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Curb Value Personified: 2015 Genesis G90 3.5T E-Supercharged Hits the Street
Curb Value Personified: 2015 Genesis G90 3.5T E-Supercharged Hits the Street
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About this episode
The episode dives into the automotive world with discussions on the 2025 Genesis G90 and Ford F-150 Lightning, highlighting their features and performance. Guests include Megan Jamerusti from Ford, who shares insights on the new infotainment system in the 2025 Expedition, emphasizing voice control and Google integration. The hosts also cover the latest news, including Tesla's new model and Acura's refreshed Integra. The episode balances vehicle reviews with industry updates, making it a comprehensive listen for automotive enthusiasts.
Topics:
genesis g90
ford f-150 lightning
infotainment systems
electric vehicles
acura integra
tesla news
voice control technology
automotive industry updates
Cars:
Acura Integra
Ford Expedition
Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford Model T
Ford Mustang
Genesis G90
Honda Civic
Hyundai Genesis
Rivian R2
Tesla Model Y
The 2025 Genesis G90 3.5T E-Supercharged AWD takes center stage in this week’s lead road test. As the flagship sedan from Hyundai’s luxury division, the G90 proves Genesis is no longer chasing the German elite; it’s expecting to compete head-to-head. Powered by a twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric supercharger, the G90 delivers 409 horsepower and refined acceleration with zero turbo lag — because it doesn’t have a turbocharger. Instead, its cleverly named mild-hybrid system gives the luxosedan an added boost.
Inside, it’s a rolling sanctuary, offering ventilated and massaging seats front and rear, dual rear entertainment screens, and a concert-level 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Wrapped in elegant, understated design, and priced at $101,750, Host Jack Nerad notes it undercuts competitors like the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series by tens of thousands while approaching them in tech, comfort, and craftsmanship. But is it ready to compete against the elite on an equal basis? Jack and co-host Chris Teague will deliver their opinions
Also in the spotlight, Chris Teague tests the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning, which returns with updated software, improved range, and more efficient battery use. As America’s best-selling electric pickup, the Lightning now features Ford’s latest digital tools, including Google Built-In integration and enhanced towing tech. With multiple range options and fleet-ready solutions, Ford is positioning the Lightning as an evolving platform for work and lifestyle. The ride is smoother than ever, thanks to suspension refinements, and new accessories broaden its use case beyond construction sites. For anyone who’s still skeptical of electric trucks, the F-150 Lightning might well chip away at the objections.
Our special guest this week is Meghan Giammarusti, Design Director at Ford Motor Company, who joins Jack to talk about the revamped technology package inside the 2025 Ford Expedition. With Google Built-In leading the charge, the Expedition’s cabin becomes a more connected, intuitive environment than ever before. Giammarusti explains how Ford’s design team worked to integrate high-function tech while preserving a clean, family-friendly interior layout. Her insights reveal the future of infotainment design at Ford, detailing how tech and design must evolve together.
Driving News This WeekTesla Expands in China with 6-Seat Model Y L
Tesla just debuted the Model Y L, a stretched, six-seat version of its popular SUV designed specifically for the Chinese market. It adds a third row and sports a purported 467 miles of range as Tesla tries to fend off rising competition from local Chinese EV makers like BYD.
2026 Acura Integra Gets a High-Tech Refresh
Acura’s bestselling compact sedan gets new colors, bigger screens, and more premium features across all trims for the new model year. The A-Spec versions are particularly bold, with blue microsuede inserts, upgraded ambient lighting, and a more aggressive body kit.
California Commits $55M to Fast EV Charging
California is investing $55 million to expand fast-charging infrastructure across the state, making the odd decision to focus on low-income, “underserved” communities. The Fast Charge California Project provides up to $100K per charging port, aiming to accelerate zero-emission adoption before the state’s controversial 2035’s gas vehicle sales ban.
Rivian Reboots $5 Billion Georgia Plant
After delays, Rivian is moving forward with its massive EV factory outside Atlanta, backed by a $6.6 billion federal loan. The facility, expected to open in 2028, will build Rivian’s upcoming R2 crossover and create 7,500 jobs.
Listener QuestionWe wrap the episode with a listener question from Willie in Pacoima, CA: “Gas is really expensive here, and it’s killing me. Is there a way I can boost fuel economy without changing how I drive?” Chris and Jack tackle this one head-on, with realistic tips that won’t require hypermiling or a new car.
Check Out Matt’s Book:Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo’s terrific new book How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.
Check Out Jack’s Newest Crime Novel:Jack is now offering his newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, at a pre-publication price of just $4.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price.
Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to look for new content on our YouTube and Rumble channels. Please subscribe. If you do, we’ll like you forever.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Current Events in the Automotive World
03:02 Tesla’s New Model Y L Hits China
05:16 2026 Acura Integra Unvieled
07:33 California Launches $55 Million EV Infrastructure Program
09:29 Rivian’s New Factory and Future Prospects
12:47 Vehicle Review: 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning
18:23 Vehicle Review: 2025 Genesis G90 3.5T E-Supercharger
25:40 Exclusive Interview: Ford’s Meghan Giammarusti on the Future of In-Car Technology
39:38 Listener Question: Improving Fuel Economy
Filter:
|
Technical
Too Afraid to Ask
Car
Acura Integra
"...et to roll out a refreshed version of its popular Integra premium got-back sedan."
Car
Ford F-150 Lightning
"...eek? I spent the week driving the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat, and I can't wait to tell you all about it..."
Car
Genesis G90
"...up. My test vehicle this week is the 2025 Genesis G90 All-Wheel Drive with Supercharger. Very cool car."
Car
Hyundai Genesis
"... coming up. My test vehicle this week is the 2025 Genesis G90 All-Wheel Drive with Supercharger. Very cool ..."
Car
Ford Expedition
"...on about the technology offering in the 2025 Ford Expedition Full-Size SUV, so look for that. And stay with us..."
Car
Tesla Model Y
"...e with a new six-seat SUV, a new version of their Model Y, the Model YL. It's an extended version, as I sai..."
Car
Honda Civic
"...the step-up in price to the Integra Type-S or the Civic Type-R I think this feels like a bargain, even th..."
Car
Integra Types
"is, that's a lot of money for a compact sedan, but this is a premium sedan, after all. Yeah, if you consider the step-up in price to the Integra Type-S or the Civic Type-R I think this feels like a bargain, even though it's not quite exactly cheap."
Car
Rivian R2
"...new that they needed this facility to get the new R2 vehicle and the R3 off the ground, but we've been..."
Car
Ford Model T
"... or $53,000 to start. I think that, you know, the Model T moment, the affordable electric truck they're tal..."
Car
Ford Mustang
"...t it's going to do to the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E. I don't think Ford's going to ditch a ful..."
Introduction and Current Events in the Automotive World
Tesla’s New Model Y L Hits China
2026 Acura Integra Unvieled
California Launches $55 Million EV Infrastructure Program
Rivian’s New Factory and Future Prospects
Vehicle Review: 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning
Vehicle Review: 2025 Genesis G90 3.5T E-Supercharger
Exclusive Interview: Ford’s Meghan Giammarusti on the Future of In-Car Technology
Listener Question: Improving Fuel Economy
Select text to request an explanation
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This is America on the Road named Best Radio Show by the International Automotive Media
Conference and now in its 33rd year on the air.
Thanks for being with us as we bring you the latest automotive information from around
the world.
I'm Jack Neerad.
With me is co-host Chris Teague back with us.
We're glad about that.
I'm wondering, Chris, have you seen any effects from the hurricane?
We actually haven't.
We're in a big drought right now.
My grass is very crunchy, but we've been getting a lot of wildfire smoke from Canada and we
actually have a few of our own wildfires now.
So how are things on your side of the world?
Things are pretty good here.
Plenty of news to talk about in the car world this week.
Tesla has announced a new model that should shake things up in the crossover EV segment.
We'll tell you all about it and where it will be available first coming up.
Acura is set to roll out a refreshed version of its popular Integra premium got-back
sedan.
We'll fill you in on the details.
I'm wondering, Chris, if you are an Integra fan.
Oh, I am.
Yeah, I thought so.
The state of California has just earmarked $55 million for electric vehicle fast charging
infrastructure and guess where they want to install those chargers?
We'll have the amusing details on that coming up.
And Rivian is finally pulling the trigger on a long-delayed $5 billion factory to
be situated outside Atlanta.
We'll have details on that too.
So we have a lot to talk about this week, Chris.
Is there a story that you find most interesting?
I always like talking about new and refreshed vehicles, so I'm looking forward to the Tesla
and the Acura stories today, Jack.
Yeah, I look forward to talking about that.
This is a car show after all.
America on the Road is brought to you by drivingtoday.com, emlancy.com, the publisher
of my latest book, Only One Thing Stays the Same, and Mercury Insurance.
If you're looking to save some money, you should switch to Mercury for your
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California saved an average of $670 with Mercury, so imagine how much you could
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So today at drivingtoday.com slash auto insurance.
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Well, as your longtime listeners of the show know, Chris lives at one end of the country.
I live at the other.
And each week we get together to talk about cars, the car industry, and how you can save
some money on your car.
Chris, what is your test vehicle this week?
I spent the week driving the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat, and I can't wait to
tell you all about it.
I really look forward to hearing about that.
I've been writing about big full-size pickup trucks, and of course that's an electric one,
so we'll talk about that coming up.
My test vehicle this week is the 2025 Genesis G90 All-Wheel Drive with Supercharger.
Very cool car.
I talk about a vehicle with curb appeal.
This certainly has it, 5,000 pounds of it.
So I'll tell you about this car coming up.
Our special guest this week is Megan Jamerusti.
She is design director at Ford Motor Company.
She and I had a discussion about the technology offering in the 2025 Ford
Expedition Full-Size SUV, so look for that.
