A Diesel Prius? Toyota Could Use Isuzu's Greatest Asset in Hybrid Drive

I knew it i knew it a diesel hybrid coming from Toyota!!!!

Looks like Toyota is preparing for the new diesels coming to North America now that the Ultra-low Sulpher Diesel is available everywhere.
They know that a gas-powered hybrid cannot match the performance/economy of a diesel.
Gas hybrids never made any sense anyway.
My experience on I-5 is that the slowest vehicle on the road is the Prius, usually travelling at less than the posted limit. Meanwhile, the TDIs and CDIs are passing at 15 MPH over the limit, and still using less fuel!

Oh, and Toyota doesn't want to be late to the party, with everyone from BMW & GM to PSA & VW/Audi developing their own diesel hybrids.

I'll be glad to see a Toyota that burns diesel again ... its just another step towards the day when the US doesn't have to import oil from anyone except Canada (currently the largest supplier of oil to the US) and they can tell OPEC where to go!

I still miss my '84 Diesel LandCruiser Wagon.

Americans don't like diesel's unless it's in a pickup truck based on what I see and hear.

Wrong. Look at the Benz E320 CDI. MB predicted 2,000 potential sales: demand was so high, they sold over 3,000. And the demand for diesels is still there, even in non-SUV / pickup cars.

Generally speaking, it seems they don't like diesel, only on trucks, but cars like the MB 320cdi are changing their perceptions on diesel.

What happened to all the diesel bashing we're used to by Toyota fans?

Oh, I see, it's a Toyota diesel...

Well, In Central & South America Diesel is more popular than in the USA and they have Nissan, Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Toyota Diesels available. In fact our company has two trucks, one Isuzu and one Mitsubishi.

My point is that you referring to Toyota Fans bashing diesel, could only be applied to USA. As Toyota Land Cruiser Diesels are very popular.

Toyota will not put a diesel into its Prius until they develop a clean diesel that emits as few emissions as a gas engine. The Prius is not just about mileage, it's also about emissions.

So I'll be a Toyota fan who will continue to bash diesels, until their emissions are cleaned up. Once Toyota puts a clean diesel out there (50 state compatible, not like BlueTec) then I will sing a different song. And I have no doubt that they can do it.

Diesels produced today ALREADY produce less emissions than modern gasoline engines. As a matter of fact, the ONLY reason why it took so long for diesels to be this clean in America is simply because American diesel fuel (prior to 2006) was dirty sulfur beasts; the new legally mandated diesel fuel is much cleaner.

So the "emissions excuse" doesn't fly for Toyota. The only reason Toyota had not jumped on the diesel bandwagon was because Toyota didn't believe the American consumer would embrace diesel - that is until they saw the crazy interest that VW's American diesel engine received. Once Toyota sees that middle America will pay $24,000 for a diesel, it was willing to commit $$$ to be competitive.

It has NOTHING to do with emissions.

lies, quizz. diesles continue to emit far more emissions than gasoline engines, and exponentially more than hybrids. Even Toy's diesels in europe wouldnt meet CA standards. Even the vaunted Merc BlueTec does not meet CA standards.

I agree with "quizz".
Toyota may make vehicles with mediocre handling, bland styling, and no clue about the enthusiast market (trucks are an exception, but we're talking cars here), however, when it comes to $$$ they are brilliant! If they see a market, they will jump on it, even if they have to buy someone else's engines, like the 6 million TDIs that they bought from VW for the European Yaris.

PS: "huu76" ... what are you smoking tonight? The gas Prius is a waste of money and an environmental disaster in its production, not to mention the toxic battery packs. A Jetta TDI can run circles around it while burning less fuel. It was only created to appease the Sierra club back when Toyota sold more SUV models than any other manufacturer.

Jetta TDI's are slower, smaller, less fuel efficient in most driving, and emit way more smog emissions than a Prius. They dont compare in the slightest. But if you're still complaining about batteries, then you havent been listening for the last 2 years, so I'm clearly wasting my time.