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[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by Sulu

I am sure that the new Prius, even if it is based upon the Camry platform, will be different enough that it will NOT be just another Camry Hybrid. Perhaps the platform will be shrunk for use in the new Prius (just as it was stretched for use in the current Avalon and Highlander), to make it smaller and lighter than the Camry Hybrid. Plus, using the Camry platform -- which seems to be used under so many other vehicles (Avalon, Highlander, next-gen Lexus RX, Lexus ES, new Venza, ...) -- would reduce development costs, making the new Prius more affordable.

Yes, Honda is talking about a hybrid Fit, but the Jazz/Fit is a new vehicle, so was probably designed with the hybrid option in mind. The Yaris is now an older design, so it may not have been designed with a hybrid option in mind, so it would be difficult, if not impossible, to add a relatively large and heavy hybrid battery to it. As for a Corolla Hybrid, who knows? Only time will tell.

We will see about the shortened part, however either ways it doesn't seem too change much other than size. While you change the length and maybe width of a platform, my experience tells me it generally stays within a certain weight because while they shorten it, the general structures holding the chassis up and together are still there, contributing to most of the weight?