Wheel Bearings

Latest Episodes:

Wrangling Beagles Dec 22, 2024

Show notes

We're catching up on some reviews this week with Nicole starting a 3 week stint in the Buick Enclave and Sam driving the Chevy Equinox EV and Rivian R1S.

Last week Sam participated in Operation Frodo, where 20 journalists transported rescue beagles from Nebraska to the Pacific Northwest. Along the way, he drove the Kia Carnival and Genesis GV70. The amazing Jean Jennings passed this week after battling Alzheimers for several years. Friend of the show Tommy Mica leased a Fiat 500e for no monthly payment. Stellantis is shifting plans with the Ram REV pushed to 2026 and the extended range Ramcharger coming in the first part of 2025. The Hemi is also living on for another year in the Durango.

Hyundai Motor Group is going to adopt Android Automotive but before that, Kia will include Google Maps points of interest data. Honda has confirmed that the new hybrid Prelude is definitely coming in 2025. Nicole drove the new Nissan Armada and Murano.

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Links

Buick Enclave Sport Touring

operation frodo - Kia Carnival/Genesis GV70

Jean Jennings

Free Fiat 500e

Ram Rev Delayed, Ramcharger first

Durango Hemi lives on into 2025

Edmunds Tests the Base Equinox EV

HMG to go Android Automotive

Honda Prelude in 2025

Sam rants about vent controls

Nissan Murano First Drive

Nissan Armada First Drive

Robbie's Giant Nintendo controller

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Charging The Charger Dec 14, 2024

Show notes

This weeks show is a bit different. Robbie is dealing with some family stuff, Nicole is at DisneyWorld wedding and Sam is headed to Omaha for Operation Frodo so no regular review section until next week.

Instead, Sam and Robbie recorded a discussion on the death of Cruise and the future of automated driving. Sam also had a conversation with Chad Kirchner about our first drive experiences of the new Dodge Charger Daytona. Sam also interviewed Dodge CEO Matt McAlear and Charger chief engineer Audrey Moore.

Links

Sam's initial review of the Dodge Charger Daytona

The Kirchner Report

RIP Cruise

Operation Frodo

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Tacos At Every Charger Dec 07, 2024

Show notes

This week, Robbie didn't drive anything, but Nicole got time with the Ram 1500 RHO and Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback while Sam had the Kia Niro PHEV.

At Art Basel Miami, Jaguar showed off its new design direction with the Type 00 Concept and it's different. Toyota is taking advantage of its joint venture factory with Mazda to offer Soul Red Crystal as an optional color on the Corolla Cross. Carlos Tavares has been ousted as CEO of Stellantis. Hyundai has a new version of the Palisade coming and Genesis is building a race car to go to Le Mans in 2026. Nissan's Ariya can use Superchargers now but it needs an extra adapter for its adapter. Ion Dynamics has a cool little mobile EV charger and we recommend tires for winter driving in West Virginia.

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Links

Ram 1500 RHO

Jaguar Type 00 Concept

Toyota Corolla Cross gets Soul Crystal Red

Carlos Tavares is Out at Stellantis

Genesis Shows New Le Mans Racecar

Nissan's NACS adapter needs an extra adapter

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Ion Dynamics Mobile Charger

Michelin CrossClimate 2

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Let's Go Racing Dec 01, 2024

Show notes

This week Sam has been driving the Ford Ranger with the 2.7-liter V6 and Kia Carnival Hybrid. Nicole had the Toyota Tacoma and Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Robbie had the outgoing VW Tiguan.

In the news, Acura has a new entry-level crossover, the ADX and Toyota is working on a new generation Celica. California's governor has a plan to preserve EV incentives in the states if the Trump administration pulls the plug, and it doesn't include Tesla. Cadillac is joining the F1 circus in 2026 and Dodge is slapping some big money on the hood of the new Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S. ConnectDER has a solution for installing EV charging on older homes and smaller apartments. Edmunds range tests the Chevrolet Equinox EV and decides to unload their Fisker Ocean while they still can and we answer listener questions.

We've updated the Wheel Bearings merch store and there's now a lot of new stuff including hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, mugs, stickers and of course T-shirts. Until December 13, you get 25% of every order at http://shop.wheelbearings.media/

Links

Acura ADX

Mercedes-Benz in-drive brakes

Toyota Working on New Celica

Tesla left out of new California EV Incentives

GM/Cadillac To Go F1 in 2026

ConnectDER

Map of NEVI sites

Dodge Charger Daytona Leases

Edmunds unloads its Fisker Ocean early

Edmunds Gets 356 miles with Equinox EV

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Are Bad Font Choices A Bad Sign? Nov 24, 2024

Show notes

The whole team is back this week with lots of LA Auto Show news. Nicole drove the Audi SQ8 around Los Angeles for the week. Robbie had the new Toyota Land Cruiser.

In the news, Jaguar has launched new branding ahead of the reveal of concept version of its next new EV. Stellantis talked about the STLA Frame platform for its new EV an EREV large trucks and SUVs, and we spoke with Stellantis executives including NA COO Antonio Filosa about where Jeep and the other brands are headed. Nicole got to try out the new GMC Sierra EV Denali. Lotus is also bringing out some EREVs. We also discussed some of the products announced at the LA Auto Show including a refreshed Genesis GV70, new VW Tiguan, the Hyundai Ioniq 9, and the NACTOY finalists. We also answered some listener questions.

Links

Nissan N7

More on Mercedes-Benz CLA

New JaGUar branding

Stellantis talks about STLA Frame

GMC Sierra EV

2026 Genesis GV70

2025 VW Tiguan

Honda Solid State Battery plant

Acura ADX

Jeep Giving Customers What they Want

Hyundai Ioniq 9

Lotus Shifts to EREVs

NACTOY Finalists

Mercedes-Benz in-drive brakes

OTA Cost Consideration Guide

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Be More Humane Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

Robbie at a gas station chicken sandwich and the results were predictable so it's just Sam and Nicole both driving Hondas this week with Sam in the Prologue and Nicole in the Odyssey.

In the news, automakers need to stop with electronic door switches, and while Teslas are generally safe in a crash, bad driver behavior is still leading to more fatal crashes than any other brand. Honda has revealed a new 2026 Passport and Acura has their own version of the HR-V, the new ADX. Toyota is offering a dealer installed shield to guard against catalytic converter theft on Priuses. Dodge is about to launch the electric Charger Daytona, but pulling ahead production of the gas version to mid-2025. Jaguar has released the first images of camoflaged prototypes of its new EV and Lexus is adding a cheaper front-drive RZ. Jose Munoz is being promoted to global CEO at Hyundai and GM laid off 1,000 people by email.

Links

People still being burned alive in Teslas

2026 Honda Passport

2025 Acura ADX

Tesla is deadliest car brand in America

Catalytic converter shield tested

Dodge pulling up production of gas Chargers

First images of new electric Jaguar

GM cuts 1,000 jobs

Lexus adds cheaper FWD RZ300e

Jose Munoz becomes CEO of Hyundai Motor

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Working for the WKNDR Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

Kia WKNDR concept

Mercedes-Benz CLA preview

Volvo EX30 arriving in America this year

Mazda Iconic-SP to get produced

2026 Cadillac Vistiq first look

Cadillac XT4 to give way to new Bolt

Bentley To Launch EV in 2026, delay full transition to 2035

SEMA 2024 Roundup

Mercedes-AMG Electric SUV

A2RL

Roman's New G-Wagen

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We've Got The Buzz Nov 03, 2024

Show notes

This week Robbie and Sam both spent time driving the Volkswagen ID Buzz and came away surprisingly delighted. Sam also spent a week with the Toyota Land Cruiser while Nicole got to drive the 2025 Camry.

In the news, VW is adding enhanced hazard alerts to its latest models and Polestar and Volvo finally have Supercharger access for their EVs. Ford is now shipping Lectron NACS to CCS adapters to customers instead of Tesla made adapters. Cadillac is bringing a Lyriq-V in 2025 and Lucid is about to open the order books for the Gravity SUV. Hyundai has a new fuel cell vehicle coming in 2025 with a new look for the brand and sister brand Kia is launching the Tasman pickup but it can't come to America because of the chicken tax. Rivian doesn't believe in buttons and they are wrong. FSD can't see deer at night and the Ferrari Enzo had different sized mirrors. We also have a bunch of listener questions.

Links

VW integrates enhanced hazard alerts

Enhanced Hazard Alerts

Polestar & Volvo turn on Supercharger access

Lectron NACS-CCS adapter

Cadillac Lyriq-V coming in 2025

Lucid Gravity Pricing and Orders announced

Lucid Gravity Design Tour

Peter Rawlinson on Efficiency

Hyundai Initium concept

Kia Tasman

Rivian Software Chief is Wrong about Buttons

FSD completely ignores a deer

The Ferrari Enzo's Asymetric Mirrors

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Scouting Mission Oct 27, 2024

Show notes

Hey everyone, we're back with a standard episode this week. Unfortunately a family emergency came up at the last moment and Robbie couldn't join us. Fortunately, our friend Perry Stern was able to step in and join Nicole and Sam. Perry was driving around in the new Subaru Forester while Nicole had the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Sam had the Kia Sorento Hybrid.

It was good to have Perry on the show, because he was the only one among the group that was able to attend the reveal event of the new Scout Terra and Traveler which are due to arrive in 2027. Stellantis has started assembly of battery modules at its new factory in Windsor, Ontario, and plans to try out semi-solid state batteries in 2027. They have also updated their Auburn Hills wind tunnel and are planning to sell their Arizona proving ground. Ford has cut prices on its F-150 Lightning Pro and Mach-E for 2025. Costco has installed its first DC fast charging station and Nicole shares some highlights from this week's semi-finalist drive for North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year.

Links

Scout Terra and Traveller

Stellantis to try semi-solid state cells in 2027 Charger

NextStar Energy Starts Battery Module Production

Ford Pro Cuts EV prices

High speed trains are awesome

2025 Mach-E gets price cut, GT look

Stellantis updates wind tunnel/Proving ground sale

Coscto gets in to fast charging

NACTOY Drive

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Where's The Plug? Oct 20, 2024

Show notes

Hey everyone, this week's show is a bit different. Sam is on his way to South Korea for the week, Nicole is visiting her daughter in Wisconsin and Robbie is Lake Tahoe for a gig with one of his bands. But rather than leave you with no content, we've got some material from the Nissan Fast Forward event that Sam attended in Nashville this week. Nissan unveiled the new 2025 Murano and Sam has some thoughts and then we have presentations from 4 Nissan executives including chief product officer for North America, Ponz Pandikuthira, VP of sales and marketing Vinay Shahani, VP of aftersales Kim Less and SVP manufacturing David Johnson. Lots of interesting stuff in here about where Nissan is going for the rest of the decade including plug-in hybrids, e-Power, and extended range EVs. We'll back with a regular episode next week.

Links

The 2025 Nissan Murano

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