Toyota launches new build-your-own Prius configurator

Last month Toyota has released official pricing for the 2010 Prius, starting at $21,000, or about $1,200 over the Honda Insight, and now Toyota has officially launched the online configurator for the 2010 Prius, which allows you to create your own hybrid with exactly the options you want and find out just how much it's going to cost.
Here it is. Starting with the Prius II (there are five levels, Prius I through Prius V, the Prius I still unannounced), which is expected to be the most popular model, the $22,000 base price grows to $25,674 with the addition of just the leather interior upgrade (including leather-faced seats) and the Vehicle Stability package, which adds a smart key system, stability control, a backup camera, auxiliary audio input and MP3/WMA playback - all core features for most buyers. And that's without any options like cargo nets ($51), carpet mats ($199), wheel locks ($67), or an XM satellite radio receiver ($449).

While the Prius remains popular around the world, in Japan the cheaper second-generation Honda Insight hybrid is achieving triple its monthly sales targets despite the doom and gloom surrounding the global economy. Furthermore, with a starting price of just $19,800 in the U.S., analysts are expecting the Insight to perform similarly in local showrooms.

To combat the Insight - at least in Japan - Toyota is selling the current Prius alongside the third-generation model as a cut-priced model. The company has also slashed prices on its new, improved and more feature-packed new 2010 Prius to nearly match that of the Insight. Prices start at $21,000, though the model expected to prove most popular, the Prius II, starts at $22,000. The configurator doesn't yet allow you to price out your own bargain-basement Prius I.

"The 2010 Prius delivers outstanding mileage, performance and advanced technology at a great price," said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. "This [$22,000] model provides more than $2,000 added value, including the features most buyers want, at the same price as the current base model," he said.

Five trim levels are available, Prius I through Prius V. The Prius I is the $21,000 model and offers a minimalist - but still unannounced - feature set, while the Prius II starts at $22,000 and adds a host of features including electronically adjustable driver's seat, keyless entry and more. Prius III bumps base pricing by another $1,000, and the Prius IV adds $2,800, starting at $25,800. The top-end Prius V starts at $27,200 and includes 17in alloys and foglamps, but navigation is still an optional extra available for $1,800 on the Prius III and higher.

Honda's Insight first hybrid to rank as Best-Selling Vehicle in Japan

As forward-looking and advanced in technology as the Japanese are perceived to be, they haven't been huge adopters of hybrid technology. But this month marked a tipping point, with the Honda Insight hybrid taking the top sales rank. It was the first time ever that a hybrid car held the lead in Japanese monthly sales.
The new Honda Insight was released in February 2009 in Japan. The Insight sold 10,481 units in April - an increase of 256% over March sales, and more than double sales during its debut month of February. Honda also pulled down the #2 sales spot, the first time that Honda has taken both #1 and #2 at the same time.

The Fit was the second-best selling car in Japan in April, riding a four-month streak at the top of the charts only to be bumped by the Insight. It was still a close issue, with the Fit selling 9,443 units.

Still, with falling auto sales in the US (including hybrids), a key market for hybrid vehicles, and US gas prices at very consumer-friendly low-levels, it will be a struggle for Honda, or any automaker with a hybrid on the market, to achieve the same thing in the United States. And Europe too will prove to be a challenge, given the market power of diesels in the largest markets there such as German, France and Italy.


Whether the dominance of the Insight in Japan will translate into strong sales elsewhere in the world has yet to be seen. The slightly larger yet equally fuel efficient Toyota Prius could be a major threat to the Insight's sales, though until the Prius I is released, the Insight has a definite price advantage.