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Wheel Bearings

Faking It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Faking It
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This week it’s most just Robbie and Sam. Sam drives the 2023 Cadillac CT5 AWD Premium Luxury and talks about the latest Super Cruise. Nicole also calls in from an Electrify America station in Florida with her driving partner Eileen Falkenberg-Hull to give us the low down on their Disney Land to Disney World trek in the Kia EV6. In the news, GM is considering building a small electric pickup truck and we compare car sizes over time. Car loans are getting longer and shockingly Tesla faked the 2016 “Paint It Black” full self-driving demo video. We also answer listener questions. Send in your questions to feedback at wheelbearings dot media or even send us a link to audio of your question and we might include it in the show. Links 84 month loans Paint it black video was faked GM looking at small electric… Read More »Faking It

All-Season High-Voltage Corvette

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
All-Season High-Voltage Corvette
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The car Robbie was supposed to drive this week was damaged before it got to his driveway so we just have Nicole in the Mazda3 Turbo AWD and Sam with the Ram 1500 Rebel V8. One of these was slight less fuel efficient than the other. In the news, a Swedish study shows again why it’s better to have buttons than touchscreens in cars. Nicole popped into Detroit this week to help hand out the North American Car Truck and Utility of the Year awards. Mazda finally brings back the rotary as a range extender for the MX-30, but for now only Europeans get it. Toyota has built up an old AE86 that burns hydrogen. Mercedes-Benz is already considering getting rid of dedicated EV badging. Chevrolet is finally bringing the long-rumored Corvette hybrid as the 2024 E-Ray with electric drive on the front axle for… Read More »All-Season High-Voltage Corvette

Surviving CES

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Surviving CES
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Sam survived his return to CES after three years away, but before discussing what was there, he gives his thoughts on the Jeep Wagoneer L with the new Hurricane 510 engine. Nicole survived some winter weather with the Mercedes-AMG EQS and Robbie rented a Kia Sorento for a trip to the woods with his wife and dogs. At CES, Stellantis showed the Ram Revolution concept which is a preview of the upcoming Ram 1500 EV. While at CES, Sam talked with Mike Koval, head of the Ram brand. VW unveiled a camoflagued version of the upcoming ID7 electric sedan. BMW showed the i Vision Dee covered in color E Ink and Sony Honda Mobility announced that its upcoming EVs would be branded as Afeela. Links Winter tire markings BMW i Vision Dee BMW E Ink color changing Ram Revolution Concept Ram Charger Volkswagen ID7 Afeela… Read More »Surviving CES

Making Resolutions

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Making Resolutions
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As we pull the plug on 2022, it’s an all-electric week in the garage as the temperatures drop. Robbie has the new Lucid Air Touring, while Nicole has some more followup on the Mercedes-Benz EQB. Sam tried out the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in frigid temperatures and also tested the new Electrify America fast chargers. In the news, the IRS gives EV buyers in early 2023 a bonus by making all North American built EVs eligible for the full $7500 tax break until it finalizes new battery content rules. In California, a new law prohibits automakers from selling a car as self driving unless it can operate without human supervision. Ram files for a trademark that may hint at the range extended version of its electric pickup truck. We have a reminder to double check the actual payload capacity of your vehicle and don’t overload it… Read More »Making Resolutions

Great Googly Moogly

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Great Googly Moogly
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Just in time for a break from the holiday festivities, we’ve got lots of automotive conversation. Robbie and Nicole have both been driving Mercedes-Benz electric SUVs, the EQS SUV and EQB respectively. Meanwhile, Sam has his favorite compact crossover, the Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition. Italian design house Zagato is partnering with Alfa Romeo again for another limited edition coupe, this time based on the Giulia. AC Cars is still kicking and planning to launch a Cobra GT in 2023 with a Ford Coyote V8 and and more length and wheelbase than before. Hyundai has an all-new and larger second-generation Kona coming in 2023 and the team discuss the cars they drove in 2022 that they want to drive and those they want to own before we finish with a couple of listener questions. Links Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato AC Cobra GT Roadster 2024 Hyundai… Read More »Great Googly Moogly

