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Toyota lowering Prius sticker prices in California

For the citizens of the state that has the biggest impact on Prius sales, it's understandable that Toyota might be offering its biggest perks there. With the next-generation version of the world's most popular hybrid not likely to see the light of day until the 2016 model year, the Japanese automaker is looking to spur sales as a stopgap measure. And that's especially true for the Prius C compact and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Toyota has bumped incentives for potential Southern California buyers of the Prius C to about $2,000 off the MSRP, which is up from $750 and about the same size of the perk given to prospective Prius Plug-in buyers, according to numbers from CarsDirect. For the standard Prius Liftback and the Prius V wagon, Toyota increased its discounts by about $500. The perks went into effect April 1 and will last until May 4. Toyota spokeswoman Amanda Rice confirmed to AutoblogGreen that the $2,000 incentive for the Prius C is specifically for the 2014 model year, and that the 2015 model year spurs a $750 incentive. She also confirmed that Toyota this month increased standard Prius lift back cash-back offer to $1,750 from $1,250, though amount offered can change by region. "While we will do what is necessary to remain competitive, Toyota's practice is to always lead with the product, not the deal," Rice wrote in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen. "The use of our incentives is tactical, reinforcing our value and focus on keeping our products competitive in the market." The Prius family was California's most popular passenger vehicle in 2012 and 2013, but sales since then have fallen off. Through the first quarter, US Prius sales were down 14 percent from a year earlier after falling 11 percent last year to about 207,000 units. A Toyota representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from AutoblogGreen on the increased incentives in the face of reduced sales. Related Videos:

2016 Toyota Tacoma shows its face ahead of Detroit debut

Here's your first full look at the 2016 Toyota Tacoma ahead of its debut at next week's Detroit Auto Show. No details have been released just yet, but at first blush, the revised Taco looks to be a much-needed step forward for the Japanese midsize pickup. We like the chiseled, modern face of the new Tacoma – it's pretty clean, not to mention rugged and handsome. The body sides almost look carried over from the current pickup (they very well could be), and around back, there's a new tailgate with badging stamped into the sheetmetal, as well as some fresh new taillamps. We can't yet see inside the Tacoma's cabin, though we expect it to have been thoroughly refreshed, as well – that's the place where the current truck really shows its age. As we said, Toyota hasn't released any other details, but the badging on this truck shows a V6 engine lies underhood. A four-cylinder option makes sense, as well – especially if the Tacoma wants to adequately compete with the recently launched (and well-liked) Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins. We'll know soon if this Tacoma is a fully baked, all-new model, or if its just a thorough refresh on an existing (and old) truck. Stay tuned. Featured Gallery 2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited View 13 Photos Detroit Auto Show Toyota Truck 2015 Detroit Auto Show

Toyota hydrogen vehicle visits CES, on sale in US in 2015

If there was ever any doubt that Toyota loves hydrogen vehicles, just listen to some of what Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, said today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas: "Fuel cell electric vehicles will be in our future sooner than many people believe, and in much greater numbers than anyone expected." "Hydrogen works beautifully with oxygen to create water and electricity and nothing more." "This [hydrogen] infrastructure thing is going to happen." "I believe what I'm going to tell you about today is going to change our world." Sounds like love is in the air. In all seriousness, Toyota is incredibly bullish on the future of hydrogen as a part of the automotive landscape, and is now gearing up for the 2015 launch of its hydrogen sedan. The concept version of the car was shown for the first time at the Tokyo Motor Show last fall and is making its North American debut at CES today, alongside the still-under-camo engineering prototype. The reasons for Toyota's hydrogen confidence? The debut vehicle is supposed to be a "reasonably priced" car that has a range of 300 miles and a refueling time of about five minutes. Carter highlighted the engineering work that Toyota has done over the past decades to get the fuel cell system downsized while upping power output to over 100 kW. He also said the vehicle will have carry enough energy to power a house for a week, so company engineers are working on an export power supply device. The H2 Toyota sedan will start sales in California (the only state in the US where there are currently any hydrogen stations) next year. The automaker is working with the University of California Irvine's Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) to figure out where to build the next series of public hydrogen fueling stations. Today there are ten, but the model Toyota is using "is based on the assumption that owners want to reach a refueling station within 6-minutes" and shows that 68 stations would be able to serve around 10,000 hydrogen vehicles. 'Toyota Car of the Future' On Sale Next Year; Opens 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Reasonably priced hydrogen fuel cell electric targets 300-mile range, 3-5 minute fill-up LAS VEGAS (Jan. 06, 2014) – "We aren't trying to re-invent the wheel; just everything necessary to make them turn," said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A.