Autoline After Hours

This week on another thrilling After Hours we’re running at redline as guest panelist Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics takes the discussion to a new level of intensity. Along with John McElroy and the regulars, Peter De Lorenzo of AutoExtremist.com and BusinessWeek Detroit Bureau Chief David Welch, Mr. Hall brings his expansive industry knowledge to bear as the discussion swings from the GM management shake-up to Ferrari to Mr. Welch’s little-known alter ego. Amid all the excitement, we even get some breaking news about the fate of Cash for Clunkers. And, as always, we get to your incisive questions in this week’s installment of Rapid Fire.

When it comes to cars and trucks, it’s not just the manufacturers who are researching what customers want. There are some independent voices out there that do focus groups, among other activities, on all makes and models of cars and trucks with some fascinating results. One of those experts joins the panel tonight to discuss what he and his team discover about the buying whims of the public. Art Spinella is the brain trust of CNW Marketing Research and he joins John, Peter and Jeff Gilbert from CBS Radio Detroit via Skype from his homebase in Bandon, Oregon. The guys have a chance to talk about not only Art’s automotive research but this week’s news as well, including the big changes in GM management, company profits (kind of) for Ford and (definitely) for Hyundai, CAFE Pay to Play and of course all your insightful questions during Rapid Fire.

This isn’t a reference to a classic Sam Cooke tune or even its Blues Brothers’ cover, but if you’ve watched an NBA game the last six months or cruised YouTube at all you know this title is talking about a couple of hip-hop hamsters in a blazing hot Kia ad featuring the all-new Soul. Joining John McElroy and our panel, David Welch from BusinessWeek and Scott Burgess from The Detroit News, is the guy who is responsible for that ad as well as all Kia America Motors marketing, Michael Sprague. Michael will be discussing not only the Soul but Kia’s other new compact cars the Forte and Forte Koup as well as its growing U.S. marketshare. In addition, John finally announces the winner of our GM Bankruptcy Bonanza.

It’s a big night of battery talk on Autoline After Hours this week as University of Michigan Professor, CEO of her own startup and battery expert Ann Marie Sastry joins John, Peter and BusinessWeek’s David Welch to discuss automotive’s electric future. The crew also discusses GM’s impending exit from bankruptcy as well as someone’s idea (and we hope it wasn’t President Obama’s) of changing the color of the company’s iconic logo from blue to green. Of course there’s also an update on who might be the big winner of our GM Bankruptcy Bonanza as well as an announcement on Jason Vines’ AAH absence. All this and more on this week’s edition of Autoline After Hours.

With the screwy way auto brands are moving around these days it’s like trying to watch the pea in a shell game. Hummer’s going here, Saturn there and Saab who know’s where? Well one guy who may not have all the answers but certainly has a good idea is Charlie Hughes, the former auto exec with Land Rover and Mazda (to name two), author of the book Branding Iron and our guest on this week’s edition of Autoline After Hours. He joins John, Peter & Jason to discuss the future of the bankrupt Detroit Two, where Ford fits into the mix, as well as a bevy of other brand analysis. And after they handle this week’s Rapid Fire segment Jason updates us on on the leaders in the After Hours GM Bankruptcy Bonanza. We’re getting closer to a winner. Have a great and safe 4th of July everyone.

Octogenarian autowriting and racing icon Denise McCluggage joins the boys — John, Peter and Jason — for a 60-minute high speed discussion on all things automotive. Starting with a black and white look back into her past as a guest on the ’50s game show To Tell the Truth and onto her passionate desire for diesel future, they manage to squeeze in a few other topics like Cash for Clunkers, Chrysler’s Empty Product Pantry and even a marriage proposal for Ms. McCluggage. Maybe she’ll deal with that one in our Rapid Fire round. Oh, and don’t forget to get an update on where you stand with our After Hours contest on just when GM will exit Bankruptcy. Sad to report, we already have some losers.

This week–despite the requisite beers–a very sober After Hours as we go into the nitty gritty of what’s going on at the bankrupt GM. John McElroy and the regulars, Peter De Lorenzo of AutoExtremist.com and PR master Jason Vines, are joined by Mark LaNeve, General Motors’ VP of Sales, Service and Marketing, to discuss the recovery the company is trying to wade through. What’s with the GM image spots? Why won’t GM create a Chevy version of the G8? How are GM’s dealers handling the end of their livelihoods? Plus, Mark answers your questions in our Rapid Fire segment.

Another week and another "golden" After Hours. John McElroy and the regulars, Peter De Lorenzo of AutoExtremist.com and PR master Jason Vines, are joined by John Mendel, Executive VP of American Honda, to discuss the automotive week that was. Honda celebrates 50 years, Mendel weighs in on Fiat’s restructuring efforts and Rush Limbaugh gets an earful from the resident Republican. Plus, we answer your questions in our "Rapid Fire" segment and we announce the details of our new GM Bankruptcy contest.

Another historic week in the auto industry and you can be sure the "After Hours" boys aren’t far behind. John McElroy and the regulars, Peter De Lorenzo of AutoExtremist.com and gonzo PR ace Jason Vines, are joined by Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press to discuss the automotive week that was. Tom calls on the ghost of John DeLorean, Bob Nardelli finds himself in a scandal over Viper and, oh yes, GM files for bankruptcy! Plus, we answer a few of your questions in our "Rapid Fire" segment and we celebrate 10 years of the AutoExtremist.

On this week’s riveting installment of Autoline After Hours, McElroy and the gang delve into a topic worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy they try to dig-up the root cause of Detroit’s painful decline. Of course John is joined in the studio by Peter De Lorenzo, but the other third of the regular After Hours gang, Jason Vines, is out of town so he joins the fray via telephone. Standing in, or rather sitting in for Vines and getting his baptism by fire in the conversation crucible is Csaba Csere, long-time industry expert and former editor-in-chief of Car and Driver. This week, the group discusses and a diversity of topics ranging from horses and Fudge to cheddar cheese oh and, by the way, some of the colossal blunders that backed GM into the corner it’s in today. As always, your participation in the discussion is paramount. We take more of your questions and comments in the edgy “Rapid-Fire segment in the latter half of the broadcast. You do not want to miss this installment of Autoline After Hours, the most candid car-themed discussion around.