MotorWeek

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

JOIN US AND PREPARE TO WEATHER THE STORM, AS WE FACE THE AWESOME FORCE OF THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN... PAT GOSS IS JUMPIN' TO SHARE HIS LATEST TIPS AND TECHNIQUES... THEN WE DIG INTO HIGH TECH MOTORING DOWN ON THE FARM... AND, FROM BRUTE TO UTE, WE'LL SEE JUST HOW FAR THE KIA SORENTO HAS COME!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

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.

>> JOHN: THE WINDS OF CHANGE HAVE BLOWN THROH THE LAMBORGHINI LINEUP RECENTLY, AS OUT WENT THE GALLARDO, AND IN CAME THE HURACAN.

NOW, OUR EARLY GO AROUND WITH IT, IN SPAIN, GAVE US LIMITED TRACK TIME.

SO, WHEN LAMBORGHINI SAID THEY'D LET US SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH IT HERE STATESIDE, WE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE.

IT'S ALWAYS A REAL EVENT TO DRIVE AN ITALIAN SUPERCAR LIKE THIS 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4, AND OUR TIME SPENT HERE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH WAS NO DIFFERENT.

IT CAN ALSO BE A LITTLE NERVE WRACKING GETTING UP TO SPEED IN SIX FIGURES WORTH OF MECHANICAL MAYHEM.

BUT IF THERE'S ONE EXOTIC THAT QUICKLY PUTS YOUR MIND AT EASE, IT'S THIS ONE.

AS NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, THE HURACAN REMAINS SUPER EASY TO DRIVE, AND CHANCES OF EPIC FAILING A CORNER ARE MINIMAL.

THAT MEANS YOU START PUSHING TO 100 PERCENT FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND EVEN AS THE SPEEDS INCREAS THE COMPETENCE THAT THIS CAR DEMONSTRATES HAS YOU FEELING EVER MORE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT.

IT MAKES FOR A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE; LESS CAUTIOUSNESS, MORE THRILL SEEKING.

THANKS TO A CHASSIS COMPRISED OF ALUMINUM AND CARBON FIBER, WEIGHT COMES IN UNDER 3,500 POUNDS.

AND IT FEELS INCREDIBLY NIMBLE AND WELL BALANCED.

BUT WHATHE HURACAN REALLY DEALS IN IS GRIP.

WHETHER IT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THAT CHASSIS, THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, OR THE MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL DAMPER CONTROL SYSTEM, THERE ARE MONUMENTAL AMOUNTS OF IT BEING DEALT AT ALL SPEEDS IN ALL TYPES OF CORNERS.

TURN-INS ARE "ON A DIME" PRECISE WITH JUST A HINT OF THAT LAMBO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE UNDERSTEER WE'VE COME TO EXPECT.

TRANSMISSION IS A 7 SPEED DUAL CLUTCH THAT DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF PROVIDING LIGHTNING QUICK SHIFTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IN CORSA MODE.

THOUGH THE GEARING DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE TRACK'S FASTER CORNERS, AS AT TIMES WE HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TRIGGER A SHIFT MID-CORNER OR RIDE THE REV LIMITER UNTIL STRAIGHTENED OUT.

THE BRAKES TOOK A FEW LAPS TO REALLY START FEELING GREAT, AND WHEN THEY DID, THEY WORKED FLAWLESSLY; BRINGING US DOWN FROM OVER 170 MILES-PER-HOUR AT THE END OF THE FRONT STRAIGHT WITHOUT THEM OR US BREAKING A SWEAT.

STRAIGHT LINE ECSTASY IS JUST AS PLEASURABLE, AS LAUNCH CONTROL DOES A SUPER SOLID JOB OF MANAGING TRACTION OFF THE LINE, HELPING TO PROPEL THE CAR TO 60 IN A SCANT 3.1 SECONDS.

THE ENGINE REVS WITH EXTREME HURRY AS YOU'RE AT THE 8,500 RPM REDLINE IN NO TIME AT ALL, AT WHICH TIME THE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY.

