2013 SRT Viper & 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

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

JOIN US AS WE CHARM THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY IN THE AWESOME SRT VIPER.

PAT GOSS COOLS THINGS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

WE TAKE A ROAD TRIP TO VEGAS ON MOTORWEEK 'S ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN WE'LL HEAD BACK TO SUBURBIA IN THE ALL-NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION 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: BY NOW YOU'VE SURELY HEARD THAT THE VIPER SPORTS CAR HAS BEEN REINCARNATED, THIS TIME WEARING SRT BADGING RATHER THAN DODGE.

EARLY REPORTS ARE THAT THIS IS A KINDER AND GENTLER VIPER, TO WHICH DIEHARDS RESPOND, "SAY IT ISN'T SO!"

WELL, HAS THE SNAKE TRULY BEEN CHARMED?

WELL, WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT.

AND WE'VE COME TO OUR FAVORITE ROAD COURSE TO FIND OUT!

YES, THE 2013 SRT VIPER MAY NO LONGER BE A DODGE, BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT, THE ONLY PLACE TO REALLY EXPERIENCE A VIPER IS AT THE TRACK, AND WHILE WE'VE APPLIED RUBBER TO JUST ABOUT EVERY MAJOR ROAD COURSE IN THE COUNTRY, IT'S OUR ANNUAL WINTER TREK TO SAVANNAH'S TWO-MILE ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST.

WE'VE DRIVEN EVERY PREVIOUS GENERATION VIPER HERE AND THEY DIDN'T AS MUCH SLITHER THROUGH THESE NINE HIGH SPEED TURNS AS PULVERIZE THEM INTO SUBMISSION.

WELL, IS THIS NEW VIPER INDEED A KINDER AND GENTLER REPTILE?

WELL, YES AND NO.

IT CERTAINLY FELT A LOT MORE UNWAVERING ON OUR INITIAL LAPS AND IT HAD NO PROBLEM HOLDING A LINE.

BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY SEDATE EITHER.

THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF NAUGHTINESS TO GO AROUND.

IT REALLY ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT TRACTION CONTROL MODE YOU'RE OPERATING WITH.

WAIT, TRACTION WHAT?

YES, THE NEW VIPER HAS AN ELECTRONIC NANNY.

I GUESS IT WAS INEVITABLE.

BUT YOU CAN TOTALLY DISABLE IT FOR THE TRUE VIPER EXPERIENCE.

AND IF YOU PLAN ON TAKING IN A LOT OF TRACK DAYS, WE'D SUGGEST STEPPING UP TO THE GTS, AS IT OFFERS ADDITIONAL MODES FOR THE STABILITY CONTROL AND A 2-MODE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH BILSTEIN DAMPTRONIC SELECT SHOCK ABSORBERS.

THE SUSPENSION DESIGN IS THOROUGHLY REVISED AND LIGHTENED WITH A WIDER FRONT TRACK AND STIFFER FRAME TO SUPPORT IT.

WE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A MUCH IMPROVED EAGERNESS TO TURN IN; THOUGH STEERING WITH THE THROTTLE IS STILL WHERE THE FUN'S AT!

YOU CAN FURTHER THE INSANITY BY OPTING FOR THE SRT TRACK PACKAGE WHICH SHAVES WEIGHT FURTHER AND INCREASES GRIP WITH RACE COMPOUND PIRELLI P-ZERO CORSA TIRES ON ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT WHEELS; 18s IN THE FRONT, 19s IN THE REAR.

THERE'S STILL A NASTY AMOUNT OF POWER, BUT IT DOES FEEL BETTER MANNERED THAN BEFORE.

AND THERE'S STILL 8.4-LITERS WORTH OF V10 UNDER THE HOOD, ALTHOUGH IT'S ALSO GOTTEN LIGHTER AS WELL AS STRONGER.

HORSEPOWER IS UP TO 640, WITH TORQUE COMING IN AT 600 POUND-FEET.

IT'S ONE OF OUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE RHYTHM SECTIONS AND WE'RE GLAD TO HEAR IT ROCKING OUT ONCE AGAIN.

TRANSMISSION REMAINS TREMEC 6-SPEED MANUAL ONLY, BUT IT LIKEWISE IS IMPROVED, WORKING FAR MORE SMOOTHLY THAN BEFORE.

COMBINED, THEY SPRING THE VIPER TO 60 IN JUST 3.5-SECONDS!

AND THINGS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT EASIER OFF THE LINE THANKS TO STANDARD LAUNCH CONTROL.

ONCE YOU GET ROLLING THOUGH, IT'S DOWN THE QUARTER MILE WITH A SMILE AND A PRAYER AS YOU STRUGGLE FOR TRACTION ON THE WAY TO HITTING 128 MILES-PER-HOUR IN 11.5-SECONDS.

THE BRAKES, WHICH DIDN'T FEEL THAT IMPRESSIVE ON THE STREET, CAME ALIVE AT THE TRACK AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF FADING.

IF YOU SPENT ANY TIME IN PREVIOUS VIPERS, UNLESS YOU WERE ON THE TRACK, THE EXPERIENCE JUST WASN'T THAT PLEASANT.

JARRING IS A GOOD WORD.

WELL, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

THE NEW VIPER IS MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE THAN BEFORE, THOUGH NEVER USE THE WORD SOFT.

YOU'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL.

SO, YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP A LAWYER ON RETAINER JUST IN CASE.

AND REALIZING THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SHELL OUT SIX FIGURES FOR A CAR WITH A BARE BONES INTERIOR ARE FEW, CHRYSLER MADE THE BIGGEST CHANGES OF ALL INSIDE THE NEW VIPER'S CABIN.

THERE'S MORE SOUND-DEADENING, NICER LEATHER, AND A MUCH BETTER AUDIO SYSTEM.

PLUS CRUISE CONTROL, AVAILABLE TOUCH SCREEN NAVIGATION, AND EVEN 14.7 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE TO STORE YOUR EXTRA TESTOSTERONE UNDER THE REAR HATCH.

EXTERIOR DESIGN IS A MODERN VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL, A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS AND A LITTLE LESS CARTOONISH, WITH EVERY SCOOP AND VENT HAVING A REAL PURPOSE.

HERE TOO WEIGHT REDUCTION WAS A GOAL, THANKS TO ALUMINUM, AND EVEN SOME CARBON FIBER BODY PANELS.

WITH ALL OF THOSE UPGRADES, AN UPGRADE IN PRICE WAS EXPECTED, BUT WE STILL THINK THE VIPER IS WELL WORTH ITS $99,390 PRICE TAG.

JUMP UP TO THE GTS FOR JUST $23,000 MORE.

QUITE SIMPLY, THE 2013 SRT VIPER DELIVERS, AND WE WANT ONE BAD.

THAT'S WHY IT'S A DRIVERS' CHOICE DREAM MACHINE.

INDEED, ITS NOW REFINED INTERIOR AND HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN EVERYDAY LIVABILITY MIGHT JUST BE WHAT IT TAKES TO CONVINCE YOUR SPOUSE ON BUYING ONE, TOO.

WE MEAN IT WHEN WE SAY BEST...VIPER...EVER!

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN A LEADER IN ALTERNATIVE FUELS SINCE 1995, AS THE STATE'S FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT TO START OPERATING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SCHOOL BUSES.

TODAY, NEARLY HALF OF THEIR 114 BUSES RUN ON CNG, MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST SUCH FLEETS ON THE EAST COAST.

RECENTLY NAMED AS "ONE OF THE TOP FIVE GOVERNMENT GREEN FLEETS IN NORTH AMERICA," PLANS ARE TO GO ALL-CNG ONCE MORE FUELING STATIONS BECOME AVAILABLE.

Gerald Rineer: THERE ARE ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURERS COMING OUT WITH NEW ENGINES AND NEW EQUIPMENT SO IT WILL BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE.

WE'RE OPTIMISTIC.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO HELP CLEAN UP ENVIRONMENT.

John: WORKING WITH THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM, LOWER MERION IS SHOWING ITS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY.

WHILE CARS ARE A PASSION, AND SOME WOULD SAY AN OBSESSION FOR US AT MOTORWEEK , WE KNOW MANY OF OUR FANS FEEL THE SAME WAY.

