The report was just released by the NHTSA based on the theft rates for 2009 vehicle models that were stolen during that year excluding pickups and SUVs.

The S8 took the top position for its theft rate with 8.81 thefts for every 1,000 Audi S8 produced. The volume of production though was low with only 227 units that rolled out of the pipeline in 2009.

The Toyota Camry is among the best sellers of the automotive industry in 2009 and basing on pure statistics it is the most stolen vehicle as 781 Camry’s were swiped.

The Mustang Shelby GT follows the Audi S8 with around 8.61 units of 1,000 units stolen. So of the 581 that were delivered by Ford, 5 were stolen.

The BMW M5 had a theft rate of 7.58 for every 1000 units. On fourth place is the Dodge Charger with a theft rate of 6.47. Fifth place was taken by the S2000 of Honda with 5.60 theft rate.

Completing the top 10 were the Galant by Mitsubishi, Chrysler 300, Infiniti M35/M45, Cadillac STS, and the CL -class of Mercedes-Benz.

The theft rate for 2009 dropped to 1.33 for every 1,000 vehicles overall which is a decline of 21.3% compared to 1.69 back in 2008.

The NHTSA sees better anti-theft devices like immobilizers and vehicle parts marking as factors that helped decrease the numbers. Other factors cited include better public awareness and better implementation of the law.

To make the transition easier, car makers are retrofitting current cars with flex fuel, hybrid and electric engines. Newer manufacturers are starting with a clean slate; it’s really up to the consumer to decide which approach suits them best. Here are some of the ways that getting from one place to another is becoming more environmentally-friendly, with some help from The Green Spot in assembling the list!

*Cars that run on biofuels. Ethanol started the trend, but the race is far from over as fuels like butanol are gaining popularity. Butanol is a four-carbon alcohol that has seen use as a solvent, but as has been discovered, it can also fuel an automobile. Like ethanol before it, butanol is a renewale energy source that can be made from any high-sugar plant such as beets, sugarcane or corn. When burned, it has lower emissions than gas and puts no carbon into the atmosphere. Butanol has some advantages over ethanol; it is less corrosive so it can be put through current pipelines (where ethanol has to be trucked in). Butanol also contains more energy than ethanol, which means it offers green cars higher mileage.

*Fuel cell vehicles. They have electric engines, but instead of plugging them in, they burn hydrogen from a fuel cell to make energy. Fuel cell vehicles can use either pure hydrogen, or a fuel rich in the element such as methane, natural gas, or gasoline. Hydrogen is available in abundance, and when it is burned, it only emits water. Creating hydrogen cleanly is very expensive, and makers are competing to develop technology that lowers the cost of creating it.

*Electric cars. A lot of controversy has been created over the supposed death of the electric car. However, it has risen from the ashes. Newer electric cars are different from the old ones; for instance, the Tesla Roadster goes from 0-60 in four seconds and can go almost 250 miles on a charge. Investors and equity firms are betting heavily on the electric car, which means a greater likelihood that established manufacturers will get in on the act.

As you may already know, sports cars are among some of the most expensive vehicles to insure. If you don’t care about saving on your monthly insurance bill, just buy a Corvette and your premium will go through the roof. If you buy a family sedan or economy car, you will pay far less for insurance each month. This type of car represents a lower risk for the insurance company, and it will allow you to pay a lot less each month.

Auto insurance can take a large chunk out of a budget, so if you want to save money you should look at all the possible ways of doing so. There are a lot of other factors that influence the amount of money you will pay to keep your vehicle insured, but the biggest determining factor is the type of car you drive. Before buying from any particular company, you should get quotes from a variety of companies.

The car costs around $1.7 million, and it is the most expensive in the world. The next most expensive car is the Ferrari Enzo, at about one million dollars. For the price of a Bugatti Veyron, you could buy the Enzo and the third-place car, the Pagani Zonda, which costs just over $700,000. However, the high price tag is accompanied by some outstanding technological, design and comfort features.

The Veyron is the ideal combination of elegance and high performance, and it has the capability to travel at high speeds. It takes classic Bugatti design elements and gives them a modern touch. Not only is it the world’s most expensive car, it is also the fastest in production. Its engine is rated at 1001 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 250 miles per hour. Whether or not it holds on to the top spot is unknown, but due to its record-breaking nature, it is sure to face some stiff competition.

Gorgeous!

A primary feature in Enova’s new offering is the MCU or motor controller unit. According to Jarett Fenton, Chief Financial officer of the company, the MCU stores the power electronics of the system which are necessary to power and control the vehicle. The main component of this is the inverter.

Enova will also offer optional controllers for the power heat pumps, steering, and air conditioning of the vehicle. Also offered by the company are DC-to-DC converters which will be used for auxiliary loads, and a 6.6 kilowatt AC-to-DC conductive charger. The charger will be placed in the MCU’s housing. This package will simplify the wiring harness and increase the system’s overall reliability.

Currently, Enova provides electric systems for both all-electric and hybrid vehicles. The focus of their line is on heavy-duty and medium commercial fleets, though. To date, Enova can provide drive systems ranging from 50kilowatts to 120 kilowatts.

Last February, Enova’s efforts were rewarded with an exclusive contract as a supplier for General Services Administration. The GSA in turn supplies vehicles for government agencies and armed forces. Enova will be supplying GSA with Enova ZE walk-in step vans.

The company has partnered with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation to fuse Ze technology with the MT-walk-in van chassis. The national fleet operators would be deployed during the first quarter of this year.

How you like them apples?

This proved to be quite a challenge for BMW designers who needed to recreate the Kamm Coupe from scratch for BMW Mille Miglia’s 70th Anniversary. According to BMW Classic director Karl Baumer, the team had to face a lot of technical challenges, especially with the original blueprint lost in oblivion.

The research started in 1990, and after years of study, they finally found a private collector who was able to provide numerous photos of the actual car. Thankfully, the photos came with a lot of details about the car’s tubular frame construction.

For years, the team had to struggle with a huge lack of information about the car, but once the details were in place, and after a lot of 3D tinkering on the computer, the process became significantly easier. They just had to stretch the original BMW chassis, build the space frame and stall the bodywork.

According to BMW Fan Bill Schiering, BMW also hired a well-known restorer Rene Grobe to help them with their dream project. Grobe painstakingly crafted an aluminum body for the Mille Miglia Roadster recreations. He also worked on the under-body panels which included the fuel tank, the dashboard, the inner front wings, the double floor section of the body, and the bulkhead.

Other setbacks for the restoration included recreating the power/drive train, modifying the axle, and fine-tuning the model’s radiator. It took years, but based on the photos alone, the restoration efforts were all worth it.

NICE!