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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE THIRD GEN CADILLAC CTS IS READY TO KNOCK HEADS WITH THE WORLD'S BEST.

PAT GOSS PEAKS OUT ON PERFORMANCE WITH HOT ROD LEGEND GALE BANKS.

ZACH MASKELL GOES AROUND THE TRACK AND "VIRTUALLY" OVER THE EDGE.

AND FIND OUT IF BIGGER IS REALLY BETTER FOR THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

>> 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?

>> THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

>> UH, GO ASK YOUR MOTHER.

>> 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.

>> 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.

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DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.

DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM >> John: CADILLAC'S QUEST TO BUILD A HOME GROWN, WORLD CLASS, REAR DRIVE LUXURY PERFORMANCE SEDAN BEGAN WITH THE 2003 CTS.

IT HAD THE UNENVIABLE DUTY OF CHALLENGING BOTH COMPACT AND MID-SIZE GERMAN BENCHMARKS.

DESPITE THAT, THE CTS DID JUST THAT THROUGH TWO GENERATIONS.

NOW WITH COMPACT DUTIES HANDED OFF TO THE ABLE ATS, THE ALL-NEW 3RD GENERATION CTS IS DESIGNED TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AGAINST 5 SERIES AND E-CLASS RIVALS.

SO LET'S SEE WHO GETS THE HEADACHE.

YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2014 CADILLAC CTS SEDAN, AS IT HEADS TOWARDS YOU, IS THAT IT IS INDEED A LARGER, MORE SERIOUS LOOKING CAR.

ALL HUNKERED DOWN WITH AN OVERSIZED GRILLE, AND MOST OF THE DESIGN FACETS THAT MAKE GERMAN SEDANS SUCH HEAD TURNERS.

INDEED, OVERALL LENGTH IS UP BY 5-INCHES TO 195.5, THOUGH WHEELBASE HAS GROWN BY JUST 1.2-INCHES TO 114.6.

BOTH SPECS COMING CLOSE TO THE "5" AND "E".

THE CTS APPEARS EVEN LONGER HOWEVER, AS BOTH THE ROOFLINE AND BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD SIT ONE-INCH LOWER THAN LAST YEAR.

UP FRONT, THE HORIZONTAL GRILLE STRETCHES WIDER, BUT VERTICAL ELEMENTS LIKE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MORE EXAGGERATED AS WELL, AS BOTH THE STANDARD PROJECTOR BEAM HALOGENS AND OPTIONAL HID'S STARE YOU DOWN MENACINGLY WITH LED ACCENTS.

EVEN WITH THE LARGER STANCE, CADILLAC MAKES NO BONES ABOUT THE CTS BEING BASED ON THE COMPACT ATS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A GREAT THING AS IT MAKES FOR A VERY DYNAMIC MID-SIZER, THANKS TO NEAR 50/50 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.

AND THERE'S LESS WEIGHT TO GO AROUND THANKS TO EXTENSIVE USE OF ALUMINUM IN THE BODY STRUCTURE AND SUSPENSION.

AT JUST OVER 3,600 POUNDS, CURB WEIGHT IS NOW LOWER THAN RIVALS.

AND LIKE THE NEW CHEVROLET CORVETTE, BREMBO BRAKES ARE STANDARD.

INSIDE, MUCH LIKE THE ATS, THERE'S A EUROPEAN DRIVER-CENTRIC LAYOUT WITH GOOD ATTENTION TO DETAIL; INCLUDING REAL WOOD, CARBON FIBER, OR ALUMINUM DEPENDING ON TRIM LEVEL.

CADILLAC'S NOW-FAMILIAR CUE INTERFACE WITH 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN HIGHLIGHTS THE CENTER STACK, AND 11-SPEAKER BOSE SURROUND SOUND AUDIO IS STANDARD FITMENT.

THE OPTIONAL DRIVER AWARENESS PACKAGE FEATURES GM'S SAFETY ALERT SEAT THAT VIBRATES TO WARN OF IMMINENT COLLISION OR SOMETHING IN YOUR BLIND SPOT.

