Episode 108

Welcome to the automotive podcast that saw its shadow and will have more shows for 2026!

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

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Projects

Eric:

What should I do? 

Taco

4runner

LC

Daryl:

I put a deposit on a motor for the Fury. 

I also keep buying parts for small projects in the hopes that I keep myself busy this year doing stuff instead of sitting on my ass. Things like heat control valve rebuilds, exhaust system for the Volvo. 

Brother got his injectors cleaned & fixed for his ‘85 Cavalier. Wayyy cheaper than new injectors.

NEWS:

World:

While Mercedes aims to make cars easier to repair, BMW has patented roundel-shaped screw heads that push owners to dealer-only servicing and repairs.

Daniel Donabedian @autoblog

BMW has never been shy about doing things its own way. Sometimes that results in clever solutions, like gaining access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Other times, it produces ideas that sound brilliant on paper but prove far less friendly in the real world, like the glorious but famously temperamental S85 V10. BMW’s latest screw patent leans firmly toward the latter. While the new screw head design is undeniably clever and unmistakably BMW, it appears purpose-built to keep ordinary owners well away from working on their own cars. What makes this more frustrating is that the competition is moving in another direction. Mercedes-Benz, for example, has recently spoken about redesigning future vehicles to be easier to repair, not harder.

Elektek

A new bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives today that specifically targets the design of electric vehicle door handles, with the sponsor explicitly calling out Tesla and Elon Musk.

The bill, dubbed the “Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act,” aims to force automakers to install easy-to-find manual releases in case of power failure.

We have seen a trend in the auto industry, mostly led by Tesla, to move toward electronic door latches. Instead of a mechanical linkage that physically unlatches the door when you pull a handle, a button or sensor sends a signal to an actuator that pops the door open.

While this allows for frameless windows and smoother aerodynamics, it creates a safety concern: if the vehicle loses power, like in a severe crash, the doors can stay locked unless there is a mechanical override.

On January 5th (local time), ahead of the show’s public opening, Sony Honda Mobility held its first standalone press conference at CES® Media Day. The company shared updates on AFEELA 1, which is scheduled to begin customer deliveries later this year, and introduced a new prototype, AFEELA Prototype 2026, making its public world debut.

At this conference, in addition to presentations by three of our company’s executives, three guest speakers from our partner companies and other organizations took the stage to discuss how the future of mobility will expand through collaboration with AFEELA, as well as their expectations for our brand.

Beginning January 6th, the SHM booth opened to the public, offering an immersive look into AFEELA’s core principles: Autonomy (evolving autonomy), Augmentation (expansion of the body and space-time), and Affinity (collaboration with people and symbiosis with society).

The exhibit features the AFEELA 1 pre-production model in all three exterior colors (Tidal Gray, Calm White, Core Black), alongside the newly revealed AFEELA Prototype 2026. Together with exhibitions by Sony Group companies, partner collaborations, and sustained-focused displays, the booth illustrates how AFEELA is evolving beyond a vehicle into a connected mobility platform and Sony Honda Mobility’s vision for the future mobility.

National:

Jamie L. LaReauDetroit Free Press

Jan. 7, 2026, 7:02 p.m. ET

THAT SITE IS PREMIUM,,,  So, where we are at autoblog

Head-up displays or HUDs were meant to simplify driving, but Ford may have found a very unconventional way to rethink them.

Jan 3, 2026 10:00 AM EST

By Pablo Salapantan News Editor

New-Age HUD?

Modern cars are generally dominated by tech, which has become the new barometer for how special, safe, or cool a car is. There are some technological features, though, that are not only cool but also convenient and safe.

Head-Up Displays (HUDs) were invented as a means to help drivers keep their vision straight on the road without any impediments to their vision. First used in Fighter jets, HUDs display all the relevant information through a projection in the windscreen that the driver can see. It shows speed, vehicle condition, and, in some cases, even map settings.

But it appears that Ford wants to take HUD tech to another level. Alongside an adjustable HUD from last year, the Blue Oval has invented another one – and it’s as ridiculous as it looks.

Ford’s Taking It Literally

Ford has just filed a patent for its own definition of the HUD, specifically patent no.20260001397 filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on January 1, 2026.

Car giant Hyundai to use human-like robots in factories  BBC

Osmond Chia Business reporter

Hyundai Motor Group says it will roll out human-like robots in its factories from 2028, as major companies race to use the new technology.

The South Korean firm showed off Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday.

Hyundai says it “plans to integrate Atlas across its global network”, including a plant in the US state of Georgia that was involved in a massive immigration raid in 2025.

Other firms that have said they will use humanoid robots in their operations include Amazon, Tesla and Chinese car making giant BYD.

The Atlas robots will gradually take on more tasks, said Hyundai. The firm owns a majority stake in Boston Dynamics, the technology company famous for Spot the robot dog.

Atlas, which is designed for general industrial use, is being developed to work alongside people and autonomously manage machines.

Hyundai said the robots will help ease physical strain on human workers, handle potentially dangerous tasks and pave the way for wider use of the technology.

The firm did not say how many robots it would initially deploy or how much the project will cost.

Speaking at CES, Hyundai’s vice chair, Jaehoon Chang, acknowledged concerns that human workers could lose their jobs to robots. But he said people will still be needed to train the robots, among other roles, the news agency Reuters reported.

