Skip to content

Nicole Wakelin

Not A Crazed Squirrel

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Not A Crazed Squirrel
Loading
/

This week on the show, Roberto went all the way to Germany to drive the new Mercedes-Benz EQE midsize electric sedan. Nicole had a very different Mercedes, the seven-seat GLS450 SUV as well as the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Sam tested his new EV charger with the Mini Cooper SE. Nicole and Roberto also drove the GMC Hummer EV while Sam and Nicole tried out the Toyota bZ4X. A San Francisco police officer pulled over a driverless Cruise AV. Jeep is launching an even bigger version of the Wagoneer with the new Hurricane inline-six and Lincoln is teasing its upcoming EV concept. Links GMC Hummer EV first drive Lincoln EV concept tease Toyota bZ4X first drive Cruise AV traffic stop 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L/Grand Wagoneer L Manheim auctions tests used EV batteries Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like… Read More »Not A Crazed Squirrel

Orange Is Rugged

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Orange Is Rugged
Loading
/

The end of quarter travel is still going strong this week. Since our last regular episode Roberto has driven two new electric vehicles, the Lucid Air Dream Edition and the Nissan Ariya. Meanwhile, Sam having just returned from California on a red-eye talks about the Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid. Nicole was going the opposite direction from Sam and slid in late after being in transit from San Diego airport for the first part of the show. She has been playing with the Honda Passport Trailsport, complete with orange trim. Sam and Nicole shared some impressions of the updated Volvo XC60 Recharge with its longer 35-mile electric range. Stellantis is trailing the pack in fuel economy so since it expects to be still selling internal combustion vehicles into the 2030s, it has developed a new engine called Hurricane to replace the Hemi V8s. Lotus has revealed… Read More »Orange Is Rugged

Electric Volvos and More

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Electric Volvos and More
Loading
/

This week our usual recording time coincided with both Roberto and Nicole being in transit somewhere while Sam is hitting the road again in a couple of days. But rather than let you down, we do have some fresh content for you. First off, both Nicole and Sam drove the new Volvo C40 Recharge and sat down in a garden afterward to discuss their impressions. While at the Volvo event, Sam also chatted with Volvo Cars NA chief Anders Gustafsson and Senior product manager Christina Vasandani. We also have the rest of the interviews Sam recorded at the Chicago Auto Show including Steve Gehring, safety regulation and policy executive director at Hyundai, Jasen Turnbull, marketing manager for the the Ford F-150 Lightning and Arie Groenveld, Ford Bronco Raptor chief engineer Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to… Read More »Electric Volvos and More

The Buzz is Back

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Buzz is Back
Loading
/

This week Roberto has two vehicles to discuss, the Ford Maverick Lariat and the Kia EV6. Nicole has the massive Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Sam drives the not-a-minivan Jeep Grand Wagoneer. In the news, VW has finally unveiled the production version of the ID Buzz which Europeans get this summer and Americans will have to wait for until 2024. PG&E is testing bidirectional charging with GM and Ford. Honda is making a plan to make a plan to maybe make EVs with Sony. Rivian is still facing some production challenges. There won’t be a new gas powered Subaru STi and questions are answered. Links VW ID Buzz GM and PG&E to test bidirectional charging Honda and Sony may tie up on EVs Rivian still having a hard time building No more gas STis from Subaru Extended warranties on Car Talk Wheel Bearings has launched a… Read More »The Buzz is Back

Gliding Actively Sometimes

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Gliding Actively Sometimes
Loading
/

Unfortunately, Roberto woke up today with a massive migraine so it’s just Nicole and Sam this week. Nicole has been driving the refreshed 2022 Acura RDX A-Spec, while Sam has been shuttling around in the 2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph. The embargo has lifted on drive impressions of the updated 2022 Lincoln Navigator, the first model in the lineup with hands-free driving assist and we have some thoughts. Sam also had a conversation with Mike Sprague, North America director for Lincoln about the brand and where it goes in the future. Mike’s boss, Jim Farley, made a big announcement about reorganizing Ford and we talk about how that might affect dealers and customers. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares laid out a vision for the company through 2030 and showed off first renders of the upcoming 2023 Jeep EV and 2024 Ram 1500 EV. Polestar revealed a stunning… Read More »Gliding Actively Sometimes

They Can’t Be Hard When It’s Cold

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
They Can't Be Hard When It's Cold
Loading
/

This week in the garage, Roberto enjoyed some top down time with the Jaguar F-Type Roadster, Nicole finished her time with the Nissan Sentra and Sam drove the Mitsubishi Eclipese (not a real Eclipse) Cross. Robbie shares his impressions of ice driving in Colorado with Bridgestone. Nissan is going to build two new electric sedans in Mississippi and probably kill off the Titan to do it. Toyota has pattened a simulated manual shift complete with a clutch for EVs. Sam talks with Chevrolet Silverado chief engineer Nichole Kraatz (patrons already got this last week). Most car buyers are payng over sticker and seeing bouncing Impalas caused a search spike. Links 80% of car buyers paid over sticker in January Nissan to build 2 new EVs in Mississippi Toyota’s psuedo manual patent GMC Hummer Battery weighs almost 3,000 pounds. Manual transmission electric Saturn Wheel Bearings has… Read More »They Can’t Be Hard When It’s Cold

A Saucy Badger

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
A Saucy Badger
Loading
/

This week we have a pair of SUVs that can go off-road almost anywhere with the Ford Bronco Wildtrack Sasquatch and the Land Rover Defender 110 SE. We also have a pair of decidedly on-road machines in the Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Sentra. Nicole and Sam went to the Chicago Auto Show this week and didn’t see any new completely new models, just some stuff that’s already been shown like the Bronco Raptor, Chevrolet Silverado EV and Toyota Sequoia along with new trim variants like the Ram 1500 Firefighter edition. Before the show, Alfa Romeo revealed the new Tonale and its accompanying NFT but didn’t bring it to Chicago. Sam did speak with Alfa North America boss Larry Dominique. The biggest but least surprising news was the new Camp Jeep climbing hill and Nissan brought a trio of Frontier concepts including two decided retro variants.… Read More »A Saucy Badger

400 LBs of Snow and Ice

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
400 LBs of Snow and Ice
Loading
/

This week in our review section, Robbie drove the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid and came up well short of its rated electric range. Sam also came up short of the EPA fuel economy with the F-150 hybrid, but it was driving in snow and had about 400 lbs worth of snow and ice in the bed. Nicole had the new two-row version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. In the news, the EPA isn’t happy about the postal service’s choice not to get electric delivery trucks and Ford CEO Jim Farley isn’t happy with his dealers gouging customers. However, the Spirit of Ecstasy is getting a refresh for the upcoming Rolls-Royce Spectre. We also answer a bunch of questions. Links Poor Fuel Economy of new Postal Trucks Jim Farley calls out dealers for price gouging Rolls-Royce refreshes the Spirit of Ecstasy Wheel Bearings has launched a… Read More »400 LBs of Snow and Ice

Into the Wilderness

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Into the Wilderness
Loading
/

Nicole is back and she’s been driving the 2022 Infiniti QX60 and the Subaru Outback Wilderness which arrived just in time for a couple of feet of snow to get dumped on New England. Robbie finishes his stint in the Cadillac CT5V Blackwing and Sam hits some unpaved rural roads in the 2022 Ford Explorer Timberline. Tesla has apparently added some code designed to disable the power seat adjustment if you use it too much. Ford is going Pro with it’s new EVs and Roberto got to drive the new e-Transit and ride along for a few minutes in the F-150 Lightning. Both Robbie and Nicole also got to drive the new Kia EV6 and we answer a bunch of listener questions Links Tesla turns off seat controls if you use them too much Roberto drives the Ford e-Transit Roberto rides in the F-150 Lightning… Read More »Into the Wilderness

And The Winner Is …

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
And The Winner Is ...
Loading
/

Robbie’s driveway was empty of loaners this week, but Nicole has been driving the Honda Civic Sport Touring hatchback with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and CVT and Sam had the new Nissan Pathfinder Platinum AWD. In the show, the Civic was misidentified as the regular Sport rather than the Sport Touring. In the news, we discuss the North American Car Truck and Utility vehicle of the Year awards. Jason Torchinsky wrote about how they made the garbage luxury cars of the 1980s, used cars are too expensive. Bollinger pulls the plug on its electric pickup and SUV and Honda shows off the next-gen Civic Type-R. Links