2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe/GT & 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK

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

JOIN US, AS WE TASTE TWO NEW FLAVORS OF HYUNDAI ELANTRA,

THE COUPE AND GT.

PAT GOSS POPS THE HOOD ON A TROUBLESOME FORD.

ROGER MECCA EXPLORES THE ROLLING LEGACY OF CARROLL SHELBY.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT MOTIVATES THE LATEST MERCEDES-BENZ GLK.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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John: WE LIKED THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA COMPACT

FROM THE FIRST MOMENT WE SAW AND DROVE IT.

IT HAD THE STYLE OF THE GROUND BREAKING MID-SIZE SONATA,

BUT WITH A SMALLER PRICE, AND 40 MPG FUEL ECONOMY.

IF THERE WAS ONE DRAWBACK,

IT WAS THAT THE ELANTRA WAS SEDAN ONLY,

WITHOUT A SPORTY COUPE OR VERSATILE HATCHBACK

FAVORED BY YOUNGER BERS.

WELL, THAT SHORTCOMING DISSOLVED

WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE 2013 ELANTRA COUPE &THIS ELANTRA GT.

SO LET'S TAKE THEM BOTH OUT FOR A SPIN!

LET'S START WITH THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA COUPE.

THIS TWO-DOOR TAKES THE BRAND'S

FLUIDIC SCULPTURE DESIGN LANGUAGE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

THE LINES LOOK PERFECT ON THE COUPE

AS THEY SLICE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE BODY SIDES

INTO THE SEVERELY WRAPAROUND TAIL LIGHTS.

WE DARE TO DECLARE THIS CAR AS BEAUTIFUL,

AND CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT SELLS FOR UNDER 20-GRAND.

AND THAT THEME CONTINUES INSIDE;

AS WHEN YOU GET IN,

YOU REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A HIGH-END AUTOMOBILE.

EVERYTHING FROM THE LONG BUT LIGHT DOORS...

TO THE DASH...

INFO SCREENS...

AND TRIM BELIES THE LOW PRICE POINT.

THERE ARE STILL SOME HARD PLASTICS,

BUT THEY'VE BEEN CLEVERLY DISGUISED WITH BRIGHT ACCENTS

AND VARIOUS SHADES OF TRIM

FROM GRAPHITE TO PIANO BLACK TO SILVER.

THE RADIO CRANKS OUT SOME DECENT TUNES,

THERE'S A GOOD LIST OF STANDARD FEATURES,

AND WE LIKE THE MANUAL SHIFTER'S TRIGGER STYLE REVERSE LOCKOUT.

THE BACK SEAT IS SURPRISINGLY ROOMY FOR A COMPACT COUPE,

AND ACCESS IS GOOD.

THE TRUNK AREA IS NEATLY FINISHED

IF, HERE, A BIT CHEAPER LOOKING,

AND THERE ARE TRUNK MOUNTED RELEASES

FOR FOLDING THE 60/40 SPLIT SEAT BACKS.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE ELANTRA COUPE IS A HUGE STEP UP

FROM THE SUBCOMPACT ACCENT,

MUCH CLOSER TO THE MID-SIZE SONATA.

AND, IN THIS COUPE, ROAD NOISE IS IMPROVED

OVER THE PREVIOUS ELANTRA SEDAN WE TESTED.

INSTEAD, WE WERE GREETED WITH A LOVELY ENGINE SOUND

AND AN OVERALL PERFORMANCE ORIENTED FEEL

THAT MADE COMMUTING FUN!

AT OUR TEST TRACK, WE ALSO FOUND THE COUPE

TO BE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE SEDAN,

WITH AN EAGERNESS TO TURN IN,

THANKS TO A TWEAKED SUSPENSION AND SUPER-GRIPPY TRIES.

DESPITE AN OVERALL SOFT FEEL AND SOME UNDERSTEER,

IT IS VERY COMPETENT AND CAPABLE.

BOTH 0 TO 60 AND QUARTER-MILE TIMES

WERE A BIT QUICKER THAN THE SEDAN

AT 8.1-SECONDS TO 60 AND 16.4 FOR THE QUARTER MILE,

WITH A SPEED OF 86 MILES-PER-HOUR.

WE CHALK THAT UP MOSTLY TO THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION,

AS AT 2,687-POUNDS, THE COUPE IS NOT THAT MUCH LIGHTER

THAN THE SEDAN...

AND SENDS THE SAME 148-HORSEPOWER

AND 131 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE

FROM THE 1.8-LITER I4 ENGINE TO THE FRONT WHEELS.

NOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

A LITTLE MORE PRACTICALITY IN YOUR ELANTRA,

THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT

SACRIFICES LITTLE WHEN IT COMES TO STYLE OR PERFORMANCE,

YET OFFERS LOTS MORE ROOM FOR YOUR STUFF.

THOUGH THE DESIGN SAYS THAT IT IS CLEARLY

PART OF THE ELANTRA FAMILY,

THE GT IS ACTUALLY BASED ON HYUNDAI'S I30 HATCHBACK

THAT'S POPULAR IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE.

SO THE INTERIOR, WHILE IT HAS THE SAME OVERALL THEME,

ALSO HAS A FEW DIFFERENCES, LIKE THE CENTER STACK,

WHICH FEATURES UNIQUE CONTROLS, A DRIVER'S KNEE AIR BAG,

AND, OF COURSE, A DIFFERENT REAR SEAT AND CARGO COMPARTMENT.

FOLDING THOSE REAR SEATS DOES REQUIRE THE EXTRA STEPS

OF LIFTING UP THE SEAT BOTTOMS AND REMOVING THE HEAD RESTS,

BUT THE RESULT IS A NICE FLAT LOAD FLOOR

WITH A WAGON-LIKE ROOM OF 51.0 CUBIC-FT.

THOUGH NOT AS DYNAMIC LOOKING AS THE COUPE, THE GT IS NO SLOUCH.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU CHOOSE THE STYLE PACKAGE,

WHICH ADDS 17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, A PANORAMIC SUNROOF,

TURN SIGNAL MIRRORS,

LEATHER SEATS WITH POWER FOR THE DRIVER,

ALUMINUM PEDALS, AND UNIQUE SUSPENSION TUNING.

PUTTING THAT SUSPENSION THROUGH ITS PACES

YIELDS AN ENTERTAINING AND SPIRITED RIDE.

WE WOULDN'T QUITE PUT THE GT UP THERE WITH THE MAZDA3,

BUT IT'S CLOSE.

DRIVER SELECTABLE STEERING MODES

NOT ONLY ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF ASSIST,

BUT ALSO ON-CENTER FEEL,

SO YOU CAN MATCH YOUR "WHEEL FEEL"

TO YOUR DRIVING TYPE OR CONDITIONS.

THE GT ALSO SHARES THE SEDAN AND COUPE'S

148-HORSEPOWER 1.8-LITER I4.

SO, POWER IS ADEQUATE, BUT NOT MUCH MORE.

AS FOR GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS,

THE SLEEKER COUPE DOES JUST A LITTLE BETTER

AT 29-CITY, 40-HIGHWAY, AND 33-COMBINED.

WE NEVER SNIFFED THOSE CLAIMS OF 40 MILES-PER-GALLON,

BUT DID AVERAGE 33.1 MPG IN MIXED DRIVING.

GT NUMBERS ARE 27-CITY, 39-HIGHWAY, AND 31-COMBINED.

THE COUPE'S ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS VERY GOOD,

USING JUST 10.0 BARRELS OF OIL PER YEAR

WHILE EMITTING 4.5 TONS OF CO2.

WE THINK THE ELANTRA COUPE,

WITH ITS BASE PRICE OF JUST $18,220,

IS THE TRUE BARGAIN OF THE TWO;

GT PRICING IS ALSO NOT BAD, STARTING AT $19,170,

BUT THERE ARE OTHER HATCHBACKS WE WOULD CHOOSE FIRST.

HYUNDAI WARRANTIES CONTINUE TO BE AMONG THE BEST EVER.

MORE CHOICE IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

AND BY ADDING MORE ELANTRAS TO THE LINEUP,

HYUNDAI HAS MADE A SMART CHOICE EVEN SMARTER.

SO WHETHER IT'S PERFORMANCE OR PRACTICALITY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,

HYUNDAI NOW HAS AN ELANTRA JUST FOR YOU.

FEW PEOPLE HAVE HAD AS MUCH INFLUENCE

ON AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE AS CARROLL SHELBY.

HE WAS A WORLD-CLASS RACE DRIVER

UNTIL A HEART PROBLEM FORCED HIM TO PULL INTO THE PITS FOR GOOD.

BUT HE DIDN'T SLOW DOWN.

FOR 50 YEARS, HIS NAME WOULD BE SYNONYMOUS

WITH SPEED AND AMERICAN HORSEPOWER.

NOW, CARROLL PASSED AWAY THIS PAST MAY,

BUT AS OUR OWN ROGER MECCA EXPLAINS, EVEN THOUGH HE'S GONE,

HIS NAME AND HIS CARS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

Roger: CARROLL SHELBY'S LIFE WAS AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY.

A SELF-MADE MAN, HE USED GRIT, DETERMINATION

AND A CAN'T-FAIL ATTITUDE TO BUILD AN AUTOMOTIVE EMPIRE.

AND WHILE HE'S NO LONGER WITH US,

HIS LEGACY LIVES ON HERE AT THE SHELBY AMERICAN COLLECTION.

SITTING IN THE SHADOW OF THE ROCKIES

IN BEAUTIFUL BOULDER, COLORADO, THE MUSEUM IS A SHRINE

TO THE MAN WHO CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD LOOKED AT SPORTS CARS.

AFTER ACQUIRING A VAST COLLECTION OF SHELBY CARS,

PARTS, AND MEMORABILIA,

MUSEUM CO-FOUNDERS BILL MURRAY AND STEVE VOLK

BEGAN A FRIENDSHIP WITH CARROLL SHELBY

THAT WOULD LAST FOR DECADES.

KNOWING THE TWO OF THEM HAD SUCH A LARGE COLLECTION

JUST SITTING IN A WAREHOUSE,

SHELBY OFFERED A SUGGESTION -- A VERY PERSUASIVE ONE.

Bill Murray: HE HAD CALLED UP AND LEFT A MESSAGE

ON STEVE VOLK'S ANSWERING MACHINE ONE DAY

AND BASICALLY HE SAID,

"WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH ALL THOSE ---- COBRAS.

YOU OUGHTA START A MUSEUM!

STEVE PLAYED THAT FOR ME,

AND IT WAS A REAL SHORT MESSAGE LIKE THAT,

AND WE JUST KINDA LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, "OK."

I GUESS WE GOT OUR ORDERS FROM THE KING, SO WE DID IT.

Roger: SO WITH THE HELP OF OTHER SHELBY FANS

AND FRIENDS IN COLORADO,

THE MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1996.

SINCE THEN, GEAR HEADS AND CAR NOVICES ALIKE

HAVE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT THE TEXAN CAR BUILDER'S LIFE.

FOR THE MUSEUM'S FOUNDERS,

THE COLLECTION SERVES A VERY IMPORTANT PURPOSE:

SHOWING EVERYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS

THE IMPORTANT INFLUENCE SHELBY HAD ON AMERICA.

Steve Volk: IT'S IMPORTANT TO US

THAT EVERYBODY WHO COMES THROUGH THE MUSEUM REALIZES

THAT THIS MAN, HE HAD A HUGE IMPACT.

HE DID A LOT FOR AMERICA.

HE WON THE WORLD MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP.

HE MADE AMERICA SOMETHING IN RACING.

Dr. Robert Kern: HE FACED ADVERSITY IN RACING,

HE FACED ADVERSITY IN HEALTH REASONS BUT HE OVERCAME IT,

PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE

AND STILL WAS A DRIVING FORCE RIGHT UP TO HIS FINAL YEAR.

Mark Obermann: FOR SOMEBODY WHO STARTED BASICALLY FROM NOTHING,

AND THEN TO RACE, AND THEN TO BRING THE RACE TECHNOLOGY

TO CARS THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE, LIKE MY WIFE AND I CAN DRIVE,

I THINK THAT REALLY IS THE MOST SPECIAL THING.

Roger: THE CAR SHELBY WAS MOST PROUD OF AND MOST WELL KNOWN FOR

WAS THE COBRA.

IT WAS BORN OUT HIS DESIRE

TO COMBINE A NIMBLE BRITISH CHASSIS WITH AN AMERICAN V8.

AND IT ALSO JUST SO HAPPENED TO COME ALONG AT THE PERFECT TIME

FOR HIM TO CEMENT HIS NAME IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY.

Bill Murray: HE KNEW WHAT PEOPLE LIKED.

THEY WANTED A SPORTS CAR,

THEY WANTED A CAR WITH A LOT OF HORSEPOWER,

AND THEY WANTED SOMETHING THAT WAS EASY TO SERVICE.

MY NAME'S CARROLL SHELBY, AND PERFORMANCE IS MY BUSINESS.

Steve: HERE'S A GUY WHO SINGLE-HANDEDLY

USHERED IN THE MUSCLE CAR ERA.

FROM THE COBRAS CAME THE SHELBY MUSTANGS,

AND THEN ALL THE OTHER MAJOR MANUFACTURES

GETTING INTO THE CHEVELLES AND THE CHARGERS.

HE STARTED IT.

HE PUT AMERICA ON THE MAP.

Roger: THIS IS BY FAR AND AWAY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING

AND TERRIFYING CARS I HAVE EVER DRIVEN.

THE NOISE, THE WEIGHT OF STEERING,

THE HEAVINESS OF THE CLUTCH, THE ACCELERATION...

IT WAS CLEARLY BUILT THOUGH BY SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO DRIVE CARS.

Dr. Kern: THE SHELBY MACHINES ARE,

FIRST AND FOREMOST, PERFORMANCE VEHICLES.

THEY NEVER LOST FOCUS ON THAT PARADIGM.

Roger: AND THAT FOCUS ON DRIVING EXCITEMENT

CONTINUES TO ATTRACT NEW GENERATIONS

IN A WAY SHELBY LIKELY NEVER SAW COMING.

Steve: THE FACT THAT A SHELBY MUSTANG AND A SHELBY COBRA

ARE FEATURED IN MOST ALL

OF THE CONTEMPORARY VIDEO GAMES TODAY --

WE HAVE KIDS THAT COME IN, WANNA BUY MODELS,

WANT POSTERS, WANT TO SEE THE REAL CARS.

Bill: YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD THAT TERM

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT HE HAS IT."

THAT'S WHAT CARROLL HAD.

HE JUST HAD THIS MAGNETIC WAY ABOUT HIM.

John: LET'S CHECK IN WITH PAT GOSS,

WHO HAS THE RIGHT ADVICE ON A TOUGH FORD ENGINE ISSUE.

Pat Goss: NORMALLY, I RECOMMEND

THAT YOU LEAVE SPARK PLUGS ALONE IN AN ENGINE

UNTIL YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

BUT THERE IS AN EXCEPTION.

AND THAT'S ON V8 AND V10 FORD

THREE VALVE CYLINDER HEADS OF CERTAIN YEARS.

THEY'RE HEADS THAT USE A TWO PIECE SPARK PLUG.

YOU CAN TELL THESE PLUGS,

THEY HAVE THIS LONG, SMOOTH BODY ON THE END OF IT.

THAT'S FITS INTO THE CYLINDER HEAD, INTO A HOLE IN THE HEAD,

AND THE HOLE IN THE HEAD IS VERY TIGHT AROUND THE SPARK PLUG.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS, AS YOU RUN THE ENGINE,

CARBON BUILDS UP BETWEEN THIS PORTION OF THE PLUG

AND THE CYLINDER HEAD,

AND IF YOU DON'T DO THINGS RIGHT,

YOU CAN LITERALLY BREAK THE END RIGHT OFF OF THE PLUG.

NOW, THERE'S A TOOL, BUT IT'S A HUNDRED DOLLAR TOOL,

AND IT TAKES ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR PER SPARK PLUG

TO REMOVE THE REMNANTS.

YOU CAN DO IT,

BUT IT'S WORK THAT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO DO,

IF YOU DO THINGS RIGHT.

NOW, THE FIRST THING OF COURSE IS TO USE THE PROPER TOOLS.

HERE WE HAVE A 3/8 INCH DRIVE RATCHET,

NOT THE GREAT BIG 1/2 INCH DRIVE.

THAT APPLIES TOO MUCH FORCE TO THINGS.

AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO REMOVE THESE PLUGS IS,

YOU'RE GOING TO TURN THEM IN THE REMOVE DIRECTION,

VERY CAREFULLY, ONE QUARTER OF A TURN.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO USE A CARBURETOR CLEANER PRODUCT,

SUCH AS THIS FORD PRODUCT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO POUR THAT IN AROUND THE SPARK PLUG

AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW HOURS.

THAT CHEMICAL WILL WORK ITS WAY DOWN AROUND THE PLUG

AND CLEAN THE END OF THE PLUG TO GET RID OF THE CARBON,

AND THE PLUG COMES OUT WITHOUT BREAKING.

BUT NOW HERE'S THE TRICK,

AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO

BEFORE THE CARBON BUILDS UP.

AND THAT IS TO USE ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND,

SUCH AS WE HAVE RIGHT HERE.

WE PUT THIS, A VERY THIN COAT OF IT,

ON THE ENTIRE END OF THE PLUG.

SO THAT ONCE IT'S DOWN IN THE ENGINE,

THE CARBON CAN'T BUILD UP, THE PLUG DOESN'T SEIZE,

AND THE PLUG DOESN'T BREAK.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE WHEN YOU DO IT THAT WAY.

NOW, SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND,

IS THAT THESE ENGINES ALL USE COIL ON PLUGS.

SO, THE COIL, AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS BOOT,

AND THEN THE SPARK PLUG.

WHEN YOU PUT THIS BACK TOGETHER,

BECAUSE YOU HAD TO TAKE IT APART TO GET THE PLUGS OUT,

WHAT YOU DO IS USE SOME DIELECTRIC SILICONE GREASE,

RIGHT ON THE END OF IT,

TO KEEP MOISTURE AWAY FROM THE PLUG AND OUT OF THE BOOT,

AND TO PREVENT MISFIRING.

DO IT RIGHT, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS,

PLUGS WILL LAST A LONG TIME, ENGINE WILL RUN GREAT,

AND YOU WON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT,

DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.

John: MONTH AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH,

SUBARU IS SETTING NEW AMERICAN SALES RECORDS

AND THE 2012 IMPREZA IS A BIG REASON WHY.

WITH DELIVERIES JUMPING BY TRIPLE DIGITS,

THE REDESIGNED IMPREZA NOW MAKES UP 20%

OF THE BRAND'S SALES HERE.

OUR LONG-TERM IMPREZA 2.0I HATCHBACK

CERTAINLY MAKES US UNDERSTAND WHY.

IT'S SOLID, VERSATILE, PLUS ECONOMICAL,

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,

A BREAD-AND-BUTTER IMPREZA THAT'S FUN TO DRIVE.

WE'RE NOT FANS OF CVT TRANSMISSIONS,

AND THE IMPREZA'S IS NO EXCEPTION,

BUT IT DOES HELP THE 148-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER I4

DELIVER FINE FUEL ECONOMY.

SO, FAR, AFTER 5 MONTHS AND 9000 MILES OF MOSTLY URBAN DRIVING,

WE'RE RETURNING 29.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO ADD IN THE MINUS COLUMN,

THERE IS THE CONFUSING RADIO AND NAV SYSTEM,

AND THE SOMEWHAT LOUD RIDE ON CONCRETE HIGHWAYS.

BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY SAYING A LOT

ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS DONE RIGHT

ON THE HOT SELLING SUBARU IMPREZA.

AS TO SALES OF THIS WEEK'S OTHER LONG-TERMER, THE HONDA CR-V,

SINCE ITS REDESIGN A YEAR AGO

IT HAS OUTSOLD ALL OF THE REST OF HONDA'S UTILITIES COMBINED.

WHILE CRITICS, INCLUDING US, PREDICTED A TOUGH TIME FOR CR-V

AGAINST SO MANY GREAT NEW RIVALS,

THE PUBLIC STILL SEES IT AS THE COMPACT CROSSOVER TO BEAT.

