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Posts Tagged “
Prius
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novelties
Convertible Prius Aims For Economy And Style, Misses
Though we found the Cadillac CTS Convertible to be rather fetching, it didn't stand up to some of the four-door convertibles our industrious commentariat located. That being said, we're a little disappointed none of you found this Prius by NCE, which is both a hybrid and a four-door convertible. We're curious to see what kind of fuel economy this things get, as convertibles tend to ruin the carefully crafted, low-resistance shells of other cars.More »
news
Prius Owners Victim Of Treehugger-Hating Vandals
Today must be vigilante day at Jalopnik with fire sprees and identity theft already going on. Now, a vandal in the Santa Rose, Calif. area has a thing against people looking to get some good gas mileage as he or she has vandalized six Toyota Priuses (Priusi? Priuii?) in the same area. The reports say that five of the occurrences involved a brick, rock or hammer thrown through the window with another occurrence involving a dented fender and all are likely related. You know, if the vandal really wanted to get back at the Prius owners, he or she should just fill up the vehicles tank with gasoline. Yeah! That'll show those no-good environment lovers. [Press Democrat] (Image)
industry news
Today the super number-one best automaker from the land of the rising sun provided us the automotive industry equivalent of yelling "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" at their former President of Toyota USA, Jim Press. Press, now President of Chrysler, claimed last week in an article in BusinessWeek that 100% of development of the battery and hybrid engine for the automaker's happy little hybrid, the Prius, occurred via a fat injection of government dollars. This claim had been widely speculated at in the past, but much like the existence of the Yeti, "Nessie" and the affordable lightweight mid-size performance coupe, proof was in short supply. However, Press's comments to Newsweek last week were akin to pulling out the tail of a giant Icyosauropodasaurthing from the depths of a Scottish Loch. Now, Toyota's fightin' back. Here's what spokesman Paul Nolasco now claims:
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Toyota Claims Jim Press Is A Liar, Pants Are On Fire: Prius Development Didn't Use Government Dollars
Today the super number-one best automaker from the land of the rising sun provided us the automotive industry equivalent of yelling "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" at their former President of Toyota USA, Jim Press. Press, now President of Chrysler, claimed last week in an article in BusinessWeek that 100% of development of the battery and hybrid engine for the automaker's happy little hybrid, the Prius, occurred via a fat injection of government dollars. This claim had been widely speculated at in the past, but much like the existence of the Yeti, "Nessie" and the affordable lightweight mid-size performance coupe, proof was in short supply. However, Press's comments to Newsweek last week were akin to pulling out the tail of a giant Icyosauropodasaurthing from the depths of a Scottish Loch. Now, Toyota's fightin' back. Here's what spokesman Paul Nolasco now claims:
More »
alternative energy
Environmental Impact of Prius, Hummer Considered By Slate
The leftist propaganda machine that is Slate recently made an attempt to quash rumors saying the Hummer H2 has a smaller overall environmental impact than a Toyota Prius. The argument goes that the manufacturing process is so energy intensive, and the materials so environmentally damaging, the Toyota Prius is actually worse for the environment in the long run than buying a Hummer H2. Of course the commies at Slate start talking about "science, studies and analysis" — all code words to their conspirators we're sure. We're on to you Slate. [Slate.com]
industry news
Chrysler's Press Claims Japan Paid 100% Of Toyota Prius Hybrid, Battery Development; Lutz Says Volt Could Cost $48,000
BusinessWeek's David Kiley had a fun idea to spend some time talking with some industry heavy-hitters about CAFE and fuel economy. He spent a few minutes talking to both former Toyota USA President and current #2 at Chrysler, Jim Press, as well as GM Vice-Chairman "Maximum" Bob Lutz. The topic was the fuel efficient topic of choice among greenies, hybrids. In the article, Lutz claimed the upcoming Chevy
celebrities
Will Arnett Shows You What He Thinks Of Hollywood's Green Side
Most of this Human Giant sketch runs a little off topic, but it includes our new friend Will Arnett as a, we hope, slightly fictionalized version of himself making fun of Hollywood's need to advertise their interest in the environment by driving green cars. When that joke is complete you've got a video that's NSFW if your coworkers don't want to hear Arnett scream "I'll babysit your vagina" or exclaim that his car has a backseat "big enough to perform an abortion in." You've been warned. [RacerX via Defamer]
offbeat news
Chinese Car Maker Knocks-Off Prius, Leaves Off Wheel, May Be Electric
Sometimes, less is more. These three-wheeled knock offs of western cars might be such a case. Sure, they're not safe, they're poorly made and they're slow, but who wouldn't want to drive one? More cute and cuddly than their western counterparts, Jin Da Lu's copies are likely to be way more efficient too, powered by an assortment of electric motors and two-stroke gasoline engines.More »
novelties
Flatulent Cows Less Classy Than These Unofficial Prius Ads
I'll get this out of the way right off the bat: These advertisements are not associated in any way with Toyota, they were done by an artist with a sense of humor. With that being said, remember the farting cow Prius commercial? If you thought that was one classy piece of marketing, take a look at these print-style advertisements for the Prius that demonstrate how owning The Mightiest Hybrid of Them ALL compensates, in a way, for other lifestyle choices.More »
alternative energy
Electric Cars to Share Batteries with Power Plants, Reduce Pollution
A system under development by University of Delaware scientists could turn parked electric and plug-in hybrid cars into energy storage devices for the electricity grid. By using their batteries to release stored energy back into the grid during demand spikes, electric cars could help power plants operate more efficiently, reducing pollution. This currently unused storage capacity could be even more helpful in bringing more renewable energy sources online, as their electricity generation naturally varies. More »
industry news
Toyota Tax Credit Goes Bye Bye
Remember all that money you were going to save on taxes thanks to that LS 600h L you bought last week? You don't? Good, because it doesn't exist. The federal tax credit for new hybrids is limited to a certain number of vehicles and Toyota has hit that mark. If you're the owner of a Toyota or Lexus purchased before October 1st you're still eligible (after that you're SOL). Of course, you still qualify for up to $3,000 in credits if you buy a hybrid from Ford, GM, Honda or Nissan. [Houston Chronicle via HybridCars]
ad watch
Toyota has decided to pull and re-edit the above the "farting cows" commercial we showed you last week after California Senator Dianne Feinstein complained that it made unfair fun of Fresno (it didn't). The advertisement for the Prius indicated in the future "gas stations will become nothing more than low-budget tourist stops. Like ghost towns... or Fresno." A councilman said he'd forgive Toyota if they opened up a Prius plant in Fresno, to which Toyota replied: "God, no one from our company would want to live in Fresno... it's a ghost town." [via Modesto Bee]
Senator Feinstein to Toyota: Stop Making Fun of Fresno
Toyota has decided to pull and re-edit the above the "farting cows" commercial we showed you last week after California Senator Dianne Feinstein complained that it made unfair fun of Fresno (it didn't). The advertisement for the Prius indicated in the future "gas stations will become nothing more than low-budget tourist stops. Like ghost towns... or Fresno." A councilman said he'd forgive Toyota if they opened up a Prius plant in Fresno, to which Toyota replied: "God, no one from our company would want to live in Fresno... it's a ghost town." [via Modesto Bee]
ad watch
Ford has hybrids? Who knew? If the Toyota Prius "cows farting" ad was the antithesis of all that is honest about automotive advertising, then this new ad for the hybrid FordExplorer Escape cheekily mocks the advertising and marketing madness that is the cult of hybrid. Of course it's also an explanation of why the US automakers have a hybrid marketing gap as big as the feared space exploration gap when a man named Yuri was shot up into space in a capsule way back when and why they totally missed the boat on the Prius. All we know is that this commercial's as funny as the Toyota one from earlier this week — only in a diametrically opposite way.
Ford Tweaks The Marketing Of Hybrids In New Commercial, Explains "Hybrid Gap"
Ford has hybrids? Who knew? If the Toyota Prius "cows farting" ad was the antithesis of all that is honest about automotive advertising, then this new ad for the hybrid Ford
ad watch
Apparently, once Toyota succeeds in its super awesome number one best plan for world domination, everyone will drive a Prius. In this future, no one will use gas stations, telemarketers will be forced to do menial labor and the only airborne emissions — will come from cow rectums. Also, there will be a chicken in every pot. Also, Fresno sucks. Toyota says it's true, so it totally must be. [via Winding Road]
New Toyota Ad Insinuates A Future With The Prius Will Not Require Gas; Cows Will Still Fart
Apparently, once Toyota succeeds in its super awesome number one best plan for world domination, everyone will drive a Prius. In this future, no one will use gas stations, telemarketers will be forced to do menial labor and the only airborne emissions — will come from cow rectums. Also, there will be a chicken in every pot. Also, Fresno sucks. Toyota says it's true, so it totally must be. [via Winding Road]
news
Plug it in, Plug it in: NorCal Families to get Plug-In Hybrids
Transit planners at UC Davis and AAA will be giving away 100 hundred plug-in Toyota Prius hybrids to families chosen from the AAA database. Like other plug-in vehicles we've seen, these can get 100 MPG and are blind crushingly quiet. Testers will only get to try out the cars for eight weeks and will be constantly asked how they're liking them, to which they'll predictably reply: "It's so quiet" and "I don't have to put as much fuel in the car." The ultimate goal is to get people to think they could drive plug-ins by giving them plug-ins. Brilliant![SF GATE]
alternative energy
Prius Stretch Limo: 2 More Seats, Equally Bad Fuel Economy
It's a shame that Ford don't offer the S-Max in North America, because then this Prius enthusiast wouldn't have had to go to all this trouble. You see, he created the FrankenPrius from two halves of two damaged Prii in order to create a 6-seater with decent fuel economy. Ford's S-Max offers available seating for seven and in diesel form, gets better economy than even a standard Prius. More »
found on ebay
Dramatic Prius Sales Video
Orson Welles once said, "The best thing commercially, which is the worst thing artistically, by and large, is the most successful." He was referring to drama, a concept the seller of this highly modified Toyota Prius has employed to great effect, though its commercial success remains to be seen. If after seeing the above excerpt you must have more, you can see the full video here, including some tense script-in-the-shot moments and a more detailed examination of the interior. The car itself is a major aftermarket extravaganza, including many JDM add-ons, new suspension components and an A/V system. Of course, he's likely being ironic, so don't go all Star Wars Kid on the guy. (Thanks to Omar for the tip.) [eBay]
alternative energy
Hard-hitting journalist Stephen Colbert has uncovered a vile plot by hybrid owners; they're intentionally running over blind people in order to use them for fuel. This stunning revelation comes only a day after the National Federation for the Blind publicized concerns over hybrid vehicle safety. Through in-depth investigative reporting, the heroic Colbert discovered that blind people make an excellent source of fuel, one that could potentially reduce our dependency on foreign oil. In a stunning new development, the Associated Press has learned that inattentive people could also be at risk of being turned into a green fuel source by Big Environment. Linda Murphy, who has perfect vision when she wears her glasses, revealed to AP that she too has had close calls with hybrids, "I'm walking right in back of it and it's moving and I didn't realize it until it nearly touched me, I never realized how dependent I was on my ears until I almost got hit." Remember kids, look both ways or Al Gore'll get you.
More »
Colbert: Hybrid Fuel is Blind People
Hard-hitting journalist Stephen Colbert has uncovered a vile plot by hybrid owners; they're intentionally running over blind people in order to use them for fuel. This stunning revelation comes only a day after the National Federation for the Blind publicized concerns over hybrid vehicle safety. Through in-depth investigative reporting, the heroic Colbert discovered that blind people make an excellent source of fuel, one that could potentially reduce our dependency on foreign oil. In a stunning new development, the Associated Press has learned that inattentive people could also be at risk of being turned into a green fuel source by Big Environment. Linda Murphy, who has perfect vision when she wears her glasses, revealed to AP that she too has had close calls with hybrids, "I'm walking right in back of it and it's moving and I didn't realize it until it nearly touched me, I never realized how dependent I was on my ears until I almost got hit." Remember kids, look both ways or Al Gore'll get you.
More »
