Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2010 Toyota Prius and 2011 Camry pricing rises a bit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/2010-toyota-prius-and-2011-camry-pricing-rises-a-bit/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/2010-toyota-prius-and-2011-camry-pricing-rises-a-bit/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/2010-toyota-prius-and-2011-camry-pricing-rises-a-bit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota has released pricing for their extensively upgraded 2011 Sienna and although the starting prices were down a bit compared to the current models, we can't say the same for the Prius and Camry. Tacked to the bottom of the Sienna presser was a chart showing that prices will be going up for the 2010 hatch and its 2011 sedan sibling. The new-in-2009 third-gen Toyota Prius will be $400 dearer, with base MSRPs ranging from $21,400 for the level I model all the way up to $28,070 for the level V. Those prices don't include delivery, processing and handling charges of $750.

The 2011 Toyota Camry prices will go up $200 across the board, while Camry Hybrid prices rise $250 to a starting price of $26,400. The base Camry with a stick now starts at $19,595, while a top-of-the-line V6 XLE is still under thirty grand, at $29,245. Those figures are up by about one percent for the Camry and 1.7 percent for the Prius. The 2011 Toyota Camry will go into production on January 6 in Japan with U.S. production starting February 1. The 2011 models should start showing up in dealerships by the end of January. The Prius price increase becomes effective January 24, 2010. Make the jump for the full details.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius


Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Camry


[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading 2010 Toyota Prius and 2011 Camry pricing rises a bit

2010 Toyota Prius and 2011 Camry pricing rises a bit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 prius2010 prius price2010 Toyota2010 toyota prius2010 toyota prius price2010 toyota prius pricing2010Prius2010PriusPrice2010Toyota2010ToyotaPrius2010ToyotaPriusPrice2010ToyotaPriusPricing2011 camry2011 camry hybrid2011 toyota camry2011 toyota camry hybrid2011 toyota hybrid2011Camry2011CamryHybrid2011ToyotaCamry2011ToyotaCamryHybrid2011ToyotaHybridcamrypriustoyotatoyota camryToyota Camry Hybridtoyota priustoyota prius hybridToyotaCamryToyotaCamryHybridToyotaPriusToyotaPriusHybridTue, 22 Dec 2009 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: New Toyota Prius ad channels Vishnu to explain hybrid tech]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/video-new-toyota-prius-ad-channels-vishnu-to-explain-hybrid-tec/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/video-new-toyota-prius-ad-channels-vishnu-to-explain-hybrid-tec/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/video-new-toyota-prius-ad-channels-vishnu-to-explain-hybrid-tec/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Australian Toyota Prius advertisement - Click above to watch the video after the break

What do you want from me... I've only got two hands?! Wouldn't we all be a bit more productive if we were blessed with another set of upper appendages, complete with opposable thumbs? Toyota apparently thinks so, and the Japanese automotive giant is using the point to prove that two drivetrains are better than one.

Of course, the two drivetrains in question belong to the new 2010 Toyota Prius, which mates an electric motor capable of powering the car by its lonesome (albeit briefly) and a small, efficient gas-burning 1.8-liter four cylinder internal combustion engine in one happy marriage to produce the perfect hybrid. Or something like that.

Click past the break to watch the advertisement for the new 2010 Prius in Australia. Oh, and Vishnu? Click here for an explanation of the title reference. Thanks for the tip, Mark C!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: New Toyota Prius ad channels Vishnu to explain hybrid tech

VIDEO: New Toyota Prius ad channels Vishnu to explain hybrid tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 prius ad2010 prius teaser2010 toyota prius2010PriusAd2010PriusTeaser2010ToyotaPriusadadvertisingaustralian prius adAustralianPriusAdpricingpriustoyotaToyota Australiatoyota priustoyota prius adToyotaAustraliaToyotaPriusToyotaPriusAdTue, 27 Oct 2009 11:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/tokyo-2009-toyota-prius-claims-japan-car-of-the-year-title/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/tokyo-2009-toyota-prius-claims-japan-car-of-the-year-title/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/tokyo-2009-toyota-prius-claims-japan-car-of-the-year-title/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Thirty years of the Japan Car of the Year - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the past 30 years, Japan has declared a car of the year, an award given to newly released or redesigned vehicles released from November 1st of the previous year to October 1st of the current year. More than 60 jurors composed of Japanese journalists receive an allocation of votes, and the car with the most votes comes away with the crown.

