Episodes
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When You See Tall People Hunched Down
This week, Jill drove the Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, Robbie drove the Jeep Cherokee Overland and Sam had the Kia Telluride hybrid and Kia EV3 GT. Links Global Auto Consumer Survey: Regional Trends in a Changing World | Bain & Company 2027 Chevy Silverado 1500 V8 And Duramax Engine Fuel Economy...
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Don't Buy Temu Engine Parts
This week Jill has been driving the Lexus RX500h, Robbie had the Cadillac Optiq-V and Sam had time with the Volvo EX30 and Infiniti QX65. Sam and Jill both went to Huntsville Alabama to see the 1 millionth vehicle(s) off the line at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant and see how the joint…
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Lots of Toyotas
Jill put a bunch of miles on the Toyota GR Corolla and a few on the Rivian R2. Stephanie Brinley joined us this week and drove the new Audi A6 and the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. Sam drove the Toyota Rav4 Woodland PHEV Links Inside GM's Plan for Its Next-Gen EVs | GreenCars Meet Mustang Mach-E Trail:...
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Hopscotch Car
Jill has been driving Mazda CX-90 plug-in hybrid but it came without a charging cord so she couldn't plug it in. She also took a flight in the HondaJet Elite. Back in 2018, Rebecca and Sam also got to try out the original HondaJet https://youtu.be/gvM2bo5k2Xo?si=OI7wOOkewWuQdcsE. Sam drove the...
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Sedans Are Still Great
Sam has been driving the Kia K5 GT-Line, Jill had the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and Robbie had the Subaru Trailseeker and Ford Expedition. This week Jaguar unveiled its first new product in a decade, BMW has killed what was once a top-selling 3 series, a Chinese SUV is the UK's top-seller. Canada has…
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Welcome Jill Of Many Places
This week our new co-host Jill Ciminillo joins the show and she's been driving the Ford Ranger. Sam had the new 2026 Mazda CX-5. Our whole team converged on New York for the debut of the new Hyundai Tucson and Sam had a conversation with Eric Wood, head of product experience about the new Pleos...
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Drop The Battery
This week Robbie is driving the BMW M3 Competition and Sam has the Toyota bZ XLE Plus Links The Board of Volvo Cars appoints Klaus Zellmer as President and CEO VEHICLE CARGO SPACE ACCESS PROVIDING METHOD Ford Patents reveal new clues for Fathom! Can the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV Keep Up With a V8…
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Reading Comprehension
This week Robbie has been driving the Kia Telluride hybrid and the GMC Sierra EV while Sam had the very impression new Kia Seltos. In the news, VW showed a new EV concept and a lot of people misread the press release. Ford is again refreshing the F-150 and adding hands-free towing capability to...
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Will Chinese Cars Be Made In America
Sam shares his thoughts on the Dodge Charger Six Pack Scat Pack and Robbie teases the Kia Telluride hybrid and talks about e-bikes. Honda adds more ground clearance to the Passport Trailsport, Audi fully reveals the new A2 e-tron, Volvo refreshes the XC40 and Range Rover launches an EV. Arbe gets…
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Can They Sell 100K
This week Robbie finally gets his hands on the new Honda Prelude and Sam drives the Land Rover Discovery. Links Nissan and Honda Conclude Joint Development Agreement to Standardize ECUs and Software for Next-Generation SDVs The Isuzu V8-Powered Chevy Feretta Was GM's Forbidden Camaro-Killer New...
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It's A Lot
This week Robbie has the GMC Hummer EV SUV and Sam has the Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige. In the news, Hyundai announces at its investor day that the Santa Fe will be its first EREV and Lincoln is bringing the Corsair back as a hybrid from China. Rivian R1s are getting a software update Honda…
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The Outbackier Subaru
This week Robbie and Sam are joined by Craig Cole who has his own thoughts on the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Robbie tells us about hauling band gear in the new Subaru Outback and Sam pontificates on the BMW XM. In the news, why are some automakers using NACS only for DC charging with a J1772...
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People With Too Much Money
This week Robbie and Sam are joined by Perry Stern. Perry has two cars to compare that are basically the same, the Lamborghini Revuelto and Chevrolet Bolt. Sam had the new Subaru Outback and Robbie drove the Dodge Charger R/T SixPack. Sam and Perry also drove the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV,...
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Can You Fathom It
This week Robbie and Sam are joined by Stephanie Brinley. Stephanie drove the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Lexus ES350e, Robbie had the Subaru Uncharted and Sam had the Jeep Cherokee Sam also had a conversation with Dodge CEO Matt McAlear about the new new Super Bee and what's happening with the brand....
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It's Fantaaastically Expensive
It's just Sam and Robbie this week and Robbie has the BMW M5 Touring while Sam drove the Rivian R1T Quad. Audi took the wraps off its new Q9 three-row SUV this week while Mercedes-Benz went for the opposite end of the scale with the new GLA crossover. Zoox got a NHTSA waiver for its robotaxi and...
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Bye-Bye Nicole
This week Sam had nothing scheduled so he drove his 1990 Miata around. Robbie joined in a bit late to tell us about the Lucid Gravity and Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige while Nicole shared some thoughts on driving her spouse's Wrangler PHEV. Jalopnik provided a reader listicle on concepts that...
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What Is A Moonroof
This week Robbie has been driving the Ford Mustang Mach-e GT and Sam had the Ford F-150 Lariat PowerBoost Hybrid There's lots of news including a Ford patent that could immobilize cars, a proposal for a VW Thing revival as an EREV and an Abarth version of the Fiat Topolino. A wagon version of the...
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Tracked By Flock
This week Robbie was driving the Chevy Trax and Sam had the Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid AWD and Subaru Uncharted GT. In the news we discuss our friend Joel getting tracked by flock for an allegedly stolen license plate on a press car. We also have longer loans, right to repair, testing driver…
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Diesels Dying
Sam and Robbie both had the Ford Explorer Tremor this week and Nicole rounded out the Ford fest with the F-350 King Ranch PowerStroke duallie. Diesel cars are fading away in Europe and BMW has launched the next-generation X5 including an all electric iX5. California is bringing back some EV...
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Is Slate Cheap Enough
This week Nicole shares her adventure of trying to get a test drive in a BMW, and testing the Subaru Crosstrek hybrid and Ford Maverick hybrid. Robbie went on an adventure in the new Subaru Outback and Sam did truck stuff with the Ford Maverick Lobo. In the news, Jeep teased the new Cherokee...
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No Silverado Hybrids
This week Sam drove the Polestar 4 and Kia Sportage Hybrid. Robbie had the Sportage plug-in hybriid and Nicole had the Chevy Silverado EV Trail Boss. The Porsche Taycan is looking its wagon variants in America and gaining fake shifting. Chevrolet is redesigning the Silverado for 2027 with bigger...
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Following Fedex
This week Robbie has been driving the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and Sam talks about the Cadillac Escalade IQ. We discuss the effect of speed on efficiency. BMW revealed a concept version of the upcoming electric M3. Audi showed the new Q7, the Nuvolari supercar and matrix LED lights for the new Q9....
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Live From Nebraska
This week Robbie and Sam are on the road as part of Operation Frodo Electric 2026, transporting rescue dogs from the midwest to the Pacific Northwest in a fleet of EVs and they recorded live from a Kia EV9 somewhere on I-80 in Nebraska. This week Robbie drove the Kia K4 hatchback and Sam had the...
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How We Cruise
This week Nicole drove the new Subaru Outback Wilderness, Robbie had the Mercedes-Benz EQS 400 SUV and Sam had the Kia EV9. In the news, GM opened a new Pasadena design studio and showed off a couple of GMC Hummer concepts. Waymo is having some challenges with its Robotaxis while Zoox is making...
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Selling To Little Old Ladies
This week Nicole was driving the 2026 Subaru Solterra and Sam had the Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid. In recent days, both AMG and Ferrari have revealed new four-door GT models with over 1,000-hp electric propulsion and the response has been very different between the two. Stellantis had their big...
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Lots of Honda Hybrids
Nicole is back from Disney World and she caught lots of fish. Robbie got to drive the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Sam had the latest Nissan Sentra. Robbie and his wife also got a great deal buying a new Hyundai Ioniq 5 to replace the one that is ending its lease shortly which means he probably...
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Driving Old Cars
Nicole is spending mothers day at Disney World so our friend Stephanie Brinley has stepped in again. Steph drove the Volvo EX30 and Hyundai Tucson PHEV. Robbie drove the oldest car any of us has ever been in (or on) the Benz Patent Motorwagen and Sam had the new Nissan Leaf. Sam and Stephanie…
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Powdered Sugar Everywhere
Nicole has returned from the Big Easy after driving the Acura MDX and eating beignets with too much powdered sugar (is there such a thing as too much?). She also drove the Infiniti QX65, Dodge Charger R/T and Kia Sportage. Sam had the Toyota Corolla FX and Robbie rented a Kia Carnival for a mini...
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Too Many Brands
This week Nicole is off in New Orleans with Acura so our buddy John Voelcker is sitting in. He's been driving a bunch of stuff including the Ford Maverick hybrid, Porsche Taycan, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Jeep Cherokee and Subaru Trailseeker. Robbie drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT and Sam had the Lexus...
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All The Switches
After last week's travel challenges, Robbie and Nicole are back. Nicole has driven the Chevrolet Equinox EV and the Honda Pilot Elite while Sam had the Mazda MX-5 Miata 35th Anniversary Edition. Robbie tells us about the new Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS and we discuss the company's new drive by wire...
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Going Rogue
Robbie and Nicole both ran into travel delays today so Chad Kirchner is jumping in. Sam makes the case for buying an Acura Integra A-Spec over the ADX. Nissan has revealed its next-generation Rogue and teased the upcoming XTerra. Kia is laying out its plans through 2030 including a midsize pickup...
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Boulder Incoming
Unfortunately, it's Robbie's turn to lose his voice this week so our pal Perry Stern stepped in which worked out well because he was also at the New York Auto Show with us last week and we have lots to talk about. Before that Nicole shares her thoughts on the Dodge Durango Hellcat, Perry drives…
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The Darth Vader Edition
This week Nicole has been driving the Hyundai Santa Cruz trucklet and Sam had the Genesis GV80 Coupe in Prestige Black (aka the Darth Vader edition). In the news, Infiniti unveiled the its own crossover coupe, the QX65 and Nicole spoke with product marketing manager Brian Maragno. Chevrolet took...
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The Scammer Edition
Sam's getting better but his voice is still a bit hoarse as he drove the Infiniti QX60 Sport AWD. Nicole had her turn in the Kia K4 Hatchback GT-Line without a turbo and was still impressed. In the news, BMW has unveiled its new i3, an all-electric 3 series, with up to 440 miles of EPA range and...
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To The Cosmos and Beyond
This week, Sam is a bit under the weather, but he talks about driving the Mazda CX-30 S Aire Edition while Nicole had the Toyota Tundra Platinum Off-Road and Robbie got to try out the Everrati Land Rover Classic. Nicole and Sam both had the chance to drive the new 2027 Kia Telluride in Santa...
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Denver Croissants
This week, Nicole tells us about driving home in a remote area of New England in the Range Rover Sport SE Dynamic while Robbie shares some thoughts on the new Mercedes-Benz GLS and GLE. Sam shares thoughts on the gas guzzling Toyota Sequoia and has mixed feelings on the Polestar 4. While visiting...
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Can't Share Non-Existent Profits
Even as a non-fan of minivans, Nicole found some beauty in the latest Toyota Sienna with a hybrid system and all-wheel-drive, plus 18 cup-holders for all her diet Cokes. Sam drove the Volvo XC90 B6 and really enjoyed the new Kia K4 hatchback. The EPA published its latest annual Automotive Trends...
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We All Know The Truth
We're a little late with this week's show because we were waiting for the embargo to lift on some stuff. Robbie drove the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Nicole had the Volvo XC40 and Sam had the 2025 Mazda CX-5. Nicole had the opportunity to drive the all-new 2026 CX-5 and talk with project…
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A conversation with Toyota EV Chief Engineer Masaya Uchiyama
While we were in Ojai California last week to drive the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland and C-HR, friend of the show Tanya Gazdik and Sam sat down for a chat with chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama. Our Sponsors:
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Heirloom Furniture Dollies
This week Nicole white knuckled it through a tunnel at Boston Logan Airport with a Ford F-250 Platinum diesel and Robbie and Sam had almost identical Toyota Corolla Cross XSE hybrids. Sam and Robbie go deep on the 3D printed pistons that F1 teams might be using to "cheat" on the new power unit...
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Finnicky Door Handles
Robbie, his wife and the dogs are taking a weekend off at a cabin in Sonoma so it's just Nicole and Sam. After a intro discussion of winter driving, Nicole discusses driving the Hyundai Ioniq 9 in frigid weather while Sam reviews the Mazda CX-70. Hyundai unveiled a camper version of its new...
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Adios To A Pioneer
This week both Sam and Nicole had the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy although in different colors. Nicole has had several first drives to report on including the Kia K4 hatchback, refreshed Honda Pilot and Honda Prelude. Congress voted not to kill the mandate for a drunk driving disable system...
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A Conversation With Zeekr's Giovanni Lanfranchi
At CES 2026 Sam and friend of the show John Voelker sat down for a conversation with Giovanni Lanfranchi, CEO of Zeekr Technology Europe to learn more about the Geely Group's approach to product development Our Sponsors:
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How Much For That Old Truck?
Unfortunately, Robbie had a migraine this morning so it's just Nicole and Sam. Nicole has been driving the latest Toyota Prius with AWD in New Hampshire snow and Sam had the Cadillac Lyriq Signature Sport AWD in Michigan winter weather. Volvo finally dropped all the details on its new EX60…
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Chinese EVs North of the Border
We're back and this week all voices were recorded all the way through the show. Sorry again about last week. Nicole lucked out and had the Land Rover Defender Octa during some serious New Hampshire winter weather and Sam had a Porsche Macan 4S Electric with winter tires during a Michigan snow...
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Unplugging Stellantis
Unfortunately, the audio is a bit weird this week, Robbie's audio stopped recording after 26 minutes so there are some gaps, but most of it is there. Nicole is back and she drove the new 2026 Subaru Outback Premium. It doesn't look much a like a wagon anymore, but its still a Subie through and...
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One Trick Pony
Nicole had a last minute family emergency and couldn't make it, but Sam drove the Subaru WRX tS and Robbie provides an update on the Verge electric motorcycle he recently rode. In the news the least surprising announcement of the week came from Ram with the return of the TRX plus a diesel version...
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Surprises and Disappointments
This week, Nicole continues her stint with the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and her family was wondering if it was ok when they heard the sound it makes. Sam had the opposite end of the scale with the Lexus TX 550h+, a 3-row plug-in hybrid crossover. The team discusses the EVs that InsideEVs is...
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Lightning Strikes Out
This week we're joined by special guest Harvey Briggs. Harvey and Sam review the vehicles they drove last week while transporting 20 dogs nearly 2,000 miles as part of Operation Frodo. Nicole had the Ford Maverick Lobo and Robbie rode the Verge TS electric motorcycle. GM has struck a deal with...
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Going Autonomous
Nicole is finally back and while she was away she drove a Mercedes-Benz E-Class diesel wagon and since she returned she's been driving the Acura Integra A-Spec. Robbie shares his thoughts on the new Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid. Sam had the Honda Accord Touring Hybrid and the Land Rover Defender X.…
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About this show
Wheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin
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https://wheelbearings.media
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