Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Our 45th season is off to a prancing horse start in the Ferrari Roma Spider!

Audra Fordin gives us a road trip rundown on "Your Drive!"

Greg Carloss gets the dirt on some Baja runners!

And we'll head back in the latest of a greatest, the Toyota 4Runner!

So, come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

♪ ♪ ANNOUNCER: MotorWeek: 45 years, steering you in the right direction!

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JOHN: Well, hello and welcome to the start of the 45th season of MotorWeek!

We're glad to have you with us.

The early 2020s were an interesting time by all accounts, so you can be forgiven if you missed the arrival of Ferrari's Roma grand touring coupe.

It took quite a few years for things to get back to normal, and also a few years for a spider version of the Roma to arrive.

Well, it's never too late for seat time in a Ferrari!

So, join us as we get caught up in Ferrari's latest droptop stunner!

♪ ♪ This 2025 Ferrari Roma Spider is the latest in a long line of open-air grand touring machines from a brand most people associate with racing and exotic performance hardware.

And naming it after the grand city of Rome is not only an indicator of this car's importance to the brand; but considering it's based on the Portofino, it's also sort of a transition from a relaxed Riviera mindset to a focus on modern design, yet with a strong sense of history.

While at times Italian Spider could be loosely translated to "awkward to use top," no such problems here with this modern power operated soft-top assembly, just 13.5 seconds of smooth folding and stowing.

Unique fabric was used to ensure that it not only looks great, but provides the necessary protection from the elements.

And of course, when up, it blends in perfectly with the Roma's gorgeously swoopy body panels.

The overall look is more elegant than aggressive with the long hood and short rear deck silhouette used for most high-end GT cars.

Technically, two rear seats remain in place, though a much more practical function is the fold up wind deflector that is now integrated into them.

But, it's what's under the hood that truly lights our fire around here, and nestled just behind the Roma's front wheels is Ferrari's twin-turbo 3.9 liter V8, outputting 612 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque; both numbers same as the Portofino, and likewise, it powers strictly the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While, we started out testing cars in 1981, it wasn't until our 4th season that we were able to live out our Ferrari fantasies when we crashed one of the East Coast's biggest Ferrari parties at the Prancing Horse Farm.

And the following year, we got our first chance to put a Ferrari 328 to the test.

We called it one of the most stable machines on the road today, and the ultimate in automotive craftsmanship.

Most of the same can be said about every Ferarri we've driven since.

The Roma's vehicle dynamics system features comfort, sport, and race settings, along with a wet mode and an ESC off position on the steering wheel-mounted dial.

And it makes a huge difference which setting you have dialed up, as Ferrari has created quite a relaxed and easy to drive cruiser when in the Comfort mode.

You really have to flip over to Sport or Race for it to come alive; although, it sounds fantastic no matter which mode you're in.

Steering is quick, and the Roma strikes a great balance of being very responsive to inputs without feeling hyper.

Ferrari claims a 3.4 second 0-60 time, but we'd say that's a bit conservative.

Standard carbon fiber brakes are at the ready to whoa things down in a hurry.

The Roma features what is definitely the most modern Ferrari interior we've tested, with a big tablet-style center screen and wireless smartphone connectivity, plus, an available in-dash screen strictly for the passenger.

Unfortunately, modern these days also means touch-sensitive steering wheel controls which we could do without.

Both driver and passenger have great sits to sit in, but are also highly confined to their own space.

If you plan on actually touring with this grand tourer, the good news is there's 9.0 cubic-feet of trunk space, and even a small pass through.

But, the storage shelf for the top eats up a lot of the space, and is fixed in place, so it stays there whether the top is up or down.

For early spring or fall getaways, this available fire breathing neck warmer can easily extend your top down drive time.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 17 city, 22 highway, and 19 combined.

We averaged 19 miles per gallon of Premium.

That's only slightly below average for the Energy Impact Score, consuming 15.7 Barrels of Oil Yearly, with 7.7 Tons of CO2 Emissions.

Officially, the Roma Spider starts at $279,965, but with options, our tester came in just over $400,000.

Further bad news, as Ferrari ramps up Spider production, they'll be discontinuing the Coupe version of the Roma.

That's how confident they are that this 2025 Ferrari Roma Spider soft top will be able to fulfill their fans grand touring needs.

And considering it made all of our drive time feel like a holiday, we have to agree.

♪ ♪ The F355 likens itself to the thoroughbred racing machines on which Scuderia Ferrari was founded, and which dominated the grand prix circuit in the early post-war years.

That era of the gentleman's racer lives on in the F355, and its racing impact is lessened not a bit by our Spider's droptop design.

Tackling the high banks and road courses thanks to our test Spider's generous, but thankfully absent owner.

Handling improves dramatically over that of the 348 with the refinement and balance not found before.

The F355 still makes the driver work a bit, but the well damp steering, mild understeer and responsive throttle make the job a lot more entertaining.

♪ ♪ As tough as it is for young adults to break into the automotive industry, there are quite a few points of entry.

Going to college to study engineering, design, or even journalism are all avenues that can lead to automotive jobs.

But this week our "Over the Edge" guy Greg Carloss shows us a much more exciting, albeit rigorous path.

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: We're at Budd's Creek Motorsports Park in southern Maryland and at the risk of being TMI, I am absolutely drenched in sweat.

Could be the humidity or the heat of competition, because this is Baja SAE where college students from around the country and beyond put not just their engineering skills, but their teamwork skills to the ultimate test.

So, let's go check it out!

DAMON ANDRING: Baja SAE is a student engineering competition.

Uh, We have schools from all around the country that, uh, build, design, uh, off-road 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Um... And the goal is to become better engineers, is the biggest thing.

GREG: Each year, SAE International holds three Baja events around the U.S.

Upon registration in October, teams must purchase a Rehlko 429cc gas engine.

From there, it's entirely on the students to design and build a competition-ready vehicle that they will eventually beat the crap out of.

DAMON: We have a pretty extensive rulebook that they have to follow in the build of their car.

Um...we have the ability for them to ask questions throughout the year to our techs.

GREG: And many of the techs are Baja SAE alumni giving back to the program that launched their careers.

JASON ROUNDS: I started with Baja back in '97 as a student.

Ah, I competed for four years.

Uh, after I graduated from RIT, I moved on to Honda.

I worked for Honda and then took over, uh, the technical inspection.

So, we're looking for compliance to the rules.

And we're also looking to make sure that safety-- that the cars are going to be able to go out there, compete for four hours and make sure we have a safe event.

GREG: For some teams, just passing tech is a challenge.

SAMONE CULLUM: So, this is Davidson's first time at competition, actually.

We are a liberal arts institution.

We are not an engineering school.

Um, so, it's actually a whole bunch of physicists running around and trying to make, um, our very first Baja car.

Unfortunately, we ran into some technical difficulties this year, um, and we weren't able to bring a cart to competition, but we still really wanted to learn.

GREG: Tennessee Tech has been competing since 1977, and with 12 victories, they know what it takes to cross the finish line.

OWEN MASSEY: It really comes down to having a good management and leadership structure to where there are tasks and responsibilities that are delegated out to where everybody knows what they're supposed to be doing.

And you just check in with them and make sure that everything gets taken care of.

DAMON: So, we have an acceleration event.

We have a maneuverability event, a hill climb event, and then the suspension and traction, which is behind us, um, all culminating tomorrow in a four-hour endurance race, which is wheel to wheel racing every car on a mile track.

GREG: As you can imagine, accidents happen and things break.

But these young men and women can fix just about anything.

Still, it always helps to have someone with experience looking out for you.

MARTY GORDON: So, I'm the Faculty Advisor for the RIT team.

I've been doing this 30 years.

I like to make sure that the students know I'm their advisor, not their supervisor.

So, it's really a student-run team.

And I always say, I...I offer suggestions, you make decisions.

DAMON: The students are doing everything on the cars.

It is a true engineering challenge.

And it's not just the engineering, it's the team management, the time management, the communication, right?

It's those skills that the real world demands.

And when it's chaos, you know, someone has to take charge, someone has to give direction, someone has to be working.

So-- and our teams are very, very good at that.

Some of our sponsors say that when they see Baja SAE on a resume that, you know, that's, someone they give a very, very good look to.

GREG: 2026 marks Baja SAE's 50th anniversary and they'll be celebrating throughout the year.

Best part is, the events are open to the public and they're always looking for volunteers.

DAMON: Anyone that hasn't seen Baja, once they see it the for the first time in person, they're looking for when our next event is going to be.

I love listening to the kids cheer when they finish an event.

Um... Just...it's the best.

JOHN: Whether, summer vacations or winter family reunions, your car needs to be prepared.

So, here's Audra Fordin with some tips for the long haul on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ AUDRA FORDIN: Here's some trivia for you: The model of car that has been sold continuously for the longest amount of time is...the Chevrolet Suburban!

