Wheel Bearings

The guys return after a week away with Dan getting his turn at the Kia Niro while Sam tours in the Lexus LC500. We review the highlights of  the Frankfurt Motor Show plus the hideous BMW X7, discuss what the NTSB had to say about a fatal Tesla crash, ponder stolen VW diesels and marvel at the creativity of Mazda's engineers. We also answer some really old voice mails.

The guys return after a week away with Dan getting his turn at the Kia Niro while Sam tours in the Lexus LC500. We review the highlights of  the Frankfurt Motor Show plus the hideous BMW X7, discuss what the NTSB had to say about a fatal Tesla crash, ponder stolen VW diesels and marvel at the creativity of Mazda’s engineers. We also answer some really old voice mails.

Links

Mazda SkyActiv-X Tech

Stolen VW diesels

NTSB on Tesla and automated driving

Slimmed down federal guidelines on automated driving

Frankfurt 2017 Highlights

Lexus LC500 Review

Kia Niro Review

Sam tells us about driving the Acura NSX for a weekend, and we also discuss hatches warm and hot. The Hyundai Elantra GT Sport is the warm one while the Honda Civic Type R is on-boil. Speaking of hot, we finish up by discussing the partnership Ford and Dominos Pizza have just announced so both companies can learn more about autonomous logistics and customer behavior.

This week we talk about lots of the vehicles we’ve recently driven. Sam samples a pair of very different Acura hybrids with some shared hardware. He then heads to the track to play with the hottest Civic ever the Type-R and talks with product planner Rob Keogh. Dan gets in the decidedly mediocre Mitsubishi Outlander GT. The Hyundai Elantra GT Sport is one of the most refined cars yet from the ever-improving Korean brand but is it better than a GTI? Finally, Ford and Domino’s hook up to try out autonomous pizza delivery.

Domino’s Takes High-Tech Pizza Delivery To Level 4 With Ford

The Ridge Motorsports Park

2017 Acura NSX – Vaporware No More

The guys are back with a regular episode wherein we drive sibling vehicles from Korea, the Hyundai Elantra Sport and Kia Niro FE. Sam was wiped out last week after a whirlwind trip to San Francisco for the City of Tomorrow symposium hosted by Ford. While there he got the chance to talk with Bryan Salesky, one of the most experienced software engineers working on automated vehicles. Fiat Chrysler is also trying to get a foothold in the automated driving space while rumors of a Chinese acquisition swirl. Meanwhile GM still hopes that diesel can give them a competitive edge with the 39 mpg Chevy Equinox.

Wheel Bearings 36

The guys are back with a regular episode wherein we drive sibling vehicles from Korea, the Hyundai Elantra Sport and Kia Niro FE. Sam was wiped out last week after a whirlwind trip to San Francisco for the City of Tomorrow symposium hosted by Ford. While there he got the chance to talk with Bryan Salesky, one of the most experienced software engineers working on automated vehicles. Fiat Chrysler is also trying to get a foothold in the automated driving space while rumors of a Chinese acquisition swirl. Meanwhile GM still hopes that diesel can give them a competitive edge with the 39 mpg Chevy Equinox.

links

FCA Joins BMW/Intel Autonomous Driving Partnership

Chevy Equinox Diesel rated at 39 mpg highway

Uber Kills Leasing Program

Future of Smaller Automakers May Be As Tier 1 Suppliers

Ford Makes $1B Bet On Argo.AI As Recruiting Tool

Kia Niro Review

Sam’s column for the Sept 2017 issue of Automotive Engineering: For Future Vehicles, Communication Equals Trust

Sam is recovering from a redeye flight, but we’ll be recording the next episode soon. In the meantime, we’re sharing recordings made during the New England Motor Press Association MIT Technology Conference. Held annually at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this year’s theme was Lighter, Stronger, Faster.

This week, we’ll present the first two panelists: Doctor Jody Hall, Vice President of the automotive market for the Steel Market Development Institute, and NanoSteel’s David Paratore.

MIT's Bryan Reimer provides an introduction first.