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The Tech Guy #1555

This week, Sam is in Las Vegas for CES and he says it’s rapidly become the largest auto show in the world. The north hall is crammed with auto tech now. Everything from car audio, to smart assistant enabled technology for cars, to smart cars. But the big change over the last fear years is how the aftermarket head units and stereos have disappeared, as people are streaming from their phones. Leo says that makes sense because your phone will be updated and that stereo won’t. 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

Episode #092 – Gaining Weight As We Age

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Episode #092 - Gaining Weight As We Age
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This week Dan is driving the new 2019 Kia Forte EX and Sam has been in the all-new 2019 Nissan Altima. The conversation then moves into whether cars are actually getting heavier, spoiler alert – Yes and No! Is a low-mileage 1994 Toyota Supra really worth $121,000? Another Alphabet moonshot project becomes its own company with a novel way to store energy from renewable sources. Links Are cars actually getting heavier? How much is a low mileage 25 year old Supra worth? Malta spins off from Alphabet Automotive News Automotive Engineering International Automotive World 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

Episode #091 – Wagons, Turbos and Fingerprints

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Episode #091 - Wagons, Turbos and Fingerprints
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As the guys get together one final time for 2018, Sam used the Buick Regal TourX to pick up a new puppy, and the Ram 1500 North Edition spends an extended stay in Dan’s driveway . We re-visit Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid impressions at the request of a listener looking to replace a GMC Safari, ponder a German Turbo EV, and consider the utility of fingerprints in the car. We finish up by answering a listener question about aerodynamics on everyday cars before bidding everyone a pre-emptive Happy New Year. If you’re just dying to know, the GMC Safari and Chevy Astro had up to 170.4 cu ft of cargo volume while the current long wheelbase Ford Transit Connect offers 127.4 cubic feet and the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has 140.5 cubic feet. Links Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid review and Episode 22 and Episode 67 Hyundai Fingerprint Sensors Porsche… Read More »Episode #091 – Wagons, Turbos and Fingerprints

Episode #090 – Back To The Future

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Episode #090 - Back To The Future
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This week Sam has been driving the Cadillac ATS-V and GMC Acadia Denali. Dan gets to be one of the first to try out the new Ram 1500 North Edition. Electric vehicle batteries don’t ignite very often, but when they do, they are really hard to put out. Lincoln goes back to the past for a special edition of the Continental and FCA appears to be preparing a new inline six cylinder engine. Links Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition Twice-baked batteries New Fiat-Chrysler inline six 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

Episode #089 – Plugged In Jag and Semi-Driverless Sorta Robo-Taxis

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Episode #089 - Plugged In Jag and Semi-Driverless Sorta Robo-Taxis
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We’re back with seat time in the Honda Odyssey, Jaguar i-Pace, Mazda6 Signature and Volkswagen Jetta S. Meanwhile Waymo sort of launches a commercial sort of driverless robo-taxi service, Porsche tests ultra-fast charging and Aston Martin reveals some engine details about the Valykerie. Links Waymo One soft launch Aston Martin Valkyrie Porsche ultra-fast charging Full review of the 2019 Jaguar i-Pace 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

Special: Sam on This Week In Tech 696

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Special: Sam on This Week In Tech 696
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While you wait for Dan and Sam to get organized and record a new edition of Wheel Bearings, check out Sam’s latest appearance on This Week in Tech with Leo Laporte, Rich DeMuro and Patrick Beja 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

2019 Jaguar i-Pace

In my formative years as a car enthusiast, having any kind of affection for British cars was fraught with peril. While many of them were attractive and enormously fun to drive, they also had a well-deserved reputation for unreliability. As often as not, the source of a failure to move could be traced back to electrical gremlins. After what seemed like an interminable wait, I finally had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the all-new all-electric Jaguar i-Pace to see if it could live up to the hype and not let me down. Read the full review at Forbes  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

Episode #088 – Plugged In At The LA Auto Show

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Episode #088 - Plugged In At The LA Auto Show
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The American automotive market is more about trucks and utilities than ever before. Sam and Dan look at a couple of bookends with the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and Ford EcoSport. GM CEO Mary Barra makes the tough call to end production at five factories. Meanwhile at the 2018 LA Auto Show, there was lots of new product many of them with plugs. Some highlights include the 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, 2020 Mazda3, 2020 Porsche 911, Audi e-Tron GT concept and the new Kia Soul with a battery that should go 250 miles or so. Links Episode #011 – Sam talks with Delphi’s Jim Zizelman about dynamic skip fire as used in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Lincoln Aviator Audi e-Tron GT Porsche 911 Kia Soul Sam talks about GM closing plants on the radio All-weather tires   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you… Read More »Episode #088 – Plugged In At The LA Auto Show

Episode #087 – Carlos In The Clink, Driving In Winter and Charging Follies

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Episode #087 - Carlos In The Clink, Driving In Winter and Charging Follies
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This week Sam drives the new Volkswagen Jetta and Dan spends time with the Acura RDX and VW Golf Sportwagen. Out in the real world, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Chairman of Nissan is arrested for alleged financial malfeasance and the future of the Alliance is in doubt. With snow and ice now on the road, it’s time again to think about winter tires. Land Rover unveils the second-generation Evoque with electrified powertrains and Tesla owners are experiencing Supercharger issues. Sam also interviews Pete Rander and Brett Browning of Argo AI. Links Carlos Ghosn Arrested Winter Tires 2020 Land Rover Evoque Supercharging issues 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

Episode #086 – Complete with sirens from Magic City

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Episode #086 - Complete with sirens from Magic City
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This time out, Sam is recording from a hotel room in Miami as we discuss the Volvo XC40 T5 and its goofy shifter design, the Audi Q5 and its surprisingly fast handwriting recognition and the marvelous Kia Stinger. Subscriptions may or may not be the future of car buying, assuming car buying even has a future in an age of automated vehicles. Faraday almost certainly has no Future and Walmart joins Ford’s automated delivery test program. Links 2019 Volvo XC50 T5 Momentum Cadillac closes the Book on subscriptions for now Probably no future for Faraday Walmart and Ford team up on automated deliveries 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