Drop The Battery

This week, Jill drove the Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, Robbie drove the Jeep Cherokee Overland and Sam had the Kia Telluride hybrid and Kia EV3 GT.Check out KUIU workwear at KUIU.com and use Code: KUIUFREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $125LinksGlobal Auto Consumer Survey: Regional Trends in a Changing World | Bain & Company2027 Chevy Silverado 1500 V8 And Duramax Engine Fuel Economy Ratings ReleasedBuick Electra GS PHEV Sedan: First Images LeakedWaymo's Public Fast-Charging Problem Is Infuriating EV DriversThe Lincoln Aviator PHEV May Have Died In America, But It’s Coming Back In ChinaSomeone Built a Lexus Pickup From a Toyota Tacoma - AutoblogThe Nicest Ford Fathom Will Cost Under $40K. The Question Is for How Long: TDSMercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe first drive: Where tech and fun collide - Ars TechnicaWaymo co-CEO addresses scrapped Uber deal as rivalry between rideshare giants heats up: ‘It was a crapshoot’Some Lunatics Are Making A Kit To Swap A Dirt-Cheap Flat-Six Into A Subaru BRZ - The AutopianChevy Dealer Wants Nearly $700K for Corvette ZR1X After $400K Markup - AutoblogTesla Is Killing The Cybertruck To Make Room For More RobotaxisOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Jill has been driving the Lexus RX500h, Robbie had the Cadillac Optiq-V and Sam had time with the Volvo EX30 and Infiniti QX65.Sam and Jill both went to Huntsville Alabama to see the 1 millionth vehicle(s) off the line at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant and see how the joint venture company is supporting local education. Sam also had a conversation with Mazda NA CEO Tom Donnelly. Mazda has also killed off the CX-70 nameplate and the SkyActiv-X engine. Toyota's got a next generation hybrid system coming, GM is going to put hybrids in its 3-row crossovers and Ford is making parts for the Fathom and adding bidirectional charging. Used EV prices are up 10% compared to a year ago and someone is selling a first generation Toyota Rav4 EV. Don't buy engine parts from Temu and you probably shouldn't put a Flock-O-Matic on your car either. LinksThanks A Million: Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Celebrates One Millionth Vehicle by Giving Back to Community - Oct 28, 2026Mazda Is Quietly Killing Off Its Biggest Engine Experiment in the Mazda3 - AutoblogToyota develops next-generation hybrid for future multi-pathway vehicle platformsGM Finally Announces Hybrid Plans | GreenCarsHome Backup Power Gets a Lot More Affordable with the Ford Fathom | GreenCarsFord Produces More Than 5,000 Unicastings for Fathom Electric Truck – and Counting2027 Mazda CX-90: Pricing and Packaging - Oct 27, 2026Used EVs Are Getting More Expensive While Selling Faster Than Gas Cars - iSeeCars.comAncient Toyota RAV4 EV for Sale Still Has the Factory BatteryRivian’s ‘Boring’ Commercial Van Is Turning Into A Secret Weapon/VW’s EV Factory Is Now Taking Cars Apart. There’s Money In ItYouTuber Invents Device That Hides License Plates From Flock Cameras - JalopnikBuying Temu Small-Block Chevy Heads Is an Even Worse Idea Than You ThoughtVW Suspends ID.Golf EV Development Amid Financial Pressures: ReportCheck out KUIU workwear at KUIU.com and use Code: KUIUFREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $125Our Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jill put a bunch of miles on the Toyota GR Corolla and a few on the Rivian R2. Stephanie Brinley joined us this week and drove the new Audi A6 and the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. Sam drove the Toyota Rav4 Woodland PHEVLinksInside GM's Plan for Its Next-Gen EVs | GreenCarsMeet Mustang Mach-E Trail: Made for the Road to Adventure2027 SUBARU OUTBACK DELIVERS AFFORDABILITY WITH NEW PRICING, NEW OUTBACK ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL STARTING AT $32,995 MSRPSubaru Shares Details of Its New In-House EV PlatformThis Chevy Bolt Has 470,000 Miles. Here’s How Much A New Battery WasThe young Americans choosing Y2K cars over shiny new SUVs: ‘I get so much crap from people’ | US news | The GuardianAudi makes long-term commitment to America, announces mega US production site in Georgia | Releases | Official Media Site NEWSROOMNissan Kicks joins ranks of IIHS award winnersFeds want robotaxis to signal ‘I’m driving’ with cyan-colored lights | The VergeToyota’s Newest GR Racing Prototype Sure Looks Like the Next-Gen MR2Hey! Pay Attention! Drivers Find Multitasking Tough When Using Touchscreens, Says Study - JalopnikJill's Youtube ChannelOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jill