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Roberto Baldwin

Just Get A Maverick

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Get A Maverick
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Nicole is back from her European River cruise and she and Robbie have been been driving the Kia EV6 GT. Sam had the Toyota Tundra i-Force Max Capstone, which is much improved except for fuel economy. During a Ford holiday reception recently Jim Farley posed the question of who is the Edsel for Tesla and we discuss. Apple still seems to want to make cars eventually, should they just buy Lucid instead? The new Mazda CX-90 is getting a plug-in hybrid, Redwood Materials is building a $3.5B battery recycling plant in South Carolina. Is the Vinfast VF8 worth the price and Ford is raising Lightning prices again. We answer more questions. Send yours to feedback@wheelbearings.media Links Redwood Materials new battery recycling plant Mazda CX-90 inline-6 plug-in hybrid Ford raising Lightning prices again Vinfast arrives in America Roobie Reviews the Kia EV6 GT Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Just Get A Maverick

Not Full Self-Driving

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Wheel Bearings
Not Full Self-Driving
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This week, Nicole is still in Europe with her husband so the boys are at it again. Robbie went to Las Vegas to drive the McLaren Artura and Sam also had a vehicle with four wheels and a steering wheel, the Toyota Rav4 Adventure. Sam also got to try out the Tesla Full Self-Driving beta and found it still has a long way to go before you stop holding the wheel and watching the road. Apple appears to delayed its car program again and GM is working with dealers to put 40,000 EV chargers in underserved communities. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ran tests to see if its crash test facility could handle new heavier EVs and Polestar and Mercedes-Benz are offering power-upgrades for a price. Links McLaren Artura first drive GM Dealer Community Charging Program Apple Car Delayed IIHS tests heavy EVs Polestar… Read More »Not Full Self-Driving

Off-Road Supercars

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Wheel Bearings
Off-Road Supercars
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It’s a shorter show this week as Nicole is vacationing with her hubby in Europe and Robbie had to run off early for a dinner with McLaren. Sam drove the Genesis GV60 Performance this week and discovered that Electrify America ripped out the nearby fast chargers to replace them with a new, hopefully more reliable design. In the news, Honda is planning to launch hands-free driver assist systems globally by the end of the decade and start building a plug-in hybrid fuel cell CR-V in Ohio in 2024. Both Porsche and Lamborghini have revealed limited production high-riding, rally inspired supercars and Sam answers listener questions. Links Honda to launch L3 systems globally by 2030off-road lamborghini huracan and porsche 911 dakarHonda to produce PHEV fuel cell CR-V from 2024 in ohio Driving the 2007 Ford Edge HySeries Drive Technical Analysis of HySeries Drive Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Off-Road Supercars

Vinfast Has Landed

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Wheel Bearings
Vinfast Has Landed
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We’ve got a full slate of plug-in crossovers in the garage this week as Nicole tries out the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid, Sam has the Lexus NX450h+ F Sport All Wheel Drive and Robbie is all electric in the surprising Kia Niro EV. In the news, despite our earlier skepticism, the first 999 Vinfast VF8s have landed at the dock in California. Hopefully we’ll get to try it out soon to see if it is actually ready for prime time. Honda has launched an all new Pilot 3-row crossover with a more rugged look, but is it actually more capable? Carvana, home of the used car vending machine, may be running out of road and while Ford doesn’t offer an official camp kitchen for the F-150 Lightning, that doesn’t mean you can’t cook in one. Finally, Tesla opens up the FSD beta to everyone, no… Read More »Vinfast Has Landed

More Convertibles Please

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Wheel Bearings
More Convertibles Please
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We’ve got a full team this week as Robbie shares his thoughts on the updated Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a four-cylinder diesel and all-wheel-drive. Nicole discusses the aged Toyota Tacoma and Sam drives the Mazda CX-50 and the Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge. The LA Auto Show took place last week and Toyota revealed an all-new fifth generation Prius and Prius Prime. Genesis held an event in Malibu to reveal its Genesis X electric convertible concept. Fiat is bringing the 500e back to North America and brand chief Larry Dominique explains that Stellantis will experiment with it. By 2025, British EV drivers will have to pay a vehicle excise tax and after promising to open its Superchargers to other brands, Tesla says, just adopt our charging connector instead. We also answer some questions. Send in your own questions feedback@wheelbearings.media Links North American Charging Standard? UK EV excise… Read More »More Convertibles Please

Improving the User Experience

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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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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