Autoline This Week Episode Archives

“Emotional Rescue”

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, GOP House Policy Committee Chair, William Diehl, President & CEO, BBK, Jeff Bennett, Dow Jones Newswire, David Welch, BusinessWeek

Topic: An inside look at the automotive bridge loan.

"I will be your savior, steadfast and true."

It's pretty safe to say that the Rolling Stones and George W. Bush have little in common. But when it comes to the Big Three bailout, these Mick Jagger-penned lyrics sound like a sentence that might've come from the Oval Office as the President approved the $17 billion bridge loans. Ahhh, everyone in Detroit breathes a huge sigh of relief. But how much of a rescue -- emotional or otherwise -- are the loans? As they say, be careful what you wish for.

On this week's show we take a look inside the bridge loans from three different perspectives: players, participants and partisans. We start the conversation with Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, a suburban Detroit Republican who had to balance ideology and reality throughout the crisis. Then John talks to a couple of automotive reporters, David Welch from BusinessWeek & Jeff Bennett of Dow Jones Newswire, who watched as Detroit nearly crumbled these last couple of months. We'll hear how the companies dealt with the ever-changing situation and explore their plans going forward. And speaking of plans, as part of the loan language the Big Three will have to restructure. What exactly does that mean? Joining John is an expert in the field, Bill Diehl who is the President & CEO of BBK, a company that specializes in doing just that.

Who would've predicted a few weeks ago that these late '70s Mick Jagger lyrics would seem appropriate?

With the long-awaited news from the White House last week, this line might've seemed natural coming from the President as it did when it was originally sung back in 1980 by the Rolling Stones.

Guests

• Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, GOP House Policy Committee Chair
• William Diehl, President & CEO, BBK

Panel

• Jeff Bennett, Dow Jones Newswire
• David Welch, BusinessWeek

“Technologic”

Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Chief Technical Officer, Vice President Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company. Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, Tom Murphy, WardsAuto.com. Topic: A Look Into Ford's Technological Future

Few might recognize this little used 19th century noun. Fewer still have probably noticed the word is the soundtrack to one of the slick new Lincoln MKS television ads. The song emphasizes the abundance of technology you find in the new sedan. And technology has been a key to not only Lincoln's renaissance, but Ford's as well. Dr. Gerhard Schmidt is the man who leads the team at the Blue Oval responsible for EcoBoost in the engine, Sync inside the car and everything in between. On this week's Autoline he talks about this latest technology and what may be coming in future Ford cars and trucks.

Guests

• Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Chief Technical Officer, Ford Motor Co.

Panel

• Tom Murphy, WardsAuto.com
• Csaba Csere, Car and Driver

“Dromedary”

David Champion of Consumer Reports, David Sargent, J.D. Power & Associates and Dennis Pietrowski, The RDA Group. Topic: The Detroit Three's continuing struggle with automotive quality.

When anyone thinks of a hump perhaps the first thought that comes to mind is that well-known beast of burden of North Africa - the Dromedary Camel. But in the auto industry, when the Detroit Three think of a hump those thoughts switch from camels to quality. That's because if there's any one hump or challenge that continues to hold them back from "import equality" it appears to be this. Now granted, all three OEMs have improved dramatically from the nadir of the '70s when they produced everything from poorly-designed diesels to flapping vinyl roofs. But today, with nearly all of those problems a thing in the past, GM, Ford and Chrysler are still looking up at many of the imports in a variety of quality rankings. So what accounts for that, and will any of them ever attain the top spot again? On this week's show John McElroy and his three experts on automotive quality will examine what it may finally take for the Detroit Three to get "over the hump.”

Guests

• David Champion, Consumer Reports
• David Sargent, J.D. Power & Associates
• Dennis Pietrowski, The RDA Group

“Starman”

Mel Karamzin, CEO of Sirius XM Radio, with panelists Neal Boudette, The Wall Street Journal and Jeff Gilbert, WWJ Newsradio. Topic: survival plans for Sirius XM and its role in the auto industry.

