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

JOIN US AS WE AIR OUT THE NEW PORSCHE 911 TARGA 4... PAT GOSS HAS A CELEBRATION OIL CHANGE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... GREG CARLOSS GOES OVER THE EDGE ON OUR KIND OF SHOPPING TRIP... AND BUICK ADDS TO ITS CROSSOVER BOUNTY WITH THE NEW ENCORE GX...

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... 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: WITH ALL OF THE PORSCHE 911 VARIATIONS, THERE IS ONE THAT IS TRULY UNIQUE...THE TARGA 4.

IT'S NOT A CONVERTIBLE, AND ITS NOT A HARDTOP.

SO, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS?

OR, JUST A SO-SO COMPROMISE?

WELL, LET'S FIND OUT.

* USUALLY, WHEN YOU SEE A PORSCHE 911, YOU HAVE TO DO A DOUBLE TAKE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHICH ONE IT IS.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH THE 2021 PORSCHE 911 TARGA 4.

ITS GLASS BUBBLE HATCH-LIKE REAR AND SILVER TARGA BAR MAKE IT VERY APPARENT EVEN FROM A DISTANCE.

THE CUSTOMARY BENEFIT OF A TARGA ROOF IS OF COURSE, DELIVERING THE OPEN AIR EXPERIENCE, BUT WITH MORE BODY SOLIDITY THAN A TRADITIONAL CONVERTIBLE; AND OF COURSE, ROLLOVER PROTECTION, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AS THE WORLD'S FIRST "SAFETY CABRIOLET" BACK IN 1965.

BUT WE'RE NOT SURE THAT REALLY APPLIES ANYMORE, AS ALL 911s, WHETHER THE TOP IS HARD OR SOFT, ARE PLENTY SOLID THESE DAYS AND HAVE ROLLOVER PROTECTION.

SO TO US, IT SEEMS MORE OF A STYLING EXERCISE AT THIS POINT; THOUGH SURELY TRACK DAY PORSCHEPHILES WILL ARGUE THAT THERE IS INDEED A DIFFERENCE.

WE FIRST TESTED A 911 TARGA IN 1996.

AND IF YOU RECALL, THE MID-90s WERE A TOUGH TIME FOR PORSCHE; BEFORE THEY STARTED RAKING IN THE BUCKS SELLING SEDANS AND SUVs.

IN FACT, THEY WERE DOWN TO JUST ONE MODEL, THE 911, AND THE TARGA VERSION WASN'T NEARLY AS DISTINCTIVE LOOKING AS IT IS NOW, MORE OF JUST A "SUPER-SUNROOF," BUT WE SURE DUG THE "VERY SEXY GERMAN ENGINEERING."

THINGS TURNED BACK TO MORE TRADITIONAL FOR THE LAST GENERATION, WITH THE RETURN OF THE TARGA BAR, AND TOP STORAGE UNDER THE POWER OPERATED DECK LID WITH WRAPAROUND BUBBLE WINDOW.

A DESIGN THAT HAS BEEN PRAISED BY MOST, DECRIED BY OTHERS.

THIS GEN TAKES IT FURTHER, AS THE TARGA BAR IS SILVER IN STANDARD FITMENT, BUT CAN BE OPTIONED TO BLACK IF DESIRED.

THE FABRIC ROOF FEATURES A MAGNESIUM STRUCTURE, HELPING TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE WEIGHT GAIN OF THE GLASS-INTENSIVE LID AND THE ELEMENTS THAT PUT IT IN MOTION.

BEING SORT OF AN ALL-WEATHER CONVERTIBLE, IT MAKES SENSE THAT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS PART OF THE TARGA PACKAGE, THUS THE "4" NOW ADDED TO THE NAME; YOUR CHOICES ARE JUST BASE OR S TRIM.

THE SAME 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO-6 ENGINE POWERS BOTH; 379 HORSEPOWER AND 331 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE HERE IN STANDARD TRIM.

THE S WINDS THE TURBO'S UP A BIT MORE FOR 443 HORSEPOWER; ALL NUMBERS THE SAME AS THE CARRERA COUPE.

PORSCHE'S LATEST 8-SPEED PDK IS STANDARD WITH BOTH; A 7-SPEED MANUAL IS A NO COST OPTION, BUT ONLY IN THE S. DESPITE NOT BEING THE MOST POWERFUL 911 BY A LONGSHOT, THE TARGA 4 LAUNCHES HARD AND FEELS QUITE EXHILARATING GETTING UP TO SPEED.

WE HIT 60 IN 4.0 SECONDS FLAT.

FROM THERE, IT'S ALL TYPICAL PORSCHE PRECISION AND EFFICIENCY; PDK FIRING OFF RAPID SHIFTS, ENGINE DELIVERING STEADY POWER.

RESULTING IN CONSISTENT 12.3 SECOND QUARTER-MILES AT 118 M-P-H. A SIMPLE SLALOM COURSE IS JUST CHILD'S PLAY FOR THIS CAR.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE GRIP, AND A NEUTRAL CHASSIS SETUP ALLOWS YOU TO FIND UNDERSTEER IF YOU'RE A HARD CHARGER, OR OVERSTEER WITH AN APPROPRIATE THROTTLE LIFT.

REGARDLESS, AS WITH MOST PORSCHES, IT SEEMS TO HANDLE BETTER THE HARDER YOU PUSH IT.

THE TORQUE VECTORING REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND ENHANCED CARRERA 4 ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, ARE JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE ELECTRO/MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN; THERE'S ALSO ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT AND TRACTION MANAGEMENT WORKING SEAMLESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES.

AS WITH JUST ABOUT ALL 911s THESE DAYS, WHEELS ARE NOW STAGGERED; 19 INCH FRONT WITH 235/40 TIRES AND 20 INCH REARS WITH 295/35s.

LARGER OPTIONS ARE OF COURSE AVAILABLE.

OUT ON THE STREET, STEERING IS QUICK AND THE SUSPENSION ABSORBS BUMPS WITH APLOMB REGARDLESS OF DRIVE MODE; BUT IN ITS STIFFEST SETTING, YOU GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT SETS THE INTERIOR APART FROM THE REST OF THE 911 CARRERA LINEUP; SAME VINTAGE-INSPIRED STRAIGHT DASH, CENTRAL TACH SURROUNDED BY VIRTUAL GAUGES AND COMPREHENSIVE INFO IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER, AND 10.9 INCH PORSCHE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT TOUCHSCREEN SET IN THE CENTRAL DASH WITH TOGGLE SWITCHES JUST BELOW.

THE RISING CENTER CONSOLE FEATURES A FEW MORE TOGGLES AND OF COURSE, THE SHIFTER.

PRICING STARTS AT $120,650; THAT'S ABOUT 4.5 MIATAS, IF YOU'RE KEEPING TRACK.

THE HIGHER SPEC TARGA 4S GOES FOR $136,550.

COUPE, CABRIOLET, OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN, IN ALL OF ITS FORMS, THE PORSCHE 911 CONTINUES TO OFFER SOME OF THE MOST SUPREME DRIVER ENGAGEMENT IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, RIGHT NOW; YET, HAS THE LUXURY AMENITIES AND AN EASY TO DRIVE NATURE THAT MAKES IT MORE APPEALING TO MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER.

THE ONLY THING STOPPING MOST, IS OF COURSE, THE PRICE OF ENTRY.

BUT, IF YOU'VE GOT THE WHEREWITHAL TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW 911, WHY NOT CHOOSE A UNIQUE AND SPECTACULAR LOOKING ONE, THE 2021 PORSCHE 911 TARGA 4.

* ONLINE SHOPPING HAS COMPLETELY RESHAPED THE CAR BUYING BUSINESS.

BUT WHILE, THE BRICK AND MORTAR MODEL HAS LOST ITS ATTRACTION FOR MANY, DEALERS STILL HAVE A NEED FOR INDOOR SHOWROOMS.

AND OUR GREG CARLOSS HAS FOUND ONE WITH A FRESH TAKE ON A FADING FORMULA.

* Greg Carloss: FOR DECADES, INDOOR SHOPPING MALLS WERE THE HOT SPOT IN TOWN ALL ACROSS AMERICA, NOW MANY ARE CLOSING AND LEAVING BEHIND ACRES OF UNUSED, WELL LIT, AIR-CONDITIONED SPACE, NOW SOME MAY LOOK AROUND AND SEE THIS AS RUINS OF RETAIL PAST, OTHERS SEE AN EPIC AUTOMOTIVE SHOWROOM.

NESTLED IN A VALLEY JUST OFF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA SITS A ONE-OF-A-KIND CAR CORRAL CALLED "CLASSIC AUTO MALL."

Stewart Howden: WELL, CLASSIC AUTO MALL IS REALLY TWO DIFFERENT PLACES: IT'S PART MUSEUM AND PART SHOWROOM.

WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF ABOUT 400 BARN FINDS ON DISPLAY, NOT FOR SALE... AND THEN, WE HAVE ABOUT 600 CARS THAT ARE FOR SALE ON CONSIGNMENT.

THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE MY PARTNER NEEDED A PLACE TO PUT HIS 400 CARS, IT WAS AN OLD OUTLET MALL AND THEN HE DECIDED, WELL, IF I'M GONNA PUT MY CARS IN THERE AND I'VE GOT ALL THIS EXTRA SPACE, WHY DON'T WE MAKE A BUSINESS OUT OF IT?

Greg: THE FORMER OUTLET MALL CAN HOUSE OVER 1,000 VEHICLES.

AND EVEN WITH 336,000 SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR SPACE, MANEUVERING THE MERCHANDISE CAN BE TOUGH.

THAT'S WHERE THE STRINGO COMES IN.

THE STRINGO GRACEFULLY GUIDES CARS IN AND OUT OF THE TIGHTEST SPACES WITHOUT EVER STARTING AN ENGINE, KEEPING THE INDOOR ATMOSPHERE NICE AND CLEAN.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR VISIT CAME DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT DURING A NORMAL WEEK, CLASSIC AUTO MALL SEES BETWEEN TWO AND THREE HUNDRED DAILY VISITORS.

THE BEST PART OF ALL, THERE'S NO ADMISSION FEE.

ANYONE CAN COME TO SHOP, BUY, CONSIGN OR JUST LOOK AROUND.

Stewart: MOST OF OUR CARS COME WITHIN ABOUT A 300 MILE RADIUS.

THIS IS CAR COUNTRY AROUND HERE LIKE, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.

BUT WE'VE TAKEN CONSIGNMENTS FROM CALIFORNIA, FROM TEXAS, FROM FLORIDA, AND THEN ON THE SALES SIDE WE SELL THEM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Greg: CONSIGNING A CAR WITH CLASSIC AUTO MALL IS SIMPLE.

THERE ARE NO UP FRONT OR MONTHLY FEES.

JUST SIGN AN AGREEMENT FOR AN INITIAL 90 DAY STAY AND 10% SALES COMMISSION.

THEN, LEAVE IT AT THE MALL FOR STEWART'S TEAM TO PUT ON DISPLAY.

Stewart: SOMEBODY ASKED ME ONE TIME...THEY SAID, "WELL, HOW DO YOU DECIDE IF IT'S A CLASSIC OR A SPECIAL INTEREST CAR FOR YOU TO SELL IT?

YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU TAKE A 2019 TOYOTA CAMRY?"

NO, UNLESS IT WAS OWNED BY YOU KNOW, A RACING LEGEND AND IT HAD A HOPPED UP ENGINE OR IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR SPECIAL, IT HAD ONE MILE ON IT FROM ORIGINAL.

