2013 Ford Focus ST & 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

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

JOIN US, AS WE TURN HOT LAPS IN FORD'S FIRST GLOBAL HOT HATCHBACK, THE FOCUS ST. PAT GOSS SHOWS US THE LIGHT ON UPGRADING TO LEDs.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ DOES A LITTLE CREATIVE URBAN EXPLORING FOR THIS WEEK'S FYI.

AND WE'LL LET LOOSE IN THE LONG AWAITED HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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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: WHILE THERE ARE MORE "SO-CALLED" PERFORMANCE CAR BARGAINS AROUND NOW THAN EVER, SADLY, MOST ARE HEAVY ON THE BARGAIN AND LIGHT ON PERFORMANCE.

THIS FORD FOCUS ST, HOWEVER, PROMISES SOME SERIOUS BANG TO GO ALONG WITH ITS BUDGET FRIENDLY PRICING.

SO, DOES FORD'S FIRST EVER GLOBAL PERFORMANCE CAR KEEP ITS PROMISES?

WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT!

WE'RE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, TO FIND OUT IF THE 2013 FORD FOCUS ST DOES INDEED DELIVER WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE FOR BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICES.

SO LET'S DOWNLOAD THE DATA BEFORE WE DIVE IN TO THAT.

STARTING UNDER THE HOOD, YOU'LL FIND FORD'S NOW VERY FAMILIAR 2.0-LITER ECOBOOST I4 ENGINE, BUT IT'S A HIGH OUTPUT VERSION FOR THE ST WITH AN OVER-BOOST FUNCTION THAT BUMPS HORSEPOWER UP TO 252.

TORQUE REMAINS THE SAME AT A VERY VIGOROUS 270 LB-FT.

TRANSMISSION IS A 6-SPEED MANUAL ONLY AND ALSO GETS SPECIFIC ST UPDATES.

THE CHASSIS ADDS SOME ADDITIONAL FIRMING, WHILE SUSPENSION AND STEERING HAVE ALL BEEN RE-CALIBRATED.

THE ST RIDES ALMOST HALF AN INCH LOWER THAN ITS MORE PEDESTRIAN SIBLINGS.

ATOP ALL OF THAT HARDWARE SITS A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK BODY THAT GETS A MUSCLY MAKEOVER THAT TRANSFORMS THIS COMPACT FROM KITTY CAT TO RIP ROARING TIGER.

SPECIFICS INCLUDE A WIDE OPEN, ONE PIECE, BLACK TRAPEZOIDAL GRILLE, ROCKER EXTENSIONS, AND A DIFFUSER-STYLE REAR BUMPER WITH VENTING AND A CUTOUT FOR THE CENTER-MOUNTED DUAL EXHAUST.

AND IT WOULDN'T BE A HOT HATCHBACK WITHOUT A PROMINENT SPOILER UP TOP.

18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS SPORT GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 RUBBER, WITH THE TWO UP FRONT HANDLING BOTH STEERING AND POWER DISTRIBUTION, AS RALLY-CAR LIKE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ON THE MENU.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HATCHBACK ONLY?

SURE SOUNDS EUROPEAN, AND IT IS.

THE ST, CREATED BY FORD OF EUROPE'S SPORTS TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, IS A TRUE EURO-STYLE PERFORMANCE CAR FOLLOWING IN THE PATH OF THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R. AND MUCH LIKE THE GOLF R, AT THE TRACK, IT ATE UP ASPHALT LIKE FEW OTHER FRONT DRIVERS CAN DO.

IT WAS SUPER EASY TO FIND THE ST'S LIMITS AND PUSH THEM RIGHT TO THAT POINT CORNER AFTER CORNER.

THE FRONT STRUT SUSPENSION AND CONTROL BLADE INDEPENDENT REAR HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY STIFFENED, AND THE ST COMES WITH UNOBTRUSIVE STABILITY CONTROL THAT CAN BE DISABLED, AND TORQUE VECTORING CONTROL WHICH USES SELECTIVE BRAKING TO TIGHTEN TURNS.

STEERING IS NICE AND DIRECT, AND WHILE SPEED SAPPING FRONT DRIVE UNDERSTEER IS STILL AN ISSUE, A LITTLE LIFT-OFF-THE-THROTTLE OVERSTEER COUNTERS IT NICELY.

AS FOR COMPLAINTS, IF YOU'RE NOT USED TO SLINGING COMPACT, HOT HATCHES AROUND THE TRACK, YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT ON TOP OF THE FRONT WHEELS, AND THE SOUND SYMPOSER, WHICH PUMPS ENGINE NOISE INTO THE CABIN, DIDN'T PUMP QUITE ENOUGH FOR TRACK WORK.

A LITTLE MORE EXHAUST NOTE WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING YOU STAY OFF THE REV LIMITER.

WHEN DRIVEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE ST WILL SPRING TO 60 IN 5.9-SECONDS AND COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.8-SECONDS AT 95 MPH.

THE FOCUS ST GETS A THOROUGHLY TRANSFORMED INTERIOR AS WELL, WITH A SPORTY TWO-TONE THEME THAT MIRRORS YOUR EXTERIOR COLOR OF CHOICE.

OUR FAVORITE FEATURE BY FAR IS THE OPTIONAL RECARO LEATHER BUCKETS UP FRONT, BUT THE THICK PEDALS, STEERING WHEEL, SHIFTER, AND DASH TOP ACCESSORY GAUGE PACK ARE NOT FAR BEHIND.

AND HATCHBACK VERSATILITY IS ALWAYS A PLUS WITH REAR SEATS THAT FOLD TO GIVE YOU WAGON-LIKE CARGO ROOM OF 44.8 CUBIC-FEET.

AWAY FROM THE TRACK, THE ST FEELS SURPRISINGLY DOCILE.

THE NOW EASIER TO HEAR ENGINE AND EXHAUST MAKE A SWEET SPORTY SOUND WHEN YOU WANT THEM TO, AND QUIET DOWN NICELY WHEN YOU DON'T.

WHILE THE SUSPENSION IS TIGHT, IT'S NOT UNCOMFORTABLY SO OVER EVEN ROUGH PAVEMENT.

EVEN FAR FROM ITS LIMITS, THE ST IS A VERY FUN CAR TO DRIVE.

AND IT'S A CLEAR WINNER IN VALUE AS WELL, PACKING ALL THIS MAJOR PERFORMANCE INTO A VERY REASONABLE $24,495 PRICE.

THE RECARO'S ARE PART OF A $2,500 PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES A SONY STEREO AND DUAL AUTO CLIMATE, AND IT'S WELL WORTH IT.

SO, THE RESULTS ARE IN AND WE FEEL THE 2013 FORD FOCUS ST FULLY LIVES UP TO ITS PROMISE BY DELIVERING AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PERFORMANCE FOR AN ALMOST ABSURDLY LOW PRICE.

WITH HINTS THAT AN EVEN MORE POTENT FOCUS RS IS IN THE WORKS, WE SURE HOPE FORD STAYS THIS GLOBAL PERFORMANCE COURSE AND BUILDS A LOT OF THEM.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S UC DAVIS, A PIONEER IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE RESEARCH.

HERE, A WIDE VARIETY OF ALT-FUEL VEHICLES ROAM THE CAMPUS; FROM COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS BUSES, TO NUMEROUS PLUG-IN HYBRID CONVERSIONS, TO THIS SCION EBOX EV - WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FILLING IN FOR THE ORIGINAL GAS ENGINE.

ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES, LIKE THE NISSAN LEAF AND CHEVROLET VOLT, ARE STUDIED BY THE PLUG-IN HYBRID &ELECTRIC VEHICLE RESEARCH CENTER.

THE PHEV CENTER EVALUATES CONSUMER BEHAVIORS, VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES, BATTERIES AND CHARGING STATION NEEDS, AND EVEN HELPS DEVELOP DASHBOARD DISPLAYS TO MAKE ELECTRIC DRIVING MORE PRACTICAL.

Richard Battersby: AT UC DAVIS, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY.

WE DON'T JUST DO RESEARCH AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE DO IT OURSELVES.

John: INDEED, YOU'LL FIND NEARLY 30 CHARGING STATIONS IN AND AROUND THE CAMPUS.

WITH THEIR PIONEERING PAST, UC DAVIS STRIVES TO CLEAR THE ROAD FOR A MORE PROMISING PLUG-IN ELECTRIC CAR FUTURE.

