America on the Road

The Ford F-150 is the bestselling vehicle in America, and in our interview segment this week we have one of the men responsible for that remarkable success, Ford F-150 Marketing Manager Brian Bell. AOTR host Jack Nerad caught up with Bell at a recent Ford drive event that featured the new truck in its natural element, and, despite Covid-19 precautions, the conversation about the new truck was lively and informative.

In the road test segment co-host Chris Teague will discuss the considerable merits of the Cadillac CT5 sedan. With more sporting potential than you might guess, the CT5 reminded Teague of some of his favorite cars of yesteryear.

Hyundai is not a name you would normally associate with performance vehicles, but the N Line version of the all-new 2021 Elantra is a performance sedan with excellent bona fides including its 201-horsepower turbocharged engine. And the power is just the beginning of the tweaks Hyundai engineers made on the new Elantra N Line.

The 2021 CT5 provides a refined ride while maintaining handling you might not expect from a Cadillac.

The rumors that continue to swirl around the possibility of an electric car from Apple topped the news segment. In a bit of whimsy, Tesla Motors' Elon Musk tweeted that just a few years ago he tried to peddle his company to Apple only to be rebuffed by Tim Cook. What a combination that might have made!

And as we come to the end of 2020 we also reflect on some of the biggest news stories in the auto industry from this year and from years gone by.

The 2021 Ford F-150 is filled with new tech, according to F-150 Marketing Manager Brian Bell, who was interviewed by host Jack Nerad.

Listen to our road test of the 2021 Ford F-150

The following is a transcript of America on the Road Episode 35. It was created with AI, so please forgive some grammatical and spelling errors. The machines are smart but not as smart as we are...yet.

America on the Road Episode 35

Introdution / Car News Segment

Jack Nerad: This is America on the Road, winner of the International Automotive Media Conference Gold Medal Award for radio and now in its 24th year on the air. Thanks for being with us as we bring you the latest automotive information from around the world and a very happy new year to you. This show is going to air on New Year's eve originally and you might be listening to it then or you might be listening to it some months after new year's eve, who knows? America on the Road is brought to you by Drivingtoday.com and the Coalition for Vehicle Choice. I'm Jack Nerad with me is co-host Chris Teague Chris, thanks so much for being with us.

Chris Teague: [00:37] Thank you for having me, Jack. How are things in your current corner of the world?

Jack Nerad: [00:41] Things would just swell it was a little cold this morning. We had a hail storm yesterday. It was very uncharacteristic for us -- lightning, thunder, and hail almost never happen in Southern California but we did have it. You would probably welcome that as being good weather compared to what you're experiencing in Maine right?

Chris Teague: [00:59] It's actually not been too bad. We had some rain but it's just been very cold. Christmas day was rainy and gross but I can't complain too much.

Jack Nerad: [01:08] Okay well very good. It is sunshiny here today as we're putting this together. This week we have a special guest whose name is Brian Bell. He's marketing manager for the 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck and he'll be giving us a close-up look at that what we can expect from that new truck, which has some pretty cool things. I've driven it. I think I reviewed it on the show already but we'll talk to him...

This week our road tests feature two vehicles that have just been named finalists in the prestigious North American Utility of the Year competition for 2021. The Land Rover Defender is the latest version to bear the fabled Defender name, and it has all the off-road credentials its name suggests. Co-host Chris Teague had the chance to throw the newest Defender up against the challenging snow, ice, and muck that characterize a Maine winter.

In our second road test, host Jack Nerad, who also serves as vice president of the North American Car of the Year jury, put the new Genesis GV80 to an entirely different kind of test -- shuttling his entire family of five to a drive-through Christmas display at Dodgers Stadium just north of downtown Los Angeles. Of course, he and the GV80 had other adventures as well, and we'll tell you about the new SUV's many good points and the one area in which some might say it comes up short...or at the very least puzzling.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender can take on virtually any terrain, even a light spring shower.

In the news segment, the two hosts dissect the just-surfaced rumors that Apple is on the verge of introducing a revolutionary electric car. And they look at what Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson has to say about his company's next EV entry.

The pre-Christmas episode also features an interview with CarParts.com CEO Lev Peker, an award-winning business leader, who is in the process of turning his company around by providing consumers with quicker delivery and better service.  And as a public service to kids of all ages, we will interview OnStar's Laura Thornton, who will reveal a very special way to track the imminent arrival of Santa Claus as Little Saint Nick makes his annual journey around the world.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 is a genuine contender in the crowded midsize luxury SUV segment.

