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The NEW Audi A2, the Morris Marina, innate optimism

The NEW Audi A2, the Morris Marina, innate optimism

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About this episode

The hosts kick off with life-on-the-road talk—fuel prices, EV charging sponsor updates, and a practical approach to range using Waze in an MG4. They then dive into data and durability, citing an MOT analysis that highlights huge differences in corrosion failure rates across models. Kit-car culture gets a spotlight with Tim Dutton’s return and the Phaeton 5. Alpina’s BMW-era relaunch is debated too, including whether it risks becoming “just a trim level.” The second half shifts to a rebuilt 205 GTI rally car, wheel-curbing pet peeves, and why analog-style dials still feel premium.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Brand

Anderson

"It's sponsored by Anderson, our friends at Anderson who make premium electric car chargers. They're very design focused, really good looking things."

Anderson is the company sponsoring the show. They make home electric car chargers and are pitching their service and design as part of the deal.

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Concept

Intelligent Octopus Go tariff

"And if you sign up to the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, you can get six months or 4,000 miles free charging on orders placed with Anderson after the 1st of March."

This is an electricity pricing plan for EV charging. The idea is to charge when power is cheaper, and the hosts say there’s a limited-time offer that gives you free charging credit if you sign up and order through the sponsor.

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Term

diesel

"Because you look out the window and see diesel at close to two quid a shot. Yeah, I saw somebody filling up, a friend of mine was filling up with..."

Diesel is a type of fuel used by some cars. They’re talking about how expensive it is right now, which makes people think more about alternatives like EV charging.

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Term

V-Power Petrol

"Was it V-Power Petrol at 2.20 or something the other day? Really?"

V-Power Petrol is a premium grade of petrol sold under a brand name. They’re using it to talk about how much fuel costs when someone fills up.

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Renault Twingo
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Renault Twingo

"Richard was very kind the other day when he was talking about my review of the Renault Twingo."

The Renault Twingo is a small car made by Renault, designed mainly for city driving. It’s easy to park and get around in tight spaces. Here, the hosts mention it because someone recently reviewed one.

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Concept

car history checking companies

"I stumbled across something moderately interesting. Says John, one of those car history checking companies has analyzed three million MOT test results"

These are services that look at lots of past records about cars. By combining many inspections, they can spot which models usually have certain problems, like rust.

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Term

MOT test results

"one of those car history checking companies has analyzed three million MOT test results to find out things such as, which car has the most failures for rust?"

In the UK, an MOT is a yearly safety and emissions check for cars. If a company studies lots of MOT results, it can show which cars tend to fail for common problems, like rust.

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Term

rust

"to find out things such as, which car has the most failures for rust? Hmm."

Rust is when metal starts corroding and breaking down due to moisture and salt. It can make a car less safe and can lead to it failing inspections. Here, they’re using MOT data to show which cars rust more often.

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Dacia Duster
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Dacia Duster

"I'm afraid the much lauded Dacia Duster is near the top of the oxide list"

The Dacia Duster is a compact SUV. In this segment, it’s mentioned as being near the top of a list for rust-related problems found in MOT test data. Rust can start small but can get costly if it spreads.

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Suzuki SX4
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Suzuki SX4

"Anyway, I've clicked on the link. And the 2011 Suzuki SX4 diesel has corrosion related defects in over 71% of MOT tests."

They’re talking about a 2011 Suzuki SX4 diesel and saying rust/corrosion shows up a lot when the car is inspected for roadworthiness. If you’re buying one, you’d want to check for rust carefully before committing.

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Term

corrosion related defects

"And the 2011 Suzuki SX4 diesel has corrosion related defects in over 71% of MOT tests. Phew."

This means the car has rust problems that show up in inspection. Rust can weaken parts of the car, so it’s treated seriously during MOT checks.

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Concept

MOT tests

"And the 2011 Suzuki SX4 diesel has corrosion related defects in over 71% of MOT tests. Phew. I know. The 2019 Ford Fiesta has a 0.18 defect rate for rust."

In the UK, an MOT is a yearly check to make sure a car is safe and legal to drive. If a website says a model fails MOTs often for rust, that’s a warning sign for buyers.

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Ford Fiesta
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Fiesta

"The 2019 Ford Fiesta has a 0.18 defect rate for rust. Really? What a different, what an astonishing difference."

