Prius Gen4

Author
Discussion

AmitG

Original Poster:

3,272 posts

159 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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Revealed on 8 September apparently. It will be interesting to see what Toyota have been up to during the last 6 years...

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Friday 21st August 2015
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Whatever they've been smoking at Toyota, just say no.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/08/21/2016-toyota-pri...

bp1000

873 posts

178 months

Friday 21st August 2015
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The made the design worse! Why!

When you can have low drag cars that look as good as a tesla, why do they persist in making stupid looking eco cars.


AnotherClarkey

3,589 posts

188 months

Saturday 22nd August 2015
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I'll give it a chance - our Gen 2 has been absolutely faultless and proved very capable. I just hope they have retained the lower rear window for the dog to stare out of.

Looks like the shortlist for the next car might be: Tesla 3, Prius plug-in, Outlander PHEV or forthcoming ASX PHEV.

AmitG

Original Poster:

3,272 posts

159 months

Saturday 22nd August 2015
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I need to see it in the metal to make a judgement but this is definitely on the shortlist for my next car (looking to change in Jan).

Looks wise, I'm not sure. On the one hand, the photo does not have me racing for my chequebook. On the other hand, it does seem to have a distinct identity, and I like that.

I wonder what the fuel economy will be like. The web rumours seem to be averaging out at a 10% improvement over the Gen3. I'll take that.

I'm also interested to see whether this is simply a mild evolution of the current drivetrain, or whether there is something genuinely new in there.


ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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These drawings look a lot like the photos, if the drawings are right, the plug in car will get a different (and better looking IMO) front end. http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/07/this-mi...

gangzoom

6,251 posts

214 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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AmitG said:
I'm also interested to see whether this is simply a mild evolution of the current drivetrain, or whether there is something genuinely new in there.
Toyota appears to be obsessed with pursuing the 'wild goose chase', that is hydrogen fuel cell cars. Despite more and more of their competitors jumping on board the PHEV / BEV bandwagon.

I love our Lexus IS300H, but our Leaf is simply better and make the hybrid drivetrain in the IS300H seem overly complex and crude. I hope Toyota do well, but cannot see the next Prius bringing anything new to the party.

Jonny_

4,108 posts

206 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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The thing that lets the styling down in those pictures is the front badge position, and those narrow vents either side that look like a bad moustache. Otherwise, the overall shape isn't bad at all, and fulfils the presumed brief that it has to look different to anything else on the road, and to be as aerodynamic as possible.

Anyway, it's a Toyota, and with the exception of some of their sports cars they aren't renowned for stunning design! It's the details of the drivetrain that will be interesting; rumours abound but I've seen no concrete information yet. Hopefully their engineers have managed three things:
(a) The expected increase in efficiency. 10% is an oft-rumoured figure, which would be an impressive gain over the current car
(b) A little more overall power, just to silence the critics. 0 to 60 in the low 9s region rather than just over 10s makes it comparable with the mid-range diesels that many people consider "quick"
(c) Improved performance at lower engine speeds, to address one of the common criticisms of the existing setup - that is, the high rpm required for anything more than gentle acceleration

Given that this last one would increase fuel consumption (by running the engine at less than the most efficient speed for the torque required), perhaps this should be made a feature of "power" mode.

It would also be good to see the drivetrain appear in the Avensis as well as the Auris, so as to compete with the Mondeo, Passat, Insignia et al.

AmitG

Original Poster:

3,272 posts

159 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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Agree with all of Jonny's points.

It will be interesting to see whether Toyota stick with NiMH batteries or whether they follow everyone else and move to lithium ion. At one point, they were saying that they were going to stick with NiMH because they are cheaper and more reliable, and that they had found a way to significantly increase the energy density of NiMH batteries, thus negating the key advantage of lithium ion.


Jimbo.

3,941 posts

188 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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I quite like that. Hint of "Long Tail" about it boxedinpaperbag

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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Clear photos of the front and back. http://www.motor1.com/spy/58012/new-toyota-prius-p...

AmitG

Original Poster:

3,272 posts

159 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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I really like that, especially the rear.

AnotherClarkey

3,589 posts

188 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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AmitG said:
I really like that, especially the rear.
Yes, the Prius continues to plough it's own furrow. I would have been disappointed if it looked as bland as something like a Golf.

Lets see what the specs. are like - September the 8th I think?

cootuk

918 posts

122 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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The front end looks like a scowl to me.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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The Spirit looks better than the T3/4 but I'd still need to the car in the metal with its full spec.

AmitG

Original Poster:

3,272 posts

159 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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AnotherClarkey said:
Yes, the Prius continues to plough it's own furrow. I would have been disappointed if it looked as bland as something like a Golf.
Agree. As Jonny said, it needs to turn heads and look like nothing else on the road, and it does that.

Need to see it in real life but it looks promising, especially in silver. I like the rear, with the deep creases and boomerang lights, and I like the way that the headlights go right into the front wings. The C-pillar treatment is quite cool too.

It's a brave design, it looks forward rather than backward, and it feels distinctly Japanese. I like that.

AnotherClarkey said:
Lets see what the specs. are like - September the 8th I think?
Yes, September 8, although I am sure some snippets will leak out before then.



Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Like the front. Looks good. The rear though, I will reserve judgment on. It looks very boxy and heavy at the back, in the OP there seems to be a lot of car above the rear wheel and the wheels look like little castors!

AnotherClarkey

3,589 posts

188 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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I wonder if they will let this one tow anything? Just 750kg would be fine for a sailing dinghy or weeny teardrop.

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
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Launch photos leaked. http://jalopnik.com/2017-toyota-prius-this-is-a-lo...

Maybe it's one of those cars like a Bangle BMW that will look better in a few years time?

AnotherClarkey

3,589 posts

188 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
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I really quite like it. Shame they didn't release more technical details but I expect they will come out at Frankfurt next week?