In the latest episode of “The Drive,” host Alan interviews George Kennedy III, co-founder of Cartender.com, about the upcoming L.A. auto show and the rise of electric vehicles. He highlights…
Alan welcomes Karl Brauer - Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Auto Contributor, North American Car and Truck of the Year juror and board member. Executive Analyst for ISeeCars.com. They open up…
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #363
Horsepower, luxury, and value, what we love in cars here on THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor. We kick off the show with Executive Publisher for Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, who tells us about the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette – a beast of a machine with more horsepower than its chassis can handle. Then we talk about the all-electric Kia Niro with a 250 mile range and the Land Rover Evoque that he test drove in Greece. Next, we discuss the insane $200,000+ Mercedes-Benz Maybach SUV, the affordably luxurious Kia K900, and the release of the Tesla Model Y (but, why?), with automotive journalist, BJ Killeen. Shifting gears, our new friend and Editor and Publisher of Rides and Drives, Harvey Briggs, shares about his test drive of the ultra-luxurious 2020 BMW X7 SAV with Alan Taylor. Harvey also discusses his time cruising down under in a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, the diesel version of the Ranger we all wish we could get our hands on. Changing lanes, automotive journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, gives the update on 12 Hours of Sebring, in which Cadillac dominated (taking first, second, and third place), and gushes about his extended experience with the Acura NSX. Closing out the show, JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, reviews the new Ford F-250 Super Duty and gives us new information on the upcoming Ghostbusters movie. Tune in for the latest automotive news and test drive reviews.
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #358
From Super Bowl LIII ads to a good old fashioned set of brakes, we’ve got automotive news galore in this week’s episode. First up, we chat with automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, about her favorite Super Bowl LIII commercials, the Chicago Auto Show, and import vehicles. Changing lanes, Co-founder of CarTender and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, discusses the willful ‘sports ball’ ignorance, the Super Bowl LIII halftime show, winter vehicles, and the exceptional work being done by Jeep and Hyundai. Then, Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, gives us an insider’s look into the film industry, confirming a new entry into the Ghostbusters franchise, and getting us pumped up for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. Also, Josh reviews his test drive of the fresh 2019 Volvo S90 sedan; it’s the epitome of luxury. Closing the show, we explore the decline in popularity of paper publications, the amazing story (and brakes) of Brembo, and motorsports news with freelance automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith. Don’t let this weeks automotive news pass you by.
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #356
Industry experts weigh in on the ever-blending automotive and technology worlds from the floor of CES 2019. First up, Ford Motor Company Executive Director of Connected Vehicle and Services, Don Butler, describes how C-V2X, the next big tech upgrade in their vehicles, can save and improve the lives of drivers and pedestrians everywhere. Shifting gears, What3Words CMO, Giles Rhys Jones, fills us in on the progress they’ve made since we last spoke with them – they are now integrated into Mercedes-Benz vehicles! Then, we chat with Lume Cube, Inc. President and CEO, Mike Bieker, about their compact, on-the-go light source made with content creators and auto enthusiasts in mind, the AIR VC. Next, Trucks.com Adventure Editor, Rick Stella, has seen a lot of exciting technology revealed at CES, but as an outdoor guy, What3Words really hits the sweet spot for him. Changing lanes, CTA Senior Director of Event Communications, Sarah Brown, explains why auto shows and CES can co-exist; auto shows show what OEMs have available now or coming down the pike, while CES is a window to a more distant future. Adding to the conversation, Automotive and Motorcycle Industry Insider for Fox News Channel, Mike Caudill, describes why CES is an amazing event for the automotive industry. After that, President & CEO of Brembo Brakes North America, Dan Sandberg, gushes about the tech that has him excited and shares what a brake company like Brembo hopes to accomplish at CES 2019. Then, National Inventors Hall of Fame VP of Museums & Engineering, Vince Greczanik, and Chief Strategic Officer, Hannah Paulin, celebrate 50 years of automotive innovation with a custom split-model Ford Mustang and teach adults and children about the importance of patents and intellectual property. We catch up with Dave Buchko who is now the Product Communications Manager for BYTON, a revolutionary new electric vehicle company set to give Tesla a run for their money. Closing the show, automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, gives us a lightning round of interesting tech innovations she witnessed at the Consumer Electronics Show, including Bell’s new Nexus air taxi. Learn more about the melding of automotive and tech industries at CES 2019.
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | #343
The auto industry is like a fine wine, it gets better with age. First, J.D. Power Vice President of Global Automotive, Dave Sargent, reports on the results of their 2018 US APEAL Study, which found automakers to be doing a tremendous job of delivering to customer expectations. Also, find out which technology advances in cars today have people jumping for joy, and which are making people pull their hair out. Then, Automotive Journalist featured on Automobilemag.com, Steven Cole Smith, fills us in on the North American Car of the Year nominees, North American International Auto Show updates, his trek up the Rubicon Trail in a Jeep, and NASCAR news. Steven also chats with Alan about the 2019 Infiniti QX50, the access economy, and Parachut.co. Next, after a couple of weeks of intensive traveling, Alan and Automotive Journalist, BJ Killeen, catch up and discuss Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, golf, auto manufacturer luxury channels, and the 2018 Mazda CX-9. BJ got a chance to sit behind the wheel of the new CX-9, and found many things impressive, but was struggling to notice anything that separated it from the pack. Similarly, Alan drove the Mercedes-Benz C 350e and thought it was a very nice car, but it just didn’t fit him. Last, Autotrader.com Executive Editor, Brian Moody, extols the 2019 GMC Sierra, saying it’s the best full-size pickup there is, with the only caveat being that no truck on the market can match RAM’s interiors. The 2019 GMC Sierra has video camera mirrors, a carbon fiber insert for the bed, looks that can kill, and a truly reinvented tailgate. Its tailgate is like something out of transformers, with the ability to fold into several different configurations. Also, Brian fills us in on the insanely depreciated used electric car market. Some amazing cars at a fraction of their ‘new’ sticker price include various models of BMW i3 for $20,000, previous generation Nissan Leaf and Fiat 500e for $10,000, and even Tesla Model S for $30,000. Tune in for more.
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | #341
Monterey Car Week is fast approaching and promises to bring us the sexiest, classiest, hottest cars of the year in a slew of amazing events. First, Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock of JoshCAR, is working on the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film starring Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.” Allegedly, production crews shut down seven blocks of Hollywood Boulevard for five days for a practical effect film shoot for the movie. Josh reveals his favorite part of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – the classics! Also, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is an impressive, relatively inexpensive luxury SUV, but Josh thinks most of what is found in this machine could be accomplished in a sedan. Then, Motorz TV host, Chris Duke, shares his experiences at the Craftsman Launch event, including finally meeting Chip Foose, racing go-karts against Ryan Preece, Erik Jones, Richie Crampton, and Wayne Carini. Switching gears, Chris Duke lets us know about his new project for Motorz TV – a Chevrolet C10. Next, Fisker Inc. Chairman and CEO, Henrik Fisker, divulges what he can about the projects he’s working on. While most details are still under wraps, we glean details about the new all-electric shuttle, Fisker’s new high-volume, affordable electric vehicle, and partnerships he has in the works. To close the show, Kelley Blue Book’s Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, discusses what most excites him about Monterey Car Week, including Ford’s announcement of their next heritage model and $40-50+ million Ferrari 250 GTO. Changing lanes, Karl Brauer explains how Kelley Blue Book can provide such accurate values on cars of all makes and models using data that they pull from public auction results, dealer auctions, dealer-to-individual sales, and the information provided to them by Cox Automotive Group. Karl also got to drive the 2018 McLaren 720S and was blown away by how well they were able to balance performance with comfort – no car can do both as well as the McLaren 720S. Are you ready for Monterey Car Week?
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | #333
In a world with endless options, how is it possible for us to choose just one car? Well, thankful there are companies out there that are trying to make these tough decisions easy. We begin the hour with Chief Strategy Officer for AMCI Global, who details their 2018 Trusted Automotive Brand Study. The automotive industry has already established quality and satisfaction but when it comes to the emotion behind the trust we put in brands, there is still long way to go. Chevrolet, Kia, and Genesis – are just a few of the rides that made the most trusted list; listen for the rest! Next, we hear from Peter Zawadzki, Director of DriveShare by Hagerty, about this classic car rental program that can take you on a cruise down memory lane. DriveShare gives you the opportunity to either rent that collector car of your dreams for a weekend, wedding, or a multitude of other events. It also allows owners to stretch the legs of the beautiful cars they have collecting dust in their garage. Are you interested in buying, zooming around, or taking photos with a gorgeous classic? After that, we catch up with automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, about her recent trip to New York to explore some of the top automotive manufacturers’ experiential facilities that are not about selling you a car but about helping you discover more about the brand. She also reviews the 2019 Hyundai Veloster, and explains that this car has really taken on a great refresh. Headroom, connectivity, comfort, and even five trim levels have made the Veloster better than it has ever been. Then, we talk with Alan about the 2018 F-Type 400 Sport AWD Coupe that he just drove. The design, body style, and flavor of the car is beautiful and the V6 supercharge engine makes it a snappy little car. It has some amazing technology that will allow you to use a GoPro camera to take real-time video from driving the car to social. Alan raves about this fantastic machine! Switching lanes, Steven Cole Smith gets us up to speed on what we can look forward to from the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600. He tells us that the media at the Indy 500 will certainly be keeping their eye on Danica Patrick, and many believe that this is her final race. Steven then shares that there is not much to look forward to from the Coca-Cola 600 but if he had to put his money on anyone then it would have to be Chase Elliot. Lastly, he tells us that he is about to make his way to England to view the Global RallyCross that will soon be making its way to the United States. Join us for an action-packed episode with the automotive news you don’t want to miss!
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #327
OEMs are making it increasingly difficult to decide on a favorite car – they’re all so well designed! Our experts reveal their top contenders for 2018, and we get an update on new TV episodes and helpful apps that gearheads will love. We kick off the hour with the host of Velocity’s ‘Wheeler Dealers‘, Mike Brewer. Mike previews the latest season and gives a history on how he got his start, Then, we are joined by Nathan Hecht, Founder and CEO of Honcker, an incredible car leasing app. Changing gears, Brian Moody, Executive Editor of Autotrader, talks about the rides of the New York International Auto Show that impressed him and the ‘Must Test Drive’ rides of 2018. After that, automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, reviews the 2018 Hyundai Kona. Last but not least, George Kennedy, automotive journalist for the Boston Globe, raves about Jeep’s Easter Safari in Moab, Utah, and reviews the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. Join us to learn about your next dream car.
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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #303
How can you prepare for the era of mobility? Automotive journalist BJ Killeen shares tips on what to do when you break down in a heavily trafficked area. She also discusses the Mercedes-Benz X-Class concept truck which is not exactly what you would expect. Veering down a different path, Chris Sheldrick, CEO of What3Words, sounds off about their revolutionary new navigation system that has covered the entire world. Next, TravelPulse Founder, Mark Murphy, discusses traveling after a natural disaster and gives advice on the best way to plan your trip. Switching gears, Chris Duke, Host of Motorz, reviews the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and talks with us about Apple’s newest release, the iPhone X. We then explore Haynes automotive manuals with their Vice President, Mike Forsythe. We end the hour with Autotrader’s Michelle Krebs who discusses post-hurricane vehicle values and sales increase. Listen now.