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

JOIN US IN GMC'S MOST LUXURIOUS
FULL-SIZE SUV EVER,

THE NEW YUKON DENALI...

PAT GOSS FINDS AN UNEXPECTED
REASON FOR A DROP

IN TIRE PRESSURE...

WE'LL PICK THE RIPEST FRUIT WITH
ALT FUELS DOWN ON THE FARM...

THEN,
WE'LL PACE MODERN LUXURY

IN THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ
E CLASS...

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."

"OH!"

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 ARE SOME
WORDS IN OUR AUTOMOTIVE LEXICON

THAT ARE UNNECESSARILY
AMBIGUOUS,

WHEN IT COMES TO GMC,
WE ALL KNOW WHAT DENALI MEANS.

IT MEANS YOU'RE GETTING THE BEST
THAT GMC HAS TO OFFER.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW THAT APPLIES
TO GMC'S ALL NEW YUKON

FULL-SIZE UTILITY.

*

GM'S TRIO OF BIG SUVs IS
ALL-NEW FOR 2021;

AND SINCE WE'VE ALREADY TESTED
THE EVERYMAN CHEVROLET TAHOE

AND THE OVER-THE-TOP
CADILLAC ESCALADE,

TIME TO NARROW OUR FOCUS
EVEN FURTHER ON THE TWEENER

OF THE TWO WITH THIS
2021 GMC YUKON DENALI.

LIKE THE REST, IT RIDES ON
GM'S RECENTLY UPDATED

SILVERADO/SIERRA TRUCK FRAME,
AND BENEFITS GREATLY

FROM A NEW INDEPENDENT
REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN.

THIS NOT ONLY ALLOWS FOR BETTER
PACKAGING INSIDE,

BUT COMBINED WITH AIR RIDE
ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION

AND GM'S MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL,
IT MAKES FOR THE SMOOTHEST

RUNNING YUKON EVER.

THAT AIR SUSPENSION ALSO ALLOWS
YOU TO PUMP IT UP 2.0 INCHES

FOR ADDITIONAL OFF-ROAD
GROUND CLEARANCE.

AND TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE
OF THAT,

IS A FIRST EVER OFF-ROAD READY
YUKON AT4.

BUT OUR FOCUS HERE IS IN
THE SWANK DENALI,

AND AS WITH EVERY OTHER MEMBER
OF THIS FAMILY,

ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSIVE MANEUVER
YOU CAN MAKE WITH

THE STEERING WHEEL TRIGGERS
SOME AGGRESSIVE BRAKING

FROM THE STABILITY SYSTEM,
NO MATTER HOW SLOW AND SMOOTH

YOU MAKE YOUR INPUTS.

PROBABLY A WISE MANEUVER
ON THEIR PART,

AS THIS RIG HAS SOME SERIOUS
MUSCLE COMING FROM

A 6.2 LITER V8; 420 HORSEPOWER
AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

DENALI BUYERS CAN ALSO
OPT FOR A 277 HORSEPOWER

3.0 LITER I6 DURAMAX DIESEL,
WHILE THE STANDARD ENGINE

IN LESSER YUKON'S IS
A 355 HORSEPOWER 5.3 LITER V8.

AT MASON DIXON DRAGWAY,
THE 6.2 LITER PULLED THIS DENALI

TO 60 IN JUST 6.1 SECONDS.

THAT'S THE FASTEST OF THE TRIO,
COMING IN A TENTH QUICKER

THAN THE ESCALADE.

IT FELT GREAT OFF THE LINE,
AND EVEN BETTER AS SPEED BUILDS;

SEAMLESS SHIFTS FROM
THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC,

AND GREAT V8 RUMBLE COMPLETED
THE QUARTER-MILE EXPERIENCE,

WHICH FOR US LASTED 14.7 SECONDS
AT 96 MILES PER HOUR.

STRONG BRAKES, MEAN STOPS
FROM 60 IN JUST 110 FEET.

THE GMC YUKON DEBUTED FOR 1992,
AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE JIMMY.