It's been on sale since 1935.

Before SUVs and minivans ruled the American road like they do now, the family wagon was the vehicle of choice for those long summer road trips.

(door closes) No matter what you drive though, if you're stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, zero cell service and a granola bar from 2020, that fun drive can turn frightening in a hurry.

Having the right gear, emergency auto know-how, and pro tips will keep your road trip smooth and stress-free!

Safety and mechanical breakdown must-haves start with a spare tire that has air in it, a working jack and a tire iron.

Don't just have them, though; you auto know how to use them!

Locate these items in your car, typically found in or around the trunk area, and practice using them at home before you need to.

Oh, and don't be surprised, if your newer car doesn't have a spare.

Many new vehicles have what is called a "mobility kit," which amounts to a tire inflator and maybe a can of sealant.

An emergency kit is a nonnegotiable.

These pre-packaged kits can be bought for less than $20 or you can make a small one at home for yourself with a plastic tackle box and extra tools from your garage.

A small battery pack that is portable will keep your phone alive when your car isn't.

And having a flashlight with extra batteries, because unfortunately your phone's flashlight won't cut it in an actual emergency.

A first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers-- it's all a must have, just in case.

And a multi-tool, a Swiss army knife for your car, can always come in handy!

Road flares or reflective triangles, they're great for nighttime breakdowns, so you can be seen on the road.

Or glow sticks - they're inexpensive and make you visible at night.

Now, to stay warm if you're stranded in the cold, you need an emergency blanket, maybe even a poncho to keep you dry-ish in the rain.

Important survival supplies for long trips: Bottled water - at least one gallon per person; Non-perishable snacks - protein bars, trail mix, or jerky.

I'm old schooler and I like to travel with paper maps.

Yep, I do, because you know what?

Cell service is not guaranteed!

Travel-size toiletries - wet wipes, hand sanitizer, extra napkins and extra clothes, because road trip weather doesn't always cooperate... A little preparation goes a long way.

If you have any questions or comments reach out to us right here at MotorWeek .

JOHN: The printing presses may have slowed but the news cycle hasn't.

Here's Stephanie Hart with this week's MotorNews!

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: Dodge has officially debuted their internal-combustion Charger, powered by a familiar powertrain.

Called the SIXPACK, this gas-burning Charger is powered by the Stellantis group's "Hurricane" twin-turbo inline-6.

This 3.0 liter unit pushes 550 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque in the High-Output version.

A Standard-Output version, rated at 420 horsepower, will arrive later.

Both SIXPACKs are all-wheel-drive standard with the ability to send 100 percent of power to the rear wheels, perfect for burnouts.

We can expect the first High-Output Scat Pack Chargers to arrive later this year, starting around $57,000 with destination; the Standard-Output R/T models will start closer to $50,000.

And that's not the only news that brought us to Detroit.

Jeep has unveiled the 2026 Cherokee.

This SUV returns after a 3-year gap as Jeep's first non-plug-in hybrid, powered by a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder and a pair of electric motors.

Preliminary estimates see at least 37 combined mpg and more than 500 miles on a full tank of gas.

It's built on the STLA Large platform, providing more room for people and cargo inside its angular body.

And Ford announced their next "Model T Moment," including a revamped assembly process and a $30,000 EV pickup.

This unnamed midsize truck will be built atop of new, modular EV platform developed for use in a variety of vehicles.

A broader initiative to streamline the assembly process, turning the line into more of a "tree" with major assemblies that converge near the end.

The batteries are assembled here in the states, and new battery chemistry with smaller units will lower cost.

The truck will be built at Ford's Kentucky plant, which will see a total 2-billion investment from Ford.

And that's it for this week's MotorNews.

♪ ♪ GREG: Summer may be winding down, but our 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid is still living its best life, cruising past the 12,000 mile mark and sipping less fuel than ever, as we brought our average up to 30.3 miles per gallon.

The 242 horsepower 1.6 liter I4-based hybrid powertrain continues to deliver plenty of get up and go, even when packed with people and gear.

And we do still love that Kia uses a 6-speed auto instead of a CVT.

Minivans tend to carry a lot of weight, and up until recently V6 power was the best way to get things rolling.

But this Carnival Hybrid uses four cylinders, a turbocharger and an electric motor.

Yeah, it's a more complicated system and power delivery isn't quite as smooth as it is in a non-turbo V6, but it's hard to complain when we're averaging over 30 miles per gallon on the highway and in the city.

