Toyota introducing Level 1?

ionic? i wonder if it will be available in all geographic area's.

 

Toyota Prius One: stripped-down hybrid added at lower price

So, you think this may help boost Prius sales any?

 

It's actually a really interesting trim level, looking at how it's equipped.

Might help fleet sales, but I don't think normal buyers will go for it. Their problem isn't that the Prius is too expensive, it's that it's a Prius.

 

no. of all the issues gen 4 is facing, i don't think price is one of them. they might be concerned about a certain korean company though.

 

Oh, and the addition of standard BSM and RCTA to the Two (Eco) and Three (Touring), where it wasn't available previously, and addition of standard parking assist to those trims, where it also wasn't available, and the Four (Touring), where it was optional, is also interesting. I still don't think it'll help sales much there, but still.

 

And in Europe they introduce the base model of the Prime at 12k€ more than the base model of the Prius, and with a smaller entertainment system screen (the same size as on the Prius).
Toyota's marketing team in Brussel for Europe, clearly have lost their mind. Nobody will buy a Prime in Europe ever, as no government incentive will help sell it...

 

This is a move to cut losses to the Ioniq. There is now a One that is a Two Eco without the lithium battery for the lower price, and bringing the BSM and RCTA to the lower trims leaves the the ten way power seat as the big advantage of the Ioniq SEL.

Didn't Toyota offer the gen2 One up to the public in response to the Insight2, or was it just a price cut? Either way, I think the Ioniq is more compelling a product to cross shoppers than the Insight2 was.

 

it was a very effective price cut. like honda, it will depend on whether hyundai has built a competitive vehicle, or a 'me too' 3 grades lower.

 

These 3 items must add up to maybe $400. I wonder what else is missing or is Toyota eliminating the rebates as well.

 

Also with single-color wheel covers (just like Two), without the IR-cut windshield, without pockets on the backs of the front seats, and with one-door smart-key (Two Eco gets three-door, making it a very compelling trim for the tiny price premium over Two, if you don't care about the spare tire or wiper that Two has and One/Two Eco doesn't).

 

I remember reading a few places there was a Gen 4 Trim 1 for fleet buyers. It looks like they decided to release it more widely. So which one will actually be sold nationwide first? The Prime or the Trim One Gen 4?

 

Wasn't Hyundai caught "fudging" their estimated MPG numbers a while back, I wonder which car is more fuel efficient, Prius or the new Hyundai hybrid? I'm guessing real world numbers would favor the Prius, we will know soon enough.

 

Lower entry level trim/price is unlikely to produce a huge boost to sales, but as noted likely a needed competive move with the Ioniq entering the stage.

How much it increases sales remains to be determined, but the market for who buys hybrids today is different than the pre-plug-in days. If the trim 1 level opens up the Prius hybrid lineup to lower budget customers, there may be sales conquests to those whose primary goal is an affordable new car with a strong reputation for reliability, safety, and low maintenance costs.

Also great that none of the standard safety features were cut. That's better than the trim 2 level just a year ago. Customers win again.

 

Doubt even half that amount...there's gotta be a bigger catch. I don't see the point of this model, since rebates offered on the Two, usually makes up for that $1,200 in savings, unless the One is also offered those rebates as well.

Would be interesting to see if there is any MPG improvements from lack of spare tire weight and improved Aero from the deleted rear wiper, like in the Eco.

 

Here's the reference article.
Toyota Prius Gets Lower-Priced Base Model, More No-Cost Safety Tech - CarsDirect

In addition all models Two and up get added "Safety Plus" which adds the Blind Spot Monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and the Parking Assist while keeping the price the same. they estimate this is worth $1000.

I guess I paid the "early adopter fee" on that one!

 

Then what did those of us with early-production 2016s pay, the early, early, early adopter fee?

Granted, I specifically sought out a car without TSS-P, but let's see, what's changed so far (ignoring the Prime, seeing as I bought my Liftback well after the Prime's announcement)...

February 2016: Instrument cluster and head unit gained ability to switch between mi and km
MY2017: TSS-P standard (instead of having to get a Three or higher plus ATP)
April 2017: BSM and RCTA standard on Two, Two Eco, Three, Three Touring (instead of having to get a Four or Four Touring), ICS and IPA standard on Two and higher (instead of having to get PCP on a Four or Four Touring)

 

You missed the improved headlights on the 2017 according to the Insurance Institute testing & ratings.