2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 & 2013 Toyota RAV4

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

JOIN US AS WE CHECK OUT THE CURVES IN THE INTIMIDATING LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR.

PAT GOSS HELPS US AVOID A WRONG TUG WITH THE RIGHT WINCH.

TWO WHEELIN'S BRIAN ROBINSON COVERS NEW GROUND IN THE TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER.

AND WE'LL SEE IF TOYOTA IS ON SOLID GROUND WITH THE ALL-NEW RAV4.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

JESSICA, I HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK YOU...

YES?

WHEN I'M SWITCHING TO WINTER TIRES DO I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL FOUR OR CAN I JUST PUT TWO ON THE FRONT AXLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

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

GET SOME WINGS?

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.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

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: ARE YOU DEPRESSED?

HAS THE ECONOMY GOT YOU DOWN?

OR MAYBE YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM JUST GOT RUN OVER!

WELL, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO US, WE DON'T REACH FOR A PILL.

WE GO FOR A THERAPY THAT GUARANTEES SUCCESS; A FEW HOT LAPS IN A LAMBORGHINI!

NOW WHEN USED AS DIRECTED, EVEN YOUR DOCTOR WILL BE IMPRESSED WITH OUR ROAD COURSE CURE.

TODAY'S AUTOMOTIVE THERAPY SESSION IS BEING HELD AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND OUR DELIVERY METHOD WILL BE THIS 2012 LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 700-4.

TURNING LAPS IN A LAMBORGHINI IS A RARE TREAT, EVEN FOR US HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

AND ONE NOT TO BE WASTED BY TOOLING AROUND AT PARADE LAP SPEEDS.

SO, WE WENT ALL IN AND STARTED TREATING THIS LAMBO LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO BE TREATED.

FIRST OBSERVATIONS?

WELL, THERE'S CERTAINLY PLENTY OF POWER, ENOUGH TO GET YOU OUT OF SHAPE FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY ACCIDENTI [AH-CHEE-DEN-TI], BUT TRACTION CONTROL IS THERE TO HELP, AS PART OF A DRIVE SELECT SYSTEM WITH SETTINGS FOR SPORT, STRADA FOR STREET, AND CORSA FOR TRACK.

READING DOWN THIS CAR'S SPEC SHEET IS LIKE TAKING INVENTORY OF AN F1 SHOP.

PUSHROD SPRING AND DAMPER SUSPENSION?

CHECK.

FORGED ALLOY COMPONENTS?

CHECK.

CARBON-FIBER TUB?

CHECK.

CARBON-FIBER CERAMIC BRAKES?

CHECK.

THE 4 IN 700-4 REFERS TO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, OF COURSE, AND ITS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED HALDEX GEN-4 COUPLING WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A LOCKING REAR DIFF.

TO MAKE SURE POWER GETS TO WHERE IT CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW IT WAS BEING DEPLOYED OFF THE LINE, ONLY THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF IT, AND IT SHOT US TO 60 IN 3.0-SECONDS FLAT.

AND THAT'S ON AN ICY COLD JANUARY TRACK!

THERE'S LAUNCH CONTROL, NATURALLY, WHICH DOES THE BULK OF THE HEAVY LIFTING, MANAGING THE PROPULSION AS WE SLAMMED THROUGH A SUB 11-SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 133 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE INDEPENDENT SHIFTING RODS TRANSMISSION, OR ISR, IS MORE ROBOTIC THAN AUTOMATIC.

AND WHILE IT USES JUST A SINGLE CLUTCH, THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO HOLD IT BACK ANY ON THE TRACK, AS SHIFTS ARE TREMENDOUSLY QUICK, IF NOT AS SMOOTH AS THE BEST MULTI-CLUTCH UNITS.

OH YEAH, BRAKES ARE PHENOMENAL AND THIS CAR SOUNDS FREAKIN' TERRIFIC!

MIXING THE AIR AND FUEL AND EXPLODING ALL OF THAT POWER IS A 691-HORSEPOWER DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM, ALUMINUM ALLOY, 6.5-LITER, V12 MONSTER LOCATED AMIDSHIPS JUST BEHIND THE DRIVER.

AT FULL SONG, SPINNING UP ALL OF ITS 509 LB-FT. OF TORQUE, NOT ONLY DO YOU GET THAT GREAT SOUND, BUT YOU CAN FEEL THIS THING WORKING ITS COMBUSTION MAGIC RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

LA DOLCE VITA.

AND WHILE ON THE STREET, WE ALSO FOUND OUR 2012 AVENTADOR TO BE MUCH FRIENDLIER THAN LAMBOS OF OLD, IT STILL RETAINS ENOUGH OF A JAGGED EDGE.

MUCH LIKE ITS BULL NAMESAKE, IT CAN GO FROM SEDATE TO STEAMING WITH JUST A SHARP STAB OF THE THROTTLE.

THE SUSPENSION ON 2013 MODELS GETS A BIT MORE OF THAT EDGE MASSAGED OUT, PLUS, UP TO 20% BETTER FUEL ECONOMY WITH NEW AUTOMATIC STOP-START AND CYLINDER DEACTIVATION.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT EXTERIOR DESIGN OTHER THAN THAT THE AVENTADOR APPEARS MORE LIKE SCULPTURE THAN SOMETHING YOU DRIVE, AS ITS MANY LINES AND CREASES LOOK CHISELED FROM GRANITE.

MOST OF THEM ARE FUNCTIONAL OF COURSE, WITH AERODYNAMIC TREATMENTS THROUGHOUT, INCLUDING A REAR SPOILER THAT DOESN'T JUST DEPLOY AUTOMATICALLY, BUT ADJUSTS FOR HIGH AND MID-RANGE SPEEDS AS WELL.

IT'S ONE LOW AND WIDE CAR THAT, OF COURSE, CARRIES ON THE COUNTACH TRADITION OF UPWARD OPENING SCISSOR DOORS.

THOUGH THEY ARE COUNTERBALANCED FAR MORE PRECISELY HERE ON THE AVENTADOR.

EVEN WITH EXTENSIVE USE OF CARBON FIBER, INCLUDING IN ITS MONOCOQUE CHASSIS, THE AVENTADOR STILL HAS A 3,500-POUND DRY WEIGHT.

AND IT DOES LOOK TRULY MASSIVE FROM THE REAR WITH BIG AIR EXTRACTORS GIVING IT A 3-DIMENSIONAL PERSONA, HIGHLIGHTED BY Y-SHAPED LED TAIL LIGHTS.

19-INCH WHEELS DO THE TURNING UP FRONT, WHILE 20s IN THE REAR TRY TO STAY INLINE WITH THE 335 PIRELLI RUBBER.

INSIDE THE AVENTADOR IS PURPOSEFUL, BUT WITH ENOUGH OF A SOFT EDGE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AUDI IS NOW CALLING THE SHOTS IN SANT'AGATA BOLOGNESE.

CONTROLS ARE USEFUL, CONSISTING MOSTLY OF AUDI PARTS, INCLUDING A NICELY DISGUISED VERSION OF THEIR MMI CENTRAL CONTROLLER.

BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF UNIQUE ITEMS, AS WELL.

AND IT'S HARD NOT TO ENJOY HITTING THE START SWITCH AFTER FLIPPING UP THE COVER.

YOU'RE READY FOR LAUNCH!

ERGONOMICS ARE VASTLY SUPERIOR TO ALL PREVIOUS LAMBOS.

FIT AND FINISH ARE LUXURY-CAR WORTHY AND SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH FOR HITTING THE ROAD FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

ONE TRADITION HASN'T CHANGED, HOWEVER, AND THAT'S A LACK OF STORAGE SPACE, SO TRY YOUR BEST TO LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE, AND MALADIES, BEHIND.

IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE FACT OF LIFE THAT ONLY THE SUPER-RICH GET TO PURCHASE SUPER-CARS, AND THE AVENTADOR'S BASE PRICE OF $389,995 IS NO JOKE.

