According to latest reports, it appears that Toyota is currently working on an alternativeengine for future hybrid and electric models. More interesting is that these engines will needrare mineral, which carries the risk of supply disruption. The new engine is called theinduction motor and is easier and more effective than magnet type motor units used Priusnow.

According to John Hanson, spokesman for the company, Toyota is in an “advanced stage“ of work, but declined to say when it will begin selling vehicles with these new engines.
Today, China controls more than 90% of the global metals market and Toyota need to cut dependence on rare materials from this country.

The government of China has cut export quotas for the first half of 2011 by 35%. This comes after the country imposed a 72% reduction in the second half of 2010, causing prices of metals increased by more than double.

Toyota Prius using rare minerals, such as neodymium and dysprosium is not the only manufacturer to use the magnet type motors. Just proceed and model Nissan and GM Volt Electric Leaf.

Adding to the current third-generation Toyota Prius and Prius Plug-in vehicle (PHV), the Prius v midsize hybrid-electric vehicle and the Prius c Concept vehicle joined the iconic hybrid brand during their worldwide debut at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. With the expansion of the Prius family, Toyota hopes to further increase acceptance of the Prius brand by offering a wider choice of vehicles that each maintain Prius’ core values of high fuel economy, low emissions, proven gas-electric hybrid technology and environmental stewardship.

The plural of Prius has sparked debates since the launch of the first-generation vehicle ten years ago. Now that the Prius family has grown, Toyota would like its customers and fans to help decide on a term to describe the plural of Prius vehicles. Thus, the marketing campaign was designed to let the voice of the public be heard. Toyota has set up a system that allows everyday people to decide, by majority rule, which word will be adopted by Toyota as the official plural of Prius. An online voting module enables the public to vote for their preferred plural of Prius—five options in all, including Prius, Priuses, Prii, Prien and Prium—as well as view real-time polling data. Once they’ve voted, consumers can share their preferred plural via Facebook. A voting widget, which lives on Facebook, Toyota.com/priusfamily and the Toyota Prius Projects site (www.toyotapriusprojects.com), will also be available to embed in blogs.

To kick-off the campaign, during the Detroit Auto Show Toyota representatives will hand out T-shirts featuring the five Prius plural options to the first 275 guests that visit the Prius family display each day. A hangtag attached to each T-shirt informs the recipient that he or she is eligible for a $20 Amazon MP3 credit. To redeem the credit, recipients must post a picture of themselves wearing the T-shirt to Facebook and tag both themselves and Toyota Prius in the photo. Prius buttons will also be given to guests who cast their vote onsite.

In addition to the activities surrounding the show in Detroit, the campaign also includes a range of integrated programs and innovative creative elements. Toyota Prius Projects, a website for owners and enthusiasts to interact with the Prius brand, hosts an animated music video highlighting several pluralized words that exist in our everyday lives in order to kindle the plural of Prius debate. In the social space, the Toyota Prius Facebook page and Toyota Twitter account (@Toyota) provide Prius Goes Plural content, including links to the Toyota.com voting widget and photos of new and upcoming Prius vehicles. Additionally, “Prius Expecting” print ads in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post feature clever sonogram imagery to announce the new family of vehicles.

As a dynamic element of the marketing campaign, an integrated program with Cie Games’ online “CarTown” game provides the first-ever live, in-game experience which mirrors the Prius activities taking place at the Detroit Auto Show. The initiative brings the real-world Prius Family launch into a virtual domain with a completely interactive, Toyota Prius-branded experience within CarTown. It is designed to introduce the new Prius family of vehicles to a highly engaged group of gamers through a virtual showroom, branded virtual items and game play elements created expressly for players who purchase digital Prius vehicles within the game.

Also, a series of Web videos featuring a notable expert exploring the etymology of words and discussing the plural of Prius in a fresh, unexpected way will launch mid-January, on YouTube, Facebook, the Toyota Prius Projects site and Toyota.com.

The Prius Goes Plural campaign will wrap up in late February with an official announcement of the Prius plural on the last day of the Chicago Auto Show. The plural nomenclature, as determined by popular vote, will be used in Toyota marketing initiatives going forward.

The race vehicle is a Toyota Tundra Trophy Truck able to exert 765 horsepower and reach speeds nearing 140 mph on dirt. “The truck is reliable and fast, with engineering advances in multiple areas including steering and suspension” stated Crew Chief Christian Reicher. When the race truck crosses the starting line, it will be the second Tundra in off-road history to compete in the premier Trophy Truck class, following Ivan Stewart’s in the year 2000. Driving duties will be shared between Friedkin, Sullivan, Rex Whiteside and promising up-and-coming driver Chad Ragland.

The race is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year. Starting in Ensenada, Baja California and finishing in Cabo San Lucas, the 1,296-mile course is a grueling mix of desert terrain. Veteran drivers who have seen many of the past forty events are commenting on this year’s course difficulty, and many are calling it the toughest in the event’s history. Although competing in a vehicle class capable of winning the overall title, Sullivan noted, “In our first year, merely completing the Baja 1000 will be a tremendous accomplishment.”