Autoblog

Star Wars Prius commercial uses famous droids to sell Toyota's plug-in

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:57:00 EST

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

Help us, plug-in cars, you're our only hope.

In his original deal with Fox for the first Star Wars movie, George Lucas famously kept the licensing rights for himself. That deal - unusual at the time - has resulted in a huge pile of cash for the filmmaker and the ability for his iconic characters to appear on a seriously uncountable pile of merchandise, hawking everything from the 1977 Toyota Celica to today's Volkswagen Passat (to name just two car-related ones). The latest? The space-age Toyota Prius Plug-In.

Like many odd commercial pairings, this one was intended for the Japanese market. Translation of the ad done by friends of Green Car Reports says that everyone's favorite droids keep their know-it-all/ignorance-is-bliss dynamic in full effect. For example, when C-3PO first sees the plug-in hybrid's J1772 connector, he asks R2D2 if it's the little droid's charger. Goldenrod then asks, "You wanna recharge too?" To which R2 replies in his regular beeps and blorts and 3PO says, "Okay, me too!" They then have a discussion about range anxiety, which makes us wonder if Toyota is hinting that the next-gen Prius will come with Twin Ion Engines.

But you want to see this all yourself, right? Go ahead and do so for the next 30 seconds down below.

Continue reading Star Wars Prius commercial uses famous droids to sell Toyota's plug-in

Star Wars Prius commercial uses famous droids to sell Toyota's plug-in originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota Prius now third-most-popular car in the world... sort of

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:58:00 EST

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

Think you're seeing more Toyota Prius models on the road these days? Well, you are.

Automotive News is reporting that all those increased Prius sales in the U.S. and Japan (see here and here and here and here etc.) have turned the Prius into the world's third-best-selling car model for the first three months of 2012. During the first quarter, the Prius sold 247,230 copies around the world. The only cars that sold more during that time were the Toyota Corolla (300,800) and the Ford Focus (277,000).

There's an asterisk on the Prius' figures: much of that new success is due to the fact that there are a brace of new Prius models, namely the C, V and Plug-in - that have expanded the line, with the C being the "car of the moment in Japan," according to Automotive News. Sales in the U.S. were up 42 percent in the first quarter. The new models and the increased sales make up what AN calls a "Prius surge," one that could be capacity constrained in the States. AN writes that the sales pace could reach 250,000 units, but Toyota only has 220,000 units assigned to the market. More vehicles have been ordered, a Toyota exec says, but whether or not they arrive is uncertain. After last year's production issues, though, this is the good kind of problem to have.

Toyota Prius now third-most-popular car in the world... sort of originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota Prius Plug-In third fastest-selling car in America

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Etc., Hatchback, Toyota, Electric

The good people at Cars.com have slogged their way through sales data from April and found something interesting. The Toyota Prius Plug-In managed to walk away as the third quickest-selling car in the U.S., spending just five days on dealer lots. That figure was good enough to land it behind the BMW X3 and X5, both of which take four days to find a new homes. The plug-in hybrid has only been on sale for two months, and took the honor of being the second-quickest selling vehicle in March, according to Cars.com.

The report also took the time to look at the slowest-selling models around. Surprisingly, the Porsche Boxster sits at the top of that list, taking a whopping 250 days to turn. The 2012 BMW 6 Series isn't doing much better. The 650i Convertible took fourth place with an average of 128 days on the lot while the 640i Coupe rounds out the top 10 with 111 days. Perhaps even more shocking is the news that there are four vehicles selling slower than the Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet at 120 days on dealer lots. Head over to Cars.com for the full report.

Toyota Prius Plug-In third fastest-selling car in America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota Prius plug-in sells 1,654 copies in April, beating Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:28:00 EST

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

The Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid in the world, was also the most popular plug-in vehicle in U.S. last month.

Compared to sales of the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf, which sold 1,462 and 370 units, respectively, the $32,000 Prius Plug-in quietly sold 1,654 copies in April, reports PluginCars. With such strong name recognition and pent-up demand for a Prius with a cord, this shouldn't really have been a surprise. But it still kind of is.

