THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

TONIGHT WE GO UNDER THE HOOD OF AMERICA'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM.

THIS IS THE 45TH SEASON FOR MOTOR WEEK BUT THE SHOW AND ITS HOST JUST LIKE ALL NEW CARS ONLY GETS FASTER AND BETTER LOOKING EVERY YEAR.

JOHN DAVIS JOINS US TONIGHT AND WE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THINGS AUTOMOTIVE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HALL.

>> I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY THAT TO YOU IN-PERSON.

>> Jeff: THIS ANNIVERSARY OF MOTOR WEEK IT WAS A GLEAM IN YOUR EYE IN 1981 WHEN YOU WERE SIX YEARS OLD.

L. I WISH.

197 AID WE DID THE PILOT.

I HAD BECOME EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF WALL STREET WEEK AND WARREN PARK OUR DIRECTOR MPT SAID IT'S ABOUT TIME WE SEE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN INSTEAD OF RIDING SOMEONE'S COATTAILS.

WE DID DIFFERENT PILOTS OF SHOWS THAT I HAD IN MY BRAIN BUT I WANTED TO BRING THE PRINTED MAGAZINE TO TV.

WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND OUT THE NAME MOTOR WEEK WAS AVAILABLE.

WE DID A PILOT AND IT SAT 24R LIKE A CAR ON THE USED CAR LOT WHILE WE DRUMMED UP STOFT STATIONS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING IT.

FROM THE BEGINNING WE WANTED TO DO IT FOR MARYLANDERS AND MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE IN THE REGION OR AROUND THE COUNTRY INTERESTED IN THE TOPIC COULD TAKED SHOW.

IN JULY THE FIFTH 1981, EXCUSE ME, AND WARREN CALLED ME IN TO HIS OFFICE AND SAID A COMPETING STATION WAS GOING TO DO A CAR SHOW AND WANTED TO KNOW IF WE COULD GET ON THE AIR IN SIX MONTHS AND WE DID MAKE IT ON THE AIR IN OCTOBER THINKING IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO DO FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND HERE WE ARE A LIFETIME LATER.

>> Jeff: THE ORIGINAL FILMS FROM THE EARLY EPISODES SURVIVED.

I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY WHAT ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ROAD TESTS LOOKED LIKE.

>> NOW FOR A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS LET'S TURN THE CAR OVER TO THE TESTING STAFF.

FIRST ON THEIR AGENDA IS A TEST FOR PASSING ACCELERATION HOW FAST A CAR MOVES FROM 45 TO 50-MILES-PER-HOUR.

IT TOOK A SLOW SIX SECONDS FIVE OR LESS WOULD BE BETTER.

YOU EXPECT SMALL CARS TO BE MANEUVERABLE AND YOU CAN GAUGE BY THE DIAMETER OF A TURNING CIRCLE.

IT TOOK 36 FEET NOT AS TIGHT AS WE EXPECTED.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE GOING IN CIRCLES.

>> IT WAS MARTIN STATE AIRPORT THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO LET US USE THE FACILITIES THAT SHOP WAS DONE FROM THE TOP OF A HANGAR.

AND WE WERE FEELING OUR WAY, WE HAD TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MAGAZINES WERE DOING BECAUSE THEY WERE THE PROS AT IT AND WE DUPLICATED IT BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE FANCY EQUIPMENT WE HAD MEASURING DEVICES, I MEAN LIKE RUN BESIDE THE CAR AND SEE HOW FAR IT TOOK TO STOP.

AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT.

AND A STOPWATCH.

SO IT WAS PRETTY RUDIMENTARY.

>> Jeff: FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES LET'S LOOK AT A MORE RECENT FAIRLY NEW TEST TRACK VIDEO FROM THIS SEASON'S MOTOR WEEK.

>> WE FINISHED OUT THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.2 SECONDS AT 116-MILES-PER-HOUR.

EVEN WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS, WE WERE BLOWN AWAY IN OUR HANDLING COURSE LOADS OF GRIP, QUICK STEERING AND NEUTRAL HANDLING HAD US RIPPING THROUGH THE CONES WITH PRECISION AND VERY LITTLE BODY ROLL.

