2008 Toyota hybrid Cars
I thought the biggest story regarding the Toyota Prius hybrid car in 2007 was going to be what would happen when tax credits for the Prius were fully expired? Would sales slow?
Sales did not slow. In fact Toyota has experienced a significant increase in the sales of the Toyota Prius in 2007, and one can only wonder how many more Prius hybrid cars Toyota would be selling if tax credits were still available.
Nonetheless, the Toyota Prius has become one of the Top 10 selling cars in America. Not too bad for a niche.
http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid
In early 2008, the Prius is again off to a good start,
In early 2008, the Prius is again off to a good start, as Toyota posted a large increase in Prius sales in January 2008 compared to January 2007.
Has Prius success been caused by high gas prices, greater concern for global warming, or just the realization that the Prius is a great vehicle, not just a hybrid vehicle?
It doesn't really matter. In 2008, gas prices are expected to be higher than 2007 and the concern over global warming is increasing. Therefore, Prius sales will probably only increase.
Part of Toyota's hybrid success must also be attributed to the incentives that Toyota has offered on the Prius. For example, a fully loaded Prius was discounted by $2,000.00 in 2007. The discount on a base Prius, however, is only a few hundred dollars.
In addition, Toyota is offering leases on the Prius for as low as $219 per month. Or, you can finance the sale of a new Prius with no interest for 2 years. However, when I tried to purchase a Prius recently, I was not offered these deals in the Los Angeles area.
In fact, buying a Prius in LA is a far better deal than buying a Prius.
Does the Prius save money?
According to a an Edmunds.com study, the Toyota Prius can recover its hybrid technology costs in just three years. Of course, this study was carried out when both gas prices were both high, and when Toyota qualified for the full clean vehicle tax credit. The last data I saw, suggests that number has been pushed back to over 4 years, however, with gas prices expected to hit $4.00 in 2008, cost recovery will probably decrease.
Moreover, there is the possibility that Prius tax credits could be extended at some point in time - a move that both the President and members of Congress from both parties have proposed.
Hybrid power
Prius, from the Latin "to go before" was Toyota's first hybrid vehicle to be sold in the U.S. and the car has increased sales consistently and regularly, forcing long wait times for buyers during most of the existence of the Prius.
Fortunately, Toyota has been able to increase its Prius production capabilities, which has made the Prius more available than ever.
Overall, it used to take 8 days for a Prius to sell once it hit the lot, now that that time has been extended to about 30 days. Finally, consumers now have some real choices when shopping for a Prius.
Some dealers are also still adding dealer fees to the MSRP, although Toyota has asked dealers not to do this (Click for more information on how to approach buying a Prius).
So, don't be afraid to shop around when seeking to buy a Prius.
Toyota announced that it would produce 100,000 Prius hybrid cars for the U.S. auto market in 2005, more than twice the availability for 2004. In 2006 that number was about the same, due to production limitations.
For 2007 Toyota plans to build almost 200,000 Prius hybrid cars for the U.S. market. "94 percent of Prius owners would buy another Prius"
The Prius, originally launched in 1997, but sales didn't pick up until 2004, when Toyota launched its second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive.
That year the Prius moved up to the midsize category, and increased its cargo volume by almost 30 percent over the previous year, while also improving it's fuel efficiency to 55 miles per gallon - according to the EPA.
Since that change, each new Prius model year has not changed significantly, although new features are regularly added, such as extra sidebags and 'sport' editions.
In the future the Prius might even come in different versions, such as a smaller city Prius.
The Prius, one of the most aerodynamic production cars ever produced, runs on its new high-voltage "Hybrid Synergy Drive," which combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (producing 78 horsepower and 85 pound-feet of torque) with a new 67-hp electric motor.
This new motor provides quicker acceleration and can zip from zero to 60 miles per hour in 10.5 seconds.
Additionally, according to Toyota Press Releases, the hybrid Prius produces nearly 90 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than a conventional internal combustion engine.
In a few years, the third generation Prius will be built upon the third generation of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, a move that could almost double the fuel efficiency of the Prius, while significantly reducing hybrid costs.
Still, for a car priced in the mid-twenties, the Prius isn't too bad today!
