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Episode #085 – What is a Utility Vehicle Anyway?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #085 - What is a Utility Vehicle Anyway?
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After a week off, we have an extended length show to make up for it. Dan drives a very expensive Ford F-150 and a sportier Acura MDX A-Spec. Sam goes from the not really a crossover Toyota C-HR to the ginormous Genesis G90. Then we dive into some discussion of sales and earnings, GM’s call for a national EV mandate in response to Trump administration moves to freeze fuel economy standards and cost cutting moves while profits are still reasonably healthy.  We also discuss Consumer Reports reliability data and answer listener questions including the Hyundai pickup truck. Links Toyota C-HR  GM Calls for a national EV mandate GM offers buyouts and cuts spending Consumer Reports reliability 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 it you can join… Read More »Episode #085 – What is a Utility Vehicle Anyway?

Episode #083 – Race On Tony Swan

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #083 - Race On Tony Swan
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This week Sam drives the latest Mazda6 which is still his favorite midsize sedan while Dan samples the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Sienna with all-wheel-drive. As the auto industry changes, Mercedes-Benz considers paring down niche models while GM and Honda team up on automated driving and mobility. Finally, we bid farewell to Tony Swan. Links The Passing of Tony Swan Mercedes-Benz prepares to cut low volume models GM and Honda team on Automated 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 it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #079 – Larry Burns Talks About Autonomy

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #079 - Larry Burns Talks About Autonomy
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In this special episode of Wheel Bearings, Sam sits down with Larry Burns, retired SVP of R&D and Strategic Planning at General Motors to talk about his new book, Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car—And How It Will Reshape Our World. Since retiring from GM in 2009, Burns has been an educator and consultant including working with the Google Self-driving car project and Waymo since 2011. The book is a great read for anyone interested in learning more the history of the DARPA Grand Challenge and development of automated vehicles in the past decade. 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 #073 – Big SUVs, Going Mirrorless, Tariffs and Racing Supras

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #073 - Big SUVs, Going Mirrorless, Tariffs and Racing Supras
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This week Sam has been in the new Ford Expedition Max, Dan gets a re-run of the Lincoln Navigator and Mazda CX-9. Lots of news including the new Audi e-Tron quattro without mirrors, chargers for GM’s automated Chevy Bolts, rising prices due to the trade war and the Toyota Supra goes to NASCAR. Finally, Honda builds a 150 mph lawnmower because why not? Links Audi e-tron camera mirrors  Tariffs and price increases  GM preparing to launch automated mobility in San Francisco  Nissan and Daimler cancel luxury compact car  Toyota Supra in NASCAR  Production Supra at Goodwood  Honda mean mower  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 #071 – Insights on Insight, Buying Derilect Buildings and Big SUVs

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #071 - Insights on Insight, Buying Derilect Buildings and Big SUVs
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The delay between episodes is always Dan’s fault. Most of the miles were put on this week via 737-700s and a rental Kia Soul. Sam was busy paying attention to all of the automotive goings-on, including leadership shuffles at General Motors, and Ford’s latest real estate investment in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, while also finding time to drive the 2019 Honda Insight. Because it’s been a while, there’s also a plethora of cars we’ve been driving. Sam was in the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the 2018 Nissan Leaf while Dan tried out the 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie and the 2018 Lincoln Navigator Black Label.   Links First Drive of the 2019 Honda Insight Ford Buys a Train Station Dan Ammann and Mark Reuss shift responsibilities at GM Volvo has a new US plant   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show… Read More »Episode #071 – Insights on Insight, Buying Derilect Buildings and Big SUVs

Episode #070 – Acura Returns To Its Roots and FCA Has A New Plan

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #070 - Acura Returns To Its Roots and FCA Has A New Plan
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This week Sam really likes the third-generation Acura RDX, Dan likes the Mazda CX-5 and then they try hard not to talk about Tesla and mostly succeed although you can see more of Sam’s opinion on the subject at the link below. The guys also talk GM and Softbank and the upcoming product plans for Chrysler and Dodge. Just kidding on the last part, there are no known product plans for Chrysler and Dodge but Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are all getting new stuff. Links GM Cruise and Softbank Hook Up To Work on Deploying Automated Driving Tesla Updates Brakes Over the Air, What Could Go Wrong? FCA’s New Five Year Plan   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 68

Episode #068 – Quirky Subarus and Driver Monitors

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #068 - Quirky Subarus and Driver Monitors
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This Sam is in California talking autonomous cars at a conference. He’s driven the BMW X3 before the trip and trying out the Cadillac CT6 with SuperCruise in Silicon Valley. Dan has been enjoying the rough edges of the Subaru WRX. The guys discuss Teslas crashing into fire trucks, batteries that re-ignite and the pending demise of the diesel. Links No Diesel for new Volvo S60 Sam on This Week in Tech Crashing Teslas   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 #066 – Plug-ins, Hybrids, Diesels and AV Safety

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #066 - Plug-ins, Hybrids, Diesels and AV Safety
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After a week off, the guys are back with lots of stuff to talk about. Since the last show, Sam has been in the Mini Countryman Cooper S E (where do they come up with these naming conventions?) and the BMW 530e xDrive while Dan has found himself surprisingly enamored with the Toyota Camry Hybrid. While electrification is the future, it’s not the only solution for improving efficiency, especially in the big trucks that Americans favor. That’s why Ford is launching a diesel engine in the F-150. Someday we may not be actively driving anymore but we’re still a long way from that being commonplace. Sam compares the hype for automated vehicles to the currently reality and the hype just doesn’t hold up. Oh and Amazon can deliver packages to your trunk. Links Ford F-150 Diesel first drive BMW picks Innoviz solid state lidar The… Read More »Episode #066 – Plug-ins, Hybrids, Diesels and AV Safety

Episode #063 – Praising Sedans, Self-Crashing Teslas and Self-Driving Waymo-Jaguars

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #063 - Praising Sedans, Self-Crashing Teslas and Self-Driving Waymo-Jaguars
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This week, Dan and Sam come in favor of a couple of very different sedans, the plug-in hybrid BMW 740e and the latest generation Honda Accord. Despite how different these cars are, both feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine under the hood. The show is a bit late because Sam was travelling in California last week for the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference. Meanwhile on the opposite coast, Waymo and Jaguar announced a deal, Nissan unveiled an Altima with variable compression ratio, VW took the wraps off a pickup truck concept, and Lincoln showed the first of new generation of vehicles from Ford. Sam also goes on a rant about another fatality in a Tesla running on AutoPilot. We remind you that NONE of the vehicles currently in production with various levels of partial automation are self-driving. These are all driver assist systems and we… Read More »Episode #063 – Praising Sedans, Self-Crashing Teslas and Self-Driving Waymo-Jaguars

Episode #062 – Death By Uber, Cadillac Goes To 8

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #062 - Death By Uber, Cadillac Goes To 8
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This week Car and Driver transportation editor Pete Bigelow drops by get some family car buying advice and discuss the first pedestrian fatality from an automated vehicle. Dan drives the Nissan Armada while same raves about the Kia Stinger and Cadillac has a new twin-turbo V8 engine. Links Autonomous Uber kills a pedestrian Cadillac Gets A New Twin-Turbo V8   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