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

JOIN US AND SEE JUST HOW FAST THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT FLIES WITH FOUR FEWER CYLINDERS.

PAT GOSS ON THE LIMITS OF QUICK LUBE CAR CARE.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ SHOWS US A SLICK NEW TWIST TO DRIVER'S ED.

AND WE CHALLENGE THE HYUNDAI AZERA TO FINALLY MAKE A FULL-SIZE MARK.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: AHH!

OHH.

AHH.

Monk: YOU MAY ASK ONE QUESTION.

Man: [ HEAVY SIGH ] WHICH TIRE CATEGORY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO GET THE MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE?

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TIRE RACK.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.

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

3M'S FUEL SYSTEM TUNE-UP KIT HELPS PROLONG ENGINE LIFE BY REMOVING CARBON, GUMS, AND RESINS, AND CLEANING FUEL INJECTORS AND VALVES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT... John Davis: MOST OF THE CARS WE TEST THESE DAYS, FROM EVERYDAY DRIVERS TO HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINES, ARE DOWNSIZING THEIR POWERTRAINS TO MEET INCREASINGLY STRINGENT FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS.

EVEN UPPER CRUST BENTLEY ISN'T IMMUNE TO THIS TREND, AS THEY'VE NOW ADDED A V8 TO THEIR CONTINENTAL GT LINEUP.

SO LET'S SEE IF THIS CONTINENTAL SHIFT TO FOUR FEWER CYLINDERS MAKES FOR LESS OF A BENTLEY OR IF IT LANDS THE BRAND ON NEW TURF?

ALTHOUGH KNOWN MORE FOR OVERINDULGENCE THAN ECO-CONSCIOUSNESS, BENTLEY DOESN'T WANT TO GET LEFT BEHIND IN THE EVER-CHANGING AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, AND THAT'S WHERE THE 2013 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT V8 COMES IN.

WHILE GOING FROM 12 CYLINDERS TO 8 COULD BE A DISASTER FOR A COMPANY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON PERFORMANCE, THE POWERTRAIN UNDER THIS HOOD IS MORE THAN UP TO THE TASK.

AND ALTHOUGH THIS V8'S ORIGINS ARE IN THE AUDI S-LINE, IT GETS A THOROUGH REWORKING AT THE HANDS OF BENTLEY ENGINEERS TO PUMP OUT 500-HORSEPOWER AND 487 LB-FEET OF TORQUE WITH THE HELP OF A PAIR OF TURBOS.

DISPLACING JUST UNDER 4-LITERS, WHICH IS WHERE SOME COUNTRIES BEGIN IMPOSING AN ADDITIONAL ROAD TAX, IT ALSO INCLUDES CYLINDER DEACTIVATION TO SAVE A BIT MORE FUEL.

REAR BIASED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STILL STANDARD, AND POWER FLOWS THROUGH A NEW CLOSE-RATIO 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH.

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN TELL THERE'S SHIFTING GOING ON IS BY THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE, WHICH, BY THE WAY, SOUNDS WAY BETTER THAN THE W12 EVER DID, ESPECIALLY AT START UP, WHEN YOU GET A NICE BARK THAT SIGNALS THIS CAR IS READY FOR ACTION!

WHERE WE WERE HAPPY TO OBLIGE AT OUR TEST TRACK WHERE THE GT V8 HIT 60 IN 4.2 SECONDS WITHOUT BRAKING TRACTION OR A SWEAT.

INDEED, THE FULL QUARTER-MILE FELT EFFORTLESS AS THIS 5,000 POUND BEHEMOTH STREAKS DOWN THE QUARTER MILE IN JUST 12.5 SECONDS WHILE CRUISING ALONG AT 111 MPH.

BOTH TIMES ONLY A FEW TENTHS OFF THE LAST CONTINENTAL 12 WE TESTED.

HAULING DOWN SO MUCH WEIGHT TAKES SERIOUS BRAKES, AND THE GT V8 HAS THEM, TAKING ONLY A SHORT 117 FEET TO STOP FROM 60.

WHOA, BROTHER!

DESPITE THE 2.5 TON MASS, THE GT V8 IS LIGHTER THAN THE W12 BY 55 POUNDS.

AND A LIGHTER FRONT END MEANS IT'S A BIT MORE EAGER TO TURN IN.

SUSPENSION HAS ALSO BEEN RETUNED, BUT THERE IS STILL A HUGE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TRANSFER DURING TRANSITIONS.

BUT WHEN CRUISING THE COUNTRYSIDE, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE FIRING 8-CYLINDERS OR 12, OR EVEN 4; AS BENTLEY ENGINEERS CLAIM YOU'RE SPENDING MORE TIME IN 4-CYLINDER MODE THAN YOU REALIZE.

BUT AS TO WHY THE V8 IN THE FIRST PLACE, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE MUCH IMPROVED OVER THE W12 AT 15 CITY, 24 HIGHWAY, AND 18 COMBINED.

THAT'S A FOUR MPG GAIN OVERALL.

OUR 20.7 MILES-PER-GALLON TEST LOOP ON PREMIUM IS NOT BAD FOR AN ULTRA-LUXURY PERFORMANCE CAR.

OPEN UP THE CONTINENTAL GT V8'S EXTRA HEAVY DOORS AND YOU'LL BE INSTANTLY GREETED WITH THE SMELL OF FINE LEATHER AND EXCESS.

SEATS ARE SUPER COMFORTABLE, AND BOTH COOLING AND HEATING PROVIDE FURTHER SOOTHING.

EXTENSIVE LEATHER AND WOODWORK ARE BEAUTIFUL AND FEEL GREAT TO THE TOUCH, AND EVERY INTERIOR CONTROL WORKS WITH PRECISION.

AND IT IS CERTAINLY STILL A BEAUTIFUL CAR, AS ALL OF THE CONTINENTAL'S SEXY LINES REMAIN INTACT.

V8 MODELS WILL BE EASILY DISTINGUISHED THOUGH BY A UNIQUE FRONT FASCIA WITH BLACK MATRIX GRILLE WITH CHROME TRIM, ADDITIONAL WHEEL OPTIONS LIKE THESE BLACK AND SILVER 21s, AND A RED BENTLEY B.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING, THE V8 GT IS NATURALLY A BIT LESS DEAR THAN THE 12, AND IT IS THE NEW BASE BENTLEY STARTING AT $176,725.

THAT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY, BUT MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAR BRAND, BENTLEYS SURE DO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WORTH IT.

THE 2013 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT V8 IS ALMOST AS FAST THE 12 AND GETS BETTER FUEL ECONOMY -- SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, BENTLEY HAS MADE THE CONTINENTAL A BETTER CAR.

AS TRUTH BE TOLD, THE W12 WAS OVERKILL.

IT MAY STILL BE SOME MIGHTY EXPENSIVE PROPERTY, BUT IT'S ONE WE'LL VISIT ANYTIME!

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ONE OF THREE CITIES SERVICED BY AN ELECTRIC TRUCK FLEET OWNED BY SNACK FOOD GIANT FRITO-LAY.

AS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL CLEAN FLEET PARTNERS, FRITO-LAY HAS LAUNCHED A FLEET OF SMITH NEWTON ELECTRIC TRUCKS, THE WORLD'S LARGEST ELECTRIC-POWERED TRUCK WITH TWO LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACKS, A THREE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR, AND A 160-HORSEPOWER RATING.

REGENERATIVE BRAKING AND THIS OPUS DIGITAL READOUT, THAT SHOWS PRECISELY HOW MUCH CHARGE IS REMAINING, HELPS DRIVERS ACHIEVE A 100-MILE RANGE.

WITH ZERO TAILPIPE EMISSIONS AND A VIRTUALLY SILENT DRIVE, IT'S NO WONDER THAT THE CREW BEHIND THE WHEEL DOESN'T WANT TO GET OUT WHEN THEIR SHIFT IS DONE.

Glenn Reynolds: WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WORK WITH THE DRIVER TO PAIR UP WITH THEM, DRIVE THE ROUTE WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY, SO WE SHOW THEM THAT IT MEETS THEIR NEEDS AND THAT IT WILL NOT IMPACT THEIR BUSINESS NEGATIVELY.

John: BY THE END OF 2012, FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA EXPECTS TO HAVE 280 UNITS IN SERVICE, WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM ONE OF THE LARGEST ALL-ELECTRIC TRUCK FLEETS IN THE LAND.

GRACE UNDER FIRE IS A WELL RESPECTED VIRTUE, AND BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WELL, BEHIND THE WHEEL IS JUST WHERE WE FIND OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ THIS WEEK, AT AN ADVANCED STREET DRIVING SCHOOL THAT SPECIALIZES IN THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF PANIC SITUATION MOTORING.

SO LET'S BUCKLE UP AND GO FOR A SPIN.

Yolanda Vazquez: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG... [ TIRES SQUEALING ] ...TO REALIZE THAT BLACKTOP BOOTCAMP... Instructor: EXCELLENT JOB.

Yolanda: ...IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL DRIVER'S ED COURSE.

THIS COMBINATION OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, ON-COURSE DRIVING AND SKID CAR TRAINING, GOES WELL BEYOND THE BASICS.

Instructor: SEE HOW FAST YOU GO FROM BEING RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF CONTROL TO COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.

AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I GET TO SEE THE END RESULT OF A LOT OF BAD DRIVING.

Yolanda: CHRISTOPHER IHARA CREATED THIS ADVANCED DRIVING COURSE FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR DRIVING SKILLS.

Christopher Ihara: MOST OF THE STUDENTS, WHEN THEY COME HERE ARE LOOKING RIGHT AT THE NOSE OF THE CAR; WE GET THEM TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN BAD HABITS AND WORK ON BREAKING THEM OUT OF THEIR BAD HABITS.

Yolanda: THE INTENSE TRAINING TAKES PLACE ON A SPECIALLY-DESIGNED BRAKING AND SLALOM COURSE IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA.

EXERCISES INCLUDE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE LANE CHANGE MANEUVERS AND THRESHOLD BRAKING.

THE DRILLS ARE DONE IN A SAFE AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS.

THEY RIDE ALONG WITH THE STUDENTS... Instructor: WAIT FOR IT!

WAIT FOR IT!

NOW BRAKE!

Yolanda: ...AS THEY COACH AND MONITOR THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

Dave Parker, Instructor: I'M WATCHING THEIR FEET, I'M WATCHING THEIR EYES, WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING.

Yolanda: DAVE PARKER HELPS THIS YOUNG DRIVER WITH SHUFFLE STEERING AS SHE TRIES TO NAVIGATE A FEW TWISTY TURNS.

Instructor: GOOD JOB!

Yolanda: BUT THE REAL FUN AND LEARNING BEGINS WHEN STUDENTS TAKE A SPIN IN BLACKTOP BOOTCAMP'S SKID CAR.

IHARA HAS OUTFITTED THIS 2012 FORD FUSION WITH SPECIAL OUTRIGGERS THAT CAN RAISE THE FRONT OR REAR OF THE CAR.

Ihara: WE CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GRIP AVAILABLE TO EACH WHEEL BY HOW MUCH WEIGHT WE PUT ON THAT AXLE.

Yolanda: THIS ALLOWS THE INSTRUCTOR TO INDUCE ANY SKID HE WANTS, MAKING THE STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE DRIVING IN RAIN, SNOW, OR EVEN ICE.

Jake Rosenthal, Student: IT WAS HARD TO GET USED TO BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, I'M ON ASPHALT, I SHOULD BE FINE.

BUT THE SLICK CAR CHANGES IT.

Yolanda: CHRIS HELPS THEM MANAGE THEIR SKID CONTROL AND RECOVERY.

Instructor: GAS, GAS, GAS, GAS!

BOTH HANDS.

Yolanda: 16-YEAR-OLD CAYLA PHILLIPS ONLY HAS A MONTH AND A HALF OF DRIVING UNDER HER BELT.

SHE SAYS THE DAY-LONG COURSE HAS BEEN A REAL EYE-OPENER.

Cayla: I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE IN-DEPTH WHEN YOU'RE TAKING THIS.

YOU LEARN MORE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN CAR, OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO PREVENT CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY THINK OF.

Yolanda: SEEING HER HANDLE THE COURSE INSTILLED A BIT OF CONFIDENCE IN HER FATHER, JIM.

Jim Phillips: IT ALL HELPS, IT ALL KIND OF BUILDS.

IT ALL BUILDS.

I'M NOT READY TO LET HER GO ON 95 TO FLORIDA YET.

BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.

Yolanda: THE LAST TASK OF THE DAY, IHARA SWITCHES UP THE EXERCISE AND PROGRAMS THE SKID CAR TO DEMONSTRATE OVERSTEER.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BACK TIRES SWERVE ERRATICALLY AS HE STRAIGHTENS UP THE WHEEL TO AVOID A SPINOUT.

THE SIMULATED SCENE IS WET ROADS DRIVING 60 MPH.

Ihara: IT'S A SMOOTH CONTROLLED MOTION WITH THE WHEEL.

Yolanda: I ROTATE INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TEST MY OVERSTEER ABILITIES.

Instructor: EASY ON THE GAS, OTHERWISE YOU'RE GOING TO LOOP IT.

Yolanda: [ LAUGHING] Instructor: JUST LIKE THAT.

Yolanda: THANK GOODNESS IT'S SIMPLY A PRACTICE DRILL AND I DIDN'T JUST SPIN OUT ON THE HIGHWAY.

OVERSTEER CAN BE UNNERVING... JUST ASK LAURA COONSFIELD.

Laura: IT FELT UNCOMFORTABLE AT FIRST, I WAS REALLY SCARED.

Yolanda: BUT WORKING WITH IHARA ONE-ON-ONE HELPS BOOST HER CONFIDENCE.

Laura: I THINK NOW HAVING DONE THAT, I'M WILLING TO TRY DRIVING IN THE SNOW, IN THE RAIN, ALL THE STUFF THAT I JUST NEVER WOULD HAVE TRIED BEFORE.

Yolanda: SO NO MATTER YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OR DRIVING ABILITY, BLACKTOP BOOTCAMP UPS THE ANTE ON DRIVER TRAINING WITH LIFESAVING SKILLS THAT MAKE THE ROADS SAFER FOR EVERYONE.

John: THESE DAYS, AMERICANS WANT EVERYTHING FAST.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CAR CARE, OUR TOP TECH PAT GOSS CAUTIONS THAT THE FAST WAY MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE BEST WAY.

Pat Goss: WELL, SIR, WE GOT YOUR MUSTANG CHECKED OUT, AND SUCH A DEAL I'VE GOT FOR YOU.

I'M GOING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING.

FIRST, YOU NEED A NEW AIR FILTER BECAUSE DIRTY AIR FILTERS WASTE GASOLINE, AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

YOU NEED NEW WIPER BLADES.

AND HERE'S SOMETHING WE NOTICED WHEN WE WERE CHECKING OUT YOUR CAR -- LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THE OIL.

LOOKS PRETTY NASTY ON THAT PAPER TOWEL.

WELL, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PUT A CHEMICAL IN THERE TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF YOUR ENGINE TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER.

WE CAN GET THE CAR IN AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT AWAY FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES ON THOUSANDS OF TIMES EVERY DAY.

THERE'S SEVERAL LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE.

NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SALES RESISTANCE; DON'T BE AN IMPULSE BUYER.

EVALUATE WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T NEED.

YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND HAVE IT DONE LATER.

THE OTHER THING IS, AIR FILTERS ON MODERN CARS DO NOT AFFECT FUEL ECONOMY, SO DON'T FALL FOR THAT ONE.

AND ALL OIL PRETTY MUCH LOOKS DIRTY ON A PAPER TOWEL.

SO THAT'S NOT REALLY TELLING YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THE NEED FOR ANYTHING ON YOUR CAR.

SO ANOTHER ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, QUICK LUBES, WELL, THEY'RE GREAT...

THEY'RE GREAT AT CHANGING OIL AND TOPPING OFF FLUIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT, CARS HAVE MORE THAN FLUIDS TO THEM, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT QUICK LUBES DON'T TEST, AND THEY'LL TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT THAT THEY DON'T...

THEY DON'T HAVE A LIFT, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO DO IT.

THEY DON'T TEST, THEY DON'T EXAMINE, THEY CAN'T TELL YOU WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD OR BAD.

THINGS LIKE BALL JOINTS FOR INSTANCE; BALL JOINTS WEAR OUT, AND IF THEY FAIL, THE WHEEL COMES OFF.

TIE ROD ENDS, THEY WEAR OUT, AND IF ONE OF THOSE FAILS, YOU CAN'T STEER THE CAR.

WHAT ABOUT BRAKES?

THEY NEED ROUTINE TESTING.

BRAKE LINES, THEY RUST, THEY CORRODE.

BRAKE HOSES, THEY'RE MADE OF RUBBER, THEY DETERIORATE.

ENGINE MOUNTS, SUSPENSION PARTS, ON AND ON AND ON.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO, IS AT LEAST TWICE EVERY YEAR, YOU NEED TO GO IN TO A FULL SERVICE SHOP WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO CHECK ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT KEEP THE CAR SAFE AND RELIABLE.

YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T TEST A SAFETY RELATED PART.

OH, AND SOMETHING ELSE... NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE PROPER FLUIDS FOR YOUR CAR.

IT HAS TO BE WHAT'S RECOMMENDED, NOT SOME UNIVERSAL PRODUCT.

SO, TWICE A YEAR, FULL SERVICE, GET EVERYTHING CHECKED AND YOU'LL HAVE A SAFE CAR.

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

John: DESPITE A SLEW OF NEW COMPACT CROSSOVERS IN RECENT MONTHS, THE HONDA CR-V REMAINS THE INDUSTRY BENCHMARK.

AND IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.

OUR LONG-TERM CR-V DELIVERS A NEAR PERFECT BALANCE OF POWER, ECONOMY, COMFORT, AND UTILITY.

YES, WE CAN NITPICK A FEW THINGS LIKE THE ANTIQUATED NAV SYSTEM ON OUR EX-L, AND AN INTERIOR WEDDED TO HARD PLASTICS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

ONE NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT FOR THIS 4TH GEN CR-V IS A MUCH BETTER AIR CONDITIONER THAT NOW EASILY HANDLES TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPS.

WITH JUST OVER FOUR MONTHS AND 10,500 MILES UNDER ITS TIRES, FUEL ECONOMY IS QUITE GOOD AT 25.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

AND THAT'S WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ONE LESS GEAR THAN MOST RIVALS.

WE FIND THE ENERGY OF THE 185-HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER I4 TO BE MORE THAN ADEQUATE WITH A DECENT RESERVE FOR PASSING.

SO, THE HONDA CR-V UNDRAMATICALLY RIDES ON, WAITING FOR OTHER COMPACT CROSSOVERS TO TAKE THEIR BEST SHOT.

IT'S OLD NEWS THAT THE 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA IS A HOME RUN.

WINNING OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST COMPACT, PLUS OTHER ACCOLADES, ONLY ADDED FUEL TO THE FIRE OF SALES.

BUYERS WILL FIND EVERYTHING PRACTICAL THEY EXPECT IN AN IMPREZA, PLUS NEW FOUND DRIVING ENJOYMENT.

OUR IMPREZA 2.0I SPORT LIMITED HATCHBACK IS EASILY THE MOST FUN NON-WRX IMPREZA WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.

THIS YEAR'S SMALLER, 148-HORSEPOWER 2-LITER I4, OURS WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC, IS MORE THAN WILLING.

DRIVEN MOSTLY IN CITY CLIMES, WE'RE NOT SURPRISED AT THE MODEST 28.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR FUEL ECONOMY.

THE HIGHWAY RATING IS 36, AND WE'VE YET TO SEE ANYTHING CLOSE.

AFTER FOUR MONTHS AND 6,000 MILES THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL FAULTS.

IT IS A SOMEWHAT NOISY CABIN ON CONCRETE ROADS.

STILL, A CAR THIS WELL DONE, THIS AFFORDABLE, AND WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE?

NO WONDER SUBARU IMPREZAS ARE GOING FAST.

WE'LL FAST-FORWARD TO TWO MODERN UTILITIES; THE COMPACT MAZDA CX-5 CROSSOVER, AND GO ANYWHERE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST MOTORNEWS, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE AND SEE WHAT'S STARTING UP THIS WEEK.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE FABLED BRITISH PERFORMANCE BRAND JAGUAR IS MORE WELL-KNOWN FOR TACKLING CHALLENGING ROADS AND RACE TRACKS THAN MAKING TRACKS THROUGH ICE AND SNOW.

BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.

JAGUAR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM WILL BE OFFERED ON SOME 2013 XJ AND XF SEDANS.

LABELED "INSTINCTIVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE," IT WILL BE THE FIRST ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FOR JAGUARS SINCE THE FORD CONTOUR BASED X-TYPE WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2009.

THE NEWS CAME FROM NEW YORK CITY'S HIGHLINE PARK, WHERE JAGUAR HOSTED THE REVEAL, AND BROUGHT A LITTLE WINTER WEATHER TO THE SUMMER CITY STREETS.

FOR NOW, "INSTINCTIVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE" IS EXCLUSIVE TO THE XJ AND XF MODELS WITH THE NEW, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, SUPERCHARGED 3.0-LITER V6 ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC STOP/START.

IT MATES TO AN ALSO NEW 8-SPEED ZF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

JAG'S V8, AND THE NEW TURBO I4, WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

GIVEN JAGUAR'S POPULARITY IN THE COLD, SNOWY CLIMATES OF THE NORTHEAST, THE ADDITION OF ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TO PURE JAGUAR MODELS SEEMS LONG OVERDUE.

WITH INSTINCTIVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, REAR-WHEEL POWER IS THE PRIORITY, BUT IF THE NEW TRANSFER CASE MODULE DETECTS SLIPPING, OR A DEMAND IS MADE FOR MORE POWER, UP TO 50% OF ENGINE TORQUE IS SENT TO THE FRONT WHEELS.

ABS IS USED TO DISTRIBUTE THE TORQUE SIDE-TO-SIDE.

WITH POWER AT ALL FOUR WHEELS FOR ITS MID-SIZE AND FLAGSHIP SEDAN, JAG SHOULD NOW BE FULLY COMPETITIVE WITH THE LIKES OF BMW'S XDRIVE.

AUDI'S QUATTRO, AND THE MERCEDES 4MATIC IN THE ALL-WEATHER LUXURY CAR MARKET.

"INSTINCTIVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE" WILL BE AVAILABLE JUST IN TIME FOR THE WORST OF WINTER, AS THE AWD XJ AND XF SEDANS CLAW THEIR WAY INTO U.S. DEALERSHIPS IN DECEMBER.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: HYUNDAI IS CLEARLY NOT SATISFIED WITH BEING A MAJOR PLAYER IN JUST THE SMALL AND MID-SIZE CAR AND CROSSOVER RANKS.

THEY'VE ALSO HAD SOME SUCCESS IN LUXURY SEGMENTS WITH CARS LIKE THE GENESIS AND EQUUS.

BUT ONE AREA WHERE SUCCESS HAS ELUDED THEM IS IN THE LARGE FAMILY SEDAN.

THEY TRIED THE XG300 IN 2001 AND AZERA STARTING IN 2006.

STILL, SALES WERE DISAPPOINTING.

BUT HYUNDAI NEVER SAYS NEVER, AND FOR 2013 THE AZERA IS ALL-NEW.

SO LET'S SEE IF THIS TIME THEIR EFFORTS PAY OFF BIG.

IF YOU'VE FOUND YOURSELF WISHING THAT HYUNDAI HAD A REALLY DESIRABLE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE SEDAN THAT'S LARGER THAN THE MID-SIZE SONATA, THE FULL-SIZE 2012 AZERA MAY BE JUST THE RIDE FOR YOU.

THE AZERA CLEARLY HAS A LOT IN COMMON WITH THE HIGH VOLUME SONATA.

BUT THERE ARE ENOUGH UNIQUE ASPECTS TO PUT IT A NOTCH ABOVE, AND MAKE IT A SERIOUS COMPETITOR TO PREMIUM ENTRIES LIKE THE TOYOTA AVALON, BUICK LACROSSE, AND PERHAPS EVEN THE LEXUS ES.

STYLING CERTAINLY ECHOES THE SONATA'S FLUIDIC SCULPTURE DESIGN THEME, YET CRANKS IT UP A SCORE WITH ITS BELTLINE RISING HIGH OVER THE REAR WHEELS.

WHEELBASE IS LENGTHY, 112-INCHES, THAT'S AN INCH LONGER THAN THE NEW AVALON.

BUT WITH MODEST FRONT AND REAR OVERHANG, OVERALL LENGTH MEASURES ONLY 193.3 INCHES, FOUR INCHES SHORTER THAN LACROSSE.

UP FRONT IS AN IMPOSING CHROME GRILLE, SET BETWEEN STANDARD HID XENON HEADLIGHTS WITH LED ACCENTS.

A COMBO THAT IS ALREADY A PRESTIGIOUS CAR HALLMARK.

IN THE REAR, THERE ARE WIDE WRAPAROUND LED TAILLIGHTS AND NICELY INTEGRATED DUAL EXHAUST TIPS.

IT'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE, APPEARING SLEEK AND AERODYNAMIC.

IT STILL LOOKS LIKE A HYUNDAI, JUST A MORE EXPENSIVE ONE.

AND THAT PRICEY LOOK CONTINUES INSIDE WHERE YOU'LL FIND AN EXTREMELY WELL-EQUIPPED INTERIOR WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDING HEATED LEATHER SEATING, FRONT AND REAR, TOUCHSCREEN NAVIGATION, BACK-UP CAMERA, KEYLESS ENTRY, 9-AIRBAGS, AND A COOLED GLOVE BOX.

THE OVERALL THEME IS AGAIN FAMILIAR, BUT MOST SWITCHGEAR IS A NICE STEP UP FROM SONATA, ESPECIALLY THE DOOR MOUNTED SEAT CONTROLS, ALA MERCEDES-BENZ.

BOTH NAVIGATION AND VOICE COMMAND WORK VERY WELL, AND HYUNDAI'S BLUE LINK TELEMATICS IS STANDARD.

THERE'S TRUE ROOM FOR 5-ADULTS, WITH VERY COMFORTABLE SEATING BOTH UP FRONT AND IN BACK.

WHILE CARGO CAPACITY OF THE NICELY FINISHED TRUNK IS 16.3 CUBIC-FEET.

FOR SUCH A BIG CAR, IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES TO SEE THAT THERE'S JUST A 3.3 LITER V6 UNDER THE HOOD.

HYUNDAI CLAIMS THE HIGHEST PER-LITER OUTPUT IN THE SEGMENT AT 293-HORSEPOWER AND 255 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YET, IT STILL FEELS A BIT UNDERPOWERED.

A FEELING WE CONFIRMED AT OUR TEST TRACK WHERE THE 3.3-LITER DELIVERED A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 7.4 SECONDS, AND THE 1/4 MILE IN 15.8 AT 92 MILES-PER-HOUR.

STILL, THAT'S COMPARABLE TO RIVAL FWD FULL-SIZERS.

IT ALSO DIDN'T TAKE MUCH TIME THROUGH THE CONES TO BE REMINDED THAT THE AZERA IS A LARGE CAR WITH AN EYE TOWARDS LUXURY.

EVEN WITH A RESPECTABLE SUSPENSION SETUP OF STRUTS FRONT AND MULTI-LINKS REAR, RESPONSE IS SLOW AND THE OVERALL FEEL IS VERY SOFT WITH PLENTY OF BODY ROLL.

STILL, THE BUYER FOR AZERA IS NOT LOOKING FOR A DRIVER'S CAR LIKE THE GENESIS.

FOR ITS INTENDED PATRONS, THE AZERA WILL PROVE QUITE COMPETENT.

IN ITS MORE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY THE AZERA IS PURE LUXURY CAR QUIET.

ONLY SOME OCCASIONAL TIRE NOISE DISRUPTS THE SOLITUDE.

THE RIDE IS SMOOTH, PERHAPS A LITTLE FLOATY AT TIMES, BUT VERY COMFORTABLE FOR TRIPS SHORT OR LONG.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD FOR A V6 POWERED LARGE CAR AT 20 CITY, 29 HIGHWAY, AND 23 COMBINED.

USING REGULAR GAS WE AVERAGED 24.5 MILES-PER-GALLON.

MAKING ENERGY IMPACT SCORES BETTER THAN AVERAGE AT 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED PER YEAR WHILE CO2 EMISSIONS ARE 6.4 TONS ANNUALLY.

BUT AS WITH MOST HYUNDAI'S, VALUE IS STILL A MAJOR REASON FOR PURCHASING THE WELL-EQUIPPED AZERA, WITH PRICES STARTING AT $32,875.

FULL-SIZE CARS WERE WHAT AMERICANS DREAMED OF A GENERATION AGO.

TODAY, MID-SIZE AND SMALLER IS WHERE THE MARKET IS GROWING.

STILL, IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO MUCH TIME IN THE 2012 HYUNDAI AZERA TO APPRECIATE WHAT A LARGE CAR OFFERS.

IT MAY NOT BE EVERYONE'S CUP OF TEA, BUT HYUNDAI HAS CERTAINLY BREWED UP ENOUGH SPECIAL FEATURES TO MAKE AZERA A STYLISH, AND VERY ATTRACTIVE FULL-SIZE FAMILY OFFERING.

IT IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT THAT WE THINK WILL INDEED DRAW MORE OF THE BIG CAR CROWD TO HYUNDAI.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHEN WE'LL SEE IF THE 9TH GENERATION HONDA ACCORD IS READY FOR THE COMPETITION.

AND WE'LL TRACK TEST A PAIR OF SUPERCHARGED S-LINE AUDIS.

TILL 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.

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