The new 2010 Toyota Prius will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next January along with a Lexus badged derivative. When the third (or fourth depending on whether you count the original U.S. model as a second gen) Prius debuts it will retain the current hybrid setup with a nickel metal hydride battery pack. The gas engine is expected to be updated and grow from the current 1.5L to 1.6L. The five door hatchback body style is also expected to grow a bit although the fuel economy is not expected to suffer. If the rendering produced by Car and Driver is anything to go by, not much of the new Prius design will come from the Hybrid-X concept that Toyota showed at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. In 2010, Toyota will start building a few hundred Priuses with lithium ion batteries and plug-in capability for commercial and government fleet testing. A high volume retail version won't appear until 2011-12.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Although some aftermarket operations have tried installing rooftop solar panels on the Toyota Prius, none of the pioneering hybrids have ever come so equipped from the factory. This will reportedly change next year when the third-generation model hits the streets. Top trim levels of the new Prius and likely the Lexus-badged version will be equipped with photovoltaic cells on the roof. The solar cells won't generate enough power to do any significant charging of the battery pack but will be able to power accessory drives like the air conditioning. That should reduce the parasitic loads on the power-train, helping to improve the mileage slightly. The solar panels could also be used to keep the ventilation system running on hot days while the car is parked. That would reduce interior temperatures, cutting the load on the air conditioning when the driver gets in. The new Prius and the Lexus hybrid will debut in January 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show. Thanks to Mike, Max and Kevin for the tips!

[Sources: CNet, the Gaurdian]

Since Toyota, like other automakers doing business in the U.S., is currently unable to supply enough hybrids and other small fuel efficient cars to meet consumer demand, they are offering up other suggestions on how to conserve gas. Over on the Open Road blog, they have talked about hypermiling before but there is a solution that saves even more fuel and emissions. In a shocker for a car company, they actually suggest driving less.

As we've discussed before, there are plenty of ways to do just that. First of all, plan ahead. Instead of making separate trips to the store, to school to pick up the kids, and then to the soccer field, time things to make a single trip and plan the sequence to give you the shortest route. Go get a basket for your bike and use that for short trips to the store or a friend's house. If you have mass transit available, take the bus or train. Perhaps most important, just say no to drive throughs. Park the car and walk the 30 feet to get your burger or coffee.

[Source: Toyota]

Every month, our intrepid leader over at Autoblog crunches every automaker's U.S. sales figures and dutifully reports how well each brand is doing. This month continues the trend of fuel efficient vehicles recording record sales and closely mimics the trend of gas-guzzlers going down the toilet. The two brands which best seem to mark the turning of the tides, so to speak, are Mini and Hummer. Mini's brand of small, sporty and fun to drive coupe's 5,211 sales represented an increase of 40.5-percent over June of last year. Hummer's downward spiral also continues, as its 2,072 sales represent a 54.2-percent decrease from one year ago.

Honda managed to set a monthly record in June by selling a total of 142,539 vehicles -- an impressive 17.9-percent gain -- while its arch rival Toyota sunk 10.3-percent for the month. Part of this contrast in sales can be attributed to the fact that Honda does not offer any full-size trucks or SUVs while Toyota's sales figures are burdened by the huge Tundra pickup and Sequioa SUV. The Prius hybrid sedan, down 25-percent, continues to be plagued by supply issues, though demand for the fuel efficient vehicle remains very high.

[Source: Autoblog]

Click above image for a gallery of the 5-door Yaris

How do you know gas prices are high? Well, for one thing, your wallet feels a whole lot lighter after you fill up your car. Another indicator is that Toyota is adding a second Yaris liftback to its U.S. lineup. So much for the red-white-and-blue being averse to hatches. For the '09 model year, we're finally getting the 5-door Yaris hatch, which has been available in other markets, including Canada, since the current car arrived in 2005. The 5-door is basically the same size as the three-door, but the added points of entry make for a more usable overall package, especially if you're going to be using the back seats often. Parents, for one, should be pleased with the new offering. Other changes made to the Yaris range for '09 include the addition of standard front side and rear curtain airbags and the addition of optional cruise control for the Liftback. Toyota hasn't announced pricing yet, but it should be in line with what it already asks for the 3- and 4-door cars. Photos of the U.S. market car haven't been released yet, but the enclosed gallery of the UK-market version show you just about all you need to know. Just mentally flip that steering wheel over to the other side.


