Skip to content

guests

I’m Not a Bus

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
I'm Not a Bus
Loading
/

This week on the show, Robbie has returned from the IAA show in Munich and while he can’t yet tell us about some of what he drove, he shares some thoughts on what he saw there including the VW ID.Life concept, the BMW Vision Circle and he also describes the new Hyundai Kona EV, the he and his wife just bought. Nicole shares her impressions of the new single motor Polestar 2 while Sam has been driving the Hyundai Tucson hybrid. In the news, the Lucid Air gets an official EPA range rating of 520 miles while Rivian starts regular production of the R1T electric pickup. Unfortunately, R1T buyers won’t be getting the zero radius tank turn feature. In 2023, General Motors will be introducing the follow-up to Super Cruise called Ultra Cruise and it will include lidar sensors from Cepton. We answer a bunch… Read More »I’m Not a Bus

It’s Not Just Another Hyundai

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
It's Not Just Another Hyundai
Loading
/

In the garage this week, Sam has been driving one of the last car-shaped Volkswagens still available in America, the 2021 Arteon SE 2.0T and finds that yes, it can almost swallow a thick queen-size mattress through its sleek hatchback rear opening. Before jetting off to Munich for the IAA Mobility show, Roberto spent time in the Volvo XC40 Recharge, the first battery electric model from the Swedish brand. Nicole spent her time with the 2022 Genesis GV70, a lifted, wagonish version of the lovely G70. Since our last recording session, Audi unveiled the GrandSphere concept, a preview of its new design direction as it goes all electric. Another brand going all electric is Cadillac and their first battery model is the upcoming Lyriq. Sam got to spend three hours with the team developing it and shares some thoughts. Finally, Nicole and Sam got to… Read More »It’s Not Just Another Hyundai

Mars Is Not The Utopia Elon Thinks It Is

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Mars Is Not The Utopia Elon Thinks It Is
Loading
/

This week in the garage, Sam is driving the Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge as it heads into its final model year before a complete redesign as an all-electric utility with a new name. Roberto got to the drive the Porsche Macan S and GT and gives an initial impression of the Ford Bronco that just landed in his driveway. Meanwhile Nicole takes advantage of some apparently rare nice weather in New Hampshire to drop the top on the new BMW 430i Convertible. We had special guest Jamie Kitman join us to talk about those cars and a whole lot more including his great new feature on Elon Musk for the British magazine, The Road Rat. Jamie discusses Elon, his car collection and dives into the prospects of electric restomods and driver assistance for large vehicles. Links The Road Rat Robbie reviews the Porsche Macan Pre-order… Read More »Mars Is Not The Utopia Elon Thinks It Is

Sweet, Sweet Options – corrected

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Sweet, Sweet Options - corrected
Loading
/

I messed up and linked the wrong file, this is the corrected version This week, two-thirds of the team did some travelling as Roberto went all the way to Switzerland to try out Mercedes-Benz first US market bound electric vehicle, the new EQS. Sam just took a train to Chicago and spoke with Ford Maverick marketing manager Trevor Scott about the new compact truck after spending some time driving the new Genesis GV80 luxury crossover. Nicole got to toss around the Mini John Cooper Works convertible with a nifty Union Jack pattern on the top. In the news, a class action lawsuit against Ford is moving forward over destination charges on new vehicles. New car inventories across the US are at all time lows, Rivian has pushed back first customer deliveries of the R1T for a couple more months. Chevrolet Bolts that got software updates… Read More »Sweet, Sweet Options – corrected

Interesting and Slightly Less Interesting

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Interesting and Slightly Less Interesting
Loading
/

This week in the garage, Nicole has something interesting and something slightly less interesting, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited and the Aston Martin DBX, you can guess which is which. Roberto has the Mercedes-Benz E450 wagon and Sam has the Mazda CX-9 Signature. In the news Volvo hosted a tech moment where they unveiled some news about their electrification and automated driving plans and revealed the Concept Recharge which previews the replacement for the XC90 coming in 2022. The Concours d’Elegance of America is coming up at the Inn at St Johns in Plymouth, Mich. on July 23-25. New owner Hagerty announced that in 2022, the show will move to midtown Detroit and the Detroit Institute of the Arts. GM is partnering with Controlled Thermal Resources to develop domestic production of lithium for all of its upcoming electric vehicles and Sam has an interview with… Read More »Interesting and Slightly Less Interesting

A Conversation with Nvidia’s Danny Shapiro

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
A Conversation with Nvidia's Danny Shapiro
Loading
/

Following the 2021 Nvidia GPU Technology Conference, Sam had a conversation with Danny Shapiro to discuss why GPUs were so well suited to advanced automotive applications like automated driving Links Nvidia Drive developer site 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

Nilay Patel On Mustangs, Raptors, Apple Cars and Touchscreens

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Nilay Patel On Mustangs, Raptors, Apple Cars and Touchscreens
Loading
/

This week Rebecca is off dealing with house stuff so Dan and Sam are handling the garage. Dan got to drive a brand new old truck, the 2021 Toyota Tundra SR5. Sam had the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands with the 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder and found the limits of traction with 4WD, all-terrain tires and deep snow. We also discussed an email from a listener that had an Alfa Romeo Giulia and now drives a Genesis G70. Nilay Patel, editor in chief of The Verge then joins us for a chat about technology and cars including touchscreens and human-machine-interface, apple cars, moving out of the city in a pandemic and driving Mustangs and Raptors. Links Nilay Patel Decoder Podcast with Nilay Patel The Vergecast Apple car thoughts from Sam Ford Bronco Sport first drive Alfa Romeo Giulia Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If… Read More »Nilay Patel On Mustangs, Raptors, Apple Cars and Touchscreens

The Three-Wheel Driver

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Three-Wheel Driver
Loading
/

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

The Mach-E Edition

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Mach-E Edition
Loading
/

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

Green Dragons and Organs

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Green Dragons and Organs
Loading
/

This week in the garage we have an array of crossover utility vehicles at sharply different price points. Sam was in the new entry level model from Hyundai, the Venue SEL. Dan also had a vehicle from the other mainstream branch of Hyundai Motor Group, the 2021 Kia Seltos SX Turbo. Rebecca had to make do with the most premium of the trio, the Audi Q7. For the rest of the show we had a very special guest join us for a wide ranging conversation that all ultimately always came back to driving. Jonathan Klinger, VP of Car Culture at Hagerty Insurance hung out to talk about cross country drives in 100+ year old cars, teaching youngsters to drive manual transmissions, restoring classic machines and playing the organ. Links A year of the Ford Model A as a daily driver Hyundai Venue SEL Hagerty Magazine… Read More »Green Dragons and Organs