Lexus Green Car Advisor Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

November 6, 2009

Green Cars Get Green Light, Hybrid Sales Outperform Overall October Market

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Spurred by factory incentives, replenished stocks and the relative freshness of several models, sales of hybrid-electric cars and SUVs soared in October, easily outperforming the market as a whole.

Compared to October '08 - a month with six fewer hybrid models available - sales of Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota hybrids were up 12.1 percent, while sales of conventionally powered cars and trucks were flat.

The one-month picture was even rosier, as October hybrid sales jumped 22.5 percent from September's, versus a 12.1 percent hike in sales of conventional models.

Nissan, which has only one model - the Altima hybrid, - and sells it in just the nine states with the toughest emissions standards, was the only hybrid maker to record a sales decline for both periods, dropping 46 percent from a year earlier and 13 percent from September.

As with most hybrids - Toyota's Prius excepted - Nissan's actual numbers are quite small because of low sales volumes. October's sales drop represented just 46 fewer Altima hybrid sales than in September.

Toyota's redesigned 2010 Prius, sweetened by a small factory incentive, remained by far the segment leader, accounting for 55 percent of all hybrid sales for the month.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 6, 2009, 1:18 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hybrids

October 2, 2009

Hybrids Down, But Not Out In September as Clunker Cash Flees Market.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The cash for clunkers frenzy that pulled many hybrid shoppers into the market earlier than they'd intended in July and August caused a big letdown in September as sales of gas-electric cars and trucks, which had been rising steadily all year, plunged 48.4 percent.

Only 19,977 hybrids were sold in September, down from 38,701 in August. The sales slide was the first in several months and was worse that that of the far larger conventional vehicle segment, which dropped by 40.9 percent from August.

Falling sales of the Toyota Prius - they were down 42 percent for the month - contributed heavily to the numeric decline although almost every hybrid model lost ground.

On a month over month basis there were no corporate winners in the hybrid segment as even Toyota - the industry leader with three out of every four hybrid sales - saw a 39.7 percent decline in its Toyota and Lexus hybrids.

And that was the segment's best performance.

Lots of Losers

Nissan, which has been on a tear with its single offering, the Altima hybrid sedan (helped by generous incentives in recent moths), saw its hybrid sales plunge 89.1 percent in September; Honda, the number two hybrid company, saw sales fall 61.6 percent; Ford, which had been rising since the March introduction of its Fusion hybrid sedan, was off 54.5 percent, and GM's hybrid sales fell by 40.8 percent.

Compared to sales at the end of the third-quarter last year- when the financial industry collapse began and the bottom fell out of the auto market, the picture was a little better as hybrid sales last month were down just 4.1 percent from September '08.

In contrast, conventional car sales fell 22.5 percent in the September-September comparison.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell October 2, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: September 2009 Hybrid Sales

September 22, 2009

Latest 2010 Cars in U.S. 6.6% Greener Than 2009 Models, Website Reports

Environmental car data released by a new automotive Website today shows that the latest 2010 range of new cars available in the U.S. is 6.6 percent greener than the 2009 model-year range.

The data supplied by WhatGreenCar also demonstrate that the shift to green is gaining pace. To date, this year's 6.6 percent reduction is more than three times last year's improvement of 2.1 percent.

Comparing model year 2009 cars with the latest model year 2010 line-up, 10 volume automakers are now offering a new model range above the average improvement of 6.6 percent.

The top 10 manufacturers achieving this are: Chevrolet (20.3 percent improvement), General Motors (15.3 percent), Mercedes-Benz (13.6 percent), Lexus (13.2 percent), Mercury (11.6 percent), Kia (11.0 percent), Ford (10.4 percent), Acura (8.0 percent), Volkswagen (8.0 percent) and Suzuki (7.7 percent).

The tables below are self-explanatory, and can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 22, 2009, 12:09 PM
Categories:: Acura, Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Suzuki, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Acura

September 14, 2009

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Greenest Car Show Begins Previews Tuesday

Hyundai Motors' ix-Metro Hybrid city car is one of several dozen 'green' cars and concepts debuting at Frankfurt show.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

This week's Frankfurt Auto Show promises to be the greenest major auto show to date - a showcase for fuel efficiency improvements and alternative powertrains that are coming to the forefront as the mainstream auto industry finally begins coming to grips with the need to begin weaning itself - and us - from petroleum.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 14, 2009, 1:49 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Citroen, Diesel, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

September 2, 2009

Hybrid Sales Up Again in August, Carried By Clunker Cash and Slow-Growing Acceptance

Nissan Altima hybrid was one of the stars of August, more than tripling sales for the month despite limited availability.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The federal Cash for Clunkers program may have been good for conventional cars in August, but monthly sales performance was a letdown for hybrids after an explosive July.

Oh, sales of gas-electric cars and SUVs were up last month - a 9.2 percent gain from July, but that pales by comparison to the 35 percent gain the segment recorded in July over June and doesn't stand up well, either, against the 26.6% August increase posted by conventionally powered vehicles (cars and trucks except hybrids).

Overall, however, August 2009 hybrid sales of 38,701 gas-electric cars, SUVS and pickups were up 48.6 percent from 26,044 in August '08 - a significant gain explained in large part by the addition of half a dozen new hybrid models, including the Honda Insight, Ford Fusion and Lexus HS250, that weren't available a year earlier.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 2, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: August 2009 Hybrid Sales

September 1, 2009

'Photo' of Lexus LF-Ch Compact Hybrid Concept Unveiled; Car to Debut in Frankfurt

Lexus has already teased us with the "official sketch" of its upcoming compact concept for the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, but today it released what it claims is the first "official photo" of the car.

That would be the image at right, which to us looks like an artist's rendering.

Along with the, uh, photo comes a name: the Lexus LF-Ch Concept. "LF" means it's a concept vehicle, borne from the L-Finesse design mantra. "C" indicates it's a C-segment car; competitors will include the Audi A3 and the BMW 1-series. And "h" is for hybrid.

The rear three-quarters photo/rendering of the low-emissions vehicle shows door handles that look too flush to be production-ready and windows that look surreal. Otherwise, the fuel-efficient vehicle could closely resemble a production model.

Lexus sources say the car will enter production by 2012. There's no word on whether it will be coming to the U.S., but with impressive fuel economy and all-electric performance under certain conditions would make it competitive with its American-offered Audi and BMW rivals.

We expect details to be forthcoming in Frankfurt.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 1, 2009, 10:29 AM
Categories:: Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Lexus
Technorati Tags:: Audi

August 19, 2009

Toyota Reportedly to Buy Lithium-Ion Batteries for Hybrid Vehicles From Sanyo

Toyota Motor Corp. will buy hybrid-car batteries from Sanyo Electric Co. as the automaker struggles to meet growing demand for the fuel-sipping vehicles due to a shortage of battery supply, Reuters news service reported today, citing an unidentified source familiar with the matter.

Toyota now procures its batteries from Panasonic EV Energy Co, a joint venture with Panasonic Corp. Panasonic plans to take control of Sanyo and is awaiting regulatory approval.

Demand for gasoline-electric vehicles has surged in Japan, helped by tax breaks and subsidies under a government initiative to promote fuel-efficient automobiles, but Toyota has said production of its hybrids is being held back by a supply bottleneck for batteries.

Its Prius hybrid was Japan's best-selling car in July for a second straight month, but customers placing orders have to wait about eight months before delivery.

Toyota also said this week that it had received about 10,000 orders for the Lexus HS250h sedan, the premium brand's first dedicated hybrid car, in its first month of sale in Japan. It aims to sell an average 500 units a month.

Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, will first use Sanyo's lithium-ion batteries from around 2011, said the source, who confirmed a report in the Nikkei business daily and spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is not yet public.

Toyota will first procure about 10,000 battery units per year from Sanyo, the world's biggest rechargeable battery maker, the source said. Toyota aims to sell at least 1 million hybrid vehicles a year in the early 2010s.

A Toyota spokeswoman said nothing had been decided about procuring lithium-ion batteries from Sanyo. A Sanyo spokesman declined comment, citing company policy on deals with potential and existing customers.

Toyota Improves Batteries

In a related development, Toyota announced that has developed a new technology that may dramatically boost the storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries and thus open the door to more practical electric vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 19, 2009, 11:10 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Batteries

August 17, 2009

Lexus to Reveal Premium Compact Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show Next Month

In an uncharacteristically succinct statement issued today, Lexus announced that it will introduce a premium compact concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15th and it unveiled an official sketch of the car.

"The concept will demonstrate a mix of technical innovation and ground-breaking design that promises to raise the bar in the premium compact segment," the statement said, adding that further information about the unnamed vehicle won't be available until the show.

That said, we have to assume that by "technical innovation and ground-breaking design" the new model will feature some of green innovations found in Lexus's low-emissions, fuel-efficient hybrid models.

Among those innovations: A rear-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain featuring a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline-fuel internal combustion engine mated to a high-output electric motor.

The vehicle, which will likely represent Toyota's effort to compete with Audi's A3 and BMW's 1 series cars in Europe, might be destined for U.S. showrooms.

Unfortunately, that bit of wishful thinking won't likely be confirmed or denied before the Frankfurt show.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett August 17, 2009, 10:47 AM
Categories:: Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Audi

August 4, 2009

July Hybrid Sales Explode With Clunker Cash and New Prius Excitement

Toyota's Perennial Best-Seller Records 48% Sales Jump For Month; Honda Hybrids Flat

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

If Cash for Clunkers lit a fire under July's auto dales in the general market, it apparently set off a rocket booster under the hybrid market.

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It was blue skies for Toyota as its 2010 Prius rebounded in July.
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Sales of gas-electric cars, SUVs and trucks were up an impressive 35 percent in July - for the month and from a year earlier. Almost all hybrid cars best the 22 mph minimum combined EPA mileage that qualifies a vehicle to be purchased using a cash for clunkers voucher. By comparison, sales of conventional new vehicles rose 15.4 percent for the month and were down 13 percent from July '08.

The explosive performance was led almost single-handedly by Toyota's 2010 Prius, which saw its first full month of sales with an adequate supply on hand at dealerships.

"I think hybrids are benefiting from the buzz of new models such as the 2010 Prius and Honda Insight and fresh models in segments other than compact car, as well as from Cash for Clunkers," said Edmunds.com industry analyst Jessica Caldwell.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell August 4, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: CarSales

July 31, 2009

Still Shopping? With Big Rebates, Hybrids and Diesels Can Be Attractive

If C4C Comes Back, Tech Premium For Many Could Be Offset; Manufacturer Rebates Would Do Same

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Got a gas guzzler that would qualify under the cash for clunkers program for a federal credit toward a new, more efficient car or truck? (That's if we still have a cash for clunkers program when the dust settles from Thursday's reveation that the programs's initial funding apparently has run dry.)

The situation's up in the air right now, but if you are in the mood to keep doing research, or perhaps have had the car-buying impulse jump-started and have decided to take the plunge - clunker incentive or no - this is a good time to look at hybrids and diesels.

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2009 Camry Hybrid has lowest technology premium, $239.

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If Congress keeps cash for clunkers going, or automakers step up with bigger incentives of their own to keep the market moving, the credits - ranging in the C4C program from $3,500 to $4,500 depending on the fuel economy of the new car or truck - could help make a previously unaffordable hybrid or clean diesel a lot more compatible with your budget.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 31, 2009, 7:09 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Diesel, Ford, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Cash For Clunkers

July 20, 2009

Lexus' 2010 HS 250h Hybrid to Start at $35,075: On Sale In August

Toyota has finally taken the lid off pricing for its new Lexus HS 250h : the base model of the entry-level luxury hybrid will start at $35,075, with the Premium trim level jumping off at $37,8457 (prices include Lexus' $875 delivery fee).

That makes the hybrid considerably more expensive than its Toyota Prius stablemate, but on par with Lexus' entry-level luxury sedan, the ES 350, which starts at 35,345, including delivery.

Lexus didn't provide an itemized price list for the 2010 HS 250h, but if bragging about price is important you could quickly get it up over $40,000 with its typically Lexus list of extras including a 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

For tech-heads, there's a package (Premium model only) that includes a heads-up display; an active lane-keeping assistance and lane departure warning system; parking assist system and radar cruise control that helps the car warn you when you are tailgating and, if you ignore that warning, helps slow you down if it senses that a tail-end collision is unavoidable.

Lexus says the 2010 HS 250h goes on sale at dealerships in the U.S. in late August.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 20, 2009, 11:18 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Lexus
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Lexus HS250h; Hybrids

July 14, 2009

In Japan, Toyota Launches First Lexus Hybrid; Model Coming to N. America This Fall

Toyota Motor Corp. today launched its first dedicated hybrid model under the premium Lexus brand, saying it had received orders worth six months of targeted sales in Japan.

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Right, Lexus GM Mark Templin introduces the 2010 Lexus HS 250h at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
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The launch of the HS 250h sedan, which like the Prius is only available as a gasoline-electric hybrid, marks the latest push by the Japanese automaker to drive hybrids into the mainstream as governments worldwide tighten emissions and fuel-economy regulations while offering consumers incentives to purchase less-polluting cars.

Toyota said it has already received 3,000 orders for the vehicle in Japan and expects to sell an average of 500 of them each month domestically.

The model will be sold in the United States and Canada from September, Toyota said, adding that its plans to produce about 3,000 of the vehicle a month through the rest of the year.

Senior Managing Director Toshio Furutani said hybrids had become a major driver for the Lexus brand, which has struggled to sell in Japan since its domestic launch in 2005.

In the first six months of 2009, Lexus sales plunged 38 percent from the year-earlier period to 9,293 vehicles. About 30 percent of those were a hybrid, a Toyota spokesman said.

The HS 250h, powered by a 2.5-liter engine, starts at $42,460 in Japan, making it the cheapest model in the Lexus line-up and eligible for a maximum $2,870 in "eco-car" tax breaks. The HS 250h has listed mileage in Japan of 35 miles per gallon.

Toyota has a goal of selling at least 1 million hybrid vehicles a year within the next few years and has said it would offer the hybrid option on all of its models by around 2020.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 14, 2009, 12:24 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Tax Incentives, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Emissions

June 10, 2009

Toyota Sees Recovery Signs, Predicts 25,000 Annual Sales for New Lexus Hybrid

Banking on a recovering economy to help things along, Toyota Motor Corp. says it expects to sell 25,000 of its new dedicated Lexus hybrid (left) in the first 12 months it is on sale in the U.S.,

The Lexus HS250 hybrid, scheduled to hit dealers' lots later this summer, is Toyota's first stab at a hybrid-only model for its luxury brand.

"More than 60 percent of entry luxury sedan buyers said they would consider hybrids, and this is a segment nobody's in right now," Mark Templin, group vice president of the Lexus Division for Toyota North America, said during an event in Rochester Hills, Mich., about 27 miles north of Detroit.

Templin didn't disclose pricing for the Lexus HS250, which he described as roomier, wider and longer than the 2010 Prius, with which it shares a platform. But we've previously estimated it at around $32,500, based on hints company executives made when unveiling the car at the Detroit auto show in January.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell June 10, 2009, 5:50 PM
Categories:: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Lexus HS250 Hybrid

June 3, 2009

Incentives, Concern Over Rising Fuel Prices Help Hybrids Outpace Market in May

Sales of hybrid cars and trucks outperformed the market in May, giving lie to the belief, popular among mainstream industry analysts and pundits, that Americans are only interested in the gas-electric vehicles when fuel prices are stratospheric.

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2009 Prius was top hybrid with best sales in 7 months.
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In a month when sales of non-hybrid vehicles rose 12.9 percent from the prior month, hybrid sales were up 18.2 percent. Incentives were applied liberally to hybrids and conventional vehicles alike during May, reducing the likelihood that cash-back offers or cheap interest rates unfairly boosted hybrid sales.

And while sales of both hybrids and conventional vehicles fell far short of matching year-earlier tallies, hybrid sales were off only 26.7 percent from May, 20008, compared to a 33.5 percent decline for non-hybrids.

At the same time, conventional small car sales fell short of overall market performance, indicating that shoppers had more than just fuel economy on their minds. The hybrid market may be benefiting from increased concern that fuel prices, which have been below $3 a gallon for nearly a year after approaching the $4-per-gallon mark last summer, are on the rise again and may be heading for new highs.

In all, dealers sold 25,693 hybrids last month, up from 21,735 in April but down from 35,042 in May 2008.

With the exception of Toyota's Camry hybrid, the top-selling Prius - which continues to dominate the U.S. hybrid market - and Honda's Civic hybrid, sales of individual models are low enough that it doesn't take much to cause a large jump in percent of increase or decline.

That said, Ford's new Fusion sedan hybrid scored an impressive 75 percent gain from April while sales of the Ford Escape SUV hybrid were up 62.2 percent for the same period.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell June 3, 2009, 5:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales

April 24, 2009

Lexus Boosts Power, Lowers Base Price of 2010 RX 450h Hybrid Crossover

Considering all the improvements from the first-generation model - including a 16-20 percent fuel economy gain - Toyota Motor Co. is providing luxe segment buyers a bit of a break with the upcoming 2010 Lexus RX450h (right) hybrid crossover which it priced Thursday at a base of $41,660 for the front-wheel drive model and $43,250 for the all-wheel drive version.

The RX 450h pricing represents a 0.9 percent drop from the base price of $42,080 on the FWD 2008 RX 400h model, and a 0.5 percent dip from the base '08 AWD model's $43,480 sticker (Lexus also levies an $875 destination charge on all vehicles).

Lexus says the 2010 RX 450h goes on sale this summer, but has offered no firm date yet.

The updated crossover features a revamped version of the company's hybrid drive system, now rated at total output of 295 horsepower, up from 268 ponies in the '08 model - Lexus didn't release an '09 model of its hybrid crossover utility but simply carried the '08 over an additional year while readying the RX 450h as a replacement.

For 2010 there's a new 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 under the hood (the '08 uses a 3.3 liter Otto cycle gas engine - the difference in is the way the engine takes in air - the Atkinson cycle permits greater fuel efficiency but reduces the gas engine's power output, which is more than made up for in the hybrid by the additional displacement and the power boost from the electric motors).

In addition, the 2010 models' electric drive motors are lighter, smaller and more powerful than in the first-generation RX 400h, and fuel economy is way up thanks to widespread use of lighter materials.

Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, says the 2010 RX 450h front-wheel drive model has an EPA fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 30 miles per gallon. The all-wheel drive model has a city rating of 30 mpg and a highway rating 28 mpg for a combined fuel efficiency rating of 29 mpg.

That's a 20 percent improvement for the all-wheel drive model and a 16 percent improvement for the all-wheel drive hybrid - both '08 models had combined city/highway ratings of 25 mpg.

The automaker says the new RX 450h, despite it's power boost, will earn a SULEV (super ultra-low emissions vehicle) rating from California's tough air quality regulators, which means it automatically meets or betters the federal EPA 's strict Tier 2 Bin 3 standards.

A good deal for the country club set - save some green while driving green on the way to the greens.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 24, 2009, 3:30 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Lexus RX 450h

April 2, 2009

Hybrid Sales Sputtered in 1st Quarter, But Segment's Not Out of Gas

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

It's no secret, hybrids haven't been doing well lately, on dealers' lots, in the media, or in a lot of political arguments. Sales data that comes in on a monthly basis shows hybrid sales sinking faster than auto sales as a whole. And there's nothing pretty about auto sales as a whole.

Indeed, looking at March's tally shows that the 21,433 hybrid cars and trucks sold in the U.S. last month represents a 43.9 percent drop from hybrid sales in March of 2008, while sales of all other types of new passenger vehicles, on a March-vs-March basis, were off "just" 36.5 percent.

So, the argument goes, hybrids can't hold their own, they cost too much and people don't really want them.

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Nissan Altima hybrid was one of only two models posting a first quarter gain.
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But we've never been big on the idea that a trend can be made, or broken, in a single month.

One could also argue, for instance, that March hybrid sales were up substantially from February and recovered more than did all other segments combined.

On a sales-per-day basis, to account for the shorter February selling period, March hybrid sales were up 20.9 percent, versus an 11.6 percent increase from February in sales of other types of new cars and trucks.

Does that mean that March sales show that people have changed their minds and are flocking to hybrids in droves?

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 2, 2009, 4:35 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Hybrid Sales

March 11, 2009

Toyota Says U.S. Sales of Its Hybrids Have Topped the 1 Million Mark

The Prius, entering its third generation wth the new 2010 model (above), has led Toyota's hybrid march.

Toyota, which was closing in on this major hybrid milestone last time we looked, said this morning that combined U.S. sales of its Toyota and Lexus hybrids now has topped the 1-million mark.

Most of those sales can be chalked up to the segment's volume leader, the Toyota Prius, which became the world's first modern gas-electric hybrid when it was launched in Japan in 1997.

Toyota brought the Prius to the U.S. early in 2000 and has since added five other hybrids to its fleet.

"One million hybrids in less than nine years indicates how quickly American consumers have accepted this important technology," Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, said in a statement released this morning.

Combined Toyota and Lexus hybrid sales account for more than 75 percent of the market in the U.S. Honda and Ford Motor Co. hybrids account for most of the rest.

Globally, Toyota is adding 10 new hybrid models over the next three years and expects to be selling 1 million gas-electric cars and SUVs a year by early next decade.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 11, 2009, 8:56 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales

March 5, 2009

Incentives Helped Hybrids in February; Sales Down Less than Industry Overall

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Sales of hybrid cars and SUVs continued falling in February but their plunge was slowed somewhat by a strong updraft of incentives.

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Camry hybrid sales were down 50 percent from February '08 but with incentive spending rose 82 percent from January
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While new car sales overall were down 41 percent from a year earlier, hybrid sales were off just 28.5 percent with 16,020 vehicles sold, down from 22,411 in February 2008.

The gas-electric cars cost more than their conventional counterparts and haven't been doing well as the economy tanks and gas prices remain relatively low.

Sales also have been slowed as interested consumers hold off in anticipation of the new Honda insight compact 5-passenger hybrid and the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius, both due to hit showroom floors soon.

One Gainer

February saw only one gain - the Lexus RX400 hybrid crossover SUV was up 31 percent from a year earlier - but several models posted smaller declines than the segment as a whole.

The Lexus RX400 hybrid was helped by significant incentive spending, as Toyota's luxury division poured an average of $6,338 into each vehicle, according to Edmunds.com's True Cost of Incentives data. That was up from just $503 per vehicle incentive spending on the RX400 hybrid a year earlier and was $1,300 more than Lexus was spending on RX400 incentives in January.

Both the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Camry posted big gains for the month. The Escape, with 1,172 sales, climbed 55.6 percent from January and the Camry, with 2,080 sales, was up 82.3 percent.

Camry sales really show the power of incentives: the car was among the worst performers in comparing February '08 and '09 sales, down almost 50 percent.To get the big January to February improvement, Toyota pumped up incentive spending on the model to $1,495 per vehicle from "virtually nothing in January," said Edmunds.com industry analyst Jessica Caldwell.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 5, 2009, 12:46 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales

February 5, 2009

Hybrid Sales Swirled Down Same Drain as Conventional Cars and Trucks in January

By John O'Dell, Senior Edito r

No surprise, hybrid sales in January went down the drain along with the rest of the industry.

The gas-electric cars, pricier than their conventional counterparts, typically don't do well when gas prices are cheapish, as they are these days.

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Lexus RX 400h was one of only two hybrids to post a gain over January '08 sales.
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Add in a recession teetering on the edge of depression and the picture is grimmer.

Piling on, Toyota and Honda -- the industry's hybrid sales leaders -- have new models coming out in a few months, a situation that doesn't do much to promote sales of models that are soon to be outdated.

The only good news is that, as a percentage of an overall abysmal market, hybrids gained in January, rising to a 2.33 percent market share from 1.97 percent in December and 2.14 percent a year earlier.

In terms of market share, January was the seventh-best month for hybrids since the first model went on sale in the U.S. in 1999.

Good market share in a bad market isn't much to cheer about, though. In terms of sales volume, January was the worst month for hybrids in almost three years.

Total sales of 15,393 hybrid cars and SUVs were down 12.8 percent from December and plunged 31.2 percent from a year earlier.

The last time sales were lower was February 2006, when only 14,957 hybrids were sold.

Gains

As usual, Toyota's Prius was the month's volume leader with 8,121 sales -- almost 53 percent of the total.

The Prius also was one of only five hybrid models of the 16 tracked by Edmunds.com to post a gain from December, up 3.3 percent. Prius sales were down 28.6 percent from a year earlier, though.

The other January gainers were:

The Lexus 400h crossover hybrid, up 6.3 percent with 1,556 sales;
Toyota's Highlander hybrid SUV, up 10.6 percent with 984 sales;
Honda's Civic Hybrid, up 3.8 percent with 1,076 sales; and
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV from Ford Motor Co., up 19.8 percent with 127 sales.

Despite the one-month gains, the Civic Hybrid was down 38.3 percent from January '07, the Mariner was off 28.7 percent from a year earlier, and the Highlander was down 54.1 percent.

Potential buyers holding back in anticipation of the improved 2010 Prius and Honda's new 2010 Insight Hybrid, both due later this year, didn't help any of the January-over-January sales comparisons, said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com's manager of industry analysis.

"Hefty price tags combined with the promise of newer, more-efficient models to come within the next few months have really hindered hybrid sales in January," she said.

Two hybrid models did post gains from their year-ago, marks, though.

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Nissan Altima Hybrid joined Lexus in winner's circle with an increase from January '08 sales.
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The Lexus 400h was up 28.3 percent from 1,211 sales a year earlier -- the only model to gain for the month and the year -- while Nissan's Altima Hybrid, with 644 sales last month, was up 36.1 percent from 473 sales in January '07.

Big Losses

The rest of the pack lost ground, although most are such low-volume sellers that the losses didn't make much impression on January's total sales picture.

General Motors Corp.'s hybrid cars and crossovers were the biggest losers, percentagewise, all but one falling more than 50 percent from December (none were in the market a year ago, so there are no January '07 numbers to compare to).

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid SUV was hit hardest, down 69.5 percent with 299 sold versus 981 in December.

The Chevy Malibu Hybrid sedan was a close second in the loser column, its 145 sales a 68.1 percent decline from 454 sales a month earlier.

The GMC Yukon Hybrid SUV (a twin to the Tahoe) was down 62 percent to 168 sales from 442 in December; Cadillac Escalade Hybrid SUV sales fell 56.8 percent to 132 from 306; the Saturn Vue Greenline Hybrid crossover was off 54.7 percent with 153 sales, down from 338; and the Saturn Aura Hybrid sedan was down 44.1 percent to 19 sales from 34 in December.

Sales of Ford's Escape Hybrid SUV fell 27.9 percent from December, to 753, and were off 41.9 percent from January '07, and Toyota's Camry Hybrid sedan dropped 39.6 percent from December, to 1,141 sales, and was down 49.7 percent from a year earlier.

In Toyota's luxury stable, the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid sedan posted 33 sales, down 34 percent from December and 68.6 percent below January '07 sales, and the Lexus GS 450h crossover hybrid dropped 19.6 percent from December, to 41 sales, and was off 35.9 percent from a year earlier.

Although the new models from Toyota and Honda could pump a little excitement into the hybrid market later this year, Caldwell and other analysts don't expect much improvement before the latter part of the year.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell February 5, 2009, 10:34 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: January Hybrid Sales

February 2, 2009

Audi to Offer Q5 Gas-Electric Hybrid in U.S. Starting in Late 2010

Audi will offer a hybrid version of its Q5 premium SUV in the U.S. starting in late 2010, Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development for the Volkswagen group, told Automotive News (subscription required).

If the car is a success in America, Audi said it may launch it in Europe.

In an interview at the Detroit Auto Show last month, Hatz said Audi must offer a hybrid model to compete with rival vehicles that already offer the technology, such as the Lexus RX 400h. The BMW X6 will be offered as a hybrid late this year, and Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out a hybrid in each of its major models starting with the S400 hybrid this year.

That said, Hatz thinks the greatest potential lies in diesel.

"If you look at what you have to spend to get the advantage of the hybrid and what you have to spend on other technologies like diesel, the diesel is much more cost-effective," Hatz told Automotive News. "We have to do hybrids in order to show people that we are able to do them."

Hatz said the cost to develop a hybrid powertrain is three to four times greater than that for a standard drivetrain, compared with less than 50 percent greater for a diesel drivetrain. Considering the low volumes of hybrid vehicles, it makes for a "negative business case" to offer the drivetrain in one model only, Hatz said.

"At the moment, we have to spend quite a lot on the basic technology, which then we can perhaps spread later on more models," he added.

Audi had planned to offer its first hybrid in the larger Q7 premium SUV, but the dollar's weak value against the euro made the business case unworkable. Hatz said the Q5 was a natural alternative.

Already on sale in Europe, the gasoline version of the Q5 (pictured) goes on sale in U.S. in March. It will compete with the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLK.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett February 2, 2009, 4:35 PM
Categories:: Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: Audi Q5 Hybrid

January 22, 2009

Lexus Recalling 214,500 Cars for Possible Fuel Line Corrosion Caused by Ethanol

Now we know why GM has been so enthusiastic about ethanol. The often-corrosive alternative fuel has proven to be the undoing of nearly a quarter million of rival Toyota Motor corp.'s high-end Lexus luxury models.

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Lexus LS 460 models from 2006 through 2008 are among the cars being recalled.
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Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are launching a safety recall affecting about 214,500 Lexus GS 300, GS 350, IS 250 and IS 350 and LS 460 and LS 460L vehicles from the 2006 through 2008 model years because of a potential fuel line problem.

Seems that low-moisture ethanol blends can corrode the cars' fuel delivery pipes, causing a warning light to come on and possibly eating a pinhole through the pipe wall, causing a fuel leak.

The automaker said no other Lexus models are affected.

Owners with cars covered by the Lexus recall will be notified by mail starting later this month and will be asked to contact local Lexus dealers to schedule inspections and possible repairs of any ethanol damage.

Toyota Motors Sales USA, which is managing the recall for the automaker, said repairs will involve replacing the fuel pipes with new ones that won't be affected by ethanol. The repairs will be done at no charge, the automaker said.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (5); John O'Dell January 22, 2009, 3:15 AM
Categories:: Ethanol, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Ethanol Damage

January 11, 2009

Detroit Auto Show: Lexus' Newest Hybrid, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Lexus just unwrapped its newest hybrid, the 2010 HS 250h. No pricing of fuel efficiency numbers yet, although the company is claiming that it will be "more than 30 percent better than the most fuel-efficient model currently in the Lexus lineup."

That would would put the HS 250h somewhere in the territory of 33 mpg, as the most-efficient Lexus today is the 2008 RX 400hhybrid crossover, rated at 27 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway for a combined average of 25 miles per gallon.

The HS 250h, a five-seat sedan that uses the same platform as the 2010 Prius from stablemate Toyota, is Lexus' first stand-alone hybrid model.

It uses a 2.4-liter, Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder gas engine and Lexus' version of the Toyota hybrid electric motor and battery pack, for combined output of 187 horsepower. It's basically the same powerplant used in the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which, not coincidentally, is EPA-rated at 33 mph in the city and 34 mpg on the highway..

Among its claims to uniqueness, the 2010 HS 250h is the first Lexus to use bio-plastic in its interior.

Lexus' parent, Toyota Motor Corp., has been developing plastics based on renewable plant material rather than petroleum for years now and intends to become on of the world's leading suppliers.

Lexus says that about 30 percent of the HS 250h interior and luggage area is covered with the material, which it calls Ecological Plastic.

That's enough, the company said, to reduce lifetime carbon dioxide emissions from the vehicle by 20 percent.

Smog-causing emissions from the fuel system and engine are low enough to give the new hybrid a SULEV (super ultra-low emissions vehicle) rating.

Lexus expects the HS 250h to hit showrooms in the late summer, slotted between the IS sport sedan and ES sedan models (which ought to put the starting price somewhere around $32,500).

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Read Inside Line's take on the newest Lexus hybrid.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 11, 2009, 9:41 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Lexus HS 250h

January 10, 2009

Toyota Unwraps EV Concept, Says Plug-Ins, More Hybrids On The Way

Toyota's concept electric vehicle is a light-duty runabout based on Japanese-market iQ commuter car.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The battery-electric city car concept Toyota Motor Corp. will unveil Sunday afternoon in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show is confirmation, the automaker said today, of Toyota's intent to begin selling an urban EV by 2010.

In a pre-show statement, Toyota's chief US spokesman also said the automaker, undaunted by the present collapse of auto sales around the globe, intends in the next few years to :

intensify the launch of conventional hybrid models;
push development of plug-in hybrids that can run solely on electric power for extended periods, and ;
use concepts like the city EV to expand its alternative vehicles efforts beyond the hybrid technology it has helped perfect.

Toyota's hybrid push begins Sunday with the 2010 Prius and 2010 Lexus HS250h hybrids being unveiled during the auto show's opening media day.

iQ With Batteries

The EV concept, which hasn't been seen until now, is expected to generate as much buzz as the new hybrids, however.

Photos released today (top, right and below) show the Toyota electric car, the FT-EV Concept, as a tiny two-seater based on the popular Toyota iQ urban commuter car launched last year in Japan.

Toyota says the FT-EV concept is an attempt to examine a car that would fit the needs and lifestyle of an urban dweller who drives no more than 50 miles a day and uses public transit for longer trips.

"Last summer's $4-a-gallon gasoline was no anomaly, it was a brief glimpse of our future" Toyota spokesman Irv Miller said in a statement released with the photos.

"We must address the inevitability of peak oil [the point at which global production begins to decline] by developing vehicles powered by alternatives to liquid-oil fuel, as well as new concepts, like the iQ, that are lighter in weight and smaller in size," said Miller, group vice president for environmental and public affairs at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 10, 2009, 12:00 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Auto Shows, Batteries, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Natural Gas, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Detroit Auto Show

January 6, 2009

Hybrids Finish 2008 in the Dumps, With Prices Weakened and Sales Down

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

December's gas-electric car and SUV sales plunged almost 43 percent from the final month of 2007 as the year wound up on a discouraging note for the only alternative technology vehicles to so far make a dent in the auto market.

It was a near repeat of a stupendously disastrous November, when sales of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles fell 50 percent from a year earlier.

For all of 2008, hybrid sales tumbled 10.3 percent with 310,724 models sold. While nothing to boast about, the hybrid segment bested the overall market's performance of an 18.2 percent drop for the year, according to Edmunds.com statistics.

The only bright spots were that hybrid sales in December actually rose a bit from November, and that 2008 hybrid sales were the second-best on record in the decade since 1999, when Honda introduced the first model, the now-discontinued two-seat Insight. The year's sales trailed only 2007, when 346,431 hybrids were sold.

Incentives Made the Difference

The 6.8 percent rise in sales volume from November to December was due to hefty incentives and discounting by most automakers and to an especially effective financing program that General Motors' financing arm provided for almost all of the company's lineup.

Industrywide, the same pricing and financing incentives led to a one-month sales gain of 20 percent.

In the hybrid segment, December's total of 17,652 sales was the second lowest of the year, trailing only November's dismal 16,536.

