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Concept of 300 hp Toyota Prius
When was the last time anyone promoted the
Toyota Prius as anything other than an Earth friendly gas miser? Can’t remember? That’s because it has never happened before. The whole world is abuzz with the news that Toyota will be entering the SuperGT GT300 series with a Prius based race car instead of using the more logical GT 86 platform.
The planned 300 horsepower Prius will replace the current Toyota Corolla Axio that is running in the GT300 series. Toyota is expected to make its formal announcement in January of 2012. As of now, there have been no details released about the powerplant and drivetrain. Given that the stock Prius is known for its less than blazing 98 horsepower engine, it is easy to understand how extensive the makeover is going to have to be.
The Toyota Prius will not be the only hybrid vehicle running in the GT300 class. Honda announced its intention to field a CR-Z Sports Hybrid. 2012 maybe the year that hybrid vehicles stop having a negative connotation when performance junkies talk and race fans begin to show some due respect.
December 8, 2011
2012 Honda Civic
All some people may want for Christmas is their two front teeth, but for Civic enthusiasts nothing less than
Honda Civic parts will do. You have to realize that your family may know you are into your car, but that does not mean that they know what parts to buy you. Why not make a list of the Honda Civic parts that you are most interested in.
You may have to be subtle when you are dropping hints. Leave a catalog of Honda Civic parts open to something like a headlight assembly from Anzo. Don’t feel sheepish about circling it in red ink so whoever looks at gets the idea.
Another clear, but not so subtle, way to get the Honda Civic parts you want is to clearly and concisely mention them while your relatives are in the car with you. Say something like, ”Man, I wish I had those all-weather floor mats to keep the mud and water off my carpets.”
Then there is the hit ‘em over the head approach to getting the Honda Civic parts that you want. Walk up to them, hand them a catalog and say ”I want a hood protector for Christmas.”
You can chuckle as you read this if you want and maybe it sounds a little bit materialistic, but do you want another tie, some aftershave, or, even better, a new sweater?
November 30, 2011
2012 Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is an iconic car in its own right. Well known and easily recognizable as it sits among other models. Still, many owners want to personalize their Camry. Here are three must have Toyota Camry accessories that will help you do just that.
Start with the wheels. A nice 16 inch alloy wheel can give your car a more aggressive stance while offering an improved ride. Be sure to buy a wheel that has Toyota’s stamp of approval and is marked as Toyota USA OEM.
Maybe you are not happy with the interior color of your Camry. Only one Toyota Camry accessory will do. The Toyota Camry dash kit will replace every possible aspect of your interior trim with a new color, or switch it to a carbon fiber or metallic trim instead. The carbon fiber and metal trims can be used on the exterior as well.
With snow and frigid temperatures on the horizon, this next Toyota Cary accessory makes a lot of sense. Installing a remote engine start is the only way to remain comfortable as much as possible. Remember to leave the heat on and you will not have to worry about cold seats and freezing until the heater catches up.
There are dozens of other Toyota Camry accessories that you can choose from if these do not meet your needs. Just be sure to buy OEM equipment when possible.
October 19, 2011
2012 Chevy Volt
The
Chevrolet Volt debuted last year amongst a great deal of fanfare. Some of the advertising around the car was intentionally vague, leading some consumers to believe it was a pure electric car. Not so. The Volt is a plug-in hybrid which allows it to have a greater all electric range and higher speeds with the gasoline engine engaged.
The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is capable of 25-50 miles on pure battery power before the inline 4 gasoline engine takes over. When that happens, it is able to reach speeds in the 100 mph range. The car has an effective range of 300 miles between a full tank of gas and the battery power. The gasoline engine powers the car’s generator for the most part, but, under extreme needs, will directly power the wheels.
The 2012 Chevrolet Volt features a lower MSRP, an updated keyless ignition/entry, and the MyLink system, which provides Bluetooth streaming audio and voice control over the audio system and your cell phone. Again this year, the Volt does not have standard side body moldings. That leaves your $32,000 car an easy victim to dents and dings everywhere you go. The right Chevy Volt body side moldings could protect your resale value.
The major knock against the 2012 Chevrolet Volt is the price tag. At $32,500 for the base model, and realizing that a home charger is a necessity, the new Toyota Prius PHV may be a better economic decision.
October 12, 2011
No one wants to think about the coming snow and wintery weather. Despite your hesitation to think of the chilly weather, now is the best time to install a Toyota remote engine start.
The logic behind installing now is simple, it’s warm out. Really, who wants to install a new accessory or do repairs in the cold? It is not even particularly fun in a heated garage. A Toyota remote engine start makes sense for summer use if you leave your air conditioner running. Imagine getting into a comfortable car year round.
Installing a Toyota remote engine start during the warm weather is purely a comfort measure. Sure, you can put one in anytime and it only takes a matter of minutes, but why not do it when you can be the most comfortable?
August 11, 2011
Unless you intend to keep your car until it is ready for the junkyard, you should find ways to protect it from the wear and tear of everyday use. A rear bumper guard is one of the easiest ways to keep the top of your rear bumper in perfect condition.
Frequently, as people load and unload cargo from the rear of their vehicle, they slide the items across the top of the rear bumper. The constant friction and rubbing will eventually remove the paint. That can be prevented with the use of a rear bumper guard.
In order to receive the highest possible resale value for your car, you need to keep up on the routine maintenance. Protecting the paint is part of that. Using a rear bumper guard is one way to do that.
May 4, 2011
2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Seat Covers
When you are looking at a used car one of the first things you notice about the interior is whether the seats are ripped or not. Dealers look at the same thing when they are assessing the trade-in value of a car. You could guarantee a higher trade-in value by using 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid seat covers.
It is easy to understand how a car seat can rip as you slide in or something catches on the seam. Covering your original seats with 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid seat covers will prevent most of the incidental tearing associated with normal wear and tear.
2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid seat covers can also add a bit of customization to your interior. Be sure to look for well made, high quality seat covers that are designed to the seat specifications of your Honda CR-Z and you will not have to deal with fit related issues.
April 15, 2011
How many cars have you gotten into, looked at the carpet, and wondered how someone could let such a mess happen to their new car? The best way to prevent a dirty appearance is to install all weather Prius floor mats.
A durable set of Prius floor mats will channel water, dirt, and debris away from the pedal area of your car and into an easy to drain and clean catch basin. All you have to do is remove the floor mats, drain them, and spray them off at your convenience.
Prius floor mats can help you maintain the value and appearance of your new car. The variety of colors will match any interior while providing sturdy construction. Why wouldn’t you want to protect your investment in every way possible?
March 16, 2011
One aspect of resale value is the overall appearance of the car. The interior is more important to many buyers since that is where they will spend the majority of their time. One way to maintain the carpeting of your hybrid is to install all weather Prius floor liners.
All weather Prius floor liners offer solid construction and convenience. The design of the liners will channel water, dirt, and other debris away from the pedals and confines it to a small basin area. This basin can be quickly drained anywhere or the liner can be removed and hosed down.
Prius floor liners offer you the ability to maintain a higher resale value for your hybrid. You may not be thinking about that at this time, but who can predict when you might want to upgrade to a newer car. Maintaining the integrity of your car from day one will help you keep the payments on future vehicles as low as possible by retaining the value of your current model.
March 16, 2011
We have the pleasure of installing some Prius Suspension Upgrades. They include the new Prius Tanabe DF210 lowering springs and Prius Tanabe Sustec front Under Brace.
The DF210 springs offer a 1.3″ drop in front and 1.6″ in the rear and the ride quality is very close to stock. Just a little stiffer. The Sustec Under Brace also helps the overall feel of the car by stiffening up the front end more and reducing flex in the chassis.
Tanabe Sustec Under Brace-Total Tuning for Chassis. By connecting specific points of the undercarriage of your Toyota Prius, this under brace reinforces the strength and stability of the chassis. 2010 Prius 2 Point Under Brace is often overlooked, but the Prius experiences flexing of the unibody under various handling loads. Twisting of the chassis is also very common.
The Prius under Brace prevents this unwanted behavior by connecting specific points of the undercarriage to reinforce the chassis. Unique internal double-i-beam construction is highly rigid and lightweight, so the chassis may be significantly reinforced without adding surplus weight.
The under brace (especially when used with the strut tower bars) will further improve handling and chassis strength. Excellently constructed with a high quality design and fitment, this under brace was made to fit the 2005-2010 Toyota Prius.
The 2010 Toyota Prius Lowering Springs Sustec allows for the perfect drop for your 2010 Toyota Prius, and creates an ideal balance. These springs will lower your Prius, while increasing handling potential, and maintaining ride comfort.
These 2010 Toyota Prius DF210 Super Lowdown Coil Springs raise your Prius’ spring rate about 10-15% in order to compensate for the shortened amount of suspension travel, without over stiffening the spring rate and therefore improving the ride quality.
The Prius coil springs have an extremely low stance, as well as high quality performance and comfort. These coil springs for your Toyota Prius offer a large drop while still retaining the quality ride characteristics that your Prius is so well known for.
Information on 2010 Prius Suspension Upgrades: www.juicedhybrid.com
July 9, 2010
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