Hybrid Car - More Fun with Less Gas

(AFP/File) - File photo shows a Ford Motor Company sign on display at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan. Fifty years ago, when Toyota's clattering Toyopet made its first appearance in the United States, it would have been hard to imagine a time when the Big Three US automakers did not dominate the roads of America. Today, about half of new car sales in the US are going to foreign brands and Toyota, which overtook Chrysler in 2006, is widely expected to knock Ford Motor Co. out of the number two spot this year.(AFP/File/Jeff Haynes)

(Reuters) - A Prius with the new Hybrid engine is seen at the fair stand of Japanese car manufacturer Toyota at the international car show IAA in Frankfurt September 11, 2007. Toyota Motor Corp will slash the price and size of its hybrid system by around half for the next-generation Prius model, and use a nickel-metal hydride battery instead of lithium-ion, a top executive said. (Alex Grimm/Reuters)

(Reuters) - Employees of Toyota Boshoku demonstrate its concept product the "Personal Relaxation Seat", during the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo October 25, 2007. The relaxation seat consists of a personal visual and sound system, aroma diffuser, ventilated and air-conditioned canopy and physical condition sensor. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

(Reuters) - Employees of Toyota Boshoku demonstrate its concept product the "Personal Relaxation Seat", during the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo October 25, 2007. The relaxation seat consists of a personal visual and sound system, aroma diffuser, ventilated and air-conditioned canopy and physical condition sensor. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

(Reuters) - A model demonstrates dog trimming in Toyota Auto Body's "Mobile Trimmer" at a photo opportunity during the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo October 25, 2007. The vehicle is specially customized for visiting pet trimmers and has equipment such as a hair dryer, table, shower booth and layout designed for pet trimming. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

(Reuters) - A model demonstrates dog trimming in Toyota Auto Body's "Mobile Trimmer" at a photo opportunity during the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo October 25, 2007. The vehicle is specially customized for visiting pet trimmers and has equipment such as a hair dryer, table, shower booth and layout designed for pet trimming. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

(Reuters) - A model demonstrates dog trimming in Toyota Auto Body's "Mobile Trimmer" at a photo opportunity during the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo October 25, 2007. The vehicle is specially customized for visiting pet trimmers and has equipment such as a hair dryer, table, shower booth and layout designed for pet trimming. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

(Reuters) - A model demonstrates Toyota Motor Corp's concept product, the "Personal Mover", during the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo October 25, 2007. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

(AFP) - An attendant of Japan's auto giant Toyota Motor introduces the concept vehicle 1/X at a press preview of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007 in Makuhari, suburban Tokyo. Zany concept vehicles, fuel efficient hybrids and muscular supercars vied for attention as the Tokyo Motor Show opened.(AFP/Toru Yamanaka)

(AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe drives the automaker's concept single-seat vehicle i-Real past another concept vehicle 1/x at Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)