Comments on: Toyota Moves Forward with Affordable Subcompact Hybrid

By: Jack85437

Jack85437 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:09:47 +0000

The new logo for Toyota! "Moving Forward At Your Own Risk"

By: Johnny Aardvark

Johnny Aardvark — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:51:29 +0000

I think it looks like the Toyota 1/X concept car from a couple of years ago.

By: Christopher Rydberg

Christopher Rydberg — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:45:11 +0000

This is the love child of their FT-EV and the iQ (See their future concept cars section of their main US website for the FT-EV – I’ll link the Ireland site for English language iQ info). The iQ gets between 50 and 60 mpg and is only sold in Europe and Japan at present though tests and rumors have said it was coming here. Looks like they’ve made it real and viable as a hybrid. If the average 20~25% mileage increase for a hybrid holds it could get over 60 mpg easily and we finally have a proper successor to the crown vacated by the original Honda Insight in 2006. Best part is that these sell for under 20k right now. I’d totally buy one of these to replace the wife’s Smart Fortwo once it’s old and these are on their second generation.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:59:03 +0000

Gotta say I was intrigued until I read “50 mpg”. Really? For a subcompact? Sorry, should be able to beat that.

By: JBob

JBob — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Sorry, not impressed. I do a bit of hypermilling on my 91 Civic and get over 60mpg’s. Talk to me when you reach 100mpg’s.

By: Eagle eyes

Eagle eyes — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:37:18 +0000

Looks like an IQ. If this starts at 15-20k and gets over 60 MPG toyota will have a winner.

By: Mr.Bear

Mr.Bear — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:36:46 +0000

It's going to have a fancy wrapper because it's a concept car. I don't know that it's not looking like the current yaris or corolla neans anything.

I've thought about it some more. The critical hurdle has to be a $19,000 or lower base price. Otherwise it will have sluggish sales like the new Insight. The best way to keep the price down is to fit the hybrid engine into an existing model.

However, I think it would be best not to make it hybrid-optional. When it is hybrid optional, it's easier for a customer to say the extra $3,000 isn't worth the extra 5mpg. That's why Camry and HCH sales have never been stellar.

I'd put my money on a Yaris hybrid and all new Yarii will be hybrids.

By: shopa

shopa — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:37:04 +0000

I don’t think such a small car can pass the new NHTSA side impact
pole test.

If my invention is added, it might pass.

http://www.safersmallcars.com

By: Lost Prius to wife

Lost Prius to wife — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:33:01 +0000

From what I can see in the pictures, I do not think that this subcompact is either the Corolla or the Yaris. It would make sense to me that they would design a new platform for a hybrid that small instead of using an existing platform that might compromise the hybrid’s efficiency. Still, I am like Mr. Bear and would like to see Corolla and Yaris hybrids.

By: Mr.Bear

Mr.Bear — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:43:01 +0000

I’d like to see a Corolla hybrid because I had a ’78 and I’m nostalgic. If they go with the Yaris and not the Corolla, I think the Corolla will be phased out before the end of the decade.