Gas prices are getting out of control, so it makes sense that more people are conserving as much energy as they can–although it’s difficult to imagine that everyone can actually cut back on their fuel consumption.

A lot of people are actually saving more by going green, or buying hybrid.

The hybrid and electric car market keeps growing each year, and these type of vehicles are only are getting more popular as time moves forward. Which fuel efficient models are the safest though?

The top 7 safest fuel efficient 2011 models are:

1. Chevrolet Cruze ECO
2. Ford Focus SFE
3. Honda Civic HF / Hybrid
4. Hyundai Elantra
5. Lexus CT 200h
6. Toyota Prius
7. Volkswagen Golf TDI

Courtesy of blogs.internetautoguide.com

You don’t need to spend Porsche prices to get a new car with a bit of pep. Forbes worked with Edmunds to put together this list of the ten quickest new cars for under $30,000.

Some, like the Ford Mustang GT and Subaru WRX, are pretty obvious — but who knew the Honda Accord coupe with a manual was a tenth of a second faster than the Mazdaspeed3? Let’s find out what other “cheap” cars made Edmunds’ 0-to-60 cut.

1.) Ford Mustang GT
0-60: 4.8 seconds
Price: $29,145

2.) Subaru Impreza WRX
0-60: 5.2 seconds
Price: $25,495

3.) Ford Mustang V6
0-60: 5.6 seconds
Price: $22,145

4.) Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
0-60: 5.8 seconds
Price: $27,695

5.) Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec Coupe
0-60: 5.9 seconds
Price: $26,750

6.) Honda Accord Coupe EX-L
0-60: 6.3 seconds
Price: $29,730

7.) Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $23,700

8.) Mazda6 s Grand Touring
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $29,320

9.) Kia Optima SX
0-60: 6.5 seconds
Price: $25,995

10.) Hyundai Sonata SE
0-60: 6.6 seconds
Price: $24,345

**Yes, we know the Camaro V6 should be on this list — but we didn’t create it. By our numbers, it should slot in right below the Genesis R-Spec Coupe. Go bitch at Edmunds and Forbes for not including it.**

Courtesy of Jalopnik.com

MONTEREY, Calif., March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Lexus, Honda and Toyota dealerships ranked highest in a newly released Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index® (PSI®) Internet Lead Effectiveness(TM) Benchmarking Study to measure dealership responsiveness to customer inquiries over the internet. The study measured average dealership performance for all major U.S. automotive brands, showing a wide variety in performance by brand. Pied Piper conducted the study as an independent benchmarking service to its Internet Lead Effectiveness clients, who receive monthly internet “mystery shops” to measure and improve dealership response to internet inquiries.

Internet Lead Effectiveness rankings by brand are determined by the patent-pending Pied Piper PSI process, which ties “mystery shopping” measurement and scoring to actual industry sales success. Nineteen different Internet Lead Effectiveness questions generate composite scores for Timeliness of Response, Dealership and Salesperson Identification, Quality of Communication and Forwarding the Sale.

As recently as three years ago, only six in ten dealership internet inquiries were answered in any way within 24 hours. In comparison, today dealerships respond within 24 hours nine times out of ten, but often with an automated, impersonal response. However, despite the increase in responses driven by automated CRM systems, today a customer’s specific question is answered within 24 hours only 64% of the time. Or in other words, 36% of today’s internet inquiries remain unanswered after 24 hours.

“A dealer principal would never accept this sort of poor performance in traditional dealership activities,” said Fran O’Hagan, President and CEO of Pied Piper Management Company LLC. “Imagine ignoring 36% of sales customers who walk through the door, or ignoring 36% of customers who bring their car in for service.” A reason cited for this disparity in performance is that a dealership’s internet response performance is often invisible to dealership management, which is why Pied Piper offers internet mystery shopping to shine a light on dealership performance.

O’Hagan noted, “We find dramatically different industrywide results for Pied Piper internet mystery shops when compared to in-person mystery shops. When we break-out the auto industry average results into simple letter grades, we find that 64% of in-person mystery shops are either “A” or “B” performances, while only 16% earn a “D” or “F.” In comparison, only 17% of internet mystery shops earn an “A” or “B” grade, while 60% perform at a “D” or “F” level.”

The 2011 Pied Piper PSI Internet Lead Response Benchmarking Study (U.S. Auto Industry) was conducted between September 2010 and March 2011 by submitting internet inquiries to a sample of 2,816 dealerships nationwide representing all major brands. Examples of other recent Pied Piper PSI studies are the 2010 Pied Piper PSI U.S. Auto Industry Study and 2010 Pied Piper PSI U.S. Motorcycle Industry Study, both of which measured in-dealership, in-person sales effectiveness. Complete Pied Piper PSI industry study results are provided to vehicle manufacturers and national dealer groups. Manufacturers, national dealer groups and individual dealerships also order PSI evaluations as a tool to improve the sales effectiveness of their dealerships. For more information about the Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index, and the patent-pending PSI process, go to www.piedpiperpsi.com.

About Pied Piper Management Company, LLC

Pied Piper Management Company, LLC is an eight year old Monterey, California company that develops and runs sales and marketing programs to maximize the performance of dealer networks. Go to www.piedpipermc.com.

Courtesy of prnewswire.com

Honda is currently working to bring to market a new sports car that will serve as a successor to the famed NSX. According to a new report Honda never gave up on its plans for an NSX, but rather put a hold on development during the economic downturn.

The next NSX won’t be at all related to past V10 concepts, nor will it have anything to do with the HSV-010 race car (above). Instead, Honda is planning a new hybrid sports car, based on a modified version of the Accord platform.

Sources inside Honda tell Motor Trend that the car will follow after the new CR-Z hybrid, but be a true sports car, rather than a “sports coupe,” hinting that the power output will be far more significant. Using either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a version of the company’s 3.5-liter V6, the hybrid drivetrain will made over 400-hp and be offered with a true manual transmission.

Riding on the Accord platform, the car won’t be front-wheel drive, but rather AWD, and feature a mid-engine layout that will require significant changes to the structure. This will, however, help Honda bring to the car to market faster and cut R&D costs.

Not yet green-lighted for production, Honda could unveil the car as early as 2013.

Courtesy of motortrend.com