2014 Toyota 4Runner & 2014 SRT Viper

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

JOIN US AS THE LATEST TOYOTA 4RUNNER STAYS TRUE TO THE SUV SCHOOL... PAT GOSS TURNS TO THE "FORCE" FOR BEST BALANCE OUT ON THE ROAD...

THINKING OF GETTING INTO THE RV LIFESTYLE?

WE ASK THE EXPERTS FOR FIRST TIME BUYER ADVICE... THEN WE TRY TO PERFECT OUR LAP TIMES IN THE SRT VIPER TIME ATTACK!

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 BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

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

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

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.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

John: WHILE THE MARKET FOR TRADITIONAL, RUGGED, TRUCK-LIKE SUVS CONTINUES TO DWINDLE -- WITH MOST UTILITIES EITHER GOING CROSSOVER, LIKE THE NISSAN PATHFINDER, OR DISAPPEARING ALTOGETHER, LIKE TOYOTA'S FJ CRUISER, OPTIONS FOR TRAIL BLAZING FAMILIES ARE GETTING SLIMMER.

BUT TOYOTA IS NOT GIVING UP ON THE SEGMENT ENTIRELY, AS THERE'S AN UPDATED 4RUNNER FOR 2014, READY TO TACKLE BOTH TOWN AND COUNTRY.

SO LET'S SEE IF IT TRULY IS EQUIPPED TO DO BOTH.

THE LINE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL SUVS AND CROSSOVERS IS HARDER AND HARDER TO DEFINE.

BUT TOYOTA HAS DRAWN A CLEAR LINE IN THE SAND, OR RATHER THROUGH THEIR LINEUP, BY PROMOTING BOTH TRADITIONAL BODY-ON-FRAME SUVS AND UNIBODY CROSSOVER OPTIONS.

FOR 2014, THE 4RUNNER CONTINUES AS A TRUE SUV, BUT DOES GAIN UPDATES THAT SHOULD APPEAL TO BUYERS WHO ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THE COMFORT AND FEATURES OF CONTEMPORARY CROSSOVERS.

BUT TOYOTA HAS ALSO DRAWN A LINE THROUGH THE 4RUNNER LINEUP TO HELP GIVE AS MANY BUYERS AS POSSIBLE THE EXACT EXPERIENCE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

BESIDES THE BREAD AND BUTTER SR5 MODEL, YOU CAN VEER FOR MORE CROSSOVER-LIKE COMFORT WITH THE LIMITED, OR UTMOST OFF-ROAD ABILITY WITH THE TRAIL MODEL.

FOR OUR TEST, WE DREW A POSH LIMITED 4X4.

LIKE MOST RECENT TOYOTA UPDATES, THE POWERTRAIN IS UNCHANGED.

STARTING WITH A TORQUE-Y V6 THAT CHURNS OUT 278 POUND-FEET OF THE GOOD STUFF, ALONG WITH 270-HORSEPOWER.

THE TRANSMISSION IS A RATHER ANCIENT 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC; BUT YOU CAN GET A REAL HONEST-TO-GOODNESS HI-LOW TRANSFER CASE, AND ALL 4RUNNERS COME WITH AN INTEGRATED TOW HITCH AND 5,000 POUND TOW RATING.

NO MATTER HOW FAR AFIELD YOU ROAM, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO DO SO IN COMFORT, AND INSIDE IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE BIGGEST CHANGES TO THIS UPDATED 4RUNNER.

MATERIALS ARE MUCH NICER, BUT IT DOESN'T QUITE REACH THE COMFORT LEVEL OF A HIGHLANDER, AS THINGS LIKE THE VERY CLUNKY LAYOUT REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS STILL A TRUCK.

BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, MOST BUYERS WILL ACTUALLY LOVE THAT.

THE LIST OF STANDARD FEATURES GROWS.

ALL MODELS ADD ENTUNE TOUCHSCREEN AUDIO, WITH ONLY THE BASE SR5 LACKING NAVIGATION AND BACK-UP CAMERA.

A THIRD ROW IS AN OPTION FOR SR5 AND LIMITED, BUT IT'S NOT ONE WE'D LIKE RIDING IN FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

PLUS, IT CLEARLY ROBS CARGO SPACE.

