Unnamed Automotive Podcast
Unnamed Automotive Podcast
Updated 6 days agoEvery week automotive journalists Benjamin and Sami review cars and get weird, and funny, and honest, about the automotive industry.
Are you the creator? Claim this podcast
Episodes (470)
Episode 234: 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, What Modern Cars Will Be Collectible?
Benjamin is surprised to discover that the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most laid-back member of the Hell-pack after driving the massive SUV for a week. Sami tries to figure out how a supercharged V8 with 710 horsepower could ever be referred to as 'low-key.' The pair then discuss a listener question about what to do with a modern car that might one day become a collectible classic.
Episode 233: 2021 Ford Mustang GT Convertible CS, 2021 Jaguar F-Pace, Trailer Batteries For EV Pickups
How much would you pay for a louder stereo and some stickers? That's the question asked by the 2021 Ford Mustang GT California Special, and Sami is here with his answer. Benjamin then uses the 2021 Jaguar F-Pace as a springboard to discuss the brand's decision to go all-electric and boost prices to Bentley levels by 2025. Finally, the pair wrap things up with a listener suggestion about EV batteries in your trailer to sold the electric pickup charging problem.
Episode 232: 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Plug-In Hybrid, IROC Porsche Book Review
A plug-in Wrangler is finally here, and Benjamin and Sami both get behind the wheel to try and make sense of the 2021 Jeep Wranger 4xe. Is the world ready for silent running on the off-road trail? Benjamin also reviews 'The Iroc Porsches,' a beautifully illustrated book that takes a deep dive into the first season of the International Race of Champions and the Porsche 911 RSR that ran it.
Episode 231: 2021 BMW 330e, 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, Interview With Fast and Furious 9 Writer, Listener Questions
Is the 2021 BMW 330e a worthy addition to the 3 Series line-up, or does its plug-in hybrid drivetrain subtract from its performance leanings? Sami spends a week behind the wheel to find out. Meanwhile, Benjamin drives the 'other' Bronco, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, to see how far it rises above its Escape crossover roots. The pair wrap things up by discussing behind-the-scenes details from Benjamin's interview with Fast 9 screenwriter Daniel Casey, before Sami brings up a listener question about the best non-luxury sport sedans of today, and of all-time.
Episode 230: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2021 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring PHEV
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is perhaps the most polarizing electric car on the road today, and Benjamin finally gets a chance to spend time behind the wheel of the Mustang-that-maybe-isn't. Sami also samples a battery-assisted automobile, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring PHEV, and discovers that more power doesn't always balance out what's lost in the process.
Episode 229: 2021 Aston Martin DBX, 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant, Listener Questions
Benjamin drives the 2021 Aston Martin DBX and explains why the British brand's first ever SUV actually seems to make sense. Sami and Benjamin then discuss who the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant is built for, and why a super-wagon alternative to the crossover craze is a much-needed antidote on the modern market. Finally, the pair answer a listener question about why modern cars imprison their drivers behind tiny windows.
Episode 228: 2022 Ford Maverick Pickup, 2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2021 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, BMW M3 M4 Book Review
The 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup has gone public, and Benjamin and Sami each dig in to the details of this front-wheel drive hybrid mini-truck. Benjamin then discusses his surprising affinity for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator, claiming it's at least the equal of several more expensive full-size luxury SUVs, followed by Sami's comparison of the wild-looking 2021 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and the more reserved 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The pair wrap things up with a book review of the fantastic "BMW M3 & M4: The complete history of these ultimate driving machines" by Graham Robson.
Episode 227: 2021 Kia Carnival, 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Listener Questions
The 2021 Kia Carnival is an all-new minivan that tries to bridge the gap between comfortable family cruiser and legitimate luxury vehicle, depending on how much money you want to spend. Sami sets it up against the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica to see how well it pulls off its fancy dance. Benjamin returns to an old favorite, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, on the even of the Mk 7's disappearance from the American market. Is it as good as he remembers, and what does the future of the now-splintered hot hatch segment look like? Finally, the pair answer listener questions about Mustangs in the winter and Boxsters in the future, while also dissecting the latest press release weirdness from BMW.
Episode 226: 2021 Polestar 2, 2021 GMC Terrain, 99 Cent Nissan Leaf Lease
The 2021 Polestar 2 is the first all-electric luxury car from Volvo's boutique brand. Benjamin gets his neck snapped in two by its instant-on torque so he can talk about head bobbles, underwhelming interiors, and the chances that Polestar can lure away Tesla buyers. Sami then takes a historical detour into the SUVs of GMC's past with the 2021 Terrain, a trucklet that's dying for a refresh. Finally, the pair ask whether it's worth leasing a Nissan Leaf for 99 cents if it comes with one enormous catch.
Episode 225: Guest Chad Kirchner, 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe, Learn EV, Ford F-150 Lightning EV Pickup
Sami and Benjamin welcome back friend of the show Chad Kirchner from EV Pulse to talk about the site's new Learn EV feature, and then the trio rip into the over-the-top details of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe and the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup—two ridiculously powerful vehicles from very different sides of the tracks.
Episode 224: 2021 Mazda CX-9, 2021 Kia Telluride, 2021 Toyota Highlander, 1970 Maximum Muscle Book Review
Is the 2021 Mazda CX-9 a stealth luxury SUV at a much more affordable price? Benjamin certainly seems to think so, especially after trading in the Acura MDX in favor of the older, yet somehow better Mazda design. Sami also works out a comparison between two SUVs: the 2021 Toyota Highlander and the newer 2021 Kia Telluride challenger, and discovers that Toyota fans might not be shopping around before making their pick. The pair also review the book '1970 Maximum Muscle,' which dives deep into the pinnacle of muscle car power and pegs that particular year as the apex of big cubic inches.
Episode 223: 2022 Acura MDX, 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD, Ford Explorer Timberline, 2022 Honda Civic
Benjamin offers a counterpoint to Sami's past drive of the 2022 Acura MDX SUV by asking why anyone would pick this particularly hauler over any other premium crossover. Sami loves the look and feel of the 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD but questions just how well its drivetrain stands up to direct competitors like the Toyota Camry. The pair wrap things up with a look at the new (off-road) Ford Explorer Timberline and the redesigned 2022 Honda Civic.
Episode 222: 2021 BMW M5 Competition, 2021 Infiniti QX55, Best Era For Driver's Cars
The 2021 BMW M5 Competition might be the perfect luxury sedan, if crushing power and four-door track performance are your thing. Benjamin argues that as impressive as the car is, 90 percent of buyers would be just as well served by the also-fantastic BMW M550i xDrive. Sami dives into the 2021 Infiniti QX55 SUV, and while he loves the looks inside and out he's not so sure Infiniti makes a compelling argument as to why the QX55 should be picked out of a very deep premium crossover field. Finally, after a lengthy rant about the 'waterfall capital of Canada,' the pair answer a listener question about the best era for driver's cars.
Episode 221: 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor, 2021 Nissan Kicks, Off-Roading
Is the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor a hardcore off-roader that can keep up with the Tacoma TRD Pro and the Colorado ZR2? Benjamin heads into the mud to get the answers. Meanwhile, Sami spends time with the all-new 2021 Nissan Kicks SUV to see if it's still his favorite affordable hauler (even if the next-generation price tag is a little bigger than before). Plus: bonus Nissan Micra talk.
Episode 220: 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Hellcat Truck, 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS
The Hellcat truck is finally here, and Benjamin gets to bounce around off-road in the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX while flexing its mud-covered 702 horsepower all over Montreal. So why isn't he super excited about the most over-the-top pickup truck ever built? Sami tracks down shooting stars in the headliner of the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost while expressing his intense anxiety about parking a car that costs half a million dollars. The pair wrap things up by talking about the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz mini-truck and the surprisingly boring 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS EV.
Episode 219: 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2021 Genesis G80, Weird Ford Explorer Talk
Is the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander a carbon-copy of its Nissan Rogue platform-mate, or does it stand as a legitimate alternative despite all of its shared bits and pieces? Sami is pleasantly surprised by Mitsubishi's latest small SUV. Benjamin goes road-tripping in the 2021 Genesis G80 sedan, and discovers that good things still come in sedan packages, especially when it comes to upstart luxury brands. Finally, the pair try to decide who, exactly, is the customer for the new stripped-down version of Ford's high performance Explorer ST sport-utility vehicle.
Episode 218: 2021 Lexus IS 300 AWD, 2021 Cadillac Escalade Super Cruise Super Test
Sami questions Benjamin's sanity as he develops more-than-like feelings for the 2021 Lexus IS 300 AWD, an entry-level luxury sedan that his co-host had previously decried as a missed opportunity for the brand. The pair then attempt to answer the question of whether Cadillac's new Super Cruise assisted driving system is even worth having in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV if it doesn't constantly irradiate rear seat riders with radar of questionable utility.
Episode 217: 2021 Genesis GV80, 2022 Genesis GV70, 2022 Genesis G70, In-Car Radar, Dodge Viper Book Review
Benjamin finally spends time with the 2021 Genesis GV80, a vehicle poised to put other luxury SUVs on notice as the Korean brand colonizes its most important segment to date. Things go completely off the rails, however, when Sami reveals that the upcomign 2022 Genesis GV70 SUV and refreshed G70 sedan come with an in-car radar system to spy on the backseat, combined with a fingerprint reader to do...something? After picking apart the absurdities of the automotive surveillance state, and calculating just how safe rear seat radar might be for those with pacemakers and lazy eyes, the pair review the book 'Dodge Viper - The full story of the world's first V10 sports car," by David Zatz.
Episode 216: 2021 Volvo S60 T5, 2021 Lexus RX 450h, Jeep Grand Wagoneer Thoughts
The 2021 Volvo S60 T5 is a premium sedan in a world gone over almost completely to crossovers, and Sami and Benjamin get deep with just how surprising its past decade has been for a brand that few would have thought would still be in the luxury conversation so many years later. Benjamin then startles Sami by singing the praises of the 2021 Lexus RX 450h, a hybrid SUV that would seem to be the anti-enthusiast machine—which is exactly the point, as Benjamin points out. The pair wrap things up with their thoughts on the production Jeep Grand Wagoneer as well as the cost of electricity as it informs EV buying decisions.
Episode 215: 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec, 2021 Nissan Sentra
The 2021 Nissan Sentra tries harder than it has in the past 10 years to win the hearts and minds of compact car shoppers, but Sami tried to figure out if it's done enough to blow past very good rivals like the Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Elantra. Benjamin is puzzled by the 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec, a sport sedan that doesn't seem to fit in to the traditional luxury market and which might be waiting for the Type S trim before it truly makes sense.
Bonus Episode - Bradley Brownell Talks Radwood, Rad4Sale, Autopia 2099, and Hybrid Porsche Boxster EV Project
We speak with guest Bradley Brownell who brings us the latest on the Radwood car show series, the new 80s/90s online automotive auction site Rad4Sale, and his plans for an all-new series of EV-focused car shows called Autopia 2099 that will debut later in 2021. We also get in deep with his dual-engine Porsche Boxster hybrid track car, which is just as wild as it sounds.
Episode 214: 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0, 2021 Cadillac CT4, Volvo Sells Electric Cars Online-Only
Benjamin's wait is finally over as the 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 arrives in his driveway just in time for a deep freeze and a snowy blizzard. That doesn't stop him from taking it up into the mountains and putting it through its paces so he can finally form his own opinion after all of the hype. Sami spends his week with the 2021 Cadillac CT4 to try and figure out where the entry-level machine fits in with the luxury mothership's plans. Finally, the pair disagree about the wisdom of Volvo choosing to only sell its EVs online, and what that means for the future of new car dealerships.
Episode 213: 2022 Acura MDX, 2021 Toyota Venza, Honda S2000 Book Review, First Car Questions Part II
Does the 2022 Acura MDX go far enough to push past the excellent crop of mid-size SUVs out there, or does it settle for more of what returning Acura customers are looking for? Sami spends a week behind the wheel to find out. Benjamin ends up puzzled by the 2021 Toyota Venza, a vehicle that should feel like its RAV4 Hybrid platform-mate but comes across with a radically different character. The pair wrap things up with a review of a fascinating reference book about the Honda S2000, as well as answer a listener question about what would be a good, fun, and affordable first car.
Episode 212: 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge, 2021 Kia Soul EV, 2021 Lexus NX 300, Listener Question About Fun First Cars
The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is the Swedish brand's very first all-electric vehicle, and the most powerful version of the XC40 SUV to date. Benjamin dives in to the good and the bad about driving this high-end EV during winter's bitter cold, and compares it against the much cheaper 2021 Kia Soul EV's performance under the same conditions. Sami gives his impressions of the aging, but still interesting 2021 Lexus NX 300 crossover before the pair answer a listener question about the best cheap-and-fun four-door first car.
Bonus Episode - Lightning Round - Subaru Wilderness Brand, 2021 Chevrolet Bolt, 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2022 Audi e-tron GT, 2021 Kia K8, 2021 Honda HR-V Hybrid, 2021 Porsche 911 GT3, McLaren Hybrid Supercar
Benjamin and Sami hit you with a Lightning Round bonus episode talking about this week's massive new car drop, including the Subaru Wilderness Brand, 2021 Chevrolet Bolt, 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2022 Audi e-tron GT, 2021 Kia K8, 2021 Honda HR-V Hybrid, 2021 Porsche 911 GT3, and the McLaren Hybrid Supercar