Toyota to double next-generation Prius output

Toyota sold 281,300 Prius hybrid models in 2007 after not having enough units in its inventory to meet demand from consumers. According to the Nikkan Kogyo, Toyota won’t be making that mistake again.

The industry daily reported today that Toyota plans on producing 70 percent more Prius models to 480,000 units after it is redesigned next year. Currently Toyota builds the Prius at its Tsutsumi factory in central Japan and another plant belonging to Toyota Auto Body. It also produced about 320 units in China last year.

Toyota announced earlier this month that it will also build the Prius at its Blue Springs plant in Mississippi with...
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AMiodynski - 7/25/2008 1:56:04 PM

+5 Boost

Can't wait to see Toyota at the top !!

hao420 - 7/25/2008 4:05:11 PM

+7 Boost

Powerful hybird already exist,LS600hl.......

carguy68 - 7/25/2008 2:11:28 PM

+6 Boost

These cars are selling like crazy so who ever makes a car that performs identical to the prius but actualy looks good will make a killing and will dethrone the prius fast.

t_bone - 7/25/2008 2:29:22 PM

+3 Boost

Make it handle well too.

eric452 - 7/25/2008 9:20:29 PM

+2 Boost

looks like honda has a prius like car

http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied_vehicles/112_0807_new_honda_hybrids/photo_01.html

if it looks nicer with same or better mpg, looks like prius sales will go down

delan - 7/25/2008 9:55:31 PM

+3 Boost

Not so sure about that grasshopper. The prius has a head start, which is invaluable. Look at Apple and the ipod. There are mp3 players that are equal or better. But the ipod and iphone kicks tukus in sales because they are the fore runners.

mercuryguy - 7/25/2008 3:03:36 PM

-3 Boost

Great, but you can't tow with this car, and there is no full-size spare in the trunk, which makes this a limited-use car.

There are very few cars today that can tow 5,000 LBS. Mercury is one of them, It is now Flex-Fuel, and it is affordable for regular people, and you get a normal spare tire as opposed to a go-kart tire.

eric452 - 7/26/2008 12:15:34 AM

+2 Boost

y would u need to tow stuff

o wait
u drive american cars and need to tow them 24/7 since the always break down

mercuryguy - 7/26/2008 5:01:36 AM

+2 Boost

y would u need to tow stuff?

I'm not sure. Maybe because I like to tow my boat to the lake as opposed to playing video games?

y would I want a full size spare?
Maybe because I drive beyond a 100 mile radius from the city? and I like to be self-sufficient as opposed to a helpless person on the end of a cell phone?

An no. I haven't had any of my cars towed. And yes, I clocked over 250K miles on a Ford with no major repairs except wearable like brake pads and oil changes.

t_bone - 7/26/2008 11:05:35 AM

+1 Boost

I have an old van I keep for these kind of duties. Frees me up to use sports cars, compacts, and sedans as my daily driver. Seriously, a reliable old truck costs a lot less than a boat, and the fuel savings--from not driving an SUV to work and on errands--will make the cost up in a year. People should just add a compact or hybrid to their fleet instead of moaning about resale value or talk about all the things the compact can't do. Just leave the truck parked, people will be surprised how little they actually need it.

truckmen - 7/27/2008 5:30:42 AM

+1 Boost

Towing is an overlooked ability that small cars can't do! If this were an all electric motor it would have way more torque.

PrancingHorse - 7/26/2008 7:41:56 AM

+2 Boost

Oh great now there will be even more idiots driving around like 87 yr old ladies trying to get better gas mileage.Driven at normal speeds a Civic will return better mpg and its initial price is cheaper.
Prius drivers are the easily brainwashed sheeple of our race.
I love to blow past them with 414 hp of the Ms V8.

truckmen - 7/28/2008 2:57:25 PM

+1 Boost

PrancingHorse, lol Yes I must agree, have you seen PML's 640BHP hybrid electric car? This 640hp car would prance all over your 414hp V-8. Too bad that the Prius is still in the stone age when you see what can be done, very frustrating when you know we have greener technology out there with 5x the power.Although I still love your 414hp v-8, maybe in another 20 years you will be blowing by in your 1000.HP electric car?

PrancingHorse - 7/26/2008 6:37:29 PM

+1 Boost

Prancing horse is the insignia for Ferrari you asshat.

truckmen - 7/27/2008 5:33:46 AM

+1 Boost

Too bad that Toyota hasn't doubled the efficiency, but instead doubled the production. I can't wait until the next generation of hybrids come out. They already make hybrids with double the efficency and 5.5 times the power. I won't mention what PML can do.lol

Barrie - 9/13/2008 6:31:49 PM

+1 Boost

Have a look at all the low mileage Prius for sale, seems like the people who were conned into buying them are trying to get rid of them because they just don`t work ans certainly don`t save anything like the amount of fuel Toyota claim