America on the Road

This special edition of America on the Road includes interviews from two of the most important attendees at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show. With cool trucks the overarching theme of the show, Host Jack Nerad captured exclusive interviews with two men responsible for some of the coolest trucks on the show floor.

Arie Groeneveld is the chief engineer of the just-introduced Ford Bronco Raptor high-performance desert runner. Direct from the show floor, Groeneveld and Nerad discussed the special qualities the Bronco Raptor has and detailed how Ford was able to develop it so swiftly.

Far from the surf breaks of Southern California, Hiren Patel, head of Nissan’s North American design operation, sat down with Nerad to describe the development of each of Nissan's three truck concepts unveiled at the show. The three concepts – the Project 72X, Project Hardbody, and Project Adventure – are all based on the 2022 Frontier mid-size pickup, a vehicle that Patel and his team at NDA played a primary role in designing.

In the road test segment, this episode of America on the Road has some surprises for you. Our road test vehicle is the 2022 Volvo XC40 luxury SUV. The compact luxury SUV is one of Volvo’s most popular vehicles and a big player in that growing segment.

But that isn’t the surprise. The unusual bonus is our test of the Airstream Pottery Barn Edition 28-foot travel trailer. Nerad and his wife Sandi recently had a chance to experience the top-shelf trailer in a funky Southern California retreat, and we tell you all about it.

 

A number of new vehicles were just unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, which is running right now on the Windy City’s lakefront. Among the most impressive vehicles on display are three concepts from Nissan based on the Frontier pickup.

The Project 72X, Project Hardbody, and Project Adventure share the 2022 Frontier Crew Cab platform but they are designed to cater to three different mid-size truck audiences. The concept vehicles start with three different Frontier grade levels – S, SV, and PRO-4X respectively. All three combine readily available Nissan and aftermarket parts and accessories with custom-designed pieces and custom graphics.

"We're offering three looks at three styles to show how owners could modify their new Frontiers," said Hiren Patel, project lead designer, Nissan Design America, Inc. "The common ground is that they all use their trucks as canvases for personalization." We’ll have more details on introductions at Chicago in the news segment of America on the Road.

 

Kia is making a concerted effort to change the way people think about the brand. It’s not that the brand needs a makeover because it has been doing very well, thank you, but it has just launched the first of what will soon be a wave of electric vehicles. And the company has to convince Americans that the value-brand they have come to trust is now a go-to source for high-tech electric vehicles. To tell us how Kia intends to do that, our guest is Russell Wager, head of marketing for Kia in America. Host Jack Nerad had a chance to catch up with him recently to get a behind-the-scenes look at what the year will bring.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will be giving us a long look at the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. It shares a platform with the well-regarded Nissan Rogue, and Chris Teague will tell us how Mitsubishi has transformed the vehicle to match up with its buyers.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad just got the chance to drive the heavily revised 2022 Hyundai Kona. While not all new, the 2002 Kona has a long list of changes that make it a much better vehicle than the 2021 model.

Our top news story details how car dealers are being forced to get creative about finding used cars to sell. With both new and used car inventories tight around the country, dealers are going to greater lengths than ever to get vehicles to sell. And their efforts might mean a windfall for you.

The Kia EV6 not only is likely to change the way the American public thinks about the Kia brand, but it also has the chance to change the entire automotive market. We are among the first U.S. Journalists to drive the EV6, and we can attest to the fact that it will address many of the issues the typical buyer has with buying a battery-electric. Our review of the vehicle by Host Jack Nerad will detail what drivers can expect from the new car.

In the news segment, Tesla Motors is into hot water again for what its self-driving beta software will do and won’t do. We’ll have all the details. Also in the news, a new study from J.D. Power finds that first-time electric-vehicle buyers are enjoying the new experience even more than veteran EV owners. And we’ll tell you why.

The used car market is hotter than a summer resort on planet Mercury right now, and General Motors is taking an interesting step to capitalize on that. Our special guest is Dan Ahearn, Senior Manager of CarBravo, a new General Motors effort to give consumers a completely new way to buy a used car, including non-GM used cars. And we’ll get the details from Dan Ahearn on what this means to you.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will give us all an incisive look at the hot new 2022 Honda Civic Si. Does it deserve its North American Car of the Year title?

Shop the 2022 Kia EV6

Ford has just introduced an ultra-high-performance version of its Bronco off-roader called the Bronco Raptor. And we’ll have all the details in this episode. The 2022 Ford Bronco brings a 400-horsepower turbocharged V-6 engine and a heavily altered, fully-boxed frame to the task of desert running. With a significantly wider track and added ground clearance, the Bronco Raptor seems ready to do battle with the Ram 1500 TRX. But does it have the horsepower to catch up?

Electric vehicles continue to grab attention, and we have the inside line on one of the most exciting new EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Our special guest is Ryan Miller, manager of electrified powertrain development at Hyundai Kia America Technical Center. Host Jack Nerad had a chance to sit down with him recently on the initial Ioniq 5 press drive event, and he and Miller had an in-depth discussion about the fascinating vehicle. Miller says that it represents a new start for Hyundai in its transition from a maker of cars to a provider of sustainable transportation.

In the road test segment, Co-host Chris Teague got behind the wheel of the new 2022 Acura RDX. One of the first crossover utilities to put an emphasis on performance, the Acura RDX has seen its position threatened by other imports recently. Teague will tell us how the new 2002 version matches up versus the competition.

Also in the road test segment Jack Nerad evaluated the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, the newest version of the brand’s midsize five-passenger crossover. The XRT has off-road-oriented looks but can it act the part? Nerad and Teague will discuss that in this episode.

Finally, in the news, a very familiar name in consumer electronics -- Sony -- is taking steps to enter the electric vehicle market on a worldwide basis. Do they have a chance to succeed? Or is the attempt doomed from the start? We’ll give our opinions.

The 2022 Jeep Compass takes the compact SUV to a new level of comfort and functionality, and it is one of the vehicles we review in this edition of America on the Road. Co-host Chris Teague took delivery of the Compass in the midst of a vicious Maine winter, and he will tell us whether the newest version lives up to the legendary 4x4 reputation Jeep vehicles have established. Among other things the new Compass is the most technologically advanced Jeep Compass ever, so how does it stack up against the other leaders in that redhot segment.

Also in the road test segment Host Jack Nerad and his wife embarked on a 500-mile two-day trek from SoCal to Central California to visit one of their three daughters at college. Their vehicle for the trip was the Honda Accord Hybrid, and the journey was a revelation. If you think all hybrids are alike you need to listen to this episode.

Our special guest is this week is Dave Sowers, head of Marketing for RAM Commercial vehicles. While we don’t typically cover commercial trucks on the show, more and more big vans are becoming lifestyle and getaway vehicles for consumers, so Host Jack Nerad sat down with Dave Sowers to discuss that trend. With a boom in interest in getting outdoors, the ProMaster has become a hot commodity for upscale adventurers.

In the news segment we answer the provocative questions: Do you live in one of the best states for driving? Or are you living one of the worst? We’ll reveal the results of a new study and contribute our opinions on it.

Also in the news, BMW is sending a fond farewell to an engine that has served it well for decades. And there wrapping a car around that engine that will cost 12 lucky American buyers $200,000 each.

An all-new Range Rover comes along only every decade or so, but an all-new version of the seminal luxury SUV has just been introduced and we have exclusive insight into it. Our special guest on America on the Road this week is Nick Collins. He is Executive Director of Vehicle Programs for Jaguar Land Rover, and Host Jack Nerad recently had the opportunity to sit down for a lengthy interview with him. The 2022 Range Rover is full of innovation while remaining true to the Range Rover image. Among the details Collins reveals in the interview are the influences the American market had on the proudly British vehicle’s design.

In the road test segment, Jack Nerad will be taking a long look at the 2022 Kia Soul, a vehicle that has been one of the biggest bargains on the market for the past decade. The question is: does it still deserve that honor as a 2022 model-year vehicle?

Also in the road test segment, guest host Geno Effler, director of corporate communications at J.D. Power, will deliver some special insight on how consumers feel about Kia vehicles. The Korean brand has come a long, long way, and American consumers recognize that. Effler will give the details on how the brand has progressed.

In the news segment of America on the Road, the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards have just been announced. We’ll have the details for you direct from the jury -- a jury Host Jack Nerad serves as vice president.

Also in the news, there’s a new big dog in U.S. auto sales for the past year. Jack Nerad and Geno Effler will discuss whether the surprising result signals a trend or if it is the product of the current supply chain chaos that has gripped the auto industry.

One of the best family vehicles introduced in 2022 is the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is now available in two configurations: the three-row Grand Cherokee L and the more recently introduced two-row Grand Cherokee. In this edition America on the Road Co-Host Chris Teague puts the Grand Cherokee through a grueling regimen to see if it is up to the task of transporting his family of four in the harsh Maine winter, and he’ll report on that.

Also in this week’s road test segment, Host Jack Nerad will report on one of the least known full-size pickup trucks on the market, the 2022 Ram 1500 Classic. Not to be confused with the 2022 Ram 1500, the Ram 1500 Classic is the previous generation of the Ram pickup, and it continues to be offered as a low-cost alternative to the Ram 1500. While that might seem confusing Jack Nerad will clear up all the confusion as he delivers his verdict on whether or not the Ram 1500 Classic is a good buy.

 

After enjoying a hot streak of publicity self-driving vehicles have fallen off the radar lately, and we’ll give you an indication of why in our interview segment. This week our special guest is Lisa Boor, senior manager of global automotive at J.D. Power. We had a chance to talk with her recently about the J.D. Power Mobility Confidence Index Study, and the study has some fascinating revelations about Americans’ impressions of autonomous vehicles. It turns out consumers think they know a lot more about self-driving automobiles than they really know. What does that mean to you going forward? We’ll have the details.

In the news, Ford Motor Company is ramping up production of its all-electric Lightning full-size pickup truck in light of increased consumer interest. It turns out they might double their original run of the full-size battery-electric truck. At the same time, Mercedes has introduced an all-electric concept vehicle with incredible range, and parts of its innovative body are made from landfill waste. We’ll give you the amazing details.

Battery-electric crossover vehicles are the new vehicle du jour, and one of the latest to join the fray is the Kia Concept EV9, a stalking horse for the brand’s upcoming production version of the vehicle. In a suddenly very crowded segment, the EV9 is one of the best-looking, and it is filled with advanced tech. To learn more about the EV9 we had the chance to talk with Karim Habib, Kia Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center. What distinguishes the EV9 Concept from others that are plowing the same ground. Our interview will reveal that.

In the road test segment of this week’s show, Co-Host Chris Teague will be giving his thoughts on the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback. All-new for the 2022 model year, the Civic Hatchback is one of the most versatile compact cars you can buy.

Also in the road test segment Host Jack Nerad and his family tested the newest version of one of the most venerable and venerated vehicles of the past several generations, the Toyota Land Cruiser. They got the chance to wring it out on several family adventures over the past 10 days, and he’ll have a full report.

In the news, there is new heat under the idea of flying cars. The fodder of many a future prediction in the 1950s, small vertical takeoff aircraft now might graduate from being a pipedream to becoming reality. A lot of big money has gotten behind the idea of “flying taxis.”

Also in the news, Chrysler and Jeep haven’t been at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution up to now, but that might change this week, based on big announcements the brands intend to make at CES in Las Vegas. We’ll give you some details.

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A brand-new Range Rover doesn’t come along every day — in fact 10 years is more like it — but a new Range Rover has just been introduced and we have the inside story. Our special guest in this week’s episode of America in the Road is Jaguar Land Rover Product Marketing Director Finbar McFall. The new flagship of the Land Rover/Range Rover lineup takes the model in a significantly more sophisticated direction. Host Jack Nerad recently had the chance to get the details on that from McFall in this week’s interview.

If you’re in the market for a battery-electric pickup truck, first we’d like to know why. And, next, you should have an amazing range of choices in the next couple of years. We’ll discuss the details of the recently announced newcomers in what will suddenly be a very crowded segment. Does electric power make sense for a pickup? Host Jack Nerad and Co-Host Chris Teague will debate that in the news segment.

Also in the news segment, the nominee for head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has vowed to get to the bottom of the safety allegations and investigations that continue to dog Tesla Motors. Will the outspoken Elon Musk find himself and his company in deeper trouble with the feds?

In the road test segment, Chris Teague will be giving of his thoughts on the 2022 Hyundai Venue crossover SUV. The small crossover lacks all-wheel-drive, so how did it fare in the recent Maine snowfall? And is Teague still six feet tall?

Also in the road test segment, Jack Nerad had the opportunity to drive one of the most unusual vehicles available in the U.S. market this year…or any year. The all-electric Mazda MX-30 has sneaked its way into the U.S. market via California, and we’ll have the surprising details for you.

It has been 16 years since Toyota introduced an all-new Tundra full-size pickup truck. But now the company has pulled the wraps off the completely revamped 2022 Toyota Tundra, and we have the inside story. This week our special guest is Kenneth Munkelt, Senior Product Education Planner at Toyota North America. Host Jack Nerad recently had a chance to sit down with him at the truck’s introductory drive event outside San Antonio, and the chat was revealing. Toyota has changed the powertrain, the frame, the suspension, and the infotainment system for 2022, so this is about as complete a makeover as you can imagine.

In this week’s road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will be giving of his thoughts on the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer crossover SUV. He was driving the off-road-oriented Activ version of the truck, and he’ll tell us how it stacks up against others in the burgeoning segment.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad had the opportunity to drive one of the hottest vehicles you can get for under $30,000 – the 2022 Honda Civic Si. It’s one of the contenders for North American Car of the Year, and he’ll tell how it compares to others like it. And he predicts its chances of winning the coveted North American Car of the Year honor.

There’s also some startling news on the telematics front this week. It has been widely under-reported, but the coming demise of a telecom technology could mean the connected-car services in your vehicle will suddenly stop working. We’ll give you the surprising details and let you know what some automakers plan to do about it. That news is surprising, too.

In another hot news item, the smart money is now betting we will see self-driving trucks long before we see autonomous cars. And we’ll have more on that in this episode of America on the Road.