When Toyota launched the ubiquitous Toyota Prius, it changed the entire automotive landscape. It signaled to drivers that stellar fuel-economy didn't come at the sacrifice of top-notch safety, handling, cargo space or even style. And since then, automakers all around the world have released some very impressive green-machines, and they're getting greener by the day. In fact, all-electric vehicles have recently taken the spotlight, and Toyota has announced plans to take a substantial piece of the EV market, in addition to reclaiming the hybrid spotlight.

That is to say, this year, Toyota plans to launch six new hybrid vehicles. Of the six, two will be released under their luxury arm, and three of the six will be entirely new models. The other three will be based on already existing gasoline-powered models. No word yet on which models are set to get hybrid powertrains, but we're excited to see the developments unfold in any of the already fuel-efficient Toyota lineup.

As far as electric offerings, Toyota plans to introduce a plug-in Prius this year. Only a few grand more than the other vehicles in the Prius family, plus a battery pack and an all-electric driving range of 13 miles. There's a test fleet of these out and about on the roads already, and early reports indicate it's a similar driving experience to that of the regular Prius. And, we know for sure that a RAV4 EV, co-developed with Tesla, will soon be available in the United States. We don't know much else about it yet, but Toyota has promised that more details about this new EV are forthcoming.

That said, be sure to stay tuned with Deland Toyota Scion for continued news and updates on Toyota's alternatively-fueled offerings. Or, stop in and experience the constantly expanding Prius lineup for yourself. We're located at 1701 S Woodland Blvd Deland, FL 32720, and we're always happy to chat with Deland area drivers about specs, pricing and other recent Toyota developments.