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Conicelli Toyota Newsletter | Nice Times


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Pre-Vacation
Special Coupon
 
Lube, Oil
& Filter Coupon
 
Cooling System
Service Coupon
 
 
 

 
Grilled Pork Chops and Potato Packets
 
3 Tbs of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp chopped garlic
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1 Sweet Potato - thinly sliced
1 Yellow Potato - thinly sliced
1 Red Onion - thinly sliced
4 Pork Chops
 
Preheat grill to high. Mix together in a blender the oil, vinegar, paprika, and 1/4 tsp salt, until creamy. Place the sliced potatoes and onion in a mixing bowl along with the remaining salt and 3 Tbs of the sauce. Toss to coat. Rub the pork chops with the remaining sauce.
To make the packets lay two 24 inch sheets of foil and coat the top sheet with cooking spray. Spread half the potato mixture in the center of the foil in a single layer. Bring the short ends of the foil together, fold over, pinch and seal. Make the second packet using the same method.
Place the packets on the hottest part of the grill and place the pork chops in the front or back of the packets. Cook the pork chops for 3 - 4 minutes per side and the packets for 5 minutes per side. Let the pork chops rest while the packets finish cooking. Be careful of the steam when opening the packets. Serve with a side salad.
 

Top 10 Fuel
Savings Tips
 
1.Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling uses more fuel than turning the engine off and starting it again.
2. Turn the AC Down
The air conditioner is a burden that uses fuel. While on a road trip on the highway try to keep the AC on low.
3. Pulse and Glide
This is for hybrid vehicles. Accelerate the vehicle to around 40 mph. Then ease slightly back on the accelerator until no energy arrow appears on the energy monitor, indicating that the vehicle is neither relying on the engine nor recharging the battery. The car begins to glide. When the vehicle slows to about 30 mph, repeat the process. This improves fuel economy by minimizing use of the internal combustion engine.
4. Plan Trips Ahead of Time.
Combine your errands into one trip. Organize your stops so they are near each other and you don;t retrace your path.
5. Keep Up With Maintenance
A well-maintained vehicle operates at peak efficiency. Be sure the air filter and fuel filter are clean. Keep tires inflated to the auto maker's maximum recommended pressure - it can improve gas mileage by as much as 6%. Wheel alignments can improve fuel economy by as much as 10% according to the EPA.
6. Get Rid of What You Don't Need.
Clean out the trunk, cargo area or truck bed. Added weight reduces gas mileage. For every 100 pounds of weight gas mileage is reduced by 2%.
7. Stop Driving Like A Maniac.
Changing the way you drive is the most effective way to reduce the amount of fuel your vehicle consumes. Skip those jack-rabbit starts at stop lights and sudden pedal-to-the-metal maneuvers on the highway.
8. Limit Use of the Brake Pedal
Anticipate stops so that you can avoid sudden braking. Any time you hit the brake you are throwing away energy.
9. Observe Posted Speed Limits.
A vehicle moving at 55 mph can get about 15% better fuel economy than the same vehicle going 65mph. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 mph. You can assume that for every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like throwing away 24 cents for a gallon of gas.
10. Use Cruise Control
Cruise control is a fuel saver when used properly. It maintains an even speed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New 2010 Toyota Prius

A quick look at the 3rd generation 2010 Prius will reveal a familiar shape, but it's sleeker and sportier than its predecessor. Visually, it looks smaller, but it's an optical illusion that creates a more streamlined appearance. Indeed, the 2010 Prius is less than an inch longer and wider than last year's model.
 
Under the hood resides a revised version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. There's a larger and more powerful gasoline engine now, but instead of providing quicker off-the-line acceleration, it allows more effortless highway cruising. A smaller electric motor contributes less torque to the overall powertrain dance, but it improves efficiency. There are other mechanical changes, too, but the end result is a jump in fuel economy, from last year's EPA-estimated 48 mpg city/45 mpg highway to this year's 51/48 mpg.

