2013 Cadillac XTS & 2012 BMW 3 Series

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

JOIN US FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE LOOK

AT THE ALL-NEW CADILLAC XTS SEDAN.

PAT GOSS TALKS OF SPRINGS AND THINGS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

WINTER IS A LONG WAY OFF, BUT OUR ROGER MECCA IS READY FOR IT.

AND WE'LL TRACK TEST A SPORTS SEDAN BENCHMARK,

THE ALL-NEW BMW 3-SERIES.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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JOHN: CADILLAC HAS MADE STEADY PROGRESS IN TRANSFORMING ITSELF

FROM A PREMIUM DOMESTIC BRAND TO A GLOBAL LUXURY CAR PLAYER.

THE SPORTY CTS AND THE SRX CROSSOVER

CAN HOLD THEIR OWN AGAINST ALL COMERS.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME FOR CADDY TO PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS -

THE LARGE LUXURY SEDANS THAT DEFINE TRULY GREAT BRANDS.

IN CADILLAC'S CORNER IT'S THE ALL NEW STX.

SO, LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

THE 2013 CADILLAC XTS HAS A LOT ON ITS PLATE.

IT WILL CARRY THE TORCH AGAINST LEADING-EDGE LARGE LUXURY SEDANS

LIKE THE MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS, LEXUS GS, AND AUDI A6.

BUT IT MUST ALSO APPEAL TO CUSTOMERS

OF THE TWO CARS IT WILL REPLACE,

THE FULL-SIZE DTS AND MID-SIZE STS.

THAT'S ALSO PROBABLY WHY

THE XTS'S OVERALL LENGTH OF 202 INCHES

IS SHORTER THAN THE DTS AND LONGER THAN THE STS.

BUT EVEN AS AN IN-BETWEENER,

IT'S STILL LONGER THAN GLOBAL RIVALS.

TARGETING V6 COMPETITORS,

THE XTS COMES AMPLY EQUIPPED

WITH THE CTS'S DIRECT INJECTION, 3.6-LITER V6,

THOUGH IT PUTS OUT SLIGHTLY LESS POWER HERE

AT 304-HORSEPOWER AND 264 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

LIKE THE GS, THE XTS CONNECTS WITH

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THE E-CLASS HAS 7-SPEEDS AND THE A6 SPORTS 8.

BUT DESPITE FEWER GEARS, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS

ARE VERY RESPECTABLE AT 17-CITY AND 28-HIGHWAY.

AND UNLIKE COMPETITORS, THE XTS GETS BY FINE ON REGULAR GAS.

ALTHOUGH ORIENTED AS A PURE LUXURY CAR,

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE XTS RIDES LIKE A FLOATY LUXO BOAT.

MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL WITH REAR AIR SPRINGS IS STANDARD.

COMBINED WITH THE DUAL-PATH HIPER STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION,

RIDE CAN BE AS FIRM OR AS SOFT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE.

PLUS, THE OPTIONAL HALDEX ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM

WITH LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL VARIES TORQUE AT EACH REAR WHEEL

FOR A FURTHER HANDLING BOOST.

HOWEVER, THE FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE XTS

IS NOT A CAR THAT YOU CAN REALLY PUSH THROUGH THE CORNERS,

BUT IT IS ONE THAT DOES FEEL SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE,

AND VERY SOLID WHEN DRIVEN AT A SPIRITED PACE.

TO US, THE HIGH POINT OF THE XTS IS THE INTERIOR

WITH A LEVEL OF COMFORT AND HIGH-TECH FEATURES

THAT WILL SURPRISE EVEN THE MOST ARDENT SKEPTICS.

LOOKING BOTH ELEGANT AND FUTURISTIC,

THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LAYOUT FEATURES ATTRACTIVE WOOD TRIM

AND PLENTY OF TIGHTLY WRAPPED COWHIDE WITH EXPOSED STITCHING.