TOURING A BIG CITY CAN BE FUN, BUT WITH TRAFFIC ALWAYS A PROBLEM, IT CAN ALSO BE FRUSTRATING.

YOUR TOUR BUS MAY SPEND MORE TIME IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS AND WASTING FUEL THAN YOU DO SEEING THE SIGHTS.

SO WHAT'S A VISITOR TO DO?

WELL, THAT'S THE QUESTION WE PUT TO OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ, AND SHE'S COME BACK WITH SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO SEE AND ENJOY THE URBAN LANDSCAPE.

Yolanda Vazquez: DOUBLE-DECKER TOUR BUSES.

THEY RULE THE ROAD IN NEW YORK CITY.

BUT THIS OPEN-TOP EXPERIENCE ISN'T THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL AROUND TOWN.

Driver: FIRST THING, HANDS UP.

Passengers: WHOO!

Yolanda: COMPANIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE COME UP WITH CLEVER WAYS TO ATTRACT TOURISTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN THEY SPLASH INTO THEIR FAVORITE CITY.

Stephen Chester: WE THINK ATL CRUZERS IS THE MOST UNIQUE AND FUN WAY TO EXPERIENCE ANY CITY BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

Yolanda: CO-OWNER STEPHEN CHESTER CREATED HIS ELECTRIC CAR TOUR IN 2010 TO GIVE VISITORS A PANORAMIC VIEW OF ATLANTA'S MUST-SEE SIGHTS... Stephen Chester: SO HISTORIC EBENEZER TO YOUR RIGHT.

Yolanda: ...WHILE RIDING IN AN OPEN-AIR, ECO-FRIENDLY VEHICLE.

CHESTER SAYS THE SIX-SEAT, BATTERY-ELECTRIC GEM IS IDEAL FOR HIS 15-MILE EXPERT-GUIDED TOUR.

Chester: INSIDE THIS VENUE, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE LIKES OF PEOPLE LIKE RAY CHARLES, JAMES BROWN, ARETHA FRANKLIN... Yolanda: THE LOW-SPEED DESIGNATION MEANS IT NEVER GOES ABOVE 25 MILES PER HOUR, AND THE E6 HAS A DRIVING RANGE OF UP TO 40 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE.

Chester: SO WE TYPICALLY DO A ONE HOUR, 1:15 MINUTE TOUR, COME BACK AND RECHARGE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO THREE OR FOUR TOURS A DAY WITH ONE VEHICLE GIVEN THE CYCLE TIME.

Yolanda: THE CLEAN, GREEN TRANSPORTATION HAS ZERO TAILPIPE EMISSIONS, AND WITH POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM CONSUMERS ON TRAVEL WEBSITES, CHESTER MIGHT EXPAND HIS "ELECTRIC" OPERATION IN THE FUTURE.

Chester: SO REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON ATLANTA.

AND AS OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES, MAYBE IDENTIFY OTHER CITIES THAT THIS CONCEPT WOULD BE ABLE TO FLOURISH IN.

Yolanda: ANOTHER CITY WITH A FLOURISHING SIGHTSEEING TOUR BUSINESS IS WASHINGTON D.C. Chester: THIS IS OUR I2 SEGWAY.

OUR FLAGSHIP SEGWAY IN THE STORE.

IT'S A REALLY GREAT MACHINE, VERY EASY TO OPERATE.

Yolanda: FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, CAPITAL SEGWAY HAS OFFERED VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE A TWO-WHEELED TOUR OF THE CITY'S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS.

Steven Orr: THE WHITE HOUSE, CAPITOL BUILDING, SMITHSONIAN, NATIONAL ARCHIVES, FORD'S THEATER, FBI BUILDING, AND THERE'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 60 TO 70 PLACES ALONG THE WAY THAT YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WAS THERE.

Yolanda: GENERAL MANAGER STEVEN ORR SAYS THE SIX AND A HALF MILE TOUR IS ABOUT TWO HOURS LONG, WITH RIDERS COVERING THREE TIMES AS MUCH GROUND THAN IF THEY WERE WALKING.

Avis Devine: EVERY TIME YOU GO TO A BIG CITY, YOU SEE THESE THINGS GO BY.

Yolanda: FIRST-TIME USER AVIS DEVINE LOVED THE UNLIMITED ACCESS THROUGH BIKE PATHS, WALKWAYS, AND SIDE ROADS.

