Toyota Prius Minivan

Nikkei newspaper in Japan recently reported that Toyota will indeed be producing a hybrid minivan wearing the Prius badge. This e-vehicle is set to carry the first lithium-ion battery pack that was produced in-house by Toyota. Secondly, the electric vehicle will be a seven-seater which means that it will also be the first family-oriented electronic vehicle in the market. The price tag also reveals a friendly 20 thousand dollar range.

With these factors established, Toyota might just possibly pioneer an entirely new breed of hybrid vehicles out there. After all, people have been looking for ways to transport 5 to 7 people more efficiently for some time now. The new Prius minivan might just be the answer.

The Prius badge on the minivan also confirms reports that family-oriented vehicles are being built around the nameplate. Producing a Prius vehicle that’s not “standard Prius” is a huge leap for Toyota. There are also reports that more Prius variations should be anticipated.

The use of lithium-ion batteries on the minivan also signals a shift in the company’s thinking. Toyota executives recently declared that the lithium ion technology is not ready for hybrid vehicles. The minivan’s mechanical design might just mean that they’ve changed their minds.

While consumers aren’t giddy with excitement with the production of a lithium-ion powered Prius minivan, Toyota’s move is certainly a significant mark in automotive history. The concept isn’t spanking new, but its development certainly suggests that Toyota might be heading to a different direction in the coming years. The Prius hybrid minivan is scheduled for release in 2011.

When you break it down – even though Toyota has been getting a lot of flack about their recent recall, they are still the leader in the hybrid market and when they came out with the brand new Toyota FT-CH at the Detroit Auto Show – it wowed everyone … including me! 

Not only is the Toyota FT-CH a little cousin to the Pruis, but it looks neat and certainly looks like it will fit into this world of small, compact cars.  This small little car is only about 68.5 inches wide and is not very tall at all but it was definitely making waves at the Detroit Auto Show just a few short weeks ago.

If you are looking for a small hybrid car that is extremely cost-efficient, this is the car for you people!

However, w are going to talk about the Toyota Plug-In Prius Concept – this incredible concept car is actually going to be a car that is supposed to plug in, instead of having a gas tank at all.  While Toyota right at the moment is not giving up any details, there has to be a lithium ion battery pack somewhere in that sports car – or at least we hope there is.

Just remember, the Toyota Plug-In Prius Concept is going to be featured at the Frankfurt Motor Show – I can promise you that one!

Of course, the main reasons The Box is so sought after is because of its affordability, its ultimate practicality, and though you may not realize it, because of its high performance as well.

There are lots of things going on under the Scion xB’s hood, thanks to a 2.4 liter inline four cylinder engine, Toyota’s pride; it makes for 158 horsepower and a whopping 162 pounds per feet of torque.

The Prius is one of those cars that I think could be almost completely and totally green, which to me is one of those things that will push it over the top.  With the way that the environment is right now, it is pretty obvious that the Prius is going to be in the lead for the car of the year – on the hybrid side, especially with this brand new addition!

So if you are worried about the environment and you truly want to make a different, Toyota is with you and the Prius is going to be the very best choice!

We all know that Toyota is the leading car company – however, what you might not know is that Toyota is actually the leading car company for hybrid cars.  They are definitely one of those companies that care truly about the environment and they are using all of their resources to come up with a car that runs on no fuel at all or on very little fuel.  Take the Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv, this car is definitely one SUV that I am into – it is a hydrogen fuel cell SUV!

Now, currently, they are testing the Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv and this car is actually topping out at about 431 miles right now without having to refuel itself with gas – just with H2.  This car is honestly one of the coolest and while it might not be on the market and available until 2015, I am so excited about it!

So if you are looking for a car that is a hybrid – you should take a look at Toyota as the company and Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv as the SUV!

If there is one thing that I know about Toyota, it is going to be that they are looking for the best possible way to make some of the best hybrid cars on the market.  However, whenever you are designing cars, you want them to look cool right? After all, if the car does not look appealing then you will not gain all that many buyers and that, in a whole is going to be the point of producing a car.  So that is why Toyota, way back in 2007 came up with the Toyota FT-HS concept and I have to say that it looks pretty cool!

This incredible concept car is by far one of the coolest looking hybrid sports cars ever and it is going to be by far one of the fastest on the market as well.  This particular car, while a concept right now is supposed to be built around 2011, so there really should be no word about it probably until next year … however I wanted to give you the lowdown on it.

So really, check out Toyota because they are truly doing some remarkable things in the hybrid area.

Of course, by all rights, it is no longer just a concept. Indeed, it is the first sports car introduced by Toyota since the manufacturer dropped the popular Supra over ten years ago, in 1997.

With this concept car, Toyota wanted something that could develop four hundred horsepower. They wanted a hybrid sports car, and that is what they got — an eco friendly dream than can go from zero to sixty in approximately four seconds.

The engine? A 3.5 liter V6 full of thrust. It would be easy to develop — or simply find — an electric motor to help make up the rest.

Japanese car dealers were informed of the price slashing for the 1.8L hybrid re-engineered Prius a week before the end of March.

In the US the Honda Insight has a starting price of $20470 as it rolled down the market in March. The third generation Prius will hit the market with a $24000 sticker.

Toyota refused to reveal the pricing strategy it will use for the US market but car experts speculate that it will be a cut throat move to dethrone the Honda Insight as the most affordable hybrid vehicle in the market today. If it will be based on their moves in Japan, Toyota is expected to have aggressive surprises.

Toyota might be using the pricing scheme to lure in the market in Japan to switch to higher trim cars. The present generation Toyota Prius sells for 2.331 million Yen or about $23590. The bigger and more efficient hybrid from Toyota can easily out class the Insight.

The Prius pushes the Insight aside with a far better mileage at 51 mpg city driving and 48 mpg on the highway. The Insight shows 40 mpg on the city while 43 on the highway.

The current generation of Prius will still be sold in Japan alongside the new gen Prius due for release on May 18. The next Prius is expected to have a better interiors and a better tag price at 1.89 million Yen or $19130. The new Prius will be rebadged as the EX which primarily aims to attract fleet buyers.

As a major step in their collaboration in road-trials in France, EDF and Toyota had declared that it will involve Plug-in Hybrid vehicles (PHV) and an enhanced charging mechanism and will be rented by selected partners and companies in Strasbourg, France. About hundred units of the lithium ion batteried PHV’s will be released to the said renters.

The renting will start from the end of 2009 and it will last for three years. This project is made also possible by the financial aid of the Research Fund that is supervised by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency or ADEME. This joint program is a part of the global Toyota venture that will also be done in Japan and in the United States from the end of the year 2009.

Toyota has this main goal to probe more on the performance and technology of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (like the Plug-in Hybrid Prius) while the EDF is aiming to assess the varied operational methods for the powering or charging mechanisms. The collaboration, meanwhile, is to widen the knowledge and recognition of the consumers, as a preliminary step for the future commercialization.

In the context of the collaboration, the vehicles will make use of an enhanced charging system that is engineered for secured charging. The PHV’s made use of Toyota’s hybrid enhancements but with the added advantage that the batteries will be recharged using the typical electric plugs.

The car manufacturer is anticipating to give rise to an unsurpassed fuel economy and will make a hit on low emissions.