2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse & 2014 Kia Forte

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

JOIN US AS WE GET SERIOUS WITH THE BUGATTI VEYRON GRAND SPORT VITESSE.

PAT GOSS HAS TIPS TO ENSURE HAPPIER TWO WHEELIN'.

ROGER MECCA REVIEWS HOLLYWOOD'S TAKE ON THE WORLD OF CARS AT THE VOLO AUTO MUSEUM.

AND WE'LL SEE IF KIA'S LATEST FORTE HEADS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

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John Davis: WHILE WE'VE GOTTEN OUR HANDS ON QUITE A FEW EXOTIC CARS OVER THE YEARS; FERRARIS, LAMBOS, MCLARENS...

IT'S QUITE A LIST.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ONE THAT SEEMED TO GET AWAY.

WELL, NO LONGER.

WE'VE FINALLY NABBED A BUGATTI VEYRON.

AND WHILE DRIVING A CAR WITH 1,200-HORSEPOWER MIGHT BE CONSIDERED AN INSANE PROPOSITION, WE'D BE CRAZY IF WE DIDN'T GO FOR IT!

THE 2013 BUGATTI VEYRON 16.4 GRAND SPORT VITESSE MAY HAVE ONE OF THE CAR WORLD'S LONGEST NAMES EVER, BUT WITH THAT PROLONGED NOMENCLATURE, YOU'LL ALSO GET A CAR THAT IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE FASTEST PRODUCTION ROADSTER OF OUR TIME.

SO, WHERE TO BEGIN?

WELL, I GUESS WE SHOULD START WITH THE ONE THING THAT MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE, AN 8.0-LITER W16 ENGINE UNDER THE COWL.

1,200-HORSEPOWER IS MORE THAN A VAST MAJORITY OF RACE CARS AND PLENTY OF JUICE TO GET YOU GOING IN A HURRY.

THE 1,106 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE HEADING TO ALL FOUR WHEELS HELPS AS WELL.

AND AS VICIOUS AS THE ENGINE SOUNDS UNDER ACCELERATION, IT SOUNDS EVEN COOLER WHEN YOU LIFT, AS YOU GET A NICE HOWL FROM THE TURBOS AS THEY CALM DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT EASY ON THEM.

THE VITESSE HAS 199-MORE HORSEPOWER THAN YOUR GARDEN VARIETY VEYRON GRAND SPORT, AND THE INCREASE COMES MAINLY FROM LARGER TURBOS; 4 OF THEM, SPINNING UP OVER 20 PSI OF BOOST, WEAVING EXHAUST GAS INTO MAGIC.

EVEN WITH EXTENSIVE USE OF LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS, THE VEYRON STILL WEIGHS IN AT 4,387-POUNDS, BUT SOMEHOW IT FEELS MORE LIKE A BOXSTER THAN A BENTLEY WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING IT.

10-SECOND QUARTER MILES IN A STREET CAR IS PRETTY INSANE, AND OUR BRIEF TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL DIDN'T ALLOW FOR US TO HIT THE TRACK FOR INSTRUMENTED RUNS TO CONFIRM THAT CLAIM, OR ITS 0 TO 60 OF JUST 2.6-SECONDS, BUT WE DID LAY DOWN A FEW HARD LAUNCHES TO GET A TASTE AND FOUND IT TO BE INCREDIBLY SUREFOOTED, EVEN ON WET PAVEMENT, THANKS TO THE HELP OF THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM.

TRANSMISSION IS A 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH DSG THAT'S BEEN BEEFED UP TO HANDLE THE SERIOUS MUSCLE OF THE W16.

DISAPPOINTINGLY, OR MAYBE THANKFULLY -- DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT -- WE DIDN'T EVEN SNIFF THE LIMITS OF THE VEYRON ON OUR OUTING...WE SIMPLY RAN OUT OF ROAD.

