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Return of the PT Cruiser

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Return of the PT Cruiser
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For episode 200 of the show, both of our emeritus hosts return for a special guest appearance as Rebecca Lindland and Dan Roth stop by. Sam and Dan compare notes on the Ford Ranger as Dan bought a Lariat with his new employee discount and Sam drove the new Ranger Tremor. Nicole also had a Tremor from Ford but hers was based on the F-350 Super Duty. She also spent time with the new Kia K5 during a trip to Seattle. Roberto shared his impressions of the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4XE. In the news we discuss the new Papal Transport from Fisker, the absurd Tesla Model S Plaid and the new 2022 Lexus NX. We wrap up with another round of listener questions about mini cars, Raptors, selling Miatas and our favorite cars. Links Tesla Model S Plaid 2022 Lexus NX Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Return of the PT Cruiser

Small Trucks and Toyota-Pallooza

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Small Trucks and Toyota-Pallooza
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This week in the garage, Sam has been driving the 2022 Infiniti QX55 Sensory AWD, while Nicole had the opportunity to drive the newest Mitsubishi Outlander in many years, the 2021 Outlander that shares its platform with the Nissan Rogue. Robbie didn’t have anything to drive this week, but he did go to LA to check out BMW’s new electric vehicles that are coming to America, the i4 sedan and iX crossover. Nicole went to Toyota HQ in Texas for a huge product showcase featuring the new Corolla Cross, GR86, bZ4X, Lexus LF-Z and Teammate hands-free driver assist system. Nicole and Sam share some first driving impressions of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and then we dive into a discussion of Ford’s new compact pickup truck the Maverick which will take on the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Links 2022 Ford Maverick BMW i4 2022 Nissan Pathfinder first… Read More »Small Trucks and Toyota-Pallooza

Wanna Buy A Sports Car Assembly Line?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Wanna Buy A Sports Car Assembly Line?
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This week Roberto reconfirms yet again that the Honda Ridgeline is all the truck that most regular people ever need (although it could use more braking performance) as he drives it and uses it to tow the Honda Talon. Robbie also shares his thoughts on the Polestar 2 and its Android Automotive infotainment system. Nicole spends time with opposite ends of the utility vehicle spectrum, the Subaru Forester and the refreshed Nissan Armada. Sam also gets back into a big SUV, returning to the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, this time focusing on the new second-generation Super Cruise system. In the news, as Lotus prepares to end the 25 year run of the Lotus Elise and its offshoots, it has put the tooling up for sale for anyone that wants to continue building this amazing sportscar. Tesla drops radar from the Model 3 and Y and we… Read More »Wanna Buy A Sports Car Assembly Line?

What is this doing here?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What is this doing here?
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In the garage this week Nicole has been driving the new Chevrolet Suburban with the fabulous 3.0-liter diesel while Roberto drove the Acura TLX Type-S and commutes on the Ducati Multistrada V4. Sam sampled Buick’s latest import from China, the 2021 Envision. In the news, we have more on the Ford F-150 Lightning with the announcement of the Pro which contrary to the badge is actually the least expensive version designed as a work truck. Ford is also partnering on a joint-venture with SK Innovation to build lithium ion cells for its future EVs, Kia had the US unveiling of the new EV6 in Times Square and the group ponders how GM managed to make the new Hummer EV pickup weigh over 9,000 lbs empty. In listener mail we got a picture of what appears to be a Holden Commodore Ute and wonder why it’s… Read More »What is this doing here?

First Close Look At An Electric Pickup

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
First Close Look At An Electric Pickup
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The team is back on track this week with Nicole spending in time in the new 2021 Kia Sorento X-Line, while Robbie tries out a couple of fundamentally different cars, the McLaren GT and the redesigned, hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai. Sam finished up his two week Hellcat stint with the one-year only Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. In the news, the UK government is moving to legallize Level 3 conditionally automated vehicles that allow drivers to go hands off and eyes off the road. Colin Chapman’s classic Lotus 7 is still being produced by Caterham and now the company is looking at how to electrify it. Finally, Sam got a deep dive into the battery-powered 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning and shares his thoughts on what it can do. Links 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning first look Caterham developing electric 7 UK to legalize L3 conditionally automated vehicles… Read More »First Close Look At An Electric Pickup

No One Needs a 700hp Truck, But You Sure Might Want It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
No One Needs a 700hp Truck, But You Sure Might Want It
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This week, Robbie forgot to set his alarm so we recorded the show in two parts and spliced it together. Nicole had the 2021 Hyundai Sonata hybrid with a great powertrain and a gimmicky roof. Sam ripped off some impressive acceleration runs when he could find some untrafficked dirt roads where the sound of a bellowing Hellcat in the Ram 1500 TRX wouldn’t grab to much attention. Roberto went even more heavy duty this time with a drive in the Daimler’s new EM2 electric box truck and riding shotgun in the battery powered E-Cascadia semi. In the news, we discuss Ford’s launch of the Timberline rugged off-road trim level starting with the Explorer and the return of Citroen to the American market with the diminutive Ami going into car sharing fleets in Washington DC and Portland, Oregon. We finish up with a listener letter about… Read More »No One Needs a 700hp Truck, But You Sure Might Want It

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

A Conversation with Nvidia’s Danny Shapiro

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
A Conversation with Nvidia's Danny Shapiro
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Following the 2021 Nvidia GPU Technology Conference, Sam had a conversation with Danny Shapiro to discuss why GPUs were so well suited to advanced automotive applications like automated driving Links Nvidia Drive developer site 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

The End of an Era

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The End of an Era
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This week in the garage, Nicole has the first of a pair of very different three-row crossovers. First up is the Toyota Highlander. Next week she will have something just a bit louder. Sam shares his thoughts on the turbocharged Mazda3 hatchback and despite still being on winter tires, it impresses. Dan wraps up his time with the new Acura MDX and discovers it is quite different from most of its direct competition and he also gets a taste of the new Lincoln Nautilus Black Label with its 13-inch touchscreen In the news, we discuss the US launch of the Mazda MX-30 and the return of the Wankel rotary as a range extender. GM launches a new cloud-based navigation app for recent OnStar users that don’t have built-in navigation and aren’t using the maps from their smartphones. Dan interviews Chrysler Pacifica chief engineer Brian Swanson.… Read More »The End of an Era