America’s car scene has a problem…

America’s car scene has a problem…

Posted on by Konig Gfx

For decades, America was considered the epicenter of import tuner culture. From packed parking lots and late-night street meets to the glory days of magazines like Super Street and Import Tuner, the U.S. helped shape modern car culture as we know it.
But has that changed?

In this episode of the Behind the Wheel Podcast, we discuss whether the most exciting car scenes in the world have shifted to Southeast Asia. Looking at countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, we explore the incredible builds, massive automotive events, thriving motorsports communities, and unique creativity emerging from the region.

Are fewer regulations, greater access to parts, and a different enthusiast mindset allowing builders in Asia to push boundaries that enthusiasts in America no longer can? Is Southeast Asia experiencing the same energy that defined the import tuner boom in the United States during the late 1990s and early 2000s?

Join Nick and Matt as they compare the two worlds and discuss where automotive culture is headed next.

Topics Covered:

  • The current state of the American car scene
  • Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia’s growing automotive communities
  • How regulations affect modification culture
  • Car shows and events around the world
  • The evolution of import tuner culture
  • Why some of the wildest builds are coming from Asia
  • Is the U.S. losing its influence on global car culture?
  • The future of enthusiasts, builders, and motorsports

2026 Behind the Wheel Podcast | All Rights Reserved

Thank you for tuning in, and if you enjoy our podcast, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and iHeartRadio, and we always upload our full video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels (we’d love for you to subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

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Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
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Would you put a TEMU performance part on your car? | REAL vs. FAKE

Posted on by Konig Gfx

Is using “KNOCKOFF” parts off TEMU or AliBaba acceptable for your build in 2026? Let’s dive in.

Knockoff aftermarket parts are everywhere in 2026. A quick search on TEMU or Alibaba can uncover products that look almost identical to parts from respected brands like Acuity, Skunk2, Spoon, HKS, and more—often for a fraction of the price.

So what’s the catch?

In this episode, we compare genuine aftermarket performance parts against the cheap copies flooding the market. We break down where the money goes, what separates a reputable manufacturer from a copycat, and whether the savings are actually worth the risk.

Because while many of these parts are manufactured in Asia, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re made in the same factory, with the same materials, tolerances, testing standards, or engineering behind them.

The results might surprise you. Would you run a knockoff part on your build?

2026 Behind the Wheel Podcast | All Rights Reserved

Thank you for tuning in, and if you enjoy our podcast, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and iHeartRadio, and we always upload our full video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels (we’d love for you to subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

FOLLOW:

Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/

More on the Konig Behind The Wheel Podcast and to SUBSCRIBE:
podcast.konigwheels.com

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Why Modern Cars Lack “Soul” (Analog vs. Digital)

Posted on by Konig Gfx

Are modern cars actually better, or have we traded driver soul for digital convenience? đźš—đź’¨

In this episode of Konig Wheels’ Behind the Wheel Podcast, we are diving deep into the massive shift from Analog to Digital in the automotive world. We break down the technical transitions that changed how cars feel—including the loss of throttle-by-cable systems for drive-by-wire, and how electric power steering (EPS) has completely altered our connection to the road. Which is easier to work on and to live with? Analog or Digital… that is the question.

2026 Behind the Wheel Podcast | All Rights Reserved

Thank you for tuning in, and if you enjoy our podcast, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and iHeartRadio, and we always upload our full video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels (we’d love for you to subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

FOLLOW:

Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/

More on the Konig Behind The Wheel Podcast and to SUBSCRIBE:
podcast.konigwheels.com

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Old School vs. New School: Why We Still Crave the Legends

Posted on by Konig Gfx

In this episode of Behind the Wheel, we’re stepping back from the spec sheets to ask the big question: can modern technology ever truly replace the raw, mechanical soul of a classic?

From the lightweight legends of the 90s to the 600hp+ digital monsters of 2026, we explore a variety of platforms to see where manufacturers got it right—and where they lost the plot. It’s a deep dive into the passion, the engineering, and the “X-factor” that makes us fall in love with a car in the first place.

Whether you’re a fan of vintage iron, JDM icons, or the latest performance EVs, this is a conversation about the heart of car culture.

So the question arises… old school or new school? EK9 Type R or FL5 Type R? Both very different, but share the same name.

If you could only have one car for the rest of your life, would it be a 1-of-1 classic or a brand-new factory-warrantied beast?

2026 Behind the Wheel Podcast | All Rights Reserved

Thank you for tuning in, and if you enjoy our podcast, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and iHeartRadio, and we always upload our full video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels (we’d love for you to subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

FOLLOW:

Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/

More on the Konig Behind The Wheel Podcast and to SUBSCRIBE:
podcast.konigwheels.com

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Automotive YouTube is changing FAST… thoughts?

Posted on by Konig Gfx

Welcome back to KONIG’s Behind the Wheel Podcast. In this episode, we take a step back and look at the state of automotive content in 2026—how we got here, and where things might be headed next.

