Prius Mk II
Prius grows up - no ugly Noddy car now. Just a big ugly car...
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Toyota's first Hybrid car - the Prius - didn't exactly catch the imagination of the car buying public. The purchase costs only attracted those with an environmental point to make whilst the styling courtesy of Clive Sinclair did nothing to make it desirable. That said, they did manage to shift 110,000 of them worldwide.
Undeterred, Toyota has unveiled its all-new Prius (the word means 'ahead of its time'). The car is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in November this year. It is bigger, faster, more fuel efficient, pollutes less and is more fun to drive.
The new Prius used a high-efficiency power system, the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive (isn't that what they used in Blakes' Seven?) It is a full hybrid system, which means it can work in full petrol or electric modes or with a combination of both power sources. Performance is reasonable with a 0-62mph time of under 11 seconds.
The Hybrid Energy System uses a more powerful 50-kilowatt motor that operates at a higher voltage achieved by using a new power converter between the battery and motor. With 50 per cent more electric power on tap, the new Prius also offers improved low-end torque and acceleration performance.
Styling is very different with the second generation car taking on more of an MPV type role. The aerodynamically efficient body has a drag coefficient of 0.26, contributing to good noise insulation for the cabin and fuel economy.
Other technical advances featured in the new Prius include a push-button ignition and fly-by-wire, braking, throttle and transmission control. The by-wire gearshift system means Toyota has been able to dispense with the traditional floor-mounted gear level and replace it with a dashboard-mounted joystick which requires just a tap of the finger to operate and frees up space inside the car.
Full specification and technical details and pricing for the UK market will be announced later in the year.
How do I know? Well, I launched it to the worlds press last week
Am one of only a handful who have driven it and it's quite an experience.
You may laugh now, but legislation won't be far behind to make us all drive Hybrid vehicles. You wouldn't believe how much C02 a normal car belches out - the Prius saves over a tonne a year.
Anyway, I'm boring myself now and I've got about the most un-eco car you could imagine!
stig said:You may laugh now, but legislation won't be far behind to make us all drive Hybrid vehicles. You wouldn't believe how much C02 a normal car belches out - the Prius saves over a tonne a year.
Yes, but some diesels deliver acceptable economy and performance without the environmental problems associated by manufacturing and disposing of large batteries, not to mention their additional weight, and the weight of the other gubbins. The Prius still looks rather pointless to me. Didn't the last model make a loss on every single car sold in the UK as well, even after taking the PowerShift grant into account?
steve-p said:
stig said:You may laugh now, but legislation won't be far behind to make us all drive Hybrid vehicles. You wouldn't believe how much C02 a normal car belches out - the Prius saves over a tonne a year.
Yes, but some diesels deliver acceptable economy and performance without the environmental problems associated by manufacturing and disposing of large batteries, not to mention their additional weight, and the weight of the other gubbins. The Prius still looks rather pointless to me. Didn't the last model make a loss on every single car sold in the UK as well, even after taking the PowerShift grant into account?
Err... no, no and no.
Diesels may have similar economy/performance but despite emitting similar levels of C02 (for smaller capacities), you then have a problem with NOX and particulate matter. Can't really comment on the battery issue but can say that their lifetime is more than that of a diesel engine/transmission.
The MKII weighs about the same as an equivalent D-segment diesel. It uses by-wire technology for gearbox, brakes and throttle as well as umpteen other measures to reduce weight.
MKI Prius prices were supported by Toyota but they certainly didn't make a loss on them. In fact, with the new Government incentives for congestion charge exemption & free parking in certain London Boroughs, Prius 2nd hand prices have shot up.
All I'm saying is don't be so quick to judge until you've at least seen/tried it. The old one was duck-ugly, but the MKII is leagues ahead.
has one (which is a solid reason for destroying everyone you see in case he's in it). The biggest problem with all these eco cars is that they adopt stupid 'we're not gonna let you do that'
drive-by wire technologies and all promise silent (dull
) running with 'maintainance free' engines and 'cute' (huge blobs for headlights, sick-fest interiors) styling. Now if, say, Lotus
were to take a serious look at the eco-market from a driver's perspective (clean engines but with Italian styling, British handling, American power levels, German appeal etc - the things non-numpties buy cars for), I would have a lot more respect for them.
Obviously, the future must be cleaner, but it should also focus on building cars in cleaner ways and making them less disposable (I can't understand this have-a-new-one-every-two-years, 'isn't the '03 Mondeo so much more desirable than the '02' attitude). I've heard that BMW produced a hydrogen-powered 5-series that retained all the 5-series attributes, but we didn't hear much more about it. I want to see more of that and less of these one-box numptywagons.
However, the car is more deserving than you think and it's all too easy to dismiss it as another lentil burner without actually trying it.
I'm not saying that you should sell that pre-cat Griff and get one, but as a day to day runaround, it makes a lot of sense.
As far a Leonardo di Caprio owning one, well, I'd say that's more likely to put buyers off than anything!
Finally, as far as the whole eco/recyclability thing goes. The Prius is assessed on a lifecycle assesment, so they calculate the emissions from what it takes to manufacture, run and then dispose of rather than just it's fuel burning ability. You wouldn't believe how seriously they take it! Fuel Cell cars are perceived to be the next 'great' eco thing, but in reality, it creates more pollution to produce the gas than traditional fossil based fuels.
I'll get off me soap box now because unfortunately, it's the 'fcuk it - I don't care' attitude that will see us all driving pathetic battery cars in the future, or at least, our children will.
v8thunder said: The only notable thing about Prius ownership was that Leonardo DiCaprio
Now if, say, Lotus
Obviously, the future must be cleaner, but it should also focus on building cars in cleaner ways and making them less disposable (I can't understand this have-a-new-one-every-two-years, 'isn't the '03 Mondeo so much more desirable than the '02' attitude). I've heard that BMW produced a hydrogen-powered 5-series that retained all the 5-series attributes, but we didn't hear much more about it. I want to see more of that and less of these one-box numptywagons.
Sigh.
I see from your profile S. Dawson that you're a "Wannabe motoring journalist. Student now but as soon as I am 'released' my petrol-headedness will see me through as many track days and sports cars as I can lay my hands on."
Well, I'm sorry to say, that unless you take your head out of your posterior, your chances of succeeding in your career (let alone being invited to a press launch) are about nil.
stig said:
However, the car is more deserving than you think and it's all too easy to dismiss it as another lentil burner without actually trying it.
It certainly IS more deserving than people think. If I was in the market for that sort of car...I'd consider it and then buy a diesel A2 or similar which gets better MPG or even purchase a LPG conversion of a petrol equivalent.
Don't get me wrong I loathe oil burners but this Fuel Cell thing just doesn't seem sorted yet. I'm more interested in the Hydrogen cars BMW claim to be making work...we'll see which technology delivers first, of course...
I'll get off me soap box now because unfortunately, it's the 'fcuk it - I don't care' attitude that will see us all driving pathetic battery cars in the future, or at least, our children will.
Well....come one. Its not a fcuk it I don't care necessarily.... its a "fcuk it I care"... but I cycle to work to sod it sort of thing...
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