WE FOUND IT AS BRAWNY
AS IT WAS BEAUTIFUL;

AND GM'S GMT 400 PLATFORM
HAS BECOME LEGENDARY

FOR ITS TOUGHNESS
AND DURABILITY,

WITH MANY EXAMPLES STILL BEING
DAILY DRIVEN TO THIS DAY.

AND IMPRACTICAL OR NOT,
HOW COOL WAS THIS 2-DOOR?

NOW, PRACTICALITY IS WHERE
THE CURRENT YUKON REALLY SHINES.

ROOM IS UP EVERYWHERE
THROUGHOUT THE CABIN,

BUT MOST NOTABLY IN THE STANDARD
THIRD ROW,

AND IN THE CARGO AREA BEHIND IT,

JUMPING FROM 15.3 TO
25.5 CUBIC-FEET,

EXPANDING TO 72.6 AND 122.9,
AS SEATS ARE FOLDED.

OF COURSE,
A SUBURBAN-SIZED YUKON XL

IS ALSO AVAILABLE IF YOU NEED
EVEN MORE CARGO SPACE.

DENALI'S COME WITH SECOND ROW
CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS

FOR A 7-PASSENGER CAPACITY.

THE DENALI IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A
SPECIAL EXPERIENCE UNTO ITSELF,

MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, ACTUALLY;
AS INSTEAD OF JUST SOME

ADDED LEATHER AND WOODWORK,
DENALI'S NOW GET A UNIQUE

INTERIOR FROM OTHER YUKON'S.

THE DASH,
WITH INTEGRATED TOUCHSCREEN

AND RISING CONTROL CENTER,
ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT;

THERE'S SPECIAL SEATS,

A HUGE 15 INCH MULTI-COLOR
HEAD UP DISPLAY,

AND OF COURSE,
UPSCALE MATERIALS.

PLUS, EXCLUSIVE FEATURES FOUND
NOWHERE ELSE IN GM'S LINEUP

LIKE THIS POWER SLIDING CONSOLE;
AND UP TO NINE CAMERAS

GIVE YOU NO EXCUSE FOR
CURB SCRAPES.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXTERIOR,
PROFESSIONAL GRADE OR NOT,

THERE'S NO DENYING IT HAS
A VERY COMMANDING PRESENCE.

DENALI DETAILS INCLUDE AN EVEN
LARGER CHROME GRILLE,

SIGNATURE LIGHTING,
AND UP TO 22 INCH WHEELS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
ARE 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY,

AND 16-COMBINED;
OUR HIGHWAY HEAVY LOOP

NETTED AN 18.2 MILES PER GALLON
AVERAGE ON PREMIUM.

STILL, IT RATES A WELL BELOW
AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE,

WITH USE OF 20.6 BARRELS OF
OIL ANNUALLY,

AND 9.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

YUKON DENALI PRICING STARTS AT
$73,295,

WITH 4-WHEEL-DRIVE
A $3,000 OPTION;

BUT YOU CAN PICK UP A YUKON
FOR AS LITTLE $52,695

FOR THE BASE SLE TRIM.

WHETHER,
OR NOT YOU BUY INTO GMC'S

WHOLE "PROFESSIONAL GRADE"
MARKETING MANTRA,

THE YUKON OFFERS BUYERS
A LOT OF OPTIONS;

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN
TAHOE AND ESCALADE,

WHILE OFFERING A FEW
UNIQUE FEATURES,

AND WHAT IS PERHAPS OUR FAVORITE
EXTERIOR LOOK OF THE TRIO.

SO, IS THE 2021 GMC YUKON DENALI
A BARGAIN ESCALADE

OR A BETTER TAHOE?

THE ANSWER TO THAT, IS YES.

*

MANY CAR MAKERS ARE PLEDGING
TO GO ALL-ELECTRIC

IN THE NEAR FUTURE,
SO OTHER FORMS

OF HARD WORKING MACHINERY
ARE STARTING TO FOLLOW SUIT,

INCLUDING DOWN ON THE FARM
WHERE GREEN ACRES

IS TRULY THE PLACE TO BE.

*

ALTHOUGH, FARM TRACTORS
AND THE JOBS THEY DO

HAVE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED
AND HIGH-TECH OVER THE YEARS,

THE HEAVY CHASSIS AND ENGINES
UNDER THE HOOD HAVEN'T ALWAYS

KEPT PACE WITH THAT PROGRESS
AND MOST STILL RELY PRIMARILY

ON DIESEL FUEL.

HUMMINGBIRD EV IS ONE COMPANY
LOOKING TO UPSET

THAT STATUS QUO APPLE CART.

THEY'VE TEAMED UP WITH
THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

CLEAN CITIES COALITION,
PROJECT CLEAN AIR,

AND OTHERS TO PLACE
FOUR PROTOTYPE

ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC
TRACTORS IN SERVICE

AT ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S
LARGEST FRUIT GROWERS.

THESE EV TRACTORS ARE
FITTED WITH 120 PEAK

KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTORS TIED TO
HUMMINGBIRD CONTROLLERS

AND SOFTWARE.

WITH 25 KILOWATT-HOUR BATTERY
PACKS AND 65 HORSEPOWER,

PERFORMANCE IS EQUIVALENT
TO A GAS OR DIESEL TRACTOR

OF THE SAME SIZE.

MOONLIGHT COMPANIES,
IN REEDLEY, CALIFORNIA,

IS AN IDEAL TEST BED.

THEY OPERATE YEAR-ROUND,
GROWING ALL VARIETIES

OF CITRUS AND STONE FRUITS...

FROM PEACHES, PLUMS,
AND POMEGRANATES...

TO GRAPES, LEMONS, ORANGES,
AND -- DURING OUR VISIT,

LOTS AND LOTS OF MANDARINS --
AND SHIPPING THEM FRESH

TO MARKETS ALL OVER
THE GLOBE.

THIS THIRD-GENERATION
FARM IS COMMITTED TO USING

ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND
PRACTICES AND INVESTING

IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY.

THEY EVEN HAVE A TWO-MEGAWATT
ON-SITE SOLAR FARM

WHICH POWERS MUCH OF
THEIR PACKING

AND COLD-STORAGE OPERATIONS.

SO TRYING OUT THESE EV TRACTORS
FOR THE PAST YEAR

WAS AN EASY CALL.

Ty Tavlan:
WE USE APPROXIMATELY,

80 SMALL DIESEL-POWERED TRACTORS
DURING THE HARVEST SEASON

TO PULL OUR FRUIT THROUGH
THE FIELD.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR FUNCTION,
SINCE IT PULLS FRUIT,

AND THEN IT STOPS,
AND THEN IT PULLS FRUIT AGAIN,

AND THEN IT STOPS,
WE CAN GET APPROXIMATELY

TWO DAYS WORTH OF WORK
OUT OF THE TRACTOR.

WHAT WE REALLY LIKE
ABOUT IT IS,

IT'S BASICALLY
MAINTENANCE-FREE,

IT STARTS EVERY TIME,
AND IT WORKS JUST FINE.

John: THE BATTERY-ELECTRIC
TRACTORS IN THIS TEST

ARE PAIRED WITH AN
ALL-ELECTRIC CLASS 6

VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE
CHARGING TRUCK,

ALSO DESIGNED BY HUMMINGBIRD.

IT CAN PROVIDE UP TO
40 KILOWATTS

OF LEVEL 2 AC CHARGING,
ENOUGH TO JUICE UP

TWO TRACTORS SIMULTANEOUSLY,
ELIMINATING TIME-CONSUMING

ROUND-TRIPS BACK TO
THE CHARGING STATION;

A BIG ADVANTAGE,
ESPECIALLY DURING HARVEST.

THE TRUCK ITSELF HAS AN
88 KILOWATT-HOUR BATTERY PACK

AND 90 MILES OF RANGE.

HUMMINGBIRD'S EXPERTISE IS
DESIGNING AND SCALING

ELECTRIC POWERTRAINS
FOR MEDIUM DUTY APPLICATIONS

LIKE MINING, UTILITIES,
AND FOOD DELIVERY.

AND THEY ARE CHALLENGING
THE NOTION THAT

ONE SIZE FITS ALL
DOWN ON THE FARM.

