2013 Mini Paceman & 2013 SRT Viper

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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE MINI PACEMAN CAN SET THE PACE FOR SMALL CROSSOVER UTILITIES.

PAT GOSS COOLS THINGS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

MOTORWEEK'S ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE HAS US ROAD TRIPPIN' TO VEGAS.

AND AT SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, WE TEST THE VENOM OF THE SRT VIPER.

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 YOUR MOTHER.

Announcer: TIRE RACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRE RACK.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 3M PAINT DEFENDER SYSTEM.

HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.

DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.

John: SINCE MINI'S RETURN TO THE U.S. MARKET FOR 2002, THEY'VE BEEN ON A STEADY MISSION TO INFILTRATE JUST ABOUT EVERY SEGMENT OF THE MOTORING WORLD WITH CARS BASED ON THE COOPER.

NOW IN ITS SECOND GENERATION, 2011 SAW THEIR ENTRY INTO THE 5-DOOR CROSSOVER RANKS WITH THE COUNTRYMAN.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST MINI YET.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO LOVED THE CONCEPT, BUT THOUGHT THE COUNTRYMAN TOO BULKY LOOKING, COMES YET ANOTHER NEW MODEL, THE MINI COOPER PACEMAN.

WE COULD SUM UP OUR ROAD TEST OF THIS 2013 MINI COOPER S PACEMAN BY JUST SAYING IT'S A 2-DOOR VERSION OF THE COUNTRYMAN AND BE DONE WITH IT.

BUT YOU TUNED IN TO SEE MORE THAN THAT, AND THE TRUTH BE TOLD, THE PACEMAN IS INDEED MORE THAN THAT.

FIRST OFF, THE STANCE IS MUCH LOWER, AS ITS SUSPENSION IS POSITIONED MORE FOR SPORTY ON ROAD PROWESS THAN OFF ROAD HIJINKS.

THINK OF IT AS A CROSSOVER COUPE DESIGNED FOR A STREET SMART ENVIRONMENT.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT SHARE'S THE COUNTRYMAN'S "SO UGLY IT'S CUTE" BULLDOG STYLE; TO US IT'S A BETTER, AND YES, SPORTIER LOOKING EFFORT.

THE ROOF SLOPES DOWNWARD A BIT MORE AS IT REACHES THE REAR HATCH, WHERE THE BACK END BREAKS FROM MINI TRADITION BY FEATURING TAIL LIGHTS THAT ARE MORE HORIZONTAL THAN VERTICAL, AND BY ADDING LARGE PACEMAN SCRIPT.

INSIDE, IT ALSO CONTINUES MINI'S WILLY WONKA-LIKE DESIGN THEME WITH THE BRAND'S CLASSIC, OVERSIZED SPEEDOMETER CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE DASH.

IN ITS CENTER IS THE OPTIONAL NAVIGATION SCREEN, WITH INPUTS MADE ON A SMALL CONSOLE MOUNTED JOYSTICK.

UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY GET IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE PACEMAN, YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THAT THERE IS TRUE ROOM FOR 4 ADULTS, THANKS TO MINI'S MIRACLE OF PACKAGING.

MORE LEGROOM IN BACK WOULD BE NICE, BUT WE FOUND ALL SEATS TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE.

BEHIND THE REAR HATCH, LUGGAGE CAPACITY IS A DECENT 11.6 CUBIC-FEET, WHICH EXPANDS TO 38.1 WITH REAR SEATS FOLDED.

NO MATTER THE MODEL, MINI'S HAVE ALWAYS FELT BEST BLASTING AROUND BACK ROADS.

SO TOO THE PACEMAN.

BUT SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT.

LIKE THE COUNTRYMAN, IT HAS LOST SOME OF THE DAILY-DRIVE NIMBLENESS THE BRAND IS KNOWN FOR.

MAYBE IT'S THE LARGER SIZE AND WEIGHT, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL AS GOOD AS WE THINK A MINI SHOULD.

OUR DRIVER'S ALSO WERE NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE 6-SPEED STEPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FINDING IT A BIT HERKY-JERKY IN TRAFFIC, MAKING THE OVERALL FEEL OF THIS CAR THE LEAST SPORTING OF ANY MINI WE'VE DRIVEN SO FAR.

PLATFORMING WITH THE COUNTRYMAN MEANS THAT ALL4 ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO STEP UP TO OUR COOPER S FOR THAT.

IT WORKS SEAMLESSLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH STANDARD STABILITY CONTROL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GRIP WHENEVER NEEDED.

POWER COMES FROM A 1.6-LITER I4, WHICH IN OUR COOPER S HAS DIRECT-INJECTION AND TWIN-SCROLL TURBO CHARGING TO INCREASE OUTPUT TO 181-HORSEPOWER AND 177 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

DIP INTO THE TEMPORARY OVER-BOOST FUNCTION AND YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO 192 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND WE USED EVERY AVAILABLE AMOUNT OF BOOST AT OUR TRACK, BUT FELT THE PACEMAN A BIT OFF THE PACE, WITH A LESS THAN EXHILARATING LAUNCH AND A POKEY IF STEADY PROGRESSION TO 60 IN 7.7-SECONDS.

THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST ARE FAIRLY QUIET FOR A SPORTY CAR, AND THE AUTOMATIC DELIVERED FAIRLY FAST SHIFTS ON OUR WAY TO A QUARTER MILE TIME OF 16.0-SECONDS AT 87 MILES-PER-HOUR.

ALL OF OUR STAFF, HOWEVER, WOULD MUCH PREFER THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

WHILE HANDLING WAS UNINSPIRING ON BACK ROADS, AT THE TRACK, THE PACEMAN CAME ALIVE WITH CONE RIPPING, SUPER AGGRESSIVE TURN-INS, TREMENDOUS GRIP, AND PLENTY OF POISE.

THE SLIGHTEST OF STEERING INPUTS NETTED BIG RESULTS, AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO FLEXING IN THE CHASSIS.

BRAKES ARE ALSO KILLER, HALTING THE PACEMAN'S PACE IN AN AVERAGE OF 109-FEET FROM 60 MILES-PER-HOUR.

SO, THE PACEMAN IS REALLY A TRUE MINI COOPER AFTER ALL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR COOPER S PACEMAN WITH AUTOMATIC AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ARE 23-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 28.5 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM IN MIXED DRIVING.

IT MAY COME WITH TWO FEWER DOORS THAN THE COUNTRYMAN, BUT PRICING IS ACTUALLY HIGHER; AS THE BASE COOPER PACEMAN STARTS AT $23,995.

A COOPER S ALL4 RINGS IN $29,295.

WHILE IT MAY BE EASY TO LABEL THE 2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN AS JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF THE MINI COOPER AND YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CRAM A MINI INTO EVERY POSSIBLE AUTOMOTIVE NICHE; THE PACEMAN DOES HAVE A VIBE ALL ITS OWN, WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THOSE THAT LOVE THE STYLE OF THE MINI COUPE, BUT NEED A LITTLE MORE VERSATILITY.

SO INSTEAD OF MINI FINDING THEIR WAY INTO ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE CATEGORY, THIS SMALL 3-DOOR CROSSOVER MIGHT BE CREATING A NEW ONE ALL ITS OWN.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, AND THE HAPPY CAB TAXI COMPANY.

WORKING WITH THE METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT, HAPPY CAB HAS JUST COMPLETED BUILDING PUBLIC ACCESS COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS PUMPS AT THEIR I80'S FUEL STATION.

FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH THE KANSAS CITY REGIONAL CLEAN CITIES COALITION HELPED TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES 50 TAXIS THAT ARE BEING CONVERTED TO CNG.

IT'S HOPED THAT PRIVATE FLEETS WILL SPUR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST ALT-FUEL CORRIDOR IN NEBRASKA.

HAPPY CAB EXPECTS TO CONVERT MORE OF THEIR 200-PLUS CAB FLEET IN THE FUTURE.

John Davis: WE THOUGHT IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS PROJECT HERE IN OMAHA.

John: OPERATORS WILL SAVE ABOUT $210 A WEEK IN FUEL COSTS PER CAB.

THAT SHOULD PAY-BACK THE CNG CONVERSION COSTS WITHIN A YEAR.

A HAPPY OUTCOME FOR A NEBRASKA CAB COMPANY DOING ITS PART TO DRIVE GREEN.

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 .

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

AS THEIR MOST POPULAR MODEL, THE ACURA MDX IS KEY TO CONTINUING THE BRAND'S SALES REVIVAL.

SO, THIS NEW THIRD GEN MDX HAS TO CONNECT WITH BOTH THE ACURA FAITHFUL AS WELL AS POTENTIAL CONQUEST BUYERS.

TO THAT END, ACURA IS PACKING MORE LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY THAN EVER INTO THE 2014 MDX, WHILE RETAINING MORE OF A FOCUS ON SPORTY DRIVING THAN ANY OTHER ASIAN RIVAL.

STYLING IS FAMILIAR; HANDSOME, IF A LITTLE STAID.

THE BIG SHIELD GRILLE IS STILL WITH US, IF TONED DOWN A LITTLE.

WITH STYLISH ENTRIES LIKES THE INFINITI JX, WE THINK THE MDX STILL NEEDS A LITTLE MORE FLARE.

DIMENSIONS HAVE CHANGED, THOUGH, WITH A LONGER WHEELBASE AND LENGTH, AND A LITTLE TUCK IN TRACK WIDTH.

LEGROOM GETS A NICE BOOST UP FRONT AND IN THE SECOND ROW.

A NEW EASY ACCESS MODE ALLOWS FOR EFFORTLESS THIRD ROW ENTRY AND EXIT.

HONDA'S TWO-TIER INFOTAINMENT SETUP JOINS THE MDX.

CONTROL SCHEME HAS BEEN VASTLY SIMPLIFIED, WITH MOST CONTROLS THROUGH A LOWER TOUCH SCREEN AND LARGE CENTRAL KNOB.

A V6 REMAINS AS THE LONE POWERTRAIN, THOUGH IT'S NOW HONDA'S UPDATED 3.5 LITER I-VTEC FROM THE ACCORD.

ITS 290 HORSEPOWER IS DOWN FROM LAST YEAR.

BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING SINCE POWER COMES ON STRONG WITH QUICK THROTTLE RESPONSE IN SPORT MODE.

THE LIGHTER CHASSIS, REVISED SUSPENSION, AND RETUNED STEERING GEAR MAKE THIS MDX ACURA'S SPORTIEST EVER.

THE ADDITION OF A FIRST TIME FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE MODEL ALSO BUMPS UP FUEL ECONOMY.

LUXURY AND CONVENIENCE DO STILL RUN THE SHOW AS EXPECTED.

THICKER GLASS, INSULATED PILLARS, AND ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL BRING A ZEN-LIKE QUIET TO THE CABIN.

STARTING AROUND $43,000 IN FRONT DRIVE, AND $45,000 FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THE 2014 ACURA MDX GOES ON SALE IN JULY.

GENERAL MOTORS PRETTY MUCH POISONED THE AMERICAN APPETITE FOR DIESEL CARS BACK IN THE EARLY 1980s, LEAVING IT TO THE EUROPEANS TO MAKE THEM POPULAR FOR THEIR FUEL EFFICIENCY.

SO IT'S INTRIGUING THAT IT'S CHEVROLET GIVING DIESEL CARS ANOTHER DOMESTIC GO WITH THEIR 2014 CRUZE CLEAN TURBO DIESEL.

THE U.S.

ASSEMBLED COMPACT SEDAN FOLLOWS THE GASOLINE POWERED CRUZE ECO'S EXAMPLE WITH EXTRA AERO TREATMENTS, ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS, AND UNIQUE THROTTLE MAPPING.

SOURCED FROM GM EUROPE, THE 2.0 LITER TURBO DIESEL FOUR GETS SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES FOR USE IN OUR CRUZE, INCLUDING UREA INJECTION, HELPING IT TO 151 HORSEPOWER, 264 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND 46 MPG HIGHWAY; ALL BESTING THE SEGMENT LEADING VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI.

Patrick Lucas: THE DIESEL DEFINITELY BRINGS A LITTLE FUN WITH ITS FUEL EFFICIENCY.

THE LOW END TORQUE IS NICE FOR PASSING AND CRUISING AROUND BACK ROADS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE AS REFINED OR SPORTY AS THE JETTA TDI, BUT IT DOES HAVE AMERICAN MADE VALUE AND DEPENDABILITY John: COMPLETE WITH A LONGER 5 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, THE CRUZE DIESEL GOES ON SALE THIS SUMMER, BEGINNING AROUND $25,500.

THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS, WHILE OFTEN USED TO CHAUFFEUR DIPLOMATS, HAS NEVER BEEN QUITE SO DIPLOMATIC WHEN IT CAME TO RIVALS, TROUNCING THEM TO BECOME PERHAPS THE MOST UBIQUITOUS LARGE LUXURY SEDAN TODAY.

AND FOR 2014, THAT LOOKS TO BE MORE THE CASE.

THE ALWAYS SLEEK BODYWORK HAS BEEN REFRESHED, MUCH LIKE THE NEW E-CLASS, THOUGH HERE A MORE CONSERVATIVE GRILLE REMAINS.

POWERTRAINS ARE CARRYOVER, AS 2014 IS ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND COMFORT.

IT IS THE FIRST CAR ENTIRELY LIT BY LEDS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT.

A NEW ROAD SURFACE SCAN SYSTEM CAN SENSE ROAD IMPERFECTIONS AHEAD OF TIME AND PREP THE SUSPENSION FOR MINIMAL IMPACTS.

MEANWHILE, DISTRONIC STEERING PLUS ACTUALLY ALTERS STEERING TO KEEPS THE CAR IN ITS LANE.

INSIDE, THERE'S LEGENDARY COMFORT, INCLUDING A HOT-STONE INSPIRED HEATED MASSAGE FUNCTION AND AN ACTIVE PERFUMING SYSTEM.

IT IS THE MOST HIGH-TECH LUXURY CAR YET.

ON SALE LATER THIS YEAR, S-CLASS PRICING STARTS AROUND $95,000.

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

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.

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.

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!

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL SEE IF ADDING A DIESEL TO THE GRAND CHEROKEE PUTS JEEP OVER THE TOP.

THEN WE LOCK HORNS WITH THE INTIMIDATING LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTORWEEK , LEVISION'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.

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 3M PAINT DEFENDER SYSTEM.

HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.

DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.