THAT'S BECAUSE TOP SPEED IS 255 MILES-PER-HOUR, AT WHICH YOU'LL GO THROUGH TIRES, AS WELL AS A FULL TANK OF FUEL IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

OR MAYBE IN THIS CASE, GREAT RESPONSIVENESS, AS NO MATTER THE SPEED, DRIVING THE VEYRON IS A VERY SURREAL EXPERIENCE WITH IMMEDIATE REACTION TO YOUR EVERY INPUT.

AND SINCE MOST DRIVERS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A BIT OF UNDERSTEER, BUGATTI ENGINEERS DIALED JUST A LITTLE IN.

THE SUSPENSION OFFERS 3-MODES OF RIDE HEIGHT: STANDARD, HANDLING, AND TOP SPEED.

IN ADDITION TO THE ADDED POWER, VITESSE MODELS GET SOME EXTERIOR MODS.

THERE ARE BIG SCOOPS ON THE ENGINE COVER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AIR, AND THE FRONT END DONS LARGER OPENINGS FOR COOLING DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS.

OUR CAR'S BLUE-TINTED CLEAR COAT CARBON FIBER AND BLUE PAINT JOB WOULDN'T EXACTLY BE OUR COLOR COMBO OF CHOICE, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'LL BLEND IN REGARDLESS OF THE PIGMENT THAT'S BEEN APPLIED.

THERE ARE AERO ENHANCEMENTS GALORE, WITH SOME ELECTRONICALLY ACTIVATED AT SPEED; AND BEHIND THE 20-INCH WHEELS ARE 15-INCH BRAKE ROTORS, THE SIZE OF STANDARD WHEELS ON MANY CARS JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS CAR, THE INTERIOR IS OUT OF IS WORLD, AND ONLY PROVIDES SEATING FOR TWO.

BUT YOU AND THAT LUCKY, POSSIBLY FRIGHTENED PASSENGER WILL GET TO ENJOY PLENTY OF LUXURY FEATURES.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS CAR IS ALL ABOUT; AND ALL OF THE VISIBLE CARBON FIBER, ALUMINUM, AND EVEN MAGNESIUM ARE VISUAL REINFORCEMENTS THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THIS MACHINE IS MAXIMUM VELOCITY.

THE GRAND SPORT VITESSE ALSO HAS EXCLUSIVE TRIM WORK THAT PUTS IT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GRAND SPORT, AND THAT INCLUDES UNIQUE SEATS.

BUGATTI IS ALSO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THE VITESSE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 8-CITY, 15-HIGHWAY, AND 10-COMBINED, ARE THE SAME AS THE LESS POWERFUL GRAND SPORT.

AS FOR PRICING, THIS VEYRON WILL SET YOU BACK A COOL $2.5 MILLION.

NO WE'RE NOT KIDDING.

AND SINCE BUGATTIS ARE BUILT TO ORDER, YOUR PRICE MAY VARY, PROVIDING YOU CAN EVEN FIGURE OUT WHERE TO BUY ONE, AS LIKE MANY DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO MAKE A PURCHASE.

WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY, REALLY.

THE 2013 BUGATTI VEYRON 16.4 GRAND SPORT VITESSE TRULY IS THE ULTIMATE SUPERCAR, WITH A PRICE TAG TO MATCH.

DRIVING ONE IS THE RAREST OF RARE EXPERIENCES, AND BRIEFLY HAD US CONTEMPLATING WHAT CRIMES WE COULD GET AWAY WITH IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY CASH TO BUY ONE.

AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS WHAT DRIVING A VEYRON WILL DO TO YOU.

AT MOTORWEEK , WE LOVE THE WORLD OF MOVIES AND TELEVISION!

AND WHEN YOU COMBINE IT WITH CARS, WELL, IT'S BOUND TO BE A GREAT SHOW.

WHILE WE FOCUS OUR CAMERAS ON CELEBRITIES OF THE WHEELED VARIETY, WE CAN BE AS STAR STRUCK AS ANYBODY.

CARS IN HOLLYWOOD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A NATURAL FIT, AND OUR ROGER MECCA HAS FOUND A SHOWCASE THAT KEEPS THOSE TINSELTOWN ICONS FOREVER IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

Roger: FROM KNIGHT RIDER TO THE TRANSFORMERS , THE CARS OF FILM AND TV HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF BOTH GEAR HEADS AND MOVIE BUFFS ALIKE.

SO IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT A COLLECTION OF THIS HOLLYWOOD HORSEPOWER WOULD BE A HUGE DRAW FOR FANS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.

BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO HOLLYWOOD, OR EVEN NEW YORK, TO FIND MORE THAN 80 OF THE MOST ICONIC CARS FROM TV AND FILM.

INSTEAD, HEAD ABOUT 90 MINUTES TO THE WEST OF CHICAGO, TO THE VOLO AUTO MUSEUM HERE IN VOLO, ILLINOIS.

IN FACT, THE MUSEUM HAS BECOME SO WELL KNOWN, THAT WHEN STUDIOS WRAP A PRODUCTION, VOLO IS THE PLACE THEY CALL, KNOWING FULL WELL THIS IS THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR RETIRED CAR-STARS.

BUT THIS REPUTATION WASN'T BORN OVERNIGHT.

IN FACT, THEY NEEDED THE HELP OF A CERTAIN CAPED-CRUSADER FOR PEOPLE TO START TAKING NOTICE.

Brian Grams: WE WERE APPROACHED BY GEORGE BARRIS.

GEORGE BARRIS IS THE ORIGINAL BUILDER OF THE ORIGINAL TV SERIES BATMOBILE .

AND THAT WAS OUR FIRST HOLLYWOOD CAR.

IT PROVED TO BE A FAVORITE OF THE PUBLIC, IT WAS DRAWING A LOT OF ATTENTION AND BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE MUSEUM.

SO THEN WE STARTED EXPANDING FROM THERE.

Roger: AND EXPAND THEY DID!

SOON, THE GENERAL LEE , MICHAEL KNIGHT'S KITT , THE MUNSTER MOBILE , AND MANY MORE BECAME PART OF THE COLLECTION, AND FINDING THE CARS BECAME EASIER AND EASIER.

TO KEEP VISITORS EXCITED, THE MUSEUM'S OWNERS CONSTANTLY TURN OVER THE PIECES, MAKING SURE VISITORS RETURN TO SEE WHAT'S NEW.

BUT IT'S THE FIRST-TIME VISITORS THAT ARE LEFT WITH THE BIGGEST IMPRESSION.

Ethan Schaffner: WE HAD JUST HAD A SLEEPOVER, SO WE WERE JUST LIKE, YEAH, I GUESS WE COULD DO THAT.

AND THEN WE GOT HERE AND IT'S LIKE, WHOA, THAT'S SO AMAZING!

Josh Puce: A LOT OF LIKE OLD STUFF, AND USUALLY YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY.

IT WAS REALLY COOL.

Roger: MANY OF THE MOVIE CARS HAVE A VERY UNIQUE STORY BEHIND THEM.

CASE IN POINT, GREASE LIGHTENING !

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL CAR FROM THE MOVIE.

BUT WHEN THE MUSEUM OWNERS ACTUALLY TRACKED IT DOWN, IT WASN'T IN WHAT YOU WOULD CALL...SHOWROOM CONDITION.

Brian: I WAS AT A BODY SHOP AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE IT WAS THE ACTUAL CAR.

THE GUY WAS HIRED TO RESTORE IT BY A COLLECTOR FROM NEW YORK AND THE COLLECTOR PASSED AWAY.

SO, HE WASN'T GETTING PAID TO RESTORE IT ANYMORE, HE SHOVED IT OUTSIDE AND THERE IT SAT FOR -- IT WAS ABOUT THREE, FOUR YEARS IT SAT OUTSIDE.

Roger: ANOTHER TINSEL TOWN ICON LEFT FOR DEAD IN THE DESERT IS THE FERRARI DAYTONA FROM MIAMI VICE .

Brian: AND THE LEATHER INTERIOR JUST SHRUNK.

IT LOOKED LIKE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.

THE SEATS WERE SO SMALL JUST FROM SITTING OUT THERE IN THE ELEMENTS.

YOU KNOW, GETTING RAINED ON AND THE SUN BEATING IT.

Roger: IN THEIR OWN WAY, THESE HIGH-REVVING PIECES OF MEMORABILIA ARE JUST AS FAMOUS AS THE LEGGED STARS THAT DROVE THEM.

AND WITH FAME COME FANS FROM FAR AND WIDE, EACH WITH A PERSONAL FAVORITE.

Arnie Hertzel: DEFINITELY THE BATMOBILE .

GREASE LIGHTNING IS PRETTY PHENOMENAL.

THE MUNSTERS IS A REALLY GREAT SET-UP TOO.

DUKES OF HAZZARD , KITT , HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH THOSE.

THOSE ARE GREAT!

Joe Robertson: THE DUKES OF HAZZARD.

IT'S JUST MY ERA WHEN I GREW UP.

Eugeny Kosino: MY FAVORITE CAR FROM MOVIE, RETURN TO FUTURE.

Roger: THIS IS ONE OF THE ASTON MARTINS THAT WAS USED IN THE JAMES BOND FILM DIE ANOTHER DAY , AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT DRIVES PERFECTLY WELL.

WHICH SHOWS YOU THAT MOST OF THE CARS HERE AT THE VOLO AUTO MUSEUM GO JUST AS WELL AS THEY SHOW.

Brian: THE ELEANOR MUSTANG, THAT'S A BIG BLOCK FOUR SPEED.

I MEAN, THAT THING REALLY ROCKS.

THE BLACK BEAUTY WE HAVE.

I ACTUALLY DROVE THAT TO A FEW CAR SHOWS OVER THE SUMMER, TOOK IT OUT AND DROVE IT.

Roger: AND AS MORE AND MORE CARS ARE DRIVEN FROM THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF HOLLYWOOD TO THE QUIET TOWN OF VOLO, THE FANS ARE SURE TO FOLLOW.

BUT ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN, THESE MOVIE MASTERPIECES CERTAINLY AGE BETTER THAN THE STARS WHO SAT BEHIND THE WHEEL!

John: ON A NICE WEEKEND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO FIND OUR PAT GOSS FORSAKING FOUR WHEELS FOR TWO.

SO HERE HE IS WITH TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR TWO WHEELIN' TIME TROUBLE FREE.

Pat: NO MATTER WHAT YOU RIDE OR DRIVE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE VARIOUS PARTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT THAT NEED SPECIAL CARE.

YOU LOOK AT THIS MOTORCYCLE AND WE HAVE A WINDSHIELD THAT'S MADE OUT OF ONE TYPE OF PLASTIC.

WE HAVE A PAINTED SURFACE, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PLASTIC, WE HAVE RUBBER, HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

AND THEY ALL REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS IS LYNDON ABEL, GENERAL MANAGER OF PATRIOT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.

LYNDON, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

Lyndon: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

Pat: ALRIGHT, GOT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

GIVE US SOME POINTERS.

Lyndon: ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE WINDSHIELD THAT YOU MENTIONED IS A REALLY BIG ONE.

WHILE GLASS CLEANER AND SOME NEWSPRINT MIGHT WORK GREAT ON YOUR CAR'S GLASS WINDSHIELD, IT'S GOING TO BE A TERRIBLE THING FOR YOUR MOTORCYCLE'S LEXAN OR PLEXIGLAS WINDSHIELD.

IT WILL QUICKLY COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, HAZE AND A FOGGY WINDSHIELD, AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.

WHAT YOU WANT TO USE IS A PRODUCT THAT'S DESIGNED FOR LEXAN OR PLEXIGLAS, AND A GOOD QUALITY MICRO-FIBER CLOTH.

LEAVE THAT NEWSPRINT FOR YOUR GLASS.

ALSO, RAIN-X IS ANOTHER THING THAT CAN REALLY DEGRADE THAT SURFACE.

