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Toyota Prius excels because of unique design

Toyota Prius excels because of unique design

Ralph Hanson July 4th, 2007 Ralph Hanson By Ralph Hanson Author July 4th, 2007
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December 31st, 1969 There's no doubt that Toyota’s Prius is the top selling hybrid car in the world. It's already sold more than half a million units, while competitors have struggled and sometimes failed with their own hybrid models. New evidence suggests the reason for the high sales aren't only due to the claimed environmental benefits. The likely answer is because of the Prius’ unique and practical body, which has been favoured by motorists wanting to advertise their green intentions. When people see a Prius they know exactly what it is, whereas hybrid versions of cars like the Honda Civic or Saturn Vue are virtually indistinguishable from regular models apart from a couple of badges. In a recent survey conducted by CNW Marketing Research, more than 50% of Prius owners revealed that the main reason they bought their car was that "it makes a statement." In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, one Prius owner mentioned that he really wants people to know that he cares about the environment and another said that the Camry Hybrid was too subtle for the message they wanted to present. Prius sales are up a staggering 93.7% for the year and Toyota is now on track to sell more than 175,000 units this year. In coming years, it plans to launch a family of Prius models and possibly a second hybrid brand.
Toyota Prius excels because of unique design

Toyota Prius excels because of unique design

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There's no doubt that Toyota’s Prius is the top selling hybrid car in the world. It's already sold more than half a million units, while competitors have struggled and sometimes failed with their own hybrid models. New evidence suggests the reason for the high sales aren't only due to the claimed environmental benefits. The likely answer is because of the Prius’ unique and practical body, which has been favoured by motorists wanting to advertise their green intentions. When people see a Prius they know exactly what it is, whereas hybrid versions of cars like the Honda Civic or Saturn Vue are virtually indistinguishable from regular models apart from a couple of badges.

In a recent survey conducted by CNW Marketing Research, more than 50% of Prius owners revealed that the main reason they bought their car was that "it makes a statement." In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, one Prius owner mentioned that he really wants people to know that he cares about the environment and another said that the Camry Hybrid was too subtle for the message they wanted to present.

Prius sales are up a staggering 93.7% for the year and Toyota is now on track to sell more than 175,000 units this year. In coming years, it plans to launch a family of Prius models and possibly a second hybrid brand.

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Posted in: 2008, Toyota, News, Hybrid, Prius


Comments (6 total)

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  1. By rick kennerly #1, Posted: 7/4/2007

    And 4x4 trucks don't make a statement about the driver? It's an age old tradition in the US, we are what we drive. My Prius is an outward manifestation of my values--eco, LOHAS, leaving as small a footprint as possible, and being kind to the earth, not to mention my belief that Homeland Security IS Energy Independence. In my mind, my Prius makes that statement.

    BTW, isn't CNW Marketing Research the same outfit that last month came out with the Prius/Hummer embodied energy study that got blown out of the water? Think they might have an agenda?

  2. By MIkey #2, Posted: 7/4/2007

    Well whats interesting, the car "makes a statement" , and that one guy says "he cares about the environment".

    The 2007 mercedes S class 5.5ltr V8 with close to 400hp, is more environmentaly friendly than the prius, because of how efficient it burns its fuel.

    I'm not bogging the prius, i think its great and the fact you can drive 4-600 miles on a small tank of gas before refueling makes me think this thing will save me money in the long run, i could careless about the environment, because, whats me changing what i drive gonna effect the rest of the 6 billion people on the earth? adsactly...

    So if you care about the environment, buy a mercedes or one of these new very efficient engines that are available in these new cars today, if you care about gas prices and driving along ways away on regular gas for a cheap price, buy a hybrid, or if you want best of both worlds, buy a good turbo deisel.

  3. By Gus #3, Posted: 7/4/2007

    I dunno, the Prius is a great concept, but the fact that it doesn't save any money for 100,000 miles or so (given the added cost over a Corolla, minus the cost of fuel savings), plus the added complexity and potential for eventual battery failure make me not buy into the concept just yet.

  4. By Rambo #4, Posted: 7/5/2007

    A Prius consumes much more resources to produce that a convensional vehicle. It also will require new batteries every 5 years. That means they have to be shipped to the land fill where they will be destroying the environment for thousands of years. Hybrids are not the what a well informed environmentalist would drive. THE PRIUS HAS BECOME AN ANTI-AMERICAN INDUSRTY, HOLLYWOOD POLITICAL STATEMENT ON WHEELS! The truth is that hybrids are found to consume more energy cradle to grave than a full-sized SUV (CNG Research).

  5. By Mark #5, Posted: 7/20/2007

    Hey, Rambo twit, the CNG "research" has no credability or validity. How about you do some research before you quote research.

  6. By Rick #6, Posted: 8/30/2007

    Mark, You must be a commie liberal democrat idiot.

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