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

JOIN US AS WE DROP THE TOP ON THE LATEST PORSCHE 911 SPEEDSTER... PAT GOSS PLAYS IT COOL DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL HEADS OVER THE EDGE TO POLISH HIS TRACK DAY SKILLS... AND CADILLAC ADDS TO THEIR LUXURIOUS HIGH RIDER LINE-UP, THE 3-ROW XT6...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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.

John: WHILE, THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF SPECIAL 911s OVER THE YEARS, YOU CERTAINLY COULD ARGUE THAT THE SPEEDSTERS HAVE BEEN THE MOST SPECIAL OF THE SPECIAL.

THEY TEND TO ARRIVE ONLY ONCE A DECADE OR SO, AND SHOWCASE THE BEST OF WHAT PORSCHE HAS TO OFFER.

SO, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS ONE AS MUCH AS WE DID.

* A CAR AS SPECIAL AS THIS 991 PORSCHE 911 SPEEDSTER NEEDS A SPECIAL PLACE TO PROPERLY EVALUATE IT, SO WE HEADED FOR THE SUNNY WEST COAST, WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE AND SPORTS CARS HAVE ROOM TO ROAM.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, LET'S FIND OUT EXACTLY WHY THIS IS SUCH A SPECTACULAR DRIVER'S CAR.

WELL, THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON A PORSCHE GT CHASSIS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WHICH MEANS, PERFORMANCE IS PRIORITY ONE, WITH EVERYTHING ELSE FALLING INTO PLACE WHERE IT MAY.

NOW THAT BECOMES OBVIOUS AS SOON AS YOU HOP BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THERE'S A TRADITIONAL 5 DIAL GAUGE CLUSTER, WITH A BIG TACH FRONT AND CENTER.

REAL NEEDLES ON DIALS SEEMS ALMOST QUAINT THESE DAYS.

LIKEWISE, THE STEERING WHEEL IS SPLENDIDLY FREE OF ANY CONTROLS, JUST A STITCHED IN ON-CENTER MARKER.

THIS CAR IS ALL ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR.

AND WHILE, BACK TO BASICS IS THE THEME, IT'S A PURE MODERN EXECUTION OF SAID ETHOS, AS AIR-CONDITIONING IS NOT STANDARD, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE AS A NO COST OPTION.

CARBON FIBER REPLACES ALUMINUM FOR MOST BODY PANELS, AND THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN CHOPPED BY 2.0 INCHES.

THOUGH, IT DOESN'T LOOK OR FEEL LIKE IT, IT JUST LOOKS AND FEELS JUST RIGHT.

IT'S NO LIGHTWEIGHT, AS IT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT 100 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN A GT3.

BUT, THEY CERTAINLY TOOK STRIDES TO KEEP IT IN CHECK, INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERATED SOFT-TOP.

THE AVAILABLE HERITAGE PACKAGE IS COOL, AND NOT TOO OVER THE TOP, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CONSIDER HAVING A NUMBER PAINTED ON THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR, TOO MUCH OF A SHOW OFF.

NO MATTER HOW RACY THINGS LOOK UP TOP; UNDERNEATH, THERE ARE OF COURSE, PLENTY OF PARTS BOLTED TO THE CHASSIS FROM THE GT RACE SHOP.

LIKEWISE, THE ENGINE IS THE GT3s NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 4.0 LITER FLAT-6 WITH DRY SUMP.

IT HAS BEEN RETUNED FOR EMISSION PURPOSES, BUT PORSCHE BEING PORSCHE, HAPPENED TO FIND A COUPLE MORE HORSEPOWER ALONG THE WAY, NOW AT 502 HORSEPOWER AND 346 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THERE'S ALSO, A NEW STAINLESS STEEL SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT WEIGHS A WHOPPING 22 POUNDS LESS THAN THE GT3s.

AND YES, IT SOUNDS AS PHENOMENAL AS YOU'D EXPECT, REVVING TO ITS 9,000 RPM LIMIT.

THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF POWER IN THE 5,000 TO 7,000 RANGE, AND IT'S A PURE JOY KEEPING THE ENGINE THERE WITH THE GT3s 6-SPEED MANUAL.

GEARS CLICK INTO PLACE WITH EFFORTLESS PRECISION, AND THE CAR WILL DO THE REV MATCHING FOR YOU, IF YOU WANT IT TO.

SIXTY MILES PER HOUR ARRIVES IN 3.8 SECONDS.

PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT OVERSEES THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION, WITH SETTINGS FOR NORMAL AND SPORT.

NOTICE THERE'S NO COMFORT MODE, AND NOTHING ABOUT THE FULL-BUCKET CARBON-FIBER SEATS WOULD EVER BE CONFUSED AS BEING COMFORTING.

JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THIS CAR MEANS BUSINESS.

THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN LOWERED BY ABOUT AN INCH, AND YOU CAN LIFT THE FRONT END ELECTRONICALLY TO AVOID DRIVEWAY SCRAPES OF THE FRONT SPLITTER.

WHILE, PORSCHE CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A TRACK CAR, IT SURE FEELS LIKE IT WOULD BE GREAT ON ONE, WITH STANDARD CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES THAT EASILY TAKE CARE OF INSANE SPEEDS WHEN CALLED UPON TO DO SO.

SAME BRAKES AS GT3, BUT UNIQUE PADS TO REDUCE THE SQUEALING YOU SOMETIMES GET WITH CERAMICS.

DIRECT STEERING PIVOTS THE FRONT WHEELS WITH THE SLIGHTEST OF INPUTS, WHILE THE BACKS GET IN ON THE ACTION AS WELL, WITH REAR-AXLE STEERING.

THOSE WHEELS ARE CENTER-LOCK 20s.

ALL-IN-ALL, IT'S AN INTOXICATING DRIVING EXPERIENCE YOU'LL FIND NOWHERE ELSE; JUST AMAZING SOLIDITY, AND A TRUE DREAM TO INTERACT WITH.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED.

WHICH MAKES FOR A MUCH WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 20.6 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE, WITH 9.3 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

IN ADDITION TO THE LEGENDARY DRIVING EXPERIENCE, YOU'LL BE PAYING FOR EXCLUSIVITY HERE; JUST 1,948 EXAMPLES TO BE MADE, STARTING AT $275,750.

BUILT TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF PORSCHE, THE BIGGEST IRONY OF ALL WITH THIS LATEST 911 SPEEDSTER; IS THAT WHILE WE CONSTANTLY LONG FOR THE PURE JOY OF DRIVING, AND PORSCHE DELIVERS IT HERE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, THEY DO IT WITH THE USE OF A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY.

BUT, IF THIS IS INDEED THE FINAL 991 911, IT IS THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF GOING OUT ON TOP, AS THE SPEEDSTER MAKES YOU NEVER WANT TO STOP DRIVING.

SO, COME FOR THE EXCLUSIVITY, STAY FOR THE THRILL RIDE.

* SEAT TIME.

NOTHING IN THIS WORLD WILL HELP YOU HONE YOUR DRIVING SKILLS MORE THAN A DAY AT THE TRACK.

SURE, WE DROOL OVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A 600 HORSEPOWER ASSAULT CAR TO THE LIMITS...

BUT ZACH MASKELL IS HERE TO PROVE NOT EVEN HALF OF THAT WILL DO.

SO, LET'S GO OVER THE EDGE AND SMILE LIKE THE GRINCH, AS WE LEARN FROM SOME OF THE BEST.

* Terry Earwood: WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS LITERALLY, GO PLAY WITH SOME CARS.

Zach Maskell: NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK IN MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY IS OUR GIGANTIC CUBICLE FOR THE DAY.

DOES SKIP BARBER RACING SCHOOL RING A BELL?

Dan Demonte: SKIP BARBER WAS STARTED IN 1975 BY ACTUALLY, SKIP BARBER, WHO IS STILL VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE RACING BUSINESS.

HE'S 81 YEARS OLD.

THEY HAVE CREATED THE PREEMINENT, DOMINANT ICONIC BRAND IN DRIVING AND RACING SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK, THIS YEAR IN THE INDY 500, SOMETHING ABOVE 45% OF ALL PARTICIPATING DRIVERS HAD COME THROUGH OR BEEN INSTRUCTED WITHIN THE SKIP BARBER RACING SCHOOL.

Zach: JERRY SEINFELD, AL PACINO, AND DANICA PATRICK AS WELL.

EITHER FOR KICKS, OR TO EARN YOUR COMPETITION RACING LICENSE...

THIS IS STEP ONE...ON DAY ONE.

Terry: MARK BROUGHT THIS EQUATION TO MOTORSPORTS TO TELL US HOW HARD WE CAN RUN A CAR.

Zach: MARK DONOHUE.

NOT ONLY DID HE RACE, BUT HE SET UP HIS OWN CARS AS WELL.

MARK'S FORMULA?

FIFTEEN TIMES GRIP TIMES RADIUS EQUALS SPEED SQUARED.

FOR THE MATH CHALLENGED.

COME INTO A TURN TOO HOT AND THE CAR WILL FORCE AN EVEN BIGGER TURN.

Terry: I USED TO BE TALL AND HANDSOME.

NOW, I'M JUST HANDSOME.

BUT FOR YEARS, WE GOT TO RIDE WITH PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE DO.

WHAT THEIR NATURAL REACTION IS.

AND WE COME OFF THE BRAKE, AND GO TO POWER, AND WE ASK THE CAR TO GO THROUGH THE CORNER, AND WONDER WHY IT PUSHES OR UNDERSTEERS.

AND THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THE WEIGHTS ON THE WRONG END OF THE CAR.

IT SHOULD REALLY BE CALLED "UNDER RESPOND."

Zach: THE FIRST STEP IN APPLYING THIS TO THE REAL WORLD.

FEELING IT ON THE SKID PAD.

WE'RE EQUIPPED WITH FIAT 124s.

Erich Heuschele: THAT 1.4 TURBO IS AN ITALIAN ENGINE AND IT'S A SMALL DISPLACEMENT ENGINE THAT'S GOT A LOT OF BOOST AND ITS GOT...YOU'VE GOT TO SPOOL IT UP, YOU GOT TO HAVE A REALLY ACTIVE AND INVOLVED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

Zach: FIAT'S GO-FAST NOMENCLATURE, ABARTH.

WE TAKE THIS REAR DRIVE CAR PAST ITS LIMIT, AND THEN TRY TO REEL IN BACK IN.

COUNTER STEER AND FEATHER OFF THE GAS...

THIS SKILL IS INVALUABLE.

THE PRO'S REMINDED US TO KEEP OUR EYES UP... AND LOOK AHEAD.

A PERFECT WARM UP FOR THE AUTO CROSS COURSE... AND YOU BETTER BE READY FOR SURPRISES.

[SOUND OF ENGINE REVVING] Terry: OR, OR HAVE YOU ANYBODY HELP YOU... Zach: AS HE PULLS THE E-BRAKE ON ME!

Terry: YOU HAVE VIDEO OF THAT?

OH, YOU PROBABLY DO.

[LAUGHS] I WOULDN'T DO THAT TO YOU UNLESS I JUST THOUGHT WE NEEDED IT... NO THAT'S FUN.

AND AS A TEACHER, I'M GLAD THEY STILL RETAIN THE HAND BRAKE, AS SO MANY CARS DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.

Zach: ABSOLUTELY.

Terry: IT HELPS YOU WITH A LITTLE ROTATION, THAT WAY IT HELPS YOUR CAR CONTROL, NICE JOB.

[LAUGHS] GOOD, FAST HANDS.

Zach: IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT LEARNING, THEY'LL TEACH.

Terry: SWEET, SWEET.

Zach: AND NEXT UP, A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

THE FRONT DRIVE FIAT 500 ABARTH.

YOU DEFINITELY FEEL ITS 60% WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION UP FRONT HERE.

Mike Stillwagon: YES, THERE'S A LOT MORE WEIGHT OVER THE FRONT OF THIS CAR.

SMALLER TIRE TOO.

ALMOST THE SAME HORSEPOWER.

Zach: VARYING INSTRUCTION, ON TRACK EXPLANATIONS, AND PLENTY OF HYPE.

WE WORKED ON FUNDAMENTALS, AND MAKING EACH MOVE SMOOTH.

I'M NOT SOLD ON THE HORSEPOWER WARS MANUFACTURERS SEEM TO BE SO KEEN ON THESE DAYS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO SHELL OUT ALL THAT CASH TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, SIGN UP FOR A TRACK DAY ALREADY!

[APPLAUSE] John: TIME NOW TO HEAD BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR SOME TIMELY CAR CARE ADVICE.

* Pat Goss: THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT STEERING, STOPPING, AND COOLING.

