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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

An Offensive Face

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
An Offensive Face
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The leaves have pretty much all hit the ground now and winter is coming. In the garage this week, Sam has been driving the Audi Q7 Prestige with its haptic feedback touchscreens. Dan finally got his turn in the Hyundai Venue and Rebecca shares her thoughts on the Lexus RX450hL. In the news, BMW and Ford launched two very different electric vehicles. From Munich comes the production version of the iNext concept, now known as the iX. While it may be very capable from a technical and usability standpoint, the crew all agreed that BMW has completely lost the plot when it comes to design in recent years. On the other hand, Ford’s next EV is the 2022 e-Transit which looks pretty much the same as every other Transit out there delivering flowers and Amazon packages, which is to say it looks like a modern… Read More »An Offensive Face

Questions, Questions, Questions

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Questions, Questions, Questions
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This week in the garage, Rebecca has the Hyundai Ioniq Electric which is quite a different take on a battery powered vehicle than the Kona she drove a couple of weeks back. The plug-in theme on the east coast continues as Dan still had the Chevy Bolt. In Michigan, Sam had the opposite of these vehicles with the Lexus LC500 Convertible, a true grand touring sled. Instead of news, our intrepid crew just tackled a bunch of listener questions this week including old car values, over-sized grilles, automatic stop-start systems and Tesla’s full self-driving beta. Links Tesla’s Nowhere Near Full Self-Driving Beta MSRP of 1987 Model Year cars 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

The Right Vehicle for the Job

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
The Right Vehicle for the Job
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We’ve got a bit of a split show this week since Dan was busy painting his house before Rebecca had to attend to some family business. Sam and Rebecca kick off the garage with the 2021 Toyota Sienna hybrid and the Audi S5 Sportback. Dan spliced in the garage segment he recorded with Sam on the 2021 Nissan Rogue and the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt. Spoiler alert, Dan loves the Bolt. Following the garage, Rebecca and Sam share their perspectives on Genesis’ first crossover, the new GV80. The GV80 is built on a new read-drive platform dedicated to Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand and shared with the new G80 sedam. We also discuss the reveal of the GMC Hummer EV pickup, the first vehicle to be built on GM’s new Ultium electric architecture. Sam and Rebecca wrap up with a couple of listener questions on the… Read More »The Right Vehicle for the Job

Green Dragons and Organs

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Green Dragons and Organs
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This week in the garage we have an array of crossover utility vehicles at sharply different price points. Sam was in the new entry level model from Hyundai, the Venue SEL. Dan also had a vehicle from the other mainstream branch of Hyundai Motor Group, the 2021 Kia Seltos SX Turbo. Rebecca had to make do with the most premium of the trio, the Audi Q7. For the rest of the show we had a very special guest join us for a wide ranging conversation that all ultimately always came back to driving. Jonathan Klinger, VP of Car Culture at Hagerty Insurance hung out to talk about cross country drives in 100+ year old cars, teaching youngsters to drive manual transmissions, restoring classic machines and playing the organ. Links A year of the Ford Model A as a daily driver Hyundai Venue SEL Hagerty Magazine… Read More »Green Dragons and Organs

Keeping it Running

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Keeping it Running
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This week we have the whole crew back together again with a diverse array of machinery in the garage. Rebecca started off with what is arguably the best driving (if not the most attractive) hot hatch today, the Honda Civic Type-R. From there she transitioned to another small hatchback, the Hyundai Kona EV. The Kona is a really impressive electric crossover with 259 miles of driving range. Sam spent the week with the Toyota 86 GT, an awesomely fun little sports car. And now for something completely different, Dan drove the Ford Transit 150 cargo van. Sam also got a first taste of the redesigned 2021 Nissan Rogue, a thoroughly updated entry into one of the hottest segments in the market. Then the team delves into the practical realities of what needs to happen in order for California and potentially other states to go all… Read More »Keeping it Running