New cars — new American-made cars, that is — could get a lot less expensive under a proposal being considered in North Dakota this week.

The AP reports, “A group of six North Dakota lawmakers has introduced legislation to exempt new Ford, Chrysler and General Motors vehicles from North Dakota’s sales tax and motor vehicle excise tax….The tax break would apply until June 30, 2010, to buyers of any new vehicles made by those companies. New vehicle leases would also get the tax break.”

The move is billed as a stimulus measure to help boost the economy. Autoblog comments, “Tax breaks as a stimulus? No-brainer. But in this case, it’s probably not music to the ears of Wolf’s fellow North Dakotans who happen to own automobile dealerships that sell non-Detroit-brand vehicles. Politically, it seems counterintuitive for a group of lawmakers (who presumably hope to be re-elected someday) to effectively screw some local constituent business owners in favor of others, all in the name of ultimately helping Detroit.”

Kicking Tires notes, however, that North Dakota’s government actually has money to spend right now, and is looking for ways to cut taxes and fees. “That’s right: While many states face unprecedented budget crises, North Dakota is deciding how to spend a $1.2 billion budget surplus.”

Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

Ed McMahon, MC Hammer, Mr. Potato Head, Coke-stealing bugs and talking flowers were all there, but something was distinctly missing from the Super Bowl adds this year. Three things, actually.

Edmunds Inside Line notes, “General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have long been major players in the Super Bowl advertising game,” but not this year. “The cost of ads at the NFL’s big game, broadcast on NBC television, is up to $3 million for a 30-second spot. It’s not surprising that the Detroit automakers, beset by serious financial problems, might choose to economize, despite the predicted 100 million-plus viewers who would have seen their ads.”

That doesn’t mean automakers were completely absent from the festivities, though. Several foreign brands made an effort, but according to USA Today’s Ad Meter, which ranks the commercials according to the opinions of a panel of viewers, the car ads largely flopped.

Only one was mildly successful. Audi showed up with action-movie star Jason Statham as a car thief who mysteriously never ages despite a 30-year career stealing German luxury rides. He steals a Mercedes in the ‘70′s, and a BMW in the ‘80′s, but never escapes his pursuers until he steals today’s supercharged Audi A6. The message, according to Jalopnik: “Yeah, these other German guys were cool once, but we’re what’s happening now.”

USA Today’s panel rated it 12th. It only went downhill from there.

Hyundai touted the fact that its Genesis recently won North American Car of the Year with a spot where rivals badmouthed the car. That spot rated 47th in USA Today’s survey. In a subtle shot at domestic automakers, the Detroit Free Press notes, “there were no American automakers joining in the histrionics” criticizing the Genesis. “At least the Detroit Three weren’t portrayed behaving badly,” but it can’t be a good sign that the Korean company no longer sees a need to compete with them.

Another flop was Toyota’s Venza ad. Kicking Tires explains, “Using what could be the strangest automotive tagline since ‘The Fit is Go,’” Toyota ran an ad asking viewers “are you Venza?”

Apparently, we’re not. USA Today’s panel thought that was the 48th best ad out of 50.

But Hyundai brought up the rear, placing 49th with its “commitment” ad. That spot, according to Edmunds Inside Line, “describes the Hyundai Assurance plan,” which allows buyers to return their new Hyundai if they lose their job in the first year they own it, “and ends with the line: ‘Maybe commitment isn’t so scary after all.’”

It’s an impressive offer, but a boring commercial. With U.S. automakers on government-sponsored life support, it was probably a good decision for them to sit out the expensive round of advertising this year. But let’s all hope the auto industry recovers in 2009, so we can see something more entertaining come Super Bowl XLIV.

Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

Uncle Sam wants your ’88 Ford Bronco, and he’s willing to overpay.

Under a proposal introduced in Congress on Wednesday, the federal government may pay Americans to turn in older, higher-emissions cars and buy new, more efficient models, or decide to ride public transit. The money would be paid in the form of a voucher that could be used toward the purchase of a newer car, or toward commuting costs on public transit, so simply selling unused cars to the government and pocketing cash won’t be an option.

The AP explains, “Drivers would be eligible for reimbursement for purchase of a new or used vehicle with a fuel economy rating that exceeds federal targets for that class of vehicle by at least 25 percent. The vehicle must have a manufacturer suggested retail price of less than $45,000 and be a model year 2004 or later.” The value of the voucher would depend on the value of the trade-in. “In the first year of the program, a person trading in a vehicle that is model year 2002 and later would be eligible to receive $4,500 for purchase of a new vehicle, $3,000 for purchase of a used vehicle or $3,000 for transit fare credit. For model year vehicles 1999 to 2001, drivers would get $3,000 for the purchase of a new vehicle. Those who trade in vehicles that came out in 1998 or before could get a credit of $2,000 for a new vehicle.”

In many cases, the government plan would offer consumers more money for their old cars than a dealership would on trade-in. The government would simply scrap the old cars.

What’s the point?

Actually, there are two. The Detroit News explains, “The move would take dirtier cars off the roads and boost slumping auto sales.”

A Detroit Free Press editorial in support of the plan notes, “Older cars emit far more local pollution. A California study, for example, found that in 2010, vehicles from model year 1998 or earlier will be responsible for 25 percent of miles driven but 75 percent of local pollution.”

The move would also cut into oil consumption, the Free Press comments. “Consider that if two people drive the same number of miles, the one who switches from an SUV that gets 10 miles-per-gallon to one that gets 12 will actually save more gasoline than the person who switches from a sedan that gets 30 miles-per-gallon to a hybrid that gets 50.”

The plan, however, has opposition – from the people who work on older cars. Canadian Driver reports, “Seven trade associations, representing the automotive aftermarket, have raised objections to” the plan, saying that such programs “threaten jobs in the automotive aftermarket, since they remove the opportunity to repair and upgrade existing cars and raise the price of used cars and parts.”

The idea isn’t new – we reported back in July that several states have offered “cash for clunkers” programs in recent years. But nothing on such a scale has ever been attempted. As the bill makes its way through Congress, we’ll keep you updated.

In the meantime, if you are planning to trade in your old car, research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

You could outrun Barack Obama’s new ride in a Smart Fortwo, but that’s alright. Cadillac One isn’t designed to get away from incidents at high speed, but to survive anything…anything…and to shoot back.

The newest Presidential Limousine weighs more than 5,000 pounds, goes from zero to sixty in a leisurely 15 seconds, and has a top speed of just sixty mph. But eight-inch thick ballistic armored doors, hermetically-sealed windows of five-inch thick bulletproof glass, and a five-inch thick armor plate underneath make it more impervious to blasts than many tanks. Other unique features, according to Jalopnik, include a gas tank “filled with a specially designed foam which prevents it from exploding even if it suffers a direct hit,” tear gas cannons and shotguns built into the doors, and “bottles of the President’s own blood, kept on board in case he needs an emergency transfusion.”

And those are just the features they tell us about…if those are even true.

The Detroit Free Press reports, “A small team of General Motors designers and engineers” were “part of an insulated group of GM employees who received classified clearance to work on the all-new Cadillac presidential limousine, which was delivered to the Secret Service about eight weeks ago.” The car “was designed, developed and tested by specialists who adhered to an extensive set of specifications and followed a rigorous testing regimen. Security measures were undertaken at all times during development.”

The U.K.’s Telegraph claims, “The rear passenger area includes an extensive executive compartment with ample seating space, outward visibility and useful mobile office features. Much of the finishing is hand-cut and sewn. An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the centre of the rear seat back panel, as well as on each rear door trim panel.”

Popular Mechanics notes, “Secrecy abounds about the latest POTUS ride,” but speculates that Obama’s ride is the first diesel-powered Presidential limo. “The engine may be GM’s familiar 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8, or it could be some even more powerful diesel build for large commercial trucks. While the chassis, suspension and drivetrain of the new limousine is all new, most of the body seems to derive directly from the previous DeVille and DTS limousines. However the styling has been revised using pieces from Cadillac’s current line. For instance, the headlights, side view mirrors and door handles all come from the Escalade SUV. Meanwhile, the taillights, rear back up lights and third brake light all come from the STS sedan.”

Whatever it is, The AP reports, the Secret Service has a nickname for the new car: “The Beast.”

You can’t buy the beast. But with heavy incentives available on many new cars in this depressed market, you might be surprised to see what you can buy. Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

If $4 gas didn’t convince you to trade in that big H2 for a Mini Cooper, perhaps your local constabulary will. It seems that Hummer drivers earn more traffic tickets (or at least receive more) than drivers of any other make of car.

Newsday reports, “A company that helps auto insurers spot high risks says in a new report that drivers of the H2 and H3 are ticketed by police at more than four times the rate of the average driver — the highest of models it studied.”

SUV drivers in general don’t need to watch their rearview mirrors for flashing lights. “Contrary to the stereotype of the aggressive sport utility vehicle driver, the report by ISO Quality Planning of San Francisco also found that drivers of Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, big SUVs that share structural and mechanical basics with the H2, are among the least likely to get tickets for moving violation.”

Why the disparity? ISO President Raj Bhat speculated, “The sense of power that Hummer drivers derive from their vehicle may be directly correlated with the number of violations they incur. Or perhaps Hummer drivers, by virtue of their driving position, are less likely to notice road hazards, signs, pedestrians or other drivers.”

Autoblog, however, raises another possibility. “It could also be that due to the brand’s subconscious negative baggage that police officers are more likely to give Hummer drivers a ticket than a warning.”

No explanation seems to link the other vehicles on the most-ticketed list. The Scion tC, xA and xB are all cited more often than most cars, which may simply be true because those vehicles are popular with younger drivers. But the Toyota Solara? The Subaru Outback? We have absolutely no idea why anyone would speed in those.

If the news has you thinking of a smaller ride, keep in mind that many automakers have opened 2009 with heavy discounts. Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

American automakers, alive only with federal assistance and in need of massive restructuring to survive 2009, may soon face competition on their home turf. Chinese automaker BYD, displaying its wares now at the Detroit Auto Show, says it plans to move into the U.S. market by 2011.

Kicking Tires reports that the company “says it will launch models…in Europe in 2010, and that it plans to enter the U.S. market in 2011.” The company is displaying two plug-in hybrids and a pure electric vehicle at the show, and believes that environmentally-friendly cars will be its niche in the American marketplace.

Reporting from the auto show floor, the New York Times comments, “Few people here are willing to dismiss [BYD's] goals as absurd.” Industry analysts reportedly “are not so sure that BYD, or any other Chinese manufacturer, is that close to arriving in the United States.” David Champion, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports, tells the Times “They underestimate how much it’s going to take to break into the market.” However, the Times notes that BYD already “produces many of the world’s cellphone batteries.” Battery technology is an increasingly important factor in an automaker’s success. Also, the Times notes, “a recent investment in BYD by Warren E. Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, has considerably increased its credibility.”

One of the vehicles the company brought to Detroit has particularly impressed Autoblog. The BYD e6, they write, is “the world’s first production plug-in hybrid crossover.” The small wagon-like vehicle features a battery that, the company claims, can be recharged to 50% of its capacity in ten minutes. “Granted, the remaining 50% requires another hour or so, but half a charge is good for about 125 miles, which should ease customers’ range anxiety. The e6 has a simple but pleasant shape and adequate room inside,” Autoblog comments, “So if the price is right, it could attract a broad demographic of buyers — and that’s what BYD is counting on.”

Research the latest in green cars with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

Do you have sway over your friends’ decisions? Do you have “followers?” A “strong presence on the web,” perhaps? If you have the ability to influence decisions, Ford would like to co-opt your influence for marketing purposes…er, we mean…give you a free car.

Well, loan you one, anyway.

The automaker’s new “Fiesta Movement” program takes an old auto industry idea – select a group of drivers to test drive a new car for a while before it hits showrooms – and turns it into a viral marketing campaign. Ford is looking for 100 people, selected for their influence, to drive the 2010 Ford Fiesta for six months before the car goes on sale in the U.S. According to the program’s web site, these drivers will then be required to accept “monthly secret assignments from Ford Mission Control,” but in exchange, will drive a Fiesta free. “Each car comes with free gas, free insurance, and full concierge service for the duration of the vehicle’s six month stay.”

Interested? All you have to do is film a “2-5 minute video explaining why you deserve the opportunity to become a driver and participate in the Fiesta Movement,’ upload it to YouTube and use the Fiesta Movement tag.

What will you be getting in the bargain? The Fiesta is a new subcompact that Ford says will compete with the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris. The car is already on sale in Europe, where it has won praise from the automotive press, narrowly missed being named European Car of the Year, outran a Corvette inside a shopping mall, and has been used as a landing craft by the Royal Marines.

Alright, those last two are only true on Top Gear, but they were fun to watch.

The Fiesta is expected to manage nearly 40 mpg, and it’s apparently fun to drive, at least by European standards.

When Ford announced plans to bring the little car to the States over the summer, gas prices were climbing toward $4 per gallon and Americans were increasingly buying small cars. Now, in the midst of a recession and with the auto industry on taxpayer-funded life support, the only Ford models showing tremendous sales success are…well…full-size pickups. Automobile Magazine points out, “By November, Ford was adding an extra shift to accommodate demand for its all-new 2009 Ford F-150 as gas prices tumbled to their lowest levels in years.” Ford doesn’t know what kind of sales figures to expect for what will be its smallest U.S. offering, so the automaker is “is trying to generate demand for the vehicle” by trading on the credibility of bloggers and influence-peddlers willing to accept their secret missions.

Let us know if you decide to apply, and good luck to you. It looks like a fun little car.

And if you fail to win a free car, keep in mind that there are inexpensive cars available now. With the auto industry rocked by slow sales in 2008, automakers are heavily discounting many cars. Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.

The Honda Civic has finally relinquished its title as America’s Most Stolen Car. The new king? Not a cheap econocar like the Civic, but the huge, hulking Cadillac Escalade.

Kicking Tires reports, “Large trucks and SUVs make up most of the list of the top-10 most stolen vehicles, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Cadillac Escalade ESV is king among this lot (with the regular version at No. 3), likely because of its high profile and desirability. Celebrities and athletes have made the vehicle a status symbol, and Escalade owners frequently include expensive options and add-ons like premium stereo equipment, expensive rims and interior accessories.” Many of the other vehicles on the list are trucks, possibly “due to the expensive equipment sometimes stored in the beds or tool boxes.”

That’s one possible explanation. Another occurred to Autoblog, which comments, “We wonder if this might reflect some people finding a nefarious way to dispose of their gas-guzzler and collect the insurance money.”

After all, a rash of car fires has already been attributed to people trying to get out from under expensive loans on fuel-thirsty rides.

The Highway Loss Data Institute compiles its numbers from insurance claim reports.

The appeal of the car can’t be the only factor. After all, ABC News notes, the Escalade is “15 times more likely to end up in the hands of thieves than the least-stolen car, the luxurious Mercedes E Class sedan.”

The complete list:

Ten Most Commonly Stolen Vehicles

1. Cadillac Escalade ESV
2. Ford F-250 SuperCrew
3. Cadillac Escalade
4. 5. Ford F-350 SuperCrew
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Honda S2000 convertible

Ten Least Commonly Stolen Vehicles

1. Mercedes E-Class
2. Buick Rainier
3. Subaru Forester
4. Buick Terraza
5. 6. 7. 8. Toyota Prius
9. Saturn Relay
10. Ford Freestyle

Did you wake up this morning and find your Escalade missing? There are some unbelievable deals on the market today. Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ Car Rankings and Reviews.

We’re a pretty unimaginative bunch, apparently.

Kicking Tires reports, “According to the 2008 DuPont Global Color Popularity Report, White and White Pearl are America’s choice for favorite car color, with 16% and 4% of the market share, respectively. This is the second year white has come out on top.” Black and Silver tied for second in the survey.

Jalopnik sees a simple explanation for the trend. “What cars are standard white? The cheapest. Go to any car dealership and in addition to the premium trim levels you’ll typically find a row of white base models. Go to a Ford dealership and, in the back, will likely be a dozen white F-150s with plastic bumpers and V6 engines.”

Autoblog, however, thinks a change may be coming. “Not to worry though, as DuPont suggests that White winning two years in a row suggests a ‘palette cleansing’ that may precede a new color trend, one that is hopefully a little more exciting than the monochromatic machines we favor today.”

In a press release, Dupont speculates on one emerging trend: environmentalists are moving from green to blue. “Blue is being utilized as the ‘new green’ because it is well understood by people all over the world that blue can also represent the preservation of nature,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of Color: Messages and Meanings. “Imagine a clear blue sky mirrored in a pristine blue lake and you will get the picture. It is a universal favorite.”

We wonder, though, what all this means about the American psyche. Sedate blue and green cars, we’ve been told in other studies, tend to belong to secure drivers. The most insecure drive bright hues like red and yellow. White is – we have no idea. Scared that the economy is crashing and an endless stream of government bailouts may not be enough to fix it so for now you just bought the cheapest thing you could?

Doubting yourself over that bright red car? Research the best cars in every class, and find a nice green replacement, with U.S. News car rankings and reviews.

Let’s all admit it: No one would mourn the Aveo. If General Motors were liquidated, there is no LaCrosse Club of America to fight for the memory of a bland, squishy midsize Buick, no one who would shed a private tear over the end of the Pontiac Torrent’s run, no classic Saturn Astra restorers who would feel a pang of loss.

The Corvette, however, is another story. There is perhaps no other car so beloved, or with such history. Maybe the Mustang. That’s the list. Even recently revived classics like the Dodge Challenger can’t claim a 50-year history or a hundred tributes in song. The Corvette is an icon in a way no other car can claim.

So if General Motors folds, what happens to its most treasured model?

Autoblog reports, “Some Corvette fans and avid forum members over at GM Inside News have already asked the unfathomable question of what automaker should take over the reins of America’s longest-running sports car if its parent company were to lose custody. Their answer, rather shockingly, was Toyota”

Someone may need to take over soon. There’s a virtual exodus on the Corvette design team at GM. With the awe-inspiring ZR1 hitting the streets, Motor Trend notes, “several key players in the Corvette’s existence will be ‘taking retirement’ as of November 1.” The losses on the ‘Vette team, combined with GM’s troubles, have already pushed back the release date of the next Corvette to at least 2012. ‘Vette development will no longer be independent of the rest of GM’s vehicle development team, apparently, with the next Corvette design chief to share responsibility for performance editions of other GM cars.

But some see an opportunity in the changes. Autoblog comments, “we need to realize that R&D funds may be better spent keeping the leaky company afloat, something that the Corvette isn’t a major part of.” Once GM’s future is stable, the standard set by the ZR1 means “there’s an excellent, proven platform for the new team to build from.”

The easiest way to save the Corvette, it seems, may be to save General Motors.

While the bailout debate goes on, automakers are trying to sell cars as fast as possible with deep discounts. Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ Car Reviews.