- Toyota will unveil the production version of its Prius Plug-In Hybrid in September at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.
- The 2013 Prius Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale in spring 2012 in 15 states.
- A full nationwide rollout isn't slated until 2013.
TOKYO — The 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid finally breaks cover next month at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. As part of an unusually long gestation period, the Prius PHV will go on sale in spring 2012 in 15 states, some two and a half years after the car was unveiled as a concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, with a full nationwide rollout not slated until calendar 2013.
Toyota has been taking orders on the Prius PHV from U.S. customers since earlier this year, through a dedicated Web site.
The first states to receive the car are Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
The automaker said the Prius PHV will return the equivalent of 107 mpg, with ultra-low CO2 emissions of 49 g/km, and will offer "significantly extended EV driving range for shorter journeys."
The Prius PHV will feature a lithium-ion battery pack in place of the nickel-metal-hydride pack in the standard 2011 Prius.
Inside Line says: Toyota's first head-to-head competitor for the Chevy Volt.
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financeman2 says:
09:10 PM, 08/15/2011
It is interesting to note the polarized views of some of the people placing comments on this site....almost seems like they might be paid posters, especially for GM. The Volt has potential, but it really is extremely overpriced. The Prius is boring, but its track record of reliability and efficiency is difficult to beat.
laibach says:
05:13 PM, 08/15/2011
psiclone (first commentor), you're right. Toyota wasn't the first to sell an electic car, or even a hybrid. Not even close. Electric cars have existed since the 1800s. Toyota simply made a better mouse trap with the Prius. It lost money from 1997 until somewhere around 2003. No more of that.
psiclone says:
03:44 PM, 08/15/2011
Prius seems like old news in technical terms. The advanced technology edge they had early this century has withered. Besides, from what I understand plug-in hybrid tech is not equal to Voltech, is it? And, could they make it any more bland?
For those looking at raw sales numbers as a direct indicator of Volt's success or failure... any reason to hate. Look at these facts from just two weeks ago from the Voltage website, they don't indicate a lack of interest (source below):
* "For the 2011 model year, we built 3975 vehicles. We've sold 3,200 to date, we're using about 125 for internal uses (training, engineering, etc.) and 550 have been assigned as demonstration vehicles at participating Volt dealerships."
* "There are only about 100 2011 Volts left in stock - or 1 per every 6 dealers. If you're interested in purchasing a 2011 model year Volt, give us a call at 1-877-486-5846 or check with your local participating Volt dealer."
* "On average a Volt spent about 13 days in the dealership (this includes prepping for delivery)"
* "Our dealers have requested allocation 4 to 7 times that available each month since launch."
source: http://chevroletvoltage.com/index.php/volt-blog/18-volt/2456-chevrolet-volt-sales.html
qdp says:
02:20 PM, 08/15/2011
For its sheer marketing purpose, Volt is GM's hallo car which has never been intended for mass production. Now that Toyota introduces Plug-in hybird, GM will inevitably send Volt to the funeral house. Off course, next GM's hallo car is in consideration and you still have the hope until GM itself is escorted to funeral house.
Without innovations, almost no American companies can survivel current global competition: Because American has never been good at competing with Japanse and German engineering and manufacturing capability in mass production goods and never able to compete with Chinese low labor cost competitors either.
wjtinatl says:
01:00 PM, 08/15/2011
Not a Toyota fan, I generally agree their cars are uninspired and too appliance-like. However; Toyota is the undisputed leader in Hybrid technology and has tens of millions more real-world miles of Hybrid experience behind them than does GM. I would think it unwise to denigrate Toyota when it comes to Hybrid's. Also, it appears Volt's are still in short supply, their are only 3 on eBay and the Chevy locator only shows 4 available in the San Francisco market, which I would guess would be one of the strongest markets for the Volt. Is Volt supply capacity constrained or is GM limiting supply to demand?
01gmfan4life says:
12:39 PM, 08/15/2011
They fail to mention the prius battery only last for 13 miles! that is the only reason why this turd cost less than the volt. This is just a cheap shot from toyota tyring to say hey look we have the some tech as chevy but 10k cheaper. when in fact the prius is bland, ugly, pussing mobile. while the volt is great looking, fun to drive, and lightyears ahead in the tech devision.
jscion says:
11:38 AM, 08/15/2011
@trashotacrap
Dude, what is your malfunction???
I agree that Toyota doesn't make cars that are especially exciting but what you're selling is a bit extreme. I promise you there are probably plenty of faults in whatever car you're into. I don't drool over my Scion but I've put 100,000 miles on it WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I'd be interested in hearing why you hate Toyota so much???
ed124c says:
11:19 AM, 08/15/2011
@trashotacrap: Every one can have an opinion, but saying that the three million people who have purchased Prii are "downright stupid" is going a bit too far.
awhen says:
11:02 AM, 08/15/2011
@trashotacrap
The only one down-right stupid here is you, considering you did make an account dedicated to hate towards a car brand.
trashotacrap says:
09:44 AM, 08/15/2011
Imports of this ugly, slow, cheaply-finished, massively over-rated and generally repellent vehicle will do wonders for the balance-sheet of a country mired in debt up to its eyeballs. But slow-witted, if not downright stupid people, are the types who buy and buy into the abject mediocrity that is Toyota.