Toyota has confirmed that the Sai hybrid, a Toyota based on the Lexus HS 250h, will be available for sale on October 20th.  The Toyota Sai will most likely come with the same 2.4L HSD engine that is included in the Lexus HS 250h. And, like the HS, that increase in power will equal lower fuel efficiency (the HS gets 35 combined MPG). The Sai has a revised grille (with less chrome) and a new lower fascia and wheels. Different taillights distinguish the Toyota from the Lexus and, inside, there are fewer buttons and a revised mouse control.

I'm not going to be able to make it this weekend because of moving, but I expect all of you to go!

It looks like the new Honda Insight is in for some hard times, sales-wise.  Honda sales figures for June show that Insight sales dropped 25% from 2,780 units in May to 2,079 units in June.  Over the same period the Prius' sales have risen from 10,091 units to 12,998.  It's hard not to point out that the Prius' increase from May to June was greater than the number of Insights sold in June. 

At this rate, it's going to be tough for Honda to reach their 90,000 sales goal by the end of the first model year. 

Seriously, Toyota.  I was making a JOKE when I wrote on April Fools' Day that Toyota is going to co-produce the Volt with GM.  This time, though, it's not the Volt at the center of the conversation, it's the Prius.  And this time, it's not a joke.

Bob Wilson (user bwilson4web) put together a fantastic analysis of what the January 2009 Hybrid sales report can tell us about who hybrid customers are and what drives them to purchase a hybrid automobile.