Toyota debuts new fuel efficient hybrid Prius Alpha

Toyota introduced a new fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle, the Prius Alpha, in Japan, available in two interior configurations: a five-seat wagon and a seven-seat mini-van.  The launch of the new hybrid was delayed by several weeks due to the earthquake in Japan. According to the company, there are already 18,000 orders for the five-seat model and 7,000 orders for the seven-seater. The Prius Alpha is the company’s first hybrid with a lithium ion battery pack.  Toyota is expecting annual sales of 84,000 units from the combined markets in the U.S., Europe and Japan.  Toyota reports that there are likely to be delays in the delivery of the new vehicles due to disruptions in production. (May 13, 2011)