#75, Rivian gearing up for electric SUV, pick-up debuts

#75, Rivian gearing up for electric SUV, pick-up debuts

Author: Michael Kahn February 22, 2019 Duration: 34:23
Rivian debuted two concepts last November at the Los Angeles Auto Show and attracted as much attention as any vehicle at the automotive industry's first major show of the year. The all-electric concepts, the R1T pick-up and R1S SUV, have gained substantial attention since. The vehicles' debut is scheduled for late 2020 through direct sales. The Rivian concept is an all-electric SUV with 0-60 mph speed in 3.0 seconds and a 400-mile range. Image © James Raia/2018 Michael McHale, the company's director of communications, is our guest on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with McHale the pending debut of the vehicles and how the innovated truck and SUV could change the automotive landscape. The company has been touted as a competitor to Tesla, a proposition it welcomes. Rivian was founded nearly 10 years ago by Mainstream Motors in Florida. Its name was changed to Avera and now Rivian. The SUV and pick-up have beautiful futuristic designs and impressive specs, including a 400-plus mile range and 0-60 miles per hour acceleration in 3.0 seconds. Among other topics, we also discuss with McHale, how Rivian was named, its eco-friendly mission, level 3 autonomy, pricing and available deposit reservations. Rivian also has a brand partner relationship with Alex Honnold. The Las Vegas-based mountain climber whose ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite is subject of the move Free Solo has an environmental-based foundation. Honnold is a past guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Listen here. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: james@jamesraia.com. All episodes of the podcast are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform: Google Play iTunes Spotify Stitcher The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Every seven days, The Weekly Driver Podcast pulls off the main road for a conversation that’s about more than just horsepower and torque. With James Raia and Bruce Aldrich behind the wheel, the discussion travels through the entire landscape of car culture, from the latest industry news and in-depth vehicle documentaries to the personal stories and societal shifts that happen on four wheels. This isn't a dry specs sheet or a simple review show. Instead, you’ll hear thoughtful commentary on how automobiles intersect with our leisure, history, and daily lives, uncovering narratives that often go unnoticed. The hosts’ long-running partnership brings a comfortable, informed dynamic to each episode, whether they’re debating a headline, analyzing a classic car’s legacy, or sharing an unexpected find from a local show. Tune in for a ride that treats the automotive world as a living, breathing character full of fascinating detours and destinations. The journey is different each time you listen to this podcast, but it’s always driven by a genuine passion for the stories found in the driver’s seat.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Weekly Driver Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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In the Philippines, it was known as a "country truck" or “Trakbayan." In Indonesia, its name was "Mitra," meaning partner. By any name, the Volkswagen Basis-Transporter was among the carmaker's oddest creations. The two-…
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COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Besides buying a house, purchasing a car is likely the most expensive personal expense. So, it's important to make the right choice. But what's the best way to make the best choice? Questions can va…
#193, Monterey Auto Week: Classic cars, Classic owners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:50
Donald Osborne is an opera singer, museum CEO, international business owner and one of the voices of the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel, California. He knows cars and people and the gift of gab. Osborne recently return…
#192, Want to drive a stick shift? Hagerty has a ‘manual’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
Learning how to operate a manual transmission car or truck was a rite of automotive passage for drivers of a certain age. It's now a rarity, with a few exceptions including a campaign introduced by Hagerty. The American…
#190, Collector Part Exchange: new global online swap meet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:09
Chris Bright is a vintage car enthusiast with an empathetic ear toward other automotive fanciers who can have difficulty finding parts for their unique vehicles. Or maybe they have a garage full of parts and don't know w…
#187, Cars.com index: Tesla, the most American made [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:08
Tesla innovation has changed the automotive world with a lot of industry firsts. Its latest designation is the top spot on the latest American Made Index (AMI). Introduced 16 years ago by the editors of Cars.com, the AMI…
#186, CEO Tim McGrane embraces M1 Concourse challenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Tim McGrane has a long, varied career in the automotive industry. It's steered him to his current role as the CEO of M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. The 87-acre playground for auto enthusiasts includes the world’s lar…
#185, West Coast Bike Week set for Monterey Peninsula debut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:20
Motorcycle racing and lots of related activities will add to the always-full calendar of motorsports with the debut of West Coast Bike Week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The community-focused, 10 days of racing and…
#183, Fun Father’s Day gifts for car fans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
Proud car owners aren't often at a loss for words. It's part of the enjoyment of sharing artwork of wheels. The artists at Respoke Collection offer another way to showcase a favorite machine or a showroom full of automob…
Car collector Scott Gunnari: A Man & His Edsels, #182 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
Many cars have failed, but none quite like the Edsel. Scott Gunnari knows all the stories. But the vintage car collector enjoys the car named after Henry Ford's his son as much as any collector of any brand. Gunnari, the…