Autoline This Week Episode Archives

“Simply the Best...car”

Paul Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau, Ed Lapham, Automotive News. Topic: North American Car of the Year.

About the same time the great Tina Turner made the phrase “Simply the Best” household words, a group known as NACTOY was creating its own “best.” But this one – built by 50 veteran automotive journalists -- was a list of the top cars and trucks released in North America that year. Since then, every December that jury narrows its list to three candidates and prepares to crown the winner of the North American Car & Truck of the Year at Detroit’s International Auto Show in January. On this week’s Autoline, founding member John McElroy is joined by two of his NACTOY colleagues to talk about the top cars of the year and to predict the winner of this year’s North American Car of the Year.

“Car Spy”

Jim Dunne, Author, “Car Spy”, Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com, Jim Hall, 2953 Analytics. Topic: Car spy photos.

They seemed cut from the same cloth. Single syllable names engaged in undercover work that was linked to exotic cars. The difference is one man, James Bond, is of course a fictional character while Jim Dunne, the original Car Spy, is a real photo journalist with stories that could have been crafted by Ian Fleming himself. But Dunne’s exploits are factual and his pictures were ground breaking as he revealed prototype after prototype much to the chagrin of the OEMs. Long since retired, he now shares these juicy stories in a new book on his career called “Car Spy.” And this week he joins John McElroy on Autoline to discuss those great “gets” from his career. Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com and Jim Hall from 2953 Analytics join in on the discussion.

“Clearing the Haze”

Chris Grundler, Deputy Director, OTAQ, EPA. Topic: The EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

For more than 40 years, one inconspicuous building outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan has been making the air we breathe cleaner. It’s the home of The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. No engine can be sold in America without its stamp of approval.

This week John McElroy gets an exclusive look behind the walls of the Lab as he talks with the EPA’s Chris Grundler about the work they do there, how it impacts the auto industry and the motorized products that we all buy.

Guests

• Chris Grundler, Deputy Director, OTAQ, EPA

“Bigger than the Book”

Stephen Wade, Chairman, National Automotive Dealers Association, Jeff Bennett, The Wall Street Journal, Steve Finlay, Ward’s Dealer Business. Topic: Dealer issues.

Most of us have read it at one time or another. The small yellow reference guide that tells you what a used car is worth. Well the National Auto Dealers Association has been publishing that book since 1933 but it’s really the only NADA effort that consumers touch. Most times the group is serving the needs of the more than 17,000 new car and truck dealers in the United States. And each year those members elect one of their own to run the organization. In 2011 Stephen Wade, a multiple brand franchisee from Utah has been leading the U.S. dealer body as they fight to survive our fickle economy. This week John McElroy welcomes Mr. Wade to the Autoline studios to hear what’s going on with the retail end of the business. Joining them on the panel are Steve Finlay of Wardsauto.com and Jeff Bennett from the Wall Street Journal.

“Design on a Dime”

J Mays, Group VP, Global Design, Ford Motor Co., Marco Tencone, Head of Design, Maserati, Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer, Kia Motors. Topic: Executive interviews from the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Auto shows are about the outlandish. Huge displays, science fiction technology and cars, cars, cars. The most eye-catching being those stunning, figments from a Designer’s imagination: The Concepts. Recently in Frankfurt, Germany, John McElroy caught up with three of the more elusive European-based designers for an Autoline exclusive walk-around of their significant reveals at the September show.

Joining John at Walkaround Central is Ford’s VP of Global Design J Mays who explains the significance of the Evos and its design language; meanwhile Maserati’s Marco Tencone gives a close-up look John at his high-end Kubang SUV Concept based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee; and finally we get a look at the stunning rear-drive GT Concept from Kia’s Peter Schreyer. All that this week on Autoline.

Guests

• J Mays, Group VP, Global Design, Ford Motor Co.
• Marco Tencone, Head of Design, Maserati
• Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer, Kia Motors

“Home Cooking”

Jonathan Browning, President & CEO, VW Group of America, Ian Robertson, Board Member, BMW AG, Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. Topic: Executive interviews from the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Every two years the massive Messe in Frankfurt, Germany plays host to one of the largest, if not the largest auto show in the world. Twelve huge buildings with another constructed just for that event alone, it’s the center of the automotive universe for those days in September.

This backyard advantage provides the hometown German automakers with the opportunity to impress the auto world with displays the size of zeppelins filled with cutting edge concepts.

John McElroy anchors Autoline this week from the site of this biennial show getting the latest from executives for three important German brands, including Jonathan Browning of Volkswagen of America, Ian Robertson from BMW AG and Johan de Nysschen of Audi America.

Guests

• Jonathan Browning, President & CEO, VW Group of America
• Ian Robertson, Board Member, BMW AG
• Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America

“Sirens of Chrome”

Margery Krevsky, Author, “Sirens of Chrome”, Karen Buscemi, Editor, StyleLine. Topic: Vintage Auto Show Dresses.

The Pill box hat, the Mini skirt and the Little Black Dress along with hood ornaments, mood lighting and tail fins. What all six of these obviously different elements have in common are fashion. They just happen to be from two divergent universes: Women’s clothing and automobile design. However, there are times that they cross paths and have done so for 50, 60 some 70 years. And that place is the auto show. The same environment that author Margery Krevsky captures in her book “Sirens of Chrome.” On this week’s Autoline John McElroy talks to Ms. Krevsky and fashion consultant Karen Buscemi about the intersection of automotive and fashion. And don’t miss Autoline’s own Fashion Show where four professional product specialists, as they’re called, model some of the great historic dresses from auto shows past.

“Stuck in Time”

Ken Lingenfelter, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, McKeel Hagerty, Hagerty Insurance. Topic: Classic Cars in Cuba.

Many agree that the auction house Barrett-Jackson has its grips on some of the greatest collector cars in America. But there’s a large group of classic cars just 90 miles off the Florida coast that no collector – try as they might -- has been able to buy…because they reside in the communist country of Cuba.

Since the U.S. embargo was enacted in the early ‘60s, no American products have been allowed either into the country, or out. And experts agree, sitting on that small island is a treasure trove of pre-1960 vehicles that many collectors would love to own.

During a trip to Cuba John McElroy captured the story of these incredible vehicles and their owners in a short Autoline documentary called “Stuck in Time” which begins this week’s broadcast. John then follows that story with a trip to our studio with two men well steeped in the car collecting culture. McKeel Hagerty knows the value of cars like these since insuring vintage vehicles is part of his business at Hagerty Insurance. And Ken Lingenfelter of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has been collecting classic cars for years. This week on Autoline they join John to share their thoughts on Cuba, these unique cars and whether or not they’ll ever make it off the island.

“My 409”

Ken Lingenfelter, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, McKeel Hagerty, Hagerty Insurance. Topic: Vintage Car Market.

No one seemed to capture the culture of cars better than the Beach Boys. When they weren’t singing about California girls in the early ‘60s they were worshiping hot rods and muscle cars. And those cars, like the songs, seem to get better with age. That’s why those 40 to 50 year old classic cars evolved from a weekend hobby for some, to a collector’s heaven for others. In fact the entire market has been exploding of late. Just ask McKeel Hagerty & Ken Lingenfelter. These successful business owners – Hagerty in insurance, Lingenfelter in engineering – have extensive collections that go far beyond just hot rods. Both men join John McElroy this week on Autoline to discuss the rocketing vintage car market.

“Eyes of Silva”

Walter de’Silva, Head of Group Design, Volkswagen, Todd Lassa, Motor Trend, Jim Hall, 2953 Analytics. Topic: Volkswagen design.

About the time that the Doobie Brothers burst onto the ‘70s music scene with songs like “China Grove” and “Eyes of Silver,” the design eyes of Walter de’Silva were just coming into focus across the Atlantic at FIAT. Over the next 40 years his influence could be seen on not only European cars but eventually in global brands like Audi, Bentley and Bugatti as well. And now in 2011, as the current head of Volkswagen Group Design he is responsible for the look of every model that is created by the eight brands in the group. This week in a very special edition of Autoline, Walter de’Silva joins John McElroy, Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics for a look inside the fascinating world of automotive design.

“The Union Label”

Sean McAlinden, Center for Automotive Research, Robert Chiaravalli, Strategic Labor & Human Resources LLC, Joe Szczesny, The Oakland Press. Topic: UAW Negotiations.

Change has been the theme at the United Auto Workers union for the last few years. As it fought to keep members and jobs, it met face-to-face with today’s economic reality: Bankrupt automakers, unprofitable corporations and strong non-union foreign transplants. But now, with the UAW’s new president Bob King firmly in control, a new reality is taking shape.

Joining John McElroy to discuss where the UAW goes from here is Sean McAlinden from the Center for Automotive Research, Robert Chiaravalli, the president of Strategic Labor & Human Resources and Joe Szczesny of the Oakland Press.

“Stuck in Time”

Ken Lingenfelter, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, McKeel Hagerty, Hagerty Insurance. Topic: Classic Cars in Cuba.

Many agree that the auction house Barrett-Jackson has its grips on some of the greatest collector cars in America. But there’s a large group of classic cars just 90 miles off the Florida coast that no collector – try as they might -- has been able to buy…because they reside in the communist country of Cuba.

Since the U.S. embargo was enacted in the early ‘60s, no American products have been allowed either into the country, or out. And experts agree, sitting on that small island is a treasure trove of pre-1960 vehicles that many collectors would love to own.

During a trip to Cuba John McElroy captured the story of these incredible vehicles and their owners in a short Autoline documentary called “Stuck in Time” which begins this week’s broadcast. John then follows that story with a trip to our studio with two men well steeped in the car collecting culture. McKeel Hagerty knows the value of cars like these since insuring vintage vehicles is part of his business at Hagerty Insurance. And Ken Lingenfelter of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has been collecting classic cars for years. This week on Autoline they join John to share their thoughts on Cuba, these unique cars and whether or not they’ll ever make it off the island.

“Eyes of Silva”

Walter de’Silva, Head of Group Design, Volkswagen, Todd Lassa, Motor Trend, Jim Hall, 2953 Analytics. Topic: Volkswagen design.

About the time that the Doobie Brothers burst onto the ‘70s music scene with songs like “China Grove” and “Eyes of Silver,” the design eyes of Walter de’Silva were just coming into focus across the Atlantic at FIAT. Over the next 40 years his influence could be seen on not only European cars but eventually in global brands like Audi, Bentley and Bugatti as well. And now in 2011, as the current head of Volkswagen Group Design he is responsible for the look of every model that is created by the eight brands in the group. This week in a very special edition of Autoline, Walter de’Silva joins John McElroy, Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics for a look inside the fascinating world of automotive design.

“Oval Shine”

Derrick Kuzak, Group VP, Global Product, Ford, Paul Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau, Tony Swan, Car and Driver. Topic: Kuzak Interview.

Glass House has been glistening more than usual of late. Whether it’s profits or products, Ford has been on quite a roll. Alan Mulally, the company’s president & CEO receives much of the credit, but he’s quick to share the spotlight with his team. And one of those executives who has played a big part in that success is Derek Kuzak, the Group Vice President in charge of Global Product Development. This week on Autoline he joins John McElroy to discuss the Ford product trail and where it leads into the future. Joining John on the Autoline panel are Tony Swan from Car & Driver and Paul Eisenstein of the Detroit Bureau.

“The New Guard”

Joel Ewanick, VP & Global Chief of Marketing, GM, Chrissie Thompson, Detroit Free Press, Peter De Lorenzo, Editor-In-Chief, Autoextremist.com. Topic: Ewanick Interview.

Ad agencies tend to have a long shelf life at GM. Buick signed McCann-Erickson in 1958 while Chevy and Campbell-Ewald went all the way back to 1919. That was until the 2009 bankruptcy. And that was until Joel Ewanick.

Ewanick was the Hyundai marketing guru who made actor Jeff Bridges the voice of the Korean automaker and subsequently improved sales. He joined GM in 2010 as VP of U.S. marketing and was quickly named the automaker's global chief marketing officer in only 6 months. Ewanick moves decisively and has a "take no prisoners" mentality. Just ask any of GM's old ad agencies. He changed each one in less than a year which was pretty historic at Chevy; that's something the brand hadn't done in nearly a century.

This week John McElroy welcomes special guest Joel Ewanick for his first visit to Autoline. He is joined by Chrissie Thompson of the Detroit Free Press and Peter De Lorenzo of Autoextremist.com.

Guests

• Joel Ewanick, VP & Global Chief of Marketing, General Motors

Panel

• Chrissie Thompson, Detroit Free Press
• Peter De Lorenzo, Editor-In-Chief, Autoextremist.com

“The Union Label”

Sean McAlinden, Center for Automotive Research, Robert Chiaravalli, Strategic Labor & Human Resources LLC, Joe Szczesny, The Oakland Press. Topic: UAW Negotiations.

Change has been the theme at the United Auto Workers union for the last few years. As it fought to keep members and jobs, it met face-to-face with today’s economic reality: Bankrupt automakers, unprofitable corporations and strong non-union foreign transplants. But now, with the UAW’s new president Bob King firmly in control, a new reality is taking shape.

Joining John McElroy to discuss where the UAW goes from here is Sean McAlinden from the Center for Automotive Research, Robert Chiaravalli, the president of Strategic Labor & Human Resources and Joe Szczesny of the Oakland Press.

“Clearing the Haze”

Chris Grundler, Deputy Director, OTAQ, EPA. Topic: The EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

For more than 40 years, one inconspicuous building outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan has been making the air we breathe cleaner. It’s the home of The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. No engine can be sold in America without its stamp of approval.

This week John McElroy gets an exclusive look behind the walls of the Lab as he talks with the EPA’s Chris Grundler about the work they do there, how it impacts the auto industry and the motorized products that we all buy.

Guests

• Chris Grundler, Deputy Director, OTAQ, EPA

“The New Guard”

Joel Ewanick, VP & Global Chief of Marketing, GM, Chrissie Thompson, Detroit Free Press, Peter De Lorenzo, Editor-In-Chief, Autoextremist.com. Topic: Ewanick Interview.

Ad agencies tend to have a long shelf life at GM. Buick signed McCann-Erickson in 1958 while Chevy and Campbell-Ewald went all the way back to 1919. That was until the 2009 bankruptcy. And that was until Joel Ewanick.

Ewanick was the Hyundai marketing guru who made actor Jeff Bridges the voice of the Korean automaker and subsequently improved sales. He joined GM in 2010 as VP of U.S. marketing and was quickly named the automaker's global chief marketing officer in only 6 months. Ewanick moves decisively and has a "take no prisoners" mentality. Just ask any of GM's old ad agencies. He changed each one in less than a year which was pretty historic at Chevy; that's something the brand hadn't done in nearly a century.

This week John McElroy welcomes special guest Joel Ewanick for his first visit to Autoline. He is joined by Chrissie Thompson of the Detroit Free Press and Peter De Lorenzo of Autoextremist.com.

Guests

• Joel Ewanick, VP & Global Chief of Marketing, General Motors

Panel

• Chrissie Thompson, Detroit Free Press
• Peter De Lorenzo, Editor-In-Chief, Autoextremist.com

“Dodge & Designs”

Ralph Gilles, President & CEO, Dodge, Natalie Neff, AutoWeek, Jeff Gilbert, WWJ Newsradio 950. Topic: Gilles Interview.

You'd think being in charge of design for an automaker would be a big enough job, but not for Ralph Gilles. As the designer of the iconic 2005 Chrysler 300, he was promoted to oversee design for all 5 of the company's brands. But in addition, when CEO Sergio Marchionne started handing out second assignments, Gilles was tagged to run the Dodge brand as well. On this week's Autoline he not only discusses the demands of both jobs but also Chrysler's rapid renaissance with both product and sales. Host John McElroy is joined by Natalie Neff from AutoWeek and Jeff Gilbert from CBS Radio Detroit-WWJ 950.

Guests

• Ralph Gilles, President & CEO, Dodge

Panel

• Natalie Neff, AutoWeek
• Jeff Gilbert, WWJ Newsradio 950

“Motors and Parts”

Pietro Gorlier, CEO, Mopar Brand, Chrysler, Jeff Bennett, The Wall Street Journal, Eric Mayne, WardsAuto.com. Topic: Mopar.

Antifreeze was created to start cars and not necessarily brands. But sometimes the stars align -- or in this case the Pentastars -- giving the world a 75-year old company that's still going strong. Such was the humble beginning of Mopar, Chrysler Corporation Parts. From a name developed for cans of antifreeze to, can you say the word HEMI, Mopar has a rich heritage in engineering, accessories and replacement parts.

But today as manufacturers look to find new revenue streams some, including Chrysler, are turning to their brands like Mopar for that growth. And that's what Pietro Gorlier, the president and CEO of Mopar is doing with service, parts and even with vehicles themselves. This week on Autoline Mr. Gorlier joins John McElroy to discuss the brand and where he and his team are targeting that growth.

Guests

• Pietro Gorlier, CEO, Mopar Brand, Chrysler

Panel

• Jeff Bennett, The Wall Street Journal
• Eric Mayne, WardsAuto.com

“Here Comes the Sun”

Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar, James Kamsickas, IAC Group, Scott Strong, Ford, Tom Doll, Subaru of America. Topic: NAIAS Interviews.

