Podcasts about autoline detroit

The UAW has its sights set on organizing the new VW plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the AP says some workers at the plant have actually reached out to the union. The new CAFE rules proposed by the Obama administration will not be as harsh for light trucks as originally thought. Trucar.com says young buyers prefer foreign nameplates, with Scion, Mitsubishi and Mazda leading the demographic. Jeep was the top domestic brand but it came in 12th place! All that and more, plus we preview this week’s Autoline Detroit featuring Volkswagen’s head of design, Walter de’Silva.

Lots of news about electric cars. Think, the electric car company out of Norway, filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn says the LEAF will be profitable by 2014. And GM just unveiled an electric version of the Beat in India. Ford dropped to 23rd place in J.D. Power's latest Initial Quality Survey, after being the highest-rated non-luxury brand last year. Volkswagen just demonstrated a semi-autonomous vehicle that it calls the Temporary Auto Pilot, or TAP. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Derrick Kuzak, the head of all product development at Ford.

Last week Mazda denied it would build a plant in Mexico, today the company announced it will build a factory in Mexico. And with Mazda dropping out of the Flat Rock plant in Michigan and moving to Mexico, Ford may want to move the Mustang which is also made in Flat Rock. Just a few days after blocking a bill that would drop subsidies for ethanol, the U.S. Senate turned right around and approved a bill that would end them. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with special guest Bob Lutz.

The UAW wants to get seats on the boards of the Detroit automakers. The Japanese automaker recovery is going faster than initially predicted. BMW demonstrates the advanced state of autonomous technology at race tracks around the world. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit in which the panel debates which foreign transplant the union will target.

The Obama Administration has dropped its idea of handing out letter grades to vehicles based on their fuel economy. J.D. Power says that car sales in May will drop. It forecasts the SAAR at just 11.9 million units which was previously at 13 million units. Auto supplier TRW just introduced an airbag that's installed in the roof which replaces the passenger airbag mounted in the instrument panel. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline Detroit with Paul Mascarenas, the Chief Technology Officer of the Ford Motor Company.

Despite tripling its net profit, GM's stock dropped yesterday because Wall Street wasn't impressed with its operating profit. The Obama administration is looking at a new road tax based on vehicle miles driven to help raise money to fix our roads. Jaguar is going to build the C-X75 concept it unveiled at the Paris auto show last year. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Tim Manganello, the chairman and CEO of BorgWarner.

More first quarter earnings are in. We'll take a look at the financial numbers for Daimler, Kia and BorgWarner. Ford says demand for its EcoBoost engine in the F-150 is stronger than expected. Mazda North America announced that Robert Davis is being promoted to senior vice president of the company's newly created U.S. Operations Group. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Joel Ewanick, the head of global marketing at General Motors.

Saab is running out of money fast and may be on the brink of collapse if it does not get new funding soon. Traffic deaths in the U.S. dropped for the fifth straight year to the lowest number since 1949. A couple reveals from the Seoul Motor Show. Chevrolet pulled the wraps off an ultramodern roadster concept called the Mi-ray, and Hyundai revealed its first-ever fuel-cell car called the Blue2. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Pietro Gorlier the CEO of the Mopar brand.

IHS Automotive projects global vehicle production could drop 30 percent this year due to parts shortages because of the disaster in Japan. Volvo will charge more than $2,100 per month for its C30 electric vehicle and the company says it will still lose money on the deal! An analyst in Europe says Volkswagen should buy Navistar, the American company that makes big diesels and heavy trucks. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with GM's president of North America, Mark Reuss.

Toyota is recalling another 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. because of floor mat issues. Volkswagen and Russian automaker GAZ will partner to build more than 100,000 VW and Skoda cars annually in Russia. Despite the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling, Mazda Vice President Jay Amestoy told Autoline Daily that it was what the Court didn't say that's also important. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about automotive television advertising.

Yesterday Nissan Americas appointed Carla Bailo as the senior VP of Research and Development, the first American to hold the position. Chevy just introduced its own hands free voice control infotainment system called MyLink. Honda quietly revealed its brand-new Civic which offers some mechanical changes but not much else. All that and more, plus a big argument between what liberals and conservatives think the auto industry should be doing in a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit.

Yesterday we reported that Ford was suing Ferrari for using the F-150 name for its Formula One racecar, now the Italian automaker has agreed to not use the name. We've got more sneak peeks of what we'll see at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Chrysler will offer a special version of its Cummins turbo-diesel engine in the Ram with 800 pound-feet of torque! All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about how the people at Chrysler managed to make it through tough times the last several years.

Thousands of taxpayers in the U.S. have filed for an electric vehicle credit even though they don't own one. A company based in Denmark says the global market for cellulosic ethanol will start to take off in 2013. Honda is avoiding advanced technology to improve fuel economy because it says it can get the same results or better with less expensive parts. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about a part of the Detroit Auto Show that you’ve never seen before.

The price for raw materials used to make cars keeps going up which means the prices that we pay for new cars and trucks will continue to rise. The head of Mazda's North American operations says the company will focus on diesels instead of hybrids. Mitsubishi plans to phase out all of the vehicles it currently builds in North America. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Jim Farley, the group vice president of global marketing, sales and service at Ford.

Toyota may be on the verge of a breakthrough developing electric motors that do not need rare-earth materials, in an effort to sidestep China's stranglehold on the market. Audi is now the top automotive luxury brand in the world, thanks to sales in China. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued new rules aimed at preventing occupants from being ejected from a vehicle during a rollover. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about TechShop, a place where anyone can create just about anything they want.

