JP Kraemer [JP Performance] & Scotto Discuss Everything! New Longest Pod Record!
About this episode
German automotive media giant JP Kraemer of JP Performance joins host Brian Scotto for a record-breaking conversation. Kraemer shares his journey from Porsche sales and high-end tuning at 9FF to becoming Germany's biggest car TV star and pioneering YouTube creator. The duo discusses the stark differences between American and European car culture, the freedom of relative anonymity in the US, and how Kraemer parlayed digital success into a massive 16-company empire. It is an honest look at the business of car content and a warning about the future of car culture.
We’re joined this week by Jean Pierre Kraemer, of JP Performance, undoubtedly the biggest automotive YouTuber in Germany, and one of the most successful creators on the planet. He’s a TV star and celebrity, builder of hundreds of builds from the classic, to the electrified ultramodern and everything in between. Not just content to produce content (ha) he owns and runs no fewer than sixteen businesses, and his complex in his native Dortmund is droolworthy. There’s the workshop itself, a burger bar, a theater-style dyno and down the block, his very own Pace Car Museum, housing his own creations alongside a staggering assortment of motorsport and car culture’s most significant metal. If all this doesn’t leave you breathless to find out how he did it, what’s next and what he thinks of the US? Well there’s no hope for you – you’ll just have to listen! Enjoy.
Partners:
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
KW Suspension
Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound
Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647
https://bio.site/321actionaction
00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
02:32 - Fame in Europe vs America
09:53 - Quitting TV for YouTube
12:56 - Building a Business Empire
14:32 - 121 Cars and Collector Mindset
18:00 - YouTube Pressure and Planning 2 Years Ahead
23:17 - Peak Car Culture and the 90s
30:46 - Social Media Trends and Gatekeeping
35:50 - Sponsor: FCP Euro
37:26 - YouTube is Changing
40:31 - Staying Fresh After 16 Years
41:33 - Gratitude Versus Burnout
50:25 - YouTube Celebrity Reality
59:03 - The Evil of the TUV: Germany’s Car Crackdown
01:06:26 - How Do We Keep Car Culture Alive?
01:18:38 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual, Wera Tools & KW Suspensions
01:20:32 - First Time in a Porsche: F**king One’s Way to the Top?
01:23:48 - Chasing Analog Emotion
01:25:45 - When was the Best Era in Cars?
01:29:23 - EV Pushback Reality Check
01:35:48 - Hidden Concepts And Halos
01:37:59 - Audi Nuvolari Design Critique
01:45:02 - Design of the Hoonitron
01:47:34 - Brand DNA Versus Driving Feel
01:50:50 - Korean & Chinese Cars Shock Everyone
01:57:29 - Where EVs Actually Work
02:00:58 - Taycan Temptation
02:02:45 - Hybrids and Range Extenders
02:06:14 - Building Base Cars… like the Hoonicorn
02:09:45 - Favorite Cars and Nostalgia
02:14:31 - Road Trips and Flyover States
02:16:25 - Donk Magazine Origins
02:22:34 - Fame and Freedom in America
02:29:19 - Creators Giving Back
02:32:41 - Racetracks Disappearing
02:34:24 - Car Culture Criminalized
02:36:38 - Getting Pulled Over
02:37:23 - Top Speed Confessions
02:38:32 - Autobahn Culture Debate
02:39:54 - America Through German Eyes
02:42:13 - Car YouTube in the US vs Germany
02:49:13 - Sponsors and Creative Control
02:53:31 - Algorithm Fatigue and Return to Paid Content?
02:59:00 - Creative Friction, a.k.a. F**k AI
03:07:39 - Creator Business Models
03:10:35 - What’s Next… Buying Scotto’s 360?
Brian Scotto
"Welcome back. It is another episode of Very Vehicular. As always, I'm still your host, Brian Scato."
The host of this podcast and a co-founder of Hoonigan, the famous car culture brand. He helped create the famous Gymkhana drifting videos with Ken Block.
Brian Scotto is an American automotive journalist, designer, and co-founder of Hoonigan Industries. He is best known for directing the viral Gymkhana video series featuring Ken Block and hosting various automotive builds and shows.
JP Kraemer
"And if you speak German, you already know who JP Kramer, aka JP Performance is. I am really excited to have him on the show today."
A very famous German car enthusiast who hosts a massive YouTube channel about building and tuning cars. He is incredibly popular in Europe, similar to top automotive creators in the US.
