Toyota Planning Yaris-Based Hybrid for Sale in Japan, Europe

[Steve]

Just a few weeks after Toyota officially announced that it would build a hybrid version of the Auris (Yaris) hatchback in the U.K., new reports suggest a similar model is being prepared for Japan and Europe. The car would be built in Japan for the Japanese market and Honda has plans to build a European version in France.

Priced at just 1.5 million yen ($15,760) the hybrid sub-compact would compete with the upcoming Honda Fit Hybrid in a growing segment. It is likely to debut in 2010 as a 2011 model.

The new model would not be badged as a Yaris or Auris, but rather as a stand-alone model (much like the Prius) and will be based on an all-new Yaris/Auris platform.

Demand for hybrid models has surged recently in Japan thanks to government incentives for green cars. In April the Honda Insight was the best selling vehicle in Japan, marking the first time a hybrid has ever topped the monthly sales charts there. It was bumped off the top spot in May by another hybrid, the new Toyota Prius.

More: Toyota Planning Yaris-Based Hybrid for Sale in Japan, Europe on AutoGuide.com

[got-rice]

I think the reports now are that the Yaris Hybrid is a NO-GO.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/f...ris-after-all/

[Steve]

In a strange turn of events, a source inside Toyota has told the U.K.'s AutoCar that the Japanese automaker isn't looking to build a hybrid version of the Yaris. The source says the car won't be built in France, Japan or anywhere; not yet anyway.

Toyota does plan to build hybrid versions of every car it sells by 2020, but in the mean time the Yaris's already fuel-efficient engine (sold with a 1.33-liter four cylinder that gets over 50 mpg in Europe and Japan) is sufficient. While the added weight and cost of hybridizing a car makes good financial sense on larger vehicles, it just wouldn't be worth it on sub-compacts like the Yaris, says the unnamed source. That is, until battery technology improves, making the electric components smaller, lighter and cheaper.

Toyota has, however, officially said it will build a hybrid version of the slightly larger Auris in the U.K. starting next year.

More: Report: Toyota Not Planning Hybrid Yaris After All on AutoGuide.com

[middleoroad]

This could be a sign that Toyota is planning a full line diesel assault.A 1.4 diesel Yaris would be sweet.

[Cabanon]

Originally Posted by middleoroad

This could be a sign that Toyota is planning a full line diesel assault.A 1.4 diesel Yaris would be sweet.

and we'd probably get 70mpg or even more with that lol