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We currently have the 2010 Toyota Prius in our Austin fleet, and we know you have questions about it. Is it nearly as good as it is popular? Ask us, and find out.

See it in the gallery above, then head over to the Ask It page in our forums, and we’ll answer all your questions to the best of our abilities.

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These spy photos show what may be a prototype of the Subaru-powered Toyota FT-86. The FT-86 Concept was recently announced, and will show up at the Tokyo Motor Show.

This test mule, seen here on the Nürburgring, is likely a prototype for the eventual production model. If the FT-86 is any indication, this “Toybaru” will be a rear-drive sports coupe, powered by a Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter flat-six engine. With a low weight and low center of gravity, Toyota may finally be making a car drivers like us can get excited about.

See the supposed Toyota/Subaru in the gallery above, and feel free to make any speculations of your own in comments.

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Let's be honest: When we think of exciting cars, Toyota isn't the first name that pops into our heads. We aren't the only ones who feel this way, and the high-ups at Toyota have heard our cries. Here now, we see the FT-86 Concept, set to debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show -- a rear-drive, two-plus-two coupe.

Details are slim as of this writing, but we know that the FT-86 is powered by a 2.0-liter Subaru-sourced Boxer four and that the key ingredients of making this car sporty are lightness and a low center of gravity.

Is that you, Toybaru?

Consider us stoked, and stay tuned for the full details. Click through to read Toyota's very short press release.

http://www.sub5zero.com/green-autos/fast-and-frugal-tommy-kaira-toyota-prius-tun...

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Though the market for mid-size sport-utility vehicles is shrinking in favor of more crossovers and funky wagon-ish things, Toyota's 4Runner sallies forth into 2010 with a host of visual changes, along with an all-new four-cylinder engine. The new car is both wider and longer than the last-generation 4Runner, meaning that a third-row seat is now available. (Fold-down jump seats were available on previous-gen 4Runners, but we wouldn't dare refer to that as an actual third row.)

As for powertrains, the big news is obviously the 2.7-liter four, which produces 157 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and achieves 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. This engine is only offered on the 4x2 SR5 model, and interestingly enough, it only does one mile per gallon better than the larger, 4.0-liter V-6 which is rated at 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. Not a tough choice, if you ask us.

Interior upgrades include some new materials and a more up-to-date design, as well as Toyota's latest navigation and sound technology. Expect to see the 2010 4Runner hitting dealerships in the very near future, priced around the same as last year's model, we'd expect. For the full details, click through the post and read the press release.

Sales Figures for June 2009 have been released and it looks like Ford is on the right track.

Ford Motor Company states that its sales have increased and it is now only 10.9 percent in the negative as set against its sales in June 2008. Sales for GM and Chrysler on the other hand have not picked up as much as Ford. GM has seen a drop of 33.6 percent and Chrysler has seen a drop of 41.9 percent compared with June 2008.

BMW, Nissan, and Honda are all down by 20 percent and more compared with last June and Toyota is down by over 30 percent. Subaru and Volvo are the only two companies that have seen an increase in sales since June 2008. Subaru’s sales are up by 3.4 percent while Volvo has just squeaked into the green with a 0.6 percentage thanks to its new XC60.

 
Automakers    Percentage of Decrease in Sales    Cars Sold in June 09    Cars Sold in June 08
Ford                   -10.85                                        155,195                       174,091
General Motors    -33.60                                         176,571                      265,937
Chrysler              -41.85                                          68,297                       117,457
Nissan                -23.14                                           58,298                        75,848
Honda                -29.55                                         100,420                      142,539
BMW                  -20.29                                           20,849                        26,155
Toyota                -31.87                                         131,654                      193,234

+ Autoblog: By the Numbers: June 2009: Bankruptcy a Bad Idea Edition

Perhaps responding to criticisms that its products all look like variations on the same vehicle, Aston Martin has announced plans to create an altogether different concept vehicle, called Cygnet.

As it’s infantile moniker suggests, the Cygnet is perhaps the smallest car to wear the Aston badge to date—owing in large part to the fact that it is built around Toyota’s urban car, the iQ. (Yes, we thought that was a weird choice too.) Cygnet’s goal is to create an environmentally friendly, small, and reliable car, all with the presence and styling panache that Aston is known for. The supercar builder tells us that we should consider the Cygnet to be roughly analogous to an, “exclusive tender to a luxury yacht.”

We’ll reserve full judgment of the concept until we can get a better look at it, though at first blush we can’t help but feel this smacks of the very strange. Shouldn’t this be debuted in early April?

Read on below for the full press release.

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One of our favorite tuners, Wald, has sent us these photos of their Black Bison Edition of the Toyota Land Cruiser. We haven’t really been able to emotionally digest this one yet. I think we’re in shock.

Anyway, the body kit includes lots of spoilers (front and rear bumpers, roof, rear gate). The Black Bison land cruiser also gets fog lamps, new wheels, and a new exhaust.

Click through the gallery above to soak in the beast called the Wald 200 Land Cruiser Sports Line Black Bison Edition, or scroll down for more details from Wald.

A Florida Toyota dealership’s converted plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius has embarked on an 1100-mile journey on one tank of gas. The Prius involved, called the Electric Green Machine, has been modified by the Advanced Vehicle Research Center, and will be driven from North Palm Beach, Florida to Washington, D.C., making frequent stops along the way to recharge the battery. The trip is scheduled from June 1 to June 11.

As if predicting our questions and criticisms, the press release states that “Although electric cars would not typically be used for long trips, this trip demonstrates that hybrid electric cars are well suited to drivers who daily commute less than 40 miles, freeing them from the worry of ever-escalating gas prices.”

The Prius is expected to achieve better than 120 miles per gallon.

A little over a month ago, a stock 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid travelled 1445 miles on one tank of gas without the use of plug-in technology, averaging 81.5 miles per gallon.

Which driving feat do you think is more impressive?

The official press release follows.