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

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

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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”

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

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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

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

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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 #033 – Faster, Slower, Fix It Now or Fix It Later

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Episode #033 - Faster, Slower, Fix It Now or Fix It Later
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This week Sam is in the slightly quicker Civic, the Si sedan, Dan stays on-road in the off-road Jeep Compass and the guys delve into fixing diesel Volkswagens, regulations for automated driving and whether anyone will ever make any money on self-driving software. Also, Waze comes to Android Auto, the end of big cars and a contemplation on how to fix Lincoln. Links The automated driving economy turns into the app store economy Who’s ultimately responsible for fixing recalled Volkswagen diesels Will automated cars cost $400,000? Spoiler alert, no. 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

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Episode #32 – Convertibles, Hybrids, Not Self-Driving and Comcast Hate

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Episode #32 - Convertibles, Hybrids, Not Self-Driving and Comcast Hate
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This week Sam has driven Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and compares the latest Mazda Miata to the original. Dan spends the week with a very different kind of convertible, the Mustang GT. When the new Nissan Leaf arrives this fall, it will have e-pedal for strong regenerative braking and ProPilot Assist which is automated but not self-driving. Before some listener questions, the guys dive into the latest ploy by Comcast to remain the most hated company in America. Links Nissan ProPilot Assist Preview – It’s Automated But Not Self-Driving We Should Welcome The E-Pedal In The New Nissan Leaf, But It’s Not The World’s First: Updated Comcast Tries to Leverage Autonomous Cars to Kill Net Neutrality   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

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Episode #31 – Absolutely Mainstream to Utterly Extreme

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Episode #31 - Absolutely Mainstream to Utterly Extreme
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  This week Sam and Dan discuss the merits of the Subaru Impreza vs the Mistubishi Outlander Sport, the Merccedes-AMG GLA45, the all-new 2018 Honda Accord, the Aston Martin Valkyrie and a preview of the 2017 Concours de’Elegance of America.  Don’t forget to join the Hespen Rally if you are in Michigan on August 6, 2017. Links Concours de’Elegance of America 2018 Honda Accord and more on the Accord Aston Martin Valkyrie Hespen Rally   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

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Episode #30 – Crashing and Electrifying

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Episode #30 - Crashing and Electrifying
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As we head into the second half of 2017, Dan and Sam have a bunch of stuff to discuss including spending time with the Chevrolet Bolt and the air conditioning capacity of the Mazda CX-9. In the news topics, Tesla responds badly to IIHS crash test results, Volvo adds electrons to its full lineup and sales of the Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq reflect the changing character of the automotive market as a whole. Finally, if you are in the Detroit area on August 6, 2017, please come join the Hespen Rally to honor the memory of Patrick Hespen and help raise funds for research into a cure for cholangiocarcinoma , the rare cancer that took Patrick’s life way too soon. There were will be lots of cool cars and Patrick’s friends, family and colleagues. Register at http://hespenrally.com/ Links Tesla Takes on the IIHS Volvo Electrifies and… Read More »Episode #30 – Crashing and Electrifying

Episode #29 – Big Sedans, Servicing Autonomous Vehicles, Racing Old Cars

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Episode #29 - Big Sedans, Servicing Autonomous Vehicles, Racing Old Cars
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This week Sam drives a couple of big American sedans, the Buick LaCrosse and Lincoln Continental and Dan samples the Mazda CX-9. This devolves into a chat about Chris Lattner and working with/for Elon Musk and using rental car companies to service fleets of autonomous vehicles. Then Sam goes all analog with a visit to the Great Race stop in Ypsilanti, Mich. Links The Great Race The Great Race comes to Ypsilanti Chris Lattner bails on Tesla’s AutoPilot program after less than 6 months of working for Elon Musk Avis to Service Waymo’s Autonomous Vehicle Fleet   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

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Episode #28 – Luxury Econocars, Big Trucks and Malaise vs Autonomy

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Episode #28 - Luxury Econocars, Big Trucks and Malaise vs Autonomy
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This week Dan and Sam return to the Ford F-250 Super Duty which Dan is now driving and compare it to the Chevy Silverado 2500. They also talk about BMW’s $100,000 economy car, the 740e plug-in hybrid. Topics include the departure of Travis Kalanick from Uber, the 2017 edition of J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study and a bunch of listener questions including a recommendation of the Mazda6 and contemplation of which is worse, the malaise era or the coming autonomy era? Links 2017 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study Results   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

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Episode #27 – Jags That Burn Oil On Purpose, Cars That Are Too Good and Some That Aren’t

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Episode #27 - Jags That Burn Oil On Purpose, Cars That Are Too Good and Some That Aren't
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This week we talk about a diesel powered Jaguar XF, a BMW 5 Series that so good it’s boring, the big shuffle at Uber, whether car makers will be the tier 1 suppliers to the tech industry for automated driving and answer a whole bunch of listener questions including some background on Sam’s engineering career. Carmakers Could Be Tier 1 Suppliers To Tech Companies For Autonomous Buick HiPer Strut Suspension Changes at Uber Do Driver’s Cars Matter Anymore? Increasing Collaboration Between Auto and Tech is Better For Everyone 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