Then Benjamin has a quick review of the 2026 BMW M340 xDrive 50 Jahre Edition, a special edition of the podcast favorite 3 Series. With fancy equipment and a great powertrain, Benjamin has mostly positive things to say about the new 3, except for its choice of winter rubber.

Finally, the guys discuss some wild news from Stellantis regarding its PHEV vehicles, which gets them thinking about invisible vehicles (or the ones that have wandered off to "the island of misfit cars") Thanks for listening!

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• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then Benjamin chimes in with his winter-weather review of the 2026 Toyota Camry. Available with all-wheel-drive and a hybrid powertrain, the Camry is a mainstay of Toyotas lineup, but has it recieved less attention from the automaker with each passing generation?

Finally the show ends with a quick discussion of our hosts favourite and least favourite cars they've driven this year. Thanks for listening and have a great start to your year!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Benjamin then startles Sami by singing the praises of the 2021 Lexus RX 450h, a hybrid SUV that would seem to be the anti-enthusiast machine—which is exactly the point, as Benjamin points out. The pair wrap things up with their thoughts on the production Jeep Grand Wagoneer as well as the cost of electricity as it informs EV buying decisions.

Next, Sami's take on the 2021 Hyundai Elantra shows just how much life is still left in the small sedan segment.

Finally, the pair are puzzled by Tesla's decision to leave steering wheels and turn signals behind with the latest Model S EV refresh.

Sami wraps up the show by reminding us all how good the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV really is, how cheap it is to own one, and the late-night secrets of what really happens at the local charging station after dark.

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• ALL-NEW 2021 GMC YUKON REVIEW: IS SMOOTHER BETTER FOR GM'S BIGGEST SUV? — The GMC Yukon has long reigned supreme alongside its Chevrolet Tahoe sibling as one of the most popular full-size SUVs on the market. Although sales of ladder-frame haulers have fallen off in comparison to the proliferation of car-based crossovers, the Yukon's role as a do-everything ride that can tow, transport, and ferry up to eight passengers regardless of what terrain might present itself has kept it a favorite among a dedicated cadre of customers.
• HOW DOES THE 2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LT TRAIL BOSS COMPARE AGAINST THE RAM 1500 REBEL? — How much of an improvement does the Trail Boss make over the Silverado's more affordable off-road kit, and is it still a reasonable compromise in daily driving? And just how well does the Silverado Trail Boss compete against the established Ram Rebel? I spent a week behind the wheel to find out the answers to these questions.

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• Review: The 2020 Lexus GX 460 Is a Big, Comfy SUV That Can Actually Handle a Trail — In the automotive industry, history and heritage are sometimes confused with a reluctance to move forward. Case in point: as sport-utilities and crossovers have blown through showrooms like a category-five storm, reshaping consumer tastes and vehicle lineups at every single price point, Lexus has stubbornly clung to an old-school template for both the LX 570 and GX 460. These hulking body-on-frame designs have more in common with the original truck-based platforms that once ruled the SUV roost than the smooth, car-like people-movers that have come to dominate the discourse.
• IS THE 2020 LEXUS GX 460 SUV A WORTHWHILE LUXURY UPGRADE OVER THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER 4X4 — Why did Lexus choose to stand apart from rivals like BMW and Audi by delivering a traditional truck in a market that's more apt to go for a sport-utility that's based on a sedan platform? In a word, cost.

Sami then explains why the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport is a much better small sport-utility vehicle value than it might at first seem, especially when it comes to safety. Also, there's a really long tangent about hawks versus eagles versus falcons. You've been warned!

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• 2020 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK VS. 2021 MUSTANG MACH E: CHANGING OF THE DOMESTIC SUPER SUV GUARD? — The apex predator of the performance SUV world is undoubtedly the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. While other, pricier haulers from Porsche (the Cayenne Turbo) and BMW (the X5 M) might deliver smoother handling or a larger helping of luxury features, nothing else features the shock and awe of the Trackhawk's Hellcat-sourced, 707hp supercharged V8 engine, a power plant that causes even the mightiest twin-turbo Euro rival to cower in its presence.
• Review: Jeep’s 700-HP Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Is the Super SUV Nobody Needs, But Everybody Wants — “Who needs a 707-horsepower Jeep?” It’s a question that would seem to have a very short answer from any rational SUV fan’s point of view, and yet it’s one that Fiat-Chrysler saw the need to address not with a glitzy, over-muscled concept truck, but a fully-warrantied supercharged production monster that can shame a respectable list of supercars in a straight line.

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• Code 45 - Benjamin's graphic novel!

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• The Essential Buyer's Guide - Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen — Nik Greene's expert guide to buy the 1979-2006 G-Wagen, including all 460, 463, and AMG models.

This weeks episode is brought to you by the new Roland Gumpert Nathalie. To learn more go to https://www.rolandgumpert.com/en/

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• Roland Gumpert Natalie — This weeks episode is brought to you by the new electric Roland Gumpert Nathalie.
• Code 45 - Benjamin's graphic novel! — The Kickstarter campaign for Benjamin's graphic novel, Code 45, starts March 3! Click the link to find out more.

The pair wrap things up by running through the five greatest driving video games from the 1980s, expressing their consternation over Toyota's sudden power bump for the 2021 Supra, and then answering a listener question about the Mini Cooper S transmission.

Links:

• Code 45 - Benjamin's graphic novel! — The Kickstarter campaign for Benjamin's graphic novel, Code 45, starts March 3! Click the link to find out more.

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• 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Prototype Drive — Come next spring you may do a double-take when the new BMW 2 Series drives by. Now sporting four doors and the Gran Coupe badging, BMW is taking the 2 Series mainstream. What used to be a sporty coupe – and one of the most enthusiast-friendly vehicles in BMW’s lineup – is going toe-to-toe with the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 with an entry-level four-door that brings the brand to a wider audience.

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• 2020 BMW X6 M50i Review — There’s a line with luxury cars where they’re no longer just about luxury and style, but where they are designed to make a statement. The BMW X6 is a perfect example of this. Logically, the X6 isn’t as practical as the X5, but is just as high-tech and engaging to drive – not that high-end SUV-coupe buyers are looking for any of that. They want a car that makes a statement – like athleisure – that they’re too cool to care about anything like style or practicality or performance. In that regard, the X6 is a pretty big success.

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• 2020 Aston Martin Vantage review: Freethinkers welcome — The Porsche 911 is the obvious choice in this space, and though it offers many flavors, it’s still the de facto uniform of early-career conspicuous consumption. Aston Martin would like to make a dent in this rear-engine hegemony with the Vantage, the newest, and most accessible way for buyers to tap into a sports car lineage that dates back to nearly the beginning of the internal combustion engine. No, it’s not a 911. It’s a properly sporting English GT car, and that’s exactly the point.

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• 2019 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO: SUV PERFORMANCE SET TO 'OVERKILL' — So it goes that in 2019 it's possible to find a trucklet with as much thrust and nearly the same levels of grip as supercars from a decade or so previous. The expectation that a full-zoot hot rod SUV be able to pivot like a pro, despite its towering center of gravity and typically ponderous weight, has lead to vehicles like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio—a crossover that stretches brand credibility to the max by way of its family-courting practicality and over the top go-fast feature set. Surprisingly? It kind of works.
• On the Road: 2019 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S — It might sound strange, but compact high performance SUVs are now so common on dealer lots and in driveways across the country that a natural pecking order has begun to emerge. Gone are the days when a small crossover with big power was an anomaly—we've now reached the point where every major Euro player has folded its sport-utility offerings into their mainstream tuning tier. Just like with sedans and coupes, buyers have multiple flavors of fast to choose from when seeking out their next hatchback-on-stilts for daily duty.

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• Roland Gumpert Nathalie — This weeks episode is brought to you by the new electric Roland Gumpert Nathalie.

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• 2020 DODGE CHARGER WIDEBODY TRACK DRIVE: CONQUERING SONOMA WITH 707 HORSEPOWER — 'More, More, More,' isn't just the refrain of an unforgettable disco classic—it's also clearly the guiding philosophy at FCA's SRT. It's fitting, in many ways, that a superhit from the 1970s applies to so many of Dodge's recent performance products, given that they often wear badges that harken back to that decade's muscle car glory days. The latest load of excess horsepower from the last American automaker continually raising the stakes on street, strip and track, is the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody. Joined by its somewhat-attenuated Scat Pack 392 Widebody sibling, this revised edition of the world's mightiest family sedan now features bulging fenders, a more focused suspension setup and body work that's aggressive enough to intimidate any other four-door in the daycare pick-up line.

Also - Porsche book contest winners!

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• A YEAR ON THE RACE TRACK IN A VINTAGE CAR: WHAT DID IT COST ME? — Four years later, almost all of the bugs have been worked out of my 1978 Datsun 280Z. A series of upgrades have left the engine largely untouched, but the driveline and the suspension have been built to withstand the perils of high performance driving. Now that I am past the stage of correcting the issues that crop up on any secondhand automobile (deferred maintenance, design defects), I thought it would be interesting to examine what it cost me, in terms of time, toil, and treasure, to keep a 41 year old automobile in fighting shape during a full summer of on-track abuse.
• 2019 Mazda MX-5 Review — The Mazda MX-5 adds horsepower for 2019, addressing one of the most common complaints from people who’ve never actually driven the car. Is the extra output more of a good thing, capable of pushing the world’s most popular roadster to the next level where it can better hang with the current crop of sports cars? Or is it too much sauce slathered on top of an already excellent recipe?

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• 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 Review — How much are you willing to pay to be different? That’s the question that the excellent, and over-qualified 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 asks luxury SUV buyers. Slab-sided styling and go-anywhere off-road capability are major standouts in its segment, but few will actually need the extras offered by one of the last rugged overlanders left on the premium market.
• On The Road: 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 — For the 2019 model year, Mercedes-Benz finally elected to update the G-Class—the only member of its current lineup still riding on a platform brought to life via slide-rules and long-division rather than the fully-digital design environments now commonplace throughout the industry.

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• A Visual Tour of VW’s Autostadt, an Amusement Park for Car Nerds — Since “car city” opened its 69-acre spread in the year 2000, 2.6 million Volkswagen customers have picked up their new car there, and that’s not counting the millions more who have visited even though they haven’t bought anything. What draws so many to this enormous facility snugged right next to the VW mothership, the largest automobile factory in Europe? We visited the Autostadt, cameras in tow, to give you a better idea of its charms.

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• 2020 Hyundai Sonata First Drive Review — The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has combined all of the many lessons learned over the past few years and is once again at the top of its game, delivering fantastic value, jaw-dropping style, and comfortable drivability.
• 2020 Range Rover Evoque Review — It’s quiet at the top of the rain-soaked mud-and-gravel track that’s been carved out of the Grecian hillside. The auto start/stop system outfitted to the Range Rover Evoque SUV has killed the engine, leaving my co-driver, Ken, and myself to ponder the very existence of the path forward – obscured entirely, as it is now, by some of the thickest fog the Aegean can conjure and then hurl up at the peaks that frame this sliver of the Mediterranean.

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• 2019 McLaren 600LT Spider Review — Take an exotic supercar around a track and it can feel like you’re just holding on for dear life. Far from domesticated, these cars do what they want, with jittery energy that can be hard to control if you’re unprepared.
• The New Kia Soul Is Funky Made Fresher — It’s said that the best revenge is living well—and for the Kia Soul, it’s hard to imagine one better against the Japanese boxes that it sought to usurp when it first appeared in 2010.

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• 2020 BMW 3 Series Review — Everyone seems to have a story or memory about the BMW 3 Series. DTM racer Timo Glock shared with us that he recently purchased a 1988 3 Series, a special edition model, because it reminded him of his father’s Alpina White E30, a car that he remembers growing up in.
• 2019 Audi E-Tron First Drive: The End of the Beginning for Mainstream EVs — It might seem a little unusual to travel all the way to Abu Dhabi, the most petrochemically gifted of the seven United Arab Emirates, to test out the 2019 Audi e-tron, an all-new SUV that eschews sweet crude in favor of ethereal electrons. Widen the perspective past the hydrocarbon filter, however, and you’ll find a surprising number of links between the prosperous Persian Gulf state and Germany’s latest battery-powered contender.

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• 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Review — The new Mercedes GLE is a revolutionary jump for the brand — not only does it feature all the things that make the brand great, but it even goes above and beyond that.

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• Formula Experiences

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• Bradley Iger - Instagram
• 2019 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ first drive review — Lamborghini’s V12 flagship brings the shock and awe for SVJ duty.
• On the Track: 2019 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ — Wrangling Sant'Agata's Baddest Bull.

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• Chevrolet Colorado Side Curtain Airbags Keep Deploying On Easy Off-Road Trails — The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is supposed to be a rough-and-tumble, body-on-frame, solid rear axle-having pickup that can handle off-road trails with ease. And yet, a number of trucks’ airbags are deploying on mild off-road trails, leaving owners with major hassles. Here’s what’s going on.

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• 2019 Kia Sorento vs 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee — Despite rising fuel costs and urban sprawl, SUVs still represent big business and sell in impressive numbers. In light of that, we decided to take a look at two of our favorite new SUVs, the Kia Sorento and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, to see which one is better for each kind of buyer out there.

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• Retro Rewind: Driving Mazda's RX-7 FD rotary wunderkind — How does “strange” hold up today in a world where turbos are now the norm and rotaries have been banished to the dust heap of history by emissions regs and warranty concerns? I spent some quality time with a 1993 Mazda RX-7 R1 borrowed from Mazda Canada’s classic collection to find out if an old favorite can still dance to modern music.
• Your definitive Mazda RX-7 FD buyer's guide — The third-generation Mazda RX-7—also known by its internal designation FD or FD3S—is one of the most arrestingly beautiful shapes to have ever escaped a Japanese design studio. When it went on sale in the early ’90s, its flowing lines stood in stark contrast not just to the more boxy wedge offered by the previous version of the car, but also the more aggressively linear look of rivals like the Acura NSX and the Mitsubishi 3000GT.

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• 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Review and First Drive — The new Mercedes A-Class not only rectifies many of the criticisms of the old compacts but also delivers a whole suite of innovative, exclusive technologies that will make the car stand out to buyers.

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• 2018 Jeep Compass Review — This mini-Grand Cherokee has a few drawbacks.

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• 2018 Maserati Quattroporte Review — It’s not cheap, but it is an exclusive ride and one that sounds so sexy, too.
• 2018 Maserati Levante Review — It’s gorgeous and sounds great, but there’s more than meets the eye (and ear).

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• 2018 Lexus LC 500 First Drive: Surrender To All This Relentless Beauty — The all-new 2018 Lexus LC coupe makes a compelling argument for automakers to do it their own way rather than simply trace the familiar lines on a map already worn down by the competition. It also proves that sometimes ignoring the prevailing winds makes for a more interesting journey for driver and brand alike.
• 2018 Lexus LC 500 First Drive: Ground-breaking luxury coupe lets Lexus find its soul — The 2018 Lexus LC is an act of bravery. Not only did Lexus take the unusual and difficult step of birthing a street car that hews almost perfectly to the gorgeous, yet production-challenging lines of the LF-LC concept that preceded it, but it also chose to ignore prevailing winds – or are those forced induction vortices? – that have come to define the drivetrains found in top-tier luxury coupes. That the Lexus LC is a stunning design achievement is obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes. That it also waves a big, five-liter middle finger in the direction of its would-be German rivals is in a way both a more and a less-subtle statement.

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• 2018 Hyundai Accent Review and First Drive — It’s a symptom of the universe that the slow death of small cars in the United States is heralded by perhaps the best crop of safe, efficient, and affordable compact and subcompact vehicles to have ever been available to budget-conscious buyers.
• Honda Civic Type R vs Subaru WRX STI vs VW Golf R vs Ford Focus RS: Sport Compact Comparison — Spend any time in the 2017 Honda Civic Type R and you’ll quickly realize that it’s probably the best sport compact car money can buy.