Car Companies Start Making Money While the Royal Wedding Gets a Used Car

Almost two years to the day after Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection, the auto maker, now partially owned by Italy's Fiat, announced plans to pay back the $7.5 billion in loans from the U.S. government. The deal will give Fiat a larger stake -- 46% -- in Chrysler and be funded by new bank loans.

Auto industry earnings

Chrysler isn't the only auto maker on better financial footing these days. It's earning season and Volkswagen, Ford, Kia and Hyundai have all posted strong profits. But the earthquake in Japan pounded Honda profits as it continues to run factories at reduced capacity because of parts shortages.

As we wait for auto sales, there are further signs of rebound in the U.S. motorcycle market. Both new motorcycle sales and motorcycle tire sales (a sign of increased ridership) have risen in recent months, riding demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

While motorcycles might be more dangerous than cars, steering wheels in vehicles are typically dirtier than public toilet seats according to a recent study.

Touchscreens are becoming more prevalent in cars; 3D televisions are showing up in homes, and now one company is developing 3D screens for vehicles that won't require special glasses.

Amid all the buzz around the Royal Wedding there is a little nugget for car people. Wills and Katie will be riding from the nuptials in an old Rolls-Royce given to Queen Elizabeth (his grandmum) in 1977 on her Silver Jubilee.

Finally, the Fast and the Furious series has been one of the more successful auto-themed movie franchises and the lastest edition -- Fast Five -- is getting surprisingly good reviews. Will you go see it?

• Check in Monday for a new GTSOTR podcast.

Photos From the Road: Episode One

Here's my first post of photos taken on a road trip. This episode is photos taken along the Columbia River Gorge and along Interstate 82 and Interstate 90 in Central Washington.

I tried to focus on unusual features on the road and amusing signs.

I'm starting to realize that as much as I love cars, it's the journeys and places that they can take you that I love even more.



Here is the route:


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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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A Garage Party for Electric Cars and a Roast?

A local Seattle-area man is so excited about his new electric Nissan Leaf that he had a driveway party this weekend to attract other potential drivers and owners to electric cars.

James Billmaier, a former tech executive, entrepreneur and author of "Jolt! The Impending Dominance of the Electric Car,"showed off his special charger and drew some locals to his garage for some show and tell.

A garage fire from ftzdomino via flickr

Meanwhile, another garage in Connecticut suffered devastating results when it burned down last week. There was a new Chevrolet Volt charging, as well as 1987 Suzuki Samurai the owner had converted to electric power. Both vehicles were destroyed. Fire officials aren't sure what caused he fire, but I would bet it was the converted Suzuki and not the Volt.

It's important to note that there are plenty of garage fires every caused by gasoline-powered vehicles, so it's too early -- and a bit unfair -- to blame the electric cars or make generalizations about their safety.

Still, most drivers will find it more practical and get significant savings if they just follow some of these gas-saving tips rather than going out and spending tens of thousands of dollars on a bleeding-edge technology electric vehicle.

Car Prices in U.S. Get Bumped Up by Effects of Japanese Quake

It's spring and typically one of the busiest times for car shopping. But potential car, truck and SUV buyers -- particularly those heading into showrooms of Japanese makes like Mazda, Honda and Toyota will encounter higher vehicle prices. Some auto makers are running their vehicle production at only half of normal levels.

Mazda dealers, like Foothills in Spokane, Wa., are
charging higher prices these days. 

The price increases, typically $100-$400, aren't limited to cars made at Japanese plants that were affected by the massive earthquake last month. Ford announced a 0.4% price increase earlier this month. Toyota is raising prices about 2% on nearly all models May 1, and GM will likely announce a small increase in the price of most of its cars and trucks on Monday.

The increasing globalization of the industry means that parts come from all over the world and even vehicles made in U.S. factories have been affected by the plants shutdowns in Japan. Last month, Ford suspended building Tuxedo Black vehicles due to the quake.

Most of the price increases are hitting small cars build in Japan, and those are the vehicles that may be in highest demand during this spring shopping season. The average price of gasoline is now above $4 per gallon in five states, and it could rise to that level in New York and Washington, D.C., this weekend. That is driving sales of smaller, more efficient vehicles.

Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini Go on Sale in the Newspaper

From the Seattle Times

It feels almost dirty to be seeing prices and huge discounts for Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Lamborghini models, and also in a print newspaper ad?

At first I thought this tactic was ridiculous, but then I thought about the average consumer of print newspapers -- older and wealthier -- and this makes sense.

ZipCar Gets Ready to Go Public; High Gas Prices Mean Good Timing?

Car-sharing service ZipCar is set to launch it's initial public stock offering later this week and it might be a case of great timing.

High prices of gasoline have pushed drivers and car owners to change their habits, whether it's looking at commuting alternatives or purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles.

A successful IPO also has the potential to boost other car-sharing services like RelayRides or Seattle's Zebigo.

While I initially thought these car-ownership alternatives would enjoy only limited demand, I'm starting to change my opinion. As the American population gets older, and in many cases moves to more urban settings as they downsize, more people will be looking to reduce their personal fleet. That, coupled with the increasing pervasiveness of smartphones and Web access which make these services more efficient for drivers, will probably increase demand.

What do you think? Are you buying ZipCar stock or reducing your vehicle fleet and using a car-sharing service?

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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Gas Prices in U.S. Remain High Pushing Drivers to Change Their Habits

The price of gasoline has been steadily climbing at fuel stations across the U.S. and now hovers near $4 a gallon. This has led drivers to change their driving and buying habits.

Gas sales have fallen for five straight weeks, the first time that has happened since November, according to MasterCard SpendingPulse, which tracks spending at 140,000 service stations nationwide.

Meanwhile, AAA is reporting that gas prices in Washington State are averaging $3.88 a gallon. I just filled up the minivan this past weekend and it was a eye-popping $64.

But there are signs that prices may have reached their peak for the near future as crude oil has slipped from recent highs amid expectations of lower economic growth and an easing of tensions in Libya.

The decline in oil prices and the fact that drivers are changing their habits by driving less or buying more fuel efficient vehicles could help pull gas prices lower.

Have you changed your habits?

Super Car Crash In Seattle is Mysterious

http://www.geekwire.com/2011/elite-supercar-crashes-in-seattle-details-from-the-police-report#

U.S. Auto Sales Rise Again in March, But Will the Rebound Boost Prices?

March was a good sales month for most car makers, especially Ford, Nissan and Chrysler. But the earthquake in Japan and now this revival in demand, possibly fueled by the increase in U.S. employment, could have an effect on car and truck prices.

Anecdotally, I was in the local Honda dealer today to drop off our minivan to get a recall service and saw two cars on the showroom floor that had stickers with "local market" prices that were above the vehicle sticker. That seemed a bit unrealistic, even given the rise in demand.

Have you seen higher prices in your market or reduced choice?

Rest Assured, This Podcast Won't Save Your Life, But It Will Be Entertaining

Obama has called for the government to start buying only alternative-fuel vehicles starting in 2015 as part of an effort to reduct overseas oil imports by a third by 2025. We agree that this is a good idea. What do you think?

Speed cameras stink, even in Australia.

Hyundai make a big splash two years ago by offering to take back cars from buyers who lose their jobs. That was at the beginning of the Korean car company's recent surge. With the economy rebounding, Hyundai has decided to end the offer, and only 350 people took advantage of the offer.

Telsa wants its day in court with Top Gear. The electric-car maker is suing the U.K. car show for showing the company's Roadster car running out of electricity and slowing to a halt in a race.

Another legal snarl is happening in South Carolina where a greedy town has set up speed cameras on I-95 and is mailing drivers tickets.

GM's OnStar and Chevrolet made a splash by touting Facebook integration in the new Cruze, but a NYTimes reviewer said the system isn't ready to be liked because of text-to-speech limitations.

Men may like GPS systems, but they don't trust them according to a U.K. study.

You may not want to trust rental-car companies. NHTSA is investigating whether they are keeping up with vehicle recalls.

Finally, a truck driver ruined his safe-driving record but saved his own life in a crash recently.

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