Wheel Bearings

Latest Episodes:

Yanking the Steering Wheel Jun 11, 2023

Show notes

Sam spent the past week testing out the new version of BlueCruise in the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and was pleasantly surprised at the energy efficiency. Nicole had both the Toyota Sequioa TRD Pro and Lincoln Corsair PHEV. Robbie drove the new Chevrolet Colorado and the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica.

Nicole and Sam took a quick trip to Austin to see the unveiling of the 2024 Lexus TX and GX SUVs. After the Lexus show, they went for a ride in a Cruise robotaxi and they have thoughts. Meanwhile in Milan, Volvo unveiled its new inexpensive EV, the EX30. Tesla got another win with GM announcing its switch to the North American Charging standard. On the other hand, Tesla drivers that buy their insurance from the automaker will pay more if they use Autopilot.

Links

Tesla Insurance charges more for Autopilot

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Buzz Me Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

In the garage this week, Nicole has been driving two very different vehicles from the Hyundai Motor Group stable, the new Genesis G90 and refreshed Kia Telluride. Robbie has car for dog lovers, the Subaru Crosstrek and Sam was pleasantly surprised by what the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid could do with a fully charged battery.

In the news, VW revealed the longer 3 row ID Buzz that's coming to America. Sam spent some time at the track with Honda getting a ride in an Indycar-powered hybrid CR-V, sampling electric racing go-karts and testing the LogR app with the new Civic Type-R. Lordstown's electric pickup doesn't have much Endurance and Tesla claims the cheapest Model 3 now qualifies for tax credits. Finally Ford changes its pricing strategy for Blue Cruise. We also answer listener questions

Links

Honda electric racing carts

Honda CR-V hybrid racer

Honda LogR 2.0 app

VW ID Buzz 3-row

Ford BlueCruise subscriptions

Lordstown Endurance only has 174 mile range

Tesla Model 3 $7500 tax credit

Honda racing lawnmower

Hagerty 1990 Mazda Miata valuation

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Live From the Kona Coast May 30, 2023

Show notes

We're all back together for a brand new show after a week away for some vacation time. We've got lots of rides to discuss this week. Nicole had the Mercedes-AMG G63 and Genesis GV70 Electrified. Since we last had him on the show, Robbie drove the Ford Expedition to Tahoe for a band gig, the BMW i7 and the new Mercedes-Benz GLC. Sam reviews the Chevrolet Equinox that he and his wife had as a rental in Hawaii.

Sam and Nicole were both in Hawaii to drive the new Toyota Grand Highlander and get a first look at the all-new Tacoma midsize pickup including the Trailhunter overlanding version. BMW has unveiled the next-generation 5 series sedan including the electric i5. The 5 series is also the first car to get support for Airconsole game streaming. Ford has decided that it can't rely on the likes of Electrify America to provide a good charging experience for its EV customers and has done a deal with Tesla to support Superchargers in the FordPass app as well as using the Tesla charging connector on the next batch of EVs it launches. We also answer listener questions.

If you like listening to podcasts in Youtube, you're in luck, Wheel Bearings is now available there too at https://www.youtube.com/@WheelBearingsCast

Links

BMW i7

Toyota Grand Highlander first drive

2024 Toyota Tacoma

Ford goes for Tesla

2024 BMW 5 Series

Airconsole gaming in the new 5 series

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New York Conversations May 21, 2023

Show notes

Sam and his wife are on a beach somewhere in the middle of the Pacific this week so we're giving Robbie and Nicole the week off too. Instead of news we've got interviews that we recorded at the 2023 New York Auto Show. Most of these interviews have already been published for our patrons, but there are a couple that haven't been heard yet. First up is Tom Somerville, marketing manager for Ford electric enthusiast vehicles. Then we have Hyundai CMO Angela Zepeda. Next up are Christian Meunier, global CEO of Jeep and Jim Morrison head of Jeep North America. Mike Koval, CEO of Ram trucks talks about the Ram 1500 REV and midsize trucks. Olabisi Boyle, VP product planning and mobility strategy talks about Hyundai and finally we have Mike Wilde, director of product planning and pricing at Kia America.

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It's Very, Very Bad May 14, 2023

Show notes

Robbie couldn't make it this week so it's just Nicole and Sam. Nicole has been driving the Rivian R1S and the Toyota Rav4, two very different SUVs. Sam had an SUV that sort of fits in the venn diagram of the previous two, with a gas engine and serious off-roadability, the Ford Bronco Heritage edition.

Nicole has also recently done a couple of first drive programs with very different outcomes. The new 2023 GMC Canyon was really, really good. When Nicole had her first exposure to the Vinfast VF8 last September, she recommended it could use another 6 months of development. Well, the on-sale date was pushed back almost six months with the first examples going to customers in California recently. Unfortunately, the extra time apparently wasn't put to good use and it's the first vehicle in a long time that can't be recommended to anyone. Meanwhile Volvo and Polestar knew they have software issues to addres and have pushed back the launch of the EX90 and Polestar 3 to the first half of 2024. That new Canyon is going to have a bunch of fresh competition from the new Ford Ranger and the upcoming Toyota Tacoma. Finally, Honda may launch an all-new sports car this year to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

Links

2023 GMC Canyon

2024 Ford Ranger and Raptor

Vinfast off to a bad start (You Guys IT IS SO BAD -NW)

Honda may launch new sports car in 2023

Polestar 3//Volvo EX90 delayed to 2024

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One And A Half May 08, 2023

Show notes

This week, Robbie is playing at a wedding in Yosemite with one of his bands, so friend of the show Tanya Gazdik is back with a plethora of Stellantis vehicles. Among the Ram Rebel 1500, Chrysler Pacifica PHEV and Jeep Grand Wagoneer L you might be surprised to learn which is her favorite. Nicole has been driving the Subaru Impreza RS and Sam had the BMW X7 M60i.

