DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. will expand its hybrid vehicle lineup with the subcompact Prius C hatchback that will go on sale in March. Toyota says the Prius C will get 53 mpg in the city, which it claims is the highest city fuel economy of any vehicle that is not a plug-in. As is common with hybrids, its highway fuel economy is less favorable, at 46 mpg, giving the Prius C a combined rating of 50 mpg. Based on the Yaris platform, the Prius C will be priced below $19,000 before destination charges. Read More: Prius C

Acura today announced that three of its best selling models received the highest possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under its more-stringent testing guidelines implemented last year. The Acura TSX sedan and wagon, TL and MDX earned the highest-possible score of GOOD in all four ratings, including the more rigorous roof-strength test. According to the IIHS, vehicles rated good for rollover protection have roofs more than twice as strong as the current federal standard requires. The IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting vehicle occupants in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute’s evaluations. All 2012 Acura models utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE™ is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE™ design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment on all Acura models include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), dual-stage/multiple-threshold front airbags, front-side airbags with passenger side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), side curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions, front seats with integrated active head restraints, front seatbelts with automatic tensioning system and load limiters, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Daytime Running Lights (DRL). About Acura Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 272 dealers within the United States. The 2012 Acura lineup features six distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan and Sport Wagon, the turbocharged RDX crossover SUV, the MDX luxury SUV and the ZDX four-door sports coupe.<

Giving Back & Paying It Forward

Every Thanksgiving, Jon Lorensen, Owner of the Lorensen Auto Group generously provides a turkey for each and every employee at all 6 dealerships statewide. Some go unclaimed, others are slated for donation. Sharon Lessard, Director of Social Services and the Senior Center for the Town of Westbrook took time out of the busy holiday-eve to accept the donation of fresh turkeys from Westbrook Honda and Westbrook Toyota. The Lorensen Auto Group dealers are thankful that they are in a position to help provide some level of joy to local families this time of year, because being a good community partner is their first priority.

Pictured from l-r: Sharon Lessard, Director of Social Services and the Senior Center for the Town of Westbrook, and Sue Winchell, Advertising and Marketing Director for the Lorensen Auto Group. (photo credits: Kate Gedney, Lydia Galford)

$2500 Cash Giveaway

During the month of October, the Lorensen Auto Group held a register to win $2500 called "25 AND DRIVE". The general public was asked to go to www.CtCarDeals.com, choose one of the 6 Lorensen Auto Group dealers statewide and register for the $2500 grand prize. Additionally, they were prompted to print their voucher for an additional $25 Gift Card just for taking a test drive. The response was tremendous, and after a random drawing from hundreds of registrations received, a hearty "Congratulations" goes out to CHRISTINE of Wolcott! Rick Bierce, General Manager at Honda of Watertown is the presenter (the Lorensen dealer at which she chose to register). Stay tuned for future Lorensen Auto Group promotions and enter to win...the odds are always in your favor!

Season for Reason- Bette Midler?

Acura announces the Season for Reason

Get “Reel” About Getting Green

Reel mowers: Saving the earth while saving you money.
For many people, mowing the lawn is a total chore. To make things worse, filling your mower’s gas tank all summer can now cost more than the mower itself. How can you keep your grass, your costs and your fuel emissions low? It’s time to go back in time, all the way back to 1870. That’s when a man named Elwood McGuire of Richmond, Indiana starting selling the first commercially viable human-powered reel mower. Thanks to their low cost, zero carbon emissions and plain old vintage charm, the old-school mowers are becoming new again.

So, why the steady increase in popularity? For one, these mowers consume zero petroleum-sourced energy and have zero emissions. That’s right, zero. Think about all the gasoline consumed by traditional mowers; they are as environmentally unfriendly as they are expensive to operate. And while electric mowers are a step up from gas, they still consume electricity, the production of which contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. A reel mower only consumes your energy, which also means you’ll get a great workout.

Second, they are inexpensive. Most gasoline-powered lawnmowers start around $250 for a standard push mower and go up from there; high-quality self-propelled mulching mowers start from $400 to $600. When you combine that with the price of gas, the $65 to $100 reel mower price tag looks better and better. Even a low-cost small electric mower runs about $150 to $200, plus it adds to the cost of your monthly electric bill.

Then consider the cost of maintenance. With so many features and parts, gas and electric lawnmowers tend to break, leaving you with potentially hefty repair bills, and gas mowers need annual maintenance that includes oil changes, spark plug replacement and air filter replacement. You’ll also need to purchase a fuel stabilizer additive to keep the gas left in the tank from gunking up over the winter, as draining the tank is no longer recommended. Maintenance for a reel mower, however, is minimal. A little bit of grease and a good sharpening every year, and your costs remain low for the mower’s lifetime.

Although the reel mower wins in many categories against its mechanical counterparts, it does have some drawbacks. You’ll have a harder time if you let your grass get long, or you try to cut it when it’s wet. As Bill Turner, a recent reel mower convert from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Overall, I love it. Yes, if the grass gets too tall, it may not cut it very well, or may take several passes...but it makes mowing the yard a little more relaxing without having to hang onto a loud, vibrating power mower."

Another thing to note is that where you live dictates what type of reel mower you should buy. In the South and Southwest, grass tends to be thicker due to all the sun and heat. If you live in those areas, you’ll want to look for a heavier weight mower. If you live on the East or West Coasts or the northern half of the country, your best bet is to opt for a lighter mower. These are not steadfast rules, so assess your grass before purchase.

Reel mowers are now available at most major retailers, and with winter on its way, you can expect even better deals.

Honda has a New "Ad-Man" with Good Reasons