Motor Trend Audio

Vic Doolan is a successful automotive executive that contributed to the popularity of BMW in the USA. He talks about his experience starting in Africa with British Leyland, as well as his tenure at Volvo North America, paving strong sales foundations for each manufacturer along the way. Additionally, we're joined by famous car designer Henrik Fisker who also made his mark at BMW. Henrik started at BMW before moving on to Ford and Aston Martin and has had a hand in many modern automotive masterpieces including the BMW Z8, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and of course, the Fisker Karma. Now, as a founding partner of VLF Automotive, Henrik is yet again looking to set the bar when it comes to design, innovation and luxury standards.

Every two years Mini takes the States! Mini organizes a drive across the United States and anyone who owns a Mini can participate. Thousands of Mini owners from around the country (and around the world) join all or part of the drive. For the past 10 years the 6 MTTSs have become the largest owner driving event created by a brand. This year's 15 day rally was 4373 miles long through 18 states and ended in sweltering desert heat. Two years ago Charlie and Shawn drove the first day and this time they drove the last. Along the way they share their impression of the event, the Mini Clubman and meet several Mini aficionados including Tom from Mini, Eric from Automobile, Fausto from Spain and our good friends Todd and Alex from White Roof Radio.

Two of Europe's most historic rally races, the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, take center stage in this week's episode. Motor Trend's Senior Features Editor Jonny Lieberman and legendary racing driver and team owner Chip Ganassi leave their mark in Europe. We start with Jonny who relives the thrill of being behind the wheel of a $2 million dollar 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL in the Mille Miglia, the 1000-mile open-road endurance rally held in Italy. Over the course of 4 days, Jonny and his Gullwing travel from Brescia to Rome and back at breakneck speeds, ignoring speed limits and traffic lights in what Enzo Ferrari once called "the world's most beautiful road race." Jonny also comments on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team won the GTE Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Ford GT. We asked Chip Ganassi to give his perspective on fielding the winning car and his renewed appreciation for the event.

Imagine having daily access to a fleet of exotic and classic cars, and the lifestyle to boot. Experience the world-class craftsmanship of a Rolls Royce interior. Feather the throttle of a Porsche 911 GT3. Feel the thrill of track day behind the wheel of a Formula One race car. Sure, ownership of a high-performance or luxury vehicle is within reach for some aficionados, but not all. Believe it or not, there is another way to drive that car you always dreamed of. Join a shared-ownership car club. This week we meet Zac Moseley, co-owner of one of the best known clubs in the U.S., the Classic Car Club of Manhattan. Zac shares his passion for the club and its activities, and elaborates on the cars available to club members. On the west coast, Frenchman Chris Carel founded the appropriately named Fast Toys Club and the genesis for how the club and its events came to be. Among Fast Toys' stable of exotic and collectable cars, are a few bona fide race cars like the Pescarolo Le Mans prototype and Mustang Boss 302S. Speaking of racing, you'll need a playground for burning rubber. Enter M1 Concourse. A private garage concept, Brad Oleshansky and Jason Haddad tell us all about this new car haven in the Motor City that allows you to store and work on your vehicles, provides access to an on-site performance track and a retail village all for like-minded enthusiasts.

Autonomous features are being incorporated into vehicles at a rate that outpaces consumers' awareness of the feature's name and function. Studies have shown that incorporating brake override, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and adaptive headlights would save up to 10,000 lives a year. Mark Rechtin, the Cars Content Development Team Leader at Consumer Reports, extolls the virtues of brake override and how Consumer Reports ratings are now impacted by manufacturers who make advanced driver safety systems standard across a model line. Deborah Hersman, CEO of the National Safety Council, also joins us and informs us that 40% of consumers are unaware or confused by the features of their own car. As such, the National Safety Council has teamed up with the University of Iowa to create the website MyCarDoesWhat.org, to educate the public on the ever-changing world of car safety features.

Bob Lutz has had a rich and storied career in the automotive industry. His experience spans a 47-year career, that include leadership positions at GM of Europe, BMW, Ford, Chrysler, and back to GM where he retired as vice chairman in 2010. Since then, Bob has been involved with a number of projects including VLF Automotive with Gilbert Villarreal and Henrik Fisker. Bob is also an accomplished author and an active jet and helicopter pilot that shows no signs of slowing down. Through an extended interview, Bob shares his unique perspective on the auto industry—past and present.

Co-host Shawn lives in San Francisco, can own one car and has a short but hilly commute to work. When he is choosing a car to own he needs to compromise his desire for a performance car with the consideration of driving and parking in the city. We discover and talk about new options for urban mobility that could handle a short commute. These mobility solutions could free Shawn up to own the car he dreams about for performance and track driving.

The Acura NSX was a stunning and memorable car when it made its debut in 1990. Now over 10 years after the first generation was discontinued, the brand's second generation halo car is finally ready to hit the market. We've been teased with concepts of the new NSX over the years at different auto shows and events. It wasn't until the completed car was revealed that we got a chance to speak with exterior design leader Michelle Christensen. We also get a chance to drive the NSX on, both, the street and at the track and review its performance with Nick Robinson from Acura R&D. Listen in as co-Host Alex Stack joins Charlie to compare design and driving impressions.

Mazda invited Charlie and Shawn to tour its collection of historic vehicles. Located in the basement of the Mazda Research and Development Center in Southern California, the collection showcases the company's historic cars, trucks, concepts and race cars as well as the company's rotary engine and manufacturing technology. Mazda motorsports spokesman Dean Case gave us his background, followed by insight into the Mazda motorsports development ladder and some of the well-known drivers with roots to the program. While touring the collection we had the chance to meet Mazda's design manager, Ken Saward, in addition to Randy Miller, a motorsports engineer who touches on the heritage of the MX-5 and how, for 2016, it will be available as a Global Cup Car straight from the factory in Hiroshima.

Fritz first visited the podcast on Episode 40 and we couldn't wait to get him back. He is a longtime friend of the program who buys,yber sells and owns lots of vehicles. All of his vehicles work hard, many get modified, some even expire but they are all loved and cared for by this effervescent enthusiast. Listen in as Fritz shares stories about his unique, varied and unusual fleet of vehicles (Swedish Army Unimog, anyone?) and the adventures he has had in them.