2013 BMW M5 & 2013 Tesla Model S

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

JOIN US AS WE LOOK FOR ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE FROM THE BMW M5.

THE ALWAYS TRUSTWORTHY PAT GOSS WARNS US ABOUT BAD ADVICE ONLINE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT'S BEING DONE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO LIVE WITH AN ELECTRIC CAR, FOLLOWED BY AN EXCLUSIVE DRIVE IN THE ELECTRIFYG TESLA MODEL S. SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... AND THAT IS WHERE BABIES COME FROM.

DAD, I HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU DO?

DOES THE ASYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERN OF A TIRE HAVE ANY EFFECT ON STOPPING DISTANCE?

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

UH... GO ASK YR MOTHER.

Announcer: 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... 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 Dav: FEW CARS GET US AS EXCITED AROUND OUR SHOP AS A NEW BMW M5.

IN THE PAST, JUST A GLIMPSE OF THIS ESOME 4-DOOR MADE US POSITIVELY GIDDY.

BUT ULTIMATE SPORTS SEDANS AREN'T AS SINGLE MINDED AS THEY USED TO BE.

NOW, MOREFFICIENCY FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY, AND RE COMFORT FOR EVERYDAY USE SO JUST HOW DOES THE NEW M5 SCORE IN THIS ALTERED UBER-PERFORMANCE UNIVERSE?

FEW CARS HAVE EVER BEEN ABLE TO COME CLOSE TO THE M5'S "LUXURY SPORTS SEDAN WITH SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE" FORMULA.

AND AFTER FIVE GENERATIONS, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF THAT CHANGING, AS THE 2013 BMW M5 PACKS THE MOST HORSEPOWER OF ANY M5 YET.

THAT'S DESPITE A SMALLER ENGINE, WHICH DROPS FROM A 5.0-LITER V10 TO AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE 4.4-LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 USED IN THE X5M.

HORSEPOWER NUMBERS JUMP TO 560 THANKS TO BMW'S TWIN POWER TWIN-SCROLL TURBO CHARGERS, WHICH ARE TRULY A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, PUSHING TORQUE TO 500 POUND-FEET.

WITH M-PERFORMANCE COMES M-SPECIFIC EXTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS STARTING WITH THE CUSTOMARY TWIN KIDNEYS AND A REVISED "DOUBLE-UP" PLACEMENT OF THE BLACK VERTICAL SLATS.

WHILE THE LOWER FASCIA WITH ENLARGED INTAKES AND "SHARK TEETH" AIR-CHANNELING FLAPS LOOK ALL BUSINESS.

STANDARD ADAPTIVE XENON HEADLIGHTS FEATURE FAMILIAR BMW LED LIGHT RINGS.

WHILE DOWN THE SIDES A LOWERED STANCE IS OBVIOUS, AS ARE EXTENDED SIDE SKIRTS AND THE FENDER'S NEW TAKE ON THE M GILLS.

19-INCH LIGHT-ALLOY WHEELS ARE STANDARD, BUT WHY NOT GO ALL THE WAY AND UPGRADE TO THE FORGED SPLIT-SPOKE 20s.

ALL THE BETTER TO SEE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKE DISCS WITH 6ISTON CLAMPERS.

IN THE REAR, LED TAIL LIGHTS ARE SET WIDE ABOVE A REAR DIFFUSER WITH QUAD EXHAUST TIPS, WHILE UP TOP THERE'S A SLIM REAR SPOILER.

SUNROOF, SOFT CLOSE DOORS, AND CHROME TRIM ON THE DOOR HANDLES ARE NICE TOUCHES THAT REMIND YOU IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT TACKLING THE TARMAC WITH THIS NEW M5.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE MOST INTERESTED IN, AND THE M5 DOES INDEED HAVE PLENTY OF POWER TO SPARE.

IT JUMPS OFF THE LINE WITH THE HELP OF THE 7-SPEED M-DCT'S LAUNCH CONTROL FOR A 0 TO 60 OF 4.1-SECONDS; THREE TICKS FASTER THAN OUR LAST 2006 M5 TEST.

THE 4.4-LITER 8 WASTES LITTLE TIME IN BUILDING POWER OR HITTING THE REDLINE.

SHIFTS ARE VIOLENTLY QUICK, AND ONCE YOU GET GOING, IT'S LIKE A HIGH VELOCITY ROLLER COASTER, AS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE JUST ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

A RIDE THAT RUNS THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.3 SECONDS AND 117 MILES-PER-HOUR.

OUR FIRST DRIVE OF THE M5 WAS AT LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY.

WHILE IMPRESSED, OUR TIME WAS TOO LIMITED TO GET A REAL FEEL FOR THE CAR.

BUT TWO WEEKS AT HOME BASE AND WE STILL CAME UP WITH NOTHING SERIOUS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, THOUGH THE M5 DOES RIP THROUGH HERE WITH AN "ALL BUSINESS" APPROACH THAT MAKES IT NOT QUITE AS MUCH FUN AS EXPECTED.

OH, AND WE HATE THAT THE SFTER HAS NO DEDICATED "PARK" POSITION.

BRAKING DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER, HOWEVER, HAULING US DOWN FROM 60 IN AN AVERAGE OF ONLY 108-FEET, AND THEY GOT BETTER THE MORE WE USED THEM.

THE M5'S INTERIOR IS ALL BUSINESS TOO, A LITTLE STERILE, BUT LOADED WITH THE LUXURY FEATURES THAT YOU EXPECT IN A CAR WITH A NEAR 6-FIGURE PRICE.

THAT INCLUDES A POWER TILT/TELESCOPE WHEEL, FULL COLOR HEAD-UP DISPLAY, KNEE AIRBAGS, SUNSHADES, AS WELL AS BOTH BACK-UP AND FRONT MOUNTED CAMERAS.

THERE ARE ENOUGH ADJUSTMENTS FOR POWER, SHIFTS, TRACTION, AND CHASSIS DYNAMICS TO MAKE EVEN A BIMMERPHILE CONFUSED.

FORTUNATELY, THERE IS A PAIR OF M BUTTONS ON THE WHEEL TO QUICKLY RECALL YOUR FAVORITES.

PERFORATED LEATHER SEATS ARE CUSHIER THAN EXPECTED, YET STILL PROVIDE GOOD BOLSTERING SUPPORT.

AS FOR EVERYDAY USULNESS, UNDER A POWER LID, THERE'S A SIZABLE TRUNK WITH FLAT FLOOR AND STORAGE NOOKS ON BOTH SIDES, WHILE REAR SEATS FOLD ALMOST FLAT.

INDEED, ON THE STREET, THE NEW M5 IS TRULY IN STEP WITH MODERN PERFORMANCE CARS, AS IT FEELS DOWNRIGHT SEDATE WHEN CRUISING AROUND TOWN.

GET OUT OF TOWN AND FIND SOME SERIOUS SWITCHBACKS, HOWEVER, AND YOU'LL FIND THE M5 REMAINS INCREDIBLY QUIET AND STABLE.

VERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE THE ONLY DISAPPOINTING NUMBERS YOU'LL FIND WITH THE M5, 14-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 17.3 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

AND THAT'LL GET YOU A GAS GUZZLER TAX ADDED TO THE M5'S BASE PRICE FOR A TOTAL OF $92,095.

IN THE RARIFIED SPHERE OF ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS, WE SEEM TO HAVE REACHED A LEVEL WHERE ADDING MORE HORSEPOWER IS ALMOST A NON-EVENT.

THESE DAYS, IMPROVEMENTS IN DAILY LIVABILITY ARE WHERE HIGH DOLLAR HOT RODS ARE MAKING THEIR BIGGEST STRIDES.

AND ON THAT NOTE, THE 2013 BMW M5 FITS RIGHT IN.

IT PACKS MORE PERFORMANCE THAN EVER IN A MUCH FRIENDLIER PACKAGE.

NOW WE WANT ONE EVEN MORE!

THE MASS-MARKETING OF PLUG-IN ELECTRIC-DRIVE VEHICLES HAS DEPENDED ON THE PROMISE THAT AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF CHARGING STATIONS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO KEEP THESE CARS HUMMING ALONG.

NOW THAT TESLA, NISSAN, CHEVY, FORD, FISKER, AND OTHERS ARE SELLING PLUG-IN VEHICLES, IN NEAR MAINSTREAM NUMBERS, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THE U.S.

CHARGING NETWORK AND SEE IF IT'S KEPT PACE.

NEARLY EVERYONE WHO OWNS A PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE HAS SOME CAPACITY TO REPLENISH THE BATTERY AT HOME, EITHER WITH A DEDICATED 220-VO CHARGER, OR BY OVERNIGHT TRICKLE CHARGING FROM A STANDARD 110-VOLT OUTLET.

LESS THAN 350 PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES WERE SOLD TO COMMUTERS HERE IN 2010, AND THOSE EARLY EV ADOPTERS FOUND THEMSELVES RANGE-LIMITED BY A NEARLY NON-EXISTENT PUBLIC CHARGING NETWORK.

BUT IN JUST THE PAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN 56,000 PLUG-IN VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE U.S., AND OVER 4,700 PUBLIC-ACCESS CHARGING STATIONS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO SUPPORT THEM.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN THE EV INFRASTRUCTURE WILL KEEP THAT NUMBER GROWING WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 PLACED A BIG EMPHASIS ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLES AND PROVIDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC AND RESIDENTIAL EV CHARGING STATIONS NATIONWIDE.

BY DESIGN, THE PLAN FOR EV CHARGING INITIALLY KEYED IN ON COMMUTER DESTINATIONS WHERE CARS PARK FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, SUCH AS OFFICE BUILDINGS, AIRPORTS, HOTELS, AND SHOPPING CENTERS.

MOST PUBLIC-ACCESS CHARGERS ARE FREE TO USE, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

FEE-BASED NETWORKS ARE POPPING UP, THOUGH, AND THIS ENTREPRENEURIAL INVESTMENT IS LIKELY TO DRIVE THE BULK OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN MODERN SOCIETY, THERE'S A NUMBER OF SMART PHONE APPS FOR FINDING AVAILABLE CHARGERS: PLUGSHARE LETS REGISTERED USERS LOCATE THE NEAREST AVAILABLE CHARGING STATION, EVEN THOSE AT PRIVATE HOMES.

Jonathan Slade: WE PUT A CHARGING STATION IN AT OUR HOUSE, AND SO, ONCE YOU PUT YOUR CHARGING STATION ON THERE AND ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO USE IT, YOU CAN USE EVERYBODY ELSE'S CHARGING STATION THAT'S LISTED ON THERE.

IT'S SO COOL BECAUSE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ACROSS MARYLAND, MY WIFE LOGGED INTO PLUGSHARE AND THERE WAS A NEW REVIEW "BLIP" THAT POPPED UP AND IT SAID, "A REVIEW OF A NEW HOME CHARGING STATION."

WE LOOKED, IT WAS OURS!

John: PLUG-IN VEHICLE OWNERS WE'VE TALKED TO MOSTLY AGREE THAT THE NUMBER OF CHARGING STATIONS AVAILABLE NOW IS KEEPING PACE WITH THEIR DEMANDS, AND PLUG SHARING HAS EVEN FOSTERED A NEWFOUND SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR MANY OWNERS.

Jonathan: YOU MEET A LOT OF OTHER EV OWNERS AT THESE CHARGING STATIONS, AND EVERYBODY'S BEEN TERRIFIC SORT OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO NEEDS TO CHARGE THE MOST TO GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

John: BUT EV DRIVERS ALSO POINT OUT THAT MORE QUICK-CHARGE OPTIONS ARE NEEDED, ESPECIALLY ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND AWAY FROM URBAN AREAS.

WHILE POINT-TO-POINT DRIVING WORKS FOR MANY, THE FLEXIBILITY TO VENTURE FURTHER AFIELD IS CRUCIAL IF ELECTRIC CARS ARE TO BECOME TRULY MAINSTREAM.

Bill Clarke: SOMEWHERE WHERE IT'S CONVENIENT TO STOP FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER AND REPLENISH YOUR CAR ALSO.

I THINK REST STOPS WOULD BE THE TYPE OF SPOTS WHERE YOU'D WANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CHARGING STATIONS.

John: AND WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING?

SO-CALLED VEHICLE TO GRID SYSTEMS ARE BEING FIELD-TESTED NOW, IN WHICH ELECTRIC CARS CAN BE USED AS ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES AND ACTUALLY FEED POWER BACK TO THE GRID DURING TIMES OF HIGH DEMAND, THEN BE RECHARGED AT OFF-PEAK HOURS.

THE ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY AND DELIVERY NETWORK IN THE U.S.

ALREADY HAS THE CAPACITY TO MEET OUR SHORT AND LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION ENERGY NEEDS.

IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT THE EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IS GROWING ON PACE WITH CURRENT EV SALES, AND IT LOOKS POISED TO KEEP AMERICAN EV DRIVERS ALL CHARGED UP FOR YEARS TO COME.

WITH SO MUCH AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, THE INTERNET CAN BE A CAR LOVER'S BEST FRIEND.

BUT AS PAT GOSS EXPLAINS, YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.

Pat Goss: JUST A FEW MINUTES ON THE INTERNET GAVE US SOME REALLY INTERESTING SOUNDING ADVICE WHICH, IN REALITY, WAS NOTHING BUT PURE GARBAGE AND THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO.

NUMBER ONE, TO CLEAN THE BLACK PLASTIC CLADDING ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE, OR THE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE, USE PEANUT BUTTER.

CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER, BECAUSE CHUNKY MIGHT SCRATCH.

WHAT A HORRID IDEA!

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BAITS FOR MOUSE TRAPS IS PEANUT BUTTER.

THEY LOVE THE STUFF.

NOW YOU'VE MADE THE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR APPEALING TO EVERY MOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND BELIEVE ME, THEY WILL EAT THE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR.

MAKE SURE YOU ONLY USE PROPER PRODUCTS TO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEN, HERE'S ONE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

YOU CAN USE DISHWASHING DETERGENT OR LAUNDRY DETERGENT TO WASH YOUR CAR.

WELL, DON'T DO IT!

YOU SEE, NUMBER ONE, IT STRIPS ALL THE WAX OFF OF THE CAR, NOW YOUR PAINT IS UNPROTECTED.

AND NUMBER TWO, IN SOME CASES, IT CAN ACTUALLY STRIP OILS OUT OF THE SURFACE OF THE PAINT, AND IT AGES THE PAINT.

OH, HERE'S A GOOD ONE.

USE BLEACH TO CLEAN YOUR FUEL SYSTEM.

DON'T DO IT!

JUST LIKE YOU DON'T PUT MOTH BALLS IN YOUR FUEL SYSTEM FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE AND BETTER GAS MILEAGE.

IT DOESN'T WORK, NUMBER ONE, AND IT CAN DO HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO DELICATE FUEL SYSTEM PARTS.

AND THE PROBLEM IS, YOU MAY NOT SEE IT RIGHT AWAY.

IT MAY BE MONTHS, OR A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD, BEFORE THE ISSUE COMES UP.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE'S A GOOD ONE, TOOTHPASTE.

HEADLIGHTS ON AUTOMOBILES GET HAZY AND CLOUDY.

THIS IS FROM THE ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT FROM THE SUN.

AND IT HAS TO BE CLEANED AWAY FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY.

WELL, ON THE INTERNET THEY TELL YOU TO USE TOOTHPASTE, BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE PARTICULAR GRIT.

IT'S NOT THE PROPER ABRASIVE FOR THE PLASTIC, IT CAN ACTUALLY DESTROY SOME OF THESE HEADLIGHTS, SO DON'T DO IT!

USE A KIT THAT IS DESIGNED FOR IT.

THE KIT WILL HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABRASIVES AND POLISHES TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY.

SO WATCH OUT FOR THESE "TRICKS" YOU FIND ON THE INTERNET.

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

WE'RE AT SIX MONTHS AND NEARLY 9,000 MILES WITH THIS MAA CX-5 COMPACT CROSSOVER.

WE APPLAUD MAZDA FOR ADAPTING ITS NEW SKYACTIV FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGY TO NOTORIOUSLY THIRSTY UTILITIES.

OUR CX-5 DELIVERS ABOVE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY FOR ITS CLASS OF 27.4 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

BUT THE DOWNSIDE OF SKYACTIV IS A LETHARGIC 155-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER I4 ENGINE.

THE CX-5 CAN BE A SLUG PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP.

WHILE ALL OF OUR STAFF FIND THE INTERIOR ROOMY, SOME THINK THE FRONT SEATS ARE A BIT LUMPY.

BUT WE ALL AGREE THAT THE CX-5 HANDLES EXPERTLY, LIKE A MAZDA SHOULD.

WHEN WE TOOK DELIVERY OF OUR LONG-TERM NISSAN LEAF ELECTRIC CAR, WE WEREN'T SURE HOW WE WOULD USE IT.

AFTER ALL, THE ANXIETY OF RUNNING OUT OF POWER SEEMED VERY REAL.

BUT WE ADAPTED.

WE FOUND THE NISSAN LEAF MAKES A GREAT SECOND CAR; PERFECT FOR REASONABLE COMMUTES, AROUND TOWN ERRANDS, AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING SHORT OF LONG DISTANCE VACATIONS.

BUT WHILE WE OFTEN SAW DRIVING RANGE INDICATED AT OVER 100 MILES, USING HEAT OR A/C, 65 TO 70 WAS MORE REALITY.

WITH MOSTLY SHORT HAUL USE, WE HAD NO TROUBLE KEEPING IT FULLY CHARGED USING HOUSEHOLD 110 VOLTS.

STILL, IF WE OWNED ONE, INSTALLING A 220 VOLT CHARGER WOU BE BEST.

AFTER NINE MONTHS, WE CAN SAY THE LIGHT, ECO-FRIENDLY UPHOLSTERY HAS TAKEN QUITE A BEATING.

IT'S NOT VERY STAIN RESISTANT.

BUT DRIVING ENJOYMENT HAS ONLY GROWN.

THE LEAF IS QUIET, QUICK, AND AGILE.

SO AS WE BID GOODBYE TO OUR LEAF, WE CONCLUDE THAT EVs ARE INDEED VIABLE, AND WE SURE WILL MISS THIS ONE.

WE'LL SCOPE OUT THE SUBARU IMPREZA AND HONDA CR-V ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW LET'S GRAB SOME CAR KEYS TO SEE WHAT'S NEW THAT GRABS OUR ATTENTION.

AFTER A COUPLE YEARS IN HIDING, THE NEW SRT VIPER IS FINALLY READY TO STRIKE ITS WAY BACK INTO THE SUPER CAR RANKS.

AND THIS TIME, MORE POWERFULLY THAN EVER.

SRT, SHORT FOR STREET AND RACING TECHNOLOGY, HAS CRAMMED PLENTY OF PERFORMANCE AND REFINEMENT INTO THEIR LATEST VIPER, WHICH IS NOW OFFERED IN TWO TRIM LEVELS.

THE REVISED 8.4 LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED V10 IS CAGED BENEATH A CHASSIS STIFFENING ALUMINUM X-BRACE.

IT'S NOW TUNED TO 640 HP AND 600 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND REVS MORE FREELY THANKS TO A LIGHTENED FLYWHEEL AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.

0 TO 60 RIPS BY IN LESS THAN THREE AND A HALF SECONDS, AIDED BY A DELIGHTFULLY SIMPLE TO ENGAGE LAUNCH CONTROL SYSTEM.

FOUR WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION IS FURTHER ENHANCED BY BILSTEIN TWO-WAY ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBERS, THOUGH ONLY ON THE UPPER LEVEL GTS.

A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS NEW, TO THE DISMAY OF MANY PURISTS.

LUCKILY, IT CAN BE SWITCHED OFF, OR IN THE CASE OF THE GTS, DIALED BACK VARIOUS DEGREES TO LIMIT INTERVENTION.

THE OPTIONAL SRT TRACK PACKAGE REDUCES VEHICLE WEIGHT BY 57 POUNDS, SWAPPING IN SLOTTED VENTED BRAKE ROTORS, LIGHTER WHEELS, AND PIRELLI P ZERO CORSA TIRES, 18s UP FRONT, 19s IN THE REAR.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT DETAILS, FACTS, AND FIGURES.

THE VIPER IS ALL ABOUT LETTING LOOSE ON THE TRACK.

AND DID WE EVER!

Dave Scrivener: SRT'S ENGINEERS WERE GIVEN ALMOST A CLEAN SLATE TO DEVELOP THIS NEW VIPER, AND IT REALLY SHOWS.

THE STYLING &AERO IMPROVEMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, BUT DRIVING THE CAR ON THE TRACK, YOU REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHASSIS ENGINEERING.

IT'S MORE NIMBLE, MORE BALANCED, MORE NEUTRAL, THE THROTTLE'S MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE.

IT'S EVERY BIT A VIPER, AND STILL BRUTALLY FAST, BUT IT HAS SOME FANCY FOOTWORK NOW.

YOU COULD SAY THE SNAKE'S BEEN CHARMED.

John: EXTERIOR STYLING RETAINS THE ICONIC VIPER LOOK, BUT CAREFUL SCULPTING SIMPLIFIES THE DESIGN AND IMPROVES AERO.

CARBON FIBER PANELS REDUCE WEIGHT FURTHER.

INSIDE, THE VIPER SHOWS MUCH-NEEDED REFINEMENT WITH UPGRADED MATERIALS THROUGHOUT.

AN 8.4 INCH TOUCH SCREEN WITH UCONNECT AND BACK UP CAM, AND 18-SPEAKER HARMAN KARDON AUDIO SYSTEM ARE AVAILABLE.

PRICES ARE VERY SUPER CAR WORTHY AT $99,000 FOR A BASE VIPER AND $122,000 FOR THE VIPER GTS.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SCORE TRACK TIME IN THIS BEAUTY IS TRULY PRICELESS.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH SOME MORE DOWN-TO-EARTH FIRST DRIVE IMPRESSIONS SOON!

THERE'S AUDIO BOOKS, AND THEN THERE'S PORSCHE SOUNDS EARBOOKS.

DETER LANDENBURGER OF THE PORSCHE MUSEUM HAS CREATED AN AMAZING PORSCHE BOOK CAPTURING THE SOUNDS OF THE MOST FAMOUS PORSCHE SPORTS CARS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

FROM THE NUMBER ONE ROADSTER, TO THE NEW PANAMERA TURBO, THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL.

THE RECORDINGS ARE SO FINE THAT YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL THESE GREAT CARS AS THEY ROAR PAST YOU.

AND ONCE YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH LISTENING, AND WANT TO START DOING, DETER HAS ALSO INCLUDED TWO OTHER CDS, A COLLECTION OF GREAT PERFORMANCE DRIVING MUSIC, AND AN ELEGANT CD THAT WALTZES YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

BESIDES THESE GREAT RECORDINGS, THIS COLLECTOR QUALITY HARDCOVER EARBOOK IS A STAGGERING COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PORSCHE MUSEUM ARCHIVES, COVERING ALMOST ALL OF THE PORSCHE CARS EVER MADE.

WRITTEN IN BOTH GERMAN AND ENGLISH, THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR ANY PORSCHEPHILE.

AFTER ALL, THERE REALLY IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SOUND OF A PORSCHE!

AFTER SHOWING US THAT ELECTRIC CARS CAN BE A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST BORING, SHORT RANGE, COMMUTER VEHICLES WITH THEIR HIGH PERFORMANCE TESLA ROADSTER, TESLA HAS TURNED ITS ATTENTION TO THE LUXURY SEDAN MARKET WITH THIS NEW MODEL S. SO LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THIS CALIFORNIA CRUISER BRINGS TO THE SEGMENT AND IF IT WILL HAVE LUXURY BUYERS PLUGGING INTO SOMETHING NEW?

THE LUXURY SEDAN MARKET IS COMPRISED OF TWO DISTINCT GROUPS OF BUYERS; DIE-HARD LOYALISTS WHO AUTOMATICALLY HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP WHENEVER THEIR "FAVE" GETS A REDESIGN, AND EARLY ADOPTERS WHO WANT THE LATEST AND GREATEST AND AREN'T AFRAID TO PAY FOR IT.

IT'S THE LATTER GROUP THAT TESLA HOPES TO ATTRACT WITH THE 2013 MODEL S. THE SECOND MODEL TO COME FROM THE SILICON VALLEY MANUFACTURER, THE 5- OR 7-PASSENGER MODEL S OFFERS ROOM AND LUXURY THAT VASTLY TRANSCENDS THE ROADSTER, YET STILL PACKS ALMOST AS MUCH STREET-WISE PERFORMANCE.

USING THE 5-DOOR LUXURY SEDAN FORM FAVORED BY EUROPEAN PRESTIGE MODELS LIKE THE PORSCHE PANAMERA AND BMW 5-SERIES GT, THE MODEL S IS ALSO SIMILAR IN SIZE WITH A 116.5-INCH WHEELBASE AND 196.0-INCH OVERALL LENGTH.

ITS FLOWING DESIGN HAS MUCH MORE IN COMMON WITH HIGH DOLLAR ALTERNATIVES THAN ANY OTHER EV, AND INCLUDES SUCH SLICK FEATURES AS THE HIDDEN CHARGING PORT IN THE TAIL LIGHT.

THE MODEL S WILL COME STANDARD WITH A 40 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK FOR A RANGE OF WELL OVER 100 MILES.

BUT INITIAL PRODUCTION IS LIMITED TO THIS SIGNATURE MODEL WITH AN 85 KWH BATTERY PACK AND A GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED RANGE OF 265 MILES, BY FAR THE MOST OF ANY PURE EV AVAILABLE TODAY.

THE SIGNATURE IS LOADED WITH FEATURES, TOO; 21-INCH WHEELS, XENON HEADLIGHTS, POWER REAR HATCH, ACTIVE AIR SUSPENSION, AND A LARGER 20KW CHARGER THAT ALLOWS "FILLING UP" IN AS LITTLE AS FOUR HOURS.

WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR TESLA TO SUPPLY US WITH A MODEL S FOR TESTING, BILL CLARKE, A LOCAL VIEWER, TOOK DELIVERY OF HIS AND OFFERED IT TO US TO TRY IT OUT.

AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR IN CALIFORNIA AND DRIVING BACK HERE TO MARYLAND, HE CAN ATTEST TO ITS LONG RANGE CAPABILITIES.

WE DIDN'T GET QUITE THAT MUCH TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL, BUT IN A DAY OF DRIVING, WE DID FIND THE MODEL S TO BE EVERY BIT THE LUXURY CAR THAT IT AIMS TO BE.

THE RIDE IS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH, AND EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE WIND NOISE, VERY QUIET.

COMPARED TO THE TYPICAL REAR DRIVE LUXURY SEDAN, THE MODEL S FEELS EVEN MORE SOLID, THANKS TO THE HEAVY BATTERIES AND A VERY LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY.

OUR CONCERNS ABOUT SQUEAKS AND RATTLES, COMMON FOR NEW MANUFACTURERS, WERE COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED.

THE CAR IS QUICK.

TESLA CLAIMS 0 TO 60 IN 5.6 SECONDS.

BUT THE 2-MODE REGENERATIVE BRAKING MAY STARTLE SOME.

WHEN SET TO STRONG, IT'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.

TAKE YOUR FOOT OF THE THROTTLE AND IT ALMOST STOPS ITSELF.

INSIDE THE MODEL S IS A RICH MIX OF LUXURY AND SUPER HIGH TECH.

VIRTUALLY ALL CONTROLS ARE LOCATED ON A 17" CENTER TOUCH SCREEN THAT DOMINATES THE IP.

SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE, AND THERE IS PLENTY OF LEGROOM FRONT AND BACK.

FOR YOU NUMBER CRUNCHERS, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS IN MILES PER GALLON EQUIVALENT ARE 88-CITY, 90-HIGHWAY AND 89-COMBINED.

THAT'S ABOUT 10% LESS THAN A NISSAN LEAF.

MODEL S PRICING IS CERTAINLY NOT OUT OF LINE FOR THE LUXURY CLASS WITH A BASE OF $59,350 AND OUR SIGNATURE MODEL GOING FOR $97,350.

AND GOOD NEWS, THE USUAL GOVERNMENT TAX INCENTIVES CAN STILL APPLY!

THE 2013 TESLA MODEL S IS CLEARLY IN A CLASS BY ITSELF, AND EVs ARE STILL NOT FOR EVERYONE AS THEY DO COME WITH LIMITATIONS.

SO FOR WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE WITH IT ON A DAILY BASIS, WE TURN TO OUR MODEL S OWNER BILL CLARKE... Clarke: I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DRIVE IT AS MY DAILY DRIVER EVERY DAY AND CONTINUING TO BE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT I AM VERY HAPPY TO DO AS PART OF MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE AND PART OF MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

John: WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE LOG SOME CROSSOVER MILES IN THE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

THEN WE'LL SIZE UP THE COMPACT SPORTS SEDAN RIVALRY IN THE CADILLAC ATS.

PAT GOSS HELPS US MAINTAIN THOSE EXPENSIVE AIR TOOLS, WHILE STEVEN CHUPNICK EXPLORES SOME EXPERTLY MAINTAINED CLASSICS.

PLUS WE'LL HAVE ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS, AND MORE 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 TIRE RACK.

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.