2012 Toyota Prius, Prius V, Prius Plug-in Hybrid: Now With Spaceship Sound

When the original Toyota Prius launched over ten years ago in the U.S. as a nerdy sedan, it wooed many buyers with its low-speed, near-silent operation.

Now the days of the whispering Prius are over, thanks to U.S. legislation requiring every single electric vehicle and hybrid car to fit an active pedestrian alert system -- or in lay terms, a noisemaker.

Needed or not, noisemakers are now part and parcel of every new electric or hybrid design  process, with automakers taking some interesting and novel approaches to work out just what virtual noise their cars should make.

Toyota’s answer to the new legislation has been to develop its own noise generation system which every 2012 model hybrid car will get.

Just like every other automaker thus far, Toyota has chosen to create a system which makes a noise which we think is a cross between a spaceship and a car alarm.

Although engineers at Toyota claim the new audible alert system -- which will be fitted to the 2012 Toyota Prius, 2012 Toyota Prius V and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid -- is recognizable as a car yet also futuristic in order to represent the Prii’s advanced drivetrain, we have to disagree.

Then again, we’ve only got a YouTube video of its Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) to base that assessment on -- and if we’ve learnt anything from previous examples, the real-world sound of a pedestrian warning system is often a lot more palatable than a video demonstration can be.

There’s no word yet if the VPNS can be turned off by the driver in the same way as the audible alert system in the 2011 Nissan Leaf can, but given how strongly many legislators feel about the dangers posed by quiet electric and hybrid cars we think it’s highly unlikely Toyota will include that feature on its 2012 Prii lineup.

Would you want to buy a Toyota Prius if it made a noise like a deranged spaceship? Watch the video, and let us know your thoughts in the Comments below.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066487_2012-toyota-prius-prius-v-prius-plug-in-hybrid-now-with-spaceship-sound

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2012 Toyota Camry - GreenCarReports Review

The new 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid achieves EPA gas mileage ratings of up to 43 mpg city, 39 highway—which, if you need to haul a full family of five or even four adults, makes it possibly the greenest roomy sedan pick on the market. For that reason, the 2012 Toyota Camry lineup achieves an excellent 9 out of 10 rating here at GreenCarReports.

While the entire 2012 Toyota Camry lineup has been redesigned for 2012, it's the Camry Hybrid that gets the most substantially redesigned powertrain. Toyota has reduced the size of the battery pack and allowed a larger trunk than before, while the Hybrid Synergy Drive system gets many of the improvements from the latest Toyota Prius—resulting in improved responsiveness, better drivability, and smoother, more reassuring braking. The Camry Hybrid also inherits the latest Prius' Eco Mode and EV Mode—the latter allowing the Hybrid to go a half-mile or more on electric power alone.

But the rest of the Camry lineup isn't so bad either for green-minded shoppers, either. All four-cylinder models are now up to 25 mpg city, 35 highway—matching or beating the base-engine Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. And if you opt for the V-6, ratings are up 1 mpg this year, to 21/30.

Across the lineup, the Camry clearly prioritizes comfort and interior space over sexy styling. With its soft ride, roomy interior appointments, and reputation for reliability, resale value, and other frugal factors, it's a smart choice for families looking to get the most for their money as well as go green.
Those interested in the Hybrid should find more options at the dealership, too. For the first time, for 2012, the Camry Hybrid is offered in more than one trim level; Hybrid LE models come with dual-zone automatic climate control and a SmartKey system, while the XLE gets alloy wheels and leather.

For more, see the full review of the 2012 Toyota Camry lineup over at The Car Connection.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/overview/toyota_camry_2012