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

JOIN US AND FIND OUT IF THE CADILLAC ATS IS REALLY A WORLD-CLASS SPORTS SEDAN.

PAT GOSS HAS TIPS ON HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR EXPENSIVE AIR TOOLS.

STEVEN CHUPNICK GOES OVER THE EDGE AND "BACK TO THE '50s."

AND WE'LL SEE IF THE SUBARU BRZ SPORT COUPE LIVES UP TO ITS HYPE.

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.

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MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRE RACK.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 3M'S COMPLETE COLOR-CODED PAINT RESTORATION SYSTEM.

HELPS RESTORE YOUR CAR'S AUTO FINISH REMOVING OXIDATION, SWIRL MARKS, AND LIGHT SCRATCHES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT... John Davis: CADILLAC HAS ALREADY PROVEN THAT IT CAN BUILD A TOP NOTCH SPORTS SEDAN AND COUPE WITH THE CTS.

BUT BEING ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BMW 5-SERIES, THE CTS IS STILL TOO LARGE AND HEAVY FOR CORE SPORTS SEDAN ENTHUSIASTS WHO PREFER RIDES LIKE THE BMW 3-SERIES, AUDI A4, AND INFINITI G. WELL, IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT THE ALL-NEW CADILLAC ATS HAS THOSE RIVALS SQUARELY IN ITS SIGHTS.

SO LET'S SEE JUST HOW TRUE CADILLAC'S AIM REALLY IS.

WE'LL JUST PRETEND THAT THE CIMARRON NEVER HAPPENED, AND CALL THE 2013 ATS CADILLAC'S FIRST COMPACT SEDAN.

IT CERTAINLY IS THEIR FIRST COMPACT LUXURY SPORTS SEDAN.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A PRESTIGE BRAND CAN SURVIVE AS LONG AS CADILLAC HAS WITHOUT A WORTHY ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ATS LOOKS TO HAVE THE GOODS TO GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH THE MOST HALLOWED OF ALL SPORTS SEDAN BENCHMARKS, THE BMW 3-SERIES.

WE SURE HAD A BLAST SLIDING THIS LIGHTWEIGHT, EXPERTLY BALANCED CADDY AROUND ATLANTA MOTORSPORTS PARK.

THE ATS MAKES YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE IN TOTAL CONTROL, ALTHOUGH YOU KNOW IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, THERE'S A LOT OF ONES AND ZEROS HELPING YOU GO FAST.

IT'S DEFINITELY A DRIVER'S CAR.

THE AVAILABLE LIMITED-SLIP REAR REALLY HELPS GET THE POWER DOWN WHETHER AROUND CURVES OR IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

ON THAT, THE ATS IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL WHEN IT COMES TO POWER.

THERE ARE THREE CHOICES, ONE MORE THAN MOST RIVALS.

FROM THE 2.5-LITER I4 IN THE BASE AND LUXURY MODELS, TO THE BRUT IN THE LINEUP, THE CTS'S 3.6-LITER V6 FOUND IN THE PREMIUM MODEL.

BUT OUR FAVORITE, AND LIKELY THE BUYER'S TOO, IS THE PERFORMANCE MODEL'S ALL-ALUMINUM, DIRECT INJECTION 2-LITER TURBO, WITH ITS 272-HORSEPOWER, 30 MORE THAN THE 328I, AND 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

GOOD FOR A 0 TO 60 RUN OF A RESPECTABLE 5.7 SECONDS.

THAT GREAT POWER IS THEN PERFECTLY BALANCED WITH GOOD FUEL ECONOMY AT 22 CITY, 32 HIGHWAY, AND 26 COMBINED.

ALL ENGINES DON 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WITH MANUAL SHIFT, WHILE THE 2-LITER TURBO OFFERS A SPORTS SEDAN PRE-REQUISITE 6-SPEED MANUAL.

WHILE "PURISTS" WILL INSIST ON THE MANUAL, THE AUTO IS PLENTY RESPONSIVE AND SUITED US JUST FINE.

LENGTH AND WHEELBASE PUT IT RIGHT AMONGST THE COMPETITION, BUT AT 3,400 POUNDS, IT'S LIGHTER THAN MOST OF THEM, THANKS TO EXTENSIVE USE OF ALUMINUM AND EVEN MAGNESIUM.

FRONT SUSPENSION STARTS AS TYPICAL MACPHERSON STRUT, BUT REPLACES THE USUAL WISHBONE WITH TWIN BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL LINKS.

