Toyota Prius: Insight into the future

At the turn of the century, well before the eco-parade caught the auto makers by the horns, the Honda Insight became the first hybrid car to

leave the highly isolated Japanese Domestic Market and introduce the world to mass-produced , economically viable hybridelectric powered vehicles. Though this three-door hatchback was nowhere close to the commercial success of its biggest rival, the Toyota Prius, it stil
l managed to draw a cult following in the six years it remained in production, from 2000 upto 2006. After making a few rounds at recent auto shows, the second generation Honda Insight has finally arrived, and now sports 4 doors in a distinctive hatchback body style which seems take many of its styling cues from the Honda FCX Clarity.

This new Insight comes with an all-new version of Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid engine which has been around for the last decade. A 1.3 litre i-VTEC petrol engine producing 88PS of power and 121Nm of torque coupled to an electric motor sitting alongside it forms the heart of the IMA system. The electric motor produces an additional 14 PS of power and 78Nm of torque and can give the Insight extra thrust by working parallely with the petrol engine when the driver puts his foot down. But the really clever bit is a system called Variable Cylinder Management, which can stop combustion in all four cylinders and seal them shut during low torque operations such as slow speed cruising. This, combined with all the efforts Honda has put in to dramatically reduce friction in the engine’s various moving parts means that the new Insight should be able to deliver significantly higher fuel economy, which the company claims to be in the region of almost 28 kmpl (combined cycle).

At nearly half the width, the new electric motor is also much thinner compared to the one from Honda’s own Civic Hybrid. With the improved Ni-MH batteries now smaller and located under the boot, the Insight has cabin and boot space comparable to any other conventionallypowered 4-door hatchback of the same size. The batteries now feature a faster recovery rate, which when coupled with the regenerative braking system, means that they can recharge much faster and deliver power more consistently to the electric motor. The CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with revised ratios gives the Insight much more sprightly performance, with 100km/h coming from a standstill in 12.5seconds, which is comparable to most 1.6-litre sedans with automatic gearboxes.

On the inside, even though the design doesn’t deviate much from what we’ve seen on Hondas for the last few years, the Insight still has some really cool touches. The Ecological Drive System is a combination of three functions designed to enhance efficient driving. The first function of this system is a button called ECON Mode, which when engaged controls the engine, CVT and other powertrain components. It also adjusts the air conditioning, extends the idle stop time and increases the regenerative recharging during deceleration to deliver the best fuel economy from the engine. The second Guidance Mode is made of an ambient meter behind the digital speedometer which changes color to indicate real-time fuel consumption, varying from green to indicate maximum efficiency to blue during heavy fuel consumption. The final function is the Scoring Function, which uses a graphical display with tree leaves to reflect real-time fuel consumption and average fuel consumption at the end of a trip, along with a bar which indicates cumulative lifetime efficiency of the car. Honda hopes that this system will help drivers develop more efficient driving habits with long-term use.

But the real trump card of the Insight, when it’s available for purchase later this year, will be its price. Improvements in manufacturing technology have made the overall package much cheaper to produce, which should make it cheaper to buy than any of its competition. Honda says that for the price of an entry level Toyota Prius, a customer can get an Insight model that will feature 15-inch alloy wheels, climate control, air conditioning, electric folding door mirrors, front and rear electric windows, steering wheel audio controls and Vehicle Stability Assistance. The first generation of the Insight only managed to sell about 18,000 units worldwide. But Honda believes that it has a winner on its hands in the form of this new car, and plans to roll out about 200,000 of these family hybrids each year.

Toyota Prius i-Tech vs Honda Civic Hybrid

The futuristic design in the Civic Hybrid was pretty impressive to me. The Civic Hybrid's interior features beige treatment that certainly adds a nice touch to the overall appearance.

If you compare the two vehicles on features alone, then the Toyota Prius i-Tech would totally dominate the competition. The official capacity of the Toyota Pirus i-Tech is 456 liters, and the capacity of the Honda Civic Hybrid is set at 376 liters. Both cars have your basic alloy wheels. The Honda Civic Hybrid is the cheapest way to become eco-friendly with a starting price set at $31,990, which oddly enough is the same price as the Honda Civic Sport.

When you compare the two by features, the Honda Civic Hybrid undoubtedly takes second place to the Toyota Prius i-Tech. However as a hidden incentive for the eco-lovers Honda has pledged to plant 18 trees for every Civic Hybrid sold.

Details

Many are skeptical about the technology involved with Hybrids and because it isn't common yet, many just brush it off as small trend. Although they aren't often seen cruising around town, I believe this type of car is here to stay and will only be improved over time. As years pass you will be sure to see more and more of them, and eventually they may even become the norm since pollution problems are escalating at an alarming rate.

In Australia there is an extremely small market for eco-friendly cars unfortunately. In fact, there are only two well known cars that are having success in this market. They are the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. They both certainly have their upsides and downfalls and when it comes down to economic fuel efficiency there is a clear cut winner. In this article, I will compare the Toyota Prius i-Tech against the Honda Civic Hybrid to see which one of these cars will come out victorious.

First off, we will discuss the interior of the vehicles. The futuristic design in the Civic Hybrid was pretty impressive to me. I like the fact that Honda wanted to take a chance and not follow the norm. One thing that Honda did maintain during design is the shape. It is the same shape as all the other Civic models, but I don't see this as a bad thing. The Civic Hybrid's interior features beige treatment that certainly adds a nice touch to the overall appearance.

Comparing the amount of space in the vehicles comes out about even in my opinion. Neither of the two are short on space and can both fit four adults in the car with ease, with no problems. The trunks are a tad short on room but this is only because that is where they both store the battery packs for the vehicles. The Toyota Prius can thank the flat battery pack that lies beneath the floor of the trunk for giving it 80 more liters of space than the Civic hybrid. The official capacity of the Toyota Pirus i-Tech is 456 liters, and the capacity of the Honda Civic Hybrid is set at 376 liters.

Now we can take a look at the Toyota Prius' interior. After seeing how impressive the Civic's interior was I was hoping to see a decent competition take off. Unfortunately, this was not the case. In comparison the Toyota Prius just couldn't compete due to its very simplistic design. The gauges and controls are either restricted to the steering wheel or confined to the touch screen LCD monitor. One thing I found rather interesting though, is that they didn't limit the steering wheel controls to audio, cruise control, and the telephone. In the Toyota Prius you are able to adjust the climate and demister controls as well, which I found to be rather remarkable. Before stepping foot in the Prius i-Tech I had never driven a vehicle that gave you the control over these features via the steering wheel. These extra features don't complicate the controls either. They are actually very easy to use and quite helpful when you are in busy traffic.

Another great feature of the Prius i-Tech is the keyless entry and keyless start system. All the driver has to do is walk up to the vehicle with the key fob in their hand or pocket, and grab the door handle. After doing this, the car simply unlocks it. Once you are inside the car all you have to do now is press the starter button from any location within the vehicle, and it starts right up. This feature was amazing to me. I enjoyed being able to just unlock my car without fumbling for the keys and starting it up in a less conventional way.

If you compare the two vehicles on features alone, then the Toyota Prius i-Tech would totally dominate the competition. On a downside though, the extra zing added by these features won't come very cheap. In fact, you will find yourself paying approximately $16,000 more than you would if you were to purchase a Honda Civic Hybrid. With a price that jumps that high from its competitors, the features on the car better be really extraordinary. Don't count the Prius out just yet though because of its price, it comes equipped with a remarkable center console LCD screen that is used to control the DVD satellite navigation. Along with managing that task the LCD screen also features a reverse camera and vehicle stats. One of the more innovative features is when the screen is showing live power statistics, which tell you how much energy you are using and how you are obtaining it. You can check the statistics to find out if you are using the engine, or electricity, or even both. I found that this feature was quite an amusing treat for me as well as informative.

Now we come down to the exterior appearance of the cars. As it did with the interior, the Honda Civic Hybrid once again wins when judged by its looks. With the eco-friendly appearance of the alloy wheels as well as the chrome highlights and hybrid badges, it was no question of why the Honda Civic claimed another victory. Toyota tried to go with something new when they designed the Prius i-Tech, but Honda stuck with the popular design of the past Civic models which gave it a nice edge on the competition. Toyota took a chance and I certainly commend them for doing so, but it unfortunately didn't work out in their favor. The one positive thing that came from the unique design of the Prius is that you know it's a hybrid car when you see it, and you are never fooled into thinking it is some other Toyota vehicle. However, the Civic Hybrid wasn't meant to deceive anyone, it was just based on the popular luxurious design on past Civics to help boost its success. Both cars have your basic alloy wheels. They look nice on both vehicles, but if you really put them side by side and look at both, you will most likely prefer the Honda to the Toyota.

Both of the vehicles are equipped with the Continually Variable Transmission (CVT), which is always a welcome feature to come across. The CVT system is used help the vehicle adjust to the driver's style.

