Wheel Bearings

This week, Sam is a bit under the weather, but he talks about driving the Mazda CX-30 S Aire Edition while Nicole had the Toyota Tundra Platinum Off-Road and Robbie got to try out the Everrati Land Rover Classic.

Nicole and Sam both had the chance to drive the new 2027 Kia Telluride in Santa Barbara and Hyundai looks set to follow it's Kia cousin by ditching the V6 engine. Honda has cancelled all of its North American EV plans and Afeela is probably going next. Rivian has dropped pricing on the new R2 and it's not starting as cheap as many hoped. GM steps up to help get an EV1 back on the road. VW is renaming its EVs and so is Cadillac. The FTC is warning car dealers about hidden fees, and Volvo is also dropping the EX30. We also have conversations with Zach Walker and Marc Winterhoff from Lucid and Kurt Kahl from Kia.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid First Drive: The Sweet Spot Before You Go Full EV | GreenCars

https://www.testmiles.com/2027-kia-telluride-hybrid-more-space-better-mpg/

The all-new PALISADE Performance | SUV - Hyundai Worldwide

Honda Is Canceling All Its New Electric Cars For America As Gas Prices Soar - The Autopian

Honda Killing Its EVs Might Mean Sony Is Screwed, Too - The Autopian

Rivian R2 Electric SUV: Price, Range & Features

GM Finally Does the Right Thing for an EV1

The successor to the ID.3 is called ID.3 Neo. Digital product updates for ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7 | Volkswagen Newsroom

Cadillac’s Naming Convention Is Changing Again

Trump FTC warns 97 auto dealership groups about advertised prices - Automotive News.pdf

Volkswagen's Component Locking Makes Home Repairs Too Expensive To Be Feasible - Jalopnik

For Sale: Volvo EX30 Wheels, Never Turned - Jalopnik

Everrati

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Nicole tells us about driving home in a remote area of New England in the Range Rover Sport SE Dynamic while Robbie shares some thoughts on the new Mercedes-Benz GLS and GLE. Sam shares thoughts on the gas guzzling Toyota Sequoia and has mixed feelings on the Polestar 4.

While visiting his daughter in Denver, Sam saw one of the new Waymo Ojai robotaxis in her neighborhood. Lexus announces pricing of the new 2026 ES which will start cheaper for the electric version than the hybrid. Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh provides updates on the brand's progress toward production. Kia is dropping the EV6 GT from its US lineup and Hyundai is dropping standard versions of the Ioniq 6. Chris Fuell is out at Chrysler and replaced by Matt McAleer. Kia added a solar canopy to its West Point Georgia factory to protect cars from hail and make some power.

BYD has launched a new version of its Blade battery that charges at up to 1,500-kW. Our pals at TFL have acquired a very dubious vehicle and Nicole shares thoughts on the base R/T version of the Hurricane-powered Dodge Charger. Sam recommends a croissant place in Denver.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

Waymo robotaxis are now operating in 10 US cities | TechCrunch

2026 Lexus ES Pricing Revealed, and the EV Costs Less Than the Hybrid

2027 Scout Traveler and Terra Harvester EREV Details, Engine, and Launch Updates

Tariffs Just Killed the Kia EV6 GT in America - Autoblog

Dodge Brand CEO Matt McAlear Appointed as Chrysler Brand CEO and Head of Alfa Romeo Brand North America

Kia Built a Massive Solar Canopy to Shield 15,000 Vehicles From Hail

BYD unveils Blade Battery 2.0: 10-70% in 5 mins, 10-97% in 9 mins, and 20,000 flash charging stations in 2026

La Croissanterie Denver

Garage Find - This Is By Far The Most Underrated 4x4 AND Now It’s Ours!

Nicole Drives the 2026 Dodge Charger R/T in Vermont

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Even as a non-fan of minivans, Nicole found some beauty in the latest Toyota Sienna with a hybrid system and all-wheel-drive, plus 18 cup-holders for all her diet Cokes. Sam drove the Volvo XC90 B6 and really enjoyed the new Kia K4 hatchback.

The EPA published its latest annual Automotive Trends Report and US automakers still lag far behind the rest of the industry in fuel economy -- really far behind! Range Rover is preparing an electric replacement for the Velar and it looks like it will adopt a fastback profile. Toyota teased its new 2027 World Rally Championship machine and it might be a preview of a new Celica. The next Nissan Pathfinder might be two very different vehicles. Stellantis' huge 2025 losses mean no profit sharing checks this year. Researchers have found new ways to fool automated driving systems. Ford is reportedly developing a Lincoln SUV based on the Bronco and Rivian has established its Rivian Adventure Department or RAD!.Our complaints about the sound quality of Toyota four-cylinder engines are nothing compared to the cacophany that was GM's infamous Quad 4 of the late 1980s.

Links

Honda is #1 Full-Line Automaker in Fuel Efficiency in Latest U.S. EPA Trends Report

Download the Automotive Trends Report | US EPARange Rover saloon?

Sleek new Velar EV sheds SUV cues | Autocar

Did Toyota Just Soft-Launch the New Celica as Its Next Rally Car?

The 2029 Nissan Pathfinder Will Share the Xterra’s Body-on-Frame Chassis, Report Says

ALL-NEW 2026 SUBARU UNCHARTED EV ARRIVES WITH MORE THAN 300 MILES OF RANGE, STARTING AT $34,995 MSRP

Stellantis Reports Full Year 2025 Financial Results | Corporate Communications25-financial-results

Parking In Her Own Driveway Cost This Florida Woman $165,000 - Jalopnik

Research Shows How Self-Driving AI Can Be Hijacked With Nothing But Ink and Paper-and-paper

Ford's Rumored Bronco-Based Lincoln Sounds Like It Might Be The Blackwood All Over Again - The Autopianall-over-again/

Rivian Adventure Department

Three Decades Ago, Pontiac Managed To Offer More Noise, Vibration, and Harshness Per Liter Than Any Other Sport Sedan - The Autopian

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're a little late with this week's show because we were waiting for the embargo to lift on some stuff. Robbie drove the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Nicole had the Volvo XC40 and Sam had the 2025 Mazda CX-5.

Nicole had the opportunity to drive the all-new 2026 CX-5 and talk with project manager for in-vehicle technologies, Matthew Valbuena. Sam drove the new Toyota bZ Woodland and C-HR. Uber is building out a suite of tools to support the deployment of robotaxis on its platform. First reviews of the 2026 Jeep Cherokee are out. Scout is denying reports that the Scout launch is delayed to 2028 and Sam discusses some of the unobtanium cars he saw while on vacation in Mexico including lots of Chinese vehicles.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

2026 Mazda CX-5 Makes Infotainment as Easy as Your Smartphone

2026 Mazda CX-5 First Drive: Bigger, Better, And More Tech-Savvy

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland First Drive | GreenCars

2026 Toyota C-HR First Drive | GreenCars

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a70406141/uber-investing-100-million-in-robotaxi-charging-hubs/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_aut&utm_medium=email&date=021826&utm_campaign=nl01_021826_AUT44201300&oo=&user_email=cd6c767ba0ce7abd8dfca31552cfbba9f49453eef65cf3c19d7d8f6a4a115cd9&GID=cd6c767ba0ce7abd8dfca31552cfbba9f49453eef65cf3c19d7d8f6a4a115cd9&utm_term=Daily%20Drive%20Sending%20Audience

2026 Jeep Cherokee DRIVEN: Is This New Model WORTHY of Its Jeep Badge?

Scout Launch Reportedly Delayed... Or Is It? - Kelley Blue Book

Uber Technologies, Inc. - Uber Unveils Uber Autonomous Solutions to Accelerate Autonomous Mobility & Delivery Worldwide

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

While we were in Ojai California last week to drive the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland and C-HR, friend of the show Tanya Gazdik and Sam sat down for a chat with chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama. 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Nicole white knuckled it through a tunnel at Boston Logan Airport with a Ford F-250 Platinum diesel and Robbie and Sam had almost identical Toyota Corolla Cross XSE hybrids.

