Open Road Podcast
ORP is a dialogue between industry analysts. It ranges freely over the issues of the day in the auto industry.
Welcome to Open Road Podcast... Mr. Black, Mr. White, and Mr. Blonde are the chosen pseudonyms for the three major players at Open Road Podcast. Mr. Black and Mr. White both work as consultants and contractors in the auto industry. In each podcast posted at this site, and also available through iTunes, the three discuss relevant issues of the day in the car business, from driving impressions of new products to commentary on future products to an exploration of the more fascinating technologies in the automotive field. The show is skewed towards car enthusiasts who seek an alternative to the consensus, watered-down views often expressed in more conventional outlets. Both Mr. Black and Mr. White have held a variety of marketing, communications, and product roles in the auto industry, mostly relating to the creation of sports cars and high-performance cars. Each has written white papers about future product, and some of those products are on sale in the US. From time to time, Open Road Podcast has well-informed guests, such as engineers and designers, to cover complex topics where an expert's views and knowledge are essential. For new visitors, it's important to note that our early podcasts were experimental and focused on auto shows. They often veered into some of the industry's more arcane corners and back alleyways. After this learning experience, Mr. Black and Mr. White agreed to shift to more specific commentary on new products. But come the show season, Mr. Black and Mr. White will once again deliver commentary on show properties. The scope of these podcasts will continue to expand. Because they have day jobs, the three will remain Mr. Black, Mr. White, and Mr. Blonde for a long time to come.

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Episode #037, Audi R8 Mr. White's lucky streak continues unabated as he gets into an Audi R8. Unaccustomed as he is to such exotica, he proclaims the design superior to the F430, though Mr. Black and Mr. Blonde disagree. Discussion covers the engine, the lack of torque-vectoring, the fine exterior design and how it's the best quote yet of the Auto Union GP cars of the Thirties, the Italo-Aryan interior dimensions, and the semi-auto gearbox that sure ain't no DSG.
Direct download: ORP-Episode037.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:33 AM

Episode #037, Audi R8 Mr. White's lucky streak continues unabated as he gets into an Audi R8. Unaccustomed as he is to such exotica, he proclaims the design superior to the F430, though Mr. Black and Mr. Blonde disagree. Discussion covers the engine, the lack of torque-vectoring, the fine exterior design and how it's the best quote yet of the Auto Union GP cars of the Thirties, the Italo-Aryan interior dimensions, and the semi-auto gearbox that sure ain't no DSG.
Direct download: ORP-Episode037.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:25 AM

Episode #036, 2009 Nissan GT-R When Mr. White gets a lucky run, he sure makes the most of it. In this segment, the boys discuss Mr. White's time in a Nissan GT-R. Torque-vectoring, AWD, cast aluminum structural components, just how many tens of thousands of dollars Nissan is eating on each GT-R sold, and the need to race this box at Le Mans.
Direct download: ORP-Episode036.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:46 AM

Episode #036, 2009 Nissan GT-R When Mr. White gets a lucky run, he sure makes the most of it. In this segment, the boys discuss Mr. White's time in a Nissan GT-R. Torque-vectoring, AWD, cast aluminum structural components, just how many tens of thousands of dollars Nissan is eating on each GT-R sold, and the need to race this box at Le Mans.
Direct download: ORP-Episode036.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:42 AM

Episode #035, Saleen Mr. Blue, AKA Mr. Detroit, wanted to talk about Saleen, Hyde Park, and American Sunroof Corporation, ASC. ASC now owns the state-of-the-art niche assembly plant where the Ford GT was built. The boys discuss the potential for Saleen’s new S7 successor, which will sell for a lot less money. Mr. Black holds court about who actually developed the S7—it was an old friend of his. Also another foray into the distant past covering relations with Panoz Automotive development and how that planted so many ideas in the minds of Deeeeeeetroit engineers. Mr. Blue makes his point about Kenny Brown. And we all wish Steve Saleen the very best of luck in his new ventures, modifying various Detroit pony cars.
Direct download: ORP-Episode035.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:44 AM

Episode #035, Saleen Mr. Blue, AKA Mr. Detroit, wanted to talk about Saleen, Hyde Park, and American Sunroof Corporation, ASC. ASC now owns the state-of-the-art niche assembly plant where the Ford GT was built. The boys discuss the potential for Saleen’s new S7 successor, which will sell for a lot less money. Mr. Black holds court about who actually developed the S7—it was an old friend of his. Also another foray into the distant past covering relations with Panoz Automotive development and how that planted so many ideas in the minds of Deeeeeeetroit engineers. Mr. Blue makes his point about Kenny Brown. And we all wish Steve Saleen the very best of luck in his new ventures, modifying various Detroit pony cars.
Direct download: ORP-Episode035.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:22 AM

Episode #034, Chevron Mr. Black left his product worries behind for a few days and drove from LA to the Bay area in Yellow Bird, including a shot across his favorite road in California. Final destination? Chevron’s research center in Richmond, CA, on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Chevron had invited 15 online journalists to participate in a day of presentations and Q&A about Chevron’s fuel additive, Techron. Mr. Black has long been a Mobil man because a former Mobil CEO bought one of the race cars Mr. Black helped develop in the Nineties, one of those infamous R cars. But allegiance has changed. You can see the PDF posted to decide for yourself. Mr. Blue and Mr. Black both have their professional work scrutinized by corporate lawyers, so they know Chevron couldn’t make the claims if Techron were snake oil. Based on the research Mr. Black saw and you can see for yourself in the PDF, Chevron’s Techron additive is the real deal and can dramatically clean the injectors, valves and combustion chambers of a modern engine. Mr. Blonde was sold on it long ago, it turns out.
Direct download: ORP-Episode034.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:24 AM

Episode #034, Chevron Mr. Black left his product worries behind for a few days and drove from LA to the Bay area in Yellow Bird, including a shot across his favorite road in California. Final destination? Chevron’s research center in Richmond, CA, on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Chevron had invited 15 online journalists to participate in a day of presentations and Q&A about Chevron’s fuel additive, Techron. Mr. Black has long been a Mobil man because a former Mobil CEO bought one of the race cars Mr. Black helped develop in the Nineties, one of those infamous R cars. But allegiance has changed. You can see the PDF posted to decide for yourself. Mr. Blue and Mr. Black both have their professional work scrutinized by corporate lawyers, so they know Chevron couldn’t make the claims if Techron were snake oil. Based on the research Mr. Black saw and you can see for yourself in the PDF, Chevron’s Techron additive is the real deal and can dramatically clean the injectors, valves and combustion chambers of a modern engine. Mr. Blonde was sold on it long ago, it turns out.
Direct download: ORP-Episode034.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:18 AM

Episode #033, Compact Trucks, Part 2 More on little pickups. Perfect if you want to know what it's like to sit in a marketing meeting with people who actually know what they're talking about--as opposed to the MBAs who so often make poor decisions.
Direct download: ORP-Episode033.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:00 AM

Episode #033, Compact Trucks, Part 2 More on little pickups. Perfect if you want to know what it's like to sit in a marketing meeting with people who actually know what they're talking about--as opposed to the MBAs who so often make poor decisions.
Direct download: ORP-Episode033.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:55 AM