Toyota to Build Prius Hybrid in Thailand

Toyota today revealed it will begin manufacturing its Prius hybrid in Thailand starting from November. The car will be built at the firm's Gateway Plant, near the Thai capital Bangkok, where it also makes the Corolla, Camry, Camry Hybrid and other models. Thailand will be the third country to make Toyota's popular hybrid after Japan and China.

The company said the decision was made as part of its effort to further popularize hybrid vehicles worldwide.

Toyota Motor Thailand Co. President Kyoichi Tanada commented: "With its excellent environmental performance, design and advanced technologies, we hope the Prius provides even more people in Thailand with the joys of driving."

Toyota did not reveal how many Prius vehicles will be built at the Thai plant, but a company spokesman said production is for the local market.

Launched in 1997, the Prius hybrids cumulative global sales surpassed the 2 million mark at the end of September this year. Toyota said it aims to sell 1 million hybrid vehicles or more annually before the end of the decade.

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Porsche wants Hybrid Version of every Model, 918 Spyder to follow Panamera Hybrid

In the ever-growing world of automotive efficiency, more and more sports car manufacturers have decided to get in the game of providing more efficient speed. Now, Porsche has taken it one step further, committing to a hybrid version of each of its models in order to get its average CO2 emissions down to 216 g/km by 2015 (from the current 255 g/km).

"In the future, we will have hybrid drive in every model line," Porsche's development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer, told Autonews Europe.

After the hybrid Cayenne and the upcoming Panamera hybrid, Porsche wants to release the hybrid 918 Spyder as a halo car to garner attention and learn more about the new path the company is taking.

To help bring down corporate CO2 output and improve fuel economy, Porsche also aims to cut weight by 10% on each model with every following generation (through the development of carbon fiber for body panels and the like), as well as possibly utilizing four-cylinder engines.

"If the CO2 guidelines require it, then our engines will become smaller and may have just four cylinders," Duerheimer said. "The important thing is that the performance has to be right. The 911 must always be on the cutting edge."

The Porsche development chief added: "We want to learn how we can electrify all our sports cars in the future with the help of [the 918's] short production run." So does that mean we're getting a hybrid entry-level 914/356 roadster or what?

By Phil Alex

Source: ANE (sub. req.)

New Lexus CT 200h F-Sport Receives World Premiere at 2010 Sydney Show

Lexus chose this week's Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) for the world premiere of its CT 200h F Sport model ahead of the car's introduction to Australia in the first half of 2011 as well other markets around the world.

As with other Lexus models, the F Sport treatment adds a number of visual and performance goodies to the firm's dedicated hybrid. On the outside, the CT 200h gets a sportier looking front bumper along with a honeycomb upper grille, beefier side skirts, and a reworked rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser.

The larger alloy wheels in a gunmetal finish and the option of a unique Flame Blue color round off the exterior upgrades.

Inside, those that opt for the F Sport-badged CT 200h will receive unique dashboard and door panel trims, plus F Sport steering wheel with a thicker rim, sports pedals, scuff plates, instrument panel and privacy glass.

While there are no changes to the CT 200h's hybrid powertrain, which comprises a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine, an electric motor and an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT), Lexus says the F-Sport features an up-rated suspension.

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Toyota Confirms New Prius Minivan Debut for 2011 Detroit Show in January, Releases New Teaser Video

With a simple tweet on its Twitter page that said "Next member of the #Prius family (to be revealed at Detroit Auto Show) will be all-new model w/ more comfort, style and versatility", Toyota announced that the world premier of its highly anticipated Prius Minivan will take place at the forthcoming Detroit motor show in the second week of January, 2011.

The as-of-yet unnamed minivan will be the second Prius-badged hybrid in Toyota's range, while the company has already revealed plans to extend the Prius family with a third model that will be smaller than the current five-door liftback. Both the smaller and larger Prius-branded hybrid-electric vehicles are scheduled to go on sale in the States by 2013.

The Japanese firm recently teased the Prius minivan with a billboard picture located in Malibu, California. Now, we also have a video from the making of the billboard that you can check out below.

According to a Carscoop eye-witness that snagged a camouflaged prototype of the car in California a couple of weeks ago, the forthcoming hybrid minivan is roughly the same size as the Mazda5 MPV.

We'll keep you updated on any new developments as and when they happen.

Link: Twitter

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Google’s Latest Killer App is one Step Closer to the Driverless Car [with Video]

It came from San Francisco Bay. A hybrid killing driving machine with a singular purpose: to destroy mankind to further the cause of safe motoring. A Toyota Prius infused with advanced technology that allows it to kill without remorse drive itself and created by the Devil himself Google! Pardoning that brief flight of fancy, here's the real scoop:

Google is working on an automated / driverless car with the help of DARPA Challenge luminaries Chris Urmson and Anthony Levandowski. Mr. Urmson was the technical team leader on CMU's 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge winning entry, whilst Mr. Levandowski built the world's first autonomous motorcycle for the DARPA Grand Challenge as well as an automated pizza delivery vehicle.

Though still in the experimental stages of development, Google's test vehicles have covered 140,000 miles (225,300 km). Their unpiloted yet still manned Priora (that's the plural of Prius, dontchaknow) have travelled from their Mountain View campus to their Santa Monica office and onto Hollywood Boulevard, down Lombard Street, across the Golden Gate Bridge, along the Pacific Coast Highway and all the way around Lake Tahoe (albeit, not in a single journey).

Here's how it works:

First a human operator takes a conventional car out and maps the route and road conditions, including lane markers and traffic signs. The local police are then briefed on the expected route just in case.

Then the automated car (always a Toyota Prius in the pictures we've seen) hits the road, piloted by a trained safety driver and software operator who monitor the car's progress and can take over at a moment's notice. The automated vehicles are fitted with video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder, all of which helps the car to "see" the road ahead, other vehicles and any obstacles in its path. All in all, a very clever bit of engineering.

Google hopes that the technology can be used in the future to reduce road traffic accidents. The automated vehicles are part of what the company calls their "highway trains of tomorrow"; automated vehicles that obey the road rules, can never drive intoxicated and will always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. All in all, a very bright future for A to B motoring.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: Google Blog

Did the General Lie to us about its Chevrolet Volt?

It appears as if GM has some explaining to do when it comes to the oh-so-important Chevrolet Volt. In layman's terms, various sources are showing up to call out the General about how, specifically, the Volt is motivated.

GM says the gasoline engine doesn't officially move the wheels, and the critics say at some point it does, which if true, means the Volt is a plug-in hybrid (albeit, an advanced one at that) and GM has been lying to us all along.

For your convenience (and so we don't mix anything up), we've added the press release below. Read it for yourself and see if you can clearly discern whether or not the Volt is showing up as advertised. Needless to say, we're a bit confused regarding an issue which should be black-and-white. If anyone official is willing to clarify below, we'd be much obliged.

By Phil Alex

Press Release

Chevrolet Volt Electric Drive: Engineered for Efficiency

DETROIT – As GM has started the media launch program for the Chevrolet Volt, some confusion has emerged about details of the Volt's drive technology.

The engineering of the Voltec electric drive unit is very sophisticated. As part of the media launch, we're diving deeper into how the system works than we have in the past. We did not share all the details until now because the information was competitive and we awaited patent approvals. Following a small number of inaccurate media reports, we want to clarify a few points.

The Volt has an innovative electric drive system that can deliver power in both pure electric and extended range driving. The Voltec electric drive cannot operate without power from the electric motors. If the traction motor is disabled, the range-extending internal combustion engine cannot drive the vehicle by itself.

There is no direct mechanical connection (fixed gear ratio) between the Volt's extended-range 1.4L engine and the drive wheels. In extended-range driving, the engine generates power that is fed through the drive unit and is balanced by the generator and traction motor. The resulting power flow provides a 10 to 15 percent improvement in highway fuel economy.

Our overriding objective in developing the Voltec electric drive was to deliver the most efficient, yet fun-to-drive experience in both pure electric and extended-range driving. We think our unique technology lives up to its most important promise: delivering our customers with the only EV that can be their primary vehicle, with EV operation for normal daily driving, and extended range driving for weekends, holidays, and longer trips – all with no range anxiety.

To read what journalists who have spent time with the Volt have to say, please click the links below:

Unbolting the Chevy Volt to See How it Ticks (MotorTrend.com)

"On paper, the Voltec drivetrain has more in common with a Prius (and other Toyota, Ford, or Nissan Altima hybrids) than anyone suspected. Each system employs a single planetary gear set, a gasoline-powered piston engine, and two electric motor/generators. But the way Chevy connects them is entirely different, and – if you ask me – superior."

Chevy Volt Surprise (Automobilemag.com)

"To trump both the Prius and the Leaf, Volt combines their merits in one handy advanced-technology sedan. It employs cheaper and cleaner electrical energy drawn from the grid. It provides efficient electric drive without the usual compromises. It uses gasoline intelligently in a supporting role. It is a pure electric, a series hybrid, and a parallel hybrid all rolled into one.

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