As part of Ford's bid to turn back to profitability, it has designed new vehicles to attract the attention of auto buyers.  The company is proving to be successful in Europe and it is looking to continue it success there with the production of the Ford Kuga.

It can be remembered that last year, the Ford Kuga made the headlines when it was unveiled last year. The Kuga is a big step for the Dearborn automaker.  For one, the Kuga is a crossover and the crossover market both here in the United States and in Europe is really competitive.  Another reason why this is a huge step for FoMoCo is that it will be going up against really big names like Mercedes-Benz and BMW and Audi in Europe.

Recently, the first Kuga rolled off Ford's assembly facility in Germany.  The automaker is planning to build about 45,000 units of the Kuga in the Saarlouis assembly facility.  Sale of the Kuga is expected to culminate a little bit later this year.  During the unveiling of the Kuga last year, it was hinted that the vehicle will be made available to consumers by the latter part of the first quarter of this year.

John Fleming President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Europe said:  "A distinctive 'kinetic design' exterior, Ford's acclaimed on-road vehicle dynamics and premium-like quality are just some of the highlights Kuga will bring to the fast-growing crossover market segment."

The Kuga is the latest competitive vehicle to be launched in Saarlouis in the past twelve months.  In March last year, the Ford C-MAX was produced in the said facility followed by the new Ford Focus last December and the Ford Focus ST earlier this month.

Nissan, the third largest Japanese automaker announced that it will sponsor the "Science of Survival".  This is not a reality TV series as you might think but an interactive exhibition which is essentially a glimpse into the future the way visionaries see it.

The "Science of …" is now on its third exhibit.  The Science of Spying and the Science of Aliens have been praised in the past.  Fleming Media and London's Science Museum are the major movers behind these exhibitions.

This year, it will be the Science of Survival and Nissan will be displaying its developed technologies.  The company has already announced that it would be displaying a quarter scale model of the Nissan Pivo which has captured the attention of the world when it was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005.

Simon Sproule, corporate vice president of global communications for Nissan, said:  "We are proud to be supporting this world class educational program and to help bring awareness to the mobility issues faced by society.  Creating long-term sustainable mobility will be a major technological challenge, but it is one that Nissan is committed to addressing through the development of advanced programs such as electric vehicles."

Apart from the Pivo and its unique capability of turning while remaining stationary, the automaker will also be showcasing its lithium-ion battery pack.  This battery pack is the one that the automaker has developed to be used on hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The said event will start on the fifth of April this year at the Science Museum in London.  It will remain there until the second of November.  After that, it will be packed up and will visit other countries around the world for five years.

The Chicago Auto Show is the largest of its kind in the country and it is not surprising that automakers have camped at the event toting their best.  The show I think is a success with General Motors making the most out of it.

At the said event, the Detroit automaker has the biggest display it has ever had.  And that includes their display in the prestigious NAIAS or the North American International Auto Show.

The automaker also took home three awards after the awarding at the conclusion of the automotive event.  General Motors' flagship brand Chevrolet broke Jeep's streak of winning the Best Exhibit in the said event.

Twenty-five percent of the voters said that they liked Chevrolet's display best.  Jeep on the other hand is close behind with 22 percent. Close, but not quite enough to secure a three-peat.

The 2009 Chevrolet Camaro or the Chevrolet Camaro Bumblebee was also present at the event. It even got the nod by the most number of voters for the category of: "Vehicle I'd Like Most To Have In My Driveway".  It got eight percent of the votes for the category.  This category is a hotly contested one as voters can choose any vehicle displayed in the event.  It would have been sweeter though if among those who vote for the winner, one will be chosen and will be given the car she or he voted for. Awesome!

The Cadillac CTS Coupe also made it to the winners circle after it edged out the Dodge Zeo for the Best Concept Vehicle Award.  The Cadillac received 19 percent of the votes while the Zeo received 16.

Dodge also had a good outing with two awards won by a single car, the Dodge Challenger.  The Challenger beats all challengers for the Best All-New Production Vehicle and Best Chicago Auto Show World Introduction categories.

Fourteen High Schools and Middle Schools from California to New York were given scholarship grants by Lexus and scholastic. The grants were given in recognition to the entries submitted by the students to the Lexus Environmental Challenge, a program created by the automaker and Scholastic that encourages and educates the youth to make a difference for environmental improvements. The winning school teams were given the recognition last week for their exceptional environmental action plans for Lexus’ and Scholastic’s “Protecting the Land” Challenge, the first of the series of four challenges.

$3,000 worth of scholarship grants were given to the fourteen teams and an invitation to take part in the Final Challenge to get a chance to win one of the two $75,000 as grand prizes.

"In the first month of the Challenge, we had more than 10,000 unique visitors to the Web site, which tells us teachers and students are anxious to learn about the environment and find out how they can help improve it," said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "Lexus congratulates this first round of winners, and we look forward to seeing more action across the country as other teachers and students discover how they, too, can make a positive impact."

High School Winners -

- "Team Kramedawg"- Farmingdale High School, Farmingdale, NY: Worked with administration and student government to increase awareness of the importance of recycling and started a recycling program on the campus. They created a Web site to help promote their idea.

- "The Elementals"- Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, NY: Researched the recycling habits of the campus community and used that information to help increase participation in recycling.

- "Manatee Team"- Manatee High School, Bradenton, Fla.: Improved school's recycling program increasing teacher participation by 300 percent and raising awareness around campus about the importance of recycling.

- "Bayou Bartholomew EAST"- McGehee High School, McGehee, Ark.: Helped to clean up pollution in the longest bayou in the United States, Bayou Bartholomew. The team created a Web site to track the efforts of the clean up.

- "Newberry Environmental Girls"- Newberry High School, Newberry, Fla.: Started a bottle recycling program on campus with the potential to recycle more than 170 plastic bottles per day.

- "Viva Verde"- North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville, NC: Organized "Viva Verde Fashion Show," which showcases clothes made from organic cotton or secondhand clothing. Also hosted "Swap ‘til you Drop" clothing exchange program.

- "The Ones Who Care"- Sierra Vista High School, Baldwin Park, Calif.: Conducted an outreach program to educate the campus community about the danger of pesticides to human health, soil, vegetation and animals.

- "Westminster CCC"- The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Ga.: Increased recycling on the campus by creating the "Adopt a Recycle Bin" program, holding educational assemblies and recruiting volunteers to help in the recycling effort.

Middle School Winners -

- "Eggsteins"- Great Neck South Middle School, Great Neck, NY: Explored the effects of deforestation by identifying trees, creating leaf impressions, and by taking younger students on nature walks.

- "Chi-Town Team"- Madero Middle School, Chicago, Ill.: Conducted an aluminum can drive and cleaned up a community park, both helping to raise awareness in the community about recycling.

- "The Eco-Gangsters"- Nevada Middle School, Nevada, Mo.: Increased participation in campus paper recycling program with a goal of recycling 2,500 lbs. by the end of the year, four times more than in previous years.

- "OJH World Environmental Managers"- Olympus Junior High School, Holladay, Utah: Cleaned up a local park and helped educate the community about recycling and proper disposal of trash.

- "The Spachio Six"- Phillipsburg Christian Academy, Phillipsburg, NJ: Raised awareness of the importance of recycling by tracking and recording a week's worth of trash at their school. Discovered that 30 percent of waste is recyclable.

- "St. Margaret Science Club"- St. Margaret Catholic School, Lake Charles, La.: In the absence of a curb-side recycling program in the community, students increased participation in recycling through the school's parent-teacher organization, school newsletter and school Web site.

Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner, and the most awaited festivity of the year will be celebrated by 36 million motorists by traveling. The American Trucks Association sponsored by Volvo Trucks offers some safety tips for the Holiday travel.
America's Road Team Captains agree that these keys will make for happy motoring:

-- Use common sense: Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday and most motorists don't travel the highways as often as trucks do - be sure to use extra caution.

-- Perform a pre-trip: Safety begins in the driveway. Check your vehicle's tires, wipers and fluids. Have your radiator and cooling system serviced. You can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road before you leave your home.

-- Plan your trip: Know your exit by name and number, allow plenty of driving time and factor in stops for food and rest.

-- Check your emergency kit: Contents should include: battery powered radio, flashlight, blanket, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable foods, maps, tire repair kit and flares.

-- Be aware of changes in weather: Weather conditions across the U.S. will be changing - especially during early mornings and evenings with the cold. Watch for ice, snow and other weather related obstacles. Also, remember weather can change dramatically from when you start your trip to when you end. Bring a sweater and watch for the signs.

-- Leave early and avoid risks: Leave early so you won't be anxious about arriving late and to accommodate delays. Road conditions may change due to inclement weather or traffic congestion.

-- Know your limitations: Don't drive when tired, upset, or physically ill. Remember, when traveling in a car, you are in control and can take a break if needed.

-- Be aware of truck blind spots: When sharing the road with large trucks, be aware of their blind spots. If you can't see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you.

-- Take care when changing lanes: Never try to gain a few seconds by attempting a risky maneuver and think twice about changing lanes just get around a vehicle that is traveling at a speed close to yours. Do not cut a truck short - they can take up to two football fields to fully stop.

-- Slow Down: With the extra highway congestion due to Holiday travel, speeding becomes even more dangerous. Allow plenty of space cushion and reduce your speed.

-- Buckle up: Safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent and are a simple way to increase your safety on the road.

In Illinois and Northern Indiana, oil prices have been soaring since mid of October. According to AAA Chicago, the regular unleaded gasoline has increased by 36 cents in their Fuel Gauge Report. AAA sees that for November gasoline will reach $3.17 per gallon which is 88 cents higher than November last year.

"Crude oil prices have continued to climb, nearly reaching $100 per barrel in November," says Nicole Niemi, AAA Chicago's spokesperson. "This is a major factor in the increased price of fuel."

  -- In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.24, which is up 29 cents compared to last month and 85 cents higher than last year's price-per-gallon.

  -- In DuPage County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.15 per gallon, which is a 32-cent increase from October and 87 cents higher than last year.

  -- In Kane County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.14 per gallon, which is 34 cents higher compared to last month and 88 cents higher than November 2006's price.

  -- In Lake County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.14 per gallon, which is 41 cents higher than last month and up by 89 cents compared to this time last year.

  -- In McHenry County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.16 per gallon, which is 32 cents higher than October's average and 91 cents higher than November 2006's price.

  -- In Will County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.17 per gallon, which is 32 cents higher compared to last month and 89 cents higher compared to last year.

  -- In Champaign County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.18 per gallon, an increase of 52 cents from October and an increase of 98 cents from last year.

  -- In McLean County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.16 per gallon, which is 39 cents higher than last month and 92 cents higher than last year.

  -- In Peoria County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.19 per gallon, which is a 44-cent increase compared to last month and a 88-cent increase from November 2006.

  -- In Sangamon County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.13 per gallon, which is 49 cents higher than last month and 89 cents higher than last year.

  -- In Winnebago County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.24 per gallon, an increase of 49 cents from October and an increase of 99 cents from November 2006.

  -- In Allen County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.15 per gallon, which is an increase of 41 cents from last month and 89 cents higher than November 2006's price.

  -- In Lake County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.14 per gallon, a 45-cent increase from October's average and a 93- cent increase from a year ago.

  -- In Porter County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.10 per gallon, which is 38 cents higher than last month and 87 cents higher than last year.

  -- In St. Joseph County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.17 per gallon, which is 47 cents higher compared to last month and 96 cents higher compared to last year.