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2. Katy Perry Stays Classy in the Audi A5
3. Matthew and Camila Staying in Shape with their Audi Q5

On Ask.cars.com, find out which compact SUVs have a combined manual transmission and selectable four-wheel-drive system. Over at PickupTrucks.com, get an update on the next-generation Nissan Titan. Finally, check out MotherProof.com for the latest Car Seat Check, this time for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

• Which Moderately Small New SUV Has Manual Transmission and Selectable Four-Wheel Drive? (Ask.cars.com) 
• Nissan Talks Again About the Next Titan (Pickuptrucks.com) 
• 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Car Seat Check (MotherProof.com)

Top 10 Cars We Hate the Most

If you’re among the 18,600 people who reserved a Leaf in advance, you will receive an email on how to submit a solid sales order.

Because of various state laws, before you submit a production order with Nissan, you will need to contact a Nissan dealership to negotiate a final price and finalize the financing or lease agreement. After that, Nissan will place your order for production and give you a estimated delivery date.

The Leaf will be available in two trims: SV and SL. The SV starts at $32,780 and will come standard with recycled cloth upholstery, navigation system, 16-inch alloy wheels and three years of free roadside assistance. The SL starts at $33,720 and will come with a solar panel spoiler, fog lights, rearview camera and automatic headlights. A fast-charging port that can charge the Leaf’s battery to 80% capacity in 30 minutes will be a $700 option only on the SL.

Destination fees add $820 on both trims. Keep in mind that you might be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and various other state tax benefits. Nissan is also offering a lease program that will start at $349 a month.

The Leaf goes on sale in December in the states listed above and then in Texas and Hawaii in January. A nationwide rollout will occur in the spring.

Cars.comparison: Off-to-College Cars

2011|Ford|Fiesta

2010|Scion|xD

2010|Honda|Fit

The results were illuminating. By day’s end, each of the systems had stumbled at least once. But when we tallied the evaluation, BMW’s Harman-supplied system won the day.

We’ll explain.

Leg 1: Easy downtown route

Winners: G37, Garmin
The G37 and Garmin emerged strong. Both made quick work of the first leg, which took us from our Chicago offices to U.S. Cellular Field — downtown to the Dan Ryan Expressway, exiting near 35th Street, turning right to the stadium. The 3 Series and TSX struggled: The TSX’s navigation system couldn’t locate the stadium’s address (333 W. 35th St.), and the 3 Series needed its ZIP code. We procured the destination from a smart phone, thus satisfying the BMW, and found it in the TSX under the point-of-interest finder. But the Bimmer’s problems weren’t over. Stymied by the loops of the downtown parking garage, the BMW took us on a six-block parade of right turns before finally tracking down a highway on-ramp. Arriving southbound at 35th St., BMW’s female navigation voice instructed a left turn. The Sox played, in fact, on the right.

Leg 2: Suburbs, missed exits

Winner: 3 Series
From the ballpark to Elmhurst, Ill., the G37 and 3 Series found expedient routes that put us immediately back on the highway — the same routing Google Maps would have us take. The TSX and the Garmin, however, routed editors down 2.5 miles of surface streets before finally merging onto the highway. (That jaunt would cost four extra minutes, according to Google Maps.)

Upon staging a missed exit near our destination — Elmhurst Memorial Hospital — the TSX, Garmin and G37 routed us to the next exit down the highway. (Our intrepid editors in the BMW ended up taking the exit everyone else remembered to skip, so we can’t evaluate how it would have fared. Yarg.) All but the TSX used a four-lane avenue just north of the hospital to reach it; the TSX picked a stop-sign-ridden two-laner west of the hospital to arrive. It costs an extra minute, according to Google Maps.

More concerning: Upon inputting “Elmhurst Memorial Hospital” into the point-of-interest finder, the G37 routed us to the hospital’s business center, some three miles away. (We arrived, found Audis instead of ambulances, and backtracked.) The Acura gave us the option of both locations — specifying that one was a business center — while the BMW and Garmin defaulted to the actual hospital.

“If you don’t know the hospital’s address and are in need of medical care, this would be a very annoying detour,” editor Amanda Wegrzyn noted. That’s putting it lightly.

Leg 3: Detours, New Roads

Winner: 3 Series
Our third leg took us south to New Lenox, Ill. The G37 chose a westbound highway that would eventually join our southbound route. It would’ve cost three extra minutes, Google Maps says. No matter; we ignored it. We had a pit stop to simulate, and it required sticking to the southbound route — the route the TSX, 3 Series and Garmin had automatically plotted. The pit stop landed us right off the interstate at a well-worn Arby’s, with no immediate entrance back onto the highway’s southbound lanes.

After a few moments’ recalculations, the G37, TSX and Garmin had us on a 3.5-mile loop to get to the next on-ramp south. The BMW, meanwhile, instructed a U-turn to head west, back under the freeway and away from Arby’s, and onto a second westbound highway. It joined up with our original southbound route, incurred minimal surface streets and got us to New Lenox with time to spare. Editor Joe Bruzek, who travels the area often, says the BMW took the route he’d choose.

The Garmin-toting TSX group arrived second, having both taken the 3.5-mile detour toward the next on-ramp south of Arby’s. The systems differed near the end: The Acura wanted editors to exit the highway some four miles early to take rural roads to New Lennox. It would have added about six minutes, Google Maps says. We stuck with the Garmin’s highway route, which had the TSX arriving 10 minutes after Team BMW.

Alas, the G37 had a mind of its own. Like the TSX, it directed us toward the next on-ramp south of Arby’s, followed by directions for the next highway interchange — but toward the northbound off-ramp, the opposite direction of New Lenox. It had editors driving a mile north, exiting an overpass and re-entering on the southbound side.

Naturally, the G37 was last to arrive.

The Winner: BMW 3 Series

All four systems took recently completed sections of the I-355, and all four found a new subdivision in Plainfield, Ill., though the BMW’s showed a few more roads than the others. In the end, the 3 Series’ system put us on the most expedient routes, even lopping off some time at the end. After a rough start, it completed the evaluation with few of the G37’s wrong-headed instructions and none of the smaller routing issues the TSX and Garmin incurred. It’s not the cheapest or most feature-packed system, but for simply getting the job done, BMW’s system won the day.

Kia Motors is recalling 23,972 2010 Kia Soul and 11,213 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles over faulty installation of an ambient lighting system in those vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Soul’s speaker lights — which are standard equipment on the Soul Exclaim and Soul Sport and optional on the Soul Plus — and the Sorento’s optional accent lighting in the front and rear door trim panels on the EX trim may have been improperly soldered. When the lights are illuminated in certain conditions, an electrical short may occur and cause a fire.

Owners will be notified this month. Kia dealerships will replace the wiring harnesses for the lighting systems free of charge. Owners can contact Kia at 800-333-4542 or the National Highway Safety Administration at 888-327-4236.

2010|Kia|Soul

2011|Kia|Sorento

Two weeks ago, we showed you a sneak peek at the new 2011 Dodge Durango SUV, and now Dodge has provided more photos and a little more information. The photographer took a few steps back this time, so you can see the full exterior. Unfortunately, the interior view remains an extreme close-up, but at least you can see what looks like a new Dodge logo. Check out the pictures below and click on them for larger versions.

It's no secret that the Durango is based on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the Dodge has three rows of seats, whereas the Grand Cherokee has two. The drivetrains are also familiar — a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with towing capacities of 6,200 pounds and 7,400 pounds, respectively. Credit goes to reinforced unibody platform and rear-wheel drive. Most of today's crossovers can't tow trailers this heavy.

Dodge's press materials boast "excellent fuel efficiency," defined not as mpg ratings but as a range of more than 500 miles. That could mean any number of things, including a large gas tank. (The Grand Cherokee's tank holds 24.6 gallons, which would work out to 20.3 mpg over 500 miles. Grand Cherokee 4×2 models are indeed EPA-rated between 20 and 23 mpg on the highway, depending on the engine.) It's not what we'd call excellent mileage, but we'll wait and see what the EPA says.

Front-seat active head restraints and side-impact airbags are standard, as are side curtain airbags for all three rows, Dodge says. An electronic stability system is also included. Options include a blind spot warning system, adaptive cruise control with Forward Collision Warning and keyless access.

Take Toyota, whose sales fell 33% in August compared with the same month in 2009. Sure, its two best-selling cars sold nearly 46,000 fewer units year over year – or roughly twice as many vehicles as Volkswagen sold in August 2010 total – but sales of the new Avalon and Sienna minivan as well as the FJ Cruiser, 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs were all up. While those sales pale in comparison — about 8,000 extra units — they are vehicles with higher price tags and typically more profit for the automaker. But even if there were enticing incentives on these models, that means car shoppers were willing to sign up for higher monthly payments than the folks lining up for Cash for Clunkers.
 
This trend at Toyota was seen nearly across the board. Honda saw similar drops with its Civic and Accord, with increases in Pilot and Odyssey. Ford saw its inexpensive Focus drop nearly 10,000 units, but the redesigned Taurus saw sales up 50%.

The only midsize sedan — arguably the most contested car segment — that saw sales up significantly was the redesigned Hyundai Sonata, gaining nearly 10,000 units or 80% and making another appearance in the top 10 best-selling cars in August.
 
The turnover in model years and number of new models also affected sales of the mainstream brands, with the Ford Edge and Explorer seeing dips with new models going on sale in the near future. The larger Ford Expedition SUV — with no news of a redesign in its future — saw its sales grow 57%. Sales of the Volkswagen Jetta were also down 30% as owners await the redesigned model going on sale in October.
 
What about luxury makers? Acura, Audi and Infiniti all saw sales go up in August. Even though Lexus' sales dipped 11.6%, the luxury brand saw its expensive cars like the LS up slightly and its larger SUVs like the LX and GX up 58% and 78%, respectively.

Add this to full-size domestic pickups all seeing sales increases, and it's clear that some segments are seeing healthy activity. It just seems that these buyers don’t generate huge headlines.

The 2011 Subaru Outback competes with the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour, but it outsells both of them combined. The Outback accomplishes this by being affordable, reliable and fun to drive, according to Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. Still, there are a few quibbles related to the Outback’s “OK” interior and outdated navigation system. Is that enough to put off wagon fanatics? Watch the video to find out.

