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Ford has introduced the Mustang GTD Spirit of America, a tribute to the iconic American car that has been part of American culture since 1965. This week, we have an exclusive interview with an expert on the car. We caught up with Brandon Turkus, Ford’s Enthusiast Vehicles Communications Manager, at the Chicago Auto Show for the inside scoop on the vehicle Ford calls the fastest production Mustang ever built. The model honors the American spirit of ingenuity and perseverance, as well as the 60 years of Mustang achievement.
The Mustang GTD Spirit of America features exposed carbon fiber aerodynamic elements and unique exterior trims. The all-new 2025 Mustang GTD sets a new performance bar with 815 horsepower, 664 pound-feet of torque, and a top speed of 202 miles per hour. And that’s only the beginning of the story. We’ll have much more in this episode.
In the news this week, a reliable report says Chevrolet plans to drop one of its conventionally powered SUVs from the U.S. market after this model year while emphasizing the battery-electric version. We’ll tell you which one and the surprising place where the gas model will continue to be sold.
Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will launch its robotaxi service much earlier than expected, and we’ll have details on that. A new electric vehicle charging network has just gone into business, just as automakers call for the resumption of work on the federally sponsored EV charging infrastructure, which has built a paltry number of charging stations so far.
You might be sick of tariff talk, but the Administration has announced tariffs on steel and aluminum that could have an impact on what you pay for your next car. We’ll have our thoughts.
On the road test front, Host Jack Nerad will put the 2025 Mazda3 through its paces. His test car was equipped with an increasingly rare piece of kit — a six-speed manual transmission, and Nerad will tell how he liked the car on a 500-mile round trip to the Central California coast. Meanwhile, on the other coast, Co-Host Chris Teague road-tested the all-new version of the Nissan Kicks small crossover SUV, and he’ll have his report.
Listener Question of the Week
“I’m looking to buy a used car. What signs indicate that it’s in good mechanical shape?”
Izzy, Tyler, Texas
Special Offer Extended One More Week
Jack is now offering his suspense novel, Dance in the Dark, for just $.99, a $9.00 saving from its original published price of $9.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price.
Matt DeLorenzo’s Book
Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo’s terrific new book How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.
Brought to you by:
• DrivingToday.com
• Mercury Insurance: Find out how much you can save at DrivingToday.com/auto-insurance.
• EMLandsea.com, publisher of Dance in the Dark.
We have a lot of shows for you this week. Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to look for new content on our YouTube and Rumble channels. Please subscribe. If you do, we’ll like you forever.
America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com
Takeaways
- Chevrolet is shifting focus to electric vehicles, discontinuing some gasoline models.
- Tesla’s RoboTaxi service is launching sooner than anticipated, raising questions about safety and regulation.
- A new EV charging network aims to compete with Tesla’s Supercharger infrastructure.
- Tariffs on steel and aluminum could impact car prices and manufacturing costs.
- The 2025 Nissan Kicks offers all-wheel drive and improved technology at a competitive price.
- Mazda 3 remains a strong contender in the compact car segment with premium features.
- The Mustang GTD supercar showcases Ford’s commitment to performance and innovation.
- Listener questions highlight the importance of thorough inspections when buying used cars.
- The automotive industry is rapidly evolving with a focus on sustainability and technology.
- Consumer preferences are shifting towards electric and hybrid vehicles.
Sound Bites
- “Chevrolet plans to drop one of its conventionally powered SUVs.”
- “Tesla will launch its RoboTaxi service much earlier than expected.”
- “A new electric vehicle charging network has just gone into business.”
- “The administration has announced tariffs on steel and aluminum.”
- “I spent the week with the redesigned 2025 Nissan Kicks.”
- “This is a $300,000 plus Mustang, quite a thing.”
- “The Mustang GTD supercar is a game changer for Ford.”
- “The GTD has 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.”
- “What signs indicate that a used car is in good mechanical shape?”
Chapters
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