2015 Kia Sedona & 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C

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

JOIN US AND BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY AS WE TEST THE ALL-NEW KIA SEDONA MINIVAN.

PAT GOSS WARNS ABOUT DO-IT-YOURSELF BODYWORK.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ SHOWS US A CAR COLLECTION ON A SMALLER SCALE.

AND WE'LL CELEBRATE ALFA ROMEO'S RETURN TO THE U.S. WITH THE 4C.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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>> JOHN: IF THERE'S ONE VEHICLE TYPE THAT ATTEMPTS TO BE THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF AUTOMOBILES, IT'S THE HUMBLE MINIVAN.

CHERISHED BY SOME MANUFACTURES, ABANDONED BY OTHERS, THERE'S REALLY NO MORE PRACTICAL VEHICLE WHEN IT COMES TO HAULING LOTS OF PEOPLE OR THINGS WITH BIG CAR COMFORT AND EASE OF DRIVING.

NOW, KIA IS ONE BRAND THAT HASN'T LEFT THE SEGMENT, AND IT HOPES TO HELP IT GROW WITH AN ALL-NEW SEDONA.

THE 2015 KIA SEDONA MARKS THE THIRD GENERATION OF KIA'S SLIDING DOOR PEOPLE MOVER.

AND WHILE NEVER A SERIOUS COMPETITOR AGAINST HONDA, CHRYSLER, OR TOYOTA MINIVANS; KIA HOPES TO FORCE THAT ISSUE BY GIVING THE NEW SEDONA A BIG BOOST IN BOTH FUNCTIONALITY AND STYLE.

2015 ALSO MARKS KIA'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY SELLING IN THE U.S. AND LIKE MOST RECENT REDESIGNS, THE SEDONA HAS MOVED UPSCALE IN FEEL AND CONTENT LEVEL, WITH MORE TRIM LEVELS ADDED ON.

WHILE SOME CARMAKERS HAVE ABANDONED MINIVANS, KIA SEES PLENTY OF ROOM FOR GROWTH BY EMBRACING THE MULTI PURPOSE VEHICLE NATURE OF THE MINIVAN.

ALL WHILE CONTINUING TO PLEASE SOCCER MOMS AND DADS WITH FEATURES LIKE STANDARD, YES ESSENTIALS STAIN-REPELLING FABRICS.

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS THAT DRIVER'S PREFER CROSSOVERS TO MINIVANS IS THEIR COMMANDING DRIVING POSITION.

AND KIA HAS FACTORED THAT IN, GIVING THE SEDONA A HIGHER SEATING POSITION SO YOU CAN LOOK EYE TO EYE WITH SUVS.

NOW, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO SEDONA, ARIZONA, YOU KNOW THAT IT OFFERS BREATHTAKING BEAUTY FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND WHILE YOU WON'T FIND THAT KIND OF MAGNIFICENCE HERE, AS IT'S TRULY HARD TO MAKE A BIG, MOVING BOX APPEALING; KIA DOES THE BEST JOB WE'VE YET SEEN.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY'VE TRIED TO MAKE SEDONA APPEAR AS MUCH LIKE A CROSSOVER AS POSSIBLE, WITH A TALL FRONT AND LONGISH HOOD; BUT THE AGGRESSIVE TIGER-NOSE GRILLE SETS A TONE THAT THE REST OF THE BODY DOESN'T QUITE LIVE UP TO.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 1.6 INCHES BETWEEN THE WHEELS, WHILE WIDTH AND HEIGHT REMAIN ABOUT THE SAME.

BUT THANKS TO THE LONGITUDINAL STRETCHING, ALL SEATING POSITIONS GAIN A LITTLE MORE ROOM.

FRONT SEATS SERVE UP GOOD COMFORT; AND THE CENTER CONSOLE HIDES A GREAT DEAL OF STORAGE SPACE.

UVO INFOTAINMENT'S BIG AND CLEAR TOUCH SCREEN CONTINUES TO WORK GREAT, OFFERING MORE FEATURES THAN EVER.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT MAXIMUM VERSATILITY WE MENTIONED.

WELL, FOR GETTING THE "MAX" FROM THIS SEDONA YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF WHAT TRIM YOU CHOOSE.

OUR TOP DRAWER SX LIMITED HAD COMFY SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS WITH FOOT RESTS, THAT SLIDE TOGETHER TO MAKE GETTING INTO THE 3RD ROW EASIER.

