HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Prius Introduced in U.S. 10 Years Ago This Month
By John O'Dell July 28, 2010
Toyota's U.S. marketing arm is celebrating the 10th anniversary this month of the U.S. launch of the Prius.
The introduction here of what has become the world's best-selling hybrid is certanly worth noting, but we'd be remiss if we didn't don our cloak of historical accuracy and point out that the Prius actually is 13 years old.
It made its world debut in Japan in 1997 - the first modern hybrid in the world.
To date, more than 1.8 million have been sold globally, about half of them in the U.S.
Although Honda actually beat the Prius here with the December 1999 U.S. launch of the original Insight hybrid, the Toyota gang was a lot better at marketing. To many, "Prius" is just another word for "hybrid."
So we add our voice to the chorus - Happy (U.S.) Birthday, Prius.
LEAVE A COMMENT
Ah, but the original Insight had the "cool" factor. What other vehicle has been able to hit that magical 60 mpg mark? What other hybrid has had a manual transmission? Sure, the Prius outsold it 764,467,920-to-1 (I may be exaggerating a little) but it's just that reason that makes the Prius all too common and ordinary. The Insight was something special.
@greenpony - Last generation Civic hybrid had an optional manual transmission - my buddy drives a 2005 Civ hybrid manual w/ aftermarket rims *sigh* that gets nowhere near EPA rated mpg
Right on, greenghost. I had forgotten about the MT Civic hybrid. What kind of mpg does your buddy get?
ADD A COMMENT