Skip to content

guests

Oh That Grille!

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Oh That Grille!
Loading
/

This week in the garage, Robbie is wondering why anyone would buy the Ford Bronco Everglades and Nicole wonders who uses the third row of the Toyota Highlander. Nicole also drove the Honda CR-V hybrid while Sam had the Cadillac CT4 with Super Cruise. Sam also got a first taste this week of the Hyundai Ioniq 6. In the news, we’ve got more new stuff from the Shanghai motor show including the gorgeous MG Cyberster and ultimate Lexus for those who appreciate the spindle grille, the LM minivan. Volkswagen showed off the ID.7 sans color changing camoflague and Hyundai is partnering with Itselectric on new curbside chargers while the IRS published the latest update to the list of which EVs are eligible for clean vehicle credits. We wrap up with a conversation with Maserati America’s head Bill Peffer Links MG CybersterHyundai curbside chargingVW ID.7Lexus LMClean… Read More »Oh That Grille!

Champagne Mode

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Champagne Mode
Loading
/

This week in the garage Nicole does the mom thing with the Toyota Sienna AWD, Robbie does the dog thing with the new Subaru Imprezza and Sam does the hands-off thing with the Nissan Ariya. In the news, we’ve got a bunch of vehicles all debuting between recording time and the embargos lifting. Lincoln has an all-new Nautilus midsize crossover with hybrid power and all the screen space. Buick has a new entry level crossover called the Envista. Polestar has a sporty new crossover without a back window in the 4. Regular old cupholders just wouldn’t do for champagne flutes so Mercedes-Maybach goes electric with its variant of the EQS SUV and its special champagne flute holders. We also have an interview with Stellantis chief design officer Ralph Gilles. Links 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Polestar 4 Ford BlueCruise Subscriptions GM Tow Dolly Patent Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV… Read More »Champagne Mode

Just Get the XL

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Get the XL
Loading
/

Nicole is out this week but we have Tanya Gazdik from Media Post sitting in with Robbie and Sam. Tanya has been driving the Toyota Corolla hatchback, while Sam finally discusses the Kia Soul he forgot to review last week along with the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid. Robbie had the Ford Maverick Lariat Tremor and has thoughts. In the news, Ford creates a new subsidiary to develop hands-free driving assist systems from the remnants of Argo AI. The VW ID3 gets a mid-cycle refresh and VW Group is going to build a new factory in South Carolina to produce Scout electric trucks and SUVs. Tesla has finally started opening up its Superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles and there have been lots of unusual features in cars over the years. Finally, Sam talks with Chrysler brand chief Chris Feuell. Links VW ID3 refresh Latitude AI Charging non-Teslas… Read More »Just Get the XL

Blue Cruise or Blues Clues?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Blue Cruise or Blues Clues?
Loading
/

This week Roberto drives the new BMW 760 and Nicole has the Ford F-150 Lightning. Sam was going to talk about the Kia Soul GT-Line but completely spaced so we’ll get to it next week. In the news, Mercedes-Benz talked about their new operating system and announced they will include Luminar lidar on future vehicles from 2025. Christian von Koenigsegg picks the NA Miata, Vinfast cuts prices and promises to start deliveries. GM patents a self-cleaning touchscreen and updates the Cadillac XT4 with the screen from the Lyriq. And we discuss using EVs when there’s no electricity. In the questions we discuss the problem of automakers offering free DC fast charging. Links Christian von Koenigsegg chooses the NA Miata GM Self-cleaning touchscreen Mercedes-Benz OS Reduced Vinfast pricing 2024 Cadillac XT4 refresh EVs when there’s no powerFree EV Charging sucks Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon.… Read More »Blue Cruise or Blues Clues?

Smooshed Cars and Smacked Snow Banks

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Smooshed Cars and Smacked Snow Banks
Loading
/

This week, Sam and Robbie unknowningly found themselves crossing paths at the same place in Montana for a winter driving program with Infiniti and Bridgestone. They got to try out the latest Blizzak winter tires on the QX60 and other Infiniti models through a variety of maneuvers. Sam also drove the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum and Nicole drove the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L. Ford has had to stop production and shipments of F-150 Lightnings due to a battery fire at the factory. Tesla agrees to recall its full self-driving beta software to address issues identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Hyundai and Kia develop a fix to address easy to steal cars and we discuss where the charge port should go on EVs before finishing with some listener questions. Sam also has a conversation with Iris Ocasio, consumer product strategy manager at Bridgestone.… Read More »Smooshed Cars and Smacked Snow Banks

Bait and Switch

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Bait and Switch
Loading
/

It was Chicago Auto Show week and we’ve got a bunch of news and interviews. But first, in the garage, Sam has been driving the 2023 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro V6 AWD, the refreshed and more off-roady version of Kia’s big crossover. Nicole had Honda’s version of the same idea with the new Pilot Trailsport. In Chicago we saw Toyota take the wraps off an even larger 3-row crossover, the Grand Highlander with more third-row and cargo room and an option Hybrid Max powertrain, but no rugged off-road version, yet. Volkswagen refreshed its popular Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport with more grille, bigger screens and a new turbo 4-cylinder. Subaru is evolving its CrossTrek with a new but incrementally changed look. Jeep is celebrating 20 years of Rubicon with price new limited edition Wranglers and Ram has shown us the 1500 REV electric pickup that… Read More »Bait and Switch

Eyes On The Road

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Eyes On The Road
Loading
/

This week we have special guest Kelly Funkhouser, director of automotive technology at Consumer Reports to explain how they conducted their recent test of advanced driver assist systems. Some of the assumptions Sam made about what they actually evaluated were wrong and the results make a lot more sense now. In the garage, Nicole has been driving the 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD while Sam got a Cadillact CT4-V Blackwing with a manual gearbox, just ahead of an eight-inch snowfall. Fortunately the Cadillac was on winter tires and did just fine. In the news, Ford is teaming up to supply hybrid power systems for the 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 cars. The IRS has corrected its weird classifications for electric vehicles eligible for clean vehicle credits. It’s trivially easy for thieves to steal older Hyundai and Kia models equipped with a key and they want… Read More »Eyes On The Road

It Handles Rough Roads Great

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
It Handles Rough Roads Great
Loading
/

Unfortunately Robbie had to miss this week with a migraine, but Nicole has thoughts to share about the Lexus NX 350 F-Sport and Sam had the 2023 Nissan Versa SR which proves that decent, cheap new cars are still available. In the news Mazda, has revealed the new 2024 CX-90 three-row crossover which will have options of a new inline-six cylinder engine or a plug-in hybrid. Sam also has a conversation with Mazda North America CEO Jeff Guyton. Polestar has done a major mid-cycle update on the 2. Motor Trend has a long-term F-150 Lightning and one of its writers got a quote for installation of the home power backup system. Links 2024 Polestar 2 2024 Mazda CX-90 How Much for the installation? Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing… Read More »It Handles Rough Roads Great

Faking It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Faking It
Loading
/

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
Loading
/

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