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Hauling Anything But Ass

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Hauling Anything But Ass
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This week Nicole has been having fun blasting around in the 2022 Honda Civic Si with a six-speed manual gearbox. Roberto has been hauling cement turtles in the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and Sam has been avoiding making eye contact with the Toyota Prius Prime. In the news, BMW released a concept version of a new M-only model codenamed “RockStar” and badged as XM. Anyone that wants a Toyota GR86 in Europe will have to hurry before new emissions regulations kill it there and Polestar gives a preview of what’s coming next. Links Polestar 3,4 and 5 Short EU Run for Toyota GR86 BMW XM Concept 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

The Perfect Mulch Hauler

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Perfect Mulch Hauler
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Lots of stuff in the garage in this week as Nicole gets to spend more time with the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness. On the opposite coast, Robbie has one of his two ideal cars, the Audi RS6 Avant and also shares some thoughts on the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid. Sticking with the PHEV theme, Sam had a first drive in the new Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring and also got to try out GM’s new Android Automotive based infotainment system in the 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe. In the news, GM and Ford are both doing deals with chip makers to try to avoid future shortages, Genesis shows the exterior of the next generation G90 luxury sedan and Nissan announces some of its electrification plans between now and 2030. We also have an interview that Sam recorded in LA with Aditya Jairaj, director of EV marketing and sales… Read More »The Perfect Mulch Hauler

Driving a whole bunch of stuff

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Driving a whole bunch of stuff
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The whole team has bugged out of southern California after several days of checking out what is new. Sam returned to chilly Michigan to drive the BMW M3 Competition xDrive on summer tires. Nicole landed back in New Hampshire to pick up the Lexus UX250h which has now been reclassified as an SUV-over. Robbie was in between rides at home, but sampled a whole bunch of stuff during the annual World Car of the Year drive off including the new BMW 2 series coupe. Both Robbie and Nicole have sampled Hyundai’s new sport models, the Elantra N and Kona N While in SoCal, the whole team went to the truncated LA auto show which was all about EVs this year including the debut of the production intent Fisker Ocean (make sure to listen to ep 221 for an interview with Henrik Fisker) and the latest… Read More »Driving a whole bunch of stuff

Phoenix From The Ashes

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Phoenix From The Ashes
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This week, the whole gang has been in Southern California for the LA Auto Show and related events. In the garage, Nicole drove the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Moab and Sam had the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-X at home in Michigan. We discuss the new Acura Integra Prototype and answer a question about how we review cars. Finally, we have some of the interviews that Sam did with various people while in California with more to come over the next couple of weeks. This time we have Mike Tripp and Cooper Erickson from Toyota about the bZ4X and Henrik Fisker on the new Ocean EV. Links Fisker Ocean first look Henrik Fisker Interview from 2009 Detroit Auto Show 2023 Toyota bZ4X reveal 2023 Acura Integra Prototype Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward… Read More »Phoenix From The Ashes

You’ll Make Your Money Back in a Week

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
You'll Make Your Money Back in a Week
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In the garage this week we have first extended take of the Ford Maverick XLT hybrid from Sam. Roberto samples the Rivian R1T and spends more time with the Mercedes-Benz EQS. Nicole gives a first impression of the new Nissan Pathfinder that just arrived as she got home from a trip. In the news Ford Performance launched the Eluminator crate motor SEMA and almost immediately sold out. Rivian raked in $11.9B from its IPO, the rest of the auto industry has committed $515B to EV development and production and 1/3 of Cadillac stores are calling it quits before they have to spend money to support EVs. In listener Q&A we mostly decline to give investment advice. Links Ford Eluminator crate motor Rivian IPO Auto industry invests $515B in EVs 1/3 of Cadillac stores to close before EVs arrive Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If… Read More »You’ll Make Your Money Back in a Week

Don’t Get A Bad Car Loan

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Don't Get A Bad Car Loan
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This week, Sam is still driving a white three-row Jeep SUV, but it’s a more manageable size in the form of the new Grand Cherokee L. Nicole has been getting around in a very Halloween colored Ford F-150 Raptor and Robbie shares some thoughts on a couple of new BMWs, the Alpina B8 and M5. In the news, Subaru responded to the Massachusetts right to repair rules by disabling the telematics on new vehicles sold in the state and we have some mixed feelings. Staying with connectivity, Ford is still working out some details with its over-the-air update process so it has delayed the OTA update to enable BlueCruise on the F-150 and Mach-E. Mercedes-Benz has launched a new SL roadster and GMC is giving the Sierra a major update after just two years. We wrap up with some discussion of car loans and Q&A… Read More »Don’t Get A Bad Car Loan

Indy Goes Driverless

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Indy Goes Driverless
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This week Robbie gets his hands on the not-a-minivan minivan from Kia, the 2022 Carnival. Sam heads to Indy in the big, comfy and oh so thirsty Jeep Wagoneer and Nicole goes off-road in the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness. This past week jurors for the North American Car and Truck of the Year, which include Nicole gathered in Ann Arbor to drive a bunch of stuff and Sam managed to also squeeze in a drive in the Rivian R1T. The reason Sam went to Indianappolis was for the Indy Autonomous Challenge where self-driving Indy Lights cars took the big oval and Tesla announced it would use lithium iron phosphate batteries for its standard range cars globally. Links Indy Autonomous Challenge Hellcat powered Plymouth Prowler Tesla adds iron batteries 240 mpg VW XL1 Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would… Read More »Indy Goes Driverless

It Grows On You

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
It Grows On You
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This week in the garage, Sam takes a road trip in the Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid, Nicole drives the Ford Explorer XLT and Roberto samples Volvo’s first electric-only model the C40. The embargo has finally lifted on the drive impressions of the BMW i4 M50 and Robbie shares his thoughts on this new German electric autobahn machine. We also discuss the augmented reality heads up display in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and AAA testing of driver assist systems in bad weather conditions. As usual, we wrap with some listener questions. Links AAA ADAS testing Robbie’s BMW i4 first drive Mercedes-Benz Augmented reality HUD 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

Munster Challenger

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Munster Challenger
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This week we have lots of cruising. Roberto has been riding on BMW’s big bruiser bike, the R18, Nicole has been Grand Touring in the Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid and Sam has had the unicorn-like Ford Escape plug-in hybrid. Robbie and Sam each got to drive Ford’s quickest EV yet, the Mach-E GT while Nicole got a first drive in Toyota’s new 2022 Tundra including the hybrid variant. GM announced its next-gen hands-free driving assist called Ultra Cruise. We answer some listener questions and Sam interviews Ford’s Darren Palmer and Dave Pericak. Links Sam’s Take on the Mach-E GT Robbie’s Impressions of the Mach-E GT GM Ultra Cruise 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

Roberto Drives the BMW iX

Last month Roberto got to go Germany to try out BMW’s newest electric vehicle, the new iX crossover. 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