344 episodes

Wheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin

Wheel Bearings https://wheelbearings.media

    • Leisure
    • 4.5 • 173 Ratings

Wheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin

    Jumping Raptors

    Jumping Raptors

    While Robbie is off doing some late winter snow boarding, Nicole and Sam are holding down the fort. Nicole has been driving Buick's new entry level model, the Envista and the Hyundai Palisade. Meanwhile Sam had the new Toyota Prius Limited AWD and the very pricey Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV.

    We've got a first drive review of the blocky new Hyundai Santa Fe with some more rigorous off-roading than the last Hyundai SUV we tried. We also drive the new Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor. The New York Auto Show is coming up this week and none of us will be there so of course there are some interesting vehicle launches. Nissan has both ends of its product lineup covered with a second-generation Kicks crossover and an all-new Infiniti QX80 that really steps up its game in the big luxury SUV segment. Kia also has a new entry model with the new K4 sedan replacing the Forte. After the uproar over the news that GM was sharing driver data with data brokers, GM has decided to halt that new approach to monetization.

    While attending Nvidia GTC in San Jose, Sam took some time to ride Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco and then sat down in the new Volvo EX90 with the Swedish automaker's head of software engineering Alwin Bakennes. Finally, we answer some listener questions.

    Links

    2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
    2024 Ford Ranger
    2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
    2025 Infiniti QX80
    2025 Kia K4
    2025 Nissan Kicks
    GM stops data sharing

    Riding with Waymo

    Running the Ranger Raptor in the desert

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    • 2 hr 19 min
    Touch The Vent Not The Screen

    Touch The Vent Not The Screen

    This week Sam has been driving the Honda Passport Trailsport.

    Nicole and Sam assess the new Lincoln Nautilus and like the big screen, but there are other issues. Porsche is finally bringing out a hybrid version of the 911. Renowned automotive Designer Marcello Gandini has died at 85. Are automakers sharing too much of our data? Polestar cuts the price of the 3 before it even arrives. Audi is forcing subscriptions on the new A3. Dan Edmunds and Motor Trend look at the Cybertruck and Automotive News no longer classes Tesla as a luxury brand. Finally, Rivian drivers can start using superchargers.

    Links

    2024 Lincoln Nautilus First Drive
    Sam's Nautilus take

    Hybrid Porsche 911
    Polestar 3 US pricing down by $10K
    Marcello Gandini dies at 85
    Data from connected cars
    Audi A3 subscriptions
    Dan Edmunds examines the cybertruck
    Motor Trend on the Cybertruck
    Tesla no longer a luxury brand
    Rivian Supercharging now working

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    • 1 hr 24 min
    Return of the Gremlin

    Return of the Gremlin

    This week Sam has been driving the Genesis Electrified G80. Robbie was picking speakers for his band in the Land Rover Defender 130 and Nicole has the Infiniti QX60.

    The core of Henrik Fisker's original design for the Karma continues to live on, now as part of the Karma Automotive and the Chinese-owned company has just launched a refreshed version that ditches the plug-in series hybrid for a full electric powertrain. Nissan has addressed one of the biggest complaints about the Ariya EV by cutting the price. There are currently no EVs that will charge at 500 kW, but Gravity Mobility has installed just such a charger in New York. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is still relatively new, but it's already getting an update.

    We frequently complain about automakers putting controls into the touchscreen and now EuroNCAP is going to cut their safety ratings if they don't bring back physical controls.Rivian has revealed now just one, but two new vehicles, but they won't start arriving for at least two years. The Blazer EV is back on sale and now has a significantly lower price. Finally Sam has been using a local Tesla Supercharger station with Ford and Genesis vehicles.

    Links

    Karma Gyesera
    Nissan cuts Ariya prices
    500 kW charger in NYC
    Hyundai Ioniq 5 refresh gets more battery, rear wiper
    EuroNCAP calls for return of physical buttons
    Rivian R2 and R3
    Return of the Blazer EV with a lower price
    Supercharging a Ford Mustang Mach-E
    Charging a G80 with a Magic Dock

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    • 1 hr 40 min
    Who Cares About Efficiency?

    Who Cares About Efficiency?

    This week Nicole is driving the Ford Maverick Tremor, Robbie has the Range Rover plug-in hybrid and Sam has new Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.

    We've got lots of news this week. After a decade of work and billions of dollars spent, Apple has apparantely finally abandoned the idea of building a car. Ford took its latest electric Supervan and had Romain Dumas set a new lap record at Mount Panorama. Ford is also hosting a camping party at the Austin Bronco Off-Rodeo for the upcoming total solar eclipse and Ford EV drivers can now Supercharge.

    Sam went to a secret location to see the production version of Dodge's new e-Muscle car, the Charger Daytona. Honda has introduced a new plug-in hybrid CR-V with a fuel cell and VW has done some upgrades to the ID4. Fisker warns that they are almost out of money and then Nissan steps up to possibly save the company. Finally Red Bull has a crazy drone that can track a Formula 1 car.

    Links

    The end of the Apple car
    2024 Dodge Charger Daytona
    Ford SuperVan 4.2 Bathurst record
    Ford EVs can now access Superchargers
    Total Solar Eclipse at Bronco Off-Rodeo
    Honda CR-V e:FCEV
    2024 VW ID4 upgrades
    Fisker warns of running out of cash

    Fisker talking to Nissan

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    • 1 hr 52 min
    What's Happening at Jeep?

    What's Happening at Jeep?

    This week Robbie got to spend some time with something really fast, the new McLaren 750s. Meanwhile, Nicole and Sam had some more pedestrian rides. Nicole got a few days with the Volkswagen ID.7 as well as the Jeep Hornet PHEV. Sam had the Toyota Crown Platinum.

    In the news, we've got first drive reports on the updated 2025 Ram 1500, now powered only by six-cylinder engines and the Honda Prologue, the brand's firsrt purpose-built EV for North America. Sam also talks with Prologue chief engineer John Hwang. Jeep's new CEO provide's an update on the SUV brand's plans and we get a first look at the upcoming Wagoneer S and Recon electric SUVs. Ineos is developing an electric off-roader as well called the Fusilier. The soon to arrive US-built Kia EV9 may not have full tax credit eligibility at launch. Waymo's expansion plans in California are paused and Cruise problems will put a damper on GM bonuses. We also have listener questions.

    Links

    Jeep Update
    Honda Prologue first drive
    2025 Ram 1500 first drive
    Ineos Fusilier EV
    US Built Kia EV9 soon, without full tax credit
    Waymo expansion suspended
    40% of GM bonuses based on EV, software, Cruise

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    • 2 hr 25 min
    Testing Tires

    Testing Tires

    Robbie is back from Colorado where he attended the Bridgestone winter driving school and spent time with the Toyota Rav4 and 4Runner in the snow. He also rented a Ford Transit van to move ping-pong tables and drove a Kia Carnival. Nicole has been spending time in the psuedo off-road Honda Passport Trailsport and Sam had the Audi Q8 e-Tron Sportback Launch edition.

    In the news, GM is expanding the driving domain of Super Cruise and has priced the Chevy Equinox EV which might eventually go on sale when the software issues are fixed. As more vehicles start to use Tesla Superchargers, Kyle Connor is finding there are interoperability issues. The multi-automaker DC fast charging network is now operational and called Ionna. Being made of stainless steel doesn't make Cybertrucks corrosion proof and Stellantis won't be buying any more EV credits from Tesla. Shell has shut down its California hydrogen stations and a crowd in San Francisco burned a Waymo robotaxi that drove by during lunar new year celebrations.

    Finally, we are joined by Tire Rack's tire testing manager TJ Campbell to talk about rubber.

    Links

    Super Cruise expanding to 750K miles
    Chevrolet Equinox EV $35-47K, 319 miles w/FWD
    Interoperability issues with Superchargers

    Cybertruck rust?
    Shell closes California H2 stations
    San Francisco crowd burns Waymo
    Stellantis done buying EV credits

    Tire Rack

    Ionna Charging Network

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    • 1 hr 48 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
173 Ratings

173 Ratings

incognitogorilla ,

Great job y’all

extremely informative, detailed, thorough but also contains lots of practical advice and criticisms.

gfgghbn ,

Not prepared.

Too often I hear them say, I don’t have the maroney with me. Or they don’t remember the facts, like whether it’s a plug-in, hybrid or not.

Clay "The Intern" ,

My Favorite Podcast

Really enjoying the upbeat combo of Nicole and Nicole, with the soothing matter-of-fact delivery of knowledge from Sam. It’s really jiving, guys. Keep it up.

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