BUT, AND IT'S A BIG BUT, THEY DON'T FOLD FLAT AND CANNOT BE EASILY REMOVED.

ALL OTHER SEDONA TRIMS HAVE SLIDE-N-STOW SEATS THAT COMBINED WITH A SOMEWHAT BULKY FOLD INTO THE FLOOR 3RD ROW PROVIDE THE LONG, MOSTLY FLAT LOAD FLOOR YOU BUY A MINIVAN FOR.

IT'S NOT QUITE AS CONVENIENT AS CHRYSLER'S STOW-N-GO, BUT IT IS THE CLOSEST ATTEMPT YET.

MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY IS 142.0 CUBIC-FEET, ABOUT THE SAME AS A TOWN AND COUNTRY BUT LESS THAN THE HONDA ODYSSEY AND TOYOTA SIENNA.

SEDONA'S 3.3 LITER V6 PROVIDES PLENTY OF POWER FOR BOTH CARPOOL AND FAMILY VACATION DUTIES.

276 HORSEPOWER AND 248 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO BE PRECISE.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS INCLUDED, AND THE SEDONA REMAINS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ONLY.

AS TO DRIVING, MOST MINIVAN BUYERS AREN'T REALLY LOOKING FOR A SPORTING EXPERIENCE, JUST ONE THAT'S COMPETENT AND COMFORTABLE.

THE NEW SEDONA SHOULD KEEP ALL PARTIES HAPPY, WITH A STABLE AND RELAXING RIDE.

STILL, MANUAL SHIFT AND SELECTABLE DRIVING MODES ARE AVAILABLE FOR WHEN MOM LETS WANNABE RACER DAD GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE SEDONA REACHED 60 IN A QUITE GOOD 7.8 SECONDS, AND THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.0 SECONDS AT 90 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THERE'S ENOUGH GRUNT OFF THE LINE TO SPIN UP THE TIRES A BIT; AND ONCE YOU GET IT REVVED UP AND ROLLIN', THERE'S STILL PLENTY LEFT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HIGH END RUSH, EVEN WITH SMOOTH BUT LAZY SHIFTS.

HANDLING WAS ALSO QUITE A BIT BETTER THAN EXPECTED FOR A 4700 POUND MOM MOBILE.

SPEEDS THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSES WERE SURPRISINGLY HIGH, AND BOTH UNDERSTEER AND BODY ROLL WERE MINIMAL.

ON THE SAFETY FRONT, GOOD BRAKES ARE IMPORTANT OF COURSE, AND HERE THE SEDONA WAS AGAIN UP TO THE TASK; BRINGING THINGS TO A STABLE HALT IN 118 FEET FROM 60; A GOOD, SHORT RESULT.

A FULL SUITE OF ADVANCED CRASH AVOIDANCE FEATURES AND DRIVER SAFETY AIDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

CONVENIENCE FEATUR INCLUDE SURROUND VIEW CAMERAS, A SMART POWER HANDS FREE LIFT-GATE, AND POWER SLIDING DOORS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 17-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE OF 19.4 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY; BUT IT SHOULD BE BETTER.

THUS THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE AT 17.3 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.9 TONS.

PRICING FOR THE SEDONA STARTS AT A FAMILY FRIENDLY $26,795.

BUT PACKING ON THE FEATURES ADDS UP QUICKLY, AS IT DOES FOR RIVALS AS WELL.

WHILE YOU MIGHT QUESTION KIA'S STICKING WITH A MINIVAN, YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE RESULTS.

THERE MAY NOT BE ANYTHING EARTH SHAKING ABOUT THE 2015 KIA SEDONA; JUST LOTS OF SPACE AND PLENTY OF UPSCALE COMFORT AND FEATURES FOR THE PRICE.

AND SOUNDS LIKE THE KIND OF MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE THAT MOST FAMILIES ARE STILL, AT LEAST SECRETLY, LOOKING FOR.

MAYBE YOU'VE PLAYED WITH ONE OF THESE, OR EVEN STARTED YOUR OWN COLLECTION.

FOR MANY CAR ENTHUSIASTS, MATCHBOX CARS WERE A MUST HAVE IN THEIR TOY COLLECTION.

THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL; THE ABILITY TO MIMIC THE ORIGINAL CAR DESIGNS WAS DEAD ON.