And stay with us.
We'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
Welcome back, everybody, to America on the Road, Jack Neurad, and Chris Teague back with
you.
And it is news time, and plenty of automotive news coming, including Tesla news.
Always fascinating to hear what's going on at Tesla.
They're expanding their presence in China, where they already have a giant presence with
a new six-seat SUV, a new version of their Model Y, the Model YL.
It's an extended version, as I said, of the Model Y, and it starts around $47,000 there
in China.
I have no idea what Chinese prices are actually like, whether it's very expensive or not expensive
at all there.
It's six inches longer than the standard version and adds a third row of seats, an estimated
range of 467 miles per charge, which is kind of mind-blowing.
What's your take on all this?
Well, the first thing is that that range number is on the CLTC cycle, which is what
China uses to measure their EV range.
So it's likely much more generous than what the EPA would assign to that vehicle.
But I think it's interesting to see Tesla trying out some new things in China.
They're taking a beating from BYD and all the other homegrown brands there.
And Chinese people love to be driven in larger vehicles, so this kind of caters to that market.
I mean, I can see them selling a few.
I don't know if it's going to help them break through the domestic brands there,
though.
Yeah, it's interesting that they're adding all this extra room for one extra seat,
basically.
But I think in an SUV, you're also getting more room.
As you mentioned, the EV makers from China are kind of eating Tesla's lunch there.
Tesla's deliveries in China fell 12% in July.
That's a big shortfall there, because China is a big part of their sales.
Tesla's also testing their full self-driving software in China, something we've talked
about here.
Maybe the regulators in China are a little less wary than they are here.
What's your take on that, Chris?
Well, that may be a little less wary, but I think the consequences for a mess-up might
be a little bit steeper there, but who knows?
Right.
Well, let's talk about something maybe a little more positive, although that is positive.
It'll be interesting when we see that vehicle here in the United States, and I imagine
we will.
Acura's top-selling Sport Compact Sedan is back with somewhat of a refreshed look
for 2026.
It arrives in dealerships this week.
It has updated styling, a revised tech-rich quote-unquote interior, pricing that starts
around $33,000.
They've gone to a 9-inch touchscreen as opposed to a 7-inch touchscreen.
It has wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charger.
I think maybe this is one of the big things they're trying to do, a 10.2-inch all-digital
instrument display.
Interesting that the instrument display is somewhat larger or wider than the central touchscreen,
but it looks like tech is something that they're trying to play up in this one, right?
Yeah, they've done a good job differentiating the Integra from the Civic, and they kept
the price reasonable, but the Integra's got a little bit nicer interior, and then
you mentioned the tech features there.
I can't wait to drive it.
I like the, I guess it's the same car really, just with new tech now, but I drove
the previous version and really enjoyed it, so I'm sure this one's more of the same.
Yeah, the A-SPEC trim should be maybe the zoodiest, neatest.
It has a new aero body kit, side spoilers, and 18-inch black wheels.
I hope they're not going to an all-black theme, because I know that.
My favorite thing.
Yeah, exactly.
They do have different colors, new colors for this year, so that's cool.
Same kind of performance that you mentioned, 200 horsepower, 192 pound-feet of torque,
so that's cool.
This is one of the few cars where you can still get a six-speed manual transmission.
That's exclusive to the A-SPEC, with the technology package, and so that's good, adaptive dampers.
It's got kind of a lot of good stuff for right around $37,000, $38,000, I guess right around
is, that's a lot of money for a compact sedan, but this is a premium sedan, after all.
Yeah, if you consider the step-up in price to the Integra Type-S or the Civic Type-R
I think this feels like a bargain, even though it's not quite exactly cheap.
Yeah, I mean the Type-S starts at $55,000, around $55,000, so that's a bunch.
Well, let's talk about what's going on, and I hate to call it my home state, but the
state in which I live, California, they have earmarked $55 million for more fast
charging, which I guess is okay, not a bad idea.
They want to have more infrastructure across the state, of course, this is as EVs are
maybe becoming less and less popular out there.
They're offering incentives of up to $100,000 per charging port for businesses and public
sites who want to install high-speed chargers.
This is where it kind of comes off the rails to me.
They're picking reasonable sites, gas stations, parking lot, shopping centers, and convenience
This is the sentence that really I have to scratch my head over.
Special priority will be given to tribal lands, low-income areas, and disadvantaged communities
where charging access is often lagged behind.
Now I think it's lagged behind in those areas, Chris, because people in disadvantaged
communities can't afford electric cars, never have, don't have them, so it's
kind of odd that they would try to put electric vehicle charging stations in these areas.
It boggles the mind to me.
Well, I can see maybe the reasoning behind this, right?
So if you build it, they will come, I guess, but the car is kind of leading the horse
here.
And as you say, they haven't done anything to address the underlying issue of why
people aren't driving those cars to begin with.
Yeah, I mean, I can see why that would cause you some ire.
If not ire, it's more a head scratcher and kind of indicates what goes on politically
as opposed to what is market-driven.
These are underserved areas for EVs because these people can't afford it.
These people, I'm one of them, I think, who can't afford an EV or afford to operate
an EV or doesn't want to put up with what needs to be done to do that.
Interesting to me.
In any case, let's go on to Rivian.
They are pulling the trigger.
I'm really surprised by this on a long-glaed $5 billion electric vehicle factory near
Atlanta in Georgia.
It will break ground in 2026 next year, of course.
And production is set to begin by 2028.
This is a surprise, you Chris, that now is the time they've decided to do this.
Well, we knew that they needed this facility to get the new R2 vehicle and the R3 off the
ground, but we've been hearing about this for several, several years now, and I can't
say that I expected it to actually move forward.
Yeah.
This was a project that was originally announced in 2021.
Then there were delays.
Certainly Rivian has had its ups and downs as had the whole electric vehicle market.
And then they have got, and I'm surprised by this too, a $6.6 billion federal loan
was approved earlier this year.
And then there are, that's accompanied by $1.5 billion in state and local incentives.
And this should employ, according to Rivian, 7,500 people when it's finally up and running.
And it will be up and running, I'm sure.
But I'm wondering if there will be the commensurate demand for these vehicles that
the Rivian seems to think there will be.
Yeah, they've had ups and downs.
I'm not sure.
I don't think their vehicles are currently eligible for the quickly to expire,
soon to expire federal tax credits, but they've done okay selling vehicles at full price.
I mean, they seem to have a pretty loyal following.
And then the R2 is going to be allegedly less expensive.
So I can see this being a worthwhile effort for them.
However, you know, multi-billion dollar project like this is going to take quite
a while to pay off and who knows what's going to happen with the demand going forward.
Yeah, and I think the keys to this are both the federal loans and the local funding that's going into this.
I think if this were privately financed, you would not see this happening at this time.
But that's just my take on it.
So things are already underway.
It's a 2,000 acre site.
This is a giant deal.
I'm just kind of amazed what's going on here.
Yeah, I really hope that they're able to sustain the volume that they need to support that facility.
Right. Well, we'll see.
We certainly will see.
Remind us of the vehicle you'll be testing this week, Chris.
I drove the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.
Can't wait to hear about it.
I will be testing the 2025 Genesis G90 all-wheel drive with the E Supercharger
vehicle with incredible curb value.
So stay with us for that.
We'll be right back to talk about both of those cars, and we'll have much more for you right
here on America on the Road.
So stay with us.
We're glad you're with us.
Welcome back, everybody, to America on the Road with Chris Teague.
And we're so glad Chris is back with us.
This is Jack Nerad back with you.
It is our road test segment, and fascinating vehicles to talk about.
We've been talking a lot about electric vehicles in this show already, but, Chris, you were
driving a prime electric pickup truck.
Tell us about it.
Yeah.
This is an important model for Ford.
It's the 2025 F-150 Lightning.
I tested the Lariat model, which is just below the top platinum trim.
But there are several.
I'm several.
There are three other trims below the Lariat that are a little bit less expensive.
So you can get into this truck for around $52,000.
That's for the base pro trim.
You get vinyl seats and a vinyl floor, and so a pretty basic experience there.
My Lariat was around $83,000 after options.
And you can spend over $100,000 on the platinum with options and stuff too.
So there's a pretty big price spread here.
I think $50,000 is pretty broad.
Jack, what are your thoughts on the Lightning lineup overall?
I think it's interesting that they have various trims based on the fact that there's
not, hasn't been a ton of demand, but I think they want to broaden the appeal
of that vehicle.
I'm also, I didn't have a chance to talk with you about Ford's Model T moment from a week
or so ago.
And I wonder how that affects what's going on with these kind of legacy EVs that Ford
has like the Lightning.
What are your thoughts on that?
Yeah.
I think Ford has really never been able to meet the pricing targets that it set
for the Lightning.
When it started out, I think we heard it would start at $40,000 and then it immediately
went to $50,000 and now we're up to $52,000 or $53,000 to start.
I think that, you know, the Model T moment, the affordable electric truck they're
talking about coming up with is a big deal for them.
I don't know what it's going to do to the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E.
I don't think Ford's going to ditch a full-size electric truck, though, but we
can talk about that on another show.
This truck, mine had the extended range battery and the upgraded drive train.
So you get 580 horsepower with 775 pound feet of torque and 320 miles of
range with all-wheel drive.
So I can tell you, Jack, that in mixed highway and town city driving, I was
able to get around 285 miles of range, which isn't terrible, but when you
consider that if you're going to be towing or if you're going to haul
anything in the bed of this pickup truck, those numbers are going to decrease
further.
Granted, I should say this is in the middle of summer, so I'm using the
air conditioner and the ventilated seats and all the other things there, too.
But it is worth talking about because I think people look at these range
numbers and they think, well, I can go 400 miles in my Chevy Silver
Auto EV, but then you hook up a trailer and you get much less than that.
What do you think about that?
