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Chevrolet Bolt Returns, Driving an Electric Lotus, Talking Big Pickups

Chevrolet Bolt Returns, Driving an Electric Lotus, Talking Big Pickups

Car Stuff Podcast Oct 13, 2025 56 min
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About this episode

Jill is out this week, leaving Tom and guest Paul Harold to discuss the return of the Chevrolet Bolt, the driving experience of the new Lotus Electra, and the latest trends in the pickup truck market. They dive into the details of the Bolt's battery technology and pricing, Tesla's disappointing model updates, and the upcoming Toyota RAV4. The episode also features insights from automotive expert Sam Fiorani on the current state of EVs, the future of the Dodge Charger, and the impact of autonomous vehicles on traffic signals.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Honda Stream
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Stream

"...'re shopping for a new car or truck, and you can stream back episodes of the podcast right there on our h..."

The Honda Stream is a small family car that has a lot of space and is good on gas. It's practical for everyday use and can fit many passengers.

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Chevrolet Malibus
Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Malibus

"...ou don't have is a lot of videos of four-cylinder Malibus. No."

The Chevrolet Malibu is a medium-sized car that's comfortable and good on gas. It's a practical choice for everyday driving.

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Chevrolet Malibu Max
Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Malibu Max

"And did you remember the Malibu Max? No. Oh, wait. That was like a hatchback? Here's a weird hatchy wagon."

The Chevrolet Malibu Max is a type of car that looks like a hatchback, which means it has a rear door that swings upward. It's designed to be practical and spacious, making it easier to carry things inside.

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Term

3.9 liter V6

"...with a 3.9 liter V6, which is something."

A 3.9 liter V6 engine is a type of car engine that has six cylinders and can hold 3.9 liters of fuel and air mixture. It's designed to give the car a good amount of power while still being relatively efficient.

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Chevrolet Bolt
Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Bolt

"First of all, the Chevrolet Bolt is back. Yes. And it's not nearly as different as I think we thought it was going to be."

The Chevrolet Bolt is a type of electric car that is designed to be affordable and practical for everyday use. It's known for being efficient and having a good driving range.

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Term

lithium-ion phosphate battery

"But the big change is that they moved from a lithium-ion battery to a lithium-ion phosphate battery."

Lithium-ion phosphate batteries are a kind of battery used in electric cars. They are safer and last longer than some other types of batteries, making them a good choice for powering vehicles.

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Chevrolet Bolt EV
Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Bolt EV

"But the Bolt, I don't know if they still call it Bolt EV. When that drops later this year, it's going to start around $29,995."

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a budget-friendly electric car that can be charged at home and is great for daily use. It's designed to be more affordable than many other electric cars.

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Term

MSRP

"When that drops later this year, it's going to start around $29,995. There will be a cheaper version that will be $28,995 later."

MSRP is the price that the car maker suggests you should pay for a new car. It's like a guideline for how much the car should cost when you buy it.

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Tesla Model 3
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Tesla Model 3

"...to happen. All they really did was decontent the Model 3 and the Model Y. Okay."
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Tesla Model Y
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Tesla Model Y

"...they really did was decontent the Model 3 and the Model Y. Okay."

The Tesla Model Y is an electric car that looks like a small SUV. It's popular because it can go a long distance on a single charge and has a lot of cool tech features.

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Term

trim levels

"...there's three trim levels now. Standard, premium and performance standard are the new ones."

Trim levels are different versions of a car that have various features. For example, one version might have more technology or better performance than another.

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Term

destination charge

"...Base price for the Model Y is now $41,630 with destination and for the Model 3, $38,630 with destination."

Destination charge is a fee that you pay when buying a car to cover the cost of getting it to the dealership. It's usually included in the total price you see.

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Term

$7,500 credit

"...Especially with a $7,500 credit gone now."

The $7,500 credit is a tax break you can get when you buy an electric car, which helps lower the price. Sometimes this credit can change or go away.

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Toyota RAV4
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Toyota RAV4

"There's a new RAV4 coming. Yes. Big deal."

The Toyota RAV4 is a popular SUV that many people use for everyday driving. It's known for being reliable and practical for families.

