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Who can compete with Toyota/Lexus Hybrids? - READ ONLY

126 messages,  Last post on Nov 28, 2003 at 11:50 PM

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#59 of 126 Well, as the article says, ..................................... by daysailer Oct 22, 2003 (9:30 am)
that's not a new development. Detroit, et al, have a LONG history of ignoring emerging trends until too late and then responding with too little. In some cases, their offerings have been so bad that they almost seem an attempt to discourage buyers away from that market segment (witness the AMC Gremlin). Of course, buyers have only defected to serious offerings from foreign manufacturers. At best, their offerings in the small car arena have seemed a temporary accomodation of the market with the tacit assumption that everyone would "really rather have a Buick". I wouldn't!
#60 of 126 by varmint Oct 22, 2003 (9:48 am)
Another article with simlar sentiment.   http://yahoo.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_43/b3855072.htm
#61 of 126 by varmint Oct 22, 2003 (10:09 am)
I think the problem expressed in both can be summed up this way. Even if they get into the game soon, the domestics and Europeans are going to end up benchmarking old technology for their designs.
#62 of 126 diesel by eandlcubed Oct 23, 2003 (5:51 am)
i think diesel is still dirtier than regular petrol, low sulfur or not....
#63 of 126 Is Ford REALLY in the game? by drfill Oct 23, 2003 (8:14 pm)
As Sin-Sai of this here forum, let me keep the pot from reeking by keeping us focused.      1. Who are the real players in the hybrid game currently (by model year 2005)? Ford Escape? I've been hearing about this for a while, but will the RX400H beat it to market?    2. Is GM gonna have a hybrid at all within the next 5 years?      3. What about Benz, VW, and BMW? Do they have an answer for a 400+ HP RX400H with 35MPG? Or is this the "Royal Flush" of SUV's? Looks, Power, Quality, Luxury, and Mega-Value!
#64 of 126 GM will have hybrid trucks next year... by logic1 Oct 24, 2003 (5:41 am)
The hybrid VUE is set for launch sometime late next year. There is also talk of a hybrid Malibu.   GM's primary focus is fuel cell vehicles.
#65 of 126 it is beginning to look like by nippononly Oct 24, 2003 (10:55 am)
Lexus WILL beat the hybrid Escape to market with the RX400H. Ford has had a million problems in bringing that truck to market. They still can't get the batteries right, apparently. I don't get that: they are using the THS from the first Prius right? Won't most of the components of the system be similar?   The last I read of GM was that VUE hybrid was delayed, and the first GM hybrids to market would be the "mild hybrid" trucks in 2005....so that has been updated? When will VUE arrive with a hybrid powertrain?   I do not remember any of the Germans having significantly concrete plans for hybrids...perhaps I missed some news tho...they are much more heavily invested in diesel, which still is their best bet for the European market, and will be a really good bet here too when the low-sulfur diesel goes nationwide in the latter part of the decade. I do think they are working on fuel cells however.   And on topic too, Honda will remain a very important competitor in hybrids for Toyota. Good too, will keep them on their toes, and the technology moving forward. I look forward to the day someone brings a 100 mpg hybrid diesel to the market. What do you think... a decade or less?
#66 of 126 by varmint Oct 24, 2003 (11:49 am)
The last I heard, Ford was having trouble venting the batteries in the Escape HEV. The battery packs are fine. Of course, that news tidbit is about 5-6 months old. Who knows if that's still the problem.   "I look forward to the day someone brings a 100 mpg hybrid diesel to the market."   I believe Honda's IMAS Concept is estimated at 94 mpg, but it's not a diesel. It's also not on the market, but hey it's something!
#67 of 126 diesel hybrids by logic1 Oct 26, 2003 (7:55 am)
piece in the Chicago Tribune today reports GM has a contract with Seattle to fit 235 buses with hybrid diesel systems. One done, this will be the mileage saved equivalent of 8,000 hybrid cars.   GM is also working on similar deals with cities such as Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Portland, Ore, Austin, Orange County and Houston.
#68 of 126 Re: diesel hybrids by john1701a Oct 26, 2003 (12:20 pm)
> mileage saved   Yes, that is a genuine benefit. But the primary purpose of HSD (the hybrid system Toyota uses) is to significantly REDUCE EMISSIONS, not save fuel.   How much cleaner are those buses? Or are they actually dirtier in terms of SMOG related emissions?   JOHN

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