Mercury Offshore 4 Blade Prop 48-825903a45 21p L.h. on 2040-parts.com

Ownership costs of traditional versus alternative fuel vehicles

As gas prices remain high, and an increasing number of automakers roll out plug-in hybrid cars and full-electric vehicles, it's becoming easier to be tantalized with the idea of driving right past the gas station and simply "plugging in." The debate ensues when it comes to cost: These alternative fuel vehicles mean a larger outlay of cash at the onset, but the long-term fuel savings could make the purchase worthwhile. To help straighten out this numbers game, we use the Department of Energy's Vehicle Cost Calculator to compare alternative fuel vehicles with their gasoline-only counterparts. For each scenario, we assumed that our hypothetical owner was able to get the full $7,500 federal tax credit and a $2,500 state tax credit, such as is available in California.

Watch the Nissan IDx concepts invade Southern California

Nissan cut together a video of its IDx concepts taking on Southern California. The flashy pair hit Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Cars and Coffee in Irvine and the Petersen Automotive Museum during the Super Bowl weekend tour. Nissan was even able to squeeze a little one-on-one time with us.

VW Touareg (2010 / 2011) revealed

Volkswagen has revealed the 2010 VW Touareg It’s not too hard to work out we’re coming up to one of the major motor shows on the calendar. The reveals are starting to speed up – this time with the Volkswagen Touareg in it’s new clothes. But it’s not just new clothes the Touareg is wearing, there’s lots more going on under the skin as well. A bit longer than the original, the 2010/2011 Touareg has had a major visual overhaul.