{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Behind the Wheel of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards: Insights and Automotive Evolutions","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/behind-the-wheel-of-the-north-american-car-and-truck-of-the-year-awards-insights-and-automotive-evolutions","audioUrl":"https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/246908/episodes/14309008-behind-the-wheel-of-the-north-american-car-and-truck-of-the-year-awards-insights-and-automotive-evolutions.mp3","description":"Discover the inside track on the most prestigious automotive accolades with our special guest, the renowned Jack Nerad, as he takes us behind the scenes of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. Peel back the curtain on what makes a vehicle stand out to the judges, and get Jack's unique take, drawn from his multifaceted career including writing for Rodney Dangerfield. We also cast a spotlight on an unexpected cold snap in LA, hinting at the larger narrative of electrical grid challenges that could become more than just a one-off punchline.Shift gears with us as we debate whether electric vehicles should go head-to-head with their gas-guzzling cousins or if they deserve their own podium in automotive competitions. From the versatile Hyundai Kona to the trusty Prius, we navigate the complexities of today's diverse vehicle landscape and charging infrastructures, while also celebrating the impressive ascent of Korean car brands. The conversation takes a turn into the nitty-gritty of infotainment systems and their surprising influence on a car's quality score.Rev up your automotive know-how as we unravel the myths of octane ratings and the true importance of using the right fuel for your car's health and longevity. We'll also explore how top-tier gasoline came to be and why your vehicle will thank you for choosing it. Before we sign off, we'll discuss Hertz Global Holdings' electrifying decision to reallocate its fleet and what it means for the future of EV adoption. Join us next time, and until then, stay warm out there, especially our friends in Texas facing down the Arctic Blast.Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time? In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy! Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.----- -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at info@inwheeltime.com"},"annotations":[{"startTime":356.758,"endTime":366.532,"type":"car","title":"Hyundai Ionic","url":"/cars/hyundai/ioniq-5","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/0_Hyundai_Ioniq_5.jpg","quote":"...say, the car of the year field, okay, you had the Hyundai Ionic 6, which happened to be World Car of the Year las...","canonicalId":"car:hyundai:ioniq 5","priority":0.3,"confidence":0.923076923076923,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Benespit (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":366.532,"endTime":372.349,"type":"car","title":"Honda Accord","url":"/cars/honda/accord","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/1981_Honda_Accord_%2829891730173%29.jpg","quote":"...rld Car of the Year last year. You have the Honda Accord, which is a really really good car. Maybe not par...","canonicalId":"car:honda:accord","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":377.428,"endTime":387.878,"type":"car","title":"Toyota Prius","url":"/cars/toyota/prius","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/2018-2023_Toyota_Prius.jpg","quote":"...he price. And then you had the winner, the Toyota Prius at Prius Prime, which are undoubtedly the best hy...","canonicalId":"car:toyota:prius","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"TTTNIS (CC0)"}},{"startTime":416.47,"endTime":435.559,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Corvette","url":"/cars/chevrolet/corvette","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/1978_Chevrolet_Corvette_C3_Silver_Anniversary_Edition_LCCS20.jpg","quote":"..., I think a couple years ago the mid-engine Chevy Corvette was our car of the year and a little bit of you k...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:corvette","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":456.516,"endTime":469.796,"type":"car","title":"Toyota Camry","url":"/cars/toyota/camry","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/2018_GAC-Toyota_Camry_%28front%29.jpg","quote":"...erall value and really a good looking pack Like a Camry or something like an Accord or something like tha...","canonicalId":"car:toyota:camry","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"User3204 (CC BY 4.0)"}},{"startTime":478.731,"endTime":492.713,"type":"car","title":"Ford Super","url":"/cars/ford/super-duty-lariat-tremor","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/1928_Model_A_Ford.jpg","quote":"...nto play on Truck of the Year, where we chose the Ford Super Duty. The other contenders are good vehicles.","canonicalId":"car:ford:super duty lariat tremor","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Richard Smith (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":496.128,"endTime":511.011,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Silverado EV","url":"/cars/chevrolet/silverado-ev","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/2024_Chevrolet_Silverado_EV.jpg","quote":"...ehicles. There were two Chevys actually the Chevy Silverado EV and the Chevy Colorado, which is, you know, a rea...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:silverado ev","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"UltraTech66 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":511.011,"endTime":525.332,"type":"car","title":"Toyota Tacoma","url":"/cars/toyota/tacoma","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/2016_Toyota_Tacoma_.jpg","quote":"...'t know that it's better than the upcoming Toyota Tacoma, for example, or some of the others in the segmen...","canonicalId":"car:toyota:tacoma","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Slapotoic (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":605.906,"endTime":612.129,"type":"car","title":"Hyundai Kona","url":"/cars/hyundai/kona","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/%28SGP-Singapore%29_ComfortDelgro_Hyundai_Kona_SHC8365J_2024-08-25.jpg","quote":"...t hybrids. And you know some vehicles the Hyundai Kona, for example, comes in a couple of different flav...","canonicalId":"car:hyundai:kona","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"S5A-0043 (CC BY 4.0)"}},{"startTime":746.92,"endTime":754.33,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Charger","url":"/cars/dodge/charger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/1966_Dodge_Charger%2C_front_right%2C_09-27-2025.jpg","quote":"...wner, us enough to be. I think this is a sit at a charger for half an hour At a fast charger to get top and...","canonicalId":"car:dodge:charger","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":938.203,"endTime":945.241,"type":"car","title":"Kia EV9","url":"/cars/kia/ev9","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/2024_Kia_EV9_1.jpg","quote":"... yeah on, and the utility. The utility is the key EV9, the first you know kind of affordable three-row ...","canonicalId":"car:kia:ev9","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Benespit (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":968.223,"endTime":972.721,"type":"car","title":"Kia EV6","url":"/cars/kia/ev6","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Kia_EV6_001.jpg","quote":"...ugh. It's essentially on the same platform as the EV6. It's taller, it's about the same length, but the...","canonicalId":"car:kia:ev6","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0"}},{"startTime":1538.555,"endTime":1541.9,"type":"car","title":"Shelby Gt350H","url":"/cars/ford/mustang","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/2024_Ford_Mustang%2C_LaSalle%2C_Ontario%2C_2025-06-28.jpg","quote":"We have the Mushanks. The Shelby GT350H and people had rented for the day. Take it home, ...","canonicalId":"car:shelby:mustang","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.96,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Crisco 1492 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1559.32,"endTime":1561.757,"type":"car","title":"Chrysler Town","url":"/cars/chrysler/town-country","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/%2708_Chrysler_Town_%26_Country.jpg","quote":"...rs round up, but I got one for Jeff here in 1968. Chrysler Town in Country wagon. There it is.","canonicalId":"car:chrysler:town & country","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Bull-Doser (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":1597.797,"endTime":1603.842,"type":"car","title":"Oldsmobile Cutlass","url":"/cars/oldsmobile/cutlass","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/1978_Oldsmobile_Cutlass_Salon_%2828249217723%29.jpg","quote":"...at was a custom. There was also a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass that went for $100,000. And you look at those and...","canonicalId":"car:oldsmobile:cutlass","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA (CC BY 2.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"In Wheel Time Podcast | Automotive talk with Don Armstrong","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"Michael Marrs","role":"host"},{"id":"s3","name":"Jeff Dziekan","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/behind-the-wheel-of-the-north-american-car-and-truck-of-the-year-awards-insights-and-automotive-evolutions/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}