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

JOIN US AS WE BLAZE A NEW TRAIL IN THE SUBARU XV CROSSTREK.

PAT GOSS WINCHES UP A FEW SAFETY TIPS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

WE'LL EXPLORE THE BUSINESS SIDE OF DRIVING GREEN.

AND THEN RE-BOOT OUR FAMILY VALUES WITH THE ALL NEW HONDA ACCORD.

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.

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.

SUBARU HAS MADE A HABIT OUT OF PRODUCING QUIRKY LITTLE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT BECOME HUGELY POPULAR, BUT ACHIEVE DEFINITE FAN STATUS.

REMEMBER THE BRAT?

AND HOW ABOUT THE BAJA?

WELL, THE LATEST IS THIS SUBARU XV CROSSTREK.

THIS JACKED UP IMPREZA CAN INDEED TACKLE THE TRAIL TO THE CAMPGROUND.

BUT IT CAN ALSO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH THE URBAN JUNGLE AS WELL.

SUBARU HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR THE VERSATILITY OF ITS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HATCHBACKS AND WAGONS, STRIVING FOR THAT PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN SUV USEFULNESS AND SMALL CAR PRACTICALITY.

BUT NO EFFORT HAS NAILED THAT EQUATION BETTER THAN THE IMPREZA SPORT BASED, 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS URBAN CROSSOVER PACK STANDARD FOUR-CORNER TRACTION, 8.7 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, AND A RUGGED EXTERIOR DESIGN; IT ALSO BOASTS CAR-LIKE COMFORT AND GOOD FUEL ECONOMY.

AND IT'S ALL WRAPPED IN AN EASY TO MANEUVER AND PARK CITY FRIENDLY SIZE.

8.7-INCHES IS A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF GROUND CLEARANCE FOR ANY CROSSOVER, MUCH LESS ONE THIS SMALL.

AFTER ALL, THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE BOASTS JUST 8.6 INCHES.

CURB HOPPING ANYONE?

ALL THAT GROUND CLEARANCE TURNS THIS IMPREZA INTO A CAPABLE LITTLE BILLY GOAT OFF-ROAD, AS WELL.

BUT IT DOES COME WITH A DOWN SIDE.

COMPARED TO THE IMPREZA, CROSSTREK'S RIDE QUALITY IS ON THE HARSH SIDE.

THE BEEFED UP SUSPENSION RESISTS POT HOLES, BUT ALSO PROVIDES A VERY STABLE PLATFORM FOR UNEVEN TERRAIN.

SHARING THE IMPREZA SPORTS' 2.0-LITER BOXER ENGINE MEANS THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS CONFIDENT IF NOT OVERLY POWERFUL WITH ONLY 148-HORSEPOWER AND 145 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ON TAP.

SADLY, WE WON'T SEE THE NEW TWIN-CAM 2.0-LITER DIESEL THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR CROSSTREK IN EUROPE.

THOSE OH SO LUCKY EUROPEANS ALSO GET A 6-SPEED MANUAL, WHILE WE MUST DO WITH A 5-SPEED AS THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION.

OUR TEST CAR CAME EQUIPPED WITH A WHINEY CVT AUTO.

NOWHERE IS IT MORE OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A MODIFIED IMPREZA SPORT THAN INSIDE THE CABIN; AS THE DARK, MONOCHROME THEME SPEAKS VOLUMES.

BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING, AS IT ACTUALLY SEEMS MORE FITTING HERE IN THIS RUGGED LITTLE RUNNER.

THOUGH WE WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME HARD TO USE TOUCH-SCREEN RADIO AND SAT-NAV SYSTEM THAT'S LOCATED IN THE OTHERWISE STRAIGHTFORWARD CENTER STACK.

IN BACK, REAR SEAT ROOM IS FINE FOR THREE CHILDREN OR TWO ADULTS.

AND THE 22.3 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE EXPANDS TO 51.9 CUBIC FEET WITH THE REAR SEATS FOLDED.

NOW IT MAY JUST BE OUR RED NECKS SHOWING, BUT WE LOVE THE JACKED UP STANCE AND TOUGH, ALL-PURPOSE LOOK OF THE XV.

MOST OF THE BODY PANELS ARE THE SAME AS THE IMPREZA SPORT COMPACT, BUT UNIQUE FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS, AS WELL AS THE EXPECTED BODY CLADDING DOWN THE SIDES AND AROUND THE FENDERS, GIVE IT A MUCH DIFFERENT LOOK.

WE'RE ALSO FOND OF THE COOL BLACK AND SILVER 17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS; THOUGH WE'D QUICKLY REPLACE THE 225/55 ALL-SEASON RUBBER WITH SOME PROPER ALL-TERRAINS TO REALLY COMPLETE THE LOOK.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS SOME COMPACT HATCHBACKS, BUT PRETTY IMPRESSIVE COMPARED TO OTHER ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CROSSOVERS; 25-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED JUST 26.5 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR GAS IN MIXED DRIVING.

STILL, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE AT 11.8 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.2 TONS.

DESPITE BEING BASED ON THE IMPREZA SPORT, THAT BIG BOOST IN GROUND CLEARANCE CLASSIFIES THE XV AS A SPORT UTE.

AND AT OUR TEST TRACK WE WERE EXPECTING A RATHER JEEP-LIKE EXPERIENCE, BUT FOUND THE CROSSTREK TO BE A CAPABLE HANDLER.

THE MUCH ANTICIPATED BODY ROLL NEVER MATERIALIZED; WITH UNDERSTEER MORE OF AN ISSUE.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT MUCH TO BRAG ABOUT OFF THE LINE, AS IT CRAWLS TO 60 IN A LAZY 9.8-SECONDS AND TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 17.5-SECONDS AT 79 MILES-PER-HOUR, ABOUT THE SAME AS THE IMPREZA SPORT.

BRAKING WAS ALSO SIMILAR AT 121-FEET, WITH STANDARD ABS-EQUIPPED DISCS AT ALL 4 WHEELS PROVIDING SMOOTH AND DRAMA FREE CONSISTENT STOPS.

WHILE THE CROSSTREK MAY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED MORE FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKET THAN OURS, WITH THE FORESTER GROWING IN SIZE, THERE'S ACTUALLY ROOM FOR IT IN SUBARU'S LINEUP HERE, AS WELL.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING, IT SLIDES NICELY RIGHT IN BETWEEN THE IMPREZA SPORT AND A WELL-EQUIPPED FORESTER, STARTING AT $22,790.

SUBARU BUYERS ARE A UNIQUE LOT, AND THE 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK IS A UNIQUE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD SUIT MORE THAN A FEW OF THEM.

BUT UNLESS YOU NEED THE ADDITIONAL GROUND CLEARANCE, OR JUST REALLY LIKE THE TOUGHER LOOK, YOU'LL BE FINE WITH AN IMPREZA SPORT.

SO, WHETHER YOUR TYPICAL ATTIRE REVOLVES AROUND WEARING HIKING BOOTS OR LOAFERS, SUBARU HAS GOT A FUN AND CAPABLE COMPACT JUST FOR YOU.

MEDIUM AND HEAVY-DUTY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES HAVE LONG RELIED ON DIESEL AS THEIR DEDICATED FUEL.

BUT LATELY, MORE AND MORE FLEETS ARE MAKING A GREEN CHOICE AND TURNING TO CLEANER AND CHEAPER DOMESTIC NATURAL GAS.

IN RESPONSE, A NATURAL GAS FUELING NETWORK IS BEING CREATED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR CNG AND LNG TRUCKS.

DOES THIS MEAN NATURAL GAS IS FINALLY READY FOR THE LONG HAUL?

NO ONE HAS BEEN HIT HARDER BY RISING FUEL PRICES THAN AMERICA'S LONG-HAUL COMMERCIAL TRUCKERS.

A BIG RIG CAN EASILY BURN 20,000 GALLONS OF FUEL A YEAR, AND WITH DIESEL PRICES PROJECTED TO KEEP RISING, THIS NOT ONLY PINCHES THE TRUCKER'S BOTTOM LINE, BUT THAT EXTRA COST IS PASSED ON TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS.

MEANWHILE, NATURAL GAS PRICES HAVE REMAINED STABLE AND ARE FORECAST TO STAY THAT WAY FOR YEARS TO COME.

UP TO NOW, DEMAND FOR NATURAL GAS AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL HAS BEEN MOSTLY FOR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS USED BY LIGHT AND MEDIUM-DUTY VEHICLES.

CITY BUSES, REFUSE HAULERS, UTILITIES, AND OTHER LOCALIZED "CAPTIVE" FLEETS THAT RELY ON CENTRAL REFUELING OR A FIXED NUMBER OF STATIONS ARE A NATURAL FIT FOR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, OR CNG.

LONG-HAUL TRUCKS ARE SUITED FOR LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, OR LNG, WHICH IS CREATED BY SUPER-COOLING NATURAL GAS TO -260 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

AS A LIQUID, MUCH MORE FUEL CAN BE STORED IN SMALLER TANKS, WHICH MEANS MORE MILES PER FILL-UP FOR THE BIG RIGS.

RECOGNIZING THAT, SEVERAL NATURAL GAS COMPANIES ARE NOW JOINING FORCES WITH MAJOR TRUCK STOP CHAINS AND REGIONAL FUEL RETAILERS TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF NATURAL GAS FOR LONG-HAUL RIGS.

CLEAN ENERGY, CO-FOUNDED BY NATURAL GAS PIONEER T. BOONE PICKENS, ALREADY HAS MORE THAN 300 NATURAL GAS STATIONS IN OPERATION.

BUT THEY'RE FAR FROM DONE.

Steve Weiner: CLEAN ENERGY IS BUILDING AMERICA'S NATURAL GAS HIGHWAY, AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE IS OVER 150 LNG FUELING STATIONS AT PILOT AND FLYING J TRUCK STOPS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WE'RE BUILDING THEM ON MAJOR TRUCKING CORRIDORS, SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO FROM COAST TO COAST OR BORDER TO BORDER ALL ON NATURAL GAS.

John: ENERGY PRODUCER SHELL IS PROPOSING TO ADD LNG FUELING AT UP TO 100 T/A AND PETRO TRUCK STOPS NATIONWIDE.

WHILE CHESAPEAKE ENERGY, THE 2ND LARGEST PRODUCER OF NATURAL GAS IN THE U.S. HAS INVESTED IN CLEAN ENERGY'S LNG PLAN, AND IS ALSO WORKING WITH LOVE'S TRUCK STOPS AND OTHER RETAILERS TO ADD CNG FUELING STATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS.

IN THEIR HOME STATE OF OKLAHOMA, CHESAPEAKE IS HELPING THE ONCUE EXPRESS CHAIN OF CONVENIENCE STORES BUILD A CNG FUELING NETWORK OF THEIR OWN.

ONCUE CEO JIM GRIFFITH IS NO STRANGER TO SELLING CNG, HAVING TESTED THE MARKET OVER A DECADE AGO.

BUT WITH THE PRICE DIFFERENTIAL NOW REACHING A TIPPING POINT, HE HAS ONCE AGAIN ADDED CNG PUMPS TO 13 OF HIS STORES, WITH MORE TO COME.

Jim Griffith: THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I TRIED IT BACK IN THE '90s AND TODAY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE.

IN THE '90s, GASOLINE WAS SELLING FOR $.99 A GALLON AND MY CNG PRICE WAS $.79.

SO, FOR $.20 A GALLON, IT WAS HARD FOR SOMEBODY TO JUSTIFY CONVERTING THEIR VEHICLES.

TODAY, WHEN IT'S OVER $2 PER GALLON DIFFERENCE, IT'S VERY EASY TO PUT A PEN TO IT AND FIGURE OUT CNG IS THE WAY TO GO.

John: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY IS TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EXPANDING THE MARKET FOR NATURAL GAS.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH 3M TO USE ADVANCED RESINS IN DEVELOPING LIGHTER AND MORE COMPACT CNG TANKS.

THEY'RE ALSO WORKING TO CREATE A "CNG STATION-IN-A-BOX" THAT WILL ALLOW RETAILERS TO MINIMIZE THE EXPENSE AND COMPLEXITY OF ADDING CNG TO THEIR FUEL OFFERINGS.

Taylor Shin: A GOOD MAJORITY OF THE STATIONS IN AMERICA ALREADY HAVE A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE BELOW THE GROUND, AND SO THE LAST 20 FEET IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING.

AS YOU SEE MAJOR CORPORATIONS ANNOUNCE INITIATIVES INTO HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKING, IT'S ONLY GOING TO DRIVE THE MARKET FURTHER.

WHEN YOU HEAR ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM A HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK, THE ENGINE MANUFACTURERS DECIDE TO INVEST MORE AND PRODUCE MORE.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT, THE RETAILERS DECIDE THEY CAN BUILD MORE STATIONS, SO IT'S ALL A SNOWBALL EFFECT, AND IF WE CAN WORK AT THE FRONT END TO HELP THE COUNTRY BENEFIT FROM THAT, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

John: LET'S HITCH A RIDE DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT'S READY TO TOW THE LINE.

Pat: A WINCH CAN BE A VITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO JUST ABOUT ANYBODY.

BUT, BUYING IT AND USING IT PROPERLY ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

AND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE SCOTT PETERSON.

HE IS A SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER WITH SUPERWINCH.

SCOTT, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Scott: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

Pat: OKAY, FIRST, BUYING THE WINCH.

WHAT'S ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS YOU LOOK FOR?

Scott: ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS IS CAPACITY.

BASICALLY, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A RULE OF THUMB OF 1.5 TO 2 TIMES THE WEIGHT OF YOUR VEHICLE.

IN THE CASE OF MY JEEP, 4,500 POUNDS, YOU WANT A WINCH ABOUT 9,000 OR GREATER.

THIS IS OUR 9,800 POUND RATED PRODUCT.

IT'S A GOOD APPLICATION FOR THE JEEP.

Pat: OKAY, SYNTHETIC VERSUS STEEL ROPE?

Scott: SYNTHETIC ROPE HAS A LOT OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

IT'S LIGHTER THAN STEEL.

IT'S STRONGER THAN AN EQUIVALENT SIZED CABLE.

AND BECAUSE IT'S LIGHTER, IF THAT CABLE BREAKS, IT DOESN'T FLY THROUGH THE AIR WITH THE WEIGHT OF THAT STEEL CABLE, AND POSSIBLY HARM YOU OR SOMEONE AROUND YOU.

Pat: OKAY, THE ABRASION SLEEVE THAT YOU HAVE ON HERE.

Scott: THAT IS A MOVABLE ABRASION SLEEVE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SYNTHETIC ROPE DOESN'T LIKE IS ABRASION.

IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOUR JEEP IS ON AN INCLINE, AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET OVER A STONE EDGE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF YOU TRY TO RECOVER YOUR JEEP UP THAT, THAT ROPE'S UNDER TENSION, IT CAN GET ABRADED BY THE EDGE OF THE ROCK, OR WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING AROUND.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MOVE THAT ABRASION SLEEVE TO WHEREVER THAT ABRASION -- OR THAT CONTACT WOULD BE HAPPENING TO PROTECT THE CABLE.

Pat: OKAY, WE HAVE AN OLD FLOOR MAT THROWN OVER THE ROPE.

PURPOSE?

Scott: THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS, AGAIN, SAFETY.

IF THAT LINE WERE TO BREAK, YOU WANT TO HAVE ALL OF THAT ENERGY GO DOWN TO THE GROUND.

USE A HEAVY SWEATSHIRT, USE A FLOOR MAT OUT OF THE CAR, WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY IN YOUR RECOVERY.

BASICALLY, WITH SYNTHETIC ROPE, LESS SO IF YOU'VE GOT STEEL CABLE, YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT ALL OF THAT ENERGY TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE GROUND.

YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T WINCH WITHOUT A WINCH WEIGHT ON YOUR CABLE IN THAT CASE.

Pat: OKAY.

THE HOOK ON THE END?

A SAFETY WINCH USES A SPECIAL ONE THAT HAS A SAFETY CATCH ON IT.

Scott: EVERY WINCH THAT SUPER WINCH SELLS HAS A SAFETY LATCH.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRAP, A TREE SAVER STRAP, AROUND A TREE AS YOUR ANCHOR POINT.

YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THE TWO LOOPS OF THAT IN HERE, YOU WANT THAT LATCH TO CLOSE.

Pat: AND IF IT GETS DAMAGED?

Scott: ABSOLUTELY REPLACE IT.

INSPECT ALL OF YOUR GEAR; YOUR LINE, YOUR SAFETY HOOKS, EVERYTHING EACH TIME YOU GO OUT.

Pat: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, IT SEEMS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS, BUT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS DO THE OBVIOUS... GLOVES.

Scott: YEAH, IT DOES KIND OF GO WITHOUT SAYING.

YOU'RE OUT, YOU'RE IN THE WOODS, YOU'RE WORKING WITH METAL HOOKS, YOU'RE POSSIBLY WORKING WITH METAL LINE, ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD PAIR -- MINE ARE A LITTLE BIT DIRTY -- LEATHER PALMED GLOVES FOR SAFETY'S SAKE.

ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: OKAY, SCOTT.

THANK YOU.

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

NOW LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET ALL CHARGED UP OVER A NEW SET OF CAR KEYS.

AND "CHARGED" IS THE OPERATIVE WORD FOR THE 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK EV, A PURE ELECTRIC CITY CAR THAT JOINS THE BRAND'S PLUG-IN EXTENDED RANGE VOLT.

UNVEILED FOR THE RECENT L.A. AUTO SHOW, THE SPARK EV STARTS LIFE WITH THE SAME QUIRKY FIVE-DOOR MINI CAR SHAPE AS ITS GASOLINE POWERED SIBLING, BUT SUBSTITUTES THE ORIGINAL 84-HORSEPOWER 1.2-LITER PETROL ENGINE FOR A U.S.-MADE 130 HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE WITH 20KWH LITHIUM ION BATTERY PACK.

SO, THIS SPARK BETTER LIVES UP TO ITS NAME WITH SOME 400 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND A 0 TO 60 TIME OF UNDER 8 SECONDS, OR NEARLY THREE AND A HALF SECONDS FASTER THAN THE GAS POWERED MODEL.

MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR EV BUYERS, THE SPARK IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A DRIVING RANGE THAT BESTS OTHER VOLUME EVs LIKE THE NISSAN LEAF AND FORD FOCUS EV.

TO US THAT MEANS A MAXIMUM DRIVING RANGE OF WELL OVER 100 MILES, AND 75 OR BETTER IN REAL WORLD USE.

THE SPARK EV IS ALSO THE FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLE HERE TO OFFER DC FAST CHARGE CAPABILITY, WHICH CAN DELIVER AN 80% CHARGE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

USING 240 VOLTS, CHARGING TAKES ABOUT SEVEN HOURS, AND AT LEAST TWICE THAT LONG AT 120 VOLTS.

THE BATTERY FITS BEHIND THE REAR SEAT AND UNDER THE CARGO BAY, GIVING THIS EV A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY AND THUS MORE TIED DOWN HANDLING THAN THE GAS POWERED SPARK.

STILL, THE SPARK EV RETAINS ITS FOUR PERSON STATUS AND SPLIT FOLDING SEATS PROVIDE DECENT VERSATILITY FOR THIS MINI-CITY RUNABOUT.

SPARK EV SALES WILL BEGIN HERE NEXT SUMMER WITH THE FIRST NORTH AMERICAN MARKETS TO BE CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND CANADA.

BASE PRICE IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $25,000 AFTER FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES.

AND WE'LL "SWITCH ON" WITH MORE NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS SOON.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS NEXT WITH A MOTORNEWS UPDATE.

SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST.

Yolanda: THINGS LOOK A LITTLE BLUE FOR THE BLUE OVAL, AS FORD ANNOUNCED A FOURTH RECALL ON THEIR REDESIGNED ESCAPE, CITING POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS.

AS MUCH AS THE ECOBOOST ENGINE TECHNOLOGY IS PRAISED FOR ITS FUEL EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE, IT AND THE 2013 ESCAPE ARE SEEING THEIR SHARE OF WOES.

THIS TIME AROUND, FORD HAS ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR ALL 2013 FORD ESCAPES AND FUSIONS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1.6 LITER ECOBOOST ENGINE PROMPTED BY REPORTS OF OVERHEATING AND RISK OF FIRE.

THIS, AFTER THREE PREVIOUS ESCAPE RECALLS; TWO LINKED TO THE SAME ECOBOOST ENGINE.

FORD ESTIMATES AROUND 73,000 ESCAPES AND ALMOST 16,000 FUSIONS ARE AT RISK, AND URGES OWNERS TO STOP DRIVING THEM AND CONTACT THEIR DEALER FOR A LOANER CAR.

MORE DETAILS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND PROPER CONTACT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON FORD'S WEBSITE.

THE CHEVROLET VOLT IS NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY, HAVING SUFFERED ITS OWN FIRE SCARE LATE LAST YEAR.

BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED FANS OF THE CONTROVERSIAL PLUG-IN FROM SINGING ITS PRAISES.

FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THE PLUG-IN CHEVROLET VOLT WAS TOPS IN CONSUMER REPORT'S ANNUAL OWNER SATISFACTION SURVEY.

MORE RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY WOULD "DEFINITELY" BUY A VOLT AGAIN THAN ANY OTHER CAR.

THE COMBINATION OF EFFICIENCY AND EASE OF DAILY USE SCORES HIGH WITH CURRENT OWNERS, WHO ARE FINDING THE VOLT DELIVERS ALL, IF NOT MORE, OF WHAT IT PROMISES.

AND GIVEN THE VOLT'S CURRENT LOW LEASE RATES, USING FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES, IT IS LIKELY THAT VALUE HAS BECOME A MOTIVATOR FOR PROSPECTIVE BUYERS OF THIS EXTENDED RANGE ELECTRIC CAR AS WELL.

WHATEVER THEIR REASONS, OWNERS OF THE CHEVROLET VOLT HAVE GENERATED QUITE A BUZZ FOR THEIR BELOVED ELECTRIC CRUISERS.

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

John: OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, SOME NINE MILLION HONDA ACCORDS HAVE BEEN BUILT HERE.

AS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, IT DEFINED THE MID-SIZE CAR SEGMENT.

THROUGH 8-GENERATIONS OF SEDANS, COUPES, AND EVEN WAGONS, THE ACCORD HAS GROWN UP RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE AMERICAN FAMILY.

BUT THE 9TH GENERATION ACCORD GREETS AN ALTERED AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE, NOW FILLED WITH CHALLENGERS FROM BOTH IMPORT AND DOMESTIC BRANDS.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE 2013 ACCORD CAN REMAIN A FAMILY FAVORITE.

STAYING ON TOP IS NEVER EASY, AND THAT'S NOT ABOUT TO CHANGE AS 2013 MARKS NOT ONLY A NEW HONDA ACCORD, BUT ALL NEW MID-SIZERS FROM MANY OF ITS RIVALS AS WELL; INCLUDING FORD FUSION, NISSAN ALTIMA, AND CHEVROLET MALIBU.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE TOYOTA CAMRY, NEW THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

BUT THE ACCORD SEDAN AND COUPE HAVE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM A GAME.

THEIR STRATEGY IS SIMPLE; GIVE BUYERS MORE OF WHAT THEY WANT IN AN ATTRACTIVE LOOKING PACKAGE WITH A LITTLE UNEXPECTED SURPRISE THROWN IN FOR BONUS POINTS.

THEY DO MARCH ON THE PLAYING FIELD LOOKING LEANER AND MEANER.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FRONTLINE ACCORD SEDAN IS ACTUALLY SMALLER OUTSIDE THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, WITH OVERALL LENGTH 3.6-INCHES SHORTER THAN BEFORE.

WHILE NOT FLASHY BY ANY MEANS, THE NEW LOOK IS MORE DYNAMIC, ESPECIALLY UP FRONT WHERE LARGER GRILLE AND LOWER AIR INLETS GIVE A MORE BRAWNY LOOK.

THERE'S A BIT LESS DEPARTURE DOWN THE FOUR-DOOR SIDES WHERE FAMILIAR-LOOKING BODY LINES CUT ACROSS THE TOP AND BOTTOM.

WITH THE SEDAN'S SMALLER EXTERIOR, TOTAL PASSENGER VOLUME IS DOWN A BIT, BUT THE SPACE HAS BEEN "FENG SHUIED" TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT MORE INVITING.

HEADROOM AND HIP ROOM HAVE DECREASED A LITTLE, BUT SHOULDER ROOM IS UP AND LEGROOM REMAINS THE SAME IN FRONT.

WHILE IN THE BACK SEAT, LEGROOM IS UP OVER AN INCH; AND THAT'S WITH A LARGER TRUNK, NOW HOLDING 15.8 CUBIC-FEET OF LUGGAGE.

SO AS NOT TO REPEAT THE CIVIC'S DISAPPOINTING LACK OF CONNECTIVITY, THE ACCORD DEBUTS A NEW HONDALINK SYSTEM THAT WILL ENABLE OWNERS TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEIR CAR, AND OTHERS, WITH AN EVER-EXPANDING SUITE OF SMART PHONE APPS.

HIGH IN THE CENTER OF A VASTLY IMPROVED DASH LAYOUT IS A LARGE I-MID 8-INCH DISPLAY.

NAV MODELS ADD A SEPARATE AUDIO TOUCHSCREEN TO REDUCE BUTTON CLUTTER.

DUAL AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROLS AND REAR-VIEW CAMERA ARE NOW STANDARD ON ACCORD.

POWERTRAINS FEATURE HONDA'S NEW "EARTH DREAMS" TECHNOLOGY WHICH INCLUDES AN ALL-NEW DIRECT-INJECTION 2.4-LITER I4 WITH CVT AS STANDARD IN THE HIGH VOLUME LX.

IT RATES 185 HORSEPOWER AND 181 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ALSO AVAILABLE IS A HEAVILY REVISED 3.5-LITER V6 WITH VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT THAT NOW BRINGS 278-HORSEPOWER AND 252 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO ITS 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS AVAILABLE IN THE ACCORD COUPE.

AS TO THE TWO-DOOR ACCORD, IT BORROWS MUCH FROM THE CONCEPT SHOWN IN JANUARY AT DETROIT, TAKING THE SEDAN'S SPORTY STYLE UP A SHARP NOTCH.

THE FRONT END HAS A UNIQUE FASCIA WITH EVEN LARGER AIR OPENINGS, AND FAKE BRAKE COOLING "DUCTS" FOR FOG LAMPS.

SIDE AND REAR SHEET METAL SHAPES ARE ALSO UNIQUE AND THE V6 COMES WITH A DECK-LID SPOILER.

WHETHER COUPE OR SEDAN, BOTH CARS HAVE THAT SMOOTH, SOLID, AND QUIET ON THE ROAD FEEL THAT MILLIONS OF ACCORD OWNERS HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE.

VISIBILITY IS IMPROVED, AND A NEW CAMERA-BASED LANEWATCH OPTION ELIMINATES BLIND SPOTS IN RIGHT TURNS.

AND NOW FOR THE UNEXPECTED BONUS... COMING LATER NEXT YEAR, A HYBRID WILL RETURN TO THE ACCORD LINEUP, AND NOW IT'S OF THE PLUG-IN VARIETY.

THE PHEV WILL GET ITS OWN UNIQUE STYLING THAT WILL CERTAINLY SET IT APART FROM OTHER ACCORDS, WITH A DOWNRIGHT BOLD GRILLE, LED HEADLIGHTS AND AERODYNAMIC BOOSTERS, LIKE WHEEL COVERS, UNDERBODY PANELS, AND A REAR SPOILER.

THE POWERTRAIN IS A 137-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER ATKINSON CYCLE I4 WITH A TWO-ELECTRIC MOTOR CVT HYBRID SYSTEM AND 6.7KWH TRUNK-MOUNTED BATTERY PACK.

TOTAL OUTPUT IS 196-HORSEPOWER AND 226 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ELECTRIC-ONLY RANGE WILL BE 10 TO 15 MILES.

THE PHEV'S INTERIOR ADDS A SPECIAL GAUGE CLUSTER WITH HYBRID SYSTEM READOUTS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR ALL ACCORD MODELS GO UP A BIT; 26-CITY, 35-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED FOR THE CVT 4-CYLINDER, AND 21-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED FOR THE V6 WITH AUTOMATIC.

EXPECT THE PLUG-IN HYBRID TO ACHIEVE OVER 100 MILES-PER- GALLON EQUIVALENT IN EV MODE.

COMPETITION HAS ALSO KEPT A LID ON PRICES, ALSO RISING SLIGHTLY TO $22,470 FOR THE BASE LX SEDAN, AND CLIMBING TO $34,220 FOR THE V6 TOURING TRIM.

HONDA ACCORD BUYERS ARE OBVIOUSLY A LOYAL BUNCH.

WHEN IT COMES TIME TO BUY A NEW ACCORD, THEY LIKE ONE THAT IS IMPROVED, BUT STILL HAS LOTS OF FAMILIARITY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE ROSTER OF THE 2013 HONDA ACCORD LINEUP DELIVERS.

TIME WILL TELL IF THERE IS ENOUGH CHANGE TO BLOCK THE COMPETITION.

STILL, WE THINK THE NEW ACCORD WILL HOLD ITS FIELD POSITION, AND CONTINUE TO BE A TOP DRAFT PICK IN THE MID-SIZE GAME FOR YEARS TO COME.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ...

WHEN WE'LL SCORE A MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDAN SHOOTOUT, TO SEE WHICH ONE IS SUBURBIA'S TOP DOG.

THEN WE'LL DROP THE TOP ON PORSCHE'S BOXSTER S. PAT GOSS LOGS IN TO HELP US FIND PARTS IN CYBERSPACE.

OUR FRIENDS FROM RETRO MOTO DO A LITTLE CLASSIC CRUISIN'.

THAT, PLUS MOTOR NEWS, AND MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVES.

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.