INDIANAPOLIS — BMW had some nerve when it introduced its flagship 7-Series back in 1977.  To even deign to compete with the dreadnought Mercedes-Benz S-Class took an end-loader full of, well, something extraordinary.  While Cadillac was content to offer over-fluffed Chevy Impalas, Lincoln built block-length cruisers, and Audi was still trying to out-live the Fox, BMW said, “You think you’re great, Mercedes?  I’ll have a whack at that!”  Six generations and over 40 years later, BMW may finally have hit its battleship.

AMENIA, N.Y. — Given Americans’ infatuation and craze for SUVs, it isn’t surprising that the Mercedes-Benz GLC recently replaced the C-Class sedan as the brand’s best-selling vehicle. Since replacing the outgoing GLK compact SUV back in 2016, GLC has received only mild updates. Now, for 2020, the GLC gets a heavy mid-cycle refresh that includes new front and rear styling, upgraded technology and expanded safety systems.

PHOENIX — America’s all-time best-selling SUV has been a family favorite for nearly three decades. Now, for 2020 an all-new redesigned-from-the-ground-up sixth-generation Ford Explorer has just gone on sale. It features a new rear-wheel-drive platform, a sportier more athletic design, and improved on-and off-road capability. Overall, it’s a more capable, comfortable, and roomier three-row vehicle that handles daily driving chores with imperturbable poise, assurance and ease.

MIAMI — BMW’s 3-Series has been around for over four decades, and now the German automaker has taken its so-called “entry” level luxury sedan to a new level. The 2020 M340i and M340i xDrive now in showrooms are the most powerful non-M 3 Series yet. With a 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine (382 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque), the M340i xDrive moves from zero-to-60 in 4.2 seconds.

INDIANAPOLIS — You have to give Range Rover credit for consistency. Whether it is the large flagship that easily crosses into six figures, the smaller Range Rover Sport, Velar, or smallest Evoque, all look part of a family that dates to the original country estate wagon from the 1970s.  While the first generation Evoque may have been a little small and light on capability, this second generation represents a stronger embrace of its famous family.

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — GMC has just introduced its full line of heavy-duty trucks for 2020 at a media drive event in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Engineers at the event emphasized that the new trucks are the most capable heavy-duty truck they’ve ever built, and promised world-class towing capability, out muscling the likes of Ford Super Duty and Ram HD with a class leading maximum towing capacity of 35,500 pounds.

PHOENIX — The Lincoln Aviator is an all-new three-row luxury SUV that positions itself between the larger Navigator and the smaller Nautilus. The Aviator name was previously used from 2002 to 2005, when it was essentially a Ford Explorer gussied up to look like a Lincoln Navigator. Buyers saw through what Lincoln was attempting and the vehicle never caught on.