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Dan Roth

Electric Vehicles for Teenagers

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Electric Vehicles for Teenagers
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This week on the show you’ll be shocked to learn that we have more utility vehicles in the garage. Sam kicks off the discussion with the 2021 Kia Telluride SX. While it shares its architecture with the Hyundai Pallisade, it looks and feels distinctly different and will appeal to a different customer. Meanwhile in Connecticut, Rebecca gets her turn in Ford’s new EV, the 2021 Mustang Mach-E. Up the road in Boston, Dan has been putting in time in the brand-new Cadillac Escalade and shockingly he doesn’t hate the 37-inches worth of display. We mostly skipped the news this week to focus on answering a backlog of listener questions (please keep those coming, we love to hear from you). One bit of news did creep in, the big Ford-Google cloud/android deal. We also address questions about built-in dash-cam functionality, used EVs for teenagers, a listener’s… Read More »Electric Vehicles for Teenagers

The Three-Wheel Driver

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Three-Wheel Driver
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On this edition of Wheel Bearings, we have another special guest, Alex Roy, co-host of the No Parking podcast, cannonballer, and director of special operations at Argo AI. In the garage, Alex shares his thoughts on getting back into his 1987 Porsche 911 Targa followed by Dan gushing about the new Cadillac Escalade and the Genesis GV80. Over in Connecticut, Rebecca has been digging the Audi A6 AllRoad, proving again that wagons are the best automotive form factor that isn’t a sports car. As a Tesla owner and employee of a company building automated driving systems, Alex has opinions on both topics that he shares with us. His appearance was particularly timely, coming just days after Tesla revealed a refresh of the Model S and Model X interiors that is to say the least controversial. The efficacy of a steering yoke rather than a circular… Read More »The Three-Wheel Driver

wheelbearings episode 179 live screenshot with guests. photos of hyundai sonata n-line, gmc canyon at4, kia k5 ex, and henry gomez of the brief brothers podcast

What’s in your garage?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What's in your garage?
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This week, we recorded a live episode on Zoom with some listeners. Sam shares his take on the 2021 Kia K5 EX while Rebecca rhaspodizes about its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Sonata N-Line. Both are powered by turbocharged 4-cylinders but one has way more power. Dan had 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 and the review devolves into a discussion of the true merits of midsize pickup trucks. Then our listener guests Dave, Ben and Pasha share what they have in their garages with some surprises. They also provide some constructive suggestions before we answer a listener email about Tesla’s pushback on recalling 158,000 cars to replace the media control unit. We wrap up with Dan’s interview with ad executive Henry Louis Gomez of Zubi Advertising and the Brief Brothers podcast about car marketing. Patreon supporters already got the interview separately earlier this week. For early access… Read More »What’s in your garage?

What Is A BrightDrop?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What Is A BrightDrop?
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Dan has another Ford SuperDuty pickup, this time the F-250 with the big 6.7-liter diesel and he is plotting how to pull out some concrete footings from his old deck. Rebecca goes old school (really old) with the aged Toyota Sequioa while Sam complains about the terrible infotainment display in the 2021 Nissan Rogue but likes the rest of it including the 90 deg opening rear doors. In the news, GM announced a new brand at the virtual CES with the introduction of BrightDrop. BrightDrop is dedicated to electric commercial vehicles starting with the EP1 electric pallet and the EV600 delivery van with the first 500 going to Fedex later this year. Fiat Chrysler and PSA finally closed on their merger to become Stellantis with a stock ticker that might cause some confusion for the Robin Hood gang (STLA). Mazda was late to the party… Read More »What Is A BrightDrop?

Highs and Lows and Minivans

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Highs and Lows and Minivans
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As we kick off a new year with a weak largely devoid of news, our team opens up with the garage. Rebecca had the latest BMW 540i xDrive sedan while Sam waxes rhapsodic about the refreshed 2021 Chrysler Pacifica AWD and minivans in general as people haulers. Meanwhile Dan is wraps up an extended period with the Ford F-350 Tremor. With the lack of news we discuss some of our automotive highlights of the year gone by including the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Silverado and Corvette, Ford Mustang Mach-E, the new models from Genesis the GV80 and G80 and the new Hyundai Sonata as well as others. Lowlights include the infotainment systems in the new Subaru Legacy and Outback, and Mazda CX-9. Your intrepid hosts also makes some prognostications for the year ahead. Links 2021 Genesis GV80 first drive 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 2020 Chevrolet Corvette… Read More »Highs and Lows and Minivans

Adios 2020

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Adios 2020
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For the final episode of 2020, our intrepid crew reconvenes to discuss what’s in the garage and what’s happening the industry. Rebecca had a pair of Lexus LS500s to sample. First the 2020 F-Sport version and then the mildly refreshed 2021 edition. Sam got to spend a day with the redesigned 2021 Kia Sorento with the newly available hybrid drivetrain. When the Kia went back it was replaced with Chevrolet’s new small crossover with the old name, the 2021 Trailblazer. Dan wrapped up his time with the Ford F-350 XLT Tremor. In the news, there has been a revival of the rumors of an Apple car and the team discusses why this may or may not ever actually happen and how it might happen if it becomes real. The year is wound up with a bunch of listener questions including electric restomods, modern vehicle ergonomics… Read More »Adios 2020

Robot Dogs and Taxis

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Robot Dogs and Taxis
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As 2020 winds toward its conclusion, the crew gathers for a pre-solstice recording with lots of vehicles to talk about. Dan kicks things off with the Ford F-350 Tremor that he had use to go fetch a replacement for dead Christmas tree and then compares notes with Rebecca on the new Land Rover Defender 110. Sam also had a big Ford this week which he used to help his daughter move, the 2021 Transit T150 with the extended body and mid-height roof that was too tall to fit a parking garage. Rebecca had a pair of SUVs, the new build yet still vintage Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro and the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban with GM’s lovely 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder diesel engine. In the news, we discuss the new bidirectional robotaxi revealed this week by Amazon-owned Zoox. Boston Dynamics has its third new owner in the past… Read More »Robot Dogs and Taxis

The Mach-E Edition

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Mach-E Edition
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This special episode of Wheel Bearings is dedicated to just one topic, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Sam had and opportunity to drive the Mach-E and also record an interview with Ford’s Chief Product Platform and Operations Officer, Hau Thai-Tang about how the company’s product development system has changed and how lessons from Mach-E will impact other products. Links Hau Thai-Tang bio 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E first drive Dave Pericak interview 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

Not So Uber Any More

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Not So Uber Any More
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Rebecca was off looking after her mom so it’s just the boys this time. Sam got to spend time with the 2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered and the 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE. Dan comes back with a more complete take on the Cadillac CT5 550T. In the news, Uber is shedding more of its ancillary businesses as it off-loads the automated driving group to Aurora. Sam also got a first taste of the new 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and we answer some listener mail. Links Uber dumps self-driving team Ford Bronco Sport First Drive Ford Bronco Design and Tech 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