Midsize Sedan Shootout & 2013 Porsche Boxster S

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

JOIN US AND SEE WHO REIGNS SUPREME IN THE CROWDED MIDSIZE FAMILY SEDAN RANKS.

PAT GOSS LOGS IN WITH HELPFUL WAYS TO FIND PARTS IN CYBERSPACE.

OUR FRIENDS AT RETROMOTO DO A LITTLE CLASSIC CRUISIN', WHILE WE PUT DOWN THE POWER AND THE TOP IN THE NEW PORSCHE BOXSTES.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... MAN: AHH!

OHH.

AHH.

MONK: YOU MAY ASK ONE QUESTION.

MAN: [HEAVY SIGH] WHICH TIRE CATEGORY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO GET THE MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE?

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

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.

AND BY... 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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AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.

JOHN DAVIS: WITH ALL OF THE NEW MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDANS ROLLING THROUGH OUR OFFICES OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR A COMPARISON TEST.

WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR STYLE, COMFORT, OR LOTS OF FEATURES, ANY OF TODAY'S MAINSTREAM MID-SIZE FOUR-DOORS WILL PROBABLY FIT THE BILL.

BUT WHICH ONE DOES IT BEST?

WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

ONCE AGAIN, MOTORWEEK TEAMED UP WITH CARS.COM AND USATODAY TO RIFLE THROUGH SIX OF TODAY'S NEWEST MIDSIZE MAINSTREAM SEDANS, TO SEE HOW CLOSE EACH COMES TO HITTING THE FAMILY CAR SWEET SPOT.

JUDGING TOOK PLACE NEAR OUR HOME BASE; SOUTH CENTRAL MARYLAND, JUST OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, D.C. AS BEFORE, WE INVITED A LOCAL FAMILY ALONG TO GIVE US THEIR TAKE ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THIS CAR CLASS, AND HELP US COME UP WITH A WINNER.

OUR PRICE POINT FOR THIS SPARRING IS $26,000.

CARMAKERS COULD EQUIP THE CARS AS THEY SAW FIT, PROVIDED IT DIDN'T GO OVER.

WE ALSO REQUIRED EACH CAR TO HAVE A COMBINED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 28 MPG OR HIGHER.

ALL OF OUR COMPETITORS ARE 2013 MODELS, AND GET DOWN THE ROAD WITH 4-CYLINDER POWER AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

FIRST UP, THE ALL-NEW 2ND GENERATION FORD FUSI WITH ITS ASTON-MARTIN INSPIRED STYLING.

ALSO TOTALLY REDESIGNED FOR '13 IS THE PERENNIAL FAVORITE HONDA ACCORD.

THE WINNER OF OUR LAST FAMILY SEDAN SHOOTOUT, THE HYUNDAI SONATA.

ITS KOREAN COUSIN, THE STYLISH AND FUN TO DRIVE KIA OPTIMA.

THE ALL-NEW, AND GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY, NISSAN ALTIMA.

AND FINALLY, THE 7TH-GEN TOYOTA CAMRY THAT WAS REDESIGNED JUST LAST YEAR.

MISSING FROM OUR TEST ISHE NEW CHEVROLET MALIBU.

WHILE THE LIGHT HYBRID ECO MODEL BEATS THE FUEL NUMBERS, IT STICKERS FOR MORE THAN THE TARGET PRICE.

IT BECAME APPARENT EARLY ON THAT THIS WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLY CLOSE COMPETITION.

AND INDEED, WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, WE HAD ONE OF THE CLOSEST FINISHES EVER, WITH SOME POSITIONS DECIDED BY LESS THAN A SINGLE POINT.

OUR FINALISTS START WITH TOYOTA CAMRY IN 4TH PLACE.

EVERYONE LOVED THE CAMRY'S SPORTIER STYLE ANIMPROVED HANDLING, BUT WITH IT CAME A RIDE THAT DIDN'T SEEM AS COMFORTABLE AS BEFORE, AND AN INTERIOR THAT WAS STILL CAMRY BLAND.

THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT POWER FROM THE 2.5-LITER ENGINE, BUT ITS PRICE WAS ALSO THE MOST IN THIS CONTEST AT $25,710.

WITH ITS COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 28, ALSO JUST MAKING THE CUT.

PATRICK GIRVIN: THE TOYOTA CAMRY DIDN'T STRIKE ME AS TERRIBLY EXCITING AT FIRST EN I SAW IT, BUT AS I SAT IIT AND EXAMINED ALL THE FEATURES, WE FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFULLY LAID OUT, AND ALL THE DIALS AND GAUGES WERE PRETTY EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE THROUGH.

AND THEN IT DROVE VERY WELL, HAD A NICE FEEL ON THE ROAD.

BRIAN ROBINSON: THE TOYOTA CAMRY IS NOT QUITE AS BORING AS IT USED TO BE.

THEY'VE MADE IT A BIT MORE ENTERTAINING TO DRIVE, AND THE INTERIOR IS REFRESHINGLY SIMPLE.

BUT IT'S NOT QUITE AS COMFORTABLE AS IT US TO BE.

JOHN DAVIS: OUR 3RD PLACE FINISHER, THE KIA OPTIMA, IS AMONG THE OLDEST DESIGNS INTRODUCED FOR 2011.

ITS 2.4-LITER DIRECT INJECTED ENGINE WAS VERY PEPPY, ALSO WITH A COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 28.

HAVING THE SMALLEST PRICE TAG AT $24,524 RTAINLY HELPED THE OPTIMA WORK ITS WAY TOWARDS THE TOP; BUT REALLY IT WAS THE SPORTY DESIGN AND GREAT INTERIOR THAT AIDED IT THE MOST.

KELSEY MAYS: IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THE OPTIMA AND THE HYUNDAI SONATA SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME ROOTS BECAUSE I THINK THE OPTIMA HAS AGED A LOT BETTER; INTERIOR QUALITY STILL SEEMS VERY GOOD IN THIS TEST.

JAMES R. HEALEY: THE OPTIMA JUST OOZES EXCITEMENT.

IT HAS INTERESTING STYLING, THE SLIGHT BULGE ON THE WHEEL WELLS.

IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE GROUP THAT HAD LEATHER AT THE PRICE.

JOHN: SECOND SPOT GOES TO THE JUST INTRODUCED FORD FUSION.

EXTERIOR STYLING LOOKS FANTASTIC, BUT ALTHOUGH ITS INTERIOR IS FEATURE PACKED, IT IS ALSO A LITTLE DULL, AND THE FUSION CAME IN WITH THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE AT $25,585.

THE 1.6-LITER ECOBOOST ENGINE WAS THE SMALLEST IN THE GROUP BY FAR, BUT TURBO CHARGING MADE IT PLENTY ENERGETIC.

ALSO WITH A COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 28, IT WAS STILL ONE OF THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE.

KELSEY MAYS: THE FORD FUSION IS A REALLY NICELY EXECUTED CAR.

THE STEERING FEEDBACK IS VERY GOOD, POSSIBLY THE BEST STEERING IN THIS TEST.

THE BACK SEAT SURPRISINGLY HAGOOD HEAD ROOM AND A NICE HIGH SEATING POSITION.

BRIAN ROBINSON: THE FORD FUSION DEFINITELY WINS THE AWARD FOR BEST LOOKING IN THIS COMPETITION AND THE 1.6-LITER ENGINE HAS PLENTY OF POWER; BUT THE INTERIOR STYLING DOESN'T QUITE MATCH UP WITH THE EXTERIOR.

JOHN: FIRST PLACE BRAGGING RIGHTS GO TO THE ALSO JUST INTRODUCED HONDA ACCORD.

IT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE, AS IT DIDN'T REALLY STAND OUT IN ANY ONE AREA, IT JUST DOES EVERYTHING VERY WELL.

STARTING WITH THE POWERTRAIN, THE 2.4-LITER ENGINE FELT STRONG AND IT WAS ATTACHED TO ONE OF THE MOST NON-CVT LIKE CVT's WE'VE TRIED.

ADD IN A MID-PACK PRICE OF $24,980, AND A COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 29, AND IT IS THE WINNER.

KRISTIN VARELA: THE HONDA ACCORD HAD A VERY SOFT AND COMFORTABLE RIDE QUALITY TO IT.

IT WOULD BE GREAT ON LONG ROAD TRIPS.

AND ONE THING I REALLY APPRECIATED WAS THE FACT THAT IT HAD A BACK-UP CAMERA.

JOE WIESENFELDER: I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE HANDLING IN THE ACCORD.

IT WAS MORE ATHLETIC THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE, BUT REALLY, THE HIGH POINT FOR ME WAS THE CVT.

IF YOU CAN GET THE EFFICIENCY OF A CVT WITH THAT KIND OF PERFORMANCE, I THINK IT'S A NEW GAM JOHN: MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDAN SEGMENT.

OUR CLOSE SCORES CERTAINLY CONFIRMED THAT.

PLUS, THEY ALL CAME EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSE TO HITTING THE BULLSEYE OF FAMILY NEEDS, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING TOP DRAWER QUALITY AND THE LATEST IN CONNECTIVITY.

FOR THE FULL RUNDOWN AND DETAILED SCORING, VISIT THE CARS.COM WEBSITE.

SO CLEARLY, THERE ARE NO REAL LOSERS IN THIS SEGMENT.

BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SHOWDOWN, IT IS THE 2013 HONDA ACCORD THAT HITS THE FAMILY SEDAN SWEET SPOT THE BEST.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

IN 2011, THE COUNTY PARTNERED WITH VIRGINIA CLEAN CITIES AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONVERT 10 FORD CROWN VICTORIA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT POLICE CRUERS TO PROPANE.

THIS YEAR, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE PROGRAM ALLOWED THEM TO CONVERT MORE CRUISERS, ALONG WITH FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUCKS.

FUELING PARTNER, BLOSSMAN GAS, BUILT THIS NEW STATION TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW CONVERSIONS.

COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE CLEANER BURNING FUEL HAS DISPLACED MORE THAN 60 TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WITH AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUEL COST SAVINGS OF $70,000 DOLLARS.

SHERIFF ROGER HARRIS: IF YOU PROPERLY PREPARE FOR IT; FUELING STATIONS, TRAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES HOW TO FUEL, WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THE USAGE OF PROPANE, THE ADVANTAGES FAR OUTWEIGH ANY DISADVANTAGE.

JOHN: THE PARTNERSHIP AL ALLOWED SPOTSYLVANIA TO PCHASE FOUR PROPANE SCHOOL BUSES.

WHILE THESE ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES ONLY REPRESENT A SMALL PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE FLEET, IT'S STILL "SPOT ON" PROGRESS FOR ONE OF VIRGINIA'S FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES.

JOHN: WHILE OUR TWO WHEELIN' GUY BRIAN ROBINSON IS BUSY CHECKING OUT THE LATEST FOR CRUISING, WE THOUGHT, WHY NOT TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BIKES THAT PAVED THE WAY?

AND ON THAT FRONT, OUR FRIENDS AT RETROMOTO ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO FULL THROTTLE.

HI, I'M MATT SMITH.

WELCOME TO RETROMOTO.

WE'RE HEADED OUT TO A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY ESTATE TO SEE DICK AND JOHN, A COUPLE OF VINTAGE BIKE RACERS, TEST AND SHAKE DOWN THEIR INCREDIBLE NORTONS BEFORE THE NEXT EVENT.

THESE GUYS RACE EIR BIKES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

JOHN LAWLESS: THESE ARE THE LATE SERIES MANX.

THEY'RE A 500CC DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM DESIGN WITH THE FEATHERBED FRAME.

THIS IS A PERIMETER FRAME DESIGNED BY REX MCCANDLESS AND HIS BROTHER.

IT BASICALLY SET THE PATH FORWARD FOR ALL RACING MOTORCYCLE FRAME TECHNOLOGY FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.

DICK MILES: YEAH, IN ITS DAY IT WAS VERY ADVANCED.

THE ENGINE'S A, OF COURSE, A SINGLE CYLINDER, D THE VALVE GEAR IS BY SHAFT AND BEVEL GEARS.

IT'S A DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM IN A MAGNESIUM CAM BOX.

MATTER OF FACT, ONE THIRD OF THE PRICE OF THE BIKE WAS IN THE CAM BOX, SO IT WAS A -- IT WAS A SELECTIVELY FITTED, VERY PRECISE DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE.

BY THE END OF ITS RUN, WHEN THESE WERE MADE, THE ITALIANS HAD ALREADY TAKEN OVER WITH MULTI CYLINDER BIKES AND THESE WERE SORT OF LEFTOVERS.

BUT THEY WERE STILL RACED, AND WITH A LOT OF SUCCESS.

SMITH: SO ARE WE GOING TO FIRE THESE THINGS UP?

LAWLESS: WE'RE GOING TO FIRE THEM UP AND DO A LITTLE TESTING.

SMITH: SOUNDS GOOD.

LAWLESS: YOU READY TO GO?

MILES: READY.

READY.

LAWLESS: LET'S DO IT.

SMITH: LET'S DO IT!

SMITH: NO ELECTRIC START HERE.

THESE BIKES ARE PUSH START ONLY.

WE'RE GETTING A CHANCE TO WITNESS SOMETHING SO FEW PEOPLE EVER GET A CHANCE TO HEAR OR SEE ANYMORE.

TWO MANX NORTONS, NOT IN A MUSEUM, NOT ON A RACETRACK, JUST TEARIN' UP A COUNTRY ROAD.

LAWLESS: THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE ACTUALLY SO WELL DEVELOPED THAT THEY CONTINUED TO BE A FORCE IN THE GRAND PRIX SCENE RIGHT UP UNTIL -- 1969 WAS THE LAST YEAR; SEVEN YEARS AFTER PRODUCTION ENDED.

SMITH: WHAT'S THE TOP SPEED ON ONE OF THESE?

LAWLESS: WITH A FULL FAIRING ON THEM, MAYBE 135 OR 140 MILES AN HOUR.

SMITH: WOW!

AND THAT'S A SINGLE CYLINDER.

LAWLESS: THAT'S WHY THEY DOMINATED FOR SO LONG.

SMITH: TIME MARCHES ON.

OR IN THIS CASE, FLIES BY IN THE FORM OF GARY FISHER ON A YAMAHA TZ-750.

BY THE EARLY '70s, MULTI CYLINDER TWO STROKES WERE DOMINATING ROAD RACING; LEAVING THE OLD GUARD, LIKE THE MANX, HOPELESSLY OUTGUNNED.

THE TZ-750 WAS THE FINAL EVOLUTION OF THAT TECHNOLOGY, AND GARY WAS A MEMBER OF THE YAMAHA INTERNATIONAL TEAM THAT RULED THE CIRCUIT.

THE TZ-750 WON EVERY DAYTONA 200 FROM 1974 TO 1982.

GARY FISHER: WELL, HOW DO YOU LIKE MY TZ-750?

SMITH: THIS LOOKS FAST.

GARY FISHER: YEAH, PRETTY FAST.

SMITH: THIS IS A FOUR CYLINDER 750... FISHER: WATER COOLED.

SMITH: TWO STROKE.

FISHER: IT'S BASICALLY TWO TZ-350 YAMAHAS BOLTED TOGETHER.

IT HAS A SPONDON FRAME, WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE.

THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF THOSE IN THE WORLD.

THEY'RE HANDMADE EXHAUST PIPES, AS YOU SEE, FITTED WITH THE SILENCERS.

AND THESE WHEELS ARE JUST... YOU SEE HOW WIDE THE WHEELS ARE TO ACCEPT THE BIG SLICK TIRES.

YES, AND I ACTUALLY AM NOT THAT OLD THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SLICK TIRES ON MOTORCYCLES.

WHEN I FIRST RODE THIS MOTORCYCLE IN ITS FL BLOWN PROTOTYPE, CONFIGURATION, GOING OVER THE START/FINISH LINE, WITH THE LITTLE PIECE OF PAINT, IT WOULD SPIN THE BACK WHEEL IN TOP GEAR AT 170, 175 MILES AN HOUR.

SO THAT'S SOME REAL HORSEPOWER.

SMITH: WELL, THANKS FOR SHOWING ME THIS BIKE, GARY, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THIS IS ONE MAGNIFICENT MACHINE.

FISHER: WELL, MY PLEASURE, MATT, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

AND, HEY, STOP BY THE SHOP AND TAKE IT FOR A SPIN ONE DAY.

SMITH: I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.

TAKE CARE.

FISHER: LATER.

SMITH: WE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT SOME INCREDIBLE MOTORCYCLES TODAY, THE NORTON MANX, THE TZ-750, BUT IT WAS REALLY THE MANX THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE OF PRODUCTION RACERS.

John: PAT GOSS IS ALWAYS UP TO DATE WHEN IT COMES TO CAR CARE, AND THAT INCLUDES NEW CHOICES ONHERE TO FIND THE RIGHT PARTS FOR YOUR CAR.

Pat Goss: EVEN THOUGH MODERN CARS ARE VERY COMPLEX, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OPERATIONS YOU CAN DO YOURSELF.

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THEM, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED SOME HELP.

AND A GOOD SOURCE FOR THAT HELP IS THE INTERNET.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, BECAUSE THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SCAMMERS AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD DO YOU HARM.

SO, MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER YOU DO ON THE INTERNET, YOU USE A TRUSTED SOURCE.

ALRIGHT, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO FIND?

WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND PART NAMES, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND EXPLODED VIEWS OF PARTS SO THAT YOU SEE HOW THINGS GO TOGETHER.

YOU MIGHT ALSO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF A PART AND YOU CAN LOOK IT UP BY PICTURE SO THAT YOU GET THE PROPER NAME AND THEN YOU KNOW HOW TORDER IT.

BUT AGAIN, MAKE SURE YOU ONLY DEAL WITH TRUSTED SOURCES.

NOW, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT USED TO REQUIRE A BUNCH OF SPECIAL TOOLS AND WERE VERY, VERY COSTLY, THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO YOURSELF THESE DAYS WITHOUT SPECIAL TOOLS.

AND ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE STRUT IN THE SUSPENSION.

YOU SEE, BACK IN THE DAY, YOU HAD TO BUY THE STRUT, AND THEN YOU TOOK THAT STRUT, THE NEW ONE, YOU TOOK THE OLD ONE, YOU HAD TO HAVE A SPECIAL SPRING COMPRESSOR TO REMOVE E OLD SPRING, AND YOU TRANSFERRED THE SPRING, AND THE MOUNT, AND ALL OF THE PARTS ONTO THE NEW STRUT.

IT WAS A DANGEROUS JOB, THE TOOLS WERE EXPENSIVE, AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T MUCH FUN.

BUT TODAY, YOU BUY A STRUT ASSEMBLY AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF WEAR ON THEM, YOU'RE GETTING ALL OF THE PARTS BRAND NEW.

YOU'RE GETTING A NEW SPRING, YOU'RE GETTING A NEW STRUT MOUNT, YOU'RE GETTING THE BEARING IN THE MOUNT.

ALL OF THIS STUFF.

AND THAT MAKES FOR A BETTER JOB.

PLUS, YOU DON'T NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS.

ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE SEE THAT...

IN THE PAST, YOU BOUGHT A BALL JOINT, AND YOU HAD TO HAVE A PRESS TO PRESS THE OLD BALL JOINT OUT AND THE NEW BALL JOINT IN.

WELL, TODAY THESE ARE USUALLY SERVICED AS ASSEMBLIES.

YOU T THE CONTROL ARM WITH THE BALL JOINT, AND ALL OF THE OTHER RELATED WEAR PARTS, ALL COMES TOGETHER, SO YOU UNBOLT IT.

YOU DON'T NEED THAT THOUSAND DOLLAR BALL JOINT PRESS BECAUSE YOU AREN'T PRESSING ANYTHING, YOU'RE SIMPLY UNBOLTING IT AND BOLTING THE NEW E IN.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT ON THE AUTOMOBILE.

AND IF YOU USE THE INTERNET AS A GUIDE, YOU'LL FIND THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE OF YOUR OWN REPAIRS THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT.

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

JOHN: WE'VE GOT SOME NEW FOUR WHEELERS ON OUR MOTORWEEK LOT, SO LET'S GRAB THE KEYS AND SEE WHAT WE THINK.

IN SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT'S DROP TOP WEATHER ALL YEAR 'ROUND.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE SOAKED UP SOME FIRST DRIVE IMPRESSIONS OF THE THIRD GENERATION VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, REDESIGNED FOR 2013.

IT SITS ON THE SAME WIDER, LONGER, D LOWER PLATFORM OF THE LATEST BEETLE COUPE.

SLIGHT CHASSIS MODS STIFFEN THINGS UP A BIT, AND WE FOUND LITTLE BODY SHAKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

TOP DOWN, THIS BEETLE LOOKS LIKE A ROCKING GOOD TIME, ALTHOUGH THE SHAPE, LIKE THE LATEST COUPE, IS A LITTLE BEEFIER THAN BEFORE.

THE POWER TOP HOPS UP AND DOWN IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AT SPEEDS UP TO 31 MILES PER HOUR, AND STORES WITHOUT BLOCKING REAR VISION LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR.

AS BEFORE, TWIN ROLL BARS HIDE BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, WHICH FOLDS FOR ADDED CARGO ROOM.

ENGINES MATCH THE COUPE.

THE BASE 2.5-LITER 5 CYLINDER CONNECTS TO A 6-SPEED AUTO, AND RATES 170 HORSEPOWER.

WE PREFER THE 200 HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO, AND THE TORQUE-Y 140 HORSEPOWER 2 LITER TURBO CLEAN DIESEL.

BOTH OFFER A SIX SPEED MANUAL FOR QUICK SPRINTS; JUST EXPECT A FUNKY HAIR DAY UPON ARRIVAL.

OVERALL FUEL ECONOMY IS UP TOO, WITH THE MANUAL TURBO DIESEL RATING 41 HIGHWAY MPG.

ALONG WITH STANDARD AND PREMIUM TRIMS, '50s, '60s, AND '70s ERA LAUNCH EDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

EACH FEATURES MIRRORED WHEEL CAPS, COLORS UNIQUE TO EACH DECADE, AND SPECIFIC POWERTRAINS.

THE 2013 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE STARTS AROUND $25,000, WITH DECADE TRIMS GOING AS HIGH AS $33,000.

AND WE'LL HIT THE ROAD WITH MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SOON!

WHEN THE PORSCHE BOXSTER DEBUTED BACK IN 1996, IT WAS BILLED AS A NO FRILLS, TWO-SEAT ROADSTER, AND A LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO THE VAUNTED 911.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE BOXSTER BUYER MATURED, SO DID THE CAR, OUTGROWING ITS PUREST SPORTS CAR ROOTS BY ADDING MORE AND MORE OF THE LUXURY FEATURES THAT PREMIUM BUYERS DEMAND.

SO, WHILE WE WELCOME THIS THIRD GENERATION BOXSTER, WE WONDER IF IT CAN STILL STIR OUR DRIVING SENSES.

THE 2013 BOXSTER IS ABOUT AS ALL-NEW AS PORSCHES GET, WITH THE MOST DYNAMIC CHANGE YET FOR PORSCHE'S RIPPIN' LITTLE ROADSTER.

AS BEFORE, IT'S AVAILABLE IN REGULAR AND EXTRA-STRENGTH "S" MODELS, AND BEING THE PERFORMANCE JUNKIES THAT WE ARE, WE CHOSE THE HIGHER OUTPUT BOXSTER S FOR OUR TEST.

THE NEW BOXSTER LOOKS BIGGER AND MORE IMPOSING THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, ALTHOUGH EXCEPT FOR WHEELBASE AND TRACK, MOST DIMENSIONS ARE LITTLE CHANGED.

BUT IT IS LIGHTER, FASTER, AND MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT.

AND MOST IMPORTANT FOR US, IT STILL FEELS LIKE A BOXSTER.

WHICH IS A RELIEF, AS THE BOXSTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CAR YOU WEAR MORE THAN ONE YOU JUST DRIVE.

DUBBED THE 981, AS PORSCHE-PHILES KNOW IT, THE NEW BOXSTER HAS SOME SERIOUS ROAD PRESENCE.

AND WE DO FEEL THAT THE 981 MONIKER IS SIGNIFICANT, AS THE NEW DESIGN IS REFLECTIVE OF THE 918 SPYDER HYBRID SUPERCAR.

IT REALLY HUGS THE GROUND, LOOKING OVER BROAD AND SUBSTANTIAL; AND OF COURSE WE PREFER IT WITH THE TOP DOWN, LOOKING LIKE A PROPER ROADSTER, ALTHOUGH ONE THAT IS ANYTHING BUT BASIC OR INEXPENSIVE.

THE MOST STRIKING CHANGE IS AT THE REAR WHERE A LARGE SPOILER SLICES ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH, EVEN INTO THE TAILLIGHTS.

WHEELS ARE 18s ON THE BASE BOXSTER, 19s ON THE 'S', AND, OF COURSE, YOU CAN FURTHER OPT FOR 20s.

ALMOST HALF OF THE NEW BODY PANELS ARE ALUMINUM, AND SIDE AIR INTAKES HAVE BEEN ENLARGED FOR THE SAKE OF BOTH APPEARANCE AND ADDING COOLING PERFORMANCE.

WHICH IS NEEDED BY THE UPDATED 3.4-LITER BOXER ENGINE HIDDEN AMIDSHIPS.

HORSEPOWER BUMPS UP 5 TO 315 WITH 266 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE BASE BOXSTER'S NEW DIRECT INJECTION 2.7-LITER FLAT-SIX, WHILE SMALLER, GAINS 10 HORSEPOWER TO 265 WITH 206 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT NOWHERE IS THE BOXSTER'S CONTINUOUS MARCH UPSCALE MORE EVIDENT THAN IN THE LEATHER CLAD INTERIOR.

IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION LUXURIOUS.

ADOPTING THE PANAMERA'S UPSWEEPING CENTER CONSOLE PUTS ALL OF THE NUMEROUS SOPHISTICATED CONTROLS WITHIN EASY REACH.

ONE LESS WELCOMED PREMIUM UPGRADE IS THE NEW ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE.

EVEN WITH HILL HOLD AND AUTO STOP/START, WE MISSED THE CLASSIC CENTER HAND BRAKE.

THE FULLY ELECTRIC CLOTH TOP IS BOTH BIGGER AND QUIETER, AND STASHES BEHIND THE SEATS IN 10 SECONDS, AND AS BEFORE, WITHOUT A BOOT COVER.

ONE MORE SMALL COMPLAINT IS THE USUAL REAR BLINSPOTS WITH THE TOP UP.

