>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS

AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US AND SEE HOW HIGH POWER

AND HIGH END LUXURY MEET IN THE

BMW M6 GRAN COUPE.

PAT GOSS HEADS BACK TO THE CLASS

ROOM FOR A LITTLE HISTORY

LESSON.

WHILE FYI REPORTER YOLANDA

VAZQUEZ'S RETURN TO SCHOOL

LEAVES HER WINDED.

AND WE'LL WHISTLE A NEW TUNE

WITH THE ALL-NEW KIA CADENZA.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION

ANNOUNCER:
MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S
ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

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>> JOHN: IT MIGHT TAKE YOU

A CALCULATOR, OR AT LEAST AN

ABACUS OR TWO, TO KEEP UP WITH

ALL OF THE NEW BMW "M" MODELS.

BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING.

WE GLADLY TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

WE GET TO GO BEHIND THE WHEEL

OF A BMW.

AND NOW THERE'S ONE MORE HIGH

PERFORMER TO KEEP TRACK OF,

AND IT'S BASED ON THE ALREADY

LOFTY 6-SERIES GRAN COUPE.

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE

BMW M5 SEDAN MUSCLE AND M6 COUPE

HANDLING WITH 6-SERIES

GRAN COUPE STYLE?

WELL, THAT'S AN EASY ONE,

THE 2014 BMW M6 GRAN COUPE.

YET ANOTHER M VEHICLE TO EMERGE

FROM THE MAD SCIENTISTS

OF DINGOLFING, GERMANY.

PERHAPS THEIR CLASSIEST "M"

EVER, THERE ARE OF COURSE

A FEW THINGS THAT SET IT APART

FROM OTHER 6-SERIES GRAN

COUPE'S;

AND THEY FOLLOW THE FAMILIAR "M"

WAY OF DOING THINGS,

WITH LARGER AIR INTAKES UP

FRONT, CARBON FIBER FOR THE

ROOF, AND A WIDER TRACK WITH

FLARED OUT FENDERS.

THE REAR ALSO GETS SUITABLY

MACHOED UP WITH A CARBON-FIBER

DIFFUSER AND QUAD EXHAUST TIPS

THAT GIVE YOU A RUMBLY REMINDER

OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

THE GRAN COUPE RIDES ON THE SAME

116.7-INCH WHEELBASE AS THE M5

SEDAN, WHICH IS 4.5-INCHES

LONGER THAN THE M6 COUPE.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 20-INCH M

LIGHT ALLOYS.

OUR TEST CARS FROZEN SILVER

PAINT WILL COST YOU 5-GRAND

EXTRA, BUT IT REALLY LOOKS

UNIQUE, AND YOU CAN ALSO UPGRADE

TO FULL LED HEADLIGHTS WITH

THE EXECUTIVE PACKAGE.

SO, IN A NUTSHELL, THE M6 GRAN

COUPE IS AN M5 WITH A FEW

MORE CURVES, AND WHEN IT COMES

TO HITTING SOME CURVES,

THE GC QUICKLY ESTABLISHED

ITSELF AS MORE THAN CAPABLE.

M ENGINEERS PUT THEIR HANDS ON

EVERY ASPECT OF THE CHASSIS,

TRANSFORMING IT BY DIRECTLY

BOLTING THE REAR AXLE SUBFRAME

TO THE BODY FOR GREATER

STIFFNESS, ADDING M DYNAMIC

DAMPER CONTROL SHOCKS,

AND OF COURSE TWEAKING

THE ELECTRONICS, WHICH WE STILL

FOUND VERY INTRUSIVE UNLESS

THEY WERE TURNED ALL THE WAY

OFF.

MUCH LIKE THE M6,

IT'S NOT A LIGHTWEIGHT,

COMING IN AT OVER 4,400 POUNDS,

YET IT MANAGES TO FEEL MUCH

LIGHTER THROUGH THE CONES WITH

WAY MORE QUICKNESS THAN EXPECTED

IN A CAR THIS BIG,

ALL WHILE PROVIDING GOOD AMOUNTS

OF FEEDBACK.

BY NOW WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR

WITH THE 4.4-LITER M TWIN-TURBO

V8 UNDER THE HOOD,

SPINNING UP 560-HORSEPOWER

AND 500 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

NESTLED BEHIND IS AN M-DCT

7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION;

THOUGH A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS

AVAILABLE AS A NO COST OPTION.

PUT THE M-DCT AND TWINPOWER

TURBO TO WORK AT THE TRACK,

AND UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS,

YOU'LL MANAGE A 0 TO 60 TIME

OF JUST 3.8-SECONDS;

AND GO ON TO A QUARTER MILE RUN

OF 12.0-SECONDS FLAT AT 122

MILES-PER-HOUR.

WHILE THERE'S NO SHORTAGE

OF TORQUE OFF THE LINE,

TRACTION CAN BE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

USING M'S LAUNCH CONTROL HELPS,

BUT AFTER A FEW MAX LAUNCHES

IT NEEDS A TIME OUT, SO YOU'RE

ON YOUR OWN.

POWER POURS ON CONSTANTLY

THROUGHOUT THE TRIP,

WITH SHIFTS ONLY A MINOR BLIP

ON YOUR HIGH SPEED RADAR.

THE M-SPECIFIC BRAKES ARE

ALREADY A STEP ABOVE STANDARD

GRAN COUPE FARE,

BUT YOU CAN UPGRADE FURTHER

TO M CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES.

OUR TEST CAR HAD THEM AND

BROUGHT US TO A HALT IN A SHORT

AVERAGE OF 114-FEET FROM 60.

NOW LET'S US TAKE A TIME OUT TO

LOOK INSIDE WHERE THERE'S NOT

MUCH "BREAKING" FROM TRADITIONAL

BMW DRIVER-CENTRIC,

COCKPIT DESIGN.

YOU'LL FIND "M" TOUCHES

THROUGHOUT THE CABIN;

INCLUDING LOGOS,

MULTIFUNCTION SPORT SEATS,

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER,

AND OF COURSE THE STEERING

WHEEL.

THINGS ARE A LITTLE TIGHTER

IN THE REAR SEAT COMPARED TO

THE M5, AND THERE IS A BIT LESS

TRUNK SPACE, ALL SACRIFICE FOR

THE MORE STYLISH 4-DOOR COUPE

DESIGN.

AND EVEN WITH ALL ITS

PERFORMANCE CREDENTIALS,

DRIVING THE M6 GRAN COUPE IS

RELATIVELY TRANQUIL AND RELAXING

ALMOST REGARDLESS OF SPEED.

COMFORT MODE SEEMS MORE

COMFORTING THAN IN THE M5,

BUT THINGS CAN STILL GET PLENTY

AGGRESSIVE WHEN YOU DIAL IT UP

TO SPORT PLUS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS

ARE IN THE GAS GUZZLER REALM

AT 14-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY,

AND 16-COMBINED,

WHICH WE CAME CLOSE TO MATCHING

AT 16.4 MILES-PER-GALLON

OF PREMIUM.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING,

NUMBERS POP FROM LOW TO HIGH,

AS YOU'LL NEED $115,925

TO ENTER THE WORLD OF M6

GRAN COUPEDOM.

AT THAT LEVEL, THE 2014 BMW M6

GRAN COUPE IS CLEARLY

ONE EXCLUSIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE

RIDE.

STILL, FOR THE MONEY, WE PREFER

THE MORE TRADITIONAL M5.

BUT IF YOU'D RATHER HAVE

THE SLICK M6 LOOKS,

BUT RETAIN SOME 4-DOOR

PRACTICALITY,

THEN YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED

WITH THE M6 GRAN COUPE.

IT'S READY TO ROCK AND ROLL

WHEN YOU ARE.

CAR COMPANIES ARE SPENDING AN

EVER INCREASING AMOUNT OF MONEY

IN BOOSTING FUEL ECONOMY.

AND SURE, POWERTRAIN DEVELOPMENT

IS PART OF THAT,

BUT THERE'S STILL AN INCREDIBLE

AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE

WITH AERODYNAMICS.

AND WHILE YOU CAN DO ALL OF THE

COMPUTER SIMULATIONS YOU WANT,

AS OUR YOLANDA VASQUEZ EXPLAINS,

THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO FIND

OUT IF ALL THOSE EFFORTS REALLY

WORK.

Yolanda: A PROP INSPECTION
AND FINAL ONCE OVER

SETS THE STAGE
FOR A DAY OF TESTING

AT THE GLENN L. MARTIN
WIND TUNNEL

LOCATED AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF MARYLAND.

THIS 3/8 SCALE MODEL CAR,
WHICH IS SECURELY BOLTED DOWN,

WILL SOON BE PUT THROUGH
THE WRINGER!

AS THE STAFF TURNS ON
THE FAN CONTROLS

AND BEGINS TO COLLECT DATA,

THIS DIMINUTIVE CAR
ENDURES WIND SPEEDS

OF OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR.

AND WHILE YOU CAN'T SEE
THE WIND,

YOU SURE CAN HEAR IT.

[ WIND BLOWING ]

AT THE OTHER END
OF THIS HOLLOW TUBE

IS A POWERFUL FAN

THAT CREATES THE FLOW OF AIR
INSIDE THE TUNNEL.

JUST STANDING HERE
GIVES YOU AN IDEA

OF HOW LARGE THIS FAN IS...

19 FEET IN DIAMETER,

AND WHEN THE WIND TUNNEL
IS OPERATIONAL,

IT PERFORMS LIKE
AN AIRPLANE PROPELLER,

PUSHING THE AIR THROUGH.

AS THE FAN SLOWLY
PICKS UP SPEED,

THESE TURNING VANES GUIDE
THAT AIR INTO A SETTLING CHAMBER

THAT'S JUST UPSTREAM
OF THE TEST AREA.

Dr. Jewel Barlow:
EVERY WIND TUNNEL THAT'S
DESIGNED FOR VEHICLE TESTING,

THAT'S WORTH ITS SALT,

WILL HAVE THAT CHARACTERISTIC.

Yolanda: MOST OF
THE MAJOR AUTOMAKERS

HAVE THEIR OWN
STATE-OF-THE-ART WIND TUNNELS

THAT CAN TEST
FULL-SIZE VEHICLES.

THEIR RESEARCH INCLUDES
WAYS TO REDUCE DRAG,

IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY,

AND MINIMIZE WIND NOISE.

Dr. Barlow: THE NOISE
THAT YOU HEAR

WHEN YOU'RE RIDING
IN YOUR CAR

IS A MUCH MORE COMPLEX
TOTAL PROBLEM.

Yolanda: DR. JEWEL BARLOW SAYS
FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES,

THIS LOW-SPEED WIND TUNNEL

HAS BEEN USED TO TEST
AUTOMOBILE AERODYNAMICS

ON A NUMBER OF CONCEPT
AND PRODUCTION CARS.

BUT THEIR LOBBY
TELLS AN EVEN BIGGER STORY,

WITH SCALE MODELS OF SEAPLANES
DATING BACK TO THE 1950s,

AND YACHT KEELS
FROM THE AMERICA'S CUP YACHTS.

Dr. Barlow:
WE SAY ALMOST ANYTHING
THAT MOVES IN AIR OR WATER

WE'VE PROBABLY DONE
SOME WORK ON IT

Yolanda: AND MOST OF THAT WORK,
SAYS BARLOW,

INVOLVES HELPING COMPANIES
IMPROVE PRODUCT DESIGN

AND VALIDATE
MATHEMATICAL MODELING.

Dr. Barlow: GIVEN THE SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPANY

FOR THAT CAR;

HOW DO YOU FINE TUNE
THE FINAL SHAPE DETAILS

TO MAKE IT MATCH THE MARKET
SEGMENT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS.

Yolanda: FOR EXAMPLE, THE SCALE
MODEL BEING TESTED TODAY

IS THE G2
FROM GENOVATION CARS.

Steven Rogers: AT GENOVATION,
WE'RE INTERESTED IN SHIFTING

HOW AMERICANS VIEW
AND USE ENERGY.

Yolanda: THEY'RE A MARYLAND-
BASED TECHNOLOGY COMPANY

THAT'S TRYING TO BUILD A
TRULY INNOVATIVE, ELECTRIC CAR.

Andrew Saul: SO, WE DESIGNED G2,
THE GENOVATION G2,

TO BE GREEN IN CONTENT,

AS WELL AS VERY,
VERY EFFICIENT.

Yolanda: GENOVATION HAS BEEN
USING THE WIND TUNNEL

TO TEST THE AERODYNAMIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR CAR.

Andrew: WE KNEW THE CAR WAS
VERY EFFICIENT THROUGH THE WIND,

VERY LOW CD.

IT WAS .2,
AND DECENT DOWN FORCE.

BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE
A MODEL IN THE WIND TUNNEL

TO VALIDATE YOUR COMPUTER MODEL

AND MAKE SURE
YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

Yolanda: A BETTER VISUAL
OF THE AIR FLOW AROUND A CAR

IS THE SMOKE DEMO.

Dr. Barlow: ONE OF THE THINGS
WE'RE LOOKING FOR

IS WHERE
THE STAGNATION POINT IS.

Yolanda: AS YOU CAN SEE,

THE SMOKE FLOWS PRETTY EVENLY
OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR,

BUT WATCH HOW IT SEPARATES
AND BECOMES TURBULENT

TOWARDS THE BACK.

BARLOW SAYS TO MINIMIZE DRAG,

YOU WANT TO HAVE THE SEPARATED
FLOW AT THE BACK OF THE CAR

AS SMALL AS YOU CAN GET IT.

SO THAT'S THE WHOLE GOAL?

Dr. Barlow: THAT REPRESENTS
THE BIG GOAL

AS FAR AS DRAG IS CONCERNED.

Yolanda: GENOVATION CEO
ANDREW SAUL TELLS ME

THEY INCREASED THE ANGLE OF
THEIR BUMPER COVER

UNDERNEATH THE CAR

AND ADDED A CHROME LIP
TO THE BACK

TO HELP REDUCE DRAG.

IT'S THESE KINDS
OF SUBTLE DESIGN CHANGES

THAT MAKE WIND TUNNEL TESTING

A CRUCIAL PART OF
VEHICLE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

FOR CAR COMPANIES
BOTH BIG AND SMALL.

>> JOHN: PAT GOSS KNOWS A THING
OR TWO ABOUT HISTORY.

AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY
A USED CAR, YOU SHOULD TOO.

Pat: BUYING A USED CAR CAN
BE A GREAT WAY TO SAVE MONEY,

BUT IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO
YOUR HOMEWORK TO AVOID PROBLEMS.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME
POINTERS IS CHRIS BASSO FROM

CARFAX.

CHRIS, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Chris: GREAT TO BE HERE, PAT.

Pat: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT CARFAX BRINGS TO THE TABLE

FOR THE CAR BUYER.

Chris:
CARFAX COLLECTS INFORMATION
FROM OVER 77,000 SOURCES,

LIKE THE DEPARTMENT
OF MOTOR VEHICLES,

A DEALERSHIP,
OR EVEN A SERVICE LOCATION.

AND ALL THAT INFORMATION FOR
A SPECIFIC CAR CAN BE UNLOCKED

USING THE 17 DIGIT
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

IF YOU'RE BUYING A USED CAR,

START WITH A CARFAX
VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW,
WE HAVE THIS REPORT,

WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT TYPES
OF INFORMATION ON IT?

Chris: REPORTED ACCIDENTS,
SERVICE INFORMATION,

A POSSIBLE ODOMETER ROLLBACK.

ALL THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW

TO HELP YOU MAKE
A SMART BUYING DECISION.

Pat: ALRIGHT.
NOW, LIKE THIS CAR,

WHICH WE KNOW WAS A FLOOD CAR,
IT'S TOTALED,

THAT WOULD SHOW UP?

Chris: THAT WOULD SHOW UP
RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE REPORT

IN BRIGHT RED LETTERS.

IT'S A WARNING THAT YOU MAY
NOT WANT TO PURCHASE THIS CAR,

OR LOOK DEEPER INTO IT,

HAVE A QUALIFIED MECHANIC
INSPECT IT.

BUT GO THROUGH THE REPORT,

FIND ALL THE INFORMATION
THAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO CARFAX,

AND TAKE IT FROM THERE
TO MAKE A SMART BUYING DECISION.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW,
ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE NOTICED

ON YOUR REPORTS
IS THE OPEN RECALLS,

WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Chris: OPEN RECALLS
IS A MAJOR ISSUE THESE DAYS.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE 2.1 MILLION
CARS THAT WERE FOR SALE

WITH AN OPEN RECALL.

IT'S AN ALARMING NUMBER
THAT IS ONLY GETTING BIGGER

AS MORE RECALLS HAPPEN.

THESE ARE SAFETY DEFECTS THAT
THE MANUFACTURER HAS IDENTIFIED,

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,

PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING THESE CARS
TO GET THEM FIXED.

Pat: YEAH, AND JUST BY VIRTUE
OF THEIR NAME ALONE,

AS A "SAFETY DEFECT,"

YOU'D THINK PEOPLE WOULD
RUSH OFF TO GET THEM DONE.

Chris: ABSOLUTELY.

THEY CAN AFFECT THE AIRBAGS.

THEY CAN CAUSE FIRES.

THEY CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS.

IF YOU FIND THAT
THE CAR YOU OWN,

OR THE CAR THAT
YOU WANT TO BUY

HAS AN OPEN RECALL,

TAKE IT TO A FRANCHISE DEALER,

THEY'RE GOING TO FIX IT,
OFTENTIMES FOR FREE.

Pat: OKAY.

ALRIGHT, SO, THIS IS
A REAL WORKABLE TOOL

TO AVOID STEPPING INTO SOMETHING

THAT IS GOING TO COST YOU
A LOT OF GRIEF

OR A LOT OF MONEY.

Chris: USED CARS CAN BE
A GREAT VALUE,

AND FOR MOST PEOPLE,
THEY ARE A REALLY GOOD BUY,

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME USED
CARS HAVE INHERENT PROBLEMS.

BY STARTING WITH
A CARFAX REPORT,

AND THEN TAKING THE CAR
TO A QUALIFIED MECHANIC,

YOU CAN FIND ANY PROBLEMS THAT
MAY EXIST WITH THAT VEHICLE,

AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE PUTTING
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN A SAFE,

RELIABLE USED CAR.

Pat: CHRIS, THANK YOU.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT,

DROP ME A LINE
RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

>> JOHN: IN A DOG-EAT-DOG

WORLD WHERE PEOPLE DO WHATEVER'S

NECESSARY TO GET AHEAD,

IT'S REFRESHING TO READ ABOUT

A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO STILL LIVE

BY A CODE OF HONOR.

"THE ONE PERCENTER CODE:

HOW TO LIVE LIKE AN OUTLAW

IN A WORLD GONE SOFT"

BY DAVE NICHOLS, SHOWS THERE'S

A LOT MORE TO MOTORCYCLE CLUBS

THAN WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON CABLE

TV SHOWS AND BAD BIKER FLICKS.

AND WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THEIR

METHODS OR NOT, WE CAN ALL LEARN

SOMETHING FROM THEM.

AND IF YOU'RE TRULY CLUELESS

ABOUT THE WORLD OF MOTORCYCLE

CLUBS, IT MIGHT HELP TO HAVE

"THE ONE PERCENTER

ENCYCLOPEDIA" BY BILL HAYES

TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE.

TIME NOW FOR QUICK SPINS AND

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF A PAIR

OF 2014s THAT JUST LANDED

IN OUR LOT.

CHEVROLET MUST BE FEELING A BIT

NOSTALGIC, AS WE'VE SEEN THEM

REVERT TO SOME OLD-SCHOOL WAYS

OF THOUGHT: SMALL PICKUPS AND

HIGH-POWERED SEDANS.

AND THOUGH WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT

A BIT LONGER TO DRIVE THE NEW

COLORADO, WE'RE FRESH BACK FROM

A QUICK SPIN IN THE 2014 SS;

CHEVY'S FIRST V-8, REAR DRIVE

SEDAN IN ALMOST TWO DECADES.

SHARING ITS BASIC CHASSIS WITH

THE CAPRICE POLICE CRUISER,

PONTIAC'S LATE LAMENTED G8,

AS WELL AS THE CAMARO,

THIS BLAST-FROM-THE-PAST BRUISER

ALSO UTILIZES A FAMILIAR ENGINE:

THE 6.2 LITER SMALL-BLOCK V-8

KNOWN AS THE LS3 USED IN THE C6

CORVETTE, AND THE CURRENT

CAMARO SS.

HERE OUPUT IS RATED AT 415

HORSEPOWER.

THE SOLE TRANSMISSION IS A SIX

SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH PADDLE

SHIFTERS.

AND YOU WILL WANT TO USE THEM

TO REALLY ENJOY WHAT'S SPECIAL

ABOUT THE SS, SINCE IN FULL

AUTO, GEAR CHANGES COME

TOO EARLY AND OFTEN.

BUT DO IT RIGHT AND HIGH SPEEDS

ARE EASY TO COME BY.

WE CLOCKED 0 TO 60 SPRINTS

IN JUST UNDER FIVE SECONDS.

INDEED, ITS CAMARO KINSHIP

REALLY COMES THROUGH AS THE SS

FEELS MUCHO SPORTY,

DESPITE ITS CONSIDERABLE SIZE.

THINK 4-DOOR CAMARO IF YOU WILL,

WITH ITS EXTRA LENGTH BEING USED

FOR A SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS

BACK SEAT.

>> BEN: THE SUSPENSION IS VERY

FIRM, WHICH IS GREAT FOR HAVING

FUN, BUT CAN GET A LITTLE

JARRING ON THE HIGHWAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, GM'S MAGNETIC

RIDE SUSPENSION ISN'T

AN AVAILABLE OPTION.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THOUGH,

THE 50/50 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

PROVIDES AWESOME CORNERING

RESPONSE AND THE STEERING FEEL

IS TOP NOTCH.

>> JOHN: THE LOOK OF THE SS

IS PURE SLEEPER.

BESIDES FRONT FENDER VENTS AND

THE UBIQUITOUS BREMBO BRAKE

CALIPERS PEEKING THROUGH

THE 19-INCH WHEELS,

THERE'S NOT MUCH BY WAY

OF AGGRESSION.

IN FACT, FROM FAR AWAY,

YOU MAY MISTAKE IT FOR AN IMPALA

OR EVEN MALIBU.

INTERIOR TREATMENT IS ALSO

CONSERVATIVE;

MORE COMFORT ORIENTED THAN

DRIVER-FOCUSED.

THE CABIN IS QUIET,

WITH A HOST OF ADVANCED SAFETY

FEATURES.

BLIND ZONE, REAR CROSS TRAFFIC,

AND FORWARD COLLISION ALERT

SYSTEMS ARE ALL STANDARD.

SO TOO IS CHEVY'S MYLINK SYSTEM,

BACKUP CAMERA,

AND A NEW AUTOMATIC PARKING

ASSIST SYSTEM, WHICH WILL STEER

THE CAR ITSELF WHILE YOU MONITOR

ACCELERATION AND BRAKING.

MOST EVERYTHING YOU'D NEED OR

WANT COMES STANDARD, IN FACT,

AND THE ONLY UPGRADES ARE A

POWER SUNROOF AND SPARE TIRE.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 CHEVROLET

SS STARTS AROUND $45,000,

WHICH INCLUDES A GAS-GUZZLER TAX

FOR ITS 17 MPG COMBINED FUEL

ECONOMY RATING.

TRADITIONALLY, A FULL-SIZE

PICKUP WITH A SMALL ENGINE

JUST DIDN'T CUT IT FOR MOST

BUYERS.

BUT, LAST YEAR, RAM PRETTY MUCH

DISPELLED THAT NOTION WITH ITS

PENTASTAR V-6 POWERED 1500.

NOW FOR 2014, THEY'RE ADDING

A V-6 DIESEL TO THE MIX.

ALREADY OFFERED IN THE JEEP

GRAND CHEROKEE, THIS 3.0 LITER

TURBODIESEL V-6 ECODIESEL IS

RATED AT 240 HORSEPOWER.

BUT IT'S THE OVER 400 POUND-FEET

OF TORQUE THAT ALLOWS FOR

A 9,200 POUND TOW CAPACITY.

MATED TO A ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC,

MILEAGE RATINGS SHOULD COME

CLOSE TO MATCHING THE 28 MPG

HIGHWAY OF THE DIESEL JEEP.

>> GREG CARLOSS: BACK IN THE

LATE '80s, DODGE OFFERED A 5.9

LITER CUMMINS DIESEL IN THE RAM

THAT OFFERED 400 POUND-FEET

OF TORQUE.

FAST FORWARD TO 2013.

I'M DRIVING A 3.0 LITER V-6

ECODIESEL THAT HAS 420

POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND IT'S MATCHED WITH AN 8 SPEED

TRANSMISSION.

AND I GOTTA SAY, IT'S A VERY

CAPABLE PAIRING, AND VERY

EFFICIENT PAIRING.

I REALLY RESPECT THE ENGINEERING

THAT WENT INTO IT.

>> JOHN: OTHER MORE MINOR

ADDITIONS FOR 2014 INCLUDE A NEW

FRONT PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM.

ON SALE NOW, THE ECODIESEL

IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON SOME

RAM 1500s, WITH A PRICE PREMIUM

OF $3K TO $5,000,

DEPENDING ON MODEL.

AND WE'LL GO ON A FEW MORE QUICK

SPINS AND DELIVER OUR DRIVING

IMPRESSIONS SOON!

John Davis:
KOREAN SISTER BRANDS
HYUNDAI AND KIA

HAVE CERTAINLY MADE THEIR MARK
ON AMERICAN BUYERS.

HYUNDAI IS NOW A MAJOR PLAYER
IN FAMILY CARS AND UTILITIES,

WHILE KIA IS APPROACHING
PREMIUM BRAND STATUS.

IN THAT VAIN,
KIA IS NOW TAKING A SHOT

AT THE U.S. FULL-SIZE
SEDAN SEGMENT,

ONE DOMINATED BY
THE DETROIT THREE AND TOYOTA.

KIA'S BIG FOUR-DOOR
IS CALLED CADENZA.

WITH A SOLID TRACK RECORD
IN LARGE CARS BACK HOME,

LET'S SEE IF A BIG KIA
PLAYS WELL HERE.

WHILE FULL-SIZE CARS
ARE NO LONGER

A HUGE MARKET IN THE U.S.,

IT IS A CAR CLASS THAT'S
SPEAKS VOLUMES

ABOUT A BRAND'S STATUS
AND ASPIRATIONS.

WITNESS THE BOOST CHEVROLET'S
PRIDE IS RECEIVING

FROM THEIR REDESIGNED IMPALA.

A WELL-PRICED VOLUME BRAND
FLAGSHIP SEDAN

CAN ALSO SNARE
A FEW LUXURY BUYERS AS WELL.

AND THAT IS THE MISSION
OF THE 2014 KIA CADENZA.

THE CADENZA MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE
A BROADER AUDIENCE THAN EXPECTED

SINCE IT IS SOMEWHAT SMALLISH
COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE SEDANS.

WITH A WHEELBASE OF 112 INCHES,
AND A LENGTH OF 195.5,

IT'S ALMOST SIX INCHES
SHORTER OVERALL THAN IMPALA,

BUT NEARLY FIVE INCHES LONGER
THAN THE MID-SIZE KIA OPTIMA,

WITH WHICH THE CADENZA SHARES

MORE THAN A PASSING
EURO-THEMED RESEMBLANCE.

THE STYLING IS VERY MODERN,
YET NOT TRENDY,

AND SHOULD HOLD UP WELL
FOR THE LONG PERIOD OF TIME

THAT BIG SEDANS GENERALLY GO
BETWEEN REDESIGNS.

THE UPSCALE EUROPEAN INFLUENCE
OF THE CADENZA'S STYLING

CARRIES OVER TO THE INTERIOR.

IT'S DRIVER CENTRIC,
WITH NEARLY FLUSH SWITCHGEAR,

YET CLEARLY LUXURY ORIENTED.

KIA REALLY SWEATED
THE SMALL STUFF TOO.

SENSIBLE GAUGES
ARE WELL SHROUDED FROM GLARE.

THERE ARE TRIPLE-SEALED DOORS,

AND LOTS OF NOISE INSULATION
TO KEEP THINGS ULTRA QUIET;

ACCOMPANIED BY SOME
PLEASANT LOOKING FAKE WOOD TRIM

AND SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS.

A VERY LONG LIST
OF STANDARDS INCLUDES:

AUTO FOLD OUTSIDE MIRRORS,

HEATED LEATHER SEATS,

NAVIGATION WITH SIRIUS/XM
TRAFFIC,

BACKUP WARNING WITH CAMERA,

A 550-WATT 12-SPEAKER
SURROUND SOUND AUDIO SYSTEM,

AND KIA'S UVO E-SERVICES
TELEMATICS,

WHICH IS TOP NOTCH
IN EASE OF USE.

BEYOND THAT, THE LUXURY PACKAGE
ADDS DRIVER'S SEAT MEMORY

AND VENTILATION,

AS WELL AS PANORAMIC SUNROOF.

WHILE THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
ADDS A RAFT OF SAFETY FEATURES,

INCLUDING ADVANCED
SMART CRUISE CONTROL,

BLIND SPOT DETECTION,

AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING.

WHILE ITS "NOT QUITE FULL SIZE,"

SIZE KEEPS REAR SEAT LEGROOM
FAR FROM CLASS BEST,

THE SPACE IS STILL GENEROUS.

THE SEATBACKS DON'T FOLD,
HOWEVER.

STILL, 15.9 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK
SPACE IS QUITE REASONABLE.

THE CADENZA SHARES
MANY MECHANICALS

WITH THE HYUNDAI AZERA,

AND THAT INCLUDES
THE 3.3-LITER V6

WITH A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE
6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

IT'S THE BRAND'S
MOST POWERFUL V6 TO DATE

WITH 293-HORSEPOWER
AND 255 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND MUCH LIKE THE AZERA,

THE CADENZA DOESN'T LAUNCH
PARTICULARLY HARD OFF THE LINE,

AND POWER BUILDS GENTLY
ONCE YOU DO GET ROLLING.

IT TOOK 7.0-SECONDS TO REACH 60,

AND 15.5 TO SEE THE END
OF THE QUARTER MILE

AT 94 MILES-PER-HOUR.

EVEN USING
THE STEERING WHEEL PADDLES,

SHIFTS ARE NOT ESPECIALLY QUICK,

BUT THEY ARE PREMIUM CAR SMOOTH.

THROUGH THE CONES, THE CADENZA
FEELS FAIRLY LIGHT ON ITS FEET,

BUT NOT SO LIGHT THAT YOU FORGET
HOW BIG IT REALLY IS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF LUXURY CLASS
WEIGHT TRANSFER

AND A SOFT FEEL
WHEN YOU ASK FOR RAPID RESPONSE.

UNLIKE OTHER KIAs
THAT FEEL SPORTIER

THAN THEIR HYUNDAI COUNTERPARTS,

WE CAN'T FEEL
A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN CADENZA AND AZERA,

AND NEITHER BELONGS
ANYWHERE NEAR A RACE TRACK.

THEY DO BELONG ON THE HIGHWAY

WHERE RIDE QUALITY
IS DOWNRIGHT "PLUSH."

THE FRONT STRUTS
AND REAR MULTI-LINKS

ARE DEFINITELY TUNED
FOR LONG DISTANCE COMFORT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
ARE ABOUT AVERAGE FOR ITS CLASS

AT 19-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY,
AND 22-COMBINED.

WE SAW A BETTER THAN EXPECTED
25.9 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR

IN MIXED DRIVING.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE
IS AVERAGE AT 15.0-BARRELS

OF ANNUAL OIL USE

WITH CO2 EMISSIONS
COMING IN AT 6.7-TONS.

THERE IS JUST ONE CADENZA
TRIM LEVEL, PREMIUM,

STARTING AT $35,900.

ADDING BOTH THE LUXURY
AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES

RAISES THAT TO $41,900.

ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT,

THE CADENZA IS A LOT
OF LARGE CAR FOR THE MONEY.

INDEED, TAKEN AS A WHOLE,
THE 2014 KIA CADENZA

DOES HAVE A PREMIUM
SEDAN NATURE,

AND YES, POSTURE WORTHY
OF A BRAND FLAGSHIP,

BUT WITHOUT GOING OVERBOARD
ON PRICE.

IT IS SPORTINGLY HANDSOME,

WITH A VERY WELL DONE INTERIOR
WITH LOTS OF FEATURES,

AND A GREAT RIDE.

ALL THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE KIA
DEALERS, AND CADENZA BUYERS,

SINGING A HAPPY TUNE.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED

THE SHOW.

AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ,

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR

PODCASTS, AS WELL AS COMPLETE

EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT

TIME WHEN WE'LL TEST A FAMILIAR

INFINITI WITH A NEW OLD NAME,

THE Q50.

AND GO HANDS ON WITH THE REVIVAL

OF AN ICON IN THE JEEP CHEROKEE.

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
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