Wheel Bearings

This week another low profile tire was sacrificed to the pothole gods as Robbie’s Mercedes-AMG EQE had to go home on a flatbed. Sam drove both the Toyota Sequioa i-Force Max Capstone and the Kia Niro EV while Nicole had the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE Summit Reserve. In the news, we’ve seen more of the… Read More »Just Bring It To America

This week another low profile tire was sacrificed to the pothole gods as Robbie's Mercedes-AMG EQE had to go home on a flatbed. Sam drove both the Toyota Sequioa i-Force Max Capstone and the Kia Niro EV while Nicole had the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE Summit Reserve.

In the news, we've seen more of the Kia EV9 ahead of the full public reveal at the New York Auto Show. All three members of the crew got to the drive the Nissan Ariya E-4ORCE in Sonoma. Sam rode around San Francisco in a driverless Jaguar and VW showed off the ID.2all concept which we all want to see on American roads but we probably won't get.

Links

Kia EV9

Nissan Ariya E-Force first drive

VW ID.2all Concept

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Nicole is back from the mouse house this week and driving the Mazda CX-50. Robbie had the Kia EV6 GT and Sam had a very different electric vehicle, the equally fast and porky GMC Hummer EV Edition 1. In the news, noted Wall St analyst and Tesla promoter Adam Jonas says the Cybertruck, if and… Read More »It’s Ridiculous

testNicole is back from the mouse house this week and driving the Mazda CX-50. Robbie had the Kia EV6 GT and Sam had a very different electric vehicle, the equally fast and porky GMC Hummer EV Edition 1.

In the news, noted Wall St analyst and Tesla promoter Adam Jonas says the Cybertruck, if and when it ever arrives probably isn't going to take major market share away from the F-150, Silverado, Sierra and Ram. Meanwhile there is another Tesla Autopilot related death and we remind you that there are NO self-driving cars available for sale from any automaker, so keep your eyes on the road. Elon Musk apparently wants to create a company town in Texas.

GM has revealed some details of the sensor suite on its upcoming Ultra Cruise system that will enable hand-off but eyes-on driving on more than 2 million miles of roads. Sam had a chance to play around with the new Unreal Engine powered infotainment system in the 2024 Ford Mustang and wonders if these fancy graphics provide any actual benefit beyond eye candy. Nissan Ariya production is lagging about 30% behind schedule and Robbie tries charging a BMW iX at a Tesla Supercharger.

Links

Nissan Ariya production below schedule

Will the Cybertruck be a dud?

More details on Ultra Cruise

2024 Mustang Infotainment

Another Tesla driver dies crashing

Elon Musk reportedly wants to be his employees' landlord

charging BMW iX at a supercharger

Kia EV6 GT review

Winter driving in the Ford F-150 Lightning

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Nicole is out this week but we have Tanya Gazdik from Media Post sitting in with Robbie and Sam. Tanya has been driving the Toyota Corolla hatchback, while Sam finally discusses the Kia Soul he forgot to review last week along with the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid. Robbie had the Ford Maverick Lariat Tremor and has thoughts.

In the news, Ford creates a new subsidiary to develop hands-free driving assist systems from the remnants of Argo AI. The VW ID3 gets a mid-cycle refresh and VW Group is going to build a new factory in South Carolina to produce Scout electric trucks and SUVs. Tesla has finally started opening up its Superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles and there have been lots of unusual features in cars over the years. Finally, Sam talks with Chrysler brand chief Chris Feuell.

Links

VW ID3 refresh

Latitude AI

Charging non-Teslas at Superchargers - Marques

Charging non-Teslas at Superchargers - Tom

New Scout factory

Strangest car features

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This week Roberto drives the new BMW 760 and Nicole has the Ford F-150 Lightning. Sam was going to talk about the Kia Soul GT-Line but completely spaced so we'll get to it next week.

In the news, Mercedes-Benz talked about their new operating system and announced they will include Luminar lidar on future vehicles from 2025. Christian von Koenigsegg picks the NA Miata, Vinfast cuts prices and promises to start deliveries. GM patents a self-cleaning touchscreen and updates the Cadillac XT4 with the screen from the Lyriq. And we discuss using EVs when there's no electricity. In the questions we discuss the problem of automakers offering free DC fast charging.

