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Toyota raises prices on 2012 Prius by between $480 and $1,045

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by cwerdna, Dec 19, 2011.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Hope this isn't a repost... Ok, the "million dollar" question has finally been answered. Don't want pay more for a '12 and its extra features? Better go get an '11 pronto.

    Toyota raises prices on 2012 Prius by between $480 and $1,045

    Hmmm... Liftback is the new name for the "regular" Prius?
     
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Yeah, I said Toyota was calling it that since the Prius Plug-in unveiling back in September in San Francisco. Some if not most don't like it but that's what they're (Toyota is) calling it...
     
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Ok, so let's break it down for the ...

    2012 'liftback' Prius Two - goes from $23,520 to $24,000 , but ...

    you gain - 6.1" touchscreen, USB port and bluetooth handsfree inside, none of which is on the '11

    liftback Three goes from $24,520 ('11 'plain' Three, no nav, no USB

    to $25,565 for 2012 Three with Navigation, and backup camera, 3 door smart key, and Entune capability

    2011 Three w/ nav is $26,400 before destination, so you get 2012 with Navigation for less, but lose the upgraded JBL audio system/ CD changer.

    So, a 2012 Three w/ carpet mats sticker price should be about

    >> $26,515

    Toyo S'vale discount 2011 Three w/ nav price about $24,688 for comparo
     
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yeah... I don't like the term "liftback" either. I recall a bunch of folks (moderators here?) making fun of it.
     
  5. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    "A liftback is a broad marketing term for a hatchback, which incorporates a shared passenger and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo"]cargo[/ame] volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liftgate"]liftgate[/ame]—especially where the profile aspect of the rear cargo door is more horizontal than vertical, with a sharply raked or fastback profile.[ Liftback is not used as a term in the UK, fastback or hatchback are used instead."

    Hatchback - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Certainly not me since I'm used to the word Liftback (We had the Corolla Liftback outside of North America, and yes it looked like the Prius or Saab 900 rather than a hatchback like the Civic Hatchback, Mazda Protege5 or Yaris for example). Although Liftbacks used to have a parcel shelf but now it's a tonneau cover. I think a tonneau cover is a bit more convenience because it rolls out of the way if you want to use the height of the cargo area.
     
  7. Zanrok

    Zanrok Casual Prius Lover

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    so heres the real question... Any word on interior colors? I know at the green drive expo the 2012 had a black interior... will that be available in the 12? Because frankly I HATE the light grey interior of the current 11. And to me thats worth the extra cost.
     
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I'm a little bummed the entry price into liftback, Prius Two, is going up $480, not that I'm going to buy, but that it's a little tougher ticket to get into the main Prius.

    I know there will be the Prius c at a lower price, but, wow, that Prius c will be subcompact!! 157" long, almost 20" shorter than regular Prius.

    So, sigh, but, it has more entry features with USB and bluetooth handsfree / streaming, touchscreen.
     
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah, it does have more features but for someone who strictly wants to get into a Prius Liftback, it is going to be a bit pricier.

    I assume the same 3 colours will continue on but Dark Grey will be darker, almost black like the one you saw at GDE with medium grey inserts (current Dark Grey is a monotone medium grey interior). Misty Grey is the light grey you refer to. And there's the beige interior.
     
  10. Zanrok

    Zanrok Casual Prius Lover

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    Indeed... I am extremely upset with Toyota right now and their pricing structure. They are pushing themselves further and further from the competition by raising the price. USB should be a standard feature on any car, granted they added a touch screen but that should be the extra incentive for car buyers.... Now it will make those 40 mpg highway cars a lot nicer looking especially on the wallet.

    blah what to do....
     
  11. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    Seems like a reasonable increase. There I was suprised the II didn't come with entry level features like blue tooth or usb (mazda 3 had one, fit had the other), they should be part of the stock prius. I ended up aftermarket. Is the entune much improved over the old car with nav?

    I did like the shelf on a previous liftback, it went up with the back door and was removable. With that split rear window visibility is the worst I've seen in any car I've owned, likely the tech of a rear camera can be added:D
     
  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Umm, try for a blowout price on a 2011 three w/ nav (USB,camera,tscreen), get for $24k ??

    oh you want darker than dark gray? I like my dark Gray :)
     
  13. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    Well, the Yen's killing them, but it's hard to be sympathetic when they backed out of US production because 150,000 cars per year isn't enough.
     
  14. teiresias

    teiresias Junior Member

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    Not to mention, some of us are far from impressed with the current stock nav touchscreen interface for all of its other non-navigation functions. Granted, I haven't seen the Entune stuff on the new model years and how that would work for bluetooth, ipod, usb, etc., but if it's anything like the current it's almost more distracting and unsafe to use than just having an actual ipod or mp3 player sitting in a cup holder.

    For those people they'll end up looking to replace the head unit anyway.
     
  15. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    So they added USB and BT .. and $480 :D ... and touchscreen, exterior facelift.

    Entune ... check with the v owners for now ;) (I don't even have a smartphone)
     
  16. GreenMaterialism

    GreenMaterialism Junior Member

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    Actually seems very reasonable to me. When you factor in that nav/backup camera is now standard on the THREE and FOUR, the prices have actually gone down with regard to the total package price on those two models. (Granted, if you didn't want NAV, you're SOL.)

    The big question for me now, which doesn't seem to be answered in the post, is what will the pricing of the solar roof option be? Since it was bundled with nav before, I wonder what they'll charge for it as a standalone option. $2k?
     
  17. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Press release says 4 grade structure with 7 distinct configs. Wonder if this is it -

    2012 liftback Prius

    1) Prius Two

    2) Three

    3) Three with solar roof

    4) Four

    5) Four w/ HDD nav and solar

    6) Five

    7) Five w/ HDD nav
     
  18. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    I was saying they needed to add usb and bt, they are standard on much cheaper cars. I doubt it costs them $50 more. I'm sure the $480 is either for their costs or profit. They did nix manufacturing in Mississippi, so with the high yen, I'm sure today's prius costs them more than mine did in 2009.

    I would love it if they manufactured the cars in the US, dropped the price because of lower costs, and had higher volume. Its not going to happen soon, so $480 price increase is not too bad. They do have the less expensive c coming soon.
     
  19. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    On 10/11 Two, yes it would have been nice, but when you have that pricey drive train, some things get whacked.
     
  20. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    I understand the exchange rates are a partial cause for this. At the same time, I continue to wonder if they are intending on releasing the Prius c for $20K and saying "well, it's a lot less than the full-size Prius." I predict that once the Prius c is out, they will slowly elevate the full-size Prius to a higher price point to build it's image and status.

    I remember in the 1990s when a BMW 3-series was $29K and a 5-series was in the 40s. Now the 3-series has been elevated to the $40s bracket, and all of a sudden there's a 1-series. I find it hard to believe that Toyota won't follow a similar path with the Prius c and full-size Prius.

    ...remember when the size of a Camry used to be smaller than Today's Corolla? Toyota did a good job at sneaking the Yaris in there, then boosting the price of the Corolla.