IT MAY WORK GREAT ON GLASS, BUT IT IS NOT DESIGNED FOR PLEXIGLAS, AND AGAIN, WILL DEGRADE IT.

THERE ARE PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE FOR LEXAN OR PLEXIGLAS THAT WILL ACHIEVE A SIMILAR RESULT.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE OTHER SURFACES.

THIS IS THE SAME FOR A CAR, BUT A CAR HAS, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY PAINTED METAL SHOWING.

A MOTORCYCLE, LOTS OF DIFFERENT EXPOSED SURFACES, AND YOU WANT TO TREAT THOSE THINGS WITH THE APPROPRIATE PRODUCTS FOR THEM.

Pat: OKAY.

NOW, OUR SHINY PARTS.

Lyndon: RIGHT.

SO RIGHT HERE WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PARTS.

ALL ARE MADE FROM ALUMINUM, BUT THIS ONE IS A CHROME FINISH; THIS IS A BARE ALUMINUM FINISH; AND THIS IS A CLEAR-COATED FINISH.

AND THEY ALL NEED TO BE TREATED SEPARATELY.

CHROME, OF COURSE, A GOOD QUALITY CHROME POLISH WILL DO A GREAT JOB.

BUT USE THAT GOOD QUALITY CHROME POLISH ON THE BARE ALUMINUM AND IT'S GOING TO BE FAIRLY INEFFECTIVE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB CLEANING THAT.

FOR THAT, YOU WANT SOME METAL POLISH THAT'S DESIGNED FOR CLEANING BARE ALUMINUM.

BUT TAKE THAT POLISH AND USE IT ON THIS CLEAR-COATED ALUMINUM PART, AND YOU WILL DAMAGE THE CLEAR-COAT IN TIME, AND YOU'LL, AGAIN, HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART.

THAT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

BUT HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH?

Lyndon: GREAT QUESTION.

CHROME, PRETTY EASY TO TELL APART FROM OTHER FINISHES.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, CHECK WITH YOUR SHOP OR SOMEBODY THAT'S A LITTLE MORE CLEAR ON THE TOPIC.

BUT CLEAR-COATED ALUMINUM AND BARE ALUMINUM ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL APART.

ONE WAY TO DO IT IS TAKE SOME ALUMINUM POLISH AND START TO, IN A SMALL, INCONSPICUOUS AREA, POLISH THE ALUMINUM.

IF YOU DON'T QUICKLY SEE SOME BLACK MATERIAL COMING UP; THIS OXIDATION COMING OFF OF THE ALUMINUM SURFACE, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A CLEAR-COATED PART.

STOP AND TREAT IT JUST LIKE IT'S A PAINTED PART.

Pat: WELL, OKAY, SIMPLE ENOUGH.

ALRIGHT, LYNDON, THANK YOU.

Lyndon: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

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

John: NOW FOR SOME OF THIS YEAR'S LATEST AS WE SPIN UP A PAIR OF FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

HAUNTINGLY SLEEK AND POWERFUL, OUR LATEST QUICK SPIN COMES IN THE 2014 ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH, THE BRANDS MOST AMBITIOUS PRODUCTION CAR TO DATE.

LIKE ITS FOUR-DOOR KIN, THE GHOST, THE WRAITH IS BIG AND BOLD.

THERE ARE HINTS OF OLD-SCHOOL ELEGANCE THROUGHOUT, BUT ITS FASTBACK STYLING MAKES A MODERN DAY STATEMENT ON THE ROAD.

SMOOTHED BODY LINES STREAK RAPIDLY REARWARD, AND THE LARGE, REVERSE-HINGED COACH DOORS ADD A LOOK OF CONSIDERABLE LENGTH TO THE WRAITH'S PROFILE, DESPITE A SHORTER WHEELBASE THAN THE GHOST.

INTERIOR QUALITY IS, PERHAPS, SOME OF THE FINEST AVAILABLE.

PREMIUM MATERIALS AND LEATHERS ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT, AS IS A SPECIALLY SOURCED TYPE OF WOOD FOR THE PANEL AND DOOR ACCENTS.

A CURIOUS OPTION FOR THE WRAITH IS FIBER-OPTIC LIGHTING WOVEN INTO THE ROOF LINER, DUBBED THE STARLIGHT HEADLINER.

YOU'VE ALREADY SPENT THIS MUCH MONEY, WHY NOT KEEP GOING?

UNDER THE WRAITH'S MASSIVE HOOD YOU'LL FIND A MASSIVE ENGINE: A BMW-SOURCED, 6.6-LITER TWIN-TURBO V12 RATED AT 624 HORSEPOWER, AND EVERY BIT AS POWERFUL AS IT READS ON PAPER.

DESPITE A CURB WEIGHT NORTH OF 5,000 POUNDS, THE WRAITH LAYS DOWN SERIOUS POWER, WITH A 0 TO 60 TIME OF ONLY 4.4 SECONDS.

A ROLLS-ROYCE WITH SUPERCAR POWER AND ULTRA-LUXURY COMFORT IS NOTHING NEW, OF COURSE.

THE REAL SURPRISE COMES FROM THE WRAITH'S RIDE QUALITY, WHILE ON ROADS AROUND SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA WE FOUND IT A LITTLE STIFFER THAN WE WERE EXPECTING.

NOT HARSH, JUST MORE SPORTY AND VERY MUCH OF THE GRAND TOURING VARIETY.

THE FOUR-CORNER, AIR SUSPENSION CAN BE TUNED TO A SOFTER RIDE, THOUGH, FOR BRAND PURISTS.

A TECHNOLOGICAL FIRST FOR THE WRAITH IS THE SATELLITE-AIDED TRANSMISSION.

IT USES GPS TO PREDICT ROAD CONDITIONS AHEAD AND PRE-DETERMINES FUTURE SHIFT POINTS FOR THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

TAKING ORDERS NOW, THE 2014 ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH IS AIMED AT A DECIDEDLY YOUNGER CLIENTELE, LOOKING MORE FOR PERFORMANCE AND POWER THAN ALL-OUT LUXURY.

PRICES START AT ABOUT $260,000 BUT OPTIONS CAN ADD $100,000 OR MORE TO THIS "ULTIMATE" GT.

AND WE'LL GRAB SEAT TIME FOR MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

GASOLINE ELECTRIC HYBRIDS ARE NO LONGER A CURIOSITY AS MOST MAINSTREAM BRANDS HAVE ONE OR MORE IN THEIR LINEUP.

SUCH IS THE CASE AS THEY ARE INCREASINGLY MARKETED AS "JUST ANOTHER" ENGINE OPTION ON ALREADY FINE FAMILY CARS LIKE OUR LONG-TERM KIA OPTIMA.

WE'VE BEEN A FAN OF THE MID-SIZE OPTIMA FROM THE START, AND EVEN AT 9,600 MILES, ITS HYBRID DRIVE JUST MAKES THE OPTIMA'S EURO-SPEC STYLE AND DRIVING RESPONSE THAT MUCH MORE APPEALING.

IN FACT, WE ALMOST TAKE IT'S NEAR 35 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR FUEL ECONOMY FOR GRANTED, ALONG WITH THE EXCELLENT RELIABILITY AND LONG DISTANCE COMFORT OF OUR EX MODEL.

AFTER SIX MONTHS OF DAILY USAGE, SOME INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE STARTING TO SHOW WEAR, BUT NOTHING UNEXPECTED.

THE NAV-SYSTEM IS AMONG THE EASIEST TO USE OUT THERE.

WHILE HIGHER STICKER PRICES STILL HAMPER HYBRID SALES, ONE DAY THIS TECHNOLOGY COULD BECOME NOT JUST THE SMARTEST CHOICE, BUT THE MOST POPULAR ONE AS WELL.

ANOTHER FAMILY CAR THAT SO FAR PLAYS TO A SMALLER GROUP OF FANS IS OUR 2014 MAZDA6 SPORT.

BUT THAT'S CHANGING AS MORE BUYERS ARE DRAWN IN BY THE NEW "6'S" STRIKING GOOD LOOKS.

