Australian Jeep Expedition, Nurburgring, Rolls-Royce Cullinan | #375

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #375

There’s nothing quite like setting out across the wild expanse of Alaska, the untamed savannas of Africa, or the outback of Australia. Adventuring is the spice of life, as Alan says; a fact Seven Slot Expeditions Auto Writer, Sue Mead, and Adventure Architects LLC CEO, Chris Collard know well. Chris and Sue fill us in on the history of the 50th anniversary East-West Australia Jeep Expedition, their plans for the journey, and which vehicles they’ll me making the 2500km trek in. Next up, Motorsports Journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, gives us the details from the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Then, we chat with Cartender Co-founder and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, about his recent test drive of the bespoke Rolls-Royce Cullinan, their first SUV ever (If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it). Changing gears, Autoblog Editor-In-Chief, Greg Migliore, reviews the 617-HP, 555 lb-ft of torque, 4.4L twin turbo V8 engine sporting BMW M5. Next up, Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Dealer.com Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, discusses the made-for-TV drama that has become the FCA, Renault, and Nissan relationship, as well as the prevalence of low-cylinder high-performance engines and their apparent replacement for displacement. Lastly, Karl shares his mixed feelings over the Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic and its weak engine. Tune in for the latest car reviews and automotive news.

 

  • [00:00:00] Adventuring is the Spice of Life
  • [00:05:47] East-West Australia Jeep Expedition
  • [00:12:30] RIP Rod Hall / Adventure Architects
  • [00:19:51] Nurburgring and the Hyundai Veloster N
  • [00:28:49] Bronze Buffalo Club Fishing Golf Course
  • [00:35:52] Winners of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring
  • [00:42:13] Rolls-Royce Cullinan Drives Like Butter
  • [00:48:34] Rolls-Royce Cullinan’s Bespoke Features
  • [00:54:43] BMW M5 Packs A Punch
  • [01:02:04] FCA, Renault, Nissan – A Bad TV Drama
  • [01:11:12] A Replacement for Displacement?
  • [01:18:05] Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic Lacks Power

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Porsche, NAIAS, EVs, Ford GT Fiasco, NACTOY, Cadillac, and Tesla | #357

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #357

As January turns to February, the industry is awash with news, scandals, and car companies struggling to stake out their place. Starting off the show, Kelley Blue Book Director of Industry Insights, Michael Harley, fills us in on his recent test drives of the new 2020 Porsche 911 and 2020 Porsche Panamera. We also tackle Porsche’s foray into the electric vehicle (EV) with the renamed Porsche Taycan (previously ‘Mission E’), and Michael shares a couple of wacky experiences he had riding in autonomous cars. Next, while we may have missed the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, MI, Autorader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, remained faithful and is here to give us some highlights from the show. Also, Brian questions whether all of these automakers that are pumping out three-row SUVs will be faced with a rude awakening when consumer price fatigue sets in. Changing gears, Executive Publisher for Kelley Blue Book, Autorader, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, discusses the Ford GT resale scandal and his new 2019 Ford GT (which went straight from the delivery truck to the detail shop). Then, Automotive Expert, “The Car Coach”, and President of North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) Awards, Lauren Fix, shares the winners of the Car, Truck, and Utility vehicle categories, which were revealed at NAIAS recently. Lauren also gives a preview of what’s in store at the Chicago Auto Show as Alan blows her mind with statistics from Barrett-Jackson’s most recent Scottsdale auction. Closing the show, automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, discusses Cadillac’s decision to focus on electric vehicles, Elon Musk and Tesla’s shaky public perception, Lincoln’s amazing concierge services, and Carlos Ghosn’s Japanese imprisonment. Tune in for the latest automotive insights.

 

  • [00:00:00] Porsche Finally Gets the Panamera Right
  • [00:06:18] Next Generation of the Porsche 911
  • [00:12:30] Porsche Taycan, EVs, and Autonomy
  • [00:19:51] Toyota Supra: The Buzz of NAIAS
  • [00:28:55] Three-Row SUVs and Buyer Price Fatigue
  • [00:35:52] Look Out for Kia Telluride and Mazda3
  • [00:42:12] Karl’s Ford GT: Delivered but not Driven
  • [00:48:08] Ford GT Resale Embargo Fiasco
  • [00:54:43] NACTOY Awards and EV Tax Credit Slash
  • [01:02:04] Chicago Auto Show and Barrett-Jackson
  • [01:07:40] Cadillac Goes EV, Tesla Looking Shaky
  • [01:18:05] Lincoln’s Concierge, and Ghosn’s Woes

 

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Continue ReadingPorsche, NAIAS, EVs, Ford GT Fiasco, NACTOY, Cadillac, and Tesla | #357