Like Tesla, This Podcast Brand Is Practically Fully Charged

In this episode of the GTSOTR podcast:

Fiat is rounding up finding to buy the rest of Chrysler it doesn't own, but we think they will keep all the brand names intact.

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Rear-facing seats in a Tesla

Subaru is doing such a great job designing and selling cars which Americans want that it's running out of them.

We look at three automotive brands that could disappear in the very near future.

Tesla is brand on the rise and with its new supercharging stations, it's getting more practical. But we didn't realize just how practical the Model S it is.

The NHTSA is publishing some new regulations with the hopes of bringing some order to the autonomous vehicle development.

And the Aluminum Medal for Automotive Podcasts Goes to ...

What's the story with car sales? Well, it depends on what you read. WSJ says U.S. auto makers struggled against the resurgent Japanese brands that suffered with inventory issues last July. Autoblog says that most car makers did fine when you consider there were two fewer selling days this year. GM may be boosting sales with subprime loans.

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Smart and Mini had strong months, probably because gas prices remained high, and that could also be helping Volkswagen sell so many diesels.

In whatever the Italian word for irony is: Chrysler is now helping push Fiat -- which bought it at it's nadir two years ago -- to a profit.

Gas prices remain high.

Consumers remain frustrated with gas mileage numbers and now Hyundai is getting sued for it's Elantra 40-mpg claims.

Fuel taxes are always a sticky subject, but San Francisco is considering an even more absurd tax plan that would require them to track how much people drive.

The folks who drive lightly used luxury cars should consider trading them in right now to get the best value.

Farmers are finding that genetically modified crops are creating problems for their farm equipment tires.

Perhaps GM can use it's experimental pedestrian detection technology to avoid pointy stalks.

Apparently, child-detection systems for harried parents aren't as effective as NHTSA would like. Or at all.

Finally, when you think of Winter Olympics you think of Russia, but how about road rage? Or wheeled bobsleds.

Where Is the Car Czar to Convert This Podcast to a Plug-in Hybrid?

The vacant role of auto czar got axed by the federal government in last week's budget deal that kept the government running. That means the TARP administrators will be watching over tax payers' investment in GM and Chrysler.

But Chrysler is doing much better, so much so that Fiat raised its stake to 30% after several performance indicators were reached.

Not David, not Mathew, Not driving

Performance isn't a big part of the push to hybrids and plug-in electrics, but there are cost savings. One start-up -- ALTe Powertrain Technologies -- is developing a plug-in powertrain that can be used to replace gasoline and diesel motors in trucks.

One issue with electric vehicles is the need to have a special, more powerful source to charge them. Leviton has developed a new portable charger that can take a regular electrical socket and make it more powerful.

That might not help some Nissan Leaf owners who are complaining that their cars won't start -- or is it turn on?

Mercedes has always been a technological leader and Mathew was blown away by these five innovations from the German luxury car maker.

Hot Wheels has been ramping up its marketing machine lately and will attempt the world's longest jump at the Indy 500 in May.

Finally, check out Rookies to Racers, a reality show on Discovery and Science channels for some interesting racing.

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