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

JOIN US AS WE DOUBLE UP ON BENTLEY'S LATEST CONTINENTAL, THE GT V8 S... PAT GOSS PUTS CLASSIC CARS IN THE SPOTLIGHT DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... AUTO WORLD SHOWS US HOW TODAY'S BIGGEST FLEETS ARE CLEANING UP... AND WE'LL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE BMW M235I.

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 BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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.

DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

THE BRITS MAY DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL SOCCER, FOOTBALL, BUT THEY SURE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING SPORTING UPPER-CRUST RIDES.

THAT KNOW-HOW IS BEST EXPERIENCED IN THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT, THE BRAND'S SEXY SUPERSTAR.

BUT THAT NASTY STREAK OF PERFORMANCE THAT LONG HAS BEEN LURKING BENEATH ITS SENSUOUS SHEET METAL IS NOW EVEN WIDER.

WHEN BENTLEY BROADENED THE CONTINENTAL GT LINEUP WITH A V8 MODEL LAST YEAR, THE REASONS WERE SIMPLE...

DOWNSIZING FROM A W12 TO AN 8 MEANS BETTER FUEL ECONOMY, AND LESS TAX IN CERTAIN IMPORTANT MARKETS LIKE CHINA.

AN ADDED NO-COST BENEFIT WAS LESS WEIGHT OVER THE FRONT END THAT GIVES THE GT V8 A MORE NIMBLE NATURE.

THE 2014 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT V8 S LOOKS TO BUILD ON THAT BY ADDING A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE BACK INTO THE MIX.

FOR STARTERS, THE 4.0-LITER V8 GETS A BOOST -- OR THAT IS, MORE BOOST OUT OF ITS TWIN TURBOCHARGERS.

OUTPUT INCREASES 21-HORSEPOWER TO 521, TORQUE SPINS UP 15 POUND-FEET TO 502.

THE ATTACHED ZF CLOSE RATIO 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SPORT MODE AND STEERING COLUMN-MOUNTED SHIFTERS NEEDED NO UPGRADES AS IT ALREADY HANDLES MUCH MORE POWER FROM THE W12.

FROM THERE, THE RIDE CONTROLLING HARDWARE ALSO GETS A "TENDING TO" FOR A LOWER RIDE HEIGHT AND EVEN GREATER AGILITY.

BRAKE SIZE STAYS THE SAME, BUT CALIPERS ARE NOW DRESSED UP WITH RED PAINT.

NOW, A FEW MORE HORSEPOWER AND SOME SUSPENSION TWEAKS DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE FOR DRASTIC CHANGES IN PERFORMANCE.

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO BE SURE... WITH THE GT'S REAR BIASED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, THERE'S PLENTY OF HOOK UP AND GO AT LAUNCH.

POWER IS SMOOTH AND PLENTIFUL, BUT THERE WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH EXTRA THRUST TO BETTER THE STANDARD GT V8 0 TO 60 TIME OF 4.2-SECONDS.

STILL, THAT'S ONLY TWO-TENTHS SLOWER THAN THE LAST CONTINENTAL W12 WE TESTED.

THE POWER NEVER SEEMS TO LET UP AS YOU SMOOTH SHIFT YOUR WAY DOWN THE TRACK, CLEARING THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.4-SECONDS AND 112 MILES-PER-HOUR.

BRAKING POWER IS JUST AS IMPRESSIVE, BRINGING A HASTY HALT TO THINGS IN ONLY 118 FEET FROM 60.

WHILE PILOTING SOME LUXURY LINERS THROUGH A SLALOM COURSE DOES RESEMBLE STEERING A CRUISE SHIP FROM A RECLINER, THIS 5,000 POUND GT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CAPABLE CARVER.

AND WHILE YOU STILL FEEL ALL OF THE HEFT, THE V8 S' SPRING RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO KEEP THE TRANSFER IN CHECK A BIT MORE, BUSHINGS STIFFENED TO QUICKEN TURN-INS, AND DAMPING REVISED TO TAKE OUT MORE OF THE FLOAT.

STEERING FEEL IS STILL PRETTY DEAD, BUT THE CHASSIS SEEMS TO SHED WEIGHT AS YOU GO, RESPONDING BETTER THE MORE YOU PUSH.

WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AN UPDATED VERSION OF ANYTHING, YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, OF COURSE, AND SPECIFIC UPGRADES TO THE V8 S INCLUDE A BLACK GLOSS TREATMENT TO THE GRILLES AND A FRONT SPLITTER LOW IN THE FASCIA.

SIDE SILLS GET DISCREETLY EXTENDED BETWEEN THE STANDARD 20-INCH OR UPGRADED 21-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, AND THERE'S A TASTEFUL V8 S FENDER BADGE.

ASTERN, THE DIFFUSER ALSO GETS A GLOSSY FINISH, NICELY INTEGRATING THE FIGURE 8-SHAPED EXHAUST TIPS.

LEATHER WRAPPED AND COMFORTABLY NUMB IS HOW YOU FEEL INSIDE THE CABIN; AND AS ALWAYS, THE SKY IS TRULY THE LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIALS AND COLOR CHOICES.

KEEP THEM TASTEFUL, PLEASE!

THE TRADITIONAL TOUCHES LIKE KNURLED METAL, GLOSSY FINISHES, AND ORGAN STOPS ARE ALL STILL TERRIFIC; AND MOST INTERIOR CONTROLS HAVE A GERMAN FEEL AND PRECISION.

AND IF OPEN AIR MOTORING IS MORE TO YOUR LIKING, JUST AS IN OTHER BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT OFFERINGS; YOU CAN GET A CONVERTIBLE AS WELL.

THE APPEARANCE WITH THE TOP UP IS NOT QUITE AS CLASSY OR DYNAMIC, BUT THOSE SHORTCOMINGS ARE SHORT-LIVED AS YOU LOWER THE TOP INTO THE BOOT, HIT THE ROAD, AND ENJOY SOME WARM SPRING WEATHER, OR MAYBE EVEN SOME TRADITIONAL BRITISH GLOOM.

RIDE QUALITY SEEMES JUST AS GOOD IN THE CONVERTIBLE AS THE COUPE, DESPITE OUR GLACIER WHITE EXAMPLE RIDING ON LIMITED EDITION 21-INCH BLACK 7-SPOKE ALLOYS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS COME IN THE SAME AS THE STANDARD GT V8, AT 15-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 17.8 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM IN MIXED DRIVING.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT THIS MUCH LUXURY AND FUN COMES AT A PRICE, $199,225 FOR THE COUPE AND $219,925 FOR THE CONVERTIBLE.

WITH OPTIONS, THIS PAIR WAS PUSHING A COOL HALF MIL.

BUT WHO'S COUNTING?

THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE BIG BUCK SPORTING COUPES, AND THIS 2014 GT V8 S ONLY REAFFIRMS WHY WE LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

BUT THERE MAY BE TROUBLED WATERS ON THE HORIZON, WITH ROLLS-ROYCE OFFERING MORE TECHNOLOGY FEATURES AND WOW FACTOR WITH THEIR WRAITH COUPE, AND A "SMASHING" S-CLASS COUPE COMING FROM MERCEDES-BENZ, THIS CONTINENTAL GT'S TIME AS LEAD VEHICLE MIGHT BE RUNNING OUT.

MORE AMERICANS THAN EVER ARE DRIVING HYBRID, ELECTRIC, AND ALTERNATIVE-FUEL VEHICLES, AND IT'S REDUCING OUR USE OF IMPORTED PETROLEUM.

BUT NOW A NUMBER OF BIG COMMERCIAL FLEETS ARE ALSO GETTING INTO THE ACT; QUIETLY LEADING THE DRIVE FOR GREEN ON A GRAND SCALE.

WITH MILLIONS OF VEHICLES HITTING THE STREETS EVERYDAY - MAKING ROUTINE DELIVERIES, SERVICE CALLS, AND BUSINESS TRIPS -- AMERICA'S LARGE FLEET OPERATORS ARE IN A PRIME POSITION TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND EFFECT A CLEAN CHANGE IN OUR ENERGY CHOICES.

AND MANY ARE DOING JUST THAT, BY JOINING FORCES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL CLEAN FLEETS PARTNERSHIP.

LEVERAGING THE RESOURCES OF CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THIS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PRIVATE FLEETS TO CUT THEIR PETROLEUM USE BY ADOPTING ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND FUEL-SAVING MEASURES, SHARES BEST PRACTICES AND OPERATING TIPS AMONG FLEET MANAGERS, AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

WELL-KNOWN NATIONAL OPERATORS LIKE UPS, COCA-COLA, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT HAVE LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CLEAN FLEET PRACTICES.

SINCE 2007, COCA-COLA HAS BUILT THE LARGEST HEAVY-DUTY, DIESEL-ELECTRIC HYBRID FLEET IN NORTH AMERICA.

ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES MAKE UP NEARLY 10% OF THEIR HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK FLEET, AND THEY PLAN ON DOUBLING THAT NUMBER OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

BUT SMALLER FLEETS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT, TOO.

SCHWAN'S 4,500 HOME-DELIVERY TRUCKS ARE A FAMILIAR SIGHT IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY ARE AS WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR ICE CREAM AS FOR THEIR USE OF PROPANE FUEL, A PRACTICE THEY BEGAN IN THE 1970s.

THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR HAS CUT THE PETROLEUM USE IN ITS 3,200 VEHICLE FLEET BY MORE THAN 20% SINCE 2009.

THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS BY USING MORE EFFICIENT ROUTE PLANNING, DOWN-SIZING TO SMALLER, MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLES WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND BY EXPANDING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS TO POWER ITS SERVICE VANS, PICKUPS AND SHOP VEHICLES.

Tom Armstrong: IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ANALYZE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL AND ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES OUT THERE.

THEREFORE WE CREATED WHAT WE CALL THE "FIVE C'S" OF ANALYZING ALTERNATIVE FUELS: IS IT CLEAN?

DOES IT CONSERVE?

IS IT COST-EFFECTIVE?

DOES IT MAKE COMMON SENSE?

AND CAN YOU ACTUALLY COMMIT?

John: THYSSENKRUPP'S ANALYSIS LED THEM TO CHOOSE PROPANE.

IN ADDITION TO A MUCH LOWER FUEL COST THAN GASOLINE OR DIESEL, THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL PROPANE FUELING STATIONS IN CITIES WHERE THEY OPERATE WAS CRITICAL, AS MOST OF THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS DRIVE THE VANS HOME AT NIGHT AND CAN'T ALWAYS RELY ON A CENTRAL COMPANY-OWNED FUEL POINT.

RYDER HAS ADDED A VARIETY OF NATURAL GAS VEHICLES TO ITS FLEET IN SEVERAL KEY CITIES, SO COMMERCIAL LEASE AND RENTAL CUSTOMERS CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN ALTERNATIVE FUELS, AND IN EFFECT TEST DRIVE THEM UNDER ACTUAL WORK CONDITIONS.

IN ADDITION TO INSTALLING ITS OWN NATURAL GAS REFUELING EQUIPMENT, RYDER IS INVESTING IN THE CLEAN FUTURE OF ITS OPERATING COMMUNITIES BY ADDING PUBLIC-ACCESS FUEL PUMPS AT ALL OF ITS CNG-EQUIPPED FACILITIES.

ENTERPRISE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY, USES ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT ITS SHUTTLE BUS FLEET AND NOW OFFERS ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR RENT IN NINE MAJOR METRO AREAS ACROSS THE U.S.

THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION FOR BRINGING ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES INTO THE MAINSTREAM.

EACH OF THESE COMPANIES CHOSE THE CLEAN FUEL THAT BEST FITS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.

BUT BY CHOOSING TO MAKE A CLEAN FUEL COMMITMENT FOR THEMSELVES, THESE GREEN FLEETS ARE SERVING AS A PACE-SETTER FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW, AND ARE PROVIDING LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP US ALL BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A CLASSIC CAR, YOU MAY HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHAT IT'S WORTH.

WELL, LEAVE IT TO OUR PAT GOSS TO COME TO THE RESCUE WITH ADVICE FROM A PRO.

Pat: WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLECTIBLE AND CUSTOM CARS AND THE LIKE.

AND ONE OF THE MORE COMMON QUESTIONS WE GET IS "HOW DO I GO ABOUT PRICING IT EITHER TO BUY IT OR TO SELL IT?"

