Sports car racing strategy is typical of other car racing techniques. Below are seven fundamental steps to keep in mind when joining a car race:

Engine Start - prepare the engine by lifting the start switch latch that is usually located at the driver’s side. The engine should be in operation once the announcer has started the countdown. Lightly step on the accelerator and feel the engine running. Another way of making sure that the engine is ready is by looking at the tachometer - it changes and moves from zero once the switch has been started.

Throttle racing a sports car means 750 to 850 horsepower. Imagine the feeling behind that little wheel; it’s the breathtaking feel of total power. The secret for continuous power is for the car to have enough gas to rev up the whole machine. Fishtailing could be one of the problems when racing and to keep this from happening use a little effort to control the accelerator.

Engine Transmission an automatic transmission sports car allows the system to automatically set the clutch. This is for amateur sports car racers so that they do not have to change gears manually. The sports car will be smart enough to operate the transmission for the driver. The traditional H symbol is used for manual transmission sports car.

Walls during the race, it is unavoidable to bump the sidewalls. This is not a cause for alarm. The sports car driver just has to shift the gear into reverse to move away from the wall. Sooner or later the car should be back on track.

Comfy on the Track always stay beneath the white line of the lane while at 100 miles per hour. This is so the driver can keep the other cars from turning into the back end of the sports car. Once the speed of other cars is met, tag along back on the track.

Presence of Mind stay focused and keep both hands on the steering wheel. Steer the wheel at a slow but sure pace, do not exaggerate the turn.

Halt during Emergency part of keeping focused is always remembering that there is an emergency button in every sports car when there is a need to stop. It is situated in the center of the dash and is used when the car needs a motion stop. This button immediately stops the car stimulator.

Bear in mind that even in this situation, the sports car can still be driven until the end of the race. Be alert and try mastering the race track if time permits, but always think of safety.

Unless you are pedaling on a bike everywhere you need to go, there is no escaping the pain of owning a gasoline-operated vehicle now - of any kind.

I thought my week test-driving a subcompact sedan would leave me buoyant, wanting to run a few extra trips, until I did the math. Even today’s economy cars are taking a hit. At $3.50 a gallon, it would cost me $45.50 to fill up a 13-gallon fuel tank. And in places where gas is $4.00 a gallon, that’s just a whole lot of hurt.

I test-drove the 2009 Toyota Corolla recently and the first thing I did was look at the sticker for the price and the EPA rating for the fuel economy. This is the way people are thinking: How much does it cost, how much does it get? I used to be asked, “What’s the horsepower?” Not so much anymore.

The all-new 2009 Corolla has a base price of $15,250, and with a variety of trim levels available, the base starting price tops at $19,950. The five grades Toyota offers on the 2009 Corolla are Standard, LE, XLE, the sport-oriented S and the performance-driven XRS.

I tested the S version with a starting price of $17,150. Optional equipment of electronic stability control and traction control; an all-weather guard package of a heavy-duty heater, anti-chip color-keyed side-view mirrors; plus a Satellite capable, six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 upgraded sound system, brought the as-tested price to $18,410. That is a very good price for small car with extras.

Do you have to pay extra for safety? This is what the 2009 Toyota Corolla S buyer gets as standard equipment in that department: nearly everything. The safety protection system includes dual front air bags, head curtain air bags, side-impact air bags, whiplash protection active head restraints and antilock brakes with Brake Assist.

Powering the Corolla is the 16-valve, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The small engine will develop 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. Toyota’s performance-focused Corolla XRS has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that offers 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. This engine is rated to return fuel achievements of 22/29 mpg with the five-speed manual transmission.

For its all-new 2009 model, Toyota designers say they gave the Corolla an all-new body with a leaner, more muscular shape compared to the model it replaces.

Corolla’s interior is roomy with enhanced driver-focused comfort. In fact, engineers measured the driving positions of tall individuals when designing the new shape of the seats and repositioned the steering column so that all drivers could find comfortable command positions.

There’s a reason why the Corolla has been around for nearly 40 years. It has always evolved to meet current demand trends. Comfort, safety and affordability are benchmarks that Toyota has hit with the all-new 2009 Corolla.

2009 Toyota Corolla S

Vehicle type: five-passenger FWD subcompact sedan

Base price: $17,150 (as tested: $18,410)

Engine type: 16-valve DOHC 4-cylinder w/SFI

Displacement: 1.8 liter

Horsepower: 132 net at 6000 rpm

Torque: 128 pound-feet at 4400 rpm

Transmission: four-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 102 inches

Track: 60/60 inches (front/rear)

Overall length: 179 inches

Overall width: 69 inches

Height: 58 inches

Turning circle: 36 feet (curb-to-curb)

Curb weight: 2,822 pounds

Fuel capacity: 13 gallons

EPA mileage rating: 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway

Indian carmaker Tata chose a site in Singur, India for the plant that would make the Nano, the world’s cheapest car. Not long afterward, eleven petitions were filed in the Calcutta High Court stating that the purchase of the land for the factory violated the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. It was alleged that the government of Bengal forcibly took “fertile multi-crop agricultural land” from farmers for industrial use, which isn’t allowed.

Earlier this year, the Calcutta High Court found in favor of the government of West Bengal (where Singur is) and Tata. Now another petition has been filed with India’s Supreme Court over the issue, and the Supreme Court has asked the West Bengal government and Tata to respond.

The issue for the moment is that the Nano is supposed to go on sale in October — but the next hearing over the land use petition won’t be held until July. Some suppose a revised land deal might drive up the price of the car. Regardless, if Tata doesn’t work out a production alternative, Tata won’t get the head start it was hoping for on what could be a huge market.

According to Robert Farago of the Truth About Cars who claimed to have parroted what a Toyota spokesman said, Toyota has finally achieved the status as the world’s largest automaker. The Japanese giant’s victory comes after nipping at the General’s heels at number two for a good while now. Mr. Farago’s point has been verified by those arbiters of all info relevant and accurate - AutoBlog.

But the numbers are still very close. GM could snatch back the title by posting a strong second quarter. But that, of course, remains to be seen.

In 2006, The General and all his yes-men (Hummer, Opel, Saab, et al.) sold 9.18 million units. Toyota and all its subsidiaries (Daihatsu, Lexus, et al.) parted with 9.02 millions, comparatively. The Japanese juggernaut plans on churning out as many as 9.34 million sales this year. The figure was about 160,000 cars which represents last year’s difference in global sales between General Motors and Toyota according to Detroit News.

Toyota Motor Corporation not only unseated Ford for the World’s No. 2 spot last year, but it also managed to unseat the General for top automaker du monde, according to a Detroit News report sited by Reuters. The report suggested that General Motors tried to bulk up its total sales tally by counting the vans it sold in conjunction with Chinese firm Shanghai Automotive - a company in which GM owns less than a 50% stake. Ouch.

Rather than contesting its top spot, ToMoCo just quietly did what ToMoCo quietly does - make and sell lots of cars (8.8 million last year), efficiently. By the new numbers, Toyota outsold GM by some 128,000 units.

Since Toyota is known the world over as mass-market maker of cars, trucks, and SUVs that go from A to B reliably (unless your Tundra or Sequoia have been suffering from suspension troubles). What Toyota is not known for - not since the days of the Supra at least - is for being the motoring enthusiast’s carmaker of choice.

But that is set to change with the premiere of the Lexus LF-A “supercar,” Toyota’s efforts in F1 racing, and the Japanese carmakers bold entry into that previously all-American driving sport - NASCAR.

While it’s unlikely that Toyota will turn a cold shoulder on its core clientele of Consumer Reports subscribing pragmatists, the company’s overtures to the racing set marks a new direction for the world’s second largest car manufacturer. This may help keep them in top position.

The 2008 Ford Edge lives up to its name. Its eye-catching design gives it a distinct edge over other five-passenger vehicles in many ways.

The sharp styling starts with the three-bar chrome grille and the quad-beam halogen headlamps causing a lot of heads to turn to look at the entire design and package. This attention-getter in itself gives the Edge an edge.

Other areas where the Ford has the edge in the crossover utility vehicle market is with the dual-chrome exhaust tips, the rear spoiler and the keyless entry keypad, but the interior is where the Edge really shines.

My tester had dual-electric automatic temperature controls; six-way power heated seats (with memory); and front bucket seats trimmed with leather. The leather-trimmed rear bench seat had an easy 60/40-fold release. Another feature giving the Edge a competitive advantage was the leather steering wheel with redundant audio and climate controls.

The Edge is a high-class looking vehicle containing numerous state-of-the-art features that don’t come cheap. My tester had a base price of $30,320, and with a few desirable options, the bottom line was $35,100.

My Edge had Sirius Satellite Radio, a power liftgate and a Panoramic Vista Roof, plus a voice-activated navigation system that operated with a DVD. I found this system to be extremely accurate.

What I really enjoyed was the power produced by the 3.5-liter, V6 engine that generated 265 horsepower. It runs on regular gas and has an EPA mileage rating of 16 city and 24 highway. The warranty for both the power train and roadside assistance is five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety is an area of buyer concern and the Edge does well here. The 2008 Ford has received five-star ratings from the government in driver-side frontal crash - four-star for the front passenger - and five-star side crash ratings for both front- and rear-seat passengers. The Edge also features Ford’s exclusive Safety Canopy side curtain air bags that utilize roll-fold technology to efficiently deploy the air bag when the occupant’s head is against the side glass. In the event of a crash, the roll-fold bag will deploy between the occupant’s head and the side of the vehicle. By the way, the Edge has four-wheel disc antilock brakes.

The Edge has a modern car-based foundation that provides great driving characteristics. I’m told the front suspension features MacPherson struts and an isolated sub frame. To make the ride even smoother, hydro-bushings are used. The four-link independent rear-suspension uses stamped steel control blades for precise suspension tuning. All this led to a very quiet interior - regardless of the type of road surface I was driving over. Ford boasts that the interior noise level of the 2008 Edge is quieter than Lexus RX 350, which is a mighty big claim to make, since Lexus is probably the quietest vehicle on the road today.

While driving the Ford Edge, I learned of other features that are available optionally, such as voice-activated, hands-free digital media playing. It is also available with Bluetooth and DVD entertainment systems with the 7-inch screen that uses two separate DVD players. This provides enjoyment for those riding in the rear. The back seat also features a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders. Most importantly, the Edge has an easy release folding rear seat, allowing a flat load floor to be assembled in just a few quick seconds.

The Ford Edge is practical and I give it a buyer’s edge for its user-friendly interior.

2008 Ford Edge

Vehicle type: five-passenger FWD crossover vehicle

Base price: $30,320 (as tested: $35,100)

Engine type: V6 24-valve DOHC w/SMPFI

Displacement: 3.5-liter

Horsepower (net): 265 at 6250 rpm

Torque (pound-feet): 250 at 4500 rpm

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 111 inches

Track (front/rear): 65/65 inches

Overall length: 185 inches

Overall width: 78 inches

Height: 67 inches

Turning circle (curb-to-curb): 39 feet

Curb weight: 4,078 pounds

Fuel capacity: 19 gallons

EPA mileage rating: 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway

The U.S. auto major is gearing up for a bigger presence in India, including a flexible engine manufacturing facility by 2010

The new Fiesta compact unveiled by Ford at the Geneva Motor Show could well be headed to India. “It can be a possibility and we are studying this,” Michael Boneham, who takes charge from Arvind Mathew as Ford India’s new MD and president, said.

The US auto major, that does not command a good share in the Indian auto market, is gearing up for a larger play as it pumps in a fresh $500 million to enter the volume-driven small car segment and construct a fully-integrated and flexible engine manufacturing plant by 2010.

Boneham, currently ED at Ford India, said the company would expand distribution network, ahead of small car launch. Asked whether it plans to have more than one model in this segment, as is the case with other companies like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata and General Motors, he said the company may consider it, though refusing to make any firm commitment.

He said Ford was following a policy of integration of its local operations with global vehicle platforms. “Ford is changing perspective towards global platforms. We are looking at global platforms to make them part of the India strategy,” he said.

Ford unveiled the new Fiesta compact at the Geneva Motor Show in March. By 2010, the car will be on sale in markets across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and North America - in a variety of “regionally tailored models derived from a common platform,” the company has said.

Alan Mulally, Ford’s global president and CEO, had said with the new Fiesta, the company wants to create “a world standard” for small car quality, design and comfort.

While April sales of new vehicles in the United States dropped to their lowest level since 1992, figures also show that US consumers are buying smaller cars with better fuel economy over trucks and sport utility vehicles.

“Smaller vehicles are going over big,” said Toyota Motor Sales president Jim Lentz. “With oil prices at record levels, compact cars and hybrids continue to lead the way.”

Other Japanese brands, such as Honda, Nissan Subaru and Suzuki, also reported sales increases last month as consumers opted for small cars.

Overall, sales tracker Autodata reported that despite a weak economy, sales of passenger cars increased by five percent last month, while sales of trucks and sport utility vehicle plunged 17.4 percent.

Car makers report that more consumers are opting for smaller, more fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines when purchasing new cars such as the Chevrolet Malibu, GM officials said.

“Consumer preference is shifting and we’re shifting with it,” said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.

“Throughout the industry, truck sales have been soft,” he added, after GM reported a 3.3 billion dollar first-quarter loss as its truck sales plunged.

GM announced deep cuts in truck production through the summer even though inventories have already been thinned by a two-month strike at a key supplier.

Ford Motor Co. vice president of marketing and sales Jim Farley also said that sales of vehicles such as the Ford Focus and Mercury Milan were helping the company shift its sales profile away from truck and sport utility vehicles.

Overall Ford sales were down 9.8 percent, according to Autodata. However, 63 percent of Ford vehicles sold in April were cars or car-like crossover vehicles, while less than 38 percent were trucks or SUVs — the smallest percentage in more than a decade.

Farley said Focus sales were the best for any April since 2000, and that the hybrid versions of Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner sold so well they were in relatively short supply.

Like GM, Ford also plans to cut truck production in the next quarter, while boosting production of passenger cars.

George Pipas, Ford sales analysts, said the company’s dealers also are reporting that consumers who bought F-150 pickup trucks as a fashion statement in the middle of the decade are now opting to purchase cars.

“People who didn’t need the utility of pickup truck are trading them in,” Pipas said.

Even Toyota and Nissan, which mounted elaborate plans to grab a portion of the US pickup truck market, have been forced to change plans.

Bob Carter, Toyota vice president, said the Japanese giant’s brand new pickup truck plant in San Antonio, Texas may not reach full-capacity now until 2009 or 2010.

Sales of the heavily-advertised Toyota Tundra pick up slid more than 13 percent last month and pickup truck sales won’t improve until the housing market begins to recover, Carter said.

Nissan, which has also seen sales of pickup truck sales drop sharply, has announced plans to build a new line of commercial vehicles at its pickup truck plant in Canton, Mississippi to help fill up the assembly line.

Chrysler LLC, another Detroit company dependent on truck and SUVs, reported a 17.6 percent decline in sales during April. An increase in sales of compact cars failed to offset the decline, Chrysler officials acknowledged.

Steve Landry, however, noted that the sales of fuel-efficient vehicles such as Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with a diesel engine have been stymied by the big jump in the price of diesel fuel, which sells roughly one dollar 1 more per gallon than gasoline.

“It’s clear that gas prices are weighing heavily on car-buyers’ minds,” observed Jesse Toprak, Executive Director of Industry Analysis for Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, Calif.

Imported luxury sports cars are longed for by many car buyers and collectors. The US is one of the many countries who love to import luxury vehicles like sports cars. There are new ones but there are also used luxury cars that are sold in the car market.

Brand new imported luxury cars are very expensive so many buyers are turning to used luxury sports cars as an alternative. Although pre-owned, many buyers still wish to buy them to be part of their collections. Others purchase these used imported luxury cars to lift their public images and add class and prestige when driving.

