Toyota Prius plug-in tops 65 mpg

Toyota says that plug-in hybrid versions of its Prius hatchback are averaging 65 miles per gallon in real-world testing. For those keeping track, that's a 15 mpg improvement over the upcoming 2010 Prius. As with today's hybrids, the actual mileage figure is highly dependent on the driver's right foot and these machines are likely based on the second-gen Prius that's currently roaming the streets, modified with a lithium ion battery pack that's capable of storing much more energy that the nickel metal hydride pack of the standard car.
A new Prius was debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last month and should go on sale sometime later this year, but it's still equipped with the older battery technology. So far, Toyota has yet to announce any specific plans regarding the future sale date of a plug-in Prius to regular consumers, and the automaker is now suggesting that any of its hybrids would be good candidates for PHEV technology, including the Prius, which seems like the most logical choice. In any case, it appears that Toyota is content to let GM push forward with the series hybrid Volt technology while its engineers remain in the PHEV data capturing stage.
[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: phev, plug in, plug-in, plug-in hybrid, plug-in prius, Plug-inHybrid, Plug-inPrius, plugin ]

Hybrid sales slide 9.9% in 2008

Despite all the clamor about how hybrids are going to save the planet, cure cancer, facilitate the second coming, etc., sales of battery-pack-mobiles are down nearly ten percent for 2008. At the beginning of 2008, it looked like hybrids were going to have their best year ever, driven by high fuel prices and a recessive economy. That recession, however,has caused consumers to cut way back, leading to dramatic drop in fuel prices, killing much of the argument for a hybrid's price premium. Consumers shy away from hybrids when fuel dips below $3.50 per gallon, and the incessant clang of news stories about expensive fuel also dries up, causing the issue of fuel efficiency to fall from consciousness.
Toyota is still the hybrid sales king, with 241,000 units shifted in 2008. Honda managed to ring up 31,000 sales, and Ford came in third with nearly 20,000 vehicles sold. While nearly every automaker offering hybrids is down (Nissan actually saw a 5 percent increase, and General Motors garnered a whopping 179 percent jump thanks to its 2008 introductions), Ford was hardest hit, with a 22 percent drop. Some might say "we told you so" about the way things have played out - by the time everyone got on board with more efficient offerings, the bottom has fallen out of the price of fuel - and others might use the sales figures to agitate for a gas tax to stimulate the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles.

[ Via: Auto News - sub req ]
[ Tag: escalade hybrid, EscaladeHybrid, ford escape, ford fusion hybrid, ford hybrid, FordEscape, FordFusionHybrid, FordHybrid, gm hybrid, GmHybrid, honda hybrid, HondaHybrid, hybrid, hybrid car sales, hybrid cars, hybrid sales, hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicle sales, hybrid vehicles, HybridCars, HybridCarSales, hybrids, HybridSales, HybridVehicle, HybridVehicles, HybridVehicleSales, nissan hybrid, NissanHybrid, sales figures, SalesFigures, tahoe hybrid, TahoeHybrid, toyota prius, ToyotaPrius ]

2010 Toyota Prius revealed more in YouTube video

Toyota's irritatingly slow leak of seemingly insignificant 2010 Prius teasers has shown us such riveting details as the hybrid car's startup screen, power seat switch and some sort of all-knowing seeing-eye camera. A much more interesting set of leaks has also granted us an early but pixelated peek at the car's external shape, along with detail shots like the rear LED tail lamp assembly and a few different looks at the interior. Now, we've discovered a set of YouTube videos that definitely don't seem to have come from Toyota itself.
In the videos after the jump we see the new 2010 Prius spinning on a rotating stage, we see buttons on the steering wheel that change the digital readouts on the central dash and we see a brief glimpse of the car's generous storage capacity via its hatchback body style - all of it set to wonderfully numbing elevator music. There is one interesting bit that we've recently seen: an air conditioning button on an old-school key fob that allows the climate control to run via rooftop solar panels even while the car itself isn't running. Fortunately, we only have about two more months to wait for the car's official debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January. Thank God for small miracles.
[ Via: Prius Chat ]
[ Tag: 2010 prius, 2010 prius leak, 2010 prius teaser, 2010 prius video, 2010 toyota prius, 2010Prius, 2010PriusLeak, 2010PriusTeaser, 2010PriusVideo, 2010ToyotaPrius ]

Lotus gives hybrids a V8 soundtrack

Hybrid vehicles have the potential to save a few bucks at the pump, but advocates for the deaf have continued to warn about their potential to harm to the hearing impaired. Lotus' automotive consultancy arm is trying to avert the risk of hybrids quietly running in electric mode with its "Safe and Sound" demo car.
This specially equipped Toyota Prius has been fitted a waterproof speaker mounted above the radiator that can emit a sound similar to a flat-six or V8, based off the vehicle's speed and throttle position. Once the internal combustion engine kicks in, the system is muted, allowing the 1.5-liter inline four to sing its siren song.
Hit the jump to read the press release and see a video of the "Safe and Sound" demo car in action. Also keep in mind that we've yet to run across a report of a blind person being hit by a hybrid car, though there was that one kid who got knocked off his bike.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: engine noise,EngineNoise,hybrid,lotus,lotus safe and sound,LotusSafeAndSound,safe and sound,SafeAndSound,speaker,toyota prius,ToyotaPrius ]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Prius gets caught testing

New spy photos of Toyota's next-gen Prius have surfaced on the web, and for the first time we're looking at an actual prototype rather than a mere mule built out of pieces and parts from the current-gen Prius. The new spy shots reveal that the 2010 Prius will indeed retain the current five-door hatchback shape of the current model but will grown in both length and width. While NextAutos is reporting that the Prius will become more powerful with a larger engine (Car and Driver reports that a 1.6L Atkinson four-cylinder will replace the current 1.5L from the old Echo), we're hearing that it will continue to use nickel-metal hydride batteries rather than newer lithium-ion batteries. Toyota is, after all, building a whole new factory in Japan to produce more nickel-metal hydride batteries that should be operational in 2010. Even with the larger engine, the new Prius will get better gas mileage than the current model, and the Prius range is expected to grow at some point with new models like a station wagon and convertible. The next-gen Prius that will kick things off is expected to debut at this year's Detroit Auto Show in January

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: 2010 toyota prius,2010ToyotaPrius,next-gen prius,Next-genPrius,prius,spy pics,spy shots,SpyPics,SpyShots,toyota,toyota prius,ToyotaPrius ]

Prius Overload: Toyota to bump production 70%

If the Prius went mainstream when Toyota bumped production to 280,000 worldwide units per year in 2007, the fuel efficient hybrid is now primed to kick project green to the next level. When Toyota begins producing the next gen Prius, it'll do so with more factory space than ever dedicated to the universal symbol for fuel efficiency, making it possible to produce 480,000 vehicles per year. The Japan-based Tsutsumi factory, which currently builds five different vehicles, will stop making the JDM Wish minivan to allow for more Priuses. Even more Prius capacity will be available beginning in 2010, when the Japanese automaker's new Mississippi plant comes online and begins to produce more of the hybrid.
With the meteoric rise in gas prices, the Prius has gone from a yuppie green statement for politicians and suburbanites to a means for the masses to travel around town without breaking the bank. $4 per gallon gas and a continued lack of competition means Toyota could probably double production again and still sell every Prius it makes.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: battery pack, BatteryPack, fuel efficiency, FuelEfficiency, green, hybrid, Toyota Prius, ToyotaPrius ]

Toyota planning second hybrid model, along with rebadged Lexus variant

To feed the insatiable demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, and follow the striking success of the Toyota Prius, the Japanese automaker will introduce a second hybrid-only vehicle in 2009. The all-new model will have a 2- to 2.5-liter engine, suggesting it will be larger than their current popular four-door hybrid (the Prius uses a 1.5-liter gasoline powerplant). The new model will be sold side-by-side with the Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid. Toyota will also sell a rebadged version under the upscale Lexus brand, where it will join the LS Hybrid, GS Hybrid, and RX Hybrid. Toyota's master plan is to sell 1 million hybrid vehicles annually throughout the world, and considering the market, there's little doubt that the automaker can pull it off. Toyota's next hybrid debut is scheduled for Detroit in January, and we'll be there to cover it.

[ Via: Daily Times ]
[ Tag: fuel efficiency, fuel efficient, fuel efficient car, fuel efficient cars, FuelEfficiency, FuelEfficient, FuelEfficientCar, FuelEfficientCars, Lexus Hybrid, Lexus manufacturing, LexusHybrid, LexusManufacturing, Toyota, toyota highlander, toyota prius, toyota prius hybrid, toyota prius touring, toyotahighlander, toyotahighlanderhybrid, ToyotaPrius, ToyotaPriusHybrid, ToyotaPriusTouring ]

Solar panels to power accessories on next Toyota Prius

The Nikkei business daily in Japan is reporting that the next generation Prius – due out next year as a 2010 model – will supposedly be fitted with solar panels to power a variety of electrical accessories, including the air conditioning. The source informed Nikkei that the solar panels, which would be a first on a production vehicle offered by a major automaker, would be equipped on "high-end" versions of the Prius. There was no mention of what kind of premium Toyota will charge for the solar-equipped Prius, but it confirms earlier reports that ToMoCo plans to expand its lineup of hybrid models.

[ Via: Reuters ]
[ Tag: hybrid, prius, solar panels, SolarPanels, toyota, toyota prius solar panels, ToyotaPriusSolarPanels ]

Fuel economy not luxurious enough according to Orlando

Corporate clients have long grown accustomed to being shuttled around in the back seats of Panther-platform Fords. The throwback Town Car that most car services run doesn't exactly sip fuel, so T.J. Donaghy of Orlando, Florida decided a Toyota Camry Hybrid would be a good addition to his fleet at Aristocrat Transportation. City officials have denied Donaghy's attempt at greening his livery fleet, reasoning that the Camry doesn't fit any of the five classes of vehicles for hire that the City of Orlando regulates. The city contends that the type of service offered by Donaghy can only use luxury cars. Adding to the confusion, the city has no exact language defining exactly what comprises a luxury vehicle, but like Potter Stewart, they know it when they see it, and it's not the Camry.
There is a real concern that opening things up for the Camry could have Kia Rios running around as "limousines" if some line in the sand is not drawn, but the high price of fuel along with ongoing greening efforts may make the path easier for the Camry. Other communities in Florida already allow Camry hybrids, also setting some precedent. It seems that the crux of the dustup is the idea of what exactly a "luxury" working car is, and how to fit the Camry Hybrid in somewhere without stretching the definition so much that King Midgets could get a free pass. All of this could have been avoided if Donaghy had just coughed up the loot for an LS600hL, though the Hybrid Synergy Drive system in that vehicle is used to bolster performance instead of fuel economy. Thanks for the tip, Bill!


[ Via: Orlando Sentinel ]
[ Tag: aristocrat transportation,AristocratTransportation,camry hybrid,CamryHybrid,car service,CarService,livery,orlando,orlando camry,OrlandoCamry,professional car,ProfessionalCar,toyota camry hybrid,ToyotaCamryHybrid ]

Whoa, says Toyota. Plug-ins won be good

If you read our post yesterday that talked about a lithium Ion-powered plug-in Prius for 2010, thoughts of 100 mpg cars may have danced in your head. Well, take it easy, because the think tank over at Toyota doesn't want you to get your hopes too high. Toyota Advanced Technology manager Bill Reinert spoke in Washington yesterday at a plug-in conference and said that real-world driving conditions will make 100 mpg unattainable for many drivers. While plugging in more powerful batteries will give drivers a full battery and greater EV range, hard acceleration could limit electric-only driving to well under 40 miles.
While it's nice of Toyota to give a plug-in reality check to an efficiency-hungry public, we don't think this message is going to get through to the masses. Besides, if Toyota's next-gen hybrids can reach anything close to 100 mpg, we think shoppers of fuel-efficient vehicles will be too busy foaming at the mouth to even notice.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: hybrid, lithium, plug-in hybrid, Plug-inHybrid, Toyota Prius, ToyotaPrius ]

