Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Our "snap" guess is yes. Given that Toyota has long been upfront about its goal of building a million hybrids a year by 2010, we have to give the company the benefit of the doubt on its supplier chain. Remember, the Toyota Manufacturing Process (TMP) actually started the concept of lean manufacturing and just-in-time supply. To that end, the company is building its own battery facility, reducing exposure in that most critical of hybrid components. And with plans to make room for more Priuses at a Japanese factory and to build them in the US at a new plant in Mississippi, Toyota appears to be taking steps to alleviate pent-up Prius demand.

So, half a million Priuses a year? Despite the mere thought bringing blood flowing out of our uber-enthusiast ears, we have to give Toyota credit for ratcheting supply up when demand exceeds it on this product, as opposed to being forced to ratchet supply down when demand drops like a rock. That's always been the problem our poor, poor US automakers have had — always trying to wring every sale out of a product in an attempt to meet and beat the U.S. financial markets quarterly expectations. Now our only question is — how will the world cope with so much new smug? [Automotive News, Sub. Req.]

Is it the 2010 Toyota Prius? Maybe. All we know is it looks to be either a test vehicle for the next-gen Prius or the worst application of after-market Prius accessories we've ever seen. Unfortunately we're not expecting solar panels until the 2011 Prius, so that doesn't help us. Nor do we see any Chinese-made "Made In The USA" stickers — of course that won't be slapped on the side either until 2011, so there's really nothing we can see to distinguish this Prius from the 2009 Toyota Prius in front of it. Well, except for the heavy white tape and plastic. Although we shouldn't complain about this Prius' looks. At least it's not killing anyone. (Hat tip to Cord!) [Mr. Ben @ Flickr]

A factory-installed plug-in hybrid option — though I wonder if tapping a coal-powered electrical grid improves the Prius's carbon footprint that greatly. The real questions are: Who will prove more environmental in the court of pseudoscientific, envirosocial one-upsmanship — the owners who hold on to their existing vehicle, or those who trade in for the new, more fuel-efficient ones? And will the Bay Area see more violent, Prius-hating backlash?(Photo by Rick Audet)