With college costs spiraling ever higher, families are looking for ways to cut back on college costs. One way to contain costs is to have young adult children continue living at home, forgoing dorm life and commuting to school instead. The trade off here is that your young student will need a car and everyone knows that used cars don’t come cheaply. Fortunately, there are some options available to you, including some lower cost choices that will make it worthwhile for your student to commute.

Leasing — If you lease a new car, then you can expect to make payments for up to three years and make a significant down payment. There are two ways to contain your leasing costs. First, visit a website such as LeaseTrader.com or SwapALease.com to find lease deals from current owners. You may not want to commit to a long term lease and you might be able to find a good deal on a late model car. Once the lease is over, you’ll be responsible for returning it to the leasing company. BTW, consider the hidden value of leasing a car as outlined by the New York Times.

The second choice is to lease new, keeping an eye out for specials. At year end and at other times of the year, car manufacturers are looking to push inventory. GM, for example, has several no money down lease deals available as of this writing. For example, a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 2LS can be leased for just $199 per month for 39 months, no money down.

Family Car — Is it time to turn your family car into someone else’s used car? This is one of the easiest ways to get someone behind the wheel of a car — give them your car and buy a new one. If you don’t have a car ready to sell, then contact only family members and friends to see what they have available. Buying from someone you know is better than buying from a stranger.

Used Cars — Besides family cars, there are some reputable places to buy a used car. Those days of rip-off used car dealers haven’t disappeared, but the problem has been minimized as car manufacturers market “certified used cars,” putting the company’s stamp of approval on a late model or older used car. Also consider CarMax.com for local deals on cars that come with a guarantee. Your son may not be able to get that 2012 Ford Mustang V-6 he wants, but he could end up with late model Mustang or Focus that will get him where he needs to go.

Other Options — When you find out just how much it costs to buy even a five-year-old used car, you may begin to rethink the whole “staying at home” strategy. Don’t be discouraged — consider your options including lending one or both family cars out as needed, buying bus transportation tickets for your student and car pooling. The latter can be possible by posting advertisements at college or on Craigslist, making it easier for students to connect.

Final Thoughts

Finally, when you do find a car that you like, give it to your mechanic for a thorough review to ensure that no problems are left unnoticed. You’ll invest $50 to $75 for a fresh set of mechanical eyes and his opinion, but gain some assurance that the car will help your student get through college without a major repair bill in the offing.

When the Chevrolet Spark is unveiled at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show this week, we’ll see the official debut of a car that has been a long time coming. This mini vehicle, a direct competitor of the Smart ForTwo, Fiat 500 and Scion iQ, is coming to America next year as a 2013 model. Powered by an inline-four cylinder engine, the Spark will slot below the subcompact Sonic, but can be identified as much by its colorful exterior as it will by its diminutive size.

Affordable City Car

Chevrolet has two groups of people in mind for the Spark: those who are attracted to a city car and would find its size just right and young drivers who want an affordable, entry-level car. As of this writing the price hasn’t been announced, but the cost should be well below the $14,500 Chevrolet gets for a base Sonic.

“Spark is for buyers who want much more than a ‘cute’ small car – they want a car that can be personalized, is dynamic and fashionable, and delivers a lot of value for the money,” said Chris Perry, vice president, global Chevrolet marketing and strategy. “Spark’s vibrant exterior and interior colors make a fashion statement, but it is also affordable, safe, maneuverable and very fuel-efficient.”

The Chevy Spark has been on sale overseas for several years including in Europe, Asia and Australia. It can also be found in the Americas including Mexico.

Chevy Designs

This model features Chevrolet’s trademark grille, disproportionately large headlamps, chrome brightwork and rear doors that are integrated in the rear pillar area. This is a four-door with a two-door look, a tiny car offering big 15-inch wheels, an 85-horsepower engine and an optional four-speed automatic transmission.

The color schemes are attention grabbers as are the names assigned to identify each one: Salsa, Jalapeno, Denim, Lemonade and Techno Pink, as well traditional hues such as Grey Area, Black Granite, Silver Ice and Summit White.

Cabin Amenities

Inside, the Spark offers a Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, featured on 1LT and 2LT Spark models, and providing a seven-inch color touch screen. With this technology, Spark owners will be able to bring their personalized music libraries into the vehicle and use their smart phones and Bluetooth connectivity to access both Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and navigation.

Only when the Spark is stopped will owners have the ability to project video or their personal photo albums onto the screen. Optionally, SiriusXM radio will be available on upmarket models.

“This level of infotainment and connectivity was unheard of in this segment, until now,” said Perry. “We know Spark buyers do not want to give up personalization just because they drive a smaller car.”

Interior Design

Power windows and climate control are standard with the Spark which features a color coordinated interior, a motorcycle inspired gauge cluster and ambient lighting. Heated seating surfaces and a leather-wrapped steering wheel will be offered with the top of the line model.

Photos: General Motors

See Also — Youth Appeal: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Toyota may have just found a car that will be too hard for college students to resist. Provided that their parents have the funds to buy one or their own cash on hand to snap one up.

The Scion iQ debuts this fall, a tiny 4-seat microcar that defies easy description. Not much bigger than a Smart ForTwo, this model is just 10 feet long, representing the smallest four-seater in the world.

Tres Cute

The iQ’s cuteness may be what attracts some college students, but its $15,265 price and list of desired amenities including 11 airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, brake force distribution and brake assist are all standard. And that’s just the safety stuff.

Under the hood, a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine is rated at 94 horsepower and 89 foot-pounds of torque, tiny numbers that is for certain, but adequate for a car of its size. Delivering a combined city/highway 37 mpg, the iQ will offer top gas mileage among most any gas model, rivaling the Smart, but room for twice as many people.

Cabin Goodies

Inside, the Scion iQ features a compact air-conditioning unit, electric power steering, along with standard Bluetooth and HD radio technology. Yes, this car is designed for young drivers, but it could be its funky interior layout that grabs the most attention.

And that layout is 3 + 1, where two adults can sit in the front, an adult can sit behind the front seat passenger and there is still some room for a child behind the driver. You can bet the college crowd will figure a way to get four adults in an iQ, perhaps creating Facebook contests and Twitter tweet ups to underscore this point.

“Scion prides itself on being an innovative brand with a lineup of iconic vehicles that set automotive trends,” said Jack Hollis, vice president of Scion. “The iQ is the fourth vehicle in the family, and it will define the premium micro-subcompact segment as the choice for new urbanites who want clever transportation without a sacrifice in style or new features.”

Body and Colors

Now back to the Scion iQ’s exterior:

A high beltline gives this Scion its persona, as it appears to glide from its large, pronounced headlamps and up through the A-pillar and across the roof. And continuing down around its backside, this gives emphasis to the iQ’s geometric shape. Integrated turn signals, usually found in premium models, are standard — providing a touch that is at once clean and elegant.

Color choices will dazzle and include blizzard pearl, classic silver metallic, magnetic gray metallic, black sand pearl, hot lava and pacific blue metallic and black currant metallic. The featured model here is adorned in hot lava.

Yes, the Scion iQ just might be the ultimate college car or at least the first new car bought by today’s enterprising young grads.

See Also — SayLending: Auto Loans Online

Photo: Toyota Motors Sales, N.A.

Recent college grads with new job in hand may have a problem on their hands. Unless they can take mass transit to work, virtually everyone will need to have access to a car. Your college ride may have been sufficient, but after four years of slogging back and forth to campus, your hand me down from Grandma is about through. Besides, you no doubt realize that a 1999 Buick LeSabre just won’t impress anyone…perhaps it is time for you to shop for a new car?

Equipped, Not Stripped

There is plenty of good news for today’s car shopper, particularly the recent college grad who can’t afford a BMW, but can find a well equipped car for under $20,000, with several models retailing for thousands less, but still offering air-conditioning, an automatic transmission and even a navigation system. Cars are today are better equipped than when you first set off for college and they’ve got many of the safety amenities you want including traction control, side curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes.

The following is our list of some of today’s current affordable favorites, cars that offer maximum value for a minimum price:

Hyundai Elantra — All new for 2011, the Elantra has raised the bar in the compact car segment by offering class leading fuel economy of 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, across all model lines. Whether you choose an Elantra equipped with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, you’ll get the same gas mileage. Moreover, the Elantra is stylish, offers many amenities and optional equipment such as rear heated seats not found in any other cars in this segment. Priced from about $15,000, you can drive a well equipped Elantra for under $19,000. New this fall is the Hyundai Accent, a subcompact that will lead that segment in price.

