2018 Land Rover Discovery, The Bandit Run, Tesla, 2020 Mustang GT 500, 2018 Kia Rio, and Tire Safety Tips.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | #334

Automobiles just keeping wowing us with their advances in technology and innovative designs. Automotive journalist, George Kennedy, joins us to review the 2018 Land Rover Discovery and he was impressed. He got behind the wheel of the gas-powered V6 model and raves about its ability to truly go anywhere. It also has an amazing towing capacity and an extra package that features Advanced Tow Assist which can help you park a trailer safely. Are you ready to adventure in luxury? Next, Ed Justice, Jr. of Justice Brothers updates us on the results of the Indy 500. Then, we hear the latest on the 2018 Bandit Run from Restore a Muscle Car’s, Dave Hall, which will take place June 20-23. He tells us that they will be doing some events with Burt Reynolds in his hometown of Jupiter, Florida. It’s time for all of you Trans Am fans to pull them out of the garage and hit the road. Changing lanes, Executive Publisher of Kelley Blue Book, Karl Brauer, begins his interview by discussing the Honda Sensing technology, which has combined five features to create a fairly advanced driver assistance package. He then goes on to discuss his brand new set of street tires for the Dodge Demon and explains that they are fairly priced for quality, high performance Pirelli P ZEROS. Keeping in tune with performance, he explains that the 2020 Mustang GT 500 may give the Dodge Demon a run for its money in the future, and not just in a straight line. Karl then covers the recent Twitter unraveling featuring the media against Elon Musk. Switching gears, automotive journalist, Brian Armstead of Roadfly, gushes about his test drive in the 2019 Hyundai Veloster, and explains that he, at 6’9”, fits comfortably in this great ride. The Veloster is a tight package and this upgraded, updated, refreshed Veloster will be a hit with the young folks that want to tune their cars and add their own expressions. The base MSRP is $18,500 and can even jump up to the Ultimate for $28,150, giving consumers an amazing range and all the bells and whistles for the top trim model. Last but not least, automotive journalist, Jason Fogelson, reviews the 2018 Kia Rio 5-door and tells us that he was pleasantly surprised. The Rio has base price of $16,400 and a top trim EX package coming in at $18,700, which are both a steal for this amazing car. He then goes on to discuss safety on the road as the season of road trips approach us. Jason discusses tire safety and gives helpful tips on how to keep an eye on their integrity. Tune in now if you’re ready to hit the road with your mind full of automotive knowledge.

[00:00:00] 2018 Land Rover Discovery
[00:06:06] Impressive Towing Power
[00:12:30] Tesla’s Market Growth
[00:19:51] A Hot Day At the Track
[00:28:10] Winner of Indy 500
[00:35:53] 2018 Bandit Run
[00:42:13] Honda Sensing Technology
[00:48:41] Demon Street Tires
[00:54:44] Tesla Twitter Unraveling
[01:02:05] Hyundai Veloster Refreshed
[01:10:29] 2018 Kia Rio
[01:18:07] Tire Safety Tips

Discover more about segments and guests below…

[00:00:00] 2018 Land Rover Discovery

Automotive journalist, George Kennedy, recently climbed into the driver seat of the 2018 Land Rover Discovery. He drove the gas V6 model of the Discovery and explains that there is also a turbo diesel option. Last year, George had the opportunity to drive the diesel version and it was pretty impressed by it. It had 254-HP and 443 lb-ft of torque and averaged 26-MPG highway. Alan chimes in to rave about the towing capacity of these amazing vehicles and its ability to forge 3 feet of water. Changing gears, Alan tells a story of replacing an engine in a box van with Craftsman tools 40 years ago. George also tells us that he has been building his wrenching skills since before he could even drive. Join us for some deeply instilled automotive passion now.

[00:06:06] Impressive Towing Power

Summer is coming and it may be time to get out your travel trailer and hit the road. With that in mind, it is important that you have a vehicle that can tow your home away from home. Well, automotive journalist, George Kennedy, raves about the incredible towing capacity of the 2018 Land Rover Discovery. He explains that even the gas model tows up to 8,200 pounds and it also offers some amazing technology to help unexperienced towers. They offer an upgraded package that comes equipped with backup cameras and sensors which aid the driver in parking a trailer perfectly. Backing up a trailer can be counter-intuitive but with the Discovery you are able to position a dial and insert measurements in order for the ride to position the trailer on its own. You can climb into the 2018 Discovery for a base price of $52,000 and you can climb up to about $72,000 if you want all the bells and whistles. Explore the 2018 Land Rover Discovery now.

[00:12:30] Tesla’s Market Growth

Alan and automotive journalist, George Kennedy, discuss advances in automotive technology and a company that continues to surprise everyone. Even though Elon Musk and Tesla are under constant attack from journalists, the company has risen 125 points in the stock market and is still rising toward the most valuable company. George shares his thoughts on Tesla and likes the idea that they broke a lot of conventions and have forced a lot of legacy automakers to step up their game. He expresses his worries that Tesla may go off the rails if their shareholders don’t get what they are promised. However, the automotive industry is in such new territory that George thinks it is unfair to judge Tesla like any other company. George also talks about touchscreens, and how he thinks that some companies are relying a little too much on this new technology. He explains that it is important to always advance but keep somethings that drivers are familiar with. What are your thoughts on automotive technology and Tesla?

[00:19:51] A Hot Day at the Track

This year was the second hottest year at the Indy 500 track in history. Ed Justice Jr., President and CEO of Justice Brothers, explains his toasty day at the track. He describes the hottest day at the track that took place in 1977 and the old garages back in that day had no A/C and maybe a swamp cooler. That year AJ Foyt won and he remembers sitting in the grandstands roasting. Ed tells us that this really affects the speeds on the track because when the heat rises the track gets greasy and slippery forcing the cars to slow down. This year it also rained the night before which is not so great for tire grip and when you increase the heat even the chassis’ of the cars work differently. Even experienced drivers were understeering and at 200-mph that can be a very dangerous thing. Listen for more blistering facts from the 2018 Indy 500.

[00:28:10] Winner of Indy 500

Ed Justice, Jr. has attended the Indy 500 for the past 25 years and it has landed him in the Oldtimers Club. He tells us that this year is the second year in a row where they attended alongside the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team. Their two driver entries Sage Karam and J.R. Hildebrand were both strong drivers and were both in the top ten cars. However, Will Power from Team Penske won this year with a Chevrolet and the number one competitors were Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport. Ed also raves about the unbelievable crowd that was at the track this year. He tells us that Doug Boles is a very engaging guy and he did an amazing job at bringing fans in this year. Ed tells us that his favorite part every year is walking out on the track pre-start of the race and peering upon 300,000 people – the excitement never gets old. Get into the pit of the track with us now.

[00:35:53] 2018 Bandit Run

Are you ready to bust out your Trans Am and hit the road with fellow fans? We chat with Dave Hall of Restore a Muscle Car about The Bandit Run that he started in 2007. At the time they were preparing for the 30th anniversary of Smokey and the Bandit and they wanted to make the trek from Texarkana like the movie. Originally they hit the road with 40 cars and by the time they hit Atlanta, there was over 100 Trans Ams tagging along. This year will even have events in Burt Reynolds’ hometown of Jupiter, Florida where fans can meet him. Discover more about the 2018 Bandit Run.

[00:42:13] Honda Sensing Technology

We discuss automotive technology with Kelley Blue Book’s Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, who tells us that vehicle injury and fatality rates have climbed up by 25%. He believes that this may be due to increased distraction caused by mobile phones and vehicle technology. However, Karl tells us that Honda has managed to send their statistics in the opposite direction and Karl thinks that it is because of their Honda Sensing suite. Automatic breaking, collision warning system, lane keeping assist and radar cruise control all add up to a fairly advanced level of driver assistance that can protect car owners in a number of circumstances. Honda is seeing a reduction in insurance claims, and when there is a claim they have seen a drop in injury rate and a reduction in the cost of accidents. Honda is doing it right and it’s time for all auto manufacturers to get on board.

[00:48:41] Demon Street Tires

We know that the Dodge Demon was made for the drag strip and Karl Brauer of Kelley Blue Book and Alan have tested those drag radials well. The question is, what if you want to drive this monster every day? Karl asked Tim Kuniskis, former President of Dodge, this question early on and Tim revealed that they were releasing a street tire that was essentially the same as a Hellcat wide body tire. The street tire package has real tread, and channels for the water to wash out if it rains. They are also not made of the soft compound like the drags, so they won’t break down or get worn out. They are fairly affordable for high-quality performance tires. For $3,699 you get four lightweight forged wheels, mounted and balanced to Pirelli P ZEROS and they are more than worth it. Hit the road with a Demon now.

[00:54:44] Tesla Twitter Unraveling

Last week a lot of people were watching the Tesla Twitter unravel as Elon Musk took a stand against journalists who have had enough of the company’s unfulfilled promises. Kelley Blue Book’s Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, tells us that Elon Musk recently got upset at the media for calling him out and it gave the media a reason to push back. This generation has been pretty supportive of this company for the last 15 years and it seems odd because they have never met a production deadline or delivered on their word. Still, the company’s value keeps rising and it has moved up 125 points within the Fortune 500 companies and has a market cap that rivals Ford and General Motors even though they are only making one one-millionth of the cars. So whose side are you on?

[01:02:05] Hyundai Veloster Refreshed

You know that a car is great when it can fit a 6’9”, 310-pound automotive journalist comfortably inside. Brian Armstead of Roadfly sounds off about his experience in the 2019 Hyundai Veloster. Even the model that was equipped with a sunroof gave Brian enough headroom and he really liked the extra light. He explains that the Veloster is a tight package and it has been updated, upgraded and refreshed. It will really appeal to the young crowd that has the desire to personalize the tuning. The base price of the Veloster is $18,500 and you can step up to the turbocharged Ultimate for $28, 150 that will come with all of your favorite safety features and add-ons. Even better they come with Hyundai’s 10 year, 100,000-mile warranty for added assurance. Hear why the revamped Veloster might be just the car for you.

[01:10:29] 2018 Kia Rio

Automotive journalist, Jason Fogelson, tells us that he has just been pleasantly surprised by the 5-door Kia Rio. The Rio is now on a new platform that delivers a lot of refinement and is really a cool car. It comes in at a very affordable base price of $16,400 with the top trim level starting at $18,700. He tells us that Hyundai and Kia are under the same parent company and they are sharing all of their great technological advances. Jason tells us that the average person probably doesn’t realize how far the value of these great car companies have risen. J.D. Power studies have shown that they are both coming in right at the top of the list for reliability and initial satisfaction. Maybe it’s time to put a Rio in your driveway!

[01:18:07] Tire Safety Tips

Yay! It’s finally time for those summer family road trips and automotive journalist, Jason Fogelson, tells us that it is important to take some safety precautions before you leave. It turns out that tires have a shelf life and it can be a bit of challenge to figure out when to replace them. A new tire promises to deliver certain stopping power and grip but the older they get the less integrity they will have. New tire ratings can change very much after 30,000 miles or even after sitting brand new in the garage for years. Rubber breaks down and tread will wear thin so it is important to check the date of when the tires were produced which will be printed on the tire itself. Find out how to put your best tire forward.

Explore More with Helpful Links:

Contributor: Ed Justice, Jr. | President and CEO, Justice Brothers
Contributor: Karl Brauer | Executive Publisher, Kelley Blue Book
Special Guest: George Kennedy | Automotive Journalist, Boston Cars
Special Guest: Dave Hall | Owner, Restore a Muscle Car
Special Guest: Brian Armstead | Automotive Journalist, Roadfly.com
Special Guest: Jason Fogelson | Author, Books for Gaerheads
Website: Car Gurus
Website: Burt Reynolds Institute
Website: The Bandit Run
Website: Karl Brauer
Website: Roadfly
Website: Black Enterprises
Website: Review Garage
Book: 100 Things Every Gear Head Should Do Before They Die
Vehicle Mention: 2018 Land Rover Discovery
Vehicle Mention: 2020 Mustang GT 500
Vehicle Mention: 2019 Hyundai Veloster
Vehicle Mention: 2018 Kia Rio

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:

Dave Hall | Owner/Operator, Restore a Muscle Car

***

This episode was produced by Entertainment Right Now (ERN). If you found value in this episode, and you’d like to hear more, please consider leaving us a review on iTunes and be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss a beat. Your feedback helps us to reach more enthusiasts around the world! If you have a question you’d like us to answer, please leave a comment below or e-mail us at info@ernlive.com.

About THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor puts you in the driver’s seat for a unique, fast paced look at today’s automotive industry. This is your pedal-to-the-metal, two-hour thrill ride devoted to the latest car news and test-drive results, how-to tips, car maintenance tips, auto show coverage, expert insights and behind-the-scenes race day action. Don’t miss exclusive interviews with top auto executives, athletes, celebrities and prominent newsmakers from around the world.

2018 Land Rover Discovery, The Bandit Run, and Tesla | #334