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>> 11/March/2009 - New Toyota Prius "Australia's Greenest Car"

Toyota will launch the new generation Prius hybrid car in Australia in July of this year, and the company has stated that it will be Australia's greenest car.

Based on the European combined cycle fuel efficiency test, which is very similar to the Australian standard, the 3rd generation Toyota Prius uses an average of 3.9 litres of fuel per 100km and emits 89 grams of CO2 per km.

The current Prius uses 4.4L/100km.

Local Toyota officials are confident the new Prius will have the lowest greenhouse and air pollution emissions of any car sold in Australia, making it the highest-ranking car on the Federal Government's Green Vehicle Guide.

Despite an increase in engine size (1.5 to 1.8-litres) and power output, the new Prius's efficiency figures represent a 10% improvement in fuel consumption.

"Current Prius customers already know they can drive an environmentally sound car without sacrificing space, comfort or performance," saidToyota Australia's David Buttner.

"The next-generation car takes a further leap forward with an improved Hybrid Synergy Drive system that increases performance at the same time as cutting emissions to levels never before seen in Australia.

"Prius is an essential part of Toyota's development towards its global goal of sustainable mobility," added Buttner.

The Prius will have some tough competition when the Honda Insight hybrid launches in Australia, likely to be in 2010. The Insight went on sale in North America last week and undercut the price of the Prius by $2,200.

In unrelated news, Audi has posted the "Highest ever profit in the company's history, amid a difficult market environment," says Audi boss Rupert Stadler.

Audi has no plans to decrease investments and is pushing ahead with its new model range, launching six new models in 2009.

Not all car makers are hemorrhaging funds, and many companies are looking towards emerging markets like China to buoy their fortunes.

While the auto industry news has been negative for the past three months, positive signs are becoming more numerous. The Chinese new car market recorded a massive increase in sales in February, up by 24.2%.

Sales in four of the last five months in China had fallen but this massive boost in sales, if sustained, could signal a rebound in developing markets and will improve the outlook of most mainstream carmakers who all have strong bases in China.

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