Meet another favourite car podcast

If you’re reading this, you know what it’s like to debate the merits of different cars. Do they drive well? Do they look good? Are they worth the money? But some cars transcend mere subjectivity. Some cars deserve to be celebrated just for existing. And that’s exactly what legendary US auto journalist Eddie Alterman explores in his fascinating new podcast, Car Show!

Occasionally, greatness and importance do intersect, and a real driver’s machine makes an insanely large cultural impact. In most cases, though, an important cars’ significance lies outside the scope of the hardware – it’s so much more than just a pile of metal, glass and rubber.

Every episode of Car Show presents documentaries on icons ranging from the Jeep to the actual Lunar Rover, complete with source interviews with industry insiders and automotive historians, and of course, original sounds of the cars themselves. And if all that weren’t enough, famed Canadian writer Malcolm Gladwell joins Eddie for a few curious challenges and in-depth chats.

Listen now

---------

Tune up, tune in

Each of the 10 episodes has its own unique focus, bringing you something a little different each time, from the domestic to the extra-terrestrial. Take a look at just some of the fascinating instalments you can look forward to...

The Chrysler Minivan and the New American Parent

Envisioned as the antidote to the dowdy station wagon, the minivan became stigmatised when it gave power and movement to a new, and terrifying, entity: the helicopter parent. Despite promising beginnings, it became associated squarely with, well, squares. Eddie delves into the fascinating dynamic that emerged in the 1980s between automotive safety and design conservatism.

Listen now

The Bugatti Veyron, or: the Quest to Outrun Gravity

Why do we live in the world of the million-dollar car? It’s the result of one of Dr Ferdinand Piëch’s singular visions. The one-time head of Volkswagen AG set out to resuscitate Bugatti by creating the world’s most hyperbolic hypercar. Its acceleration to 60 in 2.5 seconds was the equivalent of breaking the sound barrier in flight. Some quicker cars came after it, but the Bugatti set the template by dint of its insane all-wheel-drive traction, turbocharged 16-cylinder engine, and launch-control system.

Listen now

The Jeep: Saving Democracy, Making Bank

At its inception, Jeep wasn’t really a brand per se. It was a type of vehicle, a General Purpose (GP), made variously by Ford and Willys – military contractors who supplied the troops in WWII. So how did it go from a chariot of war to a luxury car? One word: authenticity. This episode will explore how the Jeep’s first strike in WWII resonated throughout history.

Listen now

The Lunar Rover: The Most Important Car off this Earth

Why did we send a car to the moon? How did we design something for an environment we knew nothing about? How did we get it up there? Earl Swift has just published a meaningful addition to the history of the lunar rovers called Across the Airless Wilds. This podcast draws on Swift’s research and follows the gestation of the car that went to the edge of human exploration. And then, you get an inside look at the latest attempt to step off that edge, with a behind-the-scenes peek at GM’s current lunar rover project.

Listen now

The Malcolm Gladwell Experience

On a few episodes this season, Eddie and Malcolm Gladwell team up for plenty of automotive intrigue. In the first, the duo laments the demise of the BMW M5 – the last of the great analogue sport sedans. Then, proud VW Golf evangelist Malcolm attempts to convince Eddie that the sport-hatch is the best car at any price point. And to see the series out, Eddie helps new father Malcolm decide how to balance comfort, style and safety as he hunts for a family car.    

Listen now