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Just Get the XL

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Get the XL
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Nicole is out this week but we have Tanya Gazdik from Media Post sitting in with Robbie and Sam. Tanya has been driving the Toyota Corolla hatchback, while Sam finally discusses the Kia Soul he forgot to review last week along with the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid. Robbie had the Ford Maverick Lariat Tremor and has thoughts. In the news, Ford creates a new subsidiary to develop hands-free driving assist systems from the remnants of Argo AI. The VW ID3 gets a mid-cycle refresh and VW Group is going to build a new factory in South Carolina to produce Scout electric trucks and SUVs. Tesla has finally started opening up its Superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles and there have been lots of unusual features in cars over the years. Finally, Sam talks with Chrysler brand chief Chris Feuell. Links VW ID3 refresh Latitude AI Charging non-Teslas… Read More »Just Get the XL

Faking It

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Faking It
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This week it’s most just Robbie and Sam. Sam drives the 2023 Cadillac CT5 AWD Premium Luxury and talks about the latest Super Cruise. Nicole also calls in from an Electrify America station in Florida with her driving partner Eileen Falkenberg-Hull to give us the low down on their Disney Land to Disney World trek in the Kia EV6. In the news, GM is considering building a small electric pickup truck and we compare car sizes over time. Car loans are getting longer and shockingly Tesla faked the 2016 “Paint It Black” full self-driving demo video. We also answer listener questions. Send in your questions to feedback at wheelbearings dot media or even send us a link to audio of your question and we might include it in the show. Links 84 month loans Paint it black video was faked GM looking at small electric… Read More »Faking It

Just Get A Maverick

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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

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

A Really Long Dirt Driveway

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
A Really Long Dirt Driveway
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This week, Roberto tells us about driving the other trucklet, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Nicole drives the Mazda CX-30 and takes a road trip in the Nissan Rogue with its new 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo and Sam has a blast in the Hyundai Elantra Na. All three of our intrepid hosts ventured to North Carolina to drive the refreshed Hyundai Palisade on a really long dirt driveway. EV prices are heading up instead of down and you’ll be able to chow down on Swedish meatballs and cinamon rolls as Electrify America is coming to the home of the flat pack. Nicole has some thoughts on Cadillac’s new model names. Finally Ralph Nader takes aim at Tesla “full self-driving” and we answe a bunch of questions. Links Electrify America at Ikea Ralph Nader aims at Tesla EV prices going up Cadillac’s new names Accidental Tech Podcast… Read More »A Really Long Dirt Driveway

Into the Swamp

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Wheel Bearings
Into the Swamp
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This week in the garage Sam has been driving the 2023 Kia Sportage hybrid which is now longer and electrified. Nicole has Nissan Altima with AWD and Robbie has just started testing some e-bikes. Nicole got to do a first drive in the Ford Bronco Everglades through the swamps of Michigan’s Drummond Island. Ford will no longer allow customers to buy out their EVs at the end of the lease while Hyundai gives the first official glimpse of the Ioniq 6 electric sedan. At Pikes Peak, Randy Pobst almost ran off the side of the mountain because he couldn’t find the windshield defroster control on the touchscreen menu of the Tesla Model S Plaid he was racing and the TFL Truck crew put the Ford F-150 Lightning to the towing test. Finally we answer listener questions and Sam interviews Toyota executive vice president of sales… Read More »Into the Swamp

The Porter Wins

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Wheel Bearings
The Porter Wins
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We’ve had a quite a variety of vehicles to drive in the past week. Robbie went all the way to Germany to drive the new BMW iX M60 from Munich to Lake Como in Italy. Nicole has been juggling Hyundais with a Sonata N-Line sedan at home and most of the brand’s electrified lineup in Nashville with the Ioniq 5, Kona EV, Tucson PHEV and Santa Fe PHEV. Sam finally got to spend some quality time with the new Toyota Tundra as well. In the news, Porsche revealed a preview of what might be its next car for a single make race series, the battery powered, 1,000+ hp 718 Cayman ePerformance. Honda released the first teaser sketch of the 2024 Prologue electric crossover that will be built by GM on its Ultium platform. Robbie shares his impressions of the Concorso D’eleganza and Nissan and Mitsubishi… Read More »The Porter Wins

Lightning Strikes

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Wheel Bearings
Lightning Strikes
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This week in the garage, Roberto and Sam have been evaluating electric driving range. Robbie has been pushing the BMW iX to its limits while Sam has been driving the Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid. Meanwhile Nicole has been on the road and in the desert with the 2022 GMC Sierra in Denali Ultimate and AT4X forms. Nicole and Sam have finally gotten behind the wheel of the Ford F-150 Lightning and they share their impressions and answer a bunch of questions. Sam also sat down with Darren Palmer, VP of electric vehicle programs at Ford to talk about charging, range estimation and how the Lightning came to be. We also discuss Robbie’s recent article on whether it’s better to keep driving an old beater or buy a new EV. Tesla doesn’t support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but one creative person got it sort of… Read More »Lightning Strikes

Wanna Buy A Sports Car Assembly Line?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Wanna Buy A Sports Car Assembly Line?
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This week Roberto reconfirms yet again that the Honda Ridgeline is all the truck that most regular people ever need (although it could use more braking performance) as he drives it and uses it to tow the Honda Talon. Robbie also shares his thoughts on the Polestar 2 and its Android Automotive infotainment system. Nicole spends time with opposite ends of the utility vehicle spectrum, the Subaru Forester and the refreshed Nissan Armada. Sam also gets back into a big SUV, returning to the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, this time focusing on the new second-generation Super Cruise system. In the news, as Lotus prepares to end the 25 year run of the Lotus Elise and its offshoots, it has put the tooling up for sale for anyone that wants to continue building this amazing sportscar. Tesla drops radar from the Model 3 and Y and we… Read More »Wanna Buy A Sports Car Assembly Line?

Nested Nostalgia

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Nested Nostalgia
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This week Nicole Wakelin officially joins the team as one of our hosts. To kick things off she reviews a boring non-descript hybrid, the 2021 Acura NSX in Indy Yellow Pearl. Sam spent the week with a Volkswagen Atlas Sport Cross and warns to not even bother trying to use the built-in voice recognition, just use wireless Android Auto or Apple Carplay. Dan finally had his chance to drive the Ford Mustang Mach-E. In the news, Tesla is now allowing customers to buy cars with bitcoin, but you might want to think twice before you do that or at least consult your accountant. Jeep and Electrify America are setting up solar powered chargers at popular trailheads like the Rubicon and Rivian is also building its own charging network. Links Buying a Tesla with bitcoin will get you a big tax bill Jeep and Electrify America… Read More »Nested Nostalgia