Since 1990, Auto Mania has taken place at the Allentown Fairgrounds in eastern Pennsylvania.  Under the guidance of Carlisle Events, Auto Mania has proven to be a the “little event that could” every January at the Agri-Plex facility.  Not only is it indoors and heated, the unmatched power and resources offered by Carlisle Events and its team help make the weekend a great way to start the Pennsylvania- based schedule for Carlisle Events and the Miller families. 

As the first date on the 2020 Carlisle Events season schedule, Auto Mania was a great starting point for those looking to pick up automotive pieces and parts, restoration items, collectibles, merchandise, memorabilia and more.  The outdoor vendor footprint, which has grown exponentially in the past few years, continued its expansion for 2020.   Playing perfectly into the weather for the weekend, a few of the outdoor vendors even had heaters, gloves, hats and scarfs for sale.   

For anyone at the event who was there when gates opened at 12 p.m. Friday, it was clear and obvious that excitement for the three-day affair was running high.   The line stretched around the building and once inside, guests were shoulder to shoulder and aisles were packed with enthusiasts.  The weekend turnout, despite some unsavory weather on Saturday, offered an overall solid result for all involved…including an uptick in gate over 2019’s offering.

To say that one day stood above another shopping wise is a tough call, because with such an influx of guests throughout the weekend, every day was THE day for shopping and camaraderie in Allentown!   For the throngs of guests who made the trip, Auto Mania was the best outlet for parts buying, picking, flipping and just a generally fun time out of the house.  The event wrapped at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 19 with guests taking one final shot at deals within the automotive flea market and one last chance to connect with old friends before saying goodbye until “the next time.” 

Speaking of next time, Auto Mania 2021 takes place January 15-17.  The buzz is so strong with this event among vendors that a large chunk of available spaces were renewed during the 2020 event weekend as everyone anticipates next year’s offering.  In the meanwhile, Carlisle Events next event weekend comes in one month as staff travel to Lakeland, Florida for Winter AutoFest Lakeland.  That event runs February 21-23 at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus and hosts an automotive flea market and car corral, plus a two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions.  There’s a big car show theme destined to take over the facility.  This year, the NCRS brings its winter regional meet to the event, plus the Imperial Mustang Club of Polk County returns with its Mustangs and Mustangs show.  There’s a Corvette showcase and all-new for Lakeland, a Mopar showcase.  With special guests, displays and seminars planned, a trip to Florida in February isn’t a bad idea. 

As for the aforementioned auction, Carlisle Auctions anticipates 400+ consignments and boasts its exciting FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee.  In addition, buyers and sellers can enjoy live auction entertainment and other great conveniences related to being part of a Carlisle Auction.  A complete rundown of this event and others are available online at www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

The Volvo V90, marketed by the Swedish automaker since 2016, is a mid-size luxury wagon, often referred to as a Crossover. A big brother to Volvo's S90 sedan, the V90 in AWD is designed for use on rough terrain, unsealed roads and for light off-road usage. Since Crossovers have more buyer appeal than Wagons, we can excuse Volvo for blurring the designation of V90, but either way, this luxury family car has appeal and capability. So much so that Digital Trends.com named the Volvo V90 “Best Luxury Family Car”.

I tested the 5-door Cross Country trim and found it to be a rugged, all-weather, all-luxury vehicle that belies its wagonesque guise. The V90 Cross Country employs Volvo’s design face, and includes the manufacturer’s iconic “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight design, a spiffy grille and Euro-sculpted design cues. In the cabin, Volvo has taken the clean, Scandinavian interior design of its XC90 model and added new details on the dashboard and instrument panel, including new air blades that stand vertically on each side of the Sensus® user interface. And all new Volvos are now connected, thanks to Volvo’s connectivity and infotainment system (Sensus®), which delivers an intuitive touch screen interface that combines car functions, navigation, connected services and in-car entertainment applications such as Spotify, Pandora, Baidu or TuneIn. The portrait-oriented touch screen enables easy and fast access to a host of functions and features. Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also available.

Introduced in 2018, and remaining largely the same as it was in 2019, the 2020 V90 adds new active safety features; new gloss-black mirror caps, window trim, and integrated roof rails in the R-Design trim and an available Park Assist Pilot option that assists with parallel parking and adds a front camera and audible proximity-warning alert to aid front parking.

My test V90 Cross Country comes base with a 316 hp engine (see below), automatic transmission and AWD, 19-inch matte tech black diamond cut alloy wheels with six double spoke,; leather upholstery, Black Walnut décor inlays, dual integrated tailpipes, Lane Keeping tech, color coordinated rearview mirror, touring chassis, high-performance audio system and more.

Weighing in at a robust 4400 lbs., the Volvo V90 has dimensions of 60.7 inches high, 194.4 inches long and 75.9 inches high on a 115.8-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.3 inches.
 
Volvo power comes in the form of either a turbocharged 2.0-liter in-line 4-cylinder engine that delivers 250hp and 258 lb-ft of torque for a fuel estimate of 23/city, 31/highway and 26mpg overall; or a supercharged and turbocharged in-line 4 that is good for 316 horses and 400 lb-ft. That’s the one that powered my AWD test ride, and it lived up to its EPA ratings of 21/city, 31/highway and 25mpg/overall with a snowy-terrain average of 26.2mpg.

Possibly a full second quicker on the track than its little brother engine, my super-turbo accelerated responsively and seamlessly to a 5.8-second zero-to-60mph run and a hand-timed 14.4-second quarter-mile. In low ranges, there are some hesitations, but the ride is velvety smooth. V90’s Electric Power Assisted Rack and Pinion Steering is predictable and stable, and the Double Wishbone Front Suspension, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers and Stabilizer Bar work in concert with the Integral Axle Rear with Transverse Composite Leaf Spring, Hydraulic shocks to provide a luxury ride for driver and passengers.

The cabin carries on the luxury demeanor with elegant Dark Walnut trim, a host of infotainment, connectivity and safety features, and 69 cu. ft. of cargo capacity. But the low roofline yields headroom that only measures 37.8 inches up front and 37.7 in row two; leg room is spacious in row one, at 42.2 inches, but only 35.9 inches in the rear seats; and shoulder room is 57.5 in the first row and 55.9 for the rear seats.

The base 2020 Volvo V90 starts at $52,095 and the base V90 T6 Cross Country starts at $55,195. Denim Blue metallic exterior paint added $645 and worked well with the Blonde Leather and charcoal interior with Black Walnut inlays; dual exhaust pipes (I don’t see the need for a family wagon, but that’s how it was outfitted) added $245; side exterior scuff plates added $935 and front and rear mud flaps added $200. Park assist Pilot added $200; a 14-speaker premium Harmon Kardon sound system added $800; and Polestar Performance Software for $1295 that is designed to create a more precise and balanced driving experience, optimizing mid-range engine performance, gearshifts and throttle response. Now, we get pricey, as my ride added one of two available tech packages. The Advanced package added $2450 for full LED Headlights with Active Bending Lights, 360º Surround View Camera, Headlight High Pressure Cleaning and Graphical Head-Up Display. We went without the really cool Luxury package that would have required an exterior color change to Chrystal White Metallic paint, and would have cost $4500 for Heated Rear Seats, 4-Way Power Front Seats with Lumbar Support and Power Adjustable Side Support, Rear and rear side door Sun Curtains, 4-Zone Automatic Climate Control + CleanZone and lots of interior cosmetics. 

With Destination Fees of $995, my 2020 Volvo V90 T6 AWD Cross Country as-tested, stickered at $62,315.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

The sexy, sporty Toyota Supra began as a longer and wider derivative of the Toyota Celica line-up in 1978, and by 1986, for its third generation, became its own stand-alone model. From the beginning, its inherent sportiness and turbo power captured the public’s imagination. After a four-generation run, Supra was discontinued in 2002, but it came back to life in May 2019. 

The Supra line has been reincarnated as the GR, or GR Supra Racing Concept that is track-ready, but street legal, and features a lowered suspension with Toyota OEM parts, center-lock racing wheels, Brembo racing calipers, a full roll cage and fire extinguisher system, a stripped-out interior, Michelin  track tires and a center exit racing exhaust. It also features carbon fiber for the hood, splitter, diffuser, mirror caps, side skirts, wing and bumpers.

Toyota embraces its racing heritage with the GR Supra as “GR” stands for Gazoo Racing -- Toyota's performance partner, and in the car builder’s marketing campaign for Supra: “This Is Our Sport”. Toyota Marketing Group Vice President Ed Laukes, said, “…2020 GR Supra (offers a) rediscovered appreciation for the simple joy of driving.”

Available in three trims: 3.0, 3.0 Premium and Launch Edition, I tested the fully loaded 3.0 Premium with12-speaker 500-watt JBL HiFi Surroundsound system, 8.8-inch Touch-Screen With Supra Command -- Featuring Touchpad Control With Navigation, AM/FM, Digital Audio, SiriusXM®, Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatible, Voice Recognition and USB /Bluetooth  Connectivity, Full-Color Head-Up Display, Qi-Compatible Wireless Charging Tray With Light Indicator, heated Black Leather-trimmed sport seats, wireless charging and tons of connectivity from Toyota Supra Connect®, featuring Emergency Calling, Battery Guard, Remote Control Lock/Ventilation, Real-Time Traffic Information, Map Updates, Concierge Service, and Toyota Supra Online (Services Available Online; App Available for iOS Only).

Supra’s look is curvy, sexy and sporty with some architectural influence by BMW and maybe old Z-Cars. In fact, Supra shares a platform with BMW and shows off a wide track and short wheelbase. At 172.5 inches long, 73 inches wide, a road-hugging 50.9 inches high, and a ground clearance of only 4.5 inches, on a compact 97.2-inch wheelbase, Supra is super friendly with the road. With a curbweight of 3397 pounds, Supra has a power-to-weight ratio of 10.14. Now, that 4.5-inch ground clearance means this is a fit-like-a-glove, slide-in-low car. If you are tall, you have to limbo into it, but being of average height, easing into the front seat begins the sensual pleasure of Supra driving.

Exterior highlights include six lens auto-leveling LED headlights (three low-beam, three high-beam), built-in rear spoiler, dual rear exhaust outlets with brushed stainless steel exhaust tips, LED backup light, LED front turn signal indicator and daytime running lights, and LED taillights and rear combination lights.

Power comes from Supra’s direct-injection 3.0-liter twin-scroll single-turbo DOHC engine. The 24-valve inline six-cylinder engine produces 335hp and 365 lb-ft of torque, and has been rated at 24mpg/city, 31mpg/highway and 26mpg/overall – I averaged 27.1 mpg in mixed-use, hammer-down testing. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters as well as manual mode, but there is no traditional manual transmission. Man, I would have liked to have a stick in this beast. What fun that would have been; however, even in automatic, Supra is super.

Going full out on autocrosses and within legal highway constraints, the road grip was superb, the engine is throaty (even a bit noisy in the cabin), and corners well, though high-speed hairpins cause the rear to wag out at times. And Supra’s double-joint-type MacPherson strut front suspension works well with a multi-link independent rear suspension to smooth out rough surfaces and still provide good driver’s road feel.

The manufacturer proclaims zero-to-60mpg times of 4.1 seconds, but my test ride did better than that, and I finished off the sprint in 3.9 seconds, during a 12.4-second quarter-mile.

The cabin is loaded with such niceties as a 14-way power-adjustable sport seat with driver's-seat memory function and lumbar and bolster adjustment, auto-dimming driver's-side outside mirror, automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, dual zone automatic climate control, smart key system with smart entry and start, large knee support cushions and leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel. The coupe’s interior dimensions are 38.3 inches of headroom, 54.4 inches of shoulder room and 42.2 inches of legroom.

Safetywise, you get Toyota’s Driver and Front Passenger Advanced Airbag System with front, side, curtain and knee airbags. And Supra provides Tire Pressure Monitor System, Anti-Lock Brake System, automatic high beams, directional parking lights, Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Rearview Camera with Parking Aid Lines, Traction Mode and Vehicle Stability Control

The 2020 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 starts at $49,990; the GR Supra 3.0 Premium goes $53,990 and the GR Supra Launch Edition starts at $55,250. My 3.0 Premium test ride in Nocturnal Black, and Black Leather-trimmed interior, added the $1195 Driver Assist Package with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Parking Sensors with Emergency Braking Functions and 50-state emissions compatibility. That’s all the extras needed as it was loaded by the manufacturer. The Delivery, Processing and Handling Fee was $995, for a sticker-as-tested of $56,140.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

The 47th season of Carlisle Events commences January 17, 2020 and from the time the first guest or vendor walks through the door in Allentown, Pennsylvania until the lights are turned out in Sarasota, Florida in November, Carlisle Events and Carlisle Auctions have a little something for everyone. From automotive flea market only offerings to auctions, car shows and truck shows, special displays, guests and more, being part of an event in Carlisle or Allentown, Lakeland or Sarasota gives car lovers from around the world something to see and do 10 out of 12 months annually.

2020’s schedule starts January 17 with Auto Mania at the Agri-Plex building of the Allentown Fairgrounds in eastern Pennsylvania. This event is PA’s largest indoor and heated automotive flea market and also serves as a great way to beat the dull and dark of winter to mix and mingle with like-minded car folks. From parts shopping to food, garage and in-home must haves, Auto Mania is easy to find, conveniently located just off I-78 near Allentown’s famous Dorney Park.

Just over a month later, car lovers looking to enjoy Florida in February can follow the Carlisle team to Lakeland, Florida to join the snowbirds for Winter AutoFest. Held at the SUN n’ FUN Expo Campus just off I-4, Winter AutoFest has evolved into a must-do event!  Carlisle Auctions hosts its first auction of the year with a 400+ car offering, while car owners and supporters of the hobby enjoy showcases of the Corvette, Mustang and all things MOPAR. There’s even a free cruise-in for all brands that either don’t fit that criteria or if you simply want a more relaxed experience at the show.  Of course what would a Carlisle backed weekend be without an automotive flea market, car corral and even a showcase of top of the line motor coaches?  Save the date, because February 21-23, 2020 will be here fast!

About two months after Winter AutoFest wraps, the “home season” for Carlisle Events commences. Spring Carlisle (April 22-26) and Fall Carlisle (September 30-October 4) bookend the schedule with six other major events jam-packed in between.

Spring and Fall each offer a utopia of nearly 100 acres of parts shopping, car buying and unmatched camaraderie with the combined nearly 200,000 guests that helped make Carlisle America’s automotive hometown.

Every event in between Spring and Fall offers a parts shopping experience either within the automotive flea market or midway, but the type of cars or trucks shown at each epically vary. The first specialty show happens in May and it’s the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, this year benefitting Driven to Cure. Running May 15-17, this show not only offers high octane activities like an exhaust contest, burnouts, drifting and autocross, it provides professional judging, a great car club atmosphere, special displays like 100 years of Mazda, 50 years of the Datsun/Nissan Z and dozens of classes; all while showcasing over 2,000 of the best rides from around the world.

The first full weekend of June (5-7) the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiars celebrates its 25^th anniversary and welcomes nearly 60,000 guests and over 3,000 cars to the National Parts Depot Showfield. Special guests are still TBA, but special displays are nearly finalized. To date, Ford weekend spotlights the Grabber 50^th anniversary, 15^th anniversary of the Ford GT, a Euro Ford garage with the 50^th anniversary of the Capri and 35^th anniversary of the Merkur, a Thunderbird reunion and a Starliner reunion.  Ford weekend also offers a downtown Carlisle Ford parade and street party, Ford executives hosting product showcases and seminars, there’s onsite installs and of course the FREE test drives at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center.

Just a few weeks later, the Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals (June 26-27) host around 1,000 rides that span the history of the brand. The National Parts Depot Showfield not only hosts all Chevy branded rides, but welcomes Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and more! Displays for 2020 include 50 years of the Monte Carlo, Novas at Carlisle, the Solid Lifter Showroom, Featured Vehicle Display spotlighting GMs of the ‘70s within Building T, and much like Ford weekend, guests are still TBA. 

Up next and spanning July 10-12, the grounds come to life again with the world’s largest all Mopar themed weekend, the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals.   This three-day event really launches the day before with a 200+ car cruise-in at the Carlisle Expo Center, then quickly transitions to a nearly 3,000 car event at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  Display highlights include 50 years of the following:  Dodge Challenger, AAR & T/A, Plymouth Duster, Superbird and Pro Stock.  Chrysler weekend also spotlights some of the best rides from 1970, while showcasing some of the best of the best within Building T’s Featured Vehicle Display.  Parts shopping is also a big deal every July at Carlisle with the largest all-Mopar themed automotive flea market in the world drawing shopping hopefuls from around the world.  Burnouts, a club challenge and more help power this annual summer gathering of all things Mopar.

August offers the last full month of summer as well as two of the hottest automotive events on the season schedule.  The Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores (August 7-9) is the most family-friendly event on the Carlisle Events schedule.  With monster truck shows, cool custom vans, a family fun zone and trucks of all sizes, kids and adults alike will be wowed by real life versions of the toys they played with as kids.  From the special displays in Buildings T and Y to the eclectic mix of trucks on the judged and non-judged showfields, there’s shapes, sizes, styles and eras of trucks for as far as the eye can see.

The final specialty event of the year starts Thursday, August 27 and it’s THE car show that put Carlisle Events on the map; Corvettes at Carlisle presented by Top Flight Automotive.  Over the course of the event, Team Chevrolet members join over 60,000 guests and 5,000+ Corvettes to celebrate America’s Sportscar.  There are product walkarounds, a downtown Corvette parade and street party, special displays like ones focused on 1970 Corvettes, seminars, special guests and more.  2020 is also expected to showcase more 2020 Corvettes in one place than anywhere else outside of the factory.  The 2020 Motor Trend Car of the Year stood front and center in 2019 and expectations are similar for August of 2020 as well. 

Much like the Import & Performance Nationals, each specialty event noted above includes a burnout contest, track activities, car club gatherings, other fun automotive based activities including (at select shows) an off road course, low car limbo, exhaust contest, high and low truck showdown and there are different classes for the variety of vehicles to be able to park in regardless of event.

Lastly, not only does Carlisle Events bring automotive excitement to central Pennsylvania, Carlisle Auctions does so too.  For the Carlisle Auctions team, three events are held in Carlisle and done so in conjunction with events, with two more auctions taking place in Florida.  Auction season commences on February 21 with an offering within Winter AutoFest in Lakeland (400+ consignments).  Up next is the Spring Carlisle auction starting April 23 (500+ consignments) followed by the Summer Sale on June 27 (200+ consignments).  This auction serves as a nice compliment to the Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals and offers an all-Chevrolet hour during the day too.  The final two auctions take place starting October 1 with the Fall Carlisle auction (500+ consignments) and November 13 brings the auction team back to Florida for Sunset Carlisle (400+ consignments).  Other than the Summer Sale which is a single day offering, each auction spans two days.

The 2020 Carlisle Events and Carlisle Auctions schedule is as follows:

Event	Location	Date
Auto Mania	Agri-Plex/Allentown Fairgrounds, Allentown, PA	1/17-19
Winter AutoFest	SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, Lakeland, FL	2/21-23
Lakeland Winter Auction	SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, Lakeland, FL	2/21-22
Spring Carlisle	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	4/22-26
Spring Carlisle Auction	Carlisle Expo Center, Carlisle, PA	4/23-24
Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	5/15-17
Carlisle Ford Nationals	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	6/5-7
Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	6/26-27
Carlisle Summer Sale Auction	Carlisle Expo Center, Carlisle, PA	6/27
Carlisle Chrysler Nationals	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	7/10-12
Carlisle Truck Nationals	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	8/7-9
Corvettes at Carlisle	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	8/27-30
Fall Carlisle	Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA	9/30-10/4
Fall Carlisle Auction	Carlisle Expo Center, Carlisle, PA	10/1-2
Sunset Carlisle Auction	Sunset Automotive Group Facility, Sarasota, FL	11/13-14

 

# # #

Carlisle Events is a partner or producer of over a dozen annual collector car/truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA), Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA), the Sunset Auction Facility (Sarasota, FL) and the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus (Lakeland, FL). The season schedule includes four automotive flea markets of varying size, five auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports, tuners and performance sport compacts. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract more than half a million enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available at www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

# # #

After a nine-year run with its fifth generation, the Ford Explorer is all-new for 2020. America’s all-time best-selling SUV has been fully redesigned and is lighter, longer and more powerful than ever.

The vehicle that is credited with mainstreaming sports utility vehicles, Explorer began as a trim package offered on Ford F-Series trucks from 1968 to 1986. It became its own model line and replaced the Bronco II in 1991 and the mid-size remained the best-selling SUV for two decades and four generations. The 2020 Explorer continues the adventure with new style, power, performance, safety and capabilities, while retaining Explorer ruggedness, toughness and a pampering environment.

There are more than two-dozen new items in the Gen-Six Explorer and seven more have been improved from the previous model. With six trim levels available, the 2020 Ford Explorer has upgraded with four new engine choices, a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift®, Self-Sealing P255/55R20 All-Season (A/S) Tires, standard second-row sunblinds on most trims, standard 360-degree camera with split view and washer on upper trims, Side-Wind Stabilization is standard on all series, adaptive headlamps on the Platinum trim, six new exterior colors and much more.

Built in North America at Chicago Assembly Plant, Explorer’s look remains Explorer confident, with a rear-wheel-drive architecture, athletic roundness and increased aerodynamics. Explorer’s new design is set on a unitized steel body that is larger than before, at 198.8 inches long (a gain of 0.5 – and the ST trim is 199.3 inches long), 89.3 inches wide (including mirrors), which is nearly an inch thinner; and 70.2 inches high (up 0.2) on a huge 119.1-inch wheelbase (a gain of 6.3 inches). Minimum ground clearance is 0.4 inches better at 8.2 inches, and curbweight for the 4WD Platinum version is 4727 lbs. -- the base trim is 382 lbs. lighter.

My test Explorer Platinum exterior was enhanced by body-color door handles with satin aluminum insert, a body-color liftgate spoiler, Satin Aluminum Lower bodyside cladding accent, Quad Chrome Exhaust Tips, a unique grille with satin-aluminum finish, a Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate, LED Signature Lighting, power folding mirrors with autofold and heated glass, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Rear Bumper Step ,Acoustic-laminate window glass in front and Privacy Glass in the Second and Third Rows.

The 2020 Explorer offers three new engine choices (with four set-ups): The 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-4 has been uptweaked to deliver 300hp (a gain of 20 horses) and 310 lbs-ft of torque (same as last year); the 3.3-liter hybrid is good for a combined horsepower of 318 and torque of 322 lb-ft; and the new 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 that powered my test ride, provided 365 hp and 380 lbs-ft of torque, while another version of the 3.0 thunders out 400 horses and 415 lb-ft for the ST trim. The hybrid is EPA rated at 27mpg/city and 29/highway; the 2.3 gets 21/city and 28/highway and the 3.0 version gets 18 and 24. My test Explorer Platinum 3.0 averaged 20.2mpg in pedal mashing highway, town and soft-road excursions.

The 400hp ST could achieve low 5s for a zero-to-60mph sprint and beat 14 seconds in the quarter-mile, but my 365-horse Platinum was no slouch, as we managed a 6.0-flat dash and a 14.6 quarter (hand-timed). The engine was a bit noisy for a midsize family vehicle, and visibility is impaired by a large C-pillar (rear quarter), but acceleration was predictable and powerful from the 10-speed automatic transmission, though at slow speeds you occasionally get a jump forward as the gears engage.

Inside, the Explorer is roomy, refined and functional with seating for six or seven, and provides a comfortable 40.7 inches of front headroom with 40.5 inches in row two (and 38.9 when there is a third row); legroom is 43.0 inches up front and 39.0 in the second seats (and a tight 32.0 inches in a third row), and shoulder room comes in at 61.8 (row one), 61.9 (row two) and 54.6 (row three)

With five-star safety ratings, Explorer safety features include dual-stage front airbag, front-passenger knee airbag; Safety Canopy® System; SOS Post-Crash Alert System™; Traction control; AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ and Curve Control; Anti-Lock Brake System; battery saver with headlamps-off delay; four-wheel disc with Illuminated Entry System; rearview camera; SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System; perimeter alarm; and individual tire pressure monitoring system (excludes spare).

The 2020 Explorer is base priced at $32,765 (RWD) and 4WD adds $2000. The XLT trim raises the RWD price to $36,675 and the Limited trim hybrid goes $48,130. The 400hp ST starts at $55,025 and my top-of-the-line 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum started at $58,535, with Intelligent 4WD, Tri-Diamond Perforated Leather Seating Surfaces with Accent Stitching, Twin Panel Moonroof, Active Park Assist 2.0, Evasive Steering Assist, Remote Start, Heated Steering Wheel, Voice-activated touchscreen navigation and 12.3-inch Digital Cluster. Rich Copper exterior paint added $395; and the Premium Technology Package added $1195 for Multicontour front Seats with Active Motion®, a 10.1inch LCD Capacitive Portrait Touchscreen with Swipe and Pinch-to-Zoom Capability and 14-speaker, 980-watt Bang & Olufsen B&O sound system. Splash Guards added $205 and the sticker added Destination Charges of $1195 and an Acquisition Fee of $645, but regional incentives of $1750 were applied (and may be available, so check with your dealer), making the price-as-tested $60,420.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>