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Wheel Bearings

Fake Recovery Hooks

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Fake Recovery Hooks
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We’ve got a bit of a shorter show today because it was Nicole’s turn to catch a trip and she accidently stopped the recording. Robbie went to Austria to ride the Can-Am Origin and Pulse electric motorcycles. Nicole drove the updated 2025.5 Volvo XC90 and Sam had the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek with its non-recovery hooks. The 2026 Corvette looses its wall of buttons and gains a fabulous new color. Jeep launched the new Compass in Europe, but who knows when or if we will get it in North America thanks to tariffs. Volvo has an extended range PHEV XC70 for China and Ford is raising prices due to tariffs. Hyundai has Plug&Charge now and an electric Ferrari is coming in October. The F1 drivers paraded in Lego cars in Miami last week and the new Mercedes CLA won’t charge on 400-500V chargers. See the… Read More »Fake Recovery Hooks

Too Much Seat Comfort

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Too Much Seat Comfort
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This week Robbie has the Chevrolet Silverado EV LT and Nicole shares her Portugese airport blackout adventure. Sam drives the Ford F250 XL and the Chevrolet Equinox LT. Akio Toyoda loves cool cars and doesn’t think electric sports cars fit the bill. More than 28,000 GM V8s failed before GM recalled them. Who are the most influential people in automotive history? Toyota is sort of hooking up with Waymo. The VW ID Buzz is getting recalled because the 3rd seats are too roomy and there are new chargers in Detroit. Many automakers have underutilized factories and Hyundai has priced the Ioniq 9, plus answers to listener questions. Links Akio doesn’t believe in electric sports cars28K GM V8s failed before recallmost influential people in automotive historyToyota Hails a WaymoID Buzz recalled because rear seat too comfortableUS plant utilizationHyundai prices Ioniq 9 in US Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Too Much Seat Comfort

Get The Versa

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Get The Versa
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This week Nicole had a Mustang GT convertible with the California Special package but New Hampshire spring weather only allowed her to put down the top once. Sam had the cheapest car currently available in America, the 2025 Nissan Versa SR. Robbie went to the unveiling of the Slate truck and we have thoughts. Ford is countering with an even more expensive Super Duty pickup. Nicole and Sam drove the 2026 Lincoln Navigator and we have more thoughts.Cadillac is bringing an Optiq-V. Audi is launching a sub-brand for China called AUDI and we discuss this as well as new stuff from VW, Buick, Lexus, Toyota and Nissan from the Shanghai Motor Show. Finally, Walmart is getting into the EV charging business. Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS Links 2026 Lincoln NavigatorSlateSlate’s Market Research ExperimentAudi E5 SportbackVW Shanghai conceptsCadillac Optiq-VBuick Electra GS conceptBuick Super Architecture, Electra NEV sub-brandNew… Read More »Get The Versa

New York, New York

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
New York, New York
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This week, Nicole tells us about driving the Toyota Land Cruiser and BMW M235 while Sam has the BMW i4 M50. Nicole has flown across the country 4 times in the last week to drive the Lucid Gravity in California, some Cupras in Florida, a Lincoln back in Calfornia and visit the New York Auto Show. We’ve got lots of news from New York including the 3 Subarus, the 2026 Solterra, Trailseeker and Outback. Kia had the EV4 sedan and K4 hatchback, Hyundai showed us the new 2026 Palisade and Genesis showed off the X Gran Equator concept and the GMR-001 race car it will take to Le Mans next year. In China, regulators are cracking down on automated driving claims by automakers and Mercedes has a new limited edition retro G-Wagen. Sam also has a conversation with Subaru car line product manager Bill Stokes… Read More »New York, New York

Does the World Want Cheap Electric Trucks

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Does the World Want Cheap Electric Trucks
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This week Nicole is trecking back and forth and back and forth again across the US so Chad Kirchner joins us again. Sam had the GMC Canyon AT4X AEV edition and it’s a mixed bag. Chad and Sam both got to see this year’s Easter Jeep Safari concepts before they got shipped to Moab. We have the first image of the secretive Slate electric truck and a prototype electric truck from Kia. GM’s new UK design studio has an interesting new electric Corvette concept. Jeep seems to be working on a new high performance Grand Cherokee and TFL drag races an old Corvette, a new one and a Nissan Leaf. Finally, Ford has a new electric Puma in Europe and a Ranger Super Duty for the rest of the world. Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS Links Easter Jeep Safari conceptsKia developing midsize electric pickup for USFord… Read More »Does the World Want Cheap Electric Trucks

Smart Off-Roading

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Wheel Bearings
Smart Off-Roading
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This week in the garage Nicole has the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5, Robbie has the Ford e-Transit and Sam has the Corvette Stingray 3LT. Sam and Nicole both drove the 2026 Honda Passport in Puerto Rico last week and have thoughts. Sam also interviewed chief engineer Todd Hemertt. Nicole tells us about climbing Davis Dam in the 2025 Ram HD. Somehow Aptera is still trying to get its little solar and electric three-wheeler to production and an initial road trip yields dissapointing efficiency numbers. Restomod producer Icon is now offering an electric 1st generation Bronco and it’s not cheap. Hakan Samuelsson has returned temporarily as the CEO of Volvo Cars. At the Seoul Mobility Show, Hyundai showed off a cool Pikes Peak ready version of its Inster electric mini car, a refreshed Ioniq 6 and promised not to raise prices in response to tariffs. Sam… Read More »Smart Off-Roading

99% Looks or Capability

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
99% Looks or Capability
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Robbie returns from Japan, discussing the Nissan Sakura EV. Nicole reviews Lexus GX, Nissan Frontier, and Armada Pro-4X. Sam struggles to park a Ram 1500 RHO. News covers lower-priced GMC Sierra EVs, tariffs affecting Stellantis, and the rising cost of the V6 Ford Bronco, while pondering VW’s Cupra brand in the U.S.

Swap or Charge

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Swap or Charge
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Robbie and Nicole are both traveling this week so Stephanie Brinley from S&P Global Mobility and Jeff Gilbert from WWJ radio in Detroit are stepping in with Sam. Stephanie and Jeff both got to drive the new Cadillac Optiq and Escalade IQ and Jeff also moved stuff with the Chevrolet Suburban. Sam drove the Lincoln Nautilus and BMW X5M Competition. In the news we discuss BYD’s 1MW charging announcement and the CATL/NIO battery swapping partnership and which is a better solution. There are reports that Honda may buy hybrid batteries made by Toyota in North Carolina and Jeff moderated a session with the CEO of LG Energy Systems about slowing investments in battery production. We touch a bit on tariffs and discuss GM’s decision to switch from Qualcomm to Nvidia chips for its next generation in-car compute. Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS Links BYD 1MW chargingHonda… Read More »Swap or Charge

Cars Are Better Than Crossovers

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Cars Are Better Than Crossovers
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While Nicole spends the weekend at Disney World, Perry Stern has stepped in to join Robbie and Sam with the Audi RS6 Avant. Robbie spent some more time with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to do some charging tests with its new NACS/J3400 charging port and Sam went hands-free in the 2025 Ford Explorer and Lexus LS500h with Teammate. Nissan’s CEO is stepping aside which may reopen the opportunity for a Honda merger. Ford has shipped 140,000 free NACS adapters to owners and is now offering its Lectron-built adapter to everyone. Toyota and Lexus are upgraded their EVs. Waymos are getting parking tickets in San Francisco. Acura’s new ADX is good, but cars are better. BMW is getting ready to launch the new i3 and iX3 and a CDC study shows America is the only developed country where more pedestrians are dying on the roads.… Read More »Cars Are Better Than Crossovers

Yes, Car Buying Still Sucks

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Yes, Car Buying Still Sucks
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Robbie is under the weather this week so Nicole shares her thoughts on the 2025 Ford Explorer ST and then Sam discusses the Acura ZDX Type-S. While we get to drive new cars every week sometimes we also buy some for ourselves. This week, Nicole finally took delivery of her new Jeep Wagoneer S and tells us about the buying experience. Honda has some performance and range upgrades to the 2025 Prologue but holds the line on pricing. Buyers of the EREV version of the new Scout trucks and SUVs might be a bit disappointed at the towing capability. In the name of safety, EVGo has banned extension cords and breakaway adapters at its DC chargers. Honda may not want to publicly admit it, but its hybrids do have CVTs. VW showed off the concept version of its upcoming $21,000 ID.1 and it has buttons… Read More »Yes, Car Buying Still Sucks