Toyota Auris Hybrid due in Europe July 2010

Thanks for sharing... Toyota is committed to hybrids with good reason! If cheaper it probably will take away Prius sales. I would guess that the combined sales will still be higher than the Prius alone.

 

One thing interesting from the site:

"**74.3 mpg (15" wheels) & 70.6 mpg (17" wheels), combined driving"

A huge hit for the bigger wheels. I have always liked the looks of bigger but when I found out the weight I stopped my purchase and went with standard size wheels. Glad I did!

 

In Germany it will be released Sept. 18th. Starting price (including VAT, excluding transportation and registration costs - add another 500€) will be 22950€.
More here Toyota Auris Hybrid
The current basic price for the Prius is 25450€ (http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/prius/pricelist.aspx)
The basic price for a 5 door Auris (on the very basic trim) is 17400€ (http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/auris/pricelist.aspx)
Some internal competition, I would say.
With these prices, and being smaller and more sporty, the Auris Hybrid, might well be a hit in Europe.
Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are the same as those of the Prius, if I am not wrong based on what I see on the UK site from GrumpyCabbie

 

Very nice interior! Probably more within my price range than the 2010 Prius. This will kill the Insight.

 

For reference, the Prius is rated at 72.3 mpg when considering imperial gallons and the UK test methods. [From the link in the original post.]

 

I enjoyed viewing your link. Beautiful scenery and I'd bet the Auris would fit most of those streets. :rockon:

 

Presumably, since the Hybrid Auris is going to be the top of the range, it will be a Tspirit spec? So maybe it should be compared with the Tspirit Prius which would set you back at least £22,610 so a big difference in price.

 

I wouldn't consider it, it's too small for me. the Prius is just right because it has allowed us to go down to one car.

I can't see it being a massive seller to the public, the price is too high, but it may do in the fleet market.

When i bought my Prius the sales guy told me that by 2012 every model sold by totyota would be available as a hybrid! i imagine the IQ would get some pretty good numbers...

 

Someone on blog.toyota.co.uk pointed to the price list

 

So not Tspirit spec then with all that stuff as extras. That's going to be a hard sell unless they up the price of the Prius (again). Although the fact that it doesn't look like a hybrid might be a plus point to some people.

 

My guess from that price list appears to be a little wrong. Press Release.

T4 and T Spirit grades. The T4 is available with 15" wheels at £18,950. Presumably the optional 17" wheels cost £250. The 'luxury pack' must be the T Spirit grade.

The T4 has:

Climate control air conditioning
Six-speaker audio with CD, radio, MP3 file player
USB and Aux-in connection
Front and rear electric windows
Electric, heated door mirrors
Front fog lights
LED running lights
Colour-matched door handles and mirrors
Push-button start
Seven airbags, including driver’s knee airbag
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC)
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)

Much of what you'd expect from any Prius really. I'd actually call that a T3. (No Prius has daytime running lights but I think it's now mandatory on new European cars.) No smart key compared to the Prius.

The T Spirit, for £20,700, adds:

• Leather and Alcantara upholstery
• Cruise control
• Bluetooth
• Dusk-sensing headlamps
• Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
• Smart Entry and Start
• Auto-dimming electrochromatic rear view mirror
• Rear view camera display in rear view mirror

Leather is an option on the Prius T4 and T Spirit, not included (£1,425). The electrochromic rear-view mirror and dusk-sensing headlamps are also options (£915, with LED headlamps). Prius T4 has an 8-speaker dual-amplifier stereo.

Compared to the Prius T4 (£21,160) the Auris T Spirit looks reasonably good value. The Auris T4 is shockingly bad value, having less equipment than Prius T3 and only £555 cheaper (current prices).

As an additional data point, my local dealer is offering an ex-demonstrator Prius T3 with 1,500 miles at £18,900. No contest there!