2022 Nissan Frontier & 2021 BMW 4 Series Convertible

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

JOIN US AS WE EXPLORE NEW HAULING-HORIZONS IN NISSAN'S NEW FRONTIER... PAT GOSS HAS DOLLARS-AND-CENTS ADVICE FOR AFTER AN ACCIDENT... GREG CARLOSS GOES OVER THE EDGE AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE... THEN, TOP-DOWN LUXURY WITH SPEEDY FUN IN BMW'S 4-SERIES CONVERTIBLE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.

LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.

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: IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN A MIDSIZE PICKUP TRUCK RESURGENCE, WITH THE RETURN OF THE FORD RANGER AND THE ARRIVAL OF NEW ENTRIES LIKE THE JEEP GLADIATOR.

BUT, ONE ENTRY HAS BEEN SOLDIERING ON FOR YEARS WITH LITTLE FANFARE-- IT'S THE NISSAN FRONTIER.

WELL, IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THAT, WITH ITS FIRST REDESIGN IN 15 YEARS!

* THE NISSAN FRONTIER HAS A WELL-EARNED REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST MIDSIZE TRUCKS.

AND WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE THIRD GENERATION FRONTIER FOR 2022, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL CONTINUE.

THERE'S A MASSIVE GRILLE, CHISELED HOOD, EXPRESSIVE HEADLIGHTS, AND EXAGGERATED FENDERS; ALL THE HALLMARKS OF MODERN, BOLD TRUCK DESIGNS.

WHAT IS UNCHANGED IS THE STANDARD 126.0 INCH WHEELBASE.

EXTENDED KING CABS COME WITH SIX-FOOT BEDS, WHILE FULL CREW CAB MODELS ARE AVAILABLE WITH EITHER A FIVE-FOOT BED, OR A STRETCHED WHEELBASE VERSION WITH THE SIX-FOOTER.

ALL BEDS GET A NEW DAMPENED TAILGATE WITH AERO TREATMENTS BUILT INTO THE TOP.

AN OPTIONAL CONVENIENCE PACKAGE ADDS A SPRAY-IN BEDLINER, UNDER RAIL BED LIGHTING, AND NISSAN'S UNI-TRACK ADJUSTABLE TIE DOWNS.

THE FRONTIER'S FRAME DOES GET BEEFED UP WITH STRONGER SUSPENSION MOUNTS, BUT IT'S THE ADDED HYDRAULIC BODY MOUNTS THAT WILL BE THE UPGRADE BUYERS APPRECIATE MOST; ENABLING A MORE REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

POWERTRAIN IS THE COMBO THAT ACTUALLY DEBUTED IN 2020s FRONTIER; 310 HORSEPOWER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED V6 WITH 281 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, MATED TO A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OPTIONAL 4-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND A TOWING CAPACITY OF 6,270 POUNDS.

WITH THIS REDESIGN, THE FRONTIER HAS GONE FROM HAVING THE MOST OUTDATED INTERIOR IN THE SEGMENT, TO HAVING THE MOST MODERN.

THANKFULLY, IT'S A GOOD DESIGN, AS WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE IT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS JUDGING BY THEIR CURRENT RATE OF FRONTIER RENEWALS.

THE 9.0 INCH INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN IS AN OPTIONAL UPGRADE OVER THE BASE 8.0 INCH, BUT THE 7.0 INCH ADVANCED DRIVER ASSIST DISPLAY IS STANDARD.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ATMOSPHERE LOOKS MORE UTILITARIAN THAN MOST NEW TRUCKS; RUGGED AND DURABLE NO DOUBT.

STILL, YOU CAN ADD LEATHER AS PART OF A PREMIUM PACKAGE THAT ALSO INCLUDES UPGRADED 10 SPEAKER FENDER PREMIUM AUDIO AND SUNROOF.

PRO-4X TRIM RETURNS.

IT COMES WITH 4-WHEEL-DRIVE STANDARD; ALONG WITH 17 INCH ALLOY WHEELS WITH ALL-TERRAINS, BILSTEIN OFF ROAD SHOCKS, FENDER FLARES, LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL, STEEL SKID PLATES, AND OF COURSE, SOME SPECIAL INTERIOR TOUCHES TOO.

LIKE...THE LOOK, BUT DON'T NEED 4-WHEEL-DRIVE?

THERE'S A NEW PRO-X VERSION THAT GETS MOST OF THE SAME UPGRADES YET, STICKS WITH REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE.

ONCE, WE GOT OUR PRO-4X BACK ON THE PAVEMENT, IT WAS OFF TO MASON DIXON DRAGWAY WHERE IT JUMPED OFF THE LINE WITH SOME SERIOUS AGGRESSION; HITTING 60 IN 7.5 SECONDS.

POWER DELIVERY STAYED STRONG THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER-MILE, AND THIS V6 REVS FREELY, MAKING SOME GREAT SOUNDS AS IT DOES IT.

BEST TIME WAS A 15.7 AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

DUE TO ITS OFF-ROAD MINDED SUSPENSION SETUP AND HEAVY STEERING, IT WAS A LITTLE SLUGGISH GETTING THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

UNDERSTEER ARRIVES EARLY AND KEEPS SPEEDS RELATIVELY LOW.

BUT THE THROTTLE IS VERY RESPONSIVE MAKING IT EASY TO FIND BALANCE AND KEEP IT IN ITS SWEET SPOT.

THAT SOFT SUSPENSION ALSO CREATED A LOT OF NOSE DIVE IN OUR BRAKING TEST.

THE PEDAL IS FIRM, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE ABS WORKING OVERTIME.

STILL, WITH A STOPPING DISTANCE OF JUST 115 FEET FROM 60, THEY CERTAINLY GET THE JOB DONE.

STANDARD SAFETY INCLUDES AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING; OPTIONAL NISSAN SAFETY SHIELD 360 FEATURES INCLUDE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING AND INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 17-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE, RIGHT ON AT 22.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

TYPICAL FOR A TRUCK, THERE'S A BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 17.3 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, WITH 7.6 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

PRICING STARTS WITH A KING CAB S AT $29,015, WITH 4-WHEEL-DRIVE A $3,200 OPTION.

TOP PRO-4Xs ARE CREW CABS ONLY WITH 4-WHEEL-DRIVE INCLUDED FOR $38,415 THAT PUTS THE 2022 NISSAN FRONTIER AT THE RIGHT PRICE; WITH THE RIGHT SIZE AND FEATURES TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE MIDSIZE TRUCK SEGMENT.

AND, NISSAN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF MODERNIZING AND TOUGHING IT UP WITHOUT CHANGING ITS OVERALL CHARACTER OR DOING ANYTHING TO ALIENATE CURRENT FANS.

THIS BOLD NEW FRONTIER DELIVERS BETTER THAN EVER.

* [CAR DOOR CLOSES] John: HERE AT MOTORWEEK , WE TEST CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES, AND EVEN THE OCCASIONAL R.V.

AS WELL.

BUT FOR OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, GREG CARLOSS, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

SO, THIS WEEK HE TEAMED UP WITH THE CREW FROM OUR MPT PRODUCTION KIN, MARYLAND FARM AND HARVEST, TO HEAD OUT TO THE FIELDS AND CULTIVATE A LIFELONG DREAM.

* Greg Carloss: I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DRIVE A TRACTOR.

AND SO FAR, THIS IS AS CLOSE AS I'VE COME.

WELL, TODAY THAT CHANGES, IN A BIG WAY.

TO MANY PEOPLE, THE WORD "TRACTOR" CONJURES UP IMAGES OF RUSTY OLD MACHINES WITH METAL SEATS AND TINY FRONT WHEELS.

BUT, TODAY'S FARMER IS WORKING WITH SOMETHING A BIT MORE COMPLEX.

MY NAME IS BRIAN GOTT, I WORK FOR HOOBER INCORPORATED HERE AT NEW WINDSOR, MARYLAND.

Greg: HOOBER INC. HAS MULTIPLE FARM EQUIPMENT DEALERSHIPS, AND BRIAN WAS NICE ENOUGH TO INDULGE MY DESIRE FOR A TRACTOR TEST WITH THE CREAM OF THE CROP.

Brian: THIS IS A 2021 CASE-IH MAGNUM 280.

THIS TRACTOR WOULD BE USED IN A ROW CROP APPLICATION.

PULLING A PLANTER, PULLING A TILLAGE PIECE... [METAL PIECE DROPPING IN THE TRACTOR] Greg: PULLING ALL THAT EQUIPMENT TAKES TORQUE, AND LOTS OF IT.

SO, SIMILAR TO THE CUMMINS YOU'D FIND IN A RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUP, THIS CASE-IH MAGNUM 280 USES AN INLINE 6-CYLINDER TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE.

BUT AT 8.7 LITERS, IT'S BIGGER THAN ANYTHING YOU CAN GET IN A PICKUP TRUCK.

[TRACTOR ENGINE STARTS UP] AND IF YOU THINK MODERN CARS HAVE BIG WHEELS, THIS SENDS POWER TO THE SOIL THROUGH 50 INCHERS WRAPPED IN 6-FOOT TALL RUBBER.

ONCE INSIDE, I FEEL LIKE, I'M IN THE COCKPIT OF A LUXURY 747.

Brian: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO IS VIEWED, TOUCH SCREEN AS WELL, CAB CONTROLS, HEAT, AC, RADIO CONTROLS, YOUR CELL PHONE.

FUEL, OIL PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, TRANSMISSION PRESSURE.

Greg: I'M INTIMIDATED BY THIS THING.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I PULL OR PUSH OR ANYTHING?

Brian: THAT'S GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THERE.

THAT'S YOUR THROTTLE, THAT'S YOUR SHIFT LEVER.

YOU CAN RAISE OR LOWER THE HITCH, AS FAR AS THE AUTO GUIDANCE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA DO 90 PERCENT OF YOUR WORK.

Greg: YEAH, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT.

USING GPS, THIS THING CAN DRIVE ITSELF WITH ACCURACY DOWN TO THE SUB-INCH.

LETTING AN 11-FOOT TALL TRACTOR NAVIGATE AROUND A FIELD ON ITS OWN IS COOL AND ALL, BUT I CAME TO DRIVE.

AND HERE WE GO OUT ON THE ROAD.

FULL THROTTLE!

THIS MODEL USES A POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION WITH 19 FORWARD GEARS AS WELL AS FOUR REVERSE GEARS.

CAN I GO UP THROUGH THE GEARS PRETTY QUICKLY OR?

Tyler Rahmer: OH...YEAH, YOU CAN JUST HOLD IT UP.

Greg: JUST HOLD IT AND JUST GET UP TO SPEED?

Tyler: YEP.

Greg: 28...29...30.

WE HIT 30!

Tyler: DOWNHILL, YOU COULD PROBABLY HIT 32.

Greg: I THINK, WE COULD.

MAYBE AT THE HANDS OF A BETTER DRIVER.

[LAUGHTER] SHE RIDES PRETTY SMOOTH, MAN.

IT FEELS GOOD.

Tyler: IT'S LIKE, YOU'RE FLOATING.

Greg: YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S LIKE.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS TRACTOR FLOAT LIKE A BENTLEY, IT'S PRICED LIKE ONE TOO.

AT $200,000, THIS MAGNUM 280 COSTS ABOUT THE SAME AS A BENTAYGA.

BUT THE BUYER IS LIKELY TO SEE A MUCH BIGGER RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

Brian: THESE ARE MORE DESIGNED FOR THE GUY THAT'S MAKING A PAYCHECK WITH IT.

IT'S NOT A PLAY VEHICLE, NO.

IT'S A WORKHORSE.

Greg: FOR ME, PILOTING THIS 30,000 POUND TRACTOR WAS LIKE PLAYING WITH A BIG TOY.

BUT IT'S REALLY AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL FOR TODAY'S FARMER AND WITHOUT A DOUBT MORE VITAL TO OUR SOCIETY THAN MOST OF THE CARS AND TRUCKS I'VE EVER DRIVEN.

John: TIME FOR A TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR SOME MONEY-WISE ADVICE IF YOUR CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

* Pat Goss: SO, YOUR CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT GOES TO THE BODY SHOP, IT GETS REPAIRED, AND EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD TO YOU, AND YOU THINK THAT'S THE END OF IT.

WELL, THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE, THERE IS SUCH A THING AS DIMINISHED VALUE.

AND WE HAVE MR. JACK ANDERSON HERE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

HI JACK.

Jack Andersen: HI PAT, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

Pat: ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, TELL US ABOUT DIMINISHED VALUE.

Jack: DIMINISHED VALUE REFERS TO THE FACT THAT ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN IN A COLLISION AND HAS SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND HAS TO BE REPAIRED WILL BE WORTH LESS IN THE MARKETPLACE.

Pat: OKAY...NOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIMINISHED VALUE, RIGHT?

Jack: YES, UM, ESSENTIALLY THREE TYPES: FIRST IS INHERENT DIMINISHED VALUE, THAT IS THE TRACEABLE RECORD OF THE REPAIRS.

YOU HAVE INSURANCE-RELATED DIMINISHED VALUE, WHERE AN INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY TO REPAIR EVERYTHING THAT WAS DAMAGED, AND LASTLY IS REPAIR-RELATED DAMAGE OR DIMINISHED VALUE, WHERE THERE ARE VISIBLE SIGNS OF THE REPAIR WHERE ANY SAVVY BUYER OR USED CAR MANAGER OR APPRAISER, WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.

Pat: NOW, THESE DIMINISHED VALUES SOMETIMES CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL.

Jack: YES.

WE HAVE BEHIND US HERE, A 2018 CHEVY COLORADO PICKUP TRUCK.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS REAR-ENDED AND SUSTAINED $14,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE.

PART OF THAT DAMAGE INCLUDED THE CHASSIS OR FRAME, THAT HAD TO BE PULLED BACK INTO SPECIFICATION.

THEY REPLACED THE BED, THEY ALSO ATTENDED TO SOME OTHER THINGS AND ULTIMATELY THE DIMINISHED VALUE ON THIS TRUCK CAME IN AT ABOUT $5700, AND THAT'S OVER AND ABOVE THE REPAIR COSTS.

Pat: OKAY, NOW AS FAR AS AN INDIVIDUAL IS CONCERNED, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?

Jack: WELL, FIRST OFF IS TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS GOING TO BE WORTH LESS IN THE MARKETPLACE, EITHER AS A TRADE-IN OR TO SELL IT PRIVATELY.

NOW, THAT IS GOING TO DIMINISH OVER TIME, BUT IF THEY WANT TO GET THE BEST FOR THEIR MONEY, THEY NEED TO HIRE A QUALIFIED APPRAISER WHO HAS EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIMINISHED VALUE AND CAN HELP THEM RECOVER SOME OF THAT LOSS.

Pat: OKAY, SO THE APPRAISER IS GOING TO SET THE VALUE, THE INSURANCE COMPANY REIMBURSES THE INDIVIDUAL FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

Jack: THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO PAT, YES.

Pat: WE HOPE!

OKAY, JACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK !

John: LOTS OF CARS HEADED OUR WAY THIS SEASON, SO HOW ABOUT SOME QUICKSPINS ON WHAT'S NEW!

* OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN BRANDS LIKE MERCEDES TAKE THE COUPE-SUV DESIGN AND RUN WITH IT, BUT FEW CAN RUN AS FAST AS THE AMG GLE 63S.

AT THE HEART OF THIS LUXURY SPORT-UTILITY IS A 4.0 LITER BITURBO V8, PUTTING DOWN 603 HORSEPOWER AND 627 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT'S AIDED BY MERCEDES' EQ BOOST TECHNOLOGY; AN INTEGRATED STARTER-GENERATOR AND 48-VOLT LITHIUM-ION BATTERY.

THAT MEANS, ULTRA-QUICK AMOUNTS OF TORQUE WHEN YOU NEED IT; AND THANKS TO THE NINE-SPEED GEARBOX AND AMG PERFORMANCE 4MATIC+ ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, THE 63S IS ABLE TO USE THIS POWER TO GREAT EFFECT: 0-60 IN 3.7 SECONDS.

