2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE & BMW Alpina B7

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

JOIN US AND GO HEAVY ON THE THROTTLE IN THE CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LE.

PAT GOSS ROLLS BY WITH HOW PROPER TIRE PRESSURE SAVES MORE THAN TREAD WEAR.

THE GUYS FROM RETROMOTO CHECK OUT A BROOKLYN BLOCK PARTY LIKE NO OTHER.

AND WE'LL GET A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE IN THE BMW ALPINA B7.

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.

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

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: THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THE CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 WAS A HUGE LEAP IN PERFORMANCE OVER THE CAMARO SS.

SO BIG IN FACT THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN BETWEEN FOR A CAR THAT PICKS UP A LOT OF THE ZL1'S PERFORMANCE, BUT FOR A PRICE THAT'S CLOSER TO A STREET SMART SS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CAMARO SS 1LE IS ALL ABOUT.

SO LET'S HIT SOME HIGH SPEED TURNS AND SEE IF THIS "TWEENER" IS READY TO BE THE "BOSS".

THE BEST THING ABOUT THE CAMARO'S RETURN HAS BEEN WATCHING GM GO TOE TO TOE WITH THE FORD MUSTANG ONCE AGAIN, AND THIS 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LE IS AIMED SQUARELY AT THE BLUE OVAL'S MUSTANG BOSS 302.

TECHNICALLY, THE 1LE IS NOT A NEW CAMARO MODEL, BUT IS A PERFORMANCE PACKAGE THAT CAN BE ADDED TO ANY CAMARO COUPE, AS LONG AS IT'S AN SS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

MOST UPDATES ARE STRICTLY AIMED AT IMPROVING ON TRACK PERFORMANCE, MANY OF THEM STRAIGHT FROM THE ULTIMATE CAMARO, THE ZL1.

IT'S PRIMARILY A HANDLING PACKAGE, AS HORSEPOWER FROM THE SS' 6.2-LITER LS3 V8 REMAINS THE SAME AT 426, AND TORQUE OUTPUT STAYS AT 420 POUND-FEET.

WHAT DOES CHANGE IS A 3.91 REAR END GEARING, CLOSER RATIOS FOR THE TR6060 6-SPEED TRANS, MONOTUBE REAR DAMPERS, LARGER FRONT STABILIZER BAR, A STRUT TOWER BRACE, AND THE ZL1'S 20-INCH WHEELS WEARING GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 SUPERCAR G'S.

THE END RESULT IS SIGNIFICANTLY FLATTER HANDLING, AND ALL OF THAT ADDITIONAL CORNERING GRIP REQUIRED BEEFING UP MOST OF THE OTHER REAR END SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND UPDATING THE FUEL TANK WITH ADDITIONAL PICKUPS, ALL STRAIGHT FROM THE ZL1.

LEST IT GET CONFUSED WITH MORE PEDESTRIAN SS FARE, THE 1LE PACKAGE ALSO COMES WITH SOME EXTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS TO SET IT APART, SORT OF TAKING THE BOSS MUSTANG'S FLAT BLACK APPROACH, WITH THE DARKNESS APPLIED TO THE HOOD, FRONT SPLITTER, AND REAR DECK-LID SPOILER.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THE CAMARO ARRIVED BACK ON THE SCENE AS THE RETRO-MEETS-MODERN DESIGN HAS HELD UP VERY WELL TO OUR EYES.

AND AS BEFORE, THE HERITAGE THEME CONTINUES INSIDE, AS DO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE LESS THAN STELLAR MATERIALS.

BUT THE 1LE PACKAGE WILL GET YOU THE ZL1'S FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL AND SHORT THROW SHIFTER, BOTH COVERED IN SUEDED-MICROFIBER MATERIAL.

SHIFTER FEEL IS MUCH IMPROVED, AND WE REALLY ENJOYED ROWING THROUGH THE GEARS WHETHER BETWEEN CORNERS ON THE TRACK OR DOWN THE STRAIGHT, A QUARTER MILE AT THE TIME.

IT'S A BIT QUICKER OFF THE LINE THAN THE STANDARD SS, THANKS TO THE LOWERED GEAR REAR, AND CAN HIT 60 IN 4.5-SECONDS, AND RUN THE QUARTER IN 12.9-SECONDS AT 110 MPH.

ON THE REST OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY'S HIGH-SPEED ASPHALT, THE 1LE FELT MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ON TURN-IN, PROVIDING AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO ANY STEERING INPUT.

THERE IS STILL SOME ROLL, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO UPSET CHASSIS BALANCE, AND THERE'S SERIOUS POWER FOR COMING OFF CORNERS WITH AWE-INSPIRING SOUND TO ACCOMPANY IT.

STANDARD SS BRAKES ARE BREMBOS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO IMPRESS, THOUGH WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME FADE AFTER THREE LONG DAYS OF ABUSE.

OVERALL, THE 1LE PACKAGE IS NOT A DRAMATIC CHANGE FOR THE CAMARO, BUT A VERY NICE TIGHTENING.

IT STILL DOESN'T HAVE THE LIGHT AND NIMBLE FEEL OF THE BOSS, BUT THE SET-UP IS SPOT ON AND THIS CAMARO JUST HAMMERS ITS WAY THROUGH CORNERS WITHOUT A HINT OF LOSING COMPOSURE.

AND THE AVAILABLE HEAD-UP DISPLAY ALLOWS YOU TO MONITOR YOUR VITALS WITHOUT TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE TRACK OR THE ROAD.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SYSTEM-WIDE CAMARO UPDATES FOR 2013, BUT THEY ARE RELATIVELY MINOR.

THE SS GETS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND AN AVAILABLE DUAL-MODE EXHAUST SYSTEM; HILL START ASSIST IS NOW STANDARD ON ALL MANUAL EQUIPPED CARS.

AND THERE'S ALSO SOME MINOR INTERIOR TRIM CHANGES, AND CHEVROLET'S MYLINK TOUCH SCREEN NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS NOW AVAILABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A MANUAL EQUIPPED SS CAMARO ARE 16-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

WHICH MAKES THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE FITTINGLY FOR A MUSCLE CAR LOW, BURNING UP 17.3-BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WHILE SPITTING 7.9 TONS OF CO2 INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

ADDING THE 1LE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE TACKS JUST $3,500 ONTO THE CAMARO SS' BASE PRICE OF $33,535 FOR A TOTAL OF $37,035, WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO UNDERCUT THE BOSS 302 BY ALMOST SIX GRAND!

BUT THE 1LE DOESN'T GO QUITE AS FAR IN TRANSFORMING THE 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS AS THE BOSS DOES TO THE FORD MUSTANG GT.

IN FACT, IT HASN'T CHANGED ITS PERSONALITY AT ALL, IT STILL FEELS LIKE A CAMARO, JUST A MUCH IMPROVED ONE.

ONE THAT FEELS AND PERFORMS EVEN BETTER ON THE ONE PLACE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE PONY CAR WARS, THE TRACK.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA, AND AN INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVE FUEL EFFORT BY THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THE RIO RICO FIRE DISTRICT.

THE PROBLEM WAS WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER GREASE THAT MIGRATES FROM A NEARBY RIVER INTO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THE SOLUTION WAS A BIODIESEL PROCESSING UNIT THAT TURNS THE GREASE INTO FUEL FOR THEIR FLEET OF FIRE TRUCKS, AMBULANCES, AND WATER TENDER TRUCKS.

THE TUCSON REGIONAL CLEAN CITIES COALITION COORDINATED THE EFFORTS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO MAKE THIS FIRST OF ITS KIND PROJECT POSSIBLE.

THE PURE BIODIESEL IS BLENDED TO B20 AND STORED IN A 500 GALLON TANK.

WITH ALMOST 90% OF THEIR FLEET USING BIODIESEL, THE RIO RICO FIRE DISTRICT IS SAVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR.

Mark Gerbert: I THINK WE FIGURED OUT, SOMEWHERE IT'S COSTING BETWEEN $8K AND $10K A YEAR, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL STEP FOR US.

John: AS RIO RICO IS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM MEXICO, A SIMILAR BIODIESEL UNIT HAS BEEN SETUP BY FIREFIGHTERS THERE, IN A BINATIONAL EFFORT TO TURN WASTE INTO RENEWABLE GREEN FUEL FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.

MOST OF OUR REVIEWS HERE AT MOTORWEEK ARE OF THE FOUR-WHEELED VARIETY.

IT'S JUST THE WAY WE LIKE TO PARTY AROUND HERE.

BUT OUR FRIENDS AT RETROMOTO HAVE FOUND A GROUP OF GEARHEADS IN BROOKLYN THAT LIKE TO CELEBRATE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY... Matt Smith: WE'RE IN NEW YORK CITY TODAY TO CHECK OUT A CLASSIC BIKE BLOCK PARTY IN GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN.

I GOTTA TELL YA, I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS ONE.

IT BRINGS OUT SUCH AN ARRAY OF PEOPLE, BIKES, TRICKED OUT BOBBERS.

YOU NAME IT, IT'S HERE.

SO COME ON, FOLLOW ME, WE'RE GONNA GO GET RIGHT IN THE MIX OF THINGS.

SO I'M SITTING HERE WITH ERIK GREEN WHO'S ONE OF THE COORDINATORS FOR THE EVENT.

HOW'D THIS WHOLE THING COME ABOUT?

Erik Green: MY FRIEND, TAKA, FROM PEAK-POINT CYCLES IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, HE HAD THIS IDEA TO DO A LITTLE BACKYARD MOTORCYCLE SHOW.

Matt: OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT IN THE BACKYARD ANYMORE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TURNING OUT.

Erik: RIGHT.

Matt: THIS IS A BIG DEAL NOW.

Erik: THIS IS PROBABLY OUR BEST EVENT.

Matt: I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY FOR A WHILE AND I HAD NOWHERE TO KEEP A BIKE.

I MEAN...[ LAUGHS ] Erik: THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS THERE'S BEEN AN EXPLOSION OF, LIKE, LITTLE SHOPS THAT OPENED UP, AND STORAGE FACILITIES, SO THAT IT'S A LOT MORE MOTORCYCLE FRIENDLY.

Matt: WELL, YOU CAN'T EXACTLY PARK THIS ON THE STREET.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KEEP IT IN YOUR SHOP, BUT... Erik: RIGHT.

Matt: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SITTING ON.

THIS IS A SIDECAR RACING MOTORCYCLE.

Erik: 1971 BMW BASED MOTORCYCLE SIDECAR RACER.

Matt: DO YOU GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY?

DO YOU JUST GET IT OUT WHEN YOU CAN?

Erik: WE'VE DONE ABOUT FIVE RACES THIS YEAR ALREADY.

WE WENT UP TO CANADA LAST WEEK.

WE WENT TO MID-OHIO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

Matt: HOW'D YOU DO?

Erik: WE'RE SECOND BEHIND DOUG, WHO'S ACTUALLY AT THE EVENT HERE.

Matt: OKAY.

Erik: HE'S ULTRA FAST.

Matt: [ LAUGHS ] Erik: AND, UMM, SO WE GOT SECOND, HE GOT FIRST, BUT WE GOT THE LAP RECORD.

Matt: THAT'S AWESOME.

HEY LISTEN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING SOME TIME OUT... Erik: SURE.

Matt: ...TO TALK TO US TODAY.

HAD A GREAT TIME.

Erik: ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MATT.

Matt: GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA GO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME MORE BIKES.

Erik: OKAY.

GREAT.

Matt: SO, I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.

Erik: OKAY.

SEE YOU, MATT.

Matt: THANK YOU.

NOW IN ITS 10 YEAR, THE GREENPOINT BLOCK PARTY HAS REALLY COME INTO ITS OWN WITH CHARACTERS FROM ALL OVER, AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF INSPIRATION HERE.

I JUST RAN INTO LEON, FROM CYCLE ICONS, AND HIS ROYAL ENFIELD BADGER.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS ON THE INTERNET.

IT'S BEEN GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF BUZZ.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

Leon Stanley: I'VE ALWAYS KINDA DESCRIBED THIS AS, NOT JUST A STREET BIKE, BUT WE RIDE IT TO THE RACES.

WE RACE IT.

