Toyota Sports Up Prius with new PLUS Package from TRD

At last year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Toyota displayed a lightly modified version of the Prius Hybrid to inaugurate its new line of accessories under the PLUS moniker.

Now it’s time for the Japanese automaker to release the production version of its modestly sported up Prius with the commercial launch of the PLUS Performance Package that will be available for order in July in limited numbers.

The package features styling and performance upgrades, and is optionally available on all Prius models with pricing set at $3,699 for the Prius Two, Three, and Four trim levels and $2,999 for the Prius Five.

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Robocarpocalypse Begins: Nevada Asks DoT to Draw Up Legislation for Driverless Cars

I can’t remember if there were self-driving cars in the third Terminator movie, though frankly I can’t remember anything other than that red leather and vinyl outfit Kristanna Loken was wearing. What were we talking about? Oh, yes, the robocarpocalypse.

With the passing of Assembly Bill 511 in the Nevada Senate, the U.S. Department of Transport will now have to draw up rules governing autonomous vehicles on the state’s roads.

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Google Goes Electric, Sets Up 70 Charging Stations at its California Headquarters

Internet-giant Google has just adopted the largest workplace charging installation for electric vehicles in the U.S. with the completion of 70 “ChargePoint” stations at its Mountain View, California headquarters.

The new charging infrastructure will support both employee-owned EVs and “GFleet” plug-in vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF. And there are 250 more charging stations on the way, with the goal of making Google’s HQ parking facilities 5% EV-ready.

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Eric Leong’s Radical 2015 Toyota Prius Design Study

As part of last year’s Toyota Design Internship, industrial designer Eric Leong produced this interesting take on the fourth-generation Toyota Prius for the year 2015.

By acknowledging that wind resistance is one of the key factors in improving vehicle economy, Leong’s Prius III hybrid is extremely slippery. Described by the designer as moving, “through [the wind], not into it”, this design study channels air over its surface through a series of vanes.

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Toyota Recalling 106,000 Prius Hybrids Globally Over Steering Wheel Issue

The newest Toyota recall affects approximately 106,000 Prius hybrids globally built from 2001 to 2003 for a fault with the electric power steering system. The Japanese automaker said the voluntary action affects around 52,000 Prius models sold in the United States.

“If the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position, there is a possibility the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly may become loose,” Toyota said in a statement. The company added that if the owner leaves the condition uncorrected, over time they will gradually notice significant increased steering effort when making a left turn.

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Toyota Mulling a Larger Hybrid Minivan than the Prius V with Seating for Seven

The all-new Prius V five-seater minivan isn’t due to arrive in U.S. showrooms until this fall, yet Toyota is already looking into the development of a larger model capable of seating seven passengers as well as carrying their luggage, according to Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager. The larger Prius won’t be based on the Japanese market Prius Alpha nor the European specification Prius+, both of which pack a retractable third row of seats into the Prius V’s cargo area.

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Faux Nissan Advert Pits Toyota Prius against Hyundai Elantra Owner

Though not a real commercial, we really enjoyed watching this faux Nissan Sentra advert from The Midnight Show at UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade theater). Written by James Adomian, the ad pits a Toyota Prius hybrid owner against his neighbor who just bought a Hyundai Elantra. The owners' quarrel over who got the best car / deal ends up with a hilarious driveway shooting. Hit the jump to watch the commercial.

Via: TheTruthAboutCars

Toyota Launches Certified Used Vehicle Program for Hybrid Models

In an attempt to draw the attention of buyers searching for used hybrids, Toyota USA has created a new used-vehicle certification program for the brand's hybrid models like the Prius, Camry and Highlander. On top of Toyota Certified's 160-point quality assurance inspection, the extras for the hybrid program include 14 additional points that include the hybrid vehicle electronic control unit and the hybrid vehicle battery.

Furthermore, in addition to the usual warranties, the Japanese automaker said that the certified used hybrids come with a new-vehicle factory hybrid battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles - and more in certain states.

Link: Toyota Certified Hybrids

Video: 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Driving and Static Footage

Looks like there's a conspiracy of some kind among automakers when it comes to publishing video material for their hybrid models. Just like Honda and it's ultra tedious Insight video, Toyota also released some lifeless 'b-roll' footage for the new Prius that was revealed at the Detroit Show. For the record, we edited the official video cutting it down to a viewable four minutes as well as adding an 'eco' conscious song to break the annoying silence. Enjoy it right after the jump.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid: Prius Rival Bows in Detroit - 73 High-Res Photos

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut at the North American International Auto Show. Honda's mass production hybrid will be launched worldwide in the beginning of April 2009 and will be priced in the States below the Civic Hybrid that starts from $23,650. Utilizing the same mild-hybrid system as the Civic IMA, the Insight is powered by a 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The Insight's IMA system incorporates a 10-kilowatt (13 hp) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) that recaptures and stores kinetic energy from vehicle braking and deceleration, supplying additional power for acceleration when needed. The combined output of the petrol and electric engine is 98HP - significantly less than the Prius' 134HP.

Honda's new dedicated hybrid also loses from the Prius -on the papers at least- in terms of fuel efficiency achieving a combined EPA rating of 41 mpg US compared to Toyota's gen-III Prius 50 mpg. According to Honda, with a 10.6-gallon fuel tank, the Insight delivers an estimated maximum driving range in excess of 400 miles.

However, bear in mind that these are EPA estimates plus, the price difference between the two hybrid models may mean that in the long run, the Insight could prove more cost efficient.

Now that we've seen the whole picture, and despite the fact that the Prius is no beauty queen, we find the Insight's design more bland and with less character. The interior on the other hand, though over-loaded and somewhat complicated, has that futuristic look that one would expect from a dedicated hybrid model.