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You Can Have Too Much Grille

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
You Can Have Too Much Grille
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In the garage this week, Nicole has the 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid with plugs in the back and a work surface perfect for holding Crumble Cookies. Roberto drives the Subaru Forester Sport and we wonder if black wheels and red trim stripes can actually make a vehicle sporty. Robbie also spends time in the Ford Bronco Sport and has complaints. Sam drove the new hybrid Toyota Sienna and comes to the realization that Chevrolet was just premature in trying to make the old Uplander look like an SUV and also spends a weekend with the Polestar 2. In the news, Toyota proves you can have too much grille when an image of the 2022 Tundra leaks out, Infiniti adopts a new design language for the new QX60 and Ferrari takes a new direction with the replacement for its long-running series of V8 sports cars… Read More »You Can Have Too Much Grille

In Search Of A Rental Car

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
In Search Of A Rental Car
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This week, Nicole and Roberto have returned from their respective vacations and share their experiences trying rent vehicles in an age where rental companies have ditched much of their fleets. Robbie discusses the 2020 Kia Sorento he had in Hawaii. Before her Disney trip, Nicole drove the new Jeep Wrangler 4Xe plug-in hybrid. Sam went from the decidely old school Lexus GX460 to the thoroughly modern Buick Encore GX. We skip news this week and address a bunch of listener questions including what off-road vehicles will be like in the age of electrification, vehicle shortages, whether to modify classic and project cars or keep them original, and recommendations for wagons and used PHEVs/BEVs. Links 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

Say Hello To Roberto

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Say Hello To Roberto
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Episode 192 of Wheel Bearings brings an updated lineup as the internet’s Roberto Baldwin joins Nicole Wakelin and Sam in place of Dan Roth who has started his new job. We talk about the rip-snorting Dodge Durango Hellcat that just left Nicole’s driveway, Robbie takes a ride in the new Lucid Air Grand Touring and contemplates moving his house with the GMC Sierra HD diesel while Sam ponders how the Chevy Volt might have evolved into the Toyota Rav4 Prime. In the news, Toyota launches the Beyond Zero sub-brand for battery electric vehicles with a new concept creatively named bZ4X. Cadillac prices its first EV, the 2023 Lyriq crossover and Stellantis kills the “too expensive” Giorgio platform. We wrap the show with our usual listener emails. Links Riding in the Lucid Air Grand Touring Stellantis kills Giorgio Toyota launches Beyond Zero sub-brand for electric vehicles… Read More »Say Hello To Roberto

Not So Uber Any More

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Not So Uber Any More
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Rebecca was off looking after her mom so it’s just the boys this time. Sam got to spend time with the 2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered and the 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE. Dan comes back with a more complete take on the Cadillac CT5 550T. In the news, Uber is shedding more of its ancillary businesses as it off-loads the automated driving group to Aurora. Sam also got a first taste of the new 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and we answer some listener mail. Links Uber dumps self-driving team Ford Bronco Sport First Drive Ford Bronco Design and Tech 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

How Much Is Too Much?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
How Much Is Too Much?
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This week it’s back to old school as Rebecca is busy baby sitting a couple of young nephews. That means it’s just Dan and Sam. Since we last spoke, Dan has been in the Lexus ES350 F-Sport and the Mazda CX-30. Meanwhile Sam was getting reaquainted with the 2020 Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid. In news Sam got to take a farewell drive in the 2020 Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang Heritage Edition as production of this high-revving pony draws to a close. The guys also discuss Sam’s diatribe on the ridiculous performance being put into today’s vehicles, especially EVs. Ford also released full specs on the 2021 F-150 including the PowerBoost hybrid. As usual we wrap up with listener questions such as what minivan to buy. Links Final drive in the GT350R Heritage Edition 2021 F-150 specs EVs are Getting Too Fast Wheel Bearings has… Read More »How Much Is Too Much?

Jeep Plugs In

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Jeep Plugs In
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This week, Rebecca shares her thoughts on the Volvo XC90 T6 and how it compares to the similarly sized Cadillac XT6 she had a couple of weeks ago. Dan shares his thoughts on the limited edition Series.White Subaru WRX and how it makes him feel like he’s back in high school. Sam took his first road trip in many months with the Cadillac CT5 and it didn’t break his back. In the news, Jeep is getting electrified. The promised Wrangler 4XE plug-in hybrid is finally going into production this fall and promises 25 miles of electric only operation. The Wrangler is the first of multiple models with plug-in capability (actually the Compass and Renegade PHEVs are already on sale Europe) with the new Wagoneer family coming next summer. The new Grand Wagoneer concept provides a preview of Jeep’s new premium full-size SUVs. Over the last… Read More »Jeep Plugs In

Stupid Stocks and Plug-in Hybrids

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Stupid Stocks and Plug-in Hybrids
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Rebecca is out hanging with a real-life friend for this episode so it’s just Dan and Sam. Sam has been driving the 2020 Hyundai Palisade while Dan got his first taste of Nissan’s variable compression 2.0-liter turbo four in the Infiniti QX50. In the news, we discuss the electric range and fuel efficiency of the new Ford Escape plug-in hybrid and compare it to the upcoming Toyota Rav4 Prime. Nikola Motors has some very interesting technology and a planned business model for hydrogen fuel cell long-haul trucks. The problem is Nikola has yet to deliver, has zero revenue and a ridiculous stock price. We wrap up with discussion of electric Lemons racing and listener questions. Links Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid Range Nikola Motors and its ridiculous stock price Electric Lemons Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to… Read More »Stupid Stocks and Plug-in Hybrids

Episode #114 – Managing Brands

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #114 - Managing Brands
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Dan is back and talking about the BMW X2 M35i that he used to shuttle his kids around on a family trip. Rebecca goes beyond the infotainment of the Lexus RC350 F-Sport and Sam swaps a Rav4 with flaky bluetooth for a Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE. In the news, the crew discusses GPS spoofing and high-definition maps. Rebecca and Sam went to the Fiat Chrysler What’s New event and talked with Transmission and powertrain head Jeff Lux about electrification and brand management. Speaking of electrification, the new Ferrari SF90 Stradale is a plug-in hybrid with a front-wheel-drive electric mode. Links Ferrari SF90 Stradale hybrid modes 2020 Chrysler Voyager 2020 Dodge Charger Widebody GPS Spoofing HD Maps for Mobility 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… Read More »Episode #114 – Managing Brands

Episode #105 – Sometimes Tilting At Windmills Pays Off

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #105 - Sometimes Tilting At Windmills Pays Off
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This week Sam and Rebecca both discuss their experience with the Nissan Murano. Rebecca has also been in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV while Dan drives the Honda Pilot. In the news, four decades of tilting at mid-engine wind mills finally pays off for Don Sherman as GM confirms the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette will debut on July 18, 2019. Tesla really doesn’t want to sell any $35,000 Model 3s and the gang discuss the challenges of updating a 50 year old airplane for the 21st century. Links The mid-engine Corvette is almost here and here Please, please don’t buy a cheap Tesla Model 3 Updating the 50 year old Boeing 737 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 #100 – Lots of Electrons in Geneva

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #100 - Lots of Electrons in Geneva
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As Wheel Bearings breaks into triple digits we have one more two part show with Rebecca still in the sub-continent. In the first half of the show, Sam and Rebecca talk more about transportation in India and the challenges of deploying electric vehicles there. Sam has been driving the Genesis G70. Then Rebecca and Sam dive into some of the highlights of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show including the Honda E prototype, a new era of coachbuilding based on electric vehicle platforms like the VW MEB, the Alfa Romeo Tonale and some new Aston Martins. Meanwhile Dan has been driving the 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. Dan and Sam dive into the new plug-in hybrid versions of the Jeep Renegade and Compass coming next year and Tesla’s new Supercharger V3. For automotive engineers and developers that want to develop their skills in AI and working… Read More »Episode #100 – Lots of Electrons in Geneva