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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain? 
10042 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 3:07 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: flash11 (Apr 28, 2008 7:27 pm) Haha, well I wish I could be a part of that list... But really if I had the money to blow a $100k on a sports car right now, I think I would get something that could make it to Las Vegas or the river. Where are the vehicles that are affordable and look half way decent... What if they took a Saturn Sky, Opel GT, or Pontiac Solstice (all the same platform, and would save them money) and put a hybrid motor in it? I mean, it might not be performance oriented... But it looks pretty cool and would save a hell of alot of fuel. I wouldn't mind commuting in something like this and I think that if they had a sports looking hybrid company's would really benefit from this.
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Talk Back Tuesday: How Much is Too Much for Gas? "even at $4-a-gallon, gas still doesn't cost "too much."
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Replying to: steve_ (Apr 29, 2008 7:42 am) 
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Replying to: lmpracetech (Apr 29, 2008 7:40 am) Well if Tesla ditched 2/3rds of it's 50 kWh, 900 lb battery pack and replaced it with an 80 hp ICE generator, i.e. Volt configuration, you could have all the performance at a lower price and lower vehicle weight. Range would no longer be a factor and you'd still be getting exceptional mileage.
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Replying to: lmpracetech (Apr 28, 2008 12:22 pm) The Tahoe Hybrid is not a $20k option. The current bunch of Tahoe Hybrid include a long list of options. A comparably equipped gas-only costs around $5,000 less. When production picks up, they will include be making hybrid Tahoe with fewer options and eventually stripped down models. It's just that they new they would sell every single one they made, so they made the first run with all the options so they would have a higher profit margin. Also, a Tahoe hybrid vs. a gas Tahoe saves way more gallons of gas in a year than switching from a Toyota Camry to a Camry Hybrid (or from a Camry to a Prius for that matter). Hybrid Tahoes still get horrible mileage, but percentage wise and gallon wise, they save a lot more. If all the SUV drivers switched to Hybrid SUV, it would do way more good than all the compact drivers switching to a comparable-sized hybrid.
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Replying to: lmpracetech (Apr 28, 2008 1:31 pm) I doubt this is ever the case, I would have to see the facts on that. " I think what they were saying was regarding only the hybrid technology and how it can cost more than they ask for it. Meaning if a Toyota Camry costs $5,000 more than a non-hybrid camry, the hybrid technology might be costing Toyota more than $5,000. Basically, they might still be making a profit on the entire car, but less than on a non-hybrid. There is a pricepoint that people are willing to pay extra for a hybrid, so they have to ensure it falls within that threshold. That being said, that is the way it used to be. I'm not sure if that has changed now that their technology has been out a while. |
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Replying to: chadx (Apr 29, 2008 8:54 am) Thats a really good point, I didnt think of it that way... So really you would be saving alot more money by having the SUV hybrid even if you are using more fuel.
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Replying to: bumpy (Apr 29, 2008 6:30 am) |
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Replying to: steve_ (Apr 29, 2008 7:42 am) |
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Replying to: lmpracetech (Apr 29, 2008 7:28 am) How much does a total vehicle cost to produce with the added cost of R&D? Lets say for example a Prius? That's a good question. It's the reason that I referenced the fact that the Prius is nothing more than an 4c ICE 5 door hatch like the Matrix with the addition of... ... a battery pack  ~$2000-$2500 ( OEM cost ) ... two e-motors ~$500 ... inverter & converter ~$500 ... no transmission ~$1500 savings ( OEM cost ) ... Power Split Device ~$1000 ( ?) The Prius is built on the same lines as other midsized autos in Japan so no additional investments were needed there. But basically the Prius is the same as a Matrix which sells for about $19000-$20000. The Prius has the additional technology noted above which probably amounts to about $3000 and the Pruis had somewhere about $2000 to $3000 in special R&D costs that the Matrix did not have. Today the Prius R&D is fully paid off so the only difference between the Matrix and the Prius is the hybrid components. Toyota's stated intention is to get the additional manufacturing cost down to about $1000. |
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