Posted by Dan on Dec 30, 2009 in
Cool Cars 
With the growing competition of hybrid vehicles on the market, it gets hard for consumers to choose which is the right fuel-efficient car for them. Every hybrid seems to offer something different- style, design, extras ect… But essentially they all deliver the same result, environment friendly motors. Some of the hottest hybrids on the market include the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Civic Hybrid and the Ford Fusion. The 2010 Honda Insight comes in as the cheapest of the hybrids with a starting price of $19,800. You will pay at least $1,500 more for the Toyota Prius, which has a starting/base price of $22,400. The 2010 Ford Fusion comes in as the most expensive of the group with a base price of $ 27,625.
Although the 2010 Honda Insight is known for its tight backseat space, its affordable price and excellent fuel economy more than make up for it. The Honda Insight also scores significantly high in <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.edmunds.com/new/2010/honda/insight/101119958/safety.html” target=”_blank”>Crash test results</a>, earning 5 and 4 stars for driver, passenger, side impact, and rollover resistance. EPA mileage for the Honda Insight is 40mpg city and 43mpg highway. The Insight has Honda’s <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Motor_Assist” target=”_blank”>Integrated Motor Assist system</a>, which uses a small electric motor (13 horsepower) to supplement the 98-horsepower gasoline engine, which runs nearly all the time except when the vehicle comes to a stop, such as at a traffic signal. There is no doubt that the Insight is the most practical hybrid car on the market. As for the Insight, even the base LX is well equipped at its under-$20,000 price. Standard are front seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows, antilock brakes, continuously variable automatic transmission, automatic climate control, tilt-and-telescopic steering column, manual driver’s seat height adjustment, power windows and door locks, a four-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player and auxiliary input for iPods and other music players, and more. The EX comes with everything available on the Insight, with the most expensive model running just $23,100; in comparison, the 2010 Prius ranges from $22,400 to $27,670 plus $750 freight and the buyer’s choice from a list of options.
Did we mention this hybrid is a Honda? Honda’s are known for their reliability, affordability and safety. Rest assure that your hybrid will last you for longer than you bargained for. Be sure to stop by your <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.brickellhonda.com” target=”_blank”>local Miami Dealership</a> to check out the new Honda Insight.
Tags: Choose, Drivers, Efficiency, Honda, Insight, Miami, Price
Posted by Henry on Dec 30, 2009 in
Cool Cars
Toyota has existed in the automotive industry since the 1930s. These automotive manufacturing giants have gained great popularity throughout the years. The reason behind Toyota’s popularity is the reliability of the automobiles they’ve manufactured.Toyota vehicles are preferred worldwide due to their very low maintenance costs, top class interiors, eye catchy exteriors and the perfect aerodynamics. There are four very popular cars currently produced by Toyota. Let’s review these models and the outstanding features of the ‘4 Best Toyota Cars’.
1. The Spacious Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is well known for its riding comfort. The very generous leg room and the spacious design makes the Camry the most ideal car for long trips. Not only is the Toyota Camry spacious but it’s powerful too. Though it is a family Sedan, the Camry’s engine is highly powered. This powerful engine is extremely quiet and you won’t feel any vibration inside the cabin. The Toyota Camry also comes in hybrid options too. The Camry is really an attention grabber. The excellent headlight assembly and the fog lamps make the front end of the car look magnificent. Great riding comfort with a powerful engine and great looks makes Toyota Camry a great value-for-money vehicle.
2. The Compact Hatchback – Toyota Matrix
The Matrix is a product manufactured by the joint venture of two automotive giants – Toyota and General Motors. With lots of safety features and great looks, the Matrix is the best Hatchback available today. Though the older models of the Matrix lacked power; the innovative Matrix XRS comes with a very powerful engine. With the inclusion of a sporty suspension and a five speed gear box, the Toyota Matrix XRS offers great riding comfort. Though the Toyota Matrix is a bit disappointing in terms of acceleration, the fuel efficiency will keep owners of the Matrix delighted. There is a superior model of Matrix to be released in 2009.
3. The Mid-Sized Hybrid Car – Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius is the first mass produced hybrid car on the planet. This hybrid car has won many awards. The popularity of Toyota increased greatly with the launch of the Prius. The innovative design of the Toyota Prius makes it one of the most futuristic cars ever produced by Toyota or any other company. The egg shaped profile of the Prius is really eye catchy. With sufficient acceleration and low emissions, the Prius is the best family car from Toyota.
4. The Perfect Sedan –Toyota Corolla
The Corolla is the best selling car today. The Toyota Corolla has taken many forms since its introduction in 1968 – a sedan, a coupe, a hatchback and a wagon. With great pricing, excellent fuel efficiency, fabulous looks, and enormous power, the modern-day Toyota Corolla is the most perfect sedan available on the market today. Statistics show that a Corolla is sold somewhere in this world every 40 seconds.
The Toyota Dealerships
One of the best Toyota dealerships in the United States is located just minutes from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can find all Toyota manufactured vehicles, ranging from cars to trucks, at Greensburg Toyota. There are classy used Toyota cars for sale too if you cannot afford to buy a new Toyota. You must look for the best when it comes to buying used or new Toyota vehicles from a Toyota dealership. Greensburgtoyota.com, with its huge selection of Toyota vehicles, should be the first place you check out when buying used or new Toyota cars and trucks in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. With the interactive search tools provided at their website, choosing the best Toyota vehicle, the one that best suits your preferences and requirements, is a breeze!
Tags: Best, Cars, Toyota
Posted by Dan on Dec 30, 2009 in
Cool Cars 
The Renault F1 Team has not been very lucky with the Canadian Grand Prix and this extends to the Montreal Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where the team has never had any success. Since the year 1978, the company has recorded four wins, twelve podiums and six pole positions. Montreal is also the only circuit where a Renault has ever competed in the Canadian Grand Prix although in the year 1977 the event was held at Mosport, where Jean-Pierre Jabouille unfortunately failed to qualify the RS01 which would have been its fifth Grand Prix.
Renault and the Canadian Grand Prix
Renault turbo power has raced in Montreal from 1978 to 1986 but it was only in 1985 that the French manufacturer’s race car was able to obtain a pole position at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. And they achieve this in style with a Lotus-Renault front row for Elio de Angelis on pole and Ayrton Senna alongside. Despite what the team has achieved still the race has proven to be a disappointment for the team with De Angelis managing only P5 as compared to Ferrari that took a one-two.
Throughout the racing career of the Renault turbo the best result that it has gotten was a P2 finish by Eddie Cheever in 1983, it was also the time when teammate Alain Prost was fighting for the world championship in which he has only manage a P5. After the being unlucky at the Grand-Prix, both Renaults have retired while running second and third having qualified in the same positions.
Then came the V10 era, which has changed everything for the Renault team their first win came in Montreal heading a Williams-Renault one-two with Belgian Thierry Boutsen leading home Riccardo Patrese in 1989. Another victory for Renault the maker of Renault oxygen sensor was obtained in 1991 until Nigel Mansell retired on the final lap fortunately Alain Prost set the record straight in 1993 with the 45th win for a Renault engine.
Then in 1995, an all-Renault front row saw Michael Schumacher’s Benetton take Renault’s 100th pole position ahead of Damon Hill. The following year, an all-Renault front row of Hill and Villeneuve was transformed into a Renault one-two-three with Hill, Villeneuve, and Alesi on the podium.
Unfortunately by the year 2002 it seems like the ill-fortune of the team have returned despite the fact that the Renault cars have performed well on the stop-start Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Fernando Alonso has set the fastest lap in 2003 but unfortunately he finished a place away from the podium.
2004 came, the cars looked strong and ready but it seems like bad luck is on the team’s side again that both cars retired with driveshaft failures. Then the following year, 2005, Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso have both decided to retire while still leading the race and it wasn’t until 2006 that Fernando Alonso took a Renault to victory that is after the team’s cars locked out the front row. It was the 32nd win for the Renault chassis and the 122nd win for the Renault engine in Formula 1.
Tags: Failures, Renault, Team, Triumphs