The French government is directing its intelligence agencies to investigate the role that China may have played in stealing EV secrets from Renault. GM and the Argonne National Laboratory have signed an agreement that will allow the automaker to use Argonne's cathode technology to make lithium-ion batteries. Chrysler's Mopar division will showcase all kinds of tricked-out vehicles and aftermarket goodies at this year's Detroit Auto Show. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit about the finalists for the North American Car of the Year award.

A new study says the U.S. government bailouts of GM and Chrysler saved over a million jobs the past two years. Volkswagen plans to invest more than $70 billion in its automotive business over the next five years. General Motors will host open house events at all 54 of its U.S. manufacturing facilities and Aftersales parts warehouses by the end of next year. All that and more, plus a preview of this week’s Autoline Detroit with Laura Soave, the President and CEO of Fiat North America.

Volkswagen group reported its global sales figures for the month of October and sales are up almost 10percent. General Electric announced it will purchase 12,000 Chevy Volts for its global fleet of vehicles starting next year. The Eco model of the Chevy Cruze has just been EPA certified at 42 miles per gallon. All that and more, plus John test drives the all new Nissan LEAF in this week's Autoline Detroit preview.

Italian researchers travel 8,000 miles, from Italy to China, in four autonomous electric vehicles. A humanoid robot developed by GM and NASA is set for its first launch into outer space. In an astonishing development, the California Air Resources Board is rating the emissions of the Chevrolet Volt several levels below other cars. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with David Champion from Consumer Reports.

John got to test drive the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Sonata GLS and found that the base version got better fuel economy. Chevrolet is going to sell the Volt in Europe right up against the Opel Ampera. Ford is developing an SUV based off of the redesigned Ranger's architecture. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit all about selling luxury cars in the American market.

The Left Bank 2Last week Autoline Detroit began its coverage of the 2010 Paris Motor Show with four different interviews. This week we've decided to emulate the Seine River, take a couple of twists and turns and do something a bit more avant-garde. Yes, we still have a couple of in-depth automotive interviews that you've come to expect in Autoline Detroit such as talks with J Mays from Ford and Mike Manley from Jeep. But in addition, this week you'll get something completely different. In fact, get ready for John McElroy to take you on a walking tour. Not of Paris mind you, but of some of the brands of cars that populate the city, the country, the entire European Community and that you never see here in the states. From Lancia, to Renault to Alfa Romeo and more, John goes from booth to booth sharing with us some of the history of the brand and as well as why these European vehicles may be influencing what we park in our driveways in the coming years.Oh, and don't miss our preview of the Special Edition Autoline Detroit that we shot in the Ligurian Alps just above Nice. That's also in this week's wrap-up from the Paris Motor Show.

The Left Bank 2 Last week Autoline Detroit began its coverage of the 2010 Paris Motor Show with four different interviews. This week we've decided to emulate the Seine River, take a couple of twists and turns and do something a bit more avant-garde. Yes, we still have a couple of in-depth automotive interviews that you've come to expect in Autoline Detroit such as talks with J Mays from Ford and Mike Manley from Jeep. But in addition, this week you'll get something completely different. In fact, get ready for John McElroy to take you on a walking tour. Not of Paris mind you, but of some of the brands of cars that populate the city, the country, the entire European Community and that you never see here in the states. From Lancia, to Renault to Alfa Romeo and more, John goes from booth to booth sharing with us some of the history of the brand and as well as why these European vehicles may be influencing what we park in our driveways in the coming years. Oh, and don't miss our preview of the Special Edition Autoline Detroit that we shot in the Ligurian Alps just above Nice. That's also in this week's wrap-up from the Paris Motor Show.

Former GM CEO Ed Whitacre speaks out about GM's IPO. We hate to say we told you so, but it looks like Steven Rattner's in hot water again. Continental develops a brilliantly simple mechanism for triggering under-the-hood airbag systems. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit coming to you once again from Paris.

The Left Bank The river Siene slices through the city of Paris like the gentle folds of a fresh croissant. To the south is a section known as "La Rive Gauche" or The Left Bank. The moniker is artistic in origin thanks to the community of superlative painters and writers who called it home at one time or another. From Picasso to Hemingway to Matisse to Fitzgerald, some of the greatest works that we still admire today trace their ancestry to the southern section of the City of Lights. And even though those days are gone it doesn't mean that today The Left Bank is bereft of artistic merit. In fact just the opposite. Over the years it has become home to some of the greatest works of contemporary art though with a more technological feel. And for the next two weeks Autoline Detroit will spotlight this "21st Century Art" as we visit the Paris Motor Show. In this week's first part, John McElroy talks with Stephen Odell, the CEO of Ford of Europe, Jonathan Browning, the new CEO of Volkswagen of America, Ian Callum, Jaguar's Director of Design, and Fiat's Giovanni Mastrangelo, Platform Manager for Small Gasoline Engines.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers doubled its sales forecast for the year. Fiat may bring its compact Doblo to North America because sales of the Ford Transit Connect jumped 76% last month. GM announced it’s pouring $145 million in its Orion Assembly plant to make small cars but could this lead to discontent between the company and the union? All that and more, plus a look at a 2-cylinder engine Fiat just introduced in Europe, in a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit.

The Left BankThe river Siene slices through the city of Paris like the gentle folds of a fresh croissant. To the south is a section known as "La Rive Gauche" or The Left Bank. The moniker is artistic in origin thanks to the community of superlative painters and writers who called it home at one time or another. From Picasso to Hemingway to Matisse to Fitzgerald, some of the greatest works that we still admire today trace their ancestry to the southern section of the City of Lights.And even though those days are gone it doesn't mean that today The Left Bank is bereft of artistic merit. In fact just the opposite. Over the years it has become home to some of the greatest works of contemporary art though with a more technological feel. And for the next two weeks Autoline Detroit will spotlight this "21st Century Art" as we visit the Paris Motor Show.In this week's first part, John McElroy talks with Stephen Odell, the CEO of Ford of Europe, Jonathan Browning, the new CEO of Volkswagen of America, Ian Callum, Jaguar's Director of Design, and Fiat's Giovanni Mastrangelo, Platform Manager for Small Gasoline Engines.

Don't Look Back The longtime Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Satchel Paige once said "Don't look back -- something might be gaining on you." In the case with today's luxury car leaders BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus that "something" is Audi. The great luxury car maker that, in the past, could never quite get over the top has been gaining momentum with awards, marketing and, most importantly, sales. Halo vehicles like the R8 have grabbed the headlines but the real gains are coming across the entire lineup putting pressure on the traditional leaders of the segment. Just what are Audi's sales goals and how does the company plan to keep the momentum rolling? This week on Autoline Detroit to answer those and other questions on this blazing hot German luxury car maker is Johan de Nysschen, President of Audi of America. John McElroy is joined on his Autoline Detroit panel by David Welch of Bloomberg/Businessweek and Chris Paukert from Autoblog.com.

Autoline Daily has learned that VW is tooling up its new assembly plant in Tennessee to build up to 85 percent diesels when it introduces its new mid-size sedan. A look at Jaguar's latest concept, the C-X75, unveiled in Paris. Researchers in Japan have developed a hybrid car that doesn't use rare-earth metals. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with the President of Audi of America, Johan de Nysschen.

Don't Look BackThe longtime Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Satchel Paige once said "Don't look back -- something might be gaining on you." In the case with today's luxury car leaders BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus that "something" is Audi.The great luxury car maker that, in the past, could never quite get over the top has been gaining momentum with awards, marketing and, most importantly, sales. Halo vehicles like the R8 have grabbed the headlines but the real gains are coming across the entire lineup putting pressure on the traditional leaders of the segment. Just what are Audi's sales goals and how does the company plan to keep the momentum rolling? This week on Autoline Detroit to answer those and other questions on this blazing hot German luxury car maker is Johan de Nysschen, President of Audi of America. John McElroy is joined on his Autoline Detroit panel by David Welch of Bloomberg/Businessweek and Chris Paukert from Autoblog.com.

Predictive Power Ensconced in the ivy-covered halls of universities around the world are men and women who spend their days looking for answers. Answers to questions that might not even exist called "Unknown Unknowns." Many recognize this function as engaging in scientific theory which, over the years, has led to accepted works like Einstein's "General Theory of Relativity." But before his or Newton's or even Darwin's research was accepted, their theories had to generate testable predictions otherwise known as Predictive Power. Predictive Power appears on Autoline Detroit but not in the guise of any ground-breaking theories. Here, as is the case with this week's show, we divide the phrase and spotlight one word at a time. For instance take "power." Who better to talk about it than an executive of McLaren Automotive, the British manufacturer of high performance vehicles? And what better vehicle to talk about than its first sports car developed for those who don't wear fire-retardant suits, the MP4-12C. McLaren's Tony Joseph not only talks to John McElroy about the company and its move into production cars for consumers but also takes him for a walkaround the car that you won't want to miss. Then as far as "predictive" or in this case "predictions" go, we turn to Jeremy Anwyl, the CEO of Edmunds.com. This 45-year-old firm along, with its sister sites, gather automotive information and distribute it to largely a consumer audience. Mr. Anwyl and his team keep their eyes glued to the OEMs do and analyze everything from production to sales to the executives who run the organizations. He stops by Autoline to give John a look at the automotive world from the Edmunds' perspective.

A Wall-Street analyst says that the Detroit automakers are a good investment. Nissan benefits from Toyota’s quality problems and surpasses them in the Chinese market. Did you know you could get free OnStar in any used GM vehicle? All that and more, plus a preview of this week’s Autoline Detroit with Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl.

Predictive PowerEnsconced in the ivy-covered halls of universities around the world are men and women who spend their days looking for answers. Answers to questions that might not even exist called "Unknown Unknowns." Many recognize this function as engaging in scientific theory which, over the years, has led to accepted works like Einstein's "General Theory of Relativity." But before his or Newton's or even Darwin's research was accepted, their theories had to generate testable predictions otherwise known as Predictive Power.Predictive Power appears on Autoline Detroit but not in the guise of any ground-breaking theories. Here, as is the case with this week's show, we divide the phrase and spotlight one word at a time. For instance take "power." Who better to talk about it than an executive of McLaren Automotive, the British manufacturer of high performance vehicles? And what better vehicle to talk about than its first sports car developed for those who don't wear fire-retardant suits, the MP4-12C. McLaren's Tony Joseph not only talks to John McElroy about the company and its move into production cars for consumers but also takes him for a walkaround the car that you won't want to miss.Then as far as "predictive" or in this case "predictions" go, we turn to Jeremy Anwyl, the CEO of Edmunds.com. This 45-year-old firm along, with its sister sites, gather automotive information and distribute it to largely a consumer audience. Mr. Anwyl and his team keep their eyes glued to the OEMs do and analyze everything from production to sales to the executives who run the organizations. He stops by Autoline to give John a look at the automotive world from the Edmunds' perspective.

Family It's often said that the most important part of human life is family. Despite the fact that you may argue with your father on almost everything or your Aunt Rose still squeezes your checks at 35, being able to gather, celebrate and mourn together is unique to the human existence. Plus, that structure provides a perfect environment, which allows us to learn from one another, perhaps about our heritage or maybe life itself. Of course when it comes to corporations things are a little different to say the least, however, some do embrace the family structure for a variety of reasons. In the automotive industry, for instance, a company like Toyota offers customers three distinct brands that are aimed at different socioeconomic groups. The youngest member of that family, Scion, was created just a few short years ago and provides the entire corporate unit a young and unique set of products and customers. Jack Hollis is in charge of Scion in North America and he joins John McElroy on this week's edition of Autoline Detroit. Mike Ramsey from the Wall Street Journal and Greg Gardner of the Detroit Free Press join in the discussion.

FamilyIt's often said that the most important part of human life is family. Despite the fact that you may argue with your father on almost everything or your Aunt Rose still squeezes your checks at 35, being able to gather, celebrate and mourn together is unique to the human existence. Plus, that structure provides a perfect environment, which allows us to learn from one another, perhaps about our heritage or maybe life itself.Of course when it comes to corporations things are a little different to say the least, however, some do embrace the family structure for a variety of reasons. In the automotive industry, for instance, a company like Toyota offers customers three distinct brands that are aimed at different socioeconomic groups. The youngest member of that family, Scion, was created just a few short years ago and provides the entire corporate unit a young and unique set of products and customers. Jack Hollis is in charge of Scion in North America and he joins John McElroy on this week's edition of Autoline Detroit. Mike Ramsey from the Wall Street Journal and Greg Gardner of the Detroit Free Press join in the discussion.

Chevrolet’s marketing chief, Jim Campbell, has been reassigned and was replaced by Chris Perry, the former VP of Marketing at Hyundai. Chrysler released new details about the 2011 Jeep Wrangler which went into production earlier this week. A new study says ambient light makes drivers feel safer behind the wheel. All that and more, plus a preview of this week's Autoline Detroit with Lewis Booth, the Executive Vice President and CFO at the Ford Motor Company.

Autolineian Analysis always seems more important when it has a name attached to it. Take the world of psychology for instance. Sigmund Freud's surname established the famous 'Freudian' school of psychoanalysis while his contemporary Carl Jung gave us the 'Jungian' version. Two names that have stood the test of time when it comes to branding analysis. So when it comes to the automotive world is it out of bounds to ask if that type of analysis should also have some sort of moniker? Well this week Autoline Detroit does its best to answer that question as it features three top-notch automotive analysts who opine on everything from the current state of the industry, its 2010 sales, the resurrection of the Detroit Three and those all-important breakthrough vehicles like the Volt and the Leaf we keep waiting for. Joining John McElroy on the his 'Autolineian' panel are Rebecca Lindland and John Wolkonowicz two senior analysts from IHS Global Insight and Erich Merkle from Autoconomy.

AutolineianAnalysis always seems more important when it has a name attached to it. Take the world of psychology for instance. Sigmund Freud's surname established the famous 'Freudian' school of psychoanalysis while his contemporary Carl Jung gave us the 'Jungian' version. Two names that have stood the test of time when it comes to branding analysis. So when it comes to the automotive world is it out of bounds to ask if that type of analysis should also have some sort of moniker? Well this week Autoline Detroit does its best to answer that question as it features three top-notch automotive analysts who opine on everything from the current state of the industry, its 2010 sales, the resurrection of the Detroit Three and those all-important breakthrough vehicles like the Volt and the Leaf we keep waiting for. Joining John McElroy on the his 'Autolineian' panel are Rebecca Lindland and John Wolkonowicz two senior analysts from IHS Global Insight and Erich Merkle from Autoconomy.

Hands DownWithout a doubt, some of the reasons are simple. Old line factories have closed, there's more automation in those that remain and foreign companies are building in right-to-work states. With all that working against them, it's understandable why membership in the United Auto Workers has fallen the last thirty years. Like the constant drip from a faulty faucet, the pool of workers from this once dominant union has been slipping away losing more than a million since its peak in the '70s.But don't cry for Bob King, the new UAW president. Elected merely a month ago, he knows the job in front of him and it's no easy task. Not only does he have to retain his current members, but reach out and recruit new ones. Just how he does that is one of the biggest challenges he'll face. But wait, don't forget about the questions surrounding The Detroit Three. How will the UAW deal with not only the success of Ford, but also the rebuilding at GM & Chrysler?These are just a few of the tough questions that our all-star panel tackles on this week's Autoline Detroit. Joining John McElroy to discuss the future of the UAW are Sean McAlinden from CAR, Joe Szczesny from the Oakland Press and Robert Chiaravalli of Strategic Labor & Human Resources.

Hands Down Without a doubt, some of the reasons are simple. Old line factories have closed, there's more automation in those that remain and foreign companies are building in right-to-work states. With all that working against them, it's understandable why membership in the United Auto Workers has fallen the last thirty years. Like the constant drip from a faulty faucet, the pool of workers from this once dominant union has been slipping away losing more than a million since its peak in the '70s. But don't cry for Bob King, the new UAW president. Elected merely a month ago, he knows the job in front of him and it's no easy task. Not only does he have to retain his current members, but reach out and recruit new ones. Just how he does that is one of the biggest challenges he'll face. But wait, don't forget about the questions surrounding The Detroit Three. How will the UAW deal with not only the success of Ford, but also the rebuilding at GM & Chrysler? These are just a few of the tough questions that our all-star panel tackles on this week's Autoline Detroit. Joining John McElroy to discuss the future of the UAW are Sean McAlinden from CAR, Joe Szczesny from the Oakland Press and Robert Chiaravalli of Strategic Labor & Human Resources.

B Driven You can see it, can't you? The slow-motion black and white shots of sweaty sinewy muscles inter-cut with close-ups of a certain athletic footwear and a simple closing graphic. Of course you could "IF" this really were the next iconic brand message from Nike. But this "B Driven" headline references the tsunami of new compact cars that will soon engulf America. And though the Bs lead the list, this week on Autoline Detroit we look at several new cars, trucks and crossovers either out now or poised to hit the marketplace soon. Joining John McElroy for this new vehicle smorgasbord are two of his fellow voters on the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, Tony Swan from Car and Driver and Michelle Krebs of Edmunds.com. Throughout the show they'll be discussing many of the potential award-winners that could come from virtually any segment including luxury entrants like the CTS Coupe from Cadillac or the latest XJ from Jaguar. Of course performance cars are always in the spotlight especially with new products such as BMW's 5 Series and Ford's iconic Mustang with not one but two all-new powertrains: a V-6 and, finally, an honest-to-goodness 5-Liter. And of course there are crossovers as well like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento and Infiniti QX56 to talk about. But without a doubt, the largest group of important cars coming out this year are indeed the Bs: Ford Fiesta, MAZDA2 and Chevrolet Cruze -- to name three of the bigger volume models -- will be getting the most attention from critics and consumers alike. So join John and his NACTOY panel for a look at the latest and greatest coming to dealer lots this week on Autoline Detroit.

B DrivenYou can see it, can't you? The slow-motion black and white shots of sweaty sinewy muscles inter-cut with close-ups of a certain athletic footwear and a simple closing graphic. Of course you could "IF" this really were the next iconic brand message from Nike. But this "B Driven" headline references the tsunami of new compact cars that will soon engulf America. And though the Bs lead the list, this week on Autoline Detroit we look at several new cars, trucks and crossovers either out now or poised to hit the marketplace soon. Joining John McElroy for this new vehicle smorgasbord are two of his fellow voters on the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, Tony Swan from Car and Driver and Michelle Krebs of Edmunds.com. Throughout the show they'll be discussing many of the potential award-winners that could come from virtually any segment including luxury entrants like the CTS Coupe from Cadillac or the latest XJ from Jaguar. Of course performance cars are always in the spotlight especially with new products such as BMW's 5 Series and Ford's iconic Mustang with not one but two all-new powertrains: a V-6 and, finally, an honest-to-goodness 5-Liter. And of course there are crossovers as well like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento and Infiniti QX56 to talk about. But without a doubt, the largest group of important cars coming out this year are indeed the Bs: Ford Fiesta, MAZDA2 and Chevrolet Cruze -- to name three of the bigger volume models -- will be getting the most attention from critics and consumers alike. So join John and his NACTOY panel for a look at the latest and greatest coming to dealer lots this week on Autoline Detroit.

Detroit DriftEven though it may sound like the next installment in "The Fast & Furious" franchise, this drift refers to what's going on right now in the auto industry in not only Detroit but across the globe. Fresh leaders, closed brands and new marketing plans are just a few of the topics that go into evaluating today's automotive landscape by R.L. Polk, the 140-year-old analytical firm with long-time Detroit roots.So if anyone knows what's going on with sales trends, market position and brand loyalty -- to name a few -- it's Stephen Polk, Chairman, President and CEO of the company. On this week's special July 4th edition of Autoline Detroit, Mr. Polk joins John McElroy to discuss the latest news on everything from sagging spring sales to the potential plug-in revolution. And joining John on this week's journalist panel are Jeff Green from Bloomberg News and Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Drift Even though it may sound like the next installment in "The Fast & Furious" franchise, this drift refers to what's going on right now in the auto industry in not only Detroit but across the globe. Fresh leaders, closed brands and new marketing plans are just a few of the topics that go into evaluating today's automotive landscape by R.L. Polk, the 140-year-old analytical firm with long-time Detroit roots. So if anyone knows what's going on with sales trends, market position and brand loyalty -- to name a few -- it's Stephen Polk, Chairman, President and CEO of the company. On this week's special July 4th edition of Autoline Detroit, Mr. Polk joins John McElroy to discuss the latest news on everything from sagging spring sales to the potential plug-in revolution. And joining John on this week's journalist panel are Jeff Green from Bloomberg News and Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press.

Grand Re-Opening Fourteen months ago Chrysler was closing down. We're all familiar with the strange turns the story took. From bankruptcy to Obama to Italy and back, Chrysler survived, jobs were saved and the Pentastar was back in business. Well almost. There was that little thing about new product; it didn't have any and wasn't expected for some time. With its competitors pumping out fresh cars and trucks seemingly each month, it didn't seem like a scenario for success. But somehow, someway Chrysler cobbled together a year of better sales with that aged product and, lo and behold, today it finally has something it hasn't had in over twelve months: a new vehicle in the form of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Now it still is the "only" new vehicle available to its dealers for the near future but don't try to rain on Mike Manley's parade with that observation. Jeep's President and CEO is excited about this brand new SUV and what it says about his brand, the company's upcoming products and the future of the new Chrysler itself. For a closer look at this all new Grand Cherokee, the Jeep brand and how it fits into Sergio Marchionne's plan for Chrysler, join John McElroy as he welcomes Mike Manley as his guest on this week's Autoline Detroit. Joining John on his panel are Bob Gritzinger from AutoWeek and Scott Burgess of The Detroit News.

Grand Re-OpeningFourteen months ago Chrysler was closing down. We're all familiar with the strange turns the story took. From bankruptcy to Obama to Italy and back, Chrysler survived, jobs were saved and the Pentastar was back in business. Well almost. There was that little thing about new product; it didn't have any and wasn't expected for some time. With its competitors pumping out fresh cars and trucks seemingly each month, it didn't seem like a scenario for success.But somehow, someway Chrysler cobbled together a year of better sales with that aged product and, lo and behold, today it finally has something it hasn't had in over twelve months: a new vehicle in the form of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Now it still is the "only" new vehicle available to its dealers for the near future but don't try to rain on Mike Manley's parade with that observation. Jeep's President and CEO is excited about this brand new SUV and what it says about his brand, the company's upcoming products and the future of the new Chrysler itself.For a closer look at this all new Grand Cherokee, the Jeep brand and how it fits into Sergio Marchionne's plan for Chrysler, join John McElroy as he welcomes Mike Manley as his guest on this week's Autoline Detroit. Joining John on his panel are Bob Gritzinger from AutoWeek and Scott Burgess of The Detroit News.

Elbow Room Like it or not, we're all fast becoming neighbors. As the world's population continues to boom and more and more people congregate in urban areas we've created a phenomenon known as megacities. These are metropolitan areas around the globe with populations that exceed 10 million. New York and Los Angeles are the U.S. flagbearers in this urban Olympics which includes places like Tokyo, Mumbai, Shanghai and 20 others (so far). The development of these small population nations has a unique set of challenges in which 'movement' is perhaps the most vital. No matter how you cut it whether it comes to work, food, education or entertainment, transportation or 'movement' within the megacity is the key. How does it take place now? How will it take place in the future as these megacities continue to grow? What will move people around the area and, finally, what are automotive companies designing for that eventual future? These are just some of the provocative questions that were tackled at the 7th Annual Michelin Auto Design Panel recently held at the Detroit Athletic Club and the subject of this week's Autoline Detroit. John McElroy served as the Master of Ceremonies for this Automobile Press Association sponsored event. Joining John on the panel were: Clay Dean, director of GM Advanced Design, Scott Strong, Ford's Global Interior Design Director, Phil Zak, Chief Designer at Hyundai North America and Larry Erickson, the Transportation Design Department Chair at the College of Creative Studies.

Elbow RoomLike it or not, we're all fast becoming neighbors. As the world's population continues to boom and more and more people congregate in urban areas we've created a phenomenon known as megacities. These are metropolitan areas around the globe with populations that exceed 10 million. New York and Los Angeles are the U.S. flagbearers in this urban Olympics which includes places like Tokyo, Mumbai, Shanghai and 20 others (so far). The development of these small population nations has a unique set of challenges in which 'movement' is perhaps the most vital. No matter how you cut it whether it comes to work, food, education or entertainment, transportation or 'movement' within the megacity is the key. How does it take place now? How will it take place in the future as these megacities continue to grow? What will move people around the area and, finally, what are automotive companies designing for that eventual future?These are just some of the provocative questions that were tackled at the 7th Annual Michelin Auto Design Panel recently held at the Detroit Athletic Club and the subject of this week's Autoline Detroit. John McElroy served as the Master of Ceremonies for this Automobile Press Association sponsored event. Joining John on the panel were: Clay Dean, director of GM Advanced Design, Scott Strong, Ford's Global Interior Design Director, Phil Zak, Chief Designer at Hyundai North America and Larry Erickson, the Transportation Design Department Chair at the College of Creative Studies.

An Incredible Ride It started last year with a simple e-mail between two 'car guys.' That's when Victor Muller the creator of the small exotic luxury brand Spyker petitioned Bob Lutz, the then Vice Chairman of General Motors. Mr. Muller was interested in the corporation's plans for his childhood dream car SAAB. GM, as you'll recall, was staggering out of bankruptcy and in the middle of jettisoning brands like a Golden Retriever sheds its winter coat. Pontiac was closing while Hummer, Saturn and SAAB were all up for sale but in danger of winding down as well. That one November e-mail sparked a heart-pounding 'live-or- die' three months for this iconic Swedish brand. The "incredible ride" as Victor Muller himself describes it finally ended earlier this year with ownership firmly in the hands of this Dutch entrepreneur. On this week's show John McElroy welcomes the new owner of SAAB Victor Muller to Autoline Detroit where he'll discuss not only his suspense-filled acquisition of the car company, but more importantly, how he intends to do what GM couldn't do with the brand and that is sell cars and make money. Joining John on the panel are Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and David Welch from Bloomberg Businessweek.

An Incredible RideIt started last year with a simple e-mail between two 'car guys.' That's when Victor Muller the creator of the small exotic luxury brand Spyker petitioned Bob Lutz, the then Vice Chairman of General Motors. Mr. Muller was interested in the corporation's plans for his childhood dream car SAAB. GM, as you'll recall, was staggering out of bankruptcy and in the middle of jettisoning brands like a Golden Retriever sheds its winter coat. Pontiac was closing while Hummer, Saturn and SAAB were all up for sale but in danger of winding down as well. That one November e-mail sparked a heart-pounding 'live-or- die' three months for this iconic Swedish brand. The "incredible ride" as Victor Muller himself describes it finally ended earlier this year with ownership firmly in the hands of this Dutch entrepreneur.On this week's show John McElroy welcomes the new owner of SAAB Victor Muller to Autoline Detroit where he'll discuss not only his suspense-filled acquisition of the car company, but more importantly, how he intends to do what GM couldn't do with the brand and that is sell cars and make money. Joining John on the panel are Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and David Welch from Bloomberg Businessweek.

Crawlin' From the WreckageWho would've predicated thirty years ago that a little known new wave song from England's Dave Edmunds would prove to be the perfect theme for the 2010 North American International Auto Show? Last January's edition of the world's most important auto show was less about cars, trucks and crossovers as it was about bailouts, Obama and bankruptcies. Add to that the strange Kabuki dance around the attempted restoration of Cobo Hall -- the show's longtime site -- and the '09 show had all the panache of sportscaster Howard Cosell's 1975 Variety show. But what a difference a year makes..."Crawlin' from the wreckage, into a brand new car"Just as the song's chorus suggests a rebirth, the 2010 NAIAS is likewise being resurrected. Manufacturers are again investing in their booths, prodigal sons have returned and the show is even recharging the career of '80s singer Eddy Grant with its "Electric Avenue" display. So watch this week's Autoline Detroit for an in-depth preview of all that is going on at this year's North American International Auto Show.

Crawlin' From the Wreckage Who would've predicated thirty years ago that a little known new wave song from England's Dave Edmunds would prove to be the perfect theme for the 2010 North American International Auto Show? Last January's edition of the world's most important auto show was less about cars, trucks and crossovers as it was about bailouts, Obama and bankruptcies. Add to that the strange Kabuki dance around the attempted restoration of Cobo Hall -- the show's longtime site -- and the '09 show had all the panache of sportscaster Howard Cosell's 1975 Variety show. But what a difference a year makes... "Crawlin' from the wreckage, into a brand new car" Just as the song's chorus suggests a rebirth, the 2010 NAIAS is likewise being resurrected. Manufacturers are again investing in their booths, prodigal sons have returned and the show is even recharging the career of '80s singer Eddy Grant with its "Electric Avenue" display. So watch this week's Autoline Detroit for an in-depth preview of all that is going on at this year's North American International Auto Show.

They Are Legend Just two years ago actor Will Smith ruled the movie world with "I AM LEGEND," a post-apocalyptic tale of isolation, innovation and survival. In 2009, it doesn't strain credulity to imagine a follow-up version this time focused on the auto industry and starring at least two members of the former Big Three. All the ingredients are there -- two huge diseased corporations doing whatever they can to survive leaving in their wake a trail of despair led by suppliers, dealers, employees and let's not forget the customers. Well, that may be the plot line but what's the ending? Will they survive? Who will survive? Will anyone survive? This week joining John on his Autoline panel to help craft the ending before it hits the Silver Screen are three great writers in their own right. Sean McAlinden is the chief economist at the Center for Automotive Research while Michelle Krebs is the senior industry editor for the industry website Edmunds.com and Daniel Howes is the business columnist for The Detroit News. Which legend will live? See it all on Autoline Detroit...

They Are LegendJust two years ago actor Will Smith ruled the movie world with "I AM LEGEND," a post-apocalyptic tale of isolation, innovation and survival. In 2009, it doesn't strain credulity to imagine a follow-up version this time focused on the auto industry and starring at least two members of the former Big Three. All the ingredients are there -- two huge diseased corporations doing whatever they can to survive leaving in their wake a trail of despair led by suppliers, dealers, employees and let's not forget the customers. Well, that may be the plot line but what's the ending? Will they survive? Who will survive? Will anyone survive?This week joining John on his Autoline panel to help craft the ending before it hits the Silver Screen are three great writers in their own right. Sean McAlinden is the chief economist at the Center for Automotive Research while Michelle Krebs is the senior industry editor for the industry website Edmunds.com and Daniel Howes is the business columnist for The Detroit News.Which legend will live? See it all on Autoline Detroit...

Fork in the Road It's one thing to sing about electric cars like Neil Young is doing on his new concept album (Fork in the Road), it's another to actually design, build and sell them like Tesla motors is doing. Started from scratch six years ago, this small California startup is producing one of the few road-ready electric car currently available to the public -- its luxury two-seater roadster. That car will soon be joined by not only a sport version roadster but also a new more affordable sedan called the model S. This week on Autoline Detroit meet the team behind Tesla. During January’s North American International Auto Show John McElroy sat down with the braintrust of this electric car company to find out what it was like to create a car company, especially one with such a specialized and dare we say "expensive" product. Joining John from the Tesla stand at N.A.I.A.S. are Chairman & CEO Elon Musk, Executive Vice President and former Chrysler honcho Mike Donoughe, Senior VP of Global Sales/Marketing Michael van der Sande, as well as Chief Designer -- by way of GM & Mazda -- Franz von Holzhausen. Diarmuid O'Connell, Tesla’s VP of Business Development joins John on Autoline Extra. Meanwhile, for an insider's tour of Tesla’s Northern California campus including its headquarters, sales showroom as well as the final assembly point of its luxury roadster, join Isaac Bouchard on Autoline Extra as he reports from Menlo Park, California.

Fork in the RoadIt's one thing to sing about electric cars like Neil Young is doing on his new concept album (Fork in the Road), it's another to actually design, build and sell them like Tesla motors is doing.Started from scratch six years ago, this small California startup is producing one of the few road-ready electric car currently available to the public -- its luxury two-seater roadster. That car will soon be joined by not only a sport version roadster but also a new more affordable sedan called the model S.This week on Autoline Detroit meet the team behind Tesla.During January’s North American International Auto Show John McElroy sat down with the braintrust of this electric car company to find out what it was like to create a car company, especially one with such a specialized and dare we say "expensive" product.Joining John from the Tesla stand at N.A.I.A.S. are Chairman & CEO Elon Musk, Executive Vice President and former Chrysler honcho Mike Donoughe, Senior VP of Global Sales/Marketing Michael van der Sande, as well as Chief Designer -- by way of GM & Mazda -- Franz von Holzhausen. Diarmuid O'Connell, Tesla’s VP of Business Development joins John on Autoline Extra.Meanwhile, for an insider's tour of Tesla’s Northern California campus including its headquarters, sales showroom as well as the final assembly point of its luxury roadster, join Isaac Bouchard on Autoline Extra as he reports from Menlo Park, California.

'Auto' AsphyxiaThere's a disease running rampant around America. It's not new, we've seen it before - just never such a virulent strain. It attacks the breathing, or as some describe it the lifeblood of our economy, the auto industry. Its symptoms can be seen in not only the board rooms around the country, but in the design studios, factory floors and dealer lots alike. And despite the billions in monetary oxygen that's been pumped into them recently, the companies cannot yet wean themselves from the government's ventilator.Given what we've seen the question needs to be asked, is today's auto industry -- the manufacturing giant that reshaped our lives -- on its last breath? If annual sales of 10 or 11 million are any indication certainly the industry of the last decade is gone; and given the economic times, perhaps gone for good.Joining John McElroy to discuss the stability, viability & health of the auto industry are three of the foremost automotive journalists/analysts in America today: John Stoll from The Wall Street Journal, Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press and Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics.So take a deep breath and don't be afraid to exhale as our Autoline panel explores this "Auto" Asphyxia phenomenon this week on Autoline Detroit.

'Auto' Asphyxia There's a disease running rampant around America. It's not new, we've seen it before - just never such a virulent strain. It attacks the breathing, or as some describe it the lifeblood of our economy, the auto industry. Its symptoms can be seen in not only the board rooms around the country, but in the design studios, factory floors and dealer lots alike. And despite the billions in monetary oxygen that's been pumped into them recently, the companies cannot yet wean themselves from the government's ventilator. Given what we've seen the question needs to be asked, is today's auto industry -- the manufacturing giant that reshaped our lives -- on its last breath? If annual sales of 10 or 11 million are any indication certainly the industry of the last decade is gone; and given the economic times, perhaps gone for good. Joining John McElroy to discuss the stability, viability & health of the auto industry are three of the foremost automotive journalists/analysts in America today: John Stoll from The Wall Street Journal, Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press and Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics. So take a deep breath and don't be afraid to exhale as our Autoline panel explores this "Auto" Asphyxia phenomenon this week on Autoline Detroit.

Detroit DuckDetroit's annual celebration of arguably its most important invention -- the car -- is just steps from the site of another Motor City discovery. Across the street from Cobo Hall and the North American International Auto Show is 234 West Larned, the former site of one of the city's most famous restaurants, the Pontchartrain Wine Cellars. It was there one night in 1937 that owner Harold Borgman thought he would save the red wine left in customers' bottles and combine them with a half bottle of undrunk champagne. It was at this epic moment in American history when the popular adult beverage "Cold Duck" was born.So, with a nod to Mr. Borgman, we have gathered some of our tastiest interviews yet to be broadcast from the 2009 N.A.I.A.S. and put them in this week's show: a video homage to his famous drink that we'll call "Detroit Duck." Appearing with John from the floor of the show is a perfect Press Days potpourri: one OEM CEO, the Chief Engineer of one of the hottest cars unveiled in Detroit, the Executive Director of the dealer group who puts on the show and then we wrap-up interviewing the only Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive columnist going. All of that this week on Autoline Detroit. Cheers...

Detroit Duck Detroit's annual celebration of arguably its most important invention -- the car -- is just steps from the site of another Motor City discovery. Across the street from Cobo Hall and the North American International Auto Show is 234 West Larned, the former site of one of the city's most famous restaurants, the Pontchartrain Wine Cellars. It was there one night in 1937 that owner Harold Borgman thought he would save the red wine left in customers' bottles and combine them with a half bottle of undrunk champagne. It was at this epic moment in American history when the popular adult beverage "Cold Duck" was born. So, with a nod to Mr. Borgman, we have gathered some of our tastiest interviews yet to be broadcast from the 2009 N.A.I.A.S. and put them in this week's show: a video homage to his famous drink that we'll call "Detroit Duck." Appearing with John from the floor of the show is a perfect Press Days potpourri: one OEM CEO, the Chief Engineer of one of the hottest cars unveiled in Detroit, the Executive Director of the dealer group who puts on the show and then we wrap-up interviewing the only Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive columnist going. All of that this week on Autoline Detroit. Cheers...