Car Stuff Podcast
224 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 41 ratingsWhether you drive a car, need a car, or just occasionally bum a ride with friends, you’ve come to the right place. Join the editors of Consumer Guide Automotive as they break down everything that’s going on in the auto world. New-car reviews, shopping tips, driving green, electric cars, classic cars, and plenty of great guests. This is the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.
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Episodes
Toyota Hybrid Strategy, 2022 Kia Carnival
March 05, 2021 16:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Kia Carnival "Multi-Purpose Vehicle" (don't call it a minivan). Anthony Novak, Toyota Brand and Growth Audiences Marketing Manager, joins us to talk about Toyota's marketing strategies and the expanding role of hybrids in the brand's model lineup. Tom has a "where is it made?" quiz on new vehicles for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Gui...
V8s Aren't Dead Yet; J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study
February 26, 2021 15:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the passing of dune-buggy pioneer Bruce Meyers and the results of J.D. Power's most recent vehicle-reliability survey. Paul Strauss, publisher of the popular websites The Awesomer, Technabob, and the auto-themed 95octane, joins us to talk about the latest batch of brawny V8-powered vehicles--the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, Land Rover Defender V8, and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. We also discuss the...
Lincoln Continental Mark VI, 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander
February 19, 2021 16:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the April 2021 issue, including detailed histories of the 1980-83 Lincoln Continental Mark VI and 1970-76 Porsche 914. Tom has a "who owns what" quiz on automotive brands for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Co...
2021 Kia Sorento, 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
February 12, 2021 15:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor pickup and the forthcoming Raptor R. Mark Savino, Kia Product Strategy Manager, joins us to talk about the redesigned-for-2021 Kia Sorento 3-row midsize SUV. Tom has another "buzzer-style" name-that-vehicle quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Spin test-drive review of the 2021...
New-Car Affordability, 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier
February 04, 2021 23:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder midsize SUV and 2022 Nissan Frontier midsize pickup. Todd Lassa, veteran automotive journalist and founding editor of The Hustings (thehustings.news), joins us to talk about some current auto-industry trends and fill us in on The Hustings--a news website that is designed to deliver straight news and non-partisan political analysis, with liberal and conser...
Infiniti QX55, Nissan Xterra Revival?
January 29, 2021 00:00 - 52 minutes - 36.5 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recent reports of Nissan dealers asking Nissan to bring back its off-road-ready Xterra SUV. We also talk about the discontinuation of Kia's Cadenza large sedan and K900 flagship luxury sedan for the 2021 model year. Jeff Pope, Group Vice President, Infiniti Americas, joins us to talk about the new-for-2021 Infiniti QX55 crossover SUV, and the Infiniti brand in general. Tom has a tricky fuel-economy q...
2020 Auto Sales Analysis, 2021 Industry Forecast
January 22, 2021 16:00 - 54 minutes - 37.2 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the auto industry's sales results for the 2020 calendar year, and examining a few of the winners and losers. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to delve deeper into the year that was, and talk about what industry trends are on the horizon for 2021. Tom has a sales-results quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the C...
Nissan Z History and Future, 2021 NACOTY Award Winners
January 14, 2021 23:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently announced winners of the 2021 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. Jonathan Buhler, Communications Manager for Sports Cars and Sedans for Nissan USA, joins us to talk about the North American Nissan Heritage Collection and the past, present, and future of the Nissan Z sports car. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Damon runs down the lat...
New-Car Reliability, GM/Honda EV Partnership
January 08, 2021 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the newly reported details of the General Motors/Honda electric-vehicle partnership. Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Auto Testing for Consumer Reports, joins us to talk about new-car reliability and CR's testing processes. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on 2011-model-year vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of...
GM's Cars of 1961, Top Auto Stories of 2020
January 01, 2021 17:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing their test-drive experiences in the Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 midsize sedan. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the February 2021 issue, including a profile on Bill Mitchell's Corvette Stingray racer and an overview of GM's cars of 1961. John sticks around for the third segment to help us review the top automotive stories of 2020, such as...
Christmas Wish Lists, Elon Musk Offers Tesla to Apple
December 25, 2020 19:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Elon Musk's recent tweet about his attempt to sell Tesla to Apple three years ago, and the reports of Apple's current plans to enter the autonomous electric-vehicle market. Instead of a guest this week, we share our automotive Christmas wish lists--vehicles we wish automakers would build (or start building again). Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on fake trim-level names, and Damon runs down the late...
2021 Chicago Auto Show, 2021 Kia K5
December 18, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing their test-drive experiences with Kia's new-for-2021 K5 midsize sedan. Mark Bilek, Senior Director of Communications and Technology for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, joins us to talk about the outlook for the 2021 Chicago Auto Show. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on new-vehicle base prices, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including ...
Ram TRX, 2021 Auto Show Outlook
December 11, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the outlook for the first auto shows of 2021, and Acura's redesigned-for-2022 MDX midsize SUV . Carl Lally, Senior Brand Manager for the Ram 1500 pickup lineup, joins us to talk about the wild new TRX high-performance model. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on fake model names, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the 603-hp ...
Carfax Vehicle History Reports; Hyundai Future EVs
December 04, 2020 17:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Hyundai's new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) for battery electric vehicles. Patrick Olsen, Executive Editor at Carfax, joins us to talk about the ins and outs of Carfax Vehicle History Reports. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the entry-level engines in current vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of the 20...
2021 Consumer Guide Best Buys
November 25, 2020 23:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBIt's a special episode this week: the "sneak peek" announcement of our annual Consumer Guide Best Buy awards. Jill Ciminillo has the week off, as Tom and Damon run down the entire list of 2021 Best Buy award winners in each of our 21 vehicle categories. We discuss the winners in each category, from subcompact cars to premium large SUVs--and everything in between.
F-150 Hybrid; 2022 Honda Civic
November 16, 2020 17:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing four just-unveiled new vehicles: the 2022 Honda Civic Prototype, 2022 Infiniti QX55, 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, and 2022 Subaru BRZ. Brian Bell, Marketing Manager for the Ford F-150, joins us to talk about the all-new 2021 F-150 . Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on important auto-industry dates, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including our Consum...
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; 2022 Hyundai Tucson
November 13, 2020 16:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the radically redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson compact SUV. Harvey Briggs, Editor and Publisher of Rides & Drives (ridesanddrives.com), joins us to talk about his brand-new book--Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: Making a Legend. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on vehicle-name spelling and punctuation, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a road-test r...
The Cars of 1960, 2021 Lexus IS
November 06, 2020 17:00 - 52 minutes - 35.8 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing their test-drive experiences in the refreshed-for-2021 Lexus IS compact sport sedan, and Damon's recent appearance on the Cars Yeah podcast. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the December 2020 issue, including a profile on the novel 1941 Studebaker Champion Coupe Delivery and an overview of the cars of 1960. Tom has a quiz for Damon ...
California EV Mandate; 2021 Toyota Sienna
October 29, 2020 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Toyota's all-new, hybrid-only 2021 Sienna minivan, which is set to go on sale soon. Ed Kim, Vice President, Industry Analysis at AutoPacific, joins us for a talk about California's recently announced electric-vehicle mandate for 2035. Tom has a quiz on tires for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including our Consumer Guide First Spin reviews of...
Karma Automotive; 2022 GMC Hummer EV
October 22, 2020 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the genre-bending, new-for-2022 GMC Hummer EV truck. Joost De Vries, VP of Global Sales and Customer Experience for Karma Automotive, joins us for a talk about how the company started and where it hopes to go in the future. Tom has a surprisingly tricky "When was it introduced?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blo...
2021 Toyota Venza, 2022 Volkswagen Taos
October 16, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing Volkswagen's recent unveiling of its new-for-2022 Taos compact crossover SUV. Ash Hack, Manager, Vehicle Marketing and Communications for Toyota Motor North America, joins us for a talk about the revived-for-2021 Toyota Venza midsize SUV. Tom has a Toyota-themed quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the i...
