It's a fact that perception lags reality. Even so, some people are more perceptive than others. That's why you, dear reader, already know that the all-electric Tesla is bonkers fast and that the hybrid Ferrari is the fastest one you can buy. Your neighbor with the betesticled pickup that hauls nothing but sealing wax and sailboat fuel, though? That guy still thinks hybrids are … [Read more...] about Lexus “Fast as h” Ads Target Public Performance Perception
Toyota
Gas2 Week in Review, February 18: The State of Electric Trucking — Tesla and Its Competitors
Electric trucking was big news as 2017 ended. Chanje, a California-based commercial EV and energy solutions company, committed to introducing a commercial all-electric MD vehicle in Q4 ’17, available at mass scale in the U.S. These vans, designed from the ground up as a purpose-built, long-life EV truck, already had volume orders at the close of 2017. Motiv Power Systems anno … [Read more...] about Gas2 Week in Review, February 18: The State of Electric Trucking — Tesla and Its Competitors
Hydrogen Future Rolls On: Toyota Mirai Taxis Launched in Dubai
Hot on the heels of the recent implementation of Tesla Model S sedans and Model X SUVs as taxis, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has launched a new pilot program for hydrogen fuel cell taxis. The taxis are based on a specially modified Toyota Mirai. Meanwhile, the program is part of the RTA’s ongoing efforts to continue exploring options for reducing the E … [Read more...] about Hydrogen Future Rolls On: Toyota Mirai Taxis Launched in Dubai
This Toyota Prius Was Built to Autocross (w/ Video)
The owner of this third-generation Toyota Prius is probably not the guy who comes to mind when you think of a "typical" Prius owner. The lowly Prius is his daily driver, sure, but his other two cars- a 2005 Lotus Elise and a 1996 Porsche 993- are the stuff of gear head legend. In that context, then, you might guess that this extraordinary Prius driver also happens to drive and … [Read more...] about This Toyota Prius Was Built to Autocross (w/ Video)
Toyota May Scale Back Its Prius Lineup Due To Slow Sales
There was a time when the Toyota Prius was one of the hottest cars in the market. Hollywood's biggest stars all had one. Al Gore bought one. If you wanted to announce your commitment to saving the environment, you had to have one. California even handed out stickers giving Prius owners permission to use commuter lanes even if they only had one person aboard. Sales in the Golden … [Read more...] about Toyota May Scale Back Its Prius Lineup Due To Slow Sales
Ford, Toyota Hybrid Pickup Truck Partnership Ends Badly
It doesn't take a genius to see that pickup truck sales and fuel economy standards are on a collision course. Starting back in 2011, Ford and Toyota decided to put their heads together to plan for the hybrid pickup trucks of the future. After all, Toyota is a world leader in hybrid technology, having practically invented the hybrid car segment of the market with its innovative … [Read more...] about Ford, Toyota Hybrid Pickup Truck Partnership Ends Badly
Speed Dating: the 50 MPG 2016 Toyota Corolla S
The last time I test drove a Toyota Corolla it was a then-new 2014 Corolla that gave me more than 51 MPG on one of my trips, and averaged nearly 39 MPG throughout my test drive. It was a phenomenal performance, and one that had its doubters. After a while, I convinced myself that, yeah, it must have been some kind of crazy fluke. So, when I got my hands on a 2016 Toyota Corolla … [Read more...] about Speed Dating: the 50 MPG 2016 Toyota Corolla S
US Emerges As The Biggest EV Innovator
The US automobile industry has emerged as the biggest innovator in the field of electric vehicles according to a recent analysis of patent and intellectual property data. The analysis of global patent numbers indicates that US auto manufacturers have moved ahead of the pack in the electric vehicle category, despite reports of declining levels of innovation floated earlier t … [Read more...] about US Emerges As The Biggest EV Innovator
2015 Toyota Auris — 3rd Date
Wondering what I discovered on my 2nd and 3rd dates with the 2015 Toyota Auris? I didn't think so, but I'm going to tell you anyway, and I do have some good and "interesting" surprises. One very cool thing I discovered when I got into the car and started fooling around was that there was an "EV Mode." I asked the guy, what's that do? I knew this wasn't one of the plug-in … [Read more...] about 2015 Toyota Auris — 3rd Date
Is This Why Toyota Is Really So Anti-BEV?
I've been planning to write this article for months. Maybe a year? Toyota has been perhaps the most anti-EV mass-market car company out there by some standards (perhaps excluding Fiat due to Sergio Marchionne). As I noted yesterday, its foray into plug-in electric cars was essentially the lamest of all, bringing a Prius Plug-in to market that just has 11 miles of bat … [Read more...] about Is This Why Toyota Is Really So Anti-BEV?