Volt vs Insight vs Prius: What are your initial thoughts on their design?

Sure we’ll have to wait until the Detroit Show to see the production version of the Honda Insight and yes, we don’t have enough pictures of the Chevrolet Volt to make a totally safe judgment on its design. But how about your first impressions on the styling of both the Insight and Volt based on what we’ve seen up until now and how do you think they compare with the current Prius, which by the way, will be replaced by a new generation model in 2009?

And since it’s only fair that you know what we think, here’s our take on the styling of all three models: conservative to the point of boredom. The only reason we’d give the Volt an extra point is because the other two dedicated hybrids look so similar. Other than that, the production Volt is no more adventurous than any other mainstream Chevy sedan while the Insight looks like a rejected concept proposal for a liftback version of the new Fit / Jazz based City Sedan. Tell us what you think by leaving us a comment.

Toyota Begins UK trials of Plug-in Prius Hybrid

In cooperation with EDF Energy which is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, Toyota has started UK trial runs of its prototype Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV). EDF Energy has helped to install the first of 40 charging posts in the UK, with plans to install more in the coming months. The Prius PHV uses Toyota’s hybrid technology with the added benefit that the vehicle’s batteries can be fully recharged using a standard electrical plug or an electrical charging post to lengthen its driving range in electric mode.

The trial builds on the first European PHV testing programme launched by Toyota and EDF on French roads in September 2007 and will see the Prius PHV being tested by the energy company’s employees under every-day driving conditions. These road tests are considered crucial for the Japanese automaker that has already confirmed that it will sell lithium-ion battery-equipped PHVs to fleet customers in Europe and other regions by the end of 2009. -Continued

Rt Hon John Hutton MP, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, speaking at a Toyota - EDF Energy event in London to launch PHV in the UK, said: 'I welcome the launch of this trial here in the UK. I am pleased to see industry pulling together to work on diversifying energy use and cutting global carbon emissions. We hope that this trial will provide an invaluable insight into the future development of UK electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.”

Toyota Increases Domestic Prices on Hybrids and Trucks

Toyota announced on Monday that it will increase its suggested retail prices for certain commercial and hybrid vehicles sold in Japan from September to offset higher prices of raw materials such as steel, rare metals and crude oil. The retail prices for the Prius and Harrier hybrid vehicles are to increase by an average of 3%, or 76,800 yen and 136,500 yen respectively and by an average of 2% for commercial trucks.

“Recent further price increases in raw materials have been larger than TMC's cost reduction efforts are able to offset, and with prices expected to remain high, TMC has decided to adjust its suggested retail prices for commercial and hybrid vehicles, which use large amounts of either steel or rare metals,” Toyota said in a statement.

Video: Swedes Build World’s Most Extreme Toyota Prius

Just in case you forgot the definition of ‘rice burner’, this video will definitely refresh your memory. Dubbed the world’s most extreme Toyota Prius, the custom-made hybrid that you’re looking at is the work of Classe Gustafson, Kenny Kyrk and Elvis Haggbom from Classe’s Garage. The three Swedes spent about 1,000 hours and a staggering 1 million Swedish Kronas or $159,000 / €106,000 to completely transform the appearance of the humble-looking Prius.

Aside from the wide-bodykit, the 20-inch alloy rims wrapped in ultra fat rubber and the inverted Koenigsegg doors, the crew from Classe’s Garage paid a lot of attention to the interior of the Prius. As you can see in the video and the pictures we ‘snapped’ from the film, the Swedish Prius has more LCD screens than a NASA mission control… -Continued

As with every rice burner that respects itself, the pimped Prius also gets an audio system that can be heard from tens of miles away along with a tablet PC, a set of bucket front seats and last but not least, the Swedes moved the gearbox shifter from the dashboard to the lower part of the centre console and replaced the gear knob with a black pool ball.

Link: StreetXtreme

Lotus Adds Some Sound into Hybrids and All-Electric Vehicles

Electric and hybrid vehicles (when running on electric power only) have recently come in for heavy criticism from blind and partially sighted people due to the almost silent operation of the electric engine that puts them at risk as they cannot hear the vehicles approaching. To deal with this problem, Lotus has developed a system that emulates the sound of a real engine based on the vehicles speed and throttle position. -Continued

The Lotus ‘Safe & Sound’ Hybrid technology demonstrator uses a standard Toyota Prius fitted with a waterproof loudspeaker system positioned adjacent to the radiator allowing the sound to emanate from the front of the vehicle. The system is completely automatic stopping the external synthesis once the gasoline motor kicks in. When the powertrain control system switches the car back to running on the electric motor only, the synthesis controller instantaneously sets the system running again.

Toyota to Build Prius in the U.S. from 2010, Tundra & Sequoia Production Suspended

Changes in consumer demand in the U.S. have "forced" Toyota to take the decision to build the Prius in the U.S. at a new plant under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Toyota said that production is scheduled to begin in late 2010, meaning that the Japanese carmaker is referring to the third generation Prius that is due out next year as a 2010 model. Currently, the Prius is manufactured in Japan and China.

