Autoline After Hours

Here at Autoline After Hours we pride ourselves on tracking down the all-important "gurus of go" in the automotive industry. Well, dang if we ain't lassoed another! Jordan Lee is the Global Chief Engineer and Program Manager for Small Block Engines at GM. But, Mr. Lee might just be upstaged by our other special guest on set: none other than the heart and soul of the Corvette itself, the 6.2L LT1 V-8. Plus, we'll get into some hot topics this week including the end of the great driving boom as miles driven per capita continues to decline. The new Fiat-Chrysler headquarters could end up in Auburn Hills, MI -- surprised? And is Jaguar going too far with its "baddest boy on the block" claim? Joining Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, to discuss all this and more is Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production and Scott Burgess from Motor Trend.

While the rest of the automotive industry is trying to scrounge up every last sale it can, Ferrari has decided it's selling too many. On the subject of product, can you tell the difference between the old and new Silverado designs? Has Chevrolet built a vehicle that lacks differentiation? Meanwhile, Jaguar is making it very clear what it is and what it isn't -- we'll explain what we mean. Onboard to discuss all this and a whole lot more with John McElroy is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, Jim Hall from 2953 Analytics and Todd Lassa of Automobile.

The idea of hub motors takes conventional car thinking and turns it on its head. Instead of one centrally located motor that drives some or all of the wheels, the motors are the wheels. Protean Electric thinks it has the formula to make EVs work, and this week we'll talk to the man with the plan, Chairman and CEO Bob Purcell. We'll be asking Bob when to expect the first vehicle rolling off the line equipped with Protean hub motors. Of course we'll also get into the hot topics of the week including slowing car sales in the U.S., GM and Chrysler's sour earnings and more. Joining John McElroy in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

Sometimes it's good to hang out with "just the guys." That's why on this week's Autoline After Hours, we'll be eschewing our normally scheduled guest segment for a longer discussion about the news of the week and other hot topics that need talking out. Ford reports a record first-quarter profit with North America providing a strong contribution, Buick takes the wraps off a Riviera concept in Shanghai and Fisker goes under the gun of the U.S. Congress. Joining John McElroy in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production and AAH alum David Welch from Bloomberg Businessweek.

There is no shortage of innovative thinking when it comes to internal combustion technology. And, as this week's guest will demonstrate, Achates Power is no exception. David Johnson is the President and CEO of the company, which is developing an innovative opposed-piston engine that will be more fuel efficient and less expensive to produce than conventional power plants. But, we'll be asking him, is the world ready for such a radical new design? Will a mainstream automaker take a chance at adopting an untested technology? Plus we'll get into the news of the week including the game of musical chairs going on amongst the executive ranks of Chrysler and Nissan. And, Edmunds projects that 40-50 percent of new car sales will be hybrids... in the year 2040. Joining John McElroy in studio to discuss this and a whole lot more is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

What do the Nissan Micra, Chery Tiggo and Audi Q7 all have in common? While one of these things is not like the other, all have engines with Eaton superchargers. And, like turbochargers in recent memory, get ready to see superchargers in cars you would have never expected. This week's guest is Grant Terry, the Business Development Manager for the Eaton Supercharger Product Line. We'll be asking him what advantages superchargers have over the ever-more ubiquitous turbocharger technology. Plus, we'll be discussing the news of the week including a tale of two startups: EcoMotors and Fisker. And, which is really the best seller, the Ford Focus or Toyota Corolla? Joining John McElroy in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Lindsay Brooke from SAE.

Why is it that everyone wants better roads to drive on, but no one wants to fix them? If only we'd build them like the German autobahns, nary a pothole there'd be ... right? It may not be so simple. Kirk Steudle is the Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation and one of the foremost road experts in the country. We'll be asking him about what it takes to build highways and byways that last, and we'll discuss how we're going to pay for it one way or the other. We'll have plenty of news on tap as well including the latest car sales breakdown. Also, the long-forgotten Detroit Electric has been revived in the form of a sporty Tesla-like model. Plus, the latest news on GM's full-size trucks: do they have what it takes to compete? Joining John McElroy in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

Chevrolet's new Impala is finally here and it's big and beautiful, but does it have what it takes to challenge full-size competition like the Chrysler 300 and Hyundai Azera? As this sedan rolls into the studio, we'll be asking Chief Engineer Todd Pawlik to give us the download on the new car. We'll also get into the hottest topics of the week including the myriad reveals of the New York Auto Show. While we're on the subject, we'll discuss whether all these auto shows are worth it. Australia is canceling at least one of its major shows due to lack of interest, should others be on the chopping block? And, Ford has just initiated a very interesting program challenging app makers to dig deep into its fuel economy data. Joining John McElroy in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

This week we gave our guest of honor a very challenging task: name the best vehicle designs since 1950. But, John Manoogian II, former GM designer, was up to the task, so join us as he presents, and we discuss, his short list. Did your favorite car make it? Find out! Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, takes the helm tonight and is joined by Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

Remember the days when Chrysler interiors were wall-to-wall shiny plastic? It's quickly becoming a fading memory because, with Klaus Busse, Head of Interior Design, at the helm, the company's cabins are among the best in the business. As Mr. Busse joins us tonight, we'll ask him what innovations we can expect as future generations of vehicles roll off the line. Per usual, we'll get into the hot topics of the week. Joining John McElroy in studio with the best insider discussion in the industry is his co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Drew Winter from WardsAuto.com.