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

JOIN US, AS WE GET BOOSTED IN THE CHEVROLET MALIBU TURBO.

PAT GOSS WARNS US AGAINST THE DANGERS OF ONE-STOP REPAIR SHOPS.

FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A NEW SPIN ON DRIVER'S ED.

AND WITH FOUR FEWER CYLINDERS, WE'LL SEE HOW HIGH THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT CAN FLY.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

JESSICA, I HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK YOU...

YES?

WHEN I'M SWITCHING TO WINTER TIRES DO I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL FOUR OR CAN I JUST PUT TWO ON THE FRONT AXLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

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

GET SOME WINGS?

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... 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: EARLIER THIS YEAR WE TESTED THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET MALIBU.

AND WHILE ITS LIGHT-HYBRID ECO POWERTRAIN WAS GOOD ON GAS, IT WASN'T GREAT ON EXCITEMENT.

WELL, NOW THERE'S A REMEDY FOR THAT, AND IT COMES IN THE WAY OF A 2-LITER TURBO ENGINE THAT GIVES THE MALIBU THE MOST HORSEPOWER OF ANY DOMESTIC MID-SIZE SEDAN.

SO LET'S FIND OUT IF IT BOOSTS OUR OPINION OF THE MALIBU OR IF IT JUST SPINS UP HOT AIR.

THE NAME MALIBU HAS GRACED MANY CHEVROLETS OVER THE YEARS.

MOST OF THEM WERE MAINSTREAM DAILY DRIVERS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW HOT RODS ALONG THE WAY; AND THE 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU TURBO CERTAINLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE LATTER.

AND THAT'S MOSTLY DUE TO WHAT LIES BELOW ITS HOOD, 2.0-LITERS OF TURBO-BOOSTED ECOTEC FOUR CYLINDER THAT PUMPS OUT 259 HORSEPOWER AND 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THROUGH A 6-SPEED FRONT DRIVE AUTOMATIC.

DESPITE BEING A SLIGHTLY DE-TUNED VERSION OF THE CADILLAC ATS'S TURBO-4, IT STILL HAS MORE HORSES THAN LAST YEAR'S MALIBU V6.

THE MALIBU TURBO ALSO DONS A REVISED RIDE AND HANDLING PACKAGE THAT AIDS IN MAKING DRIVING MORE FUN, EVEN IF IT DOES SACRIFICE A BIT OF THE RIDE QUALITY WE LIKED SO MUCH IN THE MALIBU ECO.

THERE'S GOOD STEERING FEEL, AND THE MALIBU REMAINS ONE OF THE QUIETEST IN ITS CLASS.

POWER DOESN'T FEEL AS STRONG AS NUMBERS INDICATE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE IN RESERVE FOR PASSING SITUATIONS.

STEPPING INSIDE, THE MALIBU'S INTERIOR IS A MATTER OF TASTE.

ALL LOVED THE TWIN COCKPIT LAYOUT AND FUNCTIONALITY.

THE HORIZONTAL SLATS DELIVER A VERY SOPHISTICATED APPEARANCE.

BUT THE PEA-SIZE DASH GRAIN WAS NOT TO EVERYONE'S LIKING, NOR WAS OUR CAR'S BLUE STITCHING THAT SEEMS TO MIMIC THE LIGHTING FOR GAUGES AND CENTER SCREEN.

OUR FAVORITE FEATURE IS BEHIND THAT SCREEN, WHEN IT TILTS UP TO REVEAL A HIDDEN STORAGE NOOK.

CHEVY'S MYLINK TOUCH AND VOICE ACTIVATED INTERFACE IS WELL DESIGNED, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED AND ROCK OUT WITH SMARTPHONE APPS LIKE PANDORA AND STITCHER.

OUR CAR DIDN'T HAVE THE GPS NAV PACKAGE BUT WE STILL HAD ADEQUATE TURN BY TURN DIRECTIONS FROM ONSTAR.

FRONT SEATS ARE WIDE AND COMFORTABLE, AND WHERE YOU CAN REALLY APPRECIATE THE MALIBU'S PROGRESS OVER THE PREVIOUS GENERATION.