THE XTS IS ALSO THE LAUNCH VEHICLE

FOR CADILLAC'S NEW CUE INTERFACE.

THE CADILLAC USER EXPERIENCE CONSISTS OF

AN 8-INCH CENTER SCREEN WITH THE SAME CAPTIVE TOUCH TECHNOLOGY

USED ON TABLETS AND SMART PHONES,

WITH THE MOST NATURAL VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM

WE'VE YET TRIED.

AND SPEAKING OF TABLETS,

ALL XTSs WILL COME WITH AN iPAD PRELOADED WITH A CUE APP

TO HELP OWNERS LEARN HOW TO USE IT WITH MINIMUM DISTRACTION.

THE GAUGE CLUSTER APPEARS ON A 12-INCH SCREEN OF ITS OWN.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS,

BUT IF YOU FIND IT DISTRACTING,

THE AVAILABLE HEAD-UP DISPLAY GIVES YOU PLENTY OF INFO

WHILE LETTING YOU KEEP YOUR EYES TOTALLY ON THE ROAD.

AN 8-SPEAKER BOSE SYSTEM WITH HD RADIO IS STANDARD,

BUT YOU CAN UPGRADE TO A FULL STUDIO SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

WITH 14-SPEAKERS.

KEEPING UP ON THE TECHNOLOGY FRONT,

A WHOLE RAFT OF SAFETY FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE,

INCLUDING THE USUAL BLIND SPOT AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNINGS,

BUT ALSO AUTOMATIC FRONT AND REAR BRAKING

AND A SAFETY ALERT SEAT THAT WILL VIBRATE

TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.

WHEN NOT VIBRATING,

THE FRONT SEATS ARE INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE,

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A CADILLAC,

AND ARE COVERED IN VARYING GRADES OF LEATHER,

DEPENDING UPON WHICH TRIM LEVEL YOU CHOOSE.

AND NOT ONLY CAN YOU FIT THREE FULL-SIZE ADULTS IN THE BACK,

ALL THEIR LUGGAGE AS WELL,

AS THE XTS'S TRUNK WILL SWALLOW

AN ENORMOUS 18 CUBIC FEET OF BELONGINGS WITH EASE.

AND IN ORDER TO EASE FUELING,

CADILLAC HAS ALSO ADDED A CAPLESS FUEL FILLER.

THOUGH THERE ARE SOME REMAINING ART AND SCIENCE SHARP LINES,

THE XTS HAS A MUCH SOFTER OVERALL LOOK THAN THE CTS.

THE LATEST EVOLUTION IS MORE POLISHED, MORE MATURE,

LESS INTENT ON MAKING A STATEMENT,

AND MORE FOCUSED ON JUST BEING CONFIDENTLY LUXURIOUS.

A LARGE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL GRILLE IS THE CENTERPIECE

OF A WIDE FRONT END THAT INCLUDES STANDARD HID HEADLIGHTS

WITH ADAPTIVE LIGHTING AVAILABLE.

19-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD AS WELL, 20s OPTIONAL,

AND THEY UNDERLINE A PROFILE

THAT IS VERY SMOOTH LOOKING, IF A BIT CHUNKY.

THERE'S LESS DEPARTURE FROM TRADITION IN BACK,

AS TAIL FIN TAIL LIGHTS

AND A LARGE WREATH AND CREST ARE PROUDLY DISPLAYED.

DUAL EXHAUST CUTOUTS ARE TRIMMED IN CHROME.

WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VISIT YOUR LOCAL CADILLAC DEALERSHIP,

YOU'LL NEED TO BRING AT LEAST $44,995

FOR A STANDARD FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE XTS,

OF WHICH WE DOUBT MANY WILL BE SOLD.

MOST BUYERS WILL OPT FOR

EITHER THE LUXURY OR PREMIUM COLLECTION,

WHILE SOME WILL GO ALL OUT AND PONY UP $59,080

FOR THE PLATINUM COLLECTION XTS.

SO, HOW DO WE THINK THE XTS WILL FAIR ON THE WORLD STAGE?

IF YOU ARE A DIED-IN-WOOL MERCEDES-BENZ OR AUDI LEASEE,

WE DOUBT THAT THE 2013 CADILLAC XTS WILL DRAW YOU STATESIDE.

BUT IF BRAND LOYALTY IS LESS YOUR STYLE,

AND YOU'RE SEEKING A DISTINCTIVE LARGE LUXURY RIDE

WITH ABLE PERFORMANCE AND A KNOCK-OUT INTERIOR,

NOT TO MENTION TECH-SAVY ELECTRONICS,

THEN THE XTS SHOULD EXCEED YOUR NEEDS.

LIKE THE CTS, SRX, AND UPCOMING ATS,

THE XTS IS ANOTHER LAYER

IN BUILDING A WORLD CLASS FOUNDATION FOR CADILLAC.

OUR SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK HAILS FROM HOOVER, ALABAMA,

WHERE RENEWABLE BIOFUELS REIGN SUPREME.

300,000 GALLONS OF E85 ARE CONSUMED EACH YEAR

BY THEIR FLEX FUEL POLICE VEHICLES.

HOOVER LEADS THE STATE WITH 88% OF THEIR MUNICIPAL VEHICLES

USING SOME TYPE OF ADVANCED FUEL, INCLUDING BIODIESEL.

COMMERCIAL B20 IS USED BY THEIR PUBLIC WORKS FLEET,

BUT THE CITY ALSO MAKES THEIR OWN BIODIESEL.

SINCE 2007, A RECYCLING PROGRAM ALLOWS RESIDENTS

TO DROP OFF THEIR WASTE VEGETABLE OIL FOR PROCESSING.

BIODIESEL FUELS 40 MUNICIPAL VEHICLES,

INCLUDING THESE CITY TROLLEYS.

TONY PETELOS: WE'RE COLLECTING ABOUT A THOUSAND GALLONS A MONTH

FROM 21 SMALL RESTAURANTS

THAT DON'T HAVE A MEANS TO DISPOSE OF THE COOKING OIL,

AND ALSO OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF HOOVER

WOULD CONVERT THAT INTO BIODIESEL.

JOHN: CLEARLY, THE CITY OF HOOVER "IS MAKING IT HAPPEN"

WHEN IT COMES TO BIOFUELS.

MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT FOR TRUE ALL WEATHER CAPABILITY,

YOU NEED AN SUV OR A CROSSOVER.

BUT AS ROGER MECCA DISCOVERED,

THE ICIEST ROADS CAN ALSO BE EXPERTLY HANDLED

BY A TRADITIONAL 4-DOOR SEDAN.

THE KEY IS MAKING SURE IT'S EQUIPPED TO FIT

THE SLICK MISSION FROM THE START.

ROGER MECCA: HERE IN THE MOUNTAIN TOWN OF JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING,

THE SCENERY IS SPECTACULAR,

THE SKIING IS INCREDIBLE, AND THE WINTERS?

WELL, WINTERS ARE PRETTY HARSH.

IN FACT, A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS TOWN GOT 600 INCHES OF SNOW.

SO YOUR FIRST INSTINCT,

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING AROUND IN A PLACE LIKE IS,

"I GOTTA GET AN SUV."

BUT THAT INSTINCT WOULD BE WRONG.

THE FACT IS, MORE AND MORE AUTOMAKERS, LIKE MERCEDES BENZ,

ARE ADDING ADVANCED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS

TO THEIR POPULAR SEDANS AND COUPES,

ALLOWING DRIVERS TO VENTURE OUT INTO THE SNOW

WITH AS MUCH CONFIDENCE AS ANY SUV OR CROSSOVER.

WHILE THOSE BIGGER VEHICLES

ARE EXCELLENT FOR WHATEVER WINTER DISHES OUT,

DEALING WITH CRAMPED PARKING, TWISTY ROADS,

AND RISING FUEL PRICES CAN MAKE THOSE VEHICLES SEEM UNAPPEALING.

BUT WITH THE TRACTION PROVIDED BY AWD SYSTEMS,

SUCH AS MERCEDES' LATEST 4MATIC,

DRIVERS CAN NOW HAVE TRUE ALL-WEATHER CAPABILITY

AND REAL WORLD CONVENIENCE.

CHRISTIAN BOKICH: ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES

ARE TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH TRUCKS, SUVS,

THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS BIG MONSTER OF A VEHICLE

IN YOUR DRIVEWAY

JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN HAVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

TODAY'S ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS ARE SO LIGHT AND SO NIMBLE

THAT THEY FIT IN ALL TYPES OF PASSENGER VEHICLES.

ROGER: BY USING ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL TO DISTRIBUTE POWER,

CARS EQUIPPED WITH FULL-TIME ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

ARE ABLE TO GRIP THE ROAD BETTER THAN A TRADITIONAL REAR

OR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR, NO MATTER THE WEATHER.

BUT IT'S WHEN THE SNOW STARTS FLYING

THAT YOU REALIZE HOW CAPABLE

A CAR EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAN REALLY BE.

IF I WERE DRIVING A TRADITIONAL REAR-WHEEL DRIVE SEDAN

ON A DAY LIKE THIS, ON A ROAD LIKE THIS,

I'D BE TERRIFIED.

BUT WITH A 4MATIC ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IN THIS MERCEDES,

YOU FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT.

JUST AS CONFIDENT AS IF YOU WERE DRIVING AN SUV.

DAVE LARSEN: FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE REALLY ORIGINATED WITH PICKUP TRUCKS,

LATER ON INTO SUVS,

AND REALLY I THINK THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND

THAT YOU NEED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE LIKE THAT

IN ORDER TO HAVE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THROUGH SNOW,

WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE.

OUR VEHICLE'S EQUIPPED WITH THE 4MATIC SYSTEM CAN,

AS YOU'VE SEEN TODAY,

CAN TRANSVERSE SNOW COURSES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

THE VEHICLE DELIVERS THE TRACTION SIMILAR TO A SUV,

IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING -

IT'S PUTTING THE POWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

ROGER: MERCEDES ISN'T ALONE IN ADAPTING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TECHNOLOGY

TO MORE AND MORE SEDANS AND WAGONS.

OTHER LUXURY BRANDS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF MASS MARKET BRANDS,

HAVE MADE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AN OPTION ON POPULAR CARS.

AND IN THE WORLD OF EXOTIC CARS, MARQUEES FROM FERRARI TO BENTLEY

HAVE INTRODUCED FOUR-CORNER TRACTION TO THEIR LINEUP.

THIS WIDESPREAD USE OF ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

INDICATES THAT AS TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED

AND WEIGHT HAS GONE DOWN,

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HAS BECOME AS MAINSTREAM AS POWER WINDOWS.

CHRISTIAN BOKICH: THERE ARE NO DRAWBACKS

TO HAVING AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE,

ASIDE FROM A FEW SLIGHT FUEL ECONOMY DIPS,

AND IN SOME CASES, SOME MERCEDES BENZ PASSENGER VEHICLES

HAVE ZERO DIFFERENCES IN FUEL ECONOMY,

WHICH IS PRETTY REMARKABLE FOR A LIGHTWEIGHT SYSTEM.

ROGER: BACK IN THE 1960s,

LAMBORGHINI CHANGED WHAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT THEY KNEW

ABOUT WHERE AN ENGINE HAS TO SIT IN A CAR.

AND YEARS LATER, HONDA AND TOYOTA AGAIN SHATTERED

WHAT EVERYONE THOUGHT YOU COULD GET FROM MILES PER GALLON.

