Just in time for these tough times...

Nissan finally unveiled its plan to release an electric car in both Japan and the United States by 2010, according to a recent article in the New York Times. Carlos Ghosn, the company's chief executive, made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference in Tokyo and revealed his decision, which contradicted opinions he expressed about hybrid vehicles just a few years ago.

In 2005, Ghosn stated that the cars were simply "niche products" that were valuable only in states like California, where strict fuel-economy standards exist. He now insists that the situation for pursuing the hybrids is a no-brainer: more people are purchasing cars and it's becoming more critical to reduce emissions.

Can Nissan really step up as the innovator of a "zero-emissions" vehicle (that term, by the way, refers to the emissions from the tailpipe and not the overall electricity used to run the car), when many believe they have lagged behind this trend for a while now? Time will tell if Nissan will indeed have them mass-produced by 2012. While I can't proclaim to fully understand (or predict) the impact that lithium ion battery use will have on our fuel consumption, I have to say that the idea is an intriguing one.

Does acetone really increase gas mileage? Depends on who you ask...

Let's get right to this: no funny lead-ins, no witty sayings.
Does acetone increase fuel efficiency?
Answer: no (just my opinion).

Regardless of what you've heard, no matter what the guy at the hardware store's cousin's mother's babysitter's gardener's friend told you... acetone will not increase gas mileage.

As a matter of fact, it could actually do a great deal of harm, depending how much you put in your tank. Don't forget this stuff dissolves paint. So just imagine what it might do to rubber components and composite materials, like O-rings and gaskets.

Now, depending on who you ask, you'll get everything from "acetone can't hurt your vehicle" to "Do not even think about putting it in your car!".

I'm not an expert, but I can tell you this: the stuff removes fingernail polish, ok?

Granted, it's the best thing since sliced bread for separating your kid's fingers after they go "Super Glue-happy" (cats however, aren't big fans of the odor ... I tested this theory personally).

Make no mistake, you'll always be able to tell the person who put some in their gas tank; they're easily identifiable-just look for the paint discoloration around the fuel door.

Pump it or Dump it? (in the Reserve, that is...)

On Tuesday, the Senate delivered an overwhelming 97 -1 vote in favor of halting deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an action intended to lower the nation's ever-rising gas prices. Although this is a Democratic amendment, many Republicans are standing in open opposition to the President, who does not support the bill because of consequences that could arise in the case of a national crisis.

Are Democrats and Republicans finally converging on some level, ready to tackle the persistent petroleum problem that has been at the core of our economy's recession? Oops, I mean, um, "slowdown"? Will this decision actually result in money being put back into the pockets of the people? If so, how much can we expect?

The amendment calls to stop deliveries to the Reserve for a period of six months, as long as the price of oil exceeds $75 a gallon. While Democrats declare that halting delivery could reduce the cost of gasoline per barrel, those in the Bush administration contend that these measures have been tried before and will result in little change for the economy. According to a recent article in CNN Politics, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that suspension of deliveries to the Reserve would only cut the cost of a barrel by about $2, which equates to a reduction of 4 or 5 cents a gallon.

While it's difficult to truly predict what will result from this plan (the Senate anticipates preparing to override a veto from the President), I for one, will embrace any possibility that results in paying less at the pumps and consequently, allows me to add that double soy latte back into my daily routine.

One segment of consumers is unaffected by tough economic times

I was passing a local Hummer dealership the other day and couldn't help noticing that there wasn't that many vehicles on the lot. So, I stopped in and asked a salesman "how's business?" "OK," he said. "Could be better, but it's pretty good."

I've got to admit I had my doubts. But soon after, I ran across a story from Connecticut that talked about (ready?) how luxury vehicles were leasing or selling pretty decently in the face of such rough times for large vehicle sales.

The fact of the matter is despite these tough economic times, there are still consumers who have the means to buy whatever they want. They aren't bound by financial constraints like the majority of car buyers are and they're marching to the beat of their own economically sound drums.

That segment of the populous is also probably convinced the gas crisis and the economy will eventually turn around, so they're not panicking like so many others are. The difference is they're well-heeled enough to afford to hang on in the face of changing times.

You can't properly test a Mazda5 unless you have in-laws

This weekend, I got a further personal look at the MAZDA5 because my wife rented one to haul around several of her family members (and, yes, their bad little kids), who had unexpectedly popped into town.

I say "further personal look" because when I first tested an M5 for the buyingadvice.com team a couple of months ago, it wasn't as comprehensive a test as having 4 adults and three screaming children along for the ride.

At one point this weekend I especially wanted to extricate myself from the family because of the very close quarters the MAZDA5 put us in. Oh, it still drove as smoothly as it did during my test, even though I was less than impressed with the gas mileage after having it for a couple of days this time.

But I had no idea it blocked outside noises so well until 5-yr-old Jalen screamed from the back seat (a rather tiny third-row seat, I might add) that he had to go to the bathroom NOW! I thought the kid was right next to me in the front passenger seat.

So in terms of preserving some passenger space, may I suggest testing the Dodge Caravan, Kia Sedona or the more powerful (and bigger) Honda Odyssey first. And to simulate reality, do it with a full complement of kids.

Why have gas prices gone through the roof in America?

Has it occurred to anybody why you never see any large SUV's or over-sized vehicles on European streets whenever there's a story from abroad on the 6 o'clock news? It's because Europeans have been dealing with $8, $9 and $10-a-gallon gasoline prices for years.

So many years, in fact, that's it's ingrained in their way of life. And all the time you thought those shots of people on scooters and bicycles on TV were just because of narrow streets or from a preference to keep up the Euro-cool image over investing in four-wheel drives, all-wheel drives and rugged diesel trucks.

Well, all I can say is welcome to the real world of gas prices, America. The rest of the world's been waiting on you.

But why are prices through the roof? Why has gas been so, in American's minds, outrageously high in other countries and, until now, relatively low here? In a word: Subsidies, as detailed in a recent story in CNN Money.

Some countries actually subsidize other aspects of their quality of life (i.e. schools, public transportation, health care etc.) via gasoline taxes, While others countries don't tax it as much, like here in the US (our .18 tax per gallon is relatively low). In fact, we are in 45th place in terms of the cheapest gasoline when compared to other countries. But because of relatively low pricing, we feel the rise of the price of oil hit our pockets more acutely when it occurs. And now, other developing countries are driving up the demand for oil and - yes - the price of gas, too.

The Price of Small Cars is on the Rise

According to auto executives, more cylinders and horsepower are not as alluring as they were last year. And as buyers turn away from SUVs and trucks, they are turning the smaller car market on its head.

Although buyers are scaling back on vehicle size, they are shelling out more for nicer features. The Wall Street Journal reported recently that the purchase price of small cars is up about $2,000 - $3,000. The reason-more buyers are deciding to conserve on gas spending, but are now stocking their small cars with more luxurious features.

Models like the Ford Focus are selling twice as many high-end versions than expected, and the number of four-cylinder Pontiac G6's has almost doubled. Meanwhile, the number of buyers opting for moonroofs, leather and remote control starters is skyrocketing. At least all the anticipated gas savings is helping buyers feel more comfortable springing for some extra luxuries. I'd rather spend my money for a Sync system vs. the Shell station any day.

As gas prices increase, so do weird stories about people's antics

Did you hear the one about the big city mayor who's urging town residents to drink tap water instead of the bottled kind because the price of gas is too high for municipal trucks to haul off all the discarded bottles? Strange, but true.

What about the one where a Philadelphia gas station was besieged by hundreds of drivers after offering gas for 76 cents a gallon for 76 minutes in honor of the city's basketball team's (the Philadelphia 76er's, of course) recent run in the NBA playoffs? No?

Well maybe you heard about what's happening in Orlando, Florida, where thieves are siphoning gas out of the tanks of company vehicles left in business parking lots overnight?

Well if you haven't heard of any of these bizarre tales all revolving around the high price of gasoline, just stay tuned. As gas prices creep ever closer to $4 a gallon (some California towns have already hit the mark), there's bound to be even crazier stories like the ones above. Watch and see as consumers resort to all kinds of ways, some not so legal, to fight off this new American headache as best they can.

Is the gas crisis making it Kia's time to shine?

I was looking over a list of the Top 10 most fuel efficient vehicles not long ago. And while I wasn't surprised that the top four were all hybrids-including the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, I've got to admit that number 10 threw me for a little loop. The Kia Rio.

But it got me thinking: is the company that started out making steel tubing and bicycles in Korea a little over 60 years ago, about to become a major player with economy-minded Americans? Don't laugh. Kia could be in the driver's seat soon. Very soon.

With a fully-loaded Rio topping out at around $14,000, and getting a great 27 mpg city / 32 highway; we might just be see a lot of Rios and their other family members all over the highways, byways and driveways before too long.

It's a smooth-driving vehicle. And the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), that's devoid of shifting altogether, makes it that much smoother.

It doesn't seem that long ago when American automakers were scoffing at foreign automakers, figuring American's would always Buy American? But now some of the best made, economically sound and fuel-efficient vehicles in the world are built by companies like Kia.

The first numbers are in: American car buyers habits have changed

Its official: car buyer's habits have drastically changed in this country for the first time ever. According to data compiled by industry analysts reported on the website BerkshireEagle.com, one out of every five vehicles sold in this country during the month of April was a compact car.

What this means is car buyers have been paying attention and are adjusting their habits to the high price of fuel. Don't think the automakers aren't paying attention. It's their job to.

But now, armed with actual figures that can back them up-expect manufacturers to shift their focus on economy vehicles into an even higher gear than they are currently.

It might be to the manufacturer's benefit, though, if they come up with a single fuel technology and continue to educate consumers. As a recent MSNBC story points out, consumers are confused lately about which alternate fuel solution will be the answer to truly alleviating our current fossil fuel predicament.

Just because Americans are finally convinced that the fuel pinch isn't a passing fad, doesn't mean the car makers can sit back. Believe me-build more eco-friendly cars and watch the money come rolling in.

Hybrid truck technology will keep the big boys rolling

There is no mistake that the Nissan Titan is a lot of truck for the money. But who has the money to spend on this much truck these days, if it isn't earning its keep?

Don't get me wrong. Since the Titan's debut, it has slowly made its way into the market owned by heavyweights like Ford's F-150 and Chevy's Silverado.

But just like everything else these days, gas prices are killing consumers. And if your truck's not earning you money, it's difficult to come up with logic to justify having one just for its looks or because you want to make a statement about your attitude.

Still, America has spoken loud and clear before when it comes to telling it what to do. And contrary to a previous opinion written here, it looks like there will always be somebody driving a truck somewhere ... just to be driving a truck.

Already hybrid technology is at the front of vehicle manufacturer's lists. And hybrid truck technology has been something the government and armed forces have been tinkering with for years.

So as we talk about electric cars and cars that run on all kinds of alternate energy, get ready for the next big thing - the big hybrid trucks.

Saturn reliability doesn't match its vehicle's style

There is a popular TV commercial running now where a prospective buyer has to walk outside the showroom and double-check to see if he's actually in a Saturn dealership. The premise being that the vehicles he sees don't look like Saturns of old, but are the types of stylish designs he'd expect to find somewhere else.

Too bad Saturn's reliability, like that of the Saturn Aura, hasn't caught up with its vehicle lines looks. No doubt Saturn has come a long way since those first vehicle designs that resembled some type of unrecognizable fish in the sea.

But if Saturn really wants to attract future buyers, the automaker has to begin putting the same amount of quality into their vehicle's performance and dependability that it has put into their new designs.

The pricey 2008 Aura, last season's "Car of the Year" award winner, is a prime example of great looks, but shoddy reliability. And when going head to head with proven winners like the Nissan Altima and VW Passat, Saturn cannot afford to let a product hit the street that the public has little faith in.