The display, named in honor of Chip Miller (co-founder of Carlisle Events and Corvettes at Carlisle), is an annual special display that is showcased within Building T.  This display embodies the best-of-the-best in the Corvette hobby, including unique themes, designs, builders or cars that have some type of historical tie-in to Corvettes at Carlisle, Chip Miller and/or the Miller family.  For 2020, the display features the Best of the Best of Bloomington Gold.

As noted, Bloomington Gold is a big deal within the Corvette hobby and is the longest running event of its type dating back to the early 1970’s.  For 2020, Bloomington Gold President Guy Larsen and Event Director Bill Locke will hand pick Corvettes that have made an impact not only within the hobby but at their prestigious event.  These cars, 12 to be exact, will sit front and center for all to see as part of Chip’s Choice in Building T.  Not only will this be a heavily trafficked area at Corvettes at Carlisle, each car will also be showcased within the nearly 90-page event guide as well on online and via social media.

“We’re excited to showcase some amazing Corvettes throughout this display,” noted Carlisle Events co-owner Lance Miller.  ‘My father, Chip Miller, went to every single Bloomington Gold while he was alive.  In fact, he was a long-time judge at each of the events,” continued Miller.  “Corvettes at Carlisle continues to be represented year in and year out. I recall going with him on many occasions and enjoying the various events. I felt it was appropriate to showcase a taste of what Bloomington Gold has to offer during their events.  So, for 2020, what better way to include them than this special Chip’s Choice display.  I know my father is smiling down proud.”

“The 2020 Chip’s Choice display at Corvettes of Carlisle will feature a display of some of the very best Bloomington Gold Benchmark® Corvettes, the most prestigious Corvette award,” said Guy Larsen, President – Bloomington Gold Corvettes.  “The Benchmark® award recognizes the very rare Corvettes that embody the ultimate in factory originality and condition,” continued Larsen.  “Benchmark® Corvettes are highly unrestored and appear to be in ‘typical factory production.’  The Corvettes on display at Chip’s Choice 2020 will appear as if they were put in a time capsule when they left the factory and have been preserved. These Corvettes are the best examples for anyone doing a restoration or trying to learn about authentic Corvettes of that time, hence the name Benchmark®.  Benchmark® cars are the sports’ best link to the past and preserving Corvette’s factory authenticity heritage in the future.  It is an honor for Bloomington Gold Corvettes to present these fine Benchmark® Corvettes this coming August, 2020.”

For details on the upcoming June Bloomington Gold event at the Indianapolis Speedway, visit www.BloomingtonGold.com and for information on Corvettes at Carlisle this August in Carlisle, visit www.CarlisleEvents.com.  While on the Carlisle page, register for the massive all-Corvette Fun Field, learn more about becoming a vendor or simply purchase spectator tickets.  Discounts are available through one month out for those registering to show, while spectator tickets are available at a discount up to and even during the event.  Log on, learn more and save!

The top-selling non-truck in America, and No. 4-selling vehicle overall is Toyota’s RAV4 with nearly 450,000 units sold in 2019. RAV4 launched in the United States 23 years ago, creating a niche that became the compact crossover SUV segment. It has always been hip, trendy and sporty, and was named for being a “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive” (RAV4), although not all RAV4s have four-wheel drive.

Remaining true to its roots, the fifth-generation RAV4 was fully redesigned last year and receives minimum tweaks this year. The major upgrade for 2020 is the introduction of RAV4’s TRD Off-Road model. One negative for 23 years was that RAV4 was soft-road, but that all changes with the new TRD Off-Road version, and its tough Off-Road suspension kit with red coil springs, TRD’s unique 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires and TRD badges inside and out.

Also new for 2020, all RAV4 models expand multimedia capability with Android Auto™ added to the Apple CarPlay® and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The LE and XLE grades, both gas and Hybrid, gain standard SiriusXM® with a three-month trial, which was already standard on the higher grades. There are also multimedia enhancements, an augmented weather package on the XLE trim and full leather inside the Adventure model. A Hybrid is available and a plug-in Hybrid is set to be added for 2021.

Toyota’s Global Architecture platform forms a solid foundation and good driving dynamics, comfort, and safety. RAV4’s chiseled good looks combine sportiness, style and athleticism and a demeanor that tackles urban, suburban and outdoor adventures with equal aplomb. RAV4 accomplishes this in compact dimensions of 180.9 inches long, 73.0 inches wide and 67.2 inches high, on a 105.9-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.4 inches to 8.6 depending on trim, and RAV4 weighs in at a range of 3380 to 3655 pounds depending on trim.

RAV4 retains its efficient 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder engine that delivers 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, for a sufficiently steady, but not overpowering amount of muscle. The AWD versions are rated, depending on trim and extras, at 27mpg/city and up to 35mpg/hwy, with some estimated at 33mpg. The RAV4 Hybrid is also powered by a 2.5, assisted with an electric motor on the rear axle. The combined system output is 219 hp, and 400 lb-ft, and backed by an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, is EPA-rated at 41/38 with a combined average of 40mpg. My naturally aspirated test ride averaged 29.2mpg in mixed-use driving in town, on the highway and some soft-road fun. The Independent MacPherson front struts with stabilizer bar and multi-link rear suspension with stabilizer bar levels most pavement irregularities and soft-roaded adequately.

Response from the Electric Power Steering (EPS); electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion set-up was attentive for the niche, with acceptable understeer, rear sway and minor top-wobble in tight turns.

RAV4 is not a speed deliverer, but at the track, my RAV4 shaved a tenth off last year’s  8-second-flat zero-to-60 run at 7.9 seconds, and finished a 16.1-second quarter-mile.

With seating for five, The RAV4 cabin is quiet and sporty, and my Limited trim was luxurious and filled with connectivity, tech, and featured a front-row moonroof, heated 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, 2-way lumbar support, and 7-inch Multi-Information Display.

Front headroom is a bit tight, but expected for the niche, at 37.7 inches, with 39.5 in row two. Legroom is accommodating at 41.0 inches in row one, with 37.8 inches for second-seat passengers and there is a wide-body 57.8 inches of shoulder room in front and  56.4 inches in row two.

From a safety perspective, RAV4 is on point with the Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, which includes, as expected, pedestrian detection, along with Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist, Lane Tracing Assist and Steering Assist. RAV4 also has Star Safety System™ with Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System and Smart Stop Technology. Eight standard airbags consist of dual stage advanced driver and front passenger airbags; front seat-mounted side airbags; first and second row side curtain airbags; driver’s knee airbag and a front passenger seat cushion airbag.

The base 2020 RAV4 Hybrid starts at $27,850 plus a delivery fee of $1120, and gas-only models start with the 2020 RAV4 LE basing at $25,950, the XLE at $27,245, the XLE Premium at $29,950, the sporty Adventure at $33,055, the Limited at $34,480, loaded with standard tech, safety and cosmetics, and the new TRD Off-Road at $35,280. My test RAV4 Limited in Silver Sky Metallic exterior paint mated to a Black Softex interior, added Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD for $1400; the Limited Grade Advanced Technology Package added Smart Key system, hands-free power liftgate with jam protection, Bird’s Eye View camera with Perimeter Scan, overhead 360-degree view and curb view, wireless Smartphone charging and more, for $1025; Bodyside moldings for $209; mudguards added $129; a running board added $549; roof rack cross bars added $315; and delivery, processing and handling added $1120 for a sticker-as-tested of $39,326.

> 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>

Chrysler discontinued its Town and Country minivan and replaced it with Pacifica for the 2016 model year and more than 400,000 have been sold in America since its launch, among the tops in sales during that timeframe. Classified as a multipurpose vehicle, built in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, this year’s version is available in eight trims and a hybrid model, and has discontinued the low-end “L” and “LX” models that are now sold under the Voyager nameplate. 

