Latest / In Wheel Time Podcast / Turn Your F-150 Into A Brick Legally: Ford Secure System

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Turn Your F-150 Into A Brick Legally: Ford Secure System · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:05
  Don Armstrong: From Texas USA, it's the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 0:09
  Don Armstrong: Just ahead, we talked to the Ford Motor Company about a thing called Ford Secure.
• 0:16
  Don Armstrong: We'll tell you all about it.
• 0:17
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 0:17
  Don Armstrong: Jeff has the motor minute.
• 0:19
  Don Armstrong: I'll review the all-new Toyota RAV for Howdy, along with Mike out of this world Mars.
• 0:24
  Don Armstrong: We always need more Jeff Zeken.
• 0:26
  Don Armstrong: Engineer David Ainsley.
• 0:27
  Don Armstrong: I'm Dot Armstrong.
• 0:28
  Don Armstrong: So glad that you could join us today for the live version of the In Real Time Car Talk Show.
• 0:33
  Don Armstrong: If you're listening on a podcast, we thank you very much for doing that as well.
• 0:37
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 0:39
  Don Armstrong: We'll assume that uh this is a Detroiter or Detroit area guy.
• 0:44
  Don Armstrong: Uh Ford Motor Company, Ian Groton House.
• 0:47
  Don Armstrong: Whise?
• 0:48
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 0:48
  Don Armstrong: I know that I'm not the only one that has screwed this up.
• 0:51
  Don Armstrong: And we actually had somebody.
• 0:53
  Don Armstrong: Huh?
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_01: Definitely not.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: Definitely not.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes it's tough for me to get it, too.
• 0:57
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, well, and actually I I asked Mars, I said, So how do you pronounce the guy's last name?
• 1:02
  Don Armstrong: So late last night, Ford Motor Company sent us a pronouncer, then of course I screwed it up.
• 1:07
  Don Armstrong: So why don't you tell us what your last name is?
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's uh Ian Grotenheitz.
• 1:12
  Don Armstrong: Grotenheitz, just like it's spelled.
• 1:18
  Don Armstrong: That's it.
• 1:19
  Don Armstrong: And uh you're from Argentina?
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: No, no, no, I'm not from Argentina.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: So uh I'm close though.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: I'm actually was born and raised in Gila, Hawaii, right there.
• 1:29
  Don Armstrong: So Gila, Hawaii, uh-huh with a German name.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that that's right.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, okay.
• 1:36
  Don Armstrong: Well, a world traveler.
• 1:38
  Don Armstrong: Welcome to America, it doesn't make any difference.
• 1:40
  Don Armstrong: So, do you work for Ford Motor Company?
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: I do, I do work for Ford Motor Company, yes.
• 1:45
  Don Armstrong: Well, good for you, and uh, we got some great friends at Ford, and we are we appreciate all of you guys and everything that you do.
• 1:52
  Don Armstrong: So the the click here is going to be Ford Secure.
• 1:58
  Don Armstrong: So is it a lock?
• 2:00
  Don Armstrong: Is it a steering wheel lock?
• 2:02
  Don Armstrong: What what what what is it, Ian?
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, hey, that's a you know what that that that is a great question.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: And so for for me and my team, we we launched um something back in 2025 called the Ford Security Package.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, our team internally at Ford, we kind of call ourselves Ford Secure, but for for customers uh who have purchased a brand new vehicle, like let's say an F-150, I hear those are pretty popular out there.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so that's uh so uh for customers of a brand new F-150, they get one year included of the Ford Security package.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_01: And so it's not a steering wheel lock, but what it is is that it's theft alerts in case something's going wrong on your vehicle, it's access to a 24-7 365 call center that can help you out in case something goes wrong.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: And then it's a feature called vehicle start inhibit that, I mean, for all intents and purposes, um, just turns your vehicle into a brick.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, it locks down your vehicle so that even if someone were to gain access and have a key or an unauthorized key, they would not be able to start that vehicle.
• 3:13
  Don Armstrong: Well, I have to tell you that, and it's no surprise to you, and you probably already know this the F-150 in Texas, uh you can't make enough of them, is the way that that goes because uh it outsells pretty much everything.
• 3:26
  Don Armstrong: You see them everywhere, everybody's buying them, but it also uh kind of like a magnet to every theft, car theft in the United States, right here in Texas.
• 3:37
  Don Armstrong: And it has been a real problem.
• 3:38
  Don Armstrong: And it's not just Ford, but obviously because of the popularity of the F-150, you're on top on that one too.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, you know, that's we we we we do look at that, right?
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we do look at the uh, you know, the the data that NICB publishes and works and work closely with them.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, you know, for for us, it it's a volume problem.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, right?
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: Like they're they are the F-150 is everywhere, um, therefore they become a target, right?
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_01: And so um that is why, though, you know, we we have products and features like the Ford Security Package, because you know, when you just invested in the Ford brand uh or you know, spent spent you know thousands of dollars buying a brand new automobile, we want you to be able to go wherever you want, to park wherever you want, and to walk away from that vehicle having peace of mind, right?
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: So that's really uh my goal, my team's goal is trying to provide that peace of mind that, hey, you know what, my my vehicle won't be able to be stolen even if there's a key present, right?
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_01: So that's the idea.
• 4:45
  Jeff Dziekan: So Ian, so you put that technology in the four pickup, uh, and you say the the year is free.
• 4:51
  Jeff Dziekan: What is the cost after that?
• 4:52
  Jeff Dziekan: And what happens if someone doesn't want that?
• 4:54
  Jeff Dziekan: I mean, how does that all that all work?
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, that's a great question.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: And so we, you know, uh like for for for me personally, and then you know, how how we're offering the product today, uh, we we are we're not trying to um nickel and dime our our our Ford customers who just paid a lot of money um you know for a brand new truck.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: So but now again, not not everyone is in a situation where they want to use vehicle start inhibit or where they feel like they need theft alerts, right?
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_01: Now we we do feel like it it offers immense value.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um and so we want we want those customers to be able to try it for a year.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: So after a year, um the cost is only$799 a month.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's also available for purchase uh as as a one-time purchase offer.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_01: That's like you know,$595 up front, and then it's a minimum of seven years included on on the vehicle, but also the expectations that we'll provide service beyond that as well, sort of with with the lifetime of that vehicle.
• 5:54
  Don Armstrong: Well, I I don't and I trust me, I don't mean to upset you or anything, but is it kind of like onStar?
• 5:59
  Don Armstrong: I was thinking the same thing.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_01: So so there's there's a lot of similarities, right?
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_01: And so for for for us, one of our biggest differentiators is this vehicle start inhibit feature, right?
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_01: And so I um uh my for for me and my family, I I have a 2024 Model Year F-150 um that I loved so much, I I I bought it, right?
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: And now it's got a rooftop tent on it, okay?
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_01: So I have to park it in the driveway.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_01: And so for me, every night, like before I go to bed, I you know, slide the slider in the Ford app and toggle on vehicle start inhibit.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: So that for for me, that just gives us the peace of mind that hey, no one's gonna be able to, you know, even if they were to gain access to the vehicle somehow, right?
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_01: So for Ford as a differentiator, the reason why I use that example is we looked at the market and we saw a lot of reactive features.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and again, you know, I'm like we we have some, so I'm not trying to like, you know, discourage that from happening.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, you know, let's say you were to get one of our theft alerts that said, hey, potential intrusion, someone could be in the cabin of your vehicle, and then we didn't give you any action to be able to take after that.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that's not really helpful, right?
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: So for us, we wanted those reactive, like, hey, what's happening on my vehicle?
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_01: But we also want to give you a tool to be able to do something about it, right?
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_01: And so that's kind of the Ford differentiation when it comes to the Ford security package.
• 7:32
  Don Armstrong: So you mentioned this is a 2024.
• 7:34
  Don Armstrong: Well, obviously, not a new vehicle.
• 7:36
  Don Armstrong: How far back can you have this installed uh on your Ford truck?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so uh for 2024 model year F-150 and Super Duty was the first vehicle lines that we launched on.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so though those are probably the oldest, most capable vehicles of the Ford security package, and then it grows from there.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_01: So, like, you know, this year we launched on uh Bronco Sport, and then we're kind of continuing, you know, with the rest of the vehicle lineup.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, interesting.
• 8:08
  Mike Marrs: There's obviously some sort of mechanical things you have to do to the vehicle so that whenever you because that was one of my questions.
• 8:15
  Mike Marrs: Can you manually if I go, I I remember one time I was in a Memphis and I didn't have any choice of where I was staying, but I wish I'd had something.
• 8:25
  Mike Marrs: I'm thinking that something like this would have been great.
• 8:26
  Mike Marrs: I'd have felt a whole lot better about my vehicle if I had some way to turn it into a brick.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, right, right.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_01: So for for actually what's happening on the vehicle, right?
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um a a signal is being sent from the mobile app um to the cloud, and then when it hits the vehicle, right, it actually is disabling the powertrain, is what's happening.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_01: And so that's where you know the the sort of embedded software on the vehicle works with the off-board software to to create that uh that that feature and that capability, right?
• 9:02
  Don Armstrong: So if I have a 2025 Ford F-150 that doesn't have this on it now, what do I do to have it installed on my vehicle?
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, great question.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: So so so these are rolling off the line with the capability.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: So when you go and purchase it from the dealer, they they they'll they'll walk you through what capability exists on the vehicle, and then it's as simple as um you know adding the vehicle to your Ford app, right?
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_01: And then you get a little prompt within there notifying you hey, Ian, you got one year included of the Ford security package, right?
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_01: There's obviously some terms and conditions, and once you read through those, then you accept, and then you just activate it via the mobile phone.
• 9:46
  Don Armstrong: So I'm not I I bought my 2025 Ford F-150 a year and a half ago, and now it's got you know 30,000 miles on it.
• 9:56
  Don Armstrong: Can I retrofit this on it?
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: So the the all of the capability already exists on the vehicle.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_01: So the but unfortunately, I mean, it's you know, you're you're saying a year and a half, and so if you didn't get an opportunity to activate the free trial, it would be available for purchase at that$7.99.
• 10:15
  Mike Marrs: So it can be a dealer installed, or I guess what you would call, he could go to the dealership and say, hey, I just heard about this, I want it, I want to add it to my truck, and you can do that.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: So so all of the trucks coming straight out of the factory have the capabilities, so there's actually no need to even go back to the dealer unless you have questions, or if you're interested in retroactively buying the one-time purchase, that is available through our dealers.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_01: And then obviously they're they're they're well versed on all the capabilities of the vehicle.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_01: But so if you have a a year and a half old F-150 um from that that that's like a 25-mile year, you you can go into the Ford app today and purchase the Ford security package.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_01: That will do that will enable the services on the vehicle.
• 11:06
  Jeff Dziekan: So, how have you been working with insurance companies to get any discounts because of a theft deterrent on the vehicle?
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's a great question.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_01: So we we are exploring that right now, um, only from the side of hey, can we offer some sort of benefit or discount to our customers, right?
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and we we we have a strict policy in in which we don't share any data with insurance companies from our vehicles or our drivers.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_01: And so uh right now we we have a we we have an active partnership with uh USAA uh for the Ford Security Package.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_01: That if you show them that it's active on your vehicle, they do provide you a discount.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of insurance companies are looking for um you know historical data, years of of offering in the market.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_01: So that that's something that we continue to explore as it becomes an added benefit to our customers.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: Gotcha.
• 12:07
  Mike Marrs: So we could talk to our insurance company and see if they would kind of like driver's ed for you to something like that.
• 12:13
  Mike Marrs: Yep, yeah.
• 12:15
  Don Armstrong: And if you don't, then you can change insurance companies and and uh Save Boondale, or you know, they might say, hey, you know, we've never heard of that, and you know, let's get with with uh Ian and we'll figure it out.
• 12:25
  Mike Marrs: For eight dollars a month, if you can get an eight dollar a month discount out of your insurance company, it becomes free.
• 12:30
  Mike Marrs: Yeah.
• 12:31
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 12:32
  Don Armstrong: Well, there's that.
• 12:33
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 12:34
  Don Armstrong: So uh what else okay?
• 12:36
  Don Armstrong: This so this has been rolled out for a while.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, what are the I mean, so you know, this some of the fun things that you know you can do is you know, to to to learn more.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_01: And and again, I should I should preface this it's not often you're talking about a security feature and and fund, right?
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: But we we had a really fun opportunity uh to to to partner with a bear, right?
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_01: To demonstrate the capability of was it yogi?
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_01: It wasn't it wasn't yogi, it wasn't yogi.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I'll tell you, but yeah, it was tag the bear.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_01: And so that's you know, the like for me, I just go to YouTube to uh watch that commercial and it shows kind of some of the capability, right?
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, if your doors are locked, right, and someone were to somehow open that uh even from the inside, right, you would get a potential intrusion notification.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, one of my favorite things, right, is just because we we take this very seriously, and uh the factory reset in in the vehicle, if you guys are familiar with that capability, well, we put that behind a two-factor authentication, right?
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_01: Because it can't be so easy for a thief to just gain access to your vehicle and you know go into the uh screens and trigger a factory reset.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_01: So that that now sends a notification to you, and you can say, you know what, that I'm not by my vehicle, that's not me, deny, and then call the 247-365 call center to get some help.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_01: So um, and again, it just goes back.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, sorry, go ahead.
• 14:08
  Mike Marrs: I I just one one quick question just kind of went through my mind.
• 14:12
  Mike Marrs: So if I'm out about and I see my son doing burn offs in my F-150, can I brick that truck immediately?
• 14:22
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, that's him.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_01: That's well, until I can get a hold of him, yeah.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_01: That's a great question.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_01: So um obviously we partner with um, you know, like just like Ford does in all their vehicles and all the various um, you know, like uh areas that that that we have at Ford, we partner with the Automotive Safety Office um to evaluate this.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: So the um unfortunately for that scenario, the automotive safety office doesn't like us just turning vehicles into bricks while they're driving, right?
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_01: So um, but in in that use case, um, so so the way it's designed today is you can actually send the command to the vehicle uh at the next ignition off cycle is when that command will apply, right?
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_01: So um, but yeah, so no, so we and again we take safety very seriously.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_01: And so that makes sense.
• 15:15
  Don Armstrong: I just have oh, you guys think of everything.
• 15:19
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 15:20
  Don Armstrong: So if a person is looking to this, I assume that the dealer will say to you, hey, this is available, it's going to be on the vehicle when you drive out of the the showroom today.
• 15:31
  Don Armstrong: Uh, and these are the implications, and this is how you set it up and that sort of stuff.
• 15:35
  Don Armstrong: Where can I find more information about it?
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so if you head to um, you know, Ford's Connected Services website, or if you just search the Ford Security package, you'll be redirected to our landing page where you can kind of learn more about all the various features that I talked about uh there.
• 15:52
  Don Armstrong: So not the not the Ian Grotenheis uh uh uh cell phone, personal cell phone.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it's funny, they uh they they they they had that idea, uh, and then they're like, listen, your last name's too hard to pronounce, okay?
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_01: So we're just gonna find it.
• 16:08
  Don Armstrong: And now if they were really smart, they had to say we're gonna turn this into a guessing game.
• 16:11
  Don Armstrong: How do you pronounce the guy's last name?
• 16:13
  Don Armstrong: And and if you guess it, you get a free year's worth of free F-150.
• 16:19
  Don Armstrong: A free F-150.
• 16:20
  Don Armstrong: That's it.
• 16:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Ian, just what part of Detroit are you in right now, Ian?
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, so so so I heard you guys talking about that, and I visit Detroit quite often.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_01: I'm there probably once a month, but I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan right now.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, well, that's close enough.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, close enough.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_01: Close enough.
• 16:33
  Don Armstrong: Ian, it's great talking to you.
• 16:35
  Don Armstrong: And thank you for pronouncing your name.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, no problem.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 16:39
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, you guys have a great time.
• 16:41
  Don Armstrong: All right, just ahead, Jeff's motor minute, a review of the redesigned Toyota Rav 4 when the in-wheel time car talk show continues after this 90-second break.
• 16:48
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us.
• 16:49
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• 18:00
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• 18:10
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• 18:22
  Don Armstrong: Oh, welcome back.
• 18:23
  Don Armstrong: Sorry.
• 18:23
  Don Armstrong: I got up to check, make sure that the TV wasn't on in some other room.
• 18:28
  Don Armstrong: Didn't I?
• 18:30
  Mike Marrs: Were you hearing voices in KVM?
• 18:31
  Don Armstrong: Oh, Jeff was.
• 18:32
  Don Armstrong: I was.
• 18:33
  Mike Marrs: I said, Do you have a TV on in the next room?
• 18:35
  Don Armstrong: So Welcome back to the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 18:38
  Don Armstrong: Time now for the Motor Minute, Jeffrey.
• 18:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Here's something we've been wanting to talk about for a little bit, but the Houston Autorama closes after a long tradition.
• 18:45
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh the Houston Autorama, a major indoor custom car show held annually at the George R.
• 18:50
  Jeff Dziekan: Brown Convention Center, has officially ended, marking the close of a long-running tradition in Texas automotive culture car shows.
• 18:58
  Jeff Dziekan: While the parent company Championship Auto Shows, or C A S I, has not issued a formal public statement, multiple local automotive organizations and community leaders have confirmed the permanent end of the Houston event car shows.
• 19:12
  Jeff Dziekan: The show's dates have been listed as TBA on all official Autorama tour schedules, and the show chairs have directly verified the closures.
• 19:19
  Jeff Dziekan: Now I did find that out.
• 19:20
  Jeff Dziekan: That is a fact.
• 19:20
  Jeff Dziekan: That's where I got this from.
• 19:22
  Jeff Dziekan: The Houston Autorama was one of the largest, most respected indoor custom car shows in North America, featuring hot rods, muscle cars, trucks, low riders, and concept vehicles.
• 19:31
  Jeff Dziekan: It was part of the Autorama World of Wheels series, which has been running for over 70 years and is known for its focus on custom builds rather than new factory models.
• 19:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Although the Houston leg is gone, the rest of the 2027 Autorama Tour will continue in cities such as and it lists all the cities, just all over.
• 19:49
  Don Armstrong: Dallas is one of them that it's also closed.
• 19:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Right.
• 19:52
  Jeff Dziekan: But that is not in this this is specifically Houston.
• 19:55
  Jeff Dziekan: But also they're carrying on in Canada still going on.
• 19:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Organizers suggest that other events will likely fill the gap for the fans and attendees.
• 20:03
  Jeff Dziekan: So if you're looking forward to the all-houston Autorama, you'll need to plan an alternative show for the Autorama Tour or local custom car custom car events.
• 20:12
  Jeff Dziekan: The closure is a significant change for the Houston Automotive Community and the broader Autorama series.
• 20:17
  Jeff Dziekan: So sad to see it go.
• 20:18
  Jeff Dziekan: It was kind of inevitable.
• 20:19
  Jeff Dziekan: It was kind of drifting in a different direction every year.
• 20:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, we were there for how many years, Mike?
• 20:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Five?
• 20:26
  Mike Marrs: Eight or ten.
• 20:26
  Mike Marrs: I mean, we were there a long time.
• 20:27
  Don Armstrong: No, not that long.
• 20:29
  Don Armstrong: But but we were there for quite some time.
• 20:31
  Mike Marrs: We were pre-COVID, we were out there.
• 20:32
  Mike Marrs: Oh, yeah, that's true.
• 20:33
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 20:34
  Don Armstrong: So uh sorry to hear about that.
• 20:36
  Don Armstrong: That was the that was at the GRB.
• 20:38
  Don Armstrong: I know well, I went to the first uh Autorama.
• 20:41
  Don Armstrong: It was being held at the Albert Thomas Convention Center, and then it moved to the Astral Hall, and then it moved to the George R.
• 20:49
  Don Armstrong: Brown.
• 20:50
  Don Armstrong: So uh yeah, it's sad to see it go.
• 20:52
  Don Armstrong: Uh what are we gonna do on a Thanksgiving weekend?
• 20:54
  Don Armstrong: We're gonna eat turkey.
• 20:55
  Don Armstrong: That's exactly what we're talking about.
• 20:57
  Don Armstrong: And I'm going to miss my chili dogs that I used to get uh on Thanksgiving Day down there at the GRB.
• 21:03
  Don Armstrong: Good deal.
• 21:04
  Jeff Dziekan: One last thing.
• 21:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh BMW is cutting 8,000 jobs by 2027.
• 21:08
  Jeff Dziekan: It's 5% of their workforce, and they contribute this to uh 30 30 percent downturn in China's purchases of BMWs.
• 21:16
  Jeff Dziekan: So there you go.
• 21:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 21:18
  Don Armstrong: Time now for this hour's car review.
• 21:19
  Don Armstrong: I had a chance to drive the 2026 Toyota Rav 4, built in Aichi, Japan, but not built this week.
• 21:27
  Don Armstrong: That's for sure.
• 21:28
  Don Armstrong: They're still trying to recover from the earthquake stuff.
• 21:31
  Don Armstrong: Here are the trim levels.
• 21:32
  Don Armstrong: They are available in uh the SE, the Woodland, the XSE, and the GR Sport.
• 21:38
  Don Armstrong: Top of the line.
• 21:39
  Don Armstrong: I had the GR Sport.
• 21:41
  Don Armstrong: This is a plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive that I had.
• 21:46
  Don Armstrong: Small SUV seats five.
• 21:48
  Don Armstrong: Completely redesigned for 2026 now in its sixth generation.
• 21:53
  Don Armstrong: That's how popular it is.
• 21:54
  Don Armstrong: It's a good-looking little car.
• 21:56
  Don Armstrong: It is.
• 21:57
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, and the updates to it, really something.
• 21:59
  Don Armstrong: Edgy front.
• 22:00
  Don Armstrong: End is a welcome element.
• 22:02
  Don Armstrong: A big open mouth lower grille includes faux brake ducting.
• 22:07
  Don Armstrong: Black wheel opening accents adds an off-road look to it.
• 22:12
  Don Armstrong: Uh the rear lights hug the back glass in a smooth transition with a spoiler sunshade up on top, which is different.
• 22:21
  Don Armstrong: Usually it's just a sunshade, but this is a spoiler sunshade.
• 22:24
  Don Armstrong: That's pretty cool.
• 22:24
  Don Armstrong: What I liked about it, the overall edgier design, I think it really does look good.
• 22:29
  Don Armstrong: Interior highlights include, well, our GR anyway, had leather and cloth combo seating with red piping for a nice racy look.
• 22:40
  Don Armstrong: Big center infotainment screen as much as a multi-function affair that works very well.
• 22:47
  Don Armstrong: The dash design carries through to the door panels.
• 22:50
  Don Armstrong: This is a well-screwed together vehicle.
• 22:54
  Don Armstrong: The cargo is competitive with others in its class with only two rows of seating.
• 23:00
  Don Armstrong: Used to have a third row option.
• 23:02
  Don Armstrong: They've done away with that because it's just too cramped back there.
• 23:05
  Don Armstrong: It makes absolutely no sense.
• 23:06
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 23:07
  Don Armstrong: Absolutely nothing.
• 23:09
  Don Armstrong: Good-looking vehicle all the way around.
• 23:12
  Don Armstrong: Engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that, when combined with the electric motor, remember now this is a plug-in hybrid, the one that I had.
• 23:22
  Don Armstrong: It gets 324 horsepower combined.
• 23:26
  Don Armstrong: Uh runs a CVT transmission.
• 23:28
  Don Armstrong: Till rating is only 1,305 pounds.
• 23:31
  Don Armstrong: That's not what this is meant for.
• 23:33
  Don Armstrong: Miles per gallon, 86 miles per gallon electric.
• 23:38
  Don Armstrong: Gas and electric combo gets 37 miles per gallon on the gas only.
• 23:43
  Don Armstrong: I got 83.1 miles per gallon electric over 355 miles.
• 23:50
  Don Armstrong: But remember, the electric is only good for a very short period of time.
• 23:54
  Don Armstrong: It is a plug-in electric hybrid.
• 23:58
  Don Armstrong: What I liked about it, it can drive up to 52 miles on a full charge on the electric without the gas kicking in.
• 24:05
  Don Armstrong: And what could use improvement?
• 24:07
  Don Armstrong: Well, I used 70% of its full charge over 40 miles.
• 24:11
  Don Armstrong: That's doing the highway.
• 24:13
  Don Armstrong: And I plugged it in at work and I plugged that in at home.
• 24:16
  Don Armstrong: And so I basically drove for free.
• 24:20
  Don Armstrong: Well, except for the price of the electricity.
• 24:22
  Don Armstrong: Riding handling, the GR Sport offers a little more feel to it, but it is still a family SUV.
• 24:30
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 24:31
  Don Armstrong: Nothing.
• 24:32
  Don Armstrong: Because of the different trim levels offered.
• 24:38
  Don Armstrong: Trim price on this GR plug-in hybrid is$48.5.
• 24:44
  Don Armstrong: Price is tested$51,335.
• 24:47
  Don Armstrong: That's pretty expensive.
• 24:48
  Don Armstrong: Now you can get into one with just a plain gasoline engine four-cylinder for$42,950.
• 24:53
  Don Armstrong: I don't want to discourage you from putting it in the mix if you're shopping for an SUV like this.
• 24:59
  Don Armstrong: Competitors, Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid.
• 25:03
  Don Armstrong: It goes for$40,325 as a starting price.
• 25:07
  Don Armstrong: The Kia Sorrento plug-in hybrid starts at$48,290.
• 25:13
  Don Armstrong: And the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid starts at$354.
• 25:19
  Don Armstrong: $35,400.
• 25:21
  Don Armstrong: That's the plug-in hybrid.
• 25:23
  Don Armstrong: And those are all are the competitors to it.
• 25:25
  Don Armstrong: I think I'd look at that Hyundai, Tucson starts at$43.25.
• 25:29
  Don Armstrong: Or just get the non-plug-in hybrid part of it.
• 25:31
  Jeff Dziekan: And aren't they going to discontinue the escape?
• 25:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Is it Ford putting that aside?
• 25:38
  Jeff Dziekan: You're asking me to remember that?
• 25:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, yeah.
• 25:41
  unknown: No, I don't remember that.
• 25:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Tune in next week for the answer.
• 25:44
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, or not.
• 25:47
  Don Armstrong: In the next half hour, I'm going to do another car review, Lexus IS350, which I won't tell you right now, but I will tell you that I liked it.
• 25:59
  Don Armstrong: Find out how much I liked it when you tune in for the next car review in the next segment.
• 26:05
  Don Armstrong: There's that.
• 26:06
  Don Armstrong: But uh this love the redesign on this.
• 26:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Is that the one you showed Kathy?
• 26:12
  Jeff Dziekan: The Lexus?
• 26:13
  Don Armstrong: Last night?
• 26:14
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 26:14
  Don Armstrong: No.
• 26:15
  Don Armstrong: No, the one I no, the Lexus that I'm currently driving is$120,000.
• 26:21
  Don Armstrong: And it is the Lexus GX.
• 26:23
  Don Armstrong: Mr.
• 26:24
  Don Armstrong: Mars?
• 26:25
  Mike Marrs: Yeah.
• 26:26
  Don Armstrong: This thing is a brick with wheels and a motor.
• 26:31
  Don Armstrong: A moving brick.
• 26:32
  Don Armstrong: And oh my god, the ride on this thing, uh, it is unbelievably good.
• 26:38
  Don Armstrong: Like I'll tell you that right up front.
• 26:40
  Don Armstrong: And I'll say it in my review, which will be next week?
• 26:44
  unknown: Maybe.
• 26:44
  Don Armstrong: No, a week after next.
• 26:46
  Don Armstrong: Or you got one for next week.
• 26:47
  Don Armstrong: So anyway.
• 26:48
  Don Armstrong: So that's my review of the Toyota new RAV4 plug-in hybrid.
• 26:57
  Don Armstrong: Thank you for asking.
• 26:59
  Jeff Dziekan: And again, Laura's looking at one today, as a matter of fact.
• 27:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Not a plug-in, but she's looking at the RAV4.
• 27:03
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, yeah, that's a good one.
• 27:04
  Don Armstrong: Because I mean, it is cutting edge design.
• 27:07
  Don Armstrong: And she deserves it.
• 27:08
  Don Armstrong: She hasn't had a new car in a while.
• 27:10
  Don Armstrong: No, she does, yes.
• 27:11
  Don Armstrong: Agreed.
• 27:13
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 27:14
  Don Armstrong: Um, it's time to take a break.
• 27:16
  Don Armstrong: And when we come back, we're gonna do all sorts of wonderful things that you're really gonna like.
• 27:20
  Don Armstrong: Am I gonna tell you what they are?
• 27:22
  Don Armstrong: It's gonna be a surprise.
• 27:24
  Don Armstrong: I gotta tune in because I don't know what he's talking about.
• 27:25
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, me either.
• 27:27
  Don Armstrong: More coming up after this break.
• 27:28
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us.
• 27:30
  Don Armstrong: Your car is a direct reflection of you, so don't be satisfied with color fade or a dingy dull appearance.
• 27:36
  Don Armstrong: Get rid of those terrible automated car wash scratches.
• 27:39
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your Save the Paint Company.
• 27:42
  Don Armstrong: John Gray and his team of detailing experts can help your cars finish without a full repaint.
• 27:47
  Don Armstrong: Searching for real experts in window tent or windshield protection, Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 27:52
  Don Armstrong: Dash cams, radar detectors, Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 27:55
  Don Armstrong: Got a new car?
• 27:56
  Don Armstrong: Get it protected as soon as you take delivery.
• 27:59
  Don Armstrong: If you don't know which of the multitude of protection products to go with, John Gray will give you an honest opinion and won't tell you something you don't need.
• 28:06
  Don Armstrong: John will help you understand the many options and pricing right on the spot.
• 28:09
  Don Armstrong: He's your guy to have your ride looking its best and protected too.
• 28:13
  Don Armstrong: See the state-of-the-art shop yourself, free tours anytime.
• 28:16
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is easy to get to, located just south of the Southwest Freeway on the Sam Houston Parkway.
• 28:22
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield, full service luxury car care today and online at gcautoshield.com.
• 28:29
  Don Armstrong: Gift giving should be meaningful, and we have an idea.
• 28:32
  Don Armstrong: A hand-painted custom illustration of your car from one of the nation's leading artists.
• 28:37
  Don Armstrong: Now you can get one or a car show poster customized for you, a friend, or a loved one.
• 28:42
  Don Armstrong: Bill Sites will be happy to guide you through the process.
• 28:45
  Don Armstrong: No matter what the day, birthday, anniversary, or any day, an autographics custom illustration adds an extra touch of class to any home.
• 28:52
  Don Armstrong: Call Bill today, 832-922-0963.
• 28:56
  Don Armstrong: That's 832-922-0963.
• 29:01
  Don Armstrong: That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 29:05
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheeltime.com website.
• 29:15
  Don Armstrong: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
• 29:23
  Don Armstrong: Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.