Years ago, I owned a mid-90′s Avalon. Yes, this is a Toyota fan blog, though I must be honest – That Avalon was a lemon. It was not the car’s fault; I purchased it used and its previous owner did not take care of it (if you own a 90′s Toyota, do not park it on wet grass everyday for a decade).

Since then, I kept away from the big T. But Corolla brought me back. I always had friends who owned these smooth driving compacts throughout various generations. I’ve had the recent fortune to cruising around 2011 and 2012 models, thanks to rental car agencies. The idea of purchasing a per-owned certified 2011 Toyota Corolla appeals to me very much.

2011 models come in with a base MSRP of $15,900. For a barely-driven vehicle that should last you upwards of 300,000 miles, it’s a steal! Both Edmunds, as well as Car & Driver, predict a life-time ownership price of under $32,000.

The vehicle is reliable, I mean – it’s a Toyota after all! When properly maintained, Corolla will hit 250,000 easy, and at best over 300,000. It rides comfortably, the controls and extra gadgets in-dash are quality, and fuel mileage (26 MPG city, 34 hwy) is superb.

Base and S sedan trims feature a quality 1.8 liter engine, producing 132 horsepower. But if you want a Corolla, charging down the highway with massive horsepower is not your main concern. Corolla owners expect reliability and duration. You get that with Toyota vehicles like this one.

So, have we ever decided on “Prius-plural” pronunciations?

Aside from the much anticipated Prius-V “minivan,” the Japanese auto maker is also showing off Prius C Hatchback – basically, a hybrid version of Yaris in size. But wait until we read off EPA ratings.

It’s 5-door body styling will be a hit overseas, though possibly in North America. Toyota has a longer way to go for a positive impression. However, hatchback sales in the US are on a steady (all be it, very slow) upswing.

One of the biggest draws Prius C has working for it is a claim of 53 mile per gallon city (with combined rating of 50). This model also reaches a distance of 25 miles on battery power alone.

Prius C will be priced under $19,000, and expect it to be powered by a 1.5 liter 73-hp Atkinson cycle engine and hybrid motors. The combined output is rated at 99 hp. Expect a plug-in all-electric variant down the line as well.

Image: Auto Week

NS4 features attracted much attention to the Japanese auto maker’s booth in Detroit this year. Narrow lights peek out from just about every angle, with its sloping nose and transparent “special glass” roof, driver and passengers will receive an almost panoramic view of their surroundings.

Powered by electricity (Toyota is aiming for a plug-in hybrid version of NS4, with 475cc air cooled flat-twin motor), “NS4 demonstrates Toyota’s take on the human connection to the car with technology that considers both emotional and rational relationships, person-to-car and car-to-society.”

But with all these distractions to maintain or replace, and all that glass to clean and protect during collision, is something like NS4 realistic for the future of Toyota design?

As with most concepts, a final product will look similar, but lose much of the added shiny objects (we’re guessing a glass roof might stick around on certain trim levels, to compete with luxury auto makers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz). Expect the angles to be tuned down, and much of the lighting to take a hike.

NS4 includes a “suite of driver assist aids, including sub-millimeter wave radar to help the presumably Facebook-distracted driver avoid swerving into other lanes or running into anybody.”

Toyota hopes to bring a car similar to their NS4 Concept to a global market by 2015.

Source: Jalopnik

The computer used to pilot this driverless car has been given the ok by officials.

Google’s calling it: ‘Transitioning a Mixed-mode Vehicle to Autonomous Mode.’ This allows a car to switch back and forth from human control to self-controlled (autonomous) mode.

Data is fed to the vehicle, telling it where to stop or move forward, up to 10 meters. A second set of sensors detect other vehicles and the cars’ surroundings: i.e.: trees, lampposts, landmarks, etc.

“The autonomous vehicle may be used as a virtual tour guide of Millennium Park in Chicago,” the patent explains. “In the example embodiment, the vehicle may have an instruction to drive to the Cloud Gate (Silver Bean) sculpture at Millennium Park. When the vehicle arrives, the autonomous instruction may tell it to wait in the location for a predetermined amount of time, for example 5 minutes.”

We still think Google owes the people behind Knight Rider some likeness rights.

Source: WCF

The automated hybrid from Japan was caught self-driving its way around Google’s Mountain View GooglePlex, carrying several employees who probably take home a larger annual salary than any of us will make our entire lives.

“The car was packed with people. I wasn’t able to tell if the guy in the driver’s seat was operating the car or just sitting there watching,” according to Barry Schwartz, CEO of RustyBrick, who took the photo.

This is not the first self-driving foreign vehicle to grab attention. Audi displayed one at CES 2011.

Toyota has been planning to introduce a driver-free version of their Prius at the Tokyo Auto Show. To help out, Nevada is apparently passing a bill that will allow self-driving cars on state roads.

A driver-less cab can’t be any more dangerous than every New York taxi cab driver.

Spy-shot: Torque News

Bring on the Big Gulp cup holders and storage for over-sized chip bags! But seriously folks, Toyota has announced they will introduce a Prius line up, including small coupe and a large Prius hybrid minivan.

The automaker hopes to sell 1 million hybrid models a year. Adding more variants of Prius will only help this venture.

According to Autoweek - The three-row Prius would not be the same vehicle as the Prius Alpha sold in Japan, which basically crams a third row of seats into the cargo area of the five-seat Prius V to be sold in the United States starting this fall.

To the contrary, this potential Prius would be large enough to hold seven people as well as their stuff, said Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager.

Both companies have announced a “strategic partnership to develop a global cloud-based telematics system aimed at achieving a low-carbon society through efficient energy use.” Well, that’s a mouthful.

The Microsoft/Toyota partnership will enhance PC programs, moving them to the “Cloud” platform, most likely using mobile apps. The number of people who browse web pages via mobile or portable devices vs. computers is growing quickly.

This system will be based on Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing platform. Its purpose – maintain smooth driving and monitor energy management, GPS and multli-media capabilities. Microsoft already has the corner on “auto infotainment” with the popular Ford Sync system, and it headed towards EV energy-management.

The goal is to develop Windows Azure applications starting with Toyota electric / hybrid vehicles by 2012, and a complete global cloud-based platform by 2015. Both companies better how this works, as they’ve staked $12 million into this venture.

Toyota is conducting trials in Japan, calling it the “Smart Center pilot” program. It connects “people, automobiles and homes for integrated control of energy consumption.” And the automaker and Microsoft are betting that as EVs and plug-in hybrids become the norm, cloud-based telematics systems will increasingly manage their attendant energy-efficiency issues.

Via: Edmunds

Toyota Logo pic via: CEO World

Sikes was thousands of dollars in debt, and even his 911 call (where he claimed the accelerator would not come back up, even while braking) was somewhat unconvincing. A police cruiser eventually pulled in front of Sike’s Prius (which he was quite behind on payments with) to bring him to a stop.

According to NHTSA documents, “While the release of today’s study indicates there is the possibility of pedal entrapment and sticky pedals (both previously known incidents), there’s no evidence of either situations occurring in the case of Mr. Sikes.”

“NHTSA Investigation 3/31/2010 Conclusion: Initial assessment does not indicate any physical evidence of pedal entrapment or sticky accelerator pedal… Test drive conducted, same route as Sikes incident. Could not simulate runaway situation.”

Further case studies of other “Runaway Prius” stories (including the NY maid crashing hers, pictured above) are also starting to look falsified. In addition, NHTSA officials are now saying upwards of 90% of these Prius incidents are caused by driver error. Either a person is not properly operating the vehicle, or they are lying. Either way, Toyota looks to (just about) be in the clear.

Source: Jalopnik

First up, Toyota will begin sales of the Prius V – a “minivan” sized MPV (Multi-person Vehicle) that is just as much hybrid as its smaller counterpart. The car was originally teased on a billboard outside Las Vegas during last year’s SEMA auto show:

Second, the Honda CR-Z Sports Hybrid competition – Toyota’s Prius C Concept, coming our way in early 2012. This vehicle is a smaller, eco-friendly solution for the urban driver:

Third, coming out in late 2012, is the highly anticipated Plug-in Prius. Already a big get overseas, the all-electric rechargeable Prius will undoubtedly roll in and out of dealership lots with the quickness of a bunny:

Have a look at the official video from Toyota, and let us know what you think:

What’s the downside? Aside from this special edition hybrid being limited to just 1000 units it will be a UK model only. It will be based on the range-topping T Spirit trim of Prius for the UK. According to the press release: Features specific to the 10th anniversary edition include a body kit, tinted rear windows, black leather seating with an embossed anniversary logo, and dark 17-inch alloy wheels.

Other amenities at this level are HDD satellite navigation, Intelligent Park Assist, rearview parking monitor, and rain-sensing wipers. The lone paint colors are Astral Black or White Pearl.

This Prius’ price will be around $41,400 (26,150 GBP) according to current currency exchange rates. For comparison, the standard Prius T Spirit carries a price of 23,400 GBP ($37,100). These figures include a 20-percent value-added-tax and the first 10th anniversary deliveries will be completed later during the winter season. Live in the United Kingdom? Check out this Special Edition 10th Anniversary Toyota Prius at your local dealer now.

Source: Motor Trend