What is it like to drive the much-anticipated 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E? We were among the first journalists to drive it, and we have a full report on the vehicle in this episode of America on the Road. Host Jack Nerad is Vice President of the North American Car of the Year jury that announced yesterday the Mach-E is one of three finalists for the 2021 North American Utility of the Year award. (The others are the Land Rover Defender and the Genesis GV80.)

While Jack Nerad takes a look at the Mustang Mach-E, co-host Chris Teague road tests the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 crossover. At about $45,000, the GLA is in tune with the times, offering sleek Mercedes exterior styling and a full-featured interior.

In the interview segment, Jack Nerad sits down for a lengthy interview with Jim Wilder, a 14-year veteran of FCA's SRT high-performance arm. Wilder was instrumental in the development of the 797-horsepower 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye that is the fastest and most powerful production sedan on the planet. Wilder will reveal the secrets that set the Hellcat Redeye apart from other high-performance sedans. Check out our first drive here.

The Mustang Mach-E lives up to its performance car name with impressive acceleration and a road-hugging suspension.

Christmas is coming, and in the news segment, Chris and Jack reveal some of the best car buys for this Yuletide season. Maybe Santa will deposit a new car in your driveway this Christmas. They also discuss how Snapchat, RelayCars, and augmented reality may radically change the way you shop for a car.

The long wait is over and the chance to go off-road in the all-new and highly anticipated 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has arrived. Host Jack Nerad was one of a select few auto journalists who got the chance to put the Bronco Sport through its paces at the renowned Hungry Valley off-road park near Gorman, California. During the course of a very satisfying day, he had the chance to thoroughly wring out both versions of what is expected to be an extremely popular vehicle that will come to market in the next few weeks.

Also in the road test segment, co-host Chris Teague unveils his thoughts on the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4, the off-road version of GMC's popular midsize pickup. GMC execs have high hopes the AT4 brand will bring them incremental sales as Americans return to nature.

If that isn't enough off-roading for you, we also interview Jeff Roselli, chief engineer on the RAM 1500 TRX super truck.  Nerad recently had a chance to sit down with Roselli for a lengthy interview during the TRX introductory drive event outside Reno, Nevada, and he got a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to build a truck with its amazing capabilities.

In the news segment, Teague and Nerad discuss the ongoing drama at Volkswagen, where the CEO is looking for a new contract and stronger backing on his bold plan to make VW a prominent electric vehicle manufacturer. And they'll tell you which major product has encountered an unexpected delay in coming to market.

Host Jack Nerad interviews Ram 1500 TRX Chief Engineer Jeff Roselli.

Hear an exclusive interview on the GMC Sierra AT4

According to Honda, the new 2021 Accord Hybrid is the version of the car you should buy. Why? That's one of the many questions we asked Honda product planner Jerry Chang about the model that has become an American icon. He and host Jack Nerad discuss how the revised edition of the ever-popular sedan has been prepared to please a new cohort of Millennial buyers.

In the car review segment co-host Chris Teague takes a long look at a car that has always been a car enthusiast's favorite, the Mazda Mazda3. Did Mazda enhance the car's reputation with its changes for 2021 or does it fall on its face?

Also in the car review segment Jack Nerad reveals his very unexpected affection for the all-new 2021 Toyota Sienna minivan. Nerad isn't typically a minivan guy, but the new Sienna with its exclusively hybrid powertrain and cleverly designed interior won him over. He'll tell you why.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid brings new tech to the midsize sedan market.

Taking a look at the news Nerad counts down the most stolen vehicles of 2020, and the two hosts kick around recent announcements by Volvo and MINI about those two brands' respective electrification efforts. Achieving their lofty goals might stretch credulity.

Read about another Mazda favorite

What's it like to drive the all-new 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye on the street and on the racetrack? This is the place to find out because our own Jack Nerad got the chance to do both at a just-completed event outside Charlotte, North Carolina. While we don't want to let the wildcat out of the burlap bag, there are things about the new super-sedan that you would never guess. What is no secret is the car is the most powerful and fastest production sedan on planet Earth.

While Nerad was having the time of his life putting the Hellcat Redeye through its paces, co-host Chris Teague was doing the same with the all-new 2021 Kia K5. Though not the match for the Redeye in performance -- what is? -- the Kia K5 is an interesting addition to the Korean brand's performance lineup that also includes the Kia Stinger.

This week we welcome two special guests to America on the Road. Greg Kopf is an expert on Overlanding and a brand representative for CarID.com. We'll get deep in the woods about Overlanding with him, including tips for first-timers. Our other guest is Lauren Fix, who also goes by the title The Car Coach. She is a certified mechanic, a member of the North American Car of the Year jury, and we’ll talk with her about getting your car prepared for winter.

In the news segment, Chris and Jack will examine Cadillac's recent plan to go all-electric and shed some of its dealers in the process. And we'll take a first look at the new plug-in hybrid soon to be introduced by McLaren. It should be quite a ride.

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye: The most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world with 797-horsepower goes through its paces in North Carolina with our host at the wheel.

See how the 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Compares

We just got the chance to drive the all-new 2021 Ford F-150, and we made the most of it. In an event that combined on-road driving, off-road crawling, and even a little black ice, host Jack Nerad had the chance to put various F-150 models through their paces. During the road test section of America on the Road he describes his experiences in detail, and guest host Geno Effler of J.D. Power reveals how previous editions of the F-150 fared in the firm's consumer studies.

In the interview portion of the program, Nerad has a lengthy discussion with well-known and highly honored automotive journalist and racing writer Ted West. Closing Speed is the title of West's first novel, and it takes the reader behind the scenes to witness the intimate drama of the World Sportscar Championship, some of the most heated and dangerous racing of all time. West and Nerad also discuss how the starts of their careers oddly coincided although they had never met.

In the news segment Effler and Nerad look at Mercury Insurance's list of the most affordable cars to insure. Some vehicles on the list are anything but intuitive. And they take a peek at a business that you wouldn't expect Tesla Motors to play in, but where the innovative company is taking a leadership role.

Discover the real story behind Ford vs. Ferrari

In the program's interview segment, we take a look at the question could the 2021 Cadillac Escalade be termed the most technologically advanced vehicle in America? With its leading-edge Super Cruise driver's assist system that borders on self-driving and a wealth of other technological advances, one could make that case. Host Jack Nerad conducts an in-depth interview with Global Cadillac Escalade Product Manager to explore that topic and provide insight into the Escalade's wealth of features.

In the car review segment, co-host Chris Teague recounts what he learned during his week-long test of the 2021 Subaru Outback. At the wheel of an Onyx Edition, he reveals how well Subaru pulls off luxury.

Also in the car review segment, Nerad discusses his first-drive in the all-new 2021 Honda Accord. One of a small number of journalists to drive the car before its release, he explains why Honda decided to lead with the Hybrid version of the Accord.

In the news Teague and Nerad debate the relative merits -- and exterior style -- of the upcoming BMW iX sports-activity vehicle. (It's not a sports utility because "utility is too utilitarian for BMW.) And they also discuss the imminent arrival of the 2021 Lexus LS sedan.

Electric cars are gaining currency and the question before the hosts of America on the Road is will cars like the ElectraMeccanica Solo, a single-person transportation device, change the way we commute? And will it change the way we deliver pizzas? Those questions and more are considered in host Jack Nerad's exclusive interview with ElectraMeccanica CEO M. Paul Rivera. The interview came after Nerad had the opportunity to test drive the diminutive vehicle.

In the road test segment co-host Chris Teague got the plum assignment of squiring around in the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe. With a price tag of $106,000 and a zero-to-60 time of 5.2 seconds, this is not your grandma's crossover SUV.

Meanwhile, Nerad reviews Volkswagen's "halo car," the Arteon sedan. The Arteon brings coupe-like styling and a distinct European sensibility to the market. Though you've probably never heard of the sports sedan, there's a lot to like about it.

In the news, we have international intrigue and a bid to create a utopia on a Greek island. The latter is an effort by Volkswagen Group to establish an electric vehicle paradise on a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, aided and abetted by the Greek government. We also take a look at fugitive auto executive Carlos Ghosn's new book that explains why he broke out of jail and fled Japan to go into exile in Lebanon among other tales from his colorful past.

In the news segment of this week's America on the Road hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague take up the question of Americans' desire to purchase self-driving cars. Spurred by the most recent edition of a J.D.Power survey Nerad and Teague consider whether consumers are ready for autonomous cars, and if they're not they look at factors that might change their minds.

In the road test segment, Teague wrings out the all-new 2021 Nissan Rogue compact SUV. Since it is the bestselling vehicle in the Nissan line, the Rogue's success means a great deal to the automaker. This time around the Rogue is more mature and less cute than before. Also in the car review segment, Nerad examines the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime. You might expect the plug-in Prime to be the most fuel efficient of the RAV4 models, but there's something else about it you probably don't expect.

The Ram 1500 TRX has caused a lot of excitement among truck enthusiasts, and AOTR is there for them with in-depth coverage of the supertruck. In this episode Nerad goes behind the scene with key interior designer Ryan Nagode, who tells about the special touches his team added to make the 702-horsepower "apex predator" that much better.

Will COVID-19 Hurt the Development of Autonomous Vehicles?