Toyota local hybrid television commercial
October 26, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
The next four years will see Toyota introduce eight new hybrid models to the Austrailan market. The first of which will be the new locally built 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid. From what CarAdvice has heard from all that have driven the car in its testing phase, it’s apparently a great package and a much better drive than the standard model.
The Camry Hybrid which is currently in pre-production at the Altona plant in Victoria will go on sale in February next year and as a precursor to launching the green variant, Toyota has released a locally produced television commercial (Hybrid Synergy Drive “Better Together”) to emphasis the hybrid message.
“The key message is ‘Better Together’ – that two things working together can achieve more than any one thing ever could,” says Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.
The ad first went to air last Sunday and you can see it below.
“The advertisement is about a man who has another version of himself, helping him with whatever he is doing. The two work together in perfect harmony, achieving amazing efficiency and power. It is a metaphor for Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology, which continues to improve, produce more power and use less fuel with fewer emissions,” he said.
Mr Buttner said the array of soon to be released hybrid cars by other manufacturers shown of at the recent Tokyo Motorshow is a sign that Toyota was right about the technology.
In the last few weeks Toyota has revealed the FT-EV II Concept, Sai Hybrid, as well as displaying the plug-in Prius which can be driven on electric-only power to around 50km/h (for two kilometres).
“Hybrid Camry is currently in pre-production at the Altona plant in Victoria, cementing Toyota’s Australian commitment to hybrid – to the benefit of both domestic and export markets.”
Print it: 
Isn’t this kind of playing down all the cars they make that aren’t hybrid in a really cringe-worthy manner?
Maybe two works better than one ever could when you’re a brand that’s struggling to make anything decent or desirable, but considering that the Prius is still no class leader when compared to diesels from other brands, I don’t think two working better than one ever could quite works.
It also begs the question of why they couldn’t just get the one right in the first place.
As for them being right about the technology, considering that the hybrid’s most prominent rival is the eco-turbo-diesel, something which most brands offer, doesn’t that mean that whichever brand started the eco-turbo-diesel craze was in fact right about the technology? If more brands have taken it on. They said it, not me.
Just because it’s catching on doesn’t make it right. That’s like saying that every Britney Spears or Lady Gaga fan in the world is right.
And not to start a debate, but I’m still pretty sure hydrogen is a much better answer. Or how about simply finding another way to make petrol? I know there are numerous ways including using some sort of fast growing algae, but somebody needs to actually put it into practice on a world scale. It could be done, it just isn’t being done. Then we wouldn’t have to waste all of our precious metals on batteries for drab Priuses and all of the time and money spent developing our frankly brilliant petrol engines will not have gone to waste.
ADR figures sugguest Prius and Camry hybrid are class leading in the medium and large category, at least for now
both diesel and petrol engine improve continously
diesel alone is no match for hybrid-petrol
sure in the compact category diesel is stealing the show with <4L/100km like the Fiesta ECOnetic
but I think hybrid will shine in that category too when hybrid Jazz and Yaris arrives
I wouldn’t be so sure about that. With current technology, the hybrid Yaris and Jazz are going to cost at least what a Fiesta Econetic does and they probably aren’t going to get economy that’s any better than three to three and a half litres per 100kms. Not bad, but not ground breaking. After all, they’ll be built to a price and they won’t weigh much less than a Prius, so why would they get better economy than that? As of now, diesel on it’s own is far better than petrol hybrid. In many situations, a diesel will get better economy and the drive is always much better.
And not matter what ADR figures say, we shouldn’t forget that Toyota is notorious for quoting economy that is really hard to match, especially when going over 60 in a Prius. On a motor way in the UK, I’ve gotten as little as 29 MPG in a Prius. I get better in my diesel Range Rover. My three ton V8 diesel Range Rover.
Just found it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLhzf7beHIM
Although at the moment the eco-diesel is more efficient than a hybrid, I think the future of the hybrid and associated technology is brighter, therefore its worth investing in it the considerable resources required.
Personally, I think petrol/diesel/etc. fuel-cell technology is the bridge while we wait on a better electrical (battery problems) or hydrogen (processing problems) alternative.
You know why there’s a lack of research/time/funding put into other alternative fuels (including the mentioned hydrogen and various forms of ‘bio-fuel)?
Spend a day in the UAE (think Dubai, Abu-Dhabi) and I think you’ll understand.
No they aren’t going to give up their 10 car garage of Veyron’s, SLR 722’s and 612 Scag’s, not to mention the solid marble pillars they have holding up their 40 million dollar mansion(s). Gold plated C63’s and SLR’s are a “novelty” item, little more than pocket change. They have man made islands for every continent in the world for crying out loud.
As long as there’s oil, you can sure as hell bet that the rest of the world will “accidentally” forget about these alternate fuels (with money comes power, power that sometimes gets to the head). If the world suddenly decided “oh crap, let’s move to hydrogen”, expect the global economy to turn on it’s head.
Pretty cool ad, but 8 new hybrids in 4 years? Like what? I doubt that’s the Aussie market you’re talking about.
It’s the Aussie market :D
otherwise why show the ads on Australian television.