2015 Bentley Flying Spur V8 & 2015 Audi RS7

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

JOIN US, AND SEE IF 4 LESS CYLINDERS TAKES THE BENTLEY FLYING SPUR TO NEW HEIGHTS... PAT GOSS PUTS ON THE PRESSURE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ REVS UP FOR A TRIP THOUGH TIME... AND WE'LL BUCKLE UP FOR SOME LUDICROUS SPEED IN THE AUDI RS7!

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> JOHN: LAST YEAR, THE BENTLEY FLYING SPUR DROPPED CONTINENTAL FROM ITS NAME, BUT IT LOST NOTHING WHEN IT CAME TO SHOWCASING BRITISH LUXURY PERFORMANCE MOTORING AT ITS BEST.

WELL, THIS YEAR IT LOSES SOMETHING ELSE... 4-CYLINDERS FROM ITS SIGNATURE W12 ENGINE.

SO, LET'S SEE IF LESS TURNS OUT TO BE MORE.

YES FOLKS, AS MUCH AS WE HATE TO ADMIT IT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

THAT'S WHERE THIS 2015 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR V8 COMES IN.

FOR SOME, 12-CYLINDERS PUMPING IN HARMONY TO PRODUCE GLORIOUS AMOUNTS OF POWER IS JUST MORE THAN THEY CAN HANDLE OR PERHAPS WISH TO PAY FOR.

BUT THIS IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT V8 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

IT'S AUDI'S ALUMINUM 4.0-LITER TWIN-TURBO UNIT THAT, AFTER SOME UNIQUE BENTLEY TWEAKS, PERFORMS SOME INTERNAL COMBUSTION MAGIC OF ITS OWN, PULLING 500 HORSEPOWER AND 487 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT MAY BE OVER 100 HORSEPOWER LESS THAN THE W12, BUT WITH 100 POUNDS OF WEIGHT ALSO REMOVED FROM THE FRONT END, IT SHOULD TRANSLATE TO A MORE ENJOYABLE PERIENCE AT THE TRACK.

SO, WE "SUITED UP" IN PROPER BENTLEY FASHION AND MADE HASTE TO OUR TEST FACILITY.

AND UNLESS YOU'VE RECENTLY DRIVEN THE W12 FLYING SPUR, YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN ACCELERATION, AS THIS THING JUST FLAT TAKES OFF.

THERE ARE GOBS OF POWER OFF THE LINE, AND REAR-BIASED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE TO APPLY IT.

POWER CONTINUES TO BUILD IN A VERY LINEAR FASHION, AND 60 MILES-PER-HOUR ARRIVES IN JUST 4.6 SECONDS.

THAT'S ONLY A TENTH OFF OUR TIME IN THE W12.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROVIDED SMOOTH AND FAST SHIFTS, AND IN 12.9 SECONDS, WE WERE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE WITH THE NEEDLE POINTING AT 111 ON THE SPEEDO.

SO, UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY WILL SETTLE FOR NOTHING BUT THE BEST OR ARE ALWAYS IN A REAL HURRY, THERE'S NOT MUCH NEED FOR THE 12.

AT 5,300 POUNDS PLUS, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WEIGHT TO HUSTLE THROUGH THE CONES.

BUT THIS FLYING SPUR DOES SO WITH SURPRISING AGILITY, THOUGH YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE SUSPENSION IS AT ITS FIRMEST SETTING TO KEEP BODY ROLL AT A MINIMUM.

YOU CAN FIND BOTH UNDER AND OVERSTEER SHOULD YOU GO LOOKING, BUT INITIATING EITHER REQUIRES SOME VERY AGGRESSIVE INPUTS WITH THE WHEEL OR WITH THE THROTTLE.

EVEN MORE AMAZINGLY, BRINGING THIS 2 AND A HALF TON DREAMLINER TO A HALT FROM 60 HAPPENS IN JUST 107-FEET, WITH SMOOTH AND STEADY STOPS THAT BELIE THE FRICTIONAL FEROCIOUSNESS THAT IS TRANSPIRING BEHIND THIS CAR'S 21-INCH PAINTED ALLOYS.

