"Prius" as a model designation
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"Prius" as a model designation
Toyota will use Prius name on more hybrids
By JESSE SNYDER, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
A picture of rear view of silver toyota prius
Toyota has told its U.S. dealers that it plans the use the Prius name on more hybrid vehicles.Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. will use the Prius name on more hybrid models in its U.S. lineup, the automakers' top executives told dealers.
At a meeting of the 60 largest dealers in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday, Toyota executives said the name Prius would be attached to “a family of models” using similar hybrid powertrains, veteran Toyota dealer Earl Stewart says.
“The Highlander hybrid and Camry hybrid do OK, but calling it ‘Synergy Drive' never resonated with consumers,” Stewart says. “But they can make hay on the Prius name. It's a magic name. If somebody says ‘I drive a Prius,' everybody knows what he means.”
Toyota Motor Sales COO Jim Lentz has been pushing for a multi-platform Prius lineup for a year. But this was the first time it has been openly discussed in front of Toyota Motor Sales president Yoshi Inaba and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.
Toyota will have a range of Prius hybrid models “but Prius won't be a separate sub-brand like Scion,” Stewart says.
Toyota executives in Frankfurt this week said the company planned to sell 500,000 to 600,000 hybrid vehicles globally by the end of 2009.
By JESSE SNYDER, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
A picture of rear view of silver toyota prius
Toyota has told its U.S. dealers that it plans the use the Prius name on more hybrid vehicles.Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. will use the Prius name on more hybrid models in its U.S. lineup, the automakers' top executives told dealers.
At a meeting of the 60 largest dealers in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday, Toyota executives said the name Prius would be attached to “a family of models” using similar hybrid powertrains, veteran Toyota dealer Earl Stewart says.
“The Highlander hybrid and Camry hybrid do OK, but calling it ‘Synergy Drive' never resonated with consumers,” Stewart says. “But they can make hay on the Prius name. It's a magic name. If somebody says ‘I drive a Prius,' everybody knows what he means.”
Toyota Motor Sales COO Jim Lentz has been pushing for a multi-platform Prius lineup for a year. But this was the first time it has been openly discussed in front of Toyota Motor Sales president Yoshi Inaba and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.
Toyota will have a range of Prius hybrid models “but Prius won't be a separate sub-brand like Scion,” Stewart says.
Toyota executives in Frankfurt this week said the company planned to sell 500,000 to 600,000 hybrid vehicles globally by the end of 2009.
Thoughts? Sounds like GM is taking a similar approach by advertising "Voltec" technology in vehicles with the Volt's hybrid-electric system.
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
"I drive a Toyota Camry Prius."
I dunno, I think the word "Prius" is so strongly associated with the car that it might get a little confusing. Especially for the people that actually buy the Prius model rather than the 'Prius' line of Camry, Corolla, Highlander, etc.
I dunno, I think the word "Prius" is so strongly associated with the car that it might get a little confusing. Especially for the people that actually buy the Prius model rather than the 'Prius' line of Camry, Corolla, Highlander, etc.
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From: Sandy VJJville
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From: Philaduhphia
thats like driving a Ferrari Enzo Ferrari, lol.
they wont amke a corolla "prius" cause that would detract sales from the hideous normalprius, so i wont buy one. <-caus i want the small smart looks of a normal sedan without the hideous and insidious "wagon/hatchback feel.
they wont amke a corolla "prius" cause that would detract sales from the hideous normalprius, so i wont buy one. <-caus i want the small smart looks of a normal sedan without the hideous and insidious "wagon/hatchback feel.
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From: Memphis
I've been hearing about this for a long time but when I heard of it they were saying the Prius name would either be spun of into its own Make (like Scion), but they specifically said that wasn't the case in this article.
The other way I heard it in the past is that you'd have the Toyota Prius Sedan and Toyota Prius Van, etc, etc... I don't mean they're actually going to call them by those generic names, I just mean instead of "Toyota Sedan Prius", it would be "Toyota Prius Sedan", and the names won't overlap with the current lineup, so you wouldn't have a "Toyota Camry Prius" or a "Toyota Prius Camry", you'd have something else in place of Camry... maybe one of those catchy trendy two or three letter/name designations.
Either way this article doesn't really seem to clear that up too well.
The other way I heard it in the past is that you'd have the Toyota Prius Sedan and Toyota Prius Van, etc, etc... I don't mean they're actually going to call them by those generic names, I just mean instead of "Toyota Sedan Prius", it would be "Toyota Prius Sedan", and the names won't overlap with the current lineup, so you wouldn't have a "Toyota Camry Prius" or a "Toyota Prius Camry", you'd have something else in place of Camry... maybe one of those catchy trendy two or three letter/name designations.
Either way this article doesn't really seem to clear that up too well.
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But what will everyone drive when Prius becomes uncool?
I'm tired of Toyota's little science project. It's going to look like the poorly made soda-can volcano project next to the Lego Technics space-crystal wonder that is the Chevy Volt.
Worse yet, I can't stand the name. I really hope they don't call everything with a battery at Toyota a "Prius."
I'm tired of Toyota's little science project. It's going to look like the poorly made soda-can volcano project next to the Lego Technics space-crystal wonder that is the Chevy Volt.
Worse yet, I can't stand the name. I really hope they don't call everything with a battery at Toyota a "Prius."
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From: New England
They dont want yo uto just buy a hybrid..they want you to buy a Prius..
They are trying to make them more than just a normal hybrid (with ripped off tech from the U.S.) but if your buying a Toyota hybrid your buying the "Prius" of hybrids..
F Toyota..and F anyone who buys this BS!
They are trying to make them more than just a normal hybrid (with ripped off tech from the U.S.) but if your buying a Toyota hybrid your buying the "Prius" of hybrids..
F Toyota..and F anyone who buys this BS!
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From: Sandy VJJville
This would be sort of like if Chevrolet were to call all their performance models "Corvette." (instead of SS)
Camaro Corvette
Trailblazer Corvette
Cobalt Corvette
and on and on... That would be ridiculous, just like Toyota calling all of their hybrid vehicles Prius.
Camaro Corvette
Trailblazer Corvette
Cobalt Corvette
and on and on... That would be ridiculous, just like Toyota calling all of their hybrid vehicles Prius.
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This sounds so weird that I wonder if the report is accurate. I can see having a few different Prius models similar to the plan for the CTS. Have a Prius Coupe, Prius Sedan, Prius Wagon, etc.
However making Prius more or less a trim level seems weird.
However making Prius more or less a trim level seems weird.
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From: Oakland, California
Corvette Coupe
Corvette ZR1
Corvette Grand Sport
Corvette Camaro SS
... would be more accurate.
If the Toyota hybrids are separate models and look different from the rest, I really don't see much of an issue. In fact, they'd probably sell like iPhones here in California.
