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Just A Boondogle

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just A Boondogle
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This week Nicole is having a seriously fun time with the 2023 Honda Civic Type-Rrrrr! Robbie is also having fun with a car that surprisingly fits both him and his bass guitar, the Mazda Miata Club. Sam actually had a great Electrify America charging experience with the Genesis GV70 Electrified. In the news, it appears that VW may be getting ready to launch an electric GTI. Toyota revealed the all-new Land Cruiser which is basically a more affordable and arguably better looking version of the Lexus GX and is finally bringing the plug-in hybrid Lexus RX450h+ to America. Speaking of America, we’ve poisoned Britain with our preference for SUVs over cars so Volvo is going to stop selling cars in the UK. Mazda couldn’t find enough American buyers for the MX-30 so it’s discontinuing it here. Henrik Fisker should off a bunch of upcoming products… Read More »Just A Boondogle

Bad Lessons

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Bad Lessons
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This week in the Wheel Bearings garage, Robbie is driving the latest BMW M2, complete with what may be one of the last manual transmissions in a BMW. Nicole has the non-Max version of the new Lexus RX hybrid, the RX350h and Sam is driving the Honda CR-V hybrid. In the news, seven (really six, but who’s counting) are teaming up for a joint-venture to build 30,000 DC fast chargers with cool accessories like restrooms, food and canopies! Ford launches the Mustang Challenge race series featuring a new factory-built racer, the Mustang Dark Horse R. VW invests to buy 5% of Xpeng, Robbie swaps EV battery modules with Ample and Honda is killing the E because of SUVs. Volvo clearly wasn’t listening to the howls of pain from VW ID owners when it designed the EX30. Vinfast broke ground on a new factory in North… Read More »Bad Lessons

It’s Mostly New

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
It's Mostly New
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Nicole is travelling again this week so our friend Stephanie Brinley from S&P Global Mobility is filling in. Stephanie has been driving the Lexus LC500 while Robbie had the Lamborghini Urus Performante. Sam meanwhile had to make do with a Corolla, the GR Corolla Morizo edition. Steph and Sam both drove the 2024 Ford Mustang this week which despite marketing claims to being “all-new” is really mostly new, but don’t let that take anything away from the last pony car standing. JD Power revealed the results of its 2023 APEAL Survey and S&P had a survey on what consumers are willing to pay for subscriptions in their vehicles. BMW M’s boss thinks simulated shifting may be the way to go in performance EVs and Tesla says there are talks to license FSD. We also answer listener questions. Links 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost first drive 2024… Read More »It’s Mostly New

The Fancy Sandwich of SUVs

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Fancy Sandwich of SUVs
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This week Robbie and Sam both had Lincoln’s baby plug-in hybrid, the Corsair Grand Touring. Aside from the position of the start-stop button, and Robbie’s inability to arrange the 24-way driver’s seat adjustment to comfortable, there isn’t much fundamentally wrong with it, but is it worth the price? Meanwhile, Nicole had the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV which cost twice as much but lacks an engine altogether. Lots of EV related news again this week as Rolls-Royce promises that anyone scalping the new electric Spectre will be banned for life from buying a new Roller. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Caterham which has continued to build variants of the Lotus 7 for 50 years, drops an electric sports car and Hyundai unveiled the Ioniq 5 N with the sound and shift feel of the Elantra N. Meanwhile, here in the US, after more than two years… Read More »The Fancy Sandwich of SUVs

No More Grey

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
No More Grey
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This week Robbie came to the realization that the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a great vehicle for anyone with a Daft Punk cover band. Nicole drove a pair of Nissan Zs back to back with automatic and manual transmissions and Sam spent the week with the highest end Volkswagen Taos. In the news, Nicole got to sample Buick’s new entry level model, the Envista and wonders what all the hubub is about with the engine. Fiat is doing what all automakers are doing and will no longer produce grey cars, opting for color instead. The VW ID Buzz debuted in Austin in automated driving form. The Ford Maverick is no longer our cheap vehicle of choice, because Ford has chosen to absorb the markups that dealers have been charging. Mercedes-Benz is going with NACS and Sam defends automakers that are going with the Tesla… Read More »No More Grey

Comfy Seats

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Comfy Seats
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It’s been a busy week. Sam had both the Dodge Hornet GT+ and the Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid. Robbie finally gets to talk about the driving the Kia EV9 and also the Seltos. He also discusses an unfortunate crash while going to pickup guitar picks. Nicole drove to Accord to drive the Accord. In the news, Nicole and Sam both drove the refreshed 2024 Jeep Wrangler. Volvo and Polestar announced that both brands would switch to the NACS charging connector and SAE will integrate the connector into its industry standard. Lordstown Motors finally goes bankrupt and sues Foxconn. Ford defeated Lordstown in the electric pickup race, but is losing customer orders due to price hikes. GM is matching and exceeding Ford’s bidirectional charging offerings with Ultium Home. Italian lawmakers are wisely trying to ban inexperienced drivers from overpowered cars. Links 2024 Jeep Wrangler first… Read More »Comfy Seats

It Hears Me

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
It Hears Me
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Robbie is back from Germany and Korea but he can’t talk about that stuff yet. Nicole drives the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV and Sam has better luck with the voice interface on the 2023 Lexus RX500h. Stellantis has launched a new compact pickup called the Ram Rampage in Brazil and while they haven’t yet announced anything, it could be coming to America. The Kia Stinger has sadly left us too early, but an electric replacement may be on the way. As Rivian joins GM and Ford in switching from CCS to NACS charging connectors, Texas and Washington are mandating that any publicly funded chargers include the Tesla-developed connector. Rivian also bought and is integrating A Better Route Planner and Sam gets a first opportunity to drive the Chevrolet Silverado EV work truck. Links Ram RampageKia Stinger EV replacementTexas to mandate NACS charge connectorsRivian acquires ABRPChevrolet Silverado… Read More »It Hears Me

Tremors Big and Small

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Tremors Big and Small
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Robbie is on his way to Korea for a secret mission so it’s just Nicole and Sam this week. Nicole drove the Genesis G80 Electrified and the “last call” Dodge Charger Swinger. Sam had the Ford Maverick Tremor. In the news, Sam and Nicole both drove the new 2024 Ford Super Duty pickups including towing some huge trailers. Ford also announced they are building a special Ford Ranger to take on the Dakar Rally starting in 2024. Mercedes-Benz unveiled a new electric concept called Vision One-Eleven with axial flux motors and will start testing ChatGPT in its voice system. Finally, a battle is brewing over Massachusett’s new right to repair law with NHTSA telling automakers they don’t have to comply and senators pushing back against the agency. We also answer some listener questions. Links Nio scraps free battery swapsMercedes Vision One-ElevenMercedes debuts ChatGPTNHTSA overules Mass… Read More »Tremors Big and Small

Yanking the Steering Wheel

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Yanking the Steering Wheel
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Sam spent the past week testing out the new version of BlueCruise in the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and was pleasantly surprised at the energy efficiency. Nicole had both the Toyota Sequioa TRD Pro and Lincoln Corsair PHEV. Robbie drove the new Chevrolet Colorado and the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica. Nicole and Sam took a quick trip to Austin to see the unveiling of the 2024 Lexus TX and GX SUVs. After the Lexus show, they went for a ride in a Cruise robotaxi and they have thoughts. Meanwhile in Milan, Volvo unveiled its new inexpensive EV, the EX30. Tesla got another win with GM announcing its switch to the North American Charging standard. On the other hand, Tesla drivers that buy their insurance from the automaker will pay more if they use Autopilot. Links Volvo ex30Crusing in Austin2024 Lexus GX2024 Lexus TXThe death of CCSTesla… Read More »Yanking the Steering Wheel

Buzz Me

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Buzz Me
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In the garage this week, Nicole has been driving two very different vehicles from the Hyundai Motor Group stable, the new Genesis G90 and refreshed Kia Telluride. Robbie has car for dog lovers, the Subaru Crosstrek and Sam was pleasantly surprised by what the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid could do with a fully charged battery. In the news, VW revealed the longer 3 row ID Buzz that’s coming to America. Sam spent some time at the track with Honda getting a ride in an Indycar-powered hybrid CR-V, sampling electric racing go-karts and testing the LogR app with the new Civic Type-R. Lordstown’s electric pickup doesn’t have much Endurance and Tesla claims the cheapest Model 3 now qualifies for tax credits. Finally Ford changes its pricing strategy for Blue Cruise. We also answer listener questions Links Honda electric racing cartsHonda CR-V hybrid racerHonda LogR 2.0 appVW… Read More »Buzz Me