Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Report: Toyota Prius "Alpha" MPV coming in spring 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/25/report-toyota-prius-alpha-mpv-coming-in-spring-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/25/report-toyota-prius-alpha-mpv-coming-in-spring-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/25/report-toyota-prius-alpha-mpv-coming-in-spring-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota Hybrid-X concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Toyota gets around to expanding its Prius line-up next year, the first model to benefit from the badge will be a compact MPV reportedly badged the Alpha. The small van will apparently be based on a stretched version of the current Prius platform, will add a third row of seats and should be the first production Toyota hybrid with a lithium ion battery pack. Toyota is currently testing a fleet of plug-in Prius hybrids with lithium batteries, but those aren't slated for production until 2012.

The seven-seat Alpha is expected to be about one foot longer than the current Prius hatchback, while a shorter, five-seat version of the Alpha that may look similar to the Hybrid-X concept from 2007 and could retain the nickel-metal hydride batteries of the current Prius to keep costs down. If all goes according to plan, expect the Prius Alpha to launch around March of next year.

Gallery: Geneva Motor Show: Toyota Hybrid-X concept


[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Toyota Prius "Alpha" MPV coming in spring 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 presidential election2012 toyota2012 toyota prius mpv2012PresidentialElection2012Toyota2012ToyotaPriusMpvtoyotatoyota priustoyota prius alphatoyota prius alpha mpvtoyota prius hybridtoyota prius minivantoyota prius mpvToyota Prius PHEVtoyota prius plug inToyota Prius plug-inToyotaPriusToyotaPriusAlphaToyotaPriusAlphaMpvToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusMinivanToyotaPriusMpvToyotaPriusPhevToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInTue, 25 May 2010 09:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19489655/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/25/report-toyota-prius-alpha-mpv-coming-in-spring-2011/19489655/article-detail.xml 19489655 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/hybrid-x011tcm317-551665-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/hybrid-x011tcm317-551665-630.jpg <![CDATA[Officially Official: Toyota recalls 2010 Prius and Lexus HS250h for ABS fix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/officially-official-toyota-recalls-2010-prius-and-lexus-hs250h/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/officially-official-toyota-recalls-2010-prius-and-lexus-hs250h/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/officially-official-toyota-recalls-2010-prius-and-lexus-hs250h/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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

In what is perhaps our least surprising announcement of the young day, Toyota has officially announced that it will recall 2010 model Prius and Lexus HS250h models globally along with the Toyota Sai in Japan to fix an issue the performance of their braking systems. The latest in a series of safety related problems with Toyotas became public fodder last week when Toyota acknowledged that customers of the third generation hybrid had complained of a loss of stopping power at low speeds.

Toyota has also acknowledged that it has developed a software update to improve the blending of the regenerative and
friction braking systems and implemented the update into new production models sometime in January. The automaker did not, however, order a recall of vehicles in customer hands until more than a week after reports of the issue turned up in the media.

The Prius, Prius PHEV, HS250h and Sai (a Toyota badged version of the Prius sold only in Japan) are all being recalled for the software bug fix. In total about 400,000 vehicles are involved in this recall. First- and second-generation Priuses are not included since they have a different braking system, although there are concerns that there could be performance issues with those vehicles, too.

In the same release, Toyota has also announced that it will recall about 7,300 2010 model Camry sedans to inspect a power steering hose that may sit to close to a brake hose and cause it to wear through. Official press release after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: Toyota]


Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

Continue reading Officially Official: Toyota recalls 2010 Prius and Lexus HS250h for ABS fix

Officially Official: Toyota recalls 2010 Prius and Lexus HS250h for ABS fix originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbreakingnewsHS 250hHS250HS250hlexuslexus hs250hlexus hs250h recalllexus hybridLexusHs250hLexusHs250hRecallLexusHybridpriusregenerative brakesregenerative brakingRegenerativeBrakesRegenerativeBrakingsaitoyotatoyota camrytoyota hybridtoyota priustoyota prius brake problemstoyota prius hybridToyota Prius PHEVtoyota prius plug intoyota prius plug in hybridToyota Prius plug-intoyota prius recalltoyota recalltoyota saitoyota sai hybridToyotaCamryToyotaHybridToyotaPriusToyotaPriusBrakeProblemsToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusPhevToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInToyotaPriusPlugInHybridToyotaPriusRecallToyotaRecallToyotaSaiToyotaSaiHybridTue, 09 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19350303/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/09/officially-official-toyota-recalls-2010-prius-and-lexus-hs250h/19350303/article-detail.xml 19350303 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/prius2010rev010opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/prius2010rev010opt.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #157 - Mike Levine trucks along with us!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Our friend Mike Levine from Pickuptrucks.com joins Chris, Sam and Dan for Episode #157 of The Autoblog Podcast, bringing his vast knowledge of all that is crew-cabbed and full framed. Of course, we start off with what we're driving and dreamy talk about the Dodge Ram Power Wagon, but the real meat and potatoes news items begin with a peek at the Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabrio. Staying with Ms. Jellinek's namesake brand, the crew ponders the idea of an electric SLS supercar. Staying charged, we move right into Toyota's recent hybrid news - a tease of an all new hybrid that we'll see at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, and today's announcement of a PHEV Prius. Hybrid pickups come up before we move on to the BMW's Z4 sDrive35is and then questions. One hour, thirty minutes, in time for your Tuesday pick-me-up.

For more listening pleasure check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget, and let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!


Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #157 - Mike Levine trucks along with us!

Autoblog Podcast #157 - Mike Levine trucks along with us! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastbmw z4bmw z4 mbmw Z4 sDrive35isBmwZ4BmwZ4MBmwZ4Sdrive35isE-ClassE-Class Cabrioe-class cabrioletE-Class ConvertibleE-classCabrioE-classCabrioletE-classConvertibleelectric slselectric sls amgElectricSlsElectricSlsAmgfeaturedmercedesMercedes BenzMercedes SLS AMGmercedes-benzMercedes-Benz E-ClassMercedes-benzE-classMercedesBenzMercedesSlsAmgmike levineMikeLevinePickupTruckspickuptrucks.compodcastpower wagonPowerWagonram power wagonRamPowerWagontoyota hybridtoyota priustoyota prius hybridToyota Prius PHEVtoyota prius plug intoyota prius plug in hybridToyota Prius plug-inToyotaHybridToyotaPriusToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusPhevToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInToyotaPriusPlugInHybridTue, 15 Dec 2009 13:40:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #157Autoblog1:35:19podcast; autoblog podcast; toyota hybrid; phev prius; plugin prius; e-class cabrio; mercedes e; toyota; bmw z4 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19281289/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/19281289/article-detail.xml 19281289 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3.jpg <![CDATA[LA 2009: Toyota debuts its plug-in Prius for North America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-los-angeles-2009/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-los-angeles-2009/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-los-angeles-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota rather unceremoniously parked their plug-in Prius hybrid prototype at its North American market debut during the LA Auto Show, while their new Sienna minivan got a royal welcome at its coming out party. At a show that saw the production-ish Chevrolet Volt appearing in public for the first time, it might have seemed likely that Toyota would have made a bigger deal of this model, but we just sort of stumbled upon it while checking out its big brother, the Lexus LFA.

The company did issue a press release, which you can read in its entirety after the jump. In it, they announce that a global demonstration program will start this month in Japan and that the first batch of 500 Lithium-Ion batteries for those vehicles is moving down the assembly line as we speak. The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive package but adds their first generation lithium-ion battery so it can go all-electric further and more quickly than a traditional hybrid. The electric-only range is just 13 miles, but the Prius PHEV will be able to run all the way up to 60 mph in electric-only mode.

Beyond that, the plug-in Prius reverts to regular hybrid mode with the gas engine and electric motor trading off depending on load and demand. The gas engine is important on this Prius PHEV and cars like the Volt because it lessens the "range anxiety" drivers might feel in a pure electric - That uneasiness that comes from thinking you could be stranded when the batteries run down.

Japan and Europe split the first batch of 350 vehicles, but early next year, the next 150 examples are coming Stateside. These first PHEV vehicles will serve as a test program for real world driving needs, kind of like the MINI E program going on right now. Toyota has already announced that Boulder, CO is going to be the first community to get some of these plug-in hybrids - a surefire way for Toyota to see how cold temps affect battery performance. You can read the rest of the presser after the jump and there's a gallery available by clicking any image below.


Gallery: LA 2009: The plug-in Prius


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading LA 2009: Toyota debuts its plug-in Prius for North America

LA 2009: Toyota debuts its plug-in Prius for North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>la 2009la auto showLA Auto Show 2009LA ShowLa2009LaAutoShowLaAutoShow2009LaShowplug inplug in hybridplug-inplug-in hybridplug-in priusPlug-inHybridPlug-inPriuspluginPlugInHybridtoyota priustoyota prius hybridtoyota prius plug intoyota prius plug in hybridToyota Prius plug-inToyotaPriusToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInToyotaPriusPlugInHybridFri, 04 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19264869/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/04/toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-los-angeles-2009/19264869/article-detail.xml 19264869 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/lapluginprius---0_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/lapluginprius---0.jpg <![CDATA[Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid can't get any greener]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-2010-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-cant-get-any-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-2010-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-cant-get-any-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-2010-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-cant-get-any-g/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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]]>falsefrankfurtfrankfurt 2009frankfurt motor showfrankfurt2009FrankfurtMotorShowhybridpriusprius plug inprius plug-inprius plug-in hybrid conceptprius pluginPriusPlug-inPriusPlug-inHybridConceptPriusPluginsedantoyotatoyota priustoyota prius hybridtoyota prius phevtoyota prius plug intoyota prius plug in hybridtoyota prius plug-intoyota prius pluginToyotaPriusToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusPhevToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInToyotaPriusPlugInHybridMon, 21 Sep 2009 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19163798/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-2010-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-cant-get-any-g/19163798/article-detail.xml 19163798 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/prius_plug-in_frankfurt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/prius_plug-in_frankfurt.jpg -1 2