Toyota may introduce smaller, cheaper Prius model
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 | |
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Toyota has plans to expand its Prius family, possibly adding a smaller model to its existing family-sized hybrid, which is also available in South Africa. The Japanese car manufacturer unveiled the petrol–electric FT-CH (future Toyota compact hybrid) at the Detroit auto show held in the US, earlier this month – a lime-green concept car which is about half a metre shorter, more fuel efficient and potentially cheaper than the current Prius, which starts at $22 000 in the US market.
Toyota US Motor Sales president Jim Lentz says the FT-CH is targetted at younger, less affluent buyers, with the car sporting so-called 'eight-bit' styling, aimed at those who grew up in the video-game era of the 1980s. Eight-bit refers to the central processing units used widely in home computers and game consoles of the 1970s and 1980s – forget generation Y or the baby boomers, this is the new up-and-coming customer base. “We have heard we need to offer a wider range of hybrids,” says Lentz.He believes there is room in the market for a more affordable Prius model that will appeal to younger buyers. Toyota will launch eight new hybrid models over the next decade.
The company will start introducing plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles in 2012, with hydrogen fuel-cell based electric vehicles available in 2015. Toyota has already sold more than 2,2-million hybrids globally. The company sold 530 000 hybrids in 2009, with more than half of these Prius units. Since 2005, when Toyota South Africa first introduced the Prius locally, the company has sold 778 units. Since the launch of the new Prius in August last year, 63 units have been sold, says Toyota spokesperson Ferdi de Vos.
Toyota in Massive US Recall
Toyota is to recall 2,3-million vehicles in the US to repair potentially faulty accelerators.This broadens a recall that already ranked as the company's largest yet.Toyota sold 1,77-million vehicles in the US in 2009, down 20,2% from 2008. However, market share increased from 15,9% to 17%.
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/toyota-may-introduce-smaller-cheaper-prius-model-2010-01-22
