Wheel Bearings

It's just Sam and Robbie this week and Robbie has the BMW M5 Touring while Sam drove the Rivian R1T Quad.
Audi took the wraps off its new Q9 three-row SUV this week while Mercedes-Benz went for the opposite end of the scale with the new GLA crossover. Zoox got a NHTSA waiver for its robotaxi and the feds are finally going to start working on AV regulations. Nissan and Honda are expected to partner on next-generation software platforms. If a bill in congress goes through, Mercedes-Benz could get booted from the US market and Jim Farley expects the Chinese to be here within a decade anyway. BYD is launching its new Racco Kei EV in Japan and NHTSA may also try to make door handles safer. Walmart is pushing ahead with deployment of its charging network while Florida wants to use EV charging funds to build infrastructure for eVTOL air taxis.

Links

The 2027 Audi Q9 Is the Largest Model In Automaker’s History and Its New Flagship
Shaq’s One-Off Electric Coupe Just Turned Up In A Salvage Yard - Autoblog
2027 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Zoox granted first-ever NHTSA commercial exemption for purpose-built robotaxi
Honda and Nissan to jointly develop next-generation car operating system - The Japan Times
Walmart Is The Future Of EV Charging In America - The Autopian
Ford’s Jim Farley Warns Staff Chinese Cars Could Hit America Within 5-10 Years | Carscoops
Under pressure over China backers, Mercedes CEO pledges to defend U.S. business
Aurora reports Q2 results, details per-mile pricing - FreightWaves
BYD launches the 'world's first' SDV kei EV, starting at just $13,000
It Was a Trap? Electronic Car Door Handles May Finally Get Safer
Florida Got $200 Million For EV Chargers. It Wants To Spend It On Air Taxis Instead

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This week Sam had nothing scheduled so he drove his 1990 Miata around. Robbie joined in a bit late to tell us about the Lucid Gravity and Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige while Nicole shared some thoughts on driving her spouse's Wrangler PHEV.
Jalopnik provided a reader listicle on concepts that didn't translate well to production. Recurrent provided some data on rising prices of used EVs. Ford invited us out to Michigan Speedway to sample some products from its custom garage and see the new Bronco Desert Rising Edition. Ford also announced a partnership with GenerLink to make connecting an F-150 to the house for power backup easier. Ford is also going to be the first automaker to use Apple Maps in its upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle platform. Stellantis is adopting Mobileye's REM maps to enhance its ADAS systems and Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua is retiring. Honda teased the next-gen Ridgeline that is still 2 years away and has stopped producing the Civic Si and Integra A-Spec with manual transmissions. We also have some listener emails.
Finally we end the episode with some sad news, but don't worry, the show is going on.
Links
These Concept Cars Spawned The Most Disappointing Production Vehicles - Jalopnik
These Are The 5 Best Used EV Deals For Range: Study
Used EV values climbing
Apple Maps to Power the Navigation Experience for the Ford Universal Electric Vehicle Platform
Ditch the Extension Cord Spaghetti: An Easier, More Affordable Way to Power Your Home
Mobileye to Supply Cloud-Enhanced ADAS for Select Future Stellantis Vehicles
Some People Love DIY Customization. Ford Built a Shortcut for Everyone Else
How Utah's Desert Landscape Inspired New, Bold Ford Bronco Design
Mobileye announces planned leadership transition
Honda Confirms Third-Generation Ridgeline Midsize Pickup with More Rugged Design, Arriving Within Two Years
Honda Civic Si And Manual Acura Integra Are Going To Die, But Only For A Little While - Jalopnik
Hyundai’s 2027 Kona Shows Boxy Exterior Look, New Cockpit Design in Fresh Renderings - autoevolution

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This week Robbie has been driving the Ford Mustang Mach-e GT and Sam had the Ford F-150 Lariat PowerBoost Hybrid
There's lots of news including a Ford patent that could immobilize cars, a proposal for a VW Thing revival as an EREV and an Abarth version of the Fiat Topolino. A wagon version of the Polestar 4 has been spotted testing with a rear window and Volvo is planning to bring sedans and wagons back to the US. Horse has a range extender system with an axial flux motor and VW is considering building its China developed EVs in Germany.
Sam drove the Rivian R2 and got a demo of the new interface from Wassym Bensaid. The Nissan Altima is dead in America and the Gordie Howe bridge is finally opening but Dongfeng EVs may not be allowed to cross it. GM is offering a discount to its customers for using the Ionna charging network and we have a bunch of listener mail. 

Links
Ford Can Now Stop Some Vehicles Starting, Even With The Key - Autoblog
How I'd Redeem Volkswagen With A Revived, Range-Extended Type 181 'Thing' - The Autopian
Abarth May Turn Fiat’s Tiny Topolino Into A 25-MPH Hot Rod - Autoblog
First look: Polestar 4 SUV breaks cover ahead of September debut | Autocar
New range-extender hybrid uses supercar tech for efficiency boost | Autocar
Volkswagen could build its Chinese saloons and SUVs in Europe | Autocar
Volvo Could Bring An Electric Sedan And Wagon To U.S. By 2028: Report
This Class-Action Lawsuit May Decide If an Automaker Owes You a Tariff Refund
The Nissan Altima, Once Inescapable, Is Finally Dead
Trump's 'Much Better Deal' For Gordie Howe Bridge Isn't Much Better, But At Least It Has An Opening Date - Jalopnik
Dongfeng Wants To Sell These Two EVs In Canada Next Year For Less Than $25,000 USD - Jalopnik
General Motors EV drivers can now charge at over 120 IONNA locations nationwide
Flock Says Its Cameras Worked 'Correctly' When Police Tracked and Ambushed Me for No Reason

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This week Robbie was driving the Chevy Trax and Sam had the Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid AWD and Subaru Uncharted GT.
In the news we discuss our friend Joel getting tracked by flock for an allegedly stolen license plate on a press car. We also have longer loans, right to repair, testing driver response time with touch screens, AVs and first responders, the Fiat Topolino, new EU safety rules, an electric hot hatch from MG, and a proposal to require multiple sensor types for AVs in New Jersey.
Links
How Flock Cameras Wrongly Tracked Me For Days over ‘Stolen’ Plates and Sent Police After Me
Almost A Quarter Of New Car Buyers Got 7-Year Loans Last Quarter - Jalopnik
Touchscreens in cars are moving in the wrong direction | Vi Bilägare
Farmers Finally Get a John Deere Right to Repair Agreement That Doesn’t Screw Them Over
NHTSA calls out autonomous cars for interfering with first responders - Engadget
America’s cheapest new EV is smaller than a ping-pong table and tops out at 19mph | The Verge
Safer cars, safer roads: New rules take effect - European Commission
This New MG Concept Car That Recalls The Old MGB GT May Be Part Of A Coming Wave Of Hatchbacks - The Autopian
New Lexus LFA aims to win over EV sceptics with V10 feel | Autocar
The robotaxi law that could ban Tesla | The Verge
New Jersey could ban Tesla’s Robotaxi with one line about sensors
DeFlock

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Sam and Robbie both had the Ford Explorer Tremor this week and Nicole rounded out the Ford fest with the F-350 King Ranch PowerStroke duallie.
Diesel cars are fading away in Europe and BMW has launched the next-generation X5 including an all electric iX5. California is bringing back some EV incentives for first-time buyers and the Kia Niro is going hybrid only for 2027. Thieves have been stealing truckloads of batteries from a Tesla factory and Ferrari is bringing back a simulated manual transmission.
Sam also has a conversation with Christopher Maiwald, CEO and Founder of charger manufacturer Lectron.

Links
Diesel's demise nears as Volkswagen axes diesel Golf after 50 years | Autocar
Why Ford's 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel Died An Ignoble Death - Jalopnik
New California Incentive Gives Some First-Time EV Buyers $3,500 Instant Discount - Jalopnik
Our Readers Came Up With These Honest Auto Company Slogans - Jalopnik
The New BMW X5 and iX5.
UPCOMING 2027 KIA NIRO SHARPENS ITS HYBRID CROSSOVER FORMULA WITH REFRESHED STYLING AND EXPANDED TECHNOLOGY
Someone Keeps Stealing Entire Truckloads Of Tesla Batteries
Polestar Is Offering Up to $25,000 Off Its 3 and 4 EVs
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale Might Just Save The Manual Transmission With A Modified DCT - The Autopian
Toyota Announces $3.6B Expansion, 2,000 New Jobs at its San Antonio Plant

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