Nicole and Tanya both drove the new Subaru Crosstrek in some Woodstock mud, but without any classic rock bands. Nicole also drove the new second-generation Chevrolet Trax. There's an all-new second-generation Mini EV coming in a few months with lots more range and performance. If you prefer the classic mini Mini, you too can go electric thanks to Electrogenic. Back in the early 1990s, a decade before Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning conceived of the Tesla Roadster (that other guy didn't come along until a year later with the money to make it happen), a bunch of Motorola engineers built an electric Corvette. Lordstown Motors may finally be reaching the end of the road unless someone steps up with a bunch of money (unlikely). Finally, we talk about a bunch of Honda engineers driving one and a half NSXs in the One Lap of America.

Links

Electric Corvette from 1994

2024 Chevy Trax

Electrogenic Classic Mini EV conversion kit

Electrogenic

Acura NSX trailer

Next-gen Mini E coming soon

End of the line for Lordstown?

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The Essential Part Not Included Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

This week Robbie tells us about sleeping in and driving the new BMW XM. Nicole spends a week with the Mazda CX-90 and Sam drives the BMW i4 M50 and Maserati Grecale Modena.

Lots of news including the NEVs Emily GT, an electric successor to Saab that didn't make it but is for sale. The dumb yoke is now a $250 extra cost option on the Tesla Model 3. Toyota buyers trade in for EVs at Carmax and older women are more skeptical of EVs. Tesla has great uptime on superchargers. The Chevy Bolt is going away and the Hyundai Ioniq Essential misses some essentials. Sam also has an interview with Lori Wittman, president of retail solutions at Cox Automotive from the New York Auto Show.

Links

NEVS Emily for sale

$250 for Tesla yoke

Toyota top trade-in brand for EVs

Are women more skeptical of EVs

Tesla claims 99% uptime for Superchargers, Model 3 TCO higher than corolla

Don't buy an Ioniq 5 Essential

The end of the Chevy Bolt

Robbie's BMW XM drive

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Oh That Grille! Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

This week in the garage, Robbie is wondering why anyone would buy the Ford Bronco Everglades and Nicole wonders who uses the third row of the Toyota Highlander. Nicole also drove the Honda CR-V hybrid while Sam had the Cadillac CT4 with Super Cruise. Sam also got a first taste this week of the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

In the news, we've got more new stuff from the Shanghai motor show including the gorgeous MG Cyberster and ultimate Lexus for those who appreciate the spindle grille, the LM minivan. Volkswagen showed off the ID.7 sans color changing camoflague and Hyundai is partnering with Itselectric on new curbside chargers while the IRS published the latest update to the list of which EVs are eligible for clean vehicle credits. We wrap up with a conversation with Maserati America's head Bill Peffer

Links

MG Cyberster

Hyundai curbside charging

VW ID.7

Lexus LM

Clean vehicle credits

Upsidedown Camaro LeMons racer

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Champagne Mode Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

This week in the garage Nicole does the mom thing with the Toyota Sienna AWD, Robbie does the dog thing with the new Subaru Imprezza and Sam does the hands-off thing with the Nissan Ariya.

In the news, we've got a bunch of vehicles all debuting between recording time and the embargos lifting. Lincoln has an all-new Nautilus midsize crossover with hybrid power and all the screen space. Buick has a new entry level crossover called the Envista. Polestar has a sporty new crossover without a back window in the 4. Regular old cupholders just wouldn't do for champagne flutes so Mercedes-Maybach goes electric with its variant of the EQS SUV and its special champagne flute holders. We also have an interview with Stellantis chief design officer Ralph Gilles.

Links

2024 Lincoln Nautilus

Polestar 4

Ford BlueCruise Subscriptions

GM Tow Dolly Patent

Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV

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Inaccessible Chargers Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

This week Nicole has been using the big Ford Expedition to haul away an old bedroom set. Robbie drove the new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV in Portugal and Sam and Nicole both had first drives in new Toyotas, the Prius Prime and Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Nicole and Sam both went to New York for the Auto Show where they saw the new Hyundai Kona and Kia EV9. Stellantis also publicly showed its upcoming electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV and a refresh of the Jeep Wrangler. Tesla employees have been misappropriating videos uploaded from vehicles for AI training and Robbie saw Cruise and Waymo robotaxis having a disagreement in San Francisco. We also answer some listener questions and go on a collective rant about accessibility (or lack thereof) of EV chargers.

Links

2023 Toyota Prius Prime First Drive

Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV first drive

Ram 1500 REV

2024 Jeep Wrangler refresh

Don't Get Naked Around Your Tesla

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