The Demo Site

Are you ready for some change at Toyota? We definitely are and we’re definitely excited to welcome auto enthusiast Akio Toyoda as he takes control of Toyota from former boss Katsuaki Watanabe who will become vice chairman of the Japanese automaker.

The man behind cars such as the Lexus IS-F and the Lexus LF-A, Toyoda is grandson to the company’s founder and will steer the world’s No.1 automaker through one of the worst downturns in its history.

At this time, you’re probably thinking Toyoda is 23-years old but he is really 53 and will take over Toyota with four new executive vice presidents and eight new board members.Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda, Akio’s father, and Senior Adviser Hiroshi Okuda, have resigned from the board.

Toyota, which lost 436.9 billion yen ($4.6 billion USD) during the fiscal year through March (its worst loss since it was founded in 1937), expects an even larger loss this year.

Go ahead - check your calendars and make sure it isn’t April 1st - and no we’re not playing a practical joke on you. What you’re looking at is a new “luxury commuter concept” called the Cygnet developed by Aston Martin that looks like a beefed up Toyota iQ with a DBS grille and hood nostrils.

Aston Martin released one photograph of the clay model currently in production and is not even hiding the fact that the Cygnet has iQ based design and qualities. The Gaydon automakers says that the “Cygnet will offer customers a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury” and is “based on the critically acclaimed Toyota iQ with a Euro NCAP 5-star safety package.”

“Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to embark on this special project - made possible with the support of an organisation of Toyota’s stature and capability and the intelligent design and perfect city car package of the iQ,” said CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

Yes - it’s not a secret that an automaker that produces some of the world’s most gorgeous supercars is teaming up with an automaker that produces some of the world’s most fuel-efficient cars.

So will it ever become a reality? “Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not too distant future,” said Bez. “This concept - akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht - will allow us to apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a completely new segment of the market.”

We know. Not all car dealers are unscrupulous, and not all are going to take you to the cleaners. Among all the “Honest Bobs” out there walking the lots, many really are trustworthy. But there is a simple reason so many people dread buying a new car: the potential for rip-off is astronomical, and common practices over the years have often justified consumers’ fears. If you catch a whiff of any of the scams below, be on alert.

Juggling the Four-Square

This isn’t really a trick, but awareness here is important for a buyer. When you sit down to negotiate, the salesman will pull out a “four-square” worksheet on which to work out the terms of the deal. In the four quadrants of the sheet the salesman will record purchase price, down payment, monthly payments, and trade-in value. He will fill in the sheet as you talk, working the deal like a shell game—if he thinks you are preoccupied with getting a fair deal on your trade in, he might give you a good price for that and then nudge your new-car purchase price north. Take it slow, focus on one item at a time, and be sure you are comfortable with each individual aspect of your purchase.

Keep Reading: Car Dealer Tricks to Watch For - Buyers Info