REAR AXLE STEERING IS STANDARD AND WE COULD FEET IT KICKING IN.

NOT IN AN ABRUPT WAY.

JUST A SENSE THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS ROTATING WITH GRIP NOT SLIDING.

FULL BRAKES MEANS STOPS WERE AGGRESSIVE AVERAGING 91 FEET FROM 60.

>> Jeff: I'M NOT A CAR GUY BUT THAT VIDEO MAKES ME WANT TO HEAD TO A TEST TRACK.

IT LOOKS LIKE FUN.

>> THE VIDEO IS DRONES AND SMALL CAMERAS.

THE ACTUAL TESTING ROUTINE DOING ACCELERATION TESTS HANDLING TESTS AND BRAKING THAT ALMOST IS UNCHANGED FROM WHAT IT WAS 45 YEARS AGO AND NOW WE HAVE COMPUTERS TO DO ALL THE CALCULATING AND MAKE SURE THE DATA IS SPOT ON.

AND WE ARE ONE OF ONLY, I GUESS, ABOUT FOUR MEDIA THAT DO INSTRUMENTED TESTING OF NEW CARS ANYMORE.

MOTOR TREND, CAR AND DRIVER MAGAZINE, CONSUMER REPORTS AND US AND EVERYBODY ELSE IT'S ONLY OPINIONS BUT WE GIVE YOU THE FACTS THE WAY THEY COME FROM THE TEST TRACK.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR Mr.

DAVIS ABOUT YOUR CAR OR BUYING A CAR SEND US AN E-MAIL, THE E-MAIL IS LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG AND WE WILL TRY TO GET TO YOUR QUESTION.

TALKED ABOUT HOW THE GIZMOS OF THE HAD SHOOT CHANGED.

HOW ABOUT THE VEHICLES THE TOP OF THE LINE FROM 45 YEARS AGO VERSUS THE TOP OF THE LINE TODAY TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD.

>> TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD IN EVERY ASPECT THEY GO FASTER.

IT USED TO BE IF A CAR WENT 0-60 THE MEASURE IN THIS COUNTRY HOW FAST OF A CAR IF IT GOT 0-60 NINE, 10 SECONDS IT WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

TODAY IF IT'S OVER FIVE WE THINK IT'S SLUGGISH.

WITH THE ADD VENT OF ELECTRIC CARS WE WERE SEEING THREE SECONDS AND LESS.

THAT SPED UP.

CAR HANDLING CARS ARE SO MUCH SAFER NOW NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILT BETTER BUT THE ELECTRONIC SAFETY DIVING AIDS LIKE STABILITY CONTROL KEEP THE CAR SAFER.

THEY ROLL LESS AND BRAKING THERE IS NO QUESTION WE USED TO SEE ANYWHERE FROM 140-160 STOPPING FROM 60-MILES-PER-HOUR IN A PANIC RUN.

NOW UNDER 100 FEET IS TYPICAL FOR SOME OF THE BEST CARS.

>> Jeff: IS THAT ANTILOCK BRAKING?

BETTER TIRES?

>> IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ALL AT THAT TIME AFFORDABILITY THE BUZZWORD IN POLITICS AND THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A NEW CAR IS $50,000.

>> IT'S CLOSE TO IT AND IN DECEMBER I READ ONE MEASURE PUT IT AROUND 48.

AND IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

AND SALES FOR '25 WERE UP 2% IT WAS 16 MILLION CAR YEAR DESPITE THE TURMOIL AND THE TARIFFS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

NOT A BAD YEAR FOR THE AUTO WORRY BUT THERE'S WORRY THAT '26 IS NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY.

BECAUSE 50,000 DOLLARS AVERAGE FOREVER A NEW CAR.

SEVEN YEAR LOANS.

THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT SAVE IS IS DECLINING INTEREST RATES.

THERE IS A REAL CONCERN THAT CARS PRICED TESTIMONY SELVES OUT OF THE MARKET.

THIS HAPPENED BEFORE BACK IN THE 80s THAT HAPPENED AND IT BROUGHT IN THE LUXURY DIVISIONS OF LEXUS FOR TOYOTA AND ACURA FOR HONDA AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE CHINESE ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS TO TAKE VAC OF THIS AFFORDABILITY ISSUE THIS TIME.

>> Jeff: I READ A CHINESE MANUFACTURER HAS TAKEN OVER TESLA IN SALES.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?

THEY HAVE BUILT IN ADVANTAGES, ANY UNFAIR ADVANTAGES?

>> PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE IS NOT UNDER CURRENT OF HAVING STATE FINANCING THAT A PRIVATE COMPANY WOULDN'T HAVE.

BUT THE CHINESE HAVE LEARNED SO FAST WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING NOT JUST GOOD EV'S BUT GOOD HIGH-TECH AUTOMOBILES THAT SOME OF THE NEWEST MODELS ARE ASTOUNDING IN QUALITY AND WHAT THEY CAN DO.

AND, EVERYBODY, IN PRICE.

SO I THINK THE AUTOMAKERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN EUROPE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT BEING PUT OUT OF BUSINESS IF THERE'S JUST A DUTY FREE SITUATION AND THE CHINESE COME IN IN DROVES.

THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME IN EUROPE AND HAVING TO GO BACK AND ERECT SOME BARRIERS AND SO I'M SURE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY PUT TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER AND THEY SHOULD.

BECAUSE THEY WILL PROBABLY CAUSE ECONOMIES OF SCALE THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE LEVEL OF THEIR PROWESS IS SCARY.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE?

THE LAST PLANT I WAS IN WAS IN BALTIMORE THEY OVERHAULED THE PLACE AND INSTALLED THE ROBOTS IT WAS FUTURISTIC AND NOW IT'S GONE IS THAT WHAT MANUFACTURING STILL LOOKS LIKE?

>> TO A AGREE.

>> HENRY FORD'S ASSEMBLY LINE.

>> IT IS BUT WHERE HENRY FORD AND UP TO 10 YEARS AGO, YOU STILL HAD LOTS OF INDIVIDUAL PARTS EVEN WITH THE ROBOTS PUTTING IN THINGS LIKE WINDSHIELDS AND DOORS.

NOW PARTS COME IN IN ASSEMBLIES.

AND SOME OF THE NEWER DESIGNS THAT ARE COMING OFF THE BOARD RIGHT NOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE WHOLE FRONT END DELIVERED TO THE FACTORY.

AND ONLY HAVE THREE OR FOUR MAJOR PIECES THAT HAVE TO BE PUT TOGETHER THAT IS WHAT FORD IS WORKING ON WITH THE LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT.

PARTS ARE COMING IN IN BIGGER QUANTITIES AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE CAR TO BE ASSEMBLED AND LESS UNION LABOR INVOLVED BUT MORE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET THE CAR FIXED.

THAT IS THE DOWNSIDE.

>> Jeff: THE FAMILY SEDAN IF THERE IS STILL SUCH A THING.

>> THERE ALMOST ISN'T AT THAT TIME ANYMORE.

WHEN YOU SEE FAMILY SEDANS ARE A STAPLE THAT ARE NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY COMPLETELY AND THEY SHOULDN'T.

TOYOTA CAMRY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MANY DOMESTIC PLANNEDDED ONES THINK MORE.

TOYOTA CAMRY, HONDA ACCORD AT HYUNDAIED ELAN TRA THOSE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD VEHICLES.

KIA HAS A K4 THOSE ARE GREAT CARS IF YOU DON'T NEED AN S.U.V.

AND IF YOU DO TAKE THIS KIA K4 YOU CAN GET A HATCHBACK THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF AN S.U.V.

EVERYBODY WANTS A TRUCK OR S.U.V.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF THE VUMS YOU SAY TO YOURSELF THAT LOOKS LIKE A STATION WAGON, DOESN'T IT?

AND INDEED IT DOES.

IT NOW HAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT QUESTIONS.

OUR ADDRESS IS ON THE SCREEN IF ANYONE WANTS TO E-MAIL JOHN.

THIS IS MYAH WHO ASKS HOW DOES MOTOR WEEK BALANCE THE TESTING OF EVERYDAY CARS VERSUS SUPER CARS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IT IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT WE DO.

WHEN WE -- WE DO 150 CARS A YEAR AND OFTEN WHEN THEY GO TO THE TEST TRACK AND THE CLIP AT MASON DIXON DRAG WAY WHERE WE TEST OUR CARS, AND THEY MAY HAVE A TOYOTA CAMRY AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE A PORSCHE 911 AND THE DRIVERS HAD TO GET FROM ONE TO THE OTHER AND RESET THEIR MINDSET SO THEY DON'T GET INTO THE CAMRY AND SAY WELL SINCE IT'S NOT LIKE THE 911 IT IS A TERRIBLE CAR.

IT IS A TOUGH CAR THAT THE TEST DRIVERS HAVE TO DO AND THEY WRITE DOWN ALL OF THEIR OPINIONS AND GET TO THE WRITER AND TO MYSELF.

AND THEN WE FURTHER HAVE TO REFINE THEM BUT IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT THING THAT OUR STAFF HAS TO DO IS BALANCE BETWEEN THE EXTREMES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD.

>> Jeff: VIEWER QUESTION.

WHY DID FORD ABANDON EDGE, WHAT IS EDGE?

>> EDGE WAS AN EXPERIMENT TO TAKE AN S.U.V.

AND A MINIVAN BUT NOT MAKE IT A MINIVAN AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT IT WAS A TWO-BOX DESIGN LIKE A MINIVAN BUT IT WAS HAD A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE ABOUT IT.

IT WENT OVER FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING THAT LOOKED LIKE A MINIVAN.

THE ONLY PLACE IT REMAINED POPULAR WAS CALIFORNIA.

OUT THERE THE FORD NAME WAS A DRAG AND THEY TOOK THE FORD BADGE OFF OF IT AND PUBLICIZED EDGE AND IT SOLD WELL FORA COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT IT REMINDED PEOPLE OF MINIVANS AND THEY FELL OUT OF FAVOR AND STILL ARE ALTHOUGH THEY ARE MAKING A COMEBACK.

>> Jeff: BRETT ASKS WHAT CARS DO YOU DRIVE?

>> I HAVE A VARIED FLEET MOSTLY NON-DES DESCRIPTIVE A 2003 FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCK.

MY NEWEST CAR IS I FIAT 500E ALL ELECTRIC.

I HAVE A HYUNDAI PALISADES I'VE HAD TWO OF THEM IT IS A THREE-ROW S.U.V.

THAT AND IT IS OUR DOG MOBILE WE HAVE DOGS AND THEY TAKE LONG TRIPS WITH US.

THOSE ARE THE THREE MAJOR ONES.

THE ONLY THING OF NOTE THAT I GOT THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED FUN IS WE HAVE A MINI COOPER SITTING IN OUR GARAGE IT IS A 2001 THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BMW ONE AND I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO PART WITH IT.

>> Jeff: DOES MOTOR WEEK BUY ALL THE VEHICLES FOR TESTING.

>> NO.

NO H.

>> Jeff: AND TAKE MORE VIEWERS WRITING CHECKS TO DO THAT TO MAINTAIN IMPATIENCALITY WHEN EVALUATING.

>> IT IS A FAIR QUESTION ALL OF THE VEHICLES WE TEST COME FROM THE MANUFACTURERS.

AND THAT'S TRUE OF EVERYONE THAT WRITES OR DOES VIDEOS OR ABOUT NEW CARS DOES NEW CAR TESTING I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU SEE IT.

THEY COME FROM THE MANUFACTURER NOT THE DEALER.

DEALERS PROVIDE US CARS SOMETIMES WHEN I STAND UP NEXT TO, BUT THEY COME FROM MANUFACTURERS THEY HAVE FLEETS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THE CARS COME IN AND THEY GO TO THE JOURNALIST AND THEY HAVE IT FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THEY GO BACK AND GO TO THE NEXT.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO BUY THE VEHICLES ARE CONSUMER REPORTS.

