If you’re shopping around for vehicles with the lowest insurance rates, you’re in luck. Insure.com has just released their Low Cost Car Insurance Awards of the least expensive vehicles to insure.

Topping the list of the least expensive 2010 vehicles to insure is the Mazda Tribute i, which costs an average of $1070.25 to keep insured.  Insure.com garners these awards based on a survey of average car insurance rates for more than 2,400 vehicles for the 2010 model year.

The top Low Cost Car Insurance Award winners in each category are as follows:

• Cars: Dodge Caliber 4-door hatchback
• SUVs: Mazda Tribute i 2WD 4-door Utility
• Vans: Honda Odyssey LX 5-door 2WD
• Trucks: GMC Canyon WT 2WD 2-door 2.9L

[Source: Insure.com]

You’ll find a full list of Low Cost Car Insurance Award winners after the jump.

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It’s been around for what seems like an eternity, but in the twilight of its existence the venerable, yet still strong-selling Ford Ranger is the subject of a recall. This particular alert relates to manual transmission equipped models built between June 8th 2009 and February 2nd 2010. The problem stems from a faulty parking brake cable that could become disconnected from the right rear drum actuator, primarily during cold weather if damp shoes have become frozen overnight in the applied position. This would result in extended pedal travel meaning the parking brake would not operate, a potentially serious problem during hill starts or other incline related situations.

At post time, Ford had identified nine separate incidents on Rangers equipped with manual gearboxes and built within the specified time period, however no accidents have yet been documented as a result of the problem. Dealers are now authorized to install a revised rear brake actuator to address the problem. Ranger owners with any questions are being urged to contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Sure Ferrari claims that a sedan won’t ever be in the works from them, but their 612 Scaglietti is a 2+2-seater. Debuting in 2003, it has never carried the fame of its counterparts, but Ferrari tuner Novitec Rosso hopes to change that, dressing the 612 to impress with some nice aftermarket goodies.

Because a Ferrari alone isn’t enough to pick up three really skinny girls, you’ll need a nice set of wheels too. Novitec has designed custom versions of its popular three-piece NF3 wheels for the 612 Scaglietti.  It’s a staggered set of 20-inch up front and 21-inch in the rear, wrapped in 275/30/20 Pirelli P Zero rubber up front while at the rear is a nice and beefy 12.5-inch wide wheel with massive 335/25/21 tires. All that rubber is needed to keep you gripping the asphalt thanks to the addition of a few ponies. Novitec has increased the horsepower to 565 from the factory 540, while torque goes to 450 from 434.

The power increase comes courtesy of a reprogrammed ECU and Novitec Rosso’s stainless-steel exhaust system. The exhaust plays triple duty on the 612 Scaglietti: freeing up air and consequently increasing horsepower, giving the car a more menacing look in the rear and transforming the exhaust note to an even throatier, sportier sound.

It’s worth mentioning that a “black lamps” upgrade is available which comes with four round taillights, reflectors and side markers. On the inside, Novitec Rosso will upgrade the interior in a bespoke fashion for the client. Steering wheel customization is available from thickness to color.

GALLERY: Novitec Rosso Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Official press release available after the jump.

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The “Live Music Capital” of America is set to become the new home of the United States Grand Prix, as a surprise announcement broke today, naming Austin, Texas as the site of Formula 1′s return to America.

The deal would see the Grand Prix remain in Austin from 2012 to 2021. Most interesting is that the race will apparently be run on an all-new track rather than just a temporary street circuit. In a press release on the official Formula 1 website, Bernie Ecclestone mentioned that the track would be built from “the group up” rather than a street course like previous U.S. Grands Prix.

“For the first time in the history of Formula One in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event.’ Ecclestone said.  ”It was thirty years ago that the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix was last held on a purpose-built permanent road course circuit in Watkins Glen, NY (1961-1980), which enjoyed great success. Since then, Formula One has been hosted by Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix all on temporary street circuits. Indianapolis joined the ranks of host cities in 2000 when they added a road course inside the famed oval. Lewis Hamilton won the last Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ in 2007, signalling the end to eight years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This however, will be the first time a facility is constructed from the ground up specifically for Formula One in the US.”

[Source: Formula 1]

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The Ferrari 458 Italia has been spied in what appears to be full “Challenge” getup. For years, Ferrari has run the 355, 360 and 430 Challenge, a race series for wealthy playboys enthusiasts who want to arrive at the track, drive a fully prepped Ferrari race car, and let others take care of the oily bits.

The 458 seems like a naturally successor, and the single-lug wheels, rollcage, single racing bucket seat, lexan windows and revised aero bits suggest that this car is not suited for street duty, but as a new Challenge car being prepped for a series featuring the 458 Italia. Don’t think that would stop any of us from slapping some temporary tags on one and going for a blast down our favorite road (or tunnel).

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge

Infiniti is set to launch its new go-fast division, Infiniti Performance Line, later this year, promising an enticing list of performance parts, set to include mundane things like air filters, and stretching all the way to “automotive engine parts, namely turbochargers and superchargers.”

The first IPL car is set to debut at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, and rumor has it that it will be a G37 Coupe decked out to the nines. If the car ends up with forced induction, it could make for an interesting competitor to cars like the BMW M3 while serving as a 2-door alternative to the Lexus IS-F. Nissan’s NISMO division is one of the leading factory-affiliated tuners (Nissan even sells a NISMO 370Z), and we wouldn’t be surprised if they gave IPL a hand in concocting some very potent performance cars.

