Toyota Zelas to be priced at 250,000rmb and rising
The Toyota Zelas was shown off at the Guangzhou Auto Show earlier this year, the Zelas is a renamed Scion tC from Toyota’s American youth brand, Scion.
Toyota announced in early 2010 that they plan to introduce the Scion range into the Chinese market to resonate with the youth market that they have so far failed to influence. Toyota’s small car line up in China consists of the Toyota Yaris, Vios and Corolla, all of which have failed to make a major dent in the small car market, although it has performed very well with its large car and SUV line up.
The Zelas is powered by a 2.5L 180bhp engine, and will be imported into China later this year.
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This has fail written all over it. How many of these do they expect to sell over here?
Most youth (college grads) here are not going to be able to afford this. The ones that are well off would rather be seen in an Audi or BMW. And those with families are not going to buy a 2-door.
The remaining who might consider this car will be few, and even they would probably prefer the Hyundai (Genesis) Coupe.
Toyota really should be focusing their efforts on bringing the upcoming Scion FT-S (FT-86 concept) over.
Especially when the Kia Forte Coupe is on sale down at the Kia dealer for 210k and similar power specs, and then over at Hyundai imported dealers you have the Rohens Coupe in 2.0T guise with a six speed auto or manual.
Good luck Toyota.
I didn’t realize that the Kia Forte Coupe was available here.
Also, the Hyundai Rohens Coupe 2.0T is very mod friendly.
I second that – good luck Toyota.
Some simple price comparisons(in U.S dollars):
2011 Zelas in China: $37,993.00
2011 tC in America: $18,275.00
Here is something to consider – the top of the line Chevrolet Camaro (SS coupe with a 6.2l V8) in America is $34,295.00. So………..in China the Zelas (the entry level model) is MORE expensive than the TOP OF THE LINE CAMARO IN AMERICA. Yes, I know about import taxes, cost of materials, blah blah blah……..so what. It’s a STUPID MOVE by Toyota, and yet another example of price gouging the consumer in China for a imported product. Something like this (coming on the heels of a massive worldwide recall of their cars for various safety issues) makes me REALLY WONDER about the intelligence level of the upper level management at Toyota……..something tells me that the future of Toyota might not be a very bright one.