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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE ALL-NEW C-CLASS IS READY TO ROCK WITH ITS NEW ROLE IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINEUP.

PAT GOSS HAS A FEW DOWN AND DIRTY CAR CARE TIPS.

WHILE AUTO WORLD FINDS WAYS TO CUT THE CORD ON EV CHARGING.

THEN WE'LL REVIVE OUR MUSCLE CAR MEMORIES IN THE DODGE CHALLENGER.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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.

OFFERING A VARIETY 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 EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> JOHN: THERE'S A LOT OF SHUFFLING GOING ON AT MERCEDES-BENZ THESE DAYS.

NEW MODELS, A NEW NAMING SCHEME, AND WITH THAT, A NEW HIERARCHY.

WITH THE CLA NOW TAKING ON THE ENTRY-LEVEL SEDAN SPOT, THE ALWAYS RELIABLE C-CLASS HAS ITS STATUS MOVED A BIT MORE UPMARKET.

SO, DOES THIS ALL-NEW "C" GET BUMPED ALL THE WAY UP TO FIRST CLASS, OR IS IT NOW MORE ECONOMY PLUS?

THE MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS HAS INDEED HAD A TOUGH TASK, ANCHORING ENTRY-LEVEL DUTIES HERE IN THE U.S., WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING ITS STATUS AS THE BRAND'S TOP SELLING MODEL.

BUT THANKS TO AN EXPANDED LINE-UP, THE 2015 C-CLASS NOW HAS THE ABILITY TO COME INTO ITS OWN, SO TO SPEAK, AND EMBRACE ITS INNER LUXURY CAR.

OUR C300 4MATIC SEDAN GETS THINGS OFF TO A GOOD START WITH THE SMOOTHEST TURBO I4 WE'VE YET DRIVEN.

THE 2.0 LITER'S 241 HORSEPOWER SLIDES IT IN BETWEEN BMW AND CADILLAC'S 2.0 LITER TURBO-4'S, BUT ITS 273 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE BESTS THEM BOTH.

A 3.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V6 IS ALSO AVAILABLE; AND BOTH GET DOWN THE ROAD WITH 7-SPEED AUTOMATICS.

GETTING DOWN OUR TEST TRACK TOOK 14.8 SECONDS, CLEARING THE QUARTER-MILE AT 93 MILES-PER HOUR.

FULL AUTO SHIFTS ARE HEAD SNAPPING STRONG WITH GOOD POWER FROM THE ENGINE ALL THE WAY TO REDLINE.

THERE WAS A TOUCH OF WHEEL SPIN AT LAUNCH, BUT NO NOTICEABLE TURBO LAG AS WE DASHED TO 60 IN 6.6 SECONDS.

ENGINE NOISE IF FAIRLY SUBDUED, AND THE EXHAUST HAS A SPORTY BUT NOT VICIOUS NOTE.

DESPITE A SERIOUS BURNING SMELL AND FEEL THAT WAS NOT BEFITTING OF A TRUE LUXURY CAR, STOPPING DISTANCES FROM 60 WERE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD, AVERAGING JUST 114 FEET AND IT WAS VERY STABLE.

THINGS FELT MUCH MORE LUXURY MINDED THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE, BUT THE C300 IS STILL A VERY CAPABLE HANDLER.

THE SUSPENSION SEES A BIG UPGRADE, WITH NEW INDEPENDENT 4-LINK HARDWARE UP FRONT AND 5-LINK IN THE REAR.

MERCEDES ALSO BRINGS THEIR AIRMATIC SUSPENSION DOWN TO THE C-CLASS WITH SETTINGS FOR COMFORT, ECO, SPORT, AND SPORT+, BUT EVEN IN ITS SPORTIEST SETTING, THERE'S NOTABLE BODY ROLL.

THE BIGGEST HINDRANCE TO OUR HANDLING FUN WAS OUR TEST CAR'S CONTINENTAL CONTISPORT TIRES THAT DIDN'T SEEM UP TO THE TASK OF GRIPPING WHAT THE CHASSIS WAS CAPABLE OF DELIVERING.

BECAUSE OF THAT THE "C" WILL PROBABLY LOSE EVERY COMPARISON IT GETS LUMPED INTO.

