Toyota in the red, won't meet U.S. production levels

Toyota is often seen as the automaker that can do no wrong, but the giant Japanese company has just released official sales and profit data for the year that's ending, and it's not all roses. Amazingly, 2008 will mark Toyota's first-ever annual operating loss since the brand's inception. Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe calls these times "an unprecedented emergency," and "a crisis unlike the crises of the past." This just one year after issuing the company's largest profit ever last year. Things have apparently gotten so bad that the automaker has - and we're not making this up - unplugged its electric hand dryers.

What does this mean for such popular picks as the hybrid Toyota Prius? We've already reported that the automaker will postpone the opening of its plant in Mississippi that was slated to assemble the Prius in the US, but Toyota's profit warnings affect much more than just that one plant. When it's all said and done, Toyota's goal is to assemble 60 percent of the cars for the US market right here in the States. That figure dropped down to 55.2 percent last month, and it's expected to drop further when the 2010 Prius gets up to full production capacity in Japan.

More images of Toyota’s next-gen Prius leak

The new Prius will be bigger and more powerful than the current model but will have better mileage
Toyota’s next-generation petrol-electric Prius hybrid is expected to make its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, however new images of the car have made their way onto the 'PriusChat' Internet forum, and have been confirmed as genuine by Toyota.

The confirmation comes by way of Toyota's own Open Road blog, where editor John F. Thompson wrote, "We thought we’d take a moment to confirm that the car shown in these unauthorized photos – at least the ones we’ve seen so far - is indeed the new Prius." That settles the matter of their authenticity, then, though there are still some unanswered questions about the 2010 Prius.

What we do know is that the 2010 Prius will look as expected, retaining its iconic shape, while the interior shots reveal a much more complicated dash, with a new telematics screen located in the center console that will likely integrate the navigation, entertainment, and fuel-economy display functions. Other differences in the new photos, compared to the current Prius, include a slightly larger body and a distinct nose and tail design. The wheelbase and track of the next-gen car are also expected to be increased slightly over the current model, though without a scaled side-by-side comparison, it's impossible to tell from photos alone.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system will carry over largely unchanged but the current 1.5L engine will be replaced with a more powerful 1.6L unit. Power will be increased but fuel-economy will better the current model’s EPA rating of 48mpg in the city (4.9L/100km) and 45mpg (5.22L/100km) on the highway.

Toyota has done this by installing a more efficient powertrain with improved batteries for longer electric-only driving, as well as designing a lighter body though the extensive use of advanced composites in its construction.

A new battery factory being constructed in Japan will ensure there are no delays in the supply of nickel-metal hydride batteries for the new Prius, and will suffice until a lithium-ion plug-in version is released in 2010. Other updates include the possible addition of solar roof panels to help power the car’s auxiliary items such as the air-conditioning and electronic steering system.

Pricing is expected to be slightly above the current car’s $22,160 base price in the U.S. but any increase will be modest.
With Toyota’s Mississippi plant now confirmed to start building the Prius in 2010, production numbers for the new model will reportedly be increased by as much as 70% - up to 480,000 units annually – to help meet soaring demand.

More images of Toyota’s next-gen Prius leak

The new Prius will be bigger and more powerful than the current model but will have better mileage
Toyota’s next-generation petrol-electric Prius hybrid is expected to make its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, however new images of the car have made their way onto the 'PriusChat' Internet forum, and have been confirmed as genuine by Toyota.

The confirmation comes by way of Toyota's own Open Road blog, where editor John F. Thompson wrote, "We thought we’d take a moment to confirm that the car shown in these unauthorized photos – at least the ones we’ve seen so far - is indeed the new Prius." That settles the matter of their authenticity, then, though there are still some unanswered questions about the 2010 Prius.

What we do know is that the 2010 Prius will look as expected, retaining its iconic shape, while the interior shots reveal a much more complicated dash, with a new telematics screen located in the center console that will likely integrate the navigation, entertainment, and fuel-economy display functions. Other differences in the new photos, compared to the current Prius, include a slightly larger body and a distinct nose and tail design. The wheelbase and track of the next-gen car are also expected to be increased slightly over the current model, though without a scaled side-by-side comparison, it's impossible to tell from photos alone.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system will carry over largely unchanged but the current 1.5L engine will be replaced with a more powerful 1.6L unit. Power will be increased but fuel-economy will better the current model’s EPA rating of 48mpg in the city (4.9L/100km) and 45mpg (5.22L/100km) on the highway.

Toyota has done this by installing a more efficient powertrain with improved batteries for longer electric-only driving, as well as designing a lighter body though the extensive use of advanced composites in its construction.

A new battery factory being constructed in Japan will ensure there are no delays in the supply of nickel-metal hydride batteries for the new Prius, and will suffice until a lithium-ion plug-in version is released in 2010. Other updates include the possible addition of solar roof panels to help power the car’s auxiliary items such as the air-conditioning and electronic steering system.

Pricing is expected to be slightly above the current car’s $22,160 base price in the U.S. but any increase will be modest.
With Toyota’s Mississippi plant now confirmed to start building the Prius in 2010, production numbers for the new model will reportedly be increased by as much as 70% - up to 480,000 units annually – to help meet soaring demand.