Let's take a moment to applaud the fine piece of engineering that is the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Congrats to Ford for putting together a great car.

2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Ford Fusion

GENERATION Y OPEN TO NEW BRANDS, NEW TECHNOLOGY AND HYBRIDS
Survey Shows Generation Y Frequently Multitasking While Driving

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.

For any of you who ever drove and fell in love with a Honda CRX, these new photos of the Honda CR-Z will make you drool. According to Honda this is the near-production "concept" version of the CR-Z hybrid, due to hit the streets in 2010. Just like the CRX of old, the CR-Z looks fast and nimble.

Toyota hasn't released any fuel efficiency numbers yet, but the Auris Hybrid Concept has an EV Mode that can take you 1.25 miles at speeds up to 31 MPH.  The PWR, ECO, and EV modes all transfer over from the 2010 Prius into the Auris concept, giving the driver control over their driving experience. 

There's a pretty big thread going over in the PriusChat Forums regarding the announcement of the Nissan Leaf EV.  We won't go into too much, but will give the general overview:

Lexus Announces Pricing for New 2010 HS250h, World’s First Hybrid-Only Luxury Vehicle

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.