2013 Buick Encore & 2013 Audi RS5

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

JOIN US AND FIND OUT IF THE TINY BUICK ENCORE CUV IS A BIG CROWD PLEASER.

PAT GOSS BRINGS US UP TO SPEED ON THE LATEST BRAKE FLUIDS.

ROGER MECCA JOINS A COUNTRY CLUB WHERE DRIVING THE TWISTIES BEATS DRIVING THE FAIRWAYS.

AND WE LIGHT UP THE TARMAC WITH THE RED HOT AUDI RS 5.

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: WITH THE LARGEST PRODUCT OFFENSIVE IN ITS OVER 100 YEAR HISTORY, BUICK HAS BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN SHAKING OFF ITS OLD MAN IMAGE.

FROM ENCLAVE TO LACROSSE TO REGAL AND VERANO, THEIR MODERN LUXURY STABLE IS BOLD WITHOUT BEING BRASH.

STILL, I DON'T THINK ANY BUICK WATCHERS SAW THIS ONE COMING DOWN THE PIKE: THE BUICK ENCORE.

COMPACT LUXURY CROSSOVERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING, AND THIS TIME BUICK IS AHEAD OF THE GAME.

SO LET'S SEE IF THAT EARLY LEAD PAYS OFF.

BUICK WAS SO EAGER TO GO AFTER YOUNGER BUYERS WITH THEIR NEXT CROSSOVER THAT INSTEAD OF GOING MID-SIZE, THEY WENT SMALL-SIZE WITH THE 2013 BUCK ENCORE.

NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A GEN-Xer OR Yer TO ENJOY THE KOREAN-BUILT ENCORE, AS DESPITE BEING BASED ON CHEVROLET'S SUBCOMPACT SONIC, WHEN YOU'RE RIDING IN THE FRONT SEATS OF THIS LUXURY CROSSOVER, IT FEELS MORE MID-SIZE, WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO GET COMFORTABLE.

THERE'S ALSO AN UNEXPECTED FUN TO DRIVE NATURE, THOUGH THE VARIABLE EFFORT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FEELS OVERBOOSTED MOST OF THE TIME; WHICH COMBINED WITH THE SHORT 100.6-INCH WHEELBASE CAN LEND A DARTY FEEL.

INTERIOR MATERIAL QUALITY IS AN UNEXPECTED HIGHLIGHT IN THE DESIGN.

JUST LIKE ITS LARGER ENCLAVE SIBLING, THERE'S LOTS OF LUXURY TO GO AROUND, AS WELL AS COOL FEATURES LIKE THE RED TRACERS ON THE GAUGE NEEDLES, DUAL GLOVE BOXES, AND A CARGO COVER THAT NEATLY STOWS BEHIND THE REAR SEATS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME BUILT-TO-A-BUDGET REMINDERS, LIKE NOTABLE GAPS AROUND THE CENTER DASH TOUCH SCREEN.

WITH SO MUCH ROOM UP FRONT IN SUCH A SMALL PACKAGE, THAT LEAVES LITTLE FOR THOSE IN THE BACK, AND CARGO SPACE IS LIMITED TO A CAR-LIKE 18.8 CUBIC-FEET, MAXING OUT AT 48.4 WITH THE SEATS FOLDED.

BUT BACK UP FRONT, THERE ARE LOTS OF SPACES TO STORE ELECTRONICS AND OTHER KNICK-KNACKS.

BUICK'S VOICE ACTIVATED INTELLILINK GETS UPDATED, BECOMING EASIER TO USE.

FOR SAFETY ON THE PLUS SIDE, BOTH BACK-UP CAMERA AND KNEE AIRBAGS ARE STANDARD.

ENCORE CAN ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH LANE-DEPARTURE WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION ALERT, AND PARK ASSIST.

ON THE MINUS SIDE, ENCORE DID NOT SCORE WELL IN THE NEW IIHS OFFSET BARRIER CRASH TEST.

