When Toyota launched the world’s first mass produced hybrid in Japan in 1997, it felt like a bit of a gamble for the huge Japanese auto maker.

How would people react to a new kind of automobile? Would people understand what a hybrid was? Would anyone ever buy the thing?

Three million cars later, Toyota has its answer. The Prius family is, undoubtedly, the most popular hybrid car in the world and Toyota is seen as the leader in hybrid technology.

Toyota Prius C

That success has allowed the auto manufacturer to expand the family, which now includes the standard Prius(known as the Liftback), the Prius v station wagon and the new Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

Toyota introduced the newest member of the family to American audiences at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

If Toyota was facing a risky proposition upon the release of the original Prius, fifteen years later this new Prius is as close to a slam dunk as anything on the Detroit show floor. America is the largest market for the Prius line and the smaller, gas-sipping, less expensive Prius c is sure to find a welcome reception on these shores.

Toyota doesn’t call the Prius cheap, of course, they prefer to call the c a “gateway product into the Prius family.” But with a starting price starting below $19,000 you could put two Prius models in the garage for the price of many new hybrids hustling for some attention in Detroit.

Aside from the list price, the Prius also offers 53 mpg in the city, and 46 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 50 mpg. That’s an impressive number and comes from reductions in both size and weight for the new Toyota.

The new c is 19.1 inches shorter and 542 pounds lighter than the standard Prius.

 Toyota also replaced the standard Prius 1.8 liter, four cylinder gas engine/80 kW electric motor combo with a smaller 1.5 liter,  in-line four banger hitched to a 54 kW electric motor.

The new powerplant generates a total system output of 99 horsepower and 82 lb-ft of torque — not enough to win many drag races, but the point of the Prius c is economy, not performance.

Prius c offers three distinct drive modes: Normal, Eco, and EV mode. Eco mode reduces overall energyconsumption by governing climate control and throttle to improve vehicle efficiency. Under certain conditions, the EV mode allows the Prius c to be driven solely by electric power for a short distance (under 1 mile) while remaining below 25 mph.

The Prius rolls on 15-inch tires and features an exterior design that “helps project a fun, youthful attitude.” That means you can choose three new colors that include Habanero, Moonglow, and Summer Rain Metallic.

Inside the new Prius you can select any interior color you’d like, so long as it’s black. The car comes standard with AM/FM CD player, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod connectivity, hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth. Toyota also includes nine airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control and a multi-information dashboard display.

2012 Camry

Toyota Motor Corp. expects its Camry sedan to remain the most popular car in America after rolling out a new, seventh-generation model offering more technology and equipment for less money.

Toyota revealed the new Camry on Tuesday at simultaneous events in Dearborn, Hollywood, and at the Georgetown, Ky., plant where the car is built.

“The launch of the new Camry is very important to our company,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda, who drove a Camry off a line at the Georgetown factory.

“The vehicle has become a symbol of Toyota’s success over the years,” said Toyoda, the grandson of the automaker’s founder. “This is an opportunity to show the world again what Toyota is all about.”

The new Camry strongly resembles its predecessors, which have been derided for being bland and conservative. But although the car doesn’t thrill enthusiasts, it appeals consistently to consumers drawn by its reliability and comfort. For 13 of the past 14 years, the Camry has been not only the best-selling midsize car, but the best-selling car in the United States.

The new model is riding into a tougher competitive environment, however, with some rivals challenging the notion that midsize car buyers prefer conservative vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Co.’s new boldly styled Sonata sedan has nearly doubled its sales in the past two years and now ranks among the top five midsize cars.

Detroit’s automakers have increased their share of the segment, too, after fielding appealing models such as the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion. This year, Nissan Motor Co.’s stylish Altima has risen to second place in the segment.

In this increasingly competitive field, the new Camry represents “a very conservative, evolutionary change,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, Calif.

“It’s like, let’s sell these cars to people who don’t demand exciting transportation — and there are a lot of those out there.”

But Toyota’s pricing strategy will help it fend off challengers, he said. “They are really trying to protect their No. 1 car in the USA.”

Sticker prices have been cut by as much as $2,000 on Camry cars with trim levels accounting for more than 90 percent of the model’s U.S. sales, said Bob Carter, general manager of the Toyota division of Toyota Motor Sales.

While the price of the base Camry L model is up $710 at $21,955, the Camry LE costs $200 less at $22,500, the sporty SE costs $965 less, and hybrid Camrys start at $25,900, $1,150 less.

“Nothing else in the midsize sedan segment offers more value,” Carter said. “We expect Camry will continue to earn its position as America’s best-selling car.”

The new Camry also offers improved fuel efficiency and easy-to-use multimedia technology.

Since Toyota introduced the Camry in 1983, it has sold more than 15 million worldwide — and nearly 10 million in the United States.

Even in its last months, the outgoing Camry has remained No. 1 in its segment despite a run of misfortunes at Toyota — the collapse in 2008-09 of the U.S. auto market, record safety recalls and then a devastating quake this year in Japan.

In this context, Toyota has a lot riding on the new Camry rolling into showrooms in October.

A successful launch would help Toyota reassert its standing as a dynamic competitor. A sluggish start, on the other hand, would reinforce the perception that the normally sure-footed Japanese are stumbling. The launch of Honda’s Civic compact was derailed by the quake, and it is getting mixed reviews.

Analyst Jesse Toprak at TrueCar.com expects the Sonata and Honda Accord will be the Camry’s biggest competitors. But he believes consumers will engage in more cross-shopping of domestic rivals, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, which is being replaced next year, and the Ford Fusion.

Both cars are more popular and command higher prices than their predecessors, which were designed at a time when Detroit’s automakers were focusing on their light trucks.

Now everyone’s battling for a bigger share of the midsize car segment, which is growing as drivers switch out of full-size cars, said analyst Masaki Taketani at IHS Automotive.

IHS predicts sales in the segment will rise to 2.5 million in 2015 from 2.1 million this year.

With the segment set to expand, there might be room for more variety, said Jeff Schuster, Troy-based director of global forecasting at J.D. Power.

“The success of the Sonata does suggest an appetite for more assertive design,” he said, “without compromising demand for the standard midsize entry that the Camry has become.”

Set to be unveiled as a Toyota model at the Tokyo Auto Show later this year, the production FR-S is then expected to be revealed at the NY Auto Showin 2012. Toyota has continued to be nearly silent on details, but what we do know is that this light-weight coupe will be powered by a Subaru-sourced boxer 4-cylinder engine, using a Toyota direct-injection system. Power will be delivered though the rear wheels using either a six-speed auto or manual (your choice) and a limited slip differential will be standard.

2012 Yaris

Toyota has now released the official details of the 2012 Yaris, which will be launched in Europe this summer.

“Developed from an original concept of ‘compact outside, spacious inside,’ new Yaris shows Toyota further improving the clever packaging that was a hallmark of its predecessors,” Toyota said.

Toyota also said that the 2012 Toyota Yaris will introduce a new affordable multimedia connectivity with the Toyota Touch & Go, which will be standard equipment on 95 percent of sales. The system features a 6.1-inch display with touch screen technology.

The new Toyota Yaris will be offered in Europe in three variants including a 1.0-liter VVT-i and 1.33-liter dual VVT-i gasoline units and a 1.4-liter D-4D diesel.

Here’s to hoping the 2012 Toyota Yaris will keep this look when it comes to the stateside.

America’s best-selling passenger car will be getting a makeover this fall, a new report finds. Sources say Toyota will launch an all-new, seventh-generation of its Camry sedan by the end of 2011.

The Camry was once again America’s best-selling passenger car last year – tallying 327,804 sales – but newer rivals are starting to nip at the five year old sedan’s heels. Those 327,804 sales were the Camry’s lowest since 1994.

However, help is on the way in the form of the all-new, seventh-generation Camry, due out later this year.

“We haven’t announced the next-gen Camry, (but) I will tell you (the current) Camry is very close to the end of its lifecycle, and a fall introduction is a pretty good educated guess,” Bob Carter, Toyota group vice president and general manager, told Ward’s.

Carter didn’t comment on what to expect from the next-generation Camry, but it’s possible we could see the new version of the sales leader at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Yaris Hybrid

Compacts with battery packs and motors could become the most affordable and highest MPG cars on the road—pushing hybrid technology deep into the mainstream market. Yet, the $19,200 Honda Insight and $20,000 Honda CR-Z are the closest cars so far to attempt a grab of the entry-level affordable compact hybrid market.

Toyota wants those cost- and fuel-conscious customers, especially in Europe where small cars rule. The company debuted the Toyota Yaris Hybrid at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show—showing that it intends to downsize its proven full hybrid technology. The Yaris Hybrid is expected to go on sale in Europe next year. It’s still too early to know if it will come to the United States.

While Honda will utilize a mild form of gas-electric technology for its small hybrids, Toyota’s system is a full hybrid capable of moving the car down the road on electricity alone. According to Toyota, the company plans to bring full hybrid technology to all of its European models in the next decade. “Two years ago, 8 percent of European customers said they wanted their next vehicle to be a hybrid,” said Didier Leroy, President of Toyota Motor Europe. “Today that figure has doubled, to 16 percent.”

Unlike Honda’s existing mild hybrid technology–which might be a more immediate fit for small cars—Toyota engineers will need to work on packaging its electric system into a smaller space. That could mean reducing the size and weight of the battery pack used in current models. All systems will have to be optimized for the smaller format.

To help draw attention to the unassuming Yaris hybrid subcompact concept on display in Geneva, Toyota applied a solar panel to its roof. The solar panel could help power the car’s air-conditioning, making a modest improvement in overall fuel efficiency.

New Toyota Sports Car

It’s been 12 years since Toyota Motor Corp. retired the Supra model in the U.S., marking the end of the company’s line of Toyota-branded, front-engine sports cars (although sales in Japan continued through 2002). For years, fans and trade publications have speculated the once popular model might reappear, but the Japanese automaker has denied any such plans are in the works. That much hasn’t changed.

But company officials say they will continue to manufacture some type of sports car after production of the limited edition, 500-unit Lexus LFA supercar winds down in two years. Executive vice president Takeshi Uchiyamada told The Wall Street Journal at the Detroit auto show that another sports car will enter the line-up after LFA production ends and struck a wistful note that the Supra line was not continued in the 2000s.

“Yes, we will do it,” he said, adding “We can’t just crank them out one after another like a normal model, but there needs to be consistency in production so you don’t get a situation like that with the Supra, which just died out altogether.”

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Uchiyamada, Toyota’s global chief engineer, said that various ideas are under consideration to carry on the post-LFA sports car mantel, but that no formal decision to develop a new sports model has been made. “Some of our engineers are doing their own research, but it’s not on the official project schedule,” he said. “But if it were to be authorized, it could happen quickly.”

Toyota officials in the U.S. would like to see a new sports car too, but say their immediate priority is adding core vehicles such as the Prius family and updating models such as the Camry mid-sized sedan and Corolla compact. “I am confident it will happen, it’s just a little further down the list,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “Stay tuned.”

Toyota has made some changes to the engine and the exteriors of the car to make it sportier. The 2011 Corolla will have a new grille, front bumper, trunk lid, headlights, tail lamps and rear bumper. Toyota has given an Italian touch to the new Corolla and ensured that it looks more aggressive than its predecessors.

Toyota has also made changes to the interiors of the car. The new Corolla will come with new seat covers and pattern. However, Toyota will no longer be offering the option of leather upholstery in the 2011 Toyota Corolla. The new Corolla will have a brand new instrument panel that will have multi-informational display. Some of the optional features that are available in the new Corolla include USB port, satellite radio, moon roof and Bluetooth.

The new Corolla will come with Toyota’s Star Safety System that includes features like traction and electronic stability control. Some additional features that were added to Toyota’s Star Safety System include brake override system and tyre pressure monitoring system.

The 2011 Corolla is likely to come with the option of 4-speed auto transmission and 5-speed manual transmission. The option of auto and manual transmission will not be available in the 2.4 liter model of the car.

Toyota is likely to use the 1.8-liter Altis engine in the new Corolla. The manual transmission of the car will give a mileage of 28 mpg in city and 35 mpg on highways. The automatic transmission model will give a mileage of 26 mpg in city and 34 on highways.

The new Corolla will have 3 model options – standard, LE and S trim. The XRS and XLE will no longer be available. The price of the new Corolla is not yet known, however most people are expecting it to be priced close to its existing models.

2012 Verso-S

The all-new Toyota Verso-S makes its world premiere at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, it as marking Toyota’s re-entry into the B-MPV segment. This car showcases efficiency in space management. Car Show don’t have anything else in the way of details, but European buyers should expect a similar petrol and diesel engine lineup to the Yaris.

2012 Toyota Verso-S are small, spacious and smart. It has the shortest overall length – less than four meters – of any MPV in the European B-segment. Yet careful attention to detail in every aspect of its practical, flexible interior design has maximized spaciousness, comfort and perceived quality throughout.

2011 RAV4

The Toyota RAV4, already a leader in the crossover SUV segment it launched nearly 15 years ago, offers even greater value for 2011. The new Upgrade Value Package for the Base models adds popular options at a special value price.

The Upgrade Value Package is available on Base grade four-cylinder and V6 RAV4 models. It adds a six-CD audio system with XM Radio (subscription required); steering wheel audio controls; 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels; color-keyed door handles; Daytime Running Lights (DRL); roof rack; privacy glass; power tilt/slide moonroof; upgraded fabric interior; and, on two-row models, a rear cargo area tonneau cover.

The 2011 RAV4 is offered in three distinct grades – Base, Sport and top-of-the-line Limited – and with a choice between the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a V6. Both engines can be teamed with either front-wheel drive or electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive, giving consumers a wide array of vehicle choices. The roomy RAV4 offers an optional third-row seating on Base and Limited grade models.