Heyward Allen Toyota

Toyota parked their plug-in Prius hybrid prototype at its North American market debut during the LA Auto Show. The company did issue a press release,  In it, they announce that a global demonstration program will start this month in Japan and that the first batch of 500 Lithium-Ion batteries for those vehicles is moving down the assembly line as we speak. The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive package but adds their first generation lithium-ion battery so it can go all-electric further and more quickly than a traditional hybrid. The electric-only range is just 13 miles, but the Prius PHEV will be able to run all the way up to 60 mph in electric-only mode.

Beyond that, the plug-in Prius reverts to regular hybrid mode with the gas engine and electric motor trading off depending on load and demand. The gas engine is important on this Prius PHEV and cars like the Volt because it lessens the "range anxiety" drivers might feel in a pure electric - That uneasiness that comes from thinking you could be stranded when the batteries run down.

Japan and Europe split the first batch of 350 vehicles, but early next year, the next 150 examples are coming Stateside. These first PHEV vehicles will serve as a test program for real world driving needs, kind of like the MINI E program going on right now. Toyota has already announced that Boulder, CO is going to be the first community to get some of these plug-in hybrids - a surefire way for Toyota to see how cold temps affect battery performance. You can read the rest of the presser after the jump and there's a gallery available by clicking any image below.

*gallery coming soon*

    


Toyota finally took the wraps off their new 2011 Sienna minivan and we have to say, it looks pretty good in person. Although Toyota sent out some teaser shots this morning, we just got these from the official unveiling at the LA Auto Show and have a whole batch of shots and quite a few more media pics for you to browse. We'll be uploading those shortly. We were quite shocked by the size of the crowd at this press conference, perhaps showing that even though the minivan market may be shrinking, it still meets a sizable need.

   

Besides the top-level Limited model on stage, Toyota also showed off a pre-production SE, which sits a little lower on a stiffened suspension and 19-inch alloys. It also sports a body kit, a revised grille and carbon fiber in place of wood inside.





Also make sure you check out the 2011 Sienna's trick 16-inch LCD monitor for rear seat passengers and the reclining seats with extendable footrests, two features we've never seen in this segment before.