Wheel Bearings

Robbie, his wife and the dogs are taking a weekend off at a cabin in Sonoma so it's just Nicole and Sam. After a intro discussion of winter driving, Nicole discusses driving the Hyundai Ioniq 9 in frigid weather while Sam reviews the Mazda CX-70.
Hyundai unveiled a camper version of its new electric Staria van in Stuttgart. We have more detail on China's new rules banning retracting door handles. Autocar got to drive the new Jaguar Type 00 prototype in Northern Sweden. Stellantis is doing a major reset under CEO Antonio Filosa and taking a $26 billion dollar charge including selling it stake in a battery joint venture to LG for just $100. Some cars need to be hatchbacks and Jim Farley teases the upcoming $30,000 electric truck and Ford promises its dealers 5 vehicles under $40K. You might soon be able to use other chatbots with Apple Carplay and Nicole discusses a new SAE/NACTOY scholarship for aspiring automotive journalists.
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Links
A New Vision of Travel Freedom: Hyundai Unveils STARIA Camper Concept at the CMT in Stuttgart
New China Door Handle Regulations
NEW JAGUAR DRIVEN | First review of prototype electric Jaguar 'Type 00' | Autocar
Stellantis Resets its Business to Meet Customer Preferences and to Support Profitable Growth | Corporate Communications
LG Energy Solution to Acquire Full Ownership of NextStar Energy in Joint Strategic Decision with Stellantis | Corporate Communications
These Cars Would Be Better If They Had A Hatchback Or Liftback, According To Our Readers - Jalopnik
https://x.com/jimfarley98/status/2019388693866271070?s=42
Ford Promises 5 New Cars Under $40K by 2030, Including Midsize Electric Truck
Apple might let you use ChatGPT from CarPlay | The Verge
SAE/NACTOY Scholarship

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This week both Sam and Nicole had the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy although in different colors.
Nicole has had several first drives to report on including the Kia K4 hatchback, refreshed Honda Pilot and Honda Prelude. Congress voted not to kill the mandate for a drunk driving disable system while Tesla has decided to kill the Model S and Model X and Hyundai is ditching the Santa Cruz. Rolls Royce is working on an electric Cullinan and Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a next-generation S-Class. Ineos tweaked the steering on the Grenadier and Genesis has a high-performance off-road concept the X Skorpio.
Chery is launching an electric mid-size pickup in China for just $18,300 and Mary Barra isn't sure why Canada is going to let people buy cheap Chinese EVs. Use of hands-free Super Cruise and BlueCruise is growing and people are willing to pay for it while Tesla robotaxis are crashing more often than human drivers. Finally we answer some listener e-mails and Nicole talks with Honda sales chief Lance Woelfer.
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Links
2026 Kia K4 Hatchback Road Test and Review | Autoweb
2026 Honda Pilot first drive: The family hauler gets even better
Car ‘kill switch’ rule divides GOP
Tesla is killing off the Model S and Model X | TechCrunch
Rolls-Royce priming electric Cullinan with dramatic new look | Autocar
The 2026 Ineos Grenadier’s Steering Sucks A Bit Less And Its Electronics Suck A Bit More - The Autopian
GENESIS UNVEILS OFF-ROAD X SKORPIO CONCEPT; NEW CONCEPT CAR STRATEGY
China Just Got an $18,300 Electric Pickup That Puts the U.S. Market to Shame
GM CEO 'Can't Explain Why' Canada Would Welcome Chinese EVs - Jalopnik
Ford Drivers Logged 264 Million BlueCruise Miles as Comfort With Autonomy Grows - Autoblog
Hyundai Santa Cruz faces early end with larger pickup planned - Automotive News
Tesla's own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor | Electrek
The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Refined in every detail.
Robbie rides the Honda Motocompacto

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At CES 2026 Sam and friend of the show John Voelker sat down for a conversation with Giovanni Lanfranchi, CEO of Zeekr Technology Europe to learn more about the Geely Group's approach to product development

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Unfortunately, Robbie had a migraine this morning so it's just Nicole and Sam. Nicole has been driving the latest Toyota Prius with AWD in New Hampshire snow and Sam had the Cadillac Lyriq Signature Sport AWD in Michigan winter weather.
Volvo finally dropped all the details on its new EX60 midsize electric crossover including the missing door handles and touchscreen vents. Tesla has moved the safety monitors from some of its "robotaxis" to a following vehicle. Tesla also killed off Autopilot and moved lane centering to its subscription only full self-driving. GM is moving production of the next-gen Buick Envision to Kansas and the current administration in Washington will no longer seek criminal penalties against businesses that remove diesel emissions devices. Chinese automakers now have 1/5 of the Mexican market and may soon do the same to Canada. Subaru is launching a lower priced base model of the WRX that keeps the 271-hp turbo boxer. Rivian is driving its manufacturing validation R2s across Route 66 and might, maybe, hopefully put some switches and knobs in future models. Finally, a dealer in Michigan is asking nearly $70K for a 35 year old Toyota pickup.
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Links
The car that changes the game – meet the new, all-electric Volvo EX60 | Volvo Cars Media Intl
The Tesla Robotaxis Roaming Austin 'Without Safety Monitors' Are Accompanied by Cars Full of Safety Monitors
Tesla finally kills Autopilot in a bid to boost FSD subscriptions | The Verge
GM to move production of China-built Buick SUV to U.S. plant
Rolling-Coal And Emissions Cheating Devices Are No Longer A Criminal Offenses In Donald Trump's America - Jalopnik
Don’t Hate — eCVTs Are Genius Transmissions!
Led by BYD, China’s cheap EVs, cars take over Mexico’s streets as tariffs take hold
2026 SUBARU WRX BRINGS BACK THE AFFORDABLE RALLY-INSPIRED SPORTS SEDAN STARTING AT $32,495 MSRP
Route 66 roadtrip in R2 - Rivian Stories | Electric Vehicle Adventures
If You're Willing to Pay $70K for a 35-Year-Old Toyota Pickup, Get Some Help
Rivian May Be Giving the R1S a Smarter Tailgate—and Bringing Back Buttons - Autoblog

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We're back and this week all voices were recorded all the way through the show. Sorry again about last week. Nicole lucked out and had the Land Rover Defender Octa during some serious New Hampshire winter weather and Sam had a Porsche Macan 4S Electric with winter tires during a Michigan snow storm.
Ahead of the Detroit Auto Show this week, Ford previewed the new Mustang Dark Horse SC taking the place of the former Shelby GT500 and the Bronco RTR that's been breathed on by Vaughn Gittin Jr. Sam spokee with Mustang color and materials manager Sarah Watson and Dark Horse SC chief engineer Arie Groeneveld. Chevrolet dropped some details on the acceleration capabilities of the Corvette ZR1X and it is insanely quick off the line. Honda is ending production of the current Acura RDX while it prepares a new hybrid replacement and it has also developed a lightweight camper that can be pulled by a CR-V.
Alfa Romeo brings the refreshed Tonale to America sans the plug-in hybrid and drops the Hornet. Nicole and Sam talked with Stellantis head of North American brands Tim Kuniskis and the Jeep Gladiator will live on for another generation. Canada has signed a trade deal with China will lower tariffs on Chinese EVs north of the border and imported vehicles have become significantly more expensive in the past year.
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Links
Ford’s GT500 Successor Arrives As The 2027 Mustang Dark Horse SC – Wheel Bearings
Born in the Desert, the Bronco RTR Is the Fun High-Speed Racer That Won’t Break the Bank
What's New for 2026: Alfa Romeo Tonale
America's Quickest Production Car: Corvette ZR1X Does 8.675-Second ¼-Mile, Sub 2 Second 0-60
Next-Generation Acura RDX Will Go Hybrid
Honda Unveils Base Station Prototype: A Lightweight Towable Travel Trailer with Modular Design, Smart Technology & Clever Packaging to Democratize Camping
Canada wants to be 1st in North America to build EV with Chinese knowledge: senior official | CBC News
That Dodge Charger Got a Hemi In It? Only If It’s a Hellcat.
That New Car Is About $6,400 More Expensive Than Before, Here’s Why

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