The Toyota MR2 Return, Driving a Kia for Canada Only, The 2nd Generation Seltos, and Why Car Seat Design Matters
About this episode
Exciting developments in the automotive world take center stage as the team discusses the potential return of the Toyota MR2, the unveiling of the new Kia Seltos, and the unique features of the Kia EV4. Insights into the latest headrest technology from Nissan highlight the importance of comfort and safety in car design. The episode also delves into the current state of Formula 1, including driver performances and the implications of recent rule changes. With a mix of industry news and personal experiences, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the automotive landscape.
Kia Seltos
"So kicking things off Kia this week has unveiled. Well, they keep calling it the new Kia Seltos, or the next generation."
The Kia Seltos is a small SUV made by the Korean automaker Kia. It’s known for its roomy interior and good value.
The Kia Seltos is a compact crossover SUV that Kia has recently updated, offering new styling and features for the 2024 model year.
dual 12.3-inch screens
"And this has the dual 12.3. I think it is inch screens under one panel, like pretty much all the vehicles have."
The car has two big touchscreens inside the dashboard that show speed, maps, music, and other information. They’re larger than most car screens.
The dual 12.3‑inch screens refer to the two large digital displays inside the vehicle’s dashboard—one for the instrument cluster and one for infotainment. They provide a modern, high‑resolution interface for navigation, media, and vehicle settings.
2026 Kia EV4
"I came back from Spain to drive the 2026 Kia EV4. Now for American listeners, you're probably like,"
The Kia EV4 is a small electric car that looks like a crossover. It has a battery instead of gasoline and can drive about 250 miles on one charge, depending on the version.
The 2026 Kia EV4 is a compact electric crossover SUV that debuted as part of Kia’s new electric lineup. It features a modern interior, advanced driver‑assist technologies, and a range of powertrains tailored for different markets.
hybrid
"So that means it's obviously not ready for launch. And like I said, this is supposed to be a somewhat early launch."
A hybrid car runs on both gasoline and electricity, so it can use less fuel than a regular gas car.
A hybrid vehicle uses both an internal‑combustion engine and one or more electric motors to power the car. The system switches between or combines these power sources for better efficiency.
turbocharger
"I can't imagine it's going to be the one six turbo hybrid that's in the Santa Fe."
A turbocharger is a device that squeezes more air into the engine so it can burn fuel more efficiently, giving the car a boost in power.
A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine that compresses air entering the engine, increasing power output without significantly raising engine size.
Sonata
"[439.1s] Yeah. I think that the Sonata is a little over 200 horsepower right around 200."
The Sonata is a car made by Hyundai that people use for everyday driving. It can have different kinds of engines, like a regular gasoline engine or a hybrid that uses both gas and electric power.
The Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size sedan that has been offered with various powertrains, including hybrid and plug‑in options. It is a popular model in many markets for its balance of space, efficiency, and price.
destination pricing
"But it's way bigger. Yeah. And I also want to point out that that is free destination pricing."
When a car is sold, sometimes extra money is added to cover the cost of getting it from the factory to you. That extra charge is called destination pricing.
Destination pricing is a fee added to the base price of a vehicle to cover shipping, handling, and delivery costs to the buyer’s location.
Toyota Leaf
"I think it drives a lot better than the leaf."
The Leaf is a small car that runs only on batteries, not gasoline. It’s known for being affordable and easy to drive in cities.
The Toyota Leaf is a compact all‑electric hatchback that debuted in 2010 and has become one of the most popular electric vehicles worldwide.
Hyundai EV6
"But from the profile, which you described, it looks like an EV6 up until the back doors. It looks like one of those cars or someone tried to put their own pickup bed on it, but it doesn't fit."
The Hyundai EV6 is a small electric car that looks like a sporty SUV. It runs on batteries instead of gasoline.
The Hyundai EV6 is a compact all-electric crossover SUV introduced in 2021, known for its sleek design and advanced battery technology.
Toyota MR2
"[1058.1s] There's been the long-rooted MR2 or MRS or MR or whatever the trademarked a million names to I guess keep us guessing. [1065.1s] That's allegedly coming for sure."
The MR2 is a small sports car made by Toyota that sits in the middle of the car, giving it good balance and fun driving. It was sold for many years and is still loved by car fans.
The Toyota MR2 is a lightweight, mid‑engine sports coupe produced from 1984 to 2007. It’s known for its balanced handling and distinctive design, popular among driving enthusiasts.
C8 Corvette
"So with an article saying like it could be C8 Corvette money, which is a lot."
The C8 Corvette is a very fast and expensive car from Chevrolet. People talk about it when they want to compare how much another car costs or how fast it is.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 is the eighth generation of the iconic American sports car, featuring a mid‑engine layout and high performance. It’s often used as a benchmark for price and power in the sports‑car market.
Toyota Celica
"[1204.1s] And I mean, we also know as Celica is coming."
The Celica is a small, sporty car made by Toyota that was popular in the 80s and 90s. It’s known for being fun to drive because it’s light and agile.
The Toyota Celica is a compact sports coupe produced from 1970 to 2006, known for its lightweight chassis and balanced handling.
Toyota 86
"[1213.1s] Of like, you know, the 86 should be below."
The 86 is a small, sporty car that’s fun to drive because it’s light and turns well. It shares its engine with a Subaru model.
The Toyota 86 (also known as the GT86 or Subaru BRZ) is a lightweight, rear‑wheel drive sports coupe introduced in 2012, praised for its balanced handling.
mid engine
"Like this is going to be a probably a lightweight high powered rear drive mid engine."
Mid engine means the car’s engine is located in the middle of the vehicle, between the front wheels and the back wheels. This helps the car handle better.
A mid‑engine layout places the engine between the front and rear axles, typically behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle. This configuration balances weight distribution and improves handling.
rear drive
"Like this is going to be a probably a lightweight high powered rear drive mid engine."
Rear drive means the car’s engine pushes power to the back wheels. This makes the car more fun to drive, especially in sporty cars.
Rear‑wheel drive (RWD) refers to a drivetrain layout where power is sent to the rear wheels. It offers better balance and traction in performance cars.
Lotus Evora
"But the Evora used a Toyota V6 and was basically a grown up mid engine."
The Evora is a sporty car made by Lotus. It sits in the middle of the car, which helps it handle well.
The Lotus Evora is a mid‑engine sports car produced by British manufacturer Lotus from 2008 to 2016, featuring a lightweight chassis and high‑performance handling.
headrest technology
"So one of the things we're going to talk about today is headrest technology. Sort of how it's changed over the years."
Headrests are the small supports behind your seat that keep your head from moving too far back if a crash happens. New designs let you adjust how high or low they are and use special foam that can compress safely when a car hits something.
Headrest technology refers to the design and features of seat headrests in vehicles, including adjustable height, angle, cushioning materials, and integrated safety mechanisms like energy‑absorbing foam or collapsible structures that help protect occupants during collisions.
back set
"Yep, so the back set is obviously that key, you know, that feeling difference that the customers will often point out going from one to another vehicle."
Think of the seat’s back as a cushion that can tilt forward or backward. The right angle helps keep your back comfortable and safe if the car hits something.
The "back set" refers to the angle and position of a seat’s backrest relative to the driver’s torso. It influences how the seat supports the spine and distributes forces during a collision.
inflection points
"We target very specifically to optimize that back set so that it remains safe, but also to give that customer feeling and a lot of that has to do with positioning the surface profiles and the inflection points."
Think of the seat as having a bend where it meets the back. That bend helps spread out impact forces so you’re less likely to feel a hard hit.
Inflection points are the spots on a seat where the curvature changes, such as where the backrest meets the seat cushion. They affect how forces are transferred during a crash.
surface profiles
"We target very specifically to optimize that back set so that it remains safe, but also to give that customer feeling and a lot of that has to do with positioning the surface profiles and the inflection points."
Imagine a seat that has bumps or smooth areas. Those shapes help the seat fit your body better and feel more supportive.
Surface profiles describe the shape and contour of a seat’s surface where it contacts the driver. Adjusting these shapes can change how pressure is distributed across the body.
Nissan
"I have a question because great kind of teed this off already of, you know, there are speakers in the backs of some of Nissan and Infiniti's headrests."
Nissan is a car company from Japan that makes many different kinds of cars, like small city cars and big SUVs. They’re a well-known brand worldwide.
Nissan is a Japanese automaker known for producing a wide range of vehicles, from compact cars to SUVs and trucks. The brand has a long history in both consumer and commercial markets.
Infiniti
"I have a question because great kind of teed this off already of, you know, there are speakers in the backs of some of Nissan and Infiniti's headrests."
Infiniti is the fancy, high-end brand that Nissan uses for its luxury cars and SUVs. Think of it as Nissan’s premium line.
Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury vehicle division, offering premium sedans, SUVs, and crossovers with upscale features and performance-oriented engineering.
F1 season
"[2269.1s] Hello, and welcome back... The F1 season is over."
Formula One, or F1, is a top-level racing competition where drivers race very fast cars on tracks around the world. Each year has its own season of races.
The Formula One season refers to the annual series of international motor races that make up the FIA World Championship for Formula One cars.
Red Bull
"[2286.1s] Helmut Marcos out at Red Bull."
Red Bull is a company that makes energy drinks and also owns a racing team in Formula One. They are famous for their high‑energy marketing.
Red Bull is an Austrian sports and entertainment company best known for sponsoring the Red Bull Racing Formula One team.
Cadillac
"And that's not happening because Cadillac already wants to be a future Formula One drive for them."
Cadillac is a fancy car brand from General Motors that makes luxury cars and trucks.
Cadillac is a luxury vehicle brand owned by General Motors, known for high-end sedans and SUVs.
Yas Marina
"and he wasn't in the top 10 for any of those three days. Again, it's just testing"
Yas Marina is a race track in Abu Dhabi where big races like the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are held.
Yas Marina Circuit is a motorsport venue in Abu Dhabi, hosting Formula One and other racing events.
Spark EV
"I'm from Spark EV. So I can never say the name. But Canadian built a charger."
Spark EV makes chargers you can plug into your home to charge electric cars.
Spark EV is a Canadian company that manufactures electric vehicle charging stations.
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.