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You can forget almost everything that you remember about the first two generations of the Kia Rio. The latest all-new Rio subcompact is stylish, chocked full of cool features and gets up to 40 mpg on the highway. Kia gave us the keys to the all-new third-generation 2012 Rio 5-Door SX for the weekend. Normally most people would never think about taking a Kia to The Hamptons for the weekend, but thanks to its stylish and sporty exterior, this Rio did not scream "economy car" like the first generation.

The all-new 2012 Rio is offered in both five-door and sedan versions. On the outside the Rio's styling stands out compared to more conservatively styled competitors like the Nissan Versa. The five-door hatchback is not only the sportier looking of the two Rio models, but should also be the wiser choice if you live in the city. Its shorter overall length makes it easier to parallel park and the rear hatch makes it easier to throw all of your stuff in the back. Our Rio SX came standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust tips and LED lighting.

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Toyota has taken the wraps off the 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. The RAV4 EV is the result of the collaboration between Toyota and Tesla. Toyota claims that the all-electric RAV4 EV's driving performance, dynamics and cargo capacity are equal to or exceed the gas powered RAV4 V6. It also has an expected driving range of approximately 100 miles and can be recharged in as little as six hours using a 240V charger.

"It's all about blending the best of two worlds," said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division. "The all-new RAV4 EV marries the efficiency of an EV with the versatility of a small SUV - in fact, it is the only all-electric SUV on the market."

We spend thousands of dollars on our precious new cars! Even though we may spend countless hours and even more money trying to keep them in "showroom" condition, there are always other ways to keep them clean other than a visit to the local car wash or the hose and bucket sitting in your driveway. For the most part, when it comes to cleaning your car most of us probably can only think of traditional methods like a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, but here are five cool ways to keep your car clean, that you may have never heard of before.

This year Ford is entering the competitive electric vehicle segment with its 2012 Ford Focus Electric, which like its main competitor, the Nissan Leaf, runs solely on a battery and electric motor. The 2012 Ford Focus Electric differs from the Nissan Leaf by the fact that it's design and platform are borrowed directly from a gas powered vehicle. Ford has chosen to electrify the Focus compact hatchback rather than create a stand alone electric vehicle like Nissan did with the Leaf. Since the Focus Electric looks almost identical to the other Focus models and is also produced on the same production line, Ford was able to save development costs and have more flexibility. If the price of oil rises and demand rises for electric vehicles, Ford can easily ramp up production of the Focus Electric.

Ever since the Honda Fit was introduced to the U.S. in 2006 the Fit has set the standard for subcompact cars. This year it was named to Car and Driver's 10-best list, for the sixth consecutive year. For the 2012 model year the Fit gets even better with the Sport models getting a slight exterior refresh and all models getting more standard equipment.

On the outside the 2012 Honda Fit Sport gets a new front grille and bumper, black headlight bezels and a dark "machined surface" finish alloy wheels. The non-Sport model makes due with the addition of body color mirrors and restyled wheel covers. On the inside the Fit is now quieter thanks to additional sound insulation and thicker front corner-window glass. New beverage holders and ambient lighting are also part of the updates to the 2012 Fit. The Fit Sport also gets steering wheel mounted audio controls and standard Bluetooth on the navigation equipped model.

This past weekend I had the chance to experience the all-new Pontiac G8 firsthand in San Diego, CA.

Hey everyone, GM invited me down to San Diego, CA to test drive the new 2008 Pontiac G8. I am going to be driving the car throughout the day.

Chevrolet's all-new 2008 Malibu is just now hitting your local Chevy dealers. GM has high hopes for the Malibu, as the new sedan is one of their most important new releases for the 2008 model year.

Mercedes-Benz has recently introduced the all-new 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan. The new sedan boasts a sexier exterior, new engines and more interior room than the outgoing model. Are these changes enough to win over would be BMW or Lexus buyers?

Scion, Toyota's youth oriented brand has been on the market for only about four years, but Toyota has managed to hit their target market head on. One of the main reasons that Scion is one of the most recognized car brands among younger drivers is because of their marketing. Scion is not pitched as only a car brand, but a lifestyle. When you buy a Scion you are not only getting a "cool" ride, but you are also gaining access to a community.

Being car nuts I'm sure most of us have played a car video game in our time. I for one remember spending countless hours playing Gran Turismo, Grand Theft Auto, and many other car video games that could only be found at the neighborhood arcade. Today car video games have progressed so far that it is almost like you are driving the real thing. Microsoft's latest game, Forza Motorsport 2 is a must have!

Recently I had the chance to drive the 2007 Nissan Altima S for the day. When given the choice at the rental car counter between a Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, Pontiac Grand Prix or a brand new 2007 Nissan Altima, I immediately jumped at the chance to drive Nissan's popular mid-size sedan. With the ever-increasing gas prices, more economical sedans are becoming increasingly popular. The version I was given was a 2007 Altima S, which is the base 4-cylinder.