Automotive Super Bowl Ads, Volvo S90, Brembo, and Motorsports | #358

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.

 

  • [00:00:00] Amazing Age of Automotive Technology
  • [00:05:30] Our Favorite Super Bowl Commercials
  • [00:12:30] Chicago Auto Show and Import Vehicles
  • [00:19:51] Willful Ignorance of the Sports Ball
  • [00:28:30] Halftime and Subaru’s Winter Vehicles
  • [00:35:51] Jeep and Hyundai, Dressed to Impress
  • [00:42:12] Volvo Steps It Up in Luxury Segment
  • [00:48:31] Volvo S90: Only One Engine Option?
  • [00:54:43] “Hobbs and Shaw” and “Ghostbusters”
  • [01:02:04] The Plight of Paper Publications
  • [01:10:53] Brembo, The Only Brakes You’ll Care About
  • [01:18:05] Upcoming Races Update

 

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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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End of the Year Car Panoply and 2019 Preview | #355

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #355

It’s the last show of the year, and time to get everything out of our system! First, we chat with Collins Bros Jeep President and Owner, Dennis Collins, about the new Jeep JLU and JKU Wrangler Rubicon, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye wide body, and the exciting list of cars he’s bringing to Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona. Changing lanes, automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith, fills us in on the postseason slump in motorsports, the Nissan Maxima and Murano, and the all-new Ford Ranger; will the Ranger’s excessive price put another damper on the small and midsize truck category? Next, Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, catches us up on his Ford GT and tour of the Multimatic Facility where it is being built. Switching gears, Co-founder of Cartender and freelance automotive journalist, George Kennedy III, gives us his take on the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator, and gets us pumped about Wide Open Baja, a touring service that gives us a taste of the Baja 500 and 1000 endurance races. Then, Blinker.com Founder and CEO, Rod Buscher, describes his revolutionary private party car trading app that also functions as a car identifier. Lastly, freelance automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, praises the new 2019 Toyota RAV4’s fresh redesign and coaxes some information about Alan’s new TV show, THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor, out of him. Don’t miss this year-end wrap up with your favorite car experts!

 

  • [00:00:00] MOPAR or No Car for Dennis Collins
  • [00:06:09] Eclectic Classics at Barrett-Jackson
  • [00:12:31] Nissan Maxima, Murano, and Ford Ranger
  • [00:19:52] Over Pricing to Kill Small Trucks Again?
  • [00:27:26] The Motorsports Off Season
  • [00:35:52] Touring the Ford GT Multimatic Facility
  • [00:42:13] Ford Ranger Returns as Midsize Truck
  • [00:48:12] Will the Jeep Gladiator Dominate 2019?
  • [00:54:44] Wide Open Baja
  • [01:01:57] Blinker.com, Buy or Sell Cars Privately
  • [01:11:17] The Toyota RAV4’s New Groove
  • [01:17:58] THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor on TV!

 

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Rivian, Subaru, Jeep, Porsche and Others Go Big at LA Auto Show | #353

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #353

While international auto shows start to wane, what is perhaps the most important exhibition in the largest automotive market in the world continues to stand strong. The Los Angeles Auto Show brought us many tasty morsels to digest as we wait for the ambitious unveilings to transform into reality. One of the juiciest bits was the unveiling of Rivian, and Automotive Journalist, Basem Wasef, says it was the big standout of the show for him. Also, Basem shares how world culture has given him a unique automotive perspective, and fills us in on his new book, “Speed Read Supercar”. Then, Director of Corporate Communications for Rivian, Michael McHale, reveals where the company came from and gives us the details on the R1T and R1S, their all-electric truck and SUV offerings which were shown off to the world for the first time at the LA Auto Show. Next up, Kelley Blue Book’s Karl Brauer remains skeptical as to whether or not anything will come of Rivian – he’s seen and heard it all before. What really impressed Karl was the new Gladiator, Jeep’s first truck! Shifting gears, President and CEO of Subaru North America, Tom Doll, is excited to discuss the new Crosstrek Hybrid, next generation Outback and Legacy, the 7 to 8-seater Ascent, and record month-to-month sales. Changing lanes, JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, gives us his picks from the LA Auto Show, including the Toyota TJ concept, Lincoln Aviator, and Hyundai Palisade. Last up, Justice Brothers President and CEO, Ed Justice Jr., shares his thoughts on the new Porsche 911, and tells us what to expect from the new book, “Legacy of Justice / An American Family Story”, available on Amazon.com. Tune in for more from the LA Auto Show.

 

  • [00:00:00] LA Auto Show, Rivian, World Car Culture
  • [00:06:15] “Speed Read Supercar”
  • [00:12:30] Taking Electric Vehicles Off-Road
  • [00:19:51] Rivian R1T, The Truck of Tomorrow
  • [00:29:17] Vaporware or Reality?
  • [00:35:52] Jaded on New Electric Car Companies
  • [00:42:12] Jeep Gladiator Stealing the Auto Show
  • [00:48:37] Subaru Continues to Dominate
  • [00:54:43] Josh Hancock’s Picks from LA Auto Show
  • [01:02:04] Hyundai Palisade and 7-Passenger SUVs
  • [01:10:46] The New Porsche 911 – Is It Too Big?
  • [01:18:04] “Legacy of Justice”

 

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‘Wheeler Dealers’, NASCAR, Chevrolet Silverado, and Brembo | #346

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #346

We’ve got another fun-filled week of THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor featuring Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead from Wheeler Dealers, Steven Cole Smith, and Dan Sandberg of Brembo Brakes. First off, ‘Wheeler Dealers’ co-hosts, Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, fill us in on details for the 16th season of the show. With 27 episodes and a slew of new cars including a Volvo 850 T5R, 1991 Alfa Romeo 164 L, Lotus Elan M100, and 2004 Dodge RAM SRT-10, this season promises to be one of their most diverse yet. Then, automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith, keeps us in the loop with rallycross and NASCAR news. Steven also details his off-road trek through the east coast countryside in the beefy Chevrolet Silverado; this truck is a heavy, yet surprisingly agile beast. Also, after a recent tour of the Brembo facility in Italy, Steven sings praises of the number one most trusted brake company in the world. Lastly, Brembo President and CEO, Dan Sandberg, tells us about their new brake system to be unveiled at the upcoming SEMA show. Plus, we find out about Brembo’s involvement in the electric car industry, and their two new North American iron foundries. Stay up to date with the automotive industry!

 

  • [00:00:00] Wheeler Dealers’ on their 16th Season!
  • [00:05:49] Culture Shock and Special Cars
  • [00:12:30] Chevrolet Silverado Off-Road Test Drive
  • [00:19:51] IMG to Save Rallycross?
  • [00:28:29] NASCAR Update and Brembo Factory Tour
  • [00:35:51] Highly Classified Brembo Update

 

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Rideshare, Hybrids and Electrics, Flood Damage, Tailgating, and Upcoming Events | #345

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #345

Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, brings us the latest advice and reviews from the site to keep us in the automotive loop, on this episode of The DRIVE with Alan Taylor. First off, Alan reflects on his stellar experience with the rideshare services Lyft and Uber while in New York City. Then, we discuss Autotrader’s 10 Great Hybrids and EVs for 2018, from the Chevrolet Bolt to the Chrysler Pacifica. While electric vehicles are making much-needed progress in range, nothing beats the flexibility of a hybrid car’s ability to transition between battery and gas power. Also, Brian and Alan remind us to beware of flood damaged cars in light of the recent east coast Hurricane Florence disaster. Remember, just because these cars were damaged on the east coast, doesn’t mean you won’t find them popping up in dealerships on the west coast or anywhere in between. Next, we compare 7 Outstanding Vehicles for Tailgating and some of our selections might surprise you, but the 2019 GMC Sierra was almost a foregone conclusion. Shifting gears, Alan lets us know what events we can expect to see him at, like Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2018, the 2018 SEMA ShowCES 2019, and Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2019. We wrap up the show with Alan’s thoughts on the power of the 2019 Infinti QX50 Essential FWD. Keep up with The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions at Barrett-Jackson.com.

