276: The Human Touch

From a ho-hum car to more fake ICE sounds to robot overlords, Hyundai’s in the news! Is this Korean automaker joining Tesla in building the robots that are mankind’s downfall? One of the hosts of this podcast thinks it’s a possibility. Plus, Lucid stares at death’s door, Porsche’s U.S. sports wagons are no more…and more! Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and more! Or heck, use your favorite podcast application. Perhaps you prefer to watch as well as listen. If so, we’ve got you covered. SHOW NOTES Hyundai reveals Ioniq V at Beijing Auto Show: https://carnewschina.com/2026/06/15/hyundai-ioniq-v-fastback-revealed-66-8-kwh-battery-and-620-km-range/ Hyundai’s global R&D chief says next-gen N EVs will be better at faking ICE cars: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/electric-cars/hyundai-developing-even-more-realistic-electric-n-cars Hyundai pays $325 million for remaining 10% stake in Boston Dynamics: https://www.gadgetreview.com/softbank-walks-away-from-boston-dynamics-for-325-million-hands-hyundai-the-keys GM fires 1,000 factory workers and replaces them with robots: https://www.autoblog.com/news/gm-cut-1000-workers-at-its-ev-plant-then-added-robots Deathwatch? Lucid lays off 18% of staff: https://electrek.co/2026/06/22/lucid-lays-off-18-percent-second-cut-four-months/ Lucid lays off COO Marc Winterhoff (who was interim CEO) and is eliminating COO position: https://eletric-vehicles.com/lucid/lucid-coo-exit-ends-undisclosed-eight-year-relationship/ Jeep Recon is a huge electron-guzzler: https://insideevs.com/news/799088/2026-jeep-recon-epa-range-efficiency/ RIP Speedwagons: Porsche drops Taycan Cross and Sport Turismo from US lineup: https://www.theautopian.com/porsche-just-killed-the-beautiful-taycan-wagon-lets-see-how-cheap-we-can-find-a-used-one/ This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez Episode art courtesy Boston Dynamics Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay Website: https://www.thewattcar.com Buy merch: https://www.thewattcar.com/store YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar