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electrification

Return of the Gremlin

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Return of the Gremlin
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This week Sam has been driving the Genesis Electrified G80. Robbie was picking speakers for his band in the Land Rover Defender 130 and Nicole has the Infiniti QX60. The core of Henrik Fisker’s original design for the Karma continues to live on, now as part of the Karma Automotive and the Chinese-owned company has just launched a refreshed version that ditches the plug-in series hybrid for a full electric powertrain. Nissan has addressed one of the biggest complaints about the Ariya EV by cutting the price. There are currently no EVs that will charge at 500 kW, but Gravity Mobility has installed just such a charger in New York. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is still relatively new, but it’s already getting an update. We frequently complain about automakers putting controls into the touchscreen and now EuroNCAP is going to cut their safety ratings if… Read More »Return of the Gremlin

Who Cares About Efficiency?

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Who Cares About Efficiency?
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This week Nicole is driving the Ford Maverick Tremor, Robbie has the Range Rover plug-in hybrid and Sam has new Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road. We’ve got lots of news this week. After a decade of work and billions of dollars spent, Apple has apparantely finally abandoned the idea of building a car. Ford took its latest electric Supervan and had Romain Dumas set a new lap record at Mount Panorama. Ford is also hosting a camping party at the Austin Bronco Off-Rodeo for the upcoming total solar eclipse and Ford EV drivers can now Supercharge. Sam went to a secret location to see the production version of Dodge’s new e-Muscle car, the Charger Daytona. Honda has introduced a new plug-in hybrid CR-V with a fuel cell and VW has done some upgrades to the ID4. Fisker warns that they are almost out of money and… Read More »Who Cares About Efficiency?

What’s Happening at Jeep

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What's Happening at Jeep
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This week Robbie got to spend some time with something really fast, the new McLaren 750s. Meanwhile, Nicole and Sam had some more pedestrian rides. Nicole got a few days with the Volkswagen ID.7 as well as the Jeep Hornet PHEV. Sam had the Toyota Crown Platinum. In the news, we’ve got first drive reports on the updated 2025 Ram 1500, now powered only by six-cylinder engines and the Honda Prologue, the brand’s firsrt purpose-built EV for North America. Sam also talks with Prologue chief engineer John Hwang. Jeep’s new CEO provide’s an update on the SUV brand’s plans and we get a first look at the upcoming Wagoneer S and Recon electric SUVs. Ineos is developing an electric off-roader as well called the Fusilier. The soon to arrive US-built Kia EV9 may not have full tax credit eligibility at launch. Waymo’s expansion plans in… Read More »What’s Happening at Jeep

Killing Unused Features

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Killing Unused Features
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Robbie is off visiting some family this week, but even with just Nicole and Sam it’s a long episode. Sam has been burning up the gas in a Ford F-250 XL 4×4 while Nicole has a much more reasonably sized Subaru Outback. Nicole and Sam were both in Chicago this week and talk about the future of auto shows. While in Chicago we saw a bunch of stuff including mid-cycle updates for the Kia K5 sedan and Carnival minivan (sorry, I meant MPV). Parking large or heavy vehicles in Paris will soon be much more expensive. A majority of workers at VW’s Chatanooga factory have signed up to join the UAW and an official vote may be coming soon. Americans are loosing trust in automated vehicles and companies like Cruise and Tesla have only themselves to blame. We saw the Cybertruck and Sam has some… Read More »Killing Unused Features

Dealers be Dealering

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Dealers be Dealering
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This week, Nicole has the Mazda CX-50 in a disappointing color, Robbie has the Range Rover Velar in one of the 8 available non-colors and Sam is driving the Chevrolet Trailblazer in Cacti Green. In the news, Jeep teases the upcoming Wagoneer S EV with too much power. Stellantis also launches the Ram Promaster EV and confirms the STLA Large EV platform will also support hybrid powertrains. JerryRigEverything tries towing with the Cybertruck and comes up short. For some reason, BMW has decided to put some humanoid robots into the Spartanburg assembly plant, what could go wrong? Mazda has launched a development program for a new rotary sports car, will it ever be built? Ford and Lincoln are launching an all-new infotainment system based on Android with a 48-inch full-width screen. Sam also spoke with friend of the show, Andrey Smirnov for an episode of… Read More »Dealers be Dealering

