Hooniverse

We're live from the SEMA show floor with a legend in suspension design, John Hotchkis.

Operating on very little sleep this week I sit down with Blake and we discuss the new Mercedes C Class, we admonish BMW for diluting their brand and Blake talks about his time with Bob Lutz and the demise of Pontiac.  In addition I tested about a billion cars with the YouTube /Drive crew as summarised below. C7 Corvette 911 Carrera S Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Ford Fiesta ST Audi S7 BMW M5 Porsche Cayman...

On this episode of the Hooniverse podcast Blake and I discuss our time spent at the Lamborghini Super Trofeo event.  Blake made his way out to the Mercedes press day, where he had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the SLS AMG Black, E63 AMG, C63 AMG 507 and CLA45 AMG. We talk infotainment design and user interfaces. And to round things out we cover the upcoming hypercar wars pitting...

Once again Jeff is traveling so that leaves you with Mr. Blake Zapfino Rong and myself (Chris Hayes).  In this episode the tangent filled ramblings of The Smoking Tire Podcast take effect as Blake attempts to put me back on point.  We discuss the BMW 3 & 4 series, Cadillac ELR & CTS, Mercedes CLA, Mazda's new design language, the Alfa Romeo 4C and how the Mustang and Camaro match up in bas...

The Hooniverse Podcast just turned 30... that means we have to straighten up, fly right, and act our age. Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong don't though. They're incapable of doing so, and this episode clearly demonstrates that. The duo are back together after way too much traveling. Blake was doing his famous automotive journalist thing while Jeff was off attempting to be a famous automotive journal...

Alex Kierstein ( @HanSolex ) of Road & Track joins Blake and myself (Chris) while Jeff galavants about the country filming classic cars.  Between the three of us the conversation becomes an esoteric assembly of automotive jargon accented by the occassional and often poorly constructed piece of base humor.  That aside, Alex and Blake both of whom work for major print publications have access to...

This week on Hooniverse, we replace Jeff Glucker with a man-boy who is living the dream: race car driver Kenton Koch. He's 19 year-old engineering student who's as tall as a control tower, but somehow fits into a Mazda Miata cup car, and wins.  We talk with him about chasing championships, university Formula SAE programs, and how to go fast. Also, Blake talks if driving many Dodges, and Zack Klapm...

Blake Z. Rong is absent this episode but have no fear because we've got a guest to take his place. Skip Essma from TRD joins us in the podcast palace. He's the Senior Vehicle Dynamics Engineer so he knows his chassis and suspension setups. We chat about some new car bits, including the recent news and vehicle reveals out of Frankfurt. Soon though we dive into exactly what Skip does, we talk racing...

Hosts Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong join forces with guest The Smoking Tire's Matt Farah to bring about podcast pleasure. As usual, it's a discussion of all things automotive that usually delves into bits of random insanity. Matt points out that Jeff sounds like the guy from Noah's Arcade, and we run off the rails right from the outset. We also invite a new business called King Tire. If you steal...

We're back at full strength! Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong are both together again after a rigorous month of traveling, staying in luxury hotels, and eating expensive food. Also, we drove some cars. Our guest is Ezekiel Wheeler, formerly of European Car and about to start a new life at Petrolicious. Wheeler needs to buy an old car now that he works for Petrolicious, and we help him decide. Also,...

This "episode" is just relaying a quick message.   Jeff and Blake have both been on the road for the better part of a month and will be returning this week.  That means we'll be back to recording in the studio and the podcast will resume normal operations.  The next episode will be released on Wednesday September 4th. I'd also like to address the comments we've received regarding audio quality.  G...

Jeff and Blake have been traveling A LOT, as a matter of fact heir Glücker is still on the road.  This predicament necessitated bringing in outside talent (and I use that term loosely) Hooniverse producers  Zack Klapman and Chris Hayes  step in an attempt to fill the deafening void left in Jeff's absences and talk with everybody's favorite co-host Blake.  This week topics mostly revolve around Peb...

Wheels make the world go round... or something like that. It makes sense then that we're excited to have Alan Peltier on the podcast. He's the president of HRE Wheels, which produce what many consider to best the best rollers on the planet. Those people who consider that are correct, by the way. Other topics include the Infiniti G37 sedan versus Q50 sales issue, why buying a new Ferrari doesn't me...

We've hit the big time folks... our guest today is Gale Banks, the man behind many a powerful engine. Gale joins Jeff Glucker and Blake Z Rong in the podcast palace to talk about some new car news, engines, Mike Ryan's FRIGHTLINER (trademark pending), and his awesome V8-inspired home that is being built. Listen in as Gale spills decades of insight, knowledge, and just plain wins over the heart of...

Blake treks down to Huntington Beach to casa de Jeff for episode 20. It's a low-key anniversary episode brought to you from Jeff's backyard. Topics include the demise of the M3 coupe, the rise of the Jaguar XFRS Sportbrake, and the fact that there actually is a 2014 Evo and it has received its pricing. Since we're recording from my back yard, you can hear the delightful ocean breeze, random kids s...

We're going mobile here. The podcast is going on the road... literally. The guest this week is Travis Okulski from Jalopnik, and he is flying into Los Angeles from New York. Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong decided to pick him up and start recording right away. Using the 2013 Lexus LS600h L as a podcast shuttle, we take Travis on a tour of the coast near LA. Come along as we experiment on a mobile p...

Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong are back in action for Episode 18. Joining them is George Notaras, better known as MotoMan. Topics for discussion include German Beer, MotoMan missing out on a 1973 Pontiac Catalina, the potential revival of TVR, and Blake tells me my memories of Datsun are flawed. MotoMan also clues us in on the greatest car reveal ever courtesy of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. On...

Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong are back for episode 17. There's something special in the air here because Rong brought a beer that's ACTUALLY GOOD! That's probably why we went over an hour for a change. Eventually we get to talking about cars though, and first on the docket is the Maserati Ghibli. After that we roam from topics such as the new Nissan Versa Note, the new Mazda3, and an electric spe...

Jeff Glucker & Blake Z Rong are joined by special guest Duncan Ende. You might know him from such awesome statements as the fact that he drives kick ass race cars and we don't. Duncan hauls ass for a living, and we slowed him down a bit to get him to chat with us. Topics include a discussion of the upcoming Gran Turismo 6 and Forza 5, McLaren P1, the Switzer GT-R, how the Formula Ford is a NYC...

Jeff Glucker & Blake Z. Rong are joined by Jeff Jablanksy to talk car stuff. Most importantly, we make fun of Blake for running out of juice in a Honda Fit EV. Additional topics include a (quick) discussion of the new Corolla, what it's like to drive The Beast from the movie White House Down, and, of course, a chat about older cars. Episode 15 is ready for your aural enjoyment

Jeff Glucker & Blake Z. Rong are joined in the podcast palace by guest Bill Caswell. The man, the myth, the legend behind the $500 rally car, and a new breed of automotive enthusiast icon. We talk about old cars, new cars, Monaco, the latest Zonda, beer, and we might dabble in some CTS-V racing school chatter.

This week Jeff and Blake talk about snazzy pant-suits, the new S-Class, Lamborghini Egoista, Kia Cadenza, Jeff's newly acquired 1984 Mercedes wagon, the Lucas Oil race at Lake Elsinore and pickups we don't get in 'Merica.

Blake Z. Rong brings the podcastapalooza on the road. He attends Autoweek Fantasty Camp and sits down with fellow journos from the publication. The result is a whole lot of rambling about a whole lot of cars. It's good stuff, and you won't want to miss this one because the guests include (THE) Davey G. Johnson, Mark Vauhn, Jake Lingeman, and Graham Kozak.

Get ready for a Blake-A-Palooza! Jeff Glucker is absent from this episode so it's a Blake Z. Rong party. Mr. Rong is joined by Zack Klapman and special guest Corbin Goodwin, the creator of the Zero F**ks Given RX-7. Topics include Zack solving Florida;s sinkhole problems, a discussion of hunting for cars to film on Big Muscle, driving at Laguna Seca, dream project cars, and we bask in the light of...

Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong do their weekly dance discussion switching between new car news and old car excellence. Up this time around is a look at the new 911 Turbo, which Jeff believes is becoming the Nissan GT-R. Blake and Jeff talk about the Mazda6, Lexus IS-F, and Chevrolet Impala as the vehicles they've driven recently. Blake dives into his experience on the California Mille which involv...