New Car Dealerships

Hire Electric's solar charging station

2011-02-09T23:57:00.000-08:00

The Department of Energy's ongoing commitment to back emerging solar energy technologies comes in the form of $7 million in funding issued under its Photovoltaic Solar Incubator Program. Through this program, the DOE aims to assist in developing and commercializing innovative solar technologies.

Tier I projects will receive $1 million over a one-year period and include:
Caelux: For the development of a flexible solar cell manufacturing process and design that minimizes the amount of semiconducting material used.
Solexant: For its work in developing a new thin film material from substances that are non-toxic and not rare.
Stion: For its attempt to develop a thin film technology that will allow two high-efficiency thin film solar devices to be stacked, allowing for much better absorption of light and power generation.
The Tier II projects, which receive up to $4 million over 18 months, include:
Crystal Solar: For the development of a technology that allows for the fabrication, handling, processing, and packaging of very thin single crystal silicon wafers.

When you buy a used car

2010-05-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

, or nearly new car (like an ex-demonstrator) from a manufacturer's main dealer, or Franchise garage, it is called a Used Approved car. But what does that really mean?

Are you actually getting a better car, or are you just getting some extra warranty and breakdown cover?

Are main dealer cars more expensive, and if so, are they worth it? Used Car Expert investigate… Click on the manufacturer names below to discover the facts:

Alfa Romeo Lotus
Audi Mazda
BMW Mercedes-Benz
Chrysler Mini
Citroen Nissan
Daihatsu Peugeot
Ferrari
Porsche
Fiat
Renault
Ford
Saab
Honda
Seat
Hyundai
Skoda
Isuzu
Subaru
Jaguar
Toyota
Kia
Vauxhall (Network Q)
Land Rover
Volkswagen
Lexus
Volvo

Mazda Furai Concept

2010-04-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Mazda Furai Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

It's the rumor that just refuses to die. We're not sure if that means there's a lot of truth behind it or it's just wishful thinking, but once again we're hearing that Mazda is hard at work on a new RX-7 sportscar. And while you might think such a vehicle would be as easy as adding a turbocharger to the existing Renesis-powered RX-8 and jettisoning the back seat (or pulling a Kabura with the MX-5's platform), Mazda apparently has much more grandiose intentions for its next range-topping sportscar.

According to Motor Trend, Mazda's oft-talked-about 16X rotary engine is now capable of running on either gasoline or diesel with nary a difference in performance. We have to wonder about the accuracy of such claims, but if true, perhaps running on diesel or biofuels would give Mazda the eco-cred it's aiming for – specifically boosted fuel economy and lower CO2 output. In any case, MT says that Mazda is aiming for something north of 300 horsepower with improved fuel consumption, emissions and oil intake over the current Renesis.

As ever, we're taking a wait-and-see approach to these continuing rumors. As much as we'd love to see a new RX on the scene, we're beginning to wonder if it's ever going to happen. In the meantime, enjoy the photo gallery of the too-awesome-for-words Mazda Furai concept.

Mazda Furai Concept

Bad Credit Auto Loan Vehicle Financing

2010-03-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

AutoNet Financial specializes in automobile special financing options and car loans for people with very bad credit. Our nationwide network of car dealers offers bad credit automotive finance programs designed especially for auto, car and truck buyers with credit problems, no credit, or sub prime auto loan requirements. We help you pre qualify for a bad credit auto loan, or a special finance car loan regardless of credit problems or auto loan payment history.

10 cool electric cars of the future

2010-03-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Automakers worldwide have gotten the message loud and clear: To be successful, new hybrids and electric cars will have to wipe out the idea they are nothing more than glorified golf carts.

Demand for far greater fuel-efficiency is coming from two sides -- consumers, who have shifted away from gas-guzzling cars and trucks, and governments jacking up standards for lower emissions and higher miles per gallon.

The result? A bevy of new cars unveiled at the recent 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, all trying to show how cars can be "green" and "cool" at the same time.

Just about every automaker got on the electric car bandwagon at the show, bolstering the notion that gasoline-electric hybrids and battery-only electric cars are becoming more and more mainstream, even though plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles aren't even available yet, outside of a few experimental test units. In fact, carmakers already are starting to offer different varieties of each, including sports cars with distinctive styling and respectable performance.

Here's a look at 10 "cool" and "green" cars -- none yet on the market and some that never will be -- Bankrate found at the show that offer a peek into the future.

Top Ten Cars of the Decade Countdown 3 MINI Cooper

2010-02-26T01:18:00.000-08:00

By resurrecting the pop culture icon that is the MINI Cooper, MINI has effectively redefined the small car class. Driving a subcompact is no longer a method of transportation born out of necessity, but a badge of honor worn by fashionistas of the highest caliber. And you have the MINI Cooper to thank for that. By incorporating fun, style and practicality into the whole MINI ownership experience, the marketing geniuses at MINI really worked the perfect angle on a car that many might otherwise overlook.

But the marketing team doesn’t get all the credit, as the engineers of the MINI Cooper really delivered. Being a relatively light-weight, short wheelbase hatchback, the fact that the MINI Cooper is genuinely fun to drive shouldn’t come as such a surprise—after all, Honda’s used that same formula for years. But driving the Cooper is an absolute blast. Now in its second generation, the Cooper handles better and has even more power than the previous model. When it comes to having fun and looking good at the same time, there really is no comparison.

To find MINI Cooper pricing and incentives your neighborhood, click here*.

*If you prefer to find a used MINI Cooper, click here.

Nissan Versa 1.6 test drive

2010-02-25T23:38:00.000-08:00

Nissan couldn't have picked a better time to introduce a cut-rate version of their Versa subcompact sedan. The 2009 Versa 1.6 Base was the least-expensive new car in America for a few days, until Hyundai dropped the price of its entry-level Accent. Even so, $9,990 -- actually $10,710 once you add in the Versa's $720 delivery charge -- is pretty darn cheap for a new car. But is this a car you'd actually want to buy? Read on. $10,720 base, $12,115 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 24-27 MPG city, 31-34 MPG highway.

First Glance: Cost cutting, for better and for worse

Larger photos: Front - rear - all photos

Let's talk about what Nissan did to drop the Versa's price from $13,540 (last year's cheapest Versa) to $10,710. For starters, they put in a smaller engine (link goes to photo) -- 1.6 liters and 107 horsepower versus the standard Versa's 122 hp 1.8. The 1.6 liter's manual transmission gets five speeds in place of the 1.8's six. Outside, black plastic trim and body-color window frames replace the regular Versa's chrome trim and black-painted frames. The wheels are smaller -- 14" instead of 15" -- and color choices are limited to white, black, silver and dark blue. Yep, it looks like a cut-rate car -- but the Versa sedan wasn't a particularly good-looking car to begin with, so honestly, this is no big loss. Inside, the Versa has manual door locks, crank-down windows, and no radio -- though it does have four speakers and their associated wiring, so adding tunes is simply a matter of a quick trip to your favorite electronics store. Options are limited to air conditioning ($1,000), automatic transmission ($1,000), antilock brakes ($250), and floor mats ($155).

Some of the cost cutting seems a little ridiculous, though. For example, there's no remote trunk release -- not even one of those cheap cable-operated dealios that Japanese cars have had for the last quarter-century. The driver's seat is not height-adjustable, and only the driver's door gets a key lock -- so if you're one of those chivalrous types who likes to unlock and open the passenger's door for your significant other, you're out of luck.

In the Driver's Seat: Cavernous!

The Versa 1.6's dashboard: Spartan but functional

Larger interior photo

The Versa 1.6's cabin is pretty much what you'd expect given the price tag: A Spartan, grey-plastic-coated affair with a big plastic plate in the spot where you'd expect to find a radio. But one thing you might not be expecting is the amount of interior space. The front seats have tons of headroom, and the back seat is mind-bogglingly spacious -- even with the front seats adjusted as far back as they will go, there's as much rear leg- and foot-room as you'd expect to find in a compact car, let alone the subcompacts against which the Versa competes. The trunk follows suit: At 13.8 cubic feet, it offers more space than many larger cars, including Nissan's own Sentra. But the rear seat doesn't fold down, which means the Versa doesn't offer the flexibility of low-priced hatchback rivals like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent. (Nissan does offer a hatchback Versa, but only in the more-expensive 1.8 S trim.)

The Versa's seats are covered in a grey suede-like cloth that looks nice enough, though it seems to generate a lot of static electricity -- every time I got out of the car and touched the door to close it, I got a nasty shock. And while I'm complaining, the Versa hits on a pet peeve of mine: The instrument panel lights turn on with the ignition, rather than with the headlights. A dark instrument panel is the usual night-time cue that your lights are off. The Versa's setup makes it frighteningly easy to drive off at night without switching on the headlights.

On the Road: Surprisingly satisfying

For such an inexpensive car, the Versa is surprisingly satisfying to drive. The smaller engine offers more than enough power for a car of this size and weight; the manual-transmission-equipped Versa I tested zipped eagerly away from traffic lights and cruised happily, if a bit noisily, at an indicated 80 MPH. A 4-speed automatic transmission is a $1,000 option, but it's only available in conjunction with air conditioning, which also costs a grand.

EPA fuel economy estimates for the 1.6 are 26 MPG city/34 highway for the manual and 26/33 for the automatic, compared to 26/31 and 24/32 for the 1.8 liter Versa. I averaged 34.6 MPG -- impressive, though not as good as the Honda Fit. I suppose the Versa's big, boxy, and not-so-aerodynamic body is to blame, as it is for the fact that the Versa gets tossed around in crosswinds more than other subcompacts. A small price to pay for the Versa's extra room, if you ask me.

The Versa rides comfortably and the handling is quick and responsive -- good enough, in fact, that the Versa's quite enjoyable on a curvy road. Electronic stability control isn't offered -- a shame, but no surprise -- but the Versa does come with six airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Versa doesn't come with antilock brakes either, but kudos to Nissan for at least offering them as a cheap ($250) option.

Journey's End: The true cost of a low price

Small wheels and black trim denote the cheap Versa sedan -- but the Versa was a pretty ugly car to begin with, so no big loss

As cheap cars go, the Versa 1.6 is pretty darn good -- it's got tons of room, it's nice to drive, it has a halfway-decent safety resume, and it comes from a manufacturer known for building cars that last. But before you buy one, ask yourself: Does the low price really outweigh the inconveniences? Manual mirrors are a royal pain if you share the car with another driver. Manual door locks make getting your family into and out of the car a major ordeal. And a remote trunk release is one of those things you don't really miss until it's gone.

In order to get these features on a Versa, you have to step up to the 1.8 S model and add a host of other options, bringing the price up to $15,085. Even on a 60 month loan, that'll add $75 or more to your payment. If you can't afford to spend that much, you might be better off shopping for a used car. And if you can afford to spend that much, you should check out the $15,420 base-model Honda Fit, which offers more cargo-carrying flexibility, though it lacks the Versa's raw passenger space.

If you're committed to buying new on the cheap, the Versa's only real rival is the $10,665 Hyundai Accent GS Base, a 3-door hatchback that matches the Versa's lack of equipment -- but unlike the Versa, if you want any options, you have to by an identical-but-more-expensive version for $1,200 more (plus the cost of the options). Advantage: Versa. Bottom line: The Nissan Versa 1.6 may not be the cheapest new car you can buy, it is the best cheap new car you can buy.