JUST HOLD ON TIGHT AND ENJOY A SCORCHING 10.9 SECOND TRIP TO THE END THE QUARTER AT A BLISTERING 131 MILES-PER-HOUR.

NOW, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS WIND AT FULL SONG, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU.

THE NATURALLY ASPIRATED 5.2 LITER V10 DOES INDEED SOUND GLORIOUS AS IT DELIVERS 610 HORSEPOWER AND 413 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO ALL 4 WHEELS FROM ITS MID-MOUNTED POSITION.

THE HURACAN'S FLATTENED WEDGE SHAPE MAY NOT ADORN AS MANY TEENAGE BOY'S BEDROOM WALLS AS THE ICONIC COUNTACH DID IN ITS DAY, EVEN IF KIDS STILL EVEN DO THAT.

BUT IT IS EXTREMELY PURPOSEFUL, CREATING ENOUGH DOWNFORCE THAT NO DEPLOYABLE SPOILER OR WING IS NECESSARY.

SO, WHILE THE DESIGN STILL FALLS IN LINE WITH LAMBORGHINI'S OF OLD, IT'S FULLY MODERN APPLICATION WILL SERVE THE CAR JUST FINE OVER WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE A VERY LONG LIFECYCLE.

AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IT TAKES THE STEEPLY RAKED WINDSHIELD TO A NEW LEVEL.

20-INCH WHEELS WEAR 245/30 TREADS UP FRONT, WITH 305/30s IN THE REAR AND BEHIND, LIE CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES WHICH ARE STANDARD, BUT THE PAINTED CALIPERS WILL COST YOU ADDITIONAL COIN.

INSIDE, THE FEELING IS MORE FIGHTER JET COCKPIT THAN SPORTS CAR, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO FLIPPING UP A COVER TO ENGAGE THE START BUTTON.

CLEAN LINES AND A HEXAGONAL THEME RUN THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR, WITH NO NEED FOR A CENTRAL INFOTAINMENT SCREEN AS EVERYTHING IS DISPLAYED ON THE 12-INCH TFT GAUGE PANEL.

INPUTS ARE MADE EITHER ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR WITH AN AUDI-STYLE MULTI-CONTROLLER LOCATED ON THE UPSWEEPING CENTER CONSOLE.

MUCH ADO HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE HURACAN'S DOCILE, FRIENDLY NATURE AND HIGH LEVELS OF COMFORT WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING ON THE STREET.

AND REALLY, YOU CAN'T OVERSELL IT.

IT TRULY IS A VERY ENJOYABLE CAR TO SPEND TIME IN.

THE RIDE IS CERTAINLY NOT CAMRY SMOOTH, NOR SHOULD IT BE, YET SEAT COMFORT IS GREAT AND THE CONFINES LUXURIOUS.

FOR THE RECORD, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 14-CITY, 20-HIGHY, AND 16-COMBINED.

BEING AN ITALIAN EXOTIC, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STEPHEN HAWKING TO PREDICT A HIGH PRICE TAG AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WILL COST YOU AS LEAST $242,445 FOR A HURACAN TO BLOW INTO YOUR GARAGE.

SO, IN THE MODERN REPUBLIC OF SUPERCARS, THE 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4 FITS RIGHT IN.

INDEED, THERE ARE OTHER SUPERCARS THAT DELIVER EPIC AMOUNTS OF ON TRACK PERFORMANCE ALONG WITH ENOUGH COMFORTS TO MAKE DAILY DRIVING A POSSIBILITY.

SO WHY BUY THIS ONE?

WELL, BECAUSE IT'S A LAMBORGHINI, AND IT DOES ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN WAYS THAT NO RIVAL CAN.

UNASHAMEDLY ITALIAN, DISTINCTLY AWESOME, AND TOTALLY LAMBORGHINI.

NOTHING ON WHEELS BEATS THE MODERN AUTOMOBILE FOR ITS HIGH TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT?

WELL, WE USE TO THINK THAT.

BEFORE OUR SISTER TELEVISION SERIES MARYLAND FARM & HARVEST CLUED US IN ON WHAT'S TOURING AROUND T 21ST CENTURY FARM.

WELL, WE COULD ARGUE ABOUT WHO'S ON FIRST ALL DAY LONG, BUT THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT IS TO JUST DIG INTO IT.

THE TRACTOR HAS BEEN A WORKHORSE ON AMERICAN FARMS SINCE THE 1800s WHEN IT REPLACED ACTUAL HORSES.

BY 1907 ABOUT 600 OF THESE POWERFUL MACHINES ROAMED THE FIELDS.

"TODAY IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE OVER FIVE MILLION TRACTORS HELPING AMERICAN FARMERS PLANT, GROW, AND HARVEST OVER 900 MILLION ACRES OF AMERICAN FARM LAND.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS BIG BABY THROUGH ITS PACES ON BOTH THE ROAD AND IN THE FIELD."

WE'RE AT ATLANTIC TRACTOR IN QUEEN ANNE, MARYLAND CHECKING OUT THIS IMPRESSIVE JOHN DEERE 8295R.

BRIAN PETERMAN'S BEEN SELLING TRACTORS FOR MORE THAN 27 YEARS.

>> JOHN: IS THIS A STANDARD TRACTOR THAT A FARMER MIGHT BUY FOR A BIG FARM?

>> BRIAN PETERMAN: THIS TRACTOR IT WOULD BE A MULTI-PURPOSE TRACTOR.

AH, FOR THIS HORSEPOWER SIZE IT'D PROBABLY BE USED A LOT FOR PLANTING AND SEEDING IN THE FALL.

>> JOHN: FARMERS NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN A TRACTOR LIKE THIS ONE COMES WITH PRICE TAG OF $250,000.

A SINGLE TIRE CAN SET YOU BACK FOUR GRAND.

HOW LONG DOES A FARMER SPEND IN A TRACTOR ON AN AVERAGE DAY?

>> BRIAN: AT LEAST 10-12 HOURS.

>> JOHN: TEN TO TWELVE HOURS?

>> BRIAN: YES.

>> JOHN: WOW!

>> BRIAN: SOMETIMES MORE.

>> JOHN: BRIAN, WE'RE ON THE ROAD NOW.

ANY TIPS ABOUT DRIVING A TRACTOR ON THE ROAD, I MEAN AFTER ALL WE ARE WIDER THAN A LANE?

>> BRIAN: YES.

WELL, THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP IS PROBABLY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON AND ALL WORKING.

AH, IN TODAY'S WORLD VEHICLES ARE DRIVING MUCH FASTER ON THE ROAD AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS LARGE EQUIPMENT.

>> JOHN: NOW, THAT WE'VE SEEN WHAT THIS JOHN DEERE 8295R CAN DO ON THE ASPHALT IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE OFF ROADING.

WE FOUND A LOCAL FARMER WHO WAS HAPPY TO LET US USE HIS CORN FIELD JUST DAYS AFTER HARVEST.

THERE AREN'T TOO MANY STREET SIGNS OUT HERE.

LUCKILY THIS THING COMES WITH GPS.

"LOOK MA, NO HANDS!"

(LAUGHS) >> BRIAN: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> JOHN: SO, WE'RE BASICALLY JUST GOING STRAIGHT NOW.

CAN YOU...

BUT YOU CAN PROGRAM THIS TO FOLLOW A PATTERN?

>> BRIAN: THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

>> JOHN: THAT'S REALLY, REALLY SOMETHING.

I MEAN... AGAIN, A LOT OF CARS WE DRIVE AREN'T THIS SOPHISTICATED YET.

BUT SINCE FARMERS DON'T ALWAYS DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE I NEEDED TO KNOW HOW THIS TRACTOR HANDLES THE CURVES.

WHAT DOES A TRACTOR LIKE THIS, BASICALLY, HAVE AS A TURNING DIAMETER OR A TURNING RADIUS?

>> BRIAN: AH, APPROXIMATELY 12-14 FEET IS NORMAL.

>> JOHN: IS A GOOD DIAMETER?

>> BRIAN: THAT'S A GOOD DIAMETER, YES.

>> JOHN: WELL, JUST TO PUT THAT TO THE TEST WE'VE GOT SOME CONES SET UP SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS BABY DOES IN A MOTORWEEK SLALOM.

(LAUGHS) WE'RE DOING OUR FIRST TURN AT THREE AND A HALF MILES AN HOUR, AND WE DID THAT PRETTY EASY IF WE DIDN'T KILL A CONE.

I DON'T THINK WE DID.

THIS TRACTOR USES ABOUT ONE TO TWO GALLONS OF DIESEL PER ACRE.

AFTER I BURN THROUGH A FEW GALLONS I WANTED TO SEE WHAT WAS UNDER THE HOOD.

"BRIAN, YOU MENTIONED THIS IS ABOUT NINE LITERS IN DISPLACEMENT SO WHAT'S THE BIGGEST ENGINE THAT YOU'RE LIKELY TO SEE IN A TYPICAL TRACTOR TODAY?"

>> BRIAN: JOHN DEERE NOW, FOR THE NEW MODEL YEAR COMING, OFFERS A 15 LITER ENGINE, THEIR LARGEST TRACTOR, WHICH GIVES US OVER 600 HORSEPOWER IN THAT VEHICLE.

>> JOHN: WOW!

FIFTEEN LITERS, THAT'S ONE BIG ENGINE.

THANKS BRIAN.

YOU KNOW WITH TRACTORS LIKE THIS YOU'RE REALLY SEEING THAT AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE... >> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS JUMPIN' TO SHARE HIS LATEST CAR CARE TIPS.

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

>> PAT GOSS: SOONER OR LATER, MOST OF US WILL BE FACED WITH A DEAD BATTERY.

NOW, IF THAT DEAD BATTERY HAPPENS TO BE THE RESULT OF A CAR THAT SITS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WELL THERE'S AN EASY SOLUTION.

IT'S A BATTERY MAINTAINER, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

NOW, MAINTAINERS CHARGE THE BATTERY, AND THEN SHUT OFF WHEN IT'S FULLY CHARGED.

THIS IS NOT LIKE A TRICKLE CHARGER, WHICH YOU DON'T WANT TO USE, BECAUSE IT NEVER SHUTS OFF.

SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A MAINTAINER.

BUT SUPPOSE THAT'S NOT THE CAUSE.

YOU'VE GOT A DEAD BATTERY.

AND THE TECHNICIAN COMES OUT WITH A TOOL LIKE THIS, AND HOOKS IT UP TO YOUR BATTERY AND PUSHES THE BUTTON AND SAYS, "OOPS.

YOU NEED A NEW BATTERY!"

WELL, YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT IS, "OOPS.

I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!"

REASON IS, THIS IS A GOOD TESTER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT STEP IN TESTING THE CAR MIGHT BE, BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD TESTER TO DETERMINE IF YOU NEED A BATTERY.

NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE PRINTED ON THAT DIAL.

ALRIGHT, SO WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR, WHEN YOU HAVE A BATTERY PROBLEM?

YOU LOOK FOR A MODERN TESTER.

NOW, MODERN TESTERS USE ELECTRONICS TO TEST THE BATTERY.

THEY MEASURE THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF THE BATTERY, USING SOPHISTICATED CIRCUITS AND SO ON.

THEY MAY BE HAND HELD LIKE THIS, OR WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS MORE TYPICAL THESE DAYS.

THIS ONE USES A UNIT THAT CONNECTS TO THE BATTERY, AND THEN THIS HANDHELD WIRELESS UNIT RECEIVES SIGNALS FROM THAT, AND IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO TEST THE BATTERY, TEST THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER, OR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

BECAUSE THIS WILL TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOUR BATTERY IS SIMPLY DISCHARGED, OR WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

BUT SUPPOSE IT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED?

WHAT THEN?

HOW DO YOU WISELY SHOP FOR A BATTERY?

WELL, IN THE PAST, YOU ALWAYS LOOKED FOR THE MOST IN COLD CRANKING AMPS THAT WOULD PHYSICALLY FIT IN THE CAR.

WELL, THAT'S STILL TRUE, BUT WE HAVE TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE TO IT: WE HAVE TO ADD RESERVE CAPACITY, OR RC.

RESERVE CAPACITY IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR A SPECIFIC LOAD TO DROP THE BATTERY TO WHERE IT WON'T START THE CAR.

SO, BECAUSE MODERN CARS HAVE ALL KINDS OF COMPUTERS THAT DRAW POWER OUT OF THE BATTERY ALL THE TIME, YOU WANT HIGH COLD CRANKING AMPS, AND YOU WANT THE BIGGEST RESERVE CAPACITY THAT YOU CAN BUY.

AND YOU DO THAT, AND CHANCES ARE THE BATTERY WILL LAST LONGER; THE ALTERNATOR, THE STARTER, ALL SORTS OF THINGS WILL LAST LONGER ON THE CAR, AND YOU WON'T BE STRANDED.

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

>> JOHN: WE'RE MAKING QUICK WORK OF OUR LATEST QUICKSPINS!

SO, HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF WHAT WE'RE DRIVING.

WHEN THE FORD EDGE ARRIVED FOR 2007, IT WAS THE BLUE OVAL'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT A FAMILY SIZE CROSSOVER.

WHILE SOFTER RIDING AND NOT AS RUGGED AS THE BODY ON FRAME EXPLORER, IT STILL FOUND ENOUGH BUYERS FOR FIRST YEAR SIX FIGURE SALES.

NOW, AFTER WHAT SEEMS AN ETERNITY, FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE EDGE FROM CORNER TO CORNER.

THE SECOND GEN, NOW LARGER, BUT STILL 5-PASSENGER EDGE, CAN BE FITTED WITH SEVERAL POWERTRAINS.

THE SMALLEST IS ALSO THE MOST NEW: A DIRECT INJECTED ECOBOOST 2.0 LITER TWIN SCROLL TURBO 4 GOOD FOR 245 HORSEPOWER.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START IN BASE TRIM, AND IT NEVER FELT LACKING.

NEXT UP IS THE F-150s 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST V6 WITH 315 HORSEPOWER, AVAILABLE IN THE EDGE SPORT.

ALSO DIRECT INJECTED, IT'S THE MOST ATHLETIC OF THE BUNCH, AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY SPORT SPECIFIC STYLING CUES, STIFFER SUSPENSION BITS, AND BIGGER WHEELS.

THE 3.5 LITER MULTIPORT INJECTED V6 FROM THE FIRST GEN IS AVAILABLE, TOO, THOUGH SLIGHTLY DETUNED, NOW TO 280 HORSEPOWER.

ALL MODELS ARE STANDARD FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE ADDING TWO GRAND.

BEN DAVIS: THIS IS DEFINITELY AN INCREASINGLY TOUGHER MARKET TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION IN, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THE 2015 EDGE ARE THE ECOBOOST POWERTRAINS.

BUT THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS YOU CAN'T GET A CVT TRANS IN THE EDGE.

ALL ENGINES ARE RUNNING THROUGH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

>> JOHN: TECHNOLOGY ALSO KEEPS THE EDGE ON THE CUTTING EDGE, WITH AIVE PARKSSIST, A 180 DEGR FRONTAMERA, RE INFLATING SAFETY BELTS, NOW, THE 201ETSARND $00AR A CONFIDENCE THAT IT GIVES YOU.

AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T REALLY EXPECT TO BE LE TO PUSH SOMETHING THIS BIG, AND STILL FEEL CONFIDENT.

>> JOHN: WITH A 0-60 A FEW TICKS UNDER 5 SECONDS, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT THE FASTEST ON THE ROAD, YOU'LL CERTAINLY OUT CLASS EVERYONE ELSE.

ON SALE NOW, THIS TICKET TO RIDE STARTS AT AROUND $335,000.

AND WE'LL HIT THE ROAD FOR MORE QUICKSPINS, ON!

THE 1ST GENERATION KIA SORENTO WAS A TRUE, BODY ON FRAME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE.

AND WHILE IT WAS A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES, IT QUICKLY GARNERED A BIG FOLLOWING.

SECOND GENERATION SAW SORENTO FOLLOW THE CROSSOVER CROWD, LOSING THE FRAME BUT GAINING MORE FEATURES.

NOW, SORENTO'S GEN 3 REDESIGN EXPANDS ON THAT IN BOTH SIZE AND PREMIUM CONTENT.

SO, LET'S SEE IF SORENTO IS MAKING THE RIGHT MOVES.

>> JOHN: THE ALL NEW 2016 KIA SORENTO IS CLEARLY NOT A MAJOR DEPARTURE FROM ITS PREVIOUS GENERATION.

STILL, THE REDESIGN'S IMPROVEMENTS ALL APPEAR AIMED AT MAKING KIA'S 3-ROW CROSSOVER A MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY AND CAPABLE ADVENTURE VEHICLE.

A FAMILIAR EXTERIOR DESIGN STILL MANAGES TO CONVEY LARGER SORENTO.

AND WITH THAT, IT PROMISES MORE INTERIOR ROOM.

KIA HAS ALSO THROWN THE WORD "BOLDER" INTO THE MIX, AND WE AGREE IT HAS MORE PRESENCE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

WITH THAT, A BIGGER GRILLE DONS THE FRONTEND; PART OF KIA'S NEW FACE THAT IS TALLER, FLATTER, AND MUCH LESS POINTY.

BODY SIDE SCULPTING IS SMOOTHED OUT, THE BELT LINE MOVES HIGHER, FITTING A SORENTO THAT IS NOW 3-INCHES LONGER IN BOTH WHEELBASE AND OVERALL LENGTH.

HEADING AFT, THERE ARE MORE ANGLES AND MORE AGGRESSION.

TAILLIGHTS ARE LARGER, THE BUMPER REFLECTORS ARE NOW HORIZONTAL, AND OF COURSE THERE'S A SPOILER UP TOP.

17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS ARE STANDARD; UPPER TRIM LEVELS ARE EQUIPPED WITH 18s AND BEEFY 19s.

ALL IN ALL IT'S AN APPEALING DESIGN; SMOOTH AND CLASSY.

STILL, IT'S HARD TO MISS THE RESEMBLANCE TO KIA'S SEDONA MINIVAN.

THE LAST GEN'S INTERIOR WAS A BIG STEP UP, BUT THIS GEN IS AN EVEN BIGGER LEAP FORWARD; WITH A SMOOTHER DASH DESIGN, A MUCH MORE PREMIUM FEEL, INTUITIVE TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE, AND SOME OF THE BEST STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS OUT THERE.

PREMIUM SAFETY SYSTEMS HAVE ALSO TRICKLED DOWN FROM THE FLAGSHIP K900.

UVO CONTINUES TO ADD FEATURES AND IS AVAILABLE ON LX MODELS AND ABOVE, A BACKUP CAMERA IS STANDARD ON ALL BUT BASE L TRIM, AND 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN NAVIGATION IS AVAILABLE ON EX MODELS AND UP.

AN OPTNAL 630-WATT, 12-SPEAKER INFINITY SOUND SYSTEM FEATURES A NEW CLARI-FI FEATURE THAT SQUEEZES A LITTLE MORE FIDELITY OUT OF COMPRESSED AUDIO FILES.

ALL GAUGES HAPPILY REMAIN ANALOG.

ON UPPER TRIMS A 7-INCH LCD INFO SCREEN SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTRAL SPEEDOMETER.

FRONT SEATS ARE EURO FIRM AND VERY COMFORTABLE, AND YES, THANKS TO THE ADDED WHEELBASE AND LENGTH, ALL SEATING POSITIONS GAIN ROOM, WITH IMPROVED ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW.

THE CARGO BAY GROWS TOO.

