2020 GMC Sierra 1500, SEMA, Tesla Truck, Motorsports Update

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Fords, Ferraris, and Teslas, oh my! Kicking off the show, we chat with Motorsports Journalist for Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, and Grassroots Motorsports, Steven Cole Smith, about the last Ford EcoBoost 400 NASCAR finale to be held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, the HSR Classic 24 Hour race in Daytona, and his trip to Florence, Italy for the Ferrari Challenge. Up next, Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, reviews the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 and gives credit to GMC for listening to their customers. Then, Automotive Journalist, BJ Killeen, chats with Alan about his trip to SEMA, SEMA IGNITED, and the Toyota Mirai and hydrogen powered cars. Closing out the show, Executive Publisher for Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, shares what he knows about the new Tesla truck set to be revealed just after Automobility LA (formerly the LA Auto Show), Ford’s new electric vehicle, and reviews Ford v Ferrari. Tune in for more.

·[00:00:00] Last Homestead Finale Race for NASCAR
·[00:06:38] IMSA HSR Classic 24 Hour Race at Daytona
·[00:12:31] Ferrari Challenge In Florence, Italy
·[00:19:52] 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 Review
·[00:29:55] Props to GMC for New Sierra Design
·[00:35:54] SEMA: A Huge Automotive Trade Show
·[00:42:15] SEMA IGNITED is Open to the Public
·[00:48:13] Imaginative Designs at SEMA 2019
·[00:54:46] Toyota Mirai and Hydrogen Powered Cars
·[01:02:07] Tesla, Ford Reveals Outside LA Auto Show
·[01:10:57] Tesla new truck from Blade Runner?
·[01:18:08] Ford v Ferrari Gets the History Right

[00:00:00] Last Homestead Finale Race for NASCAR
If you’re one of the NASCAR fans that thought that the Ford EcoBoost 400 race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway was a bit of a pain to get to, we have some good news for you. Motorsports Journalist, Steven Cole Smith, shares about the decision to take Homestead off of the official race list for next year’s NASCAR Cup Series. In the running this year are three Toyotas, driven by Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and Denny Hamlin, and one Ford with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. Tune in for more details.

[00:06:38] IMSA HSR Classic 24 Hour Race at Daytona
While everyone else is going to Homestead, Florida for the NASCAR finale, Motorsports Journalist for Autoweek, Grassroots Motorsports, and Automobile Magazine, Steven Cole Smith, is head out to Daytona for the IMSA HSR Classic 24 Hour race. A bit of an unconventional series, the Classic 24 features six different classes of classic cars that are differentiated by speed. There are all kinds of cars, including some winners of 24 Hours of Le Mans races past, and even the 2016 Corvette that Dean Cameron ran in Daytona a few years back. Tune in to learn more about this race and get Steve’s take on Ford v Ferrari, starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon.

[00:12:31] Ferrari Challenge In Florence, Italy
We’ve all heard about those 1/10th of the top 1% of money earners in the world; well Motrosports Journalist, Steven Cole Smith, attended an event with an even higher echelon of attendees. Steven fills us in on the Ferrari Challenge event held in Florence, Italy, and his stay at a beautiful medieval hotel, complete with an amazing view of the city, and the Hilton down the street. Changing lanes, we discuss the upcoming AutoMobility LA (formerly the LA Auto Show) and what to expect from the newly rebranded event. Tune in to learn more.

[00:19:52] 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 Review
With the way the amount of power auto manufacturers are stuffing into their 1500 and 150 model trucks these days, does anyone really even need a dually? Alan is facing down this question as he comes up on two years of owning his RAM 3500 Crew Cab Dually. Thankfully, Co-Founder of Cartender and Freelance Automotive Journalist, George Kennedy III, recently drove the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 and is here to give his impressions. The AT4 is an off-road focused upgrade package for the Sierra 1500 and adds a ton of amazing features, but even the base model has some impressive accolades. With 1830 lbs of payload, and 9,000 lbs of towing capacity, this mid-size truck does more than Alan would ever need! Tune in to find out why Alan may be ditching big-trucks for good.

[00:29:55] Props to GMC for New Sierra Design
Check out the all new 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, it has a six-way tailgate, a carbon fiber bed, and a huge maximum payload. Freelance Automotive Journalist, George Kennedy III, describes how the design of the new Sierra shows GMC’s willingness to listen to their customers. The different packages available with the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 cater to many different crowds, and start around $30,000 and go up to around $70,000, fully loaded. Tune in to get more details about this awesome truck.

[00:35:54] SEMA: A Huge Automotive Trade Show
Everyone in the automotive industry knows that SEMA is an absolute monster event, but this year pushed the envelope even further. Co-Founder of Cartender, George Kennedy III, flips the script and interviews Alan about his experience at SEMA this year. While it was awesome to see the amazing cars on display, including 43 Toyota GR Supras, Alan did not have a good time wading through the sea of humanity that was present. Tune in to hear more.

[00:42:15] SEMA IGNITED is Open to the Public
SEMA is one of the biggest trade shows in the world. Automotive Journalist, BJ Killeen, gives her impressions on this years show and gives us the details on SEMA IGNITED. This year’s crowd was the biggest its ever been, and there were a lot of amazing interviews on the Shell Pioneering Performance Live Stage, like the owner of the “Big Red” Camaro. Listen in for more details.

[00:48:13] Imaginative Designs at SEMA 2019
SEMA always showcases a host of custom builds that are beyond our wildest dreams. This year was no exception, and Automotive Journalist, BJ Killeen, fills us in on some of the amazing rides. From the Ringbrothers’ 890 HP 1969 Chevrolet Camaro “Valkyrja” to Chip Foose’s Jaguar E-Type Roadster, SEMA was packed with imaginative designs this year. Listen in to learn more.

[00:54:46] Toyota Mirai and Hydrogen Powered Cars
Are hydrogen powered cars the future? We’ve heard rumblings about this bold technology in the past, but now these types of vehicles seem to be on the rise. Automotive Journalist, BJ Killeen, discusses the possibilities of future hydrogen expansion as vehicles like the Toyota Mirai hit the market. No plugging it, no hour long recharge times, and to top it all off, the exhaust is water vapor! With a 300 mile range and a refill time of ten minutes or less, we can see how this could easily become the next big thing in green technology. Are you excited for a green future?

[01:02:07] Tesla, Ford Reveals Outside LA Auto Show
Are car shows like the LA Auto Show (now dubbed Automobility LA) a dying breed? We are seeing an increasing number of manufacturers revealing their latest and greatest outside of car shows, like the planned reveals of Tesla and Ford’s new vehicles set apart from the LA Auto Show. We discuss the future of auto shows and how they will have to adapt in today’s changing world with Kelley Blue Book Executive Editor, Karl Brauer. Tune in to learn more.

[01:10:57] Tesla new truck from Blade Runner?
Are you a fan of Tesla vehicles? Tesla is scheduled to unveil their latest on Thursday after Automobility LA, and Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, gives us the details we have so far. Elon Musk is touting a 500 mile range with tons of torque, power, and speed as we’ve come to expect from electric motors. Which is why Ford is also getting into the electric game as they’re set to reveal a new Mustang inspired all-electric vehicle around the LA Auto Show, and have a truck in the works. Tune in to learn more.

[01:18:08] Ford v Ferrari Gets the History Right
The new film Ford v Ferrari is out – critics and viewers love it! But what does Kelley Blue Book Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, think? It was a very historically accurate representation, getting as close to what happened in the 1960s as possible while keeping it visually engaging. Ford set out to change their image by making a race car that could beat everyone, which was outside of their box at the time. Because of their Le Mans wins in the late 1960s, Ford is commonly seen as a performance brand. Listen in to get Karl’s full review.

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: BJ Killeen | Automotive Journalist

·Contributor: Karl Brauer | Executive Publisher, Autotrader/ Kelley Blue Book/ Dealer.com

Credits

Host: Alan Taylor
Producer: Dave Milligan
Audio Engineer: Dave Milligan
Contributor: Steven Cole Smith
Copy Editor: Cody Castleberry
Contributor: George Kennedy III
Contributor: BJ Killeen
Contributor: Karl Brauer

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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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.