Lexus Lx Brochure 2016 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota Prius C launches with TRD Sporty options.

The Toyota Aqua (aka Prius C) with TRD extras The Toyota Prius C has launched in Japan (as the Toyota Aqua) with a host of TRD sporty options on offer. We first had concrete news on the compact Prius – the Toyota Prius C – when a brochure leaked out ahead of a début at the Tokyo Motor Show. And if you take the ‘C’ as compact, that’s exactly what you get – a Prius on a boil wash.

Infiniti getting more mileage out of their F1 sponsorship with the Q50 Eau Rouge Concept

The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept (pictured) will debut at the Detroit Auto Show If, like Infiniti, you’re spending and arm and a leg sponsoring Red Bull in F1, you want to milk it for all it’s worth. So we’ve already seen Sebastian Vettel installed as Infiniti’s Director of Performance (we don’t expect he sits in on many board meetings) and the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition as a (not particularly) high performance version of Infiniti’s FX SUV. Now we’re getting a new model that Infiniti can hang the F1 connection on with a performance version of the Infiniti Q50 – the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept – teased above ahead of a debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

September sales hint at improvement

A 10 percent increase in new-vehicle sales in September is sparking optimism that the year will have a strong finish. And analysts say that deals might get better over the next few months as Toyota and Honda finally recover from shortages caused by the earthquake that hit Japan in March. Those brands might increase spending on incentives to woo buyers back into their showrooms.