Postponed Launch of the Toyota Prius

The most successful hybrid car in the world ever is scheduled for a redesign according to its maker. Toyota announced that the Prius will undergo a redesign for its third generation. For the third generation of the Prius, it was expected that it would be equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack instead of its current nickel-metal hydride battery.

Earlier this year, Toyota's Chief Executive Officer Katsuaki Watanabe said that: "We are now aiming at reducing, by half, both size and cost of the third-generation hybrid system." The redesigned Prius with the lithium-ion battery pack is expected to hit showrooms by late 2008. Recently though, the Japanese publication Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun reported that Toyota has postponed the launch of the new Prius.

According to reports, Toyota will be introducing the redesigned Prius in the spring of 2009. While Toyota, true to their nature, kept silent as to when they would start the redesign of the Prius, auto industry experts agree that Toyota will commence the remodeling of the Prius late next year.

The report came after speculations that Toyota has rejected the use of lithium-ion batteries for the mean time on the Prius. This means that they will introduce a 2008 model year version of the Prius that will still come equipped with the bulky nickel-metal hydride battery that it is currently equipped with.

But with the recent developments, it appears that Toyota is further assessing the potential and risk of using lithium-ion battery packs. These types of batteries are known for lower weight than nickel-metal hydride batteries. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries store more energy than the current battery packs used on hybrid vehicles.

Toyota is reportedly working with the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. in developing advanced lithium-ion battery packs for the future model of the Prius. One aspect that Toyota and Matsushita are working on is the safety of the battery. While known for being a lightweight power storage device, the safety of lithium-ion batteries is questioned. In this regard Toyota aims to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries with rugged construction to ensure that it would meet the demand of automotive application.

The vibration created by the engine can jeopardize the battery. Bumps and potholes can also cause vehicles to vibrate - this vibration may damage the lithium-ion battery and can cause malfunctions.

Toyota also announced that they will upgrade the internal combustion engine that comes with the Prius. The current engine used by the Prius is a 1.5-liter engine. For the redesigned Prius, Toyota reported that they would use a bigger 1.8-liter internal combustion engine.

Aside from the changes reported by Toyota, they have yet to announce whether they will radically change the exterior styling of the Prius from its Toyota door handle to the front and rear bumpers.

So far, Toyota only has this to say about the upcoming new version of the Prius: "Our policy is to roll out any model when all the conditions are in place."

The Prius is the current best selling hybrid vehicles. It was introduced in Japan in 1997 and from its inception in the market, the vehicle has steadily increased it sales output. Its popularity increased dramatically when it was introduced in the United States auto market. The Prius played an instrumental part in Toyota reaching a milestone of selling 1 million hybrid vehicles.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time.

Insider Secrets to Getting the Best Deal on a Used Car

The first thing which is very important when you purchase a new car is to do your research online through car websites like http://Edmunds.com and http://Autoblog.com and http://www.matchmyride.com.

In automobile magazines there are a lot of models which may be compared. You can try to determine the size which is best for your needs: a two-door, a subcompact, a compact or a sedan model.

Next you can compare the mileage ratings for different cars. These mileage ratings must be listed on window stickers and they respect environmental protection requirements. Mileage ratings are determined, by tests, through simulated city street and freeway driving. However the mileage you get on your vehicle may depend on your driving habits and on the vehicle itself. Mileage ratings may help you calculate how much the car will cost you to run. The most efficient car is one which provides a better mileage. Some easy calculations may help you save considerable sums of money.

A hybrid vehicle, even if it has a higher initial cost, it will pay itself back in a few years by the amount of gasoline saved.

Furthermore, the car buying folder must include all the data necessary in order to buy a car:

1. information about all the car dealership in your area 2. purchase price, monthly payment, down payment, interest rates, length of loan 3. your free credit report at http://FreeCreditReport.com 4. data about the manufacturer, and car dealer incentives 5. offers on your trade in 6. worksheet about how much and what you are paying for 7. your driver's license, if you take the car for a test drive 8. car insurance estimator 9. costs of different accessories of the car, provided by different car dealers 10. checkbook, proof of insurance, registration, etc

Negotiating with dealers

It's a buyers market which means you can bargain with dealers for a better deal, but you need to be prepared for the battle. Ourisman Hyundai offers internet pricing which is below invoice, and not many dealers can do this. To cross check their prices, go to http://Edmunds.com and select your car of choice learn about the INvoice and MSRP.

Do some research on market values before you go shopping so you know the value of the car you're buying and the value of your trade-in. That way you'll be better placed to barter with the dealer. Have your finance arranged before you go shopping, but don't tell the dealer. Dealers will often cut the price of a car believing they'll make money on the finance. Don't settle on the first car you inspect. Visit a number of dealers and compare deals before making a commitment.

Look for a dealer well stocked with the car you want and he'll be more prepared to deal.

Start Bargaining!

Ask the salesperson for the dealership's lowest markup over their cost. And always bargain with the invoice price, never down from the sticker price. If the car you want is in tight supply, you may have to pay the full sticker price. Otherwise, $300 to $500 over the invoice price is reasonable.

The advice you receive with your report takes you through the hard part, negotiating a fair price. The dealership's "business manager" may try to sell you undercoating, rustproofing, fabric protection, extended warranty, windshield etching. If you want those extras, then go for it. Otherwise, make an offer and stick to it.

Ourisman Hyundai is a full service Hyundai dealership in Laurel, MD offering Hyundai Sales, Service, Parts, Loans and Financing to Washington DC and Maryland. Visit your Hyundai Dealer in Maryland.

New 2008 Honda Accord with Not have a Hybride Version :(

In September this year, the new 2008 Honda Accord will hit showrooms. The hybrid version of the popular midsize sedan though will not be making an appearance as Honda announced that it will be discontinuing the production of its Honda Accord Hybrid units. A spokesman for the company announced the news following the sales report of the company in the United States which reflected the dwindling sales figures of the hybrid.

"We have found that our hybrid system works better on smaller cars," says Chris Naughton speaking for the second largest Japanese car manufacturer.

The use of hybrid technology became popular when the price of gasoline started skyrocketiPublish Postng. Hybrid cars use an electric motor to provide assistance to an internal combustion engine. For smaller cars, the use of electric motors means that during low-power operation, the engine is turned off while the electric motor powers the car. This translates to increased fuel economy as the electric motor gets its power from a high power output battery pack.

For larger cars though, the use of a hybrid powertrain is mainly to give the car a better performance. The additional power provided by an electric motor increases the power and torque output of a car. But with this application, the electric motor is not used alone. This means that the fuel savings is less than when a hybrid powertrain is used on a smaller car.

The slight increase in fuel economy led Honda car buyers to opt for the conventional Accord than the Accord Hybrid. Owing to the added electric motor, battery pack and modified engine parts, the Honda Accord Hybrid is priced more than the conventional Accord. With a difference of 6 miles in terms of gas mileage rating, the higher price of the Accord Hybrid does not justify its fuel economy according to Honda car buyers.

Honda though promised that they will be coming up with a hybrid vehicle which is not a version of their popular car models such as the Civic Hybrid. The company announced that the hybrid car will be released in 2009. According to Honda, the vehicle will be smaller and less expensive than the current Honda Civic Hybrid.

The Honda Accord is a bigger than the Civic and is equipped with a bigger engine than its direct competitor, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The Accord hybrid uses a V6 engine unit with an electric motor which produces 253 horsepower. This increase in power though is second only to the consideration of car buyers as they are looking for fuel efficient cars which can justify the higher price of hybrid vehicles.

The Toyota Camry, on the other hand, is equipped with a smaller four-cylinder engine which returns more miles for a gallon of gasoline. This makes the Camry a better choice for many car buyers. Last month, 14 percent of all hybrid vehicles sold in the United States auto market were Camry Hybrids. The Honda Accord Hybrid only managed to corner 1.4 percent of the hybrid vehicle market.

After the announcement that the Accord Hybrid will be dropped from Honda's lineup, there were speculations that Honda will be introducing a diesel version of the Accord. According to auto industry experts though, Honda will likely wait for Volkswagen or Mercedes-Benz to test the United States auto market for its reception of diesel cars.

Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.

2008 Volvo Prices

The Swedish car manufacturer Volvo recently announced the pricing for its lineup of 2008 model year autos. According to the Ford Motor Company-owned car manufacturer, new offerings for the United States auto market for the 20087 model year is the company's first compact car - the Volvo C30. A new engine for the S80 will also be a part of Volvo's latest offering to American car buyers.

The near-luxury coupe C30 offered by Volvo for the first time in the United States will have a starting price of $22,700 for the T5 "Version 1.0". The "Version 2.0" C30 will be priced starting at $25,700. Both versions of the C30 are equipped with a turbocharged five-cylinder engine with an output of 227 horsepower.

The luxury convertible Volvo C70 comes back in the United States auto market for the 2008 model year. The present version of the C70 fetches a starting price of $39,090. For the 2008 model year, Volvo moderately increased the price to $39,240. The convertible was introduced in 1997 by Volvo and it has received favorable reviews as well as gaining remarkable safety scores.

The Volvo C70 receives interior enhancements for the 2008 model year. The floating stack which Volvo has popularized is back with the C70 with revised controls for better user-friendliness. The handbrake is made more compact while the armrest is made longer for better driver comfort.

The S40 and its wagon version, the V50, are redesigned for the 2008 model year. For the S40, pricing will start at $24,365 while for the wagon version, pricing starts at $26,815. The all-wheel driver version of the S40 has a price tag of $30,365. For the all-wheel drive version of the V50, pricing will start at $31,565.

The Volvo S40 and the V50 were redesigned to offer better exterior and interior design cues. From the outside, the S40 looks like a smaller S80 while the V50 has moved closer to the V70. New engines were provided for the 2008 model year versions of the S40 and the V50. Aside from new engines, other components were also improved like the Volvo starter and the finely-tuned suspension assembly.

For the 2008 S80, Volvo announced that pricing will start at $42,045 for the T6 turbo with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. For the version equipped with the front-wheel drive configuration, pricing remains the same at $38,705. For the all-wheel drive version of the S80, the price increases by $2,000 as compared to the 2007 S80 version. The all-wheel drive S80 will have a starting price of $49,210.

The S80 underwent only minor changes for the 2008 model year. A new exterior color was made available for the 2008 Volvo S80 and it is called Ember Black. Two new alloy wheels are also thrown into the mix as optional items.

Volvo announced that the 2008 model year version of the V70 and the XC90 will be released later this year. While Volvo did not yet disclose the pricing for the V70 and the XC90, the company has already made public the changes made to the two auto models. The V70 is in its last leg of production. For the 2008 model year, Volvo eliminated the 300PS V70 R. For the XC90, Volvo announced that three new exterior colors will be available.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

IMPORTANT: Tips to Protect Your Car From Being Stolen

In the US, a car is stolen every 24 seconds. Could yours be next? How do you protect your vehicle from the chop shop? There are many recommended techniques that experts say help to deter thieves. None are a guarantee that your car will be safe, but you can decrease your chances of becoming a victim of auto theft.

One important thing to know about auto theft is that thieves target specific cars for their resale value, as parts. They do not steal cars as a personal attack against the owner. They profile a vehicle for its value and evaluate the difficulty of stealing the model. If they find few deterrents, they may steal your car. If they find that breaking in will take too much time or potentially attract attention, they will look for another car to target.

Here a few ideas to help make thieves want to pass your car by.

• When shopping for a new car, check with your local police department to get a list of the most frequently stolen models. Try to avoid purchasing one of these high profile vehicles.
• Park your vehicle in a locked garage or behind a locked gate. Most vehicles are stolen when parked on the street or in a large parking area. If you must park in a lot, park in a well lighted area near the entrance of a building or alleyway. He idea is to keep your vehicle in a highly traveled area that will provide less of an opportunity for a thief to have enough time to break in unnoticed.
• Never leave your car running unattended, not even for a few minutes. This is like an open invitation to a thief. By leaving the engine running without an owner in sight, you are making a their job easy.
• Don't leave items on the seat or floor. Keep all valuables out of sight. Lock your purse, briefcase and laptop in the trunk. Some thieves will break into your car just for a few bucks lying on the dash or a collection of CD's on the seat.
• Don't leave your vehicle registration or other personal identification in the vehicle. This gives a thief easy access to your home address and phone number, leaving you open to attacks at your home. A thief can take your personal identification information and wipe out your bank account, obtain loans and generally wreak havoc with information like your date of birth and social security number.
• Don't leave a second set of keys in the car. Thieves know all the best hiding spots and will check them for easy access to your vehicle.

You can also investigate the possibility of purchasing a theft deterrent product. The effectiveness of many anti-theft devices is questionable, so use discretion when shopping. While no one can completely protect their vehicle against being stolen, you can help improve the chances that yours will be passed over. Always use common sense and make sure your car offers any potential thief as little temptation as possible.

Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and receive free quotes for cheap auto insurance online from respected insurance companies.

