Last
week, when I read that Toyota
wasn't going to offer the
Toyota Tundra hybrid until at
least 2010, I posted the
article Toyota's
huge hybrid vehicle mistake.
Essentially, I wondered why
Toyota wouldn't offer a hybrid
truck much sooner just to
steal some truck buzz from GM.
Anyway, Autopia took the same news and spun it into the article flex-fuel hybrids gain speed and suggested that any smart automaker would display flex-fuel hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
Still, if Toyota isn't going to offer a gasoline-electric version of the Tundra until 2010, then a flex-fuel Tundra hybrid wouldn't be available until 2010 either. By 2010, however, I expect more than a flex-fuel hybrid Tundra, I expect a plug-in Toyota Tundra. Sure it would be nice if that plug-in Tundra hybrid were a flex-fuel hybrid, but I'll take a gasoline plug-in Tundra hybrid over a flex-fuel Tundra hybrid any day.
Consequently, if automakers are smart they will show off plug-in hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show. It already appears GM will be smart - at least from a PR standpoint.
The hybrid show stopper at the Detroit Auto Show, in my opinion, would be a Toyota plug-in hybrid vehicle. Having already produced several hundred thousand hybrid vehicles, Toyota could really kick it up a notch if they went hell-bent-for-leather on plug-in hybrid technology.
While GM has already picked up some positive PR for its potential plug-in hybrid showcase, Toyota could steal their thunder. Inevitably, whom does the world believe more when it comes to hybrid vehicles - Toyota or GM?
Anyway, Autopia took the same news and spun it into the article flex-fuel hybrids gain speed and suggested that any smart automaker would display flex-fuel hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
Still, if Toyota isn't going to offer a gasoline-electric version of the Tundra until 2010, then a flex-fuel Tundra hybrid wouldn't be available until 2010 either. By 2010, however, I expect more than a flex-fuel hybrid Tundra, I expect a plug-in Toyota Tundra. Sure it would be nice if that plug-in Tundra hybrid were a flex-fuel hybrid, but I'll take a gasoline plug-in Tundra hybrid over a flex-fuel Tundra hybrid any day.
Consequently, if automakers are smart they will show off plug-in hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show. It already appears GM will be smart - at least from a PR standpoint.
The hybrid show stopper at the Detroit Auto Show, in my opinion, would be a Toyota plug-in hybrid vehicle. Having already produced several hundred thousand hybrid vehicles, Toyota could really kick it up a notch if they went hell-bent-for-leather on plug-in hybrid technology.
While GM has already picked up some positive PR for its potential plug-in hybrid showcase, Toyota could steal their thunder. Inevitably, whom does the world believe more when it comes to hybrid vehicles - Toyota or GM?
