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Nicole Wakelin

Canoo Without A Paddle

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Canoo Without A Paddle
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This week as we prepare for our next round of driving new cars, Nicole tells us about driving the Hyundai Ioniq6, Robbie fills in the details on the BMW Z4 as well as the Subaru WRX tS and Sam has the Chevrolet Blazer EV LT. Acura releases an image and name for its new electric crossover coupe. There’s disscussion of what engine Scout will use as a range extender. VW plans to bring its Cupra brand to America in partnership with Penske. The Auto Alliance sues to block the new automatic braking regulations. Subaru is adopting Toyota’s infotainment system. Ram is dropping plans for the big battery Ram REV and Canoo finally unplugs. We also have interviews with Stellantis executives Aamir Ahmed, Bob Broderdorf and Christine Feuell and some listener questions. Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS Links Acura RSXHow big a range extender does Scout need?VW… Read More »Canoo Without A Paddle

Do You Want a Luxury Minivan

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Do You Want a Luxury Minivan
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We’re back from CES having seen the Honda 0 Series, Afeela and Faraday’s next hope for relevance plus we have NACTOY winners and an electric RV

Live From Las Vegas

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Live From Las Vegas
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This week, all 3 members of our crew are in Las Vegas from CES recording from separate hotel rooms with terrible wifi. Nicole finished her stint with the Buick Envoy, Robbie had the Land Rover Defender 130 and Sam had the new Infiniti QX80. In the news Faraday Future is still not dead somehow and it’s going to be unveiling new lower cost EVs at CES that we’ll see and talk more about next week. Over at TFL, our pal Andre has been re-engining his Soviet era Buhanka van with an LS V8 and chronicling the multi-month effort on video. Nicole wrote about whether the construction of the Cybertruck might have helped mitigate the damage from the New Years Day explosion in Las Vegas. Q4 2024 sales numbers are coming out and contrary to all the naysayers, EVs aren’t quite dead yet. At CES, Toyota… Read More »Live From Las Vegas

Happy New Year

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Happy New Year
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In the final show of 2024, Nicole discusses her experiences with the Buick Enclave, while Robbie shares his Hyundai Ioniq 5 charging journey. News highlights include a potential Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger, affordable electric vehicles from Toyota and Subaru, and a new safer EV chassis design from CATL. The team reflects on favorite drives and 2025 expectations.

Tacos At Every Charger

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Tacos At Every Charger
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This week, Robbie didn’t drive anything, but Nicole got time with the Ram 1500 RHO and Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback while Sam had the Kia Niro PHEV. At Art Basel Miami, Jaguar showed off its new design direction with the Type 00 Concept and it’s different. Toyota is taking advantage of its joint venture factory with Mazda to offer Soul Red Crystal as an optional color on the Corolla Cross. Carlos Tavares has been ousted as CEO of Stellantis. Hyundai has a new version of the Palisade coming and Genesis is building a race car to go to Le Mans in 2026. Nissan’s Ariya can use Superchargers now but it needs an extra adapter for its adapter. Ion Dynamics has a cool little mobile EV charger and we recommend tires for winter driving in West Virginia. Get your Wheel Bearings merch at https://shop.wheelbearings.media Links Ram… Read More »Tacos At Every Charger

Let’s Go Racing

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Wheel Bearings
Let's Go Racing
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This week Sam has been driving the Ford Ranger with the 2.7-liter V6 and Kia Carnival Hybrid. Nicole had the Toyota Tacoma and Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Robbie had the outgoing VW Tiguan. In the news, Acura has a new entry-level crossover, the ADX and Toyota is working on a new generation Celica. California’s governor has a plan to preserve EV incentives in the states if the Trump administration pulls the plug, and it doesn’t include Tesla. Cadillac is joining the F1 circus in 2026 and Dodge is slapping some big money on the hood of the new Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S. ConnectDER has a solution for installing EV charging on older homes and smaller apartments. Edmunds range tests the Chevrolet Equinox EV and decides to unload their Fisker Ocean while they still can and we answer listener questions. We’ve updated the… Read More »Let’s Go Racing

Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign?
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The whole team is back this week with lots of LA Auto Show news. Nicole drove the Audi SQ8 around Los Angeles for the week. Robbie had the new Toyota Land Cruiser. In the news, Jaguar has launched new branding ahead of the reveal of concept version of its next new EV. Stellantis talked about the STLA Frame platform for its new EV an EREV large trucks and SUVs, and we spoke with Stellantis executives including NA COO Antonio Filosa about where Jeep and the other brands are headed. Nicole got to try out the new GMC Sierra EV Denali. Lotus is also bringing out some EREVs. We also discussed some of the products announced at the LA Auto Show including a refreshed Genesis GV70, new VW Tiguan, the Hyundai Ioniq 9, and the NACTOY finalists. We also answered some listener questions. Links Nissan N7More… Read More »Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign?

We’ve Got The Buzz

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Wheel Bearings
We've Got The Buzz
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This week Robbie and Sam both spent time driving the Volkswagen ID Buzz and came away surprisingly delighted. Sam also spent a week with the Toyota Land Cruiser while Nicole got to drive the 2025 Camry. In the news, VW is adding enhanced hazard alerts to its latest models and Polestar and Volvo finally have Supercharger access for their EVs. Ford is now shipping Lectron NACS to CCS adapters to customers instead of Tesla made adapters. Cadillac is bringing a Lyriq-V in 2025 and Lucid is about to open the order books for the Gravity SUV. Hyundai has a new fuel cell vehicle coming in 2025 with a new look for the brand and sister brand Kia is launching the Tasman pickup but it can’t come to America because of the chicken tax. Rivian doesn’t believe in buttons and they are wrong. FSD can’t see… Read More »We’ve Got The Buzz

Scouting Mission

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Scouting Mission
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Hey everyone, we’re back with a standard episode this week. Unfortunately a family emergency came up at the last moment and Robbie couldn’t join us. Fortunately, our friend Perry Stern was able to step in and join Nicole and Sam. Perry was driving around in the new Subaru Forester while Nicole had the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Sam had the Kia Sorento Hybrid. It was good to have Perry on the show, because he was the only one among the group that was able to attend the reveal event of the new Scout Terra and Traveler which are due to arrive in 2027. Stellantis has started assembly of battery modules at its new factory in Windsor, Ontario, and plans to try out semi-solid state batteries in 2027. They have also updated their Auburn Hills wind tunnel and are planning to sell their Arizona proving ground.… Read More »Scouting Mission

AI Stock Boondoggle

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
AI Stock Boondoggle
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Nicole is back and she drove the Honda Prologue while Robbie spent more time with the GMC Hummer EV SUV and Sam had the VW GTi. Links 2025 Jeep Compass2025 Bronco Free Wheeling2025 Chevy Silverado EV UpdatesVolkswagen TayronMCity 2.0CyberCab2-seat robotaxisCarlos Tavares to retire in early 2026Stellantis EV price parityMore cheap EU EVsFisker reaches bankruptcy dealFisker office mess 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