Today, June 25, is Leon Day, which marks just six months until Christmas Day. (“Leon” is “Noel” spelled backward.) Since it’s not even July and some stores already have the school supply aisles stocked, we wondered if it might be OK to begin thinking about asking for a car for Christmas – or to begin thinking about buying a car as a gift for a loved one (or yourself)?

Here are five vehicles that you might want to put on your wish list*.

2011 Audi A3

The 2011 Audi A3 is a small station wagon that doesn’t lack for style or substance. If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient car that’s not a hybrid, the A3’s FrontTrak Premium Plus trim with a 2.0-liter TDI engine and 6-speed S tronic transmission rates an EPA Greenhouse Gas Score of 8 and an estimated EPA fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 42 mpg highway. It also comes in one of the sharpest new car colors out there: Aruba Blue Pearl (pictured above).

2011 Ford Mustang

As we noted in our list of “Must-Have Motors for Dads,” the 2011 Ford Mustang gets a power boost over previous model years. The Mustang’s standard V6 has been upgraded to a 305-hp, 3.7-liter engine, while the Mustang GT now has a 412-hp, 5.0-liter V8. It’s also loaded with technology features, including electronic power assist steering, the SYNC^® in-car communications and entertainment system, and Ford’s MyKey^TM, which allows owners to assign specially coded keys for each additional driver to enforce specific driving restrictions.

See it now at a Ford Drive One Tour stop near you.

2011 Kia Sorento

If you’re looking for a crossover vehicle, the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV is loaded with standard features, from electronic stability control with traction control to hill assist control to the EcoMinder indicator that lets drivers know when their car is performing at maximum fuel-efficiency. Plus, it will be the first Kia vehicle to feature the Kia UVO in-car communications and entertainment system that is poised to rival the Ford SYNC^® system.

2011 Lincoln MKT

For those who want a luxury ride without sacrificing practicality and cargo space, the 2011 Lincoln MKT may be the right fit for you. Built on the Ford Flex platform, this full-size crossover SUV is available with room for seven passengers, built-in navigation system, SYNC^® in-car communications and entertainment system, MyKey^TM programmable keys, and Lincoln’s unique Vista Roof^TM that features fixed glass panels with power front and rear sunshades.

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient mid-size sedan, the 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid is definitely a vehicle to check out. The Camry Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with a 40-hp electric motor to offer an estimated 31 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 35 mpg highway. Moreover, the ECO Button helps prioritize the hybrid system and the air conditioning for better fuel economy. To avoid being just a carbon copy of the conventionally powered Toyota Camry, the Camry Hybrid features a narrower grill and more open and sporty front valance.

* Most of these cars will be entering dealer showrooms later this calendar year. However, you can already view pictures, watch test-drive videos, and learn more about the technical details and features of each of these cars from our Car Research section. Each description above is hyperlinked to go directly to the Research page for that vehicle.

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Ford is not only helping you reduce your own carbon footprint with its fleet of hybrid vehicles, such as the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV or Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid sedan, the company also taking a hard look how it can reduce the greenhouse gases it produces by 30 percent from the company’s 2006 model year baseline.

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

Now, Ford is taking its commitment to green one step further by working with its 35 top global suppliers to gain a better understanding of their greenhouse gas emissions and trying to help them reduce their carbon footprint.

“Suppliers play an important role as we look to reduce our overall carbon footprint and drive more efficiency in an energy constrained world,” said Tony Brown, Ford group vice president, Global Purchasing. “This initiative builds on our leadership in collaborating with suppliers and gives them a way to participate in solving an issue that faces our entire industry.”

Suppliers participating in this initiative include those making car components such as seats, steering systems, and tires.

While many of the suppliers are already measuring and trying to shrink their carbon footprints, Ford aims to foster collaboration among its suppliers to share best practices and process improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet any future government regulations.

Ford and its suppliers plan to share data and feedback with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), two leading organizations in helping businesses, governments, and other organizations develop methods for measuring and reporting corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

For more about Ford’s initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint inside its walls and throughout its global supply chain, read the company’s “Blueprint for Sustainability”:  http://ford.com/go/sustainability.

Shop for a new “green” car, including those from Ford Motor Company.

Other Ford News:

• Ford Custom Graphics
• Ford to Discontinue Mercury Brand
• New Graduate Car Discount Programs
• Ford is Top Automaker in Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

Did you make a commitment on Earth Day to begin driving more green, but you aren’t quite ready yet to make the commitment of buying a new car to do so?

Here are some tips that can help you drive green, in your current vehicle or in a new one:

• Drive Sensibly. Aggressive driving wastes gas – it can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
• Observe the Speed Limit. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.
• Lighten the Load. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your miles per gallon by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
• Don’t Be Idle. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.
• Use Cruise Control. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
• Use Overdrive Gears. When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Source: Driving More Efficiently

More Tips: Driving Green: Tips for Improving Your Fuel Economy