This January, 2011 Detroit seemed to be channeling 1969 London for a time. That's when Beatle George Harrison, to escape the burdens of the business world, took some time off to commune with nature and stroll around the home gardens of friend Eric Clapton. With a clear head, he emerged with his epic song "Here Comes the Sun;" a tune that 42-years later you could almost hear walking around the floor of this year's North American International Auto Show.

Gone was the financial gloom of the 2009 NAIAS as well as the shrunken floor space from 12 months ago. This year Detroit welcomed back big aisles, bigger reveals and even some big names -- like Porsche -- who had been staying away. Here comes the sun, indeed.

This week Autoline captures a little bit of these sunnier climes with four interviews from the floor of Cobo Hall. Joining John McElroy from Detroit, in order of appearance, are: Adrian Hallmark, the Global Brand Director for Jaguar; the President and Co-CEO of IAC Group North America and Asia, James Kamsickas; Scott Strong, the Director of Interior Design for Ford Americas; and the COO and CFO of Subaru of America, Tom Doll.

Guests

• Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar
• James Kamsickas, President and CEO, IAC Group
• Scott Strong, Director, Interior Design, the Americas, Ford
• Tom Doll, Executive VP, COO/CFO, Subaru of America

“Technotronic”

Jim Newton, Founder & Chairman, TechShop, Mark Hatch, CEO, TechShop, Will Baird, Team Phoenicia, Jonathan Thorn, Lightning Motorcycles, Michael Pinneo, Ridge Technologies. Topic: TechShop.

When you're looking for an example of a huge fast marketing splash, few have been more effective than Jo Bogaert. He's the Belgian music producer who, in 1988, created the "Techtronic” sound that spread like wildfire over land, air and ocean to seemingly everything and every place that played music. His global hit single "Pump Up the Jam" with vocalist Ya Kid K was ubiquitous whether you were at a club in New York, an elevator in Tokyo or a cafe in Paris. The song and the sound spread like Kudzu and kept its grip on world music well into this decade.

Jim Newton wouldn't discourage a "viral" splash like that, but both he and his clients would really prefer to build it themselves. And that's exactly what they're doing at Tech Shop. Mr. Newton is the founder of this nationwide nirvana for those who never got enough of Industrial Arts in high school. But actually Tech Shop is much more since it allows anyone with a manufacturing idea, to create, design & produce that dream all for about the cost of joining your local YMCA.

For this week's special "On-the-Road" edition of Autoline, John McElroy takes you inside the original Menlo Park, California Tech Shop location. Here you'll meet some of the members of this creative community, experience their dreams coming to life and see why this idea is already spreading Technotronic-like across America, perhaps coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

Guests

• Jim Newton, Founder & Chairman, TechShop
• Mark Hatch, CEO, TechShop
• Will Baird, Team Phoenicia
• Jonathan Thorn, Lightning Motorcycles
• Michael Pinneo, Ridge Technologies

“The DC Dance”

Daniel Weiss, Center for American Progress, Ron Cogan, Green Car Journal, Fred Smith, Competitive Enterprise Institute. Topic: Auto Industry Policy Debate.

If recent history is any guide, many Americans believe that the easiest way to reform our government is to attend a couple of town hall meetings, kick some politicians out of office and wait for the inevitable change to come. However there's a flaw in that formula, and it has nothing to do with the three branches of government, the Fourth Estate or the voters themselves. The formula simply doesn't account for three little letters that spell out the powerful acronym NGO.

Non-governmental organizations have a mighty hold over how Washington works. Their influence blankets everything from monetary policy to drug laws to environmental edicts. And whether they're called think tanks, foundations or associations, these organizations are the pipeline through which much political influence travels. The kind of influence that molds many of our laws, especially those that effect the auto industry.

That's why, on a recent trip to the Washington Auto Show, John McElroy made it a point to catch up with two of these DC insiders, along with a California outsider, to talk about our all-around federal automotive policies. Daniel Weiss is a Senior Fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress while Fred Smith is the president and founder of the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute. Both card-carrying members of the Washington NGO fraternity. Meanwhile, rounding out the panel is Ron Cogan, the editor of Green Car Journal and GreenCar.com, a leading outlet for green transportation information. And though it's based on the west coast, most of its content is driven by what happens in Washington.

So check out this week's Autoline and see why the auto industry, at times, looks a little dizzy thanks to the DC Dance.

Guests

• Daniel Weiss, Center for American Progress
• Ron Cogan, Green Car Journal
• Fred Smith, Competitive Enterprise Institute

“High Cotton”

Wolfgang Puck, Chef/Entrepreneur, Barron Meade, NAIAS, Christophe Georges, Bentley NA, Wolfgang Hoffman, Lamborghini, David Fischer, The Suburban Collection. Topic: The Gallery event.

Three hundred years ago when cotton was king, the tallest and healthiest plants were the most valued. Farmers were said to be in "high cotton" when they had a bumper crop of plants like those because it translated directly to their status and wealth.

These days the phrase "high cotton" may be a bit dated, however, it still carries the distinction of wealth. And during January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, there was no one sitting in "higher cotton" than those few who were invited to "The Gallery."

A few years ago, to cater to the customer that F. Scott Fitzgerald described as being "different from you and me," the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, sponsors of the NAIAS, developed this special preview of the most exclusive vehicles at the auto show for the crowd that Fitzgerald termed "the very rich." Well, if the Rolls-Royce fits...and in this case it does. As does the Maybach, the Bentley, the Maserati and more.

Join John McElroy as he takes his cameras behind-the-scenes and into a world that even Jay Gatsby couldn't imagine. He'll talk to the men behind the event as well as dealers and customers who crossed the country to attend it. Why he even catches up with celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck who developed an exclusive meal for this very exclusive group. It's a peek inside "The Gallery," this week on Autoline.

Guests

• Wolfgang Puck, Chef/Entrepreneur
• Barron Meade, Chairman, 2011 NAIAS
• John Neale, Boston, MA
• Christophe Georges, President & CEO, Bentley NA
• Keith and Shelia Owen, Houston, TX
• Wolfgang Hoffman, COO, Lamborghini
• David Fischer, The Suburban Collection
• Bob Buterbaugh and Terry Judd, Hilton Head Island, SC and Spring Lake, MI

“Travels with Farley”

Jim Farley, Group VP, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor Co. Topic: Jim Farley Interview.

The headline might look vaguely familiar. Think early 1960s where it borrows everything but the "Ch" from author John Steinbeck's famous travelogue "Travels with Charley." But where that work involved a camper, dog and the continental United States, "Travels with Farley" features a camera crew, a cutting-edge crossover and the hillsides of southern France. Oh, and not to mention a conversation with Ford's Global Marketing Chief.

This week on Autoline join John McElroy as he and Ford's Jim Farley roam the French countryside, in a brand new C-Max crossover, and talk marketing, comebacks and cars, cars, cars. Some of the topics Jim covers during their conversation include his early days in the business, Ford's refound success and the company's plans and hopes for its new-to-the-USA crossover, the C-Max.

**Special thanks to FremantleMedia North America for its assistance with the production of this week's Autoline.

And don't forget, Autoline is now available on public television across the country. Consult your local listings. And if you can't find it in your city contact your local public station and ask for Autoline.

Guests

• Jim Farley, Group VP, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor Co.

“NACTOY's New Day?”

Marty Padgett, High Gear Media, Eddie Alterman, Car and Driver. Topic: North American Car of the Year Finalists.

Since 1994, the first awarding of the North American Car of the Year, there has been a parade each year of three finalists with one winner. Amid the 48 contenders and 16 eventual winners with their sleek designs and top-notch engineering there's been only one car that many observers considered a gateway to the 21st Century, and that was the Toyota Prius Hybrid. Well, it may be 11 years later but welcome to the 21st Century.

This year the more than 50 jurors of the North American Car of the Year chose not just one but two ground-breaking finalists by adding both the Chevy Volt plug-in and Nissan's Electric LEAF to its final three. But let's not forget the third member of the COY finalists, Hyundai's hot-selling Sonata, with its more standard internal combustion engine which received review after glowing review throughout 2010.

On this week's Autoline, NACTOY founding member John McElroy is joined by two of his fellow jurors, Eddie Alterman from Car & Driver and Marty Padgett from High Gear Media, as they discuss all three finalists, what they mean to the auto industry and who they each believe will be the 2011 North American Car of the Year.

Panel

• Marty Padgett, High Gear Media
• Eddie Alterman, Car and Driver