Just Get A Maverick

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Get A Maverick
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Nicole is back from her European River cruise and she and Robbie have been been driving the Kia EV6 GT. Sam had the Toyota Tundra i-Force Max Capstone, which is much improved except for fuel economy. During a Ford holiday reception recently Jim Farley posed the question of who is the Edsel for Tesla and we discuss. Apple still seems to want to make cars eventually, should they just buy Lucid instead? The new Mazda CX-90 is getting a plug-in hybrid, Redwood Materials is building a $3.5B battery recycling plant in South Carolina. Is the Vinfast VF8 worth the price and Ford is raising Lightning prices again. We answer more questions. Send yours to feedback@wheelbearings.media Links Redwood Materials new battery recycling plant Mazda CX-90 inline-6 plug-in hybrid Ford raising Lightning prices again Vinfast arrives in America Roobie Reviews the Kia EV6 GT Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Just Get A Maverick

Not Full Self-Driving

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Not Full Self-Driving
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This week, Nicole is still in Europe with her husband so the boys are at it again. Robbie went to Las Vegas to drive the McLaren Artura and Sam also had a vehicle with four wheels and a steering wheel, the Toyota Rav4 Adventure. Sam also got to try out the Tesla Full Self-Driving beta and found it still has a long way to go before you stop holding the wheel and watching the road. Apple appears to delayed its car program again and GM is working with dealers to put 40,000 EV chargers in underserved communities. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ran tests to see if its crash test facility could handle new heavier EVs and Polestar and Mercedes-Benz are offering power-upgrades for a price. Links McLaren Artura first drive GM Dealer Community Charging Program Apple Car Delayed IIHS tests heavy EVs Polestar… Read More »Not Full Self-Driving

Off-Road Supercars

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Wheel Bearings
Off-Road Supercars
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It’s a shorter show this week as Nicole is vacationing with her hubby in Europe and Robbie had to run off early for a dinner with McLaren. Sam drove the Genesis GV60 Performance this week and discovered that Electrify America ripped out the nearby fast chargers to replace them with a new, hopefully more reliable design. In the news, Honda is planning to launch hands-free driver assist systems globally by the end of the decade and start building a plug-in hybrid fuel cell CR-V in Ohio in 2024. Both Porsche and Lamborghini have revealed limited production high-riding, rally inspired supercars and Sam answers listener questions. Links Honda to launch L3 systems globally by 2030off-road lamborghini huracan and porsche 911 dakarHonda to produce PHEV fuel cell CR-V from 2024 in ohio Driving the 2007 Ford Edge HySeries Drive Technical Analysis of HySeries Drive Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Off-Road Supercars

Vinfast Has Landed

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Vinfast Has Landed
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We’ve got a full slate of plug-in crossovers in the garage this week as Nicole tries out the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid, Sam has the Lexus NX450h+ F Sport All Wheel Drive and Robbie is all electric in the surprising Kia Niro EV. In the news, despite our earlier skepticism, the first 999 Vinfast VF8s have landed at the dock in California. Hopefully we’ll get to try it out soon to see if it is actually ready for prime time. Honda has launched an all new Pilot 3-row crossover with a more rugged look, but is it actually more capable? Carvana, home of the used car vending machine, may be running out of road and while Ford doesn’t offer an official camp kitchen for the F-150 Lightning, that doesn’t mean you can’t cook in one. Finally, Tesla opens up the FSD beta to everyone, no… Read More »Vinfast Has Landed

More Convertibles Please

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
More Convertibles Please
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We’ve got a full team this week as Robbie shares his thoughts on the updated Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a four-cylinder diesel and all-wheel-drive. Nicole discusses the aged Toyota Tacoma and Sam drives the Mazda CX-50 and the Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge. The LA Auto Show took place last week and Toyota revealed an all-new fifth generation Prius and Prius Prime. Genesis held an event in Malibu to reveal its Genesis X electric convertible concept. Fiat is bringing the 500e back to North America and brand chief Larry Dominique explains that Stellantis will experiment with it. By 2025, British EV drivers will have to pay a vehicle excise tax and after promising to open its Superchargers to other brands, Tesla says, just adopt our charging connector instead. We also answer some questions. Send in your own questions feedback@wheelbearings.media Links North American Charging Standard? UK EV excise… Read More »More Convertibles Please