Seen by approximately one in every three Americans, Super Bowl 46 in Indiana’s Lucas Oil Stadium was a closely matched showdown between two NFL football teams with only victory in mind. On the field, the New York Giants resisted the last-second charge of the New England Patriots for the glory of this Sunday sporting classic. Apart from the battle on the gridiron, corporations have been spending on average 3.5 million dollars for every 30 seconds of commercial time in order to win over the vast television viewing public.

Auto companies again utilized breaks during this big game as an attempt to woo purchasers of what is often their second-most costly expenditure. For the 2012 game, Chevrolet bought several commercial spots, an Audi S7 Sportback inadvertently battled vampires and Mathew Broderick took a day off with the 2012 Honda CR-V. For the second year in a row, Chrysler’s Super Bowl advertisement garnered an MVP award-worthy play during halftime of the Big Game.

Compiling the revered “Imported from Detroit” marketing campaign into a two-minute spot for the 2011 Super Bowl, it was unarguable that Chrysler advertisement ran on emotions rare conveyed by a commercial. To the musical background of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”, a Chrysler sedan roared down the Detroit streets implying a shared sense of deviance to surrender to the worst of a broken economy. For the 2012 ad titled “Halftime in America”, Chrysler’s message was sent poignantly to an entire country.

Narrating and appearing in the Chrysler commercial was true American fixture Clint Eastwood. Through his signature raspy, low-toned voice, Eastwood initiated the Chrysler spot stating “It’s halftime”. Suggesting the NFL Championship at hand, television viewers were quickly introduced to halftime being a grander, symbolic reference. “It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.” Eastwood declared. In the advertisement, a visual of Americans from many walks of life. Instead of the chorus resisting failure on last year‘s ad, Chrysler’s 2012 Super Bowl commercial leaves on a note of rallying optimism with Clint Eastwood saying, “This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines.”

Though possessing a primary purpose of luring customers to buy Chrysler Group products, the spirit and words of the 2012 Super Bowl commercial is profound enough to motivate the general American public searching for the strength inside. Advocating the notion of an entire nation acting as one to combat even the most difficult decisions for a country, this attitude of some political pundits following the Sunday night Super Bowl commercial deeply contrasted the message. On Monday, several news shows read the Chrysler advertisement as a politically motivated act. Rather than showing the progress that Americans in the auto industry have made in only a short time, analysts and commentators felt the message was instead a shaming of those who did not support the United States auto company in its time of need. It seems disappointing that the accomplishments for a large group of people rising up in a tough economy (labourers, engineers, designers, accountants, salespeople and even the executives) has become another casualty of a presidential election year’s selfish, hurtful politics.

David Kelleher, President of Chrysler’s National Dealer Council representing 2,300 dealership outlets shared a statement February 8th relating to the “Halftime in America television ad. Kelleher stated the commercial theme was “… simply a recount of the achievement of Chrysler, and its dealers who sacrificed and drove to take this American icon from depths during the national economic downturn to the success we have accomplished to date.“ The statement ended with David Kelleher saying, “We have no doubt that this ad had no political agenda of any kind but rather a statement of fact and hope for the future for all of us and America.”

The spokesperson of the commercial Clint Eastwood was also confronted with questions that the Chrysler message demonstrated his so-called political leaning. Eastwood was required defend himself against words indicating no direct political message. For those who wanted to bring Clint Eastwood’s political past (that included serving as a mayor of Carmel, California) into the debate of this Chrysler commercial, he has shown an unapologetic ability see both sides of the story. Like so many Americans, Clint Eastwood overall appears only to support ideas, not parties.

A third and final detail of the 2012 Super Bowl ad considered Chrysler’s claim of nationality. On YouTube, there was at least one comment aware that the promotion the United States in the television ad does contain a taste of irony. Realizing that Chrysler is majority owned by Italy’s Fiat Group, Chrysler is not a purest’s idea of an American auto company. In an auto sector where global diversity is being exercised to build cost effective, reliable vehicles, every car brand can carry many flags. The recent automotive marketplace has become a situation where product nationality considers the people who build and sell a vehicle.

As inspiring or controversial the commercial “It’s Halftime in America“ is overall, Chrysler appears determined to continue fighting its game that has netted some major advances. Chrysler was able to boast the efforts of the company, employees and the loyal customers succeeded together to refire the automaker’s production engines. Leaving 2011 with year-end sales 26 percent higher than 2010, the regenerated Chrysler Group left the year posting the highest 12-month increase of the Detroit Three auto companies. Chrysler products enter this year 44 percent more customer sales in January 2012 than compared to a year ago. This 2012 Super Bowl Chrysler commercial promotes an auto company ready to introduce new products such as the Dodge Dart and SRT Viper less than three years following the near ruins of bankruptcy.

Information, video and photo source: Chrysler Group

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If you have been wondering about the current whereabouts of Jennifer Lopez over the past couple of years, you have probably felt a huge sigh of relief. Fiat, the subsidiary of the Chrysler company, has recently launched a multimedia campaign featuring the once popular singer and actress in order to get people talking about the brand of cars.

Lopez, who lives in Los Angeles, did not even show up to the shooting of the advertisements. As reported by CNN, the series of ads were a strikingly digital masterpiece which shot footage from the streets of Brooklyn and had J-Lo placed in a studio out in Hollywood. If Fiat wants to promote their digital and interactive capabilities, they could spin this into a positive.

A spokesperson from Chrysler said that the company took this opportunity to place emphasis on Fiat’s commitment to increased mobility in automobiles. The official company statement said that people rely on their cars in order to transport themselves throughout the day because of increased work demands. This may work to get those interested in Phoenix auto title loans interested in the product, people on the streets of New York might be put back by J-Lo’s

Chrysler is facing some copyright issues regarding the street art placed in the commercials. Graffiti artists Tats Cru have settled out of court in order to get compensation for their street murals. While they managed to avoid a huge lawsuit, they lacked the proper foresight into New York’s actual street art scene. This may prove to be a complete disconnect with the actual urban dwellers who Fiat wants to sell their cars to.

The tradition of using famous people to sell cars has been used to various degrees of success in  recent years. After country singer Toby Keith became a household name, Ford decided to attach his image to their line of pickup trucks and saw sales increase. Led Zeppelin, who have been notorious for not allowing their music to be used for promotional purposes, collaborated with Cadillac in order to create some spectacular advertisements for the luxury car brand.

Time will only tell if Jenny’s advertisements will resound with American carbuyers. While she has lost some of her artistic relevance, she has been able to stay relevant in the tabloids with messy divorces and other debacles that would get people interested in the brand. The only clear resolution we have from this campaign is that the company should have done a bit more research before using J-Lo in this capacity.

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Guoliang Tunnel Road, China

Many local villagers died constructing this 1,200 metre long tunnel cut into the Taihang Mountains located in the Hunan Province of China. Just 4 metres wide and 5 metres high, driving through the Guoliang Tunnel Road is a hair-raising experience many would rather avoid.

Splugen Pass, Italy

This crazily zigzagging road contains an incredible 42 hairpin bends and is a dizzying 2,113 metres at its summit. As if the road itself wasn’t a white knuckle test for even the most experienced rally drivers, a succession of dark tunnels adds to the kamikaze factor of the Splugen Pass. Take the San Bernardino Tunnel, it’s far safer!

Lysebotn Road, Norway

Yikes. Lovely as the scenery is, this bizarre route is exceptionally challenging so keep your eyes on the snaking road before you. A total of 27 hairpin bends will test your steering skills before a 1,100 metre tunnel tries your nerves. Only for the brave, this is a beautiful drive.

Atlas Mountains Road, Morocco

Looking like an immense python coiled around the Atlas Mountains, this perilous dust track would be dangerous enough without the questionable driving skills of the locals for whom the road is a genuine lifeline. The scorching sun bearing down on your vehicle makes it even harder to concentrate.

Leh-Manali Highway, India

The simply stunning Leh-Manali Highway stretches over 297 miles along the Himalayas mountain range reaching a vertiginous altitude of 3 miles above sea level at the highest points. Rusted crashed vehicles litter the way hundreds of metres beneath the road, hardly inspiring confidence. Only open six months of the year due to heavy snowfall, this one takes backbone to traverse.

Halsema Highway, Philippines

At 150 miles long the Halsema Highway is easily one of the most treacherous roads in the world. During the rainy season it becomes a veritable death trap as mud and rock slides render it impassable. Climbing up to 7,400 ft at its summit, there are no guard rails and it’s a long way down!

Col de Turini, France

This Gallic 15.3 km mountain pass through the Alps comprises a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally and has many hairpin turns along its impossibly tight road. Until fairly recently, crazy drivers would even speed along Col de Turini at night, their high beam lights causing the event to be named the Night of the Long Knives

Cotopaxi Volcan Road, Ecuador

Running approximately six miles up and around Cotopaxi Volcano, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes at 5,897 metres, your vehicle might need asbestos body paint if it decides to blow its top. Even the coolest driver is sure to feel a little hot under the collar during their ascent.

Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan

Unfortunately, the scenic beauty of this road adds to its danger, as tourists make the winding mountain pass even more congested. The tunnels cut out of the mountain are a dazzling feat of engineering, but don’t marvel at the architecture too long, there are only tiny blocks to prevent your car from toppling off the mountain and becoming part of the panorama.

North Yungas Road, Bolivia

Would you choose to use a road the locals call El Camino de la Muerte? That’s the Road of Death to the English speaking thrill-seeker. You would have to be completely barmy to drive along this road by choice, which has an approximate death rate of 300 motorists a year. A single -lane 40 mile nightmare, if you don’t spin off the road to your doom there’s always the frequent landslides to tremble over.

This is a guest post on behalf of VroomVroomVroom.co.uk – a car hire comparison website based in the UK.

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I posed the question to my Facebook friends the other day: “If we judged a date by their car (but I know we don’t, it’s really personality) what would you look at first? Make/model? (If so what tops the list?) Cleanliness? Age? Color? Height? Speed? What get’s a girl going over her main squeezes car?” I thought this would be a relevant topic, but I was quickly educated by my friends.

Many of them sighted that maintenance was among the top of the desirable qualities car list. No lady wants to get into a BMW that won’t carry her past the end of the block. Next, was the make/model of the car, followed by the speed potential of the ride. I have not found any woman that looks for practicality in a car, at least not my friends.

Sadly, however, the misnomer is present that women-drivers want 4-door automatics that can handle lots of luggage and passengers in every stage of their lives. This may be true for some with families as they begin to grow, but there is no need to assume that every woman needs or even wants a minivan. Maybe most women don’t realize there is more to life than minivans and SUV’s when babies come along. Women represent 51% of the car purchasing decision power in a relationship, so we are a force to be reckoned with.

An article from AutoGuide.com said that a study examining women car purchases in 2010 discovered that women favored practicality and fuel-efficiency over looks and speed. The study showed that 47.9% of women purchased Mini‘s. Now, I don’t know if the people studying the sales or the lady writing the article has never been in a Mini, but practical is not the first thing I think of, it’s speed, agility, and agressivness. Think Charlize Theron in The Italian Job.

The first Mini’s took the industry by surprise in 1959 with a sub-compact capable of carrying 4- adults comfortably and not sacrifice power or handling, although in the early days many younger consumers would see how many people could actually fit into the spacious interior. Designer Alec Issigonis moved the wheels to the edges of the body and turned the engine sideways creating a cockpit that was more spacious than some of the more popular cars of the day. In 1961 British racing legend John Cooper took one of the Mini’s and created the Mini Cooper 997, a rally car for the history books. By 1977 the Mini had garnered over 4 million sales world wide, but was forced out of the US due to strict emissions regulations. Good thing for us ladies though, the Mini was revamped in the 90′s and in 2002 reemerged in the American market. The Mini was awarded 2003 Car of the Year and sells almost 2 million units a year.

With six body styles to fit that practicality assumption, the Mini’s range in horsepower starts at 121hp for the base Cooper, then up to 181hp for the Cooper-S, and tops out at 208hp for the John Cooper Works. That means that with the stock 1.6L, 4-cylinder power plant 47.9% of cost conscious women went from 0-60 in 8.4 seconds if they chose the moderately priced $20,000 MSRP entry model. I doubt many women would start at the base model though, we are a bit stylish when we pick things, so I believe many moms, such as myself, would fall for the John Cooper convertible. At a mere $35,000 MSRP we can carry the old man, two rug rats and all their soccer gear with the top down at a top speed of 146mph, because everyone knows we are always late for something. The 208hp, twin-scrolled turbocharged engine can get the grocery getter from 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and not break a sweat. Now that’s using your practicle head ladies.

If the convertible isn’t your style, they offer The Clubman. This 4-door (2 full size front doors, 1 mini back door, and full opening cargo doors) Mini boasts a minimum of 9.2 cubic feet of storage with the back seats up and a whopping 32.8 cubic feet with them down, while holding the traditional bulldog stance that keeps the exterior at only 6’3” wide and just under 13′ long. Still not big enough (like most thing in our lives)? Then upgrade to the 5-door Countryman, at 13.48 feet it holds up to 41.3 cubic feet of our stuff, which is really everyone else’s stuff, but we get to haul it around. We won’t mind because every Mini model is quick, fashionable, and what else… oh yeah, practical, fuel-efficient, and cost effective, all the things a girl looks for in her car.

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It can be a hassle to head to the gas station to fill up every week or two. So when you’re standing at the pump, have you ever topped off your tank thinking it will save you time between trips? Or to round the price up to the nearest dollar? If so, read below to learn the top five reasons why you shouldn’t top off your tank.

Why topping off your tank is a bad idea

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), topping off your tank is a waste of money and dangerous to you, your car, other people and even the environment. Find out why you should always skip this all-too-common practice.

1. The gas can spill when overfilled. No one likes getting gasoline on their hands or clothes. It’s also problematic for a variety of other reasons:
   - It’s hazardous
   - It’s flammable
   - Spilled gasoline can seep into the ground, potentially polluting the water and harming wildlife
2. The fumes are toxic. Gasoline vapors are harmful to breathe and toxic to the ozone layer. According to the EPA, evaporation and fumes from spillage contribute to the pollution problem by releasing toxic air pollutants such as benzene, which is not only toxic and flammable but carcinogenic.
3. It’s a waste of money. Once you hear the first click of the gas pump, did you know any gas you pump after that isn’t going into your car’s tank? You’re actually paying for gas that is filling up the hose, ready to be pumped into the next customer’s car. Any additional gas you try to pump into your tank may be drawn into the vapor line and fed back into the station’s storage tanks.
4. It can cause the gas pump to break. Most gas stations have a vapor recovery system. When you top off your gas tank, you can cause it to break or become inoperable. This problem can add to the air pollution problem and cause the gas pump to fail for the next person in line.
5. It can ruin your car. Have you ever wondered why your vehicle won’t allow you to add more gas once you’ve been alerted that your tank is full? Because gasoline needs room to expand, your tank needs extra room for that expansion. If you try to top off, the extra gas you’re trying to add may actually evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. This can ruin the mechanism, making it work improperly, and cause your car to run less efficiently.

Once you understand the dangers of this common practice, hopefully you’ll think twice before ever topping off your gas tank again. Avoid the risks of personal injury, vehicle damage and environmental harm when you play it safe at the pump. Another way to stay safe is to have auto insurance to keep you protected on the road. Many insurance companies also offer roadside assistance programs to give you the peace of mind, wherever you are.

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High Intensity Discharge headlights, popularly known as HIDs, have become all the rage amongst car enthusiasts, and for good reason. HIDs have plenty of substantial performance and style benefits that many drivers can take easy advantage of, but at the same time, these headlight upgrades certainly aren’t for everyone. To help you decide whether an HID conversion is the right choice for you and your car or not, we’ve broken down several major areas of consideration, so you can be properly informed before making your final installation decision.

Installation

If you drive a more recently purchased new vehicle or you have advanced automotive and technological know-how, installing HIDs should be pretty simple for you. The process may take a little bit of time, but HIDs are far from the most complicated pieces of automotive equipment to install. However, if you’re closer to a novice-level car enthusiast, deciding whether to install HIDs is really a toss-up. On older cars, you may need to make several wire harness adaptations, and if you don’t understand what ballasts are, you may have to figure that out first. The process is pretty straightforward though, so if you’re a thorough follower of directions, you should be able to get HIDs installed in under two hours (depending on the model of vehicle you own).

Performance

HIDs aren’t called headlight upgrades for nothing. Compared to the standard halogens included on most models of cars, trucks, and SUVs, HID headlights are significantly more powerful. You can expect up to 3x the brightness of conventional halogens, and light emissions that appear significantly more natural to the eyes as well, resulting in reduced eye strain. Combine that with improved peripheral vision during nighttime driving, and there really isn’t an area where HIDs don’t improve upon their predecessors. So unless your attempting to match the exact stock appearance of your vehicle’s headlights when replacing them, HIDs are an easy choice in this category.

Durability and Longevity

If your vehicle’s stock halogens are still shining brightly and haven’t had any problems, there’s no particular reason to toss them away before their time. When it comes to replacing them too, you can simply unscrew old halogen bulbs and screw new ones in, saving you time. After the initial installation process with HIDs, which may take some time, you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing them any time soon. HIDs can last up to 10x longer than halogen headlights. HID bulbs are also quite durable without as many parts that can potentially be damaged, though the bulbs should never make contact with skin.
From individualized color choices to improved performance and longevity, HIDs offer substantial lighting enhancements. That’s not to say halogens aren’t solid performers in their own right and should just be tossed away if they’re working well already, but if you are seeking out a headlight upgrade, HIDs are a popular, reliable choice to make.

