3-Car Performance Coupe Challenge & 2015 Porsche Boxster GTS

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

JOIN US FOR A PERFORMANCE COUPE SHOWDOWN, WHERE SPEED AND STYLE ARE THE NAMES OF THE GAME... PAT GOSS HAS THE PITFALLS OF BEING YOUR OWN CAR CARE DOCTOR... WE PLUG IN FOR A LOOK AT THE CURRENT STATE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES... AND THEN KEEP THE TOP UP FOR TRACK WORK IN THE PORSCHE BOXSTER GTS!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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SHE'S THINKING, "IF COLT DOESN'T ASK ME TO THE PROM, MY LIFE IS TOTALLY OVER."

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.

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>> JOHN: OVER THE YEARS WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH OUR FRIENDS OF COMPARISON TESTS, FROM COMPACT CROSSOVERS TO FAMILY SEDANS.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT A DEEP DIVE INTO A MARKET NICHE WITH A LITTLE MORE... NO, LET'S MAKE THAT A LOT MORE ZING.

SAY, PERFORMANCE COUPES!

NOW, THAT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE FUN!

YES, THIS TIME AROUND WE'RE GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH THREE HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTS COUPES.

AND OF COURSE, A 2015 BMW M4 IS INCLUDED AS THE PERCEIVED BENCHMARK IN THIS VERY EXCLUSIVE 2-DOOR CLASS.

AGAINST THE BIMMER IS PAIR OF UPSTART CHALLENGERS: THE 2016 CADILLAC ATS-V COUPE, AND THE 2015 LEXUS RC-F. CARS.COM'S HOME BASE, AND FITTINGLY, THERE ARE NO PRICE CAPS OR FUEL MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS THIS GO AROUND; IT'S A TRUE RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG SHOWDOWN.

STILL, WE'VE ASKED A LOCAL HOT SHOE CONSUMER TO JOIN US, TO HELP US PICK A WINNER.

NOW, LET'S GET DOWN TO IT.

THE BMW M4'S TWIN TURBO INLINE-6 PRODUCES 425 HORSEPOWER AND 406 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND THERE'S A 7-SPEED M-DCT SUSPENSION CONSISTS OF A DOUBLE JOINT SPRING STRUT FRONT AND 5-LINK REAR, AS WELL AS HELP FROM AN ADAPTIVE M SUSPENSION.

WHEELS ARE BLACK 19s, WITH M CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES NESTLED BEHIND; CURB WEIGHT IS 3,585 POUNDS.

IT STICKERS FOR $86,200.

THE NEWEST COUPE TO JOIN THIS GROUP, THE 2016 CADILLAC ATS-V, ALSO FEATURES TWIN TURBO-6 POWER BUT IN THE FORM OF A V, WITH 464 HORSEPOWER AND 445 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IS THE ONLY ONE HERE.

SUSPENSION IS MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT, 5-LINK REAR, BUT HERE WITH THE AID OF MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL.

WHEELS ARE POLISHED 18s, BRAKES ARE BY BREMBO, AND CURB WEIGHT IS 3,700 POUNDS.

PRICING COMES IN OVER 10-GRAND LESS THAN THE BMW AT $74,450.

THIS 2015 LEXUS RC-F HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AS IT TAKES POWER FROM A GREAT SOUNDING V8 WITH 467 HORSEPOWER AND 389 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, TRUE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

FRONT SUSPENSION IS DOUBLE WISHBONE DESIGN, WITH MULTI-LINK IN THE REAR.

19-INCH WHEELS ALSO HIDE BREMBO BRAKES, BUT THEY'VE GOT THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM AS WEIGHT IS THE HEAVIEST OF THE LOT AT 3,958 POUNDS.

PRICE HERE, JUST BARELY OVER THE CADILLACS AT $75,210.

POWER, BUT THE RC-Fs V8 WINS THE HORSEPOWER BATTLE.

THOUGH IF TORQUE IS MORE YOUR THING, THE ATS-Vs TURBO'S SPIN UP MUCH MORE OF IT THAN THE RC-F. >> BRIAN ROBINSON: BEING A RED-BLOODED, POSSIBLY RED-NECKED AMERICAN, I REALLY WANTED TO ROOT FOR BUT IT'S NOT SUPER TORQUEY, UNLIKE THE TURBO ENGINES, YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET THE REVS UP THERE.

>> JOHN: FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, SPEND SOME TIME ON THE STREET TO GET TO KNOW THESE CARS AND GET EVERYTHING BROKEN IN.

ALL PERFORMED ADMIRABLY, BUT NOT SURPRISINGLY IT'S THE CADILLAC ATS-V THAT DELIVERED THE BEST OVERALL DAY TO DAY RIDE QUALITY.

>> JOE WIESENFELDER: WHAT I THINK IT DOES BEST IS HAVE A DUAL PERSONALITY.

IT IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE CAR AH, BUT WHEN YOU GET IT OUT ON THE TRACK IT REALLY AVAILS ITSELF WELL.

>> JOHN: HAVING PROGRESSED THROUGH THE "GET TO KNOW YOU PHASE", IT'S OFF TO BYRON DRAGWAY IN BYRON, ILLINOIS FOR SOME QUARTER MILE MADNESS.

OUR BEST TIMES IN THE RC-F WERE 4.88 SECONDS TO 60 AND 13.12 FOR THE QUARTER MILE AT 109.11 MILES PER HOUR.

THE CADILLAC ATS-V SPRINTED TO 60 IN 4.32 SECONDS AND FINISHED OUT THE QUARTER IN 12.41 AT 115.62.

BUT THE FASTEST OF THE BUNCH WAS THE M4; 3.97 SECONDS TO 60 AND 12.05 FOR THE QUARTER MILE AT A SPEEDY 118.35 MILES PER HOUR.

>> JOE BRUZEK: THIS CAR WAS THE ROCKET SHIP OF THE BUNCH.

IT WAS LITERALLY THE FASTEST BY ALMOST FOUR TENTHS OF A SECOND, TOO.

>> JOHN: AND FINALLY IT'S OFF TO THE NORTH COURSE AT AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS TO TEST WHAT THESE CARS ARE TRULY MADE OF.

AND HERE THINGS CONTINUED TO BECOME CLEARER, AS THE M4 QUICKLY SHOWED US WHY BMW IS THE HEIR APPARENT.

THE ATS-V, EVEN THOUGH IT'S PACKED ON SOME WEIGHT, STILL HAS A GREAT NIMBLE FEEL, AS WELL AS SOME SERIOUS POWER TO MOVE IT.

THE RC-F IMPRESSES WITH ITS VERY AGGRESSIVE FEEL AND V8 SOUND.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS THE M4 LEADING THE WAY.

>> JOE BRUZEK: THE M4 IS CLEARLY THE MOST DEDICATED CAR OF THE BUNCH HERE.

IT HAS THE BEST BRAKES, SUSPENSION'S TIGHTER, THE STEERING'S TIGHTER, IT JUST OVERALL COMMUNICATES WHAT'S GOING ON MUCH BETTER THAN THE OTHER CARS.

>> JOHN: SO, TIME TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND RANK OUR CONTESTANTS.

THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE LEXUS RC-F. AS AN ALL NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE COUPE IT'S A TERRIFIC FIRST IT SOUNDS GREAT, THE INTERIOR IS WONDERFUL, BUT IT LOST WITH ITS HARSH RIDE QUALITY, AND A V8 THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT DOESN'T FULLY DELIVER THE GOODS.

>> MIKE HANLEY: OF THE CARS IN OUR TEST, THE RC-F FELT THE LEAST TRACK FOCUSED.

IT WAS HARDER TO DRIVE, THE CORNERS DESPITE HAVING THE LARGEST DISPLACEMENT ENGINE AND THE ONLY V8 IN THIS TEST.

>> JOHN: SECOND PLACE GOES TO THE CADILLAC ATS-V.

IT EXCELS AT THINGS YOU EXPECT CADILLACS TO EXCEL AT; COMFORTABLE SEATS, AND A RESPECTABLE AMOUNT OF LUXURY.

BUT UNLEASHED ON THE TRACK IT IMPRESSED US EVEN MORE.

>> MIKE HANLEY: I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE ATS-Vs HANDLING AND STEERING FEEL, IT REALLY STOOD APART FROM THE OTHERS.

YOU REALLY WERE ABLE TO TELL HOW CLOSE YOU WERE TO THE LIMIT, FOR ME, MORE THAN THE OTHER CARS.

>> JOHN: THAT LEAVES THE BMW AS THE WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION.

SURE, THE CAR HAS CHANGED A LOT COMES A TOTAL PACKAGE OF PERFORMANCE AND EVERY DAY LIVABILITY, IT'S EASILY, STILL SETTING THE PACE.

>> TIM MAY: AH, THE POWER IN THE M4 IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.

YOU CAN HEAR THE TWO TURBO'S THE CAR ACCELERATE.

IT PLANTS YOU IN YOUR SEAT FOR THE DRIVE THAT I DID, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> BRIAN: THE M4 CONTINUES TO BE THE BENCHMARK IN THIS CLASS FOR A REASON.

IT GOES LIKE STINK ON THE TRACK, AND HAS JUST ENOUGH OF A COMFORTABLE RIDE TO MAKE YOU NEVER WANT TO GET OUT OF IT.

>> JOHN: SO, IT LOOKS LIKE MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS, AS EVEN WITH A 10-GRAND HANDICAP, OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF IT, THE BMW M4 IS THE TOP OF OUR ALL OUT PERFORMANCE COUPE WISH LIST.

WE'VE WATCHED HOW IN ONLY SIX SHORT YEARS, THE ALL ELECTRIC CAR HAS PROGRESSED FROM AUTO SHOW CONCEPT TO A MIDDLE AMERICA COMMODITY.

BUT, EVEN WITH THAT, ELECTRIFIED CARS OF ALL TYPES, PURE EVs AND PLUG-IN HYBRIDS, STILL MAKE UP FAR LESS THAN 1% OF NEW CAR SALES.

SO WE HAVE TO ASK: WILL EV TECHNOLOGY EVER HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CAR MARKET AS A WHOLE?

WELL, TO FIND OUT, WE TOOK A GOOD LONG LOOK AT THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE'S CURRENT "STATE OF CHARGE."

* A FEW YEARS AGO THE ALL ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF AND RANGE EXTENDING CHEVROLET VOLT HAD THE PLUG-IN PLAYING FIELD PRETTY MUCH TO THEMSELVES.

THAT PAIR STILL TOPS THE EV SALES CHARTS, AND NISSAN ALONE HAS SOLD 70,000 LEAFS TO DATE, BUT THEY'RE NOW FEELING THE HEAT FROM A SLEW OF NEW PLUG-INS ACROSS ALL PRICE RANGES AND BODY STYLES.

IN FACT, CHEVROLET'S BATTERY ELECTRIC BOLT, DUE OUT NEXT YEAR, MAY BE A GAME CHANGER WITH AN EXPECTED 200 MILE ALL ELECTRIC RANGE AND A PRICE OF $30,000 AFTER FEDERAL TAX CREDITS.

>> PAM FLETCHER: IF WE THINK ABOUT IT, OUR GOAL HERE IS TO INCREASE ADOPTION, AND SO WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY RANGE ANXIETY, THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN WITH BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

WE'LL ADDRESS THAT WITH 200 MILES, AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE POINT, AT THAT $30,000 PRICE POINT.

>> JOHN: CARMAKERS ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN ADVANCED BATTERY RESEARCH, AND EACH SEEMS TO HAVE ITS OWN EV STRATEGY.

AND DON'T THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT FUEL EFFICIENCY.

THREE OF THE MOST STUNNING PERFORMANCE CARS ON THE PLANET, THE LA FERRARI, MCLAREN P1, AND PORSCHE 918 SPYDER, ARE ALL PLUG-IN HYBRIDS THAT MAXIMIZE THEIR PERFORMANCE BY USING THE INSTANT ON TORQUE OF ELECTRIC MOTORS.

BUT DRIVING ELECTRIC NO LONGER MEANS BEING A SHOW OFF.

MORE AND MORE MANUFACTURERS ARE INCLUDING A PLUG-IN OPTION AS JUST ANOTHER POWERTRAIN FOR A MAINSTREAM MODEL.

THE KIA SOUL, FORD FOCUS, HYUNDAI SONATA, FIAT 500, AND HONDA'S ACCORD, AND FIT, ALL OFFER ELECTRIC ALONG WITH PETROL POWERED VERSIONS, AND VOLKSWAGEN EVEN OFFERS A TRIFECTA OF GAS, EV, OR DIESEL POWERTRAIN'S IN THE GOLF.

>> JOERG SOMMER: THE GOLF PLATFORM OFFERS US THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY DERIVE NEW CONCEPTS PLATFORM, BUT ALSO TO USE ALTERNATIVE AND MULTIPLE DRIVETRAINS ON THAT PLATFORM.

IT MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE, CONSUMERS ARE ASKING FOR ALTERNATIVE DRIVE IN ALL KINDS OF SEGMENTS, AND WITH THE GOLF.

>> JOHN: BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO NISSAN, WHO TOOK THE PLUNGE EARLY AND WENT ALL IN WITH THE ALL ELECTRIC LEAF.

THIS BOLD STEP TURNED A RECEPTIVE AUDIENCE, INTO EV EVANGELIZERS.

>> PIERRE LOING: NOW, WE'RE GETTING INTO, I WOULD SAY IS A SECOND WAVE OF CUSTOMERS WHICH AVERAGE MARKET STANDARDS, SO CUSTOMERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SAVINGS, WHO ARE LOOKING TO USE THE LEAF AS THEIR EVERYDAY CAR, ALL THE TIME.

>> JOHN: STILL, RANGE ANXIETY, OR THE FEAR OF RUNNING OUT OF JUICE SHORT OF THE NEAREST ELECTRICAL OUTLET, IS THE NUMBER ONE HURDLE TO TRULY WIDESPREAD CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF PLUG-IN VEHICLES.

AND THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS AROUND IT: MAKE THE CAR GO FURTHER BETWEEN CHARGES AND BUILD MORE CHARGING STATIONS.

SOME EV MAKERS ARE TACKLING THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE HEAD ON.

TESLA IS SETTING UP ITS OWN NETWORK OF LEVEL 3 SUPERCHARGERS ALONG POPULAR TRAVEL ROUTES.

THEY'VE ALSO OFFERED RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS FREE CHARGERS SO THEY CAN ATTRACT TESLA AND OTHER EV OWNERS.

NISSAN'S NOVEL "NO CHARGE TO CHARGE" PROGRAM IS GIVING LEAF OWNERS A TWO YEAR FREEBIE.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ALTERNATIVE FUELS DATA CENTER WEBSITE LISTS MORE THAN 9,300 ELECTRIC STATIONS, AND 23,000 PUBLIC ACCESS CHARGING OUTLETS IN THE US AND WILL EVEN MAP A ROUTE FOR YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

CONSUMERS HAVE SHOWN THEY ARE WILLING TO EMBRACE CLEAN POWER TECHNOLOGY.

AND WITH AN EXPANDING ARRAY OF PLUG-IN AND PURE EV MODELS AND EVER LONGER DRIVING RANGES, BACKED BY SUPERIOR WARRANTIES, IT'S CLEAR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF NEW CARS AND TRUCKS IS HERE TO STAY.

IN FACT, WE'RE SURE THE DAY WILL COME WHEN PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE SEEN NOT AS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE BUT AS THE BEST CHOICE, PERIOD.

>> JOHN: THEY SAY THAT PAT GOSS HAS THE MAGIC TOUCH.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT THE MASTER HAS FOR US THIS WEEK.

>> PAT GOSS: YOU WOULDN'T SELF ON YOURSELF; YOU MIGHT WIND UP LIKE THIS.

SO, WHY DO YOU SELF DIAGNOSE SO MANY THINGS WITH YOUR CARS, THAT CAUSE SO MANY PROBLEMS AND WASTE SO MUCH MONEY?

ONE OF THE MORE TYPICAL THINGS THAT WE SEE IS THAT SOMEBODY COMES INTO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MAYBE THEY HAD A TIRE WEAR PROBLEM, OR MAYBE THEY HAVE A SHAKE OR A SHIMMY.

THEY BRING THE CAR IN, AND THEY SAY, "HEY, I NEED AN ALIGNMENT.

WOULD YOU ALIGN MY CAR FOR ME?"

WELL, WE ASK THEM WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND WE TELL THEM, "NO, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T.

WE WOULD RATHER FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR CAR."

YOU SEE WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AN AUTOMOBILE, YOU DON'T TAKE IT IN, SELF DIAGNOSE, AND SAY, "I WANT THIS REPAIR."

THE ONLY TIME YOU ASK FOR A SPECIFIC REPAIR IS WHEN YOU HAVE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.

OTHERWISE WHAT YOU WANT IS THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM.

SO YOU TAKE THE CAR IN, YOU DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE HAVING, YOU ASK THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND THEN GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO CORRECT THAT PROBLEM.

THAT WAY YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

NOW, ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THIS IS VERY COMMON IS RIGHT HERE WITH THESE SILLY CODE READERS.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO THINK THAT A CODE TELLS YOU WHAT PART TO REPLACE ON A CAR.

WELL IT MAY, BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IT WON'T.

YOU SEE, ALL A CODE DOES IS TELL YOU WHAT PART OR WHAT SYSTEM IS BEING AFFECTED BY WHAT'S WRONG.

NOT WHAT'S ACTUALLY WRONG?

TO FIND OUT THAT, YOU HAVE TO GO TO A TEST THAT HAS THE SAME NUMBER AS THE CODE.

YOU RUN THAT TEST, AND THAT TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT PART TO REPLACE OR REPAIR.

SO DON'T SELF DIAGNOSE.

YOU WANT YOUR CAR FIXED.

YOU DON'T WANT A SPECIFIC REPAIR PERFORMED.

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

>> JOHN: WHILE LUXURY COMES IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES; MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT'S BIG IN SIZE AND BOLD THAT'S OUR LONG TERM KIA K900.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU SEE IT, BUT IT WON'T BE DENIED, AS THE K900 ALWAYS TURNS HEADS FOLLOWED BY, "THAT'S A KIA?"

OVER THE LAST 12-MONTHS AND 26,000 MILES, WE'VE SUBJECTED THIS LUXURY LINER TO EVERYTHING FROM WEDDINGS TO FAMILY VACATIONS.

BUT HEY, WAIT A MINUTE; THIS CLEARLY ISN'T A TRADITIONAL FAMILY 4-DOOR.

THAT'S OBVIOUS BY THE ULTRA PLUSH INTERIOR, LIMO LIKE REAR SEAT, AND THE SMOOTH, POWERFUL V8 ENGINE.

FUEL ECONOMY IS STEADY AT 19.9 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM, AND THERE ARE NO THE K900 FULLY DELIVERS AS A FLAGSHIP KIA, FULLY DISPLAYING WHAT THIS ONCE UPSTART BRAND IS NOW CAPABLE OF.

FROM THE OUTSIDE, THIS MAY LOOK LIKE THE SAME COMPACT UTE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE, JUST IN A DIFFERENT COLOR, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A NEW MODEL.

SAY HELLO TO THE 2015 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT.

STEPPING UP TO GT TRIM, FOG LIGHTS, LEATHER SEATING, TRICK MOOD LIGHTING LINING, AND A PANORAMIC MOON ROOF.

NAV AND INFOTAINMENT ALSO GET A NEEDED UPGRADE.

THE SOURCE OF POWER IS ALSO NEW: A 2.4 LITER INLINE 4, WITH 168 HORSEPOWER THAT'S 20 MORE THAN OUR OUTGOING MODEL.

THE CVT IS STILL HERE, AS WELL AS ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT OUTGOING 2014 OUTLANDER, IT'S LEAVING US WITH JUST OVER 10,000 MILES TO OUR CREDIT, AND A FINAL FUEL ECONOMY OF 27.0 COMBINED ON REGULAR.

IT'S RATED FOR 26.

A REAL WORKHORSE THAT NEVER GAVE US A MINUTE OF PAUSE.

WE'LL SEE IF THIS NEW OCTANE BLUE OUTLANDER SPORT CAN KEEP THAT TREND GOING.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR CHRYSLER 200 AND NISSAN MURANO ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

WE'RE MAKING QUICK WORK OF OUR LATEST QUICK SPINS.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF WHAT WE'RE DRIVING!

