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

JOIN US AS WE SCORCH THE TRACK IN THE RED HOT AUDI RS 5.

PAT GOSS KEEPS US UP TO DATE ON CHANGES IN BRAKE FLUIDS.

AUTO WORLD LOOKS INTO RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM HURRICANE SANDY.

AND THEN WE'LL CHARGE UP THE FORD C-MAX ENERGI.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... AND THAT IS WHERE BABIES COME FROM.

DAD, I HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU DO?

DOES THE ASYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERN OF A TIRE HAVE ANY EFFECT ON STOPPING DISTANCE?

Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

UH... GO ASK YOUR MOTHER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AND BY 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.

John Davis: AUDI HAS BEEN RIDING QUITE A STREAK OF WINNERS LATELY, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMAZING R8, OR DOMINATING THE 24-HOURS OF LEMANS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN SNEAKING MORE AND MORE PERFORMANCE INTO THEIR STREET CARS AS WELL, WITH CARS LIKE THE S4 AND S7.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW AUDI WOULD TRY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WE WEREN'T EXPECTING ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS, THE RS5.

LET THE COMPARISONS BEGIN, AS THE 2013 AUDI RS 5 JUMPS HEAD FIRST INTO THE SPORTS COUPE FRAY WHERE THE LIKES OF THE BMW M3 AND THE CADILLAC CTS-V PLY THEIR TRADE.

WELL, IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST, YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK YOUR BEST, AND THE RS 5'S EXTERIOR MODS MAY NOT JUMP OUT AT YOU AT FIRST, BUT THEY ARE MANY, AND THEY ARE PURPOSEFUL.

STARTING WITH A RIDE HEIGHT THAT'S EIGHT-TENTHS OF AN INCH LOWER THAN THE A5, THANKS TO THE REVISED, MOSTLY ALUMINUM SUSPENSION SETUP.

THE FRONT END SPORTS A UNIQUE TAKE ON AUDI'S SINGLE FRAME GRILLE WITH GRAY HONEYCOMB AND MATTE ALUMINUM FINISH, WHILE THE FRONT BUMPER GETS A SPLITTER-LIKE TREATMENT.

19-INCH FORGED ALLOY WHEELS ARE STANDARD, BUT YOU CAN OPT FOR THESE 20s.

AND BEHIND THEM ARE WAVE-STYLE BRAKE ROTORS, WHICH MAY NOT BE NEW TO YOU IF YOU'VE GOT A HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT-BIKE, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY A NOVELTY IN THE CAR WORLD.

BIG, OVAL EXHAUST TIPS BOOKEND A REDESIGNED REAR BUMPER, AND OUT OF THE DECK LID, A SPOILER DEPLOYS AUTOMATICALLY AT 75 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THIS CAR IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE REAL PERFORMANCE CAR DEAL, AND FURTHER PROOF OF THAT LIES UNDER THE HOOD, WHERE YOU'LL FIND A RED ACCENTED, NORMALLY ASPIRATED 4.2 LITER V8.

RATINGS ARE IMPRESSIVE, 450-HORSEPOWER -- THAT'S 20 MORE THAN AN EARLIER VERSION IN THE EXOTIC R8, AND 317 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT CERTAINLY LIKES TO REV, AND PROPELS YOU AROUND THE TRACK IN A BIG HURRY.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE RS 5 DOES FEEL A BIT BIG, IT DOESN'T FEEL ANYWHERE NEAR AS WEIGHTY AS ITS TRUE TWO-TON WEIGHT.

AUDI'S DRIVE SELECT ADJUSTS A TON OF VEHICLE SETTINGS, FROM STEERING FEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING TO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND EVEN THE SOUND OF THE EXHAUST.

DYNAMIC MODE HELPS THE CAR STAY MOSTLY FLAT IN CORNERS, AND INDIVIDUAL SETTING ALLOWS YOU TO PROGRAM AND QUICKLY RECALL A CUSTOM SETUP.

THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STEERING MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS SOME, BUT IT PROVIDED ADEQUATE FEEL FOR OUR TRACK WORK.

AND THROUGHOUT OUR TESTING, THE RS 5 PROVED TO BE A BLAST TO DRIVE AND WAY MORE CAPABLE THAN WE ANTICIPATED, AND IT SOUNDS SPLENDID WHILE DOING SO.

THE LATEST VERSION OF AUDI'S REAR-BIASED QUATTRO AWD DRIVE FEATURES TORQUE VECTORING AND AN UPDATED CROWN-GEAR CENTER DIFFERENTIAL TO HELP ALLOCATE POWER TO WHERE IT CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

THE WAVE-STYLE BRAKE ROTORS WE MENTIONED PROVIDED GREAT FEEL AND SHORT STOPPING DISTANCES, BUT THERE WAS SOME TAIL END LIGHTNESS ON HARD BRAKING.

YOU CAN UPGRADE FURTHER TO CARBON DISCS FOR EVEN MORE PERFORMANCE.

TOP SPEED IS ELECTRONICALLY LIMITED TO 174 MILES-PER-HOUR, AND YOU'LL SEE 110 OF THOSE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER-MILE WHICH TAKES 12.7-SECONDS TO COMPLETE.

AND YOU CAN ROCKET TO 60 IN JUST 4.3 SECONDS.

LAUNCH CONTROL REQUIRES A FIRM STEP ON THE BRAKE, BUT ONCE IT'S OFF, YOU'RE OFF...IN A FLASH.

GEAR SELECTION HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY; WITH THE DUAL-CLUTCH S-TRONIC TRANSMISSION HAVING SEVEN TO CHOOSE FROM.

OR, OF COURSE YOU CAN TRIGGER THEM YOURSELF WITH THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED SHIFTERS.

STILL, A TRUE MANUAL CHOICE WOULD HAVE BEEN PREFERRED.

REGARDLESS, YOU WILL ENJOY THIS CAR'S THRUST IN ONE OF THE CLASSIEST PERFORMANCE INTERIORS GOING.

WELL DONE RS 5 UPDATES INCLUDE NAPPA LEATHER SPORT SEATS WITH GRAY PIPING, UNIQUE STEERING WHEEL, CARBON-FIBER AND SATIN METAL TRIM, AS WELL AS A NEW GAUGE PACKAGE WITH TRACK SPECIFIC DATA SCREENS ADDED TO THE INFO CENTER.

MOST INTERIOR FUNCTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY AUDI'S MMI SYSTEM, INCLUDING MANAGING THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE SETTINGS.

IT'S A BIG STEP UP FROM THE ALREADY IMPRESSIVE S5, AND COOL FEATURES LIKE A LAP TIMER PUSH IT OVER THE TOP.

LIKE MOST MODERN PERFORMANCE MACHINES, THE RS 5 FEELS PRACTICALLY SEDATE ON THE STREET, BUT WITH A PURPOSEFULNESS TO IT THAT DEPOSITS IT ABOVE THE COMMON SPORTS COUPE.

INDEED, THE EXHAUST NOTE IS AS CLOSE TO AN AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR AS YOU CAN GET, BUT WITH A HINT OF GERMAN REFINEMENT THAT MAKES IT SOUND MORE AUTHORITATIVE THAN AGGRESSIVE.

BUT PRICING IS AT A DEFINITE PREMIUM OVER ANY PONY CAR, AND MOST OF ITS COMPETITION AS WELL, STARTING AT $69,795.

BOTH THE M3 AND CTS-V COUPE START FOR A FEW GRAND LESS.

IT WAS VERY EASY TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE 2013 AUDI RS 5, AS IT CLEARLY CONTINUES AUDI'S STREAK OF WINNERS.

IT IS A SERIOUS PERFORMANCE COUPE THAT COMES WITH AN EASY TO DRIVE NATURE THAT REQUIRES NO SPECIAL SKILLS TO ENJOY DRIVING IT, OR TO LOOK GOOD WHILE DOING SO.

ADD IN A BURLY V8 THAT HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SWEET AUTO-MUSCLE MUSIC AND YOU'VE GOT A BLOCKBUSTER HIT READY TO ROCKET UP THE CHARTS.

THE EFFECTS OF 2012'S HURRICANE SANDY ARE STILL BEING FELT UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.

BUT AMID THE COUNTLESS TRAGIC TALES, A FEW POSITIVE LESSONS HAVE EMERGED.

ONE IN PARTICULAR SHOWS HOW CLEANING UP THEIR VEHICLE FLEETS HELPED SOME COMMUNITIES LITERALLY WEATHER THE STORM.

PELTING RAIN, HIGH WINDS, AND SURGING WATER PUMMELED THE EASTERN SEABOARD IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 AS HURRICANE SANDY CHEWED UP THE EAST COAST, LEAVING IN ITS WAKE A SWATH OF LOSS AND DESTRUCTION.

IN ADVANCE OF THIS "STORM OF THE CENTURY", THE DEMAND FOR GASOLINE SPIKED AS THOUSANDS WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE, AND MANY OTHERS STOCKED UP ON FUEL FOR THEIR PORTABLE GENERATORS.

AFTER THE STORM PASSED, POWER OUTAGES AND A CRIPPLED DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE LED TO GAS SHORTAGES THAT LASTED FOR WEEKS, HINDERING CLEANUP EFFORTS AND PARALYZING ENTIRE CITIES.

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY TOOK A HEAVY TOLL IN PHYSICAL DAMAGE, WITH NUMEROUS HOMES AND BOARDWALK ATTRACTIONS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.

BUT THANKS TO A PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2009, THE CITY'S RECOVERY BEGAN MORE QUICKLY THAN MOST.

ATLANTIC CITY'S MAIN FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS HAS BEEN A FLEET OF OWNER-OPERATED MINIBUSES CALLED JITNEYS.

WITH HELP FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH THE RECOVERY ACT, ATLANTIC CITY'S JITNEY BUS OPERATORS WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THEIR AGING FLEET OF 190 MINI-BUSES WITH NEW MODELS RUNNING ON CLEAN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL.

AS HURRICANE SANDY APPROACHED, THESE VEHICLES WERE PRESSED INTO ACTION FOR THE EVACUATION.

AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATED CNG FUEL, THE JITNEYS WERE JUST ABOUT THE ONLY VEHICLES MOVING DURING AND AFTER THE STORM.

Frank Bechtel: THE BAY FRONT PROPERTIES GOT WHACKED REAL BAD.

BUT THE BOARDWALK THAT WAS DAMAGED IS RIGHT OVER THERE.

THE BOARDWALK ACTUALLY CAME UP THROUGH THE FORCE OF THE STORM AND RELOCATED ITSELF SEVERAL BLOCKS.

SOME OF IT INSIDE MY GARAGE.

WE SAW ON THE NEWS UP IN NEW YORK AND STATEN ISLAND, I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE FIGHTING OVER GASOLINE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PRICE GOUGING, WE DIDN'T HAVE FUEL SHORTAGES.

WE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WHERE A BUS COULDN'T PERFORM AN EMERGENCY SERVICE OR A CONVENIENCE SERVICE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET FUEL.

IT WAS A COMPLETE UNINTERRUPTED COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SUPPLY.

John: IN SIMILAR FASHION, HURRICANE SANDY SHOWED OTHER CITIES THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF SWITCHING THEIR VEHICLE FLEETS TO CNG FUEL.

THE LONG ISLAND TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, FOR INSTANCE, WAS ABLE TO KEEP ITS CNG-FUELED REFUSE AND DUMP TRUCKS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE STORM, A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN ITS CLEANUP EFFORTS.

AS A RESULT, MORE COMMUNITY PLANNERS AND FEDERAL AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ARE NOW TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FUELS AS A KEY PART OF THEIR ENERGY ASSURANCE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS STRATEGIES.

CNG FUEL STATIONS ARE TYPICALLY FED BY AN UNDERGROUND PIPELINE AND SO ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON ROAD BOUND TRUCKS FOR THEIR FUEL SUPPLY.

ON TOP OF THAT, CNG FUEL HAS A SIGNIFICANT COST ADVANTAGE OVER GASOLINE AND DIESEL.

