European Prius info

João Prates, a Yahoo PTS member from Portugal, provided this file earlier today. It is quite interesting, look for Prius info (in the format of a brochure) starting on p. 25.

Ah, and there's an updated version of that same ghost view
that's been on my flyers for nigh-on 4 years. Interesting that
the battery feed wires are mounted closer to center, too; maybe
they had too many problems with mechanics not paying attention
with lifts...
.
_H*

Thanks, Patrick!

Thank you for posting this brochure; It has a lot of information I had not seen elsewhere!

Very interesting reading. Nothing really new but its all put together in one place in a very slick and informative (remarkably detailed) brochure.

Just one question - how come Europe gets HUD and we don't?

The Verso also looks like an interesting car (about the same size as a Prius but with a 3rd row seat). I guess that is similar to the Mazda 5. I might buy the verso if it were available here.

Also note that LED headlamps are standard, see p. 38. My guess is that the base European Prius will cost somewhat more than the US Prius, so this is why it contains more standard features.

Those members who participated in the Intelligent Parking Assist demonstration last Sunday in LA, see p. 39. Looks like the European screen may be different.

Nothing new? Really? Did you know the new battery has 2kW more power than the current version for example? I did not...

So there you go, another new thing!

I don't know why, but I guess you did not notice we did not get the LKA and associated assistants. I'm not sure if that's just forgotten in the press release or if it is one of those "pick one or another" and Europe has got HUD instead of LKA.

If you read the data carefully you'll find even more news... like the new top speed, increased from 170 to 180 km/h.

It's 2:34 am here, and I'm tired as hell from work today, so I confess I just published the press release for everybody to read and did not had time to have a GOOD look myself. I'll get back here tomorrow.

Patrick beat me to it, I was just to publish the doc here too
Thanks for that Patrick

Mind you Patrick, as is today we pay DOUBLE what you pay in the US for the Prius!!!

My Prius cost me 34000 Eur approx., which translates to over 42k USD!

I've said it over and over again and I still think and believe it: we Europeans are paying for you Americans to have the Prius as cheap as you do. There's no way a Prius could be sold for about 20k USD without loss, and we are funding/compensating Toyota by paying ours double.

I know we generally have a bit more equipment, but there is absolutely no way the little extra equipment can make it up for the double price tag.

Just my opinion here.

yeah, I understand you completely!

I would hate to have your tones... that's kind of pinkish... yach!

Hi João,

Thanks for joining the discussion. Actually, I don't know why Toyota doesn't allocate more Prius production to Europe as a profit-maximizing move.

I note that Toyota GB has priced Prius T3 starting at £17,870 or $25,043; this presumably includes VAT.
http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/vsroom/main1024.jsp?navRoot=toyota_1024_root&range=PS2&catname=%2ftoyota_1024_root%2fmain_nav%2fpageTopNav%2fZone+PRIUS&menuid=12849&zone=Zone+PRIUS&id=PS2_vshowroom

Meanwhile TMS USA priced the base model Prius at $22,000 which doesn't include state sales tax, ranging from 0% to ~8% depending upon the US state.
http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/trims-prices.html#?view=showroom&vehicle=0

Recognizing that differing equipment levels are involved, the pricing is not that far off comparing US to UK. However, in your part of Western Europe it appears that Prius is positioned more as a luxury item, hence the relatively high prices (which I assume are accompanied by relatively low unit sales.)

We're anxiously looking forward to the announcement of TMS USA 2010 MSRP in May.

Interesting bits:

- 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds. In US spec, 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds.
- Steering wheel ratio is different if you have 15" or 17". That gotta change the driving feel.

Steering Ratio 1) 17.6 / 14.6*
Turns (lock to lock) 3.7 / 2.8*
Min. turning radius – tyre (m) 5.2 / 5.5*
* with 17’’ Alloy wheels

For those of you who are curious about the european version interior, I've just posted 30 official pics on my site.

Just follow this link and you'll get to the filtered ones:

Browse Media by Tags - Prius-PT

Click on the thumbnail to get to a preview, click on the preview to get the VERY HIGH RES version.

Hi Patrick,

Good question. Knowing that the market in the USA is far worse and more depressed in this crisis, I wonder why or how can they not push more the Prius in Europe.

Very interesting Patrick!
I had never noticed the price for the Prius was so low in the UK.
I guess this tells us why they have SO MANY Prius going around there!

This finding of yours makes the price used elsewhere even stranger. I've just browsed most of the countries and these are the base prices that I found:

Eur 27120 Toyota - Prius.
Eur 25125 Toyota - Precios - Prius - Coches y Automóviles Toyota
Eur 25950 Prius
Eur 25500 Toyota Prius Preisliste. Die Zukunft atmet auf.
Eur 22700 Toyota Motor Italia/Gamma - Prius
Eur 26830 Prius
Eur 24990 http://data.toyota.nl/home/data/ToyotaV8/prijslijsten/pdf_prijslijsten/Prius.pdf

So... price ranges from 24990 Eur to 27120 Eur, that means from 31200 USD to 33900 USD. Ok, there are small equipment variations, but heck, they can't make it for over 10000 USD!!!

So what is so special about the USA and the UK apart from the English speaking language after all!?!?!?

Yeah, so are we here in Europe... wanna bet it will be about 40% lower in the US???

Intelligent Parking Assist is standard in Portugal. In the UK this option is only available on the T-Spirit, which also includes JBL audio with CD changer and navigation system. That model costs £20,710 today, but it looks like it's going up to £21,210 as of the 6th of March.

Personally I think the European model as described in the Motor Show document is over-featured, but perhaps it's only describing the spec of the model that's on the stand. I could easily live without:

- Sunroof
- Solar panel
- Front fog lamps (rear fogs are mandatory)
- Touch tracer
- JBL audio, CD changer
- IPA
- HUD
- PCS
- Cruise Control
- LCD screen
- Navigation

In other words, all the features new to the Prius and all the stuff from the T4 and T-Spirit that I decided I didn't need this time round. It's the mechanical efficiency I'm after, not all this stuff. It's a vehicle, not an entertainment centre.

If Toyota UK don't provide a model without all this crap, it's a no sale from me.