Chevrolet Cruze — Who would have thunk that Chevrolet would ever have a player in the ultra-competitive compact car segment? After years of Cavalier and Cobalt sales, good as they were for some years, the Cruze demonstrates that GM can build a car that competes well and offers plenty of sedan for the money. A large cabin, excellent fuel economy and five trim levels allows the buyer to choose a car ranging in price from about $16,000 to just over $23,000. Even base trim models are nicely equipped. Choose the optional 1.4-liter turbocharged four paired with a manual transmission and you’ll get 42 mpg highway. New this fall is the Chevy Sonic, a high mileage, low-price subcompact model and successor to the Aveo.

Ford Focus — One of the better styled small cars is the 2012 Focus, a European designed small car that is big on looks, but small on price. This Focus makes the previous generation model look absolutely drab inside and out, a vehicle offering seating for five passengers, 40 mpg highway fuel economy and several technology features including SYNC. Fully equipped, you’ll pay under $20,000 for the Focus.

Ford Fiesta — The Focus occupies the compact car slot, with the Ford Fiesta positioned as a subcompact. Powered by the same 1.6-liter four cylinder engine found in the Focus, the Fiesta is budget pleaser, with a base sticker price of under $15,000. You get 10 airbags, 40 mpg highway and your choice of hatchback or sedan. Most well equipped Fiestas can be had for under $18,000, offering one of the best bargains on the market.

Honda Civic — All new for 2012, the Honda Civic is one of the higher priced compact cars in its class, but base models can still be had for under $20,000. Rock solid Civic quality brings buyers back year after year and, with an HF model now available, the Civic gets 41 mpg on the highway. Alternatively, consider the subcompact Honda Fit, which is priced thousands of dollars less and competes against the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent.

Other Models

Several other models are worth considering although some aren’t new. The Toyota Corolla is the perennial sales leader and the Nissan Altima is also a strong seller. The Mazda3 competes well with the Ford Focus as does the Mazda2 with the Ford Fiesta. The Volkswagen Golf offers German engineering and value, providing a competitive option for people who want to drive something different. Scion’s line presents a reasonably priced alternative to Toyota.

Lastly, most manufacturers offer a “recent college graduate” rebate on top of whatever other deals they have going. Rebates generally range from $400 to as much as $1,000 on select Scion models. Speak up too — your sales associate may not know that you recently finished college.

Resources

SayLending: Auto Loan Tools

Auto Trends Magazine: 2011 Hyundai Elantra Specs & Overview

CNET; 2011 Ford Fiesta Review; Wayne Cunningham; July 28, 2010

AutoWeek; 2012 Ford Focus SE 5-Door, an AW Drivers Log Car Review; May 12, 2011

Car and Driver; 2012 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe – First Drive Review; Tony
Quiroga; April 2011

The Auto Writer; First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze; July 31, 2010

One dilemma facing recent college grads centers on transportation. You may have a job, but you don’t have a vehicle to transport you from your home to your place of business. If you live in New York or some other public transportation rich city, you’ll survive quite nicely without a vehicle and save a bundle in parking fees and related car costs by taking the bus, catching a cab or jumping on the subway.

If you live in suburbia or are far from a job, you’ll need your own set of wheels to get you to work. This is where new grads face a common issue: finding a way to get to work when personal transportation is necessary. If you already have your own car or you can drive the family car, then the issue isn’t pressing. For everyone else, time is of the essence — you need a car soon.

Should you buy new? Should you buy used? What other options do you have? Let’s explore your choices and what they may mean to you, the new grad:

New car — Major automotive manufacturers want your business and are willing to sweeten your best deal with a discount for new or recent college grads. One of the most generous deals is a $1,000 college graduate rebate from Scion, Toyota’s youth brand. Buy a new xD, tC or xB and you can save on models that already are priced well below $20,000. Ford, GM, Nissan and Honda are among other manufacturers offering discounts too.

Used car — Your used car options are many. You can buy through a private party, through a car dealership, via eBay or through used car superstores such as CarMax or Auction Direct. Prices can vary dramatically with private deals usually offering the best value. However, if a warranty is important to you, consider buying a late model used car from a car dealer or used car superstore.

Financial Considerations

New grads need to keep some things in mind before buying any vehicle. Most important, is the debt you’ll be taking on if you must finance your vehicle. Yes, you’ll need at least $5,000 to buy a decent used car, funds few grads have at their disposal. If financing a new car, your interest rate will be lower than the interest rate on a used car, but payments will likely run several hundred dollars a month and may last 48 or 60 months, perhaps longer. Figure out your costs before committing to any purchase by using a loan calculator first.¹ Take into consideration all of your expenses including rent, utilities, food, clothing, student loan repayment and other expenses. That 335i may be a beauty, but your budget may be closer to a Ford Focus or Hyundai Sonata.

Credit Considerations

How is your credit history? Lots of grads may wonder what their credit picture looks like after attending college these past four or five years and working part-time or seasonally. Consider obtaining free copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to find out what creditors are saying about you. ² Pay the extra $5 to $8 to obtain your credit score, a three digit number useful to help you find out where you stand. Scores of 700 and up “suggest good credit management” according to Experian, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus.³ Likely, your score is lower unless you’ve built up substantial credit over the years. Lenders will determine your loan rates based on your credit score.

Practicality Considerations

You may be enticed by a particular make/model vehicle which is understandable: many car buyers are. It can be hard to make a practical decision, but you’ll be glad you used your mind and not your heart to buy a car. Today, consumers keep their cars much longer than just a few years ago, with the media age of cars 10.2 years according to R.L. Polk.⁴ That means taking into consideration where you may be several years from now: perhaps married and with a family.

Your Decision

Yes, buying a car — used or new is a big decision. As of this publication, a gallon of regular gasoline costs $4 which means your buying decision may be dictated by as much as what you pay at the pump than anything else. Take into consideration the warranty you’ll get with your vehicle, find out what your car insurer will charge you and keep in mind maintenance, repairs and property taxes and other fees as applicable. Finally, consider leasing if you need a new car and you expect your plans to change after three or four years. With leasing, you enjoy the benefits of driving a new car and can return it after lease term.

References

¹ CarSurfer.com: Loan Calculators

² AnnualCreditReport.com: Home

³ Experian: What is a Good Credit Score?

⁴ R.L. Polk; Polk Finds More Vehicles Scrapped than Added to Fleet; March 30, 2010

Looking for a new car:

• jump over to our Auto Buying and Search Center

Hit the highway in your rental car.

If don’t own a car or at least want to rent one, many rental companies require drivers to be at least 25 or in some cases as low as 21. This qualification doesn’t help young college students who find themselves needing to rent a car to travel home for the weekend or to head out on break.

There are ways you can rent a car for a few hours, a day or longer even if you’re as young as 18. You must be a licensed driver, but you can avoid some of the age restrictions and limit possible surcharges if you have a clean driving record and no problems on your credit reports.

Rental Location – Most of the big car rental companies make it difficult for younger drivers to rent its cars, but that depends on where you are driving. Alamo Rent a Car requires drivers to be 25 in the United States or pay huge daily surcharges. However, if you’re visiting Guam you can rent a car if you’re 18 or 19 in Italy and Austria.

Rental Company – The big guys may not want your business or at least they’ll hit you with surcharges. Smaller companies, including Rent-a-Wreck, allow drivers as young as 18 to rent a car and some locations don’t charge extra fees. An on-campus rental service such as Zipcar may make an exception to the age restriction others tout. Even the Enterprise branch at Stanford University rents to students, ages 18-20, as long as they provide a valid Stanford ID, proof of full-coverage car insurance, and a major credit or debit card.

Credit Cards – One of the reasons why most car rental companies don’t rent to drivers under age 25 has to do with risk. As in insurance risk. These companies pay large sums to insurance companies to cover vehicle fleets and those costs are determined by what customers drive its cars. If you have your own credit card, you’re demonstrating to the rental car company that you have begun to build up credit and will assume some of the risk of renting. You may still have to pay a surcharge, but you can offset some of your costs if your credit card provides insurance protection while you drive.

Driver’s License – Only with a valid driver’s license will you be able to rent a car. When you offer your card, the company will run a quick background check on you. That check will reveal whether you’ve had problems with the law and if you are a credit risk. If your record comes up clean, then you may be able to have some fees waived or at least lowered to reflect your good record.

Lastly, if renting a car is still a problem, a cosigner – such as a parent – may be all that you need to get yourself behind the wheel of a car. Moreover, if someone else assumes the risk, then fees may be waived accordingly.

Adv. – Are you looking for a new car? CarSurfer.com has information about the latest models as well as late model used cars. Loan calculators and free work sheets can help you decide.

There are ways for you to save money on fill ups or at least to extend the intervals between visits to your favorite fueling station. Let’s take a look at six ways you can save on gas and preserve your cash:

1. Lower Gears — Around town, you can’t shift into overdrive or to the lowest gear, but once you hit the open road then make it so. Those EPA fuel economy estimates for your car are based in part on highway driving — is your Ford Focus getting the 35 mpg highway the government says that it should?

2. Smart Driving — The Indy 500 features some of the fastest cars on track, but why is it that many of its fans attempt to drive fast themselves? Avoid jackrabbit starts, brake carefully and keep your highway speeds at 65 mph or lower to reduce your fuel consumption advises Peter Valdes-Dapena writing for CNN Money.

3. Tune Your Car — Under inflated tires cause your car to run less efficiently as does a clogged air filter, bad spark plugs and dirty engine oil. A clean running car is a fuel efficient vehicle; remove the unneeded roof rack which contributes to wind drag notes the Duke University Sustainability department.

4. Gasoline Grades — Most cars run on regular gasoline just find. If your owner’s manual indicates regular gasoline is recommended, then use it. If premium fuel is required, then you’ll need to step up a grade. The price differential between regular and mid-grade is about 10 cents; add an additional dime to that total if you choose premium fuel.

5. Remove Your ‘Stuff’ — You’ve been using the trunk of your car as a storage compartment for too long. Books, luggage, sporting gear and camping equipment adds weight to your car, forcing your vehicle to consume more fuel. For every 100 pounds of “stuff” your gas mileage can drop by 2 percent states the EPA.

6. Car Pool! — If you’re living away from home while attending college, those trips back to the family estate can prove costly. If your trip is several hours away, why not connect with other students who live in your area to arrange some car sharing? Carpooling makes sense — you can split the cost of gas and tolls, saving everyone money.

Higher gas prices are a reality and we may soon be paying $5 per gallon. That’s a lot of dough, something most college students would rather use on academic and leisure pursuits.

Yes, your parents have drilled this into your head since you got behind the wheel, but have you learned it or are you still stuck in the “I know it all” stage.  As young adults you have a lot more experience than you did when you were in high school and I’m sure you may have experienced a few close calls. Let’s look at the top 7 things you should have learned and executed by now.

7. Driving is a Privilege

If a person violates the law, the state won’t hesitate to revoke the license at the drop of a hat. This even includes so called “minor” things such as having a DUI or an accident without having adequate auto insurance. Too many teens think that they are just going to drive without any sort of penalties, no matter what they do. The worst time to find out that this is a false assumption is when they receive a court-mandated license suspension that lasts until they’re 21 (or even longer).

6. Insurance is Expensive

Statistically, the younger you are, the higher risk of getting into accidents, so insurance is more expensive than that of more experienced drivers.  Also, many insurance companies don’t even want to deal with drivers under a certain age to avoid such hassles. This lack of supply also drives up the price that you end up paying. If you are a bad driver your rates will stay high even as you grow older. You should know how to shop, compare, and pay for your insurance on time.

5. Buckle Everyone’s Seat Belt

Everyone in the car needs to buckle up every single time. The punishment for getting into an accident and not wearing your seat belt is a much higher likelihood of death. The punishment for allowing a friend to ride without a seat belt buckled may very well be losing that friend and dealing with the guilt of such a loss.

4. Concentrate on the Road

It’s very easy to get distracted behind the wheel. Cell phone, radio, food, makeup, friends, animals, … we can go on for days. It is during these few distracted seconds when accidents happen. It’s extremely important to focus on driving safely and following the relevant laws, as opposed to whatever else feels important at the time. Get into the habit of asking yourself, “Can I wait until the next stop light to ____”.

3. Avoid Combining Booze with Driving

Some people start to drink alcohol in their teens and continue to do so. True? Yes, we all know that drinking reduces the ability to drive effectively and react well, but the wise one’s heed this warning by focusing on survival. What’s the point of learning to have fun and making friends if you plan on killing yourself by driving drunk?

2. Stay Within the Speed Limit

Most people see the speed limit as the absolute minimum speed to be driven. However, going above the speed limit at all (especially on curves and during slick conditions) can make it much more difficult to avoid potential hazards through swerving or stopping.

1. Drive Defensively

This means that avoiding an accident is the surest way to protect oneself from the damage it tends to inflict. Leave ample space between your car and the car ahead of you. Keep an eye out for a place to steer toward if something unexpected should happen. Sooner or later, things like that always do occur. If it is inevitable to crash, hit the object that is most likely to move. You don’t want to hit a concrete wall or a large tree, you will suffer full impact.

Oh, so you already knew this? Then why are you still doing it? Still texting while driving? Still doing your mascara on the go? Still speeding? It’s better to get an angry honk because you are going too slow than to end up paying tickets, landing int he hospital, or six feet under. But then again, you already know all of that.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan

The market for first time new car buyers remains fairly the same, but with one interesting twist: buyers want cars that are well-equipped, not stripped.

Gone are the days when air-conditioning, power windows, reclining bucket seats and a stereo system were options if there were available at all. Today’s car buyers may prefer a small car, but they want big car amenities including Bluetooth connectivity, available navigation system, supportive seats, leading safety features and great fuel mileage.

Young Drivers

Today’s cohort of subcompact cars is geared to the youthful driver such as twenty-something college students and recent college grads who have started their careers and need cheap and affordable transportation. Cheap does not mean tons of plastic either – soft touch materials and amazing seating surfaces are of interest to them.

GM is targeting college students and young professionals with a subcompact car designed by its Korean production arm, GM Daewoo, but will be built in Michigan when it goes on sale later in 2011. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic replaces the subcompact Aveo, itself imported from South Korea, but bearing a name hard to pronounce or remember.

The new Sonic is powered by a fuel efficient 1.8-liter four cylinder engine and will offer an optional 1.4-liter turbocharged motor. If this engine line up sounds familiar it is: the compact Chevrolet Cruze offers both, in a slightly larger and more expensive package.

And that is the appeal of the Sonic: give the buyer what can be found in a larger model, but charge them a small car price. Though GM has yet to firm up price, its reasonable to assume that standard models will retail for about $15,000, which is the price its chief competitors the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent command.

Body Styles

Two body styles will be offered: a sedan and a hatchback. At the 2011 North American Internationl Auto Show in Detroit, those models plus a sporty concept were put on display. Likely, the concept will become a reality at some point, a hatchback with coordinated striping and color schemes on the grille, hood, roof, wheels and rear deck.

Both models offer seating for five passengers and includes standard electronic power steering and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing. This model also features OnStar with turn-by-turn navigation, providing buyers with a six-month renewable subscription. Of significance are amenities generally not found in this segment including a sunroof, remote start capability and heated front seats. Chevrolet will include 10 airbags which also is an uncommonly generous number for a subcompact car.

Buyer’s Choice

Will buyers flock to the Sonic? Maybe. Now that the model has a much more memorable name and gains important feature any new car buyer wants and offers them at a rock-bottom price, this model just may find its way into the driveways of many young drivers.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback

Source: General Motors Company

Resources

Motor Trend Magazine: 2011 Detroit: Chevrolet Sonic, Tuned Z-Spec Revealed

Winding Road Magazine: Detroit 2011: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic’s Live Debut

College students who are into design, particularly car design, should be aware of a contest which could help shift their career into high gear. Terra USA, a multinational Internet company based in Brazil, is courting Latino designers for its first ever Car Design Challenge.

The rules for this particular contest are are easy to follow. Entrants need only to sketch their dream car design and upload it to Terra’s Car Design Challenge hub. A jury will review all submitted designs, choosing one lucky winner for an all expense paid trip to the 2011 Chicago Auto Show in February. That person will also be given an opportunity to share their vision with one of the industry’s leading designers.

Kia Designer

Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia, is plugging this opportunity for Terra USA. His video and examples of some the entries are available by following the link above. And, no, you don’t have to be Latino to enter — this contest is designed to spark interest in car design amongst the Spanish speaking populace.

BTW, this isn’t a SayCampusLife.com sponsored or authorized contest. From time to time we like to present special opportunities to our readers including contests, scholarships and grants from a wide variety of sources. Contact Terra USA for more information.