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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #323

The automotive industry is always keeping us on our toes and this week is no different. We begin the show with automotive journalist, George Kennedy, to hear about the Women’s Motormouth event at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Plus, George reviews the BMW 5 series plug-in hybrid. Then, we chat with Marc Gorlin, Founder of Roadie, who explains their app which allows you to get paid to deliver items for other patrons. After that, we hear the latest on NASCAR from automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith. Last but not least, we catch up with technology expert, John Ellis, who talks about the value of automotive data tracking, and how we can prepare for the future of mobility. Join us now for more on the crazy car world.

• [00:00:00] Women’s Motormouth
• [00:05:22] Subaru Subscription
• [00:12:30] BMW 5 Series Plug-In Hybrid
• [00:19:53] Environmental Motoring
• [00:27:18] Get Paid to Deliver
• [00:35:55] Seven-Foot Jar Jar Binks
• [00:42:15] Lowest Rated Daytona 500
• [00:48:27] NASCAR Falls Short
• [00:54:46] Continental Tire Issues
• [01:02:08] Ferrari Portofino Drive
• [01:10:54] Automotive Data Collection
• [01:18:10] China’s Push to Electric

Discover more about segments and guests below…

[00:00:00] Women’s Motormouth

Automotive journalist, George Kennedy, joins us to sound off about the Women’s Motormouth event at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts. Influential women in the automotive industry will be there to share their stories; notable guests include Dawn Hayes (first female, African American motorcycle safety instructor in the country), “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth (250-MPH drag racer), and Jody Perewitz (fastest woman on an American motorcycle). It will be held on March 8, 2018, in honor of International Women’s Day. Learn more now.

[00:05:22] Subaru Subscription

Car companies are changing the way they are doing things and automotive journalist,George Kennedy, discusses Subaru’s new subscription plan. Long term dependability is important to car owners and Subaru is making it possible for you to make one payment that will include the car load, auto insurance, and vehicle maintenance for 24 months. After 12 months they will give you the option to trade it in for a brand new one and start your 24 months over again. This subscription is a great option for consumers who just want a reliable car with no hassle. Would you like to upgrade your model every year?

[00:12:30] BMW 5 Series Plug-In Hybrid

Do BMWs have a home in the electric world? “The Ultimate Driving Machine” was made for performance and now they are making the transition to electric. Automotive journalist, George Kennedy, has been test driving the new BMW 530e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid and he is impressed. While the battery really only lasts for 10-15 miles, it packs a combined 248-HP and 310 lb-ft of torque between the electric motor and internal combustion engine. Although the silent whoosh when the turbocharger kicks in may not be appealing to a certain Dodge Demon lover – this car delivers in a really smart way. An Eco Pro and Sport mode give you the option to drive this car the way you want and save the planet (a little bit) at the same time. Is this a BMW you can get behind?

[00:19:53] Environmental Motoring

With the CAFE standards pending review, OEMs are pushing to create cars that will meet the requirements. Automotive journalist, George Kennedy, talks with us about the BMW 530e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid and its place in the market. Many muscle car worshipers can’t give their seal of approval to an electric or hybrid car, but they have a lot to offer. Your location can mean everything when determining what kind of vehicle you need. If you’re living in the city, an electric car could really benefit you with its regenerative braking and fuel saving ability. George believes that we will see many mild hybrid introductions into the market so that it is less shocking as the category evolves. Explore the future of electric now.

[00:27:18] Get Paid to Deliver

Many of us commute or travel often and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t get paid to do it. Founder of Roadie, Marc Gorlin, shares about their Roadie app that allows consumers to send an item with a vetted driver who happens to be going in that direction. The app has delivery tracking and allows you to directly communicate with the driver making it even more flexible than sending items through a mail service. If you’re worried about your item, partnered with UPS Roadie provides a $500 insurance with each delivery. Another perk is that if you’re in an area with a Waffle House, you can arrange to meet there and get a free waffle and cup of coffee after your delivery. Are you looking for a little extra pocket money? Roadie could be your answer.

[00:35:55] Seven-Foot Jar Jar Binks

What if you could ship anything for less than with a typical parcel carrier? Roadie Founder, Marc Gorlin, tells us how their company can help. Roadie is an app based shipping community that has almost 60,000 drivers nationwide and they are delivering all kinds of stuff. Marc reminisces about one of their strangest shipments – a seven-foot tall Jar Jar Binks statue from the Star Wars franchise. While this was an odd delivery, the owner of the statue was able to ship this with a Roadie driver for 30% of what it was going to cost to send through a shipping company.  The app makes it easy for drivers to find gigs all over the country and items often get delivered faster than you ever imagined possible. Will Roadie win the shipping wars?

[00:42:15] Lowest Rated Daytona 500

We all know that NASCAR has been changing and sadly, many are losing interest in this classic pastime. Automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith, explains his experience at NASCAR’s biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500. Many big names left the track this year; Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Danica Patrick, Karl Edwards – just to name a few. This opened up the lanes up to the stars of tomorrow like Alex Boeman, Michael McDowell, William Byron and more. Unfortunately, none of these drivers have really made their mark on fans as this year was the lowest rated Daytona 500 in history. Did you watch the first race of NASCAR this year?

[00:48:27] NASCAR Falls Short

NASCAR attendance has dwindled, and this year FOX showed the lowest numbers they have ever seen after airing the Daytona 500. Are short attention spans creating this subpar turn out, or is there more to it than that? Automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith, shares some thoughts on why NASCAR racing has lost its shine. The prices have skyrocketed and many of the big stars are gone leaving fans searching for the next driver to love. The excitement surrounding the Daytona 500 used to be tangible, with 20 extra cars waiting in the wings in hopes of making it in. This year there were 40 slots and 40 cars showed. The low driver attendance got Steven thinking – if the competitors are not getting excited, then why should the viewers? Is it time for NASCAR to hit the pit and refuel or leave the track for good?

[00:54:46] Continental Tire Issues

This year while viewers watched the 24 Hours of Daytona, they witnessed an insane amount of tire blowouts. Automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith, tells us that Wayne Taylor (number 10 car) actually pulled out of the race and parked because his tires kept blowing out and Continental Tire couldn’t give him any answers. Some rumored that Continental brought year old tires to the track because they didn’t move them last year due to the rains. While we may never know the real reason, Steven shares that he hasn’t seen that many tire problems since the 2005 Formula 1 race that is notorious for bad tires. Continental is bringing brand new slicks to Sebring this week to test them out, and we all have our fingers crossed. Is NASCAR losing traction with its fans and drivers?

[01:02:08] Ferrari Portofino Drive

The dearly departed, Enzo Ferrari may still some magical powers over Italy. Automotive journalist, Steven Cole Smith, tells us that the test drive day for the Ferrari Portofino was wet and chilly, but as soon as they got out on the road, the clouds parted and the sun shone through. The base price for this gorgeous car, which is replacing the entry level California T, starts at $214,000. This 7-speed automatic with a twin-turbo V8 cruises around like an everyday driver with none of the bad habits from the past. Steven states that he was slightly bummed that the turbocharger changed the growl of the V8 but the car was still very impressive. Do you need a heavenly sports machine?

[01:10:54] Automotive Data Collection

There is valuable data generated by almost anything we do, and our cars can provide a lot. Technology expert, John Ellis, explains what is just around the corner for the world of transportation. His book, “The Zero Dollar Car”, asks us to imagine a world where the value of data is more valuable than the car itself. There are people that are willing to pay for data which could potentially pay for your car. Our economy was built and predicated on an advertising model and now our cars can provide easy, digital advertising. Would you trade data as currency for your car?

[01:18:10] China’s Push to Electric

Last year, China sold over 30-million vehicles and that is roughly two times what the United States sold. Technology expert, John Ellis, shares why we need to start paying attention to China, who is doing a country wide push to go all electric. At a recent meeting, government officials revealed plans to eliminate the sale of  internal combustion vehicles by 2030, and remove them all together by 2040. Whether we like it or not, electric is coming and we are wondering what our country will do to keep up with global trends. Alan and John also discuss the dismissal of Ford Motor Company’s President Raj Nair. Catch up with us now.

Explore More with Helpful Links:

• Contributor: Steven Cole Smith | Automotive Journalist, Automobile Magazine
• Guest: George Kennedy | Automotive Journalist, Boston Globe
• Guest: Marc Gorlin | Founder and CEO, Roadie
• Guest: John Ellis | Technology Expert, John T. Ellis
• Event: Women’s Motormouth
• Vehicle: BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
• Vehicle: Ferrari Portofino
• Book : ‘The Zero Dollar Car’

Episode Credits:

• Program Host: Alan Taylor
• Producer: Dave Milligan
• Production Assistant: Joanne Bolden
• Audio Engineer: Dave Milligan
• Copy Editor: Jess Baumgardner

Our Sponsors & Supported Charities:

• Austin Hatcher Foundation
• Barrett-Jackson
• Brembo
• Bridgestone
• Craftsman
• Dodge
• Foundation of Human Understanding
• Go RVing
• Haynes Automotive Manuals
• Katzkin
• Patriot Outreach
• Pennzoil
• Shell
• Subaru

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