS ABOUT 2-INCHES WHEN A DOOR IS OPENED.

THERE'S NOW A SURROUND CAMERA SYSTEM, AND A POWER FOOT-ACTIVATED GESTURE TAILGATE.

FOR THE 2017 MODEL YEAR, MORE SEMI-AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN ADDED, INCLUDING INTELLIGENT SPEED LIMITER WHICH AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS CRUISING TO POSTED SPEED LIMITS.

RANGE ROVER LWB POWERTRAINS INCLUDE OUR TESTER'S FAMILIAR 510 HORSEPOWER 5.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V-8.

IT CONNECTS TO AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

JUST LOOKING AT THIS PREMIUM BRUTE, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT THE 4X4 RANGE ROVER CAN EFFORTLESSLY EXPLORE OFF THE PAVEMENT.

ALL-TERRAIN PROGRESS CONTROL MAINTAINS A SLOW SPEED, SO THE DRIVER CAN STAY FOCUSED ON STEERING.

2017 ADDS MORE HELP OFF ROAD WITH LOW TRACTION LAUNCH FOR SLIPPERY STARTS.

ALSO, NEW FOR 2017 IS A STANDARD WHEELBASE SV AUTOBIOGRAPHY DYNAMIC EDITION RANGE ROVER WITH A UNIQUE 550 HORSEPOWER V8.

THE RANGE ROVER LONG WHEEL BASE IS ON SALE NOW.

IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, THE PRICE STARTS AT $109,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON.

THE LAST JAGUAR COMPACT SPORTS SEDAN WE TESTED WAS THE X-TYPE.

DON'T REMEMBER IT?

WELL, THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING, AS THAT FORD CONTOUR BASED FRONT-DRIVER NEVER MADE A SERIOUS IMPACT HERE, OR YWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER.

JUST TOO MUCH A PARTS BIN CAR.

NOW, JAG IS STEPPING BACK INTO THAT SEGMENT, AND STEPPING UP, WITH WHAT MAY BE A MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL CAR.

THIS IS THE XE.

* AFTER FIRST HITTING EUROPEAN STREETS A YEAR AGO, THE 2017 JAGUAR XE SEDAN, NOW MAKES ITS WAY TO AMERICA'S POTHOLES, LOOKING TO CATCH A RIDE ON JAGUAR'S RECENT BIG KAHUNA SIZE WAVE OF SALES SUCCESS.

AND AWAITING YOU INSIDE THIS COMPACT SPORT 4-DOOR, IS THE FAMILIAR JAGUAR THEME OF LATE, ALONG WITH PLENTY OF THE ACCUSTOMED SWITCHGEAR.

AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT THE DRAB AND UNAPPEALING SPACE IT FITS INTO IS NOT.

MUCH OF THE DASH REAL ESTATE GOES UNUSED.

THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE PASSENGER TO LOOK AT EXCE LOTS OF PEBBLED PLASTIC AND A BIG AIRBAG LOGO.

THE XE REALLY NEEDS SOME EXTRA TRIM TO BRIGHTEN UP THE SPACE, AND REINFORCE ITS UPSCALE KINSHIP TO OTHER JAGUARS, AND FRANKLY, LOOK COMPETITIVE TO OTHER REAR-DRIVE EUROPEAN SPORT-LUXURY SEDANS.

NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, WE'LL GET TO WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THE XE; AND THERE'S PLENTY OF IT.

STARTING WITH WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD.

HERE, ITS JAGUAR'S LOVELY 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6; BOASTING 340 HORSEPOWER AND 332 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A 2.0 LITER DIESEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

BOTH ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND YOU CAN GET ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WITH BOTH.

AT THE TRACK, OUR REAR DRIVE V6 DID DO SOME BATTLE WITH WHEEL SPIN AT LAUNCH, BUT THEN GOT OFF TO A VERY NICE 4.9 SECOND 0-60.

POWER NEVER DEVIATES, WITH ENOUGH MIDRANGE TORQUE FOR DAYS, OR AT LEAST FOR A 13.5 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.

LOVELY!

AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND SEAMLESS; ALL ACCOMPANIED BY A SUBTLE EXHAUST NOTE REMINISCENT OF...

