Plug-In Hybrids, Rivian, Trucks, Hollywood Cars, and Auto News

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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #369

Alan was on a guest on a radio show in Los Angeles recently and he found it interesting how different their perspective on automotive news was from his. That’s not going to stop him from reporting on it just the same way he always has, with automotive journalist, BJ Killeen. We discuss Ram’s overtaking of Chevrolet in the truck segment, the decline in Prius sales, Truck Night in America, the 50th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang BULLITT. Then, we learn about the best, most affordable plug-in hybrids, vehicles with the best in-car tech for technophile dads this Father’s Day, and the amazing value of the Kia Telluride, from Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody. Changing lanes, Rivian Director of Corporate Communication, Michael McHale gives us an update on the amazing progress Rivian has made in recent years; including receiving huge investments from Ford Motor Company and Amazon. Learn more about the Rivian R1T pick-up truck that touts up to 400 miles of range on one charge, 14 inches of ground clearance, 754-HP, and 11,000+ lbs of towing capacity. Closing out the show, JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, fills us in on the “Hollywood Dream Machines” display at the Petersen Automotive Museum, the attention to detail during the filming of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, and his test drive of the 2019 Aston Martin Vantage. Don’t miss out on this jam-packed episode.

[00:00:00] RAM Overtakes Chevrolet Truck Sales
[00:06:41] Prius Sales Down and Trucks are Awesome
[00:12:30] Truck Night in America / Mustang BULLITT
[00:19:51] Upcoming National Hardware Show
[00:24:51] Best, Affordable Plug-In Hybrids
[00:35:52] Kia Telluride and Technophile Dads
[00:42:13] Ford and Amazon Invest in Rivian
[00:49:25] Rivian Price Range and Towing Capability
[00:54:44] The Origin Story of Rivian
[01:02:05] Hollywood Movie Car Update
[01:11:49] Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Details
[01:18:05] 2019 Aston Martin Vantage

Discover more about segments and guests below…

[00:00:00] RAM Overtakes Chevrolet Truck Sales

Is the automotive industry trying to push electric vehicles on a consumer base that just, frankly, isn’t interested? Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, and Alan think so. EV sales make up a small percentage of overall automotive sales every year, all while truck and high horsepower sales are doing very well. Just look at Dodge Challengers and RAM trucks, they’re selling more of those vehicles today than ever before. In fact they’re doing so well that they’ve overtaken Chevrolet in both of these markets, as Camaro and Chevy truck sales fall to third place. Are you a Dodge or RAM fan?

[00:06:41] Prius Sales Down and Trucks are Awesome

As Toyota Prius sales suffer, we wonder how long the electric vehicle market can sustain itself when people are not buying them. Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, discusses the Prius’ 23% drop in sales and pays respects to the pioneer electric vehicle that paved the way for all that came after it. Changing gears, we revel in the success of the truck and SUV markets. There’s just something special about a truck; its got power, a high seated stance, utility, cargo space, and so much more. Are you a fan of a good old fashioned pick-up truck?

[00:12:30] Truck Night in America / Mustang BULLITT

We get passionate about our trucks in America, and likewise on THE DRIVE. Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, fills us in on her favorite TV show, Truck Night in America, that features modified truck drivers on some really tough, fun-to-watch courses. Don’t miss this raw, action-packed ode to truck lovers on the History channel! Switching lanes, Alan reviews the 2019 Ford Mustang BULLITT he’s been driving. This 50th anniversary edition Mustang pays homage to the famous Ford Mustang featured in Steve McQueen movie of the same name. Superior handling, a 480-HP V8 engine, 0-60 mph in 4.2, a solid 24 mpg fuel economy, and the unique BULLITT green make this car a steal at $47,590. Tune in for more on this beautiful collector car.

[00:19:51] Upcoming National Hardware Show

Every car guy needs a good set of tools. Automotive journalist, BJ Killeen, chats about the upcoming National Hardware Show and the exciting new tailgate and backyard barbecue categories that have caught her attention. There is also another new interesting section, the Impulse Aisle. Studies show that 20% of average household grocery bill comes from impulse buys, while 90% of people make impulse purchases occasionally and 75% of those people feel happy with their decision. Impulse purchases aren’t relegated just to the grocery store, and Alan can attest to that. He shares the story of how he impulsively bought his current RAM 3500 the same day he saw an ad for it on Facebook. Are you an automotive impulse buyer?

[00:24:51] Best, Affordable Plug-In Hybrids

While Alan might not care for electric vehicles, he does see potential in plug-in hybrids; they offer short range, around town electrification, while also offering a long range gas-powered option. Here to help us navigate the plug-in hybrid landscape is Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, with his top picks of affordable and reliable vehicles. The Chrysler Pacifica is a great hybrid vehicle that can get you 30 miles around town before kicking into gas-mode, which typically is just enough to get you around towns for errands and back home. Listen in to discover more hybrid vehicles, like the Hyundai Ioniq, Prius Prime, and Volkswagen e-Golf, at an affordable price.

[00:35:52] Kia Telluride and Technophile Dads

Alan is now a grandfather to two wonderful grandkids, and his wife thinks its time to upgrade their ride to a more roomy vehicle. They’ve recently been driving a Land Rover, but when Kia dropped off the Telluride, it was quickly overshadowed. Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, couldn’t agree more! The 2020 Kia Telluride is an amazing vehicle with all of the bells and whistles you could ask for under $45,000. Changing gears, we find out which cars Brian recommends for our technophile dads for fathers day. Listen in to learn about the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Lincoln Navigator and Nautilus, Chevrolet Bolt, and Genesis G70.

[00:42:13] Ford and Amazon Invest in Rivian

One of Alan’s biggest complaints about electric vehicles is that they’re almost all cars! Well, thankfully Rivian is about to change that. Director of Corporate Communications for Rivian, Michael McHale, fills us in on the amazing capabilities of their upcoming R1T pickup truck, with roughly 400 miles of electric range, 754 horsepower, and a 0-60 mph of 3 seconds. This truck not only answers the question of range anxiety, but has an amazing amount of power behind it as well. Recognizing the feat of engineering Rivian has accomplished, Ford Motor Company and Amazon made gigantic investments in the company ($500m and $700m respectively!). Does an all-electric truck with 754-HP get you excited?

[00:49:25] Rivian Price Range and Towing Capability

One of the most amazing features of electric vehicle motors is their incredible instantaneous torque; which means huge towing capacity for a truck! Director of Corporate Communications for Rivian, Michael McHale, shares how the team at Rivian couldn’t settle on a good towing capacity figure for the R1T because the numbers just started to sound ridiculous. This thing can effectively tow your house if you put it on wheels! Keep an eye out for this amazing truck, starting at around $70k.

[00:54:44] The Origin Story of Rivian

So Rivian is set to unleash a 400 mi range, 754 horsepower, 11,000 lb towing capacity electric truck on the world, but how did it all start? Director of Corporate Communications, Michael McHale, tells the story of how RJ Scaringe founded Rivian 10 years ago after graduating from MIT with a Ph.D in automotive engineering and worked quietly on the project with a small team in Florida. They then expanded to Michigan for their talented pool of engineers, and San Jose for their electric and connected car expertise. Tune in for more on the history of this explosive new electric car company.

[01:02:05] Hollywood Movie Car Update

If you’re a fan of sci-fi movie epics like Blade Runner, the Hunger Games, I Robot, or Star Wars, don’t miss out on a special display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, fills us in on the cool cars (and spaceships!) on display at the Petersen’s Hollywood Dream Machine’s display. Also, we get an update on current car-related movie projects, like “Ford vs. Ferrari”, featuring Tom Cruise, about the 1966 Le Mans race in which Ford shocked the world. Tune in for your Hollywood update.

[01:11:49] Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Details

JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, is proud to have worked on one of this summers big blockbusters: “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood”. This Quenten Tarantino film sees Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio co-star in a 1969 themed filmed with really well done and thought out scenes involving 1960s cars. Listen in to find out how they spared no expense ensuring the film was as authentic as possible.

[01:18:05] 2019 Aston Martin Vantage

When you think of James Bond, you think of Aston Martin. JoshCAR Hollywood Car Consultant, Josh Hancock, is over the moon test driving the 2019 Aston Martin Vantage. A true Porsche 911 fighter, this $160,000 is very exclusive, considering it’s also on a limited production run. Josh has driven Aston Martins before and didn’t fall in love, but that is not the case this time! A 503-HP engine, 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, 8-speed automatic transmission, and extremely well done interior outshine Porsche dramatically. Find out why the 2019 Aston Martin Vantage is a true supercar and James Bond fan’s dream car.

Explore More with Helpful Links:

Contributor: BJ Killeen | Automotive journalist
Contributor: Brian Moody | Executive Editor, Autotrader
Contributor: Josh Hancock | Hollywood Car Consultant, JoshCAR
Special Guest: Michael McHale | Director of Corporate Communications, Rivian
Website: Truck Night in America
Website: Ford Motor Company
Website: Amazon
Website: Hollywood Dream Machines
Website: Petersen Automotive Museum
Vehicle Mention: 2019 50th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang BULLITT
Vehicle Mention: 2020 Kia Telluride
Vehicle Mention: Rivian R1T
Vehicle Mention: 2019 Aston Martin Vantage

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:

BJ Killeen | Freelance Automotive Journalist

Brian Moody | Executive Editor, Autorader

Josh Hancock | Hollywood Car Consultant, JoshCAR

Michael McHale | Director of Corporate Communications, Rivian

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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.

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.