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Sam Abuelsamid

Wheel Bearings #15

Episode #15 – Waymo Will See Uber In Court, Opels and Fried Chicken and Making HD Maps

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Episode #15 - Waymo Will See Uber In Court, Opels and Fried Chicken and Making HD Maps
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  This week we take a second look at the Honda Civic Sport Hatchback after Dan’s had a chance to drive it and Sam takes the less ostentatious version of the Lexus ES300h that Dan had last week with the Toyota Camry Hybrid SE. Some big news broke just before we recorded as Waymo sued Uber for stealing its LiDAR technology, BMW, HERE and Mobileye team up to build HD maps for automated driving and we discuss half-baked ideas about fried chicken and Opel. Sam talks with Ford’s Alan Dona about new Ford hybrids and then we answer listener questions about performance hybirds. Links A note on our lawsuit against Otto and Uber BMW, HERE And Mobileye Team Up To Crowd-Source HD Maps For Self-Driving 2017 Honda Civic Sport: The Return Of The Hatchback   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the… Read More »Episode #15 – Waymo Will See Uber In Court, Opels and Fried Chicken and Making HD Maps

Episode #14 – Cars that Disappeared Too Soon, Others Stayed Too Long and Whither Opel?

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Episode #14 - Cars that Disappeared Too Soon, Others Stayed Too Long and Whither Opel?
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This week Dan and Sam talk about the 2017 Acura MDX, 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Lexus ES300h and wonder what GM will do in Europe if it sells Opel and Vauxhall to PSA. We also answer listener questions including what’s the newest vehicle that has virtually disappeared from the road. Could A PSA-Opel Deal Pave The Way For GM To Go With Mobility-Only In Europe? 2017 Acura MDX – Better, But Still Unclear In It’s Mission 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

Episode #13 – 2018 Ford Expedition, Executive Orders and Abolishments, VW shifts away from diesel

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Episode #13 - 2018 Ford Expedition, Executive Orders and Abolishments, VW shifts away from diesel
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Sam is in Chicago for the auto show, where the biggest news is the biggest SUV Ford makes, the Expedition. We talk about the new 2018 Ford Expedition, changes to the automotive landscape and fuel economy should certain political actions happen, and also discuss Volkswagen’s move to edge away from diesels. We finish up with a couple of interviews – Chevrolet Marketing Manager Steve Majoros and GM Electric Propulsion Calibrator Adam Heisel. We get some questions in before wrapping up, as well. 2017 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription AWD – Taking the Fight to the Germans Show notes: Tesla Lightning Lap  

Episode #12 – Driving Long-Range EVs and Snow-Bound Muscle Cars

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Episode #12 - Driving Long-Range EVs and Snow-Bound Muscle Cars
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After a week off due to busy schedules, Dan and Sam are back. In the garage, we’ve driven the Genesis G80, Honda Civic Sport hatchback and a Chrysler Pacifica that went back smelling like a bunch of Deadheads had hit the road in it. Sam went to California to drive the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV on some of the same roads where he first drove the Tesla Roadster nine years earlier and finds that those that don’t want to wait for a Tesla Model 3 should be taking a serious look this new entry. Dan, took the Pacifica north to Portland, Maine to bomb around in the snow with an all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger GT. We also answer some reader messages and play an interview with GM designer Stuart Norris. Links: Leave The Brake Pedal, Take The Bolt – Driving Chevrolet’s New EV ABG First Drive:… Read More »Episode #12 – Driving Long-Range EVs and Snow-Bound Muscle Cars

Episode #11 – A Refreshed Pony, Mazda Loses The Plugs & Don’t Forget Your Key

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Episode #11 - A Refreshed Pony, Mazda Loses The Plugs & Don't Forget Your Key
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This week Dan has been driving the Dodge Charger Rallye AWD and finds that despite the age of the platform the big FCA sedans are still surprisingly good. Sam finds the Toyota Corolla is a solid car that provides basic but utterly uninspiring transportation. For 2018, the Ford Mustang gets a mid-cycle update with design, powertrain and technology changes and Sam chats with vehicle engineering manager Tom Barnes. Mazda looks to dump the spark plug for its next generation SkyActiv engines and we provide a gentle reminder to bring your key fob along even if you can start your car from your smartphone. Finally, Sam talks with Delphi VP engineering Jim Zizelman about dynamic skip fire technology and autonomous driving.   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting… Read More »Episode #11 – A Refreshed Pony, Mazda Loses The Plugs & Don’t Forget Your Key

Buick Envision, Genesis G80, North American International Auto Show logo, CES logo

Episode #10 – CES and NAIAS recap

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Episode #10 - CES and NAIAS recap
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Sam walked a metric ton of miles around CES and then again at NAIAS, and we talk about what he saw and heard. We talk about the presentation by Ford’s Mark Fields at CES, Detroit Auto Show highlights, and we answer some of your questions, too.

