Toyota's natural gas hybrid: Going nowhere fast?

Just an auto show filler?

Let's be honest. When it comes to Toyota and hybrid cars, it's all about the Prius, especially when the third generation Prius is just months from making its North American debut.

In the past couple of years, Toyota has used the green-focused LA Auto Show to, well, show off its new gas-guzzlers, such as the Sequoia.

This year, Toyota will show off its Camry natural gas hybrid. Yet, under the Obama administration, does natural gas mean anything? Is this hybrid even less valuable the Sequoia?

Best hybrids of the LA Auto Show

Ford Fusion hybrid

There are going to be a number of new hybrid cars at this year's LA Auto Show. While much of the hype has been focused on the Honda Insight hybrid, it is the Ford Fusion hybrid that I am almost most interested in, almost.

The new Fusion hybrid will debut Ford's new hybrid powertrain - no longer dependent on Ford's Hybrid Synergy Drive. Even more exciting, it will out perform the Toyota Camry hybrid in fuel economy.

Unfortunately, however, Ford only intends to produce 25,000 Fusion and Milan hybrid vehicles per year. That simply doesn't cut the mustard. It also makes me wonder, is Ford's new hybrid powertrain truly cost-competitive?

Pickens: Support the Camry natural gas hybrid

Fill 'er up with natural gas

Boone Pickens is calling out his SoCal natural gas army to attend the LA Auto Show this weekend to support the Toyota CNG Camry hybrid, and other natural gas vehicles.

I'll be at the show tomorrow and Thursday for the Media Preview, but I think I'll stop by this weekend and see what kind of presence the Pickens Army has at the show.

Sketches of new Lexus and 2011 Camry hybrids?

The Lexus HS250h

Here is a shot of the Lexus HS250h from Mag-X that some are speculating will be the new Lexus hybrid set to debut at NAIAS 2009 in January. According to VW Vortex the new Lexus hybrid will utilize the same 2.4 liter engine currently found in the Toyota Camry hybrid.


The 2011 Toyota Camry?

Likewise, here is a picture of the 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid that is expected to utilize the same third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive set to debut in the 2010 Toyota Prius, except the new Camry hybrid will move up to a 2.5 liter engine.

Similar to the third gen. Prius, the new Camry hybrid is expected to offer better performance and fuel economy.

Black October over - Next for the Big 3?

October was scary, but is the worst over?

So, October was a pretty scary month for US automakers, and it now appears inevitable that the Big 3 will become the Big 2. But, is that is bad as it gets? Is the worst over?

Before addressing the dark side, there were a few a bright spots in October. GM, for instance, stated that despite massive financial concerns, the development of the Chevy Volt will continue as planned. And Ford, according to Consumer Reports, has basically caught up to the best automakers in quality. Moreover, the Ford Fusion hybrid might be a more solid hybrid than the Toyota Camry hybrid.

Still, with the economy possibly crashing into a recession, financial issues could become much worse for automakers, especially US automakers whom have been hit particularly hard by the dramatic decline in gas-guzzler sales. So, even if these automakers avoid bankruptcy, will they really be able to afford producing significant numbers of new, fuel efficient vehicles? When will a US automaker produce 100,000 hybrid cars per year (including the Volt)?

Fusion hybrid 5mpg better than Camry hybrid

No competition for Ford's new hybrids?

InsideLine is reporting that the new Ford Fusion and Milan hybrid vehicles will achieve fuel economy that is at least 5 mpg better than the Toyota Camry hybrid on the EPA's city cycle. That would mean at least 38 mpg..

To achieve this level of fuel economy, Ford's new hybrids will have an electric range of up to 8 miles and be able to run on nothing but electricity up to speeds as high as 47 mph.

According to Ford, these impressive numbers were achieved by downsizing all hybrid components, as Toyota has claimed it will also do with the next generation Prius. That means a battery that is 20 percent lighter than the battery pack used in the Escape hybrid, for instance.

Sounds like a winner. It would be nice to see Ford live up to the hype. Of course, if Ford only produces 25,000 Fusion hybrids, I still won't be that impressed.

Diesel v hybrids at an EPA glance

The EPA's top pick for 2009

I've been ill the last several days, so when I saw the EPA's Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles List last week, I just wasn't very surprised or excited. Hybrids still dominate, especially in the city. Since, however, I've read a few articles noting the significance of the first diesel making the list.

A manual VW Jetta TDI is rated 30 mpg in the city, 41 on the highway. The Toyota Prius is 48 and 45, respectively.

Many diesel fans regularly chide the whole hybrid cars segment as a fad, but when it comes to city driving it's clear, hybrids are easily superior.

In order the list goes: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima hybrid, Ford Escape hybrid (and Mercury Mariner hybrid, Mazda Tribute hybrid), Smart ForTwo, Toyota Camry hybrid, VW Jetta Diesel Manual, VW Jetta Diesel Automatic, Toyota Yaris Manual, and the Toyota Yaris Automatic.

Toyota Camry natural gas hybrid in works

Fill this hybrid up with natural gas

Toyota plans to debut a Toyota Camry hybrid concept at the LA Auto Show that uses natural gas rather than gasoline according to reports coming out of a Toyota Conference in Oregon. Toyota doesn't have concrete plans to build natural gas hybrid vehicles yet, but if US interest in natural gas continues to increase, Toyota would then consider developing such hybrids.

A short Toyota hybrid vehicle shopping trip

Customers back in control?

Thanks to a killer headache on Friday, I decided to call it a day early and take care of a few errands. Since those errands took me close to a local Toyota dealership, I decided to shop some hybrid cars.

Are there still dealer markups on the Prius or Camry hybrid?

Finish: A short Toyota hybrid vehicle shopping trip

Do hybrid tax credits still make sense?

Tax credits have helped Altima hybrid sales

The Toyota Prius has not qualified for a tax credit in some time, yet demand far outweighs supply. The demand supply ratio is so out of whack that dealers are adding as much as $5,000 to the MSRP, in addition to thousands worth of dealer add-ons - and they are still selling.

Many other hybrid cars, such as the Honda Civic hybrid and the Toyota Camry hybrid, are selling as fast as they can be produced - also with dealer markups. While a few hundred thousand new hybrids will be added to the hybrid supply starting some time in 2009, if gas prices remain high, these hybrids will probably not just sell easily, but many will sell with dealer markups.

So, are hybrid tax credits still necessary? For what, to help justify dealer markups?

Hybridcarblog has been an advocate of hybrid tax credits for years, but isn't new thinking required? For example, perhaps the focus should be on plug-in conversions, EVs, or vehicles that achieve at least 80 mpg. Of course, it's hard arguing against hybrid tax credits when, unbelievably, gas guzzlers STILL qualify for small business tax incentives.

Nonetheless, should Congress create new hybrid tax incentives and, if so, what should be the focus?

Will Toyota's hybrid price increases affect dealer markups?

Still leaving all the competition behind

Effective August 1st, the Toyota Prius will cost $500 more, starting at $22,720. Soon after that, on August 25th, the Camry hybrid will also see a $500 increase that will bring its base price up to $26,870 as the price of the Highlander hybrid increases $518 to $35,445.

Considering that most automakers are raising prices on any vehicle that can sell to help offset both declining auto sales and increased commodity prices, the price increase is neither surprising or unexpected. However, when coupled with dealer markups as high as $3,000 - $5,000, isn't the pricing of Toyota's hybrid vehicles becoming a little ridiculous?

Zen and the Art of Hypermiling

Hypermiling isn't for wimps

I don't drive much thanks to the Goldline and the rest of LA's light rail and subway system. When I do drive it's mostly through dense urban traffic, so hypermiling is an art I find little time to practice and experiment.

OK, that's not totally true since I've been hypermiling through LA traffic long before hybrid cars first hit the road. In my old manual Nissan Sentra from my old Pasadena neighborhood, I would try to coast through Arroyo Parkway traffic touching the breaks as little as possible.

Thus, when I became a hybrid driver, my city driving changed little. In fact, either in a Toyota Prius or a Camry hybrid, I can coast in EV mode through much of LA's commuting congestion achieving unbelievable - at least to non-hybrid drivers - fuel economy.

Highway hypermiling, however, is a whole different story. Finish: Zen and the Art of Hypermiling

Chevy dealers pull a Toyota: Hybrid markups

Not you too?

With demand for hybrid cars skyrocketing well above supply, many Toyota dealerships have added markups to both the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry hybrid ranging from $3,000 - $5,000, and often including many dealers add-ons beyond the markups (more).

