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Return of Avalanche and Airflow, Eventually

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Return of Avalanche and Airflow, Eventually
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We’re kicking off 2022 with lots of battery powered vehicles. Nicole gets a first drive in the Lucid Air Dream edition, Roberto drives the Mini SE and Sam is the outlier with the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback. In the news, it’s CES week and while the team have all opted to stay away from Las Vegas this year thanks to Omicron, there’s plenty of news. GM moved the Mary Barra keynote online but Sam got a preview look at the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV just before Christmas. Over at Stellantis, there apparently is a future for the Chrysler brand as they reveal the Airflow concept and Sam talks with brand CEO Chris Feuell. Waymo and Geely team up for a purpose-built robotaxi and we answer a bunch of listener questions. Links Waymo and Geely partner for a custom robotaxi Chrysler Airflow Concept 2024 Chevrolet Silverado… Read More »Return of Avalanche and Airflow, Eventually

Indy Goes Driverless

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Indy Goes Driverless
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This week Robbie gets his hands on the not-a-minivan minivan from Kia, the 2022 Carnival. Sam heads to Indy in the big, comfy and oh so thirsty Jeep Wagoneer and Nicole goes off-road in the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness. This past week jurors for the North American Car and Truck of the Year, which include Nicole gathered in Ann Arbor to drive a bunch of stuff and Sam managed to also squeeze in a drive in the Rivian R1T. The reason Sam went to Indianappolis was for the Indy Autonomous Challenge where self-driving Indy Lights cars took the big oval and Tesla announced it would use lithium iron phosphate batteries for its standard range cars globally. Links Indy Autonomous Challenge Hellcat powered Plymouth Prowler Tesla adds iron batteries 240 mpg VW XL1 Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would… Read More »Indy Goes Driverless

It Grows On You

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
It Grows On You
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This week in the garage, Sam takes a road trip in the Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid, Nicole drives the Ford Explorer XLT and Roberto samples Volvo’s first electric-only model the C40. The embargo has finally lifted on the drive impressions of the BMW i4 M50 and Robbie shares his thoughts on this new German electric autobahn machine. We also discuss the augmented reality heads up display in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and AAA testing of driver assist systems in bad weather conditions. As usual, we wrap with some listener questions. Links AAA ADAS testing Robbie’s BMW i4 first drive Mercedes-Benz Augmented reality HUD 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

Munster Challenger

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Munster Challenger
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This week we have lots of cruising. Roberto has been riding on BMW’s big bruiser bike, the R18, Nicole has been Grand Touring in the Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid and Sam has had the unicorn-like Ford Escape plug-in hybrid. Robbie and Sam each got to drive Ford’s quickest EV yet, the Mach-E GT while Nicole got a first drive in Toyota’s new 2022 Tundra including the hybrid variant. GM announced its next-gen hands-free driving assist called Ultra Cruise. We answer some listener questions and Sam interviews Ford’s Darren Palmer and Dave Pericak. Links Sam’s Take on the Mach-E GT Robbie’s Impressions of the Mach-E GT GM Ultra Cruise 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

Ultra Fine, Fine and Ok

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ultra Fine, Fine and Ok
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This week in the garage, Roberto has the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Sam is driving the one of the last traditional full-size sedans in America, the Toyota Avalon Hybrid and Nicole is in the improved and refreshed 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. In the news, while Robbie was in Europe, he also got to try out the new Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot system, a level 3 conditional automation system that let’s you go hands off and eyes off, but you can’t take a nap yet. Stateside, Sam tried out a prototype of the updated 2022 GMC Sierra with Super Cruise that let’s you go hands-free while towing a trailer but you have to keep eyes on the road. In the world of truly self-driving cars, Argo AI is teaming up with Lyft to deploy robotaxis in Austin and Miami. Links Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot 2022 GMC Sierra Super Cruise… Read More »Ultra Fine, Fine and Ok

CNBC Looks At Where The Self-Driving Cars Are

Featuring a few choice quotes from one of your humble Wheel Bearings hosts 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

Ep. 128 – Bryan Salesky

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ep. 128 - Bryan Salesky
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This time around, the whole crew is on the call to talk with Bryan Salesky, CEO and co-founder of Argo AI. Argo is the company developing the production automated driving system for Ford and VW and Bryan shares his thoughts on testing AVs in multiple cities, lidar, HD Maps and much more. Links Argo AI 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

Special: The Drive To Level 5

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Special: The Drive To Level 5
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Here’s a special extra episode for our listeners. Sam will be doing a talk on partnerships in automated vehicle development during the Drive World Expo conference in Santa Clara, California August 27-29. In the runup to the conference, the organizers have produced a special podcast series called the Drive to Level 5. Sam talks with host Jack Heslin about the his topic in episode 5. Links The Drive to Level 5 podcast Drive World Expo 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 #112 – Exploring Different Kinds of Hybrids

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #112 - Exploring Different Kinds of Hybrids
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This week Rebecca and Sam had very different hybrid experiences on opposite coasts. Rebecca has been enjoying the thrill of the Acura NSX while Sam got to sample the 2020 Ford Explorer. They also both to sample the third generation Kia Soul in faux crossover flavor and find it continues to be a favorite small car. Meanwhile Dan has been getting around in the latest Nissan Altima. GM is reportedly considering reviving the once gas guzzling Hummer brand to build EVs. Aurora Innovation is shifting alliances and taking on new partners to develop automated driving systems and Mazda is eschewing touchscreens, something two-thirds of trio wholeheartedly approve of. Links Electric Hummers? Aurora’s new partners No more Mazda touchscreens 2020 Kia Soul Review 2020 Ford Explorer First Drive Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward… Read More »Episode #112 – Exploring Different Kinds of Hybrids

Episode #086 – Complete with sirens from Magic City

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #086 - Complete with sirens from Magic City
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This time out, Sam is recording from a hotel room in Miami as we discuss the Volvo XC40 T5 and its goofy shifter design, the Audi Q5 and its surprisingly fast handwriting recognition and the marvelous Kia Stinger. Subscriptions may or may not be the future of car buying, assuming car buying even has a future in an age of automated vehicles. Faraday almost certainly has no Future and Walmart joins Ford’s automated delivery test program. Links 2019 Volvo XC50 T5 Momentum Cadillac closes the Book on subscriptions for now Probably no future for Faraday Walmart and Ford team up on automated deliveries 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