Too many channels, not enough listeners, pools of red ink -- welcome to the world of satellite radio. Despite its myriad of advantages and incorporation into many new cars and trucks, both Sirius and XM Radio seemed more hooked to financial life support than to fleets of vehicles the last few years. It was as if the business was crying for, as David Bowie put it, "a Starman waiting in the sky" to supernaturally save the service. Well, that celebrity executive landed at Sirius some four years ago in the form of Mel Karmazin with a resume that included running Infinity Broadcasting, CBS Radio and as well as the entire CBS Corporation. Since his arrival he has not only increased subscriptions but more importantly brokered a merger between the two services believing that one strong company can prosper in this less than predictable economy.

This week Autoline welcomes Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius XM Radio. Host John McElroy along with panelists Neal Boudette from The Wall Street Journal and Jeff Gilbert of WWJ Newsradio Detroit talk to this Hall of Fame broadcast executive about his survival plans for Sirius XM and the important role the auto industry plays in the process.

So if you'd like to know what the "Starman of Sirius XM" plans for the media in your car or truck, check out this week's Autoline.

Guests

• Mel Karmazin, CEO, Sirius XM Radio

Panel

• Neal Boudette, The Wall Street Journal
• Jeff Gilbert, WWJ Newsradio 950

“Change”

Change seems to be a popular theme these days. Some say it began with the political season but those in automotive know better. In fact, it's been on the horizon for a while. Big Change. The kind that will reshape American manufacturing for years to come. The last time we saw something like this was in the mid-20th century with World War II. And though the factors leading this retooling aren't quite as dire, they are just as dramatic led by a massive shift in consumer preferences, the technological challenge of reducing CO2 emissions at the same time as dealing with the booming developing markets.

How will OEMs execute what some are calling the "Greatest Peacetime Manufacturing Conversion?" What will the effect be on their Suppliers? And what about the labor force -- how much will it diminish? These are just a few of the questions that John McElroy has for our two manufacturing experts. Offering insight from the OEM side is Joe Hinrichs the group vice president of global manufacturing for Ford Motor Company. Joining Mr. Hinrichs with an analyst perspective is Jay Baron, the president of CAR, the Center for Automotive Research.

So for a look at the changes in store for 21st Century manufacturing, don't miss this week's Autoline with John McElroy.

Guests

• Joe Hinrichs, Group VP, Manufacturing, Ford Motor Co.
• Jay Baron, President, Center for Automotive Research

“Mass Exodus”

Each time a dealer makes a sale and a car drives off the lot, along with it goes a few thousand pounds. And depending on the number of sales, those pounds can add up. But imagine losing one and a half billion pounds. Crazy? Well, that's just what America's largest automotive retailer AutoNation does every year. The company with nearly 250 dealerships across the country sells more than 500,000 units each year, which means more than 1.5 billion pounds of vehicles drive off its lots every twelve months. When it comes to the automotive retail world, all three of those numbers are staggering.

On this week's Autoline, AutoNation Chairman and CEO Mike Jackson joins John McElroy to talk about the industry, sales and how they're both reeling amid the economic disaster that is 2008. After that, they'll turn their attention to product. As a retailer who deals with nearly every OEM selling almost every kind of car and truck, he has unique insight into each manufacturer, its performance and its products. Plus, with dealerships throughout the United States, there isn't a demographic or geographic group he doesn't know or sell to. Joining Mr. Jackson and John McElroy on the panel are Bill Vlasic from The New York Times and Steve Finlay from Ward's Dealer Business.

So if you really want to know what's going on behind the curtain at your local dealer, check out this week's Autoline for the inside scoop.

Guests

• Mike Jackson, Chairman & CEO, AutoNation

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline
• Steve Finlay, Ward’s Dealer Business
• Bill Vlasic, The New York Times

“Hypernova”

Experts in Astronomy have studied collapsing stars for years. The phenomenon of Hypernovas is very rare but extremely destructive since they morph themselves into light-swallowing black holes.

