Autoline This Week

Latest Episodes:

Autoline #1402: Crawlin' From the Wreckage Jan 08, 2010

Show notes

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.

Autoline #1401: The Result of Care: Part Two Jan 01, 2010

Show notes

The Result of Care: Part Two
No matter the vocation it's a struggle to achieve quality or to be the best. Well, imagine trying to define it. Some write complex tomes containing various recipes which is fine for a Debate Team but hardly applicable to everyday life. Others like philosopher Robert Pirsig take a sleeker, more modern day approach. He believes the best or highest quality can be defined simply as producing whatever by "the result of care."
So if philosophers, lit experts and big thinkers battle over meanings, how do you come up with a standard that means "the best?" Well if you're the jurors of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY) you have a criteria you work from. Sure there are still disagreements, arguments and fights over who is "more right" but that's the beauty of the award: subjectivity to the max.
And on this week's Autoline John McElroy and his panel discuss those fantastic sparks inside, outside and around the vehicle that made them go WOW! Joining John to discuss the finalists for Truck of the Year are fellow jurors Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com and Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.

Autoline EXTRA #1401: Michelle Krebs, Mark Phelan Jan 01, 2010

Show notes

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA John and his panel discuss the nominees for the North American Car of the Year and share their opinions about the vehicles. Joining John for the discussion are fellow jurors Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com and Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.

Autoline #1341: The Result of Care: Part One Dec 25, 2009

Show notes

The Result of Care: Part One
No matter the vocation it's a struggle to achieve quality or to be the best. Well, imagine trying to define it. Some write complex tomes containing various recipes which is fine for a Debate Team but hardly applicable to everyday life. Others like philosopher Robert Pirsig take a sleeker, more modern day approach. He believes the best or highest quality can be defined simply as producing whatever by "the result of care."
So if philosophers, lit experts and big thinkers battle over meanings, how does one come up with a standard that means "the best?" Well if you're the jurors of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY) you have a criteria you work from. Sure there are still disagreements, arguments and fights over who is "more right" but that's the beauty of the award: subjectivity to the max.
And on this week's Autoline John McElroy and his panel discuss those fantastic sparks inside, outside and around the vehicle that made them go WOW! Joining John to discuss the finalists for Car of the Year are fellow jurors Jim McCraw from NewCarTestDrive.com and Jeff Gilbert of WWJ Newsradio 950 -- CBS Detroit.

Autoline EXTRA #1341: Jim McCraw, Jeff Gilbert Dec 25, 2009

Show notes

On this edition of Autoline EXTRA John and his panel discuss the nominees for the North American Truck of the Year and share their opinions about the vehicles. Joining John for the discussion are Jim McCraw from NewCarTestDrive.com and Jeff Gilbert of WWJ Newsradio 950 -- CBS Detroit.

Autoline #1340: Thin Air Part 2 Nov 20, 2009

Show notes

Thin Air Part 2
Climbing mountains is difficult and dangerous. Not only is it treacherous traversing the rocks and the snow, but if you're not in shape, just try breathing in all of the "thin air." Reaching for the summit of anything is time-consuming and perilous but rewarding as well. Especially when the prize -- like so many in the auto industry are striving for -- is alternative power independence. That's the brass ring that everyone from manufacturers to oil companies continue to chase. We've heard for years we're getting close, but, it seems, never close enough. On this week's Autoline, GM's new R and D guru, Dr. Alan Taub, shows us how the finish line is getting closer thanks to the success of developing "thin" materials. From batteries to fuel cells, Dr. Taub lays out the where his company is and the near-term future of plucking what we could call "thin power" out of the "thin air."

Autoline EXTRA #1339: Ian Callum Nov 13, 2009

Show notes

The design of the new Jaguar XJ is the topic of discussion on this week's Autoline EXTRA. Joining John McElroy to talk about the car is the man responsible for the new design, Ian Callum, the Design Director at Jaguar. Mr. Callum talks about what inspired the look of the new XJ and what compromises in design they had to make in the interior for it to function better. Joining in the discussion are Eddie Alterman from Car and Driver magazine and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design & Production.

Autoline #1339: Connect the Dots Nov 13, 2009

Show notes

Connect the Dots
One of the first things we all learn is to draw. A dot here, a line there -- it's a combination of art, entertainment and education for children around the world. But somewhere along the way most of us move on from this creative foundation to discover other vocations. Those, that is, who haven't been bitten by the bug of design.
One man who has, and devoted his life to it is Ian Callum. And his design of choice has been the car. Over the years he's had a distinguished career working for Ford, designing Aston Martin product and for the last decade leading the design team at Jaguar. This week he joins John McElroy on Autoline to discuss the latest vehicles from Jaguar, the state of the auto industry itself and what he sees for the future of automotive design.

Autoline EXTRA #1338: Aaron Bragman, Erich Merkle, Michael Robinet Nov 06, 2009

Show notes

On the broadcast version of the show, John and his panel discussed the big news of Chrysler revealing its turnaround plan. But that wasn’t the only bombshell dropped this week in the auto industry. On this edition of Autoline EXTRA, John and his panel discuss how Ford shocked just about everyone, reporting a $1 billion profit for the third quarter. The conversation then moves to October sales and what the big surprises were from those results. And finally the panel talks about GM’s decision to keep Opel and whether or not it was a good move. On the panel with John McElroy is Aaron Bragman from IHS Global Insight, Erich Merkle from Autoconomy.com and Michael Robinet from CSM Worldwide.

Autoline #1338: Stella Sconosciuto Nov 06, 2009

Show notes

Stella Sconosciuto
Unknown stars pepper our existence. From the night sky to our daily culture, we can't seem to take our collective eyes off them because you're never quite sure what they'll do. That's why, with a nod to our Italian brothers and sisters, the biggest story of the automotive week was the "Stella Sconosciuto" or unknown star in the business constellation, Chrysler.
After months of intra-continental maneuvering, Chrysler's new CEO Sergio Marchionne left the security of Fiat's Italian headquarters and landed in Auburn Hills Wednesday to unveil his plan to save Chrysler. And what a meeting it was. The flight from Rome to Detroit might've been shorter.
This week Autoline devotes its entire program to Marchionne's marching orders for Chrysler. John McElroy is joined by three top automotive analysts who will discuss and dissect these plans and tell us if this "unknown star" will shine brightly in the near future, or eventually burn out of existence.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected