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Ten years ago if you had told a Toyota engineer or executive that the Prius would be entering its third generation as a vehicle they probably would have laughed at you. While it might be well-known that U.S. automakers mocked Toyota and their "crazy" hybrid, secretly the folks at Toyota also though it would never catch on.
But it did.
Unfortunately the design of the 2010 Prius is mostly indistinguishable from the '09 model, which is a shame because Toyota has done a lot to improve the car. In fact, Toyota is taking a big step with this third-gen platform, in an attempt at moving it from a niche market science project to a mainstream auto.
To do this, the 2010 Prius has two very different sides to it. In order to appeal to a larger audience Toyota is making it easier to use while offering plenty of high-tech gadgets that will draw in up-market customers. And to keep the interest of past Prius owners and environmentally responsible folks, the 2010 Prius gets more fuel economy than ever.
Toyota will bring its iQ city car to North America by 2012, badged as a Scion model. Scion debuted a concept of the iQ (shown above) at the New York Auto Show this year. When it does launch, however, expect it to look significantly more tame.
Currently the mini car (about the size of a SMART fortwo) is sold in Europe and Asia and three engines are offered. Once it makes its way to North America we are likely to get the 1.33-liter four-cylinder with 99hp. Although according ot Toyota a 1.6-liter engine will fit.
The iQ is technically a 3+1, meaning that it can seat three adults and one child. This is possible by locating the passenger seat ahead of the driver’s seat so that there is actual leg room for a rear passenger on the passenger's side.
The iQ is also slated to be the base of an electric vehicle due out in 2012, and recently Aston Martin announced it was working on a concept, the Cygnet, that is based on the iQ.
The Scion iQ is expected in either 2010 or 2011 as a 2011 or 2012 model.
Aston Martin has just released details of an upcoming concept car the luxury British automaker is working on… and it's not at all what you might expect. Rather than a high-powered exotic, this new machine, called the Cygnet, is a tiny commuter car.
The Cygnet is based on the Toyota iQ and while it sounds like an April Fool's joke, the reality is that this mini-car has a lot of potential. For starters, Aston Martin is working on giving the Cygnet a unique Aston Martin look and a serious luxury interior. No doubt owners, particularly in large European urban centers, could use a vehicle like this and then take their $300,000 DBS out to the country on the weekend.
There is, however, an additional (and very strong) reason the Cygnet may become a reality, and that is the increasingly restrictive fuel-economy regulations in both Europe and the United States. If Aston Martin builds a car like this with what will no doubt be a tiny fuel-efficient engine, it will offset the gas-sucking V8s and V12s that are used in the rest of the company's lineup.
Currently the Toyota iQ is offered overseas with three engines, the most potent of which makes 99hp from a 1.33-liter gasoline engine.
"Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to... [Read More]
According to its sources, 7Tune is reporting that Toyota is in fact preparing a successor to the Supra. This top-level sports car has taken a back seat to the economy-minded 086A - the code name for the yet unnamed joint Toyota/Subaru project. It's also likely that development of a Supra-successor has been slowed due to the current economic conditions.
This upcoming sports car will be based on the FT-HS concept, which debuted back in 2007. Like the FT-HS is will be a hybrid, but a non-hybrid version will also be offered.
In hybrid trim the production FT-HS is likely to get the a similar powerplant to the one found in cars like the Lexus GS450h. Using the same 3.5-liter V6 and a more powerful electric motor, the new Supra should make closer to 400hp, rather than the 339 in the GS. Details of a non-hybrid powertrain are non-existent.
7Tune is reporting a concept car should debut at this year's Tokyo Auto Show with a production version not expected until 2011.
Thanks to Lequios, you can do more for the environment once you're dead than just become fertilizer for pushing up daisies. The Japanese hearse manufacturer is designing a hearse based on the 2010 Toyota Prius, meaning your last trip in a car can be an environmentally-responsible one. And you thought saving the planet for future generations was best left to the living?
Lequios hasn't confirmed production of the extended Prius, but it is looking in to the matter based on actual consumer interest. The Prius hearse would be significantly longer than the mid-sized hybrid, measuring an additional 77.2-inches for a total of 256-inches. That's 21.34 feet!
Fuel-economy would, understandably, suffer with an expected average fuel economy rating of 44mpg - which isn't bad when you consider the new Prius gets a combined rating of 50 mpg.
If Lequios does go ahead with the Prius Hearse is is expected to cost 7,875,000 Yen, or roughly $83,000 - although the chances of one making its way to the U.S. is unlikely.
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