Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Toyota, Rumormill
Toyota: Separate Prius brand not a 'go'
Click above for more images of the 2010 Toyota Prius
Rumors from LLN that a separate Prius brand are "a go" are actually nothing more than a maybe. According to Toyota's own blog, the automaker can confirm that it's considering a hybrid-only brand that would see separate space in dealerships -- much like what is already being done with the Scion brand -- but a final decision has not yet been made and Toyota's not even sure what products would fall under that new brand name, besides, of course, the Prius. Rumors, though, abound regarding new hybrids from Toyota, including Prius-like hatchbacks both a bit larger and a bit smaller than the current model alongside a hybrid price-leader to do proper battle with the new Honda Insight. Now, if they'd just address those rumors of an 80-mile-per-gallon Volt-fighting hybrid that have also been swirling around the interwebs...
Gallery: Confirmed: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Toyota]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gabagool 4:36PM (11/02/2008)
If this car is indeed 80 MPG at 25K, than Volt is as good as dead.
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JDMlover 8:17PM (11/02/2008)
+5
Toyota does not care for the volt. They are focused more on the insight....
and that sad because GM put their all in the volt.....damn
Plus i never thought that the volt would beat the Pruis anyway...Toyota only gets better.
Torrent 3:35AM (11/03/2008)
isn't the volt rated for 100 MPG?
CarbonBlack 8:13PM (11/03/2008)
Torrent, I believe the volt gets more MPG's, but it costs a hell of alot more.
it is a question of "cost vs efficiency"
Chris 5:22PM (11/02/2008)
"A reader might suspect that, actually, since the post doesnt contain the name of a source or even suggest that there was a source"
Gosh...does Toyota expect us to name the employees that provided tips so they can be called in Monday morning and canned?
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Noidor 5:34PM (11/02/2008)
I expect this 3rd gen Prius to definitely up its game. Thing is, this is a worldwide car - in Europe where diesels are whipping its butt on MPG, Toyota had to come up with an answer. Not to mention Honda's hybrid, Volt technoglogy (in Opel/Vauxhall/Saab guise)
So this iteration should deliver just enough more to deliver, and also remain new and fresh.
I think that's another thing automakers should be aware of with hybrids; it will be important to maintain the hype by shorter life-cycles of each generation.
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Noidor 5:36PM (11/02/2008)
Once again I had a brain fart...was trying to say that 3rd gen Prius should deliver more in terms of MPG, AND address some of other concerns.
JDMlover 7:50PM (11/02/2008)
I really like how the new Prius looks :)
Nice looking little car.
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miles 8:31PM (11/02/2008)
Is it just me, or do Prius owners love it as much for "I'm saving the world" image as the fuel-saving payback? Not complaining, mind you. After all, these early adopters pay off lots of the R&D for the new tech and bring the price down to the point that plebes like myself can possibly afford it.
I can't afford to save the world this week, But I'd like to know if it's worth the money. Who can tell me the break-even point in terms of fuel cost versus overall cost of ownership that would make this a good choice economically? I mean if gas is $10 a gallon then sure it's well worth it, at $1 a gallon it's a poor deal. But where in the middle does it start to make sense?
I'm sure the formula is already on the shelf somewhere - can someone post it or tell us where to find it?
Hmmm... The more I thiink about it the more complicated it feels. Lots of variables:
Cost of car
Cost of Insurance
Cost of Fuel
Miles driven (hwy)
Mileage (hwy)
Miles driven (city)
Mileage (city)
Cost of maintenance
Residual value after X years
I suppose cost of repairs can't be estimated, but it's definitely more than most. There's enough power there in the batteries to kill someone. I don't imagine just any shop would work on one - dealer only. (I definitely do keep my cars past warantee)
What do you say folks? Can anyone answer this one?
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Dave 11:01PM (11/02/2008)
This car looks a little sillier every time I see it.
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Torrent 3:36AM (11/03/2008)
+1
Dave 11:08PM (11/02/2008)
The Volt won't be a mass market car until GM can find ways to drastically slash the price (and I suspect that GM will find many ways before the 2nd gen Volt). Especially if gas prices remain below $4 per gallon.
GM needs the Volt for PR. And GM will sell plenty of them to tree huggers who arent concerned with the financial payback.
GM will also need a two mode Volt or Cruze hybrid to compete directly with Prius / Insight. That can't be too far off now that GM has introduced a FWD version of the two mode system.
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Gabagool 8:12AM (11/03/2008)
But aren't those tree huggers driving a Prius now?
Torrent 3:37AM (11/03/2008)
why is the wedge shape cool on a lambo, but odd on a Prius?
*things that make you go hmmmmmm....*
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Takeo 1:45PM (11/03/2008)
It's all in the Italian vs Japanese name, make your own conclusions as to why that might be.