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Toyota Gives Tips On Getting More MPG From Your Hybrid Car

steve knicks — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:55:35 +0000

Posted: April 26, 2012 in Elan Musk Fan Site

2012 Toyota Prius

Thinking of buying a hybrid? That’s great–you’ll not only reduce your gas bills, but you’ll be polluting less too, and likely have a car that holds its value as gas prices rise.

If you’re coming from a non-hybrid though, it may take a little time to make the most of your new Prius ,Civic Hybrid or similar. While easy to drive, hybrids sometimes require a little extra technique to really eke out those final few MPG.

Luckily, Toyota UK has provided a handy list of tips to improve your gas mileage. While these will naturally be most relevant to drivers of Toyota and Lexus hybrids, they’ll also work on several other hybrid models on the market.

Making the most of MPG

There are plenty of ways to maximize your MPG in a hybrid. Most will have information displays, letting you know what the engine and electric motor is doing at any one time–so keep checking this to see whether you’re being assisted, regenerating, or using gasoline alone.

Using the gas pedal gently will help keep you in EV mode–we found this technique particularly useful in the 2012 Lexus RX 450h we tested a few months back - allowing us to beat the official 30 MPG EPA city rating. Some hybrids have an eco mode that actively encourages you to use less gas, so that’s worth bearing in mind.

The more time you spend in EV mode, the better your city economy will be! Some Toyota and Lexus hybrids have an EV mode button, that lets you run the car solely on electricity as long as there’s enough charge in the battery.

Toyota also recommends not putting the car in neutral at a stop, as the motor won’t then generate electricity to top up the batteries.

Look and plan ahead. The more time you can spend coasting or braking gently–approaching a red light, for example–the more time the car will spend feeding energy back to the battery, to be used when you need it. It’s a technique that works well in any hybrid, and has the added bonus of spending less time sitting at lights–and less time using fuel accelerating away again.

Other tips

Not everything is hybrid-specific, of course. Smooth driving, keeping below speed limits, using cruise control on the highway to maintain a steady speed and avoiding sudden braking and acceleration all helps to save a little gas.

Ensuring your tires are correctly inflated, removing excess weight from the car and removing unnecessary roof attachments will also ensure your car is in the best condition for economical driving.

None of the above are really ‘hypermiling’ techniques either–it’s simply all part of good, considerate driving. Hybrids can achieve staggering fuel efficiency with advanced techniques, but even driving normally should improve on the gas mileage of your previous car.

Demand For New Toyota Prius c Is Soaring

richmondhilltoyota — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:21:06 +0000

Back in December, when the Toyota Prius c first went on sale in Japan, the company received 120,000 orders in the first five days it was on sale. That’s pretty amazing, and the love for the Prius c has found its way to North America, selling 1,200 units in the first three days it was on sale in the United States, and has become the fastest selling vehicle in the market. Because demand is so high, production of the little Prius c has increased.

The Prius c, which starts at $20,950, is graced with an updated version of Toyota’s venerable 1.5 liter inline four cylinder engine. The enhancements help improve fuel efficiency with lighter weight valve springs, lighter tension weight piston rings, along with a few other items like the elimination of an accessory belt. In doing so, the power steering, air conditioning and water pump are all driven via electric motors to reduce drag and friction and improve fuel economy. This is paired with a Ni-MH battery pack that is about 2/3rds the size of the one found in the larger Prius, and provides an additional 25.9 horsepower to the c’s 73 horsepower engine. The transaxle in the Prius c is an all electric unit that has no belts.

The Toyota Prius c also carries on the family tradition of being incredibly fuel efficient. Rated by the American EPA at 3.5l/100km in the city, 4.0l/100km on the highway, and 3.7l/100km combined. For those that worry that this B-segment car is cramped inside, it is not. Front seat passengers have plenty of room, no fear of rubbing shoulders with your passenger. For back seat passengers, two normal sized adults will be able to ride comfortably. We had the drivers seat set for us at 5’11”, then jumped in the back seat behind and were able to get in and out with no problem, and our knees were not touching the back of the driver seat either.

The rear seats do fold in a 60/40 arrangement allowing for good load flexibility, bicycles and snowboards will have no problem fitting inside. With the seats up there is 484.2 liters of space in the hatch area, which should be more than enough room for day to day items, or runs to the grocery store.

Rough Patches Behind It, Toyota Tries To Accelerate

steve knicks — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:14:57 +0000

Joe Polimeni /PR NewswireA crane lifts a Toyota to the top level of New York’s Javits Convention Center on April 2, before the New York International Auto Show.

by Tracy Samilton April 18, 2012

Paul Schubert and his wife decided to buy a new car last summer — a really fuel-efficient one. After a lot of research, they settled on a Toyota Prius. But there was a problem: They couldn’t find one.

The tsunami that devastated Japan in March had dried up supplies of the Prius, which is made in Japan, and a dealer told them they would have to wait — “about four months,” Schubert says. “And we thought, well, it’d be, probably, end of November, early December before we were going to have a car.”

The Schuberts still had a working car.

“Did we want a Toyota badly enough that we were willing to wait?” Schubert asks.

They did. Their new red Prius now sits in the driveway, with a license plate that reads “LTLSIPR.”

Recall Woes

But some customers didn’t wait. They bought cars from Hyundai, Kia, Nissan or Ford instead.

The tsunami couldn’t have come at a worse time for Toyota. The company was finally recovering from the year’s previous crisis — a massive recall to correct a risk of unintended acceleration.

Carmakers With Biggest Share Of US Market

Notes

In March 2012, Toyota’s market share bounced back to 14.5 percent.

Retiree Jan Alford already had a Prius. And she loved it. But it was causing a little trouble at home.

“My husband was reminding me every time I left the house that I might be unsafe,” she says.

Then, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood chimed in.

“My advice,” LaHood said in February 2010, after the acceleration problems surfaced, “is if anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it.”

Alford’s kids were worried about her, so she sold the car. She and her husband now own one car, and it’s not a Toyota.

A Rough Patch For Dealers

Meanwhile, dealers were busy.

“You can imagine what our customers, the phone calls, our phones lit up — it was just unbelievable,” says Bob Page, who owns Page Toyota in Southfield, Mich.

Three things caused the incidents of unintended acceleration: loose floor mats, sticky gas pedals and human error — hitting the gas instead of the brake. But Page says the recalls took a toll.

“The fence-sitters — the customers, the ones who had not committed yet to one product or another — we lost a number of those,” Page says.

Before the recalls, Toyota’s market share in the U.S. was 17 percent, nipping at General Motors’ heels. Now it’s about 14 percent.

“The jury’s still out on whether there will be no long-term consequences,” says Rebecca Lindland with IHS Automotive.

To add to Toyota’s troubles, some of its cars look a little bland these days compared with competitors. And Lindland says the strong yen has made it more expensive to export from Japan.

“They cut corners, and it showed — and they cut corners at a time when other manufacturers were really going in the opposite direction,” Lindland says.

Still In The Black

But these problems don’t mean Toyota is weak. The company posted a profit during its darkest time. And it still reigns supreme in reliability. Of the 10 most reliable cars in the latest survey from J.D. Power, five are Toyotas.

Then there’s the Prius. Thomas Lhamon just bought the new “Prius c” model from a local dealer.

“They had this car in stock. I went in an hour later and bought it the same day,” Lhamon says. And with gasoline prices going up, he has no particular worries. “So far, I’ve been getting a little over 50 miles per gallon,” Lhamon says.

The new Prius models are just two of the 19 new or refreshed vehicles Toyota will introduce this year. The company hopes that will get it some second looks from former customers — and first looks from new ones

Hybrid and electric cars see record sales in March

steve knicks — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:13:04 +0000

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, The Associated Press

Posted April 13, 2012, at 6:52 p.m.

DETROIT — Americans are buying record numbers of hybrid and electric cars as gas prices climb and new models arrive in showrooms, giving the vehicles their greatest share yet of the U.S. auto market.

Consumers bought a record 52,000 gas-electric hybrids and all-electric cars in March, up from 34,000 during the same month last year.

The two categories combined made up 3.64 percent of total U.S. sales, their highest monthly market share ever, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank. The previous high was 3.56 percent in July 2009, when the Cash for Clunkers program encouraged people to trade in old gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient cars.

And while their share of the market remains small, it’s a big leap from the start of the year, when hybrids and electrics made up 2.38 percent of new car sales.

Buyers were drawn by new models like the Toyota Prius C subcompact, the Prius V wagon and Camry hybrid. Gas prices near or above $4 per gallon added to the cars’ attraction.

David Martin, a Denver software engineer, estimates he’ll save at least $150 per month on gas with his new Chevrolet Volt compared with the 2010 Acura TSX he replaced. Martin expects gas prices to stay high, a factor that heavily influenced his purchase.

“As the cost of gasoline rises, my future savings can only increase,” he said.

Stronger sales of the Volt and the Nissan Leaf were a positive sign for electric car makers. The two vehicles have struggled to gain acceptance from buyers worried about how far they can drive on a battery charge.

Another concern: Volt maker General Motors Co. had to change the car’s charging system because its batteries caught fire after government crash tests.

GM sold just 7,671 Volts last year, below its goal of 10,000. But in March, it set a new monthly record of 2,289 for the Volt, an electric car with a small backup gas engine. Sales of the all-electric Leaf nearly doubled to 579.

The Volt got a boost from California’s decision to make it eligible for high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Starting March 1, buyers with a low-emissions Volt could use the HOV lane and get a $1,500 state tax credit on top of a $7,500 federal tax credit. GM said a quarter of the Volts it sold last month were sold in California.

Edward Ang, of Cupertino, Calif., has been planning to buy a Volt since GM first announced it would make the car, but he waited until it qualified for the HOV sticker. He bought a Volt last month and now makes his 10-mile commute without using any gas. He used to drive a 2004 Prius.

“I made a promise to myself that if they bring it to market, I will get one,” said Ang, an engineering manager.

Gas prices helped sales. The nationwide average for a gallon of gas jumped 19 cents in March, from $3.73 to $3.92, and it crossed the $4 mark in California even earlier. The $4 mark was a significant psychological milestone for some buyers, said Paul Lacy, who forecasts sales trends for consulting firm IHS Automotive.

Lacy expects hybrids and electrics to make up about 4 percent of U.S. sales this year, although sales could drop if gas prices fall or if buyers get more accustomed to higher prices. Hybrid and electric sales also rose with high pump prices last spring, but fell after prices moderated and the Japanese earthquake disrupted Prius supplies.

Lacy predicts hybrids and electrics will double their market share to 8.5 percent by 2017, in part because there will be more options on the market. Last month, 35 hybrids and electrics were on sale, double the number from 2008.

The proliferation of models will also bring down costs. Hybrids cost around $2,000 to $4,000 more than their gas counterparts, which can make them less attractive to buyers. Automotive information site Edmunds.com estimates it takes 11 years’ worth of gas savings to recoup the $4,595 premium on the Honda Civic hybrid, or 5.2 years to make back the $3,400 premium on the Toyota Camry hybrid.

But those gaps are narrowing, said Jessica Caldwell, senior director of pricing and industry analysis for the automotive information site Edmunds.com. The price difference between the Camry and Camry hybrid has fallen by $800 since the hybrid was first introduced.

Ang says the price premium is less important than feeling that he’s doing something about climate change and dependence on overseas oil.

“We all make decisions not based on cost. We buy big houses, big SUVs, iPhones, iPads, not because they save us money. It’s because they make us feel good,” he said.

Toyota Motor Co.’s Prius hybrid cars were the runaway best-sellers last month. They made up 57 percent of all hybrids and electrics sold. The Prius C, an entry-level hybrid that is 19 inches shorter and $5,000 cheaper than the regular Prius, sold nearly 4,900 in March, its first month on the market.

“The success of the Prius C shows there is a strong appetite for a cheap, fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle,” Caldwell said.

Toyota is selling two other versions of the Prius that it didn’t have last March: the Prius V wagon and a plug-in version of the Prius that drives longer on battery power. Those added another 5,800 sales to Toyota’s bottom line.

