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Just Get A Maverick

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Get A Maverick
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Nicole is back from her European River cruise and she and Robbie have been been driving the Kia EV6 GT. Sam had the Toyota Tundra i-Force Max Capstone, which is much improved except for fuel economy. During a Ford holiday reception recently Jim Farley posed the question of who is the Edsel for Tesla and we discuss. Apple still seems to want to make cars eventually, should they just buy Lucid instead? The new Mazda CX-90 is getting a plug-in hybrid, Redwood Materials is building a $3.5B battery recycling plant in South Carolina. Is the Vinfast VF8 worth the price and Ford is raising Lightning prices again. We answer more questions. Send yours to feedback@wheelbearings.media Links Redwood Materials new battery recycling plant Mazda CX-90 inline-6 plug-in hybrid Ford raising Lightning prices again Vinfast arrives in America Roobie Reviews the Kia EV6 GT Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Just Get A Maverick

Not Full Self-Driving

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Wheel Bearings
Not Full Self-Driving
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This week, Nicole is still in Europe with her husband so the boys are at it again. Robbie went to Las Vegas to drive the McLaren Artura and Sam also had a vehicle with four wheels and a steering wheel, the Toyota Rav4 Adventure. Sam also got to try out the Tesla Full Self-Driving beta and found it still has a long way to go before you stop holding the wheel and watching the road. Apple appears to delayed its car program again and GM is working with dealers to put 40,000 EV chargers in underserved communities. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ran tests to see if its crash test facility could handle new heavier EVs and Polestar and Mercedes-Benz are offering power-upgrades for a price. Links McLaren Artura first drive GM Dealer Community Charging Program Apple Car Delayed IIHS tests heavy EVs Polestar… Read More »Not Full Self-Driving

Off-Road Supercars

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Wheel Bearings
Off-Road Supercars
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It’s a shorter show this week as Nicole is vacationing with her hubby in Europe and Robbie had to run off early for a dinner with McLaren. Sam drove the Genesis GV60 Performance this week and discovered that Electrify America ripped out the nearby fast chargers to replace them with a new, hopefully more reliable design. In the news, Honda is planning to launch hands-free driver assist systems globally by the end of the decade and start building a plug-in hybrid fuel cell CR-V in Ohio in 2024. Both Porsche and Lamborghini have revealed limited production high-riding, rally inspired supercars and Sam answers listener questions. Links Honda to launch L3 systems globally by 2030off-road lamborghini huracan and porsche 911 dakarHonda to produce PHEV fuel cell CR-V from 2024 in ohio Driving the 2007 Ford Edge HySeries Drive Technical Analysis of HySeries Drive Wheel Bearings has… Read More »Off-Road Supercars

Vinfast Has Landed

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Vinfast Has Landed
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We’ve got a full slate of plug-in crossovers in the garage this week as Nicole tries out the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid, Sam has the Lexus NX450h+ F Sport All Wheel Drive and Robbie is all electric in the surprising Kia Niro EV. In the news, despite our earlier skepticism, the first 999 Vinfast VF8s have landed at the dock in California. Hopefully we’ll get to try it out soon to see if it is actually ready for prime time. Honda has launched an all new Pilot 3-row crossover with a more rugged look, but is it actually more capable? Carvana, home of the used car vending machine, may be running out of road and while Ford doesn’t offer an official camp kitchen for the F-150 Lightning, that doesn’t mean you can’t cook in one. Finally, Tesla opens up the FSD beta to everyone, no… Read More »Vinfast Has Landed

More Convertibles Please

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
More Convertibles Please
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We’ve got a full team this week as Robbie shares his thoughts on the updated Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a four-cylinder diesel and all-wheel-drive. Nicole discusses the aged Toyota Tacoma and Sam drives the Mazda CX-50 and the Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge. The LA Auto Show took place last week and Toyota revealed an all-new fifth generation Prius and Prius Prime. Genesis held an event in Malibu to reveal its Genesis X electric convertible concept. Fiat is bringing the 500e back to North America and brand chief Larry Dominique explains that Stellantis will experiment with it. By 2025, British EV drivers will have to pay a vehicle excise tax and after promising to open its Superchargers to other brands, Tesla says, just adopt our charging connector instead. We also answer some questions. Send in your own questions feedback@wheelbearings.media Links North American Charging Standard? UK EV excise… Read More »More Convertibles Please

Improving the User Experience

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Wheel Bearings
Improving the User Experience
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It’s another Robbie and Sam episode as Nicole is now in LA doing her World Car of the Year duty. Roberto got to drive the new Nissan Z and the Toyota GR Corolla. Sam and Robbie both discuss the updated user experience software in the Lucid Air and the new third generation Formula E cars. Robbie made a quick trip to Italy to drive the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo and ride along in the electric Cayman GT4 prototype. Apparently someone still thinks there is a chance that Faraday Future will get its FF91 into production and has agreed to loan the startup another $350 million. Sam also has a conversation with Audi of America president Daniel Weissland Links Cheaper Lucids Lucid Air UX 2.0 Half of Porsches to be electrified Faraday Future lines up more loans Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like… Read More »Improving the User Experience

Off To The Ocean

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Wheel Bearings
Off To The Ocean
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As Sam and Nicole got together to record this episode, Robbie was in LA driving vehicles for World Car of the Year. Nicole had a bunch of reviews to share since her last appearance including the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro as a plug-in hybrid and an EV and a first drive of the new Fisker Ocean. Sam drove the Volvo XC60 Recharge and tried out some e-bikes at the Electrify Expo in Austin. In the news, Volvo unwrapped the new EX90 electric SUV that goes into production next summer. Honda has reworked the 2023 Accord of which they expect half to be hybrid. The entry price for the 2023 Kia EV6 goes up by over $7,000 as the base standard range model is discontinued and Audi refreshes the original e-tron with more range and rebadges it as the Q8 e-tron. Links Volvo EX90 2023… Read More »Off To The Ocean

Creeping Featuritis

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Wheel Bearings
Creeping Featuritis
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Nicole is travelling again so it’s just the boys this week. Robbie returns from a trip to Japan to drive the Rivian R1S while Sam spends time in between trips with the Polestar 2 Performance package. This week Sam attended the BMW test fest where he got to drive the new 2023 BMW 7 series including the electric i7. In Japan, Robbie visited Honda and learned more about its work on solid state batteries while Mini announced that it would open a manual driving school at the BMW Performance driving center in Thermal, CA. We also Links 2023 BMW 7 series first drive Mini Manual Driving School Honda Solid State Batteries 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

Top Novice

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Top Novice
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Nicole and Sam are back after a week off where everyone was travelling. Robbie is still in Japan so Nicole shares here adventure driving in the Mille Miglia warm-up where she and co-pilot Eilleen Falkenburg-Hull came in second overall in the modern vehicle class and first among novices. Upon returning home, Nicole got to spend quality time with the new Nissan Z. Meanwhile, between trips, Sam got to drive the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn. Sam and Nicole also share their impressions of the new 2023 Toyota Crown. In the news, BMW announced a $1.7B investment in its Spartanburg SC factory to build EVs, GMC revealed the Sierra Denali EV Edition1 and Ford brought us the refreshed 2023 Escape. Ford and VW are pulling the plug on Argo AI, the company that was developing automated vehicles for them, and Ubers with human drivers will make fewer… Read More »Top Novice

Sony Software In Your Car?

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Wheel Bearings
Sony Software In Your Car?
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This week Robbie takes his turn in the Ford Bronco Raptor while Sam has the Expedition Timberline. Nicole drives the Honda HR-V up to Vermont to drive the Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition. In the news Honda announces a big investment in electrification in Ohio and that its joint venture with Sony will produce new EVs from 2026. Toyota has moved from Amazon to Google Cloud AI to power its voice services and Polestar has revealed the 3 crossover in full. We also answer listener questions. Links Sony Vision S-02 Honda-Sony EV coming in 2026 Electrify America Update Toyota drops Amazon for Google Polestar 3 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