Toyota has converted a Prius touring model into a plug-in version using a Hymotion L5 conversion kit sold by A123 Systems, which according to the company: can get more than 100 mpg. The work was performed at a Toyota dealership in Massachusetts, one of seven U.S. service centers that can perform the conversion.

The standard Prius hybrid system, including its nickel-metal-hydride battery, remains intact and the added weight of the the conversion battery (5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack) and a 110-volt charging port to the rear bumper, adds over 600 lbs to the Prius.

The result of the conversion project was that gas mileage increased dramatically to a whopping 67mpg but just for the first 35 miles of driving.  Overall mpg’s increased from the Prius’ original mileage of 34 mpg city/47 mpg highway, to the conversion model’s mileage: 56mpg city/75mpg highway-a dramatic difference.

A recent poll indicated that as many as 78% of all American drivers commute less than 40 miles to work each day, electric-plug-ins could result in a dramatic reduction of fossil fuel being burned every day, lowering our dependence on foreign oil and keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum. The drawback, of course is price, the conversion kits cost around $10K and the new 2011 electric plug in vehicles are not available yet at a price that the average American family can afford.

For now, the best option may be a fuel efficient combustible engine, stop in at Jim Lynch Spirit Toyota in St. Louis and test drive a few of our fuel efficient Toyota cars and trucks today.

When it comes to safety features, Toyota brought out all the stops in the 2010 Toyota Sienna.  Toyota installs front, front side, and side curtain airbags in all of their Siennas.  With these airbags strategically placed and tested several times before being released as the final product, Toyota was able to secure a very high crash test rating. The Sienna scored four out of five stars for driver and front passenger protection in front impact tests, and scored five stars for front and rear seat passenger protection in side-impact testing.  With the rigorous testing that the government puts vehicles through, scoring four out of five stars is really good, and five out of five stars is amazing.  The Government is not the only organization that does testing.  The most respected organization is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  The IIHS gave the 2010 Toyota Sienna their highest score in their safety tests.

When it comes to buying a minivan, purchasing one with the most room is always a consideration.  You will have no complaints with the Sienna’s generous amount of space.  When purchasing your Sienna, you can buy one that seats seven passengers or eight passengers.  These two plans are separate versions and will have to be decided on when you buy your vehicle.  The seven seat version has two captain’s chairs in the second row, and the eight seat version consists of a bench in the second row.  When it comes to extra storage space, it doesn’t matter whether you pick the seven or the eight seat version, there is plenty of space in the vehicle to store all of the luggage you need to for those long journeys.

So when you’re looking for your next Minivan, stop by your local Toyota dealer, Spirit Toyota, and see their large selection of new Toyota cars.

Safety is the most important feature when looking for a vehicle.  Nobody wants to put their family in a vehicle that cannot keep them protected.  No worries with the Toyota Highlander; it scored amazing results in crash testing.

Before any vehicle hits the road in America, it has to undergo crash testing performed by the federal government.  The rating the government uses is a five star scale, with 0 stars being the lowest score of safety, and five stars being the maximum amount of safety a vehicle can possess.  The 2009 and 2010 Toyota Highlander scored five stars for driver safety in a frontal crash and five stars for front and rear safety in a side crash.  The Highlander scored four stars for passenger safety in a frontal crash.  With four stars, the passenger has up to a 90 percent chance of being unharmed in a major collision.  These are typical scores of vehicles in the top tier.

The Insurance Industry for Highway Safety is the most respected reviewer of safety by customers and manufacturers alike.  The IIHS gave the Highlander its highest score for safety in both years.  It should be of no surprise as to why Toyota performs so well in Safety tests.  Toyota always installs the latest safety technology as standard equipment, whereas other car manufacturers consider that same equipment as an extra.

To experience the safest ride on the road, see your local Toyota Dealer, Spirit Toyota today. With rock bottom prices and service that is second to none, you are sure to walk away 100 percent satisfied.

You have to invoke the bargainer in you to get the ideal leasing package on your choice vehicle. It is important to know your options and know how to discern between a good deal and a bad deal. Try and do some of your shopping online. That way you can comfortably research the vehicle options without the added pressure you may feel at the dealership. Next would be to make an exhaustive list of specific questions pertaining to leasing terms and conditions. Make sure you have all of the information you need to make an educated leasing decision.

Make note of the mileage terms of the lease as well as, the down payment requirements. Have a clear idea of what you will be using the car for. Take into account the amount of miles you travel on average. Then add in the miles you plan on driving on road trips that may fall over the course of the lease. Make sure your leasing terms will allow enough flex room to fit the expected and unexpected miles you may put on the car. The last thing you want to do is go over the mileage terms and end up paying more than you bargained for.

Make sure you are clear on payment terms as well. Have a clear and concise payment plan. And never sign something you think may not work for you, or are unsure of the payment terms.

Any added confusion or unanswered questions can be avoided if you do business with the right dealer. Only do business with a salesperson you feel comfortable with. Ask around and find out where other car buyers or leasers have had satisfactory business transactions. Visit Jim Lynch’s Toyota dealer in Saint Louis. There you will be able to start and complete the leasing process, with safe and trusted salespeople that have many years experience.

The key to keeping any glass damage to a minimum, be it windshield or window, is to have the damage repaired as soon as it is detected. If left alone a small chip in the glass can multiply into a large crack. If, still, it is left, the damage may become too far gone to be repaired and may require full glass replacement. If this turns out to be the case, it may prove to be difficult to get help from the insurance company.

You may be inclined to run to the nearest auto body and glass hop at the first hint of a chip. There are a number of glass repair kits available at your local auto parts store. They include comprehensive instructions, making it easy for any skill level to achieve. If the damage is too much to repair yourself, do some research and shop around at different glass and auto body shops. You may get a dependable recommendation from your trusted Toyota dealer, as well.

On a more preventative note, being more aware of your surroundings, while driving, may be your best way to combat possible windshield damage. Avoid traveling behind large trucks, especially ones that are obviously carrying small rocks or gravel. It may be wise to invest in a bug deflector that mounts to the hood of your car. It won’t protect from all debris, but it may give you a fighting chance.

Bio Diesel cuts a diesel vehicle’s emissions by 50-70%. The cost of the Bio Diesel can range anywhere from 50 cents to over $3.00 per gallon. This will depend on the resources in your area. With some refining you may be able to make use of once used vegetable oil from local resources. If you have a Bio Diesel pump in your area, you will probably end up paying anywhere from $1.75 and $3.00 per gallon.

A diesel vehicle is usually one that gets fairly good gas mileage to begin with; not to mention the fact that they seem to last forever. In fact, a diesel powered vehicle can last up to 400,000 miles. Unfortunately for us Americans, we have less to choose from when it comes to purchasing a diesel vehicle. If you are looking for a diesel powered Toyota, start your search at Jim Lynch’s Toyota dealer in St. Louis Missouri. They have an excellent inventory and well-qualified staff.

Once you purchase the Bio Diesel, you can begin using it in your vehicle. At first you may notice a small loss of power. This is an indication that the filter needs to be changed. This will happen a little more frequently in the beginning, as your vehicle will be working to rid itself of more toxins. Eventually this will even out and you won’t need to change the filter quite as often.

The process of completely converting from petro diesel to Bio Diesel should be complete within a couple of months. You will notice a significant change in the quality of the emissions, which will be direct indicator of if the switch over has been effective.

The newer Prius model has a longer electronic-only cruise range than the previous Prius model. It will receive a lithium ion battery that will be able to travel up to 14.5 miles before the gasoline portion of the vehicle kicks in and begins driving like the previous standard Prius models. This battery pack has the ability to power the electric motor of the vehicle for about 40 miles. When it has reached its capacity a small gasoline powered engine expends energy to recharge the battery, as opposed to, propelling the vehicle.
Over the course of the preliminary rollout to United States, Japan, And European Toyota dealers, Toyota will make necessary revisions and alterations to the model. The Executive Vice President of Toyota states:

“We will see what happens in the field,” Uchiyamada said at the launch of leasing in Japan. “We may have to adjust the number of batteries carried on board. So please stay tuned.”

The third generation Prius and the new Prius plug-in model are nearly identical. They both have the same electric motor as well as, the 1.8 liter gasoline engine. The difference is, in fact in the actual batteries. The plug-in model receives the lithium ion batteries, as opposed to the nickel-metal hydride batteries the standard Prius receives. This allows for greater energy storage and in turn, an even more efficient use of energy.

Toyota has yet to divulge the pricing specifics of the vehicle, but promises to make it “affordable.” You can expect to see the new Prius plug-in hybrid model at your local Missouri Toyota dealer over the course of the upcoming months.

If you are considering a more expensive gift, you can’t go wrong with a GPS system, or a new portable Delphi RoadyXT Satellite radio system with a wide variety of channels including music, sports, talk, entertainment, and news to choose from. SIRIUS and XM are the two channel subscriptions available and the two have merged so customers can tailor their service by subscribing to one station, and adding favorite channels from the other. Even if you recently purchased a new Toyota from your Missouri Toyota Dealer that  has a satellite receiver built into the audio system,  portable units are still very popular because they can be listened to in the car as well as through the home stereo system. If you are considering the gift of satellite radio for someone on your Christmas list, there are two areas to consider: the receiver itself and the channel subscription.

Other very popular gift items this year include; a new car stereo system with an iPod adaptor, and satellite radio. An auxiliary input on the front plate of many models means you can easily hook up other music sources including Mp3 players. New LCD screens are sharp and bright and display the song and artist. New higher quality speakers or even an amplifier are all great ideas, particularly if your car lover has an older model car without all of the upgrades available in car audio systems these days.

“The Magnificent Mile” in downtown Chicago- explore dozens of unique shops, boutiques and department stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue along the scenic Magnificent Mile, a popular holiday shopping area in downtown Chicago.  There are many exclusive hotels offering overnight accommodations, breakfast, and even gift card for an affordable excursion, enjoy the many sites and holiday events going on in the local Chicago area while selecting some of the most unique gifts for friends and family on your list this year.

The Mall of America in Minneapolis Minnesota- if you are planning to combine a holiday getaway with a traditional shopping excursion this year, why not go to the biggest Mall in the country?  The Mall of America in Minnesota is 4.2 million gross square feet with over 520 stores including specialty gift shops from you will not find anywhere else in the country, from Alpaca Connections to European Gifts, Just for Dogs Gourmet, and even a specialty shop that features every type of model car and accessory imaginable, there is something for everyone on your list. If you plan to take your family along, the Mall has family attractions galore, the most popular Nickelodeon Universe featuring an indoor amusement park with roller coaster, rides, specialty gift shops featuring Nickelodeon themed gifts, and live entertainment with hourly pictures and visits from none other than SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick. Other attractions include Underwater Adventures Aquarium with a 300 foot long tunnel with 14 feet of water that holds 4,500 sea creatures including sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and more. A.C.E.S. flight simulations, and Lego Imagination Center.   There are many specials available for all inclusive trips that include transportation, and hotel accommodations.

Just because summer has come to a close doesn’t mean that lemonade season is over. Sure, it gives you the feel of hot days and sandals, but why not bring back that feeling? There are many drive-thrus that offer fresh squeezed lemonade, so you can grab it on the go. If you’d rather not pick it up in your hybrid Toyota, you could make some at home. Whether from concentrate or by squeezing the lemons yourself, an icy cold lemonade is a great answer to a warm car.

Of course, we can’t forget the old standby—water. It’s the perfect liquid for rehydrating your body, and if you spill any inside of your hybrid Toyota it won’t matter. It will dry and leave no mark on the upholstery. The most important thing here is to bring your own. While bottled water is convenient, the bottles themselves are doing a tremendous amount of damage to the environment. If you’re worried about having your water filtered, you can do this at home with far less waste and for far less money.

So, why not take the time to sip an icy beverage when your hybrid Toyota gets a little warm inside? You can still use ice and a straw with a commuter cup, keeping your drink cool and insulated, yet also safe for the road.