TODAY, AUTOMAKERS LIKE MERCEDES AND THEIR 4MATIC SYSTEM

ARE LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW

THAT TO HAVE FUN IN A PLACE LIKE JACKSON HOLE,

AN SUV IS NOT REQUIRED.

JOHN: DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE, PAT ALWAYS HAS A SPRING IN HIS STEP.

SO LET'S HEAD OVER AND SEE WHAT KIND OF AUTOMOTIVE WISDOM

HE'S READY TO DEPLOY THIS WEEK.

PAT GOSS: MANY YEARS AGO, THIS WAS A TYPICAL STEERING WHEEL.

BUT TODAY, IT COULDN'T EVEN LEGALLY EXIST ON A CAR

THAT'S DRIVEN ON THE ROAD.

REASON BEING, IT DOESN'T HAVE AN AIRBAG.

YOU SEE, WITH THE ADVENT OF AIRBAGS,

LOTS OF THINGS CHANGED WITH THE WAY STEERING WHEELS ARE DESIGNED

AND THE WIRING THAT SUPPLIES THE POWER TO THE AIRBAG,

AND TO THE BUTTONS ON THE WHEEL.

YOU SEE, IN ORDER TO HAVE AN AIRBAG MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS,

IT HAS TO BE HARDWIRED INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OF THE VEHICLE.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING

LIKE WE SEE RIGHT HERE; THIS IS CALLED A CLOCK SPRING.

AND THE INSIDE OF IT TURNS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LIKE THIS;

IT UNWINDS IN ONE DIRECTION

AND IT WINDS BACK UP IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

NOW, HERE'S THE DRILL -

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON YOUR STEERING WHEEL

THAT DOESN'T WORK, ANY OF THE BUTTONS,

OR IF YOU HAVE AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT,

MAKE SURE THE TECHNICIAN CHECKS THE CLOCK SPRING FIRST

BECAUSE IT'S FREQUENTLY OVERLOOKED.

ALRIGHT, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE AIRBAGS THEMSELVES?

YOU MAY BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT

OR MAYBE YOU'RE BUYING A USED CAR --

WELL, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR

ARE IN GOOD FUNCTIONAL CONDITION.

NOW, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT

THE CAR HAS EVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

SO, YOU WANT TO DO A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT

AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND OUT

IF THE AIRBAGS HAVE EVER BEEN DEPLOYED.

AND IF THEY HAVE, YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP

AND HAVE THE TECHNICIAN USE A SCANNER

TO SEE IF THE AIRBAGS ARE IN THE VEHICLE;

MOST TIMES, THEY CAN TELL BY DOING THAT.

NOW, WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?

WELL, ONCE THIS AIRBAG HAS DEPLOYED,

SUCH AS WE SEE WITH THIS ONE OVER HERE,

IT CAN'T BE PUT BACK TOGETHER;

YOU CAN'T PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

THIS AIRBAG HAS TO BE REPLACED.

BUT THERE ARE SOME UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE OUT THERE

WHO HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT YOU CAN GO OUT

AND YOU CAN BUY THIS COVER,

AND YOU CAN TAKE THE GUTS OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBAG,

PUT A NEW COVER ON IT

AND THERE'S A WAY TO CHEAT THE LIGHT

SO THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON.

YOU MAY BE DRIVING A CAR THAT HAS AN AIRBAG THAT --

WELL, IT COULD BE AS BASIC AS THIS;

IT COULD BE FILLED WITH TISSUE.

WE'VE SEEN THEM WITH RAGS IN THEM, WITH TISSUES IN THEM,

WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS, NEWSPAPERS, YOU NAME IT.

ANYTHING TO MAKE A DOLLAR.

SO, BEFORE YOU BUY THAT USED CAR,

OR AFTER YOU'VE HAD A REPAIR ON YOUR CAR

WHERE THE AIRBAG'S DEPLOYED,

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY CHECK THEM

TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S IN THE CAR IS REALLY AN AIRBAG,

AND THAT IT'LL REALLY WORK.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT,

DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.