THOUGH TECHNICALLY NO LONGER PART OF THE CONTINENTAL FAMILY, THE FLYING SPUR SEES SIMILAR EXTERIOR EMBELLISHMENTS TO LAST YEAR'S CONTINENTAL GT COUPE V8.

THAT MEANS IT'LL TAKE A KEEN OR PERHAPS DISTINGUISHED EYE TO SPOT THE DARK FINISH TO THE GRILLES, RED BACKGROUND OF THE FLYING B LOGO, AND FIGURE-8 SHAPED EXHAUST FINISHERS.

THERE ARE ALWAYS LOTS TO LOVE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BENTLEY INTERIORS.

NOW, WE CAN'T SAY THIS NEWMARK TAN MOTIF WOULD BE OUR FIRST CHOICE IN COLOR AS WE PREFER TO LEAVE THE SADDLE-BROWN THEME TO OUR PICKUPS, BUT MATERIAL QUALITY AND FINISH IS EVERY BIT AS EXQUISITE AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.

AMENITIES INCLUDE BEAUTIFUL EUCALYPTUS WOOD VENEER, PICNIC TRAYS, NAIM FOR BENTLEY PREMIUM AUDIO, REFRIGERATED BOTTLE COOLER, MASSAGING SEATS, FULL LENGTH CENTER CONSOLE WITH SEATING FOR JUST 2 IN THE BACK, DUAL LCD SCREENS, AND A REMOTE TO CONTROL MOST OF THE CARS FUNCTIONS FROM THE BACK SEAT.

IF YOU'RE SMART ENOUGH TO SEND THE CHAUFFEUR HOME FOR THE DAY AND TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN THE FRONT SEAT, YOU'LL AGREE THAT THIS MAY BE THE BEST HANDLING CLOSE TO 3-TON SEDAN OUT THERE.

IT DOES INDEED FEEL MASSIVE, BUT HIGHLY CAPABLE AND STABLE.

JUST PLAN AHEAD A BIT FOR TURNS AS THERE'S NO DARTINESS TO IT.

WHILE THIS BASIC CHASSIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND WE WONDER JUST HOW MUCH FURTHER CORPORATE PARENT VOLKSWAGEN CAN GO WITH IT, DOES THE AVERAGE LUXURY BUYER REALLY CARE ABOUT ANY OF THAT?

PROBABLY NOT, AND YOU WON'T EITHER.

JUST RELAX AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

DESPITE THE SMALLER V8 ENGINE, THERE'S STILL A GAS GUZZLER TAX, AS GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS COME IN AT 14-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE OF 18.0 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM WAS AROUND 8 PERCENT BETTER THAN WE ACHIEVED IN THE W12 FLYING SPUR.

THAT STILL MAKES FOR A VERY POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE HOWEVER, BURNING THROUGH 19.4 BARRELS OF OIL PER YEAR WHILE EXPELLING 8.5 TONS OF CO2.

PRICED ABOUT $20,000 UNDER THE W12 AT $200,245, IT MAY BE THE EVERYMAN'S FLYING SPUR, BUT IT'S STILL NOT FOR EVERY MAN OR WOMAN; MORE FOR THOSE WITH THE NECESSARY "FUNDS" BE THEY TRUST, HEDGE, OR OTHERWISE.

MUCH AS IN THE CONTINENTAL GT COUPE, THE V8 ENGINE IN THE 2015 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR SEDAN MAKES FOR A BETTER OVERALL CAR.

SURE, IN THE LUXURY REALM THERE IS ALWAYS AN ACCEPTED SPACE FOR PRESTIGIOUS OVERKILL.

BUT AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, THIS IS A CASE OF LESS IS MORE.

OUR TWO WHEELIN' SEGMENT SHINES A LIGHT ON THE LATEST BIKES, MOTORCYCLES, AND SCOOTERS.

WHATEVER'S HOT ON THE RIDER'S MARKET TODAY.

BUT THE COLLECTIVE HISTORY OF MOTORBIKES IS JUST AS RICH AS THEIR CAR COUSINS.

WELL, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS JUST RIDDEN IN WITH AN ALL-AMERICAN HISTORY LESSON ON TWO WHEELED CRUISING.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: (LAUGHS) LET'S HOPE IT STARTS.

>> DALE WALKSLER: AWAY WE GO.

>> YOLANDA: ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.

BUCKLE UP, CUZ LIKE ME; YOU'RE IN FOR ONE HECK OF A RIDE WHEN YOU VISIT THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM IN MAGGIE VALLEY, NORTH CAROLINA.

>> DALE WALKSLER: THERE'S 27 DIFFERENT BRANDS OF AMERICAN MOTORCYCLES HERE, FROM ACE TO YALE, ALL INCLUSIVE AND THEY ALL RUN.

>> YOLANDA: DALE WALKSLER IS THE FOUNDER OF THE MUSEUM.

IF HIS FACE OR BIKE-RIDING ANTICS LOOK FAMILIAR, THAT'S BECAUSE HE STARS IN A TV SHOW CALLED, "WHAT'S IN THE BARN?"

NOW IN ITS THIRD SEASON, WALKSLER SAYS IT'S A GREAT HISTORY LESSON WITH A FUN WAY TO GET THERE.

>> WALKSLER: WHETHER IT'S HELPING AN OLD LADY OR FINDING JUST WHAT FITS HERE AT WHEELS THROUGH TIME.

THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE BARN.

>> YOLANDA: WALKSLER STARTED HIS BIKE COLLECTING QUEST MORE THAN 45 YEARS AGO.

>> YOLANDA: THIS IS YOUR FIRST BIKE.

>> WALKSLER: THAT'S MY FIRST BIKE.

>> YOLANDA: AND TODAY, HE HAS A 38,000 SQUARE-FOOT SPACE FILLED WITH HUNDREDS OF RARE AMERICAN MOTORCYCLES.

>> WALKSLER: I'VE BEEN COLLECTING BIKES FOR SO LONG.

BUT I ACTUALLY REMEMBER NEARLY WHERE EVERY BIKE AND EVERY PART AND EVERY STORY IS BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T COLLECT A BIKE UNLESS IT HAS A GREAT STORY.

>> YOLANDA: FROM BOARD TRACK RACERS TO HILL-CLIMBING BIKES TO MILITARY MOTORCYCLES.

THERE'S EVEN AN ENTIRE FLOOR DEDICATED TO AMERICAN DIRT TRACK RACING.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE CHOPPER GRAVEYARD.

BUT WALKSLER'S TRUE PRIDE AND JOY IS THE FOUNDER'S GALLERY.

>> WALKSLER: WHAT THAT MEANS IS THESE ARE MOTORCYCLES THAT WERE BUILT AND OWNED BY THE PEOPLE THAT INVENTED THE MOTORCYCLE.

>> YOLANDA: FOR EXAMPLE, THIS 1914 FLESHER FLYER, A ONE-OFF BUILT BY LOUIS FLESHER OF NEBRASKA.

OR HOW ABOUT THIS 1913 INDIAN PROTOTYPE BUILT BY OSCAR HEDSTROM?

IT HAS A DUAL EXHAUST AND DUAL KICKSTARTERS.

AND YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO SEE ONE OF THESE, A 1916 TRAUB WHICH STUMPS WALKSLER TO THIS VERY DAY.

>> WALKSLER: I FOUND THE TRAUB 18 YEARS AGO WITH A VERY INTERESTING STORY AND HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT WITH 40 YEARS OF RESEARCH NOBODY KNOWS WHO IS MR. TRAUB.

>> YOLANDA: THERE'S A SECTION OF THE MUSEUM CALLED "HOMEMADE AMERICA."

IT HIGHLIGHTS MACHINERY THAT WAS CREATED USING A MOTORCYCLE ENGINE.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PERSONAL WATERCRAFT.

IT WAS POWERED BY A 1925 HARLEY DAVIDSON ENGINE AND IS THOUGHT TO BE THE VERY FIRST JET SKI.

>> WALKSLER: IN THE DAY, YOU COULD BUY AN OLD MOTORCYCLE FOR 4 OR 5 DOLLARS.

WELL, THAT GAVE YOU GAVE YOU A POWER PLANT FROM WHICH YOU COULD MAKE AN ICE CUTTER; YOU COULD MAKE A SNOW BLOWER OR A ROTOTILLER OR EVEN AN AIRPLANE.

>> YOLANDA: AND SINCE EVERY BIKE HAS A STORY, YOU'LL OFTEN SEE PHOTOS, POSTERS, OR HANDWRITTEN LETTERS NEARBY.

FOR WALKSLER, THE PEOPLE WHO RODE THESE BIKES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT.

>> WALKSLER: CAROL RESWEBER, 4-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION... HIS FAMILY SOLD ME THE GARAGE.

>> YOLANDA: HIS 1957 HARLEY DAVIDSON, KNOWN AS THE DUCK BIKE, IS ON DISPLAY, ALONG WITH MEMENTOS FROM OTHER RIDERS LIKE RICKY GRAHAM AND BRAD ANDRES, WHO WON THE DAYTONA 200 THREE TIMES.

>> WALKSLER: HE GAVE ME HIS JACKET.

HE GAVE ME HIS HELMET.

HE GAVE ME HIS DAYTONA CERTIFICATE WHEN HE WON THE RACE.

HE ALSO SIGNED HIS NUMBER PLATE.

>> YOLANDA: WALKSLER CAN OFTEN BE FOUND IN HIS REPAIR SHOP WORKING ON A NUMBER OF BIKES AT ONE TIME.

HE STARTED VIDEOTAPING HIS EFFORTS YEARS AGO.

>> WALKSLER: YOU CAN HAVE MORE FUN RIDING THESE OLD MOTORCYCLES.

>> YOLANDA: THESE "TIME MACHINE" VIDEOS HELPED WALKSLER GET HIS CURRENT TV GIG.

>> I'M DALE WALKSLER AND I DIG DEEP INTO AMERICA'S BARNS... >> YOLANDA: THE SHOW HAS ELEVATED HIM TO A NEW LEVEL OF FAME WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS STOPPING IN TO SEE HIS HISTORIC MEMORABILIA AND OTHER MOTORCYCLE ARTIFACTS.

>> WALKSLER: AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR GUEST REGISTER.

I HAVE STACKS OF REGISTERS.

PEOPLE LEAVE THERE DNA HERE EVERY DAY.

>> YOLANDA: AND WALKSLER WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

HE'S A TRUE MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST WHO REVELS IN DISCOVERING OBSCURE BIKES AND DOESN'T HOLD BACK ON SHARING THEM WITH THE WORLD.

I'M HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE... OH BOY... >> JOHN: PAT GOSS HAS HIS FINGERS ON ALL THINGS AUTOMOTIVE, SO LET'S SEE WHAT HAS HIS PRESSURE UP THIS WEEK!

>> PAT GOSS: MODERN AUTOMOBILES HAVE A LOT OF NEW FEATURES AND SAFETY DEVICES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF NEWER PARTS.

AND THAT'S CHANGING THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE OF AUTO PARTS.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE TOM TAYLOR, WHO IS AN ONLINE PARTS SUPPLIER.

TOM, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

>> TOM TAYLOR: THANK YOU, PAT.

>> PAT: ALRIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS A TREND RIGHT NOW?

>> TOM: WELL, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ON NEW CARS SINCE 2008 IS TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS, OR TPMS.

AND EACH WHEEL HAS A SENSOR THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HAS A BATTERY INSIDE.

THE MANUFACTURERS SUGGEST THE BATTERIES LAST 3 TO 7 YEARS, AND THEN THE WHOLE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE OUT THE BATTERY.

