Toyota will unveil the next generation Prius next year at the Detroit Auto Show. Sales will begin in late 2009. It will be larger than the current generation, but also greener and better to drive than today’s globally successful model.
The hatchback will be about 10cm longer and 3cm wider than today’s car and, to cope with the bigger size, the engine will move up from 1.5 to 1.8 litres. Power should increase to 100bhp.
Toyota says it can achieve this higher output while still improving economy and lowering emissions. Sources in Japan claim that Toyota is aiming for a 12 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, leading to a combined economy of over 70mpg and C02 emissions of just over 90g/km.
Lexus hybrids have been very easy on the environment. Their hybrids are by far the most technologically advanced of the ones found today in the market. On that context, a re-badged Prius was talked about by many including Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe, but there was no news or sightings of a test mule; Until now- this Prius err.. Lexus was spotted testing in California.
New rims, quad exhausts, and a lowered stance are the new additions. Expect the interiors to look space ship-like along with all the bells and whistles. When it goes on sale sometime in 2009, it will likely be the cheapest Lexus one can buy. All in all, a premium version of U.S’ most preferred eco-friendly car.
You may wonder if this is a joke...well it isn’t! It is true! The 2.0 liter diesel engine of the Bmw showed better fuel economy than the well-known eco-friendly Toyota Prius. Some of you may see this camparison between the two cars ridiculous but if we look at the CO2 emissions of the two vehicles we see that there are almost equal: the Bmw delivers 41.9 mpg while the Prius, with almost 250 kg lighter, delivers 40.1 mpg.
The test between the two cars was made on the London-to-Geneva route. The Bmw equipped with a series of energy-saving features like the battery recharge when braking, good aerodynamics, low rolling resistance in a word the so-called EfficientDynamics showed no problems on the road and by the end of it also remained with a third of its tank in reserve.
Cars.com, has released its pick of hybrid cars that are presently available in the market. The Toyota Prius was their best pick followed by Saturn Vue Green Line and Honda Civic. Efficiency and price were the two main criteria the rankings were based on.
The hybrids were compared to the lowest-priced, most-efficient gas-only sibling. Both versions of the car were then compared on mileage and price difference, in percent, and the results were derived.
“We know that not all buyers are willing to pay the premium for the sake of driving a hybrid. There needs to be a payoff, so our ranking highlights those hybrids that give buyers the greatest return for their investment,” stated Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder.
Inspired by the big success the Prius already has, Toyota might bring more versions next decade. This way the Prius could become a brand of its own with a range of models.
"We are studying that, but I can’t say what stage of the study we are in," Kazuo Okamoto, Toyota Motor Corp.’s executive vice president for r&d, said in an interview. "I do think it is a reasonable direction."
Asked about coupes, sedans and wagons, Okamoto said, "Using the Prius platform for various variations is possible." Okamoto alo said: "Prius recognition level is increasing" worldwide, which could result in a wider model line.
The hit that is the Prius doubled its November sales over those of last year, to 16,737 vehicles sold. That’s only about two-thirds of those sold in the Prius’ best month, May, which saw more than 24,000 out the door.
To put this in perspective,
The Prius is outselling Acura, Saturn, Buick, Subaru, and Mercury,
Combined.
It is selling at a rate almost equal to that of Cadillac and of Volkswagen’s entire lines. Those brands beat the Prius by >> read
Toyota announced mid-year price adjustments to manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the 2008 model year Toyota Yaris, Prius, RAV4, and 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid. >> read
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., (TMS) presented two Toyota plug-in (PHEV) hybrid prototypes to the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and the Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) as part of its on-going sustainable mobility development program with the two UC campuses. >> read
We reported this a month ago, but it’s now official because it’s a featured story in today’s Wall Street Journal: the Prius is going to become a stand-alone brand for Toyota. Looking to capitalize on the environmental street cred that the Prius has achieved, Toyota plans on spinning the name into a new line of vehicles, all hybrid, all distinctively styles to make them obviously hybrid, and all part of a stand-alone brand.
But can Toyota make it work?
Or (...) >> read
Honda has lagged in hybrid sales behind Toyota, largely because the Honda hybrids are all versions of their standard models, not a unique model, such as the Prius. But, though Honda is said to be working on their own unique appearing hybrid, is fighting back.
They’re calling the Prius – or at least its shape – a “cheese wedge.” They’re doing it in a commercial that apes, in a satirical way, Toyota’s own Prius commercial.
Of course, the “cheese wedge” is winning in the showrooms. So, if Honda is working on a new stand-alone hybrid, whaddaya wanna bet that they’ve got at least one “cheese wedge” in the line?
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