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Live From Las Vegas

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Live From Las Vegas
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This week, all 3 members of our crew are in Las Vegas from CES recording from separate hotel rooms with terrible wifi. Nicole finished her stint with the Buick Envoy, Robbie had the Land Rover Defender 130 and Sam had the new Infiniti QX80. In the news Faraday Future is still not dead somehow and it’s going to be unveiling new lower cost EVs at CES that we’ll see and talk more about next week. Over at TFL, our pal Andre has been re-engining his Soviet era Buhanka van with an LS V8 and chronicling the multi-month effort on video. Nicole wrote about whether the construction of the Cybertruck might have helped mitigate the damage from the New Years Day explosion in Las Vegas. Q4 2024 sales numbers are coming out and contrary to all the naysayers, EVs aren’t quite dead yet. At CES, Toyota… Read More »Live From Las Vegas

Did The Cybertruck Prevent The Bomb At Trump Tower From Being Worse?

On New Year’s Day, a Tesla Cybertruck pulled up in front of Trump Towers in Las Vegas and seconds later was engulfed in flames. The incident, which authorities are investigating as a possible act of terrorism, killed the driver. There were only minor injuries to bystanders and even the building was largely unscathed. The explosion had nothing to do with the electric battery or being an electric vehicle, but was the result of the gas cans, camp fuel canisters, and firework mortars that were set off in the bed. Watch the video circulating online and it’s a strange combination of fire and exploding fireworks that consume the Cybertruck. This whole incident is still under investigation and there’s a lot we don’t know, but the fact that the damage was largely confined to the truck has become a hot topic of conversation. The explosion looks dramatic,… Read More »Did The Cybertruck Prevent The Bomb At Trump Tower From Being Worse?

Happy New Year

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Happy New Year
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In the final show of 2024, Nicole discusses her experiences with the Buick Enclave, while Robbie shares his Hyundai Ioniq 5 charging journey. News highlights include a potential Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger, affordable electric vehicles from Toyota and Subaru, and a new safer EV chassis design from CATL. The team reflects on favorite drives and 2025 expectations.

Wrangling Beagles

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Wrangling Beagles
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We’re catching up on some reviews this week with Nicole starting a 3 week stint in the Buick Enclave and Sam driving the Chevy Equinox EV and Rivian R1S. Last week Sam participated in Operation Frodo, where 20 journalists transported rescue beagles from Nebraska to the Pacific Northwest. Along the way, he drove the Kia Carnival and Genesis GV70. The amazing Jean Jennings passed this week after battling Alzheimers for several years. Friend of the show Tommy Mica leased a Fiat 500e for no monthly payment. Stellantis is shifting plans with the Ram REV pushed to 2026 and the extended range Ramcharger coming in the first part of 2025. The Hemi is also living on for another year in the Durango. Hyundai Motor Group is going to adopt Android Automotive but before that, Kia will include Google Maps points of interest data. Honda has confirmed… Read More »Wrangling Beagles

Charging The Charger

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Charging The Charger
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This weeks show is a bit different. Robbie is dealing with some family stuff, Nicole is at DisneyWorld wedding and Sam is headed to Omaha for Operation Frodo so no regular review section until next week. Instead, Sam and Robbie recorded a discussion on the death of Cruise and the future of automated driving. Sam also had a conversation with Chad Kirchner about our first drive experiences of the new Dodge Charger Daytona. Sam also interviewed Dodge CEO Matt McAlear and Charger chief engineer Audrey Moore. Links Sam’s initial review of the Dodge Charger Daytona The Kirchner Report RIP Cruise Operation Frodo Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Tacos At Every Charger

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Tacos At Every Charger
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This week, Robbie didn’t drive anything, but Nicole got time with the Ram 1500 RHO and Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback while Sam had the Kia Niro PHEV. At Art Basel Miami, Jaguar showed off its new design direction with the Type 00 Concept and it’s different. Toyota is taking advantage of its joint venture factory with Mazda to offer Soul Red Crystal as an optional color on the Corolla Cross. Carlos Tavares has been ousted as CEO of Stellantis. Hyundai has a new version of the Palisade coming and Genesis is building a race car to go to Le Mans in 2026. Nissan’s Ariya can use Superchargers now but it needs an extra adapter for its adapter. Ion Dynamics has a cool little mobile EV charger and we recommend tires for winter driving in West Virginia. Get your Wheel Bearings merch at https://shop.wheelbearings.media Links Ram… Read More »Tacos At Every Charger

Let’s Go Racing

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Let's Go Racing
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This week Sam has been driving the Ford Ranger with the 2.7-liter V6 and Kia Carnival Hybrid. Nicole had the Toyota Tacoma and Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Robbie had the outgoing VW Tiguan. In the news, Acura has a new entry-level crossover, the ADX and Toyota is working on a new generation Celica. California’s governor has a plan to preserve EV incentives in the states if the Trump administration pulls the plug, and it doesn’t include Tesla. Cadillac is joining the F1 circus in 2026 and Dodge is slapping some big money on the hood of the new Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S. ConnectDER has a solution for installing EV charging on older homes and smaller apartments. Edmunds range tests the Chevrolet Equinox EV and decides to unload their Fisker Ocean while they still can and we answer listener questions. We’ve updated the… Read More »Let’s Go Racing

Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign?
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The whole team is back this week with lots of LA Auto Show news. Nicole drove the Audi SQ8 around Los Angeles for the week. Robbie had the new Toyota Land Cruiser. In the news, Jaguar has launched new branding ahead of the reveal of concept version of its next new EV. Stellantis talked about the STLA Frame platform for its new EV an EREV large trucks and SUVs, and we spoke with Stellantis executives including NA COO Antonio Filosa about where Jeep and the other brands are headed. Nicole got to try out the new GMC Sierra EV Denali. Lotus is also bringing out some EREVs. We also discussed some of the products announced at the LA Auto Show including a refreshed Genesis GV70, new VW Tiguan, the Hyundai Ioniq 9, and the NACTOY finalists. We also answered some listener questions. Links Nissan N7More… Read More »Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign?

Be More Humane

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Be More Humane
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Robbie at a gas station chicken sandwich and the results were predictable so it’s just Sam and Nicole both driving Hondas this week with Sam in the Prologue and Nicole in the Odyssey. In the news, automakers need to stop with electronic door switches, and while Teslas are generally safe in a crash, bad driver behavior is still leading to more fatal crashes than any other brand. Honda has revealed a new 2026 Passport and Acura has their own version of the HR-V, the new ADX. Toyota is offering a dealer installed shield to guard against catalytic converter theft on Priuses. Dodge is about to launch the electric Charger Daytona, but pulling ahead production of the gas version to mid-2025. Jaguar has released the first images of camoflaged prototypes of its new EV and Lexus is adding a cheaper front-drive RZ. Jose Munoz is being… Read More »Be More Humane

Working for the WKNDR

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Working for the WKNDR
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Kia WKNDR conceptMercedes-Benz CLA previewVolvo EX30 arriving in America this yearMazda Iconic-SP to get produced2026 Cadillac Vistiq first lookCadillac XT4 to give way to new BoltBentley To Launch EV in 2026, delay full transition to 2035SEMA 2024 RoundupMercedes-AMG Electric SUVA2RL Roman’s New G-Wagen Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia