Honda Motors is poised to present a host of automotive products at the 2007 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany this coming September. The main highlight at the Honda display in Hall 5 is the Accord Tourer Concept, making its world debut at the event. Honda expects that this concept model will stir up the European crowd.

According to a Honda press release, “The Accord Tourer Concept will give a strong indication of the design direction of the all-new generation Accord Tourer set to debut in mid-2008 and its wider, lower look signals a more sporty, more emotional styling approach. This will be matched by a range of advanced, low emissions engines and innovative new chassis technology that will deliver exceptional handling without compromising ride comfort.”

Honda did not yet release the full details of the Accord Tourer Concept. Hopefully, the Japanese automaker will reveal the list of its full features and other technical specs (like Honda sway bar link) of this concept car at the IAA Frankfurt, and release it to the public.

In addition, Honda also said that it will showcase two sections at IAA Frankfurt focusing on “Sports” and “Environment.” Sports will display Honda’s super car and other high performance models, currently used in Honda motor sport teams. These include the Honda RA107 race car competing at the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1). Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello currently drive the RA107 for the 2007 season of F1 GP. Honda will also showcase their very first F1 car, the 1967 RA300. Other vehicle models in “Sports” include the Civic Type R and Honda S2000.

Meanwhile, in the “Environment” section, Honda will showcase its development for alternative fuel and environmental friendly powertrain systems. Unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Honda’s Small Hybrid Sports Concept will once again hit a European stage and present its unique characteristics – that is – advanced hybrid technology combined with sporty and high performance nature. Other models in this section include Honda’s next-generation clean diesel engine, Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Honda FCX Concept.

Moreover, Honda will extend its product display in IAA Frankfurt with the company’s motorcycle model, the Repsol Honda RC212V that currently competes in the 2007 season of MotoGP with riders Dani Pedrosa and 2006 champ Nicky Hayden aboard. The HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades is also on display. Honda will also demonstrate the very first airbag for motorcycles. This innovative safety system will be installed in the new Honda Gold Wing model.

Finally, the Japanese automaker will also showcase some of its innovative achievements in the past years like the popular robot ASIMO, Honda solar panels, and the high flying HondaJet. Watch out for the IAA Frankfurt to see detailed specs and feats of these models.

The Toyota Celica derived its name from the Spanish word “calico,” which means “from the heavens” or “celestial.” Just like other Toyota vehicles, Toyota Celica is well-acclaimed for its reliability on the road brought by its durable Toyota Celica parts and useful Toyota Celica parts accessories. Intended for motorists who feel youthful, love fun, and adore style, the Toyota Celica has proven to be more than just a basic means of transportation. After years of planning for the vehicle’s development that began as early as 1967, the Toyota Celica was finally rolled out for public consumption in 1971. It was modeled after the EX-1 “Car of the Future,” thus it exuded style that was considered radical at the time of its production. Its significance even extended to the launch of the sporty subcompact market segment.

Offered only in ST form and as a two-door sport-coupe, the Celica was aimed to be an image car instead of a high-volume car. If truth be known, it was actually Toyota’s version of the Mustang. The first Celica was geared with a carbureted four-cylinder engine displacing 1.6 liters. It performed well in the market with its first major change taking place in 1974 in the form of the GT. This model featured a two-liter engine, which had been behind Celica’s powerful performance for the next 11 years. Succeeding Celica generations revolved around Toyota’s inline-4 engines, although some were operated by 4-cylinders. Despite providing lower performance, they were more economical. In 1986, the car’s drive layout was modified from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive, becoming the most important element that shaped Celica’s history. The first three generations witnessed Celicas in the US market being driven by the different versions of Toyota’s R series engines. From 1986 to 1999, a four-wheel drive turbocharged model, labeled as “All-trac” in the US or “GT-Four” in Japan and Europe, was manufactured. Late 1997 Japanese models showcased the Variable Valve Timing, which became standard in all 2000 models and onwards.

Seven generations have come and gone with the model undertaking a number of revisions and design forks. This included the Toyota Celica Supra, which was to be known later on as the Toyota Supra. The presence of Celica was experienced in the forms of the notchback, liftback coupe, and convertible. In 1998, however, rumors circulated that the Toyota Celica would soon vanish from the Toyota lineup. While the MR2 and Supra were withdrawn from Japan, the current model of the Celica had not undergone any redesign since 1993. So Toyota decided to completely revamp the Celica to give the market what it was looking for. From being a sporty or luxury car, the Toyota Celica is now presented as the “Extreme, Young and Racy” vehicle. It promises to deliver powerful performance at a very reasonable price.

The car would not have lasted seven generations without the help of Toyota’s constant innovations on its parts and accessories. Toyota Celica parts and accessories are the main product of Toyota’s technical expertise in building cars of superior engineering. These highly advanced features of top class design have placed Toyota Celica among the best in the car industry. Finding Toyota Celica replacement parts is as easy as pie with hundreds of online stores to choose from. This is also true for installing Toyota Celica parts accessories that are readily available at present. Replacing damaged Toyota Celica parts may require the help of a professional mechanic. However, with a handy repair manual and the right tools, this can also be done at home.

Since the 1st generation Prius release in 1997 and up to 2003, Toyota has sold approximately 150,000 units. Furthermore, after the 2nd generation Prius was released, it has sold 120,000 in 2004.

Prius was offered to the market at a reasonable price and made choosing a hybrid vehicle an ordinary choice. It is truly the world’s first mass produced hybrid vehicle in reality and in name.

Global sales of Toyota’s hybrid vehicles, mainly of its Prius model, have topped the 500,000 mark, with around 513,000 units sold worldwide by the end of October. These cars cleverly combine a conventional petrol engine with batteries and an electric motor to maximize fuel economy. Toyota launched the Prius “the world’s first mass-produced hybrid ” in Japan in 1997 and began selling it in North America and Europe in 2000. In 2001 in Japan, it added a minivan, luxury sedan and hybrid truck. In 2003, Toyota introduced the second-generation Prius and the Alphard MPV in Japan.

In Canada hybrid cars are not yet big sellers, but these fuel-efficient, low-polluting cars are a growing presence on Canada’s highways.

Toyota Canada Inc. announced Wednesday the sale of its 5,000th second-generation Prius mid-size hybrid, which remains a modest figure in the auto business. But sales are up by 30 per cent so far this year, which is worth noting.

In Europe the european diesel-dominated market is showing signs of slowly warming up to hybrid vehicles. Toyota Motor Europe recently announced that the cumulative European sales of both Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles passed 50,000 units. A total of about 41,000 Prius hybrids have been sold since it went on sale in Europe in 2000. Sales of the Lexus RX400h and GS 450h have reached a total of over 10,000 units in just 17 months of sales. While 50,000 hybrids sold might seem like an impressive number, the worldwide cumulative sales of Toyota and Lexus reached almost 635,000 units on April 1. This indicates a relatively low penetration in Europe compared to other markets, such as the United States, with over 260,000 Prius cars sold.

In the U.S. the Internal Revenue Service announced September 2006 that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. has submitted quarterly reports indicating that its cumulative sales of qualified vehicles to retail dealers has reached the 60,000-vehicle limit during the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2006. Under the current tax law, the credit for buying a hybrid vehicle begins to phase out during the second calendar quarter after the quarter in which the company sells its 60,000th hybrid or lean burn technology vehicle.

The credit for all new advanced lean burn technology motor vehicles or new qualified hybrid passenger automobiles or light trucks manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation will begin to phase out on Oct. 1, 2006.

Vehicles purchased before Oct. 1, 2006 qualify for the full credit. For Toyota hybrid vehicles bought on or after October 1, 2006, and on or before March 31, 2007, the credit is 50 percent of the otherwise allowable credit amount. Taxpayers buying vehicles on or after April 1, 2007, and on or before September 30, 2007, can only get 25 percent of the credit.

Toyota saw a ‘hiccup’ in hybrid sales November 2006. The Prius saw sales drop to 8,733 units sold, a drop of 12.1%. The first time in 5 months sales have seen a decrease from last year and only the fifth time sales have dropped in two years. Toyota blamed some of the other decreases, not on lack of demand, but on lack of production, as the Toyota Camry was being built in the same plant. So, it’s interesting to see a drop here.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h also saw decrease to 1643 and 1239 units sold, respectively. That’s a decrease of 29.5% for the Highlander Hybrid and 34.9% for the RX 400h. The Toyota Camry saw 2806 units sold in October and the Lexus GS 450h sold 177 units. Neither were on sale last October and so there is no comparison.

So, despite seeing drops in all four vehicles being sold last October, Toyota still managed to increase sales of its hybrids from last October by 3.0%. If we took out the Camry and GS 450h, however, Toyota Hybrid sales would have been seen to drop 18.0%. Its possible Toyota is starting to see some sales decrease because of the phasing out of its federal tax credit.