LOOKS THAT FIT A FAMILY SEDAN THAT IS A TOTAL PERFORMANCE PACKAGE; MATCHING A SPORTY SEDAN NATURE WITH EXCELLENT FUEL ECONOMY, AND A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE.

GRANTED, OUR CAR IS THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL, BUT EVEN AUTOMATIC CARS GET THE DRIVER INVOLVED LIKE NO RIVAL.

THE 2.5-LITER SKYACTIV FOUR HAS MORE THAN AMPLE POWER, AND THAT'S WITH A HYBRID-LIKE 34.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR FUEL ECONOMY AFTER 6 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES.

BEST OF ALL, WE HAVE HAD NO MECHANICAL ISSUES, NOT EVEN PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR.

NOPE, FOR US, THE MAZDA6 KEEPS COMING UP AS A WINNING NUMBER.

THE AGREEABLY SMALL NISSAN VERSA NOTE, AND THE TALL AND FLEXIBLE SUBARU FORESTER, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

WITH EACH NEW GENERATION OF THEIR FORTE COMPACT, KIA HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS ABOUT GIVING SMALL CAR STALWARTS CIVIC AND COROLLA A REAL RUN FOR BUYER'S MONEY.

THE FIRST DESIGN WAS COMPETENT, WHILE THE SECOND GEN WAS ANOTHER STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ALBEIT A SMALL ONE.

NOW KIA HAS STEPPED UP THEIR GAME AGAIN AS A THIRD GENERATION FORTE MARCHES ONTO THE SCENE.

SO LET'S SEE IF THIS STEP IS ANOTHER SMALL ONE, OR A LEAP?

AT FIRST GLANCE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS 2014 KIA FORTE SEDAN TAKES ON THE EURO-INSPIRED DESIGN LANGUAGE OF OTHER RECENT KIAs.

WITH ITS LARGE MULTI-SIDED GRILLE, AND VERY SHARP LOOKING SHEET METAL WHEN VIEWED AGAINST MORE VANILLA RIVALS LIKE THE HONDA CIVIC AND NISSAN SENTRA.

ONLY THE NOW QUITE STYLISH TOYOTA COROLLA, AND SISTER HYUNDAI ELANTRA, VISUALLY COMPARE.

A 106.3-INCH WHEELBASE AND 179.5-INCH LENGTH MAKE FORTE LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER THAN BEFORE, SLOTTING BETWEEN CIVIC AND SENTRA IN SIZE.

AS BEFORE, A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK AND 2-DOOR KOUP WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE, BOTH FEATURING EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE STYLING.

THE NICELY FINISHED INTERIOR SEES A MUCH SOFTER MAKEOVER, WITH A REFRESHINGLY SIMPLE LAYOUT THAT STILL APPEARS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT IS.

FRONT SEATS, DESPITE BEING THIN AND NARROW, ARE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH FOR THE DAILY COMMUTE, IF NOT SO MUCH FOR LONG DISTANCE WORK.

THE SAME GOES FOR THE REAR SEATS WHERE ROOM AND SHAPE OF THE SEATS IS ALSO MOST SUITED FOR A PAIR OF COMMUTERS.

WHERE KIA REALLY SEEMS TO BE STANDING OUT IS WITH THEIR UVO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, WHICH WORKS MUCH BETTER THAN ALL OF THEIR COMPETITION AND EVEN MANY HIGH END LUXURY CAR SYSTEMS.

THE TOUCHSCREEN IS INCREDIBLY INTUITIVE, AND ALL CONTROLS, INCLUDING THOSE FOR RADIO AND NAVIGATION, ARE FIRST CLASS.

SPEAKING OF CLASS, OUR EX TESTER HAD THE PREMIUM AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES.

THEY ADD, AMONG OTHER UNEXPECTED THINGS, A HEATED STEERING WHEEL, HEATED SEATS, VENTILATED SEAT FOR THE DRIVER, PUSH BUTTON START, DUAL ZONE CLIMATE, HID HEADLIGHTS, AND LED TAIL LIGHTS.

GAUGES ARE NICE AND CLEAR, WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING THE SMALL DIGITAL BLOCK FUEL GAUGE.

BUT OVERALL, MUCH LIKE THE REST OF THE INTERIOR, IT'S SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE, AND ATTRACTIVE.

THE TRUNK PROVIDES A GOOD 14.9 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE AND THE FINISH IS SURPRISINGLY NICE FOR A COMPACT CAR.

FOLDING REAR SEATS MAKE CARRYING LONG ITEMS A SNAP.

TWO 4-CYLINDER ENGINES ARE AVAILABLE: THE LX'S 1.8-LITER AND THE EX'S 2.0-LITER.

WE SUGGEST GOING WITH THE LATTER AND ITS 173-HORSEPOWER AND 154 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT FEELS PLENTY POWERFUL FOR DAILY USE, INCLUDING FOR HIGHWAY PASSING, WHICH IS SLOWED WHILE THE STANDARD 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HUNTS FOR A LOWER GEAR.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STANDARD ON THE LX.

WE TOOK THE 2.0-LITER EX TO THE TRACK, AND DESPITE THE ENGINE SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS MADE BY FISHER PRICE, ALL WAS GOOD -- THOUGH IT WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM A RICHER EXHAUST SOUND.

STILL, THE 2.0 GETS YOU TO 60 IN A CLASS RESPECTABLE 8.8-SECONDS, AND THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.8-SECONDS AT 85 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THERE IS A MANUAL SHIFT MODE FOR THE AUTO, BUT IT TOO IS SLOW TO RESPOND, DOESN'T HELP TRACK TIMES, AND ADDED NOTHING TO OUR STRAIGHTLINE ENJOYMENT.

THE MCPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND TORSION BEAM REAR SUSPENSION IS DESIGNED MORE WITH AN EYE TOWARDS COMFORT THAN SPORTY PERFORMANCE.

BUT IT EQUATED ITSELF WELL ENOUGH THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE.

IT WAS SURPRISINGLY ENJOYABLE, WITH ONLY MINOR UNDERSTEER, AND AN UNOBTRUSIVE STABILITY CONTROL.

STEERING RESPONSE IS AGILE, AND KIA'S OPTIONAL FLEXSTEER ADJUSTABLE SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE TO TAILOR THE FEEL TO YOUR LIKING.

BRAKES WERE MORE ORDINARY, TAKING 132-FEET TO STOP FROM 60 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE IMPORTANT FOR ANY COMMUTER CAR.

THE 2.0-LITER AUTO RATES 24-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

WE EASILY BEAT THE COMBINED NUMBER, AVERAGING 30.8 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR WHILE DRIVING A DIVERSE SET OF ROADS.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS COMPACT CAR WORTHY AT 11.8-BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMPTION PER YEAR WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 5.2 TONS.

AS WITH ALL KIA'S, BASE PRICE IS A STRONG POINT.

INDEED, AT $16,700, THE LX STRIKES A NICE BARGAIN.

THE EX AT $20,200 TO START, A LITTLE LESS SO.

SO, TO ANSWER OUR QUERY OF WHETHER THIS NEW FORTE IS ANOTHER SMALL STEP, OR MORE OF A LEAP, WE'LL LEAN MORE TO THE STEP.

STILL, IT'S A HECK OF A CAR, AND WHILE THAT MAY BE ONE SMALL STEP FOR THE FORTE, IT'S PART OF THE GIANT LEAP THAT THE KIA BRAND HAS MADE IN RECENT YEARS.

IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CAR SEGMENT, KIA NOW HAS A VERY VIABLE MODEL THAT COMPETES ON MUCH MORE THAN JUST PRICE ALONE.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.

AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE HIT THE TRACK FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE LAPS IN THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF MAZDA CAN KEEP THE GOOD TIMES ROLLING WITH THE NEW MAZDA3.

UNTIL THEN, 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.

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HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.

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MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.