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

JOIN US FOR THE LATEST IN LIVING LARGE FROM ACROSS THE PACIFIC, THE HYUNDAI EQUUS... PAT GOSS BUFFS UP OUR KNOW-HOW DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... WE'LL FIND OUT IF MEN AND WOMEN THINK DIFFERENTLY WHEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR... AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN SOUTH TO TEST THE TRACK PROWESS OF THE SUBARU WRX.

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.

John: IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE HYUNDAI ENTERED THE FULL-SIZE LUXURY SEDAN SEGMENT WITH THE EQUUS.

WHILE IT DIDN'T EXACTLY SET THE CAR WORLD ON FIRE, IT DID SHOW HOW SERIOUS HYUNDAI IS ABOUT BECOMING AN UPSCALE BRAND.

AND NOW FOR 2014, THE EQUUS IS REFINED TO HELP FURTHER THE CAUSE.

IF YOU'RE A CFO WHO WANTS TO IMPRESS THE CEO WITH YOUR FRUGALITY AND WISE DECISION MAKING, THE 2014 HYUNDAI EQUUS MAY BE A SMART CHOICE.

HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE A TOP-TIER SPORTS AGENT LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON THE LATEST #1 DRAFT PICK, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH.

AND THAT GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER OF WHO EXACTLY WOULD PAY $70,000 FOR THIS VERY LUXURIOUS HYUNDAI.

INDEED, DOLLARS AND WHAT YOU GET FOR THEM IS TRULY THE WHOLE STORY OF THE EQUUS.

IN FACT, THAT APPLIES TO ANY LUXURY ITEM.

WHEN YOU DOLE OUT A HIGH 5-FIGURE SUM FOR A WRISTWATCH, ARE YOU DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE TIMEPIECE?

FOR THE IMAGE OF THE PRODUCT?

OR FOR WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT YOU TO THOSE THAT SEE IT ON YOUR WRIST?

ALAS, THESE ARE OFTEN EMOTIONAL QUESTIONS THAT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE ANSWERED BY A ROAD TEST, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT KEEPS US FROM TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S NEW FOR THE EQUUS IN 2014.

SO, DOWN TO BUSINESS.

EQUUS LOOKS HAVE DEFINITELY IMPROVED WITH A NEW FRONT END WITH AN UPDATED GRILLE, TWEAKED BUMPER, AND LED FOG LAMPS.

THERE'S ALSO THE UNIQUE EQUUS LOGO, AND WITH THE ULTIMATE TRIM, A FORWARD-VIEW CORNERING CAMERA.

THERE'S A LITTLE MORE GENESIS TO THE STYLING NOW, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

AND THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER MERCEDES AND BMW INFLUENCE, AS IF HYUNDAI IS NO LONGER AFRAID TO LET EVERYONE KNOW JUST WHAT THE EQUUS IS AIMED AT.

THERE'S A NEW 19-INCH WHEEL DESIGN, AND RESHAPED SIDE MIRRORS, AND IN BACK THERE ARE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TAIL LAMPS.

WHEN YOU GO FROM LOOKING TO DRIVING THE EQUUS, THE FEEL IS DECIDEDLY MORE BENZ THAN BIMMER.

IT MAY FEEL A LITTLE VANILLA AND LACK PERSONALITY, BUT IT REMINDS US VERY MUCH OF THAT ORIGINAL LEXUS LS400; A VERY NICE COPY OF VERY GOOD LUXURY CARS.

AND WHILE SALES NUMBERS WILL NOT BE GREAT, WE CAN SEE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE GETTING A GREAT BUY IN THE USED MARKET IN A FEW SHORT YEARS.

THE RIDE IS VERY SMOOTH AND INTERIOR ULTRA-QUIET.

THE ENTIRE POWERTRAIN IS SILKY AND POWERFUL, AND YOU CAN HARDLY HEAR A PEEP OUT OF IT.

SEATS ARE CLEARLY LONG DISTANCE COMPLIANT.

THE ONLY THINGS REALLY HOLDING IT BACK ARE THE WISHY/WASHY SUSPENSION, WANDERING STEERING, AND ULTRA-LACK OF CHARACTER.

THAT SEAMLESS MOTIVATION COMES FROM HYUNDAI'S 5.0-LITER DIRECT INJECTION V8.

HERE, DEPOSITING 429-HORSEPOWER AND 376 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO THE REAR WHEELS WITH THE HELP OF AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

HIGH HORSEPOWER, LOW TORQUE MEANS IT PULLS BEST IN THE HIGHER RPM RANGE, BUT THERE'S STILL A STOUT HEAVE OFF THE LINE THAT GOT US TO 60 IN A FINE 6.4-SECONDS.

ONCE THE POWER STARTED POURING ON IN EARNEST, IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY ACCOMPANIED BY SLOW AND MUSHY SHIFTS.

STILL, OUR QUARTER MILE TIME OF 14.8-SECONDS AT 98 MILES-PER-HOUR IS PRETTY GOOD.

WITH LOTS OF ROLL AND ZERO STEERING FEEL, EQUUS DOESN'T PARTICULARLY ENJOY BEING PUSHED HARD IN CORNERS.

BUT YOU CAN DIAL IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF EURO-STYLE FIRMNESS WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION IN SPORT MODE.

THE CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN TWEAKED TO PROVIDE MORE OF A SEPARATION BETWEEN SPORT AND NORMAL MODES, AND A SNOW MODE HAS BEEN ADDED.

WHILE BRAKING FEEL IS ALSO VERY SOFT, WITH PLENTY OF DIVE, OUR AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF 127-FEET FROM 60 IS GOOD FOR A 4,500 LUXURY CAR.

INTERIOR ALTERATIONS INCLUDE A MODERNIZED INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CENTER STACK WITH IMPROVED MATERIALS AND LAYOUT.

THE INCREASED POSH-IFICATION WORKS ITS WAY DOWN THE CENTER CONSOLE AS WELL, AND THERE ARE ADDED CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COLOR AND WOOD TRIM OPTIONS; AND WHILE THE FLAT, LINEAR APPROACH TAKES A PAGE OUT OF THE BMW BOOK, IT CERTAINLY LOOKS THE BIG PREMIUM VEHICLE PART.

COMFORT APPOINTMENTS LIKE REAR ENTERTAINMENT, SUN SHADES, AND JAMMIN' STEREO SYSTEM ARE ALL AVAILABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, 18-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE OF 18.7 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM WAS RIGHT ON.

STILL, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS POOR AT 18.3-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 8.3 TONS.

THE EQUUS IS AVAILABLE IN SIGNATURE AND ULTIMATE PACKAGING WITH PRICES STARTING AT $62,170.

A FINE CAR IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS, AND WHILE THE 2014 HYUNDAI EQUUS MIGHT HAVE MOST OF THE PARTS NECESSARY TO JUSTIFY ITS PRICE, THE WHOLE STILL COMES UP SHORT.

TRULY A NICE EFFORT, BUT HYUNDAI STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO TO CHALLENGE THE BEST LUXURY BRANDS.

BUT, THEN, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING WE SAID ABOUT LEXUS AND INFINITI WAY BACK WHEN.

SO, WE'RE NOT BETTING AGAINST THEM.

WHILE THERE ARE MORE WOMEN WORKING IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY THAN EVER, THE MAJORITY OF ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS ARE STILL MEN.

YET, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FAMILY, MEN ARE OFTEN NOT THE DECISION MAKERS.

SO WE HAD OUR FYI TEAM GIVE US A DIFFERENT SLANT.

>> HI, I'M KRISTIN VARELA WITH CARS.COM.

>> AND I'M YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FROM MOTORWEEK .

WE'VE HAD TO TEST DRIVE AND REVIEW HUNDREDS OF CARS OVER THE YEARS -- AIN'T THAT RIGHT, GIRLFRIEND?

>> Kristin: IT'S TRUE.

SO WE KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT WHAT WOMEN WANT IN CARS.

>> Yolanda: SHOW LET US SHOW YA WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH!

AS AN AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALIST, VARELA HAS LOGGED MANY MILES BEHIND THE WHEEL OF TEST VEHICLES.

AND I'VE DONE THE SAME WRITING CAR REVIEWS AND REPORTS ON A VARIETY OF CONSUMER STORIES.

WHILE WE BOTH AGREE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ALL WOMEN TO WANT THE SAME THING IN A NEW VEHICLE, THERE IS COMMON GROUND ON WHAT FEATURES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO US.

>> Kristin: I THINK SAFETY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A MOM.

>> Yolanda: WE BOTH AGREE A LARGE NUMBER OF STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES AND GOOD CRASH TEST SCORES TOPS OUR MUST-HAVE LIST.

WE ALSO LOOK FOR VERSATILITY, RELIABILITY, A NICE BLEND OF FORM AND FUNCTION, GOOD GAS MILEAGE, AND AFFORDABLE PRICING.

>> Kristin: I'M A COMPARISON SHOPPER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE COVERED ALL THE BASES.

MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T SOMETHING ELSE OUT THERE THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> Yolanda: ACCORDING TO THE 2013 MINTEL CAR BUYING REPORT, A MAN, ON AVERAGE, SPENDS 5.5 WEEKS RESEARCHING A NEW VEHICLE, WHILE A WOMAN SPENDS 6.5 WEEKS.

THAT EXTRA TIME MAY INCLUDE REVIEWING THE NUMBER AND PLACEMENT OF AIRBAGS IN A VEHICLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE BOTH LIKE THE KNEE AIRBAG IN THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AND THE CENTER AIRBAG BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS IN THE BUICK ENCLAVE.

>> Kristin: WHICH KEEPS EACH OF US PROTECTED FROM ONE ANOTHER IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.

>> Yolanda: THE ENCLAVE GARNERS BONUS POINTS FROM US WITH THEIR FULL LENGTH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND GOVERNMENT CRASH TEST SCORES THAT ARE AMONG THE BEST.

BUT OVERALL, THIS IS A PRETTY STYLISH RIDE FOR A LOT OF WOMEN TO CONSIDER, AND BUSY MOMS.

>> Kristin: YES.

>> Yolanda: YES, WE LIKED IT.

TWO THUMBS UP.

>> Kristin: IT'S SWELL!

>> Yolanda: THANKS TO AUTONATION BUICK/GMC AND SHORTLINE HYUNDAI AND KIA IN COLORADO, KRISTIN AND I WERE ABLE TO REVIEW SEVERAL VEHICLES.

WE FOUND THE NEW KIA SORENTO HAS THE RIGHT MIX OF FORM AND FUNCTION.

>> Kristin: STARTING IN THE MID-$30s, IT OFFERS SOME FEATURES THAT YOU JUST DON'T SEE IN OTHER VEHICLES AT THAT SAME PRICE RANGE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE OPTION OF AIR CONDITIONED FRONT SEATS.

>> Yolanda: AND THE OPTION OF THIRD ROW SEATING GIVES A FAMILY EVEN MORE FLEXIBILITY.

SO WE'RE HERE WITH THE KIA SOUL, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF KIA'S BEST SELLING MODELS, AND FOR LOTS OF REASONS.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS CAR?

>> Kristin: WELL, IT DEFINITELY STANDS OUT IN THE DESIGN DEPARTMENT, DOESN'T IT?

>> Yolanda: NOT TO MENTION IT HAS LOTS OF CARGO SPACE FOR ITS SIZE AND COMES STANDARD WITH BLUETOOTH AND USB/AUX INPUT JACKS.

KIA HAS MADE SOME GREAT STRIDES WHEN IT COMES TO MARKETING THEIR PRODUCTS TO WOMEN.

THE KOREAN CAR MANUFACTURER SAYS OVER HALF OF THEIR BUYERS ARE FEMALE.

MOVING TO ITS SISTER BRAND, HYUNDAI, THEY'VE ALSO TURNED UP THE DIAL ON THEIR OFFERINGS.

THIS 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID IS A FAVORITE FOR US.

>> Kristin: ONE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT HYUNDAI IN GENERAL AS A BRAND IS THAT ALL OF THEIR SAFETY FEATURES COME STANDARD, SO YOU'RE NOT FORCED TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR FAMILY'S SAFETY.

>> Yolanda: AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND WITH A COMBINED 37 MPG FUEL ECONOMY RATING, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY THIS STYLISH, AFFORDABLE MID-SIZE CAR APPEALS TO MANY WOMEN DRIVERS.

THIS ONE WAS NOT AS BLAND AND UNINSPIRING AS THE OTHER VEHICLES.

>> Kristin: IT DEFINITELY DOES CATCH YOUR EYE AS IT'S DRIVING PAST YOU ON THE HIGHWAY.

>> Yolanda: CARMAKERS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND IMPORT, ARE REALIZING THE BUYING POWER WOMEN HAVE AND ARE FIGURING OUT WAYS TO APPEAL TO THEM.

AND WHILE THESE CHANGES MAY NOT BE AS NOTICEABLE TO THE AVERAGE CONSUMER, REST ASSURED, AUTOMOTIVE MAVENS LIKE US ARE ON THE JOB TO MAKE SURE EVERY NEW CAR GETS OUR "GIRL POWER" SEAL OF APPROVAL.

John: NOW LET'S STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE AND SEE WHAT PAT HAS FOR US THIS WEEK!

Pat Goss: THERE ARE LOTS OF JOBS AROUND THE HOUSE, AND AROUND THE CAR THAT REQUIRE SANDING.

AND THAT IS MOSTLY A REALLY MESSY OPERATION.

BUT JEN COOK FROM 3M HAS A SOLUTION FOR US.

JEN, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Jen: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME BODY FILLER HERE.

AND THAT'S GOT TO BE THE WORST IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO SANDING.

Jen: YES.

YES, IT IS.

TRADITIONAL SANDING METHODS LIKE THE RUBBER BLOCK YOU SEE HERE CAN CREATE A LOT OF DUST.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT JUST GETTING THE SANDPAPER ON THE BLOCK CAN SOMETIMES BE TEDIOUS.

YOU'RE FOLDING THIS BACK, YOU'RE SLIDING IT IN TO SOME METAL TEETH THERE AND CLAMPING IT DOWN.

AND IT'S JUST DIFFICULT.

SO 3M HAS COME OUT WITH WHAT WE CALL THE NEW 3M CLEAN SAND SYSTEM, AND IT'S BASICALLY A SANDING BLOCK THAT FEATURES ONE OF OUR PREMIUM ABRASIVES.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE BLOCK HERE, THERE ARE SOME HOLES.

IN THE SANDPAPER, THERE ARE SOME HOLES, AND THIS JUST ATTACHES WITH HOOK AND LOOP; VERY EASY ON-OFF.

AND AS I'M SANDING, THE DUST IS SUCKED THROUGH THE HOLES, INTO THE HOSE, DOWN THROUGH THE HOSE INTO MY SHOP-VAC HOSE, AND DOWN INTO MY SP-VAC.

SO I HAVE A LOT LESS OF A MESSY ENVIRONMENT AS I'M WORKING.

Pat: OKAY, SO IT CONNECTS INTO THE SHOP-VAC AND THAT DOES AWAY WITH THE DUST.

I LIKE THAT.

ALRIGHT.

NOW, THE QUESTION THEN PROBABLY SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SAY, "WELL, BUT YOU DO ALL THIS STUFF WITH POWER TOOLS."

BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

Jen: THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A MISCONCEPTION THAT NOWADAYS THINGS ARE DONE WITH POWER TOOLS A LOT, AND THEY CAN BE.

WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE BODY REPAIR AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF CREVICES AND THINGS TO GET INTO SOMETIMES; A LOT OF TIMES IT'S EASIER TO BE ABLE TO HAND SAND.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU CAN SOMETIMES SLOW DOWN AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT EXTENDING THE DAMAGE FURTHER THAN YOU WOULD LIKE.

THIS SYSTEM RETAILS FOR ABOUT $29.99.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT POWER TOOLS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE AT LEAST DOUBLE THAT, IF NOT MORE.

Pat: RIGHT.

OKAY.

BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BODY WORK, BUT ALL KINDS OF APPLICATIONS AROUND THE HOUSE.

Jen: YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN USE THIS SANDING DRYWALL.

IF YOU HAVE A SMALL REPAIR THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR DRYWALL, I WOULD SAND THAT WITH IT.

MARINE REPAIR; IF I HAVE A FIBERGLASS SITUATION WHERE I'M REPAIRING FIBERGLASS AND I NEED TO SAND THAT.

AND ALSO DOING WOOD REPAIR WITH WOOD FILLER.

THIS IS A GREAT SOLUTION FOR THAT.

Pat: OKAY.

AND THE SAND PAPER IS AVAILABLE IN ALL THE POPULAR GRITS.

Jen: YES, THE SANDPAPER IS AVAILABLE IN FIVE DIFFERENT GRITS, RANGING FROM 80 ALL THE WAY UP TO 600.

AND THAT'S REALLIMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR THE BODY REPAIR PROCESS, BUT ALSO FOR OTHER TYPES OF APPLICATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT BE DOING.

YOU MIGHT NEED THAT RANGE OF GRITS, DEPENDING ON THE APPLITION.

AND MOST OF THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT I MENTIONED, YOU'RE DOING SOME KIND OF PAINTING, OR YOU'RE DOING SOME KIND OF STAINING AT THE END, AND BY ELIMINATING THAT DUST UP FRONT, YOU'RE REDUCING YOUR WORK TIME, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THAT DUST TO CLEAN UP AT THE END.

AND BY HAVING A CLEANER WORK ENVIRONMENT, YOU'RE NOT GETTING DEFECTS IN YOUR PAINT.

Pat: GREAT.

THANK YOU.

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

THERE'S PLENTY THAT'S NEW THIS YEAR, SO HERE'S WHAT WE THOUGHT ON SOME OF OUR LATEST QUICK SPINS.

WITH MORE MODELS THAN FASHION WEEK, IT CAN BE HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT BMW IS UP TO THESE DAYS.

WELL, THEIR LATEST IS FROM THEIR M DIVISION...WHICH IS GOOD, AND THERE ARE TWO OF THEM...

EVEN BETTER!

YES, THE 2015 BMW M3 SEDAN AND M4 COUPE ARE ALL-NEW, AND LAUNCHING SIDE-BY-SIDE.

WITH THE 3 SERIES A STAPLE AND THE 4 SERIES JUST INTRODUCED, THESE M VARIANTS ARE SOME OF THE BEST REPRESENTATIONS OF GERMAN SPORT LUXURY PROWESS YET.

THE ENGINE IS BMW'S 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO INLINE SIX, STOMPING OUT 425 HORSEPOWER THROUGH A SIX SPEED MANUAL OR A SEVEN SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTO TO THE REAR WHEELS.

A GENEROUS HELPING OF CARBON FIBER ALLOWS THIS GENERATION TO LOSE WEIGHT OVER THE PREVIOUS M3, AND IT FEELS EVEN MORE BALANCED.

AFTER A FEW MILES BEHIND THE WHEEL, WE FELT RIGHT AT HOME, AND STARTED TO TAKE IN ALL THE SUBTLE IMPROVEMENTS.

SUSPENSION BITS, BOTH FRONT AND REAR, ARE TWEAKED TO SAVE WEIGHT AND INCREASE STIFFNESS.

THE STEERING SYSTEM MAKES THE SHIFT TO ELECTRIC, AND THOUGH IT LOSES SOME ROAD FEEL, IT STILL PROVIDES GREAT PRECISION.

THOSE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE SWITCH FROM AN "AU NATURAL" V8 TO THE FORCED INDUCTION V6 NEEDN'T BE, AS POWER STILL POURS ON WITH GREAT CONSISTENCY.

IN SHORT, THIS LATEST M IS EASIER TO DRIVE, AND DRIVE FAST, THAN EVER.

PURISTS MAY STILL PINE FOR THE M3s OF OLD, BUT WE'D TAKE THESE M CARS ANY DAY.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 BMW M3 STARTS AROUND $63,000, WITH THE M4 ADDING TWO GRAND MORE.

IF WE HAD TO CREDIT LINCOLN WITH ONE THING, IT'D BE THEIR RESILIENCE.

BUT WITH THE 2015 MKC, LINCOLN MAY INDEED HAVE A WORTHY COMPETITOR FOR THE GROWING SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

THE OVERALL DESIGN, WHILE NOT ORIGINAL, HAS A CLASSY, SWEPT, INTERNATIONAL LOOK THAT CONTRASTS NICELY WITH FORD'S SHARPER, MORE UTILITARIAN ESCAPE.

THERE'S ALSO LITTLE OF ESCAPE INSIDE.

IT'S A RICH, MODERN INTERIOR WITH TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLS, AND HIGH END MATERIALS, INCLUDING REAL WOOD ON THE DASH.

AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES RUN THE GAMUT; FROM ADAPTIVE CRUISE TO A NEW PARK-OUT FEATURE.

THE MKC IS ALSO REMARKABLY ON POINT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DRIVE.

Ben Davis: EVERYTHING A LINCOLN FAN WANTS IN A LINCOLN IS DEFINITELY IN THE MKC.

IT'S ULTRA-QUIET INSIDE, PLENTY OF TECHNOLOGY, AND LET ME TESTIFY TO THE LONG HAUL COMFORT.

NO JOKE, I'VE PROBABLY BEEN IN THIS SEAT FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS TODAY, BUT IT DOESN'TFEEL LIKE IT AT A LL.

IT'S TRULY A LUXURIOUS RIDE.

John: POWER COMES FROM A PAIR OF ECOBOOST TURBO I4s, WITH OUR TIME SPENT IN THE LARGER, 285 HORSEPOWER 2.3 LITER; FOR NOW, AN MKC EXCLUSIVE.

IT IS ALSO PRICED LIKE A FAIRLY EXCLUSIVE RIDE, STARTING AT $34,000.

STILL, THAT'S LESS THAN AN X3, GLK, OR Q5.

THE MKC IS IN DEALERSHIPS NOW.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN A TRACK-FOCUSED, TRIBUTE-PAYING PONY CAR FROM THE FOLKS AT GM.

SO, TO SAY THE LEAST, OUR QUICK SPIN IN THE 2015 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 WAS A BLAST!

TO SAY A LITTLE MORE, THIS LATEST Z/28 RESURRECTS A LONG NEGLECTED CAMARO ONE-OFF, AND IS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO OLD-SCHOOL MUSCLE AS YOU CAN GET THESE DAYS.

CASE IN POINT: THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION PACKAGE FOR THE Z/28, WHICH ADDS AIR CONDITIONING AND FIVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS TO THE RADIO.

WEIGHT SAVINGS COME BY STRIPPING OUT THE TRUNK CARPETING, THINNING THE REAR GLASS, AND EXCLUDING SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE CAR.

AS A RESULT, THE 505 HORSEPOWER NATURALLY ASPIRATED V8 IS FREE TO ROAR, ELIMINATING ANY CHANCE OF CONVERSING WITH YOUR PASSENGERS.

A UNIQUE FRONT FASCIA AIDES IN COOLING THE 7.0 LITER BEAST BY HOLLOWING OUT THE CHEVROLET BOWTIE UPFRONT, PIN POINTING AIRFLOW AT THE ENGINE.

OUR DRIVE CAME ON GINGERMAN RACEWAY, WHERE AN ENTIRE DAY AT BREAKNECK SPEED ONLY CONFIRMED OUR HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

Greg Carloss: THE Z/28 HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SPECIAL KIND OF CAR, AND THIS NEWEST ADDITION REALLY TAKES THAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I MEAN, THEY WENT THROUGH SO MUCH TO MAKE THIS CAR JUST A TRACK MONSTER.

THERE'S THE CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES, WHICH ARE PHENOMENAL.

REALLY A LOT OF BITE RIGHT AT TIP-IN.

AND THEN THERE'S THE BIG BOY 305 TIRES UP FRONT, WHICH ARE THE WIDEST OF ANY PRODUCTION CAR IN THE FRONT.

SO, ADD THAT ALL UP AND THIS THING JUST TEARS UP A TRACK.

John: THE Z/28, IN ALL OF ITS GLORY, STICKERS AROUND $76,000.

AND WE'LL TAKE OFF FOR MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

EVER SINCE THE SUBARU WRX ARRIVED FOR THE 2002 MODEL YEAR, IT'S TAKEN ON AND CONQUERED JUST ABOUT EVERY PART OF THE MILD TO WILD AUTOMOTIVE SPECTRUM.

WELL, THIS 2015 WRX SEES ITS BIGGEST CHANGE EVER AS SUBARU BREAKS IT AWAY FROM THE IMPREZA FAMILY CAR COMFORT ZONE.

SO LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT IF AN IMPREZA-LESS WRX IMPRESSES US MORE OR LESS.

TO SAY THE 2015 SUBARU WRX HAS BEEN HIGHLY ANTICIPATED IS DEFINITELY AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

THE SUBI AND WREX FAITHFUL HAVE BEEN CHOMPING AT THE BIT EVER SINCE SUBARU ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WRX WOULD BREAK FREE FROM THE ECONO-THEMED IMPREZA AND GO AFTER A TRUE SPORT SEDAN IMAGE.

BUT WHILE NO LONGER LINKED BY NAME, THE WRX HASN'T BROKEN FREE ENTIRELY FROM THE IMPREZA'S HUMBLE UNDERPINNINGS.

BUT LIKE ANY GREAT WORK OF ART, AUTOMOTIVE OR OTHERWISE, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU START WITH, BUT WHAT YOU END UP WITH THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE WRX HAS ALWAYS BROUGHT MORE TO THE TABLE THAN ITS LOOKS LED YOU TO BELIEVE.

SOMETIMES WE'VE BEEN A FAN OF THAT APPEARANCE, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVEN'T.

WELL, FOR '15, IT'S VISUALLY A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE; WITH A WIDE-BODY SHAPE THAT PROMISES SERIOUS PERFORMANCE.

BUT WE HOPE YOU WANT A SEDAN, SINCE THAT'S IT -- NO MORE HATCHBACK.

IT WOULDN'T BE A WRX WITHOUT A BIG, FUNCTIONAL SCOOP ON THE HOOD, OF COURSE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SLIMMED DOWN A BIT.

THE NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS A LITTLE MORE BARK, BUT YOU'LL STILL HAVE TO GO AFTERMARKET IF WAKING THE NEIGHBORS IS YOUR GOAL.

BUT IF HAVING A TON OF FUN IS YOUR GOAL, NO FURTHER UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED, AS THIS WRX IS A LEGIT TRACK READY PIECE.

OKAY, MAYBE WE COULD USE BETTER BRAKES AND SEATS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, AS WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THREE DAYS AT SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, THIS SPORT SEDAN IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT.

FOR NO MORE POWER THAN IT HAS, IT REALLY GETS OFF CORNERS IN A HURRY, AIDED BY A NEW ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING SYSTEM ADDED TO THE VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL THAT ACTUALLY USES A TAD OF BRAKING TO REDUCE UNDERSTEER.

THE MUCH STIFFER CHASSIS HELPS TO KEEP THINGS FLATTER THROUGH THE CORNERS, AND WITH THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION, AND 235/45 DUNLOP SPORT MAXX RTs, THERE'S A BOUNTY OF GRIP THROUGH THEM AS WELL.

THE STANDARD MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS NOW A 6-SPEED, AND IT WORKS WELL.

A NEW CVT IS ALSO AVAILABLE, AND WHILE IT PERFORMS MUCH BETTER THAN IN THE IMPREZA, THE MANUAL WOULD STILL BE OUR CHOICE.

AFTER DROPPING IT IN 1ST, REVVING IT AS HIGH AS YOU DARE, AND LAUNCHING WITH A BIT OF CLUTCH SLIP; WE MANAGED TO HIT 60 IN 5.4-SECONDS.

THERE WAS GOOD GRIP; EVEN ON A COLD TRACK, AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT, WE WERE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 13.9-SECONDS AT 100 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AS FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE NEW WRX; WHILE IT IS NICELY FINISHED, THINGS STILL LOOK A BIT BARE BONES.

THOUGH LOOKS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM, AS STANDARD FEATURES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY; A BACK-UP CAMERA, DASH-TOP LCD INFO SCREEN, AND AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE ALL STANDARD.

THERE'S ALSO A GREAT NEW FLAT-BOTTOM, LEATHER-WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL; AND THE ADDITIONAL INCH OF WHEELBASE ALLOWS FOR MORE ROOM INSIDE, INCLUDING ALMOST TWO-INCHES MORE LEGROOM FOR YOUR BUDDIES IN THE BACK SEAT.

BACK TO THE POWER...

IT'S THE SAME FA20 2.0-LITER, TURBO, BOXER-4 FOUND IN OUR LONG-TERM FORESTER XT, THOUGH IT GETS A LITTLE MORE BITE; THANKS TO UNIQUE CAMS AND VALVE SPRINGS SPINNING HORSEPOWER UP TO 268.

TORQUE REMAINS THE SAME AT 258 POUND-FEET.

WE CLEARLY ENJOYED OUR TIME IN THIS NEW WRX AND FOUND IT EXTREMELY REFRESHING TO DRIVE A SIMPLE, WELL-ENGINEERED, SPORTY CAR THAT UNDER PROMISES AND OVER DIVERS.

AND IT STILL DELIVERS BETTER GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS THAN BEFORE; 21-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED FOR OUR MANUAL.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE REMAINS AVERAGE AT 13.7-BARRELS OF OIL USE, AND 6.1 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS ANNUALLY.

BEST NEWS OF ALL?

BASE PRICING STARTS AT JUST $27,090.

SO IT'S A LOT OF SPORT SEDAN FOR THE MONEY.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WON OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD AS OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN.

STILL FUN, STILL AFFORDABLE, AND ONE SPORTY FOUR-DOOR THAT CONTINUES TO WIN US OVER WITHOUT RESERVATIONS.

IT LOOKS LIKE SEPARATING THE 2015 WRX FROM THE IMPREZA WAS INDEED A SOLID, SMART MOVE FOR SUBARU.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.

AND 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 TAKE A GO BIG OR GO HOME APPROACH TO THE MINI COUPLE HARDTOP.

THEN HARNESS THE AWESOME POWER OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG BLACK SERIES.

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.

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