Sam and Robbie go deep on the 3D printed pistons that F1 teams might be using to "cheat" on the new power unit rules. The Vinfast VF8 has so much creep torque, it could be a safety issue. Ferrari announced its new EV will be called the Luce and it has an interior designed by former Apple design chief Jonny Ive and his pal Marc Newson. Toyota revealed its next-generation Highlander and its all electric. VW is previewing the 2027 Atlas on the snow and ice in Quebec, and the Trump adminstration has effectively killed the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. China is continuing to introduce regulations to address some of the worst design decisions of recent years, including banning steering yokes and requiring physical controls for the most commonly used functions.

Sam had a conversation with Mazda North America CEO Tom Donnelly about where the brand is going and we have a couple of tangents about corgis and furniture dollies.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

How 3D-Printed Pistons Let F1 Engines Bend the Rules on Compression - Autoblog

VinFast VF8 Creep Torque Insane Problem! I've Never Seen Anything Like This

Why ‘Luce’ Is the Perfect Name for the First Electric Ferrari

New Ferrari Luce: 1000HP Electric Supercar - INTERIOR Reveal

2027 Toyota Highlander EV Reveal | GreenCars

Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Updates EV Charger Program to Include Buy America Requirements

Here's The ALL-NEW Volkswagen Atlas Before You're Supposed To See It!

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zvvz9h7u4m7brdndeskoe/China-takes-aim-at-screen-heavy-dashboards-in-new-safety-push-Automotive-News.pdf?rlkey=l05zgpen0kwvzh9z2l1px9w74&st=1d2th28d&dl=0

China Just Banned Steering Yokes, But Not For The Reason You Think - The Autopian

Westminster Kennel Club Pembroke Corgis

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Robbie, his wife and the dogs are taking a weekend off at a cabin in Sonoma so it's just Nicole and Sam. After a intro discussion of winter driving, Nicole discusses driving the Hyundai Ioniq 9 in frigid weather while Sam reviews the Mazda CX-70.

Hyundai unveiled a camper version of its new electric Staria van in Stuttgart. We have more detail on China's new rules banning retracting door handles. Autocar got to drive the new Jaguar Type 00 prototype in Northern Sweden. Stellantis is doing a major reset under CEO Antonio Filosa and taking a $26 billion dollar charge including selling it stake in a battery joint venture to LG for just $100. Some cars need to be hatchbacks and Jim Farley teases the upcoming $30,000 electric truck and Ford promises its dealers 5 vehicles under $40K. You might soon be able to use other chatbots with Apple Carplay and Nicole discusses a new SAE/NACTOY scholarship for aspiring automotive journalists.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

A New Vision of Travel Freedom: Hyundai Unveils STARIA Camper Concept at the CMT in Stuttgart

New China Door Handle Regulations

NEW JAGUAR DRIVEN | First review of prototype electric Jaguar 'Type 00' | Autocar

Stellantis Resets its Business to Meet Customer Preferences and to Support Profitable Growth | Corporate Communications

LG Energy Solution to Acquire Full Ownership of NextStar Energy in Joint Strategic Decision with Stellantis | Corporate Communications

These Cars Would Be Better If They Had A Hatchback Or Liftback, According To Our Readers - Jalopnik

https://x.com/jimfarley98/status/2019388693866271070?s=42

Ford Promises 5 New Cars Under $40K by 2030, Including Midsize Electric Truck

Apple might let you use ChatGPT from CarPlay | The Verge

SAE/NACTOY Scholarship

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week both Sam and Nicole had the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy although in different colors.

Nicole has had several first drives to report on including the Kia K4 hatchback, refreshed Honda Pilot and Honda Prelude. Congress voted not to kill the mandate for a drunk driving disable system while Tesla has decided to kill the Model S and Model X and Hyundai is ditching the Santa Cruz. Rolls Royce is working on an electric Cullinan and Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a next-generation S-Class. Ineos tweaked the steering on the Grenadier and Genesis has a high-performance off-road concept the X Skorpio.

Chery is launching an electric mid-size pickup in China for just $18,300 and Mary Barra isn't sure why Canada is going to let people buy cheap Chinese EVs. Use of hands-free Super Cruise and BlueCruise is growing and people are willing to pay for it while Tesla robotaxis are crashing more often than human drivers. Finally we answer some listener e-mails and Nicole talks with Honda sales chief Lance Woelfer.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

2026 Kia K4 Hatchback Road Test and Review | Autoweb

2026 Honda Pilot first drive: The family hauler gets even better

Car ‘kill switch’ rule divides GOP

Tesla is killing off the Model S and Model X | TechCrunch

Rolls-Royce priming electric Cullinan with dramatic new look | Autocar

The 2026 Ineos Grenadier’s Steering Sucks A Bit Less And Its Electronics Suck A Bit More - The Autopian

GENESIS UNVEILS OFF-ROAD X SKORPIO CONCEPT; NEW CONCEPT CAR STRATEGY

China Just Got an $18,300 Electric Pickup That Puts the U.S. Market to Shame

GM CEO 'Can't Explain Why' Canada Would Welcome Chinese EVs - Jalopnik

Ford Drivers Logged 264 Million BlueCruise Miles as Comfort With Autonomy Grows - Autoblog

Hyundai Santa Cruz faces early end with larger pickup planned - Automotive News

Tesla's own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor | Electrek

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Refined in every detail.

Robbie rides the Honda Motocompacto

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

At CES 2026 Sam and friend of the show John Voelker sat down for a conversation with Giovanni Lanfranchi, CEO of Zeekr Technology Europe to learn more about the Geely Group's approach to product development

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Unfortunately, Robbie had a migraine this morning so it's just Nicole and Sam. Nicole has been driving the latest Toyota Prius with AWD in New Hampshire snow and Sam had the Cadillac Lyriq Signature Sport AWD in Michigan winter weather.

Volvo finally dropped all the details on its new EX60 midsize electric crossover including the missing door handles and touchscreen vents. Tesla has moved the safety monitors from some of its "robotaxis" to a following vehicle. Tesla also killed off Autopilot and moved lane centering to its subscription only full self-driving. GM is moving production of the next-gen Buick Envision to Kansas and the current administration in Washington will no longer seek criminal penalties against businesses that remove diesel emissions devices. Chinese automakers now have 1/5 of the Mexican market and may soon do the same to Canada. Subaru is launching a lower priced base model of the WRX that keeps the 271-hp turbo boxer. Rivian is driving its manufacturing validation R2s across Route 66 and might, maybe, hopefully put some switches and knobs in future models. Finally, a dealer in Michigan is asking nearly $70K for a 35 year old Toyota pickup.

Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com

Links

The car that changes the game – meet the new, all-electric Volvo EX60 | Volvo Cars Media Intl

The Tesla Robotaxis Roaming Austin 'Without Safety Monitors' Are Accompanied by Cars Full of Safety Monitors

Tesla finally kills Autopilot in a bid to boost FSD subscriptions | The Verge

GM to move production of China-built Buick SUV to U.S. plant

Rolling-Coal And Emissions Cheating Devices Are No Longer A Criminal Offenses In Donald Trump's America - Jalopnik

Don’t Hate — eCVTs Are Genius Transmissions!

Led by BYD, China’s cheap EVs, cars take over Mexico’s streets as tariffs take hold

2026 SUBARU WRX BRINGS BACK THE AFFORDABLE RALLY-INSPIRED SPORTS SEDAN STARTING AT $32,495 MSRP

Route 66 roadtrip in R2 - Rivian Stories | Electric Vehicle Adventures

If You're Willing to Pay $70K for a 35-Year-Old Toyota Pickup, Get Some Help

Rivian May Be Giving the R1S a Smarter Tailgate—and Bringing Back Buttons - Autoblog

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy