Toyota Prius C 2012 News

Another recall has hit Toyota, with the brand issuing a notice on the hybrid Prius for a defect that can see the cars suddenly lose power or stop, creating a safety risk for occupants and nearby traffic.The problem has been traced to a fault in the software that controls a power converter, and affects 1.9 million Prius cars around the world built between 2009 and 2014, with 5500 affected in Australia. The software failure can activate the car's warning lights and cause it to enter 'limp home' mode, allowing it to still be driven but only slowly."Because, in the worst case, the car could stop while driving we do consider this a potential safety issue and that's the reason why we are implementing this recall," a spokesman at Toyota's Japanese headquarters told media.However, Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen said there have been no incidents reported locally. "We're contacting local owners, who can take their Prius to a dealer and have the software remapped," he said, adding that the fix would take about an hour. Breen said there were no extra precautions Prius owners needed to take until the issue was rectified.The recall follows two previous ones for the Prius -- in 2013 and 2010 -- however this is the largest in scale. It comes on the heels of news that Toyota is close to settling a US$1.1 billion claim from a class action lawsuit by 16.3 million owners of vehicles whose value was affected by previous recalls.Toyota also yesterday announced an overseas recall on other models, including the RAV4 and Lexus RX350, but there will be no impact on Australia as the defective feature is not available here. 

Both cars are based on the Prius drivetrain and will appear in the first half of 2012 as a small, Yaris-based hatch and then later in the year as a stretched Prius platform that allows seating for seven people.So important are the new hybrid models to its future that Toyota has deliberately pushed its hot FT-86 coupe to one side.The two hybrids will escort a new Camry Hybrid - with its engine now made in Australia - and the ongoing Prius five-door hatchback through 2012.News of the two new Australia-bound hybrids preface the Tokyo motor show where Toyota will show five new hybrid, fuel-cell or electric vehicles.One car - the fuel-cell FCV-R sedan - is confirmation that Toyota is advancing on the development of an alternative automotive power source.Its appearance at the show - and expected 2015 launch - is the first time the fuel-cell technology has been seen in a passenger car. Previously, the drivetrain was hidden in a Kluger-Highlander SUV mule.It is unlikely Australia will see the FCV-R until its hydrogen fuel is more readily available. The first market for this car will be California which has hydrogen refuelling stations.Japan this month starts selling a plug-in version of the Prius that drives 24km on its batteries alone - but the car, like the FCV-R, isn't planned for launch in Australia.PRIUS C- Australian launch: First quarter, 2012- Price: About $25,000- Fuel economy: about 3.9 L/100kmThe Tokyo motor show represents the world premiere of the compact, Yaris-based hatchback. Toyota says the sub-4m body length is perfect for the city, its platform is designed for nimble handling and its shape seats four adults and enhances aerodynamic performance. It is powered by a lightweight hybrid system of a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a high-output electric motor. Toyota claims 2.5 L/100km on the Japanese test cycle, equating to about 3.9 L/100km on the more demanding Australian test. It will be launched in Japan next month as the Aqua.FCV-R- Australian launch: perhaps 2020- Price: n/a- Fuel economy: n/aThis is the world premiere of the fuel-cell drivetrain that has been tested for the past five years in a Kluger-Highlander SUV. It is planned for launch in 2015 in markets that have hydrogen fuel supplies. The hydrogen is regarded as a promising source of CO2 emission-free energy that can be produced from a variety of sources. The fuel-cell unit is beneath the passenger compartment. Toyota claims a 700km range with its 70MPa high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank.FT-EV III- Australian launch: concept only- Price: n/a- Fuel economy: n/aThis is the latest in a series of Toyota's electric concept cars and is based on the iQ city car now on sale in Europe. It is also marketed as an Aston Martin Cygnet. The FT-EV III is designed for short-distance trips and has a lithium-ion battery with an estimated cruising range of 105km. Though this is a concept, Toyota is known to be working on an electric version of the iQ that could be on the market in Europe as early as mid-2012.TOYOTA FUN-Vii- Australian launch: concept only- Price: n/a- Fuel economy: n/aToyota says this world premiere of its "quirky'' concept vehicle heralds a future where people, cars and society are linked. Radical. It is a key exhibit for the 42nd Tokyo motor show, which is being staged under the theme "Mobility can change the world''.PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID- Australian launch: perhaps 2020- Price: est. $35,000- Fuel economy: 3 L/100kmThis Prius Plug-in Hybrid goes on sale in Japan this month. It is heavily based on the existing Prius but has a new, high-capacity lithium-ion battery that can be charged from a household power outlet. This allows it to operate as an electric vehicle on short trips (up to 23km) and as a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle on medium to long trips. It can operate regardless of battery charge status or the availability of charging infrastructure.

The good news is that the cars of the future are not boring electric "golf carts" but sleek and sexy machines.Take for example the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, or even the updated Toyota Prius C. Just as smart, but also featuring powertrain technology that is much further down the line, is the Hyundai Blue2 Concept, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, or the Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV with a plug-in hybrid system that extends the use of the vehicle in electric mode.Here is a sample of the green vehicles on the stands at this year’s show:BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept: Making its Australian debut, this is the concept for the coming BMW i8. A conventional 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel mated to a pair of electric motors powers this four-wheel-drive 2+2 sports car. The hybrid combination pumps out 265kW of power and 800Nm of torque, and can run on electric power alone for up to 50km, diesel only for 645km or a combination of both. The lithium-ion battery packs charge in just 2.5 hours from AC mains or 44 minutes on quick charge.Ford: The new Liquefied Phase Injection LPG technology in the Ford Falcon EcoLPi has improved power and torque and decreased fuel consumption (12.5L/100km) and CO2 emissions (203g/km). Ford will also show its long-awaited diesel Territory with a 2.7-litre V6 boasting fuel economy of 8.2L/100km.Holden: The Ecoline Series II Cruze range with a new generation 2.0-litre turbo diesel (5.6L/100km) is Australia’s most fuel-efficient locally-built car. The stand will also feature the Cruze 1.4-litre intelligent turbo induction (1.4 iTi) petrol engine (6.4L/100km manual) and other Ecoline models, including the Commodore E85 flex-fuel and Spark Ignition Direct Injection V6 powered Commodores and Captivas.Honda hybrids: Honda will show the stylish Honda CR-Z coupe petrol-electric hybrid that arrives here later this year, as well as its second-generation Insight hybrid.Hyundai Blue2 Concept: This is the Korean company’s first sedan-style Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) powered by hydrogen. It delivers power of 90kW and fuel economy of 2.8L/100km. Being a concept car, it comes with a host of future electronic aids, such as an automatic opening door system, roof and side cameras to replace mirrors, and a motion sensor-operated infotainment system.Lexus LF-Gh Concept: This concept features the hybrid system already in the Lexus fleet, but is the first time the spindle-shaped grille that will become a feature of future designs will be seen here, and hints at a future grand touring sedan. Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says the LF-Gh reaffirms that hybrids can be sleek and stylish.Mazda Minagi: This is a crossover concept specifically engineered to be the first with frugal SKYACTIV technology diesel and petrol engines and transmission. The car is an insight into the coming CX-5.Mercedes-Benz C-Class: The range now includes the updated 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic transmission for improved economy. Diesel models come with the ECO start/stop function as standard, and the C250 diesel coupe boasts economy of 5.1L/100km. At the top end of the Benz range, the S350 diesel BlueTec luxury saloon has economy figures of 7L/100km.Mitsubishi ?i-Miev-based electric vehicle concepts: The i-MiEV is about to hit the showrooms and Mitsubishi already has an SUV variant, which will be on its stand. The Concept PX-MiEV has a plug-in hybrid system with fuel economy better than 2L/100km. It is powered by two permanent magnet synchronous motors and a 1.6-litre MIVEC engine. The PX-MiEV also features Smart Grid technology that allows the battery to power home appliances during a blackout or at peak times when electricity tariffs are high.Nissan Leaf: The all-electric Leaf hits showrooms next year. The World Car of the Year features a satnav system linked to the "Global Data Centre’’ in Japan so you just press a button to find the closest recharging stations.Toyota Prius C concept & Prius V: The latest in the Prius family are a funky coupe concept (C) and a people mover (V). The Prius C concept shows how stylish the Prius can be and the V shows how spacious it can be. The V also features a lightweight-resin panoramic moon roof, weighing about 40 per cent less than a regular glass roof of the same size. It will be the first to feature Toyota’s new Entune multimedia system with mobile internet and Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The system will offer live weather and traffic updates, along with monitoring the best fuel prices in town.Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion: The BlueMotion has the same 1.6-litre engine with the same output at 77kW and 250Nm as the 77TDI, but its fuel use is just 3.8L/100km compared with 5.12L/100km (77TDI) and CO2 of 99g/km (133g/km 77TDI). The gains are made from a lower idle speed, stop/start technology, aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres.Volvo V60 diesel plug-in hybrid: The world’s first diesel hybrid plug-in goes into production next year. The driver can choose from three modes: Pure, which is all-electric with a range of up to 50km, Hybrid with an average fuel consumption of 1.9L/100km and CO2 of 49g/km, and Power, which boosts total diesel and electric power to 200kW and 640Nm of torque with acceleration to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. The turbodiesel drives the front wheels and an electric motor drives the rear axle. It can be recharged via a regular power socket in 4.5 hours on 10A charge.PLUS: There will also be displays by infrastructure companies including Better Place EV, which has announced plans to begin rolling out infrastructure in Canberra this year.