The new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 recently made waves in the high-performance world with a little aftermarket tweaking by the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering company. After upgrading the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from 580 horsepower to more than 700 horses with three upgrade packages, the company took the car to the Muncie Dragway in Albany, Indiana, on Monday to put it to the test.

David Freiburger, the editor-in-chief of HOT ROD magazine, got behind the wheel of this supercharged muscle car and put the pedal to the metal. He raced the Camaro up to 202.67 miles per hour, the first time a ZL1 passed the 200-mph mark. This test run also boasted another first for the Camaro ZL1, a quarter-mile drive in less than 11 seconds. The Chevy's first run in the 10s took 10.79 seconds with a top speed of 134.36 mph.

"The Lingenfelter crew couldn't be more excited to make history as the first 2012 ZL1 Camaro to exceed 200 mph, and to celebrate this victory on the heels of becoming the first company to run a ZL1 in the 10s," said Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. "We are very proud to have David drive our car and to share this accomplishment with HOT ROD magazine, an icon in the world of speed and high-performance vehicles."

The performance company installed a custom camshaft, special cylinder heads, new top and bottom pulleys, a custom air intake filter, tires and wheels. This gave the car 720 hp and 650 lb-ft. of torque, making it more powerful than the 2013 Shelby GT500, which claims to be the most powerful production car in the world.

While a high-powered race car may not be in the cards for every driver, those looking for used cars in NJ with a bit of a kick will find plenty of makes and models at New Jersey State Auto Auction.

School is almost out for the summer, which means teenage drivers will have a lot more time to spend behind the wheel. May is National Traffic Safety Month and many organizations, safety advocates and teenage groups are placing added emphasis on the importance of safe driving practices for young drivers this summer.

"These tragic crashes and statistics are preventable and it is time we all work together to put an end to summer breaks that end in loss and pain for families of young drivers. The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) Coalition leads this annual campaign with national youth organizations, federal and state leaders and business and industry partners," said Sandy Spavone, the executive director of NOYS. "Together these groups supporting and promoting youth efforts will save lives and prevent injuries."

NYOS and its partners will focus the campaign on raising awareness about the dangers of driving while impaired, not wearing seat belts and distractions behind the wheel. Everything from talking to passengers and playing with the radio to texting and eating can increase the risk of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports reading a text takes about 4.6 seconds, and when a car is traveling about 55 miles per hour, the driver's eyes will leave the road for about 100 yards, or the length of a football field.

Many new and pre-owned cars are loaded with safety features designed to reduce the risk of accidents, such as blind spot warnings and lane assist. There are also smartphone apps that can detect when a car is moving and stop incoming calls and texts from distracting the driver.

Parents who are searching for used cars in NJ for their teen driver can check out New Jersey State Auto Auction. This car dealer carries a wide selection of makes and models so parents are sure to find a safe, reliable ride for the new driver in their family.

Some people looking for a used car in New Jersey are searching for a vehicle that can hold a lot of cargo and passengers, while others may prioritize performance. But what if you need both? According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), there are a number of versatile cars that consumers can find for an affordable price.

Kia has had quite the resurgence over the past several years, and the trend continues with the Rio SX Five Door making the cut. The subcompact gets an impressive 138 horsepower while still enjoying around 40 miles per gallon. Additionally, NADA highlights its numerous amenities ranging from heated seats to keyless entry.

While the Rio SX Five Door offers some substantial room for a subcompact car, some motorists may be looking for a larger vehicle. For them, the Jeep Patriot is at the top of the list. Aside from being an affordable and reliable SUV, experts from NADA say that it is replete with safety features. Throw in the fact that it has four-wheel drive and it's one of the most affordable, versatile SUVs available.

Motorists searching for something in between the subcompact and SUV segments should land on the Hyundai Elantra. The compact car has all the appeal of other vehicles in the segment but it also includes a number of features inside, specifically an impressive audio system, NADA says.

If you're looking for versatility in a dealer, look no further than New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models, there is something for everyone. Additionally, it offers guaranteed credit approval, so everyone can walk away happy with a quality used car.

While cars with a manual transmission still remain a small segment of the market, signs show an increasing number of drivers are opting for stick shifts. Statistics from Edmunds.com show that manual cars accounted for about 6.5 percent of new purchases in the first quarter of this year, which is the highest percentage since 2006.

According to USA Today, there could be a number of reasons why a larger amount of drivers are choosing the manual route. Perhaps most significantly, however, they tend to be a bit cheaper than automatic models. They are usually about $1,000 less and are more readily available in smaller, more affordable cars.

Manual transmissions are also more appealing to drivers hoping to get better performance out of their ride. This is especially true for smaller cars, where being able to shift yourself lets you get the most out of the vehicle, analysts told the publication.

Along with price and power, some credit the increase in manual drivers to the fact that cars have become increasingly user friendly. According to USA Today, modern cars provide a much smoother clutch pedal than in years past. Furthermore, there is a portion of the driving population that simply chooses manual transmissions out habit.

The 6.5 percent figure is significantly higher than in the last few years. In 2010, only 3.9 percent of new cars purchased throughout the whole year were manual. In 2011, that number was about 3.8 percent.

Whether you're looking for an automatic or manual used car in NJ, you'll have luck at New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there's certainly something for every driver out there.

There's no denying that buying a car can be stressful. Between financing, choosing a car and trading in your old model, it can certainly be overwhelming. However, it does not have to be that way, and at New Jersey State Auto Auction it isn't. Not only does the dealer offer a wide variety of cars and SUVs, but NJ Auto will streamline the car buying process and take all the anxiety out of purchasing a used vehicle.

Perhaps the greatest advantage offered by NJ Auto is the exceptional variety of cars it has in stock. Specifically, it offers more than 400 pre-owned cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, all of which can be purchased online or in person. Furthermore, all models are sold at or below Kelley Blue Book value, so you know you're getting a good deal when you drive away.

Auto financing can be one of the most stressful aspects of buying a car. After all, how will you be able to get a new vehicle if you're not approved? That's not a problem at NJ Auto, which offers guaranteed credit approval thanks to a partnership with the Credit Acceptance Corporation. So regardless of whether or not you have poor credit history or a sterling reputation, you'll be approved.

Another common issue with buying a new car is being unsure what to do with your previous vehicle. NJ Auto has you covered there as well. You can trade in or sell your car, and thanks to AutoTrader you'll be able to get an appraisal in a matter of seconds and be well on your way to enjoying your new pre-owned vehicle.

While many consumers have been worried about the possibility of paying near-record prices at the pump this summer, it looks like that may not be the case. The price of gasoline futures traded in New York City has fallen significantly in recent weeks, and experts believe the downward trend in gas prices will continue, according to CNN Money.

The futures, which help set prices for gas, dropped from $3.40 to $3.10. The significant fall will likely start to be reflected at the pump sometime in the coming weeks. It's certainly good news given that drivers are nearing one of the busiest driving seasons of the year. Analysts believe the drop in prices is tied largely to the fact that crude oil has decreased by about $5 in price over the course of April.

"We're certainly going to see prices move lower at this point," industry insider Stephen Schork told the news source.

The estimates are good news, especially given that gas prices have already been trending downward. After reaching a nationwide average of $3.95 in early April, the average price of a gallon has dropped to $3.84, and with more reductions expected, motorists may soon feel a little bit of relief.

Although gas is becoming less expensive, that doesn't mean drivers should abandon fuel-efficient practices, such as driving less aggressively and making sure their tires are properly inflated.  Motorists looking for a more fuel-efficient vehicle may want to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which has plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.

There are few things more frustrating than a traffic jam. Perhaps if everybody paid attention, traffic would move at a smoother clip, but because that's not the case, it can be stop-and-go  for miles. While it might seem like there's no fix to the problem, Honda believes it could have the secret to a more stress-free commute.

Honda began work on a new system with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, and the company hopes it can help eliminate the behavior that causes traffic jams. Specifically, scientists are trying to curtail the practice of sudden stops and starts by providing drivers with detailed information including acceleration and deceleration patterns, which will hopefully allow motorists to drive more smoothly.

The initial findings were encouraging, according to Honda. Scientists discovered from the first round of testing that the system increases the average speed by around 23 percent, which in turn helped boost fuel economy by around 8 percent.

Although traffic jams can be a frustrating daily occurrence, they are also more damaging than potentially making you late for work, experts say. In particular, Honda points out that congestion can cause an increase in carbon dioxide emissions and is responsible for an increased instance of rear-end collisions.

While avoiding congestion and driving smartly can be an important part of an enjoyable experience behind the wheel, a lot depends on which car you're driving as well. If you're looking for a used car in New Jersey to fit the bill, New Jersey State Auto Auction is the place to go. With a wide variety of makes and models, there are plenty of cars to choose from.

Triplets are a handful and finding a car that caters to a trio of toddlers can be tough, especially if you can't bear the idea of driving a minivan. Cars.com spends a lot of time testing car seats in a number of models, and they recently published a list of the vehicles that cater to families with at least three small children. This does not mean the safety seats are crammed in so tight you can barely shut the door. To qualify for the list, there needed to be enough space between the seats for a child to reach in and unbuckle the seat belt.

The list includes sedans as well as SUVs, so families don't have to settle for the stereotypical van. The 2011 Chrysler 200 and 300 were the only sedans to make the grade. These cars were designed to be luxurious with an economic price tag. Those looking for used cars in NJ can find a used Chrysler 200 for around $15,000, according to Edmunds.com. Other vehicles with room for three kids in the back include the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2011 Nissan Murano, 2012 Honda Pilot and 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser.

Families with more than three kids who need safety seats may need to bite the bullet and purchase a minivan, or they can seek out larger SUVs. Many new vehicles offer seven passenger seating, which could make them a good fit for your growing family.

Whether you want something small like a Chrysler 200 or a larger Honda Odyssey, New Jersey State Auto Auction will have the perfect ride for you and your family. Every used vehicle is CARFAX certified, so motorists know they're driving away in a reliable ride.

With gas prices still hovering around $4 per gallon, drivers are looking for ways to get the most mileage out of their car, and some innovative designers recently created a car that gets an astonishingly high number of miles to the gallon. The only problem? None of them are old enough
to drive. A group of junior high school students in Missouri unveiled a ride that gets an impressive 358 mpgs, FoxNews.com reports.

The vehicle, designed by seventh and eighth graders, won a competition that pitted them against high school students. The unique single-seat car weighs just about 100 pounds and is powered by an engine typically reserved for motorized bicycles.

The project was led by industrial technology teacher Marcus Reynolds, and he and his students are not quite done yet. Reynolds hopes to enter the unusual car in the prestigious Shell Eco Marathon, which would put them alongside college students from around the world, according to the website.

While the car certainly won't make it into dealerships, motorists can take a cue from Reynolds and his students and do their best to try to conserve gas while out on the road. There are a number of easy ways they can reduce fuel consumption, including making sure tires are properly inflated, driving at the speed limit and using cruise control when taking long drives on the highway.

Auto maintenance is also a crucial component of increasing your gas mileage. Luckily, New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center provides an easy option for motorists looking for talented and knowledgeable mechanics. Located in Jersey City and open to the public, the center can provide everything from general upkeep to bigger repairs.