2011|Subaru|Outback

Check out Ask.cars.com to find out when a blind spot detection system will come out on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. At PickupTrucks.com, discover the top 10 best-selling models for August. Finally, go to MotherProof.com and read its review of the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

• When Will the Blind Spot Warning System be Available on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee? (Ask.cars.com) 
• August 2010 Year-to-Date Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales (PickupTrucks.com) 
• MotherProof.com Reviews the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (MotherProof.com)

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3. Lauren Conrad Takes Her Mercedes Benz SL550 Around the Block

On Ask.cars.com, find out which compact SUVs have a combined manual transmission and selectable four-wheel-drive system. Over at PickupTrucks.com, get an update on the next-generation Nissan Titan. Finally, check out MotherProof.com for the latest Car Seat Check, this time for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

• Which Moderately Small New SUV Has Manual Transmission and Selectable Four-Wheel Drive? (Ask.cars.com) 
• Nissan Talks Again About the Next Titan (Pickuptrucks.com) 
• 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Car Seat Check (MotherProof.com)

• 10455 Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack Kit
• Dynamat Xtreme Material
• “No Heat” required for easy Install
• Aluminum Skin Reflects Radiant Energy
• Eliminates Rattle
• Can be Used on Any Surface
• 9 Sheets Xtreme (36 sq. ft. total)

View Dynamat 10455 Xtreme Bulk Pack 9 Sheets Details

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Top 10 Cars We Hate the Most

If you’re among the 18,600 people who reserved a Leaf in advance, you will receive an email on how to submit a solid sales order.

Because of various state laws, before you submit a production order with Nissan, you will need to contact a Nissan dealership to negotiate a final price and finalize the financing or lease agreement. After that, Nissan will place your order for production and give you a estimated delivery date.

The Leaf will be available in two trims: SV and SL. The SV starts at $32,780 and will come standard with recycled cloth upholstery, navigation system, 16-inch alloy wheels and three years of free roadside assistance. The SL starts at $33,720 and will come with a solar panel spoiler, fog lights, rearview camera and automatic headlights. A fast-charging port that can charge the Leaf’s battery to 80% capacity in 30 minutes will be a $700 option only on the SL.

Destination fees add $820 on both trims. Keep in mind that you might be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and various other state tax benefits. Nissan is also offering a lease program that will start at $349 a month.

The Leaf goes on sale in December in the states listed above and then in Texas and Hawaii in January. A nationwide rollout will occur in the spring.

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Cars.comparison: Off-to-College Cars

2011|Ford|Fiesta

2010|Scion|xD

2010|Honda|Fit

Swiss+Tech Utili-Key 6-in-1 Key Ring Tool is a light weight self locking tool that securely attaches to your key ring. It features a flat screwdriver, bottle opener, phillips screwdriver, serrated and straight knife blades as well as a micro eyeglass screwdriver. It is compact and convenient to use.

View Swiss+Tech UKCSB-1 Utili-Key 6-in-1 Key Ring Tool Details

Protect your home with Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC. We recommend at least one fire extinguisher for every 600 square feet of living space. This fire extinguisher contains monoammonium phosphate, a dry chemical extinguishing agent that is nontoxic, inhibits re-flashing of the fire, costs less and is more effective than carbon dioxide, and is not easily disperesd by air currents. Note: Not recommended on computers or similar equipment. Easy to use on a fire: Just remember the “P-A-S-S” method. Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher; Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire (stand 6 feet from the fire); Squeeze the handle of the extinguisher; Sweep the extinguisher left to right while aiming at the base of the fire.

Protect your home with Kidde Fire Extinguishers. We recommend at least one fire extinguisher for every 600 square feet of living space. This fire extinguisher contains monoammonium phosphate; a dry chemical extinguishing agent that is nontoxic; inhibits r

View Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC Details

The results were illuminating. By day’s end, each of the systems had stumbled at least once. But when we tallied the evaluation, BMW’s Harman-supplied system won the day.

We’ll explain.

Leg 1: Easy downtown route

Winners: G37, Garmin
The G37 and Garmin emerged strong. Both made quick work of the first leg, which took us from our Chicago offices to U.S. Cellular Field — downtown to the Dan Ryan Expressway, exiting near 35th Street, turning right to the stadium. The 3 Series and TSX struggled: The TSX’s navigation system couldn’t locate the stadium’s address (333 W. 35th St.), and the 3 Series needed its ZIP code. We procured the destination from a smart phone, thus satisfying the BMW, and found it in the TSX under the point-of-interest finder. But the Bimmer’s problems weren’t over. Stymied by the loops of the downtown parking garage, the BMW took us on a six-block parade of right turns before finally tracking down a highway on-ramp. Arriving southbound at 35th St., BMW’s female navigation voice instructed a left turn. The Sox played, in fact, on the right.

Leg 2: Suburbs, missed exits

Winner: 3 Series
From the ballpark to Elmhurst, Ill., the G37 and 3 Series found expedient routes that put us immediately back on the highway — the same routing Google Maps would have us take. The TSX and the Garmin, however, routed editors down 2.5 miles of surface streets before finally merging onto the highway. (That jaunt would cost four extra minutes, according to Google Maps.)

Upon staging a missed exit near our destination — Elmhurst Memorial Hospital — the TSX, Garmin and G37 routed us to the next exit down the highway. (Our intrepid editors in the BMW ended up taking the exit everyone else remembered to skip, so we can’t evaluate how it would have fared. Yarg.) All but the TSX used a four-lane avenue just north of the hospital to reach it; the TSX picked a stop-sign-ridden two-laner west of the hospital to arrive. It costs an extra minute, according to Google Maps.