Jean Pierre 'JP' Kraemer is a prominent German automotive YouTuber, television host, and founder of JP Performance. He became a household name in Germany through the TV show 'Die PS-Profis' before building one of the most successful automotive YouTube channels in Europe.
9ff
"and then I was working for at 9FF, the Porsche tuning company. Right. I worked with them when I was at zero to 60."
A German tuning company that takes fast Porsche sports cars and makes them incredibly, mind-blowingly fast, often aiming for world speed records.
9ff is a German car tuning company specializing in extreme Porsche modifications. Founded by Jan Fatthauer, the company is famous for building ultra-high-speed vehicles, including the GT9, which was designed to exceed 250 mph.
9ff GT9
"I worked with them when I was at zero to 60. We drove that crazy long GT9. Yeah. Yeah, right. Incredible."
A highly modified, custom-built supercar based on a Porsche that was designed specifically to go over 250 miles per hour and beat the fastest cars in the world.
The 9ff GT9 is an extreme mid-engine sports car loosely based on the Porsche 911 (997) but heavily redesigned with a bespoke chassis and a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine. Built to compete with the Bugatti Veyron for top-speed supremacy, it produced up to 1,120 horsepower in its GT9-R variant.
Jaguar E-Type
"And you built like a really wide range of things, right? I mean, I just I just saw the other day that you built, you had like an E type. Is that something?"
An iconic British sports car from the 1960s and 70s that is widely considered one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Even Enzo Ferrari famously called it the most beautiful car in the world.
The Jaguar E-Type is a legendary British sports car manufactured between 1961 and 1974, celebrated for its beautiful styling, high performance, and monocoque construction. It initially featured a twin-cam inline-six engine before transitioning to a 5.3-liter V12 in later Series 3 models.
Ford Pinto
"...great that car was as we drove around in the Ford Pinto. He was forced to buy because he had a son that w..."
The Ford Pinto was a small, inexpensive car sold by Ford in the 1970s. It is best known historically for safety issues involving its fuel tank when hit from behind.
The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car produced in the 1970s, designed to compete with rising import sales. It became infamous due to a controversial design flaw regarding its fuel tank placement, which could rupture and catch fire in rear-end collisions, leading to major safety recalls and lawsuits. It is discussed as a cautionary tale in automotive engineering history.
restomod
"I'm not trying to restore it. I want to build like a rest on mod type thing. Yeah, yeah. A lot of a lot of potential in it."
A classic vintage car that looks old on the outside but has modern parts underneath, like a new engine, modern brakes, and air conditioning, so it is easier and more fun to drive today.
A restomod is a classic car that has been restored but modified with modern parts and technology. This philosophy blends vintage styling with modern performance, safety, and comfort upgrades like fuel injection, modern suspension, and disc brakes.
Toyota Supra
"We talk about you build cars for views and you don't always end up building the car you want. You build something that's clickable because in my case, I stuck a V10 in a Supra."
A famous Japanese sports car that gained massive popularity in movies like 'The Fast and the Furious' because its engine can be modified to produce huge amounts of horsepower.
The Toyota Supra is a flagship sports car celebrated for its performance and tuner-friendly heritage, particularly the fourth-generation (A80) model powered by the legendary twin-turbocharged 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine. The nameplate was revived in 2019 with the fifth-generation (A90) Supra, co-developed with BMW.
TÜV
"We were importing parts from Germany. We were building our cars to look, stretching tires, which is a tooth thing. That's why it started was because the tires couldn't stick out. But we were doing all these things to emulate what you guys were doing."
The ultra-strict government-approved safety inspection agency in Germany. If you want to change anything on your car in Germany, even the wheels or suspension, it has to be tested and approved by this agency, or your car can be confiscated.
The TÜV (Technischer Überwachungsverein) is a network of German organizations that validate the safety and compliance of vehicles, components, and modifications. In German car culture, 'TÜV approval' is a notoriously strict regulatory hurdle that every modified car must pass to be legally driven on public roads.
Audi Quattro
"... I'm the king of scope creep. I had an Audi Coupe Quattro that I was going to build into a 500 horsepower d..."
The Audi Coupe Quattro is a classic sports car from the 1980s made by the German company Audi. It is famous for being one of the first sporty cars to use all-wheel drive, which helps it grip the road in slippery conditions.
The Audi Coupe Quattro is a legendary sports coupe from the 1980s that popularized all-wheel drive in passenger and rally cars. It is highly revered by enthusiasts for its turbocharged five-cylinder engine, boxy fender flares, and historic dominance in the World Rally Championship. It is discussed as a holy grail for vintage Audi collectors.
