Do you know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle? With fewer than ten percent of all cars and trucks sold in the U.S. last year being manual transmission vehicles, there’s a good chance that you either don’t know how to drive one or simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of doing so. However, there is that added benefit of better fuel economy in manual vehicles. Interested in getting more miles per gallon without having to deal with a clutch? Then you may want to look into purchasing a new Ford Fiesta or Focus.

Why are the new Ford Fiesta and Focus a good choice? Because they both are coming with the option to choose the “PowerShift” transmission system. The PowerShift system uses a gearbox rather than a traditional clutch that needs to be pressed with your foot, so that you’ll be able to push buttons instead. It’s easier to use that a traditional manual transmission vehicle, so those that could never quite get the hang of letting the clutch in and releasing just right can enjoy the benefits of a manual without the hassle.

The benefit of purchasing a PowerShift vehicle is that fuel efficiency is improved by as much as ten percent as compared to automatic Ford Fiestas and Focuses. This efficiency comes with features usually reserved for automatic transmissions: PowerShift vehicles have more control at low speeds than traditional manual vehicles, and there is none of the rollback on hills associated with driving a manual transmission vehicle.

The PowerShift technology gives Ford a boost in the fuel efficiency arena, an area that the company is attempting to dominate by offering best-in-class vehicles in the category of fuel efficiency for every class. The company has targeted increased fuel efficiency as a central goal, which has also been highlighted in its recent partnership with SunPower to offer solar panel packages in conjunction with its all-electric 2012 Focus.

If you’re looking for the benefits of a manual transmission, but prefer the convenience of an automatic, the PowerShift Fiesta or Focus may be the right vehicle for you.

The posting of April sales is a continued indicator that United States auto makers are experiencing a recovery since the bailout. Ford Motor Co. enjoyed approximately a 25% increase in sales from April of 2010. GM sales were up approximately 6.4% and they posted a first quarter profit of over $3.2B. Though Toyota Motor Company has grappled with safety recalls, they posted 24% increased sales. Several other companies are seeing the same significant gains holding over from prior months.

Much of this success is attributed to the shifting domestic buyer’s taste in automobiles. The industry heard consumers clearly when they began clamoring for small, fuel-efficient vehicles. As such, several are in production and continue to be produced while medium to larger-scale automobiles are being discontinued.

Incentives from manufacturers were a major catalyst in helping to improve sales across the board. As sales have risen, manufacturers have begun dialing back quite a few of their incentive programs to try and push sales to a more normalized fashion. Sales are decreasing steadily from March when many of these incentive programs were at their peak to bring in wary customers.

Studies conducted by auto industry researching website Edmunds.com showed a reduction of nearly 5% in incentives as automakers tried to rein in their spending. Many good bargains are still available though incentives are changing. GM posted an approximate expense of $3,270 per vehicle on incentives. Though this number is quite high, the average was skewed by incentives offered on discontinued models to simply get them moved and on the road. Honda Motor Co. spent approximately $1,790, setting a new record high in incentives offered on Honda automobiles.

Increase in sales is good news for the industrial sector who is currently witnessing a void of qualified workers in quite a few markets. Manufacturers are gearing up for production of new designs, moving into roomier office buildings, and making regular payments on the government bailout they received that rescued them from bankruptcy.

Though analysts feel that it is too early to say where the recovery will ultimately lead manufacturers, it is clear that the Big Three of Detroit and other manufacturers were not ready to surrender to foreign competitors. Their coming fight will be to reclaim lost market share and get consumers back in more of their vehicles.

A bad consumer review can be like the kiss of death for merchandise on the market today because of the accessibility that consumers have to the information. Consumer reports tend to be honest and forthright concerning products so many consumers hold these reviews in high regard. While potential consumers may find these reports helpful in their navigation of the marketplace of products, negative reviews are especially brutal for car companies and their associated products.

The highly acclaimed Consumer Reports magazine released news this week that Chevrolet and Ford are among other car companies whose products will not be recommended to consumers. More specifically, the 2011 Chevy Tahoe sport utility, 2011 Ford Edge crossover, and 2011 Lincoln MKX crossover are the most well known car models that will not be supported by Consumer Reports. While the magazine admits that all three of these popular vehicles do have some valuable strengths that consumers will appreciate, the vehicles performed poorly in a series of rigorous tests and data compilation performed by the popular publication.

The touch screen navigation in the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX received negative reviews on almost all counts especially on the overall distraction that is causes for drivers. The Chevrolet Tahoe received decent reviews with regard to its technology, however, received poor marks on braking time, price, and overall handling.

Other vehicles that will not be sponsored by Consumer Reports are the Honda CR-Z hybrid, Porsche Cayenne sport utility, and the Infiniti QX56 sport utility. While it is likely that both the Cayenne and Infiniti are too new for Consumer Reports to have done sufficient testing by the time their February issue was sent for publication, the Honda CR-Z reportedly performed surprising low in testing done by the consumer review experts especially considering that it has great fuel economy and a relatively affordable price tag. The CR-Z, which looks similar to the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, is being blogged about across the internet as an ugly twin to the Insight with bad handling, high level of cabin noise, and a payload that is basically equivalent to that of a large moped.

While it is bad news for these car companies that Consumer Reports gave poor marks to their car models and accessories, most of these names are already popular and established in the car market so they may be able to withstand these reviews. Overall, Consumer Reports magazine is a highly respected publication that can positively or negatively affect the sales and perceptions of products. Ford, Chevy, and the other companies that are receiving bad reviews in February’s issue will have to hope that these reviews will not hurt their sales efforts.

Have you noticed all the buzz recently about the new Ford Stallion Trike? This is what makes American ingenuity the envy of the world. Mostly motorcycle, somewhat trike, and all forward thinking. Just when you thought the think pots of our country have all gone away, something like this comes along and blows that notion right out of the water. But, then again, it is this type of thinking and producing that has shaped our country into what it is today.

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