OVERALL, INTERIOR VOLUME FALLS BY 7.5 CUBIC-FEET.

EXTERIOR UPDATES ARE MUCH MORE SUBTLE, MAINLY A CHUNKIER FRONT FASCIA, TESTOSTERONE-INJECTED GRILLE, AND NEW HEADLIGHTS.

LIMITED MODELS ADD A SPLASH OF CHROME UP FRONT AND FURTHER THE HEADLIGHT UPGRADE WITH PROJECTOR BEAMS.

ALL 4RUNNERS GET NEW LED TAIL LIGHTS, STANDARD ROOF RACKS, SKID PLATES, AND A FULL-SIZE SPARE.

REDESIGNED 17-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, WITH THE LIMITED RIDING ON 20s.

SPINNING UP THOSE 20s AT OUR TEST TRACK, RESULTED IN A 0 TO 60 TIME OF A REASONABLE 8.5-SECONDS; WITH A FULL QUARTER MILE PASS TAKING 16.5-SECONDS AT 86 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AND NOWHERE IS IT MORE OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS STILL A TRUCK THAN AT OUR CONE COURSE.

WHERE, DESPITE THE LIMITED'S AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SHOCKS, NICE, SMOOTH ARCS AT A MODERATE PACE ARE THE KEYS TO MINIMIZING BODY ROLL AND UNDERSTEER.

BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS BETTER HOWEVER, WITH ROCK SOLID PANIC STOPS OF 129-FEET FROM 60.

AND WHILE DRIVER FEEDBACK IS TRULY TRUCK-LIKE; THAT'S A GOOD THING WHEN IT COMES TIME TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY.

HILL-START ASSIST IS A 4RUNNER STANDARD, WITH DOWNHILL ASSIST ON ALL 4X4s.

TRAIL MODELS GAIN MOST OF THE TRICK HARDWARE WITH STANDARD CRAWL CONTROL AND AVAILABLE KINETIC DYNAMIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH DISCONNECTING STABILIZER BARS.

BUT OUR LIMITED GRADE IS STILL CAPABLE WITH A FULL-TIME, 3-MODE 4X4 SYSTEM WITH LOCKING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL.

4X4 GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 17-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED AN OKAY 19.5 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR IN MIXED DRIVING.

STILL, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS NOT A GREAT ONE AT 18.3-BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED AND 7.9 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

ONE REASON AUTOMAKERS LIKE CROSSOVERS IS THAT BY USING A LOT OF CAR COMPONENTS THEY ARE GENERALLY CHEAPER TO BUILD THAN A TRUE SUV.

THAT'S WHY A BASE 4RUNNER STICKERS AT $33,680; AND THE LIMITED STARTS AT $42,225.

THE REAL DEAL ALWAYS COSTS MORE.

AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS OF PRODUCTION, THERE IS STILL A DEDICATED FAN BASE THAT WANTS A GENUINE MID-SIZE UTE THAT IS THE 2014 TOYOTA 4RUNNER.

BUT WE THINK THEIR ADDITION OF A LITTLE REFINEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY MIGHT JUST ADD A FEW NEW CONVERTS AS WELL, AND ALLOW THE 4RUNNER TO STAY TRUE TO THE SUV SCHOOL FOR ANOTHER GENERATION.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, WHERE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS ARE POPPING UP AT PLACES LIKE THE T.F.

GREEN AIRPORT AND THE RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL.

FIFTY EV CHARGERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED SINCE RHODE ISLAND'S EV INITIATIVE GOT ITS "FIRST CHARGE" IN 2013.

THE GOAL IS A FREE STATEWIDE CHARGING NETWORK THAT WILL ALSO HELP MAKE REGIONAL EV TRAVEL CONVENIENT.

Marion Gold: WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH STATES UP AND DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD, AND UP INTO CANADA, TO SET UP A CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN DRIVE FROM RHODE ISLAND ALL THE WAY UP TO QUEBEC AND BE ABLE TO CHARGE THEIR VEHICLES AS THEY GO.

