Toyota New Year's Resolutions: 2012 will be...

[gerryheld]

@SergioPLpl Yeah, you're probably right(Haven't thought about that, nice idea). Although the hybrid sales have gone up a huge number (2 million prius were sold the last 2 years, more than the Prius 1 and Prius 2 ever did), the earthquake and the tsunami had a huge impact on Toyota's production and their profits worldwide.

[SergioPLpl]

@gerryheld my hope is that Yaris Hybrid is by design, not a compromise. I think that it would be hard for Toyota to keep Yaris Hybrid, Prius C, Auris HSD, Prius, Prius Plug-In, Prius V at the same time. They have to go step by step, and for the (possible) hard year they preffer to go with the safer route. Production in Europe gives us a chance for lower price, shorter delivery time and more stable supplies. I think that Prius C will go to our markets as soon as overall hybrid sales goes up.

[Raptor2912]

@gerryheld: same here. enjoyed it too....looks like we will never see these two Hybrids side-by-side in real life.

[gerryheld]

@SergioPLpl The Yaris HSD's HV battery will be placed underneath the rear seats, so it'll probably have about the same trunk size as the normal Yaris. The Auris was converted to a hybrid very badly indeed...

[gerryheld]

@Raptor2912 Exactly. If the Prius C is roomy enough to introduce it in Europe as a Minivan, they should do it, if not, they should at least clear things up for the european customer.

I really enjoyed this discussion :)!

[Raptor2912]

@gerryheld: i know the dimensions from the Yaris and Aqua. And i know that the Aqua has a bit wider wheelbase than the Yaris. So i think somebody from Toyota Europe should make a statement her if the Aqua is really a bigger car than the Yaris HSD. If so, then you are right - bring the Aqua to Europe. More Hybrids means more choise for the customers.

[gerryheld]

@Raptor2912 The Yaris HSD is NOT equal to a Prius C (but similar), because the Yaris HSD will be based on the Yaris, not on the Prius C. It has not the same dimensions. The latest Yaris has a length of 3,88 m and because the Yaris HSD will get a different front bumper, so it'll be about 3,90 m. The Prius C is 3,99 meters long. So the Prius C is a bit more like a Minivan like the Verso-S (Ractis in Japan), so it has a larger trunk. Toyota plans to make a Hybrid powertrain for every model by 2020.

[SergioPLpl]

I keep fingers crossed for Yaris Hybrid to have any cargo space (Auris HSD is a joke with its 227 litres in this area) and for the lower price tag (Auris HSD is priced as high as Avensis 1.8). Can't wait for GT-86. Really great car :).

As for Prius C vs Yaris Hybrid - I think that it is a good move to sell Yaris HSD instead of Prius C in EU market - it's shape is well known and liked and produced in France (Jeremy Clarckson will have no arguments against high pollution transport from Japan ;) ).

[Raptor2912]

@gerryheld: i still don´t understand why you say the Prius C is roomier than the Yaris Hybrid? These are the same cars for different markets with different names. The same dimensions - so i can´t believe that the Prius C (Aqua in Japan) has more space than the Yaris Hybrid (Vitz in Japan). And yes it´s nice that Toyota is producing the Yaris Hybrid in Europe. I hope all other models will follow. e.g. Verso Hybrid in Turkey.

[gerryheld]

@AndY1ksi The only thing I know about the price is, that is will be below 37.000€ in Germany (Source: /watch?v=OXFSyzpgMuY at 9:25). The european Prius (Plug-In) is being produced in the Tsutsumi Plant in Japan, while the US Prius is being produced in Blue Springs, Mississippi. That means we will also have the limitation of the Japanese Prius like the EV mode limitation at 85 km/h, so there are differences between both models, for example the one from Japan has no optional Lane Keep Assist.

[gerryheld]

@Raptor2912 It does share the powertrain, but the Yaris HSD is being produced in the Valenciennes Plant in France, so it is a (well) converted Yaris (to a Hybrid Vehicle), but not a Prius C. I like the Prius C much more, because it is roomier and more futuristic, but I seems like it is not coming to Europe, which is sad for me personally.

[AndY1ksi]

What I would like to know the EU price of Prius Plug-In (in EUR) and why the EU PHEV Prius goes only 85km/h in EV mode, whereas the US goes up to 100km/h.

[Raptor2912]

this is not true....basically these two hybrids sharing the same platform (Prius C and Yaris Hybrid). The Prius C for North America is the Toyota Aqua in Japan. Means the same size, the same powertrain and the same fun to drive...

[gerryheld]

I'd like to buy the Prius C in Europe, because the Yaris is a bit small, but let's see how good the Yaris HSD is.