This year the Toyota Prius narrowly edged out the Honda Insight, continuing the recent trend of environmentally-friendly winners. Other notable winners included the new Volkswagen Golf, which was named the Import Car of the Year, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which was declared to have the Most Advanced Technology. The Nissan Fairlady Z won the category of Most Fun, and finally the Subaru Legacy took top honors for Best Value.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the award, the Tokyo Motor Show also organized a display of past winners, starting with the Mazda Familia 3-door Hatch Back in 1980-1981 and finishing with last year's winner, the Toyota IQ. We've included the winners from every year (some cars on display won alternate categories, like the Toyota Supra from 1993-1994) in the high-res gallery below.


Gallery: Thirty Years of the Japan Car of the Year


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Japan Car of the Year2009 Tokyo Motor Show2009-2010 Japan Car of the Year2009-2010JapanCarOfTheYear2009JapanCarOfTheYear2009TokyoMotorShow2010 Toyota Prius2010ToyotaPriusJapan Car of the YearJapanCarOfTheYearPriusTokyo 2009Tokyo Motor ShowTokyo2009TokyoMotorShowToyotaToyota PriusToyotaPriusFri, 23 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Feds release 2010 Fuel Economy Guide, Prius still most miserly]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/feds-release-2010-fuel-economy-guide-prius-still-most-miserly/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/feds-release-2010-fuel-economy-guide-prius-still-most-miserly/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/feds-release-2010-fuel-economy-guide-prius-still-most-miserly/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Quick - what's the most fuel efficient car currently for sale in America? Did you guess the Toyota Prius? If so, give yourself a cookie, you're right. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the 2010 version of Toyota's seminal hybrid once again scores the mileage victory with its estimated 51 mpg city and 48 highway.

Second place is grabbed by a set of newcomers to the hybrid arena for the 2010 model year: Ford's Fusion sedan and its sibling from Mercury, the Milan. The Blue Oval's hybrid duo earn EPA ratings of 41 city and 36 highway, making them the most fuel efficient midsize sedans in America.

Rounding out the top 10 vehicle platforms are the Civic Hybrid and Insight from Honda; the Lexus HS 250h; the Nissan Altima Hybrid; the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner hybrid 'utes; Smart's Fortwo coupe and cabriolet (the only non-hybrids in the top 10); Toyota's Camry Hybrid and finally the Lexus RX 450h.

Want to know where your next car comes in on the federal government's list for 2010? Click here to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: fueleconomy.gov via Green Car Congress]

Feds release 2010 Fuel Economy Guide, Prius still most miserly originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lets do some word association. We'll start with the word "hybrid." We're guessing most of you thought of the Prius -- understandable considering Toyota's dual-powered hatch defined the gas-electric market and accounts for the majority of the segment's sales. The next words are "Synergy Drive." Not nearly recognizable to the average car buyer, and that's a problem according to Toyota dealer Earl Stewart. Stewart told Auto Week that the Synergy Drive badging on the Camry and Highlander doesn't do much for consumers -- let alone brand image -- but a plan was reportedly discussed with dealers during a recent meeting in Las Vegas just might do the trick.

Stewart claims that Toyota is looking to slap the Prius name on a family of hybrid models in the future, and he told AW that the plan would work because, "If somebody says 'I drive a Prius,' everybody knows what he means." Stewart adds that while the Prius name could make its way onto the rear of several vehicles, it won't become its own sub-brand like Scion. Toyota COO Jim Lentz has reportedly been pushing for a multi-vehicle Prius lineup for over a year, but AW reports that the Vegas meeting was the first time the plans were discussed in front of Toyota Motor Sales president Yoshi Inaba and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.

It's unclear whether all Toyota-branded hybrids would receive the Prius name, but the move makes sense as most Americans associate the Prius name with hybrids. On the other hand, calling a Camry hybrid the Camry Prius could be as confusing as an Abbott and Costello routine.

[Source: Auto Week]

REPORT: Toyota to use Prius badge on all hybrids? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota prius2010ToyotaPriusbatteryhybridtoyotatoyota priusToyotaPriusFri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: The JDM Toyota Prius is Superman. Or something]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/video-the-jdm-toyota-prius-is-superman-or-something/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/video-the-jdm-toyota-prius-is-superman-or-something/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/video-the-jdm-toyota-prius-is-superman-or-something/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Toyota Prius is super duper. Click above to watch video after the jump.

Here in the U.S., the advertising campaign for the 2010 Toyota Prius is all about shiny happy dancing people-flowers and that hypnotic mind-control song that plays in the background. It's humble. It's green. It's all very weird. But there's no disputing the message: if you love the Earth, you want a Prius. And a tree costume.

On Toyota's Japanese homepage, the message is more assertive. As you can see above, Kal-El - a.k.a. Superman - thinks the 2010 Prius is a Super Hybrid Car (all together now, with feeling: "SUPER HYBORIDOCAR!"). Seriously. Clark Kent is on the case in the TV commercial after the jump. Though many seem to like Toyota's American Prius advertising campaign, we think the Man of Steel is so much better than the neo-hippie Cirque du Soleil campaign we have here in the States, where Superman, you know, lives.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading VIDEO: The JDM Toyota Prius is Superman. Or something

VIDEO: The JDM Toyota Prius is Superman. Or something originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota prius2010ToyotaPriusJDM priusJdmPriuspriussupermantoyotatoyota priusToyotaPriustv commercialTvCommercialThu, 17 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota Prius importation under threat due to U.S. patent trade case?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/04/toyota-prius-importation-under-threat-due-to-u-s-patent-trade-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/04/toyota-prius-importation-under-threat-due-to-u-s-patent-trade-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/04/toyota-prius-importation-under-threat-due-to-u-s-patent-trade-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

With every new vehicle introduced by Toyota powered by the automaker's proprietary Hybrid Synergy Drive comes a matching complaint filed by Paice LLC for patent infringement. In the latest case, Paice has filed a grievance with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington alleging that Toyota is violating a patent it holds for powertrains that feature both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor - better known as hybrids.

This isn't the first time these two companies have grappled over hybrid drivetrain patents. Back in 2005, Paice won an initial judgement against Toyota resulting in an order that the automaker to pay Paice monetary damages of $4.3 million, though the judge rejected a request to force Toyota to halt sales of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. at that time. Later, Toyota was ordered to pay royalties equal to a small percentage of every hybrid sold in the States.

This time, Paice is taking a slightly different tack, seeking to get importations of Toyota's super popular Prius hybrid (along with all the rest of the hybrids from Toyota and Lexus) stopped by U.S. Customs right at the docks. According to Bloomberg, it could take about 15 months for the ITC to investigate this case, so there doesn't seem to be any reason to rush out and storm your local Toyota or Lexus dealer for a new hybrid... yet.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: Bloomberg]

Toyota Prius importation under threat due to U.S. patent trade case? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to watch the video after the jump

Fuel efficiency has finally moved to the forefront of many consumers' minds after 2008's record fuel price spike and demand is higher than ever for miser-mobiles. Several vehicles have benefited from the green car movement, and the Inside Line crew corralled three hybrids, a diesel and a supersized go-kart in the ultimate test of fuel economy prowess.

The Toyota Prius, Mini Cooper, Honda Insight, Ford Fusion and VW Jetta TDI were assembled to compete for the best fuel economy in city, highway and back road driving. IL also measured the cost to fuel each vehicle and the amount of CO2 each emitted during the test. The five vehicles were prepped to do battle, but ultimately it wasn't much of a fight.

The Toyota Prius won every conceivable category by a significant margin with amazingly similar fuel economy between 47 and 48 mpg in all driving tests. The Prius also took on all comers in regards to carbon emissions as the symbol of green motoring spewed .08 fewer pounds of pollutants during the test than the second place Honda Insight. Hit the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Inside Line]

VIDEO: Inside Line presides over the battle of the fuel sippers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 mini cooper2009MiniCooper2010 ford fusion2010 honda insight2010 Jetta TDI2010 toyota prius2010FordFusion2010HondaInsight2010JettaTdi2010ToyotaPriusdieselford fusionFordFusionhonda insightHondaInsighthybridjetta tdiJettaTdimini cooperMiniCoopertoyota priusToyotaPriusWed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Battery bottleneck holding up Prius sales]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/report-battery-bottleneck-holding-up-prius-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/report-battery-bottleneck-holding-up-prius-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/report-battery-bottleneck-holding-up-prius-sales/#comments
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota has a major hit on its hands with the redesigned 2010 Prius. While that's surely great news for the brand (which is otherwise posting huge sales declines along with nearly every other automaker in the world) it's reportedly exposing the availability of batteries as the biggest bottleneck to production. According to Takahiko Ijichi, Toyota senior managing director:
The new Prius model has been excessively popular, inconveniencing some of our customers, and the factories are working overtime at full capacity... Unfortunately, the batteries are not catching up with demand. Production of the batteries needs to be increased in order for our production to go up.
Panasonic EV Energy, the company that supplies nickel metal hydride batteries to Toyota for the Prius, can produce a maximum of 500,000 packs per year. Plans are in place to expand production capabilities, but that's not going to help eager Prius customers get their new hybrids any faster in the short term.

In related news, Ijichi once again confirmed that Toyota does indeed make money on the Prius, saying, "In terms of the Toyota lineup, I'd say it's probably in the midlevel of profit."


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Battery bottleneck holding up Prius sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda's Insight hybrid is failing to live up to sales expectations here in the important U.S. market. While Honda claims the Insight was never meant to be a direct competitor to the Toyota Prius, the truth is that the two cars are very much rivals in the eyes of many new car shoppers (and some Honda dealers). With that in mind, the 2,079 Insights that Honda managed to sell in June pales in comparison to the 12,998 Prius hybrids Toyota sold in the same month. Further, Honda is on track to sell less than one-third of its stated goal of 90,000 units in its first year on the market.

According to The Los Angeles Times, some dealerships are hoping Honda can rebound with a revised marketing campaign highlighting the Insight's price advantage over the Prius, which currently sits at a few thousand dollars at the base end. There are surely any number of reasons why the Insight may be losing ground in the hybrid race, and you can probably pick out some of them by clicking here to read our review of the 2010 Honda Insight and then clicking here for our take on the 2010 Toyota Prius.


Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight


[Source: Los Angeles Times]

REPORT: Honda Insight sales withering in face of competition from Toyota Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ever notice that you your bladder seems to shrink when its cold outside? Apparently, the Toyota Prius feels your pain, and while we don't have any good solutions to report for your own personal problems, Toyota has found an easy fix for its hybrid. Unlike previous generations of Toyota's fuel saver, the new 2010 model won't have an underperforming bladder when it's cold outside.

Since its introduction back in 2001, Toyota has equipped the Prius with a synthetic fuel tank bladder that collapsed as gasoline was slowly pumped out of the tank and into the engine. Due to complaints that the last-gen car wasn't able to take its full 11.9 gallon fuel allotment whenever the temperature was below 70-degrees, the third-generation Prius comes equipped with a more conventional rigid fuel tank made from lightweight resin. In order to retain its coveted low-emissions rating in California, the latest Prius also reportedly features an improved vapor-recovery system that will help reduce hydrocarbon emissions.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: Chicago Tribune]

REPORT: 2010 Toyota Prius ditches Incredible Shrinking Gas Tank for conventional unit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Prius Harmony commercial - Click above to watch the video after the break

By now, we've all probably seen the commercials from Toyota's latest marketing campaign for the 2010 Prius hybrid... and we've all probably developed an opinion about them. Any time an advertising campaign is as interesting and different as this one, there are bound to be opposing viewpoints either favoring or strongly disliking them.

Fortunately for Toyota, it seems that more people like the commercials for the 2010 Prius than not. In fact, Toyota's "Harmony" spot topped Nielsen's Top 10 Most-Liked New Ads list in May, and the "MPG" commercial came in at #3. For what it's worth, an advertisement for Coke came in at #2.

If you've somehow managed to miss these commercials on television since the campaign was launched back in May, we've pasted three of them after the break for your viewing pleasure. Oh, if you don't like the American marketing campaign, there's always the Japanese commercials with Superman - or better still, check out Casual Mafia's "In My Prius" sendup.

[Source: Advertising Age via Prius Chat]

Continue reading REPORT: Toyota Prius ad campaign most liked by TV viewers (w/VIDEO)

REPORT: Toyota Prius ad campaign most liked by TV viewers (w/VIDEO) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

The third generation Toyota Prius is just ramping up its marketing mojo, and one place you'll see plenty of the gold standard hybrid is at the gas pump. Toyota is hooking up with Gas Station TV to present "Prius Neighborhood" television program to the over 1 million unique pumpers viewers that stare at the company's pump-mounted LCD screens while they fuel up.

Prius Neighborhood is the latest effort to intertwine social media with traditional communication tools. Anyone can submit grassroots and community events via the GSTV website, and select events will actually appear at the pump, sandwiched between ads for the 50 mpg hybrid.

Those interested in following events on Prius Neighborhood can do so on Facebook, as well as Twitter at @GSTVevents. The site contains a calender of charity and community events searchable by zip code, and some of the events will be chosen for airing. GSTV airs in over 1,000 gas stations in the US, hitting 22 of the 25 top markets. Hit the jump to view the official press release after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: IT News Online]

Continue reading Get ready to see more Priuses at the pump in your neighborhood this summer

Get ready to see more Priuses at the pump in your neighborhood this summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota prius2010ToyotaPriusadvertsinggas station tvGasStationTvhybridtoyota priusToyotaPriusTue, 16 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2010 Toyota Prius a miser with new moves]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/review-2010-toyota-prius-a-miser-with-new-moves/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/review-2010-toyota-prius-a-miser-with-new-moves/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/review-2010-toyota-prius-a-miser-with-new-moves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

When car buyers think of hybrids, the name that most often springs to mind is the Toyota Prius since it was the first really practical hybrid to come to market and has sold more than any other examples. Yes, of course, the original Honda Insight beat the Prius to market in the U.S. by about six months, but the tiny two-seater sold in equally tiny numbers and had limited appeal beyond hard core hyper milers.

In the coming weeks, Toyota dealers will start getting their first allotments of the all-new third-generation Prius, and while we got to spend a few hours with one on the west coast in March, we just spent a whole week with the new version of this iconic Toyota. While the efficiency of the Prius has never been in dispute, like many other cars from Brand T, its appeal as a driver's car has been, to say the least, limited. For its generation three model, Toyota has not given up on minimizing fuel consumption, but it has sought to make the Prius a bit more appealing on other levels. Read on to find out if the company has succeeded.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Toyota Prius a miser with new moves

Review: 2010 Toyota Prius a miser with new moves originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 May 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota prius2010ToyotaPriusfeaturedpriusreviewreviewstoyotatoyota priusToyotaPriusWed, 27 May 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota unleashes 2010 Prius Modellista aero kits]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/toyota-unleashes-2010-prius-modellista-aero-kits/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/toyota-unleashes-2010-prius-modellista-aero-kits/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/toyota-unleashes-2010-prius-modellista-aero-kits/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius Modellista kits - Click above for an image gallery

To coincide with the official launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius in its home market of Japan, the automaker has unleashed a whole slew of styling and performance upgrades available through Modellista, its in-house tuning arm. There are three separate body kits available that offer varying levels of flair: Modellista Versions 1 and 2 and an Aero Tourer Kit. We're not so sure the exterior bits from the Aero Tourer kit actually improve the car's looks any, but perhaps they improve its already stellar aerodynamics somewhat.

Questionable aesthetics aside, there's also a few aftermarket bits that could potentially improve the car's handling performance, like optional 16-inch alloy wheels and a new set of springs that lower ride height by 20 millimeters. At this point, it's not expected that Toyota will import any of these kits outside of Japan, but, if you're really interested, there's always eBay.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius Modellista kits


[Source: Modellista via Le Blog Auto]

Toyota unleashes 2010 Prius Modellista aero kits originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota prius2010 toyota prius modellista2010ToyotaPrius2010ToyotaPriusModellistaaero kitAeroKitbody kitBodyKitgas-electrichybridJDMmodellistamodellista priusModellistaPriusPriustoyota priustoyota prius modellistaToyotaPriusToyotaPriusModellistaFri, 22 May 2009 14:27:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: 2010 Prius' design will influence future Toyotas [w/ POLL]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/report-2010-prius-design-will-influence-future-toyotas-w-pol/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/report-2010-prius-design-will-influence-future-toyotas-w-pol/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/report-2010-prius-design-will-influence-future-toyotas-w-pol/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The Toyota Prius has long been a love-it-or-hate-it design. The sweeping roofline of the hybrid hatch may have been penned to maximize the car's ability to cut through the wind, but its shape is now instantly recognizable to the masses - so much so that Honda has been accused of ripping off the Prius' basic design for its latest Insight (gasp!).

Whether you're enamored or disgusted by the Prius' aesthetic, you'd better get used to the new styling cues.
The 2010 model is the shape of things to come for Toyota, debuting a few new forms that will infiltrate the rest of the automaker's line-up in the near future. Toyota's global design chief, Wahei Hirai, calls the styling of the new Prius "free-form geometrics," and a few of the more prominent elements -- including the hybrid's sharply-creased corners, slit-like front grille and bolder, more pronounced hood badge -- are all bound for future models. Good thing or bad thing? Tell us in the poll after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading REPORT: 2010 Prius' design will influence future Toyotas [w/ POLL]

REPORT: 2010 Prius' design will influence future Toyotas [w/ POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 May 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The well-publicized battle for hybrid sales supremacy between Honda and Toyota has taken yet another intriguing turn. According to Japan's Nikkei newspaper, Toyota is saying that it expects to take 40,000 preorders in Japan for its new 2010 Prius hybrid ahead of its official rollout in May. For the sake of comparison, the Japanese automaker sold a total of 73,100 Prius hybrids in all of 2008.

More importantly, rival automaker Honda managed to sell about 18,000 copies of its latest Insight hybrid in its first month on sale. By all accounts, Honda was delighted to move that many Insights - the automaker had predicted that it would only sell about 5,000 units for the first month the hybrid was available in Japan.

A few months ago, Honda made a big splash by pricing the smaller, slightly less fuel efficient Insight a few million yen (or a few thousand dollars) below the starting price of the standard-setting Prius. In response, Toyota announced it would keep the previous generation Prius around for at least another year and dropped that model's price to match the Insight.

But that wasn't enough for Toyota - earlier this month, the automaker set the starting price for the new 2010 model at 2.05 million yen ($20,750), which is just about the same as the mid-level Insight. The next chapter: U.S. pricing for the 2010 Prius has yet to be announced. Let the games continue.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius - First Drive


[Source: Reuters]

Toyota reportedly expects 40,000 pre-orders for new Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

When you sit in the 2010 Toyota Prius, you notice all those little things that provide the "Prius experience" - the shift lever, information screen, center-mounted instrument panel - are all present, but they're slightly different and noticeably improved. The time it takes to adapt to the revised interior is emblematic of the new Prius experience. It's the same oddly shaped hybrid that almost two million buyers love, but it gets better mileage, looks sharper and is packing more technological whiz-bangery than any vehicle this simple to drive has the right to.

We recently tested the 2010 Prius at its North American launch through the vineyard-covered fields and hills surrounding Napa, California. Through it all, the hybrid, officially rated at 50 mpg, performed well and delivered better-than-expected fuel economy. In fact, when we pushed the car's eco prowess by using the EV mode as much as possible and employing a few other tricks, we blew that EPA estimate out of the water by almost 15 mpg. And we weren't alone.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius - First Drive


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Brad Wood / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius puts up BIG numbers

First Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius puts up BIG numbers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota prius2010ToyotaPriusAutoblog GreenAutoblogGreenfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivepriustoyotatoyota priusToyotaPriusWed, 25 Mar 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota to offer cheaper Prius to compete with Honda Insight]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/13/toyota-to-offer-cheaper-prius-to-compete-with-honda-insight/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/13/toyota-to-offer-cheaper-prius-to-compete-with-honda-insight/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/13/toyota-to-offer-cheaper-prius-to-compete-with-honda-insight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res gallery

According to the ever-flowing and always active rumormill, Toyota may be working on a new low-cost hybrid to do battle with the revived Honda Insight, which is a bit smaller than its rival from Toyota and undercuts its price by a few thousand dollars (or a few million yen). Likely due in no small part to its low point of entry, Honda managed to move 18,000 Insight hybrids in Japan in its first month on sale, which is well above the automaker's early projections.

The new hybrid from Toyota would use similar hybrid components as the Prius but would use a smaller engine and cost 20-30% less. Even if these rumors are true, Toyota still plans to continue selling its previous-generation Prius in Japan for at least the 2010 model year alongside the new model, which features better performance from an enlarged 1.8-liter engine while still managing to reduce fuel consumption. So far, there's no indication that Toyota will sell a lower-cost hybrid model in the U.S.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Toyota to offer cheaper Prius to compete with Honda Insight originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Toyota Prius

After teasing us for months with photos of switches and boot up screens, followed by a leak of the whole car, Toyota finally dropped the third generation 2010 Prius today in Detroit. We already heard many of the mechanical details over the past year or so, but today it was confirmed that the Prius will get a combined EPA rating of 50 mpg. That's 50 mpg under the new tighter EPA testing method, mind you. The engine has been up-sized to 1.8L with an output of 98 hp and the total net output of the hybrid drive system is 134 hp.

The basic design is still instantly recognizable as a Prius, but the body does have a bit more character than before. Nonetheless the shape is smoother with a drag coefficient of just 0.25. The peak of the roof has now been moved back 4 inches giving the car a slightly less egg-shaped profile and increasing rear headroom. Aside from optional extras like LED headlights and lane departure prevention, the most interesting new option is the solar roof. A roof-mounted photo-voltaic panel will power the air recirculation system when the car sits in the sun, reducing the internal temps and the subsequent load on the air conditioning system. The Prius goes on sale later this spring but pricing hasn't been announced yet. Hit the jump to view video of the live press conference.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


Live photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Third-gen Prius arrives with 50 mpg combined rating [w/VIDEO]

Detroit 2009: Third-gen Prius arrives with 50 mpg combined rating [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Toyota Prius2010ToyotaPriusDetroitDetroit 2009Detroit Auto ShowDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowPriusToyota PriusToyotaPriusMon, 12 Jan 2009 12:40:00 EST