Toyota's low-cost hybrid to be based on Yaris
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Mar 25th 2009 at 1:32PM 
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Toyota Prius
The speculation can finally end. After weeks of hearing rumors regarding an impending low-cost hybrid from Toyota, reports are now coming out of Japan that the automaker is working on getting a hybrid drivetrain installed in the Yaris platform. The new car will use the same Hybrid Synergy Drive technology as the Prius but will cost considerably less when it goes on sale, possibly as early as 2011.
This new development is a direct response to the new Honda Insight, a hybrid hatchback that ostensibly competes with the Toyota Prius but costs thousands less due to its slightly smaller size, including a downsized engine and battery pack. When Toyota's Insight-fighter hits the market, we'd expect it to carry an engine that roughly matches the Insight's 1.3 liters, a full half-liter smaller than the powerplant in the 2010 Prius.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius - First Drive
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 1:47PM (3/25/2009)
Toyota is doing a bang-up job with hybrids. They do not seem satisfied to sit on their laurels and let Ford and Honda catch up.
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JDMlover 8:39AM (3/26/2009)
+ 1
They take the Hybrid game very serious....
Kumar 1:48PM (3/25/2009)
Competition is great. ;)
First Toyota was forced to finally bring the 5 door Yaris, and now we'll get a hybrid based off of it.
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ronEbear 2:01PM (3/25/2009)
I totally called it!
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ronEbear 2:02PM (3/25/2009)
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/13/enter-the-rumormill-cheaper-prius-on-the-way/
Cellien 2:02PM (3/25/2009)
I hope it is as small as the Yaris.
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Dave - Phoenix 2:54PM (3/25/2009)
How can a tiny Yaris compete with the Insight?
Correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the Insight basically the same size as the Prius?
It's not just about being a Hybrid and getting good mileage. If that were the case, we would all drive Smart cars. The size of the vehicle is also important.
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John Kurmann 10:21PM (3/25/2009)
Hey, Dave. The 2010 Insight only has 85 cubic feet of passenger volume while the 2009 Prius has 96.2 cubic feet, the Yaris Liftback has 84.6 cubic feet, and the Yaris Sedan has 87.1 cubic feet. Toyota has said the 2010 Prius will have somewhat more passenger volume than the 2004-2009 model but I haven't seen a number published. I've looked at the interior dimension specs for the 2010 Insight and Prius and they have roughly the same amount of room in the front seats. The big difference in passenger volume comes from the fact that the Insight has only a rudimentary backseat with very limited legroom and headroom--less backseat room than the Fit, in fact--whereas the backseat of the 2010 Prius is much more spacious, with a bit more legroom and headroom than the 2009 Prius. In other words, the Insight is only a 5-passenger vehicle if the 3 in the backseat are children and/or short adults whereas the Prius is much more viable as a family car.
I suspect the new, low-cost Toyota hybrid will be based on the Yaris sedan rather than the liftback to allow a bit more space for the battery pack. I wouldn't be surprised if they even stretched the sedan platform a bit so the battery pack doesn't impinge too much on either passenger or cargo volume, and I bet it will have unique styling rather than being a Yaris Sedan Hybrid.
Sir.Vix 8:04AM (3/26/2009)
No smarts are hybrids... they're all 33 city / 41 highway wastes of money. By the look and size and lack of usability, they should get twice that mileage.
Dave - Phoenix 1:25PM (3/26/2009)
There is still a lot to be said about styling when trying to compete in the American market.
A hybrid doesn't have to be ugly. I continue to be frustrated as automakers continue to put their HEV and EV technology into ugly vehicles.
The reason Toyota only sold 1 million Prius' instead of 2 milllion is because the Prius is so unattractive. I think they're turning a corner with the new styling of the gen-3 Prius. They finally toned down those big dopey-looking headlights.
I feel that the Yaris may have the same style limitation, especially with it's full hatchback design. This style has never done very well in America, even though it gives you more passenger space. This is why VW sells a lot more Jettas than Golfs in America......
NeilBlanchard 3:17PM (3/25/2009)
Hi,
Why isn't the picture that it posted with this of the 4 door Yaris?
The new Insight is based on the Fit I think, and it is slightly smaller than the current Prius, IIANM. The Yaris is not as small as you might think. I drive an Scion xA -- which is basically a 4 door Yaris, and if they reworked the structural floor in the hatch, dropping it down behind the axle to be flush with the rest of the floor, then it would be a very practical car.
The Yaris already has decent aerodynamics (0.29 vs 0.31 of my xA). I'm 6'-4" and I can comfortable fit -- both front and in the back seat; with the front seats set where I need them. This is no mean feat...
Sincerely, Neil
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Gordio 7:11PM (3/25/2009)
The insight isnt' based on the fit. The front part (the part that controls steering) is based on the fit. The rest of the car has nothing to do with the fit.
People keep insisting the insight is based on the fit b/c prior to the insight's debut, there was a rumor the honda cheap hybrid be a fit.
A yaris hybrid will probably be cheaper than the insight, but will likely also have less bells and whistles though.
I can't wait for the CRZ...I hope honda ups the spec knowing toyota will have a hybrid MR2.
solution 7:00AM (3/26/2009)
I hope it will be based on Yaris two door hatchback. I would really like my next car to be a hybrid, but I don't like four seater four door sedans like Prius or new Insight because they are too big for me. 99% of the time I drive alone, so three other seats are wasted... If Toyota could also make Yaris EV with 100 - 120 mile city range, I would buy that instead of the hybrid. ImiEV is just too ugly looking.
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JDMlover 8:37AM (3/26/2009)
Smaller hybrid then the Pruis?
Man Toyota has the cash...look at how many models they have...including Lexus and Scion...
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Aaron Dalton 9:39PM (7/24/2009)
Sounds good. I think the current Yaris is already a pretty Green car - can't wait for Toyota to unveil a hybrid option.
http://1greenproduct.com/2009/07/22/toyota-yaris/
- Aaron Dalton, Editor, 1GreenProduct.com
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