SO, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE'VE COME HERE TO ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND TO FLEMING'S ULTIMATE GARAGE, TO TALK TO TONY FLEMING.

Tony: HOW ARE YOU DOING, PAT?

Pat: TONY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT PRICING THESE CARS?

Tony: YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING THING.

IT'S REALLY THE DISPARITY THAT DETERMINES WHAT SOMEBODY CAN BUY AND WHAT THEY CAN'T BUY.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE YOU COULD USE THE NADA BOOK.

THE NADA BOOK IS THE YELLOW BOOK THAT YOU'D SEE AT THE BANK.

THEY HAVE A CLASSIC CAR SECTION AND AN EXOTIC CAR SECTION THAT COULD HELP YOU DETERMINE SOME THINGS.

BUT REALLY WHAT COUNTS INTO IT IS PRODUCTION FIGURES, AND COLOR, AND LEVEL OF RESTORATION.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE ENDED UP HERE AT THIS IMPALA.

THIS IS AN IMPALA SS 409 WITH THE DUAL QUAD 4 BARRELS, A 4 SPEED, A CONVERTIBLE TOP.

SO LET'S SAY THEY BUILT 250,000 REGULAR IMPALAS THAT YEAR; OF THIS RIGHT HERE, THERE MIGHT HAVE ONLY BEEN BUILT MAYBE A HALF OF A PERCENT BECAUSE THIS WAS PROBABLY -- BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE ADDING ALL OF THESE FEATURES TO, SAY, A FOUR DOOR IMPALA, IT WAS PROBABLY TWICE THE PRICE.

Pat: RIGHT.

Tony: RIGHT?

SO THERE'S VERY FEW OF THESE LEFT.

SO THESE ARE THE MORE DESIRABLE CARS, AND A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE FACTORS THERE.

Pat: SO RARITY IS ONE OF BIG THINGS.

Tony: FOR SURE.

Pat: BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON ISN'T GOING TO KNOW ALL OF THIS STUFF.

SO WHAT ABOUT CALLING IN AN EXPERT AND HAVING THE CAR APPRAISED?

Tony: YOU KNOW, THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD IDEA.

SO, IN OUR CASE HERE, WE OFFER THINGS LIKE -- WHEN YOU COME IN, OR ONLINE, WE OFFER THE MARKET VALUE OF EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT'S HERE.

WE ALSO MAKE THEM KIND OF TURNKEY.

THEY'RE READY TO GO TODAY.

WE OFFER FREE ENCLOSED SHIPPING SO THAT SOMEBODY FAR AWAY FROM HERE CAN GET THE CAR BACK, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHO BUY ONE OF THESE LONG DISTANCE HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW TO GET IT BACK HOME.

AND 75% OF EVERYBODY WHO GETS SOMETHING FROM US HERE, THEY NEVER COME HERE.

SO IT'S KIND OF COOL.

BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE REALLY JUST ENTHUSIASTS, WE HAPPEN TO ENJOY THESE CARS.

WE ACTUALLY BUY THEM JUST TO DRIVE THEM.

PEOPLE GET IN THE WAY SOMETIMES AND BUY THEM FROM US AND TAKE THEM AWAY.

BUT THAT'S OKAY, WE DON'T MIND.

IT'S A GREAT OFFICE VIEW.

Pat: TONY, THANK YOU.

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

WE'RE FRESH OFF MORE QUICK SPINS OF TODAY'S LATEST AND GREATEST.

SO LET'S SEE HOW THEY WENT.

ALL-NEW LAMBORGHINIS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN COMING AT US A LOT QUICKER, SORT OF LIKE THE WINDS OF A HURRICANE.

WITH THE LATEST TO "BLOW" IN, PAYING HOMAGE TO THE MAYAN STORM GOD, THE 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4.

CONSISTENT WITH THE BRAND, NAMED AFTER A SPANISH FIGHTING BULL, ONE THAT PLIED ITS MATADOR BATTLING TRADE IN THE 1870s, THE HURACAN WILL REPLACE THE GALLARDO AS THE ENTRY-LEVEL BEAST IN THE LAMBORGHINI STABLE.

NAME ASIDE, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO DO WITH TRADITION HERE; A FULLY MODERN DESIGN MEANS BETTER ELECTRONICS, LESS WEIGHT, MORE FUEL EFFICIENCY, AND EVEN START/STOP TECHNOLOGY.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS A LAMBORGHINI.

DOES ANYONE REALLY CARE ABOUT ANY OF THAT?

THIS CAR SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT LOOKING GORGEOUS, AND DRIVING EVEN MORE BEAUTIFULLY.

AND AFTER JUST RETURNING FROM SOUTHERN SPAIN, WHERE WE GOT SOME EXCLUSIVE SEAT TIME BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK, THIS LAMBORGHINI DOES INDEED DO JUST THAT.

STILL V10-POWERED, NOW WITH 610-HORSEPOWER, THE HURACAN BOASTS A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 3.2-SECONDS AND A RAFT OF NEW ELECTRONICS FOR THE ALUMINUM SUSPENSION ATTACHED TO ITS HYBRID CARBON FIBER AND ALUMINUM CHASSIS.

Brian Robinson: OF COURSE, NONE OF THAT MEANS ANYTHING IF IT DOESN'T PERFORM, AND REST ASSURED, THIS LAMBO DESERVES A SPOT IN THE SUPERCAR ELITE.

IT'S GOT A SUPER NAILED-DOWN FEEL, TURN-IN IS QUICK, FEEDBACK IS TELEPATHIC, AND, OF COURSE, TONS OF GRIP.

John: 20-INCH WHEELS WEAR MEATY 305-SERIES TIRES IN THE REAR AND HIDE STANDARD CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES.

PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS THE STRIDES LAMBORGHINI HAS TAKEN TO MAKE THE INTERIOR A COMFORTABLE, FULLY MODERN PLACE THAT A WEALTHY ENTHUSIAST WILL ENJOY SPENDING SOME QUALITY TIME.

THE LOOK IS A THOROUGHLY CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON LAMBORGHINI'S MUSCULAR WEDGE DESIGN.

ALL LIGHTING IS LED WITH A Y-SHAPE THEME.

REPLACING THE GALLARDO, THE BEST-SELLING LAMBO EVER, WILL NOT BE EASY, BUT THE 2015 HURACAN LOOKS TO HAVE THE GODS BEHIND IT.

EXPECT PRICING TO START AROUND $240,000.

NOW, IT'S NOT OFTEN YOU GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: USUALLY YOU TRADE PERFORMANCE FOR PRACTICALITY; CHIC, DARING DESIGN FOR MASS-APPEAL STYLE.

BUT AFTER OUR QUICK SPIN IN THE 2014 AUDI SQ5, WE FOUND A PLEASANT BALANCE OF HIGH SPEED THRILLS, ROOM FOR THE FAMILY, AND TASTEFUL LOOKS; A BLEND FEW OTHER VEHICLES CAN MATCH.

THE FIRST AUDI "Q" MODEL TO GET THE FULL-ON "S" TREATMENT, THIS CROSSOVER PACKS A 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6 UNDER THE HOOD, GROWLING OUT 354 HORSEPOWER, AND AFTER A TRIP TO OUR TEST TRACK, WE LAUNCHED TO 60 IN JUST 4.8 SECONDS, WITH QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE LAYING DOWN SOME SERIOUS GRIP OFF THE LINE.

ON THE STREET, WE FOUND BACK ROADS AND HIGHWAY CRUISING JUST AS ENTERTAINING, WITH PLENTY OF BOOST AVAILABLE... GIVE IT SOME GAS, LET THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC DROP A FEW GEARS DOWN, AND THE POWER JUST POURS ON.

JUST MIND YOUR SPEED, AS YOU CAN BE NEARING TRIPLE DIGITS WITHOUT EVEN TRYING.

THE SQ5 FEELS LIGHT, AGILE, AND SHIFTY, YET NEARLY ERASES ROAD IMPERFECTIONS AND VIBRATIONS AT SPEED.

IT KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT YOU DON'T.

LIKE ALL AUDI "S" MODELS, THERE ARE ADDED BONUSES, LIKE A 3 SPOKE, FLAT-BOTTOMED STEERING WHEEL, "SQ5" EMBOSSED SEATS, AND A SPECIAL TRIM PACKAGE DESIGN THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR.

OUR TESTER HAD OPTIONAL 21-INCH WHEELS AND BIGGER 15-INCH BRAKE DISCS UP FRONT.

AROUND BACK: "S" SPECIFIC QUAD EXHAUST TIPS AND A ROOFLINE SPOILER.

TO LIVE WITH, THE SQ5 DOES ACCOMMODATE, OFFERING 57.3 CUBIC FEET OF TOTAL STORAGE CAPACITY, AND SEATING FOR UP TO 5.

AND DESPITE VERY SPIRITED DRIVING, WE ACTUALLY MANAGED OVER 22.0 MILES PER GALLON ECONOMY.

MANY RUN-OF-THE-MILL CROSSOVERS CAN DO NO BETTER.

BUT PRICING, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT ORDINARY -- THE SQ5 STICKERS FOR AROUND $53,000, WITH OUR TESTER TOPPING $64,000.

THE ONE SAVING GRACE IS, YOU DO GET QUITE A PACKAGE FOR THE MONEY.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

WHILE LARGE BMWs UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE A LOT TO OFFER, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE SMALL ONES THAT WE'VE LIKE BEST.

WELL, ONE OF OUR FAVORITES, THE 1 SERIES COUPE, IS NO MORE.

BUT TAKE HEART, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GONE -- IT'S JUST WEARING A NEW NAME, AND WITH IT, A WHOLE NEW ATTITUDE!

BY NOW YOU SHOULD BE UP TO SPEED ON BMW'S NAMING STRATEGY OF EVEN NUMBER SERIES FOR COUPES AND ODDS FOR SEDANS.

WELL, THE LATEST TO FALL IN LINE IS THE 2014 BMW 2 SERIES, OF WHICH THIS M235I IS THE CURRENT TOP RUNG.

BUT DON'T LET THE "M" NAME FOOL YOU, IT'S NOT A FULL ON M CAR, BUT AN M "PERFORMANCE" MODEL.

SORT OF A TWEENER IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN GARDEN-VARIETY BIMMERS AND FULL ON M MONSTERS.

BASICALLY, MORE PERFORMANCE, WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE IN COMFORT.

IT MAKES FOR A FUN FACTOR THAT'S HARD TO TOP IN VALUE.

WHILE THE 2 REPLACES THE 1 SERIES COUPE IN THE LINEUP, IT'S MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE.

THE 2 HAS GOTTEN BIGGER, THOUGH THANKFULLY NOT BY TOO MUCH.

EVERY DIMENSION IS INCREASED; WITH OVERALL LENGTH UP MOST; 2.8-INCHES TO 174.5.

TO FURTHER DISTINGUISH ITSELF, STYLING IS A BIT MORE DRAMATIC, THOUGH STILL FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE; WITH JUST ENOUGH TEUTONIC COOL TO ATTRACT MORE IRONIC HIPSTERS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

POWER IN OUR M235I IS FROM A FAMILIAR 3.0-LITER BMW TURBO I6.

WE'VE LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY BMWs WE'VE DRIVEN WITH THIS ENGINE AND WE STILL LOVE IT.

IT HAS GOTTEN SOME M PERFORMANCE SPECIFIC TWEAKS HERE THAT RAISE HORSEPOWER TO 320 AND TORQUE TO 330 POUND-FEET.

THE BASE 228I COMES WITH A STILL COMPETENT 240-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO-4.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS, AS IN OUR TEST CAR, IS STANDARD; AND WE FOUND NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AS SHIFTS ARE QUICK IN AUTO MODE AND RESPONSE VERY GOOD WHEN IN MANUAL MODE.

YOU CAN STILL OPT FOR A 6-SPEED MANUAL, AS WELL.

BUT ENOUGH SITTING STILL.

IT'S OFF TO OUR TEST TRACK WHERE THE M235I PROMPTLY MOVED OFF THE LINE WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF POWER, LAUNCHING TO 60 IN AN ENTERTAINING 5.2-SECONDS.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE DROP OFF IN POWER AS THE TRANS QUICKLY WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH THE GEARS AND TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.0-SECONDS AT 102 MILES-PER-HOUR.

