“Green” tax breaks were introduced in Thailand last year. This is an effort of the nation as the world’s largest manufacturer of light pickups to tuck the title in the years to come. Annually, Thailand churns out 900,000 one-tonne trucks. The figure is three-fourths of global output.

The government is threatened by escalating oil prices and global warming concerns that could result in truck sales doldrums. This scenario could put a dent to Thai economy because shoppers are expected to shift to fuel-efficient compact cars. These reasons prompted the Thai government to offer incentives for the manufacturer of “eco-cars” that meet European emission standards.

"First-time car owners, and especially motorcyclists who want to become car owners, are cost-conscious consumers," said Surapong Paisitpatnapong, spokesman for the Federation of Thai Industries' automotive club. "Investments in eco-car production will help grow this new segment of the country's domestic auto market while increasing exports.”

By far, seven automakers have proposed eco-car projects to Thailand's Board of Investment. The automakers include Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, and Tata Motors Surapong said four proposals have already been approved.

Also, Honda Motor Co. intends to invest $214 million to assemble eco-cars while manufacturing engines and parts in Thailand. Suzuki Motors, meanwhile, will invest $303.658 million to build a new factory in central Thailand. Approximately 80 percent of cars produces will be for export. Nissan Motors Co. also will invest $177 million to build 120,000 units annually. The output is also mainly allotted for export.

"Eco-cars are going to be hot in Thailand's auto market. The lower prices for these minicars, along with high oil prices, will drive up the demand," said Nongnapat Wilepana, a Nissan dealer in Bangkok.

AFP reported that under the scheme, the companies will not have to pay corporate income taxes on their investments for eight years, and duties on imported machinery will be waived.

“Thailand's main worry is that its auto industry depends entirely on foreign companies, since the kingdom has no national automaker,” Surapong noted. “That means the country will have to keep wooing automakers with attractive offers in the future to deter them from looking for better deals for their factories in other countries.”

With the global warming uproar, automakers are mandated to fill the roads with fuel efficient cars. But Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will take years to make the cars commercially viable.

The fuel-cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) produces electricity through a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen. Fuel cells emit nothing more than water vapor. This is why the FCHV is deemed one of the cleanest cars that are expected to invade the roads.

In 2007, the Japanese auto giant reported success in a test of a fuel-cell car. During the test, the FCHV was driven about 560 kilometers on a single filling. Remarkably, the car finished with 30 percent of the hydrogen still in the tank.

Beside the fact that the FCHV is pricey, Watanabe noted that motorists would need an infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations if they are to take fuel-cell cars on the road.
"It will probably be a long way ahead until we can start mass production, considering problems linked to difficulties in how to stock hydrogen and where to draw hydrogen from," he said. "It'll take long time to solve these problems, but we will definitely commercialize it as I believe it is a promising power sourceaid.”

Toyota is the pioneer of hybrids. Additionally, the automaker is also expected to become the world’s largest this year by leapfrogging General Motors Corp.

Watanabe in an interview with AFP said he hoped to go further and "make a car that can actually clean the air, so that the longer it runs the cleaner the air becomes." He added work was progressing with Matsushita on loading cars with lithium-ion batteries. The batteries would introduce to the industry the so-called “plug-in hybrids" that can be recharged from domestic outlets. "By 2010 we hope the achievement will see customers," Watanabe said.

"I have no intention of changing our policy that the centre of research and development will be in Japan," he concluded. "Of course, part of technological development already has shifted to satellite centers in the United States, Europe, Thailand, Australia and Taiwan. But the basic and core technologies will be developed in Japan."

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently named the thirty-four 2008 model year vehicles which were given their highest safety rating. Called the Top Safety Pick award, the system is developed to name the best vehicles in the market in terms of protecting its occupants in the unfortunate event of a crash. The IIHS tests vehicles for their adequacy in protecting motorists during, frontal, side, and rear crashes. Vehicles should be rated highly at the said tests before they could be given the Top Safety Pick award.

"For 2008, consumers have the widest selection of vehicles they've ever had that afford the best protection in the most common kinds of crashes," said Adrian Lund, the president of the IIHS. Since safety is one of the major concerns of auto buyers, the Top Safety Pick rating will help them in their decision of which new vehicle to buy.

Lund pointed out that an ESC can be of great help to keep motorists away from accidents. "Vehicles should be designed to provide good occupant protection when crashes occur, but now with ESC we have the possibility of preventing many crashes altogether," he said. "If all vehicles were equipped with ESC, as many as 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided each year."

ESC comes in various names as automakers have different names for this system. Chevrolet vehicles with StabiliTrak are actually equipped with ESC. StabiliTrak is Chevrolet’s name for the ESC. For Nissan, it goes by the name of Vehicle Dynamic Control. Ford calls it the Advance Trac with Roll Stability Control or RSC.

Some of the vehicles included in the list are the Honda Accord, Audi A3, Subaru Impreza, BMW X5, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Tundra, Ford Taurus, and the Volvo XC90.

Japanese automaker Toyota for one recently unveiled the 2008 version of the full size SUV Sequoia at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. The said vehicle has been redesigned completely by the automaker for the 2008 model year.

Part of the changes made to the Sequoia is its new body, the new configuration inside and a new chassis. The all-new 8-passenger 2008 Toyota Sequoia will be available with a 5.7-liter V8 engine coupled to a six-speed transmission. The pairing of the V8 and the six-speed transmission is made to give the Sequoia better fuel efficiency while not sacrificing performance.

The Sequoia was first introduced in 2000. Through the years, the SUV was made more and more fuel efficient as the price of gasoline increases and the threat of global warming is also on the rise. For the 2008 model year, engineers at Toyota has made it their mission to create the most fuel efficient Sequoia.

The engine and transmission of the Sequoia is not the only aspect of the SUV which has been given a lot of thought by the automaker. Ride comfort is still of great importance and engineers of the Japanese automaker has designed a new platform for the SUV. The new chassis of the Sequoia allows for independent suspension both in the rear and up front. This suspension setting makes the Sequoia more balanced. The chassis is also made even tougher giving the Sequoia a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds which is one of the highest in its class.

With the Sequoia, Toyota has proven that they not only produce small cars like the Corolla and the Camry but they also create large vehicles. The Tundra was made bigger last year to move Toyota closer to American auto buyers who are still interested in light trucks. The unveiling of the 2008 Toyota Sequoia shows that the automaker is committed to challenging the Big Three when it comes to the development and manufacturing of SUVs and light trucks. The automaker's large vehicles are more attractive to American consumers because of Toyota's reputation for manufacturing reliable vehicles.

The past Formula One season has been a roller coaster ride for the Woking-based McLaren team. At the start of the season, they have been dominated by Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix. But rookie Lewis Hamilton showed the world that McLaren is still one of the top teams in the sport.

After the departure of the double-world time champion, much melee regarding the drivers has erupted. But McLaren announced that they will be taking their time in naming their new driver for the 2008 season.

Martin Whitmarsh, the team's Chief Executive, said: "Until the second McLaren drive is sorted out I don't think you'll see much movement (in the driver market), so we're not really hurried." Although there have been no reports as to who the team is favoring right now, one driver will not be included on the list.

Ralf Schumacher who left Toyota after the season is said to have expressed his interest in joining McLaren, a team which has been the foremost rival of Ferrari, his brother's long-time home in Formula One. Dennis reportedly told Schumacher's manger that Ralf will not be on the list of drivers to be considered by the team.

Meanwhile, Hamilton named three drivers who may be on the top of the list and they are Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, and Heikki Kovalainen. But he added that he will stand by the decision of his team. "I'm really not bothered who I am racing with,' said Hamilton. "It's another team decision and I stick by them whoever they choose. I'm very happy I've got one seat. I get to stay and do what I love doing."

Hamilton said that he wishes his former teammate the best in his career. "I wish Fernando the best for the future and really hope wherever he goes he is successful," said Hamilton. "But I'm going to be there competing against him and I look forward to the battle. I welcome whoever is going to be with us and look forward to the challenge. I hope they work as hard as me to take the team to the championship," he concluded.

Trying to purchase an SUV?

The 2007 Lexus GX 470 sport utility vehicle is one of the best in its class and possess a high level of technology and plush features. The basic price of the GX 470 is $46,635 which includes full-time four-wheel drive with a limited slip center differential, rear adjustable height control with auto-leveling, rollover sensing front and rear side curtain air bags, downhill assist control, hill-start assist control, bird’s eye maple wood trim, and leather seats.

The 2007 Lexus GX 470 has an engine that is so quiet that you can't even hear it running. The steering is also remarkably smooth and effortless.

The Lexus GX 470 shares its four-wheel drive system and the full-length chassis with Toyota's FJ Cruiser and 4Runner making it as highly capable in the field of off-road driving.

In terms of fuel consumption, the GX 470 posts 15 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway with the 4.7 liter, 263-horsepower V8.

So what are you waiting guys, go and get your SUV, the 2007 Lexus GX 470.

Auto experts say that women prefer chic and fun cars.

Earlier, NBC divulged the top ten flirtiest cars. First on the list is the Volkswagen Beetle. Statistically, the Volkswagen Beetle is the most popular car for women, with 57 percent of all buyers of Beetles since July having been women, according to JD Power and Associates. The starting price $16,400 and its uniqueness seem to be the feminine appeal of the car.

"Females, they have a much better sense of styling than men," said Tom Lisle, the general manager of Denny Hecker VW Dealership in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. "I think they like being different."

The Volkswagen Jetta continues to be one of the most popular automobiles for young women, "(The Jetta) is especially popular with college students," Yos noted. "It's a fun, very affordable car. It's safe, sporty, and we have a great college graduate program."

Third on the list is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. While it has fallen in popularity in the last two years, the Eclipse Spyder was the most popular car for women in 2005, according to JDPA, with 65 percent of all buyers being female.

Next in line is another VW car – the Eos. Yos, however, views the car as appealing to an almost solely female clientele, mostly in their 30s. "I think I've only sold one male an Eos so far. It's definitely a female-driven car," he said. "I think it definitely has an elegant feel to it, just a really sleek line."

BMW enters the list with its captivating Z4. The Z4 is engineered to cater to auto fetishes of successful, young women. Even for those who cannot afford the car, the Z4 still is still their option.

And also Toyota RAV4, a sleek SUV. "It has a sporty feel, but you're still high enough up so you feel like you have the security of an SUV, but with great gas mileage," Yos said. "It's very inexpensive. You can get Rav-4's for as little as $20,000. They're real great starter cars."

Completing the list are the Honda CR-V, Pontiac Solstice, Mini Cooper, and the Mazda Miata.

The iQ features an ultra compact body with efficient space for three adults and an extra seat for one child. Toyota called this as the flexible 3+1 seating system. In addition, the Toyota iQ concept was designed and created at ED2, the Japanese automaker's European design studio located in France.

According to Wahei Hirai, Manager of design activities for Toyota Motor Corporation, “The iQ concept is designed to reflect and enhance the lifestyle of its owners. The Toyota iQ is dubbed as the "world’s smallest four-seat passenger concept car", according to the Japanese automaker. The iQ is shorter than the Toyota Aygo, but features the same dimensions as the Toyota Yaris in terms of width and height.

Toyota targets the everyday urban transportation of European people. Japan's Nikkei newspaper said that Toyota is targeting an annual production of 100,000 units of the Toyota iQ in Europe.

The government, in an effort to popularize the use of hybrid vehicles, gave tax credits for consumers who buy hybrids.

Toyota is the leader in hybrid sales and tax credits for the Prius, the Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, and the upscale Lexus RX400h are now diminishing. By the end of October, tax credits offered with these hybrids will be gone. This expiration of the tax credit may push consumers away from buying hybrid cars. This might be the case unless Congress steps in and extends the tax credits offered to hybrid car buyers. Tax credits for hybrids can range from as low as $250 to as high as $3,400. Unless Congress extends them, these hybrid credits will disappear after 2010. The credits expire after an automaker sells 60,000 vehicles; the credit will then be phased out over the next few months. Toyota's Prius reached 60,000 sold last summer, but if you buy before October 1, you still get a partial credit: $787.50.

Even with the Accord Hybrid discontinued, the tax credit will still diminish as the Civic Hybrid gains popularity. Mazda has the Tribute Hybrid and the hybrid vehicle recently qualified for tax credits.

Toyota's nationwide tour with the theme "Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience" will be proceeding to the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Mo. on August 17-19, 2007.

According to Toyota, the Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience is "designed to provide attendees with the opportunity to experience Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which is found in the Prius, Camry hybrid and Highlander hybrid vehicles, for themselves."

The four interactive learning areas in the Mobile Hybrid Experience include:

- "Alternative Fuels: Fueling the Future"
- "Environment and Resources: Small Steps, Big Difference"
- The Prius Driving Experience
- The "Hybrid Technology: Not All Hybrids are Created Equal"

With "Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience", participants can:

- See how Toyota Hybrids generate electricity with regenerative braking.
- Find out how much carbon you emit with the Carbon Footprint Calculator.
- Learn about the future of energy in the Alternative Fuels exhibit.
- Try the Hybrid Savings Calculator and see how much money you'll save by driving a hybrid vehicle.
- Experience Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive technology for yourself in the Prius Driving
- Experience or demo drive one if the Toyota Hybrids n display (where available)

Aside from exhibits and educational activities part of the "Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience" is the planting of more than 50,000 trees in honor of those who join in conjunction with the National Arbor Day Foundation. These trees will at the same time offset the carbon footprint of the trucks transporting the tour around the country.

The race to come up with the first production plug-in hybrid vehicle heats up as Toyota announced that it already has a PHEV ready for testing. The announcement made by Toyota means that it now leads major automakers in the development of a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are essentially hybrid vehicles. By plugging in a PHEV into an electric socket, its battery pack can be recharged. In comparison, the Volt’s battery pack is expected to power the vehicle for 64 kilometers.

The automaker announced that they will be using eight units of the plug-in hybrid vehicle in their tests. Toyota’s Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto said that the commercial release of plug-in hybrid vehicles depend largely on the development of efficient batteries for automotive application. Aside from developing a Li-ion battery pack for the new generation Prius, Toyota will now also be looking to equip their PHEV with a Li-ion battery pack.

With Toyota spending millions on Li-ion battery development, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cruising range of the PHEV is increased. We might be surprised if one day Nissan came up with a PHEV that was better than the Volt and the imaginatively named Toyota Plug-in HV.

The plug-in hybrid vehicles will take to the roads of Berkeley and Irvine. The Japanese automaker will become the first major automaker to test PHEVs on American roads. This type of vehicles is recommended for city driving where constant acceleration and deceleration is needed.

PHEVs are arguably the next step for automakers to take in their quest to come up with eco-friendly vehicles.