Elite Auto Rental Blog

Nissan’s new all zero-emissions car, the LEAF, wowed audiences when it was unveiled on Friday in Los Angeles.  Consumers are beginning to consider 100% electric vehicles a new kind of exotic car, and Nissan is justifiably proud of its offering.

“The LEAF is a new paradigm of the car,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn told Reuters.

“LEAF represents a totally new transformational technology that will change the way people drive, use, and power their vehicles. And the time is right for this breakthrough.”

Sales of fuel-efficient vehicles have been one of the few relatively successful areas of the auto business in recent years.  Amid economic and environmental concerns, U.S. consumers are looking for a way to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

Many consider zero-emissions cars to be the way of the future.

Toyota and other car companies have been focusing on hybrid technology.  With its Prius, Camry Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid, Toyota is clearly betting on the continued success of hybrid vehicles.

Nissan has other fully-electric plans.

Reports indicate that Nissan is betting everything on zero-emissions cars, and they are doing all they can to control every step in the manufacturing of these vehicles.

“With our alliance partner, Renault, we are taking a position which is unique in our industry which is a comprehensive approach that goes beyond our vehicles alone,” said Ghosn. “Our vision includes lithium-ion battery development and lifecycle management, infrastructure support and collaborative partnerships that educate and engage the public.”

Nissan’s website claims that the LEAF “performs like a V6,” although it also lists the car’s top speed at 90 miles per hour.

As long as the car has decent performance, it may not need to offer adrenaline thrills, even for exotic car fans.  That’s because exotic car enthusiasts are discovering a new way to drive their dream cars and still take car of the environment.

You can own a fuel-efficient or zero-emissions vehicle like the LEAF for your daily commute, reducing your reliance on gasoline.  Then on the weekends, you can rent an exotic car or join an exotic car club.

It’s the best of both worlds.  In addition to saving gas and money with your commuter vehicle, you’ll be able to experience the real thrill of driving an exotic vehicle like a Lamborghini or a Bentley.

Renting an exotic car or joining an exotic car club eliminates most of the hassle that goes with owning an exotic vehicle.  In addition to finding secure exotic car storage in Dallas and affordable insurance in Azle, exotic car owners need to deal with maintenance and high car payments.

Vehicles like the Nissan LEAF may soon make it possible to save the environment and still have a great time.  The LEAF will begin appearing in showrooms in late 2010.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer specializing in parenting, cars, genealogy, and crafts. She recently completed SE friendly web content for a Fort Worth Car Storage company.

A Plano luxury car dealer has a unique approach to marketing. Eric Mass, president of Classic BMW in Plano, TX came up with the idea for Cars and Coffee.

The show takes place on the final Saturday of every month. Classic BMW provides owners a place to show off a variety of exotic vehicles, including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches. Classic cars are also welcome, and in September, the dealership hosted 520 vehicles.

Photo by Charles Williams. See more of his excellent photos in his Flickr photostream

“Our specialty is BMW, but we have an affinity for everything automotive, and we want people to know that,” Maas told the Dallas Morning News.

Hosting a show is a creative marketing ploy, to say the least. The majority of show participants are unlikely to buy a new exotic car from Classic BMW. In fact, the Cars and Coffee show doesn’t even provide advertising for Classic BMW, since the dealer isn’t mentioned in ads.

However, as the Cars and Coffee show gains a following, potential customers may trickle into the dealership on their own.

“It’s a challenging economy for everyone right now,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas car storage facility, “but for people in the auto business, it’s even more difficult. This is some great creative marketing.”

For Maas, it’s also about something even bigger. He coordinates donations for each show, often for causes like leukemia and Alzheimer’s research. He’s hoping that more participants will mean even larger donations.

“I think we could have shows where if we have 2,500 or 3,000 people showing up, we could raise $2,000,” he says. “That’s kind of an informal goal.”

With the way attendance numbers have been increasing, it’s likely that Maas will meet his donation goal. Dallas area residents are excited about exotic vehicles, and they are turning out in droves for the Cars and Coffee event.

For exotic car fans, events like Cars and Coffee are a great way to get a close look at exciting vehicles. If you want an even closer look without the expense of owning an exotic car, you can try exotic car rental.

Owing exotic cars can be costly. On top of the high purchase price, you have basic upkeep of your vehicle to consider. You also need to find a great deal on car insurance, which isn’t always easy for exotic vehicle owners.

Another great ownership alternative is joining an exotic car sharing club. Car club members have access to an entire garage of exotic cars and can use points to drive those cars whenever they like.

When it comes to exotic vehicles, Maas wants the public to know that his dealership is excited about everything.

“Our specialty is BMW,” he says, “but we have an affinity for everything automotive, and we want people to know that.”

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer, specializing in cars, crafts, genealogy, and parenting.