#267 - The Most Dangerous Cars, Nissan’s Horrible Skyline View, and the Street Judge is Back to Discuss M Cars with Extra Numbers!

ninetyoneoctane

On Under the Hood, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) identifies American muscle cars, including the Ford Mustang, as among the most dangerous vehicles on the road due to their high horsepower and aggressive driving image. The IIHS reveals that several variants of muscle cars have the highest driver death rates for the 2020 model year. Conversely, minivans, SUVs, and luxury vehicles have lower driver death rates. In the second segment, the American Automobile Association (AAA) conducts a study on the impact of changes in posted speed limits on traffic safety. The study finds that lowering speed limits results in more speeding tickets, while raising speed limits leads to fewer violations. However, there is no conclusive evidence linking speed limit changes to crash frequency. The AAA study challenges assumptions about speed limits and road safety, raising questions about their enforcement motivations. Ford reduces prices for its electric F-150 Lightning, aiming to boost production and lower battery mineral costs. Subaru teases a "sharper and more focused" BRZ model. Additionally, news on the tragic incident at an SCCA Pro Solo autocross event, GM pickup battery drain issues, Tesla's plan to license Full Self-Driving system, and Nissan's potential transformation of the Skyline into an electric SUV is covered.

The Street Judge delves into the debate on whether M Performance models should be considered true M cars and explores the differences between M Division and M Performance models, their engineering, branding, and implications for the automotive industry.