We’ll tell you right up front, in Autoline’s opinion, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is the best-looking car in its class. The boys and girls from Korea have really knocked this one out of the park. But, with extraordinary design sometimes comes notable disadvantages such as headroom and trunk space. So, how does the Sonata stack up?
This week it’s a good old fashioned journalists’ roundtable as we discuss the news of the week. Trial attorneys are ramping up their campaign against Toyota. Honda says joint ventures don’t work out, but clearly Renault and Daimler don’t agree as they get ready to collaborate. GM’s EN-V promises to be the future of city transportation, but can it possibly be more than another Segway? John McElroy’s in studio with the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, and they welcome two other esteemed automotive colleagues on the program: Frank Markus of Motor Trend and Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press.
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What happens when the poster child for green cars takes its flagship vehicle and hybridizes it? You get the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and we get to take it for a drive. On the surface its an expensive mid-size car, but is it worth the price? Let’s see.
This week we talk with the man who’s running the little car company that want’s you to “Think About It.” John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, sits down with the AAH crew to discuss the Korean company’s philosophy, and how that thinking has brought it recent success. Mr. Krafcik will also answer your questions about the future of the company and how it will keep from becoming the next Toyota. All that and we discuss the news of the week and take your pressing Rapid Fire questions. John McElroy’s in studio with the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, and they welcome After Hours newcomer Stephanie Brinley from AutoPacific.
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Unintended acceleration has been around for decades and has been a problem for several automakers–not only Toyota, but Audi, Jeep and others. John McElroy explains that with a few simple fixes we could solve the great mystery of unintended acceleration once and for all.
There has been a lot of talk about electronic faults or a “ghost in the machine” when discussing Toyota’s recent unintended acceleration crisis. But, unintended acceleration has been occurring since long before cars were drive-by-wire as so many are today. Could it be that the problem is a matter of driver error, which happens to be more prevalent due to the placement of Toyota’s pedals? John McElroy tries out one scenario in a Lexus IS 250 C.
This week the old crew is back together to do a deep dive into the news of the week, and Jason Vines, that outspoken PR veteran that we love, is back to give his two cents. Toyota Priuses are seemingly going haywire left and right, and we wonder: isn’t this a little too convenient? Plus, as General Motors continues to make changes, Cadillac moves to distance itself from the corporation. And, is the government actually going to profit from the GM bailout? All that and much more including your pressing questions in Rapid Fire. John McElroy’s in studio as usual as well as David Welch of BusinessWeek and Bloomberg and Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist.
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So here’s the story. The Suzuki Kizashi is a very nice, well appointed car, which is functional and even looks pretty good going down the road. But, it has one big problem.
This week we talk about all the latest, tumultuous news to come out of the automotive world as we welcome Sharon Silke Carty, auto industry reporter for USA TODAY. This week Big Ed shakes up the entire GM management structure after dismal February sales, and Bob Lutz announces he will retire in May. Toyota’s woes continue as they issue new recalls, but has human error been addressed sufficiently or at all? John McElroy’s in studio as usual as well as David Welch of BusinessWeek and Bloomberg and Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist.
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