Wheel Bearings

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Robbie is sick this week and his voice is shot, so it's just Sam and Nicole. Nicole has been driving the Subaru Ascent while Sam had the Lexus RX450h+ plug-in hybrid. Hyundai made lots of news this week at its investor day as well as during a drive program in California. Its new 3-row electric crossover, the Ioniq 9 will launch production in 2025 at the new Savannah, GA factory and in 2026, Hyundai will launch an extended range EV (EREV). But before the Ioniq 9 arrives, Hyundai will be producing the Ioniq 5 at the new factory beginning in October. Along with a mild styling refresh and bigger batteries, the Ioniq 5 is getting an SAE J3400/NACS charging port. 3 weeks after the regular Ioniq 5, Hyundai will start production of the Ioniq 5 XRT for those that can't wait for the Rivian R3. Hyundai will also build a limited production version of the N Vision 74 concept. Sam and Nicole both drove the new Volvo EX90 electric 3-row SUV (everyone else is building 3-row EVs, why can't Ford?). Nicole also got to drive the new gas fueled Chevy Equinox. Walter Chrysler's great grandson is offering to buy the Chrysler and Dodge brands from Stellantis and we have interviews with Luminar CEO Austin Russell and Volvo's Thomas Broberg. Links Hyundai to Build Ioniq 9 in US, offer EREVs Hyundai investor day Volvo EX90 first drive 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 2025 Chevrolet Equinox Hyundai N Vision 74 production Walter Chrysler descendant wants to buy Chrysler and Dodge Volvo Interview Gary Kalsaria Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sam speaks with Volvo senior technical leader about the driver understanding system in the new EX90 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Robbie is back from Germany where he got to drive the updated Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and he wants one. Nicole got to drive a pair of new Hyundai Santa Fes at home and at a family wedding. Meanwhile, Sam got surprisingly good efficiency from the latest edition of the VW ID4 but those window switches are still dumb. In the news, the US market version of the VW ID Buzz finally has a price and let's just say affordability isn't part of the formula. Ford has again pivoted on its electric vehicle plans and there won't be anything fresh in showrooms for a few more years. GM is bringing some plug-in hybrid powertrains to its US lineup, but the new Equinox won't be home to this system. Ford has updated the Bronco Sport for 2025 with some cool new lifestyle features. Tesla has been purging old claims about Autopilot and Full Self-Driving but the internet never forgets and Robbie visited Electrify Expo and you can too. Links VW ID Buzz pricing and range Ford backs off on EV plans Tesla purging FSD claims Elon's 2016 Autopilot V2 conference call The purged blog post Chevrolet won't give us Chinese developed Equinox PHEV 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Electrify Expo Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Our regular lineup is back together, after a delayed arrival from Robbie. Robbie got to spend some time with the new Toyota Prius Prime while spending a couple of days in Detroit. Sam drove the Hyundai Kona Electric and Nicole has been in the latest Subaru Impreza RS and Mazda CX-90 since she last appeared. This week Sam got to visit the Volvo Cars factory near Charleston, South Carolina where they have just added production of the Polestar 3 in addition to the Volvo EX90. JD Power continues to survey EV drivers about their satisfaction with the public charging experience and while it has ticked upward overall just a but this year, it still has a lot of room for improvement. While traditional auto shows are flagging, Monterey Car Week has become the place to launch premium and expensive machines and wild concepts. We discuss the Cadillac Opulent Velocity and Acura Performance EV concepts and the production 2025 Lincoln Navigator. In China, GM like most other non-Chinese brands is struggling against surging domestic competitors. One of those competitors is Zeekr which has launched a new battery capable of some impressive charging speeds. Links Volvo/Polestar factory visit Charging satisfaction improves - a bit Cadillac Opulent Velocity concept 2025 Lincoln Navigator GM China Layoffs New fast charging Zeekr LFP battery Acura Performance EV concept Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

While Nicole is off enjoying a fancy brunch with friends visiting from out of town, Robbie and Sam are again joined by Stephanie Brinley. Robbie has been driving the Ford Ranger Raptor while Steph spent time with the latest Honda Civic Hybrid and Genesis G70. Sam spent the week with the Kia EV6 GT-Line. In the news, Fiat is now integrating charging cables into the nose of EVs. Chargepoint showed off its solution for handling EVs with CCS or J3400/NACS charging ports, the new Omni Port and Robbie got to try it out. Dodge announced pricing for its e-muscle car, the Charger Daytona and we got to hear what it sounds like. Tesla has dropped the reservation system for the Cybertruck and deliveries are available almost immediately. Volvo has bumped the pricing for the new EX90 and a bunch of features missing at launch. GMC has a redesigned Terrain for 2025. Finally, Sam had an in-depth conversation with Joerg Grotendorst, SVP of Corporate R&D at Magna International (and no they didn't discuss Fisker). Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links Fiat to integrate charging cables Chargepoint Omni Port NACS and CCS on one cable 2025 GMC Terrain 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona pricing No more Tesla Cybertruck reservations, Canada/Mexico now open Volvo EX90 price bumped by $3300, features missing Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Nicole is on the road this week so we have Perry Stern joining us a guest. Over the past couple of weeks Perry has been driving the Porsche 718 Boxster and the new 2025 Toyota Camry which now comes exclusively with hybrid power. Robbie took a road trip in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Sam had the Honda Ridgeline Trailsport before his vacation and then the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ SUV to drive around northern California. In the news Ford has done a mid-cycle update of the Maverick and finally has an all-wheel-drive hybrid available but the price has climbed by an average of $2,400, still modest by current truck price standards, but no longer the screaming deal it was just two years ago. Audi has launched a new electric only A6 and once popular brands Recaro and BBS have both filed for bankruptcy protection. A Tesla owner using "full-self-driving" mode has killed a motorcyclist in Seattle and Ford is offering a torque upgrade for the Mach-E GT as an OTA update. Ineos has decided to scrap plans to expand its lineup and focus on higher-marging bespoke models instead. Toyota is adding an automatic transmission option to the GR Corolla for those that want to focus on handling instead of shifting. ElectraMeccanica went bust with its single-seat Solo EV and now all of them are set to be crushed. Perry took the states with Mini and we answer listener questions. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links 2025 Ford Maverick, value evaporating Audi A6 e-tron BBS and Recaro circling the drain Seatle motorcyclist killed by Tesla FSD Mach-e gets an OTA performance update Ineos to focus on margins over volume GR Corolla gets an automatic ElectraMeccamica Solos wait to be crushed MINI Takes the States Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Sam is enjoying a much-deserved vacation, so we have Jill Ciminillo, managing editor for Pickup Truck + SUV Talk as a special guest. Jill drove the Acura TLX while Robbie had some time with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, which he can drive but can’t pronounce. Nicole was in the Toyota bZ4X which she loved, aside from one rather large issue. In the news, the Cadillac Sollei concept made its debut as a 2-door convertible in a color we all question, but with stunning design details. Rivian opened a COutpost outside Yosemite with free coffee (yes!) and the Honda Civic Si is back with a manual transmission only (yes again!). Acura is ditching Sirius XM, which isn’t’ as big a deal as it seems, but Stellantis may cut underperforming brands from its portfolio, which definitely is a big deal. Volvo is the latest automaker to adjust its EV plans and Toyota issues an engine recall that has them replacing the entire engine in around 100,000 vehicles. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links Cadillac Sollei - 2 door convertible Celestiq concept Rivian Yosemite charging outpost Honda Civic Si Returns Acura ditches in-car SiriusXM app Stellantis May Cut Brands Volvo EV Plans May Slow Toyota Engine Recall Sam's Corvette ZR-1 deep dive Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Nicole is driving the refreshed Genesis GV80, Robbie had the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan and BMW XM and Sam got to play with the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally. In the news, Sam spotted Hyundai and Kia testing NACS/J3400 charging ports on an Ioniq 5 and EV6 at a Supercharger. Cadillac is putting a 55-inch screen in the gas Escalade. Honda is working on a new generation Passport that might be more off-road capable. Ford is using its Oakville, Ont. assembly plant to build Super Duty trucks that will get electrified and Nicole and Sam drive the refreshed Explorer. Nicole went to Germany to see the new Audi A5 and Lexus is offering a fancier version of the GR Corolla Morizo, but in Japan only. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links Hyundai/Kia testing J3400 EVs 2025 Cadillac Escalade 2026 Honda Passport Yandex Self-Driving is now Avride 2025 Ford Explorer Ford Expanding Super Duty production and electrifying Lexus LBX Morizo 2025 Audi A5 Audi's Still Doing ICE Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Sam has been driving the 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor. Nicole had the Mazda CX-70 and Robbie has just started on the Mercedes-Benz EQS For 2024, Toyota has improved the abysmal charging performance of the AWD bZ4X and Electrify America is piloting an 85% charge limit. Nissan has launched an off-roady-ish Rogue that now has hands-free driving assist. Ford unveils its 2025 Dakar challenger and Mazda is putting a Rav4 hybrid system into the CX-50. Ford has launched a new EV in Europe that looks like the Polestar 2 and bears the name of a 1970s sports coupe. Tesla's market share continues to decline and partial automation systems don't seem to help safety. Wheel Bearings listeners get an extra 3 months for free when they sign up for ExpressVPN at https://www.expressvpn.com/wheelbearings Links Toyota Improves bZ4X charging Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Ford Raptor T1+ EA pilots 85% charging limit Early automotive navigation Mazda CX-50 Hybrid New Ford Capri Tesla drops to 50% US EV share Partial Automation doesn't boost safety Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy