DETROIT — Toyota is considering the idea of putting a switch into such hybrid models as the Prius and the Lexus RX 400h, letting drivers alternate at will between "green," or most fuel-efficient, and "power," or most performance-oriented driving.

The president of Toyota's U.S. sales unit, Jim Press, told The Wall Street Journal that the automaker is currently studying a switch system that would work in a similar way to a car's air-conditioning controls.

The Journal quotes U.S. Lexus chief Bob Carter as saying the luxury division wants to meet the desires of customers for "no-compromise" hybrid vehicles. He comments that drivers "may want fuel economy" in everyday driving but "Sunday you might want to go and drive the wheels off." Carter told the paper that Toyota is currently working on a switch that would let drivers switch between the two settings.

What this means to you: A "green" switch could make it harder to choose between the angel on your left shoulder and the devil on your right foot. But leave it to Toyota to think of a way to make both environmentalists and enthusiasts like hybrids.

Source: www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=108870

This could be the ETC/POWER switch of the future.

Isn't that like using the ECT setting but with control of the hybrid system?

I think this will work better for the hybrid-for-performance vehicles (such as the GS or LS) rather than the hybrid-for-gas-consumption (such as the Prius). I mean, can you really pull off "performance-oriented driving" with the Prius? :rolleyes:

Isn't that like using the ECT setting but with control of the hybrid system?

I think this will work better for the hybrid-for-performance vehicles (such as the GS or LS) rather than the hybrid-for-gas-consumption (such as the Prius). I mean, can you really pull off "performance-oriented driving" with the Prius? :rolleyes:
you can drive prius "fast" as well as any other car.

So...who needs a switch? :egads:
You've already got a built-in natural switch.......the muscles of your right foot.

I'd like it better if they had the technology like Dodge has with some of their cars where it uses less cylinders when not driving agressively. Or maybe a switch. That way if I wanted my SC400 to be a SC200 and drive without wasting gas I could.

probably for take off acceleration which im pretty sure the prius and every other hybrid is watered down for a smooth operation.. with a switch they could let more of the torque be transfered to the wheels since electric motors produce most/all of their torque at 0 rpms

So...who needs a switch? :egads:
You've already got a built-in natural switch.......the muscles of your right foot.

Absolutely right! This might make for dumb idea of the year.

In green mode you cannot merge onto busy highways and get run over. Or with green mode off you can merge but you run out of fuel in the traffic jam. :D

So...who needs a switch? :egads:
You've already got a built-in natural switch.......the muscles of your right foot.

it will probalby be like the power switch in the lexus and toyota cars, where revs are limited and some sort

"Switch?" "I don't need no stink'en switch"

Why are some of you guys complaining about a switch that gives you more options? Why was nobody complaing about the ECT PWR and SNOW button then?:uh: While most just leave the button at the default position, the button will give those who care an option to make the car behave more to their likings.

It's a known fact that one car can never get optimal fuel economy AND optimal performance at the same time. So just get over it, and flip the switch accordingly!

Why are some of you guys complaining about a switch that gives you more options? Why was nobody complaing about the ECT PWR and SNOW button then?:uh: While most just leave the button at the default position, the button will give those who care an option to make the car behave more to their likings.
What wrong with going back to basics and using our brains to control our foot. Don't see how a switch is going to solve anything. :egads: If you want good gas milage, then you just can't go around mashing the gas, braking your car at the last possible moment or flying down the freeway as fast as you can. For those who need a switch that bad, I say get a Bicycle.

I could have sworn the Camry Hybrid has something like this. It works in a normal default mode and a efficient mode. Turns off the A/C, adds electronic steering instead of hydraulic etc. Oh well.

Sounds like a good idea. Might as well go for it. I for one am ALWAYS up for more choices. :thumbup:

What wrong with going back to basics and using our brains to control our foot. Don't see how a switch is going to solve anything. :egads: If you want good gas milage, then you just can't go around mashing the gas, braking your car at the last possible moment or flying down the freeway as fast as you can. For those who need a switch that bad, I say get a Bicycle.Going back to the basic is fine only when the rest of the car is basic too. That is, a car with a gas motor and a manual transmission.

However, we're talking about cars with automatic transmissions or a hybrid drivetrain here, where cars think for you and you have no direct control over the shift timing and/or the power split between the gas motor and the electric motor. That is why a switch is needed--to tell the computer how aggressively it should shift or how the gas motor vs. the electric motor should be prioritized.

Choice = luxury.

If you like going back to the basic and using your brain so much, get a go kart and be done with it. You'll enjoy no ABS (because you can brake more lightly on slippery roads yourself), no VSC (because you can counter lost control by yourself), no Brake Assist (because you know when to brake harder and when not to yourself), and many many more. Won't that be just wonderful?:uh:

Sounds like a good idea. Might as well go for it. I for one am ALWAYS up for more choices. :thumbup:

Choice is easy -

1) drive like lead foot - good performance, bad economy.
2) drive like uncle floyd - bad performance, good economy.

;)

Going back to the basic is fine only when the rest of the car is basic too. That is, a car with a gas motor and a manual transmission.

However, we're talking about cars with automatic transmissions or a hybrid drivetrain here, where cars think for you and you have no direct control over the shift timing and/or the power split between the gas motor and the electric motor. That is why a switch is needed--to tell the computer how aggressively it should shift or how the gas motor vs. the electric motor should be prioritized.

Choice = luxury.

If you like going back to the basic and using your brain so much, get a go kart and be done with it. You'll enjoy no ABS (because you can brake more lightly on slippery roads yourself), no VSC (because you can counter lost control by yourself), no Brake Assist (because you know when to brake harder and when not to yourself), and many many more. Won't that be just wonderful?:uh:

Perhaps you should go back and re-read my post. You obviously missed my point of going back to basics. Where did I say anything about ABS, VSC, and Brake Assist? These are all safety features that I believe should be standard on every car. What I’m talking about is using common sense to get good gas mpg’s. If your telling me a switch is needed to tell the cpu what to do, then I say that’s the most absurd thing I ever heard of. Since when do you need a switch to tell the computer what to do? Shift points, gas vs. electric priorities, recharging, etc, are all done based on driver inputs to the accelerator and brake pedal.
Let’s say you put it in green mode and you’re driving around town. Then you decide to get on the freeway and forget to put your switch in performance mode or some other “non green” mode. As you’re merging, you decide you need to get up to speed quickly to avoid that 18 wheeler coming up. So you hit the gas. Guess what, the computer is going to respond to your foot and not some switch that says “save gas”. If you’re that reliant or concerned about having a switch to save gas, then don’t drive – ride a bike. :egads:

Choice = luxury.

Not always. BMW's I-Drive provides a ZILLION choices, and is a total pain in the you know whatsky, hardly luxurious! Luxury is when things happen seamlessly and comfortably in a high quality environment. Some choices make sense, like selecting temperature for climate control because not everyone likes it the same temperature, but this green button seems to be just a redundant dumb control so programmers don't have to figure out whether a driver is driving cautiously with economy in mind, or wants to go go.

Perhaps you should go back and re-read my post. You obviously missed my point of going back to basics. Where did I say anything about ABS, VSC, and Brake Assist? These are all safety features that I believe should be standard on every car. What I’m talking about is using common sense to get good gas mpg’s. If your telling me a switch is needed to tell the cpu what to do, then I say that’s the most absurd thing I ever heard of. Since when do you need a switch to tell the computer what to do? Shift points, gas vs. electric priorities, recharging, etc, are all done based on driver inputs to the accelerator and brake pedal.
Let’s say you put it in green mode and you’re driving around town. Then you decide to get on the freeway and forget to put your switch in performance mode or some other “non green” mode. As you’re merging, you decide you need to get up to speed quickly to avoid that 18 wheeler coming up. So you hit the gas. Guess what, the computer is going to respond to your foot and not some switch that says “save gas”. If you’re that reliant or concerned about having a switch to save gas, then don’t drive – ride a bike. :egads:Perhaps you missed my point just as well. The basic idea of a GREEN switch is no different from that of the ECT PWR and SWOW switch that we're more familiar with. The ECT PWR mode postpones the shifting point, allowing more RPM/HP per acceleartion in a gear whereas in the NORMAL mode the transmission would've shifted earlier given the same pedal input. Such a switch makes driving aggressively or conserving gas easier. Similarly, the SNOW mode launches the car in the second gear, thereby lowering the chance of wheel slippage. Of course without the SNOW mode you can still launch your car in the first gear by applying very light pedal input, but the point is that with the help of the switch the task is so much easier. Same goes for ABS--you can prevent wheel locks by braking lightly yourself but ABS makes it easier. Now, the GREEN mode is the same. The hybrid system normally turns on the gas motor when a certain amount pedal input is received, but with the GREEN mode switched on it will delay powering up the gas motor and try using the electric motor more. If you want to manage THAT by yourself you probably can. But the point is that these amenities make all these chores so much simpler and easier.

Some choices make sense, like selecting temperature for climate control because not everyone likes it the same temperature, but this green button seems to be just a redundant dumb control so programmers don't have to figure out whether a driver is driving cautiously with economy in mind, or wants to go go.You can probably say that, but until someone smart enough figures out a "smart" AI (it isn't that easy, seriously) that can really tell when to conserve gas and when to inject gas more aggressively, a switch is the next best thing we can ask for.:)

Not always. BMW's I-Drive provides a ZILLION choices, and is a total pain in the you know whatsky, hardly luxurious!Well it is luxury--nobody forces you to change those settings if you don't feel the need to, but in the event that you're unsatisfied with a factory setting the option to tune it is there for you.:thumbup: The problem with i-Drive isn't that it offers too many fine-tuning options, but that they're buried behind a needlessly complex user interface. As I said in one of my posts before, I wish the LS had offered the capabilities of the i-Drive, but only with a more sensible touch-screen interface.

I still stand by my comment that more choice = luxury. :)

Just incorporate the automatic cylinder shut off already.

Perhaps you missed my point just as well. The basic idea of a GREEN switch is no different from that of the ECT PWR and SWOW switch that we're more familiar with. The ECT PWR mode postpones the shifting point, allowing more RPM/HP per acceleartion in a gear whereas in the NORMAL mode the transmission would've shifted earlier given the same pedal input. Such a switch makes driving aggressively or conserving gas easier. Similarly, the SNOW mode launches the car in the second gear, thereby lowering the chance of wheel slippage. Of course without the SNOW mode you can still launch your car in the first gear by applying very light pedal input, but the point is that with the help of the switch the task is so much easier. Same goes for ABS--you can prevent wheel locks by braking lightly yourself but ABS makes it easier. Now, the GREEN mode is the same. The hybrid system normally turns on the gas motor when a certain amount pedal input is received, but with the GREEN mode switched on it will delay powering up the gas motor and try using the electric motor more. If you want to manage THAT by yourself you probably can. But the point is that these amenities make all these chores so much simpler and easier.

I didn’t miss your original point of why you believe a “switch is needed” to manage the car’s fuel performance. If you feel a need to have one, then by all means feel free to be the 1st on the block to have a switch when they come out. As for me, I’ll pass. If I want to maximize my mpg, I’ll drive as if there’s an egg between my foot and the accelerator, coast when possible and minimize sudden stops… on 2nd thought maybe I should get a switch for my foot that will zap me every time I hit the accelerator too hard.

Btw, (as it relates to my gs430 ) there are conditions where there’s no difference between normal and power mode. From a dead stop, if I takeoff under wot, my shift points are the same – does not matter if I’m in normal or power mode. Don’t know about snow setting since I never tried wot while in that mode.

I didn’t miss your original point of why you believe a “switch is needed” to manage the car’s fuel performance. If you feel a need to have one, then by all means feel free to be the 1st on the block to have a switch when they come out. As for me, I’ll pass. If I want to maximize my mpg, I’ll drive as if there’s an egg between my foot and the accelerator, coast when possible and minimize sudden stops… on 2nd thought maybe I should get a switch for my foot that will zap me every time I hit the accelerator too hard.

Btw, (as it relates to my gs430 ) there are conditions where there’s no difference between normal and power mode. From a dead stop, if I takeoff under wot, my shift points are the same – does not matter if I’m in normal or power mode. Don’t know about snow setting since I never tried wot while in that mode.

seems a bit strange though about WOT with your GS, on my sisters ES at WOT it will never go as high as I want it to go ever unless I am in the PWR

performance and gas saving? we already have that! goes 0-60mph in 3.5sec, 1/4 mile in 10sec ET AND gets 25-40mpg mileage easily, and all the while costs ONLY 10k!. anyone want to guess what this beast is? ;)

Btw, (as it relates to my gs430 ) there are conditions where there’s no difference between normal and power mode. From a dead stop, if I takeoff under wot, my shift points are the same – does not matter if I’m in normal or power mode. Don’t know about snow setting since I never tried wot while in that mode.

I don't know if I am pro or against a "green" switch or just don't really care at all. I think before we can have a good discussion about this though we need to know what Toyota means by a greeen switch and what they plan on letting this switch alter. If it is more like the BMW M switchable modes where you can alter fuel maps, shift points, shift response, and even redline then it might be something worth looking into. On its most "Green" mode maybe it acts and drives like a Prius. Switch it to another mode and maybe it acts more like the supposed GS450H? The point here is that no matter how lightly you hit the gas on the next GS450H I doubt it will get anywhere near the economy that the Prius gets. With a switch now you can. Anyway, this is all just speculation because we don't know what Toyota wants this switch to control. If it mates to a CVT type transmission that opens up a whole new world of possibilities as well.

performance and gas saving? we already have that! goes 0-60mph in 3.5sec, 1/4 mile in 10sec ET AND gets 25-40mpg mileage easily, and all the while costs ONLY 10k!. anyone want to guess what this beast is? ;)

A motorcycle?

performance and gas saving? we already have that! goes 0-60mph in 3.5sec, 1/4 mile in 10sec ET AND gets 25-40mpg mileage easily, and all the while costs ONLY 10k!. anyone want to guess what this beast is? ;)


Yes, but if you put a green switch on it it will do 0-60 in 3.3 seoncds, 1/4 mile in 9.8, get 50 MPG, and only raise the cost to $11K :p :D

Yes, but if you put a green switch on it it will do 0-60 in 3.3 seoncds, 1/4 mile in 9.8, get 50 MPG, and only raise the cost to $110K :p :D


Lol...after toyota recovers their r&d costs, maybe they can offer a green switch in the aftermarket that will decrease any model lexus car's 0-60 and 1/4 mile times by 1 full second while increasing mpg's by 75%