Toyota May Sell the Current Prius and the Next-Gen Side-by-Side in Japan

Toyota officially unveiled the all-new 2010 Prius at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month. Japan’s Nikkei is now claiming that Toyota is going to keep the current Prius in production even when the next-gen is launched later this year.

The main reason for possibly keeping the current Prius alive is because Honda also unveiled their new hybrid, the Insight and its going to start at a lower price point than even the current Prius. The next-gen Prius is expected to go up in price and if Toyota were to continue producing the current Prius, the automaker could remain competitive. Toyota plans gutting the interior of the current Prius to make it even cheaper.

Toyota's press office in Tokyo refused to respond to the Nikkei story. "We don't comment on future models."

Related posts:

• REPORT: Fiat plans Smart, Toyota iQ competitor
• Toyota Increases Tacoma Production Even Though It's Sales are Down
• Toyota to Thieving Techs: We Don’t Love What You Do For Us.
• Chrysler won't suspend NASCAR program, will reduce funding
• The 1987 Toyota Corolla FX Conquers Space! [Classic Ad Watch]

Related posts:

• Felipe Massa Wins the European Grand Prix
• Hybrid Cars getting Special Parking Privileges
• As Gas Prices Drop, Interest in SUVs Returns
• Ikea UK to use hybrid vehicles
• Saturn Prices Aura Green Line Hybrid Sedan

Chrysler won't suspend NASCAR program, will reduce funding

Filed under: Motorsports, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Ford, GM, Toyota

A rubber bullet has been dodged: NASCAR can still count on sponsorship dollars and involvement provided by the Detroit 3. Chrysler has stated that it will reduce the funds that flow from its taps into NASCAR, but won't leave the sport. As far as marketing and advertising goes, the "stock cars" still pay. Mike Acavitti, who runs the motorsports program at Dodge, said "We have to get our expenses in line with our revenues," but also said that "We're not going to pull out. We are going to throttle back. NASCAR is not exempt from anything else that we do to market and promote vehicles."

Chrysler is cutting back 30% on its NASCAR spend, but will still honor its current contracts. Ford has said it's reducing its NASCAR fund by 20%, and GM says that it, too, will be doling out a smaller NASCAR allowance and letting track sponsorships lapse to go along with its getting out of the Yankees business. Even Toyota plans to spend less on NASCAR. No matter what, though, NASCAR isn't going anywhere -- after all, even if all of the car companies and all of the other sponsors left, the guys in the overalls could always race, you know... stock cars.

[source: Reuters via Speedzzter]

Chrysler won't suspend NASCAR program, will reduce funding originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read |  |  | 

Related posts:

• Chrysler and Chery quit talking about small car
• 1970 Dodge Challenger [Down On The Street]
• Ford Cars to Run on Laser Beams?
• Detroit 3 seeking $6.8 billion from Canadian government
• Getrag US Files For Bankruptcy After Chrysler Lawsuit, Transmission Plant Sits Unfinished [Financiapocalypse]

Related posts:

• The eBay find of the week is a Fire Breathing 1927 Dodge Custom
• Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger face bad timing
• Chrysler steps outside the Box(y) with Hybrid Trio for 2008 NAIAS
• 2009 Dodge Ram and Ford F-150 come at a bad time
• On deck: Super Bee

Toyota and Subaru to hold hands to create affordable sports car

Is it me or are car companies spending more time working together than ever before? Every time I load up my car news it seems as though one company is holding its competitors hands on one project or another. This story is no different. Toyota and Subaru will be partnering to develop an affordable sports car that should hit global markets by the end of 2011.

Expect pricing to start just under $20,000. It will be sold under the Subaru brand globally except in Japan where it will be marketed under the Toyota brand. Go figure. Not that bad looking either if you ask me.

Source: InsideLine

Related posts:

• Goodnight Nisei Week Showoff, There Will be no Encore
• Bullrun 2008 Pre-Rally Video (Part 2 of 2)
• VW Touareg: Tuned by Edo Competition
• Honda Fit Hybrid announced, 4 hybrid models by 2015
• But since StreetFire won’t even let me have scissors on my desk, ...

Related posts:

• With used car dealers ready to help you out, your task of selecting used ...
• Fifth Gear 16×03 Rip Finally Released
• Scanning the Auto Blogosphere
• 2010 Devon GTX: Spied
• They have almost all the brands and types that you are looking for.

The 1987 Toyota Corolla FX Conquers Space! [Classic Ad Watch]

Everyone remembers the FX16 Corolla, but what about the plain ol' economical FX? It was the cheapest Corolla you could get, and the ones sold here were made in California… and it appears that most of them are still on the road today. Sure, that flat hatch looked hideous a little odd, but in an endearing sort of way.

Related posts:

• The Pot Is Boiling in Formula One
• Ford content to fall behind on PHEVs
• Goodnight Nisei Week Showoff, There Will be no Encore
• How To Win The 24 Hours Of LeMons: Three Top Racers Share Their Secrets! [24 Hours Of Lemons]
• When the Moment is Right, Will You Be Ready?

Related posts:

• New Ford Fusion Hybrid Becomes First Ever Hybrid NASCAR Pace Car [Ford Fusion Hybrid]
• Ford F-150 Raptor Teased In Online Video [Ford F-150 Raptor]
• Ford Australia saves jobs and inline-6 with big investment
• This Week's 2010 Ford Mustang Teaser [2010 Ford Mustang]
• Heffner Performance unleashes Camilo Pardo Edition Ford GT

Toyota hates your Land Cruiser

Are you an FJ Owner? Then Toyota wants to crush that classic four-wheel drive vehicle in favor of something confidence-inspiring and cool, like a Yaris.

The first few seconds of this commercial touting Toyota’s C.A.R.S. participation should prevent any FJ owner from buying a Toyota product again.

Related posts:

• REPORT: GM pulls its chute on NHRA support
• 1968 Torino GT 390 on eBay
• Ascari A10 Fastest Car at Top Gear
• The show creators wanted to use a Pontiac G8 in the role of K.I.T.T., but ...
• 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Related posts:

• Toyota F1 Engine Cover: High-Tech Toy
• The fact that Toyota have the number one spot does not necessarily mean ...
• Is This the New 2009 Toyota RAV-4 That We Will Get in the US?
• The fact that Toyota have the number one spot does not necessarily mean ...
• The fact that Toyota have the number one spot does not necessarily mean ...