3rd Generation Toyota Prius and Hybrid-Only Lexus Coming Soon

It’s a little early to start up the 2009 Detroit Auto Show predictions BUT, here goes anyway.

Toyota has plans to debut the new 3rd generation Toyota Prius along side of a new Hybrid-Only Lexus. According to Toyota Motor Corporation president Katsuaki Watanabe, by this time next year, Lexus will be welcoming its first hybrid-only model. The new 3rd generation Toyota Prius will resemble closely to the Hybrid X concept (teal colored vehicle image) which was at last years Geneva Auto Show. Toyota plans to accelerate its global PHEV research and development program “by 2010,” delivering a fleet of plug-in cars to commercial customers for on-road testing. The new Hybrid-Only Lexus will resemble along the lines of the Toyota FT-HS concept from the 2006 Detroit Show. The FT-HS concept has the same hardware from the current Lexus GS450h which we all know is no slouch. We should see something “sports car” related from Toyota very soon.

We are pretty sure the gas prices will be around $5 to $6 a gallon by time the 2009 International Auto Show gets here…. By then we ALL will have placed the 3rd generation Toyota Prius on back-order!  WOOT WOOT!

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Ford Recalls 434,593 Mustangs

Ford has recently issued a recall for 434,593 Ford Mustangs ranging from the model years of 2005 to 2008. The recall comes about from test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration where they showed there could be an increased risk of neck injury during airbag deployment. The discovered risk may be greater for small females in the front passenger seat who are unbelted and sitting in the full-forward position.

Ford dealerships are prepared to deal with the issue by performing a reprogramming of a restraint control module free of charge. The recall campaign is expected to start February 28th and in the mean time consumers can call 866-436-7332 or email the contacts at www.ownerconnection.com for any updates and/or questions.

The Gran Turismo Age Car: 2009 Nissan GT-R

This video shows off the bells and whistles of the new Nissan GT-R and a race-fan-boy kinda way. View the new toy gadgets in the new Nissan GT-R in action.

Enjoy!

And this is just the beginning!

Jaguar and Land Rover SOLD AGAIN

Remember the car company that is coming out with a $2500 car? Yes, the nano car from the company Tata. Well, Tata Motors will announce their purchase of Jaguar Land Rover March 5th or March 6th. This news comes about as car companies feel the crunch of the slowing economy and Ford setting their dates for the sale. Jaguar and Land Rover being owned and operated by Ford with several counterparts from other manufactures remains to be sold off to Tata Motors.

Quote from autonews.com:

Tata Motors will announce its purchase of Jaguar Land Rover on March 5 or 6.
The dates have been agreed between Tata and Ford, which is selling the two luxury brands, following talks with trade union leaders last week.
Roger Maddison, national officer of Unite, the largest union in the UK auto industry, told Automotive News Europe Tata had agreed to meet guarantees sought by workers’ leaders.
He said, ” Everything seems fine as far as we are concerned; it’s just the lawyers working on it now.”
Union leaders spoke with Ford and Tata to resolve final details before the drawing up of a memorandum of understanding for the sale.
In earlier talks with the two companies, unions had been seeking assurances that Tata would continue to source engines, stampings and other systems from Ford’s plants in Bridgend in Wales and Dagenham, near London.
All Jaguar and Land Rover engines come from Ford plants, as do many of Land Rover’s stampings.

Nissan GT-R vs. Porsche 911 GT3 vs. BMW M3: Knock-Down Drag-Out

Who would have thought a Nissan could beat out a Porsche 911 GT3? Well, welcome to the year 2008 people. Wake up and smell the rubber. Autocar tests the new Nissan GT-R against the Porsche 911 GT3 and then up against the new BMW M3 (E92). Here is the full series of the 2 videos of the knock-down drag-out test.

Note the track times of each car… very interesting!

BMW ConnectedDrive: Internet Access On New BMW’s – 2008 Geneva Auto Show

BMW should be the first car maker in the world to pair newer vehicles with full internet access all fully integrated just like the run-of-the-mill navigation system is done. As you may know this has been done before in the garages of teens and car enthusiasts alike by used of cell technology. BMW will use the slower EDGE network which also connects the Apple iPhone to the net wherever the service is available. We believe the choice for the EDGE network over the faster G3 (right now) would be the common availability of the EDGE network over any others.

We all remember when BMW’s iDrive came out and how “weird” we thought that was. Well, we will probably welcome the integrated internet more so than the iDrive because we like to grip clickers in one hand and have the ultimate control over things. Of course we will not want to do this while driving. You thought people were mad enough because you drove a BMW, they will be furious when you cut them off because your surfing the net. Well, will they be? Read on….

The new BMW ConnectedDrive system will incorporate the “safety” feature of NO INTERNET if the car is in motion. So all of you steadily worrying about the fool in the new 760iL crashing into you because he was transferring money from his Swiss bank account… fret not. Now we cannot speak for the children in the back seat of the BMW… they will be able to have free run of the internet while the car is parked or in motion. So no more glancing at the back of a BMW trying to figure out which DVD they are watching… it will be more like what website are they surfing once they roll out the BMW ConnectedDrive on new BMWs.

85 Cent a Gallon Gas in LA: It’s E85 Ethanol

Before you get all excited about gas at $.85 a gallon, we want to break it to you easy. GM is going to foot the bill on setting up a E85 gas station in Los Angeles, CA. The Governator is all so proud of this because he knows, “I’ll be back”… to the pump that is, when around 46,000 flex-fuel vehicles in the area can take advantage of the E85 Ethanol. The catch is… you can ONLY get the E85 gas at 85 cent a gallon between noon and 2pm on February 26th. Better mark that in your calendar you “flex fuel car driver” you!

BMW 135i runs 0-60 in 4.7 seconds

Car and driver recently test drive the new BMW 135i and was able to squeeze out a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds. I don’t think there was that much squeezing since Shrek part one came out. Yes, they ran 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds in the new BMW 135i. This is all so promising for the enthusiasts that said this was BMW’s new pocket rocket. The posted times from BMW were a mediocre and conservative 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds. Remember the BMW 335i, which has the same engine (twin turbo), had a posted time from BMW of 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds. Well, we know the 335i can do better than that but until now we were not too sure about the new BMW 135i. We look for tuners to take this car to a new level this year once they get their hands on one, or two, or three.

So it is your choice… the new BMW M3 for almost $60,000, the new 335i for over $40,000 or the new 300hp twin turbo BMW 135i starting at $34,900.

Here is an exclusive test drive of the new BMW 135i on Fifth Gear up against the Porsche Cayman. WOOT WOOT! This should be good! Just a note: their 0-62 time is WAY OFF! HA HA!

Enjoy!

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