Episode #9 – A look back at 2016 and ahead to 2017

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Episode #9 - A look back at 2016 and ahead to 2017
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  ‘Twas the night before CES, and in Dan and Sam’s houses, we jumped onto Skype with clicks of our mouses…to talk about what happened during 2016 and make predictions about what 2017 has in store. Of course we talked about Tesla, Faraday Future, autonomous technology, emissions and fuel economy standards, and more. We finished up with a bunch of great questions, too. Check it out! Add the RSS Feed to your favorite podcatcher – https://wheelbearings.media/feed/podcast Subscribe in PocketCasts – http://pca.st/tMO4 Subscribe in Google Play – https://goo.gl/fazd4D Subscribe in iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wheel-bearings/id1174442079 Follow the show on TuneIn – http://tunein.com/radio/Wheel-Bearings-p930642/

Wheel Bearings Podcast episode 8

Episode #8 – Psuedo-SUVs, Self-Driving Minivans and Expensive Tesla Parking

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Episode #8 - Psuedo-SUVs, Self-Driving Minivans and Expensive Tesla Parking
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This week, Dan is disappointed by the Volvo S60 Cross Country and Sam is somewhat impressed by the Cadillac XT5.  Will the minivan see a resurgence thanks to autonomous ride hailing? Will every new minivan in the future be self-driving? Will Uber’s self-driving cars work better in Phoenix than San Francisco? Will Ford follow its second-generation autonomous Fusions with Transit Connects? Will expensive parking charges be enough to get Tesla drivers to move their cars once they are done charging? Autonomous Ride-Hailing May Hail the New Era of the Minivan VW to Reveal Autonomous Electric Microbus Concept in Detroit Uber Moves Self-Driving Volvos to Phoenix Ford Rolls Out 2nd-Gen Autonomous Fusions Parking a Tesla at a SuperCharger Gets Expensive   View at Medium.com Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing… Read More »Episode #8 – Psuedo-SUVs, Self-Driving Minivans and Expensive Tesla Parking

Episode #7 – Arrogance Is No Way To Get People To Accept Self-Driving Cars

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Episode #7 - Arrogance Is No Way To Get People To Accept Self-Driving Cars
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After a brief delay due to some personal scheduling issues (ok it was all Dan’s fault!) [it was totally my fault – D], Dan and Sam are back with another vibrant discussion about the week in vehicles and transportation. In the garage we talk about GM’s shifting crossover strategy with the 2017 GMC Acadia and Honda growing the Ridgeline into a real truck. Then the talk turns to cars that talk to each other, the Google cars project transforming into Waymo and Uber behaving badly yet again (big surprise there!). Finally, in Q&A Sam gives tries to give a brief explanation (or at least as brief as Sam can be) of how the Volkswagen diesel emissions cheat worked and why engine accessory electrification saves fuel. NHTSA Moves Ahead with the V2V Communications Regulation Uber Behaves Badly In San Francisco Waymo Is Spawned From the Google… Read More »Episode #7 – Arrogance Is No Way To Get People To Accept Self-Driving Cars

Episode #6 – Making Maps, How Many Speeds is Enough? Who Do You Trust?

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Episode #6 - Making Maps, How Many Speeds is Enough? Who Do You Trust?
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This week Sam doesn’t let a cold stop him from talking with Dan about the Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid and the Kia Cadenza. The news starts with Mobileye’s efforts to build high-definition maps for autonomous cars, the latest automatic transmissions from General Motors and Ford. The discussion then veers off into George Hotz open-sourcing his Comma One hardware and software before tackling the latest prognostications from Ford futurist Sheryl Connelly. The show wraps up with some listener e-mail from Zack and Jonathan. With Self-Driving Cars, We’re All Cartographers Ford’s futurist foreshadows consumer trends to watch in 2017 Here is the 2017 Ford Trends Report George Hotz is giving away the code behind his self-driving car project Chevrolet’s First 9-speed Auto Debuts in 2017 Malibu   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost… Read More »Episode #6 – Making Maps, How Many Speeds is Enough? Who Do You Trust?