Toyota Prius launch confirmed for Auto Expo 2010

It has now been confirmed that Toyota will launch its popular hybrid sedan, the Toyota Prius, in India at the 2010 Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Toyota confirmed to the media at the Tokyo Motor Show 2009 that the Toyota Prius will finally make it into India.  The company said that this move will help consolidate its position in the Indian automobile market.

It is extremely unlikely that there will be any production of the Prius in India- the market for hybrids is unlikely to be big enough to justify that.  It also means that the car that will make it into India will be a completely built unit (CBU) and therefore price would be quite high.  Remember that the Honda civic hybrid which came to India was priced at close to Rs. 22 lakh.

At those prices, it is possible that the company will use the Toyota Prius as a flagship model in India to build the brand.  Honda had to reduce the price of its Civic Hybrid to almost Rs. 15 lakh to get rid of its languishing stock.

Honda has been a latecomer to the hybrid car game in North America.  It launched its Toyota Prius competitor, the Honda Insight, only in 2009.  But the prius remains the top selling hybrid car in the United States.

The Toyota Prius comes in four trim levels and in the United States costs $22,000 for the low end model and $27,000 for the high end version.  It will be the third generation Prius that will come to India.  According to Consumer Reports magazine, the 2010 Toyota Prius is still the most fuel efficient car in its class.  Fuel economy in the city is believed to be around 32 miles per gallon main highway mileage is 55 MPG.

The 2010 Toyota Prius which will come to India is slightly longer and wider than the last generation Prius.  It also has better the overall in resistance tyres.  The latest Toyota Prius has a 1800 CC engine compared to the 1500 cc engine of the last generation car.  The new engine produces 98 BHP at 5200 RPM.  The electric motor is more powerful too, producing almost 80 horsepower compared to 67 from the last generation electric motor.  Working together, the prius would not be lacking in power when it comes to India. You can read more about the 2010 Toyota Prius here.

The Prius offers three new driving modes – eco, power and EV.  The car offers an electric only top speed of 25 miles per hour.

Toyota is fresh from the successful launch of its sport utility vehicle, the Fortuner, which received a tremendous reception in India.  The company is also planning to launch a small car for the Indian market which it claims will be 10 per cent more fuel efficient than comparable cars.

The Prius has now been around in the international market since 1997.  It is now available in around 40 countries around the world.