INSIDE, WHERE PEDAL-MEETS-METAL, DRIVERS CAN CHOOSE AMONG SEVEN DIFFERENT DRIVING MODES TO TUNE THEIR RIDE-- THERE'S SOMETHING FOR THE COMFORT LOVERS AND SOMETHING FOR THE PERFORMANCE-INCLINED.

EVEN IN SPORT MODE, THE 63S REMAINS LUXURIOUS, THANKS TO THE PAMPERED INTERIOR; MOSTLY NAPPA LEATHER, AND NICELY SOFT TOUCHPOINTS.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS FURTHER ENHANCED BY MERCEDES' SUITE OF ASSISTS AND SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, LIKE ACTIVE BRAKE AND DISTANCE ASSISTS.

THE MERCEDES-BENZ USER EXPERIENCE RETURNS FOR INFOTAINMENT, OFFERING THE STANDARD AFFAIR OF CONNECTIVITY EXPECTED FROM ALMOST ANY CAR THESE DAYS-- AS IT SHOULD, PRICING AT JUST UNDER $120,000.

TO SOME, THE MERCEDES-AMG GLE 63S MAY JUST BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SUV-MAKERS INJECTING COUPE-DNA INTO THEIR LINEUP, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE HALF-RIGHT.

YES, THE 2021 63S IS AN SUV-COUPE, BUT IT HAS A TRUE AMG HIGH PERFORMANCE SOUL.

AND IF THAT REALLY BOTHERS YOU, THERE'S ALWAYS THE NON-COUPE SUV.

JOHN COOPER WORKS, BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR TOUCH ON THE ICONIC MINI, HAS DONE IT AGAIN WITH THE 2021 JCW CONVERTIBLE.

AVAILABLE IN CLASSIC, SIGNATURE AND ICONIC TRIMS, WE WANTED TO SEE JUST HOW FAR THIS BLEND OF THROWBACK STYLING AND MODERN EQUIPMENT COULD GO.

SPOILER ALERT: VERY, AS THE JCW CONVERTIBLE WAS BOTH A PLEASANT AND OVERALL-COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE JCW NEAR THE END OF SUMMER, MEANING THE TOP WAS DOWN WHENEVER THE SUN WAS OUT.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE CONVERTIBLE WAS MUCH LIKE THE HARDTOP WE TESTED LAST SEASON.

IT WAS FUN AND PUNCHY, THANKS TO THE SAME TWIN TURBO, 2.0 LITER INLINE-4.

CAPABLE OF 0-60 IN JUST OVER 6.0 SECONDS, THIS MINI WASN'T SHORT ON GOOD TIMES, DESPITE NO MANUAL ROWING OF THE GEARS.

OF COURSE, GONE IS THE HUGE MULTI-LEVEL REAR WING OF THE HARDTOP, BUT THE DROP TOP GIVES THE MINI A LITTLE LESS AGRO AND A LITTLE MORE AERO-- NOT BY THE WAY OF INCREASED AERODYNAMICS, MIND YOU, BUT THE RUSH OF WIND OVER OUR HEADS IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR RAW POWER.

EVEN STILL, MANY OF THE HANDLING UPGRADES ADDED TO THE HARDTOP ARE CARRIED OVER TO THE CONVERTIBLE.

WITH THE TOP DOWN, IT'S EVEN EASIER TO HEAR THE SPORT-TUNED EXHAUST, CRACKLING AND POPPING AT WILL.

IT PUTS SMILES ON OUR FACES, AND SO DOES THE PRICE TAG: STARTING AT JUST UNDER $40,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

LAUREN MORRISON HAS THE MOTORNEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST!

Lauren Morrison: AS INTEREST IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES CONTINUES TO CLIMB, THE CAR RENTAL COMPANY HERTZ IS MAKING A MAJOR INVESTMENT.

