Self‑driving features are the parts of a car that help it drive itself a little bit, like staying in its lane or keeping a safe distance from the car ahead.
A plug‑in hybrid is a car that can be plugged into an outlet to charge its battery, letting it drive on electricity alone for a while before the gas engine kicks in.
These are the round parts that fit on a car’s tires. They’re made by shaping metal, so they’re lighter and stronger than regular wheels, which helps the car handle better.
The key fob cover is a small leather sleeve that goes over the remote key for your car. It has a raised logo on it to show it’s part of the special 30‑year edition.
A hybrid car uses both a gasoline engine and electric motors to drive the wheels, making it more fuel‑efficient than a regular car.
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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 Neeran. With me is co-host Chris Teague back with us. Glad you're back with us. Chris is our pre-Christmas show. I know you were at the New England Motor Press Association meeting. Tell us a little bit about that.
I got to dress up as Rudolph the reindeer and shake some hands. It's great. We're enjoying a white Christmas weather season here. How about you guys? Not white here, but it's a little chilly. I mean, we had Christmas fireworks here where I lived this past weekend, which is always festive, so that's kind of cool. Interesting thing that we do here. Plenty of automotive news coming up this week. Electric vehicle sales have cooled off globally as we come to the end of the year, but there's a bright spot for EV makers. We'll tell you where that is coming from.
The change in the auto landscape, particularly in the United States, has the world's auto makers scrambling to catch up. We'll tell you what Ford and Volkswagen, two of the world's biggest car makers, have in store as they try to move forward. We also have some details on the new developments of the Ford F-150 pickup and Rivians pickup and SUV lineup. Rivian is adding some self-driving features to its electric vehicle, so that's a new wrinkle. Chris, what do you think about the changes car makers are going through right now? You think they're going to be helpful?
I don't know if helpful is the right word. I think they're going to be a little shocking to people. These are some very big changes, but we'll see how it goes.
They are big changes. Big changes for the industry. They might be helpful to the actual consumer out there in terms of giving them choice.
America on the road is brought to you by drivingtoday.com, eamlancy.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 auto and home insurance, California and save an average of $670 with Mercury. So imagine how much you could save.
Get a quote today at drivingtoday.com slash auto insurance. That's drivingtoday.com slash auto hyphen insurance.
Your longtime list is a show now. Chris lives at one end of the country. I live at the other, and we've been reviewing cars for years now each week we get together to talk about what's new. It's never dull, does it, Chris?
No, it is not.
And what is your vehicle this week?
I spent the week driving the 2026 Toyota Prius, the regular hybrid version, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.
I look forward to talking about that. I was driving one too, and so we can compare notes. My test vehicle this week is the 2026 Lexus LC500.
I'll tell you all about this mystery vehicle in our road test segment.
I especially guess is John Leveritt. He is launch strategy expert with Mazda in North American operations.
So a lot of show coming up. Stay with us, and we'll be right back.
Welcome back to America on the road with Chris Tegan. Check the red with you.
I was going to say it's always great to have Chris with us. He was off last week, but great that he's back with us.
And it is news time, and we're coming to the end of the year, and one of the big stories, of course, is what's going on with electric vehicles globally.
The pace is clearly slowing in terms of growth, but there are positives and negatives.
I think new data shows that global EV registrations rose just 6% in November. That's the slowest growth rate since early in 2024.
So it's moving around. What we're seeing though is there are areas where electric vehicles are not doing well at all, and there are other areas where they're doing quite well.
Worldwide nearly two million battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles were sold last month. Regional differences though. China has had a slowing in global in its EV sales.
Just three percent year over your growth. And of course, in the United States, when you chronicle that pretty significantly.
But in Europe, things are quite different. Registration to climb 36% for EVs and electric vehicles. Other electric vehicles.
They are incentive programs over there. What's your overall take on this, Chris?
I've been thinking about this a lot. I think here in the United States, EVs are a uniquely political subject.
And I think maybe the opposite is true in Europe. Maybe it's politically motivated there in the opposite direction.
Maybe that's why they're seeing the sales there. But the China slowdown really surprises me because I've always been of the mind that Chinese consumers and automakers are very much in tune with EVs and that that was kind of the direction they were all headed.
So while it's still growing, slowing down a little bit is surprising to me.
I think what goes on is people go where the money is. Where they're incentives. I think they have less than the incentives in China as they have in the United States.
Because of that, we've seen a slowdown. I think to your point, EVs are political in Europe, but they're politically positive there.
They're looked at positively by the people in power in the various countries in Europe. So they're getting some subsidies there.
It's kind of interesting. It's a mishmash and it's very difficult for global car companies to deal with all this turmoil.
Tesla points that out. I mean, Tesla has had a very difficult time, especially in the United States, sales nearly 23% in November.
I mean, that's a huge shortfall and they have introduced some lower priced vehicles that are so-called standard editions of the Model 3 and Model Y.
It's big changes all around, aren't there, Chris?
Yeah, I mean, Tesla has other challenges related to their CEO and the perception, but even Hyundai, Kia, Ford, all the rest of them have been trying to discount EVs, been trying to promote to put up some nice promotions to get around the loss of the tax credits.
I'm honestly going to be really interested to see where we are having this conversation in December 26th to see if anything has actually changed.
Yeah. Well, we will see what's going on with Tesla too. I mean, they haven't had a new product since Cybertruck and their mainstream products are really long in the tooth.
So I think that's as much a problem as anything else. Ford and Volkswagen are making very big course corrections here based on what's going on largely in terms of regulations, I would say.
Volkswagen, of course, is a very gung-ho on electrics. After dieselgate, they decided to flip 100 percent and go full on for electric vehicles.
And now they're switching off that a little bit, I think, seeing the handwriting on the wall that they're going to need combustion engines to compete in the North American market among other places, probably in China too.
They're going to use some range extended vehicles, something that they were talking about 10 or 15 years ago, I remember driving them in Europe a long, long time ago.
So kind of interesting that they're coming out. What do you think is going on with Volkswagen?
I don't know. You know, they've talked about scalp for a long time. Both of those vehicles are range extended.
The range extended EV to me is a decent way around some of the range anxiety and some of the issues that people have.
The thing that I worry about in this applies to Ford and the others too is complexity and cost, so I think that'll be one of the things that we have to wait and see for some of these.
Yeah, well, as you mentioned, Ford, they are changing their procedures very significantly.
They have an updated Ford Plus strategies, what they're calling it, that doubles down on trucks, hybrids, and affordable electric vehicles was kind of surprised me that they're, I guess they have been developing a platform for affordable electric vehicles.
And they can't kind of flush that down, although they've taken the gigantic right off. They're writing off something like $19 billion.
So major, major shift there. You're not saying Ford.
I am surprised, but not surprised. I'm surprised because of the amount of fanfare the Ford gave to the F-150 Lightning when it came out as an electric vehicle.
I'm saying this is a Model T moment and those sorts of things, and now we're kind of coming back a little bit.
Look, I think everybody has the capability to build these vehicles. Ford built the Ford Maverick. It's a small pickup truck. It's used to be very affordable. It's a hybrid.
So I think if they can kind of catch some more of that magic in the bottle, it'll be great for them, but pricing has not been any automakers' friend over the last several years.
Yeah, absolutely true. I mean, the F-150 Lightning was a very cool battery electric product, but I think the next generation they've announced, the next generation is essentially going to be an extended range electric vehicle.
And you could almost do a search and replace and call everything they've said about the upcoming F-150 range extended vehicle.
The ram charger, right? I mean, it's kind of right in that order, and I guess maybe that's where they feel the future is or where they feel actually they can recoup some of the electric vehicle investment in pickup trucks.
I'm not certain that the typical pickup truck buyer who is a pretty conservative buyer is interested in any of this. I kind of want V8 engines, right?
Yeah, and Ram itself went back and through the V8 in the 1500 this year. And the thing for Ford too is beyond the vehicle loss.
These are jobs, potential jobs that are being lost in Tennessee because they're moving all of the production back to the Rouge factory in Michigan.
So I think they've got some bigger things going on there.
Yeah, some very, very big things. And when you take, I mean, it's easy to say $19 billion. It's harder to come up with $19 billion, right?
And to take that as a loss, I mean, that just shows. And yet there seems to be enthusiasm going forward with what they can do in terms of providing a variety of different types of vehicles.
I think they're going to add hybrids across the board. And maybe hybrid is the near future. I'm still wondering about that, but your thoughts on that, Chris?
Yeah, I think a good vehicle will sell regardless of the fuel type, as long as it's priced and positioned correctly.
So that's where I'm going to stand on this. Ford just has to get every step of the way the right way. Otherwise, this is not going to fly.
Well, one thing I learned working for car companies is price is so critical. I mean, it's absolutely critical.
You can talk about product features in this and that. But if you don't have the value story there in terms of pricing, you're really in trouble.
And I think that's what we've seen with electric vehicles. You and I both like electric vehicles. I mean, I love them. I think they're terrific.
But I think it's difficult to justify them value wise for most of us scraping to buy a new vehicle and come up with that monthly payment.
Yeah, we haven't hit the volume level that we needed to to get the prices down. And they're still elevated over their gas counterparts.
And as you say, there isn't a whole lot of incentive to go buy an F-150 lightning over an F-150 hybrid or even just the regular gas one, especially when you're looking at paying 20 sometimes more than that $1,000 over the price of the gas models.
Yeah, yeah. It's absolutely hard to justify that. And the payback period probably isn't there.
Let's talk about Rivian. I mean, it's a vehicle company, a battery electric vehicle company that has been kind of an interesting contender doing some interesting stuff in terms of high price pickup trucks and SUVs that are battery electric.
Now they want to introduce some self-driving stuff in something they call autonomy plus, I think largely to be more competitive with Tesla.
Although I think in a lot of ways their pickup truck is much preferable in terms of at least visuals to the cyber truck.
You're taking on what's going on with Rivian.
I'm kind of on the fence about how I feel about these systems and vehicles, but I will say that Rivian is going to lean into LiDAR in the future, which Tesla phased out in favor of cameras only.
So while Rivian starting with cameras and will phase this in later, I think that's a good step for safety and performance and all the things that come with it.
It's also cheaper than Tesla's system by quite a significant margin at $2,500.
Yeah. So that's good stuff. When we come back, we will be testing the Toyota Prius and the 2026 Lexus LC500, a vehicle that may be invisible to you.
So stay with us and we'll be right back with all of that. We're glad you're with us and stay with us. We'll be right back.
I received a letter from Reader this week and I thought I'd share it with you. Here's what he wrote.
I just got around to reading Dance in the Dark and wanted to say how much I enjoyed it.
I'm a compulsive reader and this one was right up my alley and a likely hero, a lot of twists and turns, some adult content, and humor that rose naturally from the action.
Keep on writing and I'll keep on reading. Of course, that's just the kind of letter any author would love to get.
I hope that others get the same enjoyment from reading Dance in the Dark and my newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same.
Both are available exclusively at Amazon.com. That's Dance in the Dark and Only One Thing Stays the Same. Both written by me, Jack R. N. R.
Thanks for looking for them today.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris Teague, Jack Knee, Redback with you for Road Test Time and fascinating pair of vehicles.
It's hard to imagine two more different vehicles I think in a lot of ways than what we're testing in this segment here, Chris.
You're testing the new version of the Toyota Prius. Tell us about it.
Yeah, I spent the week behind the wheel of the 2026 Toyota Prius Hybrid. This is not the plug-in hybrid version that used to be called the Prius Prime that changed the name for 2025.
This is a standard hybrid model. It starts at around $29,000. My limited test model with all-wheel drive was just under $39,000. Jack, what do you think about the newest Prius, either the plug-in or the regular hybrid?
Well, I think it grabs attention from its looks. I think I was on the introduction of this generation. And when we first saw it, I think there were a lot of wows.
I haven't seen a whole lot of them on the street, though, and I don't know why that is. I think it's a very good-looking car that does a lot of things right, but I don't know.
Yeah, I mean, I don't have any scientific data, but I also haven't seen that many on the road, but they do look a lot better than the very pointy, sharp, angled models that we saw in years past.
But the regular hybrid comes with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine and electric motor. It makes 196 horsepower combined. That's with all-wheel drive. I think it's a 194 with front-wheel drive.
As I said, my car has all-wheel drive and it has a continuously variable transmission. The big benefit here is fuel economy jack. You can get up to 57 MPG in the city and 56 MPG on the highway.
And while you don't get the all-electric range of the plug-in hybrid model, that's still pretty darn good, especially with gas prices coming down. You could seriously save some money on fuel costs here.
The car has a surprisingly smooth ride. I think that I was very much pleased with it, and the handling as well is sharper than you think. One thing I would complain about with this vehicle is road noise, lots of tire and wind noise. I think Toyota did some weight savings with the sound insulation, and it's a little bit louder inside than I would like to hear. What do you think, Jack?
They seemed to do that, and I was hoping they were past that with this version of the Prius. I mean, previous versions of the Prius generations of the Prius have been all about fuel economy. I mean, every stop was pulled out to get the highest fuel economy number.
And thus they pull things like sound-dending materials out because that adds weight. I'd like to see a little more of that. I think it makes the overall driving experience that much better.
Yeah, I think a few pounds of noise insulation would not kill the fuel economy to such a high degree. But overall, it's got decent acceleration. The electric motors get a good torque down low, so it doesn't feel slow and sluggish, like some people think hybrids often, or a lot of people often think hybrids are slow and not very much fun to drive. But it's more engaging than you would think, so I recommend taking a drive if you're skeptical of the performance here.
Inside the seats five people, although I will say four people are going to be much more comfortable than trying to jam three across in the back, especially if you have a car seat, the hip room here due to this car's size is not the best. And then also the center seat lacks headroom with the sloping roof.
My car had synthetic leather, a poultry cloth, a poultry is standard. And surprisingly here, Jack, this car has a hatchback with 20 cubic feet of cargo space. And for those of you keeping track, that's as much as some subcompact SUVs and some of the better ones.
So the car's low ride height, it's got a nice open back end, so it's easy to load things in and out. And you can fit some pretty big things back there that you wouldn't expect to fit in a Prius.
It's got a seven inch digital gauge cluster and my car came with a 12.3 inch touchscreen, though an eight inch touchscreen is standard.
Jack, I want to get your opinion about this. The gauge cluster is very small, is located in an awkward space behind the steering wheel. And for me in my driving position, no matter how I set the seat, the wheel always blocks the gauge cluster.
And I found this to be true in the BZ4X as well, which has a similar gauge cluster. What do you think of this tiny...
I just don't get this. I mean, you, Chris, are six feet tall, and I am 5'10", or 5'11", depending on how I'm being measured these days. And like you, I just couldn't figure out.
I mean, we're not like weird-sized people. I couldn't get a good sight line on these instruments. And to me, that's kind of a 101 thing. You know, get that down right.
Yeah, the smaller gauge cluster I'm told is meant to function like a head-up display where you can just glance at the speed and some other things. But if you can't see it, there's no glancing going on at all.
So that for me is a problem. But the good news here is that the touchscreen runs very nicely. It's very smooth. It's very refined.
And Toyota's new infotainment system is 100% easier to use than it was just a few years ago.
The Prius comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. My limited test car, excuse me, came standard with a JBL audio system, which is exclusive to the top trim.
It sounds great. It sounds better than the JBL audio system that was in my GR Corolla, which did not sound that great.
And overall, it's just a nice interior with a good amount of tech and the ergonomics are nice. I think if you can get around seeing the gauge cluster, there's a lot to like about the cabin here.
Toyota also includes physical controls for climate and some audio system functions, which I really appreciate.
And then you get Toyota Safety Sense, which comes with automatic braking, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alerts, lane keep assist, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Jack, for me, it just under 39K. I think this is a pretty good deal, especially given the fuel economy and all the stuff that you get.
But you can go a lot cheaper in this car and still get the fuel economy, and most of the good stuff with it too. So all around, I'm a Prius fan.
Yeah, I am too. I love this addition of the Prius. I think it looks terrific. I'm just, again, not to beat a dead horse, but it surprises me.
We don't see more of them on the road, because I think the value is there in so many ways. I just think it's a cool vehicle, and certainly worthy of consideration, particularly these days.
I mean, even with $2 gas, and I was just in Texas where gas was $2 or so, quite different than here in Southern California.
I paid 4 or 10 yesterday for premiums, so.
Wow, different in Maine, using a different formula, maybe. It's weird how different it is across the country.
But we can talk about that later. Let's talk about the 2026 Lexus LC500 convertible.
This is one of those vehicles that is incredibly rare. I don't know that I have seen one quote unquote in the wild, like a civilian driving one.
I have seen other auto journalists driving them, but I live in a place where there's some money around here in Southern California, certainly Hollywood area.
You see Ferraris, you see Lamborghinis, you see Mazza Rotties. What you don't see is Lexus LC500s, although they are dramatic enough to be kind of considered in that class.
I mean, in terms of just overall looks or curb value, this is an amazing looking vehicle, like I say, a rare vehicle.
And I want to use the term anachronism, I guess, when I talk about this car.
Because it seems like of another era. It's got a V8 engine up front, rear wheel drive, it's got a soft top convertible.
This just doesn't seem like a car from 2026, right? I mean, it seems we're like a 2006 or 1996 or something like that.
At the same time, I embrace that. I think that's pretty cool. From your point of view across the country, how do you feel about it, Chris?
I have only seen an LC at the fleet garage where my press cars are delivered from. I have never seen one on the road.
In my opinion, this is not a fact. Lexus is best looking, most dramatic vehicle they've ever made.
And I think it reminds me of like the old Dic Tracy villain cars with the long hoods and the sweat back.
So yeah, I agree with you on that.
I mean, it's all of that. I mean, it's got this incredible curb value.
It is not inexpensive. Either $120,000 was the price of the vehicle.
I was driving the Menroni. I think the base price starts at $109,000 or something like that.
But price, of course, is not what this is all about. Maybe it's so rare, maybe it deserves to be priced twice as high.
And you can get it in all kinds of bespoke kind of things. I mean, you can equip it the way you want, although I think if you were to order one,
it would probably take you a while to get it from the factory in Japan.
21 inch forged alloy wheels adds a lot of drama. Like you say, there's the big wheel arches.
This is just a dramatic looking car. Just full of stuff.
And then the fact that it's got a soft top, I applaud that too. I mean, we see a lot of these hard top convertibles.
We've been seeing them for a while. And it's hard to make those not look awkward, right, with the top up.
Maybe with the top down too. I think going with a soft top was the right choice. Your thoughts?
I agree. It's so hard to get the hard top look right. I mean, there have been a couple of like meadas that looked okay with the hard top on it.
But yeah, I agree with you on that.
It has good stuff. I mean, the handling is quite good.
This is a grand tour. This is not a sports car, quote unquote, but it has an adaptive variable suspension.
A ride is just fine. It feels like a grand tour. It feels like a great parade car.
I mean, you could have the grand marshal of the rose parade, you know, riding in the back seat and waving to the crowd in this thing.
Very, very cool. Steering effort good. This is just, like I say, a grand tour.
Let's talk about the, I love talking about five liter V8 engines. So let's talk about this one, right?
A five liter V8 engine. 471 horsepower. 398 pound feet of torque. This is normally aspirated vehicle.
Thoughts on that.
The Lexus V8 is a sweetheart. I've experienced it in the RCF and another vehicle in the IS 500. Excuse me, I was stumbling there.
It's a fantastic engine. Sounds great. Good torque. Yeah, I like it.
I mean, I love it. Zero to 60 and 4.6 seconds in this grand tour. Super comfortable.
So love that. I, you know, I love the way it sounds. You could lower the top when you're going as fast as 30 miles an hour.
I think 31, actually. And so that's cool. I mean, it has, you know, a neck warmer.
I love my neck warmed. I like everything on me, warm both my neck is one of the things I certainly like.
Wind deflector and all that kind of stuff. So top down driving. Something many of us don't experience very much these days is really cool in this thing.
And then the interior is nice with a 12 inch touch screen and all that. It's got good safety equipment.
I just think there's a lot to like about this vehicle. And to me, it's, if you buy this vehicle, you are really showing your character.
Right? I mean, you, you could buy a Ferrari, you could buy a Porsche, you could buy, but when you buy this thing, boy, you're standing out, aren't you, Chris?
Yeah. And you probably have a lot less maintenance to go with it.
Yeah. So I think it's terrific. And two great cars, actually from Toyota, the Lexus LC500 and the Toyota Prius in the show.
Stay with us. When we come back, we will have a great guest. And we will be right back right here on America on the road. Thanks so much for being with us.
This is the time when we're all thinking about Christmas presents. And if you're like me, you might have a difficult time coming up with great gifts, especially for guys.
Well, I have a couple of suggestions for you, both from companies that make all their products right here in the USA.
The first is Dearborn denim and apparel. They make great jeans, shirts and accessories in my old hometown of Chicago.
I bought several pairs of jeans from them and I think they're among the best jeans I've ever owned. Great materials, high quality workmanship. I just like them a lot.
Look for them at DearbornDenim.us. That's DearbornDenim.us.
The second gift idea is razors and razor accessories from a company called Western Razor.
Again, all of their products are made here in the USA and they are terrific. The razors aren't cheap, but then neither is your face.
I love using my Western Razor and let me tell you, those double-aged blades last a long, long time.
You can find them at WesternRazor.com. That's WesternRazor.com. This isn't a paid commercial. These are just two personal suggestions I have about products I purchased and used.
Take a look at DearbornDenim.us and WesternRazor.com. I think you'll like what you see.
Welcome back everybody to America. I'm the road Jeffy Redback with you and we have a really wonderful guest.
I've been wanting to speak with somebody from Mazda for a long time. I think as all you listeners know, we're fans of Mazda here on America on the road.
We have a great representative from Mazda to speak with. John Leveritt is a product manager on the Mazda vehicle launch strategy team.
Number one, thanks for being with us John. We appreciate it.
Thanks Jack. Thanks for having me.
Tell us what you do as a vehicle launch strategy on the vehicle launch strategy team.
Yeah, so me and the team I'm on, we usually get the products probably somewhere around two to three years before they are going to be on sale.
That's when we start getting involved in the process. So usually by that point, the overall concept is somewhat solidified and certainly maybe the design is solidified.
But then there's a lot of like, okay, what are the features going to be? Maybe what exactly are we going to include or not include on this car?
And then my team is kind of working with the team that is setting those features and also bringing in all the other departments of the company like marketing and our training department and our sales department to make sure everyone is ready and prepped to talk about this car that they know everything that they know the car from back and that we are all ready for the car to go on sale.
Why don't you walk? Yeah, why don't you walk us through a recent product that you were that was recently introduced that yeah, you were involved in and how that all went.
Yeah, so well, the big one right now is the new CX-5. I'm kind of on the periphery of that one. My latest or last project that is now out would have been the 35th anniversary MX-5 and the hybrid CX-50.
The 35th anniversary is kind of a fun one, although that's a little bit of an anomaly, but that one, you know, we obviously have this history of these anniversary additions and we have a history of special additions and commonly known as the Miata.
Yeah, yeah, commonly known as the Miata. So with that one, you know, that car is just a special car for us and it really still represents, you know, everything our brand is about.
And, you know, we talk about all the time, you know, we try to imbue every car, every vehicle with, you know, the MX-5 spirit from driving dynamics performance, how it responds, things like that.
So even though that's not a high volume car for us and even though that launch was not maybe as stressful or as involved as other cars, it still has a huge significance.
So for that one, you know, pulling in, marketing, PR, what are we going to do for this vehicle? Here's what's different. First of all, starting with, you know, what are we going to do with, you know, 35th anniversary had the unique silver alloy wheels.
It had the, you know, the tan interior with the embossing on the headrest, the fully tan carpets and things like that.
And we have a history with that car of giving an owner a gift. You know, we've done everything from like watches to drawings to whatever it may be.
So kind of figuring out, okay, we're going to do an undergift. And yes, we are because we really value our MX-5 buyers. I mean, those are our biggest brand advocates and the ones who really know our brand the best.
So we want to show our appreciation. So kind of ideating on what that gift would be coming up with that, that making sure it gets made and produced the way we want it to.
And then planning the event that this car is going to debut at. And what was that gift? I'm curious as to what that gift was.
Yeah, so that was a interior matching leather key fob cover embossed with the 30th anniversary logo that wrapped around the key fob.
Previously, you know, I think 30th anniversary, that was the orange racing orange MX-5 Miata. And that one came with a drawing from the designer of the Miata of that car, specifically in racing orange, which was pretty cool.
So anyway, so coming up with that gift for 35th, helping plan the event. And we had, you know, a couple drive events that said the 35th was built.
It was 2025, 35th anniversary edition. And for 2024, there are some significant in the Miata world changes, kind of a refresh to that model.
So though I didn't necessarily relate directly to the 35th, we did drive, you know, the 2023 model back to back with the 2024 model to understand those handling differences to understand how the rear differential, which was updated for 2024 affected how the car handled and just kind of get hands on.
That was a couple of years before this model, but that was still useful for 35th as well.
And I have a special affinity for Miata because essentially that's why I went to work for Mazda.
