Autoline Daily - Video

Heavy trucks just had their best month of sales since 2006. In order to boost sales, Porsche will enter 15 new markets by the end of the decade, mostly in Africa. Rental customers aren’t opting for EVs because they fear the battery will die. All that and more, plus ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons has some advice for automakers.

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering reducing ethanol blend requirements next year. A new study says people are more likely to use a self-driving car from a tech company rather than one of the major automakers. After 67 years of production, Land Rover has decided to end production of its Defender SUV. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week with designer and futurist, Syd Mead.

In an effort to boost sales, Toyota has slashed the price of the Prius Plug-in. Even though Ford is currently building five plants in China, the company is considering further expansion because forecasts predict a huge growth in annual sales. We got a chance to drive the new Chevy Malibu and see how its new stop/start system performs. All that and more, plus a look at Nissan’s self-parking technology.

According to a report, PSA’s Chinese partner will buy a 30 percent stake in the company. A judge rules that New York City over stepped its bounds and voids the mandate for Nissan’s Taxi of Tomorrow. We gear up for SEMA with a few concepts that will make their debuts at the show. All that and more, plus a look at the updates Toyota made to its Entune infotainment system.

Ford is on pace to sell close to a million vehicles in China this year. The head of VW’s global works council says installing a works council at the company’s Tennessee plant will be an important factor in building other models there. Cadillac reveals the all-new 2015 Escalade. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and comments in You Said It!

Mitsubishi taps Thailand to build the new version of its Mirage. General Motors is set to expand online sales for its entire dealer network in the U.S. We take a look at a few of the highlights for the new 2014 Kia Soul. All that and more, plus parking a car with the touch of a finger using Bosch’s newest technology.

In an effort to attract new buyers, Audi plans to move downmarket by offering A-class luxury. As sales plummet, Volvo North America axes its CEO and names a temporary replacement. Jerry Seinfeld says automakers need to rethink their advertising. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week in which Ford’s Jim Farley explains dealership WiFi will be used to learn more about you.

Electric vehicle and plug-in sales take a surprising tumble in September. Audi moves forward with plans for another crossover. Winnebago upfits the new Ram ProMaster into two different RV models. All that and more, plus Jim Hall is back with an all-new lesson in design terminology: Bone Line.

Hyundai announces a new plan to help out laid off government employees. Chevrolet and GMC just announced new CNG versions of their full-size heavy-duty pickups and full-size vans. Kia announced it will sell an electric version of the Soul in the U.S. All that and more, plus a deep dive into September car sales in the American market.

A group of workers at Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant is fighting the UAW’s attempt to organize the facility. In an unsurprising move, Aston Martin ended production of the Cygnet. Even though September car sales in the U.S. are expected to drop, it wasn’t all bad news for automakers. All that and more, plus a look at the new 2014 Toyota Corolla.

Sales of new cars continue to grow all around the world but it varies greatly by region. Nissan will continue selling the current generation Rogue alongside the all-new 2014 model and will rename it the Rogue Select. Chevy showed off two new Silverado concepts at the Texas State Fair. All that and more, plus a look at the diesel version of the Ram 1500.

Nine Japanese suppliers have pleaded guilty to a price-fixing scheme in the U.S. and will have to pay a hefty fine. To help encourage automakers to adopt crash avoidance systems, the IIHS is now testing cars equipped with them. GM just took the wraps off the heavy-duty versions of the 2015 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week which is all about cars in the Henry Ford Collection.

Several European automakers and their Chinese joint venture partners are battling over who gets to sell imported cars. Toyota will start exporting Corollas built in the U.S. to 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The new twin-turbo V6 in the upcoming BMW M3 will be the smallest displacement engine offered in that car in over two decades. All that and more, plus Autoline Daily correspondent Sean McElroy takes a look at the refreshed 2014 Toyota Tundra.

Fiat is delaying Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S. once again. In a first for the Euro NCAP crash test program, a Chinese developed car received a 5-star overall crash rating. Hyundai will show off a 1000 horsepower version of the Genesis Coupe at this year’s SEMA show. All that and more, plus a look at Infiniti’s new steer-by-wire system in the Q50.

General Motors is back to investment grade status for the first time since 2005. Sergio Marchionne makes a calculated move in taking Chrysler public once again. Production of Jeep’s new Cherokee stalls out due to reported quality problems. All that and more, plus John McElroy explains why the auto industry is getting its butt kicked by the oil industry.

Dan Akerson, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, adds Tesla to the list of companies he’s bashed. Goldman Sachs says EU car sales are set to rebound in the near future. Honda finally puts a price to the hybrid version of the Accord. All that and more, plus John McElroy talks to Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top about his love for cars and the origin of “Cadzilla.”

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has tapped Ron Bloom to advise him on buying the rest of Chrysler from the UAW’s VEBA health care trust fund. And speaking of Chrysler, it’s taking a more “hands on” approach to boosting engine output. Johan de Nysschen, the head of Infiniti says the company needs to “de-Americanize” its cars in order to boost sales globally. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week all about converting fleet vehicles to run on propane.

Valeo, the French supplier company, just unveiled a low cost lidar system that is significantly smaller and can be packaged into the front grille of a car. GM can drop a diesel in its full-size pick-ups if it wants but that’s not the interesting part. Automotive supplier Faurecia makes your car sound more powerful. All that and more, plus Design Handbook’s Jim Hall takes us on a field trip to learn about “MMI.”

PSA, the parent company of Peugeot-Citroen, is considering selling a stake in the company to its Chinese partner Dongfeng. Volkswagen said it will only offer turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines within the next 3 to 4 years. A new report says, the number of people using car sharing services will increase 6 fold by the end of the decade. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in You Said It!

After it looked like car sales in Europe were starting to recover in Jul, they slid back down again in August. Consumer Reports names the Chevy Silverado the number one pick-up truck. A group of California car dealers are asking the state to investigate fraudulent advertising by Tesla. All that and more, plus John shares his impressions of the electric version of the Volkswagen Golf.

Valeo uses its 12-volt electronic supercharger in a very unique way. Ford announces a number of key management changes due to one VP retiring. Largely because of one company, sales of medium and heavy duty trucks fell last month. All that and more, plus how Chevy’s Corvette was designed to make anyone drive like a pro.

Ford of Europe has bumped its new product initiative to a whopping 25 models. Nissan will start offering the LEAF as a certified pre-owned vehicle, and the deal looks pretty good. Jeep’s Dragon Edition concept becomes a reality. All that and more, plus John McElroy has a preview of Autoline This Week all about cars and personalities.

GM unveils its all-new lineup of full-size SUVs. According to a report, Volkswagen is considering selling CNG powered cars in the U.S. market. Hankook reveals its air-free wheel and tire combination, called i-Flex. All that and more, plus the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on how American car culture is changing.

As its sales turn around in Europe, Ford says it will break even there in the next two years. According to a report, Volkswagen is considering selling its commercial vehicles in the U.S. Nissan unveils its new 2014 Rouge. All that and more, plus we look at one Japanese automaker’s month long company celebration.

Jaguar unveils its crossover concept called the C-X17. BMW shows off the production version of its plug-in hybrid sports car. Audi says its new nanuk quattro concept is for both the track and for off-road. All that and more, plus we get to the bottom of the case of the missing dipstick.

Volkswagen unveils a concept that’s a combination of a compact car and a minivan. Mercedes says it has successfully completed a long-distance autonomous drive using a near-production sensor system. Nissan announces that it’s in the final development phase with the electric version of its NV200 small commercial van. All that and more, plus how subcompact cars are getting bigger while more fuel efficient.

Despite rumors, two high profile executives say they’re not going anywhere. Honda announces that the 2014 Accord Hybrid is the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered four-door sedan available. Daimler announces it stop building vans for Volkswagen in 2016. All that and more, plus we share a close look at the design elements of the new Infiniti Q50.

The smart brand reveals a new four-seat concept for Frankfurt. Volkswagen’s XL1 carries a price tag that’s just as eye-popping as its fuel economy number. Autoline takes a look at the sales figures for August in the U.S. market. All that and more, plus in the newest edition of Design Handbook, Jim Hall ponders the difference between styling and design.

According to a report, UAW president Bob King met with VW officials last week about letting workers vote on a “works council” for its Tennessee plant. Lexus will show off a concept in Frankfurt with what it calls its L-finesse design language. Ford unveils a unique upscale product and ownership experience called Vignale. All that and more, plus John McElroy responds to some of your questions and comments in this week’s edition of You Said It!

General Motors promotes Michael Dunne to president of GM Indonesia. Jaguar hints at its future design with a concept that will debut in Frankfurt. Fleet sales account for 19 percent of total sales in the U.S. and can be quite profitable for a car company. All that and more, plus we look at the next-gen smart fortwo EV.

The UAW’s vice president says he thinks Ford could add another 8,000 workers in the U.S. According to a report, Volkswagen could pass Toyota as the #1 producer of light vehicles by 2016. Detroit Electric says it will produce cars overseas in Holland starting in the fourth quarter. All that and more, plus John McElroy shares what it’s like riding in a B-17 bomber.

Renault’s Carlos Tavares is shown the door in the wake of his outspoken statements about GM and Ford. Honda puts smart phones to work in enhancing automotive and motorcycle safety. Kia previews its Niro concept ahead of Frankfurt. All that and more, plus a demo of Pioneer’s aftermarket radio solution, the AppRadio 3.

Nissan makes a historical commitment to bring fully autonomous cars to market by the end of the decade. Ford takes the wraps off a thinly veiled concept of the S-Max. VW shows off the EV versions of two of its compact cars. All that and more, plus John McElroy responds to your questions and comments in You Said It!

Nissan pours $5 billion into expanding its manufacturing footprint in North and South America. Toyota becomes the next automaker to slash its EV price — this time right in half. Infiniti has a preview of the next Q concept, set to debut in Frankfurt. All that and more, plus Sean McElroy has a look at the latest technology from ZF.

Volkswagen is ticked off that American legislators will not provide any incentives for diesel vehicles. Detroit Electric had planned on building its SP:01 sportscar by now, but according to reports production will be delayed. Jeep passes one major German automaker as the #1 importer into China. All that and more, plus how the shape and size of a car’s badge can impact styling.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company is considering opening factories in two new major markets. The new Chevrolet Camaro convertible will make its debut in Frankfurt next month. BMW announces a plug-in version of it X5, called Concept X5 eDrive. All that and more, plus we look at how safety regulations can affect automotive design.

Supplier company Continental teams with Google and IBM to develop technology for autonomous cars. Ford partners up with St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia to develop robots for use in space. BMW offers an individual consulting program for clients to personalize their vehicle. All that and more, plus Jim Hall explains design spazz attacks in the newest edition of Design Handbook.

As if to say that it has completely returned to normal, the NAFTA region set an all-time production record last month. The next-generation Nissan Titan pickup gets a diesel from Cummins. Mercedes-Benz will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its S 500 sedan at the Frankfurt Motor Show. All that and more, plus we respond to some of your comments and questions in the latest edition of You Said It!

Toyota shares more images of a concept it will unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show, called the Hybrid-R. We take a look at who is doing the best in the U.S. full-size sedan segment. John McElroy shares his insights on the danger of adding lots of overtime and a 3rd shift. All that and more, plus on the newest edition of Autoline Garage we examine how air filter design could cost you $500.

Tesla is forced to change its name for the Chinese market because the company’s name had already been registered. Infiniti poaches a top executive from one major German automaker and names a new design director as well. As a part of Volvo’s new Drive-E initiative to reduce the impact on the environment it will build a new line-up of 4-cylinder engines. All that and more, plus we take a tour in the interior of Jaguar’s F-TYPE.

Autoline Daily learns that Chrysler is trying to dramatically boost production of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ford is lowering the fuel economy rating for one vehicle that received heavy criticism for not achieving its advertised rating. Cadillac reveals the Elmiraj concept car at Pebble Beach. All that and more, plus Billy Gibbons, lead singer and guitarist extraordinaire for ZZ Top dropped in to tell us how he became such an automotive enthusiast.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will make it easier to search for recalls on its website. Sirius XM gets into the automotive telematics business after it acquired one company’s connected vehicle services business. Audi teases some sketches of its Quattro concept ahead of its Frankfurt debut. All that and more, plus new technology from Bosch that makes driving a manual a whole lot easier.

In a stunning admission, the Chief Operating Officer of Renault says he would love to leave the company to go run two of the largest automakers in the world. Using intensive CAD studies to determine the optimum design, Altair Engineering unveils a new steel wheel that may be better than aluminum. Mercedes reveals the all-new 2015 GLA ahead of its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. All that and more, plus guest host, Murray Feldman shares his thoughts on how social media has changed how automakers hire new talent.

Chrysler plans to make a big splash during the Woodward Ave. Dream Cruise with an all-new concept truck. John McElroy offers up a prescription for future Subaru success. Honda’s Project Drive-In aims to save roadside theaters. All that and more, plus Sean McElroy has another installment of the Autoline Garage all about making fuel pump maintenance a better customer experience.

Honda pulls the wraps off its new Civic Tourer ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show. Tesla is reportedly developing an all-wheel drive version of the Model S. If you read the tea leaves, it looks like GM is set to leave South Korea. Find out why. All that and more, plus John McElroy shares his driving impressions of a Porsche 911 GT3 equipped with carbon fiber wheels.

Subaru management debates whether the company should remain a niche brand or take advantage of its success and expand production. Autoline shares the upgrades for Ram’s new heavy duty trucks. General Motors teases an image for the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size pickup trucks. All that and more, plus we look at new technology from the giant German supplier, Bosch.

Tesla posts its second quarter earnings which beat Wall Street expectations. More vehicles pass the new small overlap front crash test from the IIHS. Hyundai introduces its new i10 small car ahead of its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. All that and more, plus Jim Hall clears up the confusion for one basic design term in the newest edition of Design Handbook.

The UAW wants to organize Tesla workers at the former NUMMI plant in California. The new smart fortwo EV features an all-new electric powertrain that is a big upgrade compared to the previous model. Skip Barber Racing adds two Hyundai models to its High Performance Driving School. All that and more, plus we’ll take an in-depth look at the exterior design of the new Jaguar F-TYPE.

Cadillac’s head of global strategy resigns just four months after accepting the newly created position. Infiniti announces that it will continue to sell the G37 in the U.S. alongside the Q50, which replaces it. Despite upgrades to Tesla’s Model S, customers of the car are not happy. All that and more, plus a look at what’s new for the 2014 Hyundai Equus.

In a surprising move, GM hires the former head of Volvo to run its new Consolidated International Operations. One major automaker is teaming back up with Isuzu to supply it with diesel engines. To avoid import tariffs, Daimler is considering building a new plant in Brazil. All that and more, plus automotive guru, Bob Lutz explains why he prefers buying used cars to new ones.