Autoblog

Toyota announces service campaign to fix exhaust on 28,000 Prius V hybrids

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Recalls, Toyota

Toyota engineers have worked hard to get the emissions that come out of the tailpipe of the Prius V down to a low level, but that doesn't mean everything is copacetic with the car's exhaust system. To fix a known problem, Toyota has announced a service campaign for the Prius V, both in the U.S. and Japan.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the problem is with "weak actuators-control mechanisms" in the exhaust-heat-recovery systems that can end up leaking engine coolant, which will then force the car into a "safe" mode. Some second-gen, 2004-07 standard Prius models were affected by a similar problem in the past.

The new issue affects about 8,000 vehicles in Japan and 20,000 in North America. Prius V owners will get the problem fixed for free.

Toyota announces service campaign to fix exhaust on 28,000 Prius V hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Toyota Prius V

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Hatchback, Toyota, New Car Reviews

Life In The Commuter Lane

Form follows function, so it's easy to find one element of a vehicle that explains everything you need to know about it.

Look at the widened haunches of a 911 and you know there's serious hardware in the Porsche's rump. Check the elongated bed of an F-150 and its obvious the Ford should be roaming free on the ranch. Look at a Smart ForTwo... Actually, don't. It's for your own good.

So when I opened the door to the 2012 Toyota Prius V, a single feature stood out: the cupholder. Encircled in a chrome ring and mounted dead-center in the massive armrest, this lone receptacle was the defining feature of the interior. As it should be. The Prius is the commensurate commuter and the V variant's raised roof and enlarged hatch make it even more practical for Mommy and Daddy carpool duty. At least in theory.

Continue reading 2012 Toyota Prius V

2012 Toyota Prius V originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota Plug-in Prius priced at $32,000* and Prius V to start at $26,400*

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Hatchback, Toyota

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid has a price: $32,000. That's the just-announced MSRP for the base plug-in hybrid, with the top-of-the-line Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced jumping all the way up to $39,525. Because the both of these Prius Plug-in models have a 4.4-kWh, 176 pound battery pack, it should qualify for a federal tax credit of $2,500. Toyota has also announced that the larger Prius V, which does not qualify for any tax incentives, will start at $26,400. *All vehicles are subject to a $760 delivery fee.

Toyota says the plug-in Prius will be available in 14 western and East Coast states next spring and in all 50 states in 2013. The Japanese automaker is predicting 15,000 sales in the first full year and the Prius family could eventually be the company's best-selling nameplate once all members are on sale - presuming overall hybrid sales increase.

Recently, Toyota announced a partnership with Leviton to provide charging stations. Today, Toyota said that it will offer Leviton's 16 Amp, Level 2 charging station for $999 (including installation), starting in early October. Starting next month, Toyota will start taking reservations for the Prius Plug-in at its website next month. Starting some time later today, you can watch a video about how to order a Prius Plug-in over at the official site.

So, how 'bout it: does a plug-in Prius starting at $32,000 sound right to you? Mull over the official press release after the jump and then leave your thoughts in Comments.

Continue reading Toyota Plug-in Prius priced at $32,000* and Prius V to start at $26,400*

Toyota Plug-in Prius priced at $32,000* and Prius V to start at $26,400* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Toyota Prius V

Zach Bowman — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Technology, Crossover, Toyota, First Drives

Toyota Masters The Art Of The Conjunctive

2012 Toyota Prius V - Click above for high-res image gallery

The hybrid lexicon is a language built on a foundation of disjunction. Buyers may have phenomenal fuel economy or space for kids and cargo. You can embarrass your neighbors at the fuel pump or have a satisfying driving experience. In fact, opting for a battery pack is so fraught with compromise that it's almost as if hybrid manufacturers have completely deleted the conjunctive 'and' from their diction. Even so, that fact hasn't stopped buyers from seeking out electrified vehicles in increasing numbers.

Toyota has sold over one million Prius models in the United States since the vehicle first debuted a decade ago. That number blossoms to two million if global sales are accounted for, and the model's popularity has helped usher in a bloom of hybrid products from over 16 manufacturers. The technology may not be the perfect solution to our fuel economy concerns, but the Prius has taken off in ways that would have been difficult to imagine when the first gangly example whirred off the line.