FORTUNATELY, WE KEPT OUR EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD AS WE STREAKED TO 60 AT OUR TEST TCK IN JUST 4.4-SECONDS.

OUR CAR IS A MANUAL WITH THE SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE.

THE PDK AUTOMATIC IS A TAD QUICKER, BUWE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED SELECTING OUR OWN GEARS AND A QUARTER-MILE TIME OF JUST 13.1-SECONDS AT 110 MILES-PER-HOUR IS JUST FINE BY US.

HANDLING, OF COURSE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THE BOXSTER'S FORTE AND WE'RE DELIGHTED THAT IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN BETTER.

SOMEHOW THIS BOXSTER MANAGED TO FEEL EVEN FLATTER THAN BEFORE, STILL WITH AN INCREDIBLY "NAILED DOWN" RESPONSE, BUT WITHOUT A JARRING ROAD RIDE.

THIS BOXSTER ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE ACQUIRED A BIT OF A NASTY STREAK, AS THERE'S A NEW LIGHTNESS TO THE REAR END.

WE LOVED IT!

BOXSTER ADDS THE 911'S ELECTRIC-MECHANICAL STEERING, AND IT IS A LITTLE DULL FOR OUR TASTE, YET DELIVERS MORE FEEL THAN MOST SUCH UNITS.

BRAKES CONTINUE TO G THE JOB DONE WITHOUT DRAMA, STOPPING THE BOXSTER S FROM 60 IN A SHORT AVERAGE OF 109-FEET, THANKS TO 4-PISTON ALUMIN MONOBLOC CALIPERS CLAMPING DOWN ON VENTED BRAKE DISCS.

STILL, THIS BOXSTER IS NOT PRIMARILY ABOUT ABSOLUTE TRACK PERFORMANCE, IT'S MORE ABOUT PUTTING THE TOP DOWN AND EXPLORING.

IT SOUNDS GREAT, IT LOOKS GREAT, AND YOU JUST WANT TO GET IN IT AND DRIVE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE BOXSTER S WITH A MANUAL ARE 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 22.5 MILES-PER-GALLON ON PREMIUM S. THAT MAKES THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORES CLOSER TO FAMILY SEDAN TERRITORY THAN SPORTS CARS AT 14.3 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSPTION WITH YEARLY CO2 EMSIONS OF 6.4-TS.

AS FOR PRICING, WHILTHE BASE BOXSTER COSTS NEARLY 30 GRAND LESS THAN A 911, ITS STARTING PRICE OF $50,450 IS STILL PRETTY LOFTY.

AND THINGS ESCALATE QUICKLY WHEN YOU STEP UP TO THE S, WHICH STARTS AT $61,850.

ADD POPULAR OPTIONS AND YOU CAN QUICKLY APPROACH 90 GRAND.

SO, WHILE IT'S STILL AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE 911, THE BOXSTER IS NO LONGER AN INEXPENSIVE ONE.

THAT SAID, THE LUXURIOUS MORPHING OF THE 2013 PORSCHE BOXSTER HAS NOT DIMINISHED OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR ITS DRIVING PERFORMANCE ONE BIT.

IT IS EVERYTHING THAT IT WAS, AND MORE, AND EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT IN A PORSCHE.

WHILE NO CAR IS PERFECT, IN THE VAUNTED WORLD OF SPORTS CARS, THE BOXSTER IS ASTONISHINGLY CLOSE.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE CHECK OUT BMW'S SMALLEST SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE YET, THE X1.

THEN WE'LL GO EVEN SMALLER WITH THE CHEVROLET SPARK MINI CAR.

PAT GOSS PUTS A STOP TO A COUPLE OF COMMON BRAKE ISSUES.

STEVEN CHUPNICK STOPS FOR NOTHING WHEN HE GOES OVER THE EDGE...

IN A TANK.

PLUS, CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, AND A LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

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 TIRE RACK.

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