Nicole is trekking to the Julian Pie Company with her husband so it's mostly just Robbie and Sam. Robbie gives a preview of the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen and Sam reviews the 2025 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.

In the news, Stellantis picks Antonio Fillosa as its new CEO and cancels a smart cockpit deal with Amazon. The Dodge Durango is back for another year with Hellcat power and we get our first look at the new Jeep Cherokee. Tesla FSD still doesn't stop for school buses. SAE has published an update to the J3400 standard for NACS charging connectors to enable higher speeds and GM may be producing LFP cells with LG and Samsung in the US. Nicole and Sam pre-recorded a review of the 2026 Toyota bZ and Sam interviews chief engineer Daisuke Ido. Nicole has a conversation with Mike Pennington, Director - Global Training, Event Marketing & Consumer Relations at Meguiar's all about car care.

Links

No More Manual Versas

Amazon and Stellantis kill Smart Cockpit deal

Antonio Filosa Gets the Top Job at Stellantis

First 2026 Jeep Cherokee images

Tesla FSD still doesn't stop for school buses

1 year only Durango Hellcat returns for year 5

SAE J3400/2 brings faster charging for NACS

Nicole on the 2026 Toyota bZ

Sam's Thoughts on the Toyota bZ

GM may produce LFP cells with LG and Samsung

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Nicole and Sam returned from Texas without picking up any measels. Nicole spent quality time with the Toyota Grand Highlander while Sam drove the Kia K5 GT, and Robbie spent another week without driving anything.

While in Texas for Toyota's HQ Confidential event, we saw the new 2026 all hybrid Rav4 and Lexus RZ 550e F-Sport with fake shifting along with a bunch of other stuff. The week before, we drove the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Cadillac Vistiq for the first time. Nissan has a cute new Micra EV but Americans won't be getting it because not enough of us will drive small cars. Honda is slowing some of its EV plans while Republican US senators voted to rescind California's ability to set its own EV rules. Customers are adding rip cords to Teslas so they can get out of the car loses power and Chevrolet has launched the Trail Boss version of the Silverado EV.

We answer some listener questions and we have an interview with Cooper Ericksen, head of product planning with Toyota North America

Links

2026 Toyota Rav4

Lexus RZ 550e F Sport

Nissan Micra EV

Cadillac Vistiq

Nicole on the Hyundai Ioniq 9

Sam on the Hyundai Ioniq 9

Honda's slowing EV rollout

Tesla Ripcords

Congress Trying to Kill California Emissions Standards

Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss

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This week Sam has been driving the 2025 Cadillac Lyriq and supercharging it with the Lectron Vortex adapter. Nicole had the Subaru Forester Hybrid and Robbie rented a Toyota Camry Hybrid while covering the Formula SAE competition in Michigan.

Nicole also went on the first drive of the 2026 Ford Expedition and Sam had a first ride in the 2026 Hummer EV. Toyota announced 3 updated or new EVs for its lineup while Stellantis delayed the Ram 1500 Ramcharger. Aston Martin is finally launcing Carplay Ultra in the DBX and Infiniti is updating the QX60. We love Miatas, but we know some people don't fit so what should they buy? We also have listener emails.

https://youtu.be/drS2Gr6ozLk

Get the Lectron Vortex NACS-CCS charging adapter at a discount

Links

Toyota bZ Woodland

Toyota CH-R EV

2026 Toyota bZ

2026 Ford Expedition

2026 GMC Hummer

Trucks Faster than Vettes legal, small trucks not

Ramcharger Delayed Again

What to Buy If You Don't Fit in a Miata

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra

2026 Infiniti QX60

Nissan Restructuring

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We've got a bit of a shorter show today because it was Nicole's turn to catch a trip and she accidently stopped the recording. Robbie went to Austria to ride the Can-Am Origin and Pulse electric motorcycles. Nicole drove the updated 2025.5 Volvo XC90 and Sam had the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek with its non-recovery hooks.

