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L.A. Auto Show: Genesis X Convertible, Toyota Prius and more | Autoblog Podcast #756

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. The Los Angeles Auto Show wrapped up this week, and we talk about some of the highlights from the show, and the events surrounding it, like the new Toyota Prius, Genesis X Convertible concept, new Lucid Air trims and the Lucid Gravity SUV. John talks about traveling to Sweden for the reveal of the Volvo EX90. They also talk about the cars they've been driving, including the Nissan Leaf, Nissan Kicks, Mercedes EQB and Jeep Wagoneer. They also shoot the breeze about late fall beer, courtesy of an email from a listener. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #756 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown 2022 L.A. Auto Show 2023 Toyota Prius Genesis X Convertible concept Lucid Air Pure and Touring Lucid Gravity SUV Volvo EX90 Cars we're driving Nissan Leaf Nissan Kicks Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 Jeep Wagoneer Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Next Lotus Elise to draw from its roots

Recently-appointed Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales told Autocar that work on the new Lotus Elise, which is coming in 2020, is already underway, and thanks to growing sales, the automaker is set to make a profit for the first time in 20 years. Gales also dropped some details about the new sports cars' design philosophy and underpinnings. According to the report, the new Elise will utilize the same aluminum chassis technology found in the original Elise and won't bear any resemblance to the 2010 Elise concept. Instead, the upcoming vehicle will uphold its roots with a lightweight design that emphasizes driver involvement at an affordable price. The new Elise is rumored to weigh in at roughly 1,984 pounds, almost 384 pounds more than the original Elise. In order to meet US crash ratings, the Elise will most likely be wider, but have the same length as the current model. Power will probably come from a Toyota unit producing between 134 horsepower and 245 horsepower. The Elise is expected to come to the US where it will be offered with a manual and automatic transmission, which will both come from Toyota as well. Gales claims Lotus has more orders now than in any year in the last 10 years, with the US being one of the automaker's most important markets. Related Video:

Toyota takes self-driving step with patent for eyelid detection device

With the rise of smartphones and more advanced auto infotainment systems, combatting distracted driving is a growing concern. One day, fully autonomous vehicles could end the problem, but that solution is still at best years away for consumers. Until then, automakers are working to make the tech safer, and one way to do that is monitoring drivers' eyes to make sure they're paying attention. With a recent patent, Toyota thinks it can make the tracking work even better. In Japanese brand's patented solution, a camera constantly monitors the driver's upper and lower eyelids and uses the data to calculate how open the eyes are. The company admits systems like this already exist elsewhere, but they can sometimes return false results by detecting redeye instead of the location of a person's actual eyeball. To fix this, the automaker adds a further step to search for redeye. If it occurs where skin is already assumed to be, then the system can go back to tracking the accurate location of the eye. Toyota doesn't specify how it might use this technology, but more accurate data would always be useful. The company wouldn't be the first automaker to work on implementing eye detection, either. For example, General Motors has a pilot program using it to monitor distraction, and Jaguar Land Rover watches a driver's peepers to create the 3d image for its Virtual Windscreen. Related Video: