As competition between United States Republican presidential candidates unravels, each individuals past and future open up. Revealing themselves to the world, the nominees begin to exhibit material flaws that bring them down to our human level. While some have more to hide than others, the current leader of the pack, Mitt Romney, looks to be covering up quite a bit more.

Even before he began the race, Mr Romney was one of the wealthiest individuals in the country. Indeed, current estimates produced by Bain Capital suggest that the man is worth as much as $250 million. Portrayed by the democrat-leaning media as a perfect representation of the top 1 percent, he has had a though time disproving the claims made against him. Readying himself against the newest claims, reporters have revealed that Mitt Romney spent an estimated $12 million for his ocean front property, renovating a number key features.

Exacerbating the claims made against him, reporters at Politico got their hands on the plans for Romney’s split-level garage, outdoor shower, and indeed an impressive 3,600-square-foot basement. The car lift located in his garage was perhaps the most interesting among the items revealed. Reporters have revealed that the lift will allow for a more exact organisation of Mitt’s car collection, giving him more maneuverability. SeatlePi has suggested that the garage already houses his wife Ann’s two Cadillac SUV’s but there was a need for more.

The second mansion owned by the former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney recently suggested that he will make the home three times larger to maintain its frontal façade. Among the additions will be a water feature as well as outdoor shower. While all this is still in the planning formation, the construction will not start until after the 2012 election. For now all the candidate has done is pay $21,000 to a lobbyist in order to walk him through the process of permits as well as site development. Indeed, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee has gone on the record as saying that “well, doesn’t everyone need an elevator for their cars? Even if you have to hire a lobbyist to secure it?”

A conservative Mormon, Romney has had to compete against the likes of Rick Santorum as well as Newt Gingrich with a considerable handicap. While his position has swayed in the past weeks, it continually looks like he will become the party’s representative. Disconnected with the core of his party, we’ll see how he fares against the debates with Obama in the next few months if he gets the nomination.

If you’re fed up of the conventional family car and fancy something a bit different, take a look at the all-new Chrysler Delta.

Delta is the new family hatchback from iconic American brand Chrysler that’s set to take the family-car sector by storm.

With its striking exterior design and innovative interior, the Chrysler Delta offers all the space and flexibility you need from a family car (including an impressive 465L boot space thanks to its flexible seating system), without compromising on style or comfort.

Under the bonnet, the Chrysler Delta also offers excellent performance and fuel economy, allowing drivers to enjoy a unique combination of sporting luxury with great affordability.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce reductions of up to £10 a month on the all-new Chrysler Delta when you order before 31st March.

Our best deal is on the Chrysler Delta 1.4 T-Jet S, available to lease from just £239.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on the above model include:

• Radio/CD + MP3

• Steering Wheel Mounted Controls

• Daytime Running Lights

• Privacy Glass

• Manual Air Conditioning

• Premium Cloth Upholstery

• Remote Keyless Entry

To find out more about the all-new Chrysler Delta and to get an instant quotation on any model in the range, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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Following the success of their first supermini – the Ypsilon – Chrysler has announced the introduction of a new special edition model.

Simply named ‘Black&Red’, the new Chrysler Ypsilon special edition model goes on sale in the UK this month, boasting an enhanced exterior style and £3000 worth of extra equipment.

So what’s new? Well, on the outside, the new Chrysler Ypsilon Black&Red is kitted out in a special black and red bi-colour metallic paint, with 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, fog lamps, black glass and body-coloured side skirts, all offered as standard.

Technology also plays a big part in the chic supermini with air conditioning, Blue&Me Bluetooth and a 360-degree hi-fi system contributing to Chrsyler’s £3000 worth of extra equipment.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce the all-new Chrysler Ypsilon Black&Red special edition model is now available to lease with prices starting from just £178.95 + VAT a month for the Chrysler Ypsilon 1.2 Black&Red.

Three engine options are available from launch including a 1.2 petrol, 0.9 TwinAir and 1.3 MultiJet.

To find out more about the Chrysler Ypsilon Black&Red and to get an instant quotation on any model, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Like this deal? Join our mailing list to receive weekly emails with our latest car leasing offers straight to your inbox!

The world is at a crossroads. While the rising influence from China and India have strengthened the car industry, the amount of cars on the roads is becoming undeniable large. Indeed, individuals have long turned to renting and leasing in order to avoid the cumbersome burden of owning a vehicle. However, a new methodology is slowly growing from an unlikely source, giving us the power to alter the way we travel forever.

General Motors Vice President Steve Grisky has recently told Time magazine reporter Anita Hamilton that the company has begun a round of funding for a rather little known company called RelayRides. Providing them with nearly $3 million (£1.8 million), the company is spearheading a program of peer-to-peer car-sharing services across the United States.

Rather surprisingly, what emerges from this relationship is a daunting contradiction: Why exactly would GM offer funding to a company that directly competes with them? Indeed, the carmakers purpose is to ensure the sale of their vehicles. However, as the company has noted, what truly matters is that individuals are driving HM vehicles regardless of whether they own them or not.

However, it should be noted that this type of service is certainly not new. Car-sharing services like Zipcar have been utilising a fleet of nearly 9,500 vehicles to perform a similar task. What RelayRides as well as another company called JustShareIt are doing is allowing individuals like you and me to rent out their own leased or own vehicles to other individuals.

Not only a providing a financial boost, GM will be pairing their smartphone capabilities with the OnStar system. According to analysts, this function will ease the ability locate cars in the local community, ultimately strengthening this company considerably.

Unsurprisingly, it was a Harvard Business School graduate Shelby Clark who came up with this scheme in 2008. He initially came up with the idea when he had to bike nearly 3 miles in bad weather. He saw many cars parked on the roads and thought that they could be put to better use. Now a thriving company, it looks like the brilliant mind came up with quite an intriguing idea.

With a pool of over 250 million vehicles in the US, the UK may initially have a difficult time applying such a scheme. While it certainly isn’t inconceivable, it won’t be replacing leasing and car dealerships anytime soon. For many individuals, such a scheme ultimately involves an uncomfortable level of trust that can be broken rather easily. While its future remains clouded, the idea is nonetheless incredibly innovative.

The Internet is a rather peculiar place. Offering its user an assortment of powers, some use it for good while others for evil. While this line tend to be blurred, governments throughout the world try to regulate its processes through new laws and enforcement techniques. While few could forget the United States’ attempts to censor the Internet through SOPA and PIPA, their failures did not hinder attempts to curtail questionable Internet content.

Indeed, the most recent skirmish between Kim Dotcom, the founder of Internet sharing site Megaupload, and the combined forces of FBI and New Zealand police have highlighted these tensions. While this battle seems to be one of many yet to come, it does show how wealthy individuals can get from successful Internet websites.

The German-born man, formally known as Kimble Schmitz, profited from his simple program, ultimately amassing a rather large car collection.  In an attempt to extradite Mr Dotcom over a $500 million worth of copyright infringements, the FBI has had to go through the mans property in order to properly assess the companies profits.

Police estimate that the car collection is worth a whopping $4.8 million. Those vehicles worth noting include a beautiful black Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe as well as a classic 1959 Cadillac that came in a fantastic pink.  Pictures of the property seem to show an assortment of various cars, each being hauled away by the police. Most recent estimates seem to suggest that there were around 18.

Unique among these cars are some of the vanity number plates that came along with them. It seems that the man had quite an interesting sense of humour when he registered names like “Stoned,” “Evil,” “Mafia,” “God,” and quite ironically “Guilty” as well as “Police.”

If the collection was not enough to suggest that he was a vehicle aficionado, the man also took part in the luxurious Gumball 3000 Rally, a global competition similar to Cannonball Run. The Herald Sun noted that he was taped driving a black Mercedes and speeding past police vehicles, mocking them.

It seems that his good luck has now run out. With the odds stacked against him, hacker groups have tried to avenge their fallen comrade; yet, it appears that he, in layman’s terms, is completely “screwed.” While the website did retrain legally valid information, the vast qualities of the illegally shared material will make it very difficult to defend him.

It is axiomatic that vehicles owned by celebrities will fetch a higher price than their normal counterparts. For whatever reason, items tend to embody the presence of their former owners, ultimately becoming valuable commodities for collectors. As a result of this, there tends to be some interest when one of these vehicles makes it on the market. Unsurprisingly, when reporters found out that the current President of the United States Barack Obama’s car is going on sale, the world quickly turned its attention to the auction.

While it may not be the armored limousine that the president is known for, the 2005 Chrysler 300C is still quite a looker. Reporters at the Daily News have noted that Senator Obama drove this vehicle around Chicago between 2004 and 2007.

While it is a valuable piece of history, the car certainly doesn’t come cheap. Those interested should note that the car’s minimum bid is a cool $1 million. While the bidder will have 10 days to come up with the cash, it is a tall order for most considering the vehicles Blue Book value is actually $17,000.

The anonymous seller called Cubfanatic23 lives in the Chicago area. Unfortunately for him as of now there are no bids for the vehicle. While all hope is certainly not lost, a few more hours remain before the bidding is about to close.

Reporters reveal that the then Senator sold the Chrysler at Hawk For in Oak Law and after a few more transfers it was bought by Tim O’Boyle. Originally the car went on sale in 2009 but a humorous bidder wanted to purchase it for $1 billion, causing the seller to take it off eBay. This fresh auction hopes to inspire greater confidence from its bidders.

Those interesting in purchasing the vehicle for themselves should note that this 2005 model has a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine that may come in handy in a variety of situations. Burning 15 miles to per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway, the car is certainly thirsty. However, you should get your bids in soon, the owner has recently stated that there are quite a few verified bidders that are getting ready to pounce on the vehicle rather soon.

If you have a few million rolling around and want to purchase your own part of history, you have a little over 4 hours to complete the transaction here: Ebay Link

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce reductions of up to £40 a month across selected models in the Chrysler range including the Chrysler Delta, Grand Voyager and Ypsilon.

First up is a fantastic deal on the all-new Chrysler Delta. Launched in 2011, the Chrysler Delta is a striking and affordable alternative to the popular Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. It also pretty impressive when it comes to equipment, with a wide range of personalised options available including xenon headlights, panoramic sunroof, automatic parking system and GPS navigation. Prices now start from just £234.95 + VAT a month for the 1.4 T-Jet S with savings of up to £40 a month across the range.

For those after a larger vehicle, the popular Chrysler Grand Voyager has been reduced by up to £18 a month. Boasting tons of space, classic Chrysler styling and ingenious fold-away rear seats, the Chrysler Grand Voyager is the ideal vehicle for larger families or for those who need extra space. One of our best deals is on the Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.8 CRD LX Auto, available to lease from just £359.95 + VAT a month.

Finally, you can now save up to £12 a month on the all-new Chrysler Ypsilon. Poised to take the supermini market by storm, the Chrysler Ypsilon is hard to beat when it comes to eye-catching design, world-class engines and the latest in technology, with Chrysler’s new ‘Magic Parking’ system available on selected models. Prices now start from just £149.95 + VAT a month for the Chrysler Ypsilon 1.2 T-JET S.

To take advantage of these fantastic Chrysler savings, call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595 or follow the above links.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

While Steve Jobs may have passed on several weeks ago, his legacy continues to make headlines across the world. The most incredibly of these have been the Siri application found in the new iPhone 4S. Capable of doing practically everything but drive your car for you, the innovative additions made to the application have significantly altered what it’s capable of doing, producing a very powerful tool for the car enthusiast.

Most interesting of these capabilities is its ability to start your car on command. Developed by engineer Brandon Fiquett, his Viper SmartStart program allows him to start his Acura using his iPhone. He merely speaks to Siri and the machine does as its master commands. Knowing that this innovation could be applied further, Mr Fiquett also extended it to locking doors, opening trunks as well as even starting car alarms.

The system works by sending the command to Siri who uses the Viper server to rely the command over the cellular connection directly to the car. This interesting hack actually presents both an opportunity as well as a security issue as Siri is not meant to preform unauthorized tasks of this nature.

A further innovation was also made this week, this time by the website Auto Blog. The innovators wanted to see if the program was be capable of being tethered using a Bluetooth connection. Testing the development in a number of cars, including a Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 and even a few Mercedes Benz, they showed that Siri was able to both understand commands and after several tries was capable of being used to control a cars built in music system.

As Phonereview noted, Youtube footage of the event showed how the Siri was capable of adapting to the facilities by fading audio when an incoming call came in. This innovation would allow drivers to simply call out commands while they drive, allowing them to remain undistracted and in complete of their entire music library.

Paired together these innovations seem to change the manner in which cars will work. If indeed apple were to allow such innovations on a wider scale we would all be able to control a variety of features in our cars from our phones. While apps offer a great deal of pleasure, being able to control a car on such a scale would completely recognize the way we drive and interact with out cars.

You can now save up to £28 a month on the all-new Chrysler Delta with prices starting from just £244.95 + VAT a month.

Officially launched in the UK earlier this month, the all-new Chrysler Delta is already turning heads with its striking exterior style, powerful engine range and tons of personalised options including xenon headlights, panoramic sunroof, automatic parking system and GPS navigation. Based on the Italian-built Lancia, the Delta has been rebadged and re-modified for the UK market and is set to rival the popular Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus in the hatchback market.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has reduced the monthly leasing rates across the Chrysler Delta range with savings of up to £28 a month on selected models. Prices now start from £244.95 + VAT for the Chrysler Delta 1.4 T-Jet S. Standard features on this model include:

• Radio/CD with MP3
• Steering Wheel Mounted Controls
• Daytime Running Lights
• Electric Windows
• Privacy Glass
• Air Conditioning
• Remote Keyless Entry

To take advantage of these fantastic savings and to get an instant quotation on any model in the Chrysler range, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available.  Terms & Conditions Apply.

The all-new Chrysler Delta is now available to lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts with prices starting from just £247.95 + VAT a month.

Based on the Italian-built Lancia, the new Chrysler Delta has been rebadged and re-modified for the UK market, offering a new alternative to the popular Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The Delta boasts a striking new style with revised grille, along with four powerful engine options including a 2.0-litre Multijet diesel unit, delivering 165bhp. A range of personalised options are also available including xenon headlights, a panoramic sunroof, an automatic parking system and GPS navigation.

The all-new Chrysler Delta is now available to lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts with prices starting from just £247.95 + VAT a month for the Chrysler Delta 1.4 T-Jet S. Standard features on this model include Radio/CD with MP3, steering wheel mounted controls, daytime running lights, electric windows, privacy glass, air conditioning and remote keyless entry.

To find out more about the Chrysler Delta and to view the full range, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available.  Terms & Conditions Apply.