R. I. P. to the 'C'

Yes it is sad, but this was reported weeks ago.

 

I want the 4 door hatchback Corolla in a hybrid.
I think it would be a LOT more like the C.

 

That would be a nice addition! I love the smaller size personal and would love to see the new Mazda 2 / Yaris Hatch also be in a hybrid forum. The main thing for me though is that it must have a tow ratting. I currently tow my Jetski with my C but have also towed a U Haul trailer with it 10 x 8 with an estimated 1700lbs. If anyone searches you can see my precautions and setup.

 

My newly licensed 17 year old totaled my 2012 Prius C trim 3 (Summer Rain Metallic) a week and 1/2 ago, so this news hits me a little harder since I'm now in search of a replacement vehicle. My daughter is good, so that is what counts, but my grief for my car still lingers. About a month after getting her license, she made a turn onto a road going a bit too fast and a bit too wide. Hit a curb on the opposite side of the road so fast that the C went up onto two of the drivers side wheels and just as she thought she was tipping over, she turned the steering wheel hard and leaned to the other side, which caused the car to slam back down onto all four. My car was in excellent shape with only 56,000 miles prior. The work needed to bring it back was just too excessive. Yeah, she's never allowed to touch another one of vehicle's again. In my 21+ driving years I have never totaled out a vehicle, or bring it up onto 2 wheels for that matter. I work for a Township and during my routine interactions with one of the police officers, he had told me the best thing would be to get her behind the wheel as soon as possible so she isn't too scared. I should have asked if he's offering up his car. So maybe I got a little too emotionally attached to the C. I picked out her color, the moonroof and wheel upgrade, the accessories to be added on at port and waited 1 1/2 months for it to arrive from Japan. We had been though a lot together. I know I sound insensitive, and know how truly lucky I am that my daughter wasn't hurt, or anyone else that could have easily been involved in that accident. But the sting is real.......and I'm now reading all the articles about the 2020 Prius Prime and it's up coming 5th seat and Apple Play.

 

I'd go get another one if I liked it that much. They are still being made, just not for the North American market. In fact, they remain the most popular of the Prius models in Asia. So no worries about part availability anytime soon. Not many dealers have them however, as they are a tremendously slow seller (all the Prius' models are to be honest). But if you wanted one, I'm sure a dealer would be happy to get it off their lot. I know we would because after 90 days in inventory, we start paying interest. Their average is over 200 days in inventory - at least in the Chicago region.

 

If I remember correctly, it's only in America that the "C" has no tow rating. Probably a lawyer thing I'd guess.

 

I'm curious if the C is simply being discontinued in western markets, or if the Aqua itself is also being discontinued.
I'd be incredibly surprised if one of Japan's best selling cars was discontinued, however if Toyota is trying to phase out all cars not on TNGA, this makes some sense.
I've read some reports that the C will continue to be sold in Australia, so it seems the C has just followed the path of the V in the US, and the NHP10 is in no existential threat for now.

 

Here's the real news- new Yaris Hatchback for 2020. Looks like the Mazda 2 returneth.

Maybe someday it will earn a hybrid powerplant? Until then it seems like a smart little hatch.

I've never bought into the idea that the Corolla hatch was an adequate replacement for the c. It's too much car. A fine car, nothing wrong with it, just too big to compare properly. It slots in better as a style variant of the Prius.

 

That's quite interesting, they've really restyled it quite heavily. The inside is quite mazda-y too, and they've added a nice bit of tilt to the swipe along the side, just not quite as steep as the Prius C's.
Well that's interesting, I wonder if they switched the frame to Toyota New Global Architecture?
..."It's literally using the same platform as the Mazda 2"
Well that answers that, rather unexpectedly, also.
So no more B Platform cars shipped to the US?

On another note, after this thread I did some digging, specifically about the Prius C/Aqua's future on TNGA, and found one thing that's supposed to be scheduled for a release next year is a compact electric car based around e-TNGA.
There are a couple photos floating around of concept drawings, most from what I've seen look a lot like the Toyota IQ with bits of Daihatsu design language thrown in for good measure. No compact hybrids planned on TNGA, just big 'ol hybrids and tiny electric cars.
Perhaps they think that with a smaller hybrid Corolla and a supercompact all electric, the sub/minicompact Aqua will just be filling a gap that's already covered from both sides.
I still think the Aqua does a fantastic job of basically everything, but maybe I'm just a weirdo who likes small cars with the range and power of your everyday sedan?
Time will tell. I'm guessing so long as toyota's making cars with the B Platform, and considering the Mazda2-Yaris isn't going to all markets, some are keeping the classic B Platform model Yaris, I'd bet that they'll still keep making the Aqua.
When the Aqua's the only B Platform car left standing, we'll probably have a clearer idea of the future of Toyota microhatch hybrids.
Perhaps once they get the Yaris to TNGA, they might bring the Aqua over with it, and I'd almost wager that the new Yaris being based on the Mazda2 may be due to troubles with making a TNGA Hatchback, who knows?

 

This whole adventure started for me when we tried to replace my wife's Hyundai Accent with a new Mazda 2. I didn't know they'd already been discontinued, and as I dug deeper we discovered the Aqua/c and realized it was the best thing going in subcompact hatchbacks. Maybe not the cheapest, but when you can say it's undeniably the best in its category that's easier to take.

The Aqua is still selling extremely well in its home market, they'll be selling and driving them for decades. I heard they were still in the running for fastest to two million units sold. That's not a minor milestone in auto manufacturing.

 

I was kind of hoping they'd keep adding little upgrades here and there, a few more cool gadgets, maybe even an electric AWD option and a larger traction battery to better manage the energy when driving in the mountains ... perhaps raise the suspension by a couple of inches. Is Toyota moving towards having a hybrid version for each of its vehicles instead of a dedicated, hybrid-only nameplate?

 

Pretty much.

 

Maybe a Driver's School for some lessons would be a good idea! They have a brake and wheel on their side as well. Its much safer and insured. If she does something, they can correct it. She needs to get a good gauge on velocity and what that means for braking and turning no matter what kind of car she sits in. I think he gave you good advice! It's just a car. Insurance should help on it. Life too short to dwell. Toyota has a lot of great cars to chose from.