Pacifica will fully refresh in 2021 … but this year the line-up adds a long list of available cosmetics, mechanical upgrades and optional exterior add-ons, and a Red S Edition package as a new option for Limited models … Red S doesn’t mean Red exterior, it means fully loaded with a black and red interior, and it is the trim I tested.

While I tested the fuel-only version, Chrysler also offers the Pacifica Hybrid, America’s first and only hybrid minivan. It is the fourth best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) from the 30 PHEVs available in the market, and the top seller among the 20 vehicles that offer PHEV as an option. Pacifica Hybrid achieves more than 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode, has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. 

Back to the gas-only version, Pacifica rides with more than 100 available safety and security features, the Uconnect® Theater rear-seat entertainment system, exclusive Stow ‘n Go seating and storage, available 4G Wi-Fi and an array of comfort and convenience technologies, making it tailored to fit a family lifestyle.

My Red S edition was inspired by the popular blacked-out look of the S Appearance Package on other Pacifica trims. The trim features a striking, class-exclusive interior with Rodèo Red Nappa leather seats with Light Diesel Grey stitching and piping, Silver Metal Brush hydro bezels on instrument panel and door trim, Red S liftgate badge and Black Noise Chrysler wing badges with Velvet Red insert and Gloss Black exterior finishes, 20-inch wheels (18-inch on Pacifica Hybrid) with a Black Noise finish, Advanced SafetyTec, 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio, KeySense, and more.

Honored for the fourth consecutive year by The Car Connection as the “Best Minivan to Buy,” and earning a Consumer Guide “Best Buy” badge, the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica employs steel unibody construction, with hinged front doors; aluminum-skinned sliding left- and right-side doors and a magnesium-structured/aluminum-skinned rear liftgate with gas props.

Pacifica’s 121.6-inch wheelbase platforms a 37.8-inch front overhang and 44.3-inch rear overhang as part of its 203.8-inch length, 79.6-inch width and 69.9-inch height. Its curbweight is 4330 lbs in a 55/45 front/rear weight distribution.

Inside, Pacifica is comfortable, quiet for the niche and my Red S trim was luxurious and packed with an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power liftgate, power sliding doors, 3-zone automatic climate control, second-row underfloor storage, an 8-way power driver seat, and keyless access and start.

Roomy as advertised Pacifica offers front headroom of 40.1 inches; row two provides 39.6 inches and third row seats afford 38.7 inches. Legroom is accommodating at 41.1 up front, 39.0 in row two with minimum knee clearance of 4.8, and 36.5 in row three with 3.5 inches of knee clearance. Shoulder room is a spacious 63.8, 63.0 and 61.2 and behind the third row of seats, Pacifica has 32.3 cubic feet of space. Fold the third row flat, and you get 87.5 cubic feet.

Pacifica power comes from a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that puts out 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a nine-speed FWD, electronically controlled automatic overdrive transmission with torque converter clutch. EPA rated at 19/28/22, I got 31mpg on the highway and averaged 23.3mpg for a week.

On the track and from a stop, Pacifica isn’t quick, but it is predictable and steady. I achieved a 7.3-second zero-to-60mph run and a 15.8-second quarter-mile.

Smooth-riding, Pacifica’s independent MacPherson strut front suspension with coil over gas-charged shock absorbers, stabilizer bar with hydroformed steel perimeter cradle, works well with an Independent twist-blade rear suspension with coil springs, twin-tube shock absorbers with integrated rebound springs to react well and family-soft for passengers, and the electric rack and pinion steering provide niche-good road feel and dynamics.

