Ford is making plans to retool some of its plants in the U.S. to manufacture small cars that the company has already been selling in Europe.

This move serves the purpose of aiding the company in increasing the production of cars with fuel-efficiency in North America.

In an effort to make more vehicles in the U.S. that are fuel-efficient, Ford has looked into bringing over models from Europe, such as the Mondeo.

This is the biggest step to date by any of the Big Three carmakers in response to the grave bind that is faced by the auto industry.  Damaged by the poor economy, car sales this year have dropped dramatically.  And with fuel prices at $4 a gallon, motorists are seeking small, fuel-efficient cars and leaving behind the SUVs and pickup trucks that the Big Three were known for.

Consumers are doing everything possible to protect their wallets, such as purchasing new car warranties, and fuel-efficient cars.  And automakers, like Ford, are trying to survive by suiting consumers’ needs.

Car enthusiasts are always looking for a new, hot car. You know, the vehicles that everyone wants, but are hard to find. These are the cars that people wouldn’t dare take out of the driveway without purchasing an auto warranty. So, what are the hot cars right now that will have people feeling green with envy?

Soon to be in showrooms is the Dodge Challenger. This is a new, hot muscle car that isn’t going to last long. Also, people are buzzing about BMWs all new 1 Series. Jaguar has come out with the sexy XF sedan that is being sold fast.

The Honda Fit has become so hot that people might have a hard time trying to get one. The mini cooper is perpetually hot because of limited production, as well as high demand.

The Chevrolet Camaro has been reborn, and waiting lists are being formed all around the country for this hot car. This is also true for the Corvette ZRI, which will be coming out this fall.

If you consider yourself a car enthusiast who can’t wait to have the latest hot car, take the plunge. However, to protect your new investment make sure you have new car warranties, a good insurance policy, and a routine maintenance plan.

The poor economy has taken quite a toll on domestic automakers.  Especially since they bet heavily on selling large SUVs and pickup trucks, which have now been virtually abandoned due to fuel prices that are at a record high.  Will domestic automakers be able to weather the storm?

GM is planning to cut costs of $10 billion from its current operations by late 2009.  These efforts include additional buyouts from the 32,000 workers on salary, freezing their rates of pay, cutting out health coverage for people retired over 65 yrs old, and quickly shutting down four SUV/truck plants.

In addition, GM will sell more of its product lines.  For example, behemoth Hummer is going to be sold off.  Doing this will earn them $4 billion-$7 billion cash.  It is even rumored that Buick is going to be auctioned, which has been successful in challenging Lexus brands.

According to GMs chairman and CEO Rich Wagoner, performing these actions will allow GM to survive this hard period in the U.S. and come out strong, lean and successful.

Consumers are seeking small, fuel-efficient vehicles to survive the high gas prices, and are protecting themselves by purchasing new car warranties.  GM has to change their thinking to suit customers and weather the storm.

California residents can now look at The Source for lease quotes and prices on Infiniti vehicles.  Motorists who live in California that want to find out about financing programs and lease programs can visit The Source.  Select models of 2008 Infiniti cars have 0% financing and an excellent auto warranty, according to The Source.

Infiniti vehicles have a balance of comfort, luxury, and practicality.  Infiniti car shoppers in California know of the rave reviews that cars such as the Infiniti M35 have received from the automotive press.  For instance, Consumer Reports gave the Infiniti M35x the highest rating of any sedan.

People in California who are shopping for new cars on the Internet can now look at The Source for the best service and advice from California’s largest Infiniti dealer.

In addition to excellent financing rates, The Source has said that current owners of the Infiniti FX35 and FX45 who live in California can buy or lease a 2009 FX35 or FX45 and become qualified for incentives of thousands of dollars.  Also, new car warranties on these vehicles are superb.  For more information visit http://fx50.infiniticalifornia.com.

Purchasing a used vehicle can be a wise financial decision that will allow you to save thousands of dollars, if you take the time to do your homework ahead of time. This is especially true in these hard times when you are pinching pennies and trying to save on fuel.

New vehicles lose approximately 40 percent of their value within the first few years of leaving the dealership. At that point, the process of depreciation slows down a great deal until the point it reaches the salvage value of the car.

Buying a good used vehicle allows you to pocket approximately 50% of its original sticker price while benefiting from a fairly new car. A pre-owned vehicle also has many other advantages. For example, it has reduced depreciation, and lower costs for an auto warranty, registration, and an insurance premium.

In addition, the cutthroat competition of today has resulted in manufacturers building cars that are more reliable and also carry longer auto warranty periods. Therefore, it isn’t uncommon to find cars that are three-years old that still have original new car warranties by the manufacturer.

Do you have to pay $40,000 to get an exciting, engaging vehicle?  Of course not, there are many models out there that come complete with an auto warranty for less than $25,000.  Here are several great choices.

First, there’s the Honda Civic Si, costing $21,110.  This vehicle gives you high performance and has a sleek shape.  In addition, it has a sport-tuned suspension system that is grippy.  This car utilizes a 197hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder I-VTEC engine.  Driving this smooth ride will have you smiling from ear to ear.

If you’re looking for a muscle car with a little bit of retro, the Ford Mustang V6 Pony Car won’t disappoint.  With the Pony Package you will get a rear spoiler, 17-inch wheels, along with striping and floor mats. With a 210hp V6, you will get tons of thrust.

If you’re looking for a convertible, you might want to try the Pontiac Solstice.  This has a 173 hp, 2.4-liter engine.  Standard with this car is an 18-inch rolling rock, balanced chassis, and big brakes, giving you an exhilarating ride.

Any of these cars will have you feeling like you’re driving a $40,000 car, when in actuality you will pay less than $25,000.  All of these vehicles have good new car warranties that will have you feeling rest-assured that you won’t be shelling out extra money for repair costs.

For car accidents in the future, a circuit may be as crucial to safety as seat belts. In the 1960’s, Congress made safety belts mandatory, which has reduced deaths drastically. Now, a new safety revolution is going on. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made electronic stability control equipment mandatory in all cars. This decision will prevent approximately 10,000 deaths a year.

ESC is a current feature available on most luxury cars, and it is an option on most other cars. This feature serves the purpose of not just protecting passengers, but also preventing accidents all together. Most of these features have a microchip as a base, and are still being perfected. This is why it is important to purchase new car warranties in case of costly technical repairs.

Many drivers opt to purchase a package of various safety options, not just individual gadgets. For example, Lexus markets their safety features as a system that works together. One package they offer has smart cruise control, lane-departure warning, and ESC.

The U.S. has been sideswiped by gasoline over $4 per gallon and the auto industry believes that these gas prices are here to stay.  Car companies have had to reconfigure their lineups to accompany this shift.  Consumers are staying away from gas-guzzlers and instead purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles.  Here are the three most fuel-efficient vehicles in America.

The #1 most fuel-efficient car is the 2008 Toyota Prius.  This car has impressive fuel economy at 45 mpg on the highway and 48 mpg in the city.  Also, the base price of the Prius is unbeatable at $22,160.  Hollywood types giving it iconic status made this vehicle popular.

Next on the list is the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid.  This car appeals to people who don’t want to publicize their environmentalism because of its classy look.  The Civic Hybrid handles more like a typical car than other hybrids and is very responsive.  This vehicle has great fuel economy at 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, and the price is right at $23,270.

Coming in at 3rd is the minuscule Smart fortwo. An amazingly small vehicle that makes parking a snap. Not much acceleration in this tiny package, so you better put the pedal to the metal on highway on-ramps. Great price though at $12,272.

With fuel prices on the rise, fuel-efficient vehicles are in demand.  Consumers are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing small cars that offer good fuel economy and by buying new car warranties.  After all, you don’t want to get stuck with unnecessary repair costs down the road.

GM is saying that they are going to make it a high priority to decide if they are going to bring the Chevrolet Beat mini car to the market in the U.S. by 2012. This car came in first place in an online voting poll by 1.8 million consumers around the world on three of GMs mini-car concepts.

GM is altering the product plans that they had planned for the next decade, reacting to the lack of demand for vehicles that use a lot of gas. The upcoming generation of GMs mini cars, which the Beat is based on, will debut in years to come and will have the capability to get 40mpg.

In the first part of this year U.S. sales for GM declined 16%, and the carmaker is scrambling to meet the demand for its small, fuel-efficient vehicles.

GM is just one of the automakers planning to enter a mini-car into their lineup. Smart cars are the only minis on the market that are serious at this point, but their sales far exceeded their expectations.

With fuel prices exceeding $4 per gallon, consumers are protecting their wallets by demanding fuel-efficient cars and purchasing new car warranties. People are feeling the pinch in all aspects of their lives.

More motorists are deciding to switch to hybrid cars for better fuel-efficiency, however, just like any car; hybrids need common maintenance and occasional repairs.  A regular mechanic can do work that is routine, yet you will need hybrid-certified mechanics for jobs that are more extensive.

According to a Toyota service director in Tampa, hybrid work at the dealership has been small.  There are some vehicles with issues, but for the most part repairs are the result of accidents.  The most costly repair on hybrids is for battery replacement.  In a vehicle that isn’t covered by an auto warranty, you will pay approximately $3,000 just on the part.

The best thing to do is to find a technician to repair your car before you really need it.  This way you won’t have to make last minute decisions.  Also, make sure that the technician is certified in hybrid repair.

Finally, most new car warranties for hybrids cover 100,000 miles or 8-10 years.  Make sure you know if your auto warranty requires that you get service from a specific repair shop.