Autoline Daily - Audio

Fisker Automotive is trying to raise 100 million dollars through private equity after the U.S. government refused to loan more funds to the company. Ford is producing an hour-long reality series called “Escape Routes” featuring the 2013 Escape that will air on NBC. Dodge announced it will enter the Global RallyCross Championship Series with a rally version of the Dart. All that and more, plus another entertaining installment of "Hall vs. Hall."

General Motors is set to announce details of its turn-around plan in Europe which is reported to include closing one or two plants. Freightliner is trying to reinvent the long-haul truck with a new concept called the Revolution Innovation. Earlier this month the UAW began soliciting signatures from workers at VW’s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant to organize the facility. All that and more, plus a preview of Autoline This Week about Bryce Hoffman’s new book, “American Icon,” which is all about the turnaround that happened at Ford under Alan Mulally.

Gasoline prices have shot up around the world, but they would have to go up even more to make it worthwhile to buy an electric vehicle. Suzuki sells a version of the Swift in Europe called the GTi, with a lower case “i.” This, for obvious reasons, has really ticked off Volkswagen. Toyota just announced pricing of the hotly anticipated Scion FR-S. All that and more, plus a look at the 2013 Ford Flex.

Production of the Chevy Camaro ZL1 was delayed due to an undisclosed “quality assessment” issue. The Chinese government is raising the price of fuel in the country. Even though the U.S. unemployment rate still remains at its highest level in nearly 30 years, trucking companies are having a hard time finding enough qualified drivers. All that and more, plus John responds to your questions and comments in You Said It!

It looks like China’s gravy train is derailing and German luxury automakers are panicking. Dodge is introducing a new version of the Durango SUV aimed at law enforcement and fire departments. Ford may have debuted a completely redesigned Tourneo van in Geneva a few weeks ago, but the name has a long and interesting history. All that and more, plus we take the new Hyundai Azera for a test drive.

Ward’s Auto is forecasting that new car sales in March will be the highest in five years. Willie G. Davidson, the senior vice president and chief styling officer at Harley-Davidson is set to retire. Kia is suspending production at its plant in the U.S. due to a fire that broke out at a factory operated by one of its suppliers. All that and more, plus a look at how Mazda came up with a strong but lightweight structure in the CX-5.

Car sales in Europe have dropped for five straight months, and with every month the downturn is getting worse. The Range Rover Evoque is such a hit the company is hiring 1,000 new employees and moving to three shifts to keep up with demand. Volkswagen will build Porsches at its plant in Osnabruck, Germany to handle overflow from Porsche’s main factory in Zuffenhausen. All that and more, plus a look at a motorcycle that supplier Visteon developed for growing markets.

The auto bailouts of GM and Chrysler have been a lightning rod in this year’s election campaign, but new polls show Americans are starting to warm up to them. GM and Chrysler dealers that survived the restructuring are now seeing record sales, and profits. Mazda worked some magic on the new CX-5 to make it handle well and ride smoothly. All that and more, plus John responds to some of his favorite questions and comments from the past week in "You Said It!"

Volvo is in talks with overnight basketball sensation Jeremy Lin to help market cars in China. Chevrolet says its coming out with a new car for the American market, which will also race in NASCAR — we think we know what it is. Denso will begin testing vehicle-to-vehicle technology on Chinese roads. All that and more, plus Craig Cole has Autoline’s first look at the 2013 Ford Taurus.

Nissan will race the revolutionary DeltaWing car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Car sales are on the way up, up, up, but a lack of car haulers and other supply chain issues will prevent sales from hitting their potential. Audi is in talks to buy luxury motorcycle manufacturer Ducati. All that and more, plus Craig Cole has his first impressions of the new Toyota Prius c.

VW wants to match last year’s operating profit which was close to 15 billion dollars but it won’t be easy. Mazda is looking at laying off employees in its North American operations due, in part, to the strength of the Japanese yen. Hyundai is readying an updated Santa Fe crossover to introduce at the New York Auto Show. All that and more, plus a fun new segment called Hall vs. Hall featuring Jim Hall and his evil twin brother Bob.

Consumer Report’s purchased a Fisker Karma to test drive but it broke down with less than 200 miles on the odometer. GM announced that the 2013 Chevy Malibu will have an optional turbocharged engine that cranks out 259 horsepower. Mazda says it’s pulling the plug on its CX-7 crossover. All that and more, plus the story behind a Jewish engineer who really came up with the idea for the original Volkswagen Beetle.

BMW reports the highest profits in the history of the company. Obama announces a $4.7 billion plan to get Americans to buy more fuel-efficient cars, but diesels are conspicuously absent. Mazda’s weight reduction on their newest crossover has gone to obsessive levels. All that and more, plus Seamus McElroy has a report on Volvo’s latest Polestar-tuned models!

Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne could be seeking a partnership with Mazda and Suzuki. Ferrari says the “Occupy” movement is hitting them where it hurts. Mexico mandates that the remaining VW Beetle taxis have to go. All that and more, plus John McElroy responds to your questions and comments in this week’s edition of You Said It!

It’s Geneva Motor Show time and we’ve got the first batch of reveals including Bentley’s shiny crossover. And, Mazda’s Takeri concept could be hinting at the next Mazda6. Ford updates its MyFord Touch infotainment system to stem the tide of poor quality ratings. All that and more, plus Isaac Bouchard gets out on the track with the new BMW 3 Series.