Camry hybrid: Toyota bucks the trend again
Outselling all other hybrids combined, minus the PriusI have to laugh a bit. Since the launch of the Toyota Camry hybrid, I've been claiming that consumers will buy hybrid vehicles based off conventional models - it's not just about unique-looking hybrids. It's about value, and the Camry hybrid has been proving this since its launch.
Now that the Camry hybrid is outselling the V6 conventional Camry, others are also starting to take notice.
Still, Toyota sold almost 55,000 Camry hybrids last year. This year it might be 60,000. So, it's not as if the Camry hybrid is just starting to sell. More interesting, if the Camry hybrid had qualified for the full hybrid tax credit for as long as the Prius hybrid, I'll bet Camry hybrid sales would have been, and would be, much higher. Nonetheless, once again, Toyota is bucking the hybrid trend and proving that smart hybrids with conventional counterparts can sell.
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, toyota camry hybrid, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:07 AM
19 Comments:
Can anyone aswer me this?: Most Auto Co's use the same base engine in a lot of their models. I'm sure its "cheaper" that way (economies of scale). Why do they not do this with their Hybrids? Why not just make the Hybrid the stock equipment on these cars. For example for Toyota, the RAV 4, the Yaris, the Solara...if the Camry and Prius can use these engines why not ALL your vehicles (save trucks maybe). Create your own economy of scale and change the base model powertrain. They are proven to work. At some point when Fuel Injected engines came out they scrapped the Carbed engines and made all them all FI. Do the same here! Maybe?
This baffles me...I can't understand why Honda doesn't make a car like the Fit a hybrid. It's a perfect candidate and would easily get over 60 mpg IMO.
Money blinds people and makes them stupid.
anon-
I think that's slowly happening, but hybrid technology is still just emerging and suppliers, for example, really haven't had time to fully comprehend where the hybrid market is going. the auto industry, in general, is so big and slow that it takes what seems like forever for new trends to establish.
noz-
honda is rolling out such a hybrid in 2009, although it won't be a fit hybrid, but its supposed to be close to that size.
still, the whole hybrid experience, thus far, demonstrates just how rigid automakers have become. considering the quickness with which technology is moving, it seems automakers are still living in the last century.
Don't get me started on Ford! They can make an Escape hybrid that seems to get good reviews and work just fine, but they can't make the Edge a hybrid? The Edge screems hybrid. And yes, Honda...if they could make the Accord a hybrid how about the Pilot? Of course the Accord Hybrid is dead, but it shouldn't be. We have an LX and it's got that little 4 cylinder VTEC, so why not use the civic drivetrain. Lets go Auto makers! Hold of on that hand free 3 dimensional blue ray DVD navigation system and apply some technology that will help reshape the world. That would be great.
jmechals-
ford can't keep the fricken escape hybrid in stock. now, that might be partially due to battery contracts. still, i agree 100 percent, especially on the edge and crossovers in general.
i think alan mulally is the real deal and i'm hoping he has a few tricks up ford's sleaves. as an executive, efficiency has been his driving mantra, so hybrids seem like a nice extension of his corporate belief system. i'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Well, Camry Hybrid is close to Camry V6 in terms of comfort (it is very quiet). In addition, it is cheaper and consumes far less fuel! Obviously, it is a more appealing choice for every guy who is not a racing aficionado. In addition, it has better dynamics than a conventional Camry V4!
i absolutely love the camry hybrid - love it. call me biased, but i don't see how anyone chooses a conventional Camry over the hybrid - V4 or V6.
Bottomline:
The reason they don't offer those things is because they don't care. Pure and simple.
noz, that's true, but the winds of change are blowing. if gas prices stay high as honda launches its new hybrid, and toyota launches its third generation hybrids, there's going to be lots of pressure on other automakers to be efficient. whether they like it or not, automaker survival might just be dependent on doing things the right way - it might be the only way to survive.
Dahcredyns, I am also biased (as a owner of Camry Hybrid) but I understand people who are also fond of fast driving. Their obvious choice is V6 or even Lexus.
i guess i just feel if fast-driving is your primary focus, would you really be looking at a Camry? i just think on balance, the Camry hybrid is the best overall camry offering.
What do you expect from the Auto Co's, there best line is "Dude, that hybrid got a Hemi"? Hopefully the idiots will get there act together.
dmac-
i've used that line a few times, "dude, that hybrid got a hemi" - i think it's even the title of an old post of mine.
while a sad statement on the US auto industry, it is still downright funny. and, when you think about the pathetic state of the US auto industry, we need as many laughs as possible!
still, i to have to keep hope that they'll see the light, even if takes consumers and voters to make it happen.
Hi!
Toyota will have a hybrid option for ALL of it's vehicles by 20??. The CEO said so. GM will sell 80% hybrid vehicles by 2020?, according to them.
Why NOT trucks? The biggest SUVs GM makes (and I mean BIG) are now available in hybrid. They have MORE power and MORE torque than the ICE engines, and they get double the gas mileage-up 20-24 mpg (vs. 10). If you need to tow or haul A LOT, it is a much better choice.
I want a Hybrid Camry 4-door hatchback. The 4-door hatch is THE most practical vehicle. When we were in Europe, we saw at least 35 different models. In the US, as of a couple of years ago, there were MAYBE one or two models.
cliff
YIP
hey cliff-
i like hatchbacks as well. since they don't drive as many big vehicles in europe, hatchbacks offer great functionality - easily as good as many or most SUVs (not seating).
anyway, in terms of hybrid trucks from toyota, i think toyota has had to rethink the hybrid synergy drive for trucks - it just wasn't optimized for large vehicles. gm'd dual mode hybrid powertrain, on the other hand, was optimized for large vehicles.
nonetheless, i think toyota will get there, eventually.
just saw the numbers on truck sales, gm down 32 percent, ford 24, and toyota 15 - chrysler hadn't yet reported.
anyway, if gas prices stay like this, maybe hybrid trucks are worthless - we'll just need longer hybrid hatchbacks. lol.
Honda feels it best to use hybrid technolgy for its smaller models and use its class-leading clean-diesel technology for larger models\SUV's.
Honda diesel:
http://hatesomethingchangesomething.com/
Whhops...this is the correct URL for Honda's 'Hate Something, Change Something' site:
http://www.honda.co.uk/change/
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