Alans first guest is Karl Brauer – Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Autos Contributor, North American Car and Truck of the Year juror and board member and Executive Analyst for ISeeCars.com. Karl has been in Ingolstadt, Germany courtesy of Volkswagen Automotive Group. They gave him a sneak peek of their new “secret” product that will be coming out soon. Karl say’s it’s a drivetrain that is electrifying. While there, he got to tour the “Audi Tradition” a Media Center that shows the history of Audi. Karl explains the roots of Audi’s trademark, the four interlocking rings symbolize the 1932 merger of four previously independent automobile manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. Karl has been driving the 2022 Ford F150 Lightning. He says it uses the same physical dimensions as the other F150’s, yet redesigned in ways that make a difference. Like the frunk or front trunk and the power packs that not only send power to the truck but you can send it out to power your house should you have an outage. It’s got the highest tow rating and can go 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. The only downfall is if you are towing, your 300 mile range will be cut in half and the charging time will take you about an hour minimum. So if your not in a hurry, you will be fine. Karl goes onto share that manufacturers like Tesla are down by 47% in vehicle production because of no access to rare earth metals that are needed. Honda is down 40% and Nissan 34%. Karl shares that those who are waiting on the new GM Hummer can wait on up to 17 years. “Something needs to give”, says Alan. People will get tired of waiting and will head back to internal gas combustion. Up next is Brian Moody – Executive Editor of Auto Trader.com. The duo briefly discuss Buick and it’s surprising survival. They are coming out with the “Wild Cat” as their new all electric concept car. Brian say’s it’s got sort of a Jetson type vibe with a 300 mile range. Brian comes in with a left curve as he says he would invest his money in a small chain of service facilities that specialize in gasoline cars, for the future may be in electric, or like Alan anticipates, hydrogen. Brian shares a website called KBB.com/service-repair-guide where you can find out what kind of service your car may need. Type in the make and model, what’s been going on and it will help you narrow down the problem. Alan chimes in and talks about his 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. It’s am diesel with 29 mpg, and tows 6500# with ease. Brian lists the best fuel economy vehicles of 2022 which is the Hyundai Ioniq @ 59mpg, the Toyota Prius @ 56mpg, the Honda Elantra Hybrid @ 54mpg, and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2 52mpg. He goes onto say that statistics show that in 1967 there were 186 smog alerts in Los Angeles, by 2019 there were 0 smog alerts. How did we get there? Not because of electric cars, but because gas is cleaner and the emission controls are better. He feels that fuel economy will continue to get better with hybrids being made. BJ Killeen joins Alan next as she talks about Barrett-Jackson in Vegas. They sold over 650 vehicles with no reserve worth over 48 million dollars. Over 300 pieces of automobilia were sold as well. A 1970 Plymouth Superbird sold for $1.65 million, a 1963 Chevy Corvette Split Window Z06 for $566K, a Hemi Cudas ’70 and ’71 for $500k each, Dodge Hemi Challenger $379k, a Ford Mustang “Eleanor” Tribute car for $330k, just to name a few. For charity the 2023 Cadillac Escalade V raised $525K, and a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for $125k to which that went to Ronald McDonald Charity of Detroit. BJ also shared that the Dodge Demons were going for $60-$70K and Bentleys were going between $40-$60k. Alan boasts that the most bodacious automobile that he ever owned was the Dodge Demon.