THE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 700-4 IS, FIRST AND FOREMOST, STILL A LAMBORGHINI.

BUT IT'S A MUCH MORE "TOGETHER" ONE.

AND THOSE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PARK ONE ON THEIR PROPERTY WILL NOT ONLY GET A TRULY AMAZING SUPERCAR, BUT A MOBILE THERAPY SESSION THAN CAN BE USED AS NEEDED FOR ALLEVIATION OF THE DAILY GRIND.

IT'S A GREAT CAR, AND EVEN BETTER MEDICINE.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, AMERIGO VESPUCCI, AND LEWIS &CLARK.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE EXPLORERS THAT MADE THEIR MARK DISCOVERING AMERICA.

WELL, BRIAN ROBINSON'S BEEN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON HIS OWN, AND HE'S FOUND A NEW BRITISH EXPLORER LOOKING TO MAKE AN EQUALLY BIG MARK ON THE U.S. BRIAN ROBINSON: YES, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF GREAT EXPLORERS IN AMERICA'S HISTORY, BUT THIS TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER IS NOT ABOUT THE PAST.

IT'S ABOUT HITTING THE ROAD AND MAKING SOME HISTORY OF YOUR OWN.

ADVENTURE BIKES, THE "GO ANYWHERE DO ANYTHING" SUVs OF THE TWO-WHEELED WORLD, ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT TRENDING IN MOTORCYCLEDOM RIGHT NOW.

AND WHILE YOU'LL PROBABLY NEVER ACTUALLY TAKE THAT AROUND THE WORLD TRIP YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING IN YOUR HEAD FOR YEARS, IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT YOU COULD IF YOU OWNED ONE OF THESE BIKES.

WELL, LAST YEAR, TRIUMPH EMBARKED ON THEIR ADVENTURE QUEST WITH THE TIGER 800XC, AND NOW THEY'RE FOLLOWING THAT UP WITH THE LARGER EXPLORER.

THE UTILITARIAN LOOK CERTAINLY FITS THE PART, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ADD THE INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH-LOOKING ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC SIDE CASES.

FRAME IS TUBULAR STEEL AND SWING ARM ONE-SIDED, WHILE UP FRONT A MEDIUM SIZED BEAK-STYLE FAIRING HOUSES BIG, DUAL HEADLIGHTS.

OUR TESTER CAME FULLY OUTFITTED FOR THE LONG HAUL TASK WITH ADJUSTABLE WINDSCREEN, ENGINE AND SUMP GUARDS, AUXILIARY LIGHTING, GPS MOUNT, AND EVEN HEATED GRIPS AND SEAT.

COMPARED TO THE 800XC, THE EXPLORER IS NOT ONLY LARGER, BUT MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE, PARTICULARLY ON THE HIGHWAY.

RIDE QUALITY IS ALMOST PLUSH, AS SUSPENSION SOAKS UP ALL BUMPS WITH ONLY MINOR DISTURBANCES.

WHO NEEDS ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION WHEN YOU JUST DESIGN IT RIGHT TO BEGIN WITH?

INDEED, THE REMOTE RESERVOIR REAR SHOCK AND 46MM FRONT FORKS ARE DESIGNED MORE FOR CONFIDENT HANDLING AND OUTRIGHT COMFORT THAN FOR ULTIMATE GROUND CLEARANCE.

THE MORE TIME I SPEND WITH THIS EXPLORER, THE MORE IT KEEPS NAGGING ME TO TAKE A MONTH OFF AND PLAY 4-CORNERS ON THE 48.

ALSO A BIG STEP UP FROM THE 800 IS POWER, WHICH COMES FROM AN ALL-NEW LIQUID-COOLED, 1215 CC, FUEL-INJECTED, INLINE-TRIPLE.

ITS 135-HORSEPOWER AND 89 LB-FT. OF TORQUE PROVIDE MORE THAN ENOUGH MUSCLE FOR ANY ADVENTURE.

IT'S DEPLOYED WITH TRIUMPH'S NEW RIDE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE SYSTEM THAT IS VERY RESPONSIVE... PERHAPS TOO RESPONSIVE AT TIMES, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING MID-CORNER ADJUSTMENTS OR TRYING TO TURN ON CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS.

TRANSMISSION IS THE USUAL 6-SPEED, ENGAGED BY A HYDRAULIC CLUTCH WITH RELATIVELY LIGHT PULL, AND THE GOODS HEAD OUT BACK THROUGH A SHAFT FINAL DRIVE.

THE FUEL TANK HOLDS FIVE GALLONS AND CHANGE, WHICH SHOULD GET YOU 200 MILES, PROVIDED YOU CAN MUSTER SOME RIGHT HAND RESTRAINT.

A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE GAUGE PACKAGE KEEPS YOU UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING FROM FUEL LEVEL TO THE USUAL TRIP METERS AND AIR TEMP.

WHILE THE AFOREMENTIONED OPTIONAL SIDE CASES HOLD 62-LITERS AND ARE EASILY REMOVED.

A TOP CASE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR MOUNTING ON THE STANDARD LUGGAGE RACK WHICH BLENDS IN NICELY WITH THE VERY COMFORTABLE SEAT.

PRICING FOR THE EXPLORER IS STEEP AT $15,699, BUT AS ANY OF THOSE GREAT EXPLORERS WILL TELL YOU, BEFORE YOU SET OUT ON ANY GRAND ADVENTURE YOU'LL HAVE TO DO A LITTLE FUND RAISING.

BUT THE 2013 TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER IS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT, AS FOR NOW, IT IS CLEARLY THE KING OF THE ADVENTURE BIKE MOUNTAIN.

JOHN: LET'S HAUL IT ON OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT HELPS US PICK THE RIGHT WINCH TO GET THE JOB DONE.

PAT: NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, A WINCH COULD BE BENEFICIAL.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ON BUYING A WINCH IS SCOTT PETERSON, WHO'S THE SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER WITH SUPERWINCH.

SCOTT, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

SCOTT: THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE, IT'S GREAT.

PAT: ALRIGHT, ALL KINDS OF WINCHES OUT THERE.

TELL US ABOUT THIS ONE.

SCOTT: THIS IS OUR NEW TALON SERIES.

THIS IS WHAT YOU'D FIND ON THE FRONT OF A JEEP OR PICKUP TRUCK.

THIS IS OUR LATEST WINCH.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT IT IS IT'S GOT THE BEST WARRANTY THAT YOU CAN BUY IN A WINCH TODAY.

THREE YEARS ON THE MOTOR AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LIMITED LIFETIME ON THE REST OF THE WINCH.

AND THAT IS THE BEST WARRANTY YOU CAN BUY TODAY IN A VEHICLE FRONT PRODUCT.

PAT: VERY GOOD.

ALRIGHT.

NOW, THE ROPE THAT YOU HAVE HERE, SYNTHETIC AS OPPOSED TO STEEL.

WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE?

SCOTT: THIS IS OUR SYNTHETIC ROPE, AND REALLY, THE BENEFITS YOU'LL FIND HERE IS THAT IT'S LIGHTER THAN A STEEL ROPE, SO WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE FRONT OF YOUR TRUCK, IT'S STRONGER AT AN EQUIVALENT SIZE AGAINST STEEL, AND BECAUSE IT'S LIGHTER, IF IT DOES BREAK, GOES THROUGH THE AIR, IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT YOU OR SOMEONE AROUND YOU LIKE A STEEL CABLE GOING THROUGH THE AIR WOULD.

PAT: OKAY.

THIMBLE.

I'M A BOATER, I KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

BUT MAYBE OUR VIEWERS DON'T.

SCOTT: THE PURPOSE OF A THIMBLE, AND EVERY WINCH SUPERWINCH MAKES HAS A THIMBLE ON IT, IS TO KEEP THE DIAMETER OF THE TERMINATION LARGER.

IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THAT AND PUT IT ON THE END OF THIS CLEVIS HOOK RIGHT HERE, AND GO AROUND THAT CLEVIS PIN, YOU'D BE GOING AROUND A SMALLER DIAMETER.

THAT REDUCES THE STRENGTH OF THE TERMINATION OF THAT ROPE.

KEEPING IT ON A LARGER DIAMETER ON THE THIMBLE IS A SAFER SITUATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DESIGN OUR WINCHES FOR.

PAT: OKAY.

WHAT'S THIS WINCH ABOUT?

SCOTT: THIS IS OUR CAR TRAILER PRODUCT.

THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT'D YOU'D SEE IN AN ENCLOSED TRAILER FOR A RACECAR, OR A COLLECTOR CAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE DESIGN THIS WINCH SPECIFICALLY FOR TRAILERS, IN THAT IT HAS A 30 FOOT HANDHELD CONTROLLER ON IT.

IF THE WINCH IS IN THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER, YOU WANT TO BE AT THE BACK OF THE CAR WATCHING IT GO IN THE TRAILER; A 30 FOOT REMOTE IS WHAT YOU NEED.

YOU TYPICALLY GET 12 OR 15 FEET WITH A VEHICLE FRONT REMOTE.

WE DESIGNED THIS SPECIFICALLY FOR TRAILERS SO THAT YOU CAN WATCH YOUR CAR SAFELY GET IN THE TRAILER.

PAT: OKAY.

AND HERE WE HAVE A BAG WITH A WINCH IN IT.

SCOTT: THAT'S OUR WINCH IN A BAG PRODUCT.

IT'S A PORTABLE, GENERAL PURPOSE PRODUCT.

YOU GET A COUPLE OF STRAPS, A HANDHELD CONTROLLER.

YOU CAN CONNECT IT WITH SOME BATTERY CLIPS TO YOUR BATTERY.

YOU CAN DO ALL SORTS OF PORTABLE THINGS AROUND THE HOME.

PUT IT IN THE TRUCK OF YOUR CAR.

IT'S THERE FOR SAFETY IF YOU NEED IT.

PAT: VERY CLEVER.

ALRIGHT.

SO, SHOP WISELY AND YOU GET A PRODUCT THAT LASTS A LONG TIME, AND DOES THE JOB.

SCOTT, THANK YOU.

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

OUR RECENT TRIP SOUTH FOR WINTER TESTING ONCE AGAIN PUT OUR HONDA CR-V ON THE OPEN ROAD.

FILLED WITH PEOPLE AND GEAR, WE CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH HOW WELL THIS COMPACT CROSSOVER DOES EVERYTHING WELL.

AND THAT INCLUDES FUEL ECONOMY, WHICH AFTER OVER 22,000 MILES AND 8 MONTHS STANDS AT 25.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE 185-HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER I4 LEAVES PLENTY IN RESERVE FOR PASSING, ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOTICING A BIT MORE VALVE NOISE THAN WHEN NEW.

THE WINDSHIELD WASHERS ARE WORKING AGAIN.

THE PUMP MOTOR FAILED.

OTHER THAN THAT, OUR CR-V HAS BEEN FAULT FREE.

SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE.

AND FOR A COMPACT CROSSOVER THERE IS LITTLE WANT FOR MORE ROOM, FRONT, BACK, OR IN THE CARGO BAY.

IF HONDA EVER ENTERS THE 21ST CENTURY WITH THEIR NAVIGATION SYSTEM, THE CURRENT ONE IS CUMBERSOME TO USE, THE HONDA CR-V WILL APPROACH CROSSOVER PERFECTION.

WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF FUN DRIVING OUR LONG-TERM 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER SAID BEFORE ABOUT A NON-WRX VERSION.

OUR INITIAL CONCERNS, THE 2.0I SPORT HATCHBACK'S SMALLER 148-HORSEPOWER I4 BEING ANEMIC WERE DISPLACED WITH THE FIRST JAB OF THE THROTTLE.

THERE'S GOOD POWER EVEN IF THE CVT TRANSMISSION WHINES A LOT.