When the Carnival first arrived for '22, it made quite a splash with its pseudo-SUV style; and changes for '25, which include updated lighting, blockier grille and redesigned liftgate have kept the look fresh.

And yes, we have to admit, even more like an SUV.

Still, front-wheel-drive only though, with just 6.8 inches of ground clearance, so we've kept all our adventures on the paved highways and byways.

We'll see what escapades our Mitsubishi Outlander has been up to on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test update.

JOHN: Toyota has more car-based crossover SUVs in their lineup than just about any other brand; but, when it comes to their storied off-road nameplates, it's all about keeping it real.

So, let's find out what that really means for an all-new 6th generation 4Runner!

♪ ♪ A lot of things have changed drastically over the last 40 years; thankfully, the Toyota 4Runner is not one of them.

Now, this all-new 2025 version has certainly been modernized, and it's perhaps the toughest looking 4Runner ever, but at its heart, it's still the same rugged, truck-based, full-frame Ute that has endeared itself to so many and to us.

For off-roaders, TRD has become almost a brand unto itself, with five TRD models to choose from.

We focused our time in the non-TRD Limited, appreciating the more sophisticated approach; pampering us with power running boards, heated and ventilated leather seats, 14 inch touchscreen infotainment, and JBL premium audio that lets you keep the party going with a portable speaker.

Yet, even this Limited remains plenty capable off-road with lots of suspension travel and good ground clearance; we were limited only by its more street-oriented all-season tires.

And despite the rugged image, one of our biggest takeaways was how easy the 4Runner is on you from the moment you get in.

Seats are very comfortable, smart phone integration is fast and easy, and the big touchscreen is logical and quick to respond.

Being this up-to-date with modern conveniences is something that will be new to most current 4Runner owners.

Limited's 20 inch wheels do make for a very stiff ride on the street, having us opt for Comfort mode as much as possible; though ultimately, it's just a reminder we are still working with a body-on-frame utility here.

Yes, as before, the 4Runner shares most of its bones with the Tacoma pickup.

That means, it's rocking and rolling on the Tundra's full-size truck frame with a multi-link coil spring rear suspension and double-wishbone front with stabilizer bar disconnect in some models.

It also has the same 2.4 liter I4 turbo engine under the hood; both in this standard 278 horsepower version with 317 pound-feet of torque, and a hybrid-assisted i-FORCE MAX with 326 horsepower.

Even with the standard motor, we got up to speed plenty quickly at our Mason Dixon test track, hitting 60 in a respectable 8.0 seconds flat.

Both power delivery and sound are very truck-like which is something that can't be said about too many four-bangers.

Shifts in the 8-speed automatic were so seamless we hardly noticed them while completing the quarter-mile in 16.0 seconds at 87 miles per hour.

Other than the side mirrors shaking once we got above 70, it was a really smooth and quiet trip down the track.

The truck-like feel persisted throughout our handling course.

Lots of weight transfer and noticeable body roll, but steering was both light and responsive, and it was all very controllable; again, a surprisingly smooth experience.

In braking runs, pedal feel was good, and other than a heavy dose of nosedive, stops were steady and stable, averaging just 101 feet from 60 miles per hour.

(SUV whooshing by) Heading inside, the original 4Runner was based on Toyota's Hilux pickup, and you could say the interior throws it back as it has become quite "high lux."

Limited trim is outfitted with very nice materials, a 12.3 inch digital gauge display, leather seats, and even a heated steering wheel.

And just when you think this is over the top, there's also a Platinum grade on top of this one.

A third row is still available with most trims as a $1,330 option.

Second-row seats now tumble forward for more cargo flexibility inside, and max towing is up 1,000 pounds to 6,000 for more hauling outside.

The new exterior looks great, chiseled body work, exaggerated fenders, and lots of ground clearance, and, as I'm sure you've heard by now, the rear window still goes down.

A Limited 4X4 has Government Fuel Economy Ratings of 20 city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

Our average was right on at 21.0 miles per gallon of Regular.

Pricing starts with SR5 trim at $42,765 and now stretches all the way to $68,895 for either the TRD Pro or an aftermarket-bedazzled Trailhunter.

We recommend sticking close to base and getting lots of off-roader for the money.

Rugged as ever, better looking than ever, more features than ever; I guess we have to agree, this 2025 Toyota 4Runner is the best 4Runner ever.

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 bulk up with the rugged Honda Passport and get smart with the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

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We test tires, then share our results.

We stock over one million tires.

We offer multiple installation options.

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