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

JOIN US WAS WE PROCESS A PRICEY WORK ORDER FOR THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500... PAT GOSSHOWS US THE DO'S AND DON'TS, SO WE MIGHT AS WELL GET JUMPED... AUTO WORLD LOOKS AT HOW BIG TRUCKS ARE STAYING ON THE CHARGING EDGE... THEN WE'LL DROP THE TOP ON A BRITISH BEAUTY, THE ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER GT...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ANNOUNCER: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF 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.

John: WHILE FORTUNATELY NOT YET THE NORM, $60,000 PICKUP TRUCKS ARE SURELY NO LONGER A RARITY ON AMERICAN ROADS.

BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE LEATHER CLAD, FEATURE PACKED, COMFORT ENHANCED, LUXURY-MINDED, LONG HAUL MACHINES, DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THEY NO LONGER ARE ABOUT GETTING SOME SERIOUS WORK DONE.

THE HEAVY DUTY TRUCK WORLD HAS BEEN IN A BIT OF AN ARMS RACE OF LATE, WITH ALL OF THE DOMESTIC REGULARS PUSHING BOTH CONTENT AND CAPACITY TO EVER HIGHER LEVELS AT AN ACCELERATED PACE.

SO, THE 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, WITH GUNS BLAZING.

FIRST, JUST A QUICK RECAP OF WHAT BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT.

2014 SAW AN ALL-NEW SILVERADO 1500; ONE YEAR LATER, THE HD'S WERE UPDATED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH NEW BODIES AND INTERIORS.

2016 SEES FURTHER UPGRADES TO THE INTERIOR ELECTRONICS SUCH AS STEERING AND MYLINK AS WELL AS SOME ADDED FEATURES.

SMALL TWEAKS THAT GM HOPES WILL PAY BIG DIVIDENDS.

IT'S BEEN HARD TO TRULY SAY WHO OFFERS CLASS LEADING TOWING ANYMORE, SINCE DIFFERENT STANDARDS ARE BEING USED; AND EACH BRAND SEEMS TO HAVE A PARTICULAR CONFIGURATION THAT OUT TOWS A SIMILAR SETUP OF ALL THE OTHER BRANDS.

BUT HERE'S WHERE THE SILVERADO HD FALLS IN.

USING SAE J2807 STANDARDS, IT'S CAPABLE OF TOWING 23,200 POUNDS.

THAT'S A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE 3500 REGULAR CAB DUALLY WITH AN 8-FOOT BED, DIESEL ENGINE, AND 3.73 AXLE RATIO TOWING A GOOSENECK OR 5TH WHEEL TRAILER.

OUR DIESEL EQUIPPED 2500 CREW CAB 4X4 SHORT BED IS RATED FOR 13,900 POUNDS ON THE REAR AXLE, 13,000 FROM BEHIND IT.

STILL, WHILE WORK ETHIC REMAINS A FACTOR, IT IS THE SHEER LUXURIOUSNESS AVAILABLE TO HEAVY DUTY PICKUP DRIVERS, WITH FEATURES AND AMENITIES THAT COULD ONLY BE DREAMED ABOUT NOT TOO LONG AGO; THAT SEEMS TO BE DRIVING THE MARKET.

AND RIDING HIGH IN THE SILVERADO IS WHAT THE HIGH COUNTRY PACKAGE IS ALL ABOUT.

YOU GET THE OBVIOUS CHROME TREATMENTS TO THE EXTERIOR AS WELL AS STEP RAILS, 20-INCH HOOPS, AND A SPRAY-IN BED LINER.

INSIDE, YOU'LL BE WRAPPED IN EXCLUSIVE, YET DURABLE LOOKING, SADDLE BROWN LEATHER, WITH THE ABILITY TO HEAT AND COOL YOUR REAR-END.

SO, WHILE A RIG SUCH AS THIS ONE IS NOT EXACTLY INTENDED FOR DAILY JOB SITE CHORES, EXPECT TO SEE IT TOWING SHOW HORSES, OR PULLING A HIGH DOLLAR 5TH WHEEL RV JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

FOR THE MOST PULLING POWER, YOU'LL WANT THE 6.6 LITER DURAMAX TURBO-DIESEL, OF COURSE, AS THIS V8 CHURNS UP 765 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, ALONG WITH 397 HORSEPOWER.

