We'd wager that the last thing Toyota wants in the midst of the super-important launch of its new third-generation Prius is a negative stigma attached to the previous model. Unfortunately, that's exactly what the Japanese automaker may have on its hands as a number of owners of the 2005-2008 Toyota Prius with the HID headlight option are banding together on online forums, message boards and in possible class action lawsuits against the automaker in relation to failing headlamps.
According to Advertising Age, these HID headlight bulbs and their associated electronics can sometimes cost well over $1,000 to replace after they've gone faulty, and Toyota is unwilling to pick up the tab. At least one lawsuit has reportedly been filed last month by Girard Gibbs in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of a Putnam County, N.Y., Prius owner. The suit contends that the problem is a "dangerous but undisclosed safety defect" and alleges that "Toyota is concealing the problems from owners" despite having been "long been aware of Prius' HID headlight problem." It's possible that the suit will get class-action status.
The NHTSA has reportedly filed a preliminary investigation into the issue and contacted Toyota on May 13 regarding 338 complaints it has received so far from Prius owners about the HID headlamps. Spokesmen from Toyota have said the automaker is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation, which may or may not end up calling for an official recall.
[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
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Toyota doesn't have a press conference scheduled for the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, but it does have two noteworthy debuts. The first is an all-new 4.6L V8 engine that will replace the current 4.7L V8. The new eight-cylinder produces 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque while delivering an estimated 15 mpg city / 20 mpg highway. That puts the new 4.6L V8 near the head of the pack in terms of power and fuel economy for standard V8s in the segment. The engine will also be paired with a "new" six-speed automatic. Rather than simply use the six-speed auto that's paired with the larger 5.7L V8, Toyota engineers instead used the truck's five-speed auto, added an extra gear and respaced the ratios. 
No shoes were flung when the 2010 Toyota Prius debuted at the recent 
The very shoe-like 2010 Toyota Prius has made its official debut at this week's Detroit Auto Show. The company estimates it'll have a 50 MPG rating -- up from 46 MPG in the previous model -- and there's a bigger, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine for improved highway mileage. In addition to Power and Eco driving modes, EV Drive will let you run on battery alone for about a mile, which if nothing else should provide a little extra push for getting to the gas station when you've held off for too long. One of the coolest (literally) new features is the 
Can one million owners be wrong? Not likely, and that's why engineers were careful in creating the 2010 Toyota Prius. Toyota's honed its recipe for a successful hybrid sedan over the past ten years, and there's little need to stray wildly from it - some slight refinements are all that's needed.Thankfully, Toyota says the new Prius is a product of careful refinement, and that's evident upon a first look. The triangular form of the previous car continues, though the roofline has been modified to increase rear headroom and improve aerodynamics, which are rated at a scant .25 cD. Other styling tweaks aim to visually tie the Prius with its non-hybrid siblings; indeed, the new headlamps and grille are vaguely reminiscent of the current Yaris hatchback.Size wise, the Prius hasn't grown much - but its engine has. The 2010 model scraps the old 1.6-liter four-banger in favor of a 98-hp, 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4. Interestingly, the increased displacement supposedly doesn't impact fuel economy. Toyota says the increase in torque - now 105 lb-ft at 4000 rpm - helps improve the Prius' fuel economy, especially once it's on the highway.A number of other changes also help raise those fuel economy numbers. The new engine uses electric power steering and water pumps, both of which are said to increase efficiency (and help eliminate the need for accessory belts). Like the 2010 Lexus RX450h, the new Prius still uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, but a compact transaxle and a smaller transaxle reduce weight by twenty percent. The presence of a few electronic goodies - like a solar-powered remote air conditioning system and LED exterior lighting - are also said to help reduce the Prius' thirst for fuel.Of course, if you're looking for the best fuel economy, you'll want to engage EV-Drive Mode, one of three driver-selectable drivetrain modes. EV-Drive allows the Prius to run solely on electric power for approximately one mile, while a Power mode increases the throttle sensitivity - potentially a blessing on highway on-ramps. We're betting most will simply leave the car in "Eco mode," which reportedly helps the Prius attain the best mileage possible.According to Toyota, that mileage should be a combined 50 mpg city/highway, though we've yet to see official EPA figures. We're not expecting a huge climb in city economy (lest, of course, you take full advantage of the EV-Drive mode), but the jump in power may help improve the Prius' highway ratings. 
