<p>247 Another unscripted Sunday catch-up, and this time Roberto is behind the wheel of his new Mini Electric - loving every second of it - while Jon is still waiting for his Nissan to be returned after nine months in a dealership. Life is unfair. We cover a lot of ground this week, from a film you absolutely need to see to a battery technology that could change EVs forever.</p><br><p>Today’s conversation covers:</p><br><p>•Jon’s Nissan saga update - nine months since the car was towed for repairs and still no resolution; a surprise service appointment, a head mechanic who said things he definitely shouldn’t have, and how filing a Financial Ombudsman case suddenly made Nissan very interested in picking up the phone</p><p>•Mini Electric vs BMW M2 - Roberto drove the M2 to Sussex mid-week for speed and efficiency, but the car he keeps finding excuses to drive is the Mini; real-world range (150–170 miles), motorway behaviour, remote parking via phone, and why driving silently past school parents in idling Range Rovers is deeply satisfying</p><p>•Project Hail Mary - both Roberto and Jon are evangelical about the Ryan Gosling sci-fi film; practical effects, an emotionally hopeful story, and why it might deserve a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination; Roberto’s slightly dodgy viewing arrangement and why he booked Odeon tickets anyway to clear his conscience</p><p>•Solid-state battery breakthrough - Finnish startup Donut Lab claims the holy grail: a battery with 400Wh/kg energy density (roughly double current lithium-ion), a potential 5–8 minute full charge, unlimited lifespan, and performance unaffected by heat or cold; if it works, this is the tipping point that makes petrol cars obsolete</p><p>•Cheshire road trip in the Mini - Roberto is planning to drive the Mini Electric up to Rookery Hall and the Bentley factory visit on 18th May and film the whole thing as a road trip vlog; expect at least two charging stops and a revisit of the earlier road trip format</p><p>•Books &amp; tech - Jon has finished the Walter Isaacson Steve Jobs biography (spoiler: sad ending) and moved on to Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shards of Earth; the Lego Game Boy gets a playable upgrade via the BrickBoy Kickstarter mod; Jon is deep into Final Fantasy VII Integrade on the Nintendo Switch 2</p><p>•James Bond - First Light &amp; casting rumours - the IO Interactive Bond game (007: First Light) is roughly six weeks away and Roberto cannot wait, given IO’s pedigree on the Hitman series; Louis Partridge (22) is being linked to the role of a younger, prequel-era Bond, and the lads debate whether the whole franchise is heading in a prequel direction while waiting for Denis Villeneuve to wrap Dune</p><p>•Cinema vs streaming - films are leaving cinemas faster than ever, screens can’t fit as many runs of longer films, and both agree Project Hail Mary deserves to be seen again on IMAX - which may well return later in the year</p><br><p>🎧 If you enjoy eavesdropping on these Sunday catch-ups, please leave a rating and review on your podcast app - it makes a huge difference to how many people discover us.</p><br><p>📺 Head to YouTube @TailoringTalkMagazine for video content on lifestyle, gadgets, menswear and more - and stay tuned for the upcoming three-way Project Hail Mary deep-dive with Alex.</p><br><p>Chapters:</p><p>00:00 Mini Electric vs BMW M2 - Roberto’s Surprising Verdict
</p><p>02:46 Jon’s Nine-Month Nissan Nightmare &amp; the Financial Ombudsman Case
</p><p>03:45 Project Hail Mary Review: Ryan Gosling, Practical Effects &amp; Oscar Chances
</p><p>05:32 Shards of Earth, Steve Jobs Biography &amp; Sci-Fi Book Recommendations
</p><p>08:13 Real-World EV Range: Mini Electric, IONIQ 6 &amp; the Joy of Silent Driving
</p><p>10:18 Cheshire Road Trip: Mini Electric to Rookery Hall &amp; Bentley Factory Visit
</p><p>13:20 Donut Lab Solid-State Battery: The Holy Grail of EV Charging?
</p><p>16:45 Lego Game Boy BrickBoy Mod &amp; Nintendo Switch 2 Final Fantasy VII
</p><p>21:14 007 First Light Game, IO Interactive &amp; Louis Partridge as the Next Bond
</p><p>25:08 Cinema vs Streaming: Why Project Hail Mary Deserves an IMAX Return</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>