Now Toyota is set to grow its Prius lineup with three new models. In fact, Bob Carter, Toyota division group vice president and general manager, says that the Japanese automaker fully expects the Prius family to become its best-selling product line in the near future - beating out internal combustion titans like the Camry and Corolla in the process. As a result, the company is planning to unleash of a barrage of products that include a model based on the Prius C Concept, a plug-in version of the hybrid and the taller, boxier Prius V. The thought is that a few simple variations on the company's successful battery-powered recipe will offer buyers solutions that the conventional Prius simply couldn't match. The only question is whether or not the will respond to what is effectively a few clever re-body jobs. If the Prius V is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes.

Continue reading 2012 Toyota Prius V

2012 Toyota Prius V originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Toyota Prius V still on track for U.S. launch this fall

Zach Bowman — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:53:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Crossover, Toyota

2012 Toyota Prius V - Click above for high-res image gallery

False alarm, Prius fans. According to Toyota, the Prius V MPV is on track to hit the market as scheduled. Reports recently began circulating indicating that the Japanese automaker was delaying the vehicle's launch due to the lingering impact of this year's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters. Word was that a battery shortfall was causing the hold-up, though the manufacturer has now confirmed that the large hybrid will debut this fall as originally scheduled.

Unfortunately, the arrival of the Japanese-market Prius Alpha is still slated to experience a delay of indeterminate length. Hit the jump for the brief press release.

Continue reading 2012 Toyota Prius V still on track for U.S. launch this fall

2012 Toyota Prius V still on track for U.S. launch this fall originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog checks out Toyota Entune inside the 2012 Prius V

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Videos, Toyota

Toyota Entune inside the 2012 Prius V - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Toyota will be launching its new Entune infotainment system later this year - a product that pairs with a customer's Internet- and Bluetooth-equipped smartphone to bring a host of applications right into the car's navigation screen. Entune is the Japanese automaker's answer to Ford's SYNC system, and we recently had the chance to get a first-hand look at Toyota's latest creation inside of the upcoming 2012 Prius V.

Entune made its official debut at CES back in January, combining functional apps like Bing search and real-time XM information (traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports and stocks) with entertainment features like Pandora and iHeartRadio. What's more, Entune adds restaurant booking capability via OpenTable and allows you to research movie times through MovieTickets.com. Of course, there's a slate of safety features like collision notification and roadside assistance, similar to those found in Lexus' Enform system.

We sat down inside the 2012 Prius V with Toyota's corporate manager for advanced technology, Jim Pisz, to see exactly how Entune works. Pisz tells us that the Prius V will be the first Toyota vehicle to feature Entune, but that we will likely see it spread to higher-volume models like the Camry and Tacoma by the end of the year.

In all, Entune looks to be a pretty slick system. The touch-screen display is easy to navigate, though it isn't as visually appealing as the Blue Oval's MyFord Touch. See a full walk-through of Entune for yourself in the video after the jump. As an added bonus, click here to see an Entune hands-on from our friends at Engadget, as well.

Editor's Note: Because Entune pairs to a smartphone, if there's a lengthy loss of signal at any time, that will cause Entune to become temporarily unresponsive. This happened during our preview outside of New York's Plaza Hotel, and thus, the video begins after Pisz restarted the system.

Gallery: Toyota Entune

[Lead image: Steven J. Ewing/AOL]

Continue reading Autoblog checks out Toyota Entune inside the 2012 Prius V

Autoblog checks out Toyota Entune inside the 2012 Prius V originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota Prius V launch delayed in Japan due to earthquake

Chris Shunk — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Japan, Toyota

2012 Toyota Prius V - Click above for the high-res image gallery

The new-for-2012 Prius V was scheduled to go on sale in Japan at the end of April, but Automotive News reports that production delays stemming from the March 11 earthquake have pushed that date back a bit. In Toyota's official statement regarding the delay, the company notes plant closings, supply chain issues and damage to Japanese Toyota dealerships as primary reasons.

Japan is slated to get both five- and seven-seat versions of the new Prius MPV. We'll only be seeing the five-passenger configuration here in the United States, and European markets are scheduled to get the seven-seat Prius. Toyota says that, as of now, the U.S. and European launches of the Prius V are not expected to be delayed.

One of the key reasons for this delay is that one of the plants damaged in the earthquake, operated by Primearth EV Energy Co., supplies batteries for Toyota's hybrid vehicles. This plant has the capacity to supply enough nickel-metal hydride battery packs for up around 300,000 vehicles annually. With this plant offline, Toyota faces a 27 percent drop in hybrid production. The automaker also receives batteries from plants in Tokyo and Nagoya, which are fully operational.

Gallery: 2012 Toyota Prius V: Detroit 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Toyota Prius V launch delayed in Japan due to earthquake originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments