Toyota Changes What the World Drives: Prius and DiCaprio

RisingSunofNihon ^ | June 12, 2006 | Dr. Bill Belew

[G. Stolyarov II]

In about 13 years Toyota has gone from a brainstorming session to creating and selling and teaching the world there is another way.

1993 - Toyota initiates the G21 project to develop a small car with better mileage that can be sold anywhere in the world.

1994 - Executive VP Akirhiro Wada insists the car needs to set a new standard for mileage and recommends a hybrid engine.

1995 - The Prius prototype debuts at the Tokyo motor show-- but will NOT start. Toyota responds by moving up the production deadline by one year.

1996 - Toyota's US division wins the design competition, and Japan begins the engineering production.

1997 - The first Prius goes on sale in Japan - my friend takes me for a ride.

2000 - The first Prius goes on sale in the US.

2001 - Leonardo DiCaprio buys a Prius.

2004 - Five chauffer-driven Priuses are used at the Academy Awards.

2005 - Prius US sales exceed 100,000

2010 - Prius US sales exceed 1,000,000.

Toyota is the first car maker to provide a serious alternative to the internal combustion engine since-- well-- it's been a long time.

Toyota does things right.

What do you think?

[G. Stolyarov II]

Toyota is to be saluted for the innovative design and efficiency of the Prius. Another important issue that remains is the safety of the vehicle; can Toyota manufacture cars that are energy-efficient, reliable, *and* durable so that they can survive crashes? Toyota will have to work hard to compete with larger American cars in terms of safety. See Dr. Belew’s blog at RisingSunofNihon

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Yo-Yo]

Toyota is the first car maker to provide a serious alternative to the internal combustion engine since-- well-- it's been a long time.

By building a Prius with an internal combustion engine?

[CharlesWayneCT]

I ran my prius headlong into a concrete pillar at 20 mph, stopping virtually instantly, with the car resting 6 inches from the undamaged pillar, and with an air bag in my face.

I walked away with nothing more than superficial bruises where the seat belt yanked me back (they have charged seat belt retractors, and I was leaning forward at the moment of impact).

I just watched a show about side impacts, and the Prius with side impact air bags rated about as high as anything they tested.

I don't imagine I'll do well against a Hummer.

[Mr. Blonde]

[Prodn2000]

I would imagine the Hummer would crumble just like the Suburban/Yukon/Tahoe platform it is based on.

The Prius is not an electric car. It is not a car made of plastic. It is a real car. If you drive it the way trafic lights are programmed, you can get 60+ miles/gal.