This Transportation Podcast Will Get Your From Here to Hear Very Quickly

We're focusing on other transportation things in this episode, including Elon Musk's dream of superfast transit tubes than move people at 4,000 miles an hour.

Google Glass and Telsa probably have a high overlap in ownership, which means that a new GlassTesla app will probably be popular.

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MyFordTouch is recognized to be flawed, but one law firm is hoping that its dangerously flawed enough for them to win a class-action lawsuit.

This might be the future. Looks like the past. From Flickr.

Where does my phone go? is probably a question many car buyers are asking and now vehicle interior designers are working on some better solutions.

Connecting cars that need attention with mechanics looking for work is the function of a promising new service called YourMechanic.com.

Speaking of great ideas, the Quadski has gotten such a warm welcome that the maker is planning a strong expansion.

While This May Not Be a Golden Age for Cars, This Podcast Is High Quality

The latest new-car quality report from J.D. Power is out and while it's good news for most auto makers, including GMC and Porsche, it also sparked a discussion about whether this is a Golden Age for cars.

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A review of the BMW 2002 from the 1960s highlighted how diverse the market was.

But since we are griping over the quality of infotainment systems instead of quality or performance, maybe Apple will be able to sneak into the cockpit as auto makers look to develop competitive offerings.

One company that is on the rise is Telsa, and they had to issue their first recall, but they did with class and style.

A golden version of a BMW 2002 from the Golden Age of cars

This Automotive Podcast Doesn't Drive Itself ... Yet

The latest episode goes totally tech with news and discussions on:

The newest NHTSA voluntary regulations for auto makers and suppliers designed to minimize driver distraction as they develop infotainment systems.

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That's good because the latest study from Texas found that whether typing our or dictating texts, it's just as distracting.

A new Kickstarter project called Dash/Lynk promised more data for driving geeks.

J.D. Power found that drivers are getting more interested in technology and infotainment in the car, and are likely going to be willing to buy driverless vehicles.

But one economist thinks that driverless vehicles could increase demand for fuel as people who previously couldn't get behind the wheel get a chance.

This Wipro dash is a bit distracting.

This Automotive Podcast Is Not Distracted by Tepid Car Sales or New Taxes

There were no surprises in February auto sales, nor is it surprising that a recent study supported by Zipcar found that phones are more important to young people than cars.

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While in Florida, David spotted several rare Chevrolet Captivas, which are selling well enough to get a refresh. But that's not a vehicle which would help improve Consumer Report's brand rating, which was released and the Japanese brands did the best, as usual.

Infotainment systems were some of the reason that American brands didn't do well. But GM is hoping that adding 4G services will help drive demand.

That might add more to the average cost of a vehicle, which according to one study is already more than most people in the U.S. can afford. Speaking of costs, the loss of gas-tax revenue is enough that states like Oregon are looking to charge more taxes for electric vehicles. That might be enough to dent sales, but probably not as much as the bad NYTimes article did to Tesla.

Speaking of bad news, Hyundai and Kia are looking to settle all the outstanding lawsuits related to their  sloppy fuel-economy numbers.

New parents, specifically moms, are the most distracted drivers. Teens are probably second on that list, and that might account for an increase in teen driver deaths.

Finally, Los Angeles is synchronizing all of its traffic lights to speed people along and save energy.

Be Perceptive, Catch The Buzz On This Automotive Podcast

The year in car sales started off strong with January auto sales posting strong gains compared with both the year earlier and December. There were few surprises in the numbers and with the brands that did well.

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Toyota retook the global sales crown last year, but Volkswagen is coming up quickly.
In terms of perception, Ford owns that crown as well, but Chrysler and Dodge are coming out of the basement.

There are a bevy of auto commercials in this year's Super Bowl, but VW's ad is causing the most controversy -- even if we don't think it is a big deal.

And other bad habits behind the wheel

A recent study found that the people who use their cellphones while driving probably do a bunch of other dangerous things behind the wheel.

