2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray & 2014 Mazda3

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

JOIN US AS WE HIT THE TRACK AT HIGH SPEEDS IN THE AWESOME CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.

PAT GOSS GETS A CLEARER PICTURE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

AUTO WORLD GETS A CHARGE OUT OF EVs IN THE WORKPLACE.

AND WE'LL SEE IF THE LATEST MAZDA3 CAN KEEP A GOOD "ZOOM ZOOM" GOING.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

>> 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.

>> ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

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>> JOHN: THE 2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE CAR -- IN PART BECAUSE IT DELIVERS SO MUCH EXOTIC PERFORMANCE FOR FAR LESS THAN AN EXOTIC PRICE.

BUT ALSO BECAUSE THAT PERFORMANCE DOESN'T KEEP IT FROM BEING A VERY COMFORTABLE STREET DRIVER.

STILL, THIS NEW CORVETTE NEEDS A RACE TRACK TO REALLY SHOW WHAT IT'S MADE OF.

AND FORTUNATELY FOR US, GM SENT US THIS LAGUNA BLUE COUPE FOR A LITTLE FURTHER RESEARCH.

THE 2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY IS ALREADY AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.

AS WE GO TO AIR WITH THIS TEST, THERE IS ALREADY A SIX MONTH WAITING LIST.

THUS TO SAY THE LEAST, THEY ARE HARD TO GET.

SO WE WERE VERY PLEASED WHEN THIS C7 WAS DELIVERED JUST SO WE CAN GET SOME SERIOUS TRACK TIME TO SEE IF IT FULLY LIVES UP TO ITS POTENTIAL.

OUR EXAM TOOK PLACE ON THE SHENANDOAH CIRCUIT AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK, AND HAVING NEVER DRIVEN THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF WEST VIRGINIA ASPHALT, THE STINGRAY PROVED TO BE A WILLING COMPANION TO LEARNING A NEW TRACK, AS THAT FRIENDLY NATURE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS PRAISED REMAINS.

THE TRACK IS TIGHT WITH NOT TOO MANY PLACES FOR THE 'VETTE TO REALLY STRETCH ITS LEGS, BUT IT STILL MADE EASY WORK OF IT.

THE STANDARD ACTIVE REV MATCH FEATURE THAT COMES WITH OUR CARS 7-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS CERTAINLY APPRECIATED FOR EASING OUR WAY INTO THE TRACK'S MANY CORNERS.

WITH THE DRIVER MODE SELECTOR SET TO TRACK, GETTING OFF OF THOSE CORNERS, THE LT1 6.2-LITER V8 MADE THE BRIEF STRETCHES BETWEEN THEM FEEL FAR SHORTER THAN THEY ARE.

IT'S REALLY AN INSANE AMOUNT OF POWER FOR A STOCK CORVETTE AND IT TRULY MAKES US DROOL IN ANTICIPATION FOR THE UPCOMING INSANITY THAT WILL BE THE NEXT Z06.

AS FOR THE OVERALL BALANCE OF THE CAR, IT FELT THAT WE WERE SITTING CLOSER TO THE FRONT WHEELS, WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

STEERING IS QUICK, TURN-IN IS SPOT-ON, AND WITH OUR CAR'S MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL, THERE'S ONLY MINIMAL BODY MOVEMENT.

OF COURSE WE ALSO NEEDED SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AT THE DRAG STRIP...

SO DOWN OUR HOME 75-80 DRAGWAY WE WENT, WITH THE QUARTER-MILE TAKING 12.8-SECONDS AT 116 MILES-PER-HOUR.

VERY COLD TRACK TEMPS DIDN'T HELP WHEN IT CAME TO GETTING A GOOD LAUNCH HOWEVER, BUT WE STILL SAW A 4.2-SECOND ROMP TO 60 AFTER GETTING THE REARS HEATED UP ENOUGH TO GRAB TRACTION.

IT'S AN ALL BUSINESS AFFAIR AS THIS 'VETTE PLIES IT'S TRADE WITH BIG POWER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REV BAND.

THE SHIFTER FEELS SLICK AND THROWS ARE SHORT.

IN OUR STANDARD BRAKE TEST, THE BREMBOS GOT THE JOB DONE FINE WITH STOPS AVERAGING A VERY SHORT 107 FEET FROM 60, WITH A TOTALLY FIRM PEDAL.

AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN ALL OF THE FUN STUFF OUT OF THE WAY, A QUICK REVIEW ON THE NEW STINGRAY'S FACTS AND FIGURES...

THE LATEST LT1 V8 CRANKS OUT A STANDARD 455-HORSEPOWER AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ADDING THE PERFORMANCE EXHAUST OPTION BUMPS THOSE NUMBERS TO 460 AND 465.

A WORTHY UPGRADE INDEED.

THOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO BANG-FOR-YOUR-BUCK UPGRADES, NONE BEATS OUR CAR'S Z51 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, WHICH ADDS A MORE TRACK-WORTHY SUSPENSION, DRY SUMP OILING FOR THE ENGINE, AN ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP REAR, BIGGER SLOTTED BRAKE ROTORS AND BLACK PAINTED BRAKE CALIPERS, PAINTED ALUMINUM 19 AND 20-INCH WHEELS, LOWER ASPECT RATIO TIRES, REVISED GEAR RATIOS, ADDITIONAL COOLING, AND AN AERO PACKAGE.

ALL OF THIS FOR JUST $2,800 BUCKS MORE?

IT'S THE PERFORMANCE BARGAIN OF THE YEAR.

AND OF COURSE WE CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE WITHOUT SPENDING A LITTLE TIME DISCUSSING THE EYE CATCHING EXTERIOR DESIGN OF THE NEW STINGRAY, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN JUST THE NON-ROUND TAILLIGHTS.

THE AGGRESSIVE STYLING CERTAINLY GRABS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

IT'S FULL OF PURPOSEFUL LINES AND VENTS, LIKE A REAL BULLY THAT WOULD LIKELY BE PICKING ON JUST ABOUT EVERY EUROPEAN EXOTIC ON THE PLAYGROUND.

THERE ARE COMPOSITE BODY PANELS OF COURSE, BUT ALSO CARBON FIBER FOR THE HOOD AND REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL, AND THE FRAME IS ALL ALUMINUM.

THE INTERIOR HAS SEEN TRANSFORMATION AS WELL, WITH BETTER MATERIALS; INCLUDING REAL CARBON FIBER AND ALUMINUM TRIM, MORE TECHNOLOGY FEATURES LIKE A SPLENDID RECONFIGURABLE GAUGE DISPLAY, AND BETTER SEATING.

THOUGH ON THAT POINT, THE EUROPEANS MAY STILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE IMPRESSIVE FOR SUCH A CAR; 17-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

THOUGH WE DIDN'T QUITE SEE THE HIGH NUMBERS SOME ARE CLAIMING, WE AVERAGED A QUITE GOOD 26.4 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE FOR ALL VEHICLES AT 15.7-BARRELS OF OIL USED ANNUALLY, AND 7.0-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

STINGRAY PRICES START AT $51,995.

Z51 AT $54,795.

NEED WE SAY MORE?

SO WITH OUR RESEARCH COMPLETE, WE HAVE DETERMINED EXACTLY WHAT THE 2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY IS MADE OF... HIGH TECH SUBSTANCES, HONEST QUALITY, AND LOFTY PERFORMANCE, ALL BREWED UP IN GM'S SIMMERING CAULDRON OF MOLTEN AWESOMENESS.

WE HATED TO SEE IT LEAVE, BUT WE LOVED TO WATCH IT GO!

TRADITIONAL OFFICE PERKS, LIKE FREE COFFEE AND CASUAL FRIDAY'S, HAS GIVEN WAY TO HEALTH FOOD, FLEX-TIME, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS IN TODAY'S MOST PROGRESSIVE COMPANIES.

BUT THE NEWEST TREND IN OFFICE BENNIES IS GETTING MORE AND MORE WORKERS CHARGED UP ABOUT MAKING THAT MORNING COMMUTE.

ABOUT HALF OF THE PASSENGER CARS IN THE U.S. HAVE ACCESS TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET WHERE THEY PARK OVERNIGHT.

MEANING THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE RECHARGING IS IN PLACE.

BUT DURING THE DAY, WHEN THOSE SAME CARS HANG OUT AT WORK OR SCHOOL, EV CHARGING CAN BE A HIT-OR-MISS PROPOSITION; AS POWER OUTLETS HAVE NOT TRADITIONALLY BEEN FOUND IN THESE LOCATIONS.

TO HELP REMEDY THIS, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS CREATED THE WORKPLACE CHARGING CHALLENGE.

THIS PROGRAM CALLS FOR FORWARD LOOKING COMPANIES TO ASSESS THE CHARGING NEEDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, COMMIT TO PROVIDING CHARGING ACCESS AT ONE OR MORE MAJOR WORKSITES, AND ALSO TO SHARE THEIR PROGRESS AND BEST PRACTICES TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FOLLOW SUIT.

FOR ONLINE SHOE AND CLOTHING RETAILER ZAPPOS.COM, THIS INITIATIVE FIT RIGHT IN TO THEIR PLANS FOR A JUST- COMPLETED, STATE OF THE ART HEADQUARTERS IN LAS VEGAS.

THIS ULTRA-COOL OFFICE SPACE, COMPLETE WITH ROOFTOP LOUNGE AND COFFEE BAR, EFFICIENT OPEN-PLAN WORK AREAS, AND FREE BOUNCY BALLS IN THE COURTYARD, IS ACTUALLY RE-IMAGINED AND RECYCLED FROM THE FORMER LAS VEGAS CITY HALL AND JAIL.

THE CENTRAL URBAN LOCATION ENCOURAGES MANY EMPLOYEES TO STROLL OR ROLL TO WORK, AND ADDING EV CHARGERS TO THE MIX WAS A NATURAL FIT.

>> BRAD TOMM: AT ZAPPOS, ITS PART OF OUR CULTURE TO BUILD EV CHARGING STATIONS, WHICH IS A GOOD FIT FOR HOW OUR EMPLOYEES GET TO WORK, EITHER BY COMMUTING, CARPOOLING, ON THEIR BIKE, OR DRIVING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

HOPEFULLY, SOMEDAY, ALL OF THE VEHICLES WILL BE ELECTRIC.

>> JOHN: ZAPPOS ONLY HAS A FEW USERS FOR THEIR EV CHARGERS AT THE MOMENT.

BUT AS THE SAYING GOES...

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME.

AND NOWHERE IS THAT BEING PROVEN MORE CONVINCINGLY THAN IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

COCA-COLA IS ALREADY KNOWN AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER FOR THEIR USE OF HYBRID-ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRUCKS IN THE FIELD, AND AT THEIR HOME BASE IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA, A MAKEOVER IS UNDERWAY TO MAKE THIS COMPLEX A LEED-CERTIFIED GREEN URBAN OASIS.

BUT AS PROGRESSIVE AS THEY ARE, EVEN COKE IS SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE EMBRACING THE EV COMMUTING CHOICE.

>> JULIE SEITZ: WE STARTED VERY SMALL.

WE STARTED WITH A HANDFUL OF CHARGERS, AND WE ONLY HAD ABOUT FOUR CARS HERE AT OUR WORLD HEADQUARTERS.

AND IN JUST AN 18-MONTH PERIOD, WE'RE UP TO ALMOST 80 CARS, AND THEY'RE GROWING AT A RATE OF ABOUT ONE OR TWO A WEEK.

NOW, CHARGING STATIONS, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PUT THEM IN QUITE AS FAST AS ONE OR TWO A WEEK, AND SO WE'RE KIND OF SEEING HOW THIS GOES.

BUT WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 26 CHARGERS, AND WE'VE CREATED A LITTLE COMMUNITY OF THESE ELECTRIC CAR OWNERS, AND THEY'VE DECIDED ON THEIR OWN, THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE THE CHARGING STATIONS MORNING AND NIGHT.

>> JOHN: NISSAN, MAKER OF THE POPULAR LEAF ALL-ELECTRIC CAR, HAS INSTALLED EV CHARGERS ON-SITE AT THEIR NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN TENNESSEE, AND MADE THEM AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES, AND TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

THEY RECENTLY DOCUMENTED A "DAY IN THE LIFE" OF THIS HARDWORKING APPLIANCE AND FOUND AN INTERESTING MIX OF USERS.

>> YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE.

YOU SEE THEM AT THE LIBRARY.

YOU SEE THEM AT THE WHOLE FOODS.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE ONE AT COSTCO.

THE FACT THAT THERE'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN NASHVILLE IS ABSOLUTELY -- MAKES IT EASY.

AND YOU SEE THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> JOHN: DOZENS OF OTHER U.S. COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN UP THE WORKPLACE CHARGING CHALLENGE ON THEIR OWN OR THROUGH THIS D.O.E.

INITIATIVE.

AND WITH RESULTS AS PROMISING AS THESE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE EV INFRASTRUCTURE PUZZLE WILL SOON BE SOLVED FOR GOOD.

>> JOHN: EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER'S COOL, THINGS ARE HEATING UP OVER AT GOSS' GARAGE.

SO LET'S HEAD ON OVER AND SEE WHAT PAT HAS FOR US THIS WEEK!

>> PAT GOSS: AS CARS HAVE BECOME MORE COMPLICATED, SO HAVE THE MEANS TO TEST THEM.

SEE, IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TEST A LOT OF THINGS ON AN AUTOMOBILE; SO WHAT WE'RE RELYING ON MORE THAN EVER ARE HEAT SIGNATURES UNDER THE HOOD OR JUST ABOUT ANY PLACE ON THE CAR.

ONE OF THE MOST BASIC ONES COMES FROM AN INFRARED THERMOMETER, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

THIS, YOU SIMPLY SQUEEZE IT, YOU AIM THE LITTLE RED LASER DOT AT WHAT YOU WANT TO CHECK THE TEMPERATURE ON, AND IT DISPLAYS THE TEMPERATURE RIGHT ON THE SCREEN OF THE THERMOMETER.

WORKS GOOD FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

WE ESPECIALLY LIKE IT FOR CHECKING FOR A DEAD CYLINDER, A CYLINDER THAT'S NOT FIRING.

IF THE ENGINE'S RUNNING REAL ROUGH, OR FLASHING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND ALL THAT -- WELL, WE CAN AIM THIS AT EACH ONE OF THE EXHAUST PORTS WHERE THE EXHAUST COMES OUT OF THE HEAD; THE COLD ONE IS THE DEAD CYLINDER.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE BEGIN OUR SPECIFIC TESTING.

BUT WE CAN GO A LOT FURTHER.

THIS IS A THERMAL IMAGER.

THESE CAME FROM FLUKE, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY CLEVER.

WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE A PICTURE OF THE THING THAT YOU WANT TO CHECK, AND THE PICTURE COMES OUT IN VARYING COLORS.

THE VARIANCE IN COLOR TELLS YOU THE TEMPERATURE OF THAT PARTICULAR DEVICE.

SO, YOU LOOK AT WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CHECK THE TEMPERATURE OF AND YOU GET THE PICTURE.

AND BY KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AS FAR AS THE COLORS ARE CONCERNED, YOU CAN TELL WHERE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS.

WE FOUND THIS VERY BENEFICIAL FOR FINDING HIGH RESISTANCE IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AROUND FUSES IN FUSE PANELS, BECAUSE THE FUSE WILL SHOW HOTTER THAN THE ONES AROUND IT.

SO IT'S VERY CLEVER.

IT WORKS VERY WELL, AND IT CAN BE USED FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS -- ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO AIR CONDITIONING, COOLING SYSTEMS, AIR LEAKS, LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY COME IN A VARIETY OF SIZES AND SHAPES, AND PRICES, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SHOP MAY NEED.

SO IF YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK YOUR TECHNICIAN IF THEY HAVE A THERMAL IMAGER.

AND IF THEY DO -- WELL, THAT MAY BE THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM WITHOUT SPENDING A TON OF MONEY.

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

>> JOHN: TIME NOW FOR A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR LONG-TERM 2014 SUBARU FORESTER 2.0XT COMPACT CROSSOVER IN TOURING TRIM.

THE ACCOLADES FOR THE REDESIGNED FORESTER CONTINUE FROM BOTH OWNERS AND MEDIA ALIKE.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST IS ITS NO-NONSENSE APPROACH TO FLEXIBILITY.

STANDARD, YET FUEL CONSCIOUS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEMS CONNECTED TO SMALL BUT EAGER ENGINES, AND AN INTERIOR THAT HANDLES TALLER PEOPLE AND BEEFIER CARGO THAN MOST RIVALS.

IN FACT, THE HATCH OPENS EXTRA TALL FOR LOADING, AND WHEN EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER ASSIST, HAS A USEFUL MEMORY OPENING HEIGHT FUNCTION.

WE ARE PLEASED WITH ITS 24.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR FUEL ECONOMY GIVEN THAT MOST OF OUR FORESTER'S 8,500 MILES HAVE BEEN SPENT DRIVING AROUND TOWN.

AFTER FIVE MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN NO MECHANICAL FAULTS, SO WE TOO CAN ADD TO THE ACCOLADES FOR THE SUBARU FORESTER.

WE'RE OFTEN ASKED HOW WE MANAGE TO TRANSITION FROM TESTING PERFORMANCE CARS TO ECONOMY CARS WITHOUT MISTREATING THE MORE BASIC VEHICLE.

WELL, WHEN THEY IMPRESS US LIKE THE NISSAN VERSA NOTE, IT'S AN EASY MOVE.

WE REALLY LIKE THE NOTE.

WE LIKE ITS SLICK LOOKS, ITS AMAZINGLY ROOMY AND VERSATILE INTERIOR, ITS IMPRESSIVELY FUN TO DRIVE NATURE, AND, OF COURSE, ITS FUEL ECONOMY.

SO FAR, AFTER ONLY A MONTH AND 2,500 MILES, FUEL ECONOMY IS STELLAR AT 35.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

WE'VE FOUND THE NOTE WELL SUITED NOT ONLY FOR BIG CITY TRAFFIC CLOGS, BUT OPEN INTERSTATE CRUISING AS WELL.

BUT IT'S STILL NEW TO OUR FLEET SO WE'LL SEE IF THE NOTE CONTINUES TOE ON KEY DOWN THE ROAD.

IT'S A LATE FALL CHECK-IN ON OUR WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE MOTORHOME ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW LET'S DUCK INSIDE TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

>> YOLANDA: IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, FOLKS... TIME FOR THE L.A. AUTO SHOW, AND MOTORWEEK WAS OUT WEST FOR ALL THE LATEST UNVEILS.

THE CITY OF ANGELS ANSWERED MORE THAN A FEW AUTOMOTIVE PRAYERS WITH REVEALS OF SOME LONG-AWAITED MODELS.

RED-BLOODED AMERICANS SHOULD WELCOME THE RETURN OF THE CHEVROLET COLORADO AS A DOMESTIC BRAND RETURNS TO THE MID-SIZE PICKUP SEGMENT.

SPORTIER THAN THE FULL-SIZE SILVERADO, THE PICKUP'S GAS ENGINE CHOICES ARE FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER, WITH A DIESEL TO FOLLOW LATER.

PORSCHE FINALLY PULLED THE WRAPS OFF OF THE COMPACT MACAN SUV WITH A TWIN-TURBO V6 GOOD FOR 400 HORSEPOWER.

JAGUAR SHOWED OFF THE F-TYPE COUPE, INCLUDING AN R UPGRADE WITH REVISED SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN DYNAMICS.

BMW, MEANWHILE, TOOK THE TOP OFF OF THEIR NEW 4 SERIES, ANNOUNCING ITS NEW HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE.

FORD AND LINCOLN SHARED THE L.A.

SPOTLIGHT.

FORD SHOWED THIS EDGE MIDDLEWEIGHT CROSSOVER CONCEPT WITH AN ADVANCED SELF-PARKING SYSTEM.

WHILE THE COMPACT LINCOLN MKC LUXURY UTILITY MADE ITS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE.

SUBARU GAVE US A GLIMPSE AT THEIR NEW MID-SIZE LEGACY SEDAN.

AND WE LEARNED MUCH MORE ABOUT THE 2015 WRX, WITH BOTH 6 SPEED MANUAL AND CVT TRANSMISSION CHOICES.

BIG SEDANS MAKE BIG NEWS THIS YEAR.

KIA UNVEILED THEIR FIRST EVER REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE FOUR-DOOR, THE K900.

AT THE OPPOSITE END COMES THE ALL-NEW 2015 MINI COOPER.

ALTHOUGH TO BE FAIR, IT TOO HAS GROWN IN BOTH SIZE AND SOPHISTICATION.

ACURA'S RLX SPORT HYBRID IS POWERED BY A V6 GASOLINE ENGINE AND THREE ELECTRIC MOTORS FOR A TOTAL OF 377 HORSEPOWER.

SPORTING 577 HORSEPOWER IS THIS MERCEDES-BENZ AMG VISION GRAN TURISMO CONCEPT.

BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO BUY THE NAMESAKE VIDEO GAME TO DRIVE IT.

GREEN MOTORING SAW A FEW NEWCOMERS... LIKE THIS VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF EV.

A FUEL CELL CONCEPT FROM HONDA.

AND A VERY REAL 2015 HYUNDAI TUCSON, ALSO POWERED BY A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL.

AND SPEAKING OF GREEN, THE 2014 GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO THE HONDA ACCORD, WHICH ADDED A HYBRID MODEL TO ITS LINEUP OF FUEL EFFICIENT GASOLINE AND PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSIONS.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS FROM THE LEFT COAST AND THE 2013 L.A. AUTO SHOW.

>> JOHN: MAZDA HAS BEEN ON A ROLL OF LATE WITH GREAT LOOKING REDESIGNS FOR THE CX-5 CROSSOVER AND MAZDA6 MIDSIZE SEDAN; AND WITH THEIR SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY PRODUCING NOTEWORTHY FUEL ECONOMY GAINS WITHOUT TUNING OUT THE ZOOM ZOOM FUN FACTOR THE BRAND IS KNOWN FOR.

WELL, NOW THEY HOPE TO BRING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER IN THEIR HIGH VOLUME MAZDA3 COMPACT.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE NEW 'THREE' CAN KEEP THE GOOD TIMES ROLLING FOR MAZDA.

2014 MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAZDA3.

AND IN THAT BRIEF TIME, IT'S NOT ONLY BECOME ONE OF OUR FAVORITE COMPACTS, BUT MAZDA'S BIGGEST SELLER.

AND NOW IN ITS 3RD GENERATION, THIS 5-DOOR SEES THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN ITS BRIEF LIFETIME, BEING ALL NEW FROM THE GROUND UP.

WHEELBASE IS OVER TWO-INCHES LONGER THAN BEFORE, YET OVERALL LENGTH IS ALMOST TWO-INCHES SHORTER, AND THE NEW PROPORTIONS WORK GREAT WITH MAZDA'S KODO "SOUL OF MOTION" DESIGN THEME.

WE'RE NOT GOING OUT ON A LIMB WHEN WE SAY IT'S THE BEST LOOKING CAR IN THE COMPACT SEGMENT, PARTICULARLY IN 5-DOOR HATCH GUISE.

IF YOU MUST, A TRADITIONAL 4-DOOR SEDAN IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

BOTH SHARE THE LATEST MAZDA SIGNATURE 5-POINT GRILLE AND SHARPLY ANGLED HEADLIGHTS.

16-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, 18s COME ON TOURING AND ABOVE.

INSIDE, THE DASH HAS BEEN CLEANED UP AND MATERIALS HAVE TAKEN A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, EXCEPT FOR THE GAUGE PACKAGE WHICH FEATURES A MOTORCYCLE-LIKE LARGE TACH, BUT ONLY A SMALL DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER.

AN ADDITIONAL FLIP UP ACTIVE DRIVING DISPLAY HELPS SOMEWHAT BY ADDING ANOTHER DIGITAL SPEED READOUT, AS WELL AS NAVIGATION AND OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION, BUT WE'D STILL LIKE TO SEE A TRADITIONAL NEEDLE SPEEDO.

OUR TEST MODEL CAME IN HIGHLY EQUIPPED GRAND TOURING TRIM, WHICH LEFT US WANTING FOR LITTLE AS NAVIGATION, BOSE SOUND, LEATHER-TRIMMED SPORT SEATS, DUAL-ZONE CLIMATE, AND PUSH BUTTON START ARE ALL INCLUDED.

THE GT TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE ADDS A LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM CONTROL, ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS, AND MAZDA'S NEW I-ELOOP SYSTEM THAT STORES ENERGY GENERATED BY THE BRAKES IN A CAPACITOR TO RUN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

NOW WE DOUBT MANY BUYERS WILL OPTION THEIR MAZDA3 THIS HIGH, BUT EVEN BASE MODELS HAVE GREAT SEATS UP FRONT WITH A VERY SPORTY DRIVING POSITION.

REAR SEATS ARE ALSO MUCH COMFIER THAN BEFORE, THOUGH LEGROOM REMAINS IN SHORT SUPPLY.

BUT CARGO ROOM IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY WITH 20.2 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE, EXPANDING TO 47.1 WITH REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

TWO SKYACTIV-G 4YLINDER ENGINES ARE AVAILABLE, A 2.0-LITER AND A 2.5-LITER.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE FUEL ECONOMY PENALTY FOR STEPPING UP TO THE LARGER FOUR, AND ITS 184-HORSEPOWER AND 185 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE UP THE FUN FACTOR EXPONENTIALLY.

HOW MUCH SO?

WELL, AT OUR TEST TRACK, WE MANAGED TO HIT 60 IN 6.9 SECONDS.

THERE'S A TINY BIT OF WHEEL HOP AT LAUNCH, BUT ONCE HOOKED UP THIS LATEST 3 PULLS PRETTY STRONG THROUGH THE RPMs.

ALL GRAND TOURING CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND WE FOUND SHIFTS VERY QUICK IN SPORT MODE, HELPING US REACH THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.2-SECONDS AT 95 MILES-PER-HOUR.

SKYACTIV BODY AND CHASSIS ENHANCEMENTS HAVE MADE THE NEW 3 BOTH STIFFER AND LIGHTER, AND THE FULLY INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION SETUP CONSISTS OF MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT WITH A MULTI-LINK IN THE REAR, TWIN-TUBE SHOCKS ALL AROUND.

BRAKES ARE 4-WHEEL DISC ON ALL MODELS, BUT CARS WITH 18-INCH WHEELS GET SLIGHTLY LARGER DISCS UP FRONT.

WE AVERAGED AN OKAY 129-FEET FROM 60.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDE BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND BACKUP CAMERA WITH REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, AND THE MAZDA3 ALSO FEATURES A NEW MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WHICH MERGES ALL OF YOUR CONNECTIVITY NEEDS INTO A DASH TOP SCREEN WITH AN EASY TO USE CENTRAL CONTROLLER.

SKYACTIV PROVIDES GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR 2.5 GRAND TOURING AUTOMATIC OF 28-CITY, 38-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 33.2 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR IN MIXED DRIVING.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ALSO VERY GOOD, WITH ANNUAL OIL USE OF 10.3-BARRELS AND YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS OF 4.6-TONS.

PRICING IS COMPETITIVE FOR THE BASE MODEL 3 AT JUST $19,740 FOR THE ISPORT 5-DOOR.

SEDANS START EVEN CHEAPER AT $17,740.

HOWEVER, FOR AN S GRAND TOURING 5-DOOR LIKE OURS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT $27,290.

WHILE SOMEWHAT PRICEY FOR ITS SEGMENT, THE 2014 MAZDA3 OFFERS FEATURES AND STYLE OF VEHICLES TWICE ITS STICKER.

ADD IN FINE FUEL ECONOMY AND A FUN-TO-DRIVE NATURE THAT'S HARD TO FIND IN THIS SEGMENT AND THAT MAKES THE MAZDA3 A REAL HIT WITH US, AND WE THINK WITH MORE DISCERNING SMALL CAR BUYERS AS WELL.

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 I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE SEE IF THE NISMO TREATMENT MAKES SENSE FOR THE NISSAN JUKE.

THEN WE'LL GRAB SOME SEAT TIME IN THE STUNNING FERRARI F12 BERLINETTA.

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.

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 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.

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.