THAT'S WHY A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HELD THE MOTORWEEK ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE SWEEPSTAKES, WITH THE WINNER DESTINED FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE ADVENTURE THEY WON'T SOON FORGET!

WHAT BETTER TOWN THAN LAS VEGAS TO LIVE OUT YOUR AUTOMOTIVE FANTASIES!

DRAWING THE WINNING ENTRY FOR MOTORWEEK 'S ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE, MIKE AND TAMMY BINDER OF SEATTLE BEAT THE ODDS AND CAME OUT ON TOP.

MIKE AND TAMMY ARE NO STRANGERS TO VEGAS, BUT THEY'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT QUITE LIKE THIS!

WE KICKED OFF THEIR TRIP WITH A VIP GREETING AT MCCARRAN AIRPORT, AND WHISKED THEM AWAY IN GREEN LUXURY -- A CNG-POWERED LIMOUSINE FROM THE CLEAN FLEET OF MGM'S ARIA RESORT.

I WAS ON HAND TO GREET OUR GUESTS AT ARIA'S EXCLUSIVE SKY SUITES, AND SAW RIGHT AWAY THAT MGM WAS UP TO THE TASK OF CODDLING OUR GUESTS.

BUT WE WERE JUST AS EAGER TO GET ON WITH THE TRUE PURPOSE OF OUR VISIT, CRUISING RED ROCK CANYON IN A QUARTET OF LEGENDARY, EXOTIC SPORTS CARS.

NOW, HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING TOMORROW?

Mike Binder: NO.

Tammy Binder: NO.

John: WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US, AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL STAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ENTERING OUR CONTEST.

Mike Binder: THANK YOU.

Tammy Binder: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

John: FOR THIS, WE TURNED TO THE EXPERTS AT WORLD CLASS DRIVING.

NOW BASED PERMANENTLY IN LAS VEGAS, WORLD CLASS STAGES DRIVING TOURS IN A FLEET OF EXOTIC CARS FROM THE LIKES OF BENTLEY, FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, JAGUAR AND MERCEDES-BENZ.

FOR THE BINDER'S TRIP, WE SELECTED THE FERRARI 458 ITALIA...IN RED, OF COURSE, ALONG WITH A LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO SPYDER, THE AUDI R8, AND THE SEDUCTIVE JAGUAR XKR-S. NOW, WE'VE DRIVEN ENOUGH EXOTIC CARS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH HOW THESE CARS PERFORM, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING TO EXPERIENCE THESE FABULOUS MACHINES THROUGH THE EYES OF FIRST-TIME ENTHUSIASTS.

WORLD CLASS DRIVING IS CAREFUL TO ENSURE THAT THEIR GUESTS ARE COMFORTABLE BEHIND THE WHEEL BEFORE TURNING THEM LOOSE.

AND WITH GOOD REASON, THESE FOUR CARS COMBINED HAVE IN EXCESS OF 2,000 HORSEPOWER ON TAP.

Darren Strahl: USUALLY THE FIRST THING WE DO IS KIND OF TELL A JOKE OR SOMETHING.

GET THEM TO LAUGH AND BREAK THE TENSION A LITTLE BIT AND GET THEM LOOSENED UP A LITTLE BIT, AND WE JUST WALK THEM THROUGH.

THEY GET INTO THE CARS, AND AT FIRST, THEY'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW THINGS WORK AND ALL OF THAT, BUT WE WALK THEM THROUGH EVERYTHING AND GET THEM COMFORTABLE WITH THE CARS AND TALK THEM THROUGH ALL THE ASPECTS OF THE DRIVE.

BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE, THEY REALLY HAVE A TREMENDOUS SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND THEY REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

John: AND JOY WAS PLAIN TO SEE ON THE BINDERS' FACES.

OUR TOUR THROUGH RED ROCK CANYON TOOK IN SOME SPECTACULAR SCENERY ON SOME OF THE BEST DRIVING ROADS IN THE COUNTRY.

Tammy Binder: THE MOST EXCITING PART OF TODAY WAS GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF CARS WITH THAT KIND OF ACCELERATION.

THE JAGUAR IS COOL TO DRIVE.