LONG IDLING ON COLD MORNINGS, AND A LOT OF CITY USE, HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN A TOLL ON FUEL ECONOMY.

STILL AN AVERAGE OF 28.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR AFTER NEARLY 16,000 MILES IS FINE FOR ANY ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HATCHBACK.

SEATS GET HIGH MARKS FOR OVERALL SUPPORT AND COMFORT, BUT THE DULL INTERIOR AND CUMBERSOME NAV RADIO REALLY SAPS YOUR SPIRIT ON A LONG DRIVE.

WE WOULDN'T ASK FRIENDS TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT FOR LONG PERIODS EITHER... TOO HARD.

BUT THEY FOLD EASILY FOR A WAGON'S WORTH OF CARGO ROOM.

SO IN THE END, THE SUBARU IMPREZA CONTINUES TO IMPRESS US A LOT.

ANOTHER HATCHBACK, THE HYUNDAI ACCENT, AND ANOTHER COMPACT CROSSOVER, THE MAZDA CX-5, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

TIME NOW FOR THE MOTORNEWS, SO LET'S GO INSIDE WHERE YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: THE 2013 AUTO SHOW CIRCUIT MADE ITS ANNUAL STOP IN CHICAGO ALONG ITS WHIRLWIND, WORLDWIDE TOUR.

AND, OF COURSE, MOTORWEEK WAS THERE FOR THE ENTIRE STORY.

FROM HOTRODS TO HAULERS, WE SAW QUITE A FEW WORLD DEBUTS AT THE 2013 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW.

FIRST FROM KIA, WHO TURNED HEADS WITH THIS CROSS GT CONCEPT.

SPORTING A SLEEK CROSSOVER PROFILE, AND AN ESTIMATED 400 HORSEPOWER FROM ITS HYBRID V6 ENGINE.

A 5-DOOR VERSION OF THE JUST RELEASED FORTE WAS ALSO SHOWN, WITH THE TOP LEVEL MODELS SPORTING AN EXCLUSIVE 201 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER TURBO 4.

CHEVROLET UNCOVERED THE 2014 CRUZE DIESEL.

AIMED AT VW'S JETTA TDI, POWER IS OPEL'S 2.0-LITER TURBO DIESEL.

RATINGS ARE 148 HORSEPOWER, A BIG 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND 42 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY.

BUT THE BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT, QUITE LITERALLY, WAS THE 2014 TOYOTA TUNDRA FULL-SIZE PICK-UP.

WHILE ENGINES AND CHASSIS ARE THE SAME, A MORE GRANITE-LIKE EXTERIOR AND SUPER LUX INTERIOR LOOK TO SHORE UP SALES AGAINST DETROIT COMPETITION.

INCLUDING FROM RAM, WHO, FRESH OFF THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW 1500, DEBUTED ITS NEW PROMASTER COMMERCIAL TRUCK LINE.

BASED ON THE FIAT DUCATO, THE MEXICAN BUILT HIGH CUBE COMES IN BOTH FRONT-DRIVE GAS AND DIESEL.

NISSAN REVEALED NISMO TUNED UP VERSIONS OF THE TINY JUKE, WITH NEW SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR CLADDING, AND ENGINE OUTPUT RATCHETED UP TO 197 HORSEPOWER.

AND THE 370Z, WITH STIFFER SPRINGS AND UNIQUE BODY STYLING.

LIKELY TO BE EVEN MORE FUN IS THE 2014 NISSAN GT-R TRACK EDITION.

WITH NO REAR SEATS, A DUCTED CARBON FIBER FRONT SPOILER, AND A BEEFED UP SUSPENSION, IT LOOKS TO HIT THE TRACK HARDER THAN EVER.

ALSO LOOKING FOR A LITTLE TRACK TIME WAS THE FORD FOCUS TRACKSTER, A SUPER TUNED, 350 HORSEPOWER FOCUS ST.

BUT FOR TRUE ROAD RIPPING, FORD BROUGHT ITS NEW GLOBAL RALLY CROSS FIESTA ST RACE CAR.

CHRYSLER TUNERS WERE HARD AT WORK, TOO, AS THEY SHOWED THE CHALLENGER R/T REDLINE WITH HEMI V-8 POWER.

AND THE MOPAR DODGE DART, WITH BLUE RACING STRIPS AND UPGRADED BRAKES.

VOLKSWAGEN TWEAKED THEIR LATEST BEETLE COUPE WITH A HISTORIC GSR PACKAGE, CRANKING HORSEPOWER UP TO 210 UNDER A BUMBLE BEE PAINT JOB.

AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR WINDY CITY MOTORNEWS FROM THE 2013 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW.

THE 1995 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS A REAL GAME CHANGER AS THE FIRST SMALL SUV TO USE A CAR-LIKE UNITIZED CHASSIS.

BIG SUCCESS PROMPTED NUMEROUS OTHER COMPACT CROSSOVERS INCLUDING THE HONDA CR-V AND FORD ESCAPE.

BUT AS THEY BECAME MORE POPULAR, THE RAV4 FADED.

IT JUST DIDN'T EVOLVE ENOUGH TO STAY AHEAD OF RIVALS.

WELL, TOYOTA IS OUT TO CHANGE THAT FOR 2013 WITH AN ALL NEW RAV4.

SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN NOW RAVE ABOUT THE RAV?

THE FIRST CHANGE YOU'LL SEE IN THE 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 IS ONE YOU CAN'T SEE, ANYMORE AT LEAST.

THE SPARE TIRE THAT USED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE "LOVE-IT-OR-HATE-IT" SIDE SWINGING REAR DOOR IS NO MORE.

IN ITS PLACE IS A MORE CONVENTIONAL LIFTGATE WITH THE SPARE TIRE MOVED INSIDE UNDER THE CARGO FLOOR.

IT'S PART OF A WHOLE NEW, IF MORE CONVENTIONAL LOOK THAT IS SLEEKER AND MORE ATHLETIC THAN PREVIOUS RAVs.

THE EXPRESSIVE FRONT END LEADS TO A MORE STEEPLY RAKED WINDSHIELD; WHILE ROOF RAILS ON XLE MODELS PROGRESS TO A LARGE HATCH-MOUNTED SPOILER.

TAIL LIGHTS JUT OUT FROM THE REAR FENDERS AND THE CONCAVE LINES OF THE REAR HATCH GIVE A VERY MODERN LOOK.

XLE'S COME EQUIPPED WITH 18-INCH ALLOYS, BUT EVEN THE BASE 17-INCH STEEL WHEELS WITH HUBCAPS LOOK PRETTY SHARP.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, AERODYNAMICS ARE GREATLY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST RAV, THANKS TO THE SLICKER SHAPE, NEW UNDERBODY COVERS, AND FRONT "AERO" CORNERS.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS ARE ALL DOWN A BIT FROM LAST YEAR, MOSTLY DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF THE OUTSIDE SPARE; EXCEPT FOR WHEELBASE WHICH REMAINS AT 104.7-INCHES.

AND WHILE IT'S DOUBTFUL MANY RAV OWNERS WILL VENTURE OFF PAVEMENT, WITH THE OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRE SYSTEM, IT PERFORMS WELL IN SLOP AND SNOW.

AWD INCLUDES AN ELECTRONIC LOCKING CENTER DIFF FOR TRUE 50/50 TORQUE SPLIT AT SPEEDS UP TO 25 MILES-PER-HOUR; AND CAN HELP DIAL BACK UNDERSTEER AT ANY SPEED, THANKS TO NEW DYNAMIC TORQUE CONTROL.

THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION AND TRAILING ARM DOUBLE WISHBONE REAR DO A GOOD JOB OF SOAKING UP BUMPS.

AND WHEN BACK ON DRY PAVEMENT, A LARGER STABILIZER BAR HELPS REDUCE ROLL.