HERTZ IS ANNOUNCING THEY PUT IN AN ORDER FOR 100,000 TESLA'S, CREATING THE LARGEST EV RENTAL FLEET IN NORTH AMERICA.

HERTZ SAYS, "TESLA HAS ALREADY STARTED TO DELIVER MODEL 3s INTO THEIR RENTAL FLEET."

HERTZ IS ALSO INSTALLING THOUSANDS OF CHARGERS THROUGHOUT ITS LOCATIONS.

WITH THIS ORDER, EVs WILL COMPROMISE MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE COMPANY'S GLOBAL FLEET.

AND IF YOU NEED ANOTHER SIGN THAT DRIVERS ARE EMBRACING EVs, WELL, HERE IT IS...

THE PORSCHE TAYCAN, THE COMPANY'S FIRST BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE, OUTSOLD THE 911 IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2021.

PORSCHE DELIVERED 28,640 TAYCAN'S FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER, WHILE THEY DELIVERED 27,972 911'S.

WHILE, THE MAJORITY OF PORSCHE'S SALES ARE STILL COMBUSTION VEHICLES, NUMBERS LIKE THESE COULD BOLSTER THE COMPANY'S PUSH INTO EVs.

THEY ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN ALL-ELECTRIC MACAN IN 2023.

IT'S RARE TO FIND A NEW CAR WITH A CD PLAYER THESE DAYS; IT'S USUALLY USB PORTS OR APPLE CARPLAY, BUT WHILE DRIVERS MAY HAVE EMBRACED THAT TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S ONE THING THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO LET GO OF: THE CAR RADIO.

ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY BY EDISON RESEARCH, BROADCAST RADIO "CONTINUES TO DOMINATE AS THE MOST PREFERRED SOURCE OF IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE."

ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THAT "A RADIO TUNER SHOULD COME STANDARD IN EVERY NEW VEHICLE," AND 81 PERCENT OF PROSPECTIVE CAR BUYERS IN THE U.S. SAID, "THEY WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO BUY OR LEASE A VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME WITH A RADIO."

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

John: CONVERTIBLES COME IN MANY VARIETIES.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT ENJOY A RELAXED PACE PERFECT FOR TAKING IN THE SCENERY; AND OTHERS THAT PACK TRACK-WORTHY PERFORMANCE PROVIDING A MUCH MORE REWARDING DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, A CAR COMES ALONG THAT'S EQUALLY ADEPT AT BOTH.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT HOW WELL BMW'S 4-SERIES CONVERTIBLE IS ABLE TO MULTITASK.

* BMW'S COMPACT 4-SERIES CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR JUST 7-YEARS.

BUT ITS DIRECT LINEAGE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH A 3-SERIES CABRIOLET IN THE LATE '70s.

INDEED, OPEN-TOPS HAVE LONG BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BMW LINEUP.

STILL, THE NUMBER OF NEW CONVERTIBLES IS DWINDLING, SO WE'RE GLAD BMW IS STILL IN THE GAME WITH MACHINES LIKE THIS 2021 M440I CONVERTIBLE.

AN UPDATED 4-SERIES COUPE ARRIVED LAST YEAR, BRINGING BMW'S CONTROVERSIAL NEW FACE WITH IT; BUT AS WE SAID THEN, GIVE IT A CHANCE, IT LOOKS MUCH BETTER IN PERSON.

THE BIGGER NEWS HERE IS THAT AFTER SPORTING A HARD TOP DROP TOP FOR THE LAST 15-YEARS, THE LATEST 4-SERIES CONVERTIBLE GETS A NEW CLOTH TOP.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS ARE MULTIPLE, THE CHIEF ONE BEING MUCH MORE COMPACT STORAGE, WHICH MEANS MUCH MORE SPACE FOR LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK; MORE THAN A CUBIC-FOOT HAS BEEN ADDED, FOR A TOTAL OF 9.0.

OTHER BONUSES INCLUDE LESS WEIGHT AND MORE HEADROOM.

STILL, ONE TOUCH OPERATION, JUST A PUSH OF A CONSOLE SWITCH, AND WATCH THE MECHANICAL SYMPHONY PLAY OUT BEHIND YOU AS THE TOP FOLDS COMPACTLY BEHIND THE REAR SEATS.

YES, THIS IS A 4-SEATER.

WOULD ADULTS BE COMFORTABLE IN THOSE BACK SEATS?

NOT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, BUT SHORT JAUNTS ARE NOT A PROBLEM.

THE TOP HAS MULTIPLE LAYERS OF INSULATION TO KEEP THINGS JUST AS QUIET AS THE PREVIOUS HARD TOP, PROBABLY EVEN MORE SO.

AND IT LOOKS JUST FINE WHEN UP TOO; EVEN ADDING A BIT OF A THROWBACK VIBE.

FROM THERE, EVERYTHING FOLLOWS THE COUPE FORMULA, WHICH MEANS IT'S MORE THAN 5.0 INCHES LONGER THAN LAST GEN, WITH 1.6 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE; AND IS ALSO AN INCH WIDER.

YOUR CHOICE OF INLINE TURBO ENGINES; A 255 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER 4-CYLINDER IN THE 430I, OR THE 3.0 LITER 6 FOUND HERE IN THE M440I; OUTPUTTING 382 HORSEPOWER AND 364 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH OPERATE WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, IN EITHER STANDARD REAR OR OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

OUR REAR-DRIVE M440I DIDN'T HAVE THE HELP OF XDRIVE FOR ADDITIONAL LAUNCH GRIP, SO WE DID BATTLE SOME WHEELSPIN; BUT AFTER A FEW PASSES, IT WAS RELATIVELY EASY TO DIAL IN A GOOD DEPARTURE, HITTING 60 IN JUST 4.2 SECONDS.

POWER FLOW REMAINS STEADY DOWN THE TRACK, BMW'S 8-SPEED AS EFFICIENT AND SMOOTH WITH SHIFTS AS ALWAYS.

GREAT POWER, GOOD SOUND, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT THROUGH A 12.7 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 110 MILES PER HOUR.

WE HAD EVEN HIGHER EXPECTATIONS HEADING TO OUR HANDLING COURSE AND WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED.

THE M440I STAYED FIRMLY PLANTED TO THE GROUND, AND IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT OUT OF SORTS NO MATTER HOW ABRUPT YOU ARE WITH YOUR INPUTS.

AS IS TYPICAL, WE COULD STILL USE A LITTLE MORE STEERING FEEL, BUT DRIVER INPUTS WERE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY.

SO, LOOKS LIKE THE M440I HAS GOT TRACK PERFORMANCE ON LOCK, BUT HOW DOES IT OPERATE AT A MORE RELAXED PACE?

WELL, IT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR THERE TOO.

RIDE QUALITY IS SUPERB; FAR FROM STIFF, SOAKING UP BUMPS AND ROAD IMPERFECTIONS SEAMLESSLY.

THE FRONT SEATS OFFER PLENTY OF COMFORT AND SUPPORT, IN THE CUSTOMARY DRIVER-ORIENTED COCKPIT.

PLENTY OF OTHER THINGS TO MAKE YOUR TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL ENJOYABLE TOO, INCLUDING BMW'S LATEST INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

IT'S A TOUCHSCREEN, BUT THE IDRIVE CONTROLLER IS THERE ON THE CONSOLE, IF YOU PREFER.

PRICING STARTS AT $54,095 FOR THE 430I; $64,995 FOR THE M440I.

XDRIVE ADDS 2-GRAND TO EITHER.

THE 2021 BMW M440I IS ONE CONVERTIBLE THAT OFFERS MORE THAN ENOUGH PERFORMANCE FOR SPIRITED DRIVING, YET DELIVERS IT WITH A RELAXED NO SWEAT ATTITUDE THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM A COMPANY THAT GOES ABOUT ITS BUSINESS LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE DONE THAT.

AND BMW SURELY HAS.

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 GO LARGE WITH JEEP'S REVIVAL OF THE GRAND WAGONEER... THEN, WE STAY BIG WITH CLASS-LUXURY IN A BIG SUV: THE MERCEDES BENZ GLS... UNTIL 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... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.

LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.

YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

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

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