Links

Christian von Koenigsegg chooses the NA Miata

GM Self-cleaning touchscreen

Mercedes-Benz OS

Reduced Vinfast pricing

2024 Cadillac XT4 refresh

EVs when there's no power

Free EV Charging sucks

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This week, Sam and Robbie unknowningly found themselves crossing paths at the same place in Montana for a winter driving program with Infiniti and Bridgestone. They got to try out the latest Blizzak winter tires on the QX60 and other Infiniti models through a variety of maneuvers. Sam also drove the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum and Nicole drove the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L.

Ford has had to stop production and shipments of F-150 Lightnings due to a battery fire at the factory. Tesla agrees to recall its full self-driving beta software to address issues identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Hyundai and Kia develop a fix to address easy to steal cars and we discuss where the charge port should go on EVs before finishing with some listener questions. Sam also has a conversation with Iris Ocasio, consumer product strategy manager at Bridgestone.

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Links

Lightning battery problems

Tesla FSD recall

Tesla recall notice

Hyundai/Kia theft recall

Where should EV charging ports go

Bridgestone Winter Driving School

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It was Chicago Auto Show week and we've got a bunch of news and interviews. But first, in the garage, Sam has been driving the 2023 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro V6 AWD, the refreshed and more off-roady version of Kia's big crossover. Nicole had Honda's version of the same idea with the new Pilot Trailsport. 

In Chicago we saw Toyota take the wraps off an even larger 3-row crossover, the Grand Highlander with more third-row and cargo room and an option Hybrid Max powertrain, but no rugged off-road version, yet. Volkswagen refreshed its popular Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport with more grille, bigger screens and a new turbo 4-cylinder. Subaru is evolving its CrossTrek with a new but incrementally changed look. Jeep is celebrating 20 years of Rubicon with price new limited edition Wranglers and Ram has shown us the 1500 REV electric pickup that unfortunately looks more like the current gas truck than the flashy Revolution concept we saw at CES. We also have interviews with Jeep's Jim Morrison and Hyundai's Kristin Gomez.

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Links

Toyota Grand Highlander

2024 VW Atlas/Cross Sport

2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th anniversary

Hyundai Evolve+

Ram 1500 REV

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This week we have special guest Kelly Funkhouser, director of automotive technology at Consumer Reports to explain how they conducted their recent test of advanced driver assist systems. Some of the assumptions Sam made about what they actually evaluated were wrong and the results make a lot more sense now.

In the garage, Nicole has been driving the 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD while Sam got a Cadillact CT4-V Blackwing with a manual gearbox, just ahead of an eight-inch snowfall. Fortunately the Cadillac was on winter tires and did just fine.

In the news, Ford is teaming up to supply hybrid power systems for the 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 cars. The IRS has corrected its weird classifications for electric vehicles eligible for clean vehicle credits. It's trivially easy for thieves to steal older Hyundai and Kia models equipped with a key and they want customers to pay for a fix. Vinfast deliveries in the US have been delayed and we have more on the cost of installing Ford's Intelligent Power Backup plus questions. 

Ford teams up with Red Bull for Formula 1

IRS reclassifies a bunch of EVs for clean vehicle credits

IRS rules for used EV credits

Stealing older Hyundais and Kias is easy

Vinfast delays US deliveries

Consumer Reports ADAS testing

More on the cost of installing Ford Intelligent Power Backup

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Unfortunately Robbie had to miss this week with a migraine, but Nicole has thoughts to share about the Lexus NX 350 F-Sport and Sam had the 2023 Nissan Versa SR which proves that decent, cheap new cars are still available.

In the news Mazda, has revealed the new 2024 CX-90 three-row crossover which will have options of a new inline-six cylinder engine or a plug-in hybrid. Sam also has a conversation with Mazda North America CEO Jeff Guyton. Polestar has done a major mid-cycle update on the 2. Motor Trend has a long-term F-150 Lightning and one of its writers got a quote for installation of the home power backup system.

Links

2024 Polestar 2

2024 Mazda CX-90

How Much for the installation?

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