Angels don’t start singing when you spot a Nissan GT-R. Inside and out, the car looks anything but heavenly. Even in the so-called Comfort mode, it rides like a New York City subway car, shuddering over bumps and clattering from station to station. The engine sounds like a demonically possessed household appliance. The car weighs a ton - nearly two tons, actually - and understeers accordingly. The video-game vibe is so pervasive that a conventional manual transmission isn’t even offered.

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General Motors, in the wake of lending restrictions by its partially owned finance unit, will begin an advertising campaign reminding consumers that they can still finance vehicles through GM dealerships.

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Hybrid vehicles address two important issues in the world today. The first is global warming, and the second is the reduction of fuel costs. There are going to many different hybrid vehicle models showing up on the radar screen, and understanding how they work will aid the consumer in getting the best value for money spent.

Hybrid models at present fall into two basic categories: electric and gasoline. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of both gas and electricity for power. The parallel hybrid and the series hybrid are the two most popular hybrid vehicles today. The difference between the two is in the complexity of the technology, and options used by engineers in employing hybrid systems.

In the series hybrid, an electronic motor assists the gasoline engine, such as in accelerating or times of heavy load.  The electronic motor is not able to power the car on its own. Recharging the engine can be accomplished through the batteries that power the electric motor.

A parallel hybrid makes use of a similar recharging scenario. However, this type of vehicle can only be powered by the gasoline engine. A major advantage of a hybrid engine is that it is smaller, and can therefore run a lot more efficient. Normally, acceleration has required larger engines, but with the assistance of an electrical motor operating at peak load, the acceleration needs of a hybrid vehicle are adequately answered.

Another advantage of the hybrid is that it can capture energy from the braking system. Heat is captured upon breaking, and stored as energy in the battery. Additionally, an automatic shutoff in the hybrid vehicle can turn the engine off when the car comes to a stop, and then automatically restart the vehicle when the accelerator is touched. This conserves energy that can is wasted when the vehicle is idling.

Hybrid vehicles can reduce tail pipe emissions while improving gas mileage.  The good news for the consumer is that hybrid technology, in all of its forms, remains relatively simple.  Consumers can expect the technology to develop and improve over time.  Also, costs can be expected to level off in time as well.  The concept of the hybrid vehicle is here to stay, and we can all do our part for ourselves, and the environment, by thinking green.

Like every major change in life, getting used to the hybrid concept will take time for many people.  If you are interested in purchasing a hybrid vehicle for all the right reasons, the mental adjustment should come naturally.

Chrysler on Tuesday showed three plug-in electric cars, one of which will be in showrooms in 2010 as part of a plan to eventually use electric power in some form across its entire product line.

The automaker has quietly watched General Motors tout its own plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, unveiled in production form last week. The Volt, built on a new E-Flex platform that might be used for a variety of vehicles, also is to go on sale in 2010.

“We’ve kept a pretty good secret here, perhaps because we haven’t tooted our own horns,” said Tom LaSorda, vice chairman and president of manufacturing and business development for Chrysler. “We believe action speaks louder than words.”

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In the op-ed “Can America’s Auto Makers Survive?” (Aug. 7), Paul Ingrassia asks whether Detroit’s auto makers can survive. In the case of General Motors, the answer is, emphatically, yes. And not only survive, but thrive.

There is no question the industry is facing significant pressures driven by a weak U.S. economy and rising fuel costs. At GM, we’re taking the difficult and necessary steps to reduce our cost structure to be more competitive in the global marketplace and build a stronger foundation for our future.

Contrary to Mr. Ingrassia’s notion that U.S. auto makers did not anticipate the risk of rising fuel prices, GM has been preparing for the shift for several years toward more fuel-efficient models and developing diverse alternative fuel solutions that will redefine the industry.

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The cost of living is on the rise, and oil prices are hitting record levels. People are more than careful these days how they operate their vehicles because of gas prices. These challenges have caused many people to look at the growing trend of driving hybrid vehicles. However, are hybrid vehicles safe?

Hybrid vehicles have proven to be as safe as gasoline-powered vehicles. The crash specifications are the same as those of normal cars. Hybrids also have the same restraint and airbag systems installed. The only area that might be of concern is the high voltage circuits linked to the drive motor assembly.

However, these components are marked for safety, and the cables are wrapped in bright colors that indicate caution. Additionally, the cables are not located in areas where vehicle occupants would ordinarily discover them.

Many of the current hybrids on the road are quick, small, and nimble. They also rank high in safety ratings for their class. While SUV’s tend to make people feel safe, they have an atrocious record in terms of rolling over in a quick turn. They are also quite difficult to maneuver, and this can often be a safety challenge within itself.

Also, SUV’s do not have to meet the same safety standards as passenger cars, due to federal rules that classify SUV’s in the same category as light trucks. The hybrid has to meet the same safety standards as those of a conventional vehicle. For the consumer, safety should not be a reason to avoid purchasing a hybrid as compared to its conventional counterpart.

Many manufacturers of hybrids also address safety by posting online manuals that address rescue procedures in case of an accident. Safety courses, including hands-on-training, are also provided for emergency workers. The bottom line is that hybrids do not pose a greater threat than conventional vehicles in the event of a collision or rescue.

However, since hybrid vehicles have similar loads of gasoline, antifreeze, and other potentially dangerous fluids, the danger posed is not less than that of a conventional vehicle. Some hybrids use as much as 650 volts of electrical power, and by all standards this amount is enough to cause serious damage under the right conditions.

This makes it imperative that the owner or rescuer of a hybrid vehicle is up on all the standard safety procedures. There are also built-in electronic fail-safe measures for many models that address the safety issue. As a whole, the industry is very keen on educating consumers and safety rescuers on safety protocols. The last thing anyone wants is for an emergency responder to hesitate during an emergency call.

According to the experts, the growing vehicle segment of hybrid vehicles should not pose a threat that is greater than that of traditional combustion engine cars.

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