WITH IT, YOU'LL GET AN ALLISON 1000 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A GAS ENGINE IS ALSO AVAILABLE IF YOU MUST, GM'S 360 HORSEPOWER 6.0 LITER V8 WITH 380 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND A HYRDA-MATIC 6-SPEED AUTO.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS AREN'T REQUIRED FOR HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS, BUT WE AVERAGED A REASONABLE 18.1 MILES PER GALLON WITH OUR DIESEL.

WHILE HAULING NUMBERS ARE PROBABLY MORE SIGNIFICANT TO MOST, ACCELERATION FIGURES WEIGH HEAVILY ON SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS, SO IT WAS OFF TO THE TRACK; WHERE WE DID A HEAVY DUTY SPRINT TO 60 IN 9 SECONDS FLAT.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF STUMP-PULLING TORQUE, IT'S GETTING IT TO TRANSFER TO THE PAVEMENT THAT BECOMES THE ISSUE.

SHORT SHIFTING THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE, THE 2500 WRAPPED UP THAT JOB IN 17 SECONDS AT 89 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT AS EVERY HD DIESEL OWNER KNOWS, THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THIS DURAMAX IS CAPABLE OF, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF AFTERMARKET BITS THAT WILL HELP YOU UNLEASH THIS BEAST'S FULL POTENTIAL.

SETTING IT LOOSE THROUGH THE CONES, IS AN EXERCISE IN HAVING PATIENCE AS YOU NAVIGATE TIGHT QUARTERS.

NOT THAT IT PROTESTS, THIS IS JUST A LOT OF HEAVY VEHICLE TO MANEUVER.

THE FACT THAT THE DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST HAS BEEN TIGHTENED UP FOR A MORE NATURAL FEEL HELPS THINGS ALONG A LITTLE BETTER THAN BEFORE.

OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST UPDATE THAT ARRIVED WITH LAST YEAR'S MAKEOVER WAS THE SILVERADO 1/2 TON'S LEVEL OF RIDE QUALITY AND NOISE CONTROL.

AND WHILE THAT MATTERED LITTLE AT THE TEST TRACK, YOU'LL SURELY APPRECIATE THAT WHEN GOING ON THOSE LONG HAUL TOWS.

AS FOR PRICING, YOU CAN EXPECT QUITE A SPREAD, WITH THE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE, BUT THE FUN STARTS AT $34,150.

OUR HIGH COUNTRY 2500 WITH OPTIONS ROLLS OUT FOR OVER $66,000.

PRICEY BUT NOWHERE NEAR THE TOP OF THE MARKET THESE DAYS.

SO, IF YOU'VE GOT THE NEED, OR DESIRE, TO STEP TOWARDS THE PEAK OF THE TRUCK MARKET, THE 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD HIGH COUNTRY WILL HAVE YOU RIDING IN STYLE LIKE FEW OTHER HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS CAN DO.

MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CARS WHEN CONSIDERING STEPS EACH OF US CAN TAKE TO REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND TAILPIPE EMISSIONS.

BUT, WHEN YOU ADD CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CLEANER TRUCK AND BUS FLEETS THOSE BABY STEPS TURN INTO GIANT STEPS.

ONE ALTERNATIVE, ELECTRIC POWERED TRUCKS, MAKES GREAT SENSE FOR MANY APPLICATIONS, AND WE'VE FOUND TWO FORWARD THINKING COMPANIES TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS TO THAT SAME CLEAN GOAL.

REFUSE TRUCKS, TRANSIT BUSES, LOCAL DELIVERY FLEETS, AND PASSENGER SHUTTLES ALL OPERATE IN RIGOROUS STOP AND GO DUTY CYCLES DURING THEIR DAILY ROUTINES, AND CAN SPEND HOURS A DAY IDLING.

WITH A TYPICAL GAS OR DIESEL POWERTRAIN, THESE TRUCKS BURN MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF FUEL EACH YEAR AND EMIT TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

BUT THAT STOP AND GO ROUTINE AND LOCAL FOOTPRINT MAKES THESE KINDS OF TRUCKS PRIME CANDIDATES FOR RUNNING ON ELECTRIC POWER INSTEAD.

MOTIV POWER SYSTEMS RECOGNIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON GAS AND DIESEL TRUCK EMISSIONS BY CONVERTING NEW TRUCKS USING PROVEN OFF THE SHELF ELECTRIC DRIVE COMPONENTS.