SO IT'S GOT A LOT OF DIMENSIONS TO IT.

Matt: JUST LIKE THEY DID IN THE OLD DAYS, THAT'S VERY COOL.

HOW MANY RACES HAVE YOU HAD THIS THING ON?

Leon: ONE.

Matt: ONE?

Leon: AH, WE... Matt: HOW'D YOU DO?

Leon: WE FINISHED.

Matt: YOU FINISHED.

[LAUGHS] Leon: WE FINISHED.

WHICH NOT TO DAMN WITH FAINT PRAISE; THE BIKE GOT FINISHED ON A THURSDAY, WE RODE IT TO OHIO ON A FRIDAY, GOT THERE SATURDAY, RACED SUNDAY.

WE HAD ZERO DEVELOPMENT ON THE BIKE.

NOT THE PERFECT WAY TO DO IT, BUT THE FACT THAT WE DID IT, FINISHED BOTH OUR RACES, I WAS VERY PROUD.

SO I'LL COUNT THAT AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Matt: YEAH.

WELL, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THIS BIKE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO US TODAY.

Leon: MY PLEASURE.

Matt: PLEASURE.

Leon: ABSOLUTELY.

Matt: TAKE CARE.

Leon: THANKS SO MUCH.

Matt: OFFICIALLY CALLED THE NEW YORK VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE SHOW, IT'S A GREAT DAY OF CAMARADERIE FOR PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST ONE THING IN COMMON...CLASSIC BIKES.

CHECK IT OUT IF YOU GET A CHANCE.

THIS AUGUST, SUNDAY THE 25TH, IN GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN.

CAN I?

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

PAT GOSS IS ALL PUMPED WITH A FEW TIRE CARE TIPS, SO LET'S ROLL ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

PAT GOSS: TIRES AREN'T ALWAYS BLACK AND ROUND.

THIS ONE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION, OR SHIMMY, OR SHAKE.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE DESCRIBE THESE SENSATIONS DIFFERENTLY.

BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS THAT THE TIRE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WAS ALMOST HOPPING UP AND DOWN OFF THE GROUND.

WELL, COME TO FIND OUT, IT WAS NOT A BAD SHOCK ABSORBER, IT WAS NOT AN OUT OF BALANCE TIRE, IT WAS A TIRE WITH A SLIPPED OR BROKEN BELT, AS WE CAN SEE BY THIS GREAT BIG BULGE.

NOW, THE LESSON HERE IS, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET A SHAKE OR A VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE VEHICLE, OR AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CAR TENDS TO KIND OF ROCK BACK AND FORTH, ALWAYS CHECK THE TIRES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ROUND.

THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON.

ALL RIGHT, ANOTHER THING, YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE, YOU FIND THAT SOMETHING HAS PUNCTURED THE TIRE, THE AIR HAS LEAKED OUT.

DON'T DO WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE DO: THEY TAKE A PLUG, THEY SHOVE IT THROUGH TIRE, THEY PUT AIR IN IT AND GO MERRILY ALONG THEIR WAY.

THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?

WELL, IF YOU JUST PUT A PLUG THROUGH IT, IT SEALS THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT IT DOESN'T SEAL BOTH, AND YOU HAVE TO SEAL BOTH.

YOU SEE, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST KEEPING THE AIR IN THE TIRE.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP WATER FROM ENTERING THE TREAD AROUND THE HOLE BECAUSE IT'LL GET IT AROUND THE STEEL BELTS AND RUST THE BELTS.

YOU HAVE TO SEAL THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SO THAT AIR DOESN'T MIGRATE IN BETWEEN THE PLIES OF RUBBER AND FABRIC IN THE TIRE.

SO THAT MEANS A PLAIN OLD PLUG?

NO.

A PLAIN PATCH INSIDE?

NO.

A PATCH/PLUG, WHICH GOES FROM THE INSIDE AND HAS A PLUG ATTACHED TO IT, THAT'S FINE.

OR A PLUG COMBINED WITH AN INTERNAL SEALANT DOES A GOOD JOB.

THE BIG THING IS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEAL THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, EVERY TIME YOU DO ONE OF THOSE PROPER REPAIRS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE TIRE OFF OF THE WHEEL.

AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART.

YOU SHOULD NEVER, EVER DRIVE ON A TIRE THAT HAS BEEN RUN, EVEN A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, UNDER INFLATED, WITHOUT REMOVING IT AND INSPECTING THE INSIDE OF IT.

NOW, THIS TIRE DOWN HERE, WE CAN SEE THAT IT LOOKS PRETTY WRINKLY AND SO ON, BUT ON A WHEEL, WITH AIR IN IT, IT WOULD LOOK NORMAL.

YET IF WE HADN'T TAKEN THAT TIRE OFF OF THE WHEEL, IF WE HAD JUST PLUGGED IT AND PUT AIR IN IT, WELL, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THIS.

THIS IS RUBBER, THIS WHOLE JAR FULL OF GROUND UP RUBBER FROM THE INSIDE OF THAT TIRE.

HAD WE JUST DONE THE OLD PLUG ROUTINE, WELL, PROBABLY OUT ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE COME APART AND WOUND UP LOOKING LIKE THIS TIRE.

VERY DANGEROUS.

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

TIME NOW TO GRAB SOME CAR KEYS.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE THINK OF THE AUTO WORLD'S LATEST.

IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE LOGGED SOME QUALITY SEAT TIME WITH A LEXUS IS.

LONG THE SPORTIEST LEXUS SEDAN, THE IS HAS AT TIMES WOWED US AND DISAPPOINTED US.

WHILE IT HAS MANAGED TO BRING IN SOME YOUNGER BUYERS, IT REMAINS A BIT OF A BLACK SHEEP TO TRADITIONAL LEXUS CLIENTELE.

SOMETHING THE ALL-NEW 2014 EDITION HOPES TO CORRECT.

IT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE AN UP-TO-DATE LEXUS, BORROWING THE SPINDLE GRILLE AND MUCH OF THE SHARPER EXTERIOR TREATMENT OF THE LARGER GS.

THAT INCLUDES LED FRONT ACCENTS AND ANGULAR BODYLINES THAT SWEEP ACROSS THE NEW, LENGTHENED CHASSIS.

F-SPORT TRIM BRINGS THE USUAL TOUCH UPS, INCLUDING UNIQUE REAR CLADDING, FRONT FASCIA, AND AN EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE GRILLE INSERT.

INTERIOR LAYOUT ALSO FOLLOWS IN STEP WITH THE GS, ALTHOUGH EVER SPORTIER, WITH A MODERN, YET SIMPLISTIC CONTROL SCHEME, PLUS NEARLY UNMATCHED LEXUS COMFORT.

ONCE DEFICIENT REAR SEAT KNEE-ROOM GROWS NEARLY THREE INCHES.

AGAIN, THE F-SPORT ADDS UPGRADES LIKE BADGING, ALUMINUM PEDALS, AND A DRIVER-FOCUSED DIGITAL GAUGE CLUSTER BORROWED FROM THE LFA.

ENGINES ARE CARRYOVERS FROM THE CURRENT-GEN IS; 2.5 AND 3.5 LITER V6'S MAKING 204 AND 306 HORSEPOWER.

SO WHILE POWER FEELS SIMILAR, BOTH A REVISED STEERING GEAR AND FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION SETUPS MAKE FAR BETTER USE OF IT.

AND WHILE THE IS COMES ALIVE ON THE TRACK, IT'S NO SLEEPER ON THE STREET, ALL WITHOUT THE HARSH RIDE OF THE HOT-ROD IS-F. WITH AN EAGER RIGHT FOOT, EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS THE IS IS READY TO PLAY.

BACK-OFF THE THROTTLE AND YOU'LL CRUISE WITH LEXUS-LIKE REFINEMENT.

STARTING AROUND $36,000, THE 2014 LEXUS IS ARRIVES BEFORE SUMMER.

DURING ITS SHORT RUN, THE HYUNDAI VERACRUZ HINTED AT THE BRAND'S TAKE ON A SEVEN PASSENGER LUXO-CRUISING CROSSOVER.

BUT ULTIMATELY IT NEVER CAUGHT ON.

