Summer Is Tempting For Car Thieves

Writen by Terry Brown

Be careful this summer. Car thieves are so tempted to do their deeds during these hot summer months.

This is according to Help Eliminate Auth Thefts, or much known as HEAT. The group warns that such a situation is very true for car owners are the ones who get careless during such a season. This then gives car thieves easy access to vehicles. And to back this up, the 2006 FBI Uniform Crime Report also has statistics that shows that indeed, motor vehicle theft, is in its peak during July and August. And this not only is true for 2006. This situation has been consistent through years.

Terri Miller is the director of HEAT. Miller states, “As warm weather sets in, people tend to relax their guard by leaving car tops and windows down when they leave their vehicles. This makes it easy for thieves to steal exposed property like purses, laptops and cell phones - not to mention the vehicle itself.”

Even Lt. John Milchalke had something to say: “Always keep a watchful eye on your property, especially in the summer. Just as you lock your front door before leaving your house, be sure to secure all car doors before stepping away from your vehicle, even when running a quick errand.” Michalke is from the Macomb Auto Theft Squad.

HEAT discloses that being vigilant and being careful helps you maintain your chances of having your vehicle still in place and intact when you come back for it. They suggest that as car owners, you should close your windows tightly and it is important that you always lock your car if you are going to be away from it, even for just a couple of seconds of minutes. Any valuables should be kept out of sight. If these are in plain sight, these could spark off the longing for car thieves to go right on and take your car away.

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Toyota Prius Could Go Full Line

Writen by Tom Bailey

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s top seller of gasoline-electric autos and the second top automaker worldwide, may turn its mighty Prius into a full line of vehicles. This move is intended to triple its hybrid sales in the United States.

US will account for more than half a million hybrid cars and light trucks. According to Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota U.S. sales unit, “The automaker plans to sell worldwide each year by early next decade. Prius-based models might include a wagon and a smaller car.”

“For us to do 600,000, there will probably have to be Prius and derivatives of Prius that are selling in the neighborhood of 300,000 to 400,000. We don’t have any plans to do that right now, but that’s the direction that nameplate can go, because it is that strong,” Lentz said at the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show in Las Vegas.

So far, among auto giants, Toyota is making the most aggressive promotion of gasoline-electric vehicles as the best obtainable option to control fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. In 2005, the automaker sold 235,000 hybrids globally. The number is four times more than the sales of Honda Motor Co. The latter is the second ranking automaker in said segment.

One of Toyota’s prides in terms of hybrid technology is Prius. The vehicle is the world’s first hybrid that is commercially mass-produced. It went on sale internationally in 1997. In the US, Prius is linked with environmentalist and liberal politics. It is famed by celebrities who want to pursue environmental cause.

The 2004 model of Prius is a redesigned version. Said car is based on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). Two years after, Prius is given minor cosmetic changes to boost safety and ergonomics. Finally, the 2007 version of the vehicle is given new features and enhanced Toyota car parts to make it more sophisticated, high-performing and safe.

Moreover, the Touring edition of Prius is given bigger and sharper-pointed 7-spoke, 16-inch alloy wheels with plastic hub cab cover, elongated larger rear spoiler, firmer suspension, integrated foglights and advanced headlights for added protection and power.

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The Tale of the Mazda Protege

Writen by Kimberly Meyer

Also known as the Mazda Familia in Japan, the Mazda Protege has gone through various forms and various names. Like in South Africa, this vehicle is known as the Mazda etude. In truth, the Mazda Protege, the Mazda GLC, and the Mazda 323 is just one vehicle. They are one and the same. Changes had only been made to its name and of course, there were little furnishings here and there. However, for most, all these point to one vehicle which is the Mazda Protege. These Mazda Protege vehicles are built in Japan. However, the assembly is done on various countries which include Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa, Colombia, and in New Zealand.

The Mazda Protege is a subcompact car that is produced by the Mazda Motor Corporation which has its headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan. This vehicle, has been introduced to the United States. To actually tackle information about the Mazda Protege per se, it would be quite a difficult task for there are areas which overlap each other. The name Mazda Protege actually was used starting from 2004. Come the year 2004, use of this name was stopped and was later on replaced by the Mazda 3 which was actually a Ford based vehicle line. That might be the fact behind the Mazda 3, however, Mazda still did give some contributions to this.

Because the Mazda Protege was built in Japan, it was actually sold much more expensive than its competitors which were the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. And since its introduction, it became a favorite among US car magazines. This was due to the Mazda Protege’s reputation for bearing, delivering, and providing a spirited handling. This vehicle was the very first small Japanese car to cross over to the EPA “compact” class. Later on, the Mazda Protege became the basis of other vehicles like the Ford Laser and the Ford Meteor which were actually marketed in Asia, and Australia, and also the For Escort which was also marketed in the United States and the rest of North America.

The Mazda Protege was also known to boast of a European-inspired styling. Aside from having a spirited handling, the Mazda Protege also holds a very comfortable interior, a smooth driving experience as well as grandiose features. It was made available in three trim levels which comprised of the ES, the LX, and the DX. The ES came equipped with a 1.8 liter engine with four cylinders. It was capable of providing 122 horsepower, and the trim level also held bigger front disc brakes and quality standard equipments. As per the other two trim levels, the LX and the DX, both were powered by the very same 1.6 liter engine with four cylinders. It was very much capable of creating an output of 105 units of horsepower. For all three trim levels, made standard was a five speed manual transmission system and given as an option was a four speed automatic transmission system. Other features for this vehicle include the anti lock braking system, side impact air bags, rear drum brakes and all disc brakes.

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