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Roberto Baldwin

Improving the User Experience

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Improving the User Experience
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It’s another Robbie and Sam episode as Nicole is now in LA doing her World Car of the Year duty. Roberto got to drive the new Nissan Z and the Toyota GR Corolla. Sam and Robbie both discuss the updated user experience software in the Lucid Air and the new third generation Formula E cars. Robbie made a quick trip to Italy to drive the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo and ride along in the electric Cayman GT4 prototype. Apparently someone still thinks there is a chance that Faraday Future will get its FF91 into production and has agreed to loan the startup another $350 million. Sam also has a conversation with Audi of America president Daniel Weissland Links Cheaper Lucids Lucid Air UX 2.0 Half of Porsches to be electrified Faraday Future lines up more loans Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like… Read More »Improving the User Experience

Creeping Featuritis

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Wheel Bearings
Creeping Featuritis
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Nicole is travelling again so it’s just the boys this week. Robbie returns from a trip to Japan to drive the Rivian R1S while Sam spends time in between trips with the Polestar 2 Performance package. This week Sam attended the BMW test fest where he got to drive the new 2023 BMW 7 series including the electric i7. In Japan, Robbie visited Honda and learned more about its work on solid state batteries while Mini announced that it would open a manual driving school at the BMW Performance driving center in Thermal, CA. We also Links 2023 BMW 7 series first drive Mini Manual Driving School Honda Solid State Batteries 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

Sony Software In Your Car?

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Wheel Bearings
Sony Software In Your Car?
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This week Robbie takes his turn in the Ford Bronco Raptor while Sam has the Expedition Timberline. Nicole drives the Honda HR-V up to Vermont to drive the Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition. In the news Honda announces a big investment in electrification in Ohio and that its joint venture with Sony will produce new EVs from 2026. Toyota has moved from Amazon to Google Cloud AI to power its voice services and Polestar has revealed the 3 crossover in full. We also answer listener questions. Links Sony Vision S-02 Honda-Sony EV coming in 2026 Electrify America Update Toyota drops Amazon for Google Polestar 3 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

Go Anywhere, But You Might Not Get Out

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Wheel Bearings
Go Anywhere, But You Might Not Get Out
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This week Sam learns the limits of “all-terrain” tires as he goes off-roading with the Ford Bronco Raptor. Nicole shares first impressions of Nissan’s new Ariya electric crossover and Robbie tests the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. Nicole and Sam both got to try out the Jeep Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L with Stellantis’ new Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six cylinder engine. They also had a conversation with Jeep North America boss Jim Morrison. Chevrolet is launching a second generation Trax entry-level crossover that is both larger and cheaper than before. Motional has a 10-year deal to operate its robotaxis on the Uber network in multiple markets and the TFL Trucks Hummer has been fixed. Links 2024 Chevrolet Trax TFL Trucks Hummer EV followup Motional and Uber 10 year deal Ford Bronco Raptor review Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like… Read More »Go Anywhere, But You Might Not Get Out

Big Enough For A Drum Kit

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Wheel Bearings
Big Enough For A Drum Kit
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This week Sam and Robbie are both driving BMW i4s, but different varieties. Sam had the base eDrive40 for a run to Chicago, while Robbie got an M50. Since the last recording session Nicole had both the Subaru BRZ and the Genesis GV60 Performance. In the news, Ford has revealed a redesigned version of the big Super Duty pickups with lots of new and borrowed tech. Honda has provided a look at the upcoming Prologue electric crossover that will be built by GM. TFL Trucks has a failure with their new GMC Hummer and Volvo has started dropping information about the new EX90 electric replacement for the XC90. Help us get some sponsors by filling out survey at https://survey.wheelbearings.media Links 2023 Ford Super Duty first look Honda Prologue reveal Hummer EV failure for TFL Truck Volvo EX90 preview Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If… Read More »Big Enough For A Drum Kit

A Taller Prancing Horse

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Wheel Bearings
A Taller Prancing Horse
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Nicole is travelling somewhere in the Earth’s biosphere so it’s just the boys this time around. Since this was recorded just a few days after the last episode, Robbie hasn’t driven anything but Sam shares his thoughts on the Hyundai Santa Cruz. In the news, Ferrari has unveiled its first four-door regular production model, the Purosangue (don”t call it an SUV). Honda has significantly the raised the base price on the new CR-V and the final Chrysler 300 won’t get a Hellcat. Tesla faces a class action lawsuit over unfullfilled promises about Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. The VW ID Aero will replace the Arteon and the 2023 Lincoln Corsair gets a bigger grille. Finally, Sam has a conversation with Schaeffler Group CTO Jeff Hemphill about some of the technologies the supplier is developing to improve EV efficiency. Links Ferrari Purosangue 2023 Honda CR-V pricing jump… Read More »A Taller Prancing Horse

Getting Buzzed

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Wheel Bearings
Getting Buzzed
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Over the past week we’ve had an assortment of travel and gigs but we’re back in the saddle with fresh material. Now that the embargo has lifted, Robbie can finally share his thoughts on driving the VW ID Buzz, while Nicole had the new Kia Sportage. Before heading out to San Francisco, Sam had the Volvo C40 Recharge and while in the Bay area he drove a Chevrolet Bolt EV. In the news, we’ve seen a bunch of new upcoming products in the leadup to the return of the much diminished Detroit Auto Show. The week before the show, Jeep started to reveal its 2024 EVs including the all-new Recon and Wagoneer S. Chevrolet also took the wraps off the Equinox EV. The big only big reveal at the show itself was the reworked 2024 Ford Mustang that’s coming next summer. The king of designing… Read More »Getting Buzzed

Don’t Fake Fires

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Wheel Bearings
Don't Fake Fires
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As summer winds down, we’ve got lots of cool stuff that we’ve been driving this week. Nicole had the plug-in hybrid version of the Hyundai Tucson Limited with all-wheel-drive. Roberto has the Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Sam had the Toyota GR86 Premium and the Lucid Air Grand Touring. There are lots of EV related stories in the news this week starting with using the Ford F-150 Lightning as a generator after a heavy storm whipped through. In another part of the country, a doctor powered a vasectomy with a Rivian R1T. Buick wants to go all electric this decade and it wants dealers that will be fully supportive. Toyota is converting a pair of Japanese engine plants to battery production and expanding plans for a US battery plant. Fuel cells are likely to play an important part in electrifying larger vehicles. German Insurance company AXA… Read More »Don’t Fake Fires

Power Is Not Enough

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Wheel Bearings
Power Is Not Enough
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The crew reconvenes to catch up on the Acura Integra, Polestar 2 single motor, Toyota Corolla Cross, Ford F-150 Raptor and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE. Since they haven’t spoken since before Woodward Dream Cruise and Monterey Car week, Robbie and Nicole share their impressions of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept. Robbie tells us about the Acura Precision Concept EV and we discuss naming Acura’s first EV the ZDX. There was also the Lincoln L100 concept and the Meyers Manx EV. A Swedish study says touchscreens are bad, and we all agree. Lamborghini says it will need more than power to compete in the EV age. An Australian Bank will stop providing financing for ICEs in 2025 and sales of new ICEs are getting banned in 2035. Links Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Acura Precision EV concept Lincoln L100 Touchscreens are bad Lamborghini needs more than… Read More »Power Is Not Enough

A Really Long Dirt Driveway

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Wheel Bearings
A Really Long Dirt Driveway
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This week, Roberto tells us about driving the other trucklet, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Nicole drives the Mazda CX-30 and takes a road trip in the Nissan Rogue with its new 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo and Sam has a blast in the Hyundai Elantra Na. All three of our intrepid hosts ventured to North Carolina to drive the refreshed Hyundai Palisade on a really long dirt driveway. EV prices are heading up instead of down and you’ll be able to chow down on Swedish meatballs and cinamon rolls as Electrify America is coming to the home of the flat pack. Nicole has some thoughts on Cadillac’s new model names. Finally Ralph Nader takes aim at Tesla “full self-driving” and we answe a bunch of questions. Links Electrify America at Ikea Ralph Nader aims at Tesla EV prices going up Cadillac’s new names Accidental Tech Podcast… Read More »A Really Long Dirt Driveway