Wheel Bearings
https://wheelbearings.media
Updated 6 days agoWheel Bearings is a podcast about cars and transportation hosted by Sam Abuelsamid, Nicole Wakelin and Roberto Baldwin
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Episodes (462)
Wheelbearings Episode 61
This week Dan marvels at the stunning build quality of the beautifully sculpted Infiniti Q60 coupe (something Tesla seems fundamentally incapable of accomplishing). In discussing the Volvo V90, Sam demonstrates why auto journalists love wagons so much (bring on the new V60 please!). Then the guys dive into Ford's new product strategy and all of the upcoming hybrids, the refined new Ram 1500 and GM's call for higher-octane gasoline. Finally, Dan has a chat with Zach Bowman.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 60
Sam returns from duty as a judge at a FIRST Robotics competition and gives his impressions of the 2018 Toyota Camry. Dan finds himself surprisingly enamored with the Acura TLX A-Spec. Following the Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar i-Pace is officially on sale in Europe and coming to America soon. It will be followed by a pair of electric Porsches, the Mission E sedan and then the Mission E Cross Turismo. Ford patents a repair drone for its automated vehicles and guys dish out more car buying advice.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 59
This week Sam talks about and to the 2018 Lincoln Navigator while Dan shows some love to the auto journalist's special, the Volvo V90 in brown. The guys then discuss the production launch of the Jaguar i-Pace and some of the unique distinguishing features of the 2019 GMC Sierra including the available carbon fiber bed.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 58
Dan and Sam fired up the recorders late Friday night to marvel at the insanity that is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the combination of practicality and efficiency that is Hyundai's new Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid. Sam gives a primer on advanced driver assist systems in responses to comments on the Accidental Tech Podcast #261 and Waymo gets a license to operate an autonomous ride-hailing service in Arizona. Volvo launches its first three-cylinder engine. The demise of now former Ford executive Raj Nair shows that automakers may finally be getting serious about tackling harassment and bad behavior in the workplace. Finally, Sam responds to a listener tweet asking about car makers selling our data.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 57
In this week's rambling episode, Accidental Tech Podcast co-host Casey Liss returns to talk about his experience with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and compare notes with Sam. Sam also brings up his experience trying to drive the Giulia Quadrifoglio in the wake of a winter storm and Dan talks about the new Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid. The conversation then returns to the prior discussion Volvo's Sensus infotainment system and Casey's newfound frustrations with it. Dan is considering replacing his Crown Victoria with a Mazda6 and Casey is continuing to ponder the new Jeep Wrangler. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 56
The guys are back after failing to get our collective acts together last week. Dan drove the VW Beetle with a 2.0-liter turbo that makes as much power as many much smaller engines, while Sam drives a three-row utility that actually has room for humans in the back, the 2018 Dodge Durango GT. This week Sam records his end of the show from Chicago as he gets ready for the auto show there. Ford is making a little bit of news with a mid-cycle refresh of the Transit Connect that surprisingly adds a new diesel engine. The best promoter in the auto industry also made some news this week by launching his car into space and Sam goes on a rant about how meaningless the California autonomous vehicle disengagement statistics are.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 55
This week, Sam spends quality time with the Dodge Challenger GT AWD and comes away pleasantly surprised. Dan shares his appreciation of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport and its naturally aspirated engine. Mazda invited Sam to California to learn more about the upcoming SkyActiv-X engine and drive a prototype. Then the guys go on an extended rant about BMW's plans to charge a subscription fee for Apple CarPlay and flow right into how reckless Elon Musk is being with flame throwers.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 54
This week Sam commutes through the winter slog to the Detroit Auto Show in the 2018 Jeep Compass while Dan gets Toyota's new non-crossover crossover, the CH-R. The guys discuss all of the pickup trucks that debuted at the Detroit show and all the car brands that didn't show up along with more new crossovers and another Mustang Bullitt Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 53
This week Sam is just back from the giant Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. While at CES, he rode in an Aptiv autonomous vehicle and discusses that experience, along with a few other highlights. Dan haas been battle-testing a Hyundai Elantra GT during a stretch of brutal, fickle winter weather in Boston. Other topics include the officially-announced Ford F-150 Powerstroke Diesel, a field report on GM Marketplace, and a quick spin through our favorite nominees to win North American Car and Truck of the Year at the NAIAS in Detroit.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 52
As the frigid temperatures continue to encase the midwest and spread to the eastern half of the US this week, Sam has been driving the new Hyundai Elantra GT Sport, his favorite variant of this compact Korean platform. Dan meanwhile has been taking to the snow-covered streets of the Boston area in the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger GT. In a relatively light news week ahead of CES and the Detroit show, the guys discuss driving in these wintery conditions, Volkswagen and Hyundai both announcing autonomous driving partnerships with Aurora Innovation and they follow-up last week's conversation about the death of the collector car market with news that some person with more money than sense bought a Volvo 262C for $216,000 simply because it was once owned by David Bowie.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 51
For the final edition of 2017, Dan drives the 2018 Hyundai Accent, Sam gets in the Mazda CX-3 and Larry Vellequette from Automotive News drops by to talk about the end of car collecting. There's a growing backlash from people tired of drivers trying to bypass traffic jams with online navigation apps like Waze but will the problem only get worse when we have automated mobility services like what Uber wants to build with money from Softbank? Kenichi Yamamoto, the brilliant engineer that led Mazda for many years and made the Wankel rotary almost viable, dies at 95 and the guys talk about some of their favorite rides of the past year.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 50
We've got another special guest this week as the great Phil Berg visit's Sam's basement to tell some stories talk about cars of the past, present and future. In the garage, Phil is driving the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Sam disses the Toyota Prius C and Dan shifts gears in the Toyota Corolla SE. In the discussion we solve the problem of distracted driving by declaring that everyone must drive manual transmission Mazda Miata. We ponder the refreshed 2019 Jeep Cherokee and the revival of the Honda Insight name. Finally, a reminder to make sure that if you get a recall notice for Takata airbags (or anything else) please get it fixed ASAP.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 49
On this week's edition of the show, Dan and Sam are joined by very special guest Brianna Wu, head of development at game studio Giant Space Kat, congressional candidate and all-around car geek! Bri tells us why she is so passionate about driving and why she chose her current ride, the Porsche Cayman. Dan and Sam meanwhile have to make do with a couple of fine, but far less exciting sedans, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata and the Genesis G80 Sport. Then everyone dives into a discussion the latest product from the McLaren Cars, the aptly named Senna and some speculation about the next generation Porsche 911. From driving to not driving, the conversation wraps with some thoughts on policy for autonomous vehicles and automotive cybersecurity from an aspiring politician with that rarest of characteristics in Washington, actual knowledge of the modern world and technology.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 48
After a hiatus while Sam finished off a flurry of travel, the team is back for episode 48. Sam drives the 2017 Mazda CX-5 while Dan gets the Hyundai Ioniq and Mitsubishi Outlander (is it just me or does it seem like Mitsubishi has sent its entire press fleet to New England for Dan to drive?). While in Napa to drive the new Nissan Leaf, Sam talked with Jalopnik's Jason Torchinsky about what defines a station wagon and picks up the conversation with Dan. Lincolns have names again, VW is building EVs, Sam rides in automated Chevrolet Bolt and Infiniti launches its variable compression engine.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 47
The guys are back with some Thanksgiving car chatter after a week of travel for Sam. It's a full slate of hybrids in the garage. Since the last show, Sam has driven the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the fuel-cell Toyota Mirai. Meanwhile, Dan gives his take on the Toyota Prius Prime and the new Volvo XC60 T8 Twin-Drive. From there, the conversation devolves into complaints about touchscreens in cars and the future of voice recognition. Then we take on the king of the car touchscreens with the launch of the Tesla Semi, a new Roadster and production problems. Finally, the Uber has messed up again with a massive data breach that was concealed for a year.Let's give thanks that at least for now, we can still drive for ourselves.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 46
This week, Dan and Sam compare notes on the two Mercedes-Benz cars they drove, the E400 coupe and 2018 S560 4Matic sedan. Sam ponders whether partially automated systems are a good idea and whether everyone should simply take the Waymo path of highly automated driving that launching without a driver this week in Arizona. With the new Corvette ZR1 about to launch, Dan bemoans its looks and the guys ponder whether this will be the last front engine Vette.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 45
This week a special guest joins Dan and Sam. Casey Liss of the Accidental Tech Podcast and Analog(ue) stops by to share his thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Volvo Sensus. Sam ponders the Cadillac CT6 Plug-in and his experience visiting Waymo's secret test track in the California desert.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 44
This week Sam praises Volvo for continuing to build great wagons, Dan plays with a fast BMW and the guys discuss acquisitions, working overtime and more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 43
This week, Sam talks about driving the Toyota Prius Prime which if you can get past the design is a really good and fuel efficient car. Dan ponders the Mitsubishi Mirage GT instead of something slightly used and way better for the same money before he transitions to the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. Volvo launches its first dedicated car for the Polestar brand, a 600-hp plug-in hybrid coupe, Audi rolls out a second-generation A7 and Tesla fires a whole bunch of people. Dan explains why he doesn't watch Star Trek Discovery and Sam gives his verdict and the guys answer additional listener questions.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 42 - Maxi Mini, Family Haulin’, Car Subscriptions & Autonomous Safety
This week, Dan hauls his family around in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Sam ponders how big a Mini can be and still be a Mini. If you have a hard time committing to just one car, subscription services like Passport by Porsche may be the answer for you. Mislabeling of metals is not a problem you can fix with an over-the-air software update and may put Kobe Steel in even more trouble than Takata. Waymo publishes a surprisingly detailed safety report about its automated driving system and the guys answer some listener questions.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 41 - SuperCruising Across America, EVs Coming Up Everywhere
We're back with a regular episode with Sam driving the Acura TLX A-Spec and Dan expounding upon the . Last week Sam spent a couple of days crossing the heartland in a Cadillac CT6 with his hands mostly off the steering wheel. Along the way, it seems like everyone from vacuum cleaner maven James Dyson to Ford CEO Jim Hackett was talking about building EVs with GM in the middle.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheel Bearings Episode 40 - The ADAS and Autonomous Landscape
Navigant Research senior analyst and Wheel Bearings co-host Sam Abuelsamid delivered a keynote presentation on the ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) and Autonomous driving landscape at the TU-Automotive ADAS to Autonomy conference in Detroit on October 2, 2017. Here's the audio of the presentation. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 39 - The Off-Road Ford GT, New Jaguars, Stupid Tech
This week Dan and Sam have both recently driven the off-road specialist from Ford Performance, the F-150 Raptor. It's got visual presence and a great engine, but would your humble hosts actually want to own one? Sam has also driven the Hyundai Elantra Sport, but unlike the manual transmission version Dan drove a few weeks ago, this one had the seven-speed dual clutch transmission.Volvo has revealed the new XC40 compact crossover with a new subscription leasing program that turns out to be very similar to Apple's iPhone upgrade program. Jaguar brought most of its 2018 model lineup including the all-new E-Pace to Detroit and Sam chats with product planning chief Dave Larsen. Meanwhile in South Korea, Genesis boss Albert Biermann throws shade at his former colleagues in Germany.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 38 - Grand Touring, Fun Hybrids, Frankfurt and Mazda Cleverness
The guys return after a week away with Dan getting his turn at the Kia Niro while Sam tours in the Lexus LC500. We review the highlights of the Frankfurt Motor Show plus the hideous BMW X7, discuss what the NTSB had to say about a fatal Tesla crash, ponder stolen VW diesels and marvel at the creativity of Mazda's engineers. We also answer some really old voice mails.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Wheelbearings Episode 37 - NSX weekend, warm and hot hatches, and piping-hot pizza
Sam tells us about driving the Acura NSX for a weekend, and we also discuss hatches warm and hot. The Hyundai Elantra GT Sport is the warm one while the Honda Civic Type R is on-boil. Speaking of hot, we finish up by discussing the partnership Ford and Dominos Pizza have just announced so both companies can learn more about autonomous logistics and customer behavior.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy