24 attempts to make car crashes more carbon neutral

In the world of action movies and TV shows, the car crash is about as American as apple pie. But in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, some car crashes you will see on the screen will be friendlier to the environment than in the past.

The hit Fox TV show 24 is attempting to become the first “carbon neutral” show on television and according to the New York Times, executives are looking at ways to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions from the multiple car explosions on the program.

Since the show quickly discovered that it would be impossible to remove car crashes with explosions from the show, they decided to buy carbon offsets in the form of wind energy from India, according to the news provider.

Producers told the Times that they bought enough wind energy to offset 1,291 tons of carbon emission, which will account for a little more than half of the show’s car chases and explosions.

Hollywood is increasingly adopting green car initiatives in efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Last year a car rental agency started in Hollywood which allows stars like Penelope Cruz to show up to award shows in a fuel-efficient hybrid SUV.

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Reality star buys ’68 Camaro SS for boyfriend

Reality stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag were recently spotted by paparazzi driving around in a minto-condition 1968 Chevy Camaro SS, which is apparently an early wedding gift.

The two stars from The Hills are planning a wedding later this year and media reports say Montag bought Pratt the red muscle car as a gift for their upcoming nuptials.

In front of photographers, the camera-loving couple revved the Camaro’s engine in a California parking lot and took pictures as Montag laid across the hood of the SS complete with a red bow.

The couple are expected to marry later this year with the lead-up to the big day being filmed by MTV for the next season of The Hills.

The 1968 Camaro is the first generation of one of the classic American muscle cars that was introduced to the public in 1966.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), a baseline 1968 Camaro SS could run upwards of $34,000. Add in a 427 Engine and the price can skyrocket to around $61,000. The car’s originally selling price in 1968 was $3,038.

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2010 Prius officially most fuel-efficient production car in U.S.

Toyota has announced that it will have the most fuel-efficient production car in the U.S. next year when it releases the 2010 Prius with an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 50 miles per gallon.

Next year’s model will be the third generation for the Prius, which first hit the U.S. marketing in 1997.

Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of Toyota Division says the car has shown that a hybrid can be a practical everyday car and thinks the new features will attract even more buyers.

“The Prius has evolved with our customers over the past 10 years and is now more things to more people,” he said.

Over the last 13 years, Toyota has slowly increased the fuel efficiency of the Prius. The first generation of the car had an EPA rating of 41 miles per gallon, with the current generation inching up to 46 miles per gallon.

In addition to increased fuel economy, Toyota says the 2010 Prius will have a more powerful engine.

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Best cars for first time buyers

For many people, the purchase of their first car is one of the most memorable moments of their life, but that purchase can also be costly. To help many first-time car buyers out, MSN Autos has come up with a list of practical, safe and reliable cars that are still fun to drive.

Honda topped the list as the site says the Civic, with its inexpensive price tag and fuel-efficient engine, makes for a good initial purchase. For those looking to increase their gas mileage, drivers can look for a Civic Hybrid that gets 45 miles per gallon on the highway.

The top ten cars on the website’s list are all foreign with the exception being the Pontiac Vibe, which in reality is a Toyota Matrix with a few more bells and whistles.

The most economical car on the list is the Suzuki SX4 Sport which starts around $13,000 and which comes with a standard navigation system.

Last week Consumer Reports released its list of the most reliable used cars with the Honda Civic topping the list in the small car category.

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