John: THE FEDERALLY FUNDED CHARGING STATIONS ARE OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY ENERGY SUPPLIER NATIONAL GRID, WHO WORKED THROUGH THE OCEAN STATE CLEAN CITIES COALITION TO IDENTIFY IDEAL CHARGING STATION SITES, ALL TO HELP RHODE ISLAND "PLUG-IN" TO THE EV HIGHWAY FAST LANE.

RVs, OR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, ARE AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR CHOICE FOR FAMILY VACATIONS, SIGHTSEEING, OR EVEN AS A FULL-TIME HOME ON THE ROAD.

AND A WIDE VARIETY OF SIZES AND INTERIOR LAYOUTS MEANS THERE ARE PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM.

STILL, GETTING INTO THE LIFESTYLE CAN BE CONFUSING FOR A NOVICE.

SO TO HELP US SORT IT ALL OUT, WE TURNED TO THE RVING EXPERTS.

OUR OWN EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST YEAR IN A TRIO OF WINNEBAGO MOTORHOMES HAS PROVEN, THAT DESPITE TODAY'S HIGH COST OF FUEL, A CAMPING VACATION IS STILL AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO SEE THE COUNTRY.

BUT NOBODY KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF RVING BETTER THAN THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

THIS TRADE GROUP REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF NORTH AMERICAN MOTORHOME AND TRAILER MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR SUPPLIERS.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH R.V.I.A.

PRESIDENT RICHARD COON AT REINES RV IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA, WHERE HE WALKED US THROUGH THE CAMPER LANDSCAPE.

Richard Coon: IN THE TRAVEL TRAILER ARENA, YOU START WITH A TENT TRAILER THAT RANGES IN PRICE ANYWHERE FROM $6,000 PROBABLY UP TO $15K, $20,000, ALL THE WAY UP TO A LARGE TRAVEL TRAILER THAT COST $100,000.

IN THE MOTOR HOME SEGMENT, YOU CAN START WITH PRODUCTS, LIKE WHAT ARE BEHIND ME, FOR UNDER $100,000, SOMEWHERE AROUND $75,000, AND GO ALL THE WAY UP TO $400K OR $500,000.

John: MOTORHOMES ARE FURTHER DIVIDED INTO CLASSES.

CLASS Bs ARE GENERALLY THE SMALLEST MOTORHOMES, UNDER 25 FEET LONG, AND ARE USUALLY MADE BY ADDING SLEEPING AND COOKING FACILITIES TO AN EXISTING VAN, LIKE THE MERCEDES SPRINTER OR RAM PROMASTER.

CLASS Cs TYPICALLY USE A FORD OR CHEVY VAN OR TRUCK CHASSIS WITH V8 OR V10 POWER.

FACTORY-MADE CABIN BODIES RANGE FROM ABOUT 20 TO 35 FEET IN LENGTH.

CLASS As ARE GENERALLY THE BIGGEST RVs AND CARRY A 30 TO 50-FOOT FULLY-CUSTOM COACH ON A COMMERCIAL TRUCK OR BUS CHASSIS.

FRONT-ENGINED GAS MODELS ARE THE MOST AFFORDABLE CLASS As, WHILE REAR-ENGINED DIESEL "PUSHERS" ARE PLUSHER AND MORE DURABLE.

BUT WHILE MOTORHOMES ARE THE MOST OBVIOUS ONES ON THE HIGHWAY, 90% OF RVs SOLD ARE OF THE TOWABLE VARIETY.

AND FOR THOSE TRAVEL TRAILERS, YOU HAVE TO FACTOR YOUR OWN VEHICLE'S TOWING CAPACITY INTO THE EQUATION.

NEWER, LIGHTWEIGHT TRAVEL TRAILERS CAN BE HITCHED TO A FULL-SIZE SEDAN OR SMALL CROSSOVER UTILITY, WHILE THE BIG RIGS REQUIRE A PICKUP-BED-MOUNTED FIFTH-WHEEL HITCH AND AN EQUALLY BEEFY TRUCK TO HAUL THEM.

OF COURSE, THERE IS THE MATTER OF PURCHASING THAT RV TO CONSIDER.

JUST LIKE BUYING A CAR, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER ITS INTENDED USE, NUMBER OF PASSENGERS, AND THE LEVEL OF LUXURY AND AMENITIES YOU WANT, AND THEN BALANCE THAT AGAINST WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

RVs CAN BE CONSIDERED VACATION HOMES, SO YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT A CAR PAYMENT, BUT A MORTGAGE, WITH TAX-DEDUCTIBLE INTEREST AND LONGER LOAN TERMS, WHICH CAN EASILY KNOCK THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR OFF THE COST OF OWNERSHIP.

TOTAL RV SALES ARE EXPECTED TO HIT BETWEEN 350 AND 360,000 UNITS IN 2014.

STILL, THAT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN THE TOTAL CAMRY SEDANS THAT TOYOTA SELLS EACH YEAR.

SO WE'RE NOT TALKING HUGE NUMBERS FOR RVs...

BUT FOR THOSE THAT FEEL THE CALL OF THE OPEN ROAD, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO GO.

Richard: AND I THINK PEOPLE FIND THAT LIFESTYLE TO BE MORE AND MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND YOU SPEND A LOT OF QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

I THINK THAT'S THE THING THAT'S GREAT ABOUT RVING THAT MAKES IT AS POPULAR AS IT IS.

LIKE ANY ZEN MASTER, PAT GOSS KNOWS THAT BALANCE IS THE KEY.

SO LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE AND GET THINGS SORTED OUT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, YOU KNOW TIRES HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, SO HAVE CARS.

AND ONE OF THE MORE COMMON PROBLEMS THAT WE FIND WITH AUTOMOBILES, IN GENERAL, HAS TO DO WITH TIRES.

YOU SEE, TIRES CHANGE FROM BEING A TALL TIRE, THAT'S THE WAY THEY USED TO BE.

THE DISTANCE FROM THE RIM UP TO THE CURVE OF THE TREAD USED TO BE QUITE A DISTANCE, AND IT WAS RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE.

TODAY, TIRES ARE MUCH LOWER PROFILE.

THE DISTANCE FROM THE RIM TO THE TOP OF THE TREAD IS LESS, AND THE SIDEWALL IS MUCH STIFFER.

THIS MEANS THAT MINOR PROBLEMS CAN BE AMPLIFIED AND TRANSMITTED INTO THE CAR, AND YOU FEEL THEM.

YOU FEEL THINGS A LOT MORE THAN YOU USED TO.

BUT EVERYBODY SAYS, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BALANCE THE TIRES.

WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE EQUATION, BUT BALANCING ISN'T ALWAYS THE ANSWER.

SO YOU HAVE TO GO A STEP FURTHER.

NOW, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A HUNTER ROAD FORCE BALANCER.

NOW, THIS TAKES IT TO A NEW LEVEL.

AND THAT IS, THIS ROLLER BACK HERE COMES OUT AGAINST THE TREAD OF THE SPINNING TIRE.

IT APPLIES 1,200 POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO SIMULATE THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE TIRE AS IT ROLLS DOWN THE ROAD.

NOW, A COMPUTER IN THE MACHINE, AND SENSORS, SENSE VARIATIONS IN THE TREAD; STIFFNESS, OR THE TIRE ISN'T COMPLETELY ROUND, OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD PREVENT THE TIRE FROM ROLLING SMOOTHLY WHEN ITS WEIGHTED BY THE CAR.

THEN IT TRANSLATES THAT INTO A ROAD FORCE READING, AND WE HAVE A WARNING THAT IT IS EXCESSIVE.

NEXT THING WE DO IS TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS.

NOW, WHAT WE DID WAS, WE TOOK MEASUREMENTS OF THE RIM.

OF COURSE, THE MACHINE HAD ALREADY MEASURED THE TIRE.

NOW IT'S TELLING US THAT WE CAN DO WHAT'S CALLED MATCH MOUNTING.

AND THAT IS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE HIGH SPOT OF THE TIRE AND MATCH IT AGAINST THE LOW SPOT OF THE WHEEL.