Mark Chasey, general manager of McEleney Toyota in Clinton, Iowa, said about half of the cars his dealership sells are hybrids. He could sell even more if they weren’t in such tight supply. Toyota currently has a 17-day supply of Priuses, far less than the optimal 60 days.

Toyota also had the second best-selling hybrid last month, the Camry hybrid. After the Camry, the biggest selling hybrids were the Lexus CT and hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Buick LaCrosse.

Tips to Make a Hybrid Fit Your Family

lauratoyota — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:49:00 +0000

Thinking of moving one of your family vehicles to a hybrid? There are three Prius family members and

Car Review- Toyota Prius c

Toyota of Escondido — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:56:43 +0000

Great review of Toyota Prius C by T. Strong! Written by an enthusiast, supported by facts! Car Review- Toyota Prius c.

New Edition (Prius Family... not Bobby Brown)

obrienautogroup — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:31:22 +0000

Toyota has gambled that expanding the Prius into a family of Priuses (.. Priui?) into a family of vehicles ranging in size and drivetrain options would bolster sales. They were spot on!

The Prius V sold about 8,400 units in the U.S. in the first ten weeks. It seems the smaller, cheaper and more efficient 2012 Toyota Prius C is also getting a lot of attention. It’s smaller than a regular Prius by a little, being comparable in size to the Toyota Yaris. It’s looks are sporty, and the interior well appointed and surprisingly roomy, at least in the front. Toyota announced today that the C sold 1,201 units in just the first three days it was on sale. That’s enough to make it “one of Toyota’s fastest-selling vehicles,” according to the automaker, which also pointed out that those three days of sales is more than either the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt sold all last month.

Also hot off the line is the new Plug-In Prius Hybrid. This ups the mileage considerable, yet since it still has a gas engine to generate power, you don’t get the range anxiety of a fully electric vehicle. It looks just like a regular Prius, no need for gimmicky paint schemes or body molding, and thus saving a lot of money on research and development. What we end up with is a solid, green machine that looks great without being pretentious.

To see these wonderful little gas-sippers in person visit Toyota of Kirkland or Toyota of Renton.

The Inconvenient Truth About Toyota Prius

Kris James — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:10:37 +0000

Everyone is loving hybrids, from my hairdresser to the farmer who pumps pesticides into his chickens to prematurely fatten them up. I have to say, as much as I love the environment, I’m not buying a hybrid. They leave behind a pretty large carbon footprint, and for those who actually care about the environment, that’s a horrible thing. CNW Researcher James Martin points out in his paper “Hidden Cost of Driving a Prius” that the nickel for the battery of the Prius C travels from Canada. The nickel travels over 10,000 miles via ship and diesel locomotive. Do you feel so eco-friendly now, Prius lovers?

And who could possibly hate that adorable new Prius C commercial? Me. It’s awful. It only further points out that most individuals see hybrids in the same light as gluten-free products. It’s a fad for most people. They should wear tees that say “I’m going green because some celebrity told me to, and I want to be cool.” But, I do love that Toyota is sitting back and mocking the hipsters who are spending too much for a vehicle because it says “hybrid” on the back.

Prius C racks...smaller Prius means more gear goes outside the car

rackattackportland — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:16:49 +0000

Toyota has brought us another version of the Prius…the brand new 2012 Prius C, a slightly smaller, less expensive and more nimble version of the good old fashioned Prius. The big question for Rack Attack is, as usual, what will this thing carry? Surely sombody soon will be asking for a bike rack, kayak rack, ski rack, trailer hitch or cargo box for this thing and we should have an answer soon.

UPDATE 5/25/12: We’ve done it. Tracked a Prius C. It is awesome.

Prius C bike hauler

This setup is all Thule. We started with TP54 Tracks, added the super sleek AeroBlade system (460R, ARB47, Fit Kit 3101, and 544 lock set) and topped it off with a pair of Big Mouths (which do require xadapter2 to ‘t-bolt’ to the blades). Too cool!