ALSO AVAILABLE IS A 12-INCH HIGH-RES CONFIGURABLE LCD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH LAYOUTS THAT GO FROM BASIC TO PERFORMANCE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONAL LUXURY FEATURES; FROM 20-WAY ADJUSTABLE HEATED AND COOLED FRONT SEATS, TO HEATED STEERING WHEEL.

REMOTE START, HOWEVER, IS STANDARD.

REAR SEAT ROOM IS AGAIN WITHIN CLASS STANDARDS, AND THERE'S A REASONABLE 13.7 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO ROOM IN THE TRUNK.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE NEW CTS DOESN'T FEEL QUITE AS NIMBLE AS THE ATS, BUT IT'S NOT FAR OFF THE MARK.

BASE SUSPENSION IS THE FAMILIAR MACPHERSON TWIN-TUBE STRUTS UP FRONT WITH A 5-LINK INDEPENDENT REAR WITH TWIN-TUBE SHOCKS.

BUT MOST CARS ALSO HAVE THE LATEST MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL ADJUSTABLE SETUP.

THE STANDARD ELECTRONIC DRIVE MODE SYSTEM HAS FOUR SETTINGS INCLUDING ONE FOR SNOW/ICE.

A TRACK CALIBRATION IS ADDED TO OUR FAVORITE NEW CTS SEDAN, THE VSPORT.

IT FITS BETWEEN THE REGULAR STRENGTH CTS SEDAN AND THE SURE TO BE COMING FULL-ON CTS-V.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 18-INCH ALLOYS WITH PERFORMANCE TIRES, UPGRADED PADS AND LARGER FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, A QUICKER STEERING RATIO, AND AN ELECTRONIC LIMITED-SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

AND, OF COURSE, THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE...AN ALL-NEW TWIN-TURBO V6 ENGINE THAT DELIVERS 420-HORSEPOWER AND 430 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO AN ALSO NEW PADDLE SHIFT 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BOTH FIRSTS FOR CADILLAC, WHO CLAIMS THE COMBO IS GOOD FOR A 0 TO 60 TIME OF JUST 4.4-SECONDS, AND FROM OUR EARLY DRIVES, WE AGREE.

THE ATS'S 272-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO I4 WITH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS THE STANDARD POWERTRAIN, AND THE PREVIOUS GEN'S 3.6-LITER V6 IS ALSO AVAILABLE, BUT IS UPGRADED, AS HORSEPOWER RISES TO 321 WITH THE NEW 8-SPEED TRANS.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH THE 2.0 AND THE 3.6 ENGINES, THOUGH YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, THE VSPORT IS REAR-DRIVE ONLY, AND UNLIKE THE ATS, NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE, AT LEAST NOT FOR NOW.

REGARDLESS OF WHICH ENGINE YOU CHOOSE, FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE WITHIN CLASS, RANGING FROM 20-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY FOR THE TURBO-4, TO 17-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY FOR THE TWIN-TURBO V6.

PRICING REFLECTS THE CTS'S NEW MID-SIZE POSITION, RISING TO $46,025 FOR STARTERS.

STILL THAT'S THOUSANDS LESS THAN THE SOMEWHAT BETTER EQUIPPED 5-SERIES AND E-CLASS.

THE DESIRABLE VSPORT STICKERS FOR $59,995.

WHILE IT WON'T HAVE THE IMPACT THAT THE FIRST CTS DID, THE 2014 CADILLAC CTS IS BETTER IN EVERY WAY.

IT'S BIGGER, YES, BUT ALSO BADDER; BEING LIGHTER, AS WELL AS MORE FOCUSED.

IT IS JUST AS COMPETITIVE AGAINST MID-SIZE LUXURY PERFORMANCE SEDAN RIVALS AS THE ATS IS AGAINST COMPACTS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THE OTHER GUYS WILL HAVE TO TAKE NOTE OF IF THEY WANT TO KNOCK HEADS WITH THE CADILLAC CTS.

WHAT CAR NUT WOULDN'T WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE R&R WITH A FEW LAPS AROUND THEIR FAVORITE RACE TRACK?

BUT TAKING THAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, SAY GETTING TOGETHER WITH YOUR BUDDIES FOR A LITTLE HEAD-TO-HEAD DRIVING COMPETITION, IS CLEARLY A MATTER OF PUTTING PASSION BEFORE COMMON SENSE.

WELL, OUR ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THAT A REALITY, SO TO SPEAK, AND IT'S COMING TO A FLAT SCREEN NEAR YOU.

>> Zach: WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT A RACING SIMULATOR THAT STARTED WITH SEVEN EMPLOYEES WOULD BECOME THE MOST POPULAR CONSOLE RACING FRANCHISE?

MAKING ITS DEBUT IN 1997, GRAN TURISMO AIMED FOR REALISM AND EXTREME ATTENTION TO DETAIL FOR THE PLAYSTATION ONE.

WHAT BETTER PLACE TO CELEBRATE THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF A VIDEO GAME THAT'S SOLD OVER 70 MILLION COPIES.

WE'RE HERE IN THE UK AT SILVERSTONE RACETRACK.

ALTHOUGH MAKING ITS FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE UPCOMING GT6 GAME, THE LEGENDARY SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT HAS HOSTED A SERIES OF GT ACADEMY RACE CAMPS.

THAT'S WHERE AVERAGE JOE'S COMPETE ONLINE FOR A SHOT AT THE REAL THING.

IN AUTO RACING TODAY, THE BEST TALENT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP.

SO, IN 2008, NISSAN DECIDED TO LET GRAN TURISMO'S ROSTER OF VIRTUAL DRIVERS COMPETE FOR A SPOT IN REAL RACE CARS.

AND GET THIS, TWO ACADEMY WINNERS DROVE THE 90TH 24-HOURS OF LE MANS RACE.

>> Darren Cox: PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WERE COMPLETELY CRAZY TO COME UP WITH THIS IDEA OR IT WAS JUST A MARKETING STUNT AND WE WEREN'T ACTUALLY GOING TO FIND ANY DRIVERS.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE PROVED THEM WRONG.

WE'RE FINDING FAST YOUNG RACECAR DRIVERS WHO'VE GONE ONTO THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE.

>> Zach: COX ANNOUNCED THE COMPETITION WILL RETURN FOR A THIRD TELEVISED SEASON IN NORTH AMERICA.

THE PREVIOUS GT ACADEMY-WINNING NISMO DRIVERS SUITED UP AND BATTLED ON SILVERSTONE USING THE SIMULATORS, THEN THEY HIT THE TRACK IN THEIR 370 Z'S TO BURN SOME REAL RUBBER.

>> Darren: WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND GT ACADEMY.

WE'VE NOW GOT EDITIONS IN RUSSIA, AMERICA, SOUTH AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AS WELL AS IN EUROPE.

WE CAN GO FURTHER WITH THIS.

THIS REALLY HAS GLOBAL POTENTIAL.

>> Zach: HUNDREDS RALLIED AT THE ANNIVERSARY.

MANY OF THEM SEEMED PLEASED TO HEAR GT6 WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THE PS3 AND EVENTUALLY PS4.

>> Kazunori Yamauchi: WHAT GT6 GAMERS AND DRIVERS CAN REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO AND WILL BE AMAZED WITH IS THE NEW PHYSICS: THE TIRES, SUSPENSIONS, AERODYNAMICS.

ALL THE THINGS THAT AFFECT THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARS HAVE BEEN REVAMPED.

>> Zach: NOW WITH OVER 150 PEOPLE WORKING ON THE GAME, YOU'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO OWN A 1,200 CAR STABLE WITH MORE BEING ADDED ONLINE.

THAT'S 200 MORE THAN THE LAST VERSION.

THERE'S 33 LOCATIONS AND 71 COURSE LAYOUTS TO CHOOSE FROM.

YOU CAN NOW PLAY ON YOUR SMART PHONE, COMPUTER OR TABLET.

THERE'S ALSO A MOVIE BEING FILMED, COVERING A REAL-LIFE GT PLAYER WHO NOW RACES PROFESSIONALLY.

WE EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE IN GT'S REAL INDOOR SIMULATOR.

FROM VIRTUAL TO REALITY, AFTER MY DRIVE IN THE DUAL-CLUTCH AUDI R8, I WENT FOR A RIDE IN A KTM CROSSBOW.

IT'S A GOOD THING THEY GAVE ME A FULL-FACE HELMET.

IT'S BUGGING ME STILL JUST HOW MUCH THE DESIGNERS OF GT ARE ABLE TO DIAL IN THE ACTUAL FEEL OF EACH SPECIFIC CAR.

>> Kazunori: RECENTLY, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT MAKING GT IS FUN.

IT REALLY IS.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO IT, IT'S NEVER A BAD THING.

>> Zach: BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR YAMAUCHI, HE LEFT THE UK FOR GERMANY'S 24-HOUR NURBURGRING RACE THE VERY NEXT DAY.

HIS RIDE?

A NISSAN GTR GT-3.

THE ENTIRE TIME, ENGINEERS WERE RECORDING DATA TO TEST ON THE GT6 ENGINE.

THEY COULD EVEN TWEAK THE REAL CAR AFTER LOOKING THINGS OVER IN THE GAME!

DESIGNERS KEEP CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CAR MANUFACTURERS IN ORDER TO KNOW WHAT WENT INTO THE BUILD OF EACH SPECIFIC VEHICLE.

>> John: NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH PAT GOSS.

THIS WEEK HE PUTS DOWN HIS WRENCH SO HE CAN CATCH UP WITH A MASTER OF PERFORMANCE.

>> Pat: TODAY WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST HERE AT THE SHOW.

WE HAVE GALE BANKS.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS.

GALE, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

>> Gale: IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, PAT.

>> Pat: I THINK 1989 WAS THE LAST TIME.

>> Gale: IT WAS.

>> Pat: WELL, THE TIME HAS FLOWN BY AND YOU'RE STILL IN THE DIESEL MODIFICATION BUSINESS.

DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE.

>> Gale: WE ARE, AND WE ALSO SELL NEW DIESEL ENGINES.

WE REPRESENT GM WITH THE DURAMAX.

AND WE HAVE A LITTLE V6 FROM ITALY, THE MOTORI.

>> Pat: AH-HA.

SO, WHAT HAS CHANGED PRIMARILY AS FAR AS THE DIESEL MARKET IS CONCERNED?

>> Gale: THE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE.

ELECTRONICS.

NOW IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE A GOD'S EYE VIEW OF THE ENGINE, OF ENGINE MANAGEMENT.

IT USED TO BE PURELY MECHANICAL, THE WAY WE MODIFY THEM.

YOU KNOW, THE LOW RESTRICTION INTAKE AIR, THE LOW RESTRICTION EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE BIGGER INTERCOOLERS.

THOSE THINGS WE DO.

AND WE DO WELL.

BUT I REALLY PRIDE MYSELF ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN THE ELECTRONICS BUSINESS.

>> Pat: I SEE.

AND SPEAKING OF ELECTRONICS, YOU HAVE A NEW PROGRAM THAT EVEN APPLIES TO GAS ENGINES I UNDERSTAND.

>> Gale: YEAH.

WE'RE INTO METHANOL INJECTION.

IT'S NOT A NEW IDEA.

BUT THE WAY WE CONTROL IT, IS COMPLETELY NEW.

AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE USED IT IN THE PAST FOR JUST PURE POWER.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PIKE'S PEAK PROJECT, WHICH IS A FREIGHTLINER; DETROIT DIESEL POWERED, 10,000 POUND RACE TRUCK WE'RE TAKING UP PIKE'S PEAK.

IT'S 2,400 HORSEPOWER!

AND WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER 400 JUST WITH THE METHANOL.

>> Pat: WOW.

>> Gale: YEAH.

SO IT'S POWERFUL STUFF, BUT YOU CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS AND IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY WITH IT AS WELL.

>> Pat: OKAY, SO PICK AND CHOOSE; FUEL ECONOMY OR POWER?

>> Gale: YEAH.

IF YOU'RE INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, AND I AM, THAT'S THE COMPONENT I ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE.

AND ANY OF OUR PRODUCTS, IT'S GOT TO BE CLEAN.

>> Pat: OKAY.

SO WE'VE GOT THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS.

NOW, THAT ALSO HAS SOME OTHER FEATURES YOU CAN ADD INTO IT?

>> Gale: WELL, BASICALLY, I'VE GOT AN OVERLYING THING, WHICH IS THIS FIVE INCH SCREEN WHICH GOES OVER THE DASH.

I CALL IT THE BANKS IQ.

