With the skyrocketing price of gasoline, I am sure that you are looking for ways to make your vehicle more fuel efficient than it is today.  You can use performance parts like cold air intake if you want to but they will cost you at least a few bucks and you would have to pay for them to be fitted to your car.

If you don't want to take that road, you might like to try out these tips from bankrate.com.  I'd list some of them down for you here:

First, try using the lowest grade of gasoline for your vehicle.  If your vehicle's engine is not designed to run just on premium fuel, you can use just regular gasoline.  Using premium fuel which are very expensive will not make your vehicle more fuel efficient but it will be very heavy on your pocket.

Next, do not top off.  When filling your gas tank, the automatic nozzle will usually shut off if the gas tank is already full.  But some think that they can add more to the gas tank even if the nozzle shuts off.  Do not try to do this as the fuel that you will add will just be wasted as it will just seep out of your tank.  There is a reason of course why gas pumps clicks off when the tank is full.

Also, it is very easy to tighten up the gas cap.  But forgetting to do so would mean a lot of fuel being wasted. Since gasoline is volatile, it would easily escape through a loose gas cap.

These are just easy steps to save on gas. And you would find other tips such as this at bankrate.com.

We all know what Mazda is capable of doing.  In the past, major automakers have dropped out in the race to develop a very effective Wankel engine, but Mazda stayed right in there and they have succeeded.  Today, we see the automaker coming up with more and more reliable, high-quality, and stylish cars.

Recently, the automaker showed us again what it can do when it unveiled the freshened MPV in Japan.  According to The Auto Channel, here are some of the things that the automaker has improved in the MPV:

• The front end's design was made sportier and more aggressive through the new upper and lower grilles, and bumper. The new chrome garnish on the upper grille also reflects quality and refinement. All grades except 23C were given a bolder look through the addition of chrome garnish on the lower grille, fog light bezels and black headlight bezels.
• Sand-beige suede-like seat covers hint at the freshened MPV's prestige, while the upright stance of the seatbacks and evident thickness of the seats are all crafted with precision. The light sandy-colored tones extend all the way down to the carpet on all grades (except 23C) and enhance the sense of spaciousness and simple beauty.
• The optional second row Super Relax Seats provide better comfort. By extending the front/back seat slide range rearward by 80 mm, available legroom is increased. The sideways seat slide function -- which was previously available only for the left hand seat -- is now fitted on both second row seats.
• Mazda's Activematic electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission is now standard on all front-wheel drive (FWD) models with the 2.3-liter naturally aspirated engine. The wider gear range provides a more powerful takeoff and lively acceleration. The setup also supplies plenty of torque for daily driving and offers improved fuel economy during high speed cruising.
• A new 'nanoe ion' air purification system has been added to the Utility Package, which is available for all grades. The package also includes Super Relax Seats, advanced keyless entry and engine starter system, Autolight system (which switches headlights on automatically according to ambient light conditions), rain-sensing front wipers and water repellent coating (windshield, front door windows and door mirrors).

The German luxury carmaker, BMW was recently reported by Gasgoo.com of planning to add a new 6-Series to its China portfolio and will sell the model at 1.07 million yuan or $144,670.

Just last week BMW has unveiled its new BMW 6 Series Coupe and BMW 6 Series Convertible at the Guangzhou Auto Show. BMW 630i Coupe and Convertible are to be sold at prices ranging from $144,670 to $151,805 while the 650i Coupe and Convertible are to be sold at $193,763 and $206,963 respectively.

The new BMW 650i is powered by the popular 4.8 liter V8 engine which revs up 360hp and 360 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile the 630i is equipped with a 3.0 liter V6 engine that features the Valvetronic technology and enables it to reach a top speed of 155 mph.

Mr. Karl-Heinz Schmid, President of BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd said during the Guangzhou Auto Show, "BMW is also committed to developing hybrid vehicles starting 1990, and our vehicle emissions have dropped by some 30 percent in the past two decades. We have officially partnered with DaimlerChrysler and GM on development of a hybrid drive system, which will help us improve fuel efficiencies further."

For the first three quarters of this year the BMW Group both BMW and MINI combined has obtained a total of 36,300 units of sold vehicles, posting an increase of 37 percent from a year earlier that is according to the company.

Motor Trend has recently announced the selection of the new 2008 Cadillac CTS as the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year™. For a complete report of Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year get a hold of the January issue of the magazine which will be available on newsstands starting December 4, 2007.

Why choose the Cadillac CTS? Angus MacKenzie, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend explains why: "The Cadillac CTS marks the first time in decades an American automobile has been designed and engineered with an eye on the global marketplace. Among its many excellent qualities, perhaps the most valuable one is that it shows Detroit can build a world class car to compete with the best Munich, Stuttgart and Toyota City have to offer. With the CTS, Detroit is officially back in the car business, not just the truck or SUV business.  The CTS's winning attributes go far beyond a well-designed facade. It's the star of a new GM revival, and with a base car price of just $32,990, the car is truly accessible to a wide spectrum of car buyers."

The base model CTS is powered by a potent 263-horsepower VVT V-6. A 304-horsepower direct-injection version is offered as an option. Other features include eight-speaker Bose audio, 17-inch wheels and a dual zone climate control. Inside is a sophisticated, unique interior with superb fit and finish. The CTS can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

In order to qualify for the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned and should be released within the 12 months period prior to January 1, 2008. Aside from the Cadillac CTS, the list of contenders for this year's Car of the Year Award includes:

•    Audi S5/A5

•    Audi TT

•    Chevrolet Malibu

•    Chrysler Town & Country

•    Dodge Grand Caravan

•    Dodge Avenger Ford Focus Ford Taurus

•    Honda Accord

•    Mercedes-Benz C-Class

•    Mini Cooper

•    Mitsubishi Lancer Scion xB Scion xD

•    Subaru Impreza

•    Volvo C30

•    Volvo XC70

Motor Trend has started its Car of the Year Award way back in 1949 and has based their choice on three key important categories---significance, superiority, and value. Superiority pertains to the engineering excellence, advancement in design, utilization of resources and safety. Significance on the other hand as the term suggest refers to how well the vehicle does the job of which it is designed to do and at the same time how it affects or changes its particular market segment, influences consumer views and transforms product development trends.

BMW's all-new 2008 BMW M3 has recently won the Popular Mechanics' 2008 Automotive Excellence Award in the performance category. Martin Birkman, BMW M Series Brand Manager has accepted the award in behalf of BMW at the award reception held at the Los Angeles Auto Show.


The all-new 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan which has debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show are scheduled to hit dealerships in spring of 2008 and will feature the first V8 in a BMW M3 series-production. Other features equipped on the 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan includes driver-adjustable settings vital for dynamic controls covering engine response, steering, damping and stability. Inside, the 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan is a sport-oriented interior which is designed to provide optimum driver's satisfaction.

Popular Mechanics Automotive editors for their December 2007 article has praise 2008 BMW M3 stating its "one of the few performance cars that can triumph at weekend track days and still carry four friends in perfect comfort and luxury to an evening movie…The M3 is elegant and powerful, and it does its job at a comfort level not many cars can match."

The Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards is given yearly to deserving brands of vehicles and each year the magazine's editors test drive more than 100 of the newest cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles, accumulating over 100,000 miles in the process. The selected vehicles are voted on and the vehicles with the most votes in each category win the Automotive Excellence Award.

Nissan North America, Inc. has recently announced a $25,000 contribution to the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s 20th Anniversary 2007 Leadership Development and Mujer Awards Conference held at the Denver Convention Center last week. The conference aimed to unite Latinas from across the nation and to challenge, inspire, as well as help them to become leaders in their communities.

The National Hispana Leadership Institute is the leading organization in the United States dedicated in developing the most promising Latinas and helping them to become powerful, ethical leaders through various training, professional development, relationship building and through community and world activism.

Nissan has been for years a major contributor of other Hispanic organizations across the country including the United Sates Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the National Council of La Raza, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the long time sponsor of the Copa Nissan Sudamerica.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is warning drivers to be more cautious as they drive along Commonwealth's highways this season of fall since this the time when deer breed making them more active this month as compared to any other time of the year.

One-half or two-thirds of all deer/vehicle collisions occur in the months of October, November, and December. Although less than 1 percent of vehicle fatalities and injuries involving deer collisions are reported in Virginia, still an accident with a deer can either damage people or property.

VDGIF projects that the number of white-tailed deer roaming the highways of Commonwealth at this time of the year can reach around one million. Whoa!

Also, each year hunters in Virginia harvest around 210,000 deer stabilizing the population of this animal at between 800,000 and up to one million for the length of 10 years. Hunting these deer has become a significant practice in Virginia since it kept the number of the white-tailed deer checked due to their reproduction rate.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries offers the following tips to keep drivers from hitting a deer:

1.    Be extra watchful when driving specifically at dusk and dawn. refrain from speeding up to enable you to safely apply brake in case a deer happen to cross the road. And don't assume since you only saw one deer crossing that there's no others to follow. Remember that deer travels in herd so the likelihood of other deer following the one that you saw is high.
2.    The good thing about deer is that they usually travel in the same areas which mean that once you saw deer crossing signs installed by the Virginia Department of Transportation make sure that you slow down.
3.    Drivers should apply brakes or stop if necessary to avoid hitting a deer but must not also put his or her life in danger swerving out just to avoid hitting a deer. If hitting a deer is unavoidable then do so rather than colliding with another vehicle, tree or other object.
4.    Use common sense and good judgment at all times instead of the ineffective deer whistles that you can buy at the stores.
5.    For drivers that has killed a deer or a bear while driving are advised to report the accident to the Conservation Police Officer or other law enforcement officer in the country or city where the accident occurred.
6.    I am not sure if this is good news but for those who love to keep dead animals as a souvenir they may keep the deer or the bear depending on which they hit on the road provided that they report the accident to a law enforcement officer in the country or city that has jurisdiction over the area. The law enforcement officer will give you a possession certificate giving you the right to take home the carcass of the animal you hit.

For question of the white-tailed deer simply visit the Department's web site at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/deer/ or http://www.dgif.vriginia.gov/wildlife/deer/deer-vehicle-collision-report.asp.

Dodge has recently commissioned a survey and according to their gathered result they have found out that around eight in ten Americans or approximately 77 percent plan to drive for their next family vacation. The Dodge brand national survey aims to provide insight on how Americans deal with family road trips. The survey also wants to help families to prepare for the upcoming holiday travel.

Basing on the survey, Dodge was also able to point out the factors considered as important to families who plan to go on a trip and these are as follows: comfort, convenience, and fun.

So Dodge together with Susan Foster a renowned travel expert and author has teamed up to offer families with simple to follow tips to avoid possible road trip disasters and to focus on quality family time especially for the coming holiday season:

•    Family usually chooses to drive due to the extra luggage and gear that they can take with them—and for the coming holiday the extra gifts they can bring. It is ideal to have a vehicle such as the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with innovative storage areas since it provides more packing flexibility. It is also a good idea that when packing the vehicle to gather all in one area and edit to fit. Soft-sided bags may be squished in to fit as compared to rigid rectangular suitcases.
•    Prior to your family trip make sure that you make a list of things that you need to bring with you. Remove unnecessary things. It was found out in the survey that one in four Americans or approximately 25 percent have experienced stress during family road trips due to packing problems.
•    The survey also shows that no matter how enjoyable family road trips are still 59 percent of six out of ten Americans have experienced stress before or during the trip attributed to boredom or the lack of entertainment. Entertainment features such as DVD players, satellite radio, and SIRIUS Backseat TV™ can do wonders in making road trips fun. Likewise, classic games such as playing cards or telling jokes or counting cars of a specific color, etc. are also great pastimes.
•    The Dodge brand national survey also reveals that around 33 percent or one in three Americans say that his or her reason to drive rather than fly this holiday is to get control of the trip including the ability to decide when to stop and go for sightseeing. Three-quarters or 75 percent of Americans say that they enjoy looking at the different parts of the country.
•    And in order to ensure that you enjoy your family road trip make sure to choose a reliable vehicle loaded with helpful features such as a navigation system which makes it easier for you to chart your itinerary. Another advantage of road trips is that history and geography becomes real once kids see and experience the country. To add to the excitement of the trip you may choose a different route with the aid of your car's navigation system for your return home trip.

According to Ralph Gilles, Vice President—Jeep®/Truck, Advance Interior and Component Design, Chrysler: "Today's families are on the move, and the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is purpose-built to serve their everyday needs. With new features such as the Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating system, dual DVD entertainment system and SIRIUS Backseat TV, the Grand Caravan brings the comforts of home on the road."

In connection with the wildfires in California, Car Care Council has released some tips to help drivers to remain safe in this difficult time.

During wildfires it is expected to encounter soot and smoke which can prove to be a serious issue for both vehicles and passengers. The auto parts that are usually affected are the air filters and cabin filters since these are the parts that gets to trap dirt particles including soot which often damage the engine cylinders, cylinder walls, pistons, piston rings and bearings. The air filter also plays an important role in preventing smoke and soot from polluting the airflow sensor on fuel-injected cars.

Air filters are auto items that calls for regular replacement and checking usually done at each oil change and replaced annually or when it shows signs of contamination. On the other hand the cabin air filter is responsible for screening the air that enters that passenger compartment. Without the wildfires, under the normal circumstances, the cabin air filter traps pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that finds their way into the vehicle’s ventilation, heating and air-conditioning systems. The filler further prevents bugs, leaves, and other particles from entering the HVAC system which could cause problems.

Of the new domestic and import vehicles sold in the US today, 80 percent are equipped with cabin air filtration systems or if not a slot where one can be fitted. Most filters are accessed through a panel in the HVAC housing which is usually found under the hood or placed within the interior of the vehicle.

Just like air filter, the cabin air filter needs to be replaced instead of simply being cleaned and reinstalled. The cabin air filter must be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or per the owner’s manual. In areas particularly in areas affected by the wildfires in California where heavy airborne contaminants are present it is important that cabin air filter be changed as often as possible.