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More and More Hybrids

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
More and More Hybrids
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We’ve got an extra packed edition this week with lots of cars and industry news. On the vehicle front we twice around the circle with the first round including the Nissan Altima Platinum VC-T for Sam, Chevy Silverado Trail Boss for Dan and Lexus GS350 for Rebecca. Round two is all hybrid all the time. Sam takes on the Camry Hybrid, Rebecca the new Honda CR-V Hybrid and Dan in the new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. In the news, Ford engineers did some software hacking to cook viruses out of police vehicles. With the Shelby GT350 hitting end of life at the end of the 2020 model year, the next special Mustang is a return of the Mach 1 as the quickest 5.0-liter pony yet. In the absence of auto shows and live events, Acura launched its new entry online with the reveal of the 2021… Read More »More and More Hybrids

£500 Million To Learn That It’s Hard To Make Money Building Cars

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
£500 Million To Learn That It's Hard To Make Money Building Cars
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After an extended break, we’re hopefully back on a more regular schedule. In our absence, Sam has found his new favorite Jeep, the Gladiator Mojave and also spent a week with the Wrangler Ecodiesel. Rebecca got to drive the other Japanese accessible sports car, the Toyota 86 Hakone Edition resplendent in its green paint with gold wheels. Dan went electric this time with the latest Nissan Leaf Plus and came away convinced it’s the best Nissan car right now. In the news, we discuss James Dyson spending £500 million to learn that it’s hard to build a car company. Hey James, next just give us a call. We’d happily tell you the same thing for a mere £5 million. Toyota is still skeptical of battery electric vehicles, but it’s all in hybrids as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Prius coming to America. This… Read More »£500 Million To Learn That It’s Hard To Make Money Building Cars

What Happens Next?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What Happens Next?
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This week Rebecca has been self-isolating in the new Toyota Rav4 TRD Off-Road edition, Sam has been enjoying time in the Mazda CX-30 and Dan is going old school in the Lexus GX460. The team has a lively debate on the merits of letting Georgia teenagers skip the road test on the way to getting a driver’s license. The conversation then turns to what happens to the auto industry as the pandemic hopefully subsides and then we finish off with a couple of listener questions and an interview that Sam did with Jaguar Formula E driver James Calado. Links Georgia Skips Driver’s License Road Tests Ford Delays Commercial Launch of AVs GM Kills Maven Ford Cancels Rivian-based Lincoln IBM Mobility Survey Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting… Read More »What Happens Next?

Delivery Charges

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Delivery Charges
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Technology let us down near the end of this episode, but we got in a good discussion of the 2020 Lexus UX250h Luxury, Hyundai Venue, Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander.

For news, we talked about manuals returning to MINI, the next generation RWD I-6 Mazda 6, and the new Genesis G80. We finish up with some commentary about destination charges and we managed to answer at least one question about how the industry is holding up during this crisis before our app decided it’d had enough.

145 – Preserving Your Ride

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
145 - Preserving Your Ride
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Bentley brought the launch of the Flying Spur to Rebecca’s doorstep. We also sample the 2020 GMC Acadia, Sam wrung every mile out of the 2020 Audi e-Tron, and Dan tried the completely charming 2020 Toyota Yaris XLE.

We talk Honda and GM partnering on EVs, Autocar’s EV range tests, EV Mustangs, and then we take your questions.

144 – Press On Regardless

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
144 - Press On Regardless
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As the lockdowns continue, our intrepid crew is still venturing out while staying isolated to bring you their impressions of the vehicles you might want to consider buying when this is all over. Rebecca spent time with the Jeep Gladiator in a seemingly deserted corner of Connecticut. Sam got Android Auto working in the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid without crashing the infotainment system. Meanwhile Dan sampled the pint-sized Hyundai Kona. In the news, we dive into the Navigant Research Automated Driving Leaderboard report and what robotaxi developers will have to do to keep passengers safe. While we work from home and connect with co-workers on video conferences, Audi has started publishing images to use for virtual backgrounds. With motorsports idled globally, the drivers are taking to sims and the fans seem to be digging it. We wrap up with a few listener questions. Links Jeep Gladiator… Read More »144 – Press On Regardless

143 – Sheltering In Place But Still Driving

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
143 - Sheltering In Place But Still Driving
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To start, we ponder the near-term future. Then we get to cars, including the Hyundai Venue, Nissan Rogue Sport, BMW M340i, and the Ford pickup lineup from Ranger to Super Duty. For news, we talk about the 20201 Hyundai Elantra and follow up on GM EV day. We finish with some of your emails. If that seems like a long show, you’re right. Just the thing for quarantine.

141 – Corvettes In The Desert

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
141 - Corvettes In The Desert
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Rebecca gives first drive impressions of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. Sam has been driving the value-conscious 2020 Nissan Versa and the fuel-hungry Armada. Dan shares impressions of the Infiniti QX50. We wrap with a run through Consumer Reports 2020 Top 10 cars selections.

Ep 140 – Dependability, the Badger, and in-car exercise routines

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ep 140 - Dependability, the Badger, and in-car exercise routines
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Since Rebecca and Sam skipped driving impressions on the last episode, there’s a lot of cars to talk about. Rebecca hit the road in her cousin’s 2008 Honda Odyssey with nearly 200,000 miles on the clock. Even after all those miles, this one is in great shape and proves that minivans are still a great way to haul people and stuff. Sam discusses the Ford Explorer ST and its poor fuel economy. The Escape Titanium did much better but both Fords are on the pricey side. Finally, there is the Mazda3 hatchback with a manual transmission and Sam is convinced that this is the way they should all be made. Meanwhile, Dan likes everything about the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon except the price tag. Is it any wonder the average age of cars is now over 12 years and people are putting 100s of thousands of… Read More »Ep 140 – Dependability, the Badger, and in-car exercise routines

Ep 139 – Live From LA and Chicago

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ep 139 - Live From LA and Chicago
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This week Rebecca and Sam record another in-person show in two parts. The show starts at the Delta lounge at LAX and finishes in the windy city for the biggest little auto show in America. Cadillac has taken the wraps off the 2021 Escalade which should be on track to remain the most popular full-size luxury SUV in America. With independent rear suspension, more passenger and cargo space, massive OLED displays, Super Cruise and even an optional diesel engine it has plenty to offer. Speaking of plenty to offer, check out the GMC Hummer EV. Yes, the Hummer name is back on GM’s first electric pickup truck coming in 2021. With 1,000-hp and 0-60 in 3 seconds, it should be an able challenger in the burgeoning electric truck market. From LA, the show shifts to Chicago with some of the show highlights including the Ford… Read More »Ep 139 – Live From LA and Chicago