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Episode #052 – Winter Driving and Ziggy’s Volvo

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Episode #052 - Winter Driving and Ziggy's Volvo
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As the frigid temperatures continue to encase the midwest and spread to the eastern half of the US this week, Sam has been driving the new Hyundai Elantra GT Sport, his favorite variant of this compact Korean platform. Dan meanwhile has been taking to the snow-covered streets of the Boston area in the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger GT. In a relatively light news week ahead of CES and the Detroit show, the guys discuss driving in these wintery conditions, Volkswagen and Hyundai both announcing autonomous driving partnerships with Aurora Innovation and they follow-up last week’s conversation about the death of the collector car market with news that some person with more money than sense bought a Volvo 262C for $216,000 simply because it was once owned by David Bowie. Links Bowie’s Volvo Hyundai and Aurora team up for automated driving Volkswagen and Aurora also partner Wheel… Read More »Episode #052 – Winter Driving and Ziggy’s Volvo

Episode #049 – Talking Porsches, McLarens, Hyundais and Policy With SpaceKatGal

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Episode #049 - Talking Porsches, McLarens, Hyundais and Policy With SpaceKatGal
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  On this week’s edition of the show, Dan and Sam are joined by very special guest Brianna Wu, head of development at game studio Giant Space Kat, congressional candidate and all-around car geek! Bri tells us why she is so passionate about driving and why she chose her current ride, the Porsche Cayman. Dan and Sam meanwhile have to make do with a couple of fine, but far less exciting sedans, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata and the Genesis G80 Sport. Then everyone dives into a discussion the latest product from the McLaren Cars, the aptly named Senna and some speculation about the next generation Porsche 911. From driving to not driving, the conversation wraps with some thoughts on policy for autonomous vehicles and automotive cybersecurity from an aspiring politician with that rarest of characteristics in Washington, actual knowledge of the modern world and technology.… Read More »Episode #049 – Talking Porsches, McLarens, Hyundais and Policy With SpaceKatGal

2018 Nissan Leaf

Checking out the 2018 Nissan Leaf With Leo Laporte

Last Sunday I got to hang out with Leo Laporte as we checked out the redesigned 2018 Nissan Leaf for episode 134 of The New Screen Savers 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 #048 – LA Auto Show, Driverless in San Francisco, What Is A Station Wagon

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Episode #048 - LA Auto Show, Driverless in San Francisco, What Is A Station Wagon
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After a hiatus while Sam finished off a flurry of travel, the team is back for episode 48. Sam drives the 2017 Mazda CX-5 while Dan gets the Hyundai Ioniq and Mitsubishi Outlander (is it just me or does it seem like Mitsubishi has sent its entire press fleet to New England for Dan to drive?). While in Napa to drive the new Nissan Leaf, Sam talked with Jalopnik’s Jason Torchinsky about what defines a station wagon and picks up the conversation with Dan. Lincolns have names again, VW is building EVs, Sam rides in automated Chevrolet Bolt and Infiniti launches its variable compression engine. Links Lincoln goes back to names Deep dive into the automated Chevrolet Bolt Ford goes bespoke for AVs and moves EVs to Mexico Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in… Read More »Episode #048 – LA Auto Show, Driverless in San Francisco, What Is A Station Wagon

Episode #046 – Comparing Benzes, Driverless In The Desert, Corvette Engine Position

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Episode #046 - Comparing Benzes, Driverless In The Desert, Corvette Engine Position
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This week, Dan and Sam compare notes on the two Mercedes-Benz cars they drove, the E400 coupe and 2018 S560 4Matic sedan. Sam ponders whether partially automated systems are a good idea and whether everyone should simply take the Waymo path of highly automated driving that launching without a driver this week in Arizona. With the new Corvette ZR1 about to launch, Dan bemoans its looks and the guys ponder whether this will be the last front engine Vette. Links Waymo goes without a safety driver 2019 Corvette ZR1 leaks 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 Tech Review 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 Luxury Review 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 #045 – Plugged-in Cadillac and Casey Falls In Love

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Episode #045 - Plugged-in Cadillac and Casey Falls In Love
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This week a special guest joins Dan and Sam. Casey Liss of the Accidental Tech Podcast and Analog(ue) stops by to share his thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Volvo Sensus. Sam ponders the Cadillac CT6 Plug-in and his experience visiting Waymo’s secret test track in the California desert. Links Safety First As Waymo Wants To Be ‘Enablers, Not Disruptors’ 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – One Spicy Italian! Liss is More 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

wheelbearings podcast episode 42

Episode #042 – Maxi Mini, Family Haulin’, Car Subscriptions & Autonomous Safety

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Episode #042 - Maxi Mini, Family Haulin', Car Subscriptions & Autonomous Safety
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This week, Dan hauls his family around in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Sam ponders how big a Mini can be and still be a Mini. If you have a hard time committing to just one car, subscription services like Passport by Porsche may be the answer for you. Mislabeling of metals is not a problem you can fix with an over-the-air software update and may put Kobe Steel in even more trouble than Takata. Waymo publishes a surprisingly detailed safety report about its automated driving system and the guys answer some listener questions. Links Passport by Porsche subscriptions Kobe Steel Fakes It Waymo talks safety   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 #041 – SuperCruising Across America, EVs Coming Up Everywhere

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Episode #041 - SuperCruising Across America, EVs Coming Up Everywhere
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We’re back with a regular episode with Sam driving the Acura TLX A-Spec and Dan expounding upon the Subaru Crosstrek Premium. Last week Sam spent a couple of days crossing the heartland in a Cadillac CT6 with his hands mostly off the steering wheel. Along the way, it seems like everyone from vacuum cleaner maven James Dyson to Ford CEO Jim Hackett was talking about building EVs with GM in the middle. Links Super Cruising across middle America in a Cadillac Dyson Blows Some Air about EVs GM plans to build two dozen EVs Ford is taking money from engines to build what else? EVs     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 Episode – Zooming Toward An Electric Car Future

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Special Episode - Zooming Toward An Electric Car Future
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Following the big electrification announcements from General Motors and Ford this week, Sam was invited to join host Tom Ashbrook along with Forbes Detroit Bureau Chief Joann Muller, Michael Dunne of Dunne Automotive and Pam Fletcher, executive chief engineer for Global Electric and Autonomous Vehicles at General Motors to discuss the EV future during NPR’s On Point.  http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2017/10/04/electric-car-ford-gm 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

wheelbearings podcast episode 39

Episode #039 – The Off-Road Ford GT, New Jaguars, Stupid Tech

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Episode #039 - The Off-Road Ford GT, New Jaguars, Stupid Tech
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This week Dan and Sam have both recently driven the off-road specialist from Ford Performance, the F-150 Raptor. It’s got visual presence and a great engine, but would your humble hosts actually want to own one? Sam has also driven the Hyundai Elantra Sport, but unlike the manual transmission version Dan drove a few weeks ago, this one had the seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Volvo has revealed the new XC40 compact crossover with a new subscription leasing program that turns out to be very similar to Apple’s iPhone upgrade program. Jaguar brought most of its 2018 model lineup including the all-new E-Pace to Detroit and Sam chats with product planning chief Dave Larsen. Meanwhile in South Korea, Genesis boss Albert Biermann throws shade at his former colleagues in Germany. links The new Volvo XC40 and Care by Volvo Genesis chief disses German automotive tech overload… Read More »Episode #039 – The Off-Road Ford GT, New Jaguars, Stupid Tech