NOW, STEERING WELL, HISTORICALLY CARS HAVE HAD POWER STEERING AND MOST ALL OF THEM WERE HYDRAULIC, BUT NOW THEY ARE CHANGING OVER TO ELECTRIC.

BUT, THERE ARE STILL MILLIONS OF HYDRAULIC POWERED STEERING FLUID EQUIPPED CARS ON THE ROAD.

AND THAT POWER STEERING FLUID NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

TYPICALLY, NO MORE THAN THREE YEARS OR 36,000 MILES.

AND ALWAYS USE THE FLUID THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR POWER STEERING SYSTEM.

BRAKES?

WHAT COULD BE MADE MORE IMPORTANT THAN BRAKES?

AND BRAKES HAVE BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID IS HYGROSCOPIC WHICH MEANS, IT ATTRACTS AND ABSORBS MOISTURE.

MOISTURE IS BAD FOR BRAKE SYSTEMS.

NOW HERE, WE HAVE BRAND NEW FLUID.

THIS ONE IS HALF FLUID, HALF WATER.

YOU DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE.

SO JUST BECAUSE BRAKE FLUID LOOKS GOOD, THAT DOESN'T MEAN, IT IS GOOD.

YOU SHOULD TEST IT, OR BETTER YET, JUST SIMPLY FLUSH AND REPLACE IT EVERY TWO YEARS.

NOW, THE BIG THING WITH BRAKE FLUID ARE THREE TYPES: DOT-3, DOT-4, AND DOT-5.

DOT-3 IS USED IN A LOT OF CARS, DOT-4 IN A LOT OF EUROPEAN CARS, SOME DOMESTIC CARS, DOT-5 IS SILICONE SYNTHETIC AND SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN OLDER CARS OR CARS THAT DO NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES.

REASON IS THAT SOME ABS SYSTEMS CAN CAUSE DOT-5 FLUID TO FOAM AND THAT LETS YOUR PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR DURING A PANIC STOP.

SO, BIG IMPORTANT STUFF THERE WITH BRAKES.

COOLANT...WELL, ALL CARS HAVE COOLING SYSTEMS.

AND THE COOLING SYSTEM IN MOST IS LIQUID.

THE LIQUID USES COOLANT, USED TO CALL IT ANTIFREEZE, MIXED WITH DISTILLED WATER.

USUALLY, 50/50 MIX OF WATER AND COOLANT.

THE BIG THING WITH COOLANT IS THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF PROPRIETARY PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE FOR SPECIFIC VEHICLES, THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE METALS, AND PLASTICS, AND RUBBER MATERIALS IN THAT CAR'S COOLING SYSTEM.

YOU WOULD DO WELL TO PAY A COUPLE OF DOLLARS MORE TO GET THE PROPER COOLANT FOR YOUR CAR THAN PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS LATER IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR 'CAUSE YOU USED THE WRONG COOLANT.

USE THE ONE THAT IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR CAR AND ONE SIZE TYPICALLY DOES NOT FIT ALL.

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

[CAR DOOR CLOSES] John: THE ECONOMY MAY HAVE ITS UPS AND DOWNS BUT CAR COMPANIES STOP SENDING US CARS TO TEST, SO LET'S GO FOR ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.

* Jessica Ray: NISSAN IS NO STRANGER TO THE SMALL CROSSOVER SEGMENT, JUMPING IN EARLY WITH THE JUKE, AND ADDING THE KICKS, AND ROGUE SPORT MORE RECENTLY.

WELL...FOR 2020, IT'S THAT ROGUE SPORT THAT GETS SOME TIMELY UPDATES.

STYLING TWEAKS ARE DESIGNED TO FURTHER DIFFERENTIATE THE ROGUE SPORT FROM BIG BROTHER ROGUE.

THAT MEANS A NEW HOOD, UPDATED FRONT FASCIA WITH MODERNIZED V-MOTION GRILLE, NEW LED LIGHTING, AND FRESH WHEEL CHOICES.

KNOWING THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS OFTEN PILOTED BY NEW OR LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS, NISSAN IS MAKING SAFETY A PRIORITY; THUS THEIR SAFETY SHIELD 360 TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOW STANDARD WITH ALL TRIM LEVELS.

MINIMAL CHANGES INSIDE ARE LIMITED TO JUST SOME UPDATED TRIM; WHILE UNDER-HOOD, YOU'LL FIND THE SAME 141 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 WITH CVT.

Greg Carloss: THE ROGUE SPORT IS ABOUT A FOOT SHORTER THAN THE ROGUE, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT CUTS DOWN ON INTERIOR SPACE, BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU'RE NOT SACRIFICING MUCH ELSE.

AND THE STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.

I KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO CRITICIZE THEM FOR PROMOTING BAD DRIVING HABITS, BUT THE FACT IS THINGS LIKE, BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT REALLY HELP KEEP YOU AND OTHERS SAFE.

Jessica: NOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS 2020 NISSAN FRONTIER MAY LOOK LIKE THE SAME SECOND-GEN FRONTIER THAT'S BEEN IN NISSAN SHOWROOMS SINCE GEORGE W. BUSH WAS PRESIDENT, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL UNDERNEATH THAT DATED SKIN; AN ALL-NEW ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION.

WHY GIVE THIS OLD GIRL SOME NEW PEP IN HER STEP?

WELL, IT'S SORT OF A BETA TEST TO GET THE NEW ENGINES OUT THERE BEFORE THE ALL-NEW THIRD GENERATION FRONTIER ARRIVES NEXT YEAR.

THAT ENGINE IS A 3.8 LITER V6 WITH DIRECT-INJECTION, OUTPUT IS 310 HORSEPOWER, WHICH IS 49 MORE THAN THE CURRENT 4.0 LITER, ALONG WITH 281 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

Kyle Scanlon: DECIDING THE FOCUS ON THE NEEDS AND DEMANDS OF UNITED STATES TRUCK OWNERS, NISSAN DECIDED TO DROP IN A NEW V6 THAT IS 93% NEW OR REDESIGNED PARTS AND WHAT YOU GET WITH THAT IS 49 MORE HORSEPOWER AND COUPLE THAT TO THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, IT PROVIDES GOOD POWER TO THE WHEELS, WHEN YOU WANT IT, AND WHERE YOU WANT IT.

PROVING TO BE A GOOD WORKHORSE.

Jessica: AND THE COMBO WORKS TOGETHER TO NOT ONLY PRODUCE A BETTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE, BUT BOOST 4X4 FUEL ECONOMY FROM 17 TO 19-COMBINED.

A FEW INTERIOR CHANGES, LIKE PUSH BUTTON START AND MORE STANDARD FEATURES WILL HELP TIDE NISSAN FANS OVER UNTIL THE NEW ONE ARRIVES NEXT YEAR.

AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE INFO ON THAT NEW FRONTIER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

John: WHEN YOU'RE THINKING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE LUXURY, AMG CERTAINLY COMES TO MIND.

AND THIS WEEK'S MINDFUL QUICKSPIN IS OF THE 2021 MERCEDES-AMG GLE 63 S. ADDING THE NUMBER 63 TO ITS MIDSIZE E-CLASS BASED CROSSOVER'S NAME, MEANS THERE'S A TWIN-TURBO V8 UNDER THE HOOD.

AND THE LETTER S THAT FOLLOWS, MEANS IT'S THE HIGH OUTPUT VERSION OF THAT 4.0 LITER, AT 603 HORSEPOWER.

ON TOP OF THAT, IT ALSO HAS A 48-VOLT LIGHT-HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO DELIVER AN EXTRA 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

NOW, THAT'S THE KIND OF OVERKILL WE LIKE.

Ben Davis: IF YOU'VE BEEN SHOPPING GLE THEN YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE, AND IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT THE AMG THEN YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO THE FINEST THINGS IN LIFE.

IN THAT REGARD IT IS FANTASTIC, THE POWER IS RIGHT THERE, ALL YOU SIMPLY DO IS DIAL IT UP TO SPORT OR SPORT PLUS AND YOUR THROTTLE RESPONSE CRISPS UP, YOUR EXHAUST REALLY GETS GNARLY AND MOUTHY, AND A GOOD BIT OF HEFT IS ADDED TO THE WHEEL TOO.

John: YOU'LL GET ALL OF THE USUAL ADDED AMG ELEMENTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUT, AS WELL AS AN AMG-TUNED SUSPENSION, STEERING, AND 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

HEY, AND IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT JUST STREET PERFORMANCE EITHER.

SAND AND TRAIL ARE TWO NEW DRIVE MODES ADDED TO MAKE THIS GLE EVEN MORE CAPABLE OFF-ROAD.

STANDARD AMG RIDE CONTROL AIR SUSPENSION, CAN PUMP UP RIDE HEIGHT OVER 2.0 INCHES, OR LOWER IT BY HALF AN INCH.

NO OFFICIAL WORD ON PRICING YET, BUT EXPECT THE MERCEDES-AMG GLE 63 S TO BE PRICED SOMEWHERE EQUAL TO ITS ELEVATED PERFORMANCE STATUS, WHEN IT ARRIVES IN DEALERS THIS FALL.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

* Greg: THIS VERY PLAYFUL LOOKING, 2020 FIAT 500X HAS BEEN IN OUR FLEET FOR THREE MONTHS, WITH THE ODOMETER JUST CREEPING OVER 2,200 MILES.

THAT'S MUCH LESS THAN TYPICAL, AS THE 500X WAS ON LOCKDOWN LIKE THE REST OF US FOR THE BULK OF THE SPRING.

BACK IN BUSINESS, THIS CUTE UTE HAS DELIVERED 25.7 MILES PER GALLON AND MORE THAN A FEW SMILES ALONG THE WAY.

IT'S NOT QUITE A MINI COOPER WHEN IT COMES TO FUN BEHIND THE WHEEL, BUT THE 500X CAN BE QUITE ENTERTAINING WHEN ROADS GET TWISTY.

WITH ITS COMPACT PROPORTIONS AND MODEST ENGINE SIZE, THE 500X MAKES A LOT OF SENSE IN CITY SETTINGS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T HANDLE SOME COUNTRY BACK ROADS.

THE STEERING IS QUICK AND IT CHANGES DIRECTION WELL FOR HOW HIGH IT SITS.

SO, THE FIAT FUN FACTOR IS DEFINITELY HERE.

THE SMOOTH ITALIAN STYLE MAY NOT BE FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY UNIQUE FROM THE COOKIE-CUTTER, QUASI-RUGGED LOOK OF MOST COMPACT CROSSOVERS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH OUR MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PLUG-IN HYBRID ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: BY NOW, YOU'VE LIKELY HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT CADILLAC BECOMING GM'S PRIMARY ELECTRIC VEHICLE BRAND.

WELL, WE'LL SAVE THAT FOR TOMORROW!

TODAY, CADILLAC STILL HAS TO MAINTAIN ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE AS GENERAL MOTORS PREMIER LUXURY BRAND.

AND, THAT MEANS OFFERING THEIR BASE PLENTY OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE UTILITIES.

WELL...NOW, CADDY HAS ADDED ONE MORE, THE NEW 3-ROW, XT6.

* IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING IN THE LAST DECADE, IT'S THAT A BRAND CAN'T HAVE TOO MANY UTILITY MODELS.

EVEN WHEN THE MOTHER OF ALL LUXURY SUVs, THE CADILLAC ESCALADE, IS IN YOUR STABLE, THERE'S STILL ROOM TO ESCALATE YOUR GAME WITH ONE MORE 3-ROW FAMILY HAULER.

AT LEAST CADILLAC THINKS SO, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS 2020 XT6.

CADILLAC HAS HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS IN RECENT YEARS, BUT THINGS ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING UP WITH THEIR WELL-RECEIVED CROSSOVERS.

THIS XT6, THEIR BIGGEST CROSSOVER YET, FOCUSES JUST AS MUCH ON FEATURES FOR THE FAMILY AS IT DOES ON THE USUAL CADDY PRIORITIES OF LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY.

THAT STARTS INSIDE WITH AN INVASION OF USB PORTS.

SOMETIMES, THERE JUST NEVER SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH OF THEM, NOT THE CASE HERE; YOU'LL FIND SIX, STANDARD.

WITH SEATING FOR SEVEN, THAT ONLY LEAVES ONE PASSENGER OUT, UNLESS YOU UPGRADE TO SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, THEN YOU'RE SET.

EITHER WAY, THE SECOND ROW IS QUITE ROOMY; THIRD ROW SPACE IS ALSO VERY GOOD FOR THE SEGMENT.

ALL SEATS ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE; AND THINGS ARE SUPERBLY QUIET AND TRANQUIL INSIDE.

LOTS OF TECH HERE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, INCLUDING NIGHT VISION, SURROUND VISION CAMERA, AND AUTOMATIC PARKING ASSIST.

A BIG CHANGE TO THE USER EXPERIENCE; SAYONARA TOUCHPAD CUE!

IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THAT SYSTEM WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY GLAD TO SEE A CENTRAL CONTROLLER THROWN INTO THE MIX.

PLENTY OF TRADITIONAL CONTROLS RETURN AS WELL.

WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

AT LAUNCH, YOU CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN A PREMIUM LUXURY VERSION, OR SPORT.

WE OPTED FOR SPORT, NATURALLY; AND IT COMES WITH BLACK EXTERIOR TRIM, UNIQUE V-SERIES INSPIRED GRILLE, MORE AGGRESSIVE FASCIAS FOR THE FRONT AND THE REAR, TINTED TAIL LIGHT LENSES, UNIQUE EXHAUST OUTLETS, AND STANDARD 20 INCH WHEELS, WITH 21s AVAILABLE.

GM ALSO PUT SOME SPORT IN THE SPORT, WITH ACTIVE HANDLING CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL AND QUICKER STEERING.

PLUS, SIMILAR TO THE XT5, A TWIN-CLUTCH, TORQUE VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

IT IMPROVES HANDLING BY VARYING POWER AT EACH REAR WHEEL IN CORNERS, AND ANY TIME TRACTION IS HARD TO COME BY.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, DESPITE EXPECTED BODY ROLL, THE XT6 PROVED PRETTY LIGHT ON ITS FEET, ROTATING FAIRLY QUICKLY.

THE XT6 IS BUILT ON A CHASSIS SHARED WITH BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, AND GMC ACADIA.

IT RIDES ON THE ACADIA'S SHORT WHEELBASE VERSION.

BUT IT IS ABOUT 5.0 INCHES LONGER OVERALL, AND SHOULD STILL FIT IN MOST GARAGES.

THERE'S NO 4-CYLINDER LIKE THE GMC.

THE BASE AND THE ONLY XT6 ENGINE IS A FAMILIAR 3.6 LITER V6.

ITS 310 HORSEPOWER AND 271 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FEELS ADEQUATE, BUT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE 400 STANDARD HORSES IN RIVAL LINCOLN AVIATOR.

SO, ON A TYPICALLY HOT AND HUMID MID-ATLANTIC SUMMER TEST DAY, IT WAS A LITTLE SLOW OFF THE LINE, BUILDING POWER STEADILY FOR A 7.2 SECOND 0-60.

SHIFTS FROM THE STANDARD 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE BUTTERY SMOOTH, AS WE WORKED OUR WAY DOWN THE TRACK FOR A 15.6 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S TRULY, A QUITE CIVILIZED TRIP DOWN THE STRIP.

THE SUSPENSION SOAKS UP TRACK IMPERFECTIONS WITH APLOMB, WITH VERY LITTLE NOISE FINDING ITS WAY INTO THE CABIN.

A 120 FOOT AVERAGE BRAKING DISTANCE FROM 60 IS ON PAR FOR THE SEGMENT; GOOD PEDAL-FEEL AND STABILITY THROUGHOUT.

AS FOR HAULING CARGO, SPACE BEHIND THE THIRD ROW IS TIGHT, AT 12.6 CUBIC-FEET, BUT EXPANDS EFFECTIVELY TO A GOOD 43.1 BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, AND FURTHER TO A MAX OF 78.7, WHICH IS QUITE GOOD.

SHORTER WHEELBASE KEEPS TOWING CAPACITY TO A MAX OF 4,000 POUNDS.

PREMIUM LUXURY TRIM COMES WITH FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE AS STANDARD, STARTING AT $53,690; ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WILL COST YOU ANOTHER TWO-GRAND.

SPORT TRIM INCLUDES AWD, AND STARTS AT $58,090.

ALL VERY REASONABLE FOR THIS SEGMENT.

NO DOUBT, CADILLAC HAS ESCALATED THEIR CROSSOVER PROFILE WITH THE 2020 XT6 WHERE EVERY SEAT IS THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

IT MAY NOT HAVE THE CACHE OF THE ESCALADE, OR ITS PRESENCE, BUT IT'S A MUCH BETTER FAMILY UTILITY.

AND FINALLY, ONE CADILLAC USER EXPERIENCE WE CAN GET BEHIND.

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'LL HEAD OUT IN THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT.

AND A BIG CHANGE FOR AN ECONO BOX, NISSAN'S ALL NEW VERSA.

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

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