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Posts Tagged ‘prius’

Toyota has announced that they estimate they will sell 25,000 new Lexus hybrid cars in the United State throughout their first year of sales.

Toyota plan to release their brand new luxury hybrid car, the Lexus HS250 Hybrid, this summer into the U.S. market. This new car is the first dedicated hybrid car to be part of Lexus, Toyota’s luxury car range. However, it’s not their first hybrid car. Toyota released the Prius in 2000, which was their first hybrid car, which saw huge success in the U.S. market.

Even though Toyota hasn’t release any price details of their new Lexus HS250 Hybrid, it’s not likely to be a cheap car to buy. Maybe a lexus lease option would be a cheaper alternative.

Since the release of the Prius in 2000, Toyota have taken control of over 75% of the U.S. hybrid car market, selling over 1 million hybrid cars. All those sales have tolled up to over half of Toyota’s hybrid sales internationally.

Toyota also release their new third generation Prius into the U.S. earlier this year which has forcasted sales of around 180,000 units in it’s first year. Much more than expected for the luxury Lexus hybrid car.

However, Toyota may have estimated these sales, but whether they will manage to sell that many during the current climate is another matter. Although the amount of car sales in May rose since last month, the amount of car sales since the start of 2009 as dropped by 36% in the U.S. Some even worse new for Toyota is that the demand for hybrid cars is slowly reducing. This is down to a drop in fuel prices, although they rose last July, they have dropped alot since the start of the year.

This price drop has had an effect on the market, because hybrid cars are around $4000 more than a gasoline car, more people are opting for gasoline powered cars simply to save the money.

That aside, Toyota still have high hopes their new luxury Hybrid car because they believe that the car market is improving and the requirement for hybrid cars is coming back. Toyota might be relying alot on the car lease market. Because of the current financial matters, many car buyers are opting for car leasing because it works out cheaper for a new car.

Toyota has announced the cost for the new Prius.Costing over $23,000; the new Prius is a couple of grand more than the new kid on the block; the Insight. Costing a few grand less earns the Insight the honor and distinction of cheapest hybrid in the U.S. 

The Eco Assist feature will improve fuel economy be making sure that the driver does not accelerate too much and therefore waste gas.The ECO socring helps the drive to have a system that allows for the best fuel economy, which is related back to the operator in the form of a miles per gallon readout.The Insight uses the latest hybrid motor techniology called the IMA or integrated motor assist.   This system in the next generation hybrids from Honda are greatly improved and result in reduced weight, cost savings, and greater cabin space. The Insight makes good use of Honda’s Intelligent V-TEC engine technology.For about the price of a base mopdel Prius, you can get a nicely equipt Insight that comes with: rims, USB integraded stereo, navigaion with voice recognition, and steering wheel mounted shifter. The Toyota has been the reigning king of the hybrid market for years now, but with the low price of the Insight, Honda is aiming to take away that title. 

Opposed to the Insight is the Prius with a 160-hp 1.8 liter engine uses 3 modes of operation. The EV mode allows the Prius to run on battery power alone, the ECO mode’s responsibility is to ensure the optimum gas mileage is obtained, and then the Power Mode give more power and throttle response.The Pre-Collision system is available as an option on the Prius.  This system comes equipped with a radar that constantly measures the distance of the car ahead and presumably adjusts brake pressure when probability of frontal collision is high. The Prius also includes a new touch sensor system on the steering wheel to ensure safe driving.

Even though the Insight has won the batlle of the price tags, the Prius still has a better MPG rating.Right now the MPG ratings for the new Insight are at 40 MPG in the city and 43 MPG on the highway, and the Prius comes in at 48 MPG city and 45 MPG on the highway.If you drive over 20,000 miles in a year (with gas costing $2.50 a gallon), so driving the Insight would cost over $1200 in fuel a year whereas the Prius would cost just over $1000. So say you shell out that higher price for the Prius, yes you save 53 gallons of gas per year, but it will take 27 years of driving to recover that money via gas savings.The Toyota Prius does net a better MPG rating, yet the Honda is a better value due to its cheaper MSRP!

Used Honda Hybrid in Southern California, or buy a Used Prius Hybrid.  Jazel Auto Builds the best Auto Dealer Websites around.

The bar has been set with the new Toyota Prius. The amazing Fuel Economy is what has the largest appeal to many people.  The 2010 Toyota Prius comes equipped with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, which is up from the past 1.5L.  Contrary to what is the norm, the larger engine actually improves gas mileage due to the increase in torque.The 2010 Prius has gained some more muscle in the form of 50 extra horsepower. 

The 2010 Toyota Prius should get right about 50 MPG; which is up 4 MPG from its predecessor.Frugal driving can net over 75 MPG!The improvement in fuel economy also comes from the lightened body and powertrain. Engine noise is toned down thanks to a stiffer chassis.

In redesigning the Prius, engineers have successfully improved the steering by angling the wheels slightly and creating brake discs at all four corners. The new Prius comes stock with some great features such as: air, CD, and power everything. A remote air conditioner, LED headlights, rearview camera system, and XM radio are all new accessories available on the new Prius.

The battery recharging system has also been upgraded. The new Prius is at the top of the compact car class in regards to safety. Some features include, seven airbags, as well as a driver knee bag, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, tire pressure monitors, radar cruise control, a lane-departure warning system, a rearview camera, a “Safety Connect” system, and Intelligent Parking Assist.

See the new Prius and a nice inventory of other hybrids at the Riverside County Toyota Dealer.