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Getting A Kick Out Of Kicks

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Getting A Kick Out Of Kicks
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This week Nicole has 2 “SUVs”, the Nissan Kicks and Ford Expedition King Ranch while Sam discusses the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter and Subaru Forester Hybrid. Ford announced plans to build low cost EVs in Louisville Kentucky, Cadillac announced a new custom build program and we have a first look at the Hyundai Ioniq 2. At Monterey Car Week, debuts included the Acura RSX, the Lexus Sport Concept, the Cadillac Elevated Velocity, Karma Gyesera and Infiniti QX65 and QX80 concepts. Links Ford to build $30K electric pickup in LouisvilleMore thoughts on the Ford electric truckCurated by CadillacHyundai Ioniq 2Lexus Sport ConceptAcura RSX PrototypeCadillac Elevated VelocityKarma GyeseraInfiniti QX65 MonographInfiniti QX80 concepts 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

Companies Behaving Well and Badly

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Companies Behaving Well and Badly
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We’re back from a mid-summer break. Sam has driven the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT and Lucid Air Grand Touring and Nicole had the 2026 Lincoln Navigator Since we’ve been gone, we all drove the 2026 Hyundai Palisade and Cupra gave up on entering the US market. Nicole has a Wagoneer S update. Sam wrote about Tesla’s misbehavior in a recent trial. Jeep also had some news this week about going back and refreshes.The Las Vegas loop is apparently getting dumber and Ford has further delayed its next-gen full-size electric truck. Chevrolet has teased the new Bolt coming this fall and it will apparently use Chinese batteries for a couple of years as will BMW. Links Cadillac EVs to get Carplay — down under onlyCupra US launch delayedAutomakers behaving badlyNicole’s latest Wagoneer S updateJeep updates2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT2026 Hyundai PalisadeLVCC Loop is getting dumber2026 Chevy Bolt… Read More »Companies Behaving Well and Badly

Airport Garage Towing

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Wheel Bearings
Airport Garage Towing
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Robbie’s dealing with a family emergency so Nicole tells us about her latest misadventure with her Jeep Wagoneer S as well as the Toyota Crown Signia. Sam had the Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade in invisible grey. In the news, Lucid Air, Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX get Supercharger support, but the Lucid is as slow as a Chevy Bolt. The Acura TLX is out of production but the new Honda Prelude gets a Civic Type-R suspension and someone paid $204K for an old Integra Type-R. After 250K miles a Mach-E still has 92% of its original battery capacity. Tesla owners should stay away from water if they want their warranties. Boston probably won’t get robotaxis soon and our pals at TFL bought a first-generation Dodge Viper and it hasn’t killed them — yet. Links Lucid Air Gets Supercharger support — sort ofHonda Prelude gets Type-R… Read More »Airport Garage Towing

Colors In The Driveway

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Wheel Bearings
Colors In The Driveway
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This week in the garage, Sam has bright colors with the Jeep Gladiator Willys and Volvo EX30 Performance Ultra. Nicole had the Mitusbishi Outlander. Links Someone bought a Lordstown Endurance on BaTGM to Produce LFP Cells In Spring HillSubaru UnchartedUber, Nuro and LucidSubaru e-OutbackElectric Range Rover Delayed to 2026VW ID3 Still at 91% after 100K miles5 Features of Polestar 4BMW Z1 at 40Volvo Trimming US lineup due to TariffsXC60 moves to Charleston3rd gen XC90 could be long-range PHEVFaraday X Super OneFord Bronco New Energy Hyundai/Kia/Genesis EV automatic door lock 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

Too Much Name

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Wheel Bearings
Too Much Name
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This week Sam is driving the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Tributo Italiano and Nicole has the Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec. Nicole also had her first major technical issue with her Jeep Wagoneer S. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Toyota is publicly demoing its new sports car and upcoming GT3 race car while Hyundai has the Ioniq 6 N. Mazda shows off the new third generation CX-5, now with a touchscreen. Dodge trademarks the name Charger Outlaw. Subaru teases its next EV called Uncharted. Nissan is delaying some EV production, while Cadillac is pushing forward. We also answer the question, what is a Monroney? Links Hyundai Ioniq 6 N2026 Mazda CX-5Dodge Charger OutlawNissan delays US EV production another yearToyota runs new supercar at GoodwoodSubaru UnchartedThe Great EV PullbackNissan delays Leaf production due to China rare earth limitsCadillac likely to stick to long term EV plan Monroney… Read More »Too Much Name

Buying A Used EV

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Wheel Bearings
Buying A Used EV
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After some hiccups getting the recording started, Nicole told us about the latest Genesis GV70 and Robbie almost had a chance to save a wedding with the Ford F-150 Lightning. Sam enjoyed cruising in the Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack which both really loud and not loud enough. Sam tried out BlueCruise 1.5 and its auto lane changing while driving to Ohio to buy a used EV. He and his wife came back to Michigan with a lightly used Kia EV6. Make sure to check out the No Pain, No Gain series on TFL. Hertz is starting to use AI scanners to detect damage on rental cars. The EV tax credits are being killed at the end of September. Volvo is going to build the Polestar 7 at its new Slovakia plant starting in 2028. The Chevy Trax is getting a big price bump for… Read More »Buying A Used EV

Hot Charging

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Wheel Bearings
Hot Charging
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This week Nicole has been tackling the notoriously smooth New England pavement in the Hyundai Ioniq 5N while Robbie had the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV and Sam trecked across Michigan in the Mini Countryman SE ALL4. This week Sam visited two plants for the production of lithium iron phosphate batteries, Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, MI and the LG Energy Solution plant in Holland, MI. Ford revealed the new Explorer Tremor and AMG has a concept for its upcoming EV, the GT XX. Tesla sort of launched its robotaxis and Mazda launched the 6e sedan in Europe. Nicole and Sam drove the 2026 Honda CR-V Trailsport, Nissan has launched its next-generation e-Power system in the Qashqi in Europe and it’s coming to the Rogue in 2026. Cadillac is already making notable upgrades to the Optiq for model year 2026. Sam also has conversations with… Read More »Hot Charging

How Many Tasks

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Wheel Bearings
How Many Tasks
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Robbie has family commitments today so Perry Stern is sitting in with Nicole and Sam. Perry’s been driving the McLaren 750S in Volcano Yellow and Cadillac Escalade. Nicole had the new gas powered Chevy Equinox and Sam had the new 2025 Mini Cooper S 4-door. In the news we discuss Audi’s latest attempt to reinvent the steering wheel stalk and BMW’s new flax fiber composites. Most of China’s auto plants are barely producing any vehicles and Congress is trying to gut fuel economy, emissions standards and kill any incentive for EVs. Hyundai and Toyota think 60 miles of range is enough for a plug-in hybrid. Stellantis is testing Fiat 500e’s with swappable battery modules. Changes to the national electrical code could kill DIY EV charger installs. Ram cranks up the powertrain warranty and Honda launches an electric delivery vehicle for Europe. Links Audi Q3 reinvents… Read More »How Many Tasks

Leafs Not Leaves

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Wheel Bearings
Leafs Not Leaves
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We’ve got lots of reviews this week as Robbie drives the latest BMW X5 PHEV, Nicole has the Nissan Murano and Sam spends time with the Nissan Armada and Lincoln Navigator. In the news, Nissan finally completely redesigns the Nissan Leaf after 15 years. The Corvette reaches its pinnacle, but it’s not called Zora. GM is spending $4 billion move vehicle assembly from Mexico to the US. BMW and AAA have dueling EV consumer surveys. The Mustang GTD costs nearly twice as much as a ZR1 and the Republican war on EVs continues. Links 2026 Nissan LeafGM spends $4B to shift production from Mexico to USCorvette ZR1XNHTSA to Streamline AV Exemption ProcessBMW EV surveyAAA EV surveyMustang GTD Costs Nearly Double Corvette ZR1Trump Revokes California Emissions Waiver, Stellantis Still on the hook for EVsBudget bill could prevent states from regulating AVs Check out Sam’s 2-minute daily… Read More »Leafs Not Leaves

What Kind of Pie?

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Wheel Bearings
What Kind of Pie?
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Nicole is back and to tell us what sorts of pies she shared with her husband at the Julian Pie Company last week and talk about the Kia K4 that turned up in her driveway for the third time as well as the Toyota 4Runner. Robbie did some G-Turns in the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ technology. Sam had the Nissan Murano Platinum and Honda Passport Trailsport. Porsche has built a road legal version of the 963 race car for Roger Penske and Tim Kuniskis has restored the Hemi V8 to its rightful place in the Ram 1500. China is playing trade hardball with rare earth magnets. Edmunds finally sold their Fisker Ocean and lost a fortune on it. The data proves it, interesting car colors are better than boring monochromatic colors. Cadillac has announced a faster Optiq-V with a NACS charging port and Ford has… Read More »What Kind of Pie?