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

JOIN US FOR A GRAN ROAD TEST OF A NEW TURN FROM BMW, THE M235I GRAN COUPE... PAT GOSS ON WHY KEEPING YOUR CAR CLEAN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT...

REMEMBER DRIVE-IN MOVIES?

OUR STEPHANIE HART DOES, WHERE THE BEST SHOW IS NOT ALWAYS ON THE SCREEN... AND THEN, IT'S A FULL-SIZE TEST OF THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET TAHOE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , 40 YEARS, STEERING YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

John: YOU'RE FORGIVEN, IF YOU CAN'T KEEP BMW'S LINEUP STRAIGHT.

WITH ALL THE SUBGENRES AND NUMBER CHANGES, IT TAKES DILIGENCE TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.

WELL, NOW LET'S ADD ONE MORE NOTABLE MEMBER TO LIST, THE BMW 2-SERIES GRAN COUPE.

* THE BMW 2-SERIES HISTORY IS A RELATIVELY SHORT ONE, ONLY BEING IN THE U.S.

LINEUP SINCE 2014.

BUT HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS 2020 BMW M235I XDRIVE GRAN COUPE IS A MUCH LONGER STORY.

BEFORE BMW WENT WITH THE EVEN NUMBERS FOR COUPE'S STRATEGY, THE 2-SERIES WAS KNOWN AS THE 1-SERIES COUPE, WHICH ARRIVED HERE FOR 2008.

IT REMINDED US OF OUR FAVORITE ENTRY-LEVEL BIMMER OF ALL TIME, THE 1995 318TI 3-DOOR COUPE.

BACK THEN, FOR $20,000, YOU GOT THE FULL BMW EXPERIENCE; FLAWLESS HANDLING, SHARP POWER STEERING, AND MINIMAL FRONT PLOW.

WE SAID, IT WAS A REAL GEM; THE PRESTIGE OF A BMW ON A WORKING MAN'S, OR WOMAN'S, BUDGET.

YES, WE TRIED TO BE P.C.

BACK THEN TOO.

NOW, BMW HAS DONE MORE THAN JUST CHANGE THE NAME FROM 1-SERIES TO 2-SERIES.

THEY'VE ADDED TWO MORE DOORS, MAKING NOT A SEDAN, BUT A GRAN COUPE.

THE FRAMELESS WINDOW STYLING STILL FAVORS A HARDTOP COUPE MORE THAN A TYPICAL SEDAN.

TWO-LITER TURBO 4s ARE NOT UNUSUAL THESE DAYS BY ANY MEANS, THOUGH ONES THAT PUT OUT MORE THAN 300 HORSEPOWER ARE CERTAINLY MORE OF A RARITY.

THE M235I CRANKS THE TURBO UP TO MAKE 301 HORSEPOWER AND 332 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS YOUR ONLY TRANSMISSION OPTION.

NOW "GRAN" COUPE WOULD INDICATE MORE OF AN UPPER CRUST EXPERIENCE OVER THE TYPICAL SPORT SEDAN.

SO, TO MAKE THAT TRANSFORMATION, BMW FELT IT'D BE BEST TO UTILIZE THE X1s MINI-DERIVED FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE BASED CHASSIS, NOT THE 2-SERIES COUPE'S REAR-DRIVE ONE; THOUGH XDRIVE IS STANDARD.

WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU AND ME IS, A VERY SOLID AND PLAYFUL FOUNDATION FOR A SPORT SEDAN, OR GRAN COUPE.

THERE IS A BASE 228I XDRIVE AS WELL; WITH A BIT LESS CONTENT, AND 73 FEWER HORSEPOWER.

SAME OVERALL SHAPE AND THEME AS 4 AND 8-SERIES GRAN COUPES, THOUGH THE 6-SERIES GC HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.

WE ALL KNOW THAT BMW HAS BEEN MONKEYING AROUND WITH THEIR GRILLE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THIS ONE, STILL RELATIVELY SMALL, HAS NO VERTICAL SLATS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MESH.

THERE ARE LARGER AIR INTAKES ALL OVER THE FRONT END, AND EVEN A FRONT SPLITTER TO DENOTE THE POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE.

EIGHTEEN INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, THESE 19-INCH FORGED M V SPOKES, AN OPTION.

YOU GET A MAX AMOUNT OF SCREEN TIME INSIDE, 10 INCH SCREENS FOR BOTH THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE DASH-TOP IDRIVE 6.0 TOUCHSCREEN; AND EVEN A BIG 9.2 INCH HEAD-UP DISPLAY REFLECTED ON THE WINDSHIELD.

BEING A MID LEVEL M PERFORMANCE MODEL, YOU ALSO GET NICE-LOOKING, COMFY, AND SUPPORTIVE RED M SPORT SEATS; AS WELL AS A SMALL, THICK-RIMMED M STEERING WHEEL THAT FEELS GREAT IN YOUR HANDS.

NOT TO MENTION ACTUAL PERFORMANCE UPGRADES LIKE, SPORT SUSPENSION AND M-SPORT BRAKES.

AND IT'S A REAL BLAST TO DRIVE; MAKING QUICK AND EASY WORK OF OUR SLALOM COURSE.

YOU CAN REALLY THROW THE CAR AROUND, AS IT RESPONDS QUICKLY TO INPUTS.

THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO BODY ROLL, AND BALANCE IS GREAT AS WELL, ENABLING YOU TO FIND BOTH UNDERSTEER AND OVERSTEER DEPENDING ON VEHICLE SPEED AND INTENSITY OF YOUR INPUTS.

GOOD POWER RIGHT OUT OF THE HOLE; IT WON'T THROW YOU BACK IN YOUR SEAT, BUT IT'S CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED, AND FAIRLY SEAMLESS THROUGHOUT OUR RUNS, INCLUDING A QUICK SPRINT TO 60 IN 4.7 SECONDS.

THERE'S A NICE LITTLE EXHAUST GROWL, THOUGH SOME OF THE SOUND IS SIMULATED AS PART OF BMW'S ACTIVE SOUND DESIGN.

BUT AS IS TYPICAL WITH BMW'S 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAVE YOU RIGHT IN THE HEART OF POWER.

SO, 13.4 SECONDS FOR THE QUARTER-MILE, AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.

THE M-SPORT BRAKES WERE SOLID, FADE FREE, AND RIGHT ON THE MONEY CONSISTENT, WITH STOPS OF JUST 93 FEET FROM 60.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 23-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

THAT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; CONSUMING 17.7 BARRELS OF OIL AND EMITTING 5.5 TONS OF CO2 ANNUALLY.

PRICING FOR THE M235I IS $46,495, WITH THE BASE 228I COMING IN AT $38,495.

THE GRAN EXPERIENCE HAS WORKED FANTASTICALLY WELL FOR BMW; OFFERING UNIQUE STYLE TO GO ALONG WITH INCREASED PERFORMANCE, TO CREATE A DIFFERENT VIBE FROM THE TRADITIONAL SPORT SEDAN.

NOW, WITH THE 2020 M235I XDRIVE GRAN COUPE, BMW HAS SPREAD THE WEALTH TO A MORE OBTAINABLE MODEL; AIN'T LIFE GRAND!

* * Flashback Craig Singhaus: THIS IS GREAT, I HAVEN'T WATCHED A MOVIE LIKE THIS IN YEARS.

John: WITH ALL THE STRESS IN OUR LIVES TODAY, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL FOR A FEW HOURS AND TAKE IN A MOVIE?

WELL, OUR STEPHANIE HART HAS FOUND A WAY TO TAKE IN HOLLYWOOD'S BEST, AND STILL MAINTAIN A SOCIAL DISTANCE.

* Stephanie Hart: GOING TO THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER IS THE INCREASINGLY POPULAR THING TO DO THESE DAYS, A RESULT OF COVID-19.

LIKE, HERE AT BENGIES DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE.

BENGIES IS THE ONLY DRIVE-IN LEFT IN MARYLAND, BUT STILL BOASTS THE BIGGEST OUTDOOR MOVIE SCREEN IN THE COUNTRY, AT 52 FEET HIGH BY 120 FEET WIDE.

D. EDWARD VOGEL IS THE PROUD OWNER.

D. Edward Vogel: ANYBODY IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS THAT IS GROUNDED IN IT, IT IS SOMETHING IMMEDIATE THAT YOU JUST CAN NOT SHAKE.

Stephanie: DRIVE-INS ARE IN HIS BLOOD.

HIS STEP-FATHER BUILT MORE THAN 300 DRIVE-INS AND HAD A HAND IN ABOUT A THOUSAND.

D. Edward: DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATERS BUILT HOLLYWOOD.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE FAR MORE MANY DRIVE-INS THAN THERE EVER WERE INDOOR THEATERS UP UNTIL THE ADVENT OF THE MULTIPLEXING AND ALL THAT.

Stephanie: BENGIES OPENED IN 1956.

TWO YEARS LATER, THERE WERE 4000 DRIVE-IN MOVIE SCREENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NOW, MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY LATER THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 300 THEATERS LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES.

COMING TO THE DRIVE-IN IS LIKE TAKING A STEP BACK IN TIME AND IN THIS COVID-19 ERA, IT'S CONVENIENT THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING IS BUILT IN.

BECAUSE OF THAT, BENGIES IS GETTING MORE FIRST TIME VISITORS THAN EVER BEFORE.

FAMILIES LIKE, THE PRIDGEN'S.

Morgan Pridgen: SO, THIS HAS BEEN OUR FIRST TIME, SO, THIS IS DEFINITELY - A MEMORY FOR US AND WE ARE GOING TO CHERISH IT, AND I'M SURE, WE ARE GOING TO BE BACK A LOT MORE TIMES.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK, THE CORONA IS LETTING UP ANYTIME SOON.

Stephanie: COVID-19 HAS CREATED A NEW BREED OF DRIVE-INS TOO.

DUBBED POP UP DRIVE-INS.

WE VISITED THIS ONE IN FALLSTON, MARYLAND.

TRADITIONAL MOVIE THEATERS, LIKE HORIZON CINEMAS, ARE CONVERTING THEIR PARKING LOTS INTO MAKESHIFT DRIVE-INS, GIVING PATRONS THE ENTERTAINMENT THEY CRAVE WITH LITTLE OR NO HUMAN CONTACT.

BACK AT BENGIES, YOU CAN FEEL THE NOSTALGIA IN THE AIR AS THE SUN SETS AND THE DOUBLE FEATURE GETS READY TO START.

Stephanie: A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE HEIGHT OF THE DRIVE-IN IN THE 1950s, BUT A LOT HAS ALSO STAYED THE SAME.

Joe Hershfeldt: IT'S A FANTASTIC PLACE TO COME TO SIT OUTSIDE IN THE TRUCK ON A SUMMER NIGHT.

I MEAN, WE GET HERE AS SOON AS THE BOX OFFICE OPENS AND EVEN BEFORE THE MOVIE, WE'RE JUST ENJOYING THE WEATHER, ENJOYING THE FOOD, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

Hannah Hershfeldt: WE HAVE OUR EXACT MENU EVERY TIME, THE SAME TIME THAT WE EAT.

[CHUCKLES] Stephanie: WHAT IS IT?

Hannah: WE PLAN IT OUT.

IT'S THE BURGER, THE FRIES, AND BIRCH BEERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

[LAUGHS] Stephanie: JOE AND HIS DAUGHTER HANNAH HAVE BEEN BENGIES REGULARS FOR 13 YEARS.

AND PERHAPS THE DRIVE-IN RUBBED OFF ON HANNAH IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

Hannah: I WANT TO GO INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY AND BASICALLY, I JUST GREW UP ON MOVIES, SO COMING HERE IS A BIG, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, CULTURAL THING FOR ME.

Stephanie: WITH SO MANY INDOOR VENUES CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19, BENGIES AND OTHER DRIVE-INS ARE ALSO SEEING NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

Ken Adam: WE GET 30-40 REQUESTS A WEEK FROM CORPORATIONS, NON-PROFITS, CONCERTS, COMEDIANS, EVERYBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO GET IN HERE.

IT'S A GREAT SOURCE OF REVENUE.

Stephanie: PLUS, IT'S REWARDING FOR BENGIES EMPLOYEES.

Ken: IT FEELS LIKE FAMILY HERE.

I'VE SEEN IT GROW AND EVOLVE OVER TIME AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT AND I'VE HELPED THAT.

Stephanie: WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND BECAUSE OF COVID-19, BENGIES, AND OTHER DRIVE-INS SELL OUT PRETTY QUICKLY THESE DAYS.

Mauri Corrigan: YOU HAVE YOUR SPACE TO WATCH YOUR MOVIE THEN YOU CAN ALSO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR IN YOUR CAR, YOU CAN BE AT THE SNACK BAR, SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S JUST THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE, THERE'S A LOT TO DO.

Stephanie: COVID-19 WON'T BE HERE FOREVER, BUT WATCHING A MOVIE UNDER THE STARS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR CAR IS HERE TO STAY.

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS WEEK'S MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK IS A PRISTINE 1986 PORSCHE 944.

MICHAEL SIVIK FROM BRADLEY, MAINE BELIEVES HIS ORIGINAL CONCOURSE CONDITION FRONT-ENGINE REAR-DRIVE PORSCHE REPRESENTS THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN MAN AND MACHINE.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR FAVORITE RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... John: LIKE, MOST OF US, PAT GOSS HAS BEEN DISINFECTING A LOT OF THINGS THESE DAYS INCLUDING CARS.

NOW, HERE'S WHAT HE THINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW.

* Pat Goss: KEEPING YOUR CAR CLEAN IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN ITS VALUE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT CLEAN AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT SANITARY AND SAFE FOR YOU.

BUT FIRST, SOME THINGS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO.

NUMBER ONE, YOU SHOULDN'T CLEAN YOUR CAR USING PAPER TOWELS BECAUSE THEY CAN TRAP DIRT AND THEN THAT DIRT SCRATCHES SOFT SURFACES.

HERE'S A BIG ONE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING IT, YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IT.

AND THAT IS TO USE ANY KIND OF BLEACH INSIDE THE CAR, TAKES THE COLOR OUT OF THINGS.

INSTEAD OF THE PAPER TOWELS, WELL FOR ANY OF THE PRODUCTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE, MICROFIBER CLOTHS.

THAT IS THE WAY YOU GO.

PEROXIDE IS A NO-NO AND WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, A LOT OF THEM ARE ANTIBACTERIAL BUT THEY AREN'T ANTI VIRAL.

AND IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF THE CORONA VIRUS, WE NEED SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.

SO MAKE SURE YOU READ THE LABELS AND GET THE RIGHT PRODUCTS.

ALSO, NEVER FORGET TO READ YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL.

LOOK FOR THE EXCLUSIONS AND THE THINGS THAT TELL YOU WHAT NOT TO USE ON CERTAIN SURFACES BECAUSE NOT ALL CARS ARE THE SAME.

NOW, ONE THING THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ARE THE SOFT PLASTICS THAT ARE USED IN TOUCHSCREEN'S, AND OVER THE INSTRUMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE ARE SPECIAL CLEANERS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR THOSE.

DON'T USE A GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANER BECAUSE IT CAN DAMAGE THAT PLASTIC.

THEN, HERE WE HAVE WIPES.

WELL, WE HAVE ONE THAT IS 70% ALCOHOL AND ONE THAT'S 5% ALCOHOL.

FIVE PERCENT IS FINE FOR YOUR HANDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU WANT THE 70% FOR THE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR, SO THAT IT KILLS BACTERIA AND VIRUSES.

OH, HAND CLEANER IT IS A NO-NO ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR.

MAKE SURE YOU USE IT ON YOUR HANDS OF COURSE, BUT NOT IN THE CAR.

WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING LEATHER AND VINYL AND SO ON, WELL, YOU CAN USE ALCOHOL AND PRODUCTS LIKE THAT.

IT WILL CLEAN IT BUT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA LEAVE IT DULL AND SO ON YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH IT, SO THAT IT DOESN'T DAMAGE THE SURFACE OF THE LEATHER OR VINYL.

BEST THING TO DO IN THAT CASE, IS TO USE A DEDICATED LEATHER AND VINYL CLEANER AND CONDITIONER.

THAT'LL CLEAN IT AND CONDITION THE MATERIAL AS WELL.

AND AFTER THAT GO OVER IT AND DISINFECT IT.

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

John: IT'S NEW CAR SEASON!

TIME FOR SOME QUICKSPINS OF THE LATEST TO COME OUR WAY!

* Greg Carloss: WHILE, THE ACURA MDX HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC DRIVING SUVs IN THE LUXURY 3-ROW FIELD; LET'S BE HONEST, IT HASN'T ALWAYS LOOKED THE PART.

THIS NEARLY PRODUCTION READY ACURA MDX PROTOTYPE IS A GOOD INDICATION THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.

ALL THE USUAL "HEY LOOK AT ME, I'M SPORTY" ATTRIBUTES ARE HERE; AS IT'S LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER.

AS WELL AS A NEW PROFILE, FEATURING A LONGER HOOD, PUSHED BACK CABIN, AND SIX MORE INCHES OF WHEELBASE.

THE ALSO, ALL-NEW INTERIOR DOES SHOW SOME FAMILIARITY WHEN IT COMES TO GENERAL LAYOUT.

BUT NOW, THERE IS ONLY ONE LARGE CENTER STACK SCREEN INSTEAD OF TWO, AND IT'S MOUNTED ON TOP, TABLET STYLE.

THE NEW DESIGN TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE INCREASED DIMENSIONS, AND ESCALATES THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO MORE PREMIUM MATERIALS, OVERALL SOPHISTICATION, AND CLASS-LEADING TECHNOLOGY.

Jessica: WHEN WE LAST TESTED THE MDX BACK IN 2019, WE DID MENTION THAT THE INTERIOR WAS STARTING TO LOOK A BIT DATED.

WELL, THAT'S ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE WITH THE MDX PROTOTYPE AS IT LOOKS MORE MODERN AND MORE LUXURIOUS THAN EVER ON THE INSIDE.

BUT IT IS STILL, A PRETTY SIMPLE SETUP WHICH SHOULD PLEASE ACURA BUYERS.

* Greg: AND JUST TO MAKE SURE IT KEEPS THE ALREADY GREAT DRIVING DYNAMICS INTACT; THE ALL-NEW PLATFORM FEATURES A NEW DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN, ADDED TO AVAILABLE SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

BASE POWER WILL COME FROM AN UPDATED 3.5 LITER V6 ATTACHED TO A NEW 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A FIRST-EVER MDX TYPE S WILL COME WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 3.0 LITER V6 TURBO.

WITH 355 HORSEPOWER IT'LL BE THE MOST POWERFUL ACURA SUV TO DATE.

John: THERE IS A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE 4TH GENERATION ACURA MDX...THE SHARPER MORE CHISELED EXTERIOR, THE ROOMIER AND MORE HIGH-TECH INTERIOR, AND FINALLY, A TURBOCHARGED POWERTRAIN.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ACURA'S SECOND MOST POPULAR MODEL WILL AGAIN BE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER.

Greg: THE PRODUCTION VERSION OF THIS ACURA MDX PROTOTYPE WILL GO ON SALE EARLY NEXT YEAR, WITH THE TYPE S VERSION SLATED TO ARRIVE IN THE SUMMER.

IN ONE OF THE MORE IRONIC TURNS OF THE WHEEL WE'VE SEEN; HUMMER IS BACK, BUT NOT AS A GAS-GUZZLING TARGET OF ECO-WARRIORS, NOW IT'S A FULL-EV PICKUP TRUCK UNDER THE GMC UMBRELLA.

THE FIRST VEHICLE TO FEATURE GM'S NEW 3-MOTOR ULTIUM DRIVE SYSTEM, THE 2022 GMC HUMMER EV EDITION 1 PUTS 1,000 HORSEPOWER AND 11,500 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO THE PAVEMENT.

TAKE THAT DIESELS!

IT'S EXPECTED TO HAVE A 350 MILE RANGE, WITH 800 VOLT 350 KW DC FAST CHARGING TO GET YOU BACK ON THE ROAD QUICKLY, ADDING 100 MILES OF RANGE FOR EVERY 10-MINUTES ON CHARGE.

Jessica: THE GMC HUMMER EV WILL ALSO HAVE THE LATEST VERSION OF SUPER CRUISE, GM'S HANDS-FREE DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM WITH OVER 200,000 MILES OF SUPPORTED ROADS AND AN ALL-NEW AUTOMATIC LANE CHANGING FEATURE.

YOU'VE ONLY SEEN SUPER CRUISE ON CADILLACS SO FAR, BUT GM WILL BE EXPANDING THE USE ACROSS ALL OF ITS BRANDS SO IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE THAT IT WE'LL SEE IT IN THE NEW HUMMER.

Greg: A SINGLE FRONT MOTOR SENDS POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS, WHILE EACH REAR WHEEL GETS ITS OWN POWER PLANT.

UNIQUE FEATURES INCLUDE WATTS TO FREEDOM WHICH DELIVERS MAX ACCELERATION FOR 3.0 SECOND 0-60s, CRABWALK 4-WHEEL STEERING THAT ALLOWS YOU TO STEER ALL FOUR WHEELS IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO SIDESTEP HAZARDS ON THE TRAIL, AND EXTRACT MODE WHICH LIFTS THE SUSPENSION BY 6.0 INCHES.

Brian Robinson: THE ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN OF THE EV HUMMER ALLOWS IT TO DO SOME PRETTY COOL THINGS FOR OFF-ROADING, YOU GOT THE CRABWALKING, YOU GOT THE 6.0 INCHES OF SUSPENSION LIFT... YOU HAVE POWER JUST ONE-WHEEL, IF YOU NEED IT... PLUS, IT COMES WITH 35 INCH TIRES STANDARD, WITH THE ABILITY TO UPGRADE TO 37s.

NOW, ALL IT NEEDS IS A V8.

WELL...ACTUALLY, I GUESS IT REALLY DOESN'T NEED A V8 AFTERALL.

MAN, I CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE IT!

Greg: SOMEHOW, IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE YOU'D EXPECT AN ELECTRIC HUMMER TRUCK TO LOOK LIKE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT; THE INFINITY ROOF, WITH TRANSPARENT REMOVABLE PANELS, IS JUST ICING ON THIS RUGGED BEEFCAKE.

2022 GMC HUMMER EV EDITION 1s WILL ARRIVE NEXT FALL, WITH A PRICE TAG OF JUST OVER $112,000.

BUT, THREE ADDITIONAL VERSIONS ARE COMING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS; AND ULTIMATELY THE BASE PRICE WILL BE UNDER $80,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH, MUCH MORE ON THE RETURN OF THE HUMMER COMING UP SOON ON MOTORWEEK !

John: NO ONE WOULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT WHEN THE CHEVROLET TAHOE FIRST ARRIVED IN THE EARLY 1990s, THAT ONLY 25 YEARS LATER, SUVs WOULD RULE THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD.

NOW, WHILE MANY OF ITS CONTEMPORARIES HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED TO FIT INTO THE CROSSOVER-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE, THE TAHOE HAS SOLDIERED ON FULL-FRAMED AND UNASHAMED.

AND LET'S SEE IF THAT REMAINS TRUE FOR 2021.

* BACK WHEN THE FIRST TAHOE APPEARED, AMERICAN SUVs WERE MOSTLY BARE BONES UTILITIES HASTILY ASSEMBLED ON TRUCK FRAMES WITH CREATURE COMFORTS WAY DOWN THE LIST OF PRIORITIES.

MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE, AND THE ALL-NEW 2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS AS WELL.

BUT, THANKFULLY NOT TOO MUCH.

WE TESTED A TAHOE IN 1995 WHEN IT REPLACED THE K5 BLAZER IN THEIR LINEUP, AND JUST AS NOW, IT WAS A SHORTENED VERSION OF CHEVROLET'S SUBURBAN.

WE PRAISED ITS GREAT RIDE, AND NOTED IT WAS THEN THE ONLY PLAYER IN ITS MARKET.

WELL, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE, THOUGH TRUCK-BASED SUVs ARE BECOMING RARER, BUT IT DOES STILL HAVE A GREAT RIDE, EVEN SMOOTHER AND MORE COMPLIANT OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT THAN BEFORE.

THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO A NEW INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION WITH MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL.

OR GO FURTHER WITH THE AIR RIDE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION WITH 4.0 INCHES OF RIDE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT.

IT SPEARHEADS WHAT IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RETHINK OF THE TAHOE SINCE INCEPTION.

OVERALL LENGTH IS UP 6.7 INCHES; NOW EDGING OUT ITS MAIN RIVAL FORD EXPEDITION BY LESS THAN AN INCH.

AND, THERE'S NO DENYING TAHOE LOOKS MORE IMPOSING AND SLEEKER THAN EVER.

TOP HIGH COUNTRY TRIM ADDS A UNIQUE GRILLE, AND 22 INCH CHROME ACCENTED WHEELS.

WHILE, STILL BASED ON A SILVERADO TRUCK FRAME, TAHOE BENEFITS FROM NEARLY 5.0 INCHES ADDED WHEELBASE OVER LAST YEAR.

THAT, ALONG WITH THE NEW I.R.S, ENABLED CHEVY TO REALLY BOOST INTERIOR SPACE.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK TO MINIVANS, IF YOU WANT MORE CARGO ROOM, 25.5 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW IS 66% MORE THAN BEFORE; 72.6 BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, AND A MAX CAPACITY OF 122.9 CUBIC-FEET; BESTING BOTH EXPEDITION AND EXPEDITION MAX, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S STILL THE SUBURBAN, IF YOU NEED MORE.

IN OUR HIGH COUNTRY BOTH SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEATS POWER FOLD WITH SWITCHES JUST INSIDE THE TAILGATE.

SECOND ROW SEAT BOTTOMS ACTUALLY LOWER TO PROVIDE A NICE FLAT LOAD FLOOR.

CHEVROLET WANTED TO BOOST PASSENGER SPACE TOO, AND THERE IS INDEED MORE FOR BOTH REAR ROWS; THREE-MORE INCHES OF LEGROOM FOR THE SECOND ROW, AND A WHOPPING 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES FOR THIRD ROW USERS.

NOTHING PLEASES BUYERS MORE THESE DAYS THAN LOTS OF EASY TO USE TECH; HERE, A 10 INCH INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN IS STANDARD, AND AN 8.0 INCH DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS AVAILABLE, AS IS A HEAD-UP DISPLAY.

YES, WE KNOW MOST KIDS HAVE THEIR OWN SCREENS TO LOOK AT THESE DAYS, BUT IT'S HARD TO BEAT THESE AVAILABLE 12.6 INCH HD TOUCHSCREEN'S FOR COOLNESS FACTOR.

SOME MAY FIND THE MULTITUDE OF BIG CONTROLS IN THE CENTER STACK A STEP BACKWARDS, BUT WE APPRECIATE THEIR FAMILIARITY AND EASE OF USE.

CHEVY WENT UNTRADITIONAL FOR THE SHIFTER; A PUSH/PULL GEAR SELECTOR BY THE CENTER STACK.

NOT A BAD APPROACH, AND CERTAINLY, WELL LOCATED.

ENGINE CHOICES ARE THE SILVERADO'S 355 HORSEPOWER 5.3 LITER AND 420 HORSEPOWER 6.2 LITER V8s, AND EVEN THE DELIGHTFUL 277 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER DURAMAX TURBO-DIESEL; MAX TOWING IS ACTUALLY WITH THE LIGHTER 5.3 LITER AT 8,400 POUNDS; THOUGH DIESEL RATINGS ARE NOT YET FINAL.

OUR HIGH COUNTRY HAS THE BIG 6.2 LITER STANDARD, AND WE LOVED ITS 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WE PUT IT TO GOOD USE AT OUR TEST TRACK, WHERE AFTER A SLUGGISH START, IT WAS OFF TO THE RACES, AND TO 60 IN JUST 7.1 SECONDS.

ALL TAHOE'S COME WITH A 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND THIS ONE WAS QUITE SMOOTH; WORKING THROUGH GEARS QUICKLY ON THE WAY TO A 15.4 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S HARD TO IGNORE THE FACT THAT THIS TAHOE WEIGHS IN AT MORE THAN 5,600 POUNDS, BUT LIKE A CUSTOM MADE SUIT, THE NEW INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION GOES A LONG WAY TO DISGUISE IT.

STILL, IT DOESN'T REALLY LIKE TO BE PUSHED HARD, AS HYPER-AGGRESSIVE STABILITY CONTROL QUICKLY SHUT THINGS DOWN WAY BEFORE WE APPROACHED ANY HANDLING LIMITS.

AWAY FROM THE TRACK, THAT SUSPENSION PAYS EVEN BIGGER DIVIDENDS, WITH THE SMOOTHEST RIDE YOU'LL FIND IN THE FULL-SIZE UTILITY RANKS.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD.

OUR HIGH COUNTRY SPORTS HD SURROUND VISION WITH A HOST OF CAMERAS AND UP TO NINE-DIFFERENT VIEWS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE 6.2 LITER ARE ABOUT WHERE YOU'D EXPECT THEM TO BE; 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.

AND, IT NEEDS PREMIUM FUEL, WITH WHICH WE AVERAGED A GREAT 20.3 MILES PER GALLON.

PRICING STARTS AT $50,295 FOR A BASE LS TAHOE, ADD ANOTHER $3,000 FOR 4-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND THEN ON THROUGH THE SIX TRIMS TO OUR HIGH COUNTRY TESTER WHICH STARTS AT $70,895.

SO, PROGRESS APPARENTLY, DOES NOT COME CHEAP BUT THERE'S NO DENYING THE 2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS INDEED PROGRESSED.

FULL-SIZE, TRUCK-BASED UTILITIES ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE, WHICH EXPLAINS THE EXPLOSION IN POPULARITY OF CAR-BASED CROSSOVER UTILITIES.

BUT, IF YOU NEED ONE, THIS TAHOE IS THE NEW ONE, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE!

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, FOR SOME ON TRACK FUN IN PORSCHE'S 718 CAYMAN GT4.

THEN, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT NISSAN HAS BEEN UP TO WITH THEIR FULL-SIZE TITAN PICKUP.

TIL' THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

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