Toyota Prius 2011 News

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.

Two years ago I walked more than 20 kilometres in two days to cover every single brand and car at the Frankfurt Motor Show, from the towering five-story Mercedes-Benz pavilion to the tiny space reserv

Even though Brand T sells more diesels down under than any other brand — and most of its rivals combined — it says there is no future for diesel passenger cars. Instead, Toyota is putting its faith in hybrids and upcoming high-efficiency unleaded engines, although it will continue to dominate the diesel four-wheel drive and workhorse business with its huge fleet of HiLuxes, HiAces and LandCruisers. "We are not pursuing diesel in our passenger vehicles. There are no definitive plans for diesel," says the head of sales and marketing for Toyota Australia, Dave Buttner. "There is no doubt that there are consumers attracted to diesel, but we believe we can achieve our volume and share aspirations on the back of the product plan we have for the future." Buttner dismisses existing Toyota diesel models on sale in Europe, including the Corolla. "Globally, Toyota believes Hybrid Synergy Drive — the system already used in the Prius and also destined for next year's locally-made Camry hybrid — is the technology of the future. In Europe we're seeing the emergence of high-efficiency petrol engines for small passenger cars. "Providing we can bring the Hybrid Synergy Drive products at the right time we believe it will be advantageous over the medium and longer term." Buttner admits the no-diesel plan runs counter to its existing strength in the four-wheel drive and commercial businesses, but says the two are very separate issues. And, even though none of its workhorses has the latest in diesel particulate filters to reduce emissions and they trail way behind benchmark diesel passenger cars, he says the technology is improving. "We've always been strong in diesels with commercial vehicles, but even there we have had reduced fuel consumption and improved emissions."

Toyota alone has plans for eight hybrids and they will be joined by everything up to super-luxury petrol-electric cars from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. With a growing number of fuel-efficient diesel cars also landing from Europe, the number of bowser wowsers will soar as quickly as fuel economy falls. Toyota yesterday unveiled its third-generation Prius, the global hybrid poster car, with the promise of everything from 3.9 litre/100km fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 89 grams/kilometre to eco-plastics in the cabin and a solar roof panel to cool the cabin when the car is parked. But hybrids are still not cheap and parking a new Prius in the driveway will cost a minimum of $39,990. The Prius previews some of the technology to be seen next year in the company's first locally-made hybrid, a version of the Camry, and sets the benchmark for the upcoming Honda Insight. It will be the Prius's closest showroom challenger, although slightly smaller, with a pricetag set close to $30,000. Toyota Australia is aiming for 4500 Prius sales next year, in a global total which could go as high at 300,000 in 88 countries worldwide. "In future years hybrids will become the mainstream cars," the chief engineer of the new Prius, Akihiko Otsuka, said yesterday. The Prius push comes as a growing number of carmakers look for a fuel- efficient solution to the world's energy needs, as well as a segway to the all-electric cars which will eventually take over from petrol power. For Toyota, and its Lexus luxury brand, that will mean eight new models led by the Prius, local Camry and a compact Lexus called the HS250h. There is no talk yet of either a HiLux hybrid or any diesel- electric hybrid. "We have looked at diesel but it would be too expensive for the consumer," said Otsuka. The Prius has now been sold in Australia for eight years, although Honda was first into showrooms with its original Insight and still has the hybrid price leader with its Civic. But this is not as technologically advanced as the Prius. AUSTRALIA'S FAVOURITE HYBRIDS Toyota Prius Price: $39,990 Economy: 3.9L/100km Emissions: 89g/km Honda Civic Hybrid Price: $35,990 Economy: 4.6L/100km Emissions: 109g/100km Lexus RX450h Price: $89,900 Economy: 6.4L/100km Emissions: 150g/km

The new all-electric Mitsubishi i-MIEV is about to go on sale in the Japanese domestic market for $43,000 – more than its bigger hybrid rivals from Toyota and Honda.But despite the micro-car's high entry price, Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson, Lenore Fletcher believes it will still be popular when it arrives here, possibly next year. She does not believe its price will be a barrier for acceptance.Local pricing is not yet confirmed but Fletcher says judging by the reaction of 150 people at recent drive days around the country, the car will be a hit. "If we had 20 i-MIEVs tomorrow they would all be sold," she says. "We've had people trying to give us firm orders for the car."Participants were surprised by the power and refinement of the little hatch, she says. And she is confident prices will come down as these electric cars become more common and production ramps up to achieve economies of scale. Mitsubishi Australia is bouyed by the fact that many fleets are interested in the car to sell a green message.The rear-drive i-MIEV develops 47kW, the same as the three-cylinder petrol-powered Mitsubishi "i" but delivers 180Nm from zero revs compared to the petrol car's 94Nm. It also contributes 70 per cent less C02 emissions than a similarly sized hatchback.The car has been fully certified to Australia Design Rules and has compliance so Mitsubishi Australia is just waiting for the nod from Japan.It has a range of about 160km from its lithium-ion battery pack. With about 85 per cent of commuters travelling less than 100km a day, Fletcher says the i-MIEV is an ideal city car.Just 2000 i-MIEVs will be built in Japan this year but the car's popularity has already prompted Mitsubishi to lift production. Next year it will build 5000 cars and by 2013 it hopes to build 30,000 a year.Mitsubishi, like many leading carmakers pushing the electric button, faces a lack of supply of battery components for their vehicles. The new Toyota Prius goes on sale in July and is expected to cost slightly more than the Honda Insight. Honda Australia is aiming for a sub-$30,000 price for the Insight and had originally hoped to have it on sale here this year. However, the car's popularity overseas has pushed out its local launch to the second half of 2010.In Japan, the i-MIEV will initially be sold to fleets with private sales starting later this year. Apart from Australia, it will be sold in Europe and North America.Mitsubishi, along with Nissan Australia, wants more government incentives to get people into electric cars.

The cost of ownership of new-generation alternative fuel cars has also been highlighted at a high-level meeting last week between 10 carmakers and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.The FCAI wants to fast-track a united front by the industry as it prepares car buyers for the rapid growth of green cars. The chamber's chief executive, Andrew McKellar, says there is an urgent need for infrastructure to be in place for electric cars, new-generation plug-in hybrids, ethanol and alternative fuels."There is a sense of urgency in the industry as we have a number of brands preparing to bring in cars with new fuel technologies," he says. "There is a roll for co-ordination across the industry to ensure that we're pursuing a more pro-active strategy to work with all stakeholders."The approach with electric vehicles needs to be seen as one element of a higher strategy that also relates to environmental and green vehicles."These technologies present an enormous global challenge, he says. "Around the world the challenge of achieving enhanced environmental performance is one of the most pressing priorities the car industry has," McKellar says. "In the case of electric vehicles we have one very practical example of an emerging technology that has accelerated in the past few years."Apart from infrastructure needs, the FCAI's electric vehicle working group will identify the types of vehicles expected to be launched as well as technical and registration requirements of new-generation hybrids and plug-in electric cars.Mitsubishi Australia, which hopes to have its i-MIEV electric car on sale soon, was one of the participants at the FCAI meeting. Spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says it is pleasing to see all parties ‘start to find our voice in terms of acceptance’. "We are coming to grips with the requirements of the new technology," she says.Apart from Mitsubishi, Toyota and Honda will soon introduce new hybrids. In addition to the new Prius, Toyota will introducing the hybrid Camry early next year. And GM-Holden is aiming to have its Volt ‘range-extender’ hybrid on sale here by 2012.Despite their emerging popularity, hybrids are still a small part of the overall car scene. Last year about 5200 hybrid passenger vehicles were sold in a market of more than 1 million.Subaru too has tested the electric current by showing of its plug-in Stella, while Mercedes-Benz hopes to have an electric version of its Smart on sale soon, which will be followed by battery-powered A-Class and B-Class hatches."We must ensure that Australia is ready for this technology," McKellar says.

A Sydney university team has developed Australia's first hybrid-electric car that can both be charged from a household plug and help supply electricity to the grid. The SWITCH — developed by the Institute of Sustainable Futures at University of Technology Sydney — can charge its batteries from a household supply using cheap off-peak electricity and feed any spare power it stores back into the grid at peak demand times. "This is very, very exciting," project director Chris Dunstan, of UTS, says. "There are only a handful of V2G (vehicle to grid) examples around the world but the potential is enormous. "Being able to go out and buy one of these vehicles is not going to happen next month ... it's not going to happen next year ... but when there are thousands of these out there the effect on renewable energy will be huge." Dunstan says the SWITCH prototype, the next step in the electric vehicle revolution, was adapted by the UTS research team from a standard Toyota Prius by adding extra batteries, controls and connections. While the prototype does not have the capacity to recharge its extra batteries with recovered energy — as the factory-fitted Prius system does — it is something they are working towards. "At the moment it is purely a storage system for extra electric charge which can extend the pure electric range of the Prius, but we are certainly interested in being able to gather charge from the car," Dunstan says.  

...the Japanese carmaker is revealing three new cars, the 1/X, third-generation Prius and Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle. Each in their own way presents Toyota's vision of the future, according to Toyota marketing chief, David Buttner. "It's no coincidence that all three cars have hybrid drive technology," he said. The 1/X presents a vision of tomorrow while the Prius hybrid and Camry concept hybrid point to just what's around the corner. The Prius goes on sale later this year for under $40,000 and the Camry hybrid, to be built at Toyota's Altona plant, hits showrooms next February. The Camry hybrid will be built alongside the 2.4-litre petrol Camry and is expected to cost between $3000 and $4000 more. Using the Camry sedan as the base, the HCCV gets more streamlined aerodynamics to improve fuel economy. The third-generation 1.8-litre Prius showcases some new technologies, including a solar-powered ventilation and remote air conditioning system that works when the car is parked. The car will also be the first car in Australia with C02 emissions below 100grams a kilometre. The 1/X, pronounced one-Xth, gets its name because it uses hybrid-powered technology that has a fraction of the environmental footprint of today's cleanest cars. Buttner describes it as a car for "post 2020". Toyota is already developing the car's potential, looking at sustainable seaweed as a source of materials. The 500cc rear drive 1/X is made from light-weight carbon fibre and weighs just 420kg, less than half the weight of a Corolla but delivers similar performance to the 1.8-litre petrol hatch. "But carbon fibre is oil based and oil is a finite resource," he says. "Post-2020 it is likely vehicles like the 1/X will be made of plant-based plastic, which has just been invented." Buttner says the car is realistically a decade away but some of the innovations could make it to market earlier. Toyota expects to replace the carbon fibre body with one made of plast-based plastice, called eco-plastic. By 2020 Toyota has vowed to have a hybrid powertrain available across all its models, from the Yaris right up to the LandCruiser. * The Melbourne Motor Show starts at 5pm on Friday at the Melbourne Exhibiton Centre.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...  

Icy winds and snow are blowing across Motown, dumping on the auto capital of the world at a time when American politicians are applying relentless pressure for a major shift in the way that General M

The Toyota Prius is heading for full-on brand status as it increases its cult following in the US. Toyota is working on a plan that would see all of its future hybrid models carrying the Prius badge.