IT'S GOT ALL THE ACCELERATION, EVERYTHING ELSE, AND IT'S EASY TO DRIVE, AND A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO AFFORD SOMEDAY.

MY FAVORITE MEMORY OF THE TOUR HAS BEEN JUST DRIVING THE CARS.

IT'S JUST BEEN A BLAST.

Mike Binder: IT'S A KICK IN THE PANTS.

I JUST LOVE THIS TOUR.

MY FAVORITE IS THE FERRARI BEHIND ME.

I CAN TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE IT'S A DRIVER'S CAR.

IT GIVES YOU THE OPTIONS OF RUNNING AS HARD AS YOU WANT TO RUN.

John: FROM MODERN MARVELS WE TURNED OUR ATTENTION TO SOME CLASSIC WHEELS WITH A VISIT TO THE AUTO COLLECTION AT THE IMPERIAL PALACE HOTEL ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP.

THIS DIVERSE COLLECTION IS PART MUSEUM, PART CONSIGNMENT SHOWROOM, AS MANY OF THESE BEAUTIES ARE FOR SALE.

MIKE AND TAMMY HAD NO TROUBLE PICKING OUT THEIR FAVORITES, BUT ENJOYED SEEING SOME OF THE CAR WORLD'S LESS POPULAR MODELS AS WELL.

TAMMY: MIKE, WHAT'S THAT?

MIKE: IT'S A YUGO.

John: A WHIRLWIND TOUR, TO BE SURE, BUT THEN ALL GOOD FANTASIES SHOULD LEAVE YOU WANTING FOR MORE.

AND WE CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE.

SO LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE THE MASTER OF ALL THINGS "RUNNING COOL" HAS A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR RADIATOR IN CHECK.

Pat Goss: RADIATORS ARE ONE OF THOSE PARTS THAT TEND TO BE "OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND".

ON A MODERN CAR, YOU BASICALLY CAN'T EVEN SEE YOUR RADIATOR.

BUT NO MATTER, YOU DO HAVE TO PERFORM PREVENTIVE CARE ON THEM.

YOU SEE, RADIATORS, IF THEY AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF, WILL DETERIORATE OVER AGE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM FLUSHED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

USUALLY ABOUT EVERY TWO YEARS.

NOW, TAKING THE GARDEN HOSE AND PUTTING IT INTO THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR, SUCH AS WE'VE DONE HERE, WITH THE PETCOCK OPEN ON THE BOTTOM, DOES THAT REALLY DO ANYTHING?

NO, NOT REALLY.

YOU SEE, WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO FLUSH A RADIATOR, IT'S BEST TO HAVE IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A CHEMICAL INTO THE RADIATOR, AND THAT CHEMICAL IS GOING TO LOWER THE PH, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE COOLANT ACIDIC.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS, THERE IS SCALE THAT BUILDS UP HERE INSIDE THE RADIATOR.

THIS IS MUCH LIKE WHAT BUILDS UP INSIDE A TEAPOT OVER TIME.

THE LOW PH, THE ACIDIC NATURE OF THE FLUSH CHEMICAL, SOFTENS THIS STUFF.

THEN THE FLUSH MACHINE FLUSHES IT OUT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM.

THE GARDEN HOSE DOESN'T DO ANY OF THAT.

ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S ONE THING.

THE OTHER THING IS TO KEEP THE SURFACE OF THE RADIATOR CLEAN BECAUSE, LOTS OF TIMES, LEAVES AND DIRT WILL BUILD UP, AND THAT HAMPERS ITS ABILITY TO COOL.

PLUS, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE RADIATOR ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF LEAKAGE.

IT WON'T REALLY BE A LOT OF WETNESS OR ANYTHING, BUT YOU MIGHT SEE SIGNS OF COOLANT RIGHT ALONG THIS SEAM WHERE THE PLASTIC CONNECTS TO THE ALUMINUM.

IF YOU SEE THAT, THAT MEANS YOU'LL SOON NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT BUYING A RADIATOR.

NOW, SUPPOSE YOU HAVE TO BUY A RADIATOR?

WELL, YOU CAN FIND LOTS OF DEALS OUT THERE, BUT THOSE DEALS MAY NOT BE VERY GOOD.

