0:00 / 0:00
Best Selling Cars of 2025 - The Corvette ZR-1 Modern American Supercar. Landcruiser FJ-40

Best Selling Cars of 2025 - The Corvette ZR-1 Modern American Supercar. Landcruiser FJ-40

Analog and Grit Podcast Dec 19, 2025 74 min
0:00
0:00

About this episode

A dive into the best-selling cars of 2025 reveals a mix of classic favorites and emerging competitors. Hosts Victor and Dylan discuss the Corvette ZR-1's impressive performance against rivals like the Porsche GT3 RS and Mustang GTD, sparking a debate on what defines a supercar. The episode also highlights the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40's restoration and its significance in off-roading history. Listeners will appreciate insights on the automotive market trends, including the rise of hybrids and the enduring popularity of models like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

Filter:
|
Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

Syllinder deactivation

"Syllinder deactivation because everyone was obsessed with getting better gas mileage."

It’s a way to save gas: the car shuts off some cylinders when you’re cruising, so it uses less fuel.

Term

OBD2

"You know, another thing is like, you think of like just OBD2, right?"

It’s a computer in the car that checks how everything is working and can tell you if something needs fixing.

Term

OBD-II

"They like to call it like Lexus is, even in 2000, the Lexus is how to OBD2 plug connector, right?"

OBD‑II is the current computer system in cars that lets mechanics read detailed error codes and data. Every U.S. car made after 1996 has the same plug for this system.

Part

circle pin connector

"But to do full diagnostics, you still have that circle pin connector."

The circle pin connector is the round plug you use to connect a scan tool in cars. It has 16 pins and lets mechanics read the car’s error codes.

Term

blind spot monitoring

"So, like, for example, blind spot monitoring, running the departure. Review camera 2015, right?"

Blind spot monitoring warns you if there's a car in the lane next to yours, helping you avoid accidents when changing lanes.

Term

lane departure warning

"But like, lane departure warning, automated cruise control, blind spot monitor, these are features that like now are becoming standard."

Lane departure warning tells you if your car is drifting out of its lane, so you can correct it before an accident.

Term

automated cruise control

"But like, lane departure warning, automated cruise control, blind spot monitor, these are features that like now are becoming standard."

Automated cruise control keeps your speed steady and automatically slows down or speeds up to stay a safe distance from the car in front.

Term

rearview camera

"They're the new rearview camera, right? And they're the kind of stuff that you would see emerging on a lot of those early 2000s cars"

A rearview camera shows you what’s behind the car on a screen, making it easier and safer to back up.

Car

S Class

"So, I think that's another good case for what we're trying to say about cars from that period is if you buy an S class from that time period, it's going to have nav, it's going to have"

The S-Class is a top‑tier luxury car from Mercedes-Benz, famous for its smooth ride and fancy features.

Term

nav

"it's going to have nav, it's going to have"

‘Nav’ is a shorthand for navigation; it’s the GPS system in cars that tells you where to go and how to get there.

Part

curtain airbags

"curtain airbags, it's going to have a lot of stuff that you would see in modern adaptive cruise"

Curtain airbags are safety cushions that pop up from the roof to help keep people safe if a car hits something on the side.

Car

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

"the latest one is a 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 that was completely frame off restored in Colombia"

The Land Cruiser FJ40 is a classic Toyota off‑road truck that many people still use today because it’s very tough and reliable.

Part

valve springs

"They got new pistons rods, valve springs, rings"

Valve springs are small metal coils that keep the engine’s valves shut and open them again.

Part

rods

"They got new pistons rods, valve springs, rings"

Rods are metal pieces that connect the pistons to the engine’s crankshaft, helping the car run.

Part

pistons

"They got new pistons rods, valve springs, rings"

Pistons are the parts inside an engine that push and pull to make the car move.

Car

1972 FJ40 Land Cruiser

"So, it's basically a brand new 1972 FJ40. Nice. And this is the model of the Land Cruiser that looks like it was pre-war, right?"

It’s a Toyota truck from 1972 that can handle tough terrain. It looks like an old military Jeep but is a full‑size SUV.

Part

wind shield

"You can put the wind shield down, and it has the hardware to keep it down and secure it"

It’s a piece of metal you can lower or fold to keep wind and rain out when you’re driving in rough places.

Car

Ford Bronco

"like a Ford Bronco, like 60s Broncos, a lot of them get resto modded."

The Ford Bronco is a classic off‑road vehicle from the 1960s and 70s. It’s famous for its simple, sturdy design that many people like to bring back to life or improve with new parts.

Car

Toyota FJ Cruiser

"[728.6s] like, yeah, it has this orange cloth and all these things, but it still looks like an FJ 40."

The FJ Cruiser is a small SUV made by Toyota that looks like a mini Jeep. It’s popular for off‑road adventures and has a unique, boxy design.

Part

gearbox

"The clutch and gearbox feel that long first gear that you can ride the clutch a little to creep over rocks"

The gearbox is the part of a car that lets you choose how fast or slow the wheels turn compared to the engine. It’s what makes a car go faster or slower when you shift gears.

Part

clutch

"The clutch and gearbox feel that long first gear that you can ride the clutch a little to creep over rocks"

The clutch lets you shift gears in a manual car. When you press the pedal, it temporarily disconnects the engine from the wheels so you can change gears without stalling.

Part

heated seats

"and it has wood grain. It has heated seats. It's still capable, but it's more to kind of like coddle of the owner."

Heated seats are seats that can warm up, so you stay cozy in cold weather.

Part

carburetor

"for a carbureted vehicle. It starts, it cold starts like a brand new fuel injected car."

A carburetor is a device that mixes gasoline with air so the engine can run. Older cars used them, but newer ones use a different system called fuel injection.

Part

in-board suspension

"[1187.1s] it's now out for the most recent 911. But the GTD Mustang with the in-board suspension, like we saw it a car week and, you know..."

In‑board suspension means the parts that control how the car’s wheels move are tucked inside the body, which helps the car handle better.

Concept

Sonoma Raceway

"[1201.1s] they took it to Sonoma raceway and they had the same driver, his Randy Popes..."

Sonoma Raceway is a race track in California where cars drive around turns and straightaways for competitions.

Term

lap record

"But the result was, I think a lap record for Sonoma raceway for the Corvette ZR1."

A lap record means the car finished one loop around a race track faster than any other car before.

Car

Model 3

"What would you guess be? Model three. Yeah. Yeah. Model three. Yeah. 130,000 units sold."

The Model 3 is an electric car from Tesla that many people buy because it’s affordable and has good range.

Car

Toyota Rogue

"days because like I said, we're running out of time. The Rogue 161,000 units."

The Rogue is a small SUV from Toyota that many people buy for everyday driving. It’s comfortable and gets good gas mileage.

Car

Hyundai Venue

"you know, instead of them buying, you know, like a cheap Hyundai venue, let's say, because it's an SUV..."

The Hyundai Venue is a small SUV that can seat four people. It’s inexpensive and easy to park, but it doesn’t have much room for extra stuff like strollers or luggage.

Car

Tesla Model Y

"Okay. Model 3 is a sedan. Well, this is not a sedan. It's a SUV version. So it outsold the Model 3. Gotcha. It's not the model. It's the Model Y."

The Model Y is like the Model 3 but shaped more like a small SUV. It’s taller and can seat five people comfortably.

Concept

Cars and Coffee

"[3984.2s] I'm sure we'll have our regularly scheduled cars and coffee at the end of the month."

Cars and Coffee is a meetup where people who love cars get together, drink coffee, and show off their cars to friends.

7 cars featured

Request an Explanation

Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.

Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.

Want to learn more?

Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.

Explore Terms

Help improve this episode

See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.

Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars