Quick Hits

Best New Cars for the Potentially Unemployed
If you're going through tough times but still need to buy a new car, there are programs on the market from three automakers that could help mitigate the risk of such a purchase. Whether you choose the Hyundai Assurance Plus, Ford Advantage Plan, or GM Total Confidence, these programs were created to stimulate the economy and the bottom line for the manufacturers. The L.A. Times took a look at some of the top-rated cars that would best take advantage of these three programs. The result is a list of 10 vehicles that could serve you well as you drive to interviews. One of the best rated cars is the Hyundai Elantra. With a Consumer Reports score of 82, the Elantra provides a lot of bang for just a few bucks. Its base MSRP price ranges from $14,120 - $18,600. Another option is the Hyundai Accent, whose excellent ride, controls, and turning radius are a bargain at under $10,000.


Hyundai Plans American Plug-In for 2012
Hyundai will launch its first plug-in hybrid in the United States in late 2012. According to Automotive News, the vehicle will be based on the four-door Blue-Will sports car concept on display now at the Seoul auto show. Yang Woong-chul, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors' R&D division, said Hyundai's plug-in will target the upcoming Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius plug-ins. "We want to be the world leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels," he said. The Blue-Will sits on a 106-inch wheelbase. It is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection engine teamed with a 100-kilowatt electric motor. Hyundai has developed its own lithium ion battery. "Almost every part on this car has been developed in-house," Yang said. "That will make it possible to make this vehicle affordable." Yang said the Blue-Will can travel about 38 miles on electricity only. Hyundai claims a fuel economy rating of 106 mpg in plug-in mode and up to 55 mpg in hybrid-electric mode. The concept car features a panoramic glass roof with solar cells for recharging.


Toyota to Slash New Prius Price to Match Honda Insight
Toyota Motor Corp. is going for the jugular with its upgraded Prius, setting a 2.05 million yen starting price ($20,750) in Japan that is on par with the newly released Honda Insight. Toyota notified Japanese dealers of the cutthroat pricing policy for its redesigned 1.8-liter gasoline-electric hybrid on March 25. According to Automotive News, the move stokes a high-stakes price war between the Prius and the Honda Insight, which went on sale in the United States in March starting at $20,470, including delivery. The third-generation Prius goes on sale next month and had been expected to start around $24,000. Click here for a picture. Bringing the starting price down to Insight levels will steal Honda's thunder as purveyor of world's first affordable hybrid vehicle. Toyota's pricing strategy for the Prius in the United States is still unclear. But if Japan is any guide, it will be very aggressive. In Japan, a bottom-rung Prius at 2.05 million yen ($20,750) would cost the same as a middle-trim Insight. Toyota might use the price to lure buyers and switch them to higher grades.

* Stories from American International Auto Dealers recent report