Jalopnik: hybrid synergy drive

Toyota Prius Is A "Butt Buddy?"

Wes Siler — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

This Australian ad for the Hybrid Synergy Technology used in the Toyota Prius and other hybrids draws a parallel between gas/electric harmony and having a weird guy attached to your butt all day. Ya know, that actually kinda makes sense.

[via CreativityOnline]

Toyota Yaris Hybrid To Take On Low-Cost Honda Insight

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:45:00 EDT

Toyota officials have announced they're working on a Toyota Yaris hybrid to take on the new Honda Insight hybrid for cheap hybrid supremacy. Muscle Car Wars? Ha! Let the Hybrid Car Wars begin.

According to Automotive News and Japan's Nikkei newspaper, Toyota chief engineer Akihiko Otsuka has confirmed there's a Yaris Hybrid being developed for sale in Japan and the United States.

Toyota has been seeing tough competition from the equally egg-shaped Prius price-undercutting Honda Insight. The new car would wear a version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive and target the low end of the market, with a target price even lower than the Insight's $19,800 starting price. No timeline has been announced, but expect the Yaris Hybrid to be unveiled with the next generation of the bowler hat-shaped micro car for 2011. [Auto News Sub. Req.]

Toyota MR2 To Return As Prius-Based Coupe?

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EDT

Reports claim Toyota may build an environmentally-friendly rear-wheel-drive Toyota MR2 coupe utilizing the Toyota Prius Hybrid Synergy Drive. A Prius-based MR2? Yeah, that'd be the third horseman of the Carpocalypse.

The car under speculation would be influenced by the FT-HS concept car Toyota trotted out a few years ago, which was then powered by a hybridized 3.5 liter V6.

The gasoline powerplant is not mentioned, but the car would get a heavily massaged version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive with gear selection courtesy of steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. An unnamed Toyota executive noted the targeted price point is somewhere around $24,000 with a 0-60 MPH time around 7 seconds. So a historically quirky, lightweight mid-engined, manual transmission sports car gets green by going heavy with hybrid bits, an automagic transmission and God-only-knows what powertrain layout. Get the pitchforks. [AutoExpress via World Car Fans]

Giugiaro Quaranta Concept Fully Revealed, Has Toyota Hybrid Drive Under Strangely Sloping Hood-Windshield Thing

Ray Wert — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:40:00 EST

The Giugiaro folks have been teasing us for days with cropped crap shots of the Quaranta concept car they'll be revealing at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Now we've got a set of press photos of the edgy wedge that's been four decades in the coming in all of its full glory. Oh, and we told you it'd be greener around the gills, but did we tell you it's getting Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive? No? Well it will. Again we must tell you — look, but don't touch. We wouldn't want you to hurt yourself on all those sharp pointy parts. Full commentary from the boys at World Car Fans after the jump.

"The Italian design house used Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive to power their idea of a futuristic super car employing state-of-the-art F1 technology. Giugiaro claims: "It is an "extreme", ecological, 4WD super-sportscar, the first hybrid car with mid-engine and driving position and a roomy cabin able to accommodate three adults plus a baby in complete comfort."

[via World Car Fans]

Prius Based Lexus Wagon In The Works?

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST

Seems the chairman of the #1 best automaker from the land of the rising sun, Ken Watanabe, liked our Maximum Wagon Day so much, he's creating a Lexus wagon from a next gen Prius. The amicable blokes over at the Trend which has to do with Motors are reporting Toyota will be bringing two dedicated hybrids to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

One will be the generation three Prius, the other a Lexus

"lifestyle wagon-like vehicle based on the Prius platform and drivetrain."

Sounds pretty wagony to us, and that's all we really care to hear. Vanilla and beige luxo-wagons ho! [via The Trend of Motors]