Toyota Prius 2009 News

We know because Toyota has just confirmed early deliveries of its new green hero car, the plug-in Prius, to 'significant markets' and Australia has made the list.We are rated by Toyota on the same level as Japan, the USA and several  major European countries, although no-one at Toyota Australia is going  into too much detail following confirmation of the plug-in plan by  sales and marketing chief Dave Buttner.He leaked the news during the press preview program for the Camry hybrid at Altona last week, just minutes after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stood in front of the car in a 21st century re-make of the scene when Ben Chifley introduced Australia to the 48-215 Holden.So it was a big day on a couple of fronts.  The plug-in Prius is a big deal because it signals everything from Toyota's decision to move on from basic hybrids to the company's shift  to a lithium-ion battery pack. They are landmark decisions by a company that is leading the world down the hybrid road.The first plug-ins should land in Australia next year and, based on the program for Japan and the USA, they will go to government agencies and educational institutions. So they are more like a science experiment than a real car for ordinary customers.And that's another topic that came up with Toyota in the past week.  The company has gone badly backwards in Australia over the past year, losing 2.5 percentage points of market share and contributing roughly 40 per cent of the sales downturn since the GFC.Worse still, from Toyota's perspective, much of the ground has been lost to the Korean companies, Hyundai and Kia.  That's great for car buyers, who are getting great deals from the  Koreans, but Toyota is plotting a comeback plan and that could be even better news for anyone in a showroom in the next couple of years.Follow Paul Gover on Twitter!

A staggering 225 out of the 243 private-plated cars chosen by MPs and Senators have six or eight-cylinder engines, in contrast to the national trend towards smaller, more fuel efficient models. Only a handful of MPs drive low-emission hybrids.The list, published today on The Punch, shows the most popular car among federal politicians is the Ford Territory, Australia’s answer to the SUV and possibly the heaviest Aussie-built passenger car ever made. It was chosen by 81 MPs, including many who live in suburban electorates. The Federal Government’s own Green Vehicle Guide gives the Territory a woeful 2.5 stars out of five.The details, released under Freedom of Information laws and current as of March 1 this year, show only 10 MPs drive low-emission hybrids. All MPs and Senators are entitled to at least one private-plated vehicle for personal use as part of their salary package. They can choose from a list of 35 cars valued at up to $48,990 or with approval from the Special Minister of State, select a “non-standard vehicle”.Apart from the Territory, other popular vehicles include the Holden Berlina and Calais vehicles or the Toyota Aurion V6. Some of the Toyota Landcrusiers, preferred among some country-based MPs, are diesel or in the case of one or two six cylinder cars, dual fuel LPG operated. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was embarrassed into swapping his private-plate Territory for a hybrid Toyota Prius in 2007 when, as Opposition Leader, it was revealed he was calling for action on greenhouse while driving a Territory.Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig, a Territory driver, said the government was examining “cleaning up” the parliamentary entitlements framework, including the private-plated vehicle scheme. An independent committee would report to him next year with some recommendations intended to “reduce cost and increase transparency”.A more in-depth report and the full list is available at The Punch            

The Mercedes-Benz E Class is good, the Ford Fiesta is better, but the Golf is best of all from more than 100 new cars that landed in Australia over the past year.

It is the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which re-set the economy benchmark this year at just 3.7L/100km - that is 76.3 miles-per-gallon in pre-decimal currency - and also produces just 98 grams of carbon for

The latest round of official crash tests has given five-star occupant protection ratings to some of the most fuel-frugal small cars sold in Australia, the Mini Cooper diesel, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic diesel, the Volvo C30 diesel and the Toyota Prius hybrid.On the Global Green Challenge, a 3150km drive from Darwin to Adelaide and with driving in Adelaide last month, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic averaged just 3.13 litres/100km fuel consumption and the Mini diesel was not far behind.  Transport Department director of road safety, Martin Small, said yesterday (Tuesday 17) the crash test results showed that new-car buyers could save fuel and still get five-star safety."These ratings show that manufacturers can make a range of fuel efficient vehicles which do not compromise safety," Mr Small said.  Other vehicles to score five stars in these tests are the new Subaru Liberty Exiga and the latest Hyundai Sante Fe with four-cylinder engine.  The only car in this round of tests not to get the full five stars is the Honda City sedan which managed four stars.RAA (SA) technical services manager Mark Borlace said this was because that model Honda did not have electronic stability control, a requirement since 2008 before five stars could be awarded.  "It makes the lack of ESC for the Honda City disappointing," Mr Borlace said."All of these five-star models include head-protecting side airbags or curtains, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and electronic stability control as standard," he said. "And it is pleasing to see the results apply to all models in the various ranges, not just luxury-specified vehicles."In separate testing for pedestrian protection, the Honda City, Subaru Exiga and Fiesta achieved three out of a maximum four stars. The upgraded Sante Fe, previously scoring zero, this time got one star.

The poster car for the green movement is now much more than a science experiment.

It doesn't really matter what you call it, the push is all about sustainability and leaving as much as we can from this generation for the next rather than gobbling up finite resources with no regard

It doesn't really matter what you call it, the push is all about sustainability and leaving as much as we can from this generation for the next rather than gobbling up finite resources with no regard

They won’t be coming here, but heading to the US and Europe – with 200 staying in Japan – for evaluation, mainly by government and business.The PHV (plug-in hybrid vehicle) Prius extends Toyota’s belief in hybrid currently being the most feasible system available as an alternative to conventional engines. “We believe hybrid is the best system at present,” says the car giant’s project manager for research and development, Yutaka Matsumoto. “Toyota positions plug-in hybrid vehicles as the most practical way to use electrical energy (for vehicles).Like the standard Prius, the PHV still uses regenerative technology to recharge the lithium-ion battery by capturing energy from braking, but it can also be recharged by plugging into a household mains supply from 100-200v.Running on battery only, it is reduced to short range application, but automatically shifts to the conventional petrol/battery system for mid and long-range driving. “This eliminates any worry about cruising range, which is the greatest shortcoming of electric vehicles,” Matsumoto says. “Most of those previously sold in US have not adequate range.”Toyota is working on furthering the range of lithium-ion batteries, with a goal of them offering a range of 200km by 2020.But in the meantime, Matsumoto says Toyota will direct near-future development of available electric range based on analysis of the leased PHVs’ performance and the response of their users. “In order to evaluate if the current electric range is appropriate, this plug-in has a very important role,” he says.The market response will dictate when the PHV will be available for sale. “We will be getting feedback from markets, and then decide on when it will be most appropriate to provide it,” Matsumoto says.He also flags that Toyota is carrying out research and development in other alternative fuels, including future plug-in hybrids that will be biofuel-electric and possibly solar-electric. “The plan to introduce the right car at the right place at the right time,” Matsumoto says.He cites concerns about the future of oil, saying we must prepare for when demand will exceed production some time in the ‘near future’. “Efforts to shift to alternative fuels while restricting oil consumption is necessary for the time being,” he says. “Various technologies – such as internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in, electric and fuel-cell — will coexist for the time being. “But to use the remaining oil, improving efficiency is the key with hybrid technologies.”And Matsumoto says the Toyota hybrids sold around the world are already proving the technology’s worth in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. “There have been about two million sold globally so far, and the average CO2 emissions in Europe have reduced 21 per cent over the last 10 years,” he says.Matsumoto believes that one of the biggest hurdles for the prospective Prius buyer – the high price tag of around $40,000 for the base model, compared with a conventional car – has been overcome. “Currently the Prius is in its third generation, and the cost has come down significantly,” he says. “They are competing already price-wise and cost-wise with conventional vehicles.”Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

Car companies are about to be put to the test in the Global Green Challenge and Carsguide is going along for the ride. There are two key buzz words in today's world of clean, green motoring: more and less.Car buyers, pricked by an environmental consciousness, are driving demand for better efficiency to reduce the impact on their wallet and less emissions to reduce the impact on the environment.And there's an added caveat to this quest for green sustainability: it has to be affordable without robbing the family car of performance or driveability.Welcome to the challenge facing car designers as they chase motoring's holy grail — producing a workable, green friendly car for the future. A bookmark of just where the industry is at will be on display at the end of the month when the Eco Challenge for production cars, run in conjunction with this year's Global Green Challenge, sets out from Darwin on October 24 and heads south to Adelaide.It will be real-world 3000 kilometre reality check, albeit most of the driving will be on highways, to show buyers what more-for-less cars are available now, or the near future.This week car companies have been jostling as they line up for the starting grid — some have still to fully show their hand but organisers say 21 cars are expected to contest the Eco Challenge while a further 38 dedicated solar-powered cars will also follow the same route the following day in their own race.This year's production car field is an eclectic mix.Hyundai Hyundai is using the Global Challenge to launch its 2010 Santa Fe wagon, promising more power and reduced fuel consumption which will attract caravan owners looking for an alternative to heavier 4WDs.Hyundai's Team R has entered two Santa Fes, one of which will be driven by CarsGuide. The wagon gets Hyundai's new R turbo diesel and a new six-speed manual transmission along with a recalibrated suspension and steering package for our tougher road conditions. A six-speed automatic will be optional. The Santa Fe goes on sale at the end of the year.Skoda Skoda will use the event to showcase its new flagship, the Superb saloon. Skoda says the 2-litre direct injection turbo diesel is capable of 5.4l/100km on the highway, meaning you can marry luxury with economy.Suzuki will use the event to showcase the ability of the tiny Alto, which the carmaker claims can travel 100 kilometres on just 3.5 litres of precious fuel on the highway. Tests in India have already shown it can do better at 3l/100km.The car is being kept on the road by a team of apprentice automotive engineers from the Melbourne's Kangan Batman TAFE college.Holden Holden and Ford will be fighting each other in the Challenge. Holden had been tipped to show of a Commodore, which like Saab, can run on 85 per cent ethanol, or a diesel, but the General will instead showcase its recently launched 3-litre Omega Sportwagon, fitted with the new SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) engine and six-speed automatic transmission.Holden won't reveal what fuel economy goal it is aiming for but it maintains the SIDI is now the most fuel efficient Aussie-built six-cylinder in the market. Holden says the engine, rated at 9.3l/10km is 13 per cent more fuel efficient than the previous motor at 10.7l/10km.Ford Ford will come out fighting with an XR6 Turbo and a Fiesta Econetic which will be launched in November and has the potential to run at 3.7l/100km. Again, Ford won’t talk about economy goals.BMW BMW is another keeping its cards close to its chest until closer to race. It will have a fleet of three diesel Mini Ds, one of which is will be driven by former Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan. The 1.6-litre Mini diesel is capable of 3.9l/100km combined and 3.5l/100km on the highway.Tesla While all eyes will be on the known brands, one entry which will likely steal the limelight will be the all electric Tesla roadster — the world's first production all-electric car which is being entered by broadband company Internode.The company's managing director Simon Hackett imported the first car to Australia recently.Kia Kia has entered two LPG electric hybrid Fortes, which have a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a small electric motor and lithium-polymer batteries — a first for a mass-production small automatic car. Kia says it can return 5.6l/100km.Based on the Cerato, the Kia Forte has the potential to make it to the Australian market next year for less than $30,000. Based on the Cerato The Forte was launched in South Korea in August and displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month.NON-PRODUCTION AND EXPERIMENTAL CARS Independent team Deep Green Research has come to the party with an electric Honda.Students from South Australia's Annesley College have built a petrol/electric hybrid Holden Viva. The all-girl Annesley team has taken part in previous solar challenges but this is the first time they have entered the production car class. The students will be driving the car on the 3000km journey.Research and development company Intex is entering a four-cylinder petrol Ford Spectron Van with a retrofit hybrid system that converts the drivetrain to a plug-in hybrid electric.Absent This year Toyota is a notable non-starter after impressing in 2007 with its Prius.And there has been a late scratching with Volvo confirming it was withdrawn its two C30 DRIVe hatchbacks because they are stuck on a ship from Europe, a victim of stormy weather in the Atlantic. Volvo had high expectations for the 1.6-litre diesel which sips a claimed 3.8l/100km. The eco hatch will now be launched in Australia early next year.