2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee & 2012 Lamborghini Aventador

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

JOIN US AS WE SEE IF ADDING AN 8-SPEED AND A DIESEL TO THE GRAND CHEROKEE PUTS JEEP OVER THE TOP... PAT GOSS HAULS UP SOUND ADVICE IN GOSS' GARAGE... TWO WHEELIN'S BRIAN ROBINSON COVERS NEW GROUND IN THE TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER... AND WE'LL TRY TO STAY ON THE GROUND IN THE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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John Davis: WE ARE DEFINITELY FANS OF THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.

ONE READ THROUGH THE UPDATES OF OUR 2011 LONG-TERMER WILL FULLY BEAR THAT OUT.

AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE, AS IT STILL LOOKS AND FEELS NEW TO US.

NEVER THE LESS, THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE GETS AN UPDATE FOR 2014, AND IT'S A SURPRISINGLY THOROUGH ONE.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S STILL PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT.

THE BIGGEST NEWS FOR THE 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS THE RETURN OF A DIESEL ENGINE OPTION.

THIS ITALIAN-BUILT 3.0-LITER TURBOCHARGED ECODIESEL V6 IS A DIRECT RESULT OF JEEP NOW BEING IN THE FIAT FAMILY.

WITH UREA INJECTION THAT NEEDS TOPPING OFF AT 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS, OUTPUT IS 240-HORSEPOWER AND 420 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE TURBO-DIESEL BOOSTS FUEL ECONOMY TO 22-CITY AND 30-HIGHWAY FOR A 2X4.

21/28 FOR A 4X4.

THAT'S A 24% GAIN OVER THE GRAND CHEROKEE'S STANDARD GAS V6.

RANGE SHOULD TOP 700 MILES, BUT TOWING CAPABILITIES MATCH THE GC'S GAS V8 OPTION AT 7,400 POUNDS.

ALL GRAND CHEROKEES SPORT A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE SAME ZF-DESIGNED BOX USED IN THE RAM 1500.

IT BOOSTS THE JEEP'S STANDARD GAS V6 FUEL ECONOMY FROM 23 HIGHWAY TO 25.

NOW, IF YOU OPT FOR THE TURBO-DIESEL, YOU WILL HEAR SOME OLD SCHOOL DIESEL CLATTER AT STARTUP.

BUT ONCE MOVING, THINGS QUIET DOWN NICELY AND YOU SETTLE INTO A SMOOTH AND STEADY DRIVE.

THERE'S HEAPS OF DIESEL TORQUE OFF THE LINE, BUT A MUTED THROTTLE PEDAL FROM TURBO LAG MEANS YOU HAVE TO WAIT AN INSTANT OR TWO FOR IT TO CATCH.

BUT WHEN IT DOES, HOLD ON!

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TURBO DIESEL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT MIGHT TAKE YOU A LITTLE TIME TO GET USED TO.

BUT THE DRIVETRAIN IS JUST THE TIP OF THE NEWNESS ICEBERG, AS THE GRAND'S EXTERIOR GETS A PLEASANT UPDATE, MARCHING CONTINUALLY UPSCALE.

THE SEVEN-SLOT GRILLE REMAINS, BUT IT'S NOW SHORTER, MATCHING THE SLIMMER HEADLIGHTS; AND LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.

THE LOWER FASCIA AND FOG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN RAISED SLIGHTLY TO REASSURE THAT EVEN WITH THE FANCIER FACE, THIS GRAND CHEROKEE IS STILL READY FOR THE TRAIL.

CHUNKY BUT SLEEK SIDE PANELS ARE HIGHLIGHTED BY MUSCULAR TRAPEZOIDAL WHEEL ARCHES OVER OUR TEST OVERLAND'S STANDARD 20-INCH WHEELS; WHILE AROUND BACK LARGER LED LIGHTING IS FEATURED, AND THE TAILGATE GETS RESHAPED FOR IMPROVED VISIBILITY, PLUS MORE PROMINENT JEEP BADGING AND AERODYNAMIC SPOILER.

WE SPENT MUCH OF OUR DRIVE TIME AROUND TEXAS IN THE GRAND THAT MOST WILL BUY; THE STANDARD GASOLINE-FUELED PENTASTAR 3.6-LITER V6.

AS BEFORE, WE FOUND POWER TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR JUST ABOUT ANY TASK YOU CAN THINK OF, INCLUDING TOWING UP TO 6,200 POUNDS.

BUT WITH THE NEW 8-SPEED TRANSMISSION, THE GRAND DRIVES LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT VEHICLE.

ACCELERATION IS MORE BRISK, AND SHIFTING IS DONE MORE SMOOTHLY, THOUGH ALSO MORE OFTEN.

AND NATURALLY, WE HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD AS WELL TO CHECK OUT THE NEW GC'S "TRAIL RATED" CREDENTIALS.

THERE ARE BOTH SINGLE AND TWO SPEED VERSIONS OF QUADRA-TRAC ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AS WELL AS A HI/LO QUADRA-DRIVE II 4-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.

ON TOP OF THAT YOU CAN ADD QUADRA-LIFT AIR SUSPENSION, WHICH CAN PUMP YOUR RIDE 4.2-INCHES, AND AN UPDATED SELEC-TERRAIN SYSTEM WHICH NOW HAS SETTINGS FOR SAND, MUD, SNOW, ROCK, AND AUTO.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE BATTLING BOULDERS OR DROPPING THE KIDS AT SCHOOL, YOU'LL FIND PLENTY TO LIKE IN THE GRAND'S RE-VAMPED INTERIOR.

MOST NOTABLE IS A NEW CENTER STACK, STEERING WHEEL, AND AUDI-LIKE SHIFTER.

A FEW STAFF MEMBERS WEREN'T FANS OF THE SHIFTER'S LACK OF MECHANICAL FEEL, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S JUST A FANCY ELECTRIC SWITCH.

ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WE'RE NOT FANS OF... JEEP HAS DONE AWAY WITH THE TWO-PIECE REAR LIFTGATE.

NO LONGER ARE YOU ABLE TO OPEN JUST THE UPPER GLASS PORTION.

WHILE NOT A FEATURE YOU'LL USE EVERY DAY, FOLKS THAT TOW OR USE HITCH CARGO CARRIERS WILL MISS IT.

A QUICK TRIP DOWN OUR TEST TRACK FULLY REAFFIRMED OUR EARLY SEAT-OF-THE-PANTS EXPECTATIONS, AS THE 8-SPEED HELPS THE PENTASTAR V6 GC JUMP OFF THE LINE WITH MUCH MORE AUTHORITY, GETTING YOU TO 60 IN 8.3-SECONDS.

ONCE THE 8-SPEED STARTS SHIFTING, IT TAKES 16.4-SECONDS AT 84 MILES-PER-HOUR TO RUN OUT THE QUARTER MILE.

WHILE NEVER A BARGAIN, THE GRAND CHEROKEE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOLID VALUE, PROVIDING YOU CHOOSE WISELY.

PRICES START AT $29,790 FOR A BASE LAREDO MODEL, BUT QUICKLY ESCALATE FROM THERE, APPROACHING $50,000 FOR A LOADED SUMMIT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEND $41,000 TO GET A DIESEL.

CONSIDERING THAT AND THE PREMIUM PRICE OF DIESEL FUEL, THE ECODIESEL IS GOING TO APPEAL MOSTLY TO THOSE THAT FREQUENTLY DRIVE LONG DISTANCE OR TOW.

OTHERWISE, THE STANDARD 3.6 V6 WITH THE NEW 8-SPEED WILL SUIT YOU JUST FINE.

THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S SUCCESS HAS BEEN A KEY FACTOR IN THE CURRENT ROSY FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CHRYSLER GROUP, AND CHANGES TO THE 2014 GC GIVE US PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT.

SO, TO JEEP WE SAY, "LET THE GOOD TIMES CONTINUE TO ROLL."

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 .

JOHN: SUMMER'S IN FULL SWING, AND SO IS THE CAR SALES SEASON.

SO LET'S GRAB SOME MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS AS WE GRAB NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS.

REPUTATION IS KEY IN THE CAR BUSINESS, AND KIA IS BUSY REDIRECTING THEIRS FROM ENTRY LEVEL CONTENDER TO A MORE EURO-FLAVOR BRAND WITH FRESH DESIGNS, INCREASED REFINEMENT, AND POSITIVE REVIEWS.

YET THEIR LATEST, THE CADENZA, SINGS A BIT OF A LESS DEFINED SONG.

TARGETING BOTH ENTRY-LEVEL AND CURRENT LUXURY SEDAN BUYERS, THE CADENZA TRIES TO SLIDE BETWEEN MID AND FULL SIZE, AND LISTS EVERYTHING FROM THE CHEVROLET IMPALA TO THE LEXUS ES AS COMPETITION.

SHARING ITS CHASSIS WITH THE HYUNDAI AZERA, WHEELBASE IS STRETCHED TWO INCHES OVER THE OPTIMA.

AND ALL OF THAT GOES DIRECTLY INTO REAR LEGROOM.

A NEW FRONT SUB-FRAME ALLOWS FITMENT OF THE SORENTO'S 3.3 LITER V6.

FRONT-DRIVE ONLY OUTPUT IS 293 HORSEPOWER.

AND THOUGH MOSTLY A HIGHWAY CRUISER, A 6 SPEED PADDLE SHIFT AUTO AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION GIVE THE CADENZA SOME ROOM TO PLAY.

ROOM WHICH WE EXPLORED THROUGH THE WINE COUNTRY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

PATRICK LUCAS: THE ENGINE'S NO POWERHOUSE, BUT FOR A BIG, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SEDAN, THE CADENZA IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY FUN DRIVER'S CAR.

COMFORT IS ITS MAIN GOAL, THOUGH, AND IT SUCCEEDS THERE FOR SURE.

JOHN: CADENZA STYLING STARTS WITH KIA'S TIGER NOSE GRILLE THAT GIVES IT MORE PRESENCE ON THE ROAD THAN THE COMPARABLE AZERA.

LINES ARE TAMER DOWN THE SIDES AND AROUND BACK, BUT DUAL CHROME EXHAUST TIPS DO SPICE THINGS UP.

INTERIOR DESIGN IS BOTH COMFORTABLE AND CONSERVATIVE.

GAUGES AND CENTER STACK ARE FAMILIAR IF YOU'VE BEEN IN A KIA RECENTLY; THOUGH THE ADDITION OF AN ANALOG CLOCK NODS TOWARDS THE PREMIUM BUYER.

STANDARD FEATURES ABOUND, INCLUDING NAVIGATION, BACK UP CAM, AND 12 SPEAKER AUDIO.

AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER, THE CADENZA STARTS AROUND $35,000 -- INDEED PUSHING LUXURY CAR PRICE.

LUCKILY IT LOOKS, FEELS, AND DRIVES AS SUCH.

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

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT OUR LONG-TERM 2013 MAZDA CX-5 AS A FINE COMPACT CROSSOVER CHOICE FOR URBAN ENVIRONMENTS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL?

SO WE TOOK SPECIAL NOTE OF A RECENT TRIP TO NEW ENGLAND WHERE INTERSTATE CRUISING WAS THE RULE.

HERE, MAZDA'S SKYACTIV POWERTRAIN TECHNOLOGY REALLY PAID OFF.

ON THIS 1,500 MILE TRIP, WE AVERAGED 31.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT'S OUTSTANDING FOR A CUV.

OUR OVERALL AVERAGE AFTER 11 MONTHS AND NEARLY 16,000 MILES IS 26.7, 10% BETTER THAN RIVALS, BUT STILL A LITTLE SHORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CITY/HIGHWAY COMBINED RATING OF 28 MPG.

WE ADMIT THAT THE 2.0-LITER SKYACTIV FOUR NEEDS ALL OF ITS 155 HORSEPOWER FOR HIGHWAY PASSING, BUT WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTO ALLOWING MANUAL GEAR SELECTION, WE GOT THE MOST OUT OF IT.

A LARGER 2.5-LITER IS AVAILABLE FOR 2014.

COMFORT IS QUITE GOOD, THE SEATS FEEL FIRM AT FIRST, BUT HAVE FINE SUPPORT AND ONE ARRIVES RESTED.

SEATS FOLD EASILY FOR LARGER ITEMS, AND THE GIANT REAR HATCH MAKES FOR EASY LOADING.

WE'RE NEARING THE END OF OUR YEAR WITH THE CX-5, AND FROM OUR EXCELLENT EXPERIENCES, WE'D SAY MAZDA'S SKYACTIV APPROACH IS INDEED A COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO A HYBRID.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, WE'RE TAKING DELIVERY OF ONE OF THE LARGEST GASOLINE-ELECTRIC SEDANS AVAILABLE, THIS 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID.

WITH A COMBINED CITY/HIGHWAY RATING IN THE HIGH 30s, WE'LL SEE JUST HOW IT HANDLES OUR STAFF'S EVERYDAY DRIVING HABITS.

AND WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO DIRECTLY COMPARE NOTES WITH ONE OF THE BEST ALL-AROUND FAMILY CARS AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF POWERTRAIN -- THIS 2013 HONDA ACCORD EX-L WITH NAV.

MID-SIZE SEDANS ARE BACK IN VOGUE AND THE LATEST ACCORD IS A BIG REASON WHY.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE ACCORD, AS WELL AS OUR SUBARU IMPREZA, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

"MOTOR RACING: THE PURSUIT OF VICTORY 1930-1962" IS MORE THAN JUST A HISTORY OF EARLY EUROPEAN AUTO RACING; IT'S AN EXCUSE TO PUBLISH A LOT OF NEVER BEFORE SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS.

AMID THE MANY CANDID, BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS OF EARLY RACING HEROES, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACTION SHOTS AND PLENTY OF REMARKABLE STORIES TO GO ALONG WITH THEM.

INCLUDING MANY STORIES REVEALING THAT OFTEN TIMES JUST MAKING IT TO THE RACE TRACK WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR RACE TEAMS COMPETING AT THIS TIME OF GREAT CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT.

GREAT PHOTOS AND GREAT STORIES!

IT SOUNDS LIKE A TRUE MUST-READ TO US!

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.

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

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