AND THE REASON IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS RADIATOR, YOU SEE THESE LITTLE FINS IN HERE THAT GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TUBES THAT CARRY THE COOLANT.

THOSE FINS, THERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THEM PER INCH.

YOUR REPLACEMENT RADIATOR HAS TO HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OR A GREATER NUMBER PER INCH IN ORDER TO WORK PROPERLY IN YOUR CAR.

IF THERE ARE TOO FEW FINS PER INCH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET PROPER COOLING.

AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A LEAK, A MINOR LEAK WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU NEED TO GET HOME OR TO A REPAIR CENTER, YOU CAN BUY STOP LEAKS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

OR IN A REAL EMERGENCY, BLACK PEPPER WILL SEAL THE LEAK TEMPORARILY.

AND ALL OF THESE ARE TEMPORARY.

ONCE YOU GET TO THE SERVICE CENTER, YOU NEED TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM.

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

John: A NEW YEAR MEANS NEW CARS, SO LET'S GRAB SOME CAR KEYS AND SEE WHAT'S HEADED YOUR WAY.

AFTER ITS REVEAL AT THE LA AUTO SHOW LAST FALL, THE 2014 ACURA RLX LUXURY SEDAN IS READY FOR ITS DEBUT ON SHOWROOM FLOORS.

BUT WE'VE ALREADY LOGGED A LITTLE DRIVE TIME TO MAKE SURE ACURA'S NEW FLAGSHIP WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

BODY STYLING, WHILE CONSERVATIVE, IS STILL MUCH IMPROVED AND NOW SHOULD ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THOSE IN THE MARKET FOR A BMW 5 SERIES OR LEXUS GS.

THE RLX'S BEADY-EYED LED HEADLIGHTS ARE FLASHY THOUGH, AND UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

COMPLIMENTING THIS ALL NEW FLAGSHIP IS AN ALL NEW POWER PLANT: A 310 HORSEPOWER, 3.5 LITER I-VTEC V6 WITH DIRECT INJECTION AND CYLINDER DEACTIVATION.

FUEL ECONOMY IS PEGGED AT 24-COMBINED MPG WITH THE STANDARD 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC.

OTHER BIG CHASSIS CHANGES INCLUDE FRONT RATHER THAN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOW STANDARD, AS IS ACURA'S NEW PRECISION ALL-WHEEL STEER SYSTEM.

DESIGN TO AID BOTH SLOW SPEED MANEUVERABILITY AND HIGH SPEED HANDLING, P-AWS CONTINUOUSLY AND INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLS LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TOW ANGLES.

OUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS ARE THAT P-AWS MAKES THE RLX DRIVE MUCH LIGHTER, WITH CRISPER CORNERING RESPONSE THAN ITS SIZE WOULD INDICATE.

PRETTY SPORTY INDEED.

STARTING AT AN ALMOST BARGAIN $49,000, THE 2014 ACURA RLX WILL RANGE TO JUST OVER $60,000.

FOR DEEPER POCKETS, A 370 HORSEPOWER RLX WITH SPORT HYBRID SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND 30-COMBINED MPG FOLLOWS LATER THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE A COMPACT MAZDA CX-5 CROSSOVER IN OUR LONG-TERM TEST FLEET, AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH IT.

SO WE LOOKED FORWARD TO LOGGING SOME QUALITY TIME IN ITS BIG BROTHER, THE REVAMPED 2013 MAZDA CX-9 CROSSOVER UTILITY.

THE LARGEST VEHICLE IN MAZDA'S FLEET, THE 7-PASSENGER CX-9 RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT VISUAL AND TECHNOLOGY UPDATES, THOUGH THERE ARE NO MAJOR MECHANICAL CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR.

ITS 3.7-LITER 273 HORSEPOWER IS STILL PLENTY POWERFUL FOR THE DAILY DRIVER, AVAILABLE IN FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

STYLING UPDATES INCORPORATE THE BRAND'S LATEST "SOUL OF MOTION" THEME, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORE PROMINENT FRONT FASCIA WITH ITS CHROME-TRIMMED, FIVE POINT GRILLE BETWEEN RESTYLED HEAD AND FOG LIGHTS.

AROUND BACK, DUAL EXHAUST OUTLETS MESH MORE WITH THE BOLDER DESIGN SCHEME, TOO.

AS A FAMILY HAULER, THE CX-9 COMES FEATURE RICH, ADDING A 5.8 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN TO ALL TRIM LEVELS, AVAILABLE PANDORA HD RADIO, AND UPDATED BLUETOOTH INTEGRATION.

BLIND SPOT MONITORING IS NOW STANDARD ON TOURING AND GRAND TOURING TRIMS, AS WELL AS REAR BACKUP SENSORS.

LUCKILY, THE CX-9 HAS KEPT ITS FUN-TO-DRIVE NATURE, WITH ITS 6-SPEED MANUAL-MODE TRANSMISSION PERFECT FOR PROPER GEAR SELECTION WHEN ZOOMING AROUND BACK ROADS.

THE CX-9 IS ONE FAMILY-SIZE CROSSOVER THAT NEVER LETS YOU FORGET IT'S A MAZDA.

AVAILABLE NOW, THE 2013 MAZDA CX-9 BEGINS AROUND $30,000.

AND WE'LL GET BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!

THE NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS AN IDENTITY CRISIS.

WHILE ALWAYS A CAPABLE FAMILY-SIZED SUV, NISSAN COULDN'T DECIDE ON ITS CORE DNA.

THE FIRST GENERATION WAS TRUCK BASED WITH A BODY-ON-FRAME, THE SECOND USED A MORE CAR-LIKE UNITIZED CHASSIS.

THE THIRD WENT BACK TO TRUCK.

AND NOW THE ALL-NEW FOURTH GEN PATHFINDER SWITCHES AGAIN, AND THIS TIME, ITS FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DNA SEEMS PERMANENT.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THE NEW GENETICS PUTS PATHFINDER ON A COURSE FOR HIGHER SALES.

IN NISSAN'S TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN BODY-ON-FRAME AND UNIBODY, IT'S REALLY NO SURPRISE THE UNITIZED CHASSIS IS THE WINNER FOR THE 2013 PATHFINDER.

VERY FEW BUYERS WANT OR NEED A SUPER RUGGED 7-PASSENGER FAMILY HAULER ANYMORE.

AND BESIDES, THERE'S STILL THE LADDER FRAME 5-SEAT XTERRA SUV FOR MORE SERIOUS OFF-ROAD WANDERING.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF TODAY'S MID-SIZE, THREE-ROW UTILITY BUYERS ARE FAR MORE INTERESTED IN COMFORT, ROOM, AND A HIGH DRIVING POSITION.

SO, FOR THEM, THE NEW PATHFINDER HAS ALL THE RIGHT SPECS.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, IT'S ACTUALLY BIGGER IN EVERY DIMENSION EXCEPT HEIGHT.

ALTHOUGH, BEHIND THE WHEEL IT FEELS SMALLER; WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING NO MATTER WHICH MEMBER OF HOUSEHOLD IS DOING THE DRIVING.

AND AIDES LIKE AVAILABLE AROUND VIEW BACK-UP CAM FURTHER LIGHTENS STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.

NISSAN'S LATEST CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A WIDER SPREAD OF RATIOS THAN BEFORE FOR BETTER EFFICIENCY.

WE DON'T MIND IT AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD, THOUGH IF YOU'RE NEW TO CVTs, IT DOES TAKE A WHILE TO GET USED TO THE ADDITIONAL ENGINE NOISE.

MAKING THAT NOISE, ALONG WITH 260-HORSEPOWER AND 240 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, IS NISSAN'S FAMILIAR 3.5-LITER V6, WHICH REPLACES LAST YEAR'S 4.0-LITER.

A V8 IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

AND WITH THAT, TOWING TAKES A HIT, FROM LAST YEAR'S 7,000 TO A STILL CLASS NORMAL 5,000 POUNDS.

A SMALLER ENGINE AND MORE EFFICIENT CVT MEAN CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS.

FRONT DRIVE RATINGS ARE CLASS BEST, BUT EVEN OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVER'S 19-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED ARE NEAR THE TOP.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.3 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR IN MIXED DRIVING.

SO, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE NEW PATHFINDER IS BETTER IN EVERY WAY THAT MATTERS, JUST DON'T TAKE IT ON THE RUBICON, AND WE DIDN'T.

BUT WE DID RUN IT DOWN OUR TEST TRACK, AND DESPITE A SLOPPY LAUNCH, WE WERE ABLE TO HIT 60 IN A RESPECTABLE 8.4 SECONDS.

IT'S ALL STEADY ENGINE NOISE AND ACCELERATION, WITH THE QUARTER MILE PASSING IN 16.5 SECONDS AT 88 MPH.

BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS SLIGHTLY MORE IMPRESSIVE, HALTING THE 4,400 POUND PATHFINDER IN A SHORT AVERAGE OF 124 FEET.

WE WERE EXPECTING THE MORE CAR-LIKE APPROACH TO SHOW ITS BIGGEST BENEFIT IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT, AND WHILE IT IS INDEED SURPRISINGLY NIMBLE WITH NOT A LOT OF BODY ROLL, IT IS ALSO THE SOFTEST SPRUNG PATHFINDER WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.

COMBINE THAT WITH TRACTION CONTROL THAT IS ALL TOO EAGER TO BECOME A SAFETY NANNY AND THIS PATHFINDER IS ALL ABOUT TRANQUIL TRAVELING.

BUT IT'S INSIDE WHERE THIS NEW PATHFINDER HAS CHANGED THE MOST.

IT'S GONE FROM CRAMPED AND UTILITARIAN TO SPACIOUS AND PLUSH.

THE LEVEL OF LUXURY EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IS STAGGERING, AND NOT FAR OFF THE INFINITI JX THAT IT'S BASED ON.

PLATINUM TRIM MODELS COME WITH HEATED AND COOLED FRONT LEATHER SEATING, BOSE PREMIUM AUDIO WITH 13-SPEAKERS, NAVIGATION, POWER REAR LIFTGATE, AND REMOTE START.

YOU CAN GO FURTHER BY ADDING THE PLATINUM PREMIUM PACKAGE WHICH ENHANCES REAR SEAT ENJOYMENT WITH DUAL 7" DVD DISPLAYS IN THE HEADRESTS AND DUAL PANORAMA SUNROOF.

LIKE THE JX, THIRD ROW ACCESS IS GREAT, AND ALL SEATS OFFER TRUE COMFORT FOR REAL ADULTS.

STORAGE CAPACITY GOES FROM 16 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW TO 79.8 CUBIC-FEET WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE UNDER THE FLOOR.

STYLING REVIEWS FROM OUR CREW WERE MIXED, BUT THE EASYGOING LINES AND SWOLLEN FENDERS DO PORTRAY A MODERN VERSION OF SOLID PRESENCE.

THE FRONT END IS NOW IN STEP WITH OTHER NISSAN CROSSOVERS, WITH A LARGE CHROME TRIMMED GRILLE AS THE CENTERPIECE.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 18s, GO PLATINUM AND YOU'LL RIDE ON 20s.

BUT FOR ALL OF ITS NEWNESS, PRICING REMAINS GOOD AND COMPETITIVE, STARTING AT $29,495, WHILE THE LOADED UP PLATINUM MODEL GOES FOR $40,395.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAN BE ADDED TO ANY TRIM LEVEL FOR $1,600 MORE.

DESPITE LOSING TOWING CAPACITY AND RUGGEDNESS, WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE NEW-MISSIONED 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER.

IT IS A VASTLY IMPROVED FAMILY CROSSOVER WITH A BIG JUMP IN VERSATILITY.

THAT'S WHY WE SELECTED IT AS OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE WINNER AS BEST LARGE UTILITY OF THE YEAR.

THE NEW PATHFINDER HAS CLEARLY TAKEN A PATH THAT LEADS TO HAPPIER FAMILIES, AND LIKELY, BIGGER SALES FOR NISSAN.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL BRUSH UP ON OUR ITALIAN WITH THE INCREDIBLE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR.

THEN A MORE PRACTICAL DRIVE IN THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA RAV4.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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