The IRS offers credits on a range of nameplates. The credits range from $487.50 to $7,500 and vary by make, model year and sometimes trim level. Listed below are the available credits on qualifying models.

2011 Nissan

2009-2011 Altima Hybrid: $2,350

2011 Leaf: $7,500

Chevrolet

 2009-2011 Silverado Hybrid: $2,200 (2WD, 4WD)

 2009-2011 Tahoe Hybrid: $2,200 (2WD, 4WD)

 2009 Malibu Hybrid: $1,550

 2011 Volt: $7,500

For some people, old tires might never be an issue. If you drive a typical number of miles — 12,000-15,000 miles annually — a tire's tread will wear out in three to four years, long before the rubber compound does. But if you only drive 6,000 miles a year, or have a car that you only drive on weekends, aging tires could be an issue. The age warning also applies to spare tires and "new" tires that have never been used but are old.

For the 2012 model year, Chevy was recognized with six Best Buys in four categories. In the Sporty Car category, Corvette (excludes ZR1) was named Best Buy for its seventh year in a row along with Camaro, which also named for its third year in a row. For Compact SUVs, Equinox was named as a Best Buy for its third year in a row. Under Midsize SUVs, Traverse was named as a Best Buy for its fourth year in a row. For the Family Car category, Malibu nabbed another Best Buy rating for its fourth year in a row, along with Cruze, which earned an automotive Best Buy award for its first year ever.

Forget Traditions and Customs and Try Celebrating You

As you set out to make changes in your life, take a moment to acknowledge and honor yourself. Carve out some time to reflect on the accomplishments and goals that you have already reached. Review your strengths, your power and all the things that make you unique and beautiful. Self-love is very important when we are working to create the lives we want. When we really see and appreciate ourselves, the universe responds accordingly.  Go ahead and celebrate yourself. We know your worth it!  Happy New Year!!

Recipe For Happiness

Take twelve whole months, cleaning them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate and jealousy.  Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.

Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty or thirty-one different parts, but don't make the whole batch at once. Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.

Mix well into each day one part of faith, one part of patience, one part of courage and one part of work.  Add to each day one part of hope, faithfulness, generosity and meditation and one good deed. Season the whole with a dash of good spirits, a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of plan and a cupful of good humor. Pour all of this into a vessel of love. Cook thouroughly over a radiant joy, garnish with a smile and serve with quietness, unshelfishness and cheerfulness.

Winter has arrived and here is some advice.  Preparation is the key to survival when conditions are harsh.As far as our vehicles are concerened, they perform best under standard conditions of temperature and pressure. Since winters are usually extreme, it is imperative that you prepare your vehicle to handle such conditions or else you could risk damage to the vehicle along with a serious threat to your own safety on the road.  Check the following: Engine Oil--when was it last changed? Antifreeze--is your vehicle filled with antifreeze only? Tires--do they have enough tread to handle the winter roads? Windshield Wipers--they make great ones for snow and ice.  Lights--Do you need any replaced?  Battery--Is it producing at least 12volts of charge?  If you have any questions stop into our Pit Stop.

With Nismo set to expand its scope and product range in the coming years, Nissan's in-house tuning division needs to start with something both customizable and attainable.  And it appears the Juke is it.

Nismo has done the standard cadre of mods to the Juke, including the fitment of larger Brembo brakes with slotted rotors up front, stiffer springs and shocks, 19-inch wheels with performance rubber and an assortment of interior baubles to match the racy exterior.  The body kit isn't just a looker- its's functional-with the revised front and rear bumpers, grille and rear diffuser all aiding aerodynamics.

Nismo isn't saying what's been done to the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-pot aside from saying it delivers "more power," so we're assuming it's an ECU reflash partnered with some new breathing hardware.

As for the possibility of production, our sources say Nissan is looking into offering the Nismo Juke as either a stand-alone model or an upgrade path, but the trigger hasn't been pulled yet.

Jay Leno has driven his Chevrolet Volt nearly 11,000 miles and doesn't have a single gas station receipt to show for it.  According to The New Youk Times Wheels blog, Leno has had his plug-in for 11 months and, as he told them, "I've never had to put gas in it yet...They gave it to me with a full tank of gas. I've used less than half of that."

Given that Leno has an entire fleet of gas-swilling rides in his garage, he can just take the Volt out whenever he knows he can get to Point B and back without refueling.  You have to be kind of careful to put 11,000 miles on a Volt without ever going more than 40 miles at a stretch.  Luckily, Leno said his commute is less than 35 miles a day, and so he uses the Volt as his daily driver.