LEGO Cars, 2021 Nissan Rogue
October 09, 2020 02:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by talking about Jaguar's recent decision to discontinue its XE compact sedan and the station-wagon version of its XF midsize car, before moving on to Damon's press-preview test drive of the redesigned-for-2021 Nissan Rogue. Freelance auto writer Cherise Threewitt joins us for a fun chat about her informative article on LEGO's various automotive building sets, and the design processes that bring them to market. Tom has ...
Buying Tires Online, C8 Corvette Review
October 02, 2020 18:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by sharing their test-drive impressions of the Chevrolet C8 Corvette. Matt Edmonds, Executive Vice President at The Tire Rack, joins us for a talk about buying tires online, what to look for when tire shopping, and The Tire Rack's extensive tire-testing processes. Tom has a groan-worthy quiz on car/movie-title puns for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--includ...
2021 Chicago Auto Show, 2021 GMC Yukon
September 25, 2020 18:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show with our test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2021 GMC Yukon--specifically, the top-of-the-line Denali model. Dave Sloan, President of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and General Manager of the Chicago Auto Show, calls in to give us the scoop on the 2021 Chicago Auto Show and the 2020 USO Barbecue for the Troops fundraising events. Tom has a Chicago Auto Show-themed quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs do...
Hyundai's EV Expansion, Nissan Z Proto
September 18, 2020 01:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by talking about Nissan's just-unveiled Z Proto concept vehicle, which heralds the forthcoming introduction of a new-generation production Z sports car. Yuval Steiman, Director of Product Strategy for Hyundai Motor America, joins us to fill us in on the details of Hyundai's IONIQ electric-vehicle sub-brand. Tom has a base-prices quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily...
GM and Nikola, Road America Attractions
September 11, 2020 17:00 - 52 minutes - 36.5 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by talking about General Motors' plan to team up with upstart automaker Nikola to build the Nikola Badger electric pickup truck. We also discuss Cadillac Live, an online showroom that provides personal guided tours of Cadillac's current products. Enrique Ramirez, Director of Business Services at the famous Road America race course in Elkhart Lake, Wiconsin, joins us to talk about a few of the many attractions the Road A...
GM/Honda Partnership, Jeep Grand Wagoneer
September 04, 2020 17:00 - 51 minutes - 35.2 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing Jeep's revival of its Grand Wagoneer name on an all-new premium large SUV. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to talk about the GM and Honda's recently announced partnership, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer concept vehicle, and the proper way to make a PB&J sandwich. Tom has a "front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon r...
Pontiac's Screaming Chicken, 2021 Ram 1500 TRX
August 28, 2020 20:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, a ultra-performance off-road pickup truck with a 702-hp supercharged Hemi V8 engine. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the October 2020 issue, including a profile on GM designer John Schinella (one of the creators of the Pontiac Trans Am "screaming chicken" hood graphic) and an overview o...
Pickup-Truck Reliability, Hyundai's IONIQ EV Brand
August 21, 2020 19:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Hyundai's launch of IONIQ, its dedicated EV brand. We also discuss our test-drive experiences with the new-for-2020 Cadillac CT4 compact sport sedan. Tim Esterdahl, founder and executive editor of Pickup Truck + SUV Talk, joins us to chat about vehicle reliability and innovative features. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on various pickup-truck facts, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Con...
2020 Buick Encore GX, Cadillac Super Cruise Subscriptions
August 14, 2020 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by talking about Cadillac being on the cusp of charging a subscription fee for its Super Cruise hands-free-driving system. We also discuss Ford Motor Company's recently announced CEO switch, as Jim Farley steps in to take the the reins from Jim Hackett. Buick Marketing Manager Rob Peterson, joins us to talk about the 2020 Buick Encore GX subcompact SUV, and Buick's transition to an all-SUV lineup. Tom has a quiz fo...
