MotorWeek | 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet & 2021 Cadillac Escalade | Season 40 | Episode 44

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

JOIN US FOR A TOP DOWN TREAT WITH A PORSCHE 911 TURBO S CABRIOLET... PAT GOSS SCHOOLS US ON WHAT THAT BLACK FLUID IN OUR ENGINES ACTUALLY DOES... STEPHANIE HART WITH DOLLARS AND CENTS CAR BUYING TIPS... THEN, WE'LL LIVE THE HIGH-LIFE IN CADILLAC'S NEW ESCALADE...

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: BY NOW YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT WE ARE HUGE FANS OF THE PORSCHE 911 TURBO SERIES IN COUPE FORM.

BUT HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THE 911 TURBO CABRIOLET?

LET'S DROP THE TOP AND FIND OUT.

* SINCE THIS IS THE THIRD PORSCHE 911 TURBO THAT WE'VE TESTED THIS YEAR; WE'LL GET RIGHT TO WHAT MAKES THIS 2021 911 TURBO S CABRIOLET, SO SPECIAL.

AND THAT IS OF COURSE, ITS PRECISION OPERATED CONVERTIBLE CLOTH TOP.

A SIMPLE PULL OF A CONSOLE-MOUNTED TOGGLE IS ALL THAT'S REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS, EITHER UP OR DOWN.

ELECTRONIC MOTORS TAKE CARE OF RELEASING THE HEADER LATCHES, ELEGANTLY FOLDING EVERYTHING INTO PLACE, AND COVERING IT ALL UP.

JUST BELOW THOSE BUTTONS IS ONE TO DEPLOY THE WIND SCREEN.

IT IS QUITE LARGE, AND ALSO VERY EFFECTIVE AT KEEPING TURBULENCE OUT OF THE CABIN; GREAT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FULLY COMMITTED TO THE CONVERTIBLE EXPERIENCE.

BUT, IT ALSO NEGATES THE ABILITY TO HAVE ANYONE IN THE SMALL BACK SEATS; PROBABLY NOT AN ISSUE FOR MOST 911 TURBO OWNERS.

EVEN MORE FUN THAN LOWERING THE TOP, IS DROPPING THE HAMMER ON THE THROTTLE OF THIS TURBO S; AND THE BEST PLACE FOR THAT IS MASON DIXON DRAGWAY.

TYPICAL TO FORM, PORSCHE'S LAUNCH CONTROL ENGAGES EASILY, AND ROCKETS YOU OFF THE LINE LIKE, FEW OTHER MECHANICAL MACHINES THAT DON'T INVOLVE A LAUNCH PAD.

BEFORE YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU'RE AT 60 MILES PER HOUR; 2.7 SECONDS ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER.

AND, THAT'S JUST A TENTH SLOWER THAN THE COUPE.

ENABLING THIS, IS PORSCHE'S REAR-MOUNTED 3.8 LITER TWIN-TURBO FLAT-6; WHIPPING UP 640 HORSEPOWER AND 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A PDK TRANSMISSION DEALS OUT THE POWER TO ALL-4 WHEELS APPROPRIATELY; AND NOW WORKS WITH 8-SPEEDS, PROVIDING BRUTALLY FAST SHIFTS THAT ARE SOMEHOW MORE SMOOTH THAN THEY ARE VIOLENT.

IN SEEMINGLY NO TIME AT ALL, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS SWEEPING PAST 100 MILES PER HOUR; CLIMBING FASTER THAN THE NEEDLE ON MANY CAR'S TACHOMETERS.

QUARTER-MILE COMPLETED IN 10.6 SECONDS AT 134 MILES PER HOUR.

THE DAYS OF PORSCHE CABRIOLET'S BEING SOMEHOW LESS STRUCTURALLY SOUND THAN THEIR HARDTOP COUNTERPARTS ARE LONG GONE, THIS TURBO S BEING ABOUT AS STIFF AS THEY COME; WITH ONLY ABOUT 150 POUNDS ADDED DURING THE TRANSFORMATION.

THE TURBO S COMES WITH A WIDER TRACK, UNIQUE TUNING FOR P-A-S-Ms CONTROLLING SOFTWARE, AND REAR AXLE STEERING.

OUR TEST VEHICLE ADDED THE 10MM LOWER P-A-S-Ms SPORT SUSPENSION OPTION AND POWER STEERING PLUS.

THE RESULT IS IMMEDIATE TRANSLATION OF DRIVER INPUTS INTO VEHICLE MOVEMENTS, AND TENACIOUS ADHESION TO THE TRACK SURFACE.

VIRTUALLY NO BODY ROLL; AND IT'S CONSISTENT "POINT AND SHOOT" YOUR WAY THROUGH THE CONES, WITH SOME OVERSTEER ALWAYS AVAILABLE, IF YOU PUNCH IN UNNECESSARILY HIGH AMOUNTS OF THROTTLE.

CERAMIC BRAKE DISCS ARE STANDARD ON THE TURBO S, AS ARE 10 PISTON FRONT CALIPERS; AND THEY BRING THIS 3,800 POUNDS MACHINE TO A HALT IN JUST 90-FEET, WITH THE CAR SEEMINGLY TRYING TO DIG ITSELF INTO THE TRACK, THE SECOND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT LOWER RIDE HEIGHT CAUSING CONTACT WITH PAVEMENT; AN OPTIONAL FRONT AXLE LIFT SYSTEM CAN JACK UP THE FRONT WHEN NECESSARY.

WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE ABOUT MANY PORSCHES, BUT EVERYTHING HERE IN THE TURBO S, JUST...FEELS...RIGHT.

AND THAT DOESN'T CHANGE LEAVING THE TRACK.

BUILD QUALITY OF THE INTERIOR IS PHENOMENAL, AS ARE MATERIALS; FULL LEATHER WITH UNIQUE TURBO STITCHING IS STANDARD IN THE S, AS IS THE SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE.

THERE'S SO MUCH ADJUSTABILITY IN THE SEATS, ANYONE CAN FIND A GREAT DRIVING POSITION.

AND AS FURTHER PROOF THAT PORSCHE THINKS OF EVERYTHING, THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM KNOWS WHETHER THE TOP IS UP OR DOWN AND ADJUSTS ACCORDINGLY.

IT'S HARD TO SAY, WHAT OUR MOST MEMORABLE TOP DOWN PORSCHE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN OVER 40 YEARS OF ROAD TESTS, BUT TWO DEFINITELY STAND OUT.

1994s STRIKING RED ON RED 911 SPEEDSTER, HAD A COMBINATION OF VINTAGE STYLE AND LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE THAT WE COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF.

AND THAT OF COURSE, BRINGS TO MIND THE ORIGINAL PORSCHE, THE 356 SPEEDSTER.

WE ACTUALLY ROAD TESTED ONE OF THOSE TOO, IN OUR SECOND SEASON; EVEN TAKING IN A LITTLE OFF-ROADING FOR A PICNIC BY THE LAKE TO SHOWCASE ITS VERSATILITY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE CABRIOLET ARE 15-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

WE FOUND THE HIGHWAY RATING EASILY BEATABLE BY JUST BEING A LITTLE LIGHT WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT.

EVEN MORE THAN ITS MIND-BLOWING PERFORMANCE, PRICING IS WHAT REALLY ELEVATES THE 911 TURBO S CABRIOLET TO ANOTHER STRATOSPHERE; STARTING AT $217,650; $12,800 MORE THAN ITS COUPE COUNTERPART.

IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT YOU'VE GROWN WEARY OF HEARING US SING PORSCHE'S PRAISES; AND TO BE HONEST, WE FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT OURSELVES TO DELIVER OUR OPINIONS WITHOUT COMING ACROSS AS ABSOLUTE FAN-BOYS.

FACT IS, THE LATEST 911 TURBO IS TRULY A FANTASTIC MACHINE BY ANY MEASURE.

ASTOUNDING LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE THAT TRULY FIT ITS PRICE, DELIVERED IN A PACKAGE THAT'S EASIER AND MORE FUN TO DRIVE THAN EVER.

THIS 2021 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S CABRIOLET, ALLOWS YOU TO EXPERIENCE IT TO THE FULLEST; WHETHER IT'S A FIRE IN YOUR HAIR TRACK DAY, OR A RELAXED WIND IN YOUR HAIR ROMP THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE.