After that, you'd have to go back to January 2007, when only 17,591 gas-electric cars and sport-utes were sold, to find a worse month for hybrids.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 6, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2008 Hybrid Sales

December 22, 2008

Toyota To Add Battery-Electric Concept to Hybrid Debuts At Detroit Auto Show

Toyota's president may not make it to Detroit next month for the North American International Auto Show (and who could blame him for passing on downtown Detroit during an icy cold January??) but his company will be there, and with an unexpected surprise.

In a terse teaser today, Toyota Motor Sales said it will display a concept battery-electric car at the show: A Toyota EV!

The company's statement, accompanied by the small detail photo you see here, was all of two sentences long: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle.

We don't know any more about the concept, but we do know that despite sinking global sales, a looming operating loss and its seemingly single-minded devotion to gas-electric hybrid technology, Toyota continues pursuing a number of "green" avenues as it ponders the best ways to remain atop the heap as the auto industry moves into a challenging 21st Century.

In addition to the new EV concept, Toyota also will unveil at the Detroit Auto Show (press preview days are Jan. 11-14) the 2010 Prius and a new Lexus hybrid.

We also know that the company plans to use the show to lay out its vision for a future that deemphasizes use of petroleum-based fuels.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell December 22, 2008, 1:10 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Hybrid, Lexus, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Prius

December 8, 2008

Ford Hybrid, Fuel-Efficient Diesels From BMW, VW Make Ward's Best-Engines List

Ward's Automotive Group has announced its 15th annual 10 Best Engines list, which "reflects the diversity of 2009 powertrains that will play a role in reshaping America's automotive landscape."

The winning engines were selected by editors for Ward's, publisher of automotive trade magazines since 1924.

Thirty-two engines were considered this year. Eligibility requirements included: Availability in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2009. And, the engine must be in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000 (a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle).

The winners by manufacturer, engine and vehicle tested:

Audi; 2.0-liter TFSI (Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection) DOHC (double overhead camshaft) I-4 (inline 4-cylinder); A4 Avant
BMW; 3.0-liter turbocharged DOHC I-6; 135i coupe
BMW; 3.0-liter DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel; 335d sedan
Chrysler; 5.7-liter Hemi OHV (overhead valves) V-8 (a V-shaped engine with eight cylinders); Dodge Ram truck/Challenger R/T large car
Ford; 2.5-liter DOHC I-4 HEV (hybrid electric vehicle); Escape Hybrid SUV
General Motors; 3.6-liter DOHC V-6; Cadillac CTS sedan
Honda; 3.5-liter SOHC (single overhead camshaft) V-6; Accord coupe
Hyundai; 4.6-liter DOHC V-8; Genesis sedan
Toyota; 3.5-liter DOHC V-6; Lexus IS 350 sedan
Volkswagen; 2.0-liter SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel; Jetta TDI sedan

The diesel engines from VW and BMW and the engine from the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 miles per gallon during Ward's testing and often topped 40 mpg, said Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward's AutoWorld magazine.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 8, 2008, 6:18 PM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Diesel, Dodge, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

December 3, 2008

November Hybrid Sales Plunge As Gas Prices Fall, Credit Tightens

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Sales of hybrid cars and SUVs took a worse beating than the industry as a whole in November, plummeting 50 percent from a year earlier and off 24.8 percent from October.

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Industry leading Prius hybrid sales in November were off 50 percent from a year earlier.
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Industrywide sales of all new cars and light trucks were down 37 percent from a year ago.

The hbrid segment was hit with the triple whammy of falling gasoline prices, high sticker prices in a recessionary economy and tight credit that cut many potential buyers out of the market.

"The environment is taking a back seat to the macroeconomic situation," said Edmunds.com market analyst Jessica Caldwell.

With gasoline falling below $2 a gallon, many hybrid models just didn't pencil out for consumers when their premium prices were compared with prices for other fuel efficient vehicles with conventional powertrains, she said.

Altogether, automakers sold 16,536 gas-electric hybrids last month, down from 21,979 in October.

To make matter worse, consumers purchased twice as many hybrids - 33,063 of them - in November 2007, when there were several fewer models available.

Hybrids' market share dropped to 2.21 percent in November, down from 2.62 percent in October and 2.82 percent in November 2007.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell December 3, 2008, 3:30 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales Fall

November 19, 2008

2008 LA Auto Show: 2010 Lexus RX 450h Gas-Electric Hybrid Takes Global Stage

Five years after Lexus brought its RX 400 Hybrid to market, the luxury division of Toyota Motor Corp. today unveiled its all-new second-generation RX gas-electric hybrid, the 450h.

The new RX hybrid is fitted with an Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V6 engine which, when combined with the electrical side of the hybrid system, produces 295 horsepower--10 percent more than the current model, fitted with a 3.3-liter V6--while improving fuel economy by 8 percent (to 29 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, from 27/24 city/highway).

The RX 450h is equipped with an exhaust-heat recovery system to aid in engine warm-up and help enhance fuel economy, and a cooled exhaust-gas recirculation system that helps to reduce friction due to pumping losses in the engine.

Lexus claims to be the first automaker to use the two systems to maximize fuel efficiency, and we weren't immediately able to dispel the claim.

The low-emissions RX 450h also features a front-wheel hybrid drive or an electrically driven, part-time all-wheel-drive hybrid drive system that supplies the rear wheels with the optimal amount of torque as conditions demand.

The result of all this technology is a hybrid that provides performance similar to what you would expect from a V8-fitted RX, but with fuel economy on par with a four-cylinder engine.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 19, 2008, 5:46 PM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Lexus RX 450h

November 12, 2008

Japanese Rendering Mill Well Into Production on Lexus' First Dedicated Hybrid

Those of you holding out for a Lexus hybrid sedan within your budget might be looking at a strong likeness of it right now.

Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe announced at the Detroit Auto Show 11 months ago that the automaker's luxury division would unveil its first hybrid-only model at the same show this coming January.

Watanabe said it would be one of two new dedicated hybrids Toyota will debut in Detroit, the other one being the third generation of the ultra-popular, super fuel-efficient Prius. The hybrids will share the same architecture, he said.

Despite the image, the Lexus may or may not be "HS250h" (most likely not, because the "h" designation would not be needed to distinguish it from the non-hybrid version, since one won't exist). Toyota has done a fine job keeping details regarding the Lexus under wraps.

The result: Artists at Japanese magazines have produced renderings of what it might look like, including the one shown above that appeared in Mag-X recently. Unfortunately, we've lost track of the publication that ran the rendition appearing below.

One thing we can say with a high degree of confidence about the luxury hybrid is that it will be priced well below the gas-electric hybrid sedans Lexus is currently offering, the 2009 GS 450h and the 2009 LS 600h.

The former starts at $56,400, the latter at $105,885. Delivery, handling, title and license fees are not included.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 12, 2008, 1:01 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Lexus GS 450h

August 11, 2008

Business Is Brisk at Nation's First Rental Car Company That Loans Only Hybrids

With established rent-a-car companies reporting that they are having trouble meeting customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, a Southern California company has begun renting nothing but hybrid vehicles.

Business has been brisk at Eqocar in Burbank since it opened its doors three months ago, General Manager Nick Hamed told Green Car Advisor today. Hamed said Eqocar, which rents only hybrid vehicles, is in talks to open four more rental-car centers, all in California.

Eventually, the company would like to expand nationwide, Hamed said.

Eqocar has a fleet of 45 hybrids, which include the Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander hybrids, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus LS600h L, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe hybrids, and the Nissan Altima hybrid. Daily rates range from $59 for the Prius to $650 for the LS600h L.

There are plans to add the extended-range plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, hybrid versions of the Smart Fortwo, Chrysler Aspen, Cadillac Escalade, and Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, as well as the Tesla and Fisker plug-in sports cars and the bubbled-faced three-wheel Aptera to the rental fleet, Hamed said.

The Aptera is reminiscent of vehicles appearing in The Jetsons, a futuristic cartoon series produced during 1962 and '63.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 2:42 PM
Categories:: Aptera, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Lexus, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Camry Hybrid

July 22, 2008

Acura, Smart, Chevy Models Top List of Healthiest Cars Tested by Ecology Center

Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp , "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.

Some automakers are increasingly going to great lengths to make the interiors of some of their models if not environmentally friendly, at least a bit wholesome.

But others, well...

Early today the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted its second-annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats at www.HealthyCar.org.

More than two hundred 2008- and 2009-model-year vehicles and more than 60 children's car seats were tested for unhealthy chemicals that seep in gaseous form from the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats and carpet.

The "new-car smell," as the gases are commonly called, mingle with the air occupants breathe and have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.

The Ecology Center reported that Mazda, General Motors and Nissan improved since last year's findings, with GM showing the greatest gains of the domestic automakers, with an average vehicle ranking improvement of 27 percent.

The list of the 10 best and 10 worst vehicles as picked by the Center appears in the chart above.

Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.

For more information, go to www.HealthyCar.org.

Below are the three worst 2008-model-year vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno and Volkswagen New Beetle.

Below are are the three best vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Acura RXD, Chevrolet Cobalt and Smart Passion Cabriolet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 12:21 AM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Think, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 17, 2008

That New Car Smell Might Kill You

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

That's our sensational headline for 2008, but there's more than a smidgen of truth in it.

Last year Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats -- and what they reported was sickening.

The odor you inhale when you slide into a new car? It might very well be bromine, chlorine, lead, other harmful chemicals or a witches' brew of them. They've been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and, no doubt, cancer.

If you think the government protects you against such things, think again. Some of the vehicles on the road today are veritable toxic dumps on wheels. And many drivers are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation and contact with dust every day.

In case you missed last year's report, Ecology Center found the most toxic vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

Next Tuesday -- July 22 -- Ecology Center will release its second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats, and if you're thinking of buying a new car anytime soon, you'll want to check it out. The guide will be posted at www.healthycar.org a little after midnight on the 22nd.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 1:39 PM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Legislation, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 16, 2008

Survey Finds American Consumers Are Hot for Hybrids but Cooling on Ethanol

While most automakers have shifted production to focus on smaller vehicles, nearly 70 percent of consumers want the companies to invest more in existing and emerging powertrain technologies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Alternative Powertrain Study released today.

Now in its third year, the Alternative Powertrain Study examines the reasons why consumers consider or avoid alternative powertrain vehicles, such as gas-electric hybrid, flex fuel and clean diesel models.

The study includes the Automotive Environmental Index, which rates the 2008-model-year vehicles on the basis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data to fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as expert input from J.D. Power & Associates.

The study found that more than 80 percent of the 4,000 consumers polled believe the U.S. is currently facing an energy crisis. Only 18 percent of these respondents believe the issue can be addressed by building small, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Thirty percent believe automakers should continue to produce a comparable vehicle lineup with a focus on gas-electric hybrid, clean diesel and flexible-fuel vehicles, while another 39 percent believe carmakers should focus on developing fuel cell and all-electric vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 16, 2008, 3:32 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Ethanol, Fiat, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mitsubishi, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Solar, Toyota

July 12, 2008

A Little Knowledge of Transmissions Can Save You Big Bucks at the Pump

All images click to enlarge.

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor

Choosing a fuel-efficient automobile was a whole lot simpler 30 years ago, the last time the U.S. was in the throes of a gasoline price crisis. It was often as simple as buying a small vehicle with a manual transmission.

Today, with gas prices soaring to new record highs almost weekly, finding fuel economy means navigating an almost bewildering selection of vehicles. Even enormous SUVs can qualify if they come equipped with gasoline-electric hybrid drive systems.

Behind this tremendous hike in choices -- to a fairly significant extent, experts say -- has been a concomitant increase in the variety of transmissions.

Whereas in the 1970s there were only four- and five-speed manual transmissions and three- and four-speed automatic transmissions, now there are six-speed manual, six-, seven- and eight-speed automatic, six- and seven-speed "dual-clutch" automatic-manual, and continuously variable transmissions.

The result: more efficient engine operation and higher fuel economy in every car, whether it's a high-performance Porsche Carrera or a modest Volkswagen Jetta.

But there are important differences among these sophisticated transmissions, including in how much they contribute to better fuel efficiency. Knowing those differences may help you the next time you're in the market for a new car.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 12, 2008, 12:53 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Smart, Subaru

July 2, 2008

Low Supply, Not Economy, Was Culprit as Hybrid Sales Plummeted in June

Even the ever-popular Toyota Prius crashed in June as sales fell almost 34 percent from a year earlier.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Trucks and SUVs weren't the only types of vehicles that took a big hit in June's car market massacre.

Car salesmen who couldn't move conventional cars were equally unlikely to have hawked any hybrids.

From Toyota's popular Prius to Lexus' luxury LS 600h, sales of the usually popular and fast-moving gas-electric fuel savers were down 30 percent from a year earlier and were off 31.4 percent from May.

Premium Not a Big Factor

A small part of the decline is likely due to the so-called hybrid premium that makes the cars cost more than their conventional counterparts because of the extra equipment packed on board. Every hybrid comes with two powertrains, an expensive battery pack and a load of sophisticated electronic controls to make it all work together.

At a time when consumers -- hit hard by falling real estate values and a rising unemployment rate -- are buckling down for what increasingly looks like a national recession, penny pinching becomes the rule of the day.

Cheap but fuel-sipping economy cars that many wouldn't have glanced at on their way to the hybrid sections of their dealers' lots suddenly are looking a lot more interesting to many.

Indeed, subcompact and compact cars captured a 27 percent share of the U.S. auto market last month, up from 17 percent four years ago and a 35 percent gain from just three months ago.

But price was only a small part of the hybrid story in June, said Jesse Toprak, senior industry analyst for Edmunds.com.

Cloudy Crystal Ball

The real reason all but one hybrid model fell from June 2007 levels was that automakers -- like just about every other business in the country -- failed to anticipate such a fast and furious economic decline and such a rapid run-up in the price of gasoline.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 2, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Ford, General Motors, Hybrid, Lexus, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: June Hybrid Sales Slump

June 25, 2008

Hybrids Don't Shine in True Cost To Own Study

Chevy Aveo tops ownership cost study. Civic hybrid and other gas-electric vehicles don't fare well because of hybrid premium in initial purtchase price.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

If saving money is your thing, and in these rugged economic times who isn't into that, then Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota and Nissan all have cars for you.

But they aren't hybrids

Previous studies using Edmunds' True Market Value calculations have shown that the so-called hybrid premium makes it difficult for the fuel-efficient cars and SUVs to save enough on fuel to earn back the higher price automakers charge for the advanced technology packed into a gas-electric powertrain.

Now a new Edmunds.com True Cost to Own study finds that even with their sometimes hefty federal tax credits, hybrids slip well down into the pack when long-term ownership costs are considered.

The Civic Hybrid is No. 14 in the TCO rankings being released today, while the nation's best-selling hybrid, Toyota's Prius, doesn't even make the top 25. It finished 34th overall, although it is in second place among hybrids.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (10); John O'Dell June 25, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, Tax Incentives, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Cost to Own Hybrid

June 11, 2008

Toyota: New Hybrids, Li-ion Battery Production in '09

The iQ minicompact has been cited as one of Toyota's green initiatives to reduce the size and weight of its future vehicles.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Toyota Motor Corp. promised two new hybrid vehicles and the start of lithium-ion battery production next year as part of a major push to accelerate development of small electric vehicles for mass production, company executives said Wednesday.

The two hybrids â€“ one badged a Toyota, the other a Lexus â€“ will debut at the 2009 Detroit auto show in January along with the third-generation Prius sedan, also due next year, company executives said at the Toyota Environmental Forum in Tokyo.

Details regarding the Lexus were unavailable, but Masatami Takimoto, Toyota's executive vice president in charge of research and development, said the forthcoming Toyota hybrid "is a totally new car" and larger than the Prius.

For the redesigned Prius, Toyota will stick with the current generation's nickel-metal hydride batteries. The much-anticipated lithium-ion batteries, lighter in weight and much powerful than nickel-metal hydrides, will debut in Toyota's first plug-in gas-electric hybrid, due in 2010, he said.

Additionally, Toyota will establish a battery research department later this month to advance the development of an innovative next-generation battery that can outperform a lithium-ion battery, company President Katsuaki Watanabe said.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 11, 2008, 4:26 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Lexus, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota

Payback For Many Hybrids Grows As Gas Costs Rise

Toyota's Prius is not only the sales leader but the payback champ as well.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

What a difference a little panic buying and $4-a-gallon gas can make!

In a piece posted last month, we reported that the payback period for hybrid cars shrunk a bit in March, with four models -- 30 percent of the market segment at the time -- whose fuel savings could amortize the so-called hybrid premium in under 5 years.

Now we're talking terms like 11 years, 14 years, even 99 years for one luxury model.

The premium is the extra cost of a hybrid over that of the comparable non-hybrid model in the same manufacturer's lineup. The payback period is the time it takes to recoup that difference with fuel savings.

This month, with two new hybrid models in the mix, for a total of 15, there are only three models -- 20 percent of the segment -- with a reasonable chance of paying back the premium in less than five years: Toyota's Prius, Nissan's Altima and Chevrolet's two-mode Tahoe SUV.

The difference between then and now is the rise in gas prices â€“ regular was 37 cents a gallon more when June's figures were crunched â€“ and the rush to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Demand Boosts Premium

Higher demand has stiffened sales prices for hybrids and other cars and crossover SUVs with decent fuel economy while dealers and manufacturers are discounting less-efficient conventional gasoline models to try to move them off the lots.

That boosts the difference between the retail price of a hybrid and the equivalent gasoline model in a manufacturer's lineup, and makes it harder for the hybrid to earn back its price premium from fuel savings alone.

There are a few exceptions.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell June 11, 2008, 3:02 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Nissan, Toyota

May 21, 2008

Hybrid Cars, Fuel Cell Cars, Green Cars Galore

It's turning into a banner year for hybrid and other green car news.

After all the Honda hoopla this morning, word leaks out that Toyota will debut the next-generation Prius, expected to be longer, lower and more powerful, but not radically different-looking, at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show with a sales launch slated for later in the year.

If that's not enough, Toyota's luxury marque, Lexus, is believed to be considering two new hybrids of its own, one of them a premium-priced version of that new Prius, the other a midsize crossover utility vehicle.

Edmunds.com's Inside Line has the details.

We think its great news -- although our aching keyboarding fingers wish it had been spaced out a bit.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 21, 2008, 5:51 PM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen

May 15, 2008

Did It Fly Over Greenland?

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

It was a Lexus in the sky, with carbon, and it is causing Paul McCartney and Lexus no end of grief.

The former Beatle was given a Lexus by Toyota Motor Corp. for his help in promoting the raaather posh and expensive Lexus LS 600H. In Great Britain, the hybrid costs the equivalent of $165,000.

Sir Paul, as the Brits like to call the knighted entertainer and environmental activist, asked that the leather upholstery be stripped out and replaced with cloth (he's an animal rights supporter and a vegan).

Then Lexus loaded the car, which also has a special paint job, onto a Korean air jet and flew it to Britain.

The British press is having a field day, going on about how that flight created a carbon footprint almost 100 times larger than if the car had been shipped by sea, as is usual.

The Telegraph, for instance, quotes an unidentified source in its story as saying McCartney will be "horrified after learning it was delivered by plane."

The paper says that a carbon-offset company, CO₂balance.com, said the plane flight "caused a carbon footprint of 38,050 kilograms [23,591 pounds] compared to 397 kg [246 lbs.] for a three-week boat journey."

McCartney hasn't said anything, but Nancy Hubbell, a Lexus spokeswoman at the company's North American headquarters just south of Los Angeles, called it a case of mistaken assumptions.

"It was a scheduled flight, so the carbon footprint was there whether we shipped the car or not," she said, adding that McCartney shouldn't be shocked or horrified as the decision to ship the car by air "was a joint one."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 15, 2008, 2:56 PM
Categories:: Lexus, Toyota

April 7, 2008

Japanese Automakers To Show Green at G8 Meet

A fierce battle among Japanese automakers is likely to be staged during the Group of Eight summit in Japan this July, with carmakers using the session as a showcase for their fuel-efficient cars, including hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.

Toyota, Mitsubishi and other automakers will provide about 100 fuel-efficient cars to transport participants at the summit meeting, The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, reports in Tuesday's edition.

Toyota will provide about 80 hybrid cars, including luxury Lexus models, minivans and compact cars for participants making short trips around the venue. The company also is planning to provide plug-in hybrid electric cars for participants' use...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 7, 2008, 3:03 PM
Categories:: Fuel Cell, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota

January 7, 2008

Panamera Hybrid To Enter a Growing Luxe Market

Egads! First there were only the econobox models: Honda's two-seat Insight and the first-generation Toyota Prius. Now there are more than half-a-dozen hybrid sedans and SUVs and more coming.

Even the luxury market is becoming crowded, giving dual meaning to the term "green car."

Toyota's Lexus brand kicked off the luxe hybrid segment with its Lexus RX 400h crossover SUV...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 7, 2008, 5:00 PM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Fisker, Hybrid, Lexus, Porsche

October 11, 2007

Hybrids Still Growing, But Is The Thrill Going?

In case you haven't been paying attention, sales of hybrid cars and SUVs in the U.S. topped the 900,000 mark in September.

If the present pace doesn't change, the million-mark could be surpassed by the end of the year .

That's not one million a year, however, but one million hybrids since the first model, Honda's now-defunct Insight, was introduced in late 1999.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (6); John O'Dell October 11, 2007, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Nissan, Toyota