U.S-based professional automotive journalists, editors, analysts, and pundits constitute The Watt Car’s writers. Have something to tell us? Email hello@thewattcar.com.
Much ado was made about the Kia EV9 concept’s second-row swivel seats. The smaller, two-row EV5, which will initially be targeted to the China market, also employs swivel seats, but not quite in the same…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
Automotive brand and model names often carry a great deal of expectation and heritage. So when names are given to models considered “non-traditional” for that name, controversy often erupts. One of the more recent…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
Volkswagen has been quite aggressive in its entry into the EV market, with the ID.3, ID.4 and now ID. Buzz. Many wondered when the ID.3 came out if it was the de facto EV replacement for the Golf…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
The Law of Unintended Consequences, Murphy’s Law, S*** Hits the Fan, Black Swan, whatever you want to call it, unforeseen events can wreak havoc on even the best-intended plans. I recently experienced…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
Is the unveiling of the three-row Kia EV9 SUV super exciting or kinda boring? The answer is yes, in all the best ways, and we tell you why on this week’s podcast. We also discuss the VW ID. Buzz that’s slated to make its…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Kia’s designs aren’t for the weak of heart – yet, generally speaking, they’re all winners. Strong, bold, and no-nonsense, Kia’s team has been hitting visual homeruns since 2011 when they breathed life into…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Between road trips and Investor Day, this week’s podcast is a “Tesla-sode,” packing wall-to-wall Tesla news into a 40 minute podcast. We discuss attempting to rent a Tesla from Hertz, the Supercharger Magic Dock…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Are EVs killing the automotive aftermarket culture? Is the hot rodding chapter coming to a final close? Are driving enthusiasts just modern dinosaurs, with EV mandates being the destructive meteor…
BY PHIL ROYLE
If there’s an icon of modern-era affordable performance and the distilled essence of fun-to-drive, there’s probably no better poster child than the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Since its introduction in 1989, the tossable…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
This week, we discuss Ram halting $100 preorders for its 1500 REV just five days after starting, Hyundai directly addresses Tesla in a commercial, Elon Musk pushes back against one U.S. government entity…
BY PHIL ROYLE
The term “there’s no replacement for displacement” is quickly becoming an anachronism as four-figure output EVs such as the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire are coming into the marketplace…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
When is the EU 2035 zero tailpipe emissions mandate actually official? Apparently not yet — but it’s getting closer. What is official is that the Ram 1500 EV will be called the REV, and according to the latest commercial…
BY PHIL ROYLE
As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Although there are still some hardcore internal-combustion partisans, there are getting to be more and more enthusiasts that are at least…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter will boast a large battery and potentially close to a 300 mile range, making it an ideal van for living down by the river — oh, and probably a solid choice for trade workers, too…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Whether by cruel fate, sovereign stubbornness, or bureaucratic incompetence, the winter storms of 2023 have struck Texas, particularly the Austin area, with a vengeance. I’ve heard from friends and family members…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
There are a plethora of reasons to purchase an EV. From environmental to maintenance and operational cost advantages, a logical evaluation of the pros and cons of ICE and EV ownership has led to…
BY PHIL ROYLE
From its initial tease to production unveiling, the Ioniq 6 has consistently impressed, and now with its curvy sedan’s range revealed, Hyundai reinforces the notion that it’s the current model of the modern EV…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Is the Tesla Supercharger CCS compatibility connector actually inspired by the movie Aliens? Should Mazda go all-in on EVs? Did Aptera make a horrible mistake? We cover all of this, plus EV safety concerns in…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Mazda, you’ve meant so much to automotive enthusiasts like me, so watching you languish during the world’s march toward electrification is paining us. We’re all rooting for you, but your bungled ICE-to-EV transition…
BY PHIL ROYLE
Before you think I’m coming out as a ringer apologist for big oil, I think some context is important. The recent winter storms in California put me in a bit of a “prepper” mode, purchasing a battery power station…
BY EDWARD A. SANCHEZ