has been driving Mazda CX-90 plug-in hybrid but it came without a charging cord so she couldn't plug it in. She also took a flight in the HondaJet Elite. Back in 2018, Rebecca and Sam also got to try out the original HondaJet https://youtu.be/gvM2bo5k2Xo?si=OI7wOOkewWuQdcsE. Sam drove the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid and the Subaru Trailseeker.We've got news from Paris, crashing and hopping Teslas, a new Porsche, Acura's upcoming SUVs, new winter tires and listener email.LinksAcura Shares Business Roadmap: Includes Three New Models Beginning with Adventure-Ready SUV in 2028Porsche Mission S: the essence of the sports car reinterpretedTesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD when he crashed into highway patrol cars | The VergeThe incredible flying Tesla Roadster is just for show | The VergeHow Did the Tesla Roadster Fly? Here's How It WorksTesla pauses Model 3 orders in Canada amid China EV quotaNew Winter Tire Throwdown: Blizzak IcePeak vs Continental VikingContact 8 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow+ - YouTubeThese Are the Hottest Cars and Concepts of the 2026 Paris Auto Show—and Why They MatterHello Toronto! Waymo is En RouteThe Fix For Plug-In Hybrids That Don't Get Plugged In? Smaller Gas Tanks, New Report ArguesWe Spied The Facelifted Santa Fe That Will Be Hyundai's First Range-Extender Hybrid - JalopnikOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sam has been driving the Kia K5 GT-Line, Jill had the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and Robbie had the Subaru Trailseeker and Ford Expedition.This week Jaguar unveiled its first new product in a decade, BMW has killed what was once a top-selling 3 series, a Chinese SUV is the UK's top-seller. Canada has a cheap Model 3, EVs are still selling in Europe, electrified models are now the global majority, watch your dog in your Rivian and the VW ID Tiguan gets buttons.Sam had a conversation with John Possumato, CEO of DriveItAway and Free2Move's head of mobility Benjamin Maillard about the new vehicle rent-to-own service. It certainly provides flexibility for those in need of transportation, but it's probably not the best value in the world for a new or used vehicle.LinksBMW Just Quietly Killed Its Most Important Diesel Car - The AutopianThis Chinese SUV Was The UK's Best Selling Car Last MonthHow Brexit Led To China Selling Nearly 1-In-4 New Cars In Britain - The AutopianCanada Gets A $29,500 Tesla Model 3 With Ventilated Seats But There's A Catch - The AutopianEuropeans Still Love Their EVs - JalopnikGas Cars’ Dominance Is Fading: Global Sales Fall Below 50% For The First Time Since The 1920sJAGUAR TYPE 01Rivian R2 owners can now put a live pet cam on their phone's lockscreen - EngadgetBMW Group in the U.S. Survey Finds Americans Want More EV Range Than They Need Day to Day.A Volkswagen bestseller goes electric: World premiere of the new ID. TiguanDriveItAwayOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week our new co-host Jill Ciminillo joins the show and she's been driving the Ford Ranger. Sam had the new 2026 Mazda CX-5.Our whole team converged on New York for the debut of the new Hyundai Tucson and Sam had a conversation with Eric Wood, head of product experience about the new Pleos Connect infotainment system and Gleo AI voice assistant.LinksEVgo Announces Next-Generation Charging System Capable of 750kWLEXUS FULL-LINE PRICINGLexus TZ Sharply Undercuts Luxury Rivals With a $65K Starting Price - Autoblog2027 Hyundai Tucson First Look: What Changes for Hyundai’s Best-Selling SUV? | GreenCarsGM Really Isn't Going To Build That Many Chevy Bolts: ReportHow the EV Business Case Shifted Away From the Chevy BoltUltium Cells to bring LMR prismatic battery cell production to Tennessee for future GM EVsFinal Technical Support Document | NHTSAJeep Cherokee Trailhawk‘Cannot Give Up’: Hyundai’s R&D Boss On The Solid-State Battery BetNissan Is Targeting a Stacked Hybrid Lineup in the U.S. by 2030The new BMW 3 Series.Returning to the Stage — How Rallying Is Our Road Car FutureOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Robbie is driving the BMW M3 Competition and Sam has the Toyota bZ XLE PlusLinksThe Board of Volvo Cars appoints Klaus Zellmer as President and CEOVEHICLE CARGO SPACE ACCESS PROVIDING METHODFord Patents reveal new clues for Fathom!Can the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV Keep Up With a V8 Jeep Wrangler 392 in a Drag Race?Electric future, established name: The new ID. Tiguan premieres in October | Releases2027 Chevy