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

JOIN US AS WE SEE HOW FORD'S NO-NEW CAR STRATEGY AFFECTS THE REDESIGNED FORD ESCAPE... PAT GOSS WITH CAN'T MISS, USE IT OR LOSE IT ADVICE... STEPHANIE HART ON TAKING ANGER OUT OF THE DAILY COMMUTE... AND THE LATEST EVOLUTION OF PERFORMANCE AND PRECISION, THE ALL-NEW PORSCHE 911...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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John: CROSSOVERS AS WE KNOW THEM REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND THAT LONG.

FORD'S ORIGINAL 2001 ESCAPE, WAS ACTUALLY, A JOINT VENTURE WITH MAZDA IN RESPONSE TO THE UNEXPECTED SUCCESS OF THE HONDA CR-V AND TOYOTA RAV4, AND IT HAS BEEN VERY COMPETITIVE WITH THEM EVER SINCE.

NINETEEN YEARS LATER, AND ITS TIME FOR A 4TH GEN ESCAPE, AND GIVEN FORD'S PLEDGE TO FOCUS MOSTLY ON TRUCKS AND SUVs, THIS ESCAPE COULD CHANGE HOW WE LOOK AT CROSSOVERS FOREVER.

* THE FIRST ROUND OF UPSTART CROSSOVERS, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL FORD ESCAPE, PUT A HIGH PRIORITY ON RUGGED LOOKS AND OFF-PAVEMENT ABILITIES, DESPITE ROLLING ON FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAR CHASSIS'.

BUT, AS THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED, CROSSOVERS LIKE THIS 2020 FORD ESCAPE, ARE EMBRACING THE ROLE OF JUST BEING INCREDIBLY PRACTICAL 5-DOOR CARS.

THE ESCAPE, AND ITS CHASSIS MATE LINCOLN CORSAIR, ARE A KEY PART OF FORD'S PLAN GOING FORWARD, AS BOTH BRANDS TRANSITION OUT OF 4-DOOR SEDANS.

ESCAPE WAS AGAIN CO-DEVELOPED WITH FORD OF EUROPE WHERE IT IS KNOWN AS THE KUGA, BUT EVEN MORE PRIORITY WAS PLACED ON MAKING IT DRIVE MORE LIKE A CAR AND LESS LIKE AN SUV.

DEPENDING ON FITMENT, THE NEW ESCAPE IS ABOUT 200 POUNDS LIGHTER, AND COMES WITH A NEW ISOLATED REAR SUB-FRAME THAT SMOOTHS OUT THE RIDE, ESPECIALLY OVER LARGE BUMPS, WITHOUT SACRIFICING HANDLING.

OVERALL, IT'S A MUCH MORE REFINED EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AS TO STYLING, THIS ESCAPE REALLY DOES FAVOR A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL SUV.

BODY PANELS ARE MUCH SMOOTHER THAN LAST GEN, AND THERE'S MORE RAKE TO THE BACK GLASS.

UP FRONT, A MAJOR CHANGE, WHERE THE OUTGOING ESCAPE'S TALL TRUCK-INSPIRED FACE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A MORE ROUNDED AND SWEPT-BACK NOSE.

AND IF YOU SQUINT JUST RIGHT, YOU CAN EVEN SEE A LITTLE MUSTANG INFLUENCE.

MUCH LIKE THE REST OF FORD'S LINEUP, THERE ARE ENGINE CHOICES A-PLENTY; 1.5 LITER AND 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST TURBOS, AS WELL AS A HYBRID RETURNING TO THE LINEUP, BRINGING A PLUG-IN FRIEND ALONG WITH IT.

OUR TESTER WAS THAT REBORN HYBRID, WHICH HAS BEEN OUT OF THE LINEUP SINCE 2012.

THE 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST HYBRID SUV.

HYBRID TECHNOLOGY HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN; THIS IS THE 4TH GENERATION OF FORD'S HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM.

TWO POINT FIVE LITER I4 BASED, IT GETS ASSISTANCE FROM AN 88 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND PACKAGES MOST OF ITS COMPONENTRY INSIDE THE ELECTRIC CVT.

TOTAL OUTPUT IS 200 HORSEPOWER; AND ITS SMALL LIQUID-COOLED BATTERY PACK IS MOUNTED UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE, NOT INSIDE OF IT.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD WITH THE 2.0 LITER, OPTIONAL WITH THE 1.5 LITER AND HYBRID; WHILE THE PHEV IS STRICTLY FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

ECOBOOST ENGINES PAIR WITH A TRADITIONAL 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

HYBRID GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE NOT YET FINAL BUT WE AVERAGED 40.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

AS FOR ACCELERATION, THERE'S A MORE FORCEFUL HIT OF POWER THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING OFF THE LINE.

ENGINE NOISE INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY AS SPEEDS DO, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY AS OFFENSIVE AS MOST HYBRID CVT SETUPS.

SIXTY MILES PER HOUR ARRIVED IN 8.0 SECONDS FLAT, WITH THE QUARTER MILE COMPLETED IN 16.2 SECONDS AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGH THE HANDLING COURSE, OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TESTER FELT FAIRLY NIMBLE WITH GOOD AMOUNTS OF GRIP FROM THE 19 INCH WHEEL AND TIRE PACKAGE.

THE INDEPENDENT MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION, AS WELL AS THE INDEPENDENT DOUBLE LATERAL LINK REAR SETUP HAS MORE TRAVEL THAN BEFORE, BUT UPGRADED SHOCKS BETTER MANAGE THE WEIGHT TRANSFER.

EVEN WITH THE LOAD PENALTY OF THE HYBRID HARDWARE, THIS ESCAPE FEELS LIGHTER ON ITS FEET THAN BEFORE.

IT'S NOT AN ALL-OUT PERFORMANCE CAR FEEL, BUT JUST MORE SOLID, STABLE, AND CAPABLE.

NOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK COMING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE CHASSIS RESPONDS FAIRLY QUICKLY TO INPUTS FROM IT.

BRAKE PEDAL FEEL IS SURPRISINGLY NORMAL FOR A HYBRID.

QUITE EFFECTIVE AS WELL; WE AVERAGED ONLY 92 FEET IN PANIC STOPS FROM 60.

ON TO MORE PRACTICAL MATTERS, FORD IS REALLY PROUD OF ALL OF THE REAR SEAT LEGROOM IN THE NEW ESCAPE, AS WELL AS THE 6.0 INCHES OF TRAVEL FROM THE SEAT ITSELF.

AND THEY SHOULD BE, IT EASILY ALLOWS YOU TO PRIORITIZE SEAT SPACE OVER CARGO ROOM, THOUGH THERE SEEMS TO BE PLENTY OF BOTH NO MATTER WHERE THE SEATS END UP.

CARGO FLOOR SPACE IS INDEED IMPRESSIVE, AND EVEN WITH THE REAR HATCH SLOPING MORE THAN BEFORE, THERE'S A GREAT 34.4 CUBIC-FEET, WITH A MAX OF 60.8.

SLIGHTLY MORE FOR NON-HYBRID ESCAPES.

FRONT SEATS ARE ADEQUATELY COMFORTABLE, AND THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF TECH FEATURES.

ALL BUT BASE S TRIMS COME WITH AN 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN FOR SYNC3 CONNECTIVITY, AND A 12.3 INCH FULL DIGITAL GAUGE DISPLAY IS OPTIONAL.

NOW, A BASE ESCAPE S, STARTS AT $25,980, OR $780 MORE THAN LAST YEAR, AND YOU CAN ADD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 1,500.

THE HYBRID STARTS ABOUT MIDWAY UP THE TRIM TREE WITH THE SE SPORT AT $29,350; TOP TITANIUM TRIM WITH THE 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST WILL SET YOU BACK AT LEAST $37,780.

FORD'S VISION OF SUVs NO LONGER BEING JUST ROOMIER, MORE PRACTICAL CARS, BUT A REPLACEMENT FOR THEM, MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THE EXECUTION OF THAT PLAN IS OFF TO A GREAT START WITH THE 2020 FORD ESCAPE.

* [DOOR CLOSES] IT'S NO SECRET, WE ARE DRIVING MORE THAN EVER.

ACCORDING TO AAA, AMERICANS SPEND AN ASTONISHING 70 BILLION HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL EACH YEAR.

BUT, MUCH OF THAT TIME IS WASTED STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

OUR STEPHANIE HART EXPLORES THE HUMAN FACTORS BEHIND OUR SLOWING DAILY COMMUTE.