Rakesh Koneru: EVERY TRACTOR
HAS A CERTAIN DEMAND

IN TERMS OF THE BATTERY PACK
SIZE AND THINGS LIKE THAT...

HOW LONG THEY USE,
HOW LONG THEY DRIVE,

SO ON AND SO FORTH,
SO WHERE WE'RE UNIQUE

IS WE'RE TRYING TO ADAPT
WHERE THE COMMONALITY

OF PARTS COME IN PLAY.

SO, WHEN YOU TRY TO SCALE
IT UP,

IT'S EASY TO MIX AND MATCH
A PRODUCTION LINE

WITH DIFFERENT SCALE
OF VEHICLES

WITH THE SAME SYSTEM.

John: LIKE ANY FARM IN AMERICA,

ECONOMICS COMES INTO PLAY
HERE TOO.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN CALIFORNIA
AND ELSEWHERE

HAVE FORCED GROWERS TO
CULTIVATE FEWER ACRES

TO CONSERVE WATER,
MEANING TIGHTER CROP DENSITY

IS THE KEY TO MAKING
ENDS MEET.

SO TRACTORS OF THE FUTURE MAY
NEED TO HUG THE GROUND

TO FIT UNDER CLOSELY-PLANTED
TREES,

OR BE EXTRA SKINNY TO DRIVE
BETWEEN THEM.

Rakesh: THE MAIN IDEA
FOR US WAS TO SHOWCASE

THE CAPABILITY OF WHAT
AN ELECTRIFICATION

CAN BRING INTO FARMING,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING THE IDEA OF
WHAT IT TAKES

FOR THE FARMER TO BE READY
FOR FUTURE FARMING.

AND EVERY FARM HAS A DIFFERENT,
UNIQUE, REQUIREMENT.

IF YOU GO TO A VINEYARD, THEIR
NEEDS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT,

SO WHEN WE SEE THE MARKET
EXPANSION,

WE WANT TO EXPLORE
THE IDEA OF,

LET'S DESIGN A CHASSIS
FROM GROUND LEVEL UP,

WHICH IS WELL THOUGHT THROUGH,
YOU KNOW,

WHICH CAN STICK ON FOR
THE NEXT GENERATIONS.

John: THIS TYPE OF CUSTOM DESIGN
IS WELL-SUITED

FOR THE FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
AFFORDED BY ELECTRIC

BATTERY PACKS.

SO, IT LOOKS THE E-VOLUTION OF
MODERN FARMING

IN THE NEAR FUTURE MAY
WELL BE FUELED BY

THE EV REVOLUTION OF TODAY.

THIS TWIN TURBO
1991 NISSAN 300ZX

IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH
ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

AS HIS SECOND 300ZX,

SEAN NYSTUL FROM COLUMBUS,
MONTANA ADMITS THAT

THIS CAR KEEPS HIS SPIRITS
YOUNG,

AS HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST 300ZX
NEW FROM THE FACTORY IN 1990.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR
HIGH-PERFORMANCE RIDE

FOR CAR OF THE WEEK
CONSIDERATION TO...

LOW TIRE PRESSURE?

YOU'RE REINFLATED AND IT SLOWLY
GOES DOWN OVER SEVERAL DAYS.

WELL, YOU PROBABLY THINK
YOU HAVE A SMALL HOLE

IN THE TIRE.

NOT SO FAST.

PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHY
THE MYSTERY OF ESCAPING AIR

MAY BE POINTING TO
SOMETHING ELSE.

*

Pat Goss: THIS TIME LET'S TALK
ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT WE ALWAYS SEE ALMOST DAILY
IN THE REPAIR SHOPS.

AND THAT IS PROBLEMS WITH
THE ALLOY WHEELS,

BUT ESPECIALLY CHROME PLATED
ALLOY WHEELS.

OVER HERE, WE HAVE WHEN
WE'RE LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE

OF IT OF COURSE.

AND WE CAN SEE WHERE
THE CHROME HAS PEELED

AND IS COMING LOOSE
AND IN GENERAL,

THIS IS ONE UGLY LOOKING
WHEEL.

OVER HERE, WE SEE THE BACK OF
IT WHERE IT LOOKS EVEN WORSE.

HERE, WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF
CHROME PEELING OFF

AND CORROSION SETTING IN
AND SO ON.

BUT, THE PROBLEM GOES
DEEPER THAN THAT.

SEE, IN A CASE LIKE THIS,
YOU HAVE TO REPLACE

THE WHEELS IF YOU WANT IT
TO LOOK DECENT.

BUT ALL WHEELS,
ESPECIALLY ALL ALLOY WHEELS,

NOT SO MUCH STEEL WHEELS
BUT ALLOY WHEELS WILL HAVE

A TENDENCY TO CORRODE.

NOW, WHAT WE SEE IS,
AND LET'S TURN THIS AROUND.

WHAT WE SEE IN THE SHOP IS THAT
THEY COME IN,

AND THEY HAVE ALL THESE BLISTERS
AND BUBBLES.

NOW,
THE REASON THE CAR IS THERE

IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS
WITH LOW TIRE PRESSURE.

MAYBE A WARNING LIGHT OR IT MAY
JUST BE THAT THE TIRES LOOK LOW

OR DRIVE LOW, OR GO FLAT,
OR WHATEVER.

USUALLY,
THE CUSTOMER COMES IN,

AND SAYS,
"I'VE GOT A NAIL IN MY TIRE"

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE GO ABOUT CHECKING
THE TIRE FOR NAILS, SCREWS,

AND OTHER THINGS THAT
COULD CAUSE LEAKS.

ULTIMATELY, WE FIND THAT
THE BEAD OF THE WHEEL

IS ALL CORRODE LIKE THIS ONE.

SOMEBODY'S TRIED TO FIX THIS,
THEY'VE USED A WIRE BRUSH

SUCH AS WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

IT DIDN'T WORK,
IT STILL LEAKED.

SO THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL OF HERE,

YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THIS
BY MAKING SURE THAT THE SHOP

THAT IS WORKING ON
YOUR TIRES,

USES A LUBRICANT TO MOUNT
THE TIRES THAT IS LOW

IN WATER CONTENT.

ALSO, MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR
THAT YOU PUT INTO THE TIRE

COMES FROM A COMPRESSOR THAT HAS
A WATER SEPARATOR ON IT,

SO YOU DON'T GET ANY WATER
INSIDE THE TIRE.

BECAUSE REMEMBER,
THIS THING IS AIR TIGHT,

SO IF THE AIR CAN'T GET OUT,
THE WATER CAN'T GET OUT,

AND IT SITS IN HERE AND IT EATS
AWAY AT THE CHROME

AT THE ALUMINUM ALLOY.

WHATEVER IT IS,
IT CREATES A PROBLEM

AND YOU HAVE TO BUY NEW WHEELS.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE,

RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: TIME NOW FOR
LAUREN MORRISON

AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: NEW CAR FEVER
IS HEATING UP AS BOTH CHICAGO

AND NEW YORK GET READY FOR
SPECIAL SUMMER AUTO SHOWS.

WHILE, WE TYPICALLY SEE
THE NEW YORK

INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
IN APRIL,

COVID MADE THAT IMPOSSIBLE.

INSTEAD, THE SHOW WILL NOW
HAPPEN IN AUGUST

IN THE NEWLY RENOVATED
JAVITS CENTER AND WILL FEATURE

AN INDOOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
TEST TRACK.

CHICAGO'S AUTO SHOW ALSO MAKING
THE MOVE FROM ITS TYPICAL

FEBRUARY TIME SLOT.

INSTEAD, THE SHOW WILL RUN
FOR HALF OF ITS USUAL

NUMBER OF DAYS,
FROM JULY 15TH TO THE 19TH

AND THEY'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE WARMER WEATHER

BY EXPANDING DRIVING
AND DISPLAYS OUTDOORS.

AND THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW WILL
BE THE FIRST TIME THE PUBLIC

WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE FORD'S
NEW ALL-ELECTRIC PICKUP

THE 2022 F-150 LIGHTNING.

EVEN THOUGH PRODUCTION DOESN'T
START FOR MONTHS FORD ALREADY

HAS OVER 70,000 RESERVATIONS
FOR THE F-150 LIGHTNING.

BUT, ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF
THOSE RESERVATIONS TRANSLATE

INTO ACTUAL SALES.

THE CLASS OF 2021 IS READY
TO HIT THE ROAD

AND THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE
FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY

HAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR NEW GRADS AND NEW CARS.

THE IIHS AND CONSUMER REPORTS
HAVE UPDATED THEIR LIST

OF AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE,
AND SAFE VEHICLES FOR TEENS.

RIGHT NOW, SOARING DEMAND
AND TIGHT SUPPLY

HAVE DRIVEN THE PRICES OF USED
VEHICLES WAY UP.

IF YOU CAN FIND THEM,
THEY HAVE THE UPDATED LISTS

ON THEIR WEBSITES.

IT CONTAINS 61 USED VEHICLES,
INCLUDING THE 2019 KIA NIRO,

2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA,
AND THE 2014 FORD TAURUS,

TO NAME JUST A FEW.

THEY ALSO PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF
NEW VEHICLES,

AGAIN IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR
THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

John: NOW LET'S CHECK OUT
A NEW QUICKSPIN

FOR SOME AUTOMOTIVE STYLE FUN
HEADED OUR WAY.

*

Jessica Ray: WE'VE SEEN MANY
ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE MINIVAN

COOL OVER THE YEARS,
AND THIS 2022 KIA CARNIVAL

MAY BE THE FIRST TO ACTUALLY
PULL IT OFF.

WHILE, THE BASIC MINIVAN,
BIG BOX SHAPE REMAINS,

THE TALL BODY SIDES,
AND CHOPPED GREENHOUSE,

GIVE IT AN ALMOST FORD FLEX-LIKE
PSEUDO-SUV VIBE.

OH, AND DON'T CALL IT A MINIVAN,
IT'S AN MPV,

MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE.

OF COURSE, JUST LIKE A MINIVAN,
AN MPV NEEDS TO PAIR THOSE LOOKS

WITH THE CONNECTIVITY AND
FLEXIBILITY THAT TODAY'S

ON THE GO FAMILIES DEMAND.

EIGHT-PASSENGER VERSIONS FEATURE
SLIDE-FLEX SEATING,

WITH THE ABILITY TO EITHER SLIDE
THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT

FORWARD FOR EASY ACCESS TO A CAR
SEAT, OR FOLD IT INTO A TABLE.

SEVEN-PASSENGER VERSIONS CAN GET
VIP LOUNGE SEATING,

ESSENTIALLY ONBOARD LAZY BOYS.

John: REMEMBER THE LATE
1980s MAZDA MPV?

IT WAS THEIR ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT
THE MINIVAN STIGMA TOO.

BUT...WHY?

MINIVANS ARE THE MOST USEFUL
VEHICLES ON THE PLANET!

AND THE KIA CARNIVAL MPV IS
CHOCK FULL OF THE BIG SCREEN

ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY,
LOUNGING COMFORT,

CARGO FLEXIBILITY, AND ADVANCED
SAFETY THAT FAMILIES NEED.

SO, DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR IT,
CELEBRATE IT!

Jessica: STANDARD ENGINE IS
A 3.5 LITER V6,

DELIVERING A CLASS BEST
290 HORSEPOWER.

FOR HELP IN KEEPING
THE KIDDOS SAFE,

12 ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE
SYSTEMS ARE STANDARD,

AND KIA'S BLIND-SPOT VIEW
MONITOR IS AVAILABLE.

Greg Carloss: TO ME,
YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT A MINIVAN,

IF YOU NEED SPACE,
AND VERSATILITY

FOR AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S THE STYLE AND STIGMA
THAT COMES WITH MINIVANS,

WHICH TURNS MOST PEOPLE OFF.

KIA KNOWS THIS OBVIOUSLY,
AND WHILE I THINK MOST PEOPLE

WILL SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE
MULTI-PURPOSE-VEHICLE MONIKER,

I DO THINK, THE SUV-LIKE STYLING
WILL ATTRACT SOME FAMILIES

TO THE CARNIVAL.

ALTHOUGH, THE LACK OF
AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM

COULD BE A DEALBREAKER.

