2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 & 2014 Nissan NV200 Taxi

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

JOIN US AND SEE HOW LAMBORGHINI IS BLOWING BY THE REST OF THE CAR WORLD WITH THEIR NEW HURACAN.

WE'LL RUN DOWN THE CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES THAT GRABBED OUR ATTENTION AND THE 2014 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

AND WE'LL TRY OUT HAND AT A NEW CAREER IN THE NISSAN NV200 NEW YORK CITY TAXI CAB.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT.

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

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DIEHARD.

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John Davis: EVEN BY LAMBORGHINI STANDARDS, THE GALLARDO SUPERCAR WAS A GROUND BREAKING EFFORT.

NOT ONLY WAS IT THE FIRST TIRE UP COLLABORATION WITH THEN NEW CORPORATE PARTNER AUDI; BUT IT WENT ON TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LAMBO OF ALL TIME, WITH OVER 14,000 SOLD.

BUT LAMBORGHINI HAS ITS SIGHTS SET ON EVEN BIGGER THINGS WITH ITS REPLACEMENT, AND WE BET IT TOO IS NO "STILL WIND."

THERE'S NO MISTAKING THE 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4 FOR ANYTHING BUT A LAMBORGHINI.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ANGLE YOU VIEW THIS ROLLING PIECE OF ITALIAN SCULPTURE FROM; IT'S CLEAR THAT IT WAS FORMED IN SANT'AGATA BOLOGNESE.

BUT LIKE ANY PIECE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE ITALIAN MACHINERY, THE BEST VIEWING ANGLE OF ALL IS FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AND WE FOUND OURSELVES IN SOUTHERN SPAIN, WHERE THE MOUNTAIN ROADS ARE CURVY AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.

HERE WE DISCOVERED THAT THE HURACAN PICKS UP WHERE THE GALLARDO LEFT OFF BY TAKING LAMBORGHINI TO NEW LEVELS OF ON-ROAD FRIENDLINESS.

YEP, YOU HEARD US RIGHT!

AND WHILE A "KINDER" LAMBO MIGHT MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO MORE PEOPLE, UNLESS IT ALSO UPS THE ANTE ON PERFORMANCE, IT COULD DISAPPOINT MANY MORE.

BUT IT WON'T.

OUR DRIVE IN SPAIN INCLUDED TRACK TIME AT CIRCUIT ASCARI, WHERE IT TOOK US A FEW LAPS TO FULLY COME TO GRIPS WITH THE ENTIRETY OF THE GRIP THIS CAR PROVIDES.

WHILE THE GALLARDO WAS AN AUDI-BASED SPACE FRAME CHASSIS COMPRISED OF ALUMINUM, THE HURACAN TAKES IT UP A NOTCH BY ADDING A HEFTY -- OR LIGHT -- AS THE CASE MAY BE, DOSE OF CARBON FIBER INTO THE MIX; HELPING SHED 50-POUNDS OF WEIGHT.

THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM BASELINES WITH A 30-FRONT/ 70-REAR TORQUE SPLIT, BUT THROUGH ITS ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC MULTI-PLATE CLUTCH, IT CAN SEND THE FULL TORQUE LOAD REARWARD.

AN ALL-ALUMINUM DOUBLE-WISHBONE SUSPENSION AND AVAILABLE MAGNERIDE ELECTROMECHANICAL DAMPER CONTROL WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE ITALIAN BLEND OF TENACIOUS TURN-INS, FANTASTICAL FEEDBACK, AND MARVELOUSLY FLAT CORNERING.

THE "SOUL" OF THIS HIGH-TECH CHASSIS IS ANIMA, ADAPTIVE NETWORK INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT THAT ADJUSTS JUST ABOUT EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAR SYSTEM DEPENDING ON STRADA, SPORT, OR CORSA SETTINGS.

OR THE QUICK WAY TO INSTANTLY TRANSFORM THE HURACAN FROM CUTE, MILD-MANNERED CALF TO FULL-ON, TORQUED-UP CHARGING BULL.

UNDER THE REAR HATCH, THERE IS A 610-HORSEPOWER PRODUCING CHUNK OF ROTATING ALUMINUM PARTS CHURNING OUT 413 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FROM 5.2-LITERS OF V10 DISPLACEMENT.

IT MAKES ALL OF THE PULSATING SOUNDS YOU EXPECT AS YOU REV YOUR WAY INTO A LAMBORGHINI CLAIMED 0-60 TIME OF JUST 3.2-SECONDS, THOUGH IT FEELS EVEN QUICKER THAN THAT.

TRANSMISSION IS EXCLUSIVELY A NEW 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH UNIT WITH BIG STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTERS AND A SMOOTH WORKING AUTO MODE.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS IS THE MOST MODERNITY WE'VE SEEN TO DATE IN A LAMBORGHINI INTERIOR.

VIRTUALLY ALL CONTROLS ARE MOUNTED ON THE FLAT BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING TURN SIGNALS AND DRIVE MODE SELECTOR FOR THE ANIMA.

THE CENTER STACK IS A RISING CONTROL PANEL WITH A ROW OF TOGGLES UP TOP AND STORAGE BELOW.

THERE'S NO BIG NAV SCREEN IN THE STACK OR ON TOP OF THE DASH, BUT RATHER NAVIGATION AND OTHER INFO IS FOUND RIGHT IN THE 12-INCH TFT GAUGE PANEL BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL.

INPUTS ARE MADE EITHER ON THE WHEEL OR WITH AN MMI CONTROLLER ON THE CONSOLE.

BLACK SUEDED LEATHER WITH EXPOSED STITCHING CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT, AS WELL AS A REPEATING HEXAGONAL THEME.

VISIBILITY, WHILE NOT QUITE AT SUBARU FORESTER LEVELS, IS BEST OF ANY LAMBORGHINI IN RECENT MEMORY.

NOW ABOUT THE EXTERIOR DESIGN...

IT'S CLEARLY MORE EVOLUTIONARY THAN GROUNDBREAKING.

STILL, THE FLOWING ARC LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK SETS A FRESHENED TONE, WITH SHARP ANGLES AND AIR INTAKES HERE AND THERE ADDING BOTH TENSION AND RELEASE.

EXTREME RAKE TO THE WINDSHIELD GIVES THE WHOLE CAR A FLATTER APPEARANCE THAN THE GALLARDO.

BODY PANELS ARE ALSO A COMBINATION OF ALUMINUM AND COMPOSITES; AND THE SHAPE CREATES ENOUGH DOWN-FORCE ON ITS OWN THAT NO SPOILER OR DEPLOYABLE REAR WING WAS DEEMED NECESSARY.

HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE LED AND FEATURE A Y-SHAPE THEME.

WHEELS ARE 20-INCH ALLOYS WITH 245/30 CUSTOM PIRELLI P ZEROS UP FRONT; BRAWNY 305/30s IN THE REAR; AND BRAKES ARE CARBON-CERAMIC.

WHILE OFFICIAL NUMBERS ARE NOT OUT YET, LAMBORGHINI ALSO CLAIMS AN 11% IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL ECONOMY OVER THE GALLARDO THANKS MOSTLY TO THE NEW TRANSMISSION WITH AUTOMATIC STOP/START.

PRICING?

IT STARTS AT $237,250.

THAT'S A HEALTHY STEP UP OVER THE GALLARDO.

BUT THE 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4 IS INDEED ANOTHER BIG LEAP FOR THE BRAND IN THEIR DRIVE TO BECOME A TRUE, TOTALLY MODERN, SUPER SPORTS CAR PROVIDER.

A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE DELIVERED WITH A LOT MORE FRIENDLINESS.

THAT SHOULD LEAD TO BROADER APPEAL AND A NEW LEVEL OF SUCCESS FOR THE "BRAND OF THE BULL."

DRIVING CARS AND TRUCKS FOR A LIVING MAY BARELY QUALIFY AS A REAL JOB, BUT IT CAN BE HARD WORK AT TIMES.

AND ONE OF THOSE TIMES IS WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR THAT WAS AND TRY TO PICK THE CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES THAT STOOD OUT TO US THE MOST.

IT'S OUR ANNUAL MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS, AND TRYING TO NARROW DOWN OUR FAVORITES OUT OF NEARLY 150 VEHICLES IS NOT AN EASY TASK, NEVERTHELESS, HERE ARE OUR WINNING CARS FOR 2014!

WE BEGIN WITH A SEGMENT GOING GREAT GUNS IN POPULARITY, BEST SUBCOMPACT CAR.

BUT "SUB" DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T GET BIG THRILLS FROM OUR WINNER, THE FORD FIESTA ST.

WHILE WE DON'T NORMALLY PICK A SUBCOMPACT WINNER THAT IS A NARROWLY FOCUSED PERFORMANCE MODEL, AS DRIVERS, WE COULD NOT RESIST THE FIESTA ST.

THIS EUROPEAN-STYLE 5-DOOR PACKS A POTENT PERFORMANCE PUNCH WITH A 197-HORSEPOWER 1.6-LITER I4, PROVIDING THE POWER AND A LOWERED SUSPENSION THAT CARRIES THE GOODS THROUGH CORNERS.

ALL FOR A BASE PRICE OF AROUND $22,000.

ENOUGH SAID!

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EASIEST DECISION WE MADE THIS YEAR IS OUR BEST COMPACT CAR WINNER WITH THE MAZDA3.

UP AGAINST A REVITALIZED CIVIC AND ALL-NEW COROLLA AND FORTE, THE "3" STILL MANAGED A UNANIMOUS WIN!

THE MAZDA3'S BLEND OF STERLING GOOD LOOKS, OUTGOING PRACTICALITY, AND DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE SHOOTS IT TO THE HEAD OF ITS CLASS.

AND SKYACTIV KEEPS FUEL ECONOMY HIGH WITHOUT THE COMPLEXITY OR COST OF A HYBRID SYSTEM.

TO US, THE MAZDA3 IS A NO BRAINER.

WHILE RETURNING A NAMEPLATE TO ITS FORMER GLORY IS NOT REQUIRED TO EARN A DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD, IT WORKED FOR THE CHEVROLET IMPALA, OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN.

THE BEAUTIFUL STYLING AND ROOMY INTERIOR WERE APPRECIATED, BUT WHAT IMPRESSED US MOST WAS ITS GREAT RIDE AND HANDLING THAT KEPT THINGS ENTERTAINING, YET STILL VERY COMFY AND SUPER QUIET INSIDE.

A WINNING FORMULA THAT RAISED THE IMPALA FROM RENTAL CAR APPLIANCE TO SOLID ROAD CITIZEN.

OUR BEST CONVERTIBLE PICK, THE JAGUAR F-TYPE, BRINGS BACK A TRUE SPORTS CAR EDGE TO THE FAMED BRITISH MARQUE.

WITH UP TO 495-HORSEPOWER FROM THE SUPERCHARGED V8 UNDER THE HOOD, THIS TWO-SEATER IS CLEARLY ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LOOKS.

YET, THOSE LOOKS ARE SPECTACULAR.

MODERN WITH JUST A HINT OF JAGUAR'S PAST, THIS RE-IMAGINED ROADSTER LIVES UP TO THE E-TYPE TRADITION.

THE DRIVER-FOCUSED COCKPIT IS ALSO STELLAR IN BOTH DESIGN AND FUNCTION.

OH, AND THE WICKED SOUND FROM THE EXHAUST WILL HAVE YOU GOING TOPLESS ANY CHANCE YOU GET.

WE'RE A LONG-TERM FAN OF THE CADILLAC CTS, BUT NEVER MORE SO THAN NOW AS IT EARNED OUR TROPHY FOR BEST LUXURY SEDAN.

WITH THE ATS NOW SUPPORTING THE BRAND IN THE COMPACT LUXURY-SPORT SEGMENT, THE CTS IS ABLE TO EMBRACE THE MID-SIZE SECTOR; AND DOES SO WITH THE PANACHE AND PROWESS WORTHY OF A GLOBAL PLAYER.

THE LOOK HAS EVOLVED; BUT DRILL FURTHER INTO THE DETAILS, PAST THE EXQUISITE INTERIOR, AND YOU'LL FIND THE CTS IS ACTUALLY BASED ON THE ATS'S DYNAMIC PLATFORM, HELPING IT PERFORM AS GREAT AS IT LOOKS.

OUR WINNER FOR BEST SPORTS SEDAN IS ANOTHER PERENNIAL FAVORITE, THE SUBARU WRX.

WITH THIS LATEST WRX, SUBARU IS TRYING TO CUT THE TIES FROM THE IMPREZA LABEL ON WHICH IT IS STILL BASED.

SOME MAY BEMOAN THE LOSS OF THE HATCHBACK, BUT THE SEDAN LOOKS PLENTY AGGRESSIVE, AND RIDES THAT WAY, TOO.

SUSPENSION FEEL IS STIFFER, BUT GREATLY IMPROVED HANDLING COMES WITH IT.

THERE'S A NEW 6-SPEED MANUAL AND SPORT TUNED CVT IF YOU MUST.

AND EVEN WITH ALL OF THE UPGRADES, PRICE REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME AS BEFORE.

AND TO TOP IT OFF, A HOTTER WRX STI ARRIVES SOON.

THE BMW 4-SERIES TAKES OUR PRIZE FOR BEST SPORT COUPE.

WHILE THE NEW 4 EVOLVED FROM THE 3-SERIES COUPE, WITH THE NEW NAME COMES A NEW DESIGN THAT IS BOTH WIDER AND LONGER IN WHEELBASE THAN BEFORE.

AND WHILE THE 6-SERIES INSPIRED SHEET METAL IS MORE AGGRESSIVE, THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE REMAINS TRADITIONAL BMW.

WHETHER YOU CHOOSE A TURBO-4 OR TURBO-6, YOU'LL BE FINDING EXCUSES TO MAKE ERRAND RUNS, TAKING BACK ROADS, AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

OUR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR AWARD COULD ONLY GO ONE PLACE, THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.

DESPITE EARLY HUBBUB ABOUT THE TAILLIGHTS, IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE BEHIND THE WHEEL TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE C7.

CRANK THE LT1 OVER AND YOU'LL GET A SOUND THAT BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR FACE IMMEDIATELY.

NAIL THE GAS AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU JUST GOT REAR ENDED BY A HUMMER TRAVELING AT FULL SPEED.

AND ONCE AT SPEED, YOU'LL GET HANDLING MATCHED ONLY BY CARS OVER TWICE THE PRICE OF THE STINGRAY.

IF HIGHLY PRACTICAL FUEL EFFICIENCY WAS A COMMODITY, THE HONDA ACCORD HYBRID, OUR WINNER FOR BEST ECO-FRIENDLY WOULD BE THE TOP SELLER.

FOR SURE, THERE ARE MORE FUEL STINGY WAYS TO GET AROUND, BUT FOR MOST AMERICANS, EVs ARE NOT THERE YET, AND MANY HYBRIDS COME WITH TOO MANY COMPROMISES.

WELL, THE ACCORD HYBRID IS NEARLY COMPROMISE FREE.

WHILE GIVING UP ONLY A LITTLE TRUNK SPACE FOR 50 MILE-PER-GALLON ECONOMY AND OVER 650 MILES OF RANGE, IT DELIVERS ALL THE COMFORT, SECURITY, AND GOOD ROAD MANNERS THE ACCORD'S NAME IS KNOWN FOR.

AND FINALLY, OUR BEST DREAM MACHINES OF THE YEAR; THE CARS WE'D BUY SHOULD WE STUMBLE UPON AN EXTRA MIL.

FIRST, WE'D STOP AT THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR AN SLS AMG BLACK SERIES.

WHILE NOT A REAL RACE CAR, THE GT3 INSPIRED SLS BLACK HAS LOADS OF TRACK WORTHY UPGRADES THAT PUTS THIS 622-HORSEPOWER, 3,400 POUND BEAST HIGH ON ANY MOTORHEAD'S SHOPPING LIST.

NEXT, OVER TO THE PORSCHE PALACE FOR A 911 TURBO S. HORSEPOWER?

YEP, 560.

TORQUE?

PLENTY OF THAT AS WELL, UP TO 553 POUND-FEET WORTH.

TORQUE VECTORING?

TRACK GRIPPING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE?

PRESENT.

NOTHING ELSE TO SAY REALLY.

AND SINCE WE'RE NOT TOTALLY IMPRACTICALLY MINDED, OUR FINAL STOP WOULD BE AT LAND ROVER FOR A RANGE ROVER SPORT, FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU WANT TO BE CODDLED IN EXTREME LUXURY, WHILE CARRYING 7-PASSENGERS, ACROSS A JUNGLE OR THE LOCAL DESERT.

IT'S A HIGH-TECH, ALL-ALUMINUM TOUR DE FORCE.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, OUR PICKS FOR BEST CARS OF '14.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT TRUCKS AND SUVs LATER IN THIS EDITION OF MOTORWEEK .

