Autoline After Hours

Well, this was the big week. The North Amer--sorry--Detroit Auto Show has arrived and everyone's eager to see the future of the auto industry in the shadow of last year's economic meltdown. GM is at the show with four fewer brands than a year ago, while Fiat brought Chrysler's new Italian step-siblings in to class up the joint. Meanwhile, the other domestic auto maker, Ford, seems to have owned this year's show. In to review the show as well as talk about some innovative new engine technology is Don Runkle, the CEO of EcoMotors. Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and David Welch from BusinessWeek and Bloomberg News also join John McElroy in studio.

It’s the first AAH of the new decade (depending on who you ask) and we’re ready for a dose of automotive rebirth. How convenient, then, that we also find ourselves on the cusp of the 2010 North American International Auto Show, which is in the process of renewal. Doug Fox, Co-Chair of NAIAS joins us to discuss what we can expect at the show this year and what’s new at Cobo Hall. We wonder, is it time for major change for the show by losing the “NAIAS?” And will the EcoXperience still, well, stink? Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Steve Finlay from Ward’s Dealer Business magazine join John McElroy in studio.

We're gathered for our last show of the year and we thought it'd be fun to play a game of "I Spy" with the master, Jim Dunne, legendary spy photographer. Over his 45-year career, Jim brought us many of our first glimpses at new product before they ever hit the auto show floor. Now he's here to share some of his best tales of automotive espionage. Of course we've also got to discuss the tumultuous world of green vehicles of late: Chevy Volt - the Dance, Audi's De Nysschen says the EV "love affair" has to end and Honda is under pressure after the Civic Hybrid doesn't meet mileage claims. Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and David Welch from BusinessWeek and Bloomberg News help John McElroy in studio.

The gang is back on home turf after a wild week in Los Angeles, and while the year is winding down, the news certainly is not. And, once again, GM is dominating the headlines as it continues to shuffle its management around with key figures leaving for “personal reasons.” Joining us as a guest panelist to share his years of auto industry expertise is Sandy Munro, a noted expert in design and the president of Munro and Associates. On board once again is Mr. Autoextremist, himself, Peter De Lorenzo and David Welch of BusinessWeek and Bloomberg News.

We've got our sunglasses ready for this episode as we come to you direct from the floor of the 2009 LA Auto Show, and it's the true After Hours experience as we start our webcast once the floor has been cleared of journalists and PR reps. For this special edition of AAH we bring you three unique personalities: Mark Vaughn of AutoWeek, Karl Brauer of Edmunds.com and Mark Rechtin from Automotive News.

Another After Hours and we've got two fresh faces in the Autoline studio: David Kiley of ICON Creative and Jean Halliday of Ad Age. They join John McElroy and Peter De Lorenzo this week to discuss the news of the week, especially as it relates to marketing. Brilliance Auto in China eyes abandoned Saturn stores. GM posts a huge loss while the other domestics are on the upswing. Chrysler looks for a new ad agency. All that and we answer your questions in Rapid Fire and have a special announcement about our next episode.

Well, here we are again with, frankly, a calmer news week behind us. And in this episode we bring you a very special guest: the great Hal Sperlich, certainly one of the most famous product planners in the auto industry. Hal was the former president of Chrysler, but beyond that he is the father of the Mustang, Fiesta, K-car and the Minivan. Clearly, the man has got some good stories to tell, and he does, but we also get him to lend his perspective on the latest automotive turmoil. On hand for the discussion are John McElroy, Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and David Welch of BusinessWeek.

Could more news have been crammed into one week? Hardly. GM decides to keep Opel, Ford posts a billion-dollar profit and Toyota gets in trouble with NHTSA. All that, plus the After Hours guys are all whipped after a nine-hour marathon press conference at Chrysler. So what does Fiat’s wizkid have up his sleeve? Find out in today’s show as John McElroy is joined by regulars Peter De Lorenzo the Autoextremist and David Welch of BusinessWeek as well as guest panelist Paul Eisenstein from TheDetroitBureau.com.

After a week's vacation for the entire AAH gang, the guys are eager to get back into the swing of things. Helping them usher in Big Episode 30 is Mark Reuss, GM's new Vice President of Global Vehicle Engineering who is newly back from Australia where he was in charge of Holden's operations. Peter De Lorenzo the Autoextremist and David Welch from BusinessWeek return as the regulars and are eager to learn where Mark intends to take engineering as part of the new GM. Plus, we get his inside perspective on why the G8 isn't going to live on in consumers' hands--at least not yet.

It’s that time again, Mr. McElroy’s out and the inmates are here to run the asylum with the Autoextremist leading the charge. Tonight Peter De Lorenzo welcomes Rod Meloni from WDIV in Detroit, Frank Markus of Motor Trend, and the irrepressible Jim Hall from 2953 Analytics. Carlos Ghosn bets the farm on the success of EVs. Ray LaHood declares Detroit bailout money well-spent after a visit to the Motor City. The panelists debate the most significant cars in the first decade of the 21st century. All that plus we get to your questions in Rapid Fire!