This week, Robbie rented a Chrysler Pacifica for a family road trip. Nicole drove the lovely Volvo S60 Recharge plug-in hybrid sedan and Sam had the latest Honda Accord Hybrid. In the news, Honda showed off the Prologue, its first high-volume battery electric vehicle. It's a midsize crossover built for Honda on the Ultium architecture. At the 7th Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca, Porsche unveiled the 911 GT3 R Rennsport, a $1 million track day special. Sam was in Austin for Move America 2023 where he met a company called Carvaloo that claims to be able to detect even minor impacts based on signals from vehicle sensors and then went for some more rides in Cruise robotaxis. Finally, it's Tacotober. Food insecurity is a major problem in America. Robbie is raising funds for Feeding America and you can help out by donating. If you give at least $50, Robbie will write a song about you. Even if you can't donate right now, consider going and volunteering some time at a local food bank. Links Carvaloo Another Austin Cruise Porsche 911 GT3 Rennsport 2024 Honda Prologue Tacotober donations

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Express VPN: expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I Found It A Little Wonkety

Wheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin

Automotive

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

This week, Nicole has been driving the Genesis GV60 Performance, Robbie spent time with the Ineos Grenadier and Quartermaster and Sam drove the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Nicole also went on an electric off-road adventure with the Polaris Ranger EXP in Michigan's Upper Penninsula and drove the new GMC Acadia. Sam went to the Stellantis investor day and got to try out the Peugeot e-3008 and rode in the Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore. Dealers are once again demonstrating why customers hate them by slapping huge markups on the Chevrolet Equinox EV. We also answer listener questions. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links VW ID Buzz Campers Stellantis investor day Polaris off-road adventure Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore Peugeot e-3008 STLA Brain, Cockpit, Autodrive GMC Acadia first drive Don't pay markups for the Chevy Equinox EV Hamilton's North Coast Adventures

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Express VPN: expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do You Need An AI Best Friend?

Robbie has the updated the Ford Mustang Mach-E with a lithium iron phosphate battery, Nicole has the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra N-Line and Sam has the 2024 Ford Ranger XLT. Ford is attacking the Pikes Peak Hillclimb with another EV, this time the Lightning Supertruck. Rivian has done its first major update the R1 series with new motors, battery packs and electronics. Nicole spoke with some Fisker employees about the s**tshow in Manhattan Beach. Two three-row, electric SUVs started production in the US, the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90. IIHS crash tested full-size SUVs and the results were not great. Friend of the show Jonny Lieberman wrote a rant against plug-in hybrids and Robbie made a video about them. Finally, Sam has a conversation with Michigan's chief mobility officer Justine Johnson Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links Ford Lightning Supertruck to Pikes Peak Rivian R1 updates Fisker Employee Inside Story Kia EV9 US production Volvo EX90 start US production IIHS tests big SUVs IIHS Crash tests Jonny is wrong about PHEVs Understanding Plug-in hybrids

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Express VPN: expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Plug-in Hybrids Are Or Are Not Fine

This week Robbie was carless but Nicole has to vehicles to tell us about, the Lexus TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. Meanwhile Sam describes his disappointment with the Nissan Z Nismo, at least as a sports car for the street. We also have a first drive review of the new Chevrolet Equinox EV, which despite GM's claims is most definitely not a compact but it is very good. We have first looks at the production Jeep Wagoneer S and Cadillac Optiq. With all of the safety issues we have on the road, some regulators and politicians have decided to set their sights on a tiny niche of a niche, the Japanese Kei car. For those tired of weeding out all the automatic transmission cars on Bring a Trailer, there is now a manual only auction site. 14 years after racing a hybrid 911, Porsche finally has a production model for 2025. The Geneva Motor Show has been cancelled indefinitely and we answer listener questions. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links Chevrolet Equinox EV first drive Jeep Wagoneer S Cadillac Optiq The war on Kei cars Manual only auction site 2025 Porsche 911 GTS hybrid Geneva Motor Show canceled indefinitely

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Express VPN: expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Best EV Value

Nicole is traveling again this week so it's just the boys. Robbie had nothing to drive, but Sam hit the road to the MAMA Spring Rally at Road America #MAMA24SR in the Nissan Rogue AWD Platinum. We have a first drive review of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition and Sam shares some thoughts on some of the vehicles he drove at the Rally including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Kia EV6 GT, Ineos Grenadier, Polaris Slingshot, Volvo EX30, Hummer EV SUV and Mustang Dark Horse. Kia unveiled the new EV3, hopefully coming to America in 2025. Honda showed off the updated Civic, now with hybrid power. Apple wants to make it easier to read a phone in the car without getting sick. California wants automatic speeding warnings and BMW unveils the new Skytop concept. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Thanks to ExpressVPN and listeners for supporting Wheel Bearings Links 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition Kia EV3 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid iOS Tackles motion sickness California considers speed alert requirement Polaris Slingshot R BMW SkyTop concept

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Express VPN: expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Too Heavy

This week Nicole had a Chevy Blazer EV that had to go home early and a Hyundai Kona. Robbie drove the Fiat 500e and Sam drove the BMW 530i xDrive. Despite some recent skepticism because of the Supercharger layoffs at Tesla, EVgo is moving forward with installing J3400 connectors on its DC fast chargers. Rivians run Android Automotive and are getting Google Cast support. Honda provides an EV update. BYD has a plug-in hybrid midsize pickup called the Shark, and Motor Trend disproves Tesla's 911 Cybertruck drag race claims. BMW's Neue Klasse EVs will charge really fast and Nicole has thoughts on a French safety campaign. Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis retires and we answer listener questions. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Thanks to ExpressVPN and listeners for supporting Wheel Bearings Links EVGo begins NACS deployment Android Automotive gets Google Cast support starting with Rivian Honda EV update BYD Shark Motor Trend drag races the Cybertruck and 911 BMW Neue Klasse - 186 miles in 10 minutes France encourages everyone to drive like a woman Audi/Porsche PPE platform Tim Kuniskis retires

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Express VPN: expressvpn.com/WHEELBEARINGS


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I Found It A Little Wonkety

Download our free app to listen on your phone