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Inaccessible Chargers

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Inaccessible Chargers
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This week Nicole has been using the big Ford Expedition to haul away an old bedroom set. Robbie drove the new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV in Portugal and Sam and Nicole both had first drives in new Toyotas, the Prius Prime and Corolla Cross Hybrid. Nicole and Sam both went to New York for the Auto Show where they saw the new Hyundai Kona and Kia EV9. Stellantis also publicly showed its upcoming electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV and a refresh of the Jeep Wrangler. Tesla employees have been misappropriating videos uploaded from vehicles for AI training and Robbie saw Cruise and Waymo robotaxis having a disagreement in San Francisco. We also answer some listener questions and go on a collective rant about accessibility (or lack thereof) of EV chargers. Links 2023 Toyota Prius Prime First Drive Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV first drive Ram 1500 REV… Read More »Inaccessible Chargers

Just Get the XL

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Get the XL
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Nicole is out this week but we have Tanya Gazdik from Media Post sitting in with Robbie and Sam. Tanya has been driving the Toyota Corolla hatchback, while Sam finally discusses the Kia Soul he forgot to review last week along with the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid. Robbie had the Ford Maverick Lariat Tremor and has thoughts. In the news, Ford creates a new subsidiary to develop hands-free driving assist systems from the remnants of Argo AI. The VW ID3 gets a mid-cycle refresh and VW Group is going to build a new factory in South Carolina to produce Scout electric trucks and SUVs. Tesla has finally started opening up its Superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles and there have been lots of unusual features in cars over the years. Finally, Sam talks with Chrysler brand chief Chris Feuell. Links VW ID3 refresh Latitude AI Charging non-Teslas… Read More »Just Get the XL

Faking It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Faking It
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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

Talking About Pie

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Talking About Pie
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In this week’s garage, Robbie reveals that he is the last journo to drive the Kia Stinger, Nicole spends time with the Ford Bronco 2-door and Sam has the refreshed edition of the Lincoln Navigator. Polestar has revealed the first photo of the 3 electric crossover with the full unveiling coming in October. Renders of the new Ford Ranger-based Volkswagen Amarok are out but the truck isn’t coming to North America. Honda has a larger Civic-based HR-V coming to the US market. Lightning owners get an adapter to let their trucks charge stranded Teslas. The Biden administration has rules for EV charging companies that want federal dollars. Nicole has driven the Cadillac Escalade-V and Sam talks with Toyota product planning VP Cooper Ericksen. Links Polestar 3 VW Amarok 2023 Ford Ranger 2023 Honda HR-V Lightnings with Tesla adapters EV charging rules Warda Patisserie Wheel Bearings… Read More »Talking About Pie

Nested Nostalgia

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Nested Nostalgia
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This week Nicole Wakelin officially joins the team as one of our hosts. To kick things off she reviews a boring non-descript hybrid, the 2021 Acura NSX in Indy Yellow Pearl. Sam spent the week with a Volkswagen Atlas Sport Cross and warns to not even bother trying to use the built-in voice recognition, just use wireless Android Auto or Apple Carplay. Dan finally had his chance to drive the Ford Mustang Mach-E. In the news, Tesla is now allowing customers to buy cars with bitcoin, but you might want to think twice before you do that or at least consult your accountant. Jeep and Electrify America are setting up solar powered chargers at popular trailheads like the Rubicon and Rivian is also building its own charging network. Links Buying a Tesla with bitcoin will get you a big tax bill Jeep and Electrify America… Read More »Nested Nostalgia

Reporting From The Middle Of America

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Reporting From The Middle Of America
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This week it’s mostly just Dan and Sam. Dan continues his run of big Ford trucks with the F-350 Super Duty with the off-road Tremor package. Sam spent the week with the Honda Odyssey Elite still equipped with a built-in Shop-Vac. The conversation diverted into a lesson on in-car audio systems. In the news, the incredible Sabine Schmitz died this week. Schmitz was one of the world’s most experienced racers at the Nurburgring as well as driving ‘Ring taxis. While none of us had met her, Sam shares some of his own experiences riding shotgun with racers including Joachim Winkelhock at the Ring and Juan Pablo Montoya around the GM Milford Road Course in a Corvette ZR1. We also discussed some of the announcements from Volkswagen’s Power Day and a couple of the concepts Jeep is unveiling for the 2021 Jeep Easter Safari including the… Read More »Reporting From The Middle Of America

Ep. 126 – Volvo Gets Recharged

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ep. 126 - Volvo Gets Recharged
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With Rebecca bogged down in a big project that helps pay the bills, Dan recruited his friend George Kennedy from the Boston Globe and CarGurus to fill the third microphone. Sam spent time with the Honda Civic Touring sedan and then took a road trip to Pittsburgh in the Hyundai Veloster N. Dan drove the new Subaru Legacy and has thoughts on the big touch screen. Then we dive into a bunch of electric vehicle stories with Volvo introducing its first, the XC40 Recharge. Toyota showed the world a new, better looking second-generation Mirai and Bosch announces silicon carbide chips that will make EVs more efficient. The Fordpass app will give drivers of Ford’s upcoming EVs easy access to a huge network of charging stations. As we recorded, news broke that GM is considering reviving the Hummer brand for its upcoming electric truck. Links Volvo… Read More »Ep. 126 – Volvo Gets Recharged

Episode #102 – No Charging, No Parking!

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #102 - No Charging, No Parking!
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This week Sam has returned from California and after driving the 2019 Kia Niro EV, he has a rant about electric vehicle drivers that think they have a right to park right next to the building even when they aren’t charging. Rebecca has been driving the lovely new Volvo V60 and Dan has the “first ever” Ford Edge ST. In the news, the crew ponders the new Cadillac CT5 that was shown ahead of its public debut at the New York Auto Show. Porsche drops some teasers of the upcoming Taycan electric sedan and Fisker pivots with a new production, retail and service strategy. Sam talks with Henrik Fisker and the team opines. Links New Fisker electric SUV Porsche Taycan Teaser 2020 Cadillac CT5 Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of… Read More »Episode #102 – No Charging, No Parking!

Episode #087 – Carlos In The Clink, Driving In Winter and Charging Follies

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #087 - Carlos In The Clink, Driving In Winter and Charging Follies
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This week Sam drives the new Volkswagen Jetta and Dan spends time with the Acura RDX and VW Golf Sportwagen. Out in the real world, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Chairman of Nissan is arrested for alleged financial malfeasance and the future of the Alliance is in doubt. With snow and ice now on the road, it’s time again to think about winter tires. Land Rover unveils the second-generation Evoque with electrified powertrains and Tesla owners are experiencing Supercharger issues. Sam also interviews Pete Rander and Brett Browning of Argo AI. Links Carlos Ghosn Arrested Winter Tires 2020 Land Rover Evoque Supercharging issues 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 #065 – Midsize Luxury SUVs, New Electric Utilities and Fast Charging

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #065 - Midsize Luxury SUVs, New Electric Utilities and Fast Charging
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Since the last show, Sam has spent time with the Volvo XC60 and Mercedes-Benz GLE550e plug-in hybrid. Dan gets an encore with the Nissan Armada and some time with the Dodge Charger GT. As we head into this year’s Beijing Motor Show, images of the new Mercedes-Maybach sedan-SUV concept surface and frankly it’s not good. Audi provides a preview of some of the testing they are doing with the upcoming e-Tron Quattro and VW subsidiary Electrify America gets ready to challenge the Tesla SuperCharger network. Finally, Toyota commits to talking cars and wants the rest of the industry to come along for the ride. 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