Toyota has also addressed other previous Prius faults. A more rigid chassis and a revised electric-assist steering system help to improve steering feel and driver confidence --  and in general it feels more like a normal car.

The latest Prius might even seem like a small, ultra-efficient luxury sedan depending on how you equip it. Luxury-themed items like heated leather seats, a solar-powered sunroof (cools the interior when parked), a navigation system, radar-based adaptive cruise control (matches your speed to the car ahead), a pre-collision system (retracts seat belts and applies the brakes if a crash is unavoidable) and a lane-departure warning system for inattentive drivers are all available. Also, the automated self-parking system you've seen in Lexus commercials makes its way onto the Prius' options sheet.

The Prius has been a huge success, and with such success comes added competition. Regardless, when it comes to an ultra-practical, ultra-efficient automotive choice that, depending on equipment, can be anything from an economy car to a luxury car, the 2010 Toyota Prius cannot be beat.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Toyota Prius is available in four trim levels that should appeal to an ancient Roman's sensibilities: Prius II, Prius III, Prius IV and Prius V. The Prius I will be released later at a lower base price. Standard equipment on Prius II includes 15-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, keyless ignition/entry, auto on/off headlights, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-telescoping steering column, a hybrid system display and a six-speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The Prius III adds Bluetooth and an eight-speaker upgraded stereo with six-CD changer. The Prius IV has this equipment plus additional exterior locking buttons for keyless entry, leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver lumbar adjustment and an auto-dimming mirror. The loaded-up Prius V comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, foglamps and LED headlamps with auto-leveling and washers.

The Navigation package available on all but the Prius II includes a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system with real-time traffic, a back-up camera, a four-disc CD changer (replacing the six-slot) and Bluetooth music streaming. The Solar Roof package can be added to the Navigation package and includes a sunroof with a solar-powered ventilation system that cools the car when it's parked. The Advanced Technology package when added to the Navigation package includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision alert system, a lane departure warning system and automated self parking.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2010 Toyota Prius is powered by Toyota's advanced gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine combines with a pair of electric motors (one for propulsion, the other an electrical systems generator) through a planetary-type continuously variable transmission (CVT). The result is a total system output of 134 horsepower. In track testing, we clocked the Prius going from zero to 60 mph in 10.1 seconds, which is roughly the same as the old car and a few ticks quicker than the Honda Insight. The most important number, however, is fuel economy. The EPA estimates the 2010 Prius will return 51 mpg city/48 highway and 50 mpg combined. That's the best fuel efficiency of any mass-market vehicle sold with an internal combustion engine.
 
Safety

Every 2010 Toyota Prius comes standard with antilock disc brakes (the old car had rear drums), stability and traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag. Optional equipment includes a pre-collision warning system and a lane-departure warning system. In brake testing, the Prius stopped from 60 mph in a short 118 feet, with less fade than the previous rear-drum-equipped car.

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2010 Prius features straightforward climate and audio controls that jut out toward the driver in a "floating console" that provides a storage area underneath. This is an improvement over the convoluted touchscreen controls of the old Prius.

In terms of versatility, the Prius is still a champ. The hatchback body style provides more cargo capacity than a typical midsize sedan, while its backseat provides lots of space.  As for the front seats, the addition of driver height adjustment is a benefit for both short and tall drivers.

Driving Impressions

The 2010 Toyota Prius retains its hyper-quiet cabin, made possible by its part-time electric motivation and plenty of sound-deadening materials. The ride is also quite comfortable, and for 2010, the Prius' structure is tauter, resulting in a less flimsy feel when the car is driven over road imperfections. Another pleasant improvement is the electric steering system, which feels more substantial and better connected to the front tires while still being user-friendly in parking lots.

In regard to its hybrid powertrain, new driving modes (EV, eco, power and normal) allow the driver to decide how the car's powertrain should be configured for the driving scenario at hand. Eco is decidedly sluggish, but certainly gets the best fuel economy. You'll want to select power for freeway on-ramps or driving in hilly environments. The EV mode locks out the gasoline engine, but only up to 25 mph with at least a half-charged battery pack.


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