BUYERS of hybrid cars aren't as concerned about the environment as they would like us to believe, according to the maker of the world's most popular brand.
At the launch of the new Toyota Prius in Sydney yesterday, the car's chief engineer, Akihiko Otsuka, admitted the company had opted for a bigger, more powerful engine because customers had demanded it.
Mr Otsuka said the car, which remains the most fuel-efficient in Australia, could have been designed to use less fuel than the 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres it achieves. "However, customers told us they wanted more performance," he said.
The car, which has a power button that allows drivers to sacrifice fuel economy for better acceleration, is 20 per cent more powerful than its predecessor and 10 per cent more fuel efficient.
But it is no longer the clear leader in fuel efficiency: the diesel version of BMW's new Mini uses the same amount of fuel, and Ford's Fiesta Econetic model, due towards the end of the year, will use less.
European car makers, who have long claimed the Prius is more a marketing triumph than an engineering breakthrough, argue that diesel engines are as efficient as hybrids.
Toyota says diesels produce more carbon dioxide. The Prius produces 89 grams of carbon dioxide a kilometre, compared with the Mini's 104 grams.
The Prius has a number of new environmental tricks up its sleeve, including solar panels attached to the sunroof and interior plastics made from plants rather than petroleum-based chemicals.
In Australia, Toyota plans to launch eight new hybrids in the next four years, including a locally built Camry hybrid next year.
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