Autoblog

PSA: Toyota Prius has been Japan's top-selling car for 18 straight months

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota

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

The Toyota Prius has been the top-selling vehicle in its home market of Japan since its redesign in 2009 for the 2010 model year, due partly to a series of incentives created by the Japanese government to promote fuel efficient vehicles - more specifically, hybrids. Those incentives ended in September, leading many to wonder if Toyota's hybrid hatchback could maintain its stranglehold atop the sales board.

Apparently, the answer is yes. According to data provided by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association, Toyota managed to sell 21,400 Prius hybrids in November, more than enough to earn the fuel-sipper the top sales spot over the second-place Honda Fit (16,677 units).

It seems that the end of hybrid vehicle subsidies did take something of a toll on Prius sales, however. Though still on top, sales of Toyota's hybrid hatchback were down by just over 20 percent when compared to the same period one year ago, when the Japanese government's incentives were in full effect. Still, Toyota's green jellybean has enjoyed 18 months at the top and still has quite a few carlengths on the Fit, and that's nothing to be sneezed at.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: The Mainichi Daily News]

PSA: Toyota Prius has been Japan's top-selling car for 18 straight months originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Safety, Infiniti, Lexus, Toyota, Luxury, Off-Road

First the Oscars and now this! The envelope please! The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a bevy of scores for the Infiniti M, Lexus HS 250h and Toyota 4Runner and it was nothing but "Good" all around. The Infiniti and Toyota were tested for frontal offset and side impacts, with their "Good" score maintaining the scores of their predecessors. The Lexus scored a first-time Good" in the frontal offset test. You can get all the details on the most recent round of crash-testing here and scan the IIHS archives to see how the competition stacks up.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Infiniti M56

[Source: IIHS]

IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winner for Best of the Year

By February of each year, we are always right in the middle of awards season, and no, we're not talking about the Golden Globes, Grammys or Oscars. We are, of course, referring to Car and Truck of the Year awards, Ten Best lists and the like. A brace of trophies had already been handed out at the Detroit Auto Show and here at the Chicago Auto Show, a few more champions were crowned. As you might imagine, Toyota is usually an oft-mentioned brand during this time of year, but we figured this year might be a little different.

Coming on the heels of several high profile recall announcements by Toyota, one might expect the once-bulletproof Japanese carmaker to at least get more careful consideration when handing out the hardware. Well, even if they have gone through closer scrutiny, that hasn't stopped multiple outlets from still rewarding them for their products. Television show MotorWeek just announced their Drivers' Choice Award winners, and the Toyota Prius is their choice for best Eco-Friendly vehicle. It also claimed the title of Best of the Year overall, making it their top pick of the 2010 models.

Other category winners are listed below and there's a long press release after the jump that includes a statement by MotorWeek host and producer John Davis. While it was probably difficult to change their minds so late in the game, the statement by Davis explaining their rationale in choosing the Prius seems to have been written some time before Toyota started making so many headlines: "If you can only buy one car for your family, the 2010 Prius is the one," said Davis. "The Prius is a no-compromise vehicle that offers impressive efficiency, cutting edge technology, smart packaging and truly iconic styling."

While all of that might still apply, it's bad timing if nothing else to be handing out a top award to the Prius. In that spirit, Davis added an additional statement to clarify and defend the show's selection. In it he explained that while MotorWeek had two different Prius hybrids in their care for several months, nothing ever went wrong with them and that the show is confident that the problems will be satisfactorily addressed by Toyota.

MotorWeek was certainly not alone on that front however, as Toyota has recently been lauded by several other organizations as well. In Japan, for instance, Toyota was honored with a government energy efficiency award. Interestingly, the company chose to decline that award, though, saying that "the honor is not appropriate for a car hit by massive recalls," according to MSNBC.

Without further ado, here are the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winners:

Best Small Car: Mazda3
Best Family Sedan: Ford Taurus
Best Luxury Sedan: Buick LaCrosse
Best Small Utility: Chevrolet Equinox
Best Large Utility: Honda Pilot
Best Pickup Truck: Ram 1500/2500/3500
Best Eco-Friendly: Toyota Prius
Best Sport Sedan: BMW 3-Series
Best Sport Coupe: Chevrolet Camaro
Best Performance Car: Audi S4
Best Convertible: Nissan 370Z Roadster
Best Dream Machine: Audi R8 5.2 FSI/Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Sources: Motorweek via EarthTimes, MSNBC]

Continue reading Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award

Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota Prius braking issues may predate 2010 model; other problems reported

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

2009 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res gallery

Could the apparent braking problems reported on the Toyota Prius - which Toyota admits was an issue on the current model prior to being resolved earlier this year - extend past the recently released 2010 model? According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the answer is a resounding... maybe.

The third generation of the popular hybrid hatchback hit the market in 2009 as a 2010 model, and some 300,000 vehicles are thought to have a software glitch that could cause the car to lose braking power for up to one full second under certain circumstances. But that's not all. Apparently, reports of braking issues have been pouring in since 2005 or even earlier. If true, over a million second-generation Prius hybrids could potentially be affected.

Perhaps it's worth mentioning that previous electronic issues have also been reported, such as headlights that burn out too quickly and malfunctioning traction control system. As pointed out by TheDetroitBureau.com, "ABS, traction control, electronic stability control and various other technologies all rely, at least in part, on braking to improve the stopping, handling and stability of today's cars, including Prius."

Gallery: 2009 Toyota Prius

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Report: Toyota Prius braking issues may predate 2010 model; other problems reported originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mean Green: Tommy Kaira slams Toyota Prius and Honda Insight

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda, Toyota, Design/Style

Tommy Kaira Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hybrids aren't exactly known for being the sportiest vehicles on the road, but that doesn't mean their owners don't want to look as good as possible behind the wheel. As such, perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising that Japanese tuning companies are jumping on the gas-electric bandwagon almost as quickly as the automakers themselves.

Chief among those hybrid tuners is Tommy Kaira, which has released a slew of new bodykit bits, suspension upgrades and wheel options for both the 2010 Toyota Prius (which we saw teasers of previously) and Honda Insight. We'll leave it up to you to decide if the add-ons add up to an improvement in the wedge-shaped hybrid hatchbacks. In any case, click here to see the whole kit and caboodle for the Prius and here for the Insight.

Gallery: Tommy Kaira 2010 Toyota Prius

Gallery: Tommy Kaira 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Tommy Kaira]

Mean Green: Tommy Kaira slams Toyota Prius and Honda Insight originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Prius and 2011 Camry pricing rises a bit

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Toyota

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.

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, Australia

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.

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Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title

Drew Phillips — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota

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

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.

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Feds release 2010 Fuel Economy Guide, Prius still most miserly

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

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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REPORT: Toyota to use Prius badge on all hybrids?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

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.

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VIDEO: The JDM Toyota Prius is Superman. Or something

Alex Nunez — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Toyota

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.

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Toyota Prius importation under threat due to U.S. patent trade case?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Crossover, Hatchback, Lexus, Toyota

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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VIDEO: Inside Line presides over the battle of the fuel sippers

Chris Shunk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Ford, Honda, Mini, Toyota, Volkswagen, Diesel

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.

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REPORT: Battery bottleneck holding up Prius sales

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:26:00 EST

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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REPORT: Honda Insight sales withering in face of competition from Toyota Prius

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda, Toyota

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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REPORT: 2010 Toyota Prius ditches Incredible Shrinking Gas Tank for conventional unit

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Technology, Toyota

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota

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

Chris Shunk — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Toyota

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.

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Review: 2010 Toyota Prius a miser with new moves

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Toyota, New Car Reviews

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

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.

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Toyota unleashes 2010 Prius Modellista aero kits

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Budget, Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota

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.

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