Toyota’s decision to build the Prius in Mississippi has also led to the adjustment of the Japanese automaker’s production mix at three U.S. plants. The Highlander mid-size SUV, originally scheduled to be built in Mississippi, will now be manufactured in Princeton, Indiana, beginning in fall 2009 while production of the Tundra full-size pick-up truck, currently built in Indiana and Texas, will be consolidated at the San Antonio plant in Spring 2009. -Continued

Moreover, Toyota announced that it will temporarily suspend Tundra and Sequoia production beginning August 8 due to the declining overall market for full size trucks and SUVs. Production is scheduled to resume in early November. Fortunately, Toyota said that team members at both facilities, as well as the Huntsville, Ala. plant that builds Tundra and Sequoia engines, will continue to be provided work.

"The truck market continues to worsen, so unfortunately we must temporarily suspend production. But this good news about production mix demonstrates our long-term commitment to our North American operations and to our team members, supplier partners, and communities where our plants are located," said Jim Wiseman, vice president/external affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA). "By using this downturn as an opportunity to develop team members and improve our operations, we hope to emerge even stronger."

Used Toyota Prius cars Selling for Over $35,000! How Stupid is that?

The same market that rightfully shunned large SUVs and pickup trucks in a blink of an eye as soon as gas prices surpassed the $3.50 a gallon mark has made hybrid cars so popular, that in many cases dealers/private sellers are asking over 35 grand for a used Toyota Prius as the Japanese carmaker cannot satisfy the demand. If you head over to Toyota’s official website, a brand new fully equipped Prius Touring has an MSRP of $23,770…

For the record, we checked out used Prius prices on Autotrader, Cars.com and Craigslist. Surprisingly, there were hundreds of cars priced thousands of dollars over Toyota’s official MSRP. Of course, private sellers and used car lots can ask whatever they want, but it’s up to you to decide what you’re willing to pay for it. In our opinion it’s totally not worth it and we’ll tell you why. -Continued

If you want to save money, just go buy a normal compact car. For example, a similarly sized all-new Toyota Corolla XLE sedan with an automatic gearbox has an MSRP of $17,550 (the base model costs $15,250). According to the fueleconomy.gov site, if you drive an average of 15,000 miles a year (based on 45% highway, 55% city) with a fuel price of $ 4.08 per gallon, the Corolla will cost you $2,038 annually while a Prius, $1,328.

If you chose the Prius, then in 5 years you’ll have theoretically saved $3,550. That’s still not enough to cover the price difference between the official MSRP of the two cars which is $6,220, let alone the spiked prices dealers are asking for a… used Prius.

Heck, even if in the unrealistic scenario that gas prices in the U.S. skyrocket to $7 a gallon tomorrow morning (knock on wood), do the math and you’ll see that in five years, a Prius driver will have theoretically saved $6,090 in gas costs over a Corolla buyer. That still leaves the Corolla owner with $110 surplus.

Toyota Reportedly in Talks with GM for Production of Prius in California

Citing unnamed inside sources, daily Japanese newspaper “Tokyo Shimbun” reported today that Toyota and GM are in talks about producing the Prius, now made in only Japan and China, at their joint venture plant in Fremont, California. The report said that Toyota’s is planning to export the main components of the Prius from Japan and assembling the hybrid car at the Californian plant.

Asked about the report, Toyota said that it hasn’t made any final decisions yet. “Nothing has been decided on production of Prius at the joint venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., even though Toyota is always seeking ways to build the most appropriate production system," said Toyota's spokesperson

Video Fuel Economy Test: Prius vs Jetta Diesel vs Smart vs Focus

The lads over at Edmunds organized a “mini” fuel economy marathon by comparing some of the most gas efficient cars available in the North American market: the 2008 Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid, the 2005 VW Jetta 2.0 TDI Diesel, the 2008 Smart Fortwo 1.0 and the 2008 Ford Focuse SES Coupe 2.0. The smackdown included tests on the highway and in the city along with measuring the cars’ CO2 footprint. Check out the video after the jump. –Continued

Via: Edmunds

Toyota Prius Worldwide Sales Top 1 Million Mark

What started out as a niche green car when Toyota unveiled the first generation Prius in 1997 has become a huge success with Toyota announcing that cumulative sales have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April, 2008.

The model that created all the hybrid buzz was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other markets in 2000. In 2003, the Japanese carmaker introduced the current, second-generation Prius. Two years later, Toyota began first overseas production of the Prius in Changchun, China. -Continued

Toyota says that Prius vehicles worldwide have contributed to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions by producing approximately 4.5 million tons less CO2 when compared with gasoline-powered vehicles in the same class and of similar size and driving performance.

Of the 1,028,000 Prius sales worldwide, 591,600 were sold in North America and 315,000 in Japan and 100,700 in Europe Toyota said.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Sells Like Crazy as Fuel Prices Spike

Have you tried to find a new Prius at a Toyota dealership lately? Well we did this past Sunday when we went car-scouting for a friend. We paid a visit to Toyota Westborough in Massachusetts and listen to this; not only is there a one month waiting period to get the compact hybrid (once you pay the $1,000 deposit) but the dealer didn’t even have a single Prius in the lot for us to see, let alone drive!

The same goes for most Toyota dealers across the U.S. as Prius inventories are limited by production capacity in Japan, which must be shared with Asia and Europe. Talking about the problem, John Hanson, a Toyota spokesman in Torrance, California, told Bloomberg, “This is a special vehicle, and as fuel prices keep rising, it gets more special. Rght now, U.S. customers can get a Prius. Next month or the month after that, it's tough to say”.