Wheel Bearings

Latest Episodes:

Fake Recovery Hooks May 13, 2025

Show notes

We've got a bit of a shorter show today because it was Nicole's turn to catch a trip and she accidently stopped the recording. Robbie went to Austria to ride the Can-Am Origin and Pulse electric motorcycles. Nicole drove the updated 2025.5 Volvo XC90 and Sam had the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek with its non-recovery hooks.

The 2026 Corvette looses its wall of buttons and gains a fabulous new color. Jeep launched the new Compass in Europe, but who knows when or if we will get it in North America thanks to tariffs. Volvo has an extended range PHEV XC70 for China and Ford is raising prices due to tariffs. Hyundai has Plug&Charge now and an electric Ferrari is coming in October. The F1 drivers paraded in Lego cars in Miami last week and the new Mercedes CLA won't charge on 400-500V chargers.

See the F1 Lego Cars

Sam tests the Lectron Vortex NACS-CCS adapter with a 2025 Cadillac Lyriq at a Supercharger. Get your Vortex adapter for a discount at https://ev-lectron.com/Wheel_Bearings_VortexPlug

Links

Corvette Roswell Green Metallic

2026 Jeep Compass HEV/BEV - 375hp

Volvo XC70

Ford increases prices on Mexico-built models

Ford expects tariffs to cost $1.5B in 2025

Hyundai starts to deploy Plug&Charge

Electric Ferrari to be revealed in October

Miami F1 Lego Driver's Parade

Be careful when photographing your lidar

Charging the Mercedes-Benz CLA

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Too Much Seat Comfort May 05, 2025

Show notes

This week Robbie has the Chevrolet Silverado EV LT and Nicole shares her Portugese airport blackout adventure. Sam drives the Ford F250 XL and the Chevrolet Equinox LT.

Akio Toyoda loves cool cars and doesn't think electric sports cars fit the bill. More than 28,000 GM V8s failed before GM recalled them. Who are the most influential people in automotive history? Toyota is sort of hooking up with Waymo. The VW ID Buzz is getting recalled because the 3rd seats are too roomy and there are new chargers in Detroit. Many automakers have underutilized factories and Hyundai has priced the Ioniq 9, plus answers to listener questions.

Links

Akio doesn't believe in electric sports cars

28K GM V8s failed before recall

most influential people in automotive history

Toyota Hails a Waymo

ID Buzz recalled because rear seat too comfortable

US plant utilization

Hyundai prices Ioniq 9 in US

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Get The Versa Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

This week Nicole had a Mustang GT convertible with the California Special package but New Hampshire spring weather only allowed her to put down the top once. Sam had the cheapest car currently available in America, the 2025 Nissan Versa SR.

Robbie went to the unveiling of the Slate truck and we have thoughts. Ford is countering with an even more expensive Super Duty pickup. Nicole and Sam drove the 2026 Lincoln Navigator and we have more thoughts.Cadillac is bringing an Optiq-V. Audi is launching a sub-brand for China called AUDI and we discuss this as well as new stuff from VW, Buick, Lexus, Toyota and Nissan from the Shanghai Motor Show. Finally, Walmart is getting into the EV charging business.

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Links

2026 Lincoln Navigator

Slate

Slate's Market Research Experiment

Audi E5 Sportback

VW Shanghai concepts

Cadillac Optiq-V

Buick Electra GS concept

Buick Super Architecture, Electra NEV sub-brand

New Lexus ES

Toyota bZ7

Ford Super Duty Platinum Plus

Nissan Frontier PHEV

Tesla to benefit from AV Framework

Walmart to build EV charging network

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New York, New York Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, Nicole tells us about driving the Toyota Land Cruiser and BMW M235 while Sam has the BMW i4 M50.

Nicole has flown across the country 4 times in the last week to drive the Lucid Gravity in California, some Cupras in Florida, a Lincoln back in Calfornia and visit the New York Auto Show. We've got lots of news from New York including the 3 Subarus, the 2026 Solterra, Trailseeker and Outback. Kia had the EV4 sedan and K4 hatchback, Hyundai showed us the new 2026 Palisade and Genesis showed off the X Gran Equator concept and the GMR-001 race car it will take to Le Mans next year. In China, regulators are cracking down on automated driving claims by automakers and Mercedes has a new limited edition retro G-Wagen. Sam also has a conversation with Subaru car line product manager Bill Stokes about its EVs.

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Links

Lucid Gravity first drive - Sam's take

Nicole on the Lucid Gravity

Robbie on the Gravity

Genesis X Gran Equator

Genesis GMR-001

Kia k4 hatchback

Kia EV4

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Subaru Trailseeker

Subaru Outback

Sampling Cupra

Chinese regulators crack down on Smart Driving

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Edition STRONGER THAN THE 1980s

Lucid Gravity Videos

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Does the World Want Cheap Electric Trucks Apr 13, 2025

Show notes

This week Nicole is trecking back and forth and back and forth again across the US so Chad Kirchner joins us again. Sam had the GMC Canyon AT4X AEV edition and it's a mixed bag. Chad and Sam both got to see this year's Easter Jeep Safari concepts before they got shipped to Moab. We have the first image of the secretive Slate electric truck and a prototype electric truck from Kia. GM's new UK design studio has an interesting new electric Corvette concept. Jeep seems to be working on a new high performance Grand Cherokee and TFL drag races an old Corvette, a new one and a Nissan Leaf. Finally, Ford has a new electric Puma in Europe and a Ranger Super Duty for the rest of the world.

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Links

Easter Jeep Safari concepts

Kia developing midsize electric pickup for US

Ford Puma Gen-E

Ford Ranger Super Duty

GM opens UK studio with Corvette concept

1968 Corvette vs C8 vs Leaf

Slate truck

The Kirchner Report

New Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

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Smart Off-Roading Apr 05, 2025

Show notes

This week in the garage Nicole has the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5, Robbie has the Ford e-Transit and Sam has the Corvette Stingray 3LT.

Sam and Nicole both drove the 2026 Honda Passport in Puerto Rico last week and have thoughts. Sam also interviewed chief engineer Todd Hemertt. Nicole tells us about climbing Davis Dam in the 2025 Ram HD. Somehow Aptera is still trying to get its little solar and electric three-wheeler to production and an initial road trip yields dissapointing efficiency numbers. Restomod producer Icon is now offering an electric 1st generation Bronco and it's not cheap. Hakan Samuelsson has returned temporarily as the CEO of Volvo Cars. At the Seoul Mobility Show, Hyundai showed off a cool Pikes Peak ready version of its Inster electric mini car, a refreshed Ioniq 6 and promised not to raise prices in response to tariffs. Sam also spoke with Honda of America safety strategy director Brian Bautsch about level 3 automation.

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Links

Nicole Drives the New Ram HD

Sam's Take on the 2026 Honda Passport

Nicole's Review of the 2026 Passport

1st Aptera Road Trip

Icon Electric Bronco

Hakan Samuelsson returns as Volvo CEO

Hyundai Insteroid

New Hyundai Nexo

Refreshed Hyundai Ioniq 6

Hyundai not raising prices, yet

Hyundai Honors the Mustang's 45th Birthday

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99% Looks or Capability Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

Robbie is back from Japan where he drove the best selling EV in that country, the Nissan Sakura. Nicole is back to discuss the Lexus GX, and Nissan Frontier and Armada Pro-4X models. Sam took the Ram 1500 RHO to Ikea and found it challenging to park.

In the news, GMC is bringing lower priced versions of the Sierra EV for the 2026 model year and Electrify America is piloting new Alpitronic chargers with J3400 cables. Robbie discusses some of what he saw in Japan (more to come in the near future) and we all ponder if VW's Cupra brand will actually make it to America. New tariffs could hammer Stellantis profits by 75% and kill affordable new cars entirely. The cheapest 2-door Ford Bronco with a V6 now costs $78,000 and we learn a bit of history about VW and the Kong your dog likes to chew on.

Links

Cheaper GMC Sierra EVs

Electrify America installing new chargers with J3400

What's coming from Nissan

Will Cupra actually make it to America?

Stellantis profits could drop 75%

Affordable cars could be sacrificed to tariffs

2-door V6 Bronco now $78,000

VW and Kong

Nicole Drives Nissan Pro-4X Frontier and Armada

Toyota Land Cruiser vs Lexus GX

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Swap or Charge Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Robbie and Nicole are both traveling this week so Stephanie Brinley from S&P Global Mobility and Jeff Gilbert from WWJ radio in Detroit are stepping in with Sam. Stephanie and Jeff both got to drive the new Cadillac Optiq and Escalade IQ and Jeff also moved stuff with the Chevrolet Suburban. Sam drove the Lincoln Nautilus and BMW X5M Competition.

In the news we discuss BYD's 1MW charging announcement and the CATL/NIO battery swapping partnership and which is a better solution. There are reports that Honda may buy hybrid batteries made by Toyota in North Carolina and Jeff moderated a session with the CEO of LG Energy Systems about slowing investments in battery production. We touch a bit on tariffs and discuss GM's decision to switch from Qualcomm to Nvidia chips for its next generation in-car compute.

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Links

BYD 1MW charging

Honda to maybe buy hybrid batteries from Toyota

GM switching from Qualcomm to Nvidia for next-gen compute

CATL and NIO partner on battery swapping standard

LGES CEO on Slowing Battery Investment

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Cars Are Better Than Crossovers Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

While Nicole spends the weekend at Disney World, Perry Stern has stepped in to join Robbie and Sam with the Audi RS6 Avant. Robbie spent some more time with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to do some charging tests with its new NACS/J3400 charging port and Sam went hands-free in the 2025 Ford Explorer and Lexus LS500h with Teammate.

Nissan's CEO is stepping aside which may reopen the opportunity for a Honda merger. Ford has shipped 140,000 free NACS adapters to owners and is now offering its Lectron-built adapter to everyone. Toyota and Lexus are upgraded their EVs. Waymos are getting parking tickets in San Francisco. Acura's new ADX is good, but cars are better. BMW is getting ready to launch the new i3 and iX3 and a CDC study shows America is the only developed country where more pedestrians are dying on the roads. Nicole shares her thoughts on driving the Ineos Grenadier and we answer some listener questions.

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Links

Nissan CEO Uchida Quits, Honda Merger back on?

Ford goes exclusive with Lectron for NACS adapters

Lexus upgrading the RZ

Acura ADX first drive

Nicole drives the Ineos Grenadier

Parking tickets for robotaxis

BMW i3 & iX3 testing

Toyota bZ4X getting updates

CDC Study shows America only country where pedestrian deaths up

Backup copy of the CDC study in case the Feds decide to delete it

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Yes, Car Buying Still Sucks Mar 09, 2025

Show notes

Robbie is under the weather this week so Nicole shares her thoughts on the 2025 Ford Explorer ST and then Sam discusses the Acura ZDX Type-S.

While we get to drive new cars every week sometimes we also buy some for ourselves. This week, Nicole finally took delivery of her new Jeep Wagoneer S and tells us about the buying experience. Honda has some performance and range upgrades to the 2025 Prologue but holds the line on pricing. Buyers of the EREV version of the new Scout trucks and SUVs might be a bit disappointed at the towing capability. In the name of safety, EVGo has banned extension cords and breakaway adapters at its DC chargers. Honda may not want to publicly admit it, but its hybrids do have CVTs. VW showed off the concept version of its upcoming $21,000 ID.1 and it has buttons and Rivian software. Maserati has decided not to build electric supercars and North Carolina state police are patrolling in V8 Mustangs again. One-quarter of UK vehicle sales are electric this year and Volvo is going to upgrade the computers in new EX90s.

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Links

2025 Honda Prologue Gets more range

EREV Scouts will have less towing capacity

EVGo bans breakaway adapters and extension cables

VW shows $21K ID Every1 concept

VW ID Every1 Gets Rivian architecture

One Rivian Lesson VW is Ignoring, Buttons are Back

Maserati cancels MC20 Folgore

Mustang Cop Cars are back in NC

EVs are ¼ of UK sales

UK Volvo EX90 buyers to get compute upgrade