The Smoking Tire

How do you get the job of test driver? What's it like perfecting the fastest EV and ICE car? Miro knows. Miro Zrncevic is the test driver for Rimac, builder of the record-setting EV hypercar, the Nevera. Miro has been involved in Rimac since the beginning, though not in the way you might think...

What are 10 types of tech that make cars worse? That's what we're discussing with today's guest, Ed Zitron. Ed Zitron is an author, journalist, and podcaster. He is CEO of EZPR, a national tech and business public relations agency. We love his newsletter “Where’s your Ed At?” , which often covers tech, AI, and how both will fail to deliver...

What are the best EVs yet? Is charging getting better? Can the grid handle it? Which electric pickup would win in a cross-country race? Are batteries recyclable? All that and more with Kyle Connor. Kyle Connor is a YouTuber in command of a whopping 17 different channels. He focused on EVs, covering the space comprehensively. He has road tripped, towed with, tested, charged, and driven more EVs than most people will in a lifetime...

There are some cars out there that seemed like a good idea at the time but ended up failing. There are other cars that seem crazy on paper and were even worse in metal, but got built anyway. Today we're talking about 10 of history's automotive moon shots that failed to take hold. From odd propulsion choices to super cars that didn't deliver, overpriced economy badges to hypercars made obsolete by their maker, we cover it all...

What's the best bang for your buck right now, new or used? We've got ten cars you can buy that are a great value for the most fun and performance. 5 used cars, 5 new cars. Spoiler alert: the answer is not Miata. We'll explain why...

We're listing our top 5 Grand Touring cars ever with our favorite British transplant, music expert Christian James Hand. Also, he and Matt got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sphere in Las Vegas AND saw the U2 show. A verbal description doesn't do the show justice but it will make you want to attend...

What's faster around a track: a NASCAR or an 800HP Gymkhana car? Tony Quiroga knows. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver magazine. He's here to talk about the newest Lightning Lap, his favorite LL cars over the years, and more! Recorded February 21, 2024 Read it here: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a46575000/lightning-lap-2024/ Check out the Subaru Air Slayer: https://vtcar.com/cars/vt20g/ Garage 56: https://www.nascar...

Morgan is a legendary company and for good reason. Yes, the cars are made of wood but the company has continued along while so many small companies have gone to rest. Jon Wells has that job so many of us covet: car designer. With a very brief stop at TVR, Jon went right from university to the design department of Morgan, becoming part of the team that designed so of the best and fastest cars Morgan ever made...

What's a muscle car? What are the top 5 of all time? That's what we're discussing today. From the '60s to present day and every decade in between, Matt Farah and Zack Klapman have their own lists. Do any overlap? Do their cars fit the definition of muscle car? We'll see. Plus, Matt's used Bentley is back in the shop...

Why are Nissan GT-Rs so coveted? Why was it illegal to import them? Why did Japan build them in the first place? All that and more is covered in the excellent book, "Cult of GT-R, A Story of Crime, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Car". It is a detailed history of the Nissan GT-R, Japanese manufacturing, Japanese car culture, the world of import laws, and why the GT-R means so much to so many of us. The author, Ryan ZumMallen, joins us. https://www.carrarabooks...