2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI & 2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe 435i

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

JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE FOUR DECADES OF HOT HATCHBACK HEAVEN WITH AN ALL-NEW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF... PAT GOSS LOOKS DEEP INTO MODERN CAR CARE... ZACH MASKELL CONTINUES THE PARTY AS WE CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE FORD MUSTANG... THEN WE START A NEW HISTORY WITH BMW AND A TEST OF THE FIRST 4 SERIES COUPE.

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.

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>> JOHN: THIS YEAR MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF, THE MOST POPULAR VW OF ALL TIME.

WHILE WE KNEW IT AS THE RABBIT BACK IN 1974, LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE GREW UP TO LOVE THESE COMPACT TWO AND FOUR-DOOR HATCHBACKS FOR THEIR COMBINATION OF TIDY LOOKS, OODLES OF INTERIOR SPACE, AND NO-NONSENSE DRIVING ENJOYMENT.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THEN WITH AN ALL-NEW GOLF.

SO, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

WE DIDN'T EXPECT A BIG PHYSICAL CHANGE FOR THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF.

SO WE WEREN'T DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT THE 7TH GENERATION ONLY IMPROVES ON GOLF'S BASIC FORMULA THAT, WHILE SLIGHTLY LARGER, IS STILL "SO RIGHT" EVEN AFTER FOUR DECADES.

WHILE ALL POWERTRAINS ARE MORE EFFICIENT, EVEN THE BASE TSI GOLF, WITH A 1.8-LITER TURBO I4, FEELS PEPPY AND VERY REFINED.

RATINGS ARE 170-HORSEPOWER AND 200 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND THE TOP-LINE GTI COMES IN AT 210-HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WITH A 2.0-LITER INLINE-4 TURBO.

A LATE ARRIVING PERFORMANCE PACKAGE HOLDS PEAK TORQUE LONGER AND BOOSTS HORSEPOWER TO 220.

THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE ALSO INCLUDES A TORQUE SENSING, ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL, A FIRST FOR A FRONT DRIVE CAR.

IT CAN TRANSFER UP TO 100% OF TORQUE TO EITHER FRONT WHEEL TO HELP ELIMINATE BOTH TORQUE STEER AND UNDERSTEER.

A 5-SPEED MANUAL IS STANDARD IN THE TSI, WITH AN OPTIONAL 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

TDIs AND GTIs CAN BE FITTED WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL OR DSG GEARBOX.

THERE'S EVEN A VERY WELL DONE NEW EGOLF.

IT'S SUPER QUIET EVEN FOR AN EV, AND HAS SOME OF THE BEST FEELING EV BRAKES.

RANGE IS EV TYPICAL AT 70 TO 90 MILES.

BUT DURING OUR EARLY SAN FRANCISCO DRIVE TIME, WE FOCUSED ON THE HOT-HATCH GTI, AS IT IS THE FIRST MODEL TO THE MARKET, AND ALONG WITH A GOLF SPORTWAGON DUE NEXT YEAR, IS A KEY TO GROWING GOLF SALES IN AMERICA.

YES, FANS, THAT MEANS THE GTI IS GOING MORE MAINSTREAM.

BOTH TWO AND FOUR-DOOR HATCHBACK BODIES STRIKE US AS LESS VISUALLY DISTINCTIVE THAN THE PREVIOUS GTI.

EVEN THE REAR SPOILER IS SUBTLE.

STANCE IS NOTICEABLY IMPROVED, HOWEVER, AS THE GOLF'S NEW FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE MQB CHASSIS IS STRETCHED IN EVERY DIMENSION.

HAVING BEEN ON SALE IN EUROPE FOR OVER A YEAR, U.S.

BUYERS HAD TO WAIT FOR GOLF PRODUCTION TO START OVER HERE DOWN MEXICO WAY.

BUT DRIVERS SHOULD NOT NOTICE THAT TRANSATLANTIC TRANSFORMATION, AS THE NEW GTI HAS ALL OF ITS SPIRIT, PLUS A NEW LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION.

THERE'S A SLIGHTLY HEAVIER GERMAN FEEL; VERY SOLID, ALMOST LIKE DRIVING A SMALL BANK VAULT AROUND.

IT'S A MORE AGILE YET NAILED DOWN CAR THAN THE JETTA.

EVEN WITHOUT THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, ALL GTIs SPORT VW'S UPDATED XDS TRACTION SYSTEM THAT MONITORS SUSPENSION LOAD TO HELP CONTAIN UNDERSTEER.

STANDARD TOO IS SELECTABLE DRIVE MODE WITH NORMAL, SPORT, AND INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS.

EVEN IN NORMAL, THE GTI CORNERS GREAT AND FEELS NICE AND COMPACT, AND WHILE STEERING FEEL IS NOT ALL THERE, IT'S BETTER THAN THE AUDI A3 THAT USES THE SAME CHASSIS.

THE GTI'S INTERIOR WAS ALREADY A STEP ABOVE MOST OF ITS COMPETITION, AND IT STILL OUTSHINES THEM WITH IMPROVED MATERIAL QUALITY AND SIMPLICITY.

GTI HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE COLOR STITCHING, PADDLE SHIFTERS FOR THE DSG, AND A SWEET FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL.

ALL TRIM LEVELS HAVE TOUCHSCREEN AUDIO AND CONNECTIVITY, WITH SIMILAR CONTROLS TO THE REST OF THE VW LINEUP, ONLY THE SCREEN IS NOW LARGER.

A BACKUP CAMERA IS ODDLY NOT STANDARD, WHILE FORWARD COLLISION ALERT AND PARK DISTANCE CONTROL ARE ALSO OPTIONS.

GTI CONVENIENCE UPGRADES INCLUDE FENDER PREMIUM AUDIO, AUTOMATIC CLIMATE, AND PUSHBUTTON START.

THE NEW GOLF ADDS TO ITS ALREADY PLENTIFUL REAR SEAT SPACE, WHILE LOW LOAD FLOOR CARGO ROOM NOW RIVALS MANY MID-SIZE CARS WITH STATION WAGON-LIKE VERSATILITY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A GTI WITH AN AUTOMATIC ARE 22-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED; AN OVERALL GAIN OF ONE.

THAT MAKES FOR A GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 11.8-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH 5.3-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

MORE FEATURES FOR LESS MONEY IS ALWAYS A GOOD RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, AS A BASE GTI 2-DOOR HATCHBACK BEGINS AT $25,215.

THE STORY IS EVEN BETTER FOR THE TSI WITH A STICKER DROP TO $18,815, BOTH PARTIALLY DUE TO A NEW ENTRY LEVEL S-TRIM.

EXCEPT FOR THE NEW ELECTRONIC DIFF, THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF PROJECTS LITTLE WOW FACTOR.

RATHER, IT ADHERES TO A "MORE OF THE SAME BUT BETTER" APPROACH.

STILL, WE ARE WOWED THAT VW CAN BUILD SUCH AN AFFORDABLE SMALL CAR THAT IS ROCK SOLID AND TOTALLY ENTERTAINING TO DRIVE.

AND THAT MAKES THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLF A MILESTONE WE'LL NOT FORGET.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

IN 2011, THE COUNTY PARTNERED WITH VIRGINIA CLEAN CITIES AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONVERT FORD CROWN VICTORIA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CRUISERS TO PROPANE.

PARTNERSHIPS AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP HELPED SPOTSYLVANIA CONVERT 31 CRUISERS, ALONG WITH FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUCKS.

FUELING PARTNER, BLOSSMAN GAS, BUILT THIS NEW STATION TO ACCOMMODATE THE CONVERSIONS.

COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE CLEANER BURNING FUEL HAS DISPLACED MORE THAN 60-TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WITH AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUEL-COST SAVINGS OF $70,000.

>> SHERIFF ROGER HARRIS: IF YOU PROPERLY PREPARE FOR IT -- FUELING STATIONS, TRAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES HOW TO FUEL, WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THE USAGE OF PROPANE -- THE ADVANTAGES FAR OUTWEIGH ANY DISADVANTAGES.

>> JOHN: THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO ALLOWED SPOTSYLVANIA TO PURCHASE FOUR PROPANE SCHOOL BUSES.

WHILE THESE ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES ONLY REPRESENT A SMALL PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE FLEET, IT'S STILL SPOT-ON PROGRESS FOR ONE OF VIRGINIA'S FASTEST-GROWING COUNTIES.

IT'S BEEN OVER 100 YEARS SINCE HENRY FORD PUT AMERICA'S MIDDLE-CLASS ON WHEELS WITH THE AFFORDABLE AND DURABLE MODEL T. ALMOST SIX DECADES LATER, FORD CREATED ANOTHER RIDE THAT WOULD AGAIN CHANGE OUR CONCEPT OF WHAT AN EVERYMAN'S CAR CAN BE.

THAT CAR IS THE MUSTANG.

THE ORIGINAL "PONY CAR" HAS REACHED A MILESTONE OF ITS OWN, AND OUR OVER THE EDGE REPORTER ZACH MASKELL JUST COULDN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE.

>> ZACH MASKELL: FIFTY YEARS AGO, BABY BOOMERS WERE MAKING MONEY AND OPTIMISM WAS CONTAGIOUS.

AT THE SAME TIME, FORD WANTED A NEW DOG TO PUT IN THE SPORTS CAR FIGHT.

>> GALE HALDERMAN: WELL, I KNEW IACOCCA LIKED IT BECAUSE WHEN HE LOOKED AT IT, HE WAS TWIRLING HIS CIGAR.

WHEN HE TWIRLED HIS CIGAR, WE KNEW HE LIKED WHAT HE SAW.

>> ZACH: IN APRIL OF '64, IACOCCA'S PRODUCTION "PONY CAR" HIT SHOW ROOM FLOORS.

THOUGH ITS VIN WILL SHOW 1965, FANS DUBBED IT "THE 1964-AND-A-HALF MUSTANG."

OVER 400,000 WERE SOLD IN ITS FIRST YEAR.

AN ATTRACTIVE LOW PRICE OF JUST OVER TWO GRAND REELED IN BUYERS.

>> TRACEY BROWN: I JUST REMEMBER THEY WERE REALLY COOL.

I MEAN, GIRLS LOVE HORSES OR ANYTHING WITH A HORSE OR A PONY ON IT.

>> ZACH: THE NAME COMES FROM A WORLD WAR II FIGHTER, AND, OF COURSE, THE WILD AND FREE-ROAMING HORSES OF THE WEST.

AFTER A SUCCESSFUL YEAR, FORD TOOK APART A CONVERTIBLE AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER ON TOP OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

TALK ABOUT GOOD PUBLICITY.

FIVE DECADES LATER, THEY DID THE SAME.

THE MUSTANG CLUB OF AMERICA WENT BEYOND THAT, HOLDING TWO EPIC BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN NORTH CAROLINA AND LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.

CHARLOTTE GAVE ME A BIG BITE OF AMERICAN PIE.

>> SANDRA TIPPETT: YOU'RE ACTUALLY LIVING A PART OF HISTORY.

SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS ABOUT.

>> ZACH: THE MUSTANG WAS ORIGINALLY UNVEILED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR IN NEW YORK LONG BEFORE I WAS BORN.

FIFTY YEARS LATER, I GOT TO SIT IN ONE OF THOSE CARS... A 1964-AND-A-HALF.

THIS CAR IS SIMPLY A UNICORN.

77,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT AND IT USES A GENERATOR, NOT AN ALTERNATOR.

THIS THING IS CRAZY TO SEE IN PERSON.

I GOT CHILLS WHEN THE OWNER'S SON LET ME LOOK THROUGH A LOG BOOK HIS FATHER KEPT FROM DAY ONE, MICE BITES AND ALL.

>> LEE MANSELL: THIS IS ONE OF 12 CARS THAT WAS AT THE WORLD'S FAIR.

IT'S THE ONLY ONE WE KNOW THAT'S INTACT.

IT STILL HAS THE PLATES AND BRACKETS UNDERNEATH, WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE MAGIC SKYWAY.

>> ZACH: DIEHARDS FROM AUSTRALIA, GERMANY, FRANCE, AND ITALY MADE THE TRIP.

SOME CARS WERE EVEN SHIPPED OVERSEAS.

YOU COULD, PERHAPS, SAY IT'S LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY.

>> DR. MANNY COMEAUX: THEY'LL LOAN YOU THEIR TOOLS.

THEY'LL JACK THE CAR UP.

THEY'LL GET UNDER IT AND HELP YOU FIX IT.

IT'S A NICE ENVIRONMENT.

GOOD PEOPLE.

>> ZACH: THOUSANDS OF THEM ON THE INFIELD, THOUSANDS OUTSIDE.

FIRST GENERATIONS.

THE LESS SOUGHT AFTER, MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT MUSTANG II.

THE THIRD GEN, WHICH INCLUDED THE FOX BODY.

THE FOURTH GEN, WHICH YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS PROBABLY OWNED.

AND THE FIFTH GENS, WHICH TELEPORTED BACK IN TIME TO THE LATE 1960s STYLING.

AND THE ALL-NEW 2015 COMES WITH INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION AND YOUR CHOICE OF A BOOSTED FOUR-CYLINDER, A V6 OR V8.

EVEN A SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, WHICH ONLY 1,964 WILL BE SOLD.

YOU SEE WHAT THEY DID THERE?

JAMIE ALLISON: WHEN I WAS WALKING AROUND, THERE WAS LIKE ALMOST 3,000 MUSTANGS, OVER 50 YEARS, AND EVERYONE HAS A STORY.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY.

I MEAN, IT REALLY IS JUST A WONDERFUL FEELING.

>> ZACH: SOME ARE DAILY DRIVEN AND SOME HAVE RETIRED FROM EVERYDAY ABUSE.

BUT EVERYONE HAD A MEMORY, OR 20, TO SHARE.

>> TERRY CAMPBELL: I COURTED IN IT.

GOT MARRIED IN IT.

BROUGHT ALL MY KIDS HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL IN IT.

AND SO IT'S A PRETTY SPECIAL CAR.

>> ZACH: TERRY ISN'T SURE WHY HE CHOSE A '65 MUSTANG FOR HIS FIRST CAR, BUT ONE THING HE DOES KNOW -- IS IT WILL NEVER LEAVE THE FAMILY.

NOT MATTER WHAT IT WAS, EVERYONE HAD A FAVORITE PART OF THE WEEKEND.

>> AMY FOX: THERE'S PEOPLE GOING AROUND THE TRACK AND I'M GOING TO GET TO RIDE IN ONE, A GT 500, SO THAT WILL BE EXCITING >> ZACH: A RUSH?

NO DOUBT.

I'VE SEEN NASCAR RUN THIS TRACK AND ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE.

HOLY POTATO!

THE G-FORCES THAT YOU EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLETELY UNFORGETTABLE.

IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE WHY THE BOSS 302 IS THE BEST OUT-OF-THE-BOX BANG-FOR-YOU-BUCK AFTER THAT RIDE.

THE MUSTANG DOESN'T JUST SYMBOLIZE DEDICATION TO A BRAND...IT REPRESENTS AMERICA.

IT STANDS FOR OUR FREEDOM.

