Toyota Prius news stories on Newser

2 Out of 3 Hybrid Owners Switch Back

Kate Schwartz — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:36:10 CDT

America's love affair with hybrids has turned out to be more of a fling for many owners: A new study finds that when they go to trade in, about 65% of hybrid owners pass on getting another hybrid. The numbers, based on 2011 data, do fluctuate based on the model:...

Hybrid Cars Don't Pay: Study

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:47:00 CDT

Thinking of buying a hybrid or electric vehicle to ease the pain at the pump? You may want to think again: A TrueCar.com study commissioned by the New York Times shows that, except in three cases, fuel-efficient technology is so expensive that these types of cars take years to...

The Dirty Secret Inside Your Prius

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:00:05 CST

So, you bought a Prius or know someone who has. Beautiful. But look under the hood and you'll find some neodymium, one of the "rare earth" minerals that help run all kinds of green technology—and other high-tech stuff like smartphones and flat-screen TVs. So far so good, but rare-earth...

Toyota Recalls 106K First-Generation Priuses

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:44:00 CDT

Toyota recalled 106,000 first-generation Prius hybrid cars globally today for faulty steering caused by a nut that may come loose. Loose nuts in the electric-power steering can cause the vehicle, if operated over a long time, to steer with too much force. Only one minor accident, reported in the...

Rush Laughs at Japanese Refugees

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 08:58:10 CDT

Leave it to Rush Limbaugh to find some levity in the plight of Japanese refugees. Specifically, the radio show host is amused by the fact that one refugee camp is still recycling. A caller on yesterday’s show—after hearing a clip Limbaugh played of a Diane Sawyer report on said...

Consumer Reports : Volt Doesn't Make Much Sense

Kevin Spak — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:38:06 CST

The Chevy Volt may be the cover girl of April’s issue of Consumer Reports , but the magazine doesn’t have a lot of glowing things to say about it. Economically, the car “doesn’t really make a lot of sense,” the magazine’s director of auto testing told the Detroit News and other...

Toyota Rolls Out New Family of Priuses

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:18:40 CST

Hoping perhaps to gloss over its recent black eyes, Toyota today burnished its crown jewel, unveiling an expanded Prius line with something for, well, more than just your devout tree-hugger. The automaker is continuing the standard Prius, reports the LA Times, and will also offer:

Toyota Recalls 650K Priuses

Polly Davis Doig — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:11:00 CST

Toyota today issued another recall of its Prius, this time recalling 650,000 of the hybrids to fix a faulty cooling pump, reports the Wall Street Journal. The problem could lead to overheating and loss of power, but thus far hadn't resulted in accidents; Toyota, however, appears to be erring...

Prius Growing Noisier to Warn Pedestrians

Rob Quinn — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:17:35 CDT

Prius drivers worried about mowing down pedestrians who can't hear them coming are being offered a chance to make their cars noisier. Toyota is selling a $150 device that makes a humming noise that's about as loud as a regular car's engine, AP reports. The speaker system is designed to...