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Holden Caprice
RegionVisitor90 (CC0)
Car

Holden Caprice

"...t's like old Mustang kind of sales numbers or old Caprice classic in the 70s guys. Yeah."

The Holden Caprice is a big, fancy car from Australia that was often used by police and government officials. It's known for being comfortable and powerful.

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Ford Mustang
Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Mustang

"Can't make them fast enough. That's like old Mustang kind of sales numbers or old Caprice classic in t..."
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Honda Crv
EurovisionNim (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Crv

"Huge numbers. And I just, I went and checked the other cars in the class, the CR-V about 4,000, 400,000 units, the Rogue about 245,000, Chevy Equinox sneaking in there about 210,000 and the Forester"

The Honda CR-V is a popular small SUV that many people like because it's roomy and gets good gas mileage. It's a great choice for families or anyone needing extra space.

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Chevrolet Equinox
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Equinox

"...but the Chevy Equinox is good looking."

The Chevrolet Equinox is a type of SUV that is popular for its comfort and usefulness. It's a good choice for families or anyone needing extra space.

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Brand

Chevy

"Since when does Chevy have like a popular good looking car? It always seemed like they just kind of sold on price."

Chevy is a popular car brand in the United States. They make many types of vehicles, and recently, they've been working on making their cars look better and feel nicer inside.

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Audi S5
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Audi S5

"...I want to talk interior for a second. So I just drove the Audi S5. Okay."

The Audi S5 is a sportier version of the Audi A5, which is a luxury coupe. It has a powerful engine and a stylish design, making it fun to drive and comfortable to ride in.

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Audi A4
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Audi A4

"...because do you know what happened here? They killed the A4 and the S4."

The Audi A4 is a smaller luxury car made by Audi. It’s known for being comfortable and having lots of technology inside, making it a good choice for people who want a nice car to drive.

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Audi S4
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Audi S4

"...because do you know what happened here? They killed the A4 and the S4."

The Audi S4 is a sportier version of the Audi A4, which means it has a stronger engine and better handling. It’s great for people who want a luxury car that’s also fun to drive.

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Audi A5
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Audi A5

"...that's now their compact sedan. And it is by every measure a wonderful car. I drove the A5 with the turbocharged 6, whatever it was, 360 plus horsepower."

The Audi A5 is a stylish car that comes in different forms, like a coupe or convertible. It's known for being luxurious and having a nice interior.

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Term

turbocharged

"...I drove the A5 with the turbocharged 6, whatever it was, 360 plus horsepower. Delightful car."

Turbocharging helps an engine get more air, which means it can burn more fuel and create more power. This makes the car faster and more efficient.

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Genesis GV70
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Genesis GV70

"I've got Genesis coming Wednesday, actually, the GV70. But I don't get what Audi's doing here."

The Genesis GV70 is a luxury SUV made by Genesis, a brand known for its high-quality interiors and advanced features. It's designed to compete with other luxury vehicles like those from Audi and BMW.

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Audi A8
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Audi A8

"I remember 10, 15 years ago getting into an Audi A8."

The Audi A8 is a large luxury car that offers a lot of comfort and high-tech features. It's designed for people who want a premium driving experience.

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BMW 7 Series
MB-one (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW 7 Series

"And that's their big sedan. Their S-Class, their 7 Series."

The 7 Series is a luxury car made by BMW. It's designed for comfort and has many high-tech features, making it a competitor to the Mercedes S-Class.

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Mercedes-Benz Sclass
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mercedes-Benz Sclass

"And that's their big sedan. Their S-Class, their 7 Series. And the interior was bright."

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a top-of-the-line luxury car that is very comfortable and packed with high-tech features. It's often seen as one of the best cars in the world.

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Car

Lotus Electra

"So I found a vehicle that I've never seen before, the Lotus Electra, which is actually a Hungarian word that means coming to life."

The Lotus Electra is a new electric car from Lotus, a company famous for making fast and lightweight sports cars. This model shows that Lotus is also focusing on electric vehicles now.

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Term

horsepower

"But it's, you're ready for this, it has 905 horsepower."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful a car's engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster and accelerate better.