Apple's Siri could help retrain those bad habits, and Honda is planning to use it in some upcoming vehicles.

Finally, smartphones can be great to keep track of your lives, and your car. Here are a bunch of automotive apps that make that really easy.

This Automotive Podcast Doesn't Need a Safety Alert Sound

We're all digital this week. Both in audio and in content because it's CES time. Auto makers and parts suppliers are rolling out new gadgets, apps and infotainment systems that a recent study predicts will be the differentiator for buyers over the next few years.

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Ford and GM are battling for wired drivers with new systems, while traffic data supplier Inrix is adding parking information to its offerings. Delphi is also readying a new system to bring smartphone connections to older vehicles.

Being informed about the consequences is part of an effort in Japan to get people to drive safely.

Buyers weren't informed about the vehicles on the worst-selling of 2012 list. No Chevrolet models on there, and the GM brand hopes its new tagline drives sales.

The NHTSA wants to add warning sounds to electric vehicles so they don't sneak up and surprise pedestrians.

Finally, Jerry Seinfeld is re-upping his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and while he is wealthier than many corporations, one driver tried to argue that the corporate papers in his passenger seat were enough to qualify him for the HOV lane.

We Aim to Be the **Dumpster of Automotive Podcasts

Auto makers and car dealers ended the year with a bang, as sales rose 9% compared with last year and 19% over November. The month capped a comeback year for the industry as sales hit 14.5 million and all the big companies posted significant percentage gains.

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For 2013, most of the industry expects strong gains in the U.S. helped by trucks, while Hyundai -- which has been rolling in the last few years -- sees weaker growth ahead.

Sandy cars spurred sales.
Image by Doug Kuntz via Autoblog

On car that had a great year -- the Chevrolet Volt, which had started slowly.

Moving on from car sales to other sales, Avis Budget bought Zipcar this week and it looks like a good deal for both sides.

CES is about to get rolling and cars and vehicle technology promises to be a big deal, with autonomous cars on the horizon from Audi and Toyota. Google and Kia got a head start by announcing a new deal to infuse Google into Kia's Uvo system.


**Dumpster is actually a genericized trademark for a type of mobile garbage bin (MGB)

With Two Billion Vehicles We Need More Automotive Podcasts Like This

The age of the U.S. auto fleet is at its highest level ever, and that makes Ford's marketing chief think that sales will continue to be strong, especially as shoppers see how much better and fuel-efficient new vehicles have become.

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If those sales do keep increasing, the world will end up with more than 2 billion vehicles in 2035, twice as many as today.

Los Angeles is perhaps the center of car culture in the U.S., so the L.A. Auto Show has become a place where car makers show off some very cool designs and significant new models. This year the Koreans and the Japanese dominated, with Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru and Toyota all revealing new models or cool concepts. We review the action, and recap my trip to the Seattle auto show.

A car full of the future.

One of the most significant vehicles in L.A. was the all-electric Chevrolet Spark, which also features integration with Apple's Siri. That makes Mathew wonder why Apple isn't making car infotainment systems yet.

Beyond entertainment, the next thing that auto electronics will do is tell you when you are tense and ask you to chill out. Toyota hopes some of its new technologies will prevent drivers from doing unintended things.

Finally, would you like a gas station at your house? If you have a natural-gas vehicle that may be possible and affordable.

This Fat Automotive Podcast May Explode Like a Counterfeit Airbag

Telsa and Toyota are experimenting with new ways to sell cars. Toyota has taken to hawking cars on the Home Shopping Network, while Telsa is opening stores in the mall. But Tesla's stores may be running afoul of dealership laws.

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Smart small cars are back

Fuel economy is on many people's radar, but they should start thinking about it when they sit down to meals. The U.S. obesity issue could run counter to efforts to increase fuel economy.
While people are getting bigger, small cars are in demand at levels not seen in 20 years.

Complicated infotainment systems are pushing car makers to launch call centers that drivers can ring to get help to learn how to use them.