Meanwhile, experts in the automotive industry have been watching their own collapsing star, or more appropriately, collapsing Pentastar in Chrysler. Some analysts believe that the venture capitalists at Cerberus bit off more than they could chew when the firm purchased the troubled automaker last August. Now faced with a depressed truck market and a four-cylinder lineup that just isn't selling the way it should be in our $4-a-gallon gas world, some fear that Chrysler will implode like a Hypernova with its brands and pieces swallowed by other industry giants.

That is not a fear of Tom LaSorda. Chrysler's Vice Chairman and President insists that Cerberus is committed to the company and believes it can be profitable thanks to a future portfolio of energy-efficient vehicles built not just by Chrysler but an international alliance of partners as well. Of course that's easier said than done. To get to that point, the company must slog through the next couple years of retrenchment like every other manufacturer. Hear how he believes Chrysler will circumvent this crisis as he joins John McElroy for an exclusive one-on-one interview from the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan.

So if you're looking for the automotive stars to stay aligned, just follow the light from this week's all new episode of Autoline.

Guests

• Tom LaSorda, Vice Chairman & President, Chrysler LLC

“Sign O' The Times - Part One”

It's been twenty years since the musician Prince released what many call his greatest work. "Sign O' The Times" debuted in the shadow of the market collapse of 1987 and the presidential election of 1988, two major events that shaped America over the next few years.

In an eerie irony, the title of this album couldn't be more relevant today. 2008 has had its own tumult. With our own presidential election in full swing and an energy crisis that's never been more serious, the sign of "these" times is about change...especially when it comes to the auto industry. $4-a-gallon gasoline has given consumers a new fever for small cars.

That's why this is the perfect time to look at some of the lineup that has been released so far this year. From small and economical like the Honda Fit, to the performance-based cars like the BMW 1 Series, to Ford's new luxury sedan the Lincoln MKS, it's Cars and NACTOY on this week's Autoline.

John McElroy is joined by two of his fellow judges from the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards as they examine the best in cars so far this year. Natalie Neff is the Road Test Editor for AutoWeek while Mark Phelan is an automotive columnist with the Detroit Free Press.

So get ready for new cars through NACTOY eyes on this week's Autoline.

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline
• Natalie Neff, AutoWeek
• Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press

“Auto Oracles”

Trying to figure out the future has probably been a hominid passion since the first Neanderthals grunted their way through the Ice Age. And even though their "more evolved" ancestors have employed tools like Astrology, Tarot cards and Clairvoyant readings since, the future, arguably, hasn't gotten any clearer.

So if it's darn near impossible to decipher if Uncle Jack is going to give you, and not your cousin, that Civil War sword you've longed for, how the heck do the auto companies, with billions of dollars on the line, accurately predict the future? With a multitude of products and a five year lead time facing them as they jostle external forces like rising steel, fuel and labor costs to name a few, this is not a job for the faint of heart. It requires the expertise of a top level engineer, a great understanding of tomorrow's consumer and perhaps even a little help from Dionne Warwick and that Psychic Friends Network doesn't hurt either.

On this week's Autoline, John McElroy interviews two of today's leading Product Planners for the Auto Industry. John Smith is the Group Vice President for Global Product Planning at General Motors while Larry Dominique is Nissan's Vice President of Product Planning for North America. Both men join John to discuss the high wire walk that many Product Planners are faced with as the market changes on seemingly a daily basis.

So if you're wondering what it's like to peer into a crystal ball and see the cars of the future, join John and the men who make it their business to know what we'll want to drive on down the line this Sunday.

Guests

• John Smith, Group VP, Global Product Planning, General Motors
• Larry Dominique, VP, Product Planning, Nissan North America

“Film”

It's ironic that the movie capital of the world, Los Angeles, California, would be equally famous for the film that entertains in the theater as the film that blankets the city.

Smog has been a daily reality for decades. As early as 1943, the city recognized this pollution as a legitimate problem and has been struggling with it ever since. Thanks in part to the topography of the area and its massive population's love of cars, this combination provided the springboard for some of the toughest air quality regulations in America. And one of the reasons that California has continued to blaze the emission restriction trail for the rest of the country is because so many environmentalists call it home.

On this week's Autoline in LA John McElroy will be joined by three of these environmental thought leaders as they discuss emissions, cars, MPGs and how California is driving the topic for the rest of the country.

Dr. James Lents is the President of the International Sustainable Systems Research Center (ISSRC), and an acknowledged world leader in environmental policy. Roland Hwang is the Vehicles Policy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a 40-year old environmental action group with 1.2 million members while Dr. Mark Bernstein is the Managing Director of the USC Energy Institute, a LA-based university think tank devoted to transitioning the globe to a new energy/fuel paradigm.

So if you're interested in the future of fossil fuels, alternative energy and where California is setting the emission trend, catch this week's edition of Autoline in LA.

For more from our LA series visit www.autolinedetroit.tv/LA

Guests

• Dr. James Lents, President, ISSRC
• Roland Hwang, Vehicles Policy Director, NRDC
• Dr. Mark Bernstein, Managing Director, Energy Institute, USC

“Inside Toyota”

In the shadow of its 50th year in America, the Toyota story in the 'States can essentially be condensed into four acts: early miscalculation, reassessment & rebirth, philosophical commitment and sales persistence. These four chapters in the Toyota journey have turned this one-time distant player in the automotive industry into the dominant auto maker in the world. And much of that success comes from Toyota's amazing story here in the U.S. From the introduction of the poorly-engineered Toyopet in the late '50s to its waves of small economical gas-friendly imports to today's American-built cadre of cars, trucks and SUVs, this company has redefined the industry with its quality, product and core values reflected in everything Toyota.

This week on Autoline in LA John McElroy takes you inside Toyota when he visits the company's Southern California facilities. It starts with a look at its huge campus in Torrance just south of Los Angeles, includes a talk with Toyota sales boss Bob Carter, moves over to a fascinating look at the company's award-winning and environmentally- friendly South Campus Building and then concludes with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Toyota's CALTY Design Studio with President Kevin Hunter.

For more from our LA series visit www.autolinedetroit.tv/LA

Guests

• Sandy Smith, Corporate Mgr., Real Estate & Facilities, Toyota
• Bob Carter, Group VP & GM, Toyota
• Kevin Hunter, President, CALTY Design Research

“Inside Mazda”

Automotive marketers many times measure success in two, three or four word taglines. Just consider the last thirty years. "Like a Rock" and "Quality is Job 1" come to mind immediately, but few afterwards. That is until Mazda gave us Zoom-Zoom.

It’s rare that a company hits the bullseye like this…small automaker with a performance heritage using a short repetitive phrase to capture the essence of its brand. It’s so successful that the Zoom-Zoom ethos now drives the philosophy for much of what comes out of Mazda. Nowhere is that more evident than in the series of Concept Vehicles that the company unveiled the last few years. Starting in 2006 with the Nagare (Japanese for flow) to last year's Ryuga (gracious flow) to this year's Furai (the sound of wind), these vehicles have set the bar high as Mazda’s top designers look to incorporate Zoom-Zoom into today's vehicles and beyond.

And one spot where you can see these elements come to life is at Mazda's North American Design Studio in Irvine, California, the site of this week's episode of “Autoline in LA.” That's where John McElroy receives a tour of this secure facility from Franz von Holzhausen, its North American Director of Design. Franz takes John behind-the-scenes of Mazda's secret studio to show him where they design, fabricate and create concept cars like the Furai and future production vehicles as well. In addition to design, we'll also get a taste of Mazda R & D when John talks to its director, Kelvin Hiraishi about how his team works with design to develop Mazda's next generation.

And don't forget to check out this week's Autoline EXTRA when Kelvin takes John and our cameras into the Mazda Performance Garage to see some of the great championship vehicles from Mazda racing history.

So don't let this deep dive on Mazda Design Zoom-Zoom right past you.

For more from our LA series visit www.autolinedetroit.tv/LA

Guests

• Franz von Holzhausen, Director of Design, Mazda North America
• Kelvin Hiraishi, Director, R&D Engineering, Mazda North America

“Inside Hyundai”

Seoul lies about 25 miles south of the demilitarized zone that bisects the Korean peninsula. It's the economic engine of South Korea and probably the most visible symbol of the country's post-war economic success. What makes their recovery even more incredible is that they did it at gunpoint. Just over the border resides the despotic Kim Jong-Il, leader of North Korea and head of one of the largest armies in the world.

One South Korean company that symbolizes the country's accomplishments over the last few decades is the Hyundai Group, a multinational conglomerate with a product portfolio that ranges from shipbuilding to finance.

Back in 1986 Hyundai decided to enter the very competitive U.S. car market. At that time they sold just one model here, the subcompact Excel. But its combination of affordability and economy was just what the market wanted and it flew off dealer lots. Hyundai sold more than 168,000 cars its first year in the U.S., a record that still stands. Today, Hyundai-Kia is the top-selling car brand in Korea, the fifth largest automaker in the world, and the latest Asian make to put its North American headquarters in California.

This week on our continuing series, "Autoline in LA," John McElroy goes "Inside Hyundai" for an exclusive look at the Korean giant's North American auto operations. He'll sit down with John Krafcik, Hyundai's Vice President of Product Development and Strategic Planning. They'll talk about the engineering and development the company does in North America and how they tune vehicles for this specific market. Later John goes one-on-one with Joel Piaskowski, Hyundai's Chief Designer to discuss the all-new design vocabulary the company's pioneering in its Southern California studios.

Rounding out the show, Autoline hits the dusty trail, literally, for a tour of Hyundai's desert proving grounds in California City. Here, behind a veil of secrecy, the company puts its products through a litany of tests. Sustained high-speed driving on their 6.4-mile oval track pushes cars to their limits while special solar ovens bake interior trim pieces in the SoCal sun to prove their durability.

So join us this week on Autoline as we give you a revealing look inside an Asian Tiger of the auto industry, Hyundai.

For more from our LA series visit www.autolinedetroit.tv/LA

Guests

• John Krafcik, VP, Product Development, Hyundai Motor America
• Doug Bridgman, Sr. Engineering Mgr. Vehicle Development, Hyundai Motor America
• Joel Piaskowski, Chief Designer, Hyundai Design and Technical Center

“Inside Honda”

Forty-nine years ago, the headlines that came from Southern California were nothing short of sensational. The entertainment industry released classics like Sleeping Beauty, Ben-Hur and Some Like It Hot. In publishing, the scandalous "Hollywood Babylon" flew off bookstore shelves while in sports, the former Brooklyn -- now Los Angeles Dodgers -- capped off their second year in LA by winning the World Series. 1959: A SoCal Spectacular.

So with that huge spotlight on the city, it's understandable that few noticed the opening of a small storefront on Pico Boulevard with a modest payroll of six employees. This new enterprise was obviously overwhelmed by headlines of the moment. And though Hollywood is still strong nearly a half century later it's a different story for that small LA storefront. Today that business, the American Honda Motor Company, is a dynamic and diverse economic force in not only Southern California, but throughout the entire United States.

This week, "Autoline in LA" visits American Honda. Based in Torrance, California -- just south of Los Angeles -- the company employs more than 25,000 at nineteen facilities across the country. The Torrance campus contains a fraction of that workforce, but it's an important fraction: Sales, Marketing, Research & Development and more.

Join John McElroy as he takes you "Inside Honda" for a look at the diverse aspects of this fascinating company. We'll tour its unique headquarters building and see the Honda philosophy up close, visit R&D for a behind-the-scenes reveal of the latest fuel cell package the company is developing, and take a peek behind the frenetic garage doors of the Honda Motorcycle Team as they prepare for an upcoming race. In addition, we'll take you to a couple top-secret, off-site facilities where no cameras are allowed...unless you're Autoline. You’ll get an inside look at Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita and Honda Advanced Design in Pasadena.

For more from our LA series visit www.autolinedetroit.tv/LA

Guests

• Jeffrey Smith, Asst. VP, Corporate Affairs & Communications, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Ryan Harty, Fuel Cell Vehicle Engineer, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.
• Jack Spurney, General Mgr., Honda Performance Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Chuck Miller, Mgr. On/Off Road Motorcycle Racing, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Dave Marek, Chief Designer, Advanced Design Studio, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

“Necessary Conclusions”

Mathematics move our planet. We may feel better believing it's the shock and beauty of art, the harnessing of the elements or the philosophical building blocks of society, but in the end, it all comes down to the numbers, or as the 19th-century Harvard professor Benjamin Peirce called it, "the science that draws necessary conclusions."

Well, the “necessary conclusions” being drawn about the Ford Motor Company the past few years have not been good. Observers say it was all in the math and none of that in black ink.

But today the Ford label seems to be getting its gleam back. It actually started late last year with improved quality scores, followed by refreshed product with the marketing to match. CEO Alan Mulally might've mortgaged the Ford Family farm to get to this point but it's finally starting to yield more than just red-laced Excel sheets.

What's Ford doing, what's coming in the product pipeline and why is there suddenly all this international interest in the Blue Oval? Joining John McElroy to talk about these topics and more is Mark Fields, Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company and President, The Americas. Amy Wilson of Automotive News and Keith Naughton of Newsweek round out our panel.

So catch Mark Fields and the new math at Ford on this week's Autoline...we'll leave the necessary conclusions to you.

Guests

• Mark Fields, President, The Americas, Ford Motor Company

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline Detroit
• Keith Naughton, Newsweek
• Amy Wilson, Automotive News

“My Generation”

As the story goes, The Who's Pete Townshend wrote this now famous rock anthem some 43 years ago for a slice of British youth known as "the mods." The lyrics crystallized their mindset: out of touch mothers and fathers with antiquated values who didn't understand them. Thus, they rebelled against everything from their parent's generation.

To a certain extent, that rebellion has come full circle in 2008 with a business twist to boot.

Yesterday’s "mods" are essentially today's "Millennials" -- the group of 12 to 29 year-olds who are rebelling from their parents purchasing habits, showing opposite taste in everything from clothing to entertainment to especially cars. And that's where corporations like Chrysler feel they can make a move on the competition. With so many of today's parents dedicated to import brands, Deborah Meyer sees an opportunity to lay claim to this very important socioeconomic group. That's just one of the topics the new Chrysler Chief Marketing Officer discusses on this week's Autoline. Ms. Meyer joins John McElroy along with panelists David Kiley of BusinessWeek and Jeff Green of Bloomberg News for the entire show.

So to avoid a b-big s-s-sensation, check out Autoline's take on my g-g-generation.

Guests

• Deborah Meyer, VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler LLC

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline Detroit
• David Kiley, BusinessWeek
• Jeff Green, Bloomberg News

“Short People”

In 1978 when Academy Award-winning composer Randy Newman reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his tongue-in-cheek song about short people, the "little cars that go beep, beep, beep" he said they drive, it was nothing more than a creation of his fertile imagination. How could Mr. Newman know that the automotive industry was already hard at work designing versions of his imaginary little cars? Yet those vehicles wouldn't take the leap from designs to drivable machines for another two decades when Daimler released what it called "The smart car" and they started to "beep, beep, beep" all over Europe. But as cute and economical as those cars were, there wasn't a market for them in America...that is until now.

2008 saw Automotive Icon Roger Penske bring the smart car to the U.S. shores for the first time. His Penske Automotive Group struck a deal with Daimler and has opened up more than 70 "smart centers" -- or dealerships -- around America, and so far, the reaction has been overwhelming. Before Daimler even started delivering cars to the centers earlier this year, Penske had more than 30,000 orders. Everyone from Publishing Moguls to High School Seniors have taken to Smart. The question is how long will the car stay hot?

The man in charge of those predictions as well as everything smart-related from Connecticut to California visits Autoline this week. Dave Schembri, the President of smart USA at first joins John on set to talk about Smart and its U.S. strategy. And then Dave takes over as he gives John a tour of smart USA's unique headquarters building in suburban Detroit that is built as an appendage to one of those 70+ smart centers.

So get ready to learn about the "little car that goes beep, beep, beep" from the big guy himself.

Guests

• Dave Schembri, President, smart USA

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline Detroit
• Wes Raynal, AutoWeek
• Jerome Vaughn, WDET-FM, Detroit Public Radio

“Shaken, Not Stirred”

As any movie-going maven can tell you, the above "request" was James Bond's preference for his vodka martini. But fewer realize the Super Spy's preference in vehicles was for the British-born, British-built Bentley. At least that's what the author Ian Fleming intended in his novels until Hollywood got a hold of his hero. But long before Bond's 1930 grey Bentley convertible made its '50s literary debut, the brand was well established around the European motoring world. From its racing heritage to its luxury legacy, the "Winged B" was at home at Le Mans as much as it was Number 10 Downing Street. And though racing had taken a back seat to its luxury pedigree, both are back today in a big way selling Bentleys like never before. And that's straight from the man who now leads this venerable brand. Christophe Georges is the new Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen-owned luxury icon and the man responsible for keeping these cars on the roll that they are. This week he joins John McElroy along with Keith Naughton from Newsweek and John McCormick of The Detroit News to talk about Bentley's resurgence and how it has managed to set sales records for a brand that a few years ago was on life support.

So join us for a look at this company that was once economically shaken, but has now stirred the passions of 21st century buyers.

Guests

• Christophe Georges, Chief Operating Officer, Bentley Motors, Inc.

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline Detroit
• John McCormick, The Detroit News
• Keith Naughton, Newsweek

“Lots of Luck”

This may be the most repeated phrase heard around U.S. dealerships this year, but the real trick could be deciphering its meaning. It could be anything from a true 'keep your chin up" remark of support to a salesperson's attempt at gallows humor.

With the economy in a slow down and predictions of U.S. vehicle sales dropping to levels we haven't seen in over a decade, automotive retailers are preparing for the worst. They've seen these sorts of dips before, but 2008 brings new challenges. From the manufacturers trying to find their collective footing, to brands being "e-bayed" around the world, to the simple reality of just too many dealers, as Mr. Dylan said back in the '60s "the times they are a-changin'." And for the auto industry, change they must.

Joining John McElroy on his panel to discuss retailing in the automotive world are three veterans who have seen it all before. Irma Elder of the Elder Automotive Group has a variety of dealerships -- many of them luxury brands -- located from Michigan to Florida. Carl Galeana is a longtime Dodge dealer with both Saturn and Kia. Meanwhile, Doug Fox, the new president of the Detroit Auto Dealers, is Mr. Import. His Ann Arbor Automotive Group carries Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hyundai with Kia and Acura thrown in for good measure.

So join us this week as Autoline looks at life on the front lines and lots of automotive retailing in America.

Guests

• Irma Elder, CEO, Elder Automotive Group
• Doug Fox, President, Ann Arbor Automotive
• Carl Galeana, Vice President, Galeana Automotive Group

“Outside In”

It’s a fact...we’re spending more time in our cars and trucks than ever before. Whether it’s a longer commute, more traffic or choosing four wheels over flying, we’ve never been as intimate with our interiors as we are today. That’s why comfort, color and convenience have shot up the priority chart in design studios around the globe. Manufacturers have learned they can’t just design a tasty exterior and call it a day; customers are demanding style on the inside of their new vehicles as well as out.

Join John McElroy on this week’s Autoline as he explores many of the new styling cues with three experts working in the OEM world of vehicle design.

Chris Webb is the lead creative designer at General Motors. His team touches virtually every aspect of the vehicle that we "see" each day. Francois Farion is the interior & color design manager for Nissan here in the states. His particular specialty skews to the sensation of "softness" since he’s responsible for the leather and fabrics that make it into those vehicles. Meanwhile, Fiona Doskocz is a consultant whose genius is "touch" since she’s an expert in plastic graining; the kind you find on your instrument panel and dash.

So join us for a discussion on today’s automotive interiors and discover who or what has influenced the environment that you’re spending so much time in on a daily basis.

Guests

• Chris Webb, Lead Creative Designer, Exterior Color & Trend, GM
• Francois Farion, Interior & Color Design Manager, Nissan
• Fiona Doskocz, President, Surface Innovations

Panel

• John McElroy, Host, Autoline Detroit

“Sliding South”

It’s no secret that the U.S. economy is in a funk. Is it headed into in a recession? That’s open to debate. What’s not open to debate is the fact that the auto industry has been sliding downward. And where it’ll end up is anyone’s guess.

That’s why this week Autoline has two experts whose business is to accurately predict where the auto industry will end up in 2008. Joining John McElroy in our first segment is Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, the chief economist from the Ford Motor Company, and Ted Chu who is the lead economist for General Motors. Both authorities talk about the industry, the economy and how they believe it will impact the automotive world in this presidential election year.

Also on this week’s show John sits down with Ralph Gilles, Chrysler’s V.P. of design for Jeep and Truck to talk about how Chrysler is working on improving the interiors of its vehicles, starting with the new Ram pickup.

And finally we look at the breakthrough that GM announced at The North American International Auto Show regarding cellulosic ethanol. This could be the game changer, in the short term, when it comes to wider availability of ethanol and flex fuel vehicles throughout America and maybe even the rest of the world.

Guests

• Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Chief Economist, Ford Motor Company
• Ted Chu, Chief Economist, General Motors
• Ralph Gilles, V.P. Design, Jeep and Truck, Chrysler

Panel

• The GM Coskata Partnership on Ethanol

“And the Winner Is...Part Two”

We’re just days away from learning which vehicles will be honored as The North American Car and Truck of the Year. Last week on Autoline our NACTOY judging panel consisting of Natalie Neff from AutoWeek, Gary Witzenburg of autoMedia.com and, of course, Autoline’s own John McElroy, discussed which 2007 cars made the short list and who they voted for.

This week our three experts handle the truck side of the award. From heavy duty pickups to CUVs to hybrid SUVs, it seems there are more and varied candidates than ever before. Natalie, Gary, and John analyze the segments, breakdown the finalists and tell us who they voted for and why.

Panel

• Natalie Neff, AutoWeek
• Gary Witzenburg, autoMedia.com

“And the Winner Is...Part One”

Tis the season for hardware to be dealt. From the buff books to the trades to the newspapers, every outlet seems to have its own "Vehicle of the Year" determined with its own unique criteria. But as unique as that criteria may be, these awards come from a very small universe of folks who have been pretty much doing it the same way for years. And that's what separates these awards from the relatively new kid on the block -- The North American International Car and Truck of the Year. The NACTOY crowd is an eclectic crew of automotive journalists from around the U.S. and Canada who drive the vehicles, evaluate them, grade them and then issue one award each in the car and truck category. This is the award's 15th year and it keeps growing in prestige each year.

And now onto the awards...this week we start with cars. Joining John McElroy analyzing this year's finalists are two of his fellow NACTOY jurors: Natalie Neff from AutoWeek and Gary Witzenburg from autoMedia.com

Panel

• Natalie Neff, AutoWeek
• Gary Witzenburg, autoMedia.com