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Episode #074 – The Last Ford Car, Big Van Road Trip and Climbing Lord March’s Driveway

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #074 - The Last Ford Car, Big Van Road Trip and Climbing Lord March's Driveway
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This week Sam drives what may end up being the last Ford car to Pittsburgh to learn about how Argo AI is helping Ford build the future of transportation. Dan takes a road trip in the biggest of Ford’s passenger carrying vehicles. A lot of very cool vehicles climb Lord March’s driveway at the Goodwood festival of Speed. VW will build some of its new generation of EVs in America. Small Hyundai’s are really good. The guys discuss the meaning of crossover in an attempt to answer a listener question, too. Links Behind the curtain at Argo AI Self-Driving Mustang fails at Goodwood The Best of Goodwood 2018 VW ID Crozz and Buzz to be built in America Bonus photo: Recaro Expert Houndstooth seat Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of… Read More »Episode #074 – The Last Ford Car, Big Van Road Trip and Climbing Lord March’s Driveway

Episode #073 – Big SUVs, Going Mirrorless, Tariffs and Racing Supras

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #073 - Big SUVs, Going Mirrorless, Tariffs and Racing Supras
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This week Sam has been in the new Ford Expedition Max, Dan gets a re-run of the Lincoln Navigator and Mazda CX-9. Lots of news including the new Audi e-Tron quattro without mirrors, chargers for GM’s automated Chevy Bolts, rising prices due to the trade war and the Toyota Supra goes to NASCAR. Finally, Honda builds a 150 mph lawnmower because why not? Links Audi e-tron camera mirrors  Tariffs and price increases  GM preparing to launch automated mobility in San Francisco  Nissan and Daimler cancel luxury compact car  Toyota Supra in NASCAR  Production Supra at Goodwood  Honda mean mower  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 #072 – A Baby Ford, Kia’s Progress, Care and Feeding of Brands and Bad Tarriffs

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #072 - A Baby Ford, Kia's Progress, Care and Feeding of Brands and Bad Tarriffs
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This week Sam drives Ford’s new baby SUV, the EcoSport and Dan marvels at the progress of Kia over 20 years after driving the new Sorento. This week Fiat Chrysler held their annual What’s New preview and showed off the latest even faster Challenger variant, the Hellcat Redeye. Like the Challenger, many of the products in the FCA lineup have been around for quite a long time but the company has made an effort to continuously update them in ways that seem small on the surface but matter to customers. The show wraps up with a discussion of the impact of proposed tariffs on the auto industry. Links 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Dodge focusing on performance Auto industry not happy about a trade war The price of a Toyota Camry would jump $1,800 because of tariffs Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you… Read More »Episode #072 – A Baby Ford, Kia’s Progress, Care and Feeding of Brands and Bad Tarriffs

Episode #070 – Acura Returns To Its Roots and FCA Has A New Plan

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #070 - Acura Returns To Its Roots and FCA Has A New Plan
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This week Sam really likes the third-generation Acura RDX, Dan likes the Mazda CX-5 and then they try hard not to talk about Tesla and mostly succeed although you can see more of Sam’s opinion on the subject at the link below. The guys also talk GM and Softbank and the upcoming product plans for Chrysler and Dodge. Just kidding on the last part, there are no known product plans for Chrysler and Dodge but Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are all getting new stuff. Links GM Cruise and Softbank Hook Up To Work on Deploying Automated Driving Tesla Updates Brakes Over the Air, What Could Go Wrong? FCA’s New Five Year Plan   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 #069 – VW SUVs, Real SUVs, A Plethora of Cars and More Tesla Trouble

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #069 - VW SUVs, Real SUVs, A Plethora of Cars and More Tesla Trouble
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We missed last week for reasons we don’t need to get into (OK, it was Dan’s fault) but Sam drove the Volkswagen Tiguan and Atlas while Dan had the new Jeep Wrangler. Sam went to the Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally at Road America where he went for a ride in the Ford GT and drove a whole bunch of other cars and utilities. He came to the conclusion that for those that actually want to have fun driving, the VW GTI is a better choice than the Golf R. Finally, Tesla continues to have quality issues and Elon Musk goes on the attack against anyone that stoops to criticize and his most trollish followers pile on. Links A lap in the Ford GT VW Tiguan review VW Atlas review Edmunds Tesla Model 3 Long Term update What It’s Like When Elon Musk’s Twitter… Read More »Episode #069 – VW SUVs, Real SUVs, A Plethora of Cars and More Tesla Trouble

