According to a Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun, Toyota is planning to extend its Prius hybrid family with a larger variant. The model is reported to be a tall wagon or a crossover model and will be the first Toyota hybrid vehicle to use a lithium-ion battery pack.

The newspaper said that sales of the model will begin next year in Japan with pricing to start at an equivalent of $22,000.

It was reported last month that Toyota is planning a Prius coupe that will be later joined by a Prius MPV.

The 2010 Toyota Prius uses a nickel-metal hydride battery pack, which is less powerful and larger than lithium-ion.

Click here for more news on the Toyota Prius.

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Inside Line

Honda is ready to unleash its sporty CR-Z hatchback hybrid in the U.S. in 2010. In fact, it’ll be so sporty that it will be the first hybrid offered with a 6-speed manual transmission.

According to a report by AutoCar, Toyota is planning a Prius coupe that will go head-to-head with Honda’s CR-Z (can’t say that we didn’t see it coming).

The Prius will most likely use the same 134-hp 1.8L VVT-i hybrid powertrain and the same platform as that wagon version. However, a more aerodynamic body and possible weight savings would offer better fuel-economy and a more zippy drive.

AutoCar says that the Prius coupe will be later joined by a Prius MPV that would be based on the Honda Skydeck.

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Kap Shah

Source: AutoCar

An Autopia reader spotted this accident involving a Tesla Roadster, Volkswagen Touareg and the Toyota Prius. The accident took place earlier this week and as the story goes the Tesla was stopped behind the Touareg at a red light when a Prius rear-ended it and pushed it under the SUV.

According Tesla’s spokeswoman Rachel Konrad:

This was a customer car but the customer was not driving or in the car at the time. The driver stopped at a red light behind a truck and was hit from behind by a VW Touareg driving at 80km/hour at the time of impact. The Roadster driver walked away with minor bruises.

No word on others involved in the accident but we hope everyone is okay and made it out safe.

If you have any additional details about the crash, let us know in the comments section below.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Autopia

Green Car Journal announced today that it has picked five finalists for the 2010 Green Car of the Year. The winner will be announced during a press conference at the 2009 LA Auto Show on Dec. 3.

2010 Green Car of the Year Finalists:

• Audi A3 TDI
• Honda Insight
• Mercury Milan Hybrid (no idea why it’s not the Ford Fusion Hybrid)
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Golf TDI

Let us know who you think should win by casting your vote in the poll below. Have something to say? Hit the jump to have your voice heard in the comments section.

Press Release:

Five Finalists Announced for the 2010 Green Car of the Year®

Winner to be Announced During an LA Auto Show Press Conference on Dec. 3

LOS ANGELES – Oct. 7, 2009 – Green Car Journal announced today its five finalists for the 2010 Green Car of the Year®, including the Audi A3 TDI, Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf TDI. For the fifth consecutive year, this prestigious award will be announced during a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show press days, Dec. 3.

The Green Car of the Year® award is a program that honors environmental leadership in the automobile field and recognizes vehicles that are readily available to consumers during the award year. Green Car Journal editors perform an exhaustive review of vehicle models to identify the five finalists. The winner is ultimately decided by jurors such as Jay Leno, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Carroll Shelby, Matt Petersen of Global Green USA and the Sierra Club’s Carl Pope, along with Green Car Journal editors.

“We’re seeing the trend for ‘green’ cars emerging at all levels, from entry-level cars to luxury models, and even performance cars and SUVs/crossovers,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “Plus, an array of technologies and fuels as well as strategies like lightweighting and reducing rolling resistance are being applied to the challenge. Greater choice provides buyers a personal stake in lessening environmental impact, and that’s important.”

This year’s finalists reflect this diversity. For the first time an Audi makes the final five with its sporty A3 TDI clean diesel. Volkswagen’s new Golf TDI shows an expanding focus on clean diesel technology in the VW lineup. The Insight is a completely new hybrid sedan for Honda and the 2010 Toyota Prius is a totally redesigned, third-generation version of this popular hybrid model. The Milan Hybrid is Mercury’s application of its advanced-hybrid technology in an upscale mid-size sedan.