THE REAR IS AN ALL-NEW 5-LINK DESIGN.

OUR RIDE'S FE3 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION ADDS THE LIMITED SLIP REAR AND DRIVER ADJUSTABLE GEN 3 MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL THAT REALLY PULLS IT ALL TOGETHER.

THERE IS ALSO ELECTRIC VARIABLE STEERING ASSIST, AND WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS AS THERE'S A SWEET AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK THROUGH THE WHEEL.

THE FRONT END IS SMOOTH.

NARROW, VERTICAL HEADLIGHTS WITH AVAILABLE LED ACCENTS, FLANK A BROAD GRILLE WITH ACTIVE SHUTTERS, ACCENTUATING WIDTH.

THE REAR PROUDLY FEATURES CADILLAC HALLMARKS SUCH AS VERTICAL LED TAILLIGHTS AND LARGE WREATH AND CREST, WHILE NICELY INTEGRATED EXHAUST TIPS ADD A TOUCH OF MODERN.

INSIDE, THERE IS AN ULTRA-MODERN YET FAMILIAR CADILLAC LOOK.

OUR PERFORMANCE MODEL FEATURES SPORTY ALUMINUM TRIM, THOUGH WOOD IS AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE LINEUP.

AND CADILLAC'S NEW CUE PROXIMITY TOUCH INTERFACE IS ALSO STANDARD IN ALL BUT THE BASE CAR.

WE LOVE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF CUE WHEN SITTING STILL, BUT MOVING, LIKE ALL SUCH SYSTEMS, YOU NEED TO USE THE BEST-YET VOICE ACTIVATION TO AVOID TOO MUCH DISTRACTION.

MUCH LIKE THE LARGER XTS, GAUGES ARE A HIGH-TECH DISPLAY, WITH A MULTITUDE OF CONFIGURATIONS.

OVERALL INTERIOR DIMENSIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THE 3-SERIES.

THAT MEANS A FAIRLY INTIMATE FRONT CABIN BUT WITH PLENTY OF LEGROOM.

THE REAR SEAT IN THE ATS, HOWEVER, IS A LITTLE TIGHT EVEN FOR A SPORTS SEDAN.

AND THE TRUNK IS DOWNRIGHT SMALL AT 10.2 CUBIC-FEET.

ON THE STREET, THE ATS IS VERY COMPOSED AND SUPER STABLE.

MORE THAN ONE OF OUR STAFFERS FELT THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY REMIND THEMSELVES THAT THEY WERE DRIVING AN AMERICAN MADE SPORTS SEDAN.

THE 2-LITER TURBO HAS PLENTY OF GUTS, LITTLE TURBO LAG, AND LIKES TO BE REVVED.

YET IT REMAINS QUIET AND SMOOTH AS YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM A LUXURY ORIENTED BRAND.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE ON ALL BUT BASE AND LUXURY MODELS.

ATS PRICING BEGINS AT A VERY REASONABLE $33,990, BUT WE EXPECT MOST WILL GO OUT OF THE DOOR CLOSER TO $40 GRAND.

CADILLAC HAS HIT THE COMPACT SPORTY FOUR-DOOR BULLSEYE WITH THE 2013 ATS.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN HORDES OF 3-SERIES FANS ARE GOING TO TRADE-IN THEIR TWIN-KIDNEYS FOR A WREATH AND CREST.

BUT IT DOES MEAN CADILLAC IS NOW A MEMBER OF A VERY EXCLUSIVE CLUB.

AND WITH A V-SERIES, AND MAYBE EVEN A COUPE TO FOLLOW, THE ATS LOOKS LIKE A LOT MORE THAN JUST A SPLASH IN THE PAN.

JUST IMAGINE IF MARTY MCFLY HAD NOT ENDED UP IN HILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, BUT SAY, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA!

WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE OUR STEVEN CHUPNICK ENDED UP ON HIS LATEST ADVENTURE AS HE WENT OVER THE EDGE AND "BACK TO THE '50s."

Steven: WELCOME TO A GATHERING OF CLASSIC IRON AND THE 39TH ANNUAL "BACK TO THE '50s" WEEKEND.

WELL, IT'S BECOME A LITTLE MORE THAN A GATHERING - NEARLY 12,000 CARS AND TRUCKS FILLED THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS, AND ALL THESE CARS FROM THE '50s AND '60s - IT MAKES ME WANT TO GET DOWN FOR A BOOGIE WOOGIE DADDY-O.

LIKE MANY OF THE GREAT CAR CLUBS, THE MINNESOTA STREET ROD ASSOCIATION, OR MSRA, BEGAN IN THE LATE 1960s AS A BUNCH OF GUYS GETTING TOGETHER AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT ELSE...THEIR CARS.

NO ONE THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER BE THIS BIG... Gene Sonnem: IT JUST KIND OF FED ON ITSELF.

A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT MORE DIFFERENT CARS THAN WE'D EVER SEEN BEFORE, AND MEET OTHER GUYS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE TWIN CITIES, THE WHOLE METRO AREA.

WELL, THAT HAPPENED, THEN OUT OF STATE GUYS STARTED SHOWING UP.

Steven: WHAT STARTED OUT AS 12 GUYS, THE MSRA HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 13,000 MEMBERS WORLD WIDE.

AND AS FOR THE "BACK TO THE '50s"... OVER 125,000 SPECTATORS AND 11,800 CARS.

EASILY THE LARGEST THREE-DAY CAR SHOW OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

AND IT IS JUST THAT - A SHOW - NO COMPETITION, JUST THE LOVE OF WHEELS, FINS, AND PEOPLE.

Tom Vollbrecht, Sr.: WE ALL ENJOY OUR CARS.

WE'RE NUTS, I GUESS.

PEOPLE SAY, 'WHAT, ARE YOU CRAZY?'

WE ARE, WE'RE CAR CRAZY.

I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, BUT WE ARE.

Steven: SO WHAT KIND OF RIDES ARE HERE?

EVERYTHING.

AND I MEAN EVERYTHING.

THE ONLY RULE: THE AUTOS MUST HAVE BEEN BUILT BY 1964.

AND SORRY, NO MUSTANGS ALLOWED.

OTHER THAN THAT, ANYTHING GOES!

HOW COOL TO SEE SO MANY WONDERFULLY MAINTAINED MODERN CLASSICS.

CARS YOU RARELY SEE ON THE STREET ANYMORE, LIKE THESE FORD GALAXIES OR MAYBE ITS CARS THAT NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE.

Larry Schoonover: WE WOULDN'T MISS IT.

IT'S JUST IN YOUR BLOOD.

IF IT ISN'T THE CAR, IT'S THE PEOPLE, IT'S THE PARK, IT'S THE FOOD.

IT'S JUST SO MUCH FUN.

YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

Steven: CONNIE MURPHY DROVE HER 1956 CHEVY NOMAD ALL THE WAY FROM CALIFORNIA, FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW.

FOR HER, JUST GETTING TO MINNESOTA IS AN EXPERIENCE.

Connie Murphy: OH, WONDERFUL.

YOU GET ON THE ROAD AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN.

IT'S LIKE A CAR SHOW FROM THERE TO HERE.

EVERY YEAR THE CAR GETS OLDER, MORE PEOPLE WAVE, AND IT'S LIKE A LITTLE CAR SHOW AT EVERY GAS STOP.

Steven: WE HAPPENED TO STUMBLE ON ONE OF THE FEW EUROPEANS PRESENT, JOHN MYERS' 1961 TRIUMPH TR4... John Myers: IT KIND OF GIVES PEOPLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LOOK AT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER THIS CAR FROM BACK IN THE '60s AND '70s AND YOU DON'T REALLY SEE THEM THAT MUCH ANYMORE.

Steven: OH, AND THAT LOVE I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE...

IT GOES WAY BEYOND JUST SHOWING OFF YOUR CAR.

AND THE NEWLYWEDS DRIVE AWAY RIDE?

WHAT ELSE, A STREET ROD!

THE GROOM'S OWN 1926 FORD SEDAN.

THANKS TO BRENT ALPERT AND THE "IGNITORS" YOUTH RODDERS, EVEN THE PINT-SIZED FANS GET PUMPED UP ABOUT THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN CARS... Brent Alpert: MY BIG THING IS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADVOCATE TO GET THE YOUTH IN THIS HOBBY AND KEEP THE HOBBY GOING.

Steven: BUT IT'S STILL THE SEASONED VETS WHO BRENT AND THE YOUNGER MEMBERS LOOK UP TO... Brent: MEETING THESE OLDER MEMBERS HAS BEEN JUST GREAT.

HEARING THE OLD STORIES OF THE PAST THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE HAVE BEEN GREAT.

Jerry Johnson: OH, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

EVERY YEAR IT'S A MOMENTUM THING; PEOPLE TELL THEIR FRIENDS, YOU GOTTA GO BACK TO THE '50s.

Steven: THE "BACK TO THE '50s" SHOW HAS IT ALL, BESIDES THE CARS OF COURSE, FROM OLDER FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO NEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

BUT IT'S ABOUT THE FUN ALL WEEKEND LONG THAT HAS THESE PEOPLE COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND BEFORE WE LEFT, I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE BACK TO THE '50s CREW WITH A BIT OF MOTORWEEK'S LEGACY.

THERE'S NO WAY TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF EVERY CAR AT THE SHOW.

BUT THAT'S ALL THE MORE REASON TO RETURN TO ST. PAUL AND DRIVE BACK IN TIME NEXT YEAR!

John: THIS WEEK OUR TOP TECH PAT GOSS STOPS BY WITH TIPS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN THOSE EXPENSIVE AIR TOOLS IN YOUR OWN GARAGE.

Pat Goss: WHETHER IT'S IN A PROFESSIONAL SHOP OR IN YOUR HOME GARAGE, AIR TOOLS SAVE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF LABOR.

BUT, AIR TOOLS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE, AND THAT MAINTENANCE STARTS RIGHT BACK HERE AT YOUR AIR COMPRESSOR.

SEE, AIR COMPRESSORS, WHEN THEY RUN, THEY CONDENSE MOISTURE OUT OF THE AIR.

THAT COLLECTS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT OUT OF THIS ONE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO.

AND IF THIS STUFF DOESN'T GET DRAINED OUT OF THE COMPRESSOR, IT'S GOING TO GET INTO YOUR AIR TOOLS AND IT'S GOING TO DO DAMAGE OR IT'S GOING TO KILL THE TOOL THAT IT GETS INTO.

ANOTHER THING THAT IS MAINTENANCE RELATED HERE ON THE COMPRESSOR IS THE OIL LEVEL.

IT MAY HAVE A SIGHT GLASS OR YOU MAY HAVE A DIPSTICK.

READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT'LL TELL YOU HOW TO CHECK THE OIL; MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT FULL OF OIL BECAUSE IT WON'T LIVE IF YOU DON'T.

ALSO, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, LOOK TO SEE HOW FREQUENTLY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CHANGE THE OIL AND WHAT TYPE OF OIL YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO USE.

AGAIN, IF YOU DON'T DO IT, IT WON'T LIVE.

NOW, ANOTHER THING, WHENEVER YOU'RE USING AN AIR TOOL, WELL, YOU WANT TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, EVEN THE BASIC SOCKET, LIKE ON THIS AIR IMPACT WRENCH, THE LITTLE SHARDS OF STEEL CAN BREAK OFF FROM THE SOCKET OR FROM THE NUT THAT'S BEING TIGHTENED OR LOOSENED AND THAT CAN HIT YOU IN THE EYE.

ALRIGHT, SO EYE PROTECTION.

NUMBER TWO IS EAR PROTECTION.

EAR PROTECTION BECAUSE AIR TOOLS MAKE NOISE, AND THE NOISE IS SUCH THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY DAMAGE YOUR EARS.

SO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

ALSO, THE ONE THING THAT NOBODY EVER SEEMS TO DO, AND IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO, AND THAT IS TO ADD OIL INTO THE TOOL.

THESE THINGS HAVE METAL MOVING PARTS INSIDE 'EM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CRANK CASE LIKE AN ENGINE OR EVEN LIKE THE COMPRESSOR BACK THERE.

SO YOU HAVE TO PUT OIL IN THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

WELL, IT WAS ALWAYS A MESSY JOB, BUT NOW THIS AIR TOOL OILER FROM STECK, WHICH MOUNTS ON YOUR TOOL BOX OR ON THE WALL, YOU FILL IT WITH THE PROPER AIR TOOL OIL, THEN YOU TAKE THE TOOL AND YOU PUT IT UP INTO HERE.

THERE'S A LITTLE NIPPLE UP IN THERE THAT ALIGNS THE END OF THE TOOL PROPERLY, PUSH UP ON IT.

AND AS YOU PUSH UP ON IT, IT INJECTS OIL INTO THE TOOL.

IT CAN DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF YOUR AIR TOOLS.

AND IT'S INEXPENSIVE.

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

LET'S FACE IT, FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO COUNT A LOT.

SO LET'S TURN OVER NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS FOR SOME OF OURS.

WE LIKE THE HYUNDAI VELOSTER.

THIS TINY SPORTS COUPE REALLY DREW US IN WITH ITS OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD STYLING AND MODEST PRICE.

BUT THE FIRST EDITION WAS CLEARLY UNDERPOWERED, OPTING FOR FUEL ECONOMY OVER DRIVING EXCITEMENT.

NOW, FOR ITS SECOND MODEL YEAR, HYUNDAI AIMS TO REKINDLE THE ENTHUSIAST'S FLAME WITH THE 2013 VELOSTER TURBO.

THE SAME 1.6 LITER INLINE 4, NOW AIDED BY A TWIN SCROLL TURBOCHARGER, PUMPS HORSEPOWER UP TO 201, 63 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

OUR FIRST OUTING CONVINCED US THAT THIS VELOSTER FEELS UP TO SNUFF.

OUR 6-SPEED MANUAL DIALED UP QUICK POWER WITH A 0 TO 60 TIME OF UNDER 6.5 SECONDS.

THE VELOSTER ALSO HELD FIRM IN TURNS.

THE SUSPENSION IS NO STIFFER THAN THE BASE CAR, SO RIDE REMAINS GOOD, BUT STEERING IS SLIGHTLY FASTER.

THE VELOSTER TURBO IS THE PERFORMANCE HATCHBACK WE WERE PROMISED.

SEGMENT BENCHMARKS VOLKSWAGEN GTI AND HONDA CIVIC SI COUPE TAKE NOTICE.

UNLIKE THE STANDARD VOLSTER, FUEL ECONOMY DOES TAKE A BACKSEAT IN THE TURBO.

HOWEVER, FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 38 HIGHWAY AND 26 CITY, WITH A VERY RESPECTABLE 30 MILES PER GALLON COMBINED, ARE NOTABLE FOR ANY PERFORMANCE CAR.

THE NEW ENGINE ALSO PROMPTS A NUMBER OF AGGRESSIVE STYLING ADD-ONS.

THE BULDGING SHAPE OF THIS WILD CHILD 4-DOOR REMAINS INTACT, BUT GAINS AN OPEN MOUTH GRILLE FLANKED BY PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS EYELINED BY LEDs.

CONTOURED SIDE SKIRTS ARE NEW, AS IS THE REAR BUMPER FASCIA WITH TWIN-ROUND EXHAUSTS AND DIFFUSER VENTS.

18-INCH WHEELS ARE NOW STANDARD WITH A SUMMER TIRE OPTION.

PRICING FOR THE 2013 HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO STARTS JUST UNDER $23,000 FOR THE MANUAL.

AN AUTOMATIC IS AN OPTION, AS ARE NAVIGATION AND A FEW OTHER PREMIUM FEATURES.

IT GOES ON SALE THIS FALL.

THE ON-AGAIN CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENT DEMANDS FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY ARE EVEN AFFECTING THE MOST AMERICAN OF VEHICLES, THE PICKUP TRUCK.

ENTER THE 2013 RAM 1500.

WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MILD MID-CYCLE FRESHENING IS ACTUALLY A RAM THAT IS BOTH VISUALLY MEANER AND MECHANICALLY GREENER, WITH AN INTERIOR THAT'S DOWNRIGHT POSH.

EXPECTED CHANGES, INCLUDING A TWEAKED GRILLE AND FRONT FASCIA WITH L.E.D.

ACCENTED LIGHTING EMBOLDEN THE LOOK EVEN MORE.

BUT TO BE HONEST, IT REALLY DOESN'T LOOK THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS A MAJOR OVERHAUL IN POWERTRAINS AIMED AT IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY AND OFFERING A MORE TRADITIONAL CHALLENGE TO FORD'S ECOBOOST F-150.

NOW STANDARD ON THE RAM 1500 IS CHRYSLER'S MUCH PRAISED 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR TWIN-CAM V6, HERE PUMPING OUT 305 HORSEPOWER.

DISPLACEMENT IS DOWN FROM THE OLD PUSHROD V6, BUT FUEL ECONOMY AND POWER ARE UP.

THE 3.6 V6 IS THEN AIDED BY THE ALL-NEW, STANDARD 8-SPEED "TORQUEFLITE 8" ZF-DESIGNED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

ADD IN AUTOMATIC STOP-START AND ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS AND THE HIGHWAY FUEL ECONOMY RATING JUMPS FROM 20 TO 25!

AND THAT'S WITH OVER 6,000 POUNDS OF TOWING CAPACITY.

ON THE TOP END, THE NEW RAM 1500 HOOKS UP WITH A TWEAKED 5.7 LITER HEMI V8, NOW RATED AT 395 HORSEPOWER.

WHEN EQUIPPED WITH THE TORQUEFLITE 8, IT WILL CLAIM BEST IN CLASS V8 FUEL ECONOMY.

RIDING IN STYLE IS ALSO A PRIORITY FOR THE RAM 1500, AS SEVERAL TRIM PACKAGES AND "THEMES" ALLOW FOR EXTENSIVE PERSONALIZATION.

SEAT AND DASH USE UPGRADED MATERIALS, WHILE CHRYSLER'S UCONNECT SYSTEM POWERS AN 8.4 INCH TOUCHSCREEN.

THE BASE PRICE FOR THE 2013 RAM 1500 HOVERS AROUND $24,000 WITH AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF CABS, BOX SIZES, AND PREMIUM UPGRADES AT EVER RISING PRICES.

WITH AN IMPRESSIVE BALANCE OF POWER, ECONOMY, LUXURY AND UTILITY, THIS RAM MUSCLES ITS WAY INTO SHOWROOMS IN OCTOBER.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS AS WE GRAB NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS!

AFFORDABLE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE SPORTY CARS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

JUST ASK THE MANY DRIFTERS OUT THERE DESPERATELY SEEKING OLD NISSAN 240SXs AND TWIN CAM COROLLAS TO DO THEIR THING.

WELL, THIS YEAR THAT ALL CHANGED WITH THE TOYOTA/SUBARU JOINT VENTURE THAT CAME TO LIFE AS THE SCION FR-S AND THE SUBARU BRZ.

NOW, WE LOVED THE MANUAL TRANS FR-S WHEN WE PUT IT THROUGH ITS PACES A FEW MONTHS BACK.

NOW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A BRZ WITH AN AUTOMATIC.

LET'S SEE IF A CHANGE IN GEARBOX CHANGES OUR OPINIONS.

MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THE 2013 SUBARU BRZ AND ITS PLATFORM MATE SCION FR-S BRINGING THE RETURN OF THE PURE SPORTS CAR-TYPE TO THE MARKET.

SO IT MAY SEEM ODD THAT WE CHOSE AN AUTOMATIC EQUIPPED BRZ FOR OUR TEST.

WE DID SO FOR TWO REASONS; ONE, WE WANTED TO MAKE OUR BRZ TEST AS DIFFERENT AS POSSIBLE FROM THE FR-S MANUAL WE RECENTLY TESTED AND LOVED.

AND SECOND, AUTOMATIC GEAR BOXES ARE FAR MORE POPULAR THAN MANUALS, EVEN IN SPORTS CARS.

FOR THOSE LIVING UNDER A ROCK AND NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BRZ/FR-S, THEY ARE 2+2 SPORTY COUPES THAT WE CLASSIFY AS SPORTS CARS, NOT PERFORMANCE CARS.

TO US, PERFORMANCE CARS ARE ALL ABOUT BIG HORSEPOWER AND HIGH-TECH WIZARDRY, WHILE SPORTS CARS ARE ABOUT BEING NIMBLE AND DOING A LOT WITH A LITTLE.

MUCH LIKE THE GENESIS COUPE AND V6 MUSTANG AND CAMARO, THE BRZ IS NOT OVERLY PERFORMANCE ORIENTED, JUST PLAIN FUN TO DRIVE.

DECENT POWER IN A LIGHT BODY MEANS A SPORTS CAR FEELS QUICKER THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY OVERLY QUICK OFF THE LINE, AS THE AUTOMATIC BRZ WILL NOT LAUNCH AT A HIGH RPM.

IT TOOK US 7.7-SECONDS TO HIT 60 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THAT'S A SECOND AND A HALF OFF THE MANUAL'S PACE.

SPORT MODE DOES QUICKEN UP THE SHIFTS FROM THE 6-SPEED GEARED AUTOMATIC A TAD, BUT THEY COULD STILL BE QUICKER.

