U.S. believes Saudi Arabia is running out of oil

Peak oil, according to Wikipedia, is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. Opinions vary on when the world will actually reach a peak oil scenario, but a new report detailed by Julian Assange's infamous Wikileaks website indicates the United States believes it's staring us right in the face – as early as 2012. Maybe that's what the Mayan calendar is on about? It may not exactly be the end of the world as we know it, but if the report is accurate, it could mean death to a number of popular vehicular segments; namely the gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle, heavy-duty pickup truck and possible even the mainstream performance car. Electric and hybrid Mustang and Camaro models might not look so bad in the very near future, eh?
This revalatory report centers around a meeting between Sadad al-Husseini, a geologist and former head of exploration at Aramco (the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia), and U.S. officials. Husseini, an expert on the subject, suggested that Saudi Arabia doesn't have as much oil left as the country wants us to believe and that it is unlikely to continue producing its current rate of 12.5 million barrels per day.

Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Probed for Floor Mats After Complaints

Remember Toyota's recall-woes over specific floor mats that could slip forward and snag the gas pedal? Well, we could be heading for a second round of recalls on the same issue but for a different automaker.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a formal investigation into the 2010MY Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan models to examine allegations about pedals becoming trapped in the depressed position by unsecured floor mats.

NHTSA said that it has verified three consumer complaints concerning the current 2010 Fusion stating that Ford's optional rubber "All Weather" mat, when laid on top of the secured, standard carpeted floor mat in the driver's side foot well, can slip forward and trap the accelerator pedal.

The safety agency added that it has not received any complaints involving crashes, injuries or fatalities in the FoMoCo vehicles.

All in all, the investigation covers a total of 249,301 2010MY Ford Fusions, Mercury Milans.

And for those of you that are unfortunate enough to get into a 'sticky' situation, here's the NHSTA's advice to consumers:

Actions Consumers Can Take If They Cannot Stop Their Vehicles
-- Brake firmly and steadily – do not pump the brake pedal.
-- Shift the transmission into Neutral (familiarize yourself with where Neutral is).
-- Steer to a safe location.
-- Shut the engine off.
-- Call your dealer or repair shop to pick up the vehicle. Do not drive it.

Lingenfelter Camaro runs the 1/4 mile

2010 Lingenfelter Camaro runs the 1/4 mile - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Earlier this week we told you about Camaro5fest, the largest gathering of current generation Camaros and their owners. While GM's big news from the event was a three mile long parade of Camaros, others, like Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, were all about the drag racing at the South Georgia Motorsports Park.

The Decatur, IN maker of go-fast Chevys brought out their new LS9-powered 2010 Camaro packing 855 horsepower. The supercharged V8 has been fortified with various LPE performance parts like a more aggressive camshaft, CNC ported heads, JE forged aluminum pistons and a smaller supercharger pulley. Despite being equipped with a six-speed manual, the Lingenfelter Camaro posted a best run of 10.36 seconds at 139.5 mph. Thankfully the camcorders were rolling, and we have visual evidence of the car's capabilities. You can see a similar run (10.41 at 139.9 mph) in the video posted after the jump.

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Need Help Deciding Your New Family Car?

Need Help Deciding your next Family CarWhat are the best family cars?

Looking for a new car to meet your expanding family can be quite daunting. Do you choose the station wagon, sedan, hatch, SUV or people mover thing? There is a plethora of options depending on size, features and budget. If you are looking to change, test drive the cars earlier rather than later when your belly is smaller. (Although my girlfriend got a great deal because her water broke during the test drive and the salesperson knew they were serious about buying!)

Following is a list of new family cars suitable for families of all sizes.

Under $26,000

Dodge Caliber
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Magentis
Mazda 3
Nissan Tiida
Toyota Corolla

$27,000-$40,000

Ford Territory (optional seven seats)
Ford Escape
Ford Falcon
Holden Commodore
Honda Odyssey
Honda CRV
Jeep Cherokee
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Trajet
Hyundai Terracan
Hyundai Santa Fe (optional seven seats)
Kia Carnival (eight seats)
Mazda 6
Mitsubishi 380
Nissan X-Trail
Peugeot 307 Touring
Renault Scenic
Subaru Forester
Subaru Liberty
Toyota Camry
Toyota RAV4

$41,000-$55,000

Audi A4 sedan
Audi A4 Avant
BMW 3 Series
Holden Adventra
Mercedes B Class
Nissan Murano
Nissan Pathfinder
Peugeot 407 Touring
Toyota Prado
Toyota Tarago
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo V70

Over $55,000

Audi A6 Sedan
Audi A6 Avant
Audi Q7 (optional six or seven seats)
BMW 3 Series Touring
BMW 5 Series Touring
BMW X3
BMW X5
Chrysler Voyager
Lexus RX350
Lexus RX400h (powered by petrol/electricity - good for the environment and good for your wallet)
Mercedes M Class
Mercedes GL Class
Suburu Tribeca
Volkswagen Touareg
Volvo XC70
Volvo XC90 (seven seats)

*The price categories are based on the manufacturer’s price as of November 2007 for the entry level model and excludes on road costs. Prices may change and vary from state to state, so please consult your dealer for current pricing

Top Ten Cars of the Decade Countdown 7 Nissan 350Z

2003 – 2008 Nissan 350Z Coupe
Like the Altima on this list, the rebirth of the Z-Car was a pivotal development for the turnaround of Nissan. Having no sporty offering in their lineup for a stretch of several years, Nissan was losing precious ground to the competition.

But that all changed with the introduction of the 350Z in 2003. Equipped with an award-winning 3.5-liter V6 making 286 horsepower and based on Nissan’s solid FM platform, this Z-Car elevated sports car standards to new levels. With reasonable pricing, good looks and outstanding performance, the 350Z truly was the second coming of the original Z-Car.

2009 – present Nissan 370Z Coupe

This success continued into the current 2009 370Z, which offers better looks, even better handling and more power from its 332-hp 3.7-liter V6. The Z-Car may have helped save Nissan, but its real legacy lies in the enthusiasm its fans hold for this special car—which by itself would probably be enough to grant it a spot on this list.

To find Nissan 370z pricing and incentives your neighborhood, click here.

*If you prefer to find a used Nissan 350Z, click here.

Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2010 Nissan Leaf

Nissan’s foray into EVs will be consummated later this year with the introduction of the 2011 Nissan Leaf.

While dedicated hybrid models like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight—as well as upcoming plug-in hybrids like the 2011 Chevy Volt—are currently in vogue, Nissan has made the push for all-electric vehicle technology.

To fully recharge the battery, it will take between 4-8 hours using a 220-volt home charging unit, or, 26 minutes when utilizing DC quick charge stations which will be setup for public usage. It should however be noted that 26 minutes will only charge the Leaf’s battery to about 80% in that time. The Leaf’s range is estimated to be just over 100 miles between charges.

All of these advancements have made electric cars a more viable alternative to those powered by internal combustion engines. Nissan plans to start selling the Leaf in five major metropolitan U.S. markets late this year (December 2010). Experts estimate that the Leaf will be priced within 2 to 3% of most compact cars, which would compare favorably to the Volt, Prius and Insight. Our guess is somewhere around $24,000. With $7,500 of government subsidies applied to the Leaf, it becomes even more of a bargain.

Although you probably won’t be taking any cross-country trips in this car, the Leaf is perfectly capable of handling the average commute. Government data suggest that roughly 75% of Americans drive 40 miles per day, or less.

For more click to the dedicated Nissan Leaf website.