Chevy dealers may be helping Toyota and Honda sales if the Chevrolet officials get their way.  Chevrolet marketing officials are encouraging the 3,000 Chevy dealers to prepare for the late September launch of the Cruze compact by purchasing a Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic to have available for comparative test drives.
>> read more from "Chevy Dealers Buy Civics and Corollas"

Nissan moved a step closer to motoring out the first mass produced electric car for the U.S. market.   Today they announced customers who have reserved the new electric Leaf may now pick a color and trim level.

The ordering process for Nissan Leaf will be prioritized based on when consumers submitted their original reservations online and by the consumer’s market. Over the next several weeks, reservation holders will begin to receive emails informing them how to submit an order. They will contact a dealer to negotiate their price and finalize the order for the purchase or lease of Nissan Leaf.
>> read more from "Nissan Moves the Leaf Closer to Home Chargers"

With the exception of a top-of-the-line Honda model, motorcycle riders have not had the benefit of safety bags, but that has changed recently with the availability of various systems that can be used not only for motorcycles, but also for many sports.

One of the more interesting systems is the Armored Air Jacket is an effective airbag system integrated into specially designed jackets. The Armored Air Jackets come equipped with a small Co2 air cartridge attached to a ripcord that is tethered to the motorcycle. Riders simply connect the ripcord lanyard to the anchoring cable as they mount the motorcycle, much like a throttle kill ripcord on snowmobiles and jet skis.
>> read more from "Wearable Air Bags for Motorcycle Riders"

Nissan engineers have developed an air filter that dispenses vitamin C into the car’s cabin to moisturize the skin of the passengers.

The system is part of Nissan’s “health and well-being” concept that is designed to create a more comfortable in-car environment. By using a direct application of vitamin c to the skin, it helps create collagen and elastin, which helps keep skin looking young and healthy.  The vitamin also stimulates the body’s metabolism to supply more moisture to the skin.

According to Nissan engineers, an hour’s drive with the system is more effective than applying a moisturizing cream.

No official announcements have been made about the installation of such systems in cars sold in the U.S. nor has any cost of the system been advanced, but the concept has received broad coverage from media in Asia and Australia.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are jointly proposing the adoption of a new fuel economy labeling process for new vehicles.

“We are asking the American people to tell us what they need to make the best economic and environmental decisions when buying a new car,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “New fuel economy labels will keep pace with the new generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks rolling off the line, and provide simple, straightforward updates to inform consumers about their choices in a rapidly changing market. We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump.”
>> read more from "EPA and DOT Propose New Labels"

Ford pulled the wraps off it latest iteration of the Harley-Davidson model F-150 pickup truck exposing a bold new front fascia, six-bar-shaped billet-style satin chrome grille and “Harley-Davidson” satin chrome badging.  The truck also has a lowered appearance because of a standard, fully integrated deployable running board

Also standard are 22-inch Euroflange forged wheels with a polished center wheel cap and low-profile performance tires. The paint selection is classic Harley-Davidson – Tuxedo Black and Ingot Silver.
>> read more from "Ford Introduces New F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition"

In an effort to reduce intersection crashes, Ford Motor Company researchers are working on an advanced crash avoidance system that uses wireless and GPS technologies to talk to nearby vehicles.

Now under development, Ford’s Automatic Braking Intersection Collision Avoidance System (ABICAS) uses radio-based wireless sensors, GPS and navigation information to detect the relative location of other radio-equipped test vehicles. The system warns drivers of imminent side-impact collisions and automatically activate the brakes if necessary to avoid or minimize the damage caused by such collisions.
>> read more from "Ford Working With Cars that Talk to Each Other"

The Infiniti IPL G Coupe will be the first of a new line of Infiniti performance vehicles.  The IPL (Infiniti Performance Line) coupe will be the first car to be powered by a new 348-hp version of the Infiniti 3.7 liter DOHC V-6 engine.

The line focuses not only on engine power and acceleration, but also on redefining total vehicle performance. IPL promises unique driving attributes with exclusive designs, different from other Infiniti models in each selected Infiniti line. The 2011 IPL G Coupe, which arrives at dealerships in December, is the first of what is expected to be a range of IPL performance vehicles in the future.
>> read more from "Infiniti Adds IPL Performance Line"

Mercedes-Benz created the four-door coupe concept in 2003 and that great styling has led to many other car companies producing their own interpretations of the dramatic look.  Now Mercedes is preparing to debut the second generation (2012) of the CLS at the upcoming Paris auto show in October.
>> read more from "Mercedes Four-Door Coupe 2.0"

Drivers will soon be able to sit at their laptop or home computer and plan a trip, then “Sync” the information to the information to their Ford vehicle.

Available on 2010 and 2011 Ford and Lincoln vehicles with Sync, the new feature adds Google Maps to its ‘Send to SYNC’ feature, allowing drivers to send destinations from Google Maps to their Ford vehicle through the cloud-based SYNC® Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) app with no extra hardware, software updates or costs.
>> read more from "Plan the Trip on Google, Sync Route to Ford"

We like Subaru’s new television spot that has a little girl aged six, sitting in the driver's seat of a Subaru Legacy with her father speaking to her through the passenger side window. She smiles patiently as her father gives her the "safety talk." As he hands her the keys, we realize that all along its been a 16-year-old waiting for her first ride alone whose Dad still sees her as his "little girl."
>> read more from "Subaru Spot Emphasizes Teen Driver Safety"

General Motors will be offering a new smart phone app that will allow most owners of 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles to control many vehicle functions of their vehicles from the phone.  The new app works with the OnStar communications system to activate all of the functions available on a traditional vehicle key fob – remote start, horn and lights and door lock/unlock – securely from their smartphones. This means drivers will no longer have to be within a requisite distance, or even have their keys with them, to control these functions on their vehicles.

"Giving our customers control of their vehicles with smart phone application technology is a key advantage of OnStar's in-vehicle connectivity," said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. “This technology empowers drivers to make decisions about their travels well before they enter the vehicle, meaning their full attention can stay where it needs to be – on the road ahead.”

>> read more from "GM Smart Phone Apps Work with OnStar"

San Francisco – Kia was actually one of the leaders of the compact SUV movement in the United States when they introduced the original Sportage in 1993, more than three years before the first Honda CR-V or the Toyota RAV4.

Moving into the third generation with the introduction of the 2011 Sportage, the sophisticated new CUV (compact utility vehicle) is a perfect illustration of how far this brand has come in less than two decades and it is a bellwether to the company’s future.
>> read more from "First Drive: Kia Sportage"

If ever a vehicle qualifies as the proverbial “Jack of all trades, master of none,” it would be the Dodge Journey.  Part SUV, minivan, car and crossover, the Journey spreads its attributes over a broad blanket over a variety of categories.  Even the pricing runs wide from just over $20,000 for a base model to more than $35,000 for the top-of-the-line with all the options.
>> read more from "Test Drive: Dodge Journey R/T"

Aspen, Colo. – The idea of spending time in a playground of the rich and famous was appealing, and the fact that I would be getting to drive the new Subaru WRX^® and WRX^® STI^® was a bonus.  What I didn’t realize though, was how much Aspen’s 8,200-foot elevation would affect me, or even worse, how much trouble I would have breathing when we drove to Independence Pass, elevation 12,095 feet.  At that altitude, I had to suck on canned air just to be able to move around.
>> read more from "First Drive: 2011 Subaru WRX & STI"