There was a time when car culture lived in the pages of magazines like Super Street and Import Tuner. You’d wait weeks (or months) for the next issue to drop, soaking in builds, tech features, and industry trends. Fast forward to today, and everything has changed. Content is instant. The options are endless. And the way we consume automotive media has completely evolved. With great channels like  @mightycarmods  ,  @CleetusM  ,  @chrisfix  ,  @speedacademy  ,  @BisforBuild  , etc…. there’s no shortage of automotive content out there now.

At some point, the upgrades that make your car exciting can start to make it… miserable.

Now, it’s all about YouTube, social media, and a constant stream of creators pushing out builds, reviews, hot takes, and everything in between.

We’re talking about machines like the Dodge Neon SRT-4, the cult-favorite Nissan NX2000, the bizarre-but-brilliant Infiniti FX50, and more that completely defy expectations.

But with so much content out there, we have to ask:

  • What do enthusiasts actually want to watch in 2026?
  • Are we oversaturated with the same formats?
  • Do we miss the depth and storytelling of older media?
  • Or is this the best era of automotive content we’ve ever had?

Nick and Matt dive into:

  • The shift from print to digital and what we lost (and gained)
  • The rise of automotive YouTubers and evolving content styles
  • Algorithm pressure vs. authentic builds
  • Viewer expectations in today’s fast-paced content cycle
  • What WE want to see more (and less) of going forward
  • Whether you’ve been in the scene since the magazine days or you’re part of the new wave of digital-first enthusiasts, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

2026 Behind the Wheel Podcast | All Rights Reserved

Thank you for tuning in, and if you enjoy our podcast, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and iHeartRadio, and we always upload our full video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels (we’d love for you to subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

FOLLOW:

Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/

More on the Konig Behind The Wheel Podcast and to SUBSCRIBE:
podcast.konigwheels.com

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Behind The Wheel Podcast: Coming in Clutch! Ft. EXEDY USA!!!

Posted on by Konig Gfx

On today’s podcast, we are joined by Marketing Manager of Exedy USA, Roberto Trinidad.

EXEDY is the clutch specialist and supplier to the automotive industry worldwide. Exedy products range from manual transmission to torque converter. Exedy’s advanced engineering and patented innovations have made them an undisputed world leader of performance sports and racing clutches. EXEDY’s manufacturing business and prominent brand name, Daikin Clutch, are known throughout the world for supplying quality powertrain products. The EXEDY Group supplies Manual Clutches, Flywheels, and other advanced Powertrain Components, to all 11 vehicle manufacturers in Japan. In addition, EXEDY supply many vehicle manufacturers in the construction and machinery industries worldwide, including GM and Ford.

For more information on EXEDY USA check out:
Website: â–ş https://www.exedyusa.com/
Instagram: â–ş @exedyusa
Facebook: â–ş https://www.facebook.com/exedy.usa
YouTube: â–ş Exedy USA Channel

Go Follow Roberto:
Instagram: â–ş @robertoitsme

Thank you for Tuning in and please, if you like the podcast and what we’ve been doing here, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and we always put the full video interviews on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels)

(we’d love if you subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

FOLLOW:

Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/

Scott’s Instagram: @scott_konig
https://www.instagram.com/scott_konig/

More on the Konig Behind The Wheel Podcast and to SUBSCRIBE:
https://konigwheels.compodcast

Behind The Wheel Podcast: Coming in Clutch! Ft. EXEDY USA!!!

Posted on by Konig Gfx

On today’s podcast, we are joined by Marketing Manager of Exedy USA, Roberto Trinidad.

EXEDY is the clutch specialist and supplier to the automotive industry worldwide. Exedy products range from manual transmission to torque converter. Exedy’s advanced engineering and patented innovations have made them an undisputed world leader of performance sports and racing clutches. EXEDY’s manufacturing business and prominent brand name, Daikin Clutch, are known throughout the world for supplying quality powertrain products. The EXEDY Group supplies Manual Clutches, Flywheels, and other advanced Powertrain Components, to all 11 vehicle manufacturers in Japan. In addition, EXEDY supply many vehicle manufacturers in the construction and machinery industries worldwide, including GM and Ford.

For more information on EXEDY USA check out:
Website: â–ş https://www.exedyusa.com/
Instagram: â–ş @exedyusa
Facebook: â–ş https://www.facebook.com/exedy.usa
YouTube: â–ş Exedy USA Channel

Go Follow Roberto:
Instagram: â–ş @robertoitsme

Thank you for Tuning in and please, if you like the podcast and what we’ve been doing here, please SUBSCRIBE! We’re on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and we always put the full video interviews on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/konigwheels)

(we’d love if you subscribe there as well!) Thank you for listening!

 

FOLLOW:

Konig’s Instagram: @konigwheelsusa
https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/

Scott’s Instagram: @scott_konig
https://www.instagram.com/scott_konig/

More on the Konig Behind The Wheel Podcast and to SUBSCRIBE:
https://konigwheels.compodcast

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download