The 2026 Corvette looses its wall of buttons and gains a fabulous new color. Jeep launched the new Compass in Europe, but who knows when or if we will get it in North America thanks to tariffs. Volvo has an extended range PHEV XC70 for China and Ford is raising prices due to tariffs. Hyundai has Plug&Charge now and an electric Ferrari is coming in October. The F1 drivers paraded in Lego cars in Miami last week and the new Mercedes CLA won't charge on 400-500V chargers.

See the F1 Lego Cars

Sam tests the Lectron Vortex NACS-CCS adapter with a 2025 Cadillac Lyriq at a Supercharger. Get your Vortex adapter for a discount at https://ev-lectron.com/Wheel_Bearings_VortexPlug

Links

Corvette Roswell Green Metallic

2026 Jeep Compass HEV/BEV - 375hp

Volvo XC70

Ford increases prices on Mexico-built models

Ford expects tariffs to cost $1.5B in 2025

Hyundai starts to deploy Plug&Charge

Electric Ferrari to be revealed in October

Miami F1 Lego Driver's Parade

Be careful when photographing your lidar

Charging the Mercedes-Benz CLA

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This week Robbie has the Chevrolet Silverado EV LT and Nicole shares her Portugese airport blackout adventure. Sam drives the Ford F250 XL and the Chevrolet Equinox LT.

Akio Toyoda loves cool cars and doesn't think electric sports cars fit the bill. More than 28,000 GM V8s failed before GM recalled them. Who are the most influential people in automotive history? Toyota is sort of hooking up with Waymo. The VW ID Buzz is getting recalled because the 3rd seats are too roomy and there are new chargers in Detroit. Many automakers have underutilized factories and Hyundai has priced the Ioniq 9, plus answers to listener questions.

Links

Akio doesn't believe in electric sports cars

28K GM V8s failed before recall

most influential people in automotive history

Toyota Hails a Waymo

ID Buzz recalled because rear seat too comfortable

US plant utilization

Hyundai prices Ioniq 9 in US

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This week Nicole had a Mustang GT convertible with the California Special package but New Hampshire spring weather only allowed her to put down the top once. Sam had the cheapest car currently available in America, the 2025 Nissan Versa SR.

Robbie went to the unveiling of the Slate truck and we have thoughts. Ford is countering with an even more expensive Super Duty pickup. Nicole and Sam drove the 2026 Lincoln Navigator and we have more thoughts.Cadillac is bringing an Optiq-V. Audi is launching a sub-brand for China called AUDI and we discuss this as well as new stuff from VW, Buick, Lexus, Toyota and Nissan from the Shanghai Motor Show. Finally, Walmart is getting into the EV charging business.

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Links

2026 Lincoln Navigator

Slate

Slate's Market Research Experiment

Audi E5 Sportback

VW Shanghai concepts

Cadillac Optiq-V

Buick Electra GS concept

Buick Super Architecture, Electra NEV sub-brand

New Lexus ES

Toyota bZ7

Ford Super Duty Platinum Plus

Nissan Frontier PHEV

Tesla to benefit from AV Framework

Walmart to build EV charging network

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This week, Nicole tells us about driving the Toyota Land Cruiser and BMW M235 while Sam has the BMW i4 M50.

Nicole has flown across the country 4 times in the last week to drive the Lucid Gravity in California, some Cupras in Florida, a Lincoln back in Calfornia and visit the New York Auto Show. We've got lots of news from New York including the 3 Subarus, the 2026 Solterra, Trailseeker and Outback. Kia had the EV4 sedan and K4 hatchback, Hyundai showed us the new 2026 Palisade and Genesis showed off the X Gran Equator concept and the GMR-001 race car it will take to Le Mans next year. In China, regulators are cracking down on automated driving claims by automakers and Mercedes has a new limited edition retro G-Wagen. Sam also has a conversation with Subaru car line product manager Bill Stokes about its EVs.

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Links

Lucid Gravity first drive - Sam's take

Nicole on the Lucid Gravity

Robbie on the Gravity

Genesis X Gran Equator

Genesis GMR-001

Kia k4 hatchback

Kia EV4

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Subaru Trailseeker

Subaru Outback

Sampling Cupra

Chinese regulators crack down on Smart Driving

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Edition STRONGER THAN THE 1980s

Lucid Gravity Videos

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This week Nicole is trecking back and forth and back and forth again across the US so Chad Kirchner joins us again. Sam had the GMC Canyon AT4X AEV edition and it's a mixed bag. Chad and Sam both got to see this year's Easter Jeep Safari concepts before they got shipped to Moab. We have the first image of the secretive Slate electric truck and a prototype electric truck from Kia. GM's new UK design studio has an interesting new electric Corvette concept. Jeep seems to be working on a new high performance Grand Cherokee and TFL drag races an old Corvette, a new one and a Nissan Leaf. Finally, Ford has a new electric Puma in Europe and a Ranger Super Duty for the rest of the world.

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Links

Easter Jeep Safari concepts

Kia developing midsize electric pickup for US

Ford Puma Gen-E

Ford Ranger Super Duty

GM opens UK studio with Corvette concept

1968 Corvette vs C8 vs Leaf

Slate truck

The Kirchner Report

New Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

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This week in the garage Nicole has the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5, Robbie has the Ford e-Transit and Sam has the Corvette Stingray 3LT.

Sam and Nicole both drove the 2026 Honda Passport in Puerto Rico last week and have thoughts. Sam also interviewed chief engineer Todd Hemertt. Nicole tells us about climbing Davis Dam in the 2025 Ram HD. Somehow Aptera is still trying to get its little solar and electric three-wheeler to production and an initial road trip yields dissapointing efficiency numbers. Restomod producer Icon is now offering an electric 1st generation Bronco and it's not cheap. Hakan Samuelsson has returned temporarily as the CEO of Volvo Cars. At the Seoul Mobility Show, Hyundai showed off a cool Pikes Peak ready version of its Inster electric mini car, a refreshed Ioniq 6 and promised not to raise prices in response to tariffs. Sam also spoke with Honda of America safety strategy director Brian Bautsch about level 3 automation.

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Links

Nicole Drives the New Ram HD

Sam's Take on the 2026 Honda Passport

Nicole's Review of the 2026 Passport

1st Aptera Road Trip

Icon Electric Bronco

Hakan Samuelsson returns as Volvo CEO

Hyundai Insteroid

New Hyundai Nexo

Refreshed Hyundai Ioniq 6

Hyundai not raising prices, yet

Hyundai Honors the Mustang's 45th Birthday

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Robbie is back from Japan where he drove the best selling EV in that country, the Nissan Sakura. Nicole is back to discuss the Lexus GX, and Nissan Frontier and Armada Pro-4X models. Sam took the Ram 1500 RHO to Ikea and found it challenging to park.

In the news, GMC is bringing lower priced versions of the Sierra EV for the 2026 model year and Electrify America is piloting new Alpitronic chargers with J3400 cables. Robbie discusses some of what he saw in Japan (more to come in the near future) and we all ponder if VW's Cupra brand will actually make it to America. New tariffs could hammer Stellantis profits by 75% and kill affordable new cars entirely. The cheapest 2-door Ford Bronco with a V6 now costs $78,000 and we learn a bit of history about VW and the Kong your dog likes to chew on.

Links

Cheaper GMC Sierra EVs

Electrify America installing new chargers with J3400

What's coming from Nissan

Will Cupra actually make it to America?

Stellantis profits could drop 75%

Affordable cars could be sacrificed to tariffs

2-door V6 Bronco now $78,000

VW and Kong

Nicole Drives Nissan Pro-4X Frontier and Armada

Toyota Land Cruiser vs Lexus GX

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