They’re using a 2019 Ford Fiesta as a comparison point, saying it has a very low chance of rust-related problems showing up in its MOT. It’s basically a “this one seems better on rust” example.

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Concept

MOT mentions of corrosion

"“55,000 occurrences of MOT mentions of corrosion in Dusters.” [358.6s] OK."

In the UK, cars have an MOT test to check they’re safe to drive. If rust/corrosion shows up in MOT results, it gets recorded, and people can count how often it happens for certain car models.

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BMW 320 2017 diesel
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW 320 2017 diesel

"“...amazing stuff, like the BMW 320 2017 diesel 0.2% defect rate.” [381.1s] Wow."

They’re talking about a 2017 BMW 320 diesel and saying it has a very low rate of corrosion-related problems showing up in the data they looked at. It’s basically a way to compare how rust issues differ between models/years.

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Concept

defect rate because of corrosion

"“...BMW 320 2017 diesel 0.2% defect rate.” [404.5s] “So there's a big old difference, isn't there,”"

They’re using a percentage number to describe how often corrosion problems show up in inspection records. It’s a useful comparison tool, but it doesn’t guarantee what any single car will be like.

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BMW 116
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW 116

"“...2016, so 10 years old BMW 116 has a 0.33 defect rate [402.2s] because of corrosion.”"

They mention a BMW 116 from around 2016 and say its corrosion-related defect rate is higher than the newer BMW 320. The takeaway is that age and exposure can make rust problems show up more often.

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Concept

corrosion defect rates

"We analyzed 3,142,385 MOT tests to rank corrosion defect rates. [444.6s] Wow."

“Corrosion defect rates” means how frequently cars show rust-related problems in inspection results. If a model has a high rate, it’s more likely to develop rust as it gets older.

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Topic

Grand Tour

"And I think, isn't it Francis Bourgeois, the new Grand Tour fellow? ... Yeah, I think that's who it is."

The Grand Tour is a car TV show. The hosts are talking about who’s appearing on it, not about a particular car.

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Concept

The return of Dutton Kit cars

"[664.7s] and I don't think we've... [666.1s] I don't think we've talked about it, [669.0s] correct me if I'm wrong. [670.7s] The return of Dutton Kit cars."

A “kit car” is a car you buy in parts and then build yourself (or have someone build it for you). When a podcast talks about the “return” of a kit-car brand, it usually means the company or its cars are becoming relevant again—either new kits, new production, or renewed interest.

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Concept

track prepped

"If you've got a car that looks track prepped or modded or whatever, sometimes you just look at a glance and go, hang on a minute,"

A “track prepped” car is set up for driving on a race track. It usually has upgrades and safety gear so it can handle faster driving and harder braking without falling apart.

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Term

cage

"And this Dutton had a cage, the right sort of cage and set up, that looked like it was a proper track."

A “cage” is a roll cage inside the car. It’s there to make the cabin stronger and help protect you if the car gets into a serious accident.

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Mclaren 570
Mr.choppers (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Mclaren 570

"Was it next to a McLaren 570 or something like that?"

“McLaren 570” likely means the McLaren 570S, a modern supercar. The host is basically saying the Dutton looked like it belonged in the same track crowd as cars like that.

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Term

screw stickers

"And it was covered in screw stickers, and you could see the..."

This sounds like stickers that are attached more permanently than normal decals. It’s part of the “lived-in” track-car look the speaker is describing.

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Term

repaired fiberglass

"There were bits of repaired fiberglass where it obviously had an argument with somebody in a corner."

“Repaired fiberglass” means some of the car’s fiberglass body parts were damaged and then fixed. Track cars often get scuffs or cracks, and fiberglass is a common material for repair.

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Concept

track incident / "argument in a corner"

"where it obviously had an argument with somebody in a corner. But not a... you know, just a sort of friendly argument, not a pig."

They’re basically saying the car has been through a minor on-track scrape or bump. The repairs make it look like a real track car that gets used, not a show-only car.

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Term

engine

"It was busting to know what the engine was,"

They’re excited to find out what engine the car has. On track cars, the engine choice and tune can be a major part of why it feels fast and how it behaves on track.

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Term

individual vehicle approval

"Yeah, you can still do individual vehicle approval. And depending on which..."

Individual Vehicle Approval is an inspection process for cars that aren’t built in the usual factory way. An authority checks that the finished car meets safety and legal requirements before it can be registered.

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Concept

centre you go to

"From memory, depending on which centre you go to... Because I think when you build an aircraft..."

They’re saying that where you take the car for approval can affect how the process goes. Different offices can have different procedures or expectations.

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Concept

IVA scene

"And I think it depends on who you meet [812.5s] in the IVA scene as to how... [819.9s] how encouraging they want to be. [822.2s] Like, maybe they get a vibe [823.0s] depending on who's going..."

In the UK, some cars—especially kit cars—have to be individually checked and approved before they can be driven on the road. The “IVA scene” is basically the group of people who help others understand that approval process.

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Concept

grand master of kit cars

"...you can get individual vehicle approval. [827.6s] So Tim Dutton has described [831.0s] the grand master of kit cars [832.8s] and has unveiled his first new kit car"

They’re praising Tim Dutton as a major, long-time figure in the kit-car hobby. It’s basically saying he’s one of the most influential people in that community.

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Concept

amphibious car

"then decided he would like to buy an amphibious car. Oh, the Dutton Aquada. Yeah."

An amphibious car is made to go on roads and also move in water. It needs special sealing and a way to push itself through water—otherwise it would just take on water and stall.

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Car

Dutton Aquada

"then decided he would like to buy an amphibious car. Oh, the Dutton Aquada. Yeah."

The Dutton Aquada is a rare kind of car that can drive on roads and also move through water. It’s not a normal “car that can ford a puddle”—it’s built with systems to actually propel itself on water.

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Volkswagen Phaeton
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Volkswagen Phaeton

"[901.5s] was a Phaeton. [902.6s] Yes. [903.0s] I couldn't tell you which..."

The Volkswagen Phaeton is a big, luxury car from Volkswagen. It was meant to feel like a top-tier premium sedan, even though it wasn’t sold in very large quantities.

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Mazda Mx5
MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mazda Mx5

"[922.7s] maybe it was John Evans [923.3s] who wrote this. [924.0s] Anyway, it's based on a Mark III [925.1s] Mazda Mx5 [927.0s] which is quite a popular donor"

The Mazda MX-5 is the Miata, a lightweight roadster. “Mark III” just means one particular generation of that car, and saying something is based on it usually means it uses the MX-5’s underlying parts.

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Concept

donor car

"[925.1s] Mazda Mx5 [927.0s] which is quite a popular donor"

A “donor car” is basically the car you take parts from. People like using popular donor cars because their parts are easier to get and swaps are more straightforward.

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Concept

kit car magazine

"He runs his own Kit Car magazine. Yeah, TKC, I think."

They’re referencing a magazine for kit cars, which are cars you build from a kit. People in this hobby often reuse parts from other cars to make the project cheaper and easier.

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Company

TKC

"He runs his own Kit Car magazine. Yeah, TKC, I think."

TKC is mentioned as the name of a kit-car magazine. It’s likely a place where kit-car builders share advice and information.

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Concept

track kit customer

"[963.5s] That's it, yeah. [963.6s] A track kit customer. [964.5s] Hello, Steve, if you're listening. [966.1s] He writes..."

This sounds like a person who buys a kit (or kit parts) mainly to drive on a race track. Track-focused builds usually aim for better grip and braking, not just everyday comfort. It’s a clue about the customer’s intended use.

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Concept

Kit Car industry

"[966.1s] He writes... [967.1s] He's another hero [968.1s] of the Kit Car industry. [969.1s] He's great. [969.8s] Yeah, I like Steve a lot."

A kit car is a car you buy as parts, then build yourself (or pay someone to build it). The “kit car industry” is the community of companies and people who make and sell those kits. It’s often how enthusiasts get into unusual or track-focused cars.

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Brand

Alpina

"[983.1s] Yeah. [986.5s] Alpina? [988.4s] Yeah. [988.7s] What do we know [989.9s] about the return of Alpina?"

Alpina is a company that takes BMWs and makes them faster and more special. It’s not just a cosmetic package—Alpina usually changes how the car drives. “Return of Alpina” means they’re coming back in some way, like to a market or lineup.

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Company

Bovenseepens

"You know, was this the family called Bovenseepen? The Bovenseepens, yeah, who are still involved in cars because they've unveiled their own version of a four-series, I think."

The host mentions a family or company that makes very limited-run, special cars. The exact name is a bit unclear here, but the idea is that they’re doing custom, small-batch work.

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Concept

coach-building

"So they're going to do a bit more low-volume, coach-building stuff as their next project."

Coach-building means making cars in a more custom, handcrafted way—usually in small numbers. Instead of a factory building everything the same, specialists tailor the body and details.

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Company

Max Mussoni

"but they've hired this excellent designer called Max Mussoni, who was previously at Polestar."

Max Mussoni is a car designer. The hosts are saying BMW hired him, and they mention he previously worked at Polestar, so he likely influences the look and feel of what BMW is planning.

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Company

Polestar

"who was previously at Polestar. Yeah. And he was responsible for all that,"

Polestar is a brand that makes electric cars. The hosts are using it as a clue about the designer’s background and the kind of modern, clean design style he’s associated with.

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Term

Scandinavidians

"all those extremely nice, shapely, clean-looking, Scandinavidians"

They’re basically describing a Scandinavian design look—simple, clean, and not overly flashy. The point is that the cars/designs they’re talking about have a modern, tidy style.

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Brand

Tesla

"You can launch a new car company because Tesla sells a lot of cars from a standing start. Yeah. I mean, it's taken 15 years, but they sell a lot of cars."

Tesla is a car company that started fresh and still managed to sell a lot of cars. The point they’re making is that new brands can succeed, but it usually takes a long time to get going.

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Concept

launch a new car company from a standing start

"You can launch a new car company because Tesla sells a lot of cars from a standing start. Yeah. I mean, it's taken 15 years, but they sell a lot of cars."

This phrase means starting a car brand almost from zero—no big history or established customer base. Even if the company succeeds later, it often takes years to build the cars, production, and demand.

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Brand

BYD

"Yeah. And there are other brands like BYD that are brand new and sell a lot of cars. Yeah."

BYD is a newer car brand that has grown fast and sells a lot of cars. They’re mentioning it to show that even brand-new companies can become big players.

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Brand

Volvo

"I think if you own a name like Volvo, would they have had this conversation internally and go on, do we launch a new brand or do we just..."

Volvo is a major Swedish automaker with a strong brand identity around safety and, more recently, electrification. Here, Volvo is used as the example of a legacy brand whose internal strategy might influence whether a new sub-brand (like Polestar) is launched.

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Concept

launch a new brand

"do we launch a new brand or do we just... Because a lot of what the Polestar stands for..."

This is the question of whether a car company should make a brand that stands on its own, or just treat it like part of the existing brand. A separate brand can be harder for people to understand at first, but it can also make the product feel more distinct.

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Term

petrol cars

"also, you know, Alpenas have been potent petrol cars."

“Petrol cars” means vehicles powered by gasoline (internal combustion) rather than electric or hybrid power. The hosts’ wording suggests the “Alpenas” have a reputation for being energetic or performance-oriented in a traditional combustion sense.

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Term

EV era

"Here we are in the EV era. You know, is that what's what's the case for an Alpena EV?"

“EV era” just means the time when more cars are electric instead of gas. Automakers are changing how they build and sell cars to match that shift.

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Brand

Alpenas

"because my favourite Alpenas are 3-series sized, but I suppose they've gone mobile that we're relaunching Alpena as a performance sub-brand, but it's about elegant performance and quietness."

They’re talking about “Alpenas” like it’s a performance brand or sub-brand. The point is that it’s meant to feel refined and quiet, not just loud and sporty.

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Term

M-Sport versions

"if they launched that on a 3-series, they do M-Sport versions of 2-series, 3-series, 5-series."

“M Sport” is BMW’s sporty trim package. It usually makes the car look and feel more performance-oriented, even if it’s not the full high-performance “M” cars.

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Term

clear air

"So maybe, actually, they need to set the clear air"

“Clear air” here sounds like they mean “make things clearer” or “set a clean starting point.” It’s not a specific car part—more of a discussion about how to frame the idea.

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Brand

M-Sport BMWs

"And you, because, as you say, there's the M-Sport BMWs already in. Yeah. What's that about?"

M-Sport is BMW’s performance branding that usually means a sportier version of a BMW—more aggressive look and driving feel. The hosts are basically asking why there are already M-Sport BMWs if another performance label is coming.

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Concept

access to designs and technical information well in advance of a car going into production

"[1365.4s] gave them access [1366.3s] to designs [1367.9s] and technical information [1369.4s] well, well in advance [1370.4s] of a car going into production."

They’re talking about giving suppliers or partners information early—before the car starts being built in large numbers. When people plan with the right details ahead of time, it’s easier to avoid mistakes and last-minute changes. That usually makes the production launch smoother.

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BMW 320D
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW 320D

"[1372.1s] Yeah. [1372.3s] And there was a time [1373.0s] when the D3 [1374.8s] basically just rolled down [1375.8s] the three-series, [1376.9s] 320D production [1378.5s] line"

A BMW 320d is a BMW 3 Series car that uses a diesel engine. The “320d production line” means the factory line where that car is built. They’re saying that line didn’t need many updates for a while.

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Mclaren F1
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mclaren F1

"I mean, they provided the engine for the McLaren F1. Mm-hmm."

The McLaren F1 is a famous, very high-performance supercar. The point here is that it wasn’t built in isolation—its engine came from a major partner, showing how big companies team up to make top cars.

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Concept

image thing

"It's a... I wonder if it's an image thing"

They’re basically saying the companies might be doing it to look good. Sometimes partnerships are about reputation—so people associate the brand with performance or prestige.

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

BMW 7 Series

"So, yes, it's going to be the 7 Series and X7. We'll be a heavily overhauled later this year in line with BMW's strategy of rolling out its new class of design and technology elements. ...asked if Alpenas would also offer EVs, given the 7 Series is offered with both combustion and electric power."

The BMW 7 Series is BMW’s top-of-the-line luxury car. Here they’re saying BMW plans to offer it with both traditional gas power and electric power, depending on the version.

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BMW X7
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW X7

"So, yes, it's going to be the 7 Series and X7. We'll be a heavily overhauled later this year in line with BMW's strategy of rolling out its new class of design and technology elements."

The BMW X7 is BMW’s large luxury SUV, positioned above the X5 and aimed at buyers who want space plus high-end features. The hosts group it with the 7 Series as part of BMW’s upcoming design/technology overhaul and electrification direction.

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Concept

EVs

"And apparently, asked if Alpenas would also offer EVs, given the 7 Series is offered with both combustion and electric power. BMW Group R&D chief Joachim Post"

EVs are cars that use electricity from a battery instead of relying on a gas engine. They’re asking whether the new “Alpenas” model family will also come in an electric version.

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Concept

combustion and electric power

"asked if Alpenas would also offer EVs, given the 7 Series is offered with both combustion and electric power. BMW Group R&D chief Joachim Post"

This phrase means BMW is planning cars that can use gas engines and also electric options. The point is that the same model line may come in different powertrain versions.

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Company

BMW Group R&D chief Joachim Post

"given the 7 Series is offered with both combustion and electric power. BMW Group R&D chief Joachim Post"

Joachim Post is BMW’s top person for research and development. When he’s mentioned, it usually means the talk is about BMW’s future plans for technology and powertrains.

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Concept

modifying existing cars

"And... I can't help wondering whether somebody of that talent... with the talent to create whole cars, whether it isn't slightly lesser job to just be modifying existing cars."

They’re talking about two ways people can work on cars. One is designing a car from scratch, and the other is taking an existing car and changing it. The discussion is about whether those are equally “big” jobs.

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Concept

create whole cars

"And... I can't help wondering whether somebody of that talent and, you know, with the talent to create whole cars, whether it isn't slightly lesser job to just be modifying existing cars."

They mean building a car as a complete project, not just changing parts of an existing one. That usually involves a lot more engineering work, planning, and testing.

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Term

body kits

"[1504.4s] a job given to a sort of junior designers, [1506.6s] to design body kits [1507.6s] and wheel types"

A body kit is extra exterior parts added to a car to change how it looks. It can also affect how the car sits and how the wheels fit under the fenders.

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Term

wheel types

"[1506.6s] to design body kits [1507.6s] and wheel types [1508.6s] and, you know,"

Wheel types just means different kinds of wheels—like different designs and sizes. Changing wheels can change how the car drives and whether everything fits correctly.

