{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Bonus: Steve and Matt read your letters","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/bonus-steve-and-matt-read-your-letters","audioUrl":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/631f3b92b4aca6001290ac09/e/69a049a47156d508746997dc/media.mp3","description":"In this bonus episode of the Autocar podcast, Steve Cropley and Matt Prior read your correspondence. They talk rodent problems, how much power is too much power, the most efficient way to drive an EV, and more besides.We're also here every Wednesday with our regular My Week In Cars podcast. Subscribe and you won't miss it. Would you be kind enough to leave us a like or review too? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information."},"annotations":[{"startTime":149.9,"endTime":152.4,"type":"car","title":"Land Rover Range Rover L322","url":"/cars/land-rover/range-rover","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Land_Rover_Range_Rover_%285th_generation%29_IMG_9481.jpg","quote":"...a Ranger over L322, and he feels like it. And somehow still has the time to talk to us.","canonicalId":"car:land-rover:range-rover","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Land Rover Range Rover L322 is the third generation of the Range Rover luxury SUV, produced from 2002 to 2012. It is known for combining off-road capability with premium luxury features.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Range Rover L322 is a fancy SUV that can drive off-road and is very comfortable inside. It was made between 2002 and 2012.","imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":149.92,"endTime":152.38,"type":"car","title":"Ford Ranger","url":"/cars/ford/ranger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ford_Ranger_%28T6%2C_P703%29_Wildtrak_IMG_7320.jpg","quote":"the Sun, a pub, a farm, a brewery.  And a Ranger over L322, and he feels like it.  And somehow sti...","canonicalId":"car:ford:ranger","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Ranger is a midsize pickup truck known for its versatility and ruggedness, making it popular for both work and leisure activities such as farming and outdoor adventures. It is often favored over larger SUVs like the Range Rover L322 for its practicality and off-road capability in rural or active settings.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Ranger is a medium-sized truck that people use for things like farming, carrying stuff, and going off-road. It's smaller and easier to handle than big fancy SUVs, so some people like it better for everyday work and fun outside.","imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":405.2,"endTime":409.1,"type":"term","title":"insurance policy","url":"/glossary/insurance-policy","quote":"I would recommend that readers check the small print in their insurance policy. As my recent renewal with a well-known classic slash multi car insurer includes a new exception for damage caused to vehicles by vermin, insects, mildew or fungus.","canonicalId":"term:insurance-policy","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An insurance policy is a contract between a vehicle owner and an insurer that provides financial protection against various types of damage or loss to the vehicle, subject to terms and conditions.","simplifiedExplanation":"An insurance policy is a deal you make with a company that helps pay for repairs or replacement if your car gets damaged or stolen."}},{"startTime":415.5,"endTime":421.4,"type":"term","title":"vermin damage","url":"/glossary/vermin-damage","quote":"As my recent renewal with a well-known classic slash multi car insurer includes a new exception for damage caused to vehicles by vermin, insects, mildew or fungus. Good to know.","canonicalId":"term:vermin-damage","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Vermin damage refers to harm caused to vehicles by small animals such as rodents, which can chew through wiring and other components, potentially leading to costly repairs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Vermin damage means little animals like mice or rats can bite parts of your car, like wires, which can break things and cost money to fix."}},{"startTime":672.5,"endTime":675.0,"type":"term","title":"horsepower","url":"/glossary/horsepower","quote":"do you or your road testers have any opinions you can share on the crazy horsepower of some cars? Surely can't be used 99% of the time.","canonicalId":"term:horsepower","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Horsepower is a unit of measurement for engine power, indicating how much work an engine can perform. It helps quantify a car's performance potential and acceleration capability.","simplifiedExplanation":"Horsepower is a way to measure how strong a car's engine is. More horsepower means the car can go faster or accelerate quicker."}},{"startTime":698.6,"endTime":703.0,"type":"term","title":"EV","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"is that all the EVs that we're talking about with sort of effortlessly huge power outputs are also very heavy.","canonicalId":"term:ev","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"EV stands for Electric Vehicle, which uses electric motors powered by batteries instead of internal combustion engines. They often have instant torque and high power outputs but tend to be heavier due to battery weight.","simplifiedExplanation":"An EV is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. They can be very powerful but usually weigh more because of their big batteries."}},{"startTime":744.1,"endTime":746.4,"type":"car","title":"Morgan Super 3","url":"/cars/morgan/super-3","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/2022_Morgan_Super_3.jpg","quote":"when I was talking about that Morgan Super 3, which has 115 horsepower and sort of lower overall limits","canonicalId":"car:morgan:super-3","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Morgan Super 3 is a lightweight, three-wheeled sports car known for its minimalist design and driving engagement. It features a modest engine output around 115 horsepower, emphasizing driving experience over outright speed.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Morgan Super 3 is a small, light car with three wheels. It doesn't have a very powerful engine but is fun to drive because it's simple and light.","imageAttribution":"MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":764.04,"endTime":767.66,"type":"car","title":"Porsche Cayman","url":"/cars/porsche/cayman","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/2015_Porsche_Cayman_GTS_S-A_3.4_Front.jpg","quote":"Yeah, or a Porsche Cayman or something like.","canonicalId":"car:porsche:cayman","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine sports car known for its balanced handling and strong performance. It is often compared to other sports cars for its driving dynamics and build quality.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Porsche Cayman is a sporty car designed to be fun and easy to control when driving. It has its engine placed in the middle, which helps it handle well.","imageAttribution":"Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":781.28,"endTime":788.9,"type":"car","title":"Kia Picanto","url":"/cars/kia/picanto","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/2017_Kia_Picanto_GT-Line_S_1.2_Front.jpg","quote":"I find it more enjoyable to be right up the limit of a P&A A10 or Kia Picanto than at 10% of a much more powerful car.","canonicalId":"car:kia:picanto","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Kia Picanto is a small city car known for its compact size and efficiency. It is less powerful compared to sports or performance cars, making it interesting to drive near its limits.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Kia Picanto is a small and simple car that's easy to drive around town. Even though it's not very fast, pushing it to its limits can be fun.","imageAttribution":"Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":810.3,"endTime":814.1,"type":"term","title":"opposite lock","url":"/glossary/opposite-lock","quote":"\"...if it starts to slide, it starts to slide in a sweet way and you can, you can sort of tune how much opposite lock you want.\"","canonicalId":"term:opposite-lock","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Opposite lock is a steering technique used to control a car during a slide or oversteer by turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the turn to maintain control.","simplifiedExplanation":"Opposite lock means turning the steering wheel the other way when your car starts to slide, so you can keep driving safely without spinning out."}},{"startTime":874.92,"endTime":880.0,"type":"car","title":"Austin Seven","url":"/cars/austin/7","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/1931_Austin_Seven_Special.jpg","quote":"I've raced a Lotus, a Lotus, an Austin seven special at Snetterton","canonicalId":"car:austin:7","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Austin Seven Special is a modified or custom version of the Austin Seven, a small British car produced from the 1920s to 1930s. The 'Special' designation often refers to a car that has been customized or built for racing or performance purposes.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Austin Seven Special is a small, old British car that people sometimes change to make it faster or better for racing.","imageAttribution":"Dave Hamster (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":881.5,"endTime":885.0,"type":"concept","title":"750 Motor Club","url":"/glossary/750-motor-club","quote":"two years ago, three years ago with the 750 motor club, great motor club,","canonicalId":"concept:750-motor-club","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The 750 Motor Club is a British motorsport club that organizes racing events, often featuring small, lightweight, and affordable cars. It is known for being welcoming to beginners and promoting low-cost motorsport.","simplifiedExplanation":"The 750 Motor Club is a group that organizes car races for small and cheap cars, making it easy for new drivers to join and have fun."}},{"startTime":907.0,"endTime":912.0,"type":"term","title":"750 CC engine","url":"/glossary/750-cc-engine","quote":"I reckon I had as much fun in that Austin seven with its tweaked 750 horsepower, 750 CC engine making, I don't know, 50 horsepower,","canonicalId":"term:750-cc-engine","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A 750 CC engine refers to an engine with a displacement of 750 cubic centimeters, which is relatively small and typical of lightweight or vintage cars. Engine displacement affects power and efficiency.","simplifiedExplanation":"A 750 CC engine is a small engine size, meaning it uses a small amount of fuel and is usually found in smaller cars."}},{"startTime":982.9,"endTime":987.0,"type":"concept","title":"Formula One","url":"/glossary/formula-one","quote":"\"Yeah. He, he, if you're unaware, listener, he was Formula One driver. And then later auto cars, technical editor or sports editor.\"","canonicalId":"concept:formula-one","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It features the fastest and most technologically advanced racing cars competing in a series of Grand Prix events worldwide.","simplifiedExplanation":"Formula One is a type of car race where the fastest and most advanced cars compete all over the world. It's like the top level of car racing."}},{"startTime":999.7,"endTime":1004.7,"type":"car","title":"Ford Capri","url":"/cars/ford/capri","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/2024_Ford_Capri_2.jpg","quote":"And he had a famous Ford Capri that he, that he modified great. He became more and more expert on dynamics, didn't he?","canonicalId":"car:ford:capri","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Capri is a classic European coupe produced by Ford of Europe from 1968 to 1986, known for its sporty design and popularity among car modifiers and enthusiasts.