Sergio Marchionne said Chrysler would lose $10,000 on every Fiat 500e, but was that just marketing to help sell the little electric? Mercedes-Benz announces it will be the first automaker to offer cars that can communicate with traffic infrastructure and other vehicles. After years of making performance versions of Chrysler vehicles, SRT gets its first-ever advertising campaign. All that and more, plus in the first edition of Autoline Garage we take a look at headlight design.
Automakers rarely want to admit that suppliers often do a lot of their work, and that’s the case for Fiat and its 500e. Future generations of SYNC and MyFord Touch will incorporate two classic features to make them easier to use. BMW pulls the wraps off its all-new 4 Series Coupe. All that and more, plus what makes Detroit Electric’s SP:01 sports car tick?
There were reports that the Eaton Corporation is looking to sell its automotive division, but the company emphatically denies that. Mercedes launches a significant refresh of the sedan and wagon versions of its E-Class. Ford struggles to keep up with demand for the Fusion. All that and more, plus John McElroy checks in from Bosch’s proving grounds in Germany.
For too long, Lincoln has been forgotten. Once a symbol of American luxury, the brand had devolved into a vector for rebadged Fords in recent decades. Now, with new product like the MKZ, there is hope on the horizon. On this week’s show we’ll talk to two of the people helping the Lincoln Motor Company navigate its way back to true luxury status. Janet Seymour is the Colors & Materials Design Manager for the brand and Susan Lampinen serves as Group Chief Designer of Color & Material Design for both Ford and Lincoln. We’ll be asking them, among other things, what design trends will be most important to embrace as a luxury marque. And, while there’s a lot to get into on that subject alone, we’ll also be delving into some of the latest auto news. Joining Peter De Lorenzo in studio is Jim Hall, the Majordomo for Life of 2953 Analytics.
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General Motor’s head of global product says the automaker is on track to consolidate its global platforms. Automakers look for new ways to reduce weight and one area where it really adds up is with the windows. The Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo shares his thoughts on how Cadillac should market itself. All that and more, plus in the latest edition of Design Handbook, Jim Hall tells designers to “Know When to Lift the Pen.”
Toyota doesn’t expect to regain the peak market share it once held in the U.S. Even though Nissan’s full-size pickups have the options Americans want, they seem to be bolted to showroom floors. Detroit’s iconic Packard plant is up for auction this September. All that and more, plus a look how Chevy’s all-new Cruze Diesel is different from its gasoline counterparts.
Reports say the Eaton Corporation may sell off its automotive components group to concentrate on areas outside the industry. Honda and Nissan slashed their EV prices recently and it was only a matter of time before Chevy followed suit. Later this week at the Tokyo Toy Show, Toyota will debut a new battery electric vehicle. All that and more, plus a closer look at Lexus’ 3rd generation IS.
Canada announces it will adopt U.S. emission standards from 2017 to 2025. China may increase tariffs on cars built in Europe due to the EU considering placing tariffs on one Chinese product. If not for one new vehicle, Scion would be in big trouble. All that and more, plus host John McElroy reacts to your comments and questions in this week’s edition of You Said It!
The 10th generation Impala is all new, with a fresh design, new powertrains and a combination of features Chevrolet hopes to attract new customers to the car. Here’s Autoline Daily correspondent Seamus McElroy with all the details.
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