Road and Track got something like 7.3 seconds 0-60 for the Camry Hybrid. That's plenty fast. That's about as fast as a mid-80s Ferrari 308. No family sedan needs to apologize for a 0-60 time in the mid-sevens and a quarter mile in under sixteen seconds.

Check out the advantages of the hybrid drivetrain on the Nissan. It is like strapping on and packing in some electric components, without really scaling down the gas. The MPG gain is very small. I was not impressed at all. It is however, a more refined and better car than the regular vision, but no cigar.

Not really, but they did do a little bit better with the Camry than the Nissan. The real world experiences with the Camry have been better than the Nissan. The Camry is available everywhere, and was completed better. The Nissan is extremely limited, and they just didn't do really well. Of course, it's their first time getting their feet wet, so I think they will do better in the future.

That is exactly right. I think it's the same with every other company. My dad and I were just counting how many hybrids of other brands we've seen. I have seen Honda, NEVER saw a ford hybrid, I saw the escape on tv. lol I have never seen a Nissan, or a lexus though I suppose that may be due to my area.

It's due to your area. The Prius is by far the most common hybrid to spot on the road these days, but I've seen around my area the cars you've mentioned quite often.

Camrys, Highlanders, Civics, Escapes, and even the Lexus SUV. The Altima does seem like more of a white whale than the rest, and I live in one of the 8 CARB states that Nissan sells that car to.

Per http://www.hybridcars.com/compacts-sedans/nissan-altima-hybrid.html "According to Ghosn, the introduction of a hybrid Altima is intended to help Nissan comply with fuel economy and emissions standards in states like California, not because he expects the hybrid model to make money or to fulfill any kind of corporate environmental goals. In fact, when the Altima first rolls out, it will be sold only in the eight states certified to meet California emissions requirements: California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey. These states also are among the strongest markets for hybrid vehicles."

Carlos Ghosn is Nissan's CEO.

They are getting some parts from Toyota. I saw the Altima hybrid at an auto show and someone took the plastic cover off the inverter and you could see a Toyota label on it (IIRC, there was a compressed bar code and part number too).

I could have sworn Ford said they worked with Toyota to produce it's hybrid system and also had to pay royalties on it. I could be wrong, and I have seen it, it is not exactly similar.

Swear all you like, you're still wrong.

Ford designed their own system, but they either knew or expected that they had infringed on patents held by Toyota, so they entered in an agreement to cross-license some patents (on diesel engine fuel injection technology IIRC) with Toyota. Cross-licensing patents is pretty common when companies don't want to litigate patent infringement cases, and they each have something the other wants.

Please read the following article and stop propagating misinformation:

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2005/11/is_ford_innovat_1.html

Direct quote from Mary Wright, a Ford employee:

My guess (and this is speculation) is that Ford paid some cash plus their patents in exchange for licensing Toyota's patents, much like a sports team who wants to acquire a valuable player has to give up some cash when all they have to trade are lesser players.

Yeah, a simple "you misunderstood, look here" would have worked, I don't think you needed to become so hostile over such a simple thing. Cool down

Also, I don't normally take offense to things said in a Forum, but from what I have found here it's also sort of a discussion base to be EDUCATED on certain things that are unknown to a person. Therefore the statement:

"Please read the following article and stop propagating misinformation"

is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on a forum like this. I did not state it as fact either. Thanks for the information though, as I like to educate myself the best I can.

I'm with you man. PriusEnvy is technically correct, but obviously has a bee in his bonnet on this issue (among others) and could've given the information in a much friendlier manner. It is a common misunderstanding however, and I expected some discussion on this when I saw the first post about it.

About seeing other hybrids, I've seen a Honda Accord Hybrid, HCH, FEH and Lexus 450h, but only because they were parked or directly in front of me in traffic. You can only tell when the cars you mention are hybrids if you can read the badges, unlike the Prius and Insight (which I've also seen).

I've seen HCH, Insight, Prius, HiHy, Lexus 400h, and Vue hybrid (ugh) around here. While traveling I have seen a FEH (in Salt Lake City), HyCam (Stillwater, OK), and a HAH (in OK City).

We have the hy lexus SUV but you'd never know it is one, by looking. Only the 400h sticker in the back (and slots in the front bumper) readily give it away. Similarly, the Ford hybrid (crossed licensed via Toyota) SUV is not easily noticed. Then there's the Lexus hybrid cars ... some of 'em are pasting more & more hybrid badges on them to let you know/others know. Only the Prius and the no-longer-in-production insight stand out due to their looks.

Speeking of unavailability, in our area of Montana, you'd have to drive over 100 miles, and / or cross through two states, just to get to a Lexus dealer ... fortunately, the 400h is virtually a clone of the hyhi, so we're good to go, locally, if/when ever we need work or service. I took a test drive in the Altima Hybrid, and it's pretty nice imo.

cool, that's really nice. Glad that you received one, I once drove a long distance for a car I desired, and so has my father. Our choices are sort of limited. However, luckily with Lexus, if you have a toyota dealer nearby then you are in luck.