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THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor | Episode #375

There’s nothing quite like setting out across the wild expanse of Alaska, the untamed savannas of Africa, or the outback of Australia. Adventuring is the spice of life, as Alan says; a fact Seven Slot Expeditions Auto Writer, Sue Mead, and Adventure Architects LLC CEO, Chris Collard know well. Chris and Sue fill us in on the history of the 50th anniversary East-West Australia Jeep Expedition, their plans for the journey, and which vehicles they’ll me making the 2500km trek in. Next up, Motorsports Journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, gives us the details from the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Then, we chat with Cartender Co-founder and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, about his recent test drive of the bespoke Rolls-Royce Cullinan, their first SUV ever (If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it). Changing gears, Autoblog Editor-In-Chief, Greg Migliore, reviews the 617-HP, 555 lb-ft of torque, 4.4L twin turbo V8 engine sporting BMW M5. Next up, Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Dealer.com Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, discusses the made-for-TV drama that has become the FCA, Renault, and Nissan relationship, as well as the prevalence of low-cylinder high-performance engines and their apparent replacement for displacement. Lastly, Karl shares his mixed feelings over the Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic and its weak engine. Tune in for the latest car reviews and automotive news.

 

• [00:00:00] Adventuring is the Spice of Life
• [00:05:47] East-West Australia Jeep Expedition
• [00:12:30] RIP Rod Hall / Adventure Architects
• [00:19:51] Nurburgring and the Hyundai Veloster N
• [00:28:49] Bronze Buffalo Club Fishing Golf Course
• [00:35:52] Winners of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring
• [00:42:13] Rolls-Royce Cullinan Drives Like Butter
• [00:48:34] Rolls-Royce Cullinan’s Bespoke Features
• [00:54:43] BMW M5 Packs A Punch
• [01:02:04] FCA, Renault, Nissan – A Bad TV Drama
• [01:11:12] A Replacement for Displacement?
• [01:18:05] Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic Lacks Power

Discover more about segments and guests below…

 

[00:00:00] Adventuring is the Spice of Life

Do you live for your next adventure? Seven Slot Expeditions Auto Writer, Sue Mead, and Adventure Architects CEO, Chris Collard, are veteran adventurers and are about to embark across the wide expanse of the Australian Outback. Chris tells us a little bit about Adventure Architects and the 50th Anniversary coast to coast jeep expedition in which they are about to partake.

 

[00:05:47] East-West Australia Jeep Expedition

50 years ago, Ian McDonnald set out with a group traveling in Jeeps across the Australian Outback to see what they could see. Now, BFGoodrich is sponsoring a 50th anniversary East-West Australia Jeep Expedition in honor of the original adventure. Seven Slot Expeditions Auto Writer, Sue Mead, and Adventure Architects CEO, Chris Collard, give us the history of this great trek, and fill us in on the vehicles they will be using on their journey across the Australian Outback. Have you ever been off-roading in Australia?

 

[00:12:30] RIP Rod Hall / Adventure Architects

We recently lost one of the most amazing Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame Racers, Rod Hall. He will be sorely missed, rest in peace. The off-road community is built on the spirit of adventure, the same spirit that Adventure Architects CEO, Chris Collard, founded his company on. Chris and Seven Slot Expeditions Auto Writer, Sue Mead, give the mission statement of Adventure Architects and SevenSlotExpeditions.com. Tune in to glean more about the amazing coast-to-coast journey that is the East-West Australia Jeep Expedition.

 

[00:19:51] Nurburgring and the Hyundai Veloster N

The Nurburgring track is the benchmark against which most of the world’s car manufacturers test their performance vehicles. It only makes sense that a 24 hour endurance race on the fabled track would be an event worthy of note. Motorsports journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, and Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, gives scale to this enormous race and explains how its more about endurance than speed. Which is why a car like the Hyundai Veloster N is one of Steven’s favorites. Tune in to learn more.

 

[00:28:49] Bronze Buffalo Club Fishing Golf Course

Have you ever been on a fly fishing course in the mountains of Wyoming? Alan tells the story of his Bronze Buffalo Club getaway, that he shared with his wife, to Motorsports Journalist, Steven Cole Smith. A timed fly fishing course in which the tie is broken by a round of skeet shooting is just the kind of highbrow entertainment Alan needed to break from the normal paces of the day-to-day world.

 

[00:35:52] Winners of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring

It isn’t always the quickest car that wins an endurance race like the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Motorsports Journalist, Steven Cole Smith, divulges the winners of the race on the famed German course, and describes the victory of the team behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS that took the title. Also, we discuss Hyundai’s flirtations with getting into NASCAR and how that could help the sport. Tune in for more.

 

[00:42:13] Rolls-Royce Cullinan Drives Like Butter

Cullinan is the name of the world’s largest uncut diamond, and very appropriate for the first eve Rolls-Royce SUV. Freelance Automotive Journalist, George Kennedy III, recently got to drive the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and it made him feel sophisticated. This SUV is top of the line, packed with technology, masterful engineering, and top-notch style. Learn more about this buttery smooth ride.

 

[00:48:34] Rolls-Royce Cullinan’s Bespoke Features

“If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it,” is a saying that rings true for many automotive brands, but none so much as Rolls-Royce. Cartender Co-Founder, George Kennedy III, explains how a Rolls like the Cullinan lives up to its extreme price tag of $325,000. A 571-HP, 627 lb-ft of torque V12 engine power this retro-modern marvel of engineering and technology. Tune in to learn more.

 

[00:54:43] BMW M5 Packs A Punch

Anything BMW with an M attached to the model name is amazing performance. Well, that’s how it used to be, anyway. Alan laments the existence of M appearance packages. Thankfully, Autoblog Editor-In-Chief, Greg Migliore, is driving a real BMW M5 with a 617-HP, 555 lb-ft of torque, 4.4L V8 twin turbo engine. This mid-size sedan really hauls ass, and corners on the track as well as the BMW name would lead you to expect. Discover more about the BMW M5.

 

[01:02:04] FCA, Renault, Nissan – A Bad TV Drama

Last week on THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor, we discussed the possible merger between Renault and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Yeah, well that’s already off. Kelley Blue Book’s Karl Brauer and Alan share their choicest metaphors for the proposed deals. It just wasn’t the right time for a merger between Renault and anyone, considering their current less-than-optimal (to put it nicely), relationship with Nissan. Karl gives us the history of the Renault/Nissan partnership, Carlos Ghosn, and explains what FCA and Renault could still stand to gain from a merger in the future. Tune in for more automotive news.

 

[01:11:12] A Replacement for Displacement?

The automotive industry is seeing, more and more, that high displacement numbers aren’t necessary for high performance. Alan frames the question to Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer: “Do today’s engine technologies really offer a replacement for displacement?” Find out why Karl thinks they do.

 

[01:18:05] Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic Lacks Power

When you think of Jaguar, you might think of performance and class all rolled up into one neat package, right? Well unfortunately, Kelley Blue Book’s Karl Brauer recently drove the Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic and was sorely disappointed by what it had going on under the hood. Don’t misunderstand, it’s a beautiful car, but when Karl mashes the gas he expects immediate attention and dutiful acceleration from any car he drives before he considers it a fun drive. Listen in to learn more about the Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic.

 

Explore More with Helpful Links:

• Contributor: Steven Cole Smith | Motorsports Journalist, Autoweek/ Automobile Magazine/ Grassroots Motorsports
• Contributor: George Kennedy III | Co-founder, Cartender | Freelance Automotive Journalist, CarGurus/ Boston Globe/ U.S. News & World Report
• Contributor: Karl Brauer | Executive Publisher, Autotrader/ Kelley Blue Book/ Dealer.com
• Special Guest: Chris Collard | CEO, Adventure Architects LLC
• Special Guest: Sue Mead | Auto Writer, Seven Slot Expeditions
• Special Guest: Greg Migliore | Editor-in-Chief, Autoblog
• Website: East-West Australia Jeep Expedition
• Website: 24 Hours of Nurburgring
• Website: FCA
• Website: Renault
• Website: Nissan
• Vehicle Mention: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
• Vehicle Mention: Hyundai Veloster N
• Vehicle Mention: BMW M5

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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