BUT THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND IN IT, THE LESS YOU CARE ABOUT THAT; AS YOU ARE VERY RELAXED, COMFORTED, AND WONDERING WHY EVERYONE'S IN SUCH A BIG HURRY ANYWAY?

SO, WHILE IT MAY STILL FALL SHORT OF RIVALS SUCH AS THE 3 SERIES AND ATS IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT, IT OUT LUXURIES THEM FOR SURE.

THE LEVEL OF INTERIOR REFINEMENT, A NOTICEABLE WEAK SPOT IN THE PREVIOUS "C," HAS GOTTEN VASTLY BETTER, APPEARING MORE S-CLASS THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THERE'S GREAT FINISH TO ALL OF THE MATERIALS, AND MUCH TO LOVE ABOUT THE TASTEFUL BLEND OF MODERN AND CLASSIC DESIGN.

MOST TRIM WORK LOOKS WAY ABOVE PRICE POINT, THE PIANO BLACK A NOTICEABLE EXCEPTION AS IT WAS ALREADY SCRATCHED UP IN OUR TEST CAR.

MOST FOUND THE SEATS COMFY, WITH PLENTY OF ROOM UP FRONT FOR A COMPACT, BUT EVEN WITH 3 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE, REAR SEAT ROOM REMAINS TIGHT.

AND THERE WAS CERTAINLY ROOM TO GROW AS THE PREVIOUS C-CLASS WAS ACTUALLY SHORTER IN LENGTH THAN THE CLA; AND INDEED EVERY DIMENSION HAS BEEN INCREASED.

AS BEFORE, 2 FACES ARE AVAILABLE, A CLASSIC DESIGN WITH TRADITIONAL GRILLE IN THE LUXURY LINE; AND THE LARGE LOGOED GRILLE OF THE SPORT LINE.

OVERALL, AND DESPITE A LOT OF S-CLASS STYLING HINTS, THE "C" DESIGN IS NOT VERY EXCITING.

MOST OF OUR CREW FOUND IT RATHER BORING.

BUT IT IS CLASSY AND SUCH UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE IS PROBABLY JUST WHAT MERCEDES-BENZ HAD IN MIND.

A MAJORITY OF THE NEW S-CLASS'S SAFETY FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE HERE AS WELL, INCLUDING COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS WHICH BROUGHT US TO A HALT FLAWLESSLY IN OUR LOW SPEED BARRIER TEST.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR C300 4MATIC ARE 24-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED JUST UNDER THAT WITH 26.7 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

AND THAT MAKES A BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE WITH THE BURNING OF 12.2 BARRELS OF OIL, AND ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.5 TONS.

BASE PRICING OF $39,325 APPEARS REASONABLE, A BIT LESS SO IS THE TURBO-V6 POWERED C400, WHICH STARTS AT $49,515, AND OUR HEAVILY EQUIPPED C300 4MATIC TESTER'S $53,720 STICKER SEEMED A LITTLE STEEP TO US AT FIRST.

HOWEVER, FACTORING IN THE AMOUNT OF LUXURY MERCEDES-BENZ HAS BEEN ABLE TO CRAM INTO THIS CAR MAKES ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS SEEM ALMOST LIKE A BARGAIN.

A COUPE AND OF COURSE AMG VERSIONS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL.

MERCEDES-BENZ CONSIDERS THEIR FLAGSHIP S-CLASS THE GREATEST CAR IN THE WORLD.

WE THINK THE C-CLASS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A GREAT RUNNER-UP.

CLEARLY, WITH THE 2015 C-CLASS, MERCEDES-BENZ HAS PLACED A HUGE PRIORITY ON MAKING IT MORE LUXURIOUS, AND CAREFULLY INCREASING ITS SIZE SO IT'S A LOT MORE FITTING FOR A LOT MORE PEOPLE.

INDEED, IT'S A FIRST CLASS UPGRADE THAT WILL KEEP THIS "C" FLYING HIGH.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND WHERE THE COUNTY'S NEW FLEET HEADQUARTERS IN ROCKVILLE IS ALSO A DEPOT FOR THEIR CNG TRANSIT BUSES.

NEARLY 75 PERCENT OF THEIR 400+ FLEET USE THE CLEANER BURNING FUEL DISPLACING NEARLY 1 MILLION GALLONS OF DIESEL A YEAR.

A MARYLAND CLEAN AIR GRANT ALSO HELPED BUILD 16 LEVEL II CHARGING STATIONS, AND PURCHASE MORE THAN A DOZEN PLUG IN HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IN 5 YEARS MONTGOMERY COUNTY HOPES TO REDUCE PETROLEUM USE BY 20 PERCENT.

>> BILL GRIFFITHS: WE WANT TO REPLACE, ELIMINATE WHERE WE CAN AND WE'RE USING ALL THESE FUELS.

WE'RE USING CNG.

WE'RE USING ELECTRIC.

WE'RE USING E85.

WE'RE USING BIOFUELS, AND HELP ACHIEVE THAT 20 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OUR PETROLEUM.

>> JOHN: THE COUNTY HAS BEEN USING CNG BUSES FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND EVEN SHARES THEIR FUELING STATION WITH 125 CONTRACTED CNG REFUSE TRUCKS.

NEXT YEAR A NEW PUBLIC ACCESS FAST FILL CNG STATION GOES ONLINE.

ALL PROGRESSIVE EFFORTS TO MAKE THE COUNTY'S GREEN FLEET PLAN A MAXIMUM SUCCESS.

FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ROAD TESTS AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

NOW, WIRELESS INTERNET AND CELLULAR PHONES HAVE ALLOWED US TO STAY IN TOUCH WHEREVER WE ROAM.

FOR ELECTRIC CARS, THOUGH, CUTTING THE CORD GOES BEYOND MERE CONVENIENCE AND OPENS UP WHOLE NEW HORIZONS IN PERSONAL MOBILITY.

WITH MORE AND MORE PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES HITTING THE MARKET, EV'S ARE LEAVING THE EARLY ADOPTER STAGE AND BECOMING MAINSTREAM FIXTURES ON U.S.

ROADS.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVERS ENJOY THE QUIET OPERATION, LOW FUEL COST, AND CONVENIENCE OF NOT VISITING GAS STATIONS.

BUT MANY WISH THERE WAS AN EASIER WAY TO CHARGE THEIR CARS THAN CONSTANTLY WRESTLING WITH HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER CORDS.

IMAGINE PULLING INTO YOUR GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE AND HAVING YOUR ELECTRIC CAR BEGIN CHARGING AUTOMATICALLY, WHILE YOU GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

DID YOU MISS IT?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS CADILLAC ELR DRIVER JUST DID.

OF COURSE, SHE HAS A SMALL ADVANTAGE OVER YOU AND ME: REBECCA HOUGH IS THE CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF EVATRAN, ONE OF THE FIRST COMPANIES TO BRING WIRELESS EV CHARGING TO U.S. CONSUMERS.

>>REBECCA HOUGH: WIRELESS CHARGING IS ALL ABOUT MAKING THE RECHARGING PROCESS FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNER CONVENIENT, SIMPLE, AND HASSLE FREE.

SO, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PHYSICALLY PLUG IN THE CAR, YOU SIMPLY PULL OVER OUR SYSTEM AND AUTOMATICALLY BEGIN RECHARGING.

INSTEAD OF HAVING TO COME HOME AND START A NEW ROUTINE THAT YOU'RE NOT USED TO, YOU SIMPLY DRIVE HOME, YOU GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AND YOU GO INSIDE JUST LIKE YOU TYPICALLY WOULD WITH A TRADITIONAL VEHICLE.

>> JOHN: THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND PLUGLESS CHARGING IS CALLED "INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER," AND HAS BEEN USED UNTIL NOW TO CHARGE SMALL DEVICES LIKE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES AND SOME CELL PHONES.

CHARGING IS ENABLED WHEN THE VEHICLE INSTALLED RECEIVER PLATE IS ALIGNED WITH A TRANSMITTING COIL HOUSED IN A MANHOLE SIZED PARKING PAD PLACED ON THE GROUND.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE ALLOWS ELECTRICITY TO PASS OVER THE AIR GAP BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE CAR WITH MINIMAL LOSS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

BUT CHARGING MIGHT TAKE SLIGHTLY LONGER TO ACCOMPLISH THAN WITH A COMPARABLE WIRED LEVEL 2 SYSTEM.