POWER COMES FROM THE SONIC'S 1.4-LITER TURBO I4 AND CLEARLY FUEL ECONOMY IS A PRIORITY OVER PERFORMANCE, AS IT PUTS OUT A MEAGER 138-HORSEPOWER AND 148 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT DESPITE THOSE NUMBERS, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ENCORE TO MOVE AROUND, AND WE ACTUALLY FOUND IT PLENTY PEPPY WHETHER ZIPPING AROUND TOWN OR ROAD TRIPPING.

THE ENGINE ISN'T AS ROUGH OR NOISY AS IN THE SONIC, THANKS TO BUICK'S FIRST USE OF BOSE ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE ENCORE BEHAVES LIKE A FRONT DRIVER UNTIL THERE'S WHEEL SLIP; WHEN POWER GETS DIVERTED TO THE REAR TO ASSIST WITH TRACTION.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE ENCORE WORKED ITS WAY DOWN THE STRIP AT A SLOW BUT STEADY PACE TO 60 IN 10.1-SECONDS.

THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT ABOUT ITS WORK VERY SOFTLY, HELPING THE ENCORE CLEAR THE QUARTER MILE IN 17.7-SECONDS AT 79 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGH THE CONES, THE ENCORE FEELS VERY CAR-LIKE WITH QUICK TURN-INS AND MORE GRIP THAN EXPECTED, THANKS TO THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM LENDING ASSISTANCE.

BRAKES WERE FAIRLY IMPRESSIVE AS WELL WITH STRONG AND CONFIDENT STOPS FROM 60 IN 122-FEET, JUST THREE FEET LONGER THAN THE SONIC.

AND WITH THE VEHICLE SITTING STILL, IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT THE ENCORE'S SCULPTED STYLING HELPS THIS MINI-UTE LOOK JUST LIKE A BABY ENCLAVE: A LOT OF CLASS IN A SMALL PACKAGE.

TRADITIONAL BUICK SIGNATURE ELEMENTS SUCH AS THE WATERFALL GRILL AND PORTHOLES ARE THERE, AS WELL AS HALLMARKS OF MODERN BUICKS LIKE THE BLUE HEADLIGHT RINGS AND 18-INCH CHROME WHEELS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE VERY GOOD AT 23-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED; AND WE DID EVEN BETTER AT 31.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

WHICH OF COURSE MAKES FOR A COMMENDABLE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST 12.7-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED ANNUALLY WHILE EMITTING 5.8-TONS OF CO2.

THE LUXURY COMPACT CROSSOVER IS NOT ONLY A NEW SEGMENT FOR BUICK, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE AUTO INDUSTRY.

AND WITH A BASE PRICE OF $24,950, THE ENCORE IS SO FAR SELLING WELL.

ALONG WITH OTHER EARLY ENTRIES TO THE SEGMENT LIKE THE MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN AND BMW X1, THE ENCORE'S STARTING PRICE IS HIGH COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL SMALL CROSSOVERS LIKE HONDA CR-V AND TOYOTA RAV4 THAT OFFER MORE SPACE BUT ARE ALSO LESS WELL EQUIPPED.

REGARDLESS, THE 2013 BUICK ENCORE IS OFF TO A GOOD START AND WE UNDERSTAND WHY.

IT'S A VERY APPEALING OVERALL DESIGN WITH FINE FUEL ECONOMY.

SO, GOOD JOB BUICK ON GETTING OUT TO AN EARLY LEAD, AND WE HOPE YOU CAN STAY THERE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO CHASKA, MINNESOTA, AND THE EASTERN CARVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE THE SWITCH TO PROPANE HAS FIRED UP BIG SAVINGS.

EASTERN CARVER COUNTY HAS BEGUN THE SLOW BUT STEADY PROCESS OF REPLACING MORE THAN 100 DIESEL BUSES WITH ONES THAT RUN ON CLEAN PROPANE FUEL.