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Capri is a sporty car made by Ford a long time ago. People liked to change it to make it faster or look cooler.","imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1050.0,"endTime":1053.9,"type":"car","title":"Austin 7","url":"/cars/austin/7","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/1926_Austin_7_Gordan_England.jpg","quote":"And I did, after trying a fairly ordinary Austin 7, one of John Miles ones that I think somebody said was the fourth one he built in retirement.","canonicalId":"car:austin:7","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Austin 7 is a small British car produced from 1922 to 1939, known for its simplicity and affordability. It was one of the most popular cars in Britain and influenced many other small cars worldwide.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Austin 7 is an old, small car from Britain that was easy to drive and very popular a long time ago. Many people liked it because it was simple and cheap.","imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1154.8,"endTime":1166.3,"type":"brand","title":"Lotus","url":"/glossary/lotus","quote":"\"He'll be raced against Colin Chapman and others, you know, and says, we didn't expect to beat the Lotus Austin anyway. Goes to, this was in the days when Chapman was modifying Austins a lot...\"","canonicalId":"brand:lotus","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Lotus is a British automotive company known for producing lightweight sports cars and racing cars. Founded by Colin Chapman, Lotus is famous for its engineering innovations and success in motorsport.","simplifiedExplanation":"Lotus is a company that makes small, fast sports cars. The man who started it, Colin Chapman, was very good at making cars go faster."}},{"startTime":1207.5,"endTime":1216.6,"type":"concept","title":"hill climbs","url":"/glossary/hill-climbs","quote":"which was a little mid-engined car, single seater, run them in hill climbs. And God, it was a good thing.","canonicalId":"concept:hill-climbs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Hill climbs are motorsport events where drivers race individually against the clock to ascend a steep and winding course, often on public or private roads. These events test a car's power, handling, and the driver's skill in navigating elevation changes and tight corners.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hill climbs are races where drivers try to go up a steep hill as fast as possible, one at a time. It's a way to see how good a car and driver are at going uphill and around turns."}},{"startTime":1245.2,"endTime":1247.0,"type":"concept","title":"world record breaker","url":"/glossary/world-record-breaker","quote":"The story of a 140-mile-an-hour mini-engined world record breaker and how to build it.","canonicalId":"concept:world-record-breaker","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A world record breaker refers to a vehicle or machine that has set a new official record in a specific category, such as speed or distance. In this context, it refers to a car that achieved a 140-mile-an-hour speed record with a mini engine.","simplifiedExplanation":"A world record breaker is something that goes faster or farther than anything else before it. Here, it means a small car that went really fast, faster than anyone else with that kind of engine."}},{"startTime":1320.3,"endTime":1327.46,"type":"car","title":"Hillman Imp","url":"/cars/hillman/imp","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/1963_Hillman_Imp.jpg","quote":"Because I think there's a few hillman-imp based mid-engined specials, and people like to keep the","canonicalId":"car:hillman:imp","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Hillman Imp is a small, rear-engined British car produced in the 1960s and 1970s, known for its compact size and innovative engineering. It has a distinctive aluminum engine and was designed to compete with the Mini.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Hillman Imp is a small old British car with the engine in the back. It was made to be tiny and different from other cars.","imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1338.6,"endTime":1344.3,"type":"term","title":"mid-engine","url":"/glossary/mid-engine","quote":"in the imp, the gearbox is in front of the engine, but ideally on a single seat at mid-engine, single seat, you would have the gearbox behind, because you want it mid-engine, not rear-engine,","canonicalId":"term:mid-engine","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Mid-engine refers to a vehicle layout where the engine is located between the front and rear axles, typically behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle. This layout improves weight distribution and handling.","simplifiedExplanation":"Mid-engine means the car's engine is placed in the middle of the car, usually behind the seats but before the back wheels. This helps the car drive better and handle turns more easily."}},{"startTime":1367.2,"endTime":1376.4,"type":"term","title":"front-wheel drive","url":"/glossary/front-wheel-drive","quote":"I remember, I'm sure I remember an imp, but I got really, I think I may have got as keen at you on this stuff, that I can remember somebody at least proposing it, and possibly building an imp special, which had, which was front-wheel drive, which had a combination of mini and imp bits,","canonicalId":"term:front-wheel-drive","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a drivetrain layout where the engine powers the front wheels of the vehicle. This layout often provides better traction in slippery conditions and allows for more interior space.","simplifiedExplanation":"Front-wheel drive means the engine makes the front wheels of the car turn. This helps the car grip the road better, especially in rain or snow."