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Toyota to launch green-car barrage in 2012

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by ggood, Jul 13, 2010.

  1. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100712/RETAIL03/307129950

    An electric vehicle, a plug-in version of the Prius hybrid and an as-yet-unveiled variant of the Prius will arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2012, said the source, who spoke last week on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans.



     
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    I'm still trying to figure out who THESE (as many as) 150 companies are ... never MIND the idiotic fuel cel stuff, and the concept EV'. I'm trying to look at what's going on NOW.

    [​IMG]

    We interface with hundreds of companies, and NO one I talk to is involved with ANY of the users of the now-existing PHVE's. Has ANYone even seen one of them traveling to & from their respective places of business? Why aren't they more visable?

    .
     
  3. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    They're rolling out as we speak, in a staggered fashion. There will be press releases as more get to their final destination. Here's an example. Lots more to come.

    Silicon Valley Leadership Group

    Doug Coleman
    Prius Product Manager
    Toyota Motor Sales, USA
     
    4 people like this.
  4. joe1347

    joe1347 Active Member

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    Ford to have it's own green car barrage by 2012

     
  5. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I like the iQ. I think it's cute. Don't know that I'd buy it for myself, but I like it.
    It's best that they are launching a viral campaign rather than a bacterial campaign since antibiotics won't cure viruses. Also, is this legal?
     
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    First off, I thank Toyota for making their advanced technology available which still includes their existing hybrids. But I'm wondering 'where are the customers?'

    One month does not make a trend make but the July numbers, 11,000 (USA) and 30,000 (JAPAN), looked pretty disappointing on this side of the Pacific. My concern is 'what if someone brought to market a superior technology and the USA market yawned?'

    Bob Wilson
     
  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Astro-turfing is legal, just not ethical.

    [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing]Astroturfing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
     
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    That's great about the green car thing and barrage ...

    just make sure they are also very good cars for a wide size-range of people.

    There is a very, very high chance I will be selling my 2009 Prius (at a big $$ loss to be sure) within a year. Yeah, yeah, dummy me for not considering comfort for my 6'2" bod.

    As for a replacement, Toyota is lucky I'm only looking for a hatchback, and the new-Prius is one of the best small hatchbacks for taller people (except what's up with the limited steering wheel tilt and tele ... geez improve that please).

    Not decided yet. I will consider other brands though after this Gen2 Pri fiasco.

    Just make sure your green cars are also good, comfortable cars without big compromises.
     
  9. DoGoodPlanet

    DoGoodPlanet New Member

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    Looking for a hybrid family car, I have looked at the 2011 Sienna, but would love to go hybrid. Any advice?
     
  10. Hugh

    Hugh New Member

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    You should look at the 2011 Lexus CT 200h. Info at lexus.com future section
     
  11. Airbalancer

    Airbalancer Active Member

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    except what's up with the limited steering wheel tilt and tele ...

    :violin:
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    What are you looking for in a family vehicle? There's the Prius, Highlander Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid in this price range. (TCH should be redesigned soon)
     
  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Thanks Doug, Erica, et al -
    That gave me a GREAT IDEA, too. I thought, "heck, I've been with the same company 26 years ... maybe it's time for a change ... ESPECIALLY if it puts me into the PHEV Prius !!"

    alas ... my fantacy has AGAIN been dashed to pieces:

    Silicon Valley Leadership Group

    maybe they'll let me intern ... you think they'd take on a 54 year old PHEV nut?
    :eyebrows:

    If anyone in the Silicon Valley is interested, on the 27th of this month (July 2010), Silicon Valley Leadership Group is showing off PHEV's to the public. You may want to check it out:

    http://plugin2010.com/images/stories/home/publicnightflyer.pdf

    .
     
  14. robbyr2

    robbyr2 New Member

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    I hope Toyota decides to sell electrics even where the infrastructure is delayed. I have no reason to ever charge other than home. Surely I'm not that unique.
     
  15. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Alright, alright already ....

    ok, the Prius seating becomes alright when putting the seatback more upright .. wheel reach is good enough.
     
  16. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I've been looking at it. Last I've heard it's due about March 2011.
     
  17. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Here is one "journalist" (term used loosely) that seems quite disturbed about the barrage of green cars . . . at LEAST as applied to Toyota's Auris/Yaris offering in a hybrid version:

    Toyota's Auris hybrid is a riot of mixed messages - Cars and Motorbikes - Mirror.co.uk

    I wonder what this tool feels would make a hybrid better, if he's not impressed with a possible 74mpg car.

    .
     
  18. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Ah, he's confused and jealous like so many like him. Trouble is, they don't take the time to find out how cool it is to go to the gas station and pump in half or less gas to fill up as a conventional 4 cylinder car.

    What I know is in 8,500 miles of my gas receipts, I averaged 50.29 MPG's in very mixed driving. I ain't no hypermiler and I don't slow others down. No other popular car can touch the Prius in FE right now.
     
  19. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    It's Richard Hammond, the short guy from Top Gear.

    He's in the UK, so it's 74mpgImp NEDC which is about 48.5mpgUS EPA. It's a bit less efficient than a Prius.

    Many car lovers would prefer driving a diesel to an efficient hybrid and in Europe there are more efficient diesels to be had. Add to that the increased public transportation and it's not surprising when European drivers question hybrids' green credentials.

    Of course they are less efficient in the city (though for small diesels not that much less) but in all but the smallest diesels there's plenty of power so it could easily be a highway commuter and for anybody who does a lot of highway driving at the higher European speeds the diesel could wind up cheaper.

    But in this case's it's just a boy racer looking for excuses.
     
  20. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    the 10% less btu's difference between gas/diesel seems to get left out of the european logic. But thanks for pointing out the Imperial gallon factor. What that means is that the yaris sized hybrid basically gets the same mpg's as the Prius ... because the mpg difference is only 3% ... statistically the same. The Prius is specifically built to get high mpg's via a body styled with the lowest drag possible. The mini hybrid's lighter weight/size doesn't compensate for a better drag cd. But a lower cost will likely equalize the teeny factor. personaly, I need more room