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Prius to Become Toyota’s Next Brand

baki submitted on 06/01/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 2:05 PM
from: puregreencars.com

[35] user comments | category: Rumors

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Tags: Hybrid Cars, Hybrids, Toyota, Toyota hybrids, Toyota Prius, Prius, Prius brand, next-generation Prius, Prius A, Prius B, Prius C, Toyota Hybrid X concept, Hybrid X concept

Tag Links: Hybrid Cars, Hybrids, Toyota, Toyota hybrids, Toyota Prius, Prius, Prius brand, next-generation Prius, Prius A, Prius B, Prius C, Toyota Hybrid X concept, Hybrid X concept

Prius to Become Toyota’s Next Brand

It's usually General Motors that gets picked on for having too many brands under its umbrella, getting dissed for some parts and platform sharing.
After the 2011 model year, Toyota hybrids will no longer be sold under the Toyota nameplate, but instead under the Prius brand. Read Article

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kpaxx - 6/1/2007 2:15:46 PM

+5 Boost

Toyota starting to look a lot like GM...

reply to this comment

drew630 - 6/1/2007 2:24:24 PM

+4 Boost

Yeah, not a smart move for Toyota IMO.

Designer1 - 6/1/2007 3:26:23 PM

0 Boost

I totally agree, I love Toyota/Lexus now, but my fear that someday Toyota/Lexus will be Chevy/Cadilac today.
Maybe then I'll start driving Hyundai's, who knows.

w209w114 - 6/1/2007 4:10:13 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I said it once months ago and I will say it again! Toyota = the next GM.

Agent63 - 6/1/2007 10:38:21 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

It's like starting another brand and hoping it will work. People buy a Toyota because it has Toyota on it. If they name it Prius some may think the quality may differ as well. It's hard to explain but I think naturally people will be thinking of Prius like another Scion-type brand ( a brand in which I think is pointless ). They should have made the Scion TC the next generation Celica when it came out and scratch the rest of the models they have to offer. With Prius it will take some time for the name to be exposed.

What effect does this have on Lexus?

Does Toyota just want to appear like they are even bigger because they can say they have many companies under them. Like VW AG has RR, Audi, Bugatti, etc for example. It really won't change a thing imo

omarrana - 6/1/2007 2:26:52 PM

-3 Boost

old news...very old

reply to this comment

1970toyotamarc - 6/1/2007 3:56:52 PM

+1 Boost

old and purely speculative. this is never going to happen, it goes against everything that Toyota has planned for.

lexusis350 - 6/1/2007 2:51:05 PM

0 Boost

I can see where Toyota would think it's a good idea: creating a new brand of car that is completely made up of hybrids. That's a good idea because they would be the first automaker to do this.

reply to this comment

Czelinski - 6/1/2007 2:58:40 PM

+2 Boost

Hmm, Lexus isn't seen as anything but a Toyota, nor will these Prius models. I think they sell everything under what they are, the Toyota name everyone is familiar with and respects.

reply to this comment

mkk21 - 6/1/2007 3:09:04 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Doesn't this aritcle contradict another article that came out a few weeks ago? The other article made claims that hybrid's are the wave to future and Toyota was planning on making their whole line up have a hybrid option by I think 2020.

reply to this comment

quizz - 6/1/2007 3:11:26 PM

+2 Boost

I like it. Scion is doing exceedingly well, even though everybody know its a "Toyota".

The general public buys up Lexus in droves even though they know it's a Toyota, but they want the luxury image.

Similarly, buying a Prius demonstrates you are "environmentally aware" - perfect for the hipster crowd looking for a way to publicize their way of life. Smart marketing. You people who are laughing are not the target audience of Priuses - it's the fresh idealistic college students looking for a cool first car, but don't want a Scion.

reply to this comment

silent_power - 6/1/2007 3:26:22 PM

+2 Boost

Hybrid cars should be distinctive. A Camry hybrid is beautiful, but it still looks like an ordinary Camry. A hybrid car should be
more environmentally friendly, more affordable(fuel economy-service-less expensive),
practical, roomy, aerodynamic and futuristic.

Very good move from Toyota, I must say. Furthermore
"Prius" will be forever engraved
as the action that changed the flow of history.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 6/1/2007 10:38:53 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Camry hybrid, "beautiful?" Are you crazy?

daytonaviolet - 6/1/2007 3:28:45 PM

+4 Boost

Does that mean no more Lexus Hybrids?

I don't think this is a bad idea, it's not really a good one either.

mkk21 is right this is a contradiction from previous information about all of Toyota's cars being Hybrids.

reply to this comment

silent_power - 6/1/2007 3:55:49 PM

+1 Boost

"Does that mean no more Lexus Hybrids?"

"After the 2011 model year, Toyota hybrids will no longer be sold under the Toyota nameplate, but instead under the Prius brand."

Eye-catching

reply to this comment

1970toyotamarc - 6/1/2007 3:59:36 PM

+3 Boost

This is journalism at its worst. No sources, pure speculation, no basis in any facts, contradicts everything else. This is never going to happen.

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trd1 - 6/1/2007 5:48:28 PM

+1 Boost

this is pointless and it will just take sells away from toyota and lexus. because people will just buy all the hybrids.

reply to this comment

Rupert - 6/1/2007 7:46:40 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Exactly.
Speaking from a non-US resident point of view, I cannot understand how Caddy, Buick, Saturn, Pontiac and Chevvy don't overlap.
Buick is suddenly luxury with the Enclave, but Caddy is the luxury brand, Pontiac is the sports brand, yet Chevvy has the SS models and the Corvette and Saturn has the Sky, there are 3 versions of the same truck (Escalade, Tahoe, Yukon), which are all somehow luxurious...if it were me running GM I would
1. Kill Buick
2. Kill Pontiac
3. Ensure sporty models are spread around correctly, with no SS badges for the hell of it (Caddy has -V, Saturn Red Line, Chevvy SS)
4. Make Saturn a small car brand (Aura or less, no SUV)
5. Get rid of the Korean Chevvy/Daewoos
6. Make GMC the pick-up brand, no pick-ups for anyone else, but price from low to fairly premium.
7. Give Caddy a smaller SUV ie 5 seater Sporty SUV.
8. Give Saturn the European Opels.
9. Give Chevvy Australian Holdens.
10. Give Caddy a RWD flagship, a proper 7 series/LS rival.
11. Make Saturn the more eco-friendly brand, with efficient diesels from Europe and a proper hybrid.
12. Increase fuel efficiency across the range (diesels for cars like Impala)
13. Offer more diesels, especially in trucks.
14. Don't lose luxury side of Caddy to keep the Buick customers, make a no cost suspension option, either floaty light or sportier, give a choice.
15. Upgrade interior quality across range, especially in Caddy
16. Ensure there are cheaper pick-ups to appeal to workers.
17. Bring back some wagons ie Saturn Aura wagon or Impala wagon.

Difficult perhaps, and some may not agree, but I think necessary.

reply to this comment

Rupert - 6/1/2007 7:48:05 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Screw number 4, give Saturn an SUV but make them an interesting mid range brand, with eco emphasis. Performance hybrids.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 6/1/2007 10:42:06 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I just don't know if they could pull of "killing" Buick. As horrible as some of Buick's cars are, they have an extremely loyal fan base (read: 75+ year olds who don't know better), and I don't think any of their other brands would be able to adopt those buyers.

But otherwise, I agree, more or less. BTW, Cadillac does already have a sporty SUV. It's not exclusively a five-seater, as you can also get it with seven, but it's called the SRX, and it's very good.

reply to this comment

Rupert - 6/2/2007 12:53:27 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I mean Caddy should have an X3 rival.

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rocker - 6/1/2007 10:09:45 PM

0 Boost

This was an experiment by Toyota to see how their fanbase on this website would react. Drink the cool-aid.

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S4cabriofoxone - 6/1/2007 10:44:17 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

This would be... interesting. I'm sure the "Prius" brand would be successful, assuming hybrids are still the 'in' thing in 2011, but I just don't see the credibility in this claim. I'll wait for a written statement from Toyota, because I just don't see how they could launch an entire brand (including the intensive marketing it would take to create the brand's "hybrid lifestyle") in just three years.

reply to this comment

2JZSoarer - 6/1/2007 11:25:49 PM

+3 Boost

This is BS,Toyota would not do such a stupid thing like this,if Toyota knows how to do any thing very well it's business...

reply to this comment

Will_ - 6/2/2007 12:01:29 AM

+2 Boost

Toyota has barely three brands and speculation on a regrouping of their products and people start throwing around four-letter words like 'GM.' Some of you are just desperate to see Toyota fall.

Toyota will never have as many brands as GM will, plus Toyota is just smarter than GM, to be blunt.

reply to this comment

Will_ - 6/2/2007 12:03:35 AM

+1 Boost

This is interesting in its own right anyway, that the Prius has become so popular that there's even a discussion about Toyota turning it into a whole brand.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/2/2007 2:17:27 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

The people on this site didn't bring up GM:

"It's usually General Motors that gets picked on for having too many brands under its umbrella, getting dissed for some parts and platform sharing."

Sycledude - 6/2/2007 12:01:45 AM

0 Boost

Cool!, have a division for their ugly cars. Oh wait they already have Scion, never mind...

reply to this comment

huu76 - 6/2/2007 12:06:16 PM

+1 Boost

Prius as a separate name is stupid.
Killing the Camry hybrid is stupid.
A, B and C? They have German syndrome now, can't even think up names for their cars anymore.
Misery loves company, perhaps Scion is lonely being the only flop. Yhey should instead axe Scion. The tC would look great as the new Toyota coupe.

Maybe the cars will look good, but that Hybrid X sure doesn't.

reply to this comment

huu76 - 6/2/2007 2:09:31 PM

0 Boost

From most of the reports I've been seeing lately, sales are dropping. As well, they're not selling to their target market of young people.

Given the choice between an xA or a Yaris, I'd take the Yaris.

reply to this comment

1970toyotamarc - 6/2/2007 4:15:10 PM

+2 Boost

Scion is down the past couple months because both the xB and xA are being replaced. Prior to that the xB and tC were unqualified successes. Scion sales are so much higher than anticipated that Toyota is scaling back production to avoid saturating the market. The replacements are getting great reviews. And Scion has the lowest average age in the business.

Dont worry about having to choose the Yaris over the xa, the xA's replacement is the hot xD.

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