A MOSTLY ALUMINUM STRUCTURE FOR A TYPICAL BMW 50/50 WEIGHT BALANCE ALLOWS YOU TO PUSH THROUGH THE CORNERS WITH MINIMAL LOSS OF SPEED, AND GREAT GRIP, AS WELL.

SUSPENSION DESIGN IS A DOUBLE-PIVOT SPRING STRUT ARRANGEMENT UP FRONT AND A 5-LINK IN THE REAR.

ADAPTIVE M SUSPENSION AND ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE STANDARD ON THE M235I, WITH AN OPTIONAL MECHANICAL LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

STEERING FEELS GREAT BOTH AT THE WHEEL AND THROUGH THE CHASSIS.

THE M235I HAS THE MOST STEERING FEEDBACK OF ANY BMW WE'VE DRIVEN IN A LONG TIME.

BRAKES, HOWEVER, NOT SO MUCH.

FEEDBACK HERE IS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH A SOFTISH PEDAL.

STILL, STOPS WERE QUICK; 115 FEET FROM 60 WITH EXCELLENT STABILITY.

INSIDE WE FOUND A VERY FAMILIAR BMW LAYOUT WITH HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS AND WELL DONE CONTROLS THROUGHOUT THE DRIVER-FOCUSED SPACE.

YES, THAT COMMENT EVEN INCLUDES iDRIVE.

FRONT SPORT SEATS PROVIDE GOOD COMFORT AND SUPPORT WITH MODERATE BOLSTERING.

REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, MUCH LESS SO WITH MERELY A SUGGESTION OF LEGROOM.

TRUNK SPACE IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY GOOD FOR A SPORTING COUPE AT 13.8 CUBIC-FEET.

AIDED BY FOLDING SEATBACKS FOR MORE CARTAGE ROOM WHEN NEEDED.

A DRIVING EXPERIENCE CONTROL IS STANDARD WITH SETTINGS FOR COMFORT, SPORT, SPORT PLUS, AND ECO PRO.

PLAYING WITH THE DIFFERENT MODES ALTERS THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE NOTICEABLY, BUT SPORT OR SPORT PLUS IS WHERE IT'S AT FOR US.

BUT IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST BMW, YOU MIGHT FIND THE RIDE IN THOSE SETTINGS QUITE STIFF.

COMFORT MODE HELPS SOMEWHAT, OR YOU CAN JUST DO YOUR BEST TO AVOID BROKEN PAVEMENT.

NO MATTER WHICH MODE YOU'RE IN, THE EXHAUST NOTE IS GREAT, GROWLING WITHOUT BEING OBNOXIOUS.

FOR A SMALL CAR, IT HAS AN OVERALL VERY SOLID, ALMOST HEAVY FEEL.

NOT IN A BAD WAY; IT JUST FEELS MORE SUBSTANTIAL AND COMPETENT THAN LIGHT AND TOSSABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR AUTOMATIC COME IN AT 22-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A FINE 25.2 MILES-PER-GALLON IN A MILDLY EXECUTED LOOP OF DRIVING.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS 13.2-BARRELS OF OIL USED AND 5.8-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

AT THE RISK OF GOING ALL FANBOY, WE'LL SAY THAT THE M235I IS JUST ABOUT A PERFECT PACKAGE.

BUT PERFECTION NEVER COMES CHEAP WITH A BASE PRICE OF $44,025.

THE BASE, AND STILL VERY COMPETENT 228I, IS MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE AT $33,025.

THE 2014 BMW M235I IS TRULY ONE EXCELLENT CAR.

NO OTHER PREMIUM SUBCOMPACT COUPE COMES CLOSE.

IT DRIVES LIKE PASSIONATE BMW FANS THINK EVERY BMW SHOULD.

SO, IF YOU'RE IN THE POSITION TO LEAVE THE FAMILY BEHIND, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY FUN RIDE.

PROOF THAT SOMETIMES NUMBERS CAN WORK IN YOUR FAVOR.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE CHALLENGE LUXURY CAR CONVENTIONS WITH THE KIA K900.

THEN TAKE THE HIGH ROAD IN THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO HIGH COUNTRY.

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...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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.

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.