COMBINED WITH FAIRLY RESPONSIVE ELECTRIC STEERING, THE RAV HAS A MORE SOLID, IF NOT NECESSARILY SPORTIER, RIDE THAN BEFORE.

IT'S ALSO DELIVERS A VERY QUIET DRIVING ENVIRONMENT, AND YOU CAN NOW TAILOR THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE TO YOUR LIKING WITH ECO AND SPORT MODES.

ECO DIALS BACK THE A/C AND THROTTLE RESPONSE, WHILE SPORT BOOSTS THROTTLE RESPONSE, CHANGES BOTH WHEN AND HOW QUICKLY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, AND MAKES STEERING FEEL MORE DIRECT.

THE SOLE ENGINE IS A CARRYOVER 2.5-LITER I4 RATED AT 176-HORSEPOWER AND 172 LB-FT OF TORQUE.

THE V6 IS NO MORE.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, IS UPGRADED FROM AN ANTIQUATED FOUR GEARS TO SIX, CONTRIBUTING TO BOTH A PEPPIER FEEL AND A 7% TO 8% RISE IN FUEL ECONOMY.

INDEED, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WHILE FRONT DRIVERS RATE 24-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED, ALL ON REGULAR GRADE GAS.

THE REDESIGNED INTERIOR IS WHERE THE NEW RAV4 MAKES ITS BIGGEST STRIDES; REPLACING THE DRAB LIVING SPACE OF BEFORE IS A GOOD BLEND OF BOTH SPORTY FEEL AND INCREASED REFINEMENT; WITH A WIDE, SOFT TOUCH DASH SPLITTING THE COMFORT AND WORK ZONES, AND LENDING AN ALMOST COCKPIT FEEL.

FRONT SEATS ARE WIDE AND MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN BEFORE.

AND EVEN THOUGH EXTERIOR SIZE IS A BIT SMALLER, EVERYTHING IS ROOMIER INSIDE, MOST NOTICEABLY IN THE BACK SEAT WHERE LEGROOM NOW RIVALS MANY MID-SIZERS, AND IN THE CARGO AREA WHERE YOU'LL FIND 38.4 CUBIC FEET OF SPACE WITH THE SEATS UP.

FOLD THEM, WHICH IS EASIER THAN BEFORE, AND IT EXPANDS TO A CLASS BEST 73.4 CUBIC-FEET.

A BACK-UP CAMERA IS STANDARD, WHILE BLIND SPOT MONITORING CAN BE ADDED TO LIMITED MODELS, WHICH COMES WITH A POWER REAR LIFTGATE.

AND STANDARD ARE 8-AIRBAGS, INCLUDING ONE FOR THE DRIVER'S KNEES.

PRICES ARE UP, BUT JUST BARELY SO, AND STILL A STRONG POINT.

TRIM LEVELS HAVE ALSO BEEN SIMPLIFIED TO MAKE THE BUYING PROCESS EASIER.

AND THAT PROCESS BEGINS AT $24,145 FOR A BASE LE MODEL.

A MID-LEVEL XLE WILL COST YOU $25,135, AND THE LOADED UP LIMITED STICKERS FOR $27,855.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAN BE ADDED TO ANY MODEL FOR AN ADDITIONAL $1,400 BUCKS.

CHANGE ALWAYS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE GOOD OR BAD.

WELL, IN THE RAV4'S CASE, IT IS GOOD AND MUCH NEEDED.

BUYERS LOOKING AT THE NEW RAV4 WILL FIND A ROOMIER, MORE COMFORTABLE, MORE EFFICIENT, AND YES, BETTER LOOKING COMPACT CROSSOVER.

THAT'S WHY WE PICKED THE 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 AS OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST SMALL UTILITY OF THE YEAR.

JUST ONE MORE REASON THAT THERE'S PLENTY TO RAVE ABOUT THE NEW RAV4!

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL PUT THE CADILLAC ATS, OUR BEST CAR OF THE YEAR, TO THE ULTIMATE TRACK TEST.

THEN MAX OUT OUR RANGE IN THE FORD C-MAX HYBRID.

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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