Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Mercedes-Benz's reported plans to drop seven of its car models. We also share our test-drive experiences with Lexus's new-for-2021 LC 500 Convertible. Kelsey Mays, Senior Consumer Affairs Editor at Cars.com, joins us to talk about Cars.com's 2020 American-Made Index, a ranking of the most American-made vehicles sold in the U.S. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on option prices, and Damon runs down the lat...
Jul 31, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Honda's discontinuation of its Fit subcompact hatchback, Civic coupe, and the manual transmission in the Accord. We also share our test-drive experiences with the "last of a breed" 2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI. Bill Haggerty, Chairman of the Chicago Auto Show, joins us to talk about buying a car in the COVID-19 era, and why now is a good time to take your vehicle in for any necessary recall repairs. Tom has a ...
Jul 24, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 39
With host Tom Appel off this week, co-hosts Damon Bell and Jill Ciminillo start off the show by discussing the highly anticipated and long-awaited reveal of the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport. Jeanette Casselano, Director of External Communications for the American Automobile Association (AAA), joins us to talk about AAA's summer-travel forecast report, how to get your vehicle ready for a road trip, and how to travel safely during the pandemic. Damon and Jill discuss their test-drive experien...
Jul 17, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Kia's recently revealed 2021 K5 midsize sedan, and Mazda's updates to the Mazda 3 compact sedan and hatchback for 2021. Julie Blackley, Communications Manager for iSeeCars.com, joins us to talk about iSeeCars's recent analysis of used-car sales in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the interesting data points the study revealed. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on vehicle and feature names, and Damon ...
Jul 10, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Ford's recent unveiling of the redesigned 2021 F-150 pickup and the truck's many new features. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the August 2020 issue, including an overview of the cars of 1940 and a retrospective on the 1978-80 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Tom has ...
Jul 03, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing JD Power's recently announced results of its Initial Quality Study, as well as Mitsubishi's plans to scale back its presence in "megamarkets" including the United States. Larry Nutson, Executive Producer and Chicago Bureau Chief at The Auto Channel, joins us to talk about his summer road trip in the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport. Tom has another quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the...
Jun 26, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the just-revealed 2021 Lexus IS and Nissan Rogue. Next, we talk about Volkswagen's new-for-2020 Atlas Cross Sport SUV. Jeff Miller, Super Cruise Program Engineering Manager at General Motors, calls in to fill us in on Cadillac's latest enhancements to its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system. Tom has a "who owns what?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guid...
Jun 19, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Acura's redesigned-for 2021 TLX midsize sedan. Next, we talk about Mini's newest foray into pure-electric vehicles: the 2020 Mini Cooper SE. John Kraman, Lead TV Commentator/Analyst for Mecum Auctions, calls in to give us the scoop on Mecum's upcoming events, trends in the collector-vehicle market, and how Mecum is adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom has a Jaguar-themed quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon ru...
Jun 12, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Nissan's plans to revamp its Infiniti luxury division as part of the company's broader restructuring process. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with BMW's 8-Series family of cars. Kelsey Mays, Senior Consumer Affairs Editor at Cars.com, calls in to discuss the current state of self-driving vehicles and the semi-autonomous technologies available on 2020-model-year vehicles. Tom has an Infiniti-them...
Jun 05, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the 2020 Nissan Frontier compact pickup--in particular, Nissan's strategy of putting an all-new V6 engine the current-generation Frontier in advance of introducing the all-new Frontier in the near future. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Jeep Compass Trailhawk compact SUV. Ian Hardie, Senior Campus Employment Services Director for Universal Technical Institute in Lisle, IL, calls in...
May 29, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Toyota's recent online unveiling of the 2021 Sienna minivan and Venza midsize SUV--both of which come standard with a hybrid powertrain. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 Nissan Sentra compact car. Carl Zipfel, Design Manager of GM's Advanced Truck Studio, calls in to fill us in on GM's full-size pickup design, GMC's AT4 sub-brand, and innovative features such as the C...
May 22, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Host Tom Appel and co-host Damon Bell start the show by discussing the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has forced auto dealers to streamline the new-vehicle-purchase process--something of a silver lining for consumers. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 BMW X6, a "fastback coupe" midsize crossover SUV. Kirk Bell, Senior Editor of Motor Authority, calls in to chat about a couple of his latest feature articles--particularly the fabulous tale of his long history ...
May 15, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Ram Trucks' recent application to trademark the name "Dakota," which has fueled speculation about a new Ram midsize pickup. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks. Robert Colangelo, founder of Green Sense Farms, calls in to discuss various market-based solutions to environmental issues, both in and out of the automotive industry. ...
May 08, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing GM's recently announced plans to discontinue its Maven car-sharing services. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Genesis G90 luxury sedan. Brian Spohn, Vehicle Electrification Manager for FCA North America, calls in to discuss Fiat Chrysler's various electrification initiatives, including the eTorque mild-hybrid system. Tom has a tricky quiz on current Toyota vehicles for Damon and Jil...
May 01, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the as-yet-unofficial details of the next-generation Mazda 6 sedan, as well as the reportedly expanded partnership between Mazda and Toyota. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the new 2021 Kia Seltos subcompact SUV. Paul Strauss, publisher of the popular websites The Awesomer, Technabob, and the auto-themed 95octane, calls in to discuss the significant drop in gas prices nationwide, as well...
