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ADAS Distractions

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
ADAS Distractions
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As Nicole and her spouse are riding the rails in Europe, Tanya Gazdik is back with the Land Rover Defender 130 and the Mercedes-AMG SL63. Sam has thoughts about Ineos Grenadier and Robbie has something he can’t discuss until next week. Tanya and Sam drove the Polestar 3 this week and share their first impressions. Elektrobit’s Dr. Mortiz Neukirchner has developed a taxonomy for software defined vehicles. More vehicles are getting in-cabin radar sensors to make sure no one is left behind. The IIHS says ADAS is leading to driver complacency. Maserati needs marketing help and Waymo may be turning to Hyundai for its next robotaxi. Links Software defined vehicle levelsIn-cabin radar for rear seat detectionIIHS study says drivers more distracted using ADASIIHS ADAS safety ratings Polestar 3 first driveMaserati Marketing, does it exist?Waymo and Hyundai may collaborate on robotaxis Wheel Bearings has launched a… Read More »ADAS Distractions

What’s Happening at Jeep

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
What's Happening at Jeep
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This week Robbie got to spend some time with something really fast, the new McLaren 750s. Meanwhile, Nicole and Sam had some more pedestrian rides. Nicole got a few days with the Volkswagen ID.7 as well as the Jeep Hornet PHEV. Sam had the Toyota Crown Platinum. In the news, we’ve got first drive reports on the updated 2025 Ram 1500, now powered only by six-cylinder engines and the Honda Prologue, the brand’s firsrt purpose-built EV for North America. Sam also talks with Prologue chief engineer John Hwang. Jeep’s new CEO provide’s an update on the SUV brand’s plans and we get a first look at the upcoming Wagoneer S and Recon electric SUVs. Ineos is developing an electric off-roader as well called the Fusilier. The soon to arrive US-built Kia EV9 may not have full tax credit eligibility at launch. Waymo’s expansion plans in… Read More »What’s Happening at Jeep

Testing Tires

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Testing Tires
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Robbie is back from Colorado where he attended the Bridgestone winter driving school and spent time with the Toyota Rav4 and 4Runner in the snow. He also rented a Ford Transit van to move ping-pong tables and drove a Kia Carnival. Nicole has been spending time in the psuedo off-road Honda Passport Trailsport and Sam had the Audi Q8 e-Tron Sportback Launch edition. In the news, GM is expanding the driving domain of Super Cruise and has priced the Chevy Equinox EV which might eventually go on sale when the software issues are fixed. As more vehicles start to use Tesla Superchargers, Kyle Connor is finding there are interoperability issues. The multi-automaker DC fast charging network is now operational and called Ionna. Being made of stainless steel doesn’t make Cybertrucks corrosion proof and Stellantis won’t be buying any more EV credits from Tesla. Shell has… Read More »Testing Tires

Just Bring It To America

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Just Bring It To America
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This week another low profile tire was sacrificed to the pothole gods as Robbie’s Mercedes-AMG EQE had to go home on a flatbed. Sam drove both the Toyota Sequioa i-Force Max Capstone and the Kia Niro EV while Nicole had the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE Summit Reserve. In the news, we’ve seen more of the Kia EV9 ahead of the full public reveal at the New York Auto Show. All three members of the crew got to the drive the Nissan Ariya E-4ORCE in Sonoma. Sam rode around San Francisco in a driverless Jaguar and VW showed off the ID.2all concept which we all want to see on American roads but we probably won’t get. Links Kia EV9 Nissan Ariya E-Force first drive VW ID.2all Concept Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the… Read More »Just Bring It To America

Episode #089 – Plugged In Jag and Semi-Driverless Sorta Robo-Taxis

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #089 - Plugged In Jag and Semi-Driverless Sorta Robo-Taxis
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We’re back with seat time in the Honda Odyssey, Jaguar i-Pace, Mazda6 Signature and Volkswagen Jetta S. Meanwhile Waymo sort of launches a commercial sort of driverless robo-taxi service, Porsche tests ultra-fast charging and Aston Martin reveals some engine details about the Valykerie. Links Waymo One soft launch Aston Martin Valkyrie Porsche ultra-fast charging Full review of the 2019 Jaguar i-Pace 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

Episode #086 – Complete with sirens from Magic City

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #086 - Complete with sirens from Magic City
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This time out, Sam is recording from a hotel room in Miami as we discuss the Volvo XC40 T5 and its goofy shifter design, the Audi Q5 and its surprisingly fast handwriting recognition and the marvelous Kia Stinger. Subscriptions may or may not be the future of car buying, assuming car buying even has a future in an age of automated vehicles. Faraday almost certainly has no Future and Walmart joins Ford’s automated delivery test program. Links 2019 Volvo XC50 T5 Momentum Cadillac closes the Book on subscriptions for now Probably no future for Faraday Walmart and Ford team up on automated deliveries 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

Episode #079 – Larry Burns Talks About Autonomy

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #079 - Larry Burns Talks About Autonomy
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In this special episode of Wheel Bearings, Sam sits down with Larry Burns, retired SVP of R&D and Strategic Planning at General Motors to talk about his new book, Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car—And How It Will Reshape Our World. Since retiring from GM in 2009, Burns has been an educator and consultant including working with the Google Self-driving car project and Waymo since 2011. The book is a great read for anyone interested in learning more the history of the DARPA Grand Challenge and development of automated vehicles in the past decade. 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

Episode #070 – Acura Returns To Its Roots and FCA Has A New Plan

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #070 - Acura Returns To Its Roots and FCA Has A New Plan
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This week Sam really likes the third-generation Acura RDX, Dan likes the Mazda CX-5 and then they try hard not to talk about Tesla and mostly succeed although you can see more of Sam’s opinion on the subject at the link below. The guys also talk GM and Softbank and the upcoming product plans for Chrysler and Dodge. Just kidding on the last part, there are no known product plans for Chrysler and Dodge but Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are all getting new stuff. Links GM Cruise and Softbank Hook Up To Work on Deploying Automated Driving Tesla Updates Brakes Over the Air, What Could Go Wrong? FCA’s New Five Year Plan   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

Episode #067 – Luxury SUVs, Plug-in Minivans and Bad Decisions

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #067 - Luxury SUVs, Plug-in Minivans and Bad Decisions
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Sam spends time with the Range Rover Velar and laments touchscreens that can’t be seen through polarized sunglasses. Dan continues to be impressed by the Genesis G80 and lauds the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid as a great family hauler that is also really efficient. Rolls-Royce follows the crowd and launches and SUV named after what else? a massive diamond. The guys lament the deather of the Cadillac ATS. Waymo is learning to see through snow, Uber can see but doesn’t know what to do and battery fires don’t always stay extinguished. Links Rolls-Royce Cullinan Waymo Learning to See Through Snow Uber Can See But Still Doesn’t Know What To Do Self-re-igniting batteries Cadillac ATS dies     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

Episode #058 – A Fast Jeep, Driving Assists and a Volvo Triple

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #058 - A Fast Jeep, Driving Assists and a Volvo Triple
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Dan and Sam fired up the recorders late Friday night to marvel at the insanity that is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the combination of practicality and efficiency that is Hyundai’s new Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid. Sam gives a primer on advanced driver assist systems in responses to comments on the Accidental Tech Podcast #261 and Waymo gets a license to operate an autonomous ride-hailing service in Arizona. Volvo launches its first three-cylinder engine. The demise of now former Ford executive Raj Nair shows that automakers may finally be getting serious about tackling harassment and bad behavior in the workplace. Finally, Sam responds to a listener tweet asking about car makers selling our data. Links Accidental Tech Podcast #261 Waymo Gets a Ride-Hailing License Raj Nair becomes first auto exec fired for harassment Making money from selling your car data  Volvo hits a triple 2018… Read More »Episode #058 – A Fast Jeep, Driving Assists and a Volvo Triple