2010 Toyota Prius Price Change

The price for the 2010 Toyota Prius is about to be raised.   The base MSRP is being raised by $400 across each of the model types.  Toyota had increased the MSRP on the Prius as recently as October.The Prius I is being set at $21,400 (but don't expect to find one of those as Toyota only sells them to fleet owners, and I doubt they really sell those at all).  The real basic level (II) is up to $22,800.  The Prius III will...

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2011 Toyota Camry Price

The 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid price tag will be going up by $250.  The MSRP is being set at $26,400, making it a 1% increase over the 2010 price tag.  The adjustment in price is set for February.The price change is affecting all Camry models, although all the other models are being raised by $200 instead of $250.The price tag on the Toyota Prius is being raised t...

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A Little Misdirection From Ford

You want to know the best way to boost your sales numbers in a particular 'type' of car?  Introduce a new model.  Which is why the following from Ford is misleading at best.Despite a 11 percent decline in hybrid sales across the industry, Ford's year-to-date hybrid sales are up 67 percent over the same period last year. And the company is on track to set a new hybrid sales record for 2009."Hybrid customers increasingly are considering Ford," said George Pipas, Ford sales analyst. "And we are seeing a growing number of conquest sales,...

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Department of Defense Funding Next Generation of Research

The $636 billion Department of Defense appropriations bill has set million aside to develop hybrids, hydraulic hybrids, batteries, plug-in hybrids, etc... (Source: Det News).  From Lithium-ion battery production to all terrain hybrid vehicles, the appropriations bill is set to fund years of research into the electrification of America.Funds Are Being Set Aside For$27 million for domestic lithium ion battery production. These funds will be used for a competitive program to develop domestic industrial sources of advanced battery technologies...

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2013 Nissan Hybrid GT-R

According to the rumormill, Nissan is planning on building a hybrid GT-R by 2012 as a 2013 model. The report, coming from Insideline, is the new GT-R will be a monster, with 600 hp to burn, but will use only 25-30 mpg. 440 hp will come from the 3.8 liter twin turbocharged V6, with an additional 160 hp from the electric motor.The hybrid system would be built off of the work going into the hybrid Infiniti M, which will be released next year.Makes...

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Plug-in Hybrid Truck Development - Ram Crew 1500

Chrysler sent $3.1 million to a University of Michigan researcher to help develop a plug-in hybrid pickup truck. Associate Professor Chris Mi is one of a dozen UofM faculty members working on a $5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission to develop plug-in hybrid vehicles. The research grant involves DTE Energy, General Motors Corporation, and the University of Michigan.Mi is working on the best way to charge PHEV batteries, in terms of safety and efficiency. The research team is working to develop a battery management system...

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Lawmakers Offer $220 Million in Tax Credits to Build Batteries in Michigan

Car makers are set to receive $220 million in tax credits for building and developing battery packs in Michigan. State officials believe 1,000 jobs will be created because of the offer.FM, Ford and Dow Chemical are the companies the tax credits will benefit. According to Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, the credits are based on production and jobs created. He estimates the jobs created will be more than 2,000.Ford and GM were pushing for the tax credits as they plan on building plants for assembling hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery packs...

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Step Up and Last Three Rounds, I Dare Ya!

So then, will no one step up and attempt to compete with the Prius???Honda's Prius-Fighter Is Stuck in First - BusinessWeekSo far this year, the Prius is outselling the Insight by nearly 6 to 1. Other carmakers are watching closely. General Motors, for one, is reviewing its entire hybrid strategy. In late November, GM shelved plans for a 53-mpg Prius fighter for its bread-and-butter Chevrolet brand. With the Insight failing to compete with the Prius,...

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Mazda May Be Talking to Toyota About Hybrids

Mazda may be in talks with Toyota to develop hybrid vehicles for their line-up.Mazda May Follow Suzuki, Mitsubishi With Alliance (Update2) - Bloomberg.comMazda has said it plans to introduce its own hybrid car, yet it also is in talks to use Toyota’s system, said Koji Endo, managing director of Advanced Research Japan in Tokyo.Supplying the system would add volume and cut costs for Toyota, Endo said.“Even if there were talks of any alliance, I wouldn’t be able to speak about it,” Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada said Dec. 14....

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Amazing and Incredible News Story

Can we please drop this now?From Autobloggreen: As irritating as it may be, is the Chevy Volt Dance really that big of a deal? While we'd argue that it shouldn't be, the real answer apparently depends on whom you ask. Fox News seems to think it's pretty horrible and GM's latest recently-appointed head marketer Susan Docherty responded, "Our Chevrolet Volt advertising, marketing and go to market strategy will be as innovative as the car. We may have missed on this one, but we won't going forward." We agree... it's officially time to move on.[Sources:...

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Edmunds Predicts Slight Uptick in Hybrid Sales for 2010

Edmunds is predicting 11.5 million cars will be sold in the US in 2010. That's up from the 10.3 million cars and trucks from 2009. Of those, 3.2 percent in 2010 will be hybrids, up from the 2.8 percent (assuming they are right about December) for 2009.  3.2 percent equates to 368,000 units sold in 2010, up from 288,400 units in 2009.That means Edmunds expect the half a percent gain each year will continue."Most car shoppers will focus on value and fuel economy as the economy continues to recover," stated Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica...

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Honda Civic Hybrid Lawsuit

In an update to the lawsuit over mileage figures against Honda, it seems a settlement has been reached. But, 26 state Attorney Generals (AG) are objecting to the settlement.HistoryJohn True of Ontario, Calif. sued Honda over what he called their inflated mpg figures. After just 6,000 miles of driving, True sued Honda saying he was unable to achieve the 48 mpg city/51 mpg highway figures Honda was using. Instead, he was only able to get 32 mpg in mixed driving.The mpg figures come from the EPA, and are the only figures Honda is allowed to use...

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Ford Fusion Hybrid Up for North American Car of the Year

The Ford Fusion Hybrid is one of three finalists for the 2010 North American Car of the Year along with the Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf. On the other side, the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback are up for Truck of the Year.The winners will be announced at the NAIAS in Detroit.The winners are selected by a jury of no more than 50 automotive journalists from Canada and the U.S. They are judged on innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value.Prior Nominees have included:2008 Chevrolet Tahoe...

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Opel Sets Aggressive Hybrid Goals

GM Europe Head, Nick Reilly told Reuters he would be pushing to refresh the Opel line-up with hybrids over the next five years."We will have hybrid engines in our programme, in the next five years, Reilly said. Its first electric car with range-extending technology -- the Ampera -- will hit the market at the end of 2011."We expect (to sell) 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles a year at the start. Later it could quickly become substantially more," he saidThe E-REV coming before the hybrid is a new approach, but makes sense with the limited hybrid production...

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Hybrid Snow Plow

Jefferson County, Denver, has just introduced their new hybrid snow plow, an all new application for hybrid engines. The hybrid snow plow is a modified 2009 International Model 7300 Hybrid truck they purchased for $162,240.Jefferson County Unveils First-Ever Hybrid Snow Plow - Denver Traffic News Story - KMGH DenverThe hybrid truck cost about $20,000 more than a non-hybrid model. Jefferson County estimates that the difference will be recouped after 90,000 miles. Jefferson County will use this winter to evaluate the performance of the truck before...

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Audi Says Not So Fast to Plug-in

Audi of American President Johan de Nysschen brought the fight for diesel vs plugs to the forefront once again. Not surprisingly, given their success in Europe with diesels, Audi is a proponent of diesel technology.  And they would like it if the federal government would stop encouraging plug-ins so much.  He'd prefer it if they let the 'marketplace decide.'  But other car makers and the Obama administration seem to disagree with him.Johan de Nysschen points out that if 1/3 of Americans drove diesels, "America would save 1.5 million...

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Toyota Begins Australian Camry Hybrid

Toyota began producing the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Australia at a line-off ceremony attended by Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The Altona Plant will build 10,000 units annually a majority of which will be sold in Australia starting in February 2010.300 will be exported to New Zealand."Toyota Australia will be only the fifth country in the world that produces hybrid vehicles and that makes me proud of Australia. I expect that this car will bring a new set of business opportunities to the local community so that the Australian and Victorian...

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Toyota Pushing Plug-in Hybrid Launch Date Up by a Year

Toyota is pushing their launch date for their plug-in Prius hybrid up by a year . Toyota will begin selling (retail) in late 2011 in the U.S.The carmaker said it hoped to initially sell about 15,000 vehicles of the new model annually in the United States, and was considering releasing the model in Japan around the same time. That is and is not surprising. Toyota has been reluctant to move forward on plug-in hybrids, given their dominance in the hybrid field and their questions about the battery technology. Specifically, lithium-ion battery packs...

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Toyota Debuts New Dedicated Hybrid Concept

Toyota will debut a new dedicated hybrid concept vehicle at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS).Not a lot of details so far, but it looks like a 'city' car.  It must have been hard to squeeze in a hybrid engine into a small vehic...

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Ford Spending $500 Million in Michigan to Build Hybrids, Plug-in Hybrids and Batteries

GM pointed out how they are investing $700 million to build the Volt in Michigan in the next year. Now Ford wants you to know they are also investing in Michigan to build up their hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and batteries. To the tune of $500 million (Source: Detroit News).Ford expects the $500 million to create 1,000 jobs.Ford wants Michigan lawmakers to create tax credits in an effort to support their investment.  With an additional $85 million for advanced battery packs and another $35 million if battery cells are produced in Michigan,...

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Hybrid Car Sales, November 2009

Hybrid cars sales were up over 20% for the month of November, even though car sales in general were flat in comparison to last year.  Hybrid car sales are still down 11% for the year, but recent months have been showing a big upwards trend. Monthly Sales November 2008 November 2009 % Change Make Model N % N % Chrysler Aspen/Durango 35 0.2 0 0 -100 Ford Escape/Mariner 1,361...

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Hybrids on the Best Car for the Money Awards

US News Autos announced their Best Car for the Money Awards and there are two hybrids on the list. The Toyota Prius won for best hybrid and the Lexus RX Hybrid won Best Hybrid SUV.But the choices are a little vague (at least the criteria is) and if you follow the links even a little bit, you're bound to be confused. For instance, the Toyota Camry won for best midsize, but when you click on the link, the Camry has a big #8 on it. Follow that and you'll see the Toyota Camry is #8 on the list of affordable midsize cars, of which the Ford Fusion...

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GM Invests $700 Million into Michigan to Produce Volt

GM outlined their costs associated with updating the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the E-REV Chevy Volt. So far, the general is spending $336 million to re-shape the plant.GM went on to note they've now invested $700 million in Michigan for the Volt. The Volt will be assembled using tools from Grand Blanc, lithium-ion batteries from GM's Brownstown Township battery pack manufacturing facility, camshafts and connecting rods from Bay City, and stampings and the Volt's 1.4L engine-generator from Flint. All that will be brought together at the...

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Prius Tops in Japan Again

The Toyota Prius outsold the competition in Japan once again. Toyota sold 26,817 units last month, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association. Total passenger car sales for the month were 268,450 units (Via GCC who has a great graph of Prius sales before and after the incentives kicked in). Which means almost 10% of all passenger cars sold in Japan in November came with a Prius nameplate.The Honda Insight came in fifth, overall, at 9,413 units sold. Together, that means the Insight and Prius accounted for 13.5% of new vehicle sales...

