Archive for the ‘Portland Hybrid’ Category

Pull into any fuel station and you’re faced with a choice: 87, 89, or 91 octane, regular, premium, or super. But is there any quantifiable difference in how a car performs when filled with one over the others? Does premium gas do anything other than cost more? Experts say, unless your car was built before 1990, probably not in any way that you’re going to notice.

If your car has a computer, technology has improved vehicles to the point where engine knocking—the pre-computer reason for needing higher-octane fuel—has become a non-issue. Censors and other high-tech installations under the hood prevent engine damage by constantly regulating the vehicle. Higher-octane fuel doesn’t change the computer’s abilities or programming.

If you’re not on a racetrack, you’re not going to notice a difference. It may take an extra half-second to go from 0-60 if there’s regular in the tank instead of premium. While that may be important on a race track or in a lab setting when cars are being tested and evaluated for performance, humans can’t tell split-second differences like that and everyday driving conditions rarely (if ever) call for 0-60 in very few seconds.

If you drive a hybrid or other highly efficient vehicle, you’ll achieve high miles-per-gallon so that even a mile or two extra per gallon won’t make a noticeable difference in fuel expenditures. To break down the math, someone driving a 35MPG vehicle 15,000 miles per year would spend the same amount of money buying mid-grade gas to get one mile per gallon more, and that’s if the higher-octane improved fuel efficiency at all.

Check your driver’s manual. Just as it would be disastrous to put diesel in a standard engine (or vice-versa), your car may require higher-grade fuel. If this is the case, then use it. On the other hand, if the manual simply recommends a higher-octane gas, save your money and go with regular instead.

Looking for your own fuel efficent Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @greshamtoyota.com!

Perhaps the greatest challenge in creating fuel-efficient vehicles is achieving a large enough size to fit the whole family without sacrificing big bucks at the pump.

Enter the 2012 Prius V.

As Motor Trend reports, the second in the “family” of 2012 Prii presents a more fuel-efficient option to the consumer who enjoys the space of vehicles in the crossover and SUV categories. Toyota noted that Americans often seek increased comfort and more cargo space in mid-sized vehicles rather than cramming more passengers into a third row seat, so the 58% extra space is utilized for extra passenger comfort and cargo space.

The “V” in this Prius stands for versatility, and it delivers exactly that. Despite being 238 pounds heavier than the standard Prius, it still delivers an impressive 44 city MPG. Also reported was a “level of driving elegance that’s simply absent from the normal car”. They were especially impressed at how such a large hybrid could handle so smoothly around the California curves. Rather than targeting existing Prius owners who need more room, Toyota is launching the Prius V to provide a better option to Crossover and SUV owners who aren’t excited about $4.00/gallon fuel prices. The company predicts this model to account for 15-20% of 2012 Prius sales.

We’re excited for the new lineup of Prii, each with their own unique personality and benefits. Read the full article and stay tuned for more information as it rolls out!

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @ greshamtoyota.com!

Continuing with a commitment to develop innovative future vehicles, Toyota has is releasing new additions to the Prius family. Last week’s New York Auto Show set the stage for a reveal of the crossover Prius V and a tri-engine electric plug-in version. As reported in a recent New Jersey Newsroom, each vehicle will compete in different car segments.

The Prius V will be one of the newest additions to the crossover segment and is set to compete with the likes of the Honda Crosstour and Nissan Murano. The roomier Prius V achieves only slightly less gas mileage than the original, with an estimated EPA rating of 42 MPG city and 38 MPH highway. This is an impressive feat for a full-sized family ride. Other features include folding second row seats and an Entune multimedia entertainment system.

Competing in an entirely different niche is the Prius Plug-In Electric vehicle. So far, 160 “test” vehicles are already on the road. The new plug-in goes a step further than the original Prius, allowing the driver to use a third power system. The addition of the third has already proved useful in increasing mileage between power-ups.

We can’t wait to see the latest Prius models hitting the pavement early next year.

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @ greshamtoyota.com!

Toyota Motor Corp will be joining forces with Microsoft to develop internet-connected services to Toyota vehicles, Reuters reports. Both powerhouses in their respective fields, Microsoft and Toyota have had an ongoing business relationship for over a decade.

With this new project, Microsoft has devoted a $12 million investment in Toyota Media Services. Based on Microsoft’s Azure “cloud computing” platform, the new service will allow Toyota to reach customers in all 170 countries it does business in. This will allow the company to work off of one integrated network.

One service Toyota is planning will monitor and integrate a person’s power usage across the home and car to maximize efficiency. For example, electric cars will charge automatically when power rates are lowest. This team-up ensures Toyota’s position as a technological leader in the auto business going forward. The new services will be available by 2015.

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @ greshamtoyota.com!

The Toyota Ideas For Good campaign has attracted thousands of entries, and now comes the hard part. A panel of independent judges will narrow down the submissions to 25 finalists, and all indications suggest they have their work cut out for them.

Toyota asked contestants to submit ideas for how they would use Prius technology to make a better world. Members of the public are encouraged by the advertising campaign to find new, non-automotive applications for five distinct Toyota technologies to ultimately benefit society. One winner in each of the five technology categories will witness their idea spring into reality. Winners will be determined by a formula based on input from the Toyota panel of gurus and the general public. Additionally, winners will receive their pick of a new Prius, Venza or Highlander Hybrid as a prize.

Check out one of the latest videos where engineers from Deeplocal build a solar-powered relief tent!

Looking for your own innovative Toyota vehicle? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @ greshamtoyota.com!