When you think of a quick, fun-to-drive compact car, the odds are you’re not thinking of a Suzuki. That might soon change though, if recent reports about the Suzuki Swift’s imminent stateside launch are true.

A staple of fun and economical transportation in Japan and other parts of the world, the Swift has been missing from Suzuki’s North American model lineup for 15 years now. In its absence, the larger (but still tiny by U.S. standards) Suzuki SX4 was left to carry the torch as the company’s entry level model.

While the SX4 is a great car in its own right, it’s not nearly as nimble as the Swift. With the same amount of power as the SX4, but weighing considerably less thanks to a front-wheel-drive-only layout, the Swift is eager to conquer twisty back roads with fuel-saving gusto.

The current generation 2010 Swift is not available here due to stringent U.S. safety and emissions standards.   However, the next-generation 2011 Swift will bear these requirements in mind.  That being said, the next-gen Swift will show up in American showrooms some time around, you guessed it—2011.

As far as pricing goes, you can expect the Swift to be an absolute segment buster—think MINI Cooper for nearly half the price.

We did a double-take, as well.  We couldn’t believe it at first, neither, but it’s true–if you live in Colorado.  This could very well qualify as the single biggest incentive, ever. The 2010 Tesla Roadster is arguably the ultimate electric vehicle, a virtual paradox, combining sports-car performance (0-60 in 3.9 sec) with zero emissions.  And now, you can save a whopping 38% off its MSRP.

To learn more about the huge discount, check out the story at Left Lane News. To see other fuel-efficient vehicles that qualify for huge tax credits, check out the Alternative Fuel Income Tax Credits PDF here.

The Lexus LFA has been persistently making headlines in the automotive press for the past several years, appearing publicly in camouflaged guise and giving us mere morsels of what was to come.  Speculation and wishful thinking abound, hard facts were the only things missing when it came to reporting news about the LFA. That all changed yesterday, however, as the car was officially unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Everything from complete performance specs to pricing and production numbers were finally revealed, leaving enthusiasts with enough info to fuel their automotive fantasies for weeks.

A 4.8-liter V10 sits up front, sending an astounding 560 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Helping to produce all that power is an advanced valvetrain similar to the Yamaha-designed unit found in the Lexus IS-F and a cylinder block with heavy duty internals, including titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons.

Sixty-five percent of the car is slathered in lightweight carbon fiber, bringing the total vehicle weight down to just 3,263 lbs. The car achieves 0-62 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds—almost a whole second faster than the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG.

The LFA’s high performance credentials are enough to let it into the ultra-exclusive over-200-mph club, clocking a top speed of 201.94 mph. But straight line speed is nothing without control. A Torsen limited slip differential allows power to be sent to the wheel with the most grip in a turn, giving the car a sure-footed feel that only a limited-slip differential can offer.

A total of only 500 LFAs are to be produced between 2010 and 2013, making this Lexus a rare bird even among exotics. The limited production run means that the LFA carries hefty price tag. But just how hefty, nobody was ready for. Lexus dropped a dream-crushing bomb on unsuspecting automotive enthusiasts when they announced the LFA’s $375,000 starting price. While we can’t say we’d ever pay that much for a Lexus, we applaud the company for venturing so far upmarket. Lexus’s super car debut in Tokyo may have left some wishing for pricing closer to a Toyota rather than a Ferrari, but don’t expect the LFA to disappear from headlines any time soon.

Build your LFA today.

Whether you’re looking to finance a new luxury vehicle or just lease one, Audi is making it exceptionally easy for you either way. Right now, you can finance any 2009 Audi A4 at an incredible 0.9% APR or lease a 2010 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Premium for only $449 per month for 36 months.

While these are both uncommonly good deals, which one is the better bargain? Well, that all depends on your own personal priorities. If you would like to eventually own the car you’re making payments on, then obviously financing is the way to go. If you enjoy driving a new car every three years or so and like to always have your vehicle under warranty, then you’d probably prefer leasing.

By leasing a car, you only make payments on what you “use up” of the car’s value plus whatever additional fees are required for finance charges or extra miles driven. Whereas with getting a loan to purchase a car, you end up paying for the entire cost of that car, plus interest based on the rate and period you agree to as well as other fees, in addition to depreciation.

However, you’ll have a state-of-the-art, German-engineered luxury car that’s 100 per cent your own to show for it when all is said and done. While on the other hand, you’ll have nothing but fond memories of your Audi once your lease is up and you have to return it to the dealership. While both of those options each have their own grim realities, let’s not forget that we’re talking about an Audi here. The value of an automobile is more than just in its monetary worth or the sum of its parts— it’s in the pleasure you get from driving it, owning it and experiencing it.

If you’d like to take advantage of these Audi offers, you should act soon. This deal ends November 2, 2009.

To many, there’s nothing like owning and driving a brand-new car.  But when the time comes for maintenance, the same vehicle which brought so much joy flips a U-turn by inspiring sudden bouts of anxiety, worries and stress.  Volkswagen’s here to alleviate all three with two words: Carefree Maintenance.

What all does the program cover?  Click here for the Carefree Maintenance Brochure.   The maintenance schedule for each of Volkswagen’s models is slightly different, though most will have a 10k, 20k and 30k service intervals since they exclusively use synthetic lubricants.

Every 2010 Volkswagen available comes with Carefree Maintenance, including a no charge Courtesy Vehicle Check (see below). Carefree Maintenance covers all regularly scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, at no charge. Those three words are sure to make you happy.  It’s what the people want.

Volkswagen’s Courtesy Vehicle Check includes:
*Check and adjust tire pressure
*Check belts and hoses
*Check all fluids
*Check interior and exterior lights
*Clean and check wipers
*Product review