It's Wednesday, and that means it's podcast time. This week, we've got a lot to talk about, ranging from the Ram Rampage for Brazil to Japan's wild-looking Toyota Alphard minivan.

We go live at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 Pacific), and you can join us on Motor1.com's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels to chat in real-time.

Be Part Of The Conversation Here:

As always, if you can't be with us live, you can always watch the recordings on YouTube at the end of each show. For our friends who prefer audio, Rambling About Cars posts every Friday on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Amazon, Deezer, and many more.

Wherever you get your Rambling About Cars fix, please comment, like, subscribe, share... all the good social stuff so we can keep rambling for your (and our) entertainment. And we always welcome emails from all you Ramblers out there! Send us your thoughts, opinions, and extraordinary car stories to podcast@motor1.com.

After a lengthy teaser campaign, the Ram Rampage finally debuted in Brazil. The small truck rides on the Small Wide 4x4 platform that's also underneath vehicles like the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Renegade. The two engine options are the 2.0-liter Multijet diesel four-cylinder making 170 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, or the gas-fueled turbocharged 2.0-liter Hurricane four-cylinder producing 272 hp and 295 lb-ft.

There are rumors that this truck might come to the United States, so we think it's worth discussing a truck launching in Brazil first.

The 2024 Mercedes E-Class Estate also debuted this week. It's like the sedan but with a longer roof for increased cargo space. While this model isn't coming to the United States, a filing with the EPA suggests the higher-riding All-Terrain is on the way to the US.

The refreshed Land Rover Range Rover Evoque features a new nose with updated headlights. Inside, there's the latest Pivi Pro 2 infotainment system. In the US, prices start at $49,900.

Finally, Toyota launched the fourth-generation Alphard and Vellfire minivans in Japan. They feature bold styling that looks far more avant garde than the Sienna in the United States. Both can seat up to six people. Buyers can get a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 275 hp, a hybrid 2.5-liter producing 250 hp, or a 2.5-liter mill making 180 hp.

Be sure to jump onto Motor1's socials at 7:30 PM EDT and comment with us in real-time. We will see you online.

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The Roush name is synonymous with horsepower. The aftermarket specialist has been tuning Ford vehicles since 1995 when it first upgraded a Mustang, and the latest Dream Giveaway offers the opportunity to win two wild and rare Roush vehicles – a Ford F-150 with 705 horsepower and a 510-hp limited-edition 2008 Roush Mustang P-51A. Enter now for your chance to win this must-have performance pair.

The 2008 Mustang features Ford’s 4.6-liter V8 engine, which made 300 horsepower 15 years ago. However, this pony has a supercharger from Roush and an assortment of internal engine upgrades to handle the additional boost. The engine now makes 510 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Roush had to install a forged steel eight-bolt crankshaft, forged aluminum pistons, and forged H-beam connecting rods.

Motor1.com readers who donate $25 or more will receive double the entry tickets for this performance pair!

Roush brings all that power to a stop with 14-inch front two-piece rotors and four-piston calipers, which hide behind 18-inch Roush five-spoke wheels. The Mustang has a Stage 3 suspension with specially designed front struts, rear shocks, sway bars, jounce bumpers, and front and rear springs that greatly improve its handling.

The Mustang has just 1,451 miles on the odometer, adding to its rarity. Roush limited production to just 151 units, with this example being No. 70. The Ford wears Vapor Metallic paint with an olive-green hood stripe and the red-and-yellow badges of the 357th P-51 Fighter Group.

The prize package also includes a new Roush F-150 SC with over $30,000 in upgrades. It has a Roush supercharger and an active exhaust system that increases the output to 705 horsepower. The truck also gets the tuner’s performance coilover suspension system. It wears special 20-inch wheels that Roush wraps in 33-inch General Tire Grabber A/TX rubber.

Not only does the truck feature a serious hardware upgrade increasing its horsepower, it also looks different from the standard pickup. The F-150 receives fender flares, a custom front bumper with tow hook pockets, a high-flow grille with integrated lighting, badges, and a graphics package from the tuner. Inside, Roush adds unique pedals, custom gauges, branded floor liners, a premium leather package, and a dash badge. This truck is No. 679.

All you have to do is enter the latest Dream Giveaway if you want a chance to put this potent Ford couple in your driveway.  Motor1.com readers who donate $25 or more will receive double the number of entry tickets. The package includes $34,500 for taxes. Don’t miss out on this fantastic prize. It’s not often you can win two stunning Roush vehicles. 

The Motor1.com team is scattered all over the globe. Even here in the US, we have editors in Los Angeles, a couple in Detroit, folks in Florida, Ohio, and more. We all love talking about what we're driving. The Test Car Happy Hour on Thursdays at 2:30 PM Eastern (11:30 AM Pacific) is where we have a face-to-face digital car meet. You can be part of the conversation by joining us during the show on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Your comments automatically go into our streaming feed where we can see, share, and respond to them.

If you happen to be reading this after the live broadcast has ended, you can also find the audio version of The Test Car Happy Hour on all of your favorite streaming platforms, first thing every Monday morning.

This week we have Senior Editor Brett T. Evans, Senior Editor Jeff Perez, and News Editor Chris Smith.

Going alphabetically by automaker, Perez is driving the Audi Q8 Sportback E-Tron. This recently updated electric SUV has the powertrain and interior from the standard Q8 E-Tron but with a sleeker-looking body. Depending on the selected powertrain, the EV can produce 335 horsepower and 490 pound-feet, 402 hp and 490 lb-ft, or 496 hp and 718 lb-ft.

Evans is behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison. It features modifications from American Expedition Vehicles that include stamped steel bumpers with recovery hooks and integrated steps. It rides on 18-inch wheels with 33-inch tires. Plus, there are five skid plates underneath.

Smith doesn't have a new car to discuss. However, he has an interesting fleet that includes a non-running Ford Taurus SHO, an SN95 Mustang, and a Subaru Forester. Expect him to bring up at least one of them.

A major reason we do The Test Car Happy Hour every week is to answer your questions. So join us during the stream and let our talented editors share their experiences with you. They're ready to help you.

If You Missed Them, Check Out These Previous Happy Hours:

It's Wednesday, which means it's podcast time. Lexus rocked the automotive realm late last week with two major SUV debuts, but if that's too rich for your tastes, how about something can all afford? Scale-model cars and engines are cool and loved by pretty much everyone, and we have some neat ones to talk about.

We go live at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 Pacific), and you can join us on Motor1.com's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels to chat in real time.

Be Part Of The Conversation Here:

Motor1com on Facebook
Motor1com on Twitter
Motor1 on YouTube

As always, if you can't be with us live, you can always watch the recordings on YouTube at the end of each show. For our friends who prefer audio, Rambling About Cars posts every Friday on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Amazon, Deezer, and many more.

Wherever you get your Rambling About Cars fix, please comment, like, subscribe, share... all the good social stuff so we can keep rambling for your (and our) entertainment. And we always welcome emails from all you Ramblers out there! Send us your thoughts, opinions, and extraordinary car stories to podcast@motor1.com.

Lexus garnered considerable attention late last week with the 2024 GX and TX. These are fresh SUVs for the posh brand, with the TX being all-new to the lineup. Both have common foundations with their Toyota siblings, namely the Land Cruiser and Grand Highlander, but these are important offerings for Lexus. And with the GX at least, there's a burly Overtrail trim that injects some ruggedness into the lineup.

Speaking of Land Cruiser, it's coming back to the US market. The timing of this announcement with the recent Lexus debuts is pretty darned interesting, and you can bet Bruce and Smith have some thoughts on this.

Lexus is a high-dollar brand, and the last Toyota Land Cruiser available in the States came with a price tag close to six figures. These are unattainable vehicles for many, but anyone can buy a 1:25 scale plastic model car, a 1:18 scale diecast replica, or a cool (and functional) small-scale engine. Motor1.com recently wrote a quarter-scale V8 that sounds absolutely amazing, and we're long overdue to talk about the wonderful world of small-scale cars. Get ready for a good time rambling about plastic models, diecast collectibles, RC cars, and more.

Model engines at Stirlingkit: stirlingkit.com

Fujimi scale model cars: fujimimokei.com

Be sure to jump onto Motor1's socials at 7:30 PM EDT and comment with us in real-time. We will see you online.

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“Well, I’ve never had this before,” says McLaren ambassador Kris. He is our guide for an afternoon at the McLaren Technology Centre and just as he clears his throat to introduce the MP4/13 from 1998 in all its monochrome glory, Mika Hakkinen unexpectedly wanders into earshot. No pressure, then, to remember that the Finn standing only five yards away won eight grands prix aboard this car to lead a drivers’ and constructors’ Formula 1 championship double.

Kris doesn’t miss a beat before Hakkinen steps into one of several cylindrical glass lifts, as conceived by ex-McLaren boss Ron Dennis and the MTC’s pre-eminent architect Norman Foster to mimic the pistons of an engine rising and falling. As it climbs, our guide notes that you won’t see any dangling wires since Dennis also specified the lifts operate hydraulically to banish anything that might be taken for mess or clutter.

These 60 seconds from our three-hour visit perfectly capture the MTC in bite-size form. Opened in May 2004, it remains a pristine, state-of-the-art facility that truly merits every one of the countless comparisons to a James Bond villain’s lair. Yet, it’s anything but sterile and soulless, as motorsport history oozes from every chassis and trophy on display along the famous boulevard.

Remarkably, this is all something that members of the public can also experience. Despite the secrecy that shrouds F1 design and the development of the latest McLaren Automotive road cars, the MTC is opening its sliding door to fans. This comes courtesy of online travel booking platform GetYourGuide, as part of its Originals by GetYourGuide collection.

GetYourGuide has been offering travel experiences for the last 14 years, providing over 75,000 experiences for in excess of 80 million users from more than 150 countries. The company exists to create trips and visits that aren’t everyday experiences. It enables privileged access; hence you can book a private tour of the Sistine Chapel rather than join the usual queue around the block. Likewise, the App Store and Google Play app allow you to reserve a space for an after-hours tour, including a private organ performance at Barcelona’s breathtaking La Sagrada Familia.

Photo by: GetYourGuide

Having witnessed a major growth in demand following the COVID-19 pandemic, GetYourGuide has now expanded its Original experiences to sports venues. Alongside being shown around Madison Square Garden by an NBA Hall of Famer, tours of the MTC – billed as the “crown jewel” in the ever-expanding GetYourGuide line-up – are now available to all.

After turning off at Woking’s Paragon roundabout, which takes its name from the original working title for the MTC while it was under construction at the turn of the millennium, you are greeted by an immaculate landscape – as tended to by five ground staff. The building itself is initially concealed, so it’s a slow and tantalizing reveal. You round the lake – and in our case wait for a duck to cross the pathway – before being confronted with the grand design.

For 2023, there’s a splash of color on the glass walls courtesy of some bright decals that celebrate McLaren’s diamond anniversary. It’s therefore fitting that the car that greets you on arrival is eponymous founder Bruce McLaren’s own 1929 Austin Seven race car. To mark the other end of the timeline, the reception desk is flanked by Lando Norris’ current ride: the MCL60, complete in its Triple Crown homage special livery. Teasing the rest of the line-up along this walkway, the 1970 Can-Am title-winning ex-Denny Hulme M8D monster and its eight polished velocity stack trumpets rubs shoulders with the Gulf-painted McLaren F1 GTR Longtail.

In the early years of the team, retired race cars were mostly sold to raise funds. But Dennis appreciated the power that race-winning heritage can play in energizing a workforce, so he insisted McLaren start to keep hold of its old chargers while simultaneously buying back some of its greatest hits. New McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, himself a passionate custodian of historic race cars, has kept this up. That’s why the MTC is so well-populated today.

Pleasingly, though, these are no museum pieces under permanent lock and key. The cars are meticulously maintained so they can still be driven. They often serenade fans with runs up the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb or are sent over to the West Coast of America for Monterey Car Week at Laguna Seca.

Photo by: GetYourGuide

You then amble past the symbols of modern-day McLaren: the three-seater Speedtail hyper GT, open-top Elva and even the all-electric Extreme E off-road racer. These are all on the walk to the Thought Leadership Centre. This ground-floor theatre is where the team launched its 2023 F1 car, while upstairs is the circular presentation room that made its silver screen debut in 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. With much of the MTC sitting underground, the 360-degree screens in this nerve center can roll down to reveal windows that let the natural light flood in. As the MTC opens its doors to the public with GetYourGuide, this is also a room that can be hired and comes complete with its own café – one that has the CNBC news channel playing in the background in deference to the F1 team’s TV network sponsor.

For the next part of our tour, phones and cameras must be briefly tucked away. we're guided into the McLaren Production Centre, where all the latest automotive creations are assembled. The row of carbon-fiber tubs below the viewing platform gradually begin to resemble the new mid-engine hybrid Artura supercar the further down the line you cast your eye. That’s before they roll into the Monsoon and Dynamic test booths to ensure they are weatherproof and ready to be signed off for customer deliveries. It should be noted that even the trolley jacks are painted in traditional McLaren papaya.

The only other place where guests must be careful with their photography is with the clear windows into the race bays, where two MCL60s are being built up for Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri to drive ahead of the coming Canadian and Austrian GPs. But even if you can’t take a couple of snaps, there’s nothing to stop you from drinking in the detail of the fantastically intricate rear suspension and brake assemblies.

Piastri, on-site after flying back from the recent Spanish GP, says: “Funnily enough, I had a tour of the MTC in 2018 when I was 17. I was just starting in Formula Renault Eurocup. It was a very cool place to be. Walking down the boulevard, even now, it never gets old seeing those cars. And because we have so many, the line-ups usually chop and change from week to week.”

Photo by: GetYourGuide

As you navigate the MTC, the side corridors are also lined with F1 machinery. But these aren’t part of the rotating cast Piastri mentions. While the main boulevard is reserved for McLaren’s greatest hits, unpainted test cars and the less successful eras of the team (think the 2015-19 Honda and Renault-powered racers) are still held onto. But they’re out of the limelight.

By contrast, the trophies denoting every grand prix podium, win and championship title achieved are proudly on display. Whereas some rival teams opt to line their cabinets with replicas, McLaren has long written into driver contracts that the factory gets to keep the real thing. They are all present, polished, and correct, including the pot presented to Lewis Hamilton for winning the drivers’ crown in 2008 – McLaren’s most recent title success.

Just on from the trophy-lined walkway are four enormous towers. These hold 24,500 liters of water and will be used to cool the new F1 wind tunnel that is due to be completed imminently. As our tour comes to an end, we can’t resist peering through one of the cooling louvers in the facilities’ walls for a sneak peek at an infrastructure project conceived to guide McLaren back to the front of the grid.

“This is it,” Hakkinen tells us in the final act of a truly special day. “This place is timeless when you come here. The people working here feel comfortable, they feel good. It’s motivating to work in an environment with such high quality. It is an incredible experience.” And thanks to GetYourGuide, a tour of the world-famous MTC is an experience that’s no longer reserved for two-time F1 world champions.

Photo by: GetYourGuide

–Whitestown, Indiana

It’s my deeply held opinion that nearly every driver on the planet would benefit from high-performance driver training. The problem is, these courses are expensive. Tuition for a three-day course can cost around $6,000, not including flights and lodging. There are more grass-roots methods of becoming a better driver – autocross is an amazing, low-risk way of learning car control – but this is 2023. Can’t we use technology to get better?

That’s the question Honda is asking with its LogR app. I’ve had a loose understanding of this technology for a few years, but I equated it with the Performance Data Recorder available in Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros and Cadillac V products. But after I spent a day lapping the Putnam Park Road Course outside Indianapolis in the 2023 Honda Civic Type R, describing LogR as a smartphone-based PDR does it a great disservice. This technology wanted to make me a better driver.

What A Pair

LogR requires two things: a smartphone and a Honda Civic Type R. That last one is the real ask, with a starting price of $44,890 (including a $1,095 destination charge), although the LogR system comes standard. Pairing car and phone is as easy as downloading the LogR app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and punching in the car’s username and password.

The app is preloaded with 27 tracks in North America, almost all of which are icons: Daytona, Road America, Laguna Seca, Sebring, and Watkins Glen, to name a few. And if, like Putnam Park, your local road course isn’t in the system, you need only point out where the start/finish line is and the system will use MapBox data to do the rest. From there, simply mount your phone so the camera can see ahead, activate the data logger and video, and lap as quick as you can.

For my test at Putnam Park, Honda handled the programming of the start/finish line ahead of time, while logging into my Championship White Civic Type R took seconds. And from there, I simply put my right foot down hard and went for it.

Getting To Know You

Putnam Park is a 1.8-mile, 10-turn circuit that winds through the farmland outside Indianapolis. Honda’s pro drivers set reference laps in each car at the test, with mine covering the distance in a scant 1 minute, 18 seconds, although other journalists at the event had baseline times nearer to a minute-20. I had precious few chances to match those numbers, with my two sessions broken out into an out lap, two flying laps, and a cooldown. My best time was a leisurely 1:25. In my defense, I’d like to say that until that morning I’d never seen Putnam Park nor driven an inch in the redesigned Type R.

That last point shouldn’t have mattered much, but the one thing I have in common with pro drivers is I’ve never met an excuse for poor on-track performance I didn’t like. The redesigned Type R retains its predecessor’s razor-sharp handling, glorious six-speed manual gearbox, and powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. Coming to grips with its performance was far simpler than learning the track.

That’s where LogR came in. After wrapping up my lap, I stopped the recording and let my phone process the data for my review. The app breaks each lap of each session out individually and automatically ranks them from fastest to slowest. Tap on a lap and it pulls up telemetry, sticking a heat map of the circuit on the top quarter of the page (green for accelerating, yellow/orange/red for increasing levels of deceleration), with the rest of the screen dedicated to swappable pages and playback controls. The default page has a G meter with a friction circle for each individual tire. A second page shows a more traditional telemetry graph that drivers can configure with up to six fields.

When it comes to studying performance, this is where LogR comes into its own. Tap play and watch the lines on the graf to feel a bit like a Formula 1 driver debriefing a session with their engineers. Within seconds of being out of the car, I could tell that I was braking too gently and too early (I’ll blame the lead-follow nature of the session, because racing driver excuses are endless), but I could also see how smoothly I was working the accelerator pedal and steering. The LogR app bore that out.

Get Good Grades

Because it’s 2023, everything needs gamified and LogR is no different, attaching what Honda calls an Autoscore to each lap. While it sounds cheesy, digging into how the app computes that score is revealing. It takes into account five fields (G Average, Balance, Friction Circle, Saturation, and Variation) and assigns a letter grade. The best I saw was a B – some of the media there received As or Ss, and the pros were cracking out S+ rankings. The app can then go into detail of each individual field to help drivers figure out where they need to improve.

Matching up with what the telemetry said, LogR praised my Variation (or smoothness of inputs), saying that “the load fluctuations on four tires are small” while stinging me by saying I had “not reached the G margin of the vehicle.” When I asked Honda if that was code for “you’re a coward and should carry more speed into the corners,” I was met with knowing smiles. But the point of this occasionally embarrassing exercise is that for the first time, I had not only studiable telemetry of my sessions, but direct feedback on areas where I could improve.

And it gets better from there, because LogR can go a step further and synchronize the telemetry with the video feed. When I went to start this syncing, the app told me it’d take 50 minutes, though, during which the LogR app couldn’t be shuffled off to the background. When I did synchronize (later, when I had my phone plugged in and didn’t need it), my iPhone 14 Pro made short work of it all, matching up data from both sessions with their respective videos in about 30 minutes total. I’m betting an older or less powerful phone would come closer to the app’s estimated time. Here’s what that video feed looks like when it’s all said and done.

Type R Writings:

The Big Drawback

After a day at Putnam Park, the only problem I really found with LogR was its limited availability. It doesn’t matter if you have a Civic Si, an Acura TLX Type S, or even a mighty NSX, because LogR is only available on the Civic Type R. Honda’s rationale is that the Type R and LogR are both meant for the track. I’d like to argue, though, that there will be Civic Si owners that visit their local road courses, and I bet NSX Type S pilots will do the same. There’s no reason to discriminate against these owners because they wanted a slightly different experience.

But for Civic Type R owners who regularly lap their cars, LogR is a deeply valuable tool. It can’t and won’t replace dedicated instruction from professional drivers, but at least it provides a positive starting point for improvement. And beyond that, it’s a good bit of fun to see just how good or bad you performed at your last track day.

One of the first things I noticed when I inspected the new-to-me 1996 Lexus LX 450 sitting in my driveway was the horrid condition of the tires. Date-coded to 2011, the Toyo Open Country A/T rubber showed plenty of dry-rotting and visible cracks – as well as some regrettable gloss black overspray on the spare tire from when the previous owner repainted the trailer hitch.

The first order of business was a $1,700 trip to the mechanic, who resealed the front axle, replaced the front wheel bearings, installed a new set of oil pan gaskets, cleaned the throttle body, and reset a check-engine light. But with that out of the way, Noah and I sourced a set of LT285/75R16 Firestone Destination X/T tires. The stock 275/70R16 size is surprisingly hard to find, and the 265/70s already on the Lexus look like roller skate wheels. Hopefully, the 32.8-inch-diameter Destination X/Ts would fit the bill, so to speak, measuring 2.2 inches taller and about eight-tenths of an inch wider than the dry-rotted Toyos.

Will Robbins, Firestone’s director of product strategy, said that the X/Ts would be the ideal solution for a off-road–oriented, daily-driven SUV, with more rugged performance than the Destination A/T2 but none of the snow and dry-road compromises of a dedicated mud tire. And the X/T comes exclusively in LT-metric sizes, trading some extra weight and rolling resistance for added strength, tread depth, and cut prevention in rough terrain. Since the LX450 will see conditions that vary between snowy roads near Big Bear and silt paths in Anza Borrego, the X/T would be a perfect fit for the weekend warriors we aspire to be.

Cruisin' The Land:

We had them mounted and balanced – outlined white letters out, obviously – then hit the road. While the outgoing Toyo tires might have rivaled their Firestone contemporaries when new, 12 years of sun damage had clearly taken their toll. In spite of a more aggressive tread pattern, the Destination X/T rubber gave our old Lexus a smoother, quieter ride on the road, with an increase in cornering grip that was obvious even at neighborhood speeds. It’s not often that upsized rubber improves an SUV’s dynamics, but that was the case here. Neglected, old tires just aren’t conducive to safe handling.

Issues

And although the new Firestones were primarily a practical addition, I also love how they fill out the LX 450’s wheel wells and provide just over an inch of extra altitude under the axles. The added width, although not immediately noticeable, gives the truck a slightly more commanding stance. I initially wanted a vintage-looking 255/80R16 setup – "skinnies" that look great on older off-roaders – but I’m ultimately glad we went with the 285s. The tire fitment almost looks factory when combined with the Ironman 4x4 lift, giving the truck an OEM-plus vibe that I really love.

Noah and I both thought that off-roading on the Toyos would be tempting fate, but armed with some new Firestone all-terrains, we immediately set about having some fun in the LX 450. And although we didn’t push it too far given some of its maintenance needs, the 80-Series does not feel overhyped in terms of off-road capability. With robust solid axles front and rear (the only Lexus ever built that way), full-time four-wheel drive with a low-range center differential lock, and a bit of added ground clearance from our slightly oversized tires, the SUV never felt lacking in traction or articulation.

The only minor concern we had in our day of moderate off-roading came when we encountered a steep descent immediately after crossing a hub-deep puddle. Those circumstances revealed a soft brake pedal when trying to keep the Lexus’ speed in check, likely a result of the wet discs in combination with old brake fluid and/or tired rubber lines. So we’ll add a system inspection and brake bleed to the list of things to address in the next installment – when we finally tackle the valve cover gasket and related maintenance items. 

It's Wednesday, which means it's podcast time. There are several debuts this week, but there are other things to discuss, depending on how things go. We go live at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 Pacific), and you can join us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to chat in real-time.

Be Part Of The Conversation Here:

As always, if you can't be with us live, you can always watch the recordings on YouTube at the end of each show. For our friends who prefer audio, Rambling About Cars posts every Friday on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and many more.

Wherever you get your Rambling About Cars fix, please comment, like, subscribe, share... all the good social stuff so we can keep rambling for your (and our) entertainment. And we always welcome emails from all you Ramblers out there! Send us your thoughts, opinions, and extraordinary car stories to podcast@motor1.com.

It's just Bruce and Smith on the show this week.

We'll start by checking out the new Volvo EX30 compact crossover. It has an affordable starting price of  $34,950 in the United States. It's available with either a single motor making 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet or a dual-motor setup with 422 hp and 400 lb-ft.

The Chevrolet Camaro Collector's Edition will be another topic. This is how Chevy is saying goodbye to the nameplate ... at least for now.

The Ram Rampage is the brand's new, compact pickup for the South American market. Although, there are rumors about it eventually coming to the US.

We'll also discuss the story of a Finnish businessman who got a $129,400 fine for going 20 mph over the speed limit. 

The final segment will be a cheap car challenge. The task this time will be finding a beat-up pickup truck to bash around off-road for no more than $3,000.

Be sure to jump onto Motor1's socials at 7:30 PM EDT and comment with us in real time. We will see you online.

If You Missed Them, Enjoy These Previous Rambles:

Redesigning history is hard. For many automakers, their logos represent decades worth of heritage. But over the past few years we've seen a number of automakers redesign their iconic logos – some for the better, others for the worse, but most all of them exceptionally minimalist.

The trend of beveled edges and silvery finishes is long gone. These days, graphic designers have reduced logos – even outside of the automotive realm – to bland 2D silhouettes. The swarm of redesigns for car markers kicked off with Mini in 2015, while brands like Audi, Aston Martin, and BMW followed in the years since.

With that in mind, let's take a look at all of the automaker logo redesigns that have taken place over the past few years.

Aston Martin (2022)

Aston Martin's iconic wings haven't changed much since they debuted in the early 1930s. But for 2022, the company simplified its angelic icon with fewer lines and a more pronounced "Aston Martin" wordmark.

Audi (2022)

Audi hasn't strayed far from its roots with this most recent look. The company ditched the raised edges of its iconic interlocking rings logo – which debuted originally in 1969 and received a silvery redesign in 2005 – and went the trendy 2D route.

BMW (2021)

To BMW's credit, the BMW roundel logo hasn't changed much since its introduction in 1917. But this new look follows a theme common on this list: flattening. The beveled edges of the roundel redesign from 1997 fade for a flatter, minimalist look with fewer elements. The blue and white colors are gone, too, going for a transparent motif instead.

Buick (2022)

Buick's new logo is arguably one of the few on this list that improves on the previous design (rather than just flattening it). This new look sheds the staggered tri-shield emblems and removes them from inside the circular badge, laying them neatly side-by-side.

Cadillac (2021)

The Cadillac crest logo loses its red, blue, and gold inserts for a stylish black-and-white motif. The overall shape hasn’t changed, but again, designers flattened the logo for a 2D effect as opposed to the raised edges of the previous design.

FCA / Stellantis (2020)

This isn't so much a simple logo redesign as it is a complete rebranding. FCA and PSA are now Stellantis – and have been since 2020. That updated corporate structure also comes with a fresh logo with the new group name front and center.

Citroen (2016)

Citroen simplified its logo while also reviving some historic cues in the process. The dual upward arrows – now with less beveling, of course – are positioned within an oval badge that harkens back to the original Citroen logo from 1919.

General Motors (2021)

GM updated its logo in 2021, removing the hard edges and blocky letters for sleeker, more modern branding. The light blue edges are to represent “clean skies” as the company continues its EV push, while the new GM logo marks the first redesign in 50 years.

Jaguar Land Rover / JLR (2023)

The individual Jaguar and Land Rover brands aren't changing their logos (so far as we know), but it's the entire corporate entity that is moving to a new name and design. Formerly Jaguar Land Rover, the new JLR simplified its identity and unveiled a clean abbreviation logo to reflect that.

Kia (2021)

Kia had one of the more controversial redesigns on this list. The company shed its longstanding oval identity and went with an ultra-sleek new logo. But the lack of spacing between the "I" and "A" in "KIA" still has some people on the internet wondering what the new "KN" car is.

Lancia (2022)

Lancia, the Italian automaker once known for iconic rally cars like the Delta Integrale and the O37, is on the verge of a major comeback. A new concept car with a fresh Lancia logo debuted late last year, ushering in the brand's electric era.

Lotus (2019)

The updated Lotus logo signifies the brand's fresh start. But the look doesn't stray far from the automaker's history by doing what many other brands have done – flatting and simplifying its formerly beveled edges. The Lotus lettering has also been straightened for a cleaner look.

Mini (2015)

Mini was one of the first brands to remove the raised edgess and go completely flat. The historic winged logo loses its silvery edges and opts for a monotone, minimalist design, like many other updated emblems on the list.

Nissan (2021)

Nissan's former logo was stuck in the '90s with hard beveled edges and a shiny silver finish. Thankfully, this new logo goes 2D with a simpler wordmark and a minimalist look, even ditching the sharp edges of the previous emblem for a sleeker open design.

Peugeot (2021)

Peugeot didn't simplify so much as the company did a full redesign of its iconic lion logo. The full-bodied feline is gone, and in its place is a new shield with the Peugoet wordmark and an aggressive (but still minimalist) lion's head.

Porsche (2023)

Porsche went with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" redesign. The classic crest logo remains, but now it features more pronounced "Stuttgart" lettering at the top, new honeycomb-like vertical slats, and less spackling on the bronze elements.

Renault (2021)

Renault really went simple with its logo redesign in 2021. The Renault name was removed entirely and the silver diamond logo is now two interlocking angular lines that create the same shape.

Volkswagen (2019)

Volkswagen's iconic roundel logo hasn't changed much since the mid-1940s. So for the redesign in 2019, VW cleaned up its look with a flattened design that features no beveling. And for the first time in history, the "W" doesn't connect with the lower portion of the outer edge.

Volvo (2021)

Volvo quietly updated its logo in 2021 and, again, opted for the minimalist route. The logo is flatter, cleaner, and simpler than the silvery logo from the mid-2000s. The company even removed the rectangular housing for the Volvo wordmark.

The Motor1.com team is scattered all over the globe. Even here in the US, we have editors in Los Angeles, a couple in Detroit, folks in Florida, Ohio, and more. We all love talking about what we're driving. The Test Car Happy Hour on Thursdays at 2:30 PM Eastern (11:30 AM Pacific) is where we have a face-to-face digital car meet. You can be part of the conversation by joining us during the show on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Your comments automatically go into our streaming feed where we can see, share, and respond to them.

If you happen to be reading this after the live broadcast has ended, you can also find the audio version of The Test Car Happy Hour on all of your favorite streaming platforms, first thing every Monday morning.

This week we have Managing Editor Brandon Turkus, Senior Editor Brett T. Evans, and Senior Editor Jeff Perez.

Going alphabetically by automaker, Turkus is driving a BMW Z4 M40i this week. This range-topping model in the lineup has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine that makes 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Given the weather, it's a fantastic time to discuss a droptop sports car.

At the other end of the automotive spectrum, Turkus also has a Honda Accord. It's a classic, four-door sedan for hauling the family.

Perez is behind the wheel of the new Toyota Grand Highlander. The three-row SUV is available in several trims, including the range-topping Platinum Hybrid MAX that retails for $59,460 after the destination fee.

Evans has a Range Rover Sport in his garage this week. It's a very luxurious SUV that can also go off-road. The model's third generation just premiered for the 2023 model year.

A major reason we do The Test Car Happy Hour every week is to answer your questions. So join us during the stream and let our talented editors share their experiences with you. They're ready to help you.

If You Missed Previous Happy Hours, Then Check Them Out Here:

It's Wednesday, which means it's podcast time. There are several debuts this week, but there are other things to discuss, depending on how things go. We go live at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 Pacific), and you can join us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to chat in real-time.

Be Part Of The Conversation Here:

As always, if you can't be with us live, you can always watch the recordings on YouTube at the end of each show. For our friends who prefer audio, Rambling About Cars posts every Friday on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and many more.

Wherever you get your Rambling About Cars fix, please comment, like, subscribe, share... all the good social stuff so we can keep rambling for your (and our) entertainment. And we always welcome emails from all you Ramblers out there! Send us your thoughts, opinions, and extraordinary car stories to podcast@motor1.com.

We tentatively have a guest for tonight's show, but nothing is in stone yet, so we are waiting to confirm everything. 

We'll also check out the new Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison off-road-focused pickup. It comes with parts like Multimatic front and rear jounce control dampers, Multimatic DSSV dampers, and power-locking front and rear differentials. Plus, there's a winch-capable, heavy-duty front bumper and 17-inch wheels with 35-inch tires.

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport SV is a new performance SUV. It packs a BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 that pumps out 626 horsepower and 590 pound-feet. This is enough to reach 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds.

The new Volkswagen Golf R 333 is another new vehicle this week. As the name implies, it makes 333 metric horsepower or 328 hp, and VW plans to make 333 of them. This is the hottest hatch from the brand in a while.

Be sure to jump onto Motor1's socials at 7:30 PM EDT and comment with us in real time. We will see you online.

If You Missed These Episodes, Join Us For Rambling About Cars:

The Motor1.com team is scattered all over the globe. Even here in the US, we have editors in Los Angeles, a couple in Detroit, folks in Florida, Ohio, and more. We all love talking about what we're driving. The Test Car Happy Hour on Thursdays at 2:30 PM Eastern (11:30 AM Pacific) is where we have a face-to-face digital car meet. You can be part of the conversation by joining us during the show on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Your comments automatically go into our streaming feed where we can see, share, and respond to them.

If you happen to be reading this after the live broadcast has ended, you can also find the audio version of The Test Car Happy Hour on all of your favorite streaming platforms, first thing every Monday morning.

This week we have Motor1.com Editor-in-Chief Seyth Miersma, Senior Editor Brett T. Evans, and Senior Editor Jeff Perez.

Going alphabetically by vehicle, an Audi Q8 E-Tron. This is the new name for the previous E-Tron. It's available in three powertrain levels: 50, 55, and SQ8. There are lots of screens inside, including the instrument cluster, infotainment display, and HVAC controls.

Miersma has the BMW 760i xDrive this week. Even if he doesn't like it, we get the impression his kids love the car.

Finally, Perez is driving a Chevrolet Silverado HD. For the 2024 model year, the updated truck has a revised dashboard with an available 12.3-inch driver display and a 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. It also gains adaptive cruise control that works when towing a trailer.

A major reason we do The Test Car Happy Hour every week is to answer your questions. Join us during the stream and let our talented editors share their experiences with you. They're ready to help you.

If You Missed Them, Check Out These Earlier Happy Hours:

It's Wednesday, which means it's podcast time. We have debuts from Aston Martin and BMW to discuss, but decades before these new models there was an electric Chevy Corvette that you probably never heard of. We're joined by special guest Kevin Williams who talked to the builders of this early EV, and you don't want to miss it! We go live at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 Pacific), and you can join us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to chat in real time.

Be Part Of The Conversation Here:

Motor1com on Facebook
Motor1com on Twitter
Motor1 on YouTube

As always, if you can't be with us live, you can always watch the recordings on YouTube at the end of each show. For our friends who prefer audio, Rambling About Cars posts up every Friday on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and more.

Wherever you get your Rambling About Cars fix, please comment, like, subscribe, share... all the good social stuff so we can keep rambling for your (and our) entertainment. And we always welcome emails from all you Ramblers out there! Send us your thoughts, opinions, and cool car stories to podcast@motor1.com.

This week's show opens with a look at the next-generation BMW 5 Series, and its all-electric i5 counterpart. From a visual standpoint, the sedans look virtually identical. This is a stark contrast to what competitors like Mercedes-Benz are doing, and it's a subject BMW designers have a strong opinion about. On a very different side of the luxury coin, the next-generation Aston Martin grand touring machine is here, but don't call it a GT car. The automaker says "grand is not enough" but appearance-wise at least, the new DB12 doesn't rock the boat too much.

Previously On Rambling About Cars:

New cars are all well and good, but we're really excited to have special guest Kevin Williams along for the ride. You may have seen his features at places like The Drive, which is where we read his three-part series on an all-electric, high-performance C4 Chevrolet Corvette that was built long before the Tesla Roadster was even a concept. Moreover, it was built by Motorola and it could've laid the foundation for mainstream EVs in the early 2000s had Motorola not changed course. Instead, the car was all but abandoned and virtually forgotten ... until Williams decided to tell its story. And he'll be sharing his story with us live.

Be sure to jump onto Motor1's socials at 7:30 PM EDT and comment with us in real-time. We will see you online.

The passion that drives many of us to obsess over a particular make or model of automobile, often leads to spillover in the non-autos portions of our lives. It might be the norm rather than the exception to see a proud owner wearing branded apparel to match their vehicle at a Cars and Coffee weekend, for instance. And it’s far from rare to find a vintage muscle car or well-tended sports car flanked by old marketing materials or dealer signs in its home garage.

Naturally, the more upscale you go in the car market, the better chance you’ll have to find upscale accessories as well. A “matching” wristwatch, for instance, can be a fine and subtle way to message the conviction of your passion for a brand like Aston Martin.

I’ve been fascinated with mechanical watches for most of my life, and over the last decade have finally had the means and opportunity to turn that interest into a collection of timepieces. So when the opportunity came (a second time) to spend a week with the latest Girard-Perregaux and Aston collaboration, I jumped at the chance.

The Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition is a very long name for a deceptively simple timepiece. Functionally, the watch tells me the time and date – with remarkable accuracy – and nothing more. And yet, in much the same way an Aston DBX transports a person very differently than say a Toyota RAV4 – both SUVs but they couldn’t be further apart otherwise – the details in every glance at the Laureato make it a special experience.

To start, this is the first all-ceramic watch I’ve ever worn. I’ve owned watches with ceramic parts and cases, but the G-P you see here utilizes the material for just about everything you can touch, including a magically light and smooth bracelet. Even with this more substantial 42-millimeter case (the watch is also offered in a 38mm size), the Laureato feels like nothing on my wrist in comparison to my similarly sized but all-steel Omega Speedmaster Professional, for instance.

Perhaps more impressive, the ceramic is incredibly hard, durable, and scratch-resistant, meaning owners could wear this $20,300 piece with less preciousness than you might expect. Between the hardiness of the construction and the flashy color, this actually does seem like a perfect watch to wear at the business end of an F1 pit or paddock. (In fact, I suspect a lot of Aston owners will love wearing this to watch a race, at least.)

But let’s talk about the British Racing Green tone-on-tone colorway of this watch. The color is actually incredibly hard to describe or photograph because it’s so variable and “alive” based on the exact lighting conditions.

The bracelet, insanely finished with links that split between straight brushing and a high polish, vacillates between a very dark, almost black-green in low light, to something like a backlit piece of cut jade in direct sun.

Getting that kind of variation from a watch dial, meanwhile, is more commonplace, but no less spectacular here. The cross-hatched dial is said to be inspired by the first Aston Martin logo, and each little “diamond” of flat surface that the pattern creates moves and shimmers as you turn your wrist.

I did my best with the original photos here to show a tiny bit of this impressive color story, and shot a short video to show you the watch in direct sunlight.

For the true watch nerds, the view of G-P’s in-house Calibre GP01800 automatic movement is even more compelling than that of the dial. Look past the engraved Aston Martin Logo (the only overt piece of Aston branding on the watch, and I’d just as soon it wasn’t there), and you’ll see a highly decorated movement. I’ll quote from the press release that some components are “...endowed with bevelling, mirror-polishing, satin finish, snailing, sunray finish, and various engravings.” That isn’t to be sycophantic on my part, but to underline my astonishment that this level of detail can be accomplished on parts this small and that they do it for the bits you almost never see.

Some Aston Martins In Which To Wear An Aston Martin Watch:

As I write this, the limited Aston collab edition of the Laureato Green Ceramic (388 examples of the 42mm and 188 of the 38mm) is likely either sold out or on the way there. But my week with the watch has given me a greater appreciation for the three-hand Laureato in general. This model in all-steel construction, with a low-key textured black, blue, or white dial would be an interesting alternative to the ubiquitous Rolex Datejust, for instance. And the non-limited black ceramic version seems like a super sleeper. Hey, they make Astons in black, too.

The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma is finally here. However, it has more competition than ever. When it goes on sale, it will face off against the all-new Ford Ranger, which will be available in the US for the first time.

The Ranger has three engine choices, with the entry-level being the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. The mid-range option is the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, but the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 sits at the top in the Ranger Raptor. It produces 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. 

The Tacoma doesn’t have as much variety under the hood, but it does offer a potent hybrid option. Toyota fits a 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the 2024 pickup with three different outputs. The entry-level engine for the Tacoma SR makes 228 hp and pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The more potent 2.4-liter that pairs with a six-speed manual makes 270 hp. Ford only offers the Ranger with a 10-speed automatic. Upgrading to the eight-speed auto with the more potent engine increases the output to 278 hp. However, the 2.4-liter hybrid engine, which mates to an eight-speed auto, makes the most at 326 hp.

Ford provided towing and payload capacity numbers for the Ranger SuperCrew 4x2 and 4x4, which maxes out at 7,500 pounds and 1,805 lbs, respectively. Toyota only provided partial specs for the 278-hp I4 with its 6,500-lbs towing capacity and the hybrid, which can tow 6,000 lbs with a 1,709-lbs payload capacity. Towing and payload numbers for the other engines are TBA.

The mid-size pickup segment is as crowded as ever, and the new Tacoma and Ranger are just the freshest models. Last year, the Tacoma led with more than 230,000 sales. Ford sold just over 57,000 Rangers, nearly a 40 percent decrease from 2021, but the Blue Oval did reveal the next-gen Ranger back in late 2021, possibly enticing buyers to hold off for the next-gen model.

Learn More About The 2024 Ford Ranger:

The Motor1.com team is scattered all over the globe. Even here in the US, we have editors in Los Angeles, a couple in Detroit, folks in Florida, Ohio, and more. And, we all love talking about what we're driving. The Test Car Happy Hour on Thursdays at 2:30 PM Eastern (11:30 AM Pacific) is where we have a face-to-face digital car meet. You can be part of the conversation by joining us during the show on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Your comments automatically go into our streaming feed where we can see, share, and respond to them.

If you happen to be reading this after the live broadcast has ended, you can also find the audio version of The Test Car Happy Hour on all of your favorite streaming platforms, first thing every Monday morning. 

This week we have Motor1.com Editor-in-Chief Seyth Miersma, Senior Editor Brett T. Evans, and Freelance Writer Steven Ewing.

Going alphabetically by vehicle, Evans recently had the opportunity to drive the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato in Southern California. He even got to take it on a 2.3-mile rally special stage at Chuckwalla Raceway. Get your questions ready to find out about the experience of driving this off-road-tuned supercar.

Miersma is cruising in a Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet. The new model generation goes on sale soon, and there are no plans for a convertible variant. Instead, the new CLE-Class is coming. Miersma gets a last chance to experience the current one.

He's also going to tell us about a recent experience at the Skip Barber Racing School for a three-day course learning how to be a better driver.

Finally, Ewing recounts his experience driving the Vinfast VF8 City Edition. He really didn't like the new EV. His First Drive Review included the sentence:

"If you described a car to ChatGPT and had it build something without any background knowledge or contextual awareness, the VF8 is what I imagine you’d get."

We can't wait to hear what he says about it on the show.

A major reason we do The Test Car Happy Hour every week is to answer your questions. Join us during the stream and let our talented editors share their experiences with you. They're ready to help you.

If You Missed Them, Check Out These Previous Happy Hours:

There’s an amazing stat that in Formula 1’s entire history only one man has led over 1,300 laps in 212 Grands Prix, and yet he’s not even scored a single championship point. His name is Bernd Maylander, and he drives the F1 Safety Car.

Maylander, from Waiblingen in the southwest of Germany, has the ice-cold veins required when F1’s hot heads get out of line and crash. When the race needs to be neutralized, with the drivers’ lives literally on the line, he takes control in his specially prepared FIA Safety Car vehicle.

“The two calls are ‘safety car standby’ and ‘safety car deployed’,” says Maylander, who alternates between a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and an Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition. “And the moment they say ‘deployed’ I’m on the track, find the leader – then I get extra information if there’s an accident, maybe I have to stay right or left at a corner, I get told if there is debris.”

Maylander, a former racer himself in the DTM and FIA GTs, is in his 24th season of driving the F1 safety car and has only missed a couple of races since his debut in 2000. Mercedes was the sole supplier of the safety car until Aston Martin joined the program in 2021, when duties became shared between the two cars.

Photo Credit: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“It was very professional how Aston Martin joined the FIA,” says Maylander. “The first event was at Mugello during the Covid era, and here it was, the Vantage F1 Edition, it’s definitely a great sportscar. It’s definitely a bit different, the suspension, so the setup is a little bit different [to the more powerful Mercedes].

“Sometimes I feel like James Bond a bit! With Mercedes I raced for them, and maybe one day I can race an Aston... Maybe a historical one, or something.”

The Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8-powered coupe producing 528 horsepower, enough to get to 62 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 195. It features an extra-large rear wing with a Gurney flap to produce a “very nice balance” – according to Maylander.

Photo Credit: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“I really like it,” he says. “I’d sat in one brand’s model for more than 20 years, then along came the Aston Martin and my first thought was ‘let’s see how good this car is’ – I’d never driven one before in my life.”

Where this car really differs from the model you can buy for the street is in the trunk, which is packed with electronic system control units, a wifi router, the same GPS tracker found in the F1 race cars, radio systems, and a data logger.

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

“All the equipment we have inside the car – communications and wifi systems, GPS mapping, TVs – is for us to follow the race,” he says. “We have all this assistance inside the safety car, and we run on the racetrack every day in the morning to check it’s all working.”

Four cameras – two on the rear wing and two mounted on top of the roof, ensure Maylander has a great view of the all-important F1 race cars behind. His steering wheel and the console are standard, but with some extra switchgear for the safety car lights and radio (including a backup) and monitors that show the live TV feed, GPS driver tracker, and live timing.
The Vantage has a regular-sized fuel tank, and two cars (four in total, along with the medical cars) are brought to every event – and they alternate their use between F1 and the FIA-sanctioned support races.

Photo Credit: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Maylander admits they must have the engine running for the duration of the races, to keep its electrical systems and air conditioning powered up “so we’re not in a sauna for two hours.” Bernd usually gets through one set of tyres per car per weekend, but this can stretch to two sets if there’s a lot of action. He adds: “We have four mechanics with us, looking after tyres, brakes – I think between them they could fix everything.”

Since its introduction in 2021, even the 113-degree Fahrenheit heat of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia hasn’t proved a problem for the Vantage: “We haven’t had any problems with this car at all since we started, no issues.” He always has a quick debrief with the mechanics after every race, but “it’s always quite short before we rush to the airport.”

Check Out Bernd's Rides:

Maylander rarely gets a spotlight put upon him – but Max Verstappen’s “turtle” jibe about the Vantage in last year’s Australian Grand Prix, when he claimed it was lapping too slowly to allow him to keep sufficient tire temperatures, certainly stung a little.

“The first 10 to 15 years, there was never any complaining from the drivers,” says Maylander on the topic. “But we were from a different time. Especially since 2022, with the new F1 cars with bigger tyres, then we heard some things, and I understand their side but they have to see our side too.

“When we, the FIA, deploy the safety car, it’s all about safety first. If you ever think from your seat in the grandstand or on your sofa at home ‘why is he driving so slow?’ There is a reason for that. I’d say, 90 percent of the time, I could drive quicker. But there is a background for this. Sometimes the field needs bunching up, sometimes there is an accident we have to move around.”

Photo Credit: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Although he didn’t make it behind the wheel of an F1 car, Maylander has found his dream job here. And his “safety-first” approach has kept lives safe that would otherwise be put in harm’s way. So is he going to quit any time soon?

“These 24 years have run like hell, so I’m ready for the next 10 or 15,” he smiles. “I still get nervous on the grid. But I still have a lot of fun, and it helps with partners like Aston Martin, to enjoy the weekend and the atmosphere.”

It's Wednesday, which means it's podcast time. We have EVs on the table with a bunch of speed records from Rimac and teasers from Tesla, but there's also a new gas engine in the Range Rover and rumors surrounding some fabled Japanese sports cars. We go live at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 Pacific), and you can join us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to chat in real-time.

Be Part Of The Conversation Here:

Motor1com on Facebook
Motor1com on Twitter
Motor1 on YouTube

As always, if you can't be with us live, you can always watch the recordings on YouTube at the end of each show. For our friends who prefer audio, Rambling About Cars posts up every Friday on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and more.

Wherever you get your Rambling About Cars fix, please comment, like, subscribe, share... all the good social stuff so we can keep rambling for your (and our) entertainment. And we always welcome emails from all you Ramblers out there! Send us your thoughts, opinions, and cool car stories to podcast@motor1.com.

The Rimac Nevera is a crazy-fast electric hypercar, and now it has multiple world records to prove it – 23 to be exact. We'll take a look at those, and sticking with electric cars, Tesla is working on something new. There are some bold claims from Elon Musk regarding the company's future, and we suspect the Ramblers out there will have some opinions to share on it all.

Previously On Rambling About Cars:

This week's show isn't all-electric, however. Range Rover dropped some rather significant horsepower news in a press release talking about a new customization service. Meanwhile in Japan, some rumors have bubbled up regarding some storied sportscar nameplates, specifically the Toyota Celica and Honda S2000. And if there's time, we have a few more interesting auto stories to share so tune in for the fun!

Be sure to jump onto Motor1's socials at 7:30 PM EDT and comment with us live. We will see you online.

The Jaguar F-Type is a car that the editors of Motor1.com have loved since the very start. In coupe or convertible form, with performance that ranges from spirited to flat-out phenomenal, Jag’s sports car has had a truly thrilling run over the last decade.

Now Jaguar, like the rest of the automotive world, has its sight firmly set on electrification rather than hot-blooded petrol burners. So, for the moment at least, it is time to say goodbye to the beloved Jaguar sports car.

The Jaguar F-Type 75 represents a proper send off for the nameplate, and Jag decided to celebrate the car and its place in the lineage of British motoring heritage, with a stirring drive through the Spanish countryside.

We sent filmmaker Logan Zilmer to capture the adventure on video (after watching the piece above be sure to check out some of his other work on the Cult of Velocity YouTube channel). Zilmer was able to distill the beauty of the vehicles and place.

Starting in Barcelona, the caravan of V8-powered machines roared their way over and through the grand Pyrenees mountains, ending up, days later, in the breathtaking Donosita-San Sebastian on the northern Spanish Coast. With the F-Type R coupe making some 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (the 75 Editon can also be had in non-R trim), the sounds of combustion and onrush of acceleration were perfect in this picturebook setting.

Looking Back On The F-Type:

But Zilmer came back with more than just moving pictures of slinky sports cars. He wrangled Jaguar’s Global Head of Public Relations, Ken McConomy, for a chat about what the 75 Edition, what the F-Type has meant for Jaguar, and what “sports car” will mean for the brand in the years and decades to come.

If you haven’t already, sit back, turn the volume all the way up, and enjoy our brief homage to a car that we love, and have loved, and will continue to love even after it’s gone.

The Motor1.com team is scattered all over the globe. Even here in the US, we have editors in Los Angeles, a couple in Detroit, folks in Florida, Ohio, and more. And, we all love talking about what we're driving. The Test Car Happy Hour on Thursdays at 2:30 PM Eastern (11:30 AM Pacific) is where we have a face-to-face digital car meet. You can be part of the conversation by joining us during the show on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Your comments automatically go into our streaming feed where we can see, share, and respond to them.

If you happen to be reading this after the live broadcast has ended, you can also find the audio version of The Test Car Happy Hour on all of your favorite streaming platforms, first thing every Monday morning. 

This week we have Motor1.com Editor-in-Chief Seyth Miersma, Senior Editor Brett T. Evans, and Senior Editor Jeff Perez.

Going alphabetically by vehicle, Evans has an Alfa Romeo Tonale. It's the brand's new, smaller crossover that fits below the Stelvio. Power comes from turbocharged 1.3-Liter four-cylinder and a single electric motor making a total of 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet.

Miersma's machines this week are the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD. They're EVs that compete against each other, so let's see what he thinks of them.

Finally, Perez has a Kia EV6 GT, making this an EV-heavy episode.

Roughly the last 10 minutes of the show will be a discussion between the guys about what's the best EV to buy on a $60,000 budget. These days, there are quite a few vehicles that fit the bill, so it should be intriguing to find out what they pick.

A major reason we do The Test Car Happy Hour every week is to answer your questions. Join us during the stream and let our talented editors share their experiences with you. They're ready to help you.

If You Missed Them, Enjoy These Previous Happy Hours: