We reconvene to talk about Rebecca's time with the VW Altas Cross Sport, Sam's spin in the 2021 Toyota Supra, and Dan's bonding with the Subaru Crosstrek Sport and Cadillac CT5. We cover the new Hyundai Motor Group electric-global modular platform, Cadillac dealer buyouts, and ICE bans. We eulogize the VW Passat to close the show before answering some questions. Finally, Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 41 min
It's another Sunday session for us. Dan drives the Lincoln Corsair, Sam discusses the 2021 Genesis G80, and Rebecca shares thoughts on the Mazda CX-9. Both the Genesis and Mazda were marred by some non-trivial human machine interface design decisions, and that led to a lively discussion about designing for actual users. The 2021 Ford F-150 is out and Sam shared his first driving impressions. Infiniti has a new fastback crossover "inspired by the FX" but not a direct replacement. We wrap up with ...
Nov 22, 2020•1 hr 41 min
Sam has been driving the Audi Q7 Prestige, Dan finally got his turn in the Hyundai Venue, and Rebecca shares her thoughts on the Lexus RX450hL. In the news, BMW and Ford launched two very different electric vehicles: the iX and the e-Transit. Sam also shares some thoughts on new lower-cost lidar sensors coming to market and we wrap up with a couple of listener questions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inq...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 50 min
This week in the garage, Rebecca has the Hyundai Ioniq Electric which is quite a different take on a battery powered vehicle than the Kona she drove a couple of weeks back. The plug-in theme on the east coast continues as Dan still had the Chevy Bolt. In Michigan, Sam had the opposite of these vehicles with the Lexus LC500 Convertible, a true grand touring sled. Instead of news, our intrepid crew just tackled a bunch of listener questions this week including old car values, over-sized grilles, a...
Nov 06, 2020•1 hr 7 min
It's a spliced-together show this week. Sam and Rebecca kick off the garage with the 2021 Toyota Sienna hybrid and the Audi S5 Sportback. Then Dan and Sam discuss the 2021 Nissan Rogue and 2020 Chevrolet Bolt. (Spoiler alert, Dan loves the Bolt.) Topics include the Genesis GV80, GMC Hummer EV pickup, and Sam and Rebecca wrap up with a couple of listener questions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries:...
Oct 27, 2020•2 hr 14 min
This week Sam was in the Hyundai Venue SEL. Dan had the 2021 Kia Seltos SX Turbo, and Rebecca made do with the Audi Q7. For this show, Jonathan Klinger, VP of Car Culture at Hagerty Insurance hung out for a wide-ranging discussion that covered cross-country drives in hundred-year-old cars, teaching kids stickshift, classic restoration, and musical instruments. We wove through a lot of topics, but always came back to the cars. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check ou...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 40 min
Everyone is back this time, and we've been driving the Honda Civic Type-R, Hyundai Kona EV, Toyota 86 GT, and AWD Ford Transit. Sam got a first taste of the redesigned 2021 Nissan Rogue, and we talked about California mandating new vehicles go all electric by 2035. The show wraps up with a bunch of listener emails which you can submit at feedback@wheelbearings.media. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiri...
Oct 08, 2020•2 hr
Sam and Dan take it this week while Auntie Rebecca hung out with her nephews. Dan drove the Lexus ES350 F-Sport and the Mazda CX-30. Sam got reaquainted with the 2020 Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid. In news, Sam got to take a farewell drive in the 2020 Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang Heritage Edition as production of this high-revving pony draws to a close. The guys also discuss Sam's diatribe on the ridiculous performance being put into today's vehicles, especially EVs. Ford also released full specs o...
Oct 04, 2020•1 hr 42 min
Sam and Rebecca take the reins this week, and they had lots to talk about. There were tons of cars - Rebecca did the edia drive for the Subaru Crosstrek and Land Rover Defender. In between she drove the Toyota Avalon hybrid. Sam had the Cadillac CT4-V and the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid. News includes In the news, Michigan lawmakers are trying to shut down Tesla and Rivian sales loopholes. Volkswagen has revealed all the details on the ID.4., and finally, we wrap up again with listener questions. Our S...
Sep 25, 2020•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 163
Sam drives the smoothest diesel he's ever tried in the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado. Dan gets some seat time in the 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring and Rebecca tries Toyota's highs and lows with both the CH-R compact crossover and the Lexus LC500 Convertible. We talk about the GM-Nikola strategic partnership announced this week, the reveal of the Lucid Air electric sedan, and some listener questions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.b...
Sep 16, 2020•2 hr 15 min
There's a (couple) new Jeeps in town. The Wagoneer returns in Grand fashion, and the Wrangler gets zapped with the new 4XE plug-in hybrid model. Rebecca shares her thoughts about on the Volvo XC90 T6, Dan's driving the limited-edition Series.White Subaru WRX, and Sam took the Cadillac CT5 on a road trip. We also check out the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and finish up with your questions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com ...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 52 min
Bargain is a relative term. Sam's ride this week could be the performance bargain of the decade, the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Rebecca was driving the Genesis G70, and Dan tried the Jeep Gladiator Mojave, which is no bargain, but still very good. We talk Strategic Vision's Brand Equity Index and JD Power's Technology Experience Index before diving into a bunch of listener questions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp...
Aug 28, 2020•1 hr 31 min
Dan's back this week but before we addressed the truly pressing issue of whether pineapple is a suitable pizza topping, we talked about the BMW 228i xDrive Gran Coupe, Cadillac XT6, Subaru Outback, and Ram 1500. In the news, Rebecca got a first in-person look at the new Ford Bronco while Sam got to ride in it. Ram has gotten the Hellcat bug with the new 702-hp Ram 1500 TRX, and we finish with answers to some listener queestions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check...
Aug 21, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 159
Sam speaks with Rob Gelardi, interior design manager of the 2021 Ford Bronco 2-door and 4-door and Scott Anderson, interior design manager of the 2021 Bronco Sport. The discussion then turns to the technology side with Bronco technology strategy chief Donna Bell. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Aug 13, 2020•16 min•Ep. 157
This week it's just Rebecca and Sam. Rebecca shares her experience with the Kia Seltos. Meanwhile Sam has been driving the BMW X3 xDrive30e, the smaller plug-in hybrid SUV from Munich (via Spartanburg). Ford announced another changing of the guard as Jim Farley prepares to succeed Jim Hackett as CEO. Cadillac finally had the delayed public introduction of the Lyriq electric crossover, and Hyundai has decided to replace the current Ioniq with a whole sub-brand of Ioniq electric vehicles. Finally,...
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 15 min
Rebecca is back from a vacation with the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, capped off by the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43. Sam tried out the Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, while Dan sampled the Nissan Versa. We talk all about electrification with the Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 and its seven motors, GM and EVGo deploying 2,700 DC fast charging stations, and we finish with listener emails about towing, premium compact crossovers and what sedan to buy. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura....
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 156
It's Bronco time! Two door, four door, and Bronco Sport are all on the list. We talk about the Nissan Ariya EV, too, and the announcement of Stellantis as the name for a merged FCA and PSA. We're driving the Honda CR-V Hybrid, BMW 840i, BMW X3e, Fiat 500X, and Ford F350 Platinum. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Jul 21, 2020•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 155
The team reconvened this week for another live Zoom session with some listeners. In the garage, Sam reiterates his love for traditional station wagons and why they are better than any SUV or crossover for most people as he discusses the Volvo V60 T8. Rebecca spent time with the refreshed 2020 Nissan Titan Pro-4X and the all-wheel-drive Toyota Prius. Meanwhile Dan was in the Toyota Tacoma TRD-Pro. In the news, our crew discusses the announcement of a family of Ford Broncos, the upcoming Audi Q4 e...
Jul 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 154
Our intrepid trio reconvenes to talk about the all-new, cleverly updated Ford F-150. The lineup now includes a hybrid, on-board generator, and more thoughtful features than a Swiss Army knife. We talk about driving the Genesis G90, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Buick Encore GX, and Cadillac XT4. It wraps up with a couple listener questions, so listen and let us know what's on your mind! Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advert...
Jul 01, 2020•1 hr 13 min
With Dan absent, Rebecca discusses back-to-back Aston Martin experiences with the Vantage and DB11. Sam again professes his disdain for anything that isn't a Mazda Miata after driving the more powerful 2020 edition. In the news, Nissan launched a redesigned Rogue but forgot to put in a hybrid version. Speaking of hybrids, Lexus didn't announce one for the revamped 2021 IS either, but given that they are a division of Toyota, an electrified model almost assuredly is coming. Our Sponsors: * Check ...
Jun 26, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 152
Rebecca is out hanging with a real-life friend for this episode so it's just Dan and Sam. Sam has been driving the 2020 Hyundai Palisade while Dan got his first taste of Nissan's variable compression 2.0-liter turbo four in the Infiniti QX50. In the news, we discuss the electric range and fuel efficiency of the new Ford Escape plug-in hybrid and compare it to the upcoming Toyota Rav4 Prime. Nikola Motors has some very interesting technology and a planned business model for hydrogen fuel cell lon...
Jun 17, 2020•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 151
This episode is extra-packed. We go twice around the circle with the Nissan Altima Platinum VC-T, Chevy Silverado Trail Boss and Lexus GS350. Round two is all hybrid all the time: Camry Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. New we talk about is Ford's heater disinfectant hack, the Mustang Mach 1, the 20201 Acura TLX, and Andy Palmer's ousting at Aston Martin. It winds up with a couple of emails. Thanks for listening! Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check...
Jun 05, 2020•2 hr•Ep. 150
We're back after a bit of a break. Sam's new favorite Jeep is the Gladiator Mojave. He also tried the Wrangler Ecodiesel, while Rebecca was in the Toyota 86 Hakone edition. Dan tried the Nissan Leaf SL Plus, and insists it's the best car the company makes. In the news, we discuss James Dyson spending £500 million to learn that it's hard to build a car company. (We coulda told him that for a few million). Toyota unveiled the 2021 Sienna and Venza, and the company is also celebrating 20 years of P...
May 25, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 149
This week Rebecca has been self-isolating in the new Toyota Rav4 TRD Off-Road edition, Sam has been enjoying time in the Mazda CX-30 and Dan is going old school in the Lexus GX460. The team has a lively debate on the merits of letting Georgia teenagers skip the road test on the way to getting a driver's license. The conversation then turns to what happens to the auto industry as the pandemic hopefully subsides and then we finish off with a couple of listener questions and an interview that Sam d...
May 19, 2020•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 148
The Wheel Bearings team of Rebecca Lindland, Dan Roth and Sam Abuelsamid take to Zoom for a live episode of chatting with the listeners. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Apr 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Technology let us down near the end of this episode, but we got in a good discussion of the 2020 Lexus UX250h Luxury, Hyundai Venue, Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander. For news, we talked about manuals returning to MINI, the next generation RWD I-6 Mazda 6, and the new Genesis G80. We finish up with some commentary about destination charges and we managed to answer at least one question about how the industry is holding up during this crisis before our app decided it'd had enough. Our Sponsors...
Apr 19, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 146
Bentley brought the launch of the Flying Spur to Rebecca's doorstep. We also sample the 2020 GMC Acadia, Sam wrung every mile out of the 2020 Audi e-Tron, and Dan tried the completely charming 2020 Toyota Yaris XLE. We talk Honda and GM partnering on EVs, Autocar's EV range tests, EV Mustangs, and then we take your questions. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy &...
Apr 10, 2020•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 145
As the lockdown continues, Rebecca spent time with the Jeep Gladiator in extra-quiet Connecticut. Sam got Android Auto working in the Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid without infotainment crashes, while Dan sampled the pint-sized Hyundai Kona. We dive into the Navigant Research Automated Driving Leaderboard report and robotaxi safety. Racing looks different for now, and we talk about Sim racing and its excellent ratings so far. Then we ogle Audi's virtual backgrounds images and finish up with a few listener ...
Mar 29, 2020•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 144
To start, we ponder the near-term future. Then we get to cars, including the Hyundai Venue, Nissan Rogue Sport, BMW M340i, and the Ford pickup lineup from Ranger to Super Duty. For news, we talk about the 20201 Hyundai Elantra and follow up on GM EV day. We finish with some of your emails. If that seems like a long show, you're right. Just the thing for quarantine. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries...
Mar 21, 2020•2 hr•Ep. 143
It's a splice-fest! First, Dan and Sam talk about driving the 2020 Infiniti Q50 Edition 30 and the Ford Ranger XLT. Some of the early impact of COVID-19 is pondered, and development mules like the Plymouth "Prangler" finish it up. For part 2, Sam and Rebecca review General Motors EV day, including a new battery design and previews of 12 upcoming electric vehicles. Our Sponsors: * Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries:...
Mar 09, 2020•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 142
