Skip to content

autonomy

AI Stock Boondoggle

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
AI Stock Boondoggle
Loading
/

Nicole is back and she drove the Honda Prologue while Robbie spent more time with the GMC Hummer EV SUV and Sam had the VW GTi. Links 2025 Jeep Compass2025 Bronco Free Wheeling2025 Chevy Silverado EV UpdatesVolkswagen TayronMCity 2.0CyberCab2-seat robotaxisCarlos Tavares to retire in early 2026Stellantis EV price parityMore cheap EU EVsFisker reaches bankruptcy dealFisker office mess 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

Simulated Engagement

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Simulated Engagement
Loading
/

Nicole is still riding the rails in Europe so Stephanie Brinley joins Robbie and Sam again. Stephanie has been driving the 2025 Lincoln Aviator and the Toyota Crown Signia. Robbie got to try out the new electric motorcycles from Can Am and Sam got some quality time with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Sam also got to sample the new 2025 Nissan Kicks which is bigger, more powerful and more expensive than the original. Ontario premier Doug Ford has a crazy scheme to build a 34 mile tunnel under Toronto to fix congestion on highway 401 and it probably won’t work. Stellantis has begun the search for a successor to CEO Carlos Tavares while Jeep and VW are planning to add hybrids to their North American lineups. Honda is developing a new hybrid Prelude coupe and there are reports it could be offered with a… Read More »Simulated Engagement

Losing the Buzz

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Losing the Buzz
Loading
/

Robbie is back from Germany where he got to drive the updated Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and he wants one. Nicole got to drive a pair of new Hyundai Santa Fes at home and at a family wedding. Meanwhile, Sam got surprisingly good efficiency from the latest edition of the VW ID4 but those window switches are still dumb. In the news, the US market version of the VW ID Buzz finally has a price and let’s just say affordability isn’t part of the formula. Ford has again pivoted on its electric vehicle plans and there won’t be anything fresh in showrooms for a few more years. GM is bringing some plug-in hybrid powertrains to its US lineup, but the new Equinox won’t be home to this system. Ford has updated the Bronco Sport for 2025 with some cool new lifestyle features. Tesla has been… Read More »Losing the Buzz

Just Bring It To America

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Bring It To America
Loading
/

This week another low profile tire was sacrificed to the pothole gods as Robbie’s Mercedes-AMG EQE had to go home on a flatbed. Sam drove both the Toyota Sequioa i-Force Max Capstone and the Kia Niro EV while Nicole had the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE Summit Reserve. In the news, we’ve seen more of the Kia EV9 ahead of the full public reveal at the New York Auto Show. All three members of the crew got to the drive the Nissan Ariya E-4ORCE in Sonoma. Sam rode around San Francisco in a driverless Jaguar and VW showed off the ID.2all concept which we all want to see on American roads but we probably won’t get. Links Kia EV9 Nissan Ariya E-Force first drive VW ID.2all Concept Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the… Read More »Just Bring It To America

Blue Cruise or Blues Clues?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Blue Cruise or Blues Clues?
Loading
/

This week Roberto drives the new BMW 760 and Nicole has the Ford F-150 Lightning. Sam was going to talk about the Kia Soul GT-Line but completely spaced so we’ll get to it next week. In the news, Mercedes-Benz talked about their new operating system and announced they will include Luminar lidar on future vehicles from 2025. Christian von Koenigsegg picks the NA Miata, Vinfast cuts prices and promises to start deliveries. GM patents a self-cleaning touchscreen and updates the Cadillac XT4 with the screen from the Lyriq. And we discuss using EVs when there’s no electricity. In the questions we discuss the problem of automakers offering free DC fast charging. Links Christian von Koenigsegg chooses the NA Miata GM Self-cleaning touchscreen Mercedes-Benz OS Reduced Vinfast pricing 2024 Cadillac XT4 refresh EVs when there’s no powerFree EV Charging sucks Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon.… Read More »Blue Cruise or Blues Clues?

Faking It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Faking It
Loading
/

This week it’s most just Robbie and Sam. Sam drives the 2023 Cadillac CT5 AWD Premium Luxury and talks about the latest Super Cruise. Nicole also calls in from an Electrify America station in Florida with her driving partner Eileen Falkenberg-Hull to give us the low down on their Disney Land to Disney World trek in the Kia EV6. In the news, GM is considering building a small electric pickup truck and we compare car sizes over time. Car loans are getting longer and shockingly Tesla faked the 2016 “Paint It Black” full self-driving demo video. We also answer listener questions. Send in your questions to feedback at wheelbearings dot media or even send us a link to audio of your question and we might include it in the show. Links 84 month loans Paint it black video was faked GM looking at small electric… Read More »Faking It

Not Full Self-Driving

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Not Full Self-Driving
Loading
/

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

Top Novice

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Top Novice
Loading
/

Nicole and Sam are back after a week off where everyone was travelling. Robbie is still in Japan so Nicole shares here adventure driving in the Mille Miglia warm-up where she and co-pilot Eilleen Falkenburg-Hull came in second overall in the modern vehicle class and first among novices. Upon returning home, Nicole got to spend quality time with the new Nissan Z. Meanwhile, between trips, Sam got to drive the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn. Sam and Nicole also share their impressions of the new 2023 Toyota Crown. In the news, BMW announced a $1.7B investment in its Spartanburg SC factory to build EVs, GMC revealed the Sierra Denali EV Edition1 and Ford brought us the refreshed 2023 Escape. Ford and VW are pulling the plug on Argo AI, the company that was developing automated vehicles for them, and Ubers with human drivers will make fewer… Read More »Top Novice

Getting Buzzed

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Getting Buzzed
Loading
/

Over the past week we’ve had an assortment of travel and gigs but we’re back in the saddle with fresh material. Now that the embargo has lifted, Robbie can finally share his thoughts on driving the VW ID Buzz, while Nicole had the new Kia Sportage. Before heading out to San Francisco, Sam had the Volvo C40 Recharge and while in the Bay area he drove a Chevrolet Bolt EV. In the news, we’ve seen a bunch of new upcoming products in the leadup to the return of the much diminished Detroit Auto Show. The week before the show, Jeep started to reveal its 2024 EVs including the all-new Recon and Wagoneer S. Chevrolet also took the wraps off the Equinox EV. The big only big reveal at the show itself was the reworked 2024 Ford Mustang that’s coming next summer. The king of designing… Read More »Getting Buzzed

ToyotaPalooza 2022

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
ToyotaPalooza 2022
Loading
/

In the garage this week, Nicole is back in the Mercedes-Benz GLS450 while Sam has the dual motor, all-wheel-drive version of the VW ID4. Last fall, Robbie was about to review the refreshed 2022 Chevrolet Bolt when he got a call just after receiving it, telling him not to drive it. Since then, GM has replaced batteries in all of the Bolts built to date and they are safe again so Robbie is taking another stab at it. Last week, Toyota held the second annual edition of its all-Toyota-all-Lexus auto show at its North American headquarters in Plano, TX. Nicole and Sam got to check out the new but very familiar looking 2023 Lexus RX, see the Morizo Edition of the GR Corolla and drive the hybrid-only 2023 Sequoia. They also got to see some stuff that they can’t talk about or even acknowledge yet.… Read More »ToyotaPalooza 2022