Silverado 1500 Full Pricing UncoveredHow recycled minerals from GM EV batteries are helping power new onesGM raises the bar for Heavy-Duty power, capability and control headlined by all-new Duramax 8.3L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine-Ford Mustang manual may outlive the V8BYD’s $10,000 EV Is Getting A Huge Upgrade, With 5-Minute ChargingDodge's Fire-Preventing Ejecting Battery Patent Is American Individualism At Its Finest - JalopnikEverybody Hates China’s Hilariously Bad Battery Ejector IdeaOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Robbie has been driving the Kia Telluride hybrid and the GMC Sierra EV while Sam had the very impression new Kia Seltos.In the news, VW showed a new EV concept and a lot of people misread the press release. Ford is again refreshing the F-150 and adding hands-free towing capability to BlueCruise. Volvo has upgraded the XC90 and XC60 PHEVs with double the electric range. GM dropped details on the new V8s in the 2027 trucks and the updated user interface. Robotaxis without controls make problems for first responders and Sam and Robbie visit a magnet factory.LinksMission Efficiency - Volkswagen presents the world’s most efficient near-production electric carHow Did Everyone Get This Wrong? VW's New 'Mission Efficiency' Doesn't Get 900 Miles Of Range Out Of A Small Battery - The AutopianTTD September 15, 2026 - Ford Adds Hands-Free Towing to 2027 F-150You Asked, We Listened: BlueCruise Hands-Free Towing Is ComingVolvo Cars unveils America's longest electric range plug-in hybrids: the new XC60 and XC90GM Thinks Truck Buyers Want A Bunch Of Screens For Some Reason - The AutopianTesla Cybercab's Touchscreen Is Already Proving To Be A Problem For First Responders - JalopnikMagnetics | MP MaterialsGM’s legendary Small Block V8 enters its next generation with more power and capabilityOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sam shares his thoughts on the Dodge Charger Six Pack Scat Pack and Robbie teases the Kia Telluride hybrid and talks about e-bikes.Honda adds more ground clearance to the Passport Trailsport, Audi fully reveals the new A2 e-tron, Volvo refreshes the XC40 and Range Rover launches an EV. Arbe gets a first production contract for its imaging radar. Donald Trump wants Chinese automakers to build cars in America, but the Senate has opposite ideas. Stellantis wants to sell its Brampton assembly plant and Xiaomi has a new EREV SUV with a popup roof. VW is looking at body-on-frame trucks and utilities for the US and Horse Powertrain opens a Detroit office. Finally, Sam sees the Kindred Bronco EV and we answer listener questions.LinksHonda Passport Reaches New Heights: 2027 Passport TrailSport Gets New Lifted Suspension, Tougher Styling and More FeaturesAudi A2 e-tron: Rethinking efficiencySignificant safety, tech, and design updates to Volvo Cars’ new XC40 subcompact SUVRANGE ROVER ELECTRIC: A NEW ERA FOR THE ORIGINAL LUXURY SUVHirain and Arbe Selected by One of the World's Largest Automotive Groups for Level 3 Program Across Multiple BrandsTrump says he would allow Chinese automakers to build cars in USS.4429 - Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 119th Congress (2025-2026)Stellantis has potential deal to sell Brampton plant, frustrating UniforVolkswagen Eyes F-150 and Wrangler Territory to Revive U.S. Sales - AutoblogXiaomi SkyNomad N90Maker of a 1,527-HP EV Introduces an SUV With a Pop-Up Roof Cabin - AutoblogHorse Powertrain expands global capability with new North America officeDiscover Kindred EV BroncoOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Robbie finally gets his hands on the new Honda Prelude and Sam drives the Land Rover Discovery.LinksNissan and Honda Conclude Joint Development Agreement to Standardize ECUs and Software for Next-Generation SDVsThe Isuzu V8-Powered Chevy Feretta Was GM's Forbidden Camaro-KillerNew Ford Mustang Fox Body: ‘80s Icon Reborn! | 4K - YouTubeClassic Fox Body Ford MustangThe World’s EV Capital Doesn’t Need Fast Chargers EverywhereHyundai Dealer Set EV Charging Rates That Led to a $418 Bill - AutoblogScout Motors Reveals Two Distinct Expressions of the Scout® Traveler™ SUVMitsubishi Motors Unveils the All-New Pajero Cross-Country SUVFord Wants To Sell 100,000 Fathom Electric Pickups In Year One. That’s A Huge GoalHyundai's Latest Cost-Cutting Trick Is To Remove The Instrument Cluster - AutoblogClaims of Savings From Gutting Fuel Economy Rules Are a LieOur Sponsors:* Check out KUIU and use my code KUIUFREESHIP for a great deal: https://www.kuiu.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy