Unnamed Automotive Podcast

Sami drives the refreshed 2018 Infiniti QX80 full-size SUV and then gets really touchy about how it looks, while Benjamin pilots the all-new 2019 Volvo XC40 SUV in Spain and is surprised by just how big of an impression the compact crossover left on him. We also talk about the 2018 Buick Regal Sportback before segueing into quick hits on the 'the downer media' comment made at this year's LA Auto S...

BMW's newest version of its M5 super-sedan now sports all-wheel drive and an automatic-only transmission. Is it still fun on a race track? Benjamin drives the latest M5 at Estoril to answer that question - and also puts the BMW i3s through an autocross course to determine whether the brand's new and sporty take on its all-electric hatchback makes sense. Sami drives the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, a...

A half hour of commentary live from the floor of the L.A. Auto Show this week as we experiment with free-flow, hand-held recording at one of the world's most important automotive events. We talk BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, and more - and don't forget our over-long segment on AMG Performance donut flavors.

The Lexus LC 500 is one of the best-looking and best-sounding luxury coupes on the market, but how does it hold up on the cold streets of Montreal? And who, exactly, would choose its 500h hybrid showroom-mate over the standard 500's V8 thunder? Benjamin drives them back-to-back to answer that question. Sami, on the other hand, spends a week driving not one, but four compact SUVs: the Volkswagen Ti...

The Kia Stinger GT has been aimed squarely at BMW, Audi, and Lexus luxury cars, but does this grand tourer have the performance and poise required to get a seat at that table? Benjamin spends a day with the Stinger GT in L.A. to answer that question. Meanwhile, Sami tests the Honda Fit head-to-head against the Kia Rio hatchback to determine where the best blend of value, practicality, and fun can...

Mercedes-Benz takes off the gloves in the compact SUV segment and pummels BMW and Audi with the new 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, a 500 horsepower family hauler that has no equal in its class, and Sami has the inside story on what it's like to drive it. Benjamin spends a week with the Nissan 370Z, a car that's been largely unchanged since 2009, and as a result finds itself out of step with the rest of...

Can the 2018 Hyundai Accent stay relevant in a world where people seem exclusively interested in crossovers and SUVs? Benjamin had the chance to drive the redesigned Accent in the Nevada desert and came back with some insights on the future of small cars in America. Sami stayed home for an in-depth comparison of the Toyota Camry versus the Hyundai Sonata, and was shocked by how the challenger has...

Have you ever wanted to drive your car on a race track? The Cadillac V Performance Academy. which comes free of charge with each V Series Cadillac, lets you do exactly that for 2 days at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, and Benjamin talks about what it's like to spend a week there as a student. Sami discusses his own race driving experience at the AMG Performance Tour on Vancouver Island.

Do you want to smell like a Mazda? The Japanese automaker is betting that you do with its latest perfume, which distills the essence of the Kodo design language into a wearble fragrance. Is this as silly, or more silly, than Toyota naming its upcoming concept car the 'Fine Comfort Ride?' We're not sure, but we also talk about the Polestar 1 electric super coupe, debate the merits of calling a car...

Have you ever wanted a luxury car that can actually leap up into the air to protect you in a collision? Audi thinks the answer to that question is yes - and it also feels that you're so sick of driving that the new A8 should take care of most of that too, as Sami discovers during his time in Valencia with the redesigned 2019 model. As for Benjamin, he spends the week with the Mercedes-AMG E43, a c...

Have you ever wanted a Land Rover SUV that could churn butter, make toast, and dispense olive oil at the touch of a windshield washer button? Apparently Jamie Oliver did, because Land Rover built him one, a comedic gift for which we are eternally thankful on this week's episode. We also talk about how poorly-executed the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is - aka the Italian Miata - and have a deep philosoph...

Four seats and four driven wheels aren't what you'd expect from a Ferrari, but then again, the GTC4Lusso - an update of the FF - is like nothing else the Italian brand has ever built. Benjamin gets a chance to pilot the most unusual 12-cylinder modern Ferrari in the line-up, while Sami also reflects on his recent supercar experience in the McLaren MP4-12C, which has become a stellar bargain on the...

Benjamin drives the 2018 Jaguar F-Type 400 Sport, Sami offers first impressions on the completely-redesigned 2018 Lexus LS luxury sedan, and both talk about the unicorn-like Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon before diving deeping to the world of Audi's scary empathetic artificial intelligence car that will know how you feel even before you feel it!

Benjamin talks about driving the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R on the track at Bilster Berg in Germany, as well as his experience with the Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Sami discusses his strong feelings for the Mazda CX-3, and teases his drive of the redesigned Lexus LS.

Guest Chad Kirchner of the Future Motoring podcast joins us this week to discuss the Audi R8 Spyder, the Volvo V90, and the Woodward Dream Cruise. Sami and Chad also debate the finer points of comparing the Honda Civic Si to the Hyundai Elantra GT.

After a whirlwind August, Sami talks about attending Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week, and driving the Lamborghini Aventador while Benjamin discusses his time on the race track behind the wheel of the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Also, bears.

Sami goes in-depth on the redesigned 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, while Benjamin drives a Dodge SRT Viper ACR to the Roadkill Nights street drags. The pair also talk about what happens when Porsche loses a huge class-action lawsuit and has to buy sunglasses for thousands of its owners.

This week Sami drives the Civic Type R on a race track versus 3 of the hottests compact performance cars on the market, while Benjamin samples the Genesis G90 and the Audi TTS. We also talk Formula E and Energizing Comfort - exciting!

This week guest Brad Iger joins Benjamin and Sami to talk about driving the 840 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon on the drag strip, and to muse on what other vehicles would be improved by the Demon's supercharged V8 engine.

This week Benjamin and Sami both drive brand-new versions of cars they happen to own - the Cadillac CTS-V and the Toyota 86 - and then spend way too much time talking about hidden car features both real, and imagined.

This week we complain about BMW's remote parking feature, talk about what ridiculous features we'd love to have in a new car, discuss how cars are not gadgets, and have a lot of fun with Audi's blindfolded A8L 'blind tasting.'

Guest Dan Heyman is in the studio to argue with and refute Benjamin's past assassination of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and talk about his journey across France in the Infiniti Q60. Sami joins in to discuss the Rolls-Royce Dawn and the lunacy of a $90,000 BMW 5 Series.

Benjamin fights through Korean jet lag, Sami talks about Volvos, and both lament the slow dying of the sedan market in favor of nefarious SUVs.

Sami talks about the Volvo XC60, Benjamin discusses his trip to the Worthersee Treffen GTI festival, and everyone ponders the insanity of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

This week Sami and Benjamin record live from British Columbia as they both spend 500 miles behind the wheel of the 2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI on a road trip to the Area 27 race track. Also, we talk about Ogopogo, the lake monster of the Okanagan valley, because of course we would.