IT DOES FEATURE REV-MATCHING ON DOWNSHIFTS, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO LIVE IN THE UPPER RANGE OF THE 7,400 RPM REV BAND IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT POWER.

BUT IT SOUNDS GREAT WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE, THANKS TO AN INTAKE-MOUNTED "SOUND GENERATOR" THAT REALLY "BRINGS THE NOISE" INTO THE CABIN.

FINISHING OUT THE 1/4 MILE TAKES 15.9-SECONDS, HITTING 91 MILES-PER-HOUR AS YOU TRIP THE LIGHTS.

AND THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY, THE BRZ IS PLENTY SOLID, EVEN AS YOU APPROACH TRIPLE-DIGIT SPEEDS.

THE FAMILIAR SUBARU-STYLE 200-HORSEPOWER BOXER ENGINE USES BOTH PORT AND DIRECT INJECTION TO TWIST UP 151 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

JUST ENOUGH TO PUSH THE BRZ THROUGH THE CONES IN A VERY TIGHT MANNER, FEELING BETTER THE HARDER YOU PUSH IT.

AND DESPITE THE LOW POWER NUMBERS, THERE'S A LIGHTNESS TO THE REAR END THAT HAS US WANTING TO SERIOUSLY TAKE UP DRIFTING.

STEERING IS SUPER DIRECT, VERY QUICK, AND GIVES YOU GREAT FEEDBACK.

AND MUCH LIKE THE FR-S, IT'S ALL ABOUT GREAT BALANCE.

BRAKES ARE NOT QUITE AS STELLAR, AS FADE STARTED CREEPING IN AFTER ONLY A FEW RUNS.

ABS PANIC STOPS AVERAGED A JUST OKAY 128 FEET.

WE EXPECTED BETTER FROM ONLY 2,800 POUNDS.

THE BACK-TO-BASICS APPROACH MAKES ITS WAY TO THE INSIDE OF THE BRZ, AS WELL, THOUGH BRIGHTER TRIM MAKES THE CABIN FEEL MORE INVITING THAN THE FR-S.

STILL, THIS IS A SPORTS CAR, SO YOU SIT VERY LOW, AND THE INTERIOR IS INTIMATE, ESPECIALLY FOR BACKSEAT PASSENGERS.

NO MATTER HOW YOU DRIVE, YOU WILL FEEL VERY CONNECTED TO THE CAR, THANKS TO THAT ULTRA RESPONSIVE STEERING.

THE RIDE CAN BE A LITTLE ROUGH AT TIMES, BUT ANY SOFTER AND IT WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH FUN.

STYLING DIFFERS LITTLE FROM THE FR-S, WITH THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BEING THE FRONT FASCIA, SIDE BADGING, AND REAR WING.

EVEN THE WHEELS ARE THE SAME.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE GOOD AT 25-CITY, 34 HIGHWAY, AND 28 COMBINED, BUT ODDLY ENOUGH IT REQUIRES PREMIUM FUEL.

STILL, WE MANAGED A GOOD 31.5 MILES PER GALLON IN MIXED DRIVING.

BUT THE BEST PART OF ALL ABOUT THE BRZ IS THE PRICE, STARTING AT JUST $26,265.

THAT'S ABOUT A GRAND MORE THAN THE FR-S, BUT THE BRZ IS BETTER EQUIPPED, WITH NAVIGATION STANDARD.

THE AUTOMATIC ADDS $1,100 MORE.

SO, HOW DO WE LIKE THE AUTOMATIC BRZ COMPARED TO THE MANUAL FR-S?

WELL, QUITE SIMPLY, WE LIKE THE MANUAL BETTER, AS IT REALLY BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN THIS LIGHTWEIGHT, FUN CHASSIS.

BUT FOR MANY WEEKEND WARRIORS, THE AUTOMATIC MIGHT BE JUST THE THING THAT HELPS THEM GET THROUGH WEEKDAY CHORES EN ROUTE TO THEIR FAVORITE WEEKEND TRACK OR SWITCHBACKS.

BUT NO MATTER WHICH TRANNY YOU PICK, THERE'S A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT THE 2013 SUBARU BRZ, AND WE DO.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHEN WE TAKE ON BENTLEY'S NEW TWIN TURBO V8 CONTINENTAL GT, AND HYUNDAI'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO THE FULL-SIZE MARKET, THE AZERA.

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.

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.

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