Behind The Wheel

With gas prices surging to a record high for this time of year ($3.57/gallon national average compared to $3.17/gallon a year ago) the question now is not whether gas will hit $4.50 or $5.00 a gallon.

It's a pretty safe bet we'll hit those prices this Summer. Heck, parts of California are already seeing $5/gal.

The automakers knew this day was coming. Maybe that's why you won't find many of them freaking out over surging gas prices.

Unlike the last time gas prices surged to record highs (July 2008 the natl. avg. hit $4.11/gal) the auto industry has far more fuel efficient cars and trucks sitting in showrooms. Look at what has changed in the last 4 years.

 » Read More

Who's behind the wheel? Nevada has become the first state in the country to approve regulations that will allow self-driving vehicles on the road in that state.

The age of self-driven or autonomous cars is here.

Nevada has become the first state in the country to approve regulations that will allow self-driving vehicles on the road in that state.

Some of you will scoff, but the day we see self-driving cars on roads and highways is much closer than you think.

Google

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[GOOG  Loading...      ()   ] has been working on an autonomous car for a couple of years. Back in 2010, it first gave the public a peak at a Toyota Prius it modified with lasers (mounted on the car) and computers. That technology delivered data to the driving system so it computed the speed, direction etc. of the car. In Google’s car, there’s a person in the driver seat or front passenger seat, but they are not controlling the car.  » Read More

Philippe Desmazes | AFP | Getty Images The latest survey by J.D. Power finds vehicle dependability is at its highest level since 1990.

For years we’ve been reporting on automakers doing a better job building cars and trucks. Their dependability has steadily improved, even as the cars and trucks have become more complex with safety enhancements and expanded electronics.

In fact, the latest survey by J.D. Power finds vehicle dependability (as rated by vehicle owners) is at its highest level since 1990, when the first dependability survey was conducted.

Some highlights from the J.D. Power and Associates survey:

• A dramatic drop (13%) in vehicle dependability complaints for 3 year old cars/trucks
• 25 out of 32 auto brands improved their vehicle dependability ratings
• 31,000 original owners of 2009 models took part in the survey late last year

Two things stand out about the survey  » Read More

The early reviews and orders for the Tesla Model X are in. On many fronts, Tesla’s first SUV is getting a thumbs up.

Within 24 hours of showing the Model X, Tesla

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[TSLA  Loading...      ()   ] racked up more than $40 million in orders for a model that won’t be available until early 2014. While Tesla won’t say exactly how many reservations were placed for the model X, we did some back of the envelope math and estimate the company booked about 470 orders. We arrived at that number by taking $40 Million and dividing it by the upper-end projected price ($85,000) for the Model X.

CNBC/Meghan Knaggs Tesla's Model X

Not bad for an SUV a long ways from being built.  » Read More

Source: Chrysler Clint Eastwood during Super Bowl XLVI's Chrysler commercial

Less than a week after the Chrysler “Halftime in America” ad ran during the Super Bowl, Clint Eastwood is surprised by the reaction to the ad.

His blunt comments are worth listening to.

“I’m surprised that people that are supposed to be intelligent have interpreted it (the ad) otherwise,” Eastwood said when asked about the backlash from people who thought the ad was endorsing the auto bailouts. He added, “No one was endorsing any bailouts or anything like that. That was all supposition. All somebody daydreaming out there.”

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time, Eastwood says the Chrysler ad is not about the auto bailouts. And yet, there are many people who don’t buy it.  » Read More

Electric car company Tesla

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[TSLA  Loading...      ()   ] has taken the wraps off of its first SUV, The Model X. Unveiling it Thursday night at the company's design studio in southern California, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the Model X will "redefine the upscale SUV market."

The Model X will be powered by dual electric motors and either a 60 or 85 Kilowatt battery pack. It is projected to have a range of 220-270 miles, depending on battery pack, when fully charged.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says Model X will change the way people look at SUV's.

Mainly because of two unique features.

CNBC/Meghan Knaggs Tesla's Model X

First, the electric SUV has falcon wing doors for unusually spacious access to the 2nd and 3rd rows. Unlike gull wing doors that are not practical because they swing out and up so far, the Model X doors have two hinges so they can open in smaller spaces.

When Musk showed us how the doors give greater access, he stood on the door frame, laughed and said, "Look! You can not do this in any minivan."  » Read More

Stan Honda | AFP | Getty Images Alan Mulally

One of the hallmarks of Ford "B.A." (Before Alan, as in CEO Alan Mulally) was the often messy style of management shake-ups.

Sometimes executives would retire or leave and their successor was not always the obvious (or best) choice.

It was a dysfunctional aspect of Ford that often made outsiders scratch their heads.

Compare that with the leadership changes CEO Mulally announced Thursday morning.  » Read More