{"podcast":{"title":"The InEVitable","slug":"the-inevitable-7528972","podcast_index_feed_id":7528972,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/theinevitablepodcast/feed.xml","website_url":"https://theinevitable.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21398537/MT_inevitable_podcast_1400x14006hloc.png","author":"MotorTrend","episode_count":145,"summary":"Welcome to The InEVitable! Join MotorTrend’s Ed Loh & Jonny Lieberman each week as they explore the future of mobility, the future of the car, and the future of transportation! Where are we going, and how will we get there? Each week, the guys are joined by special guests ranging from celebrities, industry leaders, and car crazy folks. Charge up & join us!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-25T00:18:21.494822+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-inevitable-7528972"},"episode":{"title":"From Audi TT to Electric Dune Buggies: Freeman Thomas on Design, EVs & Automotive Icons","slug":"from-audi-tt-to-electric-dune-buggies-freeman-thomas-on-design-evs-automotive-icons","published_at":"2026-01-24T01:24:10+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-inevitable-7528972/from-audi-tt-to-electric-dune-buggies-freeman-thomas-on-design-evs-automotive-icons","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-inevitable-7528972","url":"https://theinevitablepodcast.podbean.com/e/from-audi-tt-to-electric-dune-buggies-freeman-thomas-on-design-evs-automotive-icons/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/8sn794mcq5mfkn5c/mt_the_inevitable_ep127_meyers_manx.mp3","summary":"Freeman Thomas returns to MotorTrend’s The Inevitable for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on automotive design, electric vehicles, and what it really takes to modernize an icon without losing its soul. Now Vice Chairman of Meyers Manx, Thomas explains why the company made the costly decision to pause and completely rethink its electric Manx before launch—redesigning the vehicle around new battery chemistry, safety priorities, and packaging from the inside out. The discussion moves from EV realities to the enduring relevance of fiberglass, California car culture, and why some designs are meant to last forever. Along the way, Thomas reflects on his career shaping cars like the Audi TT, his work with RUF, the rise of bespoke and experiential vehicles, and the boundary-pushing LFG off-road supercar developed using augmented reality. The episode closes with an unvarnished critique of legacy brands, modern automotive leadership, and where design succeeds—or fails—when history is ignored.","meta_description":"Freeman Thomas returns to MotorTrend’s The Inevitable for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on automotive design, electric vehicles, and what it really…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4758,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-inevitable-7528972/episodes/from-audi-tt-to-electric-dune-buggies-freeman-thomas-on-design-evs-automotive-icons/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-inevitable-7528972/from-audi-tt-to-electric-dune-buggies-freeman-thomas-on-design-evs-automotive-icons.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}