The Chevy Corvette’s formula is simple, pure and inherently American. You take a sleek and stylish coupe body, put it on a rear-wheel drive platform, add a V8 and presto!: you have an American icon.

However, that all might change though by 2016 according to Automotive News, as emission and efficiency standards reach new heights. Tom Stephens, GM’s Vice Chairman of global product development, announced that the company might consider a hybrid power train in future Corvette models if all other attempts to meet the new government-mandated CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards prove unsuccessful. This would be a huge change for Corvette fans, being that the current ‘Vette is a tire-scorching, 430-horsepower behemoth. Not to mention the non-base models which are super cars in their own right, the Corvette Z06 and ZR1, with 505 and 638 horsepower respectively.

But companies like Tesla and Fisker are proving that hybrid and all-electric sports cars are both marketable and incredibly fun to drive.   By incorporating technologies like cylinder deactivation systems, direct injection and variable valve timing, the Corvette’s current V8 can be made more efficient.

Combine these with other fuel-saving features like light weight construction, electric power steering and low rolling resistance tires, and it is possible that the next-gen Corvette would be efficient enough for the car’s classic formula to remain unaltered. Whether a V8 or hybrid drive train is used, GM is insistent that the next chapter in the Corvette story will be just as thrilling as those that came before it.

2009 Land Rover LR2 Crossover

Summer may be winding down, but the deals keep on coming. This latest one from Land Rover really took us by surprise.  Right now you can finance a 2009 Land Rover LR2 or LR3 or 2009 Range Rover at an unprecedented 0% APR.

There’s a nifty payment calculator on Land Rover’s website that allows you to input your down payment and trade-in value and adjust your term (up to 84 months). Of course, the rate and term you can actually get all depends on how good your credit is. But the idea of 0% interest on a new Land Rover is simply unheard of.

The luxurious yet versatile 2009 LR2 crossover with its 230-horsepower 3.2-liter V6. Or perhaps you prefer the 2009 LR3 midsize SUV, with its available 300-horsepower 4.4-liter V8 and all-wheel drive that will allow you to experience refinement both on and off road. But if you pine for only the highest luxury, you can opt for the Crème de la Crème and choose the full-size ultra-luxurious 2009 Range Rover.

This was the biggest surprise about this offer for us, as the Range Rover is the mother of all luxury SUVs but still eligible for this special financing.  With a 375-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, full-time 4WD and electronically adjustable air suspension, the Range Rover is equipped to take you to places you only dreamed about before. And with plenty of style as well.

You should act soon though, because these offers end September 30, 2009.

2009 Hyundai Sonata

It’s not surprising that sales have seen a sharp decline for the past several weeks.  That’s good news for you, the consumer.  Marketing departments are digging deep into their think tanks to unveil new campaigns aimed at bolstering sales in the post-Cash for Clunkers era, which means better deals right now.

Hyundai’s one of the main auto manufacturers to utilize aggressive incentives to increase their market share.  For a limited time, they are offering $1,000 on top of the value of your trade-in. If your car is worth $3,000, then you’ll get $4,000 for it. This extra $1,000 is in addition to other factory rebates or special financing rates that apply.

With the right trade-in, these offers could match or even beat the Cash For Clunkers government rebates. What makes this deal even sweeter is that there are no requirements for fuel economy, so any trade-in (and any replacement vehicle you choose) is eligible.

Using the above example of a trade-in vehicle valued at $3,000, you could get a 2009 Hyundai Sonata minus the $4,000 of your trade-in and  the $3,000 factory rebate for a whopping $7,000 off!

You don’t have much time to take advantage of these incredible savings though, as the offer ends September 30, 2009.

You’d think that the title of “World’s Greenest Automaker” would go to a company like Toyota or Honda, but when it comes to being efficient and using renewable resources, BMW is apparently way ahead of the pack.

According to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the German manufacturer is the leader in practicing sustainability by using more eco-friendly materials and properly recycling their cars. This is why they were named the “most sustainable automobile company worldwide” by the respected environmental authority for the fifth year in a row.

It’s not terribly surprising though when you look at the company’s push to introduce clean diesel cars to the U.S. and their newest effort called “BMW Efficient Dynamics,” which places priority on a car’s low-carbon footprint as well as the heightening of the driving experience.

2009 BMW 335d

A great example of this ideology is the 2009 BMW 335d, which emits 20% less carbon-dioxide emissions than a comparable gasoline-powered car and goes from 0-60 mph in just six seconds. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

The 2010 Chevy Camaro has outsold the 2010 Ford Mustang for the third consecutive month.  Attribute it to marketing, product placement, prestige or all the above; it’s shaping into a rivalry that’s going to give you, the consumer, a better product at a better price.

If it were any other two cars we were talking about here, this would hardly be newsworthy. But the Camaro and Mustang are perennial rivals, akin to Ali vs. Frasier, Notre Dame vs. USC, Coke vs. Pepsi, etc.

And for the Camaro to be this far ahead of its competition is huge. Of course, you have to take into account the fact that Camaro fans have been waiting patiently for the successor to their beloved performance car marque for about seven years now. With the “base model” Camaro starting at just over $22,000 and packing a 304-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, off the bat, the 210-hp Mustang is already down 94 ponies.

Once you start looking at the top-of-the-line models, the performance gaps only get bigger. The Camaro SS makes 426 horsepower from its fire-breathing 6.2-liter V8, while the Mustang GT makes only 315 horsepower from its 4.6-liter V8. The 2010 Camaro also has the upper hand in the handling department with its fully independent rear suspension versus the 2010 Mustang’s live axle suspension.

But Ford’s not resting on its laurels.  While the Camaro is the front-runner for the 2010 model year, it’ll be interesting to see how it fares next year when Ford releases its highly anticipated 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 engine for the 2011 Mustang GT. Whether or not we’ll still be celebrating Camaro domination this time next year remains to be seen, but for now the 2010 Chevy Camaro will continue to enjoy its spot at the top of the pony car hierarchy.