Unnamed Automotive Podcast

Its another twisty-turvy episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, so buckle in and get ready! First Benjamin describes how he wasn't on the hype-train for the new 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck. After hearing tons of other journalists, and even Sami talk it up a pedestal, Benjamin still had to try it for himself. Given his love for the Hyundai Santa Cruze, could the Maverick ever measur...

It's another episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, and this time, we're talking cars. Benjamin has a lot to say about the latest two door BMW, the 2022 M240i xDrive. With more power, and a longer wheelbase, this coupe is a departure from what the 2 series used to represent, and hints towards the future that BMW is building for its brand. Is more power ever a bad thing? What does this mean for...

Benjamin drives the new 2022 Infiniti QX60 and frames his take on it by discusshing the heirarchy of luxury car brands. What is Tier 1 Luxury anyways and where does Infiniti rank? While the QX60 shares many components with the Nissan Pathfinder, the styling and effort with the details are supposed to make it stand out, so find out what Benjamin thinks after his time with the 3-row Japanese luxury...

We're back with a other jam packed episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast. First Benjamin shakes off the post surgery blues in a green (paint, not personality) Alpina B8. This BMW+1 brand has made a name for itself over the years but it's recently stepped up its charms. Benjamin runs down what makes it so special and why it might be the coolest new BMW on the road. Sami then shares his thoughts...

You might have heard that North Americans only get the 2022 Volkswagen Golf in enthusiast grade GTI and R forms. Recently, Benjamin picked up the keys to the more powerful of the two, and while there was a massive winter storm blowing snow during his testing, it wasn't the weather conditions that left him cold. Hear what VW has done to the most recent generation Golf R and whether Benjamin would r...

Benjamin discusses his go around in the 2022 Hyundai Kona N-Line, a crossover that strives to be the median point beween the standard Kona and the speedy Kona N. Hyundai is trying to follow the path of the German M Sports and AMG Lines, but is the Kona N-Line a successful push in the right direction? Is this just a style and attitude package, a weak echo of the Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk? Sami then...

This week our hosts go fast and the furious. 2022-style, with a pair of sporty compact cars. First Sami talks about the 2022 Honda Civic Si, a sedan that's grown up over the past few generations. Benjamin wonders why Honda won't give the Si more than 200 horsepower from the factory, and Sami asks if the Civic is still true to its sport-compact roots. Benjamin then jumps to the 2022 Hyundai Veloste...

It's time for another great guest host. Sami and Benjamin are joined by the one and only Stephen Elmer from the Truck King YouTube channel. First the three discuss the new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, where the L stands for "Third Row," a phrase which doesn't contain a single L within it. Or maybe it stands for "Premium Interior," another statement without the 12th letter of the alphabet. It could...

For 2022, Benjamin, Sami Haj-Assaad and guest Chad Kirchner from EV Pulse ask you to consider 3D printing your own podcast, much like how the much hyped 2022 Ford Maverick provides you with instructions to DIY your own accessories. The trio talk about the little Ford trucklet in great detail, and determine if it's worthy of praise, or if it's just a modern take on the cheap truck template. Chad th...

Before they get ready for the holidays, the hosts of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast get together for one more episode. Benjamin shares his experiences aboard the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and tries to decide if it really is a "return to rugged" or just another three-row SUV in a crowded field of contenders. To get to that answer, he dives into a rabbit hole of Pathfinder info, discussing past generat...

Benjamin talks about his experience in the new 2021 Ford Bronco Wildrak, and explores how the Blue Oval has worked to keep up with the legacy and momentum of the Jeep Wrangler. Was the Wrangler as easy of a target as Ford thought it was? Benjamin decides whether the Bronco beats its Jeep bogey in any meaningful way, and whether the hype machine surrounding the Ford is warranted. The Sami jumps int...

Benjamin dives deep into the crossover-turned-pickup-truck known as the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. As Sami chants "Utes not Coupes," he explains why this quirky compact trucklet is in the running for his Car of the Year. Or would that be Truck of the Year? Sami gets another go in the 2022 Genesis GV70, but this time it's the more affordable 2.5T model. Considering there's a $20,000 gap between the e...

On this week's episode our hosts dive deep into a pair of cars that struggle to impress. First Sami describes the mild updates to the 2022 Volvo XC60 B6, which gets a new Johan De Nysschen-like nomenclature to go along with a Google-branded operating system and a beefy 48-volt electrical system. Is the twin-charged motor and minimalist styling enough to save this Swedish luxury crossover from Sami...

If you're the type to have a whole different 'podcast listening vibe' at night versus during the day, then this week's episode is for you! Sami starts out with his experience in the new 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge: its history, its relevance, and its weird placement in RR lore that certainly doesn't suggest it's the perfect ride for a nocturnal pyschopath on a killing spree. Benjamin then s...

Sami and Benjamin team up again to talk about the 2022 Nissan Frontier, a vehicle that hasn't seen a significant update since before pop culture references were a thing! Hear whether Benjamin digs the styling, the interior updates, the powerful new engine or the nine-speed automatic transmission. Or more likely hear how his wimpy arms can't handle the hydraulic power steering setup. The duo discus...

Sami starts things off with a discussion of the new 2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, a weird car that fills a narrow space in the industry, but seems to capture the hearts of enthusiasts (or at least Sami's) in a way that no robot (Subaru or Honda branded one) can match. Also, the pair ponder where a scorpion would hide out from the heat within the folds of the BMW's design. This segment has a ton of...

It's time for a fantastic voyage into the four-door 2022 Mini Cooper S. As Benjamin compares the experience of driving this against the John Cooper Works convertible he had a few weeks ago, Sami brings up the vast amount of available features and extra cost items that can be had on a modern Mini. Hear their final thoughts on whether the four-door Cooper is the one to get, or even if its worth cons...

Benjamin slumps into his chair and sighs, missing the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur he's recently tested. It's his first taste of Bently goodness and he has a lot to say about about the ultra-luxurious, ultra exclusive sedan. He goes through some of the pricey options (like the hood ornament) and intimately describes the car's flashy James Bondian dashboard. Sami then gives us his quick impressions of...

Last week on UAP Sami and Benjamin agreed that the 2022 Genesis GV70 SUV is a class leader, but this week Sami is already flip-flopping on that statement. It turns out the new 2022 Lexus NX plug-in hybrid has caught his attention and he's blabbering non-stop about the new Japanese compact crossover. The pair take a few tangents into Volvo XC40 territory, before bringing up the new 2022 Toyota Tund...

Sami and Benjamin are BACK! Sami gives his first impressions of Fords Jeep Wrangler-rival, aka the 2022 Bronco. Does it fill all the gaps left behind by Jeep's iconic SUV? Did he get wet from a leaky roof? Can a vehicle with the name BAD in its trim be a success? You gotta listen to find out! Then Sami jumps into the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, and reassures listeners that this isn't a Subaru Baja re...

Summers not over till we say it is (and because Benjamin is out there getting his tan on in a drop top Mini). Hear his thoughts on the 2022 John Cooper Works convertible discover if this unique compact caught his attention, or if the Mini-BMW connection has fatigued the British brand. Sami then talks compact car rankings, with the always popular 2022 Toyota Corolla and the less lower-profile 2022...

Sami takes the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N-Line for a spin, which is the right car for those that want a sporty compact but are afraid of jumping in with both feet. The pair compare the new N-Line to the old Elantra Sport and ask if enough progress has been made in this enthusiast friendly market segment or if buyers should look outside of the Hyundai showroom. Benjamin then jumps into the 2021 Chevrol...

Benjamin plops himself into the driver seat of yet anout $70,000 machine boasting more than 500 horsepower,, This time it's the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. After driving a pair of hi-po BMW M cars back-to-back, how does this rare Italian fare? Sami gets his hands on the accessible and impressive 2022 Honda Civic, a "compact" car that's as long as a not-so-old Honda Accord. The pair wonder if c...

"Save the manuals!" is something every enthusiasts believes with their whole heart, yet after driving the 2021 BMW M3 6-speed Benjamin wonders if every stickshift is worthy of consevation. Listen as 'Mr. Moneybags' even calls the $70k super sedan 'affordable' as he compares it to last week's M4 Competition. Sami then explains his ill-fated plan to go road tripping in the 2021 Mustang Mach E, where...

Benjamin gets a taste of the 2021 BMW M4 Competition, which has a magical grille that causes him to make up words and endure uncomfortable seats. He claims it's ok that the coupe is automatic-only because it provides a serious power upgrade for very little cash—even compared to similarly-priced muscle cars like the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. Sami samples...