Well, it’s finally that time - my family needs a new car!  Unlike the automotive writers that get to test drive shiny new exotic cars at Edmunds, Car and Driver and other cool magazines/blogs, my wife has been driving around in a baby blue 92 Taurus. Yes, it’s the same car that Conan O’Brien says he proudly owns in a number of his shows but honestly… 18 years later, this car resembles more of a FAIL WHALE than a performance family sedan.

I will say over the last few years this car has been reliable in that it has not given us too much reliability problems.  However, with only one headlight working, a broken side mirror and a non-working radio amongst several of its problems - I really think its time we  shop for a serious upgrade.

While a few cars have etched themselves on our radar, our latest flavor of the month is now the 2009 Honda Fit.  Living in a town where BMW’s and Land Rover’s outnumber Honda’s and Toyota’s, the choice isn’t exactly obvious but we do have our reasons.  From our research, the Fit provides SUV like storage in a neat, compact and gas efficient package - which is exactly what we need at a time like this.  With gas mileage close to 30 mpg for city and reportedly close to 40 mpg for highway, it’s close to being as good as a hybrid without the hybrid tax.

For the 2009 model, it seems like many improvements have also been introduced - which is awesome.  Among them, 10 cup holders, 5 to 6 of which are accessible to the driver.  I’m not sure if this car was made to drive in the desert but with 5 cup holders for the driver, part of me is hoping the 2012 model will have a built in toilet.

Regardless - I am hoping someone out there with one of these in stock, more specifically a 2009 Blue Honda Fit Sport (Automatic) with Navi will come forward and help my wife get rid of her baby Louie.  If you are open to part of the car payment being an amazing advertising package on EasyAutoSales.com for your dealership - that would be even better!

After a number of spy shots, Chevrolet has released official photographs the upcoming 2010 Cruze . Though the Cruze will be released at the Paris Motor Show, apparently Chevy is trying to drum up some early excitement. The Cruze, which will replace the compact Cobalt, is expected to be sold world-wide. Obviously, by looking at the car you can tell Chevrolet is targeting this car directly at the current generation Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. In my humble opinion, it’s pretty shameful. The current generation Cobalt is a great looking car. It’s sporty and a bit of a throwback to the Ford Probe, which many people followed religiously. The new car looks slightly wider and probably has more interior room than the Cobalt. However, with a line-up as deep as GMs, I could see both cars being sold and let’s drop some SUV or superfluous GM truck in lieu of multiple small cars. See below for more pictures and the official release from GM.

From GM:

PRESS RELEASE

All-New Chevrolet Cruze Features Dramatic Design

Detroit - The first photographs of Chevrolet’s all-new Cruze sedan - making its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October - reveal a dynamic four-door coupe that proves exciting design and value are not mutually exclusive.

On sale beginning in Europe from March next year, Cruze features a dramatic re-interpretation of the traditional sedan featuring Chevrolet’s new global design language that is becoming a signature on all new products carrying the gold bowtie.

Cruze’s arching roof-line, extending from the steeply raked windshield to its sloping rear pillars and short rear deck, brings coupe-like proportions to a compact sedan.

Wider and longer than most of its competitors, Cruze has a purposeful stance with its wheels located at the outer edges of the tautly drawn bodywork. Noticeably tight body panel fits and a restrained use of exterior trim add to a high quality, ‘hewn from solid’ appearance.

Cruze’s dramatic profile is matched by bold front styling, with large headlamp housings that wrap around the front corners and sweep up, arrow-like, into the fenders and sculpted hood. Other distinct design themes include a concave shoulder line, the two-tier grille and a “wheels-out/body-in” stance. Inside, Cruze features a ‘twin cockpit’ design motif, first introduced in the iconic Corvette sports car.

“Our goal in designing Cruze was to be bold, not evolutionary,” says chief designer Taewan Kim. “We wanted to take a big step forward, making a strong design statement for Chevrolet products around the world.”

Visitors to the Paris show will see how Chevrolet’s progressive design is also reflected in the quality of Cruze’s interior. The use of grained surfaces, soft-touch materials and low gloss trim panels ensures a quality ambience that echoes the clean, harmonious design of the exterior.

At launch in Europe, Cruze will be available with 16-valve, 1.6-liter (112 hp/82 kW) and 1.8-liter (140 hp/103 kW) gasoline engines featuring variable valve timing (VVT) on both inlet and exhaust sides, giving more power as well as better fuel economy and lower emissions. A new 2.0-liter turbo diesel, developing 150 hp/ 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque adds power with even greater frugality. Five-speed manual gearboxes and an all-new automatic transmission, Chevrolet’s first six-speed application in the compact segment, complete the powertrain menu.

With sales in Europe up by 23 percent for the first six months of 2008, Chevrolet is GM Europe’s fastest-growing mainstream brand. The arrival of Cruze spearheads an exciting new product roll-out program that is expected to propel the brand to even greater success.

“We are proud that Europe is leading the introduction for this global product,” said Wayne Brannon, Executive Director, Chevrolet Europe. “Chevrolet has always stood for expressive value and Cruze delivers on that promise like never before. It further redefines Chevrolet with its design, quality, materials and great style inside and out. The fit and finish for gaps and interfaces sets a new standard for this segment in Europe and around the world.”

Cruze is the result of a development process harnessing GM’s global expertise and is the first of a new family of compact products that will deliver world class quality. It will be backed by expected highest scores in all major crash safety ratings.

The Chevrolet Cruze will be available in Europe from March 2009, followed by other global markets with regional-specific engine choices.