XCEL,so this Camry won't narrow the hybrid premium,since it won't really have a simpler-cheaper motor than a Prius.Since the Hybrid components are in short supply-according to Ford-there is no reason that the price of batteries or electric components will drop just because there is more demand volume-at least not soon.
Yikes-I sure hope that the bigger motor is just a 1-2 mpg compromise-not a 5-8 mpg compromise.I hope the 500 lb weight advantage of the Corolla vs Camry accounts for at least 1/2 of the mpg difference(auto Camry vs auto Corolla 24 vs 30mpg)??The manual trans are a better comparison,but I'm more familiar with the auto EPA mpg ,so I used that.
They probably factored the 300 lbs weight increase into the equation with the idea to make the 0-60 at least as good as the 4cyl non hybrid Camry.It might take 15 more of the extra 30 hp just to break even in the accel dept.
Thanks.Charlie
PS-Big aside to XCEL-I finally put the scanguage on the Pilot-pleasantly surprised.It was getting ~25-27 mpg at 73 mph(about 2000 RPMs ) with the AC on at sealevel. One peculiar thing was that it was about the same at 62-64 mph-maybe one mpg better.I'm not sure why-same direction-road surface about the same.Maybe I was in a more open area with less protection from the wind;I'm just not sure why I didn't see about 30 mpg at 62?I need to do more observing.I'm fairly sure the transmission was locked up at both speeds,but maybe not..
I rarely drive the Pilot-my wife and son use it.They don't drive fast,but they are strictly gas or brake drivers.Their right foot is never on the floor.