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New Gas-Electric Car Could Be Intended To Battle Honda Fit, CR-Z Hybrids Due in 2010



Toyota Motor Co. plans to launch a new small hybrid, based on the Yaris platform (it's the Vitz in Japan and Europe) and priced at under $16,000, according to a report in the Asahi newspaper.

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Toyota's Yaris could be the basis for a new small hybrid.
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The car, to be launched in late 2011, will be a unique model - not a hybridized Yaris/Vitz, the report says, and will be built in Japan and, possibly, Europe.


Toyota upheld its policy of not commenting on unauthorized reports of future products.


The idea isn't far-fetched. Toyota as said for years now that it plans to be able to offer a hybrid version of every vehicle in its lineup if it senses market demand.  


A new subcompact Toyota hybrid would be just the ticket to battle rival Honda Motor Co., which has already said it will launch a hybrid version of its subcompact Fit (the Jazz in Europe) and a new hybrid sport car, the CR-Z, in late 2010.


"It is no surprise that Toyota is also looking to add this technology to the smaller end of its model range," IHS Global Insight said in a European analysts' report. 

Tags: Hybrid, Japan, Toyota, Hybrids, Toyota, Toyota Hybrids

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Report: Toyota Plans Yaris-Based Hybrid Subcompact for Japan, Europe in 2011 was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.