A WALL OR PEDESTAL MOUNTED CONTROL PANEL HAS INDICATOR ARROWS TO HELP GUIDE THE DRIVER INTO PROPER ALIGNMENT, AND EVEN GIVES A SCORE TO RATE HOW WELL THEY DID.

THE PARKING PAD IS STRONG ENOUGH TO DRIVE OVER AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY RAIN OR EVEN SNOW.

EVATRAN'S SYSTEM ALLOWS FULL USE OF THE VEHICLE'S ONBOARD CHARGING TIMER AND PHONE APPS.

THE CORDED CHARGE PORT REMAINS FULLY FUNCTIONAL WHEN NEEDED, BUT THE 2 SYSTEMS CANNOT BE USED AT THE SAME TIME.

TOYOTA, HYUNDAI , NISSAN AND OTHERS ARE ALL WORKING ON OEM WIRELESS CHARGING SYSTEMS, AND KEY RESEARCH AND TESTING IS TAKING PLACE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S OAK RIDGE AND IDAHO NATIONAL LABS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WIRELESS CHARGING STANDARDS ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED, SO THE FIELD IS STILL EVOLVING.

HEVO POWER, A NEW YORK BASED START-UP, HAS DEVELOPED A WIRELESS CHARGING SYSTEM AIMED AT THE GROWING NUMBER OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID FLEET DELIVERY VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY IN CITIES AND URBAN AREAS.

HEVO'S SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR A TALLER AIR GAP OF UP TO 12 INCHES, NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE HIGHER GROUND CLEARANCE OF HEAVY TRUCKS.

>> JEREMY MCCOOL: ITS DEFINITELY GOING TO START IN THE LOADING BAY AREAS.

IT'S GOING TO START AT THE WAREHOUSES.

IT'S GOING TO START AT THE PLACES WHERE LOADING DOCKS ARE.

BECAUSE THERE IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT OPERATION WORKS FOR THOSE FLEET OPERATORS.

THE VEHICLE BACKS UP, IT CHARGES.

NOBODY HAD TO GET OUT AND PLUG IT IN.

>> JOHN: LOOKING FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, THE HOPE IS TO IMBED INDUCTIVE CHARGING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE ROAD ITSELF, ALLOWING ELECTRIC CARS TO CHARGE WHILE THEY DRIVE IN SPECIFICALLY WIRED LANES, AND POTENTIALLY REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE'S ONBOARD BATTERY.

>> REBECCA: WE'RE ALREADY INVOLVED IN PROJECTS THAT ARE LOOKING AT DYNAMIC CHARGING.

ONE QUESTION IS THE TECHNOLOGY THE SECOND QUESTION IS IMPLEMENTATION.

SO, IT IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROBLEM BUT TECHNICALLY WE DO BELIEVE IT'S FEASIBLE FOR A CAR THAT CHARGES DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

>> JOHN: RECHARGEABLE BATTERY POWER MAKES SENSE FOR A LOT OF SENSE FOR A LOT OF VEHICLES AND SITUATIONS, AND MAKING EV'S MORE CONVENIENT BY CUTTING THE CORD MAY SET THE STAGE FOR AN EV REVOLUTION.

PAT GOSS ALWAYS KEEPS US ON SOLID GROUND WHEN IT COMES TO CAR CARE.

BUT NOW HE'S GOT A FEW TIPS FOR HEADING OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

>> PAT GOSS: 4-WHEEL AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE BECOMING INCREDIBLY POPULAR, AND THEY HAVE SOME PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS ABOUT THEM; WELL THEY REQUIRE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAINTENANCE.

LIKE THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FOR INSTANCE.

YOU NEED TO CHECK THE FLUID IN IT REGULARLY, AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE FLUID IN DIFFERENTIALS REGULARLY, TOO.

IN MOST CASES, NO MORE THAN 30-36,000 MILES.

AND IN SOME CASES IT MAY BE AS FREQUENTLY AS EVERY 15,000 MILES.

ALSO LOOK FOR ANY KINDS OF LEAKS WHEN YOU'RE UNDER IT.

AND MOVING BACK HERE ALONG THE VEHICLE, THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE TRANSFER CASE.

THIS IS WHAT DISTRIBUTES THE POWER EITHER TO THE REAR WHEELS OR THE FRONT WHEELS, OR ALL OF THE WHEELS.

AND IT ALSO NEEDS PERIODIC SERVICE.

THE FLUID IN IT HAS TO BE CHANGED.

YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL.

AND HERE'S A TIP.

WHEN YOU CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE TRANSFER CASE, IF A LOT OF FLUID RUNS OUT AS IF IT'S OVERFILLED, WELL IT PROBABLY IS OVERFILLED.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE HAVE A BAD SEAL IN THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IS COMING INTO THE TRANSFER CASE.

GOTTA GET THAT FIXED RIGHT AWAY OR IT GETS REALLY SERIOUS?

NOW, UP HERE WE HAVE A MOTOR ON THE TRANSFER CASE, THAT'S WHAT SHIFTS IT THROUGH THE GEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT'S EXPOSED, AND IT HAS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON IT, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE HERE.

PERIODICALLY, AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, YOU SHOULD OPEN THAT CONNECTOR AND COAT IT WITH DI-ELECTRIC GREASE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BAD HABIT OF CORRODING INTERNALLY.

LOOK AT THE BRAKE LINES ON ANY VEHICLE: 4 WHEEL, 2 WHEEL, YOU NAME IT; CAR, TRUCK, WHATEVER.

A LOT OF THE OLDER BRAKE LINES, IF THEY EVER GET NEAR SALT OF ANY KIND, THE BEACH OR HIGHWAY SALT, OR ANYTHING, THEY WILL RUST.

AND ONE WAY TO HELP PREVENT THAT IS TO USE WHITE LITHIUM GREASE OR AN ANTI-CORROSION SPRAY TO SPRAY ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES.

REAR DIFFERENTIAL: YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE FLUID IN IT REGULARLY.

THAT MEANS, AGAIN, COULD BE 15,000 MILES, BUT TYPICALLY NOT MORE THAN 36.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE PROPER LUBRICANT.

BECAUSE MOST OF THESE WILL BE LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS AND IF YOU USE THE WRONG LUBRICANT, WELL, THE LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT WORK.

NOW, SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S BECOMING REALLY POPULAR ARE SELF-LEVELING SYSTEMS ON TRUCKS AND ON SUVS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LINKAGES THAT NEED TO BE LUBRICATED.

THEY'RE WHAT SENSE THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND TURN ON THE AIR PUMP TO LEVEL IT.

SO, KEEP THOSE LUBRICATED SO THEY DON'T WEAR OUT.

NOW IF YOU DO THIS, WELL YOU CAN KEEP YOURSELF OUT OF TROUBLE, AND YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

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

>> JOHN: WE'VE BEEN BUSY DRIVING THE LATEST, SO LET'S CATCH UP WITH A FEW QUICK SPINS.

THE 2016 MODEL YEAR MARKS THE ARRIVAL OF THE 3RD GENERATION OF THE KIA SORENTO.

WHAT ONCE WAS A RUGGED 2-ROW SUV, HAS GROWN INTO A MODERN 3-ROW CROSSOVER IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORDS.

THE LOOK IS NOT VASTLY DIFFERENT, BUT IT IS MODERNIZED WITH A TAD MORE AGGRESSION, PARTICULARLY OUT BACK.

THERE'S A TALLER, FLATTER NOSE, WITH BODY SIDE SCULPTING THAT IS MUCH SMOOTHER.

LIKE MOST REDESIGNS, IT'S THE INTERIOR THAT GOT THE MOST ATTENTION.

THERE ARE MORE SOFT MATERIALS; AND MORE ROOM FOR BOTH 2ND AND 3RD ROW PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS CARGO.

UNDER THE HOOD, THERE'S A NEW ENGINE OPTION.

IT'S THE 240 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 FROM THE OPTIMA, WITH AN EXPECTED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 27 ON THE HIGHWAY.

IT JOINS AN UPDATED 185 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER NORMALLY ASPIRATED I4 AND THE 290 HORSEPOWER 3.3 LITER V6 THAT NOW TOWS 5,000 POUNDS.

ALL ARE CONNECTED TO A CONVENTIONAL 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH LOCK MODE AND TORQUE VECTORING CORNER CONTROL IS AVAILABLE WITH ANY ENGINE.

PERHAPS OUR BIGGEST GRIEVANCE WITH THE PREVIOUS GENERATION SORENTO WAS THE ROUGHISH RIDE QUALITY; WHICH KIA HAS ADDRESSED WITH A WHEELBASE THAT IS 3 INCHES LONGER, A BODY STRUCTURE THAT IS 14 PERCENT STIFFER, AND SUSPENSION THAT'S BEEN REDESIGNED BOTH FRONT AND REAR.

>> BRIAN ROBINSON: IT'S NOT A NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE, BUT THE RIDE HAS CERTAINLY IMPROVED, AND FORTUNATELY THAT'S WITHOUT SACRIFICING ANYTHING ON THE HANDLING END OF THINGS.

>> JOHN: THINGS HAVE ALSO GOTTEN QUIETER INSIDE AND SEAT COMFORT CLIMBS A NOTCH OR TWO.

BASE PRICING STAYS THE SAME AT AROUND $25,000, BUT WITH MORE FEATURES AVAILABLE, THE HIGH END CREEPS UP TOWARD THE MID-40'S.

AND WE'LL TAKE YOU OUT ON MORE QUICK SPINS SOON.

THE DODGE CHALLENGER MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF THE ALSO RAN IN THE MUSTANG/CAMARO BATTLE, BUT SPEND ANY TIME IN THIS BIG, COMFY BRUISER AND IT QUICKLY GROWS ON YOU.

PLUS, IN A COUPE SEGMENT THAT THRIVES ON NOSTALGIA, IT MAY BE THE MOST BACKWARD LOOKING OF THEM ALL.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS EYE ON WHERE THE PONY CARS ARE HEADED.

AND CHALLENGER INTENDS ON GETTING THERE, FIRST.

AMERICAN PERFORMANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MOST ABOUT MUSCLE!

SO, TO BECOME EVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGER IN THE PONY CAR ARENA, THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER GETS AN UPGRADED ARSENAL THAT INCLUDES TWEAKED STYLING, INTERIOR REFINEMENT, AND BEST OF ALL, TRUE MUSCLE CAR POWER!

3 ENGINES ARE OFFERED: A 3.6 LITER V6 FOR SECRETARY TYPES, A 5.7 LITER HEMI V8 FOR MID-LEVEL MANAGEMENT, AND A 6.4 LITER HEMI V8 FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO BE THE BOSS.

IT'S THE BIG HEMI THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS CHALLENGER SRT 392 AND IT KEEPS THE CAM IN BLOCK WHERE IT BELONGS, HELPING THE ENGINE FEED OUT 485 HORSEPOWER AND 475 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH NUMBERS UP SLIGHTLY OVER LAST YEAR.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STILL STANDARD, BUT BUYERS CAN OPT FOR THE SEGMENT'S ONLY 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC; A TORQUEFLITE ZF UNIT WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS AND STREET, SPORT, AND TRACK MODES.

NOW, EVEN BOSSES HAVE BIGGER BOSSES, AND IN THE CHALLENGER'S CASE, THAT'S THE NEW 707 HORSEPOWER CHALLENGER SRT WITH HEMI HELLCAT.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS ONE AT A LATER DATE, SO, STAY TUNED.

FOR NOW, LET'S LOOK AT THE ONE AREA THAT THE CHALLENGER CLEARLY HAS AN ADVANTAGE OVER BOTH THE MUSTANG AND CAMARO.

AND THAT IS INSIDE THE CABIN, WHERE THERE'S AN IRRATIONAL AMOUNT OF COMFORT AND SPACE, EVEN FOR THOSE WELL OVER 6-FOOT.

THE DASH LAYOUT IS GREAT, TICKING ALL THE RIGHT BOXES OF BEING NOSTALGIC, HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL, AND NICE LOOKING.

BEING AN SRT MODEL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SPECIALTY ITEMS ADDED INTO THE MIX INCLUDED: NEWLY IMPROVED SPORT SEATS, RE-DESIGNED STEERING WHEEL, AND OUR FAVORITE, PERFORMANCE PAGES ON THE 8.4 INCH UCONNECT SCREEN.

LIKE THE REST OF THE CAR, THE GAUGES LOOK BOTH RETRO AND HIGH-TECH; WITH BIG DIALS AND PROGRAMMABLE INFO SCREEN.

OPT FOR THE PREMIUM AUDIO GROUP AND YOU'LL GET A FULL ON AURAL ASSAULT FROM THE 900-WATT HARMON KARDON 19 SPEAKER SYSTEM, INCLUDING DUAL SUBS IN THE TRUNK.

THERE'S STILL NOT A LOT OF ROOM IN THE BACK SEATS, BUT THERE'S JUST ENOUGH COMFORT IN THEM TO IMPLY THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST AFTERTHOUGHTS.

ALL OF THAT INTERIOR COMFORT ALSO TRANSFERS OVER TO THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WHERE THE RIDE IS "PARADE FLOAT" SOFT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER ENGAGING THE SPORT DRIVE MODE AS PART OF THE STARTUP PROCEDURE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A STIFF PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED RIDE.

GO ONE STEP FURTHER FOR TRACK MODE, AND THINGS GET SERIOUS.

GRIP THROUGH CORNERS BECOMES VELCRO LIKE AND THINGS STAY FIRM AND FLAT AS A BRICK THROUGHOUT THE SLALOM.

NOT TOO MANY VEHICLES HAVE SUCH AN OBVIOUS DISCREPANCY BETWEEN DRIVING MODES, BUT CHALLENGER SRT HAS THE ABILITY TO TRULY DRIVE LIKE 3 DIFFERENT CARS.

NO MATTER WHICH MODE YOU'VE GOT DIALED IN, PUTTING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WILL RESULT IN SOME IMMEDIATE WHEEL SPINNING AS YOU TRY TO GET OFF THE LINE.

PROGRAMMABLE LAUNCH CONTROL IS AVAILABLE TO HELP, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ELECTRONICS CAN DO.

EVENTUALLY, AFTER FINDING SOME TRACTION WE WERE ABLE TO HIT 60 IN 4.7 SECONDS.

OUR AUTOMATIC SHIFTS WERE NOT NEARLY AS HARSH AS WE WERE EXPECTING, YET THEY ARE INCREDIBLY QUICK AS WE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH TO THE END OF THE QUARTER-MILE IN 12.8 SECONDS AT 106 MILES-PER-HOUR, ALL THE WHILE ACCOMPANIED BY A MACHO '70s SOUNDTRACK THAT WOULD MAKE MR. T PROUD.

THANKS TO THE BIGGEST BRAKES EVER STANDARD ON A DODGE, STOPS FROM 60 TOOK PLACE IN A SHORT 109 FEET.

STYLING UPDATES FOR '15 ARE MOSTLY CONSTRAINED TO NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS.

BUT DESPITE A DESIGN THAT DRAWS HEAVILY ON NOSTALGIA, THE RESULT STILL LOOKS FAIRLY FRESH AND MENACING.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THE MADE-TO-FADE PLASTIC EXTERIOR TRIM WAS A NO GO FOR SOME OF OUR STAFF, FEARING THAT THE HOOD SCOOP, LIP SPOILER, LIGHT SURROUNDS, BUMPERS, AND WINDOW MOLDINGS WOULD ALL EVENTUALLY TURN TO JEEP WRANGLER FENDER GRAY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED; AND OUR AVERAGE OF 18.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM IS CERTAINLY NOT GREAT, BUT ACCEPTABLE FOR A MUSCLE CAR.

BUT THAT DOES RESULT IN A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 18.3 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 8.0 TONS.

THIS MUCHO MACHO SRT 392 STARTS AT $45,990, BUT YOU CAN GET INTO A V6 CHALLENGER FOR AS LITTLE AS $27,990.

SO, AS THE PONY CAR WARS RAGE ON WITH EVER BUILDING INTENSITY, IT'S CERTAINLY TOO EARLY TO DECLARE A WINNER.

BUT IF THERE'S ONE COMBATANT THAT MAKES A GOOD CASE THAT MODERN MUSCLE AND FAMILY COMFORT CAN COEXIST IN A SINGLE BAD-TO-THE-BONE COUPE, IT'S THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT 392.

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 AND SEE IF THE REDESIGNED KIA SEDONA CAN REBOOT MINIVAN SALES.

THEN CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE FOR A RIDE IN THE ALFA ROMEO 4C.

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...

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.

OFFERING A VARIETY 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 EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.