About Green Car of the Year®

The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal’s mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since 1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Subscription information, along with a downloadable sample issue, can be found at GCJUSA.com. Green Car of the Year® is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.

About the Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show will be held on Dec. 2-3 for press and Dec. 4-13 for the public. Media registration is now open. This year, the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA), the world automobile trade association, has officially named the Los Angeles Auto Show as one of its sanctioned international exhibitions. For more information, please visit LAautoshow.com.

- By: Stephen Calogera

The U.S. trade panel plans to investigate an allegation that Toyota Motor Crop has infringed patented technology to make its hybrid vehicles. The U.S. International Trade Commission said that Paice LLC, based in Florida, has asked it to order Toyota to stop using the infringing technology to produce its hybrids and to bar imports on its fuel-saving vehicles.

Paice has also filed a similar suit in a U.S. court in Texas, a popular venue for infringement suits. That suit asks Toyota to pay fees to Paice based on the number of hybrids sold.

The suit also includes Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Motor Sales.

“Toyota itself has many patents on the hybrid technology and believes that it has strong defenses against all of Paice’s claims and that it will prevail in the ITC proceeding,” Toyota said in a statement.

Toyota has appealed Paice’s claim to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Reuters

At a dealer meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Japanese automaker told dealerships that it will use the Prius name on more hybrid models in its U.S. lineup. Toyota dealer Earl Stewart said that the Prius name would be attached to “a family of models” using similar hybrid powertrains.

“The Highlander hybrid and Camry hybrid do OK, but calling it ‘Synergy Drive’ never resonated with consumers,” Stewart told Automotive News. “But they can make hay on the Prius name. It’s a magic name. If somebody says ‘I drive a Prius,’ everybody knows what he means.”

Toyota Motor Sales’ COO Jim Lentz has been pushing for a multi-platform Prius for more than a year now. Stewart said that Toyota will have a range of Prius hybrid models “but Prius won’t be a separate sub-brand like Scion.”

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Kap Shah

It’s been quite sometime that we’ve been hearing that Toyota is working on a hybrid that is smaller than the Toyota Prius. It was first reported that Toyota is working on a hybrid variant of the Yaris, which the company eventually denied. However, it did confirm that a smaller hybrid is on the way.

Well, we’ll have our first look at the compact hybrid at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next week with the new Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept.

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept shares its powertrain with the new 2010 Toyota Prius. The Hybrid Synergy Drive system is paired with a 98-hp 1.8L engine that helps the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept go from 0 to 62 mph in 10 seconds while returning CO2 emissions below 100 g/km. Estimated fuel-economy figures were not released. The model also features ECO mode to maximize fuel-economy and a POWER mode to boost performance. An EV mode is also available that allows the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept to run on electric power alone for up to 1.2 miles at speeds of up to 31 mph.

The model also features dash-top mounted solar panels that generate enough power to recharge mobile phones or music players mounted in charging trays on each side of the dashboard.

Toyota said that the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept will go into production, with sales due to start in the second half of 2010. Want it in the U.S.? Beg for it in the comments section below.

Follow the jump for the press release and the high-res image gallery.

Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept:

Press Release

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept is proof of Toyota’s intention to extend its full hybrid technology to European mainstream models. Toyota is committed to reducing the global impact of motor vehicles, by making the environmentally-friendly credentials of Hybrid Synergy Drive® (HSD) accessible to a wider customer base. The company is on-track to offering a hybrid version of every model in the early 2020s.

The C-segment is considered to be the centre of gravity of the European car market. Consequently, the installation of Hybrid Synergy Drive® within the Toyota Auris is the logical first step in the deployment of full hybrid technology across Toyota’s entire European model range.

The introduction of the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept also aims to create an important shift in customer perceptions of full hybrid technology. The advantages of exceptional fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions are obvious. However, the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid customer will also experience a smooth and sophisticated driving experience, unique to the C segment, thanks to the everyday usability, driving comfort and remarkable quietness of Toyota’s Full Hybrid powertrain.

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, with sales due to start in the second half of 2010.

Exterior Design

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept reflects the installation of Full Hybrid technology in an entirely mainstream package. Subtle styling enhancements, targeting improved aerodynamic efficiency and blue accented, hybrid badging instantly identify the car as the latest addition to Toyota’s full hybrid fleet.

The front has been designed to optimise the flow of air over the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept in the interest of maximising fuel efficiency. Front and rear bumper corners feature flat surfaces. This not only gives the car a wide, solid stance, but also smoothes the flow of air down the flanks of the car, minimising turbulence and drag.

With a ride height lowered by 20mm, the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept features under-body panels and a rear diffuser to smooth and control the flow of air beneath the car, further improving fuel efficiency. Unique 18″ alloy wheels are designed to minimise air turbulence within the wheel arches. The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept is also equipped with low rolling resistance tyres and a larger, more efficient rear spoiler. These aerodynamic elements target a drag coefficient of just 0.28.

In common with every Toyota vehicle at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept is presented in a striking, white pearl finish. This reflects the clean, high technology, sub- 100 g/km credentials and superb environmental performance of the concept car’s Hybrid Synergy Drive®.

Roomy, relaxed and high quality interior

Within the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept’s comfortable, roomy and practical cabin, several unique styling features hallmark the vehicle’s full hybrid status.

The seats and upper dashboard are finished in blue, Gaucholino leather with light blue accent stitching. Complementing the concept car’s exterior body colour, the centre console and side air vents receive a refined, highly tactile pearl white finish.

The driver’s instrument cluster features hybrid blue illumination, combining high technology styling with an easy-to-read, visually relaxing design. Alloy pedals further reinforce the performance attributes of HSD technology, and the steering wheel is of a new, flat bottomed design for ease of access and improved driver upper legroom. Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept-specific entry and exit sequenced illumination includes external, door mirror-mounted puddle lights and unique, ambient footwell and roof contour illumination. Thick, high quality carpeting enhances on-board comfort and refinement. It also contributes to a marked improvement in cabin quietness.

Refined driving experience

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept shares the latest generation Prius’ powertrain. It brings the extraordinarily refined, smooth and silent Hybrid Synergy Drive® experience to a Toyota mainstream model customer base for the first time in Europe.

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in approximately 10 seconds, yet returns class leading combined cycle fuel economy, and CO2 emissions below 100 g/km.

The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid offers four driving modes, including three on-demand modes to further increase the capabilities of the Hybrid Synergy Drive® powertrain.

An ECO mode maximises hybrid system efficiency and fuel economy. A POWER mode boosts system performance. And, only available to vehicles equipped with full hybrid technology, an EV mode allows for ultra-quiet running on electric motor power alone for up to 2 km at speeds of up to 50 km/h, resulting in zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 and zero PM.

Taking advantage of the inherent operational quietness of Hybrid Synergy Drive®, particular attention has also been paid to further Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) reduction measures. This ensures customers enjoy a calm, quiet cabin environment at all vehicle speeds. Road and engine noise have been rigorously suppressed through the comprehensive use of sound-proofing materials. Full thickness glazing and an acoustic windscreen design further reduce wind noise for improved quietness at cruising speeds.

Environmentally efficient technology

First realised in the latest generation Toyota Prius, the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept introduces a further development in the field of solar powered ventilation technology. Solar panels have been applied to the entire roof surface of the full hybrid Toyota Auris. The solar powered ventilation prevents the interior air temperature from rising.

In the coming years, Toyota aims at offering solar panels which can recharge the hybrid battery.

Similar technology has also been incorporated into the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept interior. Dash-top mounted solar panels generate sufficient power to recharge mobile phones or music players mounted in purpose-made charging trays on each side of the dashboard. In the coming year, Toyota aims and offering solar panels wich can recharge the hybrid battery.

Further energy saving measures include the use of LED technology for both front and rear lights, once again improving HSD efficiency for enhanced fuel economy.

- By: Kap Shah

Toyota has dropped some additional information along with more pictures of its new 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept, which is scheduled to debut next week in Frankfurt.

Power for the 2010 Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept comes from the Hybrid Synergy Drive used in the new Prius, but with the nickel-metal hydride battery pack replaced by a new, lithium-ion battery. The battery in the Prius Plug-in can be fully recharged in one-and-a-half hours from a 230v power supply. On a full charge, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept can cover approximately 12.5 miles in EV mode. After the battery is depleted, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept operates as a regular full hybrid.

Starting late 2009, Toyota will begin the global delivery of 500 Prius PHVs. A total of 150 will be placed with select U.S. lease-fleet customers for engineering analysis.

Click through for the press release and the high-res image gallery.

2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept:

Press Release:

2010 Prius Plug-in Hybrid Debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show

Demonstration Program Begins in U.S. Late 2009

TORRANCE, Calif., September 9, 2009 – - The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) Concept vehicle will make its world debut next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Based on the third-generation Prius, the PHV Concept expands Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, utilizing first generation lithium-ion battery technology and enabling electric operation at higher speeds and longer distances than conventional hybrids. When fully charged, the vehicle is targeted to achieve an electric-only range of approximately 12 miles and will be capable of achieving highway speeds in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the PHV concept reverts to “hybrid mode” and operates like a regular Prius. This ability to utilize all-electric power for short trips or hybrid power for longer drives alleviates the issue of limited cruising range encountered with pure electric vehicles.

Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will begin global delivery of 500 Prius PHV vehicles. Of this initial fleet, 150 will be placed with select U.S. lease-fleet customers for market and engineering analysis. This program will allow Toyota to gather real world driving feedback and understand customer expectations for plug-in technology. In addition, the program will allow evaluation of the first generation lithium-ion battery’s durability, reliability and performance.

“The greatest hurdle in bringing to market a reliable lithium battery is mass production. We must have a production process that guarantees each battery will be identical in performance and quality,” said Irv Miller, TMS group vice president, environmental and public affairs.

The vehicle’s first-generation lithium-ion battery will be built on a dedicated PEVE (Panasonic EV Energy Company, LTD) assembly line. PEVE is a joint-venture in which Toyota owns 60 percent equity. The first generation lithium-ion batteries were developed in-house by Toyota Research and Development, and a dedicated battery development team is already working on the next battery “beyond lithium.”

The 150 demonstration vehicles will be placed in strategic clusters around the U.S., allowing development of charging infrastructure and communications support for program participants. Each placement scenario will have a variety of ‘use cases’ or driving conditions (ie: commute length, usage type, access to charging) to gain maximum input to vehicle performance and customer needs.

“Although we like to be first to market with these technologies, it’s more important that we are best to market,” said Miller. “This demonstration program will ensure that the vehicles we bring to market will not just meet customer expectations, but exceed them.”

By: Kap Shah

Toyota announced today that cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles topped the 2 million-unit mark last month as it aims to sell 1 million gasoline-hybrid vehicles per year. As of August 9, Toyota sold 2.017 million hybrids worldwide since their debut in 1997, reports Automotive News.

The Japanese automaker said that more than half of those sales came from the North American market, with a total of 1.15 million units sold. Japan on the other hand brought in a total of 615,800 units sold.

Of course, the Toyota Prius was the champion of the company’s hybrid lineup with a total of 1.49 million sold since it was introduced in 1997. It is indeed the world’s best-selling hybrid.

Along with Lexus hybrids, Toyota today sells 13 hybrid vehicle models in about 50 countries.

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Kap Shah

Toyota has unveiled its first-of-a-kind “Harmony Floralscape,” a roadside display made up of more than 20,000 live flowers. The Harmony Floralscape was revealed yesterday along the Pasadena Freeway (SR-110) in downtown Los Angeles.

The Floralscape is just one of nine designs that will appear alongside California freeways in support of the ongoing launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius. Seven of the Floralscapes will be in the Los Angeles area and two in the San Francisco area.

The Floarlscape was developed by Greenroad Media, Inc., using the company’s patent-pending “Living Pixel” technology.

“We are proud to be the inaugural City to unveil the first of seven Floralscapes along one of our busiest highways. The commute for Angelenos will now be brightened by floral murals that embody the City’s progressive approach to solving environmental issues by merging beautification, sustainable design and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa.

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Stephen Calogera

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the 2010 Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Kia Soul “Top Safety Pick” labels. As many of you are probably well aware by now, to qualify, the vehicle must earn of “Good” in front- and side-impact crash tests and feature stability control.

Stability control is standard on the Toyota Prius and Kia and is available high-end Insight EX. All three cars come standard with side-curtain airbags.

“The latest results show that consumers who want good fuel economy can also get a high level of safety,” said Russ Rader, an institute spokesman, in an interview with Automotive News. “Because there are so many small cars that test well, there’s no reason to settle for a small car with less-than-stellar safety ratings.”

Other small cars with the rating are the 2009 Subaru Impreza, 2009 Scion xB, four-door 2009 Honda Civic, 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit, 2010 Toyota Corolla and two-door 2009 Ford Focus.

- By: Omar Rana

According to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Toyota Motor Corp plans to launch a cheaper and more fuel-efficient hybrid than the Prius as early as 2011. The car will share key parts with the Yaris and will double the fuel-economy of the Yaris, the report said.

The model, which will be sold in the United States, Japan and Europe, will be priced around 1.5 million yen ($15,650 USD) and will deliver 94 mpg.

Spokeswoman Yoshie Matsuura said she could not comment on future product plans, reports Automotive News.

Last month it was reported that Toyota is working on a hybrid version of the Yaris for 2011. Toyota later denied the reports. Nonetheless, it is believed Toyota is working on something to compete with the upcoming Honda Fit hybrid.

- By: Kap Shah

The Honda Insight has been criticized for having very close similarities to its Toyota Prius rival; however, Honda is rejecting those claims and says that it did not try to mimic the design of Toyota’s popular hybrid.

“We don’t think it looks like the Prius at all,” said Nobuki Ebisawa, managing director at Honda R&D. “There may be some similarities in the roof line, but it is clearly different.”

Ebisawa says that the Insight shares most of its design cues with Honda’s FCX Clarity and the CR-Z concept. He said similarities between the Prius and the Insight only exist in the roof-line, which maximizes aerodynamics and makes room for a hybrid system.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid:

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoCar

It comes as no surprise that the Cash for Clunkers (aka Cars Allowance Rebate System) provided a boost for July auto sales. It helped FoMoCo report 118,197 retail sales in July, up 9 percent versus a year ago. However, the incentive also provided a huge boost for the hybrid market (also no surprise).

According to Green Car Advisor, sales of gas-electric hybrid cars, SUVs and trucks were up 35 percent in July. By comparison, sales of conventional gasoline vehicles were up 15.4 percent for the month.

The sales increase in the hybrid market was single-handedly led by Toyota’s new 2010 Prius, which saw its first full month of sales in July. Sales of the model were up a whopping 47.5 percent for the month and were up 29.7 percent from July 2008. Toyota reported a total of 19,193 units sold.

The Lexus RX450h crossover hybrid was up more than 2.5 times its June level, while the Ford Escape hybrid SUV was up 80 percent from June. Other strong performers included the Nissan Altima hybrid, which was up 54.7 percent from June. The Ford Fusion hybrid sedan was up 25.8 percent, while the Toyota Camry hybrid was up 19.9 percent.

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Green Car Advisor

Honda recently confirmed that its production CR-Z hybrid will be arriving in Japan in February 2010. According to 7Tune, Toyota is now developing a new hybrid sports car to compete with the CR-Z hybrid.

Toyota’s hybrid sports car will be based on a shortened Prius platform that will be reduced by 100mm. The 2010 Prius’ 1.8L Atkinson 4-cylinder engine will be carried over as well but will be retuned to produce a total of 134-hp. As a result, fuel-economy of Toyota’s hybrid sports car will be a little less than the Prius’ 50 mpg.

Toyota’s 2-door 2+2 hybrid sports car is expected to debut in mid-2012. Yeah – we’re going to file this under rumors for now.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: 7Tune

As part of its bankruptcy restructuring, GM has announced that it will shed its 50% stake in New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (Nummi). The plant, co-owned by Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors currently manufactures Toyota’s Corolla and Tacoma models, and the Pontiac Vibe for GM.

While this particular venture is set to expire in August with the end of the production of the Pontiac Vibe, this may not be the end of what is now a 25-year-old mutually beneficial relationship between the top two automakers. According to sources close to the project, Akio Toyoda and Fritz Henderson, respectively the Toyota and GM executives plan to meet in Detroit in August to discuss future possibilities. One option reported to be on the table is a GM branded version of the Toyota Prius. Toyota is considering using the NUMMI plant to produce the Prius, after it announced that it would cease construction on its $1.3 billion Blue Springs, Mississippi plant.

Though officially unconfirmed by both automakers, these rumors come at a time when GM is in desperate need of hybrid models. Currently, GM has 8 hybrids in its lineup; 2 of which belong to the Saturn brand which has been sold to Penske Automotive Group; and 5 of the remaining six being trucks, with the hybrid Chevy Malibu being the lone remaining hybrid car. Along with the plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt next year, GM plans to have 14 hybrids in their lineup by 2012.

Of the rumored plan, Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics said, “Toyota Is not normally in the practice of giving away the crown jewels”, and that it would probably not make sense for them to put a hybrid model in NUMMI.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Bloomberg

Toyota spent most of February tossing and turning in its sleep over competition from the new 2010 Honda Insight. Honda’s new hybrid was the best-selling model in Japan in April; marking the first time a hybrid has held the spot for a monthly sales period. Well, Toyota can now sleep peacefully at night. 

For the month of May, Toyota’s 2010 Prius sales beat the Insight, becoming the best-selling car in Japan for the month.

“I think a green car tax break and other incentives helped the sales performance (of the Prius) quite a bit,” Akihiko Otsuka, chief engineer for the new Prius, told reporters.

The 2010 Toyota Prius went on sale on May 18 and was priced about $3,000 less than the outgoing model. Toyota says there were more than 80,000 advance orders for the third-generation model. Towards the end of May, Toyota announced that it will be increasing production of the 2010 Prius to meet better-than-expected demand.

We’re guessing all the Japanese folks listened to Clarkson when he called the Honda Insight ‘Biblically terrible.’ Nonetheless, Honda is planning to have four gasoline-electric hybrids on the road by 2012 including the CR-Z hybrid and a Fit hybrid.

2010 Toyota Prius:

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Reuters

Here we are with some of our Miscellaneous stories of the day. Today’s edition focuses around the increasing popularity of hybrids and how being green is actually pretty cool.

20% of U.S. cars will be hybrids by 2020: According to JPMorgan, the global market for hybrid cars will grow to 11.28 million by 2020. The United States, will capture 19.4 percent of the hybrid market by then. Global hybrid-vehicle volume totaled 480,000 in 2008.

Casual Mafia “In My Prius” : LA-based entertainment company Casual Mafia has produced a rap song about the Toyota Prius called “In My Prius.” Listen to it for a good laugh and we’re pretty sure you’ll end up listening to it more than once.

“I’m about throw it down everybody gather around. I pull up behind and you never heard a sound. IN MY PRIUS!”

Check out our 2010 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 First Drive : By the way we are en route to NYC to pick up the 2010 Ford Mustang GT for 5 days. Look out for a review very soon.

- By: Kap Shah