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Episode #045 – Plugged-in Cadillac and Casey Falls In Love

by Sam Abuelsamid
November 4, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #045 - Plugged-in Cadillac and Casey Falls In Love

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This week a special guest joins Dan and Sam. Casey Liss of the Accidental Tech Podcast and Analog(ue) stops by to share his thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Volvo Sensus. Sam ponders the Cadillac CT6 Plug-in and his experience visiting Waymo’s secret test track in the California desert. Links Safety First As Waymo Wants To Be ‘Enablers, Not Disruptors’ 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – One Spicy Italian! Liss is More 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 #037 – Hot Hondas, Acuras, Hyundais, Pizzas and A Not-so Hot Mitsubishi

by Sam Abuelsamid
September 1, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #037 - Hot Hondas, Acuras, Hyundais, Pizzas and A Not-so Hot Mitsubishi

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This week we talk about lots of the vehicles we’ve recently driven. Sam samples a pair of very different Acura hybrids with some shared hardware. He then heads to the track to play with the hottest Civic ever the Type-R and talks with product planner Rob Keogh. Dan gets in the decidedly mediocre Mitsubishi Outlander GT. The Hyundai Elantra GT Sport is one of the most refined cars yet from the ever-improving Korean brand but is it better than a GTI? Finally, Ford and Domino’s hook up to try out autonomous pizza delivery. Domino’s Takes High-Tech Pizza Delivery To Level 4 With Ford The Ridge Motorsports Park 2017 Acura NSX – Vaporware No More 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 #036 – Rome Isn’t Burning, Why Skip The VCs? & Diesel Crossovers

by Sam Abuelsamid
August 24, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #036 - Rome Isn't Burning, Why Skip The VCs? & Diesel Crossovers

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The guys are back with a regular episode wherein we drive sibling vehicles from Korea, the Hyundai Elantra Sport and Kia Niro FE. Sam was wiped out last week after a whirlwind trip to San Francisco for the City of Tomorrow symposium hosted by Ford. While there he got the chance to talk with Bryan Salesky, one of the most experienced software engineers working on automated vehicles. Fiat Chrysler is also trying to get a foothold in the automated driving space while rumors of a Chinese acquisition swirl. Meanwhile GM still hopes that diesel can give them a competitive edge with the 39 mpg Chevy Equinox. links FCA Joins BMW/Intel Autonomous Driving Partnership Chevy Equinox Diesel rated at 39 mpg highway Uber Kills Leasing Program Future of Smaller Automakers May Be As Tier 1 Suppliers Ford Makes $1B Bet On Argo.AI As Recruiting Tool Kia… Read More »Episode #036 – Rome Isn’t Burning, Why Skip The VCs? & Diesel Crossovers

Jody Hall, David Paratore, speak at the NEMPA MIT conference. Wheelbearings Special Episode

Special Episode: NEMPA MIT Technology Conference – “Stronger, Lighter, Faster”

by Dan Roth
August 18, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Special Episode: NEMPA MIT Technology Conference - "Stronger, Lighter, Faster"

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Sam is recovering from a redeye flight, but we’ll be recording the next episode soon. In the meantime, we’re sharing recordings made during the New England Motor Press Association MIT Technology Conference. Held annually at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this year’s theme was Lighter, Stronger, Faster. A panel discussion was introduced by Bryan Reimer, the Associate Director for the New England University Transportation Center at MIT. The full panel included Doctor Jody Hall, Vice President of the automotive market for the Steel Market Development Institute, David Paratore, President and CEO of NanoSteel, Richard Roth, director of the Materials Systems Laboratory at MIT, Kevin Thomson, Manager of Virtual Tool Development for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Charlie Klein, Executive Director, Global CO2 Strategy, Mass, and Aerodynamics for General Motors. This week, we’ll present the first two panelists: Doctor Jody Hall, and NanoSteel’s David Paratore. Bryan… Read More »Special Episode: NEMPA MIT Technology Conference – “Stronger, Lighter, Faster”

Episode #035 – Dull Edge, Travis Gets Sued, Mazda Innovates

by Sam Abuelsamid
August 11, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #035 - Dull Edge, Travis Gets Sued, Mazda Innovates

