I think it’s what people call irony: Just a week or so before Toyota became synonymous with unintended acceleration, it was focusing on the intended kind at the Tokyo Auto Salon. That’s where it gave five of its JDM models the “G Sports” treatment, introducing a new series of products that are “designed for customers who strongly desire to own a unique vehicle, offering them a personalized interior and exterior design along with sports-driving performance.”

And while three of those vehicles will remain solely aimed at the Japanese domestic market, two—the Toyota Prius and coming Toyota FT-86—should hit the U.S. later this year. These two are ideal choices for the U.S., with the new Prius bodykit alone sure to make people reassess their view of the popular Toyota hybrid. As for the FT-86, Toyota’s coming new rear-wheel-drive sports-car, gearheads have been salivating over its style and relatively-low MSRP ever since a concept version showed up at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The G Series version shown at theAuto Salon adds a turbocharger into the mix, which should add further excitement into the marketplace.

Volkswagen is using the same strategy with its R division, which will officially launch at Geneva in March and is expected to be a rival to other OEMs’s in-house performance divisions, like BMW’s M group or Mercedes-Benz’ AMG. In fact, VW already offers “R” versions of the VW Golf and Scirocco in Europe, where they both pack 260+ hp.

That Golf is expected to be the first R vehicle to reach U.S. dealerships, starting later this year, and R versions of the latest Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Eos and Volkswagen CC are under consideration as well.

I know Volkswagen is aiming to drastically boost U.S. sales in the coming years, and these R vehicles should certainly help get things off to a fast start.

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Find more information on what other companies are doing to boost their US Sales.

As GPS units are included in many brand new vehicles, they are becoming more popular than ever on dealer lots. Before they were installed in new vehicles, GPS systems had to be purchased as separate units from electronic stores and mounted on a dashboard holder for use. GPS systems can be used not only for navigating your way around town, but also to track the speed of your vehicle over an extended period of time. A recent study released by GPS maker TomTom, claims that most drivers in the United States are actually obeying speed limit laws in their driving areas. Impressive!

The study also said that even on the roads that recorded the fastest speeds, most drivers only went a couple of miles per hour over the posted speed limit. I’m sure most of us learned in our driving classes that it was somewhat acceptable to maintain a speed 4 mph above or below the speed limit; seems as if this rule is holding true! The question most people ask next is, how can they track this information? The answer is simple: TomTom has GPS transceivers which transmit the speed and location of a vehicle back to the TomTom headquarters. Don’t worry, all of the information transmitted from the TomTom receiver to the company’s headquarters is anonymously so that no one’s information is put in danger.

The information from the TomTom receivers found that the fastest road traveling through the United States is in fact I-15, which runs through Nevada and Utah, where the speeds average 77.67 miles per hour. Some parts of I-15 have posted speed limits of 80 MPH, which means that most of the drivers on that stretch of the road are only actually observing the speed limit. If you look at the information from state to state, the fastest state in the country is Mississippi, followed by New Mexico, Idaho, Utah and Alabama. The TomTom information also found that the slowest highway in the country travels through Washington D.C. at a rate of 43 MPH.

Stay safe and keep driving on!

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Find more information regarding GPS.

Like it or not, most of our lives are run by technology. Whether it is using a microwave to prepare a quick meal or using a computer to buy tickets for a show, technology has truly made us the now generation; most anything can be done with the push of a button.

With the dawn of the iPhone, there has also been a multitude of applications created to be downloaded by iPhone users. These apps – as we’ve come to know them by – can be used to calculate a tip when you are out for dinner, to play games, or to find the nearest desired store. Almost anything is possible from the iTunes app store. Convenience is key says Infiniti Boston area dealers as iPhone users can now download apps straight from their phone instantly. It comes as no surprise that the auto industry has created their very own app for an auto show.

The New York International Auto Show, taking place in April, now has its own official app, which Westborough Infiniti suggests may be just the beginning of an all-new way to learn about new cars. This free app for iPhone owners will allow users to view the auto show’s schedule. In addition, you can view up-to-date photos from the event and even purchased tickets with the app. For those of us with time restrictions, this app lets you set up your own schedule and look at floor maps to see how everything will be laid out.

Nothing is out of reach with an iPhone and Fife Nissan dealerships attest that the automotive industry has further strengthened that argument with the release of their new app for the New York International Auto Show.

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Read more about auto show news.

While the 2010 Detroit Auto Show will be known for hybrids, electric cars and “going green”, the auto show also featured military vehicles. That is right, the auto show in Detroit for 2010 featured fuel-efficient military vehicles! Two vehicles in particular were big hits at this year’s auto show: the CERV (Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle) and the APD (Autonomous Platform Demonstrator).

The CERV was manufactured at the Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), which is based in Warren, Michigan. Michigan is growing rapidly as the nation’s defense industry, and will be granted $14 billion in federal funds for manufacturing operations over the next year. As the military forces are looking to add to their array of vehicles in the coming months, the biggest surprise was that both the CERV and APD are hybrids.

APD

As fuel consumption and transportation is very expensive and dangerous, the armed forces have turned to hybrids to increase efficiency says Marlboro Nissan. The fewer shipments of fuel sent to the battlefields, the fewer soldiers put in harm’s way and fewer dollars spent for the effort. The military vehicles that were on display at the Detroit Auto Show on the 12^th of January were a big hit not only with the press but also with the public.

CERV

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Keep checking back for more information on hybrids and “going green”.

Just months ago gas prices were at an all-time high throughout the United States. Unfortunately for those of us who depend on our vehicles to get to work and school, gas prices have been on the rise again nationwide. This expensive dependence is taking its toll on many as we look for alternative fuel sources and any possible way to squeeze a few more miles out of our cars. Public transportation is often times unreliable and walking or riding a bicycle is not an option for long distance commuters, so here are some tips to help conserve gas:

The best way to conserve gas is by driving safely, at the speed limit. For every five miles per hour over 60 mph, you will be spending another $0.20 per gallon of gas you purchase. Also, do not drive aggressively warns Marlborough used cars, accelerate too quickly, or brake too often. All of these habits will use gas at a quicker rate.

When driving on major highways, Foxboro Toyota dealers recommends using cruise control if traffic conditions allow it. This will enable you to drive at a constant speed, without accelerating or decelerating frequently, and will ultimately help you conserve gas. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Avoid idling with your vehicle as much as possible. Advantage Used Cars, Bremerton makes it simple – idling accumulates zero miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines waste more gas so idle as infrequently as possible to save.

Lastly, another helpful tip from Certified pre-owned Infiniti G37 MA dealers is to use the grade of motor oil recommended for your vehicle. Do not use a lower grade of oil to save money – it causes our vehicle to burn gas quicker. The same can be said for your tires. Make sure your tires are always inflated to their recommended levels. If your tires are running low on air, this can lead to the expenditure of more gas and therefore more money.

Stay in the know! And as always, drive safe.

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