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Episode #037 – Hot Hondas, Acuras, Hyundais, Pizzas and A Not-so Hot Mitsubishi

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Episode #037 - Hot Hondas, Acuras, Hyundais, Pizzas and A Not-so Hot Mitsubishi
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This week we talk about lots of the vehicles we’ve recently driven. Sam samples a pair of very different Acura hybrids with some shared hardware. He then heads to the track to play with the hottest Civic ever the Type-R and talks with product planner Rob Keogh. Dan gets in the decidedly mediocre Mitsubishi Outlander GT. The Hyundai Elantra GT Sport is one of the most refined cars yet from the ever-improving Korean brand but is it better than a GTI? Finally, Ford and Domino’s hook up to try out autonomous pizza delivery. Domino’s Takes High-Tech Pizza Delivery To Level 4 With Ford The Ridge Motorsports Park 2017 Acura NSX – Vaporware No More 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

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Episode #036 – Rome Isn’t Burning, Why Skip The VCs? & Diesel Crossovers

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Episode #036 - Rome Isn't Burning, Why Skip The VCs? & Diesel Crossovers
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The guys are back with a regular episode wherein we drive sibling vehicles from Korea, the Hyundai Elantra Sport and Kia Niro FE. Sam was wiped out last week after a whirlwind trip to San Francisco for the City of Tomorrow symposium hosted by Ford. While there he got the chance to talk with Bryan Salesky, one of the most experienced software engineers working on automated vehicles. Fiat Chrysler is also trying to get a foothold in the automated driving space while rumors of a Chinese acquisition swirl. Meanwhile GM still hopes that diesel can give them a competitive edge with the 39 mpg Chevy Equinox. links FCA Joins BMW/Intel Autonomous Driving Partnership Chevy Equinox Diesel rated at 39 mpg highway Uber Kills Leasing Program Future of Smaller Automakers May Be As Tier 1 Suppliers Ford Makes $1B Bet On Argo.AI As Recruiting Tool Kia… Read More »Episode #036 – Rome Isn’t Burning, Why Skip The VCs? & Diesel Crossovers

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Episode #035 – Dull Edge, Travis Gets Sued, Mazda Innovates

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Episode #035 - Dull Edge, Travis Gets Sued, Mazda Innovates
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This week, Sam is again driving a Mazda Miata with brilliant steering while Dan fights the steering in the Ford Edge Sport. Another Hespen Rally is in the books and Sam goes off on a tangent about what happens to engineering development vehicles. Mazda announces the first production HCCI engine for 2019 and one of Uber’s biggest investors sues former CEO Travis Kalanick and guys try to give some advice on what kind of car should replace a VW GTI. Colin Sultan of 3M explains what the inventor of post-it notes is doing to enable automated and connected vehicles. Links Mazda Refuses To Give Up On Internal Combustion, Develops Engine It Says Is 20% More Efficient Tech flashback 1: Driving GM’s HCCI prototype in 2007 Tech flashback 2: Driving GM’s next HCCI prototype in 2009 Benchmark Capital Sues Travis Kalanick Kia Forte5 SX Review  … Read More »Episode #035 – Dull Edge, Travis Gets Sued, Mazda Innovates

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Episode #034 – AMG Roadtripping, More Miata Love and EV Frustration

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Episode #034 - AMG Roadtripping, More Miata Love and EV Frustration
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  This week Dan takes his turn in the Mazda Miata RF while Sam does a road trip to the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in the Mercedes-AMG E43. While at MBS Sam talked with Nvidia’s director of automotive, Danny Shapiro, heard Mazda SVP Robert Davis extol the virtues of internal combustion and saw his friend Bob Gritzenger struggle with EV charging infrastructure in northern Michigan. Links Mazda Miata RF  Charging an EV on Blue Highways Mazda Dissing EVs Sam’s new monthly column for Automotive Engineering 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 #033 – Faster, Slower, Fix It Now or Fix It Later

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Episode #033 - Faster, Slower, Fix It Now or Fix It Later
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This week Sam is in the slightly quicker Civic, the Si sedan, Dan stays on-road in the off-road Jeep Compass and the guys delve into fixing diesel Volkswagens, regulations for automated driving and whether anyone will ever make any money on self-driving software. Also, Waze comes to Android Auto, the end of big cars and a contemplation on how to fix Lincoln. Links The automated driving economy turns into the app store economy Who’s ultimately responsible for fixing recalled Volkswagen diesels Will automated cars cost $400,000? Spoiler alert, no. 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

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Episode #32 – Convertibles, Hybrids, Not Self-Driving and Comcast Hate

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Episode #32 - Convertibles, Hybrids, Not Self-Driving and Comcast Hate
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This week Sam has driven Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and compares the latest Mazda Miata to the original. Dan spends the week with a very different kind of convertible, the Mustang GT. When the new Nissan Leaf arrives this fall, it will have e-pedal for strong regenerative braking and ProPilot Assist which is automated but not self-driving. Before some listener questions, the guys dive into the latest ploy by Comcast to remain the most hated company in America. Links Nissan ProPilot Assist Preview – It’s Automated But Not Self-Driving We Should Welcome The E-Pedal In The New Nissan Leaf, But It’s Not The World’s First: Updated Comcast Tries to Leverage Autonomous Cars to Kill Net Neutrality   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

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Episode #31 – Absolutely Mainstream to Utterly Extreme

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Episode #31 - Absolutely Mainstream to Utterly Extreme
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  This week Sam and Dan discuss the merits of the Subaru Impreza vs the Mistubishi Outlander Sport, the Merccedes-AMG GLA45, the all-new 2018 Honda Accord, the Aston Martin Valkyrie and a preview of the 2017 Concours de’Elegance of America.  Don’t forget to join the Hespen Rally if you are in Michigan on August 6, 2017. Links Concours de’Elegance of America 2018 Honda Accord and more on the Accord Aston Martin Valkyrie Hespen Rally   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 #29 – Big Sedans, Servicing Autonomous Vehicles, Racing Old Cars

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Episode #29 - Big Sedans, Servicing Autonomous Vehicles, Racing Old Cars
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This week Sam drives a couple of big American sedans, the Buick LaCrosse and Lincoln Continental and Dan samples the Mazda CX-9. This devolves into a chat about Chris Lattner and working with/for Elon Musk and using rental car companies to service fleets of autonomous vehicles. Then Sam goes all analog with a visit to the Great Race stop in Ypsilanti, Mich. Links The Great Race The Great Race comes to Ypsilanti Chris Lattner bails on Tesla’s AutoPilot program after less than 6 months of working for Elon Musk Avis to Service Waymo’s Autonomous Vehicle Fleet   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

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Episode #27 – Jags That Burn Oil On Purpose, Cars That Are Too Good and Some That Aren’t

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Episode #27 - Jags That Burn Oil On Purpose, Cars That Are Too Good and Some That Aren't
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This week we talk about a diesel powered Jaguar XF, a BMW 5 Series that so good it’s boring, the big shuffle at Uber, whether car makers will be the tier 1 suppliers to the tech industry for automated driving and answer a whole bunch of listener questions including some background on Sam’s engineering career. Carmakers Could Be Tier 1 Suppliers To Tech Companies For Autonomous Buick HiPer Strut Suspension Changes at Uber Do Driver’s Cars Matter Anymore? Increasing Collaboration Between Auto and Tech is Better For Everyone 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 #26 – Smokeless Launches and Exhausted Patents

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Episode #26 - Smokeless Launches and Exhausted Patents
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This week, Dan and Sam talk about driving the BMW 530i, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, Ford Escape Platinum and Acura NSX. Then they dive into how a printer patent case might impact the future of automated driving, the Acura NSX racing program and insuring Teslas. Guest: Art St. Cyr, President Honda Performance Development Links: SCOTUS ruling limits patent exhaustion Lawyers not ethicists will solve trolley problem Acura NSX launch control Tesla Insurance Premiums 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