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

JOIN US AND SEE HOW MUCH BETTER THE BEST CAN BE AS WE TRACK TEST THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE PORSCHE 911.

PAT GOSS HOOKS US UP WITH A FEW SLICK CABLE CARE TIPS.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ TAKES US ON A TRIP THROUGH AMERICA'S AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE.

AND WE'LL GO THE EXTRA MILE WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID.

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... 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: WITH A HUGE INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF ELECTRONIC DRIVING AIDS, WE FOUND THAT THE ALL-NEW 2012 PORSCHE 911 TO BE EASILY THE BEST PERFORMING 911 YET.

BUT YOU KNEW THAT PORSCHE WOULDN'T STOP THERE, AND THE FIRST UPGRADE TO THE REAR-DRIVE 991 IS THE 2013 CARRERA 4.

NOW IN TYPICAL C4 FASHION, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO GO ALONG WITH THE ADDITION OF ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

BUT AT WHAT POINT DOES MORE PERFORMANCE RESULT IN LESS FUN?

WELL, LET'S SEE IF WE'RE THERE YET.

IN FACT, WE WERE SO EAGER TO FIND OUT IF THIS "MORE GRIP AND LESS SLIP" PORSCHE IS INDEED MORE CAPABLE OR LESS FUN, WE SOMEHOW CONVINCED PORSCHE INTO GIVING US THE VERY FIRST 2013 C4 TO LAND ON OUR SHORES; A FULL POTENTIAL C4S.

FROM THERE, WE QUICKLY HEADED TO ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND ALONG THE WAY, WE DID TRAVERSE SOME NASTY WEATHER, INCLUDING FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW THAT THE C4 PROVED MORE THAN CAPABLE OF HANDLING.

THE UPGRADE TO C4 STATUS IS MORE NOTICEABLE THAN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

AND IF THE SERIOUSLY WIDER HIPS AREN'T CLUE ENOUGH, THERE'S A NEW LED LIGHT STRIP RUNNING ACROSS THE REAR THAT CLUES IN THE CLUELESS.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 20-INCHERS WITH 245/35 PIRELLI RUBBER UP FRONT, EXTRA-MEATY 305/30s IN THE REAR.

ADDITIONAL C4-EXCLUSIVE ELEMENTS INCLUDE BLACK ROCKER EXTENSIONS AND A TWEAKED FRONT FASCIA WITH LARGER AIR OPENINGS.

BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN FANCY BODYWORK TO GET YOU AROUND A RACE TRACK, AND AFTER ONLY A FEW LAPS WE STARTED TO FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS LATEST C4S.

IN FACT, THIS CAR FEELS SO NAILED DOWN TO THE TRACK THAT IT'S ALMOST BORING.

ALL C4s USE AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM DERIVED FROM THE LAST 911 TURBO AND WORKS WITH PORSCHE'S TRACTION MANAGEMENT AND BRAKING SYSTEMS TO TORQUE VECTOR POWER WHEREVER IT IS MOST BENEFICIAL, INCLUDING ALMOST 100% TO THE FRONT, THOUGH WE CAN'T THINK OF TOO MANY TIMES WHERE THAT WOULD BE USEFUL.

IT ADDS ONLY 111-POUNDS TO THE 911, BUT ADDS TONS MORE GRIP.

AT SPEED, EVERYTHING FEELS SO REFINED AND SORTED OUT.

CORNERING IS VIRTUALLY FLAT, STEERING FEEDBACK IS SPOT ON, JUST POINT IT WHERE YOU WANT AND IT RESPONDS INSTANTLY.

YOU HAVE TO DISABLE EVERY ELECTRONIC NANNY YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO GET ANY REAR END PLAY, OTHERWISE ALL YOU GET IS TENACIOUS GRIP.

BRAKES ARE SIMPLY PHENOMENAL!

AFTER THREE DAYS OF CRUELTY AT THE FEET OF OUR TEST DRIVERS, THERE WAS NO CHANGE TO THEIR FEEL OR EFFECTIVENESS.

ENGINE CHOICES ARE THE SAME AS STANDARD 911s; A 3.4 FLAT-6 IN THE C4, AND A 3.8-LITER IN OUR C4S, PUMPING OUT 400-HORSEPOWER AND 325 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

PORSCHE'S PDK IS OPTIONAL, BUT WE WERE HAPPY TO STICK WITH THE 7-SPEED MANUAL FOR THIS TEST.