Toyota sold more Prius models in the U.S. last month than ever before in April (March 2012 was the Prius' best month ever), even though the number of selling days was short. The four members of the "Prius family" sold a combined 25,168 units, an increase of 126.9 percent compared to April 2011 (which was right after the Japanese tsunami). Overall, Toyota and Lexus sold 32,593 hybrids last month, 30,126 of them wearing the Toyota badge, 2,467 of them the upper-class Lexus models.

Last year, Toyota said it expects to sell 16,000-17,000 Prius Plug-in models in 2012. Since Toyota doesn't break out model numbers, we're not sure what the total is for the year thus far, but 1,654 plug-ins a month is enough for the company hit that target. Scroll down below for Toyota's official sales results.

Continue reading Toyota Prius plug-in sells 1,654 copies in April, beating Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf

Toyota Prius plug-in sells 1,654 copies in April, beating Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Hatchback, Toyota, First Drives

You Say You Want An Evolution?

Here's a game that the first people who buy the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid should play with their other Prius-driving friends: Let them slide behind the wheel and see if they can even tell that it isn't a standard, third-generation Prius. Very few will be able to tell. That's how subtle the changes are between the two vehicles, at least, to someone who isn't looking too closely. After driving the corded Prius in California recently, we can confidently say that from both the outside and behind the wheel, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid looks, drives and feels pretty much like any other example of the world's most popular hybrid. Of course, this Prius does receive some important advances - ones that hardcore fans will notice them right away - but it's more than obvious that Toyota's strategy with its new model is evolution, not revolution.

The changes start with the plug-in's new lithium-ion battery pack. Much smaller than the packs used in the two most popular plug-in vehicles on the market, the Prius Plug-in's 176-pound, 4.4-kWh battery pack offers just enough juice, Toyota says, for an "electric-only driving range of up to 15 miles at a maximum speed of 62 mile-per-hour" (More on how this isn't exactly true after the jump).

Continue reading 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota goes creepy with new Prius People Person commercial

Autoblog Staff — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:02:00 EST

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

In the latest Prius family commercial by Toyota, actual actors, loads of computer animation and a miniature set combine to create the illusion of a Godzilla-sized man made of people. He then steps out of his house to find that his Toyota Prius has morphed into four vehicles: a regular Prius, Prius V, Prius C concept and Prius Plug-In. This is the end of Mr. People Person, as he quickly disintegrates, leaving only his size-bazillion shoes and a bunch of little people behind.

Toyota's narrative behind its Prius People Person ad states:

Not long ago, there was one model of Prius for everyone to share. But now that one Prius has become a family: There's one for everyone. There's the original one, the bigger one, the smaller one and the one that plugs in. They're all a little different, just like us.

We'd say the spot makes sense conceptually, but it's a bit over the top, and creepy to boot. See it for yourself after the jump and let the disintegration begin.

Continue reading Toyota goes creepy with new Prius People Person commercial

Toyota goes creepy with new Prius People Person commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid returns 112 MPGe

Eric Loveday — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Toyota peeled back the sheets to finally reveal its 2012 Prius Plug-in production model.

Toyota describes the plug-in hybrid as the "greenest, most technically advanced Prius yet," and with an electric-only driving range of 14.3 miles, fuel consumption targeted at 112 miles per gallon equivalent and CO2 emissions listed at 49 grams per kilometer, we're inclined to agree with the Japanese automaker's bluster.

Unlike currently available Prius hatchbacks, the plug-in version is rechargeable using an electrical connection, rather than only from electricity generated while the vehicle is in motion. Toyota says that after the Prius Plug-in's 4.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is depleted, the vehicle seamlessly switches to hybrid mode. The Prius Plug-in can be fully recharged in less than 1.5 hours.

On the performance front, the plug-in Prius cranks out 134 horsepower, which Toyota says is sufficient to propel the hybrid hatch from nought to 62 miles per hour in a leisurely 10.7 seconds and onward to a top speed of 112 mph.

Toyota says sales of the Prius Plug-in will start in early 2012 - mainly in Japan, the U.S and Europe - and anticipates annual volume of 50,000 units. The Japanese automaker has yet to announce pricing for the 2012 plug-in, but some reports claim the automaker is targeting a sub-$30,000 price tag.

Hit the jump to read Toyota's zillion-word release detailing the world's most technically advanced Prius and be sure to check out our live shots from Frankfurt in the high-res image gallery.

Continue reading 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid returns 112 MPGe

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid returns 112 MPGe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Production Toyota Prius Plug-in to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show

Autoblog Staff — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

Lots of people have been waiting for this news: The production version of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will make its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September.

Toyota says the Prius Plug-in is the next "major milestone" in the automaker's 40-year quest for sustainable mobility (so, what's the RAV4 EV, then?). The plug-in hybrid sedan features a newly designed, compact lithium-ion battery that enables the pluggy Prius to achieve a remarkably low fuel consumption rating of 2.2 liters per 100 kilometers (107 miles per gallon U.S.) and CO2 emissions of just 49 grams per kilometer.

While the Japanese automaker will continue to focus on hybrid vehicles without a plug, Toyota says the Plug-in Prius is its "flagship" that showcases the latest developments in hybrid-drive technology. It also says that the car's value and fuel-sipping abilities combine to make it the "ultimate eco car."

We'll bring you more details on the production version of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid when it takes the stage in Frankfurt.

Continue reading Production Toyota Prius Plug-in to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show

Production Toyota Prius Plug-in to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Prius Plug-in deliveries set for March 2012

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota, Electric

The Toyota Prius Plug-in is coming in early 2012, and, according to AutoblogGreen tipster usbseawolf2000, here are a few interesting details:

Two trim levels
Five exterior colors
Deliveries tentatively scheduled for March/April 2012

November, it seems, is the month when Toyota will start taking orders for the Prius Plug-in. Come January 2012, the pluggy Priuses will start rolling down the assembly line. Not convinced? Check out this Toyota start-up date sheet posted on Donlen.com and see for yourself. As for the Prius Plug-in's MSRP, how does a ballpark figure of below $30,000 sound?

Prius Plug-in deliveries set for March 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota says Prius plug-in is "27-percent better than an equivalent diesel"

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Europe, Technology, Hatchback, Toyota, Electric

With the Toyota Prius plug-in set to launch in early 2012, now's the perfect time to dive into the interim results from the cars' trials in London. Here are some details straight from Toyota:

Average journey distance has been 7.3 miles, with 59 percent of all journeys covering between 3.1 and 12.4 miles
Average speed has been 17.7 miles per hour, with 69 percent of journeys at speeds less than 18.6 mph
Initial fuel consumption data indicates performance is 27 percent better than an equivalent diesel
Average recharging time is 72 minutes
Where drivers have access to a domestic charge point, more frequent recharging occurs
Twenty-two percent of drivers have even been able to drive further than the official 12.5-mile range in EV mode.
Electric-powered driving so far has accounted for one third of all miles driven in the PHEV demonstration.

Working in partnership with EDF Energy, Toyota leased 20 third-generation Prius plug-ins to London-based businesses and organizations to monitor vehicle performance and recharging patterns. Details of journey times, speeds, distances, fuel usage and recharging habits have been logged and analyzed to compile useable data. The three-year trial kicked off last summer, meaning that these interim results are from less than one year of real-world use.

Continue reading Toyota says Prius plug-in is "27-percent better than an equivalent diesel"

Toyota says Prius plug-in is "27-percent better than an equivalent diesel" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Quick Spin: 2010 Plug-in Prius prototype is just like your mother's Toyota hybrid, but better

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota, Electric, Quick Spins

2010 Plug-in Prius Prototypes - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been two-and-a-half years since we last got behind the wheel of a plug-in Toyota Prius. The name is the same, but today's plug-in Prius is a totally different vehicle, and it was high time to see what changes Toyota has made to their plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in its ongoing effort to slowly get the car ready for the U.S. market.

Back in late 2007, the prototype had a NiMH battery pack and the converted vehicle was based on the second-generation model. The new fleet of PHEV Priuses in San Diego this week as part of Toyota's Sustainable Mobility Seminar are converted 2010 third-generation models, featuring upgraded lithium-ion packs.

Toyota has brought the PHEV Prius fleet to the U.S. to begin a two-year test and monitoring period. The vehicles are equipped with transmitters from Qualcomm that record not only driver behavior, but also how often the car is plugged in. We'll have more information soon with technical details about the mules and an explanation of Toyota's plans to test and sell the long-awaited plug-in hatchback for 2012. But before then, we wanted to grab some seat time.

The short version is that driving a plug-in Prius is almost exactly like driving a standard one, except that it remains quieter for a longer period as the engine is off more often (during short distances) thanks to a larger battery pack and improved all-electric performance. Acceleration, handling, braking - everything feels awfully familiar. Make the jump to find out more, including how you can now go up to 64 mph without using a single drop of fuel.

Gallery: Quick Spin: 2010 Plug-in Prius

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2010 Plug-in Prius prototype is just like your mother's Toyota hybrid, but better

Quick Spin: 2010 Plug-in Prius prototype is just like your mother's Toyota hybrid, but better originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota officially launches plug-in Prius program, retail sales in 2011

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota, Electric

Toyota Prius PHEV - click above for high-res image gallery

In Japan today, Toyota officially launched its Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) lease program. Over the next six months, Toyota will be building and deploying 600 examples of the plug-in Prius for testing primarilly in Japan, United States and Europe. The Japanese market will get 230 units, with 150 coming to the States and 200 going to Europe. The cars will be leased to government, commercial, and university fleets for field testing that help to gather more data on how PHEVs are used in the real world.

To accommodate plug-in charging the Prius gets a 5.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack in place of the standard nickel metal hydride unit. The battery and associated charging hardware appear to be the only significant mechanical changes to the PHEV. The motor and other hybrid hardware are apparently carried over intact. Even with the standard motor, Toyota claims a maximum EV speed of 62 mph.

On the Japanese JC08 cycle, the Prius can run about 14.5 miles before depleting the battery. It's not clear what the performance level will be in EV mode and what sort of driving will trigger the engine to start up while the battery still has available power. Based on that driving cycle, the PHEV is rated at 72 mpg (U.S.) in post-EV hybrid mode which compares with the 50 mpg or so that we typically see in real use. Since the hybrid system is essentially unchanged, the 14 mile range is probably a bit optimistic. The combined efficiency based on a utility factor of .436 (43.6 percent of driving in EV mode) the Prius is rated at 134 mpg (U.S.). The PHEV Prius will undoubtedly get very good mileage, but we suspect that triple digits are unlikely for most people. During the presentation, Toyota also announced a target of retail sales for the PHEV of late 2011 at an "affordable" price. Video of the presentation and the press release are after the jump.

Presentations:

Gallery: Toyota Prius PHEV concept

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota officially launches plug-in Prius program, retail sales in 2011

Toyota officially launches plug-in Prius program, retail sales in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid can't get any greener

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Toyota

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept -- Click above for high-res image gallery

One day, children will be taken to a Museum of Momentous Moments, and there among artist's impressions of the missing link and the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs will be an example of the first Toyota Prius. The placard next to it will declare that it is the car that turned green... green.

The standard bearer for all that makes Mother Nature smile has gone to the next level, adding a plug-in version to its bag of sticks and twigs. It isn't here yet, but when it does arrive, the Prius-with-a-cord will also be the first Toyota with a high-output, lithium-ion battery that can be charged in 90 minutes on a 230-volt circuit. It'll also go 20 km in EV mode and run up to 62 mph on electricity alone. And then it will do your laundry and teach your children how to be quiet on airplanes. Or something like that. You can read all about it in the press release after the jump and check it out in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Plug-In Prius

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid can't get any greener

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid can't get any greener originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments