Well, that went well…

Back in the spring of 2011 Toyota had celebrated 1 million Prius vehicles sold in America between 2000 and April 2011. So, they decided to do something special for the Prius owners…

It hasn’t even been a full half year since I registered to receive the Prius Goes Platinum badge here at Toyota site and already a (strangely thin) envelope from Toyota! Let’s open it quick, get our hands on a badge I’ve earned through owning 2 Priuses (Priae?) and putting 130,000+ miles on them, a badge I would love to stick somewhere on the outside of the vehicle (what else am I supposed to do with it, anyhow?).

Here is what comes out of the envelope: (more…)

October 10th, 2010 (10-10-2010)
Mark your calendar, there is going to be a celebration soon! Toyota is planning some (unspecified) festivities to mark the 10th anniversary of its iconic hybrid car. Here is a little quirk: (more…)

I have to admit I had no idea Toyota has a VP of Customer Retention but apparently Mr. Dave Zellers have his work cut out for him lately. I am reminded of that every time I drive by a Ford dealership in the area that posted a huge “$1000 Toyota trade in reward” sign a couple of months ago. I have received an e-mail from Toyota’s Headquarters today (as I’m sure did millions of other Toyota owners in recent days / weeks) and decided that this is the least I can do for my favorite automaker. I did have a few small issues I wanted to tell them about and I’ve actually appreciated the opportunity. So here goes: (more…)

Toyota is getting ready to recall some 270,000 third generation Priuses sold in the US since their introduction in May 2009. This US recall is expected to be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 09 2010 and is expected to be just a firmware update for the car’s computer. The firmware update is designed to address (more…)

As the news come in about yet another Toyota recall, this time involving the 2010 Prius (Japan only so far), it starts to look very much like the issue is not the mere 1.5″ long piece of metal pictured here. I honestly don’t know what is more embarrassing in terms of PR for Toyota: admit to improperly designing a pedal or letting a bug slip into the software that runs their vehicles. C’mon Toyota, a pedal that gets jammed? You guys can do better than that. (more…)

Conceived by famed Italian designer Giugiaro of ItalDesign, the Toyota Hybrid Priapus is not only an energy efficient sport car, but also a sizzling and sleek fast car that catches the eye of every sports car enthusiast. It contains a 3-liter V6 enhanced by dual front and rear electric motors. The Priapus is powered by a striking 408 hp Hybrid Synergy Drive. A conventional gas and electric hybrid, the Priapus lists at over $70,000. This hot roadster can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just over four seconds. As well, it provides about 30/mpg during usual driving practices. There is no comparison with this efficient sports car to the new 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid car in performance value.
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Toyota has been making some news lately with their runaway vehicles and they are trying to do something about it. I’ve just received the Interim Notice letter I’ve been hearing about for a few weeks now and set out to see if the floor mat could be a likely culprit, as described in the letter. Here is what I’ve found:

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Not a big post, rather a Twitter-style update. Just to confirm that I saw the first 2010 Prius on the streets of Seattle, WA a week ago. There are still waiting lists galore at the dealers but this lucky guy (or gal) had probably been on the list long enough to get the first 2010 model. It was silver color – looks like the most popular color out there. And yes, it is a shame I did not have a camera with me 🙂

I am going to see the Third Gen Prius this weekend in NYC! Have been looking for it in Philly in Feb 2009 but I guess it has not been ready (or Philly Auto Show is not important enough – seems plausible 🙂 ) The show is at the Javits Center, not too far from the Lincoln Tunnel – pretty convenient place.
Anyways, here is what Toyota promises to show beyond EPA-estimated 51MPG city / 48MPG highway gas mileage : (more…)

July 10, 2008

Toyota said today that it will start assembling its Prius hybrid car in the US. The assembly will take place at their brand new plant (currently under construction) in Blue Springs, Mississippi, just northwest of Tupelo. The production will start in late 2010. It is our hope that the plant will produce the new generation plug-in Prius (prototype of which is pictured here). Click here for more (more…)