Yeah, I think that's very important because these vehicles are used for
functional purposes, right?
I mean, you don't buy a pickup truck, maybe some people do, to drive around
with the bed empty and never tow anything with it.
Yeah, I guess there are profilers who do that, but most people want to use
these trucks and when you use them that way, as you mentioned, range goes
down and that can be an issue.
It does, but the good news here is that the new truck comes
with DC fast charging capabilities.
You can add 65 miles of range in 10 minutes, which is pretty good.
Inside, as I mentioned before, the Pro model comes with vinyl seats
and then the XLT has cloth, but my Lariat came with leather.
We got heated and ventilated front seats.
Jack, I just want to praise Ford for the size of the interior of these
trucks. It is very spacious and the Panoramic Sunroof, if I can
talk, that this truck came with, made it feel very open and airy.
We can fit six people in here if there were enough seat belts for it,
but five people can ride safely and comfortably.
And with four, there's more in the enough room to stretch out here.
We were able to take my almost 90 pound overweight
Golden Doodle and all four of us on a hiking trip and had no trouble
with all of us inside.
You get a 12 inch digital gauge cluster in the Lariat trim
with a 15.5 inch touchscreen.
It runs Ford's Sync 4A software, which is easily one of the best on the market.
It's got a ton of great features.
It's very easy to use and navigation is very responsive.
Jack, what do you think of Sync 4?
I think Sync 4 is good, but I think Sync 4 is not even the...
And we will talk later in the show with Megan Jamerusti
about the Ford's newest system, which supersedes Sync 4.
So Sync 4 is pretty good, but even Ford is going in a different direction these days.
Oh, good.
Well, the Lariat also comes with a lot of other features,
wireless Apple CarPlay, a B&O stereo that's bang and Olafson for people
who are not familiar with the abbreviation.
And then you get a full suite of safety features here, too.
So you get blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alerts for collision
warnings and Blue Cruise is available for the pickup truck.
So you do get a hands free driving system if you want to spend the money for it.
So, Jack, I've always liked the lightning.
I think that it's very capable.
It's comfortable and it looks like a regular truck, which is important to me.
And I think a lot of other buyers, if I were going for this truck,
I'd probably opt for the XLT, which is still expensive at around 65 grand.
But I can't spend I can't justify spending 80,000 on a pickup truck.
Yeah, it's hard to justify that.
And really, with the limitations of this vehicle, it's a great vehicle in so
many ways. And I think for the right people or the right situation,
let's say you have deliveries to make or you're not making long runs
in the vehicle, you don't have to tow for any distance, those kind of things.
It can be great.
It can be terrific, maybe more for commercial vehicle operations, I think,
than than personal use.
And then for others, I just think I've got to go conventional here just for the
utility value. I agree.
You know, nice try.
And as I say, cool for the right person.
Well, I was driving a vehicle that has a lot riding on it.
It's the Genesis G 90.
The whole name is the Genesis G 90 3.5 T E supercharged.
It's the flagship flagship, not flagship sedan of the
Hyundai's luxury arm.
And it comes with one mission.
It's going to challenge the dominance of the industry's most prestigious names.
Of course, you know what they are.
Most of them come from Germany.
I'm not sure whether it 100% does that, but it certainly has presence.
It has an all wheel drive platform.
Interesting technology, maybe cutting edge, maybe not quite.
And this supercharged powertrain is not really supercharged powertrain so much as
mild hybrid technology, but it sounds a lot cooler to say it's supercharged with
an E supercharger than it has a mild hybrid, right, Chris?
It does, but it does feel like it's supercharged.
So I guess the effect is the same either way.
Yeah. Usually I don't go heavily into design, but I have to with this
vehicle because it's a large part of its appeal.
I think this is just a really good looking vehicle.
When it is in your driveway, people stop and stare at it in ways that they don't
at other vehicles.
You know, I could describe some of the visual things about it, the LED headlamps,
those kind of things.
It's kind of like the whole package.
It really is kind of like having a Bentley or Rolls parked in your driveway.
I mean, it has that kind of presence on the road.
It has a long hood, kind of uncluttered, but it has the right amount of jewelry on it,
so to speak.
What should take on the looks of the G90?
Yeah, I've said the Genesis vehicles are still the only ones that I've had people
stop at my house to take pictures of.
They definitely are eye catching and they make it look way more expensive
than it actually is.
Yeah. Let's talk about the powertrain.
It's not necessarily premium.
They've gone to a three and a half liter twin turbocharged V6 as their top power
plant in this with this electric supercharger.
Again, it's an electric motor.
It doesn't drive a compressor or add boost to the engine.
It boosts the engine in a different way.
It boosts the torque from the powertrain, basically.
It does eliminate torque gaps and those kind of things.
Output is 409 horsepower, 400 pound feet of torque, eight speed
automatic transmission.
A lot of its competitors have a 10 speed or more full time all wheel drive,
which works just fine.
Shift by wire technology and it has adaptive logic.
I like the driving dynamics of this vehicle.
There's a lot to like about what this delivers.
Not super fast, but I would say quick enough, zero to 60 in five point one
seconds, your thoughts on performance.
Yeah, my only beef with this vehicle is that it feels heavy.
You can definitely feel the components that they've added to get the system
together, but the ride quality is fantastic and it's powerful enough for daily driving.
It's not really a sports car.
Yeah, it's not a sports car in any way, shape, or form.
And really, maybe the best seats in the house in this vehicle are in the rear.
It doesn't provide all that wonderful in terms of fuel economy.
17 miles per gallon city, 24 miles per gallon highway and 20 miles per
gallon combined, despite the fact that it has this mild hybrid system.
It's kind of like a lounge.
I mean, the the inside of this vehicle, I mean, certainly Genesis vehicles
really do it up when they when it comes to the interior.
And this is that, you know, just the epitome of that Napa leather upholstery,
open, poor wood trim, my favorite.
I hate clothes, poor wood trim.
Maybe you do too.
Suede headliner, it just looks so beautiful inside.
It really is an amazing interior, super luxury.
I mean, you and I have both been in roles and and Bentley's.
And it has that kind of ambiance, I think.
And the seating in the rear has heated and ventilated power adjustability.
I mean, these vehicles in a lot of markets are chauffeur driven.
So the rear passengers probably should be pampered more so
of the front seat passengers.
Rear passengers get massage, power, sunshades, entertainment displays.
I mean, the rear seat is kind of a place to live, isn't it?
Yeah, my kids are always sad when we have one of these vehicles
and we have to give it back up and they go back to riding in my non-massaging Toyota.
I would say the infotainment system is good, but it's not state of the art.
I mean, the German competitors that, you know, their infotainment systems
do everything but shine your shoes for you.
And this doesn't do that.
I think this is very much like a Hyundai system, right?
Twelve, twelve point three inch digital instrument cluster
and a twelve point three inch infotainment screen.
It all works just fine.
It's interesting, though, that it still has wired Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto, something that even Hyundai has got passed
long since, or maybe not long since, but recently head up display,
project stuff onto the windshield or out in front of you, like head up displays
and a bang and all in 23 speaker premium sound system.
So the sound is is right there.
This is a vehicle that costs about a hundred thousand dollars.
So it's it's up there, although I think its competitors from BMW
and and from Mercedes Benz would probably be more like one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.
Your quick thoughts on that.
Yeah, they cost more and the warranty coverage is not as good either.
Good Genesis has the fantastic ten year,
a hundred thousand mile powertrain warranty to go with all of that.
Yes, very good of you to point that out.
And I wouldn't like to point out who our guest is.
It's going to be Megan Jamerouste.
And she'll be talking about sound systems
and infotainment systems in the New Ford Expedition.
So stay with us for that and we'll be right back.
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Welcome back, everybody to America.
Rochak, you read that with you.
We're outside Louisville, Kentucky.
Maybe we're in Louisville, Kentucky, but we're at the Kentucky truck plant
of Ford Motor Company looking at the 2025 Ford expedition
that are rolling off the line here.
We have an expert on tech, Megan Gemerusti is with us.
Thanks so much for being with us.
Thanks for having me.
Thanks for putting up with me, fumbling your name a little bit.
It's no problem.
It may have happened before.
I don't know.
I'm just guessing.
I'm just guessing, I'm just guessing.
Check. So critical, right?
We get into our vehicle.
The first thing we do is carry our phones and try and make all this stuff happen.
This is a big change, I think, that we're talking about here
for the new expedition.
Tell us about it.
Yeah, so all new with the 2025 expedition is the Ford digital experience.
The digital experience is really centered around voice
and that is enabled through Google Assistant.
Also, we have Google Maps at the center of both the centers that
can all display and with our Ford connectivity package,
we enable a bunch of new apps and streaming apps.
So we really centered this experience around connecting and being productive.
You wanted to improve over sync.
I think it was a long time Ford Motor Company thing.
This is not bad.
This is completely different from that, right?
Different partner and all of that stuff.
Yeah. How does the rationale
of what the thinking was then move to a new part?
Moving to Google integration, I
was really centered around the expert, right?
With Google Assistant, with Google Maps,
they're experts in those two areas.
So having a partner made sense.
Yeah. And avoiding distraction is important.
And using something like Google Assistant really helps that.
Walk us through that.
Yeah. So having a voice first system was important because there are so many
things that you can just engage with the vehicle, right?
Hey Google, turn my climate up.
Hey Google, change the radio station.
Hey Google, make a phone call.
So those things really are becoming more natural, especially as the age of our
buyers decreases, right?
People are going to be more comfortable with voice assessment.
Yeah. I mean, a lot of us who use voice control
early on weren't necessarily thrilled with the experience, right?
Kind of got turned off by the experience.
But this is a different experience, right?
It uses natural speech.
You don't have to learn stuff to talk to it and make it work.
Walk us through that.
That's really, I mean, that's the value of partnering with someone like Google.
And they're the experts in an assistant technology.
And what are some of the things you can do with voice assessment?
Probably pretty much anything, right?
Walk us through that.
Yeah, mostly anything with as long as you're subscribed to the Ford Connected
V package, you can ask Google what's the capital of Kentucky.
You can ask what the weather is.
And then even if you're not subscribed,
things like the vehicle commands.
So change my client, change my radio station will still be functional.
Yeah, that kind of stuff is important.
Yeah. What do you think is
maybe the most user friendly portion of the system?
Is it the voice control or are there other factors?
I think the voice is top of the list for sure.
Also, I think the panoramic screen and the eyes up and out,
you kind of have all the information you need right there.
So while you're driving, you're really not doing that.
You can you can use your center screen always,
but the ability to just drive and not really have to do this back and forth.
Describe the two screens that you have here.
Sure, we have the 24 inch panoramic screen,
which is mostly driver information, but also have a widget space.
So you can put weather there, you can put media there.
Any of if you're towing, you have towing with you.
So it's kind of like instrument panel plus, right?
Exactly. Yeah.
And it's it's positioned high, which eliminates need for a head up display.
But it keeps your eyes up.
Yep. So eyes up and out is really the model and the design principle with the
panoramic screen. And instead of looking through with steering wheel,
you're looking over the steering wheel.
Yeah, describe the steering wheel because it's interestingly shaped.
Yeah, we probably lovingly call it the square circle.
But yeah, that the the intent behind the
different shape is to keep your eyes up and on the road.
So it's a lower diameter and at the same time, it's going to square it off, right?
Yeah. So you can see that.
Is that upper screen a touch screen or is it non touch screen?
It is not. Yeah.
Probably because it's well, yeah.
But then you have the touch screen that would be kind of down here, right?
Yeah. That's what?
13 inches. 13 inches. Yeah.
And what's controlled by the touch screen?
All of your settings.
The other thing with moving to an Android based system is we now have profiles.
So each driver can personalize their drive experience from seat adjustments,
new adjustments to what is shown in that panoramic display beams.
All of that is personalized.
So you can connect your profile to either a box or phone as a key.
If the trim allows for it.
And that ensures that when you get in the vehicle, your right settings are there too.
Do you have discrete controls for those kind of things too?
Or is that all through the things like seat adjustment?
So seat adjustment, your adjustments are still physical.
And then also you can move the steering wheel and on some trims, the pedals.
And that's all done through the steering wheel.
So you still have pedal movement?
In some on some trips.
Yeah. Yeah.
What do you think having used all the systems probably right?
What do you think is the coolest feature of this or the biggest advantage versus what you have?
Integrate like native Google Maps because it is what we probably most of us use daily
on our phones anyway, integrated into the native system has been a game changer for me.
I'm not a car play person.
But we hear a lot of feedback that
folks that have used the four digital experience have switched from projection to native.
OK.
And having the maps up there when you're when you're driving is really helpful.
Yeah, right up in your line of sight.
Yeah, with your turn by turn.
And I have that in the right side of that thing.
Yeah, exactly.
I don't know about you, but when I'm driving with a head up display,
I have a tendency to look at the issue.
I don't know anything.
Yeah, I mean, it's very logical.
Gaming is something you've had.
Yes. And kind of using the car beyond just the vehicle, using the vehicle, right?
I mean, when you're at rest, you're doing something with it.
Talk about gaming.
Yeah, so the four digital experience really leans into linger longer.
So hanging out with your family or friends in the car, as opposed to maybe
getting out and waiting for practice and or a game to start.
So the streaming apps really allow for that.
And then also the gaming.
So Arcade Sports is something that was launched last week on the four digital
experience, and that is a multiplayer game to use your device as a controller
and play together.
So you can use your essentially your phone as your controller.
Yeah, instead of you can connect PlayStation controllers to the experience
of playing different games, but this allows you to just.
Yeah, I'm not even happy to have that.
Right.
One of the other things you do, too, is you've kind of eliminated kind of you
have eliminated the rear seat screens and put in a different kind of situation.
Talk about that in the rationale.
Yeah, the strategy was really around to bring your own device,
which I think Justin talked about those clips that you can put on the headrest.
And so that's that's really the reasoning behind it, right?
To allow for multi device.
Yeah. And we all like our own devices rather than kind of learning something
in the car and carrying it around with you.
Yeah, you don't have to re-log in very much.
Talk about connectivity and, you know, what's going on there.
I think a lot of car companies early
on thought that there's a profit opportunity and we're going to have tears
and go a other way with it.
Maybe a consumer acceptance hasn't been all that all that strong for that.
But, you know, talk about your thoughts on that and what what Ford is doing in that.
Sure. So with the expedition, we've launched the Ford connectivity package,
which does enable all of the streaming access to play store and to download
additional apps like video and Macs.
But also with the Ford connectivity package, we've added hotspots so in the vehicle,
you can add up to 10 devices, which is we feel a much better experience
because previously you had to go to AT&T to enable that service.
So you can kind of find that there are.
Yeah, there's different offers.
It's free for a while, right?
Yeah, if you don't add it to the purchase at the dealership,
you can activate a one year free.
And tears, I imagine, still a kind of service.
No, there's only one one.
Yeah, I don't know the exact price.
OK, that might be some material somewhere.
Yeah, yeah, but yeah, there's a monthly option.
OK, a monthly and an annual.
And then a one time.
OK, forgive it.
Yeah, it's part of the problem.
As you go forward, you can probably add stuff to this, right?
I mean, talk about that a little bit or how valuable.
Yeah, the idea is that we can continuously improve not only the experience,
but add new features for software updates.
So over the year.
Exactly, yeah.
And.
You know.
A lot of times over the year updates
are a little difficult for people to understand.
Is there a way to make that clear to folks?
So right now we have a software updates app in your vehicle where you can see,
you know, are you on the latest software that's been deployed to your
vehicle? We also have added some more information in the forecast mobile
app about software updates.
But it's pretty it's pretty simple.
You put turn automatic on, set a schedule and it updates while you're sleeping.
Because you're you're wired.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the car is talking to Ford.
Yeah.
Are there other things that you could add to the vehicle?
Are there is there an idea of,
you know, presenting things that can make the car more useful or adding
which I've seen other manufacturers, for instance,
suggest that they can add horsepower
with an over the year update, that kind of thing.
Is that beyond your purview?
Definitely, definitely beyond the screens in the pixels that I deal with.
So I don't have no any plans to add additional horsepower to the mission.
But the nice thing is we can add more apps, both through software updates
and also through the Google Play Store.
OK, anything else you'd like to add about the vehicle?
No, thanks for coming out.
I think I think you're really going to enjoy driving it.
The off-roading is fun.
Yeah, thank you so much.
Thank you.
And that was Megan Jamerusty.
She's design director at Ford Motor Company talking about the new infotainment
system in the new Ford Expedition, their full size SUV.
It's interesting that they have gone away
from Sync 4 and actually gone to a new vendor.
They're they're using a Google based system.
And you heard her rationale for that.
I think it's interesting that they've gone in this direction.
Chris, you just experienced Sync 4 in the Ford Lightning.
Tell us your thoughts about all this.
Well, one of the things that I complain about with all infotainment systems
and Sync 4 is not unique to that is that automakers are packing all of the vehicle
controls into the touchscreen now and the F-150 Lightning absolutely does that.
I think if you're going to do that,
then the system behind it has to be almost flawless.
It has to operate perfectly in almost all situations and Sync does a good job.
But I can see wanting to kind of improve that
with the added features and Google built in as a good step forward for them.
So I'm looking forward to trying it.
Yeah, it seems like Google built in is getting to be the de facto standard
for this in a lot of manufacturers, although heaven knows a bunch are going to it
away from their homegrown systems or systems with a different vendor.
I think it was Microsoft that was teamed with Ford for Sync.
Yeah, I think the automakers wanted to hold on to control of those systems.
They wanted the money.
They wanted their driver's data and all those things.
But I think a lot of them quickly realized that making a usable,
intuitive interface is a lot more difficult than they thought to start.
When we come back, it will be listener question time as we finish up the show for
this week. So stay with us and we'll be right back right here on America on the road.
Welcome back to America on the Road with cohost Chris Teague.
This is Jack Neerad with you.
It is listener question time as is our want in the final segment.
We love to get your questions and comments.
So send them to editor at drivingtoday.com.
That's editor at drivingtoday.com.
Let's dive right into a question here.
This hits home for me.
This is from Willie and Pacoima, California.
Not too far from where I live.
Gas is really expensive here, Willie says, and it's killing me.
Is there a way I can boost fuel economy without changing how I drive?
Interesting last take there.
Gee, Louis, I was going to say the best way to do it is to modify how you drive.
Look, I don't think there's a lot of ways that you can get around this.
Your behavior is going to be one of without
switching your car, your behavior is going to be one of the best ways you can.
You can save fuel, I would say.
Avoid what my grandmother would call Jack Rabbit starts, you know, take off smoothly.
The idea here is to drive as smoothly and as not unabruptly as possible.
You know, no hard braking, no slowing down, going into curves and that sort of thing.
Jack, I can't think of any other ways other
than modifying your behavior to save fuel unless you want to switch cars.
Yeah, I mean, you could maybe get a little
gain from improving the car's breathing, you know, better air filter, that kind of thing.
But you're not going to probably notice it.
And I think if you continue to be hard on the gas,
that's going to override any kind of gain you could get from that.
So I don't know that there's any quick, if there were a quick solution,
I think most manufacturers would be using it already, right?
Because fuel economy is something that certainly is top of mind for them.
So that wraps up our show for this week by New Crime Novel.
Only one thing stays the same is now available in both ebook and paperback
form at Amazon. We have links in the show notes to that book.
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And we're so grateful that you're out there.
Please join us again next time for another edition of America on the Road.
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