2015 Acura TLX & 2015 BMW M3/M4

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

JOIN US AND SEE IF ACURA HITS THE LUXURY SPORT SEDAN BULL'S-EYE WITH THE ALL-NEW TLX... THEN WE'LL HEAD TO GOSS' GARAGE TO FILTER OUT THE BAD STUFF... ZACH MASKELL PLUGS IN FOR HIS LATEST TRIP OVER THE EDGE... AND WE'LL SEE IF BMW HAS MAINTAINED THE MAGIC IN THEIR LATEST M CARS!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

>> Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

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>> John Davis: WITH THE ILX AT THE BOTTOM OF ACURA'S SEDAN LINEUP, AND THE FLAGSHIP RLX AT THE TOP, IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TWO-LETTERED TL JOINED THE THREE LETTER CLUB AS THE TLX.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO THIS STORY THAN JUST A NAME CHANGE.

THE TLX IS ACTUALLY A TWO-FER, AS IT REPLACES BOTH THE TL AND THE TSX, BECOMING ACURA'S NEW ALL-PURPOSE MID-SIZE LUXURY SPORT SEDAN.

SO IS THIS TWO-FOR-ONE THE REAL DEAL OR JUST SLEIGHT OF HAND?

THE ALL-NEW 2015 ACURA TLX FOLLOWS A LINE OF ADMIRABLE CARS THAT SUCCEEDED IN BLENDING ATHLETICISM WITH TOP SHELF AMENITIES, AND HIGH-TECH TIDBITS.

A FORMULA THAT PRETTY MUCH DEFINES TODAY'S MIDDLE-WEIGHT LUXURY SPORT SEDAN SEGMENT.

INDEED, THE COMPETITION FROM EUROPEAN STALWARTS LIKE BMW, AUDI, AND MERCEDES-BENZ, OTHER ASIAN BRANDS, AS WELL AS CADILLAC, FOR THIS CORE PREMIUM FOUR-DOOR BUYER HAS NEVER BEEN FIERCER.

THE NEW TLX FITS RIGHT IN.

THE WHEELBASE IS THE SAME AS THE OUTGOING TL, AT 109.3-INCHES, SLOTTING BETWEEN THE AUDI A3 AND BMW 3-SERIES.

BUT IT'S LONGER THAN BOTH IN OVERALL LENGTH AT 190.3 INCHES, ALLOWING FOR QUITE PLEASING PROPORTIONS.

THE EXTERIOR DESIGN IS HERITAGE ACURA -- THAT IS, TASTEFUL IF A BIT GENERIC, WITH THE BRAND'S "SHIELD-LIKE" GRILLE, HIGHLY SCULPTED FENDERS, AND NOW-SIGNATURE JEWEL EYE HEADLIGHTS ADDING TO ITS CONTEMPORARY EDGINESS.

ENGINE CHOICES ALSO SEEM FAMILIAR: A 3.5-LITER V6 LIKE THE TL, AND A 2.4-LITER I4 LIKE THE TSX.

BUT BOTH ARE ACTUALLY ALL-NEW I-VTEC DIRECT INJECTION UNITS WITH MORE POWER AND EFFICIENCY.

THE V6 NOW RATES 290-HORSEPOWER AND 267 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

EVEN MORE NOTEWORTHY IS WHAT IT'S CONNECTED TO -- A NEW 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH PUSH BUTTON GEAR SELECTORS.

SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS A V6 EXTRA.

THE FRONT-DRIVE ONLY INLINE-4 MAY HAVE TWO LESS CYLINDERS, BUT IT HAS THE SAME NUMBER OF CAMSHAFTS, PUTTING OUT 206- HORSEPOWER AND 182 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND IT HAS SOME TRANSMISSION TRICKERY OF ITS OWN; AN 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER.

DRIVING THROUGH THE RURAL ROADS OF THE COMMONWEALTH STATE, THE TLX FELT VERY LUXURIOUS, AS THINGS INSIDE STAYED EXTREMELY QUIET.

OUR 3.5-LITER SH-AWD EXAMPLE PROVED VERY CAPABLE AS WELL, IF NOT OVERLY DYNAMIC.

WE FOUND IT HARD TO KNOW WHEN THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS LENDING HANDLING ASSISTANCE AS IT WORKS SO SEAMLESSLY, AND THINGS STAY FLATTER THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING WHEN YOU PUSH THE TLX HARD.

CARS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AWD, COMPENSATE WITH ACURA'S PRECISION ALL-WHEEL STEER FOR A HANDLING BOOST OF THEIR OWN.

BUT IT WAS A 2.4-LITER TLX THAT WE TOOK TO OUR TEST TRACK FOR HOME TOWN DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

AND WHILE WE CAN SAY THE TOP HANDLERS IN THIS CLASS HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, ACURA BUYERS WILL FIND A VERY FAMILIAR AND SECURE FEEL HERE.

BUT THEY'LL ALSO FIND A FAIR AMOUNT OF STAY-SAFE FRONT-DRIVE UNDERSTEER SHOULD THEY GO LOOKING FOR IT.

THE CHASSIS IS MUCH STIFFER NOW AND AGILE HANDLING ASSIST USES SELECTIVE BRAKING TO SMOOTH OUT TRANSITIONS.

BOTH SPORT AND SPORT+ DRIVING MODES ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE INTEGRATED DYNAMICS SYSTEM, AS WELL AS ECON AND NORM.

THE 2.4 LAUNCHES WITHOUT MUCH URGENCY.

IT LACKS THE GRUNT OF RIVALS WITH TURBO 4s.

0 TO 60 TAKES 8.7 SECONDS, AND IT NEEDS 16.7 TO ECLIPSE THE QUARTER MILE AT 87 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THIS IS THE ENGINE FOR FORMER TSX BUYERS WHERE TRUE TL FANS WILL STILL WANT THE EXCELLENT V6.

THANKS TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER, SHIFTS FROM THE 4'S DCT 8-SPEED ARE VERY SMOOTH AND SEDATE FEELING WHETHER TRIGGERED MANUALLY OR NOT.

BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS GOOD, WITH AVERAGE STOPS FROM 60 COMING IN AT 128 FEET.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT IS SIMILAR TO THE RLX, BUT YOUNGER AND SPORTIER, WITH SOME MATERIALS MORE FITTING TO A TOP DRAWER ACCORD.

THERE'S A HONDA STYLED STACKED FLAT PANEL SETUP FOR INFO WITH A BOTTOM TOUCHSCREEN.

TRUE TO ACURA TRADITION, THE TLX COMES WITH LOTS OF PREMIUM STANDARDS, INCLUDING MULTI-ANGLE REAR VIEW CAMERA, PADDLE SHIFTERS, DUAL ZONE CLIMATE, AND POWER DRIVER'S SEAT.

LIKEWISE, EXTRAS ARE INCLUDED IN ONLY ONE OR TWO PACKAGES, WITH AVAILABLE CONTENT SUCH AS NAVIGATION, REMOTE START, AND ACTIVE SAFETY FEATURES LIKE ON ENGINE CHOICE.ST DEPENDING ELS STUDIO 10-SPEAKER PREMIUM AUDIO IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

SOUND QUALITY IS GREAT BUT CLASS TYPICAL.

SMALL ITEM STORAGE IS ABUNDANT.

BUT THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE INTERIOR FOR US ARE THE INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE AND SUPPORTIVE FRONT SEATS.

THE REAR SEATS ARE MORE COMFORTABLE, TOO, AND NOW, THANKFULLY, FOLD TO EXPAND THE ALREADY DECENT SIZED 13.2 CUBIC FOOT TRUNK.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 24-CITY, 35-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED WITH THE I4.

THE V6 SH-AWD NUMBERS AREN'T THAT FAR BEHIND AT 21-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

PRICING STARTS AT $31,890 FOR A 4-CYLINDER TLX.

THAT'S A COUPLE OF GRAND LESS THAN A 320I.

THE TLX V6 BEGINS AT $36,115.

WITH SH-AWD, $42,345.

ALL MODELS DELIVER A LOT OF CONTENT FOR THE PRICE, AND IT IS AFTER ALL A HONDA.

BY MELDING THE TL AND TSX INTO A SINGLE MODEL, ACURA HAS REDUCED SHOWROOM CONFUSION AND PUT THE BEST OF BOTH CARS INTO ONE SOLID, COMFORTABLE, HIGH TECH, LUXURY SPORT FOUR-DOOR.

WHILE IT STILL LACKS SOME OF THE CRISPNESS OF THE BEST EUROPEAN RIVALS, THAT WILL LIKELY NOT MATTER TO ACURA BUYERS THAT TEND TO FAVOR COMPETENCY OVER ULTIMATE PROWESS.

FOR THEM, THE NEW TLX IS A 2-INTO-1 TRICK THAT WORKS.

FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ROAD TESTS, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES, GO TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOST CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES REDUCE THE USE OF PETROLEUM AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES OF DRIVING PURE ELECTRIC.

WELL, OUR ZACH MASKELL HAS CAUGHT UP WITH A GROUP OF ENTHUSIASTS WHO HAVE TAKEN THEIR LIGHTNING FAST EVs OVER THE EDGE.

Zach: WHEN YOU HEAR "DRAG RACING," THIS PROBABLY COMES TO MIND... NITRO METHANE BREATHING MONSTERS WITH THOUSANDS OF HORSEPOWER.

WITH THAT BRINGS FIRE, NOISE, AND PLEASANT SMELLS.

NOW PICTURE THIS...NO EAR-PLUGS, LESS CARCINOGENS IN THE AIR, JUST TIRE SQUEAL AND SOME GEAR SOUND.

EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS, LIKE THE POWER OUT OF THIS MIATA,OMPLIMENTS OF LONESTAR EV RACING TEAM OUT OF HOUSTON.

COULIT BE 1.21 GIGAWATTS THAT POWERS THIS THING?

>> Adam Clark: NO, NO, IT'S NOT.

IT'S ACTUALLY 700 KILOWATTS, WHICH IS ABOUT 800 HORSEPOWER.

AND THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME AS A BLOWN BIG BLOCK V8.

>> Zach: YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BATTERY POWERED VOLKSWAGEN BUS, THE FIRST NISSAN LEAF EVER SOLD IN TEXAS, AND "ASSAULT AND BATTERY."

ONE OF THE QUICKEST MIATAS YOU WILL EVER SEE.

IT'S GUILTY AS CHARGED; PUTTING A SERIOUS BEAT DOWN ON MOST CHALLENGERS.

IT DRINKS NO GASOLINE, AS IT'S POWERED BY 120 LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE BATTERIES, LIKE THE ONES IN MANY POWER TOOLS.

SO THIS CONVERSION CAR IS REALLY NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE WHOLE SET UP THAT ORIGINALLY CAME IN THE MIATA.

>> Adam: THAT'S RIGHT.

SO WE STILL HAVE THE TRANSMISSION IN THE REAR END.

STILL REAR WHEEL DRIVE, JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL MIATA.

WE JUST TOOK OUT THE GASOLINE ENGINE AND PUT IN AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

SO IN THIS PARTICULAR SET-UP, WE HAVE TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS UNDERNEATH AND TWO CONTROLLERS HERE ON TOP.

ONE CONTROLLER FOR EACH MOTOR.

>> Zach: THE BEST PART ABOUT ALL THIS?

THE TORQUE IS INSTANT.

THE MOTORS DON'T HAVE TO BUILD UP RPMs LIKE IN A GAS CAR.

THERE'S 1,500 POUND-FEET TO THE GROUND THE MOMENT THE PEDAL IS PRESSED.

A COUPLE OF TIMES A MONTH, THESE GUYS GET TOGETHER AND HIT THE TRACK.

THEY'VE BEEN BIG PLAYERS IN THE SPORT FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.

IT STARTED WHEN TEAM MEMBER JOHN METRIC FIRST SAW AN ALL-ELECTRIC SNOWMOBILE IN CANADA.

FROM THERE AN OBSESSION STARTED, WHICH LEAD TO THE MIATA, WHOSE LIFE BEGUN WITH THE TEAM AS A ROLLING TUBE CHASSIS.

IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE STREET LEGAL IF IT HAD A COUPLE PARTS LIKE WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

>> Adam: THERE'S US AND THEN THERE'S DOZENS OF OTHERS LIKE US.

WE'RE JUST SMALL SHOPS TRYING TO BUILD FAST CARS AND HAVING FUN WITH IT.

>> Zach: THE TEAM ALSO PRODUCES RACE CAR PARTS FOR FELLOW EV'ERS, SELLING MAINLY BATTERY SUPPLIES AND TRANSMISSION PARTS.

ADAM IS PART OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC DRAG RACING ASSOCIATION OR NEDRA.

THIS INCLUDES AMP HEADS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WITH 50 COMPETITIVE RACE TEAMS.

THEIR PRESIDENT, JOHN METRIC, PILOTS THE SILENT BUT DEADLY MAZDA.

JOHN, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SHATTERING RECORDS.

WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS THING?

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON REMARK YOU GET?

>> John Metric: MOST PEOPLE'S MOUTHS JUST DROP OPEN, AND THEY CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY JUST SAW.

I MEAN, WE ARE GOING UP AGAINST ALL THE STREET LEGAL CARS AND SOME DRAGSTERS, AND SOME RAIL DRAGSTERS, AND WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THEM.

>> Zach: YOU HAVE TO DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF TINKERING WITH THIS THING AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER RACECAR RIGHT?

>> John: I WOULD DISAGREE.

I AM SHOCKED AT HOW LITTLE I HAVE TO DO WITH THE CAR AFTER IT'S SET UP.

>> Zach: BUT INSTEAD OF SHELLING OUT ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS IN RACING GAS, IT COSTS JOHN AND COMPANY ABOUT ONE DOLLAR TO REFUEL.

BUT, DOES IT DO DONUTS?

YES.

YES, IT DOES!

A QUARTER MILE IN 8.9 SECONDS.

NOT EVEN THE FASTEST SUPERCAR DOES THAT.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE EXPENSIVE WEAPON, RIGHT?

JOHN SAYS $15,000 WILL GET YOU A FAST CAR.

AND $30,000 WILL HAVE YOU BREAKING RECORDS.

WE HEADED OUT TO ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, OUTSIDE HOUSTON, TO BLAST OFF.

WE'RE ABOUT TO DO 0 TO 60 IN 1.5 SECONDS.

THIS IS THE FASTEST EV EXTREME STREET DOOR SLAMMER IN THE WORLD.

PROVING THAT BATTERY PACKS ARE NO SLOUCH ON ANY KIND OF PAVEMENT.

AND WATCHING JOHN SHOULD CONVINCE EVEN GASOLINE DIEHARDS THAT GOING FOR AN ALL-ELECTRIC DRIVE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE HIGH PERFORMANCE BEHIND.

>> John: PAT GOSS KNOWS A LOT ABOUT CARS, AND THIS TIME HE'S FILTERING OUT ONLY THE BEST FOR US DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

>> Pat Goss: MODERN ENGINES ARE VERY SOPHISTICATED, AND THAT MEANS THAT THE PARTS THAT YOU PUT ON THEM FOR SERVICING THEM AND SO ON, IT BETTER BE THE RIGHT QUALITY.

NOW, NOWHERE IS THIS ANY MORE IMPORTANT THAN IN THE OIL FILTER.

YOU MAY THINK THAT YOU'RE SAVING A FEW BUCKS BY BUYING A NO NAME, REALLY CHEAP OIL FILTER, BUT THAT MAY WIND UP BITING YOU IN THE LONG RUN.

YOU SEE, MODERN ENGINES, THEY ALL USE TIMING CHAINS INSTEAD OF TIMING BELTS.

AND TIMING CHAINS -- WELL, THEY NEED TO BE BATHED IN OIL ALL THE TIME.

NOW HOW DOES THIS RELATE BACK TO AN OIL FILTER?

WELL, HERE WE HAVE A TIMING CHAIN GUIDE THAT WE'VE SET UP HERE.

AND THIS WOULD HAVE A HYDRAULIC TENSIONER THAT WOULD PUSH AGAINST IT TO KEEP THE TIMING CHAIN TIGHT.

ADDITIONALLY, THE TENSIONER, WHICH WORKS OFF OF OIL PRESSURE, HAS A LITTLE, TEENY HOLE IN THE END OF IT.

SO IT FEEDS OIL THROUGH THAT HOLE INTO THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE GUIDE TO KEEP THEM LUBRICATED.

WELL, THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE DECIDED TO BUY A NO NAME OIL FILTER, AND HE PUT IT ON THE VEHICLE, THE FILTER CAME APART.

NOW THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH OF A HOLE.

BUT IT ISN'T THE HOLE THAT WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED WITH.

IT'S THE MATERIAL THAT CAME OUT OF THE HOLE.

THAT MATERIAL FED THROUGH THE SYSTEM, BLOCKED THIS HOLE HERE IN THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, AND THAT CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL.

BIG DEAL, LOT OF MONEY.

ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY YOU BUY A QUALITY OIL FILTER.

ANOTHER IS RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS A CHECK VALVE.

NOW, THESE CHECK VALVES, WELL, THEY SERVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

BUT THE PRIMARY ONE IS TO KEEP THE OIL FROM DRAINING OUT OF THE OIL FILTER, WHILE THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING.

YOU SEE, IF THE OIL DRAINS OUT OF THE OIL FILTER, THE OIL PUMP HAS TO PUMP THE FILTER FULL OF OIL, AND THEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM BEFORE ANY OF THESE MOVING PARTS GET LUBRICATED.

SO, A FAILURE TO HAVE A GOOD CHECK VALVE... WELL, OVER TIME, THAT COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE ENGINE.

PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE AND GET BETTER PROTECTION IN THE LONG RUN.

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

>> John: NOW LET'S SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR WITH MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

A FEW WEEKS BACK WE GAVE YOU OUR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS OF ALFA ROMEO'S SUPER SWEET 4C SPORTS CAR.

NOW THIS MINI-ITALIAN EXOTIC HAS GROWLED ONTO OUR MOTORWEEK LOT FOR A MORE THOROUGH GOING- OVER.

ONCE YOU CLIMB LOW AND IN THE ROOMIER THAN EXPECTED CABIN, YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY A RARE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THESE DAYS AS THE 4C IS PURE SENSORY OVERLOAD: THE WHIRL, SNARL, AND POP OF THE 1.75-LITER TURBO 4 BEHIND YOUR HEAD, THE FEEL OF THE ULTRA-TIGHT SUSPENSION AND MANUAL -- YES, FULLY MANUAL, STEERING, THE VIEW OF THE ROAD AS IT RUSHES UP TO YOU RATHER THAN BELOW YOU.

IT'S A LEVEL OF DRIVER INVOLVEMENT THAT IS INDEED RARE, AND ONE WE WISH MORE SO CALLED SPORTS CARS COULD PROVIDE.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE WITH A FULL ROAD TEST ON THE 2015 ALFA ROMEO 4C, SOON.

WITH THE EXCEPTION TO THE LFA, WE HAVEN'T DRIVEN A PURELY PERFORMANCE-MINDED LEXUS IN QUITE A WHILE.

AND WHILE WE LOVE THE BRAND'S TRADEMARKED PREMIUM STYLE, THIS 2015 LEXUS RC IS A LITTLE MORE OUR SPEED.

A BIT LIKE FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER, THE RC IS AN ENGINEERING FREAK, IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

MORE THAN JUST AN I-S COUPE, THE FRONT END IS ADAPTED FROM THE GS MIDSIZE SEDAN, THE MIDDLE FROM THE SMALLER I-S CONVERTIBLE, AND THE REAR FROM THE I-S SEDAN.

THE RESULT: A PROMINENT FRONT END AND BULGING HOOD, SHARP PROFILE, AND SHORT REAR DECK THAT COMBINES TO MAKE QUITE A STRIKING EXERCISE IN DESIGN.

THE RC 350, SERVING AS THE BASE MODEL, RECEIVES A 306 HORSEPOWER, 3.5 LITER V6, 8 AUTOMATIC SHIFTING GEARS, AND REAR WHEEL DRIVE.

THE AWD MODEL GETS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

F SPORT PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE ON BOTH, AND INCLUDE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION DAMPING AND REAR WHEEL STEERING.

WE FOUND IT PROVIDED A GREAT MIDDLE GROUND EXPERIENCE FOR LEXUS PERFORMANCE DRIVING... BECAUSE AT THE TOP OF THE PERFORMANCE LADDER IS THE RC F. AND WITH ITS 467 HORSEPOWER 5.0 LITER V8, 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND 4.4 SECOND 0 TO 60 TIME, OVERALL PERFORMANCE IS CLOSING IN ON A CERTAIN BMW M CAR WE'VE JUST SPENT SOME QUALITY TIME WITH.

>> Ben Davis: THE RC F IS INCREDIBLY RIGID.

BUT NOT TOO -- NOT TOO TIGHT.

IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE FAST.

AND IT WANTS YOU TO DRIVE IT FAST.

THE BRAKES ARE AMAZING; HUGE 6 PISTON CALIPERS UP FRONT.

IT DOESN'T LET YOU GET INTO TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

YOU CAN REALLY PRETTY MUCH POINT IT AND SHOOT IT.

ALL IN ALL, EXTREMELY WELL DONE CAR.

>> John: ON SALE SOON, THE 2015 LEXUS RC 350 SHOULD STICKER AROUND $43,000, WITH THE RC F CLOSER TO $63,000.

AND WE'LL HEAD OUT ON MORE QUICK SPINS SOON!

WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS THE M3 SEDAN AND M3 COUPE IS NOW JUST THE M3 AND M4.

BMW FEELS SAYING M3 SEDAN AND M4 COUPE IS JUST REDUNDANT.

MUCH LIKE EMPHASIZING PERFORMANCE WHEN TALKING ABOUT AN M, AS THE LETTER M HAS LONG SIGNIFIED SUPERIOR CAPABILITY WHEN USED WITH A NUMBER AND PLACED ON A BMW PRODUCT.

SO LET'S HOPE NOTHING HAS CHANGED THERE!

HEADING TO ROAD AMERICA FOR SOME EARLY DRIVE TIME IN THE 2015 BMW M3 & M4 SOUNDED LIKE A WONDERFUL IDEA...

UNFORTUNATELY, THE WEATHER DIDN'T COOPERATE, AND AFTER JUST A FEW LAPS, IT ALL TURNED INTO A RAIN SOAKED AFFAIR.

BUT THAT NEVER STOPS US!

SO WE TOOK IT TO THE STREET TO GET OUR IMPRESSIONS.

AND WHILE THE COUPE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR FAVORITE, THE NAME M3 HAS MORE CACHE WITH US, SO WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME IN THAT, 4-DOORS AND ALL.

BIMMERPHILES WILL BE HAPPY TO NOTE THAT IT'S A TWIN TURBO-CHARGED 3.0-LITER I6 UNDER THE HOOD IN BOTH OF THESE RIDES, NOT A V8, AND THAT BOTH HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE ARE UP.

HORSEPOWER HAS RISEN JUST 11, NOW AT 425, BUT TORQUE SEES A HEALTHIER INCREASE OF ALMOST 40% TO 406 POUND-FEET.

THE ENGINE FEELS SERIOUSLY STRONG, WITH BUNCHES OF LOW-END TORQUE, MINIMAL TURBO LAG, AND BRUTAL APPLICATION OF ACCELERATION, CARRYING THE POWER ALL THE WAY UP TO ITS 7,600 RPM RED LINE.

AN ALL-NEW, LIGHTER 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD, BUT IT'S THE OPTIONAL 7-SPEED M-DCT AUTO THAT IS THE FASTEST TO 60 IN 3.9-SECONDS.

THOUGH IT WILL COST YOU A HEFTY ALMOST THREE GRAND EXTRA.

BOTH COME WITH DOWNSHIFT REV MATCHING.

WHEN PUSHED HARD, THE DCT IS FAST AND FIRM WITH SHIFTS, BUT CAN ALSO BE SMOOTH AND FRIENDLY WHEN YOU'RE MOVING ALONG AT DAILY DRIVER PACE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF ELECTRONICS AND HARDWARE PIECES HELPING YOU DEPLOY ALL OF THAT POWER TO THE ROAD THROUGH THE REAR WHEELS, INCLUDING A CARBON FIBER DRIVESHAFT AND AN ACTIVE M DIFFERENTIAL.

AFTER PACKING ON THE POUNDS FOR THE LAST FEW GENERATIONS, THIS M3 SEES A WEIGHT REDUCTION WITH MORE CARBON FIBER AND ALUMINUM, AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF POUNDAGE TAKEN OUT OF THE POWERTRAIN.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL M3 NOW COMES IN AT 3,540-POUNDS, AND IS JUST A BIT NOSE HEAVY WITH NOT QUITE THE PERFECT 50/50 SPLIT.

EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE A CARBON FIBER REINFORCED ROOF, AND THE USUAL AIR MANIPULATION FOR BOTH DOWNFORCE AND ADDITIONAL COOLING; THROUGH THE USE OF LARGER AIR INTAKES IN THE FRONT APRON, SCULPTED SIDE MIRRORS, AND A DECK-LID SPOILER.

NEW ADDITIONS ARE A LARGER FRONT FENDER VENT AND 18 OR 19-INCH FORGED WHEELS.

AN EXPECTED POWER-DOME HOOD ADDS SOME FRONT AGGRESSION, BUT THE CAR LOOKS ITS MEANEST FROM THE REAR, WHERE THE WIDE SURFACE IS FULL OF CUTS AND SHARP ANGLES, AND DOUBLE UP DUAL EXHAUST TIPS PROTRUDE MENACINGLY.

LIKEWISE INSIDE, THINGS ARE SPORTED UP WITH AN M STEERING WHEEL, GEARSHIFT LEVER, GAUGES, COLOR STITCHING, AND ALUMINUM AND CARBON FIBER TRIM WORK.

THE LAYOUT IS THE FAMILIAR BMW DRIVER-FOCUSED ARRANGEMENT WITH MATERIALS ALL VERY GOOD IN QUALITY.

M SPORT SEATS FEEL SNUG WITH THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF BOLSTERING.

REAR SEATS ALSO OFFER A GREAT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT, AND BACKS FOLD 60/40 TO EXPAND THE TRUNK'S 12.0 CUBIC FEET OF SPACE.

MUCH LIKE ITS LARGER M5/M6 SIBLINGS, SUSPENSION PIECES ARE MOSTLY ALUMINUM, AND THE REAR SUB-FRAME IS NOW DIRECTLY BOLTED TO THE BODY.

OPTIONAL ADAPTIVE M SUSPENSION CAN FURTHER YOUR MISSION, WHETHER THAT'S FLATTER HANDLING OR COMFORTABLE HIGHWAY CRUISING, AS IT IS MORE COMFORTABLE IN COMFORT MODE, AND FAR SPORTIER IN SPORT+ MODE.

AS FOR THE COMMON BMW STEERING COMPLAINT, IT'S NOW ELECTROMECHANICAL HERE, AND FEEL OR NO FEEL, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THE AMOUNT OF PRECISION THAT YOU CAN DIAL INTO THE ADAPTIVE SYSTEM.

THESE Ms GET UPGRADED BRAKES, OF COURSE, AS WELL AS OPTIONAL CARBON CERAMIC DISCS.

YOU COULD CERTAINLY DO FINE WITHOUT THEM, BUT IF YOU PLAN ON HITTING SOME TRACK DAYS WITH THE CLUB, THEY ARE A WORTHY UPGRADE.

ALL OF THIS WORKS TOGETHER TO GIVE THE M3 AND M4 THE HIGH SPEED STABILITY OF A FULL SIZE CAR, AND THE FUN FACTOR OF A HOT HATCHBACK.

BUT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR WORLD, THINGS HAVE ALSO GOTTEN MORE COMPLICATED AND LESS INTUITIVE.

AND IN TYPICAL M FASHION, THERE FEELS TO BE THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF POWER, AS IT NEVER OVERWHELMS THE CHASSIS.

WITH A NEW AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR AN M3 DCT ARE 17-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

PRICING STARTS AT $62,950 FOR THE M3, AND $65,150 FOR THE NEW M4.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT BMW AND THEIR RENAMING DEBACLE, THESE 2015 VERSIONS OF THE M3 AND M4 HAVE GAINED BOTH MORE PERFORMANCE AND MORE FRIENDLINESS, ALONG THE WAY FULLY ENCAPSULATING WHAT BMW DOES BEST.

THE NOW 4-DOOR M3 AND ITS RENAMED 2-DOOR STABLEMATE, THE M4, CONTINUE TO BE, TO US, THE ULTIMATE...

ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINES.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AND SEE IF SUBARU'S ALL-NEW LEGACY IS AN ENDURING ONE.

THEN WE'LL GRAB SOME BIG BOY PERFORMANCE FROM THE AUDI RS7.

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... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

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

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, OH MAN.

OH MAN.

OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.

THIS IS AWESOME!

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 EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.