NOW, MORE THAN 70 YEARS LATER, PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING THEM.

AND OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WENT TO PENNSYLVANIA TO CATCH CAUGHT UP WITH SOME TINY CAR FANS.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: FROM A BOX FULL OF BEATERS TO RARE AND PRECIOUS PIECES, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO THE VARIETY OF SMALL SCALE TOYS ON DISPLAY AT THE MATCHBOX DIE CAST CAR SHOW IN HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

>> AUSTIN GEMBERLING: YOU KNOW I GO TO STORES LIKE WALMART AND STUFF TO LOOK AT THE CARS, BUT THIS IS AMAZING.

>> YOLANDA: NOW, IN ITS 4TH YEAR AT THE ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA MUSEUM, THE SHOW DRAWS QUITE A CROWD.

>> OWEN NESSLAGE: I THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH, ANYBODY'S CAR LOVER HEAVEN.

>> YOLANDA: AND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MATCHBOX SHOWS IN THE COUNTRY.

STEPHEN ALLEN COLLECTS AND SELLS THESE TINY TOY CAR GEMS.

HE SAYS THE LEVEL OF DETAIL FOR EACH COLLECTOR VARIES.

>> STEPHEN ALLEN: ADVICE THAT I GIVE OTHER COLLECTORS IN THIS FIELD IS: BUY THE BEST QUALITY THAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

>> YOLANDA: AND WHILE SOME ARE DIRT CHEAP, OTHERS COST A PRETTY PENNY.

LIKE THIS BROWN TRUCK THAT MATCHBOX MADE FOR THE BEALES BEALESON COMPANY.

>> ALLEN: WHAT'S INTERESTING, ABOUT THIS IS, IS THIS CAR WAS NEVER MADE FOR SALE.

IT WAS DELIVERED TO BEALES BEALESONS AS A PROMOTIONAL ITEM TO GIVE AWAY TO THEIR CLIENTS.

>> YOLANDA: ALLEN SAYS IT SELLS FOR ABOUT $1200 AND DOESN'T EVEN COME IN A MATCHBOX BOX.

SEARCHING THIS TREASURE TROVE OF CARS REQUIRES A BIT OF RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE.

CO-PROMOTER, RON SLYDER, SAYS THERE WERE ONLY 75 MODELS ORIGINALLY MADE BY MATCHBOX.

BUT EACH MODEL HAD A NUMBER OF VARIATIONS.

>> RON SLYDER: SO, YOU MAY HAVE BLACK WHEELS ON ONE, AND METAL WHEELS ON ANOTHER, ONE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT COLOR.

ALL THESE VARIATIONS PEOPLE LOOKED FOR AND THEY WERE ALL CATALOGUED.

>> YOLANDA: CATALOGS LIKE THESE, SLYDER SAYS, IS WHEN THE REAL COLLECTING BEGAN.

>> SLYDER: NOW, THEY'RE DOWN TO THE AXLES AND THE INSIDES AND THE BASE PLATES.

THEY HAVE IT DOWN TO A SCIENCE; EVERY MODEL.

>> YOLANDA: SLYDER HAS A CAROUSEL OF CARS FOR SALE BUT HIS MOST PRIZED POSSESSION ARE THESE 2 PIECES.

THEY'RE SAMPLE COLORS THAT WERE NEVER PUT INTO PRODUCTION.

>> SLYDER: I THINK I PAID $1,500 FOR THE 2 PIECES AT THE TIME.

>> YOLANDA: AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO SELL IT FOR?

>> SLYDER: $10,000.

>> YOLANDA: WOW!

AND WHILE YOU'LL SEE MATCHBOX CARS FROM THE SUPERFAST ERA OR HOT WHEELS CRAZE DON'T FORGET THERE ARE 2 OTHER NAMES IN THE MIX.

DINKY DIE CAST TOYS AND CORGI.

>> BOB PORCJA: CORGI DIE CAST THEY STARTED PRODUCTION IN 1956 AND THEY WERE PRODUCED IN SWANSEA, S. WALES.

>> YOLANDA: BOB PORCJA SAYS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORGI AND MATCHBOX BACK IN THE 1960s WAS THE COST.

>> PORCJA: MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY USED TO GO TO DEPARTMENT STORES, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO AFFORD A MATCHBOX TOY FOR APPROXIMATELY 49-55 CENTS.

NOW, CORGI TOYS WERE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE BACK THEN.

SO, CONSEQUENTLY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE PARTICULAR TOYS WAS NOT THAT MANY.

>> YOLANDA: LIKE WITH ANY COLLECTORS' ITEM, THE MORE YOU HAVE OF IT THE BETTER, RIGHT?

SO, WHEN THESE MATCHBOX CARS FIRST CAME OUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE BOX, AND SIMPLY TOSSED IT AWAY.

AND NOW, TODAY THE BOX IS SOMETIMES JUST AS VALUABLE AS THE CAR ITSELF.

>> SLYDER: IT WAS JUST MADE TO HOLD A TOY, YOU KNOW.

SO MANY OF US, WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED, DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE BOX.

AND YOU JUST TOOK THE MODEL, AND THREW THE BOX AWAY.

AND YOU HEAR THAT OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN.

>> YOLANDA: FROM THE WIDOW WHO DECIDES TO SELL HER HUSBAND'S BELOVED COLLECTION, TO THE PARENT WHO TURNED HER SON ONTO THESE MINIATURE MODELS.

>> DARLENE GEMBERLING: I SAW THESE CARS AND STARTED COLLECTING THEM.

I THOUGHT HE'D LIKE THEM.

I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GOING TO TURN INTO THIS.

>> YOLANDA: THERE'S DEFINITELY A CAMARADERIE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.

WHETHER YOU'RE NEW TO THE HOBBY.

>> NESSLAGE: THEY'RE JUST REALLY FASCINATING.

THEY'RE FUN TO PLAY WITH, PRETTY ENJOYABLE.

>> YOLANDA: OR HAVE BEEN COLLECTING THEM FOR DECADES.

THIS ANNUAL SHOW IS A MATCHBOX MADE IN HEAVEN FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES THESE ITTY-BITTY CARS.

>> JOHN: PAT GOSS LOVES GIVING SOUND DO-IT-YOURSELF ADVICE.

BUT THIS WEEK, HIS ADVICE IS: LET THE PROS DO IT.

>> PAT GOSS: HEY, THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT WOULD LIKE TO RELIEVE YOU OF SOME OF YOUR MONEY BY TELLING YOU THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN BODY WORK AT HOME, AND SAVE MONEY.

WELL FIRST, THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE.

BUT THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO EVALUATE THE DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR.

IF THE METAL ON THE CAR IS ALL BUCKLED UP LIKE THIS IS AND IT'S CREASED, AND SO ON, THIS METAL IS STRETCHED.

AND FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THIS FENDER SHOULD BE THROWN IN THE TRASH.

BUT IF YOU WANT A CHALLENGE, AND YOU THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT LOOK A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WELL, YOU MAY WANT TO TRY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

OKAY.

WE'VE SPENT ABOUT 15 MINUTES DOING THE BASIC WORK ON THIS FENDER.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT LOOKS A BIT MORE LIKE A FENDER.

BUT IT CERTAINLY ISN'T GORGEOUS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

NOW, WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE USED AN ASSORTMENT OF HAMMERS.

THEY COME IN A KIT SUCH AS WE SEE OVER HERE AND THEY COME WITH THE VARIOUS TYPES OF HAMMERS TO SHRINK THE METAL, TO FORM CURVES, AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY HAVE VARIOUS TYPES OF DOLLIES.

NOW, THE DOLLIES ARE PUT BEHIND THE METAL AND YOU HAMMER AGAINST IT, SO THAT YOU DON'T OVER COMPENSATE.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU MIGHT ART OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A DENT THAT YOU WANT TO MOVE IN; WITHOUT THE DOLLY BEHIND IT.

BAM, YOU'VE GOT A BIG DENT THE OTHER WAY THE FIRST TIME YOU HIT IT.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT YOU NEED SOME TYPE OF SANDBAG.

NOW, THE BEST THING IS AN OLD FASHIONED LEATHER SANDBAG THEY WORK THE BEST.

BUT YOU CAN GET BY WITH BASIC ONES, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS, FIRST YOU'D HAVE TO SPEND SEVERAL HOURS TO MAKE THIS METAL COMPLETELY SMOOTH IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT BY HAMMER AND DOLLY.

OR YOU WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON PLASTIC BODY FILLERS TO FILL IT AND SAND IT, AND PRIME IT, AND EVERYTHING.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WELL WITH ALL OF THE COSTS FOR THE VARIOUS MATERIALS AND TOOLS AND EVERYTHING, THE AMOUNT OF LABOR INVOLVED: YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE FAR BETTER OFF JUST TO BUY A REPLACEMENT PANEL.

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

>> JOHN: THE TIMES THEY WERE A CHANGIN' IN 1967, AND SO WAS THE INTERNATIONAL RACING SCENE.

THANKS TO JOHN FRANKENHEIMER'S MOVIE "GRAND PRIX," RELEASED THE YEAR BEFORE, CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS WERE NOW A COMMON THING IN FORMULA ONE PADDOCKS.

UNFORTUNATELY DEATH WAS BECOMING AN EVER MORE COMMON ONE AS WELL.

IT'S THIS CLASH OF CELEBRITY AND FATALITY THAT IS THE BACKDROP TO JOHN JULIAN'S BOOK "1967: CHRIS AMON, SCUDERIA FERRARI AND A YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY."

CHRIS AMON IS A NAME OFTEN OVERSHADOWED BY HIS CONTEMPORARIES SUCH AS JACKIE STEWART, JIM CLARK, AND JOHN SURTEES.

BUT AT THE TIME HE WAS KNOWN AS A DRIVER'S DRIVER.

THIS MUST READ MASTERFULLY CHRONICLES AMON'S FIRST YEAR AS A FACTORY FERRARI DRIVER AND HOW 1967 WAS A MAJOR TURNING POINT FOR BOTH MOTOR RACING AND FOR THE WORLD AT LARGE.

NOW, LET'S GET BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND SEE WHAT QUICK SPINS WE'VE BEEN ON THIS WEEK.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE NEW YEAR IS TREATING YOU, BUT WE'RE STARTING OURS OFF RIGHT WITH A QUICK SPIN IN THE 2015 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06.

THERE'S NO STINGRAY IN THE NAME, BUT GM CLAIMS THAT THIS PUMPED UP CORVETTE ATTACKS A TRACK MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN EVEN THE PREVIOUS GEN'S ZR1.

AND OUR EARLY DRIVE TIME AROUND NEVADA'S SPRING MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS RANCH LEFT LITTLE QUESTION IN OUR MINDS THAT THIS Z06 IS CLOSER TO A RACE CAR THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

IF YOU'RE THE PRECISIONIST TYPE THAT INSISTS ON NICE, ROUND, EVEN NUMBERS, YOU'LL BE HAPPY HERE; AS THE 6.2 LITER LT4 V8 UNDER THE CARBON FIBER HOOD WHIPS UP 650 HORSEPOWER AND 650 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE SUPERCHARGER ON TOP IS A FIRST FOR THE Z06.

>> BRIAN ROBINSON: POWER IS DELIVERED IN A WAY THAT'S BEST DESCRIBED AS RESTRAINED BRUTALITY.

GO EASY ON THE GAS, AND IT'LL PLAY NICE.

BUT GET AGGRESSIVE ON THE THROTTLE AND THE Z06 RESPONDS WITEQUAL VICIOUSNESS.

>> JOHN: OTHER FIRSTS FOR THE MODERN Z06 ERA INCLUDE THE STANDARD CORVETTE'S REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL, AVAILABLE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND EVEN A CONVERTIBLE MODEL.

BOTH COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE FEATURE AN AGGRESSIVE NEW LOOK WITH MORE ATTENTION GRABBING ADD-ONS THAN YOUR AVERAGE HOUSEWIVES OF WHATEVER.

ALL ARE PAINSTAKINGLY DEVELOPED TO MANIPULATE AIR IN ANY FASHION NECESSARY TO GLUE THE Z06 TO THE TRACK.

THE INTERIOR GETS MORE BUSINESS LIKE WITH UNIQUE COLORS AND A FLAT BOTTOMED STEERING WHEEL.

THAT FACT THAT ANYONE CAN STOP INTO THEIR LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND PICK UP THIS MUCH PERFORMANCE FOR LESS THAN $80,000, MAKES US WONDER WHETHER GM SHOULD HAVE THEIR COLLECTIVE HEADS EXAMINED.

SURELY THIS 2015 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 IS T GOOD TO BE TRUE.

AND WE'LL TRY TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND MORE QUICK SPINS SOON.

THINGS CONTINUE TO PROGRESS SMOOTHLY WITH OUR MOST LUXURIOUS LONG-TERMER, THE 2015 KIA K900.

THE 5.0 LITER V8 AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC DYNAMIC DUO HAS SO FAR DELIVERED A RESPECTABLE 19.7 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM, OVER THE LAST 14,000 MILES AND 6 MONTHS.

WHILE OUR LOG BOOK CONTINUES WITH MOSTLY PRAISE FOR THE K900, THIS LATEST PERIOD HAS REVEALED A FEW QUIRKS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE RAIN SENSING INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEEM TO HAVE A HARD TIME SENSING WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY NEEDED.

AND SECONDLY, WE'RE STARTING TO HEAR SOME DRIVELINE CLUNKS AT LOWER SPEEDS, MOSTLY RIGHT AFTER A COLD START.

BUT AGGRESSIVE WATER CLEARING AND QUESTIONABLE NOISES ASIDE; WE STILL LOVE THE EFFORTLESS CRUISING, EASY TO USE CONTROLS, AND JAMMIN' STEREO SYSTEM THAT MAKE OUR DAILY COMMUTES A HIGH SOCIETY JOY, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE PUT THINGS IN SPORT MODE AND ELIMINATE THE SLOW WALLOWING STEERING FEEL.

BEING A RARITY ON PUBLIC ROADS, THE K900 STILL HAS THE POWER TO ATTRACT A CROWD, AND TO SURPRISE THEM WHEN YOU TELL THEM IT'S A KIA.

AND MOST ARE JUST AS IMPRESSED AS WE'VE BEEN WITH THE LEVEL OF INTERIOR QUALITY AND LUXURY DEMEANOR THAT IT PROVIDES.

AND WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL OF THE LATEST INFO ON OUR MAZDA CX-9 AND VOLKSWAGEN GTI ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

OVER THE YEARS, PREDICTIONS OF ALFA ROMEO'S IMMANENT RETURN TO THE U.S. HAVE BEEN MANY.

BUT ACTUAL CARS FOR DRIVING HAVE BEEN FEW.

WELL, THAT ALL CHANGES NOW WITH THIS CAR, THE ALFA ROMEO 4C.

AND IT'S FITTING THAT THE BRAND CHOSE THIS BACK TO BASICS FUN MACHINE TO RE-LAUNCH A DEALER NETWORK HERE IN THE STATES.

AFTER ALL, THIS CAR IS ALL ABOUT THE DRIVING.

YES, THE 2015 ALFA ROMEO 4C IS NOT A CAR FOR EVERYONE.

BUT, IF YOU'RE THE TYPE THAT ENJOYS THE STRAIGHTFORWARD, BACK TO BASICS THRILL RIDE OF A SPORTS CAR; THEN CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY.

YOUR NEW RIDE JUST ARRIVED.

MAKING THINGS AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE IS ALWAYS A GREAT SPORTS CAR STRATEGY, AND THIS MID-ENGINE MONOCOQUESTER WEIGHS IN AT ONLY 2,465 POUNDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MINIMALISM TAKES ITS TOLL ON THE INTERIOR.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE STORAGE SPACE OR COMFORT TO BE FOUND; AND CRAWLING IN IS NOT GRACEFUL FOR ANYONE ON THE HIGH SIDE OF 6 FEET OR ON THE WRONG SIDE OF 50.

FOOT WELL AREA IS ACTUALLY PLENTIFUL THOUGH, EXCEPT FOR SOME SLIGHT INTRUSION ON THE LEFT SIDE; AND THE SEATS HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF TRAVEL.

IT'S THE PASSENGER THAT ACTUALLY GETS SQUEEZED A BIT MORE.

SEATS FEEL LIKE LEATHER COVERED RACING BUCKETS WITH SOME EXTREME BOLSTERING, AND THERE'S JUST ENOUGH PADDING IN THEM TO DRAIN THE FUEL TANK.

BURNING UP THAT FUEL IS A FUN SIZE 1.7 LITER I4 ENGINE.

DON'T LET THE SMALL VOLUME FOOL YOU.

THIS LITTLE TURBO CRANKS UP 237 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WITH ALMOST 22 PSI OF BOOST.

ALL 4CS HAVE A PADDLE SHIFTED TWIN CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR GEARING DUTIES.

IN TYPICAL EXOTIC CAR FASHION, IT'S NOT SUPER SMOOTH WHEN TOOLING IN AUTO MODE AND IT SEEMS IN A HURRY TO GET YOU INTO HIGHER GEARS IF YOU LET IT.

BUT GET MORE AGGRESSIVE AND DRIVE THE CAR LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO BE DRIVEN, AND IT RESPONDS BEAUTIFULLY.

EQUALLY SATISFYING IS THE HANDLING EXPERIENCE WITH IS JUST PURE JOY, THE WAY ONLY MID-ENGINE CARS WITH CLOSE TO 50/50 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION CAN BE.

IN A BREAK FROM JUST ABOUT EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD, STEERING IS FULLY MANUAL WITH NO POWER ASSIST.

WHILE THAT WILL CERTAINLY HAVE ITS DETRACTORS, IF YOU'RE BUYING THIS CAR TO ACTUALLY DRIVE IT, YOU WON'T MIND IT AT ALL.

THAT CERTAINLY BRINGS NOSTALGIA TO MIND, BUT THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

THERE'S AN UPRIGHT '60s DRIVING POSITION THAT HAS YOU LOOKING DIRECTLY DOWN ON THE ROAD.

THE ENGINE IS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND YOUR HEAD, WITH A NEW KIND OF DIRECT INJECTION; ONE THAT INJECTS PERFORMANCE FEEL DIRECTLY INTO YOUR HEAD.

BUT AS COOL AS IT SOUNDS, IT CAN ALSO GET A LITTLE OLD AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE.

THERE'S A GOOD, THICK, FLAT BOTTOM WHEEL FOR THE HANDS; AND THERE'S A REAL SENSATION OF THE ROAD RUSHING UP AT YOU, EVEN WHEN CRUISING AROUND TOWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TRAVELLING AT ARREST WORTHY SPEEDS TO GET A FULL SENSORY OVERLOAD RUSH FROM THIS CAR.

TIRES FEEL EVERY GROOVE IN THE PAVEMENT, AND SINCE THERE'S A DIRECT LINK TO YOUR HANDS, SO DO YOU.

YOU ALSO GET A SENSE THAT THIS CAR WILL BITE YOU IF YOU'RE NOT JUDICIOUS WITH THROTTLE APPLICATION.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO '60s OR '70s EXOTICS TO GET A COMPARABLE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

ACCELERATION IS MUCH MORE IN THE MODERN ERA.

THERE'S PLENTY OF GRIP FOR LAUNCHING; AND A QUICK TRIP TO 60 IS POSSIBLE IN JUST OVER 4.0 SECONDS.

SHIFTS OCCUR IN A NANOSECOND AND HIT HARD, ACCOMPANIED BY A SOUND SYMPHONY OF MECHANICAL CHAOS DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU.

QUARTER-MILE TIMES ARE IN THE 13.0 SECOND RANGE AT 106 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE BRAKES ARE FULL ON "BEAST MODE"; LASER STRAIGHT, NICE STIFF PEDAL, AND STOPS OF JUST 99 FEET FROM 60.

EQUALLY ADEPT AT BRINGING A HALT TO THINGS ARE THE 4C'S BEAUTIFUL, PURE ITALIAN LINES.

IT LOOKS LIKE A BABY FERRARI ESPECIALLY IN THIS VIBRANT RED.

SPECTACULAR FROM JUST ABOUT EVERY ANGLE, WITH THE SAME BASIC MID-ENGINE PROPORTION LAYOUT THAT WORKED SO WELL FOR THE PRANCING HORSE FOR DECADES.

THE 4C LAUNCH EDITION IS ALL THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE TIME BEING, AND IT'LL COST YOU $69,695.

BUT ONCE THEY'RE GONE A BASE 4C WILL START AT $55,195.

THAT MAKES THE 2015 ALFA ROMEO 4C A SMALL SCALE EXOTIC FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE; TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S NOT A RACE CAR, AND IT'S NOT A POSEUR MOBILE.

IT'S A CAR DESIGNED WITH ONE THING IN MIND, DRIVING!

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, AS WE CHECK IN ON ALL THE HEADLINES MOTORING OUT OF DETROIT AND THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

THEN SADDLE UP FOR A RIDE IN THE ALL-NEW FORD MUSTANG.

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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