[Source: Toyota]

After evaluating supercars to see which could go furthest on a gallon of gasoline, the crew of Top Gear decided to try again. What they apparently set out to do was demonstrate the impact of driving behavior on fuel economy. All hypermiling enthusiasts will gladly expound on how modifying your driving style can take you above and beyond the EPA mileage ratings. Of course, Jeremy Clarkson had to demonstrate this by taking the negative approach. He pitted a Toyota Prius against a new BMW M3. No one would ever expect the 414hp V8 powered M3 to get better mileage than a Prius. Unless, of course, you pushed a Prius around a test track as fast it would possibly go and then pacing the hybrid with the M3. Not surprisingly, thrashing a Prius around a track for ten laps provides less than stellar mileage results. Check out the video after the jump to see if the Prius or M3 won this HYPO-miling contest.

[Source: YouTube]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Chevy Aveo

Edmunds.com recently concluded a study which indicated that a hybrid may not be the cheapest way to travel. The truth is that many normal small cars cost less in the long run to operate, despite the fact that their fuel mileage may not reach that of a comparable hybrid vehicle. Of course, all of the associated bits and pieces which make a hybrid a hybrid cost money, especially such big-ticket items as the motor, batteries and computer systems. This fact means that a typical hybrid vehicle is going to cost more than a vehicle with a single drivetrain.

Coming in at the top of the list for cheap transportation is the Chevrolet Aveo. Of course, before plunking down your hard-earned cash, we'd suggest doing a bit more research. The Honda Civic hybrid managed to break the top twenty for low-cost transportation, though it would spring into the top ten if gas were to hit $5 a gallon, which it surely will. The popular Prius lands at number 34 at current gas prices and would reach number 26 at the five-buck a gallon gas price. Certainly, there's plenty more to consider than just the cost to operate a vehicle, such as how much space is available and safety ratings. Still, for those looking for mobility on the cheap, the Aveo is tops. For everyone else...

[Source: Auto Observer]

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Ironman edition Toyota Tundra

Moving full-size pickup trucks has proven more difficult than ever before. The main issues seem to be a slumping economy and high fuel prices, so most manufacturers have decided to offer heavy incentives to make their heavy metal more affordable and figured out ways to eke more fuel efficiency from their behemoths. Toyota, though, has oddly decided to go a different route, adding even more power, along with an extra cost, for three of its most fuel-hungry vehicles: the full-size Tundra pickup, midsize Tacoma pickup and FJ Cruiser SUV. Launched under the Ironman moniker, the vehicles are meant to draw on the Japanese company's involvement with Ivan "Ironman" Stewart.

For up to an extra twenty grand, buyers can opt for various suspension goodies, which will invariably reduce fuel consumption by jacking the vehicle further off the ground, along with topping the engine with a supercharger. This power-booster increases power on the Tundra to an impressive 504 from the standard 381 and torque from 401 lb-ft to a heady 550. Each of the various pieces will also be available separately, in case the idea of single digit fuel mileage are less than intriguing to you.

[Source: Automotive News]

Stalwart PBS is moving into the interactive science show realm with the new program called Your Week. Currently in beta version, Your Week has figured out that controversial topics are one way to get viewers like you involved. Topics in the new show include Frankenfoods, Christopher Hitchen's views on American politics and that debunked CNW report on the energy use of the Prius vs. the HUMMER. You know the one, it's the story that just will not die, even though it should - many, many times

Called, Prius Envy, the preview clip that's available after the jump shows co-host Michelle Cottle (of the New Republic, hosts Your Week along with Rich Lowry of the National Review and Fox) talking to CNW's president, Art Spinella. Spinella says he doesn't have anything against the Prius, but that it's on its way to obsolescence. Oh, and any new data to back up CNW claims? Nada.

Watch the clip after the jump.

Toyota has issued a clarification to reports earlier this week that it would introduce a third dedicated hybrid model in January at the Detroit Auto Show. At this year's show company president Katsuoko Watanabe announced that the company would bring two all new hybrid-only models to the 2009 show one each for Lexus and Toyota. That is all Toyota will unveil in Detroit. There will not be a third new hybrid. One of the new cars will be the new Prius. An additional model remains a possibility for introduction at some other show. This could either be a larger car or it might be the plug-in Prius that will debut in 2010 for fleet testing use.

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota had an ad in Belgium that included the words "Zero emissions low." While the Prius is a model with very low CO₂ emissions, they're certainly not zero and the claim has been considered misleading. The advertisement did not contain any CO₂ emission or fuel consumption data, as is obliged under Belgian law, and thus violated European labeling directive 1999/94/EC. Friends of the Earth Europe's car efficiency campaigner, Jeroen Verhoeven, filed the complaint. "Car manufacturers are using 'greenwash' advertising to confuse consumers whilst at the same time blocking EU proposals for a target of 120g CO2/km by 2012. If Toyota is serious about reaching 'zero emissions' anytime soon then why are they blocking a 2012 target?", he said in a statement sent to AutoblogGreen.

This is not the first time Toyota has been into trouble for exaggerating the "greenness" of its products. Lexus, too, has had its problems. But as the big marketing motto for automakers is being shifted from security to ecology, they all make mistakes. Could this lead to banning green advertisements for cars, like in Norway?

[Source: EUBusiness, h/t to Jeroen]

The Toyota Prius has long been the darling of Hollywood celebrities, though it seems its good reputation is being besmirched just a bit. We can't say whether the allegations are true or not, but The National Labor Committee (NLC) has published a report highlighting such offenses against Toyota as operating sweat shops, working with dictators and human trafficking. Also under fire are supposedly low wages for workers in Japan and long hours without overtime pay.

You may remember from some time back reports regarding at least one Toyota worker who died from overwork. This case is brought up again by the NLC along with a few examples of workers who committed suicide allegedly because they were put under too much pressure to perform. Toyota's lack of an American union is also drawing ire from the NLC, as are the lower wages the company pays its U.S. employees. Again, we're not able to comment on the validity of the NLC's report, however these are serious allegations which could potentially tarnish the squeaky-clean reputation that the automaker currently holds.

[Source: The National Labor Committee via World Car Fans]

Click the Highlander for a high-res gallery

We got the chance to drive the Toyota Highlander hybrid a while back and came away thinking it was a bit overpriced. It's a bit cheaper than the Tahoe or Yukon, but not by much. When current incentives for the GM products are factored in, the difference may be a wash. So, let's examine its efficiency. Like the Tahoe, the Highlander hybrid also comes as a standard model, so a comparison can be made. The regular Highlander with four-wheel-drive gets 17 mpg in city and 23 on the highway. It'll run $3,188 for a year's worth of gas. The hybrid model improves things a bit to 27 city and 25 highway, leading to a savings of $855 for your year's supply of fuel.

All in all, the Highlander hybrid is a worthwhile improvement over its normal sibling. Is it worth the cost, though? That's hard to say, so we'd suggest looking at all of your options before making a choice. Let's move on.

click the Toyota iQ for high res gallery

With the rather healthy sales numbers currently being posted by the smart fortwo in the U.S., Toyota seems very excited about the prospect of offering its iQ here. Still, the tiny car will be launched first in Japan, followed by Europe at the beginning of next year. High gas prices seem likely to sway Toyota to consider the diminutive machine for America, though. According to chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota's iQ could be a bit higher than smart's, as the Japanese model will feature two extra seats and should post better fuel economy numbers. Like the smart, though, it will be priced more in line with the current crop of small cars and is not meant to undercut them in price. Instead, the iQ is to offer a premium driving experience.

In Europe, the iQ will be offered with a 1.4 liter diesel engine. If the model ever makes it over here, count on either the 1.0 or 1.3 liter gasoline engine underhood. If that does indeed happen, will we ever get tired of making ridiculous puns about the iQ and smart names? Nah.


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

The first known instance of a plug-in hybrid car going up in flames occurred on June 7 in Columbia, South Carolina to a 2008 Prius that had been converted to plug-in capability for the Central Electric Power Cooperative. The conversion was performed with a Hybrids-Plus PHEV15 conversion kit that uses an A123 Systems lithium ion battery pack. The incident is still under investigation by Phoenix, Arizona-based Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation. Initial information indicates the fire may have been triggered by something related to the on-board battery charger and the car had previously experienced some mechanical issues related to that.

Unfortunately, the car didn't have a data logging system installed which might have helped to isolate the cause. No one was injured and the battery pack sustained some damage but was apparently intact and functional - implying that it was not the cause of the fire. What this points out is that before plug-in hybrids and EVs are brought to market a lot of engineering and validation testing needs to be done to ensure that all systems in the car are safe, durable and properly integrated. This is actually the part of vehicle development that often takes the most time. It's not just the batteries that have to work, but all the bits and pieces around it. That's why it's taking almost four years from concept to production for the Volt and why Toyota is in no rush to bring the PHEV Prius to market.

[Source: Cooperative Research Network, thanks to the un-named reader for the tip!]