Here are some tips that need to be considered when buying used imported luxury sports cars:

1. The real cost of the imported luxury sports car should be determined. It is not advisable to buy the used car without having it appraised. Many car sellers price the imported cars very high because most buyers are not familiar with their true cost. It is important to determine the value before buying a car whether it is new or pre-owned.

2. Buyers of these cars should research the car before purchasing. It is important to remember that they are imported cars and you should be aware of, and informed about the car’s capacity, gas mileage, speed, and engine performance.

Know the depreciation rate and how the cars are sold in the market. By so doing, the research will help the buyer obtain some tips to use when buying imported luxury sports cars. The way to research is to use the internet or seek the advice of other car owners/buyers who are familiar with these types of cars.

3. When shopping for a car, it is recommended that you enlist the assistance of an experienced car mechanic that is not employed by the dealer. The mechanic should be an expert in checking the engine and other parts of the used car. This is to ensure that the car is in good shape and that it will not make the dream of the buyer become a nightmare.

Take time to think about the purchase before making the final decision. The same applies when buying an imported luxury sports car. All things must be considered before buying so that you will not regret buying the used car.

The Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP, French Oil Institute), has introduced a natural gas-powered car which reduces its CO2 emissions down to 84 g/km. The prototype, called Vehgan, was made from a standard older model Smart Fortwo with several technologies added to reduce fuel consumption. First of all, there is a downsized engine which uses a turbo and an intercooler, in this case, optimized for use with natural gas. Then, the powertrain is mated to a Valeo StARS 14V+X hybrid system, for which the IFP developed a new management process to minimize fuel consumption. This mild hybrid system has a Start&Stop function and features regenerative braking.

The car has a range of about 200 km (120 miles), but the composite-made gas reservoirs don’t affect the vehicle interior. IFP expects future developments to reduce CO2 emissions down to 80 g/km. That would be 32 percent less than the standard gasoline version. Oh, and let’s mention that despite Smart being a German brand, the factory that makes these cars is in France.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ monthly market bulletin, to be released tomorrow, will reveal a 7.7 per cent contraction on March sales.

More vehicles have been sold this year to date than last year, but the 84,296 new cars and trucks sold in April is almost 7000 sales down on March.

This reverse follows record results for January and February this year and in 2007, when more than a million cars sold for the first time in a calendar year.

“We’re seeing the impact of all the interest-rate hikes, the continuing surge in fuel prices and the huge slump in consumer confidence,” AMP economist Shane Oliver said.

“Car sales have held up pretty well, but all those factors are starting to catch up.

“People can put off a decision to buy a car, but they can’t put off rent or food or health.”

The worst news is for local car-makers. Holden sold 650 fewer Commodores in April than in March. The company’s mainstay car is 5000 units down for the year to date, compared with the same period in 2007.

The one-time market leader was outsold by Toyota’s Corolla, with 3722 of the imported four-cylinder compacts sold during April compared with the Commodore’s 3325 sales.

Toyota also lost sales, but extended its market lead. With almost 21,000 sales, it sold more than twice as many vehicles of all models as second-placed Holden.

Toyota’s Yaris, Camry, Aurion and HiLux models, as well as the Corolla, were among the 10 most popular models.

Ford, whose new Falcon goes on sale soon, was third, with 8246 sales — its worst result.

Mazda was next with 6749, then Mitsubishi on 5014.

Ford and Holden’s fortunes rely on large V6s, which continue to decline in popularity.

The only Ford- or Holden-badged cars to improve sales during March were the Focus and

the Astra, both made in Europe and fitted with economical, four-cylinder petrol or diesel engines.

Each of the top five makes lost about 1000 sales in April, but sales remain ahead of the corresponding period last year.

A total of 347,749 new vehicles were sold to April 30, compared with 330,682 during the first four months of 2007.

New-car sales had been forecast to pass the million mark again this year, but Mr Oliver said this was now unlikely.

“Big-ticket discretionary items will be sacrificed, whether it’s flat-screen TVs or cars,” he said.

“The only thing that will help is tax cuts, but I would say they will be swamped by all these other factors.”