Runtime 8:40

General Motors met with Wall Street investors and analysts yesterday and delivered a generally upbeat message about the company. The University of Michigan won its third-straight American Solar Challenge race. Audi plans to sell imported R8s with the 5.2-liter V-10 in China for $342,000. All that and more, plus a look at an iPhone app smart developed for the electric version of its fortwo.

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Runtime 7:12

The auto industry is heating up in the Muslim world — Ford is expanding its operations in Turkey, Abu Dhabi wants to build cars and Nissan is making a big investment in Indonesia.  Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new way to make hydrogen.  Tennessee opens the “White-Lightning Trail,” a collection of roads celebrating the history of NASCAR.  All that and more, plus a look at Michelin’s advanced Active Wheel technology.

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Runtime 9:06

China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao, is urging companies and local governments to build more “harmonious employment relations.” Ford has to make a big payment into the UAW’s retiree health-care trust and Wall Street is very interested if it will pay in cash or in stock. Fisker is not going to meet the production timetable it announced last fall. All that and more, plus a look at an advanced new tire-pressure monitoring system from Continental.

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Runtime 6:54

Volkwagen’s North American head, Stephan Jacoby, is reportedly leaving to run Volvo. We interview the Mazda2′s vehicle line manager to find out how it will compete with the Ford Fiesta on pricing. NASCAR is the next to go 3D. All that and more, plus we talk to the CEO of the embattled supplier company Delphi Automotive about the new technology that it is developing.

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Runtime 9:25

General Motors lays the groundwork for an initial public offering in an effort to shake the “Government Motors” stigma. Ferrari decides to leave manual transmissions in the dust. More details of the Hyundai Sonata Turbo are here and they are impressive. All that and more, plus we get a personal styling tour of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

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Runtime 7:28

More autoworkers strike in China. General Motors announced it will create a new regional organization in South America. The U.S. and German governments decide whether or not to increase the blend of ethanol in gasoline. All that and more, plus John answers your questions about Ford and the Honda CR-Z in “You Said It!”

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Runtime 7:30

As workers across the country get restless, Chinese manufacturers are starting to embrace robots and automation to reduce the number of people needed.  A.T. Kearney reports that U.S. new-car sales could be a lot better if more consumers had easy access to auto loans.  BMW is working on a new research project in the field of “micro navigation,” a new way to help drivers and pedestrians get where they need to go.  All that and more, plus a look at some of the advanced human-machine interfaces Visteon is developing.

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Runtime 9:35

Eco-Motors expects there will be a concept car out later this year using its opposed-cylinder, opposed-piston engine. A new study says adults and teens are equally likely to send texts while driving but adults are more likely to talk on their phones while out on the road. New NCAP guidelines for crash-test ratings will soon go into effect and safety-star ratings are expected to go down for most cars. All that and more, plus a look at the Subaru Legacy.

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Runtime 6:52

For the first time since its introduction, domestic automakers beat foreign brands in the JD Power Initial Quality Survey. Toyota and other Japanese companies jump into algae-based fuel research. John jumps into the seat of the new Honda CR-Z hybrid and shares his first impressions. All that and more, plus a preview of this week’s Autoline Detroit with Jeep CEO Mike Manley.

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Runtime 7:43

Want to see the Dodge Viper that could have been? Take a look at the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Land Rover takes the covers off the 2011 Range Rover. Edmunds predicts which cars will actually be worth more money a year from now. All that and more, plus we ask Ford if we can expect a performance version of the Fiesta for enthusiasts to sink their teeth into.

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