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Lotus 7
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Lotus 7

"This is interesting because it's so not Lotus. The Lotus 7, which people remember the TV show The Prisoner, the car that was being driven around at the beginning of that show, was a Lotus 7, curb weight, 750 pounds."

The Lotus 7 is a small, lightweight sports car that is famous for being very fun to drive. It was popular in the 1960s and is still loved by car enthusiasts today.

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Concept

street legal car

"And Lotus hasn't sold a street legal car since like 2001, so they're kind of getting back into that."

A street legal car is one that you can drive on regular roads. It has to follow certain rules to be safe and meet environmental standards.

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Lamborghini Urus
Johannes Maximilian (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Lamborghini Urus

"...and the Bentley Bentayga and, and the Lamborghini Urus. Yeah."
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Bentley Bentayga
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Bentley Bentayga

"...g and, and, and, thank you. And, and the Bentley Bentayga and, and the Lamborghini Urus. Yeah."

The Bentley Bentayga is a super fancy SUV that's very luxurious and powerful. It's made for people who want the best of the best in a vehicle.

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Concept

electric vehicle (EV)

"Maybe they didn't name it, but there's a Ferrari EV coming. Oh gosh. What was the name of it? But it's electric."

An electric vehicle is a type of car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline, making it more environmentally friendly.

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Concept

Add more lightness

"Well, Lotus's was, their tagline was like. Add more lightness or something."

'Add more lightness' is a saying from Lotus that means making cars lighter helps them go faster and handle better. It's about reducing unnecessary weight.

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Concept

Colin Chapman

"Yeah. Colin Chapman."

Colin Chapman was the person who started Lotus Cars. He was important in making cars that were light and fast, and he came up with many new ideas in car design.

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Concept

F1 history

"Plus they had a little bit of F1 history, too."

F1 history means the past events and important moments in Formula 1 racing, a very famous type of car racing. Brands like Lotus have been part of this history.

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Isuzu Impulse
Adam Barrera @highmileage (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Isuzu Impulse

"Oh, Imp... Maybe, yeah."

The Isuzu Impulse is a small sports car made by the Isuzu company. It had a special suspension system designed by Lotus, which helped it handle better on the road.

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Part

suspension

"It actually had handling or suspension by Lotus on the fender. Yeah."

Suspension is the part of a car that helps keep it stable and comfortable while driving. It includes springs and shock absorbers that support the car's weight and absorb bumps in the road.

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Ford Ranger
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Ranger

"Yeah. And I had a Ford, an all-white Ford Ranger. I really wanted to get one of those and stick i..."

The Ford Ranger is a medium-sized truck that can be used for work or fun. It's known for being tough and good at driving off the road.

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Lotus Esprit
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Lotus Esprit

"What was the bond car? Was that the Esprit or the Elan? Esprit."

The Lotus Esprit is a stylish sports car from Britain that became famous for being in James Bond movies. It's known for being fast and fun to drive.

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Mgbs
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mgbs

"Oh, okay. But my car is a 1275 and, uh, MGBs had a 1.8 liter. Oh, I don't know what the deal ..."

The MG MGB is an old British sports car that's fun to drive and looks really nice. It's popular with people who love classic cars.

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Chevrolet Blazer EV
Elise240SX (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Blazer EV

"...od September selling the, uh, the equinox and the blazer EV and a couple of other vehicles."

The Chevrolet Blazer EV is an electric SUV that looks like the traditional Blazer but runs on electricity instead of gas. It's a stylish choice for people wanting an eco-friendly vehicle.

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GMC Sierra EV
Deathpallie325 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

GMC Sierra EV

"good vehicles. I just got out of a Sierra EV and I didn't understand that vehicle at first. A..."

The GMC Sierra EV is an electric truck that works like a regular Sierra but doesn't use gas. It's part of the trend of making trucks more environmentally friendly.

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Ford F150S
UltraTech66 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford F150S

"They, they keep testing that limit. And, uh, and when you have light duty trucks, when you have F-150s and Silverado 1500s that are pushing a hundred thousand dollars, that just tells"

The Ford F-150 is a large truck that's very popular in America. It's great for hauling things and can be used for work or just driving around.

