2011 Honda CR-Z - Honda's Hybrid Answer to the Prius

This year's CR-Z is designed to be the heir to the Insight and to gain control of the hybrid market. For most of the first decade of the Twenty-first Century sales of all Honda hybrids fell far short to those of the Prius alone. Unsurprisingly, Honda hopes that the 2011 CR-Z will be the answer to their prayers.

From the outside, the 2011 CR-Z is squat and menacing but with a huge, clear hatch lid that continues to be modern even though it seems to have been taken straight from the old Insight. The CR-Z's device panel's structure, lighting and style, which create the revolutionary internal look while staying true to Honda's obsession with the functional.

All in all, the CR-Z seems to straddle the fence between green and boy-racer without completely perfecting either. Despite this reality, the CR-Z is an eye-catching ride with modern style hints within and without. Perhaps the best aspect of the CR-Z visual is discovered in the style of the back hatch out and over-sized taillights.

Rvinyl Performance Partners with ACC to Bring High-End Accessories to Customers

Rvinyl Performance Partners with ACC to Bring High-End Accessories to Customers

New York City, New York, August 14^th 2012 – Rvinyl.com Inc, a leading manufacturer and distributor of automotive accessories has partnered with American Car Craft (ACC), manufacturer and designer of high-quality, custom-made stainless steel automotive accessories.  The development represents the next logical step for Rvinyl which has been integrating more traditional aftermarket accessories into its marketplace network which were previously dedicated almost exclusively to the sale of tint and film products which they designed and manufactured themselves.  The partnership is expected to bring ACC unique and high-end offerings to a larger customer base while simultaneously rounding out Rvinyl’s aftermarket accessory lines by providing luxury, custom options to those customers willing to pay more for quality and real stainless steel. Both ACC and Rvinyl have been major players in aftermarket auto accessory circles but their customers had rarely crossed paths as they had, until recently, focused on entirely different market segments. Rvinyl, founded in 2003, was for most of its history devoted almost solely to the design and manufacture of vinyl auto accessories.  Among the products for which Rvinyl is best known are the self-adhesive vinyl dash kit, headlight and taillight tints, window tint and a wide array of unique vehicle graphics and decals. The fact that Rvinyl has been, since its inception, an online only retailer allowed it to make inroads into marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon that remained largely untouched by brick-and-mortar businesses and manufacturers. American Car Craft (ACC) is a design company, dedicated to developing unique high quality products. With more than thirty years of experience customizing Late Model Muscle Cars, Chevrolet Corvettes, Camaros, Ford Mustangs, Raptor Trucks, Dodge Challengers, Chargers, Magnums, Vipers, Ram Trucks, Classic Hot Rods, Exotics, Minis, Miatas, Scions, Limousines, Vans and more they have developed a truly unique approach in catering to the aftermarket auto accessory community. Their product design concepts are based on flat 304 Stainless Steel sheet materials that are laser cut and then hand formed and crafted to produce truly amazing, high quality accessories you just won’t find from any other company. Our product line specialty is in the engine bay and continues throughout the vehicle to include custom grilles, stainless steel interior and exterior trim to state of the art digital graphics. Rvinyl has recently completed a major product integration and is excited to offer the restyling community ACC accessories for Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Hummer and Pontiac vehicles at their website www.rvinyl.com.

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Toyota RAV4 EV-A Review

All New Electric Toyota with Class Leading Features

The Toyota RAV4 is among the favorite off-road vehicles of passionate and enthusiastic drivers who love to enjoy adventurous trips with added comfort. Are you fan of Toyota vehicles and waiting for some surprises? Get Ready to drive an exciting new and improved RAV4 EV that will be available at the end of summers.

Toyota division group vice president and general manager Bill Fay said, “The RAV4 EV’s driving performance, dynamics and cargo capacity are equal to or exceed the gas powered RAV4 V6. Arriving fully-equipped with an MSRP of $49,800, with available combined federal and state incentives of up to $10,000, the RAV4 EV is a practical, versatile option for the EV enthusiast.”

Toyota produced this stylish model in cooperation with Tesla Motors, Tesla specially designed its battery. Chief Engineer for Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing Greg Bernas said, “Developing the RAV4 EV with Tesla gave us the opportunity to work with a leading-edge Silicon Valley company. Tesla brought their EV Powertrain expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. We brought our customer – first focus and decades of production experience to the project. It wasn’t always an easy process but I think we succeeded in blending our strengths and learning from one another.”

The Creative team of engineers equipped RAV4 EV with class leading features of SUV and tried their best to make its interior outclass with full luxury features. Moreover other performance elements include improved aerodynamic styling and performance driven electric Powertrain.

Powertrain

You will have smoother driving experience because Toyota has equipped it with high quality liquid cool battery pack with thermal management system.

Driving Modes

You are free to choose between following driving modes i.e.

Normal: In normal mode, you can attain speed from 0-60mph in just 8.6 seconds.
Sport: In Sport mode you can move from 0 to 60mph in just 7 seconds.

Charging Modes

Toyota RAV4 EV offers following charging modes;

Standard: In this mode, the high capacity battery charges equal to 35kWh and you can travel up to 92 miles.
Extended: In this mode, you can utilize the full capacity of battery i.e. 41.8kWh and achieve and EPA ratings of 113 miles.

Exterior

The Exterior of this lavish vehicle is enhanced by Low Beam LED Headlights that produce wonderful results with a high beam halogen projector. You can also readjust the headlights according to the level/weight requirements.

Available Exterior Colors

Toyota RAV4 EV will be available in following colors;

• Blizzard Pearl
•  Shoreline Blue Pearl
•  Classic Silver Metallic
•  Super White

Interior

You will surely fall in love with this Toyota vehicle after enjoying a first ride, its interior offers you added comfort and this comfort is provided with adjustable and comfortable seats which can be adjusted according to body posture especially Driver seat can be adjusted in 6-ways. Cargo space is improved by rear seats that can be easily adjusted with reclining position. Its total cargo capacity is almost 74 cubic feet. Intellitouch Capacitive Touch Screen is the main interior feature of Toyota RAV4 EV.

Safety Features

Don’t worry! You can safely drive this RAV4 model because it is equipped with following high quality safety features;

•  Advanced Side Airbags
•  Active Headrests
•  Roll Curtain Side Air Bags for 1st and 2nd Row
•  STAR Safety System as standard feature

Moreover you can also avail the opportunity of Toyota Safety Connect on trial subscription basis for 3 years.

Executive Program Manager for Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing North America Sheldon Brown said, “A prime design target for all Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles featuring traction batteries is to maintain battery structural integrity and electrical isolation internal to the battery. The RAV4 EV battery and chassis are designed as a system to protect against battery ‘isolation loss’ during a crash, meaning the electrical energy is completely contained within the battery preventing any conductive path to the vehicle body. Electrical components and chassis are designed as a system to protect occupants, first responders and the battery pack itself.”

41 Innovative Environmental Projects Win Over $1 Million In Funding From Audubon And Toyota

Toyota and the National Audubon Society today awarded over $1 million inTogetherGreen Innovation Grants funding to 41 innovative environmental projects nationwide. This year’s winning projects involve more than 150 conservation, environmental justice and community organizations working collaboratively on habitat, water and energy conservation. Many of the projects focus on engaging audiences that have traditionally been underrepresented in the conservation movement, from landowners to religious communities to inner-city students.

“Groups that won Innovation Grants this year have ingenuity and creativity on full display. And that’s what it takes to tackle the environmental challenges we face today,” said Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold. “I’m proud to partner with these innovators in creative approaches to achieve healthier communities and big conservation results.”

Sample projects that will receive 2012 funding include:

• Habitat: In Connecticut, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Student Conservation Association will create Audubon WildLife Guards, a Coastal Stewardship and Youth Conservation Training Program inBridgeport, Conn. The program will provide green job training, mentoring and employment opportunities for high school students who will work to protect threatened beach nesting birds on Pleasure Beach, the largest intact barrier beach in the state.
• Water: In Kansas, Friends of the Kaw, Inc., along with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Topeka Audubon Society and Jayhawk Audubon Society will launch the “Save Soldier Creek” campaign to minimize stormwater runoff  in the rural Soldier Creek watershed – reducing pollution and improving water quality and bird habitat).
• Energy: In Arizona, Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center and Arizona Interfaith Power & Light will broaden its Footprints of Faith campaign to African American and Latino churches in Phoenix and Tucsonpromoting steps congregations can take to reduce their carbon footprints.
• Engaging diverse audiences in conservation: In North Carolina, Wild South and its partners North Carolina Audubon Society, High Country Audubon Society, National Forests of NC and the Western North Carolina Alliance will reach out to military servicemen and women and nearby Asheville residents to involve them in controlling non-native invasive plants, monitoring bird populations, and educating the public on environmental issues. The goal of the project is to preserve the wilderness character and rare species habitat of the Linville Gorge Wilderness, one of the most rugged and scenic areas in the East.

“Toyota and Audubon really share in the belief that environmental change starts at the grassroots level,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president of national philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation. “We’re so proud to support this year’s Innovation Grants, which embody TogetherGreen’s commitment to conservation, innovation and diversity.”

Courtesy of US Politics Today