}},{"startTime":1475.9,"endTime":1476.5,"type":"brand","title":"BMW","url":"/glossary/bmw","quote":"I'm looking forward to your BM though, the BMW donkey going into your car,","canonicalId":"brand:bmw","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"BMW is a German automotive manufacturer known for producing luxury vehicles and performance-oriented cars with strong engines and driving dynamics.","simplifiedExplanation":"BMW is a car company from Germany that makes fancy and powerful cars that many people like to drive."}},{"startTime":1508.2,"endTime":1523.4,"type":"car","title":"Peugeot 205","url":"/cars/peugeot/205-gti","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/1986_Peugeot_205_GTI_rear.jpg","quote":"Yeah, I think the 205. Oh, that's right. Yeah, your Porsche 205. Actually, funnily enough, when we were talking about that going around Castle Coombe, there's a bit of concern. My son and I were talking about the 205. We're going to do a track day in it when it comes to us soon.","canonicalId":"car:peugeot:205-gti","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Peugeot 205 is a popular compact hatchback produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1983 to 1998. It is well known for its agile handling and was offered in various performance versions, including the hot hatch 205 GTI.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Peugeot 205 is a small car made by a French company. It is famous because it handles well and some versions are sporty and fun to drive.","imageAttribution":"TTTNIS (CC0)"}},{"startTime":1540.0,"endTime":1543.0,"type":"concept","title":"rev limiter","url":"/glossary/rev-limiter","quote":"But I think by the time we, we'll only spend a couple of seconds against the rev limiter and top gear...","canonicalId":"concept:rev-limiter","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A rev limiter is a device or software feature in a car's engine management system that prevents the engine from exceeding a set maximum RPM to avoid damage.","simplifiedExplanation":"A rev limiter stops your car's engine from spinning too fast so it doesn't get broken."}},{"startTime":1599.8,"endTime":1607.36,"type":"term","title":"regeneration","url":"/glossary/regeneration","quote":"Steve and Matt were debating the most efficient level of regeneration on throttle lift-off to use, and yes, thank you, Nick.","canonicalId":"term:regeneration","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Regeneration refers to the process in hybrid and electric vehicles where the kinetic energy during braking or throttle lift-off is converted back into electrical energy to recharge the battery, improving efficiency.","simplifiedExplanation":"Regeneration is when a car recovers energy when you slow down or lift off the gas, using it to recharge the battery instead of wasting it as heat."}},{"startTime":1614.0,"endTime":1619.3,"type":"term","title":"regen mode","url":"/glossary/regen-mode","quote":"...when acting as a generator, then in regen mode, as soon as you lift off and start artificially slowing down...","canonicalId":"term:regen-mode","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Regen mode, short for regenerative braking mode, is a system in electric and hybrid vehicles where the electric motor acts as a generator during braking or deceleration, converting kinetic energy back into electrical energy to recharge the battery.","simplifiedExplanation":"Regen mode helps electric cars save energy by turning the car's slowing down into electricity that charges the battery instead of wasting it as heat."}},{"startTime":1642.0,"endTime":1645.64,"type":"car","title":"Porsche Taycan","url":"/cars/porsche/taycan","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/2024_Porsche_Taycan_Cross_Turismo_DSC_7029.jpg","quote":"...which is why in a Porsche Taycan and Hyundai Kona I usually drive, I always set the regen to zero...","canonicalId":"car:porsche:taycan","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Porsche Taycan is a fully electric luxury sports sedan known for its high performance, advanced electric drivetrain, and regenerative braking system that allows energy recovery during deceleration.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Porsche Taycan is a fast electric car that can recharge its battery a little when you slow down, helping it go farther.","imageAttribution":"Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1645.64,"endTime":1650.58,"type":"car","title":"Hyundai Kona","url":"/cars/hyundai/kona","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/2018_Hyundai_Kona_SE_1.0.jpg","quote":"...le, which is why in a Porsche Taycan  and Hyundai Kona I usually drive, I always set the regen to zero a...","canonicalId":"car:hyundai:kona","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Hyundai Kona is a compact crossover SUV available in both gasoline and electric versions, known for its affordability, modern features, and efficient performance. In electric models like the Kona Electric, drivers often adjust regenerative braking settings to optimize driving feel and battery recovery.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Hyundai Kona is a small SUV that can run on gas or electricity. People like it because it's easy to drive, has good features, and helps save fuel or electricity. Some drivers change how the car slows down to get more battery power back when they stop.","imageAttribution":"Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Autocar","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/bonus-steve-and-matt-read-your-letters/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}