Audi RS2 Avant
"The other day, went for a nice drive in the RS2. It was a spirited one, hit some canyon roads. Everything was great."
A special, fast station wagon from the 1990s that Audi built in collaboration with Porsche. It is famous for having Porsche parts and a powerful five-cylinder engine.
The Audi RS2 Avant is a legendary high-performance wagon co-developed with Porsche and built from 1994 to 1995. Powered by a highly tuned 2.2-liter turbocharged inline-five engine producing 311 horsepower, it established Audi's famous 'RS' high-performance brand and featured Porsche-branded brakes, wheels, and mirrors.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
"... little different there. So because I've seen the phantom. I've seen the phantom."
The Phantom is an extremely expensive, hand-built luxury car made by the British company Rolls-Royce. It is designed to offer the absolute highest level of comfort, quietness, and prestige for wealthy passengers.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is the ultimate expression of ultra-luxury motoring, serving as the flagship model for the legendary British marque. It is celebrated for its hand-crafted interior, whisper-quiet V12 engine, and unparalleled 'magic carpet ride' suspension. It is discussed as the absolute pinnacle of automotive luxury and prestige.
Volvo 240
"Then the Volto, the Volvo with the two Tess P100D engines, this has also a very high level of complete."
A classic, boxy Volvo from the 70s, 80s, or 90s known for being built like a tank. JP Kraemer modified one by stuffing powerful electric Tesla motors inside it.
The Volvo 240 is a classic Swedish passenger car produced from 1974 to 1993, famous for its boxy styling, legendary safety engineering, and bulletproof reliability. JP Kraemer's custom 'Volto' project is a heavily modified 240 wagon retrofitted with dual Tesla electric motors.
BMW M2
"...d that. We built a 140i. Okay. But the body of an M2, but it has the hatchback. So it's a wide body. S..."
The BMW M2 is a small, high-performance two-door sports car made by the German company BMW. It is designed to be fast, loud, and highly responsive for drivers who love sporty driving.
The BMW M2 is a high-performance compact coupe that serves as the entry point to BMW's dedicated 'M' division. It is highly regarded for its muscular wide-body styling, powerful turbocharged inline-six engine, and agile rear-wheel-drive handling characteristics. It is discussed as a modern interpretation of classic, compact BMW performance.
BMW Z3
"...he hatchback. So it's a wide body. So it's like a Z3. Yeah. But in the modern world, it has a 1000 hor..."
The BMW Z3 is a small, two-seat sports car made by the German company BMW in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was sold as a convertible or a unique hatchback coupe designed for fun, sporty driving.
The BMW Z3 is a retro-styled roadster and coupe produced from 1995 to 2002, famous for its agile handling and classic sports car proportions. The coupe version, often called the 'clown shoe' due to its shooting-brake hatchback shape, has become a highly prized collector's item. It is discussed for its unique styling and engaging, analog driving dynamics.
Volkswagen Golf Mark II
"All right. So a car that's one of my favorite that you built, just because I feel like it's really unique and is the golf, the Mark II golf."
A classic, boxy Volkswagen hatchback from the late 80s and early 90s that is incredibly popular to modify and customize.
The second-generation Volkswagen Golf (Mk2), produced from 1983 to 1992, is a cornerstone of European hatchback culture. It is highly favored by enthusiasts for its lightweight chassis, simple mechanical layout, and its adaptability to high-performance engine swaps.
VR6 engine
"Yeah. But I remember when I looked at it, I was really disappointed that it had a basically a stock VR6 in it. Not anymore. But at the time it did."
A special engine made by Volkswagen that squeezes six cylinders into a very tight space, giving small cars a lot of power and a very distinctive, growling exhaust sound.
The VR6 engine is a unique internal combustion engine configuration developed by Volkswagen, featuring six cylinders arranged in a narrow-angle (15-degree) V-shape under a single cylinder head. This compact design allowed Volkswagen to package a smooth, powerful six-cylinder engine into front-wheel-drive engine bays originally designed for four-cylinders.
Chevrolet Corvette
"...problems mean, because you're telling me with the corvette, right? Right now. So yeah, man, smacking this an..."
The Corvette is a famous two-seat sports car made by the American company Chevrolet. It is designed for high speed and sporty driving, featuring a sleek look and a powerful engine located behind the seats.
The Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic American sports car that transitioned to a mid-engine layout with its eighth generation (C8) to compete directly with European supercars. It is highly discussed for offering supercar-level performance, handling, and styling at a fraction of the price of its competitors. The model remains a benchmark for affordable high performance.