wheelbearings podcast episode 68

Episode #068 – Quirky Subarus and Driver Monitors

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #068 - Quirky Subarus and Driver Monitors
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This Sam is in California talking autonomous cars at a conference. He’s driven the BMW X3 before the trip and trying out the Cadillac CT6 with SuperCruise in Silicon Valley. Dan has been enjoying the rough edges of the Subaru WRX. The guys discuss Teslas crashing into fire trucks, batteries that re-ignite and the pending demise of the diesel. Links No Diesel for new Volvo S60 Sam on This Week in Tech Crashing Teslas   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 #067 – Luxury SUVs, Plug-in Minivans and Bad Decisions

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #067 - Luxury SUVs, Plug-in Minivans and Bad Decisions
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Sam spends time with the Range Rover Velar and laments touchscreens that can’t be seen through polarized sunglasses. Dan continues to be impressed by the Genesis G80 and lauds the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid as a great family hauler that is also really efficient. Rolls-Royce follows the crowd and launches and SUV named after what else? a massive diamond. The guys lament the deather of the Cadillac ATS. Waymo is learning to see through snow, Uber can see but doesn’t know what to do and battery fires don’t always stay extinguished. Links Rolls-Royce Cullinan Waymo Learning to See Through Snow Uber Can See But Still Doesn’t Know What To Do Self-re-igniting batteries Cadillac ATS dies     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 #066 – Plug-ins, Hybrids, Diesels and AV Safety

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #066 - Plug-ins, Hybrids, Diesels and AV Safety
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After a week off, the guys are back with lots of stuff to talk about. Since the last show, Sam has been in the Mini Countryman Cooper S E (where do they come up with these naming conventions?) and the BMW 530e xDrive while Dan has found himself surprisingly enamored with the Toyota Camry Hybrid. While electrification is the future, it’s not the only solution for improving efficiency, especially in the big trucks that Americans favor. That’s why Ford is launching a diesel engine in the F-150. Someday we may not be actively driving anymore but we’re still a long way from that being commonplace. Sam compares the hype for automated vehicles to the currently reality and the hype just doesn’t hold up. Oh and Amazon can deliver packages to your trunk. Links Ford F-150 Diesel first drive BMW picks Innoviz solid state lidar The… Read More »Episode #066 – Plug-ins, Hybrids, Diesels and AV Safety

Episode #065 – Midsize Luxury SUVs, New Electric Utilities and Fast Charging

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #065 - Midsize Luxury SUVs, New Electric Utilities and Fast Charging
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Since the last show, Sam has spent time with the Volvo XC60 and Mercedes-Benz GLE550e plug-in hybrid. Dan gets an encore with the Nissan Armada and some time with the Dodge Charger GT. As we head into this year’s Beijing Motor Show, images of the new Mercedes-Maybach sedan-SUV concept surface and frankly it’s not good. Audi provides a preview of some of the testing they are doing with the upcoming e-Tron Quattro and VW subsidiary Electrify America gets ready to challenge the Tesla SuperCharger network. Finally, Toyota commits to talking cars and wants the rest of the industry to come along for the ride. 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 #064 – Hatches, Hatches and More Hatches

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Wheel Bearings
Episode #064 - Hatches, Hatches and More Hatches
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It’s all hatchbacks this week as Sam talks about the Hyundai Ioniq Electric and trying to find an EV charging station in San Jose. The Toyota Yaris was also surprisingly enjoyable to drive but Dan had the best ride with the VW GTI. The EPA has decided to rescind the Obama administration’s late decision to lock in the 2022-25 fuel economy and CO2 standards and your hosts the discuss the impact or lack thereof on the industry. Ford debuts the fourth generation Focus which Americans will get far fewer of. Sam rants about jackasses doing stupid shit with Tesla Autopilot on Youtube and urges listeners to report the bad behavior to Youtube. Links Toyota Yaris – It’s surprisingly OK 2019 Ford Focus Mobileye Responsibility Sensitive Safety Model     Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip… Read More »Episode #064 – Hatches, Hatches and More Hatches