I was editor of Motor Trend back in the day as long maybe before you were born, John, I'm not sure.
I was just so taken with the Miata that when I got offered the opportunity to work for a car company, I mean Mazda was a logical one to go to.
I just loved it. I loved it. You know, while I was there, Tomatano became a personal friend during the time there.
And I think as you said, Miata MX-5 really represents just kind of the Mazda ethos. And when we're driving anything that we drive from the CX-50 to the Mazda-3, all of the vehicles just seem to have a sense of driving joy that a lot of cars don't have.
And I don't think I'm imagining that. Talk to that a little bit, would you?
Yeah, I mean, I definitely agree. I get, you know, there are times maybe once a year, so I realize how spoiled I've gotten.
Because I'm always in Mazda. I mean, that's what I'm provided from the company. It's what my wife and I drive.
I do have other cars that aren't Mazda's, but generally are everyday cars in Mazda.
You know, I start to maybe not notice the things that make the Mazda. And then I get into another brand, someone else's car, friends car, that's not a Mazda. And I'm like, oh my gosh.
This is the same, and this is the same price. You know, I know the pricing and the placement of all these competitive vehicles, and I get in one, and I am reminded all over again.
But you know, it's, of course, it traces, it traces back to, you know, the handling characteristics and kind of those like mechanical engineering type aspects, making sure the car responds the way you want to.
But there's even more things that I've kind of come to notice for myself that I love, which kind of relates to that seating position.
And especially in like our larger platform SUVs, you sit pretty far back because you have such a long hood and you've got the inline six engine.
And just, I mean, there's a little bit of theater to that that I really enjoy, where you feel like you're kind of slung back in the car, which is exactly, you know, how they mix five is.
You kind of are almost on the rear wheels on the MX-5, or you know, you've got that long hood in front of you.
I mean, a long hood basically is a totem of performance, right? I mean, the coolest cars dating back to the 20s and 30s had the long hoods, as you say.
They have inline engines, sometimes inline eight cylinder engines back in that day, but that long hood really kind of represents performance.
Yeah, and in the view out, you know, from the windshield, you really feel like you're piloting something special when you've got that long hood out in front of you.
You know, it's kind of the opposite experience is what you have in like a mini van where you can't even see the front, you know, which that has its own complete purpose, obviously, but it's just that I really enjoy that kind of theatrical aspect a little bit.
That's kind of gotten lost in a lot of, at least everyday modern cars.
Yeah, and it seems like Moss is able to do that. Of course, the market has changed radically, right?
I mean, a Mazda was basically sports car brand, Miata RX-7 before that, and you know, RX-7 throughout a lot of people.
That's what they thought about when they thought about Mazda. Now, crossover utilities are where all the volume is really, certainly the bulk of the volume.
And yet Mazda has been able to kind of keep that ethos going in those vehicles like CX-50, CX-5. Those are fun to drive vehicles, at least for their types. Talk about that a little bit.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, that is, you know, it's really interesting that that difference between CX-5 and CX-50 because obviously we have two different purposes for those vehicles.
But when we were working on the hybrid, years before on sale, you know, we knew that that Toyota powertrain was coming.
And that's what we're going to utilize for that model. And our initial kind of reaction within the company was, oh no.
What are we doing? I mean, is this really going to be a Mazda product? And when we drove it, you know, we drive it back-to-back against competitors, just kind of internally within Mazda.
And all of our fears went away because we're able to tune that car to, it doesn't drive like a Toyota.
And you know that it shares a powertrain, but it doesn't respond that way. So, you know, everything from the throttle, making sure that, you know, when you really push the pedal down, the car has more to give.
That's one thing that I think is unique to Mazda, at least within the mainstream segment, where a lot of automakers really tune their pedals to where it's giving you a lot of the power at the top of the pedals.
So you're not having to push the pedal very hard to get going. And that makes people feel like, oh this car is peppy, this car is quick.
But then when you really need to go and you put the pedal down, there's really no more of a response than there always is. Now they're there.
And so, you know, that was even a big difference between the RAV4 and our tuning of the hybrid and the CX50. But then as it relates to CX5, you know, that is a more urban oriented vehicle, or kind of urban sport oriented vehicle, the way we talk about it.
And it still has kind of the benefit of that independent rear suspension. It's a little bit lighter, a little bit more nimble, whereas the CX50 is focused more so.
Yes, to be great on road, every Mazda is, but to be able to tackle off road. And with CX50, you know, that debut with our new drive modes that truly do make a difference.
You know, we use the oil drive system and really software to make sure that the car responds the same off road as it does on road.
So when you turn an off road, you know, obviously you would, if you're on a gravel dirt path or whatever, with no tuning difference, the car would push, you know, it wouldn't grip and go.
But if you put it in our off road mode, okay, we know you're on a loose surface. And that was kind of the introduction of making sure that when you turn in, the car actually does lean in by reducing the torque on the front, putting it to the rear.
It's a slight rotation, and it's just cool and all things like that, that Mazda thinks about, which I've always really appreciated.
I wouldn't be a good reporter if I didn't ask you about infotainment systems, John. When we review Mazda vehicles, we love pretty much everything about them, and then there is a beauty, right?
But the infotainment system is a little hard to work or certainly works different than others. Walk us through that and why Mazda has decided to stick with a on-console controller and not go to touch screens when others have gone that direction.
Well, you know, this is a very, maybe timely topic because you know, the new CX-5 is all touch screen. All right. So, yeah, so I, everyone has their own opinion on this.
I don't, essentially, we have, you know, our rotary controllers and our current vehicles, we have an all new touch screen system in the CX-5.
And you kind of, in the world of infotainment now, you have people on both sides of the aisle. No, I want buttons, I want a doubt. No, I want touch screen.
And you see as many complaints with touch screen systems as you do our system, which is one of the few left with, you know, a physical rotary knob or some type of control system.
Right. So I'm personally a big fan of the rotary knob system because I, once you get used to it, but I've been in Mazda vehicles like I said for seven years, so I just don't even have to look.
And I think that's what we say on the show, too. Once you're used to it, and you know, when you have a vehicle for a week or longer, you get it. And it works just fine.
And in many ways, I kind of prefer it. I don't like finger marks all over my, yeah, all over my touch screen. It kind of irritates the OCD in me.
But then there is the usability portion. And I think the immediate usability portion of a touchscreen versus not.
Yeah, I mean, obviously the touchscreen has that, yeah, like you said, that it's kind of immediately intuitive because our phones are touchscreen.
So there isn't as much of a learning curve, but, but you're not sitting there using it, you're driving, you know, the vehicles moving, there's bumps in the road, you're going around turns, you're moving around, and you're not holding that thing in your hand.
Also moving around with the vehicle, you know, so I, you know, there is that aspect to it, where is a touch screen better or is it not?
I mean, it is immediately intuitive, is it, is it safer for driving? I'm not sure. But I think it really comes down to personal preference. And that's something that we've seen a lot.
So the CX-5, it is all in the screen. You do have buttons on your steering wheel to adjust a lot of things like obviously volume, audio mode, and all of your kind of safety radar.
How about the heating and air conditioning controls? And do you have discrete controls for that or is that in the touch screen?
Yeah, that'll be all on the screen at the bottom of the screen, and it stays consistently down at the bottom.
Well, John Leverett, thanks so much for being with us at Masa, a project manager on the vehicle launch strategy team. We appreciate you being with us. Thanks for sharing all this.
Yeah, thanks Jack. Great to talk to you.
And stay with us everybody. We'll be right back right here on America on the road.
Welcome back to America on the road with Coach Chris. He was Jack knee-rad with you. It is listener question time. We love to answer questions for you based on our long experience, providing automotive advice to those who need it, maybe those who just want it.
Send your questions to editoraddrivingtoday.com. That's editoraddrivingtoday.com. And here's a great question I think from Robert who lives in Waxahatchi, Texas.
He asks, are new turbo force cylinders actually better than the older V6 engines?
Better is probably subjective in this situation. I will say that the new engines, the new turbocharged smaller engines are probably, they're more fuel efficient. They create less, they create fewer emissions.
And there's probably some other benefits there too. They're less thermally, they're more thermally efficient things like that.
I personally prefer naturally aspirated engines like V6s and V8s. I like the linear power delivery, but you can get some real power with the turbo.
And it's very helpful if you're towing and especially higher altitudes. So I think I could go either way Jack. What do you think?
I'm right with you. I'm a naturally aspirated guy too, from the simplicity longevity sake mostly. I mean, I'm a little leery about longevity of turbocharged engines just because of the stress.
Though they put on the overall drivetrain and on the engine itself, and I think turbos are spinning at very high RPM, so that has its issues as well.
I think there's advantages mostly fuel economy, but give me a normally aspirated V6, I think if we can.
That seems to wrap up our show for this week. We want to wish each of you a very merry Christmas. We're going to have a new show I think right after Christmas.
My new crime novel only one thing stays the same is now available in both ebook and paperback form and Amazon. It is a great Christmas gift.
I think you can probably get it even before Christmas. If you like our show, please pass it on. Listen on this radio station each week and let your friends know where you hear America on the road.
And of course America on the road is available as a podcast, right Chris?
That's right. Google search for the America on the road podcast. We'll bring us to you on all the major platforms, Apple, Spotify, all the rest like us.
Download us, leave us a review. All those things help us out and you can take us with you wherever you go.
Right, we want to be with you. Check out our YouTube channel. Look at our videos there.
Our thanks to Mercury Insurance, sponsoring the show and our sports byline network stations for carrying it.
Most of all, thanks to you for listening. We know you have a lot of choices so we're honored by the fact you listen to America on the road
and join us again next time for another edition of America on the road.
Hi, I'm Jack Arnie Redd and I'd like to tell you about my newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same.
In a style reminiscent of James M. Cain and Jim Thompson, two of my writing idols,
the book Chronicles of Blue Collar workers up and down love affairs with two modern Southern California women who continue to surprise, shock, and ultimately confound him.
As the story unfolds and unemployed Aeronautics worker named Bill McCurdy becomes disillusioned with his wife and slips into an elicit affair with a teenager from down the street.
Before long he begins to think of doing the unthinkable, but despite his desperate attempts to make things work, almost nothing goes as planned.
His misguided quest for simple love doesn't turn out to be simple at all.
And before the roller coaster ride stops, he learns quite personally and very finally that only One Thing Stays the Same.
Only One Thing Stays the Same is available in Kindle e-book and paperback form exclusively at Amazon.com.
I'd appreciate it if you'd look for it today.
This is the time when we're all thinking about Christmas presents, and if you're like me, you might have a difficult time coming up with great gifts, especially for guys.
Well, I have a couple of suggestions for you, both from companies that make all their products right here in the USA.
The first is Dearborn Denim and Apparel. They make great jeans, shirts, and accessories in my old hometown of Chicago.
I've watched several pairs of jeans from them and I think they're among the best jeans I've ever owned.
Great materials, high quality workmanship, I just like them a lot.
Look for them at DearbornDenim.us. That's DearbornDenim.us.
The second gift idea is razors and razor accessories from a company called Western Razor.
Again, all of their products are made here in the USA and they are terrific.
The razors aren't cheap, but then neither is your face.
I love using my Western Razor and let me tell you, those double-aged blades last a long, long time.
You can find them at westernrazer.com. That's westernrazer.com.
This isn't a paid commercial, these are just two personal suggestions I have about products I purchased and used.
Take a look at DearbornDenim.us and westernrazer.com. I think you'll like what you see.
About this episode
Exploring the 2026 Lexus LC 500 Convertible, this episode dives into its stunning design, powerful V8 engine, and the unique driving experience it offers. Co-hosts Jack and Chris also discuss the latest automotive news, including the slowing growth of electric vehicle sales and major shifts from manufacturers like Ford and Volkswagen. The episode features a detailed review of the Toyota Prius, highlighting its fuel efficiency and practicality. Special guest John Leveritt from Mazda shares insights on vehicle launch strategies and the brand's commitment to driving enjoyment across its lineup.
This week on America on the Road, Jack Nerad and co-host Chris Teague test two cars that are about as different as two cars can be — the 2026 Lexus LC 500 and the 2026 Toyota Prius. In the news and comment section, Jack and Chris break down major shifts in the global auto industry as electric vehicle sales slow and automakers adjust their plans. The show also features a deep dive into new pickup and EV technology, and an in-depth interview with Mazda launch strategy expert Jon Leverett.
🚗 Jack Nerad Test-Drives the 2026 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
Jack reviews the 2026 Lexus LC 500 Convertible, a rarer-than-diamond grand tourer powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. Finished in gold and riding on forged 21-inch wheels, the LC blends dramatic styling with refined ride quality, a richly detailed interior, and an unmistakable engine note. Jack covers pricing, driving dynamics, convertible top operation, interior technology, and why this Lexus stands out in a way that a Ferrari or Porsche never will.
🚙 Chris Teague Test-Drives the 2026 Toyota Prius
Chris drives the redesigned 2026 Toyota Prius, now offered in LE, XLE, Nightshade, and Limited grades. With the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System, the Prius delivers up to 57 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive form and offers available Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive. Chris discusses performance, efficiency, standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, updated infotainment with available 12.3-inch touchscreen, and how the latest Prius balances practicality with sharper styling.
🎙️ Special Guest Interview
Jack sits down with Jon Leverett, Launch Strategy expert with Mazda North American Operations. Leverett shares insight into Mazda’s recent vehicle launches, how the brand differentiates itself in a crowded market, and the thinking behind Mazda’s product planning and execution.
📰 This Week’s Headlines
• Global EV Sales Cool Off
Electric vehicle sales continue to grow worldwide, but at a slower pace. China’s growth has leveled off, North America has seen a sharp decline following the expiration of U.S. tax credits, and Europe remains the strongest EV market thanks to continued incentives.
• Ford and Volkswagen Make Course Corrections
Ford and Volkswagen are adjusting their EV strategies to better match customer demand. VW is exploring range-extender EVs for Western markets, while Ford is shifting focus toward hybrids, trucks, and more affordable electric vehicles under its updated Ford+ strategy.
• Ford Reveals Next-Generation F-150 Lightning Concept
Ford previews a next-generation F-150 Lightning that will use extended-range EV technology. The electric truck pairs battery propulsion with a gasoline-fueled onboard generator, targeting a driving range of more than 700 miles while maintaining massive towing capability and delivering exportable power.
• Rivian Expands Self-Driving Capabilities
Rivian introduces its in-house Autonomy Processor and a new Autonomy+ driver-assistance package. The system enables hands-free driving on millions of miles of roads, with expanded capabilities and future Level 4 autonomy planned.
📩 Listener Question of the Week
Robert from Waxahachie, Texas, asks: “Are new turbo four-cylinders actually better than older V6 engines?” Jack and Chris discuss performance, efficiency, durability, and real-world driving differences.
📚 Books
Jack’s crime novel Only One Thing Stays the Same is out now in ebook and paperback. It’s an easy holiday gift at an easy price.
Catch America on the Road on this station every week, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Rumble. You’ll also find road test videos, interviews, and shorts on our YouTube channel.
Special thanks to Mercury Insurance for sponsoring the show and to our Sports Byline Network affiliates nationwide.
