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

JOIN US AS WE KICK OFF OUR 40TH SEASON WITH A PORSCHE 911 TURBO S... PAT GOSS HAS A CELEBRATION OIL CHANGE DOWN AT GOSS'S 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: WE DRIVE PLENTY OF COOL CARS AROUND HERE, BUT PORSCHE 911 TURBOS ARE LIKE CHRISTMAS.

THE ANTICIPATION OF GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL IS PURE AGONY, BUT ONCE YOU FINALLY DO GET THE OPPORTUNITY, IT'S EVERYTHING YOU HOPED IT WOULD BE.

SO, COME ALONG FOR A REAL CELEBRATION, AS WE HIT THE START BUTTON ON THE NEW PORSCHE 991 TURBO S, AND THE 40TH SEASON OF MOTORWEEK !

* WHILE, THE ORIGINAL 911 TURBO WAS THE DEFINITION OF A DRIVER'S CAR, AS YOU REALLY HAD TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT, BEING ON HIGH ALERT FOR INSTANT OVERSTEER WHEN THE TURBOS AGGRESSIVELY KICKED IN.

TODAY'S 2021 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S IS NOTHING LIKE THAT; IT'S MORE AKIN TO A HONDA CIVIC THAT GOT HACKED BY A ROGUE GERMAN PROGRAMMER TO PERFORM LIKE AN EXOTIC ITALIAN SUPERCAR.

NOT THAT IT IS DOMESTICATED BY ANY MEANS, THE AMOUNT OF BOOST BEING FORCED INTO THE TWIN-TURBO 3.8 LITER FLAT-6 ENGINE, AND THE POWER COMING OUT OF THE OTHER END, IS MIND-BOGGLING; 640 HORSEPOWER OUT OF A BASIC ENGINE DESIGN THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH SLIDE RULERS AND CALCULATORS, NOT COMPUTERS, BUT AGAIN, DELIVERED TAMELY.

MORE NOTICEABLE, IS THE 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WHICH IS 37 MORE THAN WAS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR, AND MAX TORQUE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES, NOT JUST IN OVERBOOST AS BEFORE.

AND AS A REMINDER, THAT FIRST TURBO THAT WAS SO INSANE WITH POWER, 234 HORSEPOWER.

WE COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT 911 TURBO HISTORY, BUT THERE'S A TRACK HERE AND A NEW 911 TURBO S TO BE DRIVEN ON IT.

THE TRACK IS THE TWO-MILE ROAD COURSE OF DOMINION RACEWAY IN THORNBURG, VIRGINIA, AND EATING UP STRAIGHTS AFTER COMING HARD OUT OF ANY OF ITS 12-TURNS, IS WHERE THIS CAR REALLY EXCELS.

THE UPGRADED 8-SPEED P-D-K TRANSMISSION DOES A NICE JOB OF BOTH HAVING YOU IN THE RIGHT GEAR AND KEEPING TURBO LAG TO A MINIMUM.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE REMAINS A PART OF THE TURBO PACKAGE, AND NOT ONLY DOES THE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DEAL OUT TORQUE MORE FREELY, BUT IT ALSO SENDS MORE TO THE FRONT WHEELS THAN EVER BEFORE; HELPING TO TAME OVERSTEER TENDENCIES BY DELIVERING MORE POWER, NOT TAKING IT FROM YOU.

BUT THAT DOES LEAD TO SOME UNDERSTEER, PARTICULARLY THROUGH DOMINION'S SLOW, RIGHT-HAND CAROUSEL.

DESPITE MASSIVE GRIP, YOU DO STILL NEED TO EXERCISE SOME RESTRAINT WHEN GETTING ON THE THROTTLE.

BUT, ONCE YOU DO START TO FEED IN POWER, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH GO ALL IN AND LET THE CAR'S MANY SYSTEMS DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU.

CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES ARE STANDARD IN THE TURBO S AND IN ADDITION TO GETTING LARGER, THE FRONT CALIPERS NOW HOUSE 10-PISTONS.

WE HAD NO ISSUES, AS THEY PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY THROUGHOUT OUR TRACK DAY.

ACTIVE AERO NOT ONLY CONTROLS THE LARGER REAR WING, BUT FRONT AIR FLAPS AS WELL, ADDING DOWNFORCE WHERE APPROPRIATE.

PUTTING ALL YOUR FORCE ON THE TURBO'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON A DRAG STRIP, IS ABOUT AS SPECIAL AN EXPERIENCE AS IT GETS.

FLAWLESS LAUNCH CONTROL ROCKETS YOU OFF THE LINE AND TO 60 IN JUST 2.6 SECONDS; WHILE FIRM GEAR CHANGES IN THE P-D-K KEEP THE INSANE POWER POURING ON.

THE MANY ONBOARD COMPUTERS PRETTY MUCH HANDLE EVERYTHING, DEALING OUT MAX POWER TO THE APPROPRIATE PLACES FOR MAXIMUM GRIP AND ACCELERATION.

YOUR ONLY JOB REALLY, IS JUST KEEPING THE WHEEL POINTED STRAIGHT AND TRYING TO KEEP THE GRINS OFF YOUR FACE DURING THE 10.5 SECOND TRIP DOWN THE QUARTER-MILE, FINISHING WITH THE TURBO S TRAVELLING AT 136 MILES PER HOUR.

AS CAPABLE AS IT IS, YOU CAN STILL HAVE PLENTY OF FUN ON A BACK ROAD WITHOUT FEELING LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO MAJOR HARM TO THE CAR OR YOURSELF, IT'S EVEN A DREAM TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.

PERFORMANCE IN NORMAL MODE IS FAR AND ABOVE MOST CAR'S SPORT OR TRACK MODES; IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LAP AS QUICKLY AS SAY, A GT3 RS, BUT IT'S SO MUCH BETTER ON THE STREET, THERE'S NO COMPARISON.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT IT POSSIBLE, BUT EVERYTHING IS INDEED WIDER THAN BEFORE; THAT WILL HAVE TO END AT SOME POINT WE IMAGINE, BUT NOT TODAY.

THE INTERIOR, MORE LUXURIOUS THAN EVER, WITH CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS APLENTY.

AN AVAILABLE FRONT AXLE LIFT SYSTEM KEEPS DRIVEWAY SCRAPES TO A MINIMUM; AND IF YOU SAVE THE LOCATION IN THE GPS, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY HAPPEN WHENEVER YOU APPROACH THAT EXACT SPOT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS HAVEN'T BEEN FINALIZED, BUT WE AVERAGED A FINE 20.3 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

BASE PRICING OF $204,850 KEEPS THE TURBO S SOMETHING SPECIAL, MUCH LIKE ITS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND YES YOU CAN GET A CONVERTIBLE AS WELL FOR $12,800 MORE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE 2021 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S IS THE MOST CIVILIZED HIGH-PERFORMANCE EXOTIC YOU CAN BUY, WHICH IRONICALLY ENOUGH, IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE FIRST TURBO, WE TESTED 30 YEARS AGO.

DRIVING IT IS LIKE GETTING EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANTED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, AND FINDING OUT, IT'S ACTUALLY WAY BETTER THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.

A MODERN TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL?

YES.

YET, IT'S FAR FROM THE MOST SPECIAL PORSCHES WE'VE DRIVEN.

MANY CONSIDER THE 1988 PORSCHE 959 TO BE THE FIRST MODERN SUPERCAR.

AND THIS MODERN RETRO, 763 HORSEPOWER, CANEPA 959SC SUPERCAR, PROVES THAT PORSCHE'S TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE D.N.A.

IS STRONG ENOUGH TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME... [ENGINE REVS] * 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 WOULD NEVER 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.

John: TO KICK OFF MOTORWEEK'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON, OUR FIRST CAR OF THE WEEK IS A GORGEOUS RED 1958 EDSEL CORSAIR.

IT'S OWNED BY MARTY RENDON OF REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE WHO MADE HIS DREAM SINCE CHILDHOOD COME TRUE TO BUY AND RESTORE A FIRST YEAR EDSEL.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR PRIDE AND JOY FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... MOTORWEEK@MPT.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 IS CHANGING THE OIL... 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 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: AS THE BRONCO TURNS 55, FORD CELEBRATES WITH A GIFT TO FANS.

WITH OVER 165,000 PEOPLE PLACING $100 DEPOSITS FOR ORDERS ONLINE AFTER THE ALL-NEW BRONCO REVEAL, FORD KNOWS WE'RE HUNGRY FOR MORE!

AND NOW, WE HAVE A LOOK AT FIVE NEW ADVENTURE CONCEPTS.

THESE ACCESSORIZED AND PERSONALIZED "BUILT WILD" BRONCOS HIGHLIGHT THE LOVE OF OUTDOORS, WITH MODELS READY TO PULL UP TO THE LOCAL FISHING HOLE, COMPLETE WITH FRONT-END ROD HOLDERS... OR TRY OUT THAT NEW TRAIL WITH TUBE DOORS, A WARN WINCH, AND OF COURSE, A ROOF RACK.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HUNDREDS OF ACCESSORY OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

FORD ALSO ANNOUNCING AUSTIN, TEXAS AS THE FIRST OF FOUR "OFF-ROADEO" LOCATIONS.

THESE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO NEW BUYERS AS A PLACE TO GET WILD AND RUGGED WITH THEIR BRONCOS.

A PROGRESS REPORT AND NEW VIDEO FROM INSIDE THE RIVIAN EV FACTORY.

THIS WAS ONCE A MITSUBISHI PLANT IN NORMAL, ILLINOIS... AND NOW, IT'S BEING TRANSFORMED FOR RIVIAN'S COMING EV PICKUP.

RIVIAN'S CEO SAYS, "THEY STILL NEED TO BUILD THE BODY MANUFACTURING LINE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE DONE THIS FALL.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LINE ALSO NEEDS TO BE BUILT, AND THEY'LL BE INSTALLING 500 ROBOTS.

IN THE VIDEO, WE ALSO GOT A PEEK AT SOME INTERESTING PARTS OF PRODUCTION, LIKE THE DRIVETRAIN FOR THE R-1-T. LIKE, MOST AUTOMAKERS, RIVIAN HAS HAD TO ADJUST THEIR VEHICLE DELIVERY TIMELINE, BUT SAY, "THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET VEHICLES TO CUSTOMERS BY JUNE 2021."

HYUNDAI JUST ANNOUNCING PLANS FOR THREE NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

HYUNDAI IS BREAKING OUT IT'S IONIQ NAME INTO A SUB-BRAND FOR ITS ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THE AUTOMAKER SAID, "IT PLANS TO INTRODUCE THREE EVs UNDER THE IONIQ NAME IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS."

THIS WILL INCLUDE A HATCHBACK, BASED ON THE HYUNDAI 45 CONCEPT, A SEDAN BASED ON THE PROPHECY CONCEPT, AND AN S-U-V.

THE HATCHBACK WILL BE KNOWN AS THE "IONIQ 5" AND WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY 2021...

THE SEDAN, THE IONIQ 6, RELEASED IN 2022... AND THE S-U-V, THE IONIQ 7, RELEASED IN EARLY 2024.

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

* Greg: OUR 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER P-H-E-V HAS SPENT A LOT MORE TIME ON THE GO LATELY THAN ON THE CHARGER, AS WE RACKED UP OVER 3,000 MILES SINCE OUR LAST REPORT, BRINGING OUR 11-MONTH TOTAL TO JUST OVER 16,000.

SO MUCH, LONG DISTANCE USE HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON FUEL ECONOMY.

OUR AVERAGE HAS DROPPED TO 31.9 MILES PER GALLON.

STILL, MIGHTILY GOOD FOR ANYTHING S-U-V. ON THE OTHER HAND, MORE SEAT TIME REMINDS US HOW POWERFUL THIS UTILITY FEELS.

THE 2.0 LITER GAS ENGINE IS ONLY RATED FOR 117 HORSEPOWER, BUT WITH 60 KW MOTORS MOUNTED FRONT AND REAR; ACCELERATION STILL SURPRISES US WHEN WE GO FULL THROTTLE, AND WELL, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT HELPING THE FUEL ECONOMY EITHER.

EVEN NOW IN 2020, HYBRIDS DO NOT GET THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

NOW THIS OUTLANDER PLUGIN IS BY NO MEANS A MISSILE, BUT IT'S NOTICEABLY QUICKER THAN SOME NON-ELECTRIFIED RIVALS.

SO, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS... DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS POWERTRAIN.

OUR 2020 FIAT 500X ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS SEEN MILES ADDED AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE.

AND, WITH MANY OF OUR COMMUTES NOW CONSISTING OF WALKING FROM THE BEDROOM TO WHEREVER OUR LAPTOP HAPPENS TO BE IN THE HOUSE, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

FIVE-MONTHS IN, WE'VE TRAVELLED JUST 4,500 MILES.

SO, OUR MOSTLY SHORT HOP FUEL ECONOMY CURRENTLY SITS AT 26.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

WHILE, IT DOESN'T HAVE QUITE THE OFF-ROAD CHOPS OF PLATFORM-MATE JEEP RENEGADE, THE 500X WAS THE FIRST FIAT TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WHEN IT ARRIVED HERE IN 2016.

IT'S STANDARD WITH ALL TRIMS AND COPES JUST FINE WITH HEAVY WEATHER AND MILD OFF-ROADING.

WHILE, WE DO LIKE THE STYLE INSIDE AND OUT, SOME RECENT EXCURSIONS HAVE REMINDED US HOW SMALL THE 500X IS; JUST 14.1 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE IS OBVIOUSLY LIMITING, BUT THAT SMALL SIZE ALSO MAKES SCOOTING ABOUT TOWN AS EASY AS IT GETS.

WE'LL CHECK IN OUR HYUNDAI PALISADE, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

* John: THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF BOOKS OUT THERE ABOUT STEVE MCQUEEN.

BUT WHILE MOST ARE FOCUSED ON HIS MOVIES, CARS, OR RACING EXPLOITS, MATT STONE'S, "MCQUEEN'S MOTORCYCLES" KEEPS THE TOPICS TO JUST THAT; HIS MOTORCYCLES.

MCQUEEN REPORTEDLY OWNED AROUND 200 OF THEM IN HIS LIFETIME.

THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK GIVES SOME BACK STORY AND INTO HOW HE DEVELOPED HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH TWO WHEELERS.

WHILE, THE SECOND HALF GOES INTO MORE DETAIL OF SOME OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT MOTORCYCLES THAT HE OWNED.

IT'S A QUICK MUST READ PERFECT FOR BOTH FANS OF MOTORCYCLES AND THE ULTIMATE KING OF COOL.

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

NOW, UTILITIES MAKE UP ALMOST 90% OF THEIR SALES.

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

IT'S TIME NOW FOR "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.

STANDARD SAFETY SYSTEMS INCLUDE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE KEEP ASSIST, AND FRONT PEDESTRIAN BRAKING.

GM'S REAR CAMERA MIRROR IS AVAILABLE AS WELL.

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...

WHEN WE'LL HIT THE ROAD IN THE NEW FULL SIZED CHEVROLET TAHOE.

THEN, FIND OUT WHAT THE SUBCOMPACT KIA SELTOS HAS TO OFFER.

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] *