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BREAKING: New Toyota Hybrid is the Scion iQ Hybrid

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Jan 8, 2010.

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  1. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    What do you mean "will" tank? Insight sales are already in the tank. If Toyota releases a 60 mpg hybrid for under $18,000, I agree that Toyota will have reached the "Hybrid for Everyone" ground that Honda seemed so desperate to grab hold.

    I think that could be great for a lot of people.

    My only long term fear would be that if a two tier Hybrid offering exists...in other words an low priced IQ hybrid, and The Prius...Toyota will feel even less threatened by Honda's Hybrid offerings and see it a green light to increase the Price of The Prius. (price has been slowly but steadily increasing since release) This may be inevitable, but right now competition and relative lack of options is forcing Toyota to keep The Prius at least in spitting distance of Insight. But if they have a vehicle that undercuts the Insight?

    Buy your Prius soon, because there might come a time when the $23,000 range for a Prius of any configuration just doesn't happen.
     
  2. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I mean it will tank more below the current level.
     
  3. joe1347

    joe1347 Active Member

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    Concept. Yawn. Wake me when it's ready for sale in the US.
     
  4. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    If sold in the $teens this will serve another purpose. One of the very sharp marketing strategies that Toyota uses is to have a solid lower-priced vehicle protect the backside ( downside ) of the key vehicle.

    • The Corolla protects the Camry from sliding into the $18-$20K range.
    • The Yaris / Scions protect the Corolla from sliding into the $14K range
    • The Avalon protects the ES350 from sliding into the $32-35K range
    • The Highlander Hybrid's only purpose IMO is to protect the RX450H from sliding into the $45K range.
    'Til now the Prius has had no protection against shots from the flank like the Insight II. It hasn't needed much protection to be sure but stasis can't be maintained for long. This new model protects the flank of the Prius in the $15K to 20K range.
     
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Toyota inhouse model with Toyota inhouse model, there is always a gradation in costs, up and down a line-up of vehicles. But that's kind of my point, right now competition with The Insight, at least at release, made Prius II's and III's IMO excellent bargains. I think a significantly cheaper Hybrid whether branded as a Scion or Toyota does more to "release" the Prius to potentially a higher cost then it does to protect the Prius from sliding into a lower price range.

    I guess ultimately, I'd be very happy to see a real Hybrid with excellent gas mileage be so affordable. But I'd also like to see real competition across the industry.

    IMO The Corolla doesn't protect the Camry from sliding down in price...Toyota can create the vehicle and determine the price. The existence of The Corolla keeps The Civic competitive with the Corolla and vice versa.

    I'd rather Prius had a clearer tangible competitor outside of Toyota itself. You could argue Ford Fusion Hybrid, or maybe even Civic Hybrid...but Prius really has no clear cut challengers at the moment. The next few years could become interesting.
     
  6. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    But you can tell us though? Like, it is OK to tell your friends isn't it?
     
  7. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I'm just going to guess here, and it is only a guess, but I think it'll be released as a Toyota ultimately. Probably wrong but that's what I'm going with for now...
     
  8. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    3 people like this.
  9. hampdenwireless

    hampdenwireless Active Member

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    I think this will be a real seller. It will probably take more sales from the Smart car then other cars because of its size. Its similar in price to the Smart as well, with better mpg and more HP.
     
  10. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    My first thoughts as well. And if it is branded as a Toyota people will feel much more comfortable purchasing it over a smart car IMO. Scion as well but I think Toyota still has much more brand recognition which would aid in selling more units.
     
  11. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i hope it gets released as a toyota. it may tank as a scion. a lot of people don't recognize the scion brand as a sub-toyota brand. i've had people complain about simple things like scion's logo.
     
  12. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    IMHO, it looks like Toyota should do the mechanicals...:rockon:

    And Aston Martin should do the bodywork. :cheer2:
     
  13. radioprius1

    radioprius1 Climate Conspirisist

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    Dang. That is awesome. I hope it looks just like the photoshop. Would it have the same hybrid system as the Prius? If so, being so much smaller wouldn't it be capable of way better MPG? (I saw the 60MPG rating)
     
  14. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I remember reading an article in Road and Track some months ago about this car. I googled it and sure enough, here's some info from Road and Track on it. Says it is based on the iQ city car. I think the pic in the magazine showed them working on the body in prototype production... (The magazine article I read was quite older than the article in the link provided)

    First Official Photos: Aston Martin Cygnet

    And some pics:


    [​IMG]
     
  15. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    well, lets not get carried away on the price. it may start under $15,000 but the 5 door model i bet will still be $20,000... still a good price, mind you and one thing is for sure....

    NEED MORE DETAILS!!
     
  16. radioprius1

    radioprius1 Climate Conspirisist

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    All I need is AC, power windows, and satellite radio!
     
  17. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    As we speculated before, it is probably iQ based... just like Toyota said next Yaris will be iQ based... so it should be quite bigger than iQ itself (and i drove iQ and also rode in the back of it!), so imagine Yaris sized vehicle with interior savings of iQ.

    iQ is 2.9m vehicle, where i could sit comfortably behind front passanger (we both were 6.0ft and over 200lbs of pure muscle)... Yaris adds 1m to the size... imagine Corolla space in Yaris sized vehicle.
     
  18. SureValla

    SureValla Member

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    again the safety issue of that is huge here I'd say

     
  19. F512M

    F512M Member

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    Looks nice, but I'll stay with my Prius.
     
  20. brad_rules_man

    brad_rules_man Hybrid electric revolutionizer

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    Yep, the safety issue is huge. They clearly need to ban S class mercedes off the road.

    lol
     
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