AND SO TAKING UP THAT MANTLE IS HYUNDAI'S FAR MORE SUCCESSFUL SANTA FE NAMEPLATE, AND THIS SEVEN PASSENGER CROSSOVER LOOKS TO BE A REAL CONTENDER.

STYLING IS RECOGNIZABLE, TAKING CUES FROM BOTH THE SMOOTH VERACRUZ AND THE MORE AGGRESSIVE 5-SEAT SANTA FE SPORT INTRODUCED LATE LAST YEAR.

COMPARED TO THE SPORT, WHEELBASE GROWS ALMOST 4 INCHES AND LENGTH BY 8.5.

POWER COMES FROM A DIRECT INJECTED 3.3 LITER V6 DRAWN FROM THE AZERA.

HORSEPOWER HERE IS 290; SO BY NO MEANS IS IT A POWERHOUSE, BUT UP 30 OVER THE VERACRUZ.

ACCELERATION IS SPIRITED FOR ITS SIZE, THOUGH YOU FEEL THE EXTRA WEIGHT MOST WHEN BRAKING.

WHILE THE SHEET METAL IS NOT UNATTRACTIVE, THE NEW SANTA FE IS FAR MORE FOCUSED ON INNER-BEAUTY.

AND WE FOUND OUR TIME INSIDE VERY WELL SPENT.

OPTIONAL LEATHER SEATS, HEATED STEERING WHEEL AND SECOND ROW, AND AN 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN WITH NAVIGATION ARE AVAILABLE.

THE ADDITIONAL ROOM CAN BE CONFIGURED TO YOUR LIKING.

STANDARD IS A 40/20/40 SECOND ROW BENCH, WITH SLIDING 60/40 BENCH AVAILABLE.

LIMITED TRIM ADDS SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, BRINGING OCCUPANCY DOWN TO 6, BUT COMFORT WAY UP.

A FOLD-AWAY 50/50 SPLIT THIRD ROW IS STANDARD ON BOTH TRIMS.

LEGROOM IS AMPLE, AS IS A MAXIMUM OF 80 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE.

THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTS JUST OVER $28,000, $33,000 FOR THE LIMITED.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS $1,750 MORE.

AND IT'S AVAILABLE NOW.

WE'LL FIRE UP MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!

THERE ARE HIGH PERFORMANCE LUXURY SEDANS, AND THEN THERE ARE HIGH PERFORMANCE LUXURY SEDANS.

AND THIS BMW ALPINA B7 IS CLEARLY ON A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL THAN MOST.

THIS EXPERTLY MASSAGED 7 SERIES IS STRICTLY FOR THE DISCERNING BUYER WHO ACCEPTS NO COMPROMISES WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE OR LUXURY.

SOUNDS LIKE JUST THE KIND OF RIDE WE ENJOY HERE AT MOTORWEEK , AND WE HOPE YOU WILL, TOO!

HOW CAN YOU NOT ENJOY THIS 540-HORSEPOWER, 4,800 POUND PIECE OF RARIFIED ROLLING EXCESS THAT IS THE 2013 BMW ALPINA B7?

HIGH LUXURY AND HIGH SPEEDS ARE WHAT WE LIVE FOR HERE AT MOTORWEEK , SO WE WASTED LITTLE TIME IN GETTING TO THE TRACK TO SEE WHAT THE B7 IS CAPABLE OF.

WELL, IF YOU CAN FIND SOME TRACTION, THE B7 WANTS TO JUMP OFF THE LINE IN A REAL HURRY.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR TEST TRACK WAS A LITTLE COLD AND VERY DAMP, SO HOOKING UP WAS AN ISSUE.

BUT DO SO AND THE B7 REWARDS YOU WITH A FOUR-SECOND FLAT RACE FROM 0 TO 60.

THE B7 REALLY FLIES, YET FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SENSE OF SPEED IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT.

MORE LIKE TOOLING AROUND AT A PLEASANT BUT NOT INSANE PACE, THEN YOU HIT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN ONLY 12.5 SECONDS AT 114 MILES-PER-HOUR.

WHICH IS CAUSE FOR A DEEP BREATH, AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALPINA.