 

  • [00:00:00] Rideshare Does It Right
  • [00:06:52] 10 Great Hybrids and EVs for 2018
  • [00:12:30] Does Hybrid Flexibility Trump EV?
  • [00:19:51] Beware of Flood Damaged Cars
  • [00:27:33] 7 Vehicles for the Tailgating Crowd
  • [00:35:52] Upcoming Events and the Infiniti QX50

 

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Mustang Bullitt, Regenerative Braking, and Brian France’s DUI | #340

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | #340

They really don’t make any bad vehicles these days and luckily our favorite automotive experts help us narrow down the right car for us. We begin the show with automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, who discusses why premium SUVs are taking a top spot in the market. BJ and Alan also talk about the 2018 Ford F-150 diesel that Alan drove down to Newport Beach and they excitedly chat about the greatly improved fuel consumption of most new trucks. Then, Karl Brauer, Executive Publisher of Kelley Blue Book, sounds off about the latest rad events he was able to attend. San Francisco played host to a reenactment of the classic Mustang Bullitt car chase as Ford showed off the 2019-2020 redesign of the Mustang Bullitt and Karl said how cool it was to witness. After that, he tells us about his exciting drive down Pikes Peak in the all-new pure EV Audi e-tron and raves about its amazing regenerative brakes. Karl ends the first hour with an update on his greatly anticipated Ford GT, which he has made all of his final designs decisions on and is patiently waiting for its finalization. Next, Executive Editor of Autotrader, Brian Moody, pits the 2018 Toyota Tacoma against the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. While the Tacoma still has one of the best resale values in the truck market, the Colorado stole Autotrader’s vote. Brian explains that he believes the Tacoma played it a little too safe with their redesign, while the Colorado stepped it with their interior, diesel engine option and aggressive ZR2 off-road package. Continuing with the compact truck theme, Brian also addresses the rumors surrounding the U.S. version of the all-new Ford Ranger after a write up from their sister company in Australia, Car Guides. Brian explains that he doesn’t believe we will see a diesel engine but to keep an eye out for the 2.3L EcoBoost, 10-speed automatic transmission, and a plethora of safety features. Then, before Brian goes he explains Autotrader’s Accelerate, which is an online vehicle buying program that can make it possible for you to shop from the comfort of your own home. Switching gears, automotive journalist, George Kennedy, reviews the impressive handling of the 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Widebody and explains that he really loved that one could tune the individual performance options on the infotainment system. After that, he sounds off about the 2018 Lexus NX vs the 2018 Acura RDX and shares that he was excited to drive these two major competitors back-to-back. The NX was a little too small for 6’3” George and the RDX had a frustrating infotainment system but overall, the two were really great cars for under $50k. Changing lanes, Ed Justice, Jr. updates us on the recent DUI of NASCAR’s CEO, Brian France’s, and what that could mean for the position he has been in for over a decade. Ed ends the hour by sharing about his favorite new documentary, Ferrari: Race to Immortality, which showcased the most dangerous and glamorous time in racing that took place from 1955-1958. Tune in now to fill your cranium with the latest and greatest from the automotive world.

 

  • [00:00:00] Take an Uber or a Cab
  • [00:05:49] Premium SUVs Are Booming
  • [00:12:30] Trucks Are Just Getting Better
  • [00:19:51] Mustang Bullitt Event in San Francisco
  • [00:28:35] Audi e-tron: Tesla Model X’s Competitor
  • [00:35:53] Karl’s New Ford GT Update
  • [00:42:14] Toyota Tacoma vs. Chevrolet Colorado
  • [00:48:39] Rumors on the new Ford Ranger
  • [00:54:45] Handling of the Hellcat Widebody
  • [01:02:06] 2018 Lexus NX vs 2018 Acura RDX
  • [01:09:42] DUI of NASCAR’s Brian France
  • [01:18:07] Ferrari: Race to Immortality

 

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Wheeler Dealers, Honcker, and Must Drive Cars | #327

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.

 

  • [00:00:00] Longest Running Car Restoration Show
  • [00:06:42] Giving the Show Back to the Viewers
  • [00:12:30] Buying a Classic Car?
  • [00:19:53] Leasing a Car Through Honcker
  • [00:28:12] Autotrader’s 2018 ‘Must Test Drive Cars’
  • [00:35:55] Toyota Camry Added Mojo
  • [00:42:15] Standouts at NYIAS
  • [00:48:46] Hyundai Kona’s Wonderful Design
  • [00:54:46] Just One Critique
  • [01:02:09] BJ Killeen’s Blogs Coming
  • [01:10:24] Jeep’s Easter Safari in Moab
  • [01:18:11] 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

 

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