More concerning: Upon inputting “Elmhurst Memorial Hospital” into the point-of-interest finder, the G37 routed us to the hospital’s business center, some three miles away. (We arrived, found Audis instead of ambulances, and backtracked.) The Acura gave us the option of both locations — specifying that one was a business center — while the BMW and Garmin defaulted to the actual hospital.

“If you don’t know the hospital’s address and are in need of medical care, this would be a very annoying detour,” editor Amanda Wegrzyn noted. That’s putting it lightly.

Leg 3: Detours, New Roads

Winner: 3 Series
Our third leg took us south to New Lenox, Ill. The G37 chose a westbound highway that would eventually join our southbound route. It would’ve cost three extra minutes, Google Maps says. No matter; we ignored it. We had a pit stop to simulate, and it required sticking to the southbound route — the route the TSX, 3 Series and Garmin had automatically plotted. The pit stop landed us right off the interstate at a well-worn Arby’s, with no immediate entrance back onto the highway’s southbound lanes.

After a few moments’ recalculations, the G37, TSX and Garmin had us on a 3.5-mile loop to get to the next on-ramp south. The BMW, meanwhile, instructed a U-turn to head west, back under the freeway and away from Arby’s, and onto a second westbound highway. It joined up with our original southbound route, incurred minimal surface streets and got us to New Lenox with time to spare. Editor Joe Bruzek, who travels the area often, says the BMW took the route he’d choose.

The Garmin-toting TSX group arrived second, having both taken the 3.5-mile detour toward the next on-ramp south of Arby’s. The systems differed near the end: The Acura wanted editors to exit the highway some four miles early to take rural roads to New Lennox. It would have added about six minutes, Google Maps says. We stuck with the Garmin’s highway route, which had the TSX arriving 10 minutes after Team BMW.

Alas, the G37 had a mind of its own. Like the TSX, it directed us toward the next on-ramp south of Arby’s, followed by directions for the next highway interchange — but toward the northbound off-ramp, the opposite direction of New Lenox. It had editors driving a mile north, exiting an overpass and re-entering on the southbound side.

Naturally, the G37 was last to arrive.

The Winner: BMW 3 Series

All four systems took recently completed sections of the I-355, and all four found a new subdivision in Plainfield, Ill., though the BMW’s showed a few more roads than the others. In the end, the 3 Series’ system put us on the most expedient routes, even lopping off some time at the end. After a rough start, it completed the evaluation with few of the G37’s wrong-headed instructions and none of the smaller routing issues the TSX and Garmin incurred. It’s not the cheapest or most feature-packed system, but for simply getting the job done, BMW’s system won the day.

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Kia Motors is recalling 23,972 2010 Kia Soul and 11,213 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles over faulty installation of an ambient lighting system in those vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Soul’s speaker lights — which are standard equipment on the Soul Exclaim and Soul Sport and optional on the Soul Plus — and the Sorento’s optional accent lighting in the front and rear door trim panels on the EX trim may have been improperly soldered. When the lights are illuminated in certain conditions, an electrical short may occur and cause a fire.

Owners will be notified this month. Kia dealerships will replace the wiring harnesses for the lighting systems free of charge. Owners can contact Kia at 800-333-4542 or the National Highway Safety Administration at 888-327-4236.

2010|Kia|Soul

2011|Kia|Sorento

Two weeks ago, we showed you a sneak peek at the new 2011 Dodge Durango SUV, and now Dodge has provided more photos and a little more information. The photographer took a few steps back this time, so you can see the full exterior. Unfortunately, the interior view remains an extreme close-up, but at least you can see what looks like a new Dodge logo. Check out the pictures below and click on them for larger versions.

It's no secret that the Durango is based on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the Dodge has three rows of seats, whereas the Grand Cherokee has two. The drivetrains are also familiar — a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with towing capacities of 6,200 pounds and 7,400 pounds, respectively. Credit goes to reinforced unibody platform and rear-wheel drive. Most of today's crossovers can't tow trailers this heavy.

Dodge's press materials boast "excellent fuel efficiency," defined not as mpg ratings but as a range of more than 500 miles. That could mean any number of things, including a large gas tank. (The Grand Cherokee's tank holds 24.6 gallons, which would work out to 20.3 mpg over 500 miles. Grand Cherokee 4×2 models are indeed EPA-rated between 20 and 23 mpg on the highway, depending on the engine.) It's not what we'd call excellent mileage, but we'll wait and see what the EPA says.

Front-seat active head restraints and side-impact airbags are standard, as are side curtain airbags for all three rows, Dodge says. An electronic stability system is also included. Options include a blind spot warning system, adaptive cruise control with Forward Collision Warning and keyless access.

Take Toyota, whose sales fell 33% in August compared with the same month in 2009. Sure, its two best-selling cars sold nearly 46,000 fewer units year over year – or roughly twice as many vehicles as Volkswagen sold in August 2010 total – but sales of the new Avalon and Sienna minivan as well as the FJ Cruiser, 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs were all up. While those sales pale in comparison — about 8,000 extra units — they are vehicles with higher price tags and typically more profit for the automaker. But even if there were enticing incentives on these models, that means car shoppers were willing to sign up for higher monthly payments than the folks lining up for Cash for Clunkers.
 
This trend at Toyota was seen nearly across the board. Honda saw similar drops with its Civic and Accord, with increases in Pilot and Odyssey. Ford saw its inexpensive Focus drop nearly 10,000 units, but the redesigned Taurus saw sales up 50%.

The only midsize sedan — arguably the most contested car segment — that saw sales up significantly was the redesigned Hyundai Sonata, gaining nearly 10,000 units or 80% and making another appearance in the top 10 best-selling cars in August.
 
The turnover in model years and number of new models also affected sales of the mainstream brands, with the Ford Edge and Explorer seeing dips with new models going on sale in the near future. The larger Ford Expedition SUV — with no news of a redesign in its future — saw its sales grow 57%. Sales of the Volkswagen Jetta were also down 30% as owners await the redesigned model going on sale in October.
 
What about luxury makers? Acura, Audi and Infiniti all saw sales go up in August. Even though Lexus' sales dipped 11.6%, the luxury brand saw its expensive cars like the LS up slightly and its larger SUVs like the LX and GX up 58% and 78%, respectively.

Add this to full-size domestic pickups all seeing sales increases, and it's clear that some segments are seeing healthy activity. It just seems that these buyers don’t generate huge headlines.

The 2011 Subaru Outback competes with the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour, but it outsells both of them combined. The Outback accomplishes this by being affordable, reliable and fun to drive, according to Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. Still, there are a few quibbles related to the Outback’s “OK” interior and outdated navigation system. Is that enough to put off wagon fanatics? Watch the video to find out.

2011|Subaru|Outback

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12volt, Permanent Magnetic Motor, Duty Cycle: 15%@100PSI, Max. Working Pressure: 100 PSI, Max. Amp Draw: 14 Amps, Min. Ambient Temp: -4 F, Max. Ambient Temp: 176 F, Stainless Steel Braided Leader Hose, Dimensions: 6.57″Lx3.66″Wx6.18″H, Net Weight: 5.3 lbs., Oil-less Design, High Performance PTFE Piston Ring, Stainless Steel Valves, Moisture and Dust Resistant, Gearless Direct Drive Motor., Anodized Aluminum Alloy Cylinder, Automatic Reset Thermal Overload Protector., Heavy Duty Steel Stand with Vibration Isolators, Deluxe Carry Bag, 3-pc Inflation Kit, 150 PSI gauge, Cigarette Lighter Power Plug with 15 amp inline fuse holder.
16ft cable length, 4ft air hose.

70P is a small but powerful portable compressor kit that is capable of inflating up to 25-Inch and smaller tires easily by simply plugging into your cigarette lighter power port, connecting to a valve stem and turning the unit on. Tire pressure can be monitored using the gauge mounted on top of the unit.

70P Amp Draw Warning:
Most automotive cigarette lighter/power ports handle up to 15 amps. Some vehicles’ power ports may have even lower amp ratings. Before purchasing and using this unit, inspect the amp draw limitations of your vehicle power port. The 70P

View Viair 00073 70P Heavy Duty Portable Compressor Details

Check out Ask.cars.com to find out when a blind spot detection system will come out on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. At PickupTrucks.com, discover the top 10 best-selling models for August. Finally, go to MotherProof.com and read its review of the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

• When Will the Blind Spot Warning System be Available on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee? (Ask.cars.com) 
• August 2010 Year-to-Date Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales (PickupTrucks.com) 
• MotherProof.com Reviews the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (MotherProof.com)

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Cash for Clunkers continues to cast a long shadow: Big automakers had what looks to be a bad month, but last year the popular government program dramatically boosted the sales of many models, including the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V and Honda Accord. So the dramatic declines experienced by those models is not all too surprising.

Year-to-date, five of the models in the top 10 are selling less than they sold year-to-date in 2009. Before August, only one model on this list – the Dodge Ram – was selling worse in 2010 compared with 2009.

Toyota (down 31.4%), Honda ( down 30%), Nissan (down 27%) and GM ( down 24.9%) saw the most dramatic declines. Of course, Japanese automakers were the biggest gainers during Cash for Clunkers; GM’s decline is partly due to the strong sales gains by Pontiac and Chevrolet in August 2009. Chrysler saw a 7% increase because very few of its cars sold well during Cash for Clunkers.

The best selling full-size trucks — Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram — performed well this month, and they were the only models on the list (besides the Chevy Malibu) to post positive gains. Honda remains the automaker with the most cars on the list with three models, the same as last month.

Notable Items:
*Honda Accord includes 2,642 Honda Crosstours

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The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan will get an EPA-estimated 26/36 mpg city/highway when fitted with the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed manual transmission. With a six-speed automatic, the rating drops to 22/35 mpg. The Cruze takes regular gas.

The Cruze's manual transmission rating is a little bit better than the rating of a comparable 2010 Honda Civic (26/34 mpg), but the automatic rating isn't as good as the Civic's (25/36 mpg). Meanwhile, the 2010 Toyota Corolla's manual-transmission rating of 26/35 mpg with its base engine is nearly identical to the Cruze's rating, but the Corolla's automatic-transmission rating of 26/34 mpg offers notably better city fuel economy.

Chevrolet also revealed that Cruze sedans with the optional turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder – which goes in LT and LTZ trim levels – will get 24/36 mpg with a six-speed automatic. The turbo four-cylinder will also be offered with a six-speed manual in what Chevrolet calls the Cruze Eco, but its official gas mileage estimates have yet to be released. The automaker will only say that this engine and transmission combination is expected to achieve a 40 mpg highway rating.

2011|Chevrolet|Cruze

Some of the top lease deals can be found at Acura, Audi, Lexus and Lincoln dealerships. Acura has an event going on that is especially noteworthy, offering $0 due at signing and the first month’s lease payment free.

The best financing deals can be found at Cadillac, which is offering six-year loans at 0% interest on most of the remaining 2010 models.

Both loan interest rates and leasing deals often vary by region. Like our APR interactive map showed us earlier this week, the best financing deals are offered to Midwest and East Coast residents. Western states seem to have the most attractive lease deals.

In the listings below, we've given a range of prices when the deals vary by region; otherwise, the numbers reflect a nationwide offer. Most of the deals we've listed end on Labor Day or Tuesday.

Acura lease deals  

• 2010 MDX: $570/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), with $0 due at signing 
• 2010 TSX: $360-$370/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), with $0 due at signing 
• 2010 TL: $430/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), with $0 due at signing 

Acura financing deals 

• 2010 MDX, RDX, RL, TL, TSX, ZDX: 0.9-1.9% APR for 24-60 months 

Audi lease deals 

• 2011 A4: $379-$449/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $1,673-$2,894 due at signing 
• 2011 Q5: $469-$619/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,874-$4,368 due at signing 

Audi financing deals 

• 2010 A3 A4, A6 A8, TT, TTS: 0.9% APR for 36 months 

BMW lease deals 

• 2010 5 Series Gran Turismo: $689/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $5,614 due at signing 
• 2010 X3: $419/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $4,594 due at signing 
• 2011 X5: $529/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $5,804 due at signing 
• 2011 X6: $589/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $6,214 due at signing 

BMW financing deals 

• 2011 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3, X5, X6, Z4, M3: 0.9% APR for 24 months 
• 2010 M6, 5 Series Gran Turismo: 0.9% APR for 24 months 

Cadillac lease deals 

• 2010 CTS: $349/month lease for 27 months (22,500 miles), $1,999 due at signing 

Cadillac financing deals 

• 2010 CTS, CTS-V, CTS Sport Wagon, DTS, Escalade, Escalade EXT, ESV, STS: 0% APR for 72 months 

Lexus lease deals 

• 2010 IS 250: $339-$349/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,489-$4,038 due at signing  
• 2010 ES 350: $339-$399/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,499-$3,695 due at signing 
• 2010 HS 250h: $339/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,499 due at signing 
• 2010 RX 350: $449-$469/ month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,499-$3,695 due at signing 

Lexus financing deals 

• 2010 IS 250: 0.9-1.9% APR for 60 months 
• 2010 ES 350: 1.9% APR for 60 months 
• 2010 HS 250h: 1.9% APR for 60 months 

Lincoln lease deals 

• 2010 MKZ: $349/month for 24 months (21,000 miles), $3,164 due at signing 
• 2010 MKX: $399/month for 36 months (31,500 miles), $4,963 due at signing 
• 2010 MKS: $399/month for 24 months (21,000 miles), $4,393 due at signing 

Lincoln financing deals 

• 2010 MKZ, MKX, MKT, MKS: 0-1.9% APR for 60 months 
• 2010 Navigator 0.0-2.9% APR for 36-60 months 

Mercedes-Benz lease deals  

• 2011 C300: $349/month for 27 months (22,500 miles), $2,607 due at signing 
• 2011 GLK350: $459/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $4,253 due at signing 
• 2011 SLK-Class: $499/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $4,844 due at signing 
• 2011 M-Class: $529/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $5,074 due at signing 
• 2011 E350: $689/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,159 due at signing 

Mercedes-Benz financing deals 

• 2011 C-Class, GLK-Class, R-Class, E-Class: 1.9% APR for 24-36 months 
• 2010 S-Class: 1.9% APR for 24-36 months 

*Lease and finance deals vary by region and year/model/trim availability. Higher lease rates apply for lessees with lower credit ratings. Lease excludes taxes, titles and fees.

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It’s certainly easier to swallow that slightly higher monthly payment if the navigation system you just paid for works the way you think it should. But after testing hundreds of cars over the years, we know they don’t all deliver.

So we took three luxury cars with the expensive add-ons and a simple $180 Garmin aftermarket unit — the kind you stick to your windshield — to the test around the bustling Chicago metro area.

With three navigation-equipped cars on hand — a 2010 Acura TSX, a 2011 BMW 3 Series and a 2010 Infiniti G37 — we put their routing to the test. All three cars use different navigation suppliers, and all three systems vary in price and features.

• The G37’s $1,850 navigation system requires upgrading, at minimum, to the G37 Journey — one rung up from the base model. It includes Zagat restaurant ratings, traffic and weather, Bluetooth streaming audio a larger hard drive for storing music, DVD capability and voice recognition. With upgraded graphics and technology for 2010, this system represents that latest and greatest Infiniti has to offer, spokesman Ray Daniels told us.
• BMW’s $2,100 navigation system is available on any 3 Series. Besides a traffic display, it also adds the automaker’s iDrive system, now in its latest generation, with improved graphics, a host of shortcut buttons and the requisite additional configuration menus.
• The TSX’s navigation system is part of a hefty $3,100 Technology Package that includes upgraded ELS audio, a six-CD changer, traffic and weather, a backup camera and nominal enhancements to the Bluetooth and climate control systems. Its grainy graphics reveal its age: The only DVD-based system in the test, the TSX’s navigation will be replaced by a faster hard-drive unit for 2011, spokesman Gary Robinson said.

To establish a baseline, we brought along a Garmin Nuvi 255W. Purchased last April, it retails today for $180. We configured all systems, including the Garmin, to eliminate any routing preferences, meaning highways and toll roads were fair game.

Most systems allow for route choices — a quick route or a short route, for example. We always selected the quick route. More importantly, we also eliminated traffic-based routing. Traffic conditions, reported to each car through a streaming data feed, can change by the minute. A slight variance in traffic could result in a navigation system directing a car another way, skewing the results simply because it was last in the convoy.

The routing is what counts. With three teams of drivers, we set out to see how the systems handle a series of progressive route complications. After all, seldom does a road trip go without a missed turn or a bathroom detour.

Whether a system costs $200 or $2,000, wonky logic can still send you blocks — or miles — out of the way to get back on track after a detour. Old map databases can direct you the wrong way down a one-way street, or refuse to shortcut you down roads built a year or two ago. We’ve experienced both.

“You have maps that, even though they are coming from different companies, are being integrated and aggregated,” said Mark Boyadjis, an analyst who is on the automotive team at iSuppli, a California-based electronics consultancy. “All navigation systems have a proprietary routing system, or routing engine. … It’s that sort of software that determines how a car gets from point A to point B. So there might be variations.”

Our evaluations took us from our downtown Chicago offices along the following routes:

• A five-mile simple urban route from downtown to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.
• A 20-mile suburban route from U.S. Cellular Field to Elmhurst, Ill., including a simulated missed exit off Chicagoland’s I-294 toll way.
• A 34-mile exurban route from Elmhurst to New Lenox, Ill., including a simulated bathroom break off I-294 with no clear entrance back to the highway.And travel along sections of I-355 that were completed at the end of 2007.
• Finally, to see the currency of each system’s map display, we checked out one of the numerous new subdivisions in Plainfield, Ill.

By day’s end, each team had detailed impressions — on routing, address entry and more. A fair fight? Weigh in with any thoughts below, and stay tuned for tomorrow’s results.

U.S. car shoppers appear to be getting back on track with their car loans.

There has been a 19.7% drop in past due payments in the first half of this year, according to TransUnion, a credit bureau that tracks the national 60-day delinquency rate for auto loans. TransUnion defines delinquency as being past due on a car loan for more than 60 days.

Average auto debt rose to $12,643 from $12,501, a 1.13% increase. A rise in loan amounts is one reflection of lenders increased wiliness to lend. Auto originations increased by 18.7%, which is the largest increase in new loans since the recession began in 2007, TransUnion found.

These changes have a lot to do with the continuing strengthening of the U.S. economy, which expanded by 1.6% in the second quarter.

Year over year, late payments have dropped nationally by 27.4%, the largest decline since summer 2001, according to TransUnion.

It’s important to note that delinquency in auto financing is very low already, with only 0.53% of auto loans being 60 days behind. In comparison, the U.S. mortgage delinquency rate stood at 9.85% in the second quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

2011 Lincoln MKT Review

2011|Lincoln|MKT

Viair 85P is a small 12 volt portable compressor with a built-in LED work light, capable of inflating up to 31 – inch tires by simply plugging into your cigarette lighter power port (14.5 amperes maximum), and connecting the screw-on tire chuck to a tire valve stem before turning the unit on. Tire pressure can be monitored using the gauge incorporated into the top of the unit, above the ON/OFF switch. The power cord is 10 feet long and the maximum working pressure is 60 PSI. Performance Specifications: Tire Fill rate: 0-30 PSI (195/70R14) – 2 minutes, 0 seconds, Tire Fill rate: 0-30 PSI (19570R14) – 1 minute, 0 seconds, Tire Fill rate: 0-30 PSI (225/60R18) – 2 minutes, 50 seconds, Tire Fill rate: 0-30 PSI (225/60R18) – 1 minute, 30 seconds, Tire Fill rate: 0-30 PSI (31 x 10.5 inch) – 4 minutes, 30 seconds, Tire Fill rate: 0-30 PSI (31 x 10.5 inch) – 2 minutes, 15 seconds.

View VIAIR 85P Portable Air Compressor Details

At Ask.cars.com, a reader is looking for an SUV with amenities such as navigation and a sunroof for less than $35,000. Check out MotherProof.com to learn what Chief Mama Kristin Varela thinks about rear sliding doors. Finally, go to PickupTrucks.com and learn about the new Ram truck iPhone app.

• Which SUVs Have a Sunroof, Navigation, Ambient Lighting and Bluetooth for less than $35,000 out the door? (Ask.cars.com) 
• Feature of the Week: Sliding Side Doors (MotherProof.com) 
• Ram Trucks App Now Available for the Apple iPhone (PickupTrucks.com)

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We had a ringside seat to the mayhem. As we’ve reported, electric and hybrid-electric vehicles have various safety designs, including absorbent-matt technology in their batteries to inertia cutoffs and leakage sensors, to minimize the risk of electrocution. However, rescue workers face other issues across all newer cars such as higher-strength steel that’s harder to cut through and various safety features within that require delicate handling.
 
How exactly do you take a wrecked Volt apart to extricate those inside? Very carefully.

On a balcony at Chicago’s McCormick Center, where the Chicago Auto Show is held, the firefighters went to work. The Volt, a preproduction car from GM’s crash-readiness labs, was pretty banged up: Its doors were bent in, the windshield smashed and the airbags deployed to replicate a car that’s been in a serious accident. 

The procedure would begin with firefighters turning off the engine, fire chief Ron Moore said. In this case, reaching through a front window and holding down the start button. Firefighters then opened the Volt’s hatch and cut the cabling to the 12-volt battery. (Virtually every car has a 12-volt; this is a standard procedure that isn’t hybrid or EV specific.) Starting at the rear doors, firefighters wedged open the frames with hydraulic spreaders – better known as the Jaws of Life – and cut the door latches and hinges to remove it entirely. The same was done on the front doors.
 
If occupants are pinned down, firefighters must remove the roof. This is where high-strength steel makes it tricky.
 
In the Volt, the window pillars have high-strength steel. “This is not mild steel of the cars in the 1980s and 1990s,” Moore said. Newer-generation hydraulic cutters are necessary. At $3,000 to $5,000 a set, EMS trainer Pete Bellows said they’re not something every firefighter has access to.

 With later-generation sets, firefighters on the scene cut the Volt’s A- and B-pillars at their base, followed by cutting them at their tops. If it’s done the other way around, the pillars can warp inward onto crash victims, Bellows said. The final step was removing the roof, sliced here down the center of the car to preserve a cutaway view. The whole process of disassembly,if there hadn't been thorough explanation between each step, would have been mere minutes.

Chevy planned to display the Volt later at the convention center.
 
Newer cars mean new technologies, which rescue workers have to watch out for.
 
“We have seat belt pretensioners,” firefighter Rich Stack said. “You can’t cut into those. We have airbag prechargers and just certain things like that. You have to peel certain [interior] trim off and know where those are.”

“Potentially, it can explode like a grenade,” Bellows said of the prechargers, which deploy side curtain airbags. “You have to strip the trim and figure out where it is.”
 
That’s all part of the territory with any modern car. Hybrid and electric vehicles carry additional risks, marked by high-voltage cables. Any cable with more than 60 volts – the domain of EVs and hybrids – has to be orange, Bellows said. As long as firefighters exercise caution around them such vehicles pose little more risk than conventional gasoline cars.
 
“There’s the perception and the fear” of electrocution, Bellows said. If rescue workers know what they’re dealing with, the risk of electrocution is pretty low: “The car manufacturers, as far as I know, have done a great job” minimizing it, he said.

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The Black & Decker MSW100 ReadyWrench lets you say goodbye to lost or missing sockets for good. This all-in-one wrench puts 16 of the most popular standard and metric socket sizes at your fingertips–just spin either of the tool’s two rotating heads to find the right size. With no socket set to store or organize, you’ll make short work of general household assembly jobs, regular maintenance tasks, common do-it-yourself repairs, advanced automotive jobs, and more.Black & Decker Ready Wrench At a Glance:All-in-one socket wrench replaces 1- and 2-inch-deep sockets16 of the most popular sockets; combines standard and metric in 1 toolDurable rubber grip provides comfort for high-torque jobsMeets or exceeds ASME standardsLifetime warrantyFits 16 of the most popular socket sizes–standard and metric.Can be used like a ratchet for continuous turning.View larger.Slides over nuts tightened down on long bolts where a 2-inch-deep socket won’t fit. No More Guesswork, Lost or Missing SocketsKeeping track of individual sockets from a socket set can be a chore, as sockets often go missing or get dropped and misplaced. Likewise, socket sets can be tipped and scattered on garage floors, and they are usually unorganized, which makes

View Black & Decker MSW100 Ready Wrench Details

Infiniti has confirmed – and provided a few photos (above and below) — that it will debut the company’s first hybrid model at this fall’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much information on the new M35's hybrid powertrain, but Infiniti does say the hybrid “promises V-8 performance with four-cylinder fuel economy — without compromising driving excitement or trunk space.”

Just looking at the images, there don’t appear to be any cosmetic changes for improved aerodynamics such as different wheels or a redesigned front bumper and grille.

The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid goes on sale this spring. For now, check out the pictures below and click on them for larger versions.

These high quality/portable pumps feature steel components and are designed to withstand years of use. Now you can have access to air in any emergency. These are great for camping, inflatables for the kids, flat tires, and much more. Don’t worry about inflating that inner tube–let the machine do the work and enjoy your trip. Additional Features Include: 3 Adapters included High quality metal construction Sport inflator adapter included Large 2″ diameter gauge Compressor measures 6″ long x 5 1/2″ high Works on standard 12 volt car lighter On-Off rocker switch Automatic overload cut-off Rubber feet for smooth operation Up to 100 PSI

View 12 VOLT ELECTRIC TIRE AIR PUMP w/GAUGE Details

We’ve heard rumors of a convertible Nissan Murano for years. Frankly, we didn’t believe them. However, Nissan will debut the Murano CrossCabriolet at the Los Angeles Auto Show in a few months, and we’ll finally get to see it and believe it then.

The Murano CrossCabriolet isn’t a concept car; it will go on sale in early 2011 alongside the new Quest minivan, which is also set to debut to the public at the L.A. show. The CrossCabriolet will be an all-wheel-drive vehicle with seating for four — unlike the Murano crossover's five.

A concept car called the Ellure will also be on display, which is supposed to be a “value” sedan design exploration. This would be a good idea since the company’s current Sentra sedan is a bit of a snore in the design department.

The final production version of the Nissan Leaf electric car will also debut at the show.