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In short, Toyota will continue to sell the current Prius in Japan when the all-new third-generation Prius launches this summer, according to a story in the Japanese press.
. (www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=140246)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2005_Toyota_Prius_-_Confidence_when_buying_used.jpgInsideLine - Edmunds - Jan. 22, 2009

If they drop the price, it could be an insight fighter. - Ed

The power train technology in the Toyota Prius is the benchmark for the twenty-first Japan's Nikkei business paper claims Toyota plans both to keep the outgoing Prius on sale, and to lower the price as a way of firing a shot across the bow of the hot new Honda Insight.

So there will be, confusingly, two cars called Prius on sale, or at least that seems to be the plan. Toyota's idea is to gut the interior as a way of lowering the price, according to the paper.

The new Prius, which debuted at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show earlier this month, increases displacement to 1.8 liters, and the latest technology means the asking price will inevitably go up. ...http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=140246

"Prius Classic" :)

What specifically could they do to get it down under $20k? The interior is fairly sparse already. Everything I'd get rid of on mine I could do by just getting a lower Package, which is still $22-$24k base.

This is a joke, right?

It has to be some kind of funny...pure speculation.

Hi All:

___Very interesting idea indeed but like Marc said, gut what? The LCD screen is about the only thing that can go. The 6-air bags are still going to be standard and 2011 regs are going to force Toyota to install VSC (all of maybe $100 OEM anyway) :rolleyes: The weight is ~ the same (100 pounds less) so costs are still going to be similar as the new one if not more with the larger MGSets. I also doubt Toyota would move back to manual window cranks :D

___It would be a heck of an Insight-II fighter if priced in the $$18 to $20K range although it would hurt resale for current Prius-II owners if Toyota does do this.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

The article seemed to say the "stripped" Prius II would be sold only in Japan??

Also, isn't the supply of batteries limited for Toyota? So wouldn't it be better for Toyota to sell their batteries in cars at a higher price point?

The more I think about this, the less sense it makes. I would certainly expect discounts on leftover stock but I have a very hard time believing that the car would actually continue to be produced. The margins of a $20k Prius, even a stripped model, would be **tiny**. Better to offer the new model as a base without too many extra toys.

2011 regs are going to force Toyota to install VSC (all of maybe $100 OEM anyway) :rolleyes:

OT-

Is VSC/ESC required for MY2011 cars? And if so, can I turn it off?

Hi WH:

___Not sure but probably since you can turn it off on many vehicles today.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___...... I also doubt Toyota would move back to manual window cranks :D

_....
___Good Luck

___Wayne

Nuts, that might make me want one. I'd pay extra for hand cranks over power. Same for manual door locks (the dog likes to lock me out) and no remote controls (the parasitic drains). They're all negative value power options to me.

It's possible that since the Prius' sales slumped that 'Yota has substantial parts inventory or contracts that it wants to finish off before ceasing production. Ford did something similar with the F150 change a few years ago? And Chevy with the Malibu?

That's a good idea, but companies like Toyota typically do not have large parts inventories in stock at any one time. They are big on "just in time," which roughly translates to receiving parts from vendors minutes (literally if possible) before they need to use them. It sounds nuts, but has a positive impact on both cost and quality.

That's a good idea, but companies like Toyota typically do not have large parts inventories in stock at any one time. They are big on "just in time," which roughly translates to receiving parts from vendors minutes (literally if possible) before they need to use them. It sounds nuts, but has a positive impact on both cost and quality.

Yeah, Just-in-time's production's lower inventory levels uncovers production problems --the metaphor is that when a river is low it reveals the rocks that block its flow.

I don't know details (which I assume are proprietary), but my impression is that "just-in-time" supplier contracts often specify x number of units to be provided over y amount of time according to a schedule to be determined by the just-in-time schedule. Since it recently cut production in response to reduced demand 'yota probably needs extra time to consume some parts it contracted for and they don't want to buy out the remainder of the supplier contracts. The contractual obligation would be similar to having the physical inventory in this regard.

I think that they are saving money by not retooling for this model, suppliers won't have to retool so they can continue to earn a profit with production costs reduced and are able to supply parts cheaper to Toyota, assembly workers will be able to assemble quickly as it is a model familiar to them and QC will know what to look for as they were just doing this less than a month ago. Smart cost cutting.

It's what all intelligent companies used to do. Develop a great product and don't change it but for cosmetics and smart technological improvements. Model A, Volkswagen Beetle, 55-57 Chevy Bel Air, 67-69 Camaro, Jeep CJ-5, 70-76 AMC Gremlin (j/k about that last one).

The Prius could be the next VW bug, over eleventeen gazillion sold since the late 20th century. Woo Hoo! - Dale

Imagine