A couple of weeks ago, we described the battle between Honda and Toyota for the emerging small hybrid segment. Compacts with battery packs and motors could become the most affordable and highest MPG cars on the road—pushing hybrid technology deep into the mainstream market. Toyota unveiled the Yaris Hybrid this week at the 2011 Geneva Motors Show, revealing that the company wants those cost- and fuel-conscious customers, especially in Europe where small cars rule.
In September, we relayed reports that Toyota is working on a hybrid version of the Yaris subcompact, to be manufactured in France as early as this spring. While that time line now seems ambitious—by about a year—Toyota has confirmed that it will unveil the Yaris Hybrid concept at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
Toyota will introduce a small hybrid that could cost less and offer higher mileage than any other hybrid currently on the market. Detroit News reported last week that the Toyota subcompact hybrid will go into production in Japan in late 2011 and arrive in US showrooms in early 2012. The small hybrid could exceed 50 mpg.
Toyota plans to launch a new $16,000 subcompact hybrid, according to a report in Japan’s Asahi newspaper. The car, expected in late 2011, will use the platform and engine of the Yaris subcompact—but will feature a unique name, design, and a hybrid system that is more cost-competitive than the company’s other hybrid models.
Toyota has confirmed its plans to produce a smaller less expensive hybrid car. "We are developing a low-priced hybrid vehicle like Honda's Insight," said Akihiko Otsuka, chief engineer of the third-generation Toyota Prius. "We are going to compete by expanding our hybrid-vehicle lineup to smaller hybrids, in the class of the...Yaris.
