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

JOIN US FOR A FLOTILLA OF FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE NISSAN ARMADA... PAT GOSS RESOLVES WATER ISSUES DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... GREG CARLOSS TAKES A PICTURE PERFECT TRIP OVER THE EDGE... AND WE'LL DROP THE TOP ON CHEVY'S MID ENGINE CORVETTE STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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

"I DO."

WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS.

AND, TOOLS TO HELP.

"LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

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: THE NISSAN ARMADA IS A BIG, CAPABLE SUV WITH STYLE AND FEATURES HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THEIR INFINITI LUXURY DIVISION.

BUT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF FULL-SIZE, 3-ROW, TRUCK-BASED UTILITIES, IT TENDS TO GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

SO, NISSAN HAS UPDATED THE ARMADA IN HOPES OF PUTTING MORE WIND IN ITS "SALES."

* LIKE, MOST AUTOMAKERS THESE DAYS, NISSAN DOES PLENTY OF DEALING IN CAR-BASED CROSSOVERS; BUT UNLIKE MOST, FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT, THEY STILL OFFER A BIG TRUCK/ BASED 3-ROW OPTION AS WELL.

FOR 2021, THE NISSAN ARMADA GETS UPDATED INSIDE AND OUT, ALONG WITH ADDED FEATURES TO STAND OUT AMONG ITS RUGGED REALM OF COMPETITORS.

THIS IMPORTED SECOND GEN ARMADA HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2017, AND NOW HAS MORE IN COMMON WITH INFINITI'S QX80 UTILITY, AND THE GLOBALLY AVAILABLE NISSAN PATROL, THAN IT DOES WITH THE U.S. MADE TITAN PICKUP TRUCK.

WHICH IS OF COURSE, WHERE THE ARMADA'S VOYAGE BEGAN.

BACK IN 2004, NISSAN STEPPED UP THEIR GAME, LITERALLY, WITH A FIRST EVER FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK, THE TITAN.

THE ARMADA UTILITY CAME ALONG WITH IT; KNOWN THEN AS THE PATHFINDER ARMADA.

NISSAN HOPED THAT SOME NAME RECOGNITION WOULD HELP THINGS ALONG.

FULL-FRAMED WITH BIG-V8 POWER GAVE NISSAN THE SPECS IT NEEDED TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE TAHOE AND EXPEDITION.

ITS RUGGED, INDUSTRIAL VIBE WORKED WELL FOR THE EXTERIOR; BUT NOT SO MUCH INSIDE, WHERE BIG CHUNKS OF PLASTIC MET A DESIGN THAT ALREADY APPEARED DATED.

THINGS HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THAT REGARD, AS THE INTERIOR NOW CLOSELY RESEMBLES WHAT YOU'D FIND AT INFINITI.

HIGHLIGHTED BY A NEW CENTER STACK THAT STREAMLINES CONTROLS AND REPLACES THE SMALL IN-DASH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WITH A BIG 12.3 INCH TOUCHSCREEN ON TOP.

GAUGES ARE ALSO UPDATED, GETTING A NEW 7-INCH SCREEN OF THEIR OWN.

ADD AN AVAILABLE WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING STATION AND REDESIGNED CONSOLE STORAGE, AND YOU HAVE A HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL SETUP THAT LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER.

BUT, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THE CRAMPED 3RD ROW, AND THE SMALLISH CARGO AREA WITH HIGH LOAD FLOOR, WHICH REMAIN AS REMINDERS THAT THIS IS AN OLDER DESIGN.

THREE ROWS OF SEATING WITH 8-POSITIONS STANDARD; SEVEN, IF YOU OPT FOR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS.

PLATINUM TRIM COMES WITH AN INTELLIGENT REAR VIEW MIRROR DISPLAY, POWER FOLDING 3RD ROW SEATS, AND A DUAL SCREEN - FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

IT'S A BIG CLIMB UP INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WITH STANDARD STEP RAILS THERE TO HELP.

ONCE, SEATED AND UNDER WAY, THOSE SEATS FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE, COMBINING WITH THE ULTRA-QUIET INTERIOR TO MAKE FOR A PLEASANT DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH, IS THE 5.6 LITER V8 ENGINE THAT'S BEEN REPORTING FOR DUTY UNDER THE HOOD SINCE THE ARMADA BEGAN.

UPDATES OVER THE YEARS, HAS ITS CURRENT OUTPUT AT 400 HORSEPOWER AND 413 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND IT FEELS SMOOTHER THAN EVER.

REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE REMAINS STANDARD, 4-WHEEL-DRIVE A $3,000 OPTION.

MAX TOWING STAYS AT 8,500 POUNDS; A TOW HITCH IS ALSO STANDARD, AND WITH ALL BUT BASE S TRIM SPORTING AN INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER.

WE RARELY HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT NISSAN V6s OR 8s AND THAT STAYS CONSISTENT HERE.

IT LURCHES OFF THE LINE WITH AUTHORITY, GETTING TO 60 IN 6.5 SECONDS.

POWER STAYS STEADY THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER-MILE WITH STEADFASTLY SMOOTH SHIFTS FROM THE 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

IT REMAINS RELATIVELY QUIET INSIDE THE CABIN EVEN AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE HERE AT THE TRACK, AND THE SOUNDS THAT DO SEEP IN ARE FAIRLY PLEASING.

BEST QUARTER-MILE TIME WAS 14.9 SECONDS AT 94 MILES PER HOUR.

IT DEFINITELY, FELT HEFTY THROUGH THE CONES, WITH A BIT OF A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN YOU INITIATE A TURN AND THE ARMADA ACTUALLY CARRYING OUT THAT COMMAND.

BUT, IT'S NOT AN UNSAFE FEEL AT ALL, JUST MORE OF AN OLD-SCHOOL SOFTLY SPRUNG BIG TRUCK VIBE.

WHICH MATCHES THE SHARPER, MORE BOLDLY FASHIONED EXTERIOR...?

EVERYTHING FORWARD OF THE A-PILLARS IS UPDATED, EVEN SHOWCASING A NEW STREAMLINED NISSAN LOGO ON THE GRILLE.

HEADLIGHTS FEATURE MORE THAN 50 INDIVIDUAL LEDs; NOT BE OUTDONE, EACH TAILLIGHT HAS 70.

WITH A THIRSTY V8 UNDER THE HOOD, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS COME IN AT 13-CITY, 18-HIGHWAY, AND 15-COMBINED.

EXPECT NO MORE THAN 15.5 IN DAILY USE.

THOSE RATINGS MEAN A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 22.0 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, WITH 9.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $50,095; WITH TOP PLATINUM TRIM RIGHT AT $65,000.

CONSIDERING SOME FULL-SIZE UTEs PUSH SIX-FIGURES THESE DAYS, THE ARMADA IS A LOT OF TRUCK FOR THE MONEY.

THE 2021 NISSAN ARMADA IS CLEARLY BETTER THAN EVER; BUT STILL FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE WITH THE MUCH MORE MODERN TAHOE AND EXPEDITION, ALONG WITH BIG CROSSOVERS LIKE THE HYUNDAI PALISADE AND KIA TELLURIDE MUDDYING UP THE WATERS EVEN FURTHER.

BUT, IT'S A TRULY CAPABLE, WELL PRICED, AND QUITE LUXURIOUSLY BIG SUV, MORE THAN WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION.

* IN THE OLD DAYS OF AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY BEING PRINTED IN MAGAZINES OR BOOKS WAS THE BEST WAY TO REACH THE MASSES.

BUT, IN 2021 THAT KIND OF EXPOSURE IS JUST A FEW THUMB TAPS AWAY.

WELL, OUR RESIDENT MILLENNIAL, GREG CARLOSS HAS MET UP WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO'S HAD SWIPING SUCCESS IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

* Greg Carloss: SOCIAL MEDIA AND CELL PHONES HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY WE CREATE AND CONSUME CONTENT.

CASE-IN-POINT, I'M RECORDING THIS ON MY PHONE AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU'RE WATCHING IT ON YOURS.

WELL, THIS REVOLUTION HAS MADE WAY FOR AN EXCITING NEW WAVE OF AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS.

MEET MACE PILLA.

MACE PILLA IS PART OF A GENERATION THAT GREW UP AS SOCIAL MEDIA WAS RISING TO UBIQUITY.

SO DESPITE BEING JUST 21 YEARS OLD, HE'S VERY MUCH AN EXPERT ON THE TOPIC.

AS AN AUTO-ENTHUSIAST, MACE IS CONSTANTLY CREATING CAR-RELATED CONTENT WITH HIS FRIENDS.

HE'S A VLOGGER... Mace Pilla: WELCOME BACK TO THE CHANNEL GUYS... Greg: AND A TIKTOKER..., Mace: I DRIVE A MIATA, SO I HAVE SIX OF THESE SETTINGS.

SLOW, SLOW, SLOW... Greg: BUT FOR HIM IT'S ALL ABOUT THE 'GRAM.

Mace: I THINK, INSTAGRAM HAS REALLY STARTED TO MAKE THE PHOTOGRAPHER SCENE BLOOM, AND A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HERE ARE ALSO ON INSTAGRAM AND REALLY HAVE GROWN OFF OF INSTAGRAM.

AND WE ALL MET EACH OTHER THROUGH INSTAGRAM, SO IT REALLY CREATES THIS WHOLE PHOTOGRAPHER COMMUNITY.

Greg: INSTAGRAM HAS EVEN MADE ITS MARK ON CARS THEMSELVES, LITERALLY.

THESE USERNAME DECALS ESSENTIALLY CONVERT YOUR CAR INTO A ROLLING BUSINESS CARD AND ANYONE WHO SEES IT CAN LOOK YOU UP AND CHECK OUT YOUR WHOLE BODY OF WORK, HOPEFULLY LEADING TO MORE FOLLOWERS AND MORE LIKES.

Brian Jeng: OF COURSE, THE LIKES AND THE FOLLOWS, AND THE NUMBERS ALL LOOK GOOD, BUT THE SUCCESS RATE COMES FROM PEOPLE SUPPORTING US AND SHARING OUR WORK, AND YOU KNOW...SAYING, "YO, THAT LOOKS GREAT."

Greg: EVEN THOUGH THESE GUYS AREN'T IN IT FOR JUST THE LIKES AND SHARES, THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY HAS ATTRACTED LOTS OF THEM, AND CREATED CONNECTIONS WITH CAR OWNERS WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

Mace: SO, PEOPLE WILL SHOOT ME A DM SAY, "HEY I WANT TO SHOOT, LET'S SET SOMETHING UP."

AND TYPICALLY, THEY ARE PAID, I WORK WITH SLAMMEDENUFF, WHICH IS KIND OF A TUNER STANCED BRAND AND THEN I'M ALSO WITH BAGRIDERS, I DO SHOWS FOR THEM AND ALSO MEDIA CONTENT FOR THEM AS WELL, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST WANT THOSE INSTAGRAM PICTURES.

Greg: BUT MACE DOESN'T JUST WHIP OUT HIS PHONE, SNAP SOME PICS AND ADD A PRE-GENERATED FILTER.

HE'S INVESTED GOOD MONEY IN HIS CAMERA GEAR OVER THE YEARS AND WORKED HARD TO HONE HIS CRAFT.

STILL, THE CAMERA ALONE, DOES NOT MAKE AN INSTAGRAM PHOTOGRAPHER.

Mace: A LOT OF IT'S EDITING, I MEAN...OBVIOUSLY, THE LENS MATTERS AND HOW YOUR DEPTH OF FIELD WORKS WITH THE PHOTO MATTERS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU GET IT ON THAT COMPUTER AND YOU PLAY WITH IT, AND MAKE IT LOOK THE WAY THAT YOUR EYE WANTS IT TO LOOK THAT'S WHERE THE ARTISTRY IS I THINK.

Greg: OF COURSE, A GOOD SUBJECT NEVER HURTS.

AND WITH THIS GROUP OF GEARHEADS THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO SHOOT.

RIGHT NOW I WOULD PROBABLY SAY IT'S JUST A HOBBY, BUT IT'S LEANING MORE TOWARD A POTENTIAL CAREER.

I WOULD HOPE SO AT LEAST.

IF THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD ARISE I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THAT AND IT WOULD BE AN AWESOME THING FOR ME.

Greg: EVERY SNAP OF THE SHUTTER GETS MACE ONE STEP CLOSER TO A CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER.

AND SOCIAL MEDIA JUST MAY BE THE VEHICLE THAT TAKES HIM THERE.

* Flashback John: THE LAMBORGHINI MILITARY 002 YOU SEE WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS A HIGH SPEED RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLE FOR A MIDDLE EASTERN ARMY THAT DECIDED NOT TO ADOPT IT.

IT'S THE MOST EXOTIC TRUCK IN THE WORLD.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS LOOKING TO DO SERIOUS HARM TO YOUR CAR AND WATER IS A BIG ONE.

SO, LET'S HEAD ON OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR SOME ABSORBING CAR CARE ADVICE.

* Pat Goss: WE GET LOTS OF CARS THAT COME INTO THE REPAIR SHOPS WITH WATER PROBLEMS.

NOW, THEY HAVE WATER IN SOME OF THE MOST UNUSUAL PLACES THAT YOU'VE EVER COULD IMAGINE.

BUT SOME OF THE MORE COMMON ONES, WELL THAT'S HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS.

YOU SEE, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WITH MODERN LIGHTS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, SOMEBODY WILL BUMP UP AGAINST YOUR CAR WHEN YOU'RE PARKING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEY DON'T LEAVE A MESSAGE OR ANYTHING, THEY DON'T TELL YOU, SO YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOUR LIGHT FILLS UP WITH WATER AND BECOMES AN AQUARIUM, AS WE HAVE OVER HERE.

THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

NOW THE PROBLEM FREQUENTLY IS THAT THE SEAMS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF PLASTIC GET CRACKED AND WATER LEAKS IN.

NOW, MANY TIMES YOU CAN FIX THIS YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LAMP OUT, YOU LOOK TO FIND THE CRACK, THEN CLEAR RTV SEALANT.

AND YOU SIMPLY SPREAD THAT ALONG THE CRACK, AND IT'LL SEAL IT UP.

AND IT DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT BAD AS WELL.

NOW, THERE'S MORE TO THIS THAN JUST DAMAGE TO THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES.

SEE, ON THE BACKS OF THESE THINGS, YOU'VE GOT ALL TYPES OF WIRES AND CONNECTIONS AND SO ON.

AND WATER CAN ACTUALLY MIGRATE THROUGH WIRES AND CAUSE DAMAGE SEVERAL INCHES OR SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE WATER SOURCE.

SO YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS.

ALRIGHT, NOW ANOTHER THING WE SEE ALL THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, THEY'VE GOT AN ODOR IN THE CAR, SMELLS A LITTLE MOLDY.

WELL THAT USUALLY MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A MOLD PROBLEM IN THE CAR AND A MOLD PROBLEM MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK.

NOW, MORE TYPICAL THINGS ARE GOING TO BE DOOR LEAKS.

BUT HOW DO YOU TELL WHERE?

YOU TAKE THE CARPETING OR THE MATS, THE CARPET MATS, OUT OF THE CAR, YOU TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER TOWEL AND PLACE IT IN EACH OF THE FOUR FOOTWELLS AND PUSH DOWN ON IT HARD.

THE ONE THAT COMES UP WITH WET ON THE PAPER TOWEL, THAT'S WHERE YOUR LEAK IS.

THEN, YOU OPEN THE DOOR, YOU TAKE AN OLD COAT HANGER, A WIRE COAT HANGER, CUT A PIECE OUT OF IT AS WE'VE DONE HERE, AND WITHOUT LOOKING STRAIGHT AT THE HOLE, YOU TAKE THIS AND TAKE IT UP THROUGH THE DRAIN HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.

DIRT GETS IN THERE, CLOGS THEM UP, AND THE WATER SPILLS ON OVER TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR INSTEAD OF RUNNING OUT OVER THE ROCKER PANEL LIKE IT SHOULD.

SO, MANY TIMES YOU CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS YOURSELF WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT.

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

John: OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK IS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK, NICKNAMED SHADOW.

FERRON JACKSON FROM SEBRING, FLORIDA IS ONE AVID AZTEK FAN.

COMPLETE WITH ALL THE WINDOW STICKERS AND ACCESSORIES, IT'S ALSO HIS FAVORITE RIDE WHEN GOING CAMPING.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR AHEAD-OF-ITS-TIME JEWEL FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... TIME NOW FOR A MOTORNEWS UPDATE FROM LAUREN MORRISON.

Lauren Morrison: THE FIRST 2021 FORD BRONCO JUST SOLD, AND THE NEW OWNER PONIED UP SOME BIG BUCKS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE WINNING BIDDER DISHED OUT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR VIN 001.

ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION AND OUTWARD BOUND, A CHARITY THAT FOCUSES ON OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

THE FIRST GMC HUMMER EV EDITION ONE ALSO HITTING THE AUCTION BLOCK FOR CHARITY AND SELLING FOR TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

INSTEAD OF ARRIVING TO THE TRAILHEAD WITHOUT A FULL CHARGE, JEEP IS MAKING IT EASIER TO OFF-ROAD WITH AN EV.

WORKING WITH ELECTRIFY AMERICA, JEEP IS LAUNCHING A NETWORK OF LEVEL TWO CHARGING STATIONS AT TRAILHEADS ACROSS THE US.

THE STATIONS WILL CERTAINLY COME IN HANDY FOR JEEP'S FIRST PLUG-IN, THE WRANGLER XE, PLUG-IN HYBRID, WHICH CAN BE FULLY CHARGED IN ABOUT TWO HOURS AT THE STATION.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT OTHER OFF-ROAD READY PLUG-INS LIKE THE HUMMER EVs WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHARGE UP TOO!

THE FIRST STATIONS WILL POP UP AT THE RUBICON TRAIL IN POLLOCK PINES, CALIFORNIA, MOAB, UTAH, AND BIG BEAR, CALIFORNIA WITH MORE TO FOLLOW OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

BENTLEY JUST BUILT THEIR 200,000TH LUXURY CAR AND IT ONLY TOOK THEM 101 YEARS TO DO IT.

THE LANDMARK VEHICLE IS APPROPRIATELY A BENTAYGA HYBRID, SIGNALING BENTLEY'S SHIFT TO ELECTRIFICATION AND IS DESTINED FOR A CHINESE CUSTOMER.

TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, THE AUTOMAKER CURRENTLY PRODUCES 85 CARS A DAY.

DOMINO'S PIZZA'S NEWEST DELIVERY DRIVER ISN'T A PERSON BUT A SELF-DRIVING CAR!

CUSTOMERS AT ONE STORE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS CAN OPT TO HAVE THEIR PIE DELIVERED BY A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE, THE R2, MADE BY NURO.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS; CUSTOMERS CHOOSE ROBOT DELIVERY AND RECEIVE TEXT UPDATES WITH THE CAR'S LOCATION, AND A CODE TO USE TO RETRIEVE THE ORDER.

ONCE, THE CAR ARRIVES, THE CUSTOMER ENTERS THE CODE ON A TOUCHSCREEN AND THE CAR DOOR OPENS UP TO SERVE THE FOOD.

PIPING HOT PIZZA, SELF-DRIVING STYLE!

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

* Greg: ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END, AND WHILE THIS 2020 HYUNDAI PALISADE HASN'T MET SOME KIND OF UNTIMELY DEMISE, IT HAS ENDED ITS TIME WITH US.

TOTAL MILEAGE ACCUMULATED WAS 22,144 MILES COVERING MUCH OF THE EAST COAST DURING ITS 15 MONTH STAY WITH US.

THE 291 HORSEPOWER 3.8 LITER V6 AND 8-SPEED TRANSMISSION COMBO AVERAGED 22.0 MILES PER GALLON; WORKING FLAWLESSLY THE WHOLE TIME.

IN FACT, THE MORE MILES WE TACKED ON, THE SMOOTHER THINGS SEEMED TO RUN.

John: AFTER LIVING WITH THE HYUNDAI PALISADE FOR OVER 15 MONTHS, WE'VE VALIDATED OUR ORIGINAL ROAD-TEST CONCLUSION ABOUT IT DELIVERING AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF LUXURY, PRACTICALITY, AND COMFORT IN A HIGHLY DESIRABLE PACKAGE THAT REMAINS QUITE AFFORDABLE.

IT IS A HANDS DOWN DELIGHTFUL LONG-DISTANCE CRUISER.

YET, AROUND TOWN, TIGHT SPOT AGILITY IS ALSO A PALISADE STRONG POINT.

YES, SOME OF THE ELECTRONIC AIDS LIKE LANE FOLLOWING ASSIST DO TUG AT THE WHEEL FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT WE GOT USED TO IT.

SO MUCH SO, IT'S MIGHTY HARD TO SAY SO-LONG TO OUR HYUNDAI PALISADE.

Greg: WE'VE ONLY HAD TWO MONTHS OF TRAVEL TIME IN THIS 2021 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT, BUT HAVE COVERED 1,200 MILES SO FAR.

EVEN WITH THE TWO-TONE THEME, THE INTERIOR IS NOT THE MOST INVITING, BUT IT SURE IS COMFORTABLE AND SPACIOUS FEELING, EVEN IN THE BACK SEAT OF THIS 2-ROW 5-PASSENGER UTILITY.

HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL AS WELL; REAR SEATBACKS FOLD FULLY FLAT, TURNING IT INTO A BIG, EASY TO LOAD CARGO HAULER, AND THE MIB3 INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS BOTH INTUITIVE TO OPERATE AND QUICK TO RESPOND.

WE HAVE STARTED TO HEAR A FEW GRUMBLINGS OF WANTING MORE POWER, BUT MOST OF THE STAFF HAVE FOUND THE 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO'S 235 HORSEPOWER ADEQUATE, AND APPRECIATE THE 21.8 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE.

ONLY SOME MINOR LATE WINTER SNOW FOR THE CROSS SPORT TO DEAL WITH; AND 4MOTION HANDLED IT SEAMLESSLY.

IT'S THE KIND OF VEHICLE YOU CAN DRIVE AND NEVER EVEN KNOW IF IT HAS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OR NOT; AS YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL IT WORKING, IT JUST PROVIDES THE GRIP YOU NEED WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED IT.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR ACURA TLX A-SPEC SEDAN... ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: FOR MANY FOLKS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE, IT'S JUST GOT TO BE A CONVERTIBLE.

WELL, THOSE FANS HAVE HAD TO WAIT A WHILE AS CHEVROLET STRUGGLED TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND FOR THE REBORN STINGRAY, WHILE ALSO HANDLING THE PANDEMIC, SHUTDOWNS, AND PART SHORTAGES.

WELL, IT'S FINALLY HERE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S A HARDTOP!

* FOR MOST OF US AT MOTORWEEK , AS SOON AS WE FINALLY GOT SEAT TIME IN THE REBORN MID-ENGINE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY, WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS CAR, THE 2021 CORVETTE STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE.

WELL, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, IT FINALLY ARRIVED TO US AT THE SAME TIME AS A FEBRUARY SNOW STORM.

BUT WE DIDN'T LET THAT STOP US FROM ENJOYING IT.

AS IS USUALLY THE CASE FOR CORVETTE, IT WAS ENGINEERED TO BE A CONVERTIBLE RIGHT FROM THE GET GO.

BUT, WHAT IS NEW, IS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE FEATURES A FULL HARDTOP.

IT CAN BE RAISED OR LOWERED WHILE IN MOTION, WITH A BUTTON LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, SO IT'S EASY TO FIND WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES.

THE 2-PIECE TOP FOLDS BEHIND THE DRIVER, BASICALLY ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, UNDERNEATH A LARGE TONNEAU COVER.

TO BETTER MANAGE AIRFLOW, THE REAR SPOILER THAT COMES WITH THE COUPE'S Z51 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE IS STANDARD ON THE CONVERTIBLE.

SINCE, THE STINGRAY COUPE'S ROOF PANEL IS ALSO REMOVABLE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY GAINING A WHOLE LOT HERE AS FAR AS THE OPEN AIR EXPERIENCE, BUT THE JET-INSPIRED TWIN-HUMP LOOK IS CERTAINLY UNIQUE.

AND THERE ARE SIX ELECTRIC MOTORS THAT STORE THE TOP FOR YOU; THAT'S CERTAINLY ANOTHER PLUS.

THE ROOF IS THE SAME COLOR AS THE REST OF THE BODY PANELS TOO, UNLESS YOU OPT FOR CARBON FLASH METALLIC PAINT, WHICH THEN IS APPLIED TO THE TWIN NACELLES AS WELL.

AND THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT IS A GOOD THING, AS CHEVROLET MANAGED TO KEEP STORAGE SPACE EXACTLY THE SAME; 12.6 CUBIC-FEET, ENOUGH FOR THE NECESSARY TWO SETS OF GOLF CLUBS.

THAT NUMBER INCLUDES THE SMALL AMOUNT OF FRONT STORAGE SPACE UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL.

IN OUR STINGRAY COUPE TEST, WE PROBABLY DIDN'T DO THE INTERIOR JUSTICE AS THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER TOPICS TO COVER, SOMETHING WE'LL RECTIFY HERE WITH THIS CONVERTIBLE.

FROM THE TALL CENTER CONSOLE WITH SLIM RISING CONTROL PANEL, TO THE SQUARED-OFF STEERING WHEEL; THERE'S NOT MUCH HERE THAT'S FAMILIAR WITH CORVETTES PAST, YET, SOMEHOW IT MANAGES TO STILL LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A CORVETTE.

MATERIALS THROUGHOUT HAVE GOTTEN A SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE, ULTRA-THIN AIR VENTS HELP TO MINIMIZE THE ACTUAL DASH, AND SET IT MUCH LOWER THAN BEFORE, AND EVERYTHING IS BUILT AROUND THE DRIVER.

THERE ARE THREE SEATING OPTIONS, PRIORITIZING COMFORT, TRACK WORK, OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN.

THE 8.0 INCH INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN MAY BE SMALL BY NUMBER, BUT IT SEEMS JUST THE RIGHT SIZE HERE, AND IS VERY INTUITIVE TO OPERATE.

NAVIGATION IS STANDARD WITH ALL BUT THE BASE 1LT, AND UPGRADES FOR '21 INCLUDE WIRELESS INTEGRATION FOR APPLE CARPLAY.

THE 12-INCH GAUGE DISPLAY IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, AND FEATURES UNIQUE READOUTS FOR EACH OF THE STINGRAY'S SIX DRIVER MODES.

A Z BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALLOWS YOU TO INSTANTLY RECALL EITHER OF TWO CUSTOMIZABLE DRIVE MODES.

NO SHIFTER IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, JUST A BUTTON ARRAY ON THE CONSOLE, OR AN ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR AS CHEVY CALLS IT, FOR CONTROLLING THE DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC WITH 8-SPEEDS.

LARGE PADDLES BEHIND THE WHEEL ARE READY TO ENGAGE MANUAL MODE WHENEVER YOU WANT.

MOUNTED MID-SHIP IS THE SAME LT2 6.2 LITER V8-- WITH PERFORMANCE EXHAUST, OUTPUT IS 495 HORSEPOWER AND 470 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, BOTH NUMBERS 5 LESS WITHOUT IT.

A SNOW COVERED TRACK MEANT NO 0-60 RUNS, BUT CONSIDERING THE CONVERTIBLE IS ONLY 100 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN THE COUPE, SUB-3s SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

SEAT TIME HERE IN THE CONVERTIBLE RECONFIRMS WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC CAR THIS NEW STINGRAY IS TO DRIVE.

THE BALANCE IS PERFECTION, BOTH ENGINE AND EXHAUST SOUNDS ARE GLORIOUS, AND THE AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK THE CAR PROVIDES MAKES FOR AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE NO MATTER THE SPEED.

$7,500 IS THE PRICE PREMIUM FOR THE CONVERTIBLE OVER THE COUPE, WITH THE SAME SPREAD OF 1, 2, AND 3 LT TRIMS.

NOT STRAYING TOO FAR FROM THE BASE 1LT'S $67,495 STARTING POINT, WILL ENSURE YOU GET ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMANCE BARGAINS MONEY CAN BUY.

IT SEEMED AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK, BUT THE MID-ENGINE CORVETTE FULLY LIVED UP TO ALL OF THE HYPE THAT SURROUNDED IT.

THE 2021 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE JUST ADDS TO THE LEGEND.

AND AS WE FOUND OUT FIRST HAND, EVEN IF THE WEATHER IS AGAINST YOU, IT MAKES YOUR DRIVE SUNNY AND BRIGHT.

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, AS KIA'S MID SIZE SORENTO UTILITY GETS A RUGGED REBOOT.

THEN, WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE PORSCHE 911 TURBO IS A SWEET RIDE.

TIL' 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... MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

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

"LIKE, OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

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.

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] * YOUR WATCHING PBS.