Autoline Daily - Video

While global car sales have been running at decent rates all year long, sales of heavy trucks are running at record rates, especially in China and North America. We’re going to see a lot more European vans in the U.S. as Ford, GM and other automakers expand their range of offerings. Honda announced it plans to deliver best-in-class fuel economy in every vehicle segment within three years thanks to a new suite of technologies it's calling "Earth Dreams." All that and more, plus we take a look at the new Range Rover Evoque.

Automakers are ramping up their production plans for the first quarter of 2012. EV start-up company Aptera announced it’s closing its doors because the company is out of money. Volkswagen’s new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee was just rated the greenest auto assembly plant in the world. All that and more, plus a look at the new Volkswagen Beetle.

As the auto industry struggles to sell more cars, teens aren’t helping matters because fewer of them are learning to drive. Motorcycle sales are on the increase in India while Tata Nanos languish on dealership lots. This RC car doesn’t come cheap, but for good reason: it can hit 100 miles per hour! All that and more, plus John McElroy’s analysis of November sales results.

While the UAW settles on a transplant to unionize, it's picketing Hyundai dealerships in the U.S. in support of workers in South Korea. GM develops a technology that will double the life expectancy of brake rotors by preventing rust. Plus Audi reveals the A1 Sportback, Renault has a new Twingo and Toyota shows off a new fuel cell concept. All that and more, plus Seamus McElroy goes for a spin in MINI’s new Coupe.

The Center for Automotive Research says that the U.S. auto industry is going to add 190,000 jobs in the next four years. Volkswagen introduced a plug-in hybrid SUV concept at the Tokyo Motor Show called the Cross Coupe. And Honda unveiled seven new concepts in Tokyo, all of which are electric. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and comments in the “You Said It!” segment.

General Motors is in full-blown damage control over reports that the batteries in the Chevy Volt caught fire after a crash test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Japanese automakers are getting hammered by the strength of the yen, and things could get a lot worse. Mazda just introduced a new regenerative braking system called i-ELOOP. All that and more, plus John reviews the movie “Revenge of the Electric Car.”

Further crash tests on the Chevy Volt by NHTSA found that the battery could catch fire in certain circumstances. Toyota finally revealed its new rear-wheel-drive sports car, called the GT 86. Daimler announced it will drop the Maybach brand since it was unable to turn a profit in nearly a decade. All that and more, plus a look at the new BMW X3.

Mazda is moving production out of Japan to Mexico because of the strong value of the yen and the number of free trade agreements Mexico has. Chinese automakers are starting to learn how to make safer cars. The Geely Emgrand EC7 and the MG6, were awarded four stars in the latest Euro NCAP tests. The used car market in the U.S. remains strong and in some cases second-hand vehicles are not depreciating in value. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the You Said It! segment.

In a move that probably did not surprise anyone, Laura Soave was let go as head of the Fiat car brand in the American market. Speaking of personnel moves, General Motors appointed its vice chairman, Steve Girsky, as the chairman of the supervisory board of Opel. If you thought that the Volt is expensive here in the U.S., good thing you don’t live in China! All that and more plus a review of the new Chevrolet Sonic.

Car sales in China have been slowing all year and now the drop in sales is even hitting the luxury segment. But even with the slow down, China is still the biggest market in the world and that’s why Ford just announced plans to introduce 20 new engines and transmissions in the country. GM is considering a simple mid-size work truck for the U.S. All that and more, plus a look at how Chevy makes the ZL1 Camaro slice through the wind.

The electric version of the Honda Fit will only be available for lease in select cities in the U.S. GM’s sales chief in the U.S. says sales in 2012 won’t grow that much. Conversely, J.D. Power says next year’s sales rate could hit 14 million units. BMW just bought a 15 percent stake in a company called SGL Carbon, a maker of lightweight materials. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week the most recent UAW contract negotiations.

More news from the L.A. Auto Show: Honda unwraps its latest CR-V; Lincoln shows off its updated MKS and MKT models; and Hyundai reveals its new Azera. The much-talked-about new fuel-economy rules in the U.S. are official. In a good bit of news for the industry, dealership showroom traffic is up. All that and more, plus Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, sounds off on Fiat’s troubles.

We’ve got a couple unveils from the L.A. Auto Show. Cadillac finally showed off the new XTS which replaces the DTS and STS in the line-up. And Ford debuted the all-new Escape which comes with a host of new features. GM’s VP of U.S. Sales says this month’s seasonally adjusted annual rate or SAAR, could hit 14 million units. All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera.

Consumer Reports conducted another survey asking Americans if they are in favor of higher fuel-economy standards, and guess what? Of course they are! Sales of the Fiat 500 are going slow in the American market, in fact Ward’s data shows there was a 30 percent decline in October compared to September. Ford is making some big changes to the Mustang for the 2013 model year. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the You Said It! segment.

Mercedes unveiled the new ML63 AMG before it debuts later this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Daihatsu also revealed three quirky looking concepts before they debut at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. The Chevy Volt is under investigation after one NHTSA used in a side-impact crash test caught on fire three weeks after the test. All that and more, plus a look at the design of the new Volvo S60 R.

Chinese automakers are borrowing a military strategy from Mao Tse-tung called “Encircling the City from the Countryside.” Honda and Mitsubishi revealed several vehicles they will show at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. Audi will no longer offer manual transmissions on its S4 and S5 models in Europe. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week about issues facing car dealers in the U.S.

Cadillac is teasing us with a shot of the production version of its XTS sedan, which will formally debut next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Suzuki previewed a new small-car concept that supposedly gets up to 75 miles per U.S. gallon. Ford officially began production of its 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine in Germany. All that and more, plus we drive the 2012 Toyota Camry.

General Motors reported somewhat disappointing third quarter earnings this morning. Even though the company sold more vehicles than it did a year ago, its profits fell 12 percent. Volvo will offer an aftermarket ECU upgrade for select models that will boost horsepower and torque. Nissan is showing off the third generation of its Pivo concept car. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and comments in the You Said It! segment.

Toyota’s quarterly profit plummeted 72 percent to about 1 billion dollars. General Motors is changing the leadership of its European operations. Ferrari is having a phenomenal year. It’s already sold 5,165 cars and its revenue is up 19 percent. All that and more, plus a look at one of the latest safety systems being developed by supplier company Continental.

Chrysler’s skilled-trade workers are appealing the new UAW contract because union leadership overrode their votes after rejecting it. Japanese automakers, unions and dealers are all concerned that high car taxes and the strength of the Yen could destroy the industry in the country. General Motors may void the deal to sell Saab because it’s worried it could hurt its business in China and elsewhere. All that and more, plus a look at the updates Ford has made to its MyFord Touch infotainment system.

Kia expects subcompact sales in the U.S. to double by 2015. Car production in China is expected to top 30 million units by 2015 which will far exceed market demand. The overall car theft rate in the U.S. in 2009 dropped over 20 percent compared to 2008. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week with the Vice President of Chevrolet marketing, Chris Perry.

In a surprising bit of news, Nissan is relocating Infiniti’s headquarters to Hong Kong. The Chevy Cruze is already on pace to pass the Cobalt’s best ever sales year. Volkswagen is showing off the new CC before it debuts later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo shares more memories of his favorite Chevy cars.

October sales numbers reveal that the fourth quarter may end up better than we thought. Toyota gets in the robot game with an exo-skeleton that assists in walking. Leaf sales are beating the Volt by a wide margin. All that and more, plus Peter De Lorenzo reflects on GM stylist Bill Mitchell.

Lars Ulrich, the head of diesel marketing for Bosch in North America, says diesel sales will hit a critical mass sometime in the middle of this decade. Analysts at Morgan Stanley suggest buying Ford and Peugeot bonds because they are safe investments that pay better than government securities. All that and more, plus John test drives a vehicle that could be the last of its breed.

Volkswagen set a goal of becoming No. 1 in the world by 2018, but it looks like the company could get there this year. MINI is introducing a roadster version of its popular small car, its first ever two-seat drop-top. Renault revealed a new small car for the Indian market called the Pulse. All that and more, plus a look at which car companies raked in the most money and had the best profits for the first half of the year.

Victor Muller has thrown in the towel, agreeing to sell Saab to the Chinese. Caterham wants a piece of the Indian pie as it moves to build cars in the sub-continent. Opel Ampera sales are off to a surprising start. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week with J Mays and a walkaround of the Ford Evos concept.

Volkswagen posted astounding numbers in the third quarter, with a HUGE jump in revenue. French automaker PSA is finally taking steps to reduce its workforce as part of a bid to save money next year. The 2012 Ford Ranger just aced Euro NCAP’s battery of crash tests. All that and more, plus a look at a pedestrian safety system from German supplier company Continental.

Ford has a good quarter but slips a bit in Europe and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the company takes it on the chin in quality ratings, but are these surveys worth taking seriously? John Mendel from American Honda says the company is about to rebound from losses suffered earlier in the year. All that and more, plus John McElroy answers your comments and questions in You Said It!

The bowtie brand prepares to make a big splash at SEMA with its Z-Spec small cars. Ford inches toward an investment-grade rating. Thailand highways turn into parking lots, literally. All that and more, plus a look at how BMW is merging high performance and high fuel economy with the new Z4.

Car sales continue to be one of the few bright spots in the American economy and the October SAAR is looking up. Rolls-Royce is expanding its global footprint with plans to open dealerships in Brazil and Chile next year. Google has set a goal of hitting 1 million miles with its autonomous cars. All that and more, plus a look at how ZF is making it easy for automakers to electrify vehicles.

The National Auto Dealers Association is commissioning a study to see if OEM mandates ever really translate into more sales or higher profits for dealers. New fuel economy standards proposed by the Obama Administration earlier this year are under attack. People are hanging on to their cars longer. This has been bad news for dealers, automakers and suppliers, but it’s great for repair shops and parts makers. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week about what was going on behind-the-scenes when the American auto industry collapsed.

Argentina is punishing companies that are hurting its trade balance. Nissan is one of those companies. Prices for iron ore, aluminum and other commodities are plummeting, and it’s all because of the Chinese economy. Car sales in the U.S. have steadily increased throughout the year and the top economists at Ford and GM say next year will be even better. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the “You Said It!” segment.

Hourly workers at Ford in the U.S. ratified a new labor contract but now the attention will turn to the voting on the Chrysler contract. The price of steel could fall by nearly 300 dollars a ton compared to its peak in April. Several lawsuits have been filed against suppliers, accusing them of an international price fixing scam involving wire harnesses. All that and more, plus a walkaround of the new Fisker Surf with company CEO, Henrik Fisker.

In somewhat surprising news, Daimler announced it’s fired the head of Mercedes-Benz USA, Ernst Lieb. There’s been a lot of drama between Volkswagen and Suzuki lately, and now The Wall Street Journal reports Vee Dub will not sell its 20 percent stake in the Japanese automaker. Toyota is ready to open its latest plant, located in Blue Springs, Mississippi and home to the 2012 Corolla. All that and more, plus guest host Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics shares some of his thoughts on America’s strange relationship with hatchbacks.

The voting on the UAW contract at Ford swung to 62 percent in favor over the weekend. Toyota is building a hybrid racecar to compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans and other FIA World Endurance Championships. BMW just introduced the all-new 3 Series which will go on sale next February. All that and more, plus Bob Lutz gives us a walk-around of the new Lotus Evora.

Yesterday we reported that the UAW was warning its members that Ford might hire scab workers if the union goes on strike. Now the union is denying it said that. Suzuki is accusing Volkswagen of violating their partnership by not sharing technology. Large trucks sales are roaring in North America which is a good sign that the economy is heading in the right direction. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week about BMW’s plan to use carbon fiber in its electric vehicles.

Chrysler played hard ball with the UAW and won. The union is telling Ford workers they will go on strike if the contract is rejected. They're also telling them the company will hire scabs to replace them. GM is developing an all-new lineup of small, gasoline engines that will come in three- and four-cylinder varieties. All that and more, plus a look at the 2012 Jeep Wrangler.

Chrysler and the UAW announced this morning that they reached a tentative deal on a new labor contract. GM plans to introduce an electric version of the Chevy Spark in the U.S. by 2013. China just unveiled stricter crash standard rules for passenger cars. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and comments in the You Said It segment.

Oh how the tables have turned. A couple years ago Fiat saved Chrysler and now Chrysler is saving Fiat. The company is also rumored to be killing off the Dodge Grand Caravan as well as the Avenger to make way for a new Fiat-based crossover. Honda is delaying the launch of its new small airplane, called the HondaJet, due to problems with the engine. All that and more, plus a look at some of the latest transmission innovations coming from German company ZF.

Toyota is pressuring its suppliers in Japan to cut prices because of the soaring value of the yen, and suppliers say Honda’s spirit of cooperation is far more confrontational now. Ford introduced an updated version of its popular Transit van for the 2012 model year. The world’s oldest running car was just sold at auction for $4.6 million. All that and more, plus a look at the Buick Regal Turbo.

There’s more yearning for the yen in today’s news as both Nissan and Toyota take steps to combat the rising currency. The American economy may still be stagnant, but things appear to be rolling right along in South Carolina as Bridgestone and Continental setup factories in the state. Surprisingly, traditional luxury automotive brands are a smash-hit in high-tech Silicon Valley, California. All that and more, plus guest host Christie Schweinsberg from WardsAuto.com fills us in on this year’s 10 Best Engines competition.

The strong yen is battering Japanese automakers. Mitsubishi’s CEO said the currency situation is starting to become futile. Also reacting to the exchange rate, Honda plans to cut exports from Japan by half over the next decade. The performance junkies at Shelby have introduced a new supercharged V-6 Mustang with bucket-loads of horsepower. All that and more, plus a preview of this week’s episode of Autoline, which takes an in-depth look at an interesting new manufacturing concept.

A top-level Nissan executive leaves the OEM world and joins an industry data firm. Honda says rumors of Ridgeline’s demise are greatly exaggerated. The Colorado makes its world debut in Thailand and we have all the latest pics. All that and more, plus a look into how Land Rover sales are remaining steady in an economic downturn.

Ford and the UAW announced they reached an agreement on a new labor contract. Now the workers have to vote on it. Chrysler’s former CEO, Bob Nardelli, has resurfaced, saying the Obama Administration didn’t need to turn Chrysler over to Fiat and that Cerberus, the private equity firm, could have done a better job turning the automaker around. China could be losing its edge as a low-cost manufacturing center. All that and more, plus a look at last month’s impressive sales numbers.

On this episode we take a look at Hyundai’s fight to be top dog in the fuel economy war. Plus, another power-to-weight comparison, this time with V-8 ponycars.

We take a look at an inexpensive rear view mirror that’s mounted in a unique spot. Plus, we ride in the all new Nissan Versa sedan.

We interview a man that’s made it his mission to drive a vintage car as his only transportation for an entire year. Plus, a look at Chrysler’s new SRT8 lineup.

We take an exclusive look at the new Mopar 11, a heavily modified Dodge Charger. Plus, John reviews one of the most luxurious and most expensive hybrids that you can buy.

We take a look at which car company spends the most amount of money on research and development. Plus, a power-to-weight comparison with V-6 ponycars.

Honda is rolling right along with a brand-new, global engine for its scooters: a liquid-cooled, four-stroke unit displacing 125 cc. Last week OnStar announced it would track customers even after they cancel the service and that the company reserves the right to sell the information it’s gathered. Not surprisingly, this caused a bit of an uproar. In order to celebrate its new partnership with the LEGOLAND theme park in Florida, Ford created an Explorer out of . . . you guessed it . . . LEGOs! All that and more, plus a review of the BMW 550i.