In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, individuals and organizations alike are coming together to help support relief efforts. We took special notice when we saw just how many car manufacturers are doing the same - and making a big impact while they are at it. Here are just a few examples: 

BMW Group, whose North American sales headquarters is in New Jersey, has donated $1 million to the Red Cross in an effort to aid the many who are in need in affected areas. In addition to such a large donation, BMW is encouraging their employees across the nation to volunteer their time and money to relief efforts.

Mazda has contributed $100,000 to the American Red Cross towards Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Additionally, The Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. Board of Trustees have approved grants of $5,000 each to be donated to two food banks in the impacted area surrounding Mazda’s North East Region office.

Chevrolet got creative and has donated 50 Silverado full-size pickup trucks and express cargo vans to the American Red Cross for use in relief and recovery in the affected areas. Each of these vehicles will come with 300 OnStar Hands-Free Calling Minutes and three months of its directions and connections plan, which includes turn-by-turn navigation services. Additionally, the GM Foundation donated $250,000 to the Red Cross Disaster Responder Program.

Ford Motor Company and its employees have contributed $50,000 to the American Red Cross relief efforts. They are an active partner in the 2012 Red Cross Disaster Program, and have been partners with the Red Cross for more than 30 years!

Hyundai  Motor America is set to donate $500,000 to the Red Cross. Additionally, Hyundai is encouraging their employees, dealer network, and vendor partners to volunteer or provide support in any way they can.

In a time of devastation across our Eastern Seaboard, it is both hopeful and encouraging to see car makers pulling together and giving back to the community in a very big way.

Got your hands full with car shopping? The 2013 Ford Escape is designed to lend you a hand!  Great for someone on the go, this roomy SUV has tons of features and accessories. Not to mention it has many eco-friendly options available. This is definitely one of the most convenient SUVs on the market.

Let’s talk about going green. The new Escape has two available EcoBoost engines that are awesomely efficient, getting you 33 highway mpg. Plus the seat cushion and head restraint foam are derived from soybeans and the carpet is produced using a blend of fibers derived from recycled plastic bottles. This will help you go green and will save you some gas money, too!

Ready for a full-sized smart car? This one is a genius! With available features like SYNC with MyFord Touch, you can drive at ease. Use voice commands to listen to your favorite songs, take calls, use the Navigation System, and even control the climate in the car. Trouble parallel parking? No problem! Activate the park assist and the Escape looks for a spot for you and then assists you while parking. All you have to do is control the shifting, accelerating, and braking.

If you are always on the go and your hands are full, this SUV is definitely one to look in to. With the push-button start, there’s no need to dig around in your pocket or purse for your keys. As long as the key fob is in the vehicle, you just press the brake pedal and then the start button and you are ready to go. And possibly the best of all, there is a foot-activated liftgate. How many times are you dragging groceries or luggage out to your car and have no extra hands to open the liftgate? With this feature all you have to do is kick your foot under the bumper and the power liftgate automatically opens! Use this easy access to keep your hands full and give your back a break.

The Escape is also great for any road trips and adventures. It has 4WD available to keep you safe no matter if its rain, snow, or shine. Plus, you can fold down the second row seating for tons of storage space. Taking a little trailer or some jet skis with you? The Escape with a 2.0L EcoBoost I-4 engine can tow up to 3,500 lbs. with sway control.

If you are looking to get a new car this year, we think the 2013 Ford Escape is absolutely a top pick! With all of the options and features, there’s an Escape to fit every type of driver and lifestyle.

You’ve heard the saying history repeats itself and when it comes to muscle cars, that is most certainly the case. After being the ‘hot’ trend in the late 60s and 70s, muscle cars’ popularity declined and some were discontinued altogether. However, we are seeing an increase in demand for the meaty cars as their popularity increases once again.

Typically a fan favorite, the Ford Mustang starts off our muscle car mania list. The 2013 Mustang GT will definitely give you more bang for your buck while giving you an unbelievable amount of options to make it customized to you.  It hauls 420 horsepower from its 5.0-liter V8 engine or 650 from its 5.8-liter V8. Now that’s what we call power! SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link will keep you up to date with music, traffic alerts and even gas prices. And our favorite feature  is the tinted glass roof option which still blocks out 96 percent of the sun’s UV rays. 

Next on our list is the Chevy Camaro. Who doesn’t love seeing a Camaro drive by? There are a few different models available for 2013, but the latest 2SS model caught our eye. This car not only looks good, but also has all the smart, new technology that you need. With a 426 horsepower ,V8  engine, you’ve got all the force you need. This beauty of a car has many options available including: leather seats, a premium nine speaker stereo system, and a rear camera that shows up on the 7 inch touch screen radio. Talk about fancy!

Our final choice is the legendary Chevy Corvette. With its 430 horsepower all-aluminum V8 engine and 190 mph performance, you are in for a whirlwind of fun. And with the 60th Anniversary Design Package that will be available on all 2013 models, you might just have the prettiest little gem on the block. This package includes an Arctic White exterior and a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior. Other options include full length racing stripes in Pearl Silver Blue which run the full car length including the interior. Not enough for you? How about these impressive technologies- OnStar, SiriusXM Radio, keyless access with push start button, navigation system and a nine speaker audio system. And that is just to name a few! This one definitely tops the scales in brawn, beauty and brains.

If you decide to purchase any of these attractive beasts, don’t go playing too fast and the furious or you might get a pulled over quicker than you can blink!