Prius C tracks & AeroBlades

With MPG’s like this, why wouldn’t you get the sleekest, quietest most aerodynamic Thule bar?

rackless Prius C looks lonley

Prius C Outsells Monthly Totals of Chevy Volt & Nissan Leaf Within Days

dagtoronto — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:42:54 +0000

The Prius c went on sale in North America on March 12, and by March 15 had already sold 1,201 units. Toyota proudly notes that those three days of sales bested sales of the Chevrolet Volt (1,023 sold) and Nissan Leaf (478 sold) for the entire month of February. However, the Prius c’s first three days of sales also eclipsed sales of several other Toyota vehicles for the entire month of February: the Toyota FJ Cruiser (1,047 sales) and Land Cruiser (122 sales), Scion iQ (864) and xD (818), Lexus HS250h (150), Lexus LS (517), Lexus GX (703), and Lexus LX (383).

“A number of factors drive the auto market, and fuel prices is one of them,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “With 53 miles-per-gallon (4.4 L/100km) in the city and priced under $21,000, the timing for Prius c couldn’t be better.”

Strong demand for the Toyota Prius c has forced Toyota to drastically ramp up production of the new hybrid car. Automotive News reports that Toyota is currently only building 6000 units of the Prius c for the North American market each month.

With limited numbers being produced and such strong demand, contact Downtown Toyota or Toyota on Front to find out more about the Prius c or book your test drive today to experience the vehicle for yourself.

Toyota Prius c Production Being Swamped By Huge Demand

motoren — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:26:01 +0000

It looks like Toyota didn’t expect to see a sales surge for the Prius c hatchback as they now scramble to increase production capacity.

Demand for the hybrid has soared in Toyota’s home market Japan and in the United States. Its said that currently, Toyota is building approx. 30,000 Prius c’s per month, with 6,000 of those allocated for the U.S. market.

The Prius c was launched from dealers in the U.S. on March 12, and by March 15 had already racked up sales of 1201. Toyota proudly said last week that those three days of sales beat sales of the Chevrolet Volt (1023) and Nissan Leaf (478) for the entire month of February. They didn’t mention though that the Prius c also eclipsed sales of quite a few of their own models! For example, the Prius c outsold the FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Scion iQ, Lexus HS250h, Lexus LS, Lexus GX and Lexus LX .

Anyway, the startling demand for the Prius c could have a knock on effect for American sales and for other markets (thinking of Malaysia) because Toyota have already racked up an order backlog of 120,000 units. Factor in exchange rates and the reality is that Toyota will give priority to its home market in the short term. It also means they will profit more from domestic sales.

The Prius c is built in Iwate, Japan, at a rate of about 30,000 cars per month or 360,000 annually. Industry observers say that at the moment, about 20 percent of all units produced are being exported.

The strong demand means that Toyota are looking at production capacity in Iwante. Iwante was geared up to produce 20,000 Prius c’s a month, thats been stretched to 30,000 units a month, Toyota say they are making a series of changes to improve efficiency and speed at the assembly plant, and also will move assembly of the Japanese-market Toyota Ractis from Iwante to a different plant in Japan.

There are no plans to move Prius c production overseas nor any plan to change the dashboard….

Prius C: Malti-Poo & Sushi

Adam Huet — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:00:20 +0000

As if you couldn’t guess by the odd title of this commercial, this one is a bad one. And by bad I mean absolutely terrible.

It makes it even worse that I like this car and I would get one if I was in the market for one. But then they throw this commercial at us and if I bought this car, I would be connected to this terrible ad. I wouldn’t be surprised if I am not alone in saying that. A commercial is supposed to make me want to buy the product or service, not turn me away from it.

To be fair the root of the ad is solid, showing how this car can improve your life and blend into it. Toyota does a better job of explaining this in this video and if it was compressed into a single minute, then it would be a quality ad, unlike the one we have to struggle through while watching.

It is over dramatic, not amusing and quite frankly, it is too Japanese for us to appreciate. Being that Toyota is a Japanese brand it makes sense as to why this commercial is the way it is but the potential customers watching this ad who are any where but Japan will not connect with this ad. On the other side, I am sure that the Japanese like this commercial.

The worst part about this ad is how it feels like a constant plug for their vehicle even though it is their own ad. “But my affordable Prius c means I can pay for his acupuncture”. Talk about creativity on Toyota’s part… That ‘plug’ added with the overly dramatic “Phew” just seals the deal on how truly horrible this commercial is.

My favorite part of this commercial has to be when the blond hair guy stares into the camera towards the end of it. I don’t know how to take that look. Is it “Why am I in this commercial?” or is it “Why am I friends with these people?”. At any rate, it cannot be anything positive towards selling this car.

I will give this commercial a 2 out of 10. I thought about giving it a 1 but with the fact that the core concept was solid bumps it up to a 2. But at the end of the day, this is a terrible commercial. One that no one who is watching it will appreciate enough to go out and buy this car.

If you actually did like this commercial or you want to make fun of the rest of them, here is the playlist of all 10 videos that they made for the new Prius c. Enjoy, if it is possible.

-Adam

It's Here and I'm Loving It

lauratoyota — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 03:33:00 +0000

The Toyota Prius C has arrived here at Ressler Motors. It is the smallest member of the Prius Family

Toyota Reports Strong Prius c Sales

steve knicks — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:46:42 +0000

Toyota’s subcompact Prius c five-door hatchback, which was launched March 12th, has already sold 1,201 units, becoming Toyota’s fastest-selling vehicles.

by Ana – Friday, March 16th, 2012 INAUTONEWS

The smaller sibling in the Prius family of hybrid vehicles, managed to eclipse the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf sales for the entire month of February. However it is more compact than the traditional Prius Liftback, and it has a smaller engine. The result is an even higher miles/gallon rating, 53 miles/gallon, and a lower price starting at under $19,000.

“A number of factors drive the auto market, and fuel prices is one of them,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “With 53 miles-per-gallon in the city and priced under $19,000, the timing for Prius c couldn’t be better.”

This month the 4 Prius models, Prius c, Prius v, third-generation Liftback and new Plug-in Hybrid, accounted for sales of 9,821, and in February Prius sales totaled 20,593 and there were 32,593 units sold so far this year. What Toyota appears to be saying by boasting higher sales than the Leaf and Volt, is that the market is showing stronger interest in hybrid cars than electric.

The Prius is Rocking It, Gets Great Mileage!!

Pohanka of Salisbury — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:43:31 +0000

It appears that the new Prius is doing quite well!!! The Prius C and V sold a ton (well, the V sold 8400) in the first 10 weeks! In these hard economical times it makes sense to purchase something with good mileage, and the Prius has always been a staple for the term ‘Hybrid’ and gas mileage. We actually have quite a few on the lot if you would like to come down and check them out; the prices are very reasonable for such a great piece of technology! CCheck the link below to see what is in stock and to chat with someone regarding questions you may have — theres no need to even pick up the phone. After all you are already on the computer..

Click here for Inventory for Prius: http://www.pohankatoyotamd.com/inventory-results.aspx?standardmake=EQ,Toyota&standardmodel=EQ,Prius&&categories=new,new-specials,preowned,certified-preowned&selectedcat=new&page=1

Click here for more on the Prius from AutoBlog: http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/toyota-prius-c-outsells-monthly-total-of-chevy-volt-nissan-leaf/

Image: Autoblog.com

Remember Bill Nye the Science Guy?

lauratoyota — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Bill Nye explains the science of the smart key system on the new Prius C! Loving it! Laura MadisonRe

Toyota Launches Its "Game Of Life With Prius c" Campaign Aimed At Gen Y

Johny — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:13:45 +0000

The Game of Life is won by buttoned-up pros. With the right tools and the Toyota Prius c, there is n

March Madness Sales Event

modernautomotive — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:56:10 +0000

We are having our annual March Madness Sale at Modern Toyota. Get a 2012 Camry for as low as $19,500 or an All-New Prius c for only $20,979.

See all our New Toyota Deals at ModernToyota.com.

Prius Family Tree!

Toyota of Escondido — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:48:17 +0000

In the mid 1990′s Toyota debuted the first hybrid, released in 1997 as the Toyota Prius! It was marketed to be between the smaller Corolla and the larger Camry. Toyota Prius combined the combustion engine with Toyota hybrid technology to achieve maximum fuel efficiency!

Toyota hybrid technology to achieve maximum fuel efficiency!

