My boyfriend's father told me he heard on the radio that Toyota was going to discontinue making the Prius. He was very emphatic about it. I'm wondering if he might have got it confused with the Honda Accord. I have not heard anything about the Prius. Seems to me that if Toyota was going to do something like that, CNN and the other hybrid haters would be dancing around a bonfire somewhere. Anybody hear the same rumor? Thanks, Bonnie G in PA getting 50mpg staying cool
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Caprinicity @ Jun 11 2007, 12:34 PM) [snapback]459540[/snapback]</div> You never know what a business will do but I can't see why they would. Toyota has already stated that by 2012 every Toyota will be a Hybrid so why abandon your best one. Unless its to replace it with something better. My bet is he got the Accord news mixed up
I'm sure he was confused. To the point that there are other rumors (some say plans) for Toyota to spin off the Prius as a separate brand like Scion. Plans are for three Prius models, hatchback, station wagon and commuter sedan (compact). Discontinue the most popular hybrid in history? NAaaaaa
This is what Jan Harold Brunvand calls "A friend of a friend story". Whenever you hear "My X's Y heard from Z that..." whatever follows is 99% certain to be false.
I remember a few months back that supposedly Toyota was rumored to change the term hybrid on all their cars to "prius". Truth is just last month in May '07 the Toyota Prius was the 6th best selling car in America and 9th best selling vehicle overall. And if you look at the other's on the list it is also the only vehicle that isn't a model that has been around for 15 - 20 years or more. I would highly doubt that they are going to discontinue a vehicle that is considered to be one of the most successful new product launches in automotive history. But if they make any changes I think it will most likely be adding the versatility aspects ie. (Wagon, coupe, hatch, trunk style) I have always said Toyota wants everyones business, and you have to admit like them or not, they have a vehicle suited for practically everyone. Top 10 selling vehicles for May 07 http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/in...ylist=autonews2
No reason to do that, follow the money of any car. If something is making someone money, it stays, if not, it goes. Unless something better is coming out, hybrids are here to stay in hybrid lines. Honda cut the accord but it made sense as only 1.4% of them were selling as hybrids. Hybrid as an add on option for several thousand dollars does not do it for most. Hybrid standard cars are no comparison as the price is built in so there is nothing to compare it too. If you made a prius that had no battery and just the 1.5L ICE it would be underpowered and yes cheaper but no few would buy it.
You don't discontinue a franchise that has sold over 1million cars world wide in 10 short years. You make it better!
Well, maybe if they bring "Hybrid X" (or whatever) to market they'll retire the Prius name so they look like they're Moving Forward instead of standing still...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Jun 11 2007, 03:24 PM) [snapback]459665[/snapback]</div> I'll tell you what: Prius is a better name than Camry. That's moving forward there!
Prius sells almost as quick as they can make them, it will be around a while. Look at other Toyota models: Camry it is on its 6th generation and has been around since 1983. Corolla has been around since 1966 and is on its 10th generation. Toyota Echo is gone already and replaced by the Yaris. My point being that Toyota keeps it going if they are making money. Prius is an established name brand now and they dont hardly even advertise them either.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Jun 11 2007, 02:24 PM) [snapback]459665[/snapback]</div> I realize you're joking, however Toyota is smart; it knows names sell. Look how long they've been selling a car named Corolla. However, the Corolla you can buy nowadays is nothing like the Corolla you could buy in 1987 which is nothing like the 1977 Corolla I had. For that matter, they had a major redesign of the Prius in aught four. - if they were to rename it, they would have renamed it then.
