General Motors today released pricing details for the hotly-anticipated Chevrolet Volt. The extended-range electric vehicle will go on sale with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $40,280 (before $720 destination charge). A federal tax incentive of $7,500 drops the price to $32,780.

The Volt comes well-equipped with a standard navigation system, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, Bose premium audio, and 5 years of complimentary OnStar coverage. The only options will be chrome wheels, three premium paint colors, a rear park assist feature, and heated leather seats.

But how does the Volt stack up against the Nissan Leaf, its closest rival in the zero emissions race?

Nissan made waves earlier this year when they announced that the all-electric Leaf would be priced at $32,780. Factor in the $7,500 federal tax incentive and the effective price plummets to a very reasonable $25,280, which Nissan points out is comparable to a well-equipped Toyota Prius hybrid.

Compare the Leaf to the Volt, however, and you’ll find that the Chevy commands a stunning $7,500 price premium over the Nissan.

GM’s new vice president of US marketing, Joel Ewanick is quick to point out that the Volt has something the all-electric Nissan doesn’t: an onboard generator that runs on gasoline and that can keep the car moving for an additional 300 miles after the initial 40-mile all-electric range is depleted. ”No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever.”

And while the Leaf’s driving range of 70-120 miles may not make it as road-trip-worthy as the Volt, the Leaf is eligible for an additional $5,000 state tax incentive for California residents. This expands the Nissan’s price advantage to $12,500 in what is sure to be a critical sales market for electrically-driven cars.

Consumers will ultimately decide if range anxiety – their fear of running out of electricity before they can find a charging station – is worth the extra $7,500 to $12,500. As some EV enthusiasts have already pointed out, the price difference would cover a lot of rental cars for those times when 70-120 miles just isn’t enough.

Further proof that Craigslist is the most awesome invention known to man: the online listing service has allowed a California teenager to drive a better car than I do.  Correction: a better car than I will ever hope to have in the foreseeable future.

Steven Ortiz, who is barely of driving age, is now cruising down the freeway in a Porsche Boxster. And no, he’s not a trust fund baby or a lottery winner. He just knows how to fully utilize the online community that is Craigslist.

It all started with an old cell phone which was traded for an iPod which was traded for a dirt bike and so on until Ortiz finally ended up with the 2000 model year Porsche.

That last sentence begs a few questions. How do you justify trading an iPod for a used cell phone? Better yet, how do you justify trading a dirt bike for an iPod?

Maybe it’s just this crazy, throw-away culture that we live in. Or maybe this was all a serious case of CUI: Craigslisting Under the Influence.

For his part, Steven says that trading up to the Boxster was no easy feat. “It takes a lot of time. A lot of patience,” he told Fred Roggin of The Filter. Ortiz thinks that in a down economy, people still want the thrill of a new purchase but they don’t have the money to make it happen. So they instead resort to bartering old stuff that they aren’t using anymore.

Congrats to Steven on the new Porsche. You can see his entire story in the video below:

In case you haven’t noticed, Kia is on a roll lately. The South Korean automaker has been cranking out one hit product after another for the past two years, from the youthful Kia Soul to the family-friendly, 7-seater Kia Sorento. Sales in this down economy are so far up an impressive 14.4% from last year.

If early reviews from owners on Honk are any indication, the 2010 Kia Forte is set to continue that winning streak.

Much of Kia’s recent success can be attributed to a strong emphasis on design. Peter Schreyer was lured away from a 25-year career at Audi in 2006 and the famed designer has since been hard at work revamping the entire Kia lineup. Under Schreyer’s direction, new models now have a consistent look – described from within the studio as, “simplicity, but with precision.”

The new design language works well on the Forte. Nothing about the car’s appearance is cheap or fussy. Each line has a purpose and catches your eye in a way that makes the vehicle look solid and substantial.

The upward-sweeping beltline gives the car a wedge-like profile and energetic stance. Follow it down the car, past the front fender, and the line becomes the leading edge of the hood before wrapping back around to the other side of the car. Smooth, seamless, solid.

It’s rare to get this level of sophistication in such an affordable car. Parked next to its competitors the Forte looks handsomely understated and thousands of dollars more expensive.

Fortunately, beauty is more than skin deep on this new Kia thanks to a generous list of standard features. Younger buyers will no doubt appreciate the standard Bluetooth hands-free phone system and USB audio input jack. Families will love the standard anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control system, and side air bags.

Even the Forte’s standard 2.0-liter engine has something to brag about, offering a stout 156-horsepower and up to 36 miles per gallon on the highway. A larger 2.4-liter engine is available with 173-horsepower, though mileage does drop by a few miles per gallon.

One small downside is that you’ll have to buy an optional $600 Fuel Economy Package to achieve the highest MPG rating. The package includes aerodynamic upgrades and a more efficient 5-speed automatic transmission among other nifty tricks. It’s a steep price to pay for two miles per gallon.

The other option packages are reasonably priced and logically arranged. Step up from the base LX to the mid-grade EX trim level and the Forte gets an upgraded audio system, power windows and locks, cruise control, and upscale sideview mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators. The sporty SX trim level adds a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, and trip computer.  Leather seats and a sunroof are optional on both the EX and SX trim levels.

One option you won’t find – at least for now – is a factory navigation system. This seems like a missed opportunity to me since competitors like the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and Mazda 3 all offer the feature. Maybe Kia was just waiting for their excellent UVO voice-activated multimedia system to debut first?

(And speaking of later, Kia tells us that a smart 5-door hatchback with a bit more cargo space will come to market this fall. It’s sure to be a great choice for those who love to do more with less.)

On the upside, safety ratings for this Kia compact are excellent. The Forte was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: an award that requires top scores in front, rear, and side impacts, a rollover test, and the availability of electronic stability control. Only 51 vehicles received this honor in 2010 out of over 300 new models.

And as with many Kia products, the Forte is a smart buy thanks to attractive pricing and a class-leading 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. The sedan starts at a mere $13,695 and the coupe starts at $16,595. (See what people in your area have actually been paying here.)

Kia has much to be proud of with this new Forte. It’s a stylish, well-equipped ride that I think has earned its place among the leaders in this class.

No more out-of-state tuition to pay. No more curfews to enforce. No more clothes to pick up off the floor.

If this sounds like the newly free you, then it’s time to start enjoying that empty nest and get out of the house more!

Many Baby Boomer parents kick off the empty nest phase of their life with a new car as a way to celebrate their freedom and to reward themselves for a job well done raising the kids. They’re eager to get out and enjoy themselves and they’ve got the means to trade in that old family car for something with a bit more flash.

But which car is the best car for you? Should you keep some of the practicality of your old family car or should you go extreme and buy a sports car? Maybe find a comfortable sedan for touring the country or a rugged utility vehicle for ski trips?

We searched through Honk to see which cars scored highest for parents like you who wanted to pamper themselves with a luxurious new ride. Below is a list of five of the best cars for Baby Boomers with an empty nest.  You can view the entire list or build your own list on Honk.

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Best Cars for Baby Boomers: Chrysler 300

“You just can’t help but feel cool when driving this car!” is how one owner summed up his Chrysler 300.  It’s a refined sedan that brings a healthy dose of Rat Pack style back to America’s motorways.  Beyond the handsome looks, owners love the optional Hemi V8 engine which burbles smoothly around town and roars like a beast at full throttle.  With confident lines, a smooth ride, and a powerful engine, few cars embody the spirit of the all-American road trip quite like this Chrysler.

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Best Cars for Baby Boomers: Lexus ES350

This Lexus is smoother than Mick Jagger working a room of groupies after a Stones concert. Owners note that the hushed cabin and unflappable ride make short work of long trips. “Love the pick up and attention to detail,” explained one owner, citing the premium appointments and abundance of technology. The quiet and understated ES350 comes across as part automobile, part sanctuary – a perfect way to preserve the peace and quiet you’ve no doubt earned.

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Best Cars for Baby Boomers: Lincoln MKX

From its sparkling grille to its glitzy wheels, the Lincoln MKX certainly knows how to make an appearance. Beyond the extroverted styling, owners love the roomy back seat and panoramic moonroof.  One owner said that his MKX had become the de facto choice for outings with friends, joking, “My friends refer to my Lincoln as ‘the jet’ because they feel like they’re flying first class when we take my car.”

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Best Cars for Baby Boomers: BMW X6

With a unique blend of sport utility vehicle and luxury coupe, the BMW X6 is one of the most distinctive automobiles on the road today. Owners love the aggressive styling and powerful engines, explaining that the X6 was a smart alternative to buying a tiny and impractical sports car. This Bimmer is perfect for empty nesters who want to command respect at the valet stand but who also want the flexibility to bring friends or cargo along from time to time.

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Best Cars for Baby Boomers: Cadillac CTS

Cadillac’s excellent CTS is a standout sensation among Baby Boomers. And with its handsome good looks and powerful engines, it’s easy to see why. The CTS impresses inside the cabin, as well, with a luxurious interior that’s roomier than all of its competitors. Cadillac also offers a beautiful CTS coupe and sport wagon for those who want to take the road less traveled. There’s also all-wheel drive for those who have to contend with snowy weather.

The more I dig into the details on the new 2011 BMW 5-Series, the more I love this car. It’s richer, greener, faster, larger, and loaded to the brim with the kind of engineering that’s so impressive, you’ll swear that the people who built it do calculus for fun.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be an engineer to appreciate all the improvements. Take a 5-Series out for a spin and you’ll soon discover that the final result of all those computations is a beautiful, luxurious car that is incredibly fun to drive.

There’s no shortage of technology on this new BMW. The 5-Series now offers 4-wheel steering, automated parking, adaptive cruise control that can bring the car to a full stop in heavy traffic, night vision, head-up display, and headlights that swivel in the direction you’re traveling.

Driving enthusiasts might also appreciate the various software bits that can tweak the engine, transmission, and suspension at the touch of a button.

The impressive hardware and software is backed up by the car’s athletic exterior. BMW’s lead designer, Adrian Van Hooydonk wanted a more coupe-like roofline and powerful stance, so he moved the cabin aft and shaped the windows just so. The end result looks planted and purposeful, ready to take on any road at any time.

Van Hooydonk’s design has classic proportions and modern details. The car is striking in person, with elegant lines that flow across the sheetmetal and catch light dramatically. The hood is especially beautiful, with two graceful arcs that radiate from the blue and white BMW badge like the wake left behind a yacht.

Inside, the sporty message is reinforced by a cockpit that’s angled seven degrees toward the driver… a reminder that this is a driver’s car. Not that your passengers will mind, though, because the new 5-Series offers dual-zone climate control in front and back, rear seat displays for movies or internet browsing, and a half inch more legroom than its predecessor. Up front, the display for the iDrive system has grown to a generous 10.2-inches and now features a special foil coating that actually enhances the image in sunlight instead of washing it out.

The new 5-Series sedan comes to market with three models.  The base 528i sedan features a 240-horsepower 6-cylinder engine and starts at $44,550.  Stepping up to the $49,600 535i sedan adds a turbocharged engine with 300-horsepower.  The gadzooks fast 550i sedan storms the road and your wallet with a twin-turbo 400-horsepower V8 engine and a $59,700 price tag.

Though a wagon version of the 5-Series is no longer available in the United States, BMW does offer an interesting Gran Turismo model (535i and 550i versions only) that adds utility through a clever cargo door that can be raised high like a hatchback or low like a sedan’s trunk. The 5-Series Gran Turismo is longer and taller than the sedan and offers greater interior space and a more relaxed ride.

For now, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is available only on the Gran Turismo model. It will be added to the sedans before the end of the year, though. A gasoline-electric hybrid is expected to join the lineup for 2012, as well.

Even without the hybrid, BMW engineers have made impressive gains with fuel efficiency. In addition to tidier engines, they’ve added high-tech goodies like alternators that cycle off when they are not needed and motorized flaps behind the grille that open and close to improve aerodynamics. A new 8-speed automatic transmission allows the vehicle to cruise at lower engine speeds.

The resulting fuel economy numbers are staggering. The 528i with automatic transmission achieves 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. That’s identical to what a 2011 Toyota Camry achieves with a far less powerful 4-cylinder engine.  The fuel economy numbers for the 535i (20 MPG city / 29 highway) and 550i (17 MPG city / 25 MPG highway) are equally impressive considering their extra power.

Consider these numbers: despite being outsold by the sporty 3-Series family, the 5-Series accounts for 50% of BMW’s profits and is arguably the company’s most important vehicle. Credit those pricey option packages and upgraded engines which customers purchase as a way to get high-end 7-Series luxury in a leaner and more athletic package.

On top of the internal pressure, competition in the midsize luxury segment is fierce and the 5-Series faces a serious challenge from the recently-launched Infiniti M sedan and charming Jaguar XF.

As of right now, though, I’d say the numbers don’t lie.