Car Stuff Podcast

The hosts open the show discussing Tom's tidy new haircut. Tom heartily endorses the LoCasico Barber Shop in Arlington Heights, IL. Getting down to work, Tom notes that EV startup Rivian enjoyed its best-ever sales quarter in Q3. The maker's new R2 compact crossover contributed to the sales growth. Also discussed, the BMW "Neue Klasse" 3-Series, which has been completely redesign for 202...

Jill and Tom open the show by talking about the Jeep Grand Cherokee's new engine, the Hurricane inline 6-cylinder engine found in Ram trucks. The engine replaces the Hemi V8 as the Cherokee's top-dog motor. Jill went on to share her concern that the Slate EV will not arrive in customer driveways before the end of the year. Tom questions--again--the viability of a 2-door vehicle in the U.S. market,...

Jill and Tom open the show by discussing Bentley's new, first-ever electric vehicle, the Torcal midsize crossover. The new model is roughly the same size as the British luxury maker's gas-powered Bentayga, but is promised to cost slightly less. The hosts also discuss a bill being routed through Congress which would limit the extent to which a car company doing business in the U.S. can be Chinese o...

Jill is back in the co-host seat this week, and joins Tom for a number of fresh news stories. First up, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which skipped the 2026 model year here in the U.S., will also be skipping 2027. The German automaker promises that the retro-themed electric van will be back for 2028. Listen in for details. Jill and Tom note that Tesla is no longer exporting the popular Model Y from the...

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Paul and Tom open the show discussing Volvo's deal with Chinese car builder Geely to distribute the latter's Lynk & Co brand products in Western Europe. Volvo will retail and service the vehicles, which will be positioned below like-segment Volvo products in price and content. Tom shares a story regarding the sighting of a Cybercab...

Jill and Tom open the program by welcoming Jim OBrill of the Chicago Auto Show to the program. The producers of the Chicago Show have put together a public test-drive event for licensed drivers 18 years of age or older running October 1-4 in Oak Brook, Illinois. Click here for more information . Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos. The small crossover has grown...

Jill and Tom open the show discussing the market place viability of the onslaught of midsize pickup trucks due to arrive on the U.S. in the next few years. Tom believes the segment is already crowded, while Jill thinks there is space for makers to differentiate their trucks and claim a little market share. Tom shares his disappointment in the announced range of the coming Jeep Recon electric SUV....

Jill and Tom open the show discussing Ford's decision to import from China the compact Lincoln Corsair, this after briefly dropping the model due to manufacturing complications here in the U.S. The hosts go on to discuss news that Acura will be bringing to the North American market a 3-row crossover larger than the brand's popular midsize MDX. Note that the MDX is also offered with 3rd seating row...

Tom opens the show listing for Jill a series of possible names for future off-road oriented crossover trim levels. Staying on topic, the hosts discuss plans for Lincoln to introduce a body-on-frame off-road model based on Ford's popular Bronco SUV. The new truck may arrive in showrooms before 2030. Tom talks briefly about the 2026 RAV4 Woodland PHEV he recently evaluated. He is very impressed by t...

Jill and Tom open the show by admitting that they are less than startled by the news of a 4-door Mustang, which rumor has it, will arrive by the 2029 or 2030 model year. While Mustang loyalists may resent the use of the Mustang name on a sedan, it has, as Jill points out, already been used on the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. Tom notes that the Volvo lineup has been pared down for 2027, liste...

Jill and Tom open the show discussing Ford's just named $30,000 small electric pickup, the Fathom . Ford did not share pictures of its " Model T Moment " new model, but promised that deliveries will begin by the end of 2027. Tom discussed the GMC Jimmy , a Toyota 4Runner -like body-on-frame SUV rumored for production around 2030. A companion model does not appear to be in the cards for C...

Jill and Tom open this week's show addressing rumors of a coming Honda Accord model designed to compete directly with the popular Subaru Outback. The Honda wagon would--per rumor--enjoy a raised ride height, off-road trim, and standard AWD. Honda denies the rumor, though sources suggest the new Accord could be in showrooms for the 2030 model year. Also discussed this week is Audi's new large cross...