Ford RS200
"Don't ever meet your heroes. Unfortunately, this applies to cars too. As my buddy, Ken Block discovered when he bought his Ford RS 200. To say it politely, the suspension sucked."
A rare, futuristic-looking race car built by Ford in the 1980s for the wild and dangerous 'Group B' rally racing class.
The Ford RS200 is a mid-engine, four-wheel-drive sports car built by Ford of Europe from 1984 to 1986 to comply with Group B rally homologation rules. It features a fiberglass body designed by Ghia and a turbocharged Cosworth BDT engine, making it one of the most iconic rally cars of its era.
Porsche 911 (993)
"I got together with the daughter of the boss of the Porsche dealership. So my ass was in a 993, 996, 996, very early."
A specific version of the Porsche 911 built in the mid-1990s. It is highly prized by collectors because it was the last model to use an air-cooled engine instead of a modern water-cooled one.
The 993 generation of the Porsche 911, built from 1994 to 1998, is highly revered as the final generation of the air-cooled 911s. It introduced a new multi-link rear suspension and refined styling, making it a highly sought-after modern classic.
Volkswagen Kid
"...ht I'd own a 911. Like I was really happy being a Volkswagen kid. I was like stoked to have a Mark one."
The ID. Buzz is a fully electric van made by the German company Volkswagen. It is designed to look like a modern, futuristic version of the classic VW hippie bus from the 1960s.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an all-electric van that pays homage to the iconic retro styling of the classic Type 2 Microbus. Built on VW's dedicated electric platform, it combines nostalgic design elements with modern EV technology, spacious seating, and versatile cargo space. It is discussed as a highly anticipated lifestyle vehicle.
BMW M3 (E46)
"Done. And then you sit in the 46 M3. First of all, acceleration takes time. My foot is long on the pedal."
A highly celebrated high-performance BMW sports coupe from the early 2000s, famous for its incredible handling and high-revving six-cylinder engine.
The E46 generation BMW M3, produced from 2000 to 2006, is widely considered one of the greatest driver's cars of all time. It is powered by the legendary S54 3.2-liter naturally aspirated inline-six engine, which revs to a screaming 8,000 RPM.
BMW E46
"...drive somewhere, I enjoy it. But when you look in E46, when you have even the big navigation system, wh..."
The BMW 3 Series is a small luxury sedan and coupe made by the German company BMW. The older version from the late 1990s and early 2000s is highly loved by car fans for being very fun and smooth to drive.
The E46 generation of the BMW 3 Series, produced from 1997 to 2006, is widely regarded by enthusiasts as one of the finest compact executive cars ever built. It is celebrated for its near-perfect weight distribution, timeless design, and engaging driving dynamics that set the benchmark for modern sport sedans. It is often discussed as a high-water mark for mechanical driver connection.
Toyota Gt86
"... like that's a community anymore. There's the the GT86, like there's the, you know, BRZ, whatever. There..."
The Toyota GT86 is a small, sporty two-door car. It is designed to be fun and easy to drive fast around corners, rather than having a massive, high-power engine.
The Toyota GT86 (developed jointly with Subaru) is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe designed to prioritize handling and driver engagement over raw horsepower. It is highly praised in the car community for its affordable price, low center of gravity, and pure, analog driving feel. It is discussed as a modern classic that revived the affordable sports car segment.
Toyota Prius
"It's like the mid-auts, right? The Prius was all anyone cared about from Toyota. They didn..."
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid car made by the Japanese company Toyota that uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to save fuel. The mid-2000s version is a practical hatchback known for its reliability and very low fuel consumption.
The second-generation Toyota Prius, popular in the mid-2000s, revolutionized the automotive industry by bringing hybrid technology into the mainstream. It became a cultural icon of eco-consciousness, praised for its exceptional fuel efficiency and aerodynamic hatchback design. It is often discussed as the vehicle that defined the modern hybrid segment.
Ford Mustang
"... mean, the Raptor is cool, but like Ford, we have Mustang, but like there's nothing else."
The Ford Mustang is a sporty, two-door car made by the American company Ford. It is famous for its powerful engine options, aggressive styling, and long history as an affordable performance vehicle.
The Ford Mustang is a legendary American pony car that entered its seventh generation (S650) for the 2024 model year, retaining its classic rear-wheel-drive layout and available V8 engine. It remains a focal point of Ford's enthusiast lineup, offering modern digital displays alongside traditional muscle car performance. It is discussed as one of the last remaining traditional, gas-powered muscle cars on the market.
F-150 Raptor
"...h, we don't really have Ford cars. So I mean, the Raptor is cool, but like Ford, we have Mustang, but like..."
The F-150 Raptor is a large, high-performance pickup truck made by the American company Ford. It is specially built with heavy-duty suspension to drive fast over rough off-road terrain and sand dunes.
The Ford F-150 (specifically the high-performance Raptor variant) is a full-size pickup truck designed for high-speed off-road desert running. It features a specialized long-travel suspension, massive all-terrain tires, and aggressive styling, making it a highly desirable enthusiast truck. It is discussed as a dominant force in the performance truck market.
Audi RS6 Avant
"...g they thought the Americans wanted. And then the RS6 Avant came here and it was selling like 40 over sticker..."
The RS6 Avant is a very fast, high-end station wagon made by the German company Audi. It is designed to carry a family and their luggage while performing like an exotic sports car.
The Audi RS6 Avant is a high-performance luxury station wagon that combines supercar-level acceleration with family-friendly utility. It gained legendary status in North America when Audi finally imported the C8 generation, prompting massive enthusiast demand and high dealer markups. It is discussed as the ultimate 'do-it-all' vehicle for car enthusiasts.
Audi R8
"...ce moment in the early 2000s. The B5, the TT, the R8, right? Really kind of set them, right?"
The Audi R8 is a very fast, high-end supercar made by the German company Audi. It is famous for its sleek design, loud engine located behind the driver, and for being easy to drive every day compared to other supercars.
The Audi R8 is a mid-engine supercar that served as Audi's flagship performance halo car, sharing its platform and high-revving V10 engine with Lamborghini. It is celebrated for bringing everyday usability and refined German engineering to the exotic supercar segment. It is discussed as a modern classic that defined Audi's performance image in the 2000s.
Audi RS4
"And it was this great place. And then we got the RS4 later in 2007. And then they just kind of got, an..."
The Audi RS4 (specifically the 2007 version) is a high-performance version of Audi's compact luxury sedan. It features a powerful V8 engine and all-wheel drive, making it fast and stable in all weather conditions.
The B7 generation Audi RS4, introduced to North America in 2007, is a legendary sport sedan powered by a high-revving, naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine. It is celebrated for its Quattro all-wheel-drive system, manual transmission, and aggressive wide-body styling. It is discussed as one of the greatest mechanical performance sedans of its era.
Tesla Cybertruck
"... And obviously a lot of people are saying there's Cybertruck influence and all these other things."
The Cybertruck is a large, electric pickup truck made by the American company Tesla. It is easily recognized by its futuristic, sharp-edged design and shiny, unpainted metal body.
The Tesla Cybertruck is an all-electric, light-duty pickup truck featuring a highly unconventional, angular stainless-steel exoskeleton. It is a frequent topic of discussion due to its polarizing design, advanced steer-by-wire technology, and its influence on modern automotive styling trends. It represents a radical departure from traditional truck design.
Audi Sport Quattro
"But in our heads, we were thinking sport quattro. So like it was such a like we walked in the room thinking boxy and awkward in a sexy way."
A very rare, shortened version of the classic Audi Quattro built in the 1980s so Audi could race it in the wild Group B rally championship.
The Audi Sport Quattro is a legendary road-going homologation special built in limited numbers (just over 200 units) in 1984 to qualify Audi's Group B rally car. It featured a significantly shortened wheelbase compared to the standard Quattro, carbon-kevlar body panels, and a powerful turbocharged 2.1-liter inline-five engine.
Audi RS5
"...ample, and now I'm very open. They brought me the RS5, the new one. And I like the design."
The Audi RS5 is a very fast, high-performance version of Audi's luxury coupe or sportback. It is designed to look aggressive and go very fast while keeping the driver comfortable.
The Audi RS5 is a high-performance luxury vehicle that combines aggressive styling with everyday usability. The latest generation features advanced hybrid performance technology and Audi's signature Quattro all-wheel-drive system for exceptional grip and speed. It is discussed for its striking design and impressive grand touring capabilities.
torque vectoring
"No, no, no, we got to do it. No, no, no, no, no. How much is still going to the front? Yeah. But we got the talk vectoring. No."
A smart computer system in modern cars that sends different amounts of power to the left and right wheels when turning, helping the car steer around corners much more sharply.
Torque vectoring is an advanced automotive technology that dynamically varies the torque sent to each drive wheel. By sending more power to the outside wheel during a turn, it helps rotate the vehicle, reducing understeer and significantly improving cornering performance.
