The European Toyota Auris Hybrid is now due for a UK release July 1st, 2010. New Toyota Auris - with Hybrid Synergy Drive Should be interesting to see how it competes with the Prius - will the Auris takes sales from the Prius? I wonder which other models Toyota Europe will now hybridise?
Thanks for sharing... Toyota is committed to hybrids with good reason! If cheaper it probably will take away Prius sales. I would guess that the combined sales will still be higher than the Prius alone.
One thing interesting from the site: "**74.3 mpg (15" wheels) & 70.6 mpg (17" wheels), combined driving" A huge hit for the bigger wheels. I have always liked the looks of bigger but when I found out the weight I stopped my purchase and went with standard size wheels. Glad I did!
I did notice that the price was completely absent from the website. It will be interesting to see how it will compare with the Prius.
In Germany it will be released Sept. 18th. Starting price (including VAT, excluding transportation and registration costs - add another 500€) will be 22950€. More here Toyota Auris Hybrid The current basic price for the Prius is 25450€ (http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/prius/pricelist.aspx) The basic price for a 5 door Auris (on the very basic trim) is 17400€ (http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/auris/pricelist.aspx) Some internal competition, I would say. With these prices, and being smaller and more sporty, the Auris Hybrid, might well be a hit in Europe. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are the same as those of the Prius, if I am not wrong based on what I see on the UK site from GrumpyCabbie
Very nice interior! Probably more within my price range than the 2010 Prius. This will kill the Insight.
For reference, the Prius is rated at 72.3 mpg when considering imperial gallons and the UK test methods. [From the link in the original post.]
From day one most of us have heard that we "could have bought a smaller fuel efficient car for less money" and that we'll "never repay the hybrid premium." Usually, the Corolla or Yaris is suggested as options. With a smaller and less expensive hybrid option, the wind is sucked out of both sails. Also, I could imagine that most recent college grads that are looking for a new car might want the fuel efficiency and environmental focus of the Prius but can't afford the price. So while I think this might take a few sales from Prius, I don't see it as a big cannibalization but more likely to reach the lower price tag crowd.
There's something wrong with this picture How come the CC stalk is on the left and the pedal placements look funny... I see 3 pedals and a footrest except the footrest is on the right side. It almost seems like this image is mirrored. Edit: It is mirrored. Look at the layout of the shifter. It's a LHD config plus the "P" is backwards. The climate control text is also backwards.
I enjoyed viewing your link. Beautiful scenery and I'd bet the Auris would fit most of those streets. :rockon:
Update on the Toyota Auris Hybrid for the UK and Europe. Drive of the week: Toyota Auris Hybrid Synergy Drive review | New Car Reviews - Times Online Not much new stuff in this link other than the price. Unfortunately it is priced at £18,950 ($27,300) only £550 ($700) less than the basic UK Prius at £19,500 ($28,000). These prices include VAT sales tax at 17.5%. Now I know Toyota Europe don't want the Auris to take too many sales from the Prius, but equally why on earth would you want a smaller, less practical and possibly not as good looking car for a saving of only £500? If you can afford £20k for a car you arn't going to be moved to a lesser model for £500 are you? It might be worth looking at if £1,500 ($2,100) cheaper, but really can't see it selling well at these prices. Bit disappointed really as the more hybrids we get here the better.
Presumably, since the Hybrid Auris is going to be the top of the range, it will be a Tspirit spec? So maybe it should be compared with the Tspirit Prius which would set you back at least £22,610 so a big difference in price.
I wouldn't consider it, it's too small for me. the Prius is just right because it has allowed us to go down to one car. I can't see it being a massive seller to the public, the price is too high, but it may do in the fleet market. When i bought my Prius the sales guy told me that by 2012 every model sold by totyota would be available as a hybrid! i imagine the IQ would get some pretty good numbers...
Every model by 2012? It would be nice but I really can't see it. An Avensis hybrid would be interesting, but then so would the Camry Hybrid that they have in Australia in RHD. Not sure the Yaris or the IQ are possible as hybrids, but then again they would be interesting. I'm sure I've heard somewhere that the IQ is destined to become a pure EV and not a hybrid - again this would be interesting. It's still rather difficult to get any information.
Someone on blog.toyota.co.uk pointed to the price list It appears your Web browser is not configured to display PDF files. No worries, just click here to download the PDF file.
So not Tspirit spec then with all that stuff as extras. That's going to be a hard sell unless they up the price of the Prius (again). Although the fact that it doesn't look like a hybrid might be a plus point to some people.
My guess from that price list appears to be a little wrong. Press Release. T4 and T Spirit grades. The T4 is available with 15" wheels at £18,950. Presumably the optional 17" wheels cost £250. The 'luxury pack' must be the T Spirit grade. The T4 has: Climate control air conditioning Six-speaker audio with CD, radio, MP3 file player USB and Aux-in connection Front and rear electric windows Electric, heated door mirrors Front fog lights LED running lights Colour-matched door handles and mirrors Push-button start Seven airbags, including driver’s knee airbag Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) Much of what you'd expect from any Prius really. I'd actually call that a T3. (No Prius has daytime running lights but I think it's now mandatory on new European cars.) No smart key compared to the Prius. The T Spirit, for £20,700, adds: Leather and Alcantara upholstery Cruise control Bluetooth Dusk-sensing headlamps Rain-sensing windscreen wipers Smart Entry and Start Auto-dimming electrochromatic rear view mirror Rear view camera display in rear view mirror Leather is an option on the Prius T4 and T Spirit, not included (£1,425). The electrochromic rear-view mirror and dusk-sensing headlamps are also options (£915, with LED headlamps). Prius T4 has an 8-speaker dual-amplifier stereo. Compared to the Prius T4 (£21,160) the Auris T Spirit looks reasonably good value. The Auris T4 is shockingly bad value, having less equipment than Prius T3 and only £555 cheaper (current prices). As an additional data point, my local dealer is offering an ex-demonstrator Prius T3 with 1,500 miles at £18,900. No contest there!
