Benefits of the hybrid electric design

Benefits of the hybrid electric design include:

Fuel consumption

Current HEVs reduce petroleum consumption (compared to otherwise similar conventional vehicles) primarily by using three mechanisms:
a) Reducing wasted energy during idle/low output, generally by turning the ICE off;
b) Recapturing waste energy (i.e. regenerative braking);
c) Reducing the size and power of the ICE engine, and hence inefficiencies from under-utilization, by using the added power from the electric motor to compensate for the loss in peak power output from the smaller ICE.
Any combination of these three primary hybrid advantages may be used in different vehicles to realize different fuel usage, power, emissions, weight and cost profiles. The ICE in an HEV can be smaller, lighter, and more efficient than the one in a conventional vehicle, because the combustion engine can be sized for slightly above average power demand rather than peak power demand. The drive system in a vehicle is required to operate over a range of speed and power, but an ICE has its highest efficiency is in a narrow range of operation, making conventional vehicles inefficient. In contrast, in most HEV designs, the ICE operates closer to its range of highest efficiency more of the time. The power curve of electric motors is better suited to variable speeds and can provide substantially greater torque at low speeds compared with internal-combustion engines. The greater fuel economy of HEVs has implication for reduced petroleum consumption and vehicle air pollution emissions worldwide

Durability

Reduced wear on the gasoline engine, particularly from idling with no load. Reduced wear on brakes from the regenerative braking system use.

There's no definitive word on replacement costs of the batteries because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear. (2007)

Environmental impact

Reduced noise emissions resulting from substantial use of the electric motor at idling and low speeds, leading to roadway noise reduction, in comparison to conventional gasoline or diesel powered engine vehicles, resulting in beneficial noise health effects (although road noise from tires and wind, the loudest noises at highway speeds from the interior of most vehicles, are not affected by the hybrid design alone). Note, however, that this is not always an advantage; for example, people who are blind or visually-impaired, and who rely on vehicle-noise while crossing streets, find it more difficult to do safely. Reduced air pollution emissions due to lower fuel consumption, leading to improved human health with regard to respiratory and other illness. Pollution reduction in urban environments may be particularly significant due to elimination of idle-at-rest.

One common misconception is: "However, one must remember the environmental stamp of HEV batteries, which must be replaced on a regular basis and are treated as extremely hazardous waste." This is not entirely true. Battery toxicity is a concern, although today's hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally problematic rechargeable nickel cadmium. "Nickel metal hydride batteries are benign. They can be fully recycled," says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal. Toyota and Honda say that they will recycle dead batteries and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 "bounty" for each battery to help ensure that it will be properly recycled.

There's no definitive word on replacement costs of the batteries because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

More infomration at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/hybrid-cars/hybrid-concept-cars.html

Tire rotation

Tire rotation can be beneficial in several ways. When done at the recommended times, it can preserve balanced handling and traction and even out tire wear. It can even provide performance advantages. When should tires be rotated? We recommend that high performance tires be rotated every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, even if they don't show signs of wear. Tire rotation can often be done with oil change intervals while the vehicle is off the ground anyway. Tire rotation helps even out tire wear by allowing each tire to serve in as many of the vehicle's wheel positions as possible. Remember, tire rotation can't correct wear problems due to worn mechanical parts or incorrect inflation pressures. It's also important to check your owner's manual for specific details on what method of tire rotation the vehicle's manufacturer recommends.

While every vehicle is equipped with four tires, usually the tires on the front need to accomplish very different tasks than the rear tires. The tasks encountered on a front wheel drive car are considerably different than those of a rear wheel drive car. Tire wear experienced on a performance vehicle will usually be more severe than that of a family sedan. Each wheel position can cause different wear rates and different type of tire wear.

While no one likes their tires to wear out, it is actually an advantage when all of the tires on a vehicle wear at the same rate throughout their life. As tire wear reduces tread depth, it allows the tires to respond to the driver's input more quickly and increases dry road performance. Since tire rotation will help all of the vehicle's tires wear at the same rate, it will keep the tires performing equally on all four corners.

When your tires wear out together you can get a new set of tires without being forced to buy pairs. If you replace tires in sets of four you will maintain the original handling balance. And our suppliers are constantly introducing new tires, each of which improves upon their past product's performance. If you replace your tires in sets, it allows you to experience today's technology, instead of being forced to match yesterdays.

More information at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/car-maintenance/tire-rotation.html

Oil change

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil once a year or every 7,500 miles in passenger car and light truck gasoline engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gasoline engines, the usual recommendation is every 3,000 miles or six months.

If you read the fine print, however, you’ll discover that the once a year, 7,500 mile oil change is for vehicles that are driven under ideal circumstances. What most of us think of as "normal" driving is actually "severe service" driving. This includes frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather), stop-and-go city traffic driving, driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.), and driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather. For this type of driving, which is actually "severe service: driving, the recommendation is to change the oil every 3,000 miles or six months.

For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of driving you do.

A new engine with little or no wear can probably get by on 7,500 mile oil changes. But as an engine accumulates miles, blowby increases. This dumps more unburned fuel into the crankcase which dilutes the oil. This causes the oil to break down. So if the oil isn’t changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).

Oil Analysis

Truck fleets often monitor the condition of the oil in their vehicles by having samples analyzed periodically. Oil samples are sent to a laboratory that then analyzes the oil’s viscosity and acid content. Oil is then burned in a device called a spectrometer that reveals various impurities in the oil. From all of this, a detailed report is generated that reveals the true condition of the oil.

Oil analysis is a great idea for fleets and trucks that hold a lot of oil. But most consumers would have a hard time justifying the cost. Having an oil sample analyzed typically costs $12 to $20 for the lab work and report. Most quick lube shops charge $16.95 to $19.95 for an oil change. So why spend your money on a report that will probably tell you your oil needs changing? Just change the oil every 3,000 miles and don’t worry about it.

Regular oil changes for preventative maintenance are cheap insurance against engine wear, and will always save you money in the long run if you keep a car for more than three or four years. It’s very uncommon to see an engine that has been well maintained with regular oil changes develop major bearing, ring, cam or valve problems under 100,000 miles.

More information at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/car-maintenance/oil-change.html

Future of hybrid cars

According to J.D. Power and Associates, U.S. consumers are expected to purchase approximately 350,000 Hybrid vehicles annually by the year 2008. Further, more than one-half of those Hybrid vehicles will likely be trucks! Trucks should account for about 35% of Hybrid sales by 2005 and 64% of Hybrid sales by 2008.

In fact, initial expectations were for 500,000 Hybrid vehicles in production by 2008, however many of the manufacturers started changing their tune on Hybrids and chose to delay the release of some Hybrid vehicle models or even drop some models from their Hybrid program altogether. Many of the auto manufacturers decided to adopt a wait-and-see approach instead of busting out of the door full-force.

Therefore, while Hybrid vehicles are the hot topic in the automotive world these days, and consumers are becoming more and more intrigued by Hybrid vehicles, the fact remains that they will still represent only about 1% of the market by 2005 and 2% by 2008.

Hybrid SUVs and pickup trucks serve as rolling advertisements for better auto technology and less pollution.

More infomration at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/hybrid-cars/future-of-hybrid-cars.html

Brakes check

Brakes are pretty much the most important safety device on your car. If you've even partially lost your brakes in the past, you'll remember the change of underwear that followed. Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers while saving you money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.

On many cars you can inspect the brakes without even removing the wheel. If your car has alloy wheels with spaces in the middle, you can get a proper assessment done by just peeping through the hole at the goodies. Whether you can peep through your wheel or you have to take the wheel off, be sure you have a clear view of the brake pads and the big shiny disc.

Let's inspect the disc first. It should be shiny from the inside to the outer edge, and fairly uniform. Don't worry if you can see slight lines in it, this is normal wear. However, if there are any rough spots or pronounced grooves in the disc, you should replace your brake discs. Brake discs should always be replaced in pairs so that your car's driveability and safety are not compromised.

Now take a look at the pads. You'll have to peek up to see them, but if you follow the surface of the disc to the top, you'll see the outside pad touching the disc. If there is 1/8" or less remaining on the pad, it's time for new ones. That's about the height of two pennies stacked. Don't worry, brake pads are cheap and replacing your brake pads is a no-sweat job.

More informatio at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/car-maintenance/brake-checks.html

How hydrid cars work?

Series Drivetrain

In a series hybrid, the electric motor is is the only means of providing power to get your wheels turning. The motor receives electric power from either the battery pack or from a generator run by a gasoline engine. A computer determines how much of the power comes from the battery or the engine/generator set. Both the engine/generator and regenerative braking recharge the battery pack. The engine is typically smaller in a series drivetrain because it only has to meet average driving power demands; the battery pack is generally more powerful than the one in parallel hybrids (see below) in order to provide remaining peak driving power needs. This larger battery and motor, along with the generator, add to the cost, making series hybrids more expensive than parallel hybrids.

While the engine in a conventional vehicle is forced to operate inefficiently in order to satisfy varying power demands of stop-and-go driving, series hybrids perform at their best in such conditions. This is because the gasoline engine in a series hybrid is not coupled to the wheels. This means the engine is no longer subject to the widely varying power demands experienced in stop-and-go driving and can instead operate in a narrow power range at near optimum efficiency. This also eliminates the need for a complicated multi-speed transmission and clutch. Because series drivetrains perform best in stop-and-go driving they are primarly being considered for buses and other urban work vehicles.

Parallel Drivetrain

Some up-and-coming hybrid models use a second electric motor to drive the rear wheels, providing electronic all-wheel drive that can improve handling and driving in bad weather conditions.

With a parallel hybrid electric vehicle, both the engine and the electric motor generate the power that drives the wheels. The addition of computer controls and and a transmission allow these components to work together. This is the technology in the Insight, Civic, and Accord hybrids from Honda. Honda calls it their Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology. Parallel hybrids can use a smaller battery pack and therefore rely mainly on regenerative braking to keep it recharged. However, when power demands are low, parallel hybrids also utilize the drive motor as a generator for supplemental recharging, much like an alternator in conventional cars.

Since, the engine is connected directly to the wheels in this setup, it eliminates the inefficiency of converting mechanical power to electricity and back, which makes these hybrids quite efficient on the highway. Yet the same direct connection between the engine and the wheels that increases highway efficiency compared to a series hybrid does reduce, but not eliminate, the city driving efficiency benefits (i.e. the engine operates inefficiently in stop-and-go driving because it is forced to meet the associated widely varying power demands).

Series/Parallel Drivetrains

This drivetrain merges the advantages and complications of the parallel and series drivetrains. By combining the two designs, the engine can both drive the wheels directly (as in the parallel drivetrain) and be effectively disconnected from the wheels so that only the electric motor powers the wheels (as in the series drivetrain). The Toyota Prius has made this concept a popular, and a similar technology is also in the new Ford Escape Hybrid. As a result of this dual drivetrain, the engine operates at near optimum efficiency more often. At lower speeds it operates more as a series vehicle, while at high speeds, where the series drivetrain is less efficient, the engine takes over and energy loss is minimized. This system incurs higher costs than a pure parallel hybrid since it needs a generator, a larger battery pack, and more computing power to control the dual system. However, the series/parallel drivetrain has the potential to perform better than either of the systems alone.

More infomration at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/hybrid-cars/how-do-hybrid-cars-work.html

The History of Ferrari Cars

History

Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898 near Modena, Italy. When he was 10 his father took him to an automobile race in Bologna. After attending a number of other races, he decided he wanted to become a racing car driver.

While working at a small carmaker involved with converting war surplus, Ferrari took up racing. In 1919 he finished ninth at the Targa Florio. He ended up landing a job with Alfa Romeo and drove a modified production car in the 1920 Targa Florio. Ferrario managed to finish second.

In 1923 while racing at the Circuit of Sivocci at Ravenna he was approached by Count Enrico and Countess Paolina Baracca, the parents of the heroic Italian pilot Francesco Baracca. Francesco was known as the Italian ace of aces. He died on Mount Montello during the war. His parents gave Ferrari their son's squadron badge, which was the famous prancing horse on a yellow shield.

Enzo Ferrari was connected with Alfa Romeo for many years, however, he built only a few sports cars bearing his name and his famous prancing horse badge. In 1929 Enzo formed the Scuderia Ferrari with the aim of organizing racing for members. The Scuderia Ferrari team competed in 22 events and scored 8 victories and several good placings.

In 1940 Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo and started a new company Auto-Avio Costruzioni Ferrari. During World War II the Ferrari workshop moved from Modena to Maranello. The workshop became a victim of the war in 1944 - it was leveled by bombs. A year after the war in 1946 the shop was rebuilt and work began on the first ever Ferrari motorcar, the 125 Sport. This car started a grand tradition of winning for Ferrari. Since it's first race in 1947, Ferrari's have had over 5,000 successes on race tracks around the globe.

In 1969 Enzo Ferrari sold 50% of Ferrari's share capital to the Fiat group. That figure grew to 90% in 1988. Enzo Ferrari died at the age of 90 in Modena on August 14, 1988.

More information at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/sports-cars/ferrari-cars.html

Hummer Limousines: Consumer Monstrosity Or Luxury?

The other day I overheard several of my fellow classmates talking about renting a Hummer limousine to celebrate our upcoming graduation and taking it out just to hit the town and see what sort of fun was to be had, when it occurred to me that the only reason someone would ever drive a Hummer or a Hummer limousine would be to attract attention.

Okay, so there´s the slight chance that Mr. or Ms. Hummer driver may actually have some ferocious terrain to cover, you know, some fifty degree hills and two foot high obstacles to clear. Then we get real and realize that almost every single non-military Hummer vehicle is driven simply to boost status, whether it´s to say ´I have a lot of money, I have good taste in expensive automobiles or any other type of status.

Global warming is no longer the crazy theory that it was summed up to be even as recently as ten years ago. There is little doubt left over that automobile and energy conversion exhaust have polluted the air and added to the problem of global warming in a very direct way. So why anyone would choose a huge, gas-guzzling Hummer when they don´t have to is beyond me and can only come down to a lack of information.

Then take things a step further and we see monstrosities that never should have been, like the Hummer Limousine. This behemoth is even more capable of burning gallons of gas just by tapping the accelerator and seems to be proud of it. While these aberrations may be novel for some big night out on the town, they really serve no useful purpose and do several bad things to worsen the quality of the air we breathe and other effects that are more important to me than blowing some money on a night in a Hummer limousine or showing off to friends and strangers.

More information at: www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos

Hybrid Cars Available on the Market

New Hybrid Cars Hitting the market Next Year: Camry and Hyundai hybrids coming sooner than expected!

Toyota plans to start building Camry hybrid cars in Kentucky as early as next year according to the AFP. Due to oil prices, Toyota believes that interest in hybrids is going to grow faster than originally expected and is going to push this top-selling to Toyota to hybrid status as quickly as possible.

In addition, Toyota is also considering the possibility of a hybrid powered sports car in the near future, though specifics were not announced. Already Porsche has announced interest in developing a hybrid version of its Cayenne, in partnership with Toyota.

Hyundai also announced plans to bring hybrid cars to America a year earlier than originally planned. By late 2006, Hyundai will offer hybrid versions of both the Accent and the Kia Rio.

In stark contrast to GM, for example, Hyundai will not offer large hybrid vehicles because of their "low profitability". GM has maintained that they are not interested in hybrid cars for the same reason and will only focus only on large hybrid SUVs and trucks.

I guess that isn't much of a surprise from a company that is ramping up to market a new line of large SUVs during an economic crisis largely caused by gas-guzzling vehicles.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid The first Toyota hybrid SUV is coming in June.
The Toyota Prius Hybrid The hybrid car leader at just $20,000?
Simply an unbelievable piece of automotive technology. The future is here.
The Ford Escape Hybrid The world's first hybrid SUV.
V6 power with V4 fuel efficiency, the Escape hybrid offers SUV functionality and environmental awareness.
The Honda Accord Hybrid Simply the best Accord.
Faster than a conventional Accord, the hybrid Accord is the first V6 hybrid and is shows.
The Honda Civic Hybrid The first converted hybrid vehicle
Looks like a Civic, drives a Civic, but at 50 mpg it gets 40 percent better gas mileage than a regular Civic.
The Lexus RX400h Hybrid The world's most luxurious hybrid SUV.
This hot hybrid has already received 11,000 down-payments More information at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/hybrid-cars/best-hybrid-cars.html

hybrid cars

Pairing a potent hybrid powertrain with essential sports-car fundamentals, the
FT-HS is a mid-priced sports car that integrates ecology and emotion in a concept that addresses the question, “What is a suitable sports car for the 21st century?”

Boasting a powerful V6 3.5L engine, the FT-HS is coupled with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive® to produce a target power output of approximately 400 horsepower and a projected zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range. At a mid-priced market position, the FT-HS would be a true “attainable exotic” with 21st-century performance.

A sculpted front and rear remove mass around key functional components, while the roof has a distinctive scooped-out section designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and provide head room at the key areas.

The FT-HS's interior features create a dedicated driver's cockpit that includes a cross-car instrument panel structure and delta-wing driver pod. An integrated instrument panel surrounds the driver, creating an enclosed pod effect. Armrests flow seamlessly into the door and surrounding interior. Seating is optimized for a lightweight appearance and function: The seating accommodates four and then converts to a two-seater when the roof retracts.More information at: http://www.mostvaluabletips.com/autos/hybrid-cars/hybrid-concept-cars.html

lexus

A hybrid joins line of high-performance sedans.

Introduction

The 2007 Lexus GS makes its mark with sense as well as speed, restraint as well as luxury. Although it's easy to think of it as an alternative to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the Lexus GS embraces an entirely different set of values.

Lexus itself has promoted the phrase "L-finesse" to define its way of crafting an automobile, and this faintly awkward example of market-speak in fact gets right to the heart of the 2007 Lexus GS. This high-performance sedan is meant to be dynamic, yet free of gimmicks. It is meant to combine precision with lavish, luxurious appointments. It is meant to deliver the highest standard of automotive performance, yet be easily intuitive to drive. Amazing examples of automotive technology are included as standard equipment, yet the driver is never aware of them.

The Lexus GS does everything you ask, and yet it always feels effortless. If you think of the character of a BMW 5 Series sedan, the Lexus GS is its opposite.

The third-generation Lexus GS came to market for 2006 as the first completely new passenger car from Toyota's luxury division since 2001, a showcase of the giant company's most advanced technology. It arrived with more computing power than some third-world countries and a standard of luxury usually enjoyed only in the best zip codes. And yet, surprisingly enough, the Lexus GS has been substantially improved for 2007.

New for 2007, the lineup is joined by the GS 450h, which features a hybrid powertrain that combines a gasoline-powered V6 engine with a battery-powered electric motor to deliver an overall output of 340 horsepower combined with fuel economy of 25 mpg City/28 mpg Highway on the EPA cycle.

The 2007 GS 430's 290-hp 4.3-liter V8 continues as before, but its high-technology, rear-wheel-drive chassis has been improved with an optional system of active anti-roll body control.

For 2007, the GS 350 has a new, more powerful 3.5-liter V6 that brings alert performance to this model, which comes in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. (The 2006 model offered 245 horsepower from 3.0-liter V6.) The GS 350 and GS 430 utilize a close-ratio six-speed automatic transmission, one of the smallest and lightest gearboxes of its type. For added performance, the transmission includes a sport mode that enables you to manually make sequential shifts with the console-mounted gear lever.

The all-wheel-drive models feature a fast-acting, clutch-type center differential that sends 70 percent of the power to the rear wheels under normal circumstances to help foster the dynamics of a rear-wheel-drive car. When wheel sensors detect slippery road conditions, as much as 50 percent of engine power is diverted to the front wheels to increase the car's overall traction on the road.

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hyundai

Hyundai Delays Hybrid Program

In the past five years, Hyundai has fought a hard battle to improve the quality of its vehicles—which were once viewed as inferior budget-constrained choices. It looks like the South Korean automaker has won. It is now consistently ranking near the top of quality surveys by consumers and auto industry market firms. According to BusinessWeek, Hyundai "has emerged as the fastest growing of the major automakers."

Fresh from showing it can make affordable cars without sacrificing quality, the carmaker is appeared to be ready to make hybrid technology affordable. Then, the company slammed on the brakes. Automotive News reported in May 2006 that Hyundai would delay introduction of hybrid cars until 2009 at the earliest. The article cited the rising value of South Korea's currency—which means auto sales in the U.S. generate fewer won for Hyundai—and generally weak auto sales. And then there's the turmoil at the top level of the company: the chairman of Hyundai Motor, Chung Mong Koo, was charged in May in South Korea with embezzling $136 million to create a political slush fund. The controversy, according to the New York Times, caused the company to delay important projects, including the development of Kia's first American plant and the development of hybrid vehicles.

Where Were We Headed?

In December 2005, at the third annual Guangzhou international exhibition in China, Hyundai revealed a hybrid version of its Accent sub-compact. The automaker said the Accent Hybrid would combine a 16-horsepower electric motor with a 1.4-liter, 90-horsepower, continuously variable valve-timing engine. Hyundai promised a 40 percent increase over the conventional Accent's 32 mpg. Kia had also planned to launch a Rio hybrid model alongside the Hyundai Accent hybrid.

Hyundai is developing their own design for their hybrids (to stack up against Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, Honda's Integrated Motor Assist, Ford's Toyota-esque technology, and G.M.'s two-mode hybrid system). "Hybrids are the next-generation growth engine. We plan to shift our R&D focus from fuel cells to hybrids," said former Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong Koo.

Hyundai might have faced competition from Honda in the nascent "economy hybrid" market. The Hyundai Accent, expected to deliver 98 horsepower, would have faced off against a Honda Fit hybrid subcompact, which is reportedly aiming for 109 horsepower. Both cars were expected to sell in the $15,000 range, but the Honda Fit—based on the current buzz—could approach 60 mpg, while the Accent is slated for about 45 mpg.

A Change of Plans

Hyundai had been checking off one milestone after the next in its march to the U.S. hybrid market. It didn't hurt that the Korean government planned to invest hundreds of millions of dollars over the next five years to help develop technologies needed for hybrid, fuel cell vehicle and other advanced automotive systems. The government was scheduled to take delivery of 380 Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio hybrids this year, and is working on an attractive domestic hybrid incentive package—tax breaks, subsidies, bus-lane usage—for 2010.

How did Hyundai manage to get so much assistance from the Korean government? The slush fund controversy provides clues. Two steps forward and one big step back: the scandal has apparently delayed Hyundai's hybrid plans.

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toyota prius

The Prius inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers. Satisfaction rates, consistently at 98 percent, are unparalleled. Prius owners are already looking 20 years ahead, when they can claim with great pride, "Yes. I drove one of the first Priuses."

The Prius drives like a charm, humming along silently in all-electric mode at low speeds and revving up its 110 combined gas-electric horsepower for a respectable 0-to-60 rate of 10.2 seconds. The bean counters argue that the Prius is two to three thousand dollars more than a comparable Camry or Corolla. That's a joke to Prius owners. Those conventional vehicles can't be compared to the Prius in terms of its unique technology and design, and especially in the categories that matter most to the average hybrid buyer:

• Fuel economy – EPA combined city/highway rating of 55 mpg
• Emissions – 89 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car, exceeding the standards for a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV)

The Prius has plenty of leg room and storage space. Its stability control system makes it very safe. And the Prius has loads of bells and whistles, from keyless entry, high-tech fuel use dash display, and (on the 2006 model) a rear-view camera system to help you squeeze into a tight parking spot. All that in a package in the mid-$20k range—minus a a federal tax credit—and you can feel damn good about getting from Point A to Point B.

Toyota's efforts to ramp-up production and offer dealership incentives have successfully burned off waiting lists for the Prius. Our own Price Pulse tool, which showed long waiting lists through 2006, is now indicating ample supply and plenty of wiggle room to negotiate with the dealership.

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