Comments on: October 2012 Dashboard

By: jay

jay — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:04:39 +0000

EMF's scare me when it comes to hybrid cars. The electro magnetic fields are highest at the gas pedal and back right seat...where my boy sites. I wish manufacturers would address stuff like this. Memory foam mattresses scare me too because of their chemicals but at least some companies are addressing this. Why doesn't someone do this for hybrid car? If i was sure they were safe i'd buy one.

By: Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:21:50 +0000

I would expect the Fusion Hybrid to sell around 45-50k next year, and Camry Hybrid to stay above 40k.

The Camry is less expensive, has a larger trunk, and is noticeably faster, so it still has some fire in the furnace......
BD

By: c_harnett

c_harnett — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 01:36:48 +0000

bloggin,

The take rate on the Ford Fusion hybrid will not be 25%. The Camry hybrid carries an upcharge of $3500 and the take rate is consistently 10%. The Fusion hybrid upcharge is $5500, which will depress the take rate.

It also remains to be seen exactly what the real fuel economy is. Ford will be able to advertise 47mpg, because it tested that way, but will it achieve 47 in consumer hands? My hybrid is rated at 49 and it gets 50 (measured at the pump over a dozen fills – I never trust the computers).

Sample sizes for the Fords are smaller than I’d like but this is what owners have reported, so far, with a couple of other vehicles for comparison:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=32092&id=33083&id=32186&id=33010

http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/c-max

And you might just go and check some of your other facts:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/11/toyota-half-year-results-china-problem-what-china-problem/

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:20:42 +0000

"The prius liftback and v are the #1 and #2 cars traded in for the C-Max hybrid. This was Ford's plan all along, and why it is positioned between the liftback and the v."

Liftbacks might get traded in significant quantities for the C-Max but it is *extremely* doubtful that there's any noticeable numbers of V's that have been traded. The car has been on the market for less than a year. Leases aren't up and anybody with a significant loan is looking at having a hard time clearing the balance without ponying up extra cash. The V is slightly larger, the probability of Toyota owners ownsizing just to get into a Ford is very, very low.

I am not saying that the C-Max isn't a worthy competitor, it's a great effort by Ford, but you should check your sources on what's actually getting traded for the C-Max.

By: bloggin

bloggin — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:57:00 +0000

Actually C-Max Hybrid pulled Prius v sales and prius lift back.

Prius v sales have been over 3k the two prev months, and oct took a dip to 2,700. The prius liftback and v are the #1 and #2 cars traded in for the C-Max hybrid. This was Ford's plan all along, and why it is positioned between the liftback and the v.

The C-Max Energi plug-in delivering in dec in limited markets, will also pull many potential prius plug-in customers offering three times the EV range, 21 miles. Prius plug-in only offering 6 ev miles.

As dealer lots fill with 2013 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid models in Nov/Dec, expect to see the Camry sales drop, as the Fusion sales rise.

Toyota will be offering free cars. $199 Camry leases, $99 Corollas, or Zero down, along with 30, 60, 90 days no payments, desperately trying to move units. Which is why they only earned $807 Million for 2nd QTR, and Ford earned $3.2 Billion.

The key....make cars people actually want, and you don't have to offer them for free to get them to drive them.

With 47mpg Fusion Hybrid currently has a greater than expected 25% take rate.

Also, the 2013 MKZ and MKZ Hybrid with 45mpg hits dealer lots in December.

January brings the 2013 Fusion Energi in limited markets, which will pull more from the Volt and Prius plug-in, as buyers realize they can have a real midsize car, and still get 47mpg and 21EV miles.

Focus Electric is finally going to all 19 initial markets in Jan, so expect sales to take a spike due to availability. Ford has done zero advertising for the Focus Electric, only internet. Dealer lots are filling with them now, as one local CA dealer now has 7 as of Nov, along with a lease price of just $328/mo.

I expect to see Ford vehicles continue to climb higher on the hybrid vehicle sales charts over the next few months.

By: Jeff Cobb

Jeff Cobb — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:52:03 +0000

akx – I’m afraid we do not know a source to direct you to.

By: Shines

Shines — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:28:27 +0000

Honda better come up with some better hybrids – Toyota, GM, Ford and Hyundai are now ahead of them.

By: Volume Van

Volume Van — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:28:09 +0000

Japan Sales

Aqua (Prius C) - 24,192
Prius - 18,116

This is expected. Japanese prefer smaller cars and so the Aqua has overtaken Prius. Again their mini vehicles with 3 cylinder 660 cc is gaining.

By: akx

akx — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:13:34 +0000

@Jeff Cobb thanks for your reply!

For some research i do want to figure out the current market share of alternative fuel vehicles in the US. Can you recommend any page covering sales rates of LD trucks running e.g. on CNG, diesel so that I can calculate a total number out of the named overall CYTD? Thanks!

By: Max Reid

Max Reid — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Wow, Toyota is planning new model Prius in Spring 2014. This is Very Significant.
Prius of Gen-1, Gen-2 lasted 6 years while Gen-3 will be lasting only 5 years. Clearly C-Max Hybrid / Plugin has sent a message to Toyota.

They are also considering move to Lithium Ion.
Plan to introduce Fuel Cell version is also considered.
This year Prius sales worldwide has surged to 691,28.
I don’t know whether they will merge Liftback and V into 1 model.

Things are getting interesting.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121104/OEM03/121109939/toyota-mulls-new-look-for-next-prius