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Nicole Wakelin

What is this doing here?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What is this doing here?
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In the garage this week Nicole has been driving the new Chevrolet Suburban with the fabulous 3.0-liter diesel while Roberto drove the Acura TLX Type-S and commutes on the Ducati Multistrada V4. Sam sampled Buick’s latest import from China, the 2021 Envision. In the news, we have more on the Ford F-150 Lightning with the announcement of the Pro which contrary to the badge is actually the least expensive version designed as a work truck. Ford is also partnering on a joint-venture with SK Innovation to build lithium ion cells for its future EVs, Kia had the US unveiling of the new EV6 in Times Square and the group ponders how GM managed to make the new Hummer EV pickup weigh over 9,000 lbs empty. In listener mail we got a picture of what appears to be a Holden Commodore Ute and wonder why it’s… Read More »What is this doing here?

First Close Look At An Electric Pickup

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
First Close Look At An Electric Pickup
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The team is back on track this week with Nicole spending in time in the new 2021 Kia Sorento X-Line, while Robbie tries out a couple of fundamentally different cars, the McLaren GT and the redesigned, hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai. Sam finished up his two week Hellcat stint with the one-year only Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. In the news, the UK government is moving to legallize Level 3 conditionally automated vehicles that allow drivers to go hands off and eyes off the road. Colin Chapman’s classic Lotus 7 is still being produced by Caterham and now the company is looking at how to electrify it. Finally, Sam got a deep dive into the battery-powered 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning and shares his thoughts on what it can do. Links 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning first look Caterham developing electric 7 UK to legalize L3 conditionally automated vehicles… Read More »First Close Look At An Electric Pickup

No One Needs a 700hp Truck, But You Sure Might Want It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
No One Needs a 700hp Truck, But You Sure Might Want It
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This week, Robbie forgot to set his alarm so we recorded the show in two parts and spliced it together. Nicole had the 2021 Hyundai Sonata hybrid with a great powertrain and a gimmicky roof. Sam ripped off some impressive acceleration runs when he could find some untrafficked dirt roads where the sound of a bellowing Hellcat in the Ram 1500 TRX wouldn’t grab to much attention. Roberto went even more heavy duty this time with a drive in the Daimler’s new EM2 electric box truck and riding shotgun in the battery powered E-Cascadia semi. In the news, we discuss Ford’s launch of the Timberline rugged off-road trim level starting with the Explorer and the return of Citroen to the American market with the diminutive Ami going into car sharing fleets in Washington DC and Portland, Oregon. We finish up with a listener letter about… Read More »No One Needs a 700hp Truck, But You Sure Might Want It

In Search Of A Rental Car

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
In Search Of A Rental Car
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This week, Nicole and Roberto have returned from their respective vacations and share their experiences trying rent vehicles in an age where rental companies have ditched much of their fleets. Robbie discusses the 2020 Kia Sorento he had in Hawaii. Before her Disney trip, Nicole drove the new Jeep Wrangler 4Xe plug-in hybrid. Sam went from the decidely old school Lexus GX460 to the thoroughly modern Buick Encore GX. We skip news this week and address a bunch of listener questions including what off-road vehicles will be like in the age of electrification, vehicle shortages, whether to modify classic and project cars or keep them original, and recommendations for wagons and used PHEVs/BEVs. Links 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

Say Hello To Roberto

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Say Hello To Roberto
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Episode 192 of Wheel Bearings brings an updated lineup as the internet’s Roberto Baldwin joins Nicole Wakelin and Sam in place of Dan Roth who has started his new job. We talk about the rip-snorting Dodge Durango Hellcat that just left Nicole’s driveway, Robbie takes a ride in the new Lucid Air Grand Touring and contemplates moving his house with the GMC Sierra HD diesel while Sam ponders how the Chevy Volt might have evolved into the Toyota Rav4 Prime. In the news, Toyota launches the Beyond Zero sub-brand for battery electric vehicles with a new concept creatively named bZ4X. Cadillac prices its first EV, the 2023 Lyriq crossover and Stellantis kills the “too expensive” Giorgio platform. We wrap the show with our usual listener emails. Links Riding in the Lucid Air Grand Touring Stellantis kills Giorgio Toyota launches Beyond Zero sub-brand for electric vehicles… Read More »Say Hello To Roberto

The End of an Era

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Wheel Bearings
The End of an Era
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This week in the garage, Nicole has the first of a pair of very different three-row crossovers. First up is the Toyota Highlander. Next week she will have something just a bit louder. Sam shares his thoughts on the turbocharged Mazda3 hatchback and despite still being on winter tires, it impresses. Dan wraps up his time with the new Acura MDX and discovers it is quite different from most of its direct competition and he also gets a taste of the new Lincoln Nautilus Black Label with its 13-inch touchscreen In the news, we discuss the US launch of the Mazda MX-30 and the return of the Wankel rotary as a range extender. GM launches a new cloud-based navigation app for recent OnStar users that don’t have built-in navigation and aren’t using the maps from their smartphones. Dan interviews Chrysler Pacifica chief engineer Brian Swanson.… Read More »The End of an Era

It’s Infrastructure Week!

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Wheel Bearings
It's Infrastructure Week!
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Nicole is recording on a new mic this week while Dan struggled with ancient computer. Sam drove the 2021 Hyundai Elantra and has thoughts about the base powertrain. Dan finished his time in the Mustang Mach-E and moved on to the new 2022 Acura MDX while Nicole drove one of the last of the big sedans, the Toyota Avalon. In the news, the White House released its infrastructure plan and we discuss some of the transportation related aspects. Kia also revealed its first new electric model off the Hyundai Motor Group E-GMP architecture, the EV6 and we wrap with listener questions about excessive badging, road use taxes and climbing prices of old sports cars. Links White House infrastructure fact sheet Kia EV6 Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and… Read More »It’s Infrastructure Week!

Nested Nostalgia

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Nested Nostalgia
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This week Nicole Wakelin officially joins the team as one of our hosts. To kick things off she reviews a boring non-descript hybrid, the 2021 Acura NSX in Indy Yellow Pearl. Sam spent the week with a Volkswagen Atlas Sport Cross and warns to not even bother trying to use the built-in voice recognition, just use wireless Android Auto or Apple Carplay. Dan finally had his chance to drive the Ford Mustang Mach-E. In the news, Tesla is now allowing customers to buy cars with bitcoin, but you might want to think twice before you do that or at least consult your accountant. Jeep and Electrify America are setting up solar powered chargers at popular trailheads like the Rubicon and Rivian is also building its own charging network. Links Buying a Tesla with bitcoin will get you a big tax bill Jeep and Electrify America… Read More »Nested Nostalgia

Reporting From The Middle Of America

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Wheel Bearings
Reporting From The Middle Of America
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This week it’s mostly just Dan and Sam. Dan continues his run of big Ford trucks with the F-350 Super Duty with the off-road Tremor package. Sam spent the week with the Honda Odyssey Elite still equipped with a built-in Shop-Vac. The conversation diverted into a lesson on in-car audio systems. In the news, the incredible Sabine Schmitz died this week. Schmitz was one of the world’s most experienced racers at the Nurburgring as well as driving ‘Ring taxis. While none of us had met her, Sam shares some of his own experiences riding shotgun with racers including Joachim Winkelhock at the Ring and Juan Pablo Montoya around the GM Milford Road Course in a Corvette ZR1. We also discussed some of the announcements from Volkswagen’s Power Day and a couple of the concepts Jeep is unveiling for the 2021 Jeep Easter Safari including the… Read More »Reporting From The Middle Of America

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Extremely Underwhelming Vehicle

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Extremely Underwhelming Vehicle
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This week on the show, the wonderful Nicole Wakelin joins our usual gang to share her thoughts on cars, SUVs, shopping for cars and more. Nicole has been driving the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier, while Rebecca had the new Ford Bronco Sport. Sam had the Mustang Mach-E in some frigid weather and shares thoughts on range and charging in the winter. Continuing with the Mach-E we dive into listener mail earlier in the show and talk about the challenges posed by traditional dealers to EV adoption. We also address questions about small engine durability and renting SUVs when needed. Finally, we talk about the refreshed 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and the new Bolt EUV. Links 2022 Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV 2021 Ford Bronco Sport first driver Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward… Read More »Extremely Underwhelming Vehicle