Ford’s new 2011 Shelby GT500 is in such high demand, that the supercar Ford model is approaching production limit. More than 3,300 orders have been placed for the new Shelby GT500. To ensure exclusivity, U.S. sales of the 2011 Shelby GT500 will be limited to 5,500 units. The goal of Ford’s limited production of the GT500 is to make the car even more desirable. The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was greatly improved for the 2011 model year, including more power, better fuel efficiency, new technology, and new standard features.

The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by a new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, which produces 550 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque, a 10 horsepower increase over the 2010 model. The engine is 102 pounds lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.

The new engine uses a state-of-the-art Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) liner coating, a process that applies a 150-micron composite coating that contains nanoparticles on the internal surfaces of engine cylinder bores, replacing cast-iron liners typically used in aluminum engine blocks. The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation honored the inventors of the Ford-patented PTWA technology with the 2009 National Inventor of the Year Award.

Standard 2011 performance features include the 550-horsepower aluminum 5.4-liter V8 engine, a new 2.75-inch exhaust system, revised brake cooling and pedal box construction for more consistent brake pedal efforts and feel, and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS). SVT worked hard to make EPAS better than the outgoing hydraulic steering system, with improved torque build-up and road feel.

New for 2011 is an optional glass roof providing customers with yet another open-air option that does not compromise the coupe’s versatility, headroom or climate-controlled environment. Interior options have proven immensely popular, with almost 70 percent of the GT500s ordered with the Electronics Package, which includes voice-activated navigation, SIRIUS Travel Link, HD Radio and dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control.

To keep your car in good shape and to maintain its value it is important to keep your car clean. Furthermore, when it comes time to sell the vehicle, it will be much easier and you will get more for it if its body is in good shape. There is no set number as far as how often you should wash your car. It really all depends on factors such as where you live, how you use your car, and what season it is. While taking your vehicle through the automatic car wash, as opposed to washing by hand, is much easier, there are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to automatic car washes:

There are a few different type of automatic washes, these include the older versions which use brushes, the newer versions will be “brushless” or “touchless” Finding the latter two are the best options as some older car washes still use abrasive brushes (instead of cloth), which can leave small scratches in a car’s finish.

Touchless car washes use only high-pressure water jets and detergents to clean the car — without physically touching it at all. There is virtually no chance of your vehicle suffering any cosmetic damage this way. Also, some areas have “self-service” coin-operated hand washes, which are great for spraying away heavy dirt buildup.

At the end of a wash, if it is a full-service car wash, the attendants may wipe down the car by hand.  This is usually OK — provided the attendants are using fresh, clean and soft towels to do so. Dirt and other abrasives in the rags can scratch the finish just like sandpaper. Simply driving away from the wash and letting air flow over the car to dry any remaining water won’t hurt anything — and is the best guarantee of a no-damage experience.

There are usually different ‘packages’ at a car wash, whether you want a basic wash or ‘the works’. One worthwhile extra an undercarriage bath, it may be worth the additional cost. Jets of water sprayed directly underneath the car can break loose accumulated. It’s also important that underbody drainage holes not be obstructed by mud and other buildup. The undercarriage bath should help keep those drain holes clear.

In most cases automatic car washes are absolutely safe for your vehicle. In fact, automatic car washes can be safer for your car’s finish than washing your car yourself because do-it-yourselfers sometimes don’t use enough water to safely remove dirt; or they wash the car in direct sunlight — which can burn spots in the paint. Or they use the wrong type of soap — such as dishwashing detergent, which removes protective wax and leaves a chalky residue on the finish.

Dodge could easily be considered the inventor of the modern day minivan. It’s original Dodge Caravan was rolled out for the 1984 model year. The minivan evolved over many years, and in 2008 this Dodge model was totally redesigned with a new look, new features, and new technology. Since the 2008 model year, the van has been sold exclusively under the Grand Caravan nameplate. While the Caravan was topped ranked for years, with little true competition, the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan faces some worthy opponents. One of those is the Honda Odyssey, which, itself, has achieved a place in the top ranking minivans.

The Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country twins are the last remaining minivans offered by an American automaker. The Grand Caravan’s maximum seating capacity is seven, which is probably the only truly comfortable, workable number even in vans and SUVs with eight positions. Honda’s minivan offers comfort and convenience for up to eight passengers. Four trim levels are offered: LX, EX, EX-L and Touring. Having succeeded in the past thanks in part to the strength of its Stow ‘n Go second-row seats — which fold into the floor — Dodge also brings you optional Swivel ‘n Go: second-row captain’s chairs that rotate 180 degrees to face the third row. The Odyssey, which can be found at your local LA Honda Dealer, offers seating for seven consists of bucket seats in the first and second rows and a 60/40-split third-row bench that folds into the floor. The Grand Caravan comes with three available V-6 engines. The standard 3.3-liter V-6 comes with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the larger engines come with a six-speed automatic. The 2010 Odyssey the top two trim levels use a version of Honda’s 3.5-liter V-6 that shifts automatically between six-, four- and three-cylinder operation in response to driving conditions, in order to save fuel.The Grand Caravan offers two rare safety features for the minivan segment. One is a blind spot warning system that notifies drivers of passing vehicles using icons in the side mirrors and a driver-selected audible chime. The other is a rear cross-path warning system that alerts the driver to oncoming traffic while backing out of a parking space.

The new 2011 Ford Mustang not only has many improvedments and design updates, it has a brand new package available. The Mustang RTR is a new dealer-installed package for the 2011 Ford Mustang, it delivers performance and appearance upgrades for spirited driving. The package was introduced by Vaughn Gittin Jr., driver of the Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Mustang GT in the Formula Drift series. The RTR package comes complete with Ford Racing Falken FK-452 tires, unique 19-inch wheels, and RTR-exclusive interior details and striping scheme, and is available at select dealerships.

Vaughn Gittin Jr.  is a professional driver who knows what Mustangs can do – and he wanted to share that knowledge with Mustang enthusiasts who appreciate the car’s power and capability. Mustang RTR is Gittin Jr.’s vision for introducing a new generation of owners to Mustang, while catering to traditional Mustang enthusiasts. He helped develop the RTR package, which provides performance and appearance upgrades, to allow pony car lovers to make the most of their driving experience.

Mustang RTR commands attention with unique styling that is highlighted by a chin spoiler with splitter and supports, rocker splitters, a rear diffuser and aluminum rear spoiler. A distinctive Mustang RTR stripe scheme adds more distinction. The interior showcases RTR-exclusive floor mats, shifter knob and emblems. The performance upgrade comes with Ford Racing calibration with a high-flow filter and high-performance Falken FK-452 tires, which offer precise handling from five linear ribs and three-dimensional rounded blocks. Stiffer, wide steel belts offer greater tread rigidity, superior grip and high-speed stability, and high-tension carcass and high turn-up construction increase handling response and high-speed stability.

Combining two legendary icons of Dodge pony-car history — HEMI V-8 power and Plum Crazy Pearl Coat paint — the new Plum Crazy limited-edition 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 performance coupe deliver more excitement to the streets. Both Dodge Challenger models deliver the best of modern American muscle-car characteristics — unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful HEMI V-8 engines and technology — now with an extra dose of nostalgia.

For the hardcore Dodge enthusiast, all-new Katzkin leather seat sets are available in bright white with Plum Crazy piping to highlight these unique Dodge Challengers’ exterior paint and stripes. Additional Katzkin leather seat seats are available directly through Mopar.

Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Plum Crazy models feature dual-wide A-line body-side R/T stripes in matte black or new bright white. Completing the look are “Challenger” fender badges in classic script, large 20-inch polished-aluminum heritage wheels with all-season performance tires, classic egg-crate grille with heritage “R/T” badge, body-color rear spoiler, functional hood scoop and bright racing style fuel-filler door.

Delivering even more punch, the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Plum Crazy edition delivers even more exclusivity with a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, performance-tuned ride and handling, benchmark braking and race-inspired interior with unique SRT-designed appointments and exterior-matching SRT performance seats with Plum Crazy accented stripe.
The MSRP for the new 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat is $35,140, while the high-performance SRT8 model is $44,155.

Ford Motor Co. has announced it will use more diesel engine technology to develop the second generation of the EcoBoost  engine. The result will be improved power and better fuel economy compared with the first-generation engines. Ford wants to get close to the same driving characteristics from the EcoBoost engine as it can from a diesel engine, such as strong low-end torque and good fuel economy. By borrowing from diesel technology, the result also will be a cleaner running EcoBoost engine that generates more power and delivers about a 5 percent gain in fuel economy over the current EcoBoost engines.

EcoBoost technology combines direct fuel injection, variable cam timing and turbocharging to reduce fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and vehicle weight. But it gives drivers the performance of a bigger engine. Ford said its current generation of 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engines deliver between 10 and 20 percent better fuel economy than comparable normally aspirated V-6 and V-8 engines, respectively. Ford said it will launch three new EcoBoost engines by year end. Those are: A 1.6-liter four-cylinder for the European C-Max microvan, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV and Edge crossover, and the 3.5-liter V-6 for the F-150 pickup. The EcoBoost F-150 will deliver best-in-class fuel economy with the power and towing capability of a V-8, Ford said. The three new EcoBoost engines will increase the number of Ford’s global nameplates offering EcoBoost to 11. EcoBoost is available now in the Ford Flex crossover, Ford Taurus sedan, Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover.

While the Fiesta debuted in Europe last year with instant success, it has been eagerly waited in the States, until now. The 2011 Ford Fiesta has arrived at many dealerships, and is on its way to many more.  And considering the fact that the European model of the Fiesta was the best-selling vehicle across the continent in the first quarter of 2010, Ford is hoping it will do just as well in the U.S.  Our version of the Fiesta is slightly different than overseas. More appealing to buyers in the U.S.is a newly styled four-door sedan, which will be sold here alongside a slightly pricier five-door hatchback beginning in July. The starting price for the four-door base-level sedan is $13,995, while the five-door hatchback will go for $15,795.

The U.S. Fiesta comes only with the largest engine available in any Fiesta: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque, yet returns spectacular fuel efficiency when matched to a sophisticated new automatic transmission that makes its debut here. The engine features the most optimal variable valve timing setup, with independent control of both intake and exhaust. A refined five-speed manual transmission is standard, but for about $1,200 the so-called “Powershift” automatic six-speed raises the car’s expected EPA  test cycle performance from 38 to 40 mpg on the highway. In the city, the standard manual is expected to get 29 mpg, while the automatic gets 30 mpg. For more research and information about preordering the 2011 Fiesta, read our 2011 Fiesta Review.

The Ford Mustang represents All-American homegrown style in two words. Its affordable, fast, stylish. No matter what competitors offer,  the Mustang is one of the most widely recognized, respected, nameplates in the auto industry. The 2010 Mustang has carried on the tradition well and there are many updates and minor adjustments for the 2010 Mustang.  The Mustang gets a restyled exterior and interior, a more powerful optional V-8, and new convenience and safety features.  This is a vehicle that is pure fun when driving; it has a high level of performance, all at a great value.  For buyers interested view our own 2010 Mustang Review. If you are looking to research more after reading our review,  you can read another complete Mustang overview at NH Ford for more details.  Any consumers will learn that the Mustang is quick and fun to drive and offers combination of style, performance, and handling that’s hard to beat for the money.  As far as trims go, the V6 Deluxe is a sporty cruiser, the GT and Shelby GT are serious performance cars, and the Shelby GT500 raises it to near Corvette performance levels. Prices for the 2010 model starts around 20,000 and goes up from there.

Things have been quiet from Chrysler for a while. But, while their 2010 models were rolled out with success, we all know big changes are coming for the automaker. Most likely, the slow selling Chrysler Sebring is reportedly going to be dropped from the line-up, in favor of a new nameplate. “Nassau” will be a freshened version of this midsize sedan, launching late this year as a 2011 model. Chrysler designers have also been working on a completely new interior for the 2011 Dodge Avenger, the sister car that shares a platform with the Sebring. The Nassau name was used on a Chrysler concept car that was displayed at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, but insiders don’t expect the new Nassau to bear much resemblance to that concept vehicle.

Chrysler will be rolling out its redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, due this summer and powered by its new 280-horsepower Pentastar V6. The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are also slated for a 2011 redesign. This pair was initially slated to arrive at the end of the year, but the latest scuttlebutt is that the Charger may come to market sooner, ahead of the 300. Finally, the Fiat 500 is also slated to hit these shores in the coming months. This Mini-fighter will be the first tangible benefit of Chrysler’s union with Fiat, and a harbinger of things to come.

While many drivers today would love to ‘go green’ while on the road, they may not be aware of the many ways to do this. Read below for some great ideas to make your daily commute cleaner:

Driving Habits: First, think about how you drive. Could you change your route to make it shorter? Could you combine multiple trips into one? Is your destination close enough to walk or bike? There are many easy ways to drive more ‘green’, its just up to you to make these changes.

Green Materials: Today automakers are using green and recycled materials for the cars cabin. These include recycled components and parts made from plants.  Those who prefer can opt for a non-leather interior in most lower- and mid-priced vehicles, and even in some luxury cars.

Go Small: Buying a small car is one of the best way to reduce your car’s environmental impact. Today’s small cars are better than ever, unlike the tin boxes of yesteryear. Furthermore they are becoming very popular, prompting automakers to renew their focus on the small car market. Small cars biggest benefit is their excellent fuel efficieny. If a small car fits your lifestyle, and you don’t have a thirst for overwhelming power, it may be the right way to go green.

Tire Pressure: If your car’s tires are underinflated, it can result in increased tire wear as well as reduced fuel economy. Plus, they adversely affect handling, increase stopping distances and increase the chance of tire failure. If your vehicle does not have an included tire pressure monitor, make sure you check yours regularly.

Hybrid or Diesel: This may be an obvious one, but it’s certainly not right or affordable for everyone. Hybrids have improved over the years and there are now many models to choose from.  Diesel, once considered dirty cars, use new technology to create a super clean and fuel efficient engine. While the U.S. still lags behind in available diesels, compared to Europe, the trend may be catching on. The main downside to these vehicles is the more expensive price tag.

Shut Off Cylinder Technology: To improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, some automakers have created systems that deactivate half an engine’s cylinders during certain driving conditions. Chrysler introduced the second generation of its Multi-Displacement System (MDS) on the 2009 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which can improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent on models such as the Chrysler 300C and Dodge Challenger R/T.