Posts Tagged ‘Toyota Camry hybrid’

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…

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…

C-Max hybrid: Time for Ford to take a stand

Shelve the C-Max if its not a legitimate Prius-contender

Ford’s hybrid program has been too much talk not enough walk

Over the years Ford has made quite a few big promises regarding its green intentions and desire to become a leader in hybrid cars. Of course most of this hype predates current CEO Alan Mulally. Under Mulally, fuel economy has still been a focus, but instead of hybrid technology, Mulally has focused on Ecoboost and small cars.

But the new C-Max hybrid promises to change that, and it couldn’t come at a better time. 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…

Does a cheaper Toyota Camry hybrid demand a cheaper Prius?

Prius family set for a big expansion in 2012

Could the Camry hybrid conquest Prius buyers?

We all know that when it comes to hybrid cars, Toyota is the king of sales thanks to the Prius, which accounts for more than 50 percent of all hybrid sales. Yet, Toyota is anticipating a huge increase in hybrid sales with the launch of the 2012 Toyota Camry hybrid.

But are all these Camry hybrid purchases going to come from Camry buyers, or could the Camry hybrid entice Prius buyers? 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…

American dysfuntion: Hybrid adoption at 14 percent in Japan, small cars rule

A hybrid-only model in Japan.

Is America’s biggest problem one of psychology?

When the 2012 Toyota Camry launches in Japan, only the Camry hybrid will be offered. Since Japan accounts for just 1 percent of all worldwide Camry sales, the Camry just isn’t an important offering in Japan, where hybrid adoption is already at 14 percent and where most consumers prefer small cars to sedans. Nevertheless, Toyota is hoping the Camry hybrid can copy some of the hybrid success of the Toyota Prius in Japan.

That makes me wonder, are Americans just a bunch of dysfunctional cake-eaters? Read more…