THIS IS THE COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER FOR THINGS SUCH AS WATER/METH, EXHAUST BRAKING, YOUR VEHICLE PERFORMANCE.

YOU CAN RE-FLASH THE ECU; PUT A NEW PROGRAM IN THE ECU THROUGH THIS.

YOU CONTROL THE WATER/METH SYSTEM, OR ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S ALSO A DIAGNOSTICS TOOL.

SO, BACKUP CAMERA, HANDS-FREE PHONE, WE'VE EVEN GOT BANKS NAV.

>> Pat: OH MY GOODNESS.

OKAY, SO IT'S THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF ENGINE CONTROLLERS.

>> Gale: EXACTLY.

WELL, AND OF AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, YES.

>> Pat: GOTCHA.

ALRIGHT.

WELL, GALE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

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

>> John: NOW LET'S GRAB SOME KEYS, BUCKLE UP, AND SPIN UP A FEW FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

THERE'S SOMETHING NEW FROM BMW THIS YEAR, ONLY IT'S NOT QUITE AS NEW AS YOU'D THINK.

THIS 2014 BMW 4 SERIES IS, INDEED, A NEW NAMEPLATE FOR THE BRAND.

IT NOT ONLY SUPPLANTS THE 3 SERIES COUPE, BUT SEEKS TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE 3-SERIES SEDAN ON WHICH IT IS STILL BASED.

BUT THIS SEARCH FOR EXCLUSIVITY WASN'T AS SIMPLE AS SLAPPING ON A NEW NUMBER AND CALLING IT A DAY.

COMPARED TO THE OLD 3 SERIES COUPE, THE 4-SERIES IS STRETCHED IN BOTH WIDTH AND WHEELBASE, ADDED NEW BODY ACCENTS, MORE AGGRESSIVELY FLARED FENDERS, AND A LOWER, MORE MUSCULAR STANCE.

NEW VENTS BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS AID COOLING AND AERODYNAMICS.

THE LOOK DOES MIMIC THE 6 SERIES, WHICH IS EVEN MORE STRIKING WHEN SCALED DOWN TO THE 4 SERIES' PROPORTIONS.

ENGINES ARE CARRYOVER, WITH THE 428I RECEIVING A 2.0 LITER TURBO INLINE 4, GOOD FOR 240 HORSEPOWER, AND THE 435I GETTING A TURBO INLINE 6, GOOD FOR 300.

XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH, AS IS THE CHOICE OF SIX SPEED MANUAL OR EIGHT SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

OUR TIME WITH THE NEW 4 SERIES ALLOWED US TO DRIVE SEVERAL TYPES, BUT COME AWAY WITH SIMILAR FEELINGS FOR ALL -- THAT IT IS FAR SPORTIER, MORE CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING, AND JUST FLAT OUT MORE FUN TO DRIVE THAN THE 3 SERIES COUPE IT REPLACES.

INTERIOR QUALITY CONTINUES TO SHINE, AS DOES BMW'S DIZZYING ARRAY OF COMPUTERIZED AIDES AND SAFETY FEATURES.

BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING, AS THE INSIDE OF A 4 SERIES IS A GREAT PLACE TO SPEND DRIVE TIME.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 BMW 4 SERIES STARTS AROUND $42,000.

OUR QUICK SPIN WITH AUDI HAS US TESTING NOT ONE, BUT THREE OF THE BRAND'S 2014'S...

THE Q5, A6, AND A7.

BUT ALL WITH NEW TURBO DIESEL TDI POWER.

THAT IS TO SAY, THE SAME TDI POWER; AS EACH ADDS AUDI'S FUEL EFFICIENT BUT SPIRITED 3.0 LITER TURBODIESEL V6, RATED AT 240 HORSEPOWER AND THE OH-SO IMPORTANT 428 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, MATED TO AN 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY TO SOME, TDI APPLICATION IN EACH VEHICLE FELT DECIDEDLY UNIQUE.

IN THE Q5, THE BOOST IN LOW-END TORQUE IS SPIRITED.

WHILE THE MOST FAMILY ORIENTED OF THE THREE, IT ALSO PROVIDES AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF THRILLS.

PLUS, WE MANAGED 32.7 MPG IN 109 MILES OF MIXED DRIVING.

