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

JOIN US AS WE GO HIGH-PERFORMANCE HAULING IN PORSCHE'S CAYENNE TURBO DIESEL... PAT GOSS PUTS IT ON THE SHELF FOR A WHILE... WE LEARN WHAT IT'S TRULY LIKE TO LIVE WITH AN EV DAY IN AND DAY OUT... THEN WE TRY TO MAXIMIZE OUR MILEAGE IN THE FORD C-MAX HYBRID MINI-MINIVAN.

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: 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 TIRE RACK.COM.

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 3MAUTO.COM John: FEW UTILITIES CAN CHALLENGE THE PORSCHE CAYENNE WHEN IT COMES TO STREET PERFORMANCE.

BUT TODAY, EVEN LUXURY BRAND BUYERS ARE PUTTING BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AT THE TOP OF THEIR MUST HAVE LISTS.

BUT WHILE PORSCHE ALREADY OFFERS A HYBRID CAYENNE, U.S. PORSCHE BUYERS PREFER A MORE EUROPEAN APPROACH TO FUEL SAVING, AND THEY'VE BEEN BEGGING PORSCHE TO BRING THE CAYENNE TURBO DIESEL TO THE STATES.

WELL, THEIR WISHES HAVE FINALLY BEEN GRANTED!

THE 2013 CAYENNE DIESEL IS PORSCHE'S FIRST AMERICAN DIESEL OFFERING.

AND WHILE MANY OF US SCOFFED AT PORSCHE'S ENTRY INTO THE SUV RANKS WITH THE ORIGINAL CAYENNE, IT HAS PROVED TO BE INCREDIBLY POPULAR, EVEN BECOMING THEIR TOP SELLING MODEL.

SO WHAT DOES A TURBOCHARGED DIESEL V6 ADD TO THE CAYENNE?

WELL, A WHOLE LOT OF TORQUE AND A WHOLE LOT OF RANGE.

FILL UP THE LARGER 26.4 GALLON TANK AND YOU CAN CRUISE FOR OVER 700 MILES BEFORE YOU'LL NEED TO REFUEL.

BUT SURPRISINGLY, THE DIESEL DOES NOT GET YOU MORE TOWING ABILITY; IT REMAINS AT 7,716 POUNDS.

AND WITH A HIGHER CURB WEIGHT, PAYLOAD WEIGHT ACTUALLY DROPS.

SO, THE CAYENNE DIESEL IS CHIEFLY ABOUT GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, WHICH ARE 19-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED, WHICH ACTUALLY BEATS THE CAYENNE HYBRID BY 2.

WE DID EVEN BETTER AT 29.4 MILES-PER-GALLON.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE REMAINS BELOW AVERAGE, HOWEVER, AT 16.6 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED PER YEAR AND ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.4 TONS.

THE DIESEL'S 406 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND 240-HORSEPOWER, ARE FROM A 3.0-LITER TURBO V6.

EXTRA WEIGHT IS MODERATED BY USING A COMPACTED GRAPHITE IRON BLOCK AND ALUMINUM HEADS.

THE DIESEL DOESN'T HAVE AUTOMATIC STOP/START LIKE OTHER CAYENNES, AND THAT'S JUST FINE BY US.

AND THE PERMANENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL.

THE 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC GEARBOX DOES COME WITH PROPER PORSCHE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTERS.

TO MEET EMISSIONS STANDARDS, THE DIESEL USES A SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION SYSTEM WITH ADBLUE UREA INJECTION.

OTHERWISE, THE CAYENNE GETS ONLY VERY MINOR UPGRADES FOR 2013, MAINLY NEW DOOR LOCK BUTTONS AND DASH MOUNTED ANALOG CLOCK, OR YOU CAN OPT FOR THIS COOL DIGITAL COMPASS.

WHO NEEDS GPS?

STILL, IN OUR CAYENNE, ABOVE THE SLOPPING PANAMERA-STYLE CENTER CONSOLE, SITS AN OPTIONAL NAVIGATION SCREEN.

THE LARGE, LEATHER COVERED FRONT BUCKET SEATS DELIVER EXTREME COMFORT WITH FIRM BACK AND TALL SIDE SUPPORT.

REAR SEATS SLIDE FOR ADDED LEGROOM AND SPLIT 40/20/40 FOR FLEXIBILITY BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LONG CARGO.

ON THAT, THERE'S 23.6 CUBIC FEET OF LUGGAGE SPACE BEHIND THE REAR SEATS AND 62.9 CUBIC FEET WITH ALL SEATS DOWN.

THAT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.

EXTERIOR STYLING IS ALL PORSCHE, AND WHILE UNCHANGED FOR '13, THE 911-INSPIRED STYLING HAS AGED WELL.

18-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, UP TO 21s OPTIONAL.

BUT IT'S THE 911-INSPIRED PERFORMANCE THAT REALLY SETS THE CAYENNE APART, SO WE WERE ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW IT WOULD TRANSLATE IN THE DIESEL.

AND WE HAVE FEW COMPLAINTS TO REPORT.

ALL OF THAT TORQUE OFF THE LINE MAKES FOR A STRONG LAUNCH AS IT BOLTS TO 60 IN JUST 7.2-SECONDS.

QUICK, BUT STILL A SECOND AND HALF SLOWER THAN THE LAST CAYENNE S V8 THAT WE TESTED.

THE QUARTER MILE ARRIVED IN 15.6 SECONDS AT 91 MILES-PER-HOUR.

STILL IMPRESSIVE FOR AN SUV.

AS IS TYPICAL WITH A DIESEL, SHIFTS COME EARLY AND OFTEN, AND POWER SEEMS TO DISSIPATE A LITTLE WITH EACH ONE.

SLOW AND SOFT SHIFTS DIDN'T HELP MATTERS ANY.

AS EXPECTED, THE DIESEL'S POWERTRAIN ADDS 320 POUNDS TO CURB WEIGHT, AND IT DID HAVE AN EFFECT ON HANDLING.

Ben Davis: THE CAR TURNS IN AMAZINGLY TIGHT, BUT THERE'S A WEIRD BOUNCING SENSATION COMING FROM THE REAR, AND AT EXTREME TIMES, IT'S COMING FROM THE FRONT, TOO.

FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS DRIBBLING DOWN THE TRACK.

John: FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS GOOD STEERING FEEL AND TRACTION THROUGHOUT OUR TESTS, AND WE DO SUGGEST ORDERING THE ADJUSTABLE AIR SUSPENSION OPTION.

BRAKING IS STILL SPORTS CAR WORTHY, HOWEVER, WITH AN AVERAGE STOP OF ONLY 118-FEET FROM 60.

IN ADDITION TO THE DIESEL BEING LESS COMPLEX THAN THE CAYENNE HYBRID, IT'S LESS PRICEY AS WELL, STARTING AT $56,725.

THAT'S $14 GRAND LESS, AND BETTER FUEL ECONOMY TO BOOT.

STILL, PRICEY OPTIONS CAN EASILY PUSH THIS LUXO SUV NORTH OF $90 GRAND.

SO, WAS THE 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE DIESEL WORTH THE WAIT?

WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN SUV TO BE THE CHASE CAR FOR YOUR 911 TURBO, THAN THE CAYENNE TURBO IS THE BEST CHOICE.

BUT IF YOUR IDEA OF SUV PERFORMANCE IS BETTER THAN HYBRID FUEL ECONOMY, AND SUPER LONG RANGE, BUT STILL WITH A PORSCHE EXPERIENCE, THAN THIS IS THE "UTE" FOR YOU.

AS LITTLE AS FIVE YEARS AGO, THE THOUGHT OF PLUG-IN EVs AND HYBRID VEHICLES BECOMING COMMONPLACE SEEMED IMPLAUSIBLE.

BUT PLUG-IN CARS LIKE THE VOLT, LEAF, PRIUS, TESLA, AND FISKER ARE NOW IN THE MAINSTREAM, AND A PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CHARGING THEM IS RAPIDLY EMERGING.

AND JUST LIKE ENTHUSIASTIC CAR OWNERS BEFORE THEM, PLUG-IN EARLY ADOPTERS LIKE TO GET TOGETHER TO SHARE TALES ON HOW THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

SO COME ALONG AS WE EAVESDROP ON THE LATEST CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE LOVE AFFAIR.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, SOMEWHERE YOU'LL FIND A GATHERING OF CARS AND A GROUP OF ENTHUSIASTS ASSEMBLED AROUND THEM.

BE THEY HOT RODS, CLASSICS OR SPORTS CARS... EACH GENRE OF THE CAR'S EVOLUTION HAS DEVELOPED A LOYAL FOLLOWING, AND ELECTRIC CARS ARE NO EXCEPTION.

THE RECENT NATIONAL PLUG-IN DAY INCLUDED EVENTS HELD AT HUNDREDS OF SITES ACROSS THE U.S., ENTICING EV AFICIONADOS TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST MODELS AND SHARE THEIR PASSION FOR GAS-FREE MOTORING.

Jim Barracca: THE DEALER GIVES YOU 9.3 GALLONS, I HAVEN'T USED ALL OF THAT YET.

BUT WHEN I GET THREE GALLONS LOW, I PUT THREE GALLONS IN, SO I'M STILL AT ALMOST A FULL TANK.

LAST TIME I PUT THREE GALLONS IN WAS FEBRUARY, AND THIS IS SEPTEMBER 23.

John: ALL OF THE OWNERS WE TALKED WITH WERE PLEASED WITH THEIR PLUG-IN CAR'S FUEL ECONOMY, AND MANY ROUTINELY EXCEED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES.

OF COURSE, USING ZERO GASOLINE IS AN ULTIMATE GOAL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE BOTTOM LINE.

Bill Clarke: THE MONEY THAT I AM PAYING FOR ELECTRICITY IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE.

John: FOR SOME, OWNING AN EXTENDED- RANGE EV LIKE THE CHEVY VOLT MEANS NOT HAVING TO COMPROMISE THEIR DAILY ROUTINES.

Paul Michalski: I LIKE THE GAME OF IT.

IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO GET AS MUCH OUT OF THE BATTERY AS POSSIBLE, AND SO I PLAY THAT GAME.

BUT I ALSO DRIVE IT LIKE A CAR, AND, YOU KNOW, IF I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THAT, I DON'T.

John: OTHERS APPRECIATE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR'S PERFORMANCE AS MUCH AS ITS ECONOMY.

Randy Kuning: I GET THE MOST FUN WHEN I DO THE PARKING LOT GRAND PRIX NEXT TO A CORVETTE.

NOW, OK, I'M NOT GOING TO BEAT THEM PAST 30 MILES PER HOUR ON ACCELERATION, AND MOST OF THE TIME, I JUST CATCH THEM NAPPING ANYWAY, BUT STILL, THERE'S THIS SENSE OF THEIR SEEING THE VOLT NAMEPLATE ON THE REAR PANEL DISAPPEARING IN THE DISTANCE.

Mike Natale: PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE FUN TO DRIVE, THEY'RE RESPONSIVE TO THE ACCELERATOR, AND THEY'RE A GOOD SIZE.

MOST OF THEM ARE GOOD-SIZED CARS AND HANDLE WELL.

John: COLLEGE PROFESSOR JONATHAN SLADE AND HIS WIFE TOOK THE PLUNGE TO A FULL-ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF AND FOUND IT HAS INDUCED SOME POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES.

Jonathan Slade: IT REALLY REWIRES YOUR BRAIN IN SOME INTERESTING WAYS IF YOU ACTUALLY LET IT.

BEFORE WE HAD A FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLE, WE USED TO END UP STOPPING AT CONVENIENCE STORES ON THE WAY TO AND FROM WORK TO BUY A LOT OF GROCERIES, LIKE A GALLON OF MILK, OR A LOAF OF BREAD, OR BUTTER, WHAT NOT.

OF COURSE, THAT'S LIKE THE LEAST EFFICIENT WAY TO BUY IT.

THE GROCERY STORE NEAR WHERE I WORK, THAT HAS A FREE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION, WE PLUG-IN THERE AND END UP DOING OUR SHOPPING FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS THERE.

WE GET BETTER PRICES AND WE'RE CHARGING FOR FREE, USING 30 TO 50 CENTS WORTH OF ELECTRICITY IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE WE'RE IN THE STORE BUYING GROCERIES.

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT RANGE ANXIETY, AND THEY'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT IT, OUR SORT OF SOLUTION TO THAT IS DRIVE THE HECK OUT OF THE CAR.

THE MORE YOUR DRIVE THE CAR, THE LESS RANGE ANXIETY YOU HAVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU DRIVE SOMEWHERE ONCE OR TWICE WITH A FULL CHARGE - YOU KNOW, HEY, I CAN MAKE IT THERE AND BACK AND YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT ANYMORE.

John: THE SLADES EVEN USED THEIR SUMMER VACATION THIS YEAR TO PUSH THEIR GAS-FREE DRIVING BOUNDARIES.

Jonathan: AND SO I CONVINCED MY WIFE TO TAKE OUR SUMMER VACATION AND ACTUALLY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND, FROM THE WESTERNMOST MOUNTAINS, ALL THE WAY TO OCEAN CITY.

WE DROVE THE HECK OUT OF THE CAR WHEN WE DROVE IT ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WE WOULD LITERALLY PULL IN AND PLUG-IN AND THEN GO TO A DINER NEARBY, GO TO A RESTAURANT, EAT, AND DO A LITTLE TOURISM, GO TO MUSEUMS WHILE IT WAS CHARGING, AND THEN COME BACK AND WE WOULD GO.

SO THERE WAS VERY LITTLE WAITING AROUND FOR IT TO CHARGE.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PLUG-IN WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING TO DO FOR TWO, THREE HOURS.

John: OPINIONS ARE SPLIT ON WHETHER PURE-ELECTRICS, RANGE EXTENDERS OR PLUG-IN HYBRIDS WILL BE THE PREFERRED EV PLATFORM TO HELP DRIVE US INTO A PETROLEUM-FREE FUTURE.

OUR GUESS IS THAT ALL THREE TYPES WILL FIND FAVOR DEPENDING ON THEIR OWNER'S NEEDS, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT PLUGGING-IN IS CHARGING UP A NEW ERA OF AUTO ENTHUSIASM!

UNLESS YOU LIVE IN THE SUN BELT, WHEN COLD WEATHER ARRIVES, MANY COOL CARS ARE PUT AWAY FOR THE WINTER.

AND THIS WEEK DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE, PAT SHOWS US THE RIGHT WAY TO DO JUST THAT.

Pat Goss: NO MATTER WHAT THE VEHICLE, LONG PERIODS OF DISUSE CAN BE VERY DAMAGING.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING IN STORAGE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, PROPER PREP CAN PREVENT DAMAGE.

CHANGE ANY OF THE FLUIDS THAT ARE DUE TO BE CHANGED.

ALWAYS CHANGE THE OIL; YOU NEVER WANT OIL TO SIT IN AN ENGINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, OIL THAT'S BEEN USED.

AND IF IT NEEDS TRANSMISSION OR COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE, DO THAT BEFORE STORAGE.

ALSO, IF IT'S GOING TO BE LESS THAN A YEAR, FILL THE FUEL TANK, AND USE A FUEL STABILIZER TO KEEP THE FUEL FROM TURNING INTO VARNISH.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN A YEAR, COMPLETELY DRAIN, EVACUATE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM.

WASH IT, WAX IT, IF NEED BE.

DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE FINISH ON THE VEHICLE.

THEN, HERE'S SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT.

AND THAT IS THE INTAKE AND THE EXHAUST.

NOW, TRUE, YOU'RE GOING TO USE A FOGGING OIL.

FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS BEFORE YOU CLOSE EVERYTHING UP.

BUT ONCE YOU'RE DONE WITH THE FOGGING OIL, WELL, YOU WANT TO CLOSE THE EXHAUST, AND YOU WANT TO CLOSE THE INTAKE.

YOU CAN DO THAT WITH MASKING TAPE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT THE MASKING TAPE IS THE TYPE THAT RELEASES SO IT DOESN'T BOND WITH THE FINISH ON THE EXHAUST OR THE INTAKE.

YOU MAY WANT A COVER FOR THE VEHICLE.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE OUTSIDE, YOU WANT AN OUTSIDE COVER.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE INSIDE, YOU WANT ONE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR INSIDE STORAGE.

YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO RAISE THE VEHICLE UP.

YOU WANT TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF OF THE TIRES BECAUSE THAT WILL DESTROY THE TIRES OVER TIME.

THAT MEANS YOU NEED JACK STANDS OR SOME SORT OF SUPPORTING DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE.

YOU WANT THE JACK STANDS OUT AS CLOSE TO THE WHEELS AS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU WANT THE SPRINGS COMPRESSED.

YOU DO NOT WANT THEM HANGING DOWN AND UNLOADED, WHICH CAN DAMAGE THEM OVER TIME.

NOW, OF COURSE, YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE BATTERY, AND THAT MEANS YOU NEED A BATTERY MAINTAINER.

TRADITIONAL TYPE WE HAVE OVER THERE.

BUT HERE'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.

THIS IS ELECTRONIC, AND YOU CAN SET IT FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BATTERIES, YOU CAN SET IT FOR DIFFERENT VOLTAGES.

IT HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT FEATURES IN IT, AND IT'S VERY PRECISE AT KEEPING A BATTERY HEALTHY WHILE IT'S NOT BEING USED.

DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND DO IT RIGHT, AND YOU'LL WIND UP WITH A VEHICLE THAT WILL GO RIGHT BACK ON THE ROAD WITH NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER.

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

John: TIME NOW FOR MORE CAR KEY'S FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS OF THE LATEST ON OUR LOT.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THE FOURTH GENERATION OF THE LEXUS GS.

AND LOOKS SEEM TO BE A BIG PRIORITY, AS THE 2013 LEXUS GS 350 F SPORT ARRIVES WITH AN AGGRESSIVE MAKEOVER THAT EARNED PRAISE FROM OUR STAFFERS.

SHARP ANGLES AND BODYLINES ALREADY DEFINE THE NEW GS, BUT THE F SPORT PACKAGE SWAPS THE SLOTTED SPINDLE GRILLE FOR A MESH ONE.

A MORE AGGRESSIVE FRONT FASCIA DITCHES THE FOG LIGHTS IN FAVOR OF LARGER AIR INTAKES, WHILE 19 INCH ALLOY WHEELS AND A REAR DECKLID SPOILER ROUND OUT MORE OF THE F SPORT VISUALS.

INSIDE, THE GS KEEPS ITS UBER-LUXURIOUS FEEL, WITH THE F SPORT LENDING ALUMINUM TRIM TO DOOR PANELS, DASH, AND PEDALS.

A 16-WAY ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SEAT ENSURES YOU STAY IN PLACE AS YOU RIP UP THE TRACK.

AND INDEED, THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE WE TOOK THE F SPORT, AND FLEW DOWN THE TRACK IN UNDER SIX SECONDS, OR ABOUT THE SAME AS THE STANDARD GS WE TESTED LAST SPRING.

THAT'S NOT SURPRISING AS THE 3.5 LITER V6 RATES THE SAME 306 HORSEPOWER FOR BOTH CARS.

THE F SPORT DID DIFFERENTIATE ITSELF THROUGH THE CONES, HOWEVER.

A UNIQUE SPORT S+ MODE ADJUSTS STEERING FEEL, SHIFT POINTS, AND THE ADAPTIVE VARIABLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO NEAR-PERFECT SPORT DRIVING LEVELS.

STIFFER SPRINGS AND ANTI-ROLL BARS DO SACRIFICE SOME TRADITIONAL LEXUS RIDE COMFORT, BUT PUT HANDLING WELL ABOVE THE STANDARD GS.

A QUICK SWITCH BACK TO NORMAL MODE AND THE GS 350 F SPORT SUBDUES ITSELF, RETURNING TO THE LUXURY LINER MOST EXPECT IT TO BE.

THERE'S A SURPRISING BALANCE, AND IT SEEMS A MODE FOR EVERY MOOD.

THE LEXUS GS 350 F SPORT IS ON SALE NOW FOR AROUND $57,000.

OUR NEXT CAR MAY NOT QUALIFY AS A ROADMASTER, BUT IT IS A VERY MODERN TAKE ON THE VENERABLE BUICK BRAND.

THE 2013 BUICK VERANO TURBO IS A BOOSTED VERSION OF THE BRAND'S POPULAR COMPACT SEDAN.

STYLING, WHILE DEFINITELY ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, IS SPORTY ENOUGH TO WARRANT SOME EXPECTATION OF REAL POWER.

GM HAS DELIVERED, ADDING A TURBOCHARGED ECOTEC 2.0 LITER I4 FOR THE NEW MODEL YEAR.

WITH 250 HORSES ON TAP, A 40% GAIN, WE SAMPLED THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.

BOTH DELIVERED PLENTY OF FRONT DRIVE POWER AND THE AUTOMATIC WAS PARTICULARLY SMOOTH.

STEERING AND SUSPENSION ARE SPORT-TUNED, STIFFENING UP IN TWISTS, BUT KEEPING THE COMFORT INHERENT TO THE BUICK BRAND.

BLIND ZONE AND REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT ARE STANDARD ON THE TURBO, AS ARE HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL.

SO, IF THIS IS ANY INDICATION OF BUICK'S FUTURE, WE'LL GLADLY RIDE ALONG.

THE 2013 BUICK VERANO TURBO STARTS AT AROUND $30,000.

AND STAY TUNED FOR MORE CAR KEY'S FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SOON!

LET'S HEAD INSIDE NOW TO THE MOTORNEWS DESK WHERE YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM MAY BE GROUNDED, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR IS SITTING STILL.

THAT'S RIGHT, NASA'S RETIRED ORBITER IS ON THE MOVE ONCE AGAIN, AND IT'S GETTING A LITTLE HELP FROM A TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP TRUCK.

AFTER RECENTLY GETTING DROPPED OFF AT THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE ENDEAVOUR MADE ITS WAY ALONG A 12-MILE STRETCH OF CITY STREETS TO THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER, WHERE IT WILL BE ON PERMANENT DISPLAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO LEARN ABOUT ITS SPACE LEGACY.

AND FOR MOST OF THAT JOURNEY, THE 300,000 POUND SPACE SHUTTLE WAS TOWED BY A WELL-BRANDED TOYOTA TUNDRA.

NO MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO BOOST THE PICKUP TRUCK'S FACTORY 10,000 POUND TOWING CAPACITY, BUT EXTENSIVE TESTING WAS DONE BEFOREHAND, AND A SPECIALLY-DESIGNED, TRAILER MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.

IF YOU HAVE PLANS FOR A YEAR-END ROAD TRIP, IT PROBABLY WON'T INCLUDE TOWING SPACE EQUIPMENT, BUT IT WILL MOST CERTAINLY INVOLVE A TRIP TO THE GAS STATION.

AND THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT'S FUEL ECONOMY WEBSITE, MOTORISTS CAN GET A BETTER IDEA OF HOW MUCH GAS THEY'LL USE AND WHAT IT WILL COST WHEN PLANNING THEIR TRIP.

A NEW TRIP CALCULATOR TAKES ALL THE GUESSWORK OUT OF YOUR JOURNEY WITH ITS EASY-TO-USE FORMAT FOR FUEL ECONOMY INFORMATION.

JUST ENTER YOUR DESTINATION AND WHAT TYPE OF CAR YOU'LL BE DRIVING.

FROM THERE YOU CAN TYPE IN A FUEL PRICE OF YOUR OWN, OR STICK WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND THE TRIP CALCULATOR WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY GALLONS YOU'LL USE AND WHAT THE FUEL COST WILL BE.

IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE VEHICLE TO CHOOSE FROM, YOU CAN COMPARE THEM TO SEE WHICH ONE WILL BE THE BEST CHOICE, AND IT'LL EVEN PROVIDE YOU WITH DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET THERE.

A USEFUL TOOL TO HELP GAUGE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND COSTS AS DRIVERS GET READY TO HIT THE ROADS FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS.

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

John: THE TOYOTA PRIUS IS THE UNDISPUTED BENCHMARK OF HYBRID VEHICLES.

BUT AS THE PRIUS LINEUP EXPANDS, SO DOES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RIVALS TO DO IT BETTER.

THAT'S WHERE WE FIND THE LATEST IN FORD'S ECO-FRIENDLY LINEUP, THE C-MAX HYBRID.

SO IS THE BLUE OVAL REALLY TRYING TO TOPPLE THE KING OF GREEN MOTORING?

OR HAS FORD JUST GONE MAD?

IT'S RARE WHEN WE CONSIDER FORD TO BE AN UNDERDOG.

BUT IN THE UNSETTLED LANDSCAPE OF HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THEY'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO GET SERIOUS DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND SO IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS NEW FRONTIER, WE HEADED OUT WEST, TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, TO SEE IF THE 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID IS A TRUE FUTURISTIC ROAD WARRIOR.

WHILE NEW TO US AS A FULL-HYBRID, THE C-MAX HYBRID ACTUALLY ENTERS THE U.S.

IN ITS SECOND GENERATION, HAVING BEEN AVAILABLE IN EUROPE AS A NON-HYBRID SINCE 2003.

IMPORTANT BECAUSE, WHILE STYLING IS ON THE BLANDER SIDE, IT HAS GREATLY IMPROVED.

ITS 5-DOOR MINIVAN-LIKE SHELL ACTUALLY INCLUDES FOUR FRONT-HINGE DOORS... LIKE THE ORIGINAL HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN... WITH THE 5TH BEING A LARGE LIFTGATE.

OPTION UP AND YOU CAN GET THE "OPEN SESAME" FOOT WIGGLE FEATURE FIRST SEEN HERE ON THE FORD ESCAPE.

THE SNUB-NOSED FRONT END FEATURES AN OPEN MOUTH INTAKE BELOW A THIN SLIT GRILLE HOUSING THE FORD EMBLEM.

FLANKED BETWEEN SWEPT HEADLIGHTS, THEY DO THEIR BEST TO BRING A LITTLE STYLE TO A SEGMENT LACKING IN THE LOOKS DEPARTMENT.

BUT ALONG ITS PROFILE, AND FROM BEHIND, THE C-MAX FALLS A LITTLE FLAT.

SAVE FOR A FEW BODYLINES, AND FENDER WRAPPING TAILLIGHTS, NOT MUCH JUMPS OUT; A SURPRISING APPROACH CONSIDERING THE NEW FUSION'S DYNAMIC REDESIGN.

THE INTERIOR FOLLOWS IN CONSERVATIVE FASHION, KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE BUT COMFORTABLE.

DUAL LCD SCREEN "SMARTGAUGES" SURROUND AN ANALOG SPEEDOMETER, AND FEATURE VEHICLE INFORMATION, CONTROLS, AND GREEN DRIVING TIPS.

SYNC WITH MYFORD TOUCH RETURNS, THOUGH WE DIDN'T FIND THIS ITERATION AS PROBLEMATIC AS BEFORE.

BACK SEATS OFFER PLENTY OF LEGROOM, AND TOTAL PASSENGER VOLUME OF 99.7 CUBIC FEET BEATS THE RIVAL PRIUS V WAGON.

BEHIND THE SECOND ROW 60/40 SPLIT SEATS IS 24.5 CUBIC FEET OF LUGGAGE SPACE.

THAT'S NEARLY A THIRD LESS THAN THE V, BUT STILL ADEQUATE.

THE C-MAX HYBRID'S BATTERIES ARE UNDER A RAISED CARGO FLOOR.

BUT RATHER THAN THE V'S FAMILIAR NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE BATTERIES, IT'S A 1.4 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK.

UNDER THE HOOD IS A 2.0 LITER ATKINSON CYCLE I4 ENGINE, STIRRING UP 141 HORSEPOWER AND 129 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE ELECTRIC MOTOR NEXT DOOR BUZZES UP 118 HORSEPOWER AND 117 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT IS 188 HORSEPOWER.

THAT'S 54 MORE THAN THE PRIUS V. AND BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE C-MAX HYBRID, THAT EXTRA POWER WAS MUCH APPRECIATED.

DRIVING FELT COMPLETELY UNHINDERED, AS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WORKS SEAMLESSLY.

THE ELECTRIC MOTOR SUPPLIES THE MAJORITY OF VEHICLE POWER UP TO 62 MILES-PER-HOUR.

FULL GASOLINE MODE KICKS IN AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION.

A REGENERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM HELPS ON THE RECHARGE, BUT STRONG PEDAL RESISTANCE AND GRABBY BRAKES MADE FOR SOME AWKWARD STOP-AND-GO JERKS.

THINGS ARE CERTAINLY SMOOTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, HOWEVER, AT 47 MILES-PER-GALLON CITY, HIGHWAY, AND COMBINED, THROUGH A CVT AUTOMATIC.

ON PAPER, THAT BEATS THE PRIUS V'S 42 MPG COMBINED.

THROUGH A DAY OF MIXED CALIFORNIA DRIVING, HOWEVER, WE FOUND A COMBINED AVERAGE IN THE HIGH 30s MORE REALISTIC.

ENERGY IMPACT SCORES ARE GREAT, WITH JUST 7.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, AND YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS AT A VERY LOW 3.1 TONS.

PRICED TO COMPETE, THE 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID SE STARTS AT $25,995, ALMOST $1,500 BELOW THE PRIUS V. SEL TRIM RINGS UP TO $28,995.

AND DUE IN THE SPRING IS THE C-MAX ENERGI, A PLUG-IN HYBRID WITH A 21 MILE ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE AND PRICES STARTING NEAR $34,000.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE A LITTLE DIVERSITY IN THE HYBRID MARKET.

AND WHILE THE 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID MAY NOT TURN ANY HEADS, IT'S ALSO NOT AN "IN-YOUR-FACE" ELECTRIFIED "MAD MAX" DESPERATE FOR ATTENTION.

IT IS A VEHICLE WITH A SIMPLE PURPOSE; DELIVERING OUTSTANDING FUEL ECONOMY WITH FLEXIBLE PRACTICALITY.

IT'S A MILD-MANNERED FAMILY HAULER THAT COULD BE REAL COMPETITION FOR THE PRIUS CLAN AS IT CRUISES TO THE TOP LEVEL OF THE HYBRID CAR RANKS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHEN WE'LL EXERCISE THE TACH ON NOT ONE, BUT TWO 600 PLUS HORSEPOWER CALLAWAY CORVETTES.

AUDI'S ALLROAD MAKES A RETURN, WE'LL FIND OUT IF IT'S A WELCOMED ONE.

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.

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 3MAUTO.COM.