Skip to content

autonomous vehicles

No More Grey

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
No More Grey
Loading
/

This week Robbie came to the realization that the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a great vehicle for anyone with a Daft Punk cover band. Nicole drove a pair of Nissan Zs back to back with automatic and manual transmissions and Sam spent the week with the highest end Volkswagen Taos. In the news, Nicole got to sample Buick’s new entry level model, the Envista and wonders what all the hubub is about with the engine. Fiat is doing what all automakers are doing and will no longer produce grey cars, opting for color instead. The VW ID Buzz debuted in Austin in automated driving form. The Ford Maverick is no longer our cheap vehicle of choice, because Ford has chosen to absorb the markups that dealers have been charging. Mercedes-Benz is going with NACS and Sam defends automakers that are going with the Tesla… Read More »No More Grey

Not A Crazed Squirrel

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Not A Crazed Squirrel
Loading
/

This week on the show, Roberto went all the way to Germany to drive the new Mercedes-Benz EQE midsize electric sedan. Nicole had a very different Mercedes, the seven-seat GLS450 SUV as well as the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Sam tested his new EV charger with the Mini Cooper SE. Nicole and Roberto also drove the GMC Hummer EV while Sam and Nicole tried out the Toyota bZ4X. A San Francisco police officer pulled over a driverless Cruise AV. Jeep is launching an even bigger version of the Wagoneer with the new Hurricane inline-six and Lincoln is teasing its upcoming EV concept. Links GMC Hummer EV first drive Lincoln EV concept tease Toyota bZ4X first drive Cruise AV traffic stop 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L/Grand Wagoneer L Manheim auctions tests used EV batteries Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like… Read More »Not A Crazed Squirrel

Highs and Lows and Minivans

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Highs and Lows and Minivans
Loading
/

As we kick off a new year with a weak largely devoid of news, our team opens up with the garage. Rebecca had the latest BMW 540i xDrive sedan while Sam waxes rhapsodic about the refreshed 2021 Chrysler Pacifica AWD and minivans in general as people haulers. Meanwhile Dan is wraps up an extended period with the Ford F-350 Tremor. With the lack of news we discuss some of our automotive highlights of the year gone by including the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Silverado and Corvette, Ford Mustang Mach-E, the new models from Genesis the GV80 and G80 and the new Hyundai Sonata as well as others. Lowlights include the infotainment systems in the new Subaru Legacy and Outback, and Mazda CX-9. Your intrepid hosts also makes some prognostications for the year ahead. Links 2021 Genesis GV80 first drive 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 2020 Chevrolet Corvette… Read More »Highs and Lows and Minivans

What Happens Next?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What Happens Next?
Loading
/

This week Rebecca has been self-isolating in the new Toyota Rav4 TRD Off-Road edition, Sam has been enjoying time in the Mazda CX-30 and Dan is going old school in the Lexus GX460. The team has a lively debate on the merits of letting Georgia teenagers skip the road test on the way to getting a driver’s license. The conversation then turns to what happens to the auto industry as the pandemic hopefully subsides and then we finish off with a couple of listener questions and an interview that Sam did with Jaguar Formula E driver James Calado. Links Georgia Skips Driver’s License Road Tests Ford Delays Commercial Launch of AVs GM Kills Maven Ford Cancels Rivian-based Lincoln IBM Mobility Survey 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 »What Happens Next?

144 – Press On Regardless

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
144 - Press On Regardless
Loading
/

As the lockdowns continue, our intrepid crew is still venturing out while staying isolated to bring you their impressions of the vehicles you might want to consider buying when this is all over. Rebecca spent time with the Jeep Gladiator in a seemingly deserted corner of Connecticut. Sam got Android Auto working in the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid without crashing the infotainment system. Meanwhile Dan sampled the pint-sized Hyundai Kona. In the news, we dive into the Navigant Research Automated Driving Leaderboard report and what robotaxi developers will have to do to keep passengers safe. While we work from home and connect with co-workers on video conferences, Audi has started publishing images to use for virtual backgrounds. With motorsports idled globally, the drivers are taking to sims and the fans seem to be digging it. We wrap up with a few listener questions. Links Jeep Gladiator… Read More »144 – Press On Regardless

Ep. 124 – What’s Premium

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ep. 124 - What's Premium
Loading
/

This week as Dan helps the kids with homework, Rebecca and Sam perform an automotive duet. Sam drove the Honda Civic Type-R for a week while Rebecca had the Toyota Rav4 hybrid and Cadillac XT4. The timing of Rebecca driving the Cadillac was fortuitous as Sam had just returned from driving the new Lincoln Corsair and we dive into the differences between the two. In the news, Canoo unveiled its first product, a small electric van that will be offered by subscription only. Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian and Acura unveiled a new ad campaign that focuses on driving. Finally, Hyundai and Aptiv team up on automated driving. Links 2020 Lincoln Corsair first drive Hyundai and Aptiv team up on AVs Amazon orders 100,000 Rivian vans Acura’s new ads Canoo debuts without paddles Honda Civic Type-R Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon.… Read More »Ep. 124 – What’s Premium

Nvidia Drive Labs

Building a reliable and robust automated driving system is really hard. In the past half decade a lot of progress has been made thanks to the advancements in machine learning and deep neural networks. One of the companies on the forefront of that effort is Nvidia. While most people think of Nvidia GPUs for graphics cards and bitcoin mining, they also have thousands of engineers that works on software. Neda Cvijetic is a senior manager on the automated driving team and she hosts the Nvidia Drive Labs video series explaining some of the core principles of how they are tackling this problem. 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