JOHN: TIME FOR A QUICK CHECK OF THE LOG BOOKS FOR TWO OF OUR

LONG-TERM TESTERS BEGINNING WITH THIS 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.

A SUMMER VACATION FAVORITE, THE "GC" HAS BEEN WITH US

FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND HAS RACKED UP AN IMPRESSIVE 19,300 MILES.

WITH NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS TO REPORT,

MILEAGE CONTINUES TO INCH UP WITH MORE AND MORE HIGHWAY USE

AND NOW STANDS AT 19.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE PENTASTAR V6 IS A STELLAR PERFORMER.

COMBINED WITH A VERY WELL DONE INTERIOR

AND ADVANCED FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE,

THIS JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUV IS ONE CONFIDENT

AND COMFORTABLE WAY TO SEE ALL OF ROADSIDE AMERICA.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO TRADE SOME CAPABILITY

FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY,

THE NEWEST BREED OF MORE EFFICIENT CROSSOVER UTILITIES

IS WELL REPRESENTED BY THIS 2013 MAZDA CX-5.

WE PICKED IT AS OUR TOP SMALL UTILITY OF THE YEAR

BASED ON STYLE, DRIVABILITY,

AND ITS NEW FUEL EFFICIENT SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY.

SO, HOW WELL IS IT DOING?

WELL, RESULTS FROM ONLY A MONTH AND 1,056 MILES

ARE HARDLY CONCLUSIVE.

STILL, 25.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR

IS PRETTY GOOD FOR AROUND TOWN DUTIES.

CLEARLY, THE CX-5'S 2-LITER,

155-HORSEPOWER AUTOMATIC DRIVETRAIN

IS GEARED FOR ECONOMY.

ENOUGH SO THAT SOME STAFF AND VIEWERS

HAVE ALREADY LABELED THE CX-5 AS SLOW.

ON THE RIDE AND HANDLING SIDE, THE CX-5 IS WELL ABOVE THE NORM.

IT HANDLES TWISTY PAVEMENTS LIKE A TRUE MAZDA.

THE INTERIOR IS MODERN, VERY BUSINESS-LIKE,

BUT WITH ENOUGH SOFT MATERIALS TO HAVE A PREMIUM FEEL.

SO, IF THE CX-5 IS THE FACE OF MORE RESPONSIBLE DRIVING,

IT COMES ACROSS PRETTY WELL.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE LOG BOOKS OF OUR SUBARU IMPREZA

AND HONDA CR-V ON MOTORWEEK'S NEXT LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ

FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: THIS WEEK HONDA DRAWS OUR INTEREST

WITH A CLANDESTINE LOOK AT ITS ALL-NEW HONDA ACCORD.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT THE JAPANESE AUTOMAKER'S

FUTURE VISION OF PERSONAL MOBILITY.

AT FIRST GLANCE, HONDA'S NEW UNI-CUB

LOOKS LIKE A SEATED SEGWAY SCOOTER.

HONDA SAYS IT HAS THE SAME FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

A PERSON ENJOYS WHILE WALKING.

THE PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICE,

WITH AN ULTRA-COMPACT DESIGN AND COMFORTABLE SEAT,

IS A PROGRESSION OF THE U3-X HONDA SHOWED BACK IN 2009.

IT FEATURES SEVERAL PROPRIETARY SYSTEMS

THAT ALLOW BALANCE CONTROL AND OMNI-DIRECTIONAL DRIVING.

NO WORD ON PRICING FROM HONDA AS OF YET

OR IF IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE STATES.

NOT SO FAR OFF, BUT STILL UNDER WRAPS,

IS THE ALL-IMPORTANT MID-SIZE

2013 HONDA ACCORD COUPE AND SEDAN.

OUR EYE SPY PHOTOS SHOW BOTH THE TWO AND FOUR DOOR.