OURS DID INCLUDE THE OPTIONAL SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE THAT ADDS A NEW REV MATCHING FEATURE ON DOWNSHIFTS.

IT'S A SPECTACULAR GEARBOX, ONE EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD BE STRIVING TO IMITATE.

IT'S NOT THE PREFERRED CHOICE, HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO STRAIGHT-LINE TESTING.

NOR WERE THE COLD AND WINDY TRACK CONDITIONS THAT WE FACED IDEAL.

STILL, WE MANAGED A SPRINT TO 60 IN 4.4-SECONDS.

OPT FOR THE PDK AND YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING DOWN INTO THE 3'S.

THE QUARTER MILE TOOK JUST 12.7-SECONDS AND WAS REACHED AT 114 MILES-PER-HOUR.

ALL-IN-ALL, IT'S THE MOST SECURE FEELING, MOST REASSURING 911 WE'VE EVER DRIVEN, AND A NIGHT-AND-DAY DIFFERENCE OVER PREVIOUS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CARRERAS.

EVERYTHING WORKS SO SEAMLESSLY THAT YOU HARDLY EVER KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON, AND YOU FEEL VIRTUALLY INVINCIBLE.

ON THE STREET, THE C4S FEELS FIRM AND PURPOSEFUL, BUT NEVER UNCOMFORTABLE.

WITH SEVEN GEARS TO MANAGE, YOU DO STAY BUSY, THOUGH 7TH IS CLEARLY JUST A NOD TOWARDS FUEL ECONOMY, NO REASON TO USE IT UNLESS YOU'RE EATING UP INTERSTATE MILES.

INSIDE, THERE'S NO DRASTIC CHANGE OVER A BASIC 911, BUT WE'VE REALLY COME TO LOVE THE FUNDAMENTAL CONTROL LAYOUT.

WHEN FIRST SAMPLED IN THE PANAMERA, WE WEREN'T TOO SURE ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS VERY EASY TO MASTER.

AND AFTER ALL OF THE CENTRAL CONTROLLERS WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IN LUXURY CARS, IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE ACTUAL BUTTONS THAT WORK AND DO WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO.

THERE IS A TOUCH SCREEN FOR CONTROLLING THE RADIO, NAVIGATION, AND MANY VEHICLE FUNCTIONS, BUT YOU HARDLY EVER NEED TO TOUCH IT.

WE ARE STILL NOT FANS OF THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE, HOWEVER.

SEATS ARE SUPER-COMFORTABLE, THERE'S A PERFECT AMOUNT OF ENGINE GROWL, AND LIKE ANY OTHER 911, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD DRIVE IT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

PRICING STARTS AT $91,980 FOR A BASE CARRERA 4.

THAT'S $6,730 MORE THAN A BASE 911, AND WHILE THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT FOR A LITTLE MORE TRACTION, IT ALSO BUYS SHARPER SHEET METAL AND SOME EXCLUSIVITY.

OUR C4S STARTS AT $106,580.

THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THAT'S PRICY, BUT IT'S NOT OUTRAGEOUS FOR A CAR THAT OFFERS AS MUCH PERFORMANCE AS THIS ONE.

BEING IN THIS PROFESSION WE OFTEN GET ASKED, "WHAT CAR WOULD YOU REALLY LIKE TO OWN?"

AND WHILE THAT ANSWER CHANGES OVER TIME AS WE DRIVE NEWER AND BETTER CARS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE ANSWER IS A 911, AND NOW THE ANSWER IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE 2013 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4S.

WE LOVE CARS.

FROM TODAY'S LATEST, TO WORLD-CLASS RACERS AND AMERICAN LEGENDS, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE PIONEERS THAT STARTED IT ALL.

AND WHILE THERE ARE MANY GREAT CAR MUSEUMS THAT DOT OUR LAND, AND THE WORLD, NONE CAN QUITE COMPARE TO A COLLECTION THAT ONLY RECENTLY OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC.

IT STARTED OUT AS ONE MAN'S DREAM, BUT NOW IT'S A NATIONAL TREASURE, AND OUR YOLANDA VAZQUEZ TAKES US THERE.

Yolanda: SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST MAGNIFICENT AND MEMORABLE CARS... Scot: THIS IS A 1977 PLYMOUTH FURY SPORT... Yolanda: ...HAVE FOUND A NEW HOME IN THE NATION'S LARGEST AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM.

Ron Bergtoll: I'M A TACOMA RESIDENT, I TELL YOU, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

Yolanda: FILLED WITH FOUR FLOORS OF CLASSIC, VINTAGE, AND SUPER HORSEPOWER CARS, THE LEMAY-AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUM, LOCATED IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON, OFFERS A LITTLE SOMETHING...

HUG THOSE CORNERS!

HUG THOSE CORNERS!

WHOAAA.

...FOR EVERYONE.

AND THE FUN CONTINUES WITH AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT SOME CLASSIC BEAUTIES.

Scot Keller: MY VISION FOR THE MUSEUM AND OUR VISION FOR THE MUSEUM IS REALLY TO CREATE A SPACE PEOPLE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF.

Yolanda: THE MUSEUM'S ALUMINUM ROOF SETS THE STAGE FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE ABUNDANCE FOUND INSIDE.

MUST-SEE VEHICLES INCLUDE THIS BEAUTIFUL 1930 RED DUISENBERG J CONVERTIBLE AND THIS 1917 CRANE SIMPLEX BOUGHT NEW BY JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER.

David Madeira: BEAUTIFUL TOURING CAR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ERA.

JAY LENO'S GOT ONE LIKE IT.

Yolanda: WITH SPACE FOR 500 CARS, A LARGE PORTION OF THEM ARE FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF THE LATE HAROLD LEMAY.

AFTER WWII, THE TACOMA-BASED RESIDENT STARTED A REFUSE COLLECTION BUSINESS AND TURNED IT INTO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ENTERPRISE.

HE WAS A MODEST MAN WHO HAD A PASSION FOR CARS.

David: HE REALLY LOVED EVERY CAR HE EVER SAW.

HE JUST COULDN'T HELP HIMSELF.

FOUND A REASON TO LOVE IT.

Yolanda: A CAR GUY TO HIS CORE, LEMAY AMASSED A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION, SO WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN 2000, A $65 MILLION FUNDRAISING EFFORT BEGAN TO PRESERVE NOT ONLY HIS LEGACY BUT ALSO A ROLLING SLICE OF AMERICANA.

David: SO I CAME OUT HERE FROM THE EAST AND WE DEVELOPED A PLAN TO BUILD AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUM, THIS NEEDS TO BE ABOUT US.

Yolanda: PRESIDENT AND CEO DAVID MADEIRA SAYS THEIR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A FLEXIBLE SPACE WHERE VEHICLES FROM THEMED EXHIBITS LIKE THE BRITISH INVASION, INDY RACE CARS, AND FERRARI MYSTIQUE COULD BE ROTATED AROUND.

BUT IT'S THE TRIED AND TRUE AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE ICONS OF THE 20TH CENTURY THAT RESONATE THE MOST WITH ATTENDEES.

Bill Holme: IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THESE OLDER CARS IN THIS MUSEUM, THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL.

THEY GO BACK ALL THE WAY FROM THE EARLY 1900s TO CURRENT PERIOD.

IT'S AN AMAZING COLLECTION THAT YOU WILL NOT SEE ANYWHERE ELSE.

Yolanda: FOR EXAMPLE, THIS 1948 TUCKER IS VERY RARE.

AND THE LIST OF CLASSIC AND RARELY SEEN CARS GO ON AND ON.

William Casey: I'VE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

Yolanda: 93-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM CASEY TRAVELED FROM CONNECTICUT TO VISIT THE MUSEUM.

HE SAYS IT'S LIKE TAKING A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

SO YOU'VE SEEN CARS FROM QUITE A NUMBER OF DECADES, RIGHT?

William: OH YEAH.

SINCE 19...LET'S SEE, 1948, WHEN I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR, A CHEVY.

Scot: WE GET ASKED, WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT CAR IN THE MUSEUM?

I HAVE MY FAVORITES, WE'VE GOT CARS HERE THAT ARE WORTH MULTIPLE SEVEN FIGURES.

BUT REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT CAR HERE IS THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH.

Yolanda: CHIEF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER SCOT KELLER IS PARTICULARLY FOND OF THIS 1963 SPLIT WINDOW DARK BLUE CORVETTE... Scot: EVERY TIME I WALK PAST THIS CAR, I'M INSTANTLY TRANSPORTED BACK TO THAT ERA.

Yolanda: HE SAYS VEHICLES LIKE THIS FLINTSTONE'S FLINTMOBILE, '80S ERA MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND 1977 PLYMOUTH FURY... Scot: CAN I DELIVER IT TO THE HOUSE OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO ENJOY THE MOMENT?

Yolanda:...CONJURE UP THE MOST AMAZING MEMORIES.

THEY ALSO TELL THE STORY OF AMERICA'S NEVER-ENDING LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE AUTOMOBILE.

HAROLD LEMAY MADE THAT CONNECTION LONG AGO AND NOW HE HAS A MUSEUM THAT EMBODIES THAT SPIRIT.

David: I THINK KNOWING THIS PLACE WILL EXIST FOR A LONG TIME TELLING HIS STORY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF OUR STORIES I THINK WOULD THRILL HIM.

I HOPE SO.

John: NOW LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT'S GOING TO HOOK US UP WITH TIPS TO KEEP CRITICAL CABLES MOVING SMOOTHLY.

PAT: JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING MECHANICAL NEEDS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES, LYNDON ABLE, GENERAL MANAGER OF PATRIOT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.

LYNDON, WELCOME BACK.

Lyndon: THANKS, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, MOTORCYCLES AND CABLES.

Lyndon: YES.

LIKE A LOT OF THINGS, CABLES ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE WILL LAST LONGER IF THEY'RE PROPERLY MAINTAINED.

IN THIS CASE, MAINTENANCE MEANS MOSTLY LUBRICATION.

A LITTLE EXAMPLE HERE, WE HAVE A THROTTLE AND THROTTLE CABLE.

USED PROPERLY, LUBRICATED PROPERLY, THIS IS A NICE, SMOOTH ACTION.

IF IT'S NOT LUBRICATED, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, THIS WILL GET FROZEN UP INSIDE THIS THROTTLE AND WILL START WORKING BACK AND FORTH AND YOU'LL END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE.

GO JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND YOU END UP WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS CABLE LITERALLY HANGING ON BY A THREAD.

THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF IMPROPER LUBRICATION.

Pat: AND IT'S ALSO WALKING HOME.

Lyndon: AND IT'S A WALK HOME, RIGHT.

Pat: OKAY.

NOW LUBRICANTS, WE HAVE A COUPLE TYPES HERE.

ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THEM, OTHER THAN THAT WE WANT CABLE LUBE AND NOT REGULAR LUBE?

Lyndon: YEAH, YOU SHOULD USE THE PROPER -- JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, YOU SHOULD BE USING THE PROPER TOOL FOR THE JOB.

THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LUBRICANTS.

I LIKE THIS ONE, BUT IT CAN STAIN BRAIDED CABLE, SO FOR THAT APPLICATION WE LIKE TO USE CLEAR LUBRICANT.

WHICHEVER ONE YOU USE, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE A NICE NARROW SPOUT, AND THAT'S TO ALLOW YOU TO GET IN BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE CABLE SO THAT THE LUBRICANT CAN GET WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE.

ON THIS MOTORCYCLE, YOU CAN SEE THAT GRAVITY IS HELPING YOU DO THE JOB TO GET THESE CABLES LUBRICATED.

THIS COMES OFF, YOU GET INSIDE HERE, GET THAT LUBRICANT IN THERE, WORK IT BACK AND FORTH, GRAVITY WILL HELP YOU TAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN.

SOMETIMES GRAVITY IS NOT WORKING IN YOUR FAVOR.

YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THE INITIAL RUN IS UPHILL.

DON'T JUST THINK THAT IT'S TOO HARD TO DO AND ONLY LUBRICATE THIS, BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY GETTING THE FIRST TWO INCHES.

PULL THIS OFF, AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, HOLD IT UP SO THAT GRAVITY CAN ALLOW THAT LUBRICANT TO GET ALL THE WAY DOWN THE CABLE.

IF YOU DO THAT RIGHT, YOUR CABLES WILL LAST MUCH LONGER AND SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

AND KEEP IN MIND, FOLKS, THAT THIS DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO MOTORCYCLES.

IT ALSO APPLIES TO THINGS LIKE LAWN MOWERS, HERE'S A CABLE, HERE'S A CABLE.

ALL KINDS OF MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT.

SO BY LUBRICATING THESE CABLES, YOU'LL GET A LOT MORE LIFE OUT OF THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND IT'LL BE A LOT MORE RELIABLE.

LYNDON, THANK YOU.

Lyndon: THANK YOU.

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

John: OUR 2012 HONDA CR-V HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A REAL WORKHORSE.

WHETHER IT'S HAULING CREWS TO SHOOTS, OR KIDS AND PETS TO VACATIONS, IT'S ALWAYS ON THE GO.

NO WONDER AFTER 10 MONTHS WE'VE ALREADY TOPPED 24,000 MILES.

A HIGH POINT HAS BEEN THE CR-V's COMBINATION OF ROBUST POWER AND FINE FUEL ECONOMY.

26.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR SO FAR.

VERY FEW LOW POINTS.

ONE MINOR ONE IS THE LEFT FOOT DEAD PEDAL PAD HAS COME UNGLUED FROM THE CARPET.

THE CR-V IS A GOOD VALUE TOO.

OUR LOADED EX-L WITH NAVIGATION COSTS LESS THAN MOST COMPARABLY EQUIPPED RIVALS.

AND WE'RE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH CARGO IT HOLDS.

ITS AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM DIGS RIGHT IN WITH COMPLETELY INVISIBLE OPERATION.

CLEARLY, THE HONDA CR-V DESERVES ITS CLASS BENCHMARK STATUS.

COMING UP, THE SUBARU IMPREZA AND THE MAZDA CX-5, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

John: NOW LET'S HEAD OVER TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FOR ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda: PROVING ONCE AGAIN THERE ARE NO SECRETS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, THE FOLKS AT JEEP WERE FORCED TO REVEAL THEIR LATEST VEHICLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AFTER SPY PHOTOS APPEARED ON THE INTERNET.

THE 2014 JEEP CHEROKEE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE MANY SURPRISES AT THE 2013 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW; A REVIVAL OF THE BRAND'S MOST GLOBAL NAMEPLATE.

BUT AFTER SPY PHOTOS SHOWED UP ON THE JALOPNIK WEBSITE DECLARING THE SUV ALIVE AND KICKING, JEEP SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN A LITTLE FREE PUBLICITY AND TEASED IMAGES OF THE NEW CHEROKEE WELL BEFORE ITS OFFICIAL DEBUT AT THE NEW YORK SHOW.

THE THRONGS OF MEDIA SEEMED EVEN MORE ANXIOUS TO GET THEIR FIRST REAL LOOK AT THE NEW, SMOOTHER STYLED, FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CHEROKEE THAT SHARES A UNIBODY WITH THE DODGE DART.

JEEP PROMISES THE NEW CHEROKEE'S CAPABILITY WILL LIVE UP TO THE BRAND'S "TRAIL-RATED" MANTRA.

AND WE'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS ON THE NEW CHEROKEE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE FROM THE 2013 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW ON NEXT WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: TIME NOW FOR ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE MEET-AND-GREET WITH THIS WEEK'S CAR KEYS.

A TURBO 4 AND A $30 GRAND PRICE TAG CALL TO MIND NUMEROUS CARS FROM NUMEROUS BRANDS THESE DAYS, BOTH IMPORT AND DOMESTIC.

BUT ONE BRAND WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO THROW THEIR HAT INTO THAT RING WAS MERCEDES-BENZ; AT LEAST NOT HERE IN THE STATES.

BUT ALWAYS THE INNOVATORS, MERCEDES HAS ANNOUNCED THE 2014 CLA 250 FOR A HOPEFULLY HUNGRY YOUNGER U.S.

AUDIENCE.

THE FIRST FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAR BARING THE MERCEDES NAME TO BE SOLD IN AMERICA, THE CLA BORROWS STYLING, QUITE OBVIOUSLY AND DELIBERATELY, FROM THE ULTRA-SLEEK CLS.

THE A-CLASS BASED CLA IS A TRUE FOUR DOOR SEDAN; THOUGH ITS FLOWING REARWARD STYLE AND SHORT REAR DECK CLEARLY SAYS COUPE.

INSIDE IS A TONED DOWN BUT STILL PREMIUM INTERIOR BEFITTING THE BRAND'S REPUTATION.

WHILE CLEARLY NO S-CLASS, THE CLA'S SUSPENSION SETUP STILL ZEROS IN ON COMFORT.

BUT AIMED AT A MORE ADVENTUROUS DEMOGRAPHIC, A LITTLE TAUTNESS SHOULD REVEAL THE SPORTIER DNA BENEATH.

THE CLA'S PLANNED PLAYFUL NATURE SPINS AROUND A 2.0 LITER INLINE TURBO 4, SPOOLING UP A SPIRITED 208 HORSEPOWER.

WITH ITS PRICE AND PRESTIGE, THE CLA COULD EASILY DRAW SALES FROM PREMIUM IMPORT FRONT DRIVE BASED RIVALS LIKE THE ACURA ILX AND AUDI'S NEW A3.

THE $30,000 2014 CLA 250 ARRIVES THIS FALL.

AND WE'LL SCORE MORE CAR KEY'S FIRST IMPRESSIONS SOON!

UP UNTIL NOW, VOLKSWAGEN'S PREFERRED METHOD OF MAXIMIZING MILEAGE HAS BEN WITH TDI TURBOCHARGED DIESEL ENGINES.

BUT DESPITE WIDER AVAILABILITY, AND EVER CLEANER EXHAUST, HIGH DIESEL FUEL PRICES HAVE STALLED THEIR APPEAL TO AMERICANS.

SO WHAT TO DO?

WELL, YOU COULD TURBOCHARGE A SMALL GASOLINE ENGINE AS MANY AUTOMAKERS ARE DOING TO ECOBOOST THEIR MILEAGE, AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS HYBRID POWERTRAINS.

WELL, HOW ABOUT COMBINING THE TWO...IN THE JETTA!

YOU WON'T SEE TURBO IN THE NAME, BUT THE 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID DOES INDEED GET DOWN THE ROAD WITH A COMBINATION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION, FORCED AIR INDUCTION, AND ELECTRIC POWER.

AND IT ALL WORKS FAIRLY SEAMLESSLY, THOUGH YOU CAN FEEL SOME SHUDDER WHEN THE GAS ENGINE ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES.

IT'S NOT DISTURBING, JUST MORE OF A REMINDER OF WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON.

AND WHAT'S GOING ON IS 1.4-LITERS WORTH OF ALL-ALUMINUM, DIRECT INJECTED, TURBO-CHARGED I4 COMBINED WITH A 20 KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR TO OUTPUT 170-HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THIS COMBO PRODUCES GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 42-CITY, 48-HIGHWAY, AND 45-COMBINED.

THAT COMPARES TO 34-COMBINED FOR THE TDI.

STILL, OUR LEAD-FOOTED DRIVERS NETTED NOWHERE NEAR THE HYBRID RATINGS, AVERAGING JUST 36.7 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THAT'S ABOUT 5% LESS THAN OUR LAST JETTA TDI.

TO BE FAIR, WE TESTED THE HYBRID IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, WHICH REQUIRED ADDITIONAL GAS ENGINE RUNNING TIME, SO MILEAGE SHOULD IMPROVE IN WARMER WEATHER.

NO DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE VERY GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 7.3-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED ANNUALLY WITH YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS OF 3.3-TONS.

AND WE LOVE ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT THE JETTA HYBRID, AS IT IS ALL SO WELL DONE.

THE UNDER-HOOD IS PRISTINE AND PURPOSEFUL WITH LITTLE HINT OF HYBRID HARDWARE, SAVE FOR THE ORANGE HIGH VOLTAGE CABLES.

TRUNK FINISH IS EXCEPTIONAL FOR A NON-LUXURY COMPACT CAR; YOU DO LOSE SOME CARGO SPACE DUE TO THE BATTERY, 11.3 CUBIC-FEET VERSUS 15.5 IN A STANDARD JETTA; BUT YOU STILL GET FOLD DOWN REAR SEATBACKS FOR LONG ITEM STORAGE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH HYBRID GOINGS-ON WITH A UNIQUE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT FORGOES THE TACH FOR A POWER GAUGE WITH READINGS FOR ECO, CHARGE, AND BOOST.

IF YOU OPT FOR NAVIGATION, YOU CAN ALSO KEEP UP WITH THE SPECIFIC HYBRID SCREENS AND POWER FLOW DIAGRAMS.

AND THERE WAS GOOD POWER FLOWING AT THE TRACK, AS THE HYBRID FEELS EVERY BIT AS SPIRITED OFF THE LINE AS THE STANDARD JETTA AND A BIT BETTER THAN THE TDI.

0 TO 60 IN 8.0-SECONDS FLAT.

AND THAT'S STILL WITH 40 MPG POTENTIAL.

THE HYBRID COMES EXCLUSIVELY WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S 7-SPEED DSG AUTOMATIC GEARBOX AND WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS VERY SMOOTH OPERATION OR THE COMMANDING FEEL OF ITS SHIFTS AS THE CAR WORKED ITS WAY TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.2-SECONDS AT 87 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE JETTA'S MIX OF TURBO AND HYBRID BOOST PROVED TO BE A GREAT PAIRING; YOU GET THE E-BOOST OFF THE LINE AND ONCE YOU GET ROLLING, THE TURBO GETS SPOOLED UP AND GIVES YOU ANOTHER.

IT'S SURPRISING TO US THAT IT'S TAKEN THIS LONG FOR SUCH A POWERTRAIN TO ARRIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO CONE CARVING, THE JETTA IS BY FAR AT THE TOP OF THE COMPACT HYBRID HEAP.

THE INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE SPORTIER JETTA GLI AND MAKES THE HYBRID FEEL LIGHT YET SOLID, AND VERY SPORT SEDAN LIKE.

IT'S THE HYBRID YOU WOULD EXPECT VOLKSWAGEN TO MAKE.

WHILE ON THE STREET, THE BRAKES MAY HAVE A GRABBY FEEL BECAUSE OF THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, WE WERE MORE THAN IMPRESSED AT THE TRACK WHERE WE AVERAGED JUST 119-FEET TO STOP FROM 60.

THE JETTA HYBRID WILL DRIVE ON BATTERY POWER ALONE, BUT DUE TO THE SMALL 1.1-KWH SIZE, ONLY FOR ABOUT A MILE, AND ONLY UP TO 44 MILES-PER-HOUR IF E-MODE IS SELECTED.

BUT IT IS EASILY THE MOST ENTERTAINING FULL HYBRID OUT THERE, NOT SO MUCH THAT YOU FORGET IT'S A HYBRID, BUT PRETTY DARN CLOSE.

YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO TELL IT BY LOOKING AT IT EITHER, AS THE JETTA HYBRID IS NOT SUPER FLASHY LOOKING, AND BEARS LITTLE INDICATION OF ITS NEW ECO-FRIENDLY CREDENTIALS.

BUT THE DETAILS ARE NICE, WITH THE BLUE-HIGHLIGHTED VW LOGO AND HYBRID BADGING INTEGRATED SMOOTHLY INTO THE JETTA'S CLASSY AND UNDERSTATED DESIGN.

IT ALSO ADDS A NEW FRONT FASCIA WITH REDESIGNED AIR INLETS, UNIQUE 17-INCH WHEELS, AND A REAR SPOILER.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING, THE JETTA HYBRID STARTS AT $25,790.

IF YOU'VE BEEN CONTEMPLATING A HYBRID, BUT NON-COMMITTAL DUE TO NOT WANTING TO DRIVE A BORING CAR, WELL, HERE'S THE CAR YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

AND SINCE YOU ASKED, YES, VOLKSWAGEN WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE JETTA TDI WHICH IS FAR LESS WELL-EQUIPPED, BUT STILL CHEAPER BY TWO GRAND.

WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

WELL, WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT, BUT THE 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID IS A BEAUTIFULLY DONE HYBRID WRAPPED IN A VERY TIDY PACKAGE THAT WE WOULD ENJOY LIVING WITH EVERY DAY.

THAT'S WHY WE PICKED IT AS OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY.

AND IF YOU WERE TO PICK ONE FOR YOURSELF, WE THINK IT WOULD BE JUST AS FRIENDLY TO YOU AS IT IS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE RIFLE THROUGH THE COMPETITION IN A SPORT SEDAN SHOOTOUT.

THEN A REPORT FROM THE GENERAL WITH A TRIO OF BIG FAMILY CROSSOVERS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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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.

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