Old people are probably using those services, but when they can't use the phone perhaps then they need  to consider giving up the keys.

Mathew says this air bag story is going to be huge. But David thinks it is a false alarm.

A No Frills Podcast About Cars

These are dicey economic times, so when folks are shopping for a new car we discuss nine things that they should avoid if they are looking to make a smart car deal.

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Costs are just one of the reasons that young people aren't driving or buying cars as much as they used to. A new study looks at more of the reasons why youngsters aren't getting on the road.

4000-mile-per hour Vactrains

Graduated licenses are one reason for that reduction in driving, but they are also saving lives and reducing accidents.

Glympse is an excellent location-sharing service, and now they are partnering with Mercedes-Benz.

Cadillac rolling out the new CUE infotainment in the XTS and getting good reviews.

Demand is far outstripping supply for the Subaru BRZ, not just in the U.S., frustrating frugal enthusiasts all over the world.

New York to London in an hour without travelling through the air? Vactrains could make that possible, but probably at a cost far beyond what would be realistic to build.

Finally, in a bit of hopeful news, the star of the iconic VW Superbowl commercials underwent successful heart surgery recently -- without the help of the Force.

Swipe, Dial, Tap or Yell at This Automotive Podcast

Saab isn't dead yet. Well, we're not sure yet. But someone does appear interested in buying the guts of the Swedish car maker, yet again.

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Speaking of questionable, car rental companies aren't eager to make the commitment to fix all recalls on their fleets with great urgency.

Now, Apple is getting into the vehicular infotainment business by partnering with auto makers to offer a Siri button in cars and trucks. But will the fact that it will only work with Apple products limit it's appeal? Or annoy non-Apple users?

See more in this clever mirror.

Dial, voice, touch-screen, joystick, knob, touch-pad? Which one works better to control the infotainment system? The jury is still out.

Will iOS 6 kill some of the best driver and car-related apps? Possibly.

Vision is crucial to drivers. An ingenious new mirror shows vastly more than your traditional design.

The World Health Organization is warning that diesel fumes could be cancer causing to people who stand in the middle of highways collecting tolls or work in a mine. We are not shocked.

Finally, Formula One is coming back to the U.S. next year, and one driver got in some early laps this week at the track in New Jersey.

An Aggressively Optimistic Automotive Podcast With a Gun Rack in the Back

The auto industry is feeling good, with sales rebounding and profits -- particularly at GM and Chrysler -- coming back. But the car makers are being a little more aggressive with their forecasts and pushing expected sales well beyond what independent analysts are expecting.

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Still, owners have been holding on to their vehicles for a much longer time, up to an average of 70 months, so there is pent-up demand that might help increase sales in 2012.

Charged up about Guns N Volts

GM's profits might get a boost from the folks at GE Healthcare, who are mandating that all company cars are going to be Volt's going forward. The General Electric unit expects significant cost savings by making the plug-in-hybrids mandatory. And the fact that GE makes electric-car charging stations will help lower costs.
Many drivers are looking for ways to plug-in their smartphones into their cars and a new product called Dash from Devium offers a slick implementation.

That is just example of the potential distractions that drivers face, but auto makers and regulators are coming to grips with the fact that consumer tech in vehicles isn't going away.

Technologically advanced ads also help sell vehicles and Mercedes-Benz is letting drivers use their own key fobs to interact with new ads.

Finally, Newt Gingrich is on the warpath against the Volt, but his claim that it can't accommodate a gun rack was quickly proven wrong.

We Obsessively Podcast the Obsessive Coverage of the Detroit Auto Show

It takes a little time to get Mathew excited about the Detroit Auto Show, but I persevere. We talk about all the exciting -- and realistic -- production and concept vehicles that auto makers showed off. And the new gadgets and infotainment systems that are drawing buyers. We also go through Autoblog's list of concepts and pick out which ones are likely to reach the market.

The two concepts from Chevrolet -- the Tru 140s and the Code 130R -- are designed to appeal to young people. But as the WSJ reports and we've discussed lately -- young people don't care about new cars or driving much.

Smart was one of those brands that was to designed for young people, but has seen sales slip. Now the company is hoping a new concept and a focus on new markets can turn things around.

A Segway-like enclosed scooter called the C-1 from Lit Motors could be the kind of thing that does draw young buys. And it never tips over.

Finally, sharing cars, sharing rides, now comes sharing parking spaces. Yet another market is being created for personal spaces thanks to digital communication and smartphones.

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Balancing This Podcast on One Wheel

It's election time, and voters in several cities expressed their displeasure with red-light cameras, voting to either stop using them or prevent their installation.

Ryno is one-wheel of weird.

At the same time, the Supreme Court is debating the legality of placing GPS tracking devices on vehicles. Is it Big Brother or just normal observation using new data gathering devices?

Toyota still can't catch a break, and is now having to recall almost 500,000 vehicles.

There is always some pain in being an early adopter. Portland, Oregon, has learned that with it's electric car and charging efforts.

Now electric cars are efficient and so are motorcycles, but they aren't as clean as you might think, MythBusters found out.

Cadillac is rolling out a new infotainment system, and we think it's awesome.

Finally, we like everything with wheels, even if it's only one. The Ryno is like a combination of a motorcycle and a Segway.

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Ford Let's Owners Update MyFord Touch Via USB

MyFordTouch

For those of us with computers, smartphones and gaming machines, upgrades are a part of life. But for cars, if there are upgrades, they are typically handled at the dealer with special equipment.

Now, Ford is updating it's MyFord Touch infotainment system to make it easier to use and faster. Available early next year – and offered at no charge to existing MyFord Touch owners – the upgrade to the software improves the user/driver experience.

The upgrade includes faster response for touch-screen inputs, better voice recognition, and compatibility with a wider range of mobile phones as well as tablets and e-books. Phone connection has been made faster, and Ford says it improved the noise and echo cancellation for phone calls made through a Bluetooth connection. The screen display designs are simpler, with larger type for the most often used functions, fewer options, and less clutter. Ford says that altogether, it redesigned the graphics of more than 1,000 different screens.

 Ford says the revamp was developed by listening and responding to customer feedback. The auto maker has been dinged by owners and the media, most specifically Consumer Reports -- because the current system is clunky and complex.

I think the most interesting part of this story is that Ford will be mailing out USB memory sticks with the upgrade so that owners can do the upgrade themselves. This is the first instance of a car maker allowing non-mechanics to do a significant upgrade to a key system in a vehicle that I can think of.

Seattle Auto Show: Gadgets, Joysticks and LEDs

My son and I checked out the Seattle Auto Show this week to see some of the new cars on the market. I'm going to do a series of posts with photos to capture some interesting trends, cool stuff or amusing decisions.

Our first episode is dedicated to the gadgets, joysticks and other high-tech features that can be found in cars and trucks on the market today:

I spent a long time playing with the gadgets in the Lexus CT200h F-Series, a sporty, small hatchback hybrid.

The Lexus CT 200h has a mouse/joystick to control
the infotainment system that is called
Lexus Remote Touch.

The screen in the
Lexus CT 200h
tilts and folds.

The Kia Optima is great looking inside and out, with a Saab-like dashboard
and lots of buttons on the steering wheel.
Also, two huge sunroofs. 

Volkswagen has this unique MDI socket
that requires a cable to work with either
iPods or USB devices. The cable appears
to be extremely expensive. A razzy for VW
on that one.

  

The Dodge Charger has a instrument panel with
an old school design and modern appearance.

The Dodge Charger has cup holders that can be
either heated or cooled. 

The Prius V -- the larger wagon-like model -- still sets
the standard for videogame-style controls.

The Jaguar XJ has a kick-plate in the front doorsill that is lighted
by a blue LED. The Hyundai Equus had the same thing.
Just so remember what kind of car you have. Of course,
the Hyundai's said Equus.