THERE'S NOW 11.0 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE OPTIONAL 3RD ROW, 39.0 BEHIND THE 2ND ROW, AND 74.0 TOTAL WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

THAT'S A GAIN OF 1 CUBIC-FT. SEATS FOLD EASILY AND THERE ARE VERY FEW GAPS FOR STUFF TO GET LOST IN.

EVEN MORE NOTABLE IS THE FIT AND FINISH OF THE CARGO AREA.

PARTIALLY CARPETED SIDE PANELS SHOULD HELP KEEP THINGS FROM GETTING ALL SCRATCHED UP.

AN AVAILABLE SMART POWER LIFT GATE ALLOWS GIVES HANDS AND FOOT FREE OPENING.

BUT THE UPGRADE THAT WE LIKE MOST, IS THE NEW SORENTO'S GREATLY IMPROVED RIDE QUALITY.

NOW BORDERING ON EXCELLENT, IT FEELS INCREDIBLY WELL BUILT AND IS VERY QUIET.

IN ADDITION TO THAT LONGER WHEELBASE, THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS A NEW H-SHAPED SUB-FRAME DESIGN AND HYDRAULIC REBOUND STOPPER SHOCK ABSORBERS.

IN BACK, A LENGTHENED REAR CROSS MEMBER, WITH LONGER CONTROL ARMS, ALLOWS FOR MORE WHEEL TRAVEL.

STANDARD DRIVE MODE SELECT, WITH SETTINGS FOR NORMAL, ECO, AND SPORT; ADJUSTS STEERING FEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT POINTS.

THERE'S A TRIO OF AVAILABLE ENGINES.

BASE ENGINE IS A SLIGHTLY IMPROVED VERSION OF LAST YEAR'S, 2.4 LITER I4, NOW WITH 185 HORSEPOWER AND 178 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ALSO CARRYOVER IS THE 3.3 LITER V6 WITH 290 HORSEPOWER AND 252 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THAT NOW TOWS 5,000 POUNDS.

SLOTTING IN BETWEEN, IS A NEW OPTION; THE OPTIMA'S 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO, HERE WITH 240 HORSEPOWER AND 260 POUND-ET OF TORQUE.

WE ESTIMATE A 0 TO 60 OF 7.0 SECONDS.

ALL SORENTO'S ARE EQUIPPED WITH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH ANY ENGINE.

IT'S THE SAME BASIC AUTOMATIC SYSTEM, WITH LOGIC THAT TRIES TO PREDICT WHEEL SLIP RATHER THAN JUST REACT TO IT.

A LOCK MODE SPLITS TORQUE FRONT TO REAR 50/50 FOR SPEEDS UP TO 20 MILES-PER-HOUR, AND TORQUE VECTORING CURVE CONTROL AIDS HANDLING EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE NEW 2.0 LITER WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ARE 19-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.4 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

RESULTING IN A FAIR TO MIDDLING ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.0 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.9 TONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $25,795 FOR A BASE L MODEL.

AND WITH MORE OPTIONS THAN EVER THE SPREAD GROWS, WITH THE TOP TIER SX-L BEGINNING AT $40,795.

TACK ON $1,800 MORE FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

SO YES, KIA HAS DONE A FINE JOB OF GROWING THE 2016 SORENTO INTO A MORE CAPABLE AND FAMILY ORIENTED CROSSOVER, SUCCESSFULLY TENDING TO THE THINGS THAT NEEDED IMPROVING ALONG THE WAY.

THE LAST GENERATION SORENTO WAS A KEY VEHICLE FOR KIA, PROVING THAT THEY WERE FULLY CAPABLE OF COMPETING WITH THE BEST IN THE SEGMENT.

THIS ONE JUST MIGHT TAKE THEM TO THE TOP.

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, AND SEE WHAT HEADLINES WE BRING HOME FROM THE 2015 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

THEN WE'LL GO FLAT OUT IN THE PORSCHE BOXSTER GTS.

PAT GOSS SHOWS US THE MAGIC TOUCH.

WE GET CHARGED UP ABOUT THE STATE OF EVs.

PLUS MOTORNEWS, AND A LONG TERM ROADTEST UPDATE.

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...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

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.

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