Ford has always been at the forefront of innovation in the automotive world, and the iconic automaker recently took its advertising campaign to a whole new level. Ford has paired with NBC to launch a new reality show, dubbed Escape Routes, meant to promote the manufacturer's latest incarnation of the Ford Escape.

The show will pit six two-person teams against each other in a road trip across the country. In addition to having to traverse the United States in a 2012 Ford Escape, teams will also be tasked with overcoming physical and mental challenges in the process. The show is set to debut on March 31 and is one of the first times a company has turned to reality television as a means of advertising one of its products.

"Marketers have been trying for the past decade or so to go beyond the 30-second commercial or two-page ad in a newspaper," Matt Van Dyke, Ford’s director of U.S. marketing, told Forbes. "It used to be you could pay for product placement. Now with the advent of social media, it’s an opportunity to leverage the convergence of TV and interactive media."

The move may be an important one for Ford. The Escape had long been one of the top 10 most popular cars in the United States, but all that changed in February. The crossover fell off the list for the first time in nine months after it only experienced a 3.7 percent boost in sales, according to USA Today.

Whether you're looking to take a cross-country road trip like the contestants on Escape Route, or have simply been ignoring auto maintenance, a trip to New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center may be in order. With a knowledgeable staff, New Jersey Auto can help you with any repair or general upkeep.

Many automakers have expressed interest in manufacturing cars powered by compressed natural gas, and one of the leading companies is taking its efforts to the next level. Honda, which is currently the only company selling such cars to U.S. drivers, wants its dealers to be outfitted with natural gas pumps to encourage motorists to buy the alternatively-powered vehicles, Bloomberg reports.

Honda has already taken steps to make the plan a reality. In particular, the company is talking to regulators in the hopes of having natural gas pumps installed at two California dealerships later this year with the end goal of selling more Honda Civic Natural Gas sedans.

Although Honda wants to add stations to its dealers, there are a growing number of other pumps sprouting up across the country. As of December 2010, there were already around 1,000 stations in the United States. Honda's plan may help fill some holes.

"We’re adding stations rapidly," Richard Kolodziej, president of Natural Gas Vehicles for America, told Bloomberg. "If you are in an area where there aren’t any fueling stations, this is a great option."

The push for more natural gas fueling options comes after Chrysler announced it is planning to produce trucks powered by the fuel. According to The Associated Press, it hopes to manufacture a new Dodge Ram that runs on natural gas, and begin shipping by July.This is similar to a plan by General Motors, which hopes to release versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra that would run on the fuel.

It may be some time until natural gas becomes common on America's roads, but until then you can still purchase a fuel-efficient used car from New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there's something for everyone.

President Barack Obama has made no secret of his desire for car manufacturers to provide alternative fuel options, and on Wednesday he took things one step farther. In a speech in Mount Holly, North Carolina, Obama pitched a tax credit for drivers who purchase vehicles that run on alternative fuel, Bloomberg reports.

The proposal is not surprising given Obama's focus on alternative energy, but he has made a point in recent weeks to discuss the topic given the rising gas prices. The average price of a gallon of gas is currently at around $3.76, and Obama has steadfastly maintained that more drilling is not the answer to getting the number lower. Along with offering tax breaks to families that buy alternatively-powered cars, Obama will also make things easier for cities to do the same.

"To cities and towns all across the country, what we’re going to say is, if you make a commitment to buy more advanced vehicles for your community – whether they run on electricity or biofuels or natural gas – we’ll help you cut through the red tape and build fueling stations nearby," he told the audience.

Auto manufacturers seem to have received the message. There have been a growing number of cars running on fuel sources other than gasoline. Most notably, electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt grabbed headlines in 2011, but upcoming releases such as the Ford Focus Electric should raise the bar.

Though it might be some time until all vehicles on the road are running on electricity or natural gas, there are still ways to save money on fuel. Buying a car with excellent gas mileage is one easy way, and New Jersey State Auto Auction offers a wide variety of makes and models that will get you plenty of miles to the gallon.

Toyota announced a recall of nearly 700,000 cars on Thursday, citing potential problems with the airbags and brake lights. The issue affects Camrys, Venzas and Tacomas ranging from as far back as 2005 all the way through 2011 model years, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The issue in the Venza and Camry recall is that silicon grease may have made its way into the stop-lamp switch during assembly. As a result of the defect, some cars could experience problems as minor as the warning lights on the dashboard turning on. However, drivers could also experience more significant problems like the engine having trouble starting or the transmission being shifted out of park.

As for the Tacoma, the potential issue has to do with the steering wheel spiral cable. The manufacturer says that the cable can potentially rub against its container, causing friction that could disrupt the function of the driver's airbags, according to the newspaper.

Toyota is not the only major company to announce a significant recall recently. Chrysler just recalled around 210,000 Jeep Liberties from the 2004 and 2005 model years that could potentially lose their rear wheels, USA Today reports. The company says that the vehicles were constructed with rear lower control arms that potentially may rust through, which could cause a crash.

In addition to staying on top of recalls, regular auto maintenance is a crucial part of making sure your car runs smoothly. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center is a great place to go for all of your maintenance needs, whether it be general upkeep or a repair. With a knowledgeable staff, NJ Auto makes sure you'll be able to keep driving your car for years to come.

With gas prices expected to eclipse $4 per gallon in the near future, many people fear the price of used fuel-efficient cars may experience a significant jump. Though the cost may rise a bit, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) believes it will not be enough to change consumer behavior.

Drivers have been used to high gas prices for quite some time. While many people are worried that fuel is on the way up, even at a relatively low $3.50 per gallon, motorists are still paying much more than a decade ago, and they have come to terms with that. As a result, shoppers may not change their activity that drastically.

"Considering consumers have become accustomed to gasoline prices that averaged more than $3.50 last year, this time around we don't expect to see dramatic shifts in the shopping behavior of consumers for more fuel-efficient vehicles when prices approach the $4 mark," NADA's executive automotive analyst Jonathan Banks said.

Just because drivers have become used to high gas prices doesn't mean that you shouldn't look for ways to save money at the pump wherever possible. Aside from purchasing a used car that gets good mileage, how you drive your vehicle can have a significant impact as well.

Taking care of your tires is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a fuel-efficient car. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), having properly inflated tires can increase gas mileage by as much as 3 percent.

Whether you let the price of gas affect your purchases or not, New Jersey State Auto Auction likely has the car for you. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there is something for everybody.