Autoline Daily - Video

An Acura executive hints that the curiously-styled ZDX may not be for this world much longer. Raw material prices have been going up, up, up, but only now are automakers feeling the pain. The Renault espionage saga only gets more complicated. All that and more, plus the first-ever automotive recall to be caused by a spider.

Curiously, French automaker Renault is backpedaling from its claims that it was a victim of industrial espionage. Something fishy is going on here. Autoline Daily has learned how much the battery packs in the Chevy Volt and the Nissan LEAF cost. Hint: a lot. COBO Hall, home of the Detroit Auto Show, is getting some significant upgrades over the next three years as part of a $211 million investment. All that and more, plus McElroy responds to your questions and comments in the ever-popular “You Said It!” segment.

New car sales shot up by more than 27% in the American market last month, falling just shy of one million units. General Motors and Toyota put in a blistering sales performance in February amongst the major manufacturers. Cadillac had the most shocking sales performance with sales up 70%. All that and more, plus John test drives the new Mazda5 which is in showrooms right now.

We’ve got a full report on the latest news coming from the Geneva Motor Show including Ford’s new subcompact MPV, the B-Max, Volkswagen’s latest Microbus concept and a Saab model that points at the brand’s future design direction. Consumer Reports just released its latest . . . report; the magazine pans a surprising number of luxury automakers for quality. Ford is the master of PR spin. All that and more, plus a look at the 2011 Kia Optima TURBO.

Jaguar along with Italian design firm Bertone are pulling the covers off two concept cars at this week's Geneva Auto Show. Diesels are making a comeback in the European market where they had been losing market share. Researchers say safety systems in cars need to be specifically engineered to protect obese and older people in crashes. All that and more, plus John compares a Chevy Silverado with a 5.3 liter V-8 versus a Ford F-150 with an EcoBoost V-6.

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.

General Motors reported its earnings for 2010 and overall the numbers look pretty good. In a sign that the global industry is turning around Daimler announced it plans to hire over 10,000 workers this year. Tiny Dutch automaker Spyker is selling its sports car unit to a Russian businessman in an effort to reduce its debt and allow it to focus more resources on saving Saab. All that and more, plus the one, the only Jim Hall shares a few his thoughts on Cadillac's controversial Urban Luxury Concept. Find out why it may not be such a bad idea after all.

Analysts are saying don’t be surprised if GM's fourth quarter earnings are not that good because it had to spend money on developing and introducing new vehicles. MINI will debut a concept in Geneva called the Rocketman which is smaller than any car it builds now. Aston Martin just introduced its latest sportscar, called the Virage which is powered by a hand-built 6.0-liter V-12 that cranks out 490 horsepower. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about ethanol, the Toyota Prius and much more in the "You Said It!" segment.

Anti-government protests in Libya have shut down oil production in the North-African country causing the price per barrel to spike overnight. EcoMotors teamed with Navistar to deliver a production-version of its opposed-piston engine. The U.S. embassy has rated the air quality in Beijing WORSE than hazardous. All that and more, plus John gives us his instant impression of the brand-new, 2011 Chrysler 300.

Mazda is considering pulling out of its manufacturing plant in Flat Rock, Michigan which it shares with Ford. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to block E-15, gasoline that has 15% ethanol mixed with it. BMW just introduced a new performance exhaust system which reduces back pressure and allows the engine to produce an even more powerful sound. All that and more, plus John shares his impressions of Hyundai's luxury car, the Equus.

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.

For the first time in what must be 80 years Ford has more dealerships than Chevrolet in the American market. We’re really starting to see car culture develop in China, in fact, the Chinese love the American lifestyle and are really getting into motorhomes. Over in Japan Nissan just introduced the third generation of its Moco minicar. All that and more, plus a walk around the brand-new 2011 Mini Countryman crossover.

New car sales have been falling in Europe for 10 months now due to the weak economy and governments ending incentive programs. Bob Lutz and General Motors are in talks about bringing him back as a paid consultant. Rinspeed will debut a wild looking vehicle at this year's Geneva Motor Show called the BamBoo. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about smart and covetic aluminum in the "You Said It!" segment.

Mercedes-Benz USA is taking over the distribution of smart from the Penske Automotive Group. President Obama wants to "pull the plug" on funding for clean-diesel and fuel-cell technologies, diverting it toward electric vehicles instead. Bentley set a new world-speed record, topping 330 kilometers per hour . . . on ice! All that and more, plus a look at the brand-new 2011 Nissan Quest minivan.

Inventory levels are increasing in the American market, a sure sign that automakers are making too many cars. Lamborghini will unveil a new flagship supercar at the Geneva Motor Show, called the Aventador, which is expected to cost more than $370,000! The average fuel economy of new light-vehicles sold in the U.S. fell last year. All that and more, plus a look at the new Ford Focus.

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.

Bringing to mind their rivalry in the 1960s, Ford and Ferrari are at it again, this time they’re bickering about the use of the F-150 name. Chevy revealed its red-hot, 550-plus horsepower Camaro ZL1 at the Chicago Auto Show yesterday. Opel just introduced its brand-new 2011 Corsa. All that and more, plus McElroy responds to your questions and comments in the popular "You Said It!" segment.

Yesterday the FBI raided the Michigan offices of Japanese seat belt supplier Takata. China's problems with traffic congestion is becoming much worse. Dodge unveiled the new 2012 Charger SRT-8 at the Chicago Auto Show which features a completely new look. All that and more, plus John calls out Ray LaHood, the Secretary of Transportation for not having the guts to call it like it is.

Credit increased by more than $6 billion a month ago; economists expected it to rise by only $2.4 billion. General Motors will likely pay its hourly workers in the U.S. a bonus of more than $1,800, the highest profit-sharing checks they’ve ever received. More and more cars come with keyless ignition systems these days but now the technology is under scrutiny because several people have died from leaving their cars running in their garages. All that and more, plus a look at the 2011 Ford explorer.

The government's proposal to raise the fleet average of vehicles to 62 MPG was a hot topic at the annual National Auto Dealers Association convention. One analyst says that used cars will outsell new ones by a three to one margin this year. Indian automaker Mahindra receives a shockingly poor rating from the U.S. EPA for its diesel pick-up truck. All that and more, plus a look at the new Hyundai Elantra.

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.

Ford posts disappointing, stock-plummeting profits in the fourth quarter of 2010. Raw material costs and a looming incentives war raise the alarm bells. New York City is holding a competition to determine its "Taxi of Tomorrow" and two-thirds of the finalists are from ... Turkey? All that and more, plus John McElroy answers your questions and comments in You Said It!

BMW’s electric Mega City car is reportedly spawning a sub-brand. All of GM’s vehicles must now make it through the "knothole" in order to get produced. Continuously variable transmissions will soon be used outside of the drivetrain to improve efficiency. All that and more, plus John McElroy offers his Instant Impression on the Fiat 500.

More Japanese automakers are moving or planning on moving production out of the country as the strong yen cuts into their profits. Chrysler workers will cash in as CEO Sergio Marchionne prepares to hand out bonuses. BMW is developing a smart key fob that could allow drivers to do things like check up on their vehicle or even book travel arrangements. All that and more, plus a look at the enhanced 2011 Jeep Patriot.

Chrysler reported its earnings for 2010 and while the numbers are not great, they do show progress. Daimler is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and will give employees a €1,000 bonus. Starting tomorrow Renault will introduce its own line of tires specifically designed for its older vehicles. All that and more, plus a tour of the new Lincoln MKX with chief engineer Elaine Bannon.

Ford just reported a full-year net income of $6.6 billion for 2010, the company’s highest net income in more than a decade. Chrysler wants its dealers to avoid haggling over the price of the Fiat 500 with customers. Volkswagen showed off a futuristic two-seat concept called the XL1 this week at the Qatar Motor Show. All that and more, plus a design tour of the 2011 Chrysler 300.

Earlier this week we reported that Ford is facing a parts shortage and now other automakers are feeling the squeeze, too. Volvo plans to drastically cut its lineup in the U.S. Tesla announced it's launched a battery-recycling program in Europe with a Belgian company called Umicore. All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, takes a stab at responding to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

A group of eight automakers are getting together to work on car-to-car communications. Toyota is recalling 1.7 million vehicles worldwide to replace faulty parts including defective fuel systems. Italian sports-car builder Pagani revealed its latest creation and this thing is crazy-looking! All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on GM CEO Dan Akerson and his latest moves to put his "stamp" on the company.

GM's selling more cars in China than in the United States, but guess where most the profit comes from. Speaking of "most" where do the most vehicles get built in North America? We have the answer. Ford is closing a plant due to a supply shortage, and you can expect to see it happen again. All that and more, plus we get some track time in the Dodge Challenger 392.

Fiat gets its first rebadged Chrysler Group product. We reveal the top three biggest automakers in the world. Money for advanced vehicle technology gets tangled up in government bureaucracy. All that and more, plus we hit the trail in the new and improved 2011 Jeep Compass.

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.

GM CEO Dan Akerson is really putting his stamp on the company by shuffling some of its top-level executives. It looks like the UAW is targeting Toyota first as it aims to organize foreign transplants in the U.S. Chrysler, in partnership with the EPA, is developing hydraulic hybrid technology with the goal of using it in large passenger cars and other light-duty vehicles. All that and more, plus John answers your questions and responds to your comments in another installment of "You Said It!"

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the company is going to offer hybrid versions of the 300 and a minivan by 2013. Mazda will show off a compact crossover concept called the MINAGI at this year's Geneva Motor Show that highlights how the company plans to evolve its vehicles in the future. Auto supplier Dana will pay Toyota $25 million for Tacoma frames it supplied to the company that rusted out. All that and more, plus guest host Jim Hall shares his favorite reveals from last week’s Detroit Auto Show.

The last few years have been tough on OEMs, but the Center for Automotive Research predicts sales will improve significantly in 2011. Toyota halted production in Japan, but not for any of the reasons you might think. Ford is rumored to be developing a front-wheel-drive replacement for the Falcon it sells in Australia. All that and more, plus guest host Murray Feldman from Fox 2 News, Detroit, shares some of his thoughts on a potential problem the Big Three face going forward as the price of oil climbs.

Lancia is expected to reveal a rebadged version of the Chrysler 200 at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Toyota is polling people about what it should call its Prius family of hybrids. Mercedes just released photos of its new 2012 SLK Roadster that will go on sale later in the year. All that and more, plus a look at the updated Jeep Wrangler.

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.

UAW workers could be headed for some pretty good profit-sharing checks this year. Ford is really on a roll, topping several categories in the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. Toyota is hard at work developing several different battery technologies for use in EVs, including one called magnesium sulfur. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

A decade ago MINI relaunched the brand in the North American market and to celebrate the occasion the company showed its MINI Paceman concept at the Detroit Auto Show. Hyundai's new three door coupe the Veloster makes its world debut in Detroit. A look at the concept version of the Honda Civic. All that and much more in this special edition from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The big car and truck of the year awards are finally announced. Volkswagen's "New Midsize Sedan" gets an official name and a reveal. Toyota shows off its Prius family. All that and much more in this special edition from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

We've got a special update about some of the new vehicles debuting at this week's Detroit auto show. Porsche returns to the event for the first time in four years and plans to show a racing version of the 918 Spyder. Speaking of race cars, Cadillac will debut the racing version of the CTS-V Coupe. Chevy will show its replacement for the Aveo called the Sonic. All that and more, plus a look at the new Kia Optima Turbo.

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.

Renault suspended three of its managers for leaking secrets about the company’s electric-car technology. Finally some good news for Toyota; it won an arbitration case against its former attorney, Dimitrios Biller. Buick just revealed its new compact sedan called the Verano. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in "You Said It!"

UAW President, Bob King says union workers deserve to share in the increases in profitability that GM, Ford and Chrysler are enjoying right now. Toyota showcased its infotainment system that will compete with the Ford SYNC at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Hyundai released a teaser shot of its new Veloster which will likely debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. All that and more, plus we’ll tell you who the winners and losers were in last month’s sales war.

Consumer Reports just dropped a bombshell in Ford’s lap, ripping its MyFord and MyLincoln Touch infotainment systems that are available on the 2011 Edge and MKX crossovers. UAW president Bob King says he thinks the union can organize at least one foreign transplant this year. Toyota has been sued by seven different insurance companies that are attempting to recover money for accidents they blame on sudden acceleration. All that and more, plus we take a peek at the advanced crash-test dummies GM uses.

Global auto sales are expected to top out at more than 75 million units once automakers tally up all the cars and trucks they sold in 2010. Audi creates what it calls an "e-den" to make the charging process for electric vehicles more pleasant and luxurious. Chinese automaker BAIC is bidding to acquire Italian design firm, Pininfarina. All that and more, plus we’ll show you how to translate a Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN for short, that’s given to every vehicle.

The UAW is beating the war drums again; this time it's going after foreign transplants in the U.S. Congress failed to pass legislation that would have overhauled auto-safety laws in the country. Mercedes-Benz has given us an early Christmas present by showing off its redesigned 2012 C-Class. All that and more, plus John shares his thoughts on driving Ford's bodacious Focus RS500.

Cerberus is going to recoup close to 90% of its investment in Chrysler by selling the automakers finance arm. Honda successfully completed the first flight test of its small business airplane called the HondaJet. Trainees at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt, Germany have assembled a one-off B-Class with a 5.5-liter V-8 between the front fenders. All that and more, plus a look at how Lotus is making a comeback.

The U.S. federal government socked Toyota with another fine, this time for its tardy handling of recalls and other safety issues. Chrysler just released pictures of its redesigned 300, which should start arriving at dealerships in the first quarter of next year. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is one of four trade groups that’s asking a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling by the U.S. EPA that allows gasoline blends with 15 percent ethanol. All that and more, plus John shares some of his thoughts on the Ford Focus RS 500 he recently drove.

An analysis of Toyota by Goldman Sachs Japan predicts the automaker will lose global market share. Hyundai plans to start commercial production of fuel cell cars by 2015. Volkswagen says it wants to be number one in electric vehicle sales in China by 2018. All that and more, plus a look at the new vehicle that shocked everyone by ending up as one of the finalists for the North American Truck of the Year award.

Batteries for hybrids and electric vehicles are going to stay expensive, at least according to the Center for Automotive Research and the National Academy of Sciences. The finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have been announced. A concept version of the GMC Sierra featuring all kinds of off-road modifications is targeting the Ford Raptor F-150. All that and more, plus a look at some of the Automotive X PRIZE winners.