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The majority of people buy a new or used car, that’s just how we are. We need transportation so we immediately head down to the local dealer or showroom and begin our search for some used cars for sale. But have you ever considered renting a car instead of buying one?

Most will say “no,” but there are plenty of positives for renting over buying. Here we look at the pros and cons of both buying and renting a car.

Renting

Pros of Renting a car

• Lower out-of-pocket costs when acquiring and maintaining the car.
• Requires little or no down payment and there are no upfront sales tax payments.
• Additionally, monthly payments are usually lower.
• Pay only for the use (depreciation) of the car for the period in question.
• Able to drive a new car and then change it at the end of the renting period. This way, a driver can have a vehicle covered by a warranty.
• Most deals will offer 24-hour roadside assistance, such that if you break down help will be available.
• There is no maintenance cost involved in running the vehicle, and if problems do occur, it is usually possible to change the vehicle for an equivalent model at no extra cost.

Cons of Renting a car

• Many rental companies only list the base rental price and fail to mention the hidden fees and extra charges (rental insurance, fuel fees, daily rate changes, mileage charges, early return fees, additional equipment fees, etc)
• Shortage of available vehicles. A reservation may include the type of car that you wish to drive but this vehicle may not be available.
• Must be at least 21 years of age, and some companies won’t rent to those younger than 25 years old. Requires a renter to have a decent driving record, free of DUI or DWI charges, or excessive traffic violations.
• The cars are never your own, the vehicles belong to the rental company.
• Renting a car can also be expensive in the long-term compared to buying a car outright.
• If you rent a car, you don’t have anything to sell at the end of the process.

Buying

Pros of Buying a car

• You actually own the car one day and be free of car payments.
• The car is yours to sell at any time and you are not locked into any type of fixed ownership period.
• The insurance limits on your policy are typically lower than if you rent.
• You’re free to rack up the mileage without economic penalties or restrictions.
• Free choice to have any car you want, within your budget of course.

Cons of Buying a car

• High monthly repayments.
• The dealers usually require a reasonable down payment, so the initial out-of-pocket cost is higher when buying a car.
• Possibility of finding yourself in an “upside-down” situation, in which the car ends up being worth less than what the buyer stills owes on it at a given time.
• In the first years the majority of each payment goes toward interest, but this is when cars depreciate the most. The loss in equity is bad in two ways: your car depreciates dramatically, and because the monthly payments you’ve been making have mostly gone toward interest rather than the principal, you’re left with very little equity in the car.

So there you have it, plenty of pros and cons for each. I suppose the decision will just come down to personal preference and situation. If you have very little in terms of savings, it may be better for you to look at a rental agreement. Whereas, if you have a sum to put down as a deposit and you have a specific car you want, buying may be the option for you.

Personally I buy cars, the only time I’ve rented was when I had my own delivery business for a year and I took out a long term van rental agreement as i didn’t have the money to buy a van. It worked out well though as I ended up packing in the business after 6 months and i was able to return the rental van, and i struck a deal on the early return charge i had to pay!

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1. Dazed and Confused : This film about the last day of school in 1976 might have stars like Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey in it, but I know it really stars a 1970 Pontiac Judge GTO, a 1972 Chevrolet C10, a 1972 Plymouth Duster, a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, a 1975 Chevrolet El Camino, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, and a 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 just to name a few. This movie makes me think I was born a decade too late.

2. American Graffiti : The iconic car film from George Lucas has not only a great story but some great cars. Among them are a 1932 Deuce Coupe, a 1955 Chevrolet, a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, a 1951 Mercury, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, and a 1961 Ford Galaxy.

3. Two-Lane Blacktop : A great cross country drag race movie staring folk singer James Taylor. Yes, the same James Taylor that sings music your parents listen too. This movie, set on Route 66, pairs up a primered old 1955 Chevrolet against a 1970 Pontiac GTO. The GTO was rumored to be a Judge, but no decals are present anywhere on the car to indicate it is.

4. Bullitt : The best car chase scene ever is in this film. The seven minute chase through the streets of San Francisco was between a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 and a 1968 Dodge Charger.

5. Ronin : Another great car chase movie, but the first on this list to star mainly imports. Among the cast were 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL, a 1991 BMW 535i disguised to look like an E34, a 1998 Audi S8, and 1995 Citroen XM.

6. The Smokey and The Bandit franchise : Who can forget these three movies in any list? Not me! The series covers 1977, 1980, and 1983 and each time The Bandit got a new Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Also among the great cars in this movie are a wide variety of motor homes, big rigs, and earth moving equipment. There’s something in here for everyone!

7. The Cannonball Run : One big car chase across the US, this movie stars a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, a 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a 1977 Ferrari 308 GTS, a 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP 400S, and a 1978 Dodge Sportsman.

8. Speed Zone! : Staring in this movie were a 1985 Bentley Continental, a 1988 BMW 735i, a Lamborghini Countach replica, a 1987 Ford Mustang, and even a Ford Econoline van.

9. Catch Me if You Can : This classic of the 80′s car movies depicts a goodie two shoes student government president with the school bad boy against the local drag race organizer in a battle for cash that she needs to keep the school open. Ever heard of “Fast Freddie?” Well, he comes out of retirement to save the day. The stars are a 1968 Chevrolet Malibu, a 1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten, a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro, and a 1967 Lincoln Continental.

10. Corvette Summer : After a trip to the local salvage yard lands a 1973 Chevrolet Corvette junk pile into a local high school automotive class and is then stolen, we find ourselves following Luke Skywalker famed Mark Hamil into Vegas. In addition to the ‘Vette, the movie stars a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, a Chevrolet van, and a great 1973 Datsun 240Z (that only graces the screen for a few moments).

11. The Driver : This is one where we route for the bad guys, mainly because we like the cars the getaway driver uses. The top cars in this flick are a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280S, a 1973 Chevrolet C-10, a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, a 1965 Ford Mustang, and a 1973 Ford Galaxie 500.

12. Both of The Italian Jobs : The original was filmed in 1969 and the remake debuted in 2003. The 69 version used a trio of 1967 Aston Mini Cooper S’s to heist the loot, while the updated version updated to the 2003 MINI Cooper S’s now owned by BMW. Also included between both versions are a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 and an Aston Martin DB7 Volante.

13. Both of the Gone in 60 Seconds : This original and remake duo are a car collectors dream. Both centering on car thieves who need to collect cars before a dead line the 1974 version’s main prize is a 1971 Ford Mustang. In the 2000 version, the unicorn is a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. My favorite car in either of these films has to be the 1971 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda. I’ll let you remember why.

14. Cars : The only cartoon to enter the list, you have to love this movie. It has no people in it whatsoever, only cars! It stars Lightning McQueen, rumored to be inspired by Steve McQueen, as an original NASCAR style car. But real cars were animated for this film including a 1951 Hudson Hornet, a 1986 Buick Regal, a 1959 Chevrolet Impala, a 1951 GM LeSabre, a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, and a 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera just to name a few.

15. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby : Among the funniest movies ever, Ricky Bobby became my favorite NASCAR driver of all time. This film has plenty of NASCAR race cars in the limelight, but off the track the baddest car in this one is the 1969 Chevrolet Malibu that Ricky’s dad drives.

16. Days of Thunder : Keeping with the NASCAR theme, this movie too has a lot of great stock car action. The highlight though is when the two rival race car drivers (played by Tom Cruise and Michael Rooker) start off racing inside a hospital in wheel chairs and end up on the streets in a 1990 Chevrolet Lumina (Cruise) and a 1990 Ford Taurus (Rooker).

17. Faster : This revenge movie staring Dewayne Johnson really stars the super black 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS that he drives. The hit man hired to hunt him drives a 2002 Ferrari F360 Modena because he has entirely too much money.

18. The Fast and The Furious franchise : Among the great tuners and old school muscle in these films are the 1984 Buick Grand National, 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R, 1970 Plymouth Road Runner, 1993 Honda Civic Coupe, 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 1995 Toyota Supra, 1970 Dodge Charger, 1999 Ford F-150 Lightning, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, 1970 Chevrolet Malibu, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, 2001 Honda S2000, 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, third generation Mazda RX-7, 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, 2002 Nissan Fairlady Z, 2010 Dodge Charger SRT-8, 1971 Nissan Skyline, and a Armet Gurkha F5.

19. The Transporter franchise : In this trifecta of Jason Statham movies, the luxury imports reign supreme. Among them are the 2008 Audi A8, 2005 Audi A8 L, 1995 BMW 735i, and plenty of support from Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, and Fiat.

20. The Transformers franchise: Last but not least are these robots in disguise. Among the leading automotive cast are the 1977, 2009, 2010, and 2012 Chevrolet Camaro‘s, 2006 GMC Topkick, and 1997 Peterbuilt 379.

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An age old argument in the automotive community has always been: front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? In the past, cars were primarily RWD, with FWD as something of an oddity. Those days are clearly in the rear view mirror now, as FWD became dominant for its space and efficiency benefits, as well as improved characteristics in the snow.

RWD is primarily the domain of luxury manufacturers (with a few exceptions). But, there is a third way – all-wheel drive. Different from four-wheel drive, which has lower gears focused on off-roading, AWD sends power to all four-wheels via traditional delivery.

Many new crossovers use AWD exclusively, but AWD has been gaining popularity across the board. Primarily a luxury item, it has also gained with mainstream brands. So much so in fact, that according to The Detroit Free Press, industry analysts predict it will make up 30% percent of all new car sales by 2015.

Audi, unsurprisingly, leads the pack with a take rate of 80% for it’s all-wheel drive Quattro system in the United States. Quattro has been a cornerstone of Audi’s products for years, with the company placing a particular emphasis on the system.

Audi’s American product planning chief Filip Brabec says it is a fundamental Audi trait: “For us, it’s more than a system to improve driving in bad weather….we believe having control of all four wheels is better than only two. As a driver, you’re just a little less likely to get into trouble. All-wheel drive expands the envelope of control.”

The system also helps Audi to compete with RWD competitors – for many (including us for the most part) FWD in the luxury segment is looked down upon.

The real surprise is with brands like Cadillac, whose CTS has an AWD sales rate of around 50 percent. Armed with that data, Cadillac is planning a more intense focus on AWD in future models. Cadillac’s global marketing director Jim Vurpillat expects AWD to exceed 50% of its total lineup sales going forward.

We can see why AWD is gaining in popularity, particularly on what are usually FWD models. The interesting element will be seeing if it really penetrates through to the mainstream with further gains in cars such as midsize sedans.

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With the ever climbing price of oil and car insurance premiums rocketing, it’s never been more expensive to own a car. In the UK, fuel prices have hit record highs and the cost of the average car insurance policy continues to increase by 44p per day (about 77 cents).

So if you find that your car’s costing you a fortune to run, what can you do to bring your costs down? Why not take a look at the useful tips below, who knows, you might just save yourself some money…

Shop around for your fuel: It’s easy to just make a trip to the nearest garage when you need to fill up, but you could be losing out by doing so. Prices can vary quite a lot between different garages so it’s worth doing a little research to find out which is the cheapest local petrol station. Once you’ve found the cheapest place to fill up, it’s a good idea to get a full tank to take maximum advantage of the saving.

Lift Share: If you live near to one of your work colleagues, it’s a good idea to lift share and take it in turns to make the daily commute. You’ll halve your fuel consumption if you primarily use your vehicle to get to work and you’ll save on maintenance costs in the process.

Change your driving style: It’s easy to forget about trying to save fuel and step on the gas from time to time, but by making a few small changes to the way you drive you can really improve your fuel consumption.

Aim to avoid harsh acceleration and sudden braking by reading the road ahead to allow you to adapt your speed slowly and save fuel. It’s also a good idea to stay in as higher gear as possible which will ensure your engine has less work to do.

Service your car regularly: It might seem like a false economy but having your car regularly serviced will ensure the engine runs at its maximum efficiency and you’ll also increase its longevity.

You don’t need to have a full service carried out, the most important part is the oil change, oil filter and air filter renewal. If you want to save even more money, have a look on the internet for useful guides to DIY car maintenance.

Inflate your tyres: Under-inflated tyres can decrease fuel economy and increase wear and tear, meaning you’ll have to swap them more regularly. Check your tyre pressures frequently and make sure they are kept at the manufacturers recommended level of inflation (don’t forget to adjust pressures according to vehicle load).

Don’t stick with the same insurer: It’s easy to fall into the trap of staying with the same insurer every year, but you could be wasting a fortune needlessly. In the UK, billions of pounds are wasted every year due to drivers letting their policies auto-renew.

Improve your cars security: One thing that is sure to make your car insurance cheaper is that of improving the security of your vehicle. Many modern cars come with an immobiliser and alarm but it is worth adding these if your car does not have them.

Likewise, if you have a garage, use it to store your car in overnight and report this to your insurer to receive a small discount on your annual premium.

Don’t speed: Speeding won’t just get you a ticket, by driving at 10mph over the speed limit on the motorway; you’ll use between 10-20% more fuel. Try to stick to the signed limit, you might get to your destination a couple of minutes later but you’ll save a lot of fuel in the process.

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There are many opinions regarding the use of superchargers and turbochargers in performance vehicles. Many think that it’s a “replacement for displacement,” and shun it off as simply another “Get fast quick” scheme; throwing it the way of Nitrous Oxide. Others believe it’s more than that, and is a great way to get as much power out of the car as possible, while keeping the weight of the car low.

Although you might be hard pressed to find an American carmaker put a factory turbo in place of a bigger engine on a muscle car, foreign manufacturers have been using forced induction on cars for years. There are exceptions, of course. In the 80′s, for example, Ford slapped a turbocharger on a 2.3-liter inline-four and called it the Mustang SVO. In the 90′s and early 2000′s, Pontiac’s high-performance Grand Prix was called the GTP, and featured a 3.8-liter Supercharged V6. When it wasn’t in the shop, that bad boy pushed out up to 260 horsepower. Today, even Cadillac is getting in on forced induction by putting a supercharger on their ultra-powerful CTS-V, which boasts 556 horsepower from its 6.2-liter V8.

So clearly nowadays it’s more excepted to use these methods to increase power, but let’s look at the 90′s, when a Japan vs. USA sports car war was clearly in effect. Japan came out with some excellent road-scorchers, each equipped with twin-turbos – the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, Nissan 300ZX TT, Toyota Supra TT, and the Mazda RX-7 TT. Meanwhile, American carmakers were coming out with equally powerful sports cars, but instead of fitting them with turbochargers, they beefed up the size of the engines to large displacements. This brought us the Chevy Corvette, Ford Mustang GT, Chevy Camaro Z28, and Dodge Viper. Each camp has their supporters, some of them diehard, but opinions and preferences aside, is one method better than another?

It all depends on how you look at it. Forced induction is inherently more efficient, considering a smaller engine is used, which keeps weight down and fuel economy up. During normal driving it can act as like a regular 3.0-liter engine but when pushed, can put out the power of a 4-liter monster. Large displacement engines, on the other hand, have fewer moving parts and are – at least in theory – less likely to cause issues. In terms of power delivery, big engines can produce gobs of torque from the beginning and a fairly even power band. Turbo’d engines, however, need to wait for the turbos to spool before producing huge power. Small turbos don’t take as long to spool, but don’t produce much power, either. Big turbos are the exact opposite.

So is there a better method to producing lots of power? Not at all. It’s all about personal preference. I own a Nissan 300ZX TT and love it, but I do miss the instant throttle response and punchiness of a good V8.

Then again, you could always go all the way and have both. The Koenigsegg CCX, for example, has 4.7-liter, twin-supercharged V8. The Bugatti Veyron, a quad-turbocharged, 8.0-liter W16. And don’t forget our own GM – the Corvette ZR1 and Cadillac CTS-V has a 6.2-liter, supercharged V8.

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Being Valentine’s day, some of us seek to honour those true loves in our lives. Those lucky enough to find their special peer to share this time are given a great gift in humanity.

While automobiles are not human, there are many who associate those same loving emotions to sheetmetal and wheels sensing that an automobile is in essence a living being. Breathing air, requiring food to function and benefiting from proper care, an automobile is believed to return emotions. Spotlighting a few examples, let us examine the rich personality in the 2011 auto industry.

Chevrolet Camaro

Like that old high school crush you have met at a reunion, the Chevrolet Camaro presence was reasserted in 2009 bringing back old memories while wearing modern skin. Seven years away from the showroom sees the newest Camaro launch clearly invigorated. Emotions were strong enough for 129,405 units to be produced in 2010 meeting up with the hearts of eager owners. Showing appreciation to V-6 buyers, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro performance is bumped up to 312-horsepower. The Camero SS still reigns as a more enchanting yet obtainable experience making drivers fall in love with V-8 power. Including a convertible Camaro and a newly-announced 550-horsepower ZL1 model, look for 2011 and 2012 roads to be livened by the classic, American beauty.

Ford Mustang

Just mentioning the Chevrolet Camaro’s celebrated return, some automotive lovers are still hurting by the jilted feeling the General Motors pony car’s disappearance brought. Looking for a tried and true pony car that his attracted car fans through 47 continuous years, the Ford Mustang remains a fixture of American performance and the very best of the Blue Oval brand. Even when Ford tried to identify themselves with the GT supercar, very pure Mustang fans refused to be tempted by the more untouchable mid-engined car.

Into 2011, the Ford Mustang continues to serve up a broad taste of affectionate models. Starting with a respectable 305 horsepower V-6, the convertible and 5.0 liter V-8 producing up to 412 horsepower provides more alluring eye-candy. Of course, those who are willing to handle a ride like no other Ford Mustang, the Shelby GT500 can be a fun-loving ride a select few can handle.

Ferrari 458 Italia

Whenever Ferrari sports car engineering and Pininfarina styling meet, there is definitely an intensive merging of infectious romance. Bearing many love children since their first collaboration in , the latest offspring between the Italian industrial interests have created the Ferrari 458 Italia. A two-seat supercar possessing under 3.5 second 0 to 60 mile per hour acceleration and a top speed of 202 MPH, a driver behind the wheel of a motioning Ferrari 458 Italia is guaranteed to forget any human passenger.

Thanks to published reports on adhesive failure triggering engine fires, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s reputation as a hot supercar in those incidents is difficult to ignore. Though like only a very special love, the desire to change for the better emerged through summer of 2010 through a fix by Ferrari engineers.

Ford Fiesta

A pint-sized B-Segment vehicle in a land where one would be ruled a misfit, the entrance of the Ford Fiesta has allowed some of us to show remarkable foresight in seeking a mechanical companion. On the United States market for only a short amount of time, the lovely compact vehicle available in smart-looking five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. Modest in demands but bringing a lot to a relationship as either standard features or reasonably-priced options makes the Ford Fiesta a real charmer.

For a little spice to the relationship, Ford Accessories allows the individual look to a Fiesta shaping beauty in countless combinations.

Toyota Prius

Invoking emotions positive and negative, the Toyota Prius is certainly the most passionate vehicles in the Japanese-based auto company’s lineup. Associated as an electrifying personality, the hybrid powertrain is maintained by this very smart compact car maximizing fuel economy for a longer time together between gas stations. At the 2011 North American Auto Show in Detroit, this gasoline/electric hybrid has shown it still has a lot more love to give. Showing off the already announced, the showcase introduced a Toyota Prius v and a Prius c adjusting to a new group of admirers in the upcoming model years.

Is the before-mentioned the only vehicle worthy of a special connection or love? Of course not. Admitting in the automobiles genre as a less decisive person, I can’t even suggest the one true motoring love of my life. Each one of the vehicles represented an individual attribute sporting beauty, grace, bravery, intelligence and even selflessness to one who expresses compassion for the mechanical being.

Combining passion and playful bashfulness, the Fiat 500 might be the objection of your affection. Maybe a choice crossover or full utility vehicle could be that perfect travel companion bringing as much of the world with you or even trot an intimate escape path.

The consideration for the vehicle of your life, unlike a human relationship, can be a much simpler form of enchantment able to take many shapes and sizes.

Information source: Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Toyota

Photo Source: Chris Nagy, General Motors, Hamann, Toyota

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In some cities, a so-called ‘War on Cars’ is being waged by governments as well as other groups citing environmentalism and congestion concerns. Passing certain rules and user fees against car owners residing in metropolitan areas has become common place. Some cities had posted special licensing taxes for residents to own an automobile within city limits. In England, vehicles traveling into many areas within the city of London streets are assessed a minimum £9 (equating to around $14.45 in US money) Congestion Charge to encourage alternative transit over excessive personal vehicle travel.

Proposing an option that motorists can make a lump sum payment to obtain unlimited travel into Congestion Charge areas, a website called avoidthecongestioncharge.com has been advertising the benefits of a simple badge. For £799 (approximately $1,283 US), a DRIVe badge provides a driver exclusion from the Congestion Charge payment. While, in essence, the DRIVe badge can truly grant no cost access to the streets within City of London, the website was actually a guerrilla marketing campaign for a the much more expensive accessory to the DRIVe badge. Though the initial impression of the website leaves Internet viewers believing the domain is an independent website, the true motivation is made clear as the Volvo name and products began to pop on screen. After being automatically redirected to a new page, the invitation to see the newest CO2 low-emission vehicles of Volvo is offered. Diesel-powered Volvo C30, S40 and V50 make up the brand’s DRIVe range.

Through their web of marketing, Volvo presses that the three DRIVe-badged vehicles indeed apply for special driving considerations. For vehicles emitting less than 101 gCO2/km and conforming to Euro 5 emission standards are granted a Greener Vehicle Discount. Another perk of this incentive allows these lower emission vehicles to enter Congestion Charge areas without payment. Road use incentives for low or zero emission automobile purchases is not unique to the English city of London. In the case of electric and hybrid vehicles in North America, some jurisdictions allow alternative powertrains automobiles to run in HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane or better known as carpool lanes even with only the driver behind the wheel.

While some believe the marketing campaign as clever, Next Green Car, an automotive site advocating the awareness of widespread green transportation solutions, voiced concerns in regards to Volvo Cars UK advertisement. In a compliant published Friday on their website, Next Green Car is troubled by this guerrilla marketing guise as convincingly leading some consumers to believe the Volvo DRIVe promotional page was another company and another product (It should be noted as of January 31st the website has since been labeled with a bottom claimer “This is an advertisement created by Volvo”). Even using the language “fictional scam”, there was also disappointed as Volvo appears to imply their three DRIVe vehicles are the only choices to gain relief from the Congestion Charge. In the case of the incentive, 38 vehicles have been listed eligible including the Audi A3, Smart Fortwo and the Tesla Roadster. Though advertising, what reason would Volvo have for distracting potential buyers from their products.

Relating to the United Kingdom, this innovative automotive marketing strategy shows the difficulty of selling products creatively without With the upcoming 2011 Super Bowl some car companies including Porsche, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and even a returning General Motors will work to entice audiences to their products in 3 million dollar, 30-second ad spots. Even with the heavy expense on buying television ad space and producing a commercial, the effectiveness of a Super Bowl ad is not assured.

Information source: Next Green Car via Newspress UK
Photo Source: Volvo Cars

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Through the past two years, General Motors and Chevrolet has done everything possible to get motorists charged up on the idea of the plug-in hybrid Volt. Weathering the company’s bankruptcy with the promise that the Chevrolet Volt would employ a new way Detroit would build automobiles. Following an extensive evaluation period, the Chevrolet Volt has finally met their first owners.

Continuing on the highly-publicized life of the Chevrolet Volt, the announced first owner of the extended range vehicle is a retired airline pilot Jeffrey Kaffee. Taking delivery of his car in the presence of a photo-op, Kaffee was said to have traded in his Toyota Prius for the Chevrolet hybrid. Though Jeffrey Kaffee was the first owner to take possession of his 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the first publicly sold example of this car was actually bought by NASCAR team owner and automotive dealership network magnate Rick Hendrick. Acquiring the initial Volt in a charity auction for $225,000 as a benefit to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, Hendrick also has the privilege of owning the first Chevrolet Camaro as well as the first Corvette ZR-1 through a similar acquisition.

As the keys of first Chevrolet Volts are finally being handed off, the pioneering plug-in hybrid vehicle will now see itself either rising or falling to its own magnificence. Like the early days of the Toyota Prius, General Motors has already reported that the Volt is being built at a financial loss. This is indeed a concern when a vehicle smaller than a Chevy Cruze sporting a sticker price over $40,000. Some critics are outraged as GM (a group some people still believe it’s creatively cheeky calling the business “Government Motors”) is choosing to produce such a far-reaching concept rather than focusing on solely ‘bread and butter’ vehicle. Citing the fact they are building for what is believed to be the future American roads, some might argue that a choice to turn a back to the technology promoted in the Volt could bring doom to the American auto industry. As we know already, Toyota’s persistence has paid off with a profitable hybrid propulsion system and the respect as the leader in the industry.

Complaints have also been leveled against the fuel efficiency and the actual personal economic benefits of the Chevrolet Volt. As the Volt received multiple accolades which included the Motor Trend Car of the Year for 2010, some have voiced their own opinions strongly against the car as some ‘tree-hugger’ dream machine. Personally, if there is a car to cater the such specific tastes, I welcome the newest group of automotive fans.

It seems amusing that General Motors always seems to have an universal legion of critics. Today, it is a forward-thinking gasoline/electric hybrid, a matter of a few years ago it was a popular four-wheel drive vehicle. Back when the Chevrolet Volt was regarded as a mere pipe dream, another General Motors product earned the distaste of organized North American groups. The Hummer H2 was angrily criticized for being an arrogantly large sport utility with a claim for burning the most gasoline of any vehicle sold to the public. As the price of fuel skyrocketed, the allure of the Hummer brand dissipated as the car market drastically changed. Based on a variation of the GMT-800 chassis, the vehicle was once part of the best-selling platform in North America. Able to build the Hummer H2 at a much lower cost than the premium price tag, the Hummer H2 was a highly profitable product when their car sales were flattering.

Just as it is considered offensive for some to shame others for the automobile they drive, skeptism of modern powertrains could make some look as misguided as the critics against personal computers in the 1970s. Of course, with the passage of this information, the population in general reacted on their own accord to embrace new technology. Now that the Chevrolet Volt enters the market providing primary electric propulsion with a gasoline engine back-up, we’ll soon see if an advent of another new age is upon this continent.

Information and photo source: General Motors

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Yep, you can totally afford that dream car; but can you afford to insure it?

Flashy cars come with inflated insurance premiums, particularly for first-time drivers who are statistically more liable to accidents than more experienced drivers. So, unless money’s no object – we’d recommend you choose a sensible car and save the flash one for when you’ve more driving experience.

Fuel Economy

Don’t forget you’ll need to keep that car in fuel in order to get wherever it is you want to go – that gas guzzling beast may look cool; but it won’t be much use to you sat looking cool on your driveway.

New or Used?

Although it might be more costly to purchase new instead of used, the safety and reliability of many new models could warrant consideration for a buyer with an adequate budget. Remember you’ll also need to pay to maintain your car – normally a new(er) car will cost you less.

So, what should you buy? Below we’ve pulled together a list of some cars that we think are smart purchases for new drivers:

Honda Civic (2004-present)

The Honda Civic is a staple among first-time buyers, most notably teens and young professionals. Above all other attributes, the Civic is an economical purchase from start to finish. Any model from the mid-2000′s to the latest releases will be cheap to drive, cheap to insure and affordable for most in the market. Once an owner has decided to sell, the Civic will show its worth again in terms of its strong resale value.

Toyota Corolla (2003-present)

Similar to the cost-friendly nature of the Civic, Toyota Corolla’s are of minimal expense to maintain and insure. The fuel economy of a Toyota and its reputation – excepting the 2009 – for durability are strong. Among the attributes commonly overlooked in the Corolla and the Civic are the vehicle’s exceptional safety records. In an accident, Civics and Corolla’s hold up remarkably against the competition. Value, in these cases, was not a trade-off for sturdiness or dependability.

Toyota Tacoma (2008-present)

For first-time buyers in the market for a pick-up truck, none fair better than the Tacoma in terms of cost and resale value. The Tacoma is a rugged pick-up that offers excellent fuel economy for its class.

Kia Spectra 5 (2008-present)

The KIA Spectra is one of the most affordable new cars on the market, and comes with a hatchback design that will appeal to those looking for room beyond a traditional sub-compact.

Chevrolet Equinox (2009-2010)

Chevrolet has made a name for themselves in the SUV category with their ultra-reliable Equinox. A four-star rollover rating should help ease any concerns new drivers have over accidents due to rolling over.

About the author: Mark is car enthusiast and writer for Make & Model, an online car classifieds site specializing in new and used Honda cars.

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