THE A7, WHILE DEFINITELY THE LOOKER OF THE TRIO, CARRIED A LITTLE TOO MUCH EXTRA WEIGHT TO BE OUR FAVORITE OF THE THREE.

STILL PLENTY FUN AND PLENTY EFFICIENT, WE AVERAGED 33.6 MPG OVER 91 MILES.

THAT LEAVES THE A6 SEDAN, WHICH MAKES THE BEST USE OF THE TDI'S GAINS IN BOTH TORQUE AND ECONOMY.

THOUGH NOT QUITE A PURE SPORT SEDAN, IT PROVIDED ENOUGH OF A SPIRITED BITE TO LEAVE US SATISFIED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY RESPECTABLE 35.5 MPG IN 100 MILES OVER HILL AND DALE.

ALL AVAILABLE NOW, PRICES RANGE FROM $47,000 FOR THE Q5, TO $58,000 FOR THE A6, TO $68,000 FOR THE A7.

THESE THREE MODELS JOIN THE ALREADY ON SALE A8L AND Q7 TDIs, AND COMING SOON IS THE SMALLER A3 TDI.

SO THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO AUDI DIESEL POWER.

AND WE'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

>> Ben: WITH THE AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS IN BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE EVOLVING OVERNIGHT.

THE WORLD OF REMOTE CONTROLLED VEHICLES HAS BECOME JUST AS FAST PACED AND POSSIBLY MORE COMPETITIVE.

AND THIS 1/10TH SCALE DUO FROM LOSI ARE TWO OF THE MOST HIGH-FLYING AND FUN SHORT COURSE RCs AVAILABLE.

ARMED WITH A SEVEN CELL NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY PACK, THESE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE BRUTES ARE CAPABLE OF SPEEDS UP TO 35 MILES PER HOUR, WITH A RUN TIME OF CLOSE TO 40 MINUTES.

AND IF THAT MAYHEM EVER STARTS TO FEEL TAME, AN OPTIONAL LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERY INCREASES BOTH NUMBERS TREMENDOUSLY.

MUCH LIKE THEIR FULL SIZE INSPIRATION, THEY'RE BUILT WITH EXTREME DURABILITY AND INTENSE COMPETITION IN MIND.

EVERYTHING FROM AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN FOR THE MOTOR, OIL FILLED ALUMINUM COIL OVERS, AND AGGRESSIVE TIRES MOUNTED ON REAL CHROME WHEELS.

THE JOB OF HARNESSING ALL THIS AWESOME IS MADE EASY BY A BEEFY 2.4 GIGAHERTZ CONTROLLER WITH THE CAPABILITY OF ADAPTING TO OTHER RCs IN YOUR FLEET.

[LAUGHTER] THAT WAS CRAZY!

FOR SOME FAST FUN, CHECK OUT LOSI.

>> John: THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS STAKED OUT QUITE A CLAIM FOR ITSELF IN THE VAST EXPANSE OF TWO-ROW CROSSOVER LAND.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HYUNDAI'S 3-ROW VERACRUZ DIDN'T DO SO WELL.

SO WHY NOT TRY TO FIX THAT BY CAPITALIZING ON THE SANTA FE NAME?

SO ALONG WITH THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED 5-PASSENGER SANTA FE SPORT COMES A NEW 7-PASSENGER MODEL NAMED SIMPLY, SANTA FE.

WILL ALL OF THAT SHUFFLING RESULT IN A WINNING HAND?

WELL, IT'S TIME TO PLACE YOUR BETS!

WITHOUT A DOUBT, HYUNDAI HAS CERTAINLY GONE "ALL-IN" IN RECENT YEARS, WITH A NEARLY CONSTANT ONSLAUGHT OF FRESH PRODUCTS AND NEW SEGMENT ENTRIES.

THE NEWEST GOES BY A FAMILIAR NAME, THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

IT COMPETES AGAINST OTHER MID-TO-LARGER THREE-ROW CROSSOVERS LIKE THE MAZDA CX-9, HONDA PILOT, AND CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

COMPARED TO THE NEW TWO-ROW SANTA FE SPORT, THE SANTA FE IS 8.5 INCHES LONGER, RIDING ON A STRETCHED 110.2-INCH WHEELBASE.

LIKE MOST RIVALS, A V6 POWERTRAIN IS STANDARD.

HERE, IT'S THE AZERA'S 3.3-LITER V6 FEEDING POWER TO THE FRONT OR ALL-WHEELS THROUGH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

HORSEPOWER IS 290, WITH TORQUE COMING IN AT 252 POUND-FEET.

THE COMBO IS GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED IN TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.0 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR IN MIXED DRIVING.

IT ALSO OFFERS A GOOD AMOUNT OF MUSCLE FOR DAILY DUTIES, INCLUDING GOOD PASSING POWER AND TOWING UP TO 5,000 POUNDS.

BEING A FAMILY SUV, IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT MATTERS THE MOST, AND HERE OUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE NEW SANTA FE ARE MORE MIXED.

EVERYTHING LOOKS NICE: THE LAYOUT IS FINE, WITH DEEP HOODED GAUGES, AN EASY TO USE CENTER STACK, AND STANDARD BLUE LINK TELEMATICS.

BUT THE ENVIRONS COME OFF AS LESS EXPENSIVE AS BOTH THE OLD VERACRUZ AND NEWER RIVALS LIKE THE NISSAN PATHFINDER.

SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE, BUT AGAIN, THE CUSHIONS GRAB US AS SHORT AND THIN.

IN LIMITED TRIM, THE SECOND ROW IS CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS FOR A CAPACITY OF SIX.

OUR 7-SEAT GLS HAD A 40/20/40 SPLIT BENCH, WITH A 60/40 SLIDER AS AN OPTION.

EASE OF ACCESS TO THE 50/50 SPLIT THIRD ROW IS GOOD, AND IT DOES PROVIDE SURPRISING ROOM FOR ADULTS ALONG WITH ITS OWN CLIMATE CONTROLS.

MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY IS A RESPECTABLE 80 CUBIC-FEET, WITH 40.9 BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, AND 13.5 BEHIND THE THIRD.

OUR GLS TESTER DID NOT INCLUDE THE LIMITED'S POWER REAR HATCH, BUT THE LIFT GATE IS VERY LIGHT, SO WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS NECESSARY.

NEITHER IS RUNNING QUARTER MILES IN THIS FAMILY WAGON, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

SO OFF TO THE TRACK WE WENT FOR A 0 TO 60 TIME OF ONLY 7.4 SECONDS, AND A SPRINT THROUGH THE QUARTER OF 16.0-SECONDS FLAT AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

BRAKING FROM 60 FELT VERY GOOD FOR A MASS-MARKET HAULER.

STOPS AVERAGED AN ACCEPTABLE 131-FEET WITH IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND FEEDBACK FROM THE NICE FIRM PEDAL.

BUT DODGING CONES WAS NOT SO IMPRESSIVE; WITH SLOW STEERING, PLENTY OF BODY ROLL, AND A CLUMSY FEEL THAT ALL WORK TOGETHER TO CONSTANTLY REMIND YOU HOW BIG THE NEW SANTA FE REALLY IS.

THE SANTA FE FEATURES SHARPER LINES OVER THE REAR WHEELS, HAS CHROME-TIPPED DUAL EXHAUST, A TOW HITCH COVER, A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE GRILLE, AND 18-INCH WHEELS.

SANTA FE PRICING STARTS AT A CLASS REASONABLE $29,455, WITH THE LIMITED MODEL STARTING AT $34,025.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE ON EITHER MODEL FOR $1,750 MORE.

THE 2013 SANTA FE IS ALL AROUND COMPETENT AND A GOOD VALUE, IF NOT REALLY A STANDOUT.

A NICE VEHICLE, BUT CLEARLY A STEP DOWN IN IMAGE FROM THE VERACRUZ IT REPLACES.

STILL, THE SANTA FE NAME MAY BE JUST WHAT IT TAKES TO GIVE HYUNDAI A SERIOUS PLAYER IN THE LARGER CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL SEE IF THE NEW CAYMAN S IS THE NEW QUINTESSENTIAL PORSCHE SPORTS CAR.

THEN TAKE NOTE OF NISSAN'S NEW FIVE-DOOR VERSA NOTE.

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.

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.

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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.