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Diesels Beat Hybrids in 2010 Green Car of the Year

The Audi 3 TDI hatchback was named Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the LA Auto Show. That's the second year in a row a diesel has taken home top honors.The nominees for 2010 included 3 hybrids and two diesels. Last year, the Jetta TDI won and the year before it was the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. So, obviously, green car of the year is not 'Greenest Car' for that year. Instead, the qualification require a new vehicle and focuses in on the new aspects of a vehicle that make it green. The TDI won last year because the 'clean diesel'...

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Volt Production Numbers, the Early Years

Bob Lutz laid out the initial plans for the Chevy Volt at the LA Auto Show. He once again confirmed the Volt will be launched next year in California, followed by other select regions of the country.That makes sense given his other remarks.In the first few months, Chevy will be producing 4,000 to 5,000 Volts, with 8,000 to 10,000 total in the first year.That's not a lot of units to go around, especially if they opened up sales across the country.Nor will the Volt turn into a top 10 model any time soon. Full production capacity is set at 50,000...

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The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Price

The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 series MSRP has been set at $103,125, which puts it in the competitive range with other luxury hybrids. The difference, as BMW points out, is this will be the most powerful hybrid luxury sedan out there.If you're interested in the long wheelbase, the ActiveHybrid 7L will run you $107,025. Both numbers include the destination and handling charges.The models will arrive in showrooms in spring of 2011.The BMW ActiveHybrid...

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Plug-in Prius in LA

Toyota brought the plug-in Prius they are working on to compete visually with the Chevy Volt that is also appearing at the LA Auto Show. But, Toyota is once again emphasizing their feelings that the plug-in is not ready for prime-time.The batteries are the key. Lithium-ion battery packs are big, heavy and very expensive. Thus, Toyota is restricting the plug-in Prius to testing over the next few years. 350 plug-ins will be sent out in Japan and...

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2010 Toyota Prius Earns the Best Buy Award

The 2010 Toyota Prius earns a 'Best Buy' award from Consumer Guide Automotive, the first time it has been on the list.  The Prius was 'insufficiently transparent' for the vehicle to earn Consumer Guide recognition until now. 22 of the vehicles listed in the Consumer Guide Awards come with diesel or hybrid variants.  Thus Consumer Guides feels the hybrid technology has 'finally matured' and is 'firmly established.'Seems to me like they're a little behind the times, but that's OK. A conservative approach to car reviewers is a good...

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Shopping for Used Cars Through Craigslist Just Got Easier

If you've ever been shopping for a used car through craigslist, this extension for firefox may be just the tool you need to get by (found via Lifehacker).Let's face it, shopping through the web is a pain.  This add-on cuts way down on the number of searches you need to make before you decide to contact the seller.  Just look at the features.Gives estimated price from multiple sources. Also provides links for further research.Factory car...

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Ford Fusion Hybrid Racks Up Awards

The Ford Fusion Hybrid has seen some pretty good reviews so far, and is now seeing quite a few awards swing by, too. The Ford Hybrid was named one of Car and Driver's 10 Best cars for 2010, plus the Fusion lineup received Motor Trend 2010 Car of the Year Award.And now the Earth, Wind & Power (EWP) have named the Ford Fusion Hybrid as the Most Environmentally Progressive Car of the Year.  Truck of the Year went to the 2010 Audi Q7 TDI Clean Diesel.“Ford has worked diligently to make the Fusion Hybrid America’s most fuel-efficient midsize...

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Toyota Prius Tops in Resale Value - KBB 2010 Awards

Once again, the Toyota Prius topped KBB resale value charts for 2010.For buyers seeking to make a statement about their commitment to saving the world, no car says it louder than the Toyota Prius. Combining EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 50 miles per gallon with outstanding resale value, the Prius delivers value throughout the ownership cycle. The Prius topped the hybrid/alternative category, plus it made the top 10 list (overall) in KBB 2010 Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards. Hybrids helped push Toyota and Lexus to the top in...

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