WHILE THE NEW BUSES COST MORE, THE SWITCH IS ALREADY PAYING OFF WITH SAVINGS OF $60,000 LAST YEAR ALONE.

JOHN THOMAS: I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT FLEET HERE THAT'S MAKING PROGRESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S SAVING MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO WE CAN KEEP THE MONEY IN THE CLASSROOMS, AND WE'RE BEING A LITTLE PROGRESSIVE, AND IT'S ALL THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EASTERN CARVER COUNTY SCHOOLS AND STA.

JOHN: STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA AND THEIR LOCAL AFFILIATE, POSITIVE CONNECTIONS, TEAMED UP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE THE PROPANE SWITCH, HELPING EASTERN CARVER CARVE OUT A GREENER DRIVING FUTURE.

OWNING A SPORTS CAR CAN BE A CATCH 22.

ON ONE HAND, THE THRILL OF HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING CAN BE ADDICTIVE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MORNING COMMUTE AND SPEED TRAPS CAN CERTAINLY LIMIT THE FUN FACTOR.

HOWEVER, OUR OWN ROGER MECCA HAS TRACKED DOWN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN TAKE A SPIRITED DRIVE ANYTIME YOU WANT, WITHOUT EVER HEARING SOMEONE SAY, "LICENSE AND REGISTRATION, PLEASE."

Roger Mecca: FOR ALMOST ANY CAR ENTHUSIAST, INCLUDING MYSELF, OWNING A VEHICLE LIKE THESE IS THE ULTIMATE DREAM.

JUST YOU, THE MACHINE, AND THE OPEN ROAD.

IT SOUNDS PERFECT.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

YOU SEE, IF YOU OWN A CAR LIKE THIS FERRARI CALIFORNIA, YOU NEVER DRIVE IT THE WAY IT'S MEANT TO BE DRIVEN.

YOU'RE USUALLY STUCK IN TRAFFIC OR KEEPING IT IN A GARAGE.

UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE A MEMBER OF THE AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB HERE IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

AND AT THIS COUNTRY CLUB, YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR NINE IRON AT HOME.

GREENS AND FAIRWAYS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY MORE THAN THREE MILES OF PERFECTLY MAINTAINED RACETRACK.

MEMBERS CAN BRING THEIR FAVORITE CARS TO AUTOBAHN ANYTIME DURING OPERATING HOURS TO RACE ALL DAY, OR JUST TURN IN A FEW HOT LAPS DURING LUNCH.

AND AFTERWARDS, THEY CAN GRAB A GOURMET MEAL IN THE CLUBHOUSE OR EVEN PULL INTO ONE OF THEIR ON-PROPERTY HOMES, DUBBED GARAGE-MAHALS.

BUT AS SPECTACULAR AS THE IDEA SOUNDS, MAKING IT HAPPEN WAS ANYTHING BUT EASY.

Mark Basso: CONVINCING THE SKEPTICISM OF A GROUP OF ENTHUSIASTS... "OH, YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A RACE TRACK COUNTRY CLUB?

WELL, NOBODY ELSE HAS DONE THAT BEFORE.

OH YEAH, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!"

SO, EVERYBODY SAID, "YEAH, I'LL JOIN WHEN IT'S BUILT."

AND BANKS, THEY WEREN'T ABOUT TO GIVE US ANY MONEY.

Roger: CO-FOUNDER MARK BASSO AND HIS TWO PARTNERS FACED MORE THAN JUST NAYSAYERS AND UNWILLING BANKERS TO GET AUTOBAHN RACE READY.

BUILDING A TRACK MAY SEEM SIMPLE, BUT... Mark: THE DEVELOPMENTAL HURDLES OF ENGINEERING A 350 ACRE PROPERTY TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR CARS TO BE GOING OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEVER APPRECIATE UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY TRY TO DO IT.

Roger: BUT ONCE IT WAS COMPLETED, THOSE SAME DOUBTERS HAPPILY PAID THE $30K MEMBERSHIP FEE FOR THE DREAM OF UNLIMITED LAPS AROUND THE INCREDIBLE TRACK.

TODAY, AUTOBAHN BOASTS MORE THAN 400 VERY HAPPY MEMBERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE: ACCOUNTANTS, DOCTORS, INSURANCE SALESMEN, TEACHERS, AND EVEN RACING LEGENDS.

Bobby Rahal: I HAD ALL THIS MEMORABILIA, AND I HAD MY CAR COLLECTION, AND I LIKED THE IDEA OF BEING ATTACHED TO A RACING CIRCUIT SO THAT IF I DID WANT TO GO OUT AND DRIVE MY RACE CARS AROUND, OR DRIVE MY STREET CARS, YOU KNOW, COMPETITIVELY, YOU COULD DO THAT.

SO WHETHER YOU HAVE A RACE CAR OR YOU HAVE A HIGH PERFORMANCE STREET CAR, OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN REALLY FULFILL YOUR DREAMS.

Roger: NOW WHILE MANY OF THE MEMBERS DO HAVE FERRARIS, OR LAMBORGHINIS, OR AN AMG MERCEDES LIKE THIS, THEY ACTUALLY DON'T DRIVE THESE ON THE TRACK VERY OFTEN.

WHAT THEY USE ARE NOT QUITE AS FAST AS A LAMBORGHINI, BUT THEY'RE NO LESS EXCITING.

Mark: WE HAVE 85 MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPEC MIATAS, AND FORMULA MAZDAS, AND, YOU KNOW, MUSTANGS AND BMWs THAT REALLY ARE SET UP FOR THE TRACK, AND IT'S A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE TO RUN.

THE INTERESTING THING IS, A LOT OF GUYS WHO HAVE FERRARIS ACTUALLY DON'T DRIVE THEM ON THE TRACK.

Roger: AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT A TRACK-READY MIATA COSTS ABOUT AS MUCH AS A FERRARI OIL CHANGE, BUT DELIVERS JUST AS MUCH ENJOYMENT, THE CHOICE BECOMES AN EASY ONE.

AS IS THE DECISION TO GET FAMILY MEMBERS OUT ON THE TRACK, TOO.

NOW, YOU MIGHT BE SAYING TO YOURSELF, "AH, THAT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A HIGH-REVVING BOYS CLUB."

BUT, IN FACT, OVER THE YEARS, WIVES AND EVEN DAUGHTERS HAVE STARTED TO COME TO AUTOBAHN AND THE SPEED HAS PROVED TO BE...CONTAGIOUS.

THE DRIVER OF THIS YELLOW PORSCHE CAYMAN IS 20-YEAR-OLD LEIGH MARTINO, DAUGHTER OF MEMBER JOHN MARTINO.

WHILE IT'S NOT A TYPICAL BONDING EXPERIENCE, IT'S ONE THE TWO LOVE TO DO TOGETHER.

Leigh Martino: PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT A DAUGHTER AND A DAD TO BE DOING IT.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF LIKE, MORE LIKE A SON-FATHER THING, SO IT'S DEFINITELY UNIQUE.

WE'RE OUT HERE EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND IN THE SUMMER TOGETHER.

John Martino: OUR WHOLE FAMILY IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE TIGHTER BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S INTERESTED AND LIKES TO SEE WHAT HER PROGRESS IS, AND WE GET ALONG.

SO IT JUST SORT OF, GIVES US SOME COMMONALITY TO TALK ABOUT.

Debbie Keck: GOING INTO THE CORNER AT HIGH SPEED, IS JUST...IT'S A RUSH, AND MANEUVERING AND COMING OUT OF IT SAFELY IS EVEN BETTER.

Roger: AND IT'S SAFE TO SAY YOU WON'T GET THAT SAME RUSH FROM A GOOD PUTT.

SO DRIVING ENTHUSIASTS, IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE.

AT LAST YOU HAVE A COUNTRY CLUB WITH PLENTY OF HAIRPINS, AND NOT A SAND TRAP IN SIGHT!

John: ONE THING THAT'S TRUE ABOUT CAR CARE; IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING.

AND THAT'S WHY A STOP BY GOSS'S GARAGE IS ALWAYS A GOOD CALL.

Pat Goss: IN THE 60 YEARS SINCE THIS CAR WAS LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY, JUST ABOUT EVERY PART OF EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD HAS CHANGED IMMENSELY.

BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT HAS REMAINED, WELL, ALMOST THE SAME, AND THAT'S BRAKE FLUID.

BRAKE FLUID HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROPENSITY TO ABSORB MOISTURE, AND THAT MEANT THAT IT COULD DETERIORATE PARTS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

BUT TODAY THAT MEANS A BIGGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.

SEE, IF YOU LOOK AT THESE TWO CONTAINERS OF BRAKE FLUID, THIS ONE IS PURE BRAKE FLUID, THIS ONE IS 50% WATER.

HALF OF IT IS WATER.

WELL, YEAH, IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY ISN'T THE SORT OF THING THAT YOU THINK COULD ENDANGER AN EXPENSIVE PART OF THE CAR, OR EVEN YOUR LIFE FOR THAT MATTER.

BUT IT COULD.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKE FLUID A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.

YOU WANT YOUR TECHNICIAN TO USE A BRAKE FLUID TEST STRIP, SUCH AS WE HAVE DOWN HERE.

NOW, THAT WILL TELL IF THERE'S A LOT OF WATER IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

BUT ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS WATER IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THAT MEANS THAT IT HAS TO BE FLUSHED.

AND BY THE WAY, NEVER GO MORE THAN TWO YEARS WITHOUT FLUSHING A BRAKE SYSTEM, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO FLUSH IT.

FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAP ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, OR THE OWNER'S MANUAL, TO SEE WHAT FLUID GOES INTO THAT BRAKE SYSTEM.

ALRIGHT, NOW, FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD DOT 3 AND DOT 4 AND WE'VE HAD DOT 5.

WELL, NOW THERE IS A NEW PLAYER, AND THAT'S SUPER DOT 4.

ALRIGHT, NOW, HERE'S THE RULE: DOT 5 USUALLY IS NOT USED IN CARS WITH ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL.

SO WE FORGET ABOUT THAT.

THEN, READ THE CAP, OR THE OWNER'S MANUAL, FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR NEEDS DOT 3, DOT 4, OR SUPER DOT 4, AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THE PROPER FLUID.

NOW, THIS SUPER DOT 4 IS ALSO USED IN A LOT OF HYDRAULIC CLUTCHES ON CARS BECAUSE IT CAN WITHSTAND MORE HEAT.

SO, MORE COMPLICATION, BUT JUST READ THE DIRECTIONS.

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

John: NOW, LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ AND THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

Yolanda Vazquez: THERE WAS A LOT OF FUSS LAST YEAR OVER THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY'S NEW SMALL OVERLAP FRONTAL CRASH TEST.

ESPECIALLY AFTER SEVERAL TOP-SELLING LUXURY SEDANS RECEIVED LESS THAN FLATTERING GRADES.

THIS TIME AROUND, SMALL SUVS WERE THE FOCUS, AND THE RESULTS WERE JUST AS POOR.

OF THE THIRTEEN UTILITIES TESTED BY IIHS, ONLY THE 2014 SUBARU FORESTER RECEIVED A "GOOD" RATING.

THE 2012 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT EARNED AN "ACCEPTABLE" RATING, MAKING BOTH VEHICLES THE ONLY TWO TOP SAFETY PICK PLUS WINNERS IN THIS TEST WHERE THE FRONT LEFT CORNER HITS A BARRIER AT 40 MILES PER HOUR.

