LATHAM, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — There is typically a dividing line between cars made for sporty fun and those built for economy and safety, but Lexus has shaken things up with its new CT 200h. The hybrid hatchback produces thrills, saves on gas, and, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), potentially saves lives. Available at New Country Lexus of Latham, the 2011 Lexus CT 200h was recently named a 2011 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

HARTFORD, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — “Big things come in small packages.” “Size doesn’t matter.” Throw in any cliche out there and the MINI Cooper continues to prove them true, this time with the 2011 International Engine of the Year Award in the 1.4 to 1.8 liter capacity class. Received for the all-new engine in the 2011 MINI Cooper S, available at New Country MINI, the victory marks the fifth time that a MINI Cooper S engine has been honored by the international jury.

HARTFORD, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Winning an International Engine of the Year Award is a great accomplishment for any automaker, but winning four awards with four different engines is a feat only BMW could pull off. Among the four award winners from the Bavarian automaker is the TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine that powers vehicles like the 2011 BMW 3 Series and 5 Series, both of which are available at New Country BMW.

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Toyota truck fans know that the Tundra pickup is one tough hombre, but a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) test revealed just how strong it is. Available at New Country Toyota of Clifton Park, the 2011 Toyota Tundra was one of just two large pickups to be named an IIHS Top Safety Pick after passing the institute’s roof crush test.

HARTFORD, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Already an object of envy and lust among auto enthusiasts, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar is causing a stir as the first official pictures of its new topless body circulate the internet. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September and arrive at Mercedes-Benz dealerships like New Country Mercedes-Benz this fall.

SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — BMW is a company known for powerful cars, but powerful landfills are another story. Harnessing landfill gas for power, BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant has increased its ranking to number four on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Top 20 On-Site Generation list of the largest green energy users. BMW is carrying over this sustainability theme into the all-electric BMW ActiveE and i3, which will be arriving at New York BMW dealers like Wide World BMW this fall and in 2013, respectively.

WESTPORT, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — For a select few New York City cab drivers, only a Lexus will do, and now the New York Times is reporting that the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission is trying to deny them the privilege of driving the luxury vehicle on the job. Available to the general public at Connecticut Lexus dealers like New Country Lexus of Westport, the Lexus RX 400h and RX 450h hybrid SUVs driven by cabbies in the Big Apple have been dubbed “too powerful” by the city commission.

WESTPORT, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Connecticut Lexus drivers were given a glimpse of things to come when Lexus revealed the LF-Gh concept car at the New York International Auto Show. Though the concept will undergo significant changes before it enters production, some of the styling cues and technology presented at the auto show will soon make their way to local Lexus dealerships like New Country Lexus of Westport.

SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — It’s been a decade since BMW shipped a car to the United States with a four-cylinder engine, but with new federal fuel-consumption limits looming BMW is hoping that a turbocharged four-cylinder will meet its customers’ needs for power and the government’s need for improved fleet fuel economy. Starting this fall, New York BMW dealers like Wide World BMW will start receiving the Z4 sDrive28i, the first four-cylinder BMW to reach the United States in some time.

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — New York Toyota dealers like New Country Toyota of Clifton Park will be among the first in the nation to receive the new Toyota Prius Plug-In when it debuts in early 2012. The improved Prius is capable of traveling up to 13 miles without using a drop of gas, boosting its already impressive fuel-economy credentials.

HARTFORD, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Mercedes-Benz, winner of Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com 2011 Brand Image Award for Best Prestige Brand, is rumored to be looking to expand its presence in the U.S. market with four new models starting under $30,000. The new entry-level model lineup, which is expected to include the compact A-Class, should further improve sales for Connecticut Mercedes-Benz dealers like New Country Mercedes-Benz, which has benefited from the emergence of Mercedes-Benz as the U.S. luxury sales leader in the first quarter of 2011.

LATHAM, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — While some luxury cars plummet in value the second they leave the showroom, New York Lexus owners can rest easy knowing that a Lexus will hold its value for years to come. Edmunds.com recently named Lexus as the top luxury brand in its inaugural Best Retained Value Awards, news that is drawing customers to Lexus dealerships like New Country Lexus of Latham.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The National Auto Dealers Association’s NADAguides.com has chosen the rugged 2011 Toyota 4Runner Trail as one of their Must Consider vehicles for 2011. Capable of performing on and off-road, the 4Runner has been an evergreen favorite at New York Toyota dealers like New Country Toyota since it made its debut in 1984.

HARTFORD, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Hartford BMW dealers like New Country BMW are witnessing a green revolution as BMW rolls out its new ActiveE electric car, the automaker’s first consumer electric car for the U.S. market.

HARTFORD, Conn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — MINI may have the answer for those who crave Rolls-Royce luxury but lack the budget and space to support such a car. Connecticut MINI dealerships like New Country MINI have always been able to customize a car to some degree, but the new MINI Yours program and recently revealed MINI Inspired by Goodwood will take customization to unprecedented levels.