Toyota pledges plug-in hybrid with Li-ion batteries by 2010

My fiance and my parents are both in the market for a new car, and they both want the Prius. Too bad, I told them, because there's a global shortage of nickel-metal hydride batteries that's crippling the supply of Toyota's feel good go machine. I didn't bother telling them that the Prius is essentially a relatively old vehicle by today's standards and that new green machines like the series hybrid Chevy Volt and plug-in versions of the Saturn Vue Green Line and Ford Escape Hybrid are right around the corner. While the next-gen Prius is also right around corner (should debut in January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but will reportedly still use NiMH batteries), Toyota recently gave its word that it would also have a plug-in hybrid vehicle using lithium-ion batteries on sale in Japan, the U.S. and Europe by 2010. That's a bold claim, as few manufacturers have been so confident that production-viable li-ion batteries will be ready by then (General Motors being the notable exception). Toyota has partnered with electronics giant Matsushita, however, and their joint-venture will begin producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and ramp up to full production in 2010. Other than that, we know very little about Toyota's 2010 plug-in hybrid, other than that it should get great gas mileage. Toyota also announced that it's setting up a battery research department to develop a new type of battery that can even outperform li-ions. The point is, I'm not going to let my friends and family buy a Prius right now, or any other hybrid for that matter. There's too much next-gen green technology that's right on our door step, and when these green 2.0 vehicles arrive, the Prius will appear downright dirty by comparison.


[ Via: The Detroit Free Press ]
[ Tag: toyota, toyota plug-in hybrid, toyota plug-in hybrid li-ion, toyota promise plug-in, ToyotaPlug-inHybrid, ToyotaPlug-inHybridLi-ion, ToyotaPromisePlug-in ]

Prius sales tank in May, Toyota blames battery supply

This stat might seem confusing given the fact that fuel economy is king at dealerships right now, but Toyota just reported that Prius sales were down almost 40% in May compared to the same period in 2007. While overall 2008 sales of the hybrid postercar are up a little over 2%, this just doesn't seem possible. Just over 15,000 Priuses were sold in May '08 compared to more than 24,000 in 2007. Overall sales in 2008 have slightly surpassed '07 sales through May, with a total of 79,675 units moved this year compared to 76,747 last year, but it seems like something is amiss. Then you read about a battery supply problem that's affected production of the Prius and it all starts to make sense. AutoblogGreen reports that Toyota's VP of Communications, Irv Miller, said batteries are in short supply worldwide and this is what affected Prius production and its sales last month in the U.S. He added that last year's figures were slightly inflated due to, wait for it, incentives being used to move slow-selling hybrids. Ah, the good old days. While there is still an obvious demand for the Prius, our brothers at ABG surmise we'll be on a one-day supply of Priuses until the new one comes out in January. Can you say mark up?

[ Via: AutoblogGreen ]
[ Tag: toyota prius, toyota prius hybrid, toyota prius sales, ToyotaPrius, ToyotaPriusHybrid, ToyotaPriusSales ]

Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM

Reports are emerging today that Toyota is considering producing its hybrid Prius in California at the joint-venture production facility it shares with General Motors. Called New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. or NUMMI for short, the facility currently produces the Toyota Corolla, Tacoma, Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. If Toyota decided to add the Prius to its list of production vehicles, it would mark the first time that the world's most popular hybrid has been assembled outside of Asia (it's currently built at facilities in both Japan and China).
Toyota has responded to the report saying that no decision has been made. If it were to happen, we imagine that GM's approval would also be required somehow. Nearly all of the Prius' major components would have to be shipped to Fremont, CA where NUMMI is located, but the surging demand for fuel efficient vehicles in the U.S., particularly the Prius, could make the whole idea worthwhile despite its costs. Also bear in mind that Toyota wants to sell 1 million hybrids per year by 2010. Both the Prius and its largest market, the U.S., are integral to reaching that goal. Regardless of whether its built at NUMMI or somewhere else, we expect the Prius to eventually be assembled on our shores sometime in the future.

[ Via: The Detroit News ]
[ Tag: gm nummi prius, gm prius, GmNummiPrius, GmPrius, prius California, prius NUMMI, prius U.S., prius US, PriusCalifornia, PriusNummi, PriusU.s., PriusUs, toyota gm nummi, toyota prius, toyota prius nummi, ToyotaGmNummi, ToyotaPrius, ToyotaPriusNummi ]

CEO says Hyundai "green line more advanced than Prius"

Toyota pretty much has the hybrid market cornered right now with its Prius sedan, and the automaker is reaping the benefits of the model's fuel efficiency in the form of record sales. This fact also makes Toyota the envy of various other automakers, considering that their hybrid sales make up a sliver of the overall market. This being the case, nearly every competitor is currently developing advanced hybrid models of their own, including Hyundai, which plans on offering hybrid models for sale in the year 2010. According to Hyundai CEO Dr. Kim Dong-Jin, its new hybrid technology is "more advanced than the Prius." Don-Jin goes even further, calling the best-selling hybrid model "now quite old-tech." The first Prius was designed back in the late '90s while the current model has been on sale since 2002, and we all know how quickly technology advances. Still, calling out the Prius, which is pretty much the preeminent green car in the world, before your answer to it is even on the market, isn't likely to win the Korean company any friends. Plus, a next-generation Prius with a new version of the company's Hybrid Synergy Drive in on its way and will likely reach showrooms by the time Hyundai begins offering its own hybrid. Yes Hyundai, your first hybrid may be better than today's Prius, but can it beat tomorrow's?

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: hybrid, hyundai, hyundai hybrid, hyundai-hybrid, HyundaiHybrid, prius, toyota, toyota prus, ToyotaPrus ]

Toyota developing clean-diesel V8 for Tundra/Sequoia

Toyota has earned its reputation for producing fuel efficient vehicles, but one dent in the Japanese automaker's armor has been the gas-guzzling Tundra and Sequoia. To help rectify the situation, Toyota Engineers have been working hard on a 4.5L clean-diesel powerplant that will substantially improve fuel economy for the body-on-frame trucks. The 4.5L engine is reportedly scheduled to arrive Stateside by 2010, and it's a no-brainer in light of the fact that both Ford and GM are offering similarly sized oil-burners for their trucks and SUVs.
You may remember the Dually Tundra fantasy truck that was shown last year at SEMA. Well, this news means the mega-sized diesel may not be far from reality. Inside Line is also reporting that Toyota may be delivering a monstrous 7.0L diesel for a commercial-grade Tundra, with a possible production date around 2011-2012. Toyota still hasn't given the go-ahead for a heavy duty Tundra, so the king-sized diesel powerplant likely will arrive only if the larger Tundra does, too.

[ Via: Inside Line ]
[ Tag: Clean Diesel V8, CleanDieselV8, green, Toyota, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tundra, ToyotaSequoia, ToyotaTundra ]

Toyota and Matsushita building new battery plants in Japan

If Toyota has any chance of meeting its stated goal of selling a million hybrids per year within the next decade, it's going to need lots and lots of batteries. Along with its partner, Matsushita, Toyota already has plants in operation to build the necessary nickel metal hydride battery packs, and one of those plants will be enlarged in order to meet capacity requirements. Two additional plants will also be built in Japan, one of which will begin production of the newer lithium ion batteries which are likely to be installed in future Lexus hybrids and Prius sedans. Toyota's full investment in these three battery plants is said to be roughly 20 billion yen, which is equal to 192 million dollars.
Toyota's dominance in the hybrid vehicle market is going to be challenged as fuel prices continue to rise. Recently, along with its partner NEC, Nissan announced that it was building a new plant to build advanced lithium ion packs for electric vehicles and hybrids. Additionally, General Motors is getting closer to releasing its new Volt, which many believe is superior in design over Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

[ Via: AFP ]
[ Tag: ]

Next-gen Prius coming in January with more power, efficiency

The current Prius is baked from a refined recipe that results in a roomy, practical and efficient vehicle lurking under an eco-statement exterior, or at least we thought so. Five years on, it's still the most popular way to conspicuously consume under the guise of saving the planet. Toyota hasn't been resting on the success of its green badge of targeted consumerism, so we're going to see a new Prius at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January, according to Toyota President Watanabe. The 3rd-generation Prius will grow in size, and engine displacement will be bumped to 1.8 liters to increase performance. Despite the increase in size and sprightliness, weight will reportedly hold steady. Further changes are in store after the launch, with plug-in and Li-Ion updates to come.
The nameplate will also move beyond a single model and become a sub-brand during the reign of Prius the III. More body styles are coming, and if you think the Prius is a roachy-looking thing, the concept hints Toyota has given us are possibly even weirder. The sub-1,000 pound 1/X might offer a glimpse at another type of Prius, though more realistically, the sad-eyed Hybrid X vannish concept suggests the way things are headed without the ridiculous pronunciation of its featherweight companion. If things go according to Toyota's plan for world domination, the Prius will become one of the pillars upon which the marque is built, next to the Corolla and Camry institutions.

[ Via: Auto Observer ]
[ Tag: 2009 detroit,2009 toyota prius,2009Detroit,2009ToyotaPrius,breaking,detroit auto show,DetroitAutoShow,li-ion,li-ion hybrids,li-ion prius,li-ionbattery,Li-ionHybrids,Li-ionPrius,lithium ion,lithium ion battery,lithium ion prius,LithiumIon,LithiumIonBattery,LithiumIonPrius,new prius,new toyota prius,NewPrius,NewToyotaPrius,north american inter...,NorthAmericanInter...,plug in,plug in prius,plug-in,plug-in hybrid,plug-inhybrid,PlugIn,PlugInPrius,plugins,toyota prius,ToyotaPrius ]

Owner takes Prius topless, makes hybrid convertible

Some modifications improve the breed; others are just plain stupid. We'll let you decide on this one. A forum member at PriusChat by the name of Exproducer spent six months and over $17,000 modifying his Waveline Blue Prius to get the open-air experience that was obviously lacking from his life. The amount of mods necessary to remove the roof and install the electrically operated soft top are staggering. The side airbags had to be nixed and the rear seats no longer fold down. The antenna had to be removed and relocated to the dashboard, and the trunk has lost half of its usable space with the top folded down. However, what's even more disturbing is Exproducer's claim that while fuel economy has dropped by two MPG with the top up, it's actually improved by four MPG when he's cruising with the wind in his hair. Since Toyota spent millions of dollars on wind tunnel testing the Prius to make it slippery as snot, we somehow doubt the validity of those figures. Regardless, head on over to PriusChat if you want to read up on all the details of the build.
Thanks for the tip, Danny!

[ Via: PriusChat ]
[ Tag: convertible, prius, toyota, toyota prius convertible, ToyotaPriusConvertible ]

Toyota loses patent appeal for technology in Prius

Toyota lawyers arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court today and were denied an appeal to overturn a ruling originally upheld by a federal appeals court in Washington last year. The case involved a technology patent held by a company named Paice LLC, which contended that Toyota used the same microprocessor developed by the McLean, Virginia-based company on its hybrid vehicles that inputs torque information for both the gasoline-powered engine and the electric motor. The $4.3 million dollar award against Toyota will stand, and Toyota is required to pay royalties to the firm to the tune of $25 for every Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h sold. Ouch. Sometimes the price of success is steep.

[ Via: Detroit News ]
[ Tag: highlander hybrid, HighlanderHybrid, hybrid, hybrid synergy drive, HybridSynergyDrive, lexus, lexus rx400h, LexusRx400h, paice llc, PaiceLlc, prius, toyota, toyota highlander hybrid, toyota prius, ToyotaHighlanderHybrid, ToyotaPrius ]

Prius sales top 1 million worldwide as demand increases

Toyota announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius have passed the 1 million mark. While that milestone is impressive, more astounding is the fact that sales of the gasoline/electric hybrid continue to increase year-after-year -- even without a model change.The Toyota Prius has been sold in Japan since 1997. However, it wasn't introduced into the U.S. market until 2000 (as a 2001 model). The first compact models sold in the States didn't exactly fly out of the showroom (North American sales in 2001 were only 16,000 units), but the innovative vehicles educated customers to the benefits of hybrid technology, and paved the groundwork for the current-generation Prius with its updated Toyota Hybrid System II technology. The current model (pictured above) was first sold in 2005. As owners will boast, it is often recognized as the most fuel efficient vehicle sold in the United States. With fuel prices skyrocketing, the gas-sipping sedan has been hot from day one, regardless of its looks or ergonomics. In 2005, Toyota pushed 109,000 units out the door. Last year, 183,000 found new homes in North America alone and through the first four months of 2008, over 107,000 have been sold. If going green is your thing and the current model doesn't do it for you, Toyota will introduce the 3rd-generation Prius in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: 1 million, 1Million, Hybrid System II, HybridSystemIi, Sales, Toyota Prius, ToyotaPrius ]