The American Father of the Prius Dies

Over the past couple years a snub-nosed Toyota--ungainly, quiet, and cheap--has replaced ultra-expensive imports as the fashionable car for the well-to-do. The man who helped engineer the shift was David Hermance, who fought to create acceptance for the fuel-efficient Prius and its distinctive hybrid motor. The Toyota engineer died last week while piloting his own small plane over the ocean.