Internet Sales - Woo!

Toyota showcased a prototype plug-in Prius hybrid at Legislative Plaza on today, June 16, during a field hearing on electric drive vehicles entitled for by the Congressional TVA Caucus.

According to news, the prototype Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) enhances the high fuel economy and ultra-low emissions of the well-liked Toyota Prius production hybrid model with a developed Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery pack that can be charged by plugging into a typical household electrical outlet. The vehicle is capable of working in pure-electric manner for extended periods of time and at max speeds up to 60 mph with more electric power set aside.

Toyota will include its next generation plug-in hybrid with Lithium-Ion batteries being assessed by commercial fleets in the U.S. and somewhere else by 2010. With over 1.5 million hybrid sales worldwide, Toyota is the established leader in hybrid technology.

"As we look ahead, we believe hybrids will continue to raise the bar for new technology. Plug-in hybrids can offer substantial gains in fuel economy and a reduction in total tailpipe emissions," says Robert Wimmer, Toyota's national manager for Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Energy & Environmental Research.

"When considering the benefit of new technologies, we must understand the relationship between large sales volumes and fuel savings. For example, if we double sales of a hybrid model, the fuel savings is greater than doubling its fuel economy with no change in sales volume. Therefore, it is critical that new technologies, such as plug-ins and fuel cells are introduced at a price point and utility that allow for high volume sales. Otherwise, their environmental benefit will be negligible," Wimmer added.

Toyota is showing the world that giving a vehicle the power to go faster does not necessarily equate to being harmful to the environment. See, the Japanese car maker has created a sports car that is very much unlike the Chevy S10 -- it does not send off much harmful emissions to the environment.

What Toyota did was it created the Future Toyota Hybrid Sports (FT-HS). The Toyota FT-HS is still a concept vehicle at present but it has been designed to be a sports car that is equipped with a petrol-electric hybrid engine unit. The car maker, through The Age, boasted that this concept vehicle would be able to have an “ultra high performance” and yet also have “ultra low fuel use and emissions”.

Doug Soden is the product development manager for Toyota and he shared, “There is a stronger need for hybrid vehicles to be on the market, or much more fuel efficient vehicles. Whichever way you look at it, whether it is a petrol-electric or hydrogen-electric, there needs to be that hybrid interface.” And it looks like the Toyota FT-HS is going to be Toyota’s answer.

If Ford has its all-new Fiesta and Rinspeed boasts of its “sQuba,” well, Toyota has its latest iQ small car to join the array of cars at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show.

According to autobloggreen.com, iQ’s mini-car concept unveiled in last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show includes a Japanese mini that is 2.98 meters long, with a three plus one seater, which means that two seats can be occupied by adults in front. It can also be utilized as a space for luggage.  The front passenger seat can be pulled forward through the asymmetrical car dashboard design. 

In a Toyota press release, three concepts regarding the iQ were given much emphasis: First, it is the smart solution to urban transport.  Second, it is designed within the Vibrant Clarity philosophy - a principle that applies futuristic, intelligent, energetic, purposeful and functional designs in Toyota projects.  Finally, it is less than three meters in length.  The Toyota  iQ was also designed as a fuel-saver car.  Inside, the iQ has a center console and is instrument pod shaped that resembles a mantra ray, a steering wheel covered with artificial snakeskin and a cabin filled with purple accents.  It also comes equipped with audio and navigation controls that most probably are powered by quality alternators.

By the end of 2008, just a few months after its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show, the iQ production will begin so that by 2009, it will be available for sale in United Kingdom. 

The iQ is regarded as a future competitor of other city cars such as Smart.  According to wikipedia, Toyota bills that it is the world’s smallest four-passenger car. Together with the iQ, Toyota will also launch the Urban Cruiser, its newest Plug-in Prototype and concept cars 1/x and i-Real.

Toyota is already on a roll and yet it is still continuously working and figuring out just what new vehicles they could send out to the market. Don Esmond, the company’s senior VP, has mentioned via The Car Connection that they are currently looking into a smaller truck which could built on the present Tacoma and sent to the market.

Esmond also did continue to disclose that the vehicle would not be coming with Buick parts but it would actually take on the form that the A-Bat concept truck had. The latter has been on display at the NAIAS and at the Chicago Auto Show. He also did share, “I think everyone is trying to come out with products the customer doesn’t know they want yet.”

An official from Toyota did also note, “Everybody is looking for white space. I think it would have to be pretty funky-looking to work.”

But it does seem like Toyota is not the only car maker looking at creating new trucks. Rumors from the grapevine are saying that GM and Ford are also working on a new unit for this segment.

Toyota vehicles have sustained their reputation as one of the most admired nameplates in the US territory. Since the beginning of the year 2008, Toyota placed impressive figures headed by the Toyota Camry which sits third best-sales record in the U.S.

Five vehicles from Toyota’s abode had been included in the list of best-selling vehicles in the country.  According to the Auto Channel, overall sales of the top 20 vehicles increased 1.2 percent or 4,418 units to 378,523.

RANK VEHICLE - TOTAL UNITS SOLD (through January 2008)          
1. Ford F-Series - 41,125  
2. Chevy Silverado-PU - 36,122  
3. Toyota Camry - 31,601  
4. Honda Accord/Hybrid - 23,957  
5. Nissan Altima/Hybrid - 21,635  
6. Honda Civic/Hybrid - 20,993 
7. Toyota Corolla - 20,736  
8. Dodge Ram P/U - 19,902  
9. Chevy Impala - 17,544  
10. Chevy Cobalt - 17,310 
11. Honda CR-V - 16,016  
12. Chevy Malibu - 14,541   
13. GM Pontiac G6 - 13,942 
14. GMC Sierra PU - 13,200  
15. Toyota Highlander/Hybrid - 12,323
16. Toyota Tundra - 12,073   
17. Ford Focus - 11,600  
18. Toyota Prius - 11,379   
19. Econoline/Club Wagon - 11,333 
20. Ford Escape/Hybrid - 11,191