Carz Gate

Toyota announced pricing of the new Prius V and Prius Plug-in on Friday. The new compact V wagon will carry an MSRP of $27,160, while the plug-in hybrid stickers at $32,760. Both include $760 in destination and handling, but only the plug-in is expected to qualify for the $2,500 government tax credit.

The Prius V is bigger than the regular Prius liftback, thanks to an elongated roof reportedly offering 58 percent more interior cargo space. Using Toyota’s patented Hybrid Synergy Drive, it returns 44 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Three trims will be offered on the Prius V, Two, Three and Five. Base features on the Two include a 6.1-inch display screen, Bluetooth, keyless entry and 16-inch wheels.

The Three adds navigation and the Entune multimedia system with satellite radio, iTunes tagging and HD capability.

The Five gets all the stuff from the lower models and adds higher-quality heated seats, a three-door smart key, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights and a few more odds and ends.

The Prius plug-in hybrid is similar to the liftback but has an extended electric-only driving range of 15 miles at a max speed of 62 mph. The company estimates that it will return 87 mpg equivalent in electric mode, dropping to 49 mpg during hybrid operation.

In what could be the biggest benefit, Toyota also says the plug-in will have a quick recharge time of just 2.5 hours to three hours on a standard outlet. The time is halved if a 240-volt circuit is used.

Like the Prius V, the plug-in will operate in three modes: EV, eco, and power. EV mode maintains the car in all-electric drive as long as possible, while eco will use both the engine and battery. Power mode will use both as well but defer to acceleration rather than economy.

The Prius Plug-in will come in a base trim and Advanced. The base trim gets heated front seats, remote air conditioning, smart key and a display screen with navigation. LED daytime running lights and 15-inch wheels are also standard.

The Advanced model adds the Entune multimedia system with a premium audio unit, smartphone control, head-up display, radar cruise control, LED headlights and integrated fog lights.

The plug-in hybrid will go on sale in 14 launch states beginning in October, with deliveries starting in spring of 2012. The launch states are California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. A full rollout is planned for 2013.

Also announced on Friday, Leviton, a provider of 240-volt home charging stations, has developed a home charger just for the Prius Plug-in. The basic package starts at $999.

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The 2012 Audi A7 hits U.S. showrooms later this month with a sticker price of $60,125, including the destination fee.

The four-door is largely unchanged from 2011. An eight-speed automatic transmission is paired with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 310 hp. With standard all-wheel drive, the car is rated at 28 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city.

The rear spoiler automatically deploys at higher speeds to add downforce and improve aerodynamics. The cabin holds four people, and rear seats can fold to increase cargo space.

Features include rain-sensing wipers, wireless Bluetooth connectivity for phone and music, heated leather seats and a power sunroof.

A head-up display is optional, as are full LED headlights, night-vision assist and an upgraded 15-speaker audio system.

Infiniti has set a base price of $54,575, including shipping charges, on the 2012 M hybrid sedan. The luxury division of Nissan said the car will go on sale on March 16.

The Infiniti M hybrid’s powertrain mates a 302-hp, 3.5-liter V6 with a 67-hp electric motor. That power flows through a seven-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. The sedan is rated at 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.

The powertrain includes a lithium-ion battery pack. Infiniti says the M hybrid can travel on electric power at speeds of up to 60 mph and has a range of 1.2 miles on battery power alone.

Infiniti also is launching 2012 models of the M sedan with conventional powertrains in early March. Base prices for the cars, including the $875 shipping charge, are $48,575 for the rear-drive M37, $50,725 for the all-wheel-drive M37, $59,975 for the rear-drive M56 and $62,475 for the AWD M56.