For the Toyota Prius, you will find that the handling is much more laid back. There is an awful amount of body roll and the chassis certainly isn't up to par to that of the Honda Civic Hybrid. The steering seemed like it was a bit too power assisted for my taste. As the testing continued to move along it became apparent that the best place to drive the Prius would be in the city and not on windy or curvy roads.

The Civic Hybrid is normally ahead when it comes to taking corners and using general handling. Since it is based on the new Civic chassis there are plenty of opportunities to improve it, and continue developing it and perfecting the handling dynamics. The Civic doesn't feature any significant amounts of body roll, and is actually able to respond quickly and efficiently.

Now let's look at the prices and features and compare them. The Honda Civic Hybrid is the cheapest way to become eco-friendly with a starting price set at $31,990, which oddly enough is the same price as the Honda Civic Sport). The standard features than can be found in the Honda Civic Hybrid are as follows: cruise control, electric windows, driver and passenger side SRS airbags, alloy wheels, an immobilizer, climate control, central locking, leather wrapped steering wheel, driver and passenger front airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, Antilock Brake System (ABS) brakes, and a 6 disc changing MP3 compatible CD player.

However, the Toyota Prius i-Tech is starting at a price of $46,500, which is quite a bit more than the Civic Hybrid. The standard features that can be found on the Prius i-Tech are as follows: Power windows, climate control, dual front SRS airbags, MP3 compatible JBL audio system, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), front fog lights, immobilizer, reverse warnings, push button start, Electric Power Steering (EPS), Antilock Brake System (ABS) brakes, Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), motor traction control, DVD satellite navigation system, cruise control, alloy wheels, and many more.

One of the things that I like the most about the Honda Civic Hybrid is that they participate in the Green Fleet program, which plants trees to counteract emissions that are put out from vehicles. Honda has pledged to plant 18 trees for every Civic Hybrid sold. As an added bonus, at the end of the three years you are given the opportunity to continue participating or stop participating in the program. You shouldn't let this affect your decision though. I am a huge fan of the program, but I still think drivers should base their purchases on a number of factors to ensure that they make the right decision.

When you compare the two by features, the Honda Civic Hybrid undoubtedly takes second place to the Toyota Prius i-Tech. The quality and number of the features drastically changes between the two cars. Whether or not the price is worth it is left up to you to decide.

In conclusion, it would be great to own either of these vehicles. If you can drive a fuel efficient and eco-friendly car, then what is there to lose? After driving the hybrids I can now answer that question. You don't have anything to lose and there is actually much to gain. You don't have to be a tree hugger to take part in the prevention of world pollution. And even if you are so worried about the environment, you can still at least enjoy the benefits of a much more fuel efficient breed of cars than any others on the market.

Toyota Fortuner Coming in Early 2009

Toyota Fortuner

Expected in Early 2009

Estimated price: 16-18 Lakh

The Land Cruiser is celebrated for being one of the very established genuine off-road vehicles the world has ever seen. And it still is. But this mean, mad machine will be yours only if you have pockets deep enough to shell out over 40 lakh of green paper, and that makes it out of reach of many. Oh, lest I forget, then there is the fuel efficiency, which at 6kmpl does not read very encouraging, does it? So what’s there that Toyota can offer which caters to not-so-rich boys, but lets them have them equally great fun? The answer is lies in the shape of Fortuner.

Looks form an important part of something as big as a SUV and this Japanese does not disappoint. The front looks butch (very uncharacteristic of Japanese) with that strong bonnet line and large head lamps taking the pride place next to the grille. The bonnet scoop looks menacing. The front appears dynamic yet simple. There is certain purpose of the roof rails and those massive wheel arches when you talk about the design aspect. The same purposeful look is retained at the rear with the large tail lamps adding a bit of liveliness.

Toyota Fortuner InteriorThe creature comforts will be bang on and the interior will be pleasing. Very Land Cruiser-ish, the interior will add a smile on your face every time you place yourself on those comfy seats. All the tech abbreviations like ABS, ESP etc will find their way into this 15 lakh plus SUV.

Toyota Fortuner Rear The engine options will include a 2.7L petrol and a 3.0L diesel engines. The VVT-i engine will have 160PS on offer while the 3.0L D-4D will have a thrust of 163PS. Being a Toyota, expect bullet proof reliability and brilliant off-road ability. It has long been coming, but sources say that this time round the rumours of the car getting launched in late 2008 are indeed true. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen. We for one, really hope it does! Toyota… listening?

