Following several reports that surfaced earlier this month, Toyota has confirmed it is readying an all-new hybrid model to take on Honda’s Insight. The new hybrid model will be based on the Yaris and slot below the Prius in price and amenities.
The Prius was the former king of the entry-level hybrid segment, but Honda has stolen that crown with its new Insight. The third-generation Prius – which should begin rolling into Toyota showrooms in just a few weeks – is larger in every dimension compared to the current car – including price. Toyota is hopeful the new model will address those concerns.
“We are developing a low-priced hybrid vehicle like Honda’s Insight,” Akihiko Otsuka, chief engineer of the redesigned, third-generation Toyota Prius, told Automotive News. “We are going to compete by expanding our hybrid-vehicle lineup to smaller hybrids, in the class of the Vitz and Yaris.”
Otsuka failed to give a timeframe for the new model but Japan’s Nikkei newspaper suggests the new car could be on the market as early as 2011.
It remains unclear what body type Toyota will use for the new model – the Yaris is available as both a hatch and sedan – but it seems likely that more than one variant will get the green light. A Prius-inspired four-door seems like a sure bet but, with Honda readying a hybrd version of its Fit hatchback, a five-door hatch could also be in the cards.
03/25, 2:13 PM
posted by:
Kid Icarus
Toyota sux!
03/25, 2:14 PM
posted by:
Borat
That looks like less of a rumor and more then actuality. And if it is not a rumor, then Toyota thinking heads are reacting to heat from upcoming Insight, our domestic speculations aside.
03/25, 2:22 PM
posted by:
shaver
Revenge of the nerds 2.
03/25, 2:25 PM
posted by:
No More Oil For Toyota
@Kid Icarus…Toyota sux because…???…..They sell more cars than anyone? Study future markets and technology that others haven’t even thought of? Capable of making product that can compete in any segment? Successfully compete anywhere between Nascar to F1? I’m just curious which one ’sux’ the most.
†Ö¥Ö†Ä ╠╣ÖÑÐÄ
03/25, 2:34 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
isn’t the honda insight supposed to go against the prius? so why does toyota need another hybrid to go against the insight? i know…cuz they are ripping you off with the prius to begin with!
03/25, 2:50 PM
posted by:
No More Oil For Toyota
@idrinorbarsaku, midsize vs compact.
03/25, 2:59 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Sorry to burst your bubble NMOFT, but the reason why Toyota broke the #1 spot had alot to do with a nasty item we call selling to rental fleets. GM and Ford both have learned that selling their cars to rental fleets kills used market value, in turn hurts retail sales of new models. Now that they’ve largely backed off rental fleets, Toyota has taken over as a major seller to rental companies.
Funny how companies never learn from the past, even Toyota isn’t immune to the lure of easy sales. Wait and watch those values start falling for the used cars. Reliablitly has suffered too in the past couple of years.
Honda has not been a part of any of this though. Honda is always a good bet!
03/25, 3:01 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
last time i checked, the new insight is not so compact. this just seems like a way for toyota to offer a cheaper version of the prius so it can still stay ahead.
03/25, 3:18 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Just for the novelty factor I hope they offer this with a manual transmission. If it’s aimed at Yaris type budgets and buyers it just might do better than they might think. As Borat has pointed out on occasion you could get the original Insight with a stick. If nothing else it would be interesting to see if it offered any advantages (or disadvantages).
03/25, 3:20 PM
posted by:
gta89mike
JakeK66 – Good point. See the latest residual values? ALG predicted a 51.9% residual for the 2006 Tundra, but it is actually 40.1% in 2009!! Of course, all full sized are taking a hit, but now Tundra’s residuals are right on with the other full sized. It will start hitting the other models too now that they are rentals.
03/25, 3:24 PM
posted by:
Kid Icarus
Haha I love to ruffle all you Toyota lovers feathers! I don’t really care what Toyota does.
03/25, 3:27 PM
posted by:
No More Oil For Toyota
@Jake, no need to apologize since it is true. Toyota’s recent expansion and growth did a number on quality control.
03/25, 3:54 PM
posted by:
save saab
NMOFT: I have to admit that I don’t like Toyota, BUT, I respect them for their amazing sales. But I’ll take a Supra or a RWD Celica if I could find one or the new “Toyobaru”. Oh yeah, don’t forget the Rolex Sports car series with the Lexus-Reily. Or rallying.
On the new hybrid; I’ll just buy an old civic hybrid with the manual or the new Insight cause it’s built on the Civic which is very fun.
03/25, 4:16 PM
posted by:
Beeno
successful in F1… wen did this happen….??? oh wait u can see into the future?
even a quick google would tell ya they’ve never won a race!!
03/25, 4:32 PM
posted by:
bcjohnso99
When you get big, others target you and beat you at your own game.
Toyota is the new GM. Enjoy your long slide from glory Toyota.
03/25, 4:41 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, original Insight with a stick was still a POS from drivers perspective. The best part of the car was stick and left pedal. I doubt that we will see stick with hybrids, since hybrids are not aimed at those of us using both driving feet.
03/25, 5:06 PM
posted by:
beantownslut
They’re both dead if Ford comes out with a compact Hybrid
03/25, 5:11 PM
posted by:
No More Oil For Toyota
@Beeno lol The thing about F1 is they actually compete and test there product in it…… the closest American Manufacturer was..Jaguar. Im curious to see US F1 team next year…i dont even know what engine their going to use, but we’ll see…
@save saab, agreed. Toyotas focus on sports cars, or just fun cars (Scion..doesnt cut it) is severely lacking. hopefully the Sub/Toyo project does some justice.
03/25, 5:45 PM
posted by:
shaver
^^ Rumors are pointing toward Mercedes power. USF1 was temp name, its now Brawn GP.
Ford has great history in F1.
Toyota successful in F1? 19-20 year old Sebastian Vettel has more success then their whole team.
03/25, 9:17 PM
posted by:
Borat
Ford did came out with hybrid: it was sourced from Toyota. So far in US market Ford came out only with compact stool specimen, but to Ford’s credit it was extra smelly one!
03/25, 9:32 PM
posted by:
A4
toyota does suck, id rather watch paint dry than drive a camry.
03/25, 9:52 PM
posted by:
Borat
A4 and you should see the fleet Toyota sells in Europe. We are unfortunate in our choices
03/26, 5:07 AM
posted by:
MiniMan
this is stupid. toyota is offering another hybrid (cheaper) to go head to head with the Insight? is this one gonna be the BEAUTIFUL (not!!!) eggshell design – YES PLEASE!!. Ugggghhhhh…just make that expensive @55 Prius cheaper. now that toyota sees that honda could possibly cut into they Ballz Death Grip on the Hybrid market. Oh well who cares – CAMAROS ALL DAY!!!!!! LET’S GET EM TO THE DEALERS!!!!!!
03/26, 10:52 AM
posted by:
Beeno
competing doesnt mean success though. and USF1 is not Brawngp… considering ‘usf1′ cant race till 2010 and Brawngp are on the grid this weekend
theres 2 new teams in the pipeline for next year along with usf1… one from the ford stable and one from the VW group 
:) considering all the engines are built to the same strict quidelines, it doesnt matter whose engine they use…. well as long as its not a GM one anyway!!!
03/26, 12:43 PM
posted by:
No More Oil For Toyota
@Beeno “..as long as it’s not GM..” i agree. Thanks i been out of the loop on F1 but looking forward to finally seeing a US driver(?) competing.
Competing doesnt mean success. correct. nonetheless, at least theyre competing. not to be misquoted again. but since everybody misquoted that (i never said win). F1 imo is the most highly regarded. everyone on the globe is present …except US (and i’m talking 90’s up)
i’m not familiar with it but..lets talk Nascar. educate me.
03/26, 1:36 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
The Prius was never “entry level.”
Interesting to see who wins this new segment.
Prius has won in regular Hybrid
Escape in SUV
Looks like BMW will put out the first luxury hybrid.
NASCAR is boring. When I remember that it’s on, I watch the last four laps. Give me American Le Mans
03/26, 3:16 PM
posted by:
Beeno
dont lexus make a luxury hybrid or 2 already??
nascar eh…. isn that the one where they race round and round and round… then when the pack opens up the send out the safety car… LOL ah no seriously i do enjoy nascar but i havent a clue bout it. im an f1 man as u can tell
03/27, 8:31 PM
posted by:
leftblog
I looked at and drove the Insight. Only a complete and utter moron would buy the Insight for a mere $2,000 difference (Prius, current.)
The Insight is a chintzy, cheap, slammed together POS. The Civic Hybrid is a much higher quality car than the Insight. I can’t believe the two are made by the same company.
Insight buyers must be the same suckers who got sub prime mortgages.
1. Orange Peel
2. Flimsy interior materials
3. 9 mph slower than a dead dog
4. So small inside a midget will get clauterphobic.
Sales? Because its new. And there are die hard Honda owners that will not Buy Toyota if they were $1. Thats the reality.