Jim Castelaz: UNLIKE PASSENGER CARS, WHERE EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS KIND OF DESIGNED BY AN OEM, SOUP TO NUTS, IN THE TRUCK SPACE, A LOT OF TRUCKS USE THE SAME ENGINES.

SO, YOU HAVE A COMPANY LIKE CUMMINS THAT SUPPLIES ENGINES TO A LOTS OF DIFFERENT TRUCK BUILDERS, AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO THAT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

John: THE ADVANTAGE OF ELECTRIC DRIVE IS IN HAVING FEWER MOVING PARTS TO MAINTAIN, BUT THE COMPLEXITY LIES IN THE SOFTWARE.

USING MOTIV'S OWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, THE COMPANY CAN MONITOR A TRUCK'S PERFORMANCE THROUGH TELEMATICS, UPDATE SOFTWARE, AND CONFIGURE PARAMETERS LIKE TOP SPEED, ALL REMOTELY FROM ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

NOW, TAKING TRUCK ELECTRIFICATION TO THE EXTREME IS THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR WRIGHTSPEED, THE BRAINCHILD OF TESLA CO-FOUNDER IAN WRIGHT.

WRIGHT SEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETROFIT THOUSANDS OF EXISTING TRUCKS WITH HIS UNIQUE PLUG-IN ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM, GIVING NEW LIFE TO OLDER CHASSIS, AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF A WHOLE NEW RIG.

LIKE MOTIV, THEY SEE REFUSE TRUCKS AS AN ESPECIALLY GOOD FIT FOR BATTERY POWER.

Ian Wright: THE THING EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS ABOUT ELECTRIC DRIVE IS THAT IT IS REALLY EFFICIENT.

WHICH IS GREAT, BUT YOU CAN'T SAVE MORE FUEL THAN THE VEHICLE USES.

SO, YOU PUT ELECTRIC DRIVE IN A LITTLE CITY CAR AND YOU CAN SAVE 100 GALLONS A YEAR, $300-400 A YEAR, BIG DEAL.

THESE GARBAGE TRUCKS BURN 14,000 GALLONS A YEAR.

John: WRIGHTSPEED'S FULL PLUG-IN SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED IN-HOUSE AND USES AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND GEARBOX AT EACH DRIVE WHEEL.

MUCH LIKE A CHEVROLET VOLT OR BMW I3, IT ADDS A RANGE EXTENDER TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY PACKS WHILE DRIVING.

BUT IN THIS CASE, THE TRUCK'S ORIGINAL ENGINE IS REPLACED BY A COMPACT 80KW GAS TURBINE GENERATOR.

Ian: THERE'S A VERY SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY IN CARS, TURBOCHARGERS, AND THEY MAKE 10 MILLION A YEAR FOR 150 BUCKS EACH, AND WHAT IF YOU USE THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE A TURBINE ENGINE, A SMALL ONE, SPECIFICALLY FOR A RANGE EXTENDER FOR USE IN VEHICLES, COULD YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND DRIVE THE COST DOWN?

YES, YOU CAN... ONCE YOU DO THAT, OF COURSE, YOU CAN THEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MUCH LOWER EMISSIONS PROFILE FROM A WELL-DESIGNED TURBINE, IT CAN BE 10 TIMES BETTER THAN A PISTON ENGINE.

WHICH MEANS YOU CAN PASS THE TOUGHEST EMISSION STANDARDS IN THE WORLD WITHOUT HAVING TO USE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR PARTICULATE FILTER, OR UREA INJECTION, EVEN IF YOU'RE BURNING DIESEL.

John: TAKING ADVANTAGE OF INEXPENSIVE POWER FROM THE ELECTRIC GRID TO CHARGE THE VEHICLES BATTERY PACKS, RECOVERING LOST BRAKING ENERGY OVER THOUSANDS OF HARD STOPS EACH DAY, AND TUNING THE GAS TURBINE TO RUN AT PEAK EFFICIENCY REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE SPEED, ARE ALL PATHS TO SAVING FUEL WITH WRIGHTSPEED'S ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM.

THE REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND NOISE POLLUTION ARE SUBSTANTIAL AS WELL.

BY LEVERAGING THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, COUPLED WITH THEIR PASSION FOR EFFECTING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, BOTH OF THESE VISIONARY COMPANIES SEE A CLEAR PATH TO MAKING AMERICA'S HEAVY HAULERS, NEW AND OLD, MORE EFFICIENT AND EMISSIONS-FREE WITH ELECTRIC POWER.