SO WE ARE SELLING A LOT OF THESE TPMS SENSORS.

>> PAT: OKAY AND WE'VE GOT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF CARS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FAILING VERY SOON NOW.

ALRIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TYPES HERE.

>> TOM: YES, THERE'S A STRAP.

IT KIND OF STRAPS ONTO THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL...

THE SENSOR CONNECTS ON THE STRAP AND YOU BOLT IT ON.

AND THIS IS THE MUCH MORE COMMON SENSOR THAT GOES TO THE VALVE HOLE IN THE WHEEL.

THIS TYPE OF SENSOR CAN ACTUALLY OFTEN BE REPLACED WITH THIS EASIER TYPE.

>> PAT: OKAY.

ALSO THE REPAIR KIT.

>> TOM: YES, SIMILAR TO A CONVENTIONAL TIRE THAT YOU FIND ON AN OLDER CAR, YOU CAN REPLACE THE INSIDE OF THE VALVE...

THE SEAL AND THE GUTS OF THE VALVE.

YOU MIGHT DO THAT BETWEEN REPLACING THE WHOLE SENSOR.

>> PAT: OKAY.

ALRIGHT, NOW OVER HERE WE HAVE ONE ACTUALLY MOUNTED INTO A WHEEL.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INSIDE.

BUT, ONCE THE LIGHT COMES ON, ON A LOT OF THESE CARS, YOU MAY HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL TOOL IN ORDER TO RESET THEM.

>> TOM: RIGHT.

IT VARIES FROM DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS.

SOME IT'S AS SIMPLE AS GOING FOR A SHORT DRIVE OR TURNING ON THE CAR.

BUT WITH OTHER CARS, YOU NEED TO HAVE A TOOL TO RECOGNIZE THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR AND RELEARN THE SENSOR SO THE COMPUTER KNOWS IT'S THERE AND WHAT WHEEL IT'S ON.

>> PAT: OKAY, NOW, SOME OF THESE CAN ACTUALLY READ THE STATE OF CHARGE OF THE BATTERIES IN THE SENSORS.

>> TOM: RIGHT, THAT'S A HANDY THING FOR TIRE SHOPS.

THAT THEY CAN SHOW THE CUSTOMER THAT THE BATTERY IS GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF ITS LIFE.

SO, THE CUSTOMER AVOIDS TAKING OFF TAKING OFF THEIR NEW TIRES AND INSTALLING NEW SENSORS A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> PAT: WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AH, THAT 3 MONTHS LATER, YOU TAKE THE TIRES OFF AND PUT SENSORS IN AND SO ON...

THE DEMOUNTING, REMOUNTING, REBALANCING, AND ALL OF THAT... THAT COULD A HUNDRED, A 150 BUCKS SAVINGS JUST BY DOING IT ALL AT ONCE.

>> TOM: RIGHT.

NOW, MENTIONING COSTS, REPLACING 4 SENSORS CAN BE MORE THAN $200.

SO, IT IS SOMETHING TO PLAN FOR AT THAT SECOND OR THIRD TIRE CHANGE.

>> PAT: BUT PLAN FOR IT, JUST LIKE YOU PLAN FOR NEW TIRES AND NEW BRAKES.

>> TOM: RIGH >> PAT: OKAY, TOM.

THANK YOU.

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

>> JOHN: AS WE APPROACH A YEAR WITH OUR LONG-TERM ACURA RLX, WE HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHY THE RLX HAS NOT BEEN A BIGGER SALES SUCCESS FOR HONDA.

SURE, MERCEDES-BENZ AND BMW HAVE ANCHORED THE LUXURY SEDAN SEGMENT FOR YEARS; BUT THE RLX HAS A LOT TO OFFER THE DISCERNING BUYER THAT'S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THE CLEAN AND HIGH TECH DESIGN, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT, SHOULD CERTAINLY BE APPEALING TO LUXURY BUYERS.

COMFORT AND ROOMINESS ARE STRONG POINTS AS WELL, AS EVEN BACK SEAT PASSENGERS HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO STRETCH OUT AND GET COMFORTABLE.

WE'RE APPROACHING 30,000 MILES, AND WHILE THE RLX HAS BEEN AN EFFORTLESS HIGHWAY CRUISER, IT HAS ENOUGH OF A SPORTY EDGE TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED WHEN THE ROADS GET CURVY.

PERHAPS SPENDING MORE TIME ON THOSE WINDY ROADS, HAS CAUSED OUR MILEAGE NUMBERS TO SLIP A LITTLE AS OF LATE, BUT AT 24.9 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM; WE'RE STILL OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED RATING.

AND THAT'S WITH GREAT POWER DELIVERY FROM THE 310 HORSEPOWER 3.5-LITER V6.

NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE'S 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION, EITHER.

ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, WE'VE NOTICED AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF NOISE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION.

WE'LL KEEP AN EAR ON THAT.

AND WE'LL BE FOCUSING ALL OF OUR SENSES ON THIS LATEST ARRIVAL TO OUR LONG-TERM FLEET, THE 2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4X4.

WE'LL BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON THAT, AS WELL AS OUR MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW, BACK TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ, THIS TIME FOR ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS!

>> YOLANDA: BLENDING RUGGED LOOKS WITH PROVEN CAPABILITY.

AND A LOYAL FAN BASE JEEP HAS BECOME ONE OF THE STANDOUT BRANDS OF THE YEAR.

AND THAT COULD PROMPT GENERAL MOTORS TO BRING ITS FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT OUT OF RETIREMENT.

RECENTLY, GMC EXECUTIVES HINTED THAT THERE'S A DEFINITE PLACE FOR A RUGGED OFF-ROAD VEHICLE IN THEIR LINEUP.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE BRAND'S "MORE NICHE" STATUS COMPARED TO BIG BROTHER CHEVROLET.

GM'S HUMMER BRAND ONCE OCCUPIED THAT ROLE.

BUT, THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY AND BANKRUPTCY CAUSED THEM TO SHUT IT DOWN IN 2010.

THE RUMORS DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN A RETURN OF THE HUMMER NAME PER SE.

BUT PERHAPS INDICATES GM'S RENEWED INTEREST IN THE OFF-ROADING SEGMENT.

A CATEGORY WHERE JEEP CURRENTLY RULES WITH VIRTUALLY NO COMPETITION.

AND WITH THE REVIVAL OF THE CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON MID-SIZE PICKUPS, THE "GENERAL" HAS A BRAND-NEW, READYMADE PLATFORM FOR AN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE WHICH CAN ALSO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE BRAND'S LATEST FUEL EFFICIENCY ADVANCEMENTS AND CREATURE COMFORTS.

WITH THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND NUMEROUS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMING YEAR, WE SHOULD HEAR MORE ABOUT A HUMMER REPLACEMENT SOON.

MOVING ON TO ADVANCEMENTS IN THE PHEV INDUSTRY, BMW HAS ANNOUNCED MAJOR PLANS FOR PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSIONS OF NEARLY ALL OF THEIR CURRENT MODELS, STARTING WITH THE 3 SERIES.

THE POWERTRAIN, SEEN HERE AS A PROTOTYPE CUTAWAY, WOULD COMBINE THE EDRIVE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY FROM BMW'S I CARS, WITH THE CURRENT COMBUSTION ENGINES OF THEIR 3 SERIES.

THE TURBO I4 AND ELECTRIC MOTOR COMBO WOULD PROVIDE JUST OVER 20 MILES OF PURE EV DRIVING.

THE BMW X5 EDRIVE USES SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY WHICH HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY AT VARIOUS AUTO SHOWS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

NO WORD ON WHEN WE'LL SEE THESE PLUG-IN HYBRIDS ON THE ROAD, BUT REST ASSURED WE'LL GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ONE OF THEM JUST AS SOON AS WE CAN.

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

>> JOHN: IF YOU'RE A LONG TIME MOTORWEEK VIEWER, YOU KNOW THAT OVER THE YEARS WE'VE TESTED A LOT OF SLP PERFORMANCE CARS.

AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THE FIREHAWK.

WE KNOW THAT MAC LOGAN IS A HUGE FAN OF THAT CAR, AND HE'S TURNED HIS PASSION INTO 200+ PAGES WITH THE BOOK, SLP FIREHAWK: FIERCEST OF THE FIREBIRDS.

IT'S NOT ONLY A COMPETE HISTORY OF HOW THE FIREHAWK CAME TO BE, BUT YOU'LL GET TO KNOW THE FOLKS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN, AS WELL AS GET A COMPLETE LISTING OF EVERY YEAR OF FIREHAWK PRODUCTION, INCLUDING SALES NUMBERS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF GREAT PICTURES AND EVEN AN APPENDIX THAT LISTS WHICH FIREHAWK'S HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON MOTORWEEK .

IF YOU SHARE MAC'S DEVOTION TO STREET LEGAL PERFORMANCE, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU PICK UP ONE OF THE 1,000 AVAILABLE COPIES OF THIS VERY MUST-READ.

IN THE RARIFIED WORLD OF ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE AUDIS, MANY THINK THE EXOTIC R8 IS THE CHAMP.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE 5-DOOR RS 7 THAT IS THE MOST POWERFUL AUDI SOLD HERE.

THAT'S RIGHT, YOU DON'T NEED SUPERCAR STYLE OR IMPRACTICALITY FOR SERIOUS, STREET-FIGHTING, TRACK MELTING PROWESS.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

WELL, BUCKLE UP!

IT TOOK US NO TIME AT ALL TO ABSOLUTELY FALL IN LOVE WITH THE AUDI RS 5 WHEN WE HIT THE TRACK WITH IT LAST YEAR.

BUT TO BE HONEST, THAT CAR PALES IN COMPARISON TO THIS CAR, THE 2014 AUDI RS 7.

BUILDING ON THE FAR FROM PEDESTRIAN S7, AUDI PUMPS UP THE PERFORMANCE IN JUST ABOUT EVERY AREA OF THIS VEHICLE.

WEIGHT HAS BEEN SHAVED BY 30 POUNDS.

AND THERE'S MORE POWER, THANKS TO AUDI CRANKING UP THE BOOST IN THE TWIN-TURBO 4.0-LITER V8 TO 17.4 PSI.

THAT MAKES FOR 560 HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, ALONG WITH THE S7'S SPORT DIFFERENTIAL, AND AIR SUSPENSION, ARE ALL STANDARD.

ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED IS THAT, MUCH LIKE THE S7, THIS CAR SEEMS UP FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU CAN THROW AT IT; FEELING SMOOTH AND STEADY NO MATTER THE SPEED.

COMPARED TO THE IMPRESSIVE S7, IT CUTS THROUGH THE CONES EVEN MORE EFFORTLESSLY.

DYNAMIC DRIVING MODE KEEPS THE BODY ROLL WELL UNDER CONTROL, BUT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE.

HOWEVER, THE ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING IS INSANELY QUICK ON TURN-IN WITH A PRECISE, HEAVY WEIGHT, BUT UNSURPRISINGLY LITTLE FEEL.

MORE WOULD BE HUGELY WELCOMED.

THE UPGRADED BRAKES ARE GREAT FOR SUCH A HEAVY CAR, BUT NOT QUITE IN SUPERCAR TERRITORY WITH AVERAGE STOPS OF 117 FEET FROM 60.

ACCELERATION, HOWEVER, IS GLORIOUS, AS THERE IS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TORQUE AND QUATTRO TRACTION PROPELLING YOU ON AN 11.7 SECOND ADRENALINE RUSH THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE AT 123 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE TRANSMISSION IS A STRAIGHT UP 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC, NOT A DSG, BUT IT WORKS BETTER THAN MOST DUAL CLUTCH BOXES, SO WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.

THE FIRST TWO GEARS SEEM ULTRA-LOW.

THAT'S FOR ACCELERATION, GETTING YOU TO 60 IN JUST 3.6 SECONDS WHILE THE TOP GEARS GO INTO EXTREME OVERDRIVE.

MANUAL SHIFTING IS HARD TO GET JUST RIGHT ON THE POWER SWEET SPOTS.

SO, JUST LET THE COMPUTERS AND ACCELEROMETERS DO THEIR THING AND PROPEL YOU TO GLORY.

NOW, IF YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU CHOOSE TO NAIL THE THROTTLE TO ITS FULLEST, MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO SOMEONE'S BUMPER, OR YOU'LL BE IN IT IN NO TIME AS THIS THING JUST FLAT TAKE OFF.

SO, IT'S QUICKER THAN A BMW M6 GRAN COUPE, BUT NOT QUITE AS FAST AS THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63 AMG.

BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANKS TO CYLINDER DEACTIVATION AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT OUT FUEL MISERS BOTH OF THEM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

SO, OUR AVERAGE OF 22.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM IS QUITE GOOD FOR SUPERCAR LIKE PERFORMANCE.

THIS VEHICLE IS CLEARLY MADE FOR EATING UP MASS QUANTITIES OF AUTOBAHN MILES AT THRILLING SPEEDS IN EXTREME SERENITY, AS AUDI SEEMS TO BE IN COMPETITION WITH THEMSELVES ON BUILDING THE MOST AMAZING INTERIORS.

NO ONE ELSE IS REALLY EVEN IN THE GAME, AS HERE THE CUSTOM-CRAFTED ENVIRONMENT GETS EVEN BETTER.

IT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE THOSE SUPER EXPENSIVE PIECES OF CUSTOM LUGGAGE YOU SEE THAT COST WELL INTO 5-FIGURES.

RS EXTRAS INCLUDE SHIFTER, STEERING WHEEL, CARBON-FIBER TRIM, UNIQUE DOOR HANDLES, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL.

FRONT SEATS ARE JUST GREAT, VERY RACY FEELING YET ALSO LUXURIOUS TO THE HILT.

WHILE IT DOESN'T FEEL, OR LOOK PARTICULARLY BIG, EASE INTO THE REAR SEATS AND THE CAR FEELS HUGE.

INSTEAD OF A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH TO THE EXTERIOR DESIGN, BUYERS CAN OPT FOR STANDARD, MATTE ALUMINUM, OR CARBON STYLING.

THIS EXAMPLE SPORTS THE MATTE ALUMINUM LOOK ALONG WITH NEW BUMPERS, REVISED SINGLEFRAME GRILLE, ADAPTIVE REAR SPOILER, LOWER DIFFUSER, AND BIG ELLIPTICAL TAILPIPE TIPS FOR THE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM.

FULL LED LIGHTING IS STANDARD.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST.

AT $105,795, THE $25,000 PRICE LEAP OVER AN S7 MAY PURELY BE FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS.

MOST OWNERS WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THIS CAR.

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE ROADS IN NORTH AMERICA TO FULLY EXPLOIT THE RS 7'S CAPABILITIES.

YOU DO NEED THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN, OR AT LEAST, YOUR OWN TRACK DAY FOR THAT.

WE THOUGHT THE S7 WAS TERRIFIC.

BUT IN CREATING THE 2014 RS 7, THE OTHERWORLDLY AUDI ENGINEERS ARE AGAIN ON POINT.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

NOT HARDLY.

OVERKILL?

YOU'RE DARN RIGHT!

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!

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 NEW LOOKS BRING OTHER NEW CHANGES TO THE DODGE CHARGER.

AND WE'LL SCORE SOME SEAT TIME IN THE ULTRA EXOTIC LAFERRARI.

PAT GOSS GOES WITH THE FLOW DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

BRIAN ROBINSON BLURS THE LINE ON HIS LATEST TWO WHEELIN' TEST.

PLUS MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

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... 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.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.