The 2024 Lexus TX three-row crossover might prompt some luxury SUV buyers to wonder why Lexus hasn’t had a vehicle like it before. The good news is Lexus has it now, and it promises to be a strong competitor to other three-row luxury crossovers like the Acura MDX. Host Jack Nerad had the opportunity to test the vehicle at its American launch outside Austin, Texas, and he came away impressed. Its spacious interior, up-to-the-minute technology tech, and multiple powertrains give the TX all it need...
Oct 28, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 185
Honda has just pulled the wraps off its first dedicated battery-electric crossover SUV, and we’ll have all the details about it. Our special guest this week is Jonathan Rivers, who is manager of product information at American Honda. Host Jack Nerad had the chance to sit with him for a behind-the-scenes briefing at a secret location in Southern California. Honda is basing its first all-electric SUV on a General Motors platform the Prologue shares with the upcoming Chevrolet Blazer EV. But the Pr...
Oct 21, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 184
No, we haven’t driven the Nissan Hyper Adventure concept yet. As a digital concept, it doesn’t offer anything to drive. But we were so struck by its out-of-this-world good looks that we had to cover it in this week’s news segment. Nissan says the object of this all-electric concept vehicle is “to accommodate the outdoorsperson’s diverse needs.” One way it does that is with its large-capacity battery that can serve as an energy source in the wild. Instead of carting jerry cans, future off-roaders...
Oct 14, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 183
It’s very pleasant when you get behind the wheel of a car, and it proves to be a lot better than you thought it would be. That was Host Jack Nerad’s experience with the 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge eAWD Ultimate Dark. While the eurosedan has a name longer than the block Nerad lives on, he discovered it to be faster, more agile, and more inventive than he imagined. One big positive — the 455 horsepower available from its plug-in hybrid powertrain. The 143 horsepower kicked in by the rear-axle electric...
Oct 07, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 182
You might call it the Rodney Dangerfield of sports coupes. The Toyota GR86, in the words of that fabled comedian, “don’t get no respect,” but the fact is, it deserves some. Our Co-Host Chris Teague put a GR86 through its paces as summer transitioned to fall in Maine, and the car passed with flying (fall) colors. Toyota (Subaru?) added a bit more horsepower to the GR86 (BRZ) recently, and the results are palpable. And, more to the point, enjoyable. And if you want to talk about enjoyment, you sho...
Sep 30, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 181
The Honda Civic Type R is the highest-performance version of one of the most popular cars in the United States. The all-new version continues a proud legacy as the most powerful model in the Type R's 30-year history. The car is based on the 11th generation Civic Hatchback, the 2023 Type R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that whirs out 315 horsepower. Among its other claims to fame, it is the most powerful Honda-branded vehicle ever offered in the Unites States. The engine is matche...
Sep 23, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 180
The Kia EV9 is an important step in the effort to move electric vehicles from the status symbols of the rich to everyday vehicles for mainstream Americans. And what could be more mainstream American than a three-row SUV? That’s the market the Kia EV9 is trying to crack as the first non-luxury battery-electric dedicated three-row SUV to hit the American marketplace. It brings plenty of positives to its effort — expressive exterior design, roomy cabin, advanced driver assistance features, and seve...
Sep 16, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 179
If you’re counting, the 2023 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger is the fourth of seven special-edition Dodge “Last Call” models and it offers a nostalgic look back to the unique style of the Dodge brand’s “swinging” musclecar lineup of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The original Dodge Dart Swinger was part of the Dodge “Scat Pack,” packing big-time horsepower into a compact package at an affordable price. It offered the aesthetics of the era that included green-on-green interior/exterior color...
Sep 09, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 178
[As hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague take Labor Day weekend off, this is the repeat of a popular episode that originally aired in July. Jack and Chris will be back with an all-new episode next week.] While many claim the future is electric, statistics indicate the present day is ICE. Further evidence of that came this week with reports that inventories of newly introduced electric vehicles are piling up on dealer lots and in manufacturer inventories. While this is a cloud for many in the indust...
Sep 02, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 177
After a week in one of the most enjoyable vehicles he’s driven this year, Host Jack Nerad concluded that the 2023 Subaru WRX performance sedan might be the best performance bargain in the land right now. If it’s not, it comes very close. The current WRX is based on a stiff chassis that contributes to its all-around handling. Its standard all-wheel-drive gives it a very connected feel, no matter the conditions. And its turbocharged engine provides enough go-power to keep things interesting. Wheth...
Aug 26, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 176
