Prius Plug-In Hybrids Arrive At New Jersey Toyota Dealers

Creating artificial demand is a common tactic among retailers. Whether it is a limited release of a new game console or a record label releasing tracks of a new album online before it officially drops, stirring up the fervor for a product can embolden early sales. And as New Jersey Toyota dealers will soon find out, nothing stirs up fervor like high gas prices.

This week, Toyota announced that the Prius Plug-In Hybrid would be arriving at select dealerships. The rollout would be managed, reports said, starting in certain "launch states" Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Availability will open up to all other states in 2013. Since the announcement, reviews have further stirred interest in the first plug-in Hybrid from America's number one car brand that are expected to send potential customers flocking to Toyota dealers in NJ as well as in launch states around the country.

First of all, when compared with the Chevy Volt, the Prius Hybrid wins the mpg war. Consumer reporting shows the Prius Plug In Hybrid will offer between 60 and 75 miles per gallon, with frequent electric charges in between. This tramples the already-stellar traditional Prius (51hwy / 48city).

With the Prius redesign released this year, Toyota reduced the price tag, bringing it down closer to the price of the Camry. As a result, the plug-in Prius goes back up to the $32,000 price tag. But with gas savings estimate at literally thousands per year, owners can recoup the extra cash spent on the car payment.

Toyota dealerships expect to see the new cars on the lot this month, sending invites first to privileged customers and folks who made the waiting list. The car should become more widely available after that.