Car sales are a great indicator of the state of the economy.  when car sales are down, so is the economy.  In April 2010, car sales were up 20% over April 2009.  That’s a good sign that the economy is turning around.

Of course, some brands did better than others. 

2010 Nissan LEAF [...]]]> http://www.car-and-travel.com/2010/05/april-car-sales-climb-20-indicating-the-economy-is-stronger/feed/ 0 http://www.car-and-travel.com/2010/01/nissan-sponsors-lance-armstrong-professional-cyclingteam/ http://www.car-and-travel.com/2010/01/nissan-sponsors-lance-armstrong-professional-cyclingteam/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:29:34 +0000 Evelyn Kanter http://www.car-and-travel.com/?p=329

Tour de France, Stage 20, Livestrong photo

When Lance Armstrong is not riding a bicycle, he will be riding a Nissan vehicle.  The car maker has announced it is sponsoring Team RadioShack, the new Lance Armstrong profssional cycling team.  Nissan becomes the team’s official vehicle of Armstrong’s Team RadioShack.

Lance Armstrong, as if you didn’t know, is the record-breaking seven-time winner of the Tour de France and founder of the LIVESTRONG Charitable Foundation, which promotes healthy living and the fight against cancer.  Armstrong is a cancer survivor.

In addition to Lance Armstrong, Team RadioShack consists of 24 professional riders from around the world, many of them considered among the strongest competitors in cycling today. The team is competing in a busy schedule of professional cycling races worldwide in 2010, including the Tour de France, the Tour of California and the Tour of Missouri.

Nissan LEAF plug-in electric car

The five car companies that interested car-buyers most in 2009 were Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan, in that order,  according to the  Kelley Blue Book.  But, the top five specific models researched were all named Honda and Toyota. 

The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Honda Civic have been the top three researched models on the KBB website in one order or another since 2004.  Rounding out the high five for 2009 were the Honda CR-V and Toyota Corolla.

Ford and Chevrolet models were in the top 20, not the top ten.  Chevrolet’s all-new redesigned Equinox SUV and Camaro muscle car both made the most researched list for the first time.  That’s good news for beleagured General Motors, which started 2009 by declaring banruptcy. 

2009 Ford Fusion

Also new to 2009 top 20 are the revamped Lexus RX 350 SUV and the  Ford Fusion, which was Ford’s top-selling model in 2009.   KBB says website interest in Ford grew steadily throughout 2009.  KBB  says its because Ford — unlike GM and Chrysler — stayed out of bankruptcy.  I say its because Ford kept making good news headlines, with the Fusion and Taurus getting top safety ratings, and with new technology breakthroughs such as inflatable seatbelts for rear seat passengers.

The combination of lower gas prices and last summer’s phenomenally successful “Cash for Clunkers” drew buyers away from subcompact cars such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and MINI Cooper, which were heavily researched in 2008.   

Here’s the complete list of the top 20 most researched cars of 2009:

SmartforTwo plug-in electric minicar

Getting smart: The first plug-in electric Smartfortwo minicar has been delivered to customers in Berlin, close to the Stuttgart home of its parent company, Mercedes-Benz.  The first two owners — an artist and a dental technology company executive  — currently own the regular gas-powered Smartfortwo.

The compact two-seater is the first emission-free vehicle in the world with state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology plus an intelligent charging management system on board.   The batteries are from electric sportscar manufacturer Tesla Motors, which Mercedes parent Daimler bought a piece of in 2009 to produce and market electric cars together.  

SmartForTwo images: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes is calling the plug-in Smartfortwo an ED, for electric drive, rather than EV, for electric vehicle. 

The on-board electronics on the electric Smartfortwo has a unique new information feature that allows real-time exchange of information with the owner by iPhone, Blackberry or other smartphone.  

Here’s how it works: 

2010 Nissan LEAF plug-in electric car

The zero-emission plug-in electric Nissan LEAF has started its 22-city North America to eleven U. S. states and one Canadian province.  The five-passenger Nissan LEAF goes on sale late in 2010 as a 2011 model, and Nissan won’t even begin taking orders until spring 2010, so this multi-city preview is a great way to introduce the car — and all its advantages — to the public.

Biggest advantage?  The LEAF gets the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon.  Although Nissan hasn’t released the price, they are promising that this will be an affordable electric car. 

 
Test drives will be available on the national tour, but you need to sign up at the special Nissan website. Since the LEAF is not yet in production, my always reliable source at Nissan tells me test drives will be on a prototype Nissan Versa retrofitted with the plug-in all-electric lithium ion batteries. 

According to CNET, the Nissan LEAF will be manufactured in Japan for the first few years, after which production will be moved to the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. 

Here’s where to see and drive the Nissan LEAF:

Mitsubishi MiEV plug-in electric car

The Mitsubishi MiEV plug-in electric car is not on sale yet in the U.S. yet, but  I got the chance to test drive a prototype recently, and loved every minute.

I wish you could have seen the smile on my face or heard me giggle as I steered the Mitsubishi MiEV in tight circles around and around one of the huge pillars that dot the garage underneath the Staples Center in Los Angeles.  And more smiles and giggles when when I used those pillars as slalom poles, weaving back and forth.   It is just plain fun to drive.

MiEV stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle.  It is a four-seater a bit smaller than a Volkswagen Beetle, about the same size as the Smartfortwo, both of which are gas-powered, not electric.  The MiEV handled well in traffic, steers easily, with great acceleration, plus that amazing turning radius.  When I floored it after a red light, it practically bolted to 45mph.  Certainly not a Ferrari, but a whole lot more ‘car’ than an  upgraded golf cart, like the GEM.