Autoline Daily - Audio

Automakers post another strong sales month in the American market for July, but not as strong as many analysts were expecting. Some Ford owners are being offered complimentary driving instruction at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. Land Rover tests an electric version of its Defender SUV at the Eden Project in the U.K. All that and more, plus we explore what trends will impact interior design in the future.

The EPA releases impressive fuel economy ratings for one German automaker’s U.S. bound diesel. BMW designs its new electric car for easier repair. Tesla is gearing up to introduce the Model S in China later this year. All that and more, plus we explain why the Chief Engineer of the Fiat 500e spent time at a training school for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

One major automaker touts that it has the only CNG 1/2 ton pickup on the market today. Audi announces it’s the first automaker to bring in-car LTE into a vehicle. Autoline learns how Jaguar’s marketing team set out to make the price of the F-TYPE a unique advantage. All that and more, plus John McElroy shares his driving impressions of the new Infiniti Q50.

According to reports, the next generation Chevy Sonic will be delayed until 2016. BMW unveils the first mass-production car with a predominantly carbon fiber structure, the i3. ZF opened the doors to its all-new manufacturing facility and its new 9-speed transmission. All that and more, plus Autoline Daily correspondent Sean McElroy shares how Nissan is going big into commercial vans by going small.

Toyota announces it’s boosting Highlander production in the U.S. A group of Japanese automakers team up to increase the number of EV charging stations in Japan. Daimler is suing the French government over it stopping the sale of some new Mercedes models that use a banned A/C refrigerant. All that and more, plus guest host Frank Markus shares how the all-new Z51 Corvette made him feel like an awesome driver.

With the unveil of its Vision concept, MINI shows off the design direction of future cars. GM boosts its global car sales and even manages to outsell Toyota. Acura offers up a first glimpse at its NSX prototype before it laps Mid-Ohio Raceway in August. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week with Johann Jungwirth, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development in North America.

The Chevy Impala has moved from the bottom of Consumer Reports’ rankings to the top spot overall for all sedans. Daimler announces it’s taking a small stake in Aston Martin in exchange for sharing engines and other components. In an all-new Design Handbook, Jim Hall explains why gas caps are located on both sides of the vehicle. All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on why Cadillac needs to do more to define the brand.

Ford and Toyota said they would collaborate on developing a new hybrid system, but now have decided to do it on their own. Autoline shares the practical upgrades to the bed of the 2014 GMC Sierra. Mercedes-Benz takes ideas from golf and automotive fans and introduces its Vision Golf Cart. All that and more, plus fill-in host Murray Feldman explains why not everybody is happy about auto production picking up in the U.S.

Bentley announces it will add its first-ever SUV to its lineup. Two former GM executives try to help Toyota grow its sales in South America. GM is bringing back some retirees who have experience in engineering and manufacturing quality. All that and more, plus should automakers claim that their electric cars are zero emission vehicles?

According to a New York Times report, the practices of some investment firms is driving up the price of aluminum. Data from WardsAuto shows that three major automakers could face capacity shortages in the U.S. BMW announces the pricing for its highly anticipated i3 electric vehicle. All that and more, plus Nissan’s newest hatchback hits all the right Notes.

The U.S. Justice Department says one major supplier has pleaded guilty to a price fixing scheme. The U.K. is set to test self-driving cars on its roads by the end of the year. An Autoline Daily viewer sends us a new Barn Find, which may be the first ever use of Ram Air. All that and more, plus is it better to buy a car or to lease one?

General Motors is delaying the launch of the next Chevy Cruze until late 2015. Nissan’s CEO says he wants 10 percent of the market in the USA by 2016 and that has a lot of people worried. MINI drops its Clubvan model in the U.S., in part, due to ‘the Chicken Tax.’ All that and more, plus the latest on where carbon fiber wheel maker, Carbon Revolution stands today.

In what may be a first, Ford is suing a Japanese supplier over wire harnesses. One major automaker is offering a calibration update, after customers failed to meet EPA ratings, in its hybrids. To add a halo project to its lineup, VW is bringing the Phaeton back to the U.S. All that and more, plus host John McElroy reacts to your comments and questions in this week’s edition of You Said It!

Consumer Reports says hybrids and small displacement engines with turbos do not deliver the fuel economy they’re rated at. Bosch developed the electric powertrain for the Fiat 500e, but Chrysler says it played a major roll to get the system to work. According to a study, the Tesla Roadster battery pack retains more capacity over time than initially predicted. All that and more, plus how Ford is cutting down the time to develop prototype tooling.

General Motors is playing hardball with the Australian government over Holden. After being revived by Nissan, the Datsun brand introduces the first car it will sell in emerging markets. Rumors have been swirling that Honda will drop the Ridgeline but, according to reports, it’s just being put on hold. All that and more, plus find out just how much Fiat’s 500L had to change for the NAFTA region.