Will these concept cars be made?
Prius C points to new dedicated hybrid-powered hatchback at more affordable prices.
According to Toyota, yes. The Prius C and Yaris HSD were shown in concept forms at two motor shows earlier this year and Japan's top carmaker has already announced their production plans for next year.
While the Yaris HSD's appearance is very much the real article for showrooms, the Prius C's more flashy looks would be toned down. These two hybrid-powered hatchbacks will serve as important weapons for Toyota in the B-segment (aka sub-compact) car class.
What kind of hybrid are they getting?
Toyota has yet to disclose technical details for the market-ready cars. But the hybrid principle _ HSD in Toyota speak standing for hybrid synergy drive _ will be the same as in the current Camry Hybrid and Prius sold in Thailand.
But since Toyota wants to position its new junior hybrids below existing models, the basic petrol engine will be smaller in size. Possibilities include the 1.5 (not the dated unit used in the Thai-spec Yaris and Vios), 1.3 (amusingly called 1.33 in the iQ city car) or 1.0.
There's also an outside chance that lithium batteries may appear for the first time in a Toyota hybrid. Such energy-storing devices would prove beneficial in compact cars that need efficient packages to house hybrid components.
Today's Toyota hybrids still stick with the old nickel metal-hydride type. But like the current models, the Yaris HSD and Prius C (C standing for city) will be able to run on pure electricity for short distances at low speeds.
Yaris HSD may come with a basic petrol engine displacing less than 1.5-litre.
Will Toyota build them in Thailand?
The current excise tax system in Thailand is attractive for cars with hybrid-powered engines (just 10% excise tax over the regular 30%). So yes, Toyota is looking into that possibility.
But now that the government plans to amend the tax regime with new rules that won't give hybrids an instant advantage over cars with conventional drivetrains, Toyota's hybrid expansion plans in Thailand has been put on ice.
The tax man aims to promote cars emitting less than 150g/km of CO2 with just one rate: 5% discount off the regular 30%. That means hybrids would face a tax hike of 15% from 10. As well, a conventional Yaris and Prius would face the same rate.
Silly. Could the Yaris become Toyota's Ecocar?
In theory, yes, and there are rumours that the new Yaris (the one in Thai showrooms is the old one) could become an Ecocar because its technical credentials qualify on that score.
But that doesn't mean the HSD version of the Yaris would come as an Ecocar initially because the drivetrain is far superior over Ecocar rules (20kpl minimum and 120g/km maximum). The most the Yaris would need is CVT automatic transmission and, if necessary, automatic start/stop system like in the Nissan March.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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