The countdown is on and the world is mere weeks away from the launch of the 2010 Toyoto Prius. Let's be honest, if you're a lean, green driving machine, the Prius has been the status symbol to show the world your committment to eco-friendliness. However that could change over the next few months.

Believe it or not, the Chicago Auto Show isn't the only big green vehicle event happening right now: the Canadian International Auto Show is also happening this week, and while the Prius is still big news there, Honda is angling for some attention with their new Insight hybrid car. Not only will the Insight hit the market in time to compete with the Prius, it will also be priced significantly lower around the $21,000 mark compared to the estimated $28,000 price tage of the new Prius. Given the current economic situation, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the lower cost may be a huge deciding factor for environmentally-aware drivers in the market for new wheels this year.

Then again, the Prius also has a long-standing reputation as the world's top-selling hybrid vehicle and that will still make it a force to be reckoned with. So you tell us: given the choice, would you go for the popular Prius or the cost-efficient Insight?

» Globe and Mail

TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk has declared Toyota the winner of their first-ever "Green Car Manufacturer" award. The distinction was decided by website visitors this past December, who were polled and asked which automaker had done the best job of furthering the eco-friendly car cause over the past year. Twenty-nine percent of the 1156 respondents voted for Toyota.

Said Miguel Fonseca Managing Director of Toyota GB, “We are delighted and honoured that the readers of TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk have voted for Toyota as manufacturer of the year. Toyota works continuously to achieve ever higher environmental standards in all areas of its operations, efforts that are reflected in the world-leading Hybrid Synergy Drive that powers Prius and the application of the Toyota Optimal Drive concept to a raft of new models, such as new iQ and Avensis, to bring substantial reductions in emissions and fuel consumption."

“Later this year we will be launching a new generation Prius that should see Toyota once again setting the benchmark for cleaner, fuel efficient motoring.”

Honda came in a close second with 26 per cent of the vote, while BMW trailed in third place with 16 per cent.

Besides the popular Prius hybrid, Toyota also produces small, fuel-friendly cars including the Yaris, Auris and Aygo, and also have plans for a hydrogen vehicle - the Toyota FCHV Hydrogen car - in the future.

» The Auto Channel

Of the limited number of hybrid vehicles available on the market today, which ones rule them all? There aren't many surprises in the top five of 2008; Toyota rules to roost occupying three of the five spots, with Honda and Ford taking the final two. Not sure of the difference between the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry Hybrid? Keep reading for a breakdown of the top five vehicles and the features that landed them in the best of their class. Warning: you probably won't be surprised by the vehicle occupying the top spot.

5. 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
MPG: 34 city/30 highway
What makes it great: Not only is this vehicle approximately 85 per cent recyclable, one hundred per cent recycled materials were used to create the interior fabric surfaces of the Escape Hybrid, which Ford believes is a first in the industry. This alone is estimated to save approximately 2.5 million liters of water, nearly one million kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents and seven million kilowatt hours of electricity every year. The continuously variable transmission (CVT), the electric motor and the gasoline engine work together to provide 155 hp. The vehicle also offers improved drive-train management software, and is noticeably smoother than the previous model when accelerating and decelerating.
What's next: The 2009 model will feature a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that will increase the vehicle's power by 11 per cent.

4. 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
MPG: 27 city/25 highway
What makes it great: This six-seater vehicle features a lot of room, including a jump seat tucked at the botoom of the front-seat console that converts the two middle seats into a bench with room for one extra person. The woodgrain dashboard trim is exclusive to this vehicle and is not featured in the gas-only versions of the model. The 3.3-litre six-cylinder engine with three electromagnetic motors is supposedly slightly faster than the gas-powered Highlander due to the higher combined horsepower of the motors.
What's next: Available in two trims - the Base and the Limited - the 2009 Highlander Hybrid is a carryover from the 2008 model.

...read the rest...

Back in September, photos of the new Chevy Volt were leaked online and now conveniently it's supposedly Toyota's turn. The 2010 Prius isn't supposed to be officially unveiled until January 2009 at the North American International Auto Show, however new photos have appeared on the Internet...kinda, maybe, sort of.

This is either a preview of what is to come, or could possibly just be a rejected makeover design of the current model. Or the third possibility being tossed around is that someone is bored and good with Photoshop.

The car shown integrates a number of current Toyota F1-inspired design cues such as the deep front valance with wide air foil-like air inlet and badge-capped protruding proboscis that extends up over the hood, mimicking the fuselage of the racing car. The recessed vertical fog lights also follow the brand's latest styling trends, while the Maxima-esque headlamp clusters are particularly creative.

Um yeah, what he said. Casting doubt on the legitimacy of the photos is the fact that this "new" car bears a striking resemblance to the current Prius except for the changes noted above. Experts are expecting a dramatic overhaul rather than mere upgrades to what already exists.

So is it or isn't it the new Prius? If it is, does it live up to the hype or a bit of a letdown? Tell us what you think and in the meantime, stay tuned!

» Driving.ca

Is the era of the Hummer behind us?  Are we entering the new less-is-more era?  Well... maybe not quite yet, but there are some real indications that we're moving in that direction.

Europeans are used to driving small, fuel efficient cars.  But in the land of quadruple-stacked cheeseburgers perceptions are a little different.  When Smart Cars first hit roads in North America people were amused and confused by these miniature can-do vehicles.  After all, this is the land of the pickup truck!  Who would want to scoot around in some rinky-dinky euro car? Years later the Smart Car is a certifiable success in North America, with thousands of people choosing these tiny and practical cars over larger more 'American' vehicles.

With the launch of Toyota's iQ in Europe, it might only be a matter of time before a competitor enters the North American market to challenge Smart for small car dominance.  Just check out this very funky clip promoting the concept: 

That concept in the above clip is now an honest-to-goodness in production vehicle that'll be hitting Toyota dealerships at the end of 2008.  Toyota expects to ship 100,000 of these adorable little tin cans globally in its first year of production. 

Less materials to produce, less space occupied in our cities, less fuel consumed, less energy used in transport... small cars like the Toyota iQ really are our quickest path to independent eco-friendly transportation.  (At leasy until they start making 'em with electric motors inside!)

Hit the jump to visit Toyota Europe's official site for more information.

» Toyota Europe

It looks like Australia won't be the only country producing a Toyota Camry hybrid come 2010. The company is expected to begin production of the car in China starting the same year as the demand for greener, cleaner cars continues to grow. The Chinese government recently announced they would consider tax incentives for drivers who choose eco-friendly vehicles in the future.

Toyota is involved in a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. and is expected to produce 10,000 of the new cars every year as part of the initiative. The company has already been assembling the hybrid-only Prius in China, however of the 430,000 Prius models built last year, only 320 were produced there. Because of the complications involved in making key components outside of the country, the majority of hybrid vehicles will continue to be built in Japan.

» Reuters Environment