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wheelbearings episode 179 live screenshot with guests. photos of hyundai sonata n-line, gmc canyon at4, kia k5 ex, and henry gomez of the brief brothers podcast

What’s in your garage?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What's in your garage?
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This week, we recorded a live episode on Zoom with some listeners. Sam shares his take on the 2021 Kia K5 EX while Rebecca rhaspodizes about its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Sonata N-Line. Both are powered by turbocharged 4-cylinders but one has way more power. Dan had 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 and the review devolves into a discussion of the true merits of midsize pickup trucks. Then our listener guests Dave, Ben and Pasha share what they have in their garages with some surprises. They also provide some constructive suggestions before we answer a listener email about Tesla’s pushback on recalling 158,000 cars to replace the media control unit. We wrap up with Dan’s interview with ad executive Henry Louis Gomez of Zubi Advertising and the Brief Brothers podcast about car marketing. Patreon supporters already got the interview separately earlier this week. For early access… Read More »What’s in your garage?

What Is A BrightDrop?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What Is A BrightDrop?
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Dan has another Ford SuperDuty pickup, this time the F-250 with the big 6.7-liter diesel and he is plotting how to pull out some concrete footings from his old deck. Rebecca goes old school (really old) with the aged Toyota Sequioa while Sam complains about the terrible infotainment display in the 2021 Nissan Rogue but likes the rest of it including the 90 deg opening rear doors. In the news, GM announced a new brand at the virtual CES with the introduction of BrightDrop. BrightDrop is dedicated to electric commercial vehicles starting with the EP1 electric pallet and the EV600 delivery van with the first 500 going to Fedex later this year. Fiat Chrysler and PSA finally closed on their merger to become Stellantis with a stock ticker that might cause some confusion for the Robin Hood gang (STLA). Mazda was late to the party… Read More »What Is A BrightDrop?

Highs and Lows and Minivans

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Highs and Lows and Minivans
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As we kick off a new year with a weak largely devoid of news, our team opens up with the garage. Rebecca had the latest BMW 540i xDrive sedan while Sam waxes rhapsodic about the refreshed 2021 Chrysler Pacifica AWD and minivans in general as people haulers. Meanwhile Dan is wraps up an extended period with the Ford F-350 Tremor. With the lack of news we discuss some of our automotive highlights of the year gone by including the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Silverado and Corvette, Ford Mustang Mach-E, the new models from Genesis the GV80 and G80 and the new Hyundai Sonata as well as others. Lowlights include the infotainment systems in the new Subaru Legacy and Outback, and Mazda CX-9. Your intrepid hosts also makes some prognostications for the year ahead. Links 2021 Genesis GV80 first drive 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 2020 Chevrolet Corvette… Read More »Highs and Lows and Minivans

Adios 2020

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Adios 2020
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For the final episode of 2020, our intrepid crew reconvenes to discuss what’s in the garage and what’s happening the industry. Rebecca had a pair of Lexus LS500s to sample. First the 2020 F-Sport version and then the mildly refreshed 2021 edition. Sam got to spend a day with the redesigned 2021 Kia Sorento with the newly available hybrid drivetrain. When the Kia went back it was replaced with Chevrolet’s new small crossover with the old name, the 2021 Trailblazer. Dan wrapped up his time with the Ford F-350 XLT Tremor. In the news, there has been a revival of the rumors of an Apple car and the team discusses why this may or may not ever actually happen and how it might happen if it becomes real. The year is wound up with a bunch of listener questions including electric restomods, modern vehicle ergonomics… Read More »Adios 2020

Robot Dogs and Taxis

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Robot Dogs and Taxis
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As 2020 winds toward its conclusion, the crew gathers for a pre-solstice recording with lots of vehicles to talk about. Dan kicks things off with the Ford F-350 Tremor that he had use to go fetch a replacement for dead Christmas tree and then compares notes with Rebecca on the new Land Rover Defender 110. Sam also had a big Ford this week which he used to help his daughter move, the 2021 Transit T150 with the extended body and mid-height roof that was too tall to fit a parking garage. Rebecca had a pair of SUVs, the new build yet still vintage Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro and the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban with GM’s lovely 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder diesel engine. In the news, we discuss the new bidirectional robotaxi revealed this week by Amazon-owned Zoox. Boston Dynamics has its third new owner in the past… Read More »Robot Dogs and Taxis

The Mach-E Edition

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Mach-E Edition
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This special episode of Wheel Bearings is dedicated to just one topic, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Sam had and opportunity to drive the Mach-E and also record an interview with Ford’s Chief Product Platform and Operations Officer, Hau Thai-Tang about how the company’s product development system has changed and how lessons from Mach-E will impact other products. Links Hau Thai-Tang bio 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E first drive Dave Pericak interview 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

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

Old Enough to Know Better, Too Young to Care

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Old Enough to Know Better, Too Young to Care
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The Wheel Bearings crew reconvenes to hash through what we’ve been driving. Rebecca had the VW Altas Cross Sport which was great apart from some major issues with the voice recognition. Sam got to enjoy some real quality time with the 2021 Toyota Supra before winter set in. Dan got to toss around the refreshed Subaru Cross Trek before stepping into the Cadillac CT5. In the news, Hyundai Motor Group has revealed its new electric-global modular platform that will underpin 23 new EVs across 4 brands by 2025 starting with the new Ioniq 5 in 2021. Hyundai is targetting 1 million EV sales by 2025. Continuing the EV theme, we discuss Cadillac offering to buyout dealers that don’t want to support EVs and the increased moves to ban sales of new internal combustion vehicles. We wrap with Dan’s eulogy for the VW Passat in America… Read More »Old Enough to Know Better, Too Young to Care

Bad HMI Design Decisions

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Bad HMI Design Decisions
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The Wheel Bearings crew has convened again on a Sunday morning as snow falls on Sam’s house. This week, Dan spends time with the lovely Lincoln Corsair compact luxury utility. Sam discusses the new 2021 Genesis G80 while Rebecca shares her thoughts on the Mazda CX-9. The Genesis and Mazda were both almost entirely delightful vehicles marred only by some non-trivial human machine interface design decisions that proved to be very annoying which led to a lively discussion of designing for actual users. In the news, the 2021 Ford F-150 is out and Sam shared his first driving impressions. Infiniti has a new fastback crossover “inspired by the FX” but not a direct replacement. We wrap up with a listener question about about paying for car apps. Links 2021 Ford F-150 First Drive 2021 Infiniti QX55 reveal Hyundai Motor Group uses Nvidia for infotainment “Ruined… Read More »Bad HMI Design Decisions