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#69 - Ford's Future, A RAM SUV, The RAV4 GR, The BMW El Camino? & More!

#69 - Ford's Future, A RAM SUV, The RAV4 GR, The BMW El Camino? & More!

Clutch Culture Podcast Mar 09, 2026 61 min
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About this episode

The hosts dive into the awkwardness of CEOs, especially in the automotive and food industries, struggling with authentic communication, highlighting the recent McDonald's CEO video as a prime example. They critique Ford CEO Jim Farley’s comments on Mustang and Corvette rivalry, revealing a disconnect between Ford’s internal views and enthusiast perceptions. The discussion touches on market trends, including the softening classic car market and the challenges automakers face in aligning brand messaging with consumer expectations. Humor and candid opinions underscore the conversation about authenticity, marketing, and the future direction of iconic car brands.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

RestoMod

""The RestoMods are going wild because it's sort of the last ditch effort of that age group to say, hey, I want to drive this around.""

A RestoMod is an old car that has been fixed up and updated with newer parts to make it work better and be more comfortable, but it still looks like the original car.

Car

Ford Mustang

"... but really, I think if you see how we built out Mustang, you know, we're going in kind of a new, refresh..."

The Ford Mustang is a famous fast car that many people love because it looks cool and drives well. They are making a new version to make it better and more up-to-date.

Term

production built vehicle

"Don't think there's no Shelby's. They didn't renew the license. Will you be a production built vehicle to take on Corvette?"

A production built vehicle is a car made in large numbers that anyone can buy, not just a special or one-time car.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"Will you be a production built vehicle to take on Corvette? That's a good question. You don't think GTD is Corvette? The question was, are you going to make something that rivals Corvette?"

The Corvette is a famous fast sports car made by Chevrolet. People often compare other sports cars to it to see if they are as good or better.

Car

Golf Gtd

"That's a good question. You don't think GTD is Corvette? The guy was like jaw-dropped."

The Volkswagen Golf is a small car that is good for many uses. The GTD is a faster version that some people think is as exciting as very fast sports cars.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"... It does not matter that you see it as a rival to Camaro, or you see it as a rival to this or to that."

The Chevrolet Camaro is a popular fast car that people compare to the Mustang. It's known for being powerful and fun to drive.

Car

Ford F150S

"Ford brings three liter superchargers to the V8 Mustangs and F-150s to delivers up to 810 horsepower."

The Ford F-150 is a very popular big truck that many people use for work and fun. They made it even stronger and faster by adding a special part called a supercharger.

Car

Ford Lobo

"... gonna be $103,000? I mean, I think they use the Lobo as the example, which is already a pretty expens..."

The Ford Lobo is a big truck sold in Mexico that is the same as the Ford F-150 in the U.S. Some versions cost a lot of money.

Car

F-150 Raptor R

"...ich is already a pretty expensive truck. And the Raptor R already comes with one. I'm gonna guess it's pro..."

The Ford F-150 is a big truck many people use for work and fun. The fastest versions can be very expensive.

Car

Ford Raptor R

"Well, funny, we talk about Raptor R to take a little side quest here."

The Ford Raptor R is a special version of a big truck made for going fast and handling rough roads. It's more powerful and better equipped than regular trucks.

Company

Texas Shockworks

"I visited Texas Shockworks. Some of y'all that follow the account on Instagram saw that I was there doing a little bit of content with Alex the owner."

Texas Shockworks is a company that makes parts to help trucks and other vehicles drive better, especially on rough roads.

Part

suspension setup

"I learned some stuff about the Raptor R in that suspension setup. So we'll probably end up saving that for the video."

The suspension setup is how a truck's parts that help it bounce and stay steady are arranged. It helps the truck drive smoothly and handle bumps.

Term

horsepower

"like Raptor R is a lot of times they just strap more horsepower to it"

Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine is and how much power it can make to help the car go faster.

Term

aftermarket

"Some things will just kind of get left for the aftermarket, which is good for the aftermarket."

Aftermarket means parts or upgrades for a car that come from other companies, not the one that made the car, so you can change or improve your car.

Car

Ford Excursion

"... sent me what they thought would be Nick's dream excursion. Now, if you saw it, don't mention it."

The Ford Excursion was a very big SUV that could carry lots of people and things. Some people think of it as a dream big car.

Term

Raptor paint job

"Raptor paint job, 40-inch tires."

A 'Raptor paint job' means the truck is painted in the special colors used on a fast and tough Ford truck called the Raptor.

Term

40-inch tires

"Raptor paint job, 40-inch tires. The tires kind of sit flush and not obnoxious."

These are very big tires, about 40 inches tall, that help the truck drive over rough ground and look tough.

Car

Dodge Charger

"All right, here we go. The 2028 Ram Charger. We're bringing back the Ram charger name,"

The Dodge Charger is a big, fast car that many people like because it looks strong and can go fast. They are bringing back a similar name called Ram Charger in the future.

Car

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

"...as scrapped, the nameplate might go to this Jeep Grand Wagoneer, based SUV."

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a big, fancy SUV that is very comfortable and has lots of features. It's a new version of an old popular Jeep.

Car

Jeep Grand

"...it, was scrapped, the nameplate might go to this Jeep Grand Wagoneer, based SUV."

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a medium-sized SUV that can drive on rough roads and is comfortable inside. They might change its name or use a different name for a new similar SUV.

Concept

trim

"How many trims will there be of the 2028 Ram charger? 10."

A trim is a version of a car that has certain features or options. Some trims have more stuff or better equipment than others.

Car

Ram Laramie

""I remember when the Laramie was the top trim,""

The Ram Laramie is a fancy version of a Ram truck with nicer seats and more features than the basic truck.

Term

Good, better, best

""It should be three. Good, better best. Good, better best has worked throughout history for 100 years.""

Good, better, best means a company sells three versions of a car: a simple one, a nicer one, and the nicest one. It helps people pick what fits them.

Brand

Stellantis

""I just come back to Stellantis,""

Stellantis is a big company that owns many car brands like Ram and Jeep. They make lots of different cars and trucks.

Car

Dodge Ram

"I just come back to Stellantis, especially in the Dodge, Ram, Jeep world, has really struggled at the price points"

Ram trucks are big trucks used for heavy work and driving. They have had some trouble keeping prices and features competitive with other trucks.

Brand

Kia

"Hyundai, Kia, all these things have a certain price point"

Kia is a car company from South Korea that makes affordable and reliable cars with good warranties.

Car

Jeep Cherokee

"...ybody trusts you right now. And by the way, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wagoneer, all of these things struggling"

The Jeep Cherokee is a small SUV that can go off-road but is also good for normal driving. Lately, it hasn't been as popular as before.

Car

Chrysler Pacifica

"Yes, that's, I've said this before. The Pacifica, Durango, Durango, they completely screwed up. S..."

The Chrysler Pacifica is a big family van that can carry lots of people and stuff, but some people think it has problems and isn't as good as others.

Concept

refresh

"And like you said, why didn't you just do a Durango and refresh it and go after that market and fix your problem?"

A refresh means making a car look newer or better by changing some parts or features, but not making a completely new car.

Car

Ford Bronco Sport

"...uld have developed that into an escape killer or Bronco Sport Killer and kept that in the lineup as well, be d..."

The Ford Bronco Sport is a small SUV that can go off-road and is good for daily driving too.

Concept

weight class

"they are 100% of the time in the wrong weight class."

Weight class means how heavy a car is compared to others, which can change how it drives.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 6

"...it in this episode. Hyundai, they're killing the Ioniq 6 in the States, but not the N model Ioniq."

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a new electric car that looks nice and uses little energy. The fast sport version is not as popular in the U.S.

Term

Car of the Year

"I think it even got a car of the year last year, if I'm not mistaken, from car and driver."

Car of the Year is a prize that magazines give to the best new car each year. It means the car is really good in many ways.

Car

Porsche Taycan

"and kind of looks like little Taycan-ish."

The Porsche Taycan is a fast electric car made by Porsche. It runs on batteries instead of gas and is designed to be sporty and quick.

Car

Volkswagen Beetle

"And like a long Beetle. A long Beetle."

The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, round-shaped car that has been popular for many years. It looks different from most cars because of its unique shape.

Car

Toyota RAV4

"...nd getting the plot of them and all, 2026 Toyota RAV4 GR. I think my sister-in-law might love to trade..."

The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV that many people like because it is reliable and useful. A new faster and sportier version is coming soon.

Term

all-wheel drive

"Yeah, CVT, all-wheel drive, you know. CVT's one of those things that works awesome in theory, but always breaks."

All-wheel drive means the car sends power to all four wheels to help it grip the road better, especially in rain or snow.

Car

Honda Crv

"What was it? I guess CRV is the other one that I can think of. I mean, th..."

The Honda CR-V is a small SUV that many people buy because it is dependable and useful for everyday driving.

Term

EV

"My understanding is most people think the Highlander could go all EV. And there's gonna be nothing else built."

An EV is a car that runs on batteries and electricity instead of gas. It doesn't make smoke or pollution when you drive it.

Term

flat screen TVs

"We got about too many flat screen TVs."

Some modern cars have many big screens inside that show things like maps, music, or car information, kind of like TVs.

Car

Mercedes-Benz Sclass

"Or you can't see half your windshield. Looks like an S-Class. It's gonna be a new AMGT four-door."

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a very fancy and comfortable car that many rich people like. They are making a new fast and sporty version with four doors.

Brand

Bentley

"Yeah, makes you feel like you're in a Bentley when you aren't."

Bentley is a car company from Britain that makes very fancy and expensive cars with lots of comfort.

Car

Ford Taurus

""Like, we talked about this before, like Ford Taurus. It just feels like it should exist.""

The Taurus is a big car made by Ford that many families used to buy. It was comfortable and roomy but isn't made anymore because people started buying other types of cars.

Car

Toyota Camry

"... sedan that can transport people around. I mean, Camry is still so popular. Yeah."

The Toyota Camry is a very popular car that many people use because it is reliable and good for everyday driving.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"... history with the car because, I mean, Camry and Corolla still sell like hotcakes. Yep."

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people buy because it is cheap to own and works well for a long time.

Car

Honda Accord

"...se companies like Toyota just, I mean, the Honda Accord, you know, how do you let these guys just exist"

The Honda Accord is a medium-sized car that many people like because it drives well and lasts a long time.

Car

Ford Ranchero

"...historically of things like the El Camino or the Ranchero and that? Love the El Camino."

The Ford Ranchero was a car that also worked like a small truck, so you could carry things in the back but still drive like a car. It is an old model people remember fondly.

26 cars featured

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