[Source: Autoblog]

Much like soccer, the Volkswagen Golf is immensely popular all over the world, with the exception of Canada and the United States. The two holdout countries prefer the Jetta by a significant margin, and Volkswagen is well aware of this – even going as far as to engineer an entirely new Jetta designed specifically with the North American market in mind.

The new car,  codenamed NCS (for “New Compact Sedan”) was supposedly spotted by an astute GM Inside News reader somewhere in Michigan. While there’s no confirmation that these are indeed NCS mules, the design cues (like the shape of the headlines) and the overall profile of the car strongly suggest that these are the new compact VWs.

Few details have leaked out about the cars, but it’s widely known that the cars will revert back to the torsion beam rear suspension, to cut costs and allow the NCS to be positioned as an entry-level volume leader. Powertrains are also something of a mystery, but expect Volkswagen’s excellent diesel engines and dual clutch transmissions to appear.

[Source: GM Inside News]

The battle of the sexes heats up as Mr. Lube takes Ms. Lube to court for trademark infringement.

The well-know automotive repair chain alleges that the new mechanic in town – Toronto, Ontario to be exact – is using its name to create a suggestive play on words that is designed to attract customers away from Mr. Lube.

Officially known as Ms. Lube by Mechanchik, the all-woman car repair shop was founded by 37-year-old Jessica Gilbank. She appeared on the Canadian TV show “Dragon’s Den,” where participants present business plans in the hopes of attracting investors and start-up money. Interestingly enough, one of the judges was the co-owner of Mr. Lube. He didn’t hand over money, just a warning about impending trouble. Three months later, Gilbank was presented with a lawsuit for $240,000 from Mr. Lube.

Gilbank says the lawsuit is just an attempt by Mr. Lube to bully her out of business by bankrupting her with legal costs. “It is very representative of the machismo and the male chauvinism that exists in the trade, that they would want to do this to the very first all-female shop,” she said.

The idea of Ms. Lube came to Gilbank when she noticed that female apprentices find it almost impossible to break into the male-dominated world of car repair.

“I thought it would be nice to create sort of an incubator situation where the environment was about mechanics and not about gender dynamics,” she said. “In the automotive environment, guys tend to be real jokers who play practical jokes on each other and goof off. You are surrounded by this bubble of goofiness. Women want to read the instructions and do the job thoroughly and right.”

Do you think it’s a rip-off of a well-known trademark name or an attempt to keep a good woman down? Leave your comments below.

[Source: The Globe and Mail]

Ron Fellows may have retired from full-time racing duties with Corvette Racing and the American Le Mans Series, but he proved this weekend that he’s still the Mayor of Mosport in a Corvette.

The Mississauga, Ontario native and Corvette Racing legend has always been hard to beat around his home track, Mosport International Raceway, so it should come as no surprise that he claimed the top step on the podium during Sunday’s World Challenge event from behind the wheel of the Carlisle Companies/Cragar Wheels Chevrolet Corvette. The win didn’t come easy though, starting 2nd to Randy Pobst in the K-Pax Volvo S60 and having been passed off the start by Kuno Wittmer’s Dodge Viper.

Fellows quickly battled back against Wittmer, passing his fellow Canadian in Turn 10 before turning his sights on race leader Pobst. Running down the K-Pax Volvo, Fellows turned a record fastest race lap of 1:23.828 (105.602 mph), a feat that thrilled the hometown crowd. On lap 15, Fellows and Pobst went side-by-side down the front straight and through Turn 1, splitting the Touring Car Mazda RX-8 of Eric Meyer between Turns 1 and 2. Fellows managed to take the inside line for the downhill left hander and slowly pulled away from Pobst from that point on.

According to Fellows, ”I got a terrible start, but other than that it was just a matter of being patient. Even though I hadn’t raced here much lately, it comes back to you. To be honest, the slick conditions may have helped. I was hoping it stayed overcast, but our car is lighter than the Volvos and that was probably better. It was a lot of fun, and feels good.”

Having spent the day before at Laguna Seca for Corvette Racing’s 50th anniversary of racing at Le Mans, Fellows’ win at Mosport might not have happened if he’d missed his connecting flight from San Francisco to Toronto, having literally made the connection with 3 minutes to spare. As Fellows reported on his personal website, he was very pleased to have been able to race at Mosport on this historic weekend for Corvette Racing and because he hadn’t raced at his home track since 2007.

Pobst’s runner-up finish in the Volvo, combined with his Saturday race win at Mosport, extended his point lead to 47 over Wittmer and the Dodge Motorsports Viper (541 to 494), followed by Crescentini in the Centric Parts/Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3 (420), Andy Pilgrim (383) and Daskalos in his Daskalos Developments Dodge Viper (379). Volvo also extended its point lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship to seven (35 to 28) over Porsche. Dodge is third with 26.

[Sources: World Challenge, Ron Fellows]

There have been some big blunders in the history of automotive naming. The Chevrolet Nova flopped in Spanish speaking countries because its name literally means “it doesn’t go”. The Ford Pinto’s name in Brazilian Portuguese has similarly negative connotations, literally meaning “a man with small genitals.”

The latest casualty in the history of cars being forced to undergo name changes is an unreleased Renault electric vehicle, formerly named “Zoe”. The name actually means “life” in Greek, and is a fitting name for an EV. Apparently, Renault is also a common last name in France, and the likelihood of finding a person named Zoe Renault wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Zoe is allegedly threatening to sue the automaker unless the name of the car is changed. Renault told Autocar that the name wasn’t set in stone, but perhaps the Renault OverSensitive is an appropriate replacement.

[Source: Autoblog]