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This week, Sam is again driving a Mazda Miata with brilliant steering while Dan fights the steering in the Ford Edge Sport. Another Hespen Rally is in the books and Sam goes off on a tangent about what happens to engineering development vehicles. Mazda announces the first production HCCI engine for 2019 and one of Uber’s biggest investors sues former CEO Travis Kalanick and guys try to give some advice on what kind of car should replace a VW GTI. Colin Sultan of 3M explains what the inventor of post-it notes is doing to enable automated and connected vehicles. Links Mazda Refuses To Give Up On Internal Combustion, Develops Engine It Says Is 20% More Efficient Tech flashback 1: Driving GM’s HCCI prototype in 2007 Tech flashback 2: Driving GM’s next HCCI prototype in 2009 Benchmark Capital Sues Travis Kalanick Kia Forte5 SX Review … Read More »Episode #035 – Dull Edge, Travis Gets Sued, Mazda Innovates

Episode #034 – AMG Roadtripping, More Miata Love and EV Frustration

by Sam Abuelsamid
August 6, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #034 - AMG Roadtripping, More Miata Love and EV Frustration

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This week Dan takes his turn in the Mazda Miata RF while Sam does a road trip to the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in the Mercedes-AMG E43. While at MBS Sam talked with Nvidia’s director of automotive, Danny Shapiro, heard Mazda SVP Robert Davis extol the virtues of internal combustion and saw his friend Bob Gritzenger struggle with EV charging infrastructure in northern Michigan. Links Mazda Miata RF Charging an EV on Blue Highways Mazda Dissing EVs Sam’s new monthly column for Automotive Engineering 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 #26 – Smokeless Launches and Exhausted Patents

by Sam Abuelsamid
June 9, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #26 - Smokeless Launches and Exhausted Patents

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This week, Dan and Sam talk about driving the BMW 530i, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, Ford Escape Platinum and Acura NSX. Then they dive into how a printer patent case might impact the future of automated driving, the Acura NSX racing program and insuring Teslas. Guest: Art St. Cyr, President Honda Performance Development Links: SCOTUS ruling limits patent exhaustion Lawyers not ethicists will solve trolley problem Acura NSX launch control Tesla Insurance Premiums 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 #24 – Hauling, Firing, Hiring, Renting and Banning

by Sam Abuelsamid
May 23, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #24 - Hauling, Firing, Hiring, Renting and Banning

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This week Dan and Sam discuss driving the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, hauling decking materials with the new aluminum bodied Ford F250 Super Duty and hauling ass in the Shelby GT350. In the news since the last episode, Lyft will be testing Waymo’s minivans in addition to Chevy Bolts, Theresa May wants to ban internal combustion engines by 2050 and the first two salaried job losses are announced at Ford as Mark Fields and Ray Day head for the door. Last week Sam was speaking at the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles conference in Santa Clara, Calif. and the chance to talk with Tom Wang, chief product officer of Turo and Peter Rawlinson, CTO of Lucid. Links British Conservatives Propose Banning ICEs by 2050 Ford CEO and Comms VP Lose Their Jobs Ford’s Big Management Shuffle Is About Changing Perceptions Lyft and Waymo Hook Up. 2017… Read More »Episode #24 – Hauling, Firing, Hiring, Renting and Banning

Episode #23 – The Anti-Demon, Midsize Pickups, VW Ads & Ditching The Past

by Sam Abuelsamid
May 10, 2017October 31, 2018

Podcast Archives

Episode #23 - The Anti-Demon, Midsize Pickups, VW Ads & Ditching The Past

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On this week’s edition, Dan and Sam discuss whether Fiat might have a better Miata than Mazda with the 124 Spider and whether midsized pickups like the GMC Canyon Denali might be too compromised to be truly useful. Volkswagen has some interesting new ads aimed at attracting buyers to the new Atlas SUV and the brand in general as it tries to recover from the diesel emissions scandal. Sam expounds on why stand-alone ride-hailing services are probably doomed and then the team ponders why Delphi is splitting itself up to leave powertrain systems behind. Dan interviews one of the masterminds behind GM’s latest 6.6-liter Duramax V8 and we address a listener question about diesel particulate filters. 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