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Prius C is in hot demand

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by cyclopathic, Dec 30, 2011.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I'm just trying to think how viable a Corolla Hybrid is in North America. If you wanted a midsize sedan, you'd get the Camry Hybrid. If you wanted a high-tech Prius with a small footprint (but still midsize space), you'd get the Prius (and size up or down according with the c and v).

    Someone looking at the Corolla probably isn't thinking hybrid (at least the demographic that's buying Corollas). A sporty driver would lean towards the Focus, 3 and Golf. A value-minded one would lean towards the Forte/Elantra. A middle-of-the-road.. maybe the Civic? And the conservative buyer that just wants reliable transportation with great fuel economy will get the Corolla.
     
  2. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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  3. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    Yes, because we know that toyota is infallible like the pope.:) Or, we can take them at their word, that they misjudged prius c demand. The pope isn't infallible either. I'm sure they have discussed in toyota city they are trying to figure out where to add production or how to deal with low supply.

    Well I haven't even heard an announcement that their will be a corolla hybrid in NA. The talk of the NS4 makes it doubtful or a poor seller like the HS250.
    +1
    If you want a trunk and a hybrid, you get the camry, sonata, fussion, or civic. If you want it less expensive their is not much room between the prius c and these cars.
     
  4. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    Take a look at the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid with an EPA of about 45 MPG which beats the Prius V which has an average of 42 MPG.

    If you want a bigger vehicle with a trunk the new Ford Fusion Hybrid is your answer...

    Al
     
  5. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    Well, it's rather hard to say that since if they brought it, it would be with the next generation C segment car.

    Use the same cut-down-hybrid design from the c and assemble it at the US Corolla plant and it should be closer in price to the c than the Prius.

    But, I don't know that they'd want to do it: the USA is a key market for Japanese production.
     
  6. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    i think average north american looking at Auris in Europe, with its 6 different engines might have a stroke :).

    Options are good, not bad.

    Just like there was an 2.4l Sport version of Corolla, there could be HSD Eco version of Corolla.

    And yes, for people who prefer a traditional sedan, 22k Corolla is a lot cheaper than 26k Camry.
     
  7. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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  8. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    thats not true at all... lol.

    US is very small market for Japanese production.... 72.2% of Toyota's sale in USA are made in NA.

    Thats less than 10% of Japanese production.
     
  9. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    Nah, it just looks to us that toyota is very confused. Isn't 7 - 3 diesels, 3 gasoline, 1 hybrid?
    They canceled that in the US, tideland knows the NA market. If you want a sporty small car, you are not a corolla buyer. IRRC you get one engine here 1.8L in a corolla.

    I'm sure there are some of those folks, just not many that won't be happy with a prius c or prius. Its going to get worse mileage and than a prius, and adds to a price to a very price sensitive conservative segment of the market.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I never understood the desire for 10 engine options other than (and I'm guessing) that it's to do with engine size and taxes.

    Yes but too many = higher price because Toyota needs to be able to offer more variations. It's easier to go with packages and while it won't satisfy everyone, at least it means a lower price (theoretically).

    True and they can probably assembly it in the same plant as the Prius (in Mississippi. Is that still in the plans?) Or they can manufacture it in Cambridge, ON where the current Corolla is made.

    Did they? The Corolla XRS is still offered in Canada with the Camry's old 2AZ-FE 2.4 litre DOHC I4 VVT-i with a 5M or 5MM option. It's about Cdn$26k before taxes.
     
  11. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    I stand corrected. It only got cancelled in the US (or at least gulf states).
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I checked toyota.com. Wow, you guys really did lose the Corolla XRS for 2012.(and apparently the Matrix XRS too).

    I stand corrected on my price. It's $24,800 for the manual. ($26k was for the automatic)
     
  13. Currawong

    Currawong Junior Member

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    New Toyota compact unit to expand production bases for Aqua hybrid

    If you think it's confusing over there, try here in Japan. Toyota have three different types of dealerships alone, before you include Lexus, for the insane variety of models they sell. Want to buy a family wagon? I think the Prius Alpha (v) is the 5th in their line-up (Voxy, Wish, Alphard, Estima, Vellfire, Isis, Noah, Prius Alpha) -- wait -- 8th! Toyota.jp lists 51 different vehicles on their main page. If you add that most vehicles have multiple versions, I'm sure it's somewhere in the ballpark of 150 or more choices. Totally crazy.
     
  14. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    in Europe, it is 6 total - 1.33l, 1.6l petrols, 1.4 D4D, 2.0 D4D, 2.2 D4D, Hybrid, + auto versions for some of them. Maybe I am wrong and should have added 2.2 150HP for AT option.

    World wide, they put all their arsenal inside... add 1.8l, add 3.5l V6 and add 2.4l. So 10 total.


    It is just the way different markets work. You will never have Hybrids selling more than 10% if they dont offer it as a option.

    Diesels sell well in Europe (45% of the market overall) because they have 3-4 diesel options in every car sized Corolla or bigger. You want cheap diesel in Corolla? Here is 90hp one... want fast diesel? Here is 180hp one, good fuel economy on highway? 126hp is good... Faster but still economical? 150hp is your choice.

    Now imagine if they sold diesel only in 3 cars, out of 15 they sell, and only one per car?

    Same works for hybrids - until it is in every car Toyota sells, there is simply no way for them to sell more of them.
     
  15. lolstebbo

    lolstebbo Junior Member

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    We lost it for 2011, IIRC (or whenever the facelift was).
     
  16. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohh. Didn't even notice for a full year!
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohh. Didn't even notice for a full year!
     
  19. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    The only "official" thing I saw from toyota, came from bob carter where in january he forecast 220K prius sales with 15%-20% of them being prius c and prius v each. That means 33,000-44,000 prius c, unless something has changed. I feel even the 44K is low, unless toyota keeps inventory low, which they may if they don't put more capacity into production for the prius c.
    Its strange that this model is sold in canada and not the US. You would think they could just ship us some from the canadian factory. I wonder what they will do on the redesign.
     
  20. lolstebbo

    lolstebbo Junior Member

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    Probably bring back the XRS. Last-gen, the XRS was cancelled at some point and re-introduced during the redesign.