Steven V Johnson wrote:
I gather the Yaris' 15k estimated price tag is its strongest feature, particularly when compared to the GM Volt 40k estimated price.
You mean the upcoming Yaris-based hybrid, which doesn't seem to have a name. A conventional Yaris starts at $12,205 in the U.S. Not sure what they cost in Japan.
The Japanese news article says it will be "based on a complete redesign of the Yaris line" which seems like a contradiction of terms. If it is a complete redesign than it isn't based on anything.
Anyway it sure does beat the Volt. In fact, the whole idea of making a $40,000 car that features high efficiency and high gas mileage seems ridiculous to me. People buy high gas mileage cars for many reasons, but mainly in order to save money. You are not going to save any money on a $40,000 car! At best it will be a status symbol, like the $100,000 Tesla Motors car. Not many people can afford an extra $15,000 on status. A $15,000 car that gets nearly 100 mpg will sell like hotcakes anywhere. It is hard to imagine GM or Ford will be in business much longer if they cannot bring out something similar, and I have no confidence they can.
Frankly, after driving a Prius for a while, when you go back to an ordinary American car, you feel like you have slipped 20 years into the past. Or in the case of my Geo Metro, you feel like you are driving a Model T Ford. It is almost fun. The other day a child rode in it and did not know how to roll down the window, or what I was doing with the gear shift and clutch. I felt a bit like one of these Civil War history re-enactors: "Here's how you use a percussion cap, kid . . ."
It isn't just the motor that makes Prius futuristic. There are a host of differences, such as the fact that no gearshift is needed, so all the space devoted to it is available for other stuff, and the dashboard display is radically redesigned. Plus I have a GPS which is marvelous for someone like me, with no sense of direction.
- Jed
