Motor Trend Audio

The guys discuss enthusiasts, clones and tribute cars. Charlie and Shawn meet "Fritz" who owns many different quirky and interesting vehicles that he repurposes and puts to work. Shawn also talks to and is smitten with an enthusiast's 911 RSR clone.

The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) is identifying and creating a register for vehicles with historical significance. It's historic that Fiat was recently reintroduced to the USA. The Fiat 500 was a significant car in Italy as was its historic predecessor, the Topolino. We also learn about Fiat's plans for continued growth with the introduction of the 500X.

We get to drive the 1978 Jet powered Corvette. The covertion was done by Vince Granatelli and based on the innovative the innovative Jet powered Lotus Indy car that his dad Andy Granatelli had created to revolutionize the Indy 500. We get to meet and talk to the owner Milton Verret and Clive Chapman who's dad founded Lotus.

The North American International Auto (NAIAS) show is held each January in Detroit, MI. The local automakers pull out all the stops to dazzle the international press, one-up competitors and generate a buzz among consumers. It's the first big auto show of the calendar year, setting the stage for cars that we hope to own and drive in the near future.

We go behind the scenes with Angus MacKenzie, Ed Loh and guest juror, Chris Theodore, to discuss the Motor Trend "Of the Year" Awards. In the process, we discuss the respective winners of the 2015 Car of the Year, the 2015 SUV of the Year and 2015 Truck of the Year.

The Irvine "Cars & Coffee" was a weekly gathering of automotive enthusiasts that featured the "cars you don't see the other six days a week." Despite a policy of discreet attention, it became a victim of its own success. After 410 Saturdays, growing crowds and encroaching development sent it into hiatus searching for a new home.

Echo Park is a technology-centric used car dealership that just opened in Denver, CO. They have revolutionized the way customers buy and sell used cars by identifying and mitigating the many "pain points" in the process. We visited the only Echo Park to experience the process firsthand and discuss the operation with Jeff Dyke, who developed the concept for the Sonic Automotive group.

This week, Charlie talks cars and cinema with Josh Hancock who is well-experienced in, both, the automobile and movie industries. He has had several key roles in selecting and placing autos in feature films and television shows. Shawn also joins Charlie to talk about how else automotive brands are expanding their reach.

Charlie spends the week in SoCal attending the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show press days and associated events. The week kicks off with the Connected Car Expo showcasing future technology in connected cars, followed by three days of new car and concept introductions. Lots of time is spent with key automotive executives and fellow journalists, including Perry Stern.

The Lightning Motorcycle LS-218 is billed as the world's fastest production motorcycle--winner at Pikes Peak, clocked at over 217mph at Bonneville and yet docile enough to drive every day. Charlie was there when the first customer took delivery. We talk to Richard Hatfield (Founder and CEO of Lightning Motorcycle), the entire assembly line and "Lightning" Jim, the man who set the record speed.

Charlie visits the 2014 Speciality Equipment Market Association Show, better know as SEMA, in Las Vegas. Join Charlie as he chats with the Green Berets, discusses the finer points of grammar with a British racer, and spends quality time in a Local Motors' 3D printed car--the first of its kind in the world.

Bob Hall reveals that Geely, a Chinese automotive manufacturing company and owner of the Volvo brand, intends to build an automotive development center in California. Geely will use the new center to develop cars for the worldwide market. We also speak to Dicken Wear, who discusses his family's relationship with American built Rolls-Royce, British sports cars and the development of the SCCA. Also, have you ever wondered what what it's like to drive a fire engine? We have, so we reached out to "Stan," an experienced firefighter who shares his driving impressions of the Big Red Truck.

This week we discuss the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang and the all-new 2015 edition with the pony car's engineers. Then we chat about how it drives with Motor Trend's own, Scott Evans.

This week we recap some of our favorite interviews of the year including Jay Leno, Ed O'Neill, Dan Neil, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mike Brewer from Wheeler Dealers, Tony Hawk, Rene Villeneuve, and others.

This week we discuss the Hyundai Tucson on The Walking Dead, Barry Meguiar and his show, "Car Crazy," and wrap up with Mike Brewer from the program "Wheeler Dealers."

Charlie rides the 100-mile bike ride for the charity, Best Buddies sponsored by Audi. Along the way he talks with Best Buddies founder, Anthony Shriver, his sister and journalist, Maria Shriver, and California's Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom among others.

Charlie and Shawn chat with Motor Trend's editors about the 2014 Best Driver's Car at their favorite track, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca.

The Michelin Challenge Design is a global competition Michelin uses to sense the future of automotive design and how said designs will impact its business. Charlie discusses the theme behind this year's competition and shares insight from judges Freeman Thomas (Director of Strategic Design, Ford Motor Company), Ben Ebel (Design Coordinator, Michelin Design), Stuart Reed (Chair of the Transportation Design Dept. at the Art Center College of Design), and Frank Saucedo (Director, General Motors Advanced Design Studio).

The three original conceptual designers of the Miata, Bob Hall, Mark Jordan, and Norman Garrett, sit down with Charlie and discuss how the car went from clay to production.

Charlie and Shawn wrap up their week at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Of course, no trip would be complete without speaking to the designers and artists that bring modern cars to life.