Toyota, hybrid car king?
Is Toyota the hybrid car king?
Based on the current success of the Toyota Prius hybrid, then yes, Toyota is the king of the hybrids.
Why is the Prius so successful?
I think the originality of the Prius helps it compared to the Ford Escape Hybrid, or the Honda Accord Hybrid. The Prius, unlike the Escape hybrid or the Accord hybrid, has no direct conventional comparison.
The Escape hybrid is an excellent vehicle. For guilty SUV lovers, the Escape hybrid is a great choice, but it is inevitable that prospects will want to compare the hybrid against the conventional. And, if a certain color or feature is important, it is much easier to have your wishes fulfilled in a conventional Escape rather than a hybrid Escape.
Then you have the higher sticker price.
The Honda Accord Hybrid suffers the same conventional drawback as does the Escape hybrid. The Accord hybrid; however, is really the best Honda Accord - its the fastest, quickest, best performing Accord.
The Escape hybrid cannot make that same claim, there are more powerful Escapes.
The Prius is the best Prius ever, so there isn't any other fair comparison on that point, but that doesn't seem to be the whole issue for Toyota.
Recently, Toyota had to push back the release of it's Lexus RX 400h hybrid due to high demand. Though the Lexus hybrid SUV won't be released until April 15, over 10,000 orders have already been placed.
The RX 400h hybrid is a luxury SUV, and a smaller SUV, so perhaps it speaks to a different customer segment than the Escape hybrid. Still, the Toyota magic seems to have rubbed off on what will be Toyota's second hybrid.
While American auto-makers are now focusing their attention on hybrid SUVs, Toyota appears ready to dominate the hybrid SUV market.
In June, just a couple months after the Lexus hybrid SUV hits the streets, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will make it's debut.
The Highlander hybrid is a much better match for the Escape hybrid, and competition between the vehicles should get intense. Price is going to be a big issue for these two vehicles, and since Ford is leasing hybrid technology from Toyota, Toyota could have a big price advantage.
The Honda Accord hybrid might not be directly in the line of fire of the Prius, but Toyota has other cars up its sleeve. By 2007 the Camry Hybrid will really challenge it's Japanese competitor.
If Honda is still only selling 20,000 Accord hybrids per year two years from now, Toyota will easily become the undisputed Hybrid Car King.
Based on the current success of the Toyota Prius hybrid, then yes, Toyota is the king of the hybrids.
Why is the Prius so successful?
I think the originality of the Prius helps it compared to the Ford Escape Hybrid, or the Honda Accord Hybrid. The Prius, unlike the Escape hybrid or the Accord hybrid, has no direct conventional comparison.
The Escape hybrid is an excellent vehicle. For guilty SUV lovers, the Escape hybrid is a great choice, but it is inevitable that prospects will want to compare the hybrid against the conventional. And, if a certain color or feature is important, it is much easier to have your wishes fulfilled in a conventional Escape rather than a hybrid Escape.
Then you have the higher sticker price.
The Honda Accord Hybrid suffers the same conventional drawback as does the Escape hybrid. The Accord hybrid; however, is really the best Honda Accord - its the fastest, quickest, best performing Accord.
The Escape hybrid cannot make that same claim, there are more powerful Escapes.
The Prius is the best Prius ever, so there isn't any other fair comparison on that point, but that doesn't seem to be the whole issue for Toyota.
Recently, Toyota had to push back the release of it's Lexus RX 400h hybrid due to high demand. Though the Lexus hybrid SUV won't be released until April 15, over 10,000 orders have already been placed.
The RX 400h hybrid is a luxury SUV, and a smaller SUV, so perhaps it speaks to a different customer segment than the Escape hybrid. Still, the Toyota magic seems to have rubbed off on what will be Toyota's second hybrid.
While American auto-makers are now focusing their attention on hybrid SUVs, Toyota appears ready to dominate the hybrid SUV market.
In June, just a couple months after the Lexus hybrid SUV hits the streets, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will make it's debut.
The Highlander hybrid is a much better match for the Escape hybrid, and competition between the vehicles should get intense. Price is going to be a big issue for these two vehicles, and since Ford is leasing hybrid technology from Toyota, Toyota could have a big price advantage.
The Honda Accord hybrid might not be directly in the line of fire of the Prius, but Toyota has other cars up its sleeve. By 2007 the Camry Hybrid will really challenge it's Japanese competitor.
If Honda is still only selling 20,000 Accord hybrids per year two years from now, Toyota will easily become the undisputed Hybrid Car King.
Labels: Accord hybrid, Camry hybrid, Escape hybrid, Ford, Ford Escape hybrid, Highlander hybrid, Honda, Hybrid Vehicles, Lexus hybrid, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
4:16 PM
1 Comments:
More people should learn about electric vehicles as a solution. "Zero emissions" is something that's going to be required by law one day (you know it will). Making the decision to go electric is far cheaper anyway, like 10 cents on the dollar vs. gas. (source: zapworld.com)
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