2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave, Safe Vehicles for Teens
August 07, 2020 21:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBHost Tom Appel and co-host Jill Ciminillo (Damon Bell is out this week) start off the show by discussing Consumer Reports' and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of safe and reliable vehicles for teenage drivers. We also share our test-drive experiences with the relaunched-for-2021 Toyota Venza midsize SUV, which now comes exclusively as a hybrid. Pete Milo, Chief Engineer of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, joins us to talk about the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Wrangler Ru...
Cars.com American-Made Index, 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
July 31, 2020 17:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Mercedes-Benz's reported plans to drop seven of its car models. We also share our test-drive experiences with Lexus's new-for-2021 LC 500 Convertible. Kelsey Mays, Senior Consumer Affairs Editor at Cars.com, joins us to talk about Cars.com's 2020 American-Made Index, a ranking of the most American-made vehicles sold in the U.S. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on option prices, and Damon runs down the...
Buying a Car During COVID-19, Discontinued Honda Models
July 24, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Honda's discontinuation of its Fit subcompact hatchback, Civic coupe, and the manual transmission in the Accord. We also share our test-drive experiences with the "last of a breed" 2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI. Bill Haggerty, Chairman of the Chicago Auto Show, joins us to talk about buying a car in the COVID-19 era, and why now is a good time to take your vehicle in for any necessary recall repairs. Tom ha...
Summer Road-Trip Tips, 2020 Ford Bronco
July 17, 2020 21:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBWith host Tom Appel off this week, co-hosts Damon Bell and Jill Ciminillo start off the show by discussing the highly anticipated and long-awaited reveal of the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport. Jeanette Casselano, Director of External Communications for the American Automobile Association (AAA), joins us to talk about AAA's summer-travel forecast report, how to get your vehicle ready for a road trip, and how to travel safely during the pandemic. Damon and Jill discuss their test-drive expe...
Used Car Sales Recovery, 2021 Kia K5
July 10, 2020 03:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Kia's recently revealed 2021 K5 midsize sedan, and Mazda's updates to the Mazda 3 compact sedan and hatchback for 2021. Julie Blackley, Communications Manager for iSeeCars.com, joins us to talk about iSeeCars's recent analysis of used-car sales in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the interesting data points the study revealed. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on vehicle and feature names, and Da...
Cars of 1940, 2021 Ford F-150
July 03, 2020 17:00 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Ford's recent unveiling of the redesigned 2021 F-150 pickup and the truck's many new features. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the August 2020 issue, including an overview of the cars of 1940 and a retrospective on the 1978-80 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Tom ...
JD Power Initial Quality Rankings, 2020 Cadillac XT6 Road Trip
June 26, 2020 20:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing JD Power's recently announced results of its Initial Quality Study, as well as Mitsubishi's plans to scale back its presence in "megamarkets" including the United States. Larry Nutson, Executive Producer and Chicago Bureau Chief at The Auto Channel, joins us to talk about his summer road trip in the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport. Tom has another quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on...
Cadillac Super Cruise Enhancements, 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
June 19, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the just-revealed 2021 Lexus IS and Nissan Rogue. Next, we talk about Volkswagen's new-for-2020 Atlas Cross Sport SUV. Jeff Miller, Super Cruise Program Engineering Manager at General Motors, calls in to fill us in on Cadillac's latest enhancements to its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system. Tom has a "who owns what?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer ...
Mecum Auctions, 2020 Mini Cooper SE
June 12, 2020 16:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Acura's redesigned-for 2021 TLX midsize sedan. Next, we talk about Mini's newest foray into pure-electric vehicles: the 2020 Mini Cooper SE. John Kraman, Lead TV Commentator/Analyst for Mecum Auctions, calls in to give us the scoop on Mecum's upcoming events, trends in the collector-vehicle market, and how Mecum is adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom has a Jaguar-themed quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damo...
Self-Driving Cars, 2020 BMW 8-Series
June 05, 2020 20:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Nissan's plans to revamp its Infiniti luxury division as part of the company's broader restructuring process. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with BMW's 8-Series family of cars. Kelsey Mays, Senior Consumer Affairs Editor at Cars.com, calls in to discuss the current state of self-driving vehicles and the semi-autonomous technologies available on 2020-model-year vehicles. Tom has an Infiniti-...
Becoming a Mechanic, 2020 Jeep Compass Trailhawk
May 29, 2020 20:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the 2020 Nissan Frontier compact pickup--in particular, Nissan's strategy of putting an all-new V6 engine the current-generation Frontier in advance of introducing the all-new Frontier in the near future. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Jeep Compass Trailhawk compact SUV. Ian Hardie, Senior Campus Employment Services Director for Universal Technical Institute in Lisle, IL, call...
GMC Pickup Design, 2020 Nissan Sentra
May 22, 2020 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Toyota's recent online unveiling of the 2021 Sienna minivan and Venza midsize SUV--both of which come standard with a hybrid powertrain. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 Nissan Sentra compact car. Carl Zipfel, Design Manager of GM's Advanced Truck Studio, calls in to fill us in on GM's full-size pickup design, GMC's AT4 sub-brand, and innovative features such as t...
Dad's 1963 Pontiac Tempest race car, 2020 BMW X6
May 15, 2020 23:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-host Damon Bell start the show by discussing the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has forced auto dealers to streamline the new-vehicle-purchase process--something of a silver lining for consumers. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 BMW X6, a "fastback coupe" midsize crossover SUV. Kirk Bell, Senior Editor of Motor Authority, calls in to chat about a couple of his latest feature articles--particularly the fabulous tale of his long hist...
Market-based Green Solutions, 2020 Chevrolet Silverado
May 08, 2020 20:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Ram Trucks' recent application to trademark the name "Dakota," which has fueled speculation about a new Ram midsize pickup. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks. Robert Colangelo, founder of Green Sense Farms, calls in to discuss various market-based solutions to environmental issues, both in and out of the automotive indust...
Electrification at Fiat Chrysler; 2020 Genesis G90
May 01, 2020 19:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing GM's recently announced plans to discontinue its Maven car-sharing services. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Genesis G90 luxury sedan. Brian Spohn, Vehicle Electrification Manager for FCA North America, calls in to discuss Fiat Chrysler's various electrification initiatives, including the eTorque mild-hybrid system. Tom has a tricky quiz on current Toyota vehicles for Damon and...
Plummeting Gas Prices, 2021 Kia Seltos
April 24, 2020 19:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the as-yet-unofficial details of the next-generation Mazda 6 sedan, as well as the reportedly expanded partnership between Mazda and Toyota. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the new 2021 Kia Seltos subcompact SUV. Paul Strauss, publisher of the popular websites The Awesomer, Technabob, and the auto-themed 95octane, calls in to discuss the significant drop in gas prices nationwide, as ...
Ford's COVID-19 Efforts, 2020 Infiniti QX80
April 17, 2020 19:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the worrisome increase in speeding and reckless driving incidents, now that many American highways have very little traffic as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the extra-large 2020 Infiniti QX80 SUV. Mike Levine, North American Product Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company, calls in to bring us up to speed on Ford's various efforts and initiatives ...
Hyundai Smart Park, 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
April 10, 2020 19:00 - 52 minutes - 36.5 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the trend of insurance companies issuing discounts to their auto-insurance policyholders, since many of those customers are driving their vehicles far less as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the racy Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio crossover SUV, which has been freshened for 2020. Mike Evanoff, Manager of Product Planning for Hyundai Motor America, calls ...
Buying a Car From Home, 2020 Subaru Outback
April 03, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing some of the aggressive incentives car dealers are offering to spur sales in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the redesigned-for-2020 Subaru Outback. Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder calls in to talk about the ways auto dealerships are adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 to continue to sell cars, and also how to disinfect your own car. T...
Auto Industry Shutdown, 2020 Toyota 4Runner
March 27, 2020 14:00 - 52 minutes - 36.4 MBHost Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off our first remotely recorded show by discussing a few of the ways the Big Three automakers are helping in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Toyota 4Runner. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, calls in to discuss the various effects of COVID-19 on the global automotive industry, as well as the memorable featu...