Greg: WHEN A CAR GETS HERE TO CLASSIC AUTO MALL, THEY BRING IT INTO THE GARAGE FIRST, CHECK OUT VIN NUMBERS, PARTS, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

THEN, IT COMES IN HERE, WHERE THEY TAKE PICTURES OF EVERY SINGLE ANGLE OF THE CAR, SO THAT THE BUYER KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AND MAKING THIS THE FIRST EVER SHOPPING MALL PHOTO BOOTH I'VE EVER BEEN IN.

Stewart: WE DO OUR BEST TO SHOW EVERYTHING ABOUT A CAR, GOOD, BAD, OR UGLY.

SO, IF THERE'S RUST UNDERNEATH, WE SHOW IT, THE BEST COMPLIMENT WE GET WHEN WE SELL A CAR IS THE CAR WAS A LITTLE BIT NICER THAN YOU DESCRIBED.

Greg: MOTORWEEK HAS TESTED A LOT OF CARS OVER OUR 40 YEARS, BUT CLASSIC AUTO MALL'S INVENTORY GIVES OUR RETRO REVIEW ARCHIVE, A RUN FOR ITS MONEY.

NATURALLY, THERE'S THE USUAL MUSTANGS AND CAMAROS, BUT THEN YOU STUMBLE UPON A 1904 CADILLAC IN ONE DISPLAY, A REPLICA 1936 MAHARAJA DUESENBERG IN ANOTHER, THERE'S EVEN A RICHARD PETTY NASCAR FOR SALE.

Stewart: WHAT I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO CLASSIC AUTO MALL IS...

IF YOU'RE NOT INTO CARS IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BECAUSE YOUR GRANDPA HAD ONE OF THOSE, AND YOUR DAD HAD ONE OF THOSE, AND YOUR FIRST DATE WAS IN ONE OF THOSE.

AND THE MEMORIES THAT COME WITH THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE IS RIGHT HERE.

Greg: SO, IF YOU HAVE SOME MONEY TO BURN OR JUST WANT TO DO SOME WINDOW SHOPPING, THIS IS A MALL WORTH WALKING.

THIS GORGEOUS 1964 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

DENNIS AND LINDA SMITH OF SHIPPENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA ARE THE PROUD OWNERS OF THIS FOUR-DOOR HARDTOP CLASSIC FROM DETROIT'S HEYDAY.

THE LAST YEAR FOR REAL FINS ON A CADILLAC, THE SMITH'S FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FLEETWOOD BECAUSE IT HAD THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN ELEGANCE AND SPACE AGE.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR COLLECTIBLE RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO MOTORWEEK@PBS.ORG.

IF WE'VE LEARNED ONE THING OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS, IT'S THAT PAT GOSS NEVER STEERS US WRONG DOWN AT GOSS'S GARAGE.

* Flashback Goss: THE ONE SINGLE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF YOUR AUTOMOBILE'S ENGINE... Pat Goss: WOW!

THAT WAS 40 YEARS AGO.

AND YOU KNOW THE SAME THING APPLIES THESE DAYS?

WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING OIL ON A CAR, IT IS STILL, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR ENGINE LAST A VERY LONG TIME.

PROPER OIL CHANGES CAN DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF YOUR ENGINE.

BUT, YOU HAVE TO KNOW A FEW THINGS TO DO IT RIGHT.

NOW, THE BIG THING WITH OILS THESE DAYS IS TO GET THE PROPER ONE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CAR.

THAT MEANS OPENING THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND READING WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS.

CAUSE IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU, THE QUALITY OF THE OIL THAT BELONGS IN YOUR CAR, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE RATED ON THE CONTAINER.

SO, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR THE SAME QUALIFICATION NUMBERS SOME PLACE ON THE CONTAINER THAT YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS, YOU NEED TO USE.

AND IT'S GOING TO TELL YOU THE VISCOSITY OR THICKNESS OF THE OIL THAT GOES IN YOUR CAR.

AND IN MODERN CARS THOSE THICKNESSES... WELL, THEY CAN BE RELATIVELY LIGHT WEIGHT.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

DON'T LET SOME OLD TIMER TELL YOU THAT, "OH.. WELL, THAT'S TOO THIN, YOU GOTTA HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THIS THICK STUFF IN THERE," BECAUSE THAT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE DAMAGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, SHORTER ENGINE LIFE AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

BELIEVE WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO DESIGNED YOUR CAR ARE TELLING YOU IN YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL.

SO, YOU BUY THE PROPER TYPE OF OIL, YOU CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY, WHICH MAY IN SOME CASES BE SOONER THAN THAT IDIOT LIGHT THAT TELLS YOU WHEN TO CHANGE YOUR OIL COMES ON.

NEVER LONGER THAN THAT LIGHT TELLS YOU.

BY DOING THAT...WELL, YOU WILL GET A LOT LONGER LIFE OUT OF YOUR ENGINE, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD PERFORMANCE, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE FEWER CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS.

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

John: TIME NOW TO CHECK IN WITH LAUREN MORRISON AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

* Lauren Morrison: ELECTRIC VEHICLES CONTINUE TO PACK AUTOMAKERS NEW LINEUPS, AND STATIONS TO CHARGE THOSE NEW EVs AT ARE STEADILY GROWING TOO.

A NEW REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY SHOWS THAT DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2020, INDIVIDUAL OUTLETS AT CHARGING STATIONS GREW BY 7.6 PERCENT.

WHILE, REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOWED GROWTH, IT WAS THE NORTHEAST THAT REALLY STOOD OUT, WITH AN INCREASE OF OVER 10 PERCENT, THE FASTEST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND ITS VERMONT THAT HAS THE MOST CHARGING STATIONS PER CAPITA!

THE REPORT USED DATA GATHERED FROM THE ALTERNATIVE FUELING STATION LOCATOR, THE MOST WIDELY USED TOOL ON THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ALTERNATIVE FUELS DATA CENTER, TO COMPILE THE DETAILED STATISTICS.

THE SOON-TO-BE-LAUNCHED ALL-ELECTRIC FORD MUSTANG MACH-E IS ALREADY RAKING IN AWARDS.

THE NEWEST MUSTANG IN THE STABLE JUST SNAGGED THE TOP SPOT AS GREEN CAR JOURNAL'S' "2021 GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR."

WITH A MORE PREMIUM PRICE POINT, THE POLESTAR 2 EV WAS NAMED THE LUXURY GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR...FOR CITY DWELLERS, THE ALL-ELECTRIC MINI-COOPER SE NAMED THE URBAN GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR.

TAKING TOP HONORS FOR FAMILY GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR, THE ALL-HYBRID TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN.

GREEN SUV OF THE YEAR, THE PLUG-IN HYBRID JEEP WRANGLER 4XE, AND ROUNDING OUT THE WINNERS, THE FORD F-150 AS THE GREEN TRUCK OF THE YEAR.

BENTLEY MAKING A BOLD MOVE AND GOING ALL-ELECTRIC WITHIN A DECADE.

THE LUXURY AUTOMAKER WILL GO FROM BEING THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF 12-CYLINDER ENGINES, TO HAVING NO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES IN THEIR LINEUP BY 2030.

THE AUTOMAKER WILL START THIS TRANSITION BY SWITCHING ITS MODEL RANGE TO PLUG-IN HYBRID OR BATTERY ELECTRIC BY 2026, AND FULL ELECTRIC VEHICLES ONLY BY 2030.

BISON WON'T BE THE ONLY THING ROAMING AROUND YELLOWSTONE, AUTONOMOUS SHUTTLES WILL SOON HIT THE NATIONAL PARK'S ROADWAYS.

FLORIDA COMPANY "BEEP" WILL DEPLOY THE FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC AUTONOMOUS SHUTTLES AT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IN MAY 2021.

THE COMPANY SAYS, THE SHUTTLES WILL HAVE "AMBASSADORS" ON-BOARD TO LET VISITORS KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO DO IN YELLOWSTONE, AND ALSO TAKE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE SHUTTLE...IF NEED BE.

THE HOPE IS, THIS TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION WILL HELP CUT DOWN ON CONGESTION PROBLEMS IN THE PARK.

AND THAT WRAPS THINGS UP FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: SITTING STILL IS SOMETHING WE'RE NOT VERY GOOD AT HERE AT MOTORWEEK, SO JOIN US NOW FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF QUICKSPINS.

* Jessica Ray: EVER SINCE, THE RANGER NAME RETURNED TO THE FORD LINEUP FOR 2019, ENTHUSIASTS HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR A RAPTOR VERSION OF FORD'S MIDSIZE PICKUP.

WELL, FORD HAS FINALLY DELIVERED...SORT OF, WITH THE 2021 FORD RANGER TREMOR OFF-ROAD PACKAGE.

IT STARTS WITH A MINOR SUSPENSION LIFT, INCLUDING REMOTE RESERVOIR FOX 2.0 MONOTUBE DAMPERS AS WELL AS NEW SPRINGS FRONT AND REAR.

THAT ALLOWS FOR 32 INCH CONTINENTAL GENERAL GRABBER ALL-TERRAIN TIRES TO BE MOUNTED 1.0 INCH WIDER ON UNIQUE 17 INCH WHEELS.

Greg: IT MAY NOT BE THE RANGER RAPTOR, WE'VE BEEN DROOLING OVER, BUT THE TREMOR PACKAGE SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR A HALF-BAKED ATTEMPT.

IT HAS A LIFTED SUSPENSION.

IT HAS REMOTE RESERVOIR DAMPERS.

AND IT HAS A REAR LOCKING DIFF.

SO, SUFFICE IT TO SAY, IT SHOULD FEEL RIGHT AT HOME IN TOUGH OFF ROAD CONDITIONS.

Jessica: UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL POWER UNDER THE HOOD, JUST THE STANDARD RANGER'S 270 HORSEPOWER 2.3 LITER ECOBOOST I4 TURBO; BUT ENHANCEMENTS TO THE EXTERIOR INCLUDE HOOP-STYLE SIDE STEPS, RECOVERY HOOKS UNDER THE REAR BUMPER, A UNIQUE GRILLE, UNDERBODY SKID PLATES, AND OPTIONAL BODY GRAPHICS.

INSIDE, THERE'S A 6-SWITCH AUXILIARY POWER PACK FOR CONTROLLING ANY ACCESSORIES YOU PLAN ON ADDING, UPGRADED SEATS WITH SUEDE INSERTS, AND BLACK TRIM.

Rachel Ederer: THE TREMOR PACKAGE ADDS SOME GREAT NEW STYLING TO THE RANGER.

THE GRILLE IS MAGNETIC PAINTED WITH BLACK BARS ACROSS THE MIDDLE WITH RED NOSTRIL ACCENTS IN THE CORNERS.

THE OPTIONAL BODY GRAPHICS INCLUDE RED AND BLACK BARS THAT ANGLE RIGHT ABOVE THE MUD LINE, SO EVEN ON YOUR CRAZIEST AND MUDDIEST ADVENTURES, YOU WILL BE SURE TO STAND OUT.

Jessica: WHILE, NOT OVER THE TOP BY ANY MEANS, IT STILL MAKES FOR THE MOST CAPABLE DOWNSIZED OFF-ROAD PICKUP FROM FORD YET.

ALL OF THIS WITHOUT SACRIFICING ANY IMPORTANT TRUCK STUFF, LIKE THE RANGER'S 7,500 POUNDS TOWING CAPACITY.

AVAILABLE EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE TREMOR OFF-ROAD PACKAGE CAN BE ADDED TO ANY XLT OR LARIAT SUPERCREW RANGER 4X4 FOR $4,290.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE COMING SOON ON MOTORWEEK !

* Greg: IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE TAKE A PAUSE TO SIT BACK AND REFLECT ON ALL THE THINGS WE'RE THANKFUL FOR.

WELL, 2020 HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT THIS LITTLE FIAT 500X HAS BEEN A STEADY COMPANION THROUGH IT ALL, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR IT.

NINE-MONTHS INTO OUR JOURNEY, THIS PEPPY PINT-SIZE UTILITY HAS HAULED OUR CREWS AROUND TO SHOOTS, TAKEN US NEARLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND PROVIDED RELIABLE COMMUTING WITH 27.1 MILES PER GALLON FRUGALITY.

IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL A LITTLE INVIGORATED WHEN DRIVING THIS 500X.

IT'S PACKED WITH PERSONALITY AS FIATS TENDS TO BE, AND WHILE ITS EXPRESSIVE STYLE AND SHARP CHASSIS CAN BE LOVE IT OR HATE IT ATTRIBUTES, WE ALL AGREE THAT IT IS NOT BORING.

THE 500X'S SMALL SIZE AND QUICK STEERING MAKE IT A BREEZE TO MANEUVER AROUND TOWN; WHILE EURO-STYLE FIRM BUT COMFORTABLE SEATS AND TUNING MAKE THE RIDE TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE AN ENJOYABLE ONE.

IT'S AN UPDATE ON OUR FULL-SIZE HYUNDAI PALISADE, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: AS RECENTLY AS THE 2002 MODEL YEAR, BUICK DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE SUV IN THEIR LINEUP.

NOW, UTILITIES MAKE UP 90% OF THEIR SALES.

SO, ADDING ANOTHER ONE INTO THE MIX SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR A "RENDEZVOUS" WITH AN ALL-NEW ENCORE GX!

* BUICK, LIKE MANY CROSSOVER PROVIDERS THESE DAYS, HAS FOUND SPACE FOR ONE MORE UTILITY IN THEIR LINEUP; THIS 2020 ENCORE GX, SLOTTING BETWEEN THE SUBCOMPACT ENCORE AND COMPACT ENVISION.

BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO ENGINE CHOICES, YOUR OPTIONS ARE SMALL AND SMALLER.

BASE ENGINE IS A 137 HORSEPOWER 1.2 LITER I3 TURBO; WITH THE UPGRADE BEING A 1.3 LITER I3 TURBO WITH 155 HORSEPOWER AND 174 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WITH APOLOGIES TO PONTIAC FANS, THAT'S A WHOLE NEW KIND OF TRI-POWER.

STICK WITH FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE AND YOU'LL GET A CVT; OPTING FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WILL REPLACE IT WITH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT YOU CAN ONLY DO SO WITH THE 1.3 LITER.

OUR TESTER, THE 1.3 LITER FRONT-DRIVE CVT COMBO.

AND WHILE IT FEELS QUITE PEPPY ON THE STREET, AND THERE'S ENOUGH TORQUE TO GET A LITTLE WHEEL SPIN AT LAUNCH; THE OVERALL TRACK EXPERIENCE WAS LESS THAN THRILLING.

IT TOOK 8.7 SECONDS TO HIT 60, WHICH IS A TENTH SLOWER THAN THE SMALLER ENCORE WITH A BIGGER 1.4 LITER ENGINE.

ON THE PLUS SIDE, ENGINE NOISE IS WELL-MUTED, AND THE CVT DOES A GREAT JOB OF FOOLING YOU INTO THINKING IT'S A TRADITIONAL SMOOTH SHIFTING AUTOMATIC.

THE TINY-TURBO SEEMS TO DELIVER MAX POWER THE WHOLE WAY DOWN THE TRACK WITHOUT FEELING LIKE IT'S BEING OVERWORKED.

WE FINISHED THE QUARTER-MILE IN 16.7 SECONDS AT 87 MILES PER HOUR.

EVEN WITH A QUICK TO ENGAGE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, THE GX GOT THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE WITH A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF QUICKNESS AND AGILITY.

AND WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE "LIGHT ON ITS FEET" FEEL, THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT IS THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE QUITE THE SOLID PRESENCE OF MOST OF ITS EUROPEAN COMPETITORS.

STILL, EVEN WITH SOME SQUISHY BODY ROLL, THE GX PROVED TO BE QUITE COMPETENT.

PANIC BRAKING FROM 60 WAS QUITE GOOD AS WELL; GREAT STABILITY, AND A CONSISTENT FEEL THAT IS MORE LUXURY SMOOTH THAN SOFT.

STOPS AVERAGED A SHORT 118 FEET.

NOW, AS FOR THE EXTERIOR DESIGN, IT'S MUCH MORE POLISHED AND EVEN A LITTLE CUTE; SOMETHING WE NEVER SAID ABOUT THE ORIGINAL ENCORE.

IT'S 3.0 INCHES LONGER THAN THE ENCORE, AND RIDES ON A PLATFORM SHARED WITH THE UPCOMING CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER.

THE SPORT TOURING PACKAGE ADDS AERO TREATMENTS, UNIQUE GRILLE, AND 18 INCH ALUMINUM WHEELS.

INSIDE, STYLE AND FUNCTIONALITY ARE ADDRESSED WITH EQUAL MEASURE, FEATURING MATERIALS THAT ARE A NOTICEABLE STEP UP FROM THE ENCORE.

TOP ESSENCE TRIM COMES WITH LEATHER UPHOLSTERY, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, AND POWER SEATS FOR BOTH FRONT OCCUPANTS.

A PANORAMIC POWER MOONROOF REQUIRES A FURTHER UPGRADE TO THE BUICK EXPERIENCE PACKAGE.

THE 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN IS WELL INTEGRATED, AND PHYSICAL CONTROLS ARE BOTH PLENTIFUL AND LOGICALLY PLACED.

THOUGH, THERE ARE A FEW ODDITIES LIKE THE BUTTON TO ENGAGE THE 4-WAY FLASHERS THAT'S SO WELL INTEGRATED IT'S HARD TO FIND IT WHEN YOU NEED IT.

FRONT SEATS ARE A LITTLE NARROW, BUT OFFER GOOD OVERALL COMFORT.

THE PRACTICALITY ASPECTS REALLY KICK IN WHEN YOU MOVE REARWARD AND FIND REAR SEATS THAT ARE EXTRA ROOMY, AND FOLD COMPLETELY FLAT; THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOLDS FLAT AS WELL, TO HOLD EXTRA-LONG ITEMS.

DOING SO, ADDS TO THE MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY OF 50.2 CUBIC-FEET; SEATS UP LUGGAGE SPACE IS 23.5 CUBIC-FEET, 4.7 MORE THAN THE ENCORE.

PRICING RANGES FROM PREFERRED TRIM AT $25,095, TO ESSENCE AT $29,495.

YOU CAN ADD BOTH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AND THE 1.3 LITER ENGINE TO ANY TRIM FOR TWO-GRAND MORE; ADDING JUST THE BIGGER ENGINE COSTS ONLY $395.

WHILE, IT'S EASY TO QUESTION BUICK FOR SHOEHORNING ANOTHER SUV INTO THEIR LINEUP; THEY'RE JUST GIVING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, AND YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM FOR THAT.

THE 2020 BUICK ENCORE GX IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BIGGER ENCORE; IT FEELS LIKE A REAL BUICK, WHICH TO BE HONEST, IS SOMETHING THE ORIGINAL ENCORE FELL SHORT OF.

THIS ENCORE IS WHAT THE CROWD WAS EXPECTING ALL ALONG, AND SHOULD HAVE THEM LEAVING HAPPY.

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 THE ADRENALINE RUSH THAT IS THE LATEST HONDA CIVIC TYPE R. THEN, WE'LL LOOK AT CADILLAC'S NEW TAKE ON COMPACT LUXURY, THE CT4.

PAT GOSS CLEARS OUR VISION.

WHILE, STEPHANIE HART GIVES US TIPS ON CAR BUYING DURING A PANDEMIC.

AND WE'LL GRAB SOME KEYS FOR A BRAND NEW QUICKSPIN.

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... 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] *