AND THAT SPELLS GOOD NEWS FOR DELIVERING A CLEAN DRIVING FUTURE.

Lauren Morrison: HYUNDAI HOPES TO ADD MORE PRESTIGE TO THEIR GENESIS LINE OF LUXURY VEHICLES BY SPINNING OFF THE NAME INTO A SEPARATE BRAND.

AND WE ARE JUST NOW GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT WHAT THEY'LL BRING TO MARKET.

OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHERS CAUGHT GLANCES OF THE INTERIOR OF THIS MYSTERY VEHICLE.

BELIEVED TO BE THE GENESIS G90, IT WILL REPLACE THE HYUNDAI EQUUS, AND BE THE FIRST TO LAUNCH UNDER THE NEW BRAND NAME.

SEEN HERE, A NEW SHIFTER AND CENTRAL CONTROLLER MIMIC MAINSTAYS LIKE THE AUDI A8 AND BMW 7 SERIES.

AND THESE LABEL DESIGNATIONS HINT AT SEVERAL POWERTRAIN OPTIONS, INCLUDING WHAT WE IMAGINE IS A NEW 3.3 LITER TURBOCHARGED V6 IN EITHER TWO OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES OPEN FOR MORE ON THE GENESIS G90 GOING FORWARD.

John: WE ALL NEED A JUMP START EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WHETHER IN LIFE, OR JUST FOR ONE OF OUR CARS.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME TIPS ON THE LATTER!

Pat Goss: OH, YOU GOTTA LOVE OLD FASHIONED BOOSTER CABLES.

THEY DON'T WORK WITH MODERN CARS.

YOU GOTTA BE REAL, REAL CAREFUL WITH THEM, IF YOU LIKE TO USE THEM.

ME?

I WOULD THROW THEM AWAY.

ONE OF MY CLIENTS CALLED FOR ROAD SERVICE; THE ROAD SERVICE GUY CAME OUT, HOOKED THEM UP BACKWARDS, AND FRIED ALL KINDS OF THINGS ON HER CAR.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NEVER THINK OF, IS RIGHT HERE: THIS IS THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT.

WELL, THIS IS AN LED UNIT, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN IN A BRAKE LIGHT, THERE IS A CIRCUIT BOARD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

WELL, SOMEHOW IT MANAGED TO DESTROY THIS, ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS.

AH, IT GOT VERY EXPENSIVE.

THIS ALONE WAS $150 PLUS A COUPLE OF HOURS OF LABOR TO INSTALL IT.

SO, WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS AN ALTERATIVE?

WELL, THERE ARE A TON OF THESE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACKS.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY JUMP STARTERS.

THEY COME WITH CABLES LIKE THIS.

YOU HOOK THE CABLES UP TO THE BATTERY, AND THEN YOU LET IT SIT FOR A FEW SECONDS, GO AROUND, AND START THE CAR.

THESE ACTUALLY PRODUCE ALMOST AS MUCH POWER AS YOU WOULD GET OUT OF THE END OF AN AVERAGE SET OF BOOSTER CABLES.

THEY RANGE IN PRICE, FROM OH, ABOUT 30 BUCKS UP TO WELL OVER $150.

NOW, WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE?

WELL, SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE SIZE OF THE BATTERY.

AND THAT DETERMINES THE POWER OUTPUT.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS THE NUMBER OF PORTS; THE NUMBER OF PLACES TO PLUG IN.

FOR POWER IN, AND POWER OUT, AND USB, AND SO ON.

SEE, LIKE THIS ONE, I PAID 139 BUCKS FOR IT.

AND IT CAME WITH ALL OF THESE ADAPTERS.

HAS AN ADAPTER TO CHARGE IT OUT OF THE CAR.

IT HAS VARIOUS ADAPTERS FOR MY ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND SO ON.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY VERSATILE.

BUT DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU LIKE TO GET INTO DO-IT-YOURSELF, ONE OF THESE COULD BE INVALUABLE.

SEE, FROM TIME TO TIME, IF YOU'RE INTO DO-IT-YOURSELF, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO WITH THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED IS SAVE THE MEMORY IN ALL OF THE DEVICES IN THE CAR.

SO, HERE'S AN ADAPTER YOU CAN BUY AS A SEPARATE PIECE.

WHAT THIS IS IS THE PLUG THAT GOES INTO THE INTERFACE UNDER THE DASH OF THE CAR.

AND THIS HAS A POWER OUT FITTING LIKE SO.

YOU PLUG THIS IN, PLUG IT INTO THE CAR, AND NOW, THE MEMORY IN THE CAR IS PROTECTED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, WHILE YOU WORK ON THE BATTERY.

VERY, HANDY THING TO HAVE.

SO, IF YOU'RE INTO DO-IT-YOURSELF, AND YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT, WELL, WHEN YOU BUY YOUR BOOSTER, LOOK FOR ONE THAT HAS THE FEATURES SO THAT YOU CAN CONNECT THESE VARIOUS ACCESSORIES.

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

* John: AND TO HANDLE THE SOFT SURFACES THAT WOULD BURY MOST VEHICLES UP TO THEIR AXLES, OUR TEST MACHINE EVEN HAD AN OPTIONAL CENTRAL TIRE INFLATION SYSTEM.

THIS ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO CHANGE TIRE PRESSURE WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE OR EVEN STOPPING.

WHILE OPTIONAL RUN FLAT TIRES ALLOW YOU TO DRIVE 20 MILES AT 30 MILES PER HOUR AFTER COMPLETE PRESSURE LOSS.

PUT THE HUMMER BACK ON PAVED ROADS, HOWEVER, AND YOU'LL QUICKLY FIND OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE FAMOUS.

THE BIG BOX LIKE HUMMER STANDS OUT WHEREVER IT GOES, AND IT TURNS A LOT OF HEADS, AND TAKES UP A LOT OF ROOM.

AUTO SHOW SEASON MOTORS ON, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FOR THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: IT'S THE FIRST BIG AMERICAN AUTO SHOW OF THE SEASON: THE 2015 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW.

AND YOU KNOW WE WERE ON HAND TO CATCH ALL THE HEADLINING ACTS.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST COVERAGE WENT TO ONE OF THE SMALLEST, LOWEST VOLUME CARS AT THE SHOW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RETURN OF THE FIAT 124 SPIDER.

IT LOOKS MUCH MORE INVITING IN PERSON THAN IN THE SPYSHOTS, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT A LITTLE TURBOCHARGED ITALIAN MAGIC CAN DO TO THE MAZDA MIATA PLATFORM.

THE ITALIANS MADE THINGS EVEN HOTTER WITH THE U.S.

DEBUT OF THE ALFA ROMEO GIULIA, INCLUDING ITS TOP QUADRIFOGLIO TRIM.

ENGINE CHOICES WILL BE BETWEEN A 276 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO 4, OR A 505 HORSEPOWER 2.9 LITER TWIN TURBO V6.

WE SAW PLENTY OF HOMETOWN PRIDE FROM THIS ALL-NEW BUICK LACROSSE, BRINGING MUCH OF THE STYLE OF THE SHOW STOPPING AVENIR CONCEPT TO REALITY.

LINCOLN DID THEIR PART TOO, ADDING THE CONTINENTAL CONCEPT'S GRILLE TO A REFRESHED MKZ.

BEHIND IT, A NEW 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO 400 HORSEPOWER V6.

HONDA TOOK THE WRAPS OFF THE CIVIC COUPE, AND IT LOOKS JUST LIKE WE EXPECTED.

SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS IS THAT THE 1.5 LITER TURBO WILL SOON BE PAIRED WITH THE 6-SPEED MANUAL.

THE FUTURE OF THE MAZDA CX-9 WAS LAID BARE, WITH A TOTAL REDESIGN.

THERE'S MORE ROOM INSIDE AND A TURBO 4 POWERTRAIN AS THE ONLY MOTIVATION.

CADILLAC IS MOVING ON FROM THE MIDSIZE SRX CROSSOVER TO THIS ALL-NEW XT5.

LIGHTER AND MORE LUXURIOUS, IT SHOULD BE THEIR BEST SELLER.

NISSAN RESTYLED THE COMPACT SENTRA, BRINGING IT MORE IN LINE WITH ITS CURRENT "HOT LOOK" 4-DOOR, THE MAXIMA.

MEANWHILE, HYUNDAI UNVEILED THEIR 6TH GENERATION ELANTRA COMPACT.

WITH A MORE MATURE LOOK, IT ADDS CLASS LEADING TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING AUTO BRAKING.

NEW STYLING WAS EVERYWHERE ON THE L.A.

FLOOR.

MERCEDES-BENZ SHOWED A REFRESHED SL HARDTOP ROADSTER, AND THE GLS, A RENAMED GL.

INFINITI GAVE THE U.S. MARKET A LOOK AT THE PRODUCTION QX30 COMPACT CROSSOVER... AND LAND ROVER HAD EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT THE RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE.

TRUE CONCEPTS WERE FEW.

BUT SUBARU DID ITS PART, SHOWING THIS IMPREZA SEDAN CONCEPT.

AND ONCE AGAIN WE SAW TOYOTA'S C-HR CROSSOVER CONCEPT.

IT'S NOW OFFICIALLY HEADED TO PRODUCTION AS SCION'S FIRST ALL-WHEEL DRIVER.

AND SOMETHING THAT'S BECOME A STAPLE AT THE L.A. AUTO SHOW, THE GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD.

IT WENT TO THE 2ND GENERATION CHEVROLET VOLT.

AND THAT'S IT FROM LOVELY L.A. AND FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: YOU KNOW THE TYPE: NO MATTER HOW SPECIAL A CAR SOME FOLKS HAVE, THEY'RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOMETHING, SPECIAL-ER.

IF THAT'S YOU, OUR NEXT CAR IS ONE YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF: THE ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER GT.

SURE YOU COULD BUY ONE JUST FOR THE BEAUTY, OR EVEN ITS RARITY.

BUT IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE SPECIAL THAN THAT!

ONE LOOK AT THE 2015 ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER GT, AND THERE'S NO MISTAKING THAT IT BELONGS IN THE LEGENDARY ASTON MARTIN FAMILY.

BUT WHILE TRADITIONAL STYLING CUES ARE OBVIOUS, AND THE OVERALL LOOK IS FAR FROM FRESH, THERE'S NO DENYING THIS CAR IS TRULY STUNNING.

AND PROOF THAT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF SHELF LIFE LEFT FOR A DESIGN THAT WORKS THIS WELL.

SURE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, EXOTIC SPORTS CAR, BUT THERE'S A SUBTLE GENTLEMANLY MANNER ABOUT IT THAT ENABLES IT TO BE APPRECIATED BY ANY AGE GROUP AND MEMBERS OF ALL INCOME BRACKETS.

OF COURSE IT ALL FLOWS FROM THE ICONIC GRILLWORK, HERE NICELY TRIMMED IN WHITE AND MADE OF REAL ALUMINUM, NOT CHROMED PLASTIC.

THIS SKYFALL SILVER LIVERY FEATURES ADDITIONAL WHITE ACCENTS THROUGHOUT, AND IS ONE OF FIVE SPECIAL PAINT SCHEMES YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM.

THINGS ARE CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED IN THE REAR, WITH ASTON FEELING THE DESIGN SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, SO NO NEED FOR EXCESSIVE BADGING.

THOUGH THE ADDED GT GRAPHICS PACKAGE ON OUR TESTER SUGGESTS OTHERWISE.

19-INCH GRAPHITE FORGED ALLOY WHEELS WEAR 245 SERIES RUBBER IN FRONT, 285 IN THE BACK.

THE FABRIC TOP IS POWER OPERATED AND STORES ITSELF UNDER A HARD TONNEAU COVER AND ALSO HIDES POP-UP ROLL-OVER PROTECTION BARS.

INSIDE, IT'S CERTAINLY GT CAR SPACIOUS, NOT THE MORE CRAMPED FEELING OF SAY A CORVETTE.

THE GAUGES RESEMBLE FINE WATCH FACES, AND ALL INTERIOR SWITCH GEAR HAVE A SOLID, HIGH QUALITY FEEL.

THE LEATHER IS DEEP, LUSH, AND EVEN SMELLS TERRIFIC.

IT'S NOT ALL GREAT, THOUGH, AS WITH HARDLY ANY MILES ON OUR TEST CAR, SOME INTERIOR SURFACES ARE ALREADY SHOWING SIGNIFICANT WEAR.

THE SCREEN FOR NAVIGATION RISES FROM THE TOP OF THE DASH, WHILE A CENTRAL CONTROLLER IS MOUNTED LOWER ON THE CENTER STACK.

AS FOR OPTIONS, HOW ABOUT A 1,000 WATT BANG & OLUFSEN BEOSOUND AUDIO SYSTEM FOR $8,330?

BUT, TRUNK SPACE FOR PICKING UP WHATEVER LUXURY ITEMS THE TYPICAL ASTON MARTIN CUSTOMER PICKS UP IS FAIRLY LIMITED TO JUST 5.0 CUBIC-FEET.

WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT OUR TESTER ALSO SPORTED A MANUAL SHIFTER!

IT ENGAGES SWIFTLY AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY EXCELLENT CLUTCH FEEL.

THE 6-SPEED CAN BE REPLACED WITH A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO WIMP OUT.

CLASSIC BRITISH TOUCHES ABOUND, LIKE THE OUTBOARD PARKING BRAKE HANDLE.

BUT PERHAPS OUR FAVORITE FEATURE IS SLIDING THE CRYSTAL KEY INTO THE IGNITION, AS IT REMINDS US OF SUPERMAN ACCESSING THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, AND THE RESULTS THAT IT TRIGGERS ARE NO LESS STUNNING.

POWER ERUPTS FROM A 4.7 LITER V8, AND WHILE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE BITE OF A SUPERCHARGED JAGUAR F-TYPE, ITS BARK IS MUCH NASTIER WITH A MORE REALISTIC AND PRIMAL SOUND.

MAKE SURE YOU ENGAGE SPORT MODE FOR FULL EFFECT.

HORSEPOWER IS 430; TORQUE COMES IN AT 361 POUND-FEET.

OUR DRIVE TIME WAS LIMITED TO A FEW DAYS IN THE GARDEN STATE, SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HIT THE TRACK, BUT ASTON CLAIMS A 0-60 OF 4.6 SECONDS AND THAT SEEMS SPOT ON.

THE SUSPENSION IS VERY TIGHT FOR A GT, WITH RIDE QUALITY EASILY ON THE FIRM SIDE, FALLING JUST WITHIN DAILY DRIVER PARAMETERS.

IT HANDLES WELL ENOUGH TO SURPRISE, SO YOU'LL NEED MUCH MORE THAN SWEEPING BACK ROADS TO FIND THIS CAR'S LIMITS.

HORSEPOWER NUMBERS ARE CERTAINLY FAR FROM CLASS LEADING, BUT AS WITH MOST CLASSIC ROADSTERS, POWER NUMBERS ARE NOT THE BE-ALL-END-ALL.

AS AT NO MATTER WHICH SPEED YOU'RE TRAVELLING, THIS CAR FEELS LIKE A TRUE DRIVER'S CAR; THE PROVERBIAL EXTENSION OF YOUR DRIVING SOUL, IF YOU WILL.

AND CAN BOTH HELP YOU REMEMBER THE JOY OF DRIVING AND FORGET ABOUT WHATEVER WAS BOTHERING YOU BEFORE YOU GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ABOUT WHAT YOU'D EXPECT; GAS GUZZLER TAX WORTHY AT 13-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, 15-COMBINED.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS THUS DISMAL AT 22.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 9.6 TONS.

NOW, FOR THE GOOD NEWS, THE V8 VANTAGE GT IN COUPE FORM IS ACTUALLY THE CHEAPEST ASTON MARTIN YOU CAN BUY, STARTING AT $104,425.

ROADSTER GUISE OF COURSE, COSTS A BIT MORE AT $117,225.

TIME MAY BE WINDING DOWN FOR THIS PLATFORM, BUT THE 2015 ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER GT STILL EXUDES APPEAL AND SEXINESS THAT FEW MANUFACTURES CAN CHANNEL.

AND WHILE YOU MAY CHOOSE TO BUY IT BASED ON LOOKS ALONE; AFTER SPENDING ONLY A LITTLE TIME DRIVING IT, YOU'LL QUICKLY REALIZE THAT MOTORING IS THIS CAR'S GRTEST ASSET.

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 WHAT'S NEW WITH THE ORIGINAL HYBRID, THE TOYOTA PRIUS.

THEN GO FROM GREEN TO MEAN IN THE CADILLAC CTS-V. PAT GOSS HELPS US SCORE THE PERFECT CLASSIC CAR FIND.

ZACH MASKELL HEADS 'DOWN THE OCEAN' FOR SOME OVER THE EDGE CRUISING.

AND MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

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.

Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

*