Recently, a few potential Chevy Tahoe hybrid buyers have also complained of dealer markups ranging from $2,000 - $4,000.

As I've posted in the past, not every Toyota dealer is adding markups to their hybrids. Believe it or not, some dealerships actually value long term customer relationships over short term profits. Shop around if you are running into hybrid markups, you just might find such a dealer.

Hybrids: Edmunds picks Camry over the Prius

Not the best hybrid?

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius is the king of hybrid sales. Still, when you consider the sale's success of non-unique hybrids, or the lack thereof, the Toyota Camry hybrid is the one exception. This apparently doesn't surprise Edmunds. Recently, the Edmund's guys put the Camry hybrid and the Prius to a number of tests to determine which hybrid they liked the best. Ultimately, despite the superior fuel economy of the Prius, Edmunds picked the Camry hybrid because it's a "more spacious, well-equipped true midsize sedan with normal styling and a familiar interior layout."

Hybrid Vehicle Shopping: Camry hybrid v Prius

A better buy right now?

So, I've been helping a friend of mine, Carlos, shop for a Toyota Prius, which I first covered in $3000.00 Prius markup: Screw the Customer. Since that time we've gone to and called dozens of Toyota dealerships in Southern California, and we've found that many dealerships have increased their markups, read $10,000 extra for a Toyota Prius.

Still, we have found a couple of dealerships that were not adding ANY markups to their Prius hybrids, nor were they accepting deposits. It was simply first come first serve at MSRP. Most dealers, however......

Finish: Hybrid vehicle shopping: Camry hybrid v Prius

Have dealers damaged Toyota's hybrid halo?

Could markups kill the Prius?

The Toyota Prius is hot and getting hotter. Almost a year ago, my local Toyota dealer told me the Prius was the best selling car at the dealership. As gas prices have gone up, however, interest in the Prius, and other Toyota hybrid vehicles, has increased greatly since last year. Unfortunately, this increase in hybrid interest has coincided with a massive battery shortage which has reduced Prius availability by a whopping 40 percent. Thus, in hot markets some dealers are charging $3000 or more for a Prius, and in some cases, the Toyota Camry hybrid.

While some say its supply and demand, I say nonsense. If Toyota was factoring in this supply shortage into the MSRP and using that cash to build more batteries, maybe I could swallow the markup. Instead, in my opinion, some dealers are just taking advantage of consumers. Ask most in the market for a car and they'll tell you they trust neither the dealer nor the salesperson, and these kinds of dealer - not manufacturer - markups don't help.

So, have dealers damaged Toyota's hybrid halo?

Camry hybrid: Best hybrid for the money?

Payback in just 18 months?

According to Edmunds, the Toyota Camry hybrid recovers its costs compared to the the base 4 cylinder Camry in just 18 months. The Chevy Malibu hybrid was second at 2.7 years, although it won't save as much money over the long run as other hybrids. Thus, the Toyota Prius at 3.5 years will save more money than the Malibu hybrid if you keep the vehicle for at least 5 years. The Honda Civic hybrid takes 4.8 years to recover its hybrid costs.

Because of large price increases in the last year, the Ford Escape hybrid, now priced more than $2,300 more than last year, and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, now up $5,482 over last year, take 7.3 years and 12 years respectively to recover their hybrid costs. Ouch!

Obviously, some hybrid vehicles are a great hedge against high gas prices, but the Toyota Camry hybrid is beginning to look like a steal.

Camry hybrid price increase announced

Still a good deal?

Earlier this week Toyota announced that prices on the Toyota Prius would be increased by 1.8 percent on all new Prii delivered as of Monday. That announcement has been updated with pricing for the Toyota Camry hybrid. The new price for the base Camry hybrid will be $25,650, an increase of $300.

Prius price increase coming

More expensive some time this month

Toyota is going to raise prices on most vehicles this month to make up for rising production costs in North America. According to the AFP, Toyota Prius prices will be increased by 1.8 percent on Prius hybrids delivered as of today. The Camry hybrid will also see a price increase later this month.

Camry hybrid: Toyota bucks the trend again

Outselling all other hybrids combined, minus the Prius

I have to laugh a bit. Since the launch of the Toyota Camry hybrid, I've been claiming that consumers will buy hybrid vehicles based off conventional models - it's not just about unique-looking hybrids. It's about value, and the Camry hybrid has been proving this since its launch.

Now that the Camry hybrid is outselling the V6 conventional Camry, others are also starting to take notice.

Still, Toyota sold almost 55,000 Camry hybrids last year. This year it might be 60,000. So, it's not as if the Camry hybrid is just starting to sell. More interesting, if the Camry hybrid had qualified for the full hybrid tax credit for as long as the Prius hybrid, I'll bet Camry hybrid sales would have been, and would be, much higher. Nonetheless, once again, Toyota is bucking the hybrid trend and proving that smart hybrids with conventional counterparts can sell.

Prius still the greenest hybrid

Prius is the greenest conventional fueled car

According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the Toyota Prius is the 2nd Greenest mass-produced car in America, just behind the natural gas powered Honda Civic. And for all you Boston Legal fans out there, that rating includes battery consideration so a Hummer really isn't cleaner than the Prius.

Other hybrid vehicles included in the Top 10 were the Honda Civic hybrid at 3, the Nissan Altima hybrid at 6, and the Toyota Camry hybrid at 10.

Hyundai Genesis: Should have been a hybrid?

Hyundai's future: The luxury market?

For months now there has been a good bit of buzz in the auto world about the Hyundai Genesis, which many auto analysts have now questioned. And the buzz is gone.

Had Hyundai launched the Genesis as a lower-priced Toyota Camry hybrid competitor, I bet Hyundai would have seen a massive increase in dealership and website traffic. Instantly, Hyundai could have become a leader in hybrid cars, and the buzz would have been worth the cost of production.

Why is there so little vision in the auto industry?

Interest in Ford Escape hybrid increasing?

Ready for a sales explosion?

According to CarMax, searches for hybrid cars are on the rise. Hybrids like the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry hybrid have seen huge increases in search traffic, however, the hybrid that has seen the biggest increase is the Ford Escape hybrid.

Is it Ford's smart "hybrid, hybrid" commercial? Have high gasoline prices finally forced die-hard SUV drivers to consider a hybrid SUV?

Who knows, but it will be interesting to check out Ford's Escape hybrid sales numbers the next few months. For many months, interest in hybrid vehicles has increased, but sales have lagged far behind this interest. Are consumers finally ready to pull the trigger on hybrids like the Escape hybrid?

The Toyota Prius: The truth about hybrid cars

It's not just a niche vehicle for environmentalists

I just finished reading Karl On Cars' take on the Toyota Prius, and how the Prius outsold entire brands like, Acura, Audi, Buick, Infiniti, Lincoln, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Saturn, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki and Volvo. Not bad for a niche vehicle.

So, why aren't other hybrid cars selling as well?

Because there really isn't any competition. That's the plain and simple truth. Finish....

Will Americans really buy plug-in hybrids?

Would consumers flock to 100 mpg $30,000 plug-in Prius hybrids?

In several recent posts, I've made some negative statements regarding plug-in hybrid vehicles. So, have I changed my mind about something I've called a revolutionary technology?

No. I'm still a huge advocate of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Still, I'm a bigger fan of lithium than of plug-in hybrids. Ultimately, I have serious concerns about the electric grid in terms of reliability, security and greenness. Thus, a lithium hybrid with some kind of capacitor might actually make better sense in terms of fuel economy, cost, emissions, etc - at least for some drivers. Finish.....

Toyota's hybrids continue to lift Sales

Camry hybrid continues to post strong sales

The Toyota Prius achieved a 109 percent increase in November sales compared to last year, selling 16, 737 units. The Camry hybrid achieved sales of 5,118 units, a 65 percent increase compared to last year. Even the sluggishly-selling Toyota Highlander hybrid achieve an almost 11 percent increase in sales at 2,577 units.

Did the Prius give Toyota a green halo? I don't know, but the sales of Toyota's hybrid cars continue to increase and they continue to lift Toyota.

CR - Prius Most Satisfying Vehicle Again

The fourth year in a row

For the fourth year in a row, the Toyota Prius took the top spot for the Consumer Reports' 'Most Satisfying' survey. 92 percent of current owners would definitely buy one again.

The Toyota Camry hybrid was also a Most Satisfying pick in the family car category.

No other hybrid cars were on the list.

