Toyota Drops Hints On Next Prius, Hybrid X
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 02.20.07
Toyota will unveil a concept car at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show next month that many believe is a precursor to the 2008 model Prius. Toyota released the picture above, as a sneak preview of the design of the new car. According to the automaker's press release, the Hybrid X is a concept car that proposes a new design language for hybrid models while also acting as a technology showcase for future hybrid cars. Toyota will also be presenting the FT- HS (Future Toyota Hybrid Sports), which is a "sports car of the 21st century" - a front-engine, rear-drive car with a projected 0-100 km/h acceleration in the four-second range.
From the press release:
Toyota is using the show to restate its commitment to finding and implementing solutions that make cars less of an environmental burden. Toyota’s world-leading Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology is at the core of this strategy as it moves along the path towards the ultimate eco-car.
Via AutoGreenBlog and Groovy Green
Make cars less of an environmental burden so people can drive trucks with big breaks?
From what I can tell, Toyota went into the truck industry with the express purpose of reaping profits off one of the best margins in the industry.
It established itself as the leader of the hybrid market for somewhat of the same reason = it saw profits there.
So I honestly don't know why certain people sound so wounded and bitter about Toyota's less green products. I'm glad it at least had the forsight to recognize that oil wasn't going to last forever and, at some point in time, people would become concerned.
I am excited about all of the new developments of Toyota and their Hybrid cars but after I read this article, the only thing I could think of is the demand. There will be so many people interested in these types of models that I just hope they make enough. I will be very unhappy if my enthusiasm for Hybrid Cars is postponed by a waiting list.
what are they going to do with all the batteries? how recycleable are these cars?
what's the truth in Prius' being less energy efficient overall when taking into consideration their manufacturing and disposal costs i.e. cradle to grave? i heard a jeep or something similar was more eco friendly overall!
can we get the truth on treehugger?! ;o)
Hybrid batteries are recycled, and the "studies" that say that hummers and such are more efficient than Priuses are totally bogus and not peer-reviewed.
there was a post about this recently (on many sites). I'm sure you can find it with a bit of googling..
I'm concerned about the effect of battery disposal. When you say recycled, what do you mean? Frankly, I don't trust industry enough to follow through with anything responsible, any more than they "require" appropriate disposal of fluorescent lights which have mercury in them. It's all going down the drain and that's where I see the batteries eventually. I think you're trusting too much.
The car makers actually pay people to recycle their batteries, and on each battery pack there's even a phone number for you or the mechanics to call so they can pick up your battery. They do that because it costs less than making a brand new battery from virgin material.
Of course, as usual, trust but verify. But in this case, it wouldn't make much sense to send these batteries to the landfill. I don't think they do that with regular car batteries either..
Has an ecologist, I find Toyota very good making hybrids a place on the market. For every car sold, it's one less on the road with a regular gas burner.
I find the technologie very interesting since it's eye catching and brain puzzling for some ( BUT MOSTLY from the kids-teens eye view ) The're the ones who will be growing up being eco-friendly, since we teach them - right? :P
Wouldn't be nice to drag a Chevy NovaSS on a 100 miles drag strip ? I wonder who wouldl finish the race ...
Toyota, please make your next generation Prius Plug-In Prius Capable, and add solar panels on the roof, as a bonus option package. Please!