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2019 Audi e-Tron Quattro Makes Global Debut In San Francisco

Tesla has won. Not in the sense that the Silicon Valley electric vehicle maker has taken over the industry because they haven’t and probably won’t. But in the sense that the ultimate goal of the founders was to push the industry to electrification. Regardless of whether Tesla’s share price goes to $4,000 or zero, virtually every major automaker is or will soon be selling very compelling zero emissions vehicles. Joining the party this week is Audi with its new e-Tron quattro which got its global reveal today in San Francisco. Read the full story 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

The Quietly Luxurious 2019 Lincoln Nautilus

Earlier this decade, Ford had to make some tough decisions about the future of the Lincoln brand. Over at least the past ten years, the entire brand has consistently been outsold by most of the Ford nameplates including Mustang. The powers that be in Dearborn decided not abandon the brand, but to focus on a theme of quiet luxury rather than taking on the German heavyweights directly. The latest weapon in Lincoln’s battle to bring serenity to the world is the refreshed and rebranded 2109 Nautilus. Read the full review 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 Cadillac XT4, Is Being Competitive Enough In 2018?

Since the turn of the current century, Cadillac has struggled mightily to transform its brand image from a purveyor of old-school American land barges to a creator of engaging drivers cars. In that time, particularly the last half decade, GM’s premium brand has created some excellent cars. Unfortunately, the market is increasingly disinterested in sedans. In response, Cadillac is expanding its crossover utility lineup, slotting in the compact XT4 at the leading edge of the spear. Is it sharp enough to win over customers? Read the rest of the review   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 #081 – New Premium SUVs Including an Electric Audi

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #081 - New Premium SUVs Including an Electric Audi
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After a hectic week of travel for Sam while Dan was making an emergency commercial, the guys are back with a bunch of vehicles they’ve driven. Sam spent time with the BMW 230i and Kia Rio EX while Dan was in the BMW X2 and the VW Beetle convertible for a last hurrah before it rolls off into the sunset. Sam also drove the Cadillac XT4 and Lincoln Nautilus and attended the global reveal of the Audi E-Tron Quattro. Also J Mays emerges from retirement to design something new. Links 2019 Lincoln Nautilus First Drive 2019 Cadillac XT4 First Drive Audi e-Tron Quattro J Mays is Back   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 #080 – SUV Extremes, Hybrid Hauling, Mercedes Goes Electric and We Lose Focus

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #080 - SUV Extremes, Hybrid Hauling, Mercedes Goes Electric and We Lose Focus
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Since the last regular episode, Sam has been in the new Jeep Wrangler with a 48V mild hybrid and a Nissan Kicks. Meanwhile Dan has been hauling stuff in the Hyundai Ioniq and picks up the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Mercedes-Benz revealed the new EQC this week and the Ford Focus Active isn’t coming to America. Links Navigant Research webinar on the Data Driving Automated Vehicles The Data Driving Automated Vehicles white paper 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.0T  2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC Trade Ware Kills Focus Active for America   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

2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara – More Civilized, Still an Off-Road Beast

From time to time, certain vehicles come along that attain an iconic status to such a degree that not only does the model stay in production for decades, but even the fundamentals of the basic design are retained even as the mechanicals evolve. The Porsche 911, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Mini and of course the Jeep Wrangler. For 2018, the Wrangler with its updated internal code of JL is all-new and yet it remains as ever a direct descendent of the utility vehicles utilized by the U.S. Army beginning in 1941. Read the rest of the review on 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

2018 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

Megan Morrone and Sam Try Out The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

During my last jaunt to the west coast, I took another drive up to Petaluma and finally met Megan Morrone in person as we went for a drive in the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell for the New Screen Savers episode 172 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 #079 – Larry Burns Talks About Autonomy

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Wheel Bearings
Episode #079 - Larry Burns Talks About Autonomy
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In this special episode of Wheel Bearings, Sam sits down with Larry Burns, retired SVP of R&D and Strategic Planning at General Motors to talk about his new book, Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car—And How It Will Reshape Our World. Since retiring from GM in 2009, Burns has been an educator and consultant including working with the Google Self-driving car project and Waymo since 2011. The book is a great read for anyone interested in learning more the history of the DARPA Grand Challenge and development of automated vehicles in the past decade. 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 #078 – Refreshed Jeep, Affordable Car and Some Unaffordable EVs

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Wheel Bearings
Episode #078 - Refreshed Jeep, Affordable Car and Some Unaffordable EVs
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            This week Dan records his end of the show from the new Kia Rio which proves an affordable new car doesn’t have to be cheap junk. Sam is at home after having driven the 2019 Jeep Cherokee and the 48V mild hybrid Ram 1500. The guys discuss the wisdom of Jaguar building electric restomod E-types, Audi’s new Pebble Beach electric supercar concept and whether Elon Musk has outlived his usefulness to Tesla Links First Drive of the 2019 Ram 1500 eTorque Jaguar commits to building electric E-Types Audi PB18 e-Tron concept   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 Ram 1500 eTorque, Getting Mildly Hybridized

At the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Fiat Chrysler’s Ram Division unveiled an all-new generation full-size light-duty pickup truck with a bit of a surprise. Along with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, the 2019 Ram 1500 is adopting a 48V mild hybrid system, the first such systems on high volume vehicles in North America. In an American market where consumers regularly respond to surveys that they want better fuel economy, but rarely act with their dollars to that effect, adding a 48V system and branding it as eTorque may well be the route to truck buyers hearts. Read the rest of the review here   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