Comments on: Hybrid Invasion of Europe Begins with Auris Hybrid

By: Gary Gardner

Gary Gardner — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:43:08 +0000

There is no doubt that the Toyota hybrids represent the future in green propulsion systems for cars. In my opinion all electric cars are dead in the water due to their restricted rasnge without recharging.
It seems grossly unfair that the UK Government is offering £5000 subsidies for all electric - whilst hybrids receive nothing! Being cynical - maybe the Government knows that the uptake of all electric cars will be low so it can afford to offer this subsidy whereas the uptake of the hybrids has been high - and therefore not affordable at this moment in time.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:18:13 +0000

I think future is great for Toyota with hybrid technology because they are first in it. And they wanted to increase the production of hybrid cars in ratio of 5o% more till 2015. In the Europe market it will have a tough competition with Honda Fit. But still the prices of the hybrid cars are too expensive. It will have to come down to make a success.

By: Alexei

Alexei — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 07:25:43 +0000

Hi simon@syd. In UK there is a Diesel Auris, which costs around 17 000£ (~25500$) with 125 g/km CO2 (4.7 L/100km). A Petrol Auris would cost 15 000£ (22500$) with 135 g/km CO2 (5.7 L/100km). There is also a big difference in interest rates on car loans for different versions. For example for Petrol Auris 1.3 L5, 6 speed gear box it will be 3.5% APR, but for Auris Hybrid it is 9.9% APR and for Diesel version it is 5.9% APR.

If you look into my previous post, you will notice that hybrids in the UK are 1.5 times more expansive than in the US. Plus car loans are more expensive on hybrids/diesel than on petrol models. I think such price difference is the main factor that in US there is a greater adoption of hybrids than in the UK.

In the rest of the Europe it could be different (like in Germany where diesel is a lot cheaper than petrol, in UK it is almost the same now, but used to be 15% more expensive).

By: ms

ms — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:27:09 +0000

In europe honda fit is a great car, but is on the yaris segment. Auris es at the same level as honda civic 5 doors.

By: simon@syd

simon@syd — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:18:02 +0000

Its all down to the price. Hybrids are too expensive. Alexei – I’m guessing theres no Diesel Auris? – It would make an interesting comparison. The car companies are wary of making it easy to compare cars with different drivetrains, but everything else the same.

By: Alexei

Alexei — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:32:47 +0000

If you look at the http://www.toyota.co.uk web site, you will see that Prius prise starts at almost 20 000£ which is almost 30 000$, in US same Prius starts at almost 23 000$ (according to the http://www.toyota.com) which is almost 7 000$ difference. New Auris Hybrid starts at almost 19 000£ (almost 28 500$).
Diesel Yaris with manual gear box (which is the most popular in Europe) will cost you around 14 800£ (almost 22 000$), it will give you 109 g/km CO2, a little bit more than Prius and new Auris Hybrid, but it is still cheaper to buy and you pay less interest on the car loan.
Yes I know that diesel Yaris is much smaller and less comfortable, but for the price difference it is great value for the money.
By the way petrol version is around 11 000£ (16500$), consumes a little bit more, but is cheap to by and get 120 g/km of CO2.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:58:21 +0000

I agree that hybrids have a long way to go for acceptance in Europe. Maybe Auris is just an ice-breaker.

Auris is 4.5 inches longer than the Fit, and less than 2 inches wider.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:43:23 +0000

> Wow, talk about counting the chickens before they hatch

Just talk to any European – you will get from probably 95% of the people that Diesel is superior and that they don’t even want to look at this ‘new’ hybrid technology since Diesel gets similar mpg numbers (which might be true now, but it will get better and better – Diesel technology improved over many many years, hybrid technology will also get better and better). My feeling is Hybrids have to get way more efficent to be accepted in Europa

By: Dom

Dom — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:56:58 +0000

A couple comments.

"The main differences are: lower ride height for better aerodynamics (0.28 Cd); reshaped bumpers and longer rear spoiler (also for aero)"

First, why don't they do this to all Auris models? Why just the hybrid? If it really makes much difference then I think this is a misleading inflation of a hybrid powertrain's fuel economy benefit.

"Europe has historically preferred diesels to hybrids, as a green fuel efficiency choice—but this marks the beginning of a shift to hybrids."

Wow, talk about counting the chickens before they hatch, i.e. making an assumption about sales success. What if it doesn't sell well? From what I've heard the Prius hasn't done very well in Europe, so what makes the author of this article so sure that this one will?

By: ms

ms — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:29:19 +0000

Auris hybrid is beetween Prius and Yaris. It is not comparable to Honda fit.