Season 35 of television’s longest-running automotive series, MotorWeek, premieres on public television stations across the country on Saturday, September 12, 2015.

Episodes of the 2015-2016 season will explore what MotorWeek producers call the 21st century revolution of the car that includes such developments as self-driving technologies and the use of electric, natural gas, and even hydrogen to power automobiles.

MotorWeek creator, host, and senior executive producer John Davis cites the enormous change in the average family car over the decades since the program premiered on October 15, 1981.  “Every part of the automobile has undergone transformation,” he notes, “with the biggest changes in powertrain and control design since the automobile was first invented.”

Season 35 of MotorWeek will draw parallels from the past with on air transformations dating back to the 80’s. The series will also pause from time to time to look back at how far the “family car” has come over our generation plus on the air, through both a special anniversary episode, and through weekly MotorWeek Flashback vignettes. This season MotorWeek will look over the vehicles that were cutting edge back in the 80’s and comparing those to vehicles that are cutting edge today.

John Davis will again lead a team of on-air reporters for MotorWeek’s 35th season in rigorously testing and evaluating new vehicles and assessing cars’ performance, practicality, efficiency, and safety.  More than 150 cars are examined annually for the benefit of viewers.  During the upcoming season, rare exotics such as the Mercedes-AMG GT-S and Bentley Mulsanne Speed will be featured as well as more practical types of transportation that families depend upon such as new generations of the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Maxima and the first-of-its-kind Tesla Model X crossover.

MotorWeek’s feature line-up will continue with the return of popular segments like Goss’ Garage with MotorWeek’s resident Master Technician Pat Goss offering do-it-yourself car care advice; Yolanda Vazquez also keeps viewers in the know with consumer news and trends in Motor News; Over the Edge Reporter Zach Maskell turns up the fun with a look at the auto world in overdrive; while Brian Robinson takes a very hands-on look of the two-wheel experience reviewing the newest motorcycles and scooters in Two Wheelin’. MotorWeek will also accelerate its coverage of the use of alternative fuels and advances in green power technologies as we race toward a cleaner driving future.

Produced and distributed by Maryland Public Television, MotorWeek airs on 92% of PBS stations nationwide and can also be seen on the V-me Spanish-language network.  Winner of dozens of prestigious automotive journalism awards, MotorWeek is also seen on the Velocity channel.  Program excerpts are available to viewers on the program’s website, motorweek.org, and on its YouTube Channel, youtube.com/Motorweek.

MotorWeek is nationally sponsored by RockAuto.com, and the TireRack.com.