Toyota announced that they will be showing off their latest in green technology at the Frnakfurt Auto Show with the Plug-In Prius hybrid.  The all new Prius is known as the 2010 PHV or plug-in hybrid vehicle will be released later this year, with Toyota promising 500 sold to fleets world wide.

Unlike other traditional Plug-In style electric cars, the 2010 Prius PHV will only have a limited distance of 12 miles to run on battery alone.  After reaching a distance of 12 miles the plug-in battery is depleted and the Prius returns to standard hybrid mode.  The hybrid mode of this PHV is similar to that of what's found in existing model Toyota Prius's.

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There have been a number of people speculating about the all new hybrid coming from Lexus and it's relation to the wildly popular Toyota Prius.  Most of  the speculation claims that the Lexus HS 250h is as similar to the Toyota Prius as the Ford Ranger is to the Mazda pickup.  Thankfully for those in the market, this isn't true.

There is a single shared component between the HS 250h and Prius, which is the hybrid technology.  The name of  the system is the series/parallel and refers to the technology, not the actual components.  The series/parallel type hybrid means that the traditional engine component can drive the wheels directly and be disconnected from the drive train to allow the electric motor component to drive the wheels.  This type of system is used in the Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, and soon Lexus HS 250h.

The rest of the HS 250h is completely different than the Prius.  Some of the main component differences is the 2.4 l engine, double wishbone suspension, and a ton of electronic creature comforts.  There will nothing to confuse onlookers as to what type of car it is, the Toyota or the Lexus.

Fuel Efficient Sports Cars

Enthusiasts are already starting to demand a higher performance from their hybrid and ultra high efficienct cars.  Already there are some players in the market that are looking to push the envelope in regards to power in a hybrid and looks that really scream sports car.  Ultimately, and this is just my opinion, a hybrid car will only become truly popular when you don't look at it and automatically know it's a hybrid.

Fisker Karma has already started working on a sports car based on a plug-in type hybrid system.  Also most recently Rasser created a 100 mpg Hummer, that proves you can have the looks of a traditional car with the efficiency of a hybrid.  With advacements like this it begs the question of what the big boys will be bringing to the hybrid sport car market.

Toyota has debuted a prototype of what might develop into a full on hybrid sports car.  The FT-HS Concept is a short wheel base boxster inspired hybrid sports car.  Depending on who you believe, the FT-HS pictured below may be the launching point from reviving the Toyota Supra.  Yes, the next generation Toyota Supra may live on, as a hybrid sports car.

Toyota has had to ramp up production of their hybrid Prius, especially after the recent launch of the second generation.  According to industry analysts Toyota has already received orders for 80,000 new Prius's, which will require increases in production to 7,000 more units per month.

Contributing factors to the increase in demand would be the new Prius lower price.  No doubt this is in response to the Honda Insight being released to compete in the passenger car hybrid market.  Also, in response to slumping sales in Japan, Toyota has revamped the last generation Prius to help compete with the newer advanced base model.

Hopefully this increase in Prius production is a sign that world economies are starting to turn around.  I'd love to start reading some positive automotive news in the near future.

Any day now the 2010 Toyota Tundra should be available for ordering or purchase at your local Toyota dealership.  However, finding good 2010 Tundra pictures has proved difficult, even for those of us savy in the ways of the web.  Below are a few pictures of the 2010 Tundra assembled from various press releases and industry analysts.

To me, the 2010 Tundra looks like more of the same and possibly emphasis on the more.  In a market that is currently trying to get away from V8 power and look more green, why would Toyota still produce this work horse?  Oh that's right, because people still buy them and because you can't haul 500 lbs of tools around in the back of a Prius.  Oh yeah, how many trips does it take to help a buddy move their furniture in a compact?

As a bonus, here is video from the 2009 San Diego Auto Show, where the 2010 Toyota Tundra was on exhibit.

World markets are a tricky thing and staying in the customers good graces can be a balancing act.  That's why, at least vocally, Toyota hopes that GM will succeed and are constantly sending good wishes their way.  But why would a competitor, in a ever growing cut-throat market, want it's biggest competitor to succeed?

Let's look at history, even a few short decades ago.  In the 80's and before there was huge hatred toward the foreign market.  The perceived quality of foreign vehicles had not yet been established, so Toyota like other brands were just trying to prove themselves.  Another challenge they were trying to overcome was the general publics patriotism, the hope, and want for an American company to dominate the industry.

How far have we come?  Obviously Toyota took over GM as the largest car manufacturer in the world, owed largely to it's ever increasing US market share.  So what does Toyota risk, if they don't actively support it's domestic competitors?  In a sensitive market, walking on egg shells may be the only thing that keeps Toyota from slipping back into the early 80's in the eyes of American car buyers.

Consider the devastation to Toyota domestically if the American people decide to rally against foreign competitors and strongly support their domestic car manufacturers again.  Potentially, all the work Toyota had done to generate brand quality would be destroyed.  I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but there is a reason the owl wants the rabbits to mate.

We're not talking world wide, because that happened about a year ago, but Toyota has officially sold over 1 million hybrids in the United States.  This sales figure includes all hybrids under the Toyota and Lexus branding, quite a feat.  Gas prices last summer obviously helped drive the hybrid market, but there is something to say about having over 1 million hybrid cars on the road today from one manufacturer.

Toyota has been dominating the hybrid market with over 75% of the market share.  Furthermore they have been offering 6 differnet hybrid badged cars under Toyota and Lexus manufacturing, where other domestic manufacturers are simply trying to catch up.

Continually pushing the hybrid envelope, Toyota plans to offer a luxury edition Priusy hybrid in 2010.  No doubt, if anyone has any money left, greenies will be buying this luxury early adopted technology right off the manufacturing line.

Hard to believe only a few short months ago I was talking about how safe the Toyota Yaris was going to be for the US market.  This little toy car was supposed to set records for safety and protection of it's drivers, despite it's small size.  Well, apparently the experts found out otherwise and now Toyota is facing a large recall of the Yaris.

According to reports a foam pad near the seat belt could ignite during collisions.  Sounds interesting, considering anything that's flammable has the ability to ignite in any type of friction collision.  So to me, sounds a little suspicious, but I'm the type of person who believes in conspiracy theory.  Hopefully Toyota will get the Yaris back on the road and selling to start improving sales figures going into 09.

I recent comment on an old post, regarding the Toyota IQ Car, brought my attention back to this little beasty.  The comment mentioned that this was not intended to actually be a hybrid, rather a small gasoline engine or diesel.  After some further research, it looks like Toyota does plan on making a very small motorcycle engine, to power this pimple on wheels.

The Toyota IQ was originally announced and shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.  Midgets and kids shrieked in excitement at the possibility of finally getting to drive a go-kart on the highways and biways.  However, it looks like the IQ will be focused on European markets, where traffic studies show the average speed is in the teens.  So, a tiny motor cycle engine will be sufficient to push the little tin can down the road.

Videos of Toyota IQ Car

The Toyota Supra has long been the object of my affection.  I've lusted, needed, wanted, and loathed others driving by in their sexy Japanese import.  It wasn't your typical rice burner, something you could laugh at and one definitely not driven by the typical pimply faced 16 year old.  No, the Supra is and was what dreams were made of.

Believe it or not, the original Toyota Supra was not what most think of when they hear twin turbos spooling up.  The original Supra was more like a Celica rip off, boxy, ugly, just like any other import in the late 70's.  Originally the Supra was released in Japan (obviously) in 1978 and then made it's way over in 1979 with barely over 100 horsepower.

1979 Supra

By 1982 the Supra had undergone a few changes most notably in the engine bay, where the inline 4 was swapped out for an inline 6.  Further changes included some typical 80's flares for the skirts and bumpers, along with the option of a performance or luxury model.  This new 80's makeover even included a semi-advanced stereo system, complete with 7-Channel graphic equalizer.  I love the 80's.

1982 Supra

By the time the late 80's rolled around we were starting to get a little more serious.  The Supra was starting to brand itself a sport import and less like a 2-Door family car.  The inline six was massaged over and was starting to breathe out just at 200 horsepower.   It was in 1989 that Toyota also offered a Turbo, that netted an additional 30 horsepower over the base 200 on the 3.0 litre inline 6.   The bigger power gains and lighter weigh components allowed the Supra to be a real contender in a domestic controlled market.

It's 1993 and we can start talking about the Supra design that us in our late 20's came to know and love.  When I hear the word Supra, this is the model that immediately comes to mind and the turbo whine I associate it with.  This is also the year the Supra got it's largest horsepower increase, which allowed the inline 6 cylinder Turbo to produce over 300 horsepower.  This increase in power coupled with it's lightest components ever, with sport tuned suspension, would allow the twin-turbo Supra to rocket from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds.

1993 Supra

1994 Supra

Yes, the Toyota Supra is quite possibly the only importa that makes my pants tight.  It's also the only 'rice burner' I'd ever be caught dead in.  It makes this love even more bittersweet that Toyota haulted production in 2002, making the Supra a collectors item.

Depending on who you believe, there have been numerous believers that the Supra will be revived, even as early as 2005.  Some of these rumors stated that the next generation Supra will included a V8, going against years of inline 6 superiority.  According to some publications 2008 was supposed to mark the return of the Supra, but obviously that has come and gone.  In todays automotive landscape and economic crisis, I don't think even Toyota will be taking risks with developing a new sport import to lust over.
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