Get the best value on a Used Car

Whether you are 16 or 65, shopping for the right car can be a struggle. After all, it's a huge market! So let's get right down to the facts and get you well on your way to selecting your first or next car. For the average person, a car is a means of transportation not a collector's item or toy. Therefore, your car should be, at the very least, functional. So when you are in the process of looking for a car there are certain questions you should ask yourself: 1. What safety features would my ideal car have? 2. How many people will need to fit in my car? 3. Will I be moving any large objects with this vehicle? 4. How much money am I willing spend on this car? 5. What are my credit score and credit history? 6. How much money will I have to spend on insurance? 7. What gas- mileage to do I want? 8. Is this car reliable? 9. Is it presentable? 10. How do I know what cars are available on the market?

Safety is essential when you are on the road. Even if you are the best driver on the planet, you aren't immune car accidents. You could be driving down the highway when someone's tire blows out right in front of you, causing a car crash. Someone could pull out in front of you when you have the right of way and your car could end up totaled. I could keep listing incidents, but I think you get the picture: it's a dangerous world out there! From seat belts to airbags it is import to know how effective a car's safety equipment is, so before you buy it, check its crash test rating.

The type of vehicle you buy should correspond with your lifestyle. By type I don't mean make and model by any means. I am referring to whether you need and SUV, a van, a sedan, or a truck, as well as how many doors you need, the trunk space needed, and of course the interior space needed.

SUV's * Tend to get poor gas mileage * Have a dangerous tendency to roll over. (Initially this does not seem like such a big safety issue, after all, you're a good driver and wouldn't take that sharp turn at more than 20 miles an hour anyway. But let's imagine you are on the highway and the car in front of you stops on a dime. You know you are not going to be able to stop in time and so you swerve to avoid hitting the vehicle. At 65 to 75 miles an hour, how do you think an SUV would maneuver?)

Trucks * Tend to get poor gas mileage. *Can be used to move large objects. * Tend to not seat a lot of people

Vans * Tend to get good gas mileage. * Have a low, well balanced frame so they maneuver well. * Seat anywhere from 7 to 12 * Can be used to move large objects when back seats are removed or collapsed.

Sedans * Tend to get good gas mileage. * Are compact for those who don't have a lot of parking space. * Have a low, well balanced frame so they maneuver well.

As my father used to say, "There are some people whose cars work for them, and there are other people who work for their cars." A car is a big purchase that will be taking a cut out of your budget indefinitely. Therefore it is important to make a budget and find a car that fits into it. The car you can afford will be limited by your income, but also by your credit if it is poor or undeveloped. However, credit can also be an asset especially if you know what your credit score is. Dealers and lenders can often be talked down to a lower price or percentage rate if you are confident in your ability to pay off the car and have the history to prove it. Another thing to keep in mind financially is that the higher the price of the car is, the higher the cost of the insurance will be, especially if you are an inexperienced driver.

To find your perfect car, you are going to have to do some research. It is important to think before you buy or else the hype of a car dealer could talk you into a car that doesn't meet all your need and maybe even make you pay too much for it. Therefore it is important to know what is available on the market and how much it is worth. This can be easily done on the in newspapers, at dealerships and on the internet. For me the internet is the easiest research tool, it is convenient because you can view cars and prices without even having to leave your home. I hope this has been a helpful article and of course, happy searching!

To view more tips from this author please view this page: http://tabitha.bezoogle.com/pp/auto-bargains/.

Buying a New Car? Consider a Used Car

You have this strong urge to buy a new car. You just can't resist it.My advice is go drink a glass of warm milk and then lie down. Chances are that when you do wake up, the feeling will have passed and you will have saved yourself a fortune.However if you still feel that you urgently need to buy a new car visit a web site that talks about pollution and the way we are slowly but surely suffocating ourselves to death. A look at some of those really grim predictions in environment sites should help a great deal in ridding you of this ailment called "buy a new car at all costs."If this still doesn't work, remind yourself that it is futile in this life to compare yourself with your neighbor or the guys in the office, because some wise person told us that there will always be those greater and lesser than yourself, no matter how many of your neighbors you prove a point to. Chances are that the real reason why you want to buy a new car is that somebody you know bought one in the recent past.When all this fails and you find that your body temperature is still rising and it is like a fever is threatening to break forth, make your way as quickly as possible to an online car buying site, or rush to the dealer downstairs (or nearby).Are you there now? Feel better already? Especially as you take in all those dazzling new models you have been dreaming about? You're not alone. Buying a new car is a terrible epidemic that is on the rise in the United States and man other places in the world.

How To Save Big Money On Repairs And Auto Parts

We all know it is cheaper to fix things yourself. It is the same with a car or truck. The biggest expense with any repair is not the parts, but the labor. It is not uncommon for repair and service shops to be charging $60 to $70 per hour of labor. And they round to the next half hour or hour for any repair. Just go to any new car dealer and ask to have your windshield wiper blades replaced. They will charge you 10 times the price of replacements at your local auto parts store. So anything you can do yourself to save will be a big help. The purpose of this article is to show you some things you can do on your own and how to get the lowest prices on parts so you can save big and put your money towards something better than fattening your local auto dealers pockets.

First off is routine maintenance. Routine maintenance consists of items like oil changes, tire rotations, and similar. Oil changes are a must at every 4000 to 5000 miles for most every car. Do not go by what your dealer says. They want to rev up your maintenance plan and have you doing more than is required. Instead, use your owners manual. If your car did not come with one, than buy one off of Ebay. The owners manual will give you exact recommendations for every service and when and what should be done. For oil changes use Walmart. They charge around $15 for a oil and filter change and will lube your chassis at the same time. They will also check your tires and change your air filter if you desire or need it. They have the best service for the lowest price and at $15 its better to have them do it than do it yourself. Expect to pay twice this at a new car dealer.

It is also a good idea to check your tire pressure at every gas fill up. A tire pressure gauge can be purchased at Walmart or any auto parts store for a few dollars. Proper tire pressure will prolong the usefulness of your tires and help ensure better fuel economy. To most people a under inflated tire is pretty obvious, but a over inflated tire can be just as dangerous as it can lead to blowouts and loss of traction especially in wet conditions (hydroplaning). Also, check your tires for nails, punctures, slashes, anything that could be wrong with it. If you need new tires, be sure to shop around and avoid the new car dealer as they will have a huge markup on them. For instance, 1 ZR Goodyear tire for a 2002 Ford Mustang GT was $289. The same ZR tire with a different make (Kumho) was $100 installed and balanced (the $289 at the dealer did not include installation or balancing. Shop around and look at discount stores. Also look at Costco, Sams club and BJs for tires. If you have an older car and do not care about matching the exact style you can always go to your local junk yard and buy an entire set for dirt cheap. You would be amazed at what you might find there. A friend of mine picked up 4 tires for a 1999 corvette for $150 and the tires only had maybe 10,000 miles on them if that.

Lights and lighting on your car are an item that is routinely overlooked. If your lights are dim you could have a battery charge, alternator or dim, cloudy lenses. These are all easy to fix. A battery should be checked for its ability to hold charge at least once a year (more in extremely cold climates). An alternator can be replaced very easily, or if you do not feel comfortable a local mechanic can do it. Do not do this at a new car dealer as they will charge at least 300% more. A good tip is to go and buy the part at your local auto parts store and then inquire with the counter clerk as to a mechanic that they recommend to install it. You will save a lot and it will be professionally done. They will probably even come to your house to do it. As to your headlights, turn on your lights. If they are dim, is it the bulb or cloudy lenses? If it is the bulb, the cheapest replacements can be found at Walmart or on Ebay. It is recommended you go with brighter Xeon bulbs as they are only a few dollars more and increase brightness and night visibility by over 20 percent. If it is cloudy headlights there is a new headlight repair and restoration kit that will restore the lenses to new. This will save you big over replacement as the average plastic automotive lens costs $250 to replace.

Checking your fluid levels routinely is a good idea. A lot of cars now will do this for you and will even alert you to when it is time to perform a certain service. It takes 2 minutes to unscrew the oil cap and pull out the dipstick. On older cars you should also look under the cap. Is the oil really dirty, sludge like, or have white in it? These all indicate something needs to be done. The first two mean it is in dire need of an oil change. The latter with the whiteness or light chocolate look means you have a blown head gasket and coolant is leaking into the engine. That is really bad and requires major repairs and can be the result of running a car too hot. Fill all fluids to the fuel full line or indicator. By routinely checking your cars fluid levels you will be ahead of the game and keep your car running better and for much longer.

Another great idea to keep service costs to a minimum and save you big at the same time is to buy 1 to 3 year old used cars with around 30,000 miles on them. Then drive them until you get 100,000 miles on it and replace it. Most major repairs rarely occur before 100,000 miles with proper routine maintenance. Use and follow your owners manual. It was written by the ultimate expert, the people who built, designed and tested your car.

Madhur.G.Bajaj is an Business Consultant and he can be reachable via blog at http://shoppingforacar.blogspot.com