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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #363

Horsepower, luxury, and value, what we love in cars here on THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor. We kick off the show with Executive Publisher for Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, who tells us about the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette – a beast of a machine with more horsepower than its chassis can handle. Then we talk about the all-electric Kia Niro with a 250 mile range and the Land Rover Evoque that he test drove in Greece. Next, we discuss the insane $200,000+ Mercedes-Benz Maybach SUV, the affordably luxurious Kia K900, and the release of the Tesla Model Y (but, why?), with automotive journalist, BJ Killeen. Shifting gears, our new friend and Editor and Publisher of Rides and Drives, Harvey Briggs, shares about his test drive of the ultra-luxurious 2020 BMW X7 SAV with Alan Taylor. Harvey also discusses his time cruising down under in a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, the diesel version of the Ranger we all wish we could get our hands on. Changing lanes, automotive journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, gives the update on 12 Hours of Sebring, in which Cadillac dominated (taking first, second, and third place), and gushes about his extended experience with the Acura NSX. Closing out the show, JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, reviews the new Ford F-250 Super Duty and gives us new information on the upcoming Ghostbusters movie. Tune in for the latest automotive news and test drive reviews.

 

• [00:00:00] A lot of Horsepower, A lot of Problems
• [00:06:15] Corvette Speculation and Kia Niro
• [00:12:30] Land Rover Evoque Test Drive in Greece
• [00:19:51] Redesigned, Luxurious Kia K900
• [00:29:36] Mercedes-Benz Maybach SUV
• [00:35:52] Tesla to Release the Model Y
• [00:42:12] Introducing Harvey Briggs
• [00:48:03] 2020 BMW X7 XDrive50I – Luxury Supreme
• [00:54:43] Driving the New Ford Ranger Down Under
• [01:02:04] Acura NSX and Golden Age of Automobiles
• [01:11:23] Cadillac Dominates 12 Hours of Sebring
• [01:18:04] Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ghostbusters

 

Discover more about segments and guests below…

 

[00:00:00] A lot of Horsepower, A lot of Problems

If you’re a fan of big horsepower, then the rumors and spy shots of Chevrolet’s new mid-engine Corvette may leave you hot and bothered. Who better to chat about a new mid-engine supercar than Executive Publisher of Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com and Ford GT owner, Karl Brauer. Apparently, GM has been facing some unique issues with the design of their new Corvette. Simply put, it has more horsepower than its chassis can handle; but this is a good problem to have, Karl says, and a problem GM will likely be able to tackle. Are you excited for the mid-engine Corvette?

 

[00:06:15] Corvette Speculation and Kia Niro

We continue to churn the rumor mill attempting to find any nuggets of information we can about the new mid-engine Corvette. As we discussed in the last segment, GM’s new beast-machine is putting out so much horsepower that the chassis is being warped. Executive Publisher for Kelley Bluebook, Autotrader, Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, thinks they will have this issue fixed sooner than later, as he’s seeing a lot of footage of the vehicle out-and-about with GM President, Mark Reuss, in the passenger seat. We don’t know much about this new supercar, but we do know that it will be driven by a very powerful V8 engine, which has us excited. Changing gears, Karl fills us in on the 2019 Kia Niro. With a 250+ mi all-electric range, smart cruise control, and a host of other features, the Kia Niro is a lot of car for the money. Learn more about the Kia Niro here.

 

[00:12:30] Land Rover Evoque Test Drive in Greece

As Executive Publisher for Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, heads to the airport in his test driven Kia Niro, he fills us in on his destination. Karl is heading to Greece for a test drive event for the new Land Rover Evoque. As we slog through the first quarter of 2019, a lot of car companies are feeling the pain, but Jaguar Land Rover is one of the few brands doing well in this economy, due to their reputable line of SUVs. Another factor keeping their head above water is their global presence. While the US market is up, the Chinese market is down, and not having all of your eggs in one basket is a very smart business move. It’s no secret that when you buy a Land Rover you’re going to spend a pretty penny, that’s why the Land Rover Evoque is the perfect entry point for customers of a lower income bracket than their standard brand enthusiasts. Listen in for more about Land Rover and the global market and check out Karl’s story on Forbes about the Ford GT.

 

[00:19:51] Redesigned, Luxurious Kia K900

We’ve been hearing a lot about Kia and their commitment to shrinking of the gap between quality and affordability. With their recently redesigned K900, they’ve brought the luxury car closer to the hands of the work-a-day-joe. Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, has been test driving the latest Kia flagship luxury sedan and couldn’t be more impressed with it. Kia gets it, they understand how to create great vehicles at a lower price point, and that’s their focus. Albeit, luxury is still luxury, but bringing the K900 to market at just under $60,000 is still a commendable step in the right direction. This beautiful sedan is very elegant and sporty looking, with great proportions and a Bentley-esque back end. Sporting all-wheel drive, a 3.3L twin turbo 365-HP V6 engine with 376 lb-ft of torque, a more succinct control scheme, and a litany of other features, this vehicle is well worth the price tag. Learn more about this amazingly valued luxury sedan.

 

[00:29:36] Mercedes-Benz Maybach SUV

While we’re on the topic of luxury, Mercedes-Benz is set to bring back the Maybach brand with their new SUV. Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, gives us the details on this ultra luxury Maybach version of Mercedes-Benz next generation of GLS vehicles. This vehicle is about status. So expect Mercedes-Benz to bring an exceedingly luxurious design to the fore, but not without a hefty price tag. Hopefuls can expect to spend anywhere from $200,000 to $350,000! One detail that threw us for a loop was their plans to make this new SUV an all-electric model. Will this be an acceptable component to a multi-hundred-thousand dollar vehicle?

 

[00:35:52] Tesla to Release the Model Y

Whatever you may think of serial entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, you have to admit he is peculiar. Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, and host, Alan Taylor, expresses frustration with the billionaire and his wishy-washy nature. Alan’s buddy has been a happy owner of a 2013 Tesla Model S, taking great care of it and encountering no issues, but BJ has heard opposing stories from her friend that owns a Model X. Be that as it may, Tesla is back in the news with their recently unveiled Model Y, touting a range of 300 miles, at an entry price of $47,000. This vehicle has us asking ‘why’, but ‘what’ still remains to be cemented before they start shipping next year. Are you ready for the Tesla Model Y?

 

[00:42:12] Introducing Harvey Briggs

Are you ready for a fresh new face, or voice? Recently returned from his trip to Australia, Founder, Editor, and Publisher of Rides and Drives, Harvey Briggs, joins us to talk about his passions: planes, boats, motorcycles, and music. Harvey has won major awards, including Cleos, Emmys, Gold LIons and more. Recently he test drove the 2020 BMW X7 xDrive50I with Alan Taylor as co-pilot, and has written an article detailing their impressions on his website. Read it at RidesandDrives.com.

 

[00:48:03] 2020 BMW X7 xDrive50I – Luxury Supreme

You don’t need to spend $200,000 to reach the top tier of luxury. Founder, Editor, and Publisher of Rides and Drives, Harvey Briggs, fills us in on the new 2020 BMW X7 xDrive50I, one of the best cruising SUV crossovers out there. Quiet, comfortable luxury, that’s what you get with this machine. The BMW X7 xDrive50I doesn’t sacrifice power for luxury, sporting a 456-HP V8 engine and an excellent 8-speed automatic transmission. This solid 4.5 out of 5 stars SUV comes in at $92,600 to start, so there’s no need to stare down the barrel of a $200,000+ car for luxury supreme. Read Harvey’s in-depth review of the 2020 BMW X7 xDrive50I at Kelley Blue Book.

 

[00:54:43] Driving the New Ford Ranger Down Under

How bad do you want a diesel version of the new Ford Ranger? You want it, we know you want it. Well too bad! If you want to drive the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, for the time being, you’re going to have to travel abroad. Founder, Editor, and Publisher of Rides and Drives, Harvey Briggs, recently did just that and got to test this bad boy out, down under! From blistering beaches to rocky two track roads in the Australian Alps, Harvey put the Ford Range Wildtrak through its paces and couldn’t be more impressed. The 2.3L Ecoboost engine pumps out a high level of performance that gives you the feeling that Ford really has this engine dialed in. Hear more about the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Harvey’s trip to Australia.

 

[01:02:04] Acura NSX and Golden Age of Automobiles

If you haven’t seen the newest Acura NSX, you’re missing out. Automotive journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, got to do more than just look at this beast of a machine, recently he got to spend some real time with Acura’s supercar. While getting in and out might pose problems for older and heavier drivers, once you’re in, the ride is very comfortable. The 9-speed transmission transitions through gears very unobtrusively, and has a hell of a lot of get-up-and go, especially considering it has a V6 engine. One surprising aspect of the vehicle was its ability to average 26 mpg fuel economy. We’re living in the golden age of automobiles when even the most fuel-thirsty vehicles can average 20 mpg, Alan states, citing his Dodge Demon as a great example. Listen in for more details on the Acura NSX.

 

[01:11:23] Cadillac Dominates 12 Hours of Sebring

Cadillac has been struggling to hit good sales numbers as of late, but there is one area in which they have been excelling: racing. Automotive journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, gives us the details on Cadillac’s recent sweep of the top three spots at 12 Hours of Sebring. They went into the race favored to win and there was no question from the moment the tires hit the pavement. Not even Acura backed Team Penske could touch them. Steven thinks this is just another reason why IMSA sports car racing is where it’s at. Changing lanes, Steven fills us in on his test drive of the Porsche 911 Cabriolet in Greece; “The new 911 just oozes competence. Such a fun car.” Tune in for more on motorsports and the latest from Porsche.

 

[01:18:04] Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ghostbusters

Does anyone really need a Ford F-250? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want them! JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, recently got to test drive his cousin’s new Ford F-250 Super Duty and has to say, it’s a very impressive truck. Then, Josh gives us an update on the new Ghostbusters movie; Bill Murray is only making a cameo. Boooooo! We also speculate about the Cadillac they may use to portray the Ecto 1. Tune in for more Hollywood inside info.

 

Explore More with Helpful Links:

• Contributor: Karl Brauer | Executive Publisher, Autotrader/ Kelley Blue Book/ Dealer.com
• Contributor: BJ Killeen | Automotive journalist
• Contributor: Steven Cole Smith | Automotive journalist, Autoweek/ Automobile Magazine/ Grassroots Motorsports
• Contributor: Josh Hancock | Hollywood Car Consultant, JoshCAR
• Special Guest: Harvey Briggs | Editor/ Publisher, Rides and Drives
• Website: Ghostbusters
• Website: 12 Hours of Sebring
• Vehicle Mention: 2019 Kia Niro
• Vehicle Mention: 2020 Land Rover Evoque
• Vehicle Mention: 2019 Kia K900
• Vehicle Mention: Mercedes-Benz Maybach SUV
• Vehicle Mention: Tesla Model Y
• Vehicle Mention: 2020 BMW X7 SAV
• Vehicle Mention: 2019 Ford Ranger Wildtrak
• Vehicle Mention: Ford F-250 Super Duty

Episode Credits:

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

Our Sponsors & Supported Charities:

• Austin Hatcher Foundation
• Barrett-Jackson
• Brembo
• Bridgestone
• Dodge
• Foundation of Human Understanding
• Go RVing
• Patriot Outreach
• Shell
• Subaru
• The Little Rock Foundation

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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.