Audi S8
".... I mean, just to go back, the reason that the D2 S8 was built as an all-aluminum car was because it w..."
The Audi S8 (specifically the older 'D2' model) is a large, fast luxury sedan made by the German company Audi. It was built using lightweight aluminum and featured a powerful engine, designed to carry passengers quickly and quietly.
The D2 generation Audi S8, produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was a high-performance luxury flagship featuring an innovative all-aluminum spaceframe chassis to reduce weight. It gained legendary status for its understated styling, Quattro all-wheel drive, and its starring role in the action movie *Ronin*. It is discussed as a classic example of an understated, high-performance executive sedan.
Mercedes-Benz Sclass
"was because it was heavier than a 7 Series. It was heavier than an S-Class. So they had to throw all this technology to make it as good as what BMW and Mercedes was offering."
The S-Class is a large, high-end luxury sedan made by the German company Mercedes-Benz. It is designed to offer the ultimate in passenger comfort, smooth riding, and advanced technology.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the brand's flagship luxury sedan, historically serving as the pioneer for cutting-edge automotive safety, comfort, and driver-assistance technologies. It is frequently referenced as the gold standard of executive transport against which all other luxury cars are measured. It is discussed for its supreme refinement and heavy, solid road presence.
Hyundai Genesis
"...re you have things like the magma and coming from Genesis. Kia, I think, has some of the better designs on ..."
Genesis is a luxury car brand created by the South Korean company Hyundai. They make high-end sedans and SUVs designed to offer premium comfort and technology at a competitive price.
Originally introduced as a premium sedan under the Hyundai brand, Genesis has since spun off into its own successful luxury brand. It is highly regarded for offering world-class luxury, striking designs, and advanced technology that directly challenges established European luxury marques. It is discussed for its rapid rise in the premium automotive segment.
Hyundai Elantra
"...'ve tell people this all the time, I would buy an Elantra N over a new GLI or whatever. It's just a better ..."
The Hyundai Elantra N is a special, high-speed version of Hyundai's everyday Elantra sedan. It is modified with a louder exhaust, a more powerful engine, and sporty suspension to make it fun to drive on racetracks.
The Hyundai Elantra N is a high-performance variant of Hyundai's compact sedan, developed by their 'N' performance division. It has received rave reviews for its track-ready handling, punchy turbocharged engine, and highly engaging driving dynamics at an affordable price point. It is discussed as a superior alternative to traditional sport compacts.
Tesla Model
"...r companies are in the same place with, like, the Tesla model, where they're in a regular store."
The Model Y is a fully electric, mid-sized SUV made by the American company Tesla. It is designed for families, offering a spacious cabin, a glass roof, and high-tech features controlled by a single large touchscreen.
The Tesla Model Y is an all-electric compact crossover utility vehicle that has become one of the best-selling vehicles globally. It is discussed for its minimalist interior, impressive electric range, and Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales model that bypasses traditional dealership networks. It serves as the benchmark for modern mass-market electric vehicles.
Dodge Viper
"...e car culture will be saved by the Chinese. Dodge Viper is out there for a long time. Show me."
The Dodge Viper is a high-performance sports car made by the American company Dodge. It is known for having an extremely large, powerful ten-cylinder engine and a reputation for being challenging and exciting to drive.
The Dodge Viper is an iconic American sports car produced across five generations from 1992 to 2017, famous for its massive V10 engine and lack of driver aids in early models. It is celebrated in car culture for its raw, uncompromising performance and aggressive, low-slung design. It is discussed as a legendary, driver-focused machine that represents a bygone era of automotive engineering.
Porsche Taycan
"... or after work, on a hard day, and I'm driving my Taycan home, this is the best car for me to drive home."
The Taycan is a high-end, fully electric four-door car made by the German company Porsche. It is designed to be very fast, comfortable, and quiet, making it a relaxing car to drive daily.
The Porsche Taycan is an all-electric luxury sports sedan that represents Porsche's first production electric vehicle. It is highly praised for its exceptional handling, rapid 800-volt charging capability, and its ability to deliver a true Porsche driving experience without tailpipe emissions. It is discussed as an ideal, relaxing daily driver that doesn't sacrifice performance.
Audi Etron
"Ages very well. And the E-tron GT, or the RC E-tron GT are two of the best new sedan designs that have come out of Germany in the past 10 years."
The e-tron GT is a high-end, fully electric four-door luxury car made by the German company Audi. It is designed to look futuristic and sporty while providing a fast, quiet, and comfortable ride.
The Audi e-tron GT is an all-electric grand touring luxury sedan that shares its high-performance platform with the Porsche Taycan. It is highly praised for its striking, low-slung design, rapid charging capabilities, and composed handling. It is discussed as one of the most beautiful and well-proportioned modern German sedan designs.
Porsche Cayenne
"The... For example, the new Cayenne is the best EV car I drove so far. Really?"
The Cayenne is a luxury SUV made by the German company Porsche. It is designed to combine the spaciousness of a family utility vehicle with the fast, sporty handling of a sports car.
The Porsche Cayenne is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV that successfully blended sports-car performance with utility when it debuted, saving Porsche from financial ruin. The latest generation features highly advanced plug-in hybrid powertrains that offer impressive electric-only driving dynamics. It is discussed as one of the best-handling and most technologically advanced SUVs on the market.
Smart Electric Smart
"I was an early adopter for EV. I bought an electric smart car, mostly because it was just easy to get aroun..."
The Smart Electric Drive is a tiny, two-seat electric car made for driving and parking in crowded cities. It runs entirely on battery power and is much smaller than a typical compact car.
The Smart Electric Drive is an all-electric version of the ultra-compact two-seat city car. It was designed specifically for urban environments, offering exceptionally easy parking and maneuverability, though its driving range was quite limited. It is discussed in the context of early electric vehicle adoption and urban mobility.
Hyundai Ioniq
"...ack, I could get myself in trouble. I then had an Ioniq from Hyundai. Yeah."
The Hyundai Ioniq is a practical, fuel-efficient hatchback made by the South Korean company Hyundai. It was sold with hybrid or fully electric motors to help drivers save money on fuel.
The original Hyundai Ioniq was a dedicated eco-car platform offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric hatchback. It was designed to compete directly with the Toyota Prius, offering impressive efficiency and practical packaging. It laid the groundwork for Hyundai's modern, highly successful 'Ioniq' sub-brand of electric vehicles.
Volkswagen Egolf
"But then I just found myself gravitating back to just regular cars. Just last night, I was looking at an E-Golf because I couldn't believe how cheap they were. And I was looking at one literally just to do like..."
The e-Golf is a fully electric version of the classic Volkswagen Golf hatchback. It looks and drives like a normal small family car, but runs entirely on battery power instead of gasoline.
The Volkswagen e-Golf is an all-electric version of the popular seventh-generation Golf hatchback, sold in the late 2010s. It is highly regarded as a used purchase because it retains the excellent build quality and practical packaging of the standard Golf while offering a quiet, zero-emission drivetrain. It is discussed as an incredibly affordable entry point into electric vehicle ownership.
Ferrari 812 Super Fast
"...e and then you start stupid questions, the thing, 812 super fast is the one that's not in front of the building. I..."
The 812 Superfast is an extremely fast and expensive sports car made by the Italian company Ferrari. It has a very powerful twelve-cylinder engine located in the front of the car and is designed for high-speed travel.
The Ferrari 812 Superfast is a front-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer powered by a screaming, naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. It represents one of the final iterations of Ferrari's traditional, non-hybrid V12 flagship sports cars, celebrated for its breathtaking acceleration and handling. It is discussed as a pinnacle of front-engine supercar engineering.
Ford Bronco
"...t they built and it was a truck competed with the Bronco. I don't know."
The Ford Bronco is a rugged, boxy SUV made by the American company Ford. It is built for driving on rough dirt trails and off-road paths, and its roof and doors can be taken off for open-air driving.
The modern Ford Bronco is a mid-size, body-on-frame SUV designed specifically for serious off-road capability to compete directly with established rugged 4x4s. It features retro-inspired styling, removable doors and roof panels, and advanced terrain management systems. It is discussed for bringing a fun, open-air off-road experience back to the Ford lineup.
Ford Fiesta
"Right. Like a Ford fiesta in America just didn't translate. No."
The Fiesta Active is a small hatchback made by the American company Ford, designed with a slightly higher ride height and plastic body trim to look like a tiny SUV. It was sold in Europe but not in North America.
The Ford Fiesta Active is a rugged, crossover-inspired version of Ford's popular subcompact hatchback, featuring a raised ride height, protective body cladding, and roof rails. While successful in Europe, small hatchbacks like the Fiesta struggled to find a market in North America, leading to their discontinuation there. It is discussed in the context of vehicles that didn't translate well to the US market.
Ford Maverick
"...wanted to do a kind of as a joke and build an old Maverick, which is not a sexy car, but we ended up going b..."
The original Ford Maverick was a small, budget-friendly car sold by Ford in the 1970s. It was built to be simple and cheap to run, rather than fast or luxurious.
The original Ford Maverick, produced in the 1970s, was a compact car designed to be an affordable, fuel-efficient import fighter during the fuel crises of the era. Though not traditionally considered a highly desirable collector car, it has gained a niche following for custom builds and restomods. It is discussed in the context of building unique, budget-friendly vintage projects.
Chevrolet Nova
"...t that point. So it was like, I don't remember my Nova. I was like, it needs to be like, all right."
The Chevrolet Nova is an older American car made by Chevrolet, most famous for its models from the 1960s and 1970s. It was originally a simple family car, but many people now modify them to be fast muscle cars.
The Chevrolet Nova was a popular compact and mid-size car produced across several generations from the 1960s to the 1970s. It is highly sought after in classic car culture, particularly the third-generation muscle car variants, for its lightweight chassis and compatibility with powerful V8 engines. It is discussed as a popular platform for vintage restoration and performance builds.
Lucid Air
"...like bread van with like an LS in it, like on, on air, like it's just ridiculous."
The Lucid Air is a premium, fully electric luxury sedan made by the American company Lucid Motors. It is designed to travel very long distances on a single battery charge while offering a quiet, spacious, and modern cabin.
The Lucid Air is a luxury all-electric sedan known for its industry-leading driving range, ultra-efficient electric motors, and spacious interior. It is discussed as a major technological achievement in the EV space, offering high-end luxury and exceptional performance. It represents a serious American competitor in the premium electric vehicle market.
Porsche 911 Turbo (964)
"Probably, I mean, mine. I actually would say like, I think I own my favorite 911, which is the 964 Turbo, right?"
A powerful, turbocharged version of the Porsche 911 from the early 1990s, famous for its wide rear fenders and classic 'whale tail' spoiler.
The 964 generation Porsche 911 Turbo, produced from 1990 to 1994, updated the classic 930 Turbo design with improved aerodynamics and a refined chassis. It initially featured a 3.3-liter turbocharged flat-six engine before upgrading to a highly desirable 3.6-liter version in 1993.
Audi A5
"but that's like like, Audi A5, right? And with this big gas tank,"
The Audi A5 is a luxury car made by the German company Audi. It is designed to offer a comfortable, smooth ride with a high-quality interior and good fuel range for long trips.
The Audi A5 is a premium compact executive vehicle that has transitioned to represent Audi's core combustion-powered sedan and Avant lineup under their new naming strategy. It is discussed for its elegant styling, refined ride quality, and efficient long-range fuel capacity. It serves as a stylish and practical daily driver.
Chrysler New Yorker
"...the guys I met in that era. But it also like as a New Yorker, like you grew up in New York. You were told that..."
The Chrysler New Yorker was a large, comfortable luxury car made by the American company Chrysler for many decades. It was designed to offer a smooth, quiet ride with lots of interior space.
The Chrysler New Yorker was a premium luxury car produced from 1940 to 1996, serving as Chrysler's flagship model for decades. It is remembered for its large dimensions, plush ride comfort, and distinctive styling eras, ranging from chrome-laden tailfins to boxy 1980s luxury. It is discussed in the context of classic American luxury cruisers.
Toyota Hilux
"... he did this whole thing on the, you know, on the Hilux, which reminded me sort of like how bad can you d..."
The Toyota Hilux is a mid-sized pickup truck made by the Japanese company Toyota. It is famous around the world for being incredibly tough, reliable, and almost impossible to break.
The Toyota Hilux is a mid-size pickup truck sold globally (outside North America) that has earned a legendary reputation for near-indestructible durability and reliability. It is frequently used in extreme environments worldwide, from polar expeditions to active conflict zones. It is discussed as the ultimate symbol of automotive toughness.
Land Rover Discovery
"... my 911 to my RS2, I even have a custom set in my Land Rover Discovery. And yes, that bloody thing does finally run."
The Land Rover Discovery is a large, rugged SUV made by the British company Land Rover. It is designed to carry families comfortably while being able to drive through deep mud, water, and rough terrain.
The Land Rover Discovery is a mid-size luxury SUV renowned for its exceptional off-road capability and distinctive stepped roofline. While highly capable and comfortable, older generations are notorious among enthusiasts for their complex mechanical and electrical issues. It is discussed in the context of rugged adventure vehicles that require dedicated maintenance.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.