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This week in the garage, Nicole has been driving two cars that are basically the same but oh so different, the Buick Envista Avenir and the Porsche Cayenne GTS while Sam tries out some hands-off highway driving in the new 2025 Ram 1500 Limited.

In th news, Lexus should soon be launching a successor to the LFA that will form the basis of its next GT3 race car. Uber and Lyft are adopting the Toyota bZ4X. 15 years ago, we expected to see light duty pickups from Detroit with diesel V8s but they all got cancelled. However, some prototypes of the GM 4.5L Duramax has occasionally popped up. That engine was specifically designed to fit in the suprisingly compact package envelope of the classic GM small block. One of the places that small block V8s occasionally show up is in Miatas, and friend of the show Tommy Mica tries one out.

Fisker has finally filed for bankruptcy and Sam got a look at the Leapmotor C10 from China. Accidental Tech Podcast host Casey Liss had a crazy engine failure in his family's Volvo XC90. Sam has more on the updated Rivian R1 and a 3,600 mile Tesla road trip demonstrates why we need more emphasis on AC charging to make EVs truly mainstream. TFL Truck's Andre Smirnov gets a deep dive on the Ford SuperTruck that is tackling Pikes Peak this week.

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Cayenne GTS
Lexus LFR coming
Toyota bZ4X as NYC Ubers
The Chevrolet 4.5L Duramax V8
Tommy drives a V8 Miata
Fisker files for bankruptcy
Casey's engine goes boom (1:41)
Leapmotor C10
Rivian R1 updates
Another case of why we shouldn't depend on DC fast charging
Andre checks out the Lightning Supertruck

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This week, Nicole has been driving the Genesis GV60 Performance, Robbie spent time with the Ineos Grenadier and Quartermaster and Sam drove the Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Nicole also went on an electric off-road adventure with the Polaris Ranger EXP in Michigan's Upper Penninsula and drove the new GMC Acadia. Sam went to the Stellantis investor day and got to try out the Peugeot e-3008 and rode in the Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore. Dealers are once again demonstrating why customers hate them by slapping huge markups on the Chevrolet Equinox EV. We also answer listener questions.

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VW ID Buzz Campers
Stellantis investor day
Polaris off-road adventure
Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore
Peugeot e-3008
STLA Brain, Cockpit, Autodrive
GMC Acadia first drive
Don't pay markups for the Chevy Equinox EV
Hamilton's North Coast Adventures

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Robbie has the updated the Ford Mustang Mach-E with a lithium iron phosphate battery, Nicole has the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra N-Line and Sam has the 2024 Ford Ranger XLT.

Ford is attacking the Pikes Peak Hillclimb with another EV, this time the Lightning Supertruck. Rivian has done its first major update the R1 series with new motors, battery packs and electronics. Nicole spoke with some Fisker employees about the s**tshow in Manhattan Beach. Two three-row, electric SUVs started production in the US, the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90. IIHS crash tested full-size SUVs and the results were not great. Friend of the show Jonny Lieberman wrote a rant against plug-in hybrids and Robbie made a video about them. Finally, Sam has a conversation with Michigan's chief mobility officer Justine Johnson

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Ford Lightning Supertruck to Pikes Peak
Rivian R1 updates
Fisker Employee Inside Story
Kia EV9 US production

Volvo EX90 start US production
IIHS tests big SUVs
IIHS Crash tests

Jonny is wrong about PHEVs
Understanding Plug-in hybrids

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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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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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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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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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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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