Jessica: THIS PARTY ON WHEELS
WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT SEDONA

WHEN IT ARRIVES IN KIA SHOWROOMS
THIS SUMMER.

TELL THE KIDS WE'RE NOT QUITE
THERE YET,

BUT WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE INFO
ON THE 2022 KIA CARNIVAL SOON,

HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

John: WITH MERCEDES-BENZ
UPPING THEIR ENTRY-LEVEL

APPEAL EXPONENTIALLY
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,

YOU MIGHT THINK THERE'S
NO REASON LEFT

TO STEP UP TO THE MIDDLE WEIGHT
E-CLASS.

WELL, MERCEDES WAS AFRAID YOU
MIGHT BE THINKING THAT;

SO THEY'VE UPGRADED THE E
FOR '21 TO MAKE ITS

LOFTIER APPEAL EVER MORE SO.

*

BACK IN THE DAY,

TO GET THE FULL MERCEDES-BENZ
EXPERIENCE -

YOU HAD TO GO FOR AT LEAST
A MIDSIZE E-CLASS,

AS ENTRY LEVEL MODELS WERE MORE
THAN A FEW STEPS DOWN.

THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN

THAT THE E-CLASS SEDAN IS
ANY LESS OF A CAR

THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

IN FACT, THE 2021
MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

OFFERS BUYERS MORE THAN EVER.

STARTING WITH A REVISED
INTERIOR THAT FEATURES

THE TYPICAL UPGRADE IN
MATERIALS;

BUT GOES A STEP FURTHER
WITH AN ALL-NEW

STEERING WHEEL FEATURING
TOUCH-SENSITIVE CONTROLS;

AS WELL AS SENSORS NEEDED
FOR THE OPERATION

OF SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING.

THE TWIN-SCREEN DASH DISPLAY
IS LARGELY THE SAME,

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING,
AS IT IS AS EFFICIENT

TO USE AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL
TO LOOK AT.

THE CENTRAL SCREEN IS
OF COURSE...A TOUCHSCREEN,

BUT THERE'S ALSO
A CENTRAL CONTROLLER,

WHICH ALSO GETS AN UPDATE;

ELIMINATING THE JOG-WHEEL
PORTION,

LEAVING JUST THE TOUCHPAD,
WHICH NOW BLENDS

INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE
MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY.

NEW TECH MEANS
ENHANCED FUNCTIONS

FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ
USER EXPERIENCE

WITH AUGMENTED NAVIGATION.

AS WELL AS UPDATED DRIVER
ASSISTANCE FEATURES,

INCLUDING BETTER FUNCTIONALITY

FOR STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC ASSIST,

AND A NEW EXIT WARNING ASSIST.

THINGS OUTSIDE GET A RE-WORK
AS WELL;

THERE ARE UPDATED FASCIAS--
FRONT AND REAR;

ALONG WITH A NEW TRUNK LID
AND TAIL LIGHTS.

AND THERE'S ALSO, A DIFFERENT
HOOD WITH ADDED POWER DOMES

THAT HINT OF SOMETHING NEW
UNDER THE HOOD,

AND INDEED THERE IS.

OUR E450 TEST CAR FEATURES
MERCEDES' LATEST

3.0 LITER INLINE 6
TURBO ENGINE,

WHICH REPLACES THE PREVIOUS V6.

WITH AN ADDED EQ 48 VOLT
ELECTRIC BOOST,

THE INLINE RATES 362 HORSEPOWER
AND 369 POUND-FEET;

EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE V6.

THE BASE 2.0 LITER
GOT A BOOST

FROM 241 TO 255 HORSEPOWER
LAST YEAR;

SO IT REMAINS UNCHANGED.

BOTH WORK THROUGH A 9-SPEED
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION;

WITH 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE
OPTIONAL WITH THE 4-CYLINDER;

STANDARD IN THE 450.

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS BEEN MAKING
THINGS MORE EFFICIENT

FOR AT LEAST AS LONG AS
MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN AROUND.

IN OUR VERY FIRST SEASON,
IT WAS ANOTHER INLINE ENGINE

PERFORMING THE TASK, ONLY IT WAS
A DIESEL IN THE 300SD.

WE CALLED IT, "THE WORLD'S
MOST EXPENSIVE ECONOMY CAR."

AND, AT 28 MPG IT CERTAINLY
GOT THE JOB DONE,

BUT AT THE PRICE OF
A SMALL HOME.

AT OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME,
MOTORWEEK'S TEST TRACK,

THIS E450 4MATIC HOOKED RIGHT
UP AND GOT TO WORK,

WITH THE HEALTHY SOUNDING I6
PROVIDING POWERFUL

AND PLEASANT BACKGROUND MUSIC.

IT FEELS REALLY QUICK,
AND A 4.3 SECOND TRIP TO 60

IS INDEED INCREDIBLE FOR
A MERCEDES-BENZ

WITHOUT AN AMG BADGE.

STILL, WITH EVERYTHING FROM
POWER DELIVERY,

TO THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC'S
SHIFTS,

PLUS, THE 450'S CALM DEMEANOR
DOWN THE TRACK

BEING SO SMOOTH,
IT HAD US DOUBLE

AND TRIPLE CHECKING
OUR NUMBERS.

GETTING THROUGH A QUARTER
MILE IN 12.9 SECONDS

AT 107 MILES PER HOUR
WITH THIS MUCH SERENITY

IS SOMETHING WE'RE ONLY USED TO
EXPERIENCING IN A BENTLEY.

THE FEELING WAS SIMILAR THROUGH
OUR CONE COURSE AS WELL.

OTHER THAN OPTIONAL 19 INCH AMG
TWIN 5-SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS,

THERE ARE NO SPORT PACKAGES OR
AMG HANDLING ADD-ONS HERE,

SO THIS CAR IS SET UP FOR
STRAIGHT BENZ LUXURY.

SO, YOU'D THINK IT'D BE
A SNOOZER THROUGH THE CONES,

BUT THAT WASN'T REALLY
THE CASE.

TRUE, MOST OF THE FEEDBACK
FROM THE CHASSIS

AND STEERING WHEEL IS MUTED;
BUT STEERING WAS LIGHT

AND ACCURATE, AND THERE
WAS ONLY MINOR BODY ROLL.

BRAKES KEPT THE SMOOTH
VIBE GOING,

BUT NOT THE
HIGH-PERFORMANCE-LIKE RESULTS,

WITH STOPS OF A STILL GOOD
123 FEET FROM 60.

OF COURSE, THERE'S A LOT MORE
TO THE E-CLASS EXPERIENCE,

AS MERCEDES-BENZ
STILL OFFERS COUPE

AND CONVERTIBLE VARIETIES,
AND EVEN WAGONS;

NOT TO MENTION AMG VERSIONS
OF THEM ALL.

E-CLASS SEDAN PRICING
STARTS AT $55,300

FOR A REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE
2.0 LITER;

OUR E450 4MATIC, AT $63,050;
WITH AMG VERSIONS

ESCALATING FROM THERE.

A MIDSIZE SEDAN HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART

OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINEUP,
AND DESPITE DOING

A HEALTHY SHARE OF SUV BUSINESS
THESE DAYS,

THE E-CLASS REMAINS THE
NUMBER-ONE SELLING NAMEPLATE

IN MERCEDES-BENZ HISTORY.

IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF
THINGS,

CHANGES TO THIS 2021
MERCEDES-BENZ E450 4MATIC

MAY BE RELATIVELY MINOR.

BUT THE SMOOTH AND REFINED
POWER OF ITS NEW INLINE 6 ENGINE

HAS CLEARLY ELEVATED
THE 10TH GENERATION E

TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL;

CONTINUING THE E-CLASS
TRADITION OF DELIVERING

EXCEPTIONAL LUXURY
TRANSPORTATION.

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 A ROAD TEST OF GENESIS'
LONG AWAITED UTILITY VEHICLE,

THE GV80.

THEN, WE'LL PUT THE ALL NEW
FORD F-150 TO THE TEST.

TIL' THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS,

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON
MOTORWEEK !

Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
MOTORWEEK ,

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

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FIND, DELIVER, INSTALL.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM
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OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS,
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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]

*

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