Milos Komnenovic

Mon, February 2, 2026 at 3:30 PM CST

Add Yahoo Autos on Google

designed to meet demand for smaller, more urban-friendly trucks, is expected to exit production as sales continue to fall short of expectations. While the model gave Hyundai its first serious foothold in the highly competitive U.S. pickup segment, the company is now shifting its attention toward larger, more traditional, and commercially safer truck designs.

According to reporting from Automotive News, Hyundai is expected to end Santa Cruz production earlier than its previously planned second-quarter 2027 end date.

Local:

Rivian’s Deliveries Fell in 2025—Now Its Next EV Has to Succeed

Rivian saw deliveries fall 18% in 2025 following a record-setting year, underscoring the importance of the more affordable R2.

Jan 5, 2026 10:15 AM EST

By Rex Sanchez News Editor

When the Rivian R1T arrived on the scene in 2021, the California-based EV maker appeared poised to continually raise the bar for the future of electric vehicles. However, like many EV brands, Rivian was hit hard by a sudden market shift – an impact that has since been reflected in its 2025 delivery figures.

Rivian, which currently sells EVs only in North America, said on Friday that it delivered 42,247 vehicles last year, representing an 18% decline from its record 51,579 deliveries in 2024. The company also reported 9,745 deliveries in the fourth quarter, roughly 3,500 fewer than in Q3. While the decline may appear concerning at first glance, it was largely expected following the loss of federal EV tax credits last September.

With EV models becoming increasingly expensive, Rivian appears to need its upcoming R2 to regain momentum and broaden its appeal. The R2 is a mid-size electric crossover positioned to rival the Tesla Model Y, with its deliveries expected in the first half of this year. The model represents one of several attempts by automakers to address growing demand for relatively affordable EVs, alongside forthcoming offerings such as the Slate Truck.

Pricing will be a critical factor in the R2’s success. The model is expected to start at around $45,000, placing it squarely in the same price range as a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD.

“Abolish ICE” and other anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement names made up nearly 80 percent of submissions in this year’s contest.

by Joe Ward @blockclubchicago – February 1, 2026

CHICAGO — The city has released the list of the 25 finalists in its annual “You Name A Snowplow” contest — and an early fan favorite made the list.

City officials on Sunday announced the list of finalists in the contest, which lets residents vote to officially name a series of city snowplows. Over 13,000 name suggestions were submitted to the contest, and one clear theme was present among the submissions.

“Abolish ICE” and other anti-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement names made up nearly 80 percent of all submissions in this year’s snowplow naming contest, Block Club previously reported.

The city selects 25 names of all the submissions to advance to a public vote, which is now live and runs through Feb. 14. And yes, “Abolish ICE” made the list.

Other snowplow name contenders include: “Caleb Chilliams,” “Chance the Scraper,” “It’s Time For The Plowcolator” and “Plowing 6-7 Inches.” See a full list of finalists below.

Six snowplows will be named as part of this year’s contest, and residents can vote on their six favorite of the 25 finalists by clicking here.

Other immigration enforcement-related names submitted for the city but not chosen as finalists include “ICE Breaker,” “ICE Be Gone” and “No More Mr. ICE Guy,” according to a list of submissions obtained through a public records request.

The “Abolish ICE” name also got an early nod of approval from Mayor Brandon Johnson last month, which led to an online sparring match between the mayor and Greg Bovino, who led Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago.

About 50 anti-mayor name ideas were also submitted this year, including “Snowbody Likes Brandon.” They were not included among the finalists.

The top winners of the past three snowplow naming contests were “Bozo the Plown” last year, “Skilling It” in 2024 in honor of beloved retired local weatherman Tom Skilling and Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow in 2023. 

“Chicagoans have once again displayed their unmatched creativity and civic pride in submitting names for this year’s contest,” Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard said in a statement. “We are grateful to the community for engaging with us, and we encourage all residents to submit votes for the top six names.” 

The 2025 “You Name A Snowplow” finalists list is below:

Moment of Musk:

Elon Musk wants to build a dirty 2nm chipmaking fab that you can smoke and eat cheeseburgers inBy Anton Shilov @ toms hardware

Elon Musk this week said that the chipmaking industry builds cleanrooms in the wrong way. The head of Tesla and SpaceX promised that once Tesla builds its own 2nm-capable fab, he would eat a cheeseburger and smoke a cigar in that fab.

“I think they are getting clean rooms wrong in these modern fabs,” said Elon Musk in an interview with Moonshots. “I am going to make a bet here, that Tesla will have a 2nm fab, and I can eat a cheeseburger and smoke a cigar in the fab.”

When asked whether Musk had sketched Tesla’s fab in his mind and whether he found a way to protect silicon wafers from cheeseburger grease, he responded that all wafers should be contained at all times. “They just maintain wafer isolation the entire time,” Musk said.

Cars of the Weak  

Eric: 

1991  Celica GTS on BAT

Daryl: 1983 VW Rabbit GTi

Key Details of the 1983 Rabbit GTI:

The Rabbit GTI was produced for the U.S. market for only two years (1983–1984) before the model was redesigned and rebranded as the Golf GTI. 

The post Episode 108 – Plows, Bots and Bolts appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.