Autoline After Hours

UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- Which automakers are investing the most in their future?
- Lincoln's MKC shows its face ahead of LA
- The number of driver's licenses under age 20 is falling fast

All that and more with Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design and Production; Frank Markus, Motor Trend; and Todd Lassa, Automobile

UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- J Mays Retires from Ford
- A Third Tesla Catches Fire — Is it a Design Flaw?
- Mark Reuss Talks About His Wishlist for New GM Products

SPECIAL GUEST: Tadge Juechter, Chief Engineer, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
- What was the Biggest Challenge in Designing the C7?

All that and more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist; and Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design and Production

Controversial design. Production delays. For a brand so often associated with off-road adventures, the description "rocky start" seems particularly apt. Mitch Clauw is the Vehicle Line Executive in charge of the Jeep Cherokee. We'll be asking him what problems are behind the delays in getting this SUV to dealerships. As usual, we'll also get into some other topics including Ford's poor performance in Consumer Reports due to infotainment issues. Plus, we'll talk about what to expect out of the Las Vegas SEMA show. And, John McElroy just got to drive Nissan's 2014 Rogue; he'll give us some thoughts on this all-new family hauler. Joining John in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Scott Burgess from Motor Trend.

Despite increasingly aggressive fuel economy regulations and a trend toward more desirable small cars, make no mistake: the truck business is big money and Toyota wants a piece of the action. That's why we've invited Mike Sweers, the Chief Engineer of the Toyota Tundra, to join us with pickup in tow (so to speak). We'll be asking him if, with this updated truck, he thinks Toyota has cracked the code on how to sell full-size pickups. Of course, we'll be getting into some hot topics including John McElroy's visit to China, where he observed a smog problem that just might cripple the auto industry. Also, could car ownership as we know it end within ten years? Plus, we'll talk about Ford's latest conundrum: balancing the cost of complexity with the value of variation. Joining John in studio is co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

So far Tesla has been the electric brand that could do no wrong. But that may all be about to change. BMW reports that early orders of its i3 model are exceeding expectations and the company will be increasing production to meet demand. The power of brand is quite a force to be reckoned with, indeed. Meanwhile, Cadillac's electrified ELR coupe now has a price tag and it exceeds $75,000 -- another sensitive numbers game for a luxury brand still clawing its way up from the brink. We'll talk all about this greenified chess game and its greater implications as we round up the week's news, discuss our latest test drives and more. Host Peter De Lorenzo is joined by Scott Burgess from Motor Trend, Todd Lassa of Automobile and Jim Hall from Design Handbook and 2953 Analytics.

The kids haven’t even stepped out on the sidewalk draped in their ghoulish finery, and Aunt Mildred has yet to buy a fat turkey for the family feast. Nevertheless, here in the auto world, the time has come to start deliberating on the best cars and trucks of the year. Among the accolades in the automotive community, one of the most prestigious honors is the North American Car and Truck of the Year award. On this week’s special edition of Autoline After Hours, John McElroy welcomes three fellow jurors to join him in reviewing the nominees on the “short lists.” See which cars, trucks and utility vehicles have risen above the rest as John is joined by Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com, Chris Paukert of Autoblog.com and freelance auto journalist Jim McCraw.

Is the golden age of horsepower nearly at an end with new fuel economy standards on the horizon? Not if Dave Leone, Executive Chief Engineer of GM Performance Luxury Vehicles, has anything to say about it. Mr. Leone will be stopping by the studio with a new Cadillac CTS in tow, and we’ll be pressing him for all the fuel-saving secrets used in engineering the new sedan. Plus, we’ll be getting into some hot topics of the moment. Have you seen “Rush” yet? John McElroy has, and we’ll get his impressions. And, we’ll apply some analysis to September sales results. All that and much more as John is joined by co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Lindsay Brooke from SAE.

American enthusiasts were excited when Alan Mulally announced his One Ford plan; it meant loads of long-coveted European products would come stateside. Getting the Fiesta was great. The Focus, C-Max and Fusion (Mondeo), all good cars. But, the Fiesta ST… wow. We’ll be joined this week by Chief Engineer John Davis, and we’ll be asking him the secret behind this ultrafun hatchback. You’ve got to wonder, will this car be the tipping point that pulls the performance market down into the B segment? Plus, as usual we’ll dive into the news of the week. All that and much more as John McElroy is joined by co-host Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Gary Vasilash from Automotive Design and Production.

Buick has been on a winning streak, but how will the brand keep it up? Well, marketing is sure to play a big role in GM's strategy, and to that end we've invited the Product Marketing Director for Buick, Roger McCormack, to join us this week. You can bet we'll also get to the hot topics of the moment including host John McElroy's impressions from the Frankfurt Motor Show -- he's got news about designer Peter Horbury and Valeo's tiny lidar sensor. Plus, some racing scuttlebutt: Juan Pablo Montoya will be making his return to IndyCars next year with Penske Racing. All that and much more as John is joined by Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist, and Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press.

The dust has settled and the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show has put its wares on display for the world to see. As always, it was a tremendous show, but we'll try to condense it down to its utmost essence in this week's Autoline After Hours with Mr. Autoextremist, Peter De Lorenzo, at the helm. We'll also talk supercars as we look at the new generation rolling out of the gates: green and very expensive. All that and much more as Peter is joined by Todd Lassa from Automobile and Gary Vasilash of Automotive Design and Production.