LIKE-WISE IN THE REAR, WHERE THREE-ACROSS COMFORT IS AIDED BY MORE HIP AND SHOULDER ROOM, ALTHOUGH THE LOSS OF LEGROOM FROM LAST YEAR STILL BAFFLES US.

EVEN BEFORE YOU FOLD THE SPLIT SEATBACKS THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF TRUNK SPACE, HOWEVER, WITH ROOM FOR 13.2 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO.

IN TOTALLY UN-GM-LIKE FASHION, THE TURBO'S EXTERIOR DESIGN GETS NO IMAGE BOOST TO SET IT APART FROM OTHER MALIBUS, NO TURBO BADGING OR REAR SPOILER, NOTHING!

IT'S A REAL SLEEPER.

LTZ MODELS DO RATCHET UP THE EXCITEMENT METER SLIGHTLY WITH A SILVER MESH GRILLE, LED TAIL LIGHTS, REMOTE START, AND 18-INCH WHEELS.

OPTING FOR THE ELECTRONICS AND ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE WILL GET YOU SOME SLICK LOOKING 19s.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 21-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING AT 22.4 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

REGARDLESS, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE BURNING 13.7 BARRELS OF OIL PER YEAR WHILE EMITTING 6.1 TONS OF CO2.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH, NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT NUMBERS.

HOW DOES THE TURBO HANDLE THE TRACK?

WELL, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE "UP AND AT THEM" FEEL OF THE ATS.

STILL, THE TURBO MOVES OFF THE LINE SOLIDLY WITH ONLY MINOR TURBO LAG AND HITS 60 IN 6.8-SECONDS.

THAT'S ALMOST 2 FULL SECONDS QUICKER THAN THE ECO.

AUTO SHIFTS WERE A BIT SLOW, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE THE TRANNY'S MANUAL MODE, AS WE REACHED THE END OF THE QUARTER-MILE IN 15.4 SECONDS AT A VERY RESPECTABLE 95 MILES-PER-HOUR.

ALONG THE WAY WE CONTEMPLATED THAT SINCE THIS TURBO-4 IS ABOUT REPLACING V6 PERFORMANCE, A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING, THE MALIBU REMAINS WELL COMPOSED.

IT'S NOT QUITE A SPORTS SEDAN, BUT FOR A FAMILY HAULER, IT DOES JUST FINE.

BRAKING IS EVEN CLOSER TO SPORTS SEDAN TERRITORY.

WE AVERAGED STOPS FROM 60 IN JUST 118 FEET, AND FOUND NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

THE MALIBU TURBO IS AVAILABLE IN MID-GRADE LT AND PREMIUM LTZ TRIM ONLY, WHICH MEANS PRICING STARTS AT $27,710.

THAT'S ABOUT $4,500 OVER THE BASE LS MALIBU, BUT MONEY WELL SPENT AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.

SO WHILE NO TRUE HOT ROD, GETTING A TURBO BOOST WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEEDED TO STRONGLY COMPETE AGAINST OTHER 4-ONLY MIDSIZE SEDANS LIKE THE HYUNDAI SONATA, KIA OPTIMA, AND, OF COURSE, THE NEW FORD FUSION, AS WELL AS THE TOYOTA CAMRY AND ALL-NEW HONDA ACCORD, WHICH STILL OFFER V6s.

THE MALIBU TURBO, ALONG WITH OTHER MODELS, PROVIDES CHEVROLET WITH A GREAT LOOKING, FINE HANDLING, QUIET RIDING FAMILY SEDAN SERIES THAT'S READY TO GO THE DISTANCE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK LOOKS AT THE KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR SPARKLING NEW FLEET OF 47 COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SCHOOL BUSES.

MADE POSSIBLE BY A STIMULUS GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH THE KANSAS CITY REGIONAL CLEAN CITIES COALITION, THE PROJECT INCLUDES 35 TIME-FILL DISPENSERS WITH DUAL HOSES, AND AN ADDITIONAL FILL AREA TO HANDLE MORE CNG BUSES IN THE FUTURE.

TWO COMPRESSORS "SLOW-FILL" THE BUSES OVERNIGHT SO THEY'RE READY TO ROLL IN THE MORNING.

AS THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO RUN CNG BUSES, OFFICIALS HOPE TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER DISTRICTS.

George Taylor: THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE WANT TO DO - IS BE THE FORERUNNER OF THIS AND THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER SCHOOL CHILDREN.

John: FEDERAL CNG TAX CREDITS WILL HELP REDUCE FUEL COSTS BY 1/3, WHILE DISPLACING SOME 112,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL A YEAR.

THAT PUTS KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, IN PASSING GEAR AS THE "GO-GREEN" EDUCATION MOVEMENT GAINS SPEED.

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 BREAK!

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 Phillips: I THINK YOU GET 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.

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 FAIL, 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: WE'RE ALL SMILES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LONG-TERM 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA.

OUR 2.0I SPORT HATCHBACK IS A SURPRISING PLEASURE TO DRIVE, AND ALMOST AS VERSATILE AS SUBARU'S LARGER OUTBACK WAGON.

BUT THE IMPREZA IS ALSO VERY ECONOMICAL WITHOUT ANY WAY OUT TECHNOLOGY.

AFTER SOME SIX MONTHS AND 11,000 MILES, THE GUTSY 148-HORSEPOWER I4 WITH CVT HAS RETURNED 30.1 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR IN MOSTLY AROUND TOWN DUTIES.

WE'VE LIVED WITH IT LONG ENOUGH NOW TO ALSO SEE A FEW WARTS.

WE'VE MENTIONED THE UN-USER FRIENDLY RADIO AND NAV SYSTEM BEFORE.

AND WHILE THE FRONT SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE AND SUPPORTIVE, THE FLAT REAR SPLIT BENCH IS AS HARD AS A ROCK.

STILL, WE HAVE TAKEN A SHINE TO OUR SUBARU IMPREZA THAT REMAINS BRIGHT.

OUR ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS 2012 HONDA CR-V HAS ACTUALLY BRIGHTENED SINCE WE FIRST TESTED IT A YEAR AGO.

WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW COMPACT CROSSOVER COMPETITORS, MANY WITH FLASHIER STYLING AND HIGH TECH HARDWARE, THE CR-V CONTINUES TO SOLDIER ON DOING MANY THINGS BETTER THAN ANY RIVAL.

LIKE RIDE WHICH IS SMOOTH, CONTROLLED, AND CONFIDENT, EVEN OVER SERIOUS BUMPS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS.

OR THE INCREDIBLY EASY TO FOLD SPLIT SECOND ROW SEAT.

WHY CAN'T EVERYONE DESIGN A SEAT SYSTEM LIKE THIS?

THEN THERE IS MILEAGE.

WHILE NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS SOME; 25.4 MPG AFTER SEVEN MONTHS AND 15,000 MILES, IT IS TOP DRAWER IN POWER AS THE 185-HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER I4 LEAVES PLENTY IN RESERVE FOR PASSING.

WE DO HAVE ONE FAULT...

THE WINDSHIELD WASHERS ARE NOT WORKING.

YES, IT HAS FLUID.

SO A TRIP TO THE DEALER IS CALLED FOR.

WE'LL CHECK THE LOG BOOKS IN OUR JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND THIS HYUNDAI ACCENT ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST MOTOR NEWS.

SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE AND SEE WHAT'S STARTING UP THIS WEEK.

Yolanda: CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, AS THE 2012 L.A. AUTO SHOW GAVE US A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT WILL GENERATE A BIG BUZZ IN THE NEW YEAR.

AS THIS IS CALIFORNIA, BUZZING INTO VIEW WERE A BEVY OF NEW, ALL-ELECTRICS.

BMW LOOKS READY TO ADD TO ITS ELECTRIFIED SUB-BRAND WITH THIS FUTURISTIC I3 CONCEPT COUPE.

WHILE THIS CHEVROLET SPARK EV CLAIMS THE LONGEST DRIVING RANGE IN ITS CLASS.

WHICH INCLUDES A NEWBATTERY-POWERED VERSION OF FIAT'S MINI CAR, THE 500E.

THE FIAT LINE IS ALSO EXPANDING WITH THE FIVE-DOOR 500L, ALONG WITH A CONRTIBLE VARIANT OF THE HOT ROD 500 ABARTH.

BUT WHAT'S MORE CALIFORNIAN THAN A CONVERTIBLE?

VOLKSWAGEN HAS THE ANSWER WITH THEIR NEW BEETLE DROP TOP IN PERFECT STEP.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AVAILABLE 2.0-LITER TURBO DIESEL IS PAIRED WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL FOR OVER 40 MILES PER GALLON WHILE CRUISING IN THE SUN.

DIESEL FANS WERE THRILLED TO HEAR THAT AUDI WILL ADD A TURBO DIESEL V6 POWER TO ITS U.S.

BOUND A6, A7, AND A8 CARLINES, AS WELL AS THE MID-SIZE Q5 CROSSOVER.

ON THE GASOLINE FRONT, THE 3-CYLINDER 1.0-LITER, ECOBOOST FORD FIESTA SUBCOMPACT IS FINALLY HERE, WITH A NEW FRONT END AND YET ANOTHER "40 MPG-PLUS" CLAIM.

THE "DON'T-SAY-MINIVAN" FORD TRANSIT CONNECT WAGON ALSO MADE ITS DEBUT.

THE MORE CONVENTIONAL HONDA CIVIC GETS A REWORK AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR TO ADDRESS LESS THAN RAVE REVIEWS.

THE SEDAN'S EXTERIOR IS TWEAKED AND THE INTERIOR IS OVERHAULED WITH NEW SHAPES, BETTER MATERIALS, AND AN ALL-AROUND CLASSIER LOOK.

THE HYBRID SPORTSTER CR-Z GOT A LITTLE LOVE, TOO, AND BOASTS MORE POWER AND EFFICIENCY FOR THE NEW YEAR.

ACURA SHOWED UP WITH THEIR PRODUCTION RLX FLAGSHIP SEDAN.

HIGH TECH HARDWARE INCLUDES FOUR WHEEL STEER, AND ELECTRIC-MOTOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

TWO MAINSTAY COMPACT CROSSOVERS ALSO MADE DEBUTS; THE REDESIGNED TOYOTA RAV4 IS SLEEKER OUTSIDE, WITH SLIMMED DOWN POWERTRAINS UNDER THE HOOD.

WHILE THE NEW SUBARU FORESTER IS LESS BOX-LIKE, IT DOES INCLUDE MORE ROOM AND A 250 HORSEPOWER TURBO ENGINE OPTION.

THE HYDROGEN POWERED MERCEDES-BENZ ENER-G-FORCE IS A TEASE FOR A FUTURE G-WAGON...

WHILE THIS SLS AMG BLACK SERIES IS HERE AND NOW WITH A MONSTER 622 HORSEPOWER V8.

AND THERE'S MORE HORSEPOWER AND ECONOMY FOR THE ALL-NEW, FLAT-SIX PORSCHE CAYMAN SPORTS CAR SERIES.

OTHER NOTABLE INTROS AT L.A.

INCLUDED MAZDA'S REDESIGNED "6" FAMILY SEDAN WITH A DIESEL OPTION.

FROM KIA, AN ALL-NEW FORTE COMPACT AND FRESHENED SORENTO UTILITY.

ARRIVING TOO WAS A NEW 7-SEAT OUTLANDER CROSSOVER FROM MITSUBISHI WHILE JAGUAR'S F-TYPE MADE ITS FIRST U.S. SPLASH, ALONG WITH A NEW M5 FIGHTER, THE XFR-S. AND THE "GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR" WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED; THE 2013 HONOR GOES TO THE FORD FUSION, WITH TURBOCHARGED, HYBRID, AND PLUG-IN MODELS AVAILABLE.

AND THAT'S IT FROM L.A. AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: 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.

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.

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!

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE EXPLORE NEW GROUND IN THE SUBARU XV CROSSTREK.

THEN HIT THE ROAD IN THE REDESIGNED HONDA ACCORD.

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... 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.