Autoline Daily - Video

Ford hires former Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz designer, Joel Piaskowski to head up all exterior design for Ford in the Americas. Nissan plans to nearly double its production in China to 1.2 million units. BMW is set to unveil what looks like a thinly disguised version of its next-generation 6 Series at the Paris Motor Show. All that and more, plus a look at a competition organized by Ward's Auto, to see which Detroit Three automaker has the best diesel engine for its heavy duty pickups.

China drafts up a new policy requiring foreign automakers to hand over hybrid and electric vehicle technology to their domestic counterparts. Chevy reveals a number of the vehicles it will debut at the Paris Motor Show. Shareholders approve a plan that will split Fiat in two. All that and more, plus we talk to Scion’s Jack Hollis to see how the company plans to curb flagging sales.

China has designs on dominating the auto industry as it pushes to merge dozens of car companies. Mercedes previews its electric A-Class prior to Paris. Heavy truck sales continue an upward trend in the U.S. indicating a recovering economy. All that and more, plus John takes what he thought was his last drive in a Viper.

The largest automotive retailer in the U.S. says it's impressed by Chrysler's upcoming offerings. Porsche and Ford both preview some of the vehicles we'll see at the Paris Motor Show. Meanwhile, Ford says it would like to reduce its dealer ranks now that Mercury is winding down. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in You Said It!

A report says plant waste and municipal waste could provide for a majority of Europe's fuel needs by 2020. Volvo's new Chinese owner Geely intends to double global sales of the brand. Ford assembles a "smell jury" to figure out what odors people like best. All that and more, plus our drive of the new Nissan Juke.

Could Range Rover be spun off as its own high-end brand? VW gets a new head honcho in America. And here's a shocker: a new report says Chinese consumers prefer large vehicles with handsome styling. All that and more, plus our first drive of the Chevy Cruze.

The latest production data shows that automakers in the North American market are expecting sales to slow down. A new forecast predicts sales in China will hit 17 million units this year. Ford canceled plans to move production of its Kuga crossover from Germany to Kentucky due to currency exchanges and labor troubles. All that and more, plus a look at a car we can guarantee you haven’t seen on the road, the McLaren MP4-12C.

The first Chevrolet Cruze rolled off the assembly line at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant yesterday. Honda completely redesigned the Odyssey and believes it can attract buyers with more dynamic styling. Nissan is double checking the quality of vehicles built in Thailand before they are sold in Japan. All that and more, plus the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, shares his thoughts on why the Chevy Cruze is the most pivotal mainstream car launch in GM's history.

BMW announced that it’s ending production of both the coupe and convertible versions of the M6. OnStar is getting some additional functionality that will allow you to connect with a Facebook page and convert voice messages to text. To capitalize on the growth in the low-end of the Chinese market, Nissan and its partner Dongfeng plan to introduce a new low-cost brand. All that and more, plus a test drive of the Hyundai Equus with John Krafcik, the CEO of Hyundai Motors America.

A top official in China’s economic planning agency warns that automakers are blindly investing in too much manufacturing capacity. Nissan announced that it plans to build its LEAF EV in China. Ethanol producer Coskata is trying to raise cash to build its own facility to make biofuels. All that and more, plus some of John's thoughts on the Hyundai Equus.

The US government is worried about financial institutions owned by foreign governments buying up big chunks of GM's stock. Dodge reveals new photos of the redesigned Durango. Mazda just unveiled its new design theme, one that it’s calling Kodo, which translates into Soul of Motion. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about the Chevy Volt and Acura in the "You Said It!" segment.

The numbers are in and new-vehicle sales in the U.S. last month aren’t as bad as everyone is reporting. Another distillery in the UK has figured out how to make fuel from potato leftovers. Ferrari is having some "external combustion" problems with its 458 Italia. All that and more, plus a blast from the past with a look at the Chevy Vega.

Hyundai is moving Santa Fe production out of its assembly plant in Alabama and into Kia’s plant in Georgia, in order to build more Sonatas. Its been rumored that Maybach will be discontinued, but a report says the brand will offer five different models. The CNG versions of the Chevy Express and GMC Savana will tack another $16,000 on top of the base price. All that and more, plus a look at Ford's new cop car.

Chrysler reveals more of its plans for Fiat in the U.S., and some important numbers like sales and pricing leak out. Opel is planning to expand globally, entering Australia and South-American markets. The U.S. EPA is aiming to make it easier for consumers to compare fuel-economy ratings between different vehicles by introducing a new-type of window sticker. All that and more, plus we take a look at the recently redesigned Saab 9-5 . . . from a designer’s perspective.

Even though global sales hit just over 43 million units through Jul compared to 2009, they were down compared to this June and analysts expect sales to continue to slide. We take a look at some vehicles that aren't selling well because of their unusual designs. Citroën released details about its new vehicle, the DS4, ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show. All that and more, plus John shares his thoughts on who he thinks would be the perfect person to run GM.

Automakers are trying to stall efforts to allow the ethanol blend rate to rise to 15 percent. Afghan troops find that their biggest enemies are their own driving skills. Chevrolet pulls the covers off the production-version of the Chevy Orlando. All that and more, plus Ford’s Lewis Booth talks about the lessons the company has learned while climbing its way back toward the top.

A study just released by the Centers for Disease Control shows that the annual cost of vehicle crashes in the U.S. at more than $99 billion! The boron steel modern cars are made out of is so strong that the "Jaws of Life" used by most emergency crews cannot cut through it. Ford has an iguana problem at its transmission plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the You Said It! segment.

The U.S. federal government is investigating at least 20 dealerships that may have violated the rules of last year’s cash-for-clunkers program. Hyundai and Renault reveal a couple new cars at the 2010 Moscow International Motor Show. BYD is in trouble with the Chinese government for illegally building factories on farmland. All that and more, plus guest-host Jim Hall sounds off on some of the perks and pitfalls of electric vehicles.

Some Chrysler dealers in the U.S. are less enthusiastic about the Fiat 500 than you’d think. Woo-hoo, we’re saving the planet! U.S. gasoline consumption in Jul fell .03 percent compared to the same time last year. Toyota is retooling to make its factories more flexible. All that and more, plus we drive the 2011 Ford Edge.

Volkswagen says it is interested in buying Alfa Romeo if it should become available. Mercedes-Benz revealed its brand-new 2012 CLS ahead of the Paris Motor Show. Indian automaker Mahindra has finally been given a green light by the U.S. EPA to sell its diesel pickups in America. All that and more, plus a look at Kia's voice activated infotainment system called UVO that is just hitting the market.

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.

GM filed the paperwork yesterday to become a publicly traded company again. Kia released a handful of photos of its latest concept vehicle, called the POP, before its debut at the Paris Motor Show. Volkswagen is bringing its Phaeton luxury car back to the U.S. All that and more, plus a look at a Chinese bus concept that drives over the road and above traffic.

Porsche gives you even more than you need . . . for the price of a compact car. General Motors seeks out so-called cornerstone investors as it readies an IPO. A new hotel aimed at auto enthusiasts goes all out. All that and more, plus a look at Mercedes’ redesigned R-Class.

As sales begin to improve in the U.S., the demand for designers is actually on the increase. The Lear Corporation, in a move that shows just how much it has changed, has secured a key contract for the Chevy Volt. Zero Race aims to prove that electric vehicles can be practical. All that and more, plus we get an inside-look at Kia marketing.

Experts believe that the EPA and NHTSA will announce that automakers must meet a fleet average of 60 MPG by 2025. Infiniti is jumping on the downsizing trend and has confirmed that it plans to offer a version of its G sedan with a smaller engine. Ford reintroduces the Boss 302 Mustang. All that and more, plus a look at the Audi A5 Sportback.

More news and analysis of CEO Ed Whitacre's decision to leave General Motors. Infiniti just announced its new in-house performance division called IPL, which is short for "Infiniti Performance Line." Ford auctioned off a number of its concept cars in order to raise money for charity. All that and more, plus a look at Transonic Combustion, a company that’s invented a new type of fuel injection system that can make a gasoline engine get the same kind of fuel economy as a diesel.

General Motors chairman Ed Whitacre announced he will step down as CEO next month, and leave GM at the end of the year. Researchers from Rutgers and the University of South Carolina were able to hack a car through the tire pressure monitor system. Ford revealed four different engine options for the 2011 F-150. All that and more, plus we show you what it's like behind the wheel of a Tata Nano.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says it can’t find any electronic problems that could cause unintended acceleration in Toyotas. GM is going to report its second-quarter earnings tomorrow and the analyst community is expecting strong results. Despite the big profits Daimler generated, some financial experts say it’s a good time to short the stock. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in the "You Said It!" segment.

Jaguar and Land Rover are making money for Tata. Chinese automaker Changan is shopping all over the world for talented people. An Indianapolis man builds a jet-powered school bus! All that and more, plus we take a look at the new Mazda2 and find out how it compares to its platform-mate, the Ford Fiesta.

Chrysler posted its second quarter earnings and the results continue to be encouraging. Detroit automakers dominated the sales charts in Canada last month while their Asian and European competitors suffered losses. Volkswagen announced it will bring the Skoda brand to the Chinese market. All that and more, plus Victor Muller talks about the hero's welcome he's received in Sweden since he swooped in to save Saab.

GM's CEO, Ed Whitacre, said the company will post impressive earnings for the second quarter. After originally planning to make the Lexus LFA available only for lease in the U.S., Toyota will now allow customers to purchase the vehicle outright...but there’s a catch. New rumors suggest that GM could be working on a mid-engined Chevy Corvette now that the economy is starting to improve and GM is out of bankruptcy. All that and more, plus a look at some of the technical details of the new Buick Regal.

Yesterday we reported that North American car sales were up in Jul and now it looks like automakers are planning production increases for the third-quarter. Hyundai is shaking things up again by targeting a fleet-average fuel-economy of 50 miles per gallon in the U.S. by 2025. Printer company Epson rolled out a replica of the Acura NSX made entirely out of cardboard. All that and more, plus John answers some of your questions in the "You Said It!" segment.

More details surface on a potential GM merger with Chrysler or even Ford. Nissan unexpectedly ceases production of the popular GT-R. Chevy finally announces the price of the 2009 Camaro. All that and more, plus we meet Mercedes-Benz’s new head of Global Design.