The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica is available in eight trims, from the $33,745 Touring through the $48,690 Red S Edition. The Pacifica Hybrid Touring starts at $39,995 and cash discounts and a potential federal tax credit of up to $7500 may be available. My test ride was the top-of-the-line 2020 Pacifica Red S, in Ceramic Gray Exterior Paint with Red Nappa Leather bucket seats, an S logo and Uconnect® 4 Nav with a 8.4-inch display. Splashguards added $150 and eight-passenger seating with a dual-pane Panoramic Sunroof added $495. An interior entertainment package could have added another $1995, but my test ride was delivered without those upgrades. Destination charges added $1495, and three cash discounts totaling $3500 put my MSRP at $46,835, so check with your local dealer for available discounts.

> 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. 

If performance and speed are your thing, then the 2020 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals is the fix your passion needs.  Returning for its 35^th edition at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, Import & Performance weekend runs May 15-17.  2020 offers special displays, some new activities, popular standards and an international showcase of cars and trucks, some of which you simply don’t see anywhere other than Carlisle on a show weekend.

Most times, the guests at Carlisle let their hair down and have fun, not a care in the world; but now and again, they come together to honor one of their own.  This year, a very special enthusiast will be honored.  As part of a newly forged partnership in 2020, the Driven to Cure group debuts at Carlisle to honor Andrew Lee, a hobbyist who passed away during Easter weekend of 2019.  Lee’s customized Nissan GTR anchors the DTC show within the show display in Building Y, with money being raised to support Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC). 

Along with the DTC feature in Building Y, 2020 shines a spotlight on 100 years of Mazda, 50 years of the Datsun/Nissan Z and more.  With nearly 2,000 cars and over 20,000 guests converging on Carlisle, the automotive flavor is mouthwatering.  One of the coolest parts of the event is the international showcase of cars and trucks.  There are at least eight different countries represented on the Showfield.  Within that automotive globe will be some of the largest single gatherings of Volvos and Saabs anywhere, while also hosting some of the best from England, Japan and Germany.  There’s even an amazing display planned from the Rolls Royce Owner’s Club and Rolls Royce Museum of Mechanicsburg, highlighting luxury seldom seen at Carlisle.

Show cars aren’t the only draw to Carlisle during the second weekend of May.  There’s a bevy of competitions and activities on tap for the show, too.  Returning for 2020 is the always popular burnout contest, track time/autocross/drifting with NICOFest, low car limbo and the exhaust competition, while NEW for 2020 is an exciting donut contest.  More details on the contest will be unveiled via the Carlisle Events website in the coming weeks, but with its addition, the event offers even more chances to be the show versus simply attending.  Speaking of things that go fast, another great display puts race prepared cars in the spotlight courtesy of the Race Paddock, located on the east side of the grounds in the pavilion.

Registration is open now for the judged and non-judged Showfield.  A 10% registration savings is available now through April 13 via Gate-N-Go.  Speaking of convenient offers, those looking to simply enjoy the show as a spectator can pick up single day or full event tickets online too.  Savings are available today with the tap of a finger/click of a mouse; only at www.CarlisleEvents.com.

The Lexus RX came to life as a compact luxury SUV in 1998, and four generations of the soft-roader have seen it grow to mid-size status, gaining followers for its versatility and luxury sedan-like comfort, raising it to a No.1-sales ranking in the luxury SUV niche.

The current (fourth) generation started for the 2016 model year, and Lexus RX has undergone a re freshening for 2020 starting with new exterior styling and technology applications including Android Auto integration in addition to in-car connected technology applications from Apple CarPlay® and Amazon. Additionally the 2020 RX employs enhanced driving dynamics, improved steering response for smoother ride, has revised front and rear styling, enhanced handling and increased available safety features.

The 2020 Lexus RX350 comes in FWD, AWD, five-passenger or seven-passenger configuration and also in a Sport trim, and the 450h version is a gas-electric Hybrid available in 4WD in five- or seven-passenger styles. I tested the RX350 and it was loaded to overflowing with tech, convenience connectivity and safety items.

Reinvigorated and refined for 2020, Lexus RX 350 comes at you with its signature grille, and an elaborate look based on an L-motif. Each individual block has a different shape and angle to create a varying form that balances a strong yet elegant image. The hand-drawn angles of the grille surround are also echoed at each corner of the bumper to smooth the visual flow. The luxury crossover receives several changes designed to enhance the driving dynamics across the lineup. Both the front and rear stabilizer bars are now hollow to reduce weight, yet their thicker diameters and reinforced bushings help reduce body roll and improve steering response. The shock absorbers have been re-tuned to work with the stiffer roll bars, while upgraded dampers feature a new friction control device that helps to control high frequency vibrations for a smoother ride.

The elegantly sculpted 4387-lb. (for the AWD) RX350 is constructed of unitized steel and aluminum, and measures 192.5 inches long, 74.6 inches wide and 67.7 inches high on a 109.8-inch wheelbase.  Ground clearance is 8.2 inches and maximum towing capacity is 3500 lbs.

The RX350’s power set-up remains as it was last year -- a Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection 3.5-liter V-6 aluminum block engine, coupled with an 8-speed Automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission. The system is rated at 295 hp and 267 lbs.-ft. of torque, and the transmission, with “intelligence”, accelerates in car-like fashion. Behind the wheel and in the seats, RX350 smoothly glides uphill and in passing maneuvers. Responding well from a stop, my test RX350 completed a zero-to-60mph run in 7.9 seconds during a 16.2-second quarter-mile. EPA rated at 19mpg/city, 26mpg/highway and 22mpg/overall for the AWD configuration, my test RX350 averaged 22.3mpg in mixed-use tests.

The refined 2020 Lexus RX suspension design and newly added active corner braking helps prevent understeering by braking the inner wheel and providing more stability to the vehicle handling. Additional rigidity was achieved through additional spot welds and adhesive. The RX 350’s electric power rack and pinion steering with electronic power assist was often vague, but acceptable. Inside, for driver and passengers, the experience was as smooth as one would expect in a luxury vehicle. The all-wheel-drive set-up worked as expected and the MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and the rear double wishbone, smoothed out most road irregularities.

The cabin is generously packed with intuitive, luxurious and high-tech conveniences. With seating for 5, interior dimensions are comfortable at 39.4 inches up front and 39.1 in the rear; legroom is 44.1 inches in row one and 38.0 inches in row two; and shoulder room is 57.8 and 57.6.

Abundant safety items include Lexus Enform Safety Connect, Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, a Backup Camera and 10-Airbag System.

The base 2020 Lexus RX 350 starts at $44,150 in front-wheel drive and $45,550 in all-wheel drive. The seven-passenger 350L is priced at $47,300 for FWD and $48,700 for AWD; the dynamic sport-tuned RX 350F Sport starts at $47,950 (FWD) and $49,350 (AWD). If you go up to the 450h (gas-electric Hybrid) in AWD, pricing starts at $46,800, with $50,600 for the 450h Sport and $50,510 for the 450hL.

My all-wheel-drive test RX 350 AWD in Atomic Silver with a Parchment NuLuxe® and Striated Black trim interior. A power moonroof with roof rails was added for $1350. The $3365 Navigation/Mark Levinson® Package was added with a 15-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System, Navigation System, 12.3-inch color multimedia display, in-dash DVD/CD player, Lexus Enform App Suite, remote touch and climate control smog sensor; the Premium Package was added for $800, with Matte Walnut interior wood trim, power-folding, auto-dimming outside mirrors and the Lexus Memory System. A color Heads up display cost $600; heated and ventilated front seats were $640; a heated leather–trimmed steering wheel was $150; a power rear door kick sensor was $150; a panoramic blind-spot monitor with rear-cross-traffic and braking was added for $1865. Mud guards were $155; door edge guards were $140; and running boards were $640. With the delivery and processing fee of $1025, my test 2020 all-wheel-drive Lexus RX350 stickered at $56,430.

> 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>