Jill and Tom open the show by wishing Chicago radio friend and legend Steve King a happy birthday. Steve shares his birthday with none other than Mick Jagger. Tom shares details--what few there are--regarding a new Range Rover model due in U.S. showrooms within the next 36 months. The Range Rover GT is a sedan-like midsize/large crossover that will debut as an EV, and be made available later as a...

Jill and Tom open the show reviewing news from the city of Toledo where three members of a family perished in a crossover last week as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Little is known at this point regarding the tragedy, except that the vehicle was running with the air conditioning in use. The hosts also discussed recent news that potential EV shoppers no long worry about vehicle range as mu...

In place of the traveling Jill, Tom is joined this week by Brendan Appel of the Sons of Speed . Tom and Brendan open the show discussing updates to the 2027 Corvette, including a new base engine which lifts the cars top speed to 200 mph. The hosts go on to discuss Volkswagen's sales and financial woes. Though relatively healthy here in the U.S., the German carmaker is feeling the impact of poor sa...

Jill and Tom open the show by acknowledging that the Subaru Outback, now less wagonlike, is reportedly selling well, despite the break with its design roots. Tom was worried it might not. The hosts turn their attention to a series of spy photographs depicting what is claimed to be the Chrysler brand’s next products, the Airflow compact crossover, and the Arrow and Arrow Cross subcompact crossovers...

Jill and Tom open the show by discussing the shocking news that the Polestar brand will be leaving the U.S. at the end of this model. Tom questions why Polestar is not pushing back against this Commerce Department security decision. Jill notes that as information regarding the all-new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup is released, GMC has begun sharing tidbits--mostly photography--of the redesigned...

Jill and Tom open a content-packed episode by welcoming the BMW M5 Touring to Tom's driveway. Expect to hear much more about this practical super-car in future episodes. Producer Margaret then shares details of her recent interview of Chicago-based radio reporter/journalist Jennifer Keiper, a peer of Jill's and Tom's. Jennifer lost her most recent position in the radio industry as CBS News wound d...

Jill and Tom open the show sharing news of a massive Jeep recall. Jeep has issued a "park-outside" warning for owners of many late-model Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. Listen in for details. The hosts discuss Mitsubishi's new electric crossover, the Eclipse Sportback EV. Mitsubishi's first U.S.-market electric vehicle shares its basic architecture with the Nissan Leaf. Jill reviews the M...

This week Tom opens the show clarifying the difference between mild-hybrid and full-hybrid applications. Tom notes that mild hybrid drivetrains are found mostly on European luxury vehicles. In advance of chatting with Scout Motors' Ryan Decker, Jill and Tom discuss how few all-new car brands have been launched in the past 25 years. Listen in for a list. Still in the first segment, the hosts are jo...

Tom opens the show by acknowledging the passing of jazz saxophone legend Sonny Rollins. Sonny was the last living performer to have appeared in the 1958 Esquire magazine photo A Great Day in Harlem . The image appears on the Car Stuff Podcast Facebook Page. The hosts discuss the return of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz retro-themed electric themed minivan for 2027. Though little changed mechanically, the...

This week's episode is dedicated to the 2026 Consumer Guide Best Buy picks. In total, 32 vehicles in 13 individual categories are covered. You can check out the complete 2026 Best Buy list here . For a look further back, click here for the 2025 Best Buy list .   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertisi...

The hosts open the show discussing Jill's recent interview with the head of Infiniti USA regarding--among other things--the possible comeback of the humble sedan. This conversation dovetails nicely with Tom's news regarding the likely comeback of a Buick midsize sedan--and a possible Camaro, as well. Jill shared impressions of a would-be annual Land Rover event dubbed Defender Trophy Competition ....

In this special bonus episode of the Car Stuff Podcast, Jill sits down with Vice President of INFINITI Americas Eric Ledieu for a conversation about the all-new QX65 fastback luxury crossover , Future Infiniti products, and a possible resurgence in buyer interest in sedans. How will Nissan and Infiniti differ moving forward? Listen in for details.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions sits in for Tom this week. Jill and Sam open this episode of the podcast touching on Sam's recent involvement with the 2026 Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance , a classic car show held in West Virginia each spring. The conversation turns to car news, with the hosts touching on Chinese car makers setting up shop in Canada, Tesla producing its last Model S sedan, an...