From Autoblog:

Toyota is planning on expanding the Prius range with several new body-styles based on the trendy hybrid sedan. Currently Toyota is considering adding a wagon and a Smart-style city-car, with the possibility of a crossover hybrid utility vehicle in the future.

The additional models will form the bulk of Toyota's campaign of selling one million hybrids worldwide. To that end, Toyota hopes to triple the number of hybrids it sells in the US, with the American market accounting for an anticipated half of that million-car target.

We could expect the wagon to look essentially the same as the current sedan, only with a roof extending rearwards over the expanded cargo area, while the city-car will likely be an all-but-completely new model, riding on a much shorter wheelbase but with styling that immediately associates it with the rest of the Prius range.

The announcement opens anew the debate over whether customers want regular cars with hybrid engines, or instantly-identifiable, special-built hybrid models. Toyota's luxury division Lexus has reportedly expressed interest in developing a full hybrid range of its own, but until now its hybrid models have been variations on its standard line-up. The Toyota division itself has focused its hybrid production largely on the Prius, which it now hopes to expand. Meanwhile competitor Honda found the hybrid version of the Civic to be far more popular than the quirky Insight.

http://sema.autoblog.com/2006/11/02/...es-on-the-way/

 

Woo, to Toyota. Giving us some MORE hybrids. Hmm, maybe a camry hybrid coupe (using the current camry bodystyle of course) would be hot.

 

*cough* Hybrid xA *cough* That sounds cool!

 

That thing is gonna get an average of like 50mpg real world! My mom gets like 40mpg av. in her Prius, so the lil one would prolly get even better than 50.

 

I have a Prius and we love it. I would buy another Toyota hybrid in a second -- the city car is especially appealing.

Hey -- I LIKE the idea of a hybrid scion xA -- why not?

 

I do too, don't get me wrong, I was only using that as a visual comp. cause it might be on the same platform, either that or a Hybrid Yaris.

 

a hybrid yaris would be out of control

 

prolly get like 70mpg easy.

 

70 mpg would help make up for my hogged-out tC, karmically speaking.

 

what kind of MPG do you get with that turbo?

 

great, more hippies that don't know how to drive

 

^^^That's my mom.

 

White TC says: great, more hippies that don't know how to drive

What exactly why don't you like about hybrids? Do you think society will be able to sustain the luxury of driving cars 50 years from now? Most certainly not if we remain at our current consumption levels.

Our only chance to sustain our standard of living is to reduce consumption of hydro carbons as well as develop alternative sources such as bio-diesel, hydrogen, ethanol, and other renewable fuel technology.

This is a serious problem that will affect all of humanity in our lifetime.

 

All true, but just because you drive a hybrid doesn't mean your sht don't stink. < that's my mom, 50mph on the freeway.

 

Why do they keep trying to make hybrids for small cars which already get decent mpg. I've got an idea, how about replace all those Bus's with Hybrids, go from 4mpg to 50... that's a change!

 

^ that would help NYC out alot, have u ever seen how many buses we got? TONS! do they really get 4mpg?

 

uhh.. i thought more developed cities would be worried more about pollution than gas mileage and money...

i've seen alot of developed cities use Natural Gas powered buses... or bio-diesel (yum... the smell of french fry scented exhaust...)

hybrid buses would be a bad idea and not worth the time money and effort.

and i love small cars... now a hybrid small car? even more!

 

I average 40 mpg in my 05 xA...A Prius with the same engine plus "Hybrid Synergy Drive" is basically on par? What's the point? About 10 grand more for the same MPG and more maintenance?

 

Hybrid anything makes a lot of sense for city driving. Start, stop, start, stop... the motor takes care of the slowest driving and that means zero emissions in stop-and-go driving and much better mileage.

Think of how many times you've been next to a bus pulling away from a bus stop and got a big snootful of diesel exhaust. You think a hybrid wouldn't help?

 

You get 40 in your xA? damn. My mom's Prius was actually about 2.5x the price of my xA (35,000) The interiour is a lot nicer, the nav system is SICK! after asking my mom, she actually averages about 45mpg in a MUCH heavier and roomier car.