AND WHILE CAMOUFLAGED WITH PSYCHEDELIC-LOOKING SWIRLS,

THE TWO-DOOR LOOKS FAITHFUL, IF LESS DARING,

TO THE RED AND CHROME LADEN COUPE CONCEPT

SHOWED AT THIS YEAR'S DETROIT AUTO SHOW.

IT'S HARD TO DISTINGUISH THE SPY CAR'S CONTOUR LINES

BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION-GRABBING CAMOUFLAGE,

BUT WE DID A MOCKUP OF THE VEHICLE,

RENDERING IT IN A SOLID WHITE,

AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO DENY OUR EYE SPY PHOTOS

ARE NOT THE PRODUCTION-READY VERSION

OF HONDA'S 9TH GENERATION ACCORD.

ON THE OUTSIDE,

THE 2013 ACCORD LOOKS VERY EVOLUTIONARY AND LESS DARING

THAN RIVALS HYUNDAI SONATA AND FORD'S NEW FUSION.

ALSO UNLIKE THOSE TWO,

THE NEW ACCORD WILL BE AVAILABLE WITH A V6,

ALONG WITH A HIGHLY EFFICIENT 4-CYLINDER,

PLUS A PLUG-IN HYBRID DUE NEXT WINTER.

JOHN: YOU'VE HEARD US SAY IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN...

THE BMW 3-SERIES IS THE BENCHMARK OF SPORTS SEDANS.

INDEED, JUST ABOUT EVERY UPSTART 4-DOOR

WITH PERFORMANCE INTENTIONS COMPARES ITSELF TO THE 3.

BUT THE CHALLENGE FOR 21ST CENTURY SPORTS SEDAN

IS TO MAINTAIN THEIR CREDENTIALS

WHILE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY.

THIS BMW 328i MOTORS IN THAT DIRECTION

BY REPLACING ITS MUCH-LOVED INLINE-6 WITH A TURBO-4.

NOW, SOME SAY THAT COULD PUT THE 3-SERIES REPUTATION AT RISK.

HERE'S WHAT WE SAY...

2012 MARKS AN ALL-NEW 6TH GENERATION

OF BMW'S VENERABLE SPORTS SEDAN,

AND WHILE THE TRADITIONAL INLINE-6 POWERED 335i

IS STILL AVAILABLE,

IT WAS THE NEW 4-CYLINDER POWERED 328i

THAT PIQUED OUR INTEREST THE MOST.

SO WE ORDERED ONE UP, AND OFF WE WENT,

STOPPING BY ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

ALONG THE WAY.

HERE, WE QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT THE 328i

HAS DEFINITELY GROWN UP A BIT.

HANDLING IS STILL TOP DRAWER,

WITH ONLY MILD UNDERSTEER AND BODY ROLL.

HOWEVER, WITH EACH GENERATION,

THE 3 SEEMS TO LOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT SUPER TIGHT FEEL

AND FEEDBACK THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH.

MEANWHILE, POWER FROM THE NEW 4-CYLINDER TURBO

IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR BOTH COMING OUT OF CORNERS

AND MOVING OFF THE LINE.

INDEED, WE HIT 60 MILES-PER-HOUR IN A QUICK 5.9-SECONDS;

LAUNCHING IS ABOUT AS EASY AS IT GETS,

AS THE CAR HOOKS UP AND TAKES OFF

WITH JUST A HINT OF TURBO LAG.

THROUGH THE 1/4 MILE, POWER DELIVERY IS SMOOTH,

AND WITH EIGHT GEARS ON TAP SHIFTS COME EARLY AND OFTEN,

HELPING US TRIP THE LIGHTS IN 14.2-SECONDS

AT 98 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE 4-CYLINDER UNDER THE HOOD IS BMW'S N20 TWINPOWER TURBO

THAT WE FIRST SAMPLED IN THE LATEST Z4 ROADSTER.

IT RATES THE SAME 240-HORSEPOWER,

AND 255 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE,

BUT WE FELT ITS ROUGH-AROUND-THE-EDGES PERSONA

MATCHED THE ROADSTER A LITTLE BETTER.

