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The lofty sales of Toyota Prius, a hybrid revolution model in the United States have helped propel the Japanese juggernaut car manufacturer, to No. 1 in the world. This week, Toyota Prius reached another milestone: 1 million sales in the United States.

Toyota Prius launched 11 years ago and has since annually claimed the title of best-selling hybrid in the world. Toyota has sold more than 2 million copies of it globally, pushing the brand’s total hybrid sales to 3 million.

The company claims that more than 97 percent of Prius cars are still on the road.

“Toyota Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy,” Toyota vice president Bob Carter said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Toyota announced ambitious plans at the Detroit auto show to expand the Prius line. Toyota Prius v, which is larger than the current car, joins in the fall, and in 2012, Toyota Prius c compact and Toyota Prius plug-in will be added.

Toyota Prius has become a staple of Hollywood stars and mainstream Americans, as motorists have transitioned to more fuel-efficient vehicles and alternative powertrains.

Toyota Prius was by far the best-selling hybrid in the United States last year, recording sales of 140,928. That’s more than any other single carmaker and well head of the next top sellers, the Honda Insight (20,962) and the Ford Fusion (20,816) hybrids.

Toyota Prius has also helped Toyota weather dramatic shifts in fuel prices. A gallon of unleaded cost $3.71 as of Wednesday morning, up sharply from $2.83 a year ago, AAA reports, and crude oil topped $108 a barrel.

Automobile Tips: Teaching car safety to your kids - Every day, there's an account of a fatal car crash involving teens, almost all of which might have been avoided. When a teen obtains their driving permit, this by no means ensures that this young driver knows everything there is to know about car safety. Parents worry, because they know that a teen lacks experience and judgment in many areas of life and that this extends to operating a car safely. Here we present tips to teaching your kids about car safety. It can save lives.

Learning good driving habits, before your child is eligible to apply for their driving permit is an essential prequel to actually getting behind the wheel. Kids become excited about the prospect of driving. This represents a coming of age, independence and adulthood. As you may remember, you were much the same. A certain recklessness accompanies this transition to adulthood, no matter how you've tried to instill them with responsible action and good judgment. You should never rely on driver's education training covering all the bases of car safety. While teachers may do their best, you can't count on your child paying attention at the time a particular point is discussed.

You've got to be subtle in your approach to preparing them for when they finally can apply for the coveted permit. Starting at about the age of 14, they're already thinking of being able to drive. Older siblings and friends have them hyped. Start with simple things. When you get in the car to go shopping, remark on the use of seat belts. For example, you might say, “Did you know that it wasn't until the mid 1960s that it became law that everyone must wear seat belts when driving? Do you know why?” If they don't know, explain.

There are lots of other ways to convey points of car safety to your kids. Let's say you're driving on the highway, when a big truck suddenly cuts you off, moving into your lane without warning. If you've got your eyes on the road, you can move onto the shoulder, apply your brakes and recover without mishap. “You know, I've learned that you've got to be a defensive driver and always keep your eyes on the road. That's why I never turn to talk to you when I'm driving. That dumb driver could have caused an accident!” Leave it at that. Don't lecture. Your child will take note of how close you came to getting wiped out in a heartbeat, and why.

This type of situation is also a good time to mention the '10-2' position on the steering wheel as an car safety component. Positioning your hands at roughly the 10 and 2 o'clock coordinates gives you a far greater measure of control of the vehicle in any emergency maneuver. Kids will absorb this information, so long as it's not presented as a lecture.

Make it a habit to inspect the area behind the car each time you get in the car and drive off. You might even go out and deliberately put one of the kid's bikes behind the vehicle in order to make your point. Again, your child will see the point of this lesson in car safety without you saying anything beyond, “It's a good idea to make a habit of checking for stuff behind the car – Joe's bike would have been toast.”

In addition to setting an example of good car safety practices, enroll your child in an intensive driving course program. These teach kids how to handle emergencies on the road, such as the truck incident, flood conditions which cause hydroplaning and other quick maneuvers that can prevent accidents. These programs are conducted on safe, off-road courses, with pylons used to simulate various conditions. Learning such car safety operations teaches the driver to react automatically, averting accidents. Kids who complete such programs are better drivers and get better insurance rates, too.

Most states now have laws against using cell phones while driving. This is an especially tempting car safety issue for kids. Set an example. Never use your cell while driving. If you get a call, ask your child to pick it up and take a message. “Mom's driving now, can she call you back?”

Drinking and driving is a major cause of accidents among teen drivers. Your local police department may have training videos, showing the consequences of drunk driving. Check out the video and watch it with your child. You won't need to say anything more. The evidence will speak for itself.

Teach your kids the value of checking water, oil, gas and fluid levels, as well as carrying extras of these in the trunk for emergencies. Again, a little subterfuge helps drive the point home. Let your water level get a bit low on a hot summer's day. “Oh, it looks like the car's overheating. I'm going to pull over and check the water.” Refill from your antifreeze store in the trunk. “Can you imagine being stuck out here in this heat?”

After a year plus of your car safety hints and completion of an intensive driving course program, your child will be well prepared to practice good driving habits when they finally get that driver's permit.

Honda Accord 1985

Second Generation Honda Accord was debuting on September 22, 1981 in Japan and Europe. And as a 1982 model in North America, Second Generation Honda Accord which was being produced in Japan, became the first to also be built in the U.S., at Honda's plant in Marysville, Ohio. Since its first year in the American market, it also became the best-selling Japanese nameplate in the U.S., holding that position for about 15 years. In Japan, a sister model called the Honda Vigor was launched simultaneously with the new Accord.

Modernizing both the interior and exterior, the second generation Accord was mechanically very similar to the original, using the same 75 hp (56 kW), 1,751 cc (1.751 L; 106.9 cu in) EK1 CVCC engine. Fuel economy increased by nearly 15%. Vastly improved quality control however, made this one of the most reliable cars on the U.S. market, a position it still holds today. This automobile included popular features of the time such as shag carpet, velour cabin trim and chrome accents. An optional extra on the 1981 Accord was an Electro Gyrocator, the world's first automatic in-car navigation system. Models were available in Silver, Sky Blue, and Beige. The LX hatchback offered a digital clock and slightly higher fuel economy (due to its lighter weight).

Honda Accord 1982

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposed stringent lighting requirements on U.S. models which prevented Honda from including the aerodynamic molded headlight units which were used on Accords sold outside North America. The U.S. NHTSA required the use of sealed beam glass units to prevent fogging and allow for easy and readily available replacement of units damaged by rocks or other road hazards. U.S. Accords were also required to have a side marker light installed on the side of the rear fenders. European Accords included additional rear fog lights embedded into the rear bumper (mandatory there since 1980), as well as headlamp spray washers.

Honda Accord 1983

When Honda New Zealand won a government order for black-and-white traffic patrol cars, it included the European rear bumpers in the assembly kits and rewired fog lamps for additional rear red flashing warning lamps as part of the special police-pack equipment. Japanese Accords were unique from all other markets in that they included adjustable ride height control and side view mirrors installed on the mid-forward fenders.

Honda Accord 1984

In 1983, Honda upgraded the automatic transmission to a four speed, a major improvement over the earlier, three speed 'Hondamatic' transmission. The manual five speed transmission remained unchanged. A new 120 mph (190 km/h) speedometer replaced the earlier 85 mph (137 km/h) unit. The Special Edition (SE) featured novio-leather seating, power windows, power sunroof and door locks. Gray was added as a color option.

Honda chose the name Accord, reflecting "Honda's desire for accord and harmony between people, society and the automobile." The initial design was changed to a fuel efficient, low emission vehicle since it was introduced during the fuel crises of the 1970s. In the United States and Japan, a version was produced using Honda's CVCC technology, meeting emission standards of the 1970s and early 1980s without a catalytic converter.

The first generation Honda Accord was launched on May 7, 1976 as a three-door hatchback with 68 hp (51 kW), a 93.7-inch (2,380.0 mm) wheelbase, and a weight of about 2,000 pounds. It was larger than the tiny Honda Civic at 162 inches (4,115 mm) long. The Accord sold well due to its moderate size and great fuel economy. It was the first Japanese small car with features like cloth seats, a tachometer, intermittent wipers, and an AM/FM radio as standard equipment. 

In 1978 an LX version of the coupe was added which came with air conditioning, a digital clock, and power steering. 

In 1979 a four-door sedan was added to the lineup, and power went to 72 hp (54 kW) when the 1,599 cc (97.6 cu in) An EL1 engine was supplemented and in certain markets replaced by the 1,751 cc (106.9 cu in) an EK-1 unit. 

In 1980 the optional two-speed semi-automatic transmission of previous years became a three-speed gearbox (a 'proper' self-shifting four-speed automatic transmission was not used in the Accord until the 1984 model year). Slightly redesigned bumper trim, new grilles and taillamps and remote mirrors were added on the 4-door (chrome) and the LX (black plastic) models. The CVCC badges were deleted. 

In 1981 an SE model was added for the first time, with novio-leather seats and power windows. Base model hatchbacks, along with the 4-door, LX, and SE 4-door, all received the same smaller black plastic remote mirror. The instrument cluster was revised with mostly pictograms which replaced worded warning lights and gauge markings. Nivorno Beige (code #Y-39) replaced Oslo Beige (#YR-43). Dark brown was discontinued, as was the bronze metallic. The shifter was redesigned to have a stronger spring to prevent unintentional engagement of reverse, replacing the spring-loaded shift knob of the 1976 through 1980 model cars.

Third Generation Suzuki Swift is being produced at Suzuki's plant in Hungary from where it will be supplied across Europe. The new car has its wheelbase extended by 50 millimeters over the previous second generation and has many visual updates. While the new car looks different from the old one, its design is an evolution of the radical second generation styling with a longer and more rounded appearance. The new generation is expected to feature a 1.2 liter VVT petrol engine developing 92 bhp. The new car is expected to launch in India in late 2010 or early 2011.

The 2010 third generation Swift is expected to replace the GM-Daewoo produced Swift+ in the North American market as the new model meets the regulatory requirements there.

During September 2010 Suzuki in the United Kingdom released the third generation Swift onto British roads. Post-September 2010 Swifts are fitted with a heavily revised version of the K12 engine found in the Suzuki Wagon R+.
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The Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid concept car was unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Swift Plug-in concept has an all-electric range of about 20 km (12 mi) drawing on a lithium-ion battery pack. When the battery is running low a small engine (about 660 cc) kicks in to power a generator that charges the battery.

In May 2010 Suzuki announced that it will begin test-driving 60 Swift Plug-in hybrids in Japan by late 2010. The plug-in is powered by a 55 kW, 180 N·m AC synchronous motor and a 2.66 kWh Li-ion battery pack. Average fuel consumption, calculated by combining fuel consumption during operation on electric power from grid charge and fuel consumption during hybrid operation after depletion of the battery pack is 37.6 km/L on the JC08 cycle (88.4 mpg US, or 2.7 L/100 km). Grid charge time for the battery is approximately 1.5 hours @ 100V and 1h at 200V.