Exciting New Cars this year are led by Ford innovations.

The Ford Motor Co. won first place for both car and truck at Detroit’s 2010 North American awards. The Fusion Hybrid midsize sedan taking “Car of the Year” and the Transit Connect capturing “Truck of the Year”.

The Fusion Hybrid is built at Ford’s plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. The Transit Connect is built at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli Plant in Kocaeli, Turkey.

Ford also made a big splash this year at the CES electronics show with its SYNC technology called MyFord Touch that lets you turn your car into a wifi hotspot and even connects its radio with iTunes. Much in the same way Internet connected TVs let you find entertainment, the idea behind connecting your car to the Web is to let you perform functions specific to being on the road.

Using your voice and a built-in touch screen, you’ll soon be able to get driving directions, listen to Internet radio, and perform local searches. The technology will be available on the 2011 Ford Edge, 2012 Ford Focus, and on all new Lincoln models starting next year.

Finalists for the car award included the Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf GTI. The Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback were finalists for the truck award.

Chevrolet unveiled a concept challenge to perennial midsize sedan sales leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Chevy’s Equinox crossover is being snapped up as soon as they land on the dealers’ showrooms, so the company is introducing a top-of-the-line Denali version of the Equinox’s GMC cousin, the Terrain.

Lincoln’s MKX showed off new front-end styling, and some industry-leading display, interface and control technology added to the cockpit replacing the dashboard switches and knobs with touch-sensitive surfaces that should interest the techies.

Cadillac’s XTS is a new full-size front-drive sedan that advances the brand’s contemporary styling.

Chrysler’s Fiat umbrella rounded up a Ferrari and a Lamborghini to add spice to the exhibit.

After a year of humiliating government bailouts and trips through bankruptcy court for GM and Chrysler; domestic carmakers have been trying to change perceptions of America’s artless styling, indifferent quality control and other problems inflicted upon themselves for decades.

Emerging from one of the industry’s worst years ever, this creates an opportunity for Ford and General Motors to go on the offensive in the U.S. market.

These awards are given annually by auto journalists who test the cars and are used by automakers in their advertising. Vehicles are judged on innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value.

The shift by American consumers from trucks back into the cars represents an opportunity for domestic manufacturers to reclaim shares in the car market.

2009 winners were the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan and the Ford F-150 pickup.

New Car Buying studies show that one out of four people pays $1,000 too much – all in financing costs.

At issue are some loans new car buying customers get through their dealership at the time they make the purchase.

The Consumer Federation of America, a Washington, D.C.,-based consumer interest group, said consumers often pay additional fees in that process – totaling as much as $1 billion nationwide – without realizing they qualified for cheaper financing.

What happens, the group said, is that a bank approves an interest rate, the dealer tacks on additional percentage points as a kind of service fee and then the dealer and lender split the difference.

About half of new car buyers choose financing through a dealership.

If the dealer offers you a higher rate, go elsewhere. Customers can walk out the door, down the street and find their own competitive financing.

Go to your bank, go to your credit union, get on the Internet. Find an interest rate that you qualify for in a loan.

Your New Car Purchase can be through a franchised or non-franchised dealer.

Before any new car purchase, search road test data, model specifications, manufacturer, editorials, press releases, and of course the cost of car insurance.

Using the power of the internet, you can search by any option on the car you’re looking for. Search engines give people direct access to all new car dealers. By advanced search, customers can specify the car and options they’re interested in, right down to the carpet mats.

Car leases have become a popular option for many motorists. Besides the lower monthly costs; there’s the added benefit of simply walking away from the vehicle at the end of the contract without the problems of selling or trading you face when you buy.

Audi’s contribution to new cars is the pricey A8 L 12-cylinder Quattro starting at $118,910. With the legendary sure-footed Quattro all-wheel drive, superb handling, and 0-60 mph 0-100 km/h in five seconds; this car looks and feels like a million bucks.

The BMW M6 with a 500 horsepower V10 engine and a seven-speed SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) transmission make driving loads of fun. The SMG transmission offers the driver two modes of operation and several shift programs in each of those modes. In manual mode, there are six shifting options available to control gear changes. In automatic mode there are five choices. BMW has kept the weight down through extensive use of Carbon Fiber Composite for the roof and various body panels.

Cadillac’s XLR-V with 443 horsepower from a 4.4-liter V8 commands respect. You can tell the difference between the XLR-V and the standard model by looking at the mesh grille, the bulging hood, and the special multi-spoked wheels.

Chevrolet had perhaps the biggest car news of last year with the C6 Corvette. And, not resting on their laurels Chevy upped the ante again with the Corvette Z06.

The Z06 with 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque from a hand-built LS7 engine running through a six-speed transmission and 0-60 acceleration times estimated at 3.7 seconds keeps the Corvette tops as America’s “muscle car”.

Besides the GTO, Pontiac’s new cars include the G6 concept which is a four-passenger sedan with futuristic styling, and may eventually replace the Grand Am. The G6 is powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 272 lbs.-ft. of torque.

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