Well,Toyota did want to decrease the Hybrid price premium;I guess the Camry Hybrid is the 1st step.We will get a bigger motor than we need, and no fancy 5 cycle 13/1 expansion from a 10/1 compression,but we won't get the high cost-I hope.The Prius is about $22000 base-it is roughly equivalent to a LE Corolla-$17000.If they cut the premium then the Camry hybrid should cost Camry LE+$3000,not Camry LE+$5000.
Now we all know that the 1st Camry Hybrids will be loaded, and Toyota dealers will run true to form and want $30000+ for them-which pretty much makes payback from gas savings impossible(200,000 miles plus).Yeah,folks don't buy hybrids just to save money on gas,but that is a big part of it(having your cake and eating it to-like the HH,if it were cheaper)Charlie