AND FOR YEARS THEY'VE WARNED THAT AS A BADGE OF HONOR AND IT IS WONDERFUL THAT THEY CAN DO IT IT IS NOT FINANCIALLY DOABLE FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

BECAUSE WE SEE SO MANY VEHICLES A YEAR, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO PLAY FAVORITES, I THINK, BECAUSE THEY COME THROUGH ALMOST ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE BASIS.

>> Jeff: DAY ONE, YEAR ONE OF MOTOR WEEK YOU WERE GETTING THE CARS FROM HERTZ?

>> I THINK WE HAVE MAY HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE BECAUSE THE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS FORD, CHRYSLER, GM, THEY WERE VERY COOPERATED ACTIVE.

THE GERMAN MANUFACTURERS THEY WERE ALL LOCATED IN NEW JERSEY THE EUROPEANS THEY WERE COOPERATIVE.

BUT WE HAD TROUBLE GETTING SOME OF THE ASIAN IMPORTS SPECIFICALLY TOYOTAS AND HONDAS THEY WERE LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH A NEW UPSTART AND TV DID NOT HAVE A REPUTATION OF TREATING AUTOMOBILES FAIRLY.

BUT WE HAD A DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOYOTA IN TOWN AND IT WAS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY MID-ATLANTIC TOYOTA AND THEY WORKED WITH US AND THAT BROKE THE ICE AND EVERYBODY FELL INTO PLACE.

>> Jeff: MORE E-MAILS, I WANTED TO ASK IF YOU WOULD BUY A VEHICLE USED FOR JOURNALIST TESTING?

I THINK ABOUT YOU DON'T OWN CARS WHAT HAPPENED TO SOMETHING OUT OF THE FLEET OF A BIG RENTAL CAR COMPANY AND WHETHER YOU WERE GO BUY ONE OF THOSE AS A USED CAR?

>> ALL THE VEHICLES WE TEST GO BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AND AIR OFTEN SOLD TO DEETERS TO BE RESOLD.

HOWEVER THEY GET RECONDITIONED BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

AND NO VEHICLE GOES TO SOMEONE LIKE US THAT IS TESTING IT THAT HAS MORE THAN SEVEN OR 8,000 MILES ON IT.

AND WE'RE REALLY FAIRLY GENTLE WITH THE VEHICLES EXCEPT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT THE TEST TRACK WHERE WE DO THE BRAKING RUNS ARE PROBABLY THE HARDEST.

>> Jeff: CASEY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES THAT ARE PUSHED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND YOU CAN BUY IT AFTER MARKET AS WELL?

>> WELL, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTIES THAT ARE THE BEST ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY PUT FORTH BY THE NEW CAR MANUFACTURER.

IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO YOU AND YOUR PEACE OF MIND.

IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE PAYING THAT EXTRA MONEY FOR A LONGER WARRANTY UP TO 10 YEARS WHERE THE NEW CAR WARRANTY MIGHT BE THREE, FOUR, FIVE OR SIX THAT IS A DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE PERSONALLY.

I DON'T OFTEN RECOMMEND THEM.

TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT IN THE BANK AND NOBODY DOES.

MY ADVICE IS REMEMBER THEY ARE NEGOTIABLE BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS HERE IS THE WARRANTY AND IT'S $6,000.

SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE ON THAT LIKE YOU WOULD THE NEW CAR PRICE AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET IT FOR LESS AND YOU CAN DO SHOP AROUND WITH SOME OF THE INDEPENDENT WARRANTY COMPANIES THERE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD ONES OUT THERE.

BUT IT'S WHETHER YOU FEEL LIKE IT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE.

THAT IS THE BIG THING.

>> Jeff: HOW ABOUT RELIABILITY?

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN AMERICAN CARS HAD A TOUGH REPUTATION WHICH MAKES THE SALE OF THE WARRANTY EASIER IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO LAST THREE YEARS.

>> THE WAY OF JUDGING QUALITY IN CARS LIKE ALL THE POLLS HAVE CHANGED.

IT USED TO BE THINGS GONE WRONG.

NOW CARS ARE SO GOOD IT'S THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE.

A LOT OF TIMES CARS GET CRITICIZED BECAUSE THE FUEL ECONOMY WASN'T AS GOOD OR BECAUSE THE INFO TAN.

SYSTEM WAS NOT AN EASY TO OPERATE IS MAYBE THEIR PHONE IS.

SO CARS IN GENERAL ARE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH QUALITY I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU GET THEM FROM.

BUT THERE ARE POLLS LIKE DJ POWER AND OTHERS AND CONSUMER REPORTS DOES THAT THAT SHOWS YOU SOME ARE BETTER AN OTHERS.

I WOULDN'T HESITATE TO BUY ANY NEW CAR I CAN THINK OF BASED BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT BREAKING DOWN.

MOST CARS DON'T BREAKDOWN ANYMORE.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FANCY NEW STUFF, THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THE SELF-DRIVING TAXIS IS ALL THAT READY FOR PRIMETIME?

>> NO.

>> L AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WE HAVE A LOT OF SEMI AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND WAYMO AND COMPANIES DO THE TAXIS.

>> Jeff: HAVE YOU GOTTEN IN ONE?

>> NO.

BUT IT'S COMING TO BALTIMORE I'M PLANNING TO EXPERIENCE IT MYSELF BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL FREAK ME OUT IF THERE'S NOBODY BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THEM.

IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT, LOW SPEED, MAYBE THEY'LL WORK.

BUT ANYTIME YOU GET HUMAN BEINGS INVOLVED AND I'M TALKING ABOUT DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES THEY ARE GOING TO DO THINGS THAT AREN'T EXPECTED.

SO MAYBE IT WORKS THERE FINE.

I'M NOT SO SURE IT'S GOING TO WORK ON THE OPEN ROAD ANYTIME SOON.

THE SEMI AUTONOMOUS ASPECT THAT MOST NEW CARS HAVE, LANE ASSIST ALL THE CAMERAS THAT KEEP YOU FROM BACKING UP OR GOING FORWARD ALL OF THAT STUFF WHICH IS NEEDED FOR AUTONOMOUS CARS THEY ARE A BOON TO SAFETY IN EVERYDAY AUTOMOBILES.

>> Jeff: I AM SO OUT OF THE LOOP ON AUTOMOTIVE STUFF.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO I RENTED A CAR AT THE PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT AND I'M DRIVING OUT OF THERE AND THE LANE SAYS TECHNOLOGY I'M COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF IT AND IT'S ON.

SO INTEREST'S DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING TO CHANGE LANES, AND IT FEELS LIKE.

>> IT'S TRYING TO KEEP YOU BACK.

>> IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF.

WHO DID WHAT TO THIS VEHICLE IT WAS A COUPLE MILES BEFORE I FIGURED OUT THIS IS FIGHTING ME ONLY WHEN I'M CHANGING LANES AND THERE MUST BE A SWITCH.

>> DID YOU USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL?

IT DEACTIVATES THAT.

>> >> Jeff: TO THIS DAY I HADN'T FIGURED THAT OUT.

I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU A LOT OF US TESTING VEHICLES WE HATE THE SYSTEMS, TOO.

BUT IN EVERYDAY DRIVING THEY DO KEEP YOU FROM, YOU KNOW, DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE AND YOUR MIND STARTS WANDERING BECAUSE IT'S A BORING DRIVE AND THEY CAN WAKE YOU UP AND SAY PAY ATTENTION.

THEY ARE GOOD SYSTEMS EVEN IF THEY CAN BE ANNOYING.

>> Jeff: VIEWER QUESTION LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING POWER TRAIN GAINS FOLLOWING POWER TRAIN GAINS THE MOST TRACTION IN THE NEAR TERM AND THE LONG-TERM.

GASOLINE ENGINE, HYBRID, PHEV.

>> PLUG IN HYBRIDS.

>> Jeff: AND AS I RECALL FROM PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS YOU LIKE THOSE?

>> I LIKE HYBRIDS OF ALL TYPES WE EVERY POWER TRAIN OUT THERE THAT HAS A COMBUSTION ENGINE SHOULD BE A HYBRID AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW VARIETIES.

THEY TAKE A HYBRID AND TOYOTA PRIUS, BUT ALSO HAS A SIZABLE BATTERY SO YOU CAN DRIVE 30, 40, 50 MILES ON BATTERY ALONE ENOUGH TO GET YOU BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.

THAT IS THE FUTURE.

BUT I THINK HYBRIDS IN GENERAL ARE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY POPULAR OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

IT'S REALLY WHEN THE EV MARKET STARTED TO COLLAPSE, LET'S SAY, IT WAS BEFORE THE INCENTIVES WERE TAKEN OFF.

AND IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE SAID WE WANT TO FOR THAT WE CAN TAKE LONGER TRIPS AND OVERHERE YOU CAN GET INTO A HYBRID AND YOU CAN DO IT AND YOU STILL GET GREAT FUEL ECONOMY AND THE PLUG IN HYBRIDS CAN GIVE YOU ELECTRIC PRO PULSE.

AND PLUG IN HYBRIDS WILL BE THE MEDIUM.

>> Jeff: DID EV'S COLLAPSE?

I'M THINKING THERE IS A WHAT WITH THAT I WJLA 247 NEWS WJLA 247 NEWS THAT I FREQUENT SOMETIMES AND THEY ARE BUSY INSTALLING CHARGERS.

>> EV'S ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY COLLAPSE AND I SHOULDN'T USE AT THAT TIME TERM.

YES, THEY WENT FROM 10, 12% OF NATIONAL SALES WITH THE INCENTIVES ON TO AFTER SEPTEMBER 5, 6%.

PROBABLY WE'RE GOING TO SEE EV'S CONTINUING AROUND 5 OR 6% OF THE MARKET AND GROW SLOWLY OVER THE LONG-TERM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW EV'S IN THE PIPELINE.

I LOOKED AT WHAT WE'RE TESTING THE NEXT 12 MONTHS A LOT OF EV'S AND A LOT MORE HYBRIDS AND PLUG IN HYBRIDS BECAUSE THE CONSUMER SAID THAT IS WHAT I WANT.

10 YEARS AGO YOU COULDN'T GIVE AWAY A HYBRID NOW IT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS AND THE CONSUMER CAN CHANGE ITS MIND AND IN THIS CASE THEY'VE DECIDED EV'S WE'RE NOT READY FOR YOU YET.

WE DON'T WANT TO SIT 40 MINUTES AND CHARGE IT UP.

BUT HYBRIDS THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT COMBINATION.

AND I THINK IT IS.

>> Jeff: THE QUESTION FROM KERRY WITH CARS SAFER NOW WHY DO I CONTINUE TO SEE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ABOUT ACCIDENTS WITH ROLLOVER?

GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT, WINTER DRIVING THERE IS NO SNOW IN THE FORECAST TODAY.

BUT SOON.

>> FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT HELP YOU STOP FASTER OR BE MORE STABLE IN SNOW.

IT HELPS YOU GO IN SNOW.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE THEY CAN GO LIKE A BAT OUT OF YOU KNOW WHERE IN A SNOWSTORM BUT SLICK SURFACES AND ICE YOU ARE AS HELPLESS AS ANYBODY ELSE.

IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, CARS ARE MUCH SAFER.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY DRIVERS HAVE BECOME USED TO OVERDRIVING THE SAFETY FEATURES.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGHWAY DEATHS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND YES, THERE ARE MORE CARS ON THE ROAD AND MORE MILES DRIVEN BUT IT'S BEEN A TOUGH NUMBER TO GET OUT AND TODAY IT'S ABOVE WHERE IT WAS PREPANDEMIC.

AND IT'S LARGELY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING FASTER AND MORE CARELESSLY.

>> Jeff: I GOT 10 SECONDS.

TELL ME WHAT IS COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> OH, THE FIRST HIGH PERFORMANCE EV FROM CADILLAC THE LYRIC V IS COMING UP AND YOU MAY THINK HIGH PERFORMANCE AND EV?

YES IT IS A THING.

A LOT OF NEW STUFF BOTH ORDINARY AND HIGH PERFORMANCE.

>> Jeff: JOHN DAVIS OF MOTOR WEEK GREAT FUN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION" BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" FOR ALL OF US AT MPT HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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