AFTER 5 MONTHS AND NEARLY 12,500 LARGELY URBAN MILES,

THE ENERGETIC 185-HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER I4

IS SPITTING OUT DECENT FUEL ECONOMY OF 24.8 MPG OF REGULAR,

ALTHOUGH IT HAS DROPPED SINCE LAST REPORT.

OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WE'VE SEEN 30 AND ABOVE FREQUENTLY.

AND THIS 4TH GENERATION CR-V IS INDEED GREAT FOR VACATIONS

WITH A SMOOTH RIDE

AND MORE CARGO ROOM THAN SOME MID-SIZE SUVS.

OUR STAFF REALLY LOVES THE SMART FOLDING REAR SEATS.

ADD A TOUCH SCREEN TO THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM

AND THE CR-V WOULD BE ALMOST PERFECT.

AND, OBVIOUSLY, MORE BUYERS THAN EVER TEND TO AGREE

THAT THE CR-V FITS THEIR NEEDS THE SAME WAY.

SPEAKING OF MID-SIZE SUVS,

WE'LL CHECK ON THIS JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE,

ALONG WITH OUR HYUNDAI ACCENT,

ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW LET'S TURN THINGS OVER TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ

WHO'S READY WITH THE LATEST MOTOR NEWS.

Yolanda: THE OUTDOOR CAR SHOW SEASON IS WINDING DOWN,

AND THIS WEEK WE BID A FOND FAREWELL TO A LONGTIME FAVORITE,

BUT SEND A WARM WELCOME TO A NEW MUST-SEE EVENT

ON THE CAR-SHOW CALENDAR.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS DEDICATED TO THE PURSUIT

AND ENJOYMENT OF FERRARIS,

OUR GOOD FRIEND RON SPANGLER AND HIS PRANCING HORSE FARM

RECENTLY HOSTED A FAREWELL BASH

THAT DREW AN INTIMATE GROUP OF FRIENDS,

AND PLENTY OF AUTOMOTIVE STAR POWER.

WE FIRST ATTENDED ONE OF RON'S INVITATIONAL MEETS IN 1982.

THROUGHOUT THE INTERVENING YEARS,

PRANCING HORSE FARM WAS SYNONYMOUS WITH COLLECTING,

RACING AND BROKERING THE MOST DESIRABLE MODELS FROM MARANELLO,

AND THEIR CAR SHOWS BECAME AN ANNUAL MUST-DO

FOR EAST COAST FERRARI LOVERS.

IT' A TESTAMENT TO RON'S IMPACT ON THE FERRARI SCENE

THAT THIS 35TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT DREW A BEVY OF CLASSIC FERRARIS,

INCLUDING SEVERAL ONE-OFF CREATIONS --

AND THE HOLY GRAIL FOR COLLECTORS:

AN ORIGINAL GTO WORTH UPWARDS OF $30 MILLION BUCKS!

AS FOR THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, THROUGHOUT ITS 15 YEAR RUN,

THE RODDERS JOURNAL HAS SET A BENCHMARK

FOR SHOWCASING THE MOST INTERESTING

AND SIGNIFICANT STREET RODS, VINTAGE RACERS AND CUSTOMS,

IN STUNNING PICTORIALS,

AND WELL-RESEARCHED HISTORICAL PROSE.

NOW THE RODDERS JOURNAL HAS TAKEN TO THE STREETS

FOR ITS FIRST-EVER CAR SHOW:

THE VINTAGE SPEED AND CUSTOM REVIVAL,

CRUISING THROUGH OUR HOME CITY OF BALTIMORE

AND THE GROUNDS OF THE TRIPLE CROWN'S PIMLICO RACE COURSE.

WHETHER HOMEBUILT OR METICULOUSLY CRAFTED --

THE ORIGINALITY, CREATIVITY AND PURE AUTOMOTIVE PASSION

DISPLAYED IN THIS UNIQUE GATHERING OF CARS IS UNRIVALED.

OLD SCHOOL IS COOL FOR THE RODDER'S JOURNAL,

AND NOW THOSE LONG-ADMIRED PAGES HAVE COME TO LIFE

FOR EVERYONE TO SEE, TOUCH AND HEAR...

AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO CHECK OUT NEXT YEAR'S CROP OF CAR SHOWS,

BOTH NEW AND CLASSIC.

BUT FOR NOW, THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THE 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK ARRIVED AT A PERFECT TIME,

WHEN MANY UTILITY OWNERS WERE LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE

INTO SOMETHING MORE FUEL EFFICIENT.

ILE THE GLK HAS BEEN A SUCCESS,

MERCEDES-BENZ SEES EVEN MORE POTENTIAL

FOR ITS SMALLEST CROSSOVER,

AND FOR 2013, HAS UPPED ITS FEATURES, POWER, AND ECONOMY.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE NEW GLK HITS A TRIFECTA.

WHILE THE SMALL CROSSOVER SEGMENT IS INDEED STILL GROWING,

THE LUXURY CROSSOVER PIECE OF THE PIE

SEEMS PRIMED TO REALLY TAKE OFF;

AND THE 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350

WILL MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF THAT PIECE.

AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS BENZ' SMALLEST CAR-BASED CROSSOVER,

BEHIND THE WHEEL IT FEELS VERY TRUCK-LIKE,

WITH A VERY LONG HOOD, GREAT VISIBILITY ALL AROUND,

AND A COMMANDING DRIVING POSITION.

EVEN THE RAKE OF THE STEERING WHEEL

FEELS MORE LIKE A TRUCK THAN A CAR.

IT ALL MAKES FOR A VERY RELAXING

AND IN-CONTROL DRIVING EXPERIENCE,

PARTICULARLY FOR LONG HIGHWAY JAUNTS.

WE FOUND THE OVERHAUL OF THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

MOST APPEALING.

WITH NEW AMBIENT LIGHTING,

THERE'S ALMOST A VINTAGE FEEL TO THE SPACE

WITH BIG CHUNKS OF REAL WOOD AND LARGE CHROME AIR VENTS.

ALL THE LUXURY BELLS AND WHISTLES YOU EXPECT ARE PRESENT,

MAKING FOR A VERY BUSY CENTER STACK,

BUT BUTTON OVERLOAD IS SOMEWHAT ALLEVIATED

BY THE IMPROVED COMMAND SYSTEM.

SEATS ARE ON THE FIRM SIDE,

BUT OFFER GREAT SUPPORT FOR LONG DRIVES,

AND FEEL TRULY LUXURY SUV WORTHY.

REAR SEAT ROOM IS SERIOUSLY TIGHT,

MAKING THE GLK MORE FOR EMPTY NESTERS THAN YOUNG FAMILIES,

BUT THE SEATS THEMSELVES ARE COMFORTABLE,

PROVIDED YOUR TIME SPENT IN THEM IS LIMITED.

THE CARGO AREA IS ALSO VERY NARROW,

MAKING BULKY ITEM HAULING A BIT TRICKY,

BUT THERE IS ROOM FOR 23.3 CUBIC-FEET OF GOODS.

FOLDING THE REAR SEATBACKS

GETS YOU 54.7 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE.

BUT THE GLK IS ALSO SMALLER THAN MOST OF ITS COMPETITION,

WITH JUST A 108.5-INCH WHEELBASE,

AND OVERALL LENGTH OF 178.3-INCHES.

EXTERIOR STYLING UPDATES ARE RELATIVELY MINOR

BUT QUITE NOTICEABLE WITH NEW FASCIAS FRONT AND REAR.

THEY COMBINE TO MAKE THIS MINI-UTE A LITTLE MORE IN STEP

WITH THE REST OF THE BENZ SUV LINEUP,

BUT IT IS STILL A BIT CHUNKY

WITH ITS ANGULAR NOSE AND STEEPLY RAKED WINDSHIELD.

AGAIN, A BIT RETRO

AND CERTAINLY MORE TRUCK LOOKING THAN MOST COMPACT SUVS.

OUR TESTER HAD THE NEW AMG STYLE PACKAGE,

WHICH ADDS LED DAYTIME RUNNERS, ALUMINUM ROOF RAILS,

AND 20-INCH ALLOY WHEELS THAT MAKE THE TAUT RIDE EVEN MORE SO.

UNDER THE 350'S HOOD, MORE CHANGES ARE AFOOT,

AND WE LIKE THEM EVEN MORE.

THOUGH STILL 3.5-LITERS, THE V6 IS ALL-NEW

WITH DIRECT INJECTION AND AUTOMATIC STOP/START.

OUTPUT IS 302-HORSEPOWER, A GAIN OF 34,

AND 273 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE UP TO 19-CITY,

24-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED FOR OUR 4MATIC.

ALL NUMBERS ARE PLUS 3 OVER LAST YEAR.

STILL WE AVERAGED ONLY A MODEST 22.6 MPG OF PREMIUM.

THAT BRINGS THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE UP TO NEAR AVERAGE

AT 15.7 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION,

WITH YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.0 TONS.

THE GLK'S STOP/START SYSTEM WAS NOTICEABLE,

BUT NOT AS OBTRUSIVE AS SOME.

THOSE LOOKING FOR EVEN BETTER FUEL ECONOMY

CAN OPT FOR THE GLK250 BLUETEC DIESEL

WHEN IT ARRIVES NEXT YEAR.

THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES,

LIKE ATTENTION ASSIST, BLIND SPOT ASSIST,

AND LANE KEEPING ASSIST.

NEW FOR 2013 IS ACTIVE PARK ASSIST.

OPTIONAL TOO IS 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE,

A PERMANENT SYSTEM WITH A 45 TO 55 FRONT TO REAR TORQUE SPLIT.

WE FOUND IT VERY CAPABLE OFF-PAVEMENT

AND MORE THAN A MATCH FOR UNIMPROVED ROADS,

AS WELL AS INCLEMENT WEATHER.

4MATIC ALSO WAS PUT TO GOOD USE AT OUR TEST TRACK

WHERE WE GOT INSTANT TRACTION OFF THE LINE

AND BOLTED TO 60 IN SPORTS CAR-LIKE 6.1-SECONDS.

THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE, THE GLK REVS LIKE A 4-CYLINDER

AND GROWLS LIKE A V8 AS IT HITS 97 MILES-PER-HOUR

AT THE END OF THE QUARTER-MILE IN 14.6-SECONDS.

THERE'S POWER-A-PLENTY

AND THE 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS

MAKES GOOD USE OF IT WITH QUICK AND FIRM SHIFTS THROUGHOUT,

WITH THIRD GEAR BEING THE REAL WORKHORSE.

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STEERING IS ALSO NEW TO THE GLK

AND REQUIRES SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EFFORT THAN BEFORE.

STILL, WE FOUND IT A LITTLE SLUGGISH TO RESPOND

AND A TAD VAGUE,

WHICH ONLY WORSENS THE VERY TRUCK-LIKE FEEL.

BRAKES, HOWEVER, WERE MORE CAR-LIKE

WITH A FIRM PEDAL AND SHORT TRAVEL,

BRINGING US DOWN FROM 60 IN A GOOD AVERAGE OF 129 FEET.

YOU'LL NEED A LITTLE BIT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME

TO PUT A GLK IN YOUR DRIVEWAY, AS PRICING STARTS AT $37,965.

4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS ANOTHER 2-GRAND,

AND LIKE MOST GERMAN RIDES,

OPTIONS CAN QUICKLY ESCALATE THAT NUMBER.

IF YOU'VE SPENT ANY TIME AT THE HORSE TRACK,

YOU KNOW THAT HITTING A TRIFECTA IS NOT EASY,

BUT THE 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350,

WITH MORE FEATURES, MORE POWER, AND BETTER FUEL ECONOMY,

IS INDEED A WINNING TICKET.

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

AND WE'LL SEE IF THE ALL-NEW FORD FUSION

CAN POWER-UP THE MID-SIZE RANKS.

THEN WE'LL CHECK OUT THE BUZZ AROUND THE CODA EV SEDAN.

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.

AND BY...

3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

3M'S FUEL SYSTEM TUNE-UP KIT HELPS PROLONG ENGINE LIFE

BY REMOVING CARBON, GUMS AND RESINS,

AND CLEANING FUEL INJECTORS AND VALVES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.