Toyota Camry hybrid

NS4: Maybe the Camry hybrid can outsell the Prius one day

Integrate it into the Camry now.

Now that’s no science experiment

By the end of this decade the Prius family could outsell Toyota’s money-maker, the Camry, according to some company statements. However, the NS4 plug-in hybrid concept suggests that maybe Toyota is having second thoughts about using the Prius is its key platform for world hybrid domination.

In fact, it’s too bad that Toyota didn’t move closer to NS4 design language with the launch of the recently upgraded 2012 Camry. Read more…

Black Friday worth it for hybrid and EV buyers?

Searching for Black Friday hybrid deals

More car dealerships are getting in on Black Friday action

Here’s the good news. Black Friday shopping deals are coming to a dealership near you, in a trend that is gaining strength according to industry observers. Besides, it’s the end of the month and the end of the year — time to offload old product to make room for 2012 models — so Black Friday and auto deals just make sense.

But, here’s the bad news. The top deals expected heading into the end of this year will mostly be found in the gas-guzzler segment.

Still, if you’re seriously in the market for a new hybrid, this Black Friday is worthy of some car shopping. Read more…

Chevy Malibu Eco comes up short in hybrid sedan space

Malibu Eco can't shake up hybrid sedan segment

GM’s upgraded mild hybrid powertrain needs another upgrade or a cheaper price tag

Today GM announced the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco will start at $25,995 when it goes on sale next year.

Using GM’s upgraded mild hybrid powertain, or eAssist, the new Malibu Eco offers 26/38 mpg city/highway, which combines to a fuel economy number far under other hybrid cars in this segment. Read more…

Sales push? Toyota Camry hybrid and Prius expansion buzz

Will the Prius C be cheap enough?

Can Toyota take its hybrids to the next level?

The 2011 hybrid story will mostly end up being about lost sales. Sure a significant chunk of the sale’s decline was caused by the Japanese earthquake/tsunami earlier this year, but even in recent months, the bleeding is still ongoing although tempered.

But a few new Toyota hybrid cars could turn that around next year. Read more…

Toyota hybrid sales back on track, led by Prius and Lexus hybrids

Can the 2012 Camry hybrid provide a hybrid sale's spike in November?

November could be a big hybrid sale’s month for Toyota

While Toyota’s hybrid sales were down 7.4 percent, Lexus hybrid sales were up 21.2 percent. Combined, Toyota’s hybrid sales seem to be back on track and fully recovered from the supply problems caused by the Japanese earthquake/tsunami this Spring.

Even better for Toyota, November looks like it could be a big month in terms of Toyota hybrid sales. Read more…

Would lithium make the Toyota Prius 4 much better?

Will a sports coupe help usher in the lithium-based Prius 4?

Or is a split battery approach the best option for the fourth generation Prius?

When Toyota launched the third generation Toyota Prius without lithium, there was some disappointment. Likewise, when Toyota announced that the 2012 Toyota Camry hybrid would also continue to use NiMH batteries, there was further disappointment.

However, I’ve never agreed with this NiMH-based disappointment, and while I think the fourth generation Toyota Prius 4 will offer lithium, I believe NiHM could still play an important role in Toyota’s hybrids for some time. Read more…

2012 Toyota Camry hybrid versus 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid – MT

Can the Sonata hybrid top the Camry hybrid?

2012 hybrid sedan domination, at least on the highway

What’s the best way to check out the fuel economy of a few hybrid cars? A long highway cruise, of course, at least if you’re MotorTrend.

Obviously, that doesn’t make the greatest sense in the hybrid world, but there’s still some information that can be gleaned from MT’s flawed ideas. Read more…

Toyota Prius: Still the greatest car on the planet

When you're too good, everyone hates you

The perfect mix of fuel economy, emissions, cost and functionality

No. I don’t own a Toyota Prius these days. Today, I drive a Toyota Camry hybrid because I permanently injured my back many years ago and the Camry hybrid provides much more lumbar support, which is critical for me, particularly since most of my mileage is long distance — hundreds of miles per trip.

In reality, I just don’t drive that much, and for local transportation I take the subway. However, if I didn’t have the subway and needed a daily commuter car for getting around LA, I’d buy a Prius. Period. Read more…

Cost-effectiveness: To buy a hybrid sedan or not

Sonata hybrid is the least cost-effective hybrid sedan

Some hybrids are more cost-effective than others

Is it worth it to buy a hybrid? That depends on many factors, including the hybrid being considered.

In terms of hybrid sedans, however, the most cost-effective hybrids still take 6 years to recover their costs compared to their conventional counterparts. Others take up to 10 years. Read more…

Total domination: Toyota owns 65.9 percent of hybrid/EV market

Best in class fuel economy and price in 2012, despite NiMH

Honda in second at 9 percent

Toyota is using old NiMH battery technology because they invested too early in the wrong kind of lithium technology, and that caused them to fall behind in plug-in vehicles. At least that’s what I hear from many in the battery-powered game.

Poor old Toyota. Already a technological has-been.

Yet, Toyota still owns 65.9 percent of the hybrid/EV market in terms of the only benchmark that matters: sales. Read more…