Fuel Efficient Autos

The next generation of the flagship Toyota hybrid, the Prius, hasn’t yet been unveiled. However, there is quite a bit of speculation about what that new vehicle will look like, as well as what kinds of design changes may be coming.

The new Prius hybrid is expected to have a significant amount of redesign. The new Toyota hybrid will have a more modern look on the inside, for example. The center upright console is expected to be replaced with a bridge-like design, that will flow from the dashboard toward the center storage bin, located between the front seats. In addition, it is thought there will be a new storage compartment under the center console.

The gearshifter will also move to the center console, and will resemble a manual gearshifter.

It is expected that the large screen on the dash, which shows a diagram of the hybrid motor and lets drivers know when they’re getting better fuel economy, is expected to stay. The screen will move from the dash to the center console.

The new Prius should arrive some time in the United States in 2009.

Beyond this new vehicle, however, more changes are coming. For example, it is expected that a plugin hybrid version of the Prius may be released within the next few years, taking Toyota fuel economy to a whole new level.

For a long time, Toyota hybrid vehicles, available from your local Pennsylvania automotive dealer, have been at the top of the pack when it comes to fuel efficiency and economy. Since Toyota launched it’s Prius, the first gas-electric hybrid back in 2000, Toyota has been well ahead of the game.

In the coming years, however, Toyota hybrids will face all sorts of new competition. There will be at least 16 new vehicles coming out over the next few years, that will be either electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. It is expected that hybrid sales are going to dramatically increase as gas becomes even more expensive. Sales are expected to quadruple over the next six years.

Soon, every automaker will have at least one vehicle that’s a hybrid on the market. From General Motors to Ford to Hyundai, everyone is getting into the hybrid game.

Of course, Toyota isn’t especially worried. Toyota has sold more than a million and a half hybrids since it started selling them. Toyota has a long track record of reliability and quality when it comes to hybrids. The new competition will help to strenghten Toyota’s position, as the market expands more and more. With all these years of experience and a huge wealth of research and development, Toyota is set to stay at the top of the trend.

Your Toyota automotive dealer knows that maintenance on your Toyota hybrid is one of your main concerns.

No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, from time to time you’re going to have a headlight burn out. You can have your Toyota automotive mechanic replace your headlight, or you can save a few dollars and replace the headlight yourself. Here’s how to replace your own headlight:

1. Get Your new bulb. Ask the clerk at your local auto parts store, or look in the big guide usually located in the headlight aisle. Make sure to get the right bulb for your headlight, as they’re not universal.
2. Open your hood, and locate the wires behind the headlight.
3. On the back of the headlight is a screw cap. Turn this to release the bulb. In some cases, there may be a plastic lever that you’ll need to push down at the same time. Other vehicles have a metal clip, and you’ll give that a tug.
4. Take out the bulb entirely. You may have to turn the bulb slightly.
5. Open the new light bulb. Take care not to touch the glass of the bulb, as the oils on your skin can sometimes cause the bulb to burn out prematurely.
6. Stick the bulb into the back of the headlight, until you can’t see the rubber bulb gasket any monger.
7. Put it all back together and turn on your headlights, to make sure it works.

If you’re wondering how good Toyota fuel economy can be, there’s no better place to look than car magazines. Whether you are considering a Toyota hybrid like the Prius or whether you’re thinking about getting into a larger vehicle, car magazines have plenty for you.

Here are some of the most interesting and informative car magazines in publication today:

Car and Driver

This is probably the most popular car magazine in the world. Car and driver features test drive results, buying guides, reviews, and even automotive news.

Motor Trend

Motor trend focuses on the automotive industry itself. It includes things like information about concept cars, coverage of auto shows, industry news, as well as car reviews.

American Driver

This magazine is geared toward the lifestyle of the car enthusiast. The articles are entertaining, and feature everything from human interest stories to articles about the best scenic drives.

AutoWeek

AutoWeek is a somewhat ecclectic read, including reviews, information about auto shows, racing, and even information about environmental issues. You’re especially likely to find information about Toyota fuel economy in AutoWeek.

Super Street

Racing, customizing, and personalizing compact cars is the theme of this one. It includes lots of technical information, as well as information about aftermarket modifications and equipment for performance compact cars.

The fact of the matter is that there are some times that are better than others to go to your Pennsylvania automotive dealer and buy your new Toyota hybrid. There are times throughout the year when the deals are better than other times. There are also a number of different market factors that can come into play, as well. Special promotions and offers abound at certain times, and some of these offers are better than others. Thinking about the best time to buy your new car and planning ahead a little bit can sometimes save you thousands of dollars.

Here are some of the best times to think about buying a new car:

End of the Year

Winter months are usually pretty slow for car dealers. Year end sales help the dealership to boost its sales numbers for the year, get some of their old inventory off the lot, and save you some money in the process.

End of the Month

On a smaller scale, dealerships may be expecially anxious to sell their new cars at the end of a month. A salesperson may have a monthly quota that she’s trying to meet, for example, and you may be able to get a good deal.

Special Offers

Sometimes, manufacturers will offer rebates or special financing. These are good times to consider buying that new vehicle, as well. If you’re going to pay for the car outright, a rebate can be a great option. On the other hand, if the manufacturer is offering financing with no interest, that can save you thousands of dollars over time, as well.

Your Toyota automotive dealer knows just how devastating potholes can be to your Toyota hybrid. No matter what kind of car you drive, potholes in the road can be more than an annoyance. Potholes can be dangerous, and they can cause damage to your vehicle. Driving over even the smallest of potholes at full speed can cause damage to your alignment, rims, tires, and your suspension. It may cause you to lose control of the vehicle, and even swerving to avoid a pothole can cause a problem.

What is it that causes potholes? To understand, it is important to understand a little bit about the road surface. The surface of the road is a multi-layer structure. There is the soil or sub-grade. Crushed rock or gravel is often the sub-base layer. On top of all of that is the asphalt, a petroleum-like material.

During the winter months, the pavement is constantly freezing and thawing. In addition, traffic is constantly wearing on the pavement. Eventually, cracks form. When the road thaws, water gets into those cracks. When the pavement freezes, the water expands, causing the pavement to actually rise. This causes a divot to be formed underneath the pavement surface. When this happens, the pavement breaks and a pothole forms.

The best way to avoid potholes is just to be aware of your road surroundings. You should also make sure to follow behind other cars at a safe distance. If they swerve or break to avoid a pothole, you want to be ready for it.

With high gas prices, everyone is talking about Toyota fuel economy. It seems that folks who never would have otherwise considered a hybrid are suddenly in the market for a hybrid like the Toyota Prius.

Here are some of the main reasons people give today for wanting a hybrid vehicle:

1. Hybrid vehicles help reduce pollution. Because the electric engine in a hybrid doesn’t produce the same kinds of pollutants that a regular gasoline engine produces, hybrid vehicles are cleaner and better for the environment.
2. Hybrid vehicles use less fossil fuels. Because their fuel economy is so much less, hybrids reduce the amount of oil used. This has a number of benefits, not the least of which is a lessened dependence on foreign sources of oil.
3. Hybrid vehicles save you money on gas. No, at $2 a gallon, savings on gasoline alone won’t make up the difference in cost between a regular vehicle and a hybrid. But as gas prices increase (some speculate we’ll see $5 per gallon soon) this becomes a much more reasonable argument.
4. Finally, hybrid vehicles demonstrate responsibility. In some ways, driving a hybrid helps keep awareness of these issues on peoples’ minds. This isn’t a self-righteous thing, it’s just a way to open up the discussion about fossil fuels and environmental issues.

The day that your teenager gets old enough to take a driver’s training course, your world (and the Pennsylvania automotive world) changes drastically. Suddenly, you remember your days as a youth, and the struggle you had with learning to drive. You begin to worry for your child’s safety, and begin to make plans to add the teen to your insurance policy. You might even begin looking for a used car for your teen.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind before you get into your Toyota hybrid and begin teaching your teen to drive:

Know the rules yourself

If you don’t know what the traffic laws are in Pennsylvania and in your local area, then you’re going to have a hard time teaching your teen what those laws are. Take some time to do a little bit of research, too, to see if anything has changed since you last took a driving test.

Be a role model for your teen

Your teen’s driving habits will, very often, become an extension of your own. If you frequently tailgate, or if you refuse to use turn signals, it is likely that your teen will pick up some of those bad habits. ON the other hand, if you drive defensively, your teen probably will, too.

To understand what hydroplaning is, it’s important to understand a little bit about how the tires on your Toyota hybridd are designed to work in relation to water.

The grooves of a tire tread are used to help remove water from underneath a tire. This means that a tire can still have a high degree of friction with the surface of the road, even when it’s wet outside.

Hydroplaning is what happens when a moving tire come into contact with more water than it is able to dissipate via its treads. Water builds up pressure in front of the tire, and it forces water in a wedge shape to be forced under the front end of the wheel. This causes the tire to lift up from the road.

The result of hydroplaning is a loss of control of your vehicle. You can’t control the vehicle while it is hydroplaning, and have to wait until the hydroplaning stops.

Hydroplaning is more likely the faster you go. In addition, if your tires have worn treads or are underinflated, your risk for hydroplaning is higher, as well.

When a car hydroplanes, it can feel like the steering is loose. Small steering corrections won’t be followed. To get out of the hydroplane, keep your steering wheel straight and apply gentle pressure to the brakes as you gently ease off of the accelerator.

Your Toyota automotive dealer has information about the best tires for your Toyota vehicle, and can help make sure your tires are in the best shape they can be in order to avoid hydroplaning.

One of the most common reasons for accidents involving Allentown cars is the weather. Believe it or not, it isn’t always snowy, slippery winter weather that causes accidents, either. This brings us to the latest in our series on driving safety:

Driving Safety Tip #4: Observe Road Conditions

Sometimes, the roads aren’t exactly conducive to safe driving. Sometimes, the weather gets in the way. For this reason, you’ve got to always be aware of the conditions on the road.

For example, when it rains heavily, the roads are likely to be very slick for the first few minutes. This is because the oils that are on the road haven’t yet been washed away. When the rain mixes with those oils, it becomes liquid again and can be very slippery for the driver.

When water collects on the road, it can lead to hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is, essentially, the process whereby your car moves across the road but on top of the water in the road, rather than through it. Hydroplaning can lead to a loss of control for your vehicle.

Obviously, winter weather conditions affect your driving safety. If it’s snowing so hard that you can’t see the car in front of your Toyota hybrid, you need to take extra precautions.