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

We're going for a lavish lap in the Genesis Electrified G80... Then, pull into the garage for often overlooked car care tips on Your Drive... Stephanie Hart takes part in an East Coast MINI takeover... And then, we'll all enjoy the revival of the Acura Integra...

So come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: Everyone's doing the electric dance these days, even spin-off brands like Hyundai's Genesis, with this Electrified G80 sedan.

And just so we're all on the same page, they've actually named it the Electrified G80.

So, let's unplug and go for a spin, and see where Genesis luxury is headed as they charge towards an EV future.

* As an electrified version of a model already in their lineup, you could look at the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 as a compromise, or even a stop-gap measure on the way to bigger and better things.

But that would be selling it far short, as it's a gleaming example of seamlessly and beautifully integrating new powertrains and technologies into an existing platform with little to no compromise.

It truly looks elegant both up close and from afar.

One of the biggest dilemmas with the shift to electric has been what to do with the face of the vehicle; either to keep a grille even though it's not needed or do away with it entirely.

We love Genesis' take; keeping a traditional-looking front end, and even using their signature Crest Grille to impeccably integrate a door for the charge port.

Inside, it's every bit as elegant; plush seats covered in Nappa leather, fine stitch-work on the dash, and large crystal-clear LED displays.

There's also some unique looking veneers on the console and doors; a departure from the usual wood grain.

A 21-speaker Lexicon sound system is on hand to provide a soothing soundtrack to whatever escapes you have planned.

The experience is quite special for rear seat passengers too, with their own set of controls and materials that are every bit as nice as what's up front.

But, this is also where we do begin to see a little compromise, as leg room is not as plentiful as you'd find in most dedicated EV platforms.

And, in the trunk, the battery eats up some cargo space, reducing it almost 30 percent to only 10.8 cubic-feet.

That 87.2 kilowatt hour battery powers twin 136 kilowatt electric motors; one up front, and one in back for standard all-wheel-drive.

Combined output is 365 horsepower and a whopping 516 pound-feet of torque.

Plus, there is plenty of hardware on display under the hood, looking almost like a traditional engine.

Oddly, Genesis claims a range of only 282 miles, but we saw as many as 342 available in the gauge display.

And, we returned from a 277 mile road trip with an indicated 16 percent of battery life remaining, which put us on pace for about 330 miles.

Of course, that didn't include wide-open quarter-mile runs at Mason Dixon Dragway, which were quite a thrill ride.

This big beast jumped off the line like it weighs half of its actual 5,000 pounds demolishing the 0-60 in just 4.2 seconds.

But, like many EVs, from there, it seemed to dial the power back a bit as we worked our way down the track; ultimately finishing the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds at 107 miles per hour.

You can tell they are clearly restricting what it's capable of, as power delivery seems to pulse on and off like a pony rider constantly pulling back on the reins.

It's the only thing that distracts from a very serenely fast experience.

Now, when it came to the slalom course...nimble, it's not.

But, for a big luxury car that makes absolutely no performance claims, it got through the cones really well at a fairly high rate of speed.

Only mild understeer, as you can feel some torque-vectoring of power happening to negate it.

Overall, it was very smooth and quite easy to maintain momentum.

In braking runs, we averaged a fine 117 feet from 60, with a good natural feel through the pedal, but they did begin to fade after four hard stops.

Offered in one fully-loaded model, the Electrified G80 is on sale now for $80,920; but only in the usual East and West Coast limited markets.

Availability will begin expanding before years end.

The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 makes no secret of what it's all about; it's right there in the name.

Genesis has taken one of their best ever efforts and given it a whole new drivetrain to power them into the future.

We already know they have many dedicated EVs in the works; but the Electrified G80 is much more than just a placeholder.

* The biannual MINI Takes the States road trip got back in full gear this summer with thousands of MINI Cooper owners uniting and driving 1700 miles over nine days.

Well, our Stephanie Hart joined the pack and maneuvered challenging American byways while discovering it's not just about the cars, but also about camaraderie and charity.

* STEPHANIE HART: MINI Takes the States picked up speed in Burlington, Vermont.

With a caravan of Coopers continuing on to Vernon, New York; Poconos, Pennsylvania; Frederick, Maryland; Roanoke, Virginia; Bristol, Tennessee; and then on Day 8, the Coopers came up over the Blue Ridge Mountains, camouflaged by a mysterious mist that eventually revealed all 650 MINI Coopers perfectly parked in solidarity.

I met up with the MINI Cooper owners here in Asheville, North Carolina.

There's a lot of excitement in the air, especially since the reunite and rally event hasn't happened since 2018.

It was postponed twice, due to COVID.

The MINI Cooper owners tell me they're excited to hit the road today and drive the Tail of the Dragon, which is gonna be incredible.

TIM ARTIS: It's a very-- um-- personable car to everybody and it's their- it's like-- their own child.

STEPHANIE: As I find out the daily rise and rally events create an almost Disney-like atmosphere that coax you to act silly.

So, this bear used to be your co-pilot?

TIM: It was my co-pilot and we decided to move him around.

STEPHANIE: Get a lot of attention on the road?

TIM: I get a lot of attention... STEPHANIE: Probably, a lot of people beeping.

TIM: Yes, we get a lot of people.

STEPHANIE: Especially when he floors it...

The legs...are flapping in the wind.

TIM: The legs were flapping in the wind, the arms flapping, the heads bobbing down.

STEPHANIE: A car with personality is what owning a MINI Cooper is all about for a lot of these owners.

Showing off their creativity and bonding with other owners is a large part of "MINI Takes the States" mission.

The road trip has been around since 2006.

PATRICK McKENNA: One thing we have noticed over the years is more and more people going on the entire trip.

And these trips are anywhere between 9 and 14 days, and right now, we have about 900 people going the entire distance.

STEPHANIE: People like the Payne's who we're brave enough to travel 1,700 miles with a 15 month old!

How do they do it?

DANIEL PAYNE: Lot of music and just talking (laughs).

STEPHANIE: There are also about 80 dogs along for the ride... makes sense since money raised from this event will be donated to Best Friends Animal Society.

Can I get a paw... hiiii omg that face... After making so many new friends, it was time to hit the road.

We left together in one big cute-looking caravan.

It would take us a few hours to reach the Tail of the Dragon.

I'm behind the wheel of the 2022 MINI Cooper S. I'm having a lot of fun driving this car.

It's responsive.

It feels quick and its sharp handling makes tackling the Tail of the Dragon a blast.

DANIEL: We did, like, the back of the Dragon, which is this crazy-- uh-- twisty road.

It was good.

Kinda got me back into, like, that manual-type way of driving, so it definitely helps, you know, when you get in those tight turns and go up and down hills.

STEPHANIE: After following a pretty terrific drive route for about eight hours, we ended up here in Greenville, South Carolina, at Fluor Field where a celebration is underway.

It includes games, food, and music.

BRAD VICKERY: Oh, it was awesome.

STEPHANIE: On our way home, I spotted this: a lifted 2nd-generation MINI.

It's built on a Ford F-150 platform with a 426 Hemi.

It made me smile strangely... and think to myself "why?"

A pretty perfect ending to this nine day adventure, spanning 1,700 miles on state and country roads, from Vermont to South Carolina.

In the end, $91,000 was raised for Best Friends Animal Society.

JOHN: Even if you consider yourself meticulous about your car's well-being, you just might miss something.

So just in case, here's Audra Fordin with some often overlooked car care advice in this week's, Your Drive.

* AUDRA FORDIN: Maintaining your car is a task, and if you own a car, well then it is such a priority to make sure that you do take real good care of it.

You know, putting a good coat of wax on your car is going to help the finish, to prolong its life, and that's certainly an overlooked maintenance.

In addition to that, take a look at your headlights.

Headlights used to be glass, now headlights are plastic.

Because they are plastic, they oxidize from the sun.

You can see here, there's a haze coming over this headlight.

I call that cataracts because there's actually a light that's being limited, that you can't see through.

Something as simple as using a headlight polish, with a chamois and some elbow grease, is going to help you to clear the headlight and restore it back so that you can get visibility on the road.

Another overlooked maintenance is your engine air filter.

Think about the air filter like your lungs, taking in air so that your body can breathe.

Your car breathes also, and it needs fresh air in order to breathe.

Take a look at this air filter.

It's filthy, it's got oil and debris and all kinds of blowby.

This restricts the amount of air that can actually be pulled into the engine while your car is trying to breathe, which limits how much fuel you're going to burn, and this costs you 10 percent fuel economy.

Another very important overlooked maintenance is your tires.

To make sure that your tires are rotated every other oil change makes a difference.

You know, if you think about the tires on your car, they are your car's shoes on its feet, just like you have shoes on your feet.

You can tell how you're walking, if your car is in alignment, just by looking at the tire tread.

Most important here-- about tires-- is to check your tire pressure.

You'll find the sticker on the driver's side door jam, it has the correct pressure for your car, and to check your tire pressure every month, especially when you have seasons change, to make sure you have the correct tire pressure in your car.

That will make sure that your tires last the most life.

If you have any questions or comments, you can reach us right here, at MotorWeek !

JOHN: Actually turning a key is getting rarer, but we're just as eager as ever for another QuickSpin!

* JESSICA RAY: The traditional formula for a Grand Tourer is one part sport and one part luxury.

And this 2022 LC 500 is an honest attempt by Lexus to expertly mix the two.

Getting down to brass tacks, it's powered by a getting rarer, naturally aspirated 5.0 liter V8 engine, conjuring up 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque to the rear-wheels.

Expect quick shifts from the 10-speed automatic, completing 0-60 sprints in about 4.6 seconds; and if you keep going, you'll hit a top speed of 168 miles per hour.

Backing up these numbers is a throaty V8 growl; subtle when you need it, louder when you want it.

And what better way to hear the symphony of exhaust than with the top down.

This is just the second year the LC 500 is offered as a convertible and it's a great way to spec it out; though a hardtop coupe can be had if so desired.

Either roof covers a well-appointed cabin filled with standard luxury features, like heated and ventilated power front seats, magnesium paddle shifters and a 10.3 inch infotainment screen.

For 2022, the LC 500 also sees some suspension tweaking to improve handling.

This rounds out our two-part GT formula, but it's really behind the wheel where all this comes together.

ALEXANDER KELLUM: I think, the LC 500 does a really good job at embodying what a grand tourer is kinda all about.

On one hand, it looks properly classy inside and out; especially here in the cabin, all the materials are very premium and plush.

Fit and finish is top, and you really get a sense of the craftsmanship that went into it.

The ride is very comfortable, which I guess means, you lose a little bit of sport potential, but hey it's still a luxury car, whaddya expect?

And yet, despite the pampered-ness, underneath the hood you've got this gnarly 5.0 liter V8.

It's an absolute blast to drive and it sounds sublime coming out the back.

JESSICA: The 2022 Lexus LC 500 starts around $95,000 for the hardtop coupe; our convertible model starts just over 100-K. And the LC 500h, the hybrid version of this luxury cruiser, starts around the same.

The LC 500 may not be perfect, but it's a great reminder what "sport luxury" means when left in the hands of the Toyota/Lexus family.

And we'll be back with plenty more QuickSpins, soon!

* GREG CARLOSS: Welcoming cars into our long-term fleet is always easy; saying goodbye is difficult.

Not just because we'll miss them, but because it's hard to sum up an extended test in just a few moments time.

But, that's where we are with this 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander.

After seven months, it's leaving us for good.

After spending the better half of a year with this Outlander, it's time to bid farewell and we'll remember it fondly.

We weren't surprised that it was an improvement over the previous generation, but we were surprised at how much of an improvement it was.

Highlighted by the more polished road manners and the now tech-laden interior, this Outlander went from an also-ran to a serious competitor in the compact SUV segment.

With good comfort in all seating positions and plenty of cargo space, it also proved to be highly road trip worthy, evidenced by the 12,987 miles we managed to rack up.

And while, the 181 horsepower 2.5 liter and CVT combo was not the most inspiring, we appreciated the 28.3 miles per gallon-- it delivered.

So yes, it's sad to say good-bye to the Outlander, but we're just getting started with our Kia Carnival minivan, which we'll feature on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: The name Integra has near-legendary status in the auto world, and it was a sad day in 2001 when Acura chose to change that name to RSX as part of a new marketing strategy.

Sadder still, when Acura stopped selling it here altogether just a few years later.

Well, the Acura Integra is back for 2023!

So, let's find out, if it's worth celebrating the second time around.

* The original Acura Integra did much to help grow Honda's new luxury performance division, introducing Americans to new terms like...Type R and V-TEC.

But eventually, Acura decided the younger sport compact crowd was not who they were after.

But, that was then and this is now.

This reborn 2023 Acura Integra should not only appeal to drivers looking for a tidy, tech-heavy, sport-luxury ride, but also those wanting to relive their fast and furious glory days of yore.

Powering this Integra is the upgraded version of the Honda Civics' small, but fairly mighty 1.5 liter turbo-4 from the Si.

A unique exhaust system helps it deliver 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels.

It comes with either CVT or 6-speed manual transmission; so you can easily guess which side of that we favor.

The manual includes rev matching and even gets a serious limited slip differential.

Now, the original Integra was mostly successful in disguising its humble Civic roots, but the new one seems to embrace them, with the same slick 5-door hatchback shape.

Though, the diamond patterned frameless grille and jewel-eye LED headlights are all Acura.

A diffuser-style lower rear fascia integrates dual oval-shaped exhaust tips; 17, 18, and 19 inch wheels are available.

An optional A-Spec sport appearance package adds black trim, front lip spoiler, and shark gray 18 inch alloy wheels with Continental all-season performance tires.

Inside, there is a tech-forward feel, with a standard 10 inch digital gauge display that is a super clean design.

But, to really make it special and stand apart from its Civic cousin, you need to add extras like-- 16-speaker ELS premium audio, the technology package with Head Up display, and the A-Spec package with stainless steel pedals and contrast stitching.

Now, you're talking!

The standard Integrated Dynamics System does a good job of adjusting throttle response, transmission mapping, steering feel, and settings for the available adaptive dampers in Normal, Comfort, or Sport modes; unique gauge displays arrive with each one.

Upgrading to A-Spec and Technology package also brings more customizable Individual settings.

Taken to the backroads, we found that, like many Acura's, it is a highly capable machine, but one that puts the exclamation point on refinement rather than emotion.

Driven more aggressively at the test track, the car is very tight with only moderate body roll.

Due in part to great Acura tuning, and in part to its already more than capable 11th generation Civic platform.

The Adaptive dampers, a feature not available on Civic, seem to excel best in smoothing out the ride when you want it, more so than boosting handling performance.

As to boost, the Integra may be working with only 200 horsepower, but it makes the most of it.

The very light clutch allows for easy launching, with good grip and a slight chirp of the tires on the way to a 0-60 of 7.5 seconds.

The shifter is buttery smooth, and throws are relatively short.

We finished out the quarter-mile in 15.8 seconds at 91 miles per hour.

During panic braking from 60, ABS pulsing is very noticeable; but stops averaged just 110 feet, and the pedal has a nice firm feel.

With the manual transmission, Government Fuel Economy Ratings come in at 26-City, 36-Highway, and 30-Combined.

Our lead feet yielded an acceptable 28.9 per gallon of Premium.

That's a slightly better than average Energy Impact Score, using 9.9 barrels of oil yearly, with CO2 emissions of 4.8 tons.

Pricing starts at $31,895, but to get the full experience, you really need to go all in with A-Spec and Technology packages which brings it to a still more than reasonable $36,895.

Acura had to know they were stirring up controversy as soon as they molded the Integra name into its front fascia.

The 2023 Acura Integra may not be the overly emotional Integra that many people remember.

But it is a fine, totally modern, sport-luxury contender.

One that is perfect for a time when many are more than willing to pay a little extra for something unique and special.

And, on that score, it's a bargain in its class.

Still, we can't wait for the Type S to take Integra to the next level.

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 totally practical in Honda's all-new HR-V utility.

Then, gussy up for our review of the redesigned Mercedes C Class.

We'll plan how to turn your project into Your Drive, cover an alternative fuel challenge that puts higher learning to the test, and enjoy another QuickSpin.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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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 .

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it Tire Rack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

Rock Auto has auto parts from hundreds of manufacturers, offering a variety of brands, prices and specifications.

* This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(car engine revving) * You're watching PBS.