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BMW email gatecrashes Prius launch

  • By Paul Gover
  • Herald Sun
  • 10 July 2009
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  • Toyota Prius

    It could be a coincidence that BMW Group chose 2:07pm on Monday to reveal that its diesel-powered 118 was coming downunder...but probably not. Photo Gallery

There was a surprising and rude interruption to the press preview of the new Toyota Prius this week.

Just as Toyota honcho Dave Buttner was getting to the best bit, the $39,900 starting price, the press desks began to tinkle and vibrate.

My computer pinged to announce the arrival of an urgent email at the same time as Blackberries on either side did their thing for the same incoming mail.

Journalists cannot resist this sort of temptation so I switched focus and discover an urgent update on green motoring in Australia - from BMW!

It could be a coincidence that BMW Group chose 2:07pm on Monday to reveal that its diesel-powered 118, the 2008 Green Car of the Year, is coming downunder. But probably not.

BMW Group has been running a tough anti-hybrid campaign this year and working hard to position diesel as the best choice for eco-friendly motoring. It says new-age turbodiesels are the economy leader and also deliver commendable emission advantages over regular unleaded.

Toyota disagrees. Some T-brand executives in Australia talk openly about 'evil diesel', based on the fuel's heavy emission of both carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.

Minutes after the BMW email, Toyota Australia's product planning chief Ashley Edwards goes on the offensive, targeting the BMW Group's Mini diesel, which was the first member of the sub-four litre economy club in Australia.

"None of the diesel vehicles available in Australia produces fewer emissions than new Prius," Edwards says.

"The greenhouse-gas and air-pollution emissions of diesel vehicles are much higher than Prius. With just 89 grams per kilometre, Prius is Australia's greenest car.

Edwards even goes head-on against the Mini diesel, acknowledging its 3.9L/100km economy before slamming its production of more than 56 times the oxides of nitrogen.

"Toyota's view is that more hybrid vehicles populating our roads, instead of diesels, will be less harmful to the environment," he says.

 

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 4 comments

  • “Of course the mini is much smaller than the prius, is a manual, and is dependant on buying diesel, whcih seems to boom in cost when china is pushing up demand. And the toyota does beat it…”

    But at the end of the day, you’re still stuck with a s*box prius. Lame performance. Lame handling. Fugly aesthetics. Rubbish build quality. Souless to drive. Questionable environmental credentials from a lifecycle POV. Built to occupy a market niche (which is the wanker who will pay an extra $20K for what is basically a corolla sedan) rather than out of any concern for the environment (think: imagine how many trees you could get planted in the ground for $20K. Imagine how much ‘green tosser’ street cred that would pull… oh that’s right, it’s all about being seen to be green). 

    The old saying holds true that you can’t polish a turd.

    GD of Bris Posted on 16 July 2009 12:28pm

  • Of course the mini is much smaller than the prius, is a manual, and is dependant on buying diesel, whcih seems to boom in cost when china is pushing up demand. And the toyota does beat it for Nox and emmisions. And its fuel economy shines best in the city, which is where most of us drive nearly all the time.
    I’ll bet the toyota excecutives who listened to the whining journalists going on about the performance of the car are regretting that they lost their focus on fuel economy with the car… That was what the prius was about - pushing the boundaries (okay, less so than the original insight)
    Also, okay, I HATE DIESELs, I gather these new ones have expensive filter systems that need to be maintained?

    simon@syd Posted on 16 July 2009 9:27am

  • to bad about strip mining the Canadian forests for the nickel for the batteries. And what is the process to recycle them when they are stuffed in 5 yrs?

    jase@mooroolbark Posted on 14 July 2009 10:37pm

  • I’d buy a diesel over a hybrid anyday. Greenest car - who really cares? Noone I know. If people I know bought a prius, it was for the economy, not the holier than thou attitude about the environment. They do other more substantial things (making their house greener) that also save them money.

    Besides, who would want a prius instead of a mini??

    Chuck of NSW Posted on 14 July 2009 8:54pm
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