Tom Woodruff: THE JITNEY ASSOCIATION USES 540,000 GALLONS OF FUEL PER YEAR.

IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND CENTS COMPARING THE PRICE OF GASOLINE TO THAT OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, WE SAVE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

John: IN ATLANTIC CITY AT LEAST, CNG HAS ALLOWED THIS COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND CONTINUE A TRADITION OF LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

Frank Bechtel: WE'RE NOT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, WE'RE NOT A BIG COMPANY, WE'RE INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUAL OWNER OPERATORS, AND WE'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY FOR 100 YEARS, WHENEVER THERE WAS A FIRE OR A BUILDING COLLAPSE, OR ANY TYPE OF SITUATION, THE JITNEYS WERE ALWAYS THE ONES WHO EVACUATED THE PEOPLE AND TOOK THEM TO A RED CROSS SHELTER, OR ANY SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE NEEDED TO BE MOVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CALLS ON THE JITNEYS TO MOVE THEM.

ONE THING THAT'S TRUE ABOUT CAR CARE; IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING.

AND THAT'S WHY A STOP BY GOSS'S GARAGE IS ALWAYS A GOOD CALL.

Pat Goss: IN THE 60 YEARS SINCE THIS CAR WAS LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY, JUST ABOUT EVERY PART OF EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD HAS CHANGED IMMENSELY.

BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT HAS REMAINED, WELL, ALMOST THE SAME, AND THAT'S BRAKE FLUID.

BRAKE FLUID HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROPENSITY TO ABSORB MOISTURE, AND THAT MEANT THAT IT COULD DETERIORATE PARTS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

BUT TODAY THAT MEANS A BIGGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.

SEE, IF YOU LOOK AT THESE TWO CONTAINERS OF BRAKE FLUID, THIS ONE IS PURE BRAKE FLUID, THIS ONE IS 50% WATER.

HALF OF IT IS WATER.

WELL, YEAH, IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY ISN'T THE SORT OF THING THAT YOU THINK COULD ENDANGER AN EXPENSIVE PART OF THE CAR, OR EVEN YOUR LIFE FOR THAT MATTER.

BUT IT COULD.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKE FLUID A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.

YOU WANT YOUR TECHNICIAN TO USE A BRAKE FLUID TEST STRIP, SUCH AS WE HAVE DOWN HERE.

NOW, THAT WILL TELL IF THERE'S A LOT OF WATER IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

BUT ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS WATER IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THAT MEANS THAT IT HAS TO BE FLUSHED.

AND BY THE WAY, NEVER GO MORE THAN TWO YEARS WITHOUT FLUSHING A BRAKE SYSTEM, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO FLUSH IT.

FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAP ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, OR THE OWNER'S MANUAL, TO SEE WHAT FLUID GOES INTO THAT BRAKE SYSTEM.

ALRIGHT, NOW, FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD DOT 3 AND DOT 4 AND WE'VE HAD DOT 5.

WELL, NOW THERE IS A NEW PLAYER, AND THAT'S SUPER DOT 4.

ALRIGHT, NOW, HERE'S THE RULE: DOT 5 USUALLY IS NOT USED IN CARS WITH ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL.

SO WE FORGET ABOUT THAT.

THEN, READ THE CAP, OR THE OWNER'S MANUAL, FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR NEEDS DOT 3, DOT 4, OR SUPER DOT 4, AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THE PROPER FLUID.

NOW, THIS SUPER DOT 4 IS ALSO USED IN A LOT OF HYDRAULIC CLUTCHES ON CARS BECAUSE IT CAN WITHSTAND MORE HEAT.

SO, MORE COMPLICATION, BUT JUST READ THE DIRECTIONS.

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

NOW, LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FOR A QUICK REVEAL OF THE 2013 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW.

Yolanda Vazquez: AS THE AUTO SHOW SEASON ROLLS ON, MOTORWEEK CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING CARS.

SO GRAB YOUR PASSPORTS EVERYBODY AS WE HEAD TO THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE FASHION SHOW IN SWITZERLAND.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST HEADLINES AT THE 2013 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW WENT TO THIS REBORN AMERICAN CLASSIC, THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY, ANNOUNCED HERE IN CONVERTIBLE FORM AND SLATED FOR A LATE 2013 RELEASE.

FRESH OFF A TEASE AT THE DETROIT AUTO SHOW AND A SUPER BOWL APPEARANCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLA BASKED IN THE LIMELIGHT.

LOOKING TO LURE YOUNGER BUYERS, THE MINIATURE COUPE SEDAN WILL HIT U.S.

DEALERS THIS FALL.

TOYOTA ANNOUNCED THE FT-86 OPEN CONCEPT, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE RISE TO A CONVERTIBLE VARIANT OF THE UBER-SUCCESSFUL SCION FR-S AND SUBARU BRZ.

LUXURY LEADERS BENTLEY AND ROLLS-ROYCE CONTINUE TO LOCK HORNS WITH ONE ANOTHER; BENTLEY ANNOUNCED THE NEW FLYING SPUR, A FOUR-DOOR VARIANT OF THE CONTINENTAL GT COUPE.

ROLLS-ROYCE, ON THE OTHER HAND, UNVEILED THE WRAITH, A COUPE VERSION OF THEIR FOUR-DOOR GHOST.

SURE TO BE THE NEW PIN-UPS OF THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, FERRARI, MCLAREN, AND LAMBORGHINI DROPPED JAWS WITH SOME NEXT-GEN SUPER CARS.

KNOWN AS LAFERRARI, THIS V12 SUCCESSOR TO THE ENZO, BOASTS OVER 900 HORSEPOWER FROM ITS 6.3 LITER GASOLINE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC MOTOR COMBO.

MCLAREN'S P1 DEBUTED WITH ITS TWIN-TURBO V8 AND ELECTRIC MOTOR COMBO, ALSO PUTTING OUT OVER 900 HORSEPOWER.

BASE PRICE IS A COOL $1.15 MILLION.

AND LAMBORGHINI JUST COULDN'T BE OUTDONE WITH THEIR VENENO RACER, A SUPER-TUNED VERSION OF THE AVENTADOR BLURRING TO 60 IN LESS THAN THREE SECONDS.

ONLY THREE OF THEM WILL BE BUILT WITH A PRICE TAG JUST UNDER $4 MILLION.

OTHER NOTABLE INTRODUCTIONS INCLUDED... BMW'S 3-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, A NEW AND EVEN HOTTER VOLKSWAGEN GTI, THE TRACK-READY PORSCHE 911 GT3, AND THE U.S.-BOUND ALFA ROMEO 4C REAR-DRIVE SPORTSTER.

AND THAT'S THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE ROUNDUP FROM THE SWISS CITY OF GENEVA AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT, SO LET'S GRAB A FRESH SET OF CAR KEYS FOR A NEW ONE.

LONG A SALES JUGGERNAUT, THE CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS DUTIFULLY SERVED AS THE BRAND'S PRIMARY FULL-SIZE SEDAN IN RECENT YEARS.

AND WHILE THE LAST FEW GENERATIONS HAVE FAVORED SUBSTANCE WELL OVER STYLE, THE 10TH GEN 2014 IMPALA LOOKS TO EVEN THINGS OUT BY PACKING PLENTY OF BOTH.

FROM BLEAK TO SLEEK, THE ALL-NEW IMPALA PRESENTS THE PREMIUM LOOK OF A TRUE BRAND FLAGSHIP.

THE EXTERIOR PRESENTS A MORE POWERFUL STANCE ON ITS LONGER, WIDER CHASSIS, NOW THE SAME ONE USED BY THE CADILLAC XTS.

A MORE DYNAMIC FRONT FASCIA HOUSES ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS AND AVAILABLE HID HEADLIGHTS; WHILE THE BULGED HOOD AND SLOPING ROOFLINE GIVE THE IMPALA SOME MUCH NEEDED CHARACTER.

INSIDE, A COMPLETELY RETHOUGHT DASH FEATURES A 4.2-INCH DISPLAY BETWEEN THE GAUGES, AND AVAILABLE CHEVROLET MYLINK THROUGH AN 8-INCH CENTER TOUCH SCREEN.

SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS, FINELY STITCHED UPHOLSTERY, AND EVEN A POWER TILT/TELE STEERING WHEEL, BOOST CREATURE COMFORT, WHILE ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION AND PREMIUM SOUND ABSORBING MATERIALS KEEP NOISE AT A HUSH.

THERE ARE THREE POWERTRAINS FOR IMPALA, WITH THE CARRY OVER 3.6 LITER V6 NOW RATED AT 305 HORSEPOWER.

A PAIR OF ECOTEC I-4s ALSO JOIN THE FRAY, INCLUDING A NEW 195 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER AT THE BASE LEVEL, AND A 182 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER WITH CHEVY'S E-ASSIST LIGHT HYBRID SYSTEM.

ALL ARE MATED TO A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC.

ON SALE SOON, THE 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA STARTS AROUND $28,000.

AND WE'LL FIRE UP MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!

WHILE WE'VE STILL A LONG WAY FROM PLUG-IN ELECTRIFIED DRIVING BEING WIDELY ACCEPTED, NEW OPTIONS TO DO SEEM TO BE ARRIVING ALMOST MONTHLY.

ONE IS FORD'S C-MAX ENERGI, A PLUG IN VERSION OF THE ALREADY EFFICIENT C-MAX HYBRID WE TESTED LAST FALL.

WHILE NOT A PURE EV, THE C-MAX ENERGI DOES CUT DOWN VISITS TO THE GAS PUMP EVEN MORE.

SO LET'S SEE IF FORD'S FIRST PLUG-IN HYBRID MAKES US FANS.

WE APPROACHED OUR FIRST EXTENDED STAY WITH A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI WITH BOTH IMMEDIATE INTEREST AND LONG-TERM ANTICIPATION.

THE C-MAX ENERGI IS OF COURSE BASED ON THE C-MAX WAGON THAT IS SOLD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN A NUMBER OF VARIETIES, BUT IN HYBRID FORM ONLY HERE IN THE STATES.

THE ENERGI DIFFERS LITTLE FROM THE HYBRID VERSION, BUT BIG THINGS OFTEN HAPPEN BECAUSE OF LITTLE CHANGES.

THE PRIMARY ONE, NATURALLY, IS THAT THE ENERGI FUNCTIONS AS A FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLE UNTIL YOU EXHAUST THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY, AND THEN IT STARTS EXHAUSTING GASES FROM ITS I4 ENGINE AND OPERATING AS A FULL-HYBRID, JUST LIKE THE REGULAR C-MAX.

IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THERE ARE A FEW HARDWARE CHANGES, OF COURSE; THE MAJOR ONE BEING A LARGER 7.6 KILOWATT LITHIUM-ION BATTERY.

AND IT ALSO GETS A LARGER FUEL TANK, ADDITIONAL COOLING, AND CHANGES TO THE EXHAUST.

ALL THAT ADDS WEIGHT.

SO NOT SURPRISINGLY, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ABOUT 9% LOWER THAN THE C-MAX HYBRID AT 44-CITY, 41-HIGHWAY, AND 43-COMBINED.

THOSE RATINGS ARE ALSO 14% LESS THAN ITS SOLE RIVAL, THE PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID.

BUT ADD IN A MILES-PER-GALLON EQUIVALENT OF 100-COMBINED FOR EV TIME, AND YOU GET A MUCH BETTER ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST 4.2-BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF ONLY 1.8-TONS.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR YOU AND ME?

WELL, AFTER A 170-MILE WEEKEND OF THE USUAL ERRAND RUNNING, INCLUDING KARATE CLASSES AND BASEBALL PRACTICES, ONE OF OUR STAFFERS NETTED A GREAT AVERAGE OF 64.5 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

OBVIOUSLY, THE MORE TIME YOU CAN SPEND IN EV-MODE, THE BETTER OFF YOU'LL BE.

ON THAT, FORD CLAIMS AN EV RANGE OF 21-MILES.

WE DIDN'T GET THAT MANY AT ANY ONE TIME, MOSTLY DUE TO THE VERY COLD WEATHER DURING OUR TESTING, BUT WE DID SEE CONSISTENT RUNS OF 15 TO 17 MILES.

CHARGE TIME IS 2.5 HOURS ON A LEVEL 2, 240-VOLT CHARGER; UP TO SEVEN HOURS PLUGGED INTO A STANDARD HOUSEHOLD OUTLET.

COMPARED TO THE HYBRID, THE ENERGI'S RANGE INCREASES FROM 570 TO 620 MILES, WHILE TOP SPEED DECREASES FROM 115 TO 102 MILES-PER-HOUR.

EV-ONLY SPEED TOPS OUT AT 85.

THE BASIC FRONT DRIVE POWERTRAIN REMAINS THE SAME; A 141-HORSEPOWER, 2.0-LITER, ATKINSON-CYCLE, I4 MATED TO AN 88 KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR, ALL COUPLED TO A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION.

COMPARED TO THE PRIUS PLUG-IN, THE C-MAX HAS A LONGER RANGE, AND THUS A HIGHER MPGE RATING.

BUT IT ALSO HAS ANOTHER ADVANTAGE; IT'S A LOT MORE PLEASANT TO DRIVE, ALL WITH A VERY QUIET AND SOLID RIDE.

STILL, IF YOU GET TOO AGGRESSIVE, THE C-MAX'S TALL SHAPE STARTS TO FEEL A LITTLE TOP HEAVY.

AS FOR ACCELERATION, THE ENERGI IS A CLEAR WINNER HERE AS WELL, DASHING TO 60 IN 8.5-SECONDS, MORE THAN TWO SECONDS FASTER THAN A PRIUS PLUG-IN.

THE QUARTER MILE IS ALSO FASTER AT 16.7 SECONDS AND 87 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE ENERGI'S STYLISH AND NICELY FINISHED INTERIOR GETS THE NOD TOO, AND COMES IN SEL TRIM ONLY; WHICH MEANS SYNC WITH NAVIGATION, PUSH-BUTTON START, AND ACTIVE PARK ASSIST ARE ALL STANDARD.

A BACK-UP CAMERA IS OPTIONAL, AS IS FORD'S HANDS-FREE POWER LIFTGATE.

STORAGE SPACE DOES TAKE A HIT DUE TO THE LARGER BATTERY MOUNTED IN THE REAR CARGO AREA.

SPACE BEHIND THE REAR SEATS FALLS FROM 24.5 CUBIC-FEET TO 19.2, OR A BIT LESS THAN THE PRIUS.

WHETHER IN EV-MODE OR OPERATING AS A FULL-HYBRID, THE ENERGI FEELS PLENTY PEPPY FOR BOTH CITY COMMUTING AND HIGHWAY MERGING, AND ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED FOR BOTH MISSIONS.

AND NOW IT COMES DOWN TO DECIDING WHETHER THE ENERGI IS A GOOD VALUE OR JUST A GOOD IDEA?

WELL, PRICING STARTS AT $33,745.

THAT'S $4,585 OVER AN SEL EQUIPPED C-MAX HYBRID, AND JUST A BIT MORE THAN A BASE PRIUS PLUG-IN.

SO, IS IT WORTH IT?

CERTAINLY, IF YOUR COMMUTE IS UNDER 20-MILES AND YOU CAN FUNCTION MOSTLY ON EV-POWER ALONE.

BUT IF MOST OF YOUR TRIPS ARE OF THE LONG VARIETY, YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF STICKING WITH THE REGULAR C-MAX HYBRID.

WE APPLAUD FORD FOR BEING BOLD ENOUGH TO MOUNT A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO TOYOTA'S PRIUS JUGGERNAUT, AND FOR GIVING BUYERS TRUE OPTIONS, WHETHER IT'S A FULL EV, HYBRID, OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN LIKE THE 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI.

THAT'S ONE "ENERGY" PLAN WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, AS WE MUSCLE AROUND ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY IN CHEVY'S TRACK-READY CAMARO 1LE.

THEN WE'LL CHECK OUT THE SEDUCTIVE BMW ALPINA B7.

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 TIRE RACK.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AND BY 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.