Prius as a Toyota sub-brand - it's getting closer

[Danny]

It's been posted several times here on PriusChat that Toyota is looking into creating a Prius brand, much like the Scion brand within the Toyota family. Well, news today out of the New York Times makes it look like we are much closer to it becoming a reality.



James E. Lentz III (pictured above) is president of Toyota Motor Sales USA and is busy lobbying officials in Japan hard about the creation of the Prius brand. So hard, in fact, that TMS USA is holding off on making a decision regarding the date it will begin production of the Prius in the new Blue Springs, Mississippi plant until Toyota makes a decision on whether to create a separate Prius brand.

The NY Times' interview with Mr. Lentz confirms what you've seen here on PriusChat before:

Mr. Lentz said the brand would include the original Prius, and future models bearing a Prius badge that Toyota is said to be developing. For example, one version could be smaller than the original Prius, and “there could be one on steroids,” meaning a bigger version of Prius, Mr. Lentz said.

Mr. Lentz came to the conclusion that Toyota should create a separate Prius brand after a failed effort to create a brand around hybrid synergy drive, the system that is in hybrid models sold by Toyota and Lexus.

But consumers just didn’t latch on to that idea. Instead, “they’ve latched onto the Prius,” he said. “We have to go with what they want.”
The separate Prius brand would be specific to the United States, Mr. Lentz said, and is not under consideration for other parts of the world. “Whatever Europe or Canada wants to do is their business,” he joked.

The other logical Prius model would be a crossover, so watch for the Venza to be Prius-ized in the near future.

Link to NY Times Article

[malorn]

It would be fine with me for Toyota to create a "Prius" brand, it would not only water down the Prius name, but slowly eliminate the green-halo enjoyed by the Toyota brand. What other models would be marketed under the Prius brand? SUV's, large sedans, sports cars, pickup trucks? i would think Toyota has learned its lesson with "Scion", much the same way that GM learned the hard way with Saturn.

[paprius4030]

Oh God Please make one a mini-van. Make a US verision of the Estima

[DaveinOlyWA]

a mini van is sorely needed. there has to be an option for 2+ kids and camping gear that does better than 30 mpg

[Tideland Prius]

holy crap Malorn is back!


in other news... hmm I don't know. Ever see MINI milking the brand with a MINI SUV concept (what an oxymoron)... or VW with the Beetle. It stopped at the convertible.

[C.RICKEY HIROSE]

Perhaps Mr Lentz was reading my posting in Priusonline, I dreamed then but it looks it is becoming reality,
here is what I wrote then.
>
Wishing A Happy, Healthy, and Prousperous New year 2008 to all PriusCentis & Dreamers.

This posting is in anyway pertinent to Toyota's future marketing. Solely personal perspective.

I'm going to dream for the new year that: Toyota is going to do the following.

What I want is: A stand alone Prius Hybrid franchise, consisting of: Prius ( Various models PLUG-IN ) plus the Camry Hybrid, plus the Midium sized SUV and Compact and large Trucks, Sport car, all under the Prius umbrella. Let us have the Prius Brand as an "Off Spring" of Toyota Brand.

Prius Brand: "To come before" with echology,technology and economy for us the future generation to come, and already here ! nice naming indeed. What you Guys and Girls do say?

There is already out there, a hard fact deployment of_ Stealth Marketin' plans_ of future Gen III Prius-plus and its siblings.
I know, Can not say, till "Spring Snow Melts", All these Prius branded New Gen Plug-In Hybrids, LoL.... 2008 year, deployment of the multi-models of " The car that shook the World-all over again "!

[malorn]

It is well known within GM that Saturn has never made any profit for GM. Even getting GM's best product first the sales numbers have been a dismal failure. Toyota needs to stick to its core business and not get full of itself like so many predecessors have. Then again it would be good for me so how about it toyota, lets have a Prius badged line of hybrid toyota's!
Scion
Prius
Toyota
Lexus

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by malorn

Toyota needs to stick to its core business and not get full of itself like so many predecessors have.

Things are different now though.

When GM exploded into many brands, the products were basically just copies of models available elsewhere.

For a "Prius" line, that wouldn't be the case. The vehicles named "Prius" would be successors... long-term planned replacements intended to phase out non-hybrid vehicles once sales justify the shift... which is what the core business will become.

.

[NeoPrius]

Ditto on the mini-van: 3 kids, wife, dog, cat.

A Prius brand specific to the US that is MADE IN THE USA would be very attractive for me.

I know some people are very disappointed with US automakers and their greed, lack of foresight and poor quality, but they are getting their just due. I still feel we need domestic auto manufacturing facilities here, even if foreign owned. IMHO, very patriotic of Mr. Lentz to try and bring more of it here.

[usbseawolf2000]

I like to see A-BAT becoming the Prius truck.