Toyota hybrid price increase

2008 Prius at the LA Auto Show

Toyota will increase the price of two of its hybrid vehicles by $150.00. The Toyota Prius, starting December 17, will have a base MSRP of $21,100 for the base model and $23,370 on the Touring model.

The Toyota Camry hybrid, starting January 21, 2008, will have a base MSRP of $25,350.

AOL Autos calls Camry hybrid great

When it comes to the Camry hybrid, AOL and I agree

I absolutely love the Toyota Prius; however, I have to admit, I'm a bit more of a Toyota Camry hybrid fan. It feels safer. It has more comfortable seating for those of us with bad backs, and you can have a factory installed moon roof.

O.K., let me clarify that statement regarding these two hybrid vehicles. In urban driving, I'll drive the Prius. For distance, however, the Camry hybrid rules supreme. Still, don't take my word for it, check AOL Auto's review of this "great" hybrid.

Toyota hybrid vehicle reliability

The Top family car

The fact that Toyota's reliability has slipped a bit according to Consumer Reports has been a big thread on the Internet. Yet, as I mentioned on Tuesday, CR did find that Toyota's hybrid cars are VERY reliable. In fact, they are some of the most reliable vehicles in the auto industry.

What I failed to mention, however, is that not only are Toyota's hybrids reliable, but they are also great family cars. CR rated the Toyota Prius as the most reliable family car and the Toyota Camry hybrid picked up the fourth place spot.

Toyota Camry not reliable?

What about the hybrid version?

Consumer Reports is no longer recommending the 6-cylinder Toyota Camry; however, both the 4-cylinder Camry and the Camry hybrid are still recommended.

In addition, while watching CNBC, a rep from Consumer Reports reiterated to Phil LeBeau that Toyota's hybrid cars have been some of the most reliable vehicles in the U.S.

Top Safest Fuel Saving Cars

Tahoe and 5 other hybrids lead the pack

So, you want to save money on gas, but you also want to feel safe - it is your family, right? What could be more important?

No problem. CNNMoney has come up with 6 vehicles that save gas by providing great fuel economy while providing best in class safety, and 5 of those vehicles are hybrid vehicles.

The Saturn Aura hybrid, Honda Civic hybrid, Nissan Altima hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid and the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the Ford Taurus all provide great fuel economy for their class, while also providing excellent safety.

Tahoe, Yukon hybrids to equal Camry fuel economy?

As efficient as a Camry?

Ed Peper, a General Manager for GM's Chevrolet, told CNBC's Behind the Wheel that the Chevy Tahoe hybrid would achieve 21 mpg in the city - the city fuel economy of a conventional Toyota Camry.

That's a good start. Of course, the Toyota Camry hybrid, on the other hand, achieves mid to high 30s fuel economy in the city.

Still, I get Chevy's point.

My Chevy Tahoe hybrid test drive left me very impressed. Still, it's hard for me to endorse any large SUV, but I absolutely believe that the buyers of large SUVS need to take some responsibility for their gas-guzzling. The Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid provide such an opportunity for large SUV buyers to both reduce foreign oil consumption and to invest in GM's hybrid technology.

Hopefully, one day, that investment will lead to hybrid cars in addition to smaller hybrid SUVs from GM. Until then, the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are a step forward.

Hidden hybrid potential: The crossover?

An Edge hybrid - Now that would have been bold

For far too long, American automakers put far too many eggs in the SUV basket. At the same time, the Big 3 also missed the boat on hybrid cars, although they are swiftly paddling up river.

Thus, wouldn't a unique hybrid crossover have been a perfect way for U.S. automakers to morph away from large SUVs while also developing winning hybrid vehicle designs?

For example, had the Ford Edge debuted as a hybrid vehicle, I bet it could have challenged the Toyota Camry hybrid in sales. Since the Camry hybrid is on track to move about 60,000 units, I think Ford would have considered the Edge hybrid as a huge success - that would have been a bold move.

Detroit, it seems, has so far been afraid to challenge the Toyota Prius. A unique hybrid crossover, however, could have challenged Toyota, without any comparison to the Prius, while providing a unique offering to I-only-buy-American, SUV-loving consumers.

Sometimes a flanking maneuver is just better than a frontal assault.

Obviously, the profit margins on a hybrid crossover would be less than a conventional crossover, however, the buzz that can be created by a successful hybrid is almost impossible to buy - exactly the kind of buzz that Ford desperately needs.