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Earlier this month, Nissan announced that it struck a deal with the Chrysler Corporation to allow them to produce the flailing Titan truck model. The truck would be made at the automaker’s plant in Mexico. But the question on everybody’s lips is this:

Is the Nissan Titan going to get the popular Hemi V8 engine, too?

Currently, the two companies are still hammering out those two details. William J. Krueger, Nissan’s North American vice president of manufacturing, admits that Chrysler has made huge investments in the Hemi brand. He went on to say that Chrysler might not be ready to share that brand with any other trucks or vehicles just yet.

Nissan wanted Chrysler to build the Titan on the Ram chassis because that would “broaden the number of configurations for the Titan, which is currently limited to a single engine.” And even though Chrysler hasn’t officially agreed to throw in a Hemi, these pickup trucks are still going to have access to Chrysler’s V6 engines.

Chrysler’s Titans should be hitting your local Nissan dealer in 2011. It’s going to retain much of the original Nissan design, including the Nissan-specific sheet metal and other features that loyal customers would recognize. We’ll keep an eye on this story and let you know if either company ever makes an official statement about the Hemi.

Here are four more ways that you can use in order to save money on your fuel costs. Some of them are practical while others are less than practical. But if you’re desperate to squeeze those extra few pennies out of your tank, you might just want to use them.

5. Use your car’s momentum. When you’re going downhill or pulling into a parking space, turn the car off or put it in neutral. When your engine isn’t working, you can save a few cents on gas.

6. Think of ways you can work from home. You might not be able to do this every day, but you might be able to do your current job from home one or two days a week.

7. Go for a walk. Those daily visits to the grocery store add up. But if you can make a list and walk there every other day instead, you could save a great deal of money at the end of the month. Try walking other places, too. Or, if you prefer, try taking the bus.

8. Pretend it’s worse. As Americans, it’s hard to imagine gas costing more than four bucks a gallon. But pretend it costs 10 or even 15 dollars per gallon. How would you change your driving habits then? Pretend gas costs that much and you’ll find ways to get around town without driving.

If you buy a new or used car from your local Buick dealer, all of these tips are ideal for saving money after you drive it off the lot.

Awhile ago, I posted a blog about the workers at two Louisville, Kentucky Ford plants were talking about unionizing. It looks like they made a decision because they elected new leaders last week.

Workers at the Louisville Assembly Plant and the Kentucky Truck Plant had three days to vote for union leaders – Monday through Wednesday of last week. The leading candidate for the Executive Board was UAW Local 862 president Rocky Comito. Part of the reason he was leading was because he ran unopposed. But he also helped both plants through some hard times, including slowdowns and problems with management. If elected, he’ll get another three-year term.

Workers began talking about unionizing some time ago when the Ford Motor Company began predicting a profitable year next year. But since those plans could be in jeopardy due to falling truck and SUV sales, workers wanted a way to have some type of protection and support. More than 500 layoffs could be in store for workers this summer at these plants.

In addition to the workers, about 100 or so retired workers also voted for senior union leadership.
In all, there are eight positions at stake on the Executive Board. These positions include sergeant-at-arms, vice president, recording secretary, guide and a few trustee posts. Terri Niehaus also ran unopposed for the treasurer position.

Each plant will also have its own union leaders to mediate relations and problems that arise between the workers and management.

All of this means that you’ll still continue to get great vehicles and deals at your local Ford dealer. Visit one today and see what they have that’s available for you!

Are you one of the hardcore drivers that won’t give up their premium gasoline at the pumps? If so, you’re in a growing minority.

With regular gasoline prices topping $4 per gallon in many places, more and more drivers are letting go of the higher grades at the pump. Ten years ago, nearly 50 percent of drivers were using premium and midgrade octane gasoline to fill up their cars. Today, however, that number has dropped to about 10 percent. Those figures come directly from the Oil Price Information Service, an organization that provides the latest information in the fuel and oil industry.

But does their reasoning make sense?

If you notice gas prices for the different grades, you’ve likely noticed that the midgrade is normally ten cents higher than regular and premium is ten cents higher than midgrade. But when you look at percentages, premium gas is only six percent higher than regular today whereas it was 17 percent higher in 1995.

If you’re wondering how so many people are dropping their higher-octane fuel grades while places like Mercedes-Benz dealer facilities are so crowded, there are a few plausible reasons.

• Even though luxury vehicle manufacturers encourage owners to use premium fuel in their cars, many drivers are simply forgetting about that and using regular fuel. If 87 octane makes their car run inefficiently, they usually try 89 octane and then something higher.

• The auto industry is creating more and more fuel-efficient vehicles that run well on low-octane fuel.

• Fewer people believe the myth that an occasional tank of premium is good for their engine. As a result, they simply use regular fuel every time.

Have you changed your filling habits as a result of high gas prices? Were you once a hardcore premium fuel-user who has changed to regular or do you still refuse to let go of the “good stuff”? We’re interested to hear about your experience.

As Toyota’s philosophy explains, Toyota isn’t just about making money for its high-level employees. The automaker is undoubtedly committed to serving its community and making the world a better place. Here’s another example of that commitment.

Earlier this month, Toyota gave $1 million worth of scholarships to 100 high school seniors in the United States. This 12th class of Toyota Community Scholars showed a dedication to the education and the surrounding community, making them eligible for this great prize.

The pool of scholars started out with more than 8,000 students across the nation. The schools nominated the candidates who were “proven leaders both in the classroom and in their communities.”

One of the lucky award winners, Jacob Rouse of Union, Kentucky, enjoys helping people in his community. “When helping others,” he said, “an incredible feeling is instilled in your veins. This feeling allows you to believe you have meaning in the world.” Other scholarship award winners feel the same way. Some winners have participated in programs that raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society. Other candidates collected thousands of pounds of food for less fortunate students across the nation. One scholarship winner has even visited more than 600 patients in the hospital and presented them with gifts despite the fact that he is an amputee who has battled cancer for years.

The scholarships were awarded at $10,000 and $20,000 levels that students can use at a four-year college or university beginning this fall. The program has been around for more than ten years and has awarded more than $13 million to 1,200 students nationwide.

Show your support for the automaker’s dedication to the community by visiting your local Toyota dealer and buying a car. You can feel comfortable knowing that the money you spend is used for more than just making a profit.

Have you read the newspaper lately? If so, you’ve probably seen at least one story about the declining auto market in North America. But it’s not like that everywhere.

Automakers are enjoying increasing sales in many other parts of the world. The Russian auto market is a prime example. In fact, this market has increased sales each year for the last 10 years in a row. That’s why it has become the fastest-growing auto market in all of Europe right now.

As a result of Russia’s success, Toyota is just one company expanding its production at the plants in the region. Automakers have committed about $4.5 billion for investing in Russia’s market, according to an official in the country. These investment dollars are going to help create an extra 1.5 million vehicles by 2012. In addition to that, it’s also going to create nearly 50,000 new jobs in the next few years.

These plans come as no shock to the people in the Russian government, though. Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, predicted two years ago that the nation’s domestic output would increase by about two million units before 2010. It looks like his prediction is fairly close to coming true.

In North America, you can always get a great deal on a vehicle at your local Toyota dealer. With all of the makes, models and new features, you’ll definitely be able to find something you like.

If you find yourself driving through Franklin, Tennessee one evening, you might just see the Nissan name shining bright in the southern sky.

That’s because the Japanese automaker is moving in to the 10-story Nissan Americas building in Cool Springs. Nissan already owns the building, but workers won’t be showing up for their jobs until July 7.

But earlier this month, the automaker had the letters N-I-S-S-A-N on the building’s west side facing Interstate 65. The letters are red and they stand eight feet tall. And since the actually glow at night, they offer a bright spot in the night sky. The letters are also the perfect finishing touch to Nissan’s $100 million building project.

This is an exciting project for Nissan. According to Rob Traynham, director of nonmanufacturing facilities for Nissan, erecting the sign means the company is “one step closer to moving in and calling this world-class facility our home.”

In all, the new facility is going to hold about 1,500 employees. The 460,000-square-foot building is still in the process of getting completed. Crews are still painting, installing furniture and installing wiring for computer systems and other communications devices. But the three-story lobby is one of the biggest showpieces of the building because that’s going to be where everybody gathers their first impression upon entering.

In addition to the business aspect of the building, it’s also going to have a state-of-the-art cafeteria, video conferencing centers, a coffee shop and other features.

As you can see, Nissan is a company that continues to grow and succeed in taking steps toward reaching its vision. Visit a local Nissan dealer today and see how their vehicles have helped contribute to the automaker’s overall success.

We can complain all we want to about the gas prices. In fact, most of us do complain. Even I feel like a broken record sometimes talking about how high the prices have gone. But unfortunately, it’s the new reality. I doubt we’ll ever see a significant drop in prices. That’s why I’m always trying to give you tips on how to increase you gas mileage and save money on fuel. Here are a few of those tips.

1. Try carpooling. If you’ve never carpooled, you don’t know what you’re missing. Depending on who you carpool with, it could be a great way to begin the morning and end the day. But this is a forgotten art in today’s society. It’s hard to find people in the same area as you who work in the same building. But if you get lucky enough to find a couple of them, don’t pass up the opportunity to carpool. It’s a great way to save money on gas!

2. Unload your car. The more stuff you have in your car, the more damage it does to your gas mileage. In fact, an extra hundred pounds could decrease your gas mileage by about 20 percent! Only carry the bare necessities with you to get the most miles to the gallon.

3. Look for rebates and incentives. I don’t like to promote credit cards, but if you can get five or ten cents back on each gallon of gas by using a gas card, I say go for it. Along with these other suggestions, you could cut your fuel costs semi-dramatically.

4. Compare pumps in your area. Websites like GasBuddy.com and others tell you which stations have the least expensive gas. As long as you’re not driving too far out of your way, this is a great way to “fill ‘er up!”

Now that you know some gas-saving techniques, visit your local Buick dealer and get a great deal on a new or used car. When you use these suggestions, you can avoid such a catastrophe.

It’s no secret that Nissan wants to launch a totally electric car in the United States for the 2010 model year. But do you know what the automaker’s actual plans are?

After releasing an electric car in 2010, Nissan is hoping to mass-market the same electric car for a global audience in 2012. The Japan-based automaker discussed its plans of zero-emission vehicles at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East earlier this month.

With Middle East nations and cities increasingly wanting vehicles, auto companies are striving to market to that area in addition to the rest of the world. But with hundreds of millions of cars on the road, Nissan felt that there’s no better time to release an electric car than the present. Emissions are bad enough as they are. But when you factor in a few million more vehicles that Middle East residents want, that makes the problem even worse.

I applaud Nissan for taking the initiative for being the first automaker with a completely electric car. But since that’s still a couple years away, you can get a fuel-efficient hybrid or something else that you like at your local Nissan dealer. With all of the options and new features, why not visit one today?

Research has come a long when in the auto industry when it comes to child safety. If you lived during the 1950s and earlier, you could stand up in the back seat and some parents didn’t even think twice about it. David Viana, a former safety researcher in the auto industry, said that “the leading causes of injury was a hard left turn” in the days before seatbelts. But with research, seatbelts became the prime safety feature for adults and children alike.

Redesigned seatbelts are essential for child safety today, though. Some safety experts even encourage parents to keep their child in a booster seat as long as possible. Stephen Rouhana, a senior technical leader at Ford, even made his children use one until they turned 11!

But fewer than 40 percent of toddlers over the age of four used booster seats in a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study in 2007. The same study showed that only about 25 percent of kids between the ages of six and seven used booster seats. That’s an 11 percent decrease from 2006.

Kristy Arbogast, a doctor at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is excited about the changes in seatbelt technology. “Vehicles should be designed so the rear seats can accommodate the range of sizes that are back there,” she said about the problem. That’s why Ford engineers are feverishly working on redesigning the seatbelt to be safer for the large number of children using those restraints instead of booster seats.

Your local Ford dealer has all the information you need for keeping your family safe in your vehicle. Visit one today and get the peace of mind you need!