IT'S REALLY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT, BUT TO MAKE IT UNDERSTANDABLE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND IT'S TELLING US HERE THAT WE HAVE 15 POUNDS OF ROAD FORCE IN THE TIRE AND IF WE SWAPPED THE TIRE AROUND, MOVED IT AROUND ON THE RIM, SUCH AS IT'S SHOWING US OVER HERE, THAT WE CAN REDUCE THIS TO 8 POUNDS TOTAL.

THAT BRINGS IT WITHIN SPEC, AND THAT MEANS WE'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE A SMOOTH RIDING TIRE.

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

John: AS SEASONS CHANGE, SO DO THE DUTIES OF THE FAMILY UTILITY.

OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER HAS NOW TRANSITIONED FROM COMMUTING THROUGH ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS IN MEMORY, TO SUMMER VACATION RUNS.

NOT THAT THE WEATHER HAS LET UP.

ON ONE RECENT TRIP TO NEW YORK STATE, BOTH HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS TESTED THE TALL FORESTER'S STABILITY.

AFTER 11 MONTHS AND 20,000 MILES, THE TIRES ARE WORN PAST HALFWAY, AND SOME HYDROPLANING WAS EVIDENT IN DOWNPOURS.

STILL, COMPLETE CONTROL WAS NEVER IN DOUBT.

AND WHEN THE ROADS TURNED TO DIRT, X-MODE MODULATED WHEEL SLIP AND WALKED US UP AND DOWN THE MUDDIEST HILLS WITH CONFIDENCE.

BEING SOMEWHAT LIGHTWEIGHT, THE FORESTER IS PRETTY FRUGAL FOR A CROSSOVER.

OUR AVERAGE OF 23.8 MPG ON REGULAR DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

ON HIGHWAY TRIPS, 27 AND ABOVE IS THE NORM.

ALL IN THE NO NONSENSE COMFORT THAT THE SUBARU FORESTER IS FAMOUS FOR.

THE RAM 1500 IS EASILY THE MOST INNOVATIVE FULL-SIZE PICKUP YOU CAN BUY TODAY.

FROM AN ALL-COIL SPRING SUSPENSION, TO A MODERN V6 WITH 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, TO SIDE-SADDLE RAM BOX STORAGE, NOT TO MENTION A NEW TURBO DIESEL, NO WONDER THE RAM'S MARKET SHARE IS GROWING.

OUR 2013 RAM 1500 SLT QUAD CAB 4X4 IS ALMOST THE PERFECT TRUCK; EXTENDED CAB, FOUR CAR-LIKE DOORS, A 6'4" CARGO BOX, THAT WITH THE TAILGATE DOWN CAN STILL HANDLE 4X8 FOOT LOADS.

IF THERE IS ANY PAUSE, IT'S THAT AT 10 MONTHS AND 17,000 MILES, FUEL ECONOMY OF 19.0 MILES PER GALLON IS STILL PRETTY THIRSTY.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF GOING ALL-ALUMINUM IS THE ANSWER TO BIG TRUCK FUEL ECONOMY OR NOT, BUT UNTIL THAT'S FLESHED OUT, THE RAM 1500 IS THE ALL-PURPOSE HAULER TO BEAT.

WE'LL CHECK IN OUR TOYOTA RAV4 AND ACURA RLX ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

THERE'S ALWAYS PLENTY OF MOTOR NEWS TO REPORT, AND HERE'S YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH SOME OF THE LATEST.

Yolanda: AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS ONE OF THE NEWER SAFETY NETS FOR CARS AND TRUCKS.

AS SUCH, THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY HAS COME UP WITH A NEW TEST TO MEASURE ITS EFFECTIVENESS SO DRIVERS WON'T HAVE TO FIND OUT THE HARD WAY.

THE TEST IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD...

THE VEHICLE DRIVES DIRECTLY AT A STATIONARY OBJECT; ONCE AT 12 MILES PER HOUR, AND THEN AGAIN AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.

SCORES ARE BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT A WARNING OF COLLISION IS INDICATED, AND HOW GREATLY SPEED IS REDUCED.

A PERFECT SCORE CONSISTS OF A COLLISION WARNING AND A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE HITTING THE OBJECT WHEN TESTED AT BOTH SPEEDS.

VEHICLES THAT EARNED A SUPERIOR RATING BY POSTING PERFECT SCORES WERE THE 2015 BMW X5 AND 5 SERIES, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE COLLISION WARNING WITH BRAKING FUNCTION.

THE 2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

AND THE 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS WITH PRE-SAFE BRAKE.

BUT IT WASN'T ONLY HIGH DOLLAR IMPORTS THAT TESTED WELL.

ALSO EARNING A SUPERIOR RATING WERE FOUR GM CARS: THE 2014 BUICK REGAL, CADILLAC CTS AND XTS, AND THE CHEVROLET IMPALA.

ALL HAD WARNING AND AUTO BRAKING SYSTEMS THAT STOPPED SHORT OF IMPACT FROM 12 MILES PER HOUR, AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED SPEED FROM 25 MILES PER HOUR.

AN ADVANCED RATING WAS EARNED BY CARS THAT WARNED OF A COLLISION AND FULLY STOPPED FROM 12 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT AT 25 MPH, THEY ONLY "MODERATELY" SLOWED DOWN AND STILL HAD A COLLISION.

FOR A BASIC RATING, ONLY A COLLISION WARNING SOUNDED WITH NO SLOWING DOWN BEFORE IMPACT.

OF COURSE, THIS IS STILL AN ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY FOR AUTOMAKERS.

BUT IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE STRIDES BEING MADE WITH A TESTING PROGRAM THAT STEERS PROGRESS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THE LATEST SRT VIPER MAY BE A KINDER AND GENTLER VERSION OF THE CAR THAT WE'VE HAD A TWO DECADE LONG LOVE AFFAIR WITH.

BUT JUST WHEN WE WERE COMING TO GRIPS WITH ITS MORE REFINED PERSONALITY, THERE'S A NEW VIPER TA, OR TIME ATTACK MODEL, TO GET TO KNOW.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET FULLY ACQUAINTED IS TO ATTACK OUR FAVORITE SLICE OF GEORGIA ASPHALT, SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

SPEND ANY TIME ON A RACE TRACK IN THE NEW SRT VIPER AND YOU'LL CERTAINLY FIND IT CAPABLE.

BUT FOR THE VIPER OWNER WHO PUTS IN MORE TRACK TIME THAN COMMUTE TIME, SRT HAS GOT SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL, THE 2014 VIPER TIME ATTACK.

IT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION... "HOW CAN I MAKE MY BIG OL' PIECE OF AMERICAN MUSCLE EVEN MORE AWESOME?"

MORE POWER WOULD BE NICE, OF COURSE, BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HELP YOU GET AROUND A ROAD COURSE ANY FASTER, AND THE VIPER HAS ALWAYS HAD A SURPLUS OF THAT.

WHAT YOU REALLY NEED ARE BETTER BRAKES AND A TIGHTER SUSPENSION.

AND IN THAT VEIN, THE TA IS ALL SYSTEMS GO, WITH A FULL RETUNING AND ALIGNING OF ITS TRACK HOLDING PARTS, ALONG WITH A CARBON FIBER X-BRACE OVER THE ENGINE.

IN ADDITION, THE BILSTEIN DAMPTRONIC SYSTEM GETS RETUNED.

YOU WON'T FIND A COMFORT SETTING, JUST SETTINGS FOR STREET AND RACE, AS COMFORT MODES ARE CLEARLY FOR THE MEEK.

IF LATE BRAKING IS YOUR THING, YOU'LL ALSO FIND A FRIEND HERE, AS THE TA HAS GOT SOME SERIOUS BINDERS.

BREMBO CALIPERS CLAMPING DOWN ON 2-PIECE HIGH THERMAL CAPACITY ROTORS QUICKLY BROUGHT A HALT TO OUR PROGRESS...IN A GOOD WAY.

ALSO, GOOD FEEDBACK, AND AFTER THREE DAYS OF HARD ABUSE, NO SIGNS OF FADING.

IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE TRACK EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER STREETABLE VIPER WE'VE DRIVEN, AS YOU'RE ABLE TO FEED IN MORE POWER THAN EVER BEFORE COMING OUT OF CORNERS.

BUT JUST WHEN YOU START TO GET COMFORTABLE AND PUSH HARDER, THE TA WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE REMINDER THAT THIS IS STILL A VIPER AND IS WILLING TO DANCE WITH YOUR DRIVING ABILITIES VERY QUICKLY.

IT MAY BE EASIER TO DRIVE FAST, BUT IT'S NOT ENTIRELY EFFORTLESS.

NOW, AS FOR THAT ENGINE, IT'S THE SAME 8.4-LITER V10 AS BEFORE, WITH THE SAME 640-HORSEPOWER AND 600 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

SRT FELT NO UPGRADES WERE NECESSARY, AND WE FIRMLY AGREE.

AS IT HAS PLENTY ENOUGH POWER TO GET YOU TO 60 IN 3.3-SECONDS.

LAUNCH CONTROL IS AVAILABLE, BUT YOU CAN PROBABLY DO BETTER ONCE YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME EXPERIENCE AT MODULATING THE PEDALS.

LIKE EVERY OTHER VIPER, INSTANT ACCELERATION IN A CRAZY FASHION IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY.

EVERY GEAR SHIFT IS ACCOMPANIED BY GOBS OF POWER, BUT WITH A SLOWER THAN NORMAL RAMP UP TO FULL THROTTLE AS ALL THAT MUSCLE IS APPLIED, TAKING YOU TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.4-SECONDS AND 129 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE TACHOMETER WORKS AS ONLY A REMINDER OF WHEN TO SHIFT, AS THERE'S EQUAL AMOUNTS OF POWER THROUGH THE FULL SPECTRUM.

THE 6-SPEED MANUAL'S SHIFTER THROWS ARE LONGISH, BUT STILL DECENT AND VERY PRECISE.

THE CLUTCH HAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF FEEL, AND PEDALS ARE TIGHTLY SPACED.

GREAT FOR HEEL AND TOEING, NOT SO GREAT FOR QUARTER MILE FURY.

AND WITH ALL OF THOSE TRACK WORTHY UPDATES, IT IS SLIGHTLY LESS SUITED FOR STREET DUTY, BUT SUCH IS LIFE.

IT'S A COMPROMISE WE WERE OKAY WITH, AND IF THIS CAR AT ALL APPEALS TO YOU, WE'RE BETTING YOU WILL BE TOO.

INSIDE, YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN SOMETHING SPECIAL THE MOMENT YOU PARK YOUR POSTERIOR IN THE BALLISTIC CLOTH SEATS WITH ORANGE STITCHING.

COMFORT FEATURES ARE FEW, AS THIS IS A PLACE FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS WITHIN EASY REACH; AND WHILE THERE IS ADEQUATE ROOM TO GET YOUR WORK DONE, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SPARE.

EVERYONE ELSE WILL KNOW YOU'RE IN SOMETHING SPECIAL AS WELL, WITH THE ADDITION OF AN AERO PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES CARBON FIBER SPLITTER AND SPOILER.

ALL THE GROUND SUCKING ADD-ONS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL, PROVIDING 7-TIMES MORE DOWN FORCE.

THEY JUST HAPPEN TO LOOK MENACING AS WELL.

AND WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT, TOO.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO ATTRACT A CROWD, OPT FOR OUR TEST CAR'S TA ORANGE PAINT, BUT ACT FAST AS NUMBERS ARE LIMITED TO JUST 93.

AND NOW FOR THE BEST NEWS OF ALL, IT WON'T COST YOU A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY AS ADDING THE TIME ATTACK PACKAGE TO A STANDARD VIPER, PRICING IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN THAT OF THE GTS, AT $120,480.

SO, YOU CAN OPT FOR THE LUXURY OF THE GTS OR THE AWESOMENESS OF THE TIME ATTACK.

THERE'S NO QUESTION WHERE OUR MONEY WOULD GO.

WE'LL DROP OUR COIN ON THE 2014 SRT VIPER TIME ATTACK, HIT SOME TRACK DAYS, AND CALL IT A DAY.

THIS IS TRULY BIG BOY STUFF.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, AS WE RING IN A MILESTONE WITH AN ALL-NEW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF!

THEN SEE IF THE NUMBERS ADD UP FOR THE BMW 4 SERIES.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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...

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.