Toyota denies the plans for Yaris hybrid

Toyota announced that it currently has no plans to make a Yaris hybrid, stating that the hybrid system would be difficult to implement in smaller cars and that since Yaris is already fuel-efficient, any gain would be marginal.

This statement quashes initial reports that the Yaris hybrid would begin production in France and in Japan and would go on sale within two years. Toyota clarifies that it plans to have a hybrid option available in every model by 2020, but the efficiency of small engines means a full Prius-style hybrid system is unlikely to feature in small cars like the Yaris in the near future.
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ellenbetty - 7/31/2009 3:12:11 PM

0 Boost

I agree that selling the 1.0 liter version of the Toyota Yaris in the US would offer Americans a more fuel price economical version of the Toyota Yaris. With Toyota selling the Scion iQ with the 1.0 liter motor, Toyota may stop offering the Toyota Yaris with a 1.0 liter motor in the US.

A mild hybrid version of the Toyota Yaris would be nice. Installing a electric motor to drive the rear wheels with regenerative braking would let a driver just touch the brakes to put the rear wheel's electric motor in regenerative mode. Greater pressure on the brake peddle would engage the front brakes.