* Keantay Fenwick: I LIKE GETTING WHERE I GOTTA GET AND NOT WAIT TOO LONG.

SO, I'M SURE EVERYONE ELSE FEELS THE SAME WAY.

[CHUCKLES] Brittany Cole: IT'S HIGH ANXIETY IT'S LIKE HECTIC.

Marvin Jones: I THINK OF THE TIME, WE ARE WASTING WHEN WE COULD BE SITTING AT HOME.

Autumn Pelham: THE TRAFFIC, IT'S TWO LANES NOT MOVING ANYWHERE BUT WHAT I DO TO RELAX IS JUST JAM OUT TO MY FAVORITE SONG.

[CHUCKLES] Stephanie Hart: THESE DAYS, WE ARE DRIVING SO MANY MILES THAT IT EQUATES TO DRIVING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -- ROUNDTRIP, TWICE.

TONS OF DRIVING, PLUS...TRAFFIC EQUALS MONEY, JUST ASK AAA'S JOHN TOWNSEND.

John Townsend: IT'S COSTING US INDIVIDUALLY, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF LOST PRODUCTIVITY, BUT IN THE TIME THAT WE COULD SPEND WITH OUR FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS, AND IN LEISURE PURSUITS.

Stephanie: WASHINGTON D.C. HAS SOME OF THE WORST CONGESTION IN THE NATION, WITH PEOPLE SPENDING 88 HOURS STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

OTHER CITIES ALSO HAVE SIMILAR GRIDLOCK PROBLEMS.

BOSTON WINS FIRST PLACE FOR TRAFFIC TIE-UPS, SECOND GOES TO D.C., THIRD CHICAGO, FOURTH NEW YORK, AND FIFTH LOS ANGELES.

AAA SAYS, "OUT OF DATE STREETS AND HUMAN NATURE ARE TO BLAME FOR MOST TRAFFIC TIE UPS."

John T: THE ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT ADDED ANY ADDITIONAL ROAD CAPACITY OR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'VE MADE A GREATER INVESTMENT IN MASS TRANSIT AS WE SHOULD HAVE AND AS WE SHOULD DO, AND WE'RE MAKING A GREATER INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT OPTIONS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT MOST PEOPLE LOATHE TO LEAVE THE CAR BEHIND.

Stephanie: AAA REPORTS EIGHT OUT OF TEN PEOPLE STILL DRIVE TO WORK ALONE.

WHY?

BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSONAL FREEDOM AND SETTING OUR OWN SCHEDULE.

John T: AND UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UNLESS WE INVEST IN IT HEAVILY, TO THE TUNE OF TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AND THINGS WILL NOT IMPROVE.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING, IT'S CRUMBLING, AND WE'RE STILL STUCK IN THE 1950s AND 1960s IN TERMS OF MAJOR INVESTMENTS.

Stephanie: BUT WHILE EVERYONE LOOKS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO FUND MORE ROADS, THE SOLUTION ACTUALLY LIES CLOSER TO HOME.

John T: WE HAVE TO HAVE A POLITICAL WILL, AND A POLITICAL WILL POWER, AND SO FAR, WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS NOT SHOWN AN INCLINATION TO DO IT.

I AM TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE MORE AND MORE STATES RAISING THE GASOLINE TAX AT THE STATE LEVEL TO INVEST THOSE FUNDS IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

Stephanie: OKAY, SO MOST OF US DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP OUR CARS, AND THERE'S NO SPEEDY WAY TO BUILD ADEQUATE ROADS, SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OURSELVES OUT OF THIS TRAFFIC MESS?

RIGHT NOW, CARPOOLING, TELECOMMUTING, AND VARYING OUR WORK HOURS SEEM TO BE THE BEST BET.

BUT IN THE FUTURE, THERE'S HOPE SELF DRIVING CARS MIGHT HELP.

TILL THEN, WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST OF GOING SLOW.

* John: A CAR HAS THOUSANDS OF PARTS, SO SOMETHING'S BOUND TO GO WRONG NO MATTER HOW YOU GO OR STOP.

FOR SOME POINTERS, LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE'RE JOINED BY OUR ONLINE PARTS EXPERT MISTER TOM TAYLOR.

TOM, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tom Taylor: THANKS PAT ITS GREAT TO BE HERE.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHAT DID YOU BRING FOR US TODAY?

Tom: WE'LL WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES.

THERE'S ACTUALLY, TWO SYSTEMS GOING ON BACK HERE.

YOU HAVE THE BRAKE THAT STOPS THE CAR AND THEN THE PARKING BRAKE FOR WHEN YOU PARK ON A HILL OR JUST WANT TO BE SAFE AND DON'T ROLL AWAY.

THE PARKING BRAKE NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED AND SERVICED LIKE THE REGULAR BRAKE BECAUSE DAMAGE CAN HAPPEN PRETTY QUICK.

THIS EXAMPLE WE HAVE HERE, THE DRIVER LEFT THE PARKING BRAKE ON, IT'S DRAGGING FOR JUST ABOUT FIVE MILES AND THAT WAS JUST ENOUGH TIME TO OVERHEAT THE METAL, IT STARTS TO DISTORT A LITTLE BIT, THE FRICTION MATERIAL MIGHT MELT OR DISTORT, AND YOU GET CRACKS, AND ACTUALLY CHUNKS FALLING OFF.

SO, YOUR PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE OR YOU GET NOISE OR BOTH.

Pat: WELL, IN MY SHOPS WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHECK THE BRAKES ON ANY CAR IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, EVERY 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE CHECKING THE PARKING BRAKE.

Tom: RIGHT, BECAUSE THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT DRIVING THE CAR AS WELL AS WHEN YOU LOAN IT TO YOUR KID, OR SOMETHING, LIKE I SAID, IT TAKES A FEW MILES FOR THE DAMAGE.

WHEN YOU ARE CHECKING IT OR YOU'RE REPLACING IT, ITS GOOD TO LUBE BETWEEN THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE AND THE BACKING PLATE, THE METAL BEHIND IT, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD THE PINS IN THE CALIPER, VERY SIMILAR SYSTEMS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY LIKE, THE OLD...

THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS LIKE, THE OLD BRAKE SHOES AND BRAKE DRUMS IN 30 YEAR OLD CARS.

Pat: MM-HMM.

[AFFIRMATIVE] AND THIS IS WHERE WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU USE A DEDICATED BRAKE GREASE BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN JUST REGULAR CHASSIS GREASE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

Tom: YEAH, IT WON'T HAVE THE DIRT AND DUST GET EMBEDDED IN THERE AND IT WILL STILL PROVIDE SOME LUBRICATION.

Pat: RIGHT.

Tom: AND I'D ALSO, PUT LUBE BETWEEN THE HUB AND THE ROTOR.

THIS IS WHERE RUST BUILDS UP AND YOU MIGHT HAVE THE TWO SORTS OF WELDED TOGETHER OR THERE'S SO MUCH RUST YOU SORT OF GET RUST CHAFFING OR THE ROTOR GOES OFF CENTER A LITTLE BIT AND YOU GET THAT WARPED ROTOR EFFECT THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE CAR VIBRATING.

Pat: ALRIGHT.

AND HERE AGAIN, WE USE ANTI SEIZE COMPOUND AND WE TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER.

WE PUT A LITTLE BIT OF THIS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WHERE IT FITS OVER THAT HUB BECAUSE THEY'RE PRONE TO CORRODING, AND IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE, AND IT'S WELDED ON THERE, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.

Tom: RIGHT, YOU HAVE THE SANDWICH OF THE WHEEL, THE ROTOR, AND THE HUB, AND YOU HAVE TO PUT LUBE BETWEEN ALL OF THOSE, IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE.

BAD IDEA?

Tom: YEAH, THEY THINK I DON'T WANT TO WEAR IT OUT.

NO, YOU SHOULD USE IT KEEPS EVERYTHING, SO IT DOESN'T SEIZE UP.

IT KEEPS EVERYTHING LUBRICATED, AND IF IT'S A CABLE SYSTEM, IT'S NOT BOUND UP INSIDE THE CONDUIT WITH RUST.

SO YEAH, USE IT OR YOU LOSE IT.

Pat: OKAY.

TOM, THANK YOU.

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

* Greg Carloss: WITH THANKSGIVING NOW IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, THAT MEANS WE'LL SOON BE DEALING WITH WINTER WEATHER HERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC.

THIS 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID SHOULD BE UP FOR THE TASK, AS ALL RAV4 HYBRIDS COME WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE; THANKS TO ITS POWERTRAIN ARRANGEMENT, WHICH MAKES THE WHEELS ON THE BACK GO 'ROUND WITH A REAR-MOUNTED 40 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR.

AN ELECTRICALLY-ASSISTED NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER I4 HANDLES THE POWER FOR THE FRONT WHEELS, AND OVER 9,600 MILES, THE SETUP HAS DELIVERED AN IMPRESSIVE FOR AN SUV 38.4 MILES PER GALLON.

IT'S A NO-BRAINER THAT THIS IS THE BEST LOOKING RAV4 OVER ITS FIVE GENERATIONS...

CERTAINLY, THE MOST RUGGED, AS WELL.

BUT, THE REAL HIGHLIGHT SO FAR IN FOUR MONTHS OF DRIVE TIME, IS THE NEW RAV'S HIGHLY REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

AFTER A FEW RECENT HIGHWAY TRIPS, WE'RE NOTICING THAT IF YOU STOP FOR GAS WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE IS READING A QUARTER-TANK, THE MOST YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IN IS A LITTLE OVER 7.0 GALLONS.

IT SEEMS THE GAUGE IS A BIT PESSIMISTIC AS THE TANK ACTUALLY HOLDS 14.5 GALLONS.

SOMETHING, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON OVER THE COMING MONTHS.

THIS 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN ONE SMOOTH RIDE THESE PAST THREE MONTHS.

ANOTHER 2,500 ON THE ODO, BRINGS OUR TOTAL TO 6,500 MILES.

FOR ME, THE HIGH-POINT OF THIS ALTIMA IS ITS DRIVER SEAT COMFORT.

IT'S EASY TO FIND A GOOD POSITION AND THERE'S PLENTY OF CUSHION.

THE ONLY ISSUE FROM THIS SEAT IS LOOKING OUT THE REARVIEW MIRROR WHERE THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT OBSTRUCTS SOME OF THE VIEW.

BUT THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH FRONT OR SIDE VISIBILITY.

MILEAGE SITS AT 31.1 MILES PER GALLON, AND WHILE TO THIS POINT, WE'VE FOUND THE 2.5 LITER I4s POWER ADEQUATE, SOME RECENT HIGHWAY MERGING SITUATIONS HAD US WANTING A FEW MORE PONIES.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE HONDA INSIGHT AND PORSCHE MACAN ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: THERE'S ALWAYS THE NEXT BIG THING, SO, OFF WE GO ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN!

* MUCH LIKE THE CITY IT'S NAMED AFTER, THE HYUNDAI TUCSON HAS ALWAYS PLAYED SECOND CITY TO OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS, LIKE THE HONDA CR-V AND TOYOTA RAV4.

BUT, SPEND ANY TIME IN TUCSON, AND YOU'LL FIND IT OFFERS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT ITS NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH HAVE, ONLY IT'S A LOT LESS CROWDED.

FOR 2019, HYUNDAI HAS MADE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR 3RD-GEN TUCSON COMPACT CROSSOVER TO ATTRACT EVEN MORE PERMANENT RESIDENTS.

EXTERIOR FRESHENING COMES COURTESY OF A NEW FACE WITH UPDATED GRILLE, AND HEADLIGHTS; AS WELL AS DIFFERENT WHEEL DESIGNS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR 17, 18s, AND 19s.

NEW TAIL LIGHTS FOR THE REAR, ALONG WITH REDESIGNED EXHAUST TIPS FOR SEL TRIM AND ABOVE.

INSIDE, THE DASH GETS SIGNIFICANT UPDATES INCLUDING A NEW CENTER STACK, TOPPED WITH A STANDARD 7.0 INCH DISPLAY SCREEN.

THE AIR VENTS HAVE BEEN RESHAPED TOO, AND A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

WHILE, THE OPTIONAL LEATHER SEATS GET A NEW DESIGN, AND REGARDLESS OF TRIM, YOU'LL NOW BE SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE ELECTRONICALLY.

NOW, THIS MODERNIZED TUCSON MAY BE ALL ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD, BUT IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO LOOK BACK; YOU CAN DO SO WITH THE UPGRADED REAR VIEW MIRROR.

SAFETY UPDATES ARE ALWAYS ATTRACTIVE, AND FOR 2019, ALL TUCSON'S WILL COME WITH FORWARD COLLISION ALERT AND LANE KEEP ASSIST AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT.

WHILE, A 2.0 LITER IS STILL STANDARD, GONE, IS THE OPTIONAL 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO ENGINE.

IT WASN'T A BAD POWER PLANT, BUT US, AS WELL AS OTHERS, WERE NOT FANS OF THE 7-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION THAT WAS MATED TO IT.

THEY'VE FILLED THAT GAP WITH WIDER AVAILABILITY OF THIS NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 181 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 OPTION, WITH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ONLY AVAILABLE WITH SPORT TRIM.

ADD IN A REZONING OF AVAILABLE TRIM LEVELS, AND HYUNDAI HAS HANDED THE COMPACT CROSSOVER SHOPPER A MUCH BETTER RESULT.

THE 2019 HYUNDAI TUCSON IS ON SALE NOW, WITH PRICES STARTING UNDER $24,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

John: NOW, HERE'S A QUESTION: HOW NEW IS NEW?

IT'S ACTUALLY, A CONSTANT DEBATE AROUND THE CAR BIZ, AND OUR SHOP, WHEN IT COMES TO PORSCHE'S ICONIC 911.

OVER 55 YEARS AND SEVEN GENERATIONS, EACH NEW 911 ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE REFINED, MORE THAN REBORN.

AND HERE WE ARE WITH THE EIGHTH GEN 911 READY FOR THE ROAD.

SO, IS IT JUST ANOTHER NOTCH UPWARD, OR HAS THE WORLD'S QUINTESSENTIAL SPORTS CAR ACHIEVED A NEW LEVEL OF "NEW."

* WHILE, THE "HOW NEW IS NEW" DEBATE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS THERE'S A 911, OR AT LEAST UNTIL AN ALL-ELECTRIC ONE SHOWS UP.

PORSCHE...AT LEAST, THINKS THIS 2020 911 IS "NEW" ENOUGH TO DEPLOY A NEW 992 NOMENCLATURE, EVEN THOUGH THE BASIC PLATFORM IS LARGELY CARRYOVER FROM THE 991.

THERE IS NOTHING DRASTIC ABOUT THIS 911 CHANGE; NO SWITCHING FROM AIR-COOLED TO WATER-COOLED.

BUT, THERE IS A LOT NEW ABOUT THE REAR MOUNTED FLAT-6 POWERTRAIN INCLUDING NEW TWIN-TURBOS, INTERCOOLERS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS.

TURBOS ARE LARGER, SO COMPRESSION IS HIGHER.

TWENTY-THREE ADDED HORSEPOWER UPS THE TOTAL TO 443, WITH 390 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A PDK WITH EIGHT TIGHTLY SPACED GEARS IS NEW TO THE 911; TAKEN FROM THE PANAMERA, WITH A NEW SHIFTER THAT REMINDS US OF AN OLD-STYLE MICROPHONE.

NO MANUAL AT LAUNCH, BUT A 7-SPEED GEARBOX WILL COME.

LIKEWISE, A HYBRID VERSION ARRIVES NOT TOO FAR INTO THE 992 LIFECYCLE.

FOR NOW, JUST TWO MODELS, OUR CARRERA S, AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CARRERA 4S.

BUT CONVERTIBLE AND BASE CARRERA MODELS ARE IN THE WINGS.

YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION IS THAT STYLING HAS EVOLVED LITTLE.

MAYBE, BUT IT HAS CHANGED ENOUGH FOR US TO USE THE WORLD "BEAUTIFUL" FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A 911 ROAD TEST IN LIKE, FOREVER.

LIKE, EVERY PREVIOUS 911 GEN, THE NEW CAR DOES GROW IN SIZE, WITH WIDER FRONT AND REAR TRACKS.

STANDARD WHEEL SETS ARE NOW 20s UP FRONT, 21s IN REAR.

REAR TIRES ARE THE WIDEST EVER ON A STANDARD 911, 305s; YIKES, THAT'S A LOT OF RUBBER HITTING THE PAVEMENT.

ENSURING THEY'RE PLANTED INTO THE PAVEMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, A LARGER REAR SPOILER IS IN PLACE.

BUT, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THIS ACTIVE SPOILER'S TRICKS; IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING DOWNFORCE, IT ALSO CHANNELS AIR INTO THE UPDATED ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, AS WELL AS HAVING AN ECO-POSITION TO REDUCE DRAG.

THERE'S MORE ALUMINUM IN BOTH THE CHASSIS AND THE BODY, BUT THEY DIDN'T MANAGE TO TAKE ANY WEIGHT OUT, ACTUALLY TACKING ON ANOTHER 150 POUNDS OR SO.

BUT UNLIKE BEFORE, YOU DO GET THE SAME WIDE BODY STYLE WHETHER YOU GET REAR OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING, MANY PORSCHEPHILES MIGHT CLAIM THAT THEIR 19-WHATEVER IS BETTER, AND THEY'D BE WRONG.

THIS 992 IS SUPERIOR BY EVERY MEASURABLE CATEGORY, AND A FEW THAT AREN'T MEASURABLE.

STEERING HAS BEEN QUICKENED TO RAZOR SHARP LEVELS, AND YOU CAN ENGAGE THE REARS IN THE PROCESS OPTIONALLY, AS WELL.

FAMILIAR MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT, WITH A MULTI-LINK REAR, BUT DAMPERS ARE NEW, AND OF COURSE, THE PASM ACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THEM HAS BEEN UPGRADED.

YOU CAN TALK SPECS AND DIFFERENCES ALL DAY LONG, BUT THE FACT THAT THIS 911 IS JUST PURE BLISS ON A WINDING ROAD IS WHAT MATTERS MOST TO US.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL ALSO APPRECIATE THE NEW AND FAR MORE MODERN 2+2 INTERIOR.

BESIDES THE BIG DASH TOUCHSCREEN, ALSO LIFTED FROM THE PANAMERA, WE WERE SURPRISINGLY QUITE FOND OF THE MOSTLY DIGITAL GAUGE PACKAGE.

MOSTLY, AS PORSCHE PROPERLY KEPT A REAL NEEDLE AND DIAL FOR THE CENTER TACH.

CLASSIC 911 TOUCHES LIKE A LEFT HAND STARTER SWITCH, AND MANUAL FORE-AFT SEAT ADJUSTMENTS REMAIN.

WE FOUND THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE WAS MORE FUN, AND NOTICEABLY IMPROVED, ON THE SUMMIT POINT CIRCUIT AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK.

WE SPENT A FULL DAY THERE TRYING TO FIND LIMITS OF GRIP.

WITH DRIVE MODE IN SPORT PLUS, STEERING RESPONSE IS IMMEDIATE, WITH EXCELLENT FEEDBACK.

PLENTIFUL TORQUE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES TO PUSH YOU THROUGH CORNERS, WITH NO NOTICEABLE TURBO LAG.

PLENTY OF BRAKING POWER AS WELL, WHETHER YOU UPGRADE TO CARBON CERAMICS OR NOT.

OUR REAR-DRIVE CARRERA S DID NOT HAVE THEM, BUT WE DID HAVE THE UPGRADED SPORT SUSPENSION WHICH LOWERS THINGS ABOUT 10MM.

THE NEW PDK WORKS GREAT AS ALWAYS, PROVIDING RAPID SHIFTS RIGHT AT RED-LINE.

AND JUST LIKE THAT, THIS JOY RIDE'S COME TO AN END.

LITTLE TIME LEFT TO TELL YOU ABOUT 3.0 SECOND 0-60s, THANKS TO BRUTAL PDK LAUNCHES, OR 11.3 SECOND QUARTER MILES AT 124 MILES PER HOUR.

THE BASE CARRERA, WHEN IT ARRIVES, WILL START AT $98,750; YES, A BASE 911 IS NOW PUSHING SIX-FIGURES.

THIS CARRERA S BEGINS AT $114,650, AND THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE C4S GOES FOR $121,950.

SO, JUST HOW NEW?

WE SAY, NEW ENOUGH TO BE NEW!

BOTH IN HARDWARE AND IN SPIRIT.

THINK OF THE 992 AS A MODERN MASTERPIECE WHERE ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN CHIPPING AWAY THE 911 STONE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

PORSCHE, BEING PORSCHE, WILL STEADILY UNVEIL A VIRTUALLY LIMITLESS NUMBER OF VARIATIONS ON THIS THEME OVER THE NEXT 6-7 YEARS, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT; AS THIS 2020 CARRERA S, IS PURE PERFECTION.

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...

WHEN WE SEE HOW FAMILY SIZED 3-ROW SUVs STACK UP AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION ROLLS ON WITH THE ALL-NEW AUDI E-TRON.

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

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