Prius to become it's own brand?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Mar 10, 2008.

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  1. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    First there was Toyota, then they created a new luxury brand and named it Lexus, and then Scion was created for Gen Y buyers. Next will we see a brand of hybrids called "Prius"? About a year ago I posted an article from Edmunds which stated Toyota could be coming out with a family of Prius-es including a van, coupe, station wagon, etc.

    Now Autoblog sums up an Automotive News interview with Kazuo Okamoto, Toyota's executive vice president of R&D in which he was asked whether the Prius would/could become it's own Toyota sub-brand. His response: "We are studying that, but I can't say what stage of the study we are in." Okamoto went on to say that utilizing the Prius' platform for other body styles – including a coupe, sedan or wagon – "is possible."

    Since Hybrid = Prius to most car buyers, this would not be a shock and would be a great use of the positive recognition that comes with the word "Prius".
     
    #1 Danny, Mar 10, 2008
  2. Rockville1

    Rockville1 Silver Pine Mica

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    Hmmmm....if that happens would I still be driving a "Toyota Prius" or would it be a "Prius Prius?" Or perhaps a "pre-Prius Prius."
     
    #2 Rockville1, Mar 10, 2008
  3. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    Still waiting on the little Prius pickup...
     
    #3 Rae Vynn, Mar 10, 2008
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well they are making a Prius-based Lexus.. or at least that's the "hybrid-only" Lexus model that they'll unveil.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Mar 10, 2008
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    This idea has been getting floated for a couple of years now. I don't see a down side other than that I like the Prius name as sort of the cutting edge test bed for the new technology before it's integrated into the rest of the line up.
     
    #5 efusco, Mar 10, 2008
  6. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Has there ever been a case of a car model name being made into a car make name? It seems that it would create confusion, of the sort Rockville1 suggests.
     
    #6 daniel, Mar 10, 2008
  7. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    I don't have a problem with it as long as all the vehicles are built for efficiency. Rather instead of taking the Honda Civic approach and build the cars from the ground up to be efficient hybrids.

    Here is a short list of vehicles I think they need in their lineup.
    Small car (a Super Prius for hypermilers)
    Mid size car (current Gen Prius)
    Mini Van (although this segment is supposedly pretty dead, so they probably could do a Crossover instead)
    Small / Light Duty pickup truck
    small SUV (they could base this on the Prius Truck Platform)
     
    #7 morpheusx, Mar 10, 2008
  8. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Chances are excellent the official name won't be 'Prickup'. The smallest vehicle in the lineup could be the Prius Minimus, and the largest could be Prius Maximus. Nah, probably not.
     
    #8 hyo silver, Mar 10, 2008
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Mini.

    Austin Mini (Cooper, JCW and Clubman although the Clubman wasn't under the Austin name I think)

    MINI (One, Cooper, Cooper S, JCW Cooper S, Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S)
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Mar 10, 2008
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    How could a line of Prius vehicles be any different than the retiring of the name Taurus only to be revived and slapped on the failing Five Hundred?

    I say, "bring it on" and I like the idea of a compact Prius that I can drive to work and get 80+mpg.
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 10, 2008
  11. johnford

    johnford Old Junior Member

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    I like the idea of stealing the Mazda sports car idea....
    We could call it the.... Priatta ?!? :car:
     
    #11 johnford, Mar 10, 2008
  12. ktoepp

    ktoepp New Member

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    The Studebaker Avanti evolved into the Avanti Motor Corporation, which outlived Studebaker.
     
    #12 ktoepp, Mar 14, 2008
  13. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Well that is a bit off putting, could it kill Toyota too?
     
    #13 patsparks, Mar 14, 2008
  14. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    I don't see the point. Toyota has said in the past that they will eventually put out all models as hybrids. Why create a Prius auto company to put out a hybrid Prius, hybrid Carolla, hybrid Yaris, hybrid Sienna, hybrid Highlander and a hybrid Camry, etc??

    As battery technology improves, all models should be REPLACED with hybrids. No straight 4, V-6 OR Hybrid choice. Maybe an All Electric or HSD based engine depending on one's needs if the battery technology gets powerful enough.

    They won't have to screw around designing/sourcing manual and auto transmissions for a bunch of different gas engines. Create 3 or 4 engines for 3 or 4 generic size (weight) vehicles. Economy of scale drives production prices down.
     
    #14 bruceha_2000, Mar 14, 2008
  15. SparrowHawk60

    SparrowHawk60 Happy to be green!

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    I think 'JEEP' might qualify, it used to denote just one type of Vehicle now it's a whole line of cars.
     
    #15 SparrowHawk60, Mar 14, 2008
  16. warrior

    warrior New Member

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    I would like to see a prius pick up.!!:)
     
    #16 warrior, Mar 15, 2008
  17. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Here's a Calif. fast-lane, freeway flyin' "something-or-other" picture from last year. Maybe it's already out on the road being tested, and they're trying to decide which brand to name it ... & we simply don't know about it yet. You tell ME what emblem that is on the back. :blink:

    [​IMG]
     
    #17 hill, Mar 28, 2008
  18. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    There are people here who remove all the emblems from their cars. In my opinion, it's not a stretch to think that someone has taken a Lexus emblem and stuck it on a Prius.
     
    #18 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 28, 2008
  19. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    You think?

    :rofl:
     
    #19 hill, Mar 28, 2008
  20. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I agree, it is a Lexus badge.

    Did you also notice it has HOV lane stickers, low profile tyres on non standard rims and the blacked out brake lights of a pre 2006 model?
     
    #20 patsparks, Mar 28, 2008
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