BUT NOWHERE NEAR AS FIERCE AS, THE F-TYPE.

IT WAS EASY TO KEEP THE SPEED UP THROUGH OUR HANDLING COURSE.

IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW THAT STEERING WAS ELECTRIC, WE'D HAVE A HARD TIME GUESSING; VERY RESPONSIVE, IF DOWN ON TRUE ROAD FEEL.

DYNAMIC MODE TIGHTENS AND QUICKENS EVERYTHING UP, HELPING TO IMPROVE FEEL; THOUGH WE FOUND THROTTLE RESPONSE NOW TOUCHY, AND IT WAS EASY TO INITIATE TOO MUCH OVERSTEER.

ON PUBLIC ROADS, NEAR POSTED SPEEDS, THE XE DRIVES WONDERFULLY.

IT'S A HIGHLY CAPABLE BACK ROAD BLASTER, WITH A TREMENDOUSLY SMOOTH AND PLACID NATURE.

THE ZF-SOURCED 8-SPEED TRANSMISSION IS WELL-SORTED, AND ALSO WELL-MATCHED TO THIS V6; WE ONLY EXPERIENCED SOME OCCASION JERKINESS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC.

WITH EVERY SETTING AT ITS SPORTIEST, THE XE DOES A DECENT 3-SERIES IMPRESSION, BUT IT FEELS MORE AT HOME KEPT IN SOFTER SETTINGS.

COMPARED TO RIVALS SUCH AS THE 3-SERIES, C-CLASS, A4, AND ATS; THE XE IS FAR MORE GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT.

THE PROPORTIONS LOOK JUST RIGHT, THERE ARE ENOUGH CREASES AND ANGLES TO KEEP IT INTERESTING, AND THE COUPE-LIKE, THICK C-PILLAR PROFILE IS CERTAINLY CONSISTENT WITH THE SEGMENT.

SO, ANY COMPROMISE TO REAR VISIBILITY IS A CONCESSION WE CAN LIVE WITH.

LIKE MOST RECENT JAG'S, THERE ARE PLENTY OF STYLISH DETAILS THAT REMIND US OF THE NOW HALOED F-TYPE.

PLENTY OF TECH FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE TOO, AND YOU CAN ACTIVATE THE REAR CAMERA ALMOST ANY TIME, WHICH WE FEEL IS A BETTER SOLUTION THAN CADILLAC'S REARVIEW MIRROR CAM.

AND WHILE SOME MAY THINK WE WERE A BIT HARSH IN OUR EARLIER DESCRIPTION OF THE XE'S OVERALL INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT; WE HAVE ONLY PRAISE FOR JAG'S LATEST INCONTROL TOUCH SYSTEM THAT MANAGES IT.

IT'S LOGICAL, AND RESPONDS QUICKLY TO YOUR INPUTS.

A HUGE STEP UP!

XE PRICING STARTS VERY REASONABLY AT $35,895 FOR A TURBO-4 25T, AND THE V6 35T IS NOT OUT OF LINE EITHER, AT $42,695; WITH THE DIESEL FALLING IN BETWEEN THE TWO.

THE 2017 JAGUAR XE CONTINUES THE BRAND'S STREAK OF ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE WINNERS.

PLUS, ON THE OUTSIDE, IT'S VERY EASY ON THE EYES.

BUT, IT'S GOING UP AGAINST A SEA OF EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVES WITH A LACKLUSTER INTERIOR THAT IS NO HELP.

STILL, AND VERY MUCH UNLIKE THE X-TYPE BEFORE IT, THERE'S A LOT TO LIKE, AND ADMIRE ABOUT THE XE, AND IT CLEARLY DESERVES TO BE PART OF ANY LUXO-SPORT SEDAN CONVERSATION.

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 STIR VOODOO AND VROOM TO MAKE A VIPER STING!

AND IT'S TIME TO TWEAK AND ADD TECH TO THE ACURA MDX.

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.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Man: "YO DANNY, MY MAN!

HA, HA, HA."

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVE THEM SHIPPED TO A LOCAL INSTALLER.

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

*

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