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Chevrolet Silverado
LukaCali (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Silverado

"...have light duty trucks, when you have F-150s and Silverado 1500s that are pushing a hundred thousand dollars..."

The Chevrolet Silverado is another big truck that people love to drive. It's strong and can carry a lot of stuff, making it useful for work or play.

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Chevrolet Silverado EV
UltraTech66 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Silverado EV

"... factory zero will be the only plant building the Silverado EV, the Sierra EV, uh, the Escalade IQ and, uh, the..."

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is an electric truck that can do everything a regular Silverado can but without using gas. It's part of the move towards more environmentally friendly vehicles.

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Cadillac Escalade
Baron Maddock (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Cadillac Escalade

"...uilding the Silverado EV, the Sierra EV, uh, the Escalade IQ and, uh, the upcoming sport utilities for Chev..."

The Cadillac Escalade is a big, luxury SUV that looks very fancy and has lots of space inside. It's a popular choice for people who want a stylish and comfortable ride.

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Ram 1500
Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ram 1500

"...hey want, you, when you see a person driving a, a 1500 Ram with a Hemi, you hear it before you see it."

The Ram 1500 is a big truck that rides really smoothly and has a nice inside. It's good for work but also comfortable for daily use.

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Dodge Charger
Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Dodge Charger

"...Dodges attempt to sell an electric version of the charger. This seems to have gone very badly, uh, for the..."

The Dodge Charger is a big car that looks sporty and can go really fast. It's a good choice if you want something fun to drive but still need space for passengers.

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Plymouth Super Birds
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Plymouth Super Birds

"...nger man and he talks about trying to get rid of super birds and the factory would just call up the dealershi..."

The Plymouth Superbird is a classic car from the 1970s that looks very unique and is known for being fast. It's a rare car that many collectors want.

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Mercury Grand
IFCAR (Public domain)
Car

Mercury Grand

"All right. Mercury Grand Marquis or Mercury Grand Marquis? I think it's a..."

The Mercury Grand Marquis is a big car that's very comfortable and has a lot of room inside. It's often used by police and taxis because it's reliable.

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Suzuki Vitara
Throwawayacc222 (CC0)
Car

Suzuki Vitara

"Now I'm going to pull the rest. Suzuki Grand Vitara or Grand Vitara? Oh gosh."

The Suzuki Vitara is a small SUV that's good for driving both in the city and on rough roads. It's known for being tough and practical.

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Car

Pontiac Torino

"All right. Ford Grand Torino or Grand Torino? That's grand without the D."
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Ford Grand
Harvey Bold (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Grand

"All right. Ford Grand Torino or Grand Torino? That's grand without the..."

The Ford Grand C-Max is a family-friendly car that has a lot of space inside for people and stuff. It's designed to be easy to use for everyday needs.

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Buick Regal
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Buick Regal

"...o get the bonus question. And then finally Buick Regal Grand Sport or Grand Sport? This one I honestly ..."
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Buick Grand Sport
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA (CC BY 2.0)
Car

Buick Grand Sport

"...the bonus question. And then finally Buick Regal Grand Sport or Grand Sport? This one I honestly don't know."

The Buick Gran Sport is a sporty version of a Buick car that was made to be fast and fun to drive. It's part of the classic American muscle car scene.

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Mercedes-Benz Eclass
Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mercedes-Benz Eclass

"probably more. I remember a couple of generations ago, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was launched with V2V, vehicle to vehicle communication, a thing that never had found any application."

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a fancy car that's comfortable and has a lot of cool technology. It's known for being safe and stylish.

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Hyundai Palisade
Benespit (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Hyundai Palisade

"...you driven anything else interesting lately? The Palisade, the Hyundai brand new 2026 Hyundai Palisade. I ..."

The Hyundai Palisade is a roomy SUV that's great for families. It has a lot of nice features and is a good deal for what you get.

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Toyota Prius
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Toyota Prius

"... yes. Which is what they were not. Like the first Prius was kind of a dog. Yes. But that's not the case ..."

The Toyota Prius is a car that uses both gas and electricity to save on fuel. It's known for being very good on gas and is popular with people who care about the environment.

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