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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg A stripped fleet vehicle for the Japanese Domestic Market only and possibly includes the 2010’s HSD-II? Meant to target the 2010 Honda Insight-II on a Yen for Yen basis. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=208635)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Prius_III.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - May 18, 2009

Second Gen Toyota Prius-II. Stripped EX version is be far less expensive minus the hubcaps...

Tokyo, Japan -- Toyota followed through with its promise to match prices with the all-new 2010 Honda Insight-II by releasing a somewhat stripped version of the outgoing Toyota Prius-II.

The competitively priced Prius-II "EX" is targeted at fleet customers with a starting price of $19,733 USD and is to be sold through both "Toyota" and "Toyopet" dealer channels, beginning June 8.

The EX will be available in three colors, Super White II, Silver Metallic and Black with a gray interior and will come with a color-coded front grill. It will feature the same basic safety and amenities of the Prius-II "G" and "S" grades that it replaces but will be missing hubcaps, front fog lights and other equipment that are now dealer installed options.

In a statement made by Toyota this morning, the total monthly sales target is 2,000 units and the dealer installed options were meant to “better suit fleet users' needs.”

Just like the all-new Prius-III base for $21,000 in the US, this appears to be more of a marketing ploy meant to confuse the consumer with the idea that the “Prius” is the most well-equipped and functional hybrid available while matching the all-new 2010 Honda Insight-II LX trim in terms of price.

Although not entirely clear, Toyota said in their release that they will be using the all-new THS-II hybrid synergy drive that is currently in the 2010 Prius-III. The HSD upgrade has yet to be verified... Yet.

Interesting move. I like it.

Ha! Prius Classic. At first this seemed to me like a clever move (and if it forces Honda to cut pricing back towards what was originally anticipate for the Insight I'm all for it). And then I thought about the following two points:

The choice of "EX" (not a trim identifier widely used by Toyota) is obviously intended to confuse potential customers of the competing Honda, where "EX" is the higher trim level ... "Look! The Prius EX is cheaper than the Insight EX!"

And while I thought Honda was being cheezy by leaving map lights and seatback pockets out of the Insight LX, Toyota brings it to the level of dripping, bubbling Velveeta by leaving off hubcaps. WTF? I guarantee you that you'll never see a Prius EX sitting on a lot with a sticker under 20 grand (even excluding the destination charge), because no sensible dealer is ever going to attempt to sell a new vehicle with bare black steel wheels.

The choice of "EX" (not a trim identifier widely used by Toyota) is obviously intended to confuse potential customers of the competing Honda, where "EX" is the higher trim level ... "Look! The Prius EX is cheaper than the Insight EX!"

More than agreed. I wish that there was some sort of international standardization of automotive trim designations.

.....because no sensible dealer is ever going to attempt to sell a new vehicle with bare black steel wheels.

They could always put moon discs on 'em!:D

So the EX will have the smaller ICE? Our Prius II has lots of zip as it is-didn't really need more power/weight.
I winder if the bigger motor will turn fewer RPMs(on average), so it can keep the throttle plate fairly open and decrease pumping losses?
In theory a bigger slower turning ICE can be more efficient if it has enough flywheel effect to run at very low RPMs with throttle plate open-and lower friction loses.Maybe the expansion vs intake compression will be more dramatically different? Isn't it 13/1 vs 8/1 now?
I don't really understand the bigger motor, unless Toyota has calculated that they can extract a bit more efficiency from it?n No one complained about the Prius II being underpowered.
Maybe Toyota wants to sell it to Lexus owners-like the HH with the V-6? Lexus owners are accustomed to brisk acceleration.
Puzzling. I would have gone smaller.
Charlie

A "stripped" Prius....do you know where some in GM or Chrysler's marketing department would go with this in an ad? :D