NEXTGENAUTOS

Put a Mini Cooper through its paces with former Redskins, this Saturday at FedEx Field

2010-08-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

Put a Mini Cooper through its paces with former Redskins, this Saturday at FedEx Field

President Obama tours GM, Chrysler plants today; watch his remarks here LIVE at 12:15 and 1:40pm EST

2010-08-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

President Obama tours GM, Chrysler plants today; watch his remarks here LIVE at 12:15 and 1:40pm EST

Toyota Facebook contest seeks Eco-warriors and gadget gurus to host Prius 10th anniversary fete

2010-08-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

Gaga for Green?Toyota Facebook contest seeks Eco-warriors and gadget gurus to host Prius 10th anniversary fete

Swedish carmaker Volvo now under Chinese ownership

2010-08-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Swedish carmaker Volvo now under Chinese ownership

All-electric zero emission Nissan LEAF available in DC, MD & VA April 2011

2010-07-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

In a not-so-veiled attempt to leverage the cyber-buzz surrounding the Chevrolet Volt pricing announcement, Nissan today revealed its roll-out plan for the zero-emission, all-electric Nissan LEAF. Over 17,000 reservations have been made for the Japanese automaker's entry into the fuel-efficiency sweepstakes with more than 55 percent coming from Nissan's December 2010 target markets of California,

BREAKING NEWS: 2011 Chevrolet Volt to be priced at $41,000

2010-07-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

Chevrolet has announced pricing for 2011 Chevrolet Volt. GM's golden child and long-awaited plug-in hybrid will hit showrooms this Fall and will be priced at $41,000, including an eight-year 100,000 mile battery pack warranty. Volt owners can qualify for up to $7,500 in U.S. Federal income tax credit, as well as other potential state and local tax credits, depending on location. Owners in

BREAKING NEWS: GM to announce Chevrolet Volt pricing at 12 pm EST today

2010-07-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Chevy Volt in Fairfax Virginia's Independence Day parade Since its development cycle began, speculation has swirled around pricing for the ballyhooed Chevy Volt. With Hybrids traditionally commanding premium prices, one with a fuel-free 40-mile range like the Volt would certainly be among the most expensive. Well the guessing game ends today at 12pm Eastern Time, when GM's U.S. Marketing

First look: Bold 2011 Ford Explorer breaks the mold, redefines the SUV category

2010-07-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

The nameplate that helped define and long dominated the SUV category is back and better than ever. Launched in 1990 to replace the infamous Ford Bronco (thanks to Orenthal James Simpson), the Ford Explorer ushered in the modern SUV era, lining America's driveways while doing the same for Ford Motor Company's coffers. Once the best selling SUV in the U.S., the Explorer and traditional SUV's like

DC eBay Car Find of the Day: 2007 Monte Carlo SS Coupe - white hot luxury muscle

2010-07-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

With a flagging economy and high unemployment, used cars are more popular than ever. If you're shopping for a pre-owned car and haven't visited eBay Motors, you're forsaking the best thing to happen to car sales since the rebate. Beginning today, I'll be giving you my DC eBay Car Find of the Day - a hand-picked selection of rides you can peruse on the great online marketplace and purchase right

Top five ways the heat affects your car – and what to do about it

2010-07-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow Washingtonians and welcome to Hades. Summer is in full swing, and the mercury is rising faster than the federal deficit. The heat is hard on us humans, but it takes an even greater toll on our cars. Here are the top five ways the high temps can wreak havoc on your ride – and what you can do mitigate the damage, save some money, and maintain your car’s long-term value. Tires

Georgetown's Greg Monroe Isn't Going to Disneyland, But He Might Buy a Maserati Convertible

2010-07-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

A common question of Thursday's 2010 NBA draftees - including Georgetown's Greg Monroe - was, "what's the first thing you'll buy with all the millions coming your way?" If Maserati has anything to do with it, it'll be one of their vehicles and this week, they treated Monroe to a special preview to whet his appetite. Monroe, picked first by the Detroit Pistons and 7th overall, was among a bevy

Cadillac, Local Chefs Bring Luxurious Cars and Cuisine to Tysons Galleria

2010-07-21T19:50:00.001-07:00

Tyson's Galleria is DC's premier high-end shopping destination, but since the Tyson's-Dulles Metro rail project broke ground, most Washingtonians wouldn't make the trek down 66 if Tiffany was giving away free five carat diamond earrings. But some things are worth the travel headaches - great food and great cars - and this August, Cadillac brings them together to lure gearheads and foodies alike

Plug-In Hybrid Chevy Volt Visits D.C. July 3rd for 'Freedom Drive'

2010-07-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

When the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt paraded into DC last February, it carried with it the hopes and dreams of a domestic auto industry bent on leading the charge for cleaner, more efficient automobiles (queue Star-Spangled Banner). Now, with gas prices hovering between $2 and $3 per gallon nationwide, fuel efficiency remains a priority so the promise of the Volt moves forward. The next plank of

Baltimore joins D.C., Philadelphia, Boston in offering Zipcar car-sharing service

2010-06-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

Carless commuters in the Baltimore-Washington region can now add Charm City to their list of Zipcar hubs. The popular car-sharing company announced today that it will begin service in Baltimore City, adding 22 vehicles in convenient locations throughout the city. The initiative, introduced in conjunction with the city's parking authority to help ease traffic congestion, emissions and parking

JD Power's 2010 Initial Quality Study Gives Local Ford Dealers Something to Smile About

2010-06-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

In the summer of 2009, the domestic auto industry was teetering on the brink of collapse, with bloated inventories, an excess of brands, products lacking progressive design and quality, and a rapidly evaporating government-backed financial lifeline. The DC area, like many major metropolises, wore the auto industry's troubles on its proverbial sleeve, with dealerships folding like cheap card

Help me win a lease of the new Lexus HS Hybrid Sedan

2009-07-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

If anyone has ever read my blog, www।nextgenautos.com, you know that I own a comfortable, capable but thirsty Ford Expedition. Its a great vehicle, but not so great on my wallet. And now, as an employee of an nonprofit that promotes energy efficiency, I'm a bit conflicted through ownership of this behemoth. Do I want to get rid of it? Probably not. But would I like something smaller and more

I’m keeping the Expedition, Dammit

2009-07-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

Like many car enthusiasts, I crave variety. The full spectrum of automobiles is barely enough to slake my thirst for cars of every shape, size, color and type and if I were independently wealthy, I’d need a second home just to house all my heavy metal. Unfortunately, I’m not independently wealthy and can only afford one vehicle – two if you count my wife’s. So I have to choose a relatively

What the F’s with the $3-a-gallon+ gas again?

2009-06-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

Its June 11th, 2009 and Summer is in full swing. School is letting out, the trees are in full bloom, days are getting longer and skirts are getting shorter. And just as the mercury is rising, so are the nation's gas prices.While its true that fuel prices always trend upward during the summer months, the past few years have put that process on hyperdrive - an upward trajectory that is both steeper

Bearing witness to the car wreck

2009-06-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

Its been three months since I put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) to write about the auto industry. I'd love to write more about vehicle development and exciting new models hitting the market but (un)fortunately, the news surrounding GM and Chrysler is far more interesting. In the classic vein of watching a car wreck (no pun intended) I cant take my eyes off the compelling, never-ending

Audi brings Q5 crossover Driving Experience to NYC, DC, LA, Miami & Chicago

2009-03-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

Building on the positive momentum of robust 2009 sales, Audi is pounding the pavement to get more of its products in front of potential buyers. Today, the automaker announced that Washington DC will be the kick-off city for the Audi Experience Driving Tour , an interactive nationwide event positioned to help launch the company’s new luxury crossover, the Q5। The event is scheduled for April 3-5

As auto sales plummet, “repair don’t replace” becomes the mantra

2009-03-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the major automakers delivered sales figures for the month of February। Not that anyone thought the numbers would be rosy, but following the trend of most economic news nowadays, they were far worse than expected. Some analysts prognosticated that January could mark the “bottom” of the auto industry’s sales crash as hefty incentives and a floor of government-infused into the credit

Plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt to go on sale first in Washington D.C.

2009-02-05T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post is reporting that Washington, D.C. will be among the first metropolitan areas in the U.S. to receive the Chevrolet Volt when it hits showrooms in late 2010, this according to GM North American President Ed Peper. Washington will join San Francisco as one of two debut areas for the sales launch of General Motor’s first plug-in electric car.The announcement was made Tuesday

2009 auto show calendar gears up under cloud of uncertainty

2008-12-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

Last week, the U.S. auto industry received a $17 billion stocking stuffer from Uncle Sam. The money will help, but it could soon turn into a lump of coal if a rapid turnaround is not realized at GM and Chrysler.Detroit is in for a rough 2009 and Ford, GM and Chrysler will likely bear the brunt. At a time when dealership are traditionally slimming down previous year’s inventories and stocking up

Will Bush auto bailout be another ineffective economic rescue tool?

2008-12-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

This morning, President Bush revealed plans for a comprehensive rescue package for the ailing domestic automobile industry. As DC Car Examiner Brady Holt reported , nearly $17 ½ million dollars of the recently approved Troubled Asset Relief Package (TARP) will be made available to beleaguered General Motors and Chrysler, LLC, with a majority of the funds coming available as early as this month.

Buy Nicholas Cage's 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda collector car

2008-12-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

Finances are tight for everyone nowadays. But if you've watched Speed Channel's coverage of classic car auctions like Mechem and the famed Barrett-Jackson, it's clear somebody's still got a few bucks to burn.Classic car collectors are a rare breed. There are used vehicle pricing services like NADA, Kelly Blue Book and ManheimGold.com. But when it comes to pricing a classic car, damn the book