[naviga:h3]Toyota touts next-gen Prius[/naviga:h3]

TOKYO — Toyota said today it expects annual sales of its newly-released fourth generation Prius hybrid to reach as many as 350,000 vehicles despite a big drop in oil prices making traditional gasoline cars cheap to run.

The automaker is promising mileage of 96 miles a gallon in Japan for its latest version of the gasoline-electric car, better than what was initially projected. Mileage tests and driving conditions differ by nation. Toyota has promised about 52 mpg in the U.S.

Improvements in the battery, engine, wind resistance and weight are contributing to improved performance, according to Toyota. The Prius also got a design makeover, although reaction has been divided.

[naviga:h3]Pollution prompts factories to close[/naviga:h3]

BEIJING — Factories in Beijing were shut down Tuesday to help ease the Chinese capital’s pollution crisis.

Beijing’s economy, which at $340 billion is bigger than many countries, was hindered by traffic and production restrictions. Half the cars in this city of 20 million people were ordered off the streets.

Facilities in cement, petrochemicals and other industries were told to close or reduce operations.

[naviga:h3]New devices affect car safety ratings[/naviga:h3]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government has announced plans to update its safety rating system for new cars to include whether the car has technology to avoid crashes, in addition to how well it protects occupants in accidents.

The 5-star rating system now uses crash tests to assess how well people inside are shielded from injury or death in front, side and rollover crashes.

While that will remain a big factor in the ratings, they also will take into account whether the vehicle has sensors that can detect an imminent frontal collision and apply the brakes, or warn drivers about vehicles in their blind spots.