Motor Trend Audio

Wheeler Dealers, Britain's most popular car show, recently opened up a new workshop in Southern California and Charlie and Shawn pay them a visit. We talk with car enthusiast Mike Brewer about what led to the show expanding its operations to the USA as well as master mechanic Edd China about the creativity behind the show. We enjoy the show and are interested in learning how the endless sunshine and the Americanization of the English language is affecting the duo while talking cars, of course.

Google opened it doors to demonstrate the two vehicles that they are currently using to develop a fully autonomous car. The first is a fleet of converted Lexus RX450hs covered with sensors and loaded with computing power. The second is a purpose built pod-like vehicle lacking a steering wheel, accelerator, brake pedals, and a dash. Join Charlie as he meets up with Editor-In-Chief Ed Loh to get an update on Google's self-driving car project and catch a ride in the two vehicles. Correspondent Alex Stack followed the drive and joins the conversation.

The Quail has become one of the most exclusive gatherings on the calendar of events over the Pebble Beach weekend. There are only a limited number of expensive tickets available. The Quail has a relatively small but incredibly complete group of cars on display. This includes an eclectic collection of historic/collector cars which are surrounded by the newest offerings from the worlds luxury car brands. In and amongst all this are extravagant lifestyle displays along with great food and music. Charlie and Alex got there early to spend the day soaking it all in and found the time to rub elbows with Bentley, Aston Martin and Lamborghini.

It's all hands on deck! Charlie, Shawn and Alex set out to plot their descent on the Monterey Peninsula in an effort to cover as much of the "Pebble Beach Weekend" as possible. In this first of many episodes, listen in on the gang sharing their impressions of the cars and events that make this weekend so great.

Charlie joins over 1300 MINIs as they attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most MINIs in a parade. The parade route goes over the Mackinac Bridge, which joins lower and upper Michigan. We learn to use our hand as a map, get to meet the guys who planned the event, the local police chief and our friends from White Roof Radio.

We return from our time in Asia and kick-off a discussion on the history and reasons behind why most cultures drive on the right side of the road while over a third of the world still drives on the left. We also meet a German auto enthusiast who happens to be a commercial pilot. He buys cars auctioned in Japan and travels the world in search of needed replacement parts.

Mike Floyd, Editor-in-Chief of Automobile, shares his experience of attending the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans. We also chat with Motor Trend's Editor-at-Large, Angus MacKenzie, to talk more about all things Ferrari.

For the past couple years, Ford has organized a road show of products and technology called the EcoBoost Challenge. We attend one of the stops to experience the vehicles, driving courses and training.

The BMW 3 Series has been the leader of it's segment for many years. Time and time again, competitors have failed to dethrone the best luxury sport sedan on the market. Enter the Jaguar XE. We go behind-the-scenes to report on Motor Trend's August 2015 cover story chronicling the showdown between these two top-shelf sports sedans.

Anyone who has aspired to design cars should know about these three great design schools. We talk to Stewart Reed, Chair of the Transportation Design Department at the Art Center of Pasadena. We also chat with internationally recognized automotive designer and alum of the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, Paul Snyder. Finally, we spend time with Tom Matano (aka Mr. Miata), Executive Director of the School of Industrial Design at the Academy of Art University located in San Francisco. These institutions have educated many of the great designers working today.

The Ferrari Challenge comes to Sonoma Raceway and we get a chance to check out a healthy amount of Ferraris. We also meet with Ferrari Challenge head coach Didier Theys, who discusses his racing career and the training and support owners receive as part of this client-only racing series. Finally, Mark Paddock at San Francisco Ferrari tells us all about the dealer's relationship with the Challenge, the Ferrari experience and other going-ons at the dealership.

We learn about Mazda's national "Racing Accelerates Creative Education" (R.A.C.E.) program, which takes to the classroom in an effort to encourage interest among Junior and High School students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. We also learn about the REVS program at Stanford that forges new scholarship and college student experiences around the past, present and future of the automobile.

Steve Earle is considered the "godfather" of vintage racing in North America. In an extended conversation, he discusses the origin of the historic races in Monterey, continuing the tradition at Sonoma Raceway, and the birth of the SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association).

Charlie and Shawn catch-up on a number of current 2015 model vehicles as we get behind the wheel of three SUVs, including a Land Rover Range Rover, Jeep Cherokee and Subaru Outback on an off-road course. We're also able to put a few other vehicles through their paces on the Laureles Grade and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and we give your our brief impressions on the likes of the BMW i8, Jaguar F-Type, Alfa Romeo 4C and Dodge Hellcat among others. In the process, we learn much more about the BMW M series, too.

Two of Honda's designers talk about very different vehicles--the Civic and the NSX. Coincidentally, both had a brush with these respective cars in their youth. Coincidentally, they both mentioned their mothers. Coincidentally, we produced this on Mother's Day. We love you mom!