Chevrolet

Car and Driver has released their 10 Best Cars for 2008. Here are the winners, including the number of times each vehicle has made the list:

2008 BMW 3-Series (17)
2008 Cadillac CTS (1)
2008 Chevrolet Corvette (14)
2008 Chevrolet Malibu (1)
2008 Honda Accord (22)
2008 Honda Fit (2)
2008 Mazda MX-5 (9)
2008 Mazdaspeed 3 (2)
2008 Porsche Boxster/Cayman (9)
2008 Volkswagen GTI (3)*

As a guy from Detroit, it’s sad to see only 3 domestic vehicles on the list, with General Motors as the only American manufacturer represented. It’s great to see the resurgence of GM, but it seems like Ford and Chrysler have a long way to go. Also noticeably absent from this years list is Toyota.

The full Car and Driver Article can be read here.

If you’re in the market to buy a new car, GM has announced new incentives for both 2007 and 20087 model year vehicles.

General Motors is putting an extra $1,000 bonus on selected 2007 and 2008 models for Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn and Hummer. The program starts Saturday, Sept. 22, and runs through Oct. 1.

There also is 0 percent financing for 60 months available for 2007 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab and GMC Sierra crew cab full-sized pickups. GM’s new crossovers — the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook — are not included.

For the first time, GM has put $1,000 cash on the 2007 Pontiac Solstice roadster. “I don’t know how many are out there, though,” a GM spokeswoman said.

GM told dealers the bonus cash is “stackable” with existing incentives. In some cases, a 2007 Lucerne sedan would have $3,500 cash on it, says one suburban Detroit Buick dealer. The 2008 Lucerne and LaCrosse cars will have $2,000 cash on them. Lease cash can be as much as $2,650 for a Lucerne and as much as $2,800 for a LaCrosse, the dealer adds.

The 2007 GMC Yukon SUV now has $7,000 on the hood.

To get a price quote on any of these GM vehicles, visit www.autofigures.com.

For less than $15,000 you might not expect much from a new car - but you’d be surprised. While not full of options these cars look great, get good gas mileage and perform well in government crash tests. You don’t have to break the bank just to drive a new car, and these cars prove it. Here are the first eight that made our list:

Chevrolet Aveo 5
The Chevy Aveo is the “lowest-priced” new car in the US. It can seat a 6′3″ adult comfortably (yes, I’ve actually been in one) and gets great gas mileage. It comes with GM’s 5-year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and scored 5-stars in the NHTSA frontal crash test. MSRP: $9,995 - $12,835

Hyundai Accent
Hyundai’s quality has steadily improved over the years and they were the first with a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Great gas mileage and six standard air bags make the Accent a great value. MSRP: $10,415 - $14,015

Kia Rio
The Kia Rio was awarded “Best In Initial Quality” by J.D. Power and Associates for the subcompact segment. two years in a row. This sporty subcompact gets great fuel mileage and comes standard with many features. MSRP: $10,770 - $13,495

Toyota Yaris
With 4 sporty models to choose from in 2008, the Toyota Yaris is both fun to drive and loaded with options. Sporty seats, an amber-illuminated control panel, and MP3/WMA playback capability will appeal to the younger set, while the 36 mpg mileage rating will make anyone happy. MSRP: $11,150 - $13,525

Nissan Versa
Billed as “The Next Generation Small Car” the Nissan Versa offers the most overall interior space in its class. Best-in-class rear leg room and comfortable king-size front seats offers plenty of room for up to to 5 adults. A 33 mpg mileage rating allows drivers to get 400 miles out of one tank of gas. MSRP: $12,550 - $14,550

Kia Spectra
Sportier styling and standard features including a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seats and a six speaker stereo system with audio inputs for your MP3 player make the Kia Spectra an attractive option. Excellent fuel efficiency, 35mpg, a 5-star frontal crash safety rating from NHTSA, and a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty program make the Spectra a steal at $12,895. MSRP: $12,895 - $15,995

Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevy Cobalt is available either a sedan or coupe with eight available models to chose from. The Cobalt is the second Chevrolet vehicle to make our 15 under 15 and one of only 4 domestic brands on the list. The base 2.2-liter 145hp four-cylinder engine delivers enough power to get up and go and still provides better than average fuel economy. Some criticism has come from the sparse interior and hard plastics, but road noise is good and the seats offer a comfortable ride for most passengers. MSRP: $13,175 - $20,495

Hyundai Elantra
The 2008 Hyundai Elantra is classified by the EPA as a “mid-size car” putting it a class above Civic and Corolla. Highlights of the Elantra include: most interior room in its class, more standard safety features than the Toyota Corolla, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and excellent fuel efficiency ratings averaging 25 MPG city / 33 MPG highway. MSRP: $13,395 - $16,895

[tags]Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Kia Spectra, Chevy Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra[/tags]

Chevrolet recently announced MSRP pricing for its 2008 Malibu lineup:

Malibu LS - $19,995 (base model)
Malibu 1LT - $20,995
Malibu 2LT - $22,635
Malibu LTZ - $26,995 (top of the line)
Malibu Hybrid - $22,790 (brand new for 2008)

GM has positioned the Malibu to be the best midsize car in the market coming equipped with standard features that many competitors don’t offer at any price.

Standard Malibu features include: six air bags, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with traction control, On-Star with Turn-by-Turn Navigation, air conditioning and XM Satellite Radio.

Other highlights of the redesigned 2008 Chevy Malibu include:

“When we debuted Malibu at the North American International Auto show in January, we promised that its $40,000 looks would cost half as much,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “Well, we’ve kept our word. Customers will see everything we’ve packed into a sedan starting under $20 grand and think there’s a typo on the sticker.

We strive to offer the best value in every segment where we compete, and midsize cars are not different,” Peper said. “For example, the Chevy Impala has been one of the biggest success stories in this industry during the past two years, gaining more than two points of market share. Now, combined with Malibu, this gives us a solid one-two punch in midsize cars and puts Chevy back into the car game in a big way.”

Chevy fans couldn’t agree more. Visit www.autofigures.com for more information about the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and other Chevy model cars and trucks.

[tags]Chevrolet, Chevy Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu[/tags]