IF WE MADE A LIST OF THE HARDEST WORKING VEHICLES IN THE CAR BUSINESS, THE NEW YORK CITY TAXI CAB WOULD CERTAINLY BE CLOSE TO THE TOP.

THREE YEARS AGO, NEW YORK PICKED A NEW TAXI DESIGNED JUST FOR THEM.

THE WINNING ENTRY WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE; A TAXI BASED ON THE HUMBLE NISSAN NV200 CARGO VAN.

WELL, NISSAN'S "TAXI OF TOMORROW" IS NOW ON THE STREETS, INCLUDING OURS!

Driver: HEY, WHERE TO SIR?

Passenger: I'M JUST... OH, LOST MY GLASSES THERE, I'M JUST HEADING DOWN THE ROAD.

I'M IN A LITTLE BIT OF A HURRY, THOUGH, SO IF YOU COULD... Driver: OH, OKAY.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DETOUR DOWN HERE, SO COULD YOU PLEASE PUT THAT HELMET ON?

Passenger: UH, ALRIGHT.

SURE.

Driver: YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT!

Passenger: ALRIGHT.

Driver: HAVE YOU THERE IN A JIFFY, SIR.

RELAX!

Passenger: I'M TRYING, YOU'RE DRIVING A LITTLE FAST!

Driver: ENJOY THAT COFFEE!

NOT MUCH LONGER, SIR, ALMOST THERE!

THAT'LL BE $75.80.

John: YES, THE 2014 NISSAN NV200 TAXI IS NOT YOUR NORMAL VEHICLE AND THIS IS NOT YOUR NORMAL MOTORWEEK ROAD TEST.

IN CREATING THE ULTIMATE TAXI, NISSAN HAS TAKEN THE NV200 COMPACT CARGO VAN AND TRANSFORMED IT INTO A MODERN PEOPLE BIG CITY MOVER; WITH ATTENTION PAID TO JUST ABOUT EVERY DETAIL TO MAKE THE TRIP AS PLEASANT AS POSSIBLE FOR BOTH PASSENGERS AND DRIVER.

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL ANYANCE PROOF INTERIOR PARTITION.

SO NO MATTER HOW OBNOXIOUS THINGS ARE IN THE BACK SEAT...

Passenger: YES, I'LL SEND YOU A PICTURE RIGHT NOW.

READY?

John: ...THE DRIVER CAN REMAIN CALM AND CONCENTRATE ON DOING HIS JOB SAFELY.

THERE IS AN INTERCOM SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR BACK AND FORTH WHEN NECESSARY.

IF YOU'VE SPENT ANY TIME CRAMMED IN THE BACK OF A CROWN VIC YOU'LL CERTAINLY ENJOY THE ALMOST LIMO-LIKE AMOUNT OF SPACE IN THE NV200 TAXI.

IF YOU'RE THE ONE DOING THE DRIVING, YOU'LL ALSO FIND A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE SPACE UP FRONT, PLUS, A FOLD DOWN PASSENGER SEAT THAT MAKES FOR A NICE WORK SPACE, AND STANDARD NAVIGATION WITH BACK-UP CAMERA.

THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, WITH NO GAPS OR SMALL PLACES FOR THINGS TO GET LOST IN.

CLEAN UP IS EASY, AND SEATS ARE MADE WITH HOSPITAL-GRADE ANTI-MICROBIAL MATERIAL, AND FARES CAN CONTROL THEIR OWN CLIMATE.

THERE'S A BIG VIDEO SCREEN, AND EVEN USB PORTS FOR CHARGING YOUR DEVICES.

SLIDING DOORS OPEN WIDE AND STAY OUT OF TRAFFIC FOR SAFE, EASY ACCESS.

A SLIDE OUT ENTRY STEP HELPS AS WELL.

WHILE THE VAN'S SIDE WINDOWS DON'T ROLL DOWN, NISSAN ADDED SOME HANDY SLIDERS THERE FOR EXTREME PARTY RELIEF.

PLUS, WITH THE TRANSPARENT ROOF, PASSENGERS CAN SOAK UP THE CITY SKYLINE.

LUGGAGE SPACE IS PLENTIFUL, WITH MINIMAL WHEEL HUMP INTRUSION AND A LOW LOAD FLOOR.

ENGINE IS THE SAME 131-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER I4 FOUND IN ALL NV200s, BUT BOTH IT AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION GET SLIGHTLY BEEFED UP INTERNALS TO HANDLE THE ANTICIPATED DAILY ABUSE THEY WILL SURELY BE SUBJECTED TO.

THE MOST ABUSE WE WERE ABLE TO SUBJECT IT TO WAS A DAY AT OUR TEST TRACK.

ACCELERATION IS SLOW AND STEADY, WITH A 0 TO 60 TRIP TAKING 12.6-SECONDS.

IF YOUR NEXT FARE IS A QUARTER MILE AWAY, IT'LL TAKE YOU AT LEAST 19.3-SECONDS TO REACH THEM; AND YOU'LL BE TRAVELING AT 73 MILES-PER-HOUR AS YOU PASS THEM BY.

SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES WILL HAVE YOU COMING TO A HALT IN AN AVERAGE OF 131-FEET FROM 60.

AS FOR THE VISUAL ASPECT, WHAT OTHER COLOR WOULD IT BE FOR NEW YORK CITY EXCEPT YELLOW?

THE PAINTING IS DONE WITH A 1-STEP PROCESS WITH NO CLEAR COAT THAT MAKES FOR EASIER TOUCH-UPS.

CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD VACANCY LIGHTS ARE IN PLACE UP TOP, AND 911 LIGHTS CAN BE TRIGGERED BY A DASH MOUNTED BUTTON IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

SO, IF YOU'RE THINKING OF ADDING ONE TO YOUR FLEET, PRICING STARTS AT $29,700, AND INCLUDES A 150,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.

NOT SINCE THE CHECKER CABS OF THE 1950s HAS A CAR BEEN DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AN AMERICAN BIG CITY TAXI.

WELL, THE 2014 NISSAN NV200 TAXI CARRIES ON THAT TRADITION.

WHILE NOT EVERY CAB OPERATOR IN NEW YORK CITY LIKES THE NISSAN TAXI, AS BOTH RIDER AND DRIVER WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED.

SO, WHETHER IT'S IN THE "BIG APPLE" OR ELSEWHERE, IT WILL SURELY HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS RIDING IN NEW YORK STYLE.

TIME NOW TO GET BACK TO HANDING OUT MORE MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

LET'S SEE WHICH TRUCKS AND UTILITIES ARE HAULING THEM AWAY THIS YEAR!

OUR BEST SMALL UTILITY AWARD GOES TO THE REINCARNATED JEEP CHEROKEE.

THE NAME MAY HAVE BEEN GONE FROM AMERICA FOR A WHILE, AND EARLY PICTURES HAD MANY SKEPTICAL, BUT THE PROOF FOR US WAS IN THE DRIVING.

THE FACT THAT CHEROKEE RIDES ON AN ALFA ROMEO BASED DODGE DART CHASSIS MAY NOT ENDEAR IT TO JEEP FANATICS, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF BUYERS, IT MEANS A WELCOMED CAR-LIKE RIDE QUALITY.

PLUS, TO QUIET CRITICS, CHEROKEE CAN UPGRADE TO A BACKWOODS WORTHY TRAILHAWK MODEL COMPLETE WITH LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

AND WHILE WE DOUBT MANY WILL SPEND THE EXTRA BUCKS, THAT'S WHERE OUR MONEY WOULD GO.

WHETHER YOU CHOOSE I4 OR V6 POWER, THERE'S AN INDUSTRY-FIRST 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BUT THE NEW CHEROKEE IS NOT ABOUT NUMBERS, OTHER THAN MAYBE THE HUGE SALES NUMBERS THAT WE EXPECT TO BE HEADED JEEP'S WAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO HAULING THE WHOLE FAMILY AROUND, CALL US FRUGAL, AS WE WANT TO DO IT AS AFFORDABLY AND COMFORTABLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND THAT'S WHY OUR WINNER FOR BEST LARGE UTILITY IS THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

ARE THERE MORE LUXURIOUS THREE-ROW UTES AVAILABLE?

SURE.

BUT TODAY'S FAMILIES ARE PINCHING THEIR PENNIES.

FOR THEM, A FAMILY HAULER WHERE BANG FOR THE BUCK IS KING IS A TRUE NECESSITY.

WELL, FOR AROUND $29,000 TO START, THE SANTA FE DELIVERS GOOD COMFORT FOR SEVEN, 80.0 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE, 18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, AND ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY UNIT RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

THIS MAY HAVE BEEN OUR TOUGHEST DECISION IN ALL OF OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE VOTING: BEST PICKUP TRUCK.

WHILE THERE IS A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT THE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AND CAPABLE CHEVROLET SILVERADO, AND EVEN TOUGHER LOOKING TOYOTA TUNDRA, IT WAS THE RAM 1500 THAT WAS OUR ONLY REPEAT WINNER FOR 2014.

WE LOVED IT LAST YEAR FOR BOTH ITS HANDSOME NEW STYLE AND FUEL EFFICIENT V6 GASOLINE POWERTRAIN, BUT THIS YEAR, OUR CRUSH IS THE RESULT OF BRINGING THE MANLIEST OF ALL POWERTRAINS TO THE HALF-TON MARKET, A DIESEL!

ITS 3.0-LITER TURBO OIL BURNING V6 PUTS DOWN 420 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FOR A 9,200-POUND TOW RATING AND OVER 25 MILES-PER-GALLON FOR COMMUTING DUTY.

WITH BIG TRUCK PERFORMANCE, LUXURY SEDAN COMFORT, AND NOW ULTIMATE MANLINESS UNDER THE HOOD, IT'S NO WONDER THE RAM 1500 WINS AGAIN.

WELL, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE HAVE ONE MORE MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD TO HAND OUT, AND IT'S OUR BEST OF THE YEAR.

SO, WHO GETS TOP HONOR?

OKAY, IS THIS REALLY A SURPRISE TO ANYONE?

OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO THE 2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.

IT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WITH HUGE EXPECTATIONS TO FULFILL, AND IT DID SO, AND THEN SOME.

FROM THE PURPOSEFUL NEW DESIGN, TO THE UPGRADED INTERIOR, TO THE MOST POWER EVER IN A STANDARD CORVETTE, THIS 7TH GENERATION STINGER GOT REAL!

WHAT HASN'T CHANGED IS THAT THE CORVETTE CONTINUES TO OFFER EXOTIC CAR PERFORMANCE FOR A REALISTIC PRICE.

ONLY NOW YOU GET A WORLD-CLASS INTERIOR AS AN ADDED BONUS.

MATERIALS ARE NOW PREMIUM QUALITY, AND THE GAUGE PANEL IS AS WONDERFUL LOOKING AS IT IS HIGH-TECH, AND SEEMS TO REVEAL NEW TRICKS EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT IT.

MAGNETIC RIDE SUSPENSION MEANS THERE'S ALSO PLENTY OF COMFORT TO BE HAD; YET, A VERY COMMUNICATIVE CHASSIS REMAINS.

MOST OF OUR SPOUSES WISH WE COMMUNICATED THIS WELL!

AND DESPITE GROWING A TAD LARGER, MORE LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS, INCLUDING AN ALL-NEW ALUMINUM FRAME, AND CARBON FIBER IN THE HOOD AND ROOF PANEL, KEEP WEIGHT GAIN IN CHECK AND ACHIEVE PERFECT 50/50 BALANCE.

THE REAL STAR OF THIS SHOW, HOWEVER, IS THE GEN IV LT1 V8 SMALL BLOCK THAT CRANKS OUT 455-HORSEPOWER.

460 IF YOU ADD THE PERFORMANCE EXHAUST.

THE NEW 7-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS A REAL JOY TO WORK, AND WITH THE ACTIVE REV MATCH FEATURE ENGAGED, DOWN SHIFTING INTO A CORNER HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.

AND WITH ALL OF THAT, YOU CAN STILL GET CLOSE TO 30 MILES-PER-GALLON ON THE HIGHWAY!

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT EVEN WITHOUT ROUND TAILLIGHTS, WE WERE TRULY STUNG BY THIS 7TH GENERATION OF THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE.

AND THAT'S WHY THE STINGRAY IS MOTORWEEK'S 2014 DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

AND THAT'S OUR 2014 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE'LL TRYOUT COMPACT SPORT LUXURY WITH THE NEW AUDI A3.

THEN CHARGE DOWN ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY IN THE PORSCHE 911 TURBO S. 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...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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.

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.