FIVE POPULAR SUVS, INCLUDING THE HONDA CR-V AND MAZDA CX-5 SCORED "MARGINAL."

THE VEHICLES SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, BUT MAINTAINED PASSENGER SAFETY.

EVEN MORE TROUBLING WERE THE FIVE SUVS THAT RECEIVED "POOR" RATINGS.

THEY INCLUDE THE FORD ESCAPE, JEEP PATRIOT, HYUNDAI TUCSON.

AND BUICK ENCORE.

ALL SAW MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, FAILURES IN RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, AND COMPROMISED OCCUPANT SAFETY.

WHILE WE'VE FREQUENTLY SEEN THE BMW I8 SUPERCAR IN CONCEPT FORM AT AUTO SHOWS, VERY FEW HAVE SEEN A PRODUCTION-READY VERSION OUT IN THE OPEN.

THAT IS UNTIL NOW.

WE HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THIS IS THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BMW I8.

IT WAS CAUGHT BY OUR EYE SPY CREW WHILE TESTING IN EUROPE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

STILL DECKED OUT IN CAMOUFLAGE, THE DESIGN SEEMS TO BE RUNNING ON PAR WITH THE CONCEPT FIRST SHOWN IN 2009.

THE PLUG-IN HYBRID POWERTRAIN MATES A 3-CYLINDER TURBOCHARGED GAS ENGINE WITH A RANGE EXTENDING ELECTRIC MOTOR, BOASTING 350 HORSEPOWER.

WITH DYNAMIC STYLING, AND ENGINEERED FROM THE GROUND UP, THE I8 WILL OFFER PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY IN A FUTURISTIC PACKAGE NOT TYPICALLY SEEN FROM BMW.

AND THAT'S OUR AUTOMOTIVE ROUNDUP FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT, SO LET'S GRAB A FRESH SET OF CAR KEYS FOR A NEW ONE.

FOLLOWING RIGHT ON THE TAILGATE OF THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET SILVERADO, COMES AN EQUALLY NEW 2014 GMC SIERRA FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK.

AS BEFORE, MOST OF THE MECHANICAL BITS AND PIECES ARE SHARED, BUT THIS TIME AROUND GMC GETS SOME MORE DETAILED TRIM WORK FOR THE SIERRA, HELPING IT SOMEHOW LOOK BOTH MORE REFINED AND MORE RUGGED.

UNDERHOOD IS THE SAME TRIO OF ALL-NEW ALUMINUM OVERHEAD VALVE ENGINES, RANGING FROM THE 4.3-LITER V6 TO A 6.2-LITER V8, WITH THE VOLUME 5.3-LITER V8 IN BETWEEN.

OPT FOR THE BIG BOY AND YOU CAN TOW UP TO 12,000 POUNDS, BUT THE 5.3-LITER DOES ALMOST AS WELL, PULLING 11,500.

Brian Robinson: IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH THE CAPABILITIES OF LIGHT-DUTY PICKUPS HAVE INCREASED IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

FOR NOW, THE GMC SIERRA IS CLEARLY AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP, BUT WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG.

IF THIS KEEPS UP WE'LL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NEW NAME, AS LIGHT-DUTY JUST DOESN'T CUT IT ANYMORE.

John: BUT EVEN WITH THAT, INTERIOR REFINEMENT IS THE NEW SIERRA'S GREATEST CONQUEST.

SEATS ARE MORE COMFY AND THE CABIN IS VERY QUIET.

SAFETY GETS A BOOST WITH A DRIVER ALERT SEAT THAT VIBRATES WHEN DANGER IS DETECTED.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 GMC SIERRA STARTS JUST OVER $25,000.

A FULL-UP DENALI VERSION WILL ARRIVE LATER THIS YEAR.

AND WE'LL HITCH UP TO MORE NEW CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!

AUDI HAS BEEN RIDING QUITE A STREAK OF WINNERS LATELY, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMAZING R8, OR DOMINATING THE 24-HOURS OF LEMANS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN SNEAKING MORE AND MORE PERFORMANCE INTO THEIR STREET CARS AS WELL, WITH CARS LIKE THE S4 AND S7.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW AUDI WOULD TRY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WE WEREN'T EXPECTING ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS, THE RS5.

LET THE COMPARISONS BEGIN, AS THE 2013 AUDI RS 5 JUMPS HEAD FIRST INTO THE SPORTS COUPE FRAY WHERE THE LIKES OF THE BMW M3 AND THE CADILLAC CTS-V PLY THEIR TRADE.

WELL, IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST, YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK YOUR BEST, AND THE RS 5'S EXTERIOR MODS MAY NOT JUMP OUT AT YOU AT FIRST, BUT THEY ARE MANY, AND THEY ARE PURPOSEFUL.

STARTING WITH A RIDE HEIGHT THAT'S EIGHT-TENTHS OF AN INCH LOWER THAN THE A5, THANKS TO THE REVISED, MOSTLY ALUMINUM SUSPENSION SETUP.

THE FRONT END SPORTS A UNIQUE TAKE ON AUDI'S SINGLE FRAME GRILLE WITH GRAY HONEYCOMB AND MATTE ALUMINUM FINISH, WHILE THE FRONT BUMPER GETS A SPLITTER-LIKE TREATMENT.

19-INCH FORGED ALLOY WHEELS ARE STANDARD, BUT YOU CAN OPT FOR THESE 20s.

AND BEHIND THEM ARE WAVE-STYLE BRAKE ROTORS, WHICH MAY NOT BE NEW TO YOU IF YOU'VE GOT A HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT-BIKE, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY A NOVELTY IN THE CAR WORLD.

BIG, OVAL EXHAUST TIPS BOOKEND A REDESIGNED REAR BUMPER, AND OUT OF THE DECK LID, A SPOILER DEPLOYS AUTOMATICALLY AT 75 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THIS CAR IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE REAL PERFORMANCE CAR DEAL, AND FURTHER PROOF OF THAT LIES UNDER THE HOOD, WHERE YOU'LL FIND A RED ACCENTED, NORMALLY ASPIRATED 4.2 LITER V8.

RATINGS ARE IMPRESSIVE, 450-HORSEPOWER -- THAT'S 20 MORE THAN AN EARLIER VERSION IN THE EXOTIC R8, AND 317 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT CERTAINLY LIKES TO REV, AND PROPELS YOU AROUND THE TRACK IN A BIG HURRY.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE RS 5 DOES FEEL A BIT BIG, IT DOESN'T FEEL ANYWHERE NEAR AS WEIGHTY AS ITS TRUE TWO-TON WEIGHT.

AUDI'S DRIVE SELECT ADJUSTS A TON OF VEHICLE SETTINGS, FROM STEERING FEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING TO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND EVEN THE SOUND OF THE EXHAUST.

DYNAMIC MODE HELPS THE CAR STAY MOSTLY FLAT IN CORNERS, AND INDIVIDUAL SETTING ALLOWS YOU TO PROGRAM AND QUICKLY RECALL A CUSTOM SETUP.

THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STEERING MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS SOME, BUT IT PROVIDED ADEQUATE FEEL FOR OUR TRACK WORK.

AND THROUGHOUT OUR TESTING, THE RS 5 PROVED TO BE A BLAST TO DRIVE AND WAY MORE CAPABLE THAN WE ANTICIPATED, AND IT SOUNDS SPLENDID WHILE DOING SO.

