TheCarConnection

Those little “Access OK” stickers you see on some Toyota Priuses, out in California, could be worth $4,000 or more when an owner goes to trade in, a new study reports. That’s because commuters are willing to spend thousands extra to get instand access to the HOV commuter lanes that can save them an hour a day in driving time. Paul A. Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has this report.

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Be careful what you ask for. As the newest Honda assembly plant shows, Detroit’s Big Three probably shouldn’t have pushed the Japanese automakers to set up production in the U.S. Is the $550 million Honda plant, in Greensburg, Indiana, another nail in Detroit’s coffin? Paul Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has more.

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It’s one of the year’s most important industry gatherings, with dozens of manufacturers from all over the world coming together to display their latest products at the Geneva Motor Show.  And this year is no exception, with products ranging from the new Audi Coupe to the Rolls-Royce Drophead; in all almost four dozen different concept and production vehicles are making their world debut at Geneva’s PALExpo center, and this report from TheCarConnection.com looks at some of the most important, including BMW’s next-generation M3, the striking Opel GTC Concept, Ford’s Mondeo, the Dodge Demon roadster, Toyota’s alternative to the Prius, the Hybrid X, Maserati’s elegant GranTurismo and more.

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At first glance, the BRP Can-Am Spyder looks like another motorcycle, but get a bit closer and you’ll notice its unusual, Y-shaped layout, with two wheels up front and one in the rear.  That’s mean to enhance stability — and lure in nervous Baby Boomers who’d love to relive their Easy Rider days.  Developed by Bombardier, the company that ave us the Ski-doo and Sea-doo, Spyder goes on sale later this year around the world.  Will it create a huge new market — or sink like the Segway?  Find out in this review from TheCarConnection.com.

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Does an environmentally-friendly automobile HAVE to look like the Toyota Prius?  Not to Jay Leno.  The talk show host and car collector teamed up with General Motors to secretly design and develop the Ecojet supercar.  Sure, it’ll deliver Autobahn speeds, but it also runs on bio-diesel, which can be produced with anything from soybeans to used French fry oil.  Ecojet puts the spotlight on alternative fuels, like biodiesel and ethanol, as TheCarConnection.com reports.

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A year ago, it was being hailed as the most successful of America’s Big Three US automakers.  Today, however, Chrysler is in crisis, losing market share and losing money, with its German parent, DaimlerChrysler AG, ready to sell the American automaker off.  Will General Motors buy it?  Hyundai?  Perhaps a Chinese automaker?  But can Chrysler survive, whomever owns it?  Find out some answers from TheCarConnection.com

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The Chevrolet Volt could charge up the drive for environmentally-friendly automobiles.  This Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or PHEV, uses long-range lithium-ion batteries to deliver up to 40 miles on a charge, more than enough, according to General Motors, for 75% of American commuters.  For longer drives, a super-efficient gasoline engine would fire up, yielding as much as 140 mpg.  Right now the Chevy Volt is just a concept vehicle.  Will they build it?  TheCarConnection.com has the inside story.

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