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Episode #058 – A Fast Jeep, Driving Assists and a Volvo Triple

Wheel Bearings
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Episode #058 - A Fast Jeep, Driving Assists and a Volvo Triple
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Dan and Sam fired up the recorders late Friday night to marvel at the insanity that is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the combination of practicality and efficiency that is Hyundai’s new Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid. Sam gives a primer on advanced driver assist systems in responses to comments on the Accidental Tech Podcast #261 and Waymo gets a license to operate an autonomous ride-hailing service in Arizona. Volvo launches its first three-cylinder engine. The demise of now former Ford executive Raj Nair shows that automakers may finally be getting serious about tackling harassment and bad behavior in the workplace. Finally, Sam responds to a listener tweet asking about car makers selling our data. Links Accidental Tech Podcast #261 Waymo Gets a Ride-Hailing License Raj Nair becomes first auto exec fired for harassment Making money from selling your car data  Volvo hits a triple 2018… Read More »Episode #058 – A Fast Jeep, Driving Assists and a Volvo Triple

Episode #057 – Casey Returns, More Alfas and an Electric Mini

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #057 - Casey Returns, More Alfas and an Electric Mini
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In this week’s rambling episode, Accidental Tech Podcast co-host Casey Liss returns to talk about his experience with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and compare notes with Sam. Sam also brings up his experience trying to drive the Giulia Quadrifoglio in the wake of a winter storm and Dan talks about the new Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid. The conversation then returns to the prior discussion Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system and Casey’s newfound frustrations with it. Dan is considering replacing his Crown Victoria with a Mazda6 and Casey is continuing to ponder the new Jeep Wrangler. Links Winter Driving in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Sam’s Take on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Casey on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio 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… Read More »Episode #057 – Casey Returns, More Alfas and an Electric Mini

Episode #056 – Diesel Vans, Cars In Space and Meaningless Statistics

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Episode #056 - Diesel Vans, Cars In Space and Meaningless Statistics
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The guys are back after failing to get our collective acts together last week. Dan drove the VW Beetle with a 2.0-liter turbo that makes as much power as many much smaller engines, while Sam drives a three-row utility that actually has room for humans in the back, the 2018 Dodge Durango GT. This week Sam records his end of the show from Chicago as he gets ready for the auto show there. Ford is making a little bit of news with a mid-cycle refresh of the Transit Connect that surprisingly adds a new diesel engine. The best promoter in the auto industry also made some news this week by launching his car into space and Sam goes on a rant about how meaningless the California autonomous vehicle disengagement statistics are. Links Elon Roadster Goes to the Asteroids Ford Adds a Diesel to the Transit… Read More »Episode #056 – Diesel Vans, Cars In Space and Meaningless Statistics

Episode #055 – Compression Ignition Raves, Ranting About Greed and Reckless CEOs

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Episode #055 - Compression Ignition Raves, Ranting About Greed and Reckless CEOs
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This week, Sam spends quality time with the Dodge Challenger GT AWD and comes away pleasantly surprised. Dan shares his appreciation of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport and its naturally aspirated engine. Mazda invited Sam to California to learn more about the upcoming SkyActiv-X engine and drive a prototype. Then the guys go on an extended rant about BMW’s plans to charge a subscription fee for Apple CarPlay and flow right into how reckless Elon Musk is being with flame throwers. Links Previewing Mazda’s SkyActiv-X BMW to Charge a Subscription for Apple CarPlay Why is Elon Musk selling flame throwers? When Will Tesla Ever Stop Going to the Capital Markets and Why Does Anyone Believe Them? 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

Mazda’s Engine of the Future is Here in 2019 – SkyActiv-X Preview

There is no shortage of people around the world today who seem pretty certain that the days of the internal combustion engine (ICE) as the primary form of propulsion for transportation are effectively over. Mazda North America senior vice president Robert Davis and his colleagues are not among that group. In fact, Mazda staff seem to be pretty certain that humans driving ICE-powered vehicles will be around for some time to come. They even have a brand new engine that they are showing off as evidence, the SkyActiv-X with spark-controlled compression ignition (SPCCI). Read the rest of the article 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

Podcast #054 -New Trucks Will Drive the Profits That Pay for Self-Driving Cars

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Podcast #054 -New Trucks Will Drive the Profits That Pay for Self-Driving Cars
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This week Sam commutes through the winter slog to the Detroit Auto Show in the 2018 Jeep Compass while Dan gets Toyota’s new non-crossover crossover, the CH-R. The guys discuss all of the pickup trucks that debuted at the Detroit show and all the car brands that didn’t show up along with more new crossovers and another Mustang Bullitt   Links Fuel mileage vs fuel consumption 2019 Ram 1500 Goes Mild Hybrid 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen GM’s Robo-Taxi Ford Edge ST Detroit Show Stars to Fund CES Promises 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 #53 – CES, F-150 Diesel, GM Marketplace, NACTOY

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Episode #53 - CES, F-150 Diesel, GM Marketplace, NACTOY
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This week Sam is just back from the giant Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. While at CES, he rode in an Aptiv autonomous vehicle and discusses that experience, along with a few other highlights. Dan haas been battle-testing a Hyundai Elantra GT during a stretch of brutal, fickle winter weather in Boston. Other topics include the officially-announced Ford F-150 Powerstroke Diesel, a field report on GM Marketplace, and a quick spin through our favorite nominees to win North American Car and Truck of the Year at the NAIAS in Detroit.   Links Automated Driving at CES is All About Business Models Ford at CES Ford F-150 Diesel General Motors Marketplace North American Car and Truck of the Year  

Episode #052 – Winter Driving and Ziggy’s Volvo

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Episode #052 - Winter Driving and Ziggy's Volvo
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As the frigid temperatures continue to encase the midwest and spread to the eastern half of the US this week, Sam has been driving the new Hyundai Elantra GT Sport, his favorite variant of this compact Korean platform. Dan meanwhile has been taking to the snow-covered streets of the Boston area in the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger GT. In a relatively light news week ahead of CES and the Detroit show, the guys discuss driving in these wintery conditions, Volkswagen and Hyundai both announcing autonomous driving partnerships with Aurora Innovation and they follow-up last week’s conversation about the death of the collector car market with news that some person with more money than sense bought a Volvo 262C for $216,000 simply because it was once owned by David Bowie. Links Bowie’s Volvo Hyundai and Aurora team up for automated driving Volkswagen and Aurora also partner Wheel… Read More »Episode #052 – Winter Driving and Ziggy’s Volvo

wheelbearings podcast episode 51

Episode #051 – Small Utilities and Sedans and Passages of Time

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Episode #051 - Small Utilities and Sedans and Passages of Time
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For the final edition of 2017, Dan drives the 2018 Hyundai Accent, Sam gets in the Mazda CX-3 and Larry Vellequette from Automotive News drops by to talk about the end of car collecting. There’s a growing backlash from people tired of drivers trying to bypass traffic jams with online navigation apps like Waze but will the problem only get worse when we have automated mobility services like what Uber wants to build with money from Softbank? Kenichi Yamamoto, the brilliant engineer that led Mazda for many years and made the Wankel rotary almost viable, dies at 95 and the guys talk about some of their favorite rides of the past year. Links Softbank buys into Uber Kenichi Yamamoto passes The Waze backlash The end of car collecting The best of 2017   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and… Read More »Episode #051 – Small Utilities and Sedans and Passages of Time

Episode #050 – Phil Berg Stops By To Talk About Garages and Cars

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Episode #050 - Phil Berg Stops By To Talk About Garages and Cars
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  We’ve got another special guest this week as the great Phil Berg visit’s Sam’s basement to tell some stories talk about cars of the past, present and future. In the garage, Phil is driving the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Sam disses the Toyota Prius C and Dan shifts gears in the Toyota Corolla SE. In the discussion we solve the problem of distracted driving by declaring that everyone must drive manual transmission Mazda Miata. We ponder the refreshed 2019 Jeep Cherokee and the revival of the Honda Insight name. Finally, a reminder to make sure that if you get a recall notice for Takata airbags (or anything else) please get it fixed ASAP. Links If you want to buy a personally autographed copy of Ultimate Garages from Phil, click here to send us an email and we’ll connect you The Prius C has outlived its… Read More »Episode #050 – Phil Berg Stops By To Talk About Garages and Cars