Autoline Daily - Video

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 Fle...

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 comme...

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.

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 loo...

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...

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 H...

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 Volk...

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!

California and a handful of other states are following Nevada’s lead in allowing autonomous cars. Renault is introducing a new “square” gasoline engine inspired by F1 racing. GM will start selling trucks that can run on gasoline and natural gas. All that and more, plus Seamus McElroy has a look at the new Fiat 500 Abarth.

The February SAAR in the American market hit 15 million units, a jaw-dropping surge that has taken everyone in the business by surprise. Nissan will sell low cost cars in growing markets under the Datsun nameplate starting in 2014. A test drive of the all-new Mazda CX-5 with Autoline Daily correspondent Isaac Bouchard. All that and more, plus guest host Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com shares her t...

Volkswagen just announced it will premiere a convertible version of its Golf GTI at next week's Geneva Motor Show. The Detroit Three are starting to become more popular in California, a market that's long been dominated by import brands. Audi released a list of seven advanced technologies it's developing for future vehicles. All that and more, plus guest host Christie Schweinsberg from WardsAuto f...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was on the verge of mandating back-up cameras in all vehicles but decided to put those plans on hold as it collects more input. In another sign of the problems at Fisker, the company just appointed former Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda as the new CEO of the company. The head of OnStar, Linda Marshall, is stepping down from the company after being named...

China is “getting the lead out,” and this time it’s an American company that’s in trouble. Indicators say the boom times are just getting started for heavy trucks. Holden starts production on an LPG version of the ever-popular Commodore. All that and more, plus we walk around the Scion iQ with head honcho Jack Hollis.

The Chinese government says it will only buy domestic vehicles for government fleets. Fiat will build two factories in Russia to make Jeeps. Meet Toyota’s $83,000 luxury minivan. All that and more, plus an eerie look into the past as we dissect some historical footage.

Volkswagen just posted record financial results for 2011. Its earnings before interest and taxes were up 58 percent to 15.1 billion dollars. Panasonic announced it will supply lithium-ion batteries to Ford for its hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Mercedes-Benz could be toying with the idea of a four-door SLS. Sketches of one popped up in a German patent application. All that and more, plus a pr...

In somewhat of an unexpected move GM named Jon Lauckner Vice President and Chief Technology Officer starting April first. Images of the all-new Volvo V40 were leaked before the car debuts at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Honda announced its top executive in North America will also become the second highest executive in the company. All that and more, plus a look at the all-new Toyota Prius c.

Chinese automakers are invading Europe from Bulgaria to Britain to Sicily. Despite an overall trend downward, teen traffic deaths jump by several percentage points. Peugeot unveils two B-segment concepts ahead of Geneva. All that and more, plus John McElroy explains what Mazda must do to turn itself around.

Hyundai and Kia are being sued for patent infringement with their hybrid technology in the Sonata and the Optima. MINI is showing off a utility version of the Clubman called the Clubvan before it premieres next month at the Geneva Motor Show. February car sales in the U.S. are expected to be near 1.1 million units which translates to a SAAR of 14.3 million units. All that and more, plus a look at...

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposes new rules to curb distracted driving. Porsche’s gumbo-evoking, not-yet-unveiled SUV gets a new name. Tesla and Mercedes and Mercedes and Renault are partnering up and swapping parts. All that and more, plus Seamus McElroy has the latest details about the new Hyundai Azera and Genesis Coupe.

The folks at J.D. Power just released their latest Vehicle Dependability Study and Toyota carried the day. Its Lexus brand was ranked No. 1. A couple days ago President Obama unveiled his latest budget proposal for the next fiscal year. Among other things, it proposes raising the tax credit for electric vehicles. An extremely rare 1913 Hispano-Suiza is going up for auction at the Amelia Island Con...

Uh-oh, there’s more trouble in green-car land. Like China, EVs are simply not selling in Europe. The stage is set for Ford to unveil its redesigned B-Max compact MPV. It will take a bow in less than two weeks at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Audi is getting ready to drop a bomb — a 450-horsepower explosive charge in the form of its new RS 4 Avant. All that and more, plus John answers...

Yet another study shows that electric cars would do more to damage the environment in China than using gasoline- or diesel-powered cars. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in the U.S. is asking the Obama Administration to tweak its proposed fuel-economy regulations. They want certain credits to start applying right now, not after 2016. Thanks to Land Rover’s surging sales Indian automaker Ta...