Remember when there were wars among manufacturers to build the leading super car? Well now that has been replaced by the green car wars – as companies compete to be top of the environmental charts.
The latest example comes as Toyota officials announce they are working on a Toyota Yaris hybrid model which will battle the new Honda Insight for cheap hybrid vehicle supremacy.
Reports in Automotive News and Japan’s Nikkei, state that Akihiko Otsuka, Toyota’s chief engineer, has confirmed that the Yaris Hybrid will be developed for sale in both Japan and the United States.
It appears to be a clear move to hit back at Honda, which undercut the Prius significantly with the price tag of the Honda Insight. The new car is expected to wear a version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive and target the lower end of the market with a retail price below that of the $19,800 quoted for the Insight.
At present there has been no timeline announced for the vehicle but industry analysts expect it to be unveiled in 2011.
What do you make of these green car wars and the announcement of a Yaris hybrid? Is this the news green car enthusiasts have been waiting for as competition could drive prices down? Or will green vehicles still be out of reach financially? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
