Wheel Bearings https://wheelbearings.media
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- Leisure
Wheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin
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The Best EV Value
This week Robbie was carless but Nicole has to vehicles to tell us about, the Lexus TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. Meanwhile Sam describes his disappointment with the Nissan Z Nismo, at least as a sports car for the street.
We also have a first drive review of the new Chevrolet Equinox EV, which despite GM's claims is most definitely not a compact but it is very good. We have first looks at the production Jeep Wagoneer S and Cadillac Optiq. With all of the safety issues we have on the road, some regulators and politicians have decided to set their sights on a tiny niche of a niche, the Japanese Kei car. For those tired of weeding out all the automatic transmission cars on Bring a Trailer, there is now a manual only auction site. 14 years after racing a hybrid 911, Porsche finally has a production model for 2025. The Geneva Motor Show has been cancelled indefinitely and we answer listener questions.
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Links
Chevrolet Equinox EV first drive
Jeep Wagoneer S
Cadillac Optiq
The war on Kei cars
Manual only auction site
2025 Porsche 911 GTS hybrid
Geneva Motor Show canceled indefinitely
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Too Heavy
Nicole is traveling again this week so it's just the boys. Robbie had nothing to drive, but Sam hit the road to the MAMA Spring Rally at Road America #MAMA24SR in the Nissan Rogue AWD Platinum.
We have a first drive review of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition and Sam shares some thoughts on some of the vehicles he drove at the Rally including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Kia EV6 GT, Ineos Grenadier, Polaris Slingshot, Volvo EX30, Hummer EV SUV and Mustang Dark Horse. Kia unveiled the new EV3, hopefully coming to America in 2025. Honda showed off the updated Civic, now with hybrid power. Apple wants to make it easier to read a phone in the car without getting sick. California wants automatic speeding warnings and BMW unveils the new Skytop concept.
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Links
2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition
Kia EV3
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid
iOS Tackles motion sickness
California considers speed alert requirement
Polaris Slingshot R
BMW SkyTop concept
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Two Transmissions in One
This week Nicole had a Chevy Blazer EV that had to go home early and a Hyundai Kona. Robbie drove the Fiat 500e and Sam drove the BMW 530i xDrive.
Despite some recent skepticism because of the Supercharger layoffs at Tesla, EVgo is moving forward with installing J3400 connectors on its DC fast chargers. Rivians run Android Automotive and are getting Google Cast support. Honda provides an EV update. BYD has a plug-in hybrid midsize pickup called the Shark, and Motor Trend disproves Tesla's 911 Cybertruck drag race claims. BMW's Neue Klasse EVs will charge really fast and Nicole has thoughts on a French safety campaign. Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis retires and we answer listener questions.
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Links
EVGo begins NACS deployment
Android Automotive gets Google Cast support starting with Rivian
Honda EV update
BYD Shark
Motor Trend drag races the Cybertruck and 911
BMW Neue Klasse - 186 miles in 10 minutes
France encourages everyone to drive like a woman
Audi/Porsche PPE platform
Tim Kuniskis retires
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A Little Digital Kiss
Robbie is back from Japan and driving the BMW i5 M60. Nicole jumps from last week's Suburban into the Nissan Altima and Sam had the Cadillac Lyriq with new better door handles and fully functional software.
In the news, will Rivian partner with Apple on something? Infotainment, ADAS? Will the US impose 100% tarrifs on Chinese made EVs? Ford is scaling back orders for EV batteries, but how much are they really losing per electric vehicle? On the combustion side, nearly 1/4 of F-150s are now hybrids. The aftermath of Tesla gutting its charging team is still playing out as other companies scramble to pick up the pieces. Cadillac has a new documentary about its Le Mans racing program and Hyundai steps in to save Motional and its automated driving efforts. Finally ZF had a technology demo day and Sam got to try out some cool stuff.
Links
Apple and Rivian to partner?
100% Tariffs on Chinese EVs?
Ford Cuts Battery Orders, How Much Are They Really Losing on EVs?
Nearly 1/4 of F-150s now hybrid
It's all about the charging
BP Pulse and Shell interested in Supercharger sites
No Perfect Formula Trailer
Trying to get a speeding ticket in a slow car
ZF Demo Day
Hyundai spending nearly $1B to keep Motional driving
Nissan Altima Review
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The Girl In The Trunk
As Robbie and his wife celebrate 18 years of marriage with a vacation in Japan, we're joined this week by our friend Jill Ciminillo. Jill shares her thoughts on one of the most affordable new cars still offered for sale in the US, the Nissan Versa SR. Nicole hwas been driving something nearly large enough to hold a Versa inside, the Chevrolet Suburban High Country and Sam has the Infiniti QX55 with its silly dual screen infotainment system.
We also have a first drive review of the new 2024 Chevrolet Traverse and a discussion of why Mercedes-Benz won't be adopting the next-generation Apple Carplay. That rolls into a discussion of GM's decision to drop Carplay support from its EVs. NHTSA is looking into why there were two fatal crashes of vehicles running Ford's hands-free BlueCruise system. Tesla has fired its whole Charging team. By 2029 all new vehicles in the US will need automatic emergency braking systems capable of working at speeds up to 90 mph. The woes for Fisker Ocean owners continue with a lack of parts availability.
Links
2024 Chevrolet Traverse
Mercedes-Benz Won't Let CarPlay Take Over
NHTSA Investigating BlueCruise
Tesla fires supercharger team
Tesla fires supercharger team
AEB up to 90 mph to be mandatory by 2029
Fisker Ocean totalled over a $910 door ding
Fisker cannibalizing prototypes for service parts
Chevy Blazer EV infotainment demo
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Finding The Hidden Charge Port
Nicole is back and she shares her impressions of driving a Lynk&Co 01 that she and her husband rented in France during their vacation. Robbie will have more to share next week about the BMW i5 and Sam has driven the Land Rover Defender 110 and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.
In the news, the Ram TRX has been shelved for now, but Ram has a six-cylinder powered version called the RHO. Mercedes-Benz has revealed an all-electric version of the new G-Wagen with four motors. There were several interesting reveals at the 2024 Beijing Motor Show and some of them might make it to North America. The Mini Aceman is all electric, but it doesn't directly replace the discontinued Clubman. The Mazda EZ-6 is a great looking electric sedan that should come to America along with the Buick Electra L and LT. While the design of the Toyota bZ4X is polarizing, the bZ3C and bZ3X are much more appealing. Honda and its partners will invest $11 billion into an EV production ecosystem in Alliston, Ontario and NHTSA has closed one Tesla Autopilot investigation and opened up another.
Links
Lynk & Co 01
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Tesla Autopilot has caused hundreds of crashes, dozens of fatalities
Mini Aceman
Mazda EZ-6
Toyota BZ3C and BZ3X
Buick Electra L, LT concepts
Honda $11B investment in Canada EV production
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen EQ
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