Welcome back to “The Drive” with Alan Taylor. His first contributor is long-time friend and fellow car enthusiast BJ Killeen, an automotive journalist. Today, BJ discussed a few topics, such as Lotus’s financial challenges. The company delivered 576 cars last year and incurred losses of over $186 million. Lotus hoped to transition to selling electric vehicles but has not been successful. Volkswagen’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, is facing trial for fraud and market manipulation related to the emissions test scandal. Lastly, Volkswagen is planning to reveal the next generation electric vehicle from the Scout brand on October 24th, featuring tactile controls. the trend of screen-based operations in modern vehicles. This move is welcomed by many who prefer physical controls for essential functions in a car.

Up next in the hot seat is contributor George Kennedy III – Co-founder of Cartender.com, and the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. He contributes to U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Forbes Wheels, and, of course, here on The Drive. George had a great time test-driving the new 2025 Nismo Z by Nissan. This car is known for its high performance, boasting 420 horsepower and upgraded brakes, suspension, and chassis. George really enjoyed how fast the car can go and how well it handles turns. He prefers cars with 300 to 400 horsepower, and the Nismo Z fits the bill. Although it only comes with an automatic transmission, George thinks the quick and precise gear changes make up for the lack of a manual option. He also checked out the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E Class and compared it to the BMW 5 Series. He found that the 5 Series focuses more on performance, while the E Class prioritizes comfort. George likes the stylish look of the E Class but thinks the high-tech interior could be easier to use. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E Class starts at $62,000 for the base model and $68,000 for the E4Matic 450 sedan. The latter comes with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive, and luxury features like heated and cooled seats, panoramic moonroof, power trunk, and advanced screens with wireless phone integration drive, and luxury features such as heated and cooled seats, panoramic moonroof, power trunk, and advanced screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Up next is Lauren Fix – Editor in-Chief for Car Coach Reports. She has a special surprise guest, Merrick Styles from Abbey Road Studios, representing Bowers and Wilkins at the Volvo EX90, showcasing a new 2025 audio system. Bowers and Wilkins is known for car audio and partnered with Abbey Road studios to include Abbey Road’s sound in the car audio system. Merrick explained that they made an iPad app using professional audio tools from recording engineers and producers to adjust the sound inside the car cabin. Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer discussed the Pebble Beach event, highlighting the many new car launches and innovations. Notable car debuts included the new Lincoln Navigator with innovative features, the redesigned BMW M5, and the Maserati GT2 Stradale. They mentioned the 50th-anniversary Porsche 911 and new models by Singer and Lamborghini. The event showcased a wide range of impressive cars and exciting developments in the automotive industry. Lauren mentioned a new trend of thieves stealing charging cables from public EV stations due to the high value of copper inside. This has caused inconvenience for EV owners and raised concerns about the practicality and security of transitioning to an all-electric vehicle world. Lauren discusses the shift in the automotive industry towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Many brands, including Ford, Jaguar, and Volvo, are making changes to their vehicle offerings. The demand for hybrids is high, leading manufacturers to focus more on producing hybrid vehicles. Availability of incentives for hybrids has decreased due to the high demand for both plug-in and regular hybrids.

Closing the show is Brian Moody, the Executive Editor of AutoTrader.com and KBB.com, suggests reevaluating the perception of cars as investments and brings attention to the disparity in how individuals monitor the stock market closely but do not apply the same scrutiny to cars, despite the escalating costs of vehicles. Moody delves into the potential impact of fluctuating interest rates on the automotive industry, pointing out discernible variances between new car transaction prices and average used car listing prices in the market. Notably, the average new car listing price decreased in the last full month, and the average new car transaction price also declined, indicating a noteworthy shift in the car marketplace. As of July, the current average loan rate for a new car stands at approximately 9.5%, while it hovers around 14% for a used car. Lowering these rates could widen access to credit, enabling more individuals to afford cars, including higher-priced ones. However, lower interest rates also potentially drive car prices upward. Despite the recent average used car listing price increase, it remains lower than figures from 2020 and 2023. An attractive opportunity emerges in the electric car market, where incentives can offset approximately 12% of the transaction price, presenting a substantial discount for prospective buyers. Brian also discussed the topic of affordable all-wheel drive vehicles for the upcoming winters of 2024 and 2025. The list included the 2024 Subaru Impreza, 2024 Nissan Kicks, 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 2025 Kia Celtos, 2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid, 2024 Subaru Legacy, 2024 Chevy Trailblazer, 2024 Mazda CX-30, 2024 Corolla Cross, and the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. These vehicles were noted for their affordability, tech features, and standard all-wheel drive capabilities, making them suitable options for the upcoming winter season. For further details, visit kellybluebookitskbb.com/finance.

[00:00:00] – Contributor BJ Killeen
[00:06:33] – A Fraud Is A Fraud

[00:12:30] – Look Out for Scout!
[00:19:21] – Contributor George Kennedy III
[00:28:52] – Nizmo Z
[00:36:20] – BMW E Series
[00:42:09] – Contributor Lauren Fix
[00:49:48] – Fix and Brauer at Pebble Beach
[00:55:40] – Theres a Shift in the Auto Industry
[01:02:30] – Contributor Brian Moody
[01:12:32] – Interest Rates Going Down
[01:18:29] – Top 10 Cheapest New Vehicles for Winter

Host: Alan Taylor
Producer: Dave Milligan
Copy Editor: Colleen Mahi

Contributor: BJ Killeen
Contributor: George Kennedy III
Contributor: Lauren Fix

Contributor: Brian Moody

Vehicles Discussed:

2025 Nismo Z by Nissan, 2024 Mercedes-Benz E Class, Maserati GT2 Stradale, Porsche 911, BMW M5, 2024 Subaru Impreza, 2024 Nissan Kicks, 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 2025 Kia Celtos, 2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid, 2024 Subaru Legacy, 2024 Chevy Trailblazer, 2024 Mazda CX-30, 2024 Corolla Cross, and the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek.

• Austin Hatcher Foundation
• AutoTempest.com
• Brembo
• Dodge
• Foundation of Human Understanding
• Shell
• Subaru

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