STARTED AS A BMW-FOCUSED TUNING OPERATION IN THE '60s, OVER THE YEARS, THE BAVARIAN COMPANY HAS GOTTEN MORE INVOLVED WITH THE BMW FACTORY.

IT NOW MAKES A WIDE VARIETY OF RE-IMAGINED BMW MODELS THAT HAVE MOSTLY BEEN AVAILABLE IN EUROPE.

THE B7 IS THE ONLY CURRENT MODEL TO OFFICIALLY COME STATESIDE.

THE ENGINE IS BASED ON BMW'S 4.4-LITER, TWIN-TURBO V8.

HORSEPOWER IS UP ALMOST 100 OVER THE STANDARD 750I, HOWEVER, TO 540, MOSTLY DUE TO BIGGER TURBOS AND ADDITIONAL COOLING.

TORQUE TAKES A HUGE LEAP AS WELL, FROM 480 TO 538 LB-FT.

IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF MOTOR AND IT SOUNDS FABULOUS THROUGH A LEGENDARY ALPINA EXHAUST.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REQUIRED SOME BEEFING UP, AND ALPINA ALSO ADDS THEIR SHIFT BUTTONS TO THE CUSTOM STEERING WHEEL FOR MANAGING IT.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, ALPINA ALSO WORKED THEIR MAGIC ON THE 7'S CHASSIS, INCLUDING A LOWERED RIDE HEIGHT AND CUSTOM TUNING FOR DYNAMIC DAMPING CONTROL AND ACTIVE ROLL STABILIZATION.

THE RESULT IS A BEEFY CAR THAT'S DOWNRIGHT SNAPPY ON TURN-INS, WITH A DIRECTNESS THAT WILL SURPRISE EVEN SEASONED BMW DRIVERS.

THE B7 IS AVAILABLE IN BOTH REGULAR AND LONG-WHEEL BASE MODELS, IN REAR OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WITH OUR LWB REAR-DRIVER TAKING UP OVER 17-FEET OF TARMAC.

EXTERIOR CHANGES ARE SUBTLE; MOSTLY TO THE FRONT END FOR AIR MANAGEMENT PURPOSES, FOR BOTH ADDITIONAL DOWN-FORCE AND BETTER COOLING FLOW, BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO MISS THE UNIQUE ALPINA BLUE PAINT JOB AND THEIR CLASSIC LOOK 21-INCH WHEELS.

THIS IS ONE CAR THAT CAN HANDLE ANYTHING.

THE RIDE IS ULTRA-COMPOSED, AND IT'S A DOWNRIGHT DOCILE DRIVE UNTIL THE B7 IS CALLED UPON TO EXCEL.

AS QUIET AND COMFORTABLE AS A LIBRARY AFTER-HOURS, THERE IS TRULY NO COMPROMISE ON LUXURY WITH OUTSTANDING MATERIAL QUALITY.

BUT WHILE YOU'RE BASKING IN ALL THE SERENITY, YOU'RE STILL STUCK WITH IDRIVE.

OVERALL THOUGH, THE CONTROL LAYOUT IS SIMPLER THAN THE M5.

THE REAR SEAT CONTINUES THE OPULENCE.

SEATS ARE HEATED, OF COURSE, WITH CONTROLS TO TAILOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND NOW FOR THE PRICE... HOW'S $132,395 FIT INTO YOUR BUDGET?

NOT QUITE?

WELL, IF YOU DON'T NEED THE REAR SEAT SPACE YOU CAN SAVE A FEW BUCKS WITH THE STANDARD WHEELBASE MODEL, WHICH STARTS AT "ONLY" $128,495.

BOTTOM LINE, ALPINA HAS MADE AN ALREADY EXCEPTIONAL CAR EVEN MORE SO, AND DONE SO WITHOUT DETRACTING FROM IT IN ANY WAY.

WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT IN A CAR?

AND SINCE BMW HAS NO PLANS OF OFFERING AN M7, THE 2013 BMW ALPINA B7 IS THE SMARTEST AND BEST OPTION FOR AN ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE 7-SERIES.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE FIND OUT IF AWD HURTS OR HELPS THE LATEST PORSCHE 911?

AND IF HYBRID POWER CAN BOOST OUR VIEW OF THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA?

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... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

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