msirach
04-10-2009, 09:31 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg The Gloves are coming off. (autoobserver.com/2009/04/new-toyota-prius-has-to-address-tough-market-and-tough-new-rival.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/619/042_2010_Prius.jpgBill Visnic – AutoObserver (autoobserver.com) – April 10, 2009
Will the 2010 Prius package I be the secret bullet fired at the 2010 Honda Insight?
Toyota has put a lot of advertising revenue behind their Prius Priority and Prius Connection venues. It has put the car in direct contact with many. They have shown why they are a leader in sales by their foresight to change with the marketing conditions. -- Ed.
Orlando, FL -- Acknowledging that low gasoline prices have hampered hybrid sales growth and that rival Honda Motor Co. could be a threat to its dominance in the hybrid-electric vehicle market, a Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. executive says the company remains confident hybrids are a strong growth opportunity.
At a media preview of the heavily redesigned 2010 Prius hybrid here, Ed La Rocque, Toyota's national car marketing manager, confirms Toyota has a plan to address Honda's new Insight hybrid, the recent U.S. launch of which has whipped analysts and industry watchers into a frenzy because the Insight's base price ($19,800) undercuts the current Prius by thousands.
The Insight went on sale March 23. Toyota's 2010 Prius hits showrooms in late May, and although pricing hasn't yet been determined, Toyota sources hint there won't be much change, even though the new Prius is much-improved. So the new Prius will remain markedly more expensive than Honda's Insight.
La Rocque told AutoObserver that Toyota is "looking at bringing in" a decontented version of the new third-generation Prius to go head-to-head (or close) with the Insight.
"They (Honda) have not been shy to say they're coming after the Prius in this market," La Rocque said.
The Insight racked up an impressive number of orders prior to its launch in Japan, and to combat its early popularity - and price advantage - Toyota will keep the current-generation Prius in production and offer it at a lower price than the redesigned 2010 model.http://www.autoobserver.com/2009/04/new-toyota-prius-has-to-address-tough-market-and-tough-new-rival.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/619/042_2010_Prius.jpgBill Visnic – AutoObserver (autoobserver.com) – April 10, 2009
Will the 2010 Prius package I be the secret bullet fired at the 2010 Honda Insight?
Toyota has put a lot of advertising revenue behind their Prius Priority and Prius Connection venues. It has put the car in direct contact with many. They have shown why they are a leader in sales by their foresight to change with the marketing conditions. -- Ed.
Orlando, FL -- Acknowledging that low gasoline prices have hampered hybrid sales growth and that rival Honda Motor Co. could be a threat to its dominance in the hybrid-electric vehicle market, a Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. executive says the company remains confident hybrids are a strong growth opportunity.
At a media preview of the heavily redesigned 2010 Prius hybrid here, Ed La Rocque, Toyota's national car marketing manager, confirms Toyota has a plan to address Honda's new Insight hybrid, the recent U.S. launch of which has whipped analysts and industry watchers into a frenzy because the Insight's base price ($19,800) undercuts the current Prius by thousands.
The Insight went on sale March 23. Toyota's 2010 Prius hits showrooms in late May, and although pricing hasn't yet been determined, Toyota sources hint there won't be much change, even though the new Prius is much-improved. So the new Prius will remain markedly more expensive than Honda's Insight.
La Rocque told AutoObserver that Toyota is "looking at bringing in" a decontented version of the new third-generation Prius to go head-to-head (or close) with the Insight.
"They (Honda) have not been shy to say they're coming after the Prius in this market," La Rocque said.
The Insight racked up an impressive number of orders prior to its launch in Japan, and to combat its early popularity - and price advantage - Toyota will keep the current-generation Prius in production and offer it at a lower price than the redesigned 2010 model.http://www.autoobserver.com/2009/04/new-toyota-prius-has-to-address-tough-market-and-tough-new-rival.html