2015 Charger/Challenger Hellcat & 2015 Volkswagen E Golf

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

JOIN US AS WE RIDE TO HADES AND BACK IN THE AWESOME DODGE CHALLENGER AND CHARGER HELLCATS... PAT GOSS MAKES SURE WE BRING EVERYTHING TO A HALT... BRIAN ROBINSON GOES RETRO ON THE ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT... THEN, WE JUMP BACK TO THE CUTTING EDGE IN THE VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF...

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.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY 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.

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>> JOHN: WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS, OR ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFETS; RESTRAINT IS NEVER EASY.

AND YOU'LL NEED TO EXERCISE A LOT OF IT IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE 707 HORSEPOWER DODGE HELLCATS, AND WANT TO HANG ON TO YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN UNLEASH ALL OF THE EVIL THAT THESE HELLIONS CAN DELIVER!

THIS PAIR OF SRT HELLCATS, A 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER, AND 2015 DODGE CHARGER, HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

BUT REALLY, IT'S WHAT'S COMMON UNDER THEIR HOODS THAT IS OUR INTEREST HERE.

FORGET ABOUT MUSTANG AND CAMARO, THESE BEASTS HAVE MORE POWER THAN A Z06, AND EVEN FCA US'S, OR FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES AS THE CHRYSLER GROUP IS NOW KNOWN, OWN DODGE VIPER.

IT'S A HEMI OF COURSE, AND WHILE ITS 6.2 LITERS OF DISPLACEMENT IS NOT THE BIGGEST HEMI IN THE STABLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE'S A 2.4 LITER SUPERCHARGER ON TOP OF THIS ORANGE PANTED IRON BLOCK; THAT MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR ANY LACK OF DISPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF 707 HORSEPOWER AND 650 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

NOW, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT CRAMMING THIS MUCH OOMPH INTO DAILY DRIVER WOULD DESTROY THE DAILY DRIVER PART, BUT THERE'S LITTLE INDICATION OF ITS FULL INSANITY WHEN YOU FIRST FIRE IT UP.

NO MATTER WHICH DRIVE MODE YOU'VE DIALED IN, THERE'S A SOFT PERSONALITY TO THESE CARS, A "SMOOTH AS GRANDMA'S CADDY" 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND 2 KEYS TO CHOOSE FROM.

PICK THE BLACK ONE AND YOU'LL ONLY GET ABOUT 500 HPS OF HELLCAT WRATH.

USE THE BIG BOY RED KEY, AND YOU'LL HAVE FULL ACCESS.

AND OF COURSE THAT MEANS NO MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE "CHARGING" SOLO OR "CHALLENGING" A FRIEND, EXERCISING SOME OF THAT RESTRAINT WILL BE NECESSARY IF YOU PLAN ON GETTING OFF THE LINE WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN SMOKE AND MELTED RUBBER.

ONCE YOU'RE ROLLING, THE POWER IS DELIVERED LESS ABRUPTLY, BUT NO LESS FORCEFULLY; AND WE HIT 60 MILES-PER-HOUR IN JUST 3.8 SECONDS IN THE CHALLENGER AND 4.0 SECONDS FLAT IN THE CHARGER.

THAT ULTRA SMOOTH 8HP90 TORQUEFLITE TRANSMISSION, WITH ITS BEEFED UP INTERNALS, CAN ALSO DELIVER SHIFTS AS QUICKLY AS 160 MILLISECONDS, TAKING YOU TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN AS LITTLE AS 12.1 SECONDS AT 124 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THE VIPER'S TREMEC 6-SPEED MANUAL IS AVAILABLE IN THE CHALLENGER ONLY.

THAT MAKES THE CHARGER HELLCAT THE MOST POWERFUL SEDAN IN THE WORLD.

PLUS, THE CHARGER ALSO CHEATS THE WIND A LITTLE MORE THAN THE CHALLENGER, SO CAN ACHIEVE A HIGHER TOP SPEED OF 204 MILES-PER-HOUR.

BUT WHILE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO STRAIGHT LINE HEROICS, UNLEASHING THESE 2 BEASTS ON ROEBLING RACEWAY'S 2 MILES OF ROAD COURSE, SHOWED THAT WHILE NOT QUITE FULL ANALOG IN A DIGITAL WORLD THEY ARE MUCH MORE ADEPT AT DESTROYING BLACKTOP THAN CLINGING TO IT.

AND WHILE FULL TRACK MODE AND BILSTEIN ADS DAMPERS HELP WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING THINGS FLAT THROUGH CORNERS AND MORE CAPABLE THAN MOST BUYERS NEED; IT NEVER FEELS TRULY AT HOME ON A ROAD COURSE.

FACTOR IN THE 4,500 POUNDS OF WEIGHT THESE BRUTES ARE SADDLED WITH THOUGH, AND THEY FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE THAN THEY PROBABLY SHOULD.

AND THANKS TO THE LARGEST STEEL BRAKES ON ANY PRODUCTION CAR, BRAKING HELD UP TO THE TRACK TASK BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

OUTSIDE OF TRACK WORK, AND INSIDE, THESE CARS REMAIN THE ROOMIEST AND MOST COMFORTABLE OF THE MUSCLE CAR BREED.

WITH FULL-SIZE CAR SPACE TO SPREAD OUT AND EVEN PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BRINGING LOADS OF STUFF WITH YOU.

HELLCAT BUCKET SEATS OFFER PLENTY OF SUPPORT FOR FAST YET STAY VERY COMFY.

THE CENTER STACK IS SLIGHTLY DRIVER ORIENTED, WITH THE 8.4-INCH UCONNECT SCREEN ALONG WITH SRT PERFORMANCE PAGES THE OBVIOUS HIGHLIGHT.

THE EXTERIORS GETS DEMONIZED WITH UNIQUE, NON-CROSS HAIRED FRONT ENDS THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL FOR BOTH ALLOWING MORE AIR IN TO COOL THINGS DOWN AND FOR MAKING BOTH CARS LOOK HELLA BAD.

AN EXCLUSIVE HOOD WITH SCOOPS AND VENTS WAS ALSO DESIGNED FOR AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT.

20-INCH WHEELS WEAR 245 RUBBER BOTH UP FRONT AND IN THE REAR; BOTH CARS SIT ABOUT HALF AN INCH LOWER; AND OF COURSE THERE ARE MORE PROMINENT REAR SPOILERS.

FURTHER TOUCHES FROM THERE ARE SURPRISINGLY SUBTLE, WITH THE CHALLENGER BOASTING THE MORE NOSTALGIC LOOK OF THE 2.

THE CHALLENGER SRT HELLCAT STARTS AT $61,090; 4-DOORS A LITTLE MORE AT $65,290.

THESE CARS AREN'T FOR EVERYONE, BUT THEY'LL SURE AS HECK IMPRESS ANYBODY WHO GETS NEAR ONE.

NOW, WE'RE NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ACTUALLYATS IN HELL, AND WHY EXACTLY THEY WOULD COME TO EARTH BRINGING US 1400 HORSEPOWER'S WORTH OF UNGODLY, ROAD GOING EVIL.

BUT WE SAY "HERE KITTY-KITTY; BRING IT ON!"

THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER AND CHARGER SRT HELLCATS ARE INDEED DEMONIC DUSTERS THAT WILL BE MAKING LIFE FOR THE COMPETITION A LIVING HELL FOR YEARS TO COME.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK BRINGS US TO BRIDGEPORT, WEST VIRGINIA WHERE A COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS REFUELING CORRIDOR IS NOW ONLINE.

THE I-79 CNG CORRIDOR STARTED TAKING SHAPE 2 YEARS AGO, AND ALSO INCLUDES STATIONS IN JANE LEW AND CHARLESTON WITH MORE PIT STOPS PLANNED.

NATURAL GAS, SOURCED FROM THE AREA'S MASSIVE MARCELLUS SHALE DEPOSITS, IS A PERFECT FIT FOR THE REGION.

SO, THIS CLEAN ALTERNATIVE FUEL HELPS BOTH THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> TJ MEADOWS: 30 PERCENT LESS CO2, 90 PERCENT LESS EMISSIONS OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TAILPIPE.

AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S A DOMESTIC WEST VIRGINIA FUEL THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE THAT WE WORK EVERY DAY TO BRING OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> JOHN: AS OF NOW, A DOZEN COMPANIES FUEL UP AT THE BRIDGEPORT STATION, INCLUDING LOCAL OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMPANY ANTERO RESOURCES.

THE CNG CORRIDOR IS A FORWARD LOOKING INITIATIVE THAT IS ALREADY PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN THE MOUNTAIN STATE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO HARD IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD TO FIND RETRO STYLING, WITH MANY BRANDS LOOKING TO THE PAST FOR CURRENT INSPIRATION.

WELL, THERE'S ONE COMPANY THAT DOES MORE THAN JUST LOOK TO THE PAST, THEY'RE FULLY LIVING IT.

AND PROUDLY DOING SO!

>> BRIAN ROBINSON: UP UNTIL NOW, ROYAL ENFIELD HAS INDEED BEEN LIVING IN THE PAST, BY MAKING THE SAME BASIC MOTORCYCLE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS WITH ONLY MINOR UPDATES ALONG THE WAY.

WELL, THAT ALL CHANGES NOW, WITH A NEW CONTINENTAL GT.

THIS 2014 ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT IS NOT EXACTLY A MODERN MOTORCYCLE, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY A PIECE OF VINTAGE IRON EITHER.

WHILE SOME PIECES CARRY OVER FROM THE BULLET THEY'VE BEEN PEDDLING SINCE THE BRAND RETURNED TO THE STATES IN THE MID-90'S, THIS CONTINEAL GT IS AS CLOSE AS THE BRAND HAS COME TO AN ALL-NEW BIKE IN DECADES; AND FEATURES "RIGHT BIKE AT THE RIGHT TIME" STYLING THAT SHOULD DO WONDERS FOR BOTH THE BRANDS IMAGE AND THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THEY'VE NAILED THE CAFE RACER LOOK PERFECTLY.

FROM THE LOW CLIP-ON'S WITH BAR END MIRRORS, TO THE SCALLOPED METAL TANK, AND REAR HUMP VINTAGE RACING STYLE SEAT.

HOPPING ON BOARD, THERE IS A REACH TO THOSE CLIP-ON'S, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK SO THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE WRISTS.

THE SEAT ALSO HAS MORE COMFORT THAN EXPECTED AND THE OVERALL RIDING POSITION IS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD.

GAUGES ARE FAIRLY SIMPLISTIC, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.

THOUGH SURPRISINGLY, THERE IS A DIGITAL FUEL GAUGE.

THUMB THE STARTER, AND 535CCS OF SINGLE ROARS TO LIFE.

IT'S A REWORKED AND ENLARGED FUEL-INJECTED VERSION OF THE BULLET'S 500CC ENGINE AND IT SOUNDS GREAT, WITH A NICE LITTLE BURBLE TO IT THAT BRINGS NORTON'S AND BSA'S TO MIND.

ROYAL ENFIELD'S CLAIMED OUTPUT IS 29 HORSEPOWER.

AND OF COURSE THERE'S STILL A KICK-STARTER, AS WELL, SHOULD YOU HAVE THE DESIRE FOR MORE PHYSICAL INTERACTION.

THE TRANSMISSION IS A 5-SPEED, AND THERE IS SOME SLOP TO THE LEFT SIDE MOUNTED SHIFTER THAT YOU WOULDN'T FIND ON A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE, BUT IT WORKED FLAWLESSLY THROUGHOUT ITS STAY.

MAKING IT A TRULY INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR, THE ITALIANS CHIME IN WITH REAR SHOCKS BY PAIOLI AND BRAKES BY BREMBO.

BOTH CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINENTAL GT'S VERY SPORTING NATURE, AS OTHER THAN AN OCCASIONAL STUMBLE OFF IDLE THE RIDING EXPERIENCE IS SEAMLESS AND PURE JOY.

FAIRLY STICKY 18-INCH PIRELLI SPORT DEMON TIRES MAKE DIVING INTO CORNERS PLENTY SETTLING, AND THE SUSPENSION SEEMS VERY WELL DIALED IN, EVEN WITH A HEAVYWEIGHT LIKE ME ONBOARD.

A RELAXED PACE IS NOT A NECESSITY, BUT YOU'LL FIND IT MUCH MORE REWARDING.

THE ENGINE FEELS WILLING, BUT THERE'S SOME SERIOUS VIBRATIONS HAPPENING AS YOU APPROACH 70 MILES-AN-HOUR THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO BACK IT DOWN; THE BIKE ITSELF HOWEVER, FEELS PLENTY STABLE AT THOSE SPEEDS.

ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE VIBRATIONS: LIKE A TRUE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE, YOU'LL NEED TO EITHER GET FRIENDLY WITH LOCTITE OR GET USED TO TIGHTENING AN OCCASIONAL BOLT OR 2.

WEIGHT COMES IN JUST OVER 400 POUNDS, AND THE BIKE FEELS VERY SMALL.

PRICING IS ALSO SMALL, AT JUST $5,999.

SOME EXPERIENCES IN MOTORDOM ARE TRULY UNIQUE, AND RIDING A BRAND NEW, VINTAGE BRITISH MOTORBIKE THAT'S BUILT IN INDIA CERTAINLY QUALIFIES.

BUT SETTING ALL OF THAT ASIDE, THE 2014 ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT IS JUST A FUN, BACK TO BASICS MOTORCYCLE THAT IS EVERY BIT AS ENJOYABLE TO RIDE AS IT IS TO LOOK AT.

>> JOHN: "CHECK YOURSELF, BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF" ISN'T EXACTLY REFERRING TO THE BRAKES ON YOUR CAR.

BUT OUR PAT GOSS THINKS OTHERWISE.

SO, LET'S HEAD ON OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE!

>> PAT GOSS: NO MATTER HOW FAST YOUR CAR IS, YOU STILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO STOP IT.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD BRAKE FLUID IN THAT CAR.

NOW, IF WE LOOK AT THESE JARS OF BRAKE FLUID, WHICH WE'LL START RIGHT HERE: THIS IS NEW BRAKE FLUID.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT BRAKE FLUID HAS A VERY NASTY CHARACTERISTIC, AND THAT IS THAT IT ATTRACTS AND ABSORBS WATER.

SO, HERE WE HAVE A JAR THAT IS HALF WATER; 50 PERCENT WATER.

YET YOU LOOK AT IT, AND IT REALLY DOESN'T LOOK THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE BRAND NEW FLUID.

SO, YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT IT AND SAY, "HEY IT'S GOOD."

CERTAINLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE OVER HERE, ITS DARK COLORED AND SO ON; IT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR RIGHT AWAY.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SYSTEM FLUSHED.

WELL, THE REAL THING THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS FLUSHING THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVERY 2 YEARS.

DON'T GO BEYOND TWO YEARS.

YOU SEE, IF YOU FLUSH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE FLUID WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND DRY, AND THAT MEANS YOU'LL HAVE A SAFER BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE HYDRAULIC PARTS IN THAT BRAKE SYSTEM WILL LAST A LOT LONGER.

BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES FLUSHED, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRAKE FLUID.

THERE'S DOT3, THERE'S DOT4, THERE'S DOT5.

NOW, DOT3 AND DOT4, YOU COULD REPLACE DOT3 WITH 4 IN SOME CASES, BUT YOU COULD NEVER REPLACE 4 WITH 3.

SO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAP ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, TO SEE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CAR.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TECHNICIAN USES THE PROPER FLUID.

BUT DOT5... NOW, DOT5 IS SILICONE SYNTHETIC FLUID AND IT TYPICALLY IS NOT USED IN MODERN AUTOMOBILES.

NOW, IT'S DYED THIS PURPLE COLOR SO THAT YOU CAN READILY IDENTIFY IT, SO IT DOESN'T GET MIXED UP WITH CONVENTIONAL FLUID.

BUT THE REALITY OF THIS STUFF IS, IT DOESN'T ABSORB MOISTURE, BUT IN A MODERN CAR, IT DOESN'T WORK WELL WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS.

THE PUMPING ACTION CAN CAUSE IT TO FOAM IN SOME CASES.

SO FOR OLDER, COLLECTIBLE CARS, WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP MOISTURE OUT OF THE SYSTEMS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ABS, DOT5 MIGHT BE THE ANSWER.

BIG THING: FLUSH YOUR BRAKES EVERY 2 YEARS.

AND YOU'LL HAVE SAFER BRAKES; YOU'LL HAVE BRAKE PARTS THAT LAST A LOT LONGER.

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

>> JOHN: IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO A PAIR OF LONG TERMERS.

FIRST, WE BID SAYONARA TO THIS ACURA RLX.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE RLX HAS RARELY SAT STILL AS IT LEAVES US WITH ALMOST 34,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

A BIT OF A ROLLING CONTRADICTION, THE RLX SHOWCASES A HIGH TECH DESIGN FEATURING ACURA'S SIGNATURE JEWEL EYE LED HEADLIGHTS, EVERY LUXURY AND SAFETY AMENITY YOU COULD WANT, AND EVEN ALL-WHEEL STEERING.

YET, IT FEATURES A NORMALLY ASPIRATED, SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM V6 AND JUST A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE POWERTRAIN DEPARTMENT.

NO MATTER, THE COMBO DELIVERED BOTH SEAMLESS POWER AND 25.0 MILES-PER-GALLON FUEL ECONOMY.

SOMETIMES SIMPLER REALLY IS BETTER.

WE'LL CERTAINLY MISS THE RLX'S SMOOTH HIGHWAY RIDE, AND WEALTH OF SPACE PROVIDED IN ALL SEATING POSITIONS.

THOUGH GOING ON THE REBOUND WITH THIS 2015 ACURA TLX FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WILL CERTAINLY EASE OUT PAIN.

"EASY COME, EASY GO" IS CERTAINLY APROPOS FOR OUR NEXT DEPARTING LONG-TERMER, THIS 2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER.

IT FINISHES UP A 2 MONTH REFRESHER STAY WITH US, HAVING ACCRUED NEARLY 6,000 MILES AND PROVIDING 22.9 MILE-PER-GALLON FUEL ECONOMY.

OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE HERE WAS TO FIND OUT IF THE UPDATES MADE IN THE POWERTRAIN DEPARTMENT HELPED TO MAKE US LOVE THE PATHFINDER ANY MORE THAN WE ALREADY DID.

THOSE UPDATES INCLUDE A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE XTRONIC CVT TRANSMISSION THAT ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE MORE OF A NATURAL FEEL.

AND WHILE THE DIFFERENCE IS NOTICEABLE AND BETTER RESPONSE APPRECIATED; NEITHER ARE ENOUGH TO FOOL ANYONE INTO THINKING IT'S A TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THE POWERTRAIN STILL GETS "DRONEY" WHEN GETTING UP TO SPEED.

STILL, WHEN IT COMES TO LARGE 3 ROW CROSSOVER UTILITIES, THE NISSAN PATHFINDER REMAINS AN ALL TIME FAVORITE.

AND WE'LL RAMP UP OUR IMPRESSIONS OF THE COMPACT MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW, LET'S TURN THINGS OVER TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FOR A MOTORNEWS UPDATE.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: WHETHER IT'S THE FORM THEY TAKE, OR THE FUNCTION THEY SERVE, LED LIGHTING IS BECOMING A MUST HAVE FEATURE ON MOST NEW CARS.

FROM THE TOYOTA COROLLA TO A BENTLEY CONTINENTAL, THEIR PRESENCE HAS TRANSFORMED A BRIGHTER LIGHT INTO A SIGNATURE LOOK.

THE RAPID RISE OF THESE LIGHT EMITTING DIODES STARTED WITH THEIR HIGH EFFICIENCY AND RELATIVELY LOW MANUFACTURING COSTS.

OTHER BENEFITS SOON BECOME MORE APPARENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, LED'S CAN OUTLAST TYPICAL HALOGEN BULBS BY YEARS, WITH A COLOR TEMPERATURE THAT'S CLOSER TO DAYLIGHT.

THEY'RE EXTREMELY VERSATILE AS WELL AND CAN BE USED AS HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, AND EVEN INTERIOR, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING.

THE 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS USES THEM EXCLUSIVELY; NEARLY 500 LED'S IN EACH VEHICLE.

BUT IT'S THEIR COMPACT SIZE, AND FLEXIBLE PACKAGING, THAT HAS MADE THEM THE NEW DARLING OF AUTOMOTIVE STYLISTS.

STRUNG TOGETHER, THEY CAN BE SHAPED AND MANIPULATED INTO SOME EYE CATCHING DESIGNS.

NOT TO MENTION THEY'RE ALSO A HALLMARK OF BRANDS LIKE AUDI AND JAGUAR, AMONG OTHERS.

THE ALL-NEW FORD MUSTANG, WITH ITS LED TAIL LIGHTS AND SEQUENTIAL TURN SIGNALS.

AND THE ACURA RLX WITH ITS JEWEL EYE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE PRIME EXAMPLES OF THIS TREND.

WHILE LED'S ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO MORE AFFORDABLE VEHICLES, THEIR USE IS LARGELY RESERVED FOR FLAGSHIP AND PREMIUM MODELS.

BUT THAT WILL MOST LIKELY CHANGE AS THE TECHNOLOGY MATURES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

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

>> JOHN: THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF LINEUP EARNED OUR 2015 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SMALL CAR.

ONE OF THE REASONS BEING THE WIDE VARIETY OF CHOICES YOU HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING ONE.

YOU CAN GO BASIC WITH A TSI, SPORTY WITH THE GTI, OR LONG RANGE WITH THE TDI.

AND THERE'S EVEN A TOTALLY GREEN ONE ON THAT LIST, THE E-GOLF EV.

IT'S NOT ONLY US THAT HAVE SHOWERED HIGH PRAISE ON THE 7TH GENERATION, 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AS 57 VETERAN AUTO WRITERS ALSO PICKED IT AS THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR.

OUR MISSION HERE, IS TO SPEND SOME ADDITIONAL TIME IN THE ALL-ELECTRIC E-GOLF TO SEE IF IT INDEED LIVES UP TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY'S REPUTATION AND IF IT BRINGS ANYTHING NEW TO THE EV WORLD.

WELL, IT DOESN'T TAKE ANY TIME AT ALL BEHIND THE WHEEL TO REALIZE THAT THE E-GOLF DRIVES ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE EVERY OTHER GOLF.

IT DOES FEEL A BIT HEAVIER, THANKS TO THE ADDITIONAL 700 POUNDS OF BATTERY WEIGHT, BUT THAT JUST HELPS MAKE IT FEEL EVEN MORE STABLE.

HANDLING CERTAINLY FEELS SIMILAR, THOUGH SOME STEERING FEEL SEEMS TO HAVE GONE MISSING.

NOW, AS FOR HOW IT COMPARES TO OTHER EV'S, WELL IT APPEARS TO BE EASIER ON RANGE, AS THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY GAUGE SEEMS TO HANG ONTO NUMBERS A LITTLE LONGER THAN MOST BEFORE LETTING THEM COUNT DOWN.

REGENERATIVE BRAKING FEEL CAN BE HARSH, BUT IT'S ALSO ADJUSTABLE.

SO, YOU CAN DIAL IT UP FOR MAXIMUM ENERGY RECUPERATION AND BRAKE PEDAL FREE TREKS DOWN STEEP HILLS, OR DIAL IT DOWN FOR A MORE NORMAL FEEL.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE, IT WILL CERTAINLY CHANGE THE WAY YOU DRIVE, AS NO MATTER WHICH MODE YOU'RE IN, THERE'S NOT MUCH COASTING DOWN TO STOP SIGNS.

DRIVERS CAN ALSO CONTROL POWER OUTPUT BY CHOOSING BETWEEN NORMAL, ECO, AND ECO+ DRIVING MODES.

OVERALL, IT IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF ENGINEERING, WITH ALMOST SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF ALL EV COMPONENTRY AND IT HAS BY FAR THE MOST NATURAL THROTTLE FEEL OF ANY EV WE'VE DRIVEN.

IT EVEN HAD A FEW OF OUR STAFFERS FORGETTING THAT THEY WERE DRIVING AN EV AFTER SOME TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THE FED'S DRIVING RANGE IS LISTED AT 83 MILES.

NOW, THAT'S LESS THAN BOTH THE NISSAN LEAF AND THE KIA SOUL EV, BUT IT'S GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 126-CITY, 105-HIGHWAY, AND 116-COMBINED MPGE'S BEATS BOTH OF THEM.

AND OF COURSE THERE'S AN ALMOST PERFECT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST 0.2 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH ZERO CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE POWERTRAIN IS VW'S OWN DESIGN AND FEATURES AN 85-KW MOTOR THAT OUTPUTS 115 HORSEPOWER AND 199 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; JUICED BY A 24.2-KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK MOUNTED BENEATH THE REAR SEAT.

SO NOTABLY, CARGO ROOM IS UNCHANGED FROM OTHER 4-DOOR GOLF HATCHBACKS WITH 22.8 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE IN THE REAR, 52.7 WITH THE SEATBACKS FOLDED.

AND WHILE THE NEW GEN GOLF CERTAINLY IMPRESSES US WITH ITS RIDE AND HANDLING CAPABILITIES, INTERIOR BUILD QUALITY IS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE.

THE E-GOLF HAS THE SAME SPORTY FEEL AS THE REST OF THE LINEUP, AND EVEN RETAINS ELEMENTS LIKE A FLAT BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL.

UNIQUE COMPONENTS TO THE E-GOLF INCLUDE BLUE TRIM, AND OF COURSE AN EXCLUSIVE GAUGE PANEL WITH A POWER/CHARGE METER AND A BATTERY METER THAT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A TRADITIONAL FUEL GAUGE.

NAVIGATION, BACK-UP CAMERA, HEATED LEATHERETTE SEATING, 5.8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN INFOTAINMENT, AND KEYLESS ENTRY ARE ALL STANDARD.

AND LIKE MOST NEWER EV EFFORTS THE E-GOLF USES AN EFFICIENT HEAT PUMP FOR CABIN CLIMATE CONTROL.

THINGS OUTSIDE ARE A LITTLE MORE OF A DEPARTURE, WITH LED HEADLIGHTS, C-SHAPED LED DRLS LOCATED DOWN LOW, BLUE TRIM, UPDATED GRILLE, 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, AND OF COURSE UNIQUE EV BADGING.

BUT FROM THE REAR, OTHER THAN THE LACK OF A TAILPIPE, THERE'S LITTLE TO INDICATE THE E-GOLF'S FOSSIL FUEL-FREE NATURE.

EVEN THE CHARGING PORT IS LOCATED BEHIND THE TRADITIONAL FUEL FILLER DOOR, AND THE CORD LOCKS INTO PLACE WITH THE VEHICLES CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM.

AVAILABLE ONLY IN VERY WELL EQUIPPED SEL PREMIUM TRIM, E-GOLF PRICING IS IN LINE WITH RIVAL EV'S, STARTING AT $36,265.

AND OF COURSE THE USUAL GOVERNMENT REBATES APPLY, BRINGING ACTUAL COST DOWN TO $28,765.

THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF WITH ITS SOLID FEEL, TERRIFIC HANDLING, AND GREAT THROTTLE RESPONSE, IS A TRUE HIGH WATER MARK FOR MAINSTREAM EV'S.

AND MUCH LIKE THE EQUALLY NEW AND IMPRESSIVE KIA SOUL EV, THE MORE TIME WE SPEND IN THEM, THE MORE EV'S START TO MAKE SENSE.

THEY EVEN HAVE US THINKING THAT A PLUG-IN DRIVING FUTURE MIGHT NOT BE SO HARD TO TAKE AFTER ALL.

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 TROT OUT THE FORD MUSTANG GT FOR A FULL SPRINT TRACK TEST!

THEN TONE THINGS DOWN IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY.

PAT GOSS SHOWS HOW QUICK IS NOT ALWAYS BEST.

ZACH MASKELL TREKS OVER THE EDGE TO ICELAND.

PLUS MOTORNEWS, AND QUICKSPIN FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

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, OFFERING A VARIETY 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.