Apr 24, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the worrisome increase in speeding and reckless driving incidents, now that many American highways have very little traffic as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the extra-large 2020 Infiniti QX80 SUV. Mike Levine, North American Product Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company, calls in to bring us up to speed on Ford's various efforts and initiatives to f...
Apr 17, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the trend of insurance companies issuing discounts to their auto-insurance policyholders, since many of those customers are driving their vehicles far less as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the racy Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio crossover SUV, which has been freshened for 2020. Mike Evanoff, Manager of Product Planning for Hyundai Motor America, calls in t...
Apr 10, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing some of the aggressive incentives car dealers are offering to spur sales in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 Subaru Outback. Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder calls in to talk about the ways auto dealerships are adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 to continue to sell cars, and also how to disinfect your own car. Tom ha...
Apr 03, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off our first remotely recorded show by discussing a few of the ways the Big Three automakers are helping in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Toyota 4Runner. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, calls in to discuss the various effects of COVID-19 on the global automotive industry, as well as the memorable feature a...
Mar 27, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Hyundai's recent unveiling of the redesigned 2021 Elantra, and the car's striking new styling. Jill fills us in on her press-preview drive of the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel is in-studio next to chat about the great features in the June 2020 issue, including a profile of pioneering female drag racer Shirley Shahan Bridges--the "Drag-On Lady"--and a retr...
Mar 19, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on auto shows and automotive press events, and what this means for the future of auto shows. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the new-for-2020 BMW 850i xDrive Gran Coupe. Tony Kester, Chief Instructor & Managing Director of Driving Programs for the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, calls in to discuss the Autobahn's Teen Driver Safety Tr...
Mar 13, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing General Motors' recently announced plans to close Holden, its Australian division... and Damon brings up Tom's traumatic experience tasting Vegemite for the first time. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the new-for-2020 Jeep Gladiator pickup. Brendan Appel, Director of Operations at Sons of Speed, joins us in-studio to talk about the all-new, mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet "C8" Corvette. Tom has a...
Mar 06, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Host Tom Appel and co-host Damon Bell start the show by discussing Toyota's recent $400-million investment in Chinese autonomous-mobility company Pony.ai, and the broader trend of established automakers forming partnerships with startup self-driving-vehicle development firms. Chicago radio legends Steve King and Johnnie Putman join us in-studio to talk about their test drive of the new-for-2020 Hyundai Palisade SUV and fill us in on their book "A Little More Les," which chronicles their long fri...
Feb 28, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Nissan's tentative entry into the vehicle-subscription marketplace via its Nissan Switch pilot program in Houston, Texas. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 Ford Escape compact crossover SUV. Larry Nutson, Executive Producer and Chicago Bureau Chief at The Auto Channel, joins us in-studio to talk about the Toyota Motor Manufacturing assembly plant in Princeton, Indiana,...
Feb 21, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recent incident in which Tesla remotely and retroactively removed Autopilot features from a used Model S that was originally equipped with those features-- after it sold the vehicle to a used-car dealer, who in turn sold it to a new buyer who discovered the features were missing. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the Audi Q8 crossover SUV. Richard Steinberg, Senior Director of Green Ci...
Feb 14, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Host Tom Appel and co-host Jill Ciminillo kick off the show by discussing the rising transaction prices of light-duty pickup trucks, which now average more than $50,000. Jill shares her takeaways from a preview reveal event of the Genesis GV80, the first crossover from Hyundai's luxury-vehicle brand. The crew is joined in studio by Paul Strauss, the publisher of the popular websites The Awesomer, Technabob, and the auto-themed 95octane. Tom, Jill, and Paul discuss the major news coming out of th...
Feb 07, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing Lincoln's recently revealed plans to partner with start-up EV manufacturer Rivian to bring its first pure-electric vehicle to market. Jill fills us in on her preview-drive experience with Hyundai's all-new Venue subcompact crossover. Kirk Bell, Senior Editor of Motor Authority and a North American Car of the Year juror, joins us in-studio to talk about the 2020 NACOTY winners, as well as the winner of Motor...
Jan 31, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Host Tom Appel and co-host Jill Ciminillo start the show by discussing the reveal of the Cruise Automation Origin ride-hailing concept vehicle. The conversation includes an overview of autonomous-vehicle development companies Waymo and Argo AI. Jill shares impressions of her current test vehicle, the 2020 Lexus NX 300 F Sport. Collectible Automobile Magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins the team to talk about the June issue of the publication. Tom, Jill, and John talk about the 1971-1978 Cadi...
Jan 24, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Host Tom Appel and co-host Damon Bell start off the show with a discussion of General Motors' recently leaked plans to revive its Hummer brand name on a pure-electric GMC pickup truck. Next, we chat about one of our recent Consumer Guide test-fleet vehicles: the 2020 Lincoln Corsair AWD Reserve. Michelle Krebs of Cox Automotive and the AutoTrader Group calls in to give us the scoop on some of Cox's automotive-industry insights for 2020 and a few of the most important developments and trends of 2...
Jan 17, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the latest developments in the saga of former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn--his dramatic recent escape from Japan, after spending almost all of 2019 incarcerated for alleged financial crimes. We then talk about Jill's test vehicle this week: the 2020 Acura RDX A-Spec compact SUV. Mark Bilek, Senior Director of Communications and Technology for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, calls in to fill us in on the ...
Jan 10, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 11
