Featured AU: Toyota stunned as consumers flock to hybrid version of new RAV4 SUV

Alan and Tideland: To clarify, I assume that the IPA that you are talking about is the "self driving" parking assist?

In the U.S. the Rav4, at least in some trims, has "intuitive parking assist", which gives you warnings as you get close to objects but does not steer the vehicle.

 

From: 2019 Toyota RAV4 pricing and specs | CarAdvice

2019 Toyota RAV4 prices

• GX Petrol 2WD manual - $30,640
• GX Petrol 2WD CVT - $32,640
• GXL Petrol 2WD CVT - $35,640
• Cruiser Petrol 2WD CVT - $39,140
• GX Hybrid 2WD CVT - $35,140
• GXL Hybrid 2WD CVT - $38,140
• Cruiser Hybrid 2WD CVT - $41,640
• GX Hybrid AWD CVT - $38,140
• GXL Hybrid AWD CVT - $41,140
• Cruiser Hybrid AWD CVT - $44,640
• Edge Petrol AWD Auto - $47,140

$2500 price difference is much easier to stomach on a $30-40k vehicle than at $20k one. At some point, we're going to see some car companies offer only hybrid versions of some SUVs.

 

Yes - #3 on my shortlist buying Samantha was a FORD FOCUS - which had Park Assist - which worked well.

It was available in PRIUS overseas, but talking to TOYOTA Australia, they answered twice something like - PRIUS has a rear camera. Duh - almost every car had a rear camera by then, even cheapies.

 

Actually I think Toyota AU may finally realize that their market may actually want a PHV as well as Hybrid. @alanclarkeau can only hope.

 

Don’t worry, although our markets aren’t connected our gas and diesel prices go through regional price patterns as well, quite predictable like a price manipulation via monopoly
but if you tell anyone that they will call you an evil lunatic and only that market demand determines prices despite the price being predictable (at least the relative price anyway)

 

Yes - it's hard to know - but they all do it together. This morning, most were about $1.45/litre - when I went to pick up the grandchildren mid-afternoon, I noticed one was down to $1.39. When I went out at 6pm, they were all down to approx $1.39.

Aha - thinks Alan - I feel it's going up in the next 23-47 hrs, so I filled up (found one $1.35). 3 wks since I last filled, 830km, took 33 litres. Should keep me going till bottom $$ of the cycle in 3 weeks again.

 

That is Australian dollars? See it's almost neck-and-neck with CDN right now:

CDN: $1
AUS: $1.07
USA: $0.74

We're up around $1.60~1.65 (CDN) right now, a upwards spike in the last month or two.

 

Around here we follow the classic saw tooth pattern as well with a seasonal element,

Luckily for me there is a particular location in Appleton and an Indian casino that “lag and lead” price increase/decrease behaviors so I too plan my twice monthly fills based on when I will be where, occasionally I have to pay the extra 30-50 cents a gallon but usually I can time it so my fills coincide to being at the right place at the right time. (When needed)

At the bottom of the sawtooth I just fill wherever.

You provide a graph to any of the “oil guy” folks and they have a conniption fit as if it’s a political affair that most prices don’t follow free market behavior

 

Is that litres, gallons, or ... US galleons? (Or fluid scruples, drachms, gills or pints?)

 

Oh, right, lol: litres.

 

Today's NEWS:



One (unconfirmed) comment about the article said "Just visited the local Toyota dealership in Cairns and was quite shocked to find that the Rav4 Hybrid had a 18 week waiting list but even more stunned to find that the Camry Hybrid had a 25 week wait after ordering"

The article:

Toyota RAV4 hybrid orders reach 'unprecedented' levels - Car News | CarsGuide

 

Those were the wait times in some areas of the US for the 2005 Prius.

 

I don't understand why they don't just ship more from north america? There is plenty of capacity for camry and rav4 hybrid (toyota has been investing). In 2005 the prius shortage in the US was because demand in japan took the cars and they needed to add capacity.

 

Can the US plants produce AU spec cars right now, using there is a difference? Does Toyota ship any cars from the North America to Australia currently?
Perhaps they will do so, but I imagine setting up the logistics will mean a delay before results arrive.

 

Then there are the tariffs to consider.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm sure it could if toyota wanted it to do so. Japan is the number one exporter of cars to australia, and my guess is toyota would rather have them buy japanese made cars than american made ones. I believe australia closed their last automotive plant a couple of years ago, but they do produce auto parts. BMW ships american made SUVs to australia but internal politics are different.

 

Australia uses right hand drive cars. Does Toyota make them in the US?

 

That would probably take more effort to make happen than different signal lights like I was thinking.

I'm sure Toyota could import cars from the US if need be, but if the demand for the model hasn't drastically changed, then it would likely just be easier for the usual factories in Japan shift the production mix to more hybrids.

 

Headlight change too.
If they ship to Canada they already have the speedometer.