WE'RE FANS OF THE HYUNDAI SONATA, AND ITS STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS PREMIUM STATUS.

TWO MORE STRIDES IN THAT DIRECTION ARE THE 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID AND PLUG-IN HYBRID.

FOR ITS SECOND GENERATION, POWER COMES FROM A SMOOTHER 2.0 LITER INLINE 4, AND A 38 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR COMPACTLY HOUSED WITHIN THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

NET HORSEPOWER IS 193, WITH A 42 MPG COMBINED ESTIMATE.

THE PLUG-IN HYBRID, IS NEW AND IT'S A FIRST FOR HYUNDAI.

SAME 2.0 LITER 4, BUT A MORE POWERFUL 50 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND A LARGER BATTERY PACK STORED IN THE REAR.

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT IS 202 HORSEPOWER.

HYUNDAI CLAIMS 40 MPG AND 93 MPGE COMBINED ESTIMATES.

WE CAME AWAY IMPRESSED WITH THE HYBRID.

>> BEN DAVIS: ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THE SONATA HYBRID IS THAT IT USES A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SO YOU GET THAT POSITIVE G-FORCE ANOTHER THING THAT'S GREAT IS THAT YOU HAVE FULL USE OF YOUR TRUNK, IT DOESN'T DIFFER AT ALL FROM THE GAS MODEL, SO YOU HAVE A 60/40 REAR FOLD.

>> JOHN: AND THE PLUG-IN, AS WELL.

>> BEN: HYUNDAI SAYS "YOU HAVE ABOUT A 24 MILE RANGE," PURE EV.

I BELIEVE IT, I CAME PRETTY CLOSE...

I WASN'T BABYING IT AROUND.

I HAD STEREO ON, AIR CONDITIONING, I MEAN I WAS COMFORTABLE.

>> JOHN: HYBRID SALES ARE BEGINNING NOW STARTING AT $26,000, WHILE THE PLUG-IN HYBRID HITS SELECTED MARKETS THIS FALL SHOULD BE PRICED IN THE LOW 30'S.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

>> JOHN: THE PORSCHE BOXSTER IS A FUN CAR TO DRIVE.

AND WHILE THERE IS A S-VERSION TO SPICE THINGS UP A BIT, THE BOXSTER HAS NEVER HAD A PROPER HIGH PERFORMANCE DERIVATIVE.

WELL, THAT CHANGES NOW WITH THE BOXSTER GTS.

SO, LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND GET THE MID-ENGINE MADNESS STARTED!

* WE FULLY REALIZE THAT IT'S TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL TO MAKE EVERY CAR MID-ENGINE, BUT IT SURE WOULD BE NICE.

AND OF COURSE THEN MAYBE CARS LIKE THIS 2015 PORSCHE BOXSTER GTS WOULDN'T BE SO SPECIAL.

STARTING WITH WHAT YOU CAN SEE, GTS BOXSTER'S GET NEW FASCIAS BOTH FRONT AND REAR, AND A BLACKED OUT TREATMENT IS APPLIED TO THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL PIPES.

TRADEMARK ELEMENTS LIKE THE BODY SIDE AIR SCOOPS, CENTRAL EXHAUST, AND ACTIVE REAR WING ALL CARRY OVER, AND IT'S STILL A BEAUTIFUL CAR TO LOOK AT WHETHER TOP UP OR DOWN.

INTERIOR WISE, THE GTS LEVEL SPREADS SOME ALCANTRA LEATHER LIBERALLY THROUGHOUT.

BUT AS ONLY PORSCHE CAN DO, YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR THE ACTUAL GTS INTERIOR PACKAGE TO GET GTS LOGOS AND CARBON FIBER TRIM.

AS ALWAYS, THE MID-ENGINE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR STORAGE AT BOTH ENDS, MAKING THE BOXSTER ONE OF THE MOST PRACTICAL ROADSTERS ON THE MARKET.

THEN THERE ARE THE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT UPGRADES THAT YOU CAN'T EASILY SEE.

THE FOUNDATION IS THE SAME 3.4 LITER FLAT-6 FOUND IN THE BOXSTER S. BUT NOW HORSEPOWER IS UP 15 TO 330, BOOST TO 273, BASICALLY FROM AN ENGINE SOFTWARE UPDATE.

PORSCHE'S SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE AND ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT ARE BOTH STANDARD, AS ARE 20-INCH CARRERA S WHEELS.

FROM THERE YOU CAN CHOSE FROM A 6-SPEED MANUAL OR A 7-SPEED PDK TRANSMISSIONS.

AND JUST HOW DOES ALL THIS COME TOGETHER?

TO US THAT MEANS TRACK TIME.

NOW, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT WITH THE BOXSTER S'S ON TRACK PERFORMANCE.

BUT ENTHUSIASTS ALWAYS WANT MORE AND PORSCHE IS ALWAYS TRYING TO DELIVER IT.

AND WHAT THE GTS DELIVERS IS EPIC AMOUNTS OF REFINED PROWESS THAT INSTANTLY MAKE YOU A BETTER DRIVER THAN YOU ARE.

IT SLOWS DOWN AT THE END OF STRAIGHTS FANTASTICALLY, GRIPS LIKE A CHAMP THROUGH CORNERS, ROCKETS OFF OF THEM HEALTHILY, GIVES YOU PLENTY OF FEEDBACK THE WHOLE TIME, AND EVEN SOUNDS GREAT WHILE DOING IT.

THE ADDITIONAL POWER IS NOT OBVIOUS, AS THIS WELL BALANCED REAR DRIVER COULD EASILY HANDLE A WHOLE LOT MORE, BUT IT'S SURE NOT LACKING ANY EITHER.

AND YOU'LL FIND MOST OF IT AT THE HIGHER END OF THE TACH.

NO UNDERSTEER WHATSOEVER, JUST IMMEDIATE POINT AND SHOOT TURN-INS; ACCOMPANIED BY A PERFECT HINT OF OVERSTEER TO HELP ROTATE YOU THROUGH CORNERS.

IT'S HARD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PDK AUTO, AS WE'VE TRADITIONALLY FOUND IT SEAMLESS IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SITUATION.

BUT WE DID HAVE A FEW OCCASIONS THIS GO ROUND WHERE IT TRIGGERED A MID CORNER DOWNSHIFT WHEN WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT IT.

BUT KEPT IN MANUAL MODE, IT WORKED FLAWLESSLY.

AND SPEAKING OF PERFECT OPERATION, IN A STRAIGHT LINE, PORSCHE'S LAUNCH CONTROL IS AMONG THE EASIEST IN THE BUSINESS TO ENGAGE, AND IT WORKS ALL DAY LONG, EVERY TIME, NO EXCEPTIONS.

THANKS TO IT, AND SEEMINGLY ALL WHEEL DRIVE LEVELS OF GRIP, WE CHARGED OFF THE LINE TO 60 IN 4.2 SECONDS AND ECLIPSED THE QUARTER MILE MARKER IN 12.8 AT 112 MILES PER HOUR.

RELAXED PACE, TOP UP OR DOWN, YOU'LL BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A MORE REFINED OR ENTERTAINING SPORTS CAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

NOW, IT'S HARD TO CALL $74,495 A BARGAIN, BUT SPEND SOME TIME IN THIS CAR, BETTER YET SOME TRACK TIME, AND YOU'LL FIND IT'S WORTH IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THE CHANGES MADE TO THE 2015 PORSCHE BOXSTER GTS ARE RELATIVELY MINOR.

BUT WHEN THE CAR IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT TO BEGIN WITH, IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO MANY SMALL CHANGES TO MAKE NOTABLE DIFFERENCES; PROVIDED THEY PROPEL THINGS EVEN FURTHER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO, WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT MAKING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CARS EVEN BETTER?

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, AS WE GET A TOP DOWN, SUNNY SIDE UP RIDE IN THE BMW 2 SERIES CONVERTIBLE.

THEN SEE IF FORD HAS SHARPENED THEIR CROSSOVER APPEAL WITH A NEW EDGE.

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... JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HER FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

SHE'S THINKING, "IF COLT DOESN'T ASK ME TO THE PROM, MY LIFE IS TOTALLY OVER."

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.

>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

*