Unnamed Automotive Podcast

Episode 52: 2018 Audi RS3, CES Preview, G-Mode Button

January 5th, 2018  |  48 mins 47 secs

Benjamin finally gets to dish about his two weeks spent driving the 2018 Audi RS3 through the snowy Montreal winter, while Sami gets excited about the various ridiculous technologies about to be unveiled at CES 2018. The pair also get into a spirited discussion about the Mercedes-Benz 'G-Mode' button, and wonder what other single-letter buttons the industry needs.

Episode 51: 2018 Subaru Forester XT, 2018 Honda Accord, 2017 Year End Best And Worst Cars, Sami Supercut

December 29th, 2017  |  1 hr 1 min

accord, best of, ces, forester, honda, subaru, supercut, turbo, year end

In our last episode of the year we talk about the turbocharged 2018 Subaru Forester XT, the all-new 2018 Honda Accord, and our picks for the best, worst, most surprising, and most disappointing cars we drove in 2017. Plus - Sami's very first supercut!

Episode 50: 2018 Infiniti QX80, 2019 Volvo XC40, 2018 Buick Regal Sportback, Dad Jokes, The Downer Media, Porsche Bees

December 20th, 2017  |  50 mins 32 secs

On our 50th episode we talk about the 2018 Infiniti QX80, the 2019 Volvo XC40, and the 2018 Buick Regal Sportback. Sami cracks a 'dad joke,' we examine fake speaker technology, and discuss 'the downer media' as well ridiculous in-car shopping features, while also taking time to mention Porsche's special bee project.

Episode 49: BMW M5, BMW i3s, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Supercar Hate

December 14th, 2017  |  50 mins 29 secs

bmw, estorial, ev, i3s, m5, mclaren, mitsubishi, race car, race track

This week Benjamin talks about driving the redesigned 2018 BMW M5 at the Estorial race track in Portugal, as well as his experience with the BMW i3s electric sports car. Sami puts the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross through its paces, and then berates Benjamin for 'not being into' supercars.

Episode 48: Live From The 2017 L.A. Auto Show

December 4th, 2017  |  30 mins 29 secs

bmw, donuts, infiniti, la auto show, mazda, mercedes-benz, subaru, toyota

Benjamin and Sami record live from the floor of the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show as they walk from one vehicle debut to the next, commenting and analyzing the newest vehicle unveilings. Also, AMG Peformance Donuts and hot takes from the interior of a Mazda Miata race car!

Episode 47: Lexus LC 500 - 500h Comparison, Compact Crossover Head-to-Head Shoot-Out, Silly Toyota Prius Prime

November 26th, 2017  |  47 mins 16 secs

chevrolet, cr-v, crossover, equinox, honda, lc, lc 500, lc 500h, lexus, nissan, prius, prius prime, rogue, suv, tiguan, toyota, volkswagen

Benjamin drives the Lexus LC 500 luxury grand touring car and its 500h hybrid sibling back-to-back, while Sami pits the VW Tiguan, the Honda CR-V, the Chevrolet Equinox, and the Nissan Rogue in a compact crossover battle royale, with surprising results. Finally, the pair get really silly talking about the Toyota Prius Prime.

Episode 46: Kia Stinger GT, Honda Fit vs. Kia Rio, Tesla Roadster Reality Check

November 19th, 2017  |  51 mins 11 secs

fit, honda, kia, rio, roadster, stinger, stinger gt, tesla

Benjamin heads to Los Angeles to drive the all-new Kia Stinger GT, the first performance sedan from the Korean automaker, while Sami puts perennial hatchback favorite the Honda Fit up against the redesigned Kia Rio and comes away surprised with the results. The pair also address the Tesla Roadster announcement and how it serves primarily as a distraction from Tesla's manufacturing woes with the Model 3.

Episode 45: Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, Nissan 370Z, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

November 12th, 2017  |  48 mins 17 secs

370z, chevrolet, corvette, datsun, gle 63, mercedes-amg, mercedes-benz, nissan, sports cars, suv, z car

Sami heads to Germany to drive the 500 horsepower 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 SUV and watch human beings build engines at Affalterbach, while Benjamin pilots a Nissan 370Z through snow and ice and waxes philosophic on the aging star's place in the sports car universe. The pair then try to figure who, exactly, the 750 horsepower Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is for, and whether it makes sense alongside the long-rumored mid-engine Corvette that is on the way to showrooms.

Episode 44: 2018 Hyundai Accent, Toyota Camry vs. Hyundai Sonata, Honda Civic Type R, Nissan Micra

November 6th, 2017  |  49 mins

accent, camry, civic type r, honda, hyundai, micra, nissan, sonata, suv, toyota

Benjamin heads to Las Vegas to drive the all-new 2018 Hyundai Accent, while Sami pits the Toyota Camry and the Hyundai Sonata head-to-head in a battle of the family sedans that yields surprising results. Benjamin also spends time with both the Honda Civic Type R and the Nissan Micra on the wet, cold streets of Montreal.

Episode 43: Cadillac V Performance Academy, AMG Peformance Tour, Race Driving Schools

October 28th, 2017  |  48 mins 14 secs

Benjamin spends a week in the desert at the Cadillac V Performance Academy, while Sami heads to Vancouver Island to sample the AMG Peformance Tour. Both compare notes on these factory-backed race driving schools.

Episode 42: Volvo Polestar 1, Next-Generation Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Fine Comfort Ride, Smell Like A Mazda, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu

October 21st, 2017  |  49 mins 36 secs

chevrolet, jeep, malibu, mazda, polestar, toyota, volvo, wrangler

We hit the auto news hard this week to talk about the Polestar 1 electric sport coupe from Volvo and all the leaked goodies about the next-generation Jeep Wrangler. We also question the decision to name a car the 'Fine Comfort Ride,' and debate who, exactly, wants to smell like a Mazda with the company's new fragrance. Wrapping things up is Benjamin talking about his time with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Redline and Malibu Hybrid.

Episode 41 - 2019 Audi A8, Mercedes-AMG E43, Cheap Sports Cars, Old Track Cars, Weird Shifters

October 16th, 2017  |  59 mins 20 secs

a8, audi, automatic transmission, datsun, e43, mercedes-amg, mercedes-benz, old cars, track driving

Sami goes to Valencia, Spain, to drive the 2019 Audi A8, which insists on trying to drive itself, while Benjamin contemplates a week with the Mercedes-AMG E43, and all of the brand dilution that implies. The pair also discuss whether Honda is serious about actually building a sports car again, why weird transmission technology exists, and whether it's a good idea to drive a classic car on the race track.

Episode 40: Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, Porsche 911, Sports Car Personalities, Jamie Oliver's Land Rover

October 9th, 2017  |  52 mins 28 secs

124 spider, 911, abarth, automotive, cars, comedy, fiat, jamie oliver, land rover, porsche, sports cars

Benjamin discovers that you can't build a sports car from a parts bin after spending a week with the disappointing Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, while Sami questions whether the Porsche 911 is simply too good at everything it does to trigger a passionate response from owners and drivers. The pair examine all the quirks and weirdness that give similarly-priced sports cars their unique personalities, and wrap things up with an incredulous discussion about Jamie Oliver's butter-churning Land Rover.

Episode 39: Ferrari GT4CLusso, McLaren MP4-12C, Dodge Challenger TA, Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet

October 2nd, 2017  |  54 mins 19 secs

automotive, c300, cars, challenger, comedy, dodge, ferrari, gt4clusso, mclaren, mercedes-benz, mpr4-12x

Benjamin and Sami trade supercar stories after driving the Ferrari GT4CLusso and the McLaren MP4-12C. They also try to figure out how many versions of the Challenger Dodge could possibly build, discuss how different the Challenger T/A really is from its line-up mates, and listen to Sami wax exuberantly about the Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet.

Episode 38: Jaguar F-Type 400 Sport, 2018 Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon, Audi AI

September 26th, 2017  |  55 mins 48 secs

audi, automotive, car, cars, comedy, jaguar, lexus, mercedes-benz

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!

Episode 37: Mercedes-AMG GT, Frankfurt Auto Show, Mazda CX-3, Mercedes-AMG Project One

September 18th, 2017  |  43 mins 57 secs

cx-3, frankfurt, gt, gt r, lexus, ls, mazda, mercedes-amg, project one, track

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.