Coming up on Roundabout, a Nissan Leaf gets charged up, but it’s not exactly green, we look into the vehicles of Steve Jobs’ past — but it’s not what you’d expect, and we talk about a truck driver that blew up — literally.

Brought to you by Advance Auto Parts and Tire Rack

Play RoundAbout Episode 84

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Featuring: Steven J. Ewing, Michelle Naranjo, Jeffrey Ross, Eric Trytko and Ben Sanders

Show notes and Ustream video after the jump!

RoundAbout records LIVE on Fridays at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT. Visit RoundAboutShow.com and click Watch Live to watch our webcast and look in on all the antics.

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(Archived video after the jump below)

This week we get the skinny on some of Chevrolet’s upcoming products as we talk to Russ Clark, the Product Marketing Director for the brand. In particular we’ll be asking him about the next-gen Malibu, but we’ll also be asking him about the news that the redesigned Impala will be built in Detroit. John McElroy and the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, will also be talking about the upcoming Indy 500 weekend, which marks the 100th anniversary of the race. They’ll be talking about the four women who will be running on Sunday and how some of the big teams choked in qualification. John will also be joined in studio by Todd Lassa from Motor Trend.

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners Rumblestrip.net and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!

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You can win an autographed copy of “Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business” by the car guy to end all car guys, Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman of General Motors. To enter, all you have to do is help us get the word out to your local public television station about Autoline Detroit. Read below for all the details and rules of the contest, and be sure to check out our interview with Mr. Lutz in the coming weeks.

1. One Bob Lutz autographed book will be given away by Autoline each Friday in June (3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th) with the winner announced on Autoline Daily.

2. To be considered eligible, contestants must:

(a) send an e-mail to his/her local PBS Program Manager asking that the station carry Autoline.

(e.g., I would like (your station) to carry the weekly news/talk show Autoline.)

(b) then forward a separate copy of e-mail to [email protected]. No entry will be considered valid unless it is forwarded — no CC:s allowed.

3. If contestant lives in an area where Autoline is already being broadcast by local PBS station, he/she may still enter the contest by sending an e-mail to the local PBS Program Director thanking the station for broadcasting Autoline. Then forward that copy to [email protected].

(e.g., I enjoy watching Autoline. Please keep broadcasting it.)

4. Contestants may enter once a week but can only win one time.

5. Entries must be in received at [email protected] by 12AM Midnight Eastern Time each Friday in June for consideration.

6. All valid entries will combined into one list where the winner will be chosen randomly.

7. All e-mails, names and addresses entered in Bob Lutz Autoline book giveaway contest may be used by Autoline & Blue Sky Productions for possible future promotional purposes.

8. Contest open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

Runtime 1:53

As long as we have traveled at great speed there have been those seeking to limit that speed. Highway speed limits have not increased in 50 years, while car technology and driver abilities have greatly improved in that time. John McElroy pleads his case as to why high speed on the highway is an achievable goal.

Runtime 1:33

In two short weeks, everyone’s favorite automotive call-in show will return to the airwaves of the Internet with host Michelle Naranjo back at the helm. But — we’re making some improvements to the show, see what surprises we have in store by hitting that play button!

Runtime 1:33

Good things cost money. Great things cost a lot of money. BMW’s X5 M is a fast, fun-driving luxury crossover with a sticker price two bucks short of a fortune. Is it worth the nearly six-figure window sticker? Autoline Daily’s Craig Cole spent a few days driving one. Click “play” for his thoughts.

Coming up on RoundAbout . . . Ford Model T enthusiasts are commemorating a special anniversary in a very momentous way . . .  literally.  Some pretty unlucky people had to put out a vehicle fire with some pretty unsavory stuff, find out who and what right here.  And we’ll take you back to the bad old days with a look at some of the worst station wagons ever built.  Stick around for all of this garbage dumpster-load more, only on RoundAbout.  This week’s special guest is Alex Kierstein of Hooniverse.com.

Brought to you by Advance Auto Parts and Tire Rack

Play RoundAbout Episode 83

Download MP3 | | |
Featuring: Alex Kierstein, Steven J. Ewing, Michelle Naranjo, Craig Cole and Ben Sanders

Show notes and Ustream video after the jump!

RoundAbout records LIVE on Fridays at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT. Visit RoundAboutShow.com and click Watch Live to watch our webcast and look in on all the antics.

continue reading »

Download MP3

(Archived video after the jump below)

This week we’re talking about one of the best ways to have fun wasting fuel as well as all the boring ways to save as much gas as we can in a crisis. First we’ll be getting into some drag racing talk with long-time Milan Dragway Track Announcer Michael G. Nastos. We’ll talk about the emerging popularity of vintage drag racing, something called “Project 1320″ and why the IRS is investigating the NHRA. In the meantime, a survey says most Americans want to get 62 miles per gallon. So why aren’t hybrids that popular? While we’re at it: why haven’t CAFE regulations ever reduced our dependence on foreign oil? John McElroy is also joined in studio by the Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, and auto journalist Jim McCraw.

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners Rumblestrip.net and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!

continue reading »

Runtime 2:14

Deputy Director Chris Grundler shows John McElroy the EPA’s heavy duty certification dynamometer and explains the testing process for new products entering the American market.

Runtime 3:25

One of the projects in the works at the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory is a new fuel efficient powertrain for large vehicles such as buses and delivery trucks. Deputy Director Chris Grundler explains how it works.