[nth]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Starvid', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RiverRat', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')’m obviously in the bottom 50 percentile because I do not have the ability to access public transit on a whim.

[Triffin]

Ethanol is not going to replace oil/gasoline. You can't grow enough of it and efficiently with current technology. But that doesn't mean Ethanol cannot be part of a solution in the future.

Corn is not a particularly efficient producer of ethanol
as has been stated by several posters .. One acre of
corn is ~ 60 gal ethanol .. Ethanol is most likely
limited to replacing MTBE as an octane enhancer .. still
a huge market ..

Biofuels as a potential replacement for fossil fuels
for transportation/space heating seems a worthy pursuit
especially since there exist several plant species capable
of much higher fuel densities per acre than does corn ..

Mustard ~ 140 gal/acre
Jatropha ~ 160 gal/acre
Palm Oil ~ 650 gal/acre

Triff ..

[PlannerBee]

I don't get it. Someone explain this to me. Toyota has said it will likely, yes likely, raise prices on US imports. Apparently, Toyota is concerned that if the US automakers fail that the national sentiment and support yada, yada, yada.

[ubercrap]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PlannerBee', 'I') don't get it. Someone explain this to me. Toyota has said it will likely, yes likely, raise prices on US imports. Apparently, Toyota is concerned that if the US automakers fail that the national sentiment and support yada, yada, yada.

[PlannerBee]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ubercrap', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PlannerBee', 'I') don't get it. Someone explain this to me. Toyota has said it will likely, yes likely, raise prices on US imports. Apparently, Toyota is concerned that if the US automakers fail that the national sentiment and support yada, yada, yada.

[b0nez]

Isn't the irony tasy.We goto Iraq to spread freedom and "free market" structure.At the same time toyota says it is going to manipulate market forces to help a dead duck survive.Great for us but doesn't that say something about how they will openly manipulate you to protect themselves.lol

[WhistleWind]

I think this is simple market economics. Toyota are selling cars in the US faster than they can make them so they increase prices to choke off demand, and maximise short term profits.

Maybe they see the whole US market collapsing in the medium term, so there is no point investing in ramping up production for the US, but I am probably reading too much into the move.

Here in the UK, Honda has always had quite a small quota of cars to sell. By careful advertising, they generate a larger demand than their quota, so that the car resale values hold up, and they can sell their cars at a premium price, because the buyer knows they hold value well. That way they maximise profits.

[jimmydean]

IMHO car wise I have yet to find a Ford, Chrysler or GM that could compare to my flawless experience of my Toyota Avalons ; owned 2 different ones since 1998.

Last GM car I took for a test drive was while shopping for a sports car (2nd car). I took a new 1996 Firebird Trans Am for a test drive and the interior was so shoddily put together the console was moving and making noise. I then opted to buy a used 1983 Porsche 911 which I drove without problems for over 3 years before I sold it for the same $ I paid

Quality not only in design and parts but in fit and finish needs to improve to Japanese levels before I could consider buying another north american car at this point.

OT: what the heck is Cadillac thinking with it's new line up - that square boxy design looks horrible imho.

[Revi]

Toyota's sales and GM's are down. They probably figure that they can sell their cars for a premium, just like GM and Ford did when everyone wanted their SUVs. I heard that SUV sales were down by 25% in May. Too bad.

[jimmyz]

ok i bought my first pontiac. It's a Vibe GT, but it is really a toyota matrix. The only reason i bought a pontiac b/c i could find a matrix with what i wanted.

[SchroedingersCat]

Toyota's are mostly made in the US, aren't they? If a GM starts going under so does the whole just-in-time infrastructure. That could lead to supply shortages and much higher costs for Toyota.

[Frank]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ubercrap', 'I') believe when Harley Davidson was in trouble in the '80's, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers tried to help them out (even offering manpower, etc..) to preserve competition in the U.S. market .

[Carmiac]

You are right about the tariffs. I have a Honda VF700C from the tariff period, it has a 750cc engine with sleeves in the cylinders to reduce it down to 695ccs. Pretty nice bike still. I've been looking for a source for new pistons to rebuild it as a 750.

[ohanian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PlannerBee', 'I') don't get it. Someone explain this to me. Toyota has said it will likely, yes likely, raise prices on US imports. Apparently, Toyota is concerned that if the US automakers fail that the national sentiment and support yada, yada, yada.

[SchroedingersCat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Frank', 'B')TW, where was this factoid found? I haven't noticed anything about it on any my regular news sources.

[fossil_fuel]

no, it's because of the weak US dollar. Toyota gets less "real money" for each car it sells compared to 5 years ago because of the exchange rate. It needs to raise it's prices in order to preserve it's profit margins. This whole "helping GM" thing is just to get it some good PR.

[DriveElectric]

The only thing holding Toyota back was the lack of batteries. It appears that this issue is rapidly being resolved.

Toyota plans to double hybrid car production in 2006

Toyota reportedly plans to double hybrid car production in 2006

Last Update: 6:39 AM ET July 5, 2005

TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.TO) plans to lift production of its hybrid electric and gas powered vehicles to 500,000 units in 2006, exactly double its estimated output for this year, the Asahi Shimbun reports.

The boost in output is in response to strong demand for hybrid vehicles in North America fueled by the high oil prices.

Production will be lifted for a range of hybrid models such as Prius, Harrier, and Kluger in plants both in Japan and overseas, the report said.

[BiGG]

Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra Hybrid (2005)





Onboard 20-amp, 2400-watt generator
Four 120-volt (Accessory Power Outlets)
First full-size hybrid pickup truck
First hybrid pickup with MPG certified by EPA
5-13% better gas mileage than non-hybrid version
MPG Automatic (2WD) (city/hwy) 18/21 $30,345
MPG Automatic (4WD) (city/hwy) 18/21 $31,835

Ford Escape HEV (2005)



Sport Utility Vehicle
First hybrid SUV with MPG certified by EPA
Most efficient Sport Utility Vehicle in 2005
MPG Automatic (2WD) (city/hwy) 36/31 $27,400
MPG Automatic (4WD) (city/hwy) 33/29 $29,025

Honda Accord Hybrid (2005)



5 passenger sedan
33% better gas mileage than conventional Accord
255 horsepower
MPG Automatic (city/hwy) 29/37 $30,140

Honda Civic Hybrid (2005)



5 passenger sedan
First hybrid version of an established car model
40% better gas mileage than conventional Civic Sedan
MPG Automatic (city/hwy) 48/47 $20,900
MPG 5-speed manual (city/hwy) 46/51 $19,900

Honda Insight (2005)



Two Seater
First hybrid sold in the U.S. (introduced 2000 model year)
Light-weight aluminum body
Best gas mileage (manual transmission) of the three hybrids
MPG Automatic (city/hwy) 57/56 $21,530
MPG 5-speed manual (city/hwy) 61/66 $19,330

Toyota Prius (2005)



5 passenger sedan (Midsize passenger car)
First mass-produced hybrid in the world
0-60 in 10.1 seconds
MPG Automatic (city/hwy) 60/51 $20,975


Coming Soon ........

Dodge Ram Hybrid Fullsize Pickup 2005
Lexus RX 400h Midsize SUV Spring 2005
GS 450h Midsize Car 2006
Mercury Mariner Hybrid Midsize SUV 2005
Toyota Highlander Midsize SUV Spring 2005
Camry Hybrid Midsize Car Late 2006 Model Year 2006-2008
Saturn VUE SUV 2006
Nissan Altima Hybrid Midsize Car 2006
Chevrolet Equinox SUV 2007
Chevrolet Malibu Midsize Car 2007
Chevrolet Tahoe (AHS II) SUV 2007
GMC Yukon Hybrid (AHS II) SUV 2007
Mazda Tribute Hybrid SUV 2007
Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid (AHS II) Fullsize Pickup 2008
Ford Fusion Midsize Car 2008
GMC Sierra Hybrid (AHS II) Fullsize Pickup 2008
Mercury Milan Hybrid Midsize Car 2008

[0mar]

Scale.

Tomorrow, if the US stopped importing it's 12.5 mbd of oil, demand would eat this massive surplus in less than 10 years. Contemplate that for a moment.

[DriveElectric]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('0mar', 'S')cale.

Tomorrow, if the US stopped importing it's 12.5 mbd of oil, demand would eat this massive surplus in less than 10 years. Contemplate that for a moment.