Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Opinion: US truck fleets turning towards CNG, LPG]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/us-truck-fleets-turning-towards-cng-lpg/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/us-truck-fleets-turning-towards-cng-lpg/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/us-truck-fleets-turning-towards-cng-lpg/#commentsFiled under: , ,

International Transtar big rig with trailer - front three-quarter view

Fleets can save well over $150,000 in fuel costs over the six-year life of a truck.

The electric vehicle market is turning into a financial nightmare for many of the automakers and suppliers that invested in the technology. Hybrids only comprise three percent of total new car sales, despite there being over 40 different models. And fuel cells are still more science lab experiment than mass-production reality.

But in a different part of the market, the green revolution looks a lot more promising. Commercial truck fleets in the United States are now keenly interested in converting their trucks to nun on natural gas or propane.

Thanks to the precipitous drop in prices for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid propane (LPG), fleets can save a fortune by switching over to these fuels. OEMs such as Freightliner and Thomas Built Bus have jumped into the market. International now offers the Transtar Class 8 semi (above) that runs on CNG. A cost calculator on the truck maker's website shows that a fleet can save well over $150,000 in fuel costs over the six-year life of a truck. For fleets that run their per-mile operating costs to the penny, this is a financial windfall.

Continue reading US truck fleets turning towards CNG, LPG

US truck fleets turning towards CNG, LPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelsautogascngcommercial truckdieselfrackingfreightlinerfuel economygasinternationallpgthomas built bustruckingtrucking fleetThu, 21 Mar 2013 18:29:00 EST<![CDATA[How Volkswagen is run like no other car company]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/how-volkswagen-is-run-like-no-other-car-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/how-volkswagen-is-run-like-no-other-car-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/how-volkswagen-is-run-like-no-other-car-company/#commentsFiled under:



Volkswagen is run very differently than every other automaker. Actually, its corporate structure looks more like General Motors did from 1920 to 1970. In other words, VW now looks like the GM that was once the largest and most profitable corporation in the world.

VW is not in any danger of having other automakers copying its corporate structure. Most are unaware of VW's modus operandi, and besides, by traditional business school metrics, VW looks like a productivity basket case.

Any efficiency expert would tell you that VW is too vertically integrated, has too much overlap and duplication, and has way too many brands. VW, meanwhile, keeps growing bigger, stronger and more profitable.

The give-away that Volkswagen Group is run differently from every other car company lies with the fact that it employs a staggering 549,300 people globally. Fortune magazine lists it as the eighth largest employer in the world, behind giants such as Walmart and the Chinese post office. VW has almost as many full-time employees as General Motors (213,000), Ford (164,000) and Fiat-Chrysler (197,000) put together. While those three behemoths collectively built 19 million vehicles last year, VW "only" built 8.5 million.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every month he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading How Volkswagen is run like no other car company

How Volkswagen is run like no other car company originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfred sloangeneral motorsgmjohn mcelroyvolkswagenThu, 06 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Manufacturing advances bring carbon fiber closer to mass production]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/manufacturing-advances-bring-carbon-fiber-closer-to-mass-product/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/manufacturing-advances-bring-carbon-fiber-closer-to-mass-product/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/manufacturing-advances-bring-carbon-fiber-closer-to-mass-product/#commentsFiled under:



There's no one single breakthrough, but rather a combination of improvements that make this possible.

Automakers have dreamed of using carbon fiber in mass production for decades. But sky-high raw material prices and painfully slow manufacturing cycle times meant that dream was always more like a fantasy. Not anymore. Several recent advancements mean that carbon fiber could soon play an important role in the automotive industry.

Carbon fiber has been used in race cars, exotic sports cars and in automotive aftermarket parts for years. But now automakers believe they've identified the path of how to use it in mass production, and do so by the second half of this decade.

There's no one single breakthrough, but rather a combination of improvements that make this possible. And they're coming just in time for automakers who face the daunting task of boosting their average fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every month he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Manufacturing advances bring carbon fiber closer to mass production

Manufacturing advances bring carbon fiber closer to mass production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon fibercarbon revolutiondow automotivefeaturedoak ridge national labratoryplasanTeilkaskotorayTue, 27 Nov 2012 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Hydrogen fuel cells may get a shot at batteries after all]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/hydrogen-fuel-cells-may-get-a-shot-at-batteries-after-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/hydrogen-fuel-cells-may-get-a-shot-at-batteries-after-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/hydrogen-fuel-cells-may-get-a-shot-at-batteries-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What Changed DOE Secretary Steven Chu's Mind About Hydrogen Fuel Cells

natural gas fire

Natural gas now being retrieved from shale provides an enormous source of hydrogen.

He'll never use the word "fracking," but thanks to that new drilling technique, the U.S. Secretary of Energy now admits he's changed his mind about hydrogen fuel cells. That's because the abundance of natural gas now being retrieved from shale also provides an enormous source of hydrogen that, when coupled with new reforming technology, produces energy with a low carbon footprint.

When Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, was named Secretary of the Department of Energy in the Obama Administration, he quickly redirected much of the Department's automotive research efforts into battery electric vehicles. So much so that proponents of hydrogen fuel cells complained loudly that the Secretary was starving their research efforts.

Automakers will no doubt welcome the Secretary's change of heart. General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Daimler, BMW and Hyundai, not only have decades-long development efforts in this area, they claim they can have fuel cell cars showroom ready by 2015.

This is not to say Secretary Chu is giving up on battery development. He's not. Indeed, he expects big strides in battery development in the next decade. But it seems possible the Administration is looking to fuel cells as a "Plan B" in case BEV sales don't meet expectations. That would be an astute move.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every month he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Hydrogen fuel cells may get a shot at batteries after all

Hydrogen fuel cells may get a shot at batteries after all originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogdepartment of energyfeaturedfrackinghydrogenhydrogen fuel cellsjohn mcelroynatural gassteven chuThu, 26 Jul 2012 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: How autonomous cars are about to change our future]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/how-autonomous-cars-are-about-to-change-our-future/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/how-autonomous-cars-are-about-to-change-our-future/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/how-autonomous-cars-are-about-to-change-our-future/#commentsFiled under: ,

New Technology Aims To Take Your Hands Off The Steering Wheel

autonomous car

The biggest hurdles to autonomous cars will be legal, not technical.

Most car enthusiasts hate the idea of cars that can drive themselves. But autonomous cars will get here faster than most people realize. Slowly but surely, automobiles are doing more of our driving for us. It's only a matter of time before they take over completely.

Just look at how much control we've already ceded to the computers under the hood. Anti-lock brakes, which are consistently better at threshold braking than mere mortals, are pretty much standard equipment. So are traction control and stability control. We now have blind spot detection, lane departure warning, active lane control, and even self-parking.

Now comes the next step. Mercedes-Benz and Audi recently demonstrated Traffic Jam Assist, which uses adaptive cruise control and automatic steering to completely take control of a car up to 60 kilometers an hour (about 37 mph). Google has racked up tens of thousands of miles on its fleet of fully autonomous Toyota Prius hybrids on California roads. The technology will be showroom ready before the end of the decade.

The biggest hurdles will be legal, not technical. For example, who's at fault when one of these cars gets in an accident? And how will the police pull over an autonomous car if they need to? But we'll resolve those issues, and when we do, autonomous cars will have a bigger impact on society than when the first horseless carriages appeared over a century ago.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every month he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading How autonomous cars are about to change our future

How autonomous cars are about to change our future originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Autoline on Autoblogautonomousautonomous cardriverless cargooglegoogle carjohn mcelroyTue, 27 Mar 2012 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Grand Theft Auto goes high-tech in the digital age]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/grand-theft-auto-goes-high-tech/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/grand-theft-auto-goes-high-tech/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/grand-theft-auto-goes-high-tech/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Modern Car Thieves Outsmart The Law By Cloning

car theft

Car thieves are adopting depressingly creative ways to clone cars.
When it comes to car theft, the good news is that law enforcement has become so good that theft rates have dropped for a decade. The bad news is that this is forcing car thieves to become far more clever and daring than they ever were in the past.

Not long ago, chop shops were the favorite fence for car thieves. They'd drop off a stolen vehicle where it would get "chopped" into its most lucrative parts and sold off for big profits. But today, chop shops are practically passé. Now car thieves find it faster, safer and more profitable to "clone" a car.

Cloning is not a new practice, but it's becoming more and more popular. It involves stealing a car, then creating a new title and VIN for it, but doing it in a way that makes it very difficult for law enforcement to track. And car thieves are adopting depressingly creative ways to clone cars.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every month he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Grand Theft Auto goes high-tech in the digital age

Grand Theft Auto goes high-tech in the digital age originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline dailyautoline on autoblogcar cloningcar theftcar thieveschop shopjohn mcelroyopinionThu, 29 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford discloses more details on Lincoln's transformation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/ford-discloses-more-details-on-lincolns-transformation/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/ford-discloses-more-details-on-lincolns-transformation/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/ford-discloses-more-details-on-lincolns-transformation/#commentsFiled under:



This is going to be a serious effort, and the early signs are encouraging.
The Ford Motor Company is finally marshaling the resources and money to transform Lincoln into a true luxury brand again. While the company is guarded in discussing the full details of its plan, it's divulging enough for now to let the world know that this is going to be a serious effort. And the early signs are encouraging.

The linchpin to this turnaround will be daring new products and significantly upgraded dealerships. And the key to accomplishing that is a new organizational structure for Lincoln. Up through the 1950s, Lincoln was a stand-alone "house" with its own headquarters, designers, engineers and assembly. The new organization will not recreate that original "house" concept, but it's a big step in the right direction.

Lincoln says it will not abandon its traditional customers, but it must attract a new generation of buyers, people with a different psychographic mindset than those who have been buying Town Cars for the last quarter century. Yet, while it may not abandon those buyers, saying they'll suffer from benign neglect may not be too far off the mark.

Of course, other luxury brands are not sitting still, and new entrants like the Hyundai Equus are getting into the game. Everyday that goes by only makes Lincoln's comeback all the more difficult. Even so, the Ford Motor Company has formidable resources and here's how it plans to put them to work.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every month he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Ford discloses more details on Lincoln's transformation

Ford discloses more details on Lincoln's transformation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline dailyautoline on autoblogfeaturedfordlincolnlincolns futuremksmkzThu, 11 Aug 2011 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: What if it turns out there's plenty of oil? [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/what-if-it-turns-out-theres-plenty-of-oil-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/what-if-it-turns-out-theres-plenty-of-oil-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/what-if-it-turns-out-theres-plenty-of-oil-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Oil in Saudi Arabia

As the relative price of gasoline drops, people are not motivated to buy small, fuel efficient cars.
All the top executives in the auto industry tell me that oil supplies will only get tighter this decade. They predict that fuel prices will do nothing but go up. And they say customers will be clamoring for small, fuel-efficient cars. Or electric ones. But what if it turns out they're wrong?

After all, over the last century the price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States, on an inflation-adjusted basis, has always come down. Always. Data from the Energy Information Administration shows that since 1919 the price of gasoline has spiked during war time or global turmoil, but it has always come down after that. This is a key reason why Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations have not worked. As the relative price of gasoline drops over time, people are not motivated to buy small, fuel efficient cars.

A decade ago, the Peak Oil theory attracted a lot of adherents. It postulated that global oil production would peak in 2006, and that the following shortage would send oil prices skyrocketing. Sure enough, in 2008 a barrel of oil shot to $150. It looked like the Peak Oil theory was coming true. But less than 12 months later it dropped to under $40 a barrel. And though the price is now closer to $100 you don't hear as much talk about Peak Oil anymore. Here's why.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading What if it turns out there's plenty of oil? [w/video]

What if it turns out there's plenty of oil? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogfrackinghydraulic fracturingjohn mcelroynatural gasoiloil productionpeak oilshalevideoTue, 19 Jul 2011 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Luxgen EV puts Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf on notice]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/21/luxgen-ev-puts-chevy-volt-and-nissan-leaf-on-notice/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/21/luxgen-ev-puts-chevy-volt-and-nissan-leaf-on-notice/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/21/luxgen-ev-puts-chevy-volt-and-nissan-leaf-on-notice/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Quick Spin In A Chinese EV Raises Eyebrows And Expectations

Luxgen EV MPV
Luxgen EV MPV - Click above for high-res image gallery

This little company could soon make a big splash in the automotive world.
Whether flashing down the highway or wending my way through Taipei's notoriously chaotic rush-hour traffic, I was duly impressed by Luxgen's battery-electric MPV. Quick, luxurious, and bristling with electronic technology, I was astonished at how well this car has been developed.

Acceleration from this seven-passenger minivan can only be described as brisk. Though I wasn't able to do any kind of timed runs, my seat-of-the-pants reaction is that it sure feels faster than a Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf. And with its aggressive re-gen, I was pretty much able to drive in stop and go traffic without using the brakes. That sure makes traffic jams a whole lot easier to take.

The only thing that detracted from my test drive was an annoying whine in the drivetrain, which my Luxgen hosts said was due to an issue that they're working on with the transmission. They assured me that noise would be gone before the vehicle goes on sale. I have no reason to doubt them.

John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Luxgen EV puts Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf on notice

Luxgen EV puts Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf on notice originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroyluxgenluxgen evluxgen ev+luxgen MPVluxgen mpv EV +Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/opinion-time-to-raise-the-speed-limit-how-does-150-mph-sound/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/opinion-time-to-raise-the-speed-limit-how-does-150-mph-sound/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/opinion-time-to-raise-the-speed-limit-how-does-150-mph-sound/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Ever since automobiles first appeared over 100 years ago, every automaker has tried to make them go faster. And they succeeded. Nearly every year, cars became more powerful with higher top-end speeds. But then, in the mid-1950s, we hit a plateau. The national speed limit was set at 70 miles per hour, and we've been stuck at that rate ever since. As a result, the automobile has made absolutely no progress as a transportation device in over half a century.

Speed itself is not a safety hazard. It's the difference in speeds between cars that lead to accidents.
Actually, in 1974, it got worse. The national speed limit was lowered to 55 mph, ostensibly to save fuel and lives (it did neither). Such an agonizingly slow rate of travel proved too much to take for most Americans. We demanded that the limit be raised, and we got it back to 70 mph. Now it's time to demand another raise.

I'm not talking about some sort of modest increase to, say, 85 mph. We need to put a comprehensive plan in place to gradually move the limit up, over the next couple of decades, to 150 miles an hour. And we need to do that with no sacrifice in fuel economy or safety.

Continue reading Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound?...

[Image: Getty]

Continue reading Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound?

Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroynational speed limitopinionspeedspeed limitspeed limitsMon, 11 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Five Questions For Ray LaHood]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/opinion-five-questions-for-ray-lahood/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/opinion-five-questions-for-ray-lahood/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/opinion-five-questions-for-ray-lahood/#commentsFiled under: ,

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

It took ten months. It involved the best brains in the nation. They conducted exhaustive tests. And Lord knows what it all cost. But when it was over, the results were totally predictable. The U.S. Department of Transportation could find nothing wrong with Toyota vehicles that would cause them to suddenly accelerate out of control.

The results were predictable because the country went through the same thing nearly a quarter of a century ago. Only then, it involved Audi. And in both of these cases, each car company was accused of having some sort of mysterious gremlin that would cause its cars to suddenly accelerate out of control.

But there is a significant difference between both investigations. Back then the Department of Transportation blamed it on driver error. Officially, they called it "pedal misapplication." But this time around, the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, wouldn't do that. He said it was caused by mechanical problems, i.e., sticky pedals and piled up floormats.

Too bad the Secretary didn't have the courage to call it like it is. By failing to identify the root cause of the problem, more people are going to lose their lives.

Continue reading...

[Image: Chip Somodevilla/Getty]

Continue reading Opinion: Five Questions For Ray LaHood

Opinion: Five Questions For Ray LaHood originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogfeaturedjohn mcelroynasanhtsaray lahoodtoyota recalltoyota safetyunintended accelerationTue, 22 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steel nanotechnology can reduce the weight of our cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/steel-nanotechnology-can-reduce-the-weight-of-our-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/steel-nanotechnology-can-reduce-the-weight-of-our-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/steel-nanotechnology-can-reduce-the-weight-of-our-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Making Stronger Steel As Light As Aluminum


Ford Fiesta body-in-white

The world's largest steel maker, ArcelorMital, says it has come up with a new kind of steel that the world has never seen before. Thanks to nanotechnology, the company says automakers can now match the weight of aluminum cars, but do it in steel at far lower cost.

It can take 188 pounds out of the body-in-white of a car... but total weight savings could be even bigger.
Specifically, ArcelorMital says it can take 188 pounds out of the body-in-white of a car. The body-in-white, or BIW, refers to the basic structure of a car, including the doors, hood and deck lid. That's a big number. By taking so much weight out of the structure, other components such as the powertrain, drivetrain, brakes, etc. can be downsized as well. In other words, the total weight savings could be even bigger.

ArcelorMital is already showing this new kind of steel to automakers. It isn't yet ready to publicly divulge any of the technical aspects of the steel or how it's using nanotechnology to make it. The company says we're still two to three years away before we get those kinds of details. And that's about the time we'll see this steel show up in production. No word yet on which car company may be the first to use it, but the rumor on the street is that Ford is all over this technology.

Continue reading...
John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Steel nanotechnology can reduce the weight of our cars

Steel nanotechnology can reduce the weight of our cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogbody in whitefeaturedjohn mcelroynano steelnanotechnanotechnologysteelMon, 31 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Can His Arsenal Survive New Management?

Bob Lutz

When Bob Lutz ran General Motors' product development efforts, he did something that no other car company has done in the history of making cars. He hired four automotive journalists to assess all of GM's new vehicles before they were OK'd for production. And their word was law. Everything had to be developed to their satisfaction.

That didn't go down well with GM's traditional engineering staff, at least not at first. They didn't like the fact that four outsiders, four media critics with no product development experience, could force them to make changes on a new-car program. But because the journos reported to Lutz, they had all the protection they needed.

[Lutz] personally asked me not to write anything about them. That's how much of a competitive advantage he felt they brought to GM.
Lutz hired them as full-time employees because he wanted an independent, third party voice to evaluate GM's cars as they went through their development stages. "These are four guys who made a living out of critiquing cars," Lutz says, "and they made a pretty good living at it." Since the four didn't hold any allegiance to the design, engineering or manufacturing staffs at GM, they could feel free to critique any car just as they would when they were full-time journalists.

Lutz tells me they were his secret weapons. He credits them with the reason why GM's cars are now tuned to world-class standards. These guys didn't design, engineer or develop any vehicles. That was done by GM's long-standing employees. But the journos brought an enthusiast magazine mind-set to the evaluation process to make sure there would be very little for the press to pick apart.

I've known about Lutz's secret weapons for several years. But he personally asked me not to write anything about them. That's how much of a competitive advantage he felt they brought to GM. He didn't want to see any other car company copying this approach. Since these guys are friends and colleagues whom I've known for years, I also didn't want to jeopardize their jobs. So I didn't write about them. Until now. And now I think it's important that I do.

Continue reading...
John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM

How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzdan akersonfeaturedgeneral motorsjack keeblermary barranick tworkrich cepposron sessiontom stephensTue, 25 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[2011 Nissan Leaf: Pros and Cons of living with an electric car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/17/2011-nissan-leaf-pros-and-cons-of-living-with-an-electric-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/17/2011-nissan-leaf-pros-and-cons-of-living-with-an-electric-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/17/2011-nissan-leaf-pros-and-cons-of-living-with-an-electric-car/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Nissan Leaf

Test driving an electric car at an automaker's media event is one thing. Taking one home and living with it is a completely different experience. Nissan just loaned me a Leaf for several days and I came away with a new appreciation for the potential pitfalls and rewards of owning an EV.

First off, I really liked the Leaf. It's a nice, comfortable car with more than adequate power, it's unbelievably quiet and offers a decent driving range. In fact, it's been a long time since I was this excited to bring a test car home. But it wasn't always a shiny, smiley, happy experience.

Let me state unequivocally: if you can only recharge from a 110-volt outlet, the Leaf is not for you. Not if you have a hefty commute and only own one car, that is.

Continue reading...
John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading 2011 Nissan Leaf: Pros and Cons of living with an electric car

2011 Nissan Leaf: Pros and Cons of living with an electric car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Signs To Watch For As The Cycle Repeats

Ford trucks parking lot

Detroit's automakers are starting to beat their chests in exultation, and who can blame them? The last 16 months have been nothing short of a miracle. Who would have believed they could recover so quickly?

Dial back the clock to last summer, June of 2009. Chrysler had just clawed its way out of bankruptcy, GM was still bankrupt. And Ford just barely avoided filing, saved only by borrowing heavily before the credit market collapsed.

The good times are just getting going. The next five years could be phenomenal.
If someone had come up to you then and said that in less than a year Ford would be earning over $7 billion and that it would surpass Toyota and Honda in quality, you would have said it was not going to happen.

If they had told you that General Motors would be earning over $6 billion in profits, you would have called them crazy.

If they had told you Chrysler would report an operating profit and come within a whisker of catching Honda in market share, you would have said they're mad.

And if they had told you that Toyota would be battered by criticism for all its defects and quality problems, you would have said that's impossible.

But here we are a year and a half later and the American auto industry has been completely transformed. The Big Three are more competitive than they've been in nearly four decades. Even more amazing, the good times are just getting going. The next five years could be phenomenal.

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John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Big Three Have Five Years of Prosperity Until Party Ends

Big Three Have Five Years of Prosperity Until Party Ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline on autoblogchryslerfordgeneral motorsjohn mcelroyThu, 02 Dec 2010 14:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside Volkswagen's electronic toy store]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/05/inside-volkswagens-electronic-toy-store/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/05/inside-volkswagens-electronic-toy-store/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/05/inside-volkswagens-electronic-toy-store/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

John McElroyNestled on the fringe of Stanford University's campus in Palo Alto, California is one of the coolest toy stores in the automotive industry. Officially it's called Volkswagen's Electronics Research Lab, and inside they're working on some of the most innovative technology that we'll soon see in cars.

Volkswagen is using the ERL to develop electric cars, autonomous cars, online navigation, new human-machine interfaces and other electronics related technology. The reason the lab is in Silicon Valley is that VW wanted to tap into the "let's-just-get-it-done" entrepreneurial spirit for which the region is famous. And it's attracted some pretty interesting talent to work there.

For example, Martin Eberhard, the guy who created Tesla and who later had a major fallout with Elon Musk (who now owns Tesla), is now working on electric cars for VW. And yes, he's still working with laptop-type batteries, which are officially known as the 18650. Eberhard claims he's going to be able to come out with an electric version of the Golf with a 200-mile driving range, and an Audi e-tron with a 300-mile range.

Continue reading...

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Inside Volkswagen's electronic toy store

Inside Volkswagen's electronic toy store originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Autoline DetroitAutoline on AutoblogfeaturedFri, 05 Nov 2010 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiat Eschews EV's, Chooses CNG - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/13/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/13/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/13/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: ,


John McElroyWhile every other major automaker in the world is pouring billions of dollars into research for electric vehicles, Fiat doesn't seem to be all that interested in electric cars. Instead, it's putting its efforts into producing cars that can run on compressed natural gas. Even more importantly, it's offering what it calls bi-fuel cars, which can run on both gasoline and CNG.

In fact, the Italian automaker is more bullish on bi-fuel cars than it is on diesels. It prides itself on having the lowest average CO2 emissions of any major automaker in Europe. Low emission ratings are a big deal to European car buyers. And Fiat believes it can continue to maintain its lead with engines that can run on both gasoline and CNG.

Most of Fiat's sales come from the low-end of the market, tiny A- and B-class cars that don't cost a lot of money. The people who buy these cars typically can't even afford to pay the premium to get a diesel engine. And forget about hybrids or electric cars, they're simply further out of their price range.

Now Fiat thinks it has another idea that could push it far ahead of everyone else when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions. It wants to combine hydrogen gas with compressed natural gas and offer the cleanest burning engines in the industry.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Fiat Eschews EV's, Chooses CNG - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Fiat Eschews EV's, Chooses CNG - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline on autoblogcngcompressed natural gasfeaturedfiatjohn mcelroyWed, 13 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Government Wants 60-MPG CAFE - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: ,

John McElroyLast year, when the federal government set Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards at roughly 35 miles per gallon by 2015, automakers squirmed uncomfortably. Though that should be an achievable target, it won't be easy. It means Americans will have to buy several million more small cars a year, they'll have to buy fewer trucks and SUVs, and they'll have to pay thousands of dollars more for the technology needed to meet those standards.

But now it sure looks like the government is getting ready to set a new fuel economy standard of 60 mpg by 2025. According to Ward's, both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will release the new standard next month. Is it at all realistic to think that we can double the fuel economy standard in a decade?

Remember, that 60 mpg target is a fleet average. That means all of the cars and trucks and SUVs and crossovers and vans that an automaker sells will need their fuel economy to average out at 60 mpg. That's not going to be easy. It's not just a matter of building the right kinds of cars, it's about getting people to buy them.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Government Wants 60-MPG CAFE - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Government Wants 60-MPG CAFE - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AutolineOnAutoblogcafe 2015cafe 2025featuredjohn mcelroyMon, 16 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Car Prices Will Climb For Years - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under:


Have you've been watching car prices lately? They seem to go up every month. Forget everything you've been reading about sales incentives, bargain leases or low-cost financing. They just mask the fact that automakers are quietly bumping up MSRP's every chance they get.

In other words, they quietly raise the price of a car and then loudly announce the deals they're offering. Sure, you get a discount. But that discount comes off an ever-higher price.

I've said it before and I'll say again. By 2015, the average new car in the American market is going to cost about $35,000. I'm not talking about the MSRP, which is already at an average of $33,000. I'm talking about the transaction price, what people actually pay for a car.

There are a variety of reasons why this is happening. But it basically comes down to this: even though car sales are very weak, we're actually in a seller's market. The planets are in alignment for automakers to raise their prices, especially for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. And it's only going to get worse.



John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Car Prices Will Climb For Years - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Car Prices Will Climb For Years - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back when I was a UAW member many moons ago, earning my college tuition by busting my ass in the factories, the union was an incredibly powerful labor organization. With nearly 1.3 million members, it had enormous political clout in Washington, D.C. And thanks to a monopoly on automotive labor, it could bring the entire American auto industry to a grinding halt by merely snapping its fingers. But then the world changed.

First, all the major Japanese automakers began building assembly plants in the United States, later followed by the Europeans and Koreans. With very few exceptions, they managed to keep the union out. Then the Detroit Three began outsourcing most of the parts that they used to make in-house. The vast majority of that work went to non-union suppliers. Bye-bye monopoly.

Today the UAW has only 350,000 active members and 600,000 retirees. Many experts wonder if it can survive at that level. And while the union's new president Bob King vows to increase membership with a renewed emphasis on organizing, that's exactly what the last three UAW presidents claimed they were going to do. So can the union claw its way back, or is it headed for oblivion?




John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Don't Laugh, The UAW Could Come Roaring Back - Autoline with John McElroy

Don't Laugh, The UAW Could Come Roaring Back - Autoline with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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