Toyota Prius

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Toyota Engineers Carbon-Offset Flowers

November 18, 2009 in Biz News, Hybrids, emissions by kristen | No comments

I’m not sure if this is science at its best or a bit creepy: Toyota has created two new species of flower to offset the carbon emissions at its Prius factory in Japan. And that’s not even counting the grass. Or the fact that they planted the flowers in a sunset pattern.

According to Popular Science:

  • The Toyota version of cherry sage absorbs greenhouse gases through its leaves
  • The Toyota version of gardenia acts as a humidifier to cool the factory grounds and reduce the need for a/c
  • The Toyota grass, which used to need mowing three times a year, now only needs a trim once a year

Is Toyota harnessing the power of science for good or evil? Grow your opinions in the comments.

Pimp Yer Prius – SEMA 2009

November 3, 2009 in Hybrids, MPG by kristen | No comments

While the Toyota Prius gets the Aerius treatment at the official Toyota booth, there’s a way cooler, totally pimped version at the other end of the “Making Green Cool Zone” at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Like all the best supercars, the doors on this Prius up, and the gold-and-green flake paint job lets people know you care about looking styling as much as you care about the environment.

Stay tuned for more posts from SEMA, including more on the Prius Aerius and announcements from the X Prize people.

2010 EPA Top 10 Fuel Economy Leaders

October 19, 2009 in Consumer News, Hybrids, MPG by kristen | No comments

The Environmental Protection Agency published its official gas mileage numbers for the 2010 model year, including the leaders in each segment. Guess who won overall? Yeah, it was no contest, and no surprise: the 2010 Toyota Prius, with its 51 city/48 highway rating beat all the competition.

The other thing to note about the list is that out of ten cars with top fuel economy, only one is not a hybrid, the Smart ForTwo. If you take a gander at the top two cars in each category at FuelEconomy.gov, the fuel type varies a bit more, with Audi and Volkswagen scoring well with their diesel wagons.

  1. Toyota Prius Hybrid: 51/48
  2. Ford Fusion Hybrid: 41/36
  3. Honda Civic Hybrid: 40/45
  4. Honda Insight Hybrid: 40/43
  5. Lexus 250h Hybrid: 35/34
  6. Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35/33
  7. Ford Escape Hybrid: 34/31
  8. Smart ForTwo: 33/41
  9. Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33/34
  10. Lexus RX450h Hybrid: 32/28

2012 Toyota Plug-In Prius Price Set

July 29, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG, Uncategorized by kristen | No comments

Toyota will release a mass-market plug-in Prius in 2010, with a price tag set at $47,000. The car will be able to charge at a 110-volt or 220-volt outlet, both of which are common in American households. Few details are available beyond this basic announcement that the cars are indeed on the way, and that Toyota will build 20,000-30,000, according to a Reuters report. The car will use lithium batteries and may be a direct competitor for the forthcoming Chevy Volt.

Green Power for International Engine of the Year

May 18, 2009 in Hybrids, MPG, diesel by kristen | 3 comments

More than 60 new engines have entered the race for 2009 International Engine of the Year, a title which has gone to BMW for the past four years running. Hybrid engines from the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight have won in the past, and with new incarnations on the market this year, one of them may win again. Diesel engines from Mercedes-Benz and Renault are on the slate, along with non-green engines like BMW’s V8 in the 750i and Jaguar’s 5-liter V8.

The overall winner will be chosen by an international panel of 65 auto journalists (alas, I was not invited). There are also categories divided up by engine size, along with Best New Engine, Green Engine, and Performance Engine. Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive engine has taken the Green Car (formerly Fuel Economy) prize every year since 2004, when it wrested the title away from Honda.

This year’s winners will be announced in Stuttgart, Germany, at the Engine Expo, held June 16-18.

Photo by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

Honda Insight Priced under $20k

March 11, 2009 in Consumer News, Hybrids, MPG by kristen | No comments

Honda Insight

Honda announced the official MSRP for the new Insight, and it’s under $20,000 (unless you count that pesky, unavoidable destination charge. The car will be available for sale March 24 for a base price of $19,800 for the LX model. EPA fuel economy estimates are good, at 40 mpg city, 43 mph highway.

The LX is pretty basic for a five-door sedan, with auto climate control, power windows, and a CD stereo system. The Honda Insight EX will be priced at $21,300 (again, not including destination), and comes with stability assist, cruise control, paddle shifters, an upgraded stereo, and more.

How does this compare to its number-one competitor, the Prius? It’s hard to say, since Toyota hasn’t given a date or price for the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius, only that it will drop this spring. They did just release the car’s EPA numbers, though: 50 mpg city, 49 mpg highway. The EPA gave them a combined rating of 50 mpg, which the Insight just can’t beat. But with a starting price of $22,000 for the 2009 model, Honda seems to have Toyota’s hybrid MSRP licked.

Image by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

The New Honda Insight

January 19, 2009 in Consumer News, Hybrids, MPG by kristen | 4 comments

Honda Insight

The blogosphere (GoodGreenCars.com included) has been abuzz this fall about two new hybrids: the third generation of the crazy popular Toyota Prius, and the resurrection of the pioneer Honda Insight. We’ve already talked about the “most important reveal,” according to humble Toyota execs, of the 2009 Detroit auto show, so now let’s turn to the potential giant-killer Insight.

First of all, if you take a look at the pictures of the new Honda Insight on the stand in Detroit, one thing stands out: it looks just like a Prius. Same short, sloped nose, same little wheels, same chunky back. Part of that is due to the aerodynamics necessary to get high fuel economy in a hybrid, but part of it is probably a little Prius piggy-backing, as well. In order to sell a lot of Insights, you have to aim for the familiar.

Honda hasn’t announced an official price for its hybrid, but it keeps saying it will be cheaper than the Prius. The new Prius doesn’t have an MSRP yet, either, but we can expect both of the cars to be somewhere slightly north of $20,000.

Interestingly, while Toyota couldn’t have tooted its own horn louder if it had brought a drum and bugle corps to Detroit, Honda didn’t schedule a press conference for its Insight. It left the car on the dais for the curious to find, with a cutaway car showcasing the Insight’s technology nearby. Humility won’t get anyone anywhere in the new automotive landscape, so if Honda wants to take on the mighty Prius, it had better step up is marketing game.

Insight insides

Insight vs. Prius: a Comparison

October 14, 2008 in Consumer News, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG by kristen | 2 comments

2009 Honda Insight

The Honda Insight, called “the Prius fighter” all over the blogosphere, was officially unveiled at the Paris auto show in early October. Honda president Takeo Fukui took the opportunity to run down a few details of the car, like power and price, at the event.

Here’s a quick comparison of the two mass-market hybrids, one already popular in the U.S. and one prepping for the fight. Keep in mind that Toyota’s got a redesigned Prius up its sleeve for 2010, and it’s predicted to have better mileage and a bigger gasoline engine.

2009 Honda Insight

  • Under $20,000 (2 million yen is the target)
  • 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine
  • battery type not available
  • 40 mpg city, 45 mpg highway
  • five-door, five-passenger hatchback

2009 Toyota Prius

  • $22,000 base MSRP
  • 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine
  • NiMH battery pack
  • 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway
  • five-door, five passenger hatchback

[Sources: Automotive News (subscription required), Edmunds.com, FuelEconomy.gov, Toyota.com]

Image courtesy of Honda.