The New 2012 Toyota Prius C

The new 2012 Prius C brings a new level of hybrid efficiency to the line, boasting 53 MPG city, and 46 MPG highway. Not only does this save you at the pump, but the pricing on the new Prius are quite eye catching.

Touted as the “gateway to the Prius family,” Toyota introduces its new 2012 Prius c subcompact with a $18,960 starting price. This compares to the standard Prius Liftback’s $24,000 base MSRP.

Four grades — labeled One, Two, Three and Four — are offered with the top-line model having a $23,230 starting price. The Prius c, with “c” representing “city,” is designed to be an urban-friendly vehicle that will appeal to younger consumers.

It’s smaller than the midsize Prius Liftback — 19.1 inches shorter and 542 pounds lighter. Toyota boasts the Prius c has the “highest-rated fuel economy estimate of any vehicle without a plug.” Its estimated fuel-economy rating is 53 miles per gallon city, 46 mpg highway and 50 mpg combined. These figures fit real-world conditions, with the test vehicle, driven roughly 70 percent on the highway, getting between 49-51 mpg.

Like its larger sibling, the Prius c is propelled by Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system, basically consisting of a gasoline engine, electric motor with continuously variable transaxle and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The gas engine is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 73 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque. Teamed with the electric motor, total hybrid system output is 99 horsepower.

Acceleration is respectable, with hard throttle coaxing a soft whirring sound. Steering is responsive and ride quality is good, albeit on the firm side.

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The 2013 Toyota Avalon

The new 2013 Toyota Avalon was revealed at the 2012 New York Auto Show last week, leaving a strong impression on all the participants. Toyota rolled out the fashionable car complete with a premium leather interior, a 3.5 V-6 engine, and a fantastic new design. What do you think so far?

With the all-new 2013 Toyota Avalon, Toyota is aiming for high style. The new full-size sedan wears a swooping roofline with a polarizing new front end, which will start appearing elsewhere on Toyota vehicles. 

For the 2013 model, the Avalon takes a big step forward in the design department. It is clear that Toyota benchmarked the fashion-forward Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS in designing the new Avalon. The long arch of the roof leads into a short decklid – though it is still has a traditional trunk, unlike the hatchback on the A7. In profile, the Avalon has a shoulder crease that creates a concave detailing framing the door handles. Mercedes’ influence can be seen in the Avalon’s taillights: two red rows of LEDs frame a row of white LEDs that house the reverse lights and turn signals. 

Up front, the 2013 Avalon mergers the design philosophies of the new Camry and Scion FR-S/Toyota GT 86. A large, upright hexagonal lower grille dominates the front end and is topped by a smiling version of the same grille seen on the 2012 Camry. The headlights include Toyota’s new Double-eye PES (Projector Ellipsoid System), which has a two-piece headlight — similar to what Infiniti offered on the third-generation 2001-2006 Q45 — outlined by LED daytime running lights. Below the headlights are trapezoidal foglight and turn signal clusters almost identical to those on the FR-S.

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Toyota Releases New Venza At The New York International Auto Show

Toyota released the all new Toyota Venza at the New York International Auto Show, and it looks like it is an impressive addition to Toyota's lines of unique models. Take a look at the new design, what do you think?

Toyota has been teasing us with glimpses of the redesigned 2013 Venza over the last month, and now we get to see its modest makeover just before the vehicle's New York Auto Show debut. 

The new, less fussy grille is the first thing you'll notice. Fewer horizontal bars above the bumper and a chrome accent goes some way toward below classing up the crossutilitywagon thing. The headlamps are new, and the fog lights have also been blacked out with chrome accent ring. Finishing off the new light fixtures are reworked door mirrors fitted with the obligatory built-in turn signals. 

In back, the taillights have been slightly updated, but everything else seems to be much the same as the 2012 model. Venzas can now be ordered in Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica.

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