Hybrid lovers, do you want a piece of good news?

The new Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids epitomize a daring change in what is generally a “me too” category. Chrysler Group’s full-size hybrids are engineered to deliver seamless dependable power on demand in an efficient package. With an electrically variable transmission (with 2 electric motors), 2 full hybrid modes of operation, and 4 fixed mechanical gear ratios, the drive system dramatically enhances fuel economy.

The new 5.7-liter HEMI Hybrid is expected to deliver an overall fuel economy improvement of more than 25%, including an improvement of about 40% in the city.

“The all-new Chrysler Group HEMI Hybrid will offer our customers the best of both worlds: renowned performance and significantly improved fuel economy,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler Group. “With the new HEMI-powered Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, we are delivering the ultimate combination of fuel efficiency, overall performance and capability in a premium full-size SUV.”

DigiAds describes the hybrid system:

Chrysler Group’s two-mode hybrid powertrain — jointly developed by DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and the BMW Group — represents a major automotive industry milestone due to the unprecedented fully integrated combination of electric motors with a fixed-gear transmission.

As a result of the low- and high-speed electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) modes, the system is commonly referred to as the two-mode hybrid. However, the sophisticated fuel-saving system also incorporates four fixed gear ratios for high efficiency and power-handling capabilities in a broad variety of vehicle applications. The new Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid vehicles can be powered either by the electric motors or by the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine – or a combination of the two. During the two ECVT modes and four fixed-gear operations, the hybrid system can use the electric motors for boosting and/or regenerative braking. When full power is needed, the system automatically adjusts for passing, driving steep grades or hauling a trailer. The result is trend-setting hybrid technology that provides superior fuel economy, performance and load-carrying capability.

So this is just an extra awkward 4x4 with a hybrid system to go ‘green’?

Ben Pulman of Car Magazine has this to say: “We’re afraid so, but the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids, at least in theory, offers some significant economy gains. It’s also a further glimpse into the system that will power GM products, the BMW X6 and forthcoming 7-series, and cars from Chrysler’s ex-partner, Mercedes. Although both the Aspen and Durango run 345bhp 5.7-litre V8s, combined with a cylinder deactivation mode the hybrid system is claimed to improve fuel economy by 25%, and by nearly 40% during city driving.”

“The cylinder deactivation mode already features on the Hemi engine, and allows the V8 to switch between four- and eight-cylinder modes. And thanks to the hybrid system, the Aspen and Durango can run more often in the four-cylinder mode, saving even more fuel. Both cars will be built at Chrysler’s Newark factory in Delware, and will reach showrooms in the middle of 2008,” he added.

Why use a Hemi V8 if you want to be cleaner?

The automaker said that customers want that ‘sought-after blend of performance, utility, capability and vastly improved fuel economy - all in one package’. And you’ve got to admit the cylinder deactivation mode - called Multi-displacement System (MDS) - is pretty smart.

Thy hybrid system has 2 different modes: for urban areas and for motoways. Chrysler claim it’s “the world’s first 2-mode full hybrid.” That ‘2-mode’ system comes from the electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) which has high- and low-speed modes, though we’ll wait until we drive the cars before we pass judgment on the supposed benefits. Chrysler's economy figures come it at 21.6mpg for urban driving, and 22.8mpg for motorway cruising, which is hardly planet-saving, said the Car Magazine.

The maker of Dodge hitch will also put on display at the L.A. Motor Show the Journey. The vehicle was previously showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Everybody seems to be excited about the upcoming car show in LA. And this becomes even more exciting after the Toyota Motor Corporation revealed that they will be unveiling two of their car models at the said show - the 2009 Toyota Corolla and 2009 Toyota Matrix. Now isn’t that exciting? We wish that these car models from the Japanese car maker wear Toyota racing parts for a better performance level.

Patrick Olsen and Kelsey Mays, both from Kicking Tires, were able to describe the two new car models from Toyota. According to Mays, “The latest Corolla improves in some areas but disappoints in others. The dashboard has lots of hard, cheap plastic - like the last Corolla did - but it manages to look respectable and well-fitted.”

She also appreciated the new design and the space given to the new Toyota Corolla. She said, “Kudos to Toyota for including a two-tier glove compartment. It offers plenty of space and, in combination with the decent-sized center console, makes the Corolla one of the more storage-friendly compact cars out there. The A/C controls, in contrast, are a step down. I thought the previous Corolla had high-quality knobs and dials for a compact car, but Toyota seems to have ditched them for the cheaper controls from the Yaris.”

Patrick Olsen of Kicking Tires commented on the Matrix saying, “As a small hatchback, the Matrix's interior was fairly roomy, and the one-hand-droppable second row was a nice touch. Legroom in the backseat was reasonable, and the trunk/hatch space was decent. I sat in the XRS 'prototype,' and I liked its aggressive feel inside and out.”

Olsen continues, “As the dad of a soon-to-be teen driver, I might feel more comfortable letting my son drive the revamped Corolla (or, more likely, a 2003 Corolla); I'd be a little worried with him behind the wheel of the Matrix XRS' five-speed manual with the 158-hp engine. Yeah, it's a Toyota, but I can already smell the burnt rubber.”

If you are looking for a new vehicle to buy, you certainly need to consult people who know the ins and outs of the auto market. There are also tools to assist you and one great tool to use is the Internet. Through the Web, one can take a look at what a certain model has to offer and how much it costs. There are sites that let you compare vehicles. This is so good since it gives you an idea of which is a better vehicle and which would be a better deal.

Recently, IntelliChoice recently released their list of Best Deals for this month. These are vehicles which are considered to be good buys for consumers as they are offered at a reasonable price and has the features that most consumers are looking for. "What consumers need to know is that the best deals can change quickly from month to month. There are seven changes on our list of winners from October to November, which is a big number," said James Bell, the publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com. "Gas is a big factor. Rising fuel costs favor fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids, and there are six on the November list. Among non-hybrid vehicles, the Yukon knocked out the Sequoia. The Yukon beats the Sequoia on the MPG front, so as fuel costs rise, the opportunity arises to overcome the Sequoia's strong retained value advantage," he added.

Here are some of the vehicles included in the list:

• Subcompact Car: MINI Cooper Hatchback
  
• Compact Car over $16,000: Honda Civic Hybrid
  
• Compact Car under $16,000: Honda Civic Sedan
  
• Midsize Car over $21,000: Toyota Prius
  
• Luxury Convertible: Audi A4 Convertible
  
• Near Luxury Car: BMW 3 Series Sedan
  
• Luxury Car: Lexus ES
  
• Large Car: Toyota Avalon
  
• Base Sport Car: Volkswagen GTI 2-door
  
• Sport Car: Chevrolet Corvette

The World Racing Group will emerge even stronger with the support of the Rite Aid Corporation. The group proclaimed their partnership with Rite Aid. The corporation will stand as one of their major sponsors in next year’s Rite Aid Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the Rite Aid 200 to be held during Super DIRT Week in Syracuse, N.Y.

The partnership between the two associations will carry out a new name for the popular World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race in Charlotte which is the rebirth of Rite Aid’s participation in the top 200-lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event in Syracuse. The partnership promises a bright future in the world of racing - definitely as bright as Dodge fog lights!

“We are proud to become the official sponsor of two major race events: the Rite Aid Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Rite Aid 200 at Super DIRT Week,” said Jay Ross, the Rite Aid vice president of marketing. “These are great, long-standing events with dedicated fans and Rite Aid is thrilled to support these exciting races in 2008.”

“This is a great partnership for our organization and our fans. Rite Aid’s promotional support for the World of Outlaws event in Charlotte as well as the Rite Aid 200 at Super DIRT Week is appreciated and reciprocated by fans across the entire northeast,” says World Racing Group President Tom Deery.

GEM is now celebrating its tenth year of being of service in making electric cars. And they will be showing of their new cars at the forthcoming LA Auto Show. And now they promise to bring more green cars to the market.

GEM has established good records in the making of quality cars, which is the same quality as VW golf body kits. We have seen the company grow with more customers demanding for their cars. There are over 35,000 GEM cars manufactured to this date and in China there are 14,000 more. Even its parent company Chrysler is focusing much of their attention to making electric cars. GEM has definitely fulfilled its vital niche.

The LA Auto Show will begin on November 14 and you will see both Chrysler and GEM in it.

GEM facts & figures as taken from theautochannel.com:

Affordable: Low cost - low maintenance
*Inexpensive - Six models that range from $6,795 to $12,495
*72-volt battery system powers a range of 30 to 40 miles on a charge
*GEMs can be recharged in any standard 110-volt outlet

Fuel consumption: Pennies per day
*In the U.S., the average car trip is between four and six miles on low speed roads.
*The all-electric GEM vehicles cost only pennies a mile to operate and receive a
range from 30 to 40 miles on a charge

Reliable: Excellent performance – over 200 million miles driven
*2007 Blue Sky Merit Award from WestStart-CALSTART for improving air quality in
California and worldwide
*Nearly 10 million gallons of gasoline saved
*Over 150 tons of tailpipe pollutants spared from reaching the air
Models: Six models - Street legal in 40 states - 35 mph or less*
*Passenger and cargo models - including the new eL XD utility vehicle --
hold up to six passengers
*Assembled in the U.S.A.
*Greener fleet options for city parks, police departments, sports teams,
master planned communities and university campuses

Visit GEM on www.gemcar.com to see more information on this.

Do you know that we should know the importance of hybrid cars? Most car buyers are buying hybrid cars because of its design and because it is a hot item nowadays. But they fail to recognize the importance of it.

AAA of Northern California said it’s about time to educate everyone about the importance of hybrid cars and now they declare the month of November as Hybrid Month. We all have to know the importance of hybrid cars and AAA is doing another program to help build knowledge of every driver especially with regards to the use of hybrid cars.

UC Davis conducted a study that revealed driving a hybrid vehicle reduces greenhouse gases by about 30% compared to a conventional vehicle. They also found that fuel consumption drops even more significantly by an average of 35%.

“Actually, specifically, during the month of November we’re providing information about the plug-in vehicle, which are not yet available, but in the testing phase. They’re hybrids on steroids and get up to 100 miles per gallon,” said a AAA representative. I guess I better go back to my search for VW golf body kits before I run out of time.

We have seen it all before and now it comes back again. The Nissan Pivo 2 has revealed itself with a more fabulous design. Well, it has the newest robot which can actually talk to the drivers and the R2D2-like co-pilot and wheels that can twist 90 degrees. We can all see that the new car concept is made with a feminine design. Take a look at the design. Aside from that it has a reputation from the maker itself that the new concept car can do fine driving. Well, let's see if the Japanese car maker is right. The car certainly does not have the Dodge fan clutch but the interior car parts made available will truly be a hit.

The NBA 2007-2008 season takes off this coming October 31st with a lot of surprises around the association. The world has been waiting for the brand new exciting season after the San Antonio Spurs grabbed the World Championship last summer. Anyway, it’s another year of drama, passion and fun that we should all look forward to.

The greatest show in the world will blast off with an extended marketing partnership with AutoTrader.com. The continuing joint venture of two of the most prominent names in the world ensures a marvelous opening night at the end of the month! AutoTrader.com will once again seize the NBA on TNT Tip-Off show in support of the NBA association. Hold on to your Audi timing chain because it’s going to be one hell of a ride this 2007 to 2008 season!

“By positioning AutoTrader.com front and center for a season-long partnership, we are able to effectively and efficiently keep our brand name in front of millions of potential customers for months at a time. With this kind of on-going exposure, we can be sure millions of NBA fans see and hear our name when they’re ready to buy or sell a car. Our continued outreach to sports fans has proved to be a positive outlet to increase long-term awareness of AutoTrader.com,” said AutoTrader.com Vice President of Marketing Clark Wood.

According to TheAutoChannel.com, AutoTrader.com’s affiliation with the Nationa Basketball Association will wrap up major participation during big-time NBA events such as the world’s favorite NBA All-Star 2008 in New Orleans which will take place in Feb. 15-17, and the NBA Playoffs.

“Since the inception of our partnership, AutoTrader.com has been committed to enhancing the overall NBA experience for our fans through a variety of media platforms,” said Mark Tatum, Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships for the NBA. “Through this extension, we will continue to work together to produce exciting NBA-themed promotions that will emphasize the bond between our brands both on television with TNT and NBA TV, and online through NBA.com.”

“We are happy to continue what has been a successful marriage between AutoTrader.com and the NBA on TNT Tip-Off Show. Fans know when they tune in to the NBA on TNT we will provide them with the facts and the experience to back it up, something our friends at AutoTrader.com also champion when you go to their Web site,” says Trish Frohman, EVP of Ad Sales, Turner Sports.

Feel grateful if your vehicle is not included in the top 10 most stolen cars! I’m worried because I drive an old Plymouth Canada, quite unsafe from car thieves, huh? Anyway, it’s no big deal. Now let’s get down to serious business here… According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) Annual Hot Wheels report, thieves frequently go for the apple of their eyes! You might be shocked to see which vehicle thieves are going for and which they find not worthy.

Do you ever wonder why older models top the list over vibrant and newer vehicles?

"Older cars are often stolen because the parts for these models start to become harder and harder to come by, making the pieces more profitable for thieves. This is why we often see a clustering effect with the same make and style of vehicles being stolen year after year," states one NICB official. "Vehicle thieves also follow market trends and target the most popular vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts and illegal export to other countries."

The Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles:

• 1995 Honda Civic
  
• 1989 Toyota Camry
  
• 1991 Honda Accord
  
• 1994 Dodge Caravan
  
• 1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
  
• 1997 Ford F150 Series
  
• 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup
  
• 1990 Acura Integra
  
• 1988 Toyota Pickup
  
• 1991 Nissan Sentra

"Many insurance companies set their auto insurance rates according to the industry's loss history. As a result, vehicles that have a high-theft risk will more than likely be charged a higher auto insurance rate. However, many insurance companies offer discounts for automatic antitheft devices, which can help keep your auto insurance rate down," says Lou Geremia, the President of Insurance.com.

Who could ever the doubt the sexiness and brilliance of this extraordinary hue? The 2007 model will be the judge for that! Even your Saturn windshield wiper motor would agree with this kind of statement. It was announced by PPG Industries in their annual automotive color popularity data that the sexy shade of silver is the number one and the most popular color recorded in their charts. The study also revealed that the shade of black strongly follows silver in the popularity field. Vibrant hues such as blue, red and niche market colors seem to be in position for revival.

The accounted result of PPG’s study confirmed that Silver bagged the top place as the most popular car color at 31.5 percent (down from 33 percent in 2006) worldwide. On the other hand, black hopped to 18 percent (from 15.4 percent in 2006) to earn second place. Trailing black is white with (12.5 percent), blue (12.4 percent), red (8.8 percent), naturals (gold, orange and brown tones, 6.6 percent), other/niche market colors (5.9 percent) and green (3.8 percent).

"Silver is popular with consumers and automakers because it accentuates the styling of a vehicle and looks modern while also having a high resale value. We're looking at new interpretations to emerge in tinted silvers and charcoal shades. In addition, hue-shifting pigments can really make silvers look unique," says Jane E. Harrington, PPG manager, color styling, automotive coatings.

"Our focus for this year's global color show explores effect pigments. To remain a leader in color design, our methods must be outside the normal mode of thinking. PPG continues to create unique ways of using effect pigments that result in innovative looks and add a new dimension to color and technology," says Jerry R. Koenigsmark, PPG manager of color design, North America automotive coatings.

"Today's consumers are aware of trends and design, and they expect to see that reflected in the vehicles they buy." Harrington added.