Pictorial Preview on Toyota Corolla Altis

While Toyota is actively running a 360 degree advertisement campaign we preview the corolla altis to give you in-depth details on the car.

What’s special about corolla?

It’s getting much harder for other cars to replicate the success of Toyota corolla. The way the corolla lured hearts and its stupendous success tells us why Toyota has become the No 1 carmaker in the world. For forty years, the Corolla has satisfied everyone across all ages, demographics with its predictable blend of reliable, economical and durable transportation. But the corolla Indian story is not that much spectacular. The corolla enjoyed a fair bit of success before the launch of Honda civic. The sporty civic and Honda’s premium image completely belittle the corolla. Infact, Toyota should have decided to add ‘altis’ and project the same to create enthusiasm among the buyers instead of plain corolla. The new corolla altis will replace the existing corolla in India.

However the world’s largest carmaker wants to fight back with its new corolla altis against its japanese competitor and live up to its image in India

1) Toyota Corolla altis: Unlike the other corolla’s, Toyota designed this new corolla altis in collaboration with styling studios in Italy. Toyota instruction to the designers was to design a sportier shape than that of the previous Corolla with better aerodynamics.

Toyota has carry forwarded its family to its altis. The number of sweep cuts you can see all around the car reminds you the Toyota’s other offering - the camry. The greenhouse area is increased by moving the A-pillar forward and C-pillar backward for better aerodynamics. Also there are interesting touches striking headlamp that follows the bumper shape and similarly designed LED lamps at the rear. Overall the new Corolla altis looksalike “baby Camry” which was intentional.

2) Toyota Corolla altis: When everyone are expecting a diesel engine from Toyota atleast this time. It seems Toyota has not paid attention to our cry. Toyota again failed to ride the diesel advantage over the civic. Anyway we expect the new corolla altis to be fitted with a oil burner (diesel) in 2009. The mechanically unchanged 1.8L VVT-i, 16 Valve, petrol mill now generates 132bhp of peak power at 6000rpm and 170Nm of peak torque at 4200rpm. You can choose either a five speed manual or a 4 speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission (ECT) with the new corolla altis. The new corolla altis might give a tough competition to the driver centric Honda civic.

If you have doubt, check out the following figures claimed by the company, altis can reach 60kmph from zero in just 4.76 seconds and 100kmph in just 11.66 seconds. The lesser turning radius, cruise control, 8 way power driver seat and driver seat lumbar support are the features of new corolla altis.

3) Toyota Corolla altis: comes with same wheelbase as the previous-generation Corolla, but it is wider, which creates additional heip and shoulder room. Plenty of storage spaces (claimed as 14) would make the new corolla altis a spacious sedan ever around. The altis cavernous boot sports 475 litres of luggage space.

Comfort and convenience features are also plenty. The notable features features includes a sliding arm rest, mirror mounted indicators, telescopic steering, Multi Information Display (MID), steering mounted audio controls and automatic headlamps.

4) Toyota Corolla altis: Safety of the occupants is also well taken care of. Corolla altis has ABS with EBD, seat belt with pretensioners, whiplash injury lessening belts (driver side) and auto headlamp leveling system. However altis comes with two novel safety features - headlamps with retractable washer and electrochromatic auto anti glare inner rear view mirror. To know more about these two features visit

5) Toyota Corolla altis: The three variants of new altis are low-end 1.8L (Manual),1.8 GL (top end Manual) and 1.8V(L) automatic. While we are not aware of the exact price, we expect the manual variants of corolla altis to be priced between Rs13.5 to Rs14.5 lakhs. Corolla altis will be available across India after the formal launch on september 05th and it will be available in six colours - silver metallic, simpson red, white pearl mica metallic, silver metallic, super white and black mica.

2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix

The Gigantic Corolla comes back!

The new Matrix was invented especially to merge all the major features of an SUV having the style, performance and image so as to keep pace with the demand of people across the globe. The new Corolla matrix mixes the features of a comfort subcompact sedan and a sports car with easy availability and affordability. The body of the new machine gives two options; it comes with a 5 door hatch and a 2 door sports car. the main concept behind developing the car was to have great attractive exterior coupe like features with enhanced comfort interiors giving maximum utility and great performance. The new machine is wider than the current available models.

The ravishing new dynamic machine offers space for 5 people at a time giving comfort feel and experience. The main theme behind forming the mega vehicle is designed so as to keep the concept of flow and dynamism glowing. The rear windows of matrix are rounded from sides and there are continuous character lines running from the front grille to A-pillar. The new Corolla Matrix would be available in 3 grades, these are Standard, S and XRS models. The company will be offering an all wheel drive that is AWD with its S grade. The other models S and XRS will have a front underbody spoiler having large mesh fog lamp bezel and also a rear spoiler. The standard available feature is rear deck spoiler for all of its models.

The design of its interiors has been redesigned to give the users an enjoyable, comfort filled and unforgettable drive with great utility too. The new vehicle ahs lower seats giving comfort while alighting or boarding the car and company goes on to maintain its high profile by giving high comfort levels to the users having style with luxury. The cabin space of the new model is similar to that of previous Matrix models. the new ultimate machine has 3 spoke steering wheel which enhances the resting power of the new model. The XRS model are standard having a leather trimmed steering wheel which boosts spoke mounted audio controls and for entertainment purposes it offer hands free Bluetooth capability which are equipped by default.

The driver and front passenger seats are giving a new comfort look with sport seats and for safety purpose they are mounted with side airbags. There is also a fold down seatback table which is available for the front passenger seat, these particularly enhances interior utility on S and XRS. There is also a moveable and removable cup at the front center console which provides ample of storage area, the model offer a plenty of versatility compared to any other models. the cup holder can also be used as tray if the middle divider is removed. The expanded front to back rear seat helps in giving more additional room for comfort and relaxation. The new matrix provides you with highly efficient air conditioning system having larger vents that reduces power consumption which helps in better cooling and heating.

2009 Toyota Venza

2009 Ford Edge Sport

Toyota – a Wagon or a Crossover !

Toyota Venza is one of the most awaited models for the year 2008. The new machine is a unique crossover vehicle that has 5 door fastback style having the functionality of a standard crossover. The new model has been designed and engineered in the U.S at Toyota’s Michigan and California facility. It would be built alongside different models like Camry and Avalon sedans at Georgetown. The company will offer 4 cylinder and V-6 versions promoting front drive and all wheel drive models.

The new machine is capable of producing 268 horsepower, 3.5 liter V-6 and a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder with the horsepower unit not revealed from the company sources. Both of these machines would be grouped to make a 6 speed automatic transmission. The model venza takes its style from a standard sedan and boosts some sport type looks taking a crossover cues.

The new Toyota models is similar to Mazda’s former 6 fastback, it holds its resemblance to another model that is Lexus RX crossover. The new machine provides the SUV class features and provides an all wheel drive and enough of cargo space to fit into. The interiors of the Venza are similar to crossover proportions, its has a higher sitting position for front sitters for better visibility and drive. Venza also has lower sills that would give easy entry and exit.

The new machine is a five-passenger with a two row cabin which has levers on the second row seats that will enable to fold flat for storing surfboards and skis as told by Toyota official. The rear seats can be reclined by up to 14 degrees. The dash included in the interiors has plenty of storage bins which include MP3 players and also dual cupholders. The other standard equipment of Venza includes 6 disc CD changer and also a telescope steering wheel. Other features include a rear wiper and remote keyless entry. The new V-6 engine models would ride on a 20 inch wheel and a leather-woodgrain trim that would be made available inside the cabin. It will also provide panoramic glass
sunroof, Blue tooth facility, navigation system, satellite radio system and JBL audio.

The new 2009 Toyota Venza boosts seven airbags, it also includes a driver side knee bag which is a standard facility provided. The vehicle has an anti lock brakes, stability control, traction and active head restraints for minimum damage during accidents.

Toyota Yaris

Toyota Yaris
The latest that has come from Toyota is the Toyota Yaris. The exterior of the Toyota Yaris has such features as multi-reflector halogen headlights, integrated fog lamps, intermittent wind-shield wipers, color-keyed grilled surround, outside mirrors, color-keyed power outside mirrors, door handles, rear spoiler, roof-mounted antenna, and in-glass antenna.Instrumentation: black-face Optitron speedometer, LCD odometer, twin trip meter and fuel level gauge.




Instrumentation: amber-illuminated Optitron speedometer and tachometer with LCD odometer, twin trip meters and fuel level gauge Instrumentation: frosted-illumination speedometer and tachometer with LCD odometer, twin trip meters and fuel level gauge Airbag, seatbelt, low-fuel level, door-ajar, battery, check engine, oil pressure and brake warning lights (ABS warning lights on ABS-equipped models) are some of the other necessities that are of the Yaris.Digital clock, tilt steering wheel, Defroster-linked CFC-free air conditioning, Audio prep package (four speakers) are some of the other accessories.