Toyota Prius c
The Toyota Prius c is the smallest member of the Prius family, and it’s situated at the tiny end of the Prius range to complement the large Prius v minivan that went on sale last year. The Prius c packs a little 1.5-liter gasoline engine, a nickel-metal hydride battery, an electric motor, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The engine pushes out just 99 horsepower and has a total all-electric range of 10-15 miles. Toyota’s Prius range is still your best bet for city driving habits, but we’re wondering when Toyota is going to update its line with lithium-ion batteries and improve the cars’ range and highway efficiency. With so much new competition on the market these days, the Prius is in danger of being outstripped by new technologies that have surpassed its early successes.
The Prius c manages 53 mpg in the city — 46 mpg on the highway and 50 mph combined — the same economy as the larger Prius hatchback, although the c is 19.1 inches shorter and 542 pounds lighter than the standard Prius. The good news is that the Prius c starts at just $19,000 – a $4,000 premium for hybrid tech (which Toyota claims is the lowest hybrid premium on the market). You can buy a Prius c in the spring of 2012. Keep an eye out for the other EV releases from Toyota – they’re aiming to create an entire line of short-range and long-range alternative fuel vehicles, including the iQ EV for city dwellers and the RAV4 EV for longer-distance drivers.
Ford Focus EV
Since it was announced last year the Ford Focus EV has been on the mind of electric vehicle enthusiasts everywhere – It will be the third widely released EV after the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt. The Focus EV has a combined fuel efficiency rating of over 100 MPGe, and it comes with a 6.6 kW onboard charger that can charge the vehicle completely in 3-4 hours when using Ford’s 240-volt charging station. The Focus Electric starts at $39,200 and will be available in California and the New York/New Jersey areas in just a few months – reservations are currently open!
+ Inhabitat Coverage of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show