* * Flashback WHO WOULD HAVE EVER BELIEVED THAT A RAMBLER, WHAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER COULD HAVE DROVE TO CHURCH WITH A SMALL V8 WOULD BE CAPABLE WITH PERFORMING UNDER SUCH GREAT PRESSURE.

LET ALONE, SURVIVE SYDNEY DIXON.

* DON'T BE SCARED... HA-HA-HA.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES] FINDING THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS CAN MAKE YOUR HEART SKIP A BEAT.

BUT THEN, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO EARTH AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT!

AND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON NEW AND USED CAR FINANCING.

SO, OUR STEPHANIE HART LOOKED INTO HOW YOU CAN MAXIMIZE YOUR FUNDS AND STILL DRIVE OFF IN YOUR DREAM COME TRUE.

* Stephanie: BEFORE STEPPING ONTO A CAR LOT LIKE THIS ONE, YOU'LL WANT TO PREPARE YOURSELF FINANCIALLY BEFORE APPLYING FOR AN AUTO LOAN.

AFTER ALL, PANDEMIC OR NOT, THIS IS STILL THE SECOND LARGEST PURCHASE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE BEHIND A HOME.

FIRST: FIND OUT YOUR CREDIT SCORE.

THE HIGHER IT IS THE MORE YOU'LL SAVE ON AUTO-FINANCING.

IF IT'S LOW, TAKE STEPS TO RAISE IT.

SECOND: SET A BUDGET.

FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH YOU CAN AFFORD TO SPEND ON A VEHICLE.

THIRD: SAVE MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT.

THE HIGHER THE DOWN PAYMENT, THE LESS YOU HAVE TO FINANCE AND THE LESS YOU'LL PAY IN INTEREST OVER THE LIFE OF THE LOAN.

LASTLY, RESEARCH VEHICLES AND DEALS ONLINE.

SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE AND COMPARE.

EDUCATION EQUALS SAVINGS!

THE PROCESS CAN BE OVERWHELMING, BUT TAKE A DEEP BREATH, KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING...

IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE SHOPPING FOR CAR FINANCING!

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE EAGER TO LEND MONEY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC'S EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY.

PLUS, AS A RESULT OF COVID-19, IT'S MORE POPULAR THAN EVER TO CHECK OUT DEALERSHIP WEBSITES OR MAKE PHONE CALLS TO INQUIRE ABOUT FINANCING.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN, MAY HAVE YOU JUMPING UP AND DOWN!

WE TALKED TO JONES JUNCTION, A MULTI-FRANCHISE NEW AND USED CAR DEALER IN BEL AIR, MARYLAND.

Darlington Nwaba: USUALLY, YOU OBTAIN EITHER LOW INTEREST RATES OR INCENTIVES, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN GIVING CUSTOMERS BOTH.

Stephanie: A DOUBLE DOSE OF DEALS!

BRING IT ON!

WE CHECKED AND MANY MANUFACTURERS ARE ADVERTISING 0% INTEREST FOR 60 MONTHS.

YOUR OPTIONS ESSENTIALLY ARE, FINANCING THROUGH A DEALERSHIP OR A BANK AND REALLY THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER.

AS A COMPARISON, CONTACT BANKS OR CREDIT UNIONS AND SEE WHAT KIND OF RATES THEY'RE OFFERING.

THAT WAY YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

AND TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER, GET PRE-APPROVED FOR AN AUTO LOAN THROUGH A BANK BEFORE EVEN CONTACTING A DEALERSHIP.

THIS TACTIC HELPS YOU SECURE THE BEST APR POSSIBLE.

THESE DAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS PROMPTED MORE PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR AUTO LOANS ONLINE.

AT BALTIMORE'S MECU CREDIT UNION, THE STATISTICS TELL THE STORY.

Adrian Johnson: IN 2020, 68% OF OUR MEMBERS WERE APPLYING ONLINE, SO THAT'S JUMPED TREMENDOUSLY.

IN 2019, JUST AS A COMPARISON, 48%, SO YOU CAN SEE THE JUMP.

Stephanie: IN GENERAL, YOU CAN USUALLY GET A LOWER INTEREST RATE ON A NEW CAR THROUGH A DEALERSHIP THAN ON A USED CAR.

KEEP IN MIND, THOSE INCREDIBLE INCENTIVES ARE TYPICALLY RESERVED FOR CONSUMERS WITH EXCELLENT CREDIT SCORES.

Adrian: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREDIT SCORES THAT ARE 780 PLUS.

IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREDIT SCORES, ON AVERAGE, FICO SCORES, BEING 712.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE THAT JUST DON'T QUALIFY, A LOT OF CONSUMERS.

Stephanie: IF YOUR CREDIT SCORE IS NOT SO GOOD, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A PRE-APPROVED LOAN FROM A CREDIT UNION OR BANK, NOT TO WORRY.

IN MOST CASES, THE DEALERSHIP CAN HELP.

Darlington: WE DEAL WITH MULTIPLE CREDIT UNIONS IN THE AREA AND WE CAN HELP FIND THE BEST ONE THAT SUITS THE FINANCING NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

Stephanie: IN THE END, WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO FINANCE THROUGH A DEALERSHIP OR A BANK, DON'T RUSH INTO ANYTHING.

THE INCREDIBLE DEALS ARE HERE TO STAY WHILE THE COUNTRY RECOVERS FROM THE ECONOMIC LOSS OF THE PANDEMIC.

John: WE ALL KNOW THAT CHANGING OUR CAR'S ENGINE OIL IS CRITICAL FOR ITS LONGEVITY.

BUT WHAT DOES ENGINE OIL ACTUALLY DO?

TO FIND OUT, LET'S CRUISE ON OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: WE ALL KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, WE CAN DO TO AN ENGINE TO MAKE IT LAST A LONG TIME IS TO CHANGE THE OIL.

BUT, HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT OIL DOES IN AN ENGINE?

SEE, BACK IN THE DAY, ENGINES WERE A LOT LESS COMPLICATED THAN THEY ARE TODAY.

YOU LOOK AT A MODERN ENGINE AND OIL HAS TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, OF COURSE, IT LUBRICATES.

BUT TODAY, WITH VARIABLE VALVE TIMING AND DIFFERENT CONTROLS LIKE THAT, THE OIL HAS TO HAVE A PROPER PRESSURE TO MAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS WORK CORRECTLY.

BUT THE OTHER THING, THE REALLY BIG THING THAT OIL DOES, IS IT IS A COOLANT.

DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE YOU CAN'T HAVE THE COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR DOWN HERE WHERE THE OIL IS.

IT CAN'T MIX TOGETHER, THAT WOULD DESTROY THE ENGINE.

SO, ALL OF THESE LUBRICATED PARTS INSIDE THE ENGINE, THEY ALL GET HOT DUE TO FRICTION AND OTHER COMBUSTION GASSES AND ALL THAT STUFF.

IT GETS VERY HOT.

IT IS THE JOB OF THE OIL TO KEEP THOSE PARTS COOL.

NOW, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THE OIL FLOW HAS TO BE PROPER.

NOW AGAIN, BACK IN THE DAY, ENGINES WERE NOT COMPUTER DESIGNED.

THEY WEREN'T COMPUTER MANUFACTURED.

SO, THE TOLERANCES INSIDE THEM WERE NOT AS PRECISE AS THEY ARE TODAY.

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE MOVING PARTS, THE OIL HAS TO FLOW THROUGH AND FILL THE GAP, IT WASN'T AS TIGHT AS IT WAS TODAY.

SO THAT MEANS, BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOU COULD HAVE THICK OIL IN THE CAR, SOMETHING LIKE, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE.

THIS, WE CAN SEE IS QUITE THICK.

ALRIGHT.

NOW...TODAY, WE MIGHT USE SOMETHING THAT IS, LIKE THIS, MUCH THINNER.

AND THE REASON THAT IT'S THINNER IS BECAUSE THE GAPS THAT IT HAS TO FLOW THROUGH ARE SMALLER.

AND IT HAS TO FLOW THROUGH THERE AT THE PROPER RATE, NUMBER ONE TO MAKE ALL OF THE COMPUTER CONTROLLED DEVICES WORK PROPERLY AND NUMBER TWO, AT THE PROPER RATE, SO IT CAN ABSORB HEAT TO KEEP THE BEARINGS AND PARTS FROM BURNING UP.

SO, ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE WHAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS AS FAR AS THE OIL VISCOSITY GOES.

THICKER IS NOT BETTER.

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

John: THIS 1985 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE BROUGHAM 2-DOOR IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

CANADIAN VIEWER MICHAEL VAN GRONDELLE FROM SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN IS THE THIRD OWNER.

WITH 92,000 KILOMETERS...THAT'S ABOUT 57,000 MILES TO US YANKS, ON ITS CLOCK, IT HAS RARE OPTIONS LIKE A SUNROOF AND EVEN A WASTE PAPER BASKET.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR TIME MACHINE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... TIME TO HIT THE START BUTTON ON A NEW ROUND OF QUICKSPINS!

* CONSISTENT INCREMENTAL CHANGE IS THE KEY TO LONG TERM SUCCESS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

AND ONE OF THE MORE RECENT EXAMPLES OF THAT IS THE INFINITI QX50.

2019 SAW MAJOR CHANGE WITH A SHIFT TO FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE ARCHITECTURE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF VARIABLE COMPRESSION ENGINE TECHNOLOGY.

2020 SAW LESS COMPREHENSIVE BUT QUITE SIGNIFICANT UPDATES INCLUDING UPGRADED SAFETY FEATURES, AND A NEW DUAL-SCREEN INFOTAINMENT SETUP.

NOW, TIME FOR A QUICK SPIN IN THIS 2021 INFINITI QX50 AND EVEN MORE UPDATES.

MAKING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT STANDARD IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE; AND GOING FORWARD, ALL QX50'S GET REAR SIDE AIRBAGS, ACOUSTIC LAMINATED GLASS, AND EVEN A WI-FI HOTSPOT, IF THAT'S SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO YOU.

ONE STEP UP FROM BASE, IS LUXE TRIM WHICH GETS A HOST OF PREVIOUS OPTIONS MADE STANDARD INCLUDING HEATED SEATS AND INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL.

THIS AUTOGRAPH EXAMPLE SHOWCASES THE BEST OF WHAT THE QX50 HAS TO OFFER; FITTED WITH A PANORAMIC MOONROOF, MOTION ACTIVATED LIFTGATE, REMOTE START, HEAD UP DISPLAY, LEATHER EVERYTHING, PROPILOT ASSIST, AND 16 SPEAKER BOSE PERFORMANCE SERIES AUDIO.

THE LOOK IS QUITE LUXURIOUS OUTSIDE AS WELL.

STILL, NOT QUITE AS SWOOPY AS THE ORIGINAL, WITH A TALL FRONT END, AND STRONG SUV PROFILE.

BUT FOLLOWING CURRENT TRENDS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FLASHING BACK TO THE INFINITI FX, WILL BE A NEW COUPE VERSION OF THE QX50 COMING LATER THIS SUMMER, THE 2022 QX55.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WILL BE STANDARD ON THIS ONE, AND THE ELEVATED HATCHBACK VIBE WILL CERTAINLY RETURN THE SPORTY LOOK TO INFINITI'S CROSSOVER LINEUP THAT'S BEEN MISSING FOR SOME TIME.

ALL QX50'S ARE EQUIPPED WITH INFINITI'S GROUNDBREAKING VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIO 2.0 LITER TURBO ENGINE.

IT OUTPUTS 268 HORSEPOWER AND WORKS WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC.

FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE IS STANDARD; ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, A $2,000 OPTION ON ALL TRIMS EXCEPT FOR AUTOGRAPH, WHERE IT COSTS $2,650.

Brian Robinson: THE SHIFT TO FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE ARCHITECTURE WAS A GOOD THING, PROVIDING FOR BOTH A SMOOTHER RIDE AND MORE SPACE INSIDE.

BUT, THE VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIO ENGINE AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION THAT CAME WITH IT ALSO BROUGHT SOME VERY UN-INFINITI-LIKE ROUGHNESS.

AND REALLY, THAT'S ALL THAT'S KEEPING THE QX50 FROM BEING THE PERFECT SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER.

John: EVEN WITH THE UPDATES, 2021 INFINITI QX50 PRICING STARTS AT JUST OVER $38,000; MAKING IT A RELATIVE BARGAIN FOR THE SEGMENT.

AUTOGRAPH TRIM STARTS AT JUST OVER $54,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

John: WHEN IT COMES TO EXTRAVAGANCE AND SIMPLY FLAUNTING IT, THE CADILLAC ESCALADE IS HARD TO BEAT.

BUT, THIS BIG SUV IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST A ROLLING PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE EXCESS.

IT'S A LOT OF TRUCK, WITH A LOT OF CAPABILITY; AND YES, A LOT OF BLING.

* THERE'S PREMIUM, THERE'S LUXURY, AND THEN THERE'S PREMIUM LUXURY; WHICH HAPPENS TO BE HOW CADILLAC DESCRIBES THIS 2021 ESCALADE, OR MORE PRECISELY, THE LEVEL OF TRIM THAT HELPS PUSH ITS PRICE INTO SIX-FIGURES.

YEP, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT THESE DAYS WHEN IT COMES TO BIG LUXURY UTILITIES.

OF COURSE, IN THE 2020s, LUXURY MEANS A LOT MORE THAN JUST SOFT LEATHER AND WOOD TRIM.

EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY IS INCREASINGLY MORE IMPORTANT.

TO THAT END, THE ESCALADE IS THE FIRST PRODUCTION VEHICLE TO FEATURE OLED CURVED INTERIOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY.

THE 38 INCH DISPLAY FLOWS FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH ALL THE WAY TO ABOVE THE CENTER STACK, AND IS COMPRISED OF THREE INDIVIDUAL OLED SCREENS; A 14.2 INCH ONE FOR THE CONFIGURABLE GAUGE DISPLAY, A 7.2 INCH TOUCH PANEL MOUNTED JUST TO THE LEFT, AND A 16.9 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IN THE CENTER.

SURROUND VISION MEANS CAMERAS ALL AROUND THE VEHICLE, WITH THE REAR DISPLAY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IF YOU CHOOSE.

REAR SEAT PASSENGERS GET IN ON THE ACTION TOO, WITH THE AVAILABLE REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

MORE THAN JUST FOR MOVIES AND GAMES, THESE 12.6 INCH TOUCHSCREENS CAN MIRROR SMARTPHONES, AND EVEN ACCESS THE VEHICLE'S NAVIGATION TO SUGGEST STOPS ALONG THE WAY.

THERE'S A TREAT FOR THE EARS AS WELL; WE WERE QUITE LITERALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THIS AKG 19 SPEAKER STUDIO AUDIO SYSTEM; CRANKING IT TO THE MAX WITHOUT ANY DISTORTION.

AND ONLY LATER REALIZED THIS IS NOT EVEN THE TOP-END UNIT.

THERE'S ALSO A STUDIO REFERENCE SYSTEM WITH 36 SPEAKERS AND THREE AMPLIFIERS.

ROCK ON, CADILLAC!

AND THANKS TO SUPER CRUISE HANDS-FREE DRIVING, YOU CAN EVEN SAFELY MOMENTARILY PRACTICE YOUR AIR-GUITAR AND DASH-DRUMMING TECHNIQUES ON THE HIGHWAY.

SPACE IS ALSO LUXURY.

PLENTY OF IT HERE FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND PROVISIONS.

ESCALADE HAS GROWN BY MORE THAN 7.0 INCHES, PLUS, ITS NEW INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN PROVIDES A LOT MORE SPACE PACKED INSIDE.

BOTH SECOND AND THIRD ROWS SEE BIG INCREASES IN LEGROOM.

REAR STORAGE SPACE GROWS FROM 15 TO 25.5 CUBIC-FEET; 63 BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, AND 109.1 BEHIND THE FIRST.

PLUS, THERE'S STILL THE SUBURBAN-SIZED ESCALADE ESV, IF YOU NEED EVEN MORE.

PLENTY OF STORAGE AREAS FOR SMALL ITEMS UP FRONT TOO.

IT ALL MAKES FOR A TREMENDOUS ROAD TRIP VEHICLE, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING CROSS-COUNTY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT INDEPENDENT REAR HAS INDEED REMOVED ANY REMNANTS OF A TRUCK-LIKE RIDE.

THIS BEING A CADILLAC, BOTH MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL AND AN AIR RIDE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

PROVIDING THE STEAM TO PUT THIS 5,800 POUNDS LUXURY LINER IN MOTION IS A STANDARD 6.2 LITER V8.

OUTPUT IS SAME AS LAST YEAR AT 420 HORSEPOWER AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

GM'S DURAMAX 3.0 LITER DIESEL, IS AN OPTION.

MAX TOWING IS 8,200 POUNDS; AND THAT'S WITH THE GAS V8.

IT WAS ALSO OUR CHOICE FOR TRACK WORK.

SO EQUIPPED, IT DOESN'T EXACTLY LEAP OFF THE LINE, BUT ONCE IT GETS ROLLING, POWER REALLY POURS ON.

DON'T BE SURPRISED IF 0-60 TAKES ONLY 6.2 SECONDS, AND THE QUARTER-MILE AT 14.7 AND 96 MILES PER HOUR.

IT WAS, HOWEVER, HARD TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT IT'S TRULY CAPABLE OF IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT.

IT ACTUALLY, FEELS QUITE NIMBLE AND SMALLER THAN IT IS.

BUT, ONCE THE SPEEDS GOT MUCH OVER 30 MILES PER HOUR; THE VERY AGGRESSIVE STABILITY CONTROL DRAMATICALLY DAMPENS THINGS DOWN.

BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN USING OUR SLALOM TO HONE THOSE SLOWING-DOWN SKILLS, AS WHEN WE GOT TO OUR BRAKING RUNS, THE ESCALADE STOPPED FROM 60 IN JUST 98 FEET.

PHENOMENAL FOR A VEHICLE THIS SIZE AND WEIGHT; STOPS WERE CONSISTENTLY DRAMA FREE, AND STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW.

WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF ITS VERY FIRST GENERATION; THE ESCALADE HAS NEVER BEEN A VEHICLE THAT BLENDS INTO ITS SURROUNDINGS.

NOT MUCH CHANGES HERE; AS IT LOOKS EVEN BIGGER AND MORE IMPOSING.

LOTS OF SMALL DETAILS DISTINGUISH IT FROM CHEVROLET AND GMC PLATFORM MATES; GRILLE, BRIGHT TRIM-WORK, SIGNATURE LIGHTING, AND OF COURSE, WHEELS; 22 INCHES ARE STANDARD.

FOR CLIMBING ABOARD, POWER RETRACTABLE STEPS WITH ACCENT LIGHTING ARE AVAILABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED; WHICH SEEM REASONABLE BASED ON OUR 16.6 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE OF PREMIUM.

BUT THAT DOES MAKE FOR A MUCH WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; RESPONSIBLE FOR 20.6 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH 9.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS WITH LUXURY TRIM AT $77,490; FOR THE "MONEY IS NO OBJECTERS" THERE'S PREMIUM LUXURY PLATINUM, WHICH STARTS AT $101,290; AND THAT'S WITHOUT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE, WHICH IS A $3,000 OPTION FOR ANY ESCALADE.

NOW, YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO DISMISS THE 2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE AS JUST A FLASHY TAHOE FOR PEOPLE THAT FEEL A NEED TO FLAUNT THEIR WEALTH.

BUT, IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

BEYOND THE EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY AND CADILLAC STYLE; YOU GET A BIG, CAPABLE UTILITY VEHICLE.

IT'S A FIRST-CLASS CARGO HAULER READY TO TAKE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON ONE LUXURIOUS VACATION, OR JUST MAKE YOUR DAILY ROUTINE-- SOMETHING TRULY EXTRA SPECIAL.

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 WE SEARCH FOR THE PINNACLE OF MINIVAN POSHNESS OF THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA.

THEN, WE'LL FIND OUT HOW SPORT LUXURY AND UTILITY COME TOGETHER IN ACURA'S MDX.

WE'LL MAKE A PIT STOP AT GOSS' GARAGE.

WE'LL SEE HOW ALTERNATIVE FUELS KEEP OUR AUTOMOTIVE WORLD MOVING.

PLUS, 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... 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.

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

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

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