Devine: BY BEING SORT OF THIS IN-BETWEEN LEVEL VEHICLE, WE HAD ACCESS AVAILABLE TO US IN ALL THREE MANNERS, WHICH IF YOU DO ANY OF THE OTHER MORE COMMON TECHNIQUES, YOU WOULDN'T GET.

Yolanda: SINCE SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY, CAPITAL SEGWAY OFFERS A 10-MINUTE TRAINING SESSION AND VIDEO TO HELP RIDERS BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR I2 PERSONAL TRANSPORTER.

Chester: AS YOU SMOOTHLY SEND YOUR WEIGHT INTO YOUR HEELS, YOUR ARMS SHOULD BEGIN TO FULLY EXTEND ON THE SEGWAY.

Yolanda: AS I DISCOVERED, THE ADVANCED LEAN STEER TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART SEGWAY EASY TO MANEUVER AND FAIRLY SIMPLE TO NAVIGATE.

Sean Taylor: IT WAS REALLY EASY.

IT WAS NATURAL MOVEMENTS, YOU JUST LEAN IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO AND IT SENDS YOU RIGHT THERE.

IT'S VERY EASY.

Yolanda: THE 115-POUND MACHINE WILL ONLY REACH A TOP SPEED OF 12.5 MILES PER HOUR, AND TYPICALLY GETS ABOUT 25 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE.

Chester: THE ESTATE ON YOUR RIGHT IS OUR OLDEST AND BIGGEST UNIVERSITY.

Yolanda: SO THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BOARDING A BIG TOUR BUS, LOOK FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY OR OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH OPTION THAT WILL LET YOU EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF A CITY'S MOST TREASURED SIGHTS IN THE MOST MEMORABLE WAY.

John: LED LIGHTING IS ALL THE RAGE ON NEW CARS.

BUT YOUR CURRENT CAR CAN ALSO JOIN THE LED PARTY, AND OUR PAT GOSS SHOWS US THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.

Pat Goss: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY ASPECTS OF AN AUTOMOBILE IS TO BE ABLE TO BE SEEN BY OTHER DRIVERS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF YOUR LIGHTS HAVE TO WORK PROPERLY.

ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT FLASH.

OR THE BRAKE LIGHTS.

AND YOU WANT THEM TO BE VERY BRIGHT AND VERY VISIBLE.

AND THAT'S WHERE A NEW TYPE OF LIGHT IS COMING INTO PLAY.

IT'S CALLED AN LED, IT'S A LIGHT EMITTING DIODE.

A LOT OF NEW CARS HAVE THEM AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT FROM THE FACTORY.

BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.

NOW, IF YOUR CAR DOES NOT HAVE LEDs, YOU CAN PROBABLY RETROFIT IT AND GET ALL OF THE ADVANTAGES.

THE ADVANTAGES, NUMBER ONE, MUCH LONGER LIFE.

FIVE TO TEN THOUSAND HOURS.

OR PROBABLY THE LIFE OF SEVERAL VEHICLES.

NOW, DISADVANTAGE, THEY COST A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.

BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO DO THEM ONCE, WELL, THAT PROBABLY OFFSETS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INCANDESCENT AND LEDs.

ANOTHER BIG THING WITH THE LEDs IS THAT THEY FLASH MORE QUICKLY.

THEY COME ON AND THEY'RE OFF VERY QUICKLY.

INSTANTLY, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

NOW, THAT CAN BE A CURSE OR A BLESSING, WE'LL SEE WHY IN A MINUTE.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY DON'T DRAW MUCH POWER, AND THEY DON'T GET REAL HOT.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO RETROFIT A BOAT TRAILER, IT MEANS THAT THEY AREN'T SO PRONE TO BEING SO HOT THAT WHEN YOU BACK INTO THE WATER, THAT THEY BUST THE BULB.

AND BELIEVE ME, THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY APPLICATION THAT YOU COULD WANT, INCLUDING TRAILERS.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK HERE.

HERE WE HAVE TWO BULBS, VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL, THE BASE IS THE SAME.

THIS IS AN INCANDESCENT, THIS IS AN LED.

NOW, WHEN THIS LED LIGHTS UP, IT'S GOING TO BE AMBER, LIKE THE INCANDESCENT.

NOW, THAT BUSINESS ABOUT FLASHING VERY QUICKLY, WHICH IS A GOOD SAFETY FEATURE, WELL, IT MAY FLASH TOO QUICKLY, AND THAT MAY MEAN THAT IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT HAS A LAMP MONITOR THAT TELLS YOU WHEN A BULB IS BURNED OUT, OR WHEN YOU PUT THE LEDs IN THEY FLASH TOO FAST, YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT A BALLAST RESISTOR IN THERE.

THESE GO ON THE GROUND SIDE OF THE BULB, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF THEM: THE CERAMIC, LIKE I HAVE HERE, FOR OLDER CARS.

AND AN ALUMINUM ONE, A METAL ONE, FOR LATER CARS.

SO, IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE THAT YOU CAN EASILY ADD TO JUST ABOUT ANY CAR.

SOMETHING I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

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

John: TIME NOW TO FIRE UP A COUPLE OF NEW RIDES IN THIS WEEK'S CAR KEYS.

PERPETUALLY LOST IN THE SHADOW OF ITS SISTER BRAND HYUNDAI, KIA HAS SLOWLY CHIPPED AWAY AT ITS "BADGE-ENGINEERED" REPUTATION.

AND THE 2014 KIA FORTE SHOULD AIDE IN THAT EFFORT.

THE STRETCHED WHEELBASE DOES MIMIC THE NEWEST HYUNDAI ELANTRA, BUT SHEETMETAL AND DETAILS, AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE OPTIMA VERSUS SONATA, SET THE FORTE WELL APART.

FROM THE UNIQUE FRONT FASCIA AND WINGED GRILLE, TO ITS SCULPTED REAR WITH LARGE SPLIT LIGHTING, THE FORTE IS ITS OWN CAR.

LIKEWISE, THE FORTE'S INTERIOR IS MORE SERIOUS THAN ELANTRA'S, WITH GOOD MATERIALS BUT FEWER GLOSSY ACCENTS FOR A EURO-ESQUE FEEL.

KIA'S MICROSOFT-BASED UVO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

STANDARD IS A 1.8-LITER INLINE 4, RATED AT 148 HORSEPOWER.

YES, IT'S THE VERY SAME ONE FOUND IN THE ELANTRA.

BUT STEP UP TO THE FORTE EX TRIM AND YOU'LL GET AN EXCLUSIVE 173 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 WITH DIRECT INJECTION AND KIA'S FLEX STEER SYSTEM THAT OFFERS VARYING DEGREES OF ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST.

Patrick Lucas: THE FORTE'S DRIVE IS NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT THAN THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA.

THE 2.0 LITER HAS A DEFINITE KICK TO IT.

THE TWEAKED CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION GIVE IT A MORE SOLID, SPORTY FEEL.

AND WHILE THE FLEX STEER SYSTEM IS MORE OF A NOVELTY THAN A TRUE "DRIVER'S TOOL," IT IS NICE TO SEE A FEATURE LIKE THIS ON A CAR THAT STARTS UNDER $20 GRAND.

JOHN: ON SALE SOON, THE 2014 KIA FORTE STARTS NEAR $16,000 IN BASE LX TRIM, WITH THE EX STARTING AROUND $18,000.

LOOK OUT FOR A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK VARIANT LATER THIS YEAR.

WE MISS OUR LONG-TERM 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE...

SO MUCH, IN FACT, THAT WE JUMPED AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE THE REVAMPED 2014 EDITION.

SINCE THE '14 GC IS A MID-CYCLE DO-OVER, THE UPDATED STYLING BROUGHT NO CHANGES TO ITS SIZE.

THERE ARE NEW LED DAYTIME RUNNERS AND TAILLIGHT ACCENTS, REVISED FASCIA AND GRILLE, AND A LARGER REAR SPOILER.

THE FORMER INTERIOR, WHILE VERY COMFORTABLE, LACKED A MODERN EDGE... AND JEEP WAS QUICK TO REMEDY THAT.

BOTH THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND CENTER STACK ARE TIDIED UP, LENDING A CLEANER, MORE PREMIUM LOOK.

AND CHRYSLER'S UCONNECT SYSTEM CLEANS UP INFOTAINMENT DUTIES THROUGH A 5 OR 8.4 INCH TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY.

A NEW AUDI-LIKE GEAR SELECTOR SIGNALS A BADLY NEEDED FUEL ECONOMY BOOST THANKS TO THE SAME ZF-DESIGNED 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION USED BY THE RAM 1500.

WITH THE CARRYOVER 3.6-LITER V6, THE TWO-BY HIGHWAY RATING GOES FROM 23 TO 25 MPG.

THE 5.7-LITER V8 NUDGES UP TOO.

BUT THE OTHER BIG NEWS IS THE RETURN OF A 3.0 LITER V6 TURBO-DIESEL OPTION WITH 30 MPG ECONOMY.

NO OFF-ROAD CAPABILITIES WERE SACRIFICED, AS THE GRAND CHEROKEE REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST OF ITS SIZE.

A NEW SELEC-SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION ALLOWS UP AND DOWN HILL CLIMBING-SPEED SELECTION THROUGH THE PADDLE SHIFTERS.

AVAILABLE IN REAR, ALL-WHEEL, AND TWO-SPEED FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, THERE ARE NOW FOUR TRIM LEVELS WITH A NEW TOP-TIER SUMMIT.

ON SALE THIS SPRING, THE 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE STARTS AROUND $30,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!

PERHAPS YOU'VE DREAMED OF HITTING THE ROAD TO SEE AMERICA IN ALL OF ITS BACK ROADS GLORY.

MAYBE YOU'VE EVEN DREAMED OF DOING ROUTE 66 IN ITS ENTIRETY ALONG THE WAY.

WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SAL SANTORO AND BOB WALTON DID AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY FROM NEW JERSEY TO SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA IN A 1968 CADILLAC.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, THEY TOOK PLENTY OF PICTURES AND NOTES ALONG THEIR WAY ACROSS THE "MOTHER ROAD" SO THEY COULD CHRONICLE THEIR ADVENTURES "IN ROUTE 66: THE PEOPLE - THE PLACES - THE DREAM."

A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO'S EVER THOUGHT OF GETTING THEIR KICKS ON ROUTE 66.

WHEN HYUNDAI INTRODUCED THE EXCITINGLY STYLED VELOSTER LAST YEAR, ITS UNIQUE FOUR-DOOR COUPE DESIGN MADE OTHER COMPACT HATCHBACKS LOOK SUDDENLY BORING.

BUT SADLY, THE VELOSTER'S PERFORMANCE DIDN'T BACK UP ITS SPORTY APPEARANCE.

WELL, HYUNDAI QUICKLY MADE IT THEIR MISSION TO FIND A PROPER SOLUTION; ENTER THE VELOSTER TURBO.

SO LET'S SEE IF ADDING A TURBO CAN BOOST OUR REACTIONS TO HYUNDAI'S HOT LOOKING, LITTLE HATCH!

THE 2013 HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO DOES INDEED GET SOME MUCH NEEDED EXTRA POWER PUMPED INTO ITS GREAT LOOKING SHEET METAL.

COURTESY OF A TWIN-SCROLL TURBOCHARGER MOUNTED ON ITS 1.6-LITER, DIRECT INJECTION GAMMA-4.

HORSEPOWER GETS A NICE BOOST FROM 138 TO 201, AND TORQUE GETS AN EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE INCREASE FROM 132 TO 195 POUND-FEET.

COMPRESSION RATIO DROPS FROM 11.0:1 TO A MORE FORCED INDUCTION-FRIENDLY 9.5:1.

SOUNDS LIKE IT CERTAINLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CURE WHAT AILED IT, SO WE WASTED LITTLE TIME HITTING THE TRACK TO FIND OUT.

OFF THE LINE, THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF WHEEL HOP AS THE FRONT TIRES STRUGGLE FOR TRACTION, BUT EVENTUALLY ENOUGH IS ATTAINED TO GET TO 60 IN 7.8 SECONDS, ALMOST A SECOND QUICKER THAN THE NORMALLY ASPIRATED VELOSTER.

THE QUARTER MILE IS EQUALLY QUICKER AT 16 SECONDS AT 87 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AS BEFORE, BOTH 6-SPEED MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC ARE AVAILABLE; WE CHOSE THE MANUAL AND WE'RE STILL NOT HUGE FANS OF THE SHIFTER, AS YOU NEED TO BE VERY PRECISE WITH IT, BUT GEARS ARE WELL SPACED AND WE LOVE THE MORE AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE THAT COMES WITH THE TURBO.

IT'S STILL NOT SUPER FAST, BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THE BASE VELOSTER, AND JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE IT FINALLY LIVE UP TO ITS LOOKS.

AND SPEAKING OF LOOKS, IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE THE FUNKY STYLING OF THE VELOSTER.

IT TRULY APPEARS "SPECIAL" HAULING DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THE TURBO GETS SOME VERY WELL DONE VISUAL UPGRADES THAT SET IT APART.

BUT NOT SO MUCH SO THAT IT LOOKS SUPER BOY RACERISH.

IT DOES LOOK MORE AGGRESSIVE FROM THE REAR, HOWEVER, WITH THE SCOOPED OUT LOOK ACCENTUATED BY A BODY COLORED, HATCH-TOP SPOILER AND DUAL, ROUND CENTER EXHAUST TIPS.

WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING, THE TURBO VELOSTER EQUATES ITSELF WELL ENOUGH.

WITH NO SUSPENSION CHANGES, YOU STILL CAN'T PUSH IT TOO HARD BEFORE IT STARTS TO PUSH HARD.

BUT A LITTLE FINESSE REWARDS YOU WITH FLAT CORNERING AND MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER TO EXIT WITH A SMILE.

BUT OUR BIGGEST COMPLAINT ON THE BASE VELOSTER WAS THE ABSOLUTE LACK OF STEERING FEEL.

SO THE TURBO ADDS A SLIGHTLY FASTER RATIO AND SPORTIER TUNING TO THE ELECTRIC ASSIST TO INCREASE FEEDBACK AND RESPONSE.

WE HAD NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKING PERFORMANCE BEFORE, NOR DO WE NOW, AS STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 120-FEET.

WE STILL LOVE THE MOTORCYCLE INSPIRED, WELL-EQUIPPED INTERIOR OF THE VELOSTER AND THE TURBO GETS A FEW UPDATES, LIKE LEATHER SEATS WITH TURBO EMBROIDERY, ALLOY PEDALS, AND UNIQUE GAUGES.

HEATED SEATS AND PUSH-BUTTON START ARE STANDARD.

THE ULTIMATE PACKAGE ADDS PANORAMIC SUNROOF, AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, BACK-UP WARNING SENSORS, AND NAVIGATION WITH BACK-UP CAMERA.

EVEN IF YOU CRAWL THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE 3RD DOOR, YOU WON'T FIND ANY MORE ROOM IN THE CRAMPED REAR SEATS.

BUT FOLD THEM AND THE 15.5 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE EXPANDS TO 34.7.

THOUGH YOU'LL HAVE TO LIFT BAGS PRETTY HIGH TO GET THEM THROUGH THE HATCH.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SOME ISSUES WITH HYUNDAI'S FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS.

THEY'VE SINCE BEEN REVISED DOWNWARD ON MANY MODELS, INCLUDING THE VELOSTER.

THE TURBO WITH MANUAL NOW RATES 24-CITY, 35-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED ON REGULAR GAS.

WE AVERAGED A FINE 32.9 MPG IN MIXED DRIVING.

MAKING FOR AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE THAT'S STILL MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE AT 11.8 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH 5.3 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING GETS A BOOST AS WELL, TO $22,725.

THAT'S $4,500 OVER A BASE VELOSTER, BUT IT COMES ALMOST FULLY LOADED, AND IS ONLY ABOUT A GRAND OVER THE VERY WELL-EQUIPPED VELOSTER WE TESTED LAST YEAR.

ADDING BOOST TO THE 2013 VELOSTER MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO BLOW THE TURBO TO THE SHARP END OF THE SPORTY HATCHBACK SEGMENT, BUT HYUNDAI CERTAINLY MADE A FUN LITTLE CAR EVEN MORE SO, GIVING IT THE ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE IT NEEDED TO BACK UP ITS SPORTY MISSION.

SO WE MEAN IT WHEN WE SAY, "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHEN WE'LL PIT THE POTENT AUDI RS5 AGAINST THE TWISTS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

THEN WE'LL GET MPG THRIFTY WITH THE FORD C-MAX ENERGI.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK.

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