2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet’s latest subcompact isn’t subar and Cadillac is preparing the upcoming 2013 ATS. Gas prices are falling and Nissan is taking iAds to a new level while the first 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sells for $250,000. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on TheCarConnection.

We drive the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and realize this is one subcompact that isn’t subpar.

Here’s a sneak preview of the new version of TheCarConnection.

The latest spy shots of the 2013 Cadillac ATS reveal a touchscreen that will replace some of the dash controls.

Gas prices are falling as the economy stalls.

Nissan takes the Versa iAd to a whole new level on the iPhone by utilizing the built-in gyroscope.

Senator Charles Schumer says “OnStar is committing the most brazen invasion of privacy in recent memory.“

The first 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sold for $250,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auctions this past weekend.

Here are five green cars we are still waiting for. Will they ever come?

Saudi women can vote in 2015, but still can’t drive.

We take a look behind the disturbing ad campaign for the 2012 Toyota Prius.

2012 Hyundai Veloster – First Drive

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a sporty value, while one woman buys two 2012 Chevrolet Volts–and gives one away. We compare and contrast the present and past Nissan Z cars, while BMW issues a recall. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on TheCarConnection.

We give the 2012 Hyundai Veloster an 8.6/10 for its value and its sporty economy .

This woman bought two 2012 Chevy Volts, only to give one away.

Hey parents–here are some tips on rear-facing child seats.

We compare the 2011 Nissan 370Z to a 1990 Nissan 300ZX.

BMW is recalling the 2011 328i and 335i due to a driveshaft problem.

Nobody wants to be the person who screws up the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette.

Auto dealers are against Obama’s higher gas-mileage rules.

Will bacteria power hydrogen fuel cells someday?

BMW is going to produce an X4 crossover.

We think the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster is better than the coupe.

2011 Saab 9-4X

Saab lives another day, and we finally understand the 2012 Fiat 500c commercial starring Jennifer Lopez. The Prius gets refreshed and GM won’t tell China its secrets. All this and more in today’s car news, right here at TheCarConnection.

Confused by the 2012 Fiat 500c commercial starring Jennifer Lopez? This new video explains all.

Saab has cheated death once again with bankruptcy protection.

Toyota gives the 2012 Prius a small facelift and upgrades its technology.

GM still refuses to share the secrets behind the Chevy Volt with China.

Subaru’s Facebook fans have picked the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the annual “Share The Love” event.

Is Dodge working on a Durango SRT8?

Here are the best new car deals for September.

Nissan has launched the My Versa Road Trip marketing campaign.

Gran Turismo 5 has nothing on Pole Position.

The 2012 Infiniti M35h is the quickest hybrid in the world.

2011 Nissan Titan

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If you’re in the market to buy or lease a new car, TrueCar says there’s no time like this weekend. In fact, the vehicle-transaction-price tracking website estimates that this Saturday, September 24, will be your best shot at getting a good deal in the month of  September.

If you’re looking to buy a full size pickup or SUV, the 2011 Nissan Titan can be had for $22,497, thanks to incentives totaling $5,888 (which represents a discount of 20.7 percent from list). The 2011 Ford Expedition is selling for $36,502, thanks to $6,208 worth of available incentives, which saves you 14.5 percent from sticker price.

If a sedan is more to your liking, consider the 2011 Volvo S80, which can be had for $31,631, a discount of $6,394 (and 16.8 percent) from list price. If you want an American sedan, the 2011 Chevy Malibu is selling for $19,946 (a discount of $3,789, or 16 percent) and the 2011 Chrysler 200 can be had for $21,035 (saving you $3,660, or 14.8 percent).

If you’re looking for help with financing, the 2011 Buick Enclave, the 2011 Ford Fusion, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the 2011 Toyota Camry LE are all available with zero-percent financing, with terms up to 60 months. Kia is offering 1.9-percent financing on 2011 Kia Sedona models, plus it will give you an additional $3,000 cash back if you finance through its lender.

If leasing is more your style, you may want to check out deals on the 2012 Audi Q5 2.0T ($499 per month for 39 months), the 2011 Hyundai Sonata ($199 per month for 36 months), 2012 Infiniti M37 ($549 per month for 39 months) the 2012 Jaguar XF ($649 per month for 36 months) or the 2012 VW Passat ($219 per month for 36 months). Remember that lease deals all require cash down at signing, and most cap you to either 10,000 or 12,000 miles per year.

It’s a good time of year to be car shopping, since the end of September is also the end of the third quarter. If car makers are hungry to make deals at the end of the month, they’re ravenous to close sales at the end of the quarter. Use this to your advantage, and you’ll be able to cut the best deal possible on your next ride.

Ford Drive One Ad

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Ford’s recent “press conference” television ads have a fairly simple premise: grab real life Ford owners and put them into an unscripted press conference setting, to get their feedback on Ford’s products. The problem with unscripted television, however, is that you often get opinions and dialogue that would otherwise be considered too controversial for mainstream advertising.

Take a recent “press conference” ad from Ford, for example. In it, F-150 owner “Chris,” whose last name isn’t given, is asked if buying American was important. His response was hyper-critical of both GM and Chrysler, whose government loans will end up costing taxpayers as much as $16 billion:

“I wasn’t going to buy another car that was bailed out by our government. I was going to buy from a manufacturer that’s standing on their own: win, lose or draw.”

Chris goes on to say that America is about taking chances to succeed, but equally about picking yourself up and going back to work when you fail. In other words, no handouts from the government to keep you in business.

Bill Ford was strongly opposed to a Ford bankruptcy, as far back as 2006. Ford even went so far as to work for free until the company was again profitable, going without a paycheck from 2005 until 2010. While Ford executives have been vocal in their disdain for government bailouts, the automaker has thus far resisted using that point in advertising.

Ford is now the second automaker to punch below the belt in its advertising. Just last month, Nissan released a series of ads mocking Toyota and Honda’s inventory levels, which are still a casualty of the March disasters in Japan. Like political ads, it may be that nothing is sacred any longer in automotive advertising.

US News

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

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The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority