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

JOIN US AS WE DIAL UP THE FUN WITH THE NISSAN JUKE NISMO... PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHY ALL OIL FILTERS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL... BRIAN ROBINSON FINDS OUT WHAT'S CURRENT IN THE TWO WHEELIN' WORLD... AND WE TAKE A FERRARI PRANCING HORSE, THE SEDUCTIVE F12 BERLINETTA, OUT FOR A GALLOP!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS A SERVICE OF MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISON Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

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

YES?

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I DON'T KNOW.

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JOHN DAVIS: WE FIRST TESTED THE COOL AND QUIRKY NISSAN JUKE WHEN IT ARRIVED FOR 2011.

WE FOUND IT TO BE A LITTLE RUNABOUT GOOD FOR BOTH TOWN AND COUNTRY OUTINGS, WITH A STYLE, TO SAY THE LEAST, THAT'S ALL ITS OWN.

WELL, THERE'S STILL NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE JUKE.

BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED NISSAN FROM CRANKING UP THE WOW FACTOR EVEN MORE WITH THE NISSAN JUKE NISMO.

NISMO IS NISSAN'S MOTORSPORTS ARM, AND THEY'VE APPLIED THEIR MUSCLE TO NISSAN'S SMALLEST, AND ODDEST LOOKING UTE, TO GIVE US THE 2013 NISSAN JUKE NISMO.

WHY THE JUKE?

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND WE'RE NOT SURE WE HAVE A GOOD ANSWER, BUT NISSAN DESIGNED THE JUKE WITH YOUNG BUYERS IN MIND, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO APPEAL TO THEM EVEN MORE THAN BY CREATING AN EVEN SPICIER VERSION.

WE THINK THE INTERIOR UPGRADES ALONE ARE WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION.

EVERYTHING FROM TRIM, TO SEATING, STEERING WHEEL, SHIFTER, PEDALS, AND EVEN GAUGES HAS BEEN RE-WORKED.

IT'S NOT ALL SHOW EITHER.

THE 1.6-LITER I4 ENGINE WAS ALREADY TURBOCHARGED, BUT FOR THE NISMO, GETS A COMPUTER RE-FLASH TO UPCRANK OUTPUT TO 197-HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

9-HORSEPOWER AND 7 POUND-FEET ARE MODEST GAINS TO BE SURE, BUT ENOUGH TO BE NOTICED.

STICK WITH FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE FOR A 6-SPEED MANUAL THAT WORKS WELL.

IF YOU WANT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO CVT, WHICH TO US, GOES AGAINST THE WHOLE POINT OF A NISMO REDO.

WE EAGERLY RAN TO OUR TEST TRACK AND FOUND PLENTY OF TRACTION AT LAUNCH, THOUGH YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE UP ON THE SPOOL TO REALLY GRAB POWER.

SHIFTING TO SECOND, YOU GET A NICE HARD HIT OF IT AS THE NEEDLE CLIMBS THE RPM DIAL QUICKLY.

0 TO 60 IN 6.9-SECONDS, QUARTER-MILE IN 15.5 AT 90 MILES-PER-HOUR.

WHILE ENJOYABLE ON BACK ROADS AT MODERATE SPEEDS, THE ORIGINAL JUKE'S AGILE, IF A BIT SLOPPY RESPONSE, WHEN PUT THROUGH OUR TIGHT CORNERS, DIDN'T WIN ANY MEDALS.

BUT WITH THE NISMO TREATMENT, EVEN WITHOUT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, HANDLING TAKES A GIANT STEP UP.

THROUGH THE CONES, THERE'S STRONGER GRIP, AND MORE PRECISE STEERING REACTION WITH IMPROVED WEIGHT TO THE WHEEL.

IT'S NOW AMONG THE SPORTIEST CUVs GOING.

THANKS TO A FULL SUSPENSION OVERHAUL, LOWERED RIDE HEIGHT, AND RE-TUNING OF THE JUKE'S ELECTRIC POWER-ASSISTED STEERING.

YES, WE KNOW THE JUKE IS STILL NOT THE MOST PRACTICAL CROSSOVER; REAR SEAT AREA IS FAIRLY CRAMPED, AND CARGO ROOM IS BESTED BY MOST COMPACT CARS WITH JUST 10.5 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE FOLDING SEATBACKS.

STILL, THERE'S GOOD ROOM UP FRONT, AND ACCEPTABLE RIDE QUALITY, SO IT'S PLENTY LIVABLE, AND WITH THE NISMO TREATMENT, EVEN DESIRABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR FRONT-DRIVE MANUAL ARE 25-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 28.6, BUT HAD TO USE PREMIUM FUEL.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS DECENT FOR A CROSSOVER AT 12.2-BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED AND 5.4-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

THE JUKE NISMO IS WELL EQUIPPED AND STICKERS FOR $23,785, OR ABOUT 4-GRAND OVER A BASE MODEL.

THAT PUTS IT IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE JUKE OFFERINGS, WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CVT MODELS STARTING AT $26,080.

THE 2013 NISSAN JUKE NISMO IS CERTAINLY NOT FOR EVERYONE, AND THAT'S PART OF ITS APPEAL.

IT REMAINS A FUN LITTLE RUNABOUT THAT NOW LOOKS AND DRIVES EVEN COOLER.

AND IF YOU LIKE THE NISMO IDEA, NISSAN HAS PLANS TO GREATLY EXPAND THEIR NISMO OFFERINGS, WHICH SHOULD DO A LOT TO BRING SOME MUCH NEEDED EXCITEMENT TO THE NISSAN BRAND.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO THE CROSSROADS OF THE WEST: SALT LAKE CITY, WHERE UTAH'S FIRST REFUELING STATION -- THAT PROVIDES BOTH LIQUEFIED AND COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS -- IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

THE STATION CAN FILL A WIDE VARIETY OF VEHICLES THAT RUN ON EITHER LNG OR CNG.

BOTH ARE CLEAN BURNING, BUT NATURAL GAS IS SUPER COOLED TO -260 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT TO CREATE LNG.

THAT ALLOWS MUCH MORE FUEL TO BE STORED IN A SMALLER TANK.

THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE BIG RIGS THAT NEED TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, BUT THIS STATION CAN ALSO SUPPLY CNG FOR USE IN SMALLER VEHICLES THAT ARE USED LOCALLY.

MERRITT NORTON: WE AREN'T LIMITED BY PRESSURE, WE CAN FUEL UP AS MANY CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS AS COME TO THE STATION PRETTY MUCH AS FAST AS THEY CAN PULL IN, 24 HOURS A DAY.

JOHN: THE SALT LAKE CITY STATION, NOW JOINED BY FIVE OTHERS IN UTAH, ALONG WITH TWO NEW STATIONS IN IDAHO, FORMS A CONTINUOUS LONG HAUL TRUCK ALT-FUEL CORRIDOR FROM THE REGION ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST.

DESPITE LOTS OF TALK OF "RANGE ANXIETY," SALES OF ELECTRIFIED CARS ARE ON THE RISE, AND IN THE PARALLEL FUEL CONSCIENCE UNIVERSE OF MOTOR SCOOTERS, SALES ARE ALSO TRENDING UP.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE TWO WORLDS COLLIDE?

WELL, FOR THAT, WE TURN TO OUR CHIEF TWO WHEELER, BRIAN ROBINSON, FOR ONE CURRENT RESULT.

BRIAN ROBINSON: OFF AND ON THROUGH THE YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE PLUGGING IN TO THE SCOOTER LIFESTYLE, WHETHER THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE FUEL EFFICIENCY OR JUST CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.

BUT UNTIL NOW, WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY PLUGGED IN A SCOOTER.

IN OUR EVER-EXPANDING SEARCH TO BRING YOU NEW AND EXCITING WAYS TO GET TO WORK AND BACK EVERY DAY, THIS WEEK WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO DO THAT SUPER ECONOMICALLY TOO, WITH THE SUPER SCOOTER FROM CURRENT MOTOR.

YES, IT'S A SCOOTER, AND YES, IT'S "ELECTRIC."

CURRENT MOTOR IS A RELATIVELY NEW ENTERPRISE BASED IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO BRING REAL WORLD EV MOTORING INTO ONE OF THE FRIENDLIEST OF ALL AUTOMOTIVE SEGMENTS, THE SCOOTER.

THE SUPER SCOOTER MAY LOOK LIKE A TRADITIONAL SCOOTER, BUT IT ROLLS ON A UNIQUE CHASSIS, AND IS POWERED BY A 5KW ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED INSIDE THE REAR WHEEL.

THE BATTERY PACK IS LITHIUM IRON MANGANESE PHOSPHATE, AND IS AVAILABLE IN TWO SIZES, 4.6 AND 5.75 KWH.

THE LARGER OF THE TWO HAS 50-MILES OF RANGE AT OVER 65 MILES-PER-HOUR, WITH A CHARGE TIME OF UP TO 6-HOURS.

FROM THE WIDE AND COMFORTABLE STEPPED SEAT, FOR THE MOST PART, IT RIDES LIKE A TRADITIONAL SCOOTER, FEELING ONLY A TAD HEAVIER, AND GROUND CLEARANCE IS LIMITED.

BUT LIKE ANY OTHER SCOOTER, IT TAKES NO TIME AT ALL TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO AND YOU'RE QUICKLY UP TO SPEED.

EV OPERATION IS MOSTLY QUIET, AND LIKE MOST OTHER BATTERY POWERED VEHICLES, THERE'S COMPUTER CONTROLLED REGENERATIVE BRAKING.

THE SUPER SCOOTER EVEN HAS REVERSE.

THE LOOK IS ALL TRADITIONAL SCOOTER WITH FULL FLOORBOARDS FOR A COMFORTABLE RIDING POSITION, AND A WIDE FAIRING FOR SHIELDING YOU FROM THE ELEMENTS.

PARTNERING WITH DELL MEANS THERE'S A SLICK TABLET-STYLE DIGITAL DASHBOARD PACKED FULL OF INFORMATION, AND AN APP FOR SMARTPHONES OR TABLETS ALLOWS YOU AND YOUR 3G-EQUIPPED SCOOTER TO STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT, WHETHER FOR JUST MONITORING CHARGE STATUS, OR PLANNING A ROUTE.

IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT PROGRESS DOESN'T COME CHEAP, SO IF YOU'RE READY TO EARLY ADOPT YOUR WAY INTO THE EV SCOOTER REALM, YOU'LL HAVE TO BRING 10-GRAND WITH YOU.

WITH THE HIGH PERFORMANCE BATTERY OPTION, IT'LL COST YOU $11,495.

COST OF OWNERSHIP, HOWEVER, IS ABOUT AS INEXPENSIVE AS YOU CAN GET AT JUST $.17 PER MILE.

THE 2013 CURRENT MOTOR SUPER SCOOTER MAY BE A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT IT'S GOOD WORK, AND THEY ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.

IS AN EV SCOOTER FOR EVERYONE?

NO, OF COURSE NOT.

IS IT GREAT TO SEE NEW COMPANIES STARTING UP IN AMERICA TO PERHAPS SHAPE OUR DRIVING FUTURE?

ABSOLUTELY!

John: EVERY BOTTLE OF ENGINE OIL HAS ITS RATING AND WEIGHT CLEARLY MARKED SO CONSUMERS ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OIL FILTERS?

YOU KNOW, THEY ALL MAY LOOK PRETTY MUCH ALIKE.

BUT AS PAT GOSS EXPLAINS, LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING.

Pat Goss: DON'T SAVE $4 ON AN OIL FILTER AND COST YOURSELF $2K OR $3,O00 IN ENGINE REPAIRS.

THAT CAN HAPPEN.

YOU LOOK INSIDE A MODERN ENGINE AND YOU SEE THINGS LIKE VALVE TIMING PHASERS, AND HYDRAULIC TENSIONERS, AND CHAIN GUIDES, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT OPERATE ON OIL PRESSURE, AND MOST ALL OF THEM HAVE THESE TINY LITTLE PASSAGES FOR THE OIL TO FLOW THROUGH.

PUT A CHEAP FILTER ON IT AND EITHER THE FILTER COMES APART OR DIRT GETS INTO THE SYSTEM, BLOCKS ONE OF THOSE PASSAGES, AND SOMETHING LIKE THE CHAIN TENSIONER DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

THE CHAIN STARTS SLAPPING AROUND, BREAKS THE GUIDES, AND THE PARTS OF THE GUIDES GET CIRCULATED THROUGH THE ENGINE.

YOU'VE GOT A MESS ON YOUR HANDS.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR.

HERE'S ONE THAT, THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO, AT LEAST THE FILTER FROM ONE.

IF WE SHINE A LIGHT IN HERE, WE CAN SEE THAT THE MEDIA HAS ACTUALLY SEPARATED, AND THERE'S A HOLE IN THERE WHERE THE MEDIUM MATERIAL WENT THROUGH AND INTO THE OILING SYSTEM.

IT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.

NOW, OIL FILTERS, EVERYBODY'S CONCERNED WITH THE PAPER MEDIA, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THE FILTER THAN THAT.

THERE ARE PRESSURE SPRINGS INSIDE, THERE ARE CHECK VALVES, THE END CAPS ARE MADE OUT OF DIFFERENT WEIGHTS OF METAL, THERE ARE MORE OR FEWER THREADS IN THE CAP, AND SO ON.

BUT ALL OF THAT MAY BECOME MOOT AT SOME POINT BECAUSE MOST MANUFACTURERS ARE NOW DOING AWAY WITH THE METAL CAN AND GOING WITH A FILTER LIKE THIS.

THIS IS A CARTRIDGE TYPE.

THE CAN OR CANISTER THAT IT GOES INTO IS MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE, AND IT STAYS WITH THE ENGINE FOREVER.

NOW, THIS SAVES WASTE AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS, PLUS ALL OF THE CHECK VALVES AND EVERYTHING ARE NOW PART OF THE ENGINE, SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THEIR QUALITY.

NOW, THE REAL THING HERE: BUY A HIGH QUALITY FILTER THAT IS TAILORED TO YOUR CAR.

OR BETTER YET, SPEND A COUPLE DOLLARS MORE, BUY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FILTER FROM THE DEALER.

THAT WAY YOU KNOW 100% THAT ALL OF THE PARTS OF THAT FILTER ARE GOING TO MATCH YOUR ENGINE.

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

JOHN: OUR MID-ATLANTIC FALL PROVED PERFECT FOR FAMILY OUTINGS IN OUR 2014 WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE PREMIUM RV.

THIS CLASS-C MOTORHOME, BUILT ON A FORD E-450 VAN CHASSIS, IS PERFECT FOR LONG WEEKEND GATHERINGS AS IT ACCOMMODATES UP TO EIGHT.

WHILE CLASS-C MOTORHOMES ARE MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN CLASS-A MODELS, YOU DO GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

WE EXPECTED A STEP DOWN IN LUXURY, BUT WE ALSO THOUGHT BUILD QUALITY, OR AT LEAST DEALER PREP, SUFFERED.

FORTUNATELY, MATERIALS ARE STILL PLENTY DURABLE.

OUR 33-FOOTER HAD TWIN POWER SLIDE OUTS.

THEY ALLOW FOR A LOT OF ROOM INSIDE OF COURSE, BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY WHEN THEY'RE RETRACTED AS WELL.

STORAGE SPACE RATES HIGH, ESPECIALLY THE HUGE COMPARTMENT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR.

THE MINNIE WINNIE MANAGED HILLS EASILY.

BUT AT EVEN PART THROTTLE, YOU REALLY HEAR THE 6.8-LITER FORD V-10 WORKING AWAY.

FUEL ECONOMY AT 6.4 MILES PER GALLON AFTER OVER 2,000 MILES WAS DEEMED OK BUT NOT STELLAR.

STILL, THIS IS MORE OF A WORKHORSE RV THAN AN EMPTY-NESTER INTERSTATE CRUISER.

FOCUS A BIT MORE ON FIT AND FINISH AND THIS MINNIE WINNIE WOULD BE A TOTAL WINNER FOR US.

WE'LL DRIVE ON IN OUR RAM 1500 AND HONDA ACCORD ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TURN THINGS OVER TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

YOLANDA: THE 2013 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW CLOSES OUT OUR FALL INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW TOUR WITH BOLD STYLE AND BIG EXCITEMENT.

AND NO CARMAKER DELIVERED MORE OF BOTH THAN NISSAN.

THIS BLADEGLIDER CONCEPT IS A PURE ELECTRIC WITH A RADICAL DELTA-WING SHAPE THAT PROMISES GUILT-FREE SPORTS CAR FUN FOR THREE.

THE NISSAN GT-R IS DEFINITELY A GUILTY PLEASURE, BUT IS MORE REFINED ON THE ROAD FOR 2015, AND ADDS A 600 HORSEPOWER NISMO-TUNED EDITION.

THE IDX FREEFLOW AND IDX NISMO CONCEPTS ARE MODERN SPORTS CARS WITH A RETRO TWIST CO-DEVELOPED WITH A GROUP OF TEENAGE ENTHUSIASTS.

LEXUS FILLS A VOID IN THEIR LINEUP WITH THIS GORGEOUS RC SPORT COUPE.

GAS OR HYBRID POWER WILL BE ON TAP WHEN IT DEBUTS IN 2014.

HONDA FINALLY SHOWED A PRODUCTION-READY NSX AND A MINI-ME VERSION.

THIS CONCEPT MID-ENGINE ROADSTER IS THE S660 CONCEPT.

THE HONDA VEZEL IS AN URBAN MINI-SUV THAT COULD BRING BIG STYLE TO THIS MARKET SEGMENT.

SUBARU'S BIG SPLASH WAS THIS LEVORG PROTOTYPE SPORT-TOURING WAGON, BUT THEY ALSO TURNED HEADS WITH THE CROSS SPORT DESIGN CONCEPT AND THE VIZIV EVOLUTION.

TOYOTA RENEWED ITS COMMITMENT TO HYDROGEN FUEL CELL POWER WITH THIS FCV CONCEPT.

AND THEY SHOWED A VISION FOR FUTURE PERSONAL TRANSPORT WITH THE FV2, A 1-PASSENGER POD THAT CAN SUGGEST A DESTINATION, OR CHANGE ITS OWN COLOR TO MATCH THE DRIVER'S MOOD.

A SEA OF RED COULDN'T CAMOUFLAGE MAZDA'S NEWEST SKYACTIV GREEN OFFERINGS: A CNG-FUELED MAZDA3 AND A HYBRID POWERTRAIN FOR THE SEDAN ONLY, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE AXELA IN JAPAN.

AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR WHIRLWIND TOUR OF THE 2013 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

JOHN: TIME NOW TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR A QUICK SPIN OF SOME OF TODAY'S LATEST!

AS THE IN-HOUSE TUNER FOR MERCEDES-BENZ, AMG BARES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXTRACTING ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE FROM VEHICLES WEARING THE THREE-POINTED STAR.

WE CERTAINLY SPENT PRIMETIME AT WILLOW SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY WITH THE LATEST THAT AMG HAS TO OFFER, AND IT IS QUITE A LOT.

STARTING WITH THE MOST IMPRESSIVE CLA45.

THIS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE 355-HORSEPOWER 4-CYLINDER HAD NO PROBLEM KEEPING UP WITH THE OTHER AMGS ON THE TRACK.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CORNERING GRIP AND PLENTY OF TRACTION OFF OF THEM.

UNLIKE MANY REAR DRIVERS THAT REQUIRE PATIENT USE OF THE THROTTLE COMING OUT OF CORNERS, THE CLA45 ALLOWED YOU TO PRETTY MUCH BURY THE PEDAL MID-CORNER AND HUNT FOR THE NEXT APEX.

BUT THE REAL FUN STARTED WHEN WE GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS SLS AMG BLACK SERIES.

BLACK SERIES MODELS ARE THE TOP OF THE LINE WHEN IT COMES TO AMG PROWESS.

THE SUSPENSION IS KIDNEY PUNCHING STIFF, WHICH HELPS YOU GET NOT ONLY THROUGH THE CORNERS IN A HURRY, BUT GET AS MUCH OF THAT 622-HORSEPOWER ON TO THE TRACK AS POSSIBLE.

WEIGHT HAS BEEN SHAVED WITH EXTENSIVE USE OF CARBON FIBER AND A FULL TITANIUM EXHAUST SYSTEM.

BRIAN ROBINSON: WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOUR DAY AT THE OFFICE WENT, BUT MINE WAS SPENT DRIVING INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AMG PRODUCTS AT INSANE SPEEDS AROUND A RACETRACK.

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

WELL, WE LEARNED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ AND AMG OFFER A TOTAL PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY PACKAGE THAT, REALLY NO ONE ELSE CAN MATCH RIGHT NOW.

JOHN: PRICES RANGE FROM AROUND $48,000 FOR THE CLA45 AMG TO $275,000 FOR THE SLS AMG BLACK SERIES, WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS IN BETWEEN.

AND WE'LL SPIN UP MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON.

SUPERLATIVES HAVE A SHORT SHELF-LIFE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD.

TODAY'S "WORLD'S FASTEST" IS TOMORROW'S ALSO-RAN.

AND THE SAME COULD ALMOST BE SAID OF THIS F12 BERLINETTA.

THE QUICKEST FERRARI ROAD CAR TO DATE MAY SOON BE ECLIPSED BY THE NEW 963 HORSEPOWER LAFERRARI HYBRID.

YET, THIS IS A FERRARI LIKE WE LIKE THEM: A V12 UP FRONT, AND ONLY TWO SEATS BEHIND.

SO, IS THIS A FERRARI FOR THE AGES, OR ONE DESTINED TO BE YESTERDAY'S NEWS?

THE 2013 FERRARI F12 BERLINETTA MAY BE THE FASTEST STREET-GOING FERRARI EVER, BUT SPOILER ALERT, IT IS ALSO THE GENTLEST.

IT FEELS DOWNRIGHT DOCILE ON STRIPED PAVEMENT.

AND WHILE FERRARI HAS CERTAINLY MADE STRIDES IN THIS AREA OVER THE PAST DECADE, WE WEREN'T EXPECTING THEM TO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS LEVEL OF CIVILITY.

BUT THIS TEST IS NO "DRIVING MISS DAISY," AS LISTENING TO THE V12 ENGINE BUILD ITS WAY UP TO ITS 8,700 RPM RED-LINE IS TOTALLY "FAST AND FURIOUS," AND THE EXPECTED MUSIC TO THE EARS.

THE F12 FOLLOWS THE FRONT ENGINE, REAR DRIVE LAYOUT OF PREVIOUS GT FERRARIS BUT REPLACING A CAR LIKE THE 599 GTB IS A BIT LIKE DIVORCING ONE SUPER MODEL TO MARRY A YOUNGER ONE.

BUT THE F12'S VIVACIOUS CURVES ARE PURPOSEFUL, AS WELL AS DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS.

THE AERO BRIDGE HOOD CATCHES AIR FLOWING OVER THE CAR AND FUNNELS IT OUT THE SIDE, ACCOMPLISHING BOTH DESIRED EFFECTS OF INCREASED DOWN FORCE AND REDUCED DRAG.

AN INTEGRATED SPOILER FLOWS ACROSS THE ENTIRE REAR AND WORKS WITH THE SPLIT DIFFUSER TO KEEP THE AIR FLOWING, WHILE THE F1-INSPIRED FOG LIGHT JUST LOOKS COOL.

AND IT ALL MUST REALLY WORK, AS FERRARI CLAIMS THAT THE F12 IS QUICKER AROUND THEIR FIORANO TEST TRACK THAN EVEN THE ENZO.

THE CHASSIS IS ALUMINUM-INTENSIVE, AND AT 3,593-POUNDS, WEIGHS IN MORE THAN 100 POUNDS LESS THAN THE 599.

IT'S ALSO MORE COMPACT, AND CRAMMING A V12 ENGINE INTO A SMALLER CHASSIS THAN THE 599 IS LIKE SHOEHORNING 12 POUNDS OF AWESOMENESS INTO A 10 POUND CONTAINER.

BUT THEY DID IT WITH EVEN MORE PURPOSE TO THE ART OF ENGINEERING THAN ITS PREDECESSOR.

THAT AWESOMENESS, BY THE WAY, IS AN ALL-NEW 6.3-LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED V12 WITH A 13.5:1 COMPRESSION RATIO TO WHIP UP 731-HORSEPOWER AND 509 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRANSMISSION IS THE FAMILIAR REAR-MOUNTED F1 DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATED MANUAL, BUT IT'S BEEN UPDATED WITH GEAR RATIOS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NEW V12.

IT SHIFTS JUST ABOUT PERFECTLY, WHETHER BY YOUR DECISION OR THE CAR'S.

THOUGH LIKE A THOROUGHBRED RAISED FOR THE TRACK, IT'S NOT A FAN OF GOING TOO SLOW AND WILL LET YOU KNOW ITS DISPLEASURE.

KEEP IT HAPPY BY STAYING ON THE THROTTLE AND, WHEN USED WITH THE LAUNCH BUTTON, WILL WHIP YOU FROM 0 TO 60 IN JUST 3.1-SECONDS.

E-DIFF3 DIRECTS DISTRIBUTION OF POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS, AND DUAL-COIL SCM-E MAGNETIC-RIDE HANDLES SUSPENSION DUTIES, SEEMINGLY PREDICTING ROAD CONDITIONS RATHER THAN REACTING TO THEM.

STEERING IS HYDRAULIC; NO ELECTRIC ASSIST HERE, AND IT WORKS WITH A PRECISION THAT MUST BE EXPERIENCED TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED.

AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE ELECTRONICS AS YOU WISH ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL'S MANETTINO DIAL.

IT'S DEFINITELY BEST TO KEEP SOME ON; UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF MISAPPROPRIATING OVER 700 HORSES.

STANDARD CARBON-CERAMIC DISCS ARE THERE TO HELP AS WELL, AND THEY DO WORK WELL BEHIND 20-INCH 5-SPOKE WHEELS.

LIKE A TYPICAL FERRARI, JUST ABOUT EVERY PART OF IT EVOKES A PASSION THAT'S NOT EASILY EXPLAINED, AND THAT EMOTION CERTAINLY CARRIES OVER TO THE INTERIOR WHERE YOU'LL FIND ITALIAN LEATHER SPREAD ABOUT LIBERALLY, AS WELL AS A NEW LEVEL OF INTERIOR FIT AND FINISH FOR THE BRAND.

STILL, EVERYTHING LOOKS STRIPPED DOWN AND PURPOSEFUL, THERE'S NO TOUCH SCREEN HERE.

BUT IT'S ALSO IMPECCABLE, AS THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF IS PURE AUTOMOTIVE ART.

LIKE THE 599, THERE'S SEATING FOR ONLY TWO, BUT THEY'LL BE PLENTY COMFORTABLE ROAD TRIPPING, AND TRUNK SPACE IS MORE GENEROUS AN IT APPEARS, AS THE 11.3 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE EXPANDS TO 17.7 AFTER LOWERING THE REAR BENCH PANEL.

OUR TIME WITH THE F12 WAS TOO SHORT, BUT REALLY IS ANY AMOUNT OF TIME IN A FERRARI ENOUGH?

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE IMPROVED OVER THE 599, BUT STILL SUPERCAR-LIKE AT 12-CITY, 16-HIGHWAY, AND 13-COMBINED.

AS FOR PRICING, WITH GAS GUZZLER TAX AND DESTINATION, EXPECT TO SHELL OUT CLOSE TO $330,000.

THE FASTEST, IT SEEMS, DOESN'T COME CHEAP.

PACKING THIS MUCH EXOTIC PERFORMANCE INTO A DAILY FRIENDLY DESIGN IS A FEAT THAT ONLY FERRARI HAS ACHIEVED.

WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE EXTREME FERRARI CAN GO IN EITHER DIRECTION, BUT IF THEY KEEP BUILDING CARS LIKE THE 2013 F12 BERLINETTA, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE THRILLED TO GO ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.

AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS THE LATEST EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE FIND OUT IF THE NEXT-GENERATION MERCEDES-BENZ GL SETS A NEW SUV STANDARD.

AND THERE'S A NEW TOYOTA TUNDRA THIS YEAR.

WE'LL HAUL IT UP FOR REVIEW.

UNTIL THEN, 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.

3M.

MAKER OF 3M PAINT DEFENDER SYSTEM.

HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.

DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.