THE LATEST VERSION OF AUDI'S REAR-BIASED QUATTRO AWD DRIVE FEATURES TORQUE VECTORING AND AN UPDATED CROWN-GEAR CENTER DIFFERENTIAL TO HELP ALLOCATE POWER TO WHERE IT CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

THE WAVE-STYLE BRAKE ROTORS WE MENTIONED PROVIDED GREAT FEEL AND SHORT STOPPING DISTANCES, BUT THERE WAS SOME TAIL END LIGHTNESS ON HARD BRAKING.

YOU CAN UPGRADE FURTHER TO CARBON DISCS FOR EVEN MORE PERFORMANCE.

TOP SPEED IS ELECTRONICALLY LIMITED TO 174 MILES-PER-HOUR, AND YOU'LL SEE 110 OF THOSE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER-MILE WHICH TAKES 12.7-SECONDS TO COMPLETE.

AND YOU CAN ROCKET TO 60 IN JUST 4.3 SECONDS.

LAUNCH CONTROL REQUIRES A FIRM STEP ON THE BRAKE, BUT ONCE IT'S OFF, YOU'RE OFF...IN A FLASH.

GEAR SELECTION HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY; WITH THE DUAL-CLUTCH S-TRONIC TRANSMISSION HAVING SEVEN TO CHOOSE FROM.

OR, OF COURSE YOU CAN TRIGGER THEM YOURSELF WITH THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED SHIFTERS.

STILL, A TRUE MANUAL CHOICE WOULD HAVE BEEN PREFERRED.

REGARDLESS, YOU WILL ENJOY THIS CAR'S THRUST IN ONE OF THE CLASSIEST PERFORMANCE INTERIORS GOING.

WELL DONE RS 5 UPDATES INCLUDE NAPPA LEATHER SPORT SEATS WITH GRAY PIPING, UNIQUE STEERING WHEEL, CARBON-FIBER AND SATIN METAL TRIM, AS WELL AS A NEW GAUGE PACKAGE WITH TRACK SPECIFIC DATA SCREENS ADDED TO THE INFO CENTER.

MOST INTERIOR FUNCTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY AUDI'S MMI SYSTEM, INCLUDING MANAGING THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE SETTINGS.

IT'S A BIG STEP UP FROM THE ALREADY IMPRESSIVE S5, AND COOL FEATURES LIKE A LAP TIMER PUSH IT OVER THE TOP.

LIKE MOST MODERN PERFORMANCE MACHINES, THE RS 5 FEELS PRACTICALLY SEDATE ON THE STREET, BUT WITH A PURPOSEFULNESS TO IT THAT DEPOSITS IT ABOVE THE COMMON SPORTS COUPE.

INDEED, THE EXHAUST NOTE IS AS CLOSE TO AN AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR AS YOU CAN GET, BUT WITH A HINT OF GERMAN REFINEMENT THAT MAKES IT SOUND MORE AUTHORITATIVE THAN AGGRESSIVE.

BUT PRICING IS AT A DEFINITE PREMIUM OVER ANY PONY CAR, AND MOST OF ITS COMPETITION AS WELL, STARTING AT $69,795.

BOTH THE M3 AND CTS-V COUPE START FOR A FEW GRAND LESS.

IT WAS VERY EASY TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE 2013 AUDI RS 5, AS IT CLEARLY CONTINUES AUDI'S STREAK OF WINNERS.

IT IS A SERIOUS PERFORMANCE COUPE THAT COMES WITH AN EASY TO DRIVE NATURE THAT REQUIRES NO SPECIAL SKILLS TO ENJOY DRIVING IT, OR TO LOOK GOOD WHILE DOING SO.

ADD IN A BURLY V8 THAT HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SWEET AUTO-MUSCLE MUSIC AND YOU'VE GOT A BLOCKBUSTER HIT READY TO ROCKET UP THE CHARTS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK AS WE PILE INTO ACURA'S THIRD GEN MDX LUXO CROSSOVER.

THEN PILE ON THE HORSEPOWER WITH THE CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LE COUPE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

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