Tell Me A Dinosaur Story

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Tell Me A Dinosaur Story
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Sam and Robbie survived another year of CES and have lots to discuss. Sam has been driving the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid since returning. Nicole has had the Hyundai Tucson and Robbie got to ride the Honda Motocompacto at CES. At CES, large language models have been integrated into cars with VW using ChatGPT, BMW using one from Amazon and Mercedes-Benz working with Nvidia. Fisker joins Vinfast in ditching direct sales as it signs up dealers and Sam chats with Henrik Fisker about it. Honda’s new concepts preview its upcoming Series 0 EVs coming in 2026. There was lidar news from Hesai, Robosense, Aeva and Luminar. Intel is jumping back into the automotive chip business. Eaton has developed an EV charger that fits in your circuit breaker panel. Supernal and Xpeng are still trying to make personal aviation a thing. Android Auto is getting battery… Read More »Tell Me A Dinosaur Story

Winter Socks for Tires

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Winter Socks for Tires
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Nicole is back and she has the new Honda Accord Hybrid Sport! Robbie is back and he’s got thoughts on the Volvo C40 and Electrify America! Sam gets a bunch of electric miles out of the Alfa Romeo Tonale Ti eAWD. In the news, the Chevy Blazer EV we discussed last week is having some major software issues and GM has issued a stop sale order. Tesla’s big recall hasn’t actually address the problems with Autopilot as expected and they are also having trouble making batteries for the Cybertruck. Scooter sharing pioneer Bird goes bankrupt and Hyperloop One shuts down for good. Porsche and Aston Martin may be debut brands for next-generation Apple CarPlay and the first Cadillac Celestiq is spotted on Woodward Avenue. Our friends at TFL test winter tires vs all-seasons vs chains vs snow socks and you might be surprised at the… Read More »Winter Socks for Tires

Better Late Than Never?

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Better Late Than Never?
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This week Sam drove the 2024 GMC Canyon AT4 and guest host Tanya Gazdik tells us about her experience with a rental Jeep Renegade in Utah and the new Honda Civic. Tanya also got a first drive in the new Toyota Tacoma. Almost 4 years to the day after smashing the windows on the Cybertruck concept, Tesla finally delivered the first 10 production examples to customers. It’s both less and more than the original concept although it looks pretty much the same (apart from the triangular side mirrors and the ludicrously large windshield wiper). Another EV startup Fisker is facing some major challenges and is cutting production for 2023 to conserve cash. The IRS says no tax credits for EVs with Chinese parts or minerals in the batteries (unless you lease) and Connecticut is pausing efforts to ban sales of new ICE vehicles by 2035.… Read More »Better Late Than Never?

Frunk-Gating

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Frunk-Gating
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This week Sam drove the 2024 Hyundai Kona and also got a bit of wheel time in the new Volvo EX30. Nicole got another stint in the Subaru Crosstrek, this time in Sport trim. In the news, there’s lots of stuff from the LA Auto Show including the 2025 Toyota Camry and Crown Signia, Kia’s EV3 and EV4 concepts, the Genesis GV80 Coupe with an updated interior and the debut of the Lucid Gravity. EVs are getting a new on-board diagnostics standard and the Honda Prelude is headed for production as a hybrid sport coupe. Sam had an interview with Lucid software/electronics chief Mike Bell, chief engineer Eric Bach and CEO Peter Rawlinson. Links Cadillac Optiq2025 Toyota Camry2025 Toyota Crown SigniaEVs get standard OBDLucid GravityKia EV3 and EV4Honda Prelude headed to productionNew GV80 interior Lucid Gravity design walk around with Derek Jenkins Lucid Gravity HMI… Read More »Frunk-Gating

Appropriately Named

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Appropriately Named
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This week it’s just Nicole and Sam. Since she last joined us, Nicole has been driving a fabulous wagon, the Volvo V60 Cross-Country and the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 high-performance SUV. Sam has had the Chevrolet Tahoe RST with a big, classic American V8. Sam got to drive a bunch of newer models from the BMW group including the i5 eDrive40, i5 M60, 530i, XM and the fabulous and quiet Rolls-Royce Spectre. Nicole ran the Mille Miglia Warmup again, scoring better than last year, but unfortunately falling one slot in the standings. At Polestar Day, Sam saw all the new stuff coming from the Volvo spin-off brand including getting rides in the P3 and P4. Nicole got to try out the new Volvo EX30 in Spain and NHTSA warns drivers not to bedazzle their air-bag equipped steering wheels. We also answer a listener question about liability… Read More »Appropriately Named