Autoline Daily - Audio

Ford is saying the EPA is going to modify its test procedures for hybrids so they reflect what drivers will get in the real world. Acura took the wraps off a new NSX concept in Detroit. Ford wanted to make sure it stole some of the headlines away from the debut of the Chevrolet Silverado at the Detroit auto show and so it gave us a sneak peek at what the next F-series pick ups will look like. All that and more, plus at the North American International Auto Show yesterday 28 of the top car designers from around the world scoured the show for the best designs. Find out what vehicles they think stole the show.

We’ve got more of the latest reveals from the Detroit auto show today. Cadillac finally took the wraps off the production version of the ELR which is based on the same technology as the Chevy Volt. Volkswagen unveiled a diesel plug-in-hybrid SUV concept called the CrossBlue. Hyundai is showing off a concept that hints at the design direction for the next-generation Genesis. All that and more, plus one analyst predicts this could be a good year for truck sales in the U.S.

We’ve got the first reveals from the Detroit auto show. The 2014 Chevy Corvette made its hugely anticipated debut in front of a giant media turnout. Jeep unveiled the 2014 Grand Cherokee and Compass. And Lincoln is showing off a new crossover concept called the MKC. All that and more, plus Autoline Daily correspondent Isaac Bouchard, has all the details on Mercedes’ new debut, the CLA-Class.

Foreign automakers keep adding more manufacturing capacity in North America and that is especially true for one country. Tom Doll, CFO of Subaru of America, tells Autoline it needs figure out how to do an STi version of the BRZ “before the tuners figure out how to do it themselves.” Ford is making some significant upgrades to its 3.2 Liter Power Stroke diesel going in the U.S. version of the full-size Transit van. All that and more, plus we have some pretty educated guesses as to who will win the North American Car of the Year award.

GM may broaden its alliance with Peugeot by building a small, low-cost vehicle and cooperate on small commercial vehicles. Nissan started producing the LEAF at its U.S. plant on the same line as the Altima and Maxima. In another tease for the Detroit auto show, Lexus is giving us a peek at the all-new IS compact sport sedan. All that and more, plus host John McElroy gets to your comments and questions in this week’s edition of You Said It!

Peter Welch was just named the new president for the National Auto Dealers Association, and he’s got the resume to back up that decision. Automakers keep teasing us with sneak peeks of what they will unveil at next week’s Detroit auto show, but Nissan is taking a different approach by showing off its new global display stand. Chevy has a bunch of new products to roll out for 2013, and coming with them is a new ad slogan. All that and more, plus host John McElroy talks with Ben Bowlby, the creator and designer of the DeltaWing race car.

We take a look at some of interesting new technology coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Dodge will pull the covers off the newest model in the Dart line-up, the GT, at the Detroit auto show. Hyundai teases us with its latest concept, the HCD-14. All that and more, plus Autoline Daily correspondent Isaac Bouchard takes a ride through Europe in the diesel version of the Fiat Bravo.

Since 2006 the bus industry in the U.S. has grown between 5 and 10 percent a year, which could be why one Chinese automaker will open an electric bus factory in California. Some car dealer associations are suing Tesla because it's selling cars in its own stores instead of going through the existing franchised dealer network. PSA, the parent company of Peugeot and Citroen, desperately needs cash and may sell its stake in parts maker Faurecia. All that and more, plus a look into the all-new 2013 Toyota RAV4.

Car sales figures for the American market in 2012 are out, and they ended the year with a bang. Two manufacturers will demonstrate their autonomous vehicle technology at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. DuPont-Honeywell's A/C refrigerant failed Daimler’s safety tests, but one company is sticking with it, all the same. All that and more, plus John McElroy reveals the identity of the vehicle he found rusting away in the woods while out skiing.

In China you can now get a ticket for running a yellow light. The debate over DuPont-Honeywell’s new automotive refrigerant heats up after it fails Daimler’s internal safety test. One man’s trash is another man’s… garage floor? All that and more, plus John McElroy talks with the head of BMW i design about what went into the interior of the i3 electric.

Kia just promoted its chief of design to become one of three presidents in the Hyundai-Kia group and it’s something of a bombshell. Mr. Imre Molnar, 61 years old and the provost of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, died of a heart attack while out bicycling in California five days ago. Toyota has just unveiled the 14th generation of the Crown series which first made its debut in 1955. All that and more, plus in this edition of Barn Finds, can you tell what kind of car this is?

While Renault is betting heavily on EVs, the outlook for electrics in Europe is murky. Toyota sent out a tease of the Furia that it will debut at the Detroit auto show. After almost 22 years of service, Jay Amestoy, the vice president of public relations at Mazda North America is going to retire. All that and more, plus John McElroy gives his insight into the slew of recalls announced in recent months.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lambasted one car company for having some of the worst crash test results in its new small overlap test. Nevada has granted a German auto supplier approval to test autonomous cars on its public roads. A company called Energy Power Systems says the lead-acid battery is going to make a comeback and it has a prototype that could prove it. All that and more, plus John McElroy talks with Dan Barile of Mercedes about its wild looking concept, the Ener-G-Force.

General Motors announced this morning it’s going to buy 200 million shares of its stock from the U.S. Treasury. We've looked at the sales numbers for hybrids and electric cars in China, and they're miserably low. GM just appointed a new vice president of purchasing, Grace Lieblein. All that and more, plus host John McElroy gets to your questions and comments in this week's edition of You Said It!

Mercedes-Benz is not only lagging behind BMW in sales, it’s also lagging in market value. The 2013 Chevy Cruze will be equipped with a new single-stage "smart airbag." An organization called Noise Free America just chose this month’s winner of what it calls the Noisy Dozen. All that and more, plus John McElroy sits down with (pun intended) Michael Miner, the manager of product planning at Faurecia Seating to show a future seat design that it’s showing to automakers.