The Drivecast

The Drive
  • 4.6 (22)
  • Automotive
  • Updated Weekly

The Drivecast gives you an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the biggest stories, controversies, and people shaping the car industry from one of the top automotive news sites in the country. Each week, The Drive's editor-in-chief Kyle Cheromcha, director of content Joel Feder, and a rotating cast of expert staffers will break down how automakers are navigating a transformative time. Massive shifts in technology, manufacturing, and consumer demands are changing the ways cars are built and sold quicker than ever, and the way car companies are navigating this moment will shape the way our roads look for the next century. It doesn’t matter if you’re an enthusiast since birth or just curious about why cars are the way they are today—we’ll give you the inside line with our exclusive reporting and break it all down for you. If you like what we're doing, check out The Drive for the latest news, analysis, and in-depth car reviews, sign up for one of our newsletters, and subscribe to us on YouTube. We're also posting all the time on Instagram and Facebook.

  1. 2d ago

    The man in charge of the next Corvette, Blackwing, and maybe Camaro

    Arguably the Corvette is General Motors' most iconic and important vehicle even if it's not a sales leader. As the possible finale of the C8 Corvette lineup arrives in the form of the Grand Sport a new leader is taking over the team and all of GM Performance. It's a critical moment, and Tony Roma has big shoes to fill. As the next-generation Corvette takes shape, the next-generation Blackwings start development, and the Camaro nameplate sits in the corner on hiatus, again, for now, Roma must make tough decisions that include V8 engines, maybe manual transmissions, and much more. Enthusiasts are watching, anxiously with anticipation. But cars require business cases and Roma knows what has to meet the mark to get approved in a board room. The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by Tony Roma who now serves as Executive Chief Engineer for the Chevy Corvette and Performance Cars at General Motors to discuss the automaker's most prized sports cars now and into the future. And yes, there's Camaro talk. Stories referenced in today's episode: We Drove the New LS6-Powered 2027 Chevy Corvette Lineup. Here’s the One to Get Corvette ZR1’s Chief Engineer Will Be Immortalized Forever on the Car Corvette Team Loses Another Key Member in GM Performance Shakeup The Corvette CX Concept Is the North Star for the Future of America’s Sports Car This New Six-Speed Manual Could Fit in the C8 Corvette and Ford Mustang GTD ‘It’s Not Real’: Corvette Engineers Squash Manual C8 Rumor Tremec Politely Disagrees With Team Corvette That Its 6-Speed Manual Transaxle ‘Isn’t Real’ GM’s Rumored Car Comeback to Bring Camaro Revival, New Cadillac CT5, and Buick Sedan: TDS It Looks Like GM Design Teased a New Chevy Camaro—and It’s Not an SUV 00:00 - Intro 03:45 - What the biggest difference with today's Corvette team from the previous team? 06:45 - The C8 finale and current lineup 17:01 - The electric Corvette 18:17 - The Nurburgring 22:24 - Why does the Camaro keep dying? 29:33 - The C9 Corvette 31:11 - Manual transmission in the Corvette 35:52 - The C9 Corvette 43:59 - Corvette as a subbrand 45:30 - The Blackwings 48:28 - Cadillac in Formula 1, tech trickle down 51:23 - Where's the Raptor competitor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Oct 9

    The big business of hacking into your car's brain

    Cars are more complicated, connected, and software driven than ever. The tuning industry is growing, but awash in shady characters promising big power gains if you yank out your car's brain and send it to them to modify. AutoTuner aims to show you can run a legitimate business in this space, but this is at odds with what automakers want. AutoTuner is building its business by primarily offering the tools and services to jailbreak ECUs, not the actual codes. But this all crosses into the battle over right-to-repair, not to mention automakers themselves wanting to sell you more performance via upgraded software for a cost. The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by AutoTuner USA CEO Arin Ahnell for a frank discussion about the state of and future of software tuning, the right-to-repair movement, and modification culture in a timeline of complex powertrains and EVs. Stories referenced in today's episode: ⁠Why Drivers and Mechanics Are United Against Automakers: ‘Right To Repair’ Explained⁠ Ford’s CEO Doesn’t Want You Fixing Your New Bronco. He Says It’s About Safety The Feds Are Coming for Diesel Truck Owners. They’re Starting With Your Phone DOJ Orders Apple, Google to Hand Over OBDII App User Data in Emissions Probe John Deere to Pay $99 Million in Monumental Right-to-Repair Settlement Ford CEO Jim Farley’s Right To Repair Comment Should Make Every Car Owner Uncomfortable Rivian’s RAD Tuner Is Like An Equalizer For Your EV’s Powertrain 00:00 - Intro 05:13 - What is the state of chip tuning in 2026? 07:14 - What does it take to unlock ECUs at scale? 08:09 - Automakers getting into the tuning game 09:30 - Warranties and tuning 11:18 - OEM collaboration 12:48 - Right-to-repair 15:51 - How do you know when an ECU's unlocked 16:50 - Getting around security protocols 19:37 - Difference between different types of cars from different countries 20:45 - Subscription model 22:05 - AutoTuner One app 24:05 - Legal issues 31:28 - Stories of people sending in their ECUs 32:33 - EVs and tuning 36:22 - Vertical stack integrations 38:53 - Tractors, agricultural market 42:32 - Accessibility and business growth 43:37 - The next cracking goal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Sep 30

    The man trying to fix EV charging in America

    America's EV charging situation is a mess. So much so that eight automakers banded together to create a joint venture, dubbed Ionna, and try to fix the situation. It's an unprecedented move on multiple levels that shows the gravity of the situation, how seriously automakers take the future of electric vehicles, and an entirely new business venture that diversifies these companies beyond just building and selling vehicles: now they are selling the fuel too. Ionna has a big goal: build a reliable, high-powered electric vehicle fast-charging network across North America with at least 30,000 chargers and 2,000 stations in the U.S. by 2030 followed by Canada. The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by Ionna CEO Seth Cutler to discuss the where the landscape sites today, why chargers are placed where they are and look like they look, and future of EV charging in America. Stories referenced in today's episode: New Automaker Super-Alliance Plans to Nearly Double EV Chargers Across America Rivian’s Charging Network Is 4% of Tesla’s. Here’s RJ Scaringe’s Plan to Change That Unreliable Charging Networks Plagued 1 in 5 EV Owners Last Year: Study 00:00 - Intro 04:48 - Why is America's charging situation a hot mess? 05:41 - What's taking so long to get EV charging stations up and running? 09:14 - How many Ionna stations exist today? Status report 10:42 - The business model 19:44 - How are charging station sites chosen? 23:46 - Partnerships 27:25 - Software, reliability, broken chargers 34:20 - Eight automakers own Ionna 37:31 - Charging speeds, how fast is fast enough? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Sep 23

    What everyone is getting wrong about Leno's Law

    A new law in California relaxing emissions tests for classic cars is being hailed as a “landmark” victory for the car community and common sense. But it’s not what it seems.  California has the toughest emissions standards in the country, requiring any car made after 1975 to pass a biennial smog test in order to be registered. By design, the system forces thousands of old cars off the road every year as the cost of compliance rises—even if the vehicle runs just fine, a stubborn check engine light will cause it to fail. Now, a group backed by industry lobbyists and Jay Leno has succeeded in changing the law to make it easier for owners to keep their classics. It’s being celebrated as an unprecedented win—but in reality, it's not going to do much at all to fix the state’s broken approach to emissions tests, or help the people who are affected the most. This week The Drive's Editor-in-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder separate fact from fiction and break down why Leno's Law isn't the solution everyone is claiming. Stories mentioned in today's episode: ‘Leno’s Law’ Finally Passes: Here’s What That Really Means for Classic Car Owners Video: The Problem with US Emissions testing (YouTube) 00:00 Intro 04:34 The fight over smog testing 8:54 How the system works 12:25 Devil's in the details 14:51 Long walk to Leno's Law 17:14 Missed opportunity 20:30 Where do we go from here? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Sep 16

    Honda doesn't want to be the next Toyota

    Honda's top executives have watched Toyota's reliability crisis play out with the Japanese competitor's new turbocharged engines, and it keeps them up at night. Honda Motor Executive Vice President Noriya Kaihara and American Honda President and CEO Eiji Fujimura told The Drive how the automaker's quality control systems are evolving as the automaker prepares a new wave of next-gen powertrains. The goal? Avoid the nightmare that is currently playing out with Toyota and its turbocharged V6 engines in the Tundra. This week The Drive's Director of Content and Product Joel Feder and Deputy Editor Jerry Perez go behind the scenes with Honda's top executives and discuss how the automaker's making sure its engines don't grenade themselves. Stories mentioned in today's episode: Honda’s Top Bosses Explain How They’re Avoiding Toyota’s Engine Nightmare Toyota Built Its Reputation on Reliability. The Tundra Is Threatening to Undo It Honda’s New V6 Hybrid Will Have More Power and Better Fuel Economy Than Competitors Turbo-Four Hybrids Next-Gen Honda Civic Hybrid Prototype Drive: A Fuel Sipper That Feels Like An Automatic Si 2026 Honda Prelude Long-Term Test Begins: Living With Honda’s Most Controversial Car 00:00 - Intro 03:57 - Toyota's nightmare recap 05:34 - Honda execs can't sleep over Toyota's issues 07:10 - Evolving quality control systems 07:36 - Speed to market 08:37 - Three words 12:04 - Who is Honda? How can Honda compete? 13:16 - Honda turbocharged path 14:13 - Honda's next-gen V6 hybrid 21:02 - No one is perfect 21:45 - Quick action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Sep 9

    The luxury car market is crashing

    You would not know it from the posts on Instagram during Monterey Car Week last month or the barrage of expensive debuts that have been touted, but the luxury segment is in trouble. While Bugatti and Ferrari are doing just fine the story isn't the same for other luxury automakers. Bentley is spiraling, Aston Martin is a mess, Maserati is a train wreck, and Porsche is in trouble and it's not clear that the Macan and Cayenne SUVs can save the iconic automaker this time. This week The Drive's Director of Content and Product Joel Feder and Editor Byron Hurd break down the situation, go behind the scenes on the luxury market crumbling, why it's happening, and what comes next. Stories mentioned in today's episode: The Luxury Car Market Is Crumbling from the Top Down 00:00 - Intro 05:41 - How did we get to this story? 06:11 - What's happening? 09:18 - Facts and figures 11:26 - Depreciation 12:30 - Second-hand market 17:59 - The blurry line of "luxury features" 26:00 - Pricing and stealth wealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Sep 2

    Diesel prices are climbing and everyone's about to pay for it

    One year ago, the average cost of a gallon of diesel fuel in America was $3.70. Today, at the time of this recording, it’s $5.60. That’s 50% higher, and some forecasts have it touching a record $6 a gallon by the end of the year. Not good. America, and arguably the world, runs on diesel. So when prices go up by 50%... well, that pain can only be contained for so long. From multiple wars to oil refineries going offline there’s no easy fix. Everyone's about to feel the pain. The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder break the situation down with Senior Editor Caleb Jacobs. Stories mentioned in today's episode: Diesel Prices Are About to Break Records. Here’s Why They Keep Rising The Government Is Still Messing With Fuel Formulas to Try to Curb Gas Prices The Feds Say Cutting Fuel With Ethanol Will Bring Down Gas Prices. We’re Not Buying It The Feds Plan To Start Diluting Gasoline This May: Explained 00:00 Intro 0:55 - Current diesel pricing reality 5:18 - Why has diesel gotten so expensive? 6:37 - This is a global issue 8:54 - Goldman Sachs prediction 10:27 - Modern realities 11:38 - Napkin math 15:42- Who's talking about this? 17:35 - Not at record levels, yet 18:56 - The new normal? 19:17 - Ripple affects on schools 22:05 - The holidays are coming 22:36 - This affects everyone 23:49 - There's no diluting like with gas 25:08 - There's no backstop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Aug 12

    The man trying to save Goodyear

    While most people could not care less about tires they are in fact one of the most important aspects of a car's performance and safety. Goodyear is one of the most iconic tire manufacturers in the world, but its name, legacy, and blimps haven't kept it insulated from the turmoil the auto industry is going through. Goodyear recorded a net loss of $1.7 billion in 2025 and $249 million in the first quarter of 2026. The company brought in a new CEO, Mark Stewart, in 2024 to "transform the company." Stewart's been swift and decisive in a bid to turnaround Goodyear's business. The Drive's Editor-In-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder are joined by Goodyear CEO Mark Stewart to discuss whether the company can actually grow its business by selling more expensive tires to fewer people, the company's support of tariffs, and the competition. And yes, there's blimp talk. 00:00 Intro 07:23 How did Goodyear get into trouble? 10:33 Are we done with layoffs? 13:36 Stewart's background isn't tires 16:42 Tariffs 21:54 OEM supplier business 30:52 Chasing those whales 33:13 Are expensive tires actually better than cheaper tires? 37:31 Should Goodyear be more involved in cultural events? 42:04 The Goodyear blimps -- Blimp talk! 48:20 Goodyear in motorsports 52:38 Smart tires 55:44 Airless tires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See All (35)

4.6
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The Drivecast gives you an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the biggest stories, controversies, and people shaping the car industry from one of the top automotive news sites in the country. Each week, The Drive's editor-in-chief Kyle Cheromcha, director of content Joel Feder, and a rotating cast of expert staffers will break down how automakers are navigating a transformative time. Massive shifts in technology, manufacturing, and consumer demands are changing the ways cars are built and sold quicker than ever, and the way car companies are navigating this moment will shape the way our roads look for the next century. It doesn’t matter if you’re an enthusiast since birth or just curious about why cars are the way they are today—we’ll give you the inside line with our exclusive reporting and break it all down for you. If you like what we're doing, check out The Drive for the latest news, analysis, and in-depth car reviews, sign up for one of our newsletters, and subscribe to us on YouTube. We're also posting all the time on Instagram and Facebook.

Information

  • Creator
    The Drive
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Show Website
    The Drivecast

You Might Also Like