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

JOIN US AND SEE IF HIGH-END LUXURY, PERFORMANCE, AND EFFICIENCY CAN CO-EXIST IN THE RANGE ROVER SPORT.

PAT GOSS GETS HIS MOTOR RUNNING WITH HOT ROD LEGEND GALE BANKS.

ZACH MASKELL GOES BEHIND THE RACING SCENE AND "VIRTUALLY" OVER THE EDGE.

AND WE'LL GO IN-DEPTH WITH THE NEW CADILLAC CTS SPORTS SEDAN.

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: 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.

DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> John Davis: WITH LAST YEAR'S NEAR TOTAL TRANSFORMATION OF LAND ROVER'S RANGE ROVER, SALES FOR THE RUGGEDLY PREMIUM UTILITY BRAND ARE UP DOUBLE DIGITS.

INDEED, NOVEMBER WAS ONE OF THEIR BEST U.S.

SALES MONTHS EVER.

WELL, NOW THEY HOPE TO SPREAD A LITTLE OF THAT SUCCESS TO THEIR BESTSELLING MODEL, THE RANGE ROVER SPORT.

SO LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.

A BIG PART OF THE 2014 RANGE ROVER SPORT'S APPEAL IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THAT "GO ANYWHERE IN LUXURY" TRADITION OF THE LAND ROVER BRAND.

BUT JUST LIKE MANY OTHER BUILDERS OF TRADITIONAL SUVS, IF THEY WANT TO INCREASE SALES NUMBERS, AS LAND ROVER SURELY DOES, THEIR UTILITIES WILL HAVE TO BECOME EVEN MORE REFINED.

AND THAT'S CLEARLY WHAT WAS INTENDED WITH THE NEW SPORT.

DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE THE ALSO-NEW RANGE ROVER THAT LAUNCHED JUST LAST YEAR, THE SPORT SHARES THE SAME ALL-ALUMINUM ARCHITECTURE AND 800-POUND WEIGHT LOSS DESPITE GROWING LARGER AND MORE FUNCTIONAL.

FOR DIFFERENTIATION, THE SPORT'S FRONT-END STYLING IS MORE EVOQUE THAN RANGE ROVER, BUT WITH THE SLANT-BACK IMAGE OF PREVIOUS GENERATIONS STILL INTACT.

IT LOOKS SLICK AND RUGGED -- THOUGH MORE THAN A FEW OF OUR STAFFERS ALSO POINTED OUT A RESEMBLANCE TO THE FORD EXPLORER.

THE BLACKED OUT PILLARS AND REAR GLASS GIVE IT A WRAPAROUND VISOR TREATMENT, WITH A THICK SPOILER TOPPING THE HATCH.

V6 MODELS RIDE ON 19-INCH WHEELS, V8s ON 20s.

BOTH V6 AND V8 COME SUPERCHARGED WITH AN INCREDIBLY SMOOTH 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND PERMANENT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE.

THE BRUTE OF THE TWO V'S IS OUR TESTER'S 5.0-LITER EIGHT.

IT CRANKS OUT 510-HORSEPOWER AND 461 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND SOUNDS NASTIER THAN ANY SUV WE CAN REMEMBER.

BUT IT'S THE INTERIOR THAT PRESENTS PERHAPS THE BIGGEST VISUAL CHANGE WHERE THINGS ARE SIMPLER, CLEANER, MORE LOGICAL, ALL WHILE BECOMING ROOMIER.

SPACE WAS SORELY NEEDED IN THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE ADDED LEGROOM IS APPRECIATED.

STILL EVEN MORE IS NEEDED FOR NORMAL ADULTS SO THOSE IN THE FRONT DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THEIR SEATS FORWARD.

NEW THIS YEAR IS AN OPTIONAL CHILD-SIZE THIRD ROW.

THERE ARE LOADS OF INTERIOR CHOICES FOR COLOR AND WOOD TONES, AND JUST ABOUT ALL THE CREATURE COMFORTS YOU COULD ASK FOR, INCLUDING A BIG SUNROOF AND POWER REAR HATCH.

EVERYTHING WORKS WELL, AND THE IP LAYOUT IS EXCELLENT; A BEAUTIFUL MIX OF NEEDLES AND DIALS WITH THE DIGITAL AGE MEETING LAND ROVER TRADITION.

DESPITE THE INCREASINGLY REFINED NATURE, ON THE ROAD IT STILL FEELS LIKE A TRUCK, WHICH IS JUST FINE BY US.

IT SOAKS UP ROAD IMPERFECTIONS MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE, THERE'S A COMMANDING VIEW FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND NO MATTER THE ROAD SURFACE, IT FEELS INCREDIBLY COMPOSED, SMOOTH, AND NEVER HARSH.

IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST RIDING SUV OUT THERE, MANAGING TO STILL FEEL LIKE A LAND ROVER WITH THAT GO ANYWHERE SENSATION, JUST A SUPER SMOOTH ONE.

EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE SPORT FEELS FLAT AND SPORTY, MAKING YOU WANT TO GO FASTER THAN YOU SHOULD THROUGH CORNERS, BUT DON'T WORRY, ELECTRONIC NANNIES HAVE YOUR BACK.

FOR A VEHICLE THAT WEIGHS OVER 4,700 POUNDS, IT RESPONDS VERY LIGHT.

THE ENHANCED ELECTRONIC AIR SUSPENSION'S AUTO MODE REACTS PROMPTLY, AND DYNAMIC MODE FIRMS THINGS UP TO SPORT SEDAN TERRITORY.

LAND ROVER CLAIMS IT'S THEIR MOST AGILE UTE EVER, AND WE CAN'T HELP BUT AGREE.

AN EARLY WINTER STORM PREVENTED US FROM REALLY PUSHING THE SPORT TO ITS LIMITS AT OUR TEST TRACK, BUT DID PROVIDE US A CHANCE TO FULLY EXPERIENCE TERRAIN RESPONSE 2'S SNOW SETTING.

WHILE THE STANDARD V6 IS PROBABLY MORE THAN UP TO THE TASK OF CARPOOLING AND MALL RUNNING, IT'S BIG V8 POWER THAT WE CRAVE, AND THE SPORT HAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF IT, DELIVERING IT IN A VERY LUXURY CAR-LIKE FASHION.

ACCELERATION IS BRISK, HITTING 60 IN AS LITTLE AS 5.0-SECONDS.

OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO PAY ON THE BACK END WITH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.

WE MANAGED 16.6 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM IN MIXED DRIVING.

THAT MAKES FOR A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 20.6-BARRELS OF OIL BEING CONSUMED PER YEAR AND 9.4-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

IF WE'VE GOT A NIT TO PICK, IT'S THE VERY NOTICEABLE STOP/START SYSTEM, THOUGH SOME HARSHNESS MIGHT BE EXPECTED WHEN YOU'RE INSTANTLY IGNITING THIS MUCH ENGINE.

BUT YOU REALLY DON'T EXPECT ANY ROUGHNESS WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS A BASE PRICE OF $63,495.

V8s BEGIN AT $79,995.

SO YOU'LL NEED TO BRING THE BUCKS, BUT YOU WILL BE VERY SATISFIED, AS THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THE 2014 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT IS VASTLY BETTER THAN BEFORE.

IT'S A LOT MORE REFINED WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF ITS LAND ROVER-NESS.

A FORMULA THAT MANY OTHER BRANDS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE, AND A RECIPE THAT WILL KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING FOR LAND ROVER.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LANSING, MICHIGAN AND THE STATE'S FIRST HYBRID-ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.

LOCAL BUS PROVIDER, DEAN TRANSPORTATION, ACQUIRED THE THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2E BUSES TO HELP REDUCE STUDENT EXPOSURE TO EXHAUST EMISSIONS.

THE BUSES, NOW OPERATING IN BOTH LANSING AND GRAND RAPIDS, USE AN EATON HYBRID SYSTEM THAT COMBINES A DIESEL ENGINE WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR/GENERATOR AND A REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM.

BATTERIES CAN PROVIDE ELECTRIC ONLY DRIVE FOR UP TO 15 MILES.

THE RESULT: LOWER TAILPIPE EMISSIONS AND LESS DEPENDENCE ON PETROLEUM.

>> Patrick Dean: WE'VE SEEN A HUGE REDUCTION IN AMOUNT OF FUEL WE'RE USING, SO WE'RE SEEING A 20% INCREASE IN FUEL ECONOMY IN THESE VEHICLES, AS WELL AS REDUCTION IN MAINTENANCE EXPENSES WITH THESE HYBRID SYSTEMS.

>> John: THE BUSES ARE DISPLAYED AT LOCAL FAIRS, ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ON ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES.

THE PROJECT, MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT THROUGH THE GREATER LANSING AREA CLEAN CITIES COALITION, HELPS PROVIDE A "GREENER" LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN MID-MICHIGAN.

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!

TOYOTA'S HIGHLANDER IS ALWAYS IN THE RUNNING FOR MOST DESIRABLE FAMILY HAULER HONORS.

AND AS IT ENTERS ITS 3RD GENERATION, IT BOLSTERS THAT STATUS EVEN MORE.

EXTERIOR DESIGN SEES A THOROUGH NEXT-GEN REWORK, STARTING WITH A MUCH BOLDER FRONT END, WITH MORE PRONOUNCED BODY SCULPTING.

MORE IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES IS THE INTERIOR, WHERE BOTH SPACE AND COMFORT GROW.

THE STANDARD 3RD ROW SEAT MAY STILL BE TIGHT ON LEGROOM, BUT WIDTH INCREASES BY ALMOST FOUR INCHES, ALLOWING MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY TO GO FROM 7 TO 8.

EASIER ENTRY/EXIT ACCESS FOR THE 3RD ROW IS ANOTHER PLUS, AND TOTAL CARGO CAPACITY SHOOTS UP BY A THIRD.

WE LIKE THE SEPARATE OPENING REAR HATCH GLASS, A FEATURE MOST RIVALS HAVE DROPPED.

A ROLL-TOP CENTER CONSOLE ADDS SOME 24.5 LITERS OF HIDDEN STORAGE SPACE, AND IT'S ONLY ONE HIGHLIGHT OF A MUCH MORE LIVABLE INTERIOR LAYOUT.

MORE SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS ARE USED, ALTHOUGH TOO MUCH HARD PLASTICS REMAINS, STILL HIGHLANDER'S OVERALL COMFORT LEVEL NOW BORDERS ON LUXURIOUS.

BOTH GAS AND HYBRID ENGINES ARE CARRYOVERS.

BUT CHASSIS IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING A NEW DOUBLE WISHBONE REAR SUSPENSION AND TORQUE SENSING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM.

>> Greg Carloss: I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL ALL THE HARD WORK THAT TOYOTA'S PUT INTO MAKING IT A MORE ENJOYABLE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

FIRST, WITH THE NEW INDEPENDENT DOUBLE WISHBONE SUSPENSION, IT FEELS MUCH MORE REFINED, MORE ON PAR WITH LUXURY MID-SIZE SUVS.

AND THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WAS ALSO REWORKED.

YOU CAN FEEL THAT ON TIGHT BACK ROADS.

MAINLY MID CORNER WHEN YOU START FEELING THE BACK END ROTATING AROUND.

SOMETHING YOU DON'T NORMALLY FEEL IN A VEHICLE THIS SIZE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT I WANT TO PUT IT THROUGH ITS PACES ON THOSE BACK ROADS, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY AN UPGRADE OVER LAST YEAR'S MODEL.

>> John: ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STARTS AROUND $30,000.

OUR QUICK SPIN IN SUBARU'S FIRST EVER PRODUCTION HYBRID WAS QUITE AN UNCONVENTIONAL ONE.

AND AMONGST THE FLAT TIRES, 90 MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS, WHITE OUT CONDITIONS, AND WAIST HIGH SNOW DRIFTS, THE 2014 XV CROSSTREK HYBRID SOLDIERED THROUGH AN EARLY WINTER ICELANDIC SNOWSTORM WITH AMAZING GRACE UNDER PRESSURE.

PITTING ITS MILD-HYBRID POWERTRAIN AGAINST THE ELEMENTS SEEMED FEASIBLE AT FIRST, IMPOSSIBLE AT THE ONSET OF BAD WEATHER, AND PRETTY DARN IMPRESSIVE WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE.

160 TOTAL SYSTEM HORSEPOWER IS GENERATED THROUGH A 2.0 LITER BOXER 4-CYLINDER ENGINE RATED AT 148 HORSEPOWER, AND A 13.4 HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC MOTOR INTEGRATED INTO THE CVT.

A NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY SITS UNDER THE REAR CARGO AREA.

THE USUAL HOST OF ADVANCED FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGIES ARE PRESENT, INCLUDING AUTO STOP/START, A LIMITED EV-ONLY MODE, AND ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS.

ALL TOLD, FUEL ECONOMY RATES 31 MPG COMBINED.

MILDLY BETTER THAN THE CONVENTIONAL CROSSTREK.

BUT THE CROSSTREK HYBRID, AND SUBARU AS A WHOLE, PLIES ITS TRADE IN GO-ANYWHERE, ADVENTURE DRIVING.

AND WITH 8.7 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, AND SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, WE WERE SURPRISED TO FIND JUST HOW FAR WE COULD PUSH THIS GREEN MACHINE BEFORE IT, AND EVEN OUR ICELANDIC TOUR GUIDES IN THEIR LAND ROVER DEFENDERS AND NISSAN PATROLS, HAD REACHED THEIR LIMITS.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK HYBRID BEGINS AROUND $27,000.

AND WE'LL GO ON MORE QUICK SPINS IN MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS, SOON!

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 IMPRESSION 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".

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.

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

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.

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, WHEN WE'LL PUT OUR FOCUS ON THE FAMILY WITH THE REWORKED HONDA ODYSSEY.

THEN SHIFT BACK TO PERFORMANCE WITH THE ENTICING PORSCHE CAYMAN S. 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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