Comments on: Toyota local hybrid television commercial

By: Car Fanatic

Car Fanatic — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:38:12 +0000

otherwise why show the ads on Australian television.

By: Alborz Fallah

Alborz Fallah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:33:29 +0000

It’s the Aussie market

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:40:32 +0000

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.

By: tekkyy

tekkyy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:23:27 +0000

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

By: Baddass

Baddass — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:23:20 +0000

Pretty cool ad, but 8 new hybrids in 4 years? Like what? I doubt that’s the Aussie market you’re talking about.

By: Camski

Camski — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:51:55 +0000

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.

By: Tom R

Tom R — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:40:16 +0000

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.

By: Grammar Nazi

Grammar Nazi — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:05:12 +0000

Just found it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLhzf7beHIM

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:45:48 +0000

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.