HERE IN THE 3, THE DIESEL-LIKE CLATTER, ESPECIALLY AT START-UP,

MAY TURN OFF ANYONE USED TO THE SILKY OPERATION

OF A BMW 6-CYLINDER.

ON THE STREET, THIS MATURING OF 3-SERIES PERFORMANCE

IS LESS NOTICEABLE.

WE'VE SAID BEFORE THAT THE 3

IS THE 5-SERIES OF GENERATIONS PAST,

AND THAT RINGS EVEN MORE TRUE NOW.

IT'S STILL A WONDERFUL CAR;

IT'S JUST LOST A LITTLE BIT OF ITS INTIMACY.

WHETHER BACK ROAD OR HIGHWAY,

IT'S STILL A REAL PLEASURE TO DRIVE.

AND WHILE ITS LARGER SIZE MAY HAVE HELD US BACK AT THE TRACK,

IN EVERYDAY PRACTICALITY,

IT ADDS MUCH APPRECIATED SPACE AND ALSO A BIT OF LUXURY.

IT'S NO WONDER THEN THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR STAFF

HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE INTERIOR.

IN TYPICAL BMW FASHION,

EVERYTHING IS STILL DRIVER FOCUSED

AND HIGH QUALITY LEATHER AND WOOD TRIM

ARE JOINED BY SPORTY LOOKING ALUMINUM HIGHLIGHTS.

THE NEW 3'S EXTRA INTERIOR SPACE

IS MOSTLY NOTED IN THE REAR SEAT,

WHERE YOU'LL FIND ADDITIONAL LEGROOM

AND MORE COMFORT ALL AROUND.

IN THE TRUNK, CARGO SPACE IS WAY UP AS WELL, TO 17 CUBIC-FEET.

STYLING REMAINS TRADITIONAL BMW.

THE NEW 3 IS BIGGER IN EVERY DIMENSION EXCEPT FOR WIDTH.

FRONT TRACK, HOWEVER, IS WIDER.

A FLAT FRONT END WITH WIDE TWIN-KIDNEY GRILLES

AND ELONGATED HEADLIGHTS

DOES MAKE THE NEW 3 APPEAR WIDER THAN BEFORE.

IN PROFILE, SHORTER OVERHANGS,

AND A CONVERGENCE OF CHARACTER LINES AND FENDER FLARES,

GIVE THE EXPECTED ATHLETIC STANCE,

HIGHLIGHTED BY OUR CAR'S 18-INCH WHEELS

THAT REPLACE THE STANDARD 17s.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 328i WITH AN AUTOMATIC

ARE 24-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY.

AUTOMATIC STOP/START HELPED US ACHIEVE

A FINE 29.9 MILES PER PREMIUM GALLON.

SIZE AND FUEL ECONOMY ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS

THAT HAVE INCREASED WITH THE NEW 3,

PRICING HAS AS WELL, BUT JUST BARELY.

THE 2012 328i STICKERS FOR $35,795,

WITH THE 6-CYLINDER 335i BEGINNING AT $43,295.

THE NEW BMW 3-SERIES MAY HAVE PASSED

THE "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE" TORCH TO THE 1-SERIES

AND BECOME MORE OF A "FAMILY" SPORTS SEDAN

FOR THE MATURING DRIVER,

BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING.

WITH ITS GAINS IN INTERIOR ROOM AND FUEL ECONOMY,

IT STILL REMAINS THE CAR THAT OTHER SPORTS SEDAN MAKERS

HAVE TO KEEP SQUARELY IN THEIR SIGHTS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK...

WHEN WE'LL STAGE A SHOOT OUT

WITH A GANG OF COMPACT CROSSOVER UTILITIES.

THEN WE'LL MEDITATE ON THE NEW FISKER KARMA.

TILL 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 HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY TIRE RACK.

AND BY...

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