Fat, Poor and Unhappy Is No Way to Car Cast Through Life

We wish we were just coming back from Germany. That's where the Frankfurt auto show is taking place, where car makers are showing off some interesting new models and dramatic concepts. David's favorite is probably among the most boring, but has the most realistic chance of ending up in his driveway.

Audi's /urban Spyder concep

Ford showed off a concept that is connected to the cloud and learns the driver's preferences. At the same time, Ford has teamed up with Bug Labs to develop a new open-source platform that would increase integration for third-party software and hardware for its vehicles.

Another company is rolling out an Android-powered aftermarket infotainment system, which had us debating whether modern cars can handle aftermarket stereos.

Teen driving is fraught with risk, and mobile phones and texting are a big issue. Sprint is rolling out a new service that aims to prevent teens from using their phones while driving. There is a big problem: the cost. Meanwhile, driving schools are failing their students, but mainly because the driving tests are so easy that they only need to do a bare minimum of teaching.

Do you commute? Are you fat, poor and unhappy. Well, that's a big risk if you do commute, according to a new study.

Parking is an issue in many cities, and now the cost of parking spaces is starting to rise faster than the value of housing. Would you pay $125,000 for a parking space?

Are you disappointed that the cars of today aren't anything like the promises of the car of the future from the distant past? Doc Brown and Michael Knight are.

Would you buy a car without test driving it? That might be crazy but not unheard of these days.

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Our Show Is Back From the Road

And we are back from a long summer break, that was enhanced by vacations, hurricanes and earthquakes.

We missed car sales, but got to see lots of car commercials as the end-of-model-year sales get going in earnest.

Drive, don't look at the screen.

Unfortunately, deals on Saabs might be great because the Swedish car company filed for protection from creditors, but might not get liquidated.

Telematics, infotainment, connectivity and the like are all the rage for auto makers and they are racing to develop new services to vehicles. Mercedes, Ford, Kia and even software company Nuance are getting in on the act.

Car games are always big on consoles, but how about a Sim City style online game that allows you to design cars and build a car company? Try Automation.com.

Gas prices are holding steady, despite weaker demand, as refiners export gasoline. At the same time, car makers such as Chrysler and Porsche are adding more gears to their transmissions to squeeze out even more efficiency out of their drive trains.

Finally, car collecting is an ongoing passion around the world and as new generations get into the hobby, different vehicles become more popular to collect. The newest collecting trend: Country cars.

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Ford Drops Price of SYNC by $100

Ford announced both a $100 price drop for Ford SYNC along with expanded availability by offering it as an option on base trim levels for the first time.

The voice-activated infotainment systems will now cost $295 (down from $395, where optional), starting with its 2012 Edge and Explorer models. SYNC will also become standard on SEL variants for the first time -- before, it was previously reserved for Limited and Sport trim levels.

Ford plans to roll out the system across its entire lineup over the next three years, including the 2013 Ford Taurus, Focus, Escape and Flex.

This Podcast Is Driving You to the NY Auto Show (With a Quick Stop in Shanghai)

This week's podcast is about cars, cars, cars. Concept cars, vehicle refreshes and new production models are getting unveiled at two auto shows simultaneously in New York and Shanghai.

Among the interesting new vehicles shown in NY this week
was the refreshed Subaru Impreza

We relied heavily on the great coverage from AutoBlog and Jalopnik to round-up the coolest and lamest designs. Our favorites: Scion's FR-S, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Malibu, among many others.

But there were other bits of news from the transportation world this week.

Buick showed it's new IntelliLink in-car communications system and BMW's ConnectedDrive was tested out.

And in troubling news for car shoppers, Japanese auto makers are going to test their vehicles for radiation before they are shipped to the U.S.

Finally, San Francisco is planning some crazy parking pricing that could lead to $18 an hour parking fees as it tries to reduce traffic on the streets.

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