Skip the first thirty seconds then watch a sped up version of the super bowl

found on http://bangshift.com/

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Toyota Prius Hybrid Sales Were Up in January Despite Recall

Prius and other Toyota hybrid sales are up this month, which may be a little bit surprising given all the issues surrounding Toyota right now.  In total, Prius sales were up by 13%, while Toyota hybrid sales were up 2.6%

Where the Prius goes, so goes hybrid sales in general.  So that means that hybrid car sales for January will also likely be up from last January, although I havent gotten all the numbers, yet.

Keep in mind that Prius sales, and hybrid car sales in general, were way down in January.  The next generation Prius was coming and customers were holding off on buying the old generation Prius and Toyota was no longer supplying them in great numbers.  They were just trying to clear the inventory before the new 2010 model showed up on dealer lots.

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Step Up and Last Three Rounds I Dare Ya!

So then, will no one step up and attempt to compete with the Prius???

Hondas Prius-Fighter Is Stuck in First - BusinessWeek

So far this year, the Prius is outselling the Insight by nearly 6 to 1. Other carmakers are watching closely. General Motors, for one, is reviewing its entire hybrid strategy. In late November, GM shelved plans for a 53-mpg Prius fighter for its bread-and-butter Chevrolet brand.

With the Insight failing to compete with the Prius, will no others be able to challenge the Toyota dominance in the hybrid world?  Toyota sells 3 out of every 4 hybrids in the US.  1 of ever 2 hybrids sold is a Prius.  1 out of every 100 (or a bit more, really) cars sold in the US is a Prius.

Thats a lot to overcome, but it should still be possible.  If the rest of the auto market is competitive across the various types of cars, why cant hybrids be more competitive?

The cost is a big challenge, of course.  A decade of sales gives Toyota a big advantage in technology advancements and engineering cheaper solutions.

Also GM and others may decide it just isnt worth it.  Nissan has decided to work on building all electric, while Audi has focused on diesel.  GM is hoping to beat Toyota to the plug-in market with the Volt.  Ford and Honda seem to be the only real competitors in the hybrid  world, but theyre so far back that Goliath seems to be winning without even noticing hes in a fight.

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Thunderhill 25 Hours Audi count up to three cars as Rotek Racing confirmed with Audi TT RS entry

By Johan Laubscher

The 25 Hours of Thunderhill will be taking place in December. A third Audi entry has been included in the latest update of the provisional entry list.

The first draft of the provisional entry list was revealed on 24 September and that list included two Audi entries. The original two entries were both from GMG Racing, who are entering two Audi R8 LMS cars in the ES class.

At the time Rotek Racing mentioned their intention to compete in the race on their Facebook page, but they were not listed on the entry list as of yet. Rotek Racing has been campaigning an Audi TT RS (VLN SP4T) car in the German VLN Endurance Championship this year, the very same car that was used by 034 Motorsport at the 2012 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The latest update of the provisional entry list was published last night and it now officially includes the Rotek Racing TT RS, also entered in the ES class, thus upping the Audi count to three cars in total.

No driver line-ups have been announced yet, but it is very exciting to see three factory built Audi Sport Customer Racing cars already on the grid. The 2013 25 Hours of Thunderhill is scheduled to take place from 7-8 December.

The provisional entry list can be seen HERE.

Audi teams on the provisional entry list (as of 28/10/2013):

GMG Racing:

#8 Audi R8 LMS - GMG Racing

#14 Audi R8 LMS - GMG Racing

Rotek Racing:

#24 Audi TT RS SP4T - Rotek Racing

Photo credit: 
Roger Mecking

Audi Sport Communication / Media
Rotek Racing

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Car and Truck Tune up Questions Answered Now!

The things you need to know like what is a tune up, car tune up cost, tune up shops, and car maintenance will be explained here for women and first time car and truck owners. Car tuning is the adjustment, modification, or design of a car engine to create optimal engine performance to increase an engines ability to yield power output, fuel economy, or durability. Car tune ups can be what you want it to be, either minor or major. A low mileage car or truck would be the perfect example for a vehicle needing a minor tune up. Let me explain to you what a minor and major tune up is and what you should expect for each of these two car services at your local tune up shop.

Minor Car Tune Up Information For Women and First Time Car and Truck Owners:

A minor tune up for a car or truck with low mileage would only consist of replacing the spark plugs on your car. What I mean by low mileage would be around 30,000 miles but check your owner’s manual to be more specific on the mileage. Your car tune up cost should be around $50 for a typical four cylinder car or truck engine. A minor tune up at most tune up shops will also include a free car maintenance inspection which means looking for anything that could cause you to have car engine problems. For example the auto mechanic will inspect your car belts, hoses, antifreeze, engine block for leaks, spark plug wires, distributor cap and ignition rotor, and all of your car engine fluids and top them off if needed. You may be charged for the lubricants and car fluids needed to fill them up. I hope this minor car tune up information will give you a better understanding of what to expect when you take your car or truck in.

Major Car Tune Up Information For Women and First Time Car and Truck Owners:

A major tune up for your car or truck would consist of replacing very important maintenance items such as your car or truck’s spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, gas filter, air filter, needed belts and hoses, adjusting your car or truck’s ignition timing and carburetor where applicable. Now if you really want to get the maximum engine performance out of your car or truck with high mileage you may also consider replacing your oxygen sensors, timing belt, and having your cooling system flushed and filled with new antifreeze. It would be well worth it but you would expect to pay around $1,200.00 for this type of high mileage major car tune up. You would not have to worry about another major car or truck tune up for an additional 90,000 miles. I hope this article was able to answer your questions on what is a car tune up is, car tune up cost, car tune up shops, and you received your answer.

For more car and truck care information for women and first time car and truck owners please visit my blog at, “Auto Repair Savings Blog.”

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Stock Up on Boat Manuals from RepairManual com

Boat manuals are easy items to forget when stocking your boat with essentials. Making this kind of mistake, however, can have huge consequences! The time could come when you may be stranded in the middle of a body of water and will need to make a repair in order to get your boat moving again. Prepare for the worst and have that boat repair manual on deck.

Get your manual from the extensive selection at RepairManual.com, which features a variety boat manuals to fulfill all boat owners needs. You are very likely to find the repair manual designed specifically for your type of boat engine on our website. With an array of boat manuals ranging from Atlas Royal boat engine manuals to Federal boat engine manuals, from Marine Jet-Drive boat engine manuals to Yamaha boat engine manuals, a boat owner like you can obtain the repair manual that matches up best to your boats engine.

Moreover, the selection at RepairManual.com features more than just boat manuals. You can find manuals on conducting general maintenance, understanding boat transmission and drives, diagrams of boat wiring, motor and boat identification materials, and much more. So add on any of our informational manuals to the boat engine repair manual that you order, and youll be more prepare to head out on the waters.

Visit RepairManual.com to browse our extensive selection of boat manuals today!

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