SO, THANK YOU, FORD, FOR LETTING OUR ORIGINAL "PONY CAR" LIVE ON.

>> CROWD: HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, MUSTANG!

WOOOO!

>> John: PAT GOSS ALWAYS HAS AN EYE FOR DETAIL, AND HE'S FOUND A TOOL THAT HELPS ENHANCE THAT EVEN MORE.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S UP AT GOSS' GARAGE!

>> Pat Goss: UNDER THE HOOD OF A MODERN CAR IS VERY CROWDED THESE DAYS.

IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, IN REALITY, FIXING A CAR IS RELATIVELY EASY, BUT FIGURING OUT WHAT TO FIX -- WELL, THAT IS THE DILEMMA.

SO, HERE'S A TOOL THAT COMES FROM SNAP-ON TOOLS THAT CAN HELP SAVE A TON OF DIAGNOSTIC LABOR.

IT'S A BORESCOPE.

NOW, IT HAS THE ABILITY TO RECORD VIDEO, AND TAKE STILLS, AND SO ON.

IT CAN ALL BE PRESERVED IN A MEMORY CARD INSIDE THE UNIT.

IT ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO COME APART LIKE THIS, AND HERE YOU HAVE THE MONITOR THAT CAN BE PLACED IN A CONVENIENT SPOT SO THE TECHNICIAN OR THE VEHICLE OWNER CAN SEE IT.

NOW, WE CAN TAKE WHAT WE RECORD THERE AND WE CAN EMAIL IT TO YOU, OR WE CAN PRESERVE IT IN A PERMANENT FILE ON AN OFFICE COMPUTER.

WE CAN DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH IT.

BUT THE BIG THING IS, WE CAN LOOK INSIDE OF PLACES WHERE WE NORMALLY CAN'T SEE WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING THINGS.

NOW, THIS 2.5 TOYOTA ENGINE HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT.

THIS ONE IS BRAND NEW.

NOW, EARLIER, WE PUT THE PROBE DOWN THROUGH A SPARK PLUG HOLE TO LOOK AT THE TOPS OF THE PISTONS IN THE TWO ENGINES.

THE NEW ONE, NATURALLY, IS NEW, IT'S CLEAN.

BUT AT 51,000 MILES, THIS ONE HAS A LOT OF CARBON BUILD UP ON THE TOP OF THE PISTON.

THAT MEANS THAT IT NEEDS A CARBON DEPLETION SERVICE FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND PERFORMANCE.

SO IT ACTUALLY NEEDS SOME SERVICE.

BUT WE CAN DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WITH IT.

WE REMOVE THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG, LET IT DRAIN, AND THEN PUT THE PROBE UP INTO THE OIL PAN AND WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S ANY SLUDGE IN THERE.

WE CAN ALSO DO THE SAME THING UNDER THE VALVE COVER ON MANY ENGINES.

WE CAN GO INSIDE THE CAR, UP UNDER THE DASH.

FOR THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF LITTLE ELECTRIC OR VACUUM MOTORS THAT MAKE ALL OF THIS STUFF WORK, TO MAKE THE AIR COME OUT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND GIVE IT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE.

WELL, WITH THIS, WE CAN LOOK UP UNDER THERE; WE CAN PUSH THE BUTTON OR TURN THE DIAL AND SEE IF THE MOTOR RESPONDS.

IF IT DOESN'T, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO THERE ARE A THOUSAND DIFFERENT USES FOR THIS, JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TECHNICIAN HAS ONE, AND USES IT, BECAUSE IT CAN SAVE MANY, MANY HOURS OF DIAGNOSTIC LABOR.

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

>> JOHN: WHILE A UTILITY VEHICLE IS GREAT FOR FAMILY VACATIONS, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE THAT LONG TRIP IN A LUXURY SEDAN TO REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE ARRIVED.

AND WE CONTINUE TO ARRIVE IN HIGH STYLE IN OUR 2014 ACURA RLX.

THE RLX, WITH ITS WARM, UNDERSTATED INTERIOR, HIGH-TECH INFOTAINMENT, AND NEARLY IMPECCABLE ROAD MANNERS, MAKES ANY ROAD TRIP BOTH ENJOYABLE AND STIMULATING.

ACURA'S WELL FOUNDED REPUTATION FOR QUALITY IS ROCK-SOLID BASED ON OUR RLX EXPERIENCES AFTER NEARLY SIX MONTHS AND 17,000 MILES.

WE DID FIND THAT THE AVID SKIERS IN OUR GROUP WISH THE REAR SEAT FOLDED, RATHER THAN JUST HAVE A PASS-THROUGH, SO MORE SKIES CAN BE CARRIED INSIDE.

AND HONDA NEEDS TO UPDATE THEIR NAV SYSTEM TO MATCH THE BEST OUT THERE IN EASE OF USE.

BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

THE 3.5-LITER V6 IS A JEWEL, AND REWARDS US WITH 24.8 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

SO, WHEN WE CAN LEAVE THE SUV AT HOME, THE ACURA RLX IS CLEARLY A PLEASURABLE WAY TO GO!

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO THE UTE-ROUTE, THE TOYOTA RAV4 IS A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.

NOT TOO BIG; NOT TOO SMALL, THE RAV4 CAN HAUL A GROWING FAMILY AND LOTS OF GEAR TO JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE FOUR-WHEELS SHOULD GO.

WHEN THE GOING DOES GET TOUGH, A LOCKING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL KEEPS THINGS MOVING.

FUEL ECONOMY IS ABOUT RIGHT FOR A COMPACT UTILITY THESE DAYS, 26.1 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR AFTER 11 MONTHS AND 23,000 MILES.

THE 2.5-LITER I4 NEVER MISSES A BEAT.

INSIDE, IT'S QUIET, COMFORTABLE, IF A LITTLE UTILITARIAN.

WELL, THAT'S OUR RAV4, AND IT'S JUST AS IT SHOULD BE.

WE'LL GO FOR ONE LAST RIDE IN OUR KIA OPTIMA HYBRID, AND CATCH UP WITH OUR NISSAN VERSA NOTE, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

TIME NOW FOR MORE QUICK SPINS AND OUR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

WITH MORE WORTHY CONTENDERS THAN EVER, THE MID-SIZE SEDAN CLASS IS RIPE WITH CARS BOASTING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES, ATTRACTIVE STYLING, AND GREAT VALUE.

YET NONE OF THEM DOES IT EXACTLY LIKE THE 2015 SUBARU LEGACY.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE LEGACY IS THE ONLY CAR IN ITS SIZE AND PRICE CLASS WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

BUT, BEYOND THAT, THIS ALL-NEW LEGACY TAKES ITS APPEAL UP A NOTCH OR TWO.

STARTING WITH EXTERIOR STYLING, IT'S SMOOTHER, IF SLIGHTLY LESS DISTINCTIVE, BUT ALSO MORE UPSCALE WITH A BOLDER GRILLE AND COUPE-STYLE ROOF.

THE INTERIOR ALSO LOOKS UPSCALE, AND IT IS COMFORTABLE.

THE BIG TOUCHSCREEN INFOTAINMENT AND NAV SYSTEM IS A WELCOMED IMPROVEMENT.

BUTTONS ARE BIG, RESPONSIVE, AND A BACKUP CAMERA IS ALSO STANDARD.

DEBUTING IS GENERATION THREE OF SUBARU'S EYESIGHT RADAR AND STEREO CAMERA SAFETY SYSTEM WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, PRE-COLLISION BRAKING, AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING.

BOTH FLAT ENGINES, A 175 HORSEPOWER 4-CYLINDER, AND A 256 HORSEPOWER 6 CYLINDER, GAIN UPGRADES FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AND LOWER NOISE.

A CVT IS THE ONLY TRANSMISSION.

BEING A SMOOTH OPERATOR CONTINUES WITH THIS LEGACY'S QUIETER CRUISING.

TO IMPROVE CORNERING, SUBARU'S ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING IS NOW AVAILABLE, AND DOES ACTUALLY ADD SOME SPORTY-NESS TO THE COMPLIANT RIDE.

ON SALE THIS SUMMER, THE 2015 SUBARU LEGACY STARTS AROUND $22,000.

AND WE'LL BUCKLE UP FOR MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

>> John: THE 4 SERIES IS A NEW LINE FOR BMW.

OR IS IT?

YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S JUST A NEW NAME FOR THE OLD 3 SERIES COUPE TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH THE BRAND'S LATEST -- ODD NUMBERS FOR FOUR-DOORS, EVEN FOR TWO-DOORS - NAMING SCHEME.

BUT IN CHANGING THE NAME, BMW SAYS THAT THEY ALSO CHANGED THEIR MAINSTAY COUPE INTO A DIFFERENT AND BETTER CAR.

SO LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT IF THAT IS INDEED THE CASE!

EVEN BEFORE THE 2014 BMW 4-SERIES COUPE AND THE NEW NUMBER SCHEME WERE ANNOUNCED, THE CARMAKER HAD BEEN TAKING STRIDES TO MAKE THE 3 SERIES COUPE MORE SPECIALIZED THAN THE SEDAN.

THINK, EVEN NUMBERS, FUN FOR 2.

ODD NUMBERS, FUN AND COMFORT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

SO, THE NEW 4 SERIES WAS BORN.

AND INDEED, AS WE FOUND IN THE BMW 435I WE TESTED, THE 4 APPEARS AND APPEALS MORE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE 3.

FAR MORE LIKE A 6 SERIES ON A DIET.

FROM THE TRADITIONAL BMW FACE, ALL LINES POINT MORE DRAMATICALLY REARWARD, WIDENING AS THEY GO.

THERE'S AN OVERALL LOWER STANCE HIGHLIGHTED BY THE 19-INCH M-SPORT ALLOY WHEELS THAT, ON OUR CAR, TAKE THE PLACE OF THE STANDARD 18s.

WELL, OKAY, IT'S NOT ALL UNIQUE FROM THE 3 SERIES SEDAN; THEY BOTH DO SHARE THE SAME 110.6-INCH WHEELBASE.

THE INTERIOR ALSO SHOWS A LOT OF KINSHIP, BUT IT'S NOT JUST BETWEEN 4 AND 3, BUT AMONG THE WHOLE CLAN WITH THE FAMILIAR UPSCALE BUT STILL DRIVER FOCUSED LAYOUT OF ALL RECENT BMWs.

POWERTRAINS ARE A COPY OF THE 3 SERIES; BASE 428 POWER COMES IN THE FORM OF A 2.0-LITER TWIN POWER TURBO I4, WITH A TURBO I6 MOTIVATING OUR 435 WITH 300-HORSEPOWER AND 300 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH EITHER ENGINE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 435 COME IN AT 22-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

AS FOR ROUTINE DRIVING, THIS REAR DRIVE 435I -- WELL, IT AGAIN FEELS FAMILIAR, THOUGHT WE PERCEIVE WITH SLIGHTLY MORE SPRING IN ITS STEP.

HOWEVER, LIKE ALL MODERN BMWs, MORE LUXURY HAS BEEN DIALED IN AS A TINY BIT OF THE FEEL HAS BEEN DIALED OUT.

COMPETITION IS THE AUDI A5 AND MERCEDES-BENZ C-COUPE, OF COURSE, AND WHILE THEY ARE ALL GREAT HANDLERS, AND DESPITE ITS LACK OF FEEL, THE 4 REMAINS THE MOST CAPABLE OF THE BUNCH.

BUT THE PROOF OF BEING SEPARATED AT BIRTH CAME AS WE DID ROUNDY-ROUNDS AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

OUR 435 HAD A NOTICEABLY MORE SERIOUS PERSONALITY THAN THE 4-CYLINDER 328 SEDAN THAT WE HAD HERE LAST YEAR.

IS IT THE ADDITIONAL POWER?

THE SUSPENSION TWEAKS?

THE GRIPPIER TIRES?

WELL, YES, ALL OF THAT.

BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING TO US IS THE SUSPENSION TUNING.

WHILE THERE IS STILL SOME ROLL IN CORNERS, AND A BIT OF A BLOATED FEEL THAT WE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN THE LATEST 3 SERIES, THERE IS NO CLUMSINESS TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE 4.

POWER DELIVERY IS VERY SMOOTH AS IS THE WHOLE CAR, AS WE FOUND OURSELVES GOING A LITTLE TOO HARD INTO CORNERS AT TIMES, LOST IN THE TRANQUILITY OF MOTION THIS CAR PROVIDES.

NO WORRIES.

THERE'S MORE GRIP HERE THAN YOU THINK.

IF TRACK DAYS ARE IN YOUR FORECAST, MAKE SURE TO OPT FOR THE M SPORT SUSPENSION AND BRAKE PACKAGES, AS THEY REALLY LIVEN UP THE WHOLE CAR.

ADD THE DYNAMIC HANDLING PACKAGE, THEN TURN THE DSC OFF AND LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.

OUTSIDE OF THE LACK OF STEERING FEEL THAT SEEMS TO PLAGUE EVERY RECENT BMW WE'VE DRIVEN LATELY; WE HAVE NO MAJOR COMPLAINTS OTHER THAN MAYBE HAVING TO WAIT ANOTHER FEW MONTHS TO DRIVE THE M4.

BMW CONTINUES TO MAKE US HAPPY BY OFFERING A MANUAL AS A NO COST OPTION, BUT FOR SOME REASON, MOST WILL OPT FOR THE STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT IS IN OUR TEST CAR.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE FOUND IT WORKED WELL ENOUGH ON TRACK TO KEEP OUR DRIVERS' COMPLAINTS TO A MINIMUM.

IT ALSO WORKS GREAT IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH QUICK SHIFTS THAT KEEP THE ENGINE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF ITS POWER BAND.

OUR QUARTER MILE TRIPS TOOK 13.6-SECONDS AT 103 MILES-PER- HOUR, WITH A COLD TRACK LAUNCH TO 60 TAKING THE FIRST 5.1 SECONDS OF THAT.

PRICING OF THE 4 SERIES COUPE KEEPS THE MAJOR FUN SOMEWHAT LIMITED TO THOSE WITH HIGHER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS ON THEIR PAY STUBS, WITH OUR 435I AS EQUIPPED, RINGING IN AT $60,625.

YOU CAN HAVE MOST OF THE FUN WITH A BASE 435I THAT STARTS AT A MORE REALISTIC $46,925.

FOR THE REST OF US, A BASE 428I STARTS AT JUST $41,425.

THE CONVERTIBLE VERSIONS ADD $8,250 MORE.

SO, HAS THE 4 SERIES PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH FROM THE 3 SERIES TWO-DOOR TO WARRANT SO MUCH FUSS?

WE THINK SO.

THE LOSS OF TWO DOORS HAS ACTUALLY LED TO A GAIN IN FOCUS ON THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

AND THAT'S WHY THE 2014 BMW 4 SERIES EARNED OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SPORT COUPE, AND WHY ODDS ARE THE NEW EVEN NUMBERS WILL ADD HITS EVEN QUICKER FOR BMW.

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 GET GASSED ON CLASS WITH THE HYUNDAI EQUUS.

THEN SEE HOW THE SUBARU WRX HANDLES THE HIGH SPEED TWISTS OF OUR FAVORITE ROAD COURSE.

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.

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