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Concept

facelift

"[1512.2s] Shush it up a bit for... [1514.5s] a facelift. [1515.6s] Maybe they're trying to,"

A facelift is when a car gets a refresh partway through its life. Think of it like a “new look” and some updated features, but it’s usually not a totally new car.

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Term

0-60 in under 7 seconds

"We each had to pick a dog-friendly car, even though neither of us has a dog that could do 0-60 in under 7 seconds and 40 to the gallon, I think."

“0-60” is how fast a car can go from standing still to 60 mph. If it’s under 7 seconds, it’s pretty quick for normal road driving.

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Term

40 to the gallon

"...even though neither of us has a dog that could do 0-60 in under 7 seconds and 40 to the gallon, I think. Yeah, that was it."

“Miles per gallon” tells you how far the car can go on one gallon of fuel. “40 to the gallon” means it’s getting excellent fuel economy.

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Alpina B3
The Essex car spotter (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Alpina B3

"what would I drive every day? Probably an Alpina B3. Wow."

The Alpina B3 is a BMW-based car that’s been upgraded for stronger performance. It’s designed to be a daily driver, not just a weekend sports car. The podcast mentions it because it’s the kind of car someone would choose to use every day.

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Concept

head-to-head section

"...because when Sam Phillips, who runs our head-to-head section, said... lads, argue about these two, find a car and argue about it."

A “head-to-head” is a direct comparison between two cars. It’s meant to make it easier to see which one makes more sense for different needs.

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Concept

hold their value

"And they seem to hold their value, like three or four-year-old one, was still 80, I think."

“Hold their value” means a car keeps a high resale price over time instead of depreciating quickly. The hosts use this idea to argue that these newer/desired Audi A2 variants remain expensive even after a few years.

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Term

alloy wheels

"they ride quite nicely because they work on that quite heavily, but they do fit very big alloy wheels. Great-looking alloy wheels."

Alloy wheels are lighter wheels than the usual steel ones. Lighter wheels can feel nicer to drive, but if they’re paired with big wheel sizes, the ride can get bumpier on bad roads.

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Concept

fiscal potholes

"Oh, well, if the numbers rolling, maybe it doesn't matter. You can just wait till their fiscal potholes. Yes, exactly."

They’re using “potholes” to mean money surprises. With cars, that could be unexpected costs like repairs or other expenses that show up later.

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Term

ride quality

"Yeah, I've not got a much experience of the modern ones... And you were right about the the ride quality, because they handle very well, but still very flat ride."

Ride quality is how smooth and comfortable the car feels when the road isn’t perfect. You can have great handling but still feel stiff or “flat” over bumps, depending on setup.

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Term

run flat tires

"Yeah, and there was that time when BMW were running run flat tires, and the ride wasn't brilliant."

Run-flat tires are tires that can keep you driving for a short distance even if they get punctured. Because of their stiffer design, they can make the ride feel firmer than normal tires.

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Company

Michelin Pilot Sport

"And Alpina were fitting everything with Michelin Pilot Sport, whatever they were at the time, and they rode much more nicely."

Michelin Pilot Sport is a brand/model of sporty tires. The point here is that switching to these tires made the car feel more comfortable, even though the car still handled well.

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Part

springs

"well, we do this to the springs, that to the dampers, and finally, tires, tires, tires."

Springs are what help the car soak up bumps. If you change the springs, the car can feel softer and more comfortable—or firmer and more controlled.

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Part

dampers

"well, we do this to the springs, that to the dampers, and finally, tires, tires, tires."

Dampers are the shock absorbers that control the motion of the suspension. They help stop the car from bouncing after you hit a bump, making the ride feel smoother.

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Term

tires, tires, tires

"and finally, tires, tires, tires. And that was, you know, it was emphasized three times."

Tires aren’t just for grip—they also help smooth out the ride. If the tire has a thinner sidewall (lower profile), the car usually feels harsher over bumps.

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Concept

maintain the demarcation

"It'll be very interesting to see whether they can maintain the demarcation that has existed between the family and the company."

They’re talking about keeping a clear separation between two groups or identities. In car terms, that can affect how the brand feels to customers—like whether it’s still run in a more personal, traditional way.

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Concept

electric technology

"“...the problem we have is that there’s electric technology, there’s plug-in hybrid technology...”"

Electric technology means the car is powered by electricity from a battery. It’s different from hybrids and from regular gas engines.

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Concept

plug-in hybrid technology

"“...there’s electric technology, there’s plug-in hybrid technology, there’s internal combustion technology.”"

A plug-in hybrid is a car that uses both electricity and gasoline. You can charge it at home, and it can sometimes run on electric power by itself for a while.

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Concept

internal combustion technology

"“...there’s plug-in hybrid technology, there’s internal combustion technology.”"

Internal combustion just means the traditional gasoline or diesel engine. It’s the kind of engine that makes power by burning fuel.

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BMW iX
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW iX

"...they had invested it all in, say, an iX or an i5, and nobody really wanted an electric Alpina..."

The BMW iX is BMW’s all-electric SUV. It’s expensive to develop and build, so the hosts are using it as an example of a big investment that might not pay off if demand isn’t there.

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BMW i5
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW i5

"...they had invested it all in, say, an iX or an i5, and nobody really wanted an electric Alpina..."

The BMW i5 is BMW’s electric 5 Series. The point here is that if a company puts too much money into EVs and people don’t want them, it can be a costly mistake.

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Concept

legislative stuff of going

"...they were very worried about the legislative stuff of going, well, there was a time when BMW itself accidentally fitted the wrong ECU..."

Car makers have to follow different rules depending on where they sell the cars. The hosts are saying that regulation risk can make companies hesitant to invest heavily in certain products.

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Term

ECU

"...BMW itself accidentally fitted the wrong ECU to a number of cars, sold them elsewhere with effectively the wrong ECU for the wrong market..."

ECU stands for Electronic Control Unit, the computer that manages engine and emissions-related behavior. The hosts are describing a compliance problem where BMW allegedly used the wrong ECU calibration for the market, leading to regulatory penalties.

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Topic

Nürburgring

"So the, there are some great old Alpina classics, aren't there? Is that, that, you know that Nurburgring, no, hang on, I'm thinking wrongly."

The Nürburgring is a famous German motorsport circuit often used as a benchmark for car performance and handling. The speaker briefly brings it up, then corrects themselves, suggesting they were about to reference a racing/benchmark connection but decided it was the wrong one.

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Brand

AMG

"I was just thinking, I was about to attribute a, an AMG, original AMG car to Alpina. Oh yes."

AMG is Mercedes-Benz’s performance division, known for building high-performance engines and complete performance packages. The hosts mention “an AMG original AMG car” in the context of mixing up which brand made which classic, which is a common confusion because both Alpina and AMG are performance-focused German brands.

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Term

Six points range

"[1938.4s] Yeah, yeah. [1938.4s] They're kind of bad. [1940.2s] The big red ones. [1940.9s] Six points range. [1941.7s] Yeah."

That phrase is likely about money—how expensive the car is—rather than how the car works. When people talk about “six figures,” they mean the price is in the hundreds of thousands (or at least $100k+).

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Dodge Charger
Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Dodge Charger

"[1952.3s] do a very nice looking charger. [1954.2s] If you, [1954.8s] if you get in touch with them, [1955.7s] they'll give you a swatch so you can check [1957.8s] your color of house [1959.9s] against the color of charger you want."

They’re talking about a “charger” they can make in the color you want. The exact car model isn’t clear from this snippet, but it’s definitely about customizing the vehicle’s look.

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Concept

EV charger

"I have an, an Anderson-EV charger and had it, even before we were, they were involved with the pod. And, they did that very thing, just sent me color check."

An EV charger is what you use to charge an electric car’s battery. It controls how electricity is delivered so the car can safely charge. Different chargers can charge faster or slower depending on their power.

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Company

Neil Yates

"The thing that's interesting is being built by a bloke called Neil Yates at a, at a business called Rally Prep."

Neil Yates is the person credited with building the car. That usually means it’s been worked on by a specific expert, not just bought off the shelf.

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Company

Rally Prep

"The thing that's interesting is being built by a bloke called Neil Yates at a, at a business called Rally Prep."

Rally Prep sounds like a specialist shop that works on cars for rally-style driving or performance upgrades. The hosts are saying the car was built by someone at that kind of business.

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Concept

take delivery

"they've had the car out to, about to take delivery, but for various reasons, I haven't managed to get there."

“Take delivery” means the moment the buyer receives the car after it’s been prepared or completed. In car builds, delays between “ready” and “take delivery” can happen for logistics, paperwork, or scheduling reasons.

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