Toyota won’t be opening a green Prius sub-brand

[Rybold]

"""The UK managing director of Toyota, Miguel Fonseca, has told Autocar that it won’t be opening a green Prius sub-brand. But he did establish that a series of fresh Prius body styles are forthcoming, designed to support Toyota’s third-generation hybrid saloon when it goes on sale late in 2009. Although Fonseca will not provide confirmation for the body styles that can be expected, but Autocar comprehends that an estate variant is possible and that a hybrid MPV (multipurpose vehicle) is most likely.

The stock variant of the succeeding Prius is scheduled to make its introduction at the Detroit motor show early next year, before becoming available for sale towards the last part of 2009. There won’t be any revelation of new body styles until late 2010 at the earliest. Talks about the succeeding Prius would adopt lithium-ion battery technology at some stage of its lifespan was overturned by Fonseca. Although he recognized that powerful, efficient lithium-ion batteries were a direction of the future, the engineers of Toyota do not believe they are currently efficient or durable enough to enter mass-production.

Toyota won?t be opening a green Prius sub-brand - AutoSpies Auto News

[efusco]

Until next week when the rumor switches back again.

[Rae Vynn]

I do hope that one of the alternate body styles will be a small pickup.

It would make my DH so happy!

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by efusco

Until next week when the rumor switches back again.

If gasoline gets back up to $4.00/gallon sometime, I expect to see Toyota reconsider this decision at that time. I think the reason behind the current decision is for two reasons: Toyota's success compared to GM has been widely attributed to the fact that they only have three brands (Toyota, Lexus, Scion) and GM has numerous brands (competing against themselves). The second reason is that Toyota announced earlier this month that they plan to eventually offer all Toyota models in a hybrid form. With that goal, it would make sense (for marketing and reputation purposes) to keep the Prius within the Toyota name/family, instead of creating a separate brand, like Scion.

[PeakOilGarage]

Originally Posted by Rybold

If gasoline gets back up to $4.00/gallon sometime, I expect to see Toyota reconsider this decision at that time. I think the reason behind the current decision is for two reasons: Toyota's success compared to GM has been widely attributed to the fact that they only have three brands (Toyota, Lexus, Scion) and GM has numerous brands (competing against themselves). The second reason is that Toyota announced earlier this month that they plan to eventually offer all Toyota models in a hybrid form. With that goal, it would make sense (for marketing and reputation purposes) to keep the Prius within the Toyota name/family, instead of creating a separate brand, like Scion.

That makes complete sense. Keep the number of brands limited to the current 3.

The "Prius" vehicle should always just be their most effienct vehicle. All of the models will have a "hybrid" option, but they should use the "Prius" model to be pushing the limit.

[nerfer]

Help me translate British English - the 'estate variant' is a station wagon, right? And MPV is a multi-person vehicle, like a small minivan?

[patsparks]

MPV is a multi purpose vehicle here. That is a vehicle which may carry a family of 7 around one day but by folding seats it can carry building material etc.
Yes an estate is a station wagon.

In the UK what you refer to as a minivan is a big vehicle. Only the USA use belittling names for practical cars but add the word sport to the name of useless vehicles like a utility with massive wheels, bad handling and leather seats.

[Danny]

I don't think the UK managing director of Toyota really adds any weight to the rumor either way because the Prius brand was always going to be a North America (possibly US) exclusive thing.

I'm still in the camp that thinks TMS USA is going to have a Prius brand.

[malorn]

Originally Posted by Danny

I don't think the UK managing director of Toyota really adds any weight to the rumor either way because the Prius brand was always going to be a North America (possibly US) exclusive thing.

I'm still in the camp that thinks TMS USA is going to have a Prius brand.

From a competitve standpoint I would welcome a prius brand of Toyota motor corp. It would water-down the research & development, marketing and production controls of the Toyota brand and cannibalize some sales from the other three toyota brands.

[jprates]

Finally I can reveal what I had learned from Toyota Caetano (Portuguese importer), since Miguel has already made it public: The next Prius will have different ICE displacement sizes for Europe and USA.

It makes sense to me. We don't need and we are not used to having cars with so much muscle as you fellow Americans are. We need and we are used to small (1000cc to 1600cc) gasoline cars. The Prius with its 1500cc engine and HSD MGs is more than adequate.

Worst than that, most European countries tax cars either by engine size or by horsepower. Even with an environment bonus tax and hybrid bonus tax, a 1800cc Prius would be even harder to sell. Not to mention that it would loose to diesels easier than now.

I'm still amazed to read once again what I've been told earlier: the new 2010 Prius will make around 3 litres per 100 km (90 imperial MPG). AMAZING! UNBELIEVABLE! A car with that size, with that power... wau... diesels... eat my dust...

GO TOYOTA GO GO GO!!!