Toyota to continue offering stripped-down 2G Prius alongside 3G Prius

[Danny]

According to Japan's business paper, Nikkei, Toyota has decided to continue with production of the 2G (current generation) Prius alongside the upcoming 3G 2010 Prius. Apparently the plan is to strip the interior along with the price and (shockingly!) offer it as a competitor to the Honda Insight II.

We're probably looking at a $3,000 price drop on the current-gen Prius once the 3G 2010 is released if they want to compete with the Insight.

It's nice to see that Toyota is somewhat looking out for resale values by only offering a stripped version of the current generation.

Could this be a sign that the Japanese are more willing than we thought to create a "Prius" brand? Is this the beginning of a happy Prius family?

Toyota Will Keep Selling Old Prius

[JSH]

Is this new information or just another US magazine picking up the 19-Jan story by Nikkei? The Nikkei article printed 19-Jan said that the stripped down Prius was for "corporate users" and would only be sold in half of Toyota's sales channels.

I think Toyota is targeting taxi fleets not US retail customers.

[Unlimited_MPG]

Originally Posted by JSH

Is this new information or just another US magazine picking up the 19-Jan story by Nikkei? The Nikkei article printed 19-Jan said that the stripped down Prius was for "corporate users" and would only be sold in half of Toyota's sales channels.

I think Toyota is targeting taxi fleets not US retail customers.

I was wondering the same thing. From the way it is written it seemed to me it might be for US retail customers??

[grand total]

I wouldn't be surprised if this happened in North America too. I suspect that Toyota may do whatever it has to do to keep it's sales rolling. If they already have a line still producing (modified or not) G2 Prius then they may as well sell them wherever they can, espeically where there is already existing infrastructure for that model.

[Flying White Dutchman]

i thin there is just a Over stock now because gas prices are down again!
and this is a way to get that stock down.

[patsparks]

Could the Iconic Prius become the VW beetle of the 2000s?
Could this shape live on for the millenia?

[JSH]

I would say that Toyota is replacing this:




With this:

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by JSH

I would say that Toyota is replacing this:




With this:

Depends how efficient the LPGs are.

[SageBrush]

Sounds like a really smart move on Toyota's part if it does come to retail. I personally just do not want to come down from 60 mpg and I don't think the Insight II is going to manage that level in general; but for people getting their first hybrid, having the choice of the G2 Prius or the G2 Insight for sub $20k would be great news.

[gmalis1]

Do you really think that Toyota would have two competing models in the same line?

Do you think they would screw over the resale value of other valued Prius owners when they trade in their vehicle by having lingering new Gen 2 vehicles being sold at a discount price?

I know Toyota is smarter than that.

They will get rid of the current inventory and maybe sell the remaining Gen 2's to fleets.

Honda Insight or not, Toyota would never have two year models of the same vehicle nameplate competing against each other.