toyota prius

Toyota Factory Catches Fire, Prius Production Suspended Temporarily

Toyota Factory Catches Fire, Prius Production Suspended Temporarily
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A fire at a Toyota assembly plant in Japan temporarily halted production at a facility that assembles the Prius, Camry and Scion tC. The fire broke out around 10 A.M. but was put out by now. Toyota reports that no production equipment was damaged, but the fire did affect the factory’s ceiling. An investigation is being… Continue Reading...

Toyota Unintended Acceleration Report Exonerates Electronics

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Toyota Unintended Acceleration Report Exonerates Electronics
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An investigation by NASA has cleared Toyota‘s electronics systems of causing the unintended acceleration phenomenon that was widely reported in 2010. The Department of Transportation, who oversaw the investigation, released a statement claiming “NASA engineers found no electronic flaws in Toyota vehicles capable of producing the large throttle openings required to create dangerous high-speed unintended… Continue Reading...

Toyota Yaris Hybrid Concept Teased Ahead of Geneva Auto Show Debut

Toyota Yaris Hybrid Concept Teased Ahead of Geneva Auto Show Debut
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While Toyota‘s plan for the Geneva Auto Show may be to put the focus back on sports cars with the debut of the FT-86 II Concept, the automaker will also continue to push ahead with plans to stay on top as the world’s hybrid leader. The company responsible for the Prius has just released a… Continue Reading...

Honda Fit Overtakes Toyota Prius In Japanese Car Market After Hybrid Subsidies End

Honda Fit Overtakes Toyota Prius In Japanese Car Market After Hybrid Subsidies End
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The best-selling car in Japan is about to change as government subsidies on hybrid cars has lead to a drop off in sales of the Toyota Prius. Analysts expect the Honda Fit to take the top spot. Prius sales began to dip in September after the government subsidy program ended, but Fit sales remained strong, buttressed by the introduction… Continue Reading...

Toyota Says Prius Will Be Best Selling Car in America by 2020

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Toyota Says Prius Will Be Best Selling Car in America by 2020
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With recently announced plans to unveil a Prius family of vehicles at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, Toyota believes the vehicle that’s synonymous with hybrid technology will be the most popular car in America by 2020. “We will end the decade with Prius being the number one nameplate in the industry,” said Toyota’s U.S. VP… Continue Reading...

Honda Cuts Insight Base Price By $1,600

Honda Cuts Insight Base Price By $1,600
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Honda is cutting the base price of its slow-selling Insight hybrid by $1,600, and offering a base model that retails for $18,950, putting it $4,610 below the cheapest Toyota Prius. Honda achieved the price cut by removing features like Bluetooth connectivity and a GPS navigation system, while using cheaper seat fabric and a two speaker… Continue Reading...

Toyota Confirms iQ Will Get Electric Version

Toyota Confirms iQ Will Get Electric Version
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Toyota‘s iQ microcar will get a fully electric version in 2011, the Japanese automaker has confirmed. The iQ will come as part of a plan to launch 11 hybrid or electric vehicles by 2012, including a hybrid version of the Yaris hatchback, a plug-in version of the Prius Hybrid and a Prius-based minivan. In a… Continue Reading...

Toyota Offering Prius 10th Anniversary Edition in the UK

Toyota Offering Prius 10th Anniversary Edition in the UK
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With 10 years of overwhelming sales success in the U.K. for the Prius, Toyota has announced a limited edition Prius exclusive to the U.K. And before you roll your eyes at the idea of a limited edition Prius, Toyota has managed to make it a tad bit more sporty and none of its accessories mess… Continue Reading...

Toyota Prius Retains Fuel Economy Crown

Toyota Prius Retains Fuel Economy Crown
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Despite a slew of new hybrids joining the market this past year, the Toyota Prius retains the top spot as the most fuel efficient vehicle in the U.S. There is a catch, however, with no electric vehicles (like the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt) being included in this year’s round of testing – yet. With… Continue Reading...

Honda To Unveil Plug-In Hybrid, EV Concept At Los Angeles Auto Show

Honda To Unveil Plug-In Hybrid, EV Concept At Los Angeles Auto Show
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Despite pioneering the technology behind hydrogen fuel cells, Honda is lagging far behind arch-rival Toyota in the hybrid and electric vehicle segment. With the Toyota commanding over 70% of hybrid market share, and Honda’s Civic, Accord and Insight hybrid models all falling flat, the big H must do something quickly to avoid losing the segment… Continue Reading...

Google Admits Its Been Testing Cars That Drive Themselves

Google Admits Its Been Testing Cars That Drive Themselves
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Did you ever see one of the Google street view cars? Was it driving itself? We’re sure you would have done a double take if you saw a Toyota Prius with a funnel-like cylinder on the roof. This car is a project of Google – it’s been under wraps, yet at the same time in… Continue Reading...

Electric Motorcycle Rider Killed in Collision With a Prius

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Electric Motorcycle Rider Killed in Collision With a Prius
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We don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but this story is so absurd and pseudo-ironic it’s hard not to view it in that light. Matthew Dieckmann, a California entrepreneur who was helping to develop electric racing motorcycles was killed when the electric motorcycle he was riding collided… with a Toyota Prius. (Honest… we couldn’t make… Continue Reading...

Toyota Prius Gets Underhood Soundmaker Option in Japan [video]

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We’re going to go ahead and apologize in advanced for finding humor in the entire concept and video, but the Toyota Prius out in Japan just got itself a $150 option to install a speaker that emits sound in order to warn nearby pedestrians a hybrid is on its way. There are all sorts of… Continue Reading...

Toyota Prius To Be Offered With Pedestrian Alert System In Japan (Video Inside)

Toyota Prius To Be Offered With Pedestrian Alert System In Japan (Video Inside)
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Toyota has just announced a pedestrian warning system for its Toyota Prius hybrids that will be available as a dealer installed option in Japan. The system, which costs $148, will engage below 15 mph and change its tone based on vehicle speed. The noise is said to be a synthesized sound that’s designed to emulate the whirring… Continue Reading...

Third-Gen Toyota Prius Included in Gran Turismo 5

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Third-Gen Toyota Prius Included in Gran Turismo 5
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Some of us real passionate gamers don’t think Gran Turismo 5 will make it to our grubby little hands anytime soon. But there’s always reason to hope that the company’s continuous delay in releasing the game is well worth the wait. This is probably not one of those highlights that makes us thankful that they… Continue Reading...

Toyota To Celebrate A Decade Of Prius Sales On October 10, 2010

Toyota To Celebrate A Decade Of Prius Sales On October 10, 2010
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In honor of the 10th anniversary of Toyota Prius sales in the United States, Toyota is holding a contest to find the “most passionate Prius fan in the United States”, who will then have the privilege of hosting the Prius’ 10th anniversary celebration in their hometown. The Toyota press release asks owners “Are you a fuel-efficient hyper-miler,… Continue Reading...

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid Is The Sole Hybrid To Pay Back Owner

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid Is The Sole Hybrid To Pay Back Owner
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In a perverse insight into how the world works, a study conducted by the British Columbia Automotive Association has concluded that the only hybrid that pays back its owners with any kind of economic benefit is the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. According to the BCAA, the study takes into account how much one pays for the… Continue Reading...

Hybrid Sales Down 33% in July Despite Increasing Incentives

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Hybrid Sales Down 33% in July Despite Increasing Incentives
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Sales of hybrid models in the month of July are down a significant 33 percent compared to the same period a year ago, this, despite, significant incentives. There’s a great deal of speculation as to why this is, ranging from low fuel costs to a lack of new products to the possibility that consumers are… Continue Reading...

Wald International Toyota Prius Aero Kit Revealed

Wald International Toyota Prius Aero Kit Revealed
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The world of tuning hybrids has really evolved in a short period of time. The good looks of the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius have really captured the Japanese aftermarket. We saw it first hand at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, where the overwhelming amount of customized hybrids caught us by surprise. Wald International has… Continue Reading...

New York City Cab Drivers Resist Hybrids, Speak Up For Ford Crown Victoria

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New York City Cab Drivers Resist Hybrids, Speak Up For Ford Crown Victoria
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The yellow Ford Crown Victoria taxi is so common in New York City that it’s almost an icon just like the Yankees or the Empire State Building. As Crown Victoria production winds down, cab drivers are digging in their heels in the city’s bid to replace the big, rear drive V8 powered sedans with hybrids… Continue Reading...

Report: Toyota Will Move Prius Production To U.S. Soil In 2016

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Report: Toyota Will Move Prius Production To U.S. Soil In 2016
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Toyota is looking to shift production of the Prius hybrid to its Mississippi assembly plant when the next variant of the car arrives – in 2016. Toyota was planning on building the car at the site originally, until GM exited the NUMMI plant in California, forcing GM to move Corolla production to their Deep South… Continue Reading...

Toyota Cutting Domestic Production By 20% Starting In October

Toyota Cutting Domestic Production By 20% Starting In October
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Anticipating a drop in demand, Toyota will begin cutting domestic output starting in October. The sluggish demand is being blamed on the end of a subsidy given out by the Japanese government for purchasing an environmentally friendly vehicle. While Toyota currently makes about 14,000 vehicles per day, output will fall to under 12,000 vehicles, but… Continue Reading...

California No Longer Issuing HOV Carpool Stickers to Hybrids

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California No Longer Issuing HOV Carpool Stickers to Hybrids
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Hybrid cars are a huge hit in California and for a number of reasons. The first reason you might think of is the that citizens of the fine state are concerned about the environment. And while that might be true, there’s also a more self-serving reason, namely, that the California DMV issues 85,000 “Clean Air… Continue Reading...

Toyota Planning Full Range Of Hybrids, Including “Sporty Hybrids” To Rival Honda CR-Z

Toyota Planning Full Range Of Hybrids, Including “Sporty Hybrids” To Rival Honda CR-Z
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Toyota is planning to create a hybrid version of every model in its lineup by 2020, utilizing the same architecture as the Prius’ groundbreaking hybrid system. Toyota plans to produce more than 1 million hybrid systems in this year alone, and its reliability and cost advantages mean that Toyota is reluctant to make any radical… Continue Reading...