Posts Tagged ‘Toyota Prius’

Nissan to launch a hybrid better than the Prius

The Ellure hybrid concept in LA

Finally, a real world Toyota Prius hybrid contender

According to the latest data, potential car shoppers are doing a lot of research on alternative vehicles. Many are checking out the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt, and the Toyota Prius C, for instance. And judging by the numbers, most are picking the Prius C. Yet, the C isn’t destined to become the best selling small car in America just yet. In fact, it might not ever.

Ironically, the best selling hybrid car might soon not even be a Prius, but instead a Nissan. That’s right, hybrid-hating Nissan might be the automaker to steal Toyota’s hybrid crown, with a hybrid even better than the Prius. Read more…

Outselling the Toyota Prius with a cheaper Prius C

Early numbers indicate the Prius C is hot

Prius C off to a good start, but will it drive Toyota hybrid sales much higher?

A lot of hype on Friday over the first 3 days of Toyota Prius C sales. With 1200 units sold, the Prius C topped February sale’s totals for both the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, many pointed out. While that’s somewhat interesting, it’s not really surprising based on numerous consumer surveys.

The real benchmark is conventional Toyota Prius sales, followed by total Prius family sales. Read more…

Hybrid explosion when Toyota brings Prius production to US?

Time for US Prius production

A hybrid win for Ford as well?

If the Toyota Yaris hybrid is successful in Europe, Toyota plans to move Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain production to Europe. As a result, the production of batteries and other hybrid components would move from Japan to Europe, a move that would bring down hybrid costs in Europe according to some Toyota execs.

Based on sales so far in 2012, US Toyota Prius hybrid sales will hit the sale’s numbers necessary to bring localized hybrid powertrain production to the US — at least based on European metrics.

Isn’t it time to bring Prius production, and lower hybrid prices, to the US? Read more…

Maybe the Chevy Volt was hyped a little too much too early

Too much hype too early, despite long term potential

OMG. Did you hear? A Chevy Volt burped!

It seems like the Chevy Volt has been around for years already, yet it’s only been on the market for a little over a year, and hasn’t even achieved 10,000 total sales. Still, the Volt is in the news almost daily.

GM and fans of the Volt might claim all the Volt hoopla — much of it negative — is mostly just political shaninagans, and that all this political spin has hurt Volt sales. Hence, today’s Volt production shutdown announcement has been treated like a major news story.

But I don’t blame politicians for the media circus that the Volt has become. If you’re going to blame someone, you have to blame GM because they set up the big tent for this circus years ago. Read more…

What if every automaker sold almost 30,000 hybrids last month?

Toyota Prius - dumbest idea ever

When optimism is worse than pessimism

I believe one day fuel cells and hydrogen will become viable technologies. When, however, is practically anyone’s guess, but fuel cells prove that avoiding action today while waiting for perfect world solutions tomorrow is a very bad idea. Otherwise, there might have been real change after the Iranian oil embargo that could have prevented 9/11, Iraq, Libya, and now Iran again.

Ironically, last month Toyota sold nearly 30,000 hybrid cars built on technologies largely developed, or at least inspired, here in the US, mostly derived from fuel cell-related technologies significantly subsided by US taxpayers.

That makes me wonder, what if the Big 3 hadn’t given up on hybrids, and all the major automakers sold nearly 30,000 hybrid cars last month?

And, more disconcerting, have plug-ins become a fuel cell-like excuse not to do more today? Read more…

Declining hybrid car interest? Toyota sales up 60 percent

V helps lift Prius, Toyota hybrid sales

Where are all the hybrid-hating geniuses today?

One of the more annoying stories in 2011 was the death of the hybrid car, or at least the serious decline in hybrid interest. According to a slew of auto reporters last year, consumers just aren’t as interested in hybrid cars thanks to some great new small cars that achieve 40 mpg — but only on the highway of course.

Seriously, the fact that hybrid supplies were crushed in the Japanese earthquake/tsunami wasn’t the main cause?

Well, I think Toyota’s 60 percent rise in hybrid sales last month pretty much puts a fork in the opinions of those hacks. Read more…

No touchdown dance for the Chevy Volt at the Super Bowl

Legit Prius contender? The Volt at it's debut

Did GM misjudge Main St. and the Toyota Prius?

Years ago, before the debut of the Chevy Volt concept, but as rumors emerged that GM was aiming to take on the Toyota Prius, I claimed that a GM-like-Prius would be even more successful than the Prius. An American-made Prius would be a true freedom fighter, a US manufactured attack on foreign oil dependence. In fact, I argued that GM could build a whole marketing concept around this freedom-fighter vehicle.

While some might argue the Chevy Volt is a such a vehicle, data coming out of the Super Bowl, suggests otherwise. Read more…

Just too bad there is only one Toyota Prius

The reliable and cost-effective king of hybrid cars

Reliability. Cost effectiveness. What more do most really need in a car?

Competition. How long I’ve wished for a real battle in the hybrid segment. Sure, it’s gotten a little better through the years, but the hybrid segment is still mostly about the Toyota Prius. Honda kind of tried to take on the Prius, kind of. Everyone else has thus far avoided direct competition.

Can there be only one Toyota Prius? Read more…

Real hybrid rivalry between Ford and Toyota still years away

2013 Ford Fusion hybrid

2013 Fusion hybrid will again top Camry hybrid fuel economy

Since the arrival of CEO Alan Mulally Ford has improved greatly. Better financials. Better designs. A better vision of the future. And while Ford’s fuel efficiency focus has been on more traditional technologies, such as Ecoboost, it’s battery powered plans have taken on more credible shape. Even better the 2013 Ford Fusion hybrid is set to again beat Toyota Camry hybrid fuel economy by more than 4 mpg combined.

But does that mean that Ford is giving Toyota a real run for the hybrid money? Read more…

Following the Highlander hybrid: Is US Prius production next?

Highlander hybrid production coming to the US

Another step to cheaper hybrids?

Toyota will invest $400 million in its Highlander plant in Indiana so that it can begin manufacturing the Highlander hybrid there in 2013 for US sales and to export to the rest of the world.

Is US Prius production next? Read more…