This early Toyota Prius, now known as the First Generation Prius, was the start of the MPG Revolution! Not only did Toyota end up producing a Hybrid Camry and Hybrid Highlander, but many other manufacturers looked to hybrid technology to sell more cars! Not only did Prius make getting better gas mileage a commodity, they made it a popular “Green” solution!

Prius was the start of the MPG Revolution!

Moving forward to 2002 Toyota redesigned their amazing hybrid to be a bit more stylish, and just like that the Second Generation Prius was born! Not only was the Second Generation Toyota Prius more stylish but it came with a host of new options to make the Prius experience as enjoyable as possible!

In 2009 more big changes came for worlds best selling hybrid. Simply being fuel efficient was not enough, people wanted more out of their Toyota Prius. In the amazing list of upgrades for the Third Generation Prius was a Solar Panel roof (optional), which uses the energy from the sun to operate your vehicles Air Conditioning while the vehicle is off so that you will not burn when you return. Aside from more options, the Toyota Prius also received another makeover to give it a slightly sporty and more desirable look!

Simply being fuel efficient was not enough

The Third Generation Prius is the current model today. However that are more additions to the Legacy that is Toyota Prius!

V for Ven…. sorry, wrong blog. V for Versatility! Aside from the awesome solar panels, Toyota Prius V comes with Entune, Toyota’s latest and greatest stereo which allows you to connect to many of your favorite apps such as Pandora and IheartRadio!

…more interior room, with the hybrid technology of a Prius!

Prius V is a larger, station-wagon-like Prius which give’s you more interior room, with the hybrid technology of a Prius! If you wanted a hybrid, but thought they were just too small to get the job done, than this is the Prius for you!

Alas we have come to the just released (literally this week) Toyota Prius C for city! This much smaller sub-compact member of the Prius family gets an eye-popping 53 miles per gallon city! And for those who say Prii (dubbed plural form by Toyota) are just too expensive, the Toyota Prius C starts under $20,000! So now everyone can get more MPG!

So now everyone can get more MPG!

If you have any questions regarding any member of the Toyota Prius family, or would like to tell your Prius story go ahead and leave us a comment!

All-New 2012 Prius Walk-Around

modernautomotive — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:15:58 +0000

Dan Santarelli, one of Modern Toyota’s most experienced sales consultants, takes us on a walk around of the All-New 2012 Prius C. Dan is a Toyota PROs winner and will be bring us more walk arounds in the future. The PROS program was created specifically to recognize Sales Consultants’ commitment to longevity at the dealership, dedication to customer service, commitment to continually expand knowledge on Toyota products, and outstanding sales ability.

Our first walk around covers a Prius C trim level 4, which is the highest available trim on the 2012 Prius C. The Prius C 4 comes standard with Navigation, Entune, Bluetooth Music Streaming, Smart Key, Heated SofTex-Trimmed Seats, Push Button Start, and 53 MPG City. Trim level 4 models start around $24,500.

Milton Ruben Toyota Takes the Prius c on a Test Drive

Milton Ruben Superstore News — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:40:32 +0000

James Smith, Internet Sales Consultant at Milton Ruben Toyota, takes the Prius c – the newest member of the Prius family – on a test drive and shares some of its best features.

Ready to test drive the Prius c? Contact James Smith at 706.868.5454, or visit Milton Ruben Toyota on Washington Road in Augusta, GA. Our Toyota Scion inventory is available online at www.DriveBaby.com.

The Prius c: A City Friendly Car with Great Gas Mileage

Milton Ruben Toyota of Augusta — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:06:22 +0000

James Smith, Internet Sales Consultant at Milton Ruben Toyota, takes a look at the newest member of the Prius lineup, the 2012 Prius C.

The smallest member of the Prius family, and the most affordable Prius ever, it is remarkably city friendly due to its compact size. It has an estimated 53 mpg